Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail
"So that's your spirit," Lucy said, eyes examining the plant spirit that was making different poses that ranges from cute to elegant, "now I know what you mean by you saying that she's tricky to summon, it's because she's busy all the time right?"
"No, that's not it," Hisui replied wryly, placing her spirit on her lap, "you give Fi too much credit, looking after a kingdom is not her specialty."
"Hey, don't ruin my first impression like that!" Fiore exclaimed.
"Then, what's the real reason behind it?"
"Fi said to not summon her until I become a worthy leader. Though looking back, I think that was her attempt at being cool. Because later on, she started saying that she was bored."
"She's quite the character huh?"
"She might be quite a hassle at times. But, Fi is a joy to be around."
"Saying that won't make me forgive you for ruining my image." Fiore pouted.
"You'll ruin that graceful image on your own before long."
"What power does she have?" Levy asked.
"I can do just about anything! Let me show—"
"She controls all plants."
"Hisui! That's my moment!"
"Then you'll end up over-exaggerating your ability, don't worry, I haven't taken away all the surprises."
"Meanie…" Fiore's bright green hair browned slightly, and her white summer dress started to rot.
"Come on Fi," Hisui presented a piece of candy that Karie provided to Fiore, "you came here to have fun, not sulk around."
"I'm not going to be tempted like this."
"Then I assume you're going back?"
"Well…"
"I'm sorry for being so harsh, come on, stop acting like a child, you're easily older than all of us."
"Fine, but, promise me you would summon me more often."
"Sure, I was planning to."
"Then why are we moping around for!?" Fiore's hair and dress got back the original lustre. Her bounce back shocked everyone but Karie and Hisui who looked at the spirit with a knowing smile.
"She really is a unique one." Levy leaned forward to look into Fiore's earthy eyes. "Hey, what's that smell? It smells real good."
"That's my nectar!" Fiore puffed out her chest. "it's not quite ready but, I can change that. Can we get some hot drinks?" After a train stewardess delivered a tray of tea and coffee, Fiore jumped from Hisui's lap and wrapped herself in a warm light. The smell of flowers blooming scattered that lingered even when the light died down. Now in her actual form, Fiore sat down crossed-legged with a confident smile that held a hint of seduction. "Ta-da! This is my real form! Isn't it neat?" Breaking her mature visage using a childish attitude, Fiore shocked the surrounding people even more.
"Another one…" Levy solemnly said while keeping her eyes on Fiore's chest.
"A—anyway," Hisui said, "you should try adding some of Fi's plant nectar in your drinks, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Fiore formed a drop of golden syrup on her index finger.
"I guess." Levy stirred her tea with the nectar added, taking a cautious sip. "This really is great!"
"Of course! This stuff isn't just something you can buy at the market you know." Fiore boasted.
"Look at that!" Lucy pointed out the window. "I think that's the resort!" Everyone in the train compartment looked beyond Lucy's finger. Two large buildings connected by an arch. Even in the distance, they could clearly see blue strips on the white building with no corners. Specs of light floated around the buildings, bobbing up and down with some rhythm. Just next to the resort, a wide, crescent beach baking under the rich sun contrasting with the blue siren that allures people to go swim.
Nearby, was a lively town with ships docking and departing. It was smaller than Magnolia. But, seeing a town that Hisui has never seen before evoked the sense of exploration that plagued her as a child, and what she read about the town wasn't helping with her urge.
"That's it." Levy said, taking another sip of her drink. Hisui turned to the other compartments to find the same excited stares at the resort. All except the compartments that Natsu and Gajeel were in.
"I need to do something," Hisui announced, "I'll be back soon."
"Take your time." Hisui gently closed the door as she left the compartment. Taking a few steps, Hisui opened another door and found Happy comforting Natsu that was leaning out the window. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing that."
"Hey Hisui…what's up?"
"We're almost there, have you seen the resort?"
"I…urgg…can't." Hisui sat down next to him.
"Is it really that bad?"
"I want to dieee…"
"But I haven't given you my answer yet?"
"Shut…up"
"Hey Natsu," Happy tapped Natsu's shoulders, "what does she mean?"
"None of your…business."
"While crude, he is right. This is something that, at the moment, only concerns Natsu and me."
"Will you tell me later?"
"Perhaps…but I think that we need to work on his motion sickness." Hisui reached for Natsu's shoulders and pulled him back in the compartment. "At least lie down."
"That doesn't work Hisui." Happy said. "Natsu has to be knocked out or he can't sleep."
"I can't do that! Besides, we're almost there."
"Then what are you doing?" Hisui laid Natsu's head on her lap and rubbed circles on his temples.
