Harjion Port: a small little fisherman town on the ocean side. The greatest thing about ports is the import and export business, especially those of magical items. If you're looking for hard to find items, ports are the places to go. They normally have things that can't be as easily found in land.
The busy streets are a great distraction for anyone. Parents have to keep a careful eye on their kids, Royal guards have to keep an eye for any thievery or illegal business, and traveller's are distracted from their normal quiet life. Thankfully this is one of the more peaceful ports. No unnecessary fighting or murders. Even though the streets were brimming in life, you can feel the calm and peace from everyone around you. It can easily be said that ports are my escape from my normal life.
Docks are the building block for the businesses at any port. Travellers and tourist go there as well just to see the massive boats or to even see if they can get a ride across the unforgiving sea. Vendors line up the other side of the docks for extra business. I also do the same when I'm in the mood for a more peaceful way of gathering income. One of these days, I'll become a renown author, but until I can afford the time to write, this is my way of breaking away from my reality.
I equip into my more exotic cloak, decorated as the night sky, and move to a more empty slot on the dock. I can feel the people around me staring, as I secure the hood over my face. I place an empty hat a few feet away from where I was standing. I could see people's feet as they gathered to see what I was going to do. I took a deep breath in.
"Are you going to Scarborough fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For he once was a true love of mine"
More people were gathering but all kept quiet.
"Tell him to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Without no seams nor needle work
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strands
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
he once was a true love of mine"
Everyone either placed in what few change they could afford to give or applauded before scattering away. I picked up to the hat, not even bothering to see how much was in there, I was grateful for whatever was in there.
"You sung just was pretty as Marijane!"
I looked up to see the face of the one who spoke without the hood falling. He was blue and furry.
"A talking blue cat." I smiled at him "It's good to know that life is still full of surprises." He grinned back at me.
"Sorry we couldn't give ya anything. We're broke ourselves." A deeper voice commented. I could feel the abundance of magic emittanting off of him.
"There's no need to be sorry. I'm just glad you two could enjoy it." I equipped a fish into my hands
"Fish!!"
"For the lovely compliment." I said as I handed the fish to the talking cat. He took it greedily with joy.
"Have you seen a dragon around here?" The guy asked. The questioned boggled me.
"Dragons haven't been seen since they had to go into hiding four hundred years ago. Why?" I was genuinely dumbfounded by his question. I could smell him now. He smelt of fire and ashes. His smell reminded me of my nights, sitting under the stars with a near by fire. Oddly enough, it brought me a weird form of comfort.
"We're looking for his dad!" The cat replied for him. I turned more towards the guy standing proudly next to the talking cat.
"Why do you think humans would stay this calmly in a town with a real dragon in it?" I asked him. The cat and the human man stood there in shock as if they didn't think about it. I felt a small laugh escape my lips. "Here, let me help you out a little. What was the information that told you that a dragon was here?"
"A friend at our guild said that Salamander was here. We thought is was clue from Igneel that he was here, since Salamnder is his nickname." The cat responded while pointing to the now known dragonslayer.
"Son of Igneel, I'm sorry to inform you but people mascrade as dragon slayers all the time for their own personal gain."
"What does mascrade mean?" The cat asked.
"It's those stupid dances where people wear those goofy masks!" The guy answered. The cat looked as if he understood.
"Thats a very good example of it. It means to hide behind a mask. So someone it out there pretending to be him." I clarified while pointing to the dragon slayer. "I wish I can help you more but unfortunately I'm running low on time. It was an honor to met the son of Igneel." I raised my hand out to shake his hand. He hesitantly shook my hand. "It was an honor to meet you too talking cat" He just simply nodded his head at me as he was stuffing his face full of fish.
I could hear the clanging of the royal guard's armour approaching. I turned the way they was walking and swiftly turned down another road and equipped back into my raggy old cloak. I wasn't going to get caught before I visited the magic store here in town. Thankfully, I could hear them walking past this street. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in and continued on.
A dragon slayer with a talking blue cat. What a surprise for sure. Here I thought I had seen everything life had to offer. I hate to admitt it but being around those two was the most relaxed I had been since my parents were still alive. I just couldn't place my finger on why though. I wonder what guild a dragon slayer would chose to join. All of them would gladly take one in without question, but his choice though could have been any.
