Fairy Tale Twist

Before we get into this I have some explaining to do, well I don't have to per se, but it will save you some confusion. Firstly, this is completely an AU fic, meaning the characters are little twisted to fit the plot-line and what I have in mind for them. With that said, I am royally screwing with the family relations and all that jazz, maybe a little bit on the characters of each person – but only enough to fit the story. I'm not picking on any character or anything in this story either though it might seem so at times. There will be deaths of some characters, and not all characters are included in this fic, there will also be some rather gory, and hard to swallow parts as well, so if you're a bit faint of heart, I recommend skipping over those parts.

OH, and the chapters are stupidly long! so some will be split into two parts, like this first one. However I am only planning like 15 chapters, but with each part being like 12K-16K words, don't worry, there'll be PLENTY of story for you

So maybe I didn't have to say all that, but maybe I did. Just to save those confused or lost or nasty comments that some like to leave.

I have seen a few stories like this, but then again, this is going to be totally different and unique in the twists and turns it takes. You should know that there are many turns and sometimes you might feel a little lost, but trust me and hold on, usually when you are starting to feel lost I have a shocker for ya' around the next turn, hahaha! I hope you will stick with me until the end of what I want to think of as a masterpiece, I took my time developing this and I am rather proud of it. I cannot take all the credit however – I was greatly inspired by two stories I've read, the first by Miss Mungoe Ravaged, the second by MsKtKMonster. Both are wonderfully written stories with breath taking moments that leave you crying, laughing, and begging for more (and I really mean that crying part…. I balled in several cases…). I love both of them and you really, really should go read them! They are amazing! So shout out to MsKtK and Miss Mungoe for some fantastic work!

On a random side note, in writing this I have developed a laugh like Gajeel's "Gihihi!" mine is more like "Kihihi!" but whatever… I'm a little off my nut no?

Anyway I hope you will like this little tale and all the goodies I have in store! ENJOY!


Chapter 1: The Princess and The Dragon

Part 1


The breeze made the grasses wave, its warmth something foreign to the landscape as it had been gripped in the clutches of winter for many months. Wafting off of the ocean and over the great stones atop the Cliffside, the wind brought hope and warmth to the rolling hills before it, fighting away the frozen fingers of winter that held the land. The breeze followed the curve of the landscape over softly rolling hills to barren farm fields that sloped to the flat lands of the valley. Picking up speed the wind whistled through the small outcropping of farm huts and barns before following the cobble stone road to the city just beyond. The warm rush of air raced through the streets of the city, making flags of red and gold wave and laundry flutter. It snuck into buildings through door cracks and under almost closed windows, bringing with it the sweet smell of an oceanic summer in the kingdom of Fiore.

On a small knoll just beyond the cities edge the wind reached the Castle. Ghosting up the high silver-grey stone walls and over the Castle Grounds, the air shot up the Castle walls and filled the Palace with its warmth and telling of summer. Throughout the halls and rooms of the giant building the breeze filled every space. Working its fingers through shining blue locks it tickled the face of the Princess in her bed, softly waking her. Sleep filled amber eyes fluttered open as the breeze slipped through her room, ruffling papers and pages of open books as it went, to finally slip out through the open window taking the lavender curtains with it, fluttering like butterfly wings on the outside.

Sitting up in bed Levy looked to the open window. Funny, she hadn't left it open last night, in fact she distinctively remembered closing it. Tossing back the covers she stretched and made her way to the open window. Leaning on the sill, she looked out at the sleepy city of Magnolia, her Kingdom, her home, in the early morning light. The sun was just rising and casting grey shadows and white light over the scene before her. Again the wind brought the forthcoming summer to her senses as it once more trailed its fingers through her locks. Letting the breeze play with her hair a smile spread on her lips and she let out a happy sigh. It was good to be Princess, if only to have a view like this one.

In life, every little girl wants to be a princess. To have servants wading on her, to have anything and everything she could ever desire, be clothed in the finest of garments, to be worshiped and adored where ever she went, and to find a noble prince on a gallant white steed to sweep her off her feet and ride off into the sunset. For one little girl, that dream was reality. Levy McGarden had everything before mentioned with the exception of the prince astride his white stallion. The castle was atop a small hill that gave the residents a fantastic view of the city below. This castle was the FairyTail Castle, for its exotic and masterful design, the lavish gardens and greeneries, the high class stables, the extensive quarters for visiting guests and of course for the exquisite dining; it was something right out of a book of fairy tales. As for the change in "tale," to "tail" it was a play on words that accompanied the popular saying in the capital of: "Whether farriers have tails or not, or whether they even exist, nobody knows for sure. So it is like an eternal mystery, and eternal adventure!" Those words were engraved in the stone archway over the main gate to the castle grounds from the town. Atop every tower, and at every gate, the Royal Colors waved boldly in the breeze, a striking red flag trimmed in gold with a black dancing fairy in the center. To be branded with the mark of Fairy Tail was a great honor, and only the bravest and most daring of knights ever earned the brand.

The king of this lavish castle and ruler of Fiore was a little old man who ruled with fairness and love. King Makarov Dryer was well adored by all the people of the kingdom, from the lowest peasant, to the highest of nobles. In his younger, much younger, days he had united the warring city states of Fiore and brought peace to the land – earning him the nick name of "Makarov The Almighty." Now many decades later even after his oldest son had risen to the throne – only to be killed a few years later – and the rise and fall of Prince Laxus Dryer – with his little attempt to over throw his grandfather – Makarov still held the country together with threads of peace, trust and loyalty to the crown.

Alas, the king was not a young man anymore, and it was fast approaching time for a new leader to take the throne. With his grandson disowned from ever taking that which was his, by birth, Makarov turned to the only other person that could take his place, if not by blood, by appointment. Levy McGarden. Now, Laxus's mother didn't turn out to be the greatest of choices for Queen of Fiore as, when Laxus was only weeks away from his 18th birthday and his coronation as a Knight of Fiore, she was found in mans bed that was not her husbands. If the King had not been away on the bi-annual trip around the country in which he makes note of the economic, social, and financial and aesthetics of the cities in the kingdom, the unfaithful Queen would have been killed by his sword upon discovery of her crime. But he was away, and by the time he had returned the bastard child had been born.

This child was none other than Levy herself. Makarov had been present at her birth and fell head over heels for the babes' large honey-doe eyes and tuft of bright blue hair. His was the first face she saw in this bright new world, and the smile she gave him when he held her was the push to his fall for her. It was by Makarov's decree that the child's life be spared and raised as a princess of Fiore under his personal care and responsibility. Such a thing had never been heard of in all of time. But when the people of Magnolia met the little bundle of joy and sunshine, as she was called, in the traditional fashion on her first birthday, no one raised any objections ever again. It was impossible for a person to not fall in love with the bright-eyed girl, with wild blue locks and sweet nature towards all living things, human or animal or plant, she was the sunshine that raced through the halls of the castle on overcast days, her laughter able to brighten even the darkest of moods, the warmth and peace she radiated only grew as she did. And so Levy blossomed as a princess of Fiore under her adopted grandfathers' guidance and affection, and it was this same princess who grew into a fair maiden of the Royal Family, that the King wished to pass on the crown too.

However, there were two things preventing that from happening. Firstly, and the lesser of the two problems, was Princess Levy's half-brother, the grandson of King Makarov, Son of Ivan, Laxus. As stated by the laws of the kingdom only an heir of blood is able to take the crown through the generations, whether it be man or woman, the ruler must be of the royal lineage; the only exception being a direct appointment by decree of not only the King, but the Royal Council as well. The only person who fit that bill was Laxus. However in this case, Laxus had been stripped of this rite due to the fact that in the nation's first moment of weakness in decades – the sudden death of King Ivan – Laxus tried, and failed, to take the throne by force.

