Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters.
He tried to think back to who it was that had talked him into this.
But it was all him. It had been his own fault. He had picked the job.
"Damn it."
"Still think this is a good idea?"
Natsu crouched at the edge of the dock, staring down into the green waters of the marina. The air was warm and humid, the sun bright and hot in the clear sky above. He could feel its heat on his bare back and shoulders and radiating from the old wood planks beneath his feet. Relief carried itself on the light breeze that fluttered through his hair and the scarf tied around his head, perfumed by the smell of the sea. His dark eyes followed the curling paths of the small minnows just below the surface of the water – anything to distract his eyes from the boat anchored just in front of him, rocking lightly in the harbor.
"No."
"Well, Natsu, I hate to say it," Lucy smirked, tying a blue shawl around her waist. Her pale skin glowed in the sunlight, gold falling along her shoulders and hips. "But I told you so."
"Really Natsu, what did you think was gonna happen?" Happy stared at the minnows, his eyes glinting with hunger. They were too small to be worth the trouble of trying to catch them, he decided.
"I don't know," Natsu sighed. "That maybe we would just fish from shore? Or something?"
"Oh right. Of course. We were gonna get our tackle and bait and just fish for a fifty-ton monster right here in the shallows." Natsu could practically hear her rolling her eyes. But he knew she had a point. The dragon slayer sighed, dropping his head between his knees.
"Is there really no other way?" His stomach churned at the very thought of swaying and rocking.
"The Leviathan's main food source can only be found in the open ocean. So, naturally, that's where we're going to find it – which means we'll have to leave land. And there's no way we're going to swim all the way out there."
A whimper crawled up Natsu's throat.
"This sucks." Collapsing his legs and falling back on his butt, Natsu hung his head in defeat.
The soft touch of Lucy's hand on his back tickled like starlight as she chuckled. "Nine times out of ten there will be a boat involved with jobs that take place in the water. You know that."
Happy smirked. "Yeah right. I bet he just wanted to fight the giant fish so bad he didn't even think about it."
Their only response was another groan. Her hand migrated from his back to his head, her fingers tangled in the messy strands of his pink hair. Her fingernails scratched his scalp lightly, gentle and reassuring.
"There's no shame in going home, you know," Lucy said. She gave Happy a wink. The cat returned her with a sly grin. "I'm sure Fairy Tail can send someone else to finish the job… Maybe we should let Gray take this one."
She felt her companion stiffen beneath her hand. In the space between heartbeats, Natsu stood to his full height, turning on Lucy. Taking her hand from his head, his other arm captured her waist, drawing her in closer. She grinned into his rueful glare, smug with herself. The cooling sounds of water lapping against the dock and the distant calling of sea birds occupied the silence between. Natsu smirked, seizing the momentary distraction, a instant less to ruminate on what lied ahead.
"That," Natsu said lowly. "Is not going to happen."
Her hand lingering by his face, Natsu's eyes drifted down to her fingers. The quiet sparkle of the jewel on her ring reflected a small rainbow across the bridge of his nose. She leaned in closer to him, watching his face as he planted a soft kiss to her knuckles. Not a single day had gone by that she hadn't worn the band proudly – ever since that special night that she had promised to be his forever, and he hers.
"Excuse me, are you from Fairy Tail?"
They looked up. A man walked towards them, his heavy muck boots thudding on the wooden boards of the dock. It was easy to tell he was a sailor - his face was wrinkled by the sea, his graying hair touched by the sun, and his skin worn by the wind. He held a wise spark in his eye and a determined gait in his step. Lucy stepped away from Natsu, smiling and holding out an inviting hand, her guild mark clear for him to see.
"Yep! That's us!" They shook hands. Reaching into the pocket of her shorts, Lucy procured a folded flyer. "Are you the one who filed this request with the guild? It said to meet the client at this boat."
The man's eyes scanned the paper. His hands were calloused, she noticed, and a wedge was missing from his left ear.
"Yes ma'am, that would be me." The fisherman placed a hand on his chest, bowing courteously. "I'm Captain Kobe. I've been commissioned by the mayor to ship you out to where the monster is known to be seen."
