Hey guys! Kytrin here with the Wednesday update! A couple things at the end of the chapter, but for now enjoy the story!


CHAPTER 18

Fire in the Hole

Warning given to crew before a cannon is fired


Gajeel stiffened and he looked down at the blond captain glaring at him, "What? I built that ship. Ain't weird to have her symbol on me."

Lucy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, looking distinctly unimpressed, "Pull the other one, it's got bells on it." She growled, "There's no reference to that mark anywhere in the histories and legends. Natsu himself had to explain what the mark was and its significance. Now what the hell is going on here?"

"Uh, Lu..." Levy interjected, "Maybe this isn't the best place to talk about this?" She gestured around them.

"Where would we go? The place is packed." Lucy protested, "You know the only private areas will be the inner sanctum and the dormatories, and we're not allowed there."

"Not unless you're given permission by the goddess to be there I know." Levy sighed and shook her head, "I'm still a part of this temple Lu, and I can easily give you permission. I promise no one will protest."

Lucy raised a skeptical eyebrow at that, but didn't get a chance to protest as Levy gave Gajeel a speaking look and promptly grabbed Lucy's wrist and dragged her through the crowd.

"Wait! Levy are you sure about this?" Lucy squeaked as they pushed past worshipers towards the inner sanctum only to dig her heels in as they came up to the glowing lines of script magic that separated the goddess's rooms from everyone else, "Levy stop! We're not clergy!"

"I give you permission." Levy intoned in an oddly formal way and to Lucy's shock they crossed the threshold without so much as a bump.

Levy dropped Lucy's hand and gestured to a row of long seats for them to settle. Natsu didn't even bat an eye over it, just flopping down on the cushy chairs and spreading out.

"Sit down Lucy it's real cozy!" He cheered to her.

"Hey, show some respect ya runt! You're in the inner sanctum! Get yer grubby feet off the goddess's chair." Gajeel grumbled, but with more exasperation than anything else.

Lucy squeezed her fingers to the bridge of her nose and pointed at Gajeel. She wasn't so happy about catching Gajeel in a lie, but at least they would be given privacy when she tore into him. However, there was a more pressing issue first.

"Natsu, tell me the truth, do you know Gajeel?" She instead turned her attention onto the man who hadn't budged from his spot.

Natsu glanced at Lucy, his expression neutral. His eyes narrowed and slowly sat up, supporting himself with one hand.

He said nothing at first, his eyes flashing over to Gajeel who merely nodded. Natsu sighed and dragged a hand through his bangs, "Yeah. Gajeel was part of my crew. He's a dragon, made my sword and the original Fairy Tail."

"I was also a demi-god, born to Metalicana. When the Fairy Tail went under, it was the only thing that barely saved my life. My old man saved me." Gajeel shrugged, "I ascended after that over one reason or 'nother. Not a big story to tell."

"So you're a god," Lucy filled in the blanks, her eyes wide. Her fingers curled into fists and gave Natsu an irate glare, "Did you know all this?"

"Please don't be mad Lu." Levy burst out, looking very worried. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at her, "We never liked keeping it a secret."

"We?" Lucy asked and her eyes widened as the rest of the pieces clicked into place, "You have got to be kidding me!" She screeched, "You're actually the Navigator?!"

Levy winced a little and Lucy felt something in her snap, "What the hell Levy?!" She shouted, "We've been friends since I was eleven! I stopped some of the older students from bullying you when we met! And all this time you...!"

"Lu I'm sorry!" Levy protested, looking upset, "I didn't want to keep the secret from you, but I had to! It's one of our rules. Gods aren't permitted to reveal themselves to mortals except when they're answering a prayer or under very special circumstances."

Lucy deflated a little, though that didn't lessen her glare any, and sat down, "Why?"

"Why can't we tell?" Levy smiled a little sadly, "Or why did I befriend you?" She sat down next to her friend and took her hands, "Because you needed a friend."

"I... you heard that?"

"Of course I did Lu!" Levy chuckled softly, "We hear every prayer that comes our way. Just... most of them we can't do anything about." She looked up into her friend's eyes, "But you... you were different. You had so much pain in your heart even then. So much hurt and anger. And you were so very lonely. I remember your prayers when you first got here, but there was nothing I could do to answer them. And then they changed."

Lucy ducked her head at the memory, "I asked for a friend." She murmured, "If I couldn't get rid of my father, or have my mother back, I wanted to at least have a friend."

Levy nodded, "Your father is protected by the Destroyer. And he's not a god I could ever hope to go against and win. And you are the last of the Heartfilia's in any case. So there was nothing I could do about your circumstances." She smiled, "But a friend... that was a prayer I could answer."

