Hi guys Azza here!

Reviews

JballinR12 - Yeah it does change since each world naturally has its own form of currency. Earthland had Jewel, the Elemental Nations had Ryo and the One Piece Verse has Berries. Natsu having just arrived has basically nothing aside from what he scavenged through either those Seilah robbed when she interrogated them or money he ended up getting on his own though naturally that'll change.

Baranx – Yeah I've received quite a bit of inspiration from the SCP stories especially ones that explore distorted realities, towns or pocket dimensions I quite enjoy those. The Daleport one I once watched a video on youtube about was amazing and upon reading it myself I loved the mystery behind it even after all the evidence is presented. Then there is again the Eternal IKEA one which I really wish was explored more because it could be fascinating to see what would lie in the management office of such a place for example and how it can take beings from across multiple universes and contain them within, could it be used to trap other SCP's perhaps?

But yes definitely a fun read all round haha!

Shadow465 – I have Natsu refer to his age as those that his body has physically lived and experienced. Going through the Eclipse Gate brought him into the future sure but his body wasn't aged so much as a day wheras every other experience has physically aged him his body just doesn't show it since he is effectively immortal.

I made this choice more as a statement for Natsu to make saying I'm old by mortal standards and yet I am still young in the eyes of the immortal crowd having not even experienced a century of life yet myself, there is still much for me to learn.

I hope that explains it well enough because that's how I look at it, why boast about being almost a thousand years old if you don't have the power or knowledge to back it up.

Anyway on with the story!

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

Welcome To Mock Town

/Natsu's POV/

"Brigands, thieves, plunderers of my territory," the monkey looking human screamed prompting Natsu to wince slightly due to his enhanced hearing as Nami stepped forward.

"Your territory? You do realize that we're out in the open sea right, no one owns any part of the Grand Line, not even the World Government so who are you to call us thieves," Nami asked with her arms crossed as the monkey man grinned.

"Ah but you see this here is the territory of the Masira Pirates and I'm Captain Masira, a fearsome warrior with a bounty of 23,000,000 berries so you would do well to explain your presence in my territory!"

"Did Seilah tell you anything about these bounties before she left," Natsu whispered to Mordred who shook her head whilst shrugging in response.

"Probably a similar system to how Bingo Books worked back in the Elemental Nations I'm guessing though we'll have to find out more later."

"Boss Masira one of our guys just got hurt down in the ship," a random member of Masira's crew shouted as Natsu's eyes wandered over to some gear that they had set up whilst their Captain had been distracting them.

"Probably got knocked out by Luffy," Ahnkseram mused. "Up to you how you want to handle this but I'd advise not outright destroying them, something tells me they might be useful later on."

Natsu inwardly nodded and vanished appearing underwater to see a strange device had smashed into the side of the ship which probably allowed Masira's men to get into the ship much easier than simply swimming down.

"Follow that air tube Usopp attached to the Barrel Suit."

"Yes Dad," Natsu snorted in response only to wince as he was struck by a brief headache before lowering himself to the hole on the ship and peering inside.

The first thing he saw was Luffy punch one of Masira's men knocking him into one of the fragile walls which collapsed, crushing the man whilst simultaneously allowing him entry to the ship.

Natsu lazily swam over to Luffy and Usopp who had returned to scavenging and tapped both of them on their suits prompting the pair to turn around to face him in shock since he didn't have any kind of suit on.

Allowing his mind to travel out to them Natsu sent them images of Masira and his crew having arrived prompting the pair to share a look between one another before nodding as they quickly took off their suits, Luffy almost immediately dropping to the floor like a stone due to his weakness to the ocean.

Leaning down Natsu picked up Luffy and placed a hand on Usopp as the two warped back up inside the shower area of the Merry where Luffy began to cough up some water before grinning and moving to dry himself off.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that teleporting thing you can do," Usopp said shaking his head.

"You aren't the first to say that and I doubt you'll be the last Usopp so don't worry about it," Natsu chuckled in response before frowning. "I'll be back in a moment …"

Vanishing again Natsu appeared on the deck of Masira's ship and walked into a small room that looked like it had been turned upside down. He didn't even show the slightest sign of surprise as Robin emerged from a nearby room and to her credit she didn't seem surprised either.

