It's Monday!
Fun fact for you guys...in my original draft, Gajeel wasn't one of the good guys! Meredy was supposed to be Juvia's only friend. One of the things that had always bothered me about Disney's take on The Little Mermaid was that Ariel came off as Poor Spoiled Rich Girl to me. (Maybe it's just me...?) I didn't want that angle for Juvia, because I wanted her to have really good reasons for being dissatisfied with life under the sea...like being part of a pointless war and having few friends (compared to how friendly and fun the humans seem to be). I don't remember exactly why I changed my mind and brought him back...(This story has been finished since January...so it's been a while.) But with as much as everyone is appreciating Gajeel it sounds like I made the right choice? :)
guest: I'm with you! Not only is Juvia heartbroken, she's literally watching her time tick away. But I feel really bad for Gray too. He's a brooder and the guilt has to be destroying him right now. Then there's Lucy. And Natsu. I sort of want to shed a tear for all of them...and I hope you do too. ;) Thanks!
guest: lol! You're not the only one who wants to smack Jude around...can you imagine what Natsu wants to do to him? XD Thanks!
darling spider: Fun, yes? I don't remember Gajeel and Meredy ever speaking to each other in the anime so it's kind of fun that their chemistry works out here. :)
- K. Chandler
"I don't like this." Natsu scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. He couldn't understand how Cana could be blind to how wrong all of this was!
"Natsu…"
"Seriously, think about it. First, he says he's marrying Lucy. Then he's inviting Erza Knightwalker to his wedding! And he doesn't say a word to us about it!" Natsu snapped, gesturing wildly.
"Natsu, would you leave it alone?" groaned Cana. "Gray's a big boy. He can do whatever he wants."
They were discussing the latest gossip with Levy, hoping to get her perspective on recent happenings.
"I'm telling you. Something just doesn't smell right here!" Natsu insisted.
"What are you, a dog now?"
"You know what I mean. It doesn't make any sense."
"I'll tell you what doesn't make any sense," said Levy. "The prince is being poisoned. Maybe for a week. Meanwhile, we've got not one, but two strange girls wandering around the castle."
"Who's strange?" asked Natsu.
"Juvia and Lucy," said Cana.
Natsu shot his crewmate an incredulous look. "Lucy's not strange. And if you think she likes to poison people, you're out of your mind!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it," said Levy, holding up her hands placatingly. "I just meant that she only arrived at the castle recently."
"About a week ago," said Cana, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Guys, come on," said Natsu, shaking his head.
"You have to admit, it's awfully convenient," said Cana.
"What about Juvia?" challenged Natsu. "I think she's the suspicious one. I mean, she just shows up on the beach in her underwear and no one thinks that's strange?"
"Juvia is probably the nicest girl I've ever met." Cana shook her head. "She wouldn't do something like that."
"How can you be sure?"
"I just know, okay? She's not the type," insisted Cana.
"And you think Lucy is?" There was no way somebody like Lucy, who couldn't even stand up to her own father, was capable of trying to kill someone.
"We're still missing something," said Levy, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "What are we missing?"
"What would have happened if the prince had died that night? Who would have taken the throne?" asked Cana.
"Now, that's an interesting question," said Levy, standing up. She started toward the bookshelf.
Natsu followed wordlessly, retrieving the ladder for the Levy. He wasn't in the mood to have another encyclopedia or whatever dropped on his skull.
Levy climbed the ladder that Natsu had wheeled over, browsing one of the upper shelves. "As you know, our prince is an only child. He's also single. What does that mean to you?"
"The pompous jerk can't get a girl because he's got no personality," suggested Natsu, grinning cheekily.
"That there's no clear heir," said Cana.
"Exactly!" said Levy, returning to the table. She slammed down a thick tome entitled Genealogy of Fiore's Nobility, flipping it open to a family tree. "The question now becomes: who would be the next in line?"
"It's not Gray, is it?" asked Natsu.
"Maybe," said Levy. She traced one of the branches with her finger. "He and the prince are cousins on his father's side. Now, Captain Fullbuster isn't the prince's only cousin. The Milkovich family also had a daughter." Levy tapped the page.
"That's Gray's step-sister, Ultear of Isvan," said Cana.
"That's right. Normally, the captain would be next in line, being both older and male. The rules of succession are pretty clear about that. However…"
"However?" asked Natsu, looking at Levy. He wasn't quite sure where this discussion was going, but Cana seemed to. Natsu couldn't hide his surprise, staring as the two women talked about politics and succession as if they were discussing something as ordinary as the weather.
"The captain is the Milkovich's adopted son," supplied Cana, her eyes lighting up.
"Exactly!" said Levy. "Lady Ultear's the only one who actually has noble blood. So that actually puts her closer to the prince. Not to say that there aren't other contenders."
"Like who?" asked Cana.
"The Dreyar family, for one," said Levy. She pointed at another part of the diagram. "This is Archduke Ivan and his son Laxus. They aren't closely related to Prince Lyon, and the connection is maternal, a few generations back."
"I've heard about them. They're dangerously ambitious," Cana pointed out with a frown.
Levy nodded. "There's a decent chance one of them would make a play for the crown, even though their claim to it isn't particularly strong." Levy flipped the page. "There's also these two. The Lord Ichiya and his nephew Hibiki Lates from the House of Pegasus. Very popular with the people in midlands. If either of them was serious about being in charge, they would be popular choices."