"Welcome to Harjion's Magic item store traveller!" Said a little man that looked like a garden gnome. "Is there anything in particular you're looking for?" He asked before I could walk through the door.
"I'm looking for celestial keys." I responded soon as the door closed and he could offer me something else I wasn't interested in. He continued to grin from ear to ear for a possible sell. Celestial keys were hard to come by and just as hard to sell. Unfortunately celestial wizards were becoming a rarity.
He pulled out a medium sized show case from behind the counter. He had only silver keys, most of which I already had. There was one in there I've been wanting for a while now. I pointed to that one. He took out a key to open the case.
"Are you sure you want that one? It's mostly used for beginners." He asked. I knew he was hoping to sell one of the more expensive ones.
"Yes. I'm sure." I responded.
"Two thousand jewels" Damn this old man was a rip off. I placed a bottle of the best liquor known. "Sold!" He grinned even bigger than he had when I walked through the door. I took my new friend and walked out the door.
"I heard Salamander was this way!!" This girl practically shrieked to her two friends as they ran past me. That must have been the guy pretending to be the dragon slayer I met earlier. I followed the girls, granted I wasn't running but there was more girls acting the same way so it wasn't hard to follow them. As I got closer to said destination, I could hear a mass of young women screaming and awwing.
"Welcome ladies!!" A man with purple hair stood in the middle of a group of girls. His magical powers held nothing against the dragon slayer I met earlier. "Now ladies I can't stay for too long but you all are welcome to join me at my party on my yaht!" He yelled as he waved his hand towards the white boat sitting away from the docks. Something was off about this.
Why lure a bunch of magicless women away from shore? Why was I compelled to get closer to him? My mind was feeling hazy and my heart started racing as I got closer to him. I knew I was better than this adverage low life, yet I couldn't stop myself. I needed to get closer to him.
"Now who wants an autograph?" The entire group cheered from the top of their lungs as I squeezed by them to see what was causing my mind to lose focus on the truth. I looked up at him and saw an ugly man whom for some reason I found utterly attractive. His tattooed face and purple hair was all I could stare at.
"Hey!" That voice was familiar. "Excuse me." A few girls on the other side of the crowd were starting to sound irritated. "Paradon us!" A man with soft pink hair popped up underneath the women standing on the other side of the crowd. "Happy, he don't look like he'd know anything." He said as he looked up at the purple haired man. That was the dragon slayer I met on the docks earlier today. I looked back at the purple haired man.
"Ladies! Ladies! I'm sure this gentleman here just wants a autograph." He said as he was trying to pass over the autograph. There was rings on his fingers. One of them was for fire spells, the other was a charm ring. I quickly left the pathetic scene being played in front of me.
People who needs a charm ring are extremely weak. So why also pretend to be a dragon slayer? If he was just after a good lay, all he would need is the charm ring. So what would be so important to risk being caught with an illegal magical charm?
"Loook out!!"
I was pinned face down to the pavement after being smuched by a heavy weight on my back. What the hell just happened? I stood up and heard fabric strip. I look down and my cloak was around my feet. I turned around and saw the pink haired man with the blue cat laying face down on the street. I looked back to the crowd and saw the purple haired guy leading the women away. He's definitely is trying not to get caught.
"I'm so hungry!"
I looked back down to the dragonslayer and his cat. The cat looked at him gleefully.
"That nice lady gave me a fish!"
"I know!" The man said back in jealousy as his stomach growled. "Quit rubbing in my face, Happy. I don't think my stomach can take anymore."
"Hello." They both looked up to me. "Let me pay for your food." His eyes started to shine. The cat tilted his head.
"Why?"
"You broke me from that low life's charm ring. It's the least I can do." I stared at the dragonslayer. I could see confusion in his eyes, yet I can tell he wasn't going to question it. He stood quickly, grabbed my wrist and ran. I looked back to the cat, and the cat was flying. A flying, talking blue cat. Today is just full of surprises. We were already at a restaurant. This guy wasn't kidding when he said he was hungry. Shockingly enough, it wasn't a very expensive place either. He didn't even let go of my wrist as we walked in.
