a mermaid tail [nalu, under rewriting]

Chapter 11: The Plan's Effect

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A Mermaid Tail
Chapter 11: The Plan's Effect

Enjoy~

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The ship had sailed along the ocean for a long while last night. Natsu had cast the anchor and gotten almost as much sleep as everyone else did. But, the same burden was atop his shoulders. Today he knew he had to complete his quest for the Merineel Stone...

Lucy, like always, woke staring up at the ceiling. She jumped out of bed, took a quick bath, then cleaned and put on her clothes from yesterday's adventure. She walked up the stairs to the deck, noticing everyone was awake before her.

Erza was talking to Natsu with Happy, Gray was up in the crow's nest looking bored, Wendy was probably in the little room she found her in before, and Lisanna was cleaning the deck. It seemed like a normal day to Lucy. She walked over to the edge of the ship, watching the water desperately, think of the Merineel again.

Natsu and Erza were discussing how they would be getting the final piece of the stone, Happy sitting on Natsu's shoulder looking like he was about to collapse from the lack of sleep...

Erza suggested pushing Lucy over the plank and taking the last piece from her necklace. Natsu did know she couldn't swim in her human form... But he just couldn't decide on anything, and not just because they all seemed like great plans.

"Captain Natsu, we have to decide today. We can't keep her here any longer. Either have the Merineel citizens have our heads, or have them grief over their passed princess." Erza strictly said.

Natsu grimly nodded. "I just can't bring myself to do it..." He confessed, fixing his hat on top of his head.

"You've taken a liking to her, haven't you?" Erza asked with a grin. Natsu didn't reply, but stared at the wooden deck. That only caused Erza to laugh. "I guess I can't argue... She would be the kind you would like, huh?"

Natsu rolled his eyes. "Let's start talking about the plan." He said, desperately wanting to change the subject so nobody else could hear. Erza's smile changed back to her serious face as she nodded.

"Isn't there any other way to do this? Do we really need to make this wish?" Natsu asked.

"Yes, we need our wish to be granted." Erza replied with a confused look. "I thought that was what you wanted as well."

"I do want our wish to be granted... But--"

"I thought you said this was far more important... We wanted our own island full of the creatures that have passed in these centuries... A place where we could all be together, with the creatures of the past."

"I know... But I don't want to have to kill our friend to get it."

"Then how else is this supposed to be accomplished?" Erza snapped, getting tired of the argument. Natsu just shook his head in silence... It seemed Erza had won for once.

"Captain Natsu, if you won't do this... I will." Erza said, and walked downstairs. Natsu knew she was serious. She kept her ground and promises... or threats... She took every chance to be in charge. Natsu couldn't be such a great pirate captain without her help most of the time.

But, he knew Erza was right. He had to do this today, before the Merineel mermaids really did have their heads... Their wish would come true today before Erza did it her own way. It had to.

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Lucy stood at the edge of the ship above the water. They had tied her up. They had made sure she didn't move from the place she was in. They didn't give any explanation... And Lucy was terrified.

She knew she couldn't ever trust a Walker... Her father was right. She might've fallen in love with one that seemed different... Found a young friend that seemed like a younger sister... But they were all the same. They just wanted to kill her.

Lucy should've never left the Merineel. She hadn't seen Plue in forever, nor her father or friends. They must be worried to death... What if they were looking for her? What if they find her dead, at the bottom of the sea? How would they ever react...?

Natsu stood in front of her, showing no emotions, just like everyone else. He had his satchel on, with the Merineel Stone inside.

"I'm sorry you had to find our ship out of every ship on the pier." Natsu said. "Looks like we were the ones with the most wanted wish from the Merineel Stone."

Erza watched Natsu like a hawk in the back. She was aware of everything she said... And agreed with it. If Lucy hadn't come on their ship, nobody would've become friends with her. They could've tracked her down and taken the Merineel piece easily. But, it had to be like this... Unfair to both sides.

Wendy and Happy were downstairs. Erza made sure of that. She didn't want Wendy seeing this... How was she supposed to react? Happy would just be blabbing on and on, or maybe just as sad as everyone else.

Natsu was about to say something, but hesitated. He grabbed onto Lucy's necklace and pushed her into the water. The crew watched, remaining emotionless. Natsu grasped the necklace tightly in his hand.

Lucy was sinking under the freezing water. She couldn't swim, even if she wasn't tied up. All she knew how to do was swim with her mermaid tail... which she didn't have. She knew it wouldn't be coming back, certainly as it seemed now. She was going to drown in her own ocean and cursed as a Walker. Her people would find her at the bottom of the ocean, dead. There was nothing she could do...

She wanted to scream out for help, but it wouldn't work as she was a Walker... Voices of Walkers can hardly be heard under the ocean, and she would be wasting the air she had left in her lungs. It wouldn't be long until she drowned, anyways.

Natsu stood at the edge of the ship, the Merineel Stone and Lucy's necklace in his hands. After a few moments of him gazing into the water, Lucy's necklace began to glow.

Natsu immediately knew what it meant. Lucy was... She was dead.

Not wanting to upset the crew, Natsu put the small missing piece with the Merineel Stone. He was going to make his wish, even though he truly wanted to see Lucy again. But, he couldn't, ever again.

She was gone forever.