AN: HAH, did I say I'd wait until Hard Liquor was finished? I guess I did, but then I sit on a throne of lies, so you shouldn't be surprised. I don't know what to say other than that my inspiration grabbed me and wouldn't let go, so I threw this in for an extra treat for you this week.
Warning: This is an AU, so I will take my share of artistic liberties regarding the plot.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters – Hiro Mashima does. Cover image by Rae.
Chapter 2
"I'll do it."
Several pairs of eyes turned towards her in surprise as the words left her mouth; ringing loud and clear across the cavern-like room. The lit torches on the walls flickered softly in the dark, and cast a warm glow over the heads of the people gathered. The room had gone silent as a tomb at her declaration, but despite her sudden thrust into the limelight, Levy held her stance; shoulders squared and chin lifted high. Her words hadn't been a mistake. She'd meant them, and she wasn't taking them back.
"Levy..." Erza was the first to break the stunned silence, but she didn't say anything else. At the head of the large stone table, on which several maps of Fiore lay spread out, she watched with the furrowed set to her brows that seemed to be a permanent feature on her face most days. Her dark eyes looked troubled, but Levy met them unflinchingly with her own from her side of the table.
"I'll do it," she repeated then, when no one else spoke. Placing her hands down onto the table, she brushed her fingers against the map nearest to herself, over the elegant scrawl that marked the location of Blue Pegasus' old guild. The map was torn in several places – a testament of the fate it had suffered before they'd gotten their hands on it, but it was a beautiful overview of their beloved homeland. Delicately penned and with more details than the crude renditions – some of their own making – that lay beneath and above it, it looked more like a piece of art than a map.
Levy drew in a deep breath, before releasing it. Lifting her gaze, she met Erza's again. "I'll retrieve the scrolls."
A quiet murmur broke out around her, and she let her eyes travel amongst those gathered at the meeting. A blend of her old guildmates, Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale. Formerly of different guilds, but now gathered under the banner of survival. They were mages of Fiore first and foremost, Haven's residents and protectors second. That was all that mattered – the individual guild emblems were but pretty reminders of the life they were fighting to bring back. The fight she'd made her choice to join, weeks ago.
Most of those gathered at the summit were watching her; some in surprise at her daring suggestion, while others looked more wary than anything. Not everyone had been on retrieval missions – to loot the towns and guilds that had once been theirs but that now lay in ruins across the country. Those that had been knew the risks – knew what awaited whatever party left the safety of a sanctuary for the unforgiving scrutiny of the open skies. They were missions promising defeat rather than success, but that didn't make them any less necessary. They went beyond S-class, too, but then the ranking system of the past had no meaning in their perilous present, where even stepping outside for fresh air was a risk.
Levy didn't know what it was like. Other than her trek across the country from Refuge to Haven with Gajeel, she had spent almost all her time in the underground caves or beneath the shelter of the mountain. She'd become used to the safety of a roof over her head; the heavy stones of Haven keeping them cut off from the dangers of the eyes of the sky. She didn't know what it was like, travelling for days and days with the knowledge that any minute could be her last. She'd had a taste of it, and it hadn't exactly made her eager to repeat the experience.
But her reluctance didn't erase the fact that she was needed on this mission, whether anyone liked it or not.
No one seemed eager to break the silence that had settled once again, and Levy sighed. They all knew that this was how it had to be, but if she had to say it out loud to drive the truth home, so be it. "Someone needs to go that can decipher the scrolls there, so we know they're the ones we need and don't end up bringing back things we can't use; the mission is too dangerous to make mistakes. And the guild is bound to have a lot of scriptures, but without someone who can properly read them, you'll spend days just going through them all. And Fried is needed here to keep the force field up – he can't go. That leaves me. And I am willing to go."
"Fried is not the only rune mage valued in this shelter, Levy," Erza said then. "The barriers aren't solely his doing; they are yours just as much." She turned her eyes back to the maps before her, hands tightening where they gripped the edge of the table. She sighed. "But you are right – one of you must go with the retrieval party."
"And I'm prepared to do it."
Erza looked at her for a long moment, as though turning the decision over in her mind, but she knew just as well as Levy did what choice had to be made. Even if she'd helped with the shields, they were Fried's specialty, and losing him would be fatal to Haven. Levy had to be the one to go; in this dilemma she was necessary as well as expendable. An unfortunate paradox, but there wasn't anything she could do about that.