"You're going to regret offering by the time he's done eating." Th cat teased.
"Shut up Happy. Don't scare her away before I get a chance to eat." The guy said while his stomach growled again. He lead us to the nearest empty table. "My name is Natsu dragneel." He greeted as he grabbed a menu. "This is Happy." He pointed to the cat.
"Is it just Happy or does he have a last name?" I asked. They both looked at me weird. "So just because he's a cat, he don't get a last name?" They looked at each other as if neither one of them knew how to respond. "Nevermind about that. My name is Lucy."
"Do you not have a last name?" The cat mocked.
"My last name?" I thought back. "No one has asked for that in years" Not since my parents were still alive. They looked at me in sympathy and in confusion. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing of importance." Thankfully the waitress finally showed up, distracting them from their questions. Natsu ordered every meat product on the menu. Happy even order more fish. The waitress looked at me. "I'm good, thank you though." I smiled. She smiled graciously back.
"Are you not eating because of us?" Happy asked concernly. I shook my head.
"I don't really eat." I replied. They both looked at me in horror.
"Why not?!" They asked in unison. If I didn't know better, I'd say they shared the same brain. I kinda shrugged at them.
"I'm not sure why but when I got out of a coma, I just haven't been able to stomach food too much." Now they were looking at me in sympathy. I don't know if it's because I was in a coma, or they just genuinely loved food that much. I honestly wouldn't be too shocked if it was more of the latter than the former.
"Why was you in a coma?" Happy continued to ask.
"Something really bad happened and I used up too much magic." They kept sending looks that I wasn't used to seeing being pointed at me before sharing a look with each other. "So why are you two here in Harijion?" I changed the subject.
"We thought his dad was here in town but it turned out we was wrong." Happy said sadly.
"Have we met before?" Natsu asked. "I can't really smell you." Happy looked at him in confusion.
"Smell me?"
"Natsu has a heightened sense of smell because he's a dragon slayer." Happy informed me. "It's never happened that he couldn't smell someone." I didn't know that while becoming a dragon slayer, your senses heighten. I wonder if his other senses were heightened as well.
"Maybe it's because I never stay at one place for more than a few days.?" Maybe because most humans live in one local area and live in some sort of shelter that they absorb the odors around them, making them their own. Maybe even living in a shelter absorbs all the smell of sweat that it becomes a factor too? I've never really thought about it too much.
"I don't know." Natsu mumbled. "I still feel as if I should know you." I'm not to sure how to feel about this information. He leaned in the little closer. I stared into his jade eyes and they stared right back into mine.
"Natsu, you're invading her personal space." Happy stated the obvious. Natsu hadn't moved back. If anything he got a little closer. I didn't move an inch. Mostly because I didn't know what he was doing so I didn't know how to react. Anyone else who had invaded my personal space was either had excessively flirted before hand and thought they was going to take advantage of me, or just tried to force themselves on me. Natsu was doing neither. His eyes around absolutely beautiful though.
"Your eyes" huh? "There's something about your eyes that I remember." Oh. He slowly leaned back unto his chair while the cat looked at him slyly.
"Are you sure you wasn't trying to kiss her?" Happy teases. Natsu hadn't removed his eyes away from me. "Thats what it looked like to me." He tried to tease again. Natsu didn't move a muscle. Seeing as Happy wasn't getting a reaction from Natsu, he moved his attention back to me. "Why are you here?"
"Magic stores at ports tend to have better items than the one farther in land." I decided to focus on Happy since Natsu looked as if he was too deep into thought to move.
"Why do you go to magic stores? Are you a wizard too?" I couldn't help but to smile at Happy.
"Something like that." I replied as honestly as I could. I could faintly hear metal clanging together. I turned my head to look behind Natsu. Royal guards were going to walk by the window we were sitting at. I quickly grabbed the menu and brought it close to my face.
"Is there something wrong Luigi?" Natsu asked. Luigi?
"My name is Lucy. And nothing is wrong." I replied, my face not leaving the safety of the menu. The guards were right next to us this time. I could hear the clanging right outside the window.
