Why is Fall always so hectic? But it's the best season, and gotta love the fact that American Horror Story is back. But digressing,...here is the next chapter, written in two days...the other half done in september, half done yesterday.

Gonna see how Lucy handles her fights.

Now Akane wasn't one of those up and rising resort cities for anything but appearance. It was one of the middle life, been around the block, seen its fair share of recessions and gold, ghost towns, boom towns. In the last decades, the lax of authority in the surrounding areas had snuggled right up with the sumptuous casinos and hotels, creating the favorable latter. Akane's entrepreneurs catered to the mafias and seedy businessmen so that in turn they too were rewarded warm and rich. And money in the pockets enticed the shareholders for more, needed to be invested into newer, always more opulent attractions.

And so the individual resorts always sought to polish their game, find something that would vacate the competitors' suites and fill up the seats of their slot machines and poker tables. Bring in those quarters and ten thousand dollar chip kiddies.

The only gutting hook- booms went fast and without warning, within a year, two to three if heaven above was feeling favorable, and by the time the economy went under, constructions had to be finished, purchases paid off. It worked incredibly for expediting work crews and developers, also giving advantage for the more seasoned, better managed enterprises. For the others, recessions meant death. The lesser hotels dwindled, foreclosed or went bankrupt, several around the town turned out their lights and silently slipped away as their shareholders hung their heads in shame and moved onto the next hopeful investment.

Akane Theme Park, with the dull redundant name that should have been the first clue of bland failure, was one of these darkened lots. In the end however, it had probably suffered more so under a change of owners. The original management had done at least a few things right. The park was built on one of the few narrow beach strips of the town, its shore side surrounded by an evergreen lined black iron black iron fence. Encased inside were a dream worthy prince charming castle, towering gondola Ferris wheel, and daunting roller coaster.

The coaster was unique, terrifying in mere sight, and probably could never be repeated for safety, practicality or a boat load of other reasons. It snaked over half a mile at least in length, from one side of the park to the other, with no loops, but plenty of hills, curves and endless track hoisted sky high overhead, making one feel like an ant in the shadow of a great floating boa constrictor. The ride must have lasted several minutes, the lines to get on must have been so long. It was obviously the main attraction, overshadowing both prince charming and his circling carriage rides.

It, along with the original owners, had carried the park for at least forty nine years, shown by the front gate, which proudly displayed an end of the season tarp banner. The banner declared closed for the season, with a circus red paint, and scrawled underneath was the invitation for guests to come and celebrate the Theme Parks Fiftieth Anniversary next summer. But, who knew how many years it had been since; there were at least enough for the plastic to start tearing, for the leaves and dust to tarnish the white background.

The park had become ageless, ending with the excitement of five decades in operation.

"And this is where you want to be dropped?" Ms. Realight scrunched a nose at the sunset shadowed and dust infested lot.

"Gray's there right?" Juvia stared more so with confusion. The place must have been spectacular in the hay day, but abandonment had left it ready for a couple haunted folktales and a bunch of snobby children wanting to wet each other's pants. Nonetheless, Gray was inside, and Juvia needed to find him.

"If Fairy Tail is looking for the ones who would have taken Erza Scarlet, then yes, he would be."

Taking the confirmation, Juvia slipped the car door open, eyes flitting back to the gate. She could not see any signs of life beyond, just fallen green leaves and parking lot with cracked pavement. This place should have been opened, it was summer, but apparently that message was lost.

"Wait, hold on there! You shouldn't just prance in, that's gang territory." Miss Realight squawked.

Unaware of the subject, she turned back. "Is there a better way?" Juvia asked, only to deepen Miss Realight's frown and brows.

"What are you an idiot? I'm saying you shouldn't go in at all. You don't get much about this right? Well one thing's obvious; you're not going to find good Samaritans or any directional signs in there." She closed her mouth with a little snap on the last words, her attention flitting between road, Juvia, and the gates with a bit of impatience. One daffodil manicured hand was on the steering wheel. The seatbelt hadn't come undone since the car parked either.

This woman who knew Gray and this location, dressed like the president's wife and wouldn't bat an eye of compassion, was urging her to leave. Juvia gulped, flinched looking between the sheltered car interior and ominous grand expanse of pavement. Miss Realight had the easier solution, but it did not solve her problems. She still needed Gray.

"Juvia appreciates the ride. But, Juvia won't leave without finding Gray."

"Last time I offer….." Began Miss Realight, pushing back into the comfortable leather seat.

