Lucy had seen many marvelous phenomena while living at sea, but she'd never seen the water divide itself and open like one of Levy's books. She could see down to the bottom of the lake. She could see forms flitting around Juvia and Gajeel. She could see her friends surrounded. Surrounded. And she couldn't do anything to help. Were they in danger?
"What's going on?" Levy asked while taking a defensive stance, a hand readied angled across her torso. "I've never seen water do something like this before."
"If you don't know, I doubt anyone else would," Erza replied, drawing her sword. "Brace yourselves and prepare for combat, should it come to that."
There was a tenseness in the air, the gathered mages quiet and serious as Lucy had not seen them before. The sounds of water, call of evening birds, and thrum of magic were the only sounds to hear. All were focused on the illuminated scene on the lakebed. The figures swimming close by her friends didn't appear to be instigating any attacks, but Lucy was not comforted by the fact that violence had not yet begun. There was no stability or surety in this new world, in this new way of life. Not like there had been back at home. While she leaned forward over the rocky ledge to attempt a closer view, she could feel Loke pulling her back towards him, acting as a counterbalance.
"Is anything happening?"
Lucy wasn't sure if it were Jet or Droy who had asked the question, but she was wondering the same thing. For all appearances, it seemed like Juvia was having a conversation with whoever was down there, a long chest opened beside them. Perhaps Gajeel had managed to move one side of the cracked lid before the guardians had shown themselves. They had been so close to the Trident piece. Pity the water was covering up any sounds, blocking out her ability to discover the details, or even the vague generalities of the situation.
One of the dark figures darted to the chest, pulling out a staff before turning to face Juvia and Gajeel again. Another moment passed without movement. Juvia pointed up, and after a pause, the figure jabbed the staff upwards as well. Was it being used as a weapon? Lucy leaned out further.
"Easy there," Loke cautioned, tightening his grip. "Having you fall in won't help anything."
It turned out that Lucy didn't need to fall in the water in order to become wet or involved: Shadowy figures and friends shot from their position down below to the surface of the lake, water falling back into its place behind them with a great splash. Lucy, dangling out from the ledge, was in prime position to be doused by the flying water, even with Loke jerking her back to his side and relative safety.
"Is this the one you spoke of, water's daughter?" came a melodious voice. It sounded like a trickle of water finding its way down a rock cliff, the kind of trickle that became a pretty little waterfall that would plunge into the ocean. The voice reminded Lucy of one of her favorite haunts, and made her homesick.
"Yes, that is Lucy, my friend," Juvia answered.
Lucy shook off her nostalgia and tried to assess what was before her. Gajeel and Juvia floated atop the lake, Juvia holding tight to one end of a staff which extended to the figure Lucy had seen before. It was a womanly creature, pale and blue and white and delicate and beautiful, much like Juvia. Three other such creatures swam a little further off.
"Lucy," the main creature repeated, staring at Lucy a moment. "She is no more water's daughter than that sulking beast you have with you now."
Not a water's daughter? What was that supposed to mean? Lucy was a mermaid, which was a maiden of the ocean. Maidens were daughters of someone. The ocean was a large body of water. Water. Daughter. Water's daughter. Lucy was offended someone would try to shut her out of her only group.
"What? But she is the same as-" Juvia began.
"No, she is nothing like you. You are a water's daughter like us. The fact that we are fresh water and you are from the salty ocean makes no true difference."
"We are both mermaids, though," Juvia said, defending her friend. That made Lucy smile.
"Mermaids have nothing to do with it. You were a water's daughter before you were a mermaid. You are one of us," said the beautiful voice.
"And what are they exactly?" Gray voiced, hands still clasped at the ready for his icy magic.
"Nymphs," breathed Levy. "They're nymphs. Beautiful, rarely seen, female creatures so connected with their rivers and waters that they can hardly be separated. They also act as protectors for their territories, and keep the waters clean."