Lucy could almost hear Natsu's spirits drop.
"I'm Lucy, and this is Natsu." Lucy laid a hand on Natsu's shoulder. The dragon slayer flashed the sailor a sharp smile.
"I'm Happy. Nice to meet you, sir!" Happy grinned up at Kobe, bouncing lightly from foot to foot in excitement. "Are we gonna have a chance to do any fishing while we're out?"
Kobe laughed at the small animal, a forced sound that died quickly. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes this time.
"I'll see what we can do," the Captain said kindly. "There aren't as many fish as there used to be, not since that Leviathan came around and started eating them all. It's… been hard to do business here."
Lucy's own smile faltered.
The small fishing village of Gladrindale made a quiet living off of what they could grow from the land and what they could catch from the sea. It was a peaceful, beautiful town set along the southern coast of Fiore, and usually entertained a slew of traders from Caelum, the island country to the south. That had all changed four months ago, when the monster had shown up out of nowhere, a creature of teeth and destruction. The fish became scarce and the sea too dangerous to traverse. Looking past the strangeness of the Leviathan's appearance, the economy of Gladrindale took a steep nosedive. The reward for the job of getting rid of the creature was not very large – about 30,000J – but Lucy suspected that it was all that they had.
"Don't worry." Natsu slammed a fist into his open palm, his eyes sparking. "We'll take care of this over-sized fish and everything will go back to how it should be. You have our promise."
"Then, in advance, you have my thanks," Kobe bowed again, stiff and deep. "And the thanks of everyone in Gladrindale."
"It's no problem." Lucy looked to Natsu, sharing his grin. "It's what we do."
"Then by all means, we'll cast off as soon as you're ready."
Kobe stepped up to his boat and took a large step onto the railing. Dropping down onto the deck of the small boat with practiced ease, he turned to Lucy and offered her a helping hand. Taking the old captain's hand, Lucy allowed herself to be safely guided onto the ship. As soon as she was steady on her feet, Kobe put a friendly hand on her shoulder.
"Welcome aboard the Light Chaser, Miss Lucy!" Kobe chuckled. "Fastest ship in Southern Fiore!"
Lucy shared his laugh, allowing a moment for her balance to adjust. Natsu remained firmly planted on the dock behind her. He looked less than thrilled, brows holding his trepidation as he regarded the boat. Happy, taking the initiative, hopped aboard the ship. Quickly finding a spot on one of the two fishing chairs that were bolted to the deck, he curled up and bounced eagerly. Smiling gently up at her fiancé, Lucy reached out to him.
"Come on," she encouraged. "I'll be right here with you."
Natsu looked up into her warm brown eyes, taking comfort in her trust and esteem. She was so beautiful, the bright light of the sun tinting her hair a starry platinum. He smiled, taking her hand.
"Yeah, okay. Let's do this!"
His bravado, though admirable, was instantly thrown out the window two minutes later when the Light Chaser pulled out of the marina, riding on a warm wind toward the open seas. Clinging to the rails of the boat, Natsu trembled as he tried to keep his eyes open and pinned to the horizon, a stable focal point within the rolling waves. Lucy sat next to him, rubbing comforting circles into his back.
"Is he going to be okay?" Kobe peeked out of the small cabin that housed the wheel, his eyes bright with worry. "I can slow down. Or let me know if I need to stop so he can…feed the fishes, if you know what I mean."
Happy giggled, pocketing the expression for later.
"I think that might make it worse." Lucy said, trying to ignore the way Natsu heaved beneath her hand. "But this is how he always is. Don't worry about him."
"Luuuuccyyyyy…" Natsu's weak cry barely escaped his lips. "'m dyyyyiinnnng…"
"I knew a fella that got seasick once," Kobe started. "Said his brain didn't like being sloshed around so much. I may not be the smartest man on the water, but I'm pretty sure that's not how sea sickness works."
