[A/N]: So yeah this is a thing? I've been sick the last few days, so I've just been drawing incessantly and kinda forgot about FF. Ooops. Anyway, this has been in my GoogleDocs for a while. I kinda like the idea, but I'm uncertain about it as a fanfic?
It'll be GaLe-centric, with chapters about NaLu and Laxana (I swear to god I tried not to have Laxana, I reallytried...okay maybe not that hard). AU.
Chapter One: Magnolia
Your steps echo softly as you walk through the darkened streets, heedless of the dangers of the night. A soft tap and you look up from your scuffed boots. A tall, cloaked figure stands at the end of the street, reaching up to one of the streetlamps, a work of art shaped like a dragon, with a large glass orb between its claws. The figure's fingers cup the dragon's chin almost tenderly and for a second, you think that you see the dragon tilt its head into the stroking, like a cat. But the second passes, and the figure draws its fingers from the utterly motionless lamp. It taps the glass sphere once more and a warm light flickers into the sculpture's eyes, though you find it impossible to tell what color it is.
You watch in silence as the light bleeds from the scaly little beast's eyes to the glass sphere in its talons. There is a sound like a soft hum and light explodes from the dragon's orb. You close your eyes against the light, and when you open them, the figure is gone. The street is flooded with brilliant golden light shining from countless wrought-iron dragons and their glass treasures. You look up and see red light tingeing one edge of the sky, silver seeping from the other. You return your gaze to the street, staring at the place the lamplighter stood. Another minute, and the street is flooded with bustling, wakened people, going about their business in this sudden explosion of daylight.
You return your gaze to the sky once more, the stars blotted out by the brilliant light, and wonder what the dark, twisted shape flitting through the sky is. Someone jostles you and you lose your train of thought. The merchants and seller's carts file out into the street and a smile spreads across your face. Pulling your wallet out of your vest, you head towards a stall selling glassware that you know your sister will love.
…
The sky black as pitch, the night held its breath in anticipation. The sun descended beneath the horizon, plunging Magnolia into darkness. Slowly, the stars appeared in the heavens. The longer one looked up, the more one could see, until the sky sparkled like diamonds, enough starlight to cast eerie shadows through the twisting streets.
No sound permeated the darkness, the wind gusting softly through the alleys and avenues, past the black wrought-iron lamps shaped like dragons that dotted the streets. The black iron gleamed faintly beneath the stars. In complete silence, pennants fluttered gently, throwing writhing shadows up and down the streets.
When the moon appeared on the horizon, rising slowly, the lamplighters began their work. Flame District, the ever-alive nightclub neighborhood, alit first, the lamps lighting one after the other like a wave until that corner of the city glowed with rosy, reddish light. Its citizens awoke, and music began pumping through the night. The bass beats are so solid one can feel the vibrations in the air. Even if the city was diurnal, no one would sleep in Flame District.
Next was the merchant sector, Thunder District, light webbing out from the precinct's central plaza like lightning until golden joined red in the darkness. Merchants and businessmen opened their storefronts, set up their stalls, wheeled out their carts. Walking the streets, one can always hear the soft clinking of coins changing hands, and take note of the fantastic wares sold only at night, and only in Thunder District.
Third was the small healer's quarter, Wind District, gentle blue light slowly glowing brighter, softly joining the red and gold brilliance that lit the city. The streets of this small neighborhood always smelled faintly of exotic herbs, and the air felt peaceful in this small circle near the center of Magnolia. The feeling of this district lifts one's mood, clears one's head.
After Wind was the blackmarket region, Venom District, violet light seeping through its streets insidiously. All manner of activities went on in this quarter, mostly dark and probably not strictly legal. Still, like all districts, Venom was peaceful in the night. If one concentrated, they might pick up the faint scent of smoke, likely from a drug den. The need to look over your shoulder is pressing in this quarter.
Following Venom was the Light District, the priests' sector, pure white light appearing in sudden brilliance between one blink and another. Soft hymns floated through the air as the priests began their work, lighting their own snow-white flames on the altars in their temples. One's steps feel light here, the very cobblestones blessed by the monks puttering through the streets.
Finally was the Dark District, the scholar's district. Here the light was soft silver, and the air smelled of old parchment. Pages rustled in every corner, the streets lined with bookstores, libraries, scriptoriums, as the bookkeepers went about their business. The glint of glasses can be seen on most of the noses buried in the millions of books stashed in this district, and the delight of young scholars finding old books in every nook and cranny is nearly tangible.
