O…MG. I am so so so so so so so so so so SOOO SORRY EVERYONE! Anyways, lemme shut up and let you all enjoy the story FINALLY! Also: REVIEW PLZZ!

Chapter 8:

IN THE INFIRMARY

?-POV:

Where am I?

I tried using all five of my senses to make sure everything was still there. My nose was still working—thank God—since I could smell something sweet, as if it was fuzzy. And strawberries.

Whew, I'm glad Sadie is safe. My thoughts paused as I picked up another scent. Something strikingly familiar. Too familiar.

Who is that?

Pushing past the fact that my ears were still working, I focused on the voices around me. There was a loud crowd of voices, but it seemed distant. Then there were exactly two quieter voices much closer. One sounded soft, but firm; a bit of a challenging tone.

That's my Sadie alright. The other voice was gruff and harsh, but somehow I was able to find care in the voice.

"It's been three whole days and she hasn't woken up yet!" I heard him say.

Wow. Someone's grumpy… but—it's cute that he sounds so worried; whoever he is.

"Gajeel, relax okay? She needs her rest. When we were travelling here, we never had a chance to stop for camp. Those Vulcans came out of nowhere while we were looking for food, so we had no choice but to push on." She said solemnly.

The second those two syllables left her lips, my heart was filled with an enormous feeling of nostalgia and utter joy. Memories flooded my mind and before I knew it, my sixth sense kicked in, extending my aura as far as it could go.

Ohhh, so I'm in some type of hospital place.. thing.. whatever it is.

"Hey did you feel that just now? It felt like a wave of energy just brushed over me or something." He said.

"That was most likely Talia's energy. Every now and then she heals herself." The Iron Dragon Slayer looked at her with a semi-surprised gaze.

"She can do that?"

"I thought all Dragon Slayers could." She said shrugging her shoulders. I heard him growl low in his throat.

Yup, that's definitely my Gajeel.

"Why couldn't she do that three days ago?!" he said, stomping away.

"I'm gonna find Wendy to see if she can do something, damn it!"

GAJEEL POV:

I was about a foot away from the door when I heard a low groan from behind me. I walked back over in time to see my old friend slowly open her emerald green eyes. I almost forgot how to breathe when she directed her gaze towards me.

"TALIA!" the little pink exceed flew from her spot on the counter and landed into said girl's arms. Talia giggled at her partner, affectionately, in response.

Now that's a sound I miss hearin'.

"Gajeel…" My eyes widened to the size of felt like saucers when the sound of my name rolled off her tongue.

"Y-You… remember me?" I said in shock. I watched her movements closely as her body rose to a sitting position. Her long, jet-black hair fell in front of her face.

It's gotten longer over the years. I thought as she hugged her exceed tightly. A soft pout adorned her pink lips.

"Well that was rude of you," she began," to think I would forget about you." I only shook my head.

"Don't ya know that it's been awhile since we've seen each other?" I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"Yeah. Six years, in fact. Doesn't mean I would forget you." She motioned for me to come sit next to her. I walked forward until I felt the soft covers rub against my pants. She scooted over enough for me to sit on the bed with her. Once I did, she leaned onto me, inhaling my scent like she used to. That alone made my Iron heart swell. Her soft voice snapped me out of my daze.

"Those eyes. That smirk. Your scent. Those things never changed, Gajeel. And I'd recognize them anywhere. Just like you recognized me." She rose her hand up to rest against my cheek. Something inside me made me hold it, squeeze it tightly, and then remove it. Talia looked at me with confused eyes.

"I don't… deserve it. Your forgiveness. Your kindness. Not of it, for what happened that day." I said just above a whisper. I felt two soft hands holding the sides of my face.

"Gajeel." She said firm enough to grab my attention.

I almost forgot she had that effect on me.

"What happened that day wasn't your fault, nor was it mine. That village was corrupted long before we got there. We were too young and innocent to know that." I rose my eyes to meet hers and saw the sorrow in them.

"You will forever deserve my kindness. You have always thought about me, been there for me, Gajeel. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do the same for you—"

I cut her off by pulling her into my arms and embracing her tightly. I ignored her grunt of slight pain and poured all the warmth I had into her. Slowly, she encircled her own arms around me.

"Talia, I—"

"Shhhh… I missed you too Gajeel. I promise, one day we will find our dragons. And we'll be a family again." I chuckled, sending a vibration in my chest. That made her smile and snuggle into my chest even more.

"Some days, I forget you're one of us. You hardly act like a dragon." It was her turn to chuckle.

"I rely on my instincts just as much as you do, Tin-Man." She laughed at the face I made when she said the nickname she made up for me long ago.

