Hey guys! Kytrin here with your Wednesday update! No major pre-chapter announcements, so I will let you guys get on with the story!
CHAPTER 10
Abyss
A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.
Lucy smiled broadly from the helm as Gray bellowed orders and the crew moved with a precision that would not have been out of place on proper military ships. It was a beautiful sight to see, and even more so as it meant seeing her beloved ship coming to life around her.
They'd wound up staying in Magnolia longer than she'd planned, but other than the disastrous meeting with her father nothing else had happened. Gajeel had even been in an especially good mood the next time she'd gone to see him, which she attributed entirely to Levy's presence, and had gleefully agreed to craft her new weapon without any further finagling.
Even better, they hadn't had any problems with the Fairy Tail's maintenance, though it had taken longer than she'd liked due to various lacrima and other things needing replacement. Still, she hadn't minded much. The crew had gotten a good leave, and they'd had time to properly train up the dragons and Juvia in the basics before setting sail.
Speaking of which, she chuckled a little as she caught a glimpse of Natsu nimbly scrambling over the rigging. For a former merman he had the footing of a mountain goat now that he was used to his legs. It was impressive to watch, and not for the first time she couldn't help wonder if he'd been a sailor in the past.
Rogue had told her a little about dragon traditions and how young dragons just coming into adulthood were encouraged to leave the nest for a time and explore the world. And she had to wonder if Natsu had done something like this in his younger years before the memory loss.
It would certainly explain a lot.
"Gray how's it looking?" She asked, though her experienced eye already told her everything was as ready as it would be.
"All set Captain!" Gray replied, "On your command."
Lucy's grin widened. This was by far her favorite part.
"Take us out!" She ordered crisply, "And may the Navigator guide us to adventure and plunder!"
The crew whooped and bellowed in agreement. The excitement was catching for a new adventure, and even though they all knew the sparkle would fade when they were forced to eat nothing but preserved foods after a while, nothing beat the first days out to sea after a long break.
"Where are we heading Captain?" Rogue asked from where he was standing on the main deck. He was keeping busy coiling rope from elbow to shoulder, Lucy's eyes watching with warm approval.
Dragons were certainly good multitaskers.
"Ask Levy, she's our Navigator," Lucy gave the dark twin a smirk.
Natsu's distant, wild laughter, seemingly over something she said, had Lucy glancing up at him in confusion and exasperation, but it was quenched when Juvia used the water from an old rain bucket to smack him on the rear.
Ignoring Natsu's squabbling with Juvia, and feeling a bit off by it, Lucy turned her attention back to Rogue, "Levy is the finest navigator of all the seas. You got a question on where to go she's the one to ask. She'll find it."
"And what we're looking for this time is treasure, a golden key that was stolen from my mother right after I was born," Lucy smirked, "Supposedly the pirate who took it liked golden trinkets and I intend on taking mine back. There should be enough spoils to go around in addition."
"We're heading to a cluster of islands by Clover," Levy smiled at Rogue, "They're dangerous to pass through. Legend has it we will be passing over the deepest part of the Abyssal Trench where the Ocean Goddess locked away the most evil of violators with the other gods."
"That ain't true," Sting drawled, slumping on Rogue's shoulder, "That's just a story told to frighten hatchlings!"
"Aye!" Lucy laughed, "About as likely to be true as a pirate crew being the guests of honor at a feast hosted by merfolk and dragons right?"
Levy grinned at Sting's expression, "Cap'n's got a point. There's more than a little truth to some of those old stories, and you never know just how much."
"But surely that can't be more than a story!" Sting protested, "I mean, if Tartaros and the nine demon gates were really sealed in the Abyss, there would be records of it right? That's not something people would just forget right?"
"The world has changed greatly since those times." Rogue mused thoughtfully, "If the story's true, perhaps there were records, and they were lost. Or we lost the ability to read them." He glanced at his brother, "It's not out of the realm of possibility brother. The temple on Galuna was ancient when Igneel moved the nest to it, and we've lived on it for centuries but no one can read the writing there."
