Chapter 2: Levy's POV:
Celebrations Cut Short
The guild had been fairly boisterous as it had usually been. The only difference was the celestial wizard and the seith mage. An entire year ago, the two had barely talked to one another outside guild events. Levy found herself proud and happy for Lucy. Having come so far, and accomplishing so much. Overcome a horrible nightmare and saved everyone. Even if it was just self preservation. Levy was just happy not to be time's plaything. The script mage sat across from Gajeel with a smile. Happily observing her best friends with her team. Levy was aware of the time of year. What the date was. It was one that was hard to forget. They'd missed a whole year, missing time again. She found herself glad that she didn't have a malicious heart to do something awful to try and get it back.
"Hey shrimp." Levy heard Gajeel call her as she watched Lucy walk over to the table with Laxus and Bickslow. She turned to face Gajeel across from her and smiled, "Gajeel." She said with a heartwarming smile. "How are you?" She questioned him, hoping the dragon slayer was well. She knew this day was off for everyone. "Probably better than those two." Gajeel replied, pointing towards Lucy and Bickslow. Levy's smile dropped slightly. "It's not easy. We all went through something horrible. I can't even imagine what they're feeling right now. But they've come so far." The script mage said with pride filling her voice. She watched Gajeel smile at her. "I don't even want to think about the maze. I was there for some of it, but reading about what they saw and went through? I'd still be paranoid too."
Levy gave Gajeel a pout and placed her small hands on top of his much larger ones. "I'm proud of you too, Gajeel. For helping them." She said with another smile. She felt Gajeel take her hands in his and grimaced. "Certainly fucked me up seeing so many of them dead or dying. Particularly seeing Lucy's face as the other Bickslow was cut in half behind me." He shuddered. "Don't think I'll ever forget the face she made… Levy. Unsettling." He admitted. Levy smiled sadly at Gajeel, "I know it's hard. Try not to focus on it. I'm here for you, we all are." She told him, trying not to imagine the face her best friend made. She knew it was hard for all of them. Especially hard for Lucy and Bickslow. Sure, she'd seen Cana die abruptly and violently, it was horrifying to watch too. But she had no idea how she would begin to feel if she saw herself die. Once wasn't enough for the universe for Lucy. It had to be more. It saddened Levy. She couldn't think of anyone less deserving than Lucy for such a tragic fate.
Yet here they sat, all trying to have a good time while remembering the island a year before like it still loomed over their heads. "I know." Gajeel said in return to Levy. She watched the man turn his gaze to something else. She followed to see Gray drinking with Cana. The man had taken more of a liking to drinking with her after missions. Although he'd bounced back, Levy knew this haunted him too. She felt it was nice that he eased up on ignoring Juvia too. The woman could be a bit overwhelming sometimes but Levy felt like Gray handled it well.
"WHAT?" Levy jumped at the sudden sound of Natsu yelling. She turned to Gajeel quickly and furrowed her brows in confusion. "No way. The bastard's going to do it. You're not going to want to miss this. Levy." Gajeel stated, before he took her hand and led her to the table that Lucy was at. Levy watched Bickslow and Lucy. The blonde crying as Bickslow smiled sadly at her. "It's real, Lucy." Bickslow confirmed. Levy could see the ring. It was beautiful, suited Lucy so well. It was such a heartbreaking and heartwarming scene to watch. They had found happiness within their own sea of doubts. Levy was happy for them. She smiled at them, even despite how sad it appeared for anyone who didn't understand the extent that they'd been through on the island. She knew. She knew how much they needed something like this. Levy watched Bickslow as he spoke once more, "Don't you dare forget, nothing can take this away from us. Not again." Bickslow proclaimed. Levy found herself leaning against Gajeel, hardly feeling shy about how she felt towards him. "Then, you're sure?" She heard Lucy ask. "Oh Lu…" Levy whispered, feeling her heart reach out to how Lucy felt. She was sure it was hard. None of this would be easy, after all. It had only been a year. She knew how fast Fairy Tail member's bounced back quickly, but seeing something so horrible for so long as they did… She couldn't imagine it being a fast recovery.
