Chapter 13: Gray's Mission Part 1

At Marineford

It's been three months since Gray's arrival at the Navy's headquarters, since he's joined the navy, he's been training to get stronger in the training grounds.

One day he was doing more training taking off his clothes leaving only his boxers. "The sun is killing me." He groaned sweating. "Though, this training might be worth it."

He remembered what Akainu told him while ago.

"Listen, your powers might be strong, however there are some pirates Devil fruits, even some with Logia powers." His body turned to Magma. "This the Magma-Magma fruit, Logia type, this type of devil fruits can make it's user almost impossible to get hurt, though some have weaknesses like Crocodile's Sand-Sand power, when his body gets wet his body becomes hard."

Akainu's reverted his body back to normal. "However, the power that counter Logia powers is called Haki! It's power that some people can use, there three types of Haki, the one that can counter Logia users is Arament Haki, other is called Observation Haki, one that can predict the moves of enemy and able to hear voices of people even their presence, and the most rarest one is Conquerer's Haki, one that can use to intimidate foes or cause them to pass out."

Gray looked at his body realizing the training he was doing. "If I can gain this Haki, maybe it should come in handy when my friends and I face the Alvarez Empire." Images of his guildmates as well as Makarov flowed through his mind. "Gramps, everyone, please be safe, once I find the others we'll get a way home."

"Excuse-" Gray jumped in surprise seeing a young marine girl with flower like pendant. "Sorry, and where are your clothes!?"

The ice wizard looked down. "Aw man!" He instantly picked up his clothes and got dressed. "Anyway, what'd you need uh-" The other girl giggled. "Oh my name is Miyoka, I got just enlisted as a marine about 4 months ago."

Gray was little intrigued. "I see, you haven't been here as long." The other girl nodded. "Yes, also if you're wondering how I fight, I use hand-to-hand combat." She then took out a bow and arrow. "As you saw, marines sometimes use guns, but in my case, an archer." She took aim at a nearby cans and fired at each other successfully shooting them. "I've been good with arrows since I was young child. My father was in combat battles, I heard that he an honorable man and fought hard against pirates, he fought until his last breathe, he even protected me from pirates or bandits that tried to kidnap me."

Gray was impressed to hear how far her father would go but then again didn't surprise him. "I see, so where is your father now?"

Miyoka's face went to sadness. "I was about 5 years old, but I was told he died protecting the some of the citizens from pirates, the enemy that he fought aginst was strong, after awhile a marine that was friends with my father found and told me about his...his...fate." Tears started to form in her eyes. "I was heartbroken when he died, I thought was I going to die too...however, I remember what he use to say me..."

"Miyoka, listen life for you will be hard somtimes, when I'm not around anymore that will could you sad and lonely, however when you have other people in your life then there is nothing you can't do."

Gray was moved by this speech. "Her father is honorable man, not mention a great father to her." His memory of his father went through his mind especially the last time he saw him.

"You're a good person Gray, if only your mother was here to see what kind of man you have become." He smiled.

Miyoka noticed the ice wizard's sudden silence. "Is something wrong?" Gray sighed but smiled. "Nothing, it's just that I understand what you're going through, my father was amazing guy too, he helped through a certain hardship, that's long story though."

Miyoka could respect the boy's response. "I see, sounds your father was quite the man." She then looked cutely at Gray. "I bet your dad is handsome like you." The ice wizard's face went steamy red. "Uh...yeah..."

"Hey!" The two jumped in surprise but embarrassment too as the two turned to see a marine running towards them. "Gray Fullbuster, Admiral Kizaru and Fleet Admiral Akainu would like to you see!"

Gray walked down the hallway to Akainu's office as he walks some new female marines were waving cutely at him.

"Such a hunk of a man."

"Yes, wonder if he has a girlfriend."

"I can tell he's such cool guy!"

Vice-Admiral Momousagi was standing as she glanced at young man. "I see the newest recurit returned from training." Gray then noticed the older woman looking at him which she turned away. "He looked at me, wait what is wrong with me?" Just then someone tapped her shoulder and turned to see a marine. "Vice-Admiral Momousagi, you're needed in Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's office too, including other vice-admirals he called forth!"