But why by force? Wasn't he going to get it by rite of passage anyway? This would have been the case, if it were not for the fact that it was Laxus who was responsible for the death of King Ivan. Overcome with grief of his son's death and in a rage, Makarov stripped Laxus of all his tittles, rites, ranks, and honor for his actions. Unable to lose another child, Makarov allowed his grandson to live after defeating him in a duel. He was not allowed to own land nor property, and must remain on the castle grounds for the remainder of his days. Thus the crown would pass to Levy, even if she was not directly of the Royal line, her mother had been a well bread noble of Crocus, the largest and richest city aside from the capital, and that was good enough for Makarov – he had raised her himself and he was more than confident in her ability to rule in his place.

While Laxus was chained to the confines of the Royal grounds, never to leave the watch full eye of the King, Levy was allow to travel as she pleased through the city of Magnolia, provided she take an escort. It was on many excursions that Levy came to know the people of Magnolia, the economics and trade of the markets, the social network from the poorest of beggars to the richest of nobles. While she grew up as a Princess, she also grew as member of society, not some precious person to be worshiped. She was a person like the rest, and the city loved her for it. On the other hand, Laxus hated his half-sister with a passion unlike no other. Laxus had never been the kindest of boys in his youth and his actions were merely brushed off as "Let the boy be a boy!" But there were things that Laxus took part in that no one knew of. He fell into the depths of Black Magic and began to explore this forbidden side of the Fiore Kingdom. When Makarov discovered what Laxus's new favorite pass time was, he ordered all history of the Black Magic destroyed. There was nothing more sinister of a thought to the King than that of Laxus learning, much less using, forbidden Magic to gain the upper hand in a second attempt to take the throne. Unbeknownst to the King or anyone of the palace, Laxus continued to experiment with the Black Magic Arts.

The second of the two issues preventing Levy from taking the throne was a little more pressing. While the law didn't specify the sex of the ruler, it was clearly written out that the economic, social, and militaristic actions of the kingdom could only function if there sat a King on the throne; or in the case of a woman taking the crown, that she have a husband wed to her by her 19th birthday to take her place if she were to die in child birth of the first born heir. Therefore, if Levy was to take over as Makarov intended she would have to be married, and by then end of the summer at that. If not, then Levy would be cast out of the Royal Family and into the streets of Magnolia, and the throne would be up for anyone – including Laxus – to take, thus creating chaos and panic in the kingdom.

Thankfully, finding a husband for the princess was none too hard, as she was blessed with a radiance that no princess had before her. She was not the raging beauty like some of the other ladies of the court, nor was she largest in more areas than one. She was petite in all areas except in her heart, with soft snow colored skin, characteristic bright blue hair and warm honey-brown eyes. She was always smiling, always happy, she brought kindness and joy where ever she went. Loved by all, she was the pride and joy of the kingdom. Such a maiden easily brought noblemen from all over the country and others from far off lands to take her hand in marriage.

Becoming King of Fiore was also a motive.

Since so many had answered the call to court the princess, a series of games was created to test the strength, ability to rule and inelegance of the suitors. At the end of the games, only two stood out above the rest and were allowed to woo the princess into making her choice of a husband. The two lucky lads were Jet of Clover Town and Droy of Oak Town. The games had taken place just a fortnight ago, and now approaching the first week of May, there were only a few months before Levy's 19th birthday at the end of August. Time was of the essence, however – Levy was having none of it.

Even now, as she stood in her nightdress, leaning on the window sill gazing out upon the kingdom she loved and that loved her, she hated the idea of having to be married in only a few months time. Wrinkling up her nose at the thought, Levy turned away from the waking city and back to her lavish room. Making her way to the extra large wardrobe against the far wall from her bed, she yanked the redwood and gold trimmed doors open. Selecting the outfit to wear for that day, she let her mind wander around the idea of marrying one of the two strangers.

Both noblemen were fine choices, men that would make wonderful husbands and even Kings; Levy could see that either man could give her a long content and comfortable life, and their offspring would be strong princes and princesses to continue the line of the Royal Family. While this was all fine and dandy, Levy wanted something more. She had a comfortable and elegant life already, with all the care and attention anyone could ask for, but there was still something missing. She picked a dress and pulled the pastel blue and white from its hanger, a frown on her beautiful face.

She wanted to be loved.

True that the King loved her, as well as the servants and the people of the kingdom, but that was a different kind of love. Those people loved her because she was a princess, and while they may claim to love her besides that, if she never dressed in fine garments or wore the Royal Crest pinned on her breast, they would have treated her like just another person. She wanted to have someone make her happy not because she was the princess, but because she was herself. And she wanted to be with someone who she knew. Maybe not to the extent of childhood friends, but at least not someone who saw her as a prize to be won at the end of some games, an object, a crown, a way to become King…The two suitors could not make her happy in this way, and for that reason she kept politely holding them at arm's length.

After she was finished dressing Levy made her way to the library. The castle halls were empty, as she expected for it being so early, but the wind that had woke her had warmed the halls as well. It was no surprise to anyone who knew the princess that the library was the place to find her when she was not to be found any other place. Levy loved to read. She'd had privet lessons on history, mathematics, sciences, sociology, economics and literature as she matured, by the castle philosopher Freed Justine. The green haired man was one of Levy's personal favorites of the castle staff. He was intelligent, open minded, experienced and kind. While he was much older than her, she felt as if she were to marry anyone, it would be someone like him. The two could talk for hours about nearly anything. He had the best stories, and could tell a story as if had happened yesterday, and as if she had been there too. He made her feel comfortable and loved, even if he was in an educational position to her. Levy knew that no matter how much she liked the green haired philosopher, a union between the two could never be. He was at least twice her age and wasn't suited to rule a country, he said so himself all the time. Not only that but she loved him in a different way, as a mentor and a teacher, not as a lover nor companion.

No, she would have to find someone else to marry. Rounding the corner she trotted the last few strides to the grand library doors and slipped quietly inside. Closing the doors with a soft 'Click' she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through her nose. The scent was heavenly. Paper and ink, leather of the bindings and the wooden shelving. The room was adorned with thousands of books, scrolls and documents on everything under the stars that the Fiore philosophers of old and modern could gather. Levy had spent many long hours of many days in this room, and never once did she think it a waste of time. Descending the handful of steps to the sunken main room she wondered around, deciding what section to head to first. Planting a foot she turned round, having memorized every possible location of nearly every book in the collection. Her movement stopped in the direction of the 'Fantasy' shelves. It was her favorite section.

Stroking her fingers over the spines of the many books she found one that caught her attention and plucked it from the shelves. It was a tale she had read many times before, but none in the recent past and it was time to refresh her memory. Sitting on one of the overstuffed couches in the middle of the library she flipped the book open and began to read. It was easy for Levy to be so engrossed in a work of literature that she would forget all around her for hours. This was just such a case, as a few hours had passed since when she enter the library. Across the room the library doors opened and a woman about Levy's age entered carrying a tray for steaming food and drink. Even when the doors shut behind the blond, Levy took no notice, until the tray of food was placed on the coffee table before her. Glancing up and blinking a few times as her eyes readjusted, Levy smiled and marked her place nearly ¾ of the way through the novel and set the book aside.

"Oh, Lucy! I didn't notice you come in. Good morning." She flashed a radiant smile at the woman she called Lucy who curtsied and returned her friends smile.

