BlackLynx17: Now that Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil is over I'm bingewatching all the episodes. So far I'm on season one and it's really good. Thanks for all the Mendy fans out there! I hope you enjoy this chapter!


Title: Love At First Sight

Secret Title: Pirate Love

Summary: Wendy is a princess forced to be married at the age of 18. It wouldn't be a problem for her if she had fallen in love with her fiance, but alas fate is not too kind. Determined to runaway to chose her own love, she runs into a nice man who rescues her from her guards. Thinking this man is her one true love, she decides to escape with him. She had no idea that her true love was a no good pirate.


Chapter Fifteen

Conomi Island


Mest moves his arm around their bed expecting to find a warm, soft body that had escaped from him. He pauses for a second when he doesn't feel anything at all next to him. Mest rolls over to the edge of the bed and looks at the floor... his heart sinking when he doesn't see her lying there either.

"Wendy?" Mest leans up and looks over towards the spare cot he still has in the corner of their room.

Empty. A panic spreads throughout his entire body. Mest looks around the room and gets up out of bed, tripping over his clothes while trying to pull his pants on as he heads for the door. It's too early in the morning for her to be missing. She could have gone to the refresher, no- the bed was too cold. She didn't just leave, she had been gone for a while. He runs over and checks the infirmary, finding it deserted. He needs to calm down, he can't go into panic mode and start yelling at everyone to find his wife... yet. What if she went for a stroll on deck and fell overboard?! Mest feels his throat tighten and he runs towards the deck, racing upstairs and-...

His heart relaxes when he spots her midnight blue hair blowing in the wind. She's still here, she's still with him. It takes only a few seconds for his mind to process what she's doing though and his heart is racing all over again.

"Wendy!" He yells stomping over there.

Wendy flinches and drops her sword, bringing a hand to her chest.

"Mest! Don't scare me like that," she pouts.

"What the hell do you think you guys are doing?!"

"What does it look like? I already warned you Mest, she needs to know these things. Pick up your sword again Wendy and show me your stance." Erza explains pointing her sword out.

Wendy goes to pick it up, but Mest places his boot on it and holds it down.

"Mest, move aside."

"No, get back into bed Wendy. We're going to have a little chat about you sneaking off and doing this behind my back."

Wendy narrows her eyes, "behind your back? Since when do I need your permission to hang out with our friends? What we do is none of your concern."

"Mest, calm down. This is our first day of training, we're just trying to help." Jellal tells him.

"What you do IS my concern because you are MY wife and I am the captain of this ship. I don't want you doing this Wendy. I don't want you hurting others, hurting yourself-"

"Protecting myself," she corrects getting back up to her feet.

"I can protect you just fine, thank you."

"But what about when you're not there with me? What am I supposed to do then?"

Jellal walks forward, but Erza holds his shoulder and shakes her head. They're husband and wife, they'll work it out. Besides, it's getting just a little bit interesting right now.

"Why? Do you plan on leaving me so soon after your return?!"

"I thought it was cute before Mest and I allowed you to follow me around because I missed you and wanted you with me, but it has already been a full week! You can't control everything, you can't control me! This is something that I want to do for myself! Why can't you listen and be happy for me?"

"What? Be happy that my friends are about to slice you into ribbons?! Have you ever been in a sword fight Wendy? Especially with a pirate? If they're going to train you right they aren't going to go easy on you. They're going to hurt you and you'll come back to me with bruises and cuts and I'll fucking hate them and want to return the favor! Is that what you want?!"

"Then you teach me!" Wendy barks out.

Mest opens his mouth, but no sound comes out. He gulps and leans away from her, trying not to admire the fire and angry look she has on her face. He takes a step back and picks up her sword, spinning it around before pointing it at her. Everything in his body is rejecting him, no, don't do it. He can't train her because he can't stand to hurt her. To even point a sword at her like this... he drops the thing on the ground.

"I can't."

"Well they can. I'm doing this Mest, whether you approve or not. I'll return to bed once I finish my lesson, and only then." Wendy pouts at him.