The woman raised the other hand to wheel, grip tightening, making apparent that the conversation would soon end and she was unhappy. It was a sendoff comparable to the shark's mothering skills: here, Miss Realight's actions spoke, I delivered you, and that's all that you required of me, good luck surviving on your own out there. Understandingly, Juvia had already turned; ready to forget the woman, before and not even with a morsel of care for the final mundane farewell.

Catching Juvia's back, hair swaying to furthering steps, Miss Realight shouted. "Hey, at least tell me what you plan to do!"

Juvia wasn't sure what purpose it meant to the woman, or why she sounded offended, but never skipped a rhythm in her stride as she called back, a little surprised to actually be allowed the last words.

"Juvia already did."

Then she pushed the gate ajar, enough that she could fit through. From behind came the abandoning hum of an engine and the crackle of tires on broken road.

She was alone now.

Out in the open, she was the solo object above a foot tall across the entire dark expanse.

Her attention paced between the castle's towers and couple hundred yards ahead, wondering if the best option would be to run it in a zig zagged pattern, try slinking the outskirt of the fence or just tempt fate and assume no one would see. No. Someone would see, must have already caught the car pulling in and had beady eyes on her since. If this truly was some sort of base, someone had to be watching, curious and with the sniper's patience.

And it left her no other option but to travel forward, though it took every drop of courage to keep her legs moving.

Whoever said the first step's the hardest must have never walked into the face of danger. Every footfall was more exposing, stripping away layer after layer of resolve. She reached the halfway point, and it meant nothing, the urge to turn tail still incremented, and though Juvia was cloaked in one of the heaviest most concealing dresses for summer wear, the stark sensation of being naked could not be removed. She kept moving forward, waiting to be gunned down on encroach, breathless while unable to do more than sip air between slotted lips.

For the most part, her steps had kept a consistent drum pace. However, on the last ones, engulfed in the shadow of coaster track and the castle walls, came the desperate urge to sprint, and her legs trembled resisting the pull whilst speeding considerably. The front entrance, another behemoth gate, was already pulled open inside, as though in conjunction of the banner's invitation, awaiting the arrival of a summer crowd. Well, she would offer one more to its occupancy, so long as Gray was included.

Juvia sucked in enough air to hold her lungs over at least the first thirty seconds, slowing to an all but hesitating creep. It was darker inside; would only get darker as the sunset furthered. There would be a vulnerable moment as her eyes adjusted. If she were the enemy, that would have been her striking second, though terrifying as it was, Juvia did not halt as she crossed the threshold.

Her legs stopped a few paces further in, jittering, but overcome by blindness. Waiting, counting each second as her vision fixed itself was only marginally less sickening than the waltz across the lot. At least then, she was moving, burning off some of the nerves.

But once more nothing attacked, a sensation that offered some relief and put her at better ease. Someone should have come out by now; or was the resident gang occupied with other matters at this moment?

The shadows were sharpening, the surroundings evolving into a lobby and gambling room that, in glory days, probably returned every adult visitor to their childhood. There were bars and tables skirting the walls, each decorated with different exotic themes, fountains and carnival games spread throughout the center. Over the front half of floor, the ceiling was open, terraced with glass balconies that hinted at further levels above. At the third floor, the coaster tracks entered the building, a coaster itself dead and suspended aside the railing.

There was a thick coat of dust, and the overwhelming feeling of a timeless sleep, but otherwise Juvia was surprised and eased to find the room still well in tact: chairs pushed in, tents and hoods covering most of the attractions. She half expected some horror movie gimmick.

Gray. Where was he in here? Careful to avoid noise, Juvia kept high on the balls of her feet, muffling the clicks of her heeled boots. She searched toward the back of the room for exits. There were hallways, several which dead ended in short aisles lined by elevators, a few others stretched beyond her sight into deeper parts of the castle. Juvia chose the last of the four hallways she found, figuring they probably interconnected anyhow. To her greater trouble, the hall suffered severe lack of definition without windows or power. The burning twilight outside could not reach here.

Maybe a short while ago, this would have been terrifying. Yet, now, Juvia remembered drowning in the darkness, having her hands tied, and knowing that had been the pit of helplessness. This she could do. What did she expect? Someone to take a blind shot at her? Maybe, she'd find a body slumped against the wall. Terrible, but she'd already come to terms with those hazards. As long as it wasn't Gray, she'd swallow the bile and keep moving.

Hand outstretched to the wall, the hallway inched in a pretty straight manner, fingers bumping over picture frames, toes catching the edge of a checkered carpet, though elsewise the passage felt simple and straight. No doors, meaning that it was taking her somewhere without choice. But that made it easier, right? Less choices, less places to take wrong turns.

A dusky light appeared in the doorway ahead, and her carpet muffled steps quickened. Then, twenty or so paces away, she halted at the echo of a voice.

