A Different Journey

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Fairy Tail, just thought I would let you know.

Anyway just a slight overview of chapter here, we will be having Usopp in this chapter, followed by a quick little after arc special. And letters.

Rewrite finished (08/04/2015).


Chapter 7: Usopp

The larger dragon snapped at her head, and Lucy rolled away, just in time. In returne Lucy roared, the cosmic energy heralded towards Draco, who ate it up for himself and then sent back. She too devoured the same blast, before using it and lit her fists with the power. Charging in close, then swiped at him with her claws, but the magic did not harm him and absorbed into the scales that bunched beneath her hands. Reflexively absorbed the celestial magic.

Jumping back, she avoided being beat by his tail, and jumped into the starry sky of the Spirit World. Opening her mouth, a celestial iron roar tore from her mouth, followed by wrapping her fist in celestial air sky magic. The transition of her magic, changing it from one variation to the next, took time, and allowed the other to strike out at her. The magic came too just in time to smash her fist into Draco's snout. It sent him back, and she landed on the ground. His tail slammed into her from the side, fast as lightning, and she stayed down.

An aching pulse developed behind her ribs, and she coughed, blood spilled forth and out of her mouth, not a lot, and already her body went to work to heal the damage. Draco placed his tail back down on the ground, looked at her with large gold red eyes. And from the smell of it, he was concerned for her health. In three hours Lucy went from going crazy and being fine, to depleted and ready to drop. It made sense, in the grand scheme of things. The amount of magic she used, against his speed and all-encompassing abilities. He shifted from attacks much quicker than her, and even melded elements together.

"We'll stop here," Draco said, and curled around her body with his larger one. Circled her, and then placed his head down upon larger forelegs. Nodding her head, she rolled up and began to stretch. Everything in her burned, but also cooled down with the burn of her own magic that fizzled away. But it came back to her with every moment she spent spiritually in the Spirit World. With her physical body linked up to her spirit form, it allowed all of her training to connect and work with her body.

And since they continued to sail around in a tiny boat, Lucy lacked the proper space needed to train. Thus the Spirit King set up the channel of her mind to enter Draco's star and meet with him to train. While both consciously existed in the Spirit World, Lucy knew their physical bodies still existed in the East Blue. From the star's heart, Lucy could see the Earth, and all of the seas. Fiore looked black though, so she turned from the site and moved from child's pose into a downward facing dog.

"Perhaps you would like to leave now so I can rest," Draco said, eyes closed but fully aware of her. Sticking her tongue out at him, she turned and stood, moved into the next pose and shook her body out. Trying to work out all the kinks that developed through the work out. "Oh, and our esteem Spirit King wanted to speak with you." Stopping in the middle of a high plank, she looked to see his eyes still closed, while hers bugged out of her head.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lucy scurried about and grabbed her jacket, something she discarded once she appeared. Then, donning in the item, she jumped over his form and ran. The chuckle he let loose, after she left, carried, but she found herself in too much of a hurry to turn back and yell at him.

Down the path of stars, Lucy leapt over a bridge which Eridanus streamed under, then vaulted over the houses that lived in the heavens. Anything that could get her to the King faster, she did. But the post-workout fatigue did not allow her to go full speed as she hoped to. And found herself huffing and puffing as she passed Bootes herd, then sweating tiredly when Leo's home, his pride seen through the window, passed by her.

When finally coming to a stop before the Spitit King's home, the largest of them all, she slumped against the door. Only to have it pulled open, and she sprawled against the floor like a long lost friend, or lover. Her nose ached from the fall, but pushing up onto hands and knees, then onto two legs, she brushed it off. Before her stood the Spirit King, in all his grand mustache style. Lucy wondered if she could call it a mustache, when the whiskers seemed to stem from his nose. But no one liked it when someone commented on their nose hairs, so Lucy refrained from asking.

"Mustache-man," Lucy greeted, big smile on her face that stretched on the border of painful with how much energy she used in the previous hours. He chuckled, the sound echoed around the giant room. A glass top to it which allowed more stars to shine down, and all white walls which glistened and sparkled. A throne sat at the end of the room. An eternity from Lucy, in her current state, but a few mere steps for the king.

"Hello, friend, how is your training?" He asked, reached down and opened a palm for her. Jumping into the hand, muscles screaming when she did, Lucy adjusted herself and balanced carefully as he brought her up and walked over to his throne. He sat down, and she looked around the giant room. White columns led up to the throne, and a multitude of colors shines beneath the white haze that overlapped the columns. Like rainbows blocked out by white curtains.

The floors looked black, with white marks in them, and a blue carpet led up to the king's feet. It's edging trimmed gold, with the designs of all the stars as the border. Small crystals hung from the roof, and shined dimly. Light didn't seem needed in the already lit space, but they gave off a few sparks at times, and then pulsed.

"They are the hearts of each star. When they spark, one of my friends is dealing with something. And when they do not, my friend is calm. I know which one each belongs too," the King said, smiled up at the lights that fizzled or remained dormant. "But if you look close, beyond the lights, three are dim." Looking closely, buried behind many of the glowing ones, three looked completely dark. If not for a slight glow and a part in the rest of the hearts, Lucy would have missed them.

"Who do they belong to?" Lucy asked, tilted her head and tried to think of those who would have very little light in their hearts.

"The parts of the Argo, the reason I called you here. I wish for you to have her, and use her as you please. She is the best ship in the worlds, but cannot sail in the sky. A poor decision of mine when I immortalized her," the King said, picked up a tiny bottle that rested on the arm of the throne. Frosted glass hid the contents, but a small portion of water could be seen inside and sloshed against the glass walles. The sails of a ship, a dark navy blue also stood out, and the black hull of a ship. "Use her as you please. Though, she can always be recalled into the bottle. Though I would suggest, unless your crew is very large, not to use her."

"How large is she?" Lucy asked, tried to wipe away some of the film on the bottle, but it remained hazy. A ship seemed grand, but for her small crew, too big and they would never sail her right.

"I believe the largest ship humans have is a Galleon. Over the centuries, to hold true to its name as the best ship in the world, the Argo has developed to be larger that it, but still as fast as the wind, utilizing the best rigging designs, sails, and steering. Blessed by many gods, she is the best ship still," he said, and her eyes grew wide.

"I only have four people, and Nami still hasn't fully agreed to be a part of the crew. No matter how much I already see her as my nakama. So even with her, we could not handle a Galleon. Or anything larger. And I'm not sure I want a ship that large, because I don't know if I'll ever have that many people," Lucy said, and spaced herself from the ship by stretching out her arms all the way. Looking up the King, he looked thoughtful and displeased. "But I'll take her anyway, thank you."

Lucy curtsied, and hugged the bottled ship tight to her. It pulsed from within the bottle, and glowed strangely for a minute, a light shone beneath the film and contained some. But Lucy took that as a sign that the ship accepted their contract, that if Lucy ever needed to sail, the Argo would be more than happy then to take to the seas once more. Pulling the Argo away, she looked down into the bottle and found the frosting of the glass had receded. And in its place, a black ship sailed on a small pond of water. And the sails, decorated by a skull and crossbones, bore Lucy's golden mark of Fairy Tail.

"The contract is complete. The Argo will be there whenever you need her. And, unlike other ships, she will never break. She holds many secrets, but none she will tell to anyone besides her captain," the King said, a slight dissatisfied look on his face. She laughed and stroked the glass, brought it up to her face and looked it over. Three main masts with rigging all around, a number of cannons and other artillery, and a large deck. She could only imagine what it looked like at full size.

And on board a small female smiled and waved, and it took Lucy by surprise to see her. The small girl represented the actual heart of the Argo. Waving her hand, Lucy placed the ship down at her hands and then returned her attention to the king. "Thank you. I'll be going now. Have to check in," Lucy said, curtsied once more, and closed her eyes. Piece by piece she felt for her body on earth. Her spiritual form fell apart, the feel of disintegrating and living overcame her body. And then she no longer saw the Spirit world.


Opening her eyes, Lucy awoke to the site of the endless horizon. The sun's rays shifted over the slight waves and blinded her with the clear water's brilliance. Small fish danced beneath the surface of the water, in schools and packs, they congregated and kept moving. The distinct sense of them being toys over took her, with their bright colors and different coats. And they looked tasty. Groaning, her stomach growled.

"Finally awake?" Nami asked, and Lucy turned her head to see the other playing a card game with Loke. He looked up at her and smiled, knowing the location that she went to while 'sleeping'. Turning forward once more, she then looked to her lap. The Argo sat nestled in the bottle, and Draco curled around like a possessive dragon over treasure. Nami acted the same way.

"Yeah, but now I'm hungry. The other ship have any food?" She stood and placed Draco and the bottle down onto the floor of the ship. The ship the Buggy pirates used tied up and leading besides theirs. Zoro slept on that side, his three swords propped up against him. Her own swords rested against her leg.

"No, you cleaned us out, Lucy. I already set us on a new course." Nami made a happy noise and threw her hands in the air, all the while the lion groaned and pushed over his pile of money to Nami. It didn't surprise Lucy that Nami won. The red head accepted nothing less than winning when money involved itself.

"Where to?" Lucy looked over the horizon, and spotted nothing in the distance. The air smelt of only the sea and her nakama at the moment, so she believed the island still faded from immediate site.

"A small island with one village, called Syrup Village," Nami replied, and began to shuffle a new deck of cards, despite the lion's protest to another game. Lucy chuckled, feeling sorry for the lion. But did not get in the way of the red head. It seemed like more trouble than she could deal with in her weekend and woozy state. And the lion could always retreat to the Spirit World if all else failed.

"Syrup Village…that sounds familiar," Lucy said, remembering something from her times with Shanks. Snapping her fingers, or trying to since the metal just slid against one another and created a ticking noise, she remembered. "Yasopp lived there, and his son still might. Now I'm excited to go there."