"Trying to relieve some of his pain."
"We're free!" Two figures jumped out the window and Hisui saw that the spiky pink hair on her lap disappeared and only reappeared once she looked out the window. Natsu was hugging a rock while making a vow to not ride vehicles. Gajeel heaving, making a similar promise.
"This place isn't as crowded as I thought it would be." Erza commented, scanning around. Hisui did the same once she found Natsu's location. What caught Hisui's eye wasn't the lines of people at the food stalls or at the water park gate, it wasn't the puddle of people by the pool, it was the attractions peeking out from the water park that was hidden behind a tall building spiralling upwards. They tugged at Hisui's curiosity and thrill-seeking side. She turned to the buildings that gave the resort its name. Two fountains connected by an archway stood on Hisui's either side. Both having water cascading down from each level of the building—which Hisui counted fifteen—they went through twists, disappeared behind a room only to reappear after freeing itself from gravity. Hisui followed the river in the sky to loop, watched it collide with another river from the other building before trickling down to the ground in a wall of water.
Besides the two towers, Hisui noticed to shining light she saw back in the train, it was massive ball of water dancing in the air—big enough to hold ten people easily. Some held people, others were in colours of the rainbow.
"Me and Master will go get our keys," Mirajane announced, "be sure to put your bags in your rooms after we check in okay?"
"I'll come with you!" Lisanna said, running after her sister.
"Alright you brats!" Makarov shouted, hands holding a bundle of keys, "before I hand you your keys, I'm sure you made your roommates, choose a representative to get these." After giving away all the keys but one. "Remember, we're here to relax, I don't want any bills sent to me or, you'll have to face my punishment!" Many members shuddered while Hisui looked around in confusion as she still has no idea what the punishment is supposed to entail. She tried asking before, the paling face discouraged her from further attempts. "But! First and foremost, remember that living life to the fullest is what Fairy Tail is about!"
"Come Hisui!" Lucy dragged Hisui's hand, running to catch up with her friends. "Let's check out or room."
"I can walk by myself." They slowed down, and Lucy released the hand she was grabbing onto.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Karie, have you seen Fi? I can't seem to find her." Hisui asked as they entered the lobby. She looked at the well-maintained reception, then glanced at the mosaic depiction of a whale jumping out from the water for her friend. The pillars yielded nothing but admiration to animal etching on them.
"She's in your hair, I believe she was taking a nap." Karie pointed to a white flower nested in Hisui's hair.
"You mean this? When did she?" Hisui poked the petals as they got in an elevator. "Which floor is it?"
"Fifth, I think everyone is waiting for us." Lucy replied. "She really is unique huh?" She remarked seeing the petals curl slightly to Hisui's touch.
"That the same thing to your spirits, each one of them are so full of quirks and personality."
"I guess that's true." A chime followed by the door opening revealed a dark blue carpet in a corridor that was lit with warm, orange light. "This looks pretty nice, what do you think? I'm sure it isn't as nice as places you've seen right?"
"I don't think that you should use me as a reference point, or Karie for that matter."
"Don't be like that, I'm just curious about your thoughts." Lucy knocked a door labelled '05' "Mira? It's me." The door was opened faster than Lucy expected. "You sure look prepared." Lucy smiled at Mirajane's clothes. She was wearing a black jacket with a pink veil that stuck out from the hem. Hisui tried to guess MIrajane's swimsuit design with the small amount of fabric that was revealed.
"It's not just me you know," Mirajane returned the smile, tying her hair in a pony tail, "come on in, some of us is still changing."
"Thanks for taking our luggage with you." Lucy said, digging for her swimsuit.
"Don't mention it, it wasn't much. That's what you're going for?" Mirajane pointed to a blue bikini with white polka dots.
"Is it weird?" Lucy held the bikini in front of her.
"You look fine." Levy said, snatching the swimsuit from behind, inspecting them with scrutiny. "Did your…size get bigger?" Levy finished with a hint of jealously.
"No they didn't! And besides, is that it?"
"No," Levy pulled her hoodie to show her light blue one-piece. "what do you think?"
"Really cute! By the way, Hisui, what are planning to wear?"
"Nothing that special," Hisui held up a white bikini, "I didn't really have much time to pick a better one out."
"Come on, if we're here to discuss out swimsuits, we'll be here all day!" Lisanna exclaimed. "Me and Erza are ready!" Erza was in her usual armour while Lisanna was wearing a black bikini. "Let's go, everyone else should be there already."
