Chapter 2
"Caspian!" called Lucy, as she raised her arm out of the water and waved at the young man swimming towards them.
She and her teammates began swimming back towards him, and soon they were treading water near enough to each other to talk.
Caspian was laughing as they reached each other. It gave Lucy, Natsu, and Happy a chance to see how much he'd changed. He now looked like he was a few years older than them, and like most Telmarines, had the start of a beard on his face. "What a surprise," he said when he stopped laughing. "I would not have expected to see you return to Narnia in such a way, but considering Natsu's aversion to transportation I guess I can understand it."
Lucy let out an awkward laugh, "Speaking of transportation…"
Caspian understood what she meant and nodded. "Ah, yes, lets all go aboard my ship. The Dawn Treader."
Natsu immediately began to swim away again. "No thanks, I'll just keep swimming."
Lucy rolled her eyes at him. "Happy," she said pointedly.
Happy jumped out of the water and spread his wings. "Aye sir!" he called, flying after Natsu. The Exceed grabbed the Dragon Slayer out of the water and began to carry him towards the ship.
"Happy! You Traitor!" yelled Natsu, as he tried to get free of the cat's grip.
Caspian laughed again, and led Lucy and Romeo (who was a bit shell shocked that he was apparently in the place his older sibling figures had always talked about) to where a board tied to two ropes was waiting to pull them up.
When they got on deck they saw that Natsu had succumbed to his motion sickness and was slumped over pitifully on the deck, much to the amusement of some of the crew. Happy was sitting on a barrel beside him munching on a fish someone had given him.
"Is it just the three of you who came back?" asked Caspian once their feet were on dry ground. He looked back out into the ocean as though expecting (or hoping) to see the other two members of Narnian Royalty in the water.
Lucy shook her head. "Sorry Caspian," she said, realizing Caspian still carried a torch for Erza, whom he confessed his feelings to before they'd left the last time they'd been in Narnia.
"We were at an art museum on a mission to catch a thief who planned to rob it, when we were sucked into a painting," she explained as a deck hand handed her and her Nakama blankets to use as towels. Then she paused and said thoughtfully. "But Erza and Gray were there too, so who knows, maybe they'll be sucked into it too later on."
Caspian looked hopeful at that, than turned his attention to Romeo, who was gaping like a fish at everything and everyone. "So who is your friend?"
Lucy placed a sisterly hand on Romeo's shoulder. "This is Romeo Conbolt," she said. "He's also a member of Fairy Tail, and is a Fire Wizard, though not the same as Natsu. Romeo, this is King Caspian the X, the current King of Narnia, and honorary member of Fairy Tail."
Romeo's eyes widened to saucers at the introduction. "You're the guy who kissed Erza-nee and lived!" he burst out.
Caspian flushed at Romeo's declaration, and many of the crew laughed. "What a way to be remembered for," snickered one man, who appeared to be the Captain.
"Indeed," said another recognizable voice in amusement.
Lucy, Romeo, and Happy turned to see a mouse the same size as the Exceed step out of the gathered crowd and bow to them. "My humble duty to your Majesty," said the mouse to Lucy. "And to King Natsu, too (though I don't believe he can appreciate it in his current state). Nothing except your Majesties' presence was lacking to this glorious ventu-oh!" the mouse let out a startled yelp, as Lucy snatched him up off the floor and gave him a hug.
"Its nice to see you again too, Reepicheep," she said.
"So he does talk?" asked Romeo in wonder. He had heard the animals in Narnia could talk, but it was a thing that needed to be seen to be believed.
"He always talks," said Caspian to Romeo softly. "Actually it's getting him to shut up that's the trick."
Happy was snickering at the look of distress on Reepicheep's face as he was cuddled. "With all possible respect, your Grace, this is very undignified."
"Sorry," Lucy apologized and set him down.
"Why are you complaining," Romeo asked the talking mouse. "Most guys back in Fairy Tail would love to get a hug from Lucy-nee."