Finally, Erza nodded, a rueful smile tugging at her lips. "Very well. That makes one. But who will go with her?" she asked, gaze shifting between the people gathered around the table. Levy knew Erza well enough to know that she wanted nothing more than to go herself, just like with every retrieval mission they had issued so far. But she also knew Erza well enough to know that she knew her place, and that was in Haven, making sure those who lived there were safe.
"I will," Laxus spoke up then, from where he was leaning against the wall by the door. Pushing away from it, he walked towards the table, eyes on the redhead. "You'll need a dragonslayer, with what's waiting out there. And I've travelled this region enough to know my way around."
Jellal hummed low in his throat. "A valid point, although you're currently the only dragonslayer stationed here. Sending you off might prove perilous for those who remain."
"Not necessarily."
Levy turned her head to regard Cana, who had spoken. "Got word this mornin' that shadow boy is on his way," she drawled, shifting her weight to her hip as she leaned against the table.
"Rogue Cheney?" Jellal asked, brows raising. "I was led to believe he was going south with the others."
Cana shrugged. "Messenger wasn't very specific; said they'd divided their forces to make it more even between the shelters. We've already got Gajeel and Natsu going south, and kiddo's in Refuge. One more dragonslayer here won't do any harm, considering how many people live here compared to the others shelters."
Erza nodded. "Then Laxus will go with Levy. Who else?"
Cana smirked, lifting a hand to run it through her hair. "Well, can't send a girl off on her own with Mr. Talkative over there; she'll bore herself silly." Meeting Levy's gaze, she winked. "I'll go with 'em."
Erza nodded, turning to Ichiya beside her, uncharacteristically silent as he surveyed the maps before him. Sensing her eyes on him, he looked up. "We should avoid sending too big a party," Erza said. "Four will do. Now we only need one who knows where the scrolls are located within the guild."
Hibiki raised a hand from further down the table. "I know where they are, and I can use my magic to transfer whatever we find between us," he declared, a determined set to his brows. His companions beside him remained silent, but their eyes were dark and downcast, and Levy's eyes softened as she noticed the grip Jenny had on his hand where it hung at his side. No doubt they'd known he'd volunteer when Erza had first brought it up.
"Then that settles it," Erza said, raising her gaze and meeting Levy's from across the table, before letting it travel amongst those gathered. "Levy, Laxus, Cana and Hibiki. The four of you will go east at daybreak tomorrow; with luck you'll reach the guild in two days. Levy, your job will be to decipher the scrolls on the scene, and then bring back those Fried requested and whichever ones you deem important. The rest of you will make sure her work is not hindered."
Levy nodded, and the action was echoed by the others. Cana met her gaze across the table, and sent her another wink for good measure, to which she returned a tentative smile. Erza inhaled deeply as she pulled back from the table, letting her hands rest heavily against the surface. Then, with a determined light rekindling in her eyes, she raised her head.
"I don't need to remind any of you of the danger that awaits you outside. If you encounter a dragon, Laxus will assess whether or not you are capable of taking it out together. If you encounter more than one, you run. You will not split up before you reach your destination, and then only if you are within hearing distance of each other, or if it is crucial for your survival. You are hereby a team, and will support each other when needed. However, I will not demand you die together. If you can escape, then do it. Your circumstances will no doubt decide the best course of action. I'll expect you back in a week; if I hear nothing, we will assume the worst. In the event of this, there will not be dispatched a team to search for you." Levy saw the skin around her eyes tighten at the last remark, and knew how much it hurt her to say it. She also knew that Erza would no doubt like nothing more than to go out herself if they didn't come back, but the responsibility on her shoulders and the lives of all those who lived in Haven did not allow for the rescue of four mages, no matter how dear. They all knew this; not just those who had accepted the mission, but also those who would be left behind to wait.
It was a burden for them all to carry.
"Have I made myself clear?" Erza asked then, after a heavy lull. Her question left no room for argument, and a ripple of brusque nods was her answer. She returned the gestures with a nod of her own. "This meeting is adjourned," she said then. "Prepare for your journey, and make whatever arrangements you need. You leave at daybreak." Then she turned to stride out of the room, and Jellal followed at her heels, their voices too low for Levy to hear as her eyes followed them out of the room.