Lucy felt her throat close around the lump that had risen in it. She remembered the day they met so vividly. How she'd helped the awkwardly shy bookworm out, and the tentative, but easy, friendship that has sprung up between them over their shared love of books. Levy had been the one to help ease the hurt in her, and she'd lost track of the times she'd cried on her friend's shoulder over the years.

It had been Levy who had introduced her to Cana and Gray. Levy who had wheedled Gajeel into constructing the Fairy Tail when her first ship had barely limped into port after a bad raid. Her steadfast friend had helped her navigate far more than just the ocean, and the sudden feeling of gratitude was overwhelming.

Unable to express herself any other way, she reached out and pulled Levy into a tight hug, "Thank you." She whispered hoarsely, "Thank you."

Levy hiccuped a bit on a watery laugh as she hugged Lucy tightly back in return. She ducked her head on Lucy's shoulder, "You're welcome." She choked back, glad to finally have told her secret.

Natsu grinned at the interaction, happy that Lucy's anger had mellowed out in the face of the truth.

"There are plenty of secrets that are left. Some of which not even we know the full scope of." Gajeel murmured. His hand drifting over the mark on his shoulder, "But I can tell you some things. Main thing is, I was sent by the Titania and Gramps to help you in stopping the Destroyer."

Levy gasped and looked at Gajeel, her eyes wide, "But Gajeel! The last time you went against Acnologia, he kill—"

"Yeah, well I was an idiot fer goin' after him myself after the Fairy Tail went down." Gajeel interrupted, "I was just lucky Gramps was there to knock him down a couple o' pegs."

"What I can tell you though Lucy, is he's fixated on you for some reason." Gajeel grunted, his eyes locking on the blond woman, "It ain't the first time either he's been locked on a woman. He's never gotten what he's wanted though, but it seems like this time he's not interested in losin'."

"Tell me something I don't know." Lucy huffed, "Juvia said much the same when she started us on this insane quest."

"Then you know he's never gotten what he wants." Gajeel rumbled, "Last time it was Juvia interferin', the time before that it was the Spirit King and his Champion. He's tired of the gods interfering with what he thinks belongs to him. And he's playin' for keeps."

His eyes cast over to Natsu, who was frowning and staring up at the ceiling.

"That makes him all the more dangerous." Levy looked down at her hands, "I can guide you to the temples certainly, but Lu I don't want to."

"What, but why not!" Lucy demanded, not having expected a refusal from the goddess, "This could be the end of the world! The end of you and Gajeel!"

"It could also be the end of you Lucy!" Levy argued back, "The closer you get to this, the closer you get to the Destroyer!"

Lucy frowned and stared at her friend for a long moment. She could understand Levy's position. She really could. She wouldn't want to risk her friends either. Wasn't that why she'd initially refused to just go along with Juvia's request? Wasn't that why she was insisting on allowing a little fun before the embarked on their quest?

But she couldn't let the world burn without trying to save it. She'd given Juvia her word, and nothing was more precious to her than that.

And besides...

"Maybe it's time I confronted him then." She said slowly, and met Levy's horrified look with all the steel of the pirate captain she was, "I mean it."

"Lu, you don't know what you're saying!" Levy protested, "He's the god of war and destruction! If he gets his hands on you..."

Lucy scowled, "And I won't let him touch me." She growled fiercely, "I told my father that I would not be controlled by anyone, man or god, and I meant it. Whatever course my life leads I will chart it myself, and this is no different."

"But Lu!"

Lucy shook her head, "I'm sorry Levy, but even if I was willing to hide away from him in fear for the rest of my life I've given my word to Juvia. I can't abandon this quest. I won't." She scowled, "And anyway, he and I have unfinished business."

"You can't seriously mean to confront him about that?" Levy asked, "He could kill you with a snap of his fingers!"

"Technically so you could you." Lucy pointed out dryly, and shook her head, "But I don't think it'll come to that." She leaned back a little, her gaze flicking to each divinity, "If it were that simple he could've just descended on me whenever he wanted, but he hasn't. Which tells me there's some sort of restriction in place. And if he's restricted..."

"Then he's not at the height of his power!" Natsu spoke up, his eyes lighting up excitedly, "That's right! And if he's restricted then we can beat him!"

"That's still dangerously powerful you two." Levy warned, "Even in mortal form we're deadly by most mortal standards. And the Destroyer has broken the rules before. I don't trust him not to do so again."