Thus was Magnolia after sunset, six districts gleaming brightly enough to drown out the stars and light the streets like a second dawn. The patchwork of colors, from the expansive gold of Thunder, to the tiny azure spot of Wind, glimmered and glowed in perfect peace. The night was a sacred time in Magnolia, when man need not fear the beasts that roam the day, and most in Magnolia respected this. Violence and crime were activities for daylight, when every house was shuttered, every man, woman and child sleeping and hiding from the Daymonsters. Criminals working in the sunlight learned their lesson quickly─if they survived it. But man was safe inside; the Daymonsters were incapable of entering a building, so long as every window was shuttered, every door bolted. Nightmonsters were just as vicious, and their ability to raze buildings were what made the beings known as lamplighters necessary, the only defense that could stop the beasts.
Six lamplighters guarded the city in the night, the new generation having taken over from the old seven years ago. The council removed them from service when the nameless Thunder and Venom guardians had disappeared, and appointed the new generation, apprentices of their predecessors, as lamplighters. Masters Igneel and Grandeeney had stepped down willingly, but Masters Skiadrum and Weisslogia had not gone so easily. They resented their young charges assuming the mantle that they had borne for so many decades. Thus when Skiadrum's illness finally consumed him, Weisslogia disappeared.
Only very recently, the council, too, had altered its members, made way for the new generation as nearly all the whitebeards of the previous staff stepped down for a new order. Now two representatives of every district staffed the organization, headed by the aged Governor, Makarov Dreyar, and the commander of the guard, Erza Scarlet. The councillors Lucy Heartfilia of Flame District, Cana Alberona of Thunder District, and Levy McGarden of Dark District were tasked by the old man as liaisons with the clandestine ring of lamplighters, to meet every month and analyze the activities on the Nightmonsters around Magnolia. Lady Alberona was only one of the three who had been a member of the previous council, but even she had never dealt with the lamplighters.
Porylusica Dreyar, one of the Wind District representatives, was rumored to know her district's lamplighter. Cana's partner, Freed Justine, also seemed to know Thunder's lamplighter, but the identities of the six were kept so secret that even Master Justine admitted to knowing only the face of the man of golden light. He had been sworn into secrecy, so he could not tell his co-councillors what the lamplighter looked like.
It had always been thus. The powerful stewards of Magnolia remained hidden as they dedicated their lives to lighting the city and warding against the Nightmonsters. But not even they could defend against the fearsome Daymonsters, so Magnolia became a nocturnal city, hiding from the sun and the horrors it brought. The council's forces watched the prowlers of sunlight, while the lamplighters watched the walkers of moonlight.
…
The first meeting between the new council and the new lamplighters took place in the belltower rising from the exact center of the city, each of its six sides lit with a different color. The bells themselves were polished until they reflected like mirrors, rainbow light dancing around the walls of the tower room. The only light came from the multicolored reflections of the bells, for no dragon lamps lit the interior of the tower.
The three councillors stood quietly, shoulder to shoulder, hands clasped before them, surveying the scene before them with a good measure of amazement.
Six hooded figures in all sizes (one of the lamplighters was even smaller than Lady McGarden) stood on the opposite side of the bells, light absorbed by the pitch of their cloaks. "Greetings, councilwomen," murmured the tallest in a strong, throaty baritone. "We are the lamplighters."
Levy could only stand there in awed silence; every child in Magnolia was raised on stories of the valor of the legendary, magic lamplighters. They were tantamount to gods in Magnolia, nearly worshipped by the people. She couldn't help but stare at the six unassuming cloaks standing before her.
Cana was the first to react, bowing to the six just deep enough to be respectful but not low enough to suggest that she held less power than they. Levy and Lucy followed in curtsies a heartbeat later. "I am Lady Alberona of Thunder District, and beside me are Lady Heartfilia of Flame and Lady McGarden of Dark." She gestured to either side as she spoke, gazing steadily in the direction of the tall man's hidden eyes. "Show yourselves."
"We cannot," murmured one of them in a soft voice. "Not until we can trust you." Levy winced.
Cana stiffened, but took a breath and calmed herself. "I assure you, Master Lamplighter, that we are trustworthy."