"Yasopp?" Nami and Loke asked in unison. And Lucy turned with arms fanned out wide, a smile played on her lips that stretched from ear to ear, canines pressed into her lower lip.

"Yeah, he was a member of Shank's crew. The pirate that inspired me. Oh, I wonder if his son, Usopp, is as good as his father. If he is, I hope he'll join my crew. But then again, Yasopp left him when he was a kid. So I wonder if he has a good impression of pirates or not." Lucy dropped her hands and placed one hand around her chin, thinking about the boy she never saw, but knew much of. "I wonder if he knows how much his father loved him, despite leaving."

"Why'd he leave if he loved him?" Nami asked, brows furrowed and confused by the looks of it.

"Shanks came to his island, showed him the pirates life. And Yasopp wanted it, always had. His wife told Yasopp to go and live his dream, so with her blessing he left. But all he ever did was talk to me of Usopp and his son's greatness." Lucy cupped her arm, and hugged herself a little. She wondered what it would be like to have a father who thought so highly of you. Jude never raised her, and even when she was missing and considered dead the guild received no word from him. When they went to see him, he told them that Lucy was not his daughter. And when she came back, she discovered he died of an illness.

Now she realized he might have known of Lucy's lineage the entire time, but pushed the thought of Jude away. After all, Lucky Lucy no longer existed.

And Dragon…she knew nothing about. Not what he looked like, why he took her, or even if he was related to Garp. She assumed he was, but truly knew nothing about him. And that hurt, because even if he hurt her mother, spurred her illness when he took her, and her mom sent her spirit's after…she wanted to know something.

Wanted a father who loved her. Draco would never be her father, he felt embarrassed by her calling him 'Papa' and only allowed it because it made no difference to him so long as she didn't do it in public. Draco felt endeared to he, just a little bit. But only because she evolved into a dragon and acted like a proper spirit mage, one who saw the spirits as friends, and not tools.

"Finally you'll have another then, if you can get him to agree then. Maybe he'll be connected and be able to help get a ship," Nami said, handed out the cards between her and Loke. "Should be there is another few hours, Lucy." Nodding her head, Lucy kept her gaze on the horizon. Awaited the island that would come.

"Huh?" Zoro said as he woke up, stretched his arms above his head and looked around. He yawned and rubbed at his eyes, making Lucy laugh at the sleepy look. Though she stifled it behind her hand, not wanting him to notice her and stop. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow in question. "Lucy, you're awake."

"Just did a few minutes before you did." Walking over to the other ship, she sat down next to her first mate. "How was yours?"

"Good, how long do we have?" He asked, brought out his white sword from it's sheathe.

"A few more hours. If I hurry us up it'll be shorter. But I think its fine to leave things as is." Zoro reached for a cloth he left in his stomach band, and then swept it along the blade. With a keen eye he gently brushed off all dirt, held the hilt gently and with great care. He nodded his head, but paid more attention to the blade than anything else. It seemed important, so she didn't draw him from his trance. Just watched as he cleaned the blade.

And she got a good look at it, and noticed how beautifully it patterned out after being tempered, reverent of its creation. Erza once explained the make of katana. The care of the carbon content, the tempering and folding, the covering in mud and elements to strengthen the blade. And the extra mud and clay mixtures used to enhance the wave like design of the blade. It fascinated Lucy at the time because she had hoped to use it in a book. "We may get another nakama, if we're lucky. Hope to get a small ship as well."

He paused in the cleansing, then went back to it. "Who?"

"His name is Usopp. The son of Shank's sharpshooter, Yasopp. We're gonna lick the tar out of his crew one day, so we'll need the best. It's why I chose you, and want people who aspire to something. Because those who aspire and dream," she drifted off when he paused again, a grin came to his face and he turned his head to face her.

"Will always become stronger than that which comes to block their path," Zoro finished, chuckled.

"Yeah, and since he knows the island so well to, I hoped he could help us with a ship too. Shanks always said that people will offer a helping hand to those who dream and need it, so long as it's within their power. I think so too," Lucy said, clicked her toes together in her boots. Then knocked her feet into Zoro's, and he did the same back. But his attention stayed focused on the cleaning of his blade. Resting her head on his shoulder, she actually went to sleep. Hoped no one noticed how tired she felt.


"Lucy, wake up!" Nami's voice broke into her sleep, and a slap to the back of the head roused her completely. Opening her eyes, she met with Nami's panicked eyes, in her peripheral Zoro tensed and held his swords. Though he continued to allow her to use him as a pillow. Loke stood behind Nami, a glare sent at the horizon, and Draco curled around her neck, also looking beyond the ships.

"What is it?" Lucy asked and rose up, turned to see what garnered all the attention. They didn't need to reply in order for her to know the problem. On all sides a small island found itself surrounded by pirates on small ships, and one large ship at the head of the pack. The ship, painted black with the mark of pirates by the sails, spanned larger than standard ship. But more than the ships and pirates, the island itself stood in need. Glowed from the rage of a fire that consumed it. "Hell. This Syrup?"

"Yeah, but we should go," Nami said, and pointed off in the opposite direction. But Lucy stood and looked at the ranks and their location. The larger ship circled the island, while the smaller ships pulled onto the shore in a blockade like manner. Stopped anyone from leaving. A number of innocents fell on the shore, the loose sand stained red with blood.

"When the ship turns around that corner, we're going to bank," Lucy said, and Zoro and Loke nodded in consent.

"Are you crazy? Look at those forces, and the island is already dead. Before we get swept up into it we should leave. That flag belongs to the remnants of the Black Cat Pirates, now led by a ruthless hypnotist, Jango, after their captain, Kuro, was hung. They haven't been seen in years, but they show up now," Nami reasoned, gestured wildly at the shore and the pirates. And while logically it made sense to run away, Lucy knew what she needed to do. Logic be damned. So, turning to Nami, she made her own case. One that she believed in.

"Yasopp loves his son, and I love Yasopp. I don't ever want to see him again, see the pain in his eyes, when I tell him his homeland burned down, his son too, and I didn't do anything when I could have. I owe him, and the rest of the Red Haired Pirates my life. So I'll put mine on the line for his son. But even as I say that, these idiots won't kill me. Or you." Taking Nami's hand in her own, she held it to her forehead. "If you don't want to that's fine. But I'm going, and so are these two. If you change your mind by the time that ship is around the bend, then I swear Nami. I will never let anything happen to you, I will never let anything happen to those I care for, or to what they care for."

The red head sighed, looked to the burning island, and then back to Lucy. Head sagged down between her shoulders. "I understand, but you better protect me!" Nami ordered, shoving a finger under Lucy's nose. Once they all agreed, Draco stood tall on her shoulders while they all prepared to row. They needed to act like a blitz, fast and strong. On his mark, Draco told them to go, and the oars rushed through the water.

Pounding through the water, the oars propelled the two ships towards the coast. Not out of site of the pirates on the beach, Lucy and the others found themselves under heavy fire from guns. Thankfully all the shooters had terrible aim, and by the time they reached the beach, the pirates abandoned their guns and charged with swords. Five of them came, and while Lucy felt fine taking them all on, Zoro and Loke stepped in.

Using his swords, Zoro used one of his special techniques, the Tiger Hunter, and took out three of them at once. Loke used his fists, lit with gold magic provided by Regulas, and knocked the two others out. The fallen men ended up in a pile on the floor, of which Lucy really cared little for. But the passing ship would need to see the men, or else would investigate. "Move them to lay against the rocks, keep their weapons in their hands." The two men went to work, picked up the men, and went over to the side of the cliffs.

The island seemed strange in its design. A sandy beach that surrounded cliffs that went all around the island. Yasopp told her about them when she was younger. But seeing it, and knowing how high the flat land sat in comparison of the water. Though the sand stained red at the time, a mixture of the fire's light of the trees above, and the blood from the people they hurt. Lucy needed to fix this, that thought fired off all ideas of action.

"Open! Gate of the Flaming Bird! Phoenix!" Lucy called, and a magic circle appeared above the sand, followed by the ringing of bell. A woman in red appeared. She wore a red dress, of which fires licked off of, her feet bare. Golden ribbons wrapped around her arms, and matched the hair that topped of her head. But it seemed more like fire, as it whipped around her head lightly, and called forth more flames. Golden markings wove around her body, noticeable only on her arms, collar bone, face, and back. And her feet when she walked and the skirt brushed around.

But her phoenix form always seemed even more beautiful to Lucy. And she wondered, what the rest of the Phoenix Tribe looked like, much like dragons, Phoenixes stopped appearing in Fiore a few hundred years ago. So it always struck her as odd, seeing a real phoenix in human form. The first phoenix.

"Hello, Princess, how may I help you?" Phoenix asked, her voice quiet. It sounded like the cracking of branch when they ended up thrown into a fire, popping and quiet, before fizzling out at the end. Her phoenix form voice differed greatly.

"I need you to help me heal these people," Lucy stated, and bowed before the spirit. Raising up, she noticed that Phoenix looked uncomfortable with the notion. But at the same time, she loosened the ribbons around her wrists. They unraveled and fell to the ground, and then unraveled more.

"Princess, my magic cannot work on those without magic. But I can at least administer first aid to the wounded. And then I can find them shelter," Phoenix offered, her eyes shifted to the fallen forms of the villages. Obvious by the normal clothes, sandals and heels, aprons and packs on their body. They tried to escape. "I'm sorry I cannot do more for them." Draco landed on her shoulder, and Lucy looked into his eyes. They nodded together, then looked back to the other spirit.

"What?" Zoro asked, left out of the loop of their joined thoughts. But Loke frowned at her, and so did Phoenix. Across their bond a tightness gripped her heart, their worry flowed into her body and forced her to double over. Meeting their eyes, she smiled, tried to convey the fact that everything would be fire.

