Part II
Ivy
(Friendship; Continuity)
Levy's summoned back to Grandeeney's lands late in the afternoon, and she practically runs the entire way there, eager to know what's happening. She arrives panting, sweaty, and out of breath, and Grandeeney chuckles softly when she sees her.
"You could have taken your time," she says, fondly patting Levy's cheek.
Levy grins at her. "I want to know what's going on before Gajeel does," she admits, "so that he can't use it against me."
Grandeeney's eyes flicker with a knowing look full of laughter. But she says nothing and instead hums, "Come meet Lucy."
Lucy Heartfilia certainly lives up to the reputation she's earned herself. Though Levy's only heard a little about her in one rare moment of conversation with Natsu, she understands fully what captured his attention as well as that of the stars so intensely. She's lovely, with long golden hair and dark eyes that glimmer with starlight yet still hold a look that tells Levy that though she is kind, she has a backbone. She stills gives off a soft glow, though it's not blinding, and she's as friendly as can be when she sees Levy and recognizes her.
She apologies sincerely for nearly catching her with her whip, which Levy waves off with a roll of her eyes. Grandeeney leaves them to enjoy a cup of tea together in favor of going to fetch Igneel, and Levy can tell only a few minutes in that Lucy's on edge, that she'd prefer to be elsewhere. But she's still polite, and inquires about Levy's presence on an island full of dragons. She's pleased when she hears that the dragons are trying to mend their broken bonds with the humans.
It's when they're discussing the matter that Levy, remembering how Natsu had so fondly said Lucy's name so long ago during their conversation, carefully says, "Igneel's sent a few dragons out to the guilds, too. Sting and Rogue are members of the Sabertooth guild, and I was introduced to the entire…well, I suppose it's a program. To the entire program by Natsu."
Lucy stills, her entire body stiffening. Her eyes burn into Levy's. "Natsu? Igneel's son?"
Levy fights the urge to grin. So the feelings Natsu had expressed were mutual, were they? "The very one. He's a member of my guild, Fairy Tail, and is living in Magnolia. He's been there since I joined years back."
Lucy's fingers are tight around her teacup. She lowers it, and Levy quickly realizes they are shaking. Her face full of longing, she admits, "He is…was a very good friend of mine the last time I was here."
"Mm," hums Levy teasingly, feeling comfortable around her enough to do so. "From the color he turned, I'd thought it was a little more than friendship." Lucy becomes flustered, looking down, and Levy's eyebrows lift. "Really?" she says with interest. She'd not thought Natsu capable of such things. When she realizes that Lucy's beginning to look miserable, Levy says gently, "He's not forgotten you. He mentioned you to me a few years ago, and he clearly hasn't had a change of mind."
Lucy glances up and Levy realizes her eyes are shimmering with tears that are both full of relief and despair. "I've wanted to see him for years," she mumbles, "and the one time I finally am given permission to seek the dragons' help…he's not here." She suddenly gives a broken laugh. "Typical, that idiot." She says it so fondly that Levy grins.
"He's definitely an idiot," she agrees.
It's not long before Grandeeney reappears and Igneel manages to fit himself back into the clearing. His green eyes are sharp with recognition, and wary, too. He doesn't take them from Lucy when she rises to greet him, gracefully and politely bowing at the waist with a hand over heart.
"It's a pleasure and honor to see you again, Igneel," she says softly, "even if the stars parted on bad terms with the dragons the last time we met." She briefly lifts her gaze to meet his, narrowing it. "Although I myself did not agree with those terms."
Igneel's lips curve into a dragon's grin. "It is good to see you again as well, Lucy. Welcome back to Tenrou…although I do believe there is a reason for your visit, and not one that bodes well."
Lucy's grateful smile disappears, and she becomes quite grim. "The stars are under attack. We're at war." Silence falls, and she continues hesitantly. "We were attacked – ambushed – by creatures I've never seen before. The celestial spirits…Leo…" Her voice cracks a little at the mention of a spirit she clearly treasures. "I was sent away in the middle of the fight. He said that I should come to you, that you would help regardless of the Spirit King's thoughts on the matter and that the Spirit King would likely approve it anyways in the circumstances."
Igneel's eyes flicker uncertainly. "The demons have returned?" There's something in his voice that tells Levy there's more to this situation than even Lucy seems to be aware of.
Lucy levels him with an unhappy look and admits, "Zeref leads them."
Levy's gaze darts between Lucy and Igneel, and then to Grandeeney when she inhales sharply. She remembers hearing of Zeref, Natsu's half-brother and the one who'd initially caused the rift between the dragons and the stars by attempting to harm Lucy. But what does Zeref have to do with the demons? She decides to keep quiet, hoping she'll get the full story later.
Igneel exhales slowly, smoke curling around his nostrils. "He should not still be alive."
"I can't tell you how he is," says Lucy honestly, "but I recognized him. I'd never not recognize Zeref." She swallows nervously as she studies Igneel, brushing her hand over a scar on her throat that Levy hadn't noticed before now. "Please, will you help us? I've no idea why Leo thinks you'd help us, but I trust him."
"Of course," says Grandeeney before Igneel can get a word in, earning a glare from the king of dragons. Her dark eyes are furious. "I remember the wars my grandmother would describe, Igneel, and I will not sit back and allow the demons to run rampant once more."
Nervous and now aware that it is very likely a war will be breaking out on every plane of existence, Levy speaks up. "Igneel," she says, capturing his attention. "What of us humans? Is this something they need to be made aware of?"
"I'm uncertain," he admits, frowning. "The demons have only targeted the stars thus far, a separate realm than our own, but they are a species that hungers for darkness wherever they can find it. If, in some way, they were to win out over the stars, it is likely they would target this one next. As it is, the humans, dragons, and stars all worked together to defeat them previously. If they seek revenge, there is no doubt they will come to the humans, too."
Levy presses her lips together nervously at the thought. After a few moments, she suggests, "Let me go back to Fairy Tail. Not only would they be able to inform higher ranking people in our governments about what's happening, but we could help."
"Humans cannot enter our realm," says Lucy immediately, her dark eyes flickering uncertainly. "It isn't forbidden because those within it don't like the humans. It's forbidden because the realm is dangerous for their wellbeing unless you've been granted a place among them like I was."
"Then let us help where we can in this realm," Levy declares. "We can find supplies, do research. You fail to realize that we might be weaker strength-wise than you, but humans are incredibly capable when it comes to puzzling for better solutions." Her hazel eyes are fierce as she stares down the king of dragons. She's confident that Fairy Tail can do something. "Besides, Natsu is a member of our family as well as yours, which makes us family. Let us help those in that family, Igneel."
Igneel stares at her, and then gives a soft chuckle. "All of the praise Natsu and those humans in the Magic Council I spoke with sung about you was false," he says. "You are far more than what they claimed you to be. I will send you with a dragon to the main land. Do what you can there, with your guild, and then report back. We here on Tenrou will begin the process of preparing for war."
Lucy looks both relieved and terrified. "Thank you," she says, and Levy's heart twists with the misery in her voice. There is a sense of loss about her, and Levy gets immediately why she's so sad.
"Let Lucy come with me," Levy says suddenly, eyes locked on Igneel. Lucy looks to her in surprise. "I trust my guild to believe what I say, but that doesn't mean very many others would. She can help me convince those who wouldn't believe me."
And, in the process, Lucy can meet Natsu for the first time in a hundred years.
Igneel nods after a moment, and there is a flicker of fond amusement in his eyes, as if he knows what she's trying to do. "I believe that will be beneficial. Lucy, go with Levy and prepare yourselves. The dragon accompanying you will be sent to Levy's place within the hour with supplies, and you will leave when you are ready."
Despite everything bad happening, Levy feels a spike of excitement at the prospect of going home, even if only for a few hours.
Levy and Lucy are ready to leave within minutes of returning to Levy's cavern. Lucy admires what she's collected in her year on Tenrou; Levy wonders if she'll get to come back if this war truly happens like she believes it will.
Her excitement is brought to a screeching halt when she realizes who Igneel has decided will be not only taking them to the mainland, but will be accompanying them for the duration of their time there.
Gajeel looks as if he can't decide whether or not he's annoyed with it or entirely gleeful that he gets to go along and pester her for as long as it takes to get everyone rallied and ready for what might come their way.
