AN: chapter 8

OK, first off, very short chapter, I'm sorry, but I wanted to just get something posted for you guys to let you know that I haven't given up on this and that I am still alive. Some good news, I just finished with my other story Beautiful with You so I can focus more on this one now. also, I wanted to let you all know that I am doing better. I really wanted to update sooner and let you all know that, but I was trying very hard to finish my other story. I do still have moments where I break down, and not one day has gone by where I haven't thought about my dog, but I just have to remind myself she is in a better place. Anywhos, nothing too exciting happens in this chapter like I had planned (Like I said, short chapter) but the next one should be pretty crazy and long so I'm not sure when I'll be posting it. my hope is to get it done in a week or two. (I read over this so hopefully I caught all of the mistakes, if not, I am sorry!)

piranha pk: Thank you so much, you guys don't know how much your reviews meant to me after posting what had happened to me. And im so sorry for not getting back to you all sooner! And as for the Gajevy interactions, I swear there will be some in the next chapter!

Shadow of the Moon555: oh no! I am sorry for making you cry! I didn't intend for that to happen! :( and I just want to say that I know that quote since I have heard it before, and when I saw that you had said that in the review, I lost it but was still thankful that you said it. its amazing what kids think about pets and other animals. And thank you so much for supporting this story! I cant wait to write more because there are going to be so many things happening in the next chapter! And thank you for supporting me through my hard times! You guys are amazing!

hope. : lol we will find out in the next chapter what happens to Gajeel and Natsu. Im not going to say if it'll be good or bad thought ;) and we will see if Levy and Lisannas plan works out in the next chapter as well! And thank you so much! I'm hoping to get the next chapter done in a week or two.

Guest 1: I know, I miss writing this story, but now I can work on it more that my other story is done :)


Gajeel peered through the cover of the over grown bush in front of him some distance away from the castle. He watched the guards patrolling around the grounds, how many there were at one time, how often they moved, and counting the amount of time there was when no one was in the area he was scouting. "It looks like we have only a small window of time to get in there through those doors…" He said as he pointed at the side of the castle where a single wooden door was.

Natsu sighed as he leaned up against a tree nearby. He held up a hand as the other crossed over his chest. His open palm forming small flames as he spoke. "You know I could just go charging in there with this."

The black centaur swung his tail to one side of his body, attempting to get the annoying bugs away from his body as he tried to concentrate on coming up with a proper plan. "As much as I would love nothing more than to charge in there, there's only two of us and you know we aren't supposed to be doing this right now. I'm not risking Lily's life or our own this time. We're just going to have to wait here until I can come up with something."

The red centaur groaned as he stuck out his lip in a pout. "You're no fun. I'm all ready to bust down those doors with my flames and you just wanna sit here and wait."

Gajeel turned to Natsu, anger over his face. "You think I want to sit here and wait while they have Lily in there?! We thought everyone was dead! But now that we know that they are ok, we have to be smart about this. Trust me, my blood is boiling just as hot as yours right now. But I ain't gonna go chargin' in there without a plan. If you want to gallivant down there, flames blazin', be my guest! But don't expect me to come help ya caz I'm only here to get Lily."

Natsu moved in close to Gajeel, his eyes filling with anger. "You mean to tell me you don't care about everyone else?! Those are our friends in there! How can you say that you are just here for Lily?! Do you not care about the others' lives?!"

Gajeel pressed his head against Natsu's, his anger boiling over as well as he spoke. "They aren't my friends! They're yours!"

The red centaur gripped Gajeel's' shirt tightly. "When we left Fairy Tail, you called them your friends! Our friends! What's changed in that short amount of time that you are now so concerned with just Lily?!"

Gajeel growled as he shoved Natsu back. "I just said that so you would quit talkin' to your damn blonde woman and your satyr. I told you before that I would be the one to get Lily back. Ain't no one gonna stop me from getting what I want."

The pink haired centaur growled right back as he threw a right hook to Gajeel's jaw, causing the black centaur to step back a few steps from the impact. "Lucy isn't just some woman, and be careful what you say about Happy!"

Gajeel rubbed his jaw as he glared at Natsu. Both of the centaurs were going to be at each other's throats if they didn't get into the castle soon, Gajeel thought. The aggravation of waiting and knowing that everyone was trapped inside was driving both of them crazy. The dark haired centaur went back over to the bushes and looked back towards the castle. Silence came over them both. Minutes later, Gajeel could hear a sigh come from the red centaur behind him, seconds later, he could see the leaves from the bushes become illuminated by the flames Natsu was creating in his hands out of sheer boredom. The black centaur ignored it, trying to keep his focus on the plan he was trying to create.

Natsu watched through narrowed eyes, his flames that he was making in his hands, making them grow larger each time he made them appear. "This is so boring… maybe I should have brought Happy along with me…." Natsu mumbled to himself. The centaur continued to create flames and make them disappear quietly.

The dark haired centaur could feel his eyes twitch as the light from the fire Natsu was creating appeared and disappeared repeatedly, slowly annoying the centaur further. His crimson eyes shut as he spoke through his teeth. "Do you have to do that right now? They could spot us over here no problem with all the signals you are generating."

