Chapter Seven: The Moon Curse
By the time the group had reached the island village, night had fallen. The village was guarded by large wooden pillars, and a crooked sign that read 'keep out'. Noelle stared at the sign as if it were a bad omen. She didn't like the feel of this place, but it seemed to only be her that was feeling strange. Noelle wrapped hugged Marlow a little bit tighter, which didn't go unnoticed by the cat, who cast his brown eys up towards her, with a small frown.
"Check out that gate. When they say keep out they mean it." Says Natsu.
"Anyone home?! We came here to help you!" Lucy yells stepping forward.
"Let's bust in!" Natsu smirked pounding his fists together.
Noelle sighed. "Natsu," she pinched her temples, "It hasn't even been five minutes and you're already wanting to cause chaos."
"Who goes there?!"
The group looked up to see two men at the top of the gate staring down at them. Noelle stepped back to get a better look at them. "We're Fairy Tail wizards!" she shouted up at them, "We're here in response to your request." A small part of Noelle wanted for them to tell them to turn around, and never come back; she'd be okay with that.
"Why weren't we notified when you accepted the job?"
"Uhh well.." Lucy stuttered, nearly giving them away. Luckily Gray stepped in.
"Sorry, it was probably just a mix up with the paper work!" Gray yelled.
"Then let me see your emblems, right now!"
They did as they were told. Noelle held up her hand and Marlow lifted up his hoodie to reveal his guild mark on his back. The others also showed their guild marks.
"They're here! They're really here!" The villagers cheered gleefully. The gate was immediately raised and the group was met by many people wearing cloaks, similar to what the man in the boat had been wearing.
The bad feeling in Noelle's stomach grew as they passed through the gate.
"It's like we are walking into a giant monsters mouth." Happy shivered.
"Yeah, and we are all going to get eaten and spit back out." Marlow cackled.
"Are you two trying to freak me out?!" Lucy hissed at them.
When they were all inside of the village and elderly man stepped forward, his face and body cloaked.
"I'm Moka, the village Chief," he spoke, "On behalf of everyone here, I welcome you, pleasantries aside there's something you need to see, now my people!" The Chief yelled and on command everyone in the village ripped their cloaks away from their body, revealing hideous demon limbs, similar to the man from the boat.
"It's just like what happened to the boat guy." Gray whispered.
"Oh wow your sideburns!" Natsu yelled in complete shock.
Chief Moka was a small man with a wrinkled face and long white sideburns that came down to the waistband of his pants.
"Natsu..." Noelle sweatdropped.
"Not that! I was trying to show you what has happened to my arm!" Chief Moka waved his demonic arm around, "Everyone on the island has suffered horrible disfigurement because of this curse," He spoke sadly, "Not even the animals have been spared.."
Gray stepped forward and spoke, "Please excuse me for asking, but what makes you think it's a curse, Sir? It could be some kind of infectious disease."
Noelle nodded, "I can't help but agree. To assume it's a curse seems a little far fetched, don't you think?"
"We've consulted thousands of doctors young man, and woman," He glances at Noelle. "But they all agree that no such disease exists. You see, our symptoms began the same time the moon fell under an evil spell."
"What kind of spell?" Lucy asked.
"Since ancient times this island had absorbed the light of the moon, causing it to glow almost as beautifully as the moon it's self," Moka frowns, "However several years ago the moons color began to change, and a eerie purple glow was cast upon the island."
"So the moon turned purple?" Natsu whispered in disbelief.
"It's coming out from behind the clouds!" Happy yelled pointing to the sky.
Noelle looked up to the sky just as the cloud were parting and sure enough, shining brightly down on them was a purple moon. It was eerie, and beautiful at the same time. Noelle found herself mesmerized by the beautiful moon.
"It's gorgeous." She whispered.
"It really is purple.." Lucy gasped.
"Man, that's creepy looking." Gray said, eyeing the purple moon.
"It's the curse," Moka said in a strained voice,."Stay back," he warned. "The change is about to begin." His eyes suddenly widen and the villagers let out cries of pain as they begin to change into horrifying demonic creatures.
