Nine days later...
"We finally made it to the coast!"
Laxus stood with Sorcha as the coast came into view through the trees. They had made it to Crescent Moon Wharf, the local harbor where ships docked in northern Fiore.
"We should find a boat to take us to Thunder Island."
Sorcha led the way down into the harbor and Laxus watched as she went from person to person, asking if there was an available boat to hire.
"Laxus!"
He looked at her as she waved him over.
"I found us a boat."
Laxus looked at the boat. "A fishing boat?"
Sorcha nodded. "Captain Beckett said he can take us across to Thunder Island."
"Come aboard!"
Laxus groaned to himself and stepped aboard the fishing boat, Sorcha close behind him. He sat himself down and watched as Sorcha looked out at the open sea with excitement. 'I'm going to regret this...'
Sorcha came to sit with Laxus when she noticed he seemed off. "You alright?"
Laxus nodded, but he felt his stomach churning.
"Are you getting motion sickness?" Sorcha asked. When he nodded, she pulled out a small pouch. "Here, take one of these." She took a small capsule from the pouch and placed it in his hand.
Laxus popped the capsule into his mouth and swallowed, feeling his nausea beginning to subside. "What was that?"
Sorcha smiled, handing him the pouch. "It's a pill I developed for motion sickness using different herbs that help ease nausea and dizziness. I give them to Natsu, too, when he needs them." She looked at him. "So is it true then? You're a second generation dragon slayer?"
Laxus looked at her. "Ya, what of it?"
Sorcha felt like she hit a nerve and she looked away, wondering if she overstepped. "Sorry... I shouldn't have pried..."
Laxus put a hand over hers. "It's fine, Sorcha. Don't worry so much, it's not good for your health."
Sorcha looked at him and returned his smile.
"When I was younger, I didn't have enough magikal power, so my dad implanted a dragon lacrima inside me." Laxus explained. "Natsu is the real dragon slayer out of the two of us, even if I have more power than he does."
Sorcha sighed. "Is that part of why you fight so hard to prove yourself?"
Laxus looked at her. "You're awfully perceptive."
Sorcha blushed. "Not sure if I should take that as a compliment at the moment or not."
Laxus chuckled. "It's a good thing." He looked at the sky. "I guess part of me was afraid of letting my dad and Gramps down."
"You know you've never disappointed Master, right?"
"That's a nice thought, but sometimes I wonder."
Sorcha squeezed his hand. "Well, if you ask me, you're doing just fine."
Laxus looked at her. "You know, you're really something, Sorcha."
She smiled. "So are you, Sparky."
Laxus rolled his eyes, reaching up to grab her hand and pull her back down when she made to stand. Pulling her into his lap, he wrapped his cloak around them. "You're shivering."
Sorcha blushed, but she settled into his lap, enjoying his warmth as he wrapped his cloak around them. "Thanks."
"So, two more days til we reach Thunder Island?"
Sorcha nodded. "Two more days."
"You ready for this?"
Sorcha looked at him and smiled. "With you, I'm ready for anything."
Two days later...
"Thanks, Captain Beckett."
The old mariner smiled. "Of course." His face hardened a bit and he looked at the single mountain on Thunder Island. "Be careful, lass. The wyvern you're looking to take care of is a dangerous one."
"Do you know what makes it so much different from any other wyvern?" Sorcha asked.
Beckett shook his head. "Only that no one seems to be able to slay the foul beast. They say it eats lightning from the heavens and brings the most fearsome storms in its wake."
"A lightning wyvern?"
"'Tis only what I heard. Just be careful when you face it."
"We will. Thank you, again."
"I'll be waiting here for your return trip."
Sorcha shouldered her pack and waved as she and Laxus headed in the direction of the village.
"It eats lightning..?"
Laxus looked down at Sorcha as she thought over what the captain had told them. "Good thing you're not afraid of lighting."
Sorcha looked up at him and stuck out her tongue. "Careful, Sparky. Tease me too much, I'll just return fire. Like how cute you are when you're blushing."
Laxus rolled his eyes, ignoring the blush beginning to creep up.
Sorcha chuckled. "Let's hurry to the village."
"You finally made it!"
Sorcha smiled as the village elder approached. "Sorry it took us so long."
"Your safety is important, even in a storm." The elder said. "We are just grateful that you took the job."
Laxus looked at the old woman. "Can you tell us more about the job?"
"Of course, but come, come. Join us for a meal and I'll explain everything."
Sorcha and Laxus followed the elder into large communal hut in the center of the village, taking a seat where directed. They accepted the food presented to them and listened as the elder introduced herself Elder Lano and began to explain in full detail what the job entailed.
"The wyvern has been plaguing us for months. It moved into a cave on Mount Faraway when the last great storm passed through. At first we thought it was stranded, but it made its home in the cave and has been hunting our livestock. Our farmers have been injured, nearly killed trying to fend it off, and I fear that we cannot do anything more ourselves for fear of losing someone to this wretched beast."
"We heard that it eats lightning, that it brings the most fearsome storms in its wake." Sorcha said, looking at Elder Lano.
"That is correct. Each time it comes, hunting our livestock, a terrible storm accompanies it. It destroys what crops we have and it's reach the point of devastation." Lano looked around at the other villagers. "We've had to tap into our winter reserves just to stay alive. We trade what we can when ships come to our shores, but we have run out of other options." She looked at Sorcha and Laxus. "Please, slay the wyvern of Mount Faraway and save our village."
Sorcha smiled. "That's what we've come to do."
"We'll head for the mountain at first light." Laxus said, looking out one of the hut's windows and seeing night was falling.
"We have arranged a hut for you to stay in while you are here." Lano said. "I can have Ellica show you the way."
Sorcha smiled, standing with Laxus. "Thank you for the meal, Elder Lano. We should turn in for the night and rest up for the journey to the mountain."
"Of course." Lano turned to her daughter. "Ellica, please show them to the hut?"
"Of course, Mother."
Sorcha and Laxus bowed to the elder before following her daughter to their hut.
"I hope this will be satisfactory for your stay with us."
Sorcha nodded. "It's wonderful, thank you."
"When you reach the cave of the wyvern, you must be careful. There are plants that grow there that carry a paralyzing agent. If it touches your skin, it will render you momentarily immobile. The wyvern seems to be immune to its effects, though."
"Thanks for the warning."
Ellica bowed her head and left them to return to her mother.
Sorcha stretched and looked at Laxus. "Well, what do you think?"
"It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. Never seen a wyvern that eats lightning." He lay back on one of the beds.
Sorcha laid down on the other, turning on her side. "We should get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow's going to be a long day."
