A/N: WOW, you guys make me blush so hard I swear! I love you all. Now before I give you this next chapter I just want to say thank you so much for following, favoriting, viewing, or reviewing my wild ride. Literally I feel like I can write 10 chapters when you guys read one! Please be mindful with this chapter, it might be a bit messy grammar wise, I promise I'll fix it by the next chapter update.

I also do not own Fairy Tail! Now please enjoy!

Chapter 10: Aftermath

Gajeel stared at the pink haired woman, who was mixing random ingredients in the corner, with the same blank expression he's been sporting all day. His eyes moved to the blond mage and saw that she was in the same predicament he was. To everyone else her eyes were empty and shallow but he saw that they were filled with guilt and regret, just like he was feeling. Gajeel attempted to let out a grunt, but nothing came out. His body was completely numb. So instead of worrying about what was going to be fixed soon, he thought about what Levy was doing now. The sound of her choked sob made his stomach drop and his heart chip, he felt like he was going to be sick just thinking about it. He knew she was probably crying in her room, cursing the day she ever forgave him, cursing the day she ever loved him. He wondered if she would ever forgive him if she found out he was drugged. Probably not, a guy like him was never meant to love a girl like her. It just wasn't written in his fucked up stars.

"Ok, the antidote is ready. It's going to taste like shit, but I better not hear any complaining you ungrateful brats," Porlyusica said loudly interrupting his train of thought. Gajeel wanted to scream and hug her at the same time. He watched as she went up to Lucy and poured some liquid into her mouth. The bunny girl's eyes shot open and showed pure disgust before she stopped suddenly and ran up to Natsu.

"NATSU!" She sobbed, grabbing onto his shirt as if she was begging him to stay. "I'm sorry Natsu! I don't want to do it I swear! I tried to stop it, I'm sorry," She continued to cry. The fire dragon slayer wrapped his arms around her and held her gently. He ran his fingers through her blond hair and rested his chin on her head. Once she was done crying Natsu moved so their foreheads were touching and stole a quick kiss.

"I know Luce, it's ok. Please stop crying. I know you didn't mean it," He whispered to her sweetly before wiping away her tears. The two hugged in a tight embrace and Gajeel felt his heart start to sting. He wished that he could have their happy ending, their story of the princess and the Dragon. He let out an internal sigh as the Healing witch drowned some disgusting liquid down his throat. It tasted like a mix between someone's dirty underwear and toad sweat, but he gulped it down anyway, happy to have mobility back.

Once he felt like he was in control of his own body the first thing he did was punch the table he was sitting on. He used enough strength to shatter the wood as if it was glass. Gajeel continued and threw whatever was within arms reach at the wall in front of him. He threw glasses, plates, chairs, exceeds, and anything he could grab until he felt emotionally drained. No one dared stop him, knowing that he was pissed off and that he would gladly throw them too. When Gajeel stopped to take a breath he felt gentle hands touch his arm. A part of him was glad that at least someone still cared for him, but at that moment rage took over his entire being, and he didn't want their sympathy.

"Juvia knows how Gajeel feels-" She started to say, her kind voice softly flowing, mixing with the rage in his heart. He almost felt bad for cutting her off, but he just needed to get this off his chest. He just needed to yell.

"NO! Juvia does not know how I feel. Ok? I was so close Juvia! I almost had everything I have been dreaming about for years, I almost had the only person who ever made me feel the slightest bit better about myself. Do you know what I got instead Juvia? HUH? I got a fucking broken heart because I had to fucking kiss a girl I don't even like! I lost my family, my best friend, and my girl! So no Juvia! Do not tell me you know how I feel because I feel like my soul has been shredded and stepped on!" Gajeel yelled at the blue haired girl in front of him. Juvia was staring at him with wide water eyes, and he felt like a bigger ass than before. Now he has a sister to add to that list. Jerking his arm back, Gajeel stormed out the guild not bothering to look at the mess he left behind.