Lucy clearly knows Gajeel, greeting him by name. Levy's startled when he responds with as much fondness as he does when Wendy comes to him. He ruffles Lucy's hair, and she grins at him, not bothering to try for the hug she'd given Grandeeney upon their leaving. When he's done greeting Lucy, his attention turns to Levy, and that small smile turns into a full-blown wicked grin.
"Can't you be pleasant for more than two seconds," Levy complains loudly as they begin to head for the nearest beach, where it will be easier for him to shift into a larger body and take off.
"I'm always pleasant," is his mocking answer, to which she gives him a rude gesture.
Lucy laughs, and Levy throws her a half-hearted glare.
She doesn't find it funny at all.
Levy's cheeks hurt from laughing mere days later when they step out of the train station and find themselves in Magnolia. She can barely stop giggling as she's been doing for the last few hours, and Lucy looks somewhat amused. Gajeel on the other hand, looks anything but. The look on his face manages to chase away anyone who considers coming anywhere near them.
Despite her amusement, Levy does feel a little bad. She knows how miserable things like the train make Natsu, and she offers Gajeel what she'd always offered Natsu when she learned of him coming off of the train. She scribbles a simple word into the sky and then grins when Gajeel's gaze locks eagerly onto the carefully crafted iron. "Here," she says simply, not bothering to try and grab it herself. "Natsu's always said it helps him."
Gajeel judges her carefully for a few moments before grumbling and snatching the large block up. He bites into it without hesitation, earning startled looks from those around them. He bares his sharp teeth at them until they leave.
Lucy waits impatiently for him to be ready to move, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She's so clearly human, Levy can't help but think, even after all of the centuries she's spent living among stars. She bounds gracefully forward every few seconds when they begin the walk to the Fairy Tail guildhall, fascinated by the world around her, and then hastily comes back to avoid getting lost.
Gajeel, on the other hand, sticks rather close, giving nasty looks to anyone who thinks about coming near him. Levy finds herself somewhat amused with his behavior, reminded that he rather dislikes her kind. She remembers Wendy telling her that Gajeel likes her and decides reluctantly that Wendy might be right. Because Gajeel certainly doesn't look at her with that level of disgust. Sure, he mocks her, but…there's a certain look to his face, ugly and cruel, that she realizes he doesn't hold on a normal day.
"Here!" she declares when they reach the guildhall. She grins at the sight of it, excited. She's not been home in a year and hadn't sent a warning before her visit. She hopes Droy and Jet are in. She bounces then, too.
She makes them wait outside, unsure of how her guild will respond to her return let alone with a dragon and a girl who'd not been to this realm in four hundred years. She slinks through the door silently and takes a quick look around.
Luckily, it's a quieter day. Much of the more well-known members, such as Gray and Erza, are gone, likely on jobs. Mirajane's out, too, and has been replaced by a gently working Kinana. The other two Strauss siblings aren't present, nor is the Thunder Legion and Laxus. She's disappointed to find that neither of her two good friends around, nor is Makarov.
Levy beams when she sees that Natsu is around by some miracle. He looks rather sleepy, actually, as if he's returned from a particularly trying job, and is seated beside none other than Gildarts Clive, a member of the guild Levy's only met with once or twice in her time with the guild. Levy finds herself surprised to see him, but doesn't let that shake her as she silently saunters in. No one seems to notice her, which bugs her a tiny bit, but pushes such a thing out of her mind. There are other things to worry about.
When she stands behind Natsu, Gildarts takes notice of her and chuckles under his breath, staying quiet as if sensing what she wants. She winks, and then taps Natsu on the shoulder. He grunts and glances back before sputtering. "Levy?"
"Hi," she says with a laugh, her smile widening when he launches himself to his feet with a confused look. "Nice to see you again."
His response draws attention and others start popping up, shouting greetings in excitement. Levy feels a stab of pleasure, but outside of waving, only keeps her attention on Natsu. Sensing her lack of desire to speak with anyone else for the time being, they surprisingly let her be. "We need to talk," she tells Natsu, meeting his gaze. Her smile fades and Natsu's does, too. He grows serious, recognizing that there's something bad happening.
Natsu furrows his brow. "Okay," he says, climbing over his bench. He glances at Gildarts, who waves them off, and then begins to follow Levy through the guildhall. He's impatient as she stops every now and then to exchange pleasant greetings with people. Levy fights the urge to feel guilty about that; they have business to attend to and there might be a war occurring, but she doesn't feel as if she can ignore their warm welcome homes.
The second they reach the door, Natsu's frowning. Levy grins when he begins to speak as she opens the door. "What the hell do we have to come all of the way out here for –"
He stops dead, and Levy's expression softens when Natsu's shatters with both shock and simple delight. "Lucy," he breathes, capturing the attention of the young woman. She'd been musing aloud about something to Gajeel, but spins on her heel in an instant and blinks at Natsu. A smile explodes into existence and she barely has time to hold her arms out before Natsu is barreling into them with a boisterous laugh.
"Natsu," Lucy croons, her arms wrapped around him. Her face is pressed lightly into his scarf-clad neck, and Natsu mumbles something to her as he buries his fingers in her soft golden hair, holding her head there. Levy watches with a warm smile, happy for them. She remembers the pain Natsu had expressed about his separation from Lucy and is pleased they've gotten to see one another again for the first time in some time
"Ya know this doesn't fix anything, right?" says a voice in her ear, and Levy jumps, glaring over her shoulder at Gajeel. But he's looking at Lucy and Natsu, who have parted just enough to murmur in hushed voices to one another. Natsu looks happier than Levy's ever seen him as he rests his forehead against hers. "Someone's gonna die if there really is a war, and even if they don't, the stars don't forgive. They'll be back where they started."
Levy pins him with a look that doesn't judge his thoughts, and he peers at her warily, waiting to see what she'll say. Finally, Levy shrugs. "You long-living creatures worry far too much about things like that," she tells him quietly, smiling when Natsu complains loudly about the tears spilling over Lucy's cheeks and wipes them away with his fingers. "Maybe what you said is right. Maybe they'll be back where they started. But that's not now. We need to live in the here and now – enjoy the now, while we're alive to enjoy it."
Gajeel blinks at her, taken aback, and then merely grunts. "I guess."
Levy gets the feeling that he likes what she's said.
Evening finds the happy mood dismissed and replaced with a serious, worried air. Levy thinks it odd, how she finds herself perched on the side of the dragons and Lucy rather than sitting beside Makarov and the S-Class mages that are present – people who are of her guild. Instead, she feels more at home with a dragon on either side of her.
How things change.
Natsu is close to Lucy, enough so that their knees brush. If Makarov and the others notice, they say nothing. Gildarts does have a smile dancing over his mouth though, so Levy bets that they're completely surprised by this change in him. Gajeel, on the other hand, is sprawled in his chair, looking on edge and completely unhappy about being trapped in such a small room with so many other people. His eyes dart from face to face, lingering on those that he knows while sharpening at those he doesn't.
Introductions out of the way with minimal irritating comments on his behalf, Levy waves for Lucy to speak, and when she's finished explaining what's happened in the realm she's called home for so many centuries, Natsu's eyes are wide and full of alarm.
"The Celestial Realm has never been invaded," he blurts out, shocked. "We can't get there from here; only the residents can take people there."
"Well," Lucy says tiredly, rubbing her temples, "they managed it. I hope the spirits are okay," she adds, voice cracking a little. "Leo…he was in bad shape when I left."
"Leo's an idiot, but he's not weak," Natsu reassures. "He'll be fine, Luce. Besides, you can't kill the stars. They're immortal. He might be in pain, but he'll show up somewhere else to pester you, just like he always does."
Makarov's lips quirk despite everything that's happening around them. He clearly finds their interactions different and amusing. But he quickly grows serious, his gaze fleeting among the different people before him. "A human, two dragons, and a member of the stars. It reminds me of the alliance formed in the stories of the old wars…but what I find myself wondering is what you expect us to be capable of for now, Levy. As you've all mentioned, we cannot enter the realm of the stars, nor can we hope to stand up against demons. We've all heard the stories of such creatures; I'd go to my death protecting my children against them, but it would be a fight we would most certainly lose."
"There are other ways of fighting," Levy says, rocking forward to rest her elbows on her knees. Her hazel eyes flash. "Look at me. I've never been a fighter, but put me in a strategy meeting, and I can wipe the floor with the likes of Natsu."
"Hey," mutters Natsu when Lucy chokes on a laugh she tries to push back.