"Phoenix, do what you can for all of those on the island. And mark anyone in critical condition, even with your first aid, with one of your feathers. Draco and I will handle those cases for you. Your magic may not work on those without, but ours can," Lucy stated, pride swelled up in her chest. And Nami clapped her hands together in delight. But Phoenix just stared at Lucy, a hard look in her eyes that pleaded with her not to do so.

"What's wrong with Lucy's plan?" Zoro's hand shifted to his sword, brows drawn together as he shifted green eyes between the two spirits. While Loke held his ground on his disapproval, arms crossed over his chest, and a frown pulled onto his lips; Phoenix looked away in shame. It made something twist in her heart. Seeing the proud Phoenix look down and away from Lucy and Zoro, not able to speak as she pleased.

"It's a stupid one, that's what," Loke growled, his hair stood up on end and the ears that hid beneath the mane distinguished themselves from the orange fur. Nami's hand reached forward and brushed the orange strands, tried to touch them. But the growls the lion released, brought her hand back every time. At the rate he went, Nami stepped back completely, then stepped behind Lucy.

"Leo-sama," Phoenix admonished, her head still looked away from Lucy.

"No, it's all right, Phoenix. You feel the same way too. I know it's risky. But that's why I have all of you. To support me and watch my back when I pull a stupid stunt. And besides, Draco won't take too much of my magic." Lucy pulled her gauntlets tighter over her forearms, brushed the inside of the metal with the tips of her fingers. Then flexed to get a good feel for them.

"Lucy, you are running low on Magic as is, not to mention that you can't heal people. Only Draco can, so you'll need to give him everything you have. If you do this, you will be running on nearly nothing with the amount of people you heal. And while transferring your magic, you won't be able to eat and regain anything. This could kill you, and I won't allow you to die," Loke shouted, threw his hands in the air. "I swore a vow to protect you. Even if it means from yourself." He widened his stance, and prepared to pounce on her.

An arm wound around the lion's neck, Zoro held him down and away from Lucy. "Lucy, do what you need to do. I'll follow your lead. I'll handle the fighting, all of it. And you focus on healing people," Zoro said, still held Loke. "This one will help too."

"You can't order me around!" Loke shouted, thrashed within the other male's hold. It looked painful, like Zoro wished to choke Loke to death.

"I'm the first mate, part of my duties it to make sure the crew falls into line with the captain's orders. Lucy needs you to fight while she can't, so listen to her." Releasing his hold, Zoro readied his three blades, drew them from their sheaths and stood in front of Lucy. A nod of his head told Lucy he intended to follow her, no matter where she went. A warm feeling fizzled through her chest, and she smiled.

And a part of her wondered when she should tell him his other duties as First Mate, why she needed someone who aspired for something as powerful as her first mate did. But the burning island pulled those thoughts away. They both needed focus.

"I'm okay with it. If Lucy intends to save people, then I can respect that. Especially if she's risking her life to do so, and leaving the task of protecting herself and others to two idiots. I guess I have no choice." Nami flipped up her skirt and withdrew a folded staff, which she straightened and held before her. Twirling it around her hand, she then drove it into the ground. "I'll fight too. I can't compare to their brawn, but I can definitely out fox any of these idiot pirates."

"Fine, I'll do as you say, Lucy. But remember, if you're about to die, I will save you. I am your lion, and you are my master. Before you are my Captain," Loke swore, rung his neck to reduce the tightness Zoro left behind. The words choked, burned and hurt. But she understood, Loke's pride meant a lot. His pride in their promise. She nodded her head, and met his eyes. No matter what, she refused to die. Refused to let anyone be sad again at her death.

"Alright then, Phoenix, Draco, let's go," Lucy ordered, and they rushed to the first people on the ground at the beach. Pulled them up the side of the cliff, a slope that led up to the flat land above and placed them within the trees that burned. While not ideal, it gave coverage to the masses. Phoenix overlooked them, applied first aid before handing over her patients. Lucy felt Draco pull her magic, like the unravelling of a large spool of string beginning to be pulled. Her body only slightly noticed the missing magic.

Once they were healed enough to live through the first aid, and only need to see a real doctor in the future, they moved on. Covered the bodies with leaves that did not hold flames, and then Lucy took a deep breath in. Pulled the fire from the trees and breathed in into her body. Allowed it to merge with her own magic. The only way Lucy would be able to heal an entire island, if it came down to it, is if she ate. And ate a lot.

Once finished eating, she turned to those around her. Draco's claws dug in a bit tighter. "Let's go, we need to find Usopp and help people."


The pack dove into a small building, which Lucy devoured the flames off. Then poured the magic she regained back into healing more people. And all Zoro knew was that no captain equaled his own in greatness. She healed and fought, and despite the stereotype of all Pirates being evil, something he too believed before her, Lucy contained only goodness within her. He saw it as she poured her magic into three young children, face pulled into a terribly pained frown. And her disgust in the pirates matched her anger, the way her lip drew up and revealed her extended fangs.

But the beads of sweat that dripped down her forehead, down her neck, told what she refused to. Not that the heat got to her, like the rest of them, but that she pushed too hard, past the limits of her body. Past her limits and dipped down into a range of power much weaker than her actual abilities. The strain of healing, of pouring her magic into everyone they passed, taxed her. It made her arms shake and breathing quiver.

But though Lucy and he travelled together for only a short amount of time, he recognized the glint in her brown eyes. The light of gold that colored them with that glint. Like stars that fell from the sky and descended into her eyes. Lucy refused to quit, pushed herself because she knew only how to do that. That every push she gave did something, and for that small reward she found new strength. One that went beyond physical or magical, or whatever else people quantified strength as. His captain's strength came from her heart, her will that never wavered.

And he knew he got lucky with her. That his captain stood as one in a million worth following, who deserved to lead. Who deserved trust, even if a person just met her. Because she made those around her feel safe, and would never betray the trust others put into her. When she pulled one of her locks of hair, and placed it behind her ear, she saw him staring out of the corner of her eye. That frown turned into a smile, tried to reassure her that she felt fine. Even when he knew she didn't.

It became clear why she needed nakama, why she needed others. Because Lucy placed others before herself, even her desire that dragged the sea witch along with them, stemmed from her desire to help others. And they followed along. But Lucy needed someone to keep her in check, to help her with the things struggled with. And somehow he knew that aided her decision in recuiting him, she saw something that day they met.

He hoped to ask her about it one day.

When the child she worked to save gasped, took a look at his captain and smiled, he watched. Like a mother she helped the boy speak, rolled him up to sit, and comforted. Nami handed over her water to the boy, who drank heavily.

"Who are you people?" He asked, his eyes looked around in a confused manner. His eyes, covered by fringe, must have caught site of the fires outside the window, as his mouth began to quiver. Scrambling away he sobbed, pulled his knees up to his chest and sobbed. The boy looked no older than six or seven, with a bandana that covered his forehead and hair that covered his eyes. But a pirate's mark rested on the bandana, and it interested him.

"Shh," Lucy quieted him, pulled him into her arms. Her arms, adorned by the dangerous and deadly looking gauntlets, pet his head. Ever so gentle and careful that she not cause pain. "I've got you, no one will hurt you or your two friends." At the words, the boy looked around and caught site of the two other boys Lucy already healed. But still hadn't woken up yet.

"Who are you?" The boy asked again, looked up at Lucy, though his eyes remained covered. A small blush covered his cheeks. It may have been from the heat, or Lucy caused it in the child. Maybe both. While Lucy began to grow on him as one of those friends that come into your life, and people bonded with immediately, he admitted she surpassed any woman in the East Blue. Maybe the world even.

"My name is Heartfilia Lucy, and this is my crew. We are pirates," Lucy stated, and all of them shot forward, tried to stop her. But she said it, and the boy backed up. In fright, of course. "I know, those pirates who attacked have scared you. But I promise, on my life and the stars, I am not one of them. I came after everything broke out. We came to this island looking for someone, and old friend of mine. And if you can help me find him, then we can kick these bad pirates off this island."

The boy stopped his retreat, and looked the captain over. Offering over a hand, claws outstretched with, she smiled and made a thousand promises with that look. She made that same smile when she brought him on as her first mate. Like Zoro, the boy reached forward and put his trust in Lucy. "I'm Ninjin, Miss Lucy. Are you the captain?"

"Yes, this is my first-mate, Zoro. And this is Loke, my…guardian and friend. The woman is Nami, she's a navigator. But she isn't mine. And Phoenix is helping to heal, along with my companion, Draco here," Lucy directed him around the room. Pointed each of them out. "We are the Fairy Tail Pirates, and this is our mark." Offering the mark on her chest, she allowed the boy to gander at her chest. Though she seemed to find nothing wrong with offering out her chest in that way, but Zoro reckoned over the years Lucy stopped caring about stares.

"This is Tamanegi and Piiman, they're my friends who serve with me under Captain Usopp," Ninjin explained, while Lucy's jaw dropped open slightly. Draco, the ever entertaining completion to his Dragon Captain's routine, snapped her mouth closed with his tail. "Is that really a dragon?" The boy asked and reached out with his hand to touch the white dragon, who curled back and hissed at the child. Lucy placed her hand over Draco, shielded him from the child.

"Yes, an so am I. But I'm more interested in this Captain Usopp of yours. I'm looking for an Usopp, son of Yasopp. I knew Usopp's father, do you know where the son is?" Lucy asked, and the boy stopped and thought for a moment, hummed quietly.

"If you know Yasopp, Captain Usopp's father, then it should be fine to bring you back to Captain Usopp. He's our captain, though he's never set sail. He's skilled with his pachinko, and he's guarding Miss Kaya at the moment. All the pirates seemed to be after her, but our captain took her away to safety. But, with the smoke, Lady Kaya won't be doing too great. She's real sick. Do you think you can help?" Ninjin asked, tugged at Lucy's hand.