"Our deepest apologies, Lady Alberona," uttered the tallest. "We mean no disrespect. Still, we are bound by our oaths to be known by none, in order to protect Magnolia and her people." A stifled snort came from one of the lamplighters, followed by a dull thud, as though someone had kicked him. Levy searched the lamplighters for motion and thought she saw one elbowing the other. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"As a gesture of faith, I shall remove my hood," piped the smallest. The councillors all blinked in surprise; the lamplighter's voice was that of a young girl. She stepped forward and removed her cloak.
Levy's eyes widened. The lamplighter─one of the lamplighters─couldn't have been more than fourteen years old, with long, shiny sapphire hair and clear brown eyes. She smiled as bright as the lamps she lit as she announced, "I am the lamplighter of Wind District."
Lucy overcame her surprise the soonest and extended her hand to the child. The blonde bobbed in a tiny curtsey as the child shook her hand and then bowed. "It is an honor, Lady Lamplighter," the councilwoman murmured as the child straightened.
"Please cover yourself once more, my friend," said the tallest lamplighter quietly. "There may be many eyes in this room beyond those of our new friends." The child nodded and obeyed, stepping back to her partners as she drew her cloak back up and concealed her features.
Levy took this to mean that the tall man was the leader of the lamplighters. "Let us get down to business," she suggested. "What of the Nightmonsters?"
"There has been no activity since we took up our posts," said the leader. "We have nothing to report this month, my friends, a fact to rejoice. And what of the Daymonsters?"
"They still circle the city, occasionally flying over," Lucy replied briskly. "But no incursions or advances have been made."
"How goes the attempt to capture one?"
Levy didn't bother to wonder where they got that information. The lamplighters were nearly omnipresent, nothing in the city escaped their notice. "Unsuccessful as yet," the petite councilwoman answered. "But we shall persist."
"I am glad to hear it. The more we know about the Daymonsters, the sooner we can eradicate them and return to the sun."
"My sentiments exactly, Master Lamplighter," Cana agreed. She folded her fingers together and raised an eyebrow. "I believe that we have nothing more to discuss? Unless you have information that the council does not?" Levy frowned; she wished to keep the legends for longer, learn more. She was always hungry for knowledge, and this, this was a secret Magnolia had never set free in nearly a century. She itched to know everything about the lamplighters.
"Unfortunately not. Alas, too brief a meeting," the leader replied wryly. "May your way home be safe." The six lamplighters turned and took their leave.
"And yours," Levy replied, nodding as the lamplighters disappeared into the shadows. The councilwomen stood in silence a minute until they were sure the six were gone. At length, Levy turned to her partners. "That wasn't so bad."
"Very clandestine," Lucy muttered. Cana looked pensive, and remained silent. "Only one lamplighter showed her face," the blonde complained. "I was so looking forward to learning more about them!"
"Maybe next time we'll see another," Levy soothed. "But until then, we cannot speak of this encounter except to report the lack of activity among the monsters."
"Agreed. Cana?"
"Hm? Yes, of course," the brunette replied absently. Levy followed her gaze, squinting in the half-light. After a long minute, she realized that a figure crouched in the corner, obscured by the lamplighters before.
"Who goes there?" she called apprehensively. A low, rumbling chuckle reached her ears and the three women took a step back unconsciously.
The figure, cloaked just as the lamplighters, rose to his feet. He was almost as tall as the leader of the lamplighters. "I am the seventh lamplighter," he uttered. His voice was rough, deep and gravelly, like a rock scraping against a lump of metal. The sound of it made Levy shiver.
"Seventh?" Cana echoed suspiciously. She drew a knife from the folds of her skirt, raising it so the rainbow of light from the bells glinted off it.
"There are only six districts in Magnolia," Levy added uncertainly, stepping behind her armed friend.
She could hear the grin in his voice as he replied, "Who do you think makes the lamps?"
…
"Ugh, these capes are awful," Natsu complained, dropping the offending piece of fabric to the floor. He turned to glare at Sting. "You didn't have to kick me that hard, douchebag."
The blond man picked the cloak off the floor and dusted it off. "It's all about our presence, dude," he replied calmly. "And you ruined it. The short chick noticed you, by the way."
"Then you shouldn't have kicked me so hard!" the pinkhead repeated angrily.
"Shut up!" Laxus yelled, cuffing them both across the head. "God, can you two go ten seconds without bickering?"
"You wanna go, Sparky?" Natsu shouted, lunging. Laxus sent him into the wall with a single backhand and the pinkhead slumped to the ground, swearing.
Wendy carefully hung up her cloak. "I like them," she decided.
"You like everybody, kid," Cobra shot back.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Cobra," Laxus said exasperatedly. "Goddamn, why are the three of you always trying to pick fights?"
