"Though I could if I wanted. Elf-niichan used that form of Take Over against the Beast back when…" she grimaced and stopped before she could go any further but both Juvia and Gray knew what she was talking about.
...
But Lisanna just shook her head and carried on, "But that's an extreme case. Using Take Over to change yourself just means you can essentially copy the body and abilities of whatever you're using it on and take its power into yourself. And that's what I did to one of the Clippers. I locked talons with it in my other bird form and focused on it as we fell through the air, imagining that I had not just the body but the soul of the Clipper and that's what allowed me to become one. I can tell you it looked very surprised when it suddenly found itself facing another one of its own kind instead and it let go of my very quickly."
"So its the same as Transformation Magic?" Juvia asked.
"Nah, not really. Transformation magic only alters the body. Take Over alters your very soul, changing everything about you except you mind if you do it right. If you used Transformation to become an animal you'd just be a human with an animal shape, but with Take Over you gain all the animals instincts, its senses, its abilities, everything like that. You become an animal, or a beast or a demon in the case of my brother and sister, with a human mind."
"I think I get it," Gray nodded. "So, if you were to use Transformation Magic to become a dog, you wouldn't gain a dog's sense of smell with it, but if you became a dog with Take Over, you would."
"Exactly," nodded Lisanna. "And of course I can take command of animals and tell them what to do, but not many at a time. I never tried to expand that part because I am essentially forcing animals to do my bidding but based on what happened today I think I might try and develop it more. At least for situations like that."
"Juvia agrees it could be useful, but Take Over certainly sounds more interesting that Juvia initially realised."
"Got that right," Gray chuckled, before his face turned sour and he looked out across the woods beyond. "Still, now that that whole Clipper business is over and done with you realise we're essentially back to square one. We have no idea where we are, where are friends are, or how to find them, and ferret-face down there's not going to be of any help anymore."
"Ferret-face?" the Jarvey laughed. "Oh my gosh, I'm so insulted. Your words have shocked me to the core. How dare you imply my face looks like a freaking ferret when it looks like a freaking ferret. I'm just glad you didn't call me a stoat, Badger-breath, because then I'd have cried for sure."
Gray was now trying very hard to keep his eye from twitching, slowly grinding out, "Anyone got any ideas?"
"I had a little fly around to scout out the area when I was a Clipper," Lisanna replied. "There's not very much but trees and fields for quite a few miles around and I didn't see any signs of more people, let alone more of those golden Sphere things that we were apparently inside. Then I came back to wait for you two to come out. You were in there quite a long time."
"Probably making out," the Jarvey snickered.
"That's it!" Gray muttered as Juvia covered her face in her hands, her face so red there was practically steam coming off it. A moment later and the Jarvey was totally frozen in a block of ice about twice as big as it was, with Gray dusting his hands off and looking rather smug.
"Did you have to do that?" Lisanna frowned disapprovingly.
"I'll defrost him before we go," Gray muttered. "Just couldn't stand anymore of his talking."
"G-G-Gray-sama… and Juvia… making out?" the Water Mage whimpered slightly, holding her hands together and staring into the middle distance, obviously becoming lost in fantasy. Gray grimaced and fought the urge to facepalm, while Lisanna tapped Juvia pointedly on the shoulder to wake her up before it got any more awkward. Juvia coughed and looked down, embarrassed, but quickly changed the subject before going, "Well… maybe we should try and see if there are any towns nearby."
"There doesn't appear to be much more we can do but pick a direction and go in it. And hope that we're still in Fiore," Lisanna murmured.
"Why would you think we might not be?" Gray asked. "That big weasel told us we were still on Earthland."
"Earthland's got more than one country in it," Lisanna pointed out. "And I've looked through lots of books about the wildlife you can find in Fiore. And never once have I read anything about an animal called a Jarvey."
Gray and Juvia digested this news in silence for several moments before Gray sighed and murmured, "Well this just keeps getting better and better. Guess we've got no choice but to pick a direction and hope for the best."
"Juvia agrees. Lisanna-san, do you think you can carry us? We would cover more ground from the air than we would on foot."
"I don't know," Lisanna chewed her lip thoughtfully. "Birds aren't really built for carrying passengers. I think maybe as a Clipper I could carry one of you on my back but I don't know about the both of you."
"Oh, Juvia doesn't think that should be much of a problem," Juvia smiled. "If Juvia turns most of her body into water then she will be much lighter. Does Lisanna-san think she can carry us both then?"
"I suppose," Lisanna nodded. "I guess the only way to find out is to try it." Her body glowed as she switched form into that of a Clipper once again, stretching her wings and turning awkwardly on the spot, lowering herself down to the ground as if she was sitting on a nest. "Climb aboard then."
Gray hesitantly clambered aboard until he was sitting on Lisanna's feathered shoulders. Clippers were large for birds but they were still only slightly bigger than a man so there wasn't much room left for Juvia. She was forced to crouch on her knees right behind Gray on Lisanna's back and as soon as Lisanna tried standing up she almost fell off, prompting her to seize Gray and wrap her arms around him to keep herself in place - an action which made her blush slightly when she realised she'd done it without asking.
"U-um… Gray-sama…?" she asked questioningly.
"Just hang on tight," Gray replied curtly. Juvia grinned and promptly leaned herself further against him, trying to hide a sigh of contentment as she held the man she loved, her head resting between his shoulders. Gray stiffened visibly at this (particularly since he could feel Juvia's chest pressed against his back) but refused to make any comment, negative or otherwise.
"Well, I think I can manage," Lisanna announced, "Though it might take some getting used to."
"Then whenever you're ready," Gray nodded.
"Hold on, Gray. You should unfreeze the Jarvey before we go."
Gray groaned slightly but passed his hand through the air, causing the ice encasing the big ferret creature to vanish into thin air. The Jarvey looked around sharply and yelling, "What? What? How did… what just…" before scowling up at Gray and saying. "Oh, what did you just do to me Strip King?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," Gray grunted. "We'll be going now."
"Thanks for all your help," Lisanna said cheerfully through her bird beak and kicked off from the ground. It took a couple of skittering jumps before she managed to get into the air, but as she flapped off over the tree line she added, "Though Gray, now that he mentions it I feel I have to ask, please can you try and keep your pants on while you're on my back."
"Ghh…" Gray coughed before murmuring, "I'll do my best."
"Juvia wouldn't mind," the Water Mage whispered quietly, but thankfully her words were carried off with the wind before either of the others heard her say it.
And from the ground, the Jarvey watched them go, wrinkling his little button nose distastefully. "Jeez, what a bunch of weirdos. Ain't never seen magic like that before. Not even from the Big Em. Still… I bet he's gonna be very interested in this lot, so he is, so he is."
...
if you want to support me or just to read ahead of the public release, you can join my p@treon :
p atreon/Moonhorse