A/N: Yes, yes it is here now! I really suck at keeping a deadline.. Well, I hope you enjoy it anyway!
Over and out ~
The big day was almost there. Levy looked nervously in the mirror. She was getting ready for the pre-wedding party tonight and wasn't sure what to expect. Yesterday had been like a dream. Not only had she kissed the man she had fallen deeply in love with but he had also confessed that he wouldn't accept her marrying Gray. That only left one problem though, calling off the wedding. Sighing again Levy glanced at the dress that was laying spread out on her bed. The dress was long and dark green with black lace for the sleeves. She knew she had all day to get ready and prepare for the evening but she couldn't help but feeling stressed and restless. She didn't know what to expect or what to do. The only thing she did know about the party was that Natsu would be performing, possibly with the help of Lucy, but Levy wasn't sure. Frowning slightly at herself for failing to do something other than staring at herself she walked to her closet, pulled out a dress, put it on and walked out of her room. With determined steps she walked down the hallway to the stairs and down to the dungeons.
As Levy walked down the stairs she found Metalicana sleeping in the cell. Not wanting to wake him up she tip-toed and sat down in front of the bars. A red eye cracked open and watched the princess lazily.
"Here to see me one last time before it's too late, princess?" the big man asked her. Levy got startled by the voice and watched Metalicana walk over to the bars.
"What do you mean, 'before it's too late,?" Levy asked with a pounding heart.
"Oh, you don't know?" Metalicana asked her with a surprised tone in his voice. Metalicana's eyes showed sadness and regret as he spoke. "9 years and 363 days have I been sitting here. 9 years and 363 days I've been waiting for them to release me. Now it's only two days left and I won't even be able to see how Gajeel looks. How much he's grown or how much he's changed. I won't even be able to tell him how sorry I am for everything and that I'm proud to call him my son." Levy closed her eyes and knotted her hands, knowing where this speech were heading but hoping that she was wrong.
"What.." she said quietly.
"Your highness, I only have two more days to live." Metalicana said softly. Levy couldn't hold it in anymore when the first sob came. After that they came one by one until the tears were streaming down her face and she cried. The prisoner just watched the young girl cry, he couldn't believe what she was crying for. Why was she crying because he was about to lose his life? As if she had been reading his thoughts she sobbed words under her breath.
"I-I t-think it's h-horrible that you have t-to lose your life, and I-I promised G-Gajeel that he would be able to m-meet you a-again, but n-now he won't." She said and cried even more. Metalicana watched the girl, a smile barely visible on his face as he crouched down and patted her head.
"What does he mean to you?" He asked her softly. He noticed that Levy tensed slightly before she looked up at him with teary eyes. Biting her lip to stop another sob from escaping she looked down again and breathed out the word towards the ground.
"Everything." she whispered. She knew it was rushed, she knew she shouldn't feel like that. But still she did. She felt like he was her whole world, like breathing was harder without him around. She had only really known him for about a week, but still she felt really strongly about him. Metalicana was surprised but didn't show it. He smiled and patted her head, like he had done so many times to his own son.
"Take care of him for me, will you?" He asked her carefully and only got a nod and a sob as answer. Rising he turned his back to the young princess and straightened out.
"You should go back, it is your wedding-day tomorrow, right? You shouldn't be seen here with a prisoner." Metalicana said with a rough voice, trying his hardest not to break down himself. Levy looked up from her position on the floor and nodded bitterly. She couldn't form a word so she just walked to the stairs in silence. Looking over her shoulder she saw the mans shoulders shaking slightly and Levy could only guess he was now grasping the reality himself.
"To end our deal, princess." She heard him say with a steady voice even though she was sure he had been crying just a second ago.
"You will learn about Zeref's defeat in a book, a book that is well hidden in my house. Look for a batten in the floor that doesn't fit in as good as the others, then find something sharp to lift it up with, in a forge that shouldn't be too hard. Under the batten you will find a chest, Gajeel will have the key to it, though he may not know himself. In the chest, the way to Zeref's defeat will be, use it to kill him for good. But remember princess, you only have one shot and only someone related by blood to queen Mavis can kill him." Metalicana said and Levy let it all sink in. It was hard. She wasn't sure how to remember it all, and what did he mean with blood-related? She was the only child of Makarov as far as she knew, and king Makarov wasn't related to Mavis by blood either. His queen had been. She had heard the story of the lovely queen of Magnolia plenty of times from her father to know that.
