"You're so cute." Lucy said as she held Happy and rubbed his belly. "And so soft and sweet."
Happy purred and brushed against the the blonde as she treated him with affection.
"Please enough with the hugs and kisses." Natsu said. "You'll spoil him and turn him into a wuss."
"I can't help it. He's just so adorable. You know I always wanted a pet but my father wouldn't allow me to have one."
"Really? Huh..." He said. "Listen we're about to arrive at where the legendary Capricorn is located so you stay down here, Happy keep her safe."
The cat nodded before watching his master return to the upper deck. According to legend the capricorn was located on the other side of a puddle that was in the middle of a mountain.
"How can something be located on the other side of a puddle?" Natsu asked.
"I don't know. That's just what the legend says." Gajeel said.
"Maybe it's a type of riddle." Juvia suggested.
"That's one tricky riddle." Natsu said.
"Well first thing's first, we need to climb up that mountain." Erza said.
"With what?" Laxus said.
"Well we got daggers and rope right?"
"Yeah so?"
"You'd be surprised by what you can use those items for aside from cutting and tying."
"It may not be that simple." Gajeel said. "This mountain might be too slick for those."
"Um Gajeel quick question." Gray said.
"What?"
"By any chance does the legend mention anything else living on the mountain other than the capricorn?"
"Like what?"
"How about a giant bird?"
Gray pointed upward, the crew turned around to see an enormous bird of prey flying down from the mountain and toward them.
"What is that thing?" Erza asked.
"It's a Roc!" Gajeel shouted. "Everyone hit the dirt!"
At once everyone on jumped down to the deck so the roc wouldn't be able to catch them. They all laid flat on the ship though Gray had his arms around Juvia, shielding her from the giant and deadly bird.
"Nobody move an inch." Gajeel said quietly.
"What do we do?" Juvia asked in an equally quiet tone.
"Just stay still, lay flat, and whatever you do don't stand up."
"What's that thing want?" Natsu asked.
"What do you think? It wants to eat us. But if we lay flat then it can't get a grip on us with it's talons. As long as we remain like this we're safe."
"Shouldn't we try to scare it away with cannons?" Laxus said.
"No! Just keep still! Don't worry once it's realizes it can't catch us it'll go away and find something else to eat."
All six of them continued to lay flat on the ship, not moving at all. The roc just circled and circled around in the air over the ship.
"How long is this buzzard going fly around?" Gray asked.
"It's trying to see how long we can stay like this." Gajeel said. "It's trying to decide if the wait is worth it."
"How long do you suppose before it leaves?" Erza said.
"I don't know."
"Hey Natsu I heard a weird noise. Is everything ok?"
Everyone looked to see Lucy coming aboard the deck.
"No! Lucy! Get back!"
But Natsu's warning came too late and in one swift move the roc swooped down, snatched Lucy up in it's talons, and flew back up the mountain. They could hear her screams of terror all the way from the ship.
"Oh no!" Juvia gasped.
"Now what do we do?" Gray asked.
"Duh! We climb up and get her back before she's eaten!" Natsu said.
"But what if she's already been eaten?" Laxus said.
"Doubtful." Gajeel said. "A roc, much like a cat, likes to play with their food before eating it. We have time but not very much of it."
"In that case I'll just go so I don't have to worry about keeping you all safe." Natsu said.
Acting fast Natsu packed some rope and a pistol in a bag, tied two daggers to the bottoms of his boots, and held two more daggers firmly in his hands. He then used the daggers to climb up the mountain.
"Okay Natsu just keep climbing and don't look down." He told himself. "Stupid bird! Why couldn't it grab Laxus?"
When he finally reached the top he found the roc and Lucy inside of a very large nest. Watching the enormous bird toss her around like a rag doll.
"Stop it! Let me go!" She demanded.
Natsu quietly crept over to the best and fired his pistol at the roc. It dropped the blonde but Natsu managed to catch her.
"You alright?" He asked.
"I think so."
"Great. Now run!"
Roc charged after them as they ran across the surface of the mountain.
"Where are we going?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know! Just keep running!" Natsu told her.
In their haste to get away they didn't notice the puddle they were headed toward. But when they reached it, it wasn't just simple step and that was the end, no they fell right through the puddle and found themselves floating around in a watery abyss. They swam around until they reached the surface but they didn't end up back on the mountain. They were inside of a cave.
"What just happened?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know." Natsu said. "But it looks like we gave that overgrown chicken the slip."
"But for how long?"
"Let's just get somewhere and dry off."
They climbed out of the water and on to the nearest land.
"I better ring out my clothes." Lucy said.
"Ooo. Mind if I help?" Natsu asked excitedly.
Lucy picked up a rock and flung it at Natsu's head.
"Ow!"
"Don't even think about it you pervert!"
"I'm just kidding! Lighten up!"
"Just keep your head turned!"
Lucy huffed then went off somewhere private to take her clothes off and ring out the water soaked into them. Natsu respectfully kept his head turned the other way and didn't peep on her once. He was a rascal but even he had his limits.
"Are you almost done?" He asked her.
"Almost. Be patient."
After ten minutes waiting Lucy came back fully clothed.
"Better?" He asked.
"Much." She said. "Now where are we?"
"Honestly, I have no idea but it's definitely moist in here. Almost like the inside of a mouth."
"Ewww! Don't talk like that! That's disgusting!"
"I'm sorry but that's what it feels like to me."
"Can we just try to get out of here? Now you've got me thinking that we're about to be eaten."
"Well a few minutes ago you were about to be eaten."
"Whatever. Let's just go."
"No wait...We came here through a puddle right?"
"I guess."
"A puddle on the other side. This must be where the capricorn is. Let's find it."
"No. I wanna get out of here."
"We'll leave when we get the Capricorn's horn."
"If we live long enough to find it."
"Relax, I know what I'm doing."
"What about everyone else? If we don't come back won't they get worried?"
"Trust me, they know that I'm still alive. We'll be back before they really start to worry."
"Are you sure?"
"I think I know my own crew."
"Okay."