Sorry for the late update guys! I was drawing some art and totally lost track of the time/day! Happens when you've got the week off from being in the office, the days just slip right past you! For those of you who asked, Tempest has FOUR Acts and it's completely pre-written! So don't panic if we get a little behind on an update, the fic isn't discontinued and we haven't been set on fire or met a horrible end.
CHAPTER 15
All hands hoay
Everyone get on the deck
"Aw c'mon Levy please?" Natsu begged, "I haven't had any decent fire since the last time I saw dad!" He whined softly, "Please! Pretty please!"
"Are you sure you're as terrifying as your reputation said?" Levy teased with a laugh, "And what makes you so sure I can produce fire anyway?"
Natsu froze mid-beg, looking so comical Lucy couldn't quite smother her laughter, "What? But... you just made light for Sting!" He straightened up and waved his finger at his smug looking brother, "I saw it! And you've made other stuff! C'mon! You can't let him hog all your pretty element words!"
"Maybe she just likes me better." Sting smirked as he licked his fingers of the last of the light she'd created for him, "That was really good too."
Natsu looked torn between lunging at his brother and giving Levy the largest puppy eyes in history, and Lucy lost her battle against her laughter.
"I don't think he's going to leave you alone if you don't." She gasped between giggles.
"I doubt it!" Levy laughed, scratching the words Natsu craved through the air. The dragon let out a little roar of delight and pounced on the floating word with the eager hunger of a man starved.
"It doesn't surprise me he's so hungry for it, the only fire he can get underwater are from forming volcanoes and even then it isn't the flame itself," Juvia spoke up as she approached them. A faint smile was on her face as she watched Natsu sink his fangs into the flames.
"Oh I hadn't thought of that," Levy said thoughtfully. It was clear she hadn't really given that much thought.
"It's so good," Natsu groaned with his mouth full, flopping down on the deck and cradling the words.
"Well when you're done Natsu, we need to begin our sweep in the ocean," Juvia spoke up, eager to be gone. She didn't miss the somewhat disappointed look on Lucy's face as she watched Natsu. The dragon had his back turned to her as he finished inhaling his meal. He smacked his lips and licked the flames from his fingertips.
"Right right," Natsu got up and stretched out.
They walked over to the railing, hesitating there. Juvia waited, knowing Natsu would have to go first otherwise the spell would break with him still on the deck.
He shed off his shirt and began to unbuckle his pants. Juvia just wiggled out of her boots, bloomers and leggings. Her skirt was plenty long enough for her otherwise.
Natsu for his part wasn't nearly as covered, hoisting himself on the railing. He didn't seem to mind his state of undress, though he did turn his hips away from anyone's sight.
"Hey captain," Natsu beckoned the red faced Lucy closer to him. Reluctant to obey but not willing to make things weird between them, she complied.
From this angle she could see every tight, carved inch of him. Muscles flexed under tanned skin, rippling with the twist of his powerful shoulders. Lucy's mouth went dry at the sight, but resolutely kept her eyes focused on his.
His eyes were slanted and clever, a dark emerald like the deepest parts of the forest. Fabric fell over her shoulders, held loosely there by Natsu.
His scarf, the charm that granted him legs was looped around her shoulders. His hands were fisted in the tails of the fabric, but his eyes were open and happy on Lucy.
"This was a gift from my dad back before I was a merman, will you keep it safe for me until I get back?" Natsu asked.
"I thought you could take it with you and still transform?" Lucy asked, confused why he'd leave it behind if it was so important.
He nodded, "I just want it kept safe. The ocean is a big place you know, and I don't trust anyone else to keep it safe like you would!"
Lucy smiled at him, touched by the absolute faith he had for her, though she wasn't sure what she'd done to earn such trust, and nodded.
"I'll protect it for you as long as you promise to come back for it." She replied, "It wouldn't be right otherwise."
Natsu chuckled softly, sending a shiver down her spine as his voice took on a seductive quality. She knew it probably wasn't intentional. His voice had regained its merman strength, and the siren call was tugging at her.
"I promise." He purred, sounding like he was promising her much more than a simple return, and Lucy shivered again as he leapt overboard in a graceful arc.
She clutched his scarf tightly, resisting the urge to press her hand to her heart, and hoped she didn't look as flushed as she felt. But really! Natsu's attractiveness was illegal! It had to be!
Because there was no way she would respond to a normal man like this. She'd never even responded to Gray like this! And her first mate regularly went around without his shirt!
But... Natsu wasn't exactly a normal man was he?
It didn't matter. Hadn't she promised herself she wasn't going to do this no matter how dangerously attractive the man was?
A promise she fully intended to keep no matter how much other parts of her protested.
She shook off the new embarrassing thought and absently knotted the scarf around her waist as Juvia shot her a knowing look and dove in after Natsu.