'I'm over thinking this, he must mean me! Who else could it be?' Levy thought to herself as she looked back at the now dark cell. But there was something in the way that he said it that made her doubt herself.
"Goodbye Metalicana." She whispered and disappeared up the stairs.
"You better tell her the truth, Makarov. Before it's too late." Metalicana muttered as he watched the girl walk away.
"You shouldn't do it!" he said while he sat with his legs crossed in the window. The boy on the bed sighed again.
"I have to do it, Natsu. It's not something I can just step out of!" Gray said as he laid on his bed and tried to talk some sense into the pink-haired jester. Who tried to do the exact same thing with the prince.
"I don't see why you can't just tell them you don't wanna, I would've done that!" Natsu said and looked at Gray from the window.
"Of course you would, you don't think before you act. You wouldn't even know that you love someone if they yelled it at you!" Gray sighed again. The two of them was having some man-to-man talk in the prince's chamber before the wedding. Gray really didn't want to do it and Natsu got that, what he didn't understand was why the black-haired prince couldn't back out of it. It was already well-known that neither of the two, the princess and the prince, wanted to get married. So why not just call the whole thing off. Now, Gray might have been right about Natsu not knowing whether or not he was in love, but Natsu always knew what he wanted and he stood for that, no matter the consequences. That made him not only a reliable ally but also a good friend. Natsu could, without being afraid or ashamed, tell Gray what he thought of a decision or situation and he always told the truth. The thing about Natsu though, was that he never needed to sacrifice something for the people, the way royalties needed.
"I would too!" Natsu pouted and looked out the window.
"Look Natsu, mother arranged this marriage with King Makarov because it was the right thing for both our kingdoms. This is my duty, it is my duty to marry the princess and to connect our kingdoms so all the people will have good lives." Gray said once again, not raising his voice knowing that it would only end in a fist fight, which would only make Erza come and hit them both.
"You can't always follow your duty! And I'm sure Ur wouldn't have wanted you to marry someone you don't love!" Natsu said and glared at Gray.
"Mother wanted me to marry princess Levy, that's why she set up this marriage with king Makarov from the beginning. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices, Natsu!" Gray said and started to raise his voice in annoyance. "What if it was Lucy?" Gray asked as he rubbed his temples.
"What about her?" Natsu asked with a slight glare. It was a well-known fact for the people from the kingdom of Clover that Natsu and Lucy cared a lot for each other. Natsu being really protective over her, almost like a dragon protecting its treasure, was sure to perk up when said blonde was mentioned.
"What if it was Lucy that had to marry someone, or if you had to marry someone to save her? Then what would you do?" Gray asked him as he stood up. Natsu's face pulled into a frown and his eyes kept the steady glare.
"Then I would save her!" He stated simply.
"What if you couldn't? What if the only way was to marry someone else?" Gray pushed on. He knew this had nothing to do with his situation but he needed Natsu to realize that sometimes you had to do what you didn't want to.
"Then I would find some other way to save her! I would do anything to save Luce and to make her happy!" Natsu snarled at the prince.
"Even marry someone else?" Gray asked him.
"No, anything but that! Because then she would be upset because I wasted my wedding on someone I didn't love!" Natsu argued back and walked towards the door. Standing in the opening with his hand on the door-knob. "I know about sacrifices, Gray, I also know that if you really look there is always another way to fix something." After that the jester walked out and slammed the door shut behind him. Gray stared wide-eyed at the door and wondered where all that had come from. The normal dense fire-eater had just hold a speech that actually made sense.
"Gah, why can't I make that damn idiot understand?" Gray yelled out and laid back on the bed, trying to ignore the sound of the light rain falling on his window. Trying to forget the blue locks and blue eyes the quirky maid had that made his heart flutter and his cheeks burn.
Trying to disappear into her armchair, Levy ignored the knocking on the door for the 11th time. She knew that the maids meant well and wanted to keep her company as much as her friends, Jet and Droy wanted to, but she just wanted company from her books. The two boys had been complaining, despite the obvious fact that Levy was getting married, about how little time they had been spending together. Instead of the two of them guarding her, more experienced guards did it while they got taught by the blacksmith on how to fight properly. They weren't glad, that one was easy to tell, but they weren't exactly mad either. Truth to be told, Levy thought they liked getting tips and encouragement from the blacksmith more than they let on. Sighing she realized she had been staring at the same paragraph ever since she came back from the dungeon and was only using the books for a reason to be left alone. Levy was frustrated to say the least, which was an odd sight. She plopped the book down on the pile of other unread literature and walked over to the door were the knocking had stopped. She looked outside and saw her friends sitting on each side of the door waiting for her to come out. Smiling slightly she giggled and sat down beside them. Jet and Droy turned their heads towards her and gaped.
