"...tain...!"
"...Captain? Captain!" I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a wooden room, a good sized one. I moved a bit and realized I was tied up. I thrashed a bit and swung my head around, trying to find out more of my situation. My mask was still against my face, giving my eyes an edge. June was against my back, also tied up. I growled in anger and looked around. They took my keys, my sword, and my whips. June had had her guns and sword taken. I shifted slightly. The dagger in my boot was gone.
"June, do you have any hidden weapons? Where are we? Damn it!" I hissed as she chewed on her lip.
"No mam they checked June, we're being held captive on Fairy Tail and June thinks it's almost morning but she does not know for sure because there are no windows." I bit my lip and wriggled slightly and then smirked.
"I've got a gun." I muttered and June looked at me in surprise.
"But how?! June is sure they checked her Captain too!" She exclaimed.
"I need you to reach into my shirt where it's hidden." I muttered and a light blush covered her face. I gave her a hard look.
"June. This is survival. Not training, not messing around. They will kill us." I told her and a look of determination crossed her face. She nodded but before I could say anything else the door opened. We both swung our legs around quickly so we were in the same position as before. Amazingly I still had my hat on so I kept my head tilted just slightly, a shadow covering my eyes and the mask.
"You know...you wouldn't really expect it would you...I mean. Someone like me? Definitely, you could easily see me become a pirate. But you two? Now that right there has to say something." It was Salamanders voice. June and I remained still. She had been required to pass a test before I allowed her on board, even if she was an old friend of mine. No one joined our crew without showing you could hold your tongue. I watched his boots approach me. "Let alone one of you became a Captain...of one of the most feared ships in all the land. You kill relentlessly, terrorize, loot, leave no survivors." He growled. I could tell he had knelt down and at his last words I slowly looked up, smirking.
"If there's no survivors, where do the stories came from I wonder?" I asked lowly, raising a brow under the mask, the arch barely visible. I watched him. He had on a waistcoat, not nearly as long as mine. It was open, revealing his exposed muscular chest, his deep red Fairy Tail mark on his shoulder. He had a scaly white scarf around his neck that reminded me of something I couldn't quite place. Then there was his strong jaw, sculpted nose and then onyx eyes that held a fire in them. His hair was a bit more messy but flatter than earlier today. Regardless of that he was a handsome man, which I had no problem admitting. He had a swollen bruise on his jaw and under his eye on his cheek.
"Looks like you took a beating. I wonder what Loke would have done to you if your second mate hadn't had pestered him." I sneered and he chuckled, a feral dark smirk. This was a look of hatred. He wanted to kill me, I knew he did. And yet he hadn't yet.
"That's big talk for a girl like you." He said. I met his gaze evenly, ignoring the darkness that dripped from him as he looked at me.
"I could say the same about you, let's just agree that I'm the prettier one." I said sarcastically, June choked slightly and before I knew it I was in the air and then being slammed against the wall, hard. The temperature rose in the room about ten degrees and he looked at me, pinning me helplessly to the wall. I grunted and sucked a breath in through my teeth, tilting my chin up and looking at him as if he was beneath me. My hands were tied behind my back, my arms were tied for good measure, my feet and knees were tied, however I still gave him a rebellious look. He couldn't take away my pride that easy.
"You know what I've never done?" He asked, his voice husky as he whispered in my ear. I closed my eyes slightly, trying to calm my body down. Dragon slayers could smell fear, and I'd be damned if I gave anything off. I opened my eyes again, giving him a smirk.
"I wouldn't know. But I can guess it would be along the lines of bathing." I sneered, although it was a good jeer, I could admit to myself that the smell of hickory wood burning and the forest, underlined with a certain...musk wasn't the worst smell in the world.. It reminded me of Sting, maybe it was a dragon slayer thing? I wasn't naive. I knew what the man holding me was. He chuckled.
"I've never ravished another dragon's property before...you must be Sting's mate and yet you haven't mated with him yet. But to have the chance to take something from my top rival that's so precious...not only that, but when she's a Princess, and with her friend Duchess." My eyes narrowed while June's nearly bulged out of her head. I made a face, shifting my head away as he lifted his hand but there was nowhere for me to go. He pulled my mask off my face, along with my hat as he smirked, dropping them to the ground.
