Hello my lovelies!

Wow I finally managed to get a new chapter finished! I'm sorry for the delay again... School has got me pretty busy, and I'm usually pretty worn out when I get home at night so I haven't had much energy to write... And I've had a lot of personal stuff going on that I'm working through. Like deciding on what grad school's I'm going to apply to... I'm trying to get back into it though! I got a bit of a motivational kick from starting to rewatch the show and from the new manga chapters! (Side note: Current manga arc has me crazed with curiosity of what's going to happen next... I'm so excited to see what happens...)

Anywho! I struggled a little with this chapter... I'm still trying to really decide how I want this to go and it's been difficult to get the plot going but I think I've got a rough outline that will turn into something good! I'm not sure how it will stack up with the previous fic (which I am immensely proud of) but I'm hoping it will be almost as good! Also I'm going to be dropping the POVs as someone told me that I don't really need to do them... So we'll see how it turns out!

Well I'll keep this short(ish) and let you get on to reading! I'll try to update more soon! Please leave a review and suggestions! I love getting them!

Much love

Sabina

Chapter 4

Levy hadn't slept well at all... Her dreams had been fitful; full of dark shadows, screams, and a feeling of terror... Many times during the night she had awakened, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. These brief moments of consciousness had been accompanied by a strange feeling, like the ghost of some pain she had experienced in her dreams. Levy had broken down in tears after waking for the third time, clutching Lily to her and burying her face in his soft fur until she drifted back into her haunted dreams. Lily hadn't protested, he too was worried about the Iron Dragonslayer and found comfort in their shared concern.

"Oh Levy you look exhausted..." said Lucy, eyeing the blue haired mage with a great deal of concern as she stirred the pot of stew she and Juvia had prepared for breakfast. Levy nodded dumbly, rubbing her tired eyes as she sat down by Erza. The red haired woman patted the solid script mage on the back, her eyes full of sympathy.

"We can wait a while to begin the search," said Erza. "It'll still be a bit before the boys wake up, but we can take a little longer if you need the rest. We don't want to confront Phantom at less than full strength. We don't know how strong they've gotten." Levy shook her head.

"No. We can't afford to wait any longer than necessary. I... I have a feeling that Gajeel is in pain..." said Levy, her eyes clouding over as her heart constricted and her limbs shivered. Lucy's eyes narrowed. Levy felt the need to explain herself. "The dreams... Last night I had several of them. But they weren't the normal kind. They were...darker... I couldn't see much, just flashes of movement, dark rock walls, chains. And I heard...screams..." She stopped there, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And whenever I woke up I felt...strange. As if I was feeling the ghost of an old injury. But... I somehow know it wasn't me being hurt."

Levy jumped in surprise as Lucy darted over and sat down in front of the solid script mage, staring at her intently. The blunette jumped again and squealed in surprise as the suddenly awake Natsu plopped down next to his mate and began staring with just as much intensity. Levy was utterly confused as she watched them looked at each other, then back to her, then back to each other again. They seemed to reach some sort of unspoken agreement and nodded in unison.

"We need to tell her," said Lucy, earning a vigorous nod from the Fire Dragonslayer. Levy wasn't the only one who looked bemused at the couple's odd behavior. Juvia, Erza, and Lily were looking just as confused as Levy as they listened to the conversation. Happy was the only one besides Gray, who was still sound asleep, who seemed to understand what was going on between the two.

"Tell me what?" said Levy, beginning to feel a bit exasperated from the combination of lack of sleep and confusion. Lucy sighed, a slight smile on her face, and patted her friend on the shoulder in a sisterly manner.

"This is going to sound crazy, but then again we deal with crazy on a daily basis... Levy I think, no I'm positive, that you are Gajeel's lifemate." The camp was silent as the group precessed this. Levy's face reddened and her mouth fell open as she realized what Lucy meant.

"WHAT?!" exclaimed the group, startling Gray awake and sending the birds in the trees wheeling into the sky in alarm. Erza and Juvia's faces were just as red as they stared at the tiny woman, clearly trying to imagine her being Gajeel's "mate". Gray was staring blearily around at them, not understanding what was going on.

"What's all the racket for?" grumbled the ice mage, yawning and standing, not realizing that he had stripped in his sleep and was now completely nude.

"Clothes, ice perv..." growled Natsu, his eyes firmly clamped over Lucy's eyes. The guild had quickly learned that Natsu's protectiveness over Lucy had increased dramatically since they had become mates, and he was much less tolerant of Gray's stripping habit, especially around Lucy. Gray looked down sleepily at himself for a few seconds before he realized that he was naked and hurried to cover himself. Juvia, who had been trying not to stare greedily at the ice mage, made a small sound of disappointment. She was trying very hard to take Lucy's advice about backing off a bit from Gray, but she clearly still struggled around him when he was in the nude. Once Gray had dressed himself he settled down and accepted the bowl of food Juvia handed him. He looked back at Lucy his head cocked to the side, curious as to why everyone seemed so flustered.

"Alright, now what's going on? Why was everyone shouting?" he asked, taking a sip of the stew. Lucy giggled at the deep blush still blooming on Levy's cheeks.