Lucy stood, and Zoro and the rest followed. "Nami, I want you to focus on protecting these kids. Think you can hold two of them?" Lucy brought Ninjin up into her arms, while the red head hoisted up the other two. The flames gleamed hotter outside the window, grew with every second.

"I can hold sacks of gold, this is nothing," Nami declared and took the two unconscious boys into her arms. Held them tightly, and yet with great care.

"Alright, Ninjin I need you to lead us. Loke at the front, Zoro stay close. And Phoenix circle around us," Lucy ordered, and Loke kicked out the door again. Spilling out into the street, more building crumbled to the ground. Lucy made a meal of them, and then looked to the child, who stared in awe of the power. It was cool. But he recovered and led them towards a large hill, past a still standing mansion.


Readjusting the children in her arms, Nami tried to keep up with Lucy and the others. At the back of the pack, she supported the most weight physically, but understood in the large scheme of things Lucy carried the most. Then Loke and Zoro. Even the children she and Lucy carried held more weight than she. Not that Nami felt nothing, but she understood this world of piracy. In Lucy a wonderful image of being a pirate came forth, of freedom matched in her good heart.

And while Lucy understood that pirates mostly took a negative turn with their freedom, she never experienced it firsthand. Nothing directly happened to her, at the hands of a pirate. People who experiences the cruelty of a pirate, often lived with very strong viewpoints against piracy. Though, Nami thought, Lucy never thought of herself, and yet always did at the same time. People mocked Lucy, she stayed happy and calm. And if a pirate attacked her, Nami felt sure Lucy would think not of herself, and do something ridiculous like laugh it off.

But hurt her nakama, hurt the people she cared the most for, and Lucy seemed capable of transforming into a person Nami feared seeing, and respected all the same. Just for the fact that Lucy prioritized things differently. She prioritized people, because if something happened to the people she cared about most, she'd end up hating herself.

"Attack her! The one in orange!" A voice ordered, and Nami turned in time to see two men dressed as cats. They raised their hands above, sharp nails gleamed in the fire light, and she felt afraid. Her hair stood on end, and every inch of her locked up. Holding the children tighter to her, she turned in one last burst of energy. Tried, desperately, to protect the sleeping ones in her arms. And then waited. Ten seconds passed, and then fifteen.

Each fiber of her being protested as she turned, faced her would be attackers, and found a line of defense that guarded her and the children. Lucy stood directly in front of her, holding the boy in one arm, while the other hand grasped a whip that turned from black to a blue and gold river that sparked over the ground. Draco flared out on her shoulder and threatened the cat like men with teeth bared. Loke stood in front of them, fists lit with magic similar to Lucy's, his golden mane seemed longer with the new power he showed.

And Zoro stood before them all, a sword crossed with each of the cat men. Only two of his swords stood drawn. Pressing the two back, they rose into the air from the force, then crashed back down to the gound. "Lucy, keep going with the others. I've got this, you focus on bigger fish." In a display of great trust, Lucy nodded her head and turned. She ran forward and did not look back, which caused the rest of them to turn and run with her. Thus, they left the swordsman behind.

They broke past a tree line, when Lucy called forth Phoenix, who flew to Lucy's side. "Lead him to us when he's done, please." An order, but very polite. The spirit, Nami learned to call them from Lucy and Loke, as the latter was one and Lucy held contracts with many.

"Why, Princess?"

"Because Zoro has the directional sense of a bat in the sun without the ability to use sonar." Lucy concluded, sending bursts of laughter through all of them. Which included the child in Lucy's arm, who she hushed in a silly manner, then blew a raspberry in the boy's hair.

"Really?" Phoenix asked, a sad look on her face. More likely pity than anything.

"No," Lucy said, a frown on her face, and they all looked at her in a confused manner. "He's worse."


The trees of the forest sadly clumped together in poor pockets of rot and death. Ashes covered the ground, and filled the air. It made her nose twitch at the scent of the burning trees, the smoke rising though the forest, but contained by the still retained foliage above. It also meant they ran blind through the smoke. Mostly, Lucy retained the ability to see a little farther in front of her. And used her whip to chain all of them together, so no one walked off and got lost.

Breaking through a line of tree limbs, Lucy found a small area where the fire's smoke diminished, allowing for more visibility. Not much, but enough for her to see two figures curled up ahead on the ground. She rushed forward, jumped over a broken log in the way, and discovered them. One a pretty young woman with cropped blonde hair, dressed conservatively in a nightgown and slippers, and then a robe overtop. Her face looked ashen and pale, she breathed heavily. Lucy heard her heart beat, it beat like the wheels of a train going full speed.

And next to her a boy rose up, dressed in brown overalls with a yellow satchel slung over a shoulder. Brown curly hair fanned around his head, and a bandana of brown plaid pushed down on the top. And in a professional opinion, Lucy thought he looked ready to snap in the wind. Really, he did. All skin and bone, yet with enough muscle that he raised a slingshot and fired it at her. After the ammo fell, she discovered a pachinko ball, which the boy took and held onto. One look at the man who fired, and she knew she found Usopp. He carried the same chin and face style as his father. Rounded at the bottom, with a slight cleft. Though the boy's nose stuck out from his face, long and round.

"Stop right there, if you come any closer I'll shoot, whoever you are just go away. That first show was a warning that my pachinko are as good as a pistol," he claimed, hands on his hip. A poke to the shoulder drew Lucy's attention to the red head with her, away from the proud sharpshooter.

"This him?" Nami asked, whispered as best she could.

"Yeah," Lucy whispered back, then faced Usopp once more. "A pistol? Those are things to really hurt somebody, so, do you risk your life on it. I learned a long time ago that a pistol is not a tool to scare people?" He stuttered in panic across the ashen space between them. "We can discuss this later, Usopp. For now, just drop the weapon and let's talk."

"How do you know my name?" He asked, but dropped the slingshot slightly. Taking a few steps forward, she came into his area of view and smiled. Dropping Ninjin, who ran over to Usopp and threw his arms around his captain and leader, she straightened and shook out her arms.

"Yasopp told me more than just your name," Lucy said, twisting her spine around and then faced the other man once more. Dropping his shoulders, he stood slack with mouth open wide. If the fire hadn't killed a lot of wildlife already, Lucy feared flies would target his mouth, which gaped like fish. "He'd never forgive me if I passed his home island and saw it burning, but did nothing for the people or his son. I'd never forgive myself either."

"You know my father?" He asked, placed his slingshot away while she came forward and went around him. Kaya came into view, or Lucy believed that was the girl's name. Ninjin said Usopp took care of her, so Lucy assumed. Crouching down, Lucy brushed hair from the girl's face with a clawed finger. Her slim and pale form laid soaked in sweat, harsh breath ghosted over Lucy's torso as she listened to the girl's erratic heartbeat. "What are you doing to Kaya?" He aimed his slingshot again, and Loke knocked it away.

"I knew him as a child. After he left you and your mother for the pirate life, his captain, Shanks, brought him back to my island in the East Blue. Shanks used my island like a home base, usually just partied there with his. I spent all my time with them, until they headed out to check out the rest of the East Blue. Anyway, now you know. And I'm checking on her, Usopp," Lucy said, and looked to Draco. Nodding his head, Lucy took in the flames around her and gave all the energy to Draco. The spool unwound further from her, pulled almost to the end. No matter how much she ate, only rest could truly give back all the energy she needed.

Healing slipped her capabilities, and Draco needed a lot of energy just for one healing.

A blue-white glow encompassed Kaya, who began to cough and breathe more easily as the healing began. Usopp rushed to her side, supported the weak blonde with his own body. Smiling, she watched the two look at each other and understood that Usopp and Kaya felt very strongly towards one another. Then Kaya looked to Lucy and smiled, a brief look and whispered, "Thank you, Miss."

"It's no problem, I just need you to stay awake a bit longer. I'll handle everything on this island. So don't worry too much, okay?" Lucy assured, and the other nodded in understanding. The magic pool stopped, and so did Draco. He sagged against her shoulders and head, wings dropped and low, not tucked in or spread out.

"What's your name?" Usopp asked, tilted his head and away from Kaya.

"Heartfilia Lucy, Captain of the Fairy Tail Pirates, and Dragon Princess. I originally came here to see you, Usopp. Saw this all happening instead, why are these pirates here?" Lucy asked, while Kaya and Usopp just stared at her. They blinked and looked down to the tattoo on her chest, which fell to a darker shade of gold. In fact it looked more like a burnt orange in the lighting, not a color Lucy fancied. But neither freaked out, though Usopp looked excited.

"So, are you a pirate like Shanks?" Usopp asked, and the look made Lucy laugh.

"I hope so, he's my idol after all." Lucy paused, and then stared hard at Usopp, and Nami laid down the children next to Usopp, and Ninjin ran over to them and patted their cheeks. Tried to wake them up, and ready. They buzzed a bit, but then fell back into sleep. "You skipped the question. Why are they here?" Embarrassed, Usopp looked away, while Kaya shuddered and pulled her legs up to her chest, hugged her body tight.

"We don't know," Usopp said. "About an hour ago they came, out of nowhere. Arrived and invaded at the back of town and started killing people. They went after Kaya first, but I got to her before they could. Nor will I let anything happen to Kaya."

"Usopp-san," Kaya whispered, starry eyed as she looked upon the brown haired boy. The image of Bisca and Alzack came to mind when she looked upon them, and it made her giggle at the cuteness before her. And a part of her never wanted to separate them.

"I'm sorry, Kaya. That I couldn't save Kurohadol," Usopp answered back, looked deep within the other's eyes, a frown that pulled his lips down. A pair of glasses pressed to Kaya from Usopp placed tears in the former's eyes. Held them close and cried softly onto their lenses. Lucy took a whiff of them, and recoiled at the smell. The smell of blood and ashes stained the object, ingrained into the very depth of the frames. But then the faint smell of the sea and metal crept forward.