"Levy, when did you come here?" Jet asked her.
"Yeah, and why didn't you let us in before?" Droy whined.
Levy laughed, a bright clear laugh, and looked at them.
"Sorry guys, I just wanted to finish my book. And you know that the soldiers shouldn't hang out with the princess in her own chamber the day before her marriage." Levy said and winked. Both of their smiles faded and was replaced by frowns.
"We know, we just wanted to spend some time with you before the wedding. You've been disappearing more and more lately and we hadn't really had the chance to be with you." Droy said a bit let down and looked to his right, away from Levy. "Yeah, you even spent time with that blacksmith, so why not with us?" Jet continued where Droy stopped. Levy looked at her guards. They were just missing her, that's all. They were afraid to lose her when she was married, that they would never be able to see her again.
"I'm sorry guys." Levy said sincere with a bright smile. "But don't worry, I will spend more time with you after the marriage. I promise you that!" Both Jet and Droy brightened up at the princess' statement.
"Really?" "You mean that?" They asked at the same time and Levy nodded.
"Of course, you are my best friends and I like spending time with you. It's just that it has been a lot of preparations now for the wedding and with Gajeel and everything." Levy tried to explain but caught the darkening expression the boys got at the mention of the blacksmith.
"You shouldn't hang out with him Levy!" Jet exclaimed as he glared at the wall in front of him. Droy nodded, "Yeah, he is bad news. We've seen what he's done. It isn't pretty, your highness!" He said, keeping the formal words. Levy blinked, they were jealous? 'That's what this really is about? They are jealous of me and Gajeel?!' she thought.
"He's not that bad, really! He can actually behave when he wants to!" Levy said and tried to defend her lover, which wasn't appreciated by the two guards.
"Why are you standing up for him Levy? He isn't anything but a simple blacksmith, and he is definitely not worth your concern." Jet snorted and kept his eyes on the wall. "That low-life should know his place, he should be in a cell just like his father and never to be let out." Droy watched Jet spat out the insults and hard words and tried to calm him down, knowing that his friend didn't really mean it, that it was only jealousy and anger talking.
Droy was calm, unlike Jet, and not very graceful. He wasn't fat but he wasn't super thin either, like Jet was. Droy didn't really want to be a guard, and he wasn't one either, not really. He and Jet had been raised in the castle, since Makarov considered all of the workers his family. Jet and Droy had been no exception. In the start Droy had been working on the garden, his knowledge about the flowers and plants always stunned Levy and that was how they became friends. Droy had been watering some flowers when the young princess had walked up to him and asked him about it and how he knew all those things about the plants. Droy had said that his parents taught him before they passed and Levy had been intrigued to hear more, so she stayed around him. Jet had been a messenger boy due to his incredible speed. Something that Levy was jealous of and found amazing. The three of them had quickly become friends and been spending time together ever since. It wasn't until Levy came of age that she stopped running around and playing with them. Missing their company Levy had asked her father if they could become her own body-guards, with a bit of training of course, and since there hadn't been a threat against the kingdom and Levy wouldn't be going outside the castle anytime soon, Makarov approved. They weren't the big fighters like Laxus was, but they protected her and Levy was grateful for that. Now however she was furious. How dared Jet talk like that, not only about Gajeel but also about Metalicana.
"How dare you?" She snarled, something rather odd for the sweet girl. "How dare you talk about him like that? You don't know him. He isn't as bad as he seems and you have no right to talk about him or his father like that."
"Yeah? So what? I don't care about that rat. He can die for all I care." Jet replied and stood up, Droy copying him. "Why do you care anyway Levy?" Jet asked when he had turned his back to her. Levy stopped breathing for a minute and stared at her friend. The despise in his voice was clear and Levy wondered were the happy runner had disappeared to.
"I.." She started but the words got caught in her throat together with an unpleasant lump. "I love him." She managed to squeeze out and felt her eyes burning from the tears that was going to spill. Jet stiffened and it was clear that he, along with Droy was both heartbroken and surprised.
"Well, good for you then, your highness." Jet spat and walked away. Droy just looked between his friends and wasn't sure what to do. "Come on Droy, I'm sure they need some help in the kitchen." Jet yelled and Droy hurried after. Looking over his shoulder at the small girl he whispered an apology before he disappeared.
