Ruthless Winds and Raging Seas

Chapter 3

"They're gone... They're gone! They're gone! They're gone!" He kept shouting.

"Calm down lad, who's gone?"

"My mother! And my father! They're dead! They're dead! He killed them! He killed them!"

He burst into tears and buried his face into the pillow that his head had been resting on. Of course who could blame him? Everything he ever loved and held dear was destroyed in one night. One horrible, unforgettable night that would haunt him forever. Natsu and his father looked upon the heart broken boy with pity and compassion. They decided to leave him alone to mourn in peace. For many days Gray never left that room, all he did was just stay in bed. Natsu tried to talk to him a few times but Gray just ignored him. However Gray couldn't stay in that room forever and eventually he came out.

He walked upstairs to the deck and found Igneel going through some of the stuff he recovered from the ship.

"Some stuff survived." He told him. "Is there anything of yours here?"

Gray began to look through everything. There were only three things he wanted to keep from that pile. His father's bible, his mother's music box and an envelope that had his name written on it. The letter had been sealed in a small wooden box, that was how it was protected from the water. Gray opened the envelope and started reading the letter inside.

Dear Gray

When you've worked as a Navy officer for as long as I have you begin to fear that one day you might die in a shipwreck or a pirate attack when you're only child is still young. Which is why I wrote this.

If you're reading this letter Gray then the day I always feared has come to pass. I hope you can forgive me for leaving you while you're still just a boy but I don't want you to give in to the grief you feel over my demise. You're a very strong young man, stronger than you think and I don't expect this to break you.

Remain strong my son, live on, and have faith. Have faith in God, pray that he will heal the hurt in your heart and pray that someday you, me, and your mother will all be reunited together in heaven. My love is always with you.

Sincerely your father

Gray's hands trembled as he read the letter. He could almost hear each word being spoken in his father's voice.

"You alright?" Igneel asked.

"Yes..."

"You know Gray I need a new crew to replace the one that double crossed me. You're welcome to join if you'd like."

"If I refuse you'll toss me overboard right?"

"No. You have the freedom to do whatever you wish and if you want I can drop you off at the next port however I not sure where you'll go from there."

"I'll find a way around."

"Really? Do you have any money?"

"No."

"Do you have a job?"

"No."

"Do you have any living relatives?"

"No."

"Then how exactly do you plan to how you say find a way around?"

"I'll figure it out besides like hell I would become a pirate! It was a pirate that killed my parents!"

"I know and the pirate who took the lives of your family and everyone else on that ship has no honor or morals, but me and my son we aren't like that."

"What are you talking about?"

"We are known as honorable pirates and that's because we live by a code. We are free the pillage and plunder and steal and cause property damage but we never harm the innocent and we never kill unless it's necessary."

"My father said that all pirates had no honor."

"That's because your father only knew about the ones who didn't live by the code. Look lad you won't last a day out there on your own at least not like this. Let me train you alongside my son. I'll teach you how to fight, how to sail, how to plunder and pillage, and how to survive by just using your wits."

Gray thought for a moment. On one hand he wasn't sure if his parents would approve of him becoming a pirate but on the other hand he had no where else to go and the man did seem trust worthy.

"Fine."

"Wonderful, your training begins tomorrow and from now on you'll be sharing a room with Natsu."

"What?!" Natsu said.

"Gray could you excuse me and my son for second?"

Igneel took Natsu by the arm and pulled him into his private quarters. 

 "No way am I sharing a room with him!" Natsu argued. 

"Natsu as your father and your captain I am ordering you to be accommodating toward our newest member."

"Newest member?! You mean he's actually joining us?!"

"It would seem that way."

"But I don't want him to be apart of our crew."

"Why not?"

"Well for one thing his father was a navy officer. He's a by the book kid."

"Natsu that poor boy has lost everything, he has nothing and nobody. It would be cruel of us to just to leave him out on his own."

"But Father we're pirates. We don't care about other people, it's every man for himself."

"There are some exceptions to that case and this is one of them."

"Why is he one of them?"

"He just is. Now he's going to be a member of this crew and that's final."

At first Natsu and Gray didn't get along very well. They argued and fought a lot much to Igneel's annoyance. He thought it was hard just looking after one reckless little boy, looking after two was the biggest hassel he ever had to deal with. But he knew how to handle them and over time the boys grew to like each other. I mean they still fought now and then but it wasn't as bad as before. 

It was not long before Igneel began training them in the art piracy. He taught them how to plunder, pillage, how to sail and fight, how to use wit to out smart enemies, there never was a better teacher on the subject of pirates than Captain Igneel Dragneel. And as they trained they traveled from place to place taking what they needed and finding new members to join them, eventually they had a proper crew started and they called it Fairy Tail.