Chapter 31

AN: Hi guys! Happy Gajevy day 2019! I wanted to get the chapter up sooner but when I realized what day was coming up, I was like, eh.. just post it up on that day XD I hope you guys enjoy it… .….

Piranha-pk: haha yeah, plus around the holidays I get super busy so it makes it even harder to get a chapter for any of my stories posted lol and yes! There will be so much cuter gajevy things to be had in more chapters :) I can't wait to get to them! And thank you for reading and reviewing! *hearts*

Shaidow365: Ermergerds! Thank you so much! ^_^ I'm trying to keep this story interesting with each chapter and it makes me feel so good to hear that it's one of your favorites! Eeee! I will try harder to get more chapters posted sooner!

Dragonfly2311: hahaha I noticed that you finally got an account on FF! I was like yassss! And I totally get it, I was the same way when I started reading FF myself lol but then I was like… I need to write some stories haha things are improving but now I'm getting into the holidays and they are always crazy! XD Jerza will have more interactions for sure and I'm not gonna say anything else caz I don't want to spoil anything! As for the fix for Levy…. I also will not say yes or no caz reasons XD it's a lot of fun to write Gajeel embarrassed by little things! I can't wait to write more with him! and omg don't ever worry how long you rant! I love reading it all! And it just makes me feel good about the chapters, especially when I think they aren't that good haha. I'm so weird.

Saphiredragonstorm: yeppers :) I was just going off from the horses I had to deal with at my old job and all the injuries they would acquire caz they are so accident prone haha

**PLEASE EXCUSE ANY MISTAKES I HAVE MISSED! I read over this quickly and probably missed a lot but I couldn't wait to get this posted! I will go back and read it later and make whatever edits i need to!

Hazel eyes slowly started to open the next morning, her whole body feeling the absence of Gajeels' large form behind her. Levy stirred in place as a hand moved over her forearm, her fingertips brushing over her skin where she can still feel the tight embrace Gajeel had given her the night before. A soft smile crept over the girls face as she thought about how she fell asleep in his arms as they held her close. The blue-haired girl gradually sat up and yawned. Hazel eyes glanced over to the entrance of the tent, her mind questioning what time of day it was. "I'm supposed to meet with everyone… but I wonder if I slept in too late. It feels like morning is already almost over and done with." With a sigh, Levy forced herself to stand and reach up to the metal cuff on her ear. She lightly pressed on the green jewel and waited until she had transformed back in to a centaur before putting on a smile and determined expression on her face. "Either way, I am supposed to be at the meeting. I can only hope that it didn't start too early without me."

Levy pushed past the heavy wooden doors and made her way to the meeting hall where everyone summoned gathered around in a circle. She could hear Jenny's voice speaking loudly, explaining what had happened with Bacchus and how she and the others ended up in Quatro Cerberus's clutches. Once she entered the room, hazel eyes widened at what she saw circled around the room. Jenny was a beautiful Pegasus, with cream colored fur and a bright, wavy golden mane and tail. Her crystal blue eyes narrowed as she continued to speak about Quatro Cerberus even after pausing for a moment as Levy entered the room.

Hazel eyes continued down the line and saw a cowering light brown puppy with long floppy ears and a short tail clutched closely to its side sitting next to a dark pink cat with a long curly tail and large ears with deep blue eyes that watched Jenny speak as it seemed to comfort the small mammal beside it. 'That must be Coco and Sherry next to Jenny… just basing it off of how they looked as captured humans…'

The blue-coated centaur shifted her gaze to the other side of the Pegasus where Hisui and the other two victims stood. Both stood proudly as they listened to Jenny speak. Yukino was a pure white sabertooth tiger with five black stripes running down her back. Her ears were short and rounded as was her bobbed tail. Her most prominent feature were her pearly white fangs that stuck out on either side of her mouth and went just past her bottom jaw. Flare was a pure black colored raven with a long, slick beak and long dark legs.

Levy's attention turned back to Jenny as she finished up explaining everything. "There was supposed to be someone from Mermaid Heel to join his harem as well… but from what we could hear from the pack members, the mermaid was saved by a small group from Fairy Tail."

Erza brought a finger and thumb to her chin as she lowered her head slightly in thought. "That must have been Juvia that you're referring to. So, Bacchus has been collecting girls for some time then."

Makarov rubbed his wrinkled head, a soft groan escaping his throat. "To think such a guild with so much potential went down the dark path…" His dark eyes shifted up as he looked up to the different creatures in the room.