"Did you get the same idea I did Natsu?"

"Depends on what your idea was?"

"The Masira Pirates wouldn't be able to survive out here scavenging if they didn't have a stationary base to return to which means that they'd have to have an Eternal Log Pose somewhere."

"I'm guessing that an Eternal Log Pose is permanently fixed to one location instead of changing like the regular one?"

"Precisely," Robin replied as she pulled out a Log Pose held within an hourglass with the word JAYA written on it in bold uppercase letters.

"Just so you know my idea was to get Luffy and Usopp back up here before anything could happen, before Masira could figure out we were scavenging down there."

"That's also a pretty good idea," Robin replied as the pair began walking toward the door only to hear both parties begin to scream outside.

"Put the Eternal Pose in your pocket Robin," Natsu said quickly as she complied and the two warped back onto the Merry to find out what prompting the screaming.

"Ahnkseram what is this," Natsu said almost instantly as the entire area had darkened with human shaped figures dominating the entire horizon around them flaring into existence.

"I'm not sure but I'm not sensing any power from them so this could simply be a trick of the light or an impressive illusion of some sort. Either way I would advise getting everyone clear of this area just in case."

Natsu nodded as he marched over to where Luffy and the monkey man Masira were having some kind of stare off and grabbed Masira roughly by the neck and threw him back onto his own ship smashing part of it off in the process.

"We need to leave, right now!"

"Not gonna hear any kind of argument from me," Nami replied still shocked at the figures in the sky as the crew began scrambling around preparing to take off when Masira shakily rose to his feet.

"Hey you can't just come into my territory and damage my ship!"

"Oh really," Natsu scoffed as the Merry began to sail past Masira's own ship. "Then how do you explain me getting away with doing this?"

Raising his artificial leg a black tendril shot out and pierced the port side of the hull and began to tear a rather sizeable hole into it as the ship sailed past until Natsu was no longer alongside it, an action that angered Masira who began jumping up and down slamming his fists on the deck of his ship.

"Maybe he is an ape of some sort?"

"This world is really strange but also rather amusing," Natsu chuckled in response as he retracted his leg and went to rejoin the others who despite sending him questioning glances didn't actively ask why he did what he did.

"All right everyone whilst we may not have been able to steal anything of value from that ruined ship Robin did manage to acquire something rather useful from Masira's," Natsu said as all eyes snapped to Robin who blushed slightly under all the attention.

"I managed to acquire their Eternal Log Pose for a place called Jaya so I believe that should be our next destination."

"You know if I squint hard enough I think that island over there might be Jaya," Natsu said as he pointed out to the horizon which was becoming less dark the further away from the strange shadows they got.

"Then that's where we're going," Luffy said cheerfully as if the last hour had never happened. "Onward!"

"And onward they went for the next two hours as an island did indeed come into view just like Natsu said it would. The others occupied their time preparing themselves to disembark onto the island however Natsu simply stared straight ahead at the island, refusing to blink even once as if he was locked into some sort of staring contest which didn't go unnoticed by Robin or Mordred.

"Oi Master what are you doing?"

"The birds above," Natsu muttered prompting the pair to look up at three birds that were circling overhead in a playful manner.

"What about them Natsu," Robin asked only for her eyes to widen as two of them dropped to the ground dead with bullet holes clean through their skulls.

Both Robin and Mordred's attention snapped back to Natsu who still had not moved so much as an inch, not even moving as the last of the birds hit his shoulder before hitting the deck with an audible thump.

"That one is clearly trying to show off …"

"What are you talking about Natsu," Robin asked in concern only for Natsu to finally blink and shake his head.

"You'll understand when we get closer to Jaya because even from here I can tell that the place is … rough."

/Island Of Jaya/

Outside a dingy looking pub two men were currently engaged in a drunken brawl with neither capable of outright beating the other since they would always stumble backward before being able to land a solid blow.

A third man ran up to the fight and stabbed both of them in the necks, quickly emptying their pockets before vanishing into the crowd before too many could take notice of what had just occurred, however once people did take notice roars of laughter were heard as a man was pushed out of the bar before being glassed over the head and kicked repeatedly in the ribs.

Inside the bar there was further chaos as people drank, fought and gambled all somehow acting oblivious to the chaos around their own immediate incarnation of it, the most notable being a small group playing a game of cards in the centre of the bar.