He can grab her. He can grab her and throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to their room. He can throw her on the bed and then lock the doors, because they have doors again now. He can stand in front of the exit blocking it, hearing her yell, and fight, and cry, but she'll never be able to move him. He can do all those things, every day, every night so she doesn't have to pick up a sword...

And she can hate him for it...

Mest grunts and walks back, leaning against the railing with a glare on his face. He can't teach her, he won't stop her, but he can very well supervise the whole thing and make sure Erza and Jellal don't harm her. Wendy huffs as she picks up her sword and holds it out.

"Your legs are weak and your arm is positioned too high. Watch, Jellal." Erza calls.

Jellal swipes his sword; Wendy hisses as her own goes flying out of her hand by the force of his swing and loses her balance. Mest eyes' widen and he stomps back to her side.

"See? Get more leveled so you can handle that. Try again-"

"What the hell was that? She's just a beginning, you don't just-"

"Mest!" Wendy yell.

"If you can't observe quietly I'm going to have to ask for you to leave Captain," Erza glares.

Mest bites his tongue and glares even fiercer as she goes back to his spot. Wendy fixes her position and holds her stance again, this time withstanding it when Jellal smacks against her sword.

"Very good Wendy, this time Jellal is going to do a barrage of attacks. Hold on tight and try to meet them." Erza says before nodding at Jellal.

He takes steps forward, swinging his sword down left and right. Wendy eeps a little and tries to block, swinging her sword willy nilly until she's disarmed. This time it actually hurts and Wendy starts rubbing her wrist while Erza instructs her. Mest is squeezing onto his arm so hard he's pretty sure he's stopping the circulation. He grunts and kicks himself off, heading back downstairs towards his quarters. Part of him because he wants to grab his sword and see how Jellal likes it when he's attacks, but mainly because he can't watch this. He can't watch her get attacked; it goes against his instincts to protect her. He'll try to go back to sleep and if she's not back within an hour he's going to actually go through with it and drag her back.

Wendy watches him leave with a small frown on her face, "is he mad at me?"

"Probably, but none of that matters. You want to be able to protect yourself, right? You aren't a princess anymore Wendy, so Mest needs to stop treating you as one. You're a pirate, you can fight, you just need to learn how." Erza nods her head.

Wendy sighs and nods back, grabbing her sword again. She returns to her stance and tries to block Jellal's attacks over and over again until her hands hurt. Not being able to fight him just proves to Wendy how weak she really is. And to think that she was just okay with all of that? Wendy's nearly covered in sweat by the time Erza puts her sword away and calls back Jellal.

"You did good today Wendy, believe it or not. We'll keep practicing every morning until you're experienced enough to hold your own during a fight. Keep your sword attached to you so you can get used to having it on your person at all time. I'll have Bisca and Azlack find you in the afternoon so you guys can have target practice. Mest might actually help you on that one since you won't get hurt practicing it." Erza tells her.

"That's going to be a lot of wasted bullets though and Natsu's going to be pissed if she hits the ship, which she's going too." Jellal chuckles.

"Whatever, we'll teach her how to arm and disarm one first. We'll worry about that later, go ahead and rest now Wendy."

"Nice work today kid, rest easy," Jellal pats the top of her head.

"Erza, Jellal, thanks. I think I'm going to go to the refresher first and try to get less... sweaty."

Erza and Jellal laugh at her before waving goodbye. Wendy ties the belt around her waist, her sword dragging against the floor a little as she walks. She tries tying it tighter, struggling with the holes as she heads to her room to pick up some clothes. The door opens right when she gets to it and Wendy bumps into Mest's chest.

"I was just coming to check on you." He says straightening her out.

"Practice ended. I'm a bit sweaty, so I was going to go get some clothes before freshening up," Wendy says coldly, walking around him as she heads for the dressers.