Lucy sighed, stopping her ministrations. Looping Natsu's arm over her shoulders and lifting the man up from the bench, she dragged him over to the other fishing chair. He flopped down into the seat like a rag doll, limp and dragging. Lucy scratched the back of her neck as she examined Natsu, disappointed that the "horizon technique" seemed to work less and less every time. Boats always seemed to bring out the worst of his selectively sensitive stomach. But it would be unwise to let Natsu spend the entire trip using up all of his energy just to keep his stomach. There was really only one thing that seemed to work without fail, and that was simply falling asleep. Leaning his head back, Natsu closed his eyes and tucked an arm behind his head. Lucy took his hand and pinched the flesh between his thumb and fingers, an old technique Erza had taught her to relieve pain. After a while, Natsu began to snore softly as he succumbed to uneasy rest.
Kobe watched them from over his shoulder as he manned the wheel. Lucy sighed, wiping drool from Natsu's chin and returning to her spot on the bench. Happy glanced over at his friend from the other fishing chair, a small rod held tightly in his paws. Sitting back, Lucy laid her arms over the rail and let the sun warm her skin. A scar on her hip peeked over the hem of her shorts, Kobe noticed, jagged and keen like an exploding star. Lucy chuckled softly, smiling up at the captain.
"This reminds me a lot of our third date," she laughed, nostalgia glistening in her eyes.
Kobe smiled back at the young woman, tied off the wheel and sails, and took a seat on the bench across from Lucy. For a while, they all sat in a quiet that draped like a cool blanket along the boat. It seemed like just another normal day at sea. The hot sun beat down on Lucy shoulders, its heat dampened in the breeze. Happy hummed a small tune as he contently gave a tug on his fishing line every couple of minutes. Natsu, for better or worse, was no longer a pale shade of green. The rocking of the boat was similar to that of his hammock back home if he concentrated hard enough, soothing the roil in his gut.
"It's very nice here," Lucy said, her voice raised against the wind in their ears. "Maybe when this is all over, we'll come back here as actual tourists. How does that sound, Happy?"
"Aye, sir!"
"I'm glad you like it." Captain Kobe curled a length of rope around his hand, tugging the line to realign the sail. "We may not have all the flare of Akane Resort or the grandeur of Harjeon, but I've come to find that simple things can be beautiful as well."
"I wouldn't call Gladrindale simple, really." Lucy looked back where they had come, taking in the view of the small town nestled within the green hills. "There's something…enchanting, about it. Almost like it comes straight out of a story."
Kobe laughed, following her gaze. "That's one way of putting it, I suppose!"
"Trust me, I've been to Akane and Harjeon," Lucy stated. There was no love lost in her voice. "I would definitely choose here any day."
"Well, that's mighty kind of you, Miss Lucy." Kobe patted the rail of the Light Chaser. "If you ever do come back, don't be afraid to contact me. I'll take you for a pleasure cruise along the coast!"
Lucy laughed. Happy snorted in his chair, reeling in his rod. "Sounds wonderful, but I think we might have to forgo that for some other time." She pointed her chin at Natsu. He was moments away from sliding out of the fishing chair, too nauseous to care.
Happy's line came back empty, his bait untouched. Dismayed but not deterred, the small cat drew the rod back, ready to cast again.
"Careful with your hook there, little one," Kobe called. "Or you'll get more than just bait in the ocean."
Kobe pointed to his ear, the mangled flesh of the missing piece long since healed. Happy shivered, his blue ears folding flat on his head.
"Aye, sir!" Happy readjusted his grip on the rod, casting the line back into the sea.
"We don't get the opportunity to do a lot of deep sea fishing where we live," Lucy said, brushing wild hairs from her face. Shielding her mouth from Natsu, Lucy leaned toward the captain in mock secrecy. "Natsu usually ends up burning our catch anyway."
Kobe smiled, fondly watching the companions. They were like a small family, in some ways. Lucy reached out, taking a moment to tighten Natsu's scarf around his head. Her touch was gentle and soft, fingers light like kisses on his skin. Memories of when Kobe himself was young and in love resurfaced in his mind, of passionate nights and days full of adventure. Those days were long gone, but the old fisherman and his wife still acted like love struck teenagers every now and then.
"So, what made the mayor choose you for this job?" Lucy asked.
"I volunteered," he replied. "Besides, all the other fisherman are too scared to come out here anymore."
