The only habitant of Magnolia Island was Porlyusica; a slightly grouchy more seasoned lady who was very skilled in medicine and was once a member of the crew before her retirement. The Island wasn't too small, but it wasn't imposing in size either. It boasted a large waterfall, natural hot-springs and a few acres of was also the strawberry lagoon where there was a large mess hall and dormitory that the crew stayed in during their visits. Porlyusica lived deep in the Jungle and even though she would never admit it she enjoyed it when her crewmates visit along with seeing her adopted granddaughter Wendy (the only person, she may genuinely like).
Makarov clapped his hands for attention; "Right brats! Listen up! Laxus and I are going to find Porlyusica. Erza is in charge. You will all head to the mess hall and once everything there is cleared and sorted out you can all go do what you want."
The crew groaned at the manic glint in Erza's eyes as she led them through the jungle to the Strawberry lagoon.
They pushed the creaking doors of the mess hall open. Cana bolted towards the bar with a mop and a duster, determined to get it ready for an alcoholic binge fest. Erza barked orders at them as they cleaned the mess hall, rolled barrels into the cellar, and tidied the dormitories. After being dismissed reluctantly by Erza, the grabbed their swimming gear and ran down to the lagoon, the crystal blue waves lapping against the white sand.
Natsu and Gray immediately hit the water, racing each other to the large stack further out into the ocean. Juvia walked towards the water's edge wearing a short black dress with a blue bikini top underneath.
"Juvia, why are you getting in the water with your dress on?" Lucy asked as she waded into the water with Asuka on her shoulders.
Juvia blushed, "When Juvia's tail manifests whatever Juvia is wearing on the bottom gets ripped, so Juvia wears a dress to maintain her modesty when getting in and out of the water."
Lucy watched Juvia dive head first into the water, streaking after Natsu and Gray; her blue scales sparkling under the sunlight.
"Lucy! Let's go, I want to get to the rocks too!" Asuka gripped her shoulder, violet eyes alive with excitement.
Lucy grabbed the rope attached to a tiny boat. Asuka sat down gripping the edge tight as Lucy pulled the tiny green vessel towards the stack, with Romeo and Wendy in tow. Juvia was so quick she reached the stack before Natsu and Gray, then swam back taking the rope from Lucy and headed toward the rocks again. Asuka shrieked and giggled wildly as the little green boat tore through the water, spraying them all in the process. Panting Lucy reached the stack and climbed up. Strong arms gripped onto her wrists pulling her onto the rough surface.
"I could have pulled myself up you know." Lucy raised an eyebrow at Natsu, hands on her hips.
"I was just being a gentleman Luce." He grinned, wiping damp pink tufts out of his eyes.
She rolled her eyes in response as his eyes lingered on her body. Mira had bought her a black bikini embroidered with turquoise flowers. Lucy had been surprised at its lack of coverage. The bottoms were a little too small for sure and even if the top was a bandeau with secure straps there was not as much material covering the sides as Lucy would have liked. Natsu knew he certainly wasn't complaining about her lack of clothing. She turned away to help Wendy up onto the ledge.
"Natsu! Why are you staring at Lucy?" Asuka asked innocently as she pulled herself onto his shoulders.
Lucy turned and glared at him, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Er… what do you mean Asuka… t-there was just some s-seaweed on her bu-back…" He smiled innocently.
Lucy scowled at him suspiciously, hands on her hips.
"Let's go Asuka…"
"Pervert!" Lucy yelled as he leapt swiftly off the ledge holding onto Asuka.
Wendy and Romeo had started a diving competition when Erza, Gajeel and Levy swam over to them. Lucy was flipping nimbly into the water, while the boys where practicing their cannon balls resulting in loud splashes, spraying the onlookers sitting on the stack.
"If you insist I will partcipate!" Erza proclaimed.
"Erza we didn't insi-" Wendy was cut off as Erza performed an intricate dive clad in a golden bikini, her red hair flying like a flag before she hit the water with a small "plop".
"Erza that wasn't nearly as splashy enough," Natsu challenged with a smug grin when she re-surfaced.
"Watch this!"
