Hey guys, Mslead here! Welcome to the last Act of Tempest! There are only 10 chapters left of this fic, counting this one. Welcome to your final countdown. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 43
Scuttle
To sink a ship
The wind whistled a sad shanty, blowing through billowing sails and causing an age old creak of ropes straining against planks.
Gray looked at his captain, who glared stone-faced ahead through his spyglass and folded it down on itself. His jaw was locked, eyes distant with rage that was barely leashed within him.
"Cap'n," Gray swallowed, feeling a trickle of unease as he looked at Natsu's angry face, "This is suicide. Ye know this."
"'Course I do Fullbuster. That's why I'll be goin' in alone to retrieve Lady Heartfilia," Natsu tightened the scarlet scarf he wore around his shoulder, "I won't be havin' the rest of my crew jawin' off and put in danger. The Destroyer won't let me take her back without a fight."
"But Captain!" Gray retorted hotly, eyes flashing with anger at how he was being deliberately sidelined.
"Nay that's enough of that!" Natsu grunted and smacked the back of Grays furious head, "Who is gonna lead these pack of scoundrels without me, eh? Gajeel is about as personable as a sack o' nails!"
"That's gotta be ya," Natsu squeezed Grays shoulder, "Go. Be with Juvia. You love her and the sea. This is where ya belong."
"This is only the Fairy Tail if you're on it you damned fool," Gray shot back at Natsu. He remembered when the stupid dragon had caught him when he was a child, trying to sneak on board as a stowaway to run away from home.
He remembered how Natsu taught him how to shoot, taught him navigation and the way of the sword. He became like an older brother over the years as Gray slowly worked his way up the ranks. At the time he had never believed Natsu or Gajeel were actually dragons. No, all he thought was perhaps he had found the fountain of youth to share with Gajeel for all the years during his travels. It was one of the rumors after all, no matter how untrue.
As annoying as Natsu could be though, he was fierce and steadfast in what he put his mind to. Natsu had protected Gray from attacks against enemy pirates, monsters, and even the shadows lurking in Grays own heart at times. He brought him out with laughter and smiles.
"Don't be so dramatic Gray," Natsu snorted at the human, "The Fairy Tail is a symbol. A family. Not one person makes it whole."
He twisted around in a flash, his fist sinking into Grays stomach. It took him by surprise, dropping him squarely to his knees by the sheer force of the blow. His vision swam around the edges and he was only aware of his captain catching him around the shoulders.
"I'm sorry Gray, but you aren't coming with me this time..."
—::—
A loud creak from the ship pulled Gray back from his musings about the dream he'd had last night and he scowled a little as he adjusted his course a fraction. For the tenth time.
"Juvia, is there any way you can do something about this fog?" He asked, "It's making staying on course hell."
And it had him on edge. He couldn't help thinking about what else could be lurking in it besides them.
Juvia shook her head regretfully, "You know I can't. My dominion is over water, not fog."
"Maybe Wendy could give it a try?" Lucy suggested, "She's a sky dragoness right?"
"Yeah!" Natsu exclaimed enthusiastically as he hopped down from where he'd been perched on the sails and grinned at his little sister, "Whaddya say sis?"
"Well, I could try." Wendy replied, "But this fog isn't like regular air..."
"Ah, but we don't need it to be!" Lucy smiled, "We just need something to blow it away or burn it off." She pointed at Natsu before he could eagerly volunteer, "No. Not you. Not yet. I want to be able to see, not give our position away."
She ignored Natsu's pout, and the way the others nearby started cackling, and smiled at Wendy, "Will you give it a try?"
Wendy smiled up at her with more than a touch of hero worship and nodded, "Sure cap'n!"
"Good woman!" Lucy replied proudly and dropped a hand on her shoulder, "Let's head to the prow then."
Gray relaxed a little as Lucy led Wendy away, pleased they were going to try and do something about this weird fog. Not only was it thick, and slowing them down to a crawl, but it creeped him out. It had appeared out of nowhere, rolling in like a blanket and blotting out the sun.
