Underneath the Metalicana's mighty hull powerful screws began to turn, increasing its speed massively. From the dragon-head on the prow, a large spear-like ram began to unfurl. With a bawdy laugh, Gajeel ordered 'ramming speed' and drove his ship right into one of the Kraken's many arms. With an awful squelch, the mollusc's arm bisected, the tendril falling lifeless into the sea.

With a bizarre subsonic wail, the Kraken announced its rage and tentacles lashed out at Gajeel and his ship. There was no way that he could dodge them, so he didn't even try. As the nearest reached him, he leapt off of his boat, driving his sword into the arm. Stuck fast, the blade was fully capable of supporting his weight.

Levy screamed as the Metalicana slammed into the waves next to her, propelled by the Kraken's strike. She was bewildered that the vessel was still whole. What the hell was it made of? She realized that Lily was chattering from the deck and she swam over and clambered aboard.

Gajeel swung around, and a second tentacle fell away as his sword cut through flesh. But with his purchase gone, Gajeel was falling and bless its evil heart, but the Kraken was aiming for that, it's awful, beak-like mouth directly underneath him, rising out of the water.

"Thanks, I was hoping for that," Gajeel shouted, letting go of his sword and drawing a pair of long pistols. No matter how big, how dangerous, all beasts had one vulnerable area, and the Kraken's were huge. His guns roared and both of the Kraken's eyes ruptured. It screamed a vile noise in its pain and Gajeel hurled aside his spent pistols and grabbed his sword.

Roaring a battle cry, Gajeel surged downwards and drove his sword into the Kraken's mantle. Levy gasped as the beast disappeared beneath the waves, taking Gajeel with it. Seemingly unconcerned, his monkey dove into the water and retrieved the guns, shaking the water out of them.

"Just how smart are you?" Levy gasped at the monkey. She could have sworn that it smiled in response.

Gajeel resurfaced, spluttering and swam to the boat. He shook out his dreads like a wet dog. The little woman was looking at him like he was a madman or something.

"Did you kill that thing by yourself?" She cried.

"What? No, of course not! I just needed some air. He'll be back in a second. Poor bastard's down to sonar now, you can't expect him to be quick anymore." Gajeel said it as if it was all obvious, matter of fact. In the near distance, tentacles speared through the water's surface.

"What are we gonna do?" Levy croaked, clearly panicking.

"Nothing."

"NOTHING!?" Levy shrieked.

"Jeez, learn to read the situation, Shorty!" As if to underscore his point, the Kraken suddenly slammed sideways. Levy never really saw it, but it was the whale. Instead of retreating, the clever mammal knew that escape was impossible for it and had come back in to help. Powerful jaws clamped down on the Kraken's mantle…which had no skull to protect its brain. Tentacles spasmed for a long minute, and then it was still.

High pitched clicks and squeals echoed through the water.

"You're welcome!" Gajeel called with a wave. "Enjoy your meal, big guy!"

"I…uh, thank you for saving me!" Levy stammered, trying to regain her bearings on life. The tall man turned to glare at her and she shrank back.

"Your name," he ground out, "what was it again?"

"Um…Levy McGarden?" She asked, as if she was unsure of the answer.

"Right, McGarden," Gajeel sighed as if that was the final piece of the puzzle he'd been searching for. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the locket. The reaction was instantaneous. Levy hurled herself at him, practically clambering up him in her desperation to get it back. "Calm down, Shorty! I'm gonna give it back! Jeez!"

"It's important!" She retorted, clutching it to her chest.

"It's your dad, right?" He asked gently. She looked incredibly angry at that. How dare he look inside? "I mean, he looks a bit like you, same hair colour, an older guy."

"Yes, he is," she replied curtly.

"I think I understand you now, Shorty. McGarden. That's the name of a whole bunch of wordy people, right?"

"Linguists and translators," she huffed. "Not 'wordy people'."

"So it stands to reason that if someone owned the Dead Sea Scrolls and wanted them translated, they'd go to your family, right? And about a year ago, the scrolls went missing, just after a translator was found. That…was your dad, right?"

"Shut up!" Levy shouted, tears in her eyes. "I don't need you to remind me!"

"The boat went missing with all hands. It could have been a storm…or even one of those beasts, but it appears that it was attacked by pirates. They took the scroll and killed everyone who stood in their way. Including your father."

"SHUT UP!" Levy screamed, pounding her fists against Gajeel's chest. "This adventure is all that I have left of him! To complete the goal that he wanted to accomplish!"

"I understand," Gajeel said gently.

"How could you!?"

Gajeel sighed. "I was five years old when pirates came to my island. I can't remember much of it, I was just too young. But there are things that I cannot forget. There was fire, and shouting, lots of it. My father running out to meet them with the other men of the village. His back rushing to fight was the last thing that I ever saw of him."