Arriving at the water park, Hisui found herself staring at everything with wonder, while it's not the first time that she's seen the engineering marvel pointing to the sky—ones that would loop, would spray water around with every turn—it was the first time that Hisui has seen them up-close. People wandered around the water park, enjoying the rides, screams of joy and excitement filled the air. They queued up for food with groans under a bright sun and having a sense of want for the people ahead of the line.
"Sorry for being late!" Lisanna said to a group of awaiting Fairy Tail members.
"Don't worry about it!" Natsu grinned.
"Remember," Makarov boomed, "I want everyone to gather at the dining hall by lunch, I hear that they're throwing in some extra service. Now, it's time to have fun!" People scattered like sand in the wind, forming groups to conquer the water park.
"Wake up Fi," Hisui poked the white petals in her hair. "it's time to play." Hearing a yawn, Hisui took the flower and placed it on her hand, watching it turn to a form Hisui was familiar with. "I swear, you're the younger one."
"It's…something…that makes me appealing." Fiore said, rubbing her earthy eyes.
"You're plenty cute already, come on, where you want to go first?"
"I want something to drink."
"Will water be fine?"
"Can I have juice?"
"But you're a plant?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Sure, let's go." Hisui started her walk towards a bar.
"Make it pineapple."
"Anything else?"
"Nope!"
"Everyone, go on without me, I'll catch up soon."
"Sure, we're planning to go up there." Lisanna pointed up at the massive floating water orbs. "We'll see you soon."
"See you." Hisui waited in a line while waiting for Fiore to become more alert. "What happened to you?"
"Not getting enough sunlight." Fiore yawned again. "And I need something to drink."
"But it's pretty bright out."
"I was hiding in your hair."
"One pineapple juice please." Hisui exchange money for a cup of cold juice. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Fiore hopped in the cup, letting out a sigh in content. Hisui watched the fruit juice drain at Fiore's legs, forming a whirlpool, leaving no residue as the level lowered. "Much better." Fiore stretched and climbed out the cup. "Now let's have some fun!"
"Can you swim?" Hisui tossed the empty cup in a bin as she made her way to a huge sign that advertised swimming in a floating ball of water.
"Of course not! You think plants learn how to swim? We just soak up water and enjoy it."
"Then how are you going to have fun?"
"I'm going to sunbath of course!" Much like when Erza is changing armour, Fiore was wrapped in a bright light, making Hisui's hand light-up like a torch. "Ta-da!" Fiore's white dress now extended as it changed green seamlessly. Where her feet should be, a lily pad rested on Hisui's palm. Hiding Fiore's eyes, was a pair of over-sized sunglasses that slipped from her nose at every bounce from Hisui's walk to meet her friends. "Now I'm ready!"
"Hisui! Up here!" Lisanna's voice called out. Hisui looked up to see a mop of white hair and a girl swimming upside-down. "Grab on!" An ice ladder grew from the water Lisanna was swimming in, stopping within Hisui's arm-length. Extremely wary of the stares around her, Hisui timidly climbed up the ladder, each step making her face hotter despite the ice numbing her toes and palms.
Reaching the water, Hisui felt it pull her in. She let go of her spirit, letting Fiore float to the surface. Feeling herself escape from the clutches of gravity, Hisui took a few experimental strokes. She took a deep breath before diving in. Smile greeted back Hisui's surprised expression; everyone was having their own fun in the water. Juvia was chasing after Gray with the latter trying escape from the impossible; Natsu and Elfman was racing around the sphere; Mirajane and Wendy were jumping from sphere to sphere. Hisui feel like she was seeing a theatrical performance but with every actor being a star—she didn't know where to look at. However, wherever her eyes did point at showed bliss. When Hisui came up for air, there was no difference save that the activities changed; from swimming to floating.
"What do you think?" Lisanna swam up to Hisui, grinning.
"Swimming is a bit strange, I don't need to keep moving, I feel like something is constantly supporting me, like everyone here." Hisui looked at the figures wading through traffic below, smiling at the view.
"I know what you mean, it's kind of fun." Lisanna splashed some water, enjoying the droplets of water leave the huge mass, twirl in mid-air for a few seconds then join back together. "The water is just the right temperature too, I feel like I could sleep here." She floated on her back. Hisui copied her friend, smiling at the sloshing water against her body. "Hey Hisui?"
"What is it?"
"When are you planning to answer Natsu?" Hisui panicked, flailing her limbs as she tried to right herself to face her friend. "Don't give me that look, I wasn't eavesdropping on you two, I was the one that suggested he should confess to you." Met with nothing, Lisanna continued. "Being his friend for such a long time, even though I was gone for two years—nine years for most. I can read him pretty well, not that he's hard for anyone to read to begin with. The fact that he hasn't really changed for all these years helped as well. I saw him the way he was looking at you. It started with curiosity, then it turned to a childish crush, now it's full-blown affection. It was clear to me that, he had no idea what to do with his emotions, so I gave him a hand."