But nymphs? Juvia was a mermaid, and this nymph claimed Juvia as one of her own kind?
The nymph connected to Juvia through the staff nodded in approval. "Yes, you are well-informed, little sprite. And because a water's daughter has come seeking this staff hidden so long with us, we entrust it to her. Take it with our blessing, but also with a warning." Her eyes hardened, her voice sharpened, and the water became turbulent around her. "This staff is part of the Trident. Using lightly its powers will bring devastating repercussions upon not only yourself, but all you hold dear. Especially on that which you hold dearest."
Juvia's large eyes flicked towards Gray for a moment before returning to the staff in her hands.
"This is a burden that you alone will carry as you are the one to which the staff is entrusted," continued the nymph, casting a glance towards Gajeel and then Lucy. "We would not dare to grant this to any not a water's daughter: they lack the strength and character to bear this burden."
Lucy straightened her back, lifted her nose, and turned to walk regally away from this clique monster. Unfortunately, Loke didn't let go of her quickly enough for her to make a smooth exit, and released her too quickly once she'd lost her balance already, leaving her stumbling about like a fool until she rammed into Gray's once again bare chest.
"Whoa, you okay, Lucy?" Gray asked, hands grabbing her shoulders to help steady her.
A collective hiss had Lucy peering nervously over her shoulder. All the nymphs wore outraged faces, clearly nettled. Their voices hissed out quickly.
"You allow another to approach your beloved?"
"You called this creature your friend, and she turns on you to steal your beloved."
"Traitorous beloved, how could you let your hands wander?"
Juvia's eyes narrowed towards the nymphs around her. "Lucy is my friend, and she knows my feelings. I choose to trust her." She tugged the end of the staff from the leader, and spoke with firmness. "I have heard your warning, and I accept responsibility. Thank you."
Water pushed Juvia and Gajeel to shore, then lifted them up to sit on dry land.
"Very well, water's daughter. Go on your way in peace, flowing with the mother we have as part of our beings. Flow sweetly, water's daughter."
The nymphs turned and dived down into the lake, disappearing from view. Stunned silence filled the air for a moment when a small splash broke it. A film of water dropped from Gajeel's lips and he took some gasping breaths.
"Why'd ya gag me, ya crazy-"
"Because you were ruining negotiations with your harsh comments," Juvia interrupted.
"I didn't see ya gaggin' them for callin' me a 'nasty, brutish barbarian,' though, did I?"
"Because that's the truth, dummy," Natsu laughed, throwing his hands behind his head.
Levy grinned. "He's right, you know."
That was the key to breaking the tension. Squabbling and ribbing and arguing returned to their former, rightful places amongst the companions. Except for Lucy, who, when she turned to share a celebratory smile with her friend, found Juvia's rage-filled eyes burning at her.
"I chose to trust you on our friendship, Lucy. Do not test me."
Lucy was confused, but then realized she was still rather intimately close to Gray. Floundering about and flailing her arms suddenly seemed like a good idea. Well, at least it did until her mad fit of brilliance had the sum effect of slapping Gray in the face, tripping over a rock, and nearly pulling off Levy's skirt on her way down. This prompted Levy to squeal, and grab at her skirt while throwing herself in the opposite direction of the attack, leaving her teetering on the edge about to fall in the lake.
"Levy! We'll catch you!" chorused her two friends, rushing forward with arms outstretched.
They did not succeed in catching her. Levy managed to find her balance and pull herself back to safety just as Jet and Droy made a grab for her previous position. In the end, Jet and Droy found themselves holding each other tightly in the lake, Levy was blushing and holding her skirt in place, and Lucy was on the ground with a throbbing cheek and smarting ego. She closed her eyes tightly. The pains she suffered to prove to her good friend Juvia that she, Lucy, was no love rival. Juvia most definitely should be grateful Lucy was willing to go so far for a friend, because her face would undoubtedly be blemished by that little stunt of hers just now.