Gajeel walked down the street and started to sniff. He was mad, angry, and in desperate need to punch someone, a very specific someone that fucked with his life way too many times now. Once he caught the disgusting scent, he followed it with the intent to kill without mercy. He reached a high-end bar with bright flashing lights and loud music. The pierced man let out a large groan but continued to enter anyway this had to be done. He was going to pay whether he liked it or not. Gajeel scanned the bar until he found the man he was looking for. with a devilish smile he stalked over to the man and grabbed him by the collar. Ian let out a high pitched scream as Gajeel pinned him against the wall. Without a second thought, the taller man punched the pretty boy straight in the jaw.

"God, you don't know how long I've wanted to do that" He sighed in content hearing a few cracks. Gajeel didn't stop there though, he punched the man in the gut and in the side once he doubled over. Ian tried standing straight, but Gajeel beat him to it shoving him back against the wall. He punched him again, successfully breaking his nose. The blue-eyed man fell to the ground and Gajeel began to kick him. One kick for every tear he caused Levy, and a couple because he fucking felt like it.

Ian attempted to stand up again but Gajeel wasn't having it, he pushed the two-faced bastard back on the floor, sitting on him as he started throwing punches. All Gajeel saw was red when someone pulled the large man from the pathetic heap on the floor. He spat on Ian's defenseless body and laughed. this man was the prime example of a pansy.

"Don't you dare go anywhere near her again, you fucking prick!" He yelled before throwing a random glass at the man. Walking away with a satisfied smirk Gajeel thought maybe he went a little overboard. Then he remembered the sound of her sob, he remembered his heart breaking, and he remembered the pain. He didn't give that bastard enough.

Levy stared at the wall in front of her. She had cried out all emotion she felt over the last week, leaving her feeling empty, alone and hungry. She looked over the disaster filled area and laughed dramatically. Her room looked as if a tornado and Natsu ran through here. Things were thrown against her wall and her normally organized books scattered around her and her unmade bed as if they were giving her comfort. Her madding laugh soon turned into another troubled sob when she remembered why her room like the disaster it was. She clenched her pillow tighter to her body as the image of Gajeel taking Lucy into his arms appeared in her mind.

"Lev, hey… Um, can we talk," The blue-haired fairy heard from the doorway. She buried her head in her blanket and tried to ignore her best friend. Levy knew that she shouldn't be mad at Lucy, It's not her fault Gajeel decided to kiss her instead, but her heart was too stubborn. She didn't want see her beautiful replacement. There was a sigh on the other end, before more talking.

"Levy please, you're my best friend, please just talk to me," There was more silence as Levy debated whether to let her in or not. Lucy has been knocking on her door every day trying to talk, but she ignored it every time. Maybe it would be nice to have someone to talk to, besides her books. She slowly moved to get up and trudged to the door. She stood in front of her portal to the outside world and froze, her arms dangling on the side of her, as she studied the hunk of wood in front of her.

"No," She whispered to herself. "I'm not ready," She took a step back and let out a deep breath. Her hands started shaking and tears were threatening to come out. Levy was about to retreat back her comforting bed when there was a loud thumping sound at her door. Curiosity slightly took over as she twisted her head. Suddenly her door flew open and a battle formed lily stood in front of her. Before she could ask what was going on Lily jumped her into a loving hug. She gave him a hug back as he turned back to his cute normal self. She continued holding the exceed, secretly loving the fact he came for her. Giving her love to the small creature in her arms blocked her off from what was going on until she was pulled up to face the all mighty titania.

"Levy you have not been out of your room in more than a week, don't you think its time to move on," The scarlet haired girl spoke both fiercely and lovingly at the same time. All Levy could do was stare at her feet. Erza let out a large sigh and put the girl on the floor, resting a strong hand on her arm. She could feel the Requip mage eyeing her fiercely, studying her like she was one of her enemies. For a while there was just silence, Lily still in Levy's lap trying to comfort the poor girl, and Erza taking in every detail of the girls tattered appearance. The silence was broken when Erza used a sharp tone.

"Levy, have you been eating?" The words hung in the air and filled the silence around them. Levy should have known that Erza would be the one to notice how much weight she lost. To be honest, Levy hadn't eaten all week. Her body just didn't crave the food and she was too tired to fight it, or think rationally. However, that doesn't mean she was going to tell the older girl about any of that. Lily had also moved to Erza's shoulder to study the petite mage.