Hina was smoking a cigarette. "I see the ice boy returned from his training." He took out the cigarette and blew smoke blushing a little. "Hina, thinks he's kind of cute."

Fullbody growled with a hint of envy. "I never seen Hina like this." Jango agreed. "Yeah, we always tried to woo her so why is she looking at the brat?"

Tsuru smiled a little. "Have to admit I miss my youth."

Gray arrived at the office inside was Akainu sitting at his desk with Kizaru along with some other Vice-Admirals Doberman, Onigumo, Momonga, and Dalmatian.

"What'd you need Fleet Admiral Sakazuki?" Gray asked.

The Fleet Admiral looked at the young man. "Listen everyone!" He took out a map and unfolded it. "On the island called Namakura, there is pirate crew that just arrived there and causing havoc to the people there, one of our marines got a message from there that the island was taken over by the pirates!"

Doberman gritted his teeth. "Damn those pirates, who is the captain." Akainu took out a wanted poster. "This one, an escaped prisoner from Impel Down, known as Johnathen Silver Captain of the Silver Pirates, he was a formible opponent, not only that he's skilled with a sword and known as hand-to-hand combat fighter, though some of resources was able to track him and ambush him."

"My, my, I heard stories back about him when I was still a vice-admiral, he was so strong that most rear-admirals were overpowered by him, he was said to wield Haki as well." Kizaru stated.

"Yes, it was our secret agents that took him down and his crew." Tsuru added. "To think he gathered another crew, this isn't good, just like Byrnndi World, this is a bad time since some of the marines are transferring to the bases in the New world."

Momousagi was concerned. "Yes, his bounty is 300,000 million berries as well."

Momonga groaned. "This isn't good, who knows how much damaging he's causing."

"Were there any casulities yet?" Maynard asked.

Akainu then had a look of anger on his face. "At least 15 were killed by this bastard..." Gray gasped quietly as the Fleet Admiral continued to speak. "This is getting bad, the island is overtaken, some of the marines that ordered to go and confront Johnathen, however there underwater bombs that most of the navy's warships were blown up instantly, others had to retreat!"

Dalmatian clenched his fists. "Damn, if this keeps up then the islanders won't make it!"

"And with navy busy as we are, finding the time and day to for any of us strongest of marines is harder!" Onigumo added.

Gray then made his decison. "Fleet Admiral Sakazuki!" Akainu alongwith the vice-admirals and Kizaru looked at the young man. "Allow me to take this bastard on!"

The marines gasped in surprise as Akainu narrowed his eyes but decided to give the man to speak. "Tell me, why do you want to face this pirate, he's way out of your league!" Those last words gave Gray a reminder of what his deceased master Ur said to him. "Deliora is out of your league!"

Gray kept his composure. "Listen, I'm not trying to be reckless but you guys said yourselves that navy is busy due to other pirates roaming around the world, if this island Namakura is being taken by this pirate and causing suffering and death, then he needs to be stopped!" He had a look determination which Akainu saw. "By the time more people will killed by his hands, I will not allow a man to cause pain and suffering, I've been through that as far as I can remember."

Momousagi was worried about the young man. "Gray Fullbuster, I can tell you got potiental but-" She felt a hand placed on her shoulder and to see Commodore Brannew who shook his head.

Gray then smirked. "I'll be fine, I always give it my all, anyone that causes pain and suffering to the others needs to brought to justice!"

Sakazuki grinned. "Hmm, if that's so you shall leave to face him in a few days, we'll decide which Vice-Admirals and other marines shall accompany you before then."

Gray nodded. "Thanks Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."

A short time later.

Gray went to his room and rested to take in the actions that just happened. "To think there strong pirates in this world, makes me wonder if there other worlds, maybe some have strong enemies." He mostly remembered his speech. "Geez, I sounded like Natsu, then again he was here, he would probably want to fight strong enemies but I'm doing this to gather information about my friends." He looked at a nearby table to see the wanted posters of his friends Era and Mest along with Kagura. "To think my friends must've done something to provoke the Navy, but if I know Erza, she must've had a reason including Mest and Kagura as well."

Though he doesn't know Kagura much but for that she's the sister of Simon and has a grudge against Jellal and for that she went toe-to-toe with Erza at the Grand Magic Games. "If I know Natsu like I think I do, if he sees Erza's wanted poster, he'll want to get one as well and try to show up Erza too."