"The influence of power drove their leader to the dark side. Just like any weak being seeking a greater purpose in life." A deep voice said from the meeting halls entrance, turning all heads to look at the man standing in the opening. Mystogan stood for a moment before walking in closer to complete the circle in the room. "Bacchus was going to turn on the imposter on the throne, and eventually wanted to increase his numbers to overthrow the princess and claim the castle as his own, and rule over the kingdom."

Levy's expression lit up as she saw her only one, she considered a friend in the castle. "Mystogan!" She said as she ran to the tall man's side. "I can't believe this! You're here! How… why?!"

The tall man's expression was grim as he looked down at Levy. Relief came across his mind for a split second, knowing that she was safe and back in the safety of the centaurs, made the man happy. He wanted to catch up with the girl at his side, but he wasn't here to make small talk. "That's what I'm here to talk about. Laxus was ordered to search for you and bring you back to the castle, and the princess hired Bacchus to do the same but I overheard him say that he wanted to hurt a centaur by taking Levy as his personal mate. The one called Issac gave Bacchus a hand drawn map on how to get to Fairy Tail, but it seemed that Levy ended up running right into them anyway."

Master Makarov narrowed his eyes at the human speaking. "And this wolf, Bacchus, does he still have the map showing him how to get to Fairy Tail? Did Issac write on the map what it was revealing?!" He questioned with concern in his voice.

Mystogan shook his head. "No words that I could tell were on that parchment. Only a simple map and arrows pointing how to get here."

Gajeel crossed his arms over his chest as he took a step forward. "That damned wolf is dead, so you don't need to concern yourselves about him coming back here. I personally made sure he was sent to the afterlife." Crimson orbs slowly shifted towards hazel eyes that matched his gaze. They looked full of guilt as Levy looked back at the black centaur. He looked back at the master, dismissing her guilt-ridden expression. "What we need to concern ourselves with is the fact that there is an imposter princess sitting on the throne right now. We need to take those humans down a peg and show them that they can't continue to get away with hunting us down like some helpless prey."

Mystogan took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "I agree. The princess, I fear, has something evil up her sleeve. Not only for Levy, but for all mythical creatures as well."

The green haired human finally spoke out to the group. "I need to get back to my castle and set things right with the entire kingdom. The evil tranny of that fake princess has gone on long enough, and I am ready to fight for what is rightfully mine." Hisui said with such confidence.

The large centaur looked to the human girl that was just slightly taller than Levy was in human form. "There's actually someone higher up than that fake princess. Her name is Angel, and she's the one calling the shots from the shadows, and using a celestial spirit as her puppet to do her bidding."

The scarlet centaur butted in quickly. "How do you know this, Gajeel?"

Anger started to bubble in the dark centaurs' veins at the mere thought of the first human he thought he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with, had really turned into this vile and horrible excuse of a living being. He lowered his arms as his hands clenched tightly at his sides, his crimson orbs staying on the scarlet centaur as he spoke as calmly as possible. "Angel showed herself to me while we were being held captive at the castle. She told me it was her doing all those years ago. She was the reason why some of us were captured and made to think they were all killed. That disgusting woman needs to be taken out once and for all, just like that wolf was."

Erzas brows crossed as she held a hand out at her side while the other stayed close to her body. "And how do you think we'll be able to achieve such a feat?! We centaurs are already so few in numbers, to take on the castle ourselves…" The scarlet being closed her eyes lightly as she straightened her posture and moved her hand back to her side. "I don't want a repeat of the last time we tried to storm the castle." Brown eyes opened back up and looked to the stubborn centaur a few feet away from her. "There are even some centaurs here now that don't possess magic abilities anymore or have a clue how to hold a sword. This action you want to proceed with… I just don't see it ending well in our favor."

The cream coated Pegasus opened one of her wings and brought it around across her chest as her head dipped down some. "Blue Pegasus will help in the fight to come. We owe you all so much already, it is the very least we can do." The mare lifted her head as she brought her wing back close to her side. "I will leave today and speak with Ichiya myself. I'm sure I'll have no trouble convincing him. Your numbers would increase tremendously with Blue Pegasus joining your fight." Jenny said with a soft smile.

Makarov opened his mouth to protest, but the Pegasus wasn't going to stick around and wait to hear any of it. She bowed her head to the circle and made her way to the wooden doors at the entrance, taking flight almost immediately after she had opened the doors. The small grey centaur shook his head as he sighed. "You youngsters sure like to cause me a whole lot of trouble."

The scarlet centaur looked towards her master. "We really can't do this, Master. Not only is it unreasonable to ask Blue Pegasus to fight a battle that doesn't even concern them, but we still won't be able to win this fight with who all is left in this guild."