Lucy stared at the old boat Captain, the sun catching on the silver strands of his hair. He must have been very brave indeed if nobody else wanted to do this job. Kobe looked to the sky, his gray eyes colliding with the clouds.
"I've lived in Gladrindale all my life, born and raised. I met my wife here, and it's where our two kids were born. We might not have it all, but we have enough. My family is happy and healthy, my kids are educated, and I love what I do. You can't really ask for more than that." Kobe winked at Lucy. This time, his smile was real, genuine in it's gratitude. He looked so much younger when he smiled, Lucy thought. "So when that monster showed up and everything started going to hell, I vowed to myself and my family that I would do whatever I could to make things right, to give them back the life they deserved."
Lucy nodded. She knew what it was like to fight for the things she loved. Her family was not one of flesh and bone, but of shared scars and laughter, of tears and victory. And she had Natsu. Three years ago, she had almost lost everything. She would do anything to keep that from ever happening again.
"So how long have you two been together?" Kobe asked. An innocent question, but Lucy could feel heat rush into her cheeks.
"We've been dating for three years," Lucy replied. She held up her hand, allowing her ring to twinkle in the sun. "But we got engaged a little over six months ago!"
Kobe's eyes widened, impressed. "Congratulations to you two. I wish you both the best of luck and happiness in your future."
"Thank you!" Lucy turned her hand. The sparkle of the ring in the sun filled her vision, brilliant and auspicious. Thinking back, Lucy had almost fainted when Natsu had presented the ring to her. The diamond wasn't big enough to be gaudy, but was nothing to scoff at either. Natsu had said that he had chewed it out of coal. She still hadn't decided whether she believed him or not.
"I proposed to my wife when we were both eighteen years old." The old captain sighed, dipping himself in his memories. "She turned me down the first time, said we were too young. Had to figure who we were first before we could be together. And that's exactly what we did. We traveled the world and found ourselves along the way. Then we came home, and she finally agreed to marry me. Of all the wonders I've seen, she is still the most wondrous to me."
Something tugged at Lucy's heart - longing, an expectation for the years that lay ahead of her. "That's what I want. To grow old with Natsu and never lose the wonder."
"When you've been through so much with one person, experienced life's ups and downs together," Kobe started, sitting forward. "Time becomes a distant concept, a thing that happens to everybody else. There are some days that I believe my wife looked the way she does now thirty years ago. Then I remember that while we were growing up, we were also growing older. So don't you worry too much, okay Miss Lucy?"
Lucy nodded. Truer words, and all that.
"Natsu says I still look exactly as I did when we first met," Lucy laughed. "I was seventeen back then. How time flies, right?"
"Yes indeed, Miss Lucy." Kobe's face turned wistful, remembering pleasant things. "To be young and feeling love's first blossom. Cherish it while you can."
Lucy smiled. "No." The sea captain titled his head, waiting. "We may be young, but our love isn't. We were just... a little slow to admit it."
"At least it didn't take him as long to ask for your hand." Kobe pointed at her ring. "And with a very lovely diamond, I must say."
Lucy beamed, feeling fresh and new and radiant.
Natsu jerked in his chair, kicking out as a pained moan trickled from his lips. Happy jumped at the unexpected movement, his fishing pole almost flying from his grip. Natsu's eyes were open but unseeing, lost in the panic of his waking dreams. The beginnings of flame licked his knuckles, orange flares sparking from his palms. Lucy shot to her feet, rushing over to her fiancé. Grabbing his wrists before he could hurt someone or himself, Lucy spoke softly to him, trying to coax him from sleep as gently as she could. His half-lidded eyes rolled back in his head. His body shivered.
"Zer…" His words were strained, choked by fear and broken dreams. "Where's… no!"
"Natsu!" Lucy called. Though only half a name, it was enough to chill her to her core. "You need to wake up now. It's just a dream."
Natsu's flailing stopped. Lucy watched as his eyes cleared, his face tinting back to a sickly green. But he was awake, and managed to lift his head up and lock eyes with Lucy. He saw her worried face, felt her tight grip on his wrists - it wasn't hard to piece two and two together. Slumping back in his chair, Natsu curled his fingers around her wrist.
