I AM SO SORRY ABOUT POSTING THE WRONG CHAPTER THE FIRST TIME, APPARENTLY 3AM IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO UPLOAD DOCUMENTS.
"Luce."
The blonde siren looked up suddenly, her gaze catching a determined look from the dark-eyed fire dragon slayer who sat across from her on the sandy shore, his legs crossed habitually.
She shot him an expectant look, gesturing for him to continue his statement as she traced her fingers through the smooth sand, something that she hadn't grown tired of, even in their last four years that she had managed to visit Natsu.
Each individual grain still amazed the girl, even if she couldn't find the words to express that joy.
"I'm following you into the water today."
Lucy's eyes widened in shock and she swiftly shook her head no, shoving her hands out in front of her frantically.
Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and pouted at her response. "It's not fair. You always swim off into the ocean without saying anything! I can't help feeling like . . . like something bad is happening," he muttered, the pout fading from his face.
In response, Lucy dropped her head, her fingers no longer casually shifting grains of sand.
She had felt his patience, what little Natsu had, wearing thin on the subject.
A lot of their conversations consisted of him telling her about his days and experiences in the most animated ways, with her responding and teasing him with her expressions.
He stopped asking questions about the Ocean and her inability to speak six months into their friendship. Whenever their conversation would drift that way she would refuse to answer, and if he persisted, she would slink back into the cool waves of the shore.
Eventually, he stopped trying, deciding that it was better to accept what little the girl could give him than focusing on what she was unable to say.
But Natsu's patience had it's limits, and it seemed that Lucy had reached them.
"Just let me help you!" Natsu pleaded, his hands grasping her forearms firmly.
In that moment, she wanted to cave. She bit back the tears that were forming around her eyes, knowing that this future could never be hers.
If he followed her into the water, The Ocean would drown him immediately for following her because it was risking the safety of the entire operation. Frankly, it was a miracle that She had let Lucy spend time with Natsu for as long as she had.
Lucy had lost track of the number of times Natsu had asked to help her, to fix whatever was keeping her from speaking. She could hardly blame him, it was in his nature to want to help people, especially those that he considered his friends. And how could he not want to help the mysteriously beautiful girl that saved him from drowning, but was trapped in her own voiceless fate?
But she was so beyond his saving.
Every life that she had ended for The Ocean weighed down on her, every wife that waited for a husband that would never return, each mother that prepared a meal that her son would never eat. Each of those painful experiences was an aching memory that plagued her dreams and kept her up at nights.
But Natsu, Natsu was the one thing she had done right.
If The Ocean got Her hands on him because she was careless, then Lucy would have nothing left to live for.
And that was all it took to spark her resolve. It was time to end this before it became too painful for her to bear, and killed him in the process.
Quickly, she stood up from where she stood by the shore, shaking off Natsu's grip. Lucy caught the hurt look in his eyes when she stepped away from him.
But it hurt a lot less than the image of his lifeless body sinking to the Ocean floor.
Before he could say another word, she sprinted towards the water, traveling as fast as her feet would carry her, refusing to look back and see his face.
Just before she could dive into the foam that was the gateway of her metaphorical prison, she felt a warm hand catch a vice-like grip on her wrist, tugging her away from the water. Lucy stumbled and collided into a warm chest, one that she knew belonged to Natsu.
She struggled to snake herself out of his grip, but he held on tight, one arm wrapped around her back to hold her in place. "Let me help you!" he growled.
Lucy couldn't see his face, but she knew his eyes were full of concern, which only made her struggle harder. She wanted to scream at him to let her go, but she knew her voice would force him to toss himself into the water without a second thought, so she held the biting retort that was on the tip of her tongue.
He couldn't see that this was killing her.
"Lucy, stop struggling, dammit, and just listen for a second!"
She eventually gave in, knowing that his strength far outmatched hers.
"It kills me that I can't help you," he admitted quietly.
In the time that Lucy had known Natsu, she had only ever heard him use that voice when something was truly wrong, and it made her body flinch in anticipation. When he was certain that she was done struggling, he let go of her, no longer holding her against him.
"I'm not going to stop trying to help you," he declared, determination returning to him as he imagined himself finally solving the puzzle that was Lucy.
All she did was nod quietly in response, her entire frame shaking. Lucy looked up at him, her brown eyes watering, but she understood his intentions to be good.
And that made her decision so much more painful.
With one last longing look towards the fire mage, she turned on her heel and quickly dove into the surf. Her last glimpse of him was of a look of surprise on his face.
