Hey guys! Kytrin here with your Wednesday chapter! Sorry it's a bit late, didn't get a chance to work on it until this evening lol. Enjoy the chapter and I'll see you at the end for notes!
CHAPTER 24
Hearties
Friends, fellow comrades or sailors
"Three cheers for Frostbite!" Natsu roared out in the dimly lit pub. He stood on top of a table already groaning under the weight of ale and food, his expression bright and joyous, "Without whom our sorry asses would have been singing with the sirens!"
"Cap'n, stop you're drunk." An equally red faced Gray groaned and tugged on Natsu's belt. But he couldn't help but be a little proud over their last score. Just off the waters of Bosco, he had managed to trick an enemy pirate ship into following him right into the rocks. Of course none of them had realized they had been walking on a ledge made out of ice before they made contact.
"No you are!" Natsu slurred back, argumentatively.
He was stopped from getting into a fight further with Gray, when a sudden gust of rain blew open the door to the pub. A woman was silhouetted there, long hair falling in curled waves around her face.
Gray was almost trampled when Natsu climbed over him and kicked a bread roll into his lap. His captain looked happy, as if he were greeting an old friend. Even if his friend was looking a little annoyed. Although by the way her lips were pressing together, Gray wagered she was trying not to smile.
"Juvia, it's been decades!" Natsu exclaimed and dragged her inside, "Why're you all wet? You bring the rain with ya or something, thought you carried that thing around Igneel got ya to keep you dry?"
"Yes, well I'm not afraid of a little water Captain Dragneel. I'm actually here on busin—," The woman yelped as Natsu dragged her in and forced her into a seat directly next to Gray.
"It's always business with ya Miss Thundercloud," Natsu smirked and headed to his seat to finally flop down. His cheeks were still a little red from the alcohol but it seemed to be burning out of his system rapidly, "Why don't ya tell my First Mate all about the little job ya got for us?"
"What?" Juvia half yelped, "Are you serious?"
"Unfortunately, he probably is." Gray drawled and flashed her a friendly smile, "I feel I should apologize for him, but since you're his friend..."
"Yes, I know." Juvia sighed, though there was a distinctly amused tone to her voice as she looked up to get a proper look at him only to fumble to a halt, "Oh! Uhm, you're... ah, you're Natsu's First Mate?"
Gray's smile widened, something about her sudden bout of nerves was adorable, "That's me." He confirmed and held his hand out, "Gray Fullbuster. It's a pleasure to meet you Juvia."
"The pleasure's all mine." Juvia murmured, a set of matching red streaks appearing on her cheeks as she put her hand in his and he deftly turned it to kiss the back of her hand.
Natsu raised an eyebrow at the exchange, but Gray ignored him as he signaled for a drink for Juvia, "So..." He said with a grin, "What brings you here looking for Cap'n Pyro over there?"
"What?" Juvia asked, and then blinked as if waking up, "Oh! Right!" She turned her attention to the now distinctly amused looking Natsu, "I've received word that something strange is happening to the lighthouses along the Alvarez coastline. According to the ships passing through the lights keep going out at seemingly random intervals, but the keepers swear their lights are on and their equipment checks out."
She frowned slightly, "If it was just one, I would dismiss it as an unfortunate tragedy, but it's happened to three different houses now. Already there have been six reported wrecks against those rocks, all of them carrying valuable cargo. The local merfolk are friendly with the land dwellers there and have been helping retrieve the sunken goods in exchange for a portion of the cargo, but even before they get there items are being picked out of the wreckage."
Gray frowned, "That sounds systematic. Do you know what was taken?"
Juvia shook her head regretfully, "Unfortunately no. But pirates are suspected to be involved somehow. I'd like Fairy Tail to investigate the situation. You are, of course, entitled to anything you find providing the usual exceptions."
Natsu gave Juvia a once over, a crooked grin flashing over his face. Especially the way he could see Juvia giving Gray a smile he had never seen on her face before. It seemed the goddess was interested in his First Mate. Which could mean one of many things if they weren't careful.
