Summary ;; AU. Porlyusica had given Levy some medicine for her ill grandfather, Makarov, who lives alone, deep within the forest. Little does Levy know, there be Dragon in these woods. / Gajeel x Levy
Fairy Tail twist on Little Red Riding Hood.
Disclaimer; I do not own Fairy Tail. It belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Little Blue Script Mage
Chapter One
x.x.x
The tang of fowl smelling medicine and freshly picked herbs flowed through the small cabin. It was a little sized drug store, as well as a home, on the outskirts of Magnolia Town. A young girl with light, ocean colored hair stood in front of the counter, patiently waiting for an elderly woman to prepare the order. She held a book in her hands and a messenger bag around her shoulder, which carried even more unread novels. She was known by the name of Levy McGarden, an aspiring mage and very much a bookworm. The reason for her visit to the herbalist, Porlyusica, was because of her grandfather had recently became very ill. The young mage didn't know her grandfather very well as he was an old hermit who lived deep within Magnolia's woods but she was determined to do all she could for her only remaining relative. The light, almost turning gray, pink-haired herbalist wrapped up the medication in a bag and placed on the counter top. Porlyusica had been Makarov only friend during his hermit years, the elderly woman would often visit but she hasn't been able to see him in years due to her aging body. The only anyone knew of Makarov's illness was his trusty winged cat, Happy, who would deliver letters to Porlyuscia for him.
"This should do it." Porlyusica muttered to herself, her red eyes gazing up towards Levy, "The sooner your grandfather receives this medicine, the better."
The blue-haired girl understood the warning very clearly, a determination sparked in her chocolate, brown eyes as Porlyusica handed her the package of medicine. She securely stored it within her small traveling bag.
"Thank you for all your help, Porlyusica." She kindly thanked, bowing her head in a polite manner. The old herbalist only grunted and rolled her eyes, but Levy knew she appreciated the gratitude.
"Be careful." Porlyusica called out just as Levy was making her towards the exit of the shop, "There has been spotting of a dragon lately in the woods, shouldn't you bring someone along with you?"
"I'll be fine, I promise." Levy reassured, "I am a mage after all."
Without hearing anymore of Porlyusica's protests, the blue-haired mage exited the cabin leaving the elderly woman with a worried look upon her aged face. However, a thin smile crept along face and a silent chuckle escaped her mouth, "You are just like your grandfather, Levy."
The streets of Magnolia were fully packed and the marketplace was crowded as ever. Levy rarely visit the market but it was important to gather supplies for her long journey ahead. The current book that had caught her interest was safely stored away in her bag after she left Porlyuscia's shop, hoping no one would steal it. She lingered around the food section of the open-aired market, thinking of what would be best as traveling food. The multicolored rows of fruit captivated her attention but those kinds of food wouldn't last long. Finally, Levy reached the grains portion and she picked up some breads. Not wanting to have such a heavy load, Levy bought as much bread as her pouch could carry and decided she could find the rest of her meals out in the wild.
"Ah, good morning, Levy!" A voice called out through the thick crowd. She recognized the voice and followed it. Levy reached a small stand next to ancient texts that had a crystal ball on the center of the table and cards placed out in patterns.
"Good morning, Cana." Levy returned the greeting respectively.
Sitting before her, was the most well-known fortune teller within all of Magnolia. Just a few years older than Levy, she was also known for her trademark beauty of luscious, wavy brown hair and voluptuous figure. Her dark, black eyes had a mysterious gleam that had a way of seeing into people's furture by using magic. Levy had known Cana since she was a child, often playing at Porlyusica's shop with grandpa before he became a hermit. Her slender fingers held a card in her hand and she placed it down beside another, concentrating on the message she was receiving.
"So, Makarov is ill?" Cana inquired, not gazing up from her cards.
"Yes. Porlyusica gave me some medicine and herbs to deliver to him. I came to the marketplace to stock up on supplies." The blue-haired mage explained. She knew Cana probably already decipered that explaination from her cards but Levy couldn't help feel rude if she didn't say it herself.
"You're going by yourself!" Shock rang from Cana's voice and a concern look plagued her face. Slowly, Levy nodded, "That's too dangerous!"