"HA, looks like I've cleaned you boys out! See they don't just call me the Executioner for show you know, didn't get a 42,000,000 berry bounty by being as dumb as a rock!"

The man went to take all of his winnings however a knife pierced through the top of his hand which pinned him to the table as another blonde haired man began to laugh.

"Yeah I don't think I'm gonna let you do that Roshio, see I reckon you cheated!"

"What!"

"Oi Sarquiss, you reckon this guy cheated?"

"Oh yeah he definitely did Captain, little shit actually thought he could get away with it too!"

"WHAT! Do you bastards even know who I am-!"

A gunshot rang out through the bar as Roshio's head was covered in whiskey and shards of glass, the man in front of him grinning as he blew the smoke from his pistol before placing it against Roshio's forehead.

"I don't give a flying fuck who you are small fry, the bigger question is do you know who I am!?"

"Wh-who are you!"

"This here is Captain Bellamy," Sarquiss snapped as he stabbed Roshio in the eye with a lit match prompting the man to cry out in pain as other crew members held him down. "Show the man his due respect; he's worth 55,000,000 you know!"

"What-!"

"You've plain gone and fucked up my friend," Bellamy said with a sinister grin as he shot Roshio in the head killing him instantly as his head hit the table with an audible thud. "Shouldn't have gone fucking with your betters!"

Bellamy began roaring with laughter which quickly engulfed the rest of the bar as they all returned to their former activities, Roshio's body being tossed into a bin beside the bar to be forgotten about as they continued on with their day.

/Natsu's POV/

"Well you certainly weren't exaggerating were you Master," Mordred replied as the Merry pulled into port. "This place looks like sin in island form!"

"That's because Jaya is a Pirate Island," Robin said knowingly as she was the first to disembark from the ship. "I've got a few things I need to do so I shall be back in awhile."

Natsu nodded without saying a word as both he and Mordred moved to disembark only to pause when they heard Nami's screeching.

"You two better promise me you won't start any fights while were here!"

"We won't Nami we already promised," Luffy groaned as Zoro shook his head in annoyance.

"Yeah well I'm coming with you two just to make sure you guys don't start any trouble!"

"Do what you want, damn harpy," Zoro grumbled as the trio disembarked with Natsu and Mordred following silently behind.

"So what are we gonna do Master," Mordred asked as Natsu shrugged.

"Not sure yet, we're Pirates and I've got no cash so I suppose we should just swipe some from the trash around here."

"Yeah doesn't look like they deserve it anyway," Mordred replied only for Nami to round on them.

"Oh no you don't I just finished getting up those two just to make sure they didn't start anything I won't let you two go off and do anything either!"

"Ug, yes Mom," Natsu groaned in response earning a snicker from Mordred and a growl from Nami.

"This isn't funny!"

"I dunno I thought it was," Natsu replied with eyes twinkling in amusement. "A whole island full of some of the scum of humanity, the fun I could have here …"

Nami went to hit Natsu only for Natsu to vanish from her sight as her eyes began to dart around frantically looking for him only to find him standing next to Luffy and Zoro helping a sickly looking man onto his horse.

"Oh my … thank you three young men kindly, I've been lying there all day," the sickly man groaned as they placed him in the back of his horse which was currently doing a four legged imitation of the splits which Natsu found funny.

"There ya go," Luffy said cheerfully. "Have a good one mister!"

"Wait a moment before you go could you help my horse get up, he's just as sick as I am you see …"

Nami, Mordred and Zoro face palmed, Luffy grinned and Natsu burst out into fits of laughter as he picked the horse up with one hand and helped it right itself much to the appreciation of the sickly man.

"Thank you both kindly so here please take an apple each in appreciation," the sickly man said as Luffy and Natsu each took one.

Natsu pocketed his and Luffy went to take a bite just as several explosions went off around them putting Nami on edge.

"Damn it looks like that sick guy got some more people with those apples," one Pirate said as another chuckled.

"Every poor bastard that's gotten one has exploded what a funny prank!"

Nami was shocked and watched in horror as Luffy took a bite of the apple however nothing came prompting the sickly man to let out a raspy laugh.

"You have good luck kid; you picked out the dud out of all those apples. Just one bite and you could've been killed but your luck shined through today, nice job."