"So you're the trampy princess. Can't believe I had to leave for this." A man's voice, low and haunting and scraped. Trampy Princess. It was a lame insult, but greater wisdom held her back. No one appeared in the tunnel exit, perhaps' her mind was imagining things again? Always the first question.

No, her sanity was in tact.

"Who are you calling a tramp? You're wearing tight leather and more make up than I use in a month!" That was a female's voice, a familiar one, and the subject of the first insult. None of them seemed to have become aware of her approach, giving her a reprieve of relief.

"It's called style baby, ever seen a rock star?" The man growled haughtily.

"Kinda desperate if you ask me."

"Chill baby, that's quite the killer attitude for someone alone and off their turf."

"Yeah?" Juvia was certain she had heard that voice recently, frowned, and wracked her brain till a headache began to form. The tone, was young and girly, but confident and distinct. "I'm Fairy Tale, not just some little girl. And I know you took Erza, so guess there isn't much reason to be nice. You definitely didn't pop out to just be friendly with me."

Oh! Juvia remembered, eyes opening, feet instinctively sliding forward a few more steps. The blonde girl, Lucy, the one her roommates had taken hostage. She was here, and that meant Gray had to be nearby too!

"Hahaha, blonde's got a brain, but sorry, I don't dig girls who think they're smart shits. And you already ruined my concert tonight." Juvia nerves alighted, praying to hear a third voice, his voice.

"Geez you ass, I'm not uptight, and I didn't ruin any show! We're here for Erza, just tell me where she is, and we'll…." Lucy paused, nothing following. Juvia halted, sensing the trouble.

"What…..missing somethin' babe?" The man chuckled, a sound that could have been mistaken for a record's scratch in a different context. "Forgot to check after your little skirmish earlier didn't ya?"

"Asshole." This time, Lucy's voice was vehement and clipped.

"Ha ha, sucks don't it, all that wild fire in those eyes and ya can't even throw a little lead around. Looks like you hit the wrong note, chic."

"I did not!" Lucy hissed back, only for the man to bark in laughter. He roared this time, maniacally cackling, shaking Juvia awake from a nightmare.

One rule existed for this sort of scene: something bad had was going to happen next. Juvia figured Lucy was defenseless, caught off guard by something this man had set up beforehand. And now he was laughing and howling at her, with the sick joy of the serpent who had caught the mouse.

"Here's exactly what I'll do babe, payback for causing me to miss my show." the man snickered, "I'll count to ten, and then we'll find out how good of a tune you sing."

A distinct clink followed; the song of metal about to fly.

Juvia felt her own face flush with frustration, her legs locked and solid underneath. She'd finally found someone who could get her to Gray, and that girl was about to be executed. Not to mention, that the Fairy Tail member had also shown care for her wellbeing back on the docks. Her gut turned at thought of death. She genuinely didn't want this woman dead.

"Ten…" The man began his countdown, and Juvia reveled with surprise.

"..nine…." She was feeling sicker and more outraged than when witnessing Sol and Totomaru and Aria's deaths. "…eight."

"Can't we figure out something a little bit nicer?" Lucy's voice giggled. Yes, Juvia heard with appall, giggled waveringly; something tore inside, pitying and praying for the girl. She was a gang member, wouldn't she have some sort of back up or weapon?

"Seven….six." Juvia stomach flipped and rolled again, the man almost sang those last numbers gleefully. The clock was at halfway; and all she had done was sit tight to wait out the sound of the fire.

"Five." Repulsion swept through her at how easy it was to merely hide. How easy it could be to turn her back on someone.

"Four."

"ughh, aren't you gonna at least honor a last request or something?" Lucy fussed, taking the situation a whole boat load better than Juvia had when it was her time. Lucy's desperate attempts though made her heart sink, with waves of near forgotten humanity. She couldn't sit by and ignore this. God, or whatever sense of justice existed in the universe, help her.

Three seconds to spare, Juvia forced herself away from the wall, stood tall and marched forward. One plan came to mind, and without even considering its chances, trusting herself smart enough, she acted. Her boot heels clicked formidably against the tiles, demanding unwanted attention as she emerged into a high ceiling auditorium.

The two figures in the right hand corner drew immediate notice, seen by moonbeams coming through a glass dome. They were close enough that Juvia could already see their expressions, good enough, a trickle of sanity told her, but Juvia kept drawing nearer. Hesitation invited fear and all the strength she had were poise and grit.