"Levy," Lily coaxed her, trying to get the blue haired maiden to confess her neglect. No words had to be said though, She knew that they already figured her out. So instead she hung her head in shame. There was a large groan before a slapping sound filled the room. Levy touched her cheek where Erza had just tried to slap some sense into her.

"GET. YOUR. SHIT. TOGETHER!" Erza yelled, slapping her across the cheek with each word. Levy just stood there shell-shocked as the red head started shaking her. Lily, obviously amused by the scene chuckled lowly. He then continued to 'gently' pry the strong woman off her and lead her out of the room.

"Thanks Lil," Levy said turning to face her savior, expecting the same old happy smile that he always give but stopped when she saw him looking at her with a painful serious expression.

"We need to talk," He replied shutting the door.

Levy ran, she ran as fast as her little legs would take her. She ran past the park, through the city and into the edge of town. Her heart was racing and her palms were sweating but she didn't care. She needed answers and she needed them now. There was only one person who she could face that could give her the answers she needs. Running up to the building she was looking for, Levy banged on the door as hard as she could, noting them the opportunity to miss her. She banged again until the door flew open with great force. Levy thought she could handle this, but her mind was telling her to run back the way she came as she looked at the man she thought she knew well.

Gajeel couldn't take this anymore. His cat left him and now he was all alone with his thoughts. Although he was really alone, the rowdy guild around him proved otherwise. He sighed as he munched down another spoon. For the last week, he's been popping these things like potato chips. He finished that last bite and was about to reach for another one when he was viciously slapped on the back. Gajeel growled loudly, ready to kill whoever dared lay their hands on him when he's already pissed off. He turned around to see none other than Juvia staring up at him, anger pooling around her.

"What do you want woman!" Gajeel yelled swishing her hand away. She gladly moved her hand and crossed it over her chest with her other one.

"If you eat one more spoon, Juvia swears she will… She will-" She said the words falling from her tongue. Gajeel laughed at her innocence and leaned closer.

"You will what rain woman?" Her head shot up and she gave him an icy glare that would make the stripper actually put on some clothes. When she couldn't come up with a reasonable threat someone else in the meddling guild of theirs gave her one.

"Tell Elfman you confused him for a girl," Mira said happily from her place at the bar.

"Tell Gildarts you hit on Cona," Someone else said, continuing this little 'game.' The almighty Dragon Slayer let out a small shiver, That one actually did scare him.

"Tell Erza you ate her cake," Happy yelled from the table next to him.

"Set the jiggly butt gang on you," Wendy sang, remembering she was still their goddess.

"Make you carry all of Levy's books," Jet and Droy yelled together. Gajeel just laughed. Hell, he would do that in a heartbeat, no strings attached.

"Switch all you iron at home with kiwis!" Lily said, finally entering the guild, from his secret meeting.

"Force you on a train," Elfman laughed from the other side of the room

"Melt off all your piercings!" Natsu yelled, his flames already forming on his fists.

"Get Cancer to cut your hair," Lucy yelled, holding the crab key in the air. Gajeel would never admit it, but that one made him shiver in fear too.

"Tell the world that Natsu is stronger than you," The barmaids sister said, trying to be part of the game.

"Tell everyone what happened at the Phantom Lord Christmas party!" Juvia said, happy that she finally got a threat valuable enough for blackmail. Gajeel shot her a cold hard glare that warned 'Don't you fucking think about it' but was brushed off before the next one

"I'm gonna die your tux pink," Gray yelled from the stage getting ready to grab his always handy white singing suit. Within a heartbeat, he was ringing his hands around the ice mage's neck.

"Let Natsu use your guitar for fishing," The last threat came, Cana holding his second prized possession in one hand and a bottle of booze in another. Gajeel grabbed his suit and his guitar and sulked back to his corner.

"You guys win ya fucking nut jobs!" he yelled, holding his stuff close. "I just wanted a damn spoon," He glared at the table angrily when he saw something slip in front of him. Juvia smiled brightly at him, as he started slowly munching on the item, afraid that it'll be taken away from him.