Levy's expression perked up, "You live in a temple?"
Rogue blushed a little, but nodded, "Yeah. An ancient abandoned temple of the moon. Igneel found it during his Journey well over a thousand years ago. We never could discover much about the people who lived there, but we think they might've been wiped out when the volcano erupted."
"Incredible!" Levy breathed excitedly, "Your nest may be living in the last remaining temple of the lost Celestial Family! I would love to see it in person sometime!"
"Oh great," Gray drawled in amusement, "You've gone and given her a mystery! You know she won't let go 'o that now!"
Lucy smirked as her friend stuck her tongue out at Gray's back, "Well, maybe once our immediate venture's over our resident dragons won't mind a trip home. I doubt any of us'd mind a fresh supply of tropical fruits by then eh?"
"Yeah!" Sting cheered, still skeptical but turning towards Natsu, "And Igneel will skin your tail for running off without saying bye again!"
Natsu scowled at Sting, violence for his little brother contemplative on his face.
"Looks like someone is gonna get in trouble," Gray teased, this time earning himself a flying tackle by Natsu.
Gray yelped as the ballsy sailor dropped him on the deck and the two began to wrestle. Lucy just sighed and stepped over the two males bodies, catching the helm before they could be steered off course.
"Fullbuster, Sailor. Get up from the deck," She flashed them a chilling glare that caused the two to spring apart as if electrocuted
"Sorry Captain," Gray muttered, Natsu nodding like a bobble head beside the First Mate.
Lucy stepped aside to have Gray man the helm again and smirked at Natsu, "You'll just have to take your lickings from your old man, eh Sailor?"
"Suppose so Captain," Natsu grinned at her, his cheek a bit smudged with soot from where he had been cleaning out the gunpowder barrels earlier.
"What say you about the abyss Natsu, Juvia?" Lucy asked, changing the subject back to the main topic, "You mentioned the big monsters like to live down there, but what about everything else?"
Grays eyes travelled onto Juvia, whose attention snapped up to the Captain from where she was learning how to tie knots.
"Oh? The abyss?" Juvia asked quietly, her expression nervous as she glanced at Levy and Natsu. No doubt she hadn't expected to be the subject of a question. From what Natsu to gather, the goddess just liked to watch the main crew. It seemed to be her only focus, and being pushed into the conversation seemed to throw her off in a way that confused her.
"The abyss and the stuff in it is real enough, so I don't see why the other stuff in it can't be either." Natsu broke in, saving Juvia from answering, "Zeref'd be the one to ask though."
"You must know a lot about it too, right Juvia?" Gray asked her, causing the goddess to squeak and turn completely red in the face.
"W-what? Eh-why would you say that?" She stammered, looking so panicked that Natsu almost felt sorry for her.
Gray raised an eyebrow at her, his expression incredulous when he stared at her, "Well you're named after the Goddess of the Sea's true name. Your parents must have been very devout acolytes."
"Right, Juvia knows a lot. She studied magic in the temples," Natsu hedged, knowing she was in a corner, but also seeing a way to work this to his advantage. He smirked a bit and glanced at the disguised goddess, wondering if he could wiggle out some more information on his past from the secretive woman. If there was one thing he knew about pirates, is that they loved a good tall tale, "She knows all the best stories about all sorts of things!"
Juvia shot Natsu a glare for the mischief, knowing now by the expression of pure elation on the pirates faces that she was in trouble.
For all Natsu's smokescreens, it put her in a spotlight. Pirates loved stories almost more than treasure.
Levy pressed her palm against her eyes in dismay, but Gray's face lit up with Lucy.
"You know stories of The Lady?" Gray asked eagerly, it was clear it was a favorite subject for him, "And the quests of the gods?"
"Yes, The abyss is so mysterious! We will have to hear some tales!" Lucy insisted.
Juvia stared at their eager expressions, aware that all the crew within earshot had at least cocked an ear for the impending story, and sighed. This was all Natsu's fault, and she was going to get him for it.
