A/N Sorry I haven't been updating! I was just stuck out of town for four days with no laptop access (which was where I saved the requests I was working on). This oneshot is something I had to write on my phone's notes and then send to myself so I'm sorry if it has more errors than usual. I just want you to know that (hopefully) both of my requests will be out tomorrow (the one I'm rewriting and a new one) as a Christmas Gift! If you don't celebrate Christmas then just think of them as Winter Gifts. :P Well I don't own Fairy Tail and please enjoy!
Prompt: you just happened to be caught as prey by a mythical creature that should exist anymore and I, another mythical creature that shouldn't exist anymore, will now save you.
The sky was an alluring light blue and the sun warmed Natsu's skin from where he sat on the boat deck. Fluffy clouds floated overhead and Natsu occupied himself by trying to find shapes in them. Just as he saw one that looked like a dragon, a scream nearby had him spring to his feet.
"What's wrong?!" Natsu asked while staring at his friends. Gray and Romeo both seemed confused as well until a splashing sound broke through the panic. Next to the boat, a black mop of hair emerged from the water. Without wasting a second Natsu dived into the water despite his friends' warnings. Once he entered the water it became difficult to see. He groped around the water, grasping at the ocean before opening his eyes. All he saw was a wicked sharp smile and gleaming black eyes. Tendrils of obsidian hair floated around the girl like tentacles. Where legs would be instead there was a black fish tail that was covered in crust and barnacles. Natsu recognized the girl as the one that had been drowning earlier. Now it seemed that she could breathe perfectly underwater.
"Look what I've found." The girl rasped as if she had been swallowing saltwater for years. Somehow Natsu could hear her actual voice and not just vague sounds despite being a good ways underwater. Maybe it was the lack of oxygen going to his brain something else but Natsu was pretty sure this...figure wasn't human.
"This isn't your jurisdiction and you know that Minerva." A soft but firm voice rang out. The black haired girl-was she even considered a girl with a tail like that? - snarled at the new person.
"The Pet is out on the job again. What, was the scarlet bitch too busy with her toy to come and discipline me herself?" Minerva said with a hiss. Soft light appeared behind Natsu and he felt the same warm feeling like he had from the sun earlier. Suddenly he felt the need to take in a deep breath and was pleasantly surprised to realize that saltwater didn't enter his mouth but actual air did instead. Natsu had the faintest idea that the air was somehow connected to the Pet's appearance but he was too grateful to be able to breathe to question it.
"Don't talk about King Jellal and Queen Erza in such a rude manner. In fact don't speak of them at all. They are respected rulers of the sirens and their names are far too elegant to be sullied by your mouth. I'll tell you once; leave now Minerva. Also Minerva that is not my name. It's Lucy, which is so simple even a bottom feeding siren reject like you should be able to remember." Lucy spat. The light behind Natsu glowed brighter for a second and then disappeared only for a new figure to appear. It was a girl that was in her late-teens and had her arms crossed over her chest in a defiant manner. Silky blonde hair surrounded her shoulders like armor and warm brown eyes glared at Minerva. Instead of a crusty and dark tail like Minerva, Lucy's was pink glimmering scales that managed to catch the sunlight even in the dark waters.
"I'll leave. Once I can have this boy with me." Minerva grinned wickedly and reached a talon towards Natsu. Only Lucy's quick reflexes saved him from becoming fish (or maybe shark? Possibly dolphin? Who knew what Minerva even was) food. The two glided through the water with Minerva hot on their heels. Well Natsu's heels because Lucy was a siren and instead had a tail obviously.
"What's going on?!" Natsu yelped as Lucy yanked on his arm harshly so he wouldn't slam into a large fish. His siren companion grunted and zig zagged for a moment to confuse Minerva. Despite all of Lucy's efforts, Natsu could still feel the cold presence of Minerva behind him.
"Are you sure now is really the time to ask that?" Lucy asked. Natsu opened his mouth again before shutting it. She did have a point. They were on the run (or would it be the swim?) from some weird humanoid creature and here he was asking for details. "Cover your eyes!" Lucy ordered and Natsu squeezed his eyes shut. Even with his eyes shut, Natsu could feel pulsing rays of light illuminating his eyelids. A scream from Minerva was the last thing he heard until the sound of rushing water filled his ears. After a few more moments of blindness everything slowed down and Natsu shook faintly. He was about to puke and needed to find somewhere to toss up his lunch ASAP.
"Open your eyes. Welcome to the Siren Kingdom." Lucy said and her voice lost any malice. The dark water that did surrounded them was now replaced with glittering turquoise currents. Sirens bustled around, hardly sparing a second glance at Lucy and Natsu. All around were colorfully decorated structures. It vaguely reminded Natsu of Crocus, the capital of Fiore. Of course Crocus wasn't submerged in water and filled with mythical creatures but the design was the same.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" Natsu asked Lucy.
