They stayed within the safety of the overpass until the reds of the sky disappeared and deep purples covered the clouds. Levy stayed low on Gajeel's back, her pulse pounding in her fuzz with the urge to go, go go, save Wendy. Gajeel wasted no time and shot through every shadow, hardly taking the time to pause and rest in his rush to find their child.
Levy tapped Gajeel's shoulder, pointing to the side where a smaller road broke off from where the main group of the transportation vehicles drove. Gajeel angled his wings, using the shadow of a light pole to launch them around the corner. They followed the narrow road to a small town nestled within the darkness. Gajeel slowled his flight and Lily growled at the decrepit buildings. They passed a long, narrow building and Levy's nose turned at the smell of animals. They traveled along the empty streets, checking every small house and tall building for signs of the vehicle that took their child.
"Do you think we are even in the right place? It seems as if persons cannot possibly live here."
"Oh, they live here alright. But I don't know if this is where they took the child."
Gajeel stopped in the middle of the widest road, making her slide off his back as he shifted into his persons-form. They slowly walked down the road, Levy trying her best not to flinch at every sound she heard.
A loud clang came from a side street. Levy jumped, holding onto Gajeel's shadows with both appendages.
"It was only an alley cat. C'mon, maybe he has some information."
"Are you absolutely certain it was just a cat?" She whispered, dragging her feet behind him.
"Monsters don't make that kind of noise."
Why does that not make me feel relieved?
They entered the narrow space and Levy pulled Gajeel to a halt. Numerous pairs of glowing green eyes stared at them and Levy swallowed, wishing that Lily had not chosen that moment to morph back into Gajeel's shadows.
"Monsters must be new in town," a feline hissed, jumping onto a crate. He licked a paw, his orange fur glowing from the light glowing at the top of a tall pole.
"You the main eyes around here?" Gajeel asked, crossing his arms in front of him.
Levy glanced between the alley cat and Gajeel, once again marveling at the amount of street knowledge the MC possessed. She shuffled closer to his shadows, taking courage from the warmth emanating from his strong back. Cats slinked out of the shadows and surrounded them. Their furry, friendly looking bodies helped ease the pounding in Levy's chest, but she could no longer trust any creature of the night.
"Yes, we be the eyes," the cat purred. "See everything."
"Great. Did a dark vehicle pass by the other night? With a little girl?"
The cats murmured amongst themselves, scratching their ears and rubbing against the crates and barrels.
"New vehicle, yes."
"But scared away."
"We ran back to the shadows."
"Miss Gombel can help."
Levy gulped. "Who's Miss Gombel?" she whispered, flinching when every cat turned their bright eyes to her.
"Wewe gombel."
"She lives in the palm trees."
The orange cat finished licking his paw and padded to them. He rubbed against Gajeel's leg, arching its back. "If looking for a child missing, she will help."
Gajeel nodded, bending to scratch the cat behind the ears. "Thanks for the tip."
"Payment is accepted," it purred before darting across the road. The remaining cats scattered, leaving the two monsters alone in the road.
"Well, that was...interesting." Levy murmured, trying to find even a trace of the cats hiding in the shadows.
Gajeel chuckled. "That yer first time talkin' to strays?"
"Yes, of course."
"Ya need to get out more, gihee," Gajeel patted the top of her fuzz and she pouted.
"I suppose we should begin by looking for groups of trees?"
She spun on her fluff, nose in the air. Gajeel's chuckle reached her ears and a heavy weight settled on her head.
"Guess so…"
Gajeel lumbered down the road, his arm resting on her head, and Levy scurried to keep up. Not that she liked the strange contact, but for some reason she felt strangely at ease walking down the darkened roads with the MC by her side.
Even with her miniscule amount of newfound courage, her eyes still darted around the dark landscape, searching for any tree she could find. A breeze rustled leaves across the road. A few noises came from the darkened houses and the sleeping persons within. A light flickered and popped, the light suddenly turning dim. Levy rubbed her appendages together and froze, spotting a large, circular patch of grass in the middle of the area.
