Part IV
Rhododendron
(Danger; beware)
Levy finds herself at a loss weeks later when there hasn't been any word from Tenrou Island. They're supposed to be helping the dragons, aren't they? So why has no one come with information? Selfishly, she finds herself asking, Why has no one come to take me back? She misses Wendy, and Grandeeney, and Natsu, and Lucy, and heavens above, she finds herself flustered by how much she misses the iron dragon she'd initially disliked.
She hasn't spoken to many members of the guild since her last conversation with Jet and Droy. She hasn't even so much as looked at them since then. She finds herself spending much of her time alone in the ports with books and translations or with Mirajane, who is sympathetic to her situation.
It has been nearly two months when Makarov approaches Levy during supper. She's been picking at her food, feeling downright miserable as the guild laughs and enjoys themselves around her. But she looks up when Makarov clears his throat and greets her warmly. "Levy, my child, I have a message from Natsu for you."
She nearly tips the bench when she rocks to her feet. "What is it?" she demands, eyes wide.
Makarov's lips twitch and he tells her, "Natsu says to inform you that the Council wishes to speak with Igneel himself, but Igneel is incapable of meeting with them. They have lost a lot of ground in the war they fight in and the war is threatening to spill into our realm." Levy's face pales and she thinks of all of the dragons that she knows - wonders what those on Tenrou Island are doing. "He wishes to send you in his place, accompanied by Natsu and Lucy, to speak with the Council."
Levy bites her lip, not entirely excited. The Council scares her now. After the admission of the assisnation attempt...she doesn't look forward to meeting with them. But for Igneel, she will. "I'll do it. When do I need to be in Crocus?"
"Tomorrow. Natsu and Lucy should be arriving shortly to the mainland," he says. "You're to meet them on the southern beaches."
Casually, Levy asks, "Who's bringing them?"
Makarov's eyes sparkle with knowing mischief as he replies, "I'm not entirely sure of who. I'm sure Natsu will let you know." He takes her hand and gently squeezes it. "Levy, I know that you have been suffering as of late. It is not easy to stand apart from the opinions of those around you."
Tears burn her eyes. "I've been thinking maybe I'm the one who's wrong," she whispers. "Maybe they're right."
"Nonsense," he says firmly. His grip tightens. "They are merely frightened of the prospect of such a war, my dear. I agree with your thoughts, although I cannot say so aloud to the guild. Besides, there are others in the guild that agree with you as well. Erza came to me just yesterday, requesting news of the dragons. She wishes to find out a way to help them more than we are. So it is with that request in mind that I ask you: while you are with Natsu, would you ask him if there is any way some of our mages can help fight?"
Levy swallows thickly. "Of course." She smiles faintly and bends to hug him. "Thank you," she whispers.
He pats her back. "You are one of my children," he tells her fiercely, "and a proud member of Fairy Tail - as well as one of very few trusted by Igneel, the Fire Dragon King. Remember that when you face the Council. Now, go and meet Lucy and Natsu." He steps back, and Levy flashes him a blinding smile before turning and bolting from the town square Fairy Tail has been sheltering in for months now.
She weaves expertly among the streets and is panting by the time she leaves town. When she reaches the southern beaches - a long strip of golden sand that follows the coast to the south of Hargeon - she finds them empty and sighs in disappointment. Natsu and Lucy will be there soon though, she tells herself and she sits among the sands as she tends to do quite often, curling herself into a ball.
She's been sitting there for some time when she hears it: the massive beating of heavy wings.
Levy shoots to her feet, her heart missing a beat. She recognizes the sound of those wings - has sat between them for hours as she travels between Tenrou and the mainland. Gajeel's massive body descends sharply, and Levy laughs at the shout of annoyance from the iron dragon's back. She waits until Gajeel has settled calmly, allowing Lucy and Natsu to slip down, to jolt forward.
"Levy!" cheers Lucy when the blonde celestial being sees her. Levy slams into her without hesitation, tightening her arms around her in the biggest of hugs she can manage. Tears burn in her eyes as Lucy hugs her back, laughing.
How she's missed them.
Gajeel doesn't miss it, rumbling a low growl, as Natsu hops down. When Natsu has jumped down, his body begins to shift and shove itself into a smaller form. A grunt of effort leaves him as he finishes, already looking tired, but knowing he hates it when it is brought up, Levy ignores it as she pulls away from Natsu's friendly hug to give the iron dragon the brightest of smiles. Her heart aches with the sharp relief their company brings.
"It's good to see you," she says sincerely, wincing at how her voice trembles.
Gajeel greets her with a rough pat on the head, and she doesn't miss the way his fingers briefly linger there before he drops his hand. Levy's lips quake and she finds herself suddenly struggling not to cry again. Lucy doesn't miss this; none of them do. But it is Lucy who pulls Levy into another hug and asks softly, "Oh, Levy, what's wrong?"
Her resolve breaks, and Levy buries her face in Lucy's shoulder. "Nothing," she lies, ignoring the piercing glare that suddenly lands on her when Gajeel recognizes the lie for what it is. Everyone does. "Nothing at all. I'm just glad you guys are here." She pulls back, pretending that there aren't tears staining her cheeks.
"I don't think I believe you, but I'll let it slide." Lucy smiles gently and then whirls around to Gajeel. "Thank you for bringing us, Gajeel. You didn't have to, but it really saved us the trouble of asking around when there wasn't much time to begin with."
He grunts. "No problem," he mutters.
Levy's lips part in surprise. "Gajeel, you're not staying?"
Lucy hides a smile behind her hand when she hears Levy's disappointment. Gajeel rubs the back of his head. "Can't," he mutters. "Grandeeney was called out to help with the war along with the other grown dragons, so I'm in charge of Tenrou for the time being. Sting and Rogue went to help fight. I would've gone if Natsu didn't need to come out here."
