Makarov tugged at his moustache in anguish. Typical! Bloody typical! Why now!? He glared through his telescope at the lone ship on the horizon. He could imagine the smug look on that sea witch's face, that grumpy cow! Let it be known that Makarov definitely loved the beautiful forms of women, but he could not stand that one or anyone for that matter who purposely brought harm to his kids. They were beyond his redemption and he would make Sabertooth pay.

He stood on a tall root, overlooking the pirates running frantically across the beach to take cover from the inevitable attack. He could only hope that Lucy found whatever Layla had hidden soon so they could finish this as quickly as possible. Makarov watched Gildarts adjusting his armour and sharpening a very heavy looking sword. Laxus barked orders at the pirates taking cover behind the tree roots.

"Let's get moving! We haven't got long!"

"PREPARING FOR BATTLE IS MANLY!"

Evergreen cringed as she arranged some throwing knives, wishing she could throw one at the loud hulking pirate standing atop a tree root. Mira and Lisanna groaned at their brother and watched the Sabertooth ship come ever closer.

The scowling mermaid propped her chin up on her fists and frowned at Lucy.

"Ya finally show up after eight years and all you can do is gape at me and cry! Speak up brat! It's not like I waited here for nothing!"

Lucy blinked back her tears and shook her head, "I'm sorry!"

Aquarius snorted derisively and raised her blue eyebrows. Lucy shrank back and whispered, "I-I...thought y-you were...dead."

The angry flush left the mermaid's face.

"...Oh." She replied gruffly, tossing her blue hair over her shoulder; "That was highly possible..."

She flipped her tail lazily, "But here I am. Waiting. Lonely. Having escaped the noose..."

Natsu looked puzzled and voiced the question everyone had been thinking. He nudged Lucy gently; "Do you know her Luce?"

Lucy nodded sagely while Aquarius narrowed her eyes evilly at Natsu.

"Well duh! Brat who is this pink-haired moron?"

Natsu spluttered in protest only to be elbowed hard by Lucy.

"This is Natsu. He's my boyfriend."

Aquarius flinched at the word 'boyfriend' and scoffed, looking round at the rest of the Pirates gathered in the cave. Juvia hid behind Gray, clinging on to his waist nervously, while Levy was propped up on Gajeel's shoulders and Erza stared intently back at her. Aquarius scowled and turned back to Lucy,man angry tick in her forehead.

"I see how it is..." She spat, dangerously.

"You turn up now to show off your dumb boyfriend, when I haven't seen mine in years!"

Lucy glared back and crossed her arms; "No! You're being unreasonable! I didn't even know you had a boyfriend!"

Aqaurius's tail swished furiously, "I miss Scorpio so much! I haven't been able to see him in ages all because you took your sweet time getting here, you selfish brat!"

Lucy fumed, her fists trembling; it was at that time Erza decided to stop watching the volatile conversation and direct it to the matter at hand.

"Lucy. Kindly tell us who this mermaid is."

Aquarius smirked and pursed her lips at the angry look on Lucy's face.

"This is Aquarius," Lucy hissed; "My mother's friend and crew mate."

Lucy looked around at the raised eyebrows on her friend's faces along with the gaping of Natsu's jaw. Lucy rolled her eyes and flicked his jaw hard.

"Ow!" He pouted and rubbed his jaw.

"Really?" Gray cocked his head and glanced nervously at Aquarius, "That's the mermaid guarding your mother's treasure?"

"Yes" Aquarius spat, tersely; "And I've done a bloody good job!"

"We are very grateful." Ezra stated her arms crossed; "but we do not have long. Where is Layla's treasure?"

The hull of the ship brushed against the soft sand of the cove; Minerva smirked, listening to the shouts and cries of the Pirates on the shore.

"Weigh Anchor! And prepare to fight, we must find Heartfilia's daughter."

"Aye Captain!"

Sting looked over to the cove and frowned, "Unless there's gold on that Island the crew isn't going to be happy."

Minerva scowled and turned to him with a snarl curling her lips; "you don't get to question me. I am you're Captain!"

Sting glared back and crossed his arms, "I was just saying! You might want to take the crew's opinion into account. It's all of us against you."

He shrank back at the dangerous smile on Minerva's face, as she stepped closer; "I don't need the crews approval and I don't need to be loved to get unwavering support."

Sting bit back his retort and scowled at the Captain. She turned away; a triumphant bro on her face.

"You'd better follow my orders first mate, or you'll never see that white haired hussy again."

Sting strode away, trying to stop his his hands from shaking, by balling them into fists. If only he were Captain, then things would be very different.

Ha ha! I managed to write this without a laptop! So sorry if there's any grammar issues. I'm also working on a new Nalu AU so I'll start posting that soon hopefully when I get home from my holiday. Happy reading and thank you for the reviews and follows.

Tsukki086