Over the sounds of raucous laughter (Natsu could not contain his absolute amusement), barked demands (Gajeel couldn't see, remember?), and plaintive howling (Jet and Droy wanted out of the lake), Lucy heard foot falls approach her.
"Are you injured?" inquired Erza, voice a pitch gentler than usual. Lucy, not wanting to admit weakness before such a strong human, merely waved her hand about noncommittally. "I see." Erza was not at all convinced, Lucy thought. Her hypothesis was proven correct when Erza hauled Lucy over her shoulder before turning back to the group to issue commands: "We have succeeded in our mission to retrieve this part of the Trident. We return now to the guild, and we can inspect this staff there. Levy, help guide Gajeel. Natsu, fish those two out of the water. Loke, carry Juvia. Gray, help with the staff. Now, let's move."
Par for the course, people felt it necessary to argue about their orders. Erza's powerful glare put everyone's concerns to a swift end, everyone's save Gajeel's, who, being blind as well as obstinate, felt neither the wrath of Erza's glare nor the need to let his opinion die down just because everyone else fell silent. Juvia gave an occasional mutter about Gray and Loke and who had her loyalty, but remained mostly subdued. Quite frankly, Lucy knew she would be protesting vocally if she were capable: it wasn't very flattering, the way she was being carried, and Erza was leading the party back. At least it was dark, so even though Lucy was bobbing along on Erza's shoulder in front of all of them, it wasn't like they could all see her very well. Small mercies.
Back in the guild hall, they gathered around the table still piled high with Levy's books, all pushed to one side. Lucy, with a small ice pack against her swollen cheek, sat beside Juvia once more, staff laid before them. It was a beautiful thing, Lucy admired. Around Lucy's height, or a little shorter, and covered in blue-green and gold swirled designs that looked like coral made of sunshine in a mystical sea.
"It sure is beautiful," Mira commented, hands clasped before her. "The gold really stands out."
"That's because the green stuff is patina on bronze inlay," Levy said. "At least, that's most likely. Bronze tarnishes, but gold doesn't. Not like this. I wonder if the creator did that on purpose."
"It certainly does look like a treasure that belongs to the sea," Juvia agreed, hand still attached the staff. Lucy hadn't seen her let go of the object since receiving it from the nymphs- Lucy refused to call them water's daughters after their exclusionary remarks- back in the lake. Even when Gray was helping lift the weight of it while Loke carried Juvia, she had kept a hand on the end of the staff. She must be taking the nymph's charge seriously. She certainly had a history of keeping pledges most faithfully.
Gajeel grunted. "Not that this isn't great or anythin', but what are we s'posed to do with this? It's a giant stick. Useless. We need the other parts."
"Yes, but it is a start, Gajeel," Juvia soothed.
"Great, great," Gajeel nodded impatiently. "Where's the map? Where's the next piece?"
Gray, arms crossed on his still bare chest, said, "No need to rush it, pal. It's dark out, time for dinner and sleep. We're not gettin' any more pieces tonight."
"Perhaps we cannot retrieve any more of the pieces," Erza conceded, "but we can make a strategy tonight in order to act in the morning. So, yes, bring out the map."
"And dinner!" Natsu added. "Gray made a valid point for once."
Natsu's call for food made Lucy pause. She had been so focused on the task at hand to save her home that she hadn't given any consideration to the more mundane, albeit rather important necessities of food and accommodations. It was not long after sundown, but Lucy was beginning to feel the fatigue gain ground in her body and consciousness. Where were they supposed to sleep tonight? Yes, there were remaining funds from the pearl sold last evening, but how long would that go in feeding and lodging all three of them? How much was even left? How did human currency even work? How would they travel to the other locations to find the remaining pieces of the Trident? Train tickets required funds as well. Lucy dropped the ice pack on the table and began combing her fingers through her hair, searching for any stray pearls that could have been missed during earlier stylings.
Levy put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright? Did you hurt your head when you fell earlier?"