Lucy cast a crooked grin at her friend, "All the more reason for us to have a divine ace or two up our sleeves no? I mean, wasn't it you that taught me how to turn an opponent's weakness into an advantage? I'd like to see Mr. War and Destruction get past one of your barriers." Her grin turned into a wicked smirk, "Hell, I'd like to see him stand a chance against all of Fairy Tail going all out against him."

Certainly she could think of more than one spirit who would be eager to lend a hand. All of them universally shared a hatred for the Destroyer that she'd never understood. Even Aquarius despised that god and would probably take little convincing to unleash all her fury on the bastard.

"Captain's orders Levy," Natsu grinned, "What she says, goes!"

"I've never seen ya take orders from nobody before," Gajeel grunted, glancing at Natsu from the corner of his eye, "What are you playing at Salamander?"

Natsu shrugged, not really having a good explanation for his participation. There was just a knee jerk reaction he had every time someone brought up the Destroyer.

He very badly wanted to punch him in the face.

There was an innate violence and anger he felt for the Destroyer. Natsu couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt it in an unshakable way.

"I can't let it go Gajeel," Natsu scowled, "He's after Lucy. I'm not going to let him have her."

Gajeel started, his eyes widening as for just a moment he could remember having the same conversation with his Captain centuries before. It was as if the image of his captain from the past was superimposed on the present one.

"I can't let it go Gajeel," Natsu scowled, clutching at his bleeding arm. Angry claw marks were bloodied on his throat and side, "He has Lucy! I won't let him have her!"

Gajeel could still remember the fierce way Natsu turned and glared at him, as if daring the other to stop him. Looking back, Gajeel almost wished he had tried. But doing so would have forever destroyed his captain.

"I love her Gajeel. But I won't drag you or the crew into this. I'm going regardless."

Gajeel rubbed a hand over his face, red eyes dark with thoughts of the past. Natsu was blinking at him owlishly.

"Something wrong Metalhead?" Natsu asked and Gajeel blinked and glared.

"Don't call me that!" He hissed and Natsu immediately smirked challengingly.

"Try an' stop me!" He cackled.

"Would you two cut it out?" Lucy groaned a powerful sense of deja vu overtaking her, "Honestly! You would think you two were still hatchlings!"

"He started it!" Natsu protested, waving his finger at Gajeel.

"And I'll end it if you don't behave." Levy warned, "This is still my inner sanctum and I'm not minded to clean up after a brawl."

She turned her attention to Lucy, "Lu, are you sure about this? It's so rare for me to find a real friend, mortal or not, I don't want to lose you."

Lucy shook her head, "I know a lot of weird stuff has been happening lately. And you probably know a lot more than I do about what might happen if we do this. But Levy, what'll happen if we don't?"

Levy hesitated, "It's possible we could still win." She replied, "I'm the only one who knows the locations of the temples. If we can deal with the gates and the Destroyer first. We won't necessarily need the temples."

"That ain't gonna help a lot with keeping Lucy out of it." Natsu pointed out, "No matter which way you turn it leads to a confrontation. And if you're the only one who knows where the temples are you're real vulnerable to kidnapping no matter which form you're in."

"Runt's right." Gajeel rumbled with a frown, "That bastard figures out where you've been all this time an' he'll go after you harder than blondie here."

He clenched his fist and mentally apologized to his captain for his earlier thoughts. Just the thought of Acnologia getting his hands on Levy made his blood boil. He couldn't imagine how much worse it would be if the bastard intended to make her his wife.

"Please Levy?" Lucy asked, "I know it's dangerous, but doing nothing is even worse don't you think?"

Levy balled her hands into fists, her expression conflicted, "We're risking too much."

Gajeel walked over to her and dropped his hand on her shoulder, "Ain't that better than risking not enough?" He asked her softly, "It's all gonna come out eventually anyway. The signs're all there. An' you know as well as I there won't be any stoppin' anyone once it does. Wouldn't it be better t' face it head on? On our own terms?"

Levy looked up at Gajeel, her bottom lip trembling as she looked up at him. She wrapped her arms around his middle and squeezed tight.

"We keep losing against him though," Levy mumbled into his chest, "The last time we faced him, Erza had her eye cut out," She murmured, not noticing the way Natsu jerked a little at that news, "I would rather have him come after me alone than put anyone else at risk."

She sighed and stepped away from Gajeel, her expression wry as she looked at Lucy, "But that's not the Fairy Tail way, is it Captain?"

Lucy smiled and held out an arm for her friend. A friend that despite her power and status as a goddess, seemed far more human than Lucy realized a god could be.

"You're right about that sailor," Lucy smiled and pulled her navigator into a hug, "We do things as a crew. That's what family is about."