"I fear Wendy's attempts won't work." Juvia sighed softly, "This fog is unnatural."
"Aye." Levy agreed grimly, "The last time I saw its like was during the demon war."
"Demon War?" Gray asked, needing a bit of clarification on the importance of fog. He frowned ahead as he watched Lucy and Wendy struggling to part the misty curtains.
"Aye, when a ship is destroyed at sea by tragic means, there is a certain energy that traps the souls of the crew to the remains," Juvia said quietly. Her deep blue eyes followed the pull and push of Grays hands on the wheel.
"There were many at the time of the war when Demons set upon ship after ship. Many of those haunted vessels have passed on, but some still remain," Levy lifted a hand along the edge of the fog, "there's nothing we will be able to do but sail through and hope its crew doesn't notice us."
Gajeel hummed and approached the side of the ship where Natsu was staring into the empty ocean.
"You see that?" Natsu whispered, his eyes on a shape only dragon eyes could see. Gajeel leaned his bulky arms next to his former captain on the railing, his eyes picking out shapes Natsu's were.
"Wait a sec," Gajeel breathed, his body going stiff as he saw in the fog what looked to be a mirror sailing side by side with them.
His eyes followed the mirror, both his and Natsu's heads turning up at the same time to the sky.
There was the fairy tail flag whipping overhead, mirrored by a flag just as identical. It was torn and shredded, looking dusty and dingy. Natsu's eyes went wide, his mouth falling open as he felt his heart compress in his chest.
"Gods no," Natsu whispered.
"That son of a bitch!" Gajeel snarled quietly, his fingers pressing tightly into the railing, "That scum sucking..."
"What's wrong?" Gray asked only to stop slack jawed as the ship came into view to human eyes, and Juvia gasped, her hands covering her mouth.
"He didn't!" She breathed, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
"Is that...?" Lucy asked shakily, she and Wendy having left off their attempt the moment the other ship creaked into view.
"Aye." Natsu growled lowly, "The original Fairy Tail. MY Fairy Tail."
"But... I don't understand." Gray said in bewilderment, "Wouldn't Jellal have released these souls by now?"
"He... can't." Juvia replied, "Not until the Destroyer releases his hold on them."
"You're telling me the energy that did this belongs to that bastard?!" Natsu raged, "He cursed my ship too?!"
"The power isn't meant to be used that way." Levy grimaced, "As the god of war he's given dominion over souls lost violently in war until he releases them to the celestials."
"It was an emergency power given to him during the demon war." Juvia said lowly, "We desperately needed the manpower, and it was part of his dominion anyway. The celestials were reluctant, but agreed under the provision no souls be kept longer than absolutely necessary, and any who wished to pass on be permitted to do so immediately no matter what."
"I'd say he's broken that deal." Natsu growled as the ship approached close enough for them to make out the forms of exhausted spirits listlessly going about their duties.
"Is that... Evergreen?" Gray whispered, "And Max?"
He groaned and clutched his head as a sharp pain lanced through it, but that didn't stop him from rushing to the rail, "That's... that's Vijeeter! But..."
He dropped to his knees as the pain intensified, and beside him Natsu's fists clenched. Before anyone realized what he was doing the former captain had vaulted onto the rail and launched himself towards the other ship.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried in alarm, "What are you doing?"
"He mustn't!" Levy gasped, rushing to where Natsu had launched himself onto the ship and was hauling himself over the railing.
"The crew will trap him there or destroy him!" Juvia warned, rushing down, yanking on Grays arm to hurry.
Natsu stood up on the creaking deck, his face pale as he looked at the haunted and lifeless faces of those he called family over four hundred years ago.
They turned to him, recognition flashing in their eyes and hollow smiles curling over their faces.
"Captain," They shambled towards him, their movements slow but intent pure.
Natsu knelt and opened his arms to Laki, the ghostly wood-mage whispering something he couldn't understand as they happily found their captain once more.