She inhaled deeply, unclenching her trembling fingers where her they hung rigid at her sides. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, and she was certain Laxus could hear it from across the room, but he only offered her a undecipherable nod as he turned to follow the others. She shook her head to settle her nerves, before following suit.
On her way out, Cana caught up with her. "Heya, girlie. Ready for an adventure?"
She shook her head. "No. Are you?"
Cana smirked. "Nah. I ain't no dragon killer, but staying cooped up in here's making me loony. I need some fresh air."
"Fresh air has got quite a high price these days."
Cana snorted. "Yeah, well, you know what they say – if you're willing to pay..."
Levy smiled as they walked together down the curving corridor. "What would Gildarts say if he knew you were going outside?"
Cana barked a laugh. "What, Pops? The old geezer who's been chasing dragons for the past few decades? Please. Don't think he'll be surprised – hell, might even be proud, the weirdo. If he throws a fit though, he's one helluva hypocrite."
"You're worried about him."
Cana snorted, but averted her gaze to the sloping staircase looming at the end of the corridor. "Yeah, well. Haven't heard a word in six months. But then that's his way, I guess." She shot Levy a sidelong look. "How 'bout you, doll? Heard anythin' from yer man?"
Levy tried to force a smile on her face, but gave up. "Not since he left. But he can take care of himself." That was the mantra she'd been clinging to for the past three months since his departure, but it did little to ease the worry that wore at her heart more and more with every passing day.
"Aye, he can. They all can – those who went south."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Averting her gaze to the floor, Levy felt her pace grind to a halt as an image flashed before her eyes – a bright smile framed by golden hair. She hadn't seen Lucy since the start of everything. Or the end, if she was being cynical. Was she even alive? Were any of them alive? Sending messengers was hard; only a few people dared to run between the shelters, so any word about what was going on in the other sanctuaries was rare. Juvia had sent a messenger from Refuge two days ago, and things were going well there. The same went for Haven's sister-shelter on the other side of the mountains.
But as for those who'd gone south...
Cana gave her shoulder a rough slap that nearly sent her stumbling, and Levy choked as the breath was knocked clean from her lungs. "C'mon! That's enough worryin' for a lifetime – sheesh, we've got worse things to be concerned about. Big, hulking, winged things, to be more specific. You gonna run from drakes with that sad look on yer face? Hate ta break it to ya, girlie, but I don't think you'll get much sympathy thereabouts."
And despite the direction her thoughts had taken, Levy couldn't keep the laugh from bubbling forth. "What, have you tried?" she teased, feeling her spirits lift a bit at Cana's easy attitude.
The brunette grinned. "Nah, but I'm bettin' if anything could do it, it'd be those eyes," she said, giving Levy's forehead a playful poke, and she was momentarily reminded of Gajeel. She grasped onto the feeling greedily, lest it slip from her memory. She returned Cana's smile, and allowed her eyes to linger on the bright eyes of the rowdy mage. There were no shadows behind them, as was the case with many of the others.
"How do you do it?" she asked then, as they began up the stairs towards the part of the shelter that housed most of its residents. The living quarters weren't much in the way of luxury, but they'd done what they could to make them as hospitable as possible. For the children, if anything.
Cana quirked a curious brow. "Do what? Keep up my smashing appearance with such limited resources? It's all natural, baby." She grinned at Levy. "Nah, I know what you mean. I guess if we all went moody and depressed nothing would ever get done. And it's not in the Fairy Tail spirit, y'know? I know we're not separated into guilds anymore, but it ain't something that just goes away. The mark is in here," she patted her chest, just above her heart, "not just on yer skin. And whoever heard of a Fairy Tail mage giving up, anyway?" She snorted. "Give me some credit, dollface."
Levy shook her head, unable to keep the smile off her face, despite the dark thoughts lingering at the back of her mind. "I'm glad you're coming along," she said then.
Cana laughed. "Of course you are!" she declared, throwing an arm around Levy's shoulders as they continued their trek up the stairs. "Like I said; you'd be bored out of yer mind with only Laxus fer company. He ain't one for smalltalk, lemme tell ya. Not that pretty boy's any better, the perv! Oh, but do I have some stories to tell ya! Ya know when we first split up, months and months ago, and there wasn't that many girls in this place before it expanded..."
