~ Real Nightmare ~
The ship had just done a 180 degree turn and according to Erza, we were now "in the right direction". Erza was behind the steering wheel. I sat at the bottom of the center mast, a few meters away from Natsu in the sleeping bag. I was Coco's supervisor, and Gray was Mary's supervisor. (Yes, that purple-haired girl was called Mary Hughes.) Coco was high up on the center mast, doing her stuff. Truthfully, I felt worried for the little girl as I watched her ascend the pole. But she was fast and agile, rendering my worries unnecessary.
"Lucy!" Erza called and I reflexively whipped round to look at her. "Come here, Lucy!"
"Be right there!" I yelled back. I looked at Coco apprehensively. Will she try something if I leave for a moment? Better not risk it.
"Natsu, can you hear me?" I whispered softly such that Coco, high up on the mast, could not hear me. But with Natsu's dragon-hearing, I was sure he heard me. "Watch the girl while I go see Erza, okay?"
"Ok!" Natsu replied in his normal volume, loud enough for my ears.
And then I walked away to see what Erza wanted. When I got there, she was struggling with a book under her arm, a compass in her right hand, and a large map (of Earth Land, not the treasure map) in her left. At that sight, I rushed up to her and relieved her of the book and the compass.
"Thanks." And then she held the map straight before her with both hands. "According to this map, we should head northeast…" Erza said without looking up from the map.
As I stood there like a coat hanger, I idly noticed the compass' needle spinning unsteadily. That's… not how it's supposed to be…
"Hey Erza, this compass looks spoiled."
"What! No! It's the only one I could find on the ship!" Her face frowned with worry as she grabbed the compass from me and shook it agitatedly. She was unwilling to accept defeat at the hands of yet another obstacle that was thrown at her. Looking at her trying her best, I really wanted to help her. All my life, I kept receiving help from everyone because I was surrounded by maids who did everything for me. Don't get me wrong- I love them, they weren't just my maids. They were my only friends for the first 16 years of my life. But right now, I loved that I could finally be of some use to someone other than myself.
"Don't shoulder all the responsibility by yourself, Erza." I gave Erza a reassuring smile, passed her the book and then I pointed a silver key in midair. "Open the Gate of the Compass! Pyxis!"
"Pikuuuu!" A bird with a compass on its head cooed. Then that compass' needle spun madly, and when it stopped, Pyxis pointed towards Northeast with both his wings.
"Thanks, Lucy, you're a big help!" Her frown had cleared up and she was now smiling.
"Pikuu!" Pyxis refused to not be acknowledged.
"You too, Pyxis!" Erza smiled and then after referring to the book, she pulled a lever at the side and started turning the steering wheel, setting us on course.
Grey clouds loomed. The wind howled and the sky rumbled; a storm was brewing.
It seemed like forever that we were out at sea, and I was half-convinced we were lost, but Erza insisted that we weren't. Night time on the ship felt like we were on an isolated island as everything surrounding us was dark. I was bored as I sat leaning against the center mast. I didn't really have to keep an eye on Coco anymore, because Erza took over once she confirmed we were on track. Also, secretly- I don't know how to explain it- I felt like Coco would not harm us. So, I just sat there, yawning and nodding off.
It was a mistake, to let my guard down like that.
A loud crash shocked me wide awake and when I opened my eyes, the front mast was no longer standing. At the other end of the deck where the front mast had collapsed, icy blue streaks shot forward, aiming for the purple-headed silhouette that belonged to Mary Hughes. She sprang and somersaulted backwards nimbly, avoiding all of Gray's lances. Finally, when she neared the edge of the ship, she hopped onto the railings and jumped off. I stood there, dazed. It all happened so fast that I couldn't react.
Plop! Water splattered onto my cheek and I came round from my daze. I wiped my cheek and looked up. Plop! Plop! Plop! Three more droplets splattered on me. It had started to rain and in no time at all, the drizzle became a full on storm. I refocused on the current situation and I saw Gray. He now bent over the railings where Mary Hughes had jumped off, looking for signs of her.