Makarovs eyelids lowered halfway as he looked to the floor, the look of defeat already appearing across his face. "I hear what you are saying Erza, and I understand that we have a very small chance in succeeding, but I fear this is one battle we will not be able to hide from. All we can do is our best, and pray to the old master that we come out on top."

Yukino and Flare both approached the scarlet mare and old master, their heads bowing in respect for a moment. "We will also return to our guild and try to convince the others to help aid in your fight." The white tiger said calmly. As she raised her head, her ears lowered in concern. "Though I am not sure if any of our guilds will be willing to help, seeing how we keep to ourselves… but since you aided in our escape, I will plead with our guild master, and perhaps we can help you somehow."

Flare nodded in agreement. "We will send word to you as soon as possible letting you know the outcome of our talk with the masters."

Makarov grumbled as he shifted in place. "All of you are such trouble… honestly…"

Erza turned to face the master, bowing her head slightly. "I'm sorry, Master. I was the one who wanted to hold this meeting. It was never my intent to have the others join in our issues."

The old centaur waved a hand to dismiss her statement. "Whether we want it or not… there was no stopping those youngsters. They were full of gratitude and want to help us. No words were going to be able to change their minds. But now… we have another issue." Dark old eyes looked towards the two humans still standing in the room. "We have two humans to deal with." The scarlet centaur was about to argue with the master to keep her newly reunited lover here in Fairy Tail, but before she could protest, Makarov held a hand up in her direction, shutting her down immediately. "Fear not, my child. I was not going to force them out. I was simply going to say that Jellal will be under your charge, and as for you, princess—"

Hisui moved closer to the centaur who spoke. She knelt down to one knee as she stared into dark eyes, a soft smile forming across her lips. "You needn't worry about me. I am actually going to search out an old friend that will be able to help us in the battle to come. I need to see what has happened to my kingdom as well. I've been gone so long; I need to know how my people have been fairing. I will take my leave immediately as well."

The grey centaur held out a hand in suggestion. "Why not let one of us accompany you on your journey then?"

Erza looked down at the old master as she raised a brow. "Who do you intend to send along with this human, Master?"

Makarov smiled as he lifted his staff in his hand just a few inches off the ground before sending it back down to the wooden floor below. In a flash, the grey centaur had changed into an elderly man before them all. "It's time this old timer saw the outside world as well." His dark eyes looked up to the surprised mare beside him. "I'm counting on you to hold down the fort until my return, Erza."

"Master…" Were the only words the scarlet centaur managed to let out as she watched her master and the green haired princess make their way to the doors.

The old man waved a hand in the air as he walked along side of the princess. "Make sure the rest of the kids stay in line until I get back. Don't let them get into too much trouble."

Erza smiled as she nodded. "Of course."

Makarov looked over at the pink cat and brown puppy left behind. "You two, why don't you join us as well? I don't believe either of you really have a guild to go back to anymore, is that right?" The two small creatures nodded and stood, following the humans out the door to start their new adventures together.

Gajeel made his way over to where Levy and Mystogan stood, his arms folded across his chest with a scowl across his face. He growled as he pulled at Levy's arm, bringing her in closer to him and away from the man who he still did not completely trust.

"Gajeel!" Levy said as she felt his strong pull on her arm.

Crimson eyes narrowed as the centaur spoke. "Sorry about your shoulder."

Deep green eyes looked over Gajeel for a moment before speaking. "Consider it payback for what I did at the castle." The tall man waited another minute before speaking once more. "I am… sorry for what happened back there."

"Pfft. Whatever. Come on, Levy. Let's go." The black centaur said quickly as he pulled Levy out of the room without another word and her protesting with each step they took.

"I don't ever think he will ever trust me." Mystogan said as he watched the two unlikely pair of centaurs leave the building.

Erza came up beside the man and let out a soft sigh. "He's just being stubborn, per usual. He just needs time to see the real you." Brown eyes looked down as a sad expression came across the mares' face. "That is… if we can ever recover your memories." The scarlet creature blushed as she felt a strong hand take hers lightly. Her eyes shifted up to dark green.

"I will get there eventually. I do not want to give up on what I think we had once before. I just need more time. Perhaps being in this place will help me remember faster. Especially… if you are at my side… Erza."

The mare smiled as she squeezed the man's hand in response. "Yes. And I don't plan on ever leaving it again."

Levy fought hard to keep up with the dark centaur as he pulled on her arm as he stormed down the path. "Gajeel! What's gotten into you?! Hey! I'm talking to you! Gajeel!" With a growl, the dappled centaur stomped her front hooves into the ground as hard as she could, all while she pulled her arm back to her own body. "Gajeel!"