"Sorry, Luce." He sighed shakily. "That was… weird. Haven't had one of those dreams in a long time."
Lucy frowned, her fingers tickling his face as she brushed the hair off of his forehead. "Zeref's gone, Natsu. His demons all died with him."
He smiled weakly. "I know, I know. Hard to believe that was three years ago, huh?"
Lucy didn't share his smile. "I thought those dreams stopped a long time ago…"
Natsu groaned as the boat rocked. "They did."
"Do we need to go see Porlyusica when we get back?"
Natsu looked up into her eyes once more, seeing the concern in their brown depths. He reached an arm out to curl around her waist, bringing her closer to his side.
"I'm fine, Lucy." He pressed his forehead to her shoulder. "It was just one dream."
By the worry still hanging on her chin, his words did little to assure her - but presently, Natsu was too preoccupied with trying not to barf all over his fiance. Leaping out of the chair, Natsu surged for the rail of the ship. He barely made it in time to lose his stomach into the blue water. Lucy and Happy watched him for a moment before sharing a tepid look. They still remembered the war like it was yesterday - still remembered just how close they had been to losing everything. How close Natsu had been to losing his life and his humanity. They were not pleasant memories, heavy and suffocating like anchors tied to their hearts.
If Natsu was having dreams about a certain black wizard again, it wasn't a good omen.
Happy's ear perked, the sharp hiss of the reel on his pole buzzing loudly as the line pulled out against the catch. He shook himself out of his thoughts and hopped to his feet, gripping the fishing pole tightly and thrusting against the line with all his might. His tail puffed, excited and eager, his teeth bared in a determined grin. Lucy looked over at the Exceed, seeing him struggling against whatever was on the other end of his line. She welcomed the distraction from her worries.
"Looks like you caught a big one, Happy!"
"Aye…sir!" Happy grunted through gritted teeth as he gave a hefty pull on the pole.
Happy jerked from his chair, yelping as he hit the deck hard. His rod and reel shot like an arrow from his paws, disappearing into the deep blue water with a splash. Lucy looked out across the sea as Happy gathered himself, a hot stone of unease settling in her stomach. For a few long heartbeats, all was quiet save for the lapping of the water against the boat and Natsu's whimpered complaints. Lucy released a breath, caution loosening its hold on her ribs. The years had made her paranoid, it seemed.
A paranoia that proved to be well founded when a large brown fin, taller than the masts of the Light Chaser, broke the surface of the water. A wavering growl rumbled beneath the water, rippling the surface of the ocean. Happy screamed as he jumped into Lucy's arms. Her heart leapt into her throat as the monster lurked closer and closer. If its fin was this big, just how large was the rest of the creature?!
Captain Kobe was quick to react, dashing into the small cabin and untying the wheel. With a hard crank of his powerful hands, the boat jerked sharp to port. The fishing boat, though small, proved to be just as fast as Captain Kobe claimed. Lucy braced herself against a fishing chair as the boat veered treacherously, clutching Happy close. With seconds to spare, the beast surged past them, wings of water flaring around it. Natsu choked as the ocean rushed up to meet him, knocking him back onto the deck of the ship, limp as a wet rag. The boat rocked violently in the monster's wake, tilting like a seesaw in the waves. The towering pinna descended, disappearing into the troubled sea.
"Was that it?" Lucy shouted to the captain.
"Yes, Miss Lucy!" Kobe spun the wheel. The ship veered every direction, a zigzagging path of maneuvers clear only to him. "That was the Leviathan!"
Lucy cursed, dropping Happy into the fishing chair. The golden metal of her keyring was cool in her hand as she twirled them from her pouch. Not for the first time, Lucy desperately wished she had Aquarius' key again. But she had other spirits, and her fingers had already closed around the one she wanted. The deck of the Light Chaser was quiet, coiled and tense for what may come. Everything seemed quiet, though - like it was just another normal day at sea.