The woman was a head taller than Levy, well – most people were at least several inches taller – with shoulder length golden hair restricted to two low pigtails. Her eyes were the color of melted chocolate, and held the same warmth. She was dressed in a light blue royal gown with gold trimmings, a maid's apron tided around her waist and over her chest and the Royal Crest pined to her large bosom. Lucy, was Lady Lucy Heartfilia of the Heartfilia Nobles in the Eastern end of Fiore. Lady Lucy was a few years older than Levy but the two had still been raised as if they were sisters, though Lucy was Levy's personal lady in waiting, and were best friends. They had had their adventures together both real and factional in the books they both adored. Though both were more sisterly than noble and servant, there was still the distinction that Lucy was the Princesses Lady in waiting and was educated in her duties from a young age.

Motioning for her longtime friend to sit, Levy reached forward for the toast and jam with a hungry expression. She hadn't realized she was hungry until the smells from the tray had reached her nose. She was starving! With a small giggle Lucy joined her. The two sat and ate, chatting together about the day and what lay ahead.

"I hear the King wants you to entertain the two gentlemen this afternoon. There's to be a feast also, apparently they went hunting with the King and whatever they bring back as a trophy is tonight's meal." Lucy spoke around bites of strawberry jam and toast. Levy sipped her tea quietly, listening to her friend talk. Her lips pursed as she took another drink before answering,

"Is that so? The poor beast."

"Lev? Are you going to become a vegetarian again? Remember that time when we were little and you found out where the mutton came from and went on a meat strike for weeks!?" Lucy prodded with a giggle. Levy flushed at her friends teasing, "Oh I remember Luce, and no I will not go on strike again, I simply think that hunting animals for sport is unnecessary. Its almost barbaric that we think we are of such superiority to roam around and kill whatever we like whenever we like! I just don't see the necessity that's all…"

Lucy rolled her eyes as she took another bite of toast. She was used to her friend's long winded and passionate rantings, though she knew there was nothing but truth to them. It was something that would make her a good Queen in the future. If she would only marry first. Sure Levy wasn't as lucky as Lucy herself to actually love the person she was to marry, but that was part of being Princess, 'duties and the like', as the two women referred to them as. As it were, Lucy was already engaged and to one of the most well-known knights in the kingdom, one Natsu Dragoneel, the only knight in the kingdom to have slain a dragon.

Now Natsu and Lucy could not be more different, she was the picture of elegance and grace and manners, the perfect noble. Natsu was not. He was a knight, and knights like to fight. Seeing as The Red Dragon was already a hot-headed, energetic and very much running on testosterone already, manners and playing noble were not his cup of tea. It was often a sight, seeing these two love birds together as usually one would be scolding the other for something or another. When Lucy and Natsu got into a serious fight however, the entire castle warmed several degrees with the aura of the upset Dragon Slayer – it was rumored that he had taken on some of the Fire Dragon's characteristics when he was slain. Regardless of their differences the two were inseparable, and madly in love, they had been since children but never fessed up to it

If only Levy could be so fortunate. Alas, she had but the two nobles that had won the Grand Games, as the King had called them, and the right to woo the Princess into marriage. Levy was lucky enough that the King was not appointing one or the other to her and letting her decide, something that hadn't been done for generations, Makarov and his late wife had been betrothed since birth.

Soon the two finished their meal and set about cleaning up, Levy falling into step beside Lucy as she carried the tray on her hip back to the kitchens. Only a few corridors down from the library the two approached the large bay windows of the main section of the castle which over looked the front gardens, stables and practice yards. Both girls stopped to take in the morning sun across the yards. Their attention was caught by several men in the practice courts, two individuals in particular.

The first was tall and lightly muscled with shocking bright orange hair that looked like orange fire atop his head. The other, and his apparent opponent in the fencing match, was even taller with shiny black hair styled in one large cow lick. These were the two suitors for the Princess, the first being Jet of Clover Town and the latter being Droy of Oak Town. Both hailed from opposite sides of the country as represented in their physical statures. While both being tall for Magnolia, Jet was lighter skinned and haired and rippled with lean muscle. The boy was fast, there was no one faster than he in a swords match. The second, Droy, was even taller with olive skin and jet black hair, and while being somewhat muscled, he was more slim than the former. Even with his height and lack of physical presence, Droy was sturdy as the trees for which his home town was named for. The people of Oak Town were well known for growing of crops and fruits.

The two men had obviously just been sparing, yet as the two woman arrived and took notice, they were finishing and cleaning up, redressing for the day.

"Hmm, Jet is looking handsome this morn. I heard he had that coat especially made just for you Levy. He is quite considerate, is he not?" Lucy's eyes sparkled when she looked at her friend

"Oh Lucy, however his choice of color does not suit him at all. I cannot tell the difference between his coat and his hair," Lucy giggled, "One could consider the gesture considerate or, to that of showing off to cover the fact that he is insecure about his body or the way he looks. He is quite skinny, don't you agree Lucy?"

Lucy laughed out loud making Levy smile to herself, "Alright then, what about the other? Droy? I dare say he is rich, look at those jewels. A man with money is always a bonus."

"He may have the money, but he has no spine under all those jewels. There are some situations that cannot be solved by throwing money at them. I could say that he bought off his opponents in the Games." Levy's voice held a hint of ice that was not missed by her companion.

"Oh dear Levy, no wonder no man has captured your heart. Must you pick him to shreds with your brutal yet accurate truth, and lack of filter?"

"Yes, I dare say I must." Was the sharp and prideful response

Lucy let out a sigh, "Ah alright, enough of this, we've been here too many times," suddenly more serious, she placed her free hand on her hip and suddenly took on a motherly stance as she looked hard at Levy. "Both Jet and Droy are fine men, some of best that Fiore has to offer a princess, yet you're toying with them like cat and mouse. You, nor the King, are getting any younger. Either man would be so lucky as to take your hand, if only you would let them!"

Levy frowned as Lucy spoke, "That's just it Lucy! Don't you see? Yes they are fine men, but if this is all Fiore has to offer me for a husband, then I dare say I will be dethroned!"

"Levy! How could you say such a thing?" Lucy gasped.

"And what's more, I don't want just a 'fine man' that will appease to my color pallet or my purse. I want a man that will love me for who I am and not for my title. Please tell me you are not as blind as the others, even the King bless him, to see that they are only after the crown, and not me? They could care less, I take it, as long as he is King, then so what about the bride? I refuse to be attached to such person!"

She was breathing hard now as if she had just run several miles as she looked with a sort of pleading determination at her friend.

"Is this how you really feel Levy?" the blond asked after a moment to take it all in, "Would you really rather risk your position in the court than to be married to one of those men?"

"Yes. Yes it is truly how I feel Lucy! I wouldn't be happy if I were married to one of those peacocks. At least as a person without rank I could choose someone that I feel is truly in love with me. The real me, and not someone with a powerful tittle before her name. You know I envy you Lucy. You and Natsu, it's just so wonderful and I am so happy that you have him and he you. All I ask for is to have that same bond with the person I will spend the rest of my life with. Can you understand that?"

Lucy took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Yes Levy, yes I can. All I want is for you to be happy, and if neither of them will do," she gestured with a flick of her hand to the men in the courtyard, "Then so be it!"

"Oh Lucy! I knew I could count on you to understand!" Levy cried grabbing onto her friends arm,

"Always Levy! I will always be on your side!" Lucy threw her free arm around the Princess as they embraced. Pulling away after a moment, Levy gave her friend a puzzled look, Lucy was grinning something wild and Levy knew that look. They were about to get into a lot of trouble…


With Lucy's help in causing a distraction, Levy was able to slip out undetected and make it back to her quarters. There she changed into something less formal and much more comfortable, put on her riding boots and grabbed her cloak. Silently she made her way down the castle corridors and to the stables. There she greeted her horse Moonlight with a sugar cube she had snatched from the kitchens, stroking the golden mares' nose affectionately while she chewed. Quickly she groomed and saddled her horse and the two quietly slipped out of the stables. She didn't mount until she had slipped past the guards of the outer wall and was sure she had gone undetected. Once saddled she brought Moonlight to an easy canter and headed out over the rolling hills to the north west of the castle.