Lucy turned red at the implication, and Reepicheep drew his sword and pointed it at Romeo. "How dare you imply such a thing about Queen Lucy," he said haughtily.
Romeo looked confused. "What? I heard it from my Dad a few days ago. He, Wakaba, Gray-nii, Gajeel, and the Master had a whole conversation about it. Well, actually not Gajeel, he said they were being stupid."
Lucy's face turned red for a different reason now. "Remind me to hit them for that when we get back," she muttered angrily.
Reepicheep realized Romeo didn't mean any offence and put his sword away.
A groan reminded them of Natsu's presence. "I don't see what's wrong, Lushi," he groaned. "Lushi gives-urp- the best hugs."
Caspian looked down at his friend in concern. "Is there no way get him on his feet?" he asked.
"Only Wendy's Troia spell, but she's back at the museum. Plus the more she uses it the less of an affect it has," Lucy replied with a helpless shrug.
"Not even your healing cordial?" asked Caspian. "I had heard it has the power to heal any injury or sickness."
Lucy stared at him blankly for a full minute, before slapping herself on the forehead. "Why didn't I ever think of that!" she yelled.
Caspian laughed at her reaction, before turning to a man nearby and said, "Could you fetch Queen Lucy's cordial from my room, please."
The man nodded and hurried off.
"You have it here?" asked Happy curiously.
Caspian nodded. "We have all the Royal Gifts onboard. Lady Erza's sword and horn, Gray's chain mail and shield, Lucy's bow, arrows, and cordial, even your dagger, Happy. The only thing we did not bring was Natsu's coal. We did not think we would need it, and we didn't want it to be ruined by water."
Natsu groaned on the ground, whether it was from the motion sickness or the news he would get to eat his coal was unknown.
The man returned with the Lucy's cordial in hand. She took it from him and gave Natsu a drop of it.
The Dragon Slayer swallowed the medicine, and for a second stayed how he was. Then his eyes popped open and he jumped to his feet, inciting chuckles from the crew.
"I feel great!" he cheered. He turned to Lucy eagerly. "Do you think I'm really cured, or will it wear off like Troia?"
Lucy shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we'll find out."
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Caspian led Lucy to a well-furnished single cabin in the ship. "This was supposed to be my room," he explained. "But as you are the only woman on the ship, you may have it for your own."
Lucy gave the King a grateful smile. "I really appreciate that, but what about you?"
"I will sleep with the rest of the crew," he said waving off her concern. "Natsu and Romeo will sleep there as well."
Lucy got a suspicious look in her eye. She walked over to her new bed and sat down on it, confirming her suspicions that it was very comfortable. "What kind of beds does the crew sleep on?" she asked Caspian, who was watching her actions in confusion.
"Hammocks, to conserve space," he said, wondering what she was frowning about.
Lucy thought back to the time she'd broken into Natsu's house (for revenge) and ended up cleaning the place. She distinctly remembered that Natsu kept a hammock for a bed, which was what led him to constantly break into her place as apparently her bed was more comfortable.
She scowled at the bed, knowing full well that when the Dragon Slayer heard she had the best bed on the boat, he would begin breaking into her cabin to sleep on it just like he did at home.
"Is the bed not to your liking, Lucy?" asked Caspian, who was now hopelessly confused.
"No, no, it's just- Natsu…" she tried to think of a way to explain her dense partner's behavior in a way that Caspian wouldn't misunderstand (especially after it had taken her forever to convince him that she and Natsu were not married, like the history books had mistakenly claimed). Coming up with nothing she just sighed and said, "Oh never mind, I'm sure you'll find out about it this evening, or tomorrow morning."
Caspian was still thoroughly confused, but relented in his questioning, and opened his closet doors, and began pulling out some sets of clothes. "You may borrow my clothes while yours dry off. I will take some to Natsu and Romeo as well."
