This was one of those perfect moments where Lucy wanted to memorize every detail so that she could look back on it years from now.

With the sunrise behind them reflecting beautiful orange and yellow hues, Lucy soared over the ocean with her finger dipped into the water directly below her. Her left hand was clasped in Natsu's warm one, and for a brief fleeting moment, Lucy suddenly felt like she belonged for the first time since her mother disappeared.

That ended, of course, when Natsu was suddenly violently jerking her towards the island that was blossoming within her view.

Lucy scowled. What a mood killer. As if hearing her thoughts, Natsu gave her another savage yank. "Ouch, Natsu! Are you trying to pull my arm out of socket?'

Natsu shushed her, pointing towards their right as he continued to lead her quickly to the island.

Lucy turned and squinted into the fog. In the misty haze, she could barely make out the shape of a skull flag flapping around in the wind. Beneath it was nothing but darkness.

She gave a small gasp of surprise when her vision was suddenly obstructed by leaves and she was being slapped repeatedly in the face by twigs.

They had reached the island, but Natsu was pulling her to the right towards the skull flag.

Lucy shivered in anticipation. Skulls were a symbol of death, and that couldn't be a good sign. However, Natsu continued to head in its direction.

He came to an abrupt stop, and Lucy slammed into his back. Moaning in pain, she clutched her head and opened her mouth to scold him but froze as she looked over his shoulder.

They had stopped just before a river side, hiding behind wild green bushes. The largest boat Lucy had ever seen was sailing through the pristine water. A large black flag with a white skull plastered across it stood proudly at the very top of the front mast. The wood was a dark red, and the sails had bold red stripes running down them.

"Pirates," Natsu muttered disdainfully as he gave a low growl and pushed Lucy slightly behind him. She followed his stony glare to the front of the massive boat where a black haired man faced away from them. He wore a red hat decorated with a fluffy white feather and was dressed in a bright red coat. What chilled Lucy to the core, though, was the shiny hook in place of a hand that he was absently tapping against the edge of the boats wall.

"Captain Hook," Natsu muttered to her snidely. "He doesn't know how to take a hint and get off my island."

Lucy swallowed tightly, her gaze fixed on his hook. She wondered briefly how sharp it was. "What happened to his hand?"

Natsu gave a bitter chuckle. "That's a long story. I'll tell it to 'ya sometime."

They stood silently as the boat passed them and disappeared into the mouth of what appeared to be a large, dark cave. Natsu beckoned her to follow him as he quickly ran along the riverside towards the entrance.

As they reached the rocky cave, he held a finger to his lips and led her inside, keeping their bodies nearly glued to the wall. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest at the proximity to the intimidating boat that towered over them a mere 10 feet away.

Natsu took her hand and they flew silently up the cave wall, where they landed on a small ledge near the top of the cave, overlooking the boat and its crew.

They both laid down and peered over the edge of the flat surface, studying the pirate crew.

There were ten men, all large and muscular, circling menacingly around a girl. She had short, almost white hair and sat on the deck with her arms tied behind her back with rope. A large anchor was tied to her chest with chains.

Natsu cursed beside her. "Lisanna."

The man Lucy had seen earlier, Captain Hook as Natsu had called him, stood before Lisanna with a cruel sneer on his otherwise handsome face. With his large charcoal eyes locked on her face, he drew a scimitar and placed the point directly upon Lisanna's nose.

Lucy gave a small gasp, inching forward but was yanked back by Natsu's firm grip. She turned to demand he help the girl but stopped when she saw his seriousness. His jaw was clenched and his dark eyes held a rage within that almost frightened Lucy.

Lucy focused on the pirate crew once more when Captain Hook's deep, rough voice echoed throughout the cave.

"Do you know why you were brought here, girl?"

Lisanna simply glared at him before turning her face away, lifting her nose up snidely.

Captain Hook growled loudly, using his sword to force her to face him again. "You will answer me."

She simply snorted and turned her face in the opposite direction.

His face reddened with anger, and he jerked her up by the chains with his hook. Shoving his face into hers, he threatened, "If you don't tell me where his lair is, I will throw you in the water."

As if hearing his words, a sudden loud splash in the water drew the attention of everyone present. A crocodile so large that Lucy was sure it was some kind of other monster, appeared above the surface of the water. Its black, beady eyes were focused on the plank as if expecting its next meal.

Captain Hook smirked, dragging Lisanna to the edge of the boat and shoving her onto the plank.

She glanced over the edge at the crocodile, and Lucy was baffled at her calm countenance. Shouldn't she be afraid? It was a man-eating monster waiting to gobble her up, yet Lisanna gazed upon so nonchalantly that it might as well have been a meager fish.

Lucy whispered to Natsu, "Why isn't she afraid?"

Natsu gave her a toothy grin, lifting his body up into a crouch. "'Cause she knows I'm here."

Lucy blinked. She hadn't even thought about that. Lisanna hadn't given them a single glance, though, how could she possibly know they were there?

Captain Hook was studying Lisanna carefully, seemingly irritated at her lack of response. "One last chance, girl. Tell me where Fairy Tail is."

The corner of her mouth turned up. "You will never be welcomed there or anywhere on this island for that matter. Give it up. You will never win."

Captain Hook's snarled and lifted his sword to to lash out at her. Before he had the chance, however, Lisanna, a hint of a smile upon her lips, allowed herself to fall backwards with her eyes shut. Directly towards the crocodile. The monsters large mouth, bordered with razor sharp teeth, was opened wide expectantly.

Lucy gave a small scream of horror but before she could even think about getting onto her feet, Lisanna was snatched out of the air by none other than Natsu Dragneel.

Shocked, Lucy glanced to her left and sure enough, he wasn't there. She hadn't even heard him leave.

Carrying Lisanna bridal style, Natsu flew towards the other side of the cave and dropped the grinning girl unceremoniously on a different ledge opposite side of the cave overlooking the boat.

Glancing towards Lucy, he winked. A blush blossomed across her face but before she could respond, Natsu had untied Lisanna's hands and leaped from the ledge.

Captain Hook was furiously shouting orders, his crew scrambling across the deck as they began to load up the cannons.

Natsu, eyes twinkling mischievously, circled the bottom of the boat once, twice, three times before flying with lightning speed towards Hook. He yanked the sword from the unsuspecting Captain's hand and after slicing their skull flag from the mast, he tossed the weapon into the water near the impatiently waiting crocodile.

Captain Hook stilled momentarily in pure shock as Natsu flashed him a grin from his perch on the top of the center mast.

Lucy licked her lips nervously as the group of menacing pirates began to quickly climb the mast towards her friend who had yet to move. One of the said pirates, slender than the rest, seemed to fly up the mast and was quickly within a few feet of Natsu, who was still watching the Captain with reserved anger. As the pirate began to reach for Natsu, Lucy called out his name in fear.

The Captain's eyes darted to her, and Lucy cowered back in fear.

Natsu moved away from the reaching pirate so fast that he was a blur, dashing back over to Lisanna who stood ready to go. Straightening his back as he faced the Captain, who still hadn't moved from his spot, Natsu saluted the group of pirates mockingly. "Until next time, Captain Hook!"

Natsu scooped up Lisanna into his arms, and they quickly disappeared through the mouth of the cave with the pirates cursing loudly behind them.

Lucy blinked in utter astonishment. Had he just… left her?

10 points to whoever guesses who Hook, Smitty, and Tinkerbell are. Next chapter will be up in a day or two. :) Let me know who you want to see!

-K