"Alright." She surrendered, deciding she might as well do so gracefully before the pirates could dig any deeper, and smiled, "I do know a number of tales about the gods. I was never a priestess or anything, but..."
"That's okay!" Lucy grinned, "We don't need scripture stories or anything. Just the fact you'll have new material is good enough!"
There were a few nods around and despite her annoyance at Natsu, Juvia felt her heart warm at the display of devotion. These people followed her yes, but it was the first time in a long time she'd seen such genuine interest in her outside of the merfolk.
It was nice.
She smiled a bit more and settled herself comfortably onto a crate, "Well, I'm not about to use up my store of good stories all in one go." She grinned, "But I think I can spare one before Miss Cana comes after my head!"
There was a round of raucous laughter and jibbing at Cana, who was unashamedly perched on a barrel listening.
"An' don't you forget it missy!" She called back, causing more laughter.
Juvia laughed softly, "Alright... since we were talking about the abyss, I'll start there. Long ago, when both the gods and the children of man were young, the world was a far different place. It was wild and primal in a way we no longer see today. The magic that had been used to shape the world still shimmered through the air and mighty wizards and gods walked side by side without restriction."
She smiled at her enraptured audience, "It was an era where all things were possible, but it was not without its dangers. For in those days, the demon gates also walked the earth. None but the gods know from whence they came, but their impact was felt by all because no matter where they went... the world burned."
"Flying above land and sea both in their mystical ship Tartaros they spread their chaos and destruction intending to burn the world of all life and start anew with a world in their own image. And they the gods of it."
Down below them in the depths of the sea, beneath where the oblivious pirates were enjoying their story, the kings of the Seven Seas gathered in the Alvarez currents.
"They commanded legions of all matter of monsters," Juvia continued, "The leader of Tartaros gathered the strongest of those around by his side, vowing to rip the pantheon down and force the gods to their knees."
"How were they stopped?"
The kings argued angrily between themselves, water cutting in hot jets between the royalty. It was chaos and Zeref observed the unfolding madness with a creased brow.
The situation was beginning to deteriorate. It had been several weeks since the monsters fled the abyss, and it was all the kings could do to keep the situation contained and force them down temporarily into their dark home.
"These creatures are causing trouble and are attacking our people!" One of the kings bellowed, angry over the injustice. Zeref's eyes followed the argument as another sea king rose in challenge.
"The monsters cannot be hunted down as you imply! They're sacred animals! They must be protected and guided back to the abyss!"
"They're an infestation!"
"I think the wrong question is being asked," Zeref spoke, his soft voice holding enough force to quiet the room. His dark eyes were heavy on his gathered peers.
"And what question is that Alvarez?" The first king sneered.
Zeref leaned back, his fingers curling together and tucking under his chin.
He let the silence fill the room while he collected his thoughts. Slowly, a huff of bubbles dragged from his lungs.
"I believe we should be wondering what has driven them from their home en mass," Zeref said calmly.
The implication that even the fearsome Leviathan would flee from its territory hung over them.
"All the gods of old and new gathered together, pooling their magic to crack open the very earth. Tartaros became a prison to the nine demon gates, buried in the earth and wrapped in the darkness of the sea so they would never know the light again."
"The abyss would be home to monsters and creatures of the deep, the kind meant to keep those gates closed and protect the surface from the encroaching darkness unleashed from Tartaros."
"Guardians of sorts."
"You can't seriously believe the demons of Tartaros are stirring can you?" One of the kings asked at length, incredulity and a touch of fear coloring his tone, "Zeref, those are stories! The monsters of the abyss are just that... monsters. You don't honestly believe they're meant to protect something far more dangerous do you?"
Zeref met his counterpart's eyes calmly, "I do."
Shouts of disbelief and scoffing sounded around the table at that. Zeref simply sat through it without reacting, watching the reactions around the table carefully.
"You have reason to believe this." One of the younger members spoke up, a queen rather than a king, and one who until now had been silent. Zeref smiled benevolently at her and nodded.
