Vivi hummed happily as she stretched her arms above her head. Perfect weather for sea travel it seems. Second mission to take her out of Fiore. This should all be fun.
"Wow, this brings back memories." Lucy said as she stood at the front of the group. "It seems like only yesterday when we met here for the first time."
Vivi had heard about that first meeting. Apparently, Natsu had destroyed a good chunk of the town taking down someone stupid enough to use the Fairy Tail name.
"It practically was yesterday." Natsu pointed out. "You don't have to get all mushy."
"Yeah, you sound like an old lady." Happy said.
He went to laugh behind his paw but tried to hold it in when Lucy sent him a glare. Vivi chuckled shaking her head.
"Anyway, we should get going." Vivi said. "I'm sure that by now everyone in Fairy Tail knows what we've done, so we better hurry."
"Right." Lucy said. "We better go find a boat that will take us to Galuna."
She started walking off with Vivi right beside her since that sounded like a plan to her.
"Are you crazy?!" Natsu demanded then hurried to catch up to the girls. "Forget the boat! Why can't we all just swim for it?!"
As Vivi gave Natsu a sympathetic look, Lucy let out a sigh. His motion sickness was a real hindrance. She knows he can't help it, but he has to know that it wouldn't be possible for them to swim all the way there.
"You think I'm the one who's crazy?" Lucy asked.
"Sorry, Nats, but we have to take a boat." Vivi said. "Galuna isn't too far from Fiore, so it shouldn't take too long."
Natsu groaned not wanting to do this, but he did follow after the girls who took the lead. Vivi hoped it didn't take too long to find a person who'd take them. They were losing their window to get to the island before the guild caught up to them.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
"Don't know why you'd wanna go there." The umpteenth sailor they've asked said. "But no sailor worth his salt is gonna take ya. Not even pirates will go near that place."
Vivi sighed. She's lost count of all the people they've asked to take them, but she was sure getting tired of being told no. If they'd just be loaned a boat, she was sure they could get there on their own.
"Are you serious?" Lucy asked.
"Looks like we're going to be swimming, after all!" Natsu said grinning broadly.
"Sure does!" Happy agreed.
As Lucy snapped that wasn't happening, Vivi crossed her arms over her chest. This wasn't going well. She then gasped when a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"I found you." A familiar voice sang behind her.
She and the others jumped and whirled around to see Gray standing there with a smirk on his face. Vivi frowned. Great, looks like they missed their window.
"It's Gray!" Lucy gasped.
"What are you doing here?!" Natsu demanded.
"Looks, like he was sent to stop us." Vivi said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Gray nodded his head as he sighed while stuffing his hands deep into his pockets.
"That's right." Gray said. "Gramps found out about your hair-brained scheme and sent me to bring you back."
"Why?!" Natsu asked genuinely shocked. "We're not in danger yet."
"Yeah, we haven't even gotten to the good part yet." Vivi said. "But man, are we going to be in trouble when we get back."
Lucy paled wondering what kind of punishment awaited them. She was shaking just thinking about it.
"If you come back now, you might avoid being kicked out from the guild." Gray said. "Maybe."
Vivi rolled her eyes at how Gray was trying to scare them. She highly doubted Makarov would kick them out. It wasn't like they were endangering the entire guild.
"Kicked out?!" Lucy demanded.
She had no idea they could be kicked out for this. Why didn't anyone tell her?!
"I don't care!" Natsu snapped. "I'm going on this S-class Quest!"
"Man, you're way out of your league here. Both of you are!" Gray said as he looked to Natsu and Vivi. "Just come home!"
Gray then paled leaning away, which had Vivi wondering what his deal was all of a sudden.
"When Erza finds out about this, she's gonna be so angry." Gray said.
As her three companions worried about Erza and her wrath, Vivi just rolled her eyes. That redhead didn't scare her one bit.
"Erza can kiss my ass for all I care." Vivi said. "She isn't stopping me from going."
"Oh yeah, and what about when Chris and Dom hear about this?" Gray asked. "I'm sure they're not going to be happy."
Vivi frowned knowing that was true, but those two wouldn't give her a thrashing like Erza would try to do. And she didn't live with them anymore, so it wasn't like they could ground her. Gray frowned in reply to Vivi's lack of one. She was still unfazed. Was she just that stupid? Or just that confident not to worry? Gray then looked to Happy as the little furball flew over to his shoulder.
"You've gotta save me, Gray!" Happy said. "I told them this was a bad idea, but they forced me to come along!"
"You are such a liar!" Lucy snapped.
Besides, Gray already knew Happy was lying without Lucy pointing it out. Laxus saw the blue cat take the job request himself.
"I've gotta prove my power to Erza!" Natsu said burning with intensity. "And Vivi's gotta prove herself too! So, like it or not we're doing this!"
"So, you can either run back to the guild empty handed or join us." Vivi added grinning.
Gray growled in frustration. Why couldn't these idiots just listen and come home? They might annoy him, but he doesn't want them kicked out of the guild.
"Listen, you idiots!" Gray snapped as he butted his head with Natsu. "Master ordered me bring you home. I'll drag you back to Fairy Tail if I have to!"
He stepped back with his ice-make magic forming around his fingertips, which had Natsu and Vivi jumping backwards away from him. They both got into fighting stances as they narrowed their eyes.
"Don't make me hurt you, Natsu, Vivi!" Gray warned.
Vivi just brought forth her guitar ready to rumble as Natsu's fist ignited into flames.