"They fell off when he died, protecting me," Kaya whispered. "I picked them up just as Usopp-san came. And Merry. Oh Merry." Lucy looked them over and smelled deeply once more, and it seemed strange to her. "He took care of me since a young age. Kurohadol just wanted me safe, always tried to protect me. Took care of me. And now's he's dead." Crying harder, Kaya curled in on Usopp, who took the girl into his arms. And paid attention to his followers out of the corner of his eyes. Ninjin got the two boys up, who looked at him and then their captain and Kaya, then paused to look at Lucy crouched in front of them. Lucy smiled and wiggled her fingers at them, which caused the boys to laugh and smile. A small victory.

"May I see those?" Lucy asked, held out her hands for the glasses. Kaya, confusedly, handed them over and watched Lucy flip them around and over. Sniffed at them. Those that never worked with Lucy before, looked at her strangely. Too intent to stop, Loke stepped forward and placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder, explained.

"Lucy's senses as a dragon heighten her sense of smell. Something caught her nose on them, so she's investigating," Loke stated, patted Lucy's shoulder and stepped back. Draco refused to help, hated to smell around humans. It seemed a very Porlyusica like thing to say, and she hoped he grew out of his phase while around her. Even just a little bit.

"No, this way!" A familiar voice snapped from behind just as Lucy placed the smell, and they all turned to see Phoenix pushing Zoro through the smoke, to Lucy. Veins throbbed at the sight of her first mate, covered in bandages, but looking none too bad. If he walked and got lost, then Zoro won and remained in perfect condition. For the most part.

"Oh, Lucy!" Zoro raised his arm in greeting and walked towards her. "What's the matter?" He asked, noticed the glasses in her hands and the frown on her face. A tight smile pulled over her face, but then she dropped it and faced Kaya and Usopp once more.

"The pirates who attacked you are called the Black Cat Pirates, and were led by a Captain Kuro hung a number of years ago. Their hypnotist, Jango, took over afterwards and they fell into the shadows. This is all according to Nami. Kuro and Kurohadol share name traits similar to one another, and I wonder if he really died," Lucy wondered aloud, looked down at the glasses in her hands and pressed them to Kaya.

"No, Kurohadol is dead. It doesn't match up," Kaya said back, gripped the glassed like a lifeline till the frames bent a little bit.

"Did you see him bleed?" Lucy asked, raised an eyebrow at all of this. The blonde froze, and Usopp shook his head.

"I got her out of there so quick, so it wouldn't be possible to tell." Usopp replied, a displeased look on his face while he glared at Lucy. Held Kaya tight and tried to soothe her, Lucy felt a little bad. But the smell threw her off.

"If it was a killing blow, a millisecond of sight would have shown blood already pooling around him. I know this is hard, but there are ships and pirates surrounding the island. Your communication is dead. A ship sails periodically around. This isn't some random pirate strike, this was planned. And they want genocide. Only someone who knows the island well, would know how to handle cutting the lines. Cutting the island off from other islands. And those glasses, are they new or has he always had them?" Lucy cocked her head to the side and asked.

"Old. He's had them for as long as I could remember," Kaya answered, listened to everything Lucy said. And the very fact that she listened, tried to follow along, made Lucy respect her open mind.

"His scent is engrained in these. Its carries only the scent of him now, even if we washed them it would be the same. And all I smell if blood and the sea, metal. But not just any metal, it's the polish used on swords. And an acid tone underneath it all, it's a really foul scent," Lucy explained, shook a bit at the horrid smell. "Because of his, no doubt, good hygiene, there is no interference with the smell. Even the smoke can't mask it. But I bring this up, because the same smell permeated the Black Cat's ship when I first saw it."

"They're bad pirates, Lucy. It seems like it's be a common smell. Are you just mistaking it?" Nami asked, came forward and frowned. Looked to Kaya and Usopp, then scent Lucy a glare.

"You're right, one would assume that the smell stained every bad pirate. But, everyone's scents are different. They match our very beings. You smell of gold and oranges, with paper and ink too. Zoro smells of sake and grass, rocks and his swords too. Loke smells like…the warmth you feel when the sun shines on you. It's weird, but him. And then there is women's perfume in there, to match his philandering ways. I can't smell myself, but I assume it's something close to me. Personal. So when I say the scent matches, the scent matches," Lucy explained, rubbed at her nose and cleared the passage of the scents she took in.

"Your caretaker just may be their Captain Kuro, I don't know if he escaped from the noose or if he has a brother, but," Lucy trailed off, while Zoro made a noise.

"Captain Kuro, those cat brothers told me about him. Said, since they would kill me, that their Captain would be happy. Captain Kuro," Zoro told them, and all heads swiveled to him. Nami walked over and knocked him over the head.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Nami cried, pulled at her orange hair. Began to freak out. "So not only is he alive and orchestrated this entire thing, his death included, but he's after something here too!" The frustrated scream the tore from her mouth made Lucy cringe, rubbed at her ears and sighed. Wanted to ask Nami to be quiet, but allowed her to freak out. "Not only that, but Lucy's weak at the moment. Can't fight in her state. She's healed most of the island. Used up her power to help!"

"Nami," Lucy ground out and stood, but tipped over a bit, and needed help in staying upright. Once the wave of dizziness passed, Lucy pushed off of Zoro, who held her, and addressed the situation. "I'm fine." The others gave unimpressed looks, and Draco just hung over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Too tired and worn to care.

"Lucy-san, if you really aren't doing well," Kaya started and trailed off when Lucy smiled.

"I told you this would happen," Loke said, crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Zoro. Their small feud ended when Lucy and Nami flicked their noses, cued by key eye movements at the idiot they stood closest too. It ended with a fun reaction of their twitching noses.

"It's fine," Lucy said once more. "If anything, this is getting me all fired up." She met each of their gazes, and then walked off, intent on finding Kuro and his men, and then ending everything. Wanted the island to go back to how it used to, when Yasopp told her of the great food and wide open plains. The cliffs that looked over the endless water. Fighting for those scenes, for Usopp who needed her and who she considered a good friend since childhood. Even if they met that day. For Kaya and the children who needed her.

Looking over her shoulder, Lucy grinned wildly. "So, who's in for saving this island and kicking these piss poor pirates off?" A raucous laugh broke free, Zoro double in half. Swords rattled against one another, then settled when the wielder stood and stopped.

"Aye, Captain," he called and fell into line next to her. Next, Loke and Nami. Usopp joined too, followed by the three children. Kaya came last, hesitant and scared, but stepped forward by the shooter. Their hands linked together, held on tight, and assured themselves of something. Lucy looked away, like an intruder in some sacred interaction. When they finished, Lucy led on. Headed for Kaya's home.


"I can't…believe it," Kaya whispered once they returned to the girl's home. They checked the room of which Kurohadol died, only to find no blood or body left behind. The only other person in the house they happened upon being Merry, another of the girl's caretakers. Phoenix and her set to work on the man, worked him into a state that would ensure his life. Then he explained that Kurohadol tried to kill him, used strange blades like the claws of a cat. Kuro wanted Kaya, he wanted her money, and he wanted the peace of the entire island's death. Wanted to immortalize this place in his memory, and live in peace off the seas.

"Phoenix, fly around to the places we left the people before. Tell them the mansion is secured and lead them here," Lucy ordered, opened a window for the now flaming bird, who soared out and into the fiery haze. Then closed the window, but kept the curtains open. The house contained no light, and everything was lit by the fires outside. Enough to see, and not be gathered by the pirates who still fought in the streets. A brushed plant, fallen and trimmed, lay on the ground in the room, the soil spilt out. A chandelier tipped from the ceiling, pulled from the sockets and the glass shattered to the ground.

Curtains, a lush pearl effect, hung off broken holders, and swathed the ground in their great lengths. The chairs and all the furniture, while broken, stood as some of the finest Lucy saw in a while. And it reminded her of the Heartfilia Mansion, but on a much smaller scale at least. The one Princess Hisui gave back to her after the games, for closing the gates and being Jude's daughter. And while the gesture graced Lucy with wealth once more, she felt thankful she no longer lived in a big house and stayed in her tiny apartment instead.

Big houses always seemed so empty and broken. Even Kaya's, because so much room existed for people to stand apart. The bigger the house, the emptier it became.

"Lucy, we should totally see if this girl can get us a ship. She's rich," Nami whispered to her, sitting in a chair she turned upright. The high and curved back of the chair outlined in silver, with golden and white hand stitched work. The legs curved at the ends in a myriad of flowers and petals. Gold ends to the arms that rounded down. And large feathers that padded the chair tight enough not to sink down, but loose enough not to feel like a rock. Nami dipped into it slightly.

"I realized. Perhaps once she's in a better place though," Lucy admonished, shook her head at Nami's look. But pushed it off, walked over to Kaya, who sat in a corner of the floor with Usopp at her side. The children also huddled close to Kaya, yet pulled back and smiled when Lucy approached. Kneeling in front of the blonde, Lucy brushed her uncovered hands over Kaya's face. Her gauntlets on the broken mahogany table. "It's painful, I know. Betrayal is…devastation incarnate. But, you are alive and there is a crisis at hand. For now you must be strong, come to a place of understanding and hold onto it. Understand you cannot regret the years, because you cannot undo them. Yes, you were played. I've been too. But the happiness and love you felt should not be forgotten. Don't feel stupid. Accept the Kurohadol you knew, but consider him dead. Mourn that loss. And then stand, because you need to do so. On your own."