"Juvia just wants Gajeel to stop being so sad. He should do something to make him happy" The raven haired man stared at the girl he grew up with and smirked. She was right, sitting around moping won't make Levy come back. He growled deeply as he wondered if anything would make her come back. He knew that he would wait for her forever if he had to. He would become the man that can't be moved, if it meant her knowing how much he cared. Gajeel stared at the guitar and suit currently sitting on his lap, a huge genuine smile spreading on his lips. He knew just what to do to get out of his funk.

Blue eyes stared into her dark ones as she sat on his couch. Levy looked past the man she was sitting with and focused her attention on the house she in. It was gorgeous really, huge three-floor victorian style house. it had high ceiling with glittering chandeliers hanging in the center of each one. The furniture wasn't really comfortable, but it was beautiful. Clean cut white leather, that made Levy afraid that one wrong move might stain the clean couch. She thought about how this house, like so many other things, were completely different from Gajeel's. This house was amazing and expensive, but it felt cold and lonely. She felt bad for Ian, it wouldn't have been fun growing up here. Then she thought about how Gajeel's was small with cheap furniture but was her favorite place to call home. Thinking of her star-crossed lover made Levy look straight into Ian's eyes.

"Is it true?" She asked, her voice stern and strict. Ian's eyes bunched as he tried to deflect the question.

"I don't know-" He attempted to say before Levy cut him off.

"Don't you dare fucking play dumb with me Ian Rose!" She yelled into the quiet room. "Tell me did you or did you not drug Gajeel and Lucy!" His eyes flickered to the right as he looked back at her.

"Listen Levy, I know it hurts that he doesn't love you the way-" Ian stopped and touched the giant red mark now on the side of his face. Levy moved her hand back and placed it at her side, it was slightly stinging because of where she slapped him, but the pain was worth it.

"You're disgusting" She spat at him her eyes reflecting the amount of disgust she held for the guy in front of her. She stood up, ready to leave this mess behind her. How could she be so stupid to trust him? Ian grabbed her hand as he fell to the floor. She looked at him and for the first time Levy noticed how broken he was. His eyes that always seemed so sure and full of himself were now filled with doubt. Levy looked to where his hands touched her wrist and cursed herself for being too nice.

"Get up Ian, I want to tell you a story," Levy said with a soft voice. Ian looked at her shocked but obeyed her order anyway. He sat on the couch and waited for her to start. Levy sat next to him and closed her eyes about to tell the tale of a poor farmer girl and learning about colors.

There once was a girl, around four years old who lived on a farm with her mother and father. The girl was a small and skinny thing, never given the proper nutrients for her to grown big and strong. Instead of eating three square meals like a normal girl would, this girl was lucky if she got as much as a couple of slices of bread. She was ok though because at least her mom and her dad got to eat too. The young girl would get up every morning and feed all the animals or do the chores around the house, like the good girl she was supposed to be. She frowned thinking about what would happen if she wasn't a good girl. Her parents would lock her in a closet for days depending on how bad she was with farming. One day was equal to one mistake. But as always the young girl saw the bright side, it just so happened that the closet the young girl was locked away in was filled with unread books her parents used to prop things open. While she was stuck in this closet she got a chance to read stories that took her to a place far away from her farm. though she learned a lot from the words she read, her he books taught her one simple life lesson, there was a good guy and a bad guy. There was only black and white in every story, a princess, and a witch. There was no in betweens, and no side to side.

One day the girl played with the pigs and imagined a world where she could make words become a reality. She dreamt of flicking her finger and making the words, like in her book, appear out of thin air. She suddenly turned her attention to the large pig named oinkers beside her. With a bright smile, the girl turned to him and yelled the word mud, expecting to play pretend and imagine the words flow around her. What she didn't expect to see was the word mud actually form out in front of her. The dark brown word fell with a splash and hit the happy pig. Her big brown eyes dazed in delight before running to tell her mommy what she did.

Her mom apparently wasn't happy, yelling that she couldn't use magic anymore. The young girl cried that night. her dream finally came true, and yet she wasn't allowed to use it. She sniffled and hugged the blanket closer to her as she slept on the cold hard floor. It was that moment that the girl realized life was just like her books. There were good people like her and they were bad people like her parents. She let her last tear fall on the floor as she pack two books and her blanket before running out of the house into the night. If her evil parents wouldn't let her use magic then she would find someone who will. Her little legs carried her far into the night until she couldn't walk anymore. She crashed on the floor in the middle of the street tired and afraid. She just wanted to find a home, like in her story, she wanted a fairy tale. However, when the girl awoke the next morning in a warm bed, surrounded by bright people, the girl realized all she needed was Fairy Tail.