"I like how he had the nerve to say that in your presence."

"What do you want me to do, attack him? The guy and his horse look like they'll keel over at any moment."

Natsu watched as the sick man was carried away on the back of his sickly horse before the group moved on only to pause again as they saw yet another crowd gathering around a nearby rooftop.

"Looks like that guy claimed another victim," one Pirate said as the other nodded.

"Didn't that guy say he was a former fighting champion," another said as both Luffy and Zoro tensed slightly.

"Oh no you two don't we're not fighting anyone now get your butts moving, there's got to be a bar around here somewhere!"

"Aww," Luffy whined as the group moved past the man who was laughing and taunting the crowd below in an attempt to find his next victim.

Eventually the group found themselves at a dingy looking bar, Natsu stopped as Nami, Luffy, Zoro and Mordred entered and turned his attention to the side alley and noticed the body of a man sticking out of the pub's rubbish bin.

"Looks like he was just half heartedly tossed in there," Natsu commented as he walked over and peeked into the bin to see the man and almost immediately noticed his missing eye and the bullet hole in his forehead.

"Keep an eye on our new friends, Luffy might be bulletproof but the rest aren't as durable."

"All right I'm going," Natsu heard from out the front as a rather large man who in his honest opinion looked more like a hobo than anything shuffled past holding a bottle of rum in one hand and over a dozen pies in the other.

Ignoring the man Natsu walked inside to see a blonde haired man taunting Luffy and Zoro however to his surprise neither one seemed to react. Natsu was about to intervene when Luffy turned to him with a serious gaze and shook his head.

"What's that Straw Hat, don't want to get your little friend involved," the man sneered as he walked over to a nearby table and picked up a half full bottle of rum and took a swig as he strolled over to him. "You don't look like much, what's a chump like you gonna do?"

Nami's eyes widened seemingly expecting Natsu to retaliate however Natsu's eyes were locked onto Luffy's and he almost immediately understood what Luffy was trying to convey and remained silent.

"Oi if Captain Bellamy asks you something you answer it," one of the other Pirates snapped prompting Bellamy to grin.

"Well we all know that those who refuse me," Bellamy said as she smashed the half full bottle across Natsu's head not even eliciting so much as a slight flinch, an act that momentarily caught the Pirate off guard. "Get punished!"

That seemed to be some sort of verbal cue as the Pirates in the bar began assaulting them with whatever was nearest to them throwing anything from bottles, knives even bits of food.

"You lot have some nerve coming round here talking about fairy tale nonsense like Sky Islands and dreams," Bellamy hissed as he stabbed Natsu in the arm with a kitchen knife handed to him by a man Natsu assumed was his Vice Captain. "The Age of Pirates and Dreams is dead and gone just like Gold Roger, trash like you clinging to a bygone era sicken me!"

"What the hell are you three doing," Nami sniffed as Bellamy stabbed Natsu several more times in the gut before punching him in the face which knocked him over the table behind him as Nami rushed to his side. "Why aren't you fighting back!"

"The small fry aren't fighting back because they know that Bellamy is their better," the Vice Captain said mockingly as Luffy and Zoro soon found themselves knocked down by some of the other crew members. "Hanging around trash like them will eventually ruin you girl, why don't you join us eh?"

"As if I'd ever join a bunch of losers like you," Nami sniffed as she grabbed Zoro and Luffy by the collars and dragged them to the door before returning for Natsu who remained stock still and dragged him over before lugging all three out of the door with Mordred taking Natsu and following behind silently.

"You come back if you change your mind alright," they heard the Vice Captain shout which was followed by a wave of laughter.

"I can't believe you three," Nami sniffed as she fought back tears. "Why would you three let them do this to you!"

"ZEHAHAHAHAHA, the Sky Island does exist!"

Nami froze in place and looked right at the man who had been kicked out of the bar earlier who sat in the centre of the dock eating his pies and drinking is rum without a care in the word.

"That place really does make a killer cherry pie, best in all the seas!"

"Got something you wanna say then say it!"

"ZEHAHAHA! Dunno what you've got to be so angry about," the man said with a grin. "Your three friends won that fight without even having to throw so much as a single punch!"