"Their changing!"
"Yeah I see that!"
Noelle stepped back not knowing what to think. "I've never seen anything like this." She whispered.
"Why is this happening to them?" Natsu asked, his feelings the same as the others.
"I'm sorry if our appearance frightens you." The Chief whispered, ashamed of his appearance.
"Don't apologize. It's not your fault." Noelle frowned.
"Yeah, it's okay. I'm just completely confused." Gray said.
"You poor people." Lucy frowned with her thumb pressed to her cheek.
"Oh man... you guys look so cool!" Natsu yelled with little hearts flying around him.
A moment of silence passed, everyone completely shocked by what he had said, including Noelle.
"What is wrong with him?" She sighed.
"It's awesome! You've got horns and stuff! I'm so jealous!"
"He thinks we look cool?"
"No ones ever said that to us before."
"Natsu! You're being insensitive. They don't want to look like this!" Lucy angrily said stepping up to him.
"Seriously? My bad," Natsu scratched his head, "Then I guess we should help them out."
"That is why we are here.." Happy said.
"Get a clue man." Gray said crossing his arms and turning away from him.
"Anyway," Moka draws out, "As you've witnessed whenever the purple moon shows it's face in the sky, everyone in the village takes on a horrific demon form. If it isn't a curse what else could is possible be?"
Noelle frowns as the villagers start to cry. 'They're suffering...'
"We'll return to normal once the morning comes and the sun has risen," Chief Moka's voice suddenly turns sad. "However, there are some poor souls who can no longer switch back to their human forms, for they have lost their minds.."
She didn't like where this was going..
"How sad.." Lucy whispers.
"The fate for them, these unfortunate souls in the grip of madness, we have no choice, but to put them to death."
Everyone gasps, this is what Noelle was afraid of.
"But they might change back someday!" Natsu yells.
"If we wait for that to happen the monsters will surely kill us all! We've tried capturing them, but they always broke free. It's no use, once it takes hold there is no way to save them. I should know," Moka starts to cry, "I was forced to kill my very own son." He shows them a picture and they all gasp. It was of the man from boat.
"That's the guy...from the boat...but we just saw him yesterday he-"
Gray quickly cuts Lucy off with shush. "Now I understand why he disappeared on us like that. He's dead, but his soul can't rest in peace.."
'Was it possible that he was...dead? It's hard to believe, but, nothing on this island is making any sense...' Noelle frowned at her thoughts.
Chief Moka pleaded with them. "Please lift the evil curse from our island. If this goes on any longer we may all fall victim to it. We'll die."
"We're not going to let them happen!" Natsu angrily yelled. "We can fix this," He spoke in a softer voice. "I promise."
Noelle wished Natsu has promised that, as she wasn't sure they could do anything to help them.
"There's only one way this wretched curse can be lifted," Chief Moka became serious. "The moon.. must be wiped form the sky!"
Noelle stared blankly at the Chief for a solid moment, before turning around and walking away.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Lucy yelled at her.
"Home!"
"You can't go home! We have a mission to do."
"That old man is cracked out of his freaking mind, and I want nothing to do with his drug induced hallucinations!"
Lucy sighed and shook her head. "Sometimes I just wanna..." she snapped her eyes to Gray. "What are you waiting for? Go get her!"
Gray glared at the blonde and angrily marched after the retreating snowette.
Chief Moka and the village had been kinda enough to offer the group housing for their stay. Noelle had since situated herself in a straw chair, Marlow was curled in her lap. Gray had managed to drag her back before she could drown herself in the ocean. She felt extremely tired, and this mission was already getting on her nerves, and it had only just begun.
"Blow up the moon," she sighed, "He really believes we can blow up the moon. The old geezer is on something," she frowned, strumming her fingers through her hair.
"I never knew the moon could be so creepy.." Happy whispered staring out at the eerie moon.