It was too late; Mary Hughes had disappeared into the waters. And she had made sure to sabotage the ship before she escaped.
Panic arose within me as the pitter patter of rain on the wooden floors resounded and the ship got knocked around by the waves.
"Erza!" I yelled, scanning the entire deck for her. Through the curtain of rain, I saw her, running towards the fallen mast. She put her hands around it and tried to lift it up, but then stopped and shouted, "Gray, get over here!"
With Gray's help, and with much difficulty, the mast lifted off the deck for a few inches. Can they fix it? No, they need more help. As I raised a golden key up, I yelled, "Open the Gate of the Goat! Capricorn!"
"You called meh?" A very tall goat appeared in a butler outfit, his right hand on his left chest.
"Capricorn! Go! Help them lift the mast!" He sprinted in their direction. I knew with his enhanced strength, he would easily be able to lift it.
Then, there was a foreboding crack from behind me and I swiveled round. The center mast was tilting, the roaring winds further aiding it. Like a tree whose trunk had almost completely been sawed through, the mast swayed.
"Hyaaa!" A high pitched shriek came from above. Coco!
She dangled in the air, holding on for her dear life. But the rain was merciless and it drenched everything. Coco struggled to hang onto the pole but in the end she slipped. Watching her fall, my body acted on its own. I dived forward and caught her just before she hit the floor. With my rough landing on the wet floor, I skid across the deck and only stopped when my back hit the railings. Ouch, that hurt.
I thought the worst was over, but when I looked up, I saw my impending doom. The unstable center mast was about to land on me and I had no time to escape. I tightened my arms around the girl, and winced in preparation for the huge impact. But after two seconds, I didn't feel it.
I half-opened my eyes precariously. When I saw Capricorn, holding up the mast above his head, both my eyes flew wide open in astonishment. Then with a grunt, he threw the mast aside and helped me and the girl up. As soon as we were standing, Coco pushed me away and then she shouted over the droning sound of raindrops, "Why did you save me?! Aren't we enemies?!"
But before I could answer, the ship rocked violently and anyone who was standing was now on the floor. I held onto the railings for support as I looked around. It was complete chaos. The ship had significantly tipped towards the direction which both the front mast and the center mast had collapsed. The wreckage was beyond salvageable.
Natsu had been jostled out of his sleeping bag, and he now sprawled against the railings. I can't imagine how he felt; it must feel like a nightmare for him. But this was not all smooth sailing for the rest of us either. My eyes searched for Erza and Gray, and I found Gray in the same spot, but now on the floor and leaning against the railings. Then I saw Erza run into the captain's chambers like her life depended on it.
"ERZA!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. What was she doing? I worried that some mishap might have befallen her. But then she emerged from the captain's chambers with a rectangular black box in her hands.
"The ship is useless now!" Erza yelled. "We have to evacuate!"
"How?" We all shouted over the rumbling storm. And then, unexpectedly, with a final toss by the ruthless waves, the ship jerked and I was flung overboard.
I didn't know what happened next. I didn't know what happened to everyone else.
Hell, I didn't even know whether I would live.
"Wake up! Lucy, wake up!"
Someone nudged me and I stirred.
"Lucy, wake up!" It was the same voice. It was Natsu's voice.
Then came Erza's. "Lucy, can you hear me?"
I coughed and spluttered, and then my eyes slowly opened. My vision was blurry, but after two blinks, my eyes focused and I saw three concerned faces who soon relaxed when they saw I was awake. Slowly, I sat up, propping myself up on my elbow. I saw Erza still held the black box, but the ship was gone. So all that really happened… It wasn't a dream.
"The ship sank." Erza said as she helped me to my feet.
"That Mary Hughes didn't even care if her crewmates drowned!" Gray was fuming.
"Those Zentopia bastards… That's no way to treat their crewmates." Natsu was angry too, and for once he agreed with Gray on something.