"Oh," Levy breathes, startled and worried. "It's...it's really truly bad then." She lowers her gaze, biting her lip. "I guess Makarov wasn't kidding when he said that Natsu said that it was going badly. Will the war come to this realm, do you think?" She glances between them all.
They all exchange uneasy looks, debating how to answer. "Yeah," Gajeel says finally, knowing she doesn't care for lies when it comes to the war. His expression is grim. "It'll come here. Just a matter of time." When she looks at him anxiously, he reaches out and pokes her cheek with a gentle finger. "We ain't done yet, shorty. S'why you're going to the damn Council people, right?" He suddenly glares at Natsu. "Keep an eye on her. The bastards want her dead. Thinks she's causing issues for no reason."
Natsu snorts loudly, rolling his onyx eyes. "I know, I know. You wouldn't shut up about it on Tenrou."
Levy can't help the playful smile that flickers across her face as she teases faintly, "Worried, Gajeel?"
He merely wrinkles his nose, scrunching up the piercings that dot it in an odd way. "Mind your own damn business, shorty," he mutters, but she knows better. "I need to go. Seriously, Salamander," he adds, pointing at Natsu as he retreats a few steps, his body shoving itself out of his smaller form again. "Watch her." The movements are painful. It flickers across Gajeel's face, and Levy feels a stab of anxiety.
There's something that the dragons are hiding from her she thinks as he takes a moment upon finishing his shift to pant for breath, his massive body shuddering with effort as he forces himself to rise, shaking his iron plating. But before she can ask, he is extending his wings and beating at the air. Levy throws her hands up to protect her face, wincing.
When he is gone, Levy whirls on Natsu, wanting an explanation, but he's already striding off down the beach with his hands behind his head. "Come on," he calls. "I want to see the guild!"
Levy's face pales. "Wait!" she says, throwing herself at him to stop him. He yelps when she does so by knocking him to the ground. He whines a complaint, claiming that she's pulled something in his back, but Levy ignores him. "You can't...I don't think it's a good idea to go to the guild, Natsu."
"Why not?" he snaps. "I've got friends there, you know."
"Yes, I know," Levy says quietly. "But not as many as you would think." She moves away and Lucy sits in the sand beside her and Natsu as Levy explains what had happened two months prior in addition to the attitudes since then.
Natsu is smoking at the ears when she finishes. "I would never bring demons to Fairy Tail!" Natsu snarls, heat exploding from him. Levy flinches a little at the sheer amount, but a single brush of Lucy's fingers against his arm soothes him. "I lived with the guild for years...they really think that I'd…"
"We know that," she murmurs, taking his hand in hers and grasping it tightly. "And what did they say to you, Levy?" asks Lucy when she sees Levy faltering, not wanting to finish the story.
"It doesn't matter," Levy sighs, but Lucy stares sharply at her. Natsu glares, too. So she fidgets with her slim hands and says, "They accused me of making things up and said that it was partly my fault we'd lost Magnolia. I wasn't there. So…"
Natsu stares at her for a few moments, utterly at a loss about how to respond to this information. "That's not normal," he says finally, anger gone and replaced by disappointment. "The guild doesn't ever turn on its own like that."
"They do," says Levy quietly, "to those who they think have betrayed them. Remember that girl who went and attacked Evergreen when her back was turned out of jealousy?" Both Natsu and Levy shiver in remembrance. The girl, jealous of Evergreen in every way possible, had chosen to try and quite literally stab her in the back. The guild had become the equivalent of a raging pack of wild dogs, foaming at the mouth in their eagerness to get revenge.
"But you didn't do anything," mutters Natsu finally. "And neither did I. I was hurt in the attack, too, and you and Gajeel went to go talk with the Council when it happened. It had nothing to do with either of us." His fingers curl into fists, frustration creeping into his tone. "Even now, we're losing more than they are. My dad is risking his life for them."
"I know that," says Levy with a grimace, "it's them that you need to tell that to, Natsu." She falls quiet for a few moments, and then adds suddenly, "By the way, Natsu, Makarov asked me to request that you see if there's anything some Fairy Tail members can do fighting-wise. Erza and a few others believe us, but they feel as if they're not doing enough to help."
Natsu thinks it over for a few minutes, and it's Lucy who finally answers. In a very soft voice, she says, "I can speak with Leo and the Spirit King. The war is so close to spilling over into this world...we may need you to prepare here versus helping now. There's something Zeref is seeking. We don't know what it is, but I think it's here, in this world and realm."
"Is it you?" Levy suggests, not really specifying if it could be Lucy or Natsu, but they get the idea anyways.
Lucy flinches at the idea. "He could be looking for either of us," she murmurs. "He was a very proud man all those years ago…" She glances at Natsu. "And you...he was always rather interested in you, Natsu, we just...never understood why."
"He was my brother," Natsu mutters in a way that tells them he's not happy about it. "I don't know what he'd want with me outside of that. So should we head for Crocus?" he suggests. "If we get on the train, we can get a room there and see them in the morning. If we're lucky, we'll be done and back by evening. I wanna talk with Makarov."
"That sounds ideal," agrees Levy, and Lucy nods, too, her dark eyes thoughtful.
The situation at hand is a strange one, Levy thinks, looking over her shoulder as they start for the train station. Her gaze skims the empty skies and she feels disappointment heavy in her chest. She wishes Gajeel was going with them to Crocus. There had been something particularly comforting about his presence the last time she'd gone.
Levy shifts anxiously back and forth, rocking on her heels and then onto the balls of her feet with uncertain eyes. Beside her, Lucy and Natsu speak quietly to one another, their heads bent close together and their fingers wound tightly. Both are dressed professionally - and in a manner that ensures that those looking at them are aware of where their alliances lie. Levy had been told to do the same, given some items by Natsu at Igneel's request.