"I still don't know…Natsu is honestly great, he's cute at times, loyal to a fault…if, I wasn't a Princess, I would have fallen for him many times over. Because I am, I can't just pick a partner recklessly. I want to love him, I just can't bring myself to get rid of the final barrier."
"Is it something political?"
"Marrying someone that doesn't carry noble blood is the least of my worries, sure it makes my future rein more unstable, but, if you look back in history, Princes and Princesses marrying a normal person has happened—many times, and they all turned around their people's distaste with ability. I'm sure with Natsu, we can do the same."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Even I don't know, he brings me laughter, he takes away my boredom, he can't provide me safety—not security, I mean that I feel like my affection for him can be changed, it's not a guarantee."
"If that's the case, take as long as you need, Natsu will wait for you."
When their swimming session timed-out, everyone went their separate ways, even Karie took Fiore and left with Mirajane to try some of the local food, leaving Hisui to stare at the biggest attraction in the park: a water slide. Perched on a small mountain, it was intimidating to Hisui. The starting waterfall was a steep slide into a tunnel that twists and turns at shocking frequency, followed by a spiralling descend underground, shooting out to an island in the sky before finally plummeting to a pool of water.
The further longer that Hisui stared at it, she felt the taunting glare from the water get stronger. She considered walking away and never look at the monstrosity again. Yet, the slide was like hot food on a cold day, tugging at Hisui. Seeing the people on the ride, she took a step towards the line to the slide. Hisui suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, she shrieked, whipped her head around and saw Natsu recoiling while holding his nose.
"Careful with that hair…" He grumbled.
"Sorry but, it was your fault for grabbing me without calling my name." Hisui huffed, her hands moved to her hips.
"How was I supposed to know that you would whip me?"
"So? What happened?"
"Nothing really, I just found you staring at the slide."
"What about it?"
"Want to go together?"
"I'm not sure about that, I mean, I am interested in it but, I don't think that I can handle it."
"Isn't that why I'm here? Come on!" Natsu seized Hisui's hand with a force that confused her, it was strong enough to not let her escape but gentle at the same time. "It'll be fine!" Natsu reassured once they reached the line.
"I'm not too sure about this…"
"But you're interested right?"
"I'm interested in many things Natsu, that doesn't mean that I have to experience all of them."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"Not everything is fun and games Natsu."
"I know that, I'm just trying to keep your mind off things."
"From what?"
"From what happened at the festival." They shuffled along a couple of paces, letting them a big blue and white sign that read: The Big Splash. "I know that you've been distracted because of what happened that night. I heard that your work flow slowed down too."
"And you're trying to remedy that by having me hang out with the person that's causing all this?"
"Yup!"
"You're unbelievable."
"If you hate it, you can go right now." Natsu pulled his hand away.
"Now you're being mean…" Hisui took Natsu's hand, drawing a grin from the man.
"I knew that you would see my way."
"Don't get used to it."
Finally facing the slide, Hisui was starting to have second thoughts because of two reasons; the drop was bigger than she thought; she was sitting between Natsu's legs with his arms wrapped around her waist. The former pulled primal fear to the surface, the rushing water, convoluted track that they'll follow—all added to a shaky Princess, even that was denied by the person behind her. Natsu's arm pulled Hisui close, her back flush to Natsu's chest. Most importantly was the light feeling in her head and the smell of wood burning in Hisui's nose, overpowering the distinct smell of pool water.
"I'm starting to have second thoughts Natsu…how about you go by yourself?"
"You waited all this time and you're just going to leave?"
"You make a good point but…I can't…if anything happens can I count on you?"
"When can't you do that?" Natsu grinned.
"I sup—ahhhh!" The employee pushed Natsu and Hisui felt an unbelievable amount of acceleration as she gripped onto Natsu's arms, pulling herself snug to Natsu. Natsu's scream of joy got past the wailing winds and Hisui's screams. By the time they reached the tunnel, Hisui barely registered the trees and building that flew by before her eyes were assaulted by hypnotic lights. With each turn Hisui felt, she found herself clinging to the only pillar of safety that she could find. At one point during the journey, Hisui had closed her eyes at the extreme speed. They shot to the air, once again free from gravity.
"Open your eyes." Natsu's voice was gentle, coaxing Hisui to comply to the order. A gasp.
