BOOK 2 - Fairy Tail (Pirates) AU: Dark Pirate's Chest

CHAPTER XII: The Given Chance

Natsu's worst fear had shown itself at last: Acnologia. The terrifying dragon-like sea monster with tentacles had caught up with the Black Fairy and got ready to sink it into the ocean.

Gray immediately ordered everyone aboard to ready the guns and wait for his signal. He had seen Acnologia taking down a ship before, so he was actually the most fit person to command the Fairy's crew at that moment. In the meantime, Erza ordered another group to watch out for the masts. And then, everyone went to their positions.

Acnologia's black tentacles began slowly sliding through both sides of the ship. The crew was working as fast as they could in order to load the cannons. Then, they startled in shock at the sight of the big tentacles surrounding the entire ship.

"Wait! Not yet!" Gray said.

Everyone was starting to tense up yet again. The tentacles were steadily wrapping the ship in order to drag it into the ocean. But then, Gray finally ordered the crew to attack. The many cannonballs immediately pierced through Acnologia's tentacles, forcing it to leave the ship alone. Then, the beast was even forced to retreat for a while.

Everyone yelled in happiness. They believed the monster to have given up. But in reality it was actually the opposite. It wasn't gonna be much longer before the beast returned for more. "It'll be back. We gotta escape"

"There are no boats" Lucy said while pointing at the crumbled boats at one side.

There was no choice anymore. They had to fight the beast and win somehow. Gray had an idea for that. He ordered everyone to secure the hatches and gather every single ounce of powder they had left inside the loading net. After that, he grabbed a rifle and gave it to Juvia. "Please, do not miss"

"Only when you are not in danger" Juvia replied firmly.

Everyone went to work after that. They loaded the barrels of powder inside a net and tied it to a pulley at the mast. Then, another group of crew members stood firmly and got ready to raise the net loaded with powder all the way up. The plan was to lure Acnologia in order to grab the net with the powder, and then blow it up.

<<Meanwhile with Natsu>>

    The pinkette pirate had actually taken the only available boat to himself, and was now rowing back to the Caracole island as fast as he could. He figured out that the heart of Zeref could still be somewhere in there. However, he also found himself extremely troubled and concerned by what he was doing at that moment.

In fact, he was so troubled by his actions that he even started to wonder if it was really his wish to save his father what was impulsing him, or just his plain fear of death at the hands of the sea monster.

<<Back at the Black Fairy>>

    Lucy was helping everyone raise the powder into the air. However, she then accidentally ended up looking at one side and noticed Natsu in the distance. The blondie couldn't believe what she was seeing. The pinkette who she believed to be a good man and a kind boy... was running away and leaving everyone behind.

    "N-Natsu..." Lucy muttered while widening her eyes in shock. But then, she faced downwards in absolute disappointment, frustration and anger. "S-so that's how it is... So be it... You coward..." After that, she decided to forget about the pinkette once and for all and focus on the matter at hand.

    Then, Acnologia finally returned. But this time it didn't attack slowly like it did before. This time, it went straight towards the inner parts of the ship with its tentacles. Everyone aboard entered in panic. Also, the net loaded with powder was still not raised enough. And so, Gray hanged on to the net while ordering everyone to keep raising it.