"Sorry, dad," Cobra replied snidely.
Laxus, walking by to hang up his cloak, rolled his eyes and punched the redhead in the gut perfunctorily. "Fucking idiot," the blond muttered. Why me?
Candles lit the room, in all the colors of the districts. The six lamplighters found their seats around a circular table painted like the night sky, constellations marked with miniscule golden lines. Only one seat was left empty.
The occupant of that seat walked in, hanging up his pitch-dark cloak with the others. Long, unruly black hair tied at the base of his neck was thrown back over one shoulder, piercings glimmering in the candlelight as he abandoned his cloak. "Gajeel," Laxus grunted. "What took you so long?"
"Just greeting the reps," the seventh lamplighter replied casually, flopping down in his chair and propping his legs up. He began absently polishing one of the piercings on his forearm.
"You idiot," growled the blond. "Why did you do that? Even after sixty years, Metalicana never revealed himself to the council!"
Gajeel glared, bristling. "Iunno! Felt like it!" Pierced brows beetled angrily over glowering red eyes.
Wendy shifted in her seat uncomfortably, unheeding of the temper Laxus had accidentally set off. "But Metalicana said─"
"I don't care what he fucking said, I'm not goddamned Metalicana!" Gajeel yelled. Wendy yelped and shrank in her seat.
"Gajeel!"
The rest of the table exploded with indignant yells; Wendy was like a little sister to all of them and completely off-limits when it came to venting anger, an unspoken law among the lamplighters. Natsu edged closer and wrapped an arm around the miserable, withdrawn girl. "Dude, what the hell?" Sting demanded, leaning forward as if to block Wendy from the angry lamplighter's view.
Gajeel leaned back, crossing his arms sullenly. He sat stoically under the glares of his comrades. "Sorry, kid," he muttered finally.
"What the hell was that?" snapped Laxus.
"Nothing, okay? Goddamn!" Gajeel retorted. "I said I was sorry, just shut up and get on with it."
"It'd better not happen again," Natsu muttered darkly, releasing Wendy.
"Tch. How are my lamps?" the ravenhead asked shortly.
Laxus watched the raven-haired lamplighter through narrowed eyes and slowly said, "Two of the lamps on Spark Street are broken."
"And one on Grand End," Wendy murmured, looking at her hands.
"One in Binder's Circle and two in front of the Zaleon Scriptorium," Rogue grunted.
Sting shrugged. "None in Light District."
Natsu nodded in agreement. "Same here."
"Makes my job easier," Gajeel replied shortly, crossing his arms. "What about you, Toxic?"
"None are broken, but a dragon on the north docks has started to rust."
"Wonderful." Scowling, Gajeel swung his feet off the table and stood. "I'll go take care of it, and there are new lamps in the chest. Change 'em when you light up tomorrow night." He nodded to the heavy, intricate box by where their cloaks hung and strode to the door.
The lamplighters watched him leave, and Sting shook his head. "What is that guy's deal?"
"Let him be, he and Metalicana didn't get on well," Rogue murmured. He shrugged when they all looked to him for an explanation. "I dunno, I'm pretty sure the old man was a jackass." He leaned back in his chair, a bored expression crossing his features. "It's none of my business, just as long as he keeps making lamps."
…
If one looked closely, one might be able to tell that there was a method to the madness in Gajeel Redfox's workshop. Piles of scrap metal dotted the room, along with several slender steel tools strewn across the floor and scraps without a proper home peppered the floorboards. In the center of the room was a clear space, beside a small pile of smooth scale-like pieces and a larger pile of discarded scales flawed by some miniscule imperfection. A small iron dragon, like the lamps but without the glass orb, curled like a sleeping kitten in the center of the clearing, its face deformed just above its left eye. Its cold iron sides glimmered in the candlelight, a heavy, unmoving lump.
The burly lamplighter─or rather, lampmaker─stomped into his workshop and plunked himself down in the clear space, scooping up the iron dragon. "You're in my spot, Lily," Gajeel growled. He set the sculpture in his lap and reached for a hunk of metal, beginning to shape it in his hands.
The iron dragon yawned and cuddled closer to the lampmaker. Gajeel smiled faintly and reached for one of his tools.
[A/N]: So yeah if you think I should continue, please tell me! This first chapter was kinda like a practice for me in writing descriptions; did I do a great/good/decent/meh/shit job?
Okay, I think that's all I got. Happy reading, please review!