"I forgot that you are a human. I'll elaborate on our circumstances once I find thy Majesties." Lucy promised. Natsu wondered why she always talked like a noble heir from the seventeenth century, but then again she did have a tail and could breathe perfectly fine underwater so it wasn't the weirdest thing about her. The golden light from earlier surrounded her again and instead of the tail there were human legs. Her outfit shifted to accommodate the anatomy change and now a miniskirt was in place. The walk to the large castle in the center of the Kingdom was short but they managed to gather a crowd of nosy sirens whispering about the two.
"Don't talk or look at any of the sirens." Lucy whispered to Natsu before reaching the large castle doors. The guard in front of them recognized Lucy and the doors creaked open. Inside of the castle was just as extravagant as the outside but Lucy wasted no time looking around and instead dragged Natsu into a large room. Two thrones stood side by side in the room and exuded royalty. Sitting on the chairs were two of the most intimidating people Natsu had ever seen.
"King Jellal, Queen Erza." Lucy curtsied for the two and nudged Natsu harshly. Getting the hint, Natsu followed shortly after with a bow.
"Hello Lady Lucy. What brings you here?" Queen Erza smiled gently at the younger siren. Despite Erza having to rule over all the sirens with an iron fist, there was a soft spot in her heart for Lucy. The blonde siren was the first to support Erza as a queen and always visited her. Erza felt that Lucy was like her little sister and would do anything for her.
"I would like to grant safe passage for this man back to the surface. I normally wouldn't bother you with such trivial matters but Minerva bothered us on the way here." Lucy was very serious in how she said her demands but her eyes stayed kind.
"Minerva? That's no good. Of course we'll give him safe passage. What's your name sir?" Erza asked.
"I'm Natsu." Natsu introduced.
"Okay then Natsu. Be grateful that Lucy found you because not many sirens would have saved you. Take this pearl and once you're outside the kingdom crush it. I can guarantee you'll be back to wherever you came from. Now Lucy please escort him out." Erza finished while handing a blue pearl to Natsu. With one more bow, Lucy grabbed Natsu's hand and pulled him back onto the crowded streets.
"Wasn't that great? Erza favors you more than I could have predicted!" Lucy giggled slightly but Natsu was still stuck on what Erza had said.
"What did she mean by 'be grateful Lucy found you'?" Natsu asked as they kept walking away from the castle. Suddenly Lucy came to a stop and Natsu slammed on his own breaks as well.
"Not every siren is kind. In legends we are treacherous creatures that woo sailors to their deaths. Some stay like the legends while others, like me, try to move past those awful titles." Lucy pursed her lips but began walking again. Once they were at the entrance of the Siren Kingdom, Lucy's tail appeared again. The dark murky water was like a curtain covering the surface from him. It was ominous and foreboding but he trusted what Erza said, if only because Lucy trusted Erza.
"Is this where I crush the pearl?" Natsu asked Lucy.
"Yes. As soon as you do you'll be teleported to the surface. Before you do that I would like to propose an idea." Lucy said and Natsu looked at her expectantly. "I've heard that humans sometimes press their lips together to show affection. May I show you affection? I feel that we would be nice comrades and would like to remember this time together." Lucy elaborated.
It took a few seconds for Natsu to understand what she was saying but when he did an undeniable red hue spread across his skin. Did Lucy want to kiss him?
"Um sure." Natsu stuttered. Taking the initiative, Lucy leaned forward and gently pressed her lips up to Natsu's. Too soon, the pair broke apart.
"Goodbye Natsu." Lucy smiled warmly.
"Goodbye Luce." Natsu said before crushing the pearl. The last thing he saw was Lucy's flushed face and then he was back on board the boat.
"Hey Natsu do you want a drink?" Romeo asked while holding open the cooler. Natsu looked at Romeo in confusion. Did he not just notice Natsu being gone for a solid hour? Or the fact that Natsu was now soaking wet?
"What?" Natsu asked and looked at his arms. No water. Not even a drop. "Oh yeah sure...give me a soda." Natsu called halfheartedly.
"What's got you so messed up?" Gray teased from where he sat. Everyone seemed to be acting normal and it was like nothing had happened.
"Wasn't I just gone for an hour?" Natsu asked.
"Why would you be?" Gray retorted. At this point Natsu was concerned for his mental health. Natsu shared the story with Gray but the boy only laughed at him.
"Of course your stupid fantasy would end with you kissing the siren. You're an idiot Natsu." Gray laughed and began to drive the boat back to the shore. Just as Natsu had begun believing that he made everything up, a glittery pink tail sprung out of the water and splashed at him playfully.
"Don't forget about me so soon Natsu." Lucy's voice surrounded Natsu and he had to fight back the smile on his lips. It wasn't just a dream after all.
"Never." He whispered to himself hoarsely. "Never."