BOOK 4 - Fairy Tail (Pirates) AU: On Magical Tides

CHAPTER IV: The Most Infamous Ship

<<Later that night with Happy>>

    The poor flying cat was taken to the outsides of Crocus's fortress by many guards. He was gonna be executed after all. However, he then startled in surprise the moment he met with none other than Laxus. The blonde corsair grabbed a nearby rope at that moment and tossed it to the blue cat.

    "Very well, exceed" Laxus said with a smirk. "I'm gonna be needing your services now. So tell me... Where is Natsu heading?"

    "Heh... So he managed to escape, eh?" Happy replied.

But then, Laxus threatened him with leaving him hanging until death unless he gave him anything valuable. The truth is that the cat only had one thing to give the blonde corsair. But if he really did give it to him, he wouldn't be of use to him any longer. In other words, he would get rid of him.

In the end, Happy had no other choice. Therefore he took out the chart map he had stolen from Natsu. "Now then... Give it to me" Laxus said with a smirk. However, he then startled in shock when Happy suddenly tossed the map on the floor and set it on fire with a nearby oil lamp. "No! You Idiot! What have you done?!"

"I've had enough time to study those charts!" Happy replied. "Every detail... Every path and clue... They are all safe... in my head!" Laxus had no other choice now. If he wanted to find the fountain before the kingdom of Stella, he needed the chart map. Therefore, he ended up making Happy part of his crew.

<<The next day back with Natsu>>

    The pinkette found himself sleeping placidly inside a hammock... and aboard an unknown pirate ship. However, he was then abruptly woken up by a mysterious man wearing a small cloth bag as a mask. "Get up, sailor!" the man ordered firmly.

    "Y-yes, sir! Wait, what?" Natsu replied. He was totally disoriented. A few minutes later, he was forced to grab a mop and a rag in order to clean the floor of the ship. But then, he managed to recognise the same brunette woman he met at the bar of 'Altair'. "Hey! I... I need your help! Do you know what's going on here? I don't recall ever entering this ship!"

    "That's a normal thing" the brunette replied. "It happens quite often to be honest. Poor sailors always get drunk and forget the previous night in which they enlisted themselves and spend all of their money in rum"

    "No no no... You don't understand. I'm captain Natsu Dragneel. The original. The one and only"

    "Cool! I'm Cana Alberona. Now get going! We have a lot of work to do!" Natsu had no other choice. Even if he didn't really want to be a simple cabin boy, there were lots of scary people aboard who would easily force him to work. And so, he started mopping the floor alongside his new friend, Cana.

    Natsu then realized Lucy was nowhere around. He began worrying like hell for her. But still, there was no way for him to go look for the blondie without catching the scary pirates' attention. "Hey... Cana..." Natsu whispered as Cana approached. "Have you seen a blonde girl somewhere around here?"

    "You mean the blondie who was with you back at the bar? I think she's at the main deck. You may go look for her later, but not now"

    Natsu sighed in relief. But then, another far more important question took form inside his head. "By the way, where are we? What ship is this one?"

    "Oh, I'm really sorry, captain Dragneel. Allow me to welcome you to the world-renowned pirate vessel of infamy: Grimoire Heart's Revenge"

    Natsu widened his eyes in absolute shock at that moment. And then, only one disturbing name came up in his mind. "Hades..."