Ignoring the interruption, Levy lets her gaze go from person to person, even letting it linger and lock with Gajeel's. He seems curious with what she's intending to say – a good sign. Levy turns her attention back on Makarov, smiling slightly. "Not only is there strategy, there is learning. We have the Fioran Archives, full of information from a thousand years ago. We might have some record of these demons, of their weaknesses. And if that's useless to them…we have mages, capable of fighting. We'd have to figure out how well some of us would do against demons, I think. If they're causing problems for the stars, then we'll have an extremely hard time, but again: strategy. And even then, we can provide supplies, just as I told Igneel. We can support the dragons and whoever else is involved. There's plenty we can do, but we can't just sit back and wait for the fight to come here."
"Well said, Levy," compliments Gildarts. Erza and Mirajane, who have both been summoned back from their work, nod slowly, agreeing. Even Laxus, who rarely agrees with anyone or approves of them, grunts his agreement with her words.
Makarov nods slowly. "I suppose," he says quietly, "that is true…" He suddenly turns his attention to Lucy, who straightens beneath it. Natsu bumps her knee with his reassuringly when he realizes she looks nervous, and Levy wonders briefly just what it's like to be so close with someone, because he seems to read her every movement before she herself knows what she's doing. "Lucy," he says, "tell me. What is your opinion on an alliance like the one spoken of in the stories?"
Lucy fidgets her fingers for a few moments, debating seriously. Finally, she says, her voice possessing a rather unearthly quality to it, "When I was sent away to seek Igneel's help in the war that has broken out among the stars, I was up to my knees in violence. My oldest and dearest friend was bleeding so heavily from an injury, that had he been human, he would have been dead within moments." Her voice trembles. "Those creatures…they do not kill. You are mistaken. They torture us. They play with us, and they thrive off of our pain and misery. I'm…to be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely sure that the dragons will be much good against them, let alone humans." She looks apologetically at the annoyed Gajeel and Natsu. "But as we discussed with Igneel, they seek darkness, and they will eventually find their way here should they win against the stars. I do not think it is possible for the humans to stand back and not work with us. It will come to you eventually."
"Then that settles it," declares Makarov as if he speaks for all of humankind. "We will give you whatever we can. Gildarts, Laxus, see to it that the guild is aware of what is happening and that they need to be prepared for anything that might occur. Erza, you will see to it that the other guilds are made aware of what is happening. Natsu, you can help Erza with this in regards to Sabertooth, seeing as there are two dragons housed in the guild. Mira, you and I will see to the Magic Council."
They all agree, and Levy feels a little unnerved when she realizes that she's left out. Lucy looks just as worried, while Gajeel looks unsurprised – as if he's expected as much.
"If I might ask it of you," Makarov says suddenly, and Levy realizes he's addressing Gajeel. Gajeel's smugness vanishes and is replaced by a cranky look she knows well. He doesn't wear it very often around the younger dragons, who she tends to hang out with, but more often than not, it's on his face when dealing with a dragon that insults another who has is loyalty. "What kind of things are the dragons capable of in a war like this? I trust Natsu to know some information, but he has been here with us for some time. It may not be as up to date as we need it to be."
Gajeel narrows his eyes and studies Makarov suspiciously for some time. Natsu is beginning to fidget anxiously when he finally speaks. "Fighting. Healing. There ain't much we can't offer 'em. Problem's the number of dragons. Our island's all there is except for this idiot and the other two here on the mainland." Gajeel jerks his thumb at Natsu, who scowls back. "We're strong, but if there's enough to overpower an entire realm, Lucy," he addresses Lucy here, "we ain't gonna be doing much. No matter what Igneel says."
"I had thought about that," Lucy admits, tracing her thigh with a finger. She tugs anxiously at torn, bloody clothes. Levy thinks she could use a change. "Even before our people parted ways, your population was small in comparison to the humans."
"So you have strength," murmurs Makarov, "but no numbers, and the opposite is true of humans."
"Is there a way," Gildarts suddenly says, startling them all, for Gildarts very rarely does so, "for a human to become a dragon…forgive me, what's your name?"
"Gajeel," supplies Levy for him, earning a rather nasty glare for her effort.
"Gajeel," finishes Gildarts confidently.
Said dragon bares his teeth at Levy in irritation, and she doesn't miss how Laxus stiffens and Mirajane flinches, as if expecting him to strike out at her. Levy merely makes a rude gesture to indicate that she doesn't have time for him to be crabby about such things, earning a snort from Lucy that startles her. Lucy's been mostly graceful and non-human until this point. To hear such a human sound…it's reassuring, almost.
"Yes," snarls Gajeel, making a rude gesture back at Levy, as if they are children bickering over a sandcastle. Gildarts and Makarov both chuckle over their antics, but they both ignore them. "But it's been outlawed for centuries – and with good reason." Gajeel sits back, slouching in his seat with folded arms and a frown on his face. This time, his expression is more serious than crabby. "It requires killing dragons, and killing too many changes your mind. S'how the dragon Acnologia came to exist thousands of years ago."
Levy blinks, caught off guard. Even she'd heard the stories of Acnologia as a child running loose in the streets of Crocus. Acnologia is rumored to have been a dragon created out of chaos, one who had eaten any stray human who'd wandered in his path, and is notorious for the destruction he was capable of. "Acnologia was real?"
Gajeel inclines his head, and glances at Natsu when Natsu muses, "I think I had just moved to Tenrou as a kid when Igneel finally got rid of him. Nasty guy."
Lucy's lips quirk as she fondly rolls her eyes. Growing serious, she tells the humans, "That's not an option, but the rest…the supplies and research and strategy you offer…those could work. You cannot come to my realm anyways. My realm would hurt you in every way possible." She rises to her feet, tangling her fingers in her torn, shredded dress. "If you agree, then it is time Levy, Gajeel, and I move on and speak with…"
"The Council," finishes Levy gently.
"The Magic Council. Yes, that's right." Lucy flushes, embarrassed by her slip up, although Levy thinks she's doing fine. "Levy tells me that they have been created since I was last here, and that they run much of the country."
"They do, and speaking to them will be important." Makarov inclines his head. "So Mirajane and I will see to it, Lucy. Worry yourself no more about it. You are welcome to join us, but I think it best for you to remain here for the time being. A star such as yourself is a rare person to appear, and there are very, very many bad humans in the world who would take your presence as an opportunity. Besides," he continues, eyeing Natsu with amusement, for Natsu's eyes are only for Lucy. "Natsu is not allowed within the walls of Crocus after his last mishap, and I doubt I could convince him to leave your side during your stay here in this realm. Gajeel, you, too, are welcome to remain here, though I can see you aren't happy about it. If it would be more comfortable, I could set you up outside of town, closer to where a healer lives. She would be someone you would benefit from speaking to as well. She's a witch – different from us mages – and has been alive for some time. She may know something. Levy can take you."
Gajeel doesn't accept or deny the offer, only grunts. His jaw is tight as he shifts, ready to leave. He looks mistrustfully from person to person until Levy, not exactly impatient with him but feeling bad that he is the one Igneel asked to go with her when Igneel knows fully well that Gajeel hates humans, stands swiftly and says, "We can go speak with Porlyusica right now, although I'm not entirely sure she'll be happy to see us…and Lucy is more than welcome to stay with me at Fairy Hills–"
"Levy," Mirajane reminds kindly, looking a little bad about it, "I hate to tell you, but you did drop your lease when you left with Natsu to live on the island with the dragons."
Levy looks stunned, having completely forgotten about this. "I…I did, didn't I? Well, err, this is…" She frowns. "Would it be alright if Lucy and I perhaps stayed here in the guildhall then?"
Mirajane chuckles and smiles warmly at her. "You're family," she tells Levy, "of course you can stay here in the guildhall, Levy, as can Lucy and Gajeel. I disagree with the idea of you living on the outskirts of town," she tells Gajeel when he scowls in protest. "If we're preparing for a potential war – and one that your kind will be a particularly important part of – we need to be capable of getting information from and to you as quickly as possible."
Gajeel scowls, not at all pleased, but Levy doubts he can think of an argument, because she's right. Time means a lot when you're delivering messages between one another – especially in times of war.
"Mira makes great food," Natsu says enthusiastically, grinning at Lucy. "I bet there'll be a party tonight and she'll make a ton of good food."