After the Councilman's threat, Igneel wants them to know that Levy is allied with him.
She finds that she actually likes what she's been given.
Clothes-wise, she wears what she always does. She's able to dress herself in a shirt with a vest pulled on over top in addition to a pair of shots with some warm stockings underneath. But she's been given a new headband - one she swears is made of dragon scales. It's soft and warm, and she finds herself smiling warmly at it. There's also some jewelry that includes a heavy golden amulet inscribed with what she thinks might be words of protection.
Levy likes all of it.
The same girl from last time is there to lead them back into the meeting room. Levy keeps her chin high when the girl sneaks her a nasty look as she guides them to it. When she tries to give Lucy the same look, Natsu makes sure she sees the smoke that curls from his nostrils in warning. Lucy hides a smile behind her hand.
Levy's stomach flips and flops when they are guided into an empty room.
She stops in the doorway, suspicion curling in her belly even as Natsu slumps into a chair, making himself at home. Wary, but trusting Natsu, Lucy carefully sinks down beside him, her back ramrod straight.
"Where are the Councilmen?" Levy asks the girl.
"Finishing another meeting," the girl tells her. She curls a lip a little. Levy shifts her weight. "They will be here momentarily, Miss McGarden." She inclines her head in a show of mock respect before disappearing, closing the door behind her. Reluctant, Levy goes to sit beside Lucy, her fingers clenched into fists.
They wait rather impatiently for quite some time. Enough time that Natsu loses his easygoing attitude and begins fidgeting himself, his onyx eyes ablaze with rage towards the insult on his father's name. Lucy is rubbing his shoulder calmingly by the time the door opens. Levy nearly flinches when it does.
She has a very bad feeling about what is about to happen.
The feeling only increases when several men dressed in armor and wielding weapons enter the room - not just entering the room, but flooding it. Natsu stiffens, but remains seated even as Levy and Lucy rise, uncomfortable with what is happening. Levy's gaze darts from person to person.
Finally, a man that she recognizes enters. Her eyes harden when she recognizes him immediately; he's the one who had threatened her - the one Gajeel had threatened when they'd last been there. In a flash, Levy moves closer to Lucy and Natsu, trusting the pair to keep the danger at hand away.
"What's going on here?" asks Lucy with a scowl on her face. She glances from person to person before finally letting her gaze rest on the Councilman. She can tell that he is the one in charge, and so can Natsu, who is listening with his eyes on Lucy, waiting rather than reacting. Levy thinks it is a new thing for him; he's normally the type to jump first, think later.
All of their suspicions are proven correct when the Councilman says simply, "Levy McGarden, you are hereby under arrest."
As if on command, several men and women step forward. Two take hold of Levy's arms and haul her away from the other two. She squawks in outrage and shock, even a bit of pain when it shoots through her. "Let go-"
It's what she thinks Natsu's been waiting for, because he rockets to his feet, heat and flame exploding from every part of him. His tipped chair slams back, the sound crashing down on silence that has suddenly fallen when the Councilman and his soldiers flinch away, even releasing Levy in their surprise. His hand snakes out and snags her wrist, hauling her back to safety. He pushes Levy at Lucy, who catches her with a gasp. Levy quivers, caught off guard and hisses softly at the pain of a burn that has sprung to life on her wrist.
Natsu gives the Councilman a cold grin that is by far the scariest look Levy has ever seen on someone's face. "Think carefully, Councilman, before you continue with what you're doing. Levy is an honored friend of the dragons - of my father himself - on top of being a favored member of Fairy Tail."
"And," adds Lucy, and Levy can nearly hear Lucy's heart race in her chest as she holds her. "She is an honorary member of the stars. The Spirit King and leader of the Zodiac have both stated as much." The unease in her voice tells Levy otherwise, but she says nothing, only hopes that such a statement won't get Lucy in trouble. "Would you challenge a realm such as ours, when it is far more advanced than your own?"
The Councilman doesn't seem to think such threats are worth considering, for he says, "She causes unrest in the civilians of Fiore, wastes resources mindlessly, and has been declared accountable for the destruction of Magnolia, Fiore, in addition to various other villages." His gaze touches the stunned Lucy's icily. "You would do well to refrain from speaking again, girl, or you may find yourself under arrest, too."
"Is that a threat?" says Lucy so quietly, so softly, it makes Levy shiver. "The Spirit King does not take kindly to threats upon those of us who serve him."
"Who accused Levy of such crimes?" says Natsu with such calm that Levy knows there is a storm brewing. She's only seen him so calm once in her time with Fairy Tail, and it had ended with nothing but ash remaining. Natsu doesn't move from where he stands, but Levy notices a black stain spreading along the table. It's as if it's disintegrating beneath his touch.
"It doesn't matter. Arrest her," orders the Councilman.
The soldiers hesitantly step forward to do just that; Natsu surrounds the pair of women near him with flames that bite and lunge at any who approach, not moving an inch. He's not moved since standing, and Levy gets the feeling that had he been capable, he would have taken on a much larger form by now. It's too bad Gajeel's not here, she can't help but think mournfully.
"Who," repeats Natsu coldly, "accused Levy of such crimes?"
Levy bites her lip, noticing how the soldiers trying to arrest her look at one another unhappily. None of them want to be there; none of them want to arrest her. One even shoots the Councilman a suspicious look, as if he doesn't quite believe that there's reason to arrest Levy. Understanding flickers through her.
No one had accused her of anything.
The Councilman is merely trying to have her arrested because he alone doesn't like her.
She bites her lip harder, until blood wells. This is all happening, she can't help but think, because of her. Even though the Council had made the request, it was her that had gone to Tenrou Island, her who had befriended the dragons and demanded to bring the humans into the war that had started. Many of her guildmates think so, too.