Juvia was as patient as a steady trickle, and there was hardly anything that could outlast her. Water never lost, melting away frost and dousing flame. The only thing more eternal were the stars themselves
And while she was his friend, he had never seen a goddess in love before.
"Juvia, why do you need us for this?" Natsu drawled, "Surely you're more than capable of taking care of it yourself? What makes this a job suitable for a bunch of rowdy pirates?"
"Captain!" Gray protested, but Natsu held up a hand to silence him before he could start.
"Relax Fullbuster, I ain't sayin' no. Juvia and I go way back," His lips twitched at a joke only he knew. Nearby Gajeel groaned and rubbed his temples.
"But when the sea goddess comes knockin,' it ain't no regular request," Natsu gave her a wicked smirk, ignoring how the rain seemed to lash angrily outside over Natsu spilling the beans, "No matter how she bats her eyes at my First Mate."
—::—
Gray watched Galuna come into view, the island inching closer and closer to them by each drifting wave. It had been a while since they last visited the sacred island of the dragons, and this time by ship.
He looked towards port, watching Juvia looking at the island with her pale hands clasped before her on the carved railing of the ship. Blue eyes glanced up sharply, sensing Gray's eyes on her. A soft smile filtered over her face and she stepped towards him. Every movement was fluid and graceful, causing his tongue to shrivel up into his throat.
He knew he was courting trouble just thinking about her.
Despite what he'd told Natsu in Crocus he was well aware that his thoughts towards the goddess were more than borderline blasphemous. She was not for the likes of him, and he knew it, but despite that he couldn't seem to resist her. There was just something about her sad smiles that made him ache to wrap his arms around her and shield her from whatever put that sadness there.
She simply wasn't meant for it.
He wasn't sure why he believed that, but he did. With every fiber of his being. The Tempest was meant to smile, and often.
Much like she was doing now.
His heart thumped as she stepped up to him, his eyes unconsciously trailing appreciatively over her body, and immediately scolded himself for looking at her in such a way no matter how beautiful she was.
"Is everything alright Gray?" She asked curiously, and Gray felt himself flush a bit.
"Everything's fine!" He replied hastily, and smiled at her, "I just noticed you watching the island."
Juvia smiled back and glanced over at Galuna, "Ah, yes. This island holds many memories for me." She replied, "One of my oldest, and dearest, friends used to live here."
"Really?" Gray asked curiously, "Did something happen to them?"
Juvia sighed a little and dipped her head, "Yes. She was killed a long time ago by the Destroyer. And though I sometimes see glimpses of her in her reincarnations... I fear my friend is lost forever."
"Reincarnation? Is that a thing?" Gray gasped, his eyes wide as the shocking truth smacked him in the face. He always had suspected, but it was another thing to have it confirmed by a goddess.
She let out a loose giggle and nodded, "Yes. My friend was a goddess, so her life wasn't easy to extinguish. She's reborn every now and then, but she was never able to fully grasp what she was in the past."
"It's always just been out of her reach," Juvia said sadly, her eyes turning to the sea, "She is a stranger to me every time I see her."
"Every time? Are reincarnations really that different?" Gray asked her, leaning against the railing and crossing his arms. His eyes met hers, and Juvia bit her lip.
"For the gods they are. Life shapes us in different ways, different paths affect us the same as it would any mortal. Perhaps even more so, since we come from a place a mortal can't reach without help." Juvia gave him an amused look for his questions.
"Mortals however, their souls often travel in similar paths as they did in their original life. Different choices are made, but their personality and essence..." Her eyes met his, capturing him in their depth. Gray swallowed as he felt pulled to her like the tides in tandem with the moon.
"—are the same."
Gray felt his heart race, heat rising in his chest and blood to thaw out the frost in his body. Juvia was standing before him, baring her heart out to him over the loss of her friend. He struggled to focus.
He had to bring her some comfort and snap out of her sirens call.
"You've found your friend before right?" Gray asked her suddenly, startling the goddess into nodding. She gave him a curious look, her eyes narrowing.