"What …"

"I respected the way you treated those kids back there, you've definitely got nerves of steel lady!"

Natsu was the first to sit up followed quickly by Luffy and then Zoro as the trio began cleaning themselves off as best they could.

"This 'New Era' all these upstart brats keep talking about is all a load of shit," the man shouted as many people stopped to look at him like he was stupid. "An era where the dreams of Pirates will come to an end, yeah right!"

The man took a long swig from his bottle of rum before slamming it onto the ground in front of him and met the eyes of Luffy, Zoro and Natsu with a toothy grin.

"The dreams of Pirates will never end; the dreams of people are infinite, you can't just put an end to them am I right!?"

What followed was the gathered crowd seemingly laughing at the man as they mocked him for shouting about dreams calling it utter nonsense among other things but the man simply laughed away all their insults.

"One upping your peers isn't ever easy, ZEHAHAHAHA!"

Another wave of laughter directed at the man followed however the man's next words surprised Natsu.

"They can laugh at us all they want because when you aim high you often come across fights that just aren't worth fighting, right? ZEHAHAHAHA!"

The man's words struck a chord with Natsu as he remembered back to his time with Gildarts and how he said something eerily similar to him when he wanted to pick a fight after someone had insulted him because of his own dream to find Igneel.

Let em laugh Natsu because when you dream big there's always gonna be one guy who just doesn't buy into the hype, you understand?

Natsu found himself smirking and slipped away without the others noticing and walked off toward the edge of town quickly becoming lost in his thoughts.

"What's on your mind?"

"Just thinking back on what that guy said about dreams not dying, Gildarts said something similar to me once. Back when I was a kid if someone said Dragons weren't real I'd punch them until Gildarts sat me down and explained to me that some things just aren't worth fighting others over, dreams more so than anything else."

"Finding Igneel was more than a dream for you though wasn't it?"

"For most of my young life once I woke up in the future it was my dream to be reunited with him, he was my Dad and I dearly missed him and it pissed me off when people denied his very existence despite the fact that my very own powers defied their arguments."

"Well I suppose that in the end you showed them all eh," Ahnkseram replied with a sad smile. "A shame that it took so long though."

Natsu hummed in agreement as they arrived at the edge of the town where Natsu simply stood stock still not really sure why he'd decided to walk off in the first place.

"Hello again King of Balance."

Natsu's eyes widened slightly as a Servant astralized before him in a kneeling position though he noted that she moved to hug his leg instead.

"Uh …"

"My apologies it's just … it has been so long since I could touch another and I couldn't resist."

"Do you want to talk somewhere more private where I can use your actual name?"

"That would be nice, yes," the Servant replied as she rather eagerly took Natsu's hand and led him deep into the forest until they were standing by a small lake. "I figured you would like to clean yourself up a little …"

"Thank you … Serenity Hassan, it has been quite some time since I've seen any of the Hassan around so it is good to know you survived that whole mess back in the Elemental Nations."

"King Hassan had us all return to this dimension after he saw the signs of the Fourth Great Ninja War looming and ordered us to aid the Servant Alliance in this dimension as best we could."

"So there is one as I suspected," Natsu hummed in response. "I sent Seilah out to establish contact with them."

"King Hassan is aware alas Seilah will not find him, precautionary measures after the Solomon incident," Serenity explained as Natsu nodded in understanding.

"So what brings you to this wretched hive of scum and villainy then Serenity," Natsu asked clapping his hands together in a much more cheerful manner. "Hardly the place for a respectable lady such as yourself is it now?"

"I-I felt your entrance into this world, many of the Kings also did," Serenity said blushing at Natsu's earlier compliment on her looks. "We still share the Master/Servant connection we partially formed before I departed, King Hassan was … actually pleased that I formed one with you."

"Well that's interesting," Natsu hummed in response. "But that doesn't entirely explain why you are here personally now does it?"

"I do not like how you can read me so well King Natsu, yes I am here for another reason. Due to your victory in the Elemental Nations the number of Servants being summoned into this world has effectively doubled in an attempt to create chaos of the Realis Holy Grail War, King Hassan has devised a … method that allows him to pinpoint the summoning location of a Servant and dispatches us to either recruit or dispose of them."

"And a Servant is set to appear here," Natsu asked as Serenity shook her head.