Lucy lifted herself off the floor and held out a hand to the younger blonde, who looked at her hand. A sniffle broke through the tears, but she reached with one hand and rubbed her eyes with the other. And then stood, Lucy let go, and Usopp took a step back. "People will be coming here for shelter. Maybe wounded again. There are supplies in the basement," Kaya informed, and Merry jumped and went to retrieve them. She smiled and turned to Lucy, it looked tired and worn, but it worked for then. "Thank you, Lucy-san."

"We have to get ready. We'll start by clearing the pirates in town, and then work around the beach. We'll work in a way that keeps us right behind the main ship while it moves, dealing with the hordes once the ship passes. That way they don't have a great chance of escaping. The two big ones will be Jango and Kuro. I'll handle Kuro," Lucy stated, turned and headed back for the broken table in front of Nami. The outline of the table had little flowers around the trim.

"Then I'll handle Jango," Zoro said, a hand on his white sword while he grinned maliciously.

"We'll handle the town and beach then," Loke said, placed his arm over Usopp's shoulder and purred to Kaya, who did not react. True Loves could not be preyed upon by some perverted lion. Not that the lion wouldn't try, in spite of knowing the truth. And he seemed to enjoy making Usopp blush and rage around. Though it came in part of the scared look Usopp adorned when he was included in the fight, and then the fury that replaced the fear when Loke flirted with Kaya.

"Alright, Nami, I want you to…" Lucy began, but found herself cut off.

"Find and defend all the treasure?" Money symbols replaced her eyes, and Lucy knew not to argue with the crazed figure that substituted the navigator.

"Sure, you do that," Lucy said, pulled herself away from the red head and went for the door. Draco slept on the back of Nami's chair, and Lucy wished to send the dragon back to the Spirit World, where he recovered quicker. But the last time she forced closed his gate he came back out and started attacking her. In a competition, Lucy pondered who won for scariest and angriest spirit: Aquarius or Draco. It still leaned towards Aquarius, just because she scared Lucy the moment she came from her gate. Draco remained calm, if a little tense at times, but only went into a rage when Lucy screwed up or did something that concerned him without consent. "Draco, you coming or sleeping?"

All heads swiveled to the Dragon, Nami careened her head back, and then he lifted his head. Looked around the room and stared, before wings unfurled and the small body flew over to her.

"I'll make sure you don't do anything too stupid." Curling right back around her shoulders, she giggled and closed her mouth with a hand when his claws dug into flesh. The claws of the gauntlet dug in just a tad to the skin above her lip, but nothing that drew blood.


Once the beaches and town cleared, the rest of the people gathered in Kaya's house. The pirates piled and tied up in multiple houses or under rubble. On the beached the pirates were placed as they were while standing, and then forced to bear the weight fixed chains around their clothes and under their bodies. Usopp turned out to be a great marksman like his father, and used his distance to shoot down enemies with a variety of materials. And not just pachinko.

And Lucy desired him on her crew. But felt guilt that she wished two true loves be apart from one another. And while true loves never had any telltale signs, Kaya and Usopp carried that spark. Even if the two saw nothing. The rest of the pack did, and so did the town. And the town's people seemed all knowing of the two. Reminded Lucy of Fuusha. And so Lucy protected it, while Nami carted off all their belonging and brought them to Kaya's for safe keeping. The Argo and treasures still safe.

The red head also demanded they wait till she returned, in order to look for treasures while they fought. They relented, solely because Nami intended to chew them all out if they didn't. So they followed the ship, circled the island behind it, like predators. Draco corrected Zoro and Usopp while they hunted, and Lucy and Loke fell into the roles of predators easily. Zoro learned quickly, and Usopp continued to make noise and fall down.

Markers behind them, planted with Lucy's magic, acted like breadcrumbs in order to lead Nami to them. Who seemed a better hunter than Usopp, as she jumped quietly from a bramble of bushes, and the snuck up behind him. Usopp let out the beginning of a scream at her appearance, but everyone slapped a hand over his mouth and silenced him.

"Usopp, stay here and shoot down anyone who tries to shoot us on the way over." The sniper nodded his head, lifted back and readied his slingshot at the boat. A boat awaited them at the bottom, rested between the sand and water and pulled lazily back into the waves. The ship cruised lazily by. Once out of sight, costing the bend of the island, they stood and jumped from the cliff's edge. Nami clung to Loke when she did, the wind rushed around their bodies, but gravity pushed them down. Till they landed on the sand, then raced for the boat. Their feet pounded against the loose earth, propelled them forward.

Zoro and Lucy made it to the small boat first, pushed it farther into the water, and then jumped in. Loke and Nami jumped in behind them and readied the oars. Once situated they rowed quickly, which created a whole heap and a bushel of noise that garnered the pirates attention. Guns raised and pointed, but soon dropped from hands that broke under the force of a pachinko. The shooter in the trees followed and took care of the men. Using the fallen men's recovery time, Lucy and Zoro climbed up hanging ropes to the ship's edge, then pulled Nami and Loke up.

Once they all stood on deck, Nami hung behind, intended to wait till the deck pirates focused on the others. They pulled ahead, Lucy going above, while the other two circled the central area she jumped upon, and made their way to the ship's main deck in such a manner. Lucy watched on from above, looked over the forces, and then spotted Kuro and Jango. One wore heart shaped sunglasses and waved chakrams from his fingers, like a hypnotist's medallion. Brown hair waved down to his shoulders, and a large blue coat hung from his frame.

He identified himself as Jango, clearly.

On the other hand, Kuro glared at them with great violence and ill-intent. His slicked back black hair, black suit, and black gloved claws, with katana blades, all merged together. And he looked like a very evil and grumpy cat that wanted their heads. Standing, he greeted Zoro and Loke, and looked only to those one eye level with him.

"I thought I told those idiots to not let anyone near here. I told them not to let anyone live. I'll have to educate them later," Kuro hissed, stood and arched his back out like a displeased cat. The crew around him shuddered and backed away in fear.

Lucy jumped down from above, a few feet from Kuro. Ended up in a crouch before him, but pulled and stood up before him. Looking at the man, who betrayed someone so sweet like Kaya. The man orchestrated this entire fiasco, she wanted to handle him. Her form slightly shook with the exertion of the entire day, not up to any level a sane person thought to attempt a fight in. But still, the odds against her made Lucy smile. In one of those rare cases, she hoped he proved to a challenge.

"Kuro, you're going to pay for what you did to the people of this island. For betraying Kaya, and for hurting my friend's treasure. All of your men on land have been defeated, and we've treated all those we could and sent them off to doctors in the worst cases. Kaya is safe, and the rest of your forces are here," Lucy informed him, the veins on his head got bigger with every word spoken. "My name is Heartfilia Lucy, the Dragon Princes, Captain of the Fairy Tail Pirates, and the Future Pirate Queen. And I will not let you escape."

Pooling on her magic, she used what she gathered all day. White fire lit up her fists, licked the air in heat that twisted the air and wood around them. It spread over her arms, reached Draco who revealed himself among the flames. Making its way up her shoulders, then licked around her stomach and her Fairy Tail mark as it moved down. The magic covered her entire form, then expanded outwards and twisted into the form of a medium sized fire dragon.

"You, the Pirate Queen? You may have power, but you're on your last leg, you don't stand a chance against us. Jango," Kuro ordered, and the man came forward and swung his chakram back and forth. The pounding of feet crossed the deck, and three swords came across the man, cut the chakrams down. Like a demon, Zoro preyed upon Jango, who stood defenseless now. Loke crossed the deck as well, lit with the power of Regulas, and stood on the other side of Zoro. Lucy walked forward, on Zoro's left, he on her right. The dragon followed after, burned deeply into the ship with each stem, and the sails began to smoke from the heat.

"I will be the Pirate Queen, and a coward who runs from the sea has no right to say anything. On the mark of my power, you're right, I am nearly out. But I wanted it to be that way," Lucy said, and one by one the members of Kuro's crew stilled at her words, turned and looked closely. "This is my power on my last leg, and all my other opponents I've faced with everything I have. But, those were one shot wins, and left me bored. I may not find a true opponent till I reach the Grand Line, therefore, I need to use up almost all of my strength to enter a fight and have fun. To get all fired up."

"That's a gamble," Kuro remarked, readjusted his glassed with the hilt of his palm. The swords that works as his claws went towards the sky with the movement.

"So is a Pirate's life, but I embrace the risks in order to live free," Lucy said, then threw her head back and roared like a dragon, the sound shook the water around, and tore the sails with the force of it all. The pirates all took steps back in fear, and some desired to jump off the ship. They said as much, but Lucy refused to let them escape. Pushing out her hands, the fire followed her command, a living being born within her power, it surged around the ship like a barrier, stopped anyone from escaping. "So let's gamble."

Loke surged forth first, jumped into the throes of all the pirates and attacked to his heart's content. Men fell around him, and found themselves thrown into one another. Zoro went after Jango, who dodged the swordsman to the best of his abilities. More chakrams ended up thrown at Zoro, but ended up thrown off by the way Zoro curved his blade and sent them off course, and usually directed them at one of the crew member's on deck. Nothing vital, but a leg or an arm ended up sliced into.

Blood spilled onto the deck, and set the tone of the main fight. Kuro versus her, and as he stalked towards her, arms down at his sides, eyes hidden by the glare of the fire against them, and neck tensed. The blades dragged lightly over the ship's deck, the backs of the blade thankfully, or Lucy would have felt bad for the ship. Though the large cat figure in front creeped her out a bit.

"Do try and entertain me with your agony," Kuro hissed, his eyes raised and met her. But she shrugged, allowed him to burst forward and bring his hand up, ready to slash down onto her. She caught his hands in her gauntlets and squeezed. His claws, still free from the grip, moved to slice into her shoulders, but she twirled under his arm and pressed her back to his front. Kicked back with one leg and pushed him into the air. Released his hand when he hung above her.