"I'll be fine." She reasurred with a soft smile. Cana didn't seem to be so sure.
"The cards will tell me." Her slender fingers once more rearranged the cards in a somewhat automatic way, she didn't think were she was going to place them but her body moved on it's own. Cana's fortunes had never been wrong before.
"No, no!" Levy panicked, waving her hands fulled with bags in front of her face, "I don't have anymore money to spend on fortune telling!"
"It's free ..." Cana's voice at first was kind but trail off towards the end and a grim look consumed her face. Levy lend over the table to get a better view of the cards, but the random pictures and placements meant nothing to her. Her questioning, brown eyes gazed at Cana, "Please don't go." She muttered, so quiet it was almost inaudible.
"What?" Levy questioned, still confused, "I have to help grandpa."
"Just don't go!" Cana's voice raised and she shot up from her chair, people walking around the open-air market sent unsure and confused stares toward her direction, "The only thing awaiting you in that forest is death! A painful, lonely death!"
"But, what about grandpa?" Levy eyes widened in shock at Cana's acquisition, "He'll die without this medicine."
"He'll die either way. If you get killed in the forest, he still won't get his medicine." Cana pointed out, her eyes narrowing.
"I'm not weak. I can take care of myself!" Levy retorted back, "I won't die and grandpa will get his medicine!"
Levy stormed away from Cana's stand and the crowd of eavesdropping onlookers. The magic fortune teller sighed in frustration as she settled back in her seat, hopping her outburst wouldn't lose her any customers. Her eyes gazed upon the cards once more and her frown deepen, she felt bad for lying to Levy but she had hoped it would stop her from going to those woods by herself. Unfortunately, her cards were always true. Two cards were overlapping, a card of a metallic dragon on top of a book. The entire vision was unclear but this meant that Levy was to encounter a dragon on her voyage but this did not mean the dragon was set on killing her, or at least she hoped.
Rumors from hunters have been spreading around about an unbeatable dragon in the woods. Dragons were known to be vicious, hateful creatures and were killed on spot by hunters. However, there was word about a malicious and powerful dragon in Magnolia forest. The metallic dragon. It's skin turned to steel and weapons became useless, even magic was useless against the hard metal. It was known to not show any mercy and killed every hunter in it's path, only one escaped to tell the tale. What does it mean? Cana thought in frustration. Since the cards message was so unclear, the outcome can't be good.
The west exit of Magnolia led to the thick, dense forest. It was sometime during the evening when Levy was fully stocked up with supplies. Food, water, weapons, knives, books, and her favorite pair of Gale-Force reading glasses. It would have been wiser to set on her journey bright and early but her grandfather didn't have much time left. She needn't to hurry. She felt bad for her last encounter with Cana but she couldn't help but feel insult by her fortune-telling, even though she wasn't the strongest mage in Magnolia, she wasn't completely weak! However, Cana's words did send unwanted chills down her spine. She wasn't going to die alone in the forest, right?
Shaking off any uneasy feelings, Levy McGarden set forth into the mysterious woods. The trees blocked off most of the sunlight and it seemed so much darker inside the forest than it did in town. She walked along the dirt path until it ended deeper in the forest. The rest of the way was nothing but grassy plains, thick shrubbery, and dense forestry. But the script mage continued onward, walking in a straight path.
The further she got into the woods, the trees became more spread out and the sunlight beamed on the grass. Though it wouldn't be long before it was dark and see needed to set up camp. Levy was in a hurry to get to her Grandfather, but she wasn't going to take any stupid risks to endanger her life. She'll prove Cana's prophecy wrong.
She found a river flowing through open field and decided to make her temporary camp there. Levy collected some sticks and small logs to build a her solid script magic, Levy sparked a flame to light her fire. She pulled the large backpack off her shoulders and set it down next to her, she fumbled through her belongings and retrieved a book and her sleeping bag. The script mage unrolled next to the fire and nestled inside of it. The air surrounding her was warm, thanks to the flames. Without her fire, it would be quite chilly even with her sleeping bag. She also pulled out one of her books and began reading. She laid on her belly, supporting her weight with her elbows and held the book infront of her face, Reading gave her comfort from the unknown rustling noises and creepy sounds from the surrounding trees and bushes,
"T-To tell you the truth, G-Grandpa, I'm really s-scare at the moment." Levy whispered to herself, finding it impossible to read with her hands violently shaking.