I was detached from the conversation. I was just coming to terms with what just happened, recalling and sorting out the memories. Everything felt so surreal. I remembered falling off the ship and drowning under the powerful waves. But that's about it. I must have blacked out after awhile. I thought I was dead for sure, but by some stroke of luck, here I was, safe with everyone. Where is this place anyway?
"Where are we?" I asked as I observed the setting. It was still night time, and all I could see was a sandy beach that stretched for miles. Further in the background, I could roughly make out what was dense vegetation.
Erza smiled when she replied. "I think we were so close to Galuna Island that we washed up onto its shore."
Oh! "Where's Coco?" I suddenly remembered her.
"Who?" Natsu had a clueless look.
"That girl." I just said.
"Don't know. She was gone when I woke." Gray said.
"Yeah, it was just the four of us on the shore when I woke up too." Erza confirmed Gray's statement.
Oh… I was contemplative for a moment. And then I questioned, "How do you know this is Galuna Island?"
"I don't know," Erza said. But then she pointed into the distance and continued, "But you see the way the coastline curves like that? I'm willing to bet it's Galuna Island's crescent shape."
That made sense. Plus, if we had really been heading in the right direction, then Galuna Island would be the nearest land and we would have naturally been swept up on its shore.
"But of course, just to double check, Happy is flying over the island." I hadn't noticed Happy's absence until Erza said that.
"And when he comes back, we'll go find the treasure!" Natsu was his usual overly-energetic self again.
"We don't even know that it's Galuna Island yet! At least think with your brain once in a while!" Gray shouted.
"My brain is fine! Unlike yours," Natsu retorted. "Put on some clothes before you talk about me, pervert."
That was when Gray himself (and I, too) realized that he had subconsciously stripped down to boxers only. "EH!" He looked down, honestly shocked, at his striped boxers. Had he really not realized it?
"What an idiot." Natsu continued.
Then Gray grabbed Natsu by his scarf and yelled in his face, "Did you just call me an idiot, you flaming piece of shit?!"
"You got a problem with it, you perverted punk?!"
"Someone with such weird fashion sense shouldn't talk about my clothes!"
"Says the person who doesn'twear any!"
"Stop fighting!" Erza shouted as she smacked the back of both their heads. "And put some clothes on, Gray."
They immediately stopped arguing but Gray still didn't put on any clothes.
"What do we do now, while we wait for Happy?" I asked and then I sneezed, even though I didn't feel cold. I had fallen into the sea so many times today that I got used to the wet feeling. Speaking of which, my clothes were filthy! There's sand stuck all over it and it smelled. Then I looked at everybody else's clothes. Erza was fine because she wore armour. Natsu wore black so any dirt wasn't very visible. And Gray… well, he had no clothes to speak of.
"We build a campfire and camp for the night. It's been a rough day. And whether this is the island or not, we'll need our strength when morning comes." Erza decided.
"Gray, aren't you going to put some clothes on?" I tried to look him straight in the face without feeling embarrassed but it was hard. He was still in his boxers.
"I can't, I don't know where my clothes went."
"Oh."
Gray and I were not too deep in the jungle, gathering branches and pieces of wood.
"Hmm… then, do you like being naked?" The question just slipped out of my mouth and I felt my face heat up as soon as I said it.
"No! Of course not!" He quickly replied, anxious to save his image, so that I didn't get the wrong idea. It was funny to see his reaction and I giggled.
"Then let's get some clothes. I wanna change out of this dirty outfit too." I smiled and then I summoned Virgo, "Open the Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" The pink-haired, blue-eyed girl appeared in a maid uniform.
"Is it time for punishment, hime-sama?" She half-bowed with her right hand across her chest.
"Err… No." Why does she always ask me that? "Can you get us some clothes?"
"Certainly." She said, and then with a glow, a stack of folded clothes appeared in her hands.
I handed Gray the clothes. "Here, put these on."
"Thanks."
In about 5 minutes, we had both changed. I wore a pink camisole and a dark blue mini skirt. For Gray, it was a black T-shirt with an unbuttoned dark blue shirt and pants.
