Here's another one. And I'm sorry to say, this is the beginning of the end. Don't get me wrong, there will be more chapters (how many, I'm not sure), but at least more than three. But fear not! That just means I can start on a new one!

I DO NOT OWN Fairy Tail. Please Read and Review. As always, your reviews are SO important to me!

Also, just to refresh your mind about the timeline for this story, it takes place just before the S-class exams in the manga. So, basically, Gajeel has Lily, and there's a new group of council members in charge of the magical community. That becomes important in this chapter.

Levy loved Lucy to death, and that night at the party, she remembered why. Privately, Levy had told Lucy what had happened with Gajeel, and though Lucy seemed shocked at first (she assumed Levy just had a little crush, not a full-on love), the first thing she said was: "Fight for it. Believe with all your heart he'll come back safely, and fight for your love."

Levy attacked her best friend with a hug. She knew Lucy had never really taken to Gajeel, much the same as the rest of the guild, so to hear such encouragement from her really reinforced their friendship.

The girls (Levy, Lucy, Juvia, Mirajane, Erza, Bisca, Lisanna and Lucky) spent the night playing card games, talking about their recent missions or about their love-lives and binge-eating all manner of cookies, candies and cakes. Sometimes a girl just had to let go, and Mirajane made some of the most amazing sweets on the planet. By the end of the evening they were all sick to their stomachs, but Levy was feeling much better. She had even managed to get Lucy to admit she liked Natsu. She had worked on Mirajane for a confession about Fried but Mira was too sharp to fall into that trap.

Levy's mind was free of worry until she was across the hall, alone in her own room. It was then her brain took over again, and everything the party helped her forget came rushing back.

"Damn it," she sobbed, overtaken suddenly by tears. "Damn it!" She flung her face into her pillow and cried herself to sleep.

A few days later, deep in a forest halfway across the map, Gajeel and Pantherlily stalked their prey.

"Finally tracked them down, Gajeel?"

"Yeah. Got a good whiff about three miles back. We'll catch up if we run."

"Roger that!"

They sped up, Lily flying as quickly as his little wings could flap.

"There's seven of them," said Gajeel. "Seven distinct, disgusting smells."

"We don't smell so great ourselves," said Lily, sniffing at his arms.

"We smell woodsy. It's charming. They smell like rot and death."

"Not so charming."

Gajeel chuckled. "Keep up cat! I want these idiots dead." I want to get back home.

Levy awoke to dry skin. Her tears had evaporated to salt on her cheeks and closed up all her pores.

All this crying might be good for my skin, she thought to herself, choking back the urge to start crying again. She had come to a decision a few nights ago, during the cake-parade: though her love-life was in the crapper, she wasn't going to make everyone else's regular lives miserable. She wouldn't wallow in her sorrows any longer. It was past the time for tears.

She got up and dressed and left Fairy Hills, headed for the guild hall. After a few minutes walking on the main road, she started to hear footsteps. From either side, Jet and Droy flanked her, linking their arms with hers.

"Hi guys!" she chirped. "I haven't seen you in ages! What's been going on?"

"We went on a mission just for kicks," said Droy. "We taught some school kids about the different types of magic."

"Aww! That sounds like it was fun!"

"Not really," lamented Jet. "One of the kids kicked my shin."

"And one of them drew on my face with a marker when I fell asleep during recess," said Droy.

Levy laughed; she was truly glad to see her two best friends. She would need them in the months to come.

"All right you punks," said Jet, "let's go get some breakfast!"

"Heck yeah!"

Mirajane slid three plates to the Shadow Gear team with a smile.

"Feeling better Levy?"

"Were you sick?" asked Jet and Droy in unison.

"A little sniffly," she replied, glancing at Mirajane, who just smiled sadly in return.

"So boys," began Mirajane, "my oven's been acting up again. You want to take a look at it…oh they're gone. Too bad."

"Mira-san…"

"Sorry, Levy-chan, I had to. The Master wants to talk to you."

"Then shouldn't all of Shadow Gear be there?"

"No Levy, he wants to talk to you about Gajeel."

"Has something happened?" Levy's eyes grew wide, began to water.

"No, don't worry," said Mirajane, putting her hand on Levy's shoulder. "Master just wants you to know what's going on. He thinks you deserve to know."

"That doesn't sound like something the master would think," said Levy.

"I might have leaned on him a little bit."

"Mira-san, you're awesome!" Levy threw her arms around Mirajane's neck, surprising the older woman.

"Now, now, it's all right dear. Just go see the Master."

Levy nodded and scurried off towards Makarov's office. She had only been in there a few times, and never for very long. It seemed like a typical office (desk, shelves, lamps, etc.), except that behind the big desk in the center of the room sat a tiny little old man wearing a funny hat.

"Yo, Levy-chan," said Makarov. "Have a seat." When she did so, he continued. "I hear there was some commotion between you and Gajeel the other day."

"Yes sir," said Levy. "Not a commotion, really, just…"

"You don't need to explain. Mirajane already has."

"I see…"

"I am only telling you what is going on because I know you can keep a secret. You might be the best in the guild at that," said Makarov. "Gajeel is following a lead passed to me by one of the other guild leaders. There's some corruption in the upper ranks. As in the new council members."

"Gajeel is confirming that fact?"

"Yes. And taking down as many of them as he can once he's sent me proof."

"By himself? He's out there all by himself?"

"It's what he wanted. Besides, if we sent Natsu or Gray, the mission wouldn't be secret anymore, and if we sent Erza, she'd insist on Gray and Natsu accompanying her. Gajeel is good at his job, Levy-chan. Don't worry yourself too much. He'll be back before you know it."

Levy nodded, holding back tears. "Thank you sir. When you tell me not to worry so much, I actually do feel better."

"Good, good. And when Gajeel sends me word, I'll let you know. He's been ordered to update me once a week."

"Oh, thank you sir!" And Levy threw her arms around Makarov too. The old pervert blushed.

"All right boys, you've got one chance each to tell me what you know. I am not above killing you in some pretty depraved ways. I'm good at acts of depravity. So I'll ask you first, Blondey. Who is in charge of your sect?"

The seven men Gajeel had been chasing were caught. Gajeel had them bound together in a line on the ground. He stood in front of them, pacing like a general before his troops. Lily stood off to the side, leaning up against a tree. He picked at his claws, removing the dirt and blood and bits of rock from the skin around them. He was tempted to pick the twigs out of Gajeel's long mane.

Blondey didn't answer. Instead, he spit at Gajeel's feet.

"Blondey's a bit of a dumbass, it seems. Lily, what do you think? Sharp or blunt?"

"Your choice. I'll pick next time."

"Sharp it is," said Gajeel, staring down Blondey. The dragon slayer's arm transformed into an axe blade. "Too bad Blondey, I was hoping this one would be easy." I want to get back home.

I hope you liked it! Gajeel is kinda mean in this one. :) If he seems a little OOC, I'm sorry. I was trying to build on the relationship he has with Pantherlily in the manga, where the cat is the only one he can be easy with. I liked the idea of Gajeel and Lily having this hilarious repartee.

Anywho, Till next time!