"Natsu, there's a war going on in another realm," Laxus says rather bluntly, cocking a brow, and Lucy looks inclined to agree with him. "And you think Mira's just gonna launch a party?" He folds his arm. "Besides, she's gonna go with Gramps to talk with the Council."
"Well," says Mirajane, hiding a smile behind her hand when Natsu looks at her with wide eyes, pleading. His gaze can't seem to be torn away from Lucy for too long, however, because it flicks back and forth. "I suppose…we can't really do much tonight, and we do have to send word ahead that we're coming…what do you thinks, Gildarts?"
Gildarts gives Natsu a broad grin. "Need one last hoorah before things get too busy. If we're really gonna take part in a war, then there's no saying who'll walk out. We owe it to the rest of the guild. And if the dragons are taking as big a part as it seems…Natsu, where will you be during this war?" Silence falls. Natsu stares at Gildarts in surprise. Makarov looks shocked as well, but looks to Natsu for an answer.
Because Natsu, Levy remembers, her breath hitching, is half-dragon himself. He calls Tenrou Island home and reports back regularly, having been sent to this guild for the sake of relations. He'd not even wanted to come initially, no matter how much he likes the people he's come to know.
But Natsu's gaze turns to Lucy, who smiles fondly at him, her head tilting as she fondly brushes her fingers along his cheek in a display of the affection she feels for him. "You are half-human, Natsu," she murmurs, "we don't know if my realm would affect you."
Levy doesn't think she's ever seen Natsu look as fiercely as he does in that moment. "I'll go where you go," is all he says.
After an exciting reunion with the guild – including her previous teammates, which draws tears from all three of them – Levy can't help but find herself tired of all of the commotion and general craziness of a Fairy Tail party. Slowly, as the night continues – even as Natsu and Lucy seem to enjoy the party, both never more than a few feet away from one another – Levy makes her way upstairs to the second floor, carefully avoiding the area in which only S-class mages are allowed.
It's as she's passing it, intent on getting to a room that will allow her some peace and quiet, that a shadow moves and makes her jump. "Gah!" she wheezes, heart skipping a beat. After such a long time on Tenrou Island, many such movements are known to signal bad things, and she's instinctively on her guard. But it's only Gajeel, and she frowns at him as she says sternly, "You're not supposed to be there, Gajeel, that's for the S-class mages."
Gajeel merely shows his teeth in a grin. "Your guildmaster said I could go where I wanted."
"…I suppose," murmurs Levy with a furrowed brow, "you would likely be strong enough to be S-class anyways…"
"What's that supposed to mean anyways?" he asks, and Levy finds herself a little surprised. It's the first interest he's displayed in anything related to the Fairy Tail guild. Well, that and a question of how the guild functioned when it's as ridiculous as he sees it to be.
Fighting back the smile that wants to creep onto her face, Levy says, "We all strive to be S-class. Erza, Laxus, Mira, and Gildarts – the four that were in the meeting with us – were all S-class. It basically just gives you permission to take missions that are more dangerous than normal. It means your stronger than an average mage." Her desire to smile fades. She sighs heavily and admits, "I've always wanted to be S-class, but it's just…not something in the cards for me, I suppose." She looks longingly at the space he's come from, thinking of all of the work that could be done with cursed texts. "I'm not really a fighter, and the trials need fighters."
"S'like you said," he points out, surprising her. "There's other ways of fighting."
She does smile this time, and even gives him a sincere smile for the first time since she's met him. Normally, they're at one another's throats, but Levy must admit that this is rather nice. "Yes," she agrees. "But you have to be able to prove your strength to become S-class, and I'm not strong. That's all there is to it. I don't begrudge anyone else because of it; I've accepted it. It's just…sometimes a little sad." She clasps her hands behind her back.
"I'm okay with it though," she adds suddenly, and Gajeel's crimson eyes slide curiously to her. She flashes him a tired, wide grin. "Who has time for fighting when there's so many things to read? I wish that mages lived as long as dragons. Then I'd never run out of time to do everything that I want. Ninety years at most seems so short."
Gajeel snorts loudly, shifting his weight so that the floorboards creak beneath his heavy body. "Weren't you the one who said to think about the here and now?" he mutters, and Levy blinks at him, caught off guard. He's studying her through narrowed eyes, curiosity replaced with a new look. She swears it's reluctant affection, as if he doesn't want to like her but can't help it.
It makes her smile at him again, her hazel eyes alighting with warmth, and for the first time since Levy McGarden rested her eyes on Gajeel, she likes him.
The next day isn't nearly as fun. People are sent out to do work. Not just the S-class mages, but everyone. Even the young Romeo is sent out to deliver a message to Porlyusica, requesting her presence in the Fairy Tail guildhall.
Levy is somewhat surprised when Gajeel keeps close to her, seeming to prefer her company over anyone else's. All it takes is a snarl at someone to keep most of the rest of the guild away from him – and, in turn, her. She's a little annoyed by that, but says nothing. There are bigger, more important things to worry about right now.
Lucy, at least, doesn't mind Gajeel's attitude, nor does Gajeel mind her. She joins Levy later in the day, after a long, tiresome conversation with Makarov and Mirajane to plan out things. Natsu stays by her every step of the way.
As she watches it all happen, Levy realizes that she's still not been assigned a task.
She finds herself watching in silence as even her teammates are assigned a task – without her – and simply ends the day in a corner of the guildhall, alone with a half-dragon, a full-blooded dragon, and a fallen star, wondering if this will be the result of what she loves to do and entirely unaware that her misery is noticed.
The time ticks by. One week passes, and then another, and then Sting and Rogue arrive at the guildhall to inform Natsu that all three of them have been summoned back to Tenrou Island. Natsu looks highly distressed when he realizes that this invitation doesn't include Lucy, and she asks that they give the pair a moment.
As they wait a short distance away, Levy looks to the frowning Sting and Rogue and asks, "Do you know what's going on? Did anyone tell you?"
"We know a little," Rogue informs her seriously, "but not much. The fact that Lucy is here says enough though. We figured we would find out the entirety when we get there…although I must say, Gajeel was the last dragon I expected to find on the mainland, let alone Magnolia."
Levy blinks, unprepared for such a thought. "Why?" she asks as Gajeel bristles, baring his teeth warningly at both dragons before him, daring them to say anything. So neither do, clamping up, and Levy takes one look at a dragon she's slowly been understanding more and more and decides against prying. She quickly changes the subject. "Is Gajeel going with you, too? To Tenrou, I mean."
"Going to miss having dragons around if he does?" teases Sting, and Levy swats impatiently at him with a scowl. His blue eyes gleam with playfulness before he settles into a relaxed stance, hands folded behind his head. "No. Gajeel, you're to keep doing whatever it is you're doing."
Gajeel sighs heavily. "Should've sent Wendy with 'em," he mutters unhappily, glancing over his shoulder at the near empty guildhall. "Would rather be back home gearing up for a fight."
"Wendy's a sky dragon, and you know how rarely those eggs hatch," points out Rogue calmly. "It will be a very long time before Igneel even begins to think about allowing her time off the island. As it is, he'll have to convince Grandeeney."
Levy listens to them discuss the smaller parts of their lives and people, comparing Sting and Rogue's time in Crocus to Gajeel's time on Tenrou Island. She barely notices, too focused on being admittedly nosey and watching Natsu and Lucy. Their heads are touching, foreheads pressed together, and Levy doesn't think she's ever seen such a fierce expression on her old friend's face – nor such a heartbroken one. Lucy looks just as sad as she gives his cheek a playful poke.
And then, Levy watches as Lucy presses a final, lingering kiss to Natsu's mouth. Only then does she return her attention back to the dragons, not wanting to be caught watching such a thing. She's puzzled by what she's seen, remembers the look on Natsu's face. Briefly, Levy wonders what it's like to have someone like that – who cares so deeply about what happens to you that they might shatter into pieces if something were to happen.
Shaking off such thoughts, Levy feigns interest in a conversation that normally would have enraptured her, and she's a little surprised when Gajeel shoots her a suspicious look, knowing right off the bat that she's not as invested as normal. It's the empty guildhall, she tells herself when she remembers that she has no direction either. Just the empty guildhall. Once Makarov comes back, we'll know what to do.
Her thoughts aren't very convincing.
It's some time before Makarov sends word that she, Gajeel, and Lucy are being backed by the Magic Council. The mages of Fiore, at the very least, will send their aid to those participating in this war. Apparently, unknown to those within and those who are friends of the guild, sightings of creatures that have torn apart towns are being reported, and the Council is worried by what it means.
