A Lost Boy

Chapter 8

Strange to say, Juvia and her brothers recognized the island as soon as they saw it. It floated in the center of a great sea and it appeared to be a lot smaller than it really was. But still it was a grand sight that was better than what they dreamed it would be. 

They landed on a nearby cloud to get a better look. Truly it was incredible but not as tropical as they expected an island to be. In fact it was rather cold with ice and snow frosted almost every where. 

"Why is it so cold here?" Juvia asked. 

"It's because I've been away for so long." Gray answered. "My emotions tend to control the atmosphere here. But now that I've come back things should start warming up."

To pointed down toward the island and they watched the ice thaw out all around the island while the sun let it's glorious rays shine over it, giving life to lush green plant life that soon started growing again. 

"How is it that you can do that?" Natsu asked.

"It's a little gift that the fairies gave me. That and the talent for flying without their dust. My feelings are very special."

"Special in what way?"

"In a way that controls pretty much everything about me. Where I live, how I fly, how I fight, it controls my entire life. Which is why I'm always happy."

"That's ridiculous. No one can be happy all the time."

"I am. I have to be. Happiness is what gives me my strength. If I were to become sad or unhappy I would just fall."

"Fall?"

"You know, not be able to fly or fight anymore. In other words I would fall and be at the mercy of the pirates. But lucky for me there is nothing that can make me unhappy. Still that doesn't stop the pirates from trying to kill me."

"So are there really pirates here?" Romeo asked.

"Yep! The pirate crew of Grimoire Heart also known as scourge of Tendrou Island and living proof that monsters can take human form."

"Monsters? I thought they were pirates?" 

"It's a figure of speech Romeo." Juvia explained.

"Oh."

"What are the pirates like?" Natsu said.

"Not pleasant." Gray answered. "I mean they're fun to mess with when I have nothing better to do but other times they can be a real pain."

"Are they dangerous?"

"The crew itself? No. The lot of them are as dumb as a rock except for maybe Capricorn but he's not one for bloodshed that much. Their captain on the other hand, he's definitely a challenge." 

"Who is he?"

"He calls himself Captain Hades because wherever he goes death and murder is sure to follow. He's very smart, a little insane but smart. And he's probably the most evil man in all creation."

"How do you know him?"

"That guy's had it in for me for years."

"Why you?" Juvia asked.

"Why me? I don't know. Everything about me he finds offensive. It's like the very fact I'm alive ticks him off. First time I met him he tried to hang me."

"How did you escape?"

"The details were a little messy but I think what really gave me my chance of freedom was when I plucked something from him."