Levy was silent, listening intently as tears glistened in the corner of Gajeel's eyes.

"And then I remember my mum, shielding me as men burst into the house. They shot her dead as she cradled me. Two left, but one decided to stay…for reasons that I don't like to think about. It should have been over for me, but old man Makarov was there, driving the pirates away…he's a great man."

Gajeel sniffled, wiping his eyes.

"So if you want to tell me that you have feelings based on a dead parent, then yes, I understand. I understand very well."

"I…I'm sorry. I understand why you hate pirates so much now," Levy said, head hung. "B…but, I'm not like them! It's not what it should be about! It's about the thrill of adventure…" She trailed off as she looked down at herself. She was sodden and all banged up. "But, it's too much for me. I'm not big or strong enough to do it. Here, you're after this, right?"

Levy drew the scroll and offered it to Gajeel. He looked at it for a long moment and then moved, walking over to the steering wheel. He grinned.

"So, which way is it to the next island?"

Levy blinked, her smile slowly spreading. "Are you serious?"

"What sort of cold-hearted bastard would I be to deny a girl her dying father's wish? Come on Shorty Mcshorterson, let's go find this treasure!" Levy was so happy that it took a few moments for the insult to sink in. She went violently red.

"My name is not Shorty! I just look small compared to those two Leviathans!"

"I know, I'll call you Leviathan! It'll be ironic, get it? Cuz you're really small, and they're really big! Gihihihihi!"

"You know, Leviathan's a long word," Levy said, eyebrow twitching. "Why don't you shorten it to Levi?"

"Good idea, Levi!" Gajeel replied, not quite understanding why the Shrimp was smiling like that. After all, he'd already forgotten her name. Lily shook his head, as ever the smarter of the duo. Levy looked down and tapped the decking.

"I don't understand how this ship survived the big octopus. It smashed my boat to kindling."

"The deck's wood, but the vessel itself is crafted out of iron! The Metalicana's the strongest ship on the great sea! Gihihihi!"

"You're lying to me," Levy pouted. "Iron can't float, it's too heavy. Boats have to be made of wood."

"Well Levi, it looks like there's a few things about seafaring that I can teach you. We've got a while to go, after all!"

They went on their merry adventure, and Gajeel was amazed to watch the small girl read the bizarre scroll so easily. With Gajeel's help reading the stars for navigation, they quickly reached the third island. There was a series of deep pools on the island. Gajeel watched as Levy deciphered which one held the treasure. But, she moped, it was too deep for her.

Gajeel dived down and down through twisting caverns where the only light was bizarre luminescent fungi growing on the walls. At the bottom, he found the third coin marked with the kanji of water and resurfaced.

"You're amazing!" Levy gushed, blushing as she registered what she'd just said.

"It's just cuz my lungs aren't all titchy, Levi!" He said with a big smirk.

They travelled onwards to the fourth and final island. Along the way, Levy watched as Gajeel slaughtered a passing fish for food. The blasted thing was bigger than the boat! She missed a certain level of sanity in her life, but felt like she could get used to this.

The final island was almost like an entire musical instrument carved out of rock. Gajeel was amazed to hear the notes as wind blew through the opening in rock faces, like a giant ocarina. Levy followed the sounds effortlessly, the scroll telling her which was the right notes. Opening after opening passed, until she found the coin of air.

"You're pretty good with this clever stuff," Gajeel remarked.

Couldn't have done it without you!" She beamed back. "But we've got all four keys now! Time to head to the final destination!"

They went on, travelling across the cerulean ocean waves under Levy's guidance and Gajeel's nautical prowess. It took a few days, but an island came into view. It looked a bit like a mountain poking out of the water…but it was actually a volcano. A long extinct caldera. As they came closer, they began to notice other things. Along the mountain walls it looked like casements had been carved out of the very rock. Cannons poked out of every nook and cranny. A dozen galleons were moored at the volcano's base.

"It's a pirate citadel," Gajeel noted. "A big one. Look at that flag."

Levy looked up at the Jolly Roger flying over the mountaintop. The skull was like that of a hunting cat with large teeth.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"The Sabretooth Pirates. The largest and most powerful pirate crew in these parts. So that's where the bastards have been hiding. They must have found the treasure, damn them!"

"No!" Levy waved her hands about frantically, trying to get Gajeel's attention. "They may have found the place it's hidden, but they can't open it without the keys! We still have a chance!"

"Levi, are you telling me you want to break into the citadel of the most powerful pirate crew on the planet?"

"Um…well…," she stammered.

"Great! Let's go!"

"WHAT!?"

"GIHI! Didn't I tell you that the Metalicana is the most powerful boat on the great sea? It's time to show you this dragon's roar!"