"What kind of creatures?" Gajeel demands, ripping the letter from Levy's hand and earning a protest. "Where is the last sighting?"
"It doesn't describe the creatures, and it says in Clover Town. Nothing's left." Levy bites her lip, thinking of a creature that could do something so devastating, and shudders.
"It has to be demons," says Lucy softly, her fingers fidgeting and tangling in the blouse she wears. "It can't be anything else, Levy." She gives Levy a worried look, and then stiffens when Gajeel declares something that even Levy's wary of.
"We're gonna go and look around Clover Town."
"Um," says Levy, her eyes rounding. "No. No, we're not. One, I could get into trouble for going into a location that's under investigation. I'm still a member of the Fairy Tail guild, remember? And two, we're talking demons. Not one, multiple. And no offense to you, Lucy, but from what I've heard, if we get caught up in a fight with multiple demons, we're toast!"
"No, I'm with you," says Lucy firmly. "I saw what they're capable of before I was sent to the dragons for help. The demons are dangerous. Extremely dangerous. This isn't something we should be doing Gajeel. If anything, the dragons should be made aware. It's already spread here. That's not…that's not good at all."
"Scared?" he mocks.
Lucy snaps back, "Yes, and rightfully so! You're a fool, son of Metalicana, if you believe that anything but death and destruction – and to us, nonetheless! – will happen." She draws herself up to her full height, though it is still a good deal shorter than Gajeel's, glaring at him. "If you wish to go to your death, than be my guest, but I will not allow you to bring Levy and myself along with you."
Levy is stunned. In the time she's spent with Lucy, she's been rather quiet and good-natured, more likely to smile than anything. But now…Levy sees another side of her, and understands what must have drawn Natsu to her, for she is a living flame, flickering and burning vividly in her rage. Her eyes gleam with cold flames – star fire, almost – and Levy is reminded then that Lucy might have once been human, but is no longer.
Gajeel looks semi-surprised by the attitude, too. "Well, damn, bunny girl," he says, and Lucy splutters furiously at the nickname. "When'd you pick up that attitude? Don't think I've ever heard you raise your voice like that, and you were at Tenrou for a while." He suddenly grins wickedly. "Was it that cat friend of yours? Or the crazy maid?"
Lucy flushes, averting her gaze. "Capricorn," she mutters, much to Levy's surprise. "If I sound and act bigger than I am, people won't mess with me." She bites her lip. "Seriously, we can't. It's dangerous."
Gajeel ignores her concerns and instead drops a hand onto the blonde's head. He ruffles her hair with a broad grin. "C'mon, it's not an entire army and you'll have a dragon this time. What d'ya think, shrimp?" he adds.
Levy debates for a moment, deciding to take a moment to actually consider it from an objective view. "On one hand, it's incredibly reckless and stupid," she murmurs, tugging thoughtfully on a lock of blue hair, "but on the other hand…if there really is only one or two demons that took out Clover Town…we could get valuable information on how they work, what they look like, the likes. It's a lose-lose situation, I think. Either we fail to gather information, or we die in the process of gathering vital information…" She reaches up to remove her headband, frustrated enough to muss her own bangs in an attempt to stimulate something. "I really, really don't like it, but it might be best we go. And if all else fails, we can make an escape."
The triumphant look on Gajeel's face almost makes her withdraw her vote, and she grimaces. She might have made a mistake, she can't help but think as Lucy sighs, admitting Levy has a point. Gajeel looks too happy. She doesn't think she's ever seen him this happy – doesn't think she's even heard of him being this happy.
It worries Levy immensely.
Levy's mouth is dry when she sees the devastation that surrounds them. What had once been a bustling town surrounded by water is now nothing but black wreckage, bodies wedged among the debris. She feels a little ill, her face white when she notices that. She's never dealt with death, she realizes, hastily averting her gaze to the – admittedly impressive – dragon that is shoving his form down behind her.
She doesn't know if it's because he got his way about coming to Clover Town, but Gajeel had willingly offered to carry she and Lucy to this town after Levy had pointed it out on a map for him. They'd told no one where they'd gone, though Levy earnestly thinks that might have been a big mistake on her part. Telling at least one person would have been useful – especially since Lucy is with them.
"Let's stay together," Lucy suddenly says, voice full of sorrowful loss. Levy forces herself to look over, knowing what she'll see, and is startled to find that Lucy has knelt on her knees beside a child's body. Her eyes stare blankly at the sky above, and Lucy smiles sadly, running her fingers along the girl's cold cheek. She murmurs something in a language Levy's never heard, spiking Levy's interest. Levy pushes that interest back. Now is not the time to think about such things.
Gajeel merely grunts and takes the lead, his nostrils flared as he seeks out any information or demons. Levy and Lucy walk in silence. Levy doesn't realize that she's doing it until Gajeel calls in a hushed voice over his shoulder, "Stop cryin', shrimp, I can't hear anything around your sniffin'."
Levy blinks, touching her cheek, and sputters. "Oh! Sorry. I didn't…"
Lucy shoots Gajeel a glare and pats Levy's shoulder comfortingly. "Don't apologize for feeling sorrow over the loss of another life. The world must have changed in the last few centuries, if you've not experienced much death," she muses, smiling faintly. "When I was human, things were very violent. Death was common in our every day life."
"How did you come to join the stars?" demands Levy suddenly, knowing fully well that her question is somewhat rude. Levy can't bring herself to care that Gajeel is hissing pointedly at them to shut up.
Lucy smiles a little and says, "I lived in a village that worshipped the stars. Our village was so beloved by the stars, that they walked freely among us. Leo's known me since I was a child," she adds with a small laugh, her pretty dark eyes glazing briefly at the mention of her good friend. She shakes her worry off quickly. "One day, we were attacked by other humans. They disapproved of our way of living, considered us uncivilized. I admit, I understand how it might have appeared to those who didn't live among us. We lived in caverns in a mountain and were very isolated from others. But…they slaughtered my village. I died guarding the keys that belonged to the celestial spirits. In turn, the Spirit King granted me a place among them."
Levy nods slowly, wondering where the village had resided. She feels terrible that Lucy had experienced anything of the sort – and it must show on her face, because Lucy suddenly laughs softly and says, "Don't worry, I've moved on."
"Could you two shut up?" snarls Gajeel over his shoulder quite suddenly, and they both return the glare. "You were so worried about being found by demons. Well, your yappin' is gonna–"
He doesn't get to finish his sentence, for a massive shape suddenly hurls itself out of a particularly large piece of debris and slams into him like one of the many trains that cross through Fiore. Lucy and Levy scream; he yelps, caught off guard, but immediately tears into the creature that has buried very sharp teeth into his shoulder.
"Gajeel!" cries Lucy, instinctively snapping out her whip. She's been carrying it around since she arrived on Tenrou Island, Levy realizes, having not noticed it until this moment. Levy moves to dart forward and join in, willing to help regardless of how little she likes to fight.
Gajeel stills her with a single snarl, his crimson eyes just briefly burning into hers. It only lasts for the briefest of moments, and then he's back to tearing into the demon that is trying so very hard to tear his throat free of his body.
The next few moments are rather frightening, in Levy's opinion. The dragon seems to be actually losing before he suddenly takes rips free of his humanoid appearance. All it takes is one bite of those massive jaws, and the demon is still before him.
Gajeel remains in this massive form, towering hundreds of feet above them as he heaves for air. Blood seeps from a nasty looking wound that crosses over his snout. His sharp metallic wings are spread in agitation, much like those of a bird, and when he snarls again, the sound shakes the ground beneath them, intending to draw out anything else that might linger there. Nothing emerges, however, so he finally returns to his humanoid appearance again.
When he does, Levy is startled to see him stagger. Instinctively, she lurches forward, hands already outstretched to offer what help she can. Their supplies are limited, she realizes; they'd not thought to bring anything for more than a day's outing with Gajeel's capability of getting them back within hours. They have bandages, at least, and some things to clean out such injuries.
Gajeel bares his teeth at her, irritated, but she ignores him and instead draws an arm around her slim shoulders. She does her best to pretend that there isn't blood that sticks to her skin and clothes. He's got more than a few cuts, she realizes, studying a particularly brutal one that decorates the back of his forearm. After his initial protest, he doesn't say anything more though, which reassures Levy that she's not acted too hastily.