Levy only grinned as she listened, and for the moment pushed all thoughts about the mission to the back of her mind. For now, she would be content to listen to Cana's easy chatter. It was a relic of their old life that she hadn't thought she'd missed, but now that she listened to the outrageous stories spilling from the brunette's lips, she felt a refreshing hope rekindle in the pit of her stomach. This was what they were fighting for – this sense of normalcy that had been ripped from them when their world and everything they knew had been turned on its head. This was why they were struggling to survive; this remnant of a treasured peace that seemed more like a dream each day that passed with the turning of a sun they rarely ever saw. And for this, she would leave the sheltered walls that kept her safe.
Even if it meant risking her life.
It took them three days to reach the ruins of Blue Pegasus.
They had known, of course, upon setting out from Haven, that Erza's estimation had been wishful thinking. The forests and grasslands covering the region between the shelter and the former guild was infested with dragons who'd made the looming mountains spanning the length of their journey their nesting grounds. There hadn't been an hour without the shrilling shriek of a drake piercing the air, although they had made the journey undetected, thanks to Laxus. With a keener sense than the rest of them, he had guided them towards the guild with Hibiki's directions, but to avoid any encounters they had been forced to take more than one detour, stopping only when absolutely necessary and making camp only once, in an old abandoned cave much too close to the nesting grounds for Levy's comfort. But Laxus had deemed it safe, and they hadn't had any trouble, although she'd barely slept a wink. From there it had gone almost surprisingly smoothly – to the point where she'd been certain a dragon was about to leap down at them at every turn of the path. It had almost driven her mad; the paranoia that had settled in her mind. And she knew it had been the same for the others – at least for Cana and Hibiki. It was hard to tell with Laxus, being so aloof even with death lurking at every corner.
But they had made it – all four of them, and unscathed. The first leg of their journey was over, and now the ruins of Blue Pegasus lay before them. And though it wasn't her guild, Levy shared Hibiki's sorrow as they gazed upon the decaying building. But it wasn't just a building. Any mage who had a shred of honour and love for their guild would agree to that. It had once been a home and a sanctuary – for many the only one they knew. Now, it was an empty shell of charred stone; the once great dome rising majestically on the second floor only a skeleton that looked ready to crumble to pieces any minute. The stained glass windows were all broken, and the staircase leading up to the main entrance was missing most of its steps. All over was the mark of their adversaries – deep fissures from the sharp claws of some, and the charred signatures of others.
Inhaling deeply, Levy placed a hand on Hibiki's arm, and he startled at the touch, before shooting her a brief smile. "Thank you," he murmured, and she smiled back – or tried to. It was hard, standing where they were. She hadn't been to Magnolia, but those that had were unwilling to speak about what they had seen, and that told her all she needed to know. More than she needed, even. She didn't even want think about the state of her old home, or her guild.
"The coast is clear," Laxus said from beside them then, nodding towards the building. "Let's move in while we've got the cover of darkness."
Nodding, Levy adjusted her bag about her shoulders and secured the hood of her jacket over her head, before following suit. Hibiki took the lead of their little procession, and Cana flanked it, leaving Levy in the middle along with the dragonslayer, who loomed at her side like a dark wall. Neither of them said anything as they approached the stairs, and at Hibiki's signal, they ascended still in silence. One of the front doors hung desolate to the side, torn halfway off its great hinges and leaving the way open for them. With Hibiki before them, they proceeded inside, until they were all gathered in what had once been the grand foyer. Some of the tension that had settled between them loosened a little – the sensation was almost palpable, and Levy breathed deeply, feeling as though a weight on her chest had suddenly loosened. It was a false sense of security, of course, offered by the partly concealing roof, and she tried not to feel too comfortable. Nothing was safe topside – if she forgot that, she was as good as dead. So she shook off the sense of comfort and steeled herself. Anything could lurk in the ruins of a guild where traces of magic were still strong in the air, and it didn't have to be dragons.
Hibiki turned around then, and she could see he was trying not to look too closely at the ravaged remains of his old home. "Most of our valuable scriptures and scrolls are located in the basement, but there are a handful upstairs, as well as some in the Master's office at this floor. We'll be within hearing range, so I propose we split up for this, as it will save us time. I'll take the Master's office." He looked at Laxus, who nodded towards the staircase leading upstairs.
"Cana can take the second floor. That leaves the basement to Levy, who's the most likely to know what she's looking for. I'll keep guard outside."