Natsu's eyes stayed on his flames as he spoke. "What's that? Can't really hear ya when you speak through your teeth…"

Gajeel turned around quickly and stomped his front hooves into the ground as he held up a clenched fist, his voice raised high as he shouted at the red centaur. "DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW?! THEY CAN PROBABLY SPOT YOU OVER HERE NO PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THOSE DAMN FIRE SIGNALS YOU ARE CREATING! IDIOT!"

Natsu waved his hand that was creating the flames away from the front of his body as he turned to face Gajeel, holding up his own fist to the black centaur. His mouth opened wide to shout back when his onyx eyes caught something slinking past them. The two centaurs both turned their heads to see who was attempting to pass them without notice. Both centaurs knew who the man was immediately. It was the one guard that Natsu let go when Gajeel first met Levy. The man was shaking in his boots as he held his weapon in his hands. Gajeel glared at the soldier while Natsu looked at him confusingly.

After a minute of silence between the three of them, the soldier spoke with a shaky voice. "D-d-don't c-come any closer!... I-I-I'll use this on you!"

Natsu pointed at the man and laughed. "Can you hear yourself right now?! You sound so scared!"

Gajeel straightened his back as he clenched his fists tightly. "You got some nerve threatening us. You must have a death wish or something."

The man's scared eyes looked back and forth between Natsu and Gajeel who both started walking towards him. "Please… stay back… I-I d-don't—"

Gajeel brought his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "Beggin' ain't gonna stop us from killing you."

The man dropped his sword as he backed up slowly. He put up a shaky hand in front of his body. "P-please… I… I wasn't ordered to hunt you! Either of you! I was just out on patrol and when I saw you both arguing, I just… I don't want any trouble!"

Natsu grinned as he held up both of his hands, fire forming from both. "Hehehe… but we like trouble… it's more fun when you guys fight back."

The soldier tripped as he was walking backwards, fear completely taking him over as he watched the centaurs were practically on him now, their eyes full of bloodlust. The man shut his eyes tightly as he held up his hands. "Please! Don't kill me! I have a family!"

Natsu stopped immediately, his flames dissipated from his hands. "You… have a family?"

The man kept his eyes closed as he replied. "Yes! So please, let me go! I won't tell anyone about you both! I just want to live! Please, I'll do anything!"

Gajeel smirked a toothy grin as he stopped just before the man. "You think that's gonna stop me from killin' ya? For all I know, you could be lying to us right now. You soldiers will do and say anything to escape death." The black centaur raised his arm, turning it into an iron spear as he stared down the scared man before him. His eyes widened as he felt Natsu's hand holding him back suddenly. Gajeel whipped his head around to the pink haired centaur. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Natsu stared at Gajeel with serious onyx eyes. "You can't kill him Gajeel."

Gajeel scoffed as he turned back to the man. "Like hell I can't! Just watch me!"

Natsu crossed his brows as he jerked back Gajeel's arm, causing him to step back and once more, snap his head to the red centaur. "I said you can't. He has a family. Just like us, he just wanted to live another day to see them."

Crimson eyes narrowed. "How can you believe anything that spews from his mouth?! He's just saying this to get out of dying!"

"I know a man wouldn't lie about having a family and look that scared to die." Natsu kept his grip on Gajeel's arm. "If you kill him, you're no better than the soldiers that are in the castle. No better than that general who just orders his men to kill us on sight. For no reason, he wants us dead. What has this man done to us? He didn't do anything but stand and shake uncontrollably when we first met him. Hell you even wounded him making him incapable of escaping."

"Yeah and when I told you to watch him, you let 'em go. He doesn't have that bookworm to save him this time. I'm doing what I should have done last time. I'm killin' him!" Gajeel said as he jerked his iron arm away from Natsu, raising it before the soldier. The man below him raised his arms above his head, his eyes shutting tight as tears streamed down his face. Gajeel thrust his arm downward at the man.

"I'm sorry, Clarrisa. Please forgive me." The man said just before the centaurs arm reached him.

Crimson eyes widened as he stopped his attack inches away from the man's arms. Gajeel stared at the soldier as he kept his arms up above his head, repeating the words he had just spoken. The large centaur let out a sigh as he changed his iron arm back to normal. He turned on his hind end and stomped away from the soldier, cursing under his breath. The frightened man opened his eyes slowly and dropped his arms down at his sides.

Natsu let out a hearty laugh as he leaned down and patted the man's shoulder. "This is a story you're going to remember forever! The great Black Steel let you live!"

"But… why?" The man said slowly, clearly confused but relieved that he was still alive to speak.

Natsu straightened up and put his hands on his hips. "Hey I wouldn't question it pal. Just be glad I was here to help you out!"

The man looked to Natsu. "But… you didn't really do much of anything…"

Natsu quickly held up a clenched fist, his expression turning to anger. "WHAT?! I totally helped you out! You would be dead right now if it wasn't for me!"

Gajeel stood silently as the two behind him bickered back and forth. He was staring back at the castle, his mind desperately trying to come up with something, and now thinking of what to do about the man he once again, didn't kill. Crimson orbs watched the new batch of guards begin their post at the castle door they were planning on sneaking into. He stared hard at them for a long minute before he looked back at the soldier talking with Natsu so casually. "Oi!"