Lucy who was unpacking glared at Happy. "Hurry and close the window! You heard what the Chief said, we gotta stay out of the moonlight! You may not care, but I don't want to risk turning into some freaky monster.
"You're such a scaredy-cat Lucy," Noelle smirked, "And why are you so worried? Curses aren't real."
'Then how do you explain every happening here?" Lucy smirked, hands on her hips.
"Drugs. Schizophrenia." Noelle shrugged. Lucy sweatdropped.
"I'm not so sure about this jobs guys." Natsu says, lounging in a wooden chair.
"Do these people really think we can destroy the moon?" Gray frowned.
"Seems that way." Noelle responds to Gray.
"I wonder how many punches it will take!? You think I can handle it?" Natsu excitedly asks. The fact he was so giddy about possibly destroying the moon unnerved Noelle.
"Are you kidding me? Don't be stupid man." Gray glares at him.
"Natsu, there's not a wizard alive strong enough to do that." Lucy sighed.
"I bet a dragon could take out the moon," Noelle grinned, "What do you think, Natsu?"
"Igneel could totally blow up the moon!" The slayer grinned with pumped fists, "And Isoba too!"
"Isoldeth," Noelle corrected, "Her name is Isoldeth."
"Isoldeth, Isolda, same thing." Natsu waved.
Noelle's eye twitched.
"But that's the job we were hired to do isn't it? We can't take a job then back out, cause' that would make Fairy Tail look bad."
"What there asking can't be done. How do you think you're going to get to the moon anyway?" Gray asks trying to get it trough Natsu's thick skull.
"With Happy."
"I would think so." Happy laughs.
"I want to go to the moon too! I bet there's aliens, and they probably look like No-" Marlow was never able to finish his sentence as a pillow connected to his face.
"Okay, we can't destroy the moon but, if we do some investigating we might be able to find a different way to lift the curse from the island." Lucy taps her chin in thought, but is suddenly smacked in the face by Gray's shirt.
"You kids can do whatever you want but after the day I've had, I need some shut eye." Gray said while taking off his socks.
"Keep the boxers on!" Noelle yelled in warning. Gray stuck his tongue out at her and chucked his pants her direction. Noelle glared as the pants landed on her head. "I hate you, Fullbuster."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Yuletide."
"Okay our investigation starts tomorrow! I'm hitting the sack." Natsu falls face first on one the beds the villagers had laid out for them followed by Happy.
"Sounds like a plan." Gray says doing the same.
"Kay then, I'm pretty sleepy too, goodnight." Lucy smiled and took the bed between Gray and Natsu.
Noelle and Marlow took the bed of the other side of Gray. Marlow hopped down on the bed and curled up in the pillow, it only took him a moment to fall asleep.
"G'night Marlow. Noelle whispered, petting his sleeping head. Noelle lowered herself down on the bed and curled up in the blankets, she let her eyes droop close and let herself be pulled into slumber.
Completely unaware of the nightmare to come.
Where did you go? Why did you leave me momma? Was...was I not good enough? Do you not want me anymore? I never meant to be - I - I tried my best to be good! I just wanted you to be proud of me, is all. But it wasn't good enough, was it? Why else would you lave me all alone? If you come back...I'll do better; I promise! I'll do whatever you tell me to, I swear! So please, I'm begging you, come back. Come back to me momma.
I miss you so much Isoldeth.
A small, younger Noelle sniffled, and wiped the tears away that burned her eyes. "Momma, where are you?" Noelle curls her knees to her chest and cries. "D-Don't you miss me?" She aks, staring up into the night sky. "Do you ever remember me anymore?...it's been so long momma."
Noelle was so lost in her thoughts and tears, that she hadn't noticed the light of a house clicking on.
"Noelle? What are you doing out here so late? You should be in bed." The tired, voice of a female said.
Noelle tried to hide her sniffles and tears. "S-Sorry Ur." Noelle said, trying to keep her voice from cracking.
Ur frowned and gentle closed the door behind her so she wouldn't wake Lyon and Gray. "What's on your mind?" Ur ask as she settle down on the step beside of her.