The night air was chilly but Levy liked the feel of it on her face. Throwing back the hood of her cloak she let the wind created from Moonlights movement run its fingers through her blue locks. Closing her eyes at the bliss washing over her body, she loosened her reins and her steed stretched out into a gallop, extending her legs as far as they would go. The two raced like an arrow in the night, gold and cream of the horse, and a deep red and shocking blue that was the rider. Levy loved to ride, especially without guards by her side or at her flank. Here she was stripped of her title, her responsibilities, her worries and fears, here on the back of her horse flying across the landscape she was free. Relaxing into her saddle and perfectly in tune with her horse's movement, Levy let go and allowed her mare to travel where she pleased. Moonlight understood and slowed into a relaxed canter once more.

As she rode she thought about her future and what was to become of her, how she desperately did not want to get married. "It's for the good of the kingdom my child, we must uphold the law and our traditions."

"Yes, but Sire please, can't I at least chose my own husband?"

"Yes my dear, and I have provided you with the best two noblemen that Fiore has to offer. I understand that this is hard for you my dear, with all the freedoms I have given you I have simply let you be a child for too long. You are not a child any longer, and soon you will be the Queen of Fiore. It's time you start acting like one, and a queen does what is best for her people, and in this case Levy – that is for you to be married."

"I don't want to be married to some stranger!"

"You will get to know him with time-"

"Time? What if he turns out to be a horrible person? What if I don't like the way he eats, or rides his horse. What if he has a habit that I cannot stand? I'm stuck with that for the rest of my life! Please… I do not want to do this…."

"My Dear, you have several months to do just that. get to know them then pick one before your birthday. I know that this is not want you wanted, but my hands are tied. You must."

The conversation she and the King had at the end of the last month, when he told her of the events to be taking place before her birthday, floated through her mind, those words had been spoken too her in the ends of winter. In her mind she knew he was right. She had been allowed so many privileges as a child. She was allowed in the trial courts to understand the meaning of justice, she was brought all over the city, and to most part of the country, to experience the diversity of the nation and to understand how the kingdom functions as a unit – and if one part of that unit fails, the entire system does. She had been allowed whatever she wanted in the case that she understood the effort and time that had been consumed to make that product – whether a silk dress or a special meal – she learned the value of things that she asked for. She was allowed such great freedom as to even visit the city whenever she pleased, provided that she take and escort with her. Yes, she knew she had it easy growing up in the palace, and in her mind doing this one royal deed was the only thing the King had ever asked for from her. She knew all of this, but in her heart she was rebelling. It was because of her childhood and the way she had been shown the world so differently than that the average youth, that she believed marriage should be between lovers, not strangers whose union was purely political in nature. She had tried to make her King understand this, but he had held up his hand and said it was her duty and that was that.

Still leaning back in her saddle her face skyward Levy opened her eyes and gazed at the branches over head as Moonlight cantered on. She didn't have a choice, she was going to have to pick one of those idiots to be her King. She knew her words to Lucy were just that, words. She couldn't sustain herself on her own, thus being demoted to that of the average peasant and forced to live in the slums of the city, leaving the thrown up for whoever could grab it first. Especially with the other option being marring a fine enough man that she might come to love someday.

She had accepted this fact long ago, but at the same time, she knew she would never be happy, that her carefree days were over. She wouldn't be gaining any freedom from inheriting the thrown and power that came with ruling a nation, No, it would quite the opposite, she was being locked up and the key was to be thrown away. Accepting the facts, something suddenly clicked in her brain and her eyes widened as the branches above grew thicker and closer together.

"Branches? But we were in the fields… OH-!"

Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Flying forward she grabbed a hold of Moonlights reins and pulled her to a stop. Surprised by the suddenness of her rides actions the mare reared snorting her displeasure, hooves striking out in the air. it seemed that both horse and human had lost track of where they were heading, for both knew better than to be where they were now.

"Easy girl, easy! It's alright… There's nothing to be afraid of," LIES.

Chewing her lip in worry, her horse righted herself on all four feet again. Levy hadn't realized how far Moonlight had carried her, or where they were going, and this was the last place on earth she wanted to be lost in. This was bad, very bad. She needed to get out of here as quickly as possible.

To the south of the castle, by the way of the main gates, lay the town of Magnolia. Past that were the fields of crops that fed the town in the winter. Beyond that was the open country side for many miles before reaching the next town. To the east of the castle were the great Mountains of Fire, the place where volcanoes erupted and blew molten rock miles into the sky. A place that never turned cold nor held any inhabitants. Though they were far enough away to not be of any real concern, the castle itself lay on the first of the rolling hills leading to the base of the great ridges. The west of the castle was open farm land dedicated to crops to feed livestock and the beasts themselves, before stretching out on the open prairies that lead eventually to the seas. Finally, to the north of the castle were the royal hunting fields, but those only stretched for a few miles north then many miles to the east. On the western side, and where Levy was now, was the great Black Forest.

A place said to be haunted by dark spirits and lost souls, where packs of ravenous Wolves, mighty Panthers that stood shoulder to shoulder with s knight's horse, and giant Cave Bears were said to inhabit. Levy believed that for sure; as once in her memory a lone wolf came out of the forest and attacked the rancher's livestock. The King and his most skilled knights, including Laxus, Natsu and Grey, had rode into the forest after the beast to slay it and had barely came back alive. She remembered ghost stories of witches casting spells on children causing them to turn on their parents and slay them before taking their own lives. Or of the goblins that hunted in the woods that would as soon as put your head on a pike as look at you. Even the aura of the place was said to be poisonous and infected the soul, causing a person to go mad.

No one dared venture into the Black Forest. Even with the rumors of mythical Unicorns that could tell the future, or communicate with the Other World, the world of the dead, or even still cure a disease with the touch of it's magical horn. There was no end to the benefits of having such a beast in one's possession, nor what that beast could provide. Needless to say, they were coveted creatures and extremely rare. There were other rumors, whispers and stories of Pixies and Fairies and other mythical creatures and things that could bring great power to those who used them.

But maybe, just maybe, no one dared enter the Forest for one reason in particular.

A Dragon still lived in the forest.

Though many had been slaughtered a handful of the ferocious creatures were said to still live in the Forest. There was a time when Dragons littered the landscape as humans did now, but with the expansion and advancement of man, the Dragons were hunted and killed.

Yet there was one, one that was known of for sure to inhabit the Black Forest. One that had killed more men, livestock and city than any other before him.

Up the side of the mountain ranges that connected the western shores with the Mountains of Fire, lay the cave of the great Black Steel Dragon. Clad in impenetrable metal scales, possessing the ability to twist and use anything metal to his advantage, not to mention his incredible strength, cunning and speed, he also possessed the ability to transform in to something that resembled a human, but still maintained his Dragon characteristics. It was said that he was a user of the deepest, most deadly, and demonic magic, that not even the devil himself would dare cross him.

It was fear of waking the beast from his slumber that kept even the bravest and the stupidest of souls from entering the forest, especially after sun down. Even more so without a weapon. Getting lost while one is alone in the forest, without any defense or offence, was a for sure way to end up dead.

This was the situation the Princess now found herself in, alone, unarmed, and utterly lost in the Black Forest nearing midnight. She didn't realize that her hands were shaking so violently that she was making Moonlight fidget until the mare nickered and tossed her head. Levy seemed to snap out of a trance. Eyes wide with fear and tears shining in the corners, she looked around wildly trying to find a way back to the openness of the fields. She felt it was as if her heart was going to jump out of her chest with the speed it was beating at, and she had to take several deep breaths to try and slow its rhythm.