He grabbed Lucy by the waist pulling her towards the edge and leaping forwards.
"No! Natsu! No!"
Her shrieks ended as they crashed into the water. When they came up for air, he gave her another cheeky grin before pulling her close. She flushed and smacked his head, "Ow!...Luce!"
"Ha! We can be splashier than that!" Gajeel cried hoisting Levy over his shoulder and leaping into the water, Levy shrieking in protest.
"If it is splashy you want then splashy you will get." Erza pulled Gray, Wendy and Romeo onto her shoulders.
"No! Erza must put down Juvia's precious Gray!" Juvia yelled from the water, which became increasingly choppy, the light current growing in strength.
The force of Erza and her reluctant crewmates jump pushed Lucy and Natsu out further from the stack. Spluttering they re-surfaced and watched as Juvia fished Gray out of Erza's grip hissing slightly, before pulling him towards a more secluded cove; obviously for another make-out session. Lucy cringed slightly as Asuka paddled happily towards them.
"Juvia looks like she wants to eat Gray," Lucy said to Natsu as Asuka grabbed onto her arm.
He laughed; "I wish."
Lucy laughed and began swimming back to the ledge. Natsu wished he could take Lucy to a more secluded cove. Ah, why did I think that! After sunbathing and drying off, they swam back towards the shore, exploring the reef and the rocky surfaces under the water. Levy had brought cotton drawstring bags with her as they collected clams and various shells off the seabed. Asuka had insisted on picking up large hunks of drift wood to add to the tree house so Natsu had to make several trips back, lugging the little green boat back to shore full of the worn lumps of wood.
Mira had started a fire on the beach and she, Lucy and Wendy picked up the shell fish and began cutting them open, ready to cook. Once they had finished there was a large pile of empty shells on the sand. Lucy washed her hands and saw Natsu rooting through the shells.
"What are you doing?" She asked pulling a turquoise sundress over her now dry costume.
He laughed sheepishly; "N-nothing…Happy just likes the shells...to play with kay."
She raised an eyebrow letting the poor excuse slide.
Makarov and Laxus returned as the shell fish finished cooking, accompanied by a sour looking elderly lady with long pink hair and beady red eyes. Wendy's face lit up as she rushed over and hugged the lady, who smiled slightly. Makarov waved Lucy over, and she stepped forward hesitantly.
"Porlyusica. This is Layla's daughter Lucy." Makarov smiled up at the woman's wrinkled frown as she peered intensely at Lucy.
"Well you look exactly like her. No doubt about it." She continued to look Lucy up and down, but gave her a small smile.
"I actually liked your mother, so don't give me a reason to hate you like I hate the rest of these idiots." Lucy laughed nervously as Makarov sweat dropped and hung his head.
"You lot all need a good wash too! I hate the smell of pirates!" Porlyusica stomped away with Wendy towards the water's edge.
At dusk Mira led the girls to the hot-springs. They were well hidden by willows and towering palm trees in a small alcove Mira had brought bottles of shampoo and bunches of soap leaves so they could all wash of the dirt that had accumulated over the past few months. Lucy sighed contentedly as she massaged the shampoo through her hair. Letting it sit for a while she rubbed the soap leaves along her skin, relishing in the feeling of the hot water. They all rinsed their hair before sitting on the edge of the hot-springs to dry wrapped in towels. Mira handed round bottles of lotion and coconut oil, which they rubbed on their skin. Feeling very refreshed they dressed in clean clothes and headed back to the mess hall.
Macoa and Wakaba had started up a drinking contest. Jet and Droy lay on the ground, while Makarov sat hiccupping and blushing at the bar. Cana quickly picked up a barrel and sat up on a stool chugging her way through it before picking up a second. Lucy headed over to Natsu and Gajeel who were actually talking civilly for once.
"Please Gajeel, can you help me fire up the smithy again?"
"What do you need it for Natsu? I've got to use it to make some new ammo."
"Er…"
"Just spit it out flame brain…"
"It's just something for Lucy." Natsu said quietly, blushing.
"Gihi…" Gajeel chuckled, "So you do like her then?"