"Not here but up there," Serenity replied as Natsu's eyes widened in understanding.

"The Sky Island."

"King Hassan has said that there are already at least three Servant signatures up there in addition to another that reeks of power, power that I alone could not even hope to compete against."

"So you want my help?"

"I would most appreciate it King Natsu if you could lend me your aid as well as Mordred's if that isn't so much to ask?"

"Well I am heading to the Sky Island anyway so you are in luck Serenity," Natsu replied with a grin patting the Assassin on the head knowing that it was the best way to calm her nerves as she leant into his touch.

"I thank you …"

"Does this method King Hassan has pick up the Servant Class?"

"Unfortunately no it does not in fact the only reason we even have this method is because King Hassan is the Grand Assassin and has taken liberties with the complex Magic binding this world to the Realis Grail War."

"Ah then it's probably for the best that he doesn't poke it anymore with the metaphorical stick eh!"

"Indeed," Serenity replied as the two stood in a comfortable silence for a few moments before a thought hit Natsu.

"Do you happen to know if Chaldea has established a link with this world yet?"

"I-I don't believe so, not yet anyway," Serenity replied with a pondering look. "Why?"

"Well you see in the Elemental Nations they had to Emergency Rayshift back to Chaldea to avoid losing their only Master but in their haste left Fou behind," Natsu said as he opened his coat slightly to reveal the fluffball who was currently curled up into a round ball inside one of his coat pockets fast asleep.

"I see, that is most unfortunate since you cannot risk entering Chaldea since there is another version of you there."

"Do you think that you could ask King Hassan to keep an eye out and if he encounters them to let them know I have Fou?"

"Of course I can do that I'm sure King Hassan would be fine to relay such a message for you!"

"Thanks Serenity," Natsu replied with a grin. "Now then we need to find a way to get up to that Sky Island, tried asking the locals but they weren't exactly friendly as you no doubt saw."

"I may have a lead for you, a man by the name of Mont Blanc Cricket," Serenity said as she motioned for him to follow her further into the jungle like terrain. "From what I've managed to find out this man is a descendant of a man named Mont Blanc Noland."

"I haven't been here long Serenity so I've got no idea who that is," Natsu said as Serenity blushed in embarrassment.

"Ah my apologies I forgot! Well you see Mont Blanc Noland was a man who lived around four hundred years ago who was executed after supposedly lying about gold that he found here."

"Let me guess some King got greedy and wanted the gold so when they all showed up with money signs for eyes it was nothing but dirt?"

"Yes that is the gist of it," Serenity replied. "The tale of Noland has been novelised into a book known as Noland the Liar and is often read to children in order to discourage them from lying lest they too be executed like Mont Blanc Noland."

"Well that's pretty messed up."

"Noland's descendant still lives on this island searching for this treasure and after observing him for two days I have come to the realization that he may in fact know how to get us onto the Sky Island, for a price."

"The gold …"

"The gold," Serenity mimicked as they arrived at a small looking home on the opposite end of the island. "This is where he lives, how should we handle this?"

"I'm not gonna force him to do anything, not if he's still copping it for what happened to his ancestor," Natsu sighed. "If I really have to I'll find the damn gold myself and rip it from wherever its hidden."

"I shall leave it in your capable hands, you are the King of Balance after all," Serenity said softly as she rendered herself invisible so as to not put the man on edge.

Natsu sighed and made his way over to the small home and knocked on the door and waited several moments until a man whose head honestly looked like a chestnut opened it and eyed him warily.

"The hell do you want!"

"Hello sir I was just wondering if I could ask you a few questions?"

"Whatever you're selling I ain't buying!"

"I'm not here to sell you anything I'm here for information on how to get to the Sky Island that sits above Jaya," Natsu said as the man's eyes widened before narrowing as he eyed Natsu critically.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"I assure you I'm being a hundred percent genuine with you."

"Well if that's the case then you'd best be coming in," the man grumbled as he allowed Natsu to enter his home and offered him a chair at a rather small table. "You drink tea?"

"Yeah, thanks."

It took a minute before the tea was ready as the man placed a cup before him and the two sat in silence until he finally spoke.

"So tell me kid why should I tell you anything about the Sky Island?"