Landing on his feet, he turned and came back at her once more. Struck out towards her ankles to cut down, but ended up with her vaulting over him. Once more he brought his arm back and slashed upwards, but her gauntlets caught the metal, and she bent it to the side, then snapped of the blades. The force of the snap twisted his arm and sent him back, his face cut from the brush against the wood.

The search for someone to thrill her continued, even weakened he proved to be no real challenge to her. But that didn't allow her to take the fight any less seriously. Her hand pulled back as she charged, sent the fist into the wood where Kuro landed, he moved away and it went into the deck floor. Which shattered outwards and sent up large pieces of planks. Still hinged nails rose up too, and collapsed again the still clean areas of the deck, or fell down the hole that led into the hull.

Kuro locked his eyes with the site, and his eyes narrowed before his feet moved quickly into a strange dance. But it made him disappear to the normal eyes, but Lucy's eye were not normal. She caught him and held him down, the drawing up of his eyebrows and pulled look of his lips revealed his shock.

"You move fast and disappear to human eyes. But I have the eyes of a dragon. Don't think you can escape me," Lucy whispered, and then threw his body into the central mast. Loke already took out most of the crew, and Zoro moved on to help after he finished Jango. Said man sprawled over the side of the deck, nearly brushed the flames that surrounded the island.

Doing the special foot technique, he tried again. But she caught his head and slammed his head into the deck of the ship, shattered his glasses on his face. The glass dug in around his face, and the rest fell to the deck. Her hand lit with the power of celestial fire, the first fire ever born upon the earth. And she brought it back, "Claws of the Celestial Fire Dragon." Slammed the fist into his face, and knocked him out for good. A burn developed on his face from the heat. A mark he would keep forever.

"Lucy, we're done," Loke called, waved his hands over his head. She sighed and looked around, they really needed tougher opponents. They would never grow just fighting a bunch of grunts. Bringing down the fire around the ship, she brought down all the ropes and they tied the pirates up and removed their weapons.

"Round them all up. The villagers can use the reward for Kuro to rebuild," Lucy said, pushed the anchor off the side of the ship. Wobbled slightly after doing so.

"But I can keep this, right?" Nami asked, appeared on deck with a huge sack of treasure. "Because I found it, so…"

"You can keep that. The government would confiscate it anyway. But the villagers can claim this. Kuro's bounty should at least jump start them, and the marines have a budget for repairs. I believe," Lucy trailed off and they went to the back of the boat, walking around the outside of the deck. Then jumped off and rejoined their boat, which tugged along behind the larger ship after Nami connected them.

Once back on land, Lucy ordered them all back up to Usopp. With the last of her power she intended to end the rest of the fires on the island. Tugging a key off her belt, even Draco flew into the sky at the sight, and dipped it into the water. "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!"

"How dare you summon me?! I was in the middle of a date with Scorpio! I'll…why do you have no power left?" Aquarius brought down her urn, which she previously raised above her head and attempted to attack Lucy with.

"Ah, I used it all healing people and fighting. I just need you to put out the rest of the fire on the island, and they you can go back to your date," Lucy reasoned, and tried to placate the angry spirit who glared down at her.

"You brat! What am I, your personal firefighter? I'll drown you!" Aquarius waved back her urn and a huge wave built up from the water. Using her whip, Lucy gripped onto a rock, and held on as the water crashed down upon her and then headed for the village. After a minute it receded, and Aquarius brought back her urn. Lucy coughed up a lung of water, gasped for air. "I'll be going now. I have my boyfriend to get back to. My boyfriend. Find one for yourself, you unappealing girl."

"You don't need to phrase it like that!" Lucy shouted, raised a hand into the air. It shook from the heaviness and weariness that settled into her very bones. The spirit looked back one more time, and then disappeared. Collapsing back into the sand, the rest of her drenched friends appeared and gathered around. Zoro hefted her up, and piggybacked her to the village. And she hoped food awaited them.


A party ended the day, one led by the entire island in celebration of Kuro's defeat. Since most of the village ended up destroyed, Kaya's house became the center of the party. A large bonfire bloomed outside, lit by Lucy's fire. And food passed around the circle around it. Out of gratitude the people fed Lucy and her crew first, to however much they wanted or needed. And most of the crew gave their food to Lucy. Zoro and Nami took all the drinks, and Loke found a number of young village girls. Draco, exhausted, returned to the stars to recover.

Kaya and Usopp sat next to Lucy, and on the other side of the blonde, Nami and Zoro drank and listened. "The last thing I knew, your father loved it on Shank's ship. I assume he's still there," Lucy informed Usopp, while thinking back to the brief sighting on the Grand Line. But her focus then stayed with Shanks, so it never occurred to her that Yasopp was there.

"Ah, I can't believe my dad joined such an amazing pirate like Red Haired Shanks. I'm so proud to be his son, he went off to the seas like a real brave warrior. And that you met my dad too, after he left. It's so cool how he liked you because we're the same age," Usopp roared in laughter, which caused his three followers to run up to him and question the discussion. Zoro passed over a drink to Lucy, originally Nami's by the shrieks she let off. By the smell of it, the alcohol was strong. She only took dainty sips, refused to get drunk and preferred the water.

"Yeah, so I wanted to see if the son is as good as the father, since I just returned from my other home Island on the Grand Line," Lucy informed while everyone spat their food out, and continued. "I made a promise to start my journey here, so I came back. Found Nami, who isn't a part of the crew but still a precious Nakama, made Zoro my first mate, Loke decided to come along, and then came to find you. I have to say, you are definitely your father's son with those shooter skills of yours."

"Wait…you've already been on the Grand Line?" Nami asked, pulled her mouth from the alcohol. The others still stared on in shock. "But you don't have a ship! And how'd you sail the waters?"

"You don't have a ship?" Kaya asked, though it seemed more said to herself than anything, so Lucy answered Nami instead. Pulled out of two of her keys.

"Cetus and Pyxis gave me a lift for the most part. But once I hit the Red Line, Draco flew me the rest of the way. Pyxis used my heart and memories to form and accurate location to Dawn Island, which he led me too," Lucy stated, then put the keys away.

"You back tracked that much?" Zoro asked, and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I wanted to start here, so I don't mind. Besides, this way I can have a grander adventure. So it's all good." With that the subject ended up dropped, and Lucy and Usopp bonded over the one thing they had in common. The Red Haired Pirates. Nami declared it a stupid name for a pirate crew, unlike Lucy's name which had something to it.

"I never cared. Especially since I wanted to join Shanks so badly when I was kid. I got the scar under my eye trying to prove myself. Stabbed myself with a knife, ended up crying like a baby while Shanks freaked over me. Got all panicky and everything. I soaked up the attention like a sponge. But Shanks always took on the role of being over protective of me. One time your dad decided to teach me how to shoot a pistol, lined up a barrel with an apple on top. And mind you he's piss poor drunk. Drunk as I've ever seen him. And I end up nearly shooting a village woman in the ass, and the recoil broke my wrist. Needed it wrapped for six weeks, and it sucked, let me tell you that. But Shanks got all mad and protective, and that was nice," Lucy admitted and smiled, held onto her right wrist and felt a warmth rise to her cheeks.

To mask it she took a swig of her drink, hoped to play it off as being tipsy. No one needed to know of her infatuation with Shanks. The others laughed, while Nami cackled about Lucy's one weakness. It drew some looks, but they had a lot of fun. Lucy then told the story of Yasopp trying to marry Usopp off to her, but she refused him and he ended up hit by Shanks again. Lucy winked at Kaya, who blushed in understanding and pressed her face into Usopp's shoulder.

"Thanks for not indulging my dad," Usopp laughed, looked down at Kaya and blushed, but still smiled.

"Before I challenged and promised him that I would become the Pirate Queen, Shanks lost his arm saving me from a Sea King, said my life mattered more to him than an arm. I ended up taken by some bandits. Long story short, Shanks one, but I got taken hostage at sea and needed to be saved. Despite what happened he never blamed me, and allowed me to challenge and promise to defeat him and his crew someday. He sounded so excited over the prospect…gave me his precious and treasured hat to look after and return some day." Lucy rubbed the top of her head.

"Where's the hat now? Seems like something you'd treasure," Zoro asked, took a swig of his drink before noticing that he emptied it in the last go.

"Actually," Lucy said and hesitated, but then continued. "I have two brother who really pissed me off on Dawn Island. They tried to control me, ordered me to follow them and let them protect me. I was seven and they were ten, and I found it to be ridiculous. Especially since I intended to keep my promise to Shanks. But I ran away, and lost the hat, ended up found by a friend of my mothers, and took back to the Grand Line. All of my memories gone. They just came back about a month ago, a little more. Just remembered Shanks and my brothers, set off as quick as I could to find out everyone thought I died."

A silence hushed all conversation. "Ace and Sabo returned the hat to Shanks. But the promise still stands. I got to keep my identity hidden, till I meet them in person. If I went by my paternal name Ace would come and kill me, no questions asked. Would not believe me. And I hid my scar so Shanks wouldn't know either. Cause if he found out, he'd come and find me and never let me out of his sight again, and then I'd never be the Pirate Queen. Even if he thinks our promise is over, it's not. I'll get stronger and find all of my loved ones, let them know what's up."

"Are you sure you would mind Shanks tying you to his side, your savior?" Nami quipped in a breathy and high-pitched voice that broke all the tension and drew everyone to her. "Oh please Lucy, you look like you'll drool when you talk about him. Have you always been this obvious? Or is Shanks this stupid not to notice you love him? Is he the boyfriend your mermaid wants you to get?"

"Lucy?" Zoro asked, turned his head to Lucy and smirked, connived with the red head in an effort to embarrass her. It worked. The others laughed while Lucy buried her head in her hands. The one thing she never hid well enough, her feelings. The teasing began, and Lucy wanted nothing more than to bury herself in a hole. Eventually the partied dragged on into the night, and Kaya offered them rooms in her home. Along with Merry and her, they accepted the offer. But got a room with Nami, so they didn't take up room others might need. Zoro slept on a couch in the same room.