Levy tried to stop her sniffles and stood up. She would show them. She would show them all that she wasn't someone you could just walk over. She would show them that Gajeel really was a good man and a man worthy of her love. Whether her friends believed it or not. Slamming the door behind her she took one deep breath and called for a maid to prepare a bath for her. She also told the maid to get Lucy and Juvia and tell them to hurry. The party was starting soon.
Levy walked down the stairs and was greeted by royalties from different countries. Doing courtesies for the royalties from Cedar and smiling at the nobles of Oak town, she walked at a steady pace with a firm grip around Gray's arm. She looked around and saw the trimens courting Erza and some other girls and giggled. The trimens were a group of nobles consisting four men. Ren, Eve, Hibiki and Ichiya, the leader of the group. They were all, or almost all, extremely easy on the eye and made a move on any single, or occupied, woman they could find. Ichiya was a short man with orange hair who often walked around and smelled the ladies, making him rather unpopular. They came from a place called the Blue Pegasus that was grounded by Lord Bob, a duke in a far off country that created a place for all the nobles to meet. Despite being rather weird they were all good people who always would help a friend in need.
The beauties of Mermaid heel, another club for high-up ladies only, was also present. Stealing the spotlight with their beauty and light laughter. When Levy and Gray walked into the room the laughter died down. All of the people there smiled and made a way for the soon-to-be husband and wife. Taking a seat at one of the tables the others followed through and sat down. The king came into view when he stood up on his chair with a glass in his hand.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the wedding tomorrow between my lovely daughter Levy and the prince of Clover Gray. Let us toast to them and enjoy your food." Makarovs voice boomed over the room and clinks of glasses was heard as a happy chatter started. Levy sat and conversed with her table neighbor, a leader from the lands of Cerberus located in Fiore. He was an elderly man, years younger than Makarov but also years older than herself. He had gold-brown hair that almost reached his shoulders, glasses with black tinted glass placed on his nose. Around his neck he had a collar with pointy spikes, same as the band that was wrapped around the strange hat he wore. His clothes were plain and simple. Despite being noble and one of the leaders in the country, even though Fiore already had a king there were leaders scattered throughout the country that ruled cities, towns and small spaces of land, he wasn't dressed up or bragging about his power. He was pleasant and one of the few visitors that Levy actually enjoyed. He had been spending countless hours at the castle, not only talking business with her father but also spending time with Levy.
"So, getting married eh?" Goldmine asked as he took another gulp of the beverage. "The lad doesn't look too happy. Then again, neither would I if I was the new victim of Master Bob." He continued and shuddered slightly as he watched the bald, fat man wearing very feminine clothes and make-up scooch closer to the prince. Gray himself looked like someone had pushed a pack of ice down his pants and it was slowly taking an effect. Levy pitied Gray a lot at that moment but couldn't quite help but to laugh. Loud. Every guest in the room looked at her. She was, if she hadn't been before, in the centre of everyones attention. Wide eyes and food hanging from forks that was halfway to their mouths, it was as if time had stopped, was directed towards the young princess. The only one who didn't stare at her was Gray who glared. The glare however, faded soon enough and morphed into a smile. This was the girl who took him on a tour through the garden, this was the girl who couldn't stop talking about her books, and this was the girl he wasn't going to marry.
'That damn metal-freak will be one hell of a lucky dude' He thought and then directed his gaze towards Juvia who tried to keep a straight face but was failing greatly.
"Father!" Levy managed to say when she had calmed down with a sturdy voice and a bright smile plastered on her face.
"Yes, my dear?" Makarov answered with a smile on his own face. Levy looked around and smiled, something that was contagious and spread to every guest's face, her eyes landed on Lucy and she then looked back at Goldmine who was grinning beside her.
"If everyone is done with their food I would like to watch the fire-show before the desert. If that is alright!" Levy said as she clasped her hands together and laughed at Lucy who stood gaping like a fish. Makarov, who hadn't seen his daughter this happy in a while, nodded. "Of course! Natsu, Lucy, if you would." Makarov said and nodded towards the empty space in front of all the tables. Some tables was being moved to the side so everyone could watch and so there would be more space to the fire-eater. Natsu couldn't possibly have grinned more than he did at that moment. He walked towards the empty space, followed closely by his cat. His clothes today was different from the first time Makarov had watched the young one perform. He was still barefoot and was still wearing the scale-looking scarf, but his pants was orange and fitting loosely, the shirt he was wearing was blue with golden details, looking almost celestial, and without arms. A white band was tied around his waist with two big knots at the end. Glancing around, Natsu seemed confused and not quite finding what he was looking for.
