A Lost Boy

Chapter 28

Fear truly was one of the greatest distractions to use on one's enemy. Because when someone is truly overcome with fear, typically all they can think about is how they can escape or avoid what it is that frightens them and that's exactly what Hades and his crew were doing. All they cared about at the moment was their own survival and escape of what they believed to be a dragon that had somehow come aboard. Not once did they notice Gray slipping quietly and discreetly toward the middle of the ship where the boys were huddled together and cut their bonds, whispering to them not to attack just yet. Nor did any of the pirates notice Gray passing weapons to them which Juvia and Lucy had swiped from the lower cabin. It was almost too easy for him to get everything set up.

"Captain!" Zoldeo called from his perch on the rope ladder and pointing to the shadow cast on the sails, which was giving off that terrible tick-tock noise. Hades immediately aimed his pistol at the sail.

"Devil! Demon! Accursed beast! You're time is up!" Zoldeo pulled back the sail and Hades fired a shot but the what was behind the sail was not a dragon but actually Meredy holding up a clock.

Zoldeo fell from the shot, the single eye of Hades looked to where the member of his crew had fallen, but instead he found Gray standing across from him looking as smug as usual. Captain Hades's fear was forgotten and replaced by a great rage.

"So, Gray Fullbuster." He said slowly approaching him. "This is all you're doing."

"Aye Precht Gaeblog." Gray answered both sternly and mischievous. "It's all my doing."

For a moment the dreaded man was taken aback in shock at being referred to by his former name. Surprised that Gray even knew it. But one glance at Meredy made it all clear to him.

"I see your little fairy has reveled to you my true name. What other secrets of mine did she disclose to you?"

"Only the real reason why you hate me to such a degree that you want my blood strown across this entire deck."

"In that case you must know how this will end boy." He said reaching for the sword on his belt but not yet bring it forward. "With you dead and beaten much like my first rival."

"On the contrary Captain." Gray replied with a smirk. "You may have killed the rival you had before me but in the end he was the one who beat you. He trapped you here forever and despite his death, nothing will ever change the fact that he will always have what you wanted most."

A hatred unlike any that ever been felt before flared up inside the pirate as he was once again reminded of his previous failure and humiliation. He had always been reminded of it whenever he saw Gray but the reason why this time he had reached his breaking point was because the boy had out right directly reminded him of it.

"Proud and insolent youth!" He spat and then finally drew his sword. "Prepare to meet thy doom."

"Dark and sinister man." Gray answered with the very same words his father had used before he dueled with his rival. "Have at thee."

Upon drawing his own sword, they advanced toward each other. The other pirates quickly moved to join in on the attack.

"Leave him!" Hades commanded them with insane yet possessive anger. "He's mine."

"Now!" Gray signaled.

Instantly the boys got up from their huddle and the girls came out from the cabin, all of them wielding swords and tomahawks, proceeding to battle the crew members of Grimoire Heart. The Indians who surrounded the outside of the ship began shooting off their arrows as swiftly as the wind, very few of them missing their targets. Unfortunately the pirates retaliated by shooting back at the Indians with their pistols and cannons which were far more advanced and the lot of them ended being greatly injured, much to Lucy's horror. With the Indians out of the way the pirates were certain they would be victorious but they underestimated the strength and diligence of Gray's friends.