During the daytime, the forest was no problem. During the night, it was a different story. Levy had a very strong fear of darkness. The campfire provided a nice light source but the darkness engulfing all around her was almost suffocating. Why didn't I just bring someone else with me! Levy thought with anger. She could have easily asked one of the two hunters from town, Jet and Droy, to accompany her. They always seemed pleased to help her. But, no, she wanted to make Makarov proud of her making this journey on her own.
"Too late to do the right thing now." Levy muttered to herself.
Off in the distance, in the tree tops, a pair of blood red eyes gazed down at the fire. The shadow watched the flames dance on the ground, illuminating part of the river. With his enhanced vision, he saw a figure in what looked like a sleeping bag next to the campfire. Not many people ever camped out in the woods, especially his woods.
"Tsk, time to teach this dumbass a lesson." He growled darkly, baring his fangs. Swiftly, he jumped down from the treetop. his black mane blowing through the wind. He landed silently on the grass, his target not far. He felt himself licking his lips as he approached closer. A girl?
His dark figure was invisible in the shadows and the smoke from the flames hid his metallic scent. Those red eyes gazed at the girl. She was reading some kind of book, he heard her mumble things to herself.
"T-To tell you the truth, G-Grandpa, I'm really s-scare at the moment." She whispered to herself. He smirked, scenting her fear through the thick smoke. He loved when his victims were scared, especially weak females.
She muttered other things he didn't really care about as he drew near. He was a dragon and this was his forest. Any trespassers would be killed by the dragon himself, Gajeel Redfox. He noticed the girl close her book and stuff it back into her bag. She shifted onto her back and was gazing up at the sky.
Her fear scent was calming down but it was still present. Gajeel closed in, seeking the perfect opportunity to surprise his prey. Just as he was about to attack, not far off howling had distracted him. Wolves. It seems the beasts had picked up her scent as well. It would have been easier to let the wolves devour her but he found the prey first. Plus, he needed to teach the humans a lesson of not entering his forest and a young woman's mangled body would be a perfect warning.
The rustling noises were growing unbearable, Levy screwed her eyes shut to block out the darkness around her. However, the sounds of howls made her blood run cold. Any idiot would have known there were wolves nearby and they would run for cover, but Levy seemed paralyzed with fear. She didn't want to run blindly into the night and her magic was difficult to use in the dark. In one quick movement, Levy bolted up from her sleeping bag and went into a defensive stance. To her horror, there was a pack of hungry, vicious wolves circling her small camp. One, two, three ... six wolves. Her odds weren't looking good, she could manage to shot down at least three of the beast with a blast of her solid script but before she could do another spell, the others would attack her. She had no choice though.
"Solid Script: Fire!" Levy called out, flaming letters appearing in front of her. She directed the fire towards a group of three wolves closest to her and they scattered in fear of getting severely burnt.
The other beasts took their chance to pounce like Levy had predicted. Protectively covering her face, she braced for impact as she hoped she could knock them off so she could cast another fire spell. The attack never came and all she heard was painful yowls and fearful barks from the wolves. Blinking her eyes open, the young mage noticed a figure standing in front of her. A large, dark figure dressed in black and white attire and a long mane of onyx hair. His back was facing her, his stance intimidating and ready to attack. He must have scared of the wolves. Just by looking at them? She didn't hear any signs of a battle and their was no blood. Strange.
"Thank you for saving." Her sudden surprise made her forget her manner, she would have stepped closer to the man if he didn't seem so suspicious, "My name is Levy McGarden."
"What are you doing in the wood by yourself?" He bluntly asked, his voice showing no signs of real interest.
"My grandfather lives in these woods and he's sick. I was sent to give him medicine to make him feel better." Levy explained. She was beginning to feel the intimidation the wolves must have felt, also she could sense from this man was nothing but raw power and strength. Like he was some kind of beast himself. Wait ... no, it can't be!
"Gihihi, you may not know it, shrimp, but there's a dragon in these woods. A very hungry dragon." His deep voice growled. Levy gulped.
A/N ;; First chapter, tell me what you think?