"I welcome you to Fairy Tail, Duchess Juvia Lockser of Lockser Water Centric and dams...and Princess Lucy Heartfellia of Fiore." Fear flashed in June's eyes and I barely held my own back. How did he know? How did he know our names from birth?
"What makes you think we're those two people? I'm a pirate...Captain. The name is Lucille Heart. That there? That's June over there." I sneered at him, trying to break his confidence. He smirked and pushed my hair away from my neck, surprisingly gentle.
"You don't remember? I remember it clearly...clearly I was right about what a snobby princess you were. But how do I know? There's only one blonde girl I know with brown eyes, a love for gold, a celestial mage…" He trailed off for a moment before leaning in and whispering in my ear. "and a scar of a small bite mark right under her ear. I would know...I am the one who left it." My breath hitched and my eyes widened, my head snapped towards him as he pulled back, still holding me up, my feet no where near the floor.
"You're- but you didn't have magic- you can't be- he killed you!" I yelled, starting to thrash in his grip.
"You don't recognize me? I thought the pink hair would give it away." He tsked and my eyes widened even further.
"I-you...you always covered your hair though…!" He shook his head, plain disgust on his face.
"You're stupid for a Princess. The only reason I haven't ripped you apart is because your father is willing to pay some big money for your safe return...untainted. Your friend too. Isn't that nice? Both of your fathers are paying so much money for you ungrateful brats to come home. That right there is love." My lungs stopped working for a minute as June froze in terror. I looked at the pink haired boy.
"Salamander...what happened then...that wasn't my fault! You can't blame me for that I was told you were dead! But if you plan on taking us back you might as well either let us go or kill me. I will never go back. Ever." I said, anger barely contained in my voice as I looked him in the eyes. He laughed and stepped away from me, allowing my body to drop to the floor. I grunted as I landed on my side and looked up at him.
"You better get comfy. We have two weeks before we get to our destination." He said coldly before he turned and left. We were both silent for a moment before June's tears started flowing. I cursed under my breath and flopped over to her, being constricted still. I probably looked like an idiot, flopping around like a fish out of water. I wiggled some more and sat up next to June, bumping her shoulder with mine to get her attention. She looked at me in terror.
"They're taking Juvia back!" She sobbed and dropped her head, using her birth name for the first time in three months. "Juvia can't go back! She would rather die than go back! Lucille what is Juvia supposed to do!?" She begged me and I nudged her chin with my nose, leaning in and giving her a serious look.
"Juvia...June listen to me. I, will not let them take either of us back...okay? That's not our home, we don't belong there. I will not let them get you, nothing is going to happen to you I promise. You're not Juvia, you're June. Remember that. Sabertooth can't find out about either of us. Do you trust me?" I asked her quietly, not wanting anyone to overhear. She sniffed and chewed on her lip, slowly nodding her head.
"Alright good...all we need to do is make it into the water right? Then you can carry us both to the ship. We have six months to return to the ship before Sting becomes permanent Captain. I intend to return much sooner. We are not going back to Fiore." I said determinedly and she nodded.
"Good, now get the gun from my shirt…" I said and she shifted back and forth until she was on her knees. I scooted behind her and leant down as much as I could. I bit my lip as her hands went down the corset top. I could tell we were both blushing a bit but now was not the time to think about this.
"Juv-June has it!" She whisper yelled and I felt the warm metal shift as she started to pull it out. I breathed a sigh of relief as it came free and she sat on her knees. I turned, swinging my legs around and taking it from her, pressing a button and aiming it away as a small blade came out. I stretched my neck, ignoring the pain as I put the blade against June's ropes. I rubbed the blade quickly, hearing the satisfying yet quiet snaps as the rope loosened and snapped. Her hands were free and she let out a small sigh of relief as she twisted them to stretch them. I swung some more and got to my knees, holding the gun clumsily with my tied hands as I cut the rope tying her arms by her elbows together. It snapped and she immediately swung her arms around her body, stretching them happily. A second later she took the gun from me and started cutting the ropes that held my hands and arms.
