It's another Mermaid Monday!

This is a chapter that I've been super excited for... We get to meet two more characters. I had a lot of fun with this universe's version of them; I hope you like them too.

Waffels: Ouch! Hope your hand's feeling better. :)

- K. Chandler


It never failed. Whenever Gray didn't want to see someone, he was all but guaranteed to run into them.

Gray had been heading towards the docks to meet Natsu and Cana. They were to spend the morning looking for a suitable replacement for the Fairy Tail. Privately, he had suspected that their search was in vain. They could purchase another ship, but there'd never be another Fairy Tail.

That was when he ran into them. His long-time rival and her little sidekick.

"Captain Fullbuster!"

Gray clenched his teeth at the sarcastic greeting. He was not in the mood for this.

"Well, if it isn't Captain Knightwalker," he ground out.

The fierce redhead looked almost gleeful. "I hear you've obliterated another ship. What is this now? Four?"

"Three." Gray clenched his fist.

"A record all the same, I'm sure," she said scornfully.

"Don't be so hard on him, Erza," her companion said. With the distinct tattoo on his face, Knightwalker's first-officer was unmistakable. "You know that Fullbuster's little dinghy can't hold a candle to our Heaven's Wheel."

"Jellal," snarled Gray. The Fairy Tail may have been reduced to driftwood, but Jellal's slight still stung.

"Hello, Gray. Good to see you. You seem to be in good spirits."

"No thanks to you," he growled, flashing a teeth-baring grin.

"What's the hold-up, man?" Natsu rounded the corner, stopping short when he saw the crew of the Heaven's Wheel. "Not these two!" he groaned.

"Go wait with Cana," said Gray shortly. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with Natsu's lack of self-control. He was getting enough grief from Lyon about property damage without adding Natsu's brawling to the equation.

Gray's Gunnery Master shook his head. "Not happening."

"I see your pet salamander doesn't come when it's called," crooned Knightwalker. "Don't you know how to keep discipline of your crew? No wonder you have such problems at sea!" she crowed.

"At least my crew has a mind of its own," said Gray. "More than I can say for your lap-dog."

"What's keeping you two?" interrupted Cana. "Oh, geez," she said, cringing when she saw who they were talking to.

"Looks like the party's all here," said Jellal.

"Captain Knightwalker and Jellal. What a surprise," deadpanned Cana, her eyes narrowed in annoyance. But then Cana's lips turned upward in a sarcastic grin. "You know, I'd love to catch up, but we've got to get going. You and I should definitely meet up for drinks sometime though," she said. "I'll buy the first round. Just name the time and place."

The two women faced-off, each glaring unblinkingly at the other.

Gray couldn't help but admire Cana's nerve. Most people wouldn't have the guts to challenge Erza Knightwalker directly.

With one final goading look at the captain of the Heaven's Wheel, Cana tore her gaze away. Gray couldn't tell if she had won the staring match or not, but she didn't seem too dismayed. She clamped a hand on Gray and Natsu's shoulders, steering them down the street.

"I let you out of my sight for one minute and I find you brawling," she complained.

"I wasn't brawling," said Natsu.

"I was keeping him from brawling," interjected Gray.

"I can't stand those two. I'd kick Erza's butt any day," muttered Natsu.

Gray snorted. Even he wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight with Erza Knightwalker.

"You know that striking a senior officer is a penalizable offence," said Cana flatly.

"They're not senior to you and me," Gray pointed out. "What that Jellal guy needs is a fist to the face. Fix his smug mug right up."

"Cana just basically challenged them, right?" said Natsu. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"Since when were you concerned about being wise?" asked Gray.

"Doesn't matter." Cana waved them off. "If they're smart, they won't do anything. I could drink them both under the table any day. At the same time," she added.

"I don't understand why they're Lyon's favorite," complained Gray. Sometimes he wondered if he would dislike the crew of the Heaven's Wheel any less if it wasn't for his cousin's preference toward them.

"For good reason. You can't deny they do good work, Gray," said Cana.

"Yeah, but she's not a better captain than I am."

"Well… I mean…" Cana shrugged, looking away.

"Cana!"

Natsu guffawed, laughing so hard his face turned red. "He totally deserves it, but give the guy a break, Cana," he gasped.

"Fine," she sighed, a smile pulling at her lips. "Ship or no ship, truth is, we wouldn't sail with anyone but you, Captain."


Remember when I mentioned that Cana was almost Erza? Well, I liked the idea of a sea-faring Erza so much that I had to write her in. Why Knightwalker? Because it's a cool name (and there's another reason too, but it's kind of silly). I see her as being our Erza (the Earthland one). Since she and Gray aren't childhood friends in this universe, they never had The Riverbank Moment. I see that as the beginning of Erza's being able to open up to others. If that never happened, Erza would still be pretty high-strung and she and Gray would still hate each other.

So I know this is a Gruvia fic, but I figure I'd share this announcement all the same. If we've got any Grayza readers or angst junkies out there, I'll be posting a bonus story on Wednesday. Keep your eyes peeled for Always.

Next time, in Silence, Gray meets Juvia...again: "Do I… know you from somewhere? You seem sort of familiar," he said.

Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.