However when Max looked up at the other ship, he let out an angry groan, his eyes locking on Gray. His moans became louder, and the crew shambled away from Natsu, forming a sort of barrier between their captain and former First Mate.
Skeletal arms groped through the railings, and Juvia jerked the shocked looking Gray back as they snarled and clawed for him.
"What's happening?" Lucy demanded, her voice sharp as she positioned herself between the undead crew and Gray. She could barely make out Natsu behind the crowd, but her presence seemed to only agitate them more.
"They remember Gray," Juvia gasped, her eyes wide as she whipped towards the pale faced ice mage, "And they're angry."
"What? Why?" Gray demanded, his head throbbing with the ache of boiling memories pushing against a dam.
"The Captain was supposed to go down with the ship. The crew is sailing without their command," Gajeel grunted, his eyes drawing tight at the corner. For a startling moment, Gray remembered Gajeel had been on that sinking ship hundreds of years ago.
"And I stopped that from happening," Gray whispered, a faint memory burning in the back of his eyes. Of Natsu's back and his arms over his head, holding up the mast as blood poured down his face from a head injury. Fire erupted over the ship as the captain fought to put them out as quickly as they started.
How he had the sinking feeling in his gut that perhaps his captain had been correct in his desire to go alone to begin with. Or how Gray had forced the issue.
He had to fix it. If anyone lived through this nightmare, it had to be Natsu. Even though Gray could see the black despair in Natsu's eyes, the soul shattering grief that destroyed his very spirit. And Lucy's broken body laying across the rocks, thrown from the ship in Acnologia's rage.
Gajeel, the mighty Demi-god of iron and steel laid broken and bleeding on the fiery deck. He wasn't moving. Most of the crew wasn't, but Natsu moved mechanically.
He was trying to clear debris fruitlessly, trying to save a doomed ship. Gray was pragmatic enough to know what would come next, but also knowing if anyone could survive Acnologia's terror it would have to be Natsu. Natsu, a dragon and long lived. He couldn't die on this ship.
"Gray! Move!"
However, distracted as he was, Gray was too slow to move when three of the skeletal crew leapt over the railing and aboard the ship to seize him. Juvia and the rest of the Fairy Tail crew moved to intercept, but they weren't quick enough for the surprisingly agile undead.
"Damnit!" Natsu swore as Gray was hauled forcefully aboard the ghost ship and hustled, none too gently, through the crowd to be shoved down at his feet.
He looked around at the expectant faces, a glimmer of vindictive anticipation glittering in their eyes, "The hell're you doing?" He demanded angrily.
The crew glanced at each other in confusion for a moment before Max nudged Gray with his foot, "Juuuuudgement." He rasped, his voice a ruin from what was probably centuries of disuse, "Caaaaaap'n."
"What?" Natsu growled at him, "You want me to judge Gray for haulin' me off the ship? Is that it?"
"Caaaaaaaaahptain goes down with the ship." Another crewman rasped, "Caaaahptain returns. Fffffirst Mate paaaaaaays."
"Pays for what you lily livered dogs?" Natsu snarled as he stormed up to the crewman's face, visibly confusing him, "Gray don't owe any o' you rats anything! Mebbe he saved my life, but he gave his own t' do it! Bet you didn't know that?" He turned his glare on Max, "An' who the hell put you in charge of this boat anyway?"
Max scowled as he pulled his sword and leveled it at Gray's neck, "Broke the code caaaaaaaaptain."
Natsu's scowl deepened and before anyone could blink his fiery fist connected with Max's jaw, sending the man flying. The rest of the crew stared at him in shock as he impacted the mast and abruptly took a collective step back from their angry captain.
"Now you listen to me." Natsu growled as he stood over Gray's body, "It ain't up to you to judge Gray, Gajeel, Juvia, or anyone else. That's my right!" He cast his glare over the crowd, "Maybe Gray broke the code when he hauled my ass out of our sinking ship, but he paid for it with his own life!"
