A/N: Hey everyone, guess who's back ^_^ So I'll probably spread the updates over the course of three weeks (one for each week since it's supposed to be three chapters). Hope you enjoy!
Somewhere far beyond the crashing waves,
Somewhere upon the shore, where men wander,
There is a place that calls,
A siren song of old it chants,
Freedom awaits you here.
She didn't know what started her fascination for the land and all its inhabitants. Maybe it was, because as vast as the ocean was, it always seemed so empty. Her father's kingdom was a sprawling structure of reefs and volcanoes, underwater mountains that looked nothing like and yet completely like the structures Above. Her father, Jude Heartfilia, King of the Underwater Pacifica, ensured she was fitted with the finest of baubles, but none could entrance her as her trinkets from Above.
Each nightfall she'd swim to the shores of the nearby village, and watch, entranced, at the light from the bonfire. It rose high as the people danced around it. Warmth radiating outwards, she wished she could reach out and touch it. There was nothing like that in her kingdom, so bright and strong. Yet so fragile. One bucket of water could vanquish it and nothing would remain but the smoky scent. Like a dragon blowing steam. But the dragons were long dead, slain into extinction by the very people she watched.
How could something so cruel, dance with such life, cheer with such raucous laughter? The merriment of these humans was something otherworldly. Her people did not laugh like this, not to mention her father, who didn't even smile.
A chill ran down her spine despite the warmth from the fire and she cleared her head of those thoughts. Humans weren't to be trusted. They could only afford to live so carefree because long ago, their ancestors wrought havoc on the Otherkind. She should not have this fascination. But even when she thought this, her heart felt as if tearing asunder.
No.
No.
No.
She had a duty to her father, and to her kingdom. She had a duty to marry and bear heirs like her mother before her. For that was all her father thought good of her. She did not have time for this...small moment of joy. That was not in her future.
You could swim away, far away. A voice whispered. But what good would it do? Where amongst the seven oceans could she swim, where would she be free?
Her gaze flickered back to the land.
You could head for the land.
The mermaid gave an indelicate snort. Yes, and she would surely die. She was a mermaid and needed the saltwater to survive. Her history spoke of these things, mermaids swimming out to shore, never to be seen of again. It was a cautionary tale told to the inquisitive young, some families even added the gruesome deaths that awaited the wayward guppies. Her father, himself, spoke of these things to her. He said them in a very plain tone that broke no arguments, had no histrionics, it was simply, this is what would happen if she were to go that way.
That's not true.The voice tried to argue and the mermaid thought back to when she was much younger and the tales her mother used to tell. About merpeople and humans intermarrying, about how a merperson could walk on land, or if the heart of the human was true, they could join them in the sea.
Ravings of mad woman, her father would tell her later.Gibberish from a woman who claimed she was from the lost empire of Atlantis. The latter was usually said with such venom that made her wonder, in hindsight, why her parents had gotten married in the first place.
Still, in her heart of hearts. She wished her mother's tales were true.
You could find out. It would be a grand adventure.
A sigh escaped her, on that final thought. An adventure.
Just then, the footsteps of humans sounded. Feet on pebbles. The mermaid swam to the nearest rock, hiding behind its craggy surface.
"We need to be careful next time, Natsu." It was a firm voice that put her in mind of her father, but it wasn't harsh.
An irritated grunt sounded.
"Don't mind him too much Erza. Everything turned out okay in the end." A soft voice sounded. Its tone pleading.
A shuffle, some movement of sorts.
The mermaid peeked out from her spot and spied a red-haired woman glaring at a man and a woman who stood before her. They both seemed to shrink beneath her gaze.
"It doesn't matter if it turned out okay, it was still reckless."
A snort sounded and the woman zeroed in on the pink haired man. He dressed back a little and said, "all I'm saying is that, you were right there with us swords blazing."
The woman cleared her throat, "Yes, well, let's just take this time to rest and recuperate."
The other woman giggled. "you just want to spend more time with Jellal, right?"
The red haired woman, Erza – she remembered them saying, turned as red her as her hair and sputtered. The pink haired man let out a boisterous laugh.
Erza looked between the smiling woman and the man and cleared her throat.
"we should head back to the festivities." She looked out at the sea, "don't spend too long out here. There's something…. Different in the air."
Lucy inhaled sharply. Surely she want referring to-
"Yes, yes, we're doing that." Laughter still danced in the younger woman's eye. She turned to the man, "Natsu, are you coming?"
"Nah, I'm gonna stay out here a little longer."
"Don't stay out too long. You know better than others what lurks in the sea."
Natsu gave a sharp grin, teeth shining white in the moonlight. "Anything that's out there I can handle."
It was true, Natsu thought as he sat on the beach. Whatever was out there posed no harm. It was curious and had a sense of wonder around it. It could be some simple, sea creature but Natsu highly doubted it. The mind seemed too complex.
Some humans, like Erza, could detect the minds of the Otherkind. But he wasn't human. He was an Elemental, or at the very least, partly. He wasn't sure, considering he'd never met his birth parents. Instead, he was raised by one of the strongest Otherkind known to humans.
He was raised by a dragon.
But people insisted they were extinct. A tiny flame flickered at his hand.
Then what were his memories, he wanted to argue, had argued and still did. Anyone who believed the old man was dead could shove it.
Igneel was one of the greatest dragons that ever lived and he'd sail the entire oceans to find him. And then he would question him. Why the hell did he leave him all by himself? What was Igneel thinking? How could he still be alive and not say anything to him?
He let out a frustrated sound and scrubbed his hand through his hair. He wouldn't dwell on this. Dwelling and brooding led to nothing but frustration and moody silences. He could be doing so much more with his time. Maybe he had spent too much time on the land. They already docked their ship, hidden beyond the rocky cliffs that surrounded the cove to the east of the village.
Magnolia was a small island, its few riches plundered by Crocus. The people here were willful and strong, and wouldn't stand for the injustice. Eventually, they'd manage to scare the Crocus officials, and reclaim their land, but Crocus was a much bigger country and managed, to steal from them legally. Hiking taxes and tithes to be paid. Naturally, Magnolia had to fight back, giving birth to Fairy Tail. They'd intercepted some of Crocus' ships carrying their bounty, and taken what was rightfully theirs.
This past haul, was enough to last them about a month, so the two weeks on land wasn't that long in comparison, but the itch was back in Natsu's bones. Magnolia was his home yes, would always be a place to return to, but he couldn't stay. He'd heard something about a dragon sighting in the Southern Isles...maybe Igneel would be there.
They also had some goods for trading from the remainder of their spoils. If he could round up, around nine others, that should be enough to operate the cog ship they owned. But then, everyone was just getting to settling down for a rare moment of peace. This was the biggest haul yet, and if they played their cards right, it would provide a starting point to bringing back thriving establishments in Magnolia.
Aaaagh! Natsu scrubbed the back of his head.
It was times like these, he wished his old man was back with him. He looked out at the horizon, then snorted. If the old dragon was with him, then he would never have been in this problem.
Letting out another frustrated sound, he shouted into the air. "Oi, Igneel! Where are ya?!"
He flopped back on the sand and closed his eyes. Automatically, his senses reached out, and picked out the sea creature, could almost see its head tilt in its curiousity. Moreover, he could feel it watching him.
