The Shadows of Tragedy

Chapter 17

After a suitable route had secured for the shipping business, Gray bought brand new ships and hired employees to work for him. Pretty soon the Fullbuster Shipping business was back and running successfully. When he wasn't trying to run the family business or control his blood thirsty urges, he was helping Erza with finances, consulting Natsu for more information regarding the time period they were in, and spending time with Romeo.

Gray and Romeo almost formed an instant bond with each other. He was very fond of the bright and somewhat shy little boy. In a way he reminded him of his sister Wendy. Like him she was a very bright and precocious child who was very shy and struggled with making friends with other children.

"So you mean to tell me that these creatures, these dinosaurs existed long before humans did?" Gray asked while examining one of Romeo's toys.

"Uh-huh." He said. "A lot of them were bigger than a sky scraper and had teeth that were sharper than anything even knives and swords."

"Seems a little hard to believe if you ask me."

"Here are some pictures that archaeologists took of their bones." Romeo handed Gray a book that contained photographs of dinosaur fossils.

"Astonishing." He said. "Where did you get a book like this?"

"My dad gave it to me for my birthday."

"A book like this must've cost him a fortune."

"Not really. It was ten bucks."

"No kidding? Huh. If a book like this was around when I was your age it would be worth at least a hundred."

"Wow. The stuff in Stella must be really expensive."

"Stella? Oh right! Yes. Merchandise is very expensive there."

"The dinosaurs ruled the earth for years." Romeo continued. "But then one day they just disappeared. Were wiped off the earth completely."

"Interesting. How did that happen?"

"Well some people say that it was a giant meteor that wiped them out but no one really knows for sure. Didn't they teach you about dinosaurs when you were in school?"

"Um...I think they skipped that subject."

"That's weird. Dinosaurs are like a mandatory subject that you learn in school."

"You could say that my school was a little behind on certain learning subjects." Gray said. "You seem very fascinated with these dinosaurs."

"Well who wouldn't think they're cool? They're bigger and stronger than anything on earth. I wish I could see a real dinosaur."

"Judging by what you've told me about these beasts, I'm pretty sure that if you ever met one it would eat you in one bite."

"Not a meat eating dinosaur. A plant eating one. In fact the dinosaur that's bigger and taller than them all is a plant eater. One time when I was six my dad took me to the museum where I saw all the dinosaur bones on display. It was so cool."

"You and your father sound like you were really close."

"Yeah we were. But now he's gone."

"If I may ask how did you father pass?"

"He went on a fishing trip with some of his friends but there was a hurricane and he didn't make it."

"So he was lost at sea." Just like Gray's father. Feeling empathetic, Gray gave the boy a comforting pat on his shoulder. "I can't speak for the dead personally but I feel that your father would be very proud of you."