That are still broken since they haven't arrived at Conomi Island yet to buy new ones. She lets go of her belt, thinking she's finally got it, as she reaches to find some pants and a new shirt. The belt falls off her waist though and on the ground, her sword clattering down with it. Wendy growls and bends down to pick it up, mumbling under her breath. Mest sighs and walks back over to the bed, sitting down and holding out his hands. He whistles, catching Wendy's attention, and motions with his hands for her to come over.

"Let me help you there," Mest tells her.

"I'm fine, I was going to take it off anyway." Wendy growls grabbing her clothes.

"Then let me show you how to put it on so you can when you want too."

Wendy pouts and stubbornly walks over to him. Mest wraps his arms around her waist and leans his head on her chest, closing his eyes.

"I thought you were going to help?"

"I am, I'm just enjoying this moment," he mumbles.

She is sweaty, but he doesn't care as he kisses against her shirt. Wendy wiggles out of his hold and tosses her sword on his lap.

"Mest, I'm still mad at you."

"Stop being it so we can have fun," Mest smiles.

It falls when she still pouts at him. Mest sighs and pulls her in again, wrapping the belt around her waist. He fixes the strap on the sword before tightening it on her hip, making a new belt hole since the belt was too large to fit her. His hands drop when he finishes and Wendy admires his handy work.

"There, all ready to slaughter innocent lives," he mumbles darkly.

Wendy looks over at him and sighs, "I don't plan on slaughtering anyone Mest."

"I just... I don't like seeing you hurt Wendy. I don't like seeing it, I don't like thinking it, and knowing that you're not listening and are going to come back with new bruises everyday... after thinking I had lost you... it hurts." Mest mumbles.

Wendy eyes soften and she leans down, cupping Mest's face in her hands and pressing a soft kiss against his forehead.

"I don't ever want to be that useless again, please understand that Mest. I couldn't do anything to get back to you. I tried so hard to think of ways, but I was so... weak... nothing worked. I'm not doing this just for myself. I'm doing this so I can fight my way back to you if we should ever part again."

Mest looks at her with pride swelling in his heart, "I think that answer deserves a kiss."

"Oh no, I'm sweaty-"

"I don't care," he interrupts grabbing her hands.

"And stinky! And I haven't brushed yet, my breath is sure to be less than desirable and-"

"Excuses," Mest says before kissing her, "excuses," he finishes his speech before doing it again.

Wendy squeals and giggles, pulling away, "plus I'm still mad at you!"

"Like I said, stop so we can have fun," Mest grin pulling her down again.

Wendy ducks her head though, twisting out of his hands and scurrying for the door. Mest sighs as he watches her leave, a small smile on his face. How did he go so long without kissing her before? He needs to be more careful, but whenever he finds himself with the need now... he doesn't listen. Maybe this is his reward for being so good the first few months since he had her. He isn't taking her for granted anymore. Not her smiles, or her touches, or her kisses...

Mest sighs and runs his hands down his face; he should have breakfast ready for her when she comes back. He's sure she'll forgive him instantly if he gives her food. It never seems to fail to make her smile when she eats.


Juvia is the first to get off the ship when they dock. No one else seems to move as she steps onto land and wanders off. They know she's going to be looking for Gray; she's the only one who knows where the meet-up place will be at here. She disappears in the distance and everyone looks up, hoping, praying that she finds him.

Mest is one of the last ones who leaves the ship. If they're going to be here for a while he needed to make sure his ship would last without having anyone on it. Of course they would check her everyday, but he wasn't going to force half of his crew to sleep on it every night if there's nothing to protect. They've changed their sails and used fake names and papers so no one suspects them as pirates. It helps that Juvia knows this town; Mest was sure to bribe the port locals though just in case so they wouldn't ask any questions. They should be safe here.