Two days passes on as Gray continues to train himself in the training grounds, he begins learning one of the Six power techniques. "Shave!" He vanished quickly at the blink of eye and reappeared in . "Ha, I mastered the Shave Technique, but I must keep working on it."

The next day, Gray took a little break while having a lunch in the training grounds. "Whoa, it's been a few days and so far I haven't delevop any Haki, that is if I can use it."

"Gray..." A voice called as the ice wizard turned to see Miyoka approaching him. "I can see your still training yourself, still you haven't gotten your Haki yet."

Gray groaned a little. "Yeah, this going to be tricky than I thought." He heard the girl giggle. "What's so funny?"

Miyoka recollected herself. "It's just that, I was like that when I started training, you see I have Haki as well." Hearing this was surprise but this might be the break he was looking for. "I only have Observation Haki, I can teach you a few things about it, if you're interesting?"

Gray thought of this for minute. "This might be the break I'm looking for, if she knows about Observation Haki like she says, then I can try to gain it." He looked at the younger girl in front of him. "Alright, teach me."

Time passes as Miyoka teaches him about the basics of Observation Haki. "First off, Observation Haki is the first type, also the user can use it to sense the presence, strength, and emotions of enemies, some say you can hear the voices of the nearby people, like if you have eyes and ears all over the place..." Gray sweatdropped at the last words. "Uh, I see..."

A short time later, Miyoka took Gray to another training ground that was surrounded by brick walls, small trees, and bushes. "Where are we going?" Miyoka just smiled. "Oh I asked someone about the 2nd Haki Type, luckily I found someone that might help."

Gray was given a bandana that was tied around his eyes. The ice wizard stood silent as he trained his mind to listen hard.

Just then he heard a faint footsteps that were coming from left as a laser was shot directly at him but he instantly jumped backwards at the blink of an eye as the laser hit the brick wall. "That was close." He stood back as his feet stepped on a little rope that caused to pull the trigger of crossbow that fired an arrow at which almost hit Gray's head but he cocked his head sideways as the arrow barely landed a scratch. "Is that all?"

Another arrow shot directly at him as Gray cocked his head sideways again. "Hmm, this is going to tricky than I thought." Knowing the training for Haki, it must be really harder to control it let alone mastering it. "Either way, there is sure to be stronger enemies in this world, on the other once I return Earthland, this power should come in handy in the battle with Alvarez Empire."

"We're not done!" A big giant came out of the trees, the giant had a black bleard wielding a large club and wearing his marine cap backwards. "I'm a member of the Giant Unit, I'm here to help you train as well!"

Gray smirked. "This should be fun..." He spread out his left hand as icy cold breeze appeared from his hand. "Ice Make: Ice Hammer!"

The giant smirked. "Quite impressive!" He charged ahead and took a swing using his club as it swung closer to the ice wizard's head but surprisingly the club was blocked. "Sorry, I ain't going down easily!" The giant gasped as his club was blocked by Gray's ice hammer.

Miyoka's words went through his head. "Also Armament Haki, it can be used as a shield and as a weapon, it can be used against Logia type devil fruits, regular physical attacks won't hurt people with logia powers, but using Armament can help the user against those kind of devil fruits."

Gray's struggled a little. "I think I might seen a sign of Arament Haki, but controlling it is another story, if I can control it I might have a chance of beaten this pirate!" He continued his defensive position and then went on offensive move pushing back the giant with great force and causing him to fall to the ground on his back. BANNG

The giant was knocked out as Gray was panting heavily. "I admit that giant was tougher than I thought." Gray clenched his hand. "Even if I can't master it I'll still have to try to take down this pirate." He also had another thought. "I wonder how did I get a sign of Armament Haki, maybe using the ability of sensing auras was able to help me or was it something, at any case I need to keep training." To him training was quite the work out especially when he and his friends trained for the Grand Magic Games though the last thought of that having 5 days due to going to the Celestial world was because of that.

Two more days passes as Gray continues to train, learning from Miyoka about Observation Haki while trying to master his Armament Haki training with different Giant Squad members.