"Then have faith that one day she'll remember who she is," He thumped his fist over his own chest. He gave her a smile, "I know I couldn't forget you."
Juvia stared up at him, heartbreak clear on her face, "I wish I believed that."
Gray felt his chest constrict at the expression and wondered what could have put it there. Surely that was far more pain than the loss of a friend should warrant? The thought seemed vaguely wrong for some reason, but in an instant he was also certain he was right. Juvia loved her friend certainly, and missed her, but this sharp pain was more.
It was more intimate somehow. Deeper. And directed at him. He wasn't sure how he knew that, but he was certain of it as soon as the thought came to him.
Was it possible she'd known a past version of himself or something?
The very thought was odd, but considering what he'd just learned about reincarnation he believed it.
And if that was the case... he didn't remember her.
Without thinking he grabbed her hand and curled it to his heart, "Juvia, did you know a past version of me?"
He had to be sure. This was important. Vital even. He wasn't sure why, but everything in him was screaming this was the most important thing he ever did.
Juvia's eyes widened in shock, "What? Gray…"
"You did didn't you?" He asked softly, "It wasn't just your friend you were talking about was it?"
Tears gathered in her eyes and her lips trembled as she slowly nodded, "Yes." She breathed, "I knew your past self. He was dear to me. More than I can say."
Gray's heart shattered as tears began to trickle down her cheeks, the tears of a goddess, for the grief of her loss. The pain of losing him.
He pulled her into a hug, guilt tearing through him, "I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair as her tears morphed into equally heartwrenching sobs, "I'm so sorry."
He pulled back a little and smiled at her, "But don't think that because I can't remember the details, the past me is gone. It just means I have something to work towards, and we can make new memories in the meantime." Unconsciously his thumb caressed her cheek, "And for you, I would do much more than that."
"And how would you even know what the past you was like?" Juvia smiled wetly as she pulled back a little, a flicker of hope curling into her eyes. She leaned into his touch, a light sigh that spoke of the sea breeze gentle against his palm.
"Mortals stay the same in their lives, right?" Gray smirked at Juvia, using her words back at her, "Maybe because we don't live on some fancy cloud mountain sipping ambrosia and eating nectar." He teased
Juvia laughed, her eyes beginning to sparkle with a light that caused the sadness to recede. He felt a little guilty for asking Juvia that question, having a feeling that no matter what the goddess said about the consequences of too much knowledge, she wouldn't deny him.
Especially knowing now that he had a past life.
One where he and Juvia, the goddess he sought refuge in whenever he was upset or lonely or running from his curse, were close.
"Besides, I don't need the memories of my past to show the way to my future," Gray lifted his chin, "Let's make new ones, alright?"
He held his hand out to the goddess, who accepted it with a smile that seemed to grow. Grays heart beat hard in his chest, as if trying to escape.
"Together with Fairy Tail?" She asked.
"Where else?" Gray smirked back.
Juvia nodded, her unrestrained happiness breaking through enough to stop Grays heart right where it was trying to make a mad dash out his throat. She took a hesitant step towards him, a hand drifting over his chest.
He felt a pull towards her, magnetic in the way only they knew. Now Gray wasn't sure what to think, this beautiful, vulnerable goddess in his arms, seeking out a friend and a ghost from his past.
All he knew for sure was that he wanted her.
He surprised himself with the thought, blasphemous as it was, but he also couldn't deny it. Or how much he wanted it. A want he saw reflected in Juvia's eyes. And when exactly had they gotten so close anyway? He didn't know, and he didn't really care as his gaze dropped to her gorgeous mouth. The air between them thickened as he leaned closer, or maybe she did. Their breath mingled and his lips had begun to graze hers, when he almost jerked away as Cana yelled from across the ship for Juvia's attention.
"Ah! Coming Lady Cana!" Juvia called, a flustered blush heating her cheeks as she pulled away, and smiled back at her, the moment gone. She smiled back at Gray one last time and disappeared after Cana and into the bustle of the ship.