The ocean erupted, towering geysers of salt and spray flying through the air. The Leviathan finally reared its head and roared. Lucy traced the creature's eel-like body up and up and up. A smattering of white flecks dusted along its belly. Its teeth, dark and translucent, too big for the monsters jowls, dwarfing the glassy pale eyes on each side of its conic head. The Leviathan opened its maw and loosed a wavering, high-pitched roar that rattled the bones in Lucy's ears. It towered over the boat, blocking out the sun. A large shadow fell over the Light Chaser, the mages on board starring up at the beast in shock.
"So, you finally decided to show yourself," Natsu said with a smirk. Grabbing the rails, he hoisted himself to his feet. Drops of the ocean on his skin boiled and evaporated. "Not as big as I thought you'd be, but I can make do."
Natsu stood tall, his fists raised at his sides. He grinned up at the monster as his body naturally dropped low into a fighting stance, ready and willing. Lucy and Happy watched from the side, drawn by his strength. The white scarf around his waist swayed in the sea breeze.
"Let's go, Happy!" Natsu shouted. Stepping forward, sparks flung from his fingernails as flames danced on his knuckles. "I've got a real fire burning in my-!"
A powerful pulse shocked Natsu's body, cutting off his words and leaving his muscles aching, his guts churning and a tight pain somewhere behind his heart. Natsu gasped against the pressure in his bones, dropping to his knees. He could feel his fingernails scrape harshly against his chest, flinching into his skin. Lucy appeared at his side, but her words were muffled by the blood singing through Natsu's ears. He growled, curling as another pulse exploded from his heart and crashed through his limbs. Something tore, shards of glass grinding against each other, cracking and fracturing and ripping him apart. Natsu tried to concentrate, grasping Lucy's hand in terror.
He knew this pain. Though he had only felt it once before a long time ago, Natsu would never forget what it felt like to have his soul torn to pieces by a curse he didn't even know he had.
"Captain Kobe, get us out of here!" Lucy shouted over Natsu's shoulder.
The boat careened steeply before evening out on a course back towards land. The Leviathan gave chase, just as Lucy had feared. Natsu trembled beneath her hands. What had happened? And why did he look so scared?
A thunderous roar filled the air, cracking across the sea. Lucy looked up, her gaze filled with the snapping teeth of the Leviathan. The beast breached the surface of the water, lunging towards the boat and crashing back down to the sea. A harrowing wave, taller than the Light Chaser and gaining more height and speed with every moment, surged toward the ship. Before a scream could rise in her throat, Lucy wrapped her arms around Natsu and Happy, hooking her legs around the secured post of the fishing chair. The wave hit hard, threatening to jerk Lucy free from her hold and her companions from her arms. Saltwater filled her nose and stung her eyes. A small eternity passed, darkness and deafness her only friends. The water finally receded, dripping out of Lucy's hair and soul, burning as it went. Lucy gasped for air, her strained lungs sore and screaming. Happy and Natsu gagged on saltwater, horrible coughs racking their bodies. Miraculously, the Light Chaser did not capsize or overflow, but it had stopped moving, stagnant in the frantic currents of the ocean. Kobe had been ripped away from his steering wheel, coughing up water on the floor of his cabin.
The Leviathan breached the water once more, roaring loudly at the occupants of the boat. Natsu groaned again, wincing violently under Lucy.
Natsu peeked up at the beast through the fiery ache that thrummed through his veins. There was no mistaking it, he thought. This feeling, this pain, it was all a reaction he was having to the Leviathan. He didn't know how, and he didn't know why - but if this pain really was his etherious rearing its ugly head once more, then that could only mean one thing.
"Lucy…" Natsu spat out between gritted teeth. "That thing…it's not a normal monster."
Lucy and Happy peered down at Natsu, their eyes practically glowing with fear. "What do you mean?"
"That thing, the Leviathan," Natsu growled. "It's a demon from the Book of Zeref."
A/N: Helloooo! I decided to jump aboard the Fairy Tail train before it ended, so this is my first story in this fandom! Obviously it takes place after the manga is supposed to end. There will be other typical pairings, but that's not the center of my story.
The title is inspired by the utterances of J Oppenheimer, the American scientist who worked on nuclear bombs: Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds.
(also, if anybody knows the artist of the cover image, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. I just found it in a google search.)
EDIT: This chapter has been updated for content 12/21
As always, read, review and enjoy!