Of course, I didn't change in front of him; I changed behind a tree. When I was done, I thanked Virgo. To which she replied, "Am I going to be punished now, hime-sama?" After I told her no, she went back to the Celestial world. And then Gray and I started making our way back to the beach.
"Time for punishment, hime-sama?" Gray repeated mockingly after Virgo left. He's making fun of me!?
"Eek! Don't copy her!"
But he just laughed at me.
"I didn't tell her to call me that! She just did it on her own! And that punishment thing is her own thing too!" It was my turn to try and save my image.
"Yeah, sure."
Before long, we were back at the beach and Gray dropped the sticks onto the ground.
"We're back!" I announced.
"Oh, that was fast." Erza responded. "And I see you've put on some clothes, Gray."
"Keh! He'll just lose them again in no time…" Natsu scoffed.
"Where did you guys get the clothes?" Erza asked casually after she saw that I had changed too.
"Lucy's maid appeared."
"She's not my maid! She's my Celestial Spirit!" I corrected Gray.
"She's totally a maid! She calls you 'hime-sama'!" Gray would not stop teasing me.
All of a sudden, Natsu breathed fire in Gray's direction and Gray's shirt caught fire. But Gray swiftly put out the flame with his ice magic. Still, it was too late for the shirt and Gray was topless again.
"What was that for, you flame for brains?!" Gray yelled.
"I just felt like it." Though Natsu said it with a childish smile, something about him seemed off.
"Argh! I'm going to kill you!" And then Gray tackled Natsu. The two of them started brawling on the sand while I stood there dumbfounded.
At that moment, Erza stepped in. "Oi! Break it up!" She jumped straight in between them and broke up the fight. She was about to scold them but then Happy returned.
"Everyone!" That small voice directed all our attention to the blue flying cat in the dark sky. "Everyone, there's trouble!" The atmosphere became serious.
"What is it?" Erza asked.
"A Zentopia ship is approaching!"
What! "Another one?" I exclaimed and I turned towards the sea. But nothing was in sight.
"I don't see anything!" Natsu said as he looked out at the sea as well.
"It's not in the sea! It's flying in the sky!" Happy's voice was fearful.
A pirate sky ship?! Where did Zentopia get their devices from?!
"How far away is it?" Erza asked the practical questions.
But Natsu answered this time. "It's near. I can hear it." His tone was solemn and he had a serious look on his face.
"So they've come to us instead huh? I can't wait to get back at them for what Mary Hughes did." Gray was prepared too.
"How many people are coming?" Erza asked Happy.
"I don't know…" Happy replied in a small voice.
"Hold onto this, Lucy." Erza handed the rectangular black box to me and then her whole body glowed for a moment. She changed into her Black Wing Armour, but this time, she held two axes. Something tells me this is going to be a long night.
In the sky, some distance away, there was a ship which looked like the one that just sank in the ocean, but more heavily armed with canons poking out the sides. I secured the long rectangle box close to me with my left arm and I put my right hand on my keys at my side. It's time to use him.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Natsu flame up. "I'm all fired up," he went.
The ship approached the island at a creeping pace, and it started releasing parachutes.
"Oi, Natsu. Let's have a competition." Gray said as he cracked his knuckles.
Each parachute had a dark figure hanging from it. More and more of them appeared and to my horror, they filled the sky. As I realized that they were attackers, my hand instinctively gripped the golden key tighter.
"Let's see who kicks the most butts." Gray said.
"You're on." Natsu replied smugly.
Before the parachutes landed, gunshots started firing but with poor accuracy because of the distance and the unpredictable winds. It was meant to intimidate us, but still, within the blink of an eye, Gray had conjured up an ice shield after yelling "Ice Make: Shield!"
"Let's go, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy picked Natsu up and whizzed off. His flames blazed across the night sky, bringing down many people at one go.