"A fair question," Natsu conceded as he took a sip of his tea. "I believe you should because if you do then I can almost guarantee you I will find at least some of the gold your ancestor claimed existed here four hundred years ago."

"That's a bold claim, got any evidence to back it up?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure it out really," Natsu replied shaking his head. "You've been here for years digging away in an attempt to try and find the gold just like your ancestors before you did and yet not one of you have found anything but there is conveniently a Sky Island right above Jaya-."

"-right above where my house sits onward a bit out toward the ocean," Cricket finished for Natsu with a slight grin. "Well at least you clearly did your homework."

"When it comes to finding something like a Sky Island one would hope I did considering how reclusive it is."

"You did your homework but I have to wonder why should I help you, what if you find the gold and run off with it all?"

"I can assure you that won't happen," Natsu replied as Ahnkseram's voice entered his mind.

"Not all of it anyway …"

"I can assure you sir I've got no personal interest in the gold, at most I'd probably take a piece as a souvenir but aside from that I don't really need it."

"Is that right?"

"I understand you might find it hard to believe especially since I showed up out of the blue but I cannot stress to you enough how important it is that I reach the Sky Island."

"I'm guessing you've got your own reasons for getting up there not related to the gold?"

"Yeah my crew and I are the adventurous sort but I have my own reasons even beyond that, I can't really explain much more than that I'm afraid."

"Fair enough we all have our secrets, so what's your name anyway kid seeing as you seem to know who I am and all?"

"Oh right my names Natsu my bad for not telling you earlier."

"Eh don't worry about it you've already been nicer to me than half of this God forsaken rock," Cricket grumbled. "So you'll bring me back the gold from the Sky Island if its up there?"

"I'll promise it on whatever you want me to."

"Look you don't have to go doing that," Cricket sighed. "Getting up there by itself is a struggle so if you manage to survive that as long as you try your best I can't fault ya."

"Um …"

"Listen kid I may look like one but I'm not an asshole so don't worry about it," Cricket sighed. "Now look I've got to get back to work kid since there isn't a whole lot I can do until my friends Masira and Shoujou get back."

Natsu nearly choked on his tea when he heard the name Masira which didn't go unnoticed by Cricket.

"Let me guess he tried attacking ya over some salvage?"

"Yeah and I kind of threw him at his own ship and tore a hole in it before making an escape."

"The amount of times I tell those idiots not to go round attacking people over salvage I swear …"

"Yeah I got the impression that they do it often."

"Please excuse them kid they do mean well but they're just kind of eccentric when it comes to salvaging stuff."

"You know now that I think about it that ship he fought us over fell from the sky, do you think it might have fallen from the Sky Island?"

"That's where a lot of the salvage round these parts comes from; wrecks that fall down from the Sky Island usually crash in the ocean round these parts so Masira and Shoujou go round and pick em up for me to sort through."

"So they're working for you then?"

"Not so much working as we are in an alliance with each other, the Saruyama Alliance, though really I only agreed because they insisted they wanted to help me with my dream."

"To find the gold?"

"Yeah …"

"Well it sounds like they're more friends than business partners doesn't it?"

"Maybe, you know how it is we never really bring it up though I'll admit this place would be shit without those two big lugs running around."

"I can go find Masira and his crew and bring them back here if they still haven't returned if you want; no doubt the rest of my crew will come knocking later."

"Are you the Captain?"

"Not me no," Natsu replied shaking his head.

"You sure because you sure act like one?"

"Trust me I have no desire to be a Captain I'd rather let someone else take the reins of the journey, only reason I'm taking the initiative with getting to the Sky Island is because it affects something personal to me."

"Fair enough," Cricket said as the pair walked outside. "So you said you'd go find Masira for me and bring him back safe? If you do that I'll gladly help you out kid."

"You've got yourself a deal Cricket," Natsu said as the two shook hands. "I'm gonna go and get Masira now but remember to keep an eye out in case my friends show up alright."

"Yeah I heard you the first time," Cricket snapped though there was no malice behind his words. "Now get going before I start to regret out deal!"

"See ya later," Natsu said with a grin, vanishing on the spot as Cricket blinked rapidly trying to discern if he had just envisioned what he saw or if it was a mere hallucination.

"Maybe those two are right, maybe diving down so deep into the water constantly is messing with my head …"

Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!