Loke went off with the women, and Usopp returned home.

But in all seriousness, Lucy wanted a shared room because it meant she got to sleep in the same bed as Nami. Natsu and all of Fairy Tail made it impossible for her to sleep alone. Even Evergreen and Freed took turns and slept in the same bed with her. The comfort of another body grew on Lucy.

But even more than that, it kept away the nightmares of the crash.


In the morning Lucy slid out of the bed with Nami and headed to the bathroom. After showering and brushing her teeth, two things she forgot to do since the beginning of her journey, she moved on to preparing for the day. First, she applied a fresh swatch of makeup under her eye again. Hid it from the world's eyes. And then moved onto picking out her clothes. The old ones smelled, and she needed to feel completely clean. So Virgo came and delivered something new and clean, while taking back the old ones to wear. Lucy could have sent them back to her requip space, but found it better not to while they stank. And picking clothes out of the space sounded fun, to work on her skills, but after the last day, she wished to take it easy.

So the spirit delivered something for her to wear. Black jeans that cut off at mid-calf, and a pair of high heeled and strappy sandal in red adorned her feet. The belt with all her keys, the whip, and two swords sat on her frame as well. A red and sleeveless bustier went from her belly button to a little over her chest. Allowed the Fairy Tail mark to be shown, just as she always wanted. Unless in a situation that called for anonymity. The gold armbands wrapped around her upper arms, and that gauntlets pulled on to finish her look. Cancer came and loosely curled her hair down her back, then dismissed himself with Virgo.

Walking out of the bathroom, Zoro, and then Nami went afterwards. But they refused a change of clothes. Merry opened the door to their room and greeted them, still slightly hurt, but energetic enough to stand and walk around. "Everyone wanted to surprise you with something at the coast. If you'll follow me."

They did so, and walked through and empty town towards the coast. To discover a fully stocked Caravel ship. And they never asked. Lucy's eyes turned to Kaya and Merry who stood together, explained that yes, the ship now belonged to Lucy. The entire town pitched in what they could to help stock the ship.

"Although it is somewhat old-fashioned, I am the one who designed it," Merry began with a smile, told them about ship. "The ship's frame and triple-mast sails are all part of a stern-centered control system. I call it the 'Going Merry'! Let me brief you on how to operate it. First how to turn it on and adjust the power," Merry continued but Lucy got lost. She felt really stupid. Didn't ships just sail with the wind? That's what she had thought, Shanks would laugh at her ignorance and she panicked. Nami noticed and stopped the man, asked him to just teach her as she navigated for the crew. Lucy took the chance to examine the ship. It looked really cute, the figurehead especially. It seemed like a good place to sit and stare out at the water on.

But the sail and the top mast needed something important.

"We've prepared everything that you'd need to set sail now," Kaya said as she came up to the other blonde. Lucy turned to her and threw her arms around her. Kaya, taken back by it, took a moment before hugging Lucy.

"Thank you so much, Kaya! This is so nice of you," Lucy squealed, jumped around on her toes for a second. But they pulled apart when Usopp came rolling down the hill, backpack and the works on his body. Lucy and Zoro came to the front and prepared to stop the rolling man. They raised a leg, and used them to stop him. Sadly, Usopp got to their legs at a bad time as their feet collided with his face. He let out a pained thanks and the two dropped their feet.

"So, you really are setting out to the sea, Usopp-san?" Kaya asked him as Lucy and the others got on their ship, watched on as the village let go of one of its children. But Kaya and Usopp deserved all their time, and the village felt happy to let them have that time. The two stood together and stared out at the water, which rippled slightly under the morning sunrise. It also got the picture of the Kuro's ship and crew and there. Lucy knew that the villagers already called the marines. So leaving needed to happen soon, or else.

"Yeah, I should leave before I change my mind," Usopp said, not turning to face Kaya. "Don't try to stop me." Those words were said softly as his head turned towards her.

"I won't stop you," Kaya responded, though it was obvious from Lucy's position that Kaya wanted to stop him. Like Lucy wanted to stop Shanks the day he left. But Kaya understood his desire for the sea. "I had a feeling that you would."

"That's kind of disappointing. Next time when I return to this village, I'll tell you stories that are a lot more outrageous than my previous tall tales," Usopp offered with a smile.

"I'll be looking forward to it!" Kaya said back with enthusiasm. Her smile lighting up her face as she stared at Usopp.

"You guys take care too," Usopp called as he looked to Lucy and her crew. Lucy though had a confused expression on. What the hell was he talking about? "I'll see you again someday!"

"Why?" Lucy asked with a confused voice. Leaned over the back of the boat and stared at him like he won the idiot of the year award. Zoro followed her lead.

"Why…you're a little slow aren't you? I'll be a pirate just like you, so we might meet one day on the sea," Usopp explained slowly. It ticked Lucy off a bit, and she a little tick mark developed on her forehead. Zoro took over and motioned for the boat.

"What are you talking about? Hurry up and get on the boat," Zoro said with a calm expression. Usopp looked at them with wide eyes at their words.

"We're already nakama, Usopp. Besides the Pirate Queen needs the best sharpshooter, as if I was just going to let you slip away," Lucy said while her face lit up with a bright and cheery smile again. Usopp just stayed where he was before reacting to their words.

"I'm the captain!" Usopp shouted as he sprung up with a fist in the air.

"Like hell you are, stupid, I'm the Captain!" Lucy shouted as she jumped off the boat with the mark stamp already in her hand. She walked up to Usopp who rubbed the back of his neck. Zoro and Nami laughed at the two. Pointing down to the mark on her chest, Lucy explained. The boy looked very confused. "Where do you want your mark, and what color?" When he understood, and pointed to the center of his chest, he declared that he wanted a pale yellow. The color of Kaya's hair. Pressing it to his skin, and then releasing it, the new mark bore into his tanned skin. As Lucy came back onto her ship, she hauled Usopp's stuff up with her on the back deck. Soon the other followed, and they prepared to set sail.

Once everything came into order, they did just that. The little boys at the top of one cliff watched as they sailed away. With the morning wind, they pulled away from the island entirely. It became a speck on the grand sea, nothing more than a past experience. And yet so much more at the same time. Usopp stared at it till an hour passed, then joined Lucy in a crafting experience. And made a black flag for their ship. A skull and crossbones that grinned, with her gold mark of Fairy Tail on top.

They move onto the sails next, a larger project due to the wind and the curve of the sail, and the fact that they didn't do so before they left and on a flat surface. But they didn't, so they made do and took their time. It turned out great, and it Lucy cried when she saw it, the proud symbol she loved that marked a new life for her, and always encouraged her on the path ahead.

Once it billowed in the wind for an hour, Lucy gathered them all and brought out drinks for them to celebrate. "To our new ship and friend," Lucy yelled as they all cheered and knocked mugs together. "We finally have enough to start and be recognized, but remember what really matters is the journey. And that we keep chasing our dreams, support one another. And I'll always help no matter what. Sometimes I'll be selfish and ask a lot, but know it's because I have faith in all of you. And that as long as we stay together, we can take on anything. To the Fairy Tail Pirates. May this adventure continue past the end!" They all cheered, threw their mugs together once more and drank.


That night, while the others slept, Lucy took watch. Pulled out a pen and paper, along with a box for her letters, and wrote to her mother. It told her of all the things she'd done and how she missed her, still. And then her letter to Shanks shared something more.

Dear Shanks,

I haven't written you since I set off. But I officially set off and haven't had the time. It took a while to get a ship, so I didn't have the space. But I got a cute one, a Caravel. A gift from Yasopp's town after I helped during a pirate invasion. Usopp's fine, actually he joined my crew. Yasopp and he look so alike, it's not even funny. Also, Usopp's in love with this cute girl named Kaya, but left in order for adventure. Even told her when he came back he'd tell her the stories of our adventures. It was so cute. I don't think you'll care, but I needed to share it. The drunk, the one other than you, should be thrilled at the news of his son coming to sea though. But he's my fourth crew member.

My first mate is Zoro, and he's a swordsman who dreams of being the best in the world. Fights with three swords. I know it sounds strange, but he makes it work. Then there's Nami, who isn't part of the crew, but is still nakama. It's like me to your crew I guess, but I want her on my crew and she doesn't want to be a pirate. Though she's already a thief. Then there's Loke, he's been with me longer than everyone, but I never realized he's wanted to join. But he did. And Usopp, who dreams of becoming brave. He can be quite the coward, but when push comes to shove I can rely on him, I know it.

I also met up with Buggy, I forgot what you said about him till I saw him. So of course the first words that come out of my mouth are 'Big Red Nose'. You would have laughed, I'm sure of it. Zoro did.

And then I kicked a marines butt, a captain. And also some dude named Kuro, he attacked Yasopp's hometown. But everyone is safe, mostly. I couldn't save everyone…and it hurts. I wanted to, because I care about Yasopp and Usopp. But a part of me is content knowing that I did everything I could, and that I did my best. Because Syrup will rebuild.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know I'm closer to returning to the Grand Line. To getting my hat back. Because, officially, the Fairy Tail Pirates have begun. I hope to see you soon.

All my love,

Lucy

P.S. Not love-love. Nami teased me about my idolism of you. And though you'll never read this, I hope you never realized I felt puppy love for you as a child, but it's passed.

P.P.S. I must be going crazy if I'm writing post scripts in letters meant to alleviate my tension. Things no one will ever read.

P.P.P.S. I keep doing it!


Word Count: 17,368

Now if you don't mind me my fingers are falling off.

And this is why the Chapter took so long to post.

Please Review!

~Stay Free