Oh shit...he knows..."No, no she's just a good friend…that's all."
Gajeel scoffed, "Yeah right. You're just lying to yourself if you think that!"
Natsu growled, "Well then why don't you tell Levy how you feel hmm?"
Gajeel glared at him his cheeks matching his wide crimson eyes.
Natsu chuckled; "Here's your chance metal head she's heading this way."
Gajeel paled and turned to face Levy who smiled at him with sparkling brown eyes. Natsu was still chuckling at the bashful look on the usually tough man's face. He tilted his head and looked at Lucy.
"Hey Luce you actually smell nice now."
She scowled at him, hands on her hips, "Well I can say the same for you and you always smell bad."
"Touché." He chuckled drinking in her appearance.
She was dressed in the same turquoise sun dress but her damp hair had returned to its corn gold colour. Her skin shimmered with the coconut oil and lotion and she smelled of cherry blossoms and flowers. He smiled inhaling the scent. Lucy noticed that he and the boys had had a wash too; all the crew looked squeaky clean and definitely smelled considerably better.
"Hey Luce we should head to the tree house soon…" Natsu began.
"No! Lucy can stay in the girl's dormitory for tonight. You can go tomorrow." Laxus placed a hand protectively on Lucy's shoulder.
Natsu glared at him and began to retort.
"Natsu it's too dark right now and that tree house isn't finished yet." Makarov hiccupped in a kinder tone that Laxus, "You don't want to go traipsing round the jungle now. We're staying for a week or so anyway. Gildarts is meeting us."
At this Natsu whooped; "yes I can challenge him to a fight! I'll win this time for sure!"
"The Gildarts?" Lucy asked excitedly, Laxus nodded.
"Pffftt! Like you could beat him, he's one of the strongest pirates to roam the seas. He's in the top 10 most wanted pirates and he is one of the strongest swords men ever!" She finished, poking Natsu hard in the chest.
"You'll see Luce, I've beat you in the last few sparring matches! I can take anyone down!" He pulled her onto the bench next to him.
"You taught me all your sneaky moves too…" Laxus went pale, making Mira giggle at his obvious discomfort.
"Oh and I haven't learnt any of your moves either?!" Lucy countered sarcastically punching him lightly on the shoulder.
Laxus went from white to red very quickly, signalling Mira to drag him to the bar, chatting animatedly about needing his help with some whiskey barrels.
Lucy, Natsu and Gajeel continued chatting and started a very noisy card game of shit-head, to which Levy had to intervene as Gajeel threatened to flip the table when Natsu taunted him, cackling wildly. Natsu and Gajeel soon began to brawl again, leading to an all out fight in the mess hall. Levy, Lucy and Lisanna snuck out to the girl's dormitory. They were soon joined by Erza, Mirajane, Cana and Juvia. Cana immediately flopped on the sagging couch and pulled a hipflask out of her dress pocket, taking a swig from some warm amber liquid.
The girl's dormitory was quite cosy and painted a light coral shade. It was a small cabin with two floors; the first floor housed a seating area and a small kitchen and washroom. Two ladders dangled from the second floor to the first floor; there was a neat row of beds on the second floor each with cosy blankets. The best thing in Lucy's opinion was the rigging attached across the two balconies of the second floor, so that they could climb across.
I'll finally get to sleep in my own bed. She sighed to herself and smiled, then faltered. Why do I feel sad about that, it's not like I'll miss Natsu for just one night! Urghh! Get it together Lucy; you don't like him like that! ...Or do you? Asked the little voice in the back of her head, she groaned quietly to herself and sat down with Levy.
Mirajane had smuggled a small barrel of rum with her and she set about handing out tankards to the other girls a sly grin on her face. She smiled knowingly at her sister as Lucy and Levy drank from their tankards, cheeks tinged pink from the alcohol.
"Cana."
"Ye-yeah Mira." Cana said regarding her warily despite her tipsiness.
"Have you heard from the First Mate of Quattro Cerberus lately," Mira winked at her, "You know …Bacchus."
Cana looked pointedly away, taking a deep swig from her tankard. "I don't know what you mean Mira; we had a drinking contest one time. It was embarrassing and I lost!"