He looked after her lingeringly, conflicted on how to feel. But Gray didn't allow himself much time to think on it as the ship was getting ready to dock.
Nearby Natsu was busily coiling rope around his shoulder and forearm, his eyes locked on the familiar island.
He caught Gray staring and immediately his face sank into a scowl.
"Oy, frostbite! What're you starin' at me for? Quit jawin' off with Juvia and get ready to drop anchor!" Natsu barked.
Gray snorted at the acerbic dragon and thumped off to the chains, "Aye cap'n." He grunted without thinking.
He never noticed the startled look that crossed Natsu's face as he left.
-::-
Lucy tried not to fidget nervously as they landed on the beach, Igneel and a number of other dragons already waiting for them.
"Lord Igneel..." She began only to be stopped when the dragon let out a deep chuckle and shook his head.
"None of that princess." He chuckled as he shifted down to his human form, which looked remarkably like Natsu save for the deep red of his hair, and strode over to them with smile, "To honorary nest, I'm just Igneel. There's no need for formalities."
Lucy smiled at him as the dragon kissed her hand and patted it before turning his attention to Natsu, "So, I understand you've finally started regaining some memories in that empty head of yours. It's about time."
"Oh yeah, fat lot of help you were on that dad." Natsu huffed, a scowl that didn't fool Lucy at all crossing his face, "I mean what kind of jerk just leaves their son hanging for four hundred years like that?"
"The kind that knows better than to make an amnesiac try and force their memories brat." Igneel growled back, deftly evading Natsu's swipe, "And you're still rusty."
"I'll show you rusty!" Natsu snarled as he tackled his father and they collapsed into a tangle of limbs and blows.
From one side Igneel's queen, a lovely white sky dragoness, sighed and plucked them apart with her foreclaws, "Act like drakes later." She scolded, "Or have you forgotten our guests are here on rather urgent business?"
Natsu was all grins as he dangled from her claws. It seemed there were some things he missed out on because he no longer had legs of his own. The simplicity of being able to wrestle with his father for example.
"Sorry ma, you're right" Natsu smiled at his mom in such a brilliant way that even the old dragons eyes seemed to soften. Her son had always been all grins and sunshine, but it had been a while since she saw him so whole again.
Even as a hatchling he had been subdued, searching for something behind his ever present smile.
He had only been whole when he sailed on his ship, with his crew, and with her.
Grandine's sky blue eyes fell onto Lucy, assessing the mortal woman who drew such a stark comparison to her son's princess from the past.
She seemed more confident than the girl of four hundred years past though. More sure of herself in her skin, no longer suffocated by the chains of the monarchy and the responsibility of a kingdom.
The way she held herself was familiar, strong but more bold. Her smiles were still kind, but there was a hardness to her that hadn't been there before. It seemed time had seen to changes.
She set her husband and son down next to the captain, shifting down into her smaller form and opening her arms to an excited Wendy
"Mom! We've had so much fun! Thank you for letting me go with them!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Like we could actually have stopped ya." Igneel snorted and ruffled Natsu's hair. He turned towards the twin dragons and dragged them into rough hugs.
His eyes dropped to the dragon lingering behind Lucy, a fangy smile erupting over his face, "Well I'll be damned! Is that you Gajeel? It's been a while since I saw that vile look."
"Fire king," Gajeel grunted and approached the drake. He accepted the rough handshake and clap to his back, "You've been talkin' to my old man again."
"Course, it's been a while since the nests in the east have seen yours to the west. But it hasn't been that long," Igneel gave Gajeel a weighted look, "You plan on stopping by there during your time aboard the Fairy Tail?"
"No," Gajeel's response came too fast, too quick. His eyes averted from Igneel and he cleared his throat to change the topic, "The temple Fire King, you know where it is?"
"Not the public temple." Levy interjected as Igneel went to open his mouth, "We've heard you live there. We're looking for a different one."
"Aye." Igneel replied slowly, "Natsu conveyed as much once your course was set for here." He spread his hands a little, "To be honest we don't know. The temple itself is dedicated to the celestial family, and though we've done much to restore the temple to its former glory, we tend to keep out of the inner sanctum as a sign of respect."