Fast forward ten years later, the girl had become a wonderful wizard of her own, leading her own team into missions of wonderful translations. The young girl was still tiny, never really growing the way she was supposed to. She was happy though, she had a family that loved her, magic and all. She smiled at her best friends on either side of her, as she walked down the street she knew so well. Some people were trying to attack her home so they had to keep together. She wasn't scared, no matter what others thought. She was a wizard and she used beyond her wildest imagination, she would fight for her home. The girl always had faith that good would conquer evil.

She was then attacked by a man, in the future would haunt her every waking moment, and she did what she said she would. The girl fought for her home, she fought the devil in front of her. She tried to reason with him call out to his inner human, tell him that he didn't have to be the bad guy. It wasn't until she looked into his dark red eyes, that the girl remembered something she has forgotten long ago. The world was only filled with good and bad, there was no in between. She laughed in his face as he crucified her for the world to see. The girl looked into his dark eyes as hatred filled her own.

"People like you, like my parents, are monsters. Always were and always will be. I was starting to believe that maybe there was good in people, but you just proved that evil like you can never be good," She spat at the man in front of her before he punched her stomach.

"I'm glad I made you realize the terror of real evil shorty" he spat back at her.

When the girl woke up her heart filled with nothing but immense fear. All she saw was the evil in the world, it was getting to the point where she started to see the evil in the people she loved. She cried constantly, feeling like her universe was breaking apart. Then one day she walked into the place that brought her such happiness and felt like she was about to die because right in front of her was the prime example of evil. She ran to the man who saved her and begged him to force the monster out. The old man that raised her looked at her with loving eyes, as he consoled the crying, frightened girl. The man then told her that the reason he brought the evil man to her home was because, just like saw a light in her, the master saw a light in him. The old man then proceeded to teach her that everything she knew about good and bad was wrong. It wasn't just black and white, there were silver and variations of gray. There was pink, orange, and yellow. The girl claimed the man crazy and continued to cry in her fear.

As time went on she realized that maybe the old man was right. The man who once seemed so evil, so black, started to good, he became lighter. He became her Nakama, fighting by her side for the place he was now starting to consider home. It was when the two fought side by side on a magical island, where he promised to make her big that the girl realized maybe his color isn't black, maybe his color was purple. A color that started off bright but was mixed with darkness of losing his father and having to fend for himself. A color that people see as dark at first, but then learn it's just as bright as yellow would be.

Seven years later, the young girl watches her best friend suffer from the loss of her father, and her heart started to sting. This was becoming another lesson on how life wasn't just two colors. Her friend's dad was always so mean to her, but he wasn't evil, he was confused and alone. He was green. A color mixed with two other different, conflict ones. He was alone and angry, making him darken. It made her think of her own parents. What would her parents think of her now that she was older? Would they forgive her for leaving? Would she forgive them for the way they treated her? What would their color be? So the girl packed her bag started her journey to the farm where she grew up.

She passed the fields and walked up the broken-down farmhouse where she knocked a couple of times, her heart pounding loudly along with the knocker. After a couple of minutes of waiting, she was about to turn around when she noticed someone tending to the pigs. There was a man in his late 20s, cleaning the pen and playing with Oinkers. The man told her how her parents died a few months ago, because of a broken heart. The girl gasped and wanted to flee but listened to every word the man told her. He told her their heroic venture of braving cruel conditions to protect their daughter. They slept on bedbug and roach infested beds so she wouldn't have to. They only gave her the food that was edible while they ate the moldy, parasite infested stuff so she wouldn't get sick. How when they noticed she would never be a farmer girl, they forced her to read, so she can have an education. How they tried to protect her from magic so she wouldn't get hurt by the wizard hunter that used to live in this part of town. The young girl broke down in the middle of the farm she left behind, the home she left behind. That's when she realized that this whole time she believed the world was black and white, when right in front of her there was proof that there was color. Her parents weren't as black as she believed when she was so wrong. Instead, their color was pink. Good intentions went the wrong way, but all they had was her best interest at heart, and they did everything with love.