"That's not the only thing you lost…" Lisanna giggled, "You know… he took your bodice."
Cana blushed, "Yeah he humiliated me, why would I want to speak to him?"
"Cana we know you've been drinking with him regularly when we stop at Edolas." Erza said matter-of-factly, Cana was now red in the face her violet eyes wide.
Lucy listened enthralled by the gossip.
"Wasn't he telling Macao that he was going to marry you?" Levy asked innocently.
"He was drunk ok!" Cana raising her fist.
"He's never sober Cana," Erza added.
"It was priceless Lucy, when Gildarts found out he challenged him to a fight." Levy chuckled.
"Why is Gildarts your sweetheart too?" Lucy asked Cana who spit out her rum, laughing.
"Nope! He's ma dad."
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry."
"Na it's alright Lucy," Cana said, "You should have seen Bacchus's face though."
"So you are romantically involved with him!" Mira pointed a finger viciously at Cana.
"Pft…I wouldn't say that, we're just drinking buddies," she shrugged; "we're the only ones who can hold our drink."
"Makes sense for Cana to be with another alcoholic," Lucy whispered to Levy who giggled nodding fervently, her eyes slightly glazed and her cheeks pink.
Cana watched them, smiling slyly; "so Levy now that you're a bit tipsy, maybe your tongue'll loosen about a certain someone you like."
Levy went bright red and stared into her tankard.
Mira joined in the teasing of her fellow crew mate, "yeah Levy. Gajeel is always disappearing off to the research room. Care to explain why…"
Lucy giggled at Levy's embarrassment, "He…he just wants to look up different iron ores…you know… for making cannon balls," Levy finished, looking hopeful.
Mira and Lisanna laughed, "If you insist Levy," Levy's pale face washed over with relief.
Lucy grinned. She knew Levy and Gajeel didn't just talk about iron ores in the research room, not after she'd walked in on them kissing when she'd gone down there to grab an extra star chart for Natsu. Levy had made her swear not to tell anyone, but Lucy was pretty sure that their little meetings were not as secret as they would have liked.
"Lucy. Lucy!"
"Hmm…" Lucy looked at Mira across the rim of her tankard, "What Mira."
"You and Natsu are pretty cosy huh," Mira stated, "You were so cute this morning hugging in bed."
Lucy blushed, "come off it Mira he's just a friend."
"Friends don't sleep together in a bed." Cana added wiggling her eyebrows.
"I wanted to sleep in a hammock, but he wouldn't let me!" Lucy huffed.
Mira smiled widely, "So you like sleeping with him…"
"No! No! That…that's not what I meant…" Lucy shook her head cheeks pink.
"You can't lie to us Luce; the blush on your cheeks says it all…" Lisanna giggled, Levy nodding in agreement.
"Come on guys! He's like an excitable child. We're friends, sparring partners. Nothing more." Lucy stated.
"How can you say that Lucy! You guys are practically joined at the hip, and you're telling us nothing has happened between you two?" Mira asked incredulously.
"No!" Lucy said shaking her head fervently, "Why would it?"
"It's just the way he looks at you." Erza stated "You haven't noticed…" Lucy shook her head, confused and stood up.
"There's nothing ok!" She rubbed her face with her hands sighing, "I'm going to bed.
The girls watched her climb up the swaying ladder and jump nimbly onto the second floor.
"She's got it bad." Cana said; "Yeah," came the unanimous agreement.
In the men's dormitory Laxus had been keeping an annoyingly close eye on Natsu. Every time he said he wanted to go outside and see Happy or get some beer, Laxus would flatly refuse or send someone else. Natsu sat grumpily on his bunk above Gajeel's as Laxus glared him down from his bed in the corner. Natsu was annoyed. He wanted to see Lucy, it would be the first night they'd spent apart. He didn't want it to bother him, but it did. He felt calm knowing she was with him. How am I gonna sleep Luce? He smiled to himself; at least when we finish the tree house we can share a room again. He laid back on his pillow and Happy curled up on his chest, purring loudly, eyes blinking adoringly down at him.