"What a way to spend the weekend." Gray said as the gang decided to hit the beach. They stood at the top of a cliff and enjoyed the view. "I can't believe you flew us out here, Lucy."
"Seriously. You don't have to keep doing these extravagant gestures for us, Lucy." Erza said.
"I really don't mind. It's a lot of fun having you guys around." Lucy said. "Besides, what's the point in having all this money if I can't use it to show my friends a great time. I much rather spend this money on you guys and have fun than by myself. Since I'm usually responsible and a great student, my parents don't mind either."
"I'm just glad we here. Let's go, Happy!" Natsu said as Happy put himself in an innertube. "Bonzai!" He shouted as he and Happy jumped right off the cliff and dived right in the water. Both of them emerged and had a lot of fun. While that was going on, and Erza set a picnic, Lucy looked around and noticed something was off.
"What is it, Lucy?" Erza asked.
"There's usually some people on this beach." Lucy said as she looked around to the empty beach. "There's no one but us here. I wonder why that is." Lucy had a feeling something was wrong, and she was right about that.
"Splash fight!" Natsu said as he played around with his weird cat and the two of them tried splashing each other. What neither of them knew was that there was something just underneath them. Whatever it is was stalking them like prey. They couldn't see it, but Gray did see the shadow of something in the water. He tried getting a good look, but couldn't quite see what it was. All he knew was that it was big and it was heading straight for Natsu and Happy.
"Natsu! Happy! Get out of the water!" Gray shouted.
"What's wrong?" Erza said.
"There's something in there!" Gray said. Natsu and Happy didn't get it until they looked behind them and saw a large shark fin coming right at them. Natsu and Happy freaked out as they swam out of there as fast as they could. They swam like their lives depended on it because it really did. Luckily, it stopped chasing them when they got close enough to land and couldn't follow them.
"Oh my goodness!" Lucy said as they could see the top part of what was chasing them. It was a shark, but it was massive with. It was black with a white underbelly with blank white eyes. The thing was that it was massive, bigger than any shark they've ever seen. They only saw it for a short while as they saw it turn around and vanished under the water.
"What was that?" Erza said.
"I've never seen a shark so big." Gray said. They all looked to see Natsu and Happy coming back up the cliff with them going to them.
"Are you guys okay?!" Lucy said.
"At least we can say we survived a shark attack." Natsu said as he and Happy tried catching their breaths.
"What kind of shark was that?" Erza questioned.
"I'm not sure, but I think we now see why people don't come around here." Gray said. "I wonder how it got so big."
"I know place we can get answers. There's an ocean research lab at the theme park that's just down the road." Lucy said. Seeing as how they got a big fish to fry, they need to know what the heck that thing was.
...
The Amusement Park
Wanting to know what that shark was, the gang went for the theme park by the water that Lucy was talking about. Luckily, they were able to get inside and went straight to the research lab to learn more about it. Once they got there, they already met with a couple professors.
"Thank you for agreeing to see us, Professor Hobbs." Lucy said to one professor that had brown hair and a beard.
"It's my pleasure. Professor Wade and I are always glad to share our knowledge of the ocean life." Hobbs said as he referred to a fellow scientist with black hair.
"Although, I'm complexed. What could be so important that you had to come straight here when the park is closed for the day?" Wade asked.
"We were hoping to learn more about sharks." Erza said.
"Like how big they can get." Natsu said.
"Well, the biggest shark in the world is actually the whale shark." Hobbs said as he pulled out a book and showed a picture of one. "They're large, but they're pretty gentle."
"That sure doesn't look like the one we saw earlier." Gray said.
"Hold on. Are you referring to the Megalo Shark?" Wade questioned.
"Megalo Shark?!" Lucy said.
"A shark that's as big as a football field." Wade said. "It's been terrorizing these for days. Most people are afraid to go out in the water because of that thing."
"We actually saw it. That's why we're here." Gray said. "Can you tell us anything about it?"
"It is rather strange." Hobbs said. "It doesn't seem to follow normal shark behavior. No one really is sure where it even came from. It just showed up one day and people are terrified of it."
"I can see why. Who wants to be swallowed whole by it?" Natsu said.
"That shark had to have come from somewhere." Erza said.
"Erza's right. We need to figure out what that thing really is and what it really wants." Gray said. "That means that we need to head out into the water."
"You actually want to go out there and find that thing?" Wade questioned.
"It does seem like a great opportunity to study the creature." Hobbs said. "I have been rather curious myself about it. As marine biologists, we should take the chance ourselves."
"In that case, let met take you out. I have a boat with a glass bottom I use for research." Wade said. "I be more than glad to take you all out there myself." With a boat, as well as look for clues on this mystery, the gang are heading out to sea.