The pressure on my hands and arms released and I found myself doing the same thing she had done. She bent and quickly cut the ropes on her knees and feet and then did the same thing for me. I jumped up quietly, taking the gun from her and sheathing the knife, putting it back in its place. I grabbed my hat and mask, slipping them on.
"Straight to the side?" She asked quietly and I shook my head.
"I need my keys and sword...your guns too...but keys first." I whispered and she nodded as I crept toward the door.
"Question is...where are they?" I muttered to myself.
"June faintly remembers Salamander putting them in his cabin before she was thrown in here." June said to me and I chewed on my lip. Great. Just great.
"Alright then...new plan." I said, pulling the gun out and bringing the blade out once more.
"Follow close behind me. When Salamander walked in it was dark outside and we both have dark clothes on. We'll move as fast as possible without being seen. Understood?" I asked and she nodded. I put my hand on the door and gently pushed. I was a bit insulted that the door wasn't locked. I cracked it barely and looked around, it was dark outside, I had been right. I could faintly see a few torches lit here and there but was the most obvious was the loud snoring of drunk passed out pirates. I looked around as much as I could. No one was walking around or awake near the door. I opened it as quietly as possible, giving it just enough space or the both of us to slip out before I closed it again. The light spilling from the crack we had made quickly cutting off.
We crouched against the narrow hallway wall and slid forward, both of us looking around warily. We were on the far side of the ship, next to the sleeping quarters which explained the snores. Across the rather long open space there was the stairs that led to the steering wheel, right underneath it was two doors, then you could see two french doors behind the wheel, they had light shining behind them.
"That right there must be the first and second mates rooms...then there's the Captains." I whispered, pointing out the two doors first then the french doors. June nodded slowly.
"How does the Captain and June cross the deck without being spotted by a sentry or the person steering?" She asked me and I bit my lip, looking around.
"This is Fairy Tail...not Sabertooth. They're not nearly as strict as we are. My guess is that the sentry is that one right there." I muttered, pointing out a sleeping man who oddly enough had a knight masks on his head, a striped suit that covered all of his body and what looked like a skirt. He had a belt where a sword was sheathed and then three square wooden doll looking things. Strange.
"June can't believe how stupid Fairy Tail is." She muttered and I let a small smirk loose.
"Alright...we're even with the mast...if we walk quietly in single file then we can remain hidden from the driver for half the way there. Hopefully the driver will be busy paying attention to the waves." I said and she nodded. I took a deep breath and remained low, walking briskly but silently toward the thick mast. June was right on my tail. We reached it and I flattened myself against it, June doing the same. I slowly peered around to see the steering wheel and raised my brows in surprise. A little girl was steering, long blue hair flowing behind her. She seemed intent on staring at the water and the sails. I chewed on my lip as I slowly started to make my way to the stairs, trying to stay out of her vision.
We made our way up the stairs and she surprisingly didn't take any notice whatsoever. June gave me a questioning look and I simply shrugged, tiptoeing right behind the girl. She looked really tired. I didn't know why she would be though, I hadn't seen her in any of the fighting and he had no injuries...as if my crew would give her any injuries. The girl was too cute to harm...maybe. I peered into the room that was lit up. I couldn't see anyone so I opened the door quickly, June jumping in along with me. I peered at the girl one last time. She saw nothing. I closed the door and let out a breath. There were red drapes around the room, blocking out any windows that were there. There was a rather large, comfy looking bed to the side, bolted to the floor. It was black wood for the base and red silk sheets. There were black pillows and a thick red blanket that was tossed on the bed carelessly. A few undergarments lay on the floor along with fish bones. I covered my nose, looking at June who had a similar pose.
"You know...Salamander seems to have expensive taste...with all this you would think he could afford someone to clean this place up." I muttered and June nodded her agreement. I saw a desk, papers and maps messily scattered over it, all pinned down by my belongings along with June's. I grinned and looked at June.
"Stay by the door, don't let anyone see you through the glass. Warn me if there's someone coming." I instructed as I walked over to the desk quietly and smirked. I grabbed my belt that was laid on the desk, strapping it on quickly and sheathing my sword quickly, grabbing my whips and strapping them on as well. I grabbed the gun they had pulled off me and put it in it's holster, grabbing my dagger and slipping it into place inside my boot. I grabbed the four handguns and sword left and crossed over, handing them too June then heading back, starting to open drawers and shuffle through papers.