He bids the Vermillion a farewell, promising to see her in the morning. His crew is scattered around, but they've all agreed to meet at the local inn and hold a gathering before dark. They've been on the sea for months searching for their last treasure, and with all that stress with the kidnapping they deserved this break. Mest walks through town, staring at locals and their shops. Juvia came from a pretty nice one; it could actually compare to some of the well-known islands they usually steal from. He came from some small farming island; he had no other future than to be a farmer like everyone else. Juvia could have actually made something of her life here. Mest guesses it goes to show how someone could follow someone else to the ends of the earth for love.

He finds Wendy with her nose pressed up against the glass of one the stores. Mest walks up and stands behind her, staring inside. It's a confectioners store with cakes and other such desserts on display behind the window. Wendy licks her lips, a feature Mest doesn't miss staring at her reflection, and he swears he can hear her stomach growl.

"Want to go in?" Mest offers, patting the pocket he has filled with gold coins.

"We really shouldn't. We have to make our money last so Juvia can have as much time as it takes for Gray to return. We don't even know if he's here or not. I don't want to be selfish."

There's a certain line on how selfless a person can be though. Mest wonders if they'll ever be a day where he sees it in Wendy because so far she keeps giving and trusting. It's unbelievable.

"I'm certain you're the only one thinking that right now Wendy; I'm sure all the girls are shopping while all the guys are drinking it up."

"They're allowed to all splurge on one thing, it's their money. I'm allowing myself to be splurge on the new furniture we're getting for our room and I already know that's going to be a lot. Hopefully Gray will be here and then I'll come back. It'll be a treat and celebration."

Mest sighs out loudly, "you do that then kid. I'm going inside and getting something. Join me if you want."

He can't win against her, so he'll just force her hand. Wendy screams his name loudly, but Mest ignores her as he walks into the store. The bell hanging above the door chimes, announcing his entrance. He's immediately hit by the smell of chocolate and sugar. Mest has never really had a sweet tooth, but that doesn't mean he can't grow one now.

"What's your most delicious looking dessert?" Mest asks the clerk, "whatever it is hand it over, no box or wrapping necessary."

The clerk raises an eyebrow, but says nothing as he comes back with a chocolate cake on a plate. Mest takes the plate from him and nods, turning around seeing Wendy glaring at him through the window. He picks up the cake and cheers with it to her before shoving it all in his mouth, frosting and cake smearing all over. He grins as her mouth drops open, licking his lips and each of his fingers to show how good it was.

Wendy doesn't seem to like that very much and turns away. Mest watches her leave and laughs to himself, placing his leftovers back on the plate. He puts the plate on the counter and turns back to the clerk, holding out his hands.

"Handkerchief?" He asks.

The clerk offers him one and Mest wipes his face and fingers off. "My good sir, that was simply amazing. Give me one of every pastry you have in your store please and wrap it up as pretty as possible. It's a present for my wife."

"Let me guess, she was the girl in the window?"

"How right you are."

The clerk snorts, "now I see, I'm sure she's going to need this much bribery to forgive you."

Mest laughs loudly, "right you are!"

He finishes his cake while the clerk works in the back getting what he ordered. The total ends up not being what he expected; he wonders how a shop like this gets by with charging barely anything for their confections. He doesn't even like chocolate all that much, but that cake was delicious. Mest is sure to throw a few extra coins before he grabs his two boxes, nodding his head while leaving.

He doesn't know where Wendy is, but he's sure she'll find him sooner or later. He should head towards the inn first and see if Erza's reserved all their rooms. It isn't as hard to find as he thought it would be; that's mostly because he can recognize his crew lingering outside of it laughing their asses off with drinks in their hands.

He nods when they hold the door open for him and Mest looks around for Erza. She doesn't appear to be anywhere in the inn... well that's inconvenient. How is he supposed to know what name she used for him? And if Wendy is bunked with him or not? He doesn't want to wait until their meet-up later in the night, especially with all these pastries in his hand. He has to drop them off.

"Hi, I'm part of the big group outside. My friend came in here requesting rooms for us all; I was trying to get into mine now."

"Of course sir, and must I say we're most excited to be having you for your journey. Young Miss Crimson has already collected all the keys to your rooms. Have you lost yours? If you know your room number I'll be more than happy to let you in."

