Hey guys here's a new chapter. I've just read the stone age special manga; It was cool an' all until it got...weird. At least there was good fan service and Zervis.

Don't forget to R&R, tell me what you like and don't like as the story goes on and what you would like more of, so feel free to pm me. Thanks to those of you who have reviewed and everyone who made this story one of their favourites and are following it.

Tsukki086 k x

Falling back into the routine of the ship; Lucy and Natsu continued to head up to the crow's nest each night checking the route, meticulously for errors. Despite the destination, the crew fell back into normality; Makarov was pleased that they only had to travel for several more days, but the wizened captain was visibly tense as he tried to organise his crew, to be as efficient as possible. The three ships raced across the sea towards the destination; the smaller ships of Lamia Scale and Quatro Cerberus pulling in front. Babasaama continued to fire random cannons throughout the day resulting in deafening booms that sounded late into the night. Makarov already suffering under stress and now intense headaches from the persistent cannon fire had Bixslow send a very terse letter via parrot asking the Lamia Scale crew to kindly stop firing precious ammo at the risk of attracting unwanted attention. The heavy bags under the eyes of the Fairy Tail crew finally lessened and Lucy had trouble rousing Natsu the morning after the friendly fire finally stopped. Late into the night and into the early morning Lucy and Natsu scoured the horizon and looked over various maps of Tenrou Island; marking various points that would be good for hiding treasure.

In the early morning light, Natsu clumsily whipped the sleep out of his eyes and tightened his hold on Lucy. She had propped her head on his shoulder and was snoozing quietly, nuzzling into the soft cotton of his black shirt. He yawned loudly exposing his canines and blinked into the telescope absentmindedly. Lucy stirred slightly and Natsu looked down, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Sighing he looked back into the telescope, lazily turning it up and down; side to side in boredom. Something flashed across the horizon. Natsu shook his head out of his stupor and peered intently through the glass. The immense tree of Tenrou island stood out proudly against the pink tinged sky.

"Luce! Lucy!"

"What?"

Natsu nudged her gently, kissing her hair lightly in an attempt to rouse her. Lucy grumbled and cracked open an eyelid.

Natsu pointed excitedly at the telescope his teeth shining in the murky light. "Look! We're nearly at Tenrou."

Lucy huffed and looked through the telescope. She pulled back wide eyed and gave Natsu a small, nervous smile.

"Alright. Let's go tell Erza. At least we can go to sleep now."

Lucy sat on their bed twisting her hair frantically, worrying her lip with her teeth. Natsu sighed and pulled her into a tight hug; clasping her hands in his own.

"Stop worrying Luce," he murmured against the top of her head.

Lucy shivered slightly and patted his chest, "Sorry...I can't help it."

Natsu chuckled, "After we finish at Tenrou, we can go back ta Edolas...get a small sloop." He stroked her cheek lightly, smirking at her flushed face.

"We can go travellin' like ya wanted to...we can get away from your dad..."

Lucy looked up at him hopefully, "Really? What about the crew?"

"They'll understand...Hey we can even take Happy with us!"

"Aye!" The blue cat in question meowed enthusiastically.

Lucy smiled and kissed Natsu's cheek. "I'd like that..."

Lucy rested her head against Natsu's chest and closed her eyes, yawning sleepily. Natsu threaded his hands through her thick golden locks and let his eyelids drop.

"I promise Luce, I'll make it happen."

A heavy, muggy atmosphere surrounded Tenrou Island. Lucy had pulled on a shapeless, cotton dark green dress that Mira had given her. Sweat trickled down her and Levy's foreheads as they leant against the railing; watching as the island got closer. If it wasn't for the purpose of travelling to the island, Lucy would have thought they were there for another break or holiday. Even though the sun was bright in the cloudless azure sky, the lower branches of the enormous tree swayed ethereally. The sand on the beach was whiter than that of Magnolia Island and the small coves between the thick roots of the tree were dotted with rocks covered with a vibrant green moss, in fact most of the island was green; as though the whole island was a living being.

The three ships weighed anchor below the trailing green limbs; completely hidden. As they walked across the bay Natsu glanced around sniffing the air a frown on his face.

Lucy sped up and tugged at his arm, "What's wrong?"

Natsu shook his head and gave her an uneasy grin, "It smells funny...can't really put my finger on it..."

Levy frowned and tapped her chin, "Well the island is really old..."

Gajeel grunted in agreement, and then began sniffing the air himself, "Salamander's right though...this place smells funky and it's not just the heat."

The girls shrugged and looked at each other with matching puzzled expressions.