She thinks he puts a little more weight then necessary on her when she helps him over to where Lucy is already tearing through the pack she's been carrying, yanking out what they need. Her knees buckle and she thinks he snickers a little. "For someone who claims he doesn't like humans," she huffs, "you sure like to – gah!"
A squeal leaves her as she suddenly hits the ground, legs giving out at the weight that he suddenly rests on her body. Gajeel smirks down at her, relatively balanced although his breathing is still ragged. She glares viciously up at him, irritation gathering in her gaze, and Lucy hastily intervenes.
"Come, Gajeel," she says firmly, approaching him with a roll of her eyes. "Let's get you patched up so we can finish looking around and get back to Magnolia…"
They find nothing of particular interest outside of the confirmation that, according to Lucy, it is nothing but a minor skirmish – a threat and promise of more to come. There are no demons to truly worry about just yet. But it is enough to confirm that they are going to come if they complete what they wish in the Celestial Realm.
When they return to the guildhall, they are met by a very unhappy Makarov. He scolds Levy severely, and she does her best not to bite back that she didn't like that they were just sitting there doing nothing. They have come to the mainland to help, not sit back. But she says nothing. Lucy and Gajeel are granted scoldings as well, and it almost makes it worth it. Gajeel looks as if it is the last thing he expected.
They deliver what little information they gathered, and then are dismissed. Levy finds herself fuming – something that Gajeel clearly finds amusing as he sips curiously at a mug of ale that Mirajane had given him alongside his meal for the evening. Lucy is speaking in a friendly manner to the silver-haired takeover mage, leaving them to each other's company.
"What's your problem, shrimp?" he demands suddenly, eyeing her over his mug. "S'not the end of the world. You got told off by Metalicana once, didn't you? Not nearly as bad as that."
Levy debates telling him to mind his own business, but is too tired to bicker and argue with him, so she instead sighs heavily. "It's worse," she says glumly, resting her chin on a fist and frowning at him. "Makarov gave me a home, you know. I love him more than I loved my own parents." He perks up, clearly interested, so she reluctantly admits, "I lived in poverty for the first few years of my life. My father abandoned my mother and I, and my mother was…well…" She remembers the angry woman who had declared magic witchcraft, who had more than once struck her in her rage, screaming how worthless she was. "She eventually died, and I spent some time as an orphan in the streets of Crocus before Natsu hunted me down and convinced me to go with the few guild members that were hanging around."
Gajeel's gaze missed nothing, apparently, because he said, "Your mother wasn't a fan of magic, eh?"
Levy tugs lightly on a lock of blue hair and says simply, "She was from the Pergrande Kingdom. Those with magic were burned alive until a few years ago. And she was always so angry about the fact that my father left us…well, I mean, she was angry before he left, too, but…" She flushes suddenly, realizing she's never said so much about the matter, and hastily changes the subject. "What about you? What was your mother like?" She remembers Metalicana mentioning the dragoness once, although he'd said nothing about what she'd been like.
Gajeel's expression hardens. She sees him consider how to answer as he sets the mug down. Finally, he says quietly, voice lacking any of its normal edge, much to her surprise, "She was a piece of work. Pops says she was nice most of the time, but all it took was one thing to set her off, and she'd launch into rants like no other. Never towards me though, and my old man could always calm her down." He presses his mouth into a hard line. "Was killed a couple o' centuries ago. S'why we isolated ourselves." His expression shifts into one of hatred. "She was harvested like some common animal."
Levy stares at him, her mouth dropped open. Hastily, she clamps it shut and says softly, "I'm sorry. She didn't deserve that."
Agitated and no longer wanting company, Gajeel rocks to his feet and mutters, "No, she didn't."
Levy is walking around, showing Lucy one of her favorite parts of Magnolia, when the reason for Makarov's reluctance to let them help is made known.
It is a rare moment, in which Gajeel has decided to go off on his own despite the people that happily roam the streets. Levy is enjoying the break she receives from his overwhelming presence – although she feels admittedly off without the grouchy dragon beside her after weeks of his constant company. Lucy, if she even notices, says nothing, merely enjoying their time out in the town.
The blow comes out of nowhere, as Levy is showing Lucy the window display of the store she tends to buy many of her clothes from, and instinct has many people around them scattering.
Levy yelps, immediately tasting blood from where she's bitten her tongue, as she hits the ground. It takes a moment for the pain to come, but when it does, it explodes through her, and she cries out, unable to stop it. Disoriented, it takes her a few moments to come to terms with what's happened as Lucy, shockingly glowing in her rage, shouts and lurches after the man that immediately flees her violent wrath. She blinks at the sky above her head, her shaking hand touching her side.
The fog snaps away and she's left with a burning pain. She hisses, snapping her hand away and finally sits up to look.
She's stunned by the sight of her own blood for some reason. It stains her side, her clothes, her fingers and palm. She studies the wound closely, feeling a little nauseous. Caused by a knife, from the looks of it, it stretches along her ribs and is deep enough to see bone. When that realization strikes her, Levy hastily looks away, her stomach churning.
She's a little bothered by the fact that none of the witnesses around them offer any help, merely bustle along on their way as she forces herself to her feet. She ignores the sting to press her hand over the injury, face white as Lucy hurries back over, annoyed. "I'm sorry," she says honestly, immediately peering at the injury despite Levy's protests. "I lost him."
"It's fine. I just…" Levy looks down at the blood and frowns. What did I do to deserve that?
The answer comes hours later, when Makarov informs her that there are several people involved with the Magic Council who aren't happy with her. Whether it be about her working with the dragons or bringing back news of war they don't want to hear, they're not happy about it.
"I'm sorry," Mirajane says mournfully as she gently tends to the wound as best as she can, suturing it with practiced hands. Levy's face is white, her fingers clenched into fists. This is the second time she's received such a wound, and she can't help but mourn the loss of her perfect skin. "I overheard some things, and I…I should have told you, Levy."
Levy doesn't bother to respond, simply gritting her teeth against the pain.
When Mirajane is finished, Levy staggers out of the back room she was being tended to in and simply sinks down onto a bench at the back of the guildhall. She's exhausted, and miserable, and beyond angry. With her guildmaster, with Mirajane, with the people who apparently warranted her actions dangerous enough to harm her. With herself, too.
She can't help but think that she should have seen it coming, done something to fend him off the second she knew something was off.
Levy's thinking such thoughts, head in her arms, when someone heavily drops into the seat across from her and demands, "The hell are you doing covered in blood, shrimp?"
Gajeel. Of course. Who else would ask about her well being in such a manner? Slowly, Levy shifts until her chin is resting on her folded arms. She meets Gajeel's shockingly serious and angry gaze. "I was attacked while Lucy and I were out," she murmurs, wondering where Lucy's gone. Likely helping Mirajane, as she tends to do. "Someone tried to stab me. They did a pretty poor job." She gives a shaky laugh and Levy realizes that she is suddenly crying. "They don't like that I went to live on Tenrou, or that I'm trying to help prevent the deaths of so many people." She wipes angrily at her eyes. "I should just forget about doing it. Let the war come to them."
She stills when Gajeel reaches across the table and roughly pats her head, his fingers purposefully mussing blue strands of hair in a way he knows she doesn't like. She furrows her brow when he pulls back and rocks back in his seat. "You're startin' to sound like me," he tells her. "It's why I don't like humans. They're greedy and selfish and don't deserve half of what they got."
Levy blinks, and then frowns at him. "But we're not all like that. Some of us try pretty hard to be the opposite, you know…" She trails off, blinking at him in realization, and he bares his sharp teeth in a smug grin. She knows what he's just done, and he knows it, too. "Oh," she murmurs, and wipes her lingering tears away. She smiles faintly at him, and thinks there might be a hint of warm amusement in his gaze. "Thank you, Gajeel."
Only a day has passed when the doors burst open, scaring the daylights out of the people working in the guildhall to sort out the supplies they've gathered to send to Tenrou Island with Gajeel. Levy rocks to her feet with a hiss, pressing her hand over her injury when she recognizes Rogue, and Gajeel, who is wandering among the mass of crates that appeared overnight, focuses intently on him.