M

The day of Natsu and Happy leaving Amazon Lily with Fujika another amazon girl. "I can't wait to leave and fight some enemies, if we're lucky enough we'll get our own bounties Happy!"

The thought got Happy excited. "Aye sir!"

Fujika giggled a little. "He does sound like Luffy..." Just then the pinkette turned around and grabbed her hands. "Fujika, thanks so much offering me and Happy a ride, I can't wait to start this journey!" The purpled haired amazon was quite flustered as Natu's hands felt so warm."I-I-I..."

The pinkette tilt his head in confusion. "Is something wrong?" Fujika turned her head away. "No nothing is wrong..." She lied as she felt her heart beat fast. "Anyway, let's get going, but first take this pill." She handed one of the sea sick pills which Natsu took and swallowed it. "I can't wait to sail and with these pills I'll be able to enjoy it without hurling!"

Happy agreed. "Aye, but remember these pills last only three hours, so once you feel the urge to hurl, take it again." Natsu grinned raised his hand up. "Aye!"

They came to a boat that had a sail that had the amazon lily kuja pirate skull. "As you know, this flag shows that I'm a member of the Kuja pirates, as long as this flag shows that then other pirates shouldn't give us much trouble."

Natsu was too excited to listen. "Yeah, yeah, enough talking let's go!" Fujika sweatdropped. "He's eager than I thought."

Boa Hancock and her sister along with the Elder amazon woman Gloriosa and Kuja pirates were arrived. "Hi, everybody!"

The elder Gloriosa

On the sea.

Gray along with Vice-Admiral Doberman, Dalmatian, Momonga, Bastille, Stainless, Momousagi(Gion), and Onigumo along with Hina known as Rear Admiral along with her Seaman recruits Jango and Fullbody, lastly his first right hand man(or woman)Miyoka. Each of them were on their own marine warship too.

The time arrives as they arrive closer to Namakura Island. Gray's ship was next to one that had Rear Admiral Hina and her group while the four vice-admirals were on the front line.

Gray was feeling intense. "This is going to be tough, but I must stay alive in order to get some info on my friends." He thought as other marine ships arrived closer ahead. "It's almost time."

Just then there was an explosion that exploded nearby. "What was that?"

BOOM

"Underwater mines!" A marine alarmed loudly.

Momonga gritted his teeth. "Just as we feared, the shoreline must have a countless mines in the water."

Doberman growled at this. "Figures that bastard Johnathen was expecting we'd come sometime."

Miyoka was little nervous. "This is going to rough, at this rate we'll need to go around." Gray agreed however he caught a glimpse of something near the shore where a bunch of large trees with long big branches. "What the, Miyoka hand me the binoculars!" The other girl nodded and went back inside the ship and came out shortly with a pair. "Here."

The ice wizard looked through the binoculars. "Let's see, was that-" He saw a pirate wielding a large bazooka but realized the man wasn't alone as others were kneeling on one knee and standing beside them was several cannons with wheels. "Great, this isn't good!" He quickly did his stance. "Ice Make: Ice Cannon!" Miyoka was in awe. "An ice cannon!" The ice wizard fired his bazooka which fired a ice bomb destroying the trees.

Doberman was surprised. "What was that?"

Gray's cannon disappeared as he raised his hand up releasing a icy beam which got the other marines to look at him from their ships. "Everyone listen, there's pirates wielding large bazookas, also even we go around the island the pirates are surely to attack us with more bazookas, it's my guess that the deep in dark water, there are sure to be more underwater mines!"

Doberman gritted his teeth and his snail which was connect to Gray's transponder snail(Which had Gray's hair). "Figures, so what suggest should you have?"

Gray took his transponder snail. "Listen, I have an idea, just wait for my signal and then we'll just walk towards the island!"

The marines were confused at this odd plan. "What, how can we do that?!"

Jango was little skeptical about this. "Yeah, it's not like we can..." Gray's voice interrupted. "I know that, but like I said wait for my signal to go!"

Hina was agreed. "Give the kid a chance..." She smoked her cigarette. "This might be our only option."

Gray nodded as he stripped his clothes off leaving his pants on. "Let's do this!" He jumped on a life boat and put his hands in the water. "Ice Demon: Freeze Zone!" The ocean along with the shore line was soon frozen and hard as the ground as the bombs were frozen stiff.