"Complicated with that is that we can't read much of the writing." Grandine spoke up, "It's ancient even by our standards, and dedicated to deities dragons don't primarily worship."
"I see." Levy hummed, "That will make things somewhat more complicated."
Igneel inclined his head, "You are, of course, welcome to investigate the temple. I would be delighted to host you all for however long it takes to locate what you need. Only the usual restrictions apply."
"For the non-dragons among us..." Lucy said wryly, "What exactly are the usual restrictions?"
Igneel studied her intently for a moment, "Under no circumstances is anyone not a fully acknowledged member of this nest permitted into the rookery." He replied gravely, "You may be my son's friends, and considered part of his nest, but our young are far more precious to us."
Lucy nodded, "That's more than reasonable." She agreed, "Is there anything else?"
Igneel smiled brightly at her in such a way part of her wondered if she'd somehow passed a test, "Only that you keep out of personal lairs unless invited, and if you need someone currently in the rookery, you ask a member of the nest to get them. Otherwise the nest is open to you."
Lucy nodded again and wondered why such an emphasis had been placed on the rookery. She wasn't particularly familiar with dragon culture, but it seemed like an unusual emphasis. Had something happened in the past?
Natsu looked at Lucy and the obvious confusion on her face. She was curious, of that there was no doubt but manners, and a sense of decorum, was preventing her from asking what was on her mind.
He would have to explain to her some of the finer details of his nest culture when they had a chance. They would have plenty of it when they explore the island, a task he was looking forward to greatly.
It had been far too long since the last time he had been further in the island besides the cove. After all he was still merman and that meant he could easily dry out when he was not submerged in water. It made trips home a little tricky.
He found himself looking forward to explaining his culture to his captain. Something about sharing that private part of himself with her only made him more excited for the future.
Although the special attention paid to where they kept the nests eggs did give him a grim pause.
There was nothing more sacred to dragons than their young. The emphasis his father put on it was only a fraction of how they felt. It was why his former Quarter Master had still never returned back home to his old nest.
Six hundred years later and he had never gone home.
Gajeel had suffered a long time for a crime he had never committed. Nothing besides trusting a man who took advantage of him. Natsu dragged his palm over his nose and chin. His eyes were sharp on the rest of the crew, considering the thoughts his father was contemplating.
This was a crew he had gotten to know, but he still didn't know them as a whole. Not like he did the original crew of Fairy Tail. Even then there had been bad apples, there always were.
Bora had been proof enough on Lucy's crew. But he trusted his captain and those she trusted he gave the same courtesy.
"Thank you for your trust in us Igneel," Lucy inclined her head to the dragon. She was well aware that dragons had a reputation for being rather secretive and not extremely friendly with outsiders. It was a rare opportunity to have a dragons trust, and Lucy found herself not wanting to be on the other end of a giant fire breathing lizard's rage and suspicion.
Igneel inclined his head in return, "Now, if you'll follow me..."
Natsu joined Lucy as they fell into step behind Igneel and began walking towards the temple, "You did good back there."
"Thanks I guess." Lucy replied with a shrug, "It's not like he was asking anything weird or unreasonable."
Natsu cocked his head slightly, an amused twitch tugging at his lips, "One of these days you need a crash course in dragon culture."
"You mean you aren't a crash course all by yourself?" Lucy drawled, "May wonders never cease."
There were several distinct snorts all around them, and Lucy blushed a little as she was reminded that dragons had much better hearing than she was really used to.
Natsu, however, just burst into laughter, "I suppose I am." He purred, "But you don't know the half of it."
Lucy quirked an amused eyebrow at him, "Really?" She purred back, "Then I suppose there's just one thing for me to do..." Her grin widened at his expression and she shifted her gaze, "Hey Wendy! Would you be on board for a few lessons on dragons?!"
This time the snorts turned into roars of laughter all around them.
Natsu snorted, his cheeks rounding out in a pout over Lucy's teasing, which caused everyone to start laughing harder. After a moment of prolonged sulking, he too erupted into laughter.