A small playground stood cold and abandoned in the middle, the swings swaying in sadness and waiting for the morning light when the children would return. Small sitting areas were scattered across the grass, each with a tall tree standing proudly next to it.
After pounding on Gajeel's arm to show him the way, she clung to his side as he maneuvered through the darkness. They passed by a tree with long, flowing branches, a few spindly trees clinging desperately to life, and finally a small grove of palm trees.
"Keep yer eyes open and tell me if you see anything," Gajeel bent and looked her in the eye.
She nodded, trying to remember where her so-called new courage had disappeared to, and saw him smirk. She pouted and he flicked her on the forehead before moving on to another group of trees. With a soft sigh, Levy glanced up at the tree, squinting to peer into the branches.
Another pair of eyes squinted back at her and Levy was proud of herself for NOT screaming when the woman spoke.
"Oh, my poor dear. You've lost a child, haven't you?"
The woman dropped out of the tree, her long, glowing yellow hair falling across her body like a waterfall. She took Levy's appendages in her hands and held them tightly. Levy's eyes widened and her voice caught in her throat.
"G-Gajeel! I think...I think I found her!"
Gajeel's heavy footsteps crunched the grass behind her.
"Oh my, there's two of you. Well, the more the merrier!" The woman's smile was filled with warmth and Levy could feel the corners of her own mouth pull up.
"Now then, let me introduce myself. My name is Lucy and as you probably figured out on your own, this is my home tree."
"We are the MUB and the MC for a child named Wendy. She was taken just the other day," she removed her appendage just long enough to gesture behind her. "I cannot tell you how lovely it is to finally meet a friendly monster! You have no idea the hardships we have faced on our way here."
Lucy tisked and patted Levy's fuzz. "Actually, those in our little town have heard all about you and your story. Tragic really, but does make for a good-"
"Oi, lady...enough with the yammerin'. Do you know where Wendy is or not?"
Lucy pouted and rotated her and Levy until they faced away from Gajeel. "Is he always like that?"
Levy giggled, risking a glance at the surly shadow monster growling next to them. "He is not so bad once you get to know him."
"Oh ho, what is this I see?" Lucy dropped Levy's appendages and tapped her chin, her bright eyes sparkling.
Sparks fizzed across her fluff and Levy forced herself not to look at Gajeel. Lucy nodded thoughtfully, drawing out a notebook from under her hair and began to write furiously.
"This is absolutely wonderful! Two monsters, one made of fluff and the other made of shadow; completely opposite yet both thrust into a daring rescue to save their precious child. Forced to work together against all odds, but will these two overcome their differences in order to find loooove along the way?"
Levy's fuzz burned. "I...wait, you see…"
Lucy waved a hand and snapped. Two floating lights appeared directly in front of them, making Levy squeal and hide behind Gajeel. Levy peeked at the floating spheres, each the size of her head and covered in bright, wisping light. The white light, the brighter of the two creatures, flashed and circled Lucy's head, while the dimmer light with streaks of shadow crossing its body hovered close to the ground.
"Sting and Rogue are mylings...sad, precious little things. They'll help you find the house you're looking for."
"I am Sting!" Said the brighter light.
"I'm Rogue..." the darker light parroted.
"We will help you find your child!"
"Follow us...we know the way…"
The lights drifted across the park. Gajeel glanced down at Levy and shrugged, marching after the two. Levy trailed behind, checking over her shoulder to Lucy. The tree woman waved a hand, pencil still clutched between her fingers.
"Come back when I finish my book!"
Levy stumbled on her feet and felt Gajeel's strong hand on her elbow. He shifted into his shadow dragon form and Levy climbed onto his back. They raced after the two mylings, keeping a careful eye on the duo as they navigated the empty roads. Levy lay low on Gajeel's warm back, holding his shadows gently.
We are almost there, Wendy...just a little farther.
Another fun monster fact:
Lucy: wewe gombel (from Indonesia) - a "benevolent" monster that fosters mistreated children until their parents repent
Sting/Rogue: mylings (from Scandinavian folklore) - spirits of children who passed away without being baptized. It really is a very heartbreaking story :'(