—::—
Zeref was waiting for them when they arrived, appearing within the the palace by Juvia's magic and riding on the current. Her eyes glowed with renewed power, her body floating as if made of water itself. Seeing Juvia like how she was naturally was always enough to give Natsu pause.
Natsu grunted when he found himself enveloped in tight hugs by his older brother and sister in law. He laughed as he dropped a hand on Zeref's head, "I haven't been gone that long!"
"It's been ages!" Mavis protested, "a month and a half and no hellos with that lacrima! We heard more from Juvia than you!"
Natsu yelped as Mavis squished his cheeks together, groaning over the rough treatment, "okay sis, Sorry! I just got a little distracted!"
"He's been having an interesting couple of weeks," Juvia allowed, her face relaxing into a smile, "we both have."
"Now," she spoke sharply, her eyes glowing with purpose, "the break in the abyss. Show me where it is."
"Yes my Lady," Zeref released his brother, knowing they would have enough time to catch up later. But what they were facing was significantly more time sensitive.
They headed off at once, Mavis following at a more sedate pace as her condition would allow. Her swimming was easier, pushed along gently by Juvia who made it easier for her and the unborn heir.
They made it to the trench overlooking the Abyss, Zeref swimming back with his trident as he directed it to the darkness.
"It's kept at bay, and I sense that Tartaros is still down there," Zeref murmured, "but any attempt I make to gather the guardian creatures into their home leads me back to where I start."
Juvia approached, holding her hand out towards the darkness much like Zeref did with his trident. Her eyes closed, bubbles forming around her in a halo as she saw into the deepest part of her element.
A few seconds passed before her eyes snapped open, a horrified gasp pulling from her chest. She whirled on Zeref, a very real fear settling over her.
Natsu shifted with unease, not liking that expression on a goddess.
"It is as you feared King Alvarez, the abyssal creatures will not return to the darkness because they have nothing there to guard. They try to return to the surface because that is where their prey has gone" Juvia murmured.
Fear gripped those gathered and even Natsu, who had heard of the gates long ago before he started his piracy adventures, went frighteningly still.
"Cracks formed in the seal," Julia explained, "Very small, but just wide enough for the demon gates to slip through."
"Okay, so they're out," Natsu grunted, swimming to the edge of the abyss and staring down into its blackness, "how do we get them back in?"
"The seals were made with an ancient spear that was broken apart. The piece are located at the temples of the most powerful gods," Zeref looked at his brother, somewhat glad for his straight forward approach, "those items are found only in four places in the world."
"It takes two gods to use the magic once it's gathered, but once it's activated it should pull the gates towards the center," Juvia frowned, "however they will be expecting that. They won't want to be captured again, so their main goal will be to capture the ingredients to their destruction."
There was silence between them before Natsu cleared his throat, "I don't mean to be a downer, but why wouldn't they destroy them if they're that bad?"
The three exchanged grin looks with one another before Mavis swam forward to rest a gentle hand on Natsu's shoulder.
"Revenge," she said quietly, "that magic can be turned against the gods. A spell to capture them all in one swoop and throw them into the abyss forever."
"The only saving grace is that they need two gods to activate the spell," Juvia spoke up, "they only have one. The Destroyer."
"It's not a failsafe though," Zeref pointed out and gave Juvia a pointed look, "a human can ascend to godhood. It's rare, but if they are able to kill a god they take their mantle. Not an impossible task when a goddess is walking on land as a mortal"
"A mortal may also be elevated if a god deems them worthy." Mavis mused, "It's even more rare as few are worthy of such an honor in the eyes of the gods, but if the Destroyer were to deem one such and convince them to perform the ritual..."
Natsu felt ice clutch at his heart, "Lucy..."
Instantly three pairs of eyes focused on him.
"Lucy?" Mavis asked in confusion.
Natsu shook himself a little, "They day I left, Juvia brought us straight to Magnolia and we met back up with Lucy and her crew. We'd just joined when... when she had a meeting with her father."
He hesitated, not really wanting to explain what had happened that night. It was Lucy's business after all, and for all that he'd shamelessly eavesdropped on her, he was reluctant to tell anyone else.
"Natsu..." Zeref implored, "If this can help..."
Natsu sighed a little, "Her father had arranged a marriage for her. To the Destroyer."
"What?" Juvia staggered in shock, unable to grasp such a dump of information. Her horror was clear over the aspect of Lucy being wed to the Destroyer.
Mavis gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, "Did she accept?"
"No." Natsu replied, "She chewed her old man out and stormed out."
"Thank the gods for small mercies." Zeref breathed, "Our pirate captain is made of sterner stuff than I realized. It does lend credence to Mavis' theory though. The Destroyer may be intending to elevate Lucy to godhood and use her to activate the seals."