Lucy shook her head. "Thank you, but no thank you. I'll have Virgo bring me some clothes from the Celestial Spirit world. And I'm sure Natsu and Romeo will use their fire magic to dry their own clothes off, so there is no need."
Caspian nodded as he remembered the dress the Maiden Spirit had brought Lucy during one of their raids on his Uncle's armies. "Then I will leave you to change," he said, taking his own clothes and leaving the room.
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Lucy met up with the others in the navigation room after Virgo had brought her the dress she'd worn during the Tower of Heaven incident. Like she'd predicted, Natsu and Romeo had both used their magic to dry themselves off. Happy currently looked like a puffball from Romeo towel drying his fur, but he didn't seem to mind.
As she walked in she noticed Natsu and Caspian talking over a table with a map. She came up to them just in time to hear Natsu say, "So when'd you stop talking all formal like? Not that I'm complaining, but before we left getting you to call us by our names was like pulling teeth."
"Hey, you're right," said Lucy, realizing that not once had he referred to her as 'Lady Lucy,' as he had always done in the past.
Caspian looked a bit bashful. "When I was crowned King, and Queen Erza made me an honorary member of your guild, I figured that put us on enough equal ground that I could call you as such."
He paused to gage their reactions. Natsu burst out laughing. "You mean that's all it took? Then we would have done that way sooner. Being called King Natsu, or Sir Natsu all the time made me sound like a geezer."
Romeo had finished drying off Happy and had moved to look over the map on the table. "So where is this ship going anyway?" he asked.
"Ah yes," said Caspian. He motioned to a board where the pictures of seven men were tacked onto it. "Before my Uncle took the throne, he made sure to get rid of my father's supporters. Seven of his most loyal Lords were sent on a quest across the Eastern Sea. None of whom have returned."
"Are these are them?" asked Natsu looking over the pictures.
"Yes," said Caspian. "But they are renditions of how they looked when they were last seen, back when I was a child. I'm sure they've aged a good bit since then."
"So I'm guessing you're trying to find them?" asked Happy. "What about Narnia?"
"After your departure from Narnia three years ago ("It's only been a few months our time," put in Natsu), I was able to beat back the wicked Giants of the North, and defeated the Calormen armies, all of whom thought it would be a good time to strike. At the moment, Narnia is at peace, so I thought it would be an opportune time to seek out the Lords. Not to worry. I left the Narnian Council (which is now headed by Trumpkin, by the way) in charge of the country in my absence," Caspian explained
Lucy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well if we're here, and there's no trouble in Narnia, maybe that means something is going to happen on this voyage of yours that we need to be here for."
"Perhaps," said Caspian. "No one in recorded history has ever sailed farther east than the Lone Islands and returned. We intend to stop there first to see if we can find some clues as to the Lord's whereabouts."
"That's not to say there aren't some who have tried," spoke up the ship's captain, who was introduced as Lord Drinian. "But as King Caspian said, none have ever returned. Though there are rumors of what lies in the waters beyond. Tales of sea serpents and things you could barely imagine."
"Enough, Captain," said Caspian in amusement. "That's enough of your tall tales."
It was clear to Caspian that the Captain had just been trying to spook the ships newest recruits. It seemed to work on Lucy, who was now looking a bit freaked out. But Natsu reacted just how Caspian had expected him to.
"Sea Serpents! Awesome" he cheered. "I can't wait to fight one! I'm all fired up!"
"Aye sir!" cheered Happy.
"Only you'd find that awesome," groaned Lucy.
"Natsu-nii, if you fight a sea serpent, can I help? Asked Romeo eagerly.
"Sure, we'll roast that fish."
Drinian gave Caspian a befuddled look at their reactions, and the King shrugged in response. "That's just how they are," said the King, who was just happy some of his friends had returned to share in this adventure with him.
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A/N Lucy's cordial (both the one in this and the one in canon) can cure seasickness. I know because in the book Eustace got seasick, and that Lucy was able to cure him.
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