What? Injured her head? Oh. Lucy supposed she could see how Levy reached that conclusion, but no. But would a bumped head have been better than her bumped jaw? Perhaps the injury may have been worse, but at least it would not have been visible. Lucy hoped her jaw didn't sport an unsightly bruise to mar her beauty. Without any pearls, her looks would have to be put to great effect in the near future.
"Sorry, I forgot. Here's pen and paper."
Even with the supplies in hand, Lucy hesitated. Levy noticed, and said, "Don't worry about the others seeing. I'm the only one who can read that language here. Besides, they're eating. We may as well not even exist right now."
Seeing the exuberant diners around her, Lucy had to agree with that. Juvia was alternating her praise of Gray with dainty bites, Gajeel was muttering dark curses while munching his finger foods, Natsu was having some sort of competition with Gray to see who was better at slurping noodles, and that little stunt was garnering everyone else's attention. Now was as good a time as any for a somewhat private conversation.
I was looking for any pearls in my hair, Lucy wrote. I don't have any more, and I don't know if Juvia does either.
"We can ask her after dinner, maybe we can all go to the bathhouse together."
Where are we going to sleep? Where are- Lucy stopped writing when Levy's suggestion registered. Bath house?
"Oh, I guess they wouldn't have those in the ocean, would they?" Levy chuckled. "It's just a house with public baths in it. There's one here in town that's got restorative properties to it, physically and magically. We girls could go together after dinner."
That sounds nice.
"Awesome. We'll go later, then," Levy said, leaning over Lucy's paper to grab a dish of food from the middle of the table. "As for your other question, you girls can bunk at Fairy Hills. That's the girls' dorm here. You can stay with me, if you'd like."
Lucy paused. She didn't wish to intrude, but they did need a place to sleep. And what about Gajeel? She wrote that question down.
"Hmmm," Levy hummed while slurping a noodle. "If we can't find any guys willing to let him crash with them, he might be able to stay in the infirmary here for the first night. At least until we find something else for him."
He can't see. I don't want to leave him alone.
"That's a good point. We'll just make one of the guys stay with him. Erza and Mira can handle that, and you can stay with us girls." Levy continued eating, then cast a knowing look at Lucy. "Besides, you probably need a break from those guys over there. No boys allowed in Fairy Hills."
I acc-
Lucy stopped trying to write her hearty acceptance, and started shaking Levy's hand enthusiastically instead. The other girl just laughed. Lucy could appreciate the fact that though she was a mermaid, and Levy a human, they were both still female. And that meant something, something she could appreciate. Perhaps Levy could become a great friend here, one who would keep in contact with her when she went back home. Especially if Juvia continued in her affections for Gray.
Wait. Hold that thought. How was that going to work out? A sick feeling of worry for her friend took up residence in Lucy's stomach, spoiling her appetite right after settling other matters enough for her to gain one in the first place. Juvia felt so keenly, so purely. If she loved, she loved; if she was happy, she was happy. Lucy couldn't really imagine what a heartbroken Juvia would look like, and she didn't want to see it at all. But how else could this love story play out?
Levy, who noticed the sudden swing in emotion, pushed some food towards Lucy. "I don't know what just happened in your head, but you should probably eat something. You'll need the energy."
A vague nod, and a return to her own inner world while absently eating what Levy had placed before her. It was unlikely Lucy would get a moment to herself while this desperate search for the Trident progressed. Back in the ocean, if Lucy needed to be alone, she would just flick her tail and go to one of her favorite haunts for a while. She couldn't do that here, not only because she had no tail, but because she couldn't leave without someone to help her return. She would get lost in this city if she were to leave her companions. Besides, there wasn't time to be wasting anyway. Who knew what was happening to her home right now? The longer she took, the worse things could be getting for those left behind.