Levy glanced at Gajeel, who nodded back at her. The encouragement in the look alone spoke of adventures and stories the two had shared for many years.

"The first piece is in the dragon's domain. On the island of Galuna," Levy looked at them, "That is where we will find the southern piece."

"Back home?" Natsu asked in surprise, "But wouldn't we have found it if it was already there?"

Levy shook her head, "It's in the lost temple Rogue mentioned before, but it requires divine blood to even see properly let alone open. It's very likely you've been staring at it for centuries and never realized it."

"Didn't your brother mention something about writings your dad could never decipher?" Lucy asked.

Natsu rolled his eyes, "That's the whole temple. All the text in there is gibberish."

"You remember it now?" Lucy asked in surprise, and Natsu flashed her a grin as he shrugged.

"Sure. I mean, I don't remember all of it, but dad said I hatched at that temple. And I can remember going home sometimes now anyway. I remember even sitting in that place sometimes and exploring."

Lucy smiled at him, "I'm glad to hear that." She stood, "At least this gives us a good starting point." She looked at Levy, "Lev..."

Levy cut her off with a shake of her head, and leveled her with a firm look, "I don't like this Lu, but I won't run from it either. And I won't stay behind." Her steady look hardened into resolve, "If you're that determined then I'll be damned if I let anyone else navigate you through this mess!"

—::—

Upon leaving Levy's temple, Gajeel headed off with a pack slung over a broad shoulder. Levy followed after, laughing quietly over his mutters over how they had wrecked 'his' ship.

Lucy supposed it meant he was joining her crew now. Not that she particularly minded. She had tried several times in the past to poach him away from his post to become her personal shipwright.

It was hard to patch up the ship when they were on the sea, and even if he wasn't The Black Steel he would be an asset. Although she was a little concerned over his reasoning for staying on her ship. He was clearly still loyal to Natsu, which was more than likely the reason he was even on this adventure in the first place. She wasn't an idiot, and the last thing she needed was a crew divided. Natsu for his part looked unconcerned, not seeming to be worried. Maybe it was because he had already given up his old title.

It would have to be a conversation they would face at some point together, but for the time being Lucy shelved it when Natsu grabbed her hand excitedly, eyes lighting up with joy. Natsu stepped into her personal space, his fingers trailing against her arms.

"Look there's a show over there!" Natsu practically bounced on the spot, the fearsome pirate that he was completely overtaken with childish glee, "Can we go check?"

Lucy laughed and decided that maybe he had the right idea. If she was going to insist they enjoy themselves then she might as well get into the spirit of it right?

"Sounds like fun!" She exclaimed, trying to ignore the warm tingles that traveled over her from where their hands were joined. It was hard to do though when he was beaming at her like that, and there was a look in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. Like she was the most important thing in the world.

She couldn't remember the last time a man had looked at her like that.

Her heart skipped again, and then started pounding, as he tugged gently on her hand and pulled her through the crowd, "C'mon then let's go!"

"Natsu!" Lucy laughed, her pirate image completely dissolving in the wake of his enthusiasm, "It's not going to go anywhere! We don't have to rush!"

"But I don't wanna miss any of it!" He grinned back at her.

Lucy shook her head in fond exasperation and let him chivvy her to the front of the crowd where acrobats were busily doing some death-defying stunts.

"I wish I could do stuff like that." Lucy breathed in awe as she applauded a quartet of tumblers.

"You kinda already do though." Natsu laughed warmly, "Crawlin' all over the ship like we do."

"I suppose I do." Lucy mused with a smile as the little show ended, and paused as her stomach growled, "You hungry?"

"Always!" Natsu beamed excitedly, "Any ideas on where to go around here nowadays?"

Lucy hummed thoughtfully and nodded, "Yeah. There's a great little inn further in. It's out of the way, but they have the best local food. And since it's out of the way..."

"It won't be packed!" Natsu grinned and absently held out his elbow for her.

Lucy smiled at the gesture and curled her arm around his, shivering a little at the warmth he exuded. It wasn't cold. Far from it. But being so close to him felt like a warm blanket wrapping around her shoulders, and the sensation made her tingle and her stomach flip flop.


And that's the chapter! I hope you all enjoyed! Real quick, apologies for not chiming in last chapter on Tumblr, but I was a bit busy moving my dad in with me lol. Suffice to say, I was blown away by the reviews, and truly appreciated all of them. I want to give an equally big shout out for the amazing reviews for this chapter as well. Sadly, you guys were two short of a preview, but I seriously can't thank you all enough anyway. Your speculation and encouragement is amazing!