Cana looked at Levy. "You gonna be okay downstairs, girlie?"
Levy nodded. "Yes. I'll call if anything happens."
"That goes for everyone," Laxus added, as he moved towards the door. "Try to be done before daybreak – I'd like us to be back in the forest before the sun rises." And with that, he slipped back outside.
Levy turned to Hibiki. "Are there any spells on the doors downstairs?"
"There should be, but going by the state of the place, I don't think they withstood whatever attacked it." An edge crept into his voice at his words, and her eyes softened. She tried to smile.
"I'll try to salvage what I can," she said, hoping to convey more than her words would allow. I know it's not just paper scrolls for you. I'll take whatever piece of your home that I can carry.
He quirked a smile at that, and some of his usual good humour broke through the grief. He nodded. "I'll see you in a few hours, then. Call if you need my help for anything."
Levy nodded, turning to Cana, who gave her a grin and a wink. "Good luck, dollface. Let's hope the worst things that greets ya down there are rats and spiders."
"Thank you for the reassurance," Levy retorted dryly.
Cana merely grinned, waving a hand as she began her ascent to the second floor. "Yer welcome!"
Shaking her head, Levy drew a deep breath, before turning her attention to the stone staircase plunging into the darkness of the basement below.
You've gotten this far; what could possibly be worse down there than what's outside?
She began by picking her way down slowly, feeling around with her feet in case some of the stones were likely to fall out from beneath her. The steps curved downwards, but she couldn't see the bottom from where she was standing, and the further down she ventured, the darker it got. The basement wasn't underground, so what greeted her wasn't damp earthen walls but instead crumbling and charred stone rising on either side of her. Straining her eyes against the darkness, she fumbled for her pen, before writing a simple word. In an instant a small, dim light popped up before her, hovering beside her face and lighting her path enough for her to see where she placed her feet.
When she'd finally made it all the way down, she nudged the light a little higher so she could see her surroundings more clearly, and found that most of the furthest wall of the guild was missing – the stones seemingly torn out from the structure of the building. In its stead was a gaping hole of darkness leading outside, and Levy felt a shiver run up her spine, feeling uncomfortably exposed. Clenching her trembling fingers into fists, she turned her gaze away from the missing wall, and lifted her light up to take in the rest of the basement.
A doorway loomed at her immediate right, and venturing inside, she discovered a myriad of trinkets and strange objects on shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling. All guilds had their treasure troves, and she figured this had to be Blue Pegasus'. Or what remains of it, she thought as she backed out of the room. She was looking for scrolls, not trinkets, and it made her heart hurt looking at it; the collection gathered over the years by the members and Masters of Blue Pegasus.
Don't think about it. Think about the scripts you're looking for. You're here for a reason, and it's not to reminisce.
The ground floor of the guild was even bigger than Fairy Tail's had been, and without the light she would have been completely lost. She had to venture quite far into the darkness to reach the door of the library, which wasn't so much a door as it was a missing wall. And as she held up her light this time she couldn't help the tremor of excitement that raced through her at the sight of the bookshelves covering the walls before her and to her left. It looked surprisingly undamaged, compared to the rest of the guild and the room with the treasures, and she suppressed a sound of joy as she bent to examine the nearest shelf. Rows of tomes and smaller books lined the space before her; dust-covered but otherwise intact, and her fingers itched as she reached for the nearest one. This was a trove of her preference; books on magic and spells gathered since Blue Pegasus' inception. It had to rival Fairy Tail's old library, she was sure, and felt an odd sense of regret that she wasn't looking at it in its former glory, when the room must have been quite a sight. She could have spent hours just browsing–
Her thoughts halted, along with her excitement. The reminder that she didn't have much time struck her like a physical blow, and she sucked in a breath, feeling a little ashamed at her previous delight. It was neither the time nor the place for enjoyment, however long it had been since she'd been in a real library. Shaking her head to bring herself back into focus, she adjusted her light so it hovered at eye level, before she got down to business.
She had to have spent a good hour on the shelf before her, and she'd only found one scroll that looked like it might be useful, when the sound of a deep rumble suddenly rippled through the room, and she froze, hand halting against the spine of an old tome. Her breath and her heart had lodged in the base of her throat at the sound, because she didn't have to be an expert on the species to recognize it for what it was. She'd been so absorbed with the books she'd found, she hadn't even checked to see if the library was empty. The only light was the one hovering before her, and that only allowed her to see what was right in front of her face; the rest of the great room was shrouded in darkness, and considering the sheer height of the ceiling she shouldn't have been surprised a dragon had made the place its lair. Dragons hoarded, after all, and the library and the treasure room were full of trinkets to catch a drake's fancy.