Suddenly Levy heard Laxus laughing beside them. Telling Lucy that Bickslow had never seemed more sure of anything. It was a strange sentence. Levy didn't know Bickslow to be unsure of much, but she appreciated the sentiment from Laxus. She watched Bicklsow roll his eyes at Laxus, then speak to Lucy. "Of course I'm sure, Lucy." Levy wasn't sure if her heart could take how cute this was getting. Here she stood, leaning on Gajeel who held her close to him, watching her friend accept such a joyous moment. The celestial wizard finally answered Bickslow, a smile finally showing. "I will, Bickslow. And you know exactly what you're doing." Lucy teased her fiance. The blonde sticking her tongue out at Bickslow. Levy was still so glad at least they held their senses of humour. Even if it had shifted slightly. As had their personalities but Levy understood that too. Both had become far more cautious about things. Levy watched Bickslow set the ring on Lucy's ring finger with a smile. She then cheered with the rest of the guild, happily taking on the news as it happened right before their eyes.
The solid script mage felt the urge to get Lucy and Bickslow a gift but she had no idea what just yet. Surely it would come to her. "To think this started from a nightmare and now I feel like I'm in a dream." Levy heard Bickslow say, followed by Lucy calling him cheesy. It was such a happy moment. And what Levy thought was about to get more merry and happy, only got worse. The moment they all shared together… Was fleeting. Levy smiled at the display before her as they expressed their love together, then as Mira brought them a gift. Even if the gift wasn't from her.
Levy didn't like the fact that a stranger had given the two a gift. Despite how secluded they had been over the whole year. Gone for a month on a much desired and needed vacation, to moving into their own, newly bought home, and taking on short jobs. A fan didn't sit right. Levy reached her hands up to Gajeel's and held them, looking up at the iron dragon slayer. Her expression showed concern. "I don't like this…" She whispered, knowing the man could hear her. From her position in the crowd, she could see Gajeel, Wendy, Natsu and Laxus all turn to her at once. Most with a confused look on their faces. Gajeel's expression bore concern laced within confusion. "Levy?" Gajeel questioned in response. But Levy didn't want to explain here. She didn't feel like she had time to. Something didn't feel right. Her fears only became reality as Lucy opened the box. She glanced at the dragon slayers who had turned to look as well. Most of which had a look similar to when they looked at her. Then Levy heard gasps. She turned to face Lucy and instead was met by the sight of two figurines of Lucy and Bickslow. And a sphere. The sphere she didn't understand. She only knew of the description. Why the sphere was there didn't make sense. The Anomaly was dead. Although she guessed the figurines of the couple made less sense. Of them bleeding and beaten. What was the point?
Levy watched the faces of her best friend and Bickslow change to fear. She didn't like that. Doubt clouded them like milk poured into water. She watched as Bickslow shoved the box away. Not wanting anything else to come out surely. But from where Levy stood, she could see a note in the box. She watched Laxus open it and began to read aloud. "You may have escaped, you may have destroyed it, but I hope you've enjoyed your break. It's over now."
Levy swallowed hard. She could feel Gajeel holding tightly to her now. The silence grew, dragging itself on the floor like it had manifested itself to be physical. Scraping across the floor and screeching in everyone's ears. What was next? They'd defeated the Anomaly, hadn't they? Like everyone else, Levy felt like she had been too scared to move. Waiting for Lucy or Bickslow to react. It wasn't good, that was for certain. Someone outside of the Anomaly had known what was going on during that whole year?
"Levy..." The blue haired mage turned to face Gajeel who spoke to her. Effectively breaking the silence. With a glance, Levy could see Bickslow and Lucy stuck in place. Frozen by fear. "How did you know?" The iron dragon slayer asked. The script mage looked worried, watching the eyes of Fairy Tail watch her now. Levy felt flustered, she continued to hold onto Gajeel's hands. "I… I didn't. It just didn't seem like those two would have a fan… A year gone, and then a month gone and the remaining months up until now… they have done a few quests. Nothing major. I had a bad feeling… Nothing like this though." Levy admitted… wishing she hadn't been right. She wished it was just some overzealous fan that they could teach a lesson to and move on. But it was so uncertain now. Worse than anything she was optimistic for.
