Hello dear readers, thank you all for your patience
I hope you enjoy this extra-long chapter! Thanks a lot for your continued support!
The late morning sun tickled Gray's nose, causing him to slowly wake from his slumber. As soon as he opened his eyes, a sharp pain flashed through his skull. It took him a moment to realise where he was. He had made it back to the ship, but just barely. He had fallen asleep sitting upright against the wall of the hallway towards his room. He shifted his weight and instantly regretted it. His entire body felt like it was now made out of the same wood as the wall. As if his spine would never bend again. Gray looked down and noticed he was wearing nothing but his boxer shorts.
He let out a deep sigh. ''Of course.''
He groaned and pushed himself up. Wobbling, he dragged his feet toward his room. Memories of last night flashed through his mind with every blood pulsation that pestered his head. For as far as he could recall, nothing major happened last night. It had been awkward a few times, but nothing he couldn't handle. Suddenly he recalled Juvia's face as he had asked her to dance. How the tears had welled up in her eyes and how weak he had felt when he had taken her hand.
He opened the door to his room, whimpering in pain as the sun through the portholes blinded his aching mind. Gray didn't even care what time it was. All he knew was that the ship was still docked and his crew would likely be either after-partying or battling their hangover as well. With a groaning sigh, he landed back-first on his bed. A soft squeal made him jump up again. He looked behind him and realised he had landed on a pair of legs. He turned his head to the head of his bed and met shocked blue eyes.
''What the... what the hell are you doing in my bed?!'' he let out.
''I was very tired and I couldn't find you anymore after the party,'' she said, ''it's not like I haven't slept in it before...''
''Please don't make it sound weird,'' he whined, turning more and more into a blushing mess.
He sat back down on the edge of the bed. ''Did you have fun last night?''
''This was the first time I ever had fun,'' she said, her eyes sparkling like shimmering ocean water again. She leaned forward and gently let her hand brush his cheek and jawline. ''I will never forget our dance.''
He felt his heart speed up and his mouth turn dry. Why was it so hard to keep lying to himself? To keep drilling into his mind that she would never be a permanent part of his life? Drowning in her gaze, he found his answer.
''Juvia, I think I-'' he hoarsely brought out as he leaned in as well.
They were rudely interrupted by a loud crash to the floor.
Gray blinked a few times to realise what was going on. ''Damnit, Mest!'' he let out in both panic and frustration, ''will my orders ever make it through your thick skull?!''
Mest dusted off his clothes and stood up with visible effort. ''It seems I can't land as well as I do sober,'' he said. He looked up to face his captain and was met with the shocked expression of a third person in the room.
''Oh, ehrm, I- I'm sorry for interrupting you guys,'' he stammered, ''I'll take my leave right away.''
''No, wait,'' Gray replied, still trying to act all cool. ''I swear it's not what it looks like, just tell me the emergency.''
Mest straightened his back and averted his eyes. ''You are expected to have an audience with the Emperor in an hour.''
Gray had tried his best to look as sober as possible. He hoped that the flashy clothes he was wearing, would distract the Emperor and the others from his worn-out face. The tight collar around his neck was choking him and having his bangs all brushed back made his face feel exposed and vulnerable. He let out a groan in frustration. He had been so close to telling Juvia that he felt things for her he had never felt before. But as long as he had a certain crew member who could teleport, he would never have the privacy to tell her on his own ship. Next time it had to be somewhere else.
He was awoken from his thoughts when he nearly bumped into the gigantic door that would lead to the Emperor's royal hall.
''Well, if it isn't Casanova himself.''
Gray turned around, knowing all too well who was mocking him.
Erza couldn't contain a chuckle when she got a good look at his front view. ''Whose idea was it to have your hair like that?''
''Juvia's,'' he said, fidgeting with his tight collar, pretending to loosen it.
''Oh?'' she replied, ''did she also give you that blush on your face?''
Suddenly, the door slowly opened with a creak.
A gloomy-looking man, who had accompanied the Emperor last night at the party, walked through it.
''Captain Fullbuster and Captain Scarlet?''
They nodded.
''Please, follow me.''
