The morning sunlight shone through the large open window, waking Levy from her slumber. She stretched and yawned before sighing in relief. Her blue hair was a mess, making her look like Medusa and sleep still lingered in her eyes. But with a rub of her eyes and one final yawn, she smiled as she felt a wave of energy hit her.
The petite women jumped up and made her bed then walked over to the large wardrobe. It was where she got her night gown and she was curious to see if there was anything else in it. When she opened the large double doors, she gasped. Inside was every color of dress imaginable. They were all beautifully crafted and elegant. Her fingers ran over the silky fabrics in awe.
"These are amazing," she breathed and smiled. She heard a snort and turned to see Gajeel sticking his head inside the castle. He snorted again as his eyes forced on the orange dress in her hands.
"These are amazing. Do you did you get them?" she asked curiously. She didn't think he could but then again, most people didn't think dragons even existed so anything could be possible at this point.
Gajeel shook his head no.
Levy frowned. "Oh…well these are amazing. I love them," she grinned then. She realized she couldn't thank the person who put them here. The young maiden could tell they weren't old or here since the castle was built. If that was the case, they would have been more tattered and warn.
"Are they to your liking princess?" a mysterious, deep voice asking. Levy spun to find the source of the voice but found nothing. She looked to Gajeel confused to find the dragon glaring hard at something behind her. Turning, she saw a small black cat.
"Was that you?" she asked, crouching down to be more eye level with the cat. The cat's eyes seemed to grow wide like it got caught doing something naughty.
"Meow," the cat said but it was far from natural.
"A talking cat? Wow that's amazing!" Levy cried out and picked up the feline, turning around in her hands. "How did you learn to speak? Is it some spell? This is amazing!" the bluenette cooed in delight.
A blush sprouted on the cats face. "Milady, p-please put me down," he asked.
"Oh I'm sorry," she apologized with a blush and smiled, still fascinated.
"Thank you," he said with a small smile. "I indeed did have a spell put on my Milady and I have been this way for as long as I can remember. My name is Pantherlily. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said politely, bowing even as he stood on two feet to do so.
Levy couldn't help but giggle at the cute sight. He was too precious. "Were you the one who got those dresses for me?" she asked, beaming.
"Yes that was me," he said. The little cat was about to say more but he was too stunned to speak his next words. Levy leaned down and placed a little kiss of his furry cheek.
"Thank you Lily. I really appreciate it," she said truthfully.
Pantherlily turned red as he stammered out a "you're welcome,"
Gajeel, who had watched the whole thing, snorted angrily. It was because of him that the blasted cat had got those dresses! He commanded that Lily go buy her some dresses that night so she could have pretty things to wear and now that little cat was taking the credit! And damn good credit too!
"So is there anything else you can do besides talk Pantherlily?" she asked curious, her orange dress picked up again after she set the feline down.
"Why don't you get dressed Milady and then I can show you," Lily said with a smile and turned away like Gajeel so the new addition could change.
After meeting Lily, and seeing his other, taller form, the duo spent the day together around the castle. Lily would help her get some of the books that were out of her reach or help her even clean up the abandon castle. Gajeel would keep a silent yet watchful eye on them both throughout the day.
Days turned to weeks and those weeks turned to months. Levy had now stayed in the castle for about 3 months and honestly, she had enjoyed every second. The fact that she wasn't eaten was the biggest bonus of all. Truthfully, Levy really loved the company of the two creatures who were in her life. Lily did the talking for both him and Gajeel and even though Gajeel was minimal with conversation, they could still communicate and she found it comical to see the dragon get frustrated when she didn't understand and have to have Lily translate.
There was one thing that was a little heart breaking however. Levy was never allowed to leave the castle. Sure, the garden was outside the castle (which was now looking wonderful thanks to her and Lily's hard work) but she was still trapped within the concrete walls surrounding the castle grounds. She was starting to miss the outside world and when you had a stubborn dragon as your capture, it was hard to convince him otherwise.
This time she was determined to change that however. In a red dress today, which happened to be modified so it was easier for her to move, she looked at Gajeel who was sitting and shooting fire at Lily while the large cat dodged and tried to attack the beast. Training they called it.
"Gajeel," she called in a sweet voice. The dragon stopped and slowly turned to her, instantly knowing the bluenette had something up her sleeve.
"Can we go outside the castle? Pretty please?" she begged, looking at him with puppy dog eyes. Gajeel growled at glared at her.
"Please? I haven't see the outside world in 3 months. 3 whole months, Gajeel. I want to feel something other than concrete and stone under my feet. The garden isn't enough. Please it's all I ask," she insisted, her eyes welding slightly with tears. "Even if it's only for an hour. Just to see something different than these four walls,"
Gajeel saw her eyes build with tears and he felt himself crumble. He couldn't stand to see her cry. The dragon felt too guilty to see her sad. Her smile was all he wanted to see. With a deep sigh, he held his clawed hand out to her and looked at her.
Levy didn't need to be told twice and she squealed with joy and jumped on his hand.
"Oh thank you Gajeel! Thank you, thank you, thank you," she exclaimed happily, hugging his hand and then kissing the side of his snout when she got close to his face and sat on his neck. Gajeel just grunted and ignored her, but on the inside, he was happy to see her smile again. Lily jumped up and then Gajeel took off.
The winged beast soared across the blue skies and Levy couldn't help but laugh. Feeling the wind through her hair, seeing the ground a blur beneath her feet; nothing, no words could explain that feeling well enough. The best word she could think of was free.