Mest licks his lips. Crimson? Really Scarlet? Couldn't have thought up anything more original? Mest shakes his head and chuckles under his breath.

"How about this, has anyone checked in yet? I'm not sure what my room number is, but I just want to drop these things off."

"Ah yes, a young miss came in here early. She was a bit pouty, so I let her into one of the rooms to rest. I believe it was 101."

Mest raises an eyebrow, "was she kind of short? Long blue hair?"

"I'm afraid I didn't see her hair very well, she was covering it all with a hat. She was a bit on the short side though."

"Did her pout seem like she was trying to be mad, but ending up being really cute instead?"

"Uh-"

"Don't answer that, she's my wife. These are for her, we had a bit of a... scuffle. If you could just let me have the key, I'll be sure to return it and get the original from Ms. Crimson. I really wouldn't like for you to be there just in case she starts throwing things at me once she sees my face."

The inn keeper pales slightly, "that would be best. Please be sure to return it or else your room will be charged more if you lose it."

"Of course, thanks. Means a lot to me, wish me luck!" Mest calls out spinning the key with one finger as he heads for her room.

"Good luck!"

Mest looks at the numbers on the door and pauses at 101. He tries for the door first, just to check it, and finds out that it is in fact locked. Seems like his wife wanted to be left alone... good thing he has the key. Mest whistles as he unlocks the door and walks in. He finds his lovely wife sulking in one of the corners, curled up against the wall with a book in her hand. She looks surprised to see the door open, and when she sees who it is, a glare appears on her face.

Mest is reminded of the glare she gave him as she gaped at him through the window of the confections store and starts laughing hard. He places the boxes on the closest flat surface and hugs his stomach, not being able to help himself.

"I hate you Mest Gryder!" Wendy screams throwing her book at him.

It hits him in the shoulder, but it doesn't stop his laughter. Wendy screams and heads for the door, but Mest pulls her into his arms as soon as she walks past him and keeps her there.

"Wendy, Wendy I'm sorry, come on. I'm sorry princess, you have to admit it was a bit funny."

"Nothing was funny! You're mean!" Wendy glares at him.

"I was just trying to make you come in with me, but instead you ran off. Don't worry though, your captain took care of you. I've come to apologize and bribe you to forgive me with sweets, sweetheart." Mest grins at her.

Wendy stills in his arms and peeks at the boxes he places on the table, "what kind of bribe?"

"Well I didn't know what you loved, so I just got you a little bit of everything. It appears to me I don't know your favorite flavors."

"Mest, you didn't," Wendy pales a bit.

"Hey, none of that, smile. We're fine Wendy, so stop worrying about the little things. It's supposed to be a vacation for us, enjoy it. If Gray were here I'm sure he'd be telling you to take everything you can get out of me. I've already bought everything, so if you refuse to indulge yourself I'm afraid I'll throw it all out the window."

"No!" Wendy screeches, "I want it!"

Mest smiles at her, "now was that so hard to admit."

"You don't fight fair Doranbolt Mest Gryder the third." Her eyes narrow at him.

"Ah dear, neither do you. Come on, let me discover what sweets you truly enjoy." Mest says moving the boxes to the table.

He watches with joy in his eyes as Wendy opens the lid off everything. Her eyes sparkle as she licks her lips and is that drool trailing off the side of them? Surely she can't be amazed with these small confections. She's lived in a castle, she probably had the finest of chefs at her fingertips once upon a time. They could have recreated any number of these confections and it would have been better... except for that one cake Mest had. He doesn't see how anything can get better than that.

"I was only ever allowed to have sweets on my birthday; I can't believe I get to have all of these." Wendy whispers absentmindedly.

"What? Really? You were a princess, they should have given you anything you asked for." Mest asks, a bit surprised.