Seeing her wavering expression, Lucy wraps her arms around her in a tight hug and says lowly, in a very confident tone, "You've done nothing wrong, Levy."
"Then why," demands the Councilman, overhearing, "do you resist arrest?"
"And why," retaliates Natsu furiously, "are you so insistent on arresting Levy if she's done nothing wrong?"
"I never said," says Levy suddenly, sighing heavily, "that I would resist arrest." Shocked looks are thrown her way when she shakily steps away from Lucy. Lucy holds her wrist lightly to try and stop her, but Levy shakes free of her grip. She won't cause problems for the pair accompanying her. They are, as both have mentioned, a part of the alliance formed between dragons and stars, and both are important to each respective leader.
And to one another. She will not force them to risk harm because she is scared.
But she will not go with them so easily.
"I do want to know before you arrest me," she says sharply, "why it is that Makarov said we were summoned to speak with the entire Council on Igneel's behalf when I have only been shown your face. Where are the other Council members? I was under the impression that someone charged with the extreme crimes I've supposedly committed usually is arrested before the entire Council."
The man stiffens, and the soldiers all shift anxiously, muttering among themselves questioningly.
Lucy and Natsu catch on, exchanging a look that Levy doesn't see. When no one answers, Levy thinks she's been successful in planting such an important idea into Lucy's head at the very least. She steps forward, willingly. "You can arrest me now," she tells the men around her, and they reluctantly move to do so, shackling her wrists.
"Levy!" Natsu says in exasperated frustration, not sure how to intervene anymore. Lucy shushes him, however, and Levy knows she's been successful. She smiles triumphantly, earning herself a suspicious look from the Councilman. Nonetheless, he makes a gesture, and Levy is escorted from the room.
She walks confidently among the soldiers that escort her. The woman who had called her names smirks from behind her desk when they walk by. The soldier to her left gives the woman a cold look alongside a few others; clearly, the woman is not well-liked among them. Levy doesn't miss how they're gentler now, how they almost reluctantly nudge her along, clearly not agreeing with what's going on.
She will put her trust in Lucy and Natsu, Levy has decided, and she hopes desperately that they can do something about what's happening, because the only outcome for someone charged with such crimes is execution, and Levy doesn't think she's quite ready to reunite with her mother just yet.
The Council's prison is anything but pleasant. For one, it's rather cold. The temperature is a solid drop from the temperature of the world above. For another...there are others in the prison. People Levy herself could have put away. It makes her nervous, and it's for that reason that she keeps her emblem pressed to a stone wall, not daring to risk the sight of it.
She can feel the harsh staring at the person in the cell next to hers - a staring that makes her particularly nervous. She tucks her knees to her chest, chewing on her lip. She hopes that someone will figure something out soon. She's fairly certain she's been there for at least a few days.
She's been dozing for a short while when she feels the world tremble around them.
It silences the hissed voices of those in cells around hers.
The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she feels a magic she recognizes surging through the air, making even the criminals around her nervous. "What is that?" calls one in a small voice that surprises her; they can't be more than a teenager. What kind of people are being thrown into these prisons?
Forgetting about her determination to keep her emblem hidden, Levy rises to her feet, her hazel eyes searching. She glares at the manacles on her wrists. The Councilman had strapped them to her wrists; she knows exactly what they are and what they're for. She won't be accessing her magic until they're gone.
Another shudder, and then the world doesn't just tremble around them - it caves in.
Screams fill the air as the stone floor cracks and gives way. Levy's scream is among them, and she reels back as she watches something big and slicked with shadows rise from the debris. It shakes itself off, and then roars.
She stares.
She knows that roar.
But it's not Skiadrum. It's higher-pitched and the shape is just slightly different, smaller than Skiadrum.
"Rogue!" she shouts, but the dragon doesn't seem to notice her as something slams into it from above, screaming a sound that sends chills down her spine.
Demon.
The war has spread to her world.
"What the hell?" yelps another prisoner as several other creatures spill in through the opening. Within seconds, the entire prison is overrun. Levy stares, wide-eyed, and presses her back to the wall in fear. She flings her arms in front of her face to protect it when a shadowed tail slams through the iron bars that trap her - as well as those of other cells.
She ignores the sting of cuts as screams and the heavy metallic smell of blood, distracted as the man in the cell beside hers suddenly comes flying at her. A muffled scream escapes her as she hits the ground, the man straddling her. Her face pales at the hate-filled, black grin that decorates his own.
"You're of the fairies," he breathes. She flails, slamming the manacle that pins her magic in place on the stone so hard it creates sparks, as his hands curl around her throat in a crushing grip. "You and your damn guild put me in here - and watched as my brother was executed."
She pries at his hands, unable to breathe. Black spots are dancing in her vision.
And then he's gone, his hot blood splattering her skin. Levy's too dazed, coughing and heaving for air, to scream at the demon that tears the man's throat from his body. This demon is particularly nasty, with a misshapen body and long jagged, half-rotten teeth. Levy rolls away, head spinning, and forces herself to stumble to her feet.
She blinks dumbly when something flies past her head, but stumbles forward with determination, searching. She finds a rock of decent strength, kneels among the chaos that has erupted, and slams the rock on one of her manacles over and over with as much strength as she can manage. Again and again, she strikes - until the manacle finally cracks. She rips it from her wrist, ignoring the ragged pain of its sharp edges slicing over her skin. Magic floods her veins, revitalizing her enough that she can ignore her pain and scribble "bricks" into the air, flinging it at the demon that is wrestling with Rogue. It isn't all of her magic, and she feels more drained than she should since one still remains on her wrist, but it's enough.
The shock of the attack gives Rogue the opening he needs. Blood drips from his wounds as he buries his teeth in the demon's throat, thrashing his head back and forth until a loud snap fills the air. Only then does Rogue drop the body. Heaving for air, Rogue's head snaps around. A growl spills from his lips as his glowing red eyes land on Levy's shaking form.