"This is amazing!" she screamed and cackled. Gajeel shook his head at her silly screaming but he was happy that she was smiling. It made his heart swell with joy.
They only seemed to fly for about 10 minutes before they were over a large, lush green forest. Gajeel guided then downwards into a little open area as Lily and Levy got off. Levy looked around and noticed there were many berry bushes and fruit trees. They landed in an excellent place.
Gajeel sat down and watched over them as Levy bounced from bush to bush, tasting the plants little treats. "These are all so good! Here try some!" she insisted, holding out a small pile of large strawberries to Gajeel. The large beast bent down and held out his tongue. Levy set the fruit on his tongue and waited to see his reaction.
Gajeel ate the fruit in one swallow and hummed as the sweetness rolled down his throat. They were actually very good. The perfect sweetness.
"Good huh?" the young maiden beamed, going to go eat more herself. Gajeel grunted in agreement then just watched her and smiled on the inside. He never knew someone could get as excited about something as simple as berries. She had plenty in the castle but it was the fact that she was outside; away from the castle and back into the real world that made things that much more enjoyable. The little maiden continued to amaze him.
As Levy and Pantherlily continued to hunt, the cat nearly passed out when he saw a certain tree. It was a kiwifruit tree and those happened to be the cat's favorite fruit. Instantly, he was in his larger form and gathering the delicious green fruit, his eyes sparkling.
"Do you like kiwi?" Levy asked as she came up behind Lily. He turned around and nodded, all while still picking more of the fruit.
"Yes Milday. I love this fruit…probably more than I should," he admitted with a faint blush on his cheeks. Gajeel snorted behind then and rolled his eyes. The fruit was like cat nip the Pantherlily. Levy giggled then started to look around. Since the fruit had a fuzzy, gross outside, she would need something to cut it. That was when she noticed Lily's sword.
"Lily, why don't you change sizes? I can use your small sword to cut the kiwi up and then you can eat to your heart's content," she beamed, going to sit on a nearby log as she waited for Lily to change. Pantherlily had never changed so fast in all his life. The little feline grabbed as many kiwis from his pile has his tiny arms could carry before he hoped on Levy's lap and beamed up at her.
The bluenette smiled and started to peel a kiwi, feeding it to the precious cat on her lap. Lily purred in content as he ate joyously. He couldn't remember the last time he had the little green fruit and he was savoring ever piece. Levy even stole a bite or two for herself and smile. It was a rather tasty little treat.
Gajeel watched the two and the more he watched, the more he didn't like it. He was jealous of all the attention Lily was getting from Levy. Sure it might have been a little childish, after all he was just a cat, but it was the way Levy's eyes seemed to sparkle that made him jealous. He wanted that look at him and him only. He wanted to feel her delicate fingers run through his hair. Hear her musical laughter in his ear. See the twinkle in her eyes up close….
His head gave a violent shake as he blushed (thankfully it wasn't noticeable in his dragon form). What the hell had brought on all these thoughts? She was supposed to be his captive; his prisoner and yet, he found he was almost a prisoner himself. It was getting harder and harder to deny her every request and he found that his heart picked up a little whenever she smiled at him. She was beginning to have him wrapped around her little finger.
Suddenly, Lily let out a very loud purr as the feline rubbed his head against Levy. The little cat just happened to be rubbing his head against her chest. Levy paid it no mind however and kept feeding him. That was the last straw.
Gajeel growled and used his pointed tail to lift Pantherlily off Levy by the kittens little shorts he wore. Pantherlily shouted and screamed, asking what was going on but he got no response from the dragon. After Lily was put onto his back, the mythical creature looked at Levy, telling her with his eyes that it was time to go.
Levy nodded, smiled and crawled onto his back once again, but not before giving Gajeel another kiss on his snout.
The sun had long ago set and Gajeel was currently sitting in his room, one that was at the very top of the castle and hidden from the young maiden. He was brooding and pouting from today's events.
"Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?" Pantherlily asked as he looked at his friend.
"Nothing is wrong," the man growled, but obviously there was.
"We both know you suck at lying. You have been acting like a scourge ever since we got back. What is up your ass?" Lily exclaimed.
"I was jealous of you, you stupid cat!" Gajeel finally snapped, looking away as part of his appearance changed. It happened whenever he was angry or upset. His body sort of started to encase itself in scales. It could be considered his body defense meconium. He started to look like a humanoid dragon of sorts.
"Jealous? Of me? What for?" the clueless cat asked.
Gajeel looked away stubbornly, not saying anything as more scales grew.
"Gajeel," Pantherlily pressed, using a stern voice. Honestly, it was like a parent talking to a child sometimes.
"I was jealous of all the attention you were getting from Levy alright? Happy now you nosey cat," he tall man grumbled in embarrassment. Lily waited for a moment before the feline burst out laughing.
"Seriously? That's why you're pouting?" he laughed and smirked.
"Shut up!" Gajeel growled.
"You're falling for her aren't you?" Lily asked, smiling.
Gajeel didn't retort right away. "Don't be stupid. Why would I fall for someone like her?" he muttered. He was not falling for her. He simply just didn't like all the attention the cat was getting. Right?
Pantherlily scoffed. "Whatever you say Gajeel. But I know she's growing on you. She's different so don't mess up and loose her alright?" the cat said before leaving his friend to himself.
Gajeel growled at the feline but soon, he was left alone with just his thoughts. Was he truly falling for the young women? He honestly hoped not because it would only hurt him in the end.
Ok so here is Chapter 3. I apologize for the long wait. I've been swamped with school work before my break here but I hope this makes up for it! Please tell me what you think! I appreciate your comments so much!