The dark centaur snapped his head back. "What?!"

The blue-haired centaur let out a huff. "What's the matter with you?! What was all of that back there?!"

Crimson eyes shifted away from Levy as he stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "I don't trust that guy."

"So that gave you the right to take me and storm out of the room like that? How old are you, really?!" Levy said in frustration. "You're acting like a child right now."

"I just…" Gajeel began in an agitated tone but then took in a deep breath as he turned his body to face the smaller centaur. His hands reached up and lightly took her own. "I just… don't want to see anything happen to you. Not again. And I'm sorry I don't trust him… but if it wasn't for that guy, I would have never been captured and—"

Levy smiled softly as she brought a hand up to the centaurs' chest, her fingertips lightly pressing on his dark vest over the left side of his chest where his scar was. "Gajeel… I know you're just being extra protective of me, but you don't need to be. Especially around Mystogan. He has never laid a hand on me, and I don't ever think he will. He has a kind heart, just like you do. You just need to look past what he did in the castle. Not to mention, I can handle my own now! I don't need—"

The small centaur gasped as the larger centaur moved quickly. He had stepped in closer to her body as his arm wrapped around her torso, holding her in place. His hand made its way to her cheek and tilted her head back slightly as he leaned in close. His crimson orbs were half lidded as he spoke. "Please… don't finish that sentence."

Hazel eyes shifted between crimson orbs for a long minute. "G-Gajeel…"

"Ahem… um…" Lucy started to say as she watched the pair staring into each other's eyes, looking like they were ready to kiss at any moment.

Levy shook her head and pushed the large brute away from her body as she turned her attention to her golden friend. "Ah! Lucy! Wha- what's up?!"

Chocolate brown eyes shifted between the pair. "Was I… interrupting something just now?"

Levy waved her hands in front of her body. "No! of course not! We were just, uh, messing around! Yeah! So, what's up?"

The blonde-haired centaur held up a dark colored lacrima. "I think this is for Gajeel. Natsu and I have been doing some cleaning in the library and we happened to stumble across this. We tried to get it to play whatever message on here, but all we keep hearing is Gajeels' name being said. We figured it had to be enchanted so that only he could hear the message."

"I don't care what that thing has to say, just toss it out with the rest of the old junk in that library." The black coated centaur said in a grumbly voice.

Levy laughed lightly as she took the lacrima from her friend. "Thanks Lucy. We'll go check it out right now. Thanks for bringing it to him."

Lucy smiled as she nodded. "Yeah, no problem! I'm gonna head back to the library and make sure Natsu hasn't burned the place down, so I'll catch you later!"

As soon as the golden mare was far enough away, Levy took hold of Gajeels' wrist and pulled him all the way along to his tent. Once inside, she quickly turned and help up the dark orb to Gajeels' face. "Do you realize what this is?!"

Gajeel glanced away from what was in Levy's hands. "No, and I don't care."

Levy looked baffled by his answer. "This is the message from your parents! The one Mavis was supposed to give to you but lost! How can you say you don't care about hearing their message?!"

The taller centaur snapped his head back in the mare's direction. "Because I had a parent! Lily was my dad my whole life! I don't need to stand here and listen to what that stupid lacrima has to say!" The angered centaur took the dark orb from Levy's hand and raised it into the air, ready to toss the useless thing aside when the orb started to pulsate with a dim light. A soft, womanly voice could be heard, repeating Gajeels' name like a broken record. The dark centaur panicked and dropped the lacrima instantly. The two mythical beings stood there; eyes glued to the orb on the ground as it flashed repeatedly.

Both Gajeel and Levy jumped back a step as a projection finally left the lacrima on the ground. It was a recording of a young-looking centaur with raven black hair and solid silver colored eyes. She had bandages around her neck and a small one on her forehead. Her centaur form was covered in bandages as well, most likely due to a recent fight. Her voice sounded like an angel, yet felt somewhat familiar to the large centaur as he stood frozen in place, watching the message play out.

"My dearest Gajeel… I am truly sorry that your father and I could not be there to watch you grow up. You must understand that what we did, we did out of love. You were a miracle, created by a centaur and a human and we wanted you to live. We made the ultimate sacrifice by leaving you at Fairy Tail to try to take out the leader of Quatro Cerberus and not one day will go by when we don't regret it, so long that you are alive. My son… my dear, sweet baby boy. I hope you can and will forgive us one day. Our hope is that we can somehow figure out a way to harness the power of this island we are bound to now, and return to you soon to watch you grow up into a fine centaur. But if that plan should fail, and you have grown up into adulthood, then please… come find us on Tenrou Island. We will not rest until the day we can finally see you again."