"Forgive me," rasps Rogue, and Lucy pushes her way towards him, Gajeel a step behind. "I have to hurry and get to Crocus, too, but Natsu said to stop here and inform you that we've entered the war officially. Igneel led many of the dragons into the Celestial Realm with the help of a celestial spirit – Leo," he adds to Lucy when he sees her, and she cups her hands over her mouth, eyes lined with tears. "The Celestial Realm has been able to get a hold on the situation and though they've been unsuccessful in pushing the demons back, the demons have not gained ground."
Cheers ring out and Levy lets out a breath she doesn't know she's been holding as she waves. Rogue inclines his head in a brief greeting to the three who had come from Tenrou, and then is gone, disappearing out of the guildhall before anyone can ask him anything.
"Do you think Natsu went?" Lucy suddenly asks, her face full of worry for him.
"No," Gajeel says, surprising them both. "Doubt it. Sucker doesn't have a larger body like most of us. I sent word about Clover Town; Igneel won't let him go."
"I don't know," Levy says, thinking about Natsu and what she knows of him. He's rather notorious for his insistence and ability to pester until he gets his way. He's never failed to get it with Mirajane or Makarov.
"Well, we'll have to wait and see," Lucy sighs reluctantly. "I suppose there's nothing that can be done now about the matter."
No one says a word more.
When Levy's feet hit the sand, she takes the first good breath she's taken in some time. She nurses a cut from Gajeel's sharp plating, but ignores the sting in favor of watching Lucy throw herself forward with a laugh. Natsu meets her with an equally as delighted smile, his arms already held out for her, much like their first meeting, except this time, the force carries them both to the ground. Neither mind that they're covered in sand, or that the few dragons who've come to greet them after staying behind, are chuckling, looking upon them fondly.
"Levy! Gajeel!" cheers Wendy from her place near Grandeeney, who has been left in charge of Tenrou Island until the king's return. Grandeeney smiles kindly as Levy meets Wendy with a happy hug, excited to see the young dragoness after so long. Gajeel shakes himself, shedding metallic scales as he takes on his humanoid appearance once more. He looks rather tired, having flown such a distance carrying heavy supplies, but he stills gives Wendy a wicked grin and ruffles her hair when she goes to him.
"Hey, Wendy," he rumbles. He glances over at Levy, grin turning into a smirk. "Cut yourself again, shorty?"
She glares at him. "Shut up, it's not my fault you're sharp," she mutters, earning a giggle from Wendy as the young sky dragon tends to the cut.
Gajeel growls back at her before focusing on Grandeeney. "My old man fighting?"
Grandeeney's smile flickers out of existence. "Yes. Lucy," she adds as Natsu and Lucy climb to their feet, still grinning at one another. Lucy's smile fades as she looks to Grandeeney. "You've been summoned back to the Celestial Realm to speak with the Spirit King. You'll need an escort. Natsu, I'm sorry," she says far gentler, "you cannot go. If Zeref is truly there…"
Lucy sucks in a sharp breath and Natsu's expression tells everyone that he's not yet heard about this. His grip on Lucy's hand tightens and Levy worries he'll break her hand for a moment. Levy glances at Gajeel when he comes to stand at her shoulder, frowning at the pair as Natsu rasps, "C'mon, Grandeeney, I don't care about Zeref–"
"You could not stop Zeref," Grandeeney says very quietly and gently, although firmly, "when he was only human, Natsu. What can you expect to do now, when it is possible that he is simply more than human?" Natsu looks stricken by this, horrified by the reminder, and Lucy brushes her fingers over the scar on her throat, leaning in to murmur comfortingly to him.
"I'll go with her."
Levy blinks, glancing over her shoulder at Gajeel again. His gaze is locked on Lucy and Natsu. When Lucy stares at him in surprise, he repeats gruffly, "I'll take her there. Might as well. Got nothin' better to do since Igneel's not summoned me to fight yet."
"He says he won't," Grandeeney informs him. "Metalicana requested that you be entrusted with helping this realm prepare."
Gajeel's gaze flickers with annoyance, but he doesn't protest. Instead, he says, "So I won't be gone long. Couple o' days at most, and when I get back, we'll figure out what the dragons really need for the war."
"I'll start making a list," offers Levy, smiling brightly. Now she is capable of helping.
She's startled when Gajeel heavily drops a hand on her head and pats it a few times. "Get that cut looked at, too. I ain't stupid, shrimp, I smelled blood on our way here. Reopened, right?" She huffs, flustered, and he smirks knowingly. "Last thing a human like you needs is for it to get infected."
"I will," she sighs, touching her ribs.
Grandeeney studies them with interest, seeming startled by the interaction, but then nods. "I believe you would be an acceptable escort. Please, leave as soon as you've rested, and ensure that you are prepared for any fighting you may encounter. It may be impossible to avoid it."
"Right," mutters Gajeel, and then glances over when Natsu suddenly snarls in anger. Natsu storms away, his face murderous, and Lucy hastily goes after him, trying to speak to him, although he doesn't look as if he hears her in his anger.
Levy can't blame him, and she frowns when Gajeel mutters, "Told ya they'd be right back where they started."
She merely says, "Wouldn't you rather have had a chance to see someone again versus never seeing them again at all?"
Gajeel considers this for a few moments and then says rather bluntly, "I'd rather not meet them at all."
"You know," says Natsu that night, after Lucy and Gajeel have gone. Levy had watched them leave with particular interest; a flash of light was all it had taken for them go to the Celestial Realm, completely unlike Lucy's fall from the sky. "I don't know why they won't let me go with her. Dad, the Spirit King. I didn't do anything. Lucy didn't do anything. We just want to be with one another. That's all we want."
Levy is unprepared for the conversation. They're sitting together in her own little shelter, and when she looks at him, he looks furious in a way she's never seen him look – furious and miserable. "Oh, Natsu," she says softly, touching his arm. "I know."
His gaze snaps to hers, and it burns immensely as he stares at her. "I'm not immortal like she is," he says suddenly, and Levy, who is even less immortal than he, blinks. "I take a long time to get old, but dragons get old, too. One hundred and fifty years…I grew. I changed. Lucy looks exactly like she did back then." He rakes his hand through his pink hair, looking down at his lap in frustration. "I don't want to waste any time I have. I want to spend it with her."
Levy can't answer him. She instead smiles sadly and rubs his shoulder comfortingly. "Perhaps this war will repair the fracture that occurred all those years ago, so you can be with her."
"I want that," he rasps. "Does that make me bad? 'Cause there's going to be so many dragons and spirits that die in the process. Maybe even humans, too."
"No," Levy says firmly. "I think it makes you a little more human, that's all. There are plenty of us who would wish for the same thing, Natsu. You're not a bad person at all. I think you might be one of the best I've ever met, if I'm being honest." Natsu snorts, and she merely smiles broadly at him, doing her best to cheer her friend up.
All the while mourning her own mortality and the pain it will likely cause the dragons she's befriended.
"Hey, shorty," calls a voice she definitely does not expect. Levy snaps her head around, her loose blue hair wild around her face. She blinks as she realizes she's really looking at Gajeel. He's clearly back from the Celestial Realm, and a flicker of relief fills her when she realizes Lucy is waving farewell as she walks away to go find Natsu. At least Lucy has been allowed to come back, something that will inevitably please Natsu. "The hell are you doing out here?"
She grimaces, realizing that she is rather far from her own little den – and she can't say that she even knows why she's so far out. All she knows is that she'd been rather bored, her heart tight with fear for some reason, and had decided to wander, ultimately ending up here. "What happened while you were gone?" she counters instead, curious to hear more about what was happening in the Celestial Realm.
He rubs the back of his head with a frown, and Levy realizes he supports a nasty bruise on his jaw, he has a limp, and he's favoring a side. He'd been fighting, she realizes with wide eyes, and feels an ounce of worry for the dragon she's been slowly semi-befriending over the last few months.
"It's not pretty," he says finally. "There's chaos everywhere. Everything's wrecked. We must've landed in a bad spot, 'cause were ambushed only a little bit after we got there. One of my kind managed to show up and help out though, so…" He shrugs.
"And with the Spirit King?" prompts Levy, clasping her hands behind her back and trying to push back the urge to offer her help. If he wants it, he'll tell her, she tells herself. "What did he want with Lucy?"
"Dunno," says Gajeel, much to her disappointment. "Didn't let me sit in on the meeting. Didn't take very long though. Bunny girl got to see that cat friend of hers though. Cried up a storm."
