Night had fallen over the port town of Hargeon. Street lamps flickered against the ocean breeze as Natsu, Kari, and Happy walked along the docks.
Happy pointed toward the harbor. "Aye! Is that the ship where Salamander's party is?"
The moment Natsu saw the water, his face turned pale.
"Ugh… gonna hurl…" he groaned, wobbling.
Kari backed away immediately. "We aren't even on the boat yet!"
Natsu gritted his teeth. "Don't act like you're any better! I've seen you on a boat before—you get seasick too!"
Kari opened her mouth to argue… then shut it. "…Touché."
Happy rolled his eyes. "You two are hopeless."
Nearby, a few girls giggled while looking out toward the glowing ship in the bay.
"Look! That's Salamander-sama's ship! I wish I'd gone!"
"Salamander?" another asked.
"You don't know? He's that famous Fairy Tail wizard who came to town!"
Natsu's eyes narrowed. "Fairy Tail, huh?"
Kari crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "So he's pretending to be one of us?"
She turned toward the ship, eyes glinting. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Natsu cracked his knuckles. "I'm all fired up!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy cheered.
Kari leapt over the railing, shouting, "Flying Nimbus!"
A golden cloud swooped down from the sky, catching her midair. Natsu and Happy jumped on beside her, and together they soared off toward Salamander's ship.
{Meanwhile, aboard the ship…}
Lucy Heartfilia sat stiffly at a candlelit table, a glass of sparkling juice in her hands.
"Lucy-wucy, was it?" Salamander purred across from her. "What a lovely name."
Lucy forced a smile. "Uh… thanks."
"Let's start with a toast." He snapped his fingers. Tiny glowing droplets of her drink floated up and began to drift toward her.
"Now," he whispered, "open wide and savor the flavor as the gems melt in your mouth…"
Lucy's face twitched. Gross… but hang in there, Lucy. You can handle this!
Just as the droplets neared her lips, her eyes snapped open. She slapped the drink out of the air. "That's a sleep spell!" she shouted.
Salamander chuckled darkly. "You're sharper than you look."
Lucy stood from her seat, glaring. "Don't get the wrong idea. I wanted to join Fairy Tail—not become your toy."
"What a handful you are, girly."
The curtains behind him suddenly drew open, revealing the ship's crew. Several men carried unconscious women in their arms.
"What the—!? What is this!?" Lucy gasped.
"Welcome aboard," Salamander smirked. "Be good until we reach Bosco."
"Bosco!? You're trafficking them!?" Lucy yelled, reaching for her keys. "Not happening!"
But Salamander fired a burst of purple flames, knocking the keys from her hand and catching them midair. "Celestial Keys, huh? Too bad I'm not their contractor." He tossed them out the window.
Before he could gloat further, two shadows crashed through the ceiling and landed behind him in a superhero pose.
"Surprise!" Kari called out, twirling her staff.
"Kari! Natsu!" Lucy cried in relief.
The ship lurched, and Natsu's face turned green again. "Ugh… as I thought… no good…" He staggered, tripping over a chair and crashing backward into Kari.
"My heroes…" Lucy sighed flatly.
"Lucy, what are you doing here?" Happy asked, fluttering above the hole with his wings spread wide.
"Happy! He tricked me—said he'd help me join Fairy Tail! Wait—since when do you have wings!?"
"No time! Run!" Happy yelled, grabbing Lucy by the waist with his tail and flying off.
"After them!" Salamander roared. "If the Magic Council finds out about this, we're finished!"
"What about Natsu and Kari!?" Lucy shouted as they flew.
"I can only carry one person!" Happy grunted.
Salamander sneered. "You think you can escape me? Prominence Whip!"
Tendrils of purple flame lashed through the air toward Lucy and Happy. The little Exceed swerved left and right, barely dodging before the flames collided in a burst of firework-like light.
"That cat's fast," Salamander growled.
Then—SMACK!
A fist slammed into his jaw, sending him stumbling backward.
"Not fast enough to dodge that!" Kari said, standing over him, staff in hand. "You think you can throw Fairy Tail's name around and get away with it?"
Behind her, Natsu caught a crewman's kick midair. "You messed with the wrong guild!"
{Meanwhile underwater…}
Lucy and Happy splashed into the sea. "You idiot cat!" Lucy yelled, swimming upward.
"Sorry, my wings ran out!" Happy sputtered.
Underwater, a glint caught Lucy's eye—her Celestial Keys! She dove deeper and snatched them from the sand, clutching them tight before resurfacing.
{Back on the ship}
Natsu was already pummeling the crew left and right while Kari traded blows with Salamander.
"Power Pole—extend!" she shouted. Her staff grew longer, slamming into Salamander's chest and launching him across the deck.
He fired blasts of flame back at her, but Kari spun her staff like a propeller, deflecting each one before rocketing forward and driving a punch straight into his gut.
From the water below, Lucy resurfaced, holding up a golden key.
"Alright, here I go!" she shouted. "Gate of the Water Bearer—I open thee! Aquarius!"
A magic circle flared in the ocean, summoning a beautiful mermaid with a large water jug.
"A fish!" Happy gasped, eyes sparkling.
"Not a fish!" Lucy yelled. "I'm a Celestial Wizard! Aquarius—help me push that ship to shore!"
Aquarius sighed, visibly annoyed. "Tch."
Lucy twitched. "Did you just 'tch' me!?"
"You really shouldn't complain," Happy warned quietly.
Aquarius glared. "Listen, brat. Drop my key again, and I'll kill you."
Lucy and Happy paled. "Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Aquarius poured the jug, releasing a massive wave that swept under the ship.
"Wait—don't sweep me away too!" Lucy screamed as the wave consumed everything.
The water slammed into shore, shattering the ship apart.
Kari and Salamander burst out of the wave midair—Kari's staff struck once more. "Power Pole, extend!"
The impact sent Salamander crashing back down onto the ruined deck.
Kari landed beside Natsu, dripping wet but grinning. They bumped fists.
"You, a Fairy Tail wizard?" Natsu growled down at the man.
Salamander staggered to his feet. "And what if I am? Get 'em, boys!" His men rushed forwards at them.
"Take a good look at our faces." Kari says.
She and Natsu dropped their cloaks, revealing their toned builds and the faint marks glowing on their skin.
With one synchronized punch, they sent several crew members flying.
Then they stood tall, flames and ki radiating around them, glaring down at the imposter.
"We are Natsu Dragneel and Son Kari of Fairy Tail!" they shouted in unison, revealing their guild marks proudly.
"And we've never seen you before!"