As the projection began to fade, all that was left to be seen was a smiling mare with tears running down her cheeks as she ended her message. Levy's heart went out to his parents. She knows what separation felt like and how hard it was to want to see someone so badly, yet had to sacrifice so much so that their loved one could live a better life. Hazel eyes rounded as she watched the dark centaur turn and start for the entrance of his tent without a word. "Gajeel! Where are you going?!" The smaller centaur chased after him, calling out his name as she raced to catch up with his long strides. "Gajeel, wait!" Levy reached out and lightly tugged at the black centaurs' arm, causing him to stop in his tracks.

He kept his head down low as he spoke. "I… I didn't want to believe you when you told me before that my parents were alive. I didn't want to feel all of these emotions that I'm now drowning in." He clenched his fist at his side as Levy's hand slid down his arm as she moved in front of him now. "I don't even know how to feel about all of that. Anger, sadness, pain, guilt… nothing." Crimson orbs looked up into hazel as they were full of warm tears waiting for sweet escape. "All my life, I thought they abandoned me. Left me alone here, at this place. With nothing of theirs to tell me that they ever loved me. I hated them. I wished they were dead countless times when I was growing up. I questioned them every single day. Why me? Why did you give me up like that? Was I not good enough to love and care for? Was I just a waste of their time?" Gajeel shook his head in frustration as he brought a hand up to his dark mane, gripping the side of his head tightly. "I don't know how I should feel about seeing that message! I don't know how I feel… about seeing… my mother…."

The dappled mare brought a hand up to cup the side of his face lightly, her thumb brushing away a single tear that was shed from the side of his crimson eye. "You should feel grateful that they are still alive. Yes, hate, sadness, and pain will all be flowing through you now. You've lived your entire life thinking one thing about your parents and I'm sure it must have been hard. But now you need to look to the future. Your parents are alive!" Levy paused for a moment as Gajeel looked into her eyes, the pain slowly fading from his mind as she continued to speak. "And the good news is that they want to see you. They haven't seen you since you were just days old. How do you think they have felt all this time? I'm sure with each passing day, they hate themselves for the sacrifice they had to make sure you would live. They probably miss you so much that if they saw you right now, they would probably hug you so hard and never want to let you go."

"Levy…" The dark centaur said lightly as the blue-haired centaur gave him a soft smile. She pulled his head down to her own as she closed her eyes lightly.

"You need to go see them on Tenrou Island, Gajeel." She said softly.

"I… I don't want to. Lily has been my father figure my whole life. I don't think I can face the real thing." The taller centaurs hand moved away from his dark mane down to his side. His voice full of uncertainty.

Hazel eyes opened to meet with crimson. "What if I go with you? Could you face them then?" Gajeel mumbled under his breath, uncertainty still in his voice as his crimson gaze shifted away. Levy pulled his attention back to her as she pressed her lips against his own, holding him in place for a long, passionate minute. "I can give you courage on this journey, but you need to go see them. Not only for their sake, but for your own."

Rounded red eyes softened at her words. With a soft sigh, Gajeel wrapped his arms around the blue centaurs' shoulders, pulling her in a close embrace. "Fine… I'll go. But I'll have to bring this up to Erza first since the master is gone now. I only hope with everything going on now, she'll agree to let us go to the island."

Meanwhile…

A ravenous canine continued to devour its meal that lay sprawled out in front of him. The indigo colored wolf raised his head from the flesh he was eating, letting the warm blood drip down from his powerful jaws and blood-stained fangs. He took in a deep, wheezing breath. "That… damned centaur… he will know… my furry… once more. I need more… more! More flesh, more bones… more… blood. I need to get… strong again… I need… to rebuild… my pack. I got lucky… they left a delicious… centaur for me… back at my den… but he wasn't enough… I need more." Crazed red eyes shifted in their sockets as the wolf spoke to himself. A light chuckle left his lips as he looked up to the sky. "I need to call… them. The new… pack… that will help me… destroy… Fairy Tail… and take back… what is rightfully… mine!" As his jaw closed, a low growl formed in the back of the large wolfs throat. He let out a long howl, calling to his brethren. The wind carried his call to the surrounding forests, beckoning for others to join his new cause.

AN: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter because I can't wait to write out the next couple ones I have in store! Gah! I'm going to try very hard to get another one posted sometime next week, but for now, HAPPY GAJEVY DAY 2019!