Noelle stared down at the snow covered ground, biting down on her quivering lips. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"You know there's nothing wrong with crying, right?" Ur said, gentle petting her hair. "Everyone does it."
"Crying is for babies!" Noelle sneered, "It makes you look weak! I'm not weak...I'm not" she whispered to herself.
"Weak? There's nothing weak about crying. It's what makes up human."
Noelle started to shake and the tears started to pour from her eyes. "I-I miss them so much," she whimpered. "Why do they keep leaving me?!" Noelle screamed, her hands tangled into her hair, pulling and twisting, "I...I don't want to be alone..." Noelle buried her face into the palms of her hands and sobbed.
Between her muffled cries she hadn't noticed herself being pulled into the arms of Ur - who rocked her and held her close, whispering comforting words into her hair.
"You'll never truly be alone Noelle, not as long as you have me, I'll always be there for you."
Noelle shot up straight clutching her blanket to her chest. She was breathing hard and cold sweat was running down her face. Her heart felt as if it was going to rip free her chest from how hard it was pounding. She nervously looked around expecting herself to be outside. When she finally realized where she was she sighed, and brushed her hair out of her face. Suddenly, a strange, and somewhat familiar smelled filled her nose, Noelle blinked and looked up to find Gray right in front of her face with his hands holding onto her shoulders.
"Kyaah!" Noelle screamed and fell backwards, "W-what the hell Gray?!" she blushed, a feeling like electricity flowed through her veins and a strange feeling boiled inside of her. Noelle shook the feeling away and recollected herself.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Gray said scratching his head. "You were yelling a lot in your sleep. You okay? You look like hell."
"I'm alright. It was only a dream."
Gray frowned. "Are you crying?"
"Huh?" Noelle touched her face and flinched, "I-I probably have something in my eye!" Noelle quickly said as she rubbed her eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with crying. We all do it," Gray smiled. "It's a sign of being human."
Noelle stared at Gray with wide eyes. The tears started to fall before she could finish her sentence. Almost as if her body was acting on its own, Noelle hugged him. She pressed her face into the side of his neck as she cried.
"W-whoa! Did I say something wrong?!" Gray didn't know what to do. He settled on awkwardly wrapping his arms around her mid-section.
Noelle laughed. She pulled away and wiped her tears away. "I didn't mean to wake you up." Noelle blushed.
"It's fine." He smiled. "Now get some rest. We've gotta big day tomorrow, we're going to need all the strength we have to blow up the moon."
"Would you two either shut up or get another room? How's a cat supposed to get any sleep around here."
Noelle giggled and pulled her blankets over her face. As she closed her eyes she couldn't help but wonder what it was she had felt? It felt as if electricity has filled her blood. Was it because of the moon? Or had she imagined it? It didn't matter she supposed, it was just odd.
Odd, but...pleasant.
When Noelle woke up the following morning she felt odd. She felt extremely warm and she also couldn't move properly. She tried to wiggle around but nothing seemed to work. With a soft grunt Noelle forcibly rolled herself over and widened her eyes in shock and embarrassment when she realized what or rather who was preventing her from moving.
"G-Gray?!" Noelle sputtered.
The mage had her wrapped tightly in her arms with his face buried in her shoulder. Noelle tried to push him away but he didn't budge an inch! How the hell had this happened?! Noelle groaned and tried to pry herself from him, but his grip only tightened. Suddenly, she was pulled against his chest. Noelle froze. Her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. Noelle tried again to pull herself away, but to no avail. Sighing, she gave in to defeat, and settled herself down until she was somewhat comfortable.
"Damn you Fullbuster." She scowled, trying to fight down the blush.
Sighing, Noelle closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep, unaware of the fact Lucy was awake, and had saw the whole thing. The blonde giggled to herself and snuggled back down in her bed. As she was drifting off to sleep, she cast a glance at the pink-haied boy sleeping next to her, with drool dribbling down his chin.
Her cheeks faintly turned pink as a warm smiled spread over her face.