Both centaur and soldier looked up to Gajeel who was making his way to them. The black centaur stopped in front of the man and leaned down to pick him up by his shirt. The man once again looked terrified and feared the centaur had changed his mind about not killing him. "A-are you going to k-kill me?!"

Gajeel glared at the man. "No… I ain't gonna kill ya. But you are going to help us get inside."

"How's he gonna do that?!" Natsu asked loudly.

Crimson orbs stayed on the man. "He's going to distract those guards at the door and let us get in without warning the others… am I right? I mean… it would be a total shame if you were to live and your family fall victim to another centaur attack… wouldn't it?"

The man swallowed the large lump in his throat. He nodded his head quickly. "Yes. I will help you get in I swear! I won't breath a word to anyone either! Just please… let my family be!"

Gajeel tossed the man back to the ground like a sack of potatoes, scoffing as he rolled his eyes. "Enough with the begging… it's so annoying."

The red centaur punched his open fist as he grinned. "Alright! So how are we doing this?! He distracts the guards and we rush in there behind him? I'll make sure my flames are super powerful to break that door down!"

Gajeel tilted his head back towards Natsu, his eyes narrowed as he responded to the centaur. "Seriously? Are there any brain cells left in that head of yours? You can't just rush in there and break down the door. They'll know we're there in seconds." Gajeel looked back to the soldier. "Oi… is the door open or locked constantly?"

The man jumped slightly. "Uh… which… which door are you referring to?"

Gajeel growled as he picked the man up and dragged I'm over to the bushes he was looking out from. He pointed to the door he had been staring at all night. "That one." The man opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. The black haired centaur shook him slightly. "Well?!"

The man nodded his head. "Yes! Yes it's open! At all times! It's the one Levy and Mystogan use to go out from the castle when they are working on their experiments! Since only generals and high ranking soldiers are given keys, they said that they would keep that door unlocked at all times for them and just have men posted there keeping watch!"

Gajeel grinned at this new information. "That explains why I haven't seen anyone come out of there this whole time. Heh… this is perfect." The centaur raised a studded brow at the man as he grinned. "Who knew you would be so resourceful. Good thing flame brain over there was here with me… you better thank him for savin' your life. Because I would have killed ya. I wouldn't have given it a second thought even if you aren't lying about having a family." Gajeel turned to Natsu as he released the small man. "You ready for this?"

Natsu held up both of his fists clenched tightly. "I was born ready! Let's do this!"

Gajeel glared at Natsu as he spoke. "Remember not to run off on your own. You have to stick nearby. We don't know the way around the castle. But we can sniff everyone out once we get in there."

The pink haired centaur rolled his eyes. "Geez! You think I always run away or disappear on ya… its getting a little old being told to stay nearby."

Gajeel growled angrily. "Because that's what you do!"

The man held up a hand to interrupt the two centaurs arguing. "Um… excuse me… but… if you guys are planning on getting in there, we better go soon. This is the last two man shift for this side of the castle. Once those two leave, it'll be four or five guards circling around that area. So…" The man hesitated finishing his sentence as the two centaurs stared at him in silence. "Um… we should… get going…?"

"Yeah… alright. Let's go." Gajeel said coolly. The centaur pointed to a trail hidden by the trees and greenery. "Natsu and I will take this path. It'll get us close enough to the door that we'll be out of sight if you can get the attention of the other guards."

"We're gonna get everyone back to Fairy Tail tonight." Natsu said confidently as he started down the path Gajeel mentioned.

The dark haired centaur looked at the soldier, his crimson eyes threatening him as he spoke. "We are going to let you live so long as you hold up your end of this deal. And so help me if you let anyone know about us being here…"

"I won't tell a soul! I will help you! Thank you for sparing my life!" The man said as he scrambled away.

Gajeel rolled his eyes, scoffing at the man thanking him. "Humans are so pathetic…" His crimson eyes looked back to the castle as he clenched his fists tightly. "Don't worry Lily… I'm going to get ya. Now that I know you're alive… I will get you back." The black centaur pushed off the ground with his hooves, cantering down the path to catch up with Natsu and to wait for a good opening to get inside the door to the castle.


AN: I hope you all still enjoyed this short chapter, the next one will make up for it I promise!

Also I wanted to thank all of those of you who had read my sad story. you guys don't know how much I appreciate you all. Readers, reviewers, all of you. I means so much to me that you all supported me, read my story, reviewed, and have waited very patiently for my stories return. I say this in all of my chapters, but you all are truly amazing. You all drive writers to bust out chapters and help me get motivated to get it done faster. Im going to try not to rush this story so the next chapter is probably going to take time to write. Intense things are going to happen and no all of them are going to be pretty. I also want to warn everyone that this story will get a little "dark" in some chapters. But! That's also why its rated M. lol for later chapters. Anywhos! Please please please review, like I said, I know nothing really exciting happens, but I love seeing all of your comments and thoughts! Glad to be back to writing and I cant wait to get the next chapter done. :)