It was nice, though. Having people around her, people who clearly cared for each other. The desire to be able to have some peace and quiet was heavily countered by the fact that, without a voice, Lucy was bombarded with her own thoughts, worries, feelings, concerns, opinions, clever comebacks, scathing remarks, gentle encouragements, and everything herself with no real way of escaping. Isolation in the midst of a raucous crowd was a difficult emotion to handle. Without Levy, pen, and paper, Lucy was alone, in a sense. Alone in that she had no great way to interact with life, no way to communicate, and limited ways to participate.
Maybe there was a way to increase her role in this escapade of theirs? Perhaps involving herself in the action would help her feel less cut off. But how could she do that when her opinions, protests, suggestions, and warnings all had to be conveyed with gestures and facial expressions?
So lost in thought was she that when she heard someone shout her name, she was incredibly surprised to see the whole table staring at her in silence. She blinked. Was her face really bruised? Subtly, she placed a hand over the sore spot.
"Sorry for shouting," Levy said. "It's just that we've been trying to get your attention for a few minutes now."
Lucy flushed. Gajeel snorted. "One of these days, star girl, havin' yer head outta the water is gonna get ya in trouble."
This was a rather obvious statement to Lucy, who used the fact that her head was currently out of the water and she, and all of merkfolkdom, were very much in trouble. But that wasn't her fault. It was the trouble that forced her head out of the water in the first place; it's not like she'd chosen to come up on human lands in a human body of her own free will. Gajeel made it sound like she was vapid and empty-headed, when the truth was far from that: her mind was filled with wonder of the world around her, the desire to go on adventures (safely), and all sorts of bits and pieces of stories she itched to weave together into a tale worth passing along to others.
Instead of giving into temptation to show her tumultuous feelings for her friend and the general circumstances, Lucy waved a hand to indicate the conversation should proceed. She was paying attention now.
"The way the map and the story was goin', I expected it to be more exciting," Natsu commented, slumping forward and folding his arms across his chest. "That was actually kind of boring. Nothin' happened."
"Are you forgetting about the giant water moving incident?" Droy demanded.
"Or the nymphs guarding the staff?" Jet added.
"No, I'm not forgettin'," Natsu said. "I just think it was boring."
Gray scoffed. "You just wanted to break something or throw fire at something to make it explode."
"Like you didn't want to do something, too!"
"At least I'm not lookin' a gift horse in the mouth," Gray countered, joining his hands and extending them over his head in a stretch. Juvia liked it; Lucy could see it in the way her eyes lit up and roved over his form. Well, to be fair, Gray was nice to look at, with or without a shirt. His outline was just masculine. It drew the eye.
"I'm not lookin' any horse in the mouth," Natsu said with a grimace. "Why would I want to look at someone's mouth? That's gross."
"Not everyone's mouth is gross," argued a brunette over a table. She was wearing a top similar to one mermaids would wear, and she draped herself fetchingly around a giant barrel. "In fact, my mouth is beautiful, and it does beautiful things." She waggled her eyebrows and puckered her lips.
"All your mouth does is drink booze," Natsu said.
"Oh, there are other things I can-"
"Thank you for your input, but let's move on now," Erza ordered, turning back around in her seat from where she had been regarding the other girl. "There is no need for such conversation at a time like this. Horses AND mouths aside, we must plan our next move."
"Why is Cana's mouth less appropriate than a horse's mouth?" Natsu asked, head cocked to the side.
The whole table groaned. Various variations of, "What an idiot," and, "How is he so naïve?" were murmured while faces were rubbed. And while those faces were being rubbed, and eyes were being rolled, no one but Lucy caught the twinkling spark of laughter in his eye as he regarded his handiwork. Lucy was beginning to get the impression that this sort of thing happened a lot, and that Natsu was considered as somewhat dumb around the guild- but perhaps only because Natsu let it happen that way. He knew a lot more than he let on, just the same way he knew how to take care of her before others did. Or maybe he really was just daft and there was no real basis to any of these mad hypotheses of hers. Lucy was sick of thinking.
