Chapter 3

Grand Line- Hancock's POV

We were about 30 minutes into the storm. The Kuja women have summoned me outside, saying that there was no way out; none that they could find, at least.

When I stepped out of my room, I was greeted with a very thick fog looming down on our ship. And there was that same sound of.. static. Louder.

I looked around the deck and saw many of the women staring at me, scared expressions plastered onto their faces.

"O-onee-sama!", Sandersonia called from the far end of the ship. She, too, looked scared.

"Sonia..", I said, dragging my feet over to her. "Why have you called me out here?"

"Well, you see, onee-sama.. w-we can't navigate our way through this storm.", she turned to me. The expression on her face... was half as scared as that time... back in Mariejoa.. I don't want to think about that.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Not only that this is the thickest fog we have faced, but the water seems to have thickened too.. and the log pose isn't any help either.", Sonia showed me the handy log pose Cosmos has always carried around. The pointy end wasn't pointing north; it was spiraling out of control.

"So..", I dimly stated. "It is not only that you can't navigate through this storm... this ship won't move either..?"

Sonia flinched, then looked down. "Y-yes, onee-sama."

"Have you made use of Marigold's hawk?", I asked, Mari's pet hawk came into mind.

"Yes we have, onee-sama. We sent her to find land but she keeps coming back about 10 minutes later. We did that about 3 times before we decided to bring you out here, onee-sama."

"How about the Yudas?"

"A-ah! No, onee-sama.. not yet.", Sonia stiffened up and started to move.

I put a hand in front of her and walked ahead. "No need. I'll do it myself."

I could tell. I could tell why they were scared. There was that feeling in the air. We don't know if its just us, or if theres really anything to be scared about. But that just missing knowledge; that one thing we don't know, its scaring the crap out of everyone- even me. We can't help but be scared. But I can't show it them, I'm their captain. And I need to stay strong. Something was going to happen. Something big. And I don't know what will happen to us. But I could tell that it won't be anything that we faced before. Sonia... every woman on board knows this too.. but they won't admit it to themselves because thats the way they were raised on Amazon Lily. Brave and strong.

I hope... that they'll be okay.

When I got to the Yudas, they turned to me. There... again. The same scared expression on their faces. I looked up at them, with a hopeful face. Yes, the storm can't last forever, at the very least, let them live to tell our tales. "Go. Find home. Tell them that we won't be back... for a while."

"O-Onee-sama!", Mari and Sonia uttered in unison.

"Go.", I urged. The Yudas moaned in sadness. But they know that they can't disobey me. So they shook themselves loose of the only thing that connected them to the ship- and us, and took one last glance at us before diving underwater.

Though they were indeed monsters, nonetheless, they're still part of our crew. I don't know how they will be able to tell our stories, or if they will even see my command through. But at the very least, they will live. I hope.

"Onee-sama..", Mari whispered. I took a deep breath before fixing my expression.

I turned to the rest of the Kuja women and smiled. "Alright, pirates. Prepare yourself.", I declared in a strong, loud voice. "I guarantee that we will die."

At this, I heard a few gasps and saw widened eyes.

"It might be decades from now, or it might be on one of our future voyages.", I bitterly laughed, lightening their expressions. "Or it might be now. But no matter, we, women have experienced the taste of adventure, curiosity, trust and love. We have seen and obtained the glory of power and the ruling of the sea. Though, we are feared, and as pirates, we have a bad reputation, this will be no obstacle between us. The Amazon Lily women are strong and independent, but most of all, we have trust between each other. Even if one of us lies.", I chuckled. "We will be forgiven because we are beautiful!"

I panted, and smiled reassuringly. I heard the static sound grow louder. I look around at the pirates. Yes, they are beautiful. Some of them had silent tears rolling down their cheeks. Some smiled meekingly, looking down. Sonia and Mari looked at each other, proud smirks on their faces.

"B-but Hebihime-sama..", a tiny voice spoke up. I looked at the sorce of the comment and found the small Blue Fan. "H-how about Luffy-sama?"

I felt a chill travel down my spine as my body stiffened. Yes... how about Luffy..?

I look down at my feet. Yes, Luffy... something was going to happen.. and he has no way of finding out. But.. thats good right? Because if he found out, we'll just get in the way.

Luffy... he's out there somewhere. He's sailing and smiling with the friends- no.. family.. with the family he loves so much. And if I ever cross his mind, he's going to remember Amazon Lily, and he's going to think I'm at Amazon Lily. There was no way he could ever know that I was going to leave.. and he won't know until he becomes the King of Pirates; until he finds the One Piece.

I smiled weakly at Blue Fan. "Don't worry. Not only Luffy, but all our loved ones... are made sure to know that we love them. And don't be so sure that our faith is made, even though the light at the end of the tunnel is a train."

The women all looked at each other, smiling hesitately. By now, the static is louder, and is visible. The webs of blue electricity crawled on top of the water and made a giant water crater, ingulfing our pirate ship. There was water seeping in through every cracks.

I turned around and looked at my women one last time; Ran was trying to reach me in the thick water. Daisy was trying to climb on the railing. Cosmos was squeezing her puppy with her eyes shut tight. Rindo was carrying Blue Fan, also trying to climb on the railings. Aphelandra tripped and was falling overboard. Sweet Pea, in a failing attempt, was trying to reach for her hand. Mari's hawk was trying to fly off with her, but she was too heavy. Bacura was hopping from railings to mast, getting as high as possible. Salome was wrapped around my feet. Margaret was also trying to reach me. Sonia and Mari were struggling in the shoulder high water. Right... they can't swim... and I... also can't swim.