...
The Ocean
With Professor Wade's help, they all got on his boat and went out to the ocean. With the boat having a glass bottom, they had a clear view of what was under the water. It certainly was a spectacular view.
"It looks amazing down there." Lucy said. "Thanks again, Professor Wade, for bringing us out here."
"My pleasure. Be sure to keep your eyes open. The Megalo Shark has been spotted around this part the most." Wade said.
"Sure hope we don't end up becoming shark bait." Natsu said.
"Actually, Natsu, sharks really have more reason to be afraid of us than we do of them." Wade said. "They're misunderstood creatures. There are many different kinds, but only five of them actually eat people."
"Let's hope the Megalo Shark isn't one of them." Erza said.
"Keeps your eyes open for anything really." Wade said. "We're near a part of the ocean that we called Saject's Grave."
"Saject's Grave? What's that?" Lucy said.
"A long time ago, a man known as Captain Saject sailed these waters." Wade said. "He had treasure that was probably worth millions, but his ship got caught in a storm and he and the treasure were lost at sea. That's not the only ship that was lost out here either. There's a graveyard of ships somewhere down there."
"A graveyard of ships..." Gray said as that sounded pretty eerie to them.
"A graveyard of ships that could have a treasure worth millions." Lucy said as she thought that might be an interesting clue.
"What was that?!" Natsu said as he looked at the glass bottom and saw something move around down there. They all looked and saw the Megalo Shark was down there.
"It's the Megalo Shark, and it looks like it's getting close!" Gray said.
"It is?! Not good!" Wade said as he turned the boat around and had it move as fast as it could.
"What are you doing?" Erza said.
"I can't risk your safety. It's too dangerous." Wade said.
"But how are we suppose to catch that giant fish if we can't get out in the water?" Erza said.
"If we want to solve this mystery, I think we need to go deeper, not further, out in the water." Lucy said as she thinks the answers to this mystery might be at the bottom of the ocean.
...
The Park
Not wanting to give up, the gang decides to investigate further by diving into the ocean.
"Thanks for letting us borrow this equipment." Gray said as Professor Hobbs was giving them some diving equipment and a boat they can use. "This stuff will be really helpful with finding the truth of the Megalo Shark."
"My pleasure, but do be careful with this stuff." Hobbs said. "We've been having a little bit of financial trouble. We might not really be able to afford to replace this equipment." When Lucy heard that, it certainly gave her an idea. She also noticed Erza putting on a few other items out there.
"Erza? What's all that stuff for?" Lucy questioned.
"Somethings I think we might need for being out there." Erza said. Lucy would have asked about it, but she wasn't too sure if she would understand Erza's logic.
...
The Ocean
Once they got the equipment they needed, Gray drove the boat out to where they last saw the shark.
"We should be close the area where the Megalo Shark has been seen." Lucy said. "Drop anchor right here, Gray." Gray pulled over and dropped the anchor straight down. "Remember to be careful, everyone. Diving might seem like a great experience, but it can end up being dangerous."
"Lucy's right. That's why we've got to try and stick together." Erza said as they all slipped on special masks and oxygen tanks. Once they all got what they needed, they dived into the water and swam straight down. It was certainly an incredible experience to see the life of the ocean up close.
"Amazing..." Lucy said.
"You can say that again." Natsu said as it was really amazing. If they weren't busy trying to solve the mystery, this would a lot of fun.
"Hey! Look over here!" Gray called as he found something amazing. All of them swam to where he was and saw it right there. An entire assortment of sunken ships were right before them.
"A graveyard of ships! This must be Saject's Grave!" Lucy said.
"You guys really think there could be treasure down there?" Natsu questioned.
"I wish there was time to find out, but we're here on a mystery." Erza said. Lucy took a good look at those ships and noticed something strange about most of them.
"That's strange. Those ships look like they have giant bitemarks in them." Lucy said. "What could eat a ship?"
"Get down! There it is!" Gray said as he spotted it with all of them hiding. They all saw the Megalo Shark show up. When it showed itself, they all saw it swam near the sunken ships and took a bite out of them. That was certainly strange.
"That explains those bitemarks., but what shark eats ships like that?" Erza said.
"Professor Hobbs said it doesn't follow normal shark behavior. Maybe that's because it's not a real shark at all." Lucy said. "I think I know what might be going on, but we still need to catch that giant fish."
"And I think I see how." Gray said as he a trap in mind. All of them swam over to a passageway with an arch-like structure going over it. Gray and the girls swam near some rocks and tried to get ready. "Okay, Natsu and Happy! When that giant shark swims by, you just need to get it to come down here. The girls and I will cause a rockslide and trap it."