"More than that, it's a damn good thing he did!" Natsu raged, "Otherwise I'd be trapped in this hell with you!" He pointed to the other ship alongside them, "You scalawags see that? That's the new Fairy Tail! She's captained by my princess reborn! Gajeel rebuilt her! An' Gray's her first mate! You ain't got a claim on any o' them! Least of all Gray!"
He reached down to haul his First Mate up, "Gray's been followin' my orders since his rebirth to protect Lucy. He's a good and honorable man an' if any of you brats wants a piece of him you'll have to come through me to get it!"
The crew murmured at their captains orders, knowing full well what would happen if they dared to disobey. He did not take kindly to mutiny.
One by one, the crew laid their swords down, Grays eyes wide, and his head throbbing. He gripped tight into Natsu's shoulder, his head spinning and body aching with a sudden sickness he couldn't vocalize.
He moaned in pain, unable to do anything as Natsu supported him. His vision was blurry, his arm wrapped across Natsu's shoulders.
"I'm sorry captain, but I can't let you die here," Gray snarled over his Captains bent body. His fist was deep in Natsu's gut, the revenge from the others earlier strike now satisfied.
He tossed Natsu's bleeding and unconscious body overboard, diving in after him and sending a quick prayer to Juvia.
"Natsu, Natsu I'm sorry," Gray babbled, somewhat feverish as he felt himself being hoisted onto a rotted railing, "I couldn't save her. I promised—I promised I would save her."
He felt a rough hand over his forehead, steady and warm. Gray tried to shake the heavy hand off but to no avail.
Something vibrating with electricity and magic snapped around his middle and Gray blearily saw a whip tied around his middle.
"Heave him back home!" Lucy shouted out, "Come on gents! Put your backs into it!"
He heard the echoing cries of the crew dragging him back. He felt a cradle of water rising around his body to stop him from an unsteady swing into the side of the ship, and the gentle hands of Juvia helping Lucy pull him on board.
He opened his eyes enough to see his beloved bending over him with tears in her eyes and a shaky breath shuddering her shoulders.
"Juvia?" He murmured, dazed and feverish with a headache that mounted through his temples, pulsating through his body. He felt Lucy's hands on his shoulders, shoving him upright to force him into a seated position.
That had the advantage of clearing his vision as she unlooped her whip from around his shoulders. He could see through the slats if there ships railing that Natsu was still on the ghost ship, his back turned towards the crew.
Behind Gray, he could hear Lucy swearing up and down over Natsu's stupidity and their ever mounting problems.
His eyes were fastened on the dragon's back though and the way Natsu jumped onto the railing and gripped a rotted rope. It was just how he remembered Natsu standing as he bellowed his orders right before they went on an adventure.
"Listen up ya scurvy dogs!" Natsu roared, slamming his fist into his chest to get their attention, "The curse of the dead is going to lift soon, we aim ta misbehave, and Acnologia is the one to suffer for it!"
"In the meanwhile, remember my code! Fairy Tail's code!" He shouted to the gaunt faces, "Ye will only attack and pillage those aimin' to do you and yours harm!"
"The Heartfilia fleet is hot after our sails, tryin' to stop us before we can bring that bastard to his knees!" He glanced back at Lucy with a crooked smile, "Save that firecracker who bosses me about!"
"I'm yer captain in this lifetime Dragneel!" Lucy shouted back with a fierce grin, "You'd best get used to being bossed around!"
The undead crew burst into raspy howls of laughter at her declaration, "Princessss became pirate queen eh caaaaahp'n?" One of the ghouls, Evergreen Lucy thought, wheezed.
"Aye I did." Lucy answered the ghoul directly, "And I'll be mightily displeased if you don't return my dragon to me in one piece."
"I'm sure you remember, Lucy ain't a lady we wanna make mad." Natsu smirked to his crew.