Through the blue tint, Lucy's face sparkled with bewilderment, jaw open and speechless, but Juvia paid more heed to the enemy, biting her cheek, forcing herself to grimace despite the startle of his appearance. He was an older man, as expected, but was all costumed up as a heavy metal rock star. His skin had been painted white, eyes and lips caked with bolded and blackened liners. He had glossy ebony hair, falling an impractical length straight to his bony waist and wore spiked shoulder pads, with suspender trousers that were torn to shorts above the knees, and flaming gaiters over mahogany boots. The word Skeleton was tattooed across his broad, rocky chest, with sloppy and jagged letters.

It was a pretty tacky tattoo, though that fit well with the rest of the audacious sight. She forced her face firm, noting the countdown halted and his curiosity. Let him speak first.

"What's this? Who are you doll?" He squealed, honest delight in his tone.

It crawled over her skin, scrapped through her ears like shards of glass. What a difficult question. She was a girl who had always thought herself just a roommate to some thugs, someone walking a sketchy line between ignorance and crime. Did he already know this though? She prayed not, that her reputation preceded her, assuming her involvement with Phantom Lord had gained some attention even whilst she had been then unaware. If she could play the part, Lucy and now her own life, maybe had a chance.

"Juvia Lockser. From Phantom Lord. And yourself?" She commanded, forcing her arms to remain still at her sides as she stopped not but a few steps away. There was a little black gun in hand, for which her eyes seemed magnetically drawn. She had to push not to stare, keep her efforts focused on his chalky face. He grinned knowingly, something slimy slithered in her throat.

"Vidaldus Taka." He greeted, adding his own query with a lecherous blatant head to toe glance. "What brings Phantom down in our hell hole tonight?"

She almost shuddered, holding the twitching nerves steady at the last second, keeping serious, and already sweating enough.

"Juvia takes it you're aware that Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail have been at odds. This girl is Phatom's property; she escaped, so Juvia's here to collect her again." The lie slid smooth off her tongue, while inside Juvia felt on the verge of collapsing, praying he'd believe. She kept forgetting to breath, perhaps she was overestimating how much he would know about other gang affairs. He hadn't even given the name of his gang; she had not a clue who she was even dealing with here.

A gasp behind, Juvia made the mistake of pivoting immediately to see Lucy's reaction. Would the blonde girl believe her or give the act away? Lucy had fixed her with a sweltering glare. One that left Juvia even less convinced in her hopes.

"Phantom Lord, eh?" Vidaldus pondered. "You're still trying to band back together after those raids yesterday? Heard Porla disappeared last night." Yes, it was only yesterday, though for Juvia falling off the dock seemed like it had already happened a week ago. The short timespan worked to her advantage though; she knew which recent events he spoke of, and it gave her plausible excuse for showing up unexpectedly.

"Don't take us so lightly." She spit. "You were about to kill her, save your bullet, and let's negotiate."

"Negotiate. Huh?" Vidaldus' smirk turned serious, scrutinizing her attempt at stoicism. Lucy was keeping silent behind, a fact which Juvia could not interpret, but served well for now.

"Lockser, huh, you were put through Fairy Tail's ringer a week or so ago weren't ya?" He grinned, paralyzing Juvia. "Uh huh, babe. I have a pretty wide range of friends."

Her teeth ground together, ready for him to call the charade. He tipped his weapon up, but not toward her. "So, this is a bit of a personal vendetta, I bet? Trying to get even with the chick? Oh baby and the doll."

Juvia slipped then, her face contorting into confusion at the wild contemplation. Fortunately, Vidaldus did not seem to realize this, his face still alight. "I loooove how crazy women get. So doll, I'll give you what you want."

Lucy shrieked angrily, Juvia's heart beat so hard it shredded itself to a bloody mess.

"NO!" She cried, eyes locked on the barrel aimed straight at the other girl. No! She was saving Lucy's life, but irony was turning her intentions around. Her reaction was instinctual, and far too emotional and desperate.

Juvia's mind whirled, keeping away from Vidaldus, from witnessing her own undoing. She could hear a rush, a pounding, as if she were at the beach with waves crashing, over and over and over, insisting on their presence until the sands learned to expect each oncoming blow. Vidaldus and Lucy, the gun and both girls' utter helplessness without weapons of their own.

She couldn't let the rockstar play the final tune. Thinking quicker than her thoughts could comprehend, Juvia growled out:

"She's mine."

Vidaldus met her with one taunting gaze, prove it. She lunged, but not at him, knocking Lucy clean to the ground underneath, and swinging a slap right across her cheek. She had no other option, and though her heart ached of betrayal, Juvia faced the harsh reality that she could at least prolong the gunshot. Time, she needed time to figure more to the plan.