By the time I realized this, the thick, sea water has already reached my ears. I tried to scream, but as Sonia has stated, the water was too thick for us to move around in. It was almost jelly-like. But there was this smell... of something burnt- or exploded. I have never smelled it before. But I will remember it.. because its the thing- the darn, bloody thing, that seperated us all.

Everyone... Luffy... I love you.

Fairy Tail- Erza's POV

I rush into the infirmary room and found Natsu sitting on the wooden floor, Lucy in his arms. Gray pushed past me and slid in front of him. I followed after him and crouched next to the ice wizard.

"Oi! Natsu! Snap out of it!", Gray shouted.

I look at Natsu's face. It was nearly undescribable; his eyes were wide, his pupils were shrunken in pure terror. His face was pale and he was trembling. Tears were rolling down his white cheeks.

"N-Natsu! Look at me- Natsu, look at me!", I winced.

I choked on my own words, finding it really hard to say the right things. I've never seen him this... scared before. Then I see why.

My eyes followed his arms, to his hand, which was resting on top of her chest. I was undecided... wether to continue looking... or to run outside of the room and cry.

I didn't want to see.

But she was there.. Lucy Heartfilia... was there. In the arms of the person who she was safest with. Bleeding... frozen... still...

.

Dead?

Lisanna rushed next to Natsu and grabbed Lucy's wrist. I could recognize the terrified expression on her face, as with Gray and with Mirajane and Freed, who were waiting outside. She frantically searched for a pulse, holding very tightly onto her wrist. Her eyes were nearly as wide as Natsu's.

A minute later, Lisanna fell down on her ass and sighed a relief sigh. At that, I released the breath I've been holding for what felt like so long.

Lucy... she's okay.

I averted my attention back to the paralyzed salamander. "Natsu... I'm sorry.", I whispered.

"Ihh...", he breathed.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Its... our fault."

"What's our fault, Natsu?"

"Mina!", a small, high voice sounded. I look up and saw Wendy running towards us. She sat down next to Lisanna and turned to Natsu and Lucy. When her eyes landed on Lucy, she fell back, holding her mouth.

"Ahh... ahhh...!", she gasped. "L-Lucy-san!"

"Wendy, you said that she would be okay.", Gray spoke up. "What happened?"

"W-well... I meant... I...", Wendy took a deep breath. "A headache is guaranteed from a hit like that. B-but considering how strong Lucy-san is, and how understanding she is, I thought that it would just be a breeze. You know- let time pass and let the headache fade away. I didn't think she would reopen the wound. And-"

"Wait... wound?", Gray interrupted.

"The lacrima broke her skull a little and I-"

"Whoa! WHOA! Broke her SKULL?!"

"Y-yes, Gray-san. It broke her skull."

"But, Wendy, why didn't you tell us?", I asked.

The little girl looked down and sighed. "It wasn't a major injury. But it wasn't a minor one either. I figured that if I just patch it up a little and let her sleep through it, it would heal again. And it wouldn't make anyone worry. Again, I didn't think she would reopen the wound."

"But earlier, you said that Lucy was strong and understanding... so she would've been able to get through it.", Lisanna said.

Wendy looked at her, then at us, then at Natsu, who has recovered and was listening into the conversation, then at Lucy. She raised a hand and put it over the blonde's heart, making Natsu flinch and growl.

"Right now... it isn't about the injury or her brain.", Wendy whispered, closing her eyes to read Lucy's heart.

"What do you mean...", Natsu vaguely asked.

Her eyes widened before a tear slipped down the little girl's rosy cheeks. "The heart can only take so much... I think... I think.. its because we have ignored her for too long.. that she felt a giant piece of her slip away for the last two months. Just..- I'm sorry..", Wendy cried more. "Just like how Lucy made us into Fairy Tail.. just like how she made me Wendy, you Erza, you Gray... how she completes who we are.. we made her Lucy... I can't- I can't imagine how she must have felt..! For a giant missing hole to exist inside you and the people you thought were the closest to you couldn't even notice..! She.. didn't want anymore.. of the pain. But we didn't help her..."

"Wendy, what are you talking abou-", Gray started.

"WE KILLED HER!", Wendy cried. "W-we... killed Lucy-san. It was all our fault...! A person... can only be so strong... she tried her best.. to carry it on her frail shoulders.. but..! I-I'm sorry, Lucy-san!"

Wendy got up and pushed through the crowd outside the door.

Gray stood up and started punching the walls. Lisanna sobbed on the corner by the beds. While Natsu... hung his head, silent.

I felt the tears threatening to slip out. I didn't know how serious the situation was... wether Lucy will just wake up and accept our apologies.. or the opposite. But I had the urge to scream and destroy everything. That guilt welling up inside of me was just too much to handle... just like how it was too much for her. What Wendy said was true. We knew that Lucy was feeling left out, since thats what we intended. But we never saw how big the hole we have made inside her heart... even though she was always there.

"Oh.. Lucy..", I gasped. "I'm sorry... can you forgive me?", I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Lucy... Can you forgive me? Lucy! Lucy! L-"

I felt arms wrap around my waist, lifting me up. I looke behind me and found Mira, looking away in guilt. "M-Mira! W-what're you doing?! L-Luc-"

"Later, Erza. Later.", she said, a stinging feeling in her voice.

I saw the Natsu and Lucy getting farther away. Mira was dragging me away. "I need to-"

"No.", she replied, coldly. "Wait later. Everybody else feels as guilty as you, Natsu especially. Leave him alone with her for now."

I look back at the infirmary. Natsu had stood up and set Lucy down on one of the other beds.

He grabbed his hair and started pulling it. "No! NO! No!.. NO!...", he repeated. He was vicuously flailing while pulling his hair. "NO! No! No...! NO!"

Just before the other mages completely blocked the doorway, Natsu fell to his knees.

"LUUUUUUUCCCCYYY!"

Then, he caught on fire.