"Don't make me have to challenge you to a duel. We both know that I'd win." She said, flashing her signature smirk. I smirked right back at her.

"Alright, Rocky, I'll duel ya. But on one condition: you get somethin' to eat!" She blushed slightly as her stomach growled loudly, almost painfully.

"I got you some food while you were sleeping, Talia!" her exceed shouted excitedly. The girl's spirits lifted immensely at the thought of food. Her exceed happily brought the tray to her hungry partner. Just as Talia was about to chow down, she stopped.

"Talia, wassup?" I asked, cautiously.

"Is something wrong with it?" her exceed asked. The girl looked up to her partner and smiled as she held the plate of food away from her.

"Here! Have some, Sadie. I know how much you like boiled eggs." The pink exceed looked shocked at first but then gave a smile in return.

"MMMM. It tastes yummy! Can I have the other one too?!"

"Of course you can, girl."

*sigh* I can't believe this isn't a dream. You're really back in my life, Talia. I pulled a strand of her out from her face, grabbing her attention.

"My bangs have gotten pretty long. I may cut them soon."

"I think you're perfect the way you are."

I CANNOT believe I just said that. OUT LOUD. She blushed intensely, but smiled regardless.

"Yeah, well… You're not lookin' too bad yourself. You have more piercings—which I love, and you're not the same goofy, scrawny Dragon Slayer I remember from way back when." She said, bashfully.

God, how long has it been since I've seen her act this way?

IN THE GUILD HALL

LEVY POV:

"Ugh! Gajeel has been in the infirmary with that girl for three days straight! What do you think he's doing with her?! Jet?" she turned to see one of her partners and her supposed boyfriend with an agitated look on his face.

"Who cares what he's doing. More importantly, why do YOU care, Levy?" She looked away to keep her guilty gaze hidden from him.

"I… I just—"

"Look, what matters is that you're with me now, so you don't have to worry about that metal freak bothering you anymore, alright?" She looked at him in shock.

"But Jet! He… he is supposed to be our friend." The man of speed merely shook his head.

"I think you need a reality check, Levy. Think about who you're friends really are."

Maybe Jet is right. I mean, why did I fall for him in the first place? He's way too tall. He's so mean and rude! And he's… strong and.. Has long black hair; has mesmerizing red eyes. I just get goose bumps from looking into them—OH MY GOD I DID NOT JUST THINK THAT!

.

.

.

What have I gotten myself into? I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my name being called rather loudly.

"Levy? Levy! You comin' or not?" I gave him a confused look. He looked shocked for a second before he caught himself.

"Uhm, the mission? It's that 72 hour race across the country. The reward was 25,000 joules and a celestial spirit key, remember? You wanted me to go win the race so you can give the key to Lucy when she gets back, right?" That reminder alone was enough to raise my spirits.

"I almost forgot! Thanks Jet!" I rewarded him with a peck on his cheek and grabbed his hand as we strolled out of the guild.

"H-Hey! Wait for me you guys! A guy like me can't run that fast, you know?!" said an already tired Droy.

NATSU POV:

I ran as fast as I could in the direction of the guild, my blood boiling hotter than my normal temperature. The second I saw the large double doors of our proud guild, my body became encased by my flames.

Of course the only thing left to do was make a dramatic entrance by kicking those doors open with a powerful kick.

"GRAMPS! I GOT A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU!" Everyone paused what they were doing to look at me.

"Natsu, what the hell?" the red-headed warrior said harshly. The shirtless ice-mage pitched in as well.

"Yo, Hot-head! What's your problem all of a sudden?"

"I'll tell you what my problem is Ice-stripper! That good-for-nothin' old ass Master of ours sent Lucy away to train to fight Zerif!" Everyone paused-yet again-when I mentioned the name of one of the worst monsters alive. Erza stood, not caring that her cheesecake fell to the floor.

"LUCY IS WHAT?" she shouted in disbelief.

Finally, someone gets it! I thought. Before anyone else could get a word out, the old man showed himself on the balcony, overlooking the guild hall.

"Goddamn kids, what's all this ruckus about?"

"YOU, YA OLD HEARTLESS BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO US? MATTER OF FACT, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO LUCY? I THOUGHT YOU LOVED HER!" I yelled in anger. I was pretty sure I was burning a hole through the floor but God knows i didn't give a shit. The old man just looked at me with a sorrowful gaze which made me recoil a bit.

"I do love Lucy,as if she was my own granddaughter. However, she needed to go on this quest and be awakened."

What is this guy babbling about? And if that's the case then how would fighting Zerif "awaken" her? The old man sighed.

"Well, this is going to take a while to explain this to each and every one of you."

A/N: Well, this is the chappie that I worked so hard on for all o you people that I don't know :D. Anyways REVIEW!