"Behind you boy!" Makarov muttered with a grin on his face. Natsu perked up at the words and turned around. There in the shadows stood his assistant, wearing clothes that matched his.
"Come on, Luce! I need your help for this number." He said with a grin and dragged her out into the spotlight. She wore a blue dress with beautiful golden patterns, the sleeves were not attached to her dress but was hanging freely from just above her elbows, white fabric dancing in the wind. Her hair was hanging down except a little ponytail that was secured on the side of her head with a white bow. She too was barefoot.
"I'm not sure I can do this Natsu!" She whispered to him with a nervous voice. Natsu blinked at her and cocked his head to the side.
"'Course you can, Luce. Don't worry, just throw the pouch when I tell you to." He said and winked at her as he grabbed his torches and turned to the audience.
"Now, who is ready to see the great Salamander?" He asked them and grinned at the applause he got.
"Welcome to the world of magic and fairy tales. Welcome to the age of the dragons." Natsu said with a mystic voice and the light went out. Suddenly two flames flicked and started to dance, move and laugh. It truly was magical, watching every flame dance away from the fire. Ember was glowing on the floor and marked the area the fire-eater was moving within. He twirled his sticks and threw them up in the air. Natsu's movements wasn't visible but it didn't matter, this was the dance of the fire.
Levy was stunned and her voice was trapped in little gasps of awe. She didn't believe this wasn't made by magic. Something so beautiful must've been magic. The flames started to change color and blue, green and yellow flames danced together. They walked gracefully on the sticks that was alight, getting closer and closer, not only to the hand of Natsu, but also to the opposite flame.
With a spin they were gone. The crowd was sure the number was over but was surprised when the darkness before them started to sparkle. Small pecks of ember and glitter floated around the room, making ones mind believe it was fairies flying around the room, except there was something tail looking attached to them. Suddenly a warm red ball came towards them and the dragon roared. Natsu blew as much fire as he could until the liquid in his mouth was gone. He glanced at Lucy who caught his eyes and nodded. Throwing the little pack into the air, Natsu took one more sip of the liquid, put his fire by his mouth and blew gently at the package. The fairies were back and flames was erupting from the floor. Inside the biggest one were all the fairies was coming from, Lucy stood. Beautiful and graceful. She moved her arms and twirled in the fire, making it look like she was made out of it, like she was the one sending out the fairies. Moving her right hand towards her mouth she blew and even more colorful fairies escaped, as she herself disappeared along with the other fires. There was a slight silence before cheers, laughter and tears was shed. They all stood up and applauded the couple who walked in to the now lit up room, bowing deeply. Levy was crying out of joy and the beauty of it all.
When Natsu and Lucy had received their applause and walked out of the room the maids and servants walked in with the desert. They all dug in and the rest of the night was gone in a snap. Despite being highly against the marriage, Levy was enjoying herself and took bite after bite from the dessert as she chatted freely with Goldmine. When they were all done, and the wine was out, it was time to get some sleep. Levy was escorted back to her room by Goldmine as all the other guest was walking to different chambers and hotels in the town.
Leading her up the stairs, Goldmine looked down at the young girl.
"Don't worry about it, sparrow. It'll all work out just right. I believe that the universe has a special plan for all of us. Each bump in the road is just another boring, exciting or disappointing chapter in the book of your life. But to get to the ending you have to read it all to understand it." He said and smiled at her with his tired old eyes. The wrinkle by his mouth getting even clearer. Levy smiled up at him and placed a kiss on his cheek before she hugged him, the same thing she had done to her father.
"Thank you, you really are a great friend to have!" She said and let go as he put his hands on her shoulders.
"Friend, sparrow? I thought we were family." He said a bit jokingly, " Don't forget that I'm your favorite uncle." He smiled and she laughed a bit. Releasing her he turned around and walked towards the stairs.
"Sleep tight, sparrow. Tomorrow will work out just the way it's suppose to work out, so don't fret over it." He said and walked down to the other floor. Levy smiled and walked in to her own room to catch some sleep before her marriage tomorrow.
A/N: Yay for Goldmine! I have somehow getting a liking to the man even though he isn't shown that much in the manga or anime. He's cool, yeah. And I sort of felt like he would be a uncle-like person and close friend of Makarovs.
Yada Yada Yada, hope you enjoyed it, Bai!