Natsu shook his head, "Never gonna happen." He replied confidently, "Lucy made it pretty clear she refuses to be controlled by anyone, and has no intention of marrying anyone."
"Intentions can be cast awry." Juvia murmured, "The Destroyer has attempted to take brides before. She also resisted, claiming her hand had been promised to another, but threats of destruction against her kingdom forced her to go along with it before her love could intervene. It's possible this was his intention even then."
"That just makes it even more important we collect these relics before the gates do." Mavis said calmly, a hand rubbing over her belly, "If we can get to them first then the gods can act again."
Juvia nodded, "Send word out to the other kingdoms. Alert them of what's happened and warn them that they are to prepare for war. In the meantime, Natsu and I will return to the Fairy Tail and try to enlist Captain Heartfilia's help." She sighed, "It seems I will have to reveal myself far sooner than I intended."
Juvia glanced at Natsu and took his hand so they could return to the currents. She was worried for more reasons than those she cared to voice.
A marriage proposal to Lucy.
Acnologia knew who she really was.
He knew the Celestial Princess had been born yet again. The timing of this attack could not be a coincidence. Juvia's grip on Natsu's hand tightened. She could already see her old friend beginning to fall in love with her all over again.
How could he not? They were practically made for one another, their love blessed by the goddess of love Chelia and tied together by the flames in stars.
They knew one another to the core of their being, and that was a connection that burned Acnologia with jealousy.
His love and obsession with the Celestial Princess had started long ago. Her magic, invited his longing of power. The first time the heavens bent themselves to a mortal. Her beauty was enchanting, the most alluring woman of her time. And he wanted her.
She was the mortal representation of his opposite. While he was war, she was peace. While he was wrath, she spoke kindness. Juvia suspected Acnologia's desire came from a dark place. One of possession and abuse. But most of all, he wanted her power, the one that came from the ancient stars itself.
If he got his filthy hands on Lucy, he would have destroyed her and stained all her light.
But now he knew who she was. In this lifetime, he was aware of Lucy even with all of Juvia's protections.
She had to hurry. There was too much at risk now for her to hesitate.
Natsu, who sensed Juvia's thoughts were wrapped up, said nothing. Even as she nearly yanked his arm from its socket, he rode the current back to Fairy Tail without complaint.
The goddess pushed them on without rest until they broke the surface at the ship the same day they'd left. Elfman was keeping a lookout and yelped in surprise when they suddenly appeared off the starboard bow with a great splash.
"What's the matter Elfman?" Lucy called up, alerted by his shout.
"Natsu and Juvia cap'n!" Elfman called back from the crow's nest, "They're off the starboard bow!"
"Already?" Lucy asked in surprise. They pair had left shortly after breakfast and shouldn't have been back for another day at least.
She waved to Elfman and trotted over to where the pair were swimming for the ship, "Everything alright you two?"
"You need to pull us up!" Juvia called urgently, "We have an emergency!"
Lucy blinked in surprise at that and she glanced at Gray, who was staring at them with a deep frown, "Hang tight!" She called back, "We'll drop you a line!"
She nodded at Gray and they hastily dropped a rope ladder down. Lucy hopped over the side easily and moved down the ladder to them, "Everything alright here?" She asked as she held out Natsu's talisman.
"Not even slightly." Juvia replied grimly, and Lucy blinked as she could've sworn she saw the woman's eyes glowing, "We'll explain when we're back aboard."
Lucy frowned, but nodded as she moved nimbly back up the ladder with Juvia following. Natsu took a little longer, having to awkwardly pull himself up by sheer upper strength before he was clear of the water and his legs returned. By that time Lucy and Juvia were both on deck. Once Natsu joined them Gray handed him a blanket to wrap up in, and Lucy turned her gaze on them.
"Alright, what's going on?" She asked, "I was under the impression these waters were calm if hazardous."
Juvia looked at her, "Captain, the waters around here are the least of your concerns at the moment." She said seriously, "And I need to ask for your help on a very dangerous mission."
Gray and Lucy both frowned, though for different reasons.
"What mission?" Lucy asked, "Juvia, you're already our crewmate. If there's something you need done..."
She trailed off as Juvia shook her head, "No Captain Heartfilia. I'm not asking as Juvia Lockser, your new crewmate." She straightened, somehow seeming to appear as the goddess she was despite nothing of her mortal form changing, "I'm asking as my true self. Juvia the Tempest. Goddess of the seas and all that dwell therein."
Unfortunately we didn't make our review cut off this time for a sneak peek! But thank you to everyone who reviewed, we really do appreciate it. That helps us more than you know, especially when the well of ideas begins to run dry, it helps to keep us motivated! We will see you Sunday for your update!