"Leo?" Levy asks for clarification and he nods. "Good, I know she was really worried about him…" She smiles broadly at him, her gaze lighting with warmth. He blinks, studying her warily, though she thinks that there is a hint of fondness in his crimson eyes as he reaches over and ruffles her hair. She can't bring herself to be annoyed – not when she realizes that she can breathe for the first time in days. It's as if their safe return brings her relief unlike anything she's ever felt – particularly the cranky dragon who repeatedly says he hates humans. "Did you get to see Metalicana? I know you two are close."
"Yeah, for a minute." Gajeel looks pleased with this. He rocks back on his heels, creating furrows in the sand, and then starts forward, wincing a little when he sinks into the sand a little more than expected. Levy hurries to walk beside him, easily keeping up for once. She doesn't offer her help, but she keeps close in case he wants it. "He asked about you."
"He did?" Levy says, caught off guard. She knows that Metalicana had been particularly interested in her after hearing of her initial meeting with his son. He'd not come around very often, but when he had, he'd teased her mercilessly in a manner that Levy associated with the iron dragons. The desire to tease in place of talking seems to be hereditary, after all. "What'd you tell him?"
"Told him you got attacked in Magnolia and he said you had to stay on Tenrou," is Gajeel's response, scowling at the reminder. Levy bites back a smile, barely managing to keep her face straight as they slip into the trees. The day after she'd been attacked, Gajeel had been particularly irritable. Mostly because he'd not been allowed to hunt down the human behind the attack, from what she'd gathered. The only response he'd ever given when she'd playfully asked why he was so determined to find the man had been something along the lines of "You're one of the residents of Tenrou. S'personal now."
"Did he now?" Levy says teasingly, her gaze sparking with mischief. She looks thoughtfully to the sky after a few moments. "It's selfish of me, but I sometimes wish that the dragons weren't taking part in the war." Gajeel slides her a look, and she shakes her head. "I said sometimes, not all the time. I just…have been here long enough, living with you all, that to me, this has become a home." She gestures to the island before them, grand and beautiful and thriving with life. "And all the dragons…even the bad ones that hate me…you've all become family. I care deeply for what happens to each and every dragon on this island, Gajeel, and it kills me that they've been pulled into a war that supposedly ended so long ago that even an old man like yourself," she flashes him a wicked grin when he glowers, "wasn't alive during it."
Grumbling that he isn't old – Levy grins, knowing she's struck a nerve and tucking that information away for later – Gajeel cocks a pierced brow. "You sayin' we can't protect ourselves, shorty?"
She sighs in exasperation and stops. He stops, too, looking at her in confusion. "No," Levy huffs, putting her hands on her hips and glaring briefly at him. "I'm trying to say that I'm glad that you and Lucy came back safe, and that Metalicana and the others are doing alright."
He blinks, caught off guard. "Me, too?" he nearly sputters.
Her lips twitch as she fights back another laugh. "Yes, Gajeel," she says with exaggerated slowness. "You, too. I like to think we're at least a little bit friends."
Gajeel furrows his pierced brow, eyeing her for a few moments. His large form is tensed with confusion, his arms folded despite the pain that clearly emanates from his ribs. Finally, after a long moment, he rolls his eyes and pats her head hard enough that she jolts with a hiss. "I gotta report to Igneel." He starts forward again and Levy gapes after him, a little hurt that he'd not confirmed her desire to be friends despite their initial dislike for one another. That is, she's hurt until he calls over his shoulder, "Are you coming or not, Levy?"
Levy can't help but smile.
It's the first time Gajeel's called her by name.
Levy finishes gathering a list of supplies that will be needed a few days later, and when she does, Grandeeney gives it a swift once-over to ensure that it has everything they'll need. Confirming that it does, she hands it back and sends the three off again. As Gajeel launches himself into the sky, Levy catches sight of Natsu watching them with frustration, his onyx eyes blazing with a look that makes her nervous. Lucy, noticing as well, tells Levy quietly, "He feels as if there's something being kept from him – the reason he's being kept on Tenrou rather than being allowed to come with us. I am inclined to agree."
Levy furrows her brow, wondering what could be so important as to keep it from Natsu when the dragons, despite being secretive, see no point in keeping particularly important secrets that involve another of their kind.
They repeat this exchange of supplies a few more times over the course of the next few months. If Gajeel is agitated with the fact that he's being kept from the fighting in such a way, he doesn't say anything.
It is during one exchange in Magnolia that Levy is told she's been summoned to the Fioran Archives again, this time by a different Council member than the two she spoke with last time.
Where she'd once been ecstatic to go there, Levy finds herself wary. She knows that more than one Council member is rather unhappy with her and her continued interactions with the dragons of the world. It hurts her, she realizes the night before she is set to leave, that the one place she had dreamed of visiting for so long is now tainted by menace.
From where she sits on the roof of the guildhall – a place she doubts anyone will think to look, regardless of who they are, for Levy can't say she's ever managed to get up there before – Levy kicks her legs and looks to the stars above, silently distracting herself from her thoughts by wondering how the stars can look the same as ever when a war is occurring between them.
"The hell are you doing up here, shorty?" a voice suddenly demands. She doesn't bother to look over as Gajeel clambers up to join her, merely wonders silently what's got him so interested in joining her. She doesn't mind his company, though she doesn't bother to answer him, her gaze still locked on the stars.
He drops heavily down onto the roof beside her, and Levy warily notes that something creaks beneath his large body. Maybe it's not so safe up here on the roof, she can't help but think warily. But nothing gives in, so she doesn't bother to bring it up. Instead, she muses, "I wonder if I'm going to be arrested if I show up at the Fioran Archives. Or if I don't. I wonder why a few of those Council members are suddenly so very interested in what I'm doing when the Council was the one who wanted to send me to Tenrou Island in the first place."
Gajeel eyes her out of the corner of his eye, his pierced brow furrowed. "Ya think it's a trap then?"
"Maybe. The Councilmen and Councilwomen can be extremely clever. I wish Natsu was here. They'd not try anything in front of the son of the king of the dragons." She kicks a leg again, reaching up to trace her fingers over the scar that has formed alongside her ribs. "What would you do in their position, Gajeel? You don't like that I live on Tenrou Island. At least, you didn't when I did live there. We've been rather back and forth lately."
Gajeel wrinkles his nose, looking somewhat amused with the question. He kicks a leg up to rest his elbow on it, the other dangling over the side of the roof. "If I didn't want ya on Tenrou, I would've let Zirconis eat ya."
Her lips quirk as she remembers their initial meeting, and she hums, "But your solution would have been to kill me. I'm worried about what the Council will do. If they do arrest me – or possibly have me executed or something, although they've not done that for a very long time – then it could spark a war in this realm, right? Fairy Tail…we don't take kindly to those who hurt our family. And the other guilds won't stand for it, I don't think. Our goal is to help prevent violence among those who cannot help themselves."
"Could be the demons got to 'em," suggests Gajeel. She glances at him, expecting a further explanation. "Blackmail, or threatening. I dunno. Humans always cave in to threats on their lives. Especially greedy old men and women who play around with politics." He snorts, rolling his eyes as if he's praying for patience just thinking about such people. "We'll see when we get there."
"We?" she questions.
Gajeel shoots her a sharp look. "What, ya think bunny girl and I ain't coming? You're a resident of Tenrou, and Igneel likes ya. He'd kill me if I didn't make sure things went okay. And like hell you're gonna be able to leave Lucy behind."
Levy thinks that it's a front, a lie. He's coming because he wants to ensure she's not hurt again, she can't help but think, if the look on his face and the way he taps his fingers irritably on the roof are something to go by. She knows he wore this look when it was reported that Metalicana had attained an injury that had downed him for a while.
"Gajeel," she says after a moment, and he looks at her again. He looks as if he's trying not to be annoyed by her chattering, which makes her smile broadly, her face lightening with gratitude and warmth. "Thank you," she says. "For coming to sit with me. I was really worried, but I feel better now."
He scoffs almost playfully before looking to the sky himself as if he, too, is thinking of the war that is happening between the glimmering stars, and Levy contents herself with the companionable silence between them.
Told you Part II was almost finished! I haven't even started Part III so no idea when it'll be out. ;)
Thanks to reviewers (Lodemai04, Meow Orbit, CrazyZaika, stranger1999, silverwolfwarrior13, piranha pk, Trollka21, Mskumiko24, Purplemara, Glass Dragon's Rose, and Firiare!) as well as those who favorited and followed!