User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 291: Naval Battle, Review./@comment-5268982-20120712225601/@comment-3290324-20120712232208

Aquarius isn't that bad. It would've messed up the flow of things if she would've summoned herself. Lucy getting beaten her was a key component which is why Mashima made Aquarius have a "date" in the first place.