Not wanting to lose, Gray also dashed out into the open and as though he was pulling a bow, his hands motioned. Without speaking any words, an ice bow appeared. And almost spontaneously, countless ice arrows shot through the sky. He hit many of the dark silhouettes.
Numerous have taken a hit yet more were still descending. Just how many are there?! By now, those who survived Natsu and Gray's first round of attacks had reached the ground and they opened fire. The bullets fired were glowing spots of green. Of course they had magic guns…
"Protect the map." Erza said before she shot off to the frontlines.
As a Celestial mage, I had a weak core body, but I didn't want to cower behind a shield while everybody was out there.
"Let's go, Loke. Open the Gate of the Lion! Leo!"
"Aahhh~ is it finally time again? Long time no see, Lucy." He had spiky orange hair that resembled a lion's mane and was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie as usual.
"Let's go!" I repeated. And we both raced out into the open.
I used my Fleuve d'etoiles to disarm and attack the enemies that approached us, but mostly, I disarmed them while Loke attacked. Loke had my back the whole time, and he deflected all bullets, that I failed to dodge, with Regulus. I trusted Loke with my life and we were perfectly in sync.
However, there were too many of them. Initially, Natsu, Gray and Erza all fought far away. But gradually, we got closer and closer together until we were almost back to back with each other. Natsu was also no longer suspended in the air with Happy.
"I've almost downed 80 here!" Gray yelled.
"86 over here!" Natsu yelled back conceitedly.
"Dammit, there's just too many." Loke now stood directly in front of me, guarding me protectively. Then he yelled, "Run!"
"No!" I cried instantly.
"He's right; we have to run for now!" Erza shouted as she kicked another opponent in the gut. She then followed up with a horizontal swing with her right axe, and spun her left axe before slicing vertically down.
Natsu and Gray backed away from the hoard of gunners once they heard Erza. But their attacks continued, one throwing fire, the other shooting ice.
"RUN! NOW! Into the forest!" Loke shouted even more sternly than before.
"NO!" I refused and tears started to form in my eyes.
"Go, go, go!" Erza shouted. Gray gave in and retreated into the jungle, swift as a ninja.
"I'll hold the fort here. Everyone go, including you Erza." As he said this, a large lion's face blasted forward from his Magic Seal in front of him.
"Sorry and thanks. I leave the rest to you then." After her final swing, she took off into the darkness of the jungle. With Erza and Gray gone, the pirates closed in around us, but Loke and Natsu kept them at a distance.
"LUCY, GO! I'M A SPIRIT I WON'T DIE!"
How could I? Even if he's a spirit, he's not a shield.
He knew why I refused to leave, so next he said, "I'm meant to protect you!"
"Lucy, we should go." Natsu said gently.
"NATSU! TAKE HER AND GO!"
With that, Natsu grabbed my right hand and yanked me into the jungle.
I could just barely keep up with Natsu. We were weaving through the jungle at a great speed. The rustling of leaves, and the occasional snap of a twig, was all I could hear as he led the way. I should have forced Loke's gate close.
Tears were brimming in my eyes. I could not wipe them away as my left hand clutched the rectangular box close to my chest and my right hand was held by Natsu. The tears interfered with my vision and I stumbled several times. Eventually, I tripped and fell.
That broke the connection with Natsu and it also burst the dam for my tears. They streamed down my face unceasingly. Natsu had stopped and was crouched down in front of me with his back facing me.
"Get on." He said.
"Huh?"
"Hurry up. I'll carry you." His voice was gentle, yet full of resolve such that I couldn't argue, and I climbed onto his back.
As soon as he made sure I was secure, he leapt forward into the depths of the jungle at an incredible speed, even faster than before. I realized that I had been holding him back.
I buried my tear-stained face into his scarf as I prayed for Loke's safety. His warm back felt like a safe haven.
[To be continued…]
Hmm... It was tough writing this chapter, but somehow I finished and I quite like it! I know it's pretty long, but I hope you like it too! ^^
'hime-sama' means 'princess' btw, if u didn't know.
