A/N: I never imagined I will get this chapter done so fast. Thank you all for your support. Special thanks to my editors (my tumblr friends): whereisthefood123 and silvermidnightprincess .
Chapter three: The mission
Knock! Knock! A gentle thud hit the door two times. The sound didn't go unheard for the dragonslayer and the exceed inside the room.
"Oi Lily, get the door. I'm still fighting with this stupid suit." Gajeel said irritated.
"On my way." Lily got up and made his way to the door. He was astonished by the sight that greeted him.
"Ughh! I don't understand this fancy shit!" Gajeel complained while fighting with the tie and sleeves. "Hey, Lil'. Who's there? You're quieter than usual."
"I can help you." Her lovely voice reached his ears and he turned around quickly.
Gajeel was startled. Levy was looking gorgeous. The beautiful golden necklace stood out on her skin and made beautiful contrast with her hair. "Different." He murmured.
She got closer to him. "What?" She asked curiously.
"You look different." He let her tie the buttons and fix his tie.
"Do I look bad?" She said without looking up at him. She tucked some strands of hair behind her ear and continued helping Gajeel with the sleeves. "There you have it. You're all done." She gave him a smile. "Looks like Mister Yasu did a research about me and about how I identify myself as a Fairy Tail mage, right?" She laughed nervously. "Apparently the stylist took it a little too far." She let her hair rest on her right shoulder. "I look so weird with my hair straightened, and without my bandana." She said a little insecure.
Lily, who was behind her noticed something. "What happened to your guild mark?"
Levy turned around and looked at Lily."Oh, that? They covered it up with makeup."
"Lil' is killing the look. But me, I'm looking like that faggot." Gajeel grumbled.
"I think you should put your hair up in a bun." Lily mocked.
"This suit is more than enough." Gajeel grunted.
"At least you look like your usual self. As for me, it's like the girls at Fairy Hills used me as their guinea pig." Levy said. "But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all…I actually feel pretty." She blushed and let her gloved hand reached her chest.
"You look beautiful. I wonder how your fiancée will react." Pantherlily said, teasing Gajeel.
And he made sure it hit a nerve. "GOD DAMMIT CAT! DON'T CALL HIM LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S THE REAL THING." Gajeel clarified. Levy and Lily laughed at his reaction.
Later that night, people with stunning dresses and suits made their way to the mansion at the Onibus Town valley.
The red headed maid appeared on the stairs and interrupted the crowd. "Now, let us introduce to you, Master Toshiro's fiancée: Levy McGarden." People looked up to the stairs eagerly. Sachiko wished she was the one everyone was waiting to see, she imagined herself in a beautiful long black dress walking towards Yasu.
The beautiful mage made her entrance, showing all of the guests the beautiful bouffant strapless green dress she was wearing. The dress had some intricate patterns made with little gold stones. Her hands held the edge of the dress to lift it up while going down the stairs. Wow. Yasu thought. He was stunned by her beauty. A scarlet color covered his cheeks.
He could not look away from the mage. "Levy-chan…You look gorgeous." He took her left hand that was covered in a white glove that reached above her elbow, brought it close to his face and kissed it gently.
The sudden contact made Levy blush furiously. "T-Thank you."
"That's not a real kiss" yelled one of Yasu's friend.
"Why don't you give her a real kiss?" Another stranger added.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The crowd craved.
How can this fancy fuckers act like our guild? Gajeel thought but didn't quite realize what they were saying.
"Kiss?" Levy asked nervously.
Yasu looked directly into Levy's hazel eyes. "We should do it."
"W-What?" A crimson shade tinted her whole face.
"What they are asking." He flirted. Levy's eyes widened. "You know, to please them and make them believe this is real." Yasu smiled. "It will only be one." He let his left hand draw her closer to him.
"THAT BASTARD DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!" Gajeel growled as he understood everything.
"U-u-ummm…I-I-I…" Levy was getting more nervous as Yasu started getting closer to her lips.
"Why don't we let the "lovely" couple have the first dance of the night?" Gajeel shouted sarcastically.
"Yes, that's a better idea." The red-headed maid backup his idea. She couldn't stand the thought of watching the man she had loved for years kiss another woman.
Yasu gave Gajeel a deathly glare. "Gi Hi" the dragonslayer smirked.
Thank you, Gajeel! Levy thought as she sighed and guide Yasu to dance to a ballad song.
I wonder how Lily's doing in the hideout. Gajeel looked outside. Also… He turned his head back to Levy. Why did she told me that before the whole party started?