She manages to crack a smile. "Hi." The word is raw and pained, barely escaping her damaged throat.
He blinks, and then is surrounded by shadows. Unlike Gajeel, whose massive body looks nearly awkward as he switches forms, Rogue's attempt is rather graceful, and when he emerges in a humanoid form, he is barely affected. "Levy? You're alive? What are you doing here?"
Not bothering to try and speak, she makes a small gesture. I'll tell you later. She wants to escape this prison as soon as possible. Rogue steps up to her, gently taking her elbow to help her climb over some rubble. He growls softly when she winces a little, body bruised from where she hit the stone ground.
Together, they climb out of the prison and into the chaotic world above. Levy's heart drops when she sees what has occurred in Crocus. The building she has loved for years is in ruin; much of it has collapsed, although she notes that half of the building looks as if it was burned to the ground long before this attack had started. Smoke fills the air, coming in great billowing clouds from another part of the building. Blood stains the floor, and Levy's stomach churns when she sees the woman from the desk in the middle of a particularly large pool.
"Come on," Rogue urges, nudging her along. "We've set up a safe location for those who can make it in a canyon to the northeast. Some other dragons are guarding it, Grandeeney among them. She'll take a look at you."
Levy falters, but says nothing. Instead, she strides swiftly through a broken street, ignoring the dead that lay around her. Buildings have collapsed around her. In the near distance, screams and roars, shouts and explosions of magic clashing fill the air.
She nearly stops dead when she sees a family dead on the ground. A child who can't be more than ten lays prone upon the ground, her young infant sister in her arms.
By the time they turn the broken street's corner, her face is streaked with tears. Ragged sobs escape her with every breath, and she can no longer see where she's walking. Looking sympathetic and grim, Rogue pauses to pick her up, gentle. "Come," he murmurs kindly, "don't look."
She hears and feels the booming of moving dragons before they reach the safe spot that is several miles away from the city. The spot itself is a good one for such a situation. It's a canyon, with Grandeeney and Metalicana on either side, prowling along the edges. Alert eyes dart in their direction when Rogue clears the trees, and Metalicana rumbles a sound of recognition for both of them.
Levy can scarcely breathe past her tears and likely bruised throat, but she can certainly start crying anew, simply relieved to see the dragon. She had very much liked Metalicana in her time on Tenrou Island, and is pleased to see him alive, even if he supports several new scars.
"Levy," says Rogue with a hint of amusement as he strides right into the small canyon, "you're going to get me in trouble with the others."
She laughs shakily, whispering with a wince, "Sorry."
It only takes them a few more minutes to reach the others, and when they do, Levy finds herself sobbing anew, simply because the first person she sees is none other than Gajeel, whose head snaps around at the sound. His eyes widen. "Levy?" he calls, abandoning his task to stride swiftly towards them. Rogue lets her down, and Levy's feet have barely touched the ground when she's hurling herself at him, a cry in her throat. Levy slams into the iron dragon and buries her face against him in sheer relief.
She doesn't know how long she's been in the prison, but to see Gajeel...someone she finds she'd missed immensely in her time down there...
She's beyond surprised when he nearly crushes her in turn, his arms curled like bands of iron around her. She thinks he even presses his face into her hair for a moment, a ragged breath escaping him. Rogue looks fascinated by their interaction, but quickly looks away when Gajeel bares his teeth at him. Gajeel moves away after a moment, hand lingering almost fondly on her back.
Rogue clears his throat and tells him what happened before adding, "I found her in the bottom level of the Council's prisons when a demon I was fighting threw me down there." A hint of guilt fills his gaze. "I...left quite a few people down there unprotected."
Levy winces; they weren't people to grieve for. At least, most of them hadn't been. Gajeel narrows his eyes sharply and Levy is somewhat surprised when he rumbles in a dark, angry tone, "Salamander told us you were dead."
What? Levy mouths, and then stares at him, understanding dawning in her eyes.
The Councilman had lied and told them that he'd had her executed out of sight of the others, likely threatening to do the same to others. He'd come down not long after Levy had been imprisoned and torn the band tying her hair from her face away from her head before using a knife to draw a rather large wound on her arm - one that hadn't yet healed and remained scabbed over. She remembers how he'd stained it with the blood that had slicked her arm - some of which still sticking there, dried and flecked from time.
Before she can even consider explaining the matter, Gajeel suddenly takes hold of her chin and tips her head back, ducking his own to peer at the bruises she is sure have begun to form. A low growl tumbles from his throat, and she catches a glimpse of malicious fury and hatred in his expression - a look akin to the one that had scared her during their visit to the Fioran Archives. Levy swats his hand away fearlessly. "M'fine," she whispers, wincing at how hoarse and raw her voice sounds.
"No, you're not," he snaps, and Levy stops to do a small inventory of her appearance. She's still bleeding from her wrist, the other completely sealed in the second of the pair of manacles. There's a barely healed and massive slice down the length of her arm, her neck is bruising, and there are other bruises that haven't even begun to form from where she'd hit the hard ground. To top it all off, she thinks she's lost some weight from a lack of regular nutritious meals.
So maybe she's not at one hundred percent, but she feels much better simply by being out in the fresh air with familiar dragons surrounding her on all sides.
When she glances up at Gajeel again, his expression is flinty and his crimson eyes gleam with rage. But rather than saying anything, he pushes her forward, towards where he'd been initially working. A few people watch them anxiously, their faces streaked with soot, blood, and tears. One woman alone looks calm, her dark eyes confident as she calms them while flashing a relieved look over her shoulder at Rogue. He gives her a once-over in turn, making sure she's unharmed before turning away. "C'mon," is all the iron dragon says. "You need some water. Grandeeney'll look at ya in a bit."