The pirates nearby were in awe. "What's this!?"

"This can't be possible!"

"Our underwater mines are frozen!"

"Quick alert the captain!"

Miyoka felt really cold as her body shivered. "Excuse me, c-c-can we turn-up-the-the heat..."

The vice-admiral were in awe as well as Read Admiral Hina and her group. "He frozen the water."

"Just like Aokiji would do."

"This is quite impressive!"

"Hina is impressed even more."

Gray then took out a ice sword. "Ice Make: Sword!" He pointed his sword directly at the island. "NOW CHARGE!"

"He's given us orders despite he's just a marine captain!" Fullbody exclaimed.

Momonga admitted the young man was bold. "At any case, we must fufill our duties!" He turned to some of the marine ships. "Listen up men, we shall go ashore!"

Dalmatian had a question. "How many should we stay behind incase other pirate try to destroy our ships?" But the other vice-admiral had that answer as he took a transponder snail. "Stainless, Bastille, hear this order, I want you both and along with Rear-Admiral Hina and her group to stay at the ships, wait for our report if anything else happens, if things get dicey, then call headquarters for any back up."

Stainless nodded as he replied. "Roger that!"

Hina sighed as she agreed. "Hina understands, over."

Bastille grunted but accepted the order that was given. "Right, roger that."

After that was done Vice-Admiral Doberman, Onigumo, Momonga, and Momousagi(Gion)went ashore along with their own men.

Gray along with Miyoka were already making through the forest. "This is going to get be tough, as marine and Fairy tail wizard, I shall give it my all!" He thought as he and his partner arrived at a dirt path that lead up a grassy land that lead up a hill and he turned to the other direction of the path to see the vice-admirals and their men approaching.

Gray then had a serious look on his face and ran towards the top of the hill and saw a tribe wearing black cloaks with hoodies. There was a lot of injured cloaked and saw a sigh that read "Harahettania" He scanned the sign and realized something. "This must people must be called the Harahettania, I assum they're a tribe or something." He ran towards the people.

Pekkori was crouched down sulking in despair but then he heard footsteps. "Huh, who are you?" Gray raised his hand up. "It's alright, I'm a marine, name is Gray Fullbuster, I heard there was an pirate named Johnathan that arrived on this island, is this true?"

The sunglasses leader nodded. "Yes, after awhile that bastard invaded our village, he even went to the Longarm tribe."

Gray was confused. "The what tribe?"

Pekkori began to explain the rival tribe. "Those bastards took everything we had our food, money, and women, they even took our savior away!"

Gray wondered who was their savior. "Who was this savior?" The leader explained that detail which was about a talking skeleton. "A talking skeleton, how can that be?" He wondered if this skeleton was Kay the Necro-mancer. "He was a friend, he even helped us stand up the Longarm tribe, after he tried to scare them the leader Sancrin and his men took him away."

A dirty blond woman came up to Gray. "Yes, that skeleton saved us, but we heard he put on a show for the Longarm tribe, then a four months ago we heard he left on a tour."

Gray was now convinced this skeleton wasn't Kay but realized he was off topic. "Never mind, where is Johnathan now?"

Pekkori was curious. "He's with the Longarm tribe, I don't like our rival tribe but they were suffering as well, not mention that pirate scum took our food supply too, if this keeps up we'll starve to death, not to mention we have wounded people here."

Gray then placed his hand on the leader's shoulder. "Let me handle this punk, can you show the direction on how to get the Longarm tribe village?"

Just as the vice-Admirals arrived the village they noticed that Gray or Miyoka wasn't no where in sight. "Damn those kids must've gone ahead." But the destruction of the village got his attention as well as the injured villagers. "This Johnathan did this damage, makes me sick."

Momonga gritted his teeth. "Momousagi stay with the villagers and have your men get the first aid kits to treat the wounded!" The other marine woman nodded. "Yes sir!"

The ruby haired vice-admiral turned his attention to the vice-admirals. "Doberman and Onigumo follow me!"

Gray came to the longarms tribe village and there in the center of the village was Johnathan and his crew. The longarm tribe people were in chains while children were in cages crying in fear and despair. "This ends now."

End of chapter with cliffhanger.