Something off to her right caught her attention. It was a sound like something big picking its way through the forest. Both horse and human stood frozen listing to the shaking of the leaves and branches as the thing moved not to far off. Then, as suddenly as it started, the noise stopped. Raising her head, dark brown eyes wide with fear, Moonlight took several loud sniffs. Nothing. Finally, after several moments of standing in shock, Levy pulled Moonlight around and urged her forward, thinking that she could ride out the way she came in. Picking up a canter the mare took off, one ear on her rider, the other on what might be ahead. It wasn't long before what little of a path there was disappeared completely, and Moonlight slowed to pick her way through the thick under brush.

Levy didn't remember going through any brush, but then again, she hadn't really been paying attention to where she was going. Stupid, stupid, you never should have gotten lost in your own head Levy! Now you're in real trouble- What was that!? Moonlight and Levy heard the noise at the same time, both freezing and looking off to where the noise had come from. it was the same as before, something was moving through the trees just out of sight. Not wanting to worsen her situation any more, she turned her mare the opposite direction of the noise and set off again. That's all I need, something stalking me…

Still picking their way through the underbrush, the sudden loud caw of a crow overhead brought a scream to Levy's lips. Startled, Moonlight bolted, crashing through the forest and making such a racket Levy was sure every being in the whole forest now knew where she was, if they hadn't already. Finally she pulled her mare to a stop once more. The golden steed quivered where she stood and Levy drew a shaking hand over the mares shoulder.

Now sure that they were even more lost than before Levy, looked to the sky to see if the stars or moon could help guide her. But the branches above were so think, little moonlight filtered through the leaves, which was saying something as the moon was full and at its brightest. Panic was beginning to rise in Levy's stomach, and wildly she spurred her mount onward. I have to keep moving! God's know what's lurking in these woods. If I stay in one place I'm a sitting duck….

After only moving a few yards she reined in Moonlight, who nervously pranced in place, chewing on the bit. Levy was sure she heard the snapping of twigs and the rustle of leaves, the same sound from before. It was as if it, whatever it was, was following her…shaking her head to clear it of those kinds of thoughts, she let Moonlight have rein and the mare took off trotting instantly.

Maybe she was paranoid or hearing things or being ridiculous due to fright, but she could hear something walking behind her. The padding of feet on the leaf covered ground, the occasional snapping of a branch that was not her mare, the feeling of being watched. Glancing over her shoulder she saw nothing but black. Duh! Stupid! Its pitch black out here and you were stupid enough not to bring a light! Stupid!

Her head still turned away, something in the bushes on her left exploded towards her. Moonlight screamed and sprang diagonally away, her hind feet striking out at whatever it was. Quickly trying to grab her horse's mane as she slipped in her saddle, Levy heard the unmistakable roar of the last beast she ever wanted to encounter in her life.

A Dragon.

No,

THE Dragon.

Trying to stay on her wildly galloping horse, Levy forced herself to focus on the task at hand and not what she had been told about Dragons as a youth, but that was proving difficult. Moonlight suddenly jumped, throwing her rider into the trickle of a creak the mare had just cleared. Levy went down hard, smacking the ground with her elbow first then the back of her head made a sickening "WHACK" on a rock as the rest of her body twisted and landed in the creak. Lights erupted behind her eyes, blinding her momentarily; head spinning she watched the blurry image of gold and cream of her mount disappear into the blackness of the forest.

The impact of hitting the ground had knocked the wind from her lungs, and she couldn't cry out for her mare to stop as she was trained to do when her rider fell. Panic closed in around her heart as she listened to the sound of her horse fading into the night. Trying to regain her breath, her eyes turned skyward and in the break of the trees she could see the moon nearly perfectly. The bright whiteness of it, with a midnight blue sky sprinkled with twinkling stars was a shocking contrast to the darkness of the forest. She heard something move in the bushes and her heart stopped beating. A darkness seemed to be slowly closing in around her and her head ached painfully. She was suddenly very tired, very, very tired. Levy hadn't the strength or nerve to fight it, and just before she was overcome by it, two brilliant red eyes in a dark face covered the moon from her sight. Trying to blink away the darkness she tried to peer into the dark face above her. Last she remembered were the two burning red eyes looking down at her before the darkness took her.

When Levy woke she was aching all over, the most concentrated soreness coming from her head and arm where she had hit the ground. Groaning, she tried to roll over, but the pain worsened when she moved, so she decided against it. Her eyes still closed she felt around where she was laying. She was on something surprisingly comfortable and whatever it was, was soft and fury… Fury? Grabbing a chunk of whatever it was, she confirmed that it indeed was fur.

Slowly raising an arm to block the light coming from a fire a few yards off, she blinked at her surroundings. Where am I? What happened? Her eyes were slow to adjust, but when her vision cleared she was surprised to see that she was in a huge cavern in the side of the mountain. She turned her head a little to her left and could barely see the cave's entrance by a beam of light on a far wall, giving the impression that there was a corner before the exit of the enclave.

An open fire lite the great room, across from that on one side of the cave she could make out what sounded and looked like a waterfall down the side of the rocks into a crystal clear pool about the size of a horse's stall from what she could see. Next to that there seemed to be something like a table and a chair, the wall above that had been carved out some to hold a few things. She was towards the back of the cave quite a ways and the only light that was there to see by was that of the flickering fire, and by its light she took a look at what she was laying on. Indeed she was on furs, in fact she was on what appeared to be a massive bed-like pile of all sorts of furs.

She recognized several, mostly deer but there were several large Cave Bear and Wolf pelts and even the pure white, grey and black mottled pattern of a Snow Lion. She couldn't take her eyes of the beautiful pelt. She had never seen one alive, but she had heard stories and seen the paintings of the great cats of the Evergreen Forests in the far-northwest, and now to be able to reach out and touch the pelt of mysteries was thrilling. The fur was so, oh so soft and thick. Giving a tug on it she pulled it closer to her, she was surprised how heavy the thing was, barring her face into the softness.

After a moment she lifted her head and, absently stroking the soft pelt, looked around at some of the other pelts, there were brown and black and even some colored ones she didn't know what animal they had come from. What sort of person would have such a variety of furs? And much less for a bed? Is this the cave of some savage Wildman!? Oh, oh, I hope not…! But then, what or, who? Straining her sore muscles she struggled to prop herself up on her elbows, she took another look around the cave once more, this time looking for signs of human life. What she found was not what she had expected.

She didn't know how she missed him the first time, as he stood out so obviously now. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as her senses took in the figure before her and she gasped in surprise, unconsciously shrinking back into the furs in fright. The light from the outside at his back conflicting with the fire light threw confusing shadows across the figure. Levy could tell the figure was male by the sheer size of him. He towered over her by at least three times her size. The only part of him that was recognizable was the rough outline of his face; the edges of which had hard sharp angles and several glinting piercings.

Neither of them moved as she took in the rest of him. There was no mistaking it, he was not human, simply taking a half human half monstrous form. With the exception of the ragged black pants he was bare. Around his face there were glinting black… scales!? They framed his face and back of his throat, over his shoulders and down the top sides of his arms, as well as framing his chest and stomach. There were larger softer scales on the underside of his neck, down his throat and chest to slip into the waist line of his pants. His arms ended not in hands, but massive reptilian paws. His fingers seemed too long and ended in razor sharp black talons. His feet were of a similar creation, having four reptilian arching toes and one on each foot that pointed the wrong way. The man cocked his head slightly and the fire light reflected off the two large twisting horns growing form the crown of his head amongst the mess of long black mane of hair the cascaded down his back. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the, creature, before her were the black and silver tinted devilish wings folded behind him as some massive shield or cloak, stretching several feet above his head and nearly sweeping the floor as well.