Levy peers over her shoulder at Rogue and gives him a final, grateful smile before he swings around and starts back for the canyon entrance, fully intending to head back out. He waves in farewell, and Levy hopes that she'll see him again so she can thank him properly later.
She's still smiling a fraction several hours later, when she rests on the hard, rocky ground, her heart at peace with the fact that there are several dragons around her.
"Where are you going?"
"Out."
"Igneel told you that you were to stay here until the all clear was given, regardless of whether or not the city seems empty of demons for the time being...did you hear me? ...Guess not."
Levy is awoken mid-morning by the sound of rocks clattering into the sheltered canyon and alarmed cries from those around her. She blearily rocks upright, groaning at the pain that flares up in her bruised, battered body. But she ignores it, instead focusing on the familiar red dragon that peers curiously into the canyon to investigate how many survivors there are, and looks disappointed.
Out of the thousands of residents, only a hundred or so made it to their shelter.
"Igneel!" Levy recognizes aloud, her voice still barely a whisper. Grandeeney had been unable to look her over the night before, too busy defending the canyon itself from any stray demons that might come looking.
Nevertheless, she is somewhat surprised when Igneel manages to hear her. His massive head lowers further into the canyon, and his green eyes are sharp with shock. "Levy," he greets. "We were under the impression that your soul no longer resided in this world."
She smiles faintly and then shrugs, hoping that he got what she meant. She'd heard, and she doesn't know what to tell him. She scurries forward fearlessly to stand beside Grandeeney, who has resumed a humanoid appearance now that Igneel has returned. Metalicana, however, remains perched on the edge of the canyon, growling softly, his face turned towards the city.
It is then that Levy realizes Gajeel is nowhere to be found. Before she can ask about his whereabouts, Grandeeney asks quietly, "What is the status of the war after this battle?"
"It's not looking good, but we got a victory," calls a man perched on the cliffs beside Igneel, his voice echoing loudly in the canyon. Levy recognizes him immediately; this is Leo, the spirit who is very good friends with Lucy. There are other celestial spirits and stars wandering among those in the canyon, Levy realizes. Some keep to the shadows; others, like a friendly, but shy pink-haired woman, are offering what help they can to the terrified humans that have survived.
"We won back Crocus," adds Leo proudly. "And the demons have retreated into the mountains for the time being. We'll need to give chase soon if we want to keep our victory. They didn't expect some of the mages that lived here and were caught off guard. We won this battle only by chance."
Levy's eyes widen and she tugs lightly on Grandeeney's arm with a purposeful look. "Fairy Tail," she whispers. It's time for the guilds to partake in the war. With the ruin of Crocus, the Council - or those that remain - won't have a choice but to agree. Especially since Sabertooth appears to have been mostly lost, except for a few members.
Grandeeney gently touches a few fingers to Levy's throat, lightly prodding the bruising. Levy hisses in pain, but is relieved when it fades slightly. It's not perfect, but it's enough that she can rasp to Igneel, "Fairy Tail's sympathizers are looking for ways to help. They'll come as quickly as they can."
Igneel inclines his massive head and opens his mouth to respond, but pauses when a shout of protest fills the air. He turns to look as Metalicana rumbles, peering sharply down at something further down the canyon.
"Gajeel went out?" muses a voice near Levy's left shoulder, and she squeaks in surprise when she sees that Rogue has appeared. His red eyes are sharp with interest and he barely seems to notice that he scared her. Instead, his body is tensed with alarm.
"What is that child doing?" breathes Grandeeney.
Levy gets the feeling that the dragons and celestial spirits know something she doesn't for the moment, and the feeling is proven correct when Gajeel finally appears, hauling something behind him. He wears a blank look that makes Levy nervous as he storms forward, pausing only to ensure that someone staggering along behind is still there.
"Th-that's Mest," breathes Levy, taking a step forward. He lived? She wonders what he knows of her imprisonment - but is effectively distracted by Gajeel when he suddenly dumps what he's been dragging at her feet.
Her heart skips a beat as it moves, heaving for air and coughing.
It's the Councilman - the one that had arrested her, tried to have her assassinated, and imprisoned her.
Her eyes are as wide as saucers when she looks up at Gajeel sharply, her fingers trembling. Metalicana clicks his jaws above their heads, and Grandeeney and Rogue tense as Igneel rumbles, "What is the meaning of this, Gajeel? We are here to defend human life - not take it."
Igneel snarls when Gajeel ignores him, dropping into a heavy couch beside the Councilman. His fingers tangle roughly in the old man's hair and yank his head back forcefully. He studies him for a moment, and then glares up at Levy pointedly. The looks he gives her is so intense it makes her stomach twist oddly. "He's the one, right?" he says finally. "The one who hurt you?"
Silence falls. Levy's lips part, but then press together into a hard line. She doesn't know what to say. She glances to Grandeeney for help, but the sky dragoness suddenly sheds her shock for a steely-eyed look. She glares at the man at their feet. So, Levy looks to Rogue. He leans in and murmurs, "It's a grave offense to dragons to come after one of our own when one has already received a warning. It gives a dragon permission to hunt down the offender. Gajeel did it for you since you are unable to."
Levy's stomach flips. "Err," she mumbles, unsure of what to say or how to react. She understands a second intended meaning behind Rogue's words; Gajeel's silently indicating that she may as well be a full-blooded dragon to those around him.
The others' attitudes have changed, too. Even the celestial spirits wear angry looks, and Metalicana snarls above them, jaws clashing together with a loud crash. Igneel says nothing, emotionless as he watches.
"Yes?" she says finally. What else can she say? Gajeel knows that he is the one, and with the way Mest is glaring down at the man…
She's surprised when Mest, holding an injured arm, turns to Igneel and bows in apology. "You have my sincerest apologies regarding this man's actions, Fire Dragon King. He acted on his own, without the rest of our knowledge - although I remain the last living Councilman. His actions do not reflect the ideals that we held and will continue to hold in the face of Crous's ruin. I hope that we can continue to forge a bond between humankind and the dragons."