"Captain! June sees someone coming!" She hissed and I jumped, walking forward quickly and peering out the window.
"Get behind the curtain!" I hissed back. She quickly did as I asked and I did it also on the other side. I drew my sword and waited, holding my breath. The door opened.
"Nurm-nurm-nurm." I heard muffled. I narrowed my eyes as I saw an exceed floating in, closing the door. He was blue, unlike Lector and Frosch. He was carrying a fish in his paws, his mouth closed around it. He got even with me and I quickly brought my sword up to his neck. He stopped instantly, freezing and looking at me in terror as he seemed to go white.
"Scream and you'll end up like that fish." I said lowly and he dropped said fish, gasping and putting his paws on his cheeks, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
"You're gonna eat me?!" He exclaimed and June and I both sweat dropped, looking at the blue exceed that had a bandana on his head and a tiny sword on his side.
"No you idiot. I mean dead." I said, my lip twitching. He seemed to calm down a little bit.
"Where are my keys. Tell me where they are and I won't kill you." I said, moving my sword just a bit closer to his neck so it was barely touching him. He gulped.
"Under the pillows." He said quickly. Wow. So loyal. I looked at June and jerked my head to the side. She nodded and walked over quickly sticking her hand under the pillows. She squealed and I turned, barely dodging the old fish bone she had tossed away, rubbing her hands on her pants in disgust, making a squirming face.
"Your Captain is gross." I muttered at the fish bone slowly fell from the exceeds face. He scowled at me.
"This is my room too!" He declared and I raised my brow under my mask.
"This place is disgusting. Haven't you ever heard of cleaning, cat?" I sneered and he looked around sheepishly.
"June has found Captain's keys." June said, holding the small pouch up. I took it and took my attention off the floating cat, quickly checking them. They were all there. I let out a sigh of relief. I looked at the cat and chuckled.
"Thanks for the help cat." I said and looked at June. She nodded and I lowered my sword, both of us pushing towards the doors. We opened them and both took down the stairs, going two at a time, holding my sword so it didn't jiggle too much. We looked around and I headed towards the side of the boat, securing my hat to my belt, shifting my coat slightly and the black Sabertooth mark just below my collar bone visible.
"Ready?" I asked her and she nodded. I grabbed some rope and hauled myself onto the side, offering my hand to June. I helped her up and we looked at the swirling dark waters. Suddenly the air around us was illuminated by a bright light and we both turned. I narrowed my eyes as I saw Salamander, both of his fists on fire, an annoyed smirk on his face, being backed by the ice mage and the red head. June clutched my arm tightly in fear and I made a decision.
"You're not going back, I promised." I said before looking at her and shoving her hard, jerking myself out of her grasp as she gasped and looked at me in shock as she fell towards the dark waters. I turned from her, launching forward at the three who shot forward trying to catch her. I punched the ice mage hard and kicked at the redhead who barely dodged, allowing the swing to hit Salamander in his stomach. He grunted and I stopped for half a second when I heard a splash. I grinned victoriously and turned, sprinting forward and jumping over the edge.
Hands gripped my waist tightly and tugged me back. I let out a wail and struggled, kicking and thrashing. The heat told me who was holding me.
"I'm not going back! Ever! You can't make me!" I screamed at him, thrashing and trying to get free, starting to panic. I made eye contact with the redhead who stood in front of me, along with the ice mage as Salamander tugged me back, stealing my breath away.
"You don't have a choice." Salamander snarled and tightened his grip on me. I closed my eyes tightly. At least June was safe. She would tell Sting what was happening and I would be saved easily. I opened my eyes and surprisingly I wasn't being dragged down to the room I had been in. Instead I was being dragged up the stairs. I thrashed harder against his rather hard chest before he slammed me into the wall. I glared hard at him and he glared back before turning his head to the side slightly, not looking as his fist made contact with my temple. My head reeled back and everything went black.
-edited version-
Let me know what you think of the edited version returning readers!
For first time readers here are some question to answer in the comments along with any other comments questions concerns or declarations of love or hate!
What will happen to June?
What will happen when Lucille wakes up?
What do you think about Natsu and Lucille's old relationship?