As her brain took in the sight before her, her vision blurred and things began spinning. Grabbing her head she forced herself to stay conscious. Closing her eyes momentarily she looked into the face of the animal before her. Their gazes met and held. Instantly her mind exploded in pain and her vision failed as she collapsed onto the furs once more. The only thing she could see in the blackness were the eyes, the horrible, evil, glowing red eyes of the Dragon standing before her.

The Dragons' eyes met that of the young woman for a split second before his power over her caused her weakened state to falter and she collapsed back into unconsciousness. He stared a moment longer then closed his eyes and turned away with a small grimace. Humans were such weak creatures, it was pitiful that so many of his kind had fallen prey to them. When he next opened his eyes, the irises remained the brilliant red they were, though the glowing had stopped. Lifting his gaze from the floor he again looked to the small form of the human on his bed. Frowning he strode silently forward flicking his long black tail in annoyance as he moved, the heavy metallic ending glinting in the remainder of the light from the outside as he stepped deeper into his cave-home.

He moved slowly, stalking her as he moved around the fire. The flickering light made his scales dance and shimmer. He bared his fangs as he drew closer into a full snarl as he stood before the unconscious human, towering over her like the monster he was. He stood for a long moment before slowly relaxing his jaw and frowning once again. What was he going to do with her? He hadn't the slightest idea why he had even brought her here in the first place. No human had ever been that far into the Forest, much less his home. What had possessed him to scoop up the child and take her back here? He had been hunting at that time, and it was her damn horse that spooked his pray. He should have slaughtered the animal and then its rider for disturbing his hunt.

Something in him had prevented that. As he had gazed down on the most unfortunate human something in his gut told him not to do the thing that was most natural for his kind. Kill any human in his way. So why hadn't he just left her there to the wolves? He never really fancied humans, especially after the last one who, drunk on power and desperate to prove himself, stumbled into his territory and stupidly challenged him.

He smirked at the memory momentarily before his memory flicked back to when he found the small woman.

Before him lay a helpless human child. Extending a clawed foot he nudged the child, testing how unconscious she really was – humans were tricky bastards when they wanted to be. Satisfied that she was unresponsive, he circled her. She wasn't a peasant girl, she was too dressed up for that. A noble then. He reached out and picked up the girls arm and raised her up. His pupils dilated when she let out a groan. Looking her over once again, he noticed she was bleeding from the other arm that fell limply at her side. Ignoring it he looked her over and something under the edge of her cloak caught his attention. Flicking the fabric away he sneered.

"So… yer a Fairy ar'ya? What ar'ya doing all the way out here girl?" He growled low in his throat more to himself than her, "Seein' as yer a Fairy Tail Noble… 'could take ya to bed,'ts been a while since I've had a woman… That'd piss the ol' geezer off. Not that I'm really inta' kids, but I wol'nt mind messin' with that bastar'd Gihihi!"

His chuckle echoed in the forest around him. He grinned as he pulled her higher to take a better look at his quarry. She was so small compared to him, he probably would have split her open if he did take her. Not that he minded. Tilting his head he moved her closer to his face and took a whiff. The breeze started up and whirled the leaves and dust around them, whispering through the trees and running fingers through her midnight locks and his massive mane.

Something changed in the wind, it became familiar, tugging at a distant memory that he had all but forgotten about. A memory flashed in his minds' eye: In a clearing just before the Forest opened up to the Kingdom stood a Gypsy Woman, looking over her shoulder as several other people raced to safety in the open fields – those roaming witches and sorcerers that clamed to use "magic" to read hands and tell fortunes and the like, A load of crap it all was – her long auburn hair flowing over her extravagant bossism a sharp twinkle in her black eyes as she caught her breath. Coming to a halt, he had roared for her to leave before he swallowed them all and she had smiled, smiled at him. She spoke to him saying she had seen his future, and that in time he would find something of interest in his woods that would change his life forever.

The air picked up scent of the woman in his grip in present and wafted it to the Dragons' nose, filling his overly delicate olfactory senses and sliding down his throat to sit in his stomach. The flowery smell of Castle Gardens, fresh linens, expensive furnishings, and leather bound books and ink mixed with blood, fear, and horse hair filled his body head to toe. The smell of her had the strangest effect on the Dragon. His eyes rolled into the back of his skull, his pulse raced and breathing stopped, his body freezing as her smell affected him.

There was a long moment when nothing moved but the wind whispering through the ranches.

Then suddenly, he yanked her away and let her fall to the ground, recoiling as if he had been stung. He gaged and coughed staring wildly at the tiny human a few feet away. Never in his life had he smelled something so… intoxicating. Never had his body acted so without his say so. Never had he felt so light, so… content… happy… These were foreign feelings for the Dragon, things he hadn't felt in centuries. How was it that this human child could have such a powerful smell that affected him so!?

Again the mental image of the Gypsy with her so called "Gift of Sight" flashed behind his eyes. Could it be…?

Growling, he stepped forward and scooped the girl into his arms, kicking off with a powerful lunge that left a ripple of dust in his wake he sprang into the night. Bursting from the tree tops, his black leathery wings snapped open and catching the air current that sent him soring over the tops of the Black Forest. In just a handful of pulls of his massive wings, his feet again touched ground and he disappeared into the side of the mountain. Only to reappear and cough madly over the edge of a well-hidden cliff before bounding back into the sky and disappearing in a matter of moments.

He remembered now. Her scent had affected him so much, so much more than anything else in his memory. He didn't understand it, so he had brought her back here to figure it out. The strength of her smell was too over powering however, and he was instantly forced out of his cave and into the fresh air. He had waited out until the last few hours of darkness on the ridge atop his cave that managed to conceal the mouth quite well. Not only did it allow him to clear his head, but time for her smell to mix with that of his home so it was not so overpowering. Even now, from his perch above the cave entrance, he could smell her as if she was just next to him. Finally, as dawn stretched across the distant horizon, he swung down and into the cave once again. He knew before his feet hit the ground that she was awake and it was a snap decision to use his Dragon abilities to put her back to sleep.

Now he frowned as he glared down at the girl. Still frustrated, he roughly sat down at her feet his tail flicking out to his side, not taking his eyes from her. Slowly, he reached out a clawed finger and stroked the back of it across her cheek. Her skin was perfectly smooth, and surprisingly soft as his scales moved across it. Her smell had dissipated somewhat as he had intended and he was able to be this close to her without gaging. It was still a mystery as to why he was so affected by her. At least now, while she slept under his spell, he would have some time with her to try to figure things out. It was strange to him to have another living body in his cavern; it had been so long since anyone had dared enter the Black Forest, much less his home. How long had been alone now? Three centuries? Or was it four… he couldn't remember. He felt the all too familiar pang of loneliness in his chest and he bared he teeth at the feeling.

Dragons were not totally solitary beasts, preferring to live in family groups than by themselves. But Gajeel's family was gone, murdered by ancestors of the creature laying just inches from him. Rage bubbled under his scales at the thought. He had been a young and foolish Dragon then, and had left his father and brother behind in some random act of rebellion. When he had returned, their headless corpses greeted him, along with the horrid stink of man.

Shaking his great head at the memories, Gajeel stood, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Those were dark days back then, and since then he had hated humans with all of his might. True, Dragons once protected and cared for man, but that was eons ago, before even his fathers' time, and nothing could bring that world back. He glanced darkly over his shoulder at the unconscious figure beside him. What was the stupid girl doing in the Forest at any rate? A run away maybe. A damn fool for running right into his woods. He curled a lip as the breeze lifted her scent to his nose again. There was something about that scent he couldn't get enough of. It was oddly familiar, yet he was sure he had never smelled it before.