Flashback
Levy gave Gajeel a worried look as she placed her right hand on his left shoulder. "Gajeel, if anything bad happens…" She looked to the side. "Please be careful."
Gajeel let his right hand rest on her free arm and squeezed it lightly. "Chill down Shorty, nothing out of the ordinary will happen. Gi Hi". He gave her a smile.
End of Flashback
He kept looking at the center of the ballroom in which the blue haired mage kept dancing with the young man. Why did I felt like my magic power was concentrated on her touch? His eyes never left her figure. Then something clicked in his mind. Does it have to do with what Salamander told us?
Hours passed by, the party was over and it was already past midnight. Team Gajeel met with Yasu in the meeting room.
A fist hit the table. "What do you mean nothing happened?" Gajeel asked doubtful.
"Nothing interesting happened. Only three bandits showed up. But they weren't mages." The small feline confessed with his paws crossed over his chest.
"That's unusual." Levy said uncertainly.
"I'm pretty sure they knew Yasu hired us and set us a trap." Pantherlily said firmly.
Yasu scratched the back of his head. "I guess I miscalculated." He let out a sigh. "Anyways, stay alert." He got up of the table and headed to the door. "They can come in at any moment. See you tomorrow Levy-chan." He waved goodbye and walked away.
As soon Yasu was out of their sight Gajeel asked annoyed: "Why did you accept to spend the night here?"
The exceed rolled his eyes. Here we go again. Lily thought, tired of Gajeel's jealousy.
"We can't turn down his offer for a place to stay for the night, Gajeel. He helped us and we should be as close as we can to the book. It's our job to keep it safe." Levy got up and head to her assigned room. "Go get some sleep, we'll plan new strategies tomorrow."
Two hours after their meeting the team heard the sound of a broken window glass near them. They got up as quick as they could.
"I knew it." Pantherlily said.
Gajeel sniffed the air. "They're here."
Levy's bedroom door opened and she stepped out. "What was that?"
"Let's get this party started! Gi hi." Gajeel smirked and started running.
"We should hurry. I'll go get the book." Levy said making her way to the end of the hallway.
Gajeel sensed some magic power heading Levy's way. "Head down Levy!" He shouted.
A symbol created a powerful beam of energy that passed by Levy's head making her hair follow the strong wind it caused.
Levy examined the attack in a few seconds. "Oriental Solid Script! That spell could have pierced my brain in a matter of seconds."
Gajeel used his shadow magic to get to Levy as fast as he could. He stood by her side and asked ironically, "Are you trying to give us a haircut or what?" He smirked.
A woman with short black hair was standing far from Team Gajeel showed them the book. "What you're looking for, I already have it sweetheart." She winked. The woman was wearing high waisted khaki pants that exposed the sides of her legs and a turtleneck shirt that stops at the end of her breasts. "Well, well, well, look what do we have here? The traitor exceed of Edolas, solid script mage Levy McGarden and ex-member of Phantom Lord, the iron dragon slayer Gajeel Redfox."
"Looks like you know us pretty well." The iron dragon slayer glared at the woman standing before them. She started running towards the back side of the house but the group followed her.
"THIS BOOK WILL NOT LEAVE MY POSSESSION NO MATTER WHAT." She stopped and laughed. The woman turned around to face them. "I will complete this job even if I have to kill you fairies." She lunged at the mages. "My reward for this stupid task is more valuable than your lives."
A lot of sounds were heard for a whole hour, shouts, punches, swords clashing and kicks.
Gajeel knelt down keeping a distance with their enemy. "What's wrong with this woman?" Frustration was showed in his voice.
"I didn't imagine she would have such strength" Levy said panting. She was exhausted, they've been fighting for a long time.
"I could compare her magic level with Erza's without a doubt." Lily said. Now in his chibi form.
Gajeel looked at a panting Lily. Lily ran out of magic. Then turned his head to the other side. Levy was pretty bruised up. He grabbed a fist of dirt. I have to keep them safe. He punched the ground. We're Fairy Tail mages! He tried to get up.
"GAJEEL, WATCH OUT!" Levy rushed to Gajeel and stepped between the long sword and Gajeel.
The busty woman laughed maniacally. "Protecting him from being killed? That's so sweet, little fairy."
"Ahh!" Levy let out a painful scream, coughing out blood as the sword was being stabbed further into her petite body. Gajeel froze at the sound, not daring to take away his eyes off the scene.
L-levy… His heart started beating faster. He looked down at the ground lost for what to do and tried to wipe off his face with the back of his right hand, but a red liquid tinted his skin. This…is her blood. He looked up at her. Why the hell did she do that?