They saw everything, from the nearby ocean to the clouds, mountains to buildings, even the free bird didn't escape from their sight. Success rang in Hisui's chest and her anxiousness died at the brightly-lit park. It was a flash in the dark. They landed on an island after a tropical one, sand dominated the scene as they kept sliding down the water pathway. That proved to be short-lived too when they found themselves diving to a pool.
"That was fun!" Natsu grinned at Hisui who was gasping for air. "Want to do that again?"
"I'm not…waiting all that time just for me to experience that again."
"But it seemed like you had fun."
"I did, it was thrilling but, it's something that I shouldn't experience all the time."
"At least I did want I was planning to do."
"And I thank you for that." Hisui swam out the pool. "Can you dry us off?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Hisui stretched. "I think it's almost time for lunch, I assume you're hungry?"
"You bet."
"Natsu, thank you, really. I feel much better now."
Hisui was in heaven, the combination of a full stomach and having a massage really shuts down her overwise, active body. Incense burned in the background, a type of flower, but Hisui couldn't really tell what it really was. Even further in the shadows but not losing any of its relaxing properties was the feather soft music, each note was stroking Hisui head. She noticed that Karie was having the same experience; eyes closed, arms resting on a warm towel with her head on her hands.
Under this environment, Hisui got lost in her own thoughts. She started with how each press on her back sent her on a trip underwater—still, cool water. When they moved to her shoulders however, it was a completely opposite experience. Her shoulders burned with soreness that quickly elicited a hum from Hisui. The burning came in waves that smothered to pleasant rubbing.
"Sounds like you really needed this." Karie said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"I really didn't think that it would be this bad."
"Things like this build up over time, it's insidious stuff."
"Is that what happened with your callouses?"
"You could say that."
"I feel bad for every maid at the palace now."
"Don't be, for me," Karie studied her lumps on her palm, "these are my pride, you shouldn't be turned away by these, it showed diligence to an extent."
"Don't you think that they umm…"
"Turn-off suitors? If they did look at them with contempt, I have no business loving that person in the first place. You just need to keep in mind that callouses have two kinds. But that's enough about me," she folded back her arms, "what are your plans?"
"For?"
"Finding the villain of the festival." Hisui shifted her weight slightly.
"This isn't the best place to talk about this."
"I suppose not." Karie mused. "Sorry, bringing up a heavy subject like that."
"I don't mind it, it grounded me to reality, I can't rest like this forever, after these three days, I need to get back in the saddle. I should be apologising, making you follow through with me."
"I'll follow you anywhere,"
"Is that because of your promise to my parents?"
"That doesn't matter anymore, I've been doing this out of my own volition for a while now."
Thanks for reading! This should last one more chapter before I get back into the more serious part of the story, not as focused like in the first half of the story, most likely, after that arc, I should be able to finally move on to the nice fluffy part of the deal. I want to try a little bit of intrigue.
I'm well aware that this story doesn't have a universal theme like my previous story and at times, I feel like I'm writing a different story all together and that's not adding my creative stagnation what I mean is my descriptive style. So when I was before I wrote Third Time's a Charm, I was writing stuff that had fancy descriptions, and moving to Third Time's a Charm, I had to change the way I write, making Juvia document her days poetically would just seem off otherwise. Now, I'm writing a story that allows me to do the stuff I've been doing again, and it shows that I'm bad at it. I found lots of vocabulary being re-used that shouldn't have been, descriptive sentences becoming the same, I feel like that my writing is very samey, trying to break out of that is so hard.
If there is ever a story I'm going to re-write when I get better, it's this one, as it stands, I don't have the skills to do this idea justice. You could say that it's my fault for trying to have my cake eat and eat it too, and yeah, it's a huge topic that I'm trying to tackle, i'm suffering because of it, but damn it I want to learn, so please bear with me for a little while.
Now that I drove away the people that reads these comments with my whining, it seems like a good idea to ask you guys something:
Would you like to see me write Third Time's a Charm but from Natsu's side of things?
A few caveats: Since I write here to have fun and learn, I'm hoping to learn how to write a killer fight scene, and writing Natsu's side of the story will give me great chance to do that. Downside is, I'm terrible at fight scenes. So, that might lower the quality of the story.
Secondly, I'm not sure if I've said this before but, I rather not include the Japanese specific honorifics, I did it early on this story and the last one was a peer pressure thing. However, I will keep them in this one, so, for the people that told me that they're in the same boat as me, for the sake of consistency, I'm keeping the honorifics. Just to make sure that no one accuses me of hating Japanese people despite writing a fanfiction based on an anime, as someone has pointed out to me, the Fairy Tail universe is not in Japan, so there is no need for keeping the honorifics.
And that's it! I'm done rambling for today, all that's left is: I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter, have a great day!