Levy looked at Ian with a tearful smile. No matter how many times she told that story, it always hurt. Ian stared at the floor, taking in every word as if it was the last thing he would ever hear. Levy put an arm on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly, letting him brush his fingers against hers for support.

"I know that you're not black Ian, Your probably a beautiful color like orange or red. I know that, even though, what you did was completely fucked up of you, that your not a bad guy, you just made a bad decision. I promise that someone somewhere will brighten your world to show you your color and then you can find the happiness you were looking for in me so desperately" She said brightly. She removed her hand and started walking to the door. Before she turned walked out the door Levy turned to face him one more time, her face serious and deadly. She spoke with her head held high and venom leaking out.

"And if you EVER mess with me, Gajeel or my friends like that again I will make sure that he does way more than beat the shit out of you in some local bar," She said before leaving the cold home, in hopes of finding the man who taught her how to read in between the lines.

Levy walked into the guild ready to face everyone on. She's made her peace with Ian, she made her peace with Lily and now she was ready to make her peace with everyone else. She opened the door and a smile automatically bloomed on her face. She breathed the scent of food, laughter, brawls, the scent of her family through her small nostrils. She waved happily to Shadow Gear as she skipped to the bar. Mira smiled at her sweetly and handed her a giant plate of food.

"If you get any skinnier we won't be able to see you anymore," She said brightly. Levy knew the truth behind her words though 'You better stop starving yourself before I kill you personally.' She knew she should be scared of those words but instead she felt a blooming in her heart. She started eating, thinking of what she was going to say to Gajeel. First, she needed to apologize for jumping to conclusions. Everyone was right, she was really stupid for a smart person. Just as she was cursing herself for not paying attention to the behavior of her Nakama, Levy felt someone sitting next to her and her heart stopped. She thought she was ready to face Lucy but in reality she wasn't. Lucy was the vision of everything Levy wished she could be, and although she now knows they were both under a spell, Levy couldn't help but feel the sting in knowing it was Lucy that Gajeel was forced to kiss.

"Levy," Lucy started slowly. She moved slowly reaching to touch her hand to mine. They both felt it, they both knew it was going to happen. Lucy and Levy tired holding it in, but the second her fingers touched Levy's the two girls both fell in a fit of hysteria. They both cried hugging each other desperately as if the other would disappear into dust.

"I'm sorry" they both sobbed in each other's ear. Nothing else had to be said as the girls simply hugged out all the pain of the last week. Levy hugged out all her fears and anger while lucy hugged out the sadness and guilt that haunted her. When the girls finally separated the tears were wiped clean and a fresh start was given. Lucy started telling Levy about her novel and Levy told her best friend about what happened with Ian.

"I don't think you should have forgiven him," Lucy said, anger flowing out of her words. Levy sighed and shook her head.

"I didn't forgive him, I just tried to show him that there will be a light to clear his darkness," She said staring at her drink. Lucy smiled at her kind best friend and pulled out two tickets.

"How about you come with me to the music festival in magnolia tomorrow? We can listen to good music, dance, and have fun. It'll help get your mind off of everything," Lucy asked shyly. The blue-haired fairy stared at the tickets and weighed her options, she could go out have fun or she could try to hunt down Gajeel and force him to talk to her. A bright smile bloomed on her delicate features as she took a single ticket at skipped out the guild.

"Meet me here tomorrow Lu!" Levy yelled behind her back as she ran back to her room to pick out an outfit.

Lucy turned to the shadow that sat on the side of her table with an accomplished smirk on her face.

"Mission was a success," She said before getting off her bar stool and walking towards her blue, fish eating baby. The shadow turned into a human as red eyes shined with accomplishment, and determination.

"Ghihih."

A/N: Whoa this is a super long chapter lol! I hope you all enjoyed it. Please tell me what you think, I value all opinions. I also hope everyone understands what I was trying to pull off with Ian, if you don't I'm sorry/not sorry I made you hate him so lol. See you all next week, same time same place :)