"Maybe it's because Luigi doesn't eat that she's acting like this." Happy teased.
"It's Lucy."
"Maybe she's actually hungry and she doesn't know how to read." Happy continued. Natsu was snickering now.
"LUCY." I said as loudly as I could without making a scene.
"You're food is ready." Thank everything in the universe that the waitress showed up. As soon as she set a plate down, Natsu's stomach growled and he immediately started eating. I felt another small laugh escape my lips. "Are you sure that you don't want anything to eat?" She asked me. I heard the guards finally walking away. I placed the menu down and smiled.
"Thanks but no thanks."
"As you insist." She said while giving Natsu a weird look. I looked at him and he was eating as if he hasn't ate in days. Happy was just gladly munching on another fish. It was probably best to let them eat.
I looked out the window. The first thing I noticed was that the sun was starting to set. The second was that there was not one person outside alone.
"Why do you look so sad for Luigi?" Natsu asked. I lightly glared at him. Those two really enjoy getting on my nerves.
"It's. Lucy." I snarked. He just waved the comment away as if it wasn't important. I let out a sigh. There was no point in getting through to them. "It's nothing really. I do have to get going though." I waved to the waitress to bring the check.
"Why are you leaving so soon?" Happy asked. "Don't let Natsu's eating habits scare ya. He just has no manners."
"Hey!"
"It's not that." I laughed a little again. Their antics might be annoying but it's also amusing in its own way. As much as I would've liked to stay, I just couldn't. "It's getting dark and I still have to go make camp." I lied. I needed to disappear. I've stayed here long enough.
"Awww! But you're fun to tease Luigi!" Happy whined. "Natsu is used to my teasing!" I petted Happy and he started purring. I pinched his cheek. "Owww!"
"It's Lucy." I let go of his cheek and started petting him again. "And maybe one day I'll see you two again." I said as the waitress brought the check. I gave the waitress the money and a large tip due to the mess they made. I stood up. "It was nice to met you two." They both jumped down to the ground and bowed at my feet.
"Thank you so much!!"
"I don't know how I'd ever repay you!"
"What you did for me earlier was enough" I reassured, hoping it would cause them to quit drawing attention. I walked around them and rushed out of the scene they was causing. Soon as I was out of sight, I equipped another old bland cloak, placed the hood over my face, and kept to the alleys. Royal guards were out more during dawn and dusk. I had to stay away
It was an hour past sunset now. The park was closed but I still haven't left yet. I couldn't leave without knowing what the purple haired guy was up to. My instincts were just screaming to just go there and kick his ass, even without a cause. Yet, at the same time, I couldn't keep my mind off of Natsu Dragneel. He was an interesting character indeed. He had a childish demeanor but there was just something about him I couldn't quiet but my finger on. Also his eyes. His eyes were mesmerizing. They were such a dark shade of green, they almost looked black. Yet, his eyes spoke of kindness, truama, and confidence. Also, his hair color was extremely unique, as much so as his cat.
There was a bench in the middle of the seating area between the two stair cases with a decent view. I decided to sit here and read a magazine that someone had left behind on the bench. At this point, my mind was traveling as fast as a shooting star and this seemed as if it would be a decent distraction. It was a gossip magazines about the most popular guilds. Their main topic was of a guild named Fairy Tail. I remember the Magic Council complaining alot of this guild. Hell, I even paid off some of their debt just so the magic council couldn't shut them down and I could watch them suffer.
Fairy Tail apparently had the hottest wizards and also the most destructive. I can see why the magic council complained. Yet, even with all their destruction, there isn't a report of any innocent people being hurt. That should more appreciated than worry about property damage. I also know that thanks to me, they have more money than needed to repair an entire city. Greedy bastards.
"Hey there!"
I looked to my left to see that purple haired dude trip while walking out of the bushes. I should've been paying more attention. Dumbfuck actually snuck up on me all because I couldn't keep my mind off of a boisterous man I had just met today. "I don't know if you heard earlier but I'm have a party at my yacht. You are very much welcome to join us." He tried to charm. Damn my petite silhouette. I'm going to have to add padding to my old cloaks to make me appear differently.
"You're charm ring doesn't work on me." I replied as I continued to try and read about Fairy Tail.