Her eyes met Lucy's, warm apologetic beads pounding onto her cheeks. Lucy's expression was wild, hair everywhere, gasping from the sudden loss of wind. Her eyes however, brown and all-encompassing stared without a hint of pain. Her lips curled, with a wicked touch of mirth that would have made an angel shudder. In the response to the smack, the blonde appeared dangerously eager.

Juvia's backhand return swing faltered in surprise, and the other girl took no spare second, shoving her. They rolled, Lucy grabbing, kicking, and swiping whatever she could of hair and dress. Instinctually, Juvia nailed one hard punch in Lucy's rib, followed by immediate regret. Her opponent, despite being part of Fairy Tail, was strikingly pathetic in her attacks.

A hand grabbed Juvia's arm and squeezed once reassuringly. Deep blue eyes gaped, finally comprehending, but it was too late. Lucy kicked Juvia hard against her abdomen, catching her off guard in the brief moment.

Awestruck, Juvia stumbled backwards, frantic to regain her footing, already knowing it was too late. Vidaldus had been behind since her lunge, spoiling himself with the view of their one sided cat fight. He'd stepped a little too close however, as Juvia found out, falling right into his legs. Their gazes met for a split second, grimace meeting lecherous excitement, before Lucy had pounced again, taking the top half in the split second of distraction.

It was enough of a jump to send the two sliding, white skid marks tracing about a two foot long path. Lucy screamed, a squealing growl, arms flying at Vidldus's head in a shower of rage. Juvia watched Vidaldus shield his eyes, rolling to regain distance and footing. Lucy blocked and bashed at him, kicking his feet away repeatedly. It was terrifying and animalistic, a mixture of tactical hits and blunt brutal blows. All from a girl smaller than her and whom moments ago Juvia would have never considered imposing.

"There's your catfight. Asshole." Lucy growled, still sounding too effeminate. "This is what you get for messing' with Fairy Tail."

An ear shivering crack echoed through the auditorium as Lucy bashed the rocker's head back, his silky black locks, apparently unable to cushion the blow. Vidaldus howled, and spit carnage into the air, only for gravity to snag it and drool red over his cheeks. It was almost over, Juvia recognized the final heaviest blows. Lucy had slowed her assault, permitting her shoulders to heave and greedily remembering the substance called air. Vidaldus' had gone quiet save for a rash of coughs, followed by crimson throaty rainstorm.

Juvia crawled up, limping when her knees stiffly refused to unlock and stand. She stepped forward, gasps in chorus with Lucy's deep breaths. The little blonde woman, whom her roommates had taken, suddenly lost all the innocence of a damsel in distress. The girl was a she lion, with pride.

"Juvia must apologize for…."

"It's fine." Lucy cut through Juvia's remorse with a smile that stole the emotions straight from her. She stood, collecting back her stolen gun and bits of torn green skirt in her hands to assess. "I kinda needed the help."

"How did you know Juvia was lying?" How had all of the Fairy Tail members she had met seem able to see through her?

Lucy smiled, genuinely and warmly, the same intensity of her fight reflected in the compassion she now exuded. "That's what it means to be with Fairy Tail. We always have the best intentions meant for each other."

Vidaldus was as stone on the ground behind, and Juvia could not help but stare. She could not quite give Fairy Tail a definition, but there was a lot more to them if this was how they took care of all their enemies. She had only seen Gray and Lucy, and perhaps Cana, operate, which honestly should not have been enough to make any judgments.

"Juvia's not…" Juvia spewed suddenly realizing what had been implied.

"….yet." Lucy finished with a nod and short sigh. She gripped Juvia's shoulder, calling back her attention. "By the way, are you supposed to be here?"

The heat of the sun was behind that question. A sudden concerning and accusatory atmosphere engulfed the void between both women. Juvia backed a step, her heel sending a small click banging against the walls. For a moment, she faltered, caught up in all the uncertainties and mysteries that encompassed Lucy. The snap of her heel struck with the force of a gavel, bringing her thoughts back to the initial mission.

Oh yes, Juvia recalled. She needed Lucy to find Gray. Not the other way around.

"No." The word dribbled from her mouth, gaining strength as she reset her shoulders, and began perusing the room once more. "No, Gray offered for Juvia to go to Fairy Tail, but Lucy, you must understand why Juvia cannot just show up alone."

Beside the hallway from which she had entered, the auditorium had two other exit halls, along with a door down near the stage. All of them dark and lifeless, none offering a clue of which was the correct one.

"Oh great. He said…. Ugh, Gray's gonna be so cold when he finds out you followed us."

"Why?" Juvia questioned, swiveling to find Lucy sagging behind.

"I take that back. You're just as scary."