Gajeel continued sniffing, then grimaced, "Eurghh! Now this place smells like bad cologne!"

Natsu groaned and coughed loudly, "Must be those Blue Pegasus dudes. Reeking like that can't be manly!"

Gajeel snorted with derisive laughter, when Ichiya skipped across the beach, leaping at Erza in a flurry of excessive winks and posing.

"Wow. Just wow!" Levy chuckled; Lucy grinned back and leant against Natsu's shoulder.

"I know right. They're so irresistible."

Lucy raised her eyebrows suggestively at Levy who dissolved into a fit of giggles. Natsu chuckled and pressed a kiss into Lucy's hair.

"Hey now you're mine I can beat up those creeps if they try anythin' with you Luce."

An evil grin graced Natsu's face as he watched Hibiki across the bay; Lucy giggled at the nasty glint in his eyes and patted his chest warily, "Take it easy boy. You don't have to smash his face just yet...we are allies."

Natsu pouted and pulled Lucy towards the large crowd of pirates that had amassed on the beach.

Erza had taken charge of the meeting informing the crews that they had at least three days to search the island before they all had to return to Edolas. With the impending threat of the arrival of the Sabertooth crew, the pirates sat warily on the beach under the cover of large willow trees. Lucy sat with Levy by a small clump of trees pouring over a map of the island. It was covered in large red circles; highlighting the places they thought were most likely to hide and conceal treasure.

"Lucy, where do you think your mum would have hidden anything?" Levy looked up from the tarnished parchment; some small reading glasses perched on her nose.

Lucy glanced at the paper in frustration, "No. I haven't got a clue... I don't know maybe near the centre of the island..."

Levy hummed in thought and looked at the map again; tracing the plains of the paper with her finger. Lucy turned suddenly at the rustling sound behind her; Juvia sat herself down next to Lucy, her blue eyes wide and glowing in the dusk.

"Juvia...Are you alright?"

The mermaids pale skin glowed and her pupils were very large almost eclipsing the glowing blue of her irises.

"Juvia is fine...there's just a lot of mermaid magic in the air."

Lucy looked at her, mouth agape; "Wait. There's what?"

Juvia inhaled deeply and shuddered slightly as she wrapped her arms round her knees

"Charms and barriers placed by a mermaid," She inhaled again. "It's so strong...Juvia could smell it a 3 miles before we reached the island..."

Natsu sat up and stopped tickling Happy's stomach; he stepped over to Juvia and shook her shoulder.

"Is that why the island smells funny?"

Juvia nodded and rocked back and forwards slightly her eyes glowing brighter, "Juvia thinks there's a mermaid on the island...the charms wouldn't be as strong otherwise..."

Levy glanced at Lucy excitedly, "That's just like the story!"

Gray picked up the map and held it in front of Juvia. "Where could the mermaid be Juvia?"

She blinked up at him slowly and turned her head back to the map, "There!" She pointed a pale finger at the map, "Juvia thinks she would be there."

Gray leaned over Juvia's shoulder and read the label on the map, "Tetra...B-Biblios caves..."

Gajeel shrugged and leant against a palm tree, which creaked under his weight, "What the heck. Let's go...it's the best lead we've got.

They all nodded and mumbled in agreement.

"Lead the way Juvia!" Erza commanded a determined gleam in her eyes.

The mermaid nodded her blue head and clasped Gray's hand in her own, Levy rolled up the map and followed the pair down a thin jungle path. Natsu and Lucy lit several lanterns, which flickered in the growing darkness.

A grumbling cough sounded behind them.

Laxus looked down at them, "Be careful alright...I'll let Gramps know you're going."

Lucy gave him a small smile, "Thanks Laxus, we'll see you soon."

She picked up two of the Lanterns and jogged over to Gajeel who was waiting impatiently at the edge of the jungle. Natsu felt a large hand clap onto his shoulder.

"What?"

The imposing man huffed and grinned lazily at him, "I know you'll look after her. Just remember that this shit is gonna go down soon...I can feel it."

Natsu chuckled darkly and kicked a pebble across the sand, "Way to be cryptic man..."

Laxus folded his arms and huffed, "I know you don't listen ta me all the time, but just keep it in mind."

Natsu groaned and nodded reluctantly, "Fine...look I've gotta go."

He turned away and strode over to Lucy and Gajeel

"Well don't take your sweet time then."

Natsu looked over his shoulder at Laxus, "We won't. You just protect the crew."

"You got a deal Natsu!" Laxus yelled across the beach.

Natsu saluted him, before taking Lucy's hand and walking into the trees.