Even Natsu probably knew she would never return to the beach again, at least not for awhile.
And maybe that was for the best.
00000000
Natsu stalked his way back to the guild hall, lost in thought, something rare to see of the usually rambunctious fire mage.
"Ass-flame, where have you been?"
The fire mage looked up abruptly, fists already clenched and ready for battle when he spotted Gray, his arch nemesis and sometimes best friend.
"You wanna go, Ice princess?" Natsu challenged back, his right fist already catching fire.
The other guildmates didn't even flinch when they saw the usual fight brewing between the two mages, and instead quietly maneuvered themselves away from the upcoming fight.
"I'd love to, Fire-head, but I don't think Makarov would like me to kick your ass while he's announcing who will be in the S-class trials," Gray shot back smugly as he unbuttoned his shirt nonchalantly.
From somewhere near the bar, you could hear Gajeel muttering about annoying stripper habits while everyone settled in to hear from the guild master, Makarov, as he stood on a stool behind the railing of the balcony.
"Tch, whatever, Ice dick, we'll fight later. I'm way to interested in what gramps is going to say than to waste my time kicking your ass," Natsu shouted back as he took a seat next to Jet and Droy, fellow mages that were often confused with each other because they were always together.
As the guild hall began to quiet down, Makarov, an old man who stood maybe three feet tall, began to speak. "My children, as you are aware, it is time for another S-Class wizard trial to declare who will be the next S-Class wizard. These trials are not to be taken lightly," he warned, "but they will determine which of you is prepared enough to take on any job submitted to the guild."
Bisca, the green-haired gun magic user, who was sitting just a few feet away from Natsu, let out a loud cheer that was echoed by the rest of the guild.
When everyone quieted down, Erza Scarlett, a beautiful red-haired mage who specialized in requip magic, began to speak. "Alright, everyone, you heard the master. So take this seriously, and no fooling around!" she shouted, her hand on the hilt of the sword at her hip. Erza was absolutely terrifying to be around because if anybody could beat the hell out of him, it was Erza, something that happened frequently.
"For this year's S-Class Trials, I have selected wizards that I think have the potential to be S-Class, even if you don't become one this year. Remember, only one wizard can reach the status of S-Class," Makarov stated seriously, sending a look directly to Natsu.
As Makarov listed off the names of who would be attending the trials at the sacred Tenrou Island, Natsu cheered when he heard his name and booed when he heard Gray's name, causing most of the guild to roll their eyes at the predicted antic of the guildmates.
"And finally, Cana Alberona," Makarov stated finally.
Natsu turned to look, having forgotten about the usually scantily clad brunette who was known for her card magic. Cana raised a mug of beer towards Makarov in recognition, shaking out her hair in the process as she cheered, obviously at least a little tipsy from all the alcohol.
Cana had only been in the guild for three years, but everyone seemed to like the girl a lot, in spite of her lewd and provocative nature. The young woman had stumbled upon the guild hall one night during a terrible thunderstorm, stating that she couldn't remember much from the last twenty years of her life, but she knew she was a mage.
Bisca had quickly rushed the girl to the bar and fetched some dry clothes for her, calling for Erza and Makarov in the process. Natsu remembered that it had only been a few months after he had met Lucy.
After some discussion, Makarov decided to let the girl stay, and eventually she earned her guild mark, proving herself as a true Fairy Tail Mage.
Natsu often thought back to that night, remembering how Cana had had the same lost look in her eyes that Lucy often had.
"Okay everyone, get a good night's sleep because we need to be at the docks at sunrise," Erza shouted over the clamor in the guild.
And Natsu's mind went right back to how he was going to crush his guildmates and finally become an S-Class Wizard.
00000000
Lucy sighed again as she rested her head on the table of their kitchen, shoulders slumped.
"Oh, and what has you so down again today, Lucy?" Mirajane asked sweetly from where she stood at the kitchen sink, peeling potatoes for dinner that night. The Sirens didn't need to eat since they were essentially immortal, but Mira always loved to come up with new recipes and force the girls to try them since they had literally hundreds of years of free time. "Do you not have another rendezvous today?" she teased as she casted a knowing look towards the blonde.
The younger siren exhaled in exasperation, causing the white-haired girl to giggle. "Oh come on, Lucy, we all know there's a boy, or why else would you be so down right now?"