"I do Lady Yukino." He confirmed. The beautiful young monarch wasn't technically one of them. Royal blood did not run directly through her veins, but since the tragedy that had taken her husband from her, and left their small son the only heir to the throne, she'd stepped forward as queen regent and solemnly accepted the burden of the crown until her son was of an age and experience to bear it himself.
Altogether, Zeref thoroughly approved of her. Particularly since her territory bordered his to the north, and she'd proved much more receptive to friendly relations than her late husband.
"What reasons do you have?" She asked, a small smile playing across her lips.
"For one, the goddess has stirred." He replied evenly, and held up his hand against the shouting sure to follow, "Don't try to deny it. I'm sure you all felt it the same as I did."
The others subsided at that and one of the the southern queens frowned, "There be no denyin' the truth of your words Zeref, but the goddess stirrin' don't mean a problem wit' de seals."
Zeref inclined his head politely, "You are, of course, correct. However, the timing is no coincidence, and we all know the stories of what happens if she were to leave the ocean even for a short time. The seals will weaken. This very situation was why the goddess bestowed power of the abyss onto the royal lines."
"Aye but the power of the abyss has never before had to be invoked. The demon gates could only escape their seals with powerful outside help," Yukino spoke up, somewhat reasonably to subdue the panic at the table, "There are none that would risk bringing that calamity back to this world."
Zeref shook his head, his dark eyes thoughtful and wishing Mavis was with him now. His clever wife was always three steps ahead of everyone in the room.
Still he couldn't begrudge the natural question. It was the correct one to ask after all.
"I'm not convinced that's true," Zeref responded. He looked up, his eyes traveling over the expanse of their meeting halls ceiling.
"There remains one god among others to stand something to gain from the release of the gates," Zeref spoke. The very one who he had suspected created the demons in the first place.
He didn't have to speak his name for those gathered to know whom he referred.
The Destroyer.
Acnologia.
"But It's said when the sea boils and darkness escapes the abyss, the gates will once more return to bring about an age of war and suffering."
Above, back on the deck of the Fairy Tail, Natsu let out a low whistle as Juvia's story came to an end. The crew all sat in awe, utterly amazed by the story no one had heard before.
It came as no surprise to Natsu, he would wager there was plenty of information the gods knew that humans weren't privy to. Legends of the sea only Juvia knew and perhaps the Abyssal Royals.
There were a few moments of silence before Lucy shifted and grinned as she began clapping. It was quickly picked up by the others and in moments there were whistles and cheers all around as the crew gave an enthusiastic, if somewhat disjointed, ovation.
"That was great!" Lucy praised her happily, "Keep that up and we'll wind up making you our new official storyteller!"
There was laughter and approving cheers all around before the gathered crew began breaking up to return to their various tasks.
"You really liked it that much?" Juvia asked in mild surprise.
"You bet!" Gray grinned at her as he carefully spun the wheel to keep their course steady, "That was amazing. I'd never even heard of that story!"
The compliment had Juvia blushing and Lucy laughed, "Back to work you scurvy dogs." She scolded fondly, and took over for Gray at the wheel, "Maybe, if you're lucky, Juvia'll be inclined to give us an encore at dinner."
Juvia smiled at that and nodded. It was still strange for her to be taking orders from anyone, let alone a mortal, but her impulse to rebel was lessening the longer it lasted. Despite her initial misgivings Lucy had proved herself scrupulously fair and astonishingly likable. Had the reborn princess always been this way?
She wasn't really sure. She'd granted the princess's line protection on an instant. Something to lash out at Acnologia with in her grief and pain. And she'd never really cared what happened after that.
She was surprised to find herself caring now, Lucy reminded her of someone she once knew… a long time ago when the world was still so very young.
Lucy was a firm taskmistress, an attitude reflected by her senior crewmates, but Juvia found herself respecting that rather than becoming smothered under it. Nothing more was demanded of her than any other member of the crew, and though a small part of her chafed a little at the lack of respect due a goddess, she could hardly fault the mortals for treating her like one when she was intentionally disguised as one.