He began to walk around the fire, pacing while he thought, occasionally throwing a glance at the sleeping girl. He didn't keep track of how long he passed, he just knew that with every new thought he was becoming more and more frustrated. Just as he was about to lash out in frustration a thought he hadn't even considered wormed its way into his brain, fostered by the third image of a Gypsy. He froze where he stood, eyes wide and gleaming in the fire light. There was no way, she couldn't be. No, he was being ridicules. Not that.


Levy came to some hours later. The sun must have set for there was no light from the entrance of the cavern, the only source being the fire that was still burning in the center of the great room. Her heart suddenly jumped into her throat as she quickly scanned the area looking for the Dragon. The sudden movement made her head ache and she winced in pain. She could find no signs of life, save from the fire. After her head cleared she looked again, peering into the shadows the fire threw around. She had missed him the first time before.

Nothing. Calming her racing heart she breathed deep taking in the smells around her. She could smell the dampness of the cave, the cold of the waterfall, the almost sweat smoke from the fire and the musk of the dirt floor. The soft breeze rose and made the fire flicker, the quite whistle of it slipping into the cave and filling the space with warmth. Closing her eyes once more Levy inhaled the smell, then wrinkled her nose and covered her nose and mouth. She smelled something terrible. It wreaked and stank. She knew the smell, it was the scent of death and blood, of decaying carcass. Looking around she tried to find the source of the wretched smell but was unable. It grew stronger when the breeze picked up. It must be from outside.

Glancing around again, she slowly swung her legs over the edge of the furs and set her feet into the soft cool dirt floor. She stared down at her feet. She had been wearing boots last she remembered. She suddenly reached for her shoulders, feeling for her cloak. It's gone too? But where? How?... Did, did… did HE take them? She shuddered at the thought of the Dragons scaly, clawed hands on her, especially without her knowledge. Flinching she looked at her left arm. There was a nasty scratch across the underside of her arm and wrist, extending in rips and shreds to her palm. How she hadn't noticed it before she didn't know. The wound looked a day or so old and had started scabbing over. On the edges of the wound her skin was bruising and drying. Nothing had been done to doctor it. She would have to do something about that before anything else.

Looking around she tried to see if there were any medical supplies. Frowning at the lack of amenities, she smacked herself on the forehead with her non-injured hand. Stupid! You're in a Dragons' layer! There's not going to be anything to help you in here, rough it! Slowly dragging her hand down her face she made to stand overjoyed that she could actually do it without much effort. Somehow she thought she would be physically weaker. Carefully making her way over to the waterfall and crystal basin she knelt by the edge, sighing as she dunked her hand into the cold water. Cupping her fingers she raised little sips of water to her parched lips repeatedly. Satisfied, she looked at her injured hand again. She was going to have to bandage it, and to that she was going to have to rip up her skirts. Sighing she bit her lip determinedly and brought the hem to her mouth, biting the stitching and then tearing it with her good hand. For once, she was grateful for the many layers of skirts of the fancier attire she owned.

After ripping the top skirt completely off into one long bandage she set it aside in a small pile. Levy proceeded to put her injured hand into the cold water. A hiss of pain escaped her mouth as the water filled the wound. Taking a moment she slowly began to clean out the gash with her other hand, panting and wincing at the pain shooting up her arm. The cut was deeper than she had originally thought, and what she had thought was scabbing was really dirt and mud. Come on Levy! You can do this! It hurts so much, but you have to clean it out or it'll get infected. Gritting her teeth she pushed on. The water around her was turning a muddy red color with the dirt and blood from her arm. Finally, it was cleaned to the best of her ability. Using some of the ripped material, she dried her arm. Quickly, she started wrapping her arm in the long bandage from her skirt. Wincing a little at the pain she tied it off with her teeth once finished and made sure it was tight.

Rocking back on her heels Levy took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, the work had been tiring and she was now exhausted. Something rancid reached her nose again, and she was reminded of her initial reason for getting up. Rising to her feet she tried to locate the source of the smell. From her position now she could tell that the stench was coming not from outside, but somewhere further in the cave itself. Hesitantly, she started toward the pitch blackness of the cavern. As she passed the fire she made a slight detour to it and carefully removed a long sick that was only burning on one end to use as a torch. With the light from the torch she made her way past the fur bed and along the wall that moved almost straight back. The farther she went, the stronger the smell became.

Heart racing, she followed the short tunnel – or was it a passageway – until it widened and the light of the flame was caught by something that reflected it back to her. Pausing for a moment, she raised the torch higher to cast more light on the thing, then took a few more steps rounding a bit of a corner. Instantly she covered her nose and mouth, it had seemed that the corner had served as a scent block of whatever was so rancid, as the smell had intensified tenfold. What had caught the light was a rusted and dented helmet of a Royal Guardsmen. Perplexed she slowly reached out and picked the helmet up. It was old, much older than she had expected. Looking more closely she saw that it was like one of the suits of armor in the castle wing displaying the development of the military. This particular helmet was from a model of some 100 or more years ago. Frowning, she took a few more steps into the darkness, squinting tying to see into the depths of the room. Raising the light high above her head she gasped, the helmet falling from her grip and clattering to the floor. Instantly she started coughing as the smell overwhelmed her.

Before her, in a massive cavern that was nearly four times that of the first, lay thousands of corpses clad in armor from centuries of Fairy Tail Knights, Pages, War Horses, Cannons, and weaponry beyond comprehension. She recognized some of the bodies closest to her as Knights that had gone missing some years ago. Somehow she was moving forward gaping at the heap of bodies and pieces of metal, scraps of armor or weapons stacked nearly to the ceiling of the cavern. Some twenty or so feet into the room the floor dipped down suddenly and she came to stand at the edge of a great cliff with a crude sort of staircase zig-zagging its way down to the floor below. Tears sprung to her eyes at the sight before her and her hand to her mouth at the overwhelming stench of death and decay. Where she had just come from opened up into a truly huge cavern, miles and miles deep and hundreds more wide. Stacked as far as she could see in the dim flickering light of her torch, was all sorts of metal, gold and silver and jewels of all colors and sizes, ancient chests and crates from a millennium ago, weapons of all kinds and at the very edge of the light she thought she saw the bow of a wooden war ship. Slowly sinking to the floor she gazed open mouthed at the sight before her. There was no doubt in her mind now. She was in the layer of Gajeel the Black Steel Dragon.


Moonlight galloped hard. Lathered in sweat and dirt she pushed on. She had broken through the Black Forest and burst out on the prairie that marked the kingdom and home. It was then that she noticed her saddle was empty. Looking behind her she let out a whinny for her rider and listened. No answer. She called again. Nothing. Breathing hard she waited and waited for the Princess to return to her, she always did. Moonlight waited until dawn when she realized the princess wasn't coming for her. Her body was tired and sore and she was scared, but she pushed on. Wheeling around she made a bee line for her stall. The sun had fully rose by the time she reached the castle. Easily clearing the low stone wall that separated the fields from the road, she let out a whinny to the Castle growing before her. Calling out she squealed the last mile or so to the main gate, where she was blocked by the Guard. Sliding to a halt she reared as high as she could screaming with all she had left. Recognizing the mare as the Princesses personal mount, the guards rushed forward as she came down and reached for her bridle, but she was back up on her hind legs again screaming still.

"Easy girl! Easy!" One guard yelled, "Whoa! Whoa!"

Finally the guard was able to grab her bridle and calm the mare enough to bring her to the stables. As he walked the prancing mare back to her stall, he barked an order "OI! Someone bring me Captain Vista right away! Tell him it's to do with the Princess!"