Gray couldn't explain why, but he has felt uncomfortable about the man ever since he first saw him yesterday. His long, icy blue hair was braided and swung along with his shoulders as he walked in front of them. Something was off about his entire being, but Gray couldn't quite put a finger on it.
They arrived in the middle of the hall. In front of them, a long, maroon-coloured carpet formed a path towards the throne on which Emperor Spriggan looked down on them.
''Thank you for coming. I have a matter to discuss with you,'' the Emperor asked in a serious voice, ''but first, I believe your employer, King Toma, has a question for you.''
The King stepped forward. Gray always had to remind himself again of how tiny just he was.
''Not too long ago, my castle received some unordinary guests,'' he said, ''a group of pirates came to the royal family to ask to be pardoned for their crimes.''
The King scraped his throat. ''Is it true you and Captain Scarlet's crew were the ones responsible for the defeat of the Grimoire Heart pirates?''
Both captains nodded. ''That is correct, your majesty,'' Gray said.
''Then I leave their faith in your hands,''
Gray exchanged a look with Erza. Her nodding was enough for him to understand her intentions. They had already discussed this matter in case it was brought up. What they hadn't talked about was a slight adjustment he wanted to make. Even though he knew not everyone would be pleased with his decision.
''Throw them all in jail and send Ultear Milkovich to the extra-guarded royal prison, she's dangerous and shouldn't be underestimated,'' Gray stated, ''If they show good behaviour, they should be given the chance to become bounty hunters as well.''
The King looked confused for a second but quickly changed back to being serious. ''As you wish.''
''However,'' Gray gestured with his hand to let everyone know he wasn't finished, ''I would like for two pirates to be pardoned.''
The King raised a brow. ''Who might these two people be?''
''Lyon Vastia and Meredy Milkovich have proven to have been in Ultear's grasp without knowing her intentions. I deeply trust Lyon, who is my adoptive brother. I would kindly ask you to let them join us.''
''I would like to make a request as well,'' Erza said while lining up next to Gray. He looked at her in utter confusion.
''Aside from making Meredy Milkovich a part of my crew, I would like to add one more member.''
She took a deep breath and stood up straight. ''Former Ishgarian criminal Juvia Lockser has proven herself worthy of fighting alongside us and I hereby ask for her to be pardoned of her crimes in the past.''
Gray didn't know what to say. Having Juvia in their ships had felt so natural now after more than a month, he had totally forgotten about her official status in the kingdom.
The king eyed Gray with a meaningful look. ''She's your woman, isn't she?''
He was caught off guard by the King's sudden question. ''Well, ehm... I wouldn't call it that way, but-''
''Everyone has seen you two dancing yesterday,'' the Emperor interrupted him, ''it was heartwarming.''
King Toma nodded in agreement. He turned back to Erza. ''She has my permission to be part of your crew and I will make sure her wanted posters will be taken down.''
Erza closed her eyes and took a bow. ''Thank you, your majesty.''
The King turned around and walked back to take a seat not too far from the Emperor. ''They are all yours now, thank you for your time,'' he said to the man on the throne.
''Well then,'' Emperor Spriggan stood up and walked down the steps beneath his feet. ''I bet you two are dying to know why I summoned you here.''
''Yes, we are,'' Erza shamelessly replied to his rhetorical question.
''Very sharp,'' he remarked. ''Supposedly, a monster is roaming the waters East of my empire and has started to terrorize its islands,'' the Emperor's gaze drifted off to Gray's right arm, ''I've been told you have a certain skill that could prove worthy in slaying a demon such as this one.''
Gray grabbed his arm as if the tribal tattoos on it were stinging underneath his clothes. ''It's true I inherited a certain form of magic from my father, but so far I've not been willing to use it.''
''Would you say you could slay this beast with the magic powers of the crews combined?''
He immediately replied with a confident grin, quickly making eye-contact with his fellow captain.
''Absolutely.''
Special thanks to the two former beta readers of this story; mizzyplatinum and i-write-fanfics-to-procrastinate. Over time you have lost your love for this fandom and I'm grateful you both have been honest about it to me and I'm very thankful you've been proofreading my chapters for the past 3.5 years
From now on, marzi-mars will proofread this story, thanks a lot for your help, Margo!