Lucy pinched her nose as she sat up in her chair, knowing very well that Mira had a point. "Maybe I just miss Cana!" she said with a roll of her eyes. "It's been three years since we last saw her, and I miss her," she admitted.
There was truth to that statement, and all four girls felt the absence of their oldest sister keenly. Just three years prior, Cana had finally fulfilled her contract of a thousand years, meaning that she was released from her duties to the Ocean. As a result of completing her contract, The Ocean erased her memories of her time in service, creating a handful of artificial ones to allow her to function, as well as granting her magic abilities. And now that her voice no longer had the capabilities to lure men into the depths of the ocean, she could live freely among humans, her life perfectly mortal henceforth.
The only things the Sirens kept when they completed their contract was their astounding beauty, and the Ocean granted them magic, as well as a promise that they would never die within Her waters. Even if they couldn't remember the promise after their memory was cleared, they all knew The Ocean liked to keep her word.
Now, there were only four sirens, which felt strange to them. While The Ocean only needed one Siren at a time to sing for Her, She liked to keep several so that they would not be so lonely in their immortality. She was also always aware of when new candidates for the position were available and whenever new ones would be needed to be trained by more experienced Sirens.
Girls, a new sister awaits you! There isn't time to lose. You must hurry, and I will take you to her.
Lucy jumped up from her seat while Mira dropped the potatoes in the sink. "Did you hear Her, too?" she asked. Lucy nodded in response as Levy and Lisanna met them at the door of the home by the shore.
"A new sister?" Lisanna asked in excitement. "It's been ages since we've had anyone new."
"Not since Yukino," Levy responded sadly in memory of the last sister they had found. Yukino had been a sweet girl with bluish-white hair and a sad smile. She had been unable to cope with her responsibilities as a Siren and ended up begging The Ocean to take her life after just a few years. Eventually, The Ocean gave in, and she hadn't brought a new sister into the group for the last century.
Hurry now, she is very far and very weak.
"We'll talk about this later," Lucy shouted as she sprinted towards the water, diving into the clear waves without hesitation.
The Ocean funneled the girls through the currents until they were halfway across the globe in only a matter of minutes. Each girl could feel the static energy that came from the excitement of Her as she moved them towards her next Siren.
There she is, your new sister!
Lucy looked up, only to see a young girl, perhaps fourteen, falling quickly through the water.
Her skirts billowed around her, meaning it would have been almost impossible for her to swim. She also looked to be unconscious, spurring the other Sirens into action. Mira and Lisanna each grabbed one of the girl's arm, dragging her up towards the faint light that they hoped would be the girl's salvation.
As they reached the surface of the water, the young girl let out an audible gasp, coughing to clear the water from her lungs.
She hard dark blue hair that was soaking wet from her drowning escapade. What really struck Lucy was when the girl opened her eyes.
They were pure and innocent, and suddenly Lucy had a sinking feeling that this girl would only be corrupted by the life of a Siren.
She looked so bright and cheerful, and she had to wonder if, once upon a time, she had possessed the same countenance.
Child, my daughters have saved you.
The girl looked up, her eyes wide in alarm as she took in the girls holding her up in the water. "Did you hear that?" she asked incredulously.
The other girls nodded, but did not answer, knowing that their voices would still affect the girl.
Down here, little one, the Ocean's voice brimming with warmth. I'm all around you. Will you accept me?
The girl looked startled, but she nodded slowly, allowing her body to relax into the calm of the waves.
Silently, she sank below the surface. Her mouth opened in surprise and a light shimmered as the currents whipped around her, alternating between warm and cold. The other Sirens had seen the transformation take place many different times, when young women were granted immortality and a connection to the Ocean. When she opened her eyes she immediately shot back towards the surface.
Mirajane was the first to extend her hand to the young girl, a smile on her angelic face. "I'm Mirajane, and this is Lisanna, Levy, and Lucy," she said, pointing to each girl in turn. "You're our newest sister, and we're very excited to have you in our family. So what's your name?"
The girl contemplated for a moment, most likely listening to The Ocean speaking in her mind, before she nodded, her gaze shifting from girl to girl before it settled comfortably on Lucy.
Sticking out her hand, she smiled sweetly before stating, "I'm Wendy."
A/N: Okay remember when I saw I was writing a one-shot? Yeah, me too. Anyway, you guys reviewed so awesomely that I knew I couldn't just leave this piece as a stand-alone. Looks like it's going to be a multi-chaptered fic, but it will probably be pretty short. Thanks for the awesome love and support, and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter just as much!
-Wri