They spread out into the temple once they arrived, Igneel leaning against a wall with his arms crossed in a way similar to what Lucy had seen Natsu stand.
He was watching the exploring crew, the very picture of a relaxed man but Lucy knew he was ready to strike at a moments notice if he needed to.
Hoping the rest of her crew behaved and didn't accidentally stumble into a dragon's personal lair, Lucy followed Natsu and Levy further into the temples center.
Natsu hummed a song under his breath, the sound deep in his throat. He settled his hand against a wall, fire erupting along the path to fill inscriptions that were carved into the very walls.
They glowed with a fiery light, the inscriptions flowing forward to illuminate the entire corridor leading into the inner sanctum.
"Not sure what they say, but magic makes it do that," Natsu said as an explanation. He looked up at the ceiling, which was painting with ethereal stars, swirling overhead like an inky canopy.
"Igneel wasn't so happy about us being in this part of the temple. It wasn't our goddess who ruled here and he said it would be disrespectful to wander into holy ground without the proper offerings," Natsu explained as they went further in, "Course I never paid him any mind. I used to sit in these corridors all day long when I was little until ma found out and skinned my tail."
He trailed off with a merry laugh, drifting off into that familiar humming once again.
"I can't blame you! It's beautiful!" Lucy breathed, a look of pure delight covering her face, "I can even see the constellations!" She grinned as she pointed to the ceiling, "Look! There's Leo!"
Natsu stopped humming to peer up at the ceiling, "Hey you're right!" He grinned at her, "I never noticed."
"The people who built this place must've loved their goddess very much." Lucy mused wistfully as she gently touched a carving, "This isn't the usual attempt at flattery and bribery to turn her head favorably towards them. These carvings are an expression of gratitude and devotion."
"How can you tell?" Levy asked softly with an odd quality to her voice, but Lucy didn't notice as she continued stepping carefully down the corridor.
"Isn't it obvious?" Lucy asked absently, "It takes tremendous skill and magic to imbue carvings like this. Anyone who did it would have to be an enchanter of rare power. That's the sort of thing a Magnolia temple might afford, but not of this scale and detail." She smiled over her shoulder at Levy, "This was done by someone devoted heart and soul to their goddess over the course of many years. Like your Scholisticate."
She looked back up at the carvings, "If you look you can even get a sense of..." She trailed off as her attention diverted from the starry canopy above to the inscriptions themselves. She frowned a little at it, something about it tugging at her, though she couldn't quite place what.
Up ahead Natsu started humming his song again, pulling Lucy's attention away from the inscription. She hastily moved back over to join him, but her eyes kept straying to the glowing text.
"What's that song you keep humming?" She asked curiously in an effort to divert her attention.
"Hm?" Natsu asked, and frowned a little, "I'm not sure really." He admitted after a few moments, "It's a tune I've always known." He grinned, "Ma always thought I made it up when I was little."
Lucy smiled at that, "Sing it again?" She asked hopefully, "It's lovely."
Natsu grinned at her and began singing it again.
Lucy closed her eyes and smiled, "It's truly beautiful!" She sighed happily, "And I'm not sure why, but it reminds me of a poem my mom taught me when I was little."
"What poem was that?" Levy asked curiously.
Lucy hummed thoughtfully, her eyes slipping shut for a moment, unaware of the faint sparkle of celestial light illuminating her, "Son of darkness and daughter of light!" She spoke slowly, "Dancing merrily among the heavens bright! The stars they bring both day and night! Our fields to tend, our souls to mend, guided by that heavenly light!"
She jumped as there was a grinding sound on one of the far walls, and gasped in shock as it slowly opened, revealing a dark chamber within.
And that's the chapter! Alas, you guys missed your preview threshold by ONE, so no preview this chapter. I do wanna thank everyone who did review though! You guys were awesome, as usual, and I enjoyed seeing your reactions and theories. I hope to see more for this chapter! You guys have a good night... I'm going to bed now. See ya Sunday! :)