"I don't think either of them are they're likely to make a bid for the throne," said Cana.
"You're probably right," said Levy.
"So, who does that leave us with?" asked Natsu. "Just Gray and his step-sister, right?" asked Natsu, looking to Cana for confirmation.
Cana nodded. "Sounds about right. What are the odds that the attempt on Lyon's life was meant to put Gray on the throne?"
"That could be," said Levy. "But it's only one possibility," she added.
Cana seemed satisfied with that. After thanking her for her help, Natsu and Cana headed back towards the Officers' Quarters, where they had both been staying while they were stuck in Akane.
"Hey, Cana? How did you know all that stuff?" asked Natsu.
"What stuff?"
"All that political stuff? About Gray and all those other rich people? Like, I knew he was Lyon's cousin and stuff, but the rest about his sister…"
"I didn't always," said Cana with a shrug. "But I started paying attention when Gray started spending more time at our house. It's just something you pick up."
"I know you guys knew each other since you were kids," started Natsu. "I mean, that's why you always make a point to call him Captain after you slip-up and call him Gray, right?"
"Kids might be stretching it," said Cana. "We weren't that young. Although I did know him from before, when he used live with me and my dad."
"How does that work with him being adopted and all? He always told me that he grew up on the other side of the kingdom. In Isvan?"
"Lady Milkovich may have adopted him, but I guess that wasn't the sort of life he wanted. That, or maybe he's always had a thing for the ocean. Either way, he was pretty young when he left Isvan and came to Akane to join the Navy. He actually started out as a deckhand on my dad's ship, The Cornelia," said Cana with a fond smile. "Whenever they were in port, dad always let Gray stay with us. He didn't really have anywhere else to go and we had a spare room."
"That makes sense. So, I didn't know your dad's a captain," said Natsu.
"Was," said Cana.
Natsu cringed. "Oh. Sorry…"
"Oh, no, he's still alive," interrupted Cana hastily. "He's just not a captain anymore."
"Guess that's why I never heard of a Captain Alberona. Did he retire?"
"He was…he was promoted," said Cana shortly. "And it's Clive, actually. Alberona's my mother's name."
"Promoted?" echoed Natsu, counting ranks on his fingers. "But that would make him… at least an admiral."
An admiral?
Natsu frowned. "Wait. Hang on. You're Rear Admiral Clive's daughter?!" he shouted.
"Shhh! Not so loud!" hissed Cana, shoving him in the arm. She ducked her head, looking around anxiously.
"Sorry…" groaned Natsu. "But seriously, how did I not know this? You've never mentioned any of this before," he complained.
"I probably haven't," said Cana.
"How come? I mean that's pretty cool." He couldn't imagine why anyone would want to distance themselves from their dad. Natsu only had a few precious memories of his own father. Cana didn't know how lucky she was.
"Not really," said Cana, looking away.
"But your dad's, like, awesome," insisted Natsu.
Cana's father had been Natsu's hero growing up. Everyone had heard of the legendary Gildarts Clive. He was actually one of the reasons Natsu had decided to join the Navy.
"That's the problem. I mean, what would people think when they find out Admiral Clive's daughter is a washed-up drunk?" sighed Cana. "That's why I enlisted as Cana Alberona. I love my dad. And I'm proud of him. I don't want to be a burden to him."
Natsu frowned. "You're not a washed-up drunk, Cana. I mean, who keeps all of us together when Captain Show-off bites off more than he can chew?"
"Everyone needs a little help sometimes. Even Gray," said Cana with a shrug, even though she was smiling fondly.
"I think this is one of those times," said Natsu seriously. "He's in way over his head, Cana."
"We've got to put our trust in Gray," said Cana. "You should know by now that he always has a plan."
"Yeah, and do you remember where that got us last time?" muttered Natsu. The image of Gray getting swallowed by the looming conflagration of the Fairy Tail was permanently etched in his memory.
Cana frowned, probably picturing the same thing.
"You know I'm right," Natsu insisted.
Cana let out a reluctant huff. "I guess we'll have to keep an eye on him."
"Like always."
I'm pretty sure Ultear is the older one in canon, but it fit the narrative here and it simplifies the political discussion, and we never mention it again. Same with some of the theories and political complexities. I didn't bring up any of these ideas earlier because this isn't a whodunnit or a political thriller. I did still want to point out that in-universe, this problem is fairly complex because of all the players and possibilities.
I decided to take the less angsty route with Natsu because he's so happy-go-lucky. He doesn't seem like the type to brood and dwell, but this whole Gray marrying Lucy thing has to be eating at him. I just imagine him expressing his disappointment in a less depressing way than the others. That, and Gray's still his commander. The whole power-balance thing makes it hard to pick a real fight like he would in canon.
I love the idea of Cana being pro-Juvia. The interaction they share in the Battle of Fairy Tail arc speaks volumes to me and I wanted to capture some of that trust and support here. But, unlike Natsu, she's not too bent out of shape about Gray's fake marriage, because she's also pro-Whatever-Makes-Gray-Happy. We know that that's Juvia. But Cana doesn't know that; she can't read Gray's mind and his ruse has been pretty convincing.
Next time, in Silence, we bring back the angst! Poor Lucy is struggling too: Her father had always told her what she would do and how she should act. There was never room for her opinions, her dreams.
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
