You lucky birds, I've changed my update day for A falling star to a monday. So that means you didn't have to wait a whole week for this chapter.
"So that's the legend you were talkin' about," Natsu nodded in understanding. Lucy had told Natsu the legend she was told by Amira.
"Yup. Isn't it amazing!" Lucy gleamed. Natsu loved seeing her so excited. It was amusing. The way she would slip into her adventurous side as soon as the world of myths and legends were opened to her. Usually she would moan and protest to having to go somewhere with even having the slightest chance of there being bugs. It was certain he had seen this side of her before. When she would finished her latest adventure/romance novel, this Lucy would appear. Going into mass detail about the book and how amazing it was, she always in awe. Like a fan girl who had just been on a date with their idol. Afterwards she would sit and sigh in contentment, day dreaming at the highlights of the book. Eventually she would get over the book and move onto the next. Until she finished Natsu just had to wait until he got to see that side of her again. But seeing the real adventurous Lucy actually venturing out on a mission was ten times- no a thousand times better. She never failed to interest him. There was so many sides to the stellar mage he had yet to see. And just like this side, he was sure he'd love them all.
They had been strolling through the endless forest now, accompanied by several of the pirates, Amira and the captain himself. They even passed the cliff edge they met the pirates out. When they passed Lucy noticed the amazing view from the ledge. It looked out on the rest of the island. Towering over the lush forest growing below in a sea of green. Touching around the edges were the golden sand beaches, stoking the deep blue ocean. They must have traveled quite a distance since there was no other land they could see. This island was certainly in the middle of nowhere.
Finally after a good few hours of walking, they arrived. A collection of small wooden cabins with palm leave thatched roofs, empty windows and doorless doorways were centered in a large opening. Dry mud scattered the area around. The houses curled around a small fire pit in the center. Grey slates of stone piled up around the edges of the ash pit to form a sort of well. Something else caught their eyes attention. A large circles spread around the perimeter of the village, deep dug lines crossed through the edges touching the circle's circumference. "A star." Lucy gasped, taking a step back to look at the beautiful carving. Natsu stopped beside her. "It's strange though."
"What is?" Natsu asked curiously as the stellar mage bent down, stroking her fingers around the edges of the deep lines.
"They seem so old, yet they look as if they haven't aged a day. For even lines dug this deep in the earth they would have been ground, washed or contorted over the ages." Lucy rubbed the dirt from the lines between the fingers as she stood up, examining it curiously. Crumbling from her fingers into a power, it felt strange between her fingers. "They ground it's very nutritious for being so dry."
"Nutritious? So you can eat it!" Natsu exclaimed in glee, scooping up some of the dirt into the palm of his hand.
"It's not edible for us. I meant for plants." The dragon slayer's hand jerked to a stop infront of his mouth. Quickly dusting the palm of mud off his hands, he regained his composure.
"I knew that." he huffed. Dark eyes once again watched her intregued ones. She was like a real adventurer. "Your just like them Luce!" he giggled.
"Like what?" She looked up at him innocently confused.
"Like those adventures that go inside those temples and stuff. You know, the ones that take the gold stuff and then big boulders come and crush them and if it doesn't all those booby traps could easily-" the dragon slayer blubbered on until a sweat laugh caught him off.
"Natsu," Lucy breathed in between her fit of giggles. Her hand grasped his arm softly. "Thanks," the thank-you caused Natsu to be a little taken a back. He wasn't expecting that. Then again, it's not hard to see that she must of taken it as a compliment. To be honest though, Lucy had managed to catch the boy off guard and got him to quieten, even for just a little while.
"It's been a while." Captain James heaved a sigh nostalgically, passing the two teens walking into the village.
"It certainly has." Amira joined him, glancing around the old village. The other pirates scattered around the village, looking at the little nooks and cranny of the place, exchanging old memories.
"You would have thought they had all grown up here." Lucy laughed. Natsu nodded stepping into the star's perimeter. Everyone suddenly jerked a bit, exchanging confused glances with furred eye brows and light muttering.
"Come on Luce," Natsu extended his hand out to the stellar mage. Smiling at his chivalry, she took his hand. Assisting her kindly, she held the dragon son's warm hand as she took a small skip over the line. Gasps escaped everyone.
Amira's eyes darted straight towards the blond along with everyone else Lucy's simple step into the circle sent vibrations up her leg, causing a tingling sensation all over her body. The boat's mother could sense all her other children were feeling the same thing. Except they quickly shifted their gazes back to whatever they were doing, cold sweat beading on their faces. A large paw of a hand clasped her small shoulder. Looking up the black-bearded man gave the beautiful woman a stern gaze. Of course, he had given the same look to his subordinates. If they were all caught staring at the girl it would look to suspicious. Right now they needed her to trust them if the plan was to fall into place. The trust wouldn't have to last much longer now thought. Today is the final test.
"Lucy!" Amira called, slipping from her husbands large hand, and darting over to the celestial wizard.
"Ah, Amira!" Lucy turned in delight. The captain's wife slipped her thin ivory arm around hers and swiped the blond mage away from the dragon slayer. She was gone in an instant. Natsu watched as she drew Lucy towards the center point of the star besides the ancient fire pit. However he wasn't alone for long. The captain had already descended on him from behind. The dragon slayer leaped in surprise. How could that man of his size have moved from the other side of the village to right next to him without him noticing?
"Daydreaming?" his deep voice kindly bellowed.
"I suppose." the pink-haired boy smiled childishly. "What is this place anyway?"
"Have you heard of the legend of taboo?"
"Lucy told me it on the way here. But- " the slayers frustrated expression told James all he needed to know.
"This village was the one from the legend. This star symbol was carved into the ground as soon as the star key gave her promise for this village's safety."
"The promise that she sacrificed the villagers freedom away from this island?"
"Yes."
"So what happened to the villagers?"
"Many generations passed and the villagers were content with staying on the island. They were grateful to the star key and prayed for the day when the new star key would return." A sorrowful gaze looked with grief over the little village. "They must of died out eventually."
"Ah, that's a shame." Natsu sighed.
"How so?"
"Well the star key went to so much trouble to protect them and they just died out. It's a shame really." the captain's gaze looked surprised at the boy. A guilty conscience began to churn inside his stomach.
"Let me show you something," he offered, leading the fire mage to the center of the village next to Lucy. Happily, he skipped behind him towards his best friend.
Walking over, Lucy greeted Natsu with giggles and elaborate gestures. Lucy was pointing to the village explaining things in great detail. Surprisingly, Natsu seemed interested. Amira and her husband watched from a few meters back.
"The Valerian root and mint will begin to take effect anytime now. If were going to do it we have to do it now." Amira whispered hastily.
"Then let's start the final test."
My, oh My, what could the final test possibly be? I suppose you'll have to follow and find out in the next chapter. hehe
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-A-ccentric