"I didn't deserve them anymore after all the times I ran away. Each time I had something I loved taken from me; the sweets were the first to go. I could have just sneaked some, but... I don't know. When I first ran off I felt really bad about it, like I had done something truly wrong. The longer I stayed there though and after I met my betrothed and didn't fall in love... I didn't see anything wrong with wanting to take my future into my own hands. I stopped feeling bad because what I was doing was my right."

"Slowly you're making my imagine of being royalty seem worse and sadder than being a pirate, and that is really saying something. Wendy I know you've probably heard this a million times growing up in a castle, and it'll probably seem sad compared to all you once had, but I need you to know that I'll give you anything you desire. All you have to do is ask because I'm afraid I'm still not up to speed with everything you love in life. I want to give you what makes you happy. Don't be afraid to ask me for anything and never feel bad about doing so. I won't deny you anything Wendy... well, unless they're completely unreasonable because let's face it, I make a pirate's salary."

He intended for that to be a joke, but Wendy doesn't giggle or laugh. She stares down at the pastries and slowly nods her head. She doesn't say anything for a moment, but then she's reaching out and placing a hand on his knee.

"It means more to me coming from you. I want to be able to do the same Mest for you. I want to give you the finer things in life as well."

Mest smirks at her, "I already have everything finer in life in you. You've already given me what I've wanted, so let me continue to give to you."

Wendy blushes and looks down at the pastries, picking one at random and shoving it in her mouth so she can ignore the intense gaze Mest is giving her. He watches her eat them one by one, a look of contentment on his face. He learns things about her that he didn't really notice until now. Whenever she dislike something, her faces scrunches up so tightly and she sticks her tongue out immediately (she doesn't seem to like dark chocolate or blackberries). Whenever it's something she's okay with she just takes a few bites before moving onto the next because there are a lot of pastries he knows she's not going to finish. When Mest starts snacking on the ones that didn't catch her eye, she stares at him for a few seconds. Afterward, whenever she tries something she absolutely loves she offers him a bite. It makes his stomach do flips to be fed by his wife; Mest takes advantage of it more than once and makes her blush when he accidentally licks against her fingertips when he's taking a bite.

She loves sweeter desserts and ones that have a ton of fruits and whip cream. Her eyes sparkled when she tried an orange marmalade pastry and then watered when she tried a strawberry and cream filled one. Her expressions are amusing as hell and Mest enjoys himself more than one would possibly think. By the end, when all the desserts are gone or bitten into at least once, Wendy leans back against her chair and sighs out. She rubs her full belly and closes her eyes, her fingers a sticky mess, crumbs and creams all over her lips.

"Full?" Mest teases.

"Yeah. I'm ready to sleep for 1,000 years now. Sweets shouldn't be consumed like this; I know, I'm a doctor. I did something very bad."

"But the reward was pretty sweet, wouldn't you think?" Mest chuckles.

Wendy gives a few breathless laughs and waves her hand at him. Mest decides to tease her more and catches her hand, leaning over and licking her fingers. She immediately pulls her hand away, a bright blush appearing on her face as she glares.

"That's nasty."

"Actually, it tastes more sweet." He smirks at her.

Wendy huffs and stands up from the table. She does this weird little walk or stumble, falling face first onto the bed and curling herself around in the blankets.

"Leave me, I must recover and I'm afraid you're stopping that."

"Ah, that's no good. How can I start it?"

"By leaving." Wendy snorts.

Mest rolls his eyes and walks over to the bed, He rolls Wendy around more, cocooning her in the blankets so that she can't escape or struggle, and then kicks off his boots before joining her on the bed.

"I think I could use a nap before the meeting tonight; I'm coming down from a really big sugar rush."

"Hmm, whatever. Just don't lick me again in my sleep," Wendy yawns.

She thought about fighting back, but everything hurts too much. Mest grins as he snuggles into her unmoving form, resting his chin on top of her head.

"I like us like this." He whispers.

"Me cocooned and you squeezing me?" Wendy asks.

"No, us being so at ease... it's like breathing."

"Oh," Wendy sighs out and then scoots a little closer, "me too."