"We've been used as bait before, but shark bait? Really?" Natsu said as this had to the most insane time they've been bait.
"Get ready! Here it comes!" Lucy said as they saw the shark swimming by.
"Over here! Hey, you giant filter fish!" Natsu called as he and Happy waved around to get the shark's attention. It appeared to be working. The shark saw it and swam straight towards them. Natsu and Happy tried swimming away from it. Gray and the girls moved fast and they caused a rock slide to happen as they moved some out of the way. The rocks came down around and appears to have trapped the shark.
"We got it!" Lucy said.
"This is one fish story no one is going to believe." Erza said. They thought they had it, but the shark was able to shake itself free and was swimming again.
"So much for the fish story." Natsu said. It went right at the two of them with them swimming away as fast as they could.
"We've got to do something!" Lucy said.
"I have an idea. I've been wanting to do this since we got here." Erza said as she made her way back to the boat. Natsu and Happy kept swimming until they reached the surface. However, it didn't mean they were safe.
"Great! I don't even know which way to go!" Natsu said. Suddenly, the Megalo Shark jumped out of the water and splashed back down with a large wave being formed. The wave picked up Natsu and Happy as they were being carried away. Luckily, they were saved by Erza as she rode on a surfboard.
"Gotcha!" Erza said as she grabbed a hold of both of them.
"Thanks, Erza! Who knew you could hang ten." Natsu said.
"I've heard of monster waves, but this is ridiculous." Erza said. They rode on the wave with the shark swimming behind them and Happy getting a little freaked.
"You got a plan, right?" Natsu said.
"Just brace yourselves." Erza said as they kept riding the wave. Natsu and Happy looked ahead and spotted land.
"Erza... How do we stop?" Natsu said as they felt like they were going to crash. Erza didn't answer. All they could do was wait until it happened. The wave crashed down on the beach with it being a rough landing, but the Megalo Shark ended up crashing on beach as well. Gray and Lucy ended up back to the boat and made it to shore themselves.
"Are you guys okay?" Gray asked.
"Just as long as Erza isn't the one driving." Natsu said as they straightened themselves out. With it not able to go anywhere, the shark was stuck on land. They were able to get close enough and got a good feel of it.
"Hey... This doesn't feel like a shark." Gray said.
"You're right." Lucy said as she tapped against it with it sounding like metal. "It's really just a submarine designed to look like a shark."
"So whoever is really behind all of this is the one piloting this thing." Erza said and they were about to see who it was as a hatch opened up and a man came out.
"Professor Wade!"
...
Later
After they saw it was Professor Wade, they called the police on him as well as Professor Hobbs. He was rather shocked to see his fellow marine biologist was the one behind the Megalo Shark.
"The Megalo Shark was fake? I knew something was off about it, but why would Wade do something like this?" Hobbs asked.
"Simple. He wanted to find the lost treasure of Captain Saject." Lucy said. "He knew about the story and how the treasure was lost at sea. Seeing as how funds were running low, he hoped the treasure would help. However, he wasn't sure which ship held the treasure."
"He took an ordinary submarine and modified it to look like a shark to keep people away while he searched for the treasure." Gray said. "He added the mouth part to chomp right through the sunken ships and try to pick up the treasure."
"Even though he didn't find the treasure, we recently found out that any ship parts he salvaged, he traded them away on the black market." Erza said.
"But what about his boat. He was with us when the Megalo Shark attacked." Natsu said.
"Wrong, Natsu. That wasn't a glass bottom. It was a T.V. bolted to the boat. What we saw was just a recording." Lucy said. "He was hoping to scare us away so we wouldn't interfere with his search."
"And if it weren't for you meddling kids constantly getting in the way, the treasure would have been mine." Wade said.
"I must say that I'm very disappointed." Hobbs said. "No marine biologist would do something so irresponsible and dangerous just to make a few bucks." With his plans failed, Wade was taken away by the police. "Great work, kids. I'll inform everyone the truth about the Megalo Shark so the beach will be filled with life again."
...
The Next Day
Another successful mystery solved, and since the Megalo Shark has proven to be a fake, people are starting to return to the beach. As for the gang, they hit the road as they were getting ready to head back home.
"Well, there's another fish story that ends up being an exaggeration." Erza said.
"At least we got to get a good look at the ocean life. Happy certainly enjoyed it." Natsu said as they all saw Happy feasting on some fish he was able to catch.
"That fish smell better not stick in the van." Gray said.
"I do wonder if there really is a treasure out there. Professor Wade never did find it." Lucy wondered. "Maybe it really is just a myth." She said as they drove along, but at the bottom of the ledge they drove on, they missed a treasure chest filled with gold that the waves crashed against. Perhaps not all myths are just that, but it's hard for people to discover the truth.