Igneel judges Mest in silence. Finally, he says sharply, "A dragon does not forget when they have been slighted, little Councilman. See that it does not happen again. To be subjected to such trickery is an insult, and I will show you mercy for your lack of participation in it. To be subjected to it a second time will be a grave offense and I will not be so forgiving."
Mest nods his agreement, and Igneel's attention turns elsewhere - onto Levy. "What would you have done, Levy?" he asks quietly, and Levy stiffens. "You are the one that was wronged by the man. So it remains up to you what will be done with him."
Levy feels sick as she stares down at the very same man who'd done so many bad things in his time in the Council. He glares hatefully up at her past swollen black eyes. She winces delicately at the state of his shattered nose. Gajeel must have taken a little too much anger out on the man. Finally, she says quietly, "Let him go. Violence begets violence, and there has been enough in the last few days." Her voice cracks, and she grimaces. It will be some time, she thinks, before she can talk properly again. Grandeeney will not likely help her too much when she has more severely injured dragons to tend to.
Gajeel's jaw tightens and Metalicana snarls his disapproval above them. He's echoed by several other dragons present. "You serious, shrimp?"
"Yes," she mumbles, meeting his gaze with a faint, but warm smile. "I'm tired of all the fighting. We had a victory today, right? Let's not stain it with the spilling of more blood. Just…" She eyes the Councilman, who looks at her with such malice that it sends chills down her spine. "Let him go, and let's move on. I want to know…" She swallows thickly, clearing her throat, and her voice is hoarse again. "I want to know what you were told happened."
Gajeel doesn't move, and Levy worries for a moment that he intends to kill the man regardless. But then he mutters something in the Councilman's ear and drops his grip so quickly, the man smacks his already injured face on the ground. The Councilman is quick to scamper away. Levy wonders what Gajeel has said to him, for his face is white with sheer terror.
Gajeel rises to his feet slowly, backing up a few steps. The Councilman rushes to hide among the other humans that have found shelter with the dragons in the canyon. Levy watches him go without much thought; the man knows that the dragons are in charge now - and that without the power of the Council behind him, he has nothing.
Shaking off any seriousness, Grandeeney gives her a smile, her eyes twinkling merrily. "Come, let's tend to your wounds, and then we can celebrate our victory with a good meal. A few of the dragons have gone hunting, and a few of the braver humans have offered to help skin and cook the animals for those who cannot. Tomorrow morning, Gajeel can take you to see your guild. They were quite devastated to hear that you were dead and will likely be just as excited to see that you're alive."
Levy winces at the idea and wonders again what they'd been told to make them think she was dead.
Levy finds out the story that evening, after supper, when she somehow manages to climb the canyon walls so she can see the stars better. They're a comforting sight - as is the sight of the few saved children, who dart among the dragons without care, laughing and chasing after the celestial spirits who play with them and distract them from their grief.
She's only been up there for a few minutes before a heavy hand drops on her head and Gajeel flops down to sit beside her. He must have been watching her, she thinks, to know so quickly where she'd gone. She enjoys his company, however, and doesn't say anything to chase him off, instead simply asking the question that's been burning on her mind: what happened after I was arrested?
Gajeel tells her in a short and simple manner: when Natsu brought Makarov and Lahar around to demand answers, the Councilman presented them with her headband, soaked in her own blood, and announced her execution. Lahar had been furious, but hadn't been able to do anything about the situation, and had given his deepest apologies to Natsu, Lucy, the Fairy Tail guild, and everyone else involved in the situation.
Natsu had responded by burning down half of the Fioran Archives.
It had taken Lucy nearly two days to calm the half-dragon, and she'd burned herself in the process. Levy wonders what such a sight had looked like; she's seen Natsu get close to the mood that is described to her, but not to that point. There had been an instant when she was younger when Gray, in a rare moment of trust towards the half-dragon, had come in and run straight for him, bruised and battered with a man chasing him.
She'd not soon forget the sight of Natsu springing lithely into the air, landing before the man who'd been chasing Gray with a lethal look on his face. The man had been brought up short by the way Natsu had slid into a crouch, fingers burning through the wood of the Fairy Tail guildhall and charring the space around him within seconds. Levy hadn't been able to see the look on his face - the older mages had been ushering the children safely into Makarov's office - but she could still recall the hours it had taken before it was safe enough for the children to come out.
After Lucy had finally calmed Natsu, she'd apparently dragged him to Fairy Tail's new home base in Hargeon, and after telling the guild what had taken place, had eventually been brought home to Tenrou Island, where the news had spread.
"So…" Levy whispers when he's finished telling her everything that has taken place. "How long was I in those prisons? Time seemed endless down there...I couldn't keep track. And...why are you here and not on Tenrou? I thought you were protecting the island."
Gajeel studies her closely out of the corner of his eye. There's a few moments of silence before he admits, "Couple o' weeks. Couldn't stand sittin' around anymore. Thinkin' about it all was driving me crazy. So I asked Igneel when he stopped to check in on the situation and he let me tag along with the condition that Natsu and Sting had to stay on the island until I wanted to go back."
Levy's lips quirk playfully as she says, "I bet Natsu's not pleased…"
Gajeel nearly cackles. "'Course not, 'cause he knows I'm not gonna go back until the war's over."
She notices that he doesn't say much more about why he left Tenrou Island, but decides not to pry at it. Especially when he suddenly rasps, "I told you. I told you to be careful, that the bastard would try something."