There was another ripple of laughter, and Natsu looked each of them in the eyes, "I know ya been adrift an' forced t' do the bastard's biddin' without proper orders. An' I'm sorry for that. But I swear to you all, we'll get the bastard, an' then you'll have your proper rest in the stars."
Slow smiles greeted his declaration and there were nods all around as faith rekindled in their eyes.
"Orderssss cahp'n?" Max asked for them all.
Natsu smirked fiercely, "Open season on Heartfilia vessels save our legacy here. Plunder's to be taken to Tenrou. Innocents ridin' passage t' be set free unharmed close 'nough to population t' make it without harm. I want Jude Heartfilia cursing the day he ever heard the name Fairy Tail!"
"Send 'em to the locker!" He roared, drawing the crimson lotus and flashing it through the air. The crew bellowed back, galvanized by the Captains warcry.
He wrapped his arm around the rope and swung back over to Lucy's ship, heels landing on the railing. He looked longingly back at his ship, watching his crew standing side-by-side. Their hands raised through the air, index finger and thumb extended.
Natsu lifted his hand back up to mirror the motion. Nearby Gajeel also lifted his hand for what Gray recognized as the Fairy Tail salute.
Max lumbered to the side as the ghost ship began to fade away. He threw something into their deck, his face obscured once more by the thickening fog.
"Foooor our legacyyyy..." his voice drifted away as the ship began to fade.
Gray looked at the smooth black box, shiny and untouched by the curse on the ship. It was magical and deeply familiar. Natsu glanced over at the little box, a smile sliding over his face as Lucy drew near the former captain.
Head throbbing, Gray reached out and touched the polished wood. He flipped the lid, revealing a burnished brass stamp embedded with a pulsating magic.
He reached out a hand, drawing the stamp out of its velvet-lined box. An intricate looking emblem, the symbol emblazoned on Natsu's was in perfect condition and carved magically in the stamp.
"This is..." Gray breathed.
And abruptly it was like the dam broke.
He grabbed his head with a scream of agony as memories flooded into his mind. Image of a childhood he'd never had, of siblings as he'd never seen them. Of the call of the sea, and the desperate desire to do something different with his life.
Of finding the Fairy Tail, and something about that legendary ship drawing him in.
Of Natsu, and discovery, and lessons and proving his worth to a captain who had seen the best in him. Who had pushed him beyond his limits time and again just to prove he could.
Of Gajeel, large and terrifying, but always with a kind word or bit of wisdom for a small boy who didn't want to admit he sometimes missed home.
He remembered it all. His first raid, and how Natsu had steadied him through his shakes afterwards. His steady rise through the ranks. The mutiny and the aftermath. He remembered.
He remembered adventures uncounting filled with treasure and exotic places that skirted the edges of reality. Falling in love with a goddess, and the hope that perhaps one day he could be more than her lover. He remembered the letter. That final letter. The one that had sealed so many fates.
And he wept.
Slowly, as the pain eased and the flood of memories trickled, he became aware of two presences. One at his back, soft and warm and smelling of the sea as he was held. The other at his front. Warm in a different way as callous, battle scarred, hands held his arms tightly, bracing him and pulling him back to the here and now.
"Natsu..." He rasped, "Cap'n... I..."
"Steady on there sailor." Natsu replied, "I know what you're feelin'."
Gray looked up, his eyes finally focusing properly behind the tears, "Cap'n I'm so sorry..."
Slowly a lopsided grin worked its way across Natsu's face as he tilted his head slightly, "What're you apologizin' to Lucy for Frostbite?"
Gray gawked at him for a moment, his newly awakened memories struggling to reconcile themselves with his present, "Wha- but I..."
That was when he met the grinning dragon's eyes and found in them everything he needed. Understanding, acceptance, and a forgiveness he wasn't entirely sure he deserved, but was unwilling to fight.
"Your ugly face must've distracted me for a second." He smirked back, something deep within him relaxing as he fell back into the old familiar pattern, "Won't happen again."