"I'm a part of Fairy Tail, you know. I can get you in if you want?" He tried to offer. I could hear the desperateness in his voice. I knew he had plenty of women on that boat. Why risk trying to get one more? I let out a sigh.
"Sure why not?" It was a fantastic opening to find out what he was up to. Also a better opportunity to tear down whatever plans he had in store.
"Fantastic!! Now know, it's a formal event so dress nicely!" He practically cheered as he went on down the steps towards the ports. Great. At least Cancer will be happy he can dress me up differently from my normal attire. I just hope I don't have to hear any shit from Aquarius about trying to pick up some guy or something. I could never understand why she was
There was nothing but women on this boat. The only males here were the guards. How can all these women not feel a set up? It should be obvious from the lack of males mingling around the women here. The luxurious materials on this boat was definitely better than I was expecting out of him though. It still seems desperate to me though. A mascrade if you will.
"Salamander is waiting for you." One of the guards said from behind me. That was quick. He went to grab my arm but I swiftly pulled away before he could even graze my arm. "He's behind the curtains" I just simply nodded my head and slowly walked over there. The dress that Cancer picked was not suitable for combat. Oh well. If I ruined it, it's his fault for not listening to me.
"Who is this dashing young lady? I don't remember seeing you in the crowd." The purple haired guy was eyeing me from head to toe as soon as I opened the curtains. "I would definitely remember someone as beautiful was you." He leaned forwards as if to get a better look. Mainly at my tits.
"Should I put my cloak back on?" I asked. His eyes widened in recognition.
"Why would someone as gorgeous as you be hiding it? Your beauty needs to be shared with the world!" He was still trying to charm, yet this was also the most excitement I've heard him all day. It was revolting to say the least.
"Yeah, like in a porno magazine." I overheard the guards faintly whisper to each other. These men were pigs. That is if you could even consider them men. So far, all they done is reminded me why I don't socialize.
"Why don't you come over here and sit by me?" The purple haired man insist while patting the cushion next to him. I resisted the urge to groan in misery and let these foolish women learn the hard way. How can people be so naive? Unfortunately they don't and they don't deserve what these men are willing to do to them just because they don't know better. So I buckled down my irritation and sat two feet away from him "You don't have to be shy. Here, come a little closer." He said as if he as charming while he pulled me closer to him. I had to stop myself from breaking his hands. He raised his right hand up and a few droplets of wine raised out of the glass.
It wasn't wine he raised. It was the drug in it. It was easier to smell it without the strong wine scent. Now it was plane as day what they was doing.
"So, that's what you're doing with all these women."
"W-what do you mean?" His voice slightly shook.
"You guys are human traffickers." I stated the obvious. He seemed shocked at first but then he grew a evil grin on his face as he got up and opened the curtain. All the women were past out with wine spilt everywhere.
"You guessed it! I knew you'd be pretty under that nasty old cloak of yours, but who knew you'd be this stunning and smart?" I hadn't left my spot on the couch. These men were as equivalent as cockroach shit. "How about we test your goods first before we say lights out?" As he said that, all the guards came out. He was trying to be intimating. If only he knew what happened to the people who tried it.
Crash*
There was a hole in the ceiling and dust flying everywhere now. I narrowed my eyes to avoid as much dust in the eyes as possible. Getting dust in your eyes was a pain I didn't want to deal with. I noticed the smell of fire.
"Hey! It's Luigi!!" I looked up to see Happy flying above the hole. "What are you doing here?"
"About ready to kick their ass for trying to enslave people. What are you two doing here?"
"You're using the Fairy Tail name to enslave people?" Said the growl coming from the dust. I assume it's Nastu. So he chose the Fairy Tail guild. For some reason that doesn't shock me. "Happy! Get Luce out of here!"
"Aye Sir!!"
Luce? Did he honestly just call me Luce? Not that I'm 1upset, its honestly the best nickname for me I've ever heard, it still completely threw me off my game though. Happy was already behind me lifting me up by the tie of my dress.
"You're heavy Luigi!"
"It's Lucy!! Get down here cat so I can pull out your whiskers!" I finally yelled at the cat. Happy only snickered at me. I looked down to see where we were at. Right over the water. "Put me down here Happy!"