"I was just saying that I think Levy is Gajeel's lifemate," said the blonde. Gray spat out is mouthful of stew, barely missing Natsu who leaned out of the way in time.

"Say what?!" exclaimed Gray, ogling Levy. She felt thoroughly embarrassed... She hadn't told anyone but Lucy about her dreams about Gajeel and she hadn't thought that anyone else would find out so soon. Erza was red in the face, clearly just as shocked by this revelation, and Juvia looked both shocked and pleased. She and the Iron Dragonslayer had been in Phantom Lord together and had a close friendship.

"H-how? How do you know this?" sputtered Erza. Lucy, laughed and the Fire Dragonslayer laid a loving hand on her shoulder. Levy already knew the story, but she still sat patiently and listened as the couple explained about Dragonslayer and their ability to connect with their mates during dreams. The group sat in stunned silence when Natsu and Lucy had finished their explanation.

"I suppose that it makes sense..." mused Erza, finally shaking herself out of her shock. Levy was still red in the face and praying that they wouldn't inquire into the nature of her dreams. Erza snapped her fingers as a thought occurred to her. "Levy, we'll rely on Natsu's sense of smell for today but I want you to try something tonight. If possible I want you to try to make contact with Gajeel in your dream. We can't be certain that you'll remember everything that he tells you, based on Natsu and Lucy's description of what happened to them, but we may be able to get at least a little information on who we're up against and where we should be looking for Gajeel."

Levy nodded, unsure if she would be able to have any control over her dreams, but eager to try if it would help them to find Gajeel. The hurriedly finished eating and packed up their camp. Levy and Lily were particularly eager to get moving.

"I'm sure he's alright," said Lily, taking notice of her worried expression as he hovered by Levy's shoulder. "Gajeel is strong. He won't go down so easily." Levy smiled slightly and patted the black exceed on his head.

"Alright Natsu, do your thing," said Lucy, patting her boyfriend on the shoulder. Natsu inhaled deeply, searching for Gajeel's scent.

"This way," said the Fire Dragonslayer, pointing towards some distant mountains. The group followed him as he set off after Gajeel's trail...

Gajeel ached all over... Almost the entirety of his body was blackened by heavy bruising, and his eyes could barely open anymore... Numerous lacerations covered his body, slowly oozing blood as he hung from his chains, the bleeding never really stopping. He supposed that all the bruises could have been the reason why...

It had been only two days since his capture, but he already looked as if he'd been trapped for months... In addition to the bruises and cuts, Gajeel's clothes were torn and he was covered in dirt and filth. His hair was matted with mud and blood, and his teeth were stained red from the blood he was continually coughing up.

"Why won't they just kill me already? I made it clear that I'll never join their shitty guild..." he rasped faintly to himself. They had beaten him to the edge of death, but wouldn't strike the final blow... Jose seemed determined to beat him into submission and have him return to Phantom.

Gajeel wouldn't give in though... Fairy Tail was his guild now. For the first time in his life he felt truly accepted... They had taken him in, even after what he had done to them... They had given him a work, a home, and friendship... There was also...

"Gajeel!"

He could hear her voice clearly as an image of her smiling face filled his mind. Her blue hair tied up as she ran up to him excitedly, showing him something from some book she had been reading. Gajeel never showed it, but his heartbeat quickened and his mood never failed to lighten whenever she gave him that smile... Levy... What I wouldn't give to see that smile right now...

For a brief moment his heart leapt when he heard the door slowly opening. There was a chance that they had found him... Lily had gotten away... And knowing Salamander he would have rushed off to search for him once Lily told the guild what happened. They had their differences, but that flame brain never left a comrade in need... And Levy... He knew she'd help... He had a feeling that she felt the same way he did, but he could never bring himself to confront her about it. He didn't think he deserved her... Crap he was sounding like that Jellal now... All noble and whatnot...

His heart sank when Jose stepped into the dim light of the cave. The dark mage was again accompanied by Aria and Sol, both leering at him as they took in his sorry state.

"Well Gajeel you can probably guess what I'm going to ask you..." drawled Jose, wrinkling his nose in disgust as Gajeel coughed, a dribble of blood running down from the corner of his mouth as he did. Gajeel spat, aiming for Jose's face, but the guildmaster stepped aside to avoid it. "Same response as last time I see... Well we'll just have to continue our persuasion... I think we'll make a change though... We don't want this to take weeks, so I think I'll have one of our newer members help along with the process." An evil gleam filled the older man's eyes as a small figure stepped out from the shadows... Gajeel eyed it warily.

"How is a pipsqueak like that going to make me agree to join your gang?" scoffed the dragonslayer, not dignifying Phantom with the title of guild. Jose chuckled darkly. Gajeel's stomach clenched as a hint of dread filled his heart.

"Oh this 'pipsqueak' is quite special... You see...he possesses a type of Lost Magic... Very familiar with the Arc of Time used by that Ultear woman..." said Jose, stepping back as the young man stepped forward. Gajeel's nostrils flared and he struggled as he caught the figure's scent... It was a foul stench...making bile rise in Gajeel's throat as he tried not to show fear. It smelled like terror, blood, and death...

Gajeel screamed as the young man's eyes gleamed dully in the darkness...