It was an interesting contradiction, but one she found she rather liked. It was nice not being a goddess for a while, and she'd found herself settling into her mortal skin far more quickly than she'd expected.
Of course, it didn't hurt that Lucy and Gray looked at each other like siblings and nothing more.
Her lips twitched a little in a smile as she absently checked her boomerangs and got back to work.
-::-
Natsu braced his forearms on the railing, his expression neutral as he stared out at the sea. He was on the early morning shift, where the sky was still dark and only just beginning to lighten.
He listened to the sound of the waves splashing against the sides, fighting the urge to kick off his boots and jump into the ocean.
There was a strong itch to stretch his tail out into the current, the sensation of being able to choose the direction he wanted to move in was a feeling he missed.
They had dropped anchor just off the edge of The Clover islands, their ship stopped a safe distance from the craggily rocks and sharp cliff faces.
Natsu observed the water currents, seeing them in a way only one of Lady Juvia's creatures could. The waves were strong, and capable of smashing a ship like theirs into the cliff face.
It was no doubt made worse by the buildup of ships buried beneath the ocean. Natsu wanted to dive beneath the surface to check himself, but Juvia gave him a dark glare whenever he looked longingly over the edge.
It wouldn't bother her if he jumped into the water, but it would make the charm a little hard to explain. Juvia didn't much care to explain herself after all.
"All clear Sailor?" A soft voice drifted to him in the morning air. Natsu straightened towards the person, a smile glowing over his face as he saw Lucy standing before him and looking perfect.
"Aye Captain," he replied.
"Don't let the sea call you over the side Natsu, ye never know how long it'll take to pull you from the ocean," Lucy eyed him, her expression critical when she swayed to him.
"Not to worry captain." Natsu assured her, "I worked hard to get my legs and I don't plan to give them up now. No matter how much I want to take a swim."
Lucy cocked her head at him curiously, "Why did you go to Juvia for legs?" She asked, "If you don't mind me asking that is. You've never really said, and well... if just getting your legs again was your goal surely you could've done it before now?"
Natsu regarded her thoughtfully for a moment, "I did it for you cap'n."
"You what?" Lucy yelped in surprise. Her heart gave a traitourous beat that had her almost stammering. She stared at Natsu, who didn't seem to pick up on her shock, "Me?"
Natsu nodded seriously, "Ever since we met I've felt this weird tug in my head around you. Like you're important somehow, but I can't remember how." He shook his head a little, "I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. After the feast, when you left, I felt like the strongest connection to my past had just sailed away, and I just knew I had to find you again."
Lucy frowned a little, "But... how could I be related to your past?" She asked, "That was four hundred years ago right?"
Natsu nodded, "Aye it was, and I have no idea how you're connected. I just feel like you are." He grinned at her, "Maybe you just remind me of someone I knew back then."
"So you asked Juvia for help so you could find me and maybe your answers?" Lucy asked curiously, and Natsu nodded.
"Pretty much." He grinned broadly at her, "It doesn't hurt you're so nice too!"
Lucy felt her cheeks heat a little at the artless compliment, and couldn't quite stop herself from smiling back at him, "Flattery will get you nowhere sailor."
Natsu's grinned broadened, "It ain't flattery if it's true cap'n."
Lucy huffed a little, though he could tell she was pleased by the compliment, "Well keep your flattering tongue to yourself for a while!" She nodded at the approaching gauntlet, "We've got more important things to worry about now."
Natsu snapped a little more to attention, "Aye cap'n!" He paused, "Do you really think we'll find your treasure here?"
"Oh we will." Lucy growled darkly, her earlier good mood vanishing, "The dog that stole that key had his base here before he and his crew were killed. He thought he was secure since he was the only one who could navigate these rocks safely. We're going to prove him wrong.
And that's it for the chapter! I want to give a quick shout out to all of our reviewers from last chapter, you guys rocked it hard, and we love you dearly for it! Alas you didn't quite make the 30 review goal so there won't be a preview this chapter, but I'm real hopeful you'll get one next chapter. Until then we love you and we'll see you on Sunday!