Moments later Captain Lyon Vista was striding forward flanked by two Pages who struggled to keep up with the Captains stride, "You there, what is it?"

"Captain! The Princesses mare was just recovered. Alone. The Princess is not to be found and the horse looks as if she had been running hard for quite a while."

"Show me." Lyon ordered and the Guard hurriedly led him to Moonlight's stall where Pages and Stable Boys were attending to her. Gripping the stall door tightly the Captain scrutinized the mare's appearance. He took in the dried sweat and roughed up appearance of her coat, the trembling of her legs as she stood stiffly, ears whirring this way and that nervously, the tattered and ripped saddle blanket and coat of arms, the scratched leather and broken reins, and the small splattering of something dark on the mare's golden coat.

"Boy," Lyon ordered the attention of one of the Stable Boys tending to Moonlight, who stood at attention sharply, "What is that there on her hip, there." The Boy followed the pointed finger of the Captain to the mare's flank and moved to touch it, "Is it mud Boy?"

"N-no sir!" Wide eyes turned to the Captain briefly then back to the mare, "It's not mud. Its blood. But there looks to be no injury on her."

The color drained from the Captain's face. Turning to the Guardsman at his side he spoke, his voice restrained and forced to be clam, "Get me Commander Fulbuster. Quickly!" He shouted the last word causing the Guardsman to jump and hastily salute before scampering off.

Word was spread faster than lightening that the princess's horse had returned without her rider and the mare looked like death. By the time the Captain and Commander reached the Kings chambers, the servants were already whispering. Bursting through the doors Lyon walked quickly to where the King was seated at a desk signing documents.

"My Lord, Please excuse my interruption," Lyon's smooth voice could strike the fear of the God's into a man, or could make any lady swoon, was clipped and quick, "But I have some information that you must hear now!"

Looking up over his half-moon glasses, the King frowned and set aside his quill speaking as he did, "Pray tell Captain, what is so important that you come bursting in here without breath?" Behind the King a figure appeared, his messy shoulder length deep blue hair framing his face as he stepped into the light.

"It's about the Princess." The man's voice was smooth as silk and reflected his noble upbringing, "Something has happened to her."

The three other men looked at the sorcerer in surprise. Lyon cleared his throat in the sudden silence, "Ah, well yes… Of course you would have 'seen' something about this with your Magic."

The use of Magic in Fiore had once been found throughout the empire, from the high nobles and kings, to the average peasant. It was said that Magic was a gift from the Gods back when man was outnumbered one to one hundred against the Dragons with their own Magic and needed some sort advantage if they were to survive. But the power that Magic gave the humans was to strong, and human sins of Greed and Gluttony and Lust took over man, who turned on each other in the drive for more power. Within a few decades only a few persons were able to control the overpowering Magic, having obtained such power by killing other sorcerers and consuming their Magic. Soon not only was humanity waring with the Dragons, but itself. Enraged that the humans had turned on each other instead of banding together for protection, the Gods took away the humans Magic and left them to fend for themselves. There were only a few individuals, who had stayed loyal to the Gods and free of sin, who were allowed to keep their abilities. Those few wrote down everything they had learned and knew so that those in the future, who also respected the Gods and their will, would be able to protect humanity still.

It was luck that on his crusades to unite the waring city-states of Fiore that King Makarov stumbled upon the young Jellal Fernandes. Branded with the markings of a sorcerer over his right eye, the youth willingly joined the crusading King to unite Fiore and create a place of peace and tranquility for all persons and creatures in the world. Now he stood as the Kings right hand man and his personal advisor. It was only with Jellal's abilities that Makarov had been able to unite and hold the states together in one Kingdom. Now the sorcerer stood just to the left of the King's desk, a hand on the carved oak and a grim frown on his features.

"Something's happened."

"Jellal?" The Kings voice was quiet and concerned, "What do you know?"

Jellal turned his gaze to the Captain and Commander before them and offered a small smile, "Captain, you have firsthand knowledge, please, inform us of what you know."

Nodding slightly, Lyon spoke, "My Lord, a horse was recovered just moments ago, her rider missing. Sire, it was the Princesses horse," Lyon licked his lips nervously before he continued, "The Princess is missing, and her steed looks as if she had been running all night, it is a wonder the beast is still alive."

The King's eyes widened and he placed a hand over his heart.

"Also," Grey spoke watching the kings face carefully, "We believe that the Princess may be injured… The mare had blood on her flank that was not her own." The King slumped back in his chair, hands fisting on the table and in his robes. Grey continued quickly, "I will have the Captain set up search parties and cover inch of the Kingdom within a day's ride of the castle. As well, I will take a group of Fiore's finest Knights and head to the Black Forest. Pray that she is not there."

"Good, good Commander… Captain. Be strong my children." The King's voice was weak, almost as if he were not all there. With a wave of his hand he dismissed the two Guardsmen. Bowing the two Guardsmen turned on their heels and strode for the door. "Mest!" The King called out, his horse voice rasping with effort.

A tall athletic young man appeared as if out of thin air. Dressed in red and purple garb of the servants who took orders directly from the Royal Family, and to them only. Bowing slightly before standing erect again Mest spoke, "My lord."

"Find Natsu, tell him to get Laxus and bring him here. I need them both." Nodding his head Mest disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.

"Laxus Sire?" Jellal seemed surprised at the King's request. Turning to his advisor the king spoke with much restriction, "He knows the Black Forest better than anyone as he is the only person alive to have entered there alone and lived to tell the tale. He and Natsu are the only Knights in my kingdom that have slain Dragons."

"You don't think The Black Steel Dragon has something to do with this, do you? He has left us alone for so long. It would not make sense for him to break the peace now."

"Yes, yes, I know that very well, but I cannot rule him out simply for that reason." The King had become short. Jellal lowered his head in repents for speaking out of place so; the King sighed and waved a hand to the young man, speaking more softly, "Jellal, Find her."

"Sire…" And with that he was gone.

After Jellal left, the King slipped off his chair and began to pace before the desk, his hands clasped together behind his back. What on earth would have caused his granddaughter to go off riding alone and so suddenly? What drove her to ride off in the first place? She's too smart to take a ride after dark, especially without a guard. Could she be so upset that she had tried to flee? No, that wasn't the Levy he knew, she would never abandon her people so. Sighing he sat on one of the many lavish couches, there was nothing more they could do at the moment but pray and hope.

Pray and hope that she was NOT with the Black Steel Dragon, or anywhere close to him for that matter. After uniting the warring states of Fiore, Makarov had advanced to the edge of the great Black Forest and called the Dragon to come and speak with him. Makarov had been so kind as to bring fifty of the best cattle he could get his hands on as a peace offering to the great Dragon. To everyone's great surprise, the Dragon had appeared not moments after the King announced his intent and offered the cattle to him. Even more shocking was the fact that the Dragon actually conversed, and quite civilly at that, with the King. There Makarov had explained that he wanted no war with the Dragon. He would see that no man were to enter his forest under threat of death, that no man would hunt the Dragon, that there would be peace between them, that he had fought enough and enough soldiers AND Dragons had died in his long lifetime. The Dragon had agreed, the memories of his slain family and kin still fresh in his mind, even if their life had ended long before Makarov's father was even a babe.

The next ten years of so were tricky and rocky, but Makarov had kept his word, and not a soul went near the forest nor himself; and the Dragon had held his word also. He left the Kingdom to itself, preferring to travel to the far side of the mountain that marked the end of Fiore and to the lands beyond its borders for sport and hunting.

Yes, Makarov hoped to the Gods that his little Levy was not in the clutches of the Dragon. He knew well enough that if it was so, she was as good as dead if she wasn't already.