"Watch it, or I'll toss ya back to the crew. I think they'll love to stuff ya in a dress or something Fullbuster," Natsu grinned and held out his hand.
Gray accepted the leg up and shook his head, a mild headache throbbing at his temples in the wake of his memories. He felt raw and a little exposed, but more grounded and settled.
"Should I be feeling left out of the memory-party fellas?" Lucy griped from nearby, bending over to pluck the stamp Gray had dropped in his attack.
"Nay Captain," Gray grinned back at her, relaxing more as the sensation of his memories calmed and gave him a better sense of serenity. Almost as if he were finding the missing pieces of himself and becoming whole again.
He swallowed, his mouth going dry as his eyes cast over to Juvia, who was red faced and staring down at the deck.
"When your memories come back, there's bound to be a bit of fanfare surrounding the event," Gray muttered in his distraction, slowly forcing his eyes back to an amused looking Lucy.
"Aye, so I've heard," She tossed the stamp in her hand, "Anyone care to explain to me what this thing is and why Gray lost his mind when he touched it?"
Natsu smirked at her and snagged it from the air before she could continue tossing it around.
"It's only one of Fairy Tail's greatest treasures!" Natsu said and beckoned his head towards Gray, who nodded and pulled off his vest to expose his bare chest.
"The mark of the crew," Natsu curled the handle in his palm, his magic flickering around the brass knob, "Fairy Tail's shield."
He pressed the magic into Grays chest, pulling away a moment later to expose a dark blue mark like a fairy in flight against his skin.
"Looks like the crew wanted you to have the legacy in its entirety," Natsu grinned as Gray pressed a hand against his chest, feeling like the final piece had fallen into place. He watched as Natsu passed the brand to Lucy.
"It's yours now, the one and original," He grinned.
Lucy grinned and handed it back to him, "I'd take it as an honor if Fairy Tail's former captain would consent to marking her current captain first."
Natsu beamed happily, pleased with the idea, and held up the stamp, "Just tell me where cap'n."
Lucy grinned broadly and held out her hand, "Here. I want to be able to see it always."
Natsu cackled softly as he pressed the stamp to the back of her hand, its magic washing over the area in a tingling sensation, "Just think of the color and size you want Luce. She'll accommodate ya."
Lucy nodded and closed her eyes for a moment as the tingle intensified and abruptly the stamp let go with a pop, leaving the back of her hand branded with a perfect pink replica of the Fairy Tail insignia.
"For you mom." She murmured happily and grinned at Natsu as she held her hand out, "Alright, let's get some stamping done! Who's first?"
"I'll take it cap'n!" Cana cackled as she strolled up, "It'd be a right honor."
Lucy laughed happily and in seconds the whole crew was excitedly crowding around to get their stamps, some poking fun at others for color or location, and as the last of the fog lifted Lucy could've sworn she heard a cannon salute from within its depths.
Congrats guys! You made your sneak for this round! Congratulations! Not much more to add, so just hang on tight and we'll see you on Wednesday!
Gray hesitated as he watched Natsu strapping his sword to his hip and rolling his shoulders to swing their pack across his back. His eyes fell to where Lucy adjusted the pistols across her hips and the blades strapped to her thighs.
"Captain are you sure?" Gray cringed, hating how he was staying behind. Staying when he could be helping. Lucy just nodded without looking at him.
"Don't worry about it Gray, you've already done more than enough for me and I know the path. You and Levy drew out a map accurate enough it could lead a blind man out of the Abyss itself," Lucy snorted.
"I don't know about that," Levy grinned and looked back at where Juvia was moving to join the away team.
"Juvia, you're going too?" Gray asked, looking concerned as the goddess made her way towards the edge of the ship.
"Yes, the spell on everyone is weakening by the day, and I'm hoping to strengthen Jellal's by going with," Juvia explained, her expression looking resigned, "I don't know if it'll do anything but I'm hoping it will make a difference."
"Alright then sailor," Lucy grinned at Juvia, "just keep up, sea legs are different than land legs!"