"Moving on," Levy cleared her throat. "I think we can all agree that getting the first portion of the Trident, this staff, was a success. But there are three more pieces we still need to find."
"And looking at this map, they're not all that close to each other, or to us," Gray commented. He pointed to a spot next to green triangles and a wobbly blue line. "This one is the closest; we could start there."
"Is there a chance of the rest of the guardians just giving us the pieces like they did this time?" asked Loke.
"Who said you were taggin' along?" Natsu demanded defensively.
"Who said I couldn't?" Loke said with his suave smile and confidently gleaming eyes. Lucy made a mental note that this guild Mavis set up really was a nice place to find attractive men. Gray, Natsu, and Loke were all high on the list of "Best Looking Humans I've Ever Seen" Lucy had going in her mind. Or mermen, for that matter.
Erza hummed in thought. "Though it is possible, I think it would be best to-"
"Why don't ya let Juvia answer, huh? Since she's the one they gave it to and all."
Gajeel had a point, but he could have made it in a more polite manner. Erza, however, did not seem too offended, and even motioned for Juvia to respond according to Gajeel's suggestion.
"Well, we can't be sure that will happen again," Juvia said slowly, a graceful finger tracing the outline of her jaw, moving back and forth as she spoke. "To be honest, I'm not even entirely certain what happened out there with the others. They called me a 'water's daughter,' but said Lucy and Gajeel weren't one of them. Something about them not having the right connection, love, and understanding. Blocked emotions clouded by judgments. That's what they said about Lucy, down when we were at the bottom of the lake. They came up to see more closely when I insisted Lucy and I were both mermaids. For whatever reason, these nymphs, or water's daughters, have claimed me as their own kind, and decided to trust me with their piece of the Trident."
"I ain't no water's daughter," Gajeel spat. "And I ain't no mermaid neither."
"Now Gajeel I can understand," Levy spoke up. "But what about Lucy? This doesn't make a lot of sense to me."
Juvia hesitated, looking at Lucy, and then to Gajeel. "I have a theory… but I'd like some time to work on it before discussing it. It's rather personal, and if I'm wrong, I'd rather not dig up more problems for us."
Lucy wondered if Juvia had a thought similar to hers. She would ask later tonight when they were alone. Oh. No, she wouldn't. She couldn't speak. But she did have a clue as to Juvia's theory, and tried to glean from Gajeel's expression if he might be having similar thoughts as well.
"Very well," Erza allowed, moving to stand. "In the morning, early, we move out to find the next piece of the Trident. This one here," she said, pointing at the next closest piece of trident on the map. "Rest well, everyone. We shall need our might for this quest, to work quickly and help our new friends save their home."
Gajeel humphed in response. Lucy and Juvia smiled gratefully, beautifully, and slightly apologetically. With all of the stress of the day, Lucy was so looking forward to relaxing in a giant bath and be fully immersed in water again. Fully immersed in water, and no attractive humans to stare at, or glance cautiously at in fear of Juvia's notice. No distractions, just peace.
It was going to be a lovely break.
Dear Friends,
I know it's been more than a year since I posted. I'm sorry. In summation: a gruesome battle for health, near losses, almost victories, mellow stability, slow improvement. But I'm alive. And I'm writing again. It's not perfect, but I'm just happy to be able to write and post something. :) I've got next week's chapter written and ready for editing, and we know where we're going.
I would like to thank those of you who favorited, followed, and reviewed, even while I was MIA. Fanficer21 and smj40 both had 2017's by their names. Thanks. I didn't even know people saw this anymore. And to all my old friends, hello. I missed you. Boogey56 and FireShifter and Astroman1000, you've been there every chapter with reviews that stood out. Thanks for that. And to every single person who's read this story. Thank you. I know I'm not mentioning everyone, and I'm sorry. But thank you.
Here's to health and happy writing in the new year!
Cheers!
Anne-Marie