"I'd love to see you try!" Natsu retorted.
"You're at the disadvantage, Frostbite." Vivi pointed out. "Two to one isn't the best odds."
Gray knew he was at a disadvantage. He knew Vivi and Natsu together was a dangerous combination, but he would bring them home. Even if he had to beat them both down.
"Excuse me," The boatman interrupted. "But are you wizards? Have you come to lift the curse on the island?"
"Yeah!" Natsu said while dropping his fist.
"Well, maybe." Lucy said with little optimism.
"Not gonna happen!" Gray growled.
He then grunted in pain when Vivi elbowed him in the gut really hard to shut him up.
"We're here to help, sir." Vivi said. "We're wizards of the Fairy Tail Guild. We have to job request right here."
She pulled the request, which she had taken from Lucy from her bag for the man to see. He stared at them silently for a moment before gesturing to his boat.
"Get in." The boatman said.
"Huh?!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.
"Seriously?" Natsu asked grinning.
"No way!" Gray argued.
However, before he could protest much more, he was socked in the jaw by a certain pinkette. As he was flying backwards, Vivi hit him hard in the back of the head knocking him out. The others watched with wide eyes as Vivi dusted off her hands.
"Looks, like that argument was decided." She said grinning.
Natsu laughed in agreement as he threw Gray over his shoulder since they didn't have time to waste.
"We're ready when you are, sir." Natsu said.
"Are you sure we should bring him with us?" Lucy asked.
"Well, leaving him isn't a good idea, Lulu." Vivi said. "The second he wakes up, he'll return the guild. After that Erza will be after us."
"Or Chris." Natsu said, shuddering.
Lucy frowned wondering if Chris was as scary as Erza. She hasn't spoken enough with him to know, but it seems as if he was someone not to anger.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
"I didn't think it'd take this long to get to Galuna." Vivi complained. "You can see the island from the shore, after all."
And they had left midday yet it was dark now—and late. Of course, their boat wasn't going very fast either. Though she supposes she shouldn't complain too much. The guy was nice enough to give them a ride. Vivi then pat Natsu on top the head as he blew more chunks over the side of the boat.
"Okay," Lucy began. "Now I'm starting to get scared."
"Well, look on the brightside," Gray said. "At least you're not tied up."
He threw a glare at Vivi and Natsu, and the prior actually had the decency to look apologetic as she smiled. He sighed before turning his eyes onto the boatman.
"This is your fault too, Buddy!" Gray added. "Why did you decide to let us on?"
The man turned towards Gray while looking un-pulsed by Gray's glare and clenched jaw.
"The name is Bobo." He introduced himself. "And if you must know, I used to be a citizen of Galuna Island. But I had to flee. I just couldn't take it anymore."
Vivi's brows knit together. Take what anymore? Was this curse that bad? What was it doing exactly to the island? If Bobo would tell them, they'd have a better chance of helping the island and his people.
"I should warn you tragedy befalls anyone who would step foot on the island." Bobo said. "There's no avoiding it. That is unless you are able to lift the curse."
He moved his cloak to the side revealing his arm, and Vivi gasped along with the others. It wasn't a typical human arm for sure. It looked as if it belonged to a Demon.
"This vile demon's curse." Bobo continued.
"Whoa, your arm," Gray murmured. "What happened to it?"
"Is that the curse?" Lucy asked.
Vivi frowned. These people really did need help, and if it is a demon's curse then Chris would have been better for this job. Taking down things that are demonic are right up his alley. But Vivi would do her very best to help these people. Because this quest isn't just about proving themselves but helping those who need it. That's what all wizard quests are.
"We're almost there." Bobo said looking forward. "That's Galuna Island."
Vivi and the others turned towards the direction he was looking to see the island was indeed closer. At this distance, Vivi noticed a light glowing from the top of what looked like a mountain.
"That's weird." Lucy said. "Why is the mountain top glowing like that?"
Vivi didn't know, but she had a feeling it wasn't anything good. But she supposes they'll figure that out when they get there.
"Huh, what the?!" Lucy exclaimed getting the other's attention. "Where'd he go?!"
Vivi frowned wondering where Bobo went. He was just here a second ago. He couldn't have just vanished, could he?
"Did he fall out?" Gray asked.
"We would have heard the splash if that was the case." Vivi pointed out.
"So did he just disappear?" Happy asked.
Vivi looked around stumped when she and the others started hearing a rumbling sound.
"What's that sound?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know." Vivi said frowning.
It didn't sound good that was for certain. And it sounded as if it was getting louder and closer.
"Ah, Lucy! Vivi!" Gray exclaimed in alarm.
The girls turned around while gasping as they saw a large wave heading in their direction. Well, this wasn't going to be good. Lucy screamed shrilly at the sight while clinging to the boat.
"Now, don't panic." Gray said. "Just hold on!"
Vivi didn't think that'd do this much good, but realized she better untie Gray since he couldn't hold on at all. She went to do just that. However, the wave swallowed them up before she could. As they were being pulled under, Vivi clung to the ropes around Gray while trying to pull them loose. He couldn't swim like this. Gray watched her with wide eyes as she tried to save him even if it meant getting dragged under as well.
Natsu had already gained his bearings somewhat and was trying to collect Happy and Lucy. That meant Vivi was on her own trying to help Gray. Vivi tried to loosen the ropes more, but felt her lungs start to burn. Things were going black, and finally she collapsed into Gray who started thrashing knowing he had to try something. This wasn't good. They had to get to the surface!