"Get the book!" Lily shouted loudly and desperately.
Gajeel's mind raced, still horrified by the scene. Why is she covered in scales…?
"GAJEEL!" Lily kept trying to get the dragon slayer's attention.
Gajeel's eyes widened. Wait a minute! Realization hit him. Those are my iron scales!
Levy looked down as the sword was being pulled out of her body. The scales disappeared…She lifted her shaky bloody hands to waist level. The magic didn't work… Dizziness was starting to take over her. Maybe it was because I pushed myself too hard. She took a few steps back. I used all of it…my magic power. She looked over her shoulder and gave Gajeel a smile. "Gajeel…now is your chance…"
Gajeel nodded and stood up. She saved my ass. He ran straight to the black headed woman. The scene he witnessed snapped Gajeel out of his frozen state. "I WILL BEAT THE HELL OUT OF YOU, FILTHY BITCH! IRON DRAGON'S LANCE!" Both of his arms transformed into long iron poles and hit the woman's stomach with so much force that she was sent backwards.
She spit out some blood on the floor. "You are tough Kurogane." Gajeel slashed again.
Yasu's voice was heard as he approached the fighting ground. "SOLID SCRIPT: THUNDER! SOLID SCRIPT: CHAINS!"
Before Levy's limp body fell on the ground, Gajeel rushed and grabbed her. "Oi! Get a hold of yourself. You can't just pass out. You're stronger than this."
"I-I'm sorry, Gajeel." She murmured.
"OF COURSE SHE CAN YOU IDIOT. SHE'S EXHAUSTED AND HAS LOST A LOT OF BLOOD! SHE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATLY." Pantherlily shouted desperately.
Levy's vision went blurry as she fell into darkness. Gajeel carried her bridal style, took a look at Levy's hurtful expression and thought. Hold on…
Gajeel looked up to the full moon through the hospital room's window. I can't believe we fucking failed to protect a God damn book. The magic council needs to lock down that woman. I can't believe she used some teleportation magic to escape with the fucking book. Gajeel grounded his teeth in frustration. It gets my blood boiling knowing that Levy's effort was in vain. He turned around to see the blue haired mage laying on the white bed looking pale. She's been in that state for a few days and he couldn't stand it. I don't understand why… He knelt down by the side of the bed and took Levy's right hand in his. But I don't want to leave her side. He bowed his head making instant contact with Levy's hand. Not now, not ever.
The next morning. Yasu made his way to the hospital. He stopped in his tracks right in front of Levy's room when he saw Gajeel at the hallway.
"Hey Gajeel, I wasn't expecting you to come." He smirked.
Gajel grumbled. "What's wrong with you fancypants? Of course I'll come, faggot. She's my guildmate." Both of them got into the room.
Yasu looked behind Gajeel as if he was searching for something. "Where is your talking cat?"
"His name is Lily." He glared at him and continued. "He got back to the guild."
A lazy low voice interrupted them. "Can you two please be quiet? I have a headache." Gajeel turned his head to the direction of the sound and smiled.
Yasu took a few steps forward and sat beside her. "Levy-chan! You finally woke up."
She looked at him a little confused by the last part of his comment. "How long was I out?"
"Five days." He said bluntly.
Levy got up in a sitting position. "I should take a bath." Yasu offered his hand to help her. She looked at him and accepted his help. Feeling a little weak she managed to get on her feet and headed straight to the bathroom. With one hand on the doorknob she said without looking back. "Please behave while you two are alone."
She closed the door behind her, and proceeded to take off her clothes. I feel different somehow. She stepped into the shower and let the hot water run through her hair and body. I'm sure that it has to do with my new magic. She turned off the shower and stepped out but a distinct color in the mirror captured her attention.
"AHHH!" Levy let out a scream. Her body started shaking because of what her reflection showed her. W-WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? Levy started hyperventilating. WHAT IS THIS?
"What's wrong?" Gajeel's raspy voice was heard from the other side of the door.
"Everything's ok?" Yasu asked.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Levy's eyes were watering. "Don't you dare come in." She replied almost as a threat. "I'm-I'm alright. Don't worry." Tears began to fall while looking at every detail of her body. Purple shiny symbols were printed on her arms, thighs and back. WHY DOES MY BODY HAVE RUNES?! She took a closer look. I can't let anyone see this. I need to get out of here soon. I need to figure this out. She clutched her chest.
…I'm sorry everyone.
TBC