"I know." Levy rocks back a little, grimacing. "And I knew he would." Her fingers curl into fists. "I guess I could have fought it a bit more, but I didn't want to put Lucy and Natsu at risk. They already didn't like Natsu - the entire Council, that is. He has a habit of destroying everything unintentionally. Or intentionally on occasion, I suppose. And...I didn't want to make things worse. I'd already caused enough trouble."
"Like hell you did," he growls. "You didn't cause any trouble."
She glances at him sharply, caught off guard. Says the person who got mad at me for running off to sit on a beach and wandering Tenrou when the island is empty of dragons, she wants to mutter. But she keeps her thoughts to herself. Instead, she says, "Did you seriously leave in the middle of the night just to go hunt down the Councilman?"
"He pissed me off. 'Course I did." His voice hardens, and Levy bites her lip, not sure of how she should respond. "You let him off too easy, Levy. There are plenty of dragons that would have killed him for you. I'd do it now if you changed your mind."
It's moments like this, Levy thinks, that reminds her that while she likes the dragons and taking part in their culture...she is so clearly not a full-blooded dragon. He says the statement without hesitation, without consideration for the fact that he'd take a life. The Councilman had injured her and humiliated her - even left her to rot in prison - but the idea of taking his life made her ill, while Gajeel looked as if he longed to be the one to end it.
"I know," she breathes. "But I'm not that kind of person, Gajeel. He hurt me, yes, but...I'm not one who takes revenge so brutally. I'm content enough with seeing his position stripped from him like this. He can do nothing but watch as everything he told me I was wrong about comes true."
"Guess so." Gajeel props himself on his hands, stretching out slightly. "Still think you should have had him killed."
She sighs, choosing not to respond again to such a statement. She falls quiet for a couple of minutes, studying the skies above. She's so distracted by her own thoughts that she doesn't notice him moving until his finger is gently pressing against the skin of her throat. She winces, jumping. It still aches. Grandeeney hadn't taken all of her injuries away - merely the direness of them, as she'd had a lot of others to help. It looked as if she'd attained even more scars. "Ouch!"
"What happened there?" he demands. "How'd you get those bruises? It looked like-"
"Someone tried to strangle me with their bare hands?" she finishes wryly. "That's exactly what happened." Gajeel growls low in his throat, the sound ripping violently from him, and she rushes to tell him, "And don't you dare go hunting for the person who did it; there's no point, Gajeel, a demon ripped him to pieces." She kicks a leg, grimacing. "I was in the bottom levels of the Council's prisons, where they put the particularly bad criminals. The man who did it said that Fairy Tail had been behind his capture and the execution of his brother. The Council doesn't execute people often, so it must have been something particularly bad that they did. In any case, the second he was freed by Rogue and the demons that followed him, he came after me. I'm fine now...it just hurts a little."
"So shut up and go down there to get some sleep," Gajeel says and she gives him an exasperated glare.
The man is infuriating this night, she thinks, wanting nothing more than to kick him. "I will," she retorts, "but only because you're being ridiculously confusing and annoying." She rises to her feet, grumbling about annoying iron dragons, but pauses when he suddenly snags her wrist.
"Stay near Rogue tonight," he tells her. She frowns down at him. "I've got guard duty, and Rogue said he'd keep an eye on you. Camp full of dragons or not, I don't trust that bastard. He's gonna try something, and I ain't gonna-" He pauses, flexing his fingers around her wrist, and then yanks her back towards him, ignoring her squawk as she almost trips and slams into him. "The hell is this?"
He's looking at the manacle that even Grandeeney had been unable to remove. It worries Levy that Grandeeney hadn't been able to do anything about it; what is she supposed to do if even a dragon couldn't remove it? Will she be stuck without her full magical capabilities forever? She isn't sure she can live with that.
"It's one of the Council's favorite conceptual designs that actually turned out well," says Levy hesitantly. "They come in pairs. I managed to break the other one off. They seal magic away." His gaze slides to hers sharply, irritated and questioning, and she admits, "I haven't been able to properly summon my magic for a while now. It hurts."
"And the idiot that you are decided not to say anything to Igneel." She finds herself flushing when Gajeel sniffs thoughtfully at it. "Know what it's made of?"
She shakes her head. "Metal, I know, but I'm not sure - Gajeel, what the hell are you doing?!" she squeaks suddenly, because he's parted his jaws and taken a thoughtful hold of the manacle with sharp teeth, careful not to catch her delicate skin in the process. "Gajeel," she hisses in protest when he actually bites down - harder and harder, until the metal creaks between his jaws.
"Hold on," he mutters, pulling back to eye it thoughtfully. He yanks her down beside him, arm still held in his hands, and she splutters, flustered by his proximity. He ignores her entirely as he twists his head, looking like a dog with a bone, in Levy's opinion, as he tries to bite into it again, this time with his back teeth.
Levy lets him, figuring that it's his own fault if he breaks his teeth. She's rather surprised when it actually works. The metal gives way beneath the pressure, crumpling in and cracking until it falls away from her wrist.
Apparently, he's as unprepared as she is, because he grunts in surprise when his teeth suddenly close down on soft flesh. Levy squeals, and he immediately reels back, swearing under his breath as he crunches down on the mouthful of metal he suddenly holds. "Sorry," he mutters around his mouthful, wincing at the taste of blood that taints it.
Levy ignores him for a moment, too relieved to find that her magic is back entirely without any of it hidden away. She smiles briefly, reveling in the feeling. It had hurt for so long, to be separated from that glorious light that fills her with such joy. But then she realizes that her wrist stings, and she winces, studying the bloody tooth marks. "You bit me," she complains.
"Said I was sorry, didn't I, shrimp?" he retorts, though he wears a hint of a smirk.
Levy merely rolls her eyes and studies her small wounds for a moment longer. "Was it made of iron then?" she asks, knowing that her friend had mentioned being capable of eating iron previously. He and Metalicana both did it.
"Yep." He snags what's left