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

CHAPTER XI: The Deadly Source of Life

Natsu and Happy had finally gathered with Hades's crew once more. Lucy even rushed towards the pinkette and exalted in joy after seeing him and the flying cat alive. But what the crew didn't know yet was that Natsu and Happy had thought of a plan before finally arriving at the meeting spot. One that would help them gain something after that whole trip was finally over.

"Did you bring the chalices, Dragneel?" Hades asked.

"Yup! Here they are" Natsu replied as Happy showed himself at that moment while carrying the chalices. "Ok but before I give you the chalices, I do have one or two conditions"

"Name them"

"Firstly, I'll be having my compass back. No, no wait... That's the second. Firstly, upon your word, you will set me and Lucy free once this whole circus is over. And also, you promise not to ever bring harm to Lisanna ever"

"I'll make no vows to the likes of you, Dragneel. But it costs me nothing to admit that she was never in harm's way"

"Secondly then, priorly first, I will be having my compass back" Hades thought about it and then returned Natsu his compass. "Thank you... And thirdly, mister Hades, there are times, not very often, when I do reflect upon my heinous misdeeds. Chief among them, I note how poorly I have treated my great friend, Happy. He was captured and left to rot in jail while me and Lucy took a long time to find him. But, point being, you are gonna let him go free"

"Is that it?"

"I think so. Now quick and choose before my flying cat friend flies away and goodbye chalices"

"Done"

At last, Happy and Natsu nodded to each other as they finally gave Hades both silver chalices he so desperately wanted. Following that, the entire crew continued their way towards the fountain. But just before leaving for good, the pinkette tossed his recently recovered compass to Happy and winked at him.

"This will lead you to freedom, pal. You know what to do... hehe..." Natsu finally said as Happy nodded with a smirk.

And so, the flying talking cat finally left in direction to where the pinkette's magical compass was pointing him to go. It was all part of Natsu's plan after all. And soon, the results of it would finally show themselves.

<<A few minutes later>>

    Natsu, Lucy and the others continued their journey through the land until they found a very big cave with an inner lagoon in the middle. They all then entered the cave and swam all across the water until they reached an entrance towards a very tight hallway. The crew entered the hallway and explored it all the way until they finally reached a dead end.

    "Aha! A dead end" Natsu said with a grin.

    "Dead. End?" Hades asked in anger.

    "Natsu... I'm starting to think you don't know where you are going" Lisanna added.

    "Well... It's not the destination what matters, but the journey as they say" Natsu replied.

Then, he asked Hades to hand him the silver chalices, and the others to back up a bit from him. The truth is that Lisanna was more than right. The pinkette really had no idea of where he was going at all. So what he was just about to do was nothing else than one of his many desperate improvisations.

He raised both chalices while holding one in each hand... and hit them against each other, causing a ring which echoed through the entire cave. But nothing else happened in the end. Then, he hit the chalices another time... and another... and another... and yet nothing happened... again.