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. But that aside 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."

"What was it?" Natsu asked.

"His eye."

"You took his eye?"

"Hey it was a life or death situation. I had to do whatever it took to escape alive. Anyway after that incident he swore that he would have revenge on me and that he'd never rest until I was dead. Blah, blah, blah, you get the idea."

"Revenge for his eye?" Natsu asked.

"Pretty much. I mean I can't think of any other reason why he would hate me so much. Heh...I wonder what the old codfish is doing right now."

The pirates of Tendrou Island were indeed an interesting bunch. They originated from outside of Tendrou Island and each of them had their own backstory. Most of them were deadly yet none too bright criminals and cut throats who had escaped jail or death row. They all knew how to use a sword, a pistol, and a cannon. They all took pleasure in lying, stealing, and killing. And they all loved to lie around the ship and drink. But what they all most had in common was that they were treated as dogs their terrible captain and as dogs they obeyed him.

Captain Hades was a very cruel man. Very cruel indeed. If you even looked at him the wrong way he would kill you for it. Some say that he kills at least one of his crew members every month to remind everyone on board who's in charge. A sinister being who at the same time had a certain polite and sophisticated manner. If one were to first meet him without ever hearing of his reputation they would think that he was a perfect gentleman. But there was nothing gentle about him in the least and to cross him would be suicide unless you were Gray of course who managed to avoid the man's every attack for years. Now please do not ask why he harbors such a deep hatred for a mere child because aside from Hades himself no one quite knows. Not even his first mate Capricorn knew.

Capricorn was a funny case. He had no criminal background and desire to see blood spill but he was the most reliable out of all the pirates and the most sensible for that matter. Which probably explains why Hades hasn't killed him yet.

"Captain Hades! I have big news!" He said running into the captain's quarters only to be silenced by a sword that was thrown into a wall, barely missing the skin of his face.

The owner of said sword was a very large and strong man with unattractive features that made him look both refined and repulsive at the same time. A man who wore a patch over where his left eye once was.

"Capricorn what have I told you about disturbing me when I am sleeping?" He said in a voice that was a mixture of calmness and anger. "I was having the best dream of my life. I was dreaming that I had finally got my hands on that boy. His fairy try to use light to blind me so he could escape but the light was shined on my left side so I could not see it and he couldn't escape so I strangled him to death."

"So I guess you could say that he did you a favor huh?"

"A favor?" He flinched while still keeping a calm demeanor. "He plucked out my left eye and threw it to a dragon and the cursed beast liked the taste of me so much that it's followed me ever since. Licking it's chops for the rest of me."

His demeanor then changed to one of great anger and brief insanity.

"You call that a favor?!" He shouted with venom in his voice.

"Uh...No sir." Capricorn said. "But lucky thing that dragon also swallowed your clock. Now he warns you as you might say. With his tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock."

Hades threw another sword at him but again he missed. Still it was enough to frighten the man.

"Never make the noise again." He seethed. "You know that noise torments me! That's why I refuse to allow clocks on this ship!"

"Aye sir. Sorry sir."

"Now tell me Capricorn why did you wake me? And it better be important otherwise I'll replace the ship's anchor with your corpse."

Capricorn gulped before answering.

"It's Spring time captain. The ice has melted, the sun is out, the flowers are all in bloom."

Captain Hades slammed a fist on to his desk and froze upon realizing what this meant. After a moment of silence that seemed endless he turned to stare at his first mate intensely before whispering in a harsh tone.

"He's back." He then grinned excitedly. "Capricorn fetch me my coat and then pipe up the crew."

"Again? Captain haven't we done this routine a million times before?"

"Yes and haven't I threatened to cut your vocal cords for getting mouthy with me a million times before?"

"Aye-aye captain." Capricorn said understanding the message. He brought Hades his coat then went aboard the ship. "All hands on deck! I repeat all hands on deck! Look alive you swabs! The captain is coming!"

The other pirates immediately threw away their drinks and made themselves look ready to follow an order their captain had for them. In almost no time at all Captain Hades walked on to the top of the deck and pulled out his telescope. Looking through it he spotted Gray and his friends looking down at them from the cloud they were sitting on. He then turned to his crew and said.

"Fetch Long Tom."