Don't breathe don't breathe don't breathe stay quiet and don't breathe.
The fear that had caught hold of her was crippling, but instead of bolting for the exit and screaming for the others, Levy remained completely still, crouched as she was in front of the lower compartment of the shelf before her. A cold sweat like no other had broken out across her back, and her hands shook so much she had to tuck them into her stomach to keep them still. In the silence she could now clearly pick out the steady, rumbling breaths of the beast somewhere behind her in the darkness, and she felt sick to her stomach with hysterical terror. Was this how she was supposed to go? Torn to pieces in a library? It was probably fitting, in a morbid way, that her inability to keep her focus in the presence of so many books should be the death of her. And the others above her, who wouldn't know what hit them because of her inattention.
And then there was Gajeel, who she'd never see again. What if he came back to Haven, to find her gone? Out on a fool's errand, because she wanted to be useful? Her lungs burned from holding her breath, and tears leaked down the sides of her face. She felt like sobbing, but stubbornly pushed back the urge. She'd come this far – she wouldn't just hand herself over on a platter. Like Cana had said – who'd ever heard of a Fairy Tail mage giving up, anyway?
As she tried to calm the heart hammering against her ribcage, realization suddenly struck her that it hadn't attacked yet. In fact, it hadn't done anything. She frowned, and then a thought crept into her mind, along with a surge of hope that crashed through her system so forcibly she almost choked on it. Maybe it was asleep, and hadn't detected her presence yet. Maybe she could get past it and warn the others without waking it.
Please let it be asleep. Please let it be asleep. Please let it be asleep.
Rising to her feet with the most care she could summon, trembling like a leaf and two seconds away from emptying her stomach all over the floor, Levy backed away slowly towards the gaping entrance of the room. Waving a trembling hand, the light vanished before her, shrouding her completely in darkness, and panic leaped against her with enough force to make her cry out, but she bit it back by biting down hard on her bottom lip. She could hear it so clearly now – how, how had she missed it? The heavy breathing – the low rumbling like rolling thunder in the distance. How?
Clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle any unintentional sounds, she slowly turned around until she was facing the gaping exit, and her steps were measured and as quiet as she could make them against the stone floor as she walked. She felt the sweat that had broken out on her brow run down her face, mingling with her tears before pooling at her collar. If it wasn't asleep, it would have surely picked up the scent of fear and sweat and tears from a mile away. Please be asleep. Please be asleep. Please be–
"Not so fast, little one."
She nearly screamed at the sound – the booming voice that seemed to reverberate through the floor beneath her as well the very bones in her body. It caught in her throat instead, and she choked, clamping her eyes shut as she prepared for the worst–
–little one? Confusion pushed through her fear to the forefront of her mind. A dragon would never approach a human with the intent to communicate, let alone in the human tongue. Everything she had seen of the winged menaces governing the skies of Fiore had taught her that much. Were her ears deceiving her? She'd heard it speak.
Instinct told her to run, but her curiosity thrummed within her, rooting her feet to the ground before she could make a break for the exit. With wary control, she shifted her weight, turning around slowly to where the voice had come from. And with a conviction she didn't even know she could summon, she lifted her pen to rekindle her light, making it brighter than before, and lifting it so she could get a better look at the creature that loomed before her in the darkness.
Levy what are you doing this is a mistake this is a mistake are you crazy you'll get yourself killed why aren't you calling for help–
The gasp that tore from her throat cut through the silence like a knife, and her whirlwind of thoughts screeched to a halt as recognition slammed against her like a physical wall. Dark scales gleamed in the dim glow of her fairy light, rippling sharp as edged blades along a curving tail and a ridged back. Keen eyes regarded her, bright even in the dark shadows that seemed to cling to the great hulking shape, and an amused rumble rolled through the creature, shaking the floor beneath her. And although she'd only heard his name in the occasional story, she didn't need more to know who she was looking at.
It can't be–
Her voice stuck in her throat as the words forced themselves out past her lips.
"Metalicana?"
AN: Intrigued yet?