"Nope. Natsu said to get you away from there." Happy said. "Besides, Natsu can take care of it."
"Fine then cat." I remarked as I point arm's upward, sliding right out of my dress and into the sea. I equipped into my normal shirt and pants before swimming back up to the surface. "I call on thee; Aquarius!"
"It's a fish!" Happy cheered. Aquarius was glaring at me.
"What do you want brat? I was in the middle of a date!" She yelled in my ear. "Not like you know what that means." She sneered, which was her version of teasing. I could hear Happy snicker not too far away from us. I glared at Aquarius.
"Quit focusing on my nonexisitant love life and help me get that boat to shore!" I sneered back.
"Why would I do that for a ungrateful brat like you?"
"If you dont, I'll force your gate to stay open and you'll be even more late for this so called date." I growled right back. She gave an almost hissing sound before raising her vase. A gaint wave rose above the boat, heading towards land. "I said get the boat to land! Not to destroy the docks!" This conniving bitch.
"Then don't summon me when I'm on a date." She commented slyly. "Not until you start dating anyways." And she disappeared. Happy was snickering again. I turned towards him just in time for the wave to sweep us away as if we were nothing more than dust bunnies. The look on his face was worth all the teasing. I grabbed him before the wave could push us apart and possible kill his tiny figure.
We gasped for air as the ocean called back it's water and everyone was on shore. The base of the boat was mashed to bits and the low lifes was crawling out of there like rottens to fresh stinky food. In my peripheral vision, I could see a couple of buildings were destroyed as well. They immediately started yelling at one another but I couldn't bring myself to care. Natsu hadn't walked out yet.
"Don't worry, he's fine." Happy commented as if he read what was on my mind. Just as that moment filled the air, I could feel a shift in the magic in the air around us. I could physically relax now. I knew none of those bastards had his kind of magical energy. "You liiikkkee him~!" Happy sang. I gave him a soft glare but relaxed as I felt the heat around us rise. I already knew that Natsu was kicking their asses. I turned back to watch him fight but instead, th purple haired douche was sending a wave of purple flames to Natsu. Seeing as though Happy wasn't phased by it, I decided to watch.
"You two are the best people I've ever met." I paused as I witnessed Natsu eating the flame that was thrown at him. It was astonishing to say the least. They really were like Dragons. "I can't place it but." I paused for a second to find the right words. "I've honestly never met anyone like you two." I felt a smile grow on my face, which felt like a rarity anymore. I seen one of the traffickers trying to sneak an attack on Natsu. I dashed right on in and gave him a nice, good Ole Lucy kick.
"Nice!" Natsu sounded a little impressed. I turned my head towards him and grinned. He hadn't seen anything yet. I instantly pulled my whip back and launch it at the nearest dumbest. The whip wrapped around him easily. Throwing my arm back, I sent him straight towards Natsu, who happily kicked him in the jaw. We shared another glance together before rushing out to fight the rest. As I head butted the nearest moron, I could Natsu fighting the purple hair dipshit. The guy in front of me fell down without hesitancy. Five men surrounded me, not even bothered by the fact that Natsu was kicking their leader's ass. I stood up straight and smiled at the as sweetly as I could.
"Aww, I thought you'd be bigger than this." I commented sounding as innocent as I could. As their faces darkened to a shade of red, I could hear Natsu and Happy laughing. Two men charged towards me as if they was revenging my comment. I dodged the punch from the first dude, grabbing his arm and throwing him to the second guy. The rest didn't hesitate to charge. All were as weak as the others and it did even require magical energy or time to defeat all of them. Something grabbed my wrist and started dragging me away. I looked up to see Natsu dragging me again. I looked back and seem the Royal Guards chasing us. I looked back to Natsu. "Why are you dragging me away from them?"
"You was hiding from them earlier, weren't ya?" I can't believe he noticed that. I also can't believe I fell for their teasing. "Friends help each other out!" My heart rate picked up and I'm quiet certain it wasn't because of the running. I felt a tear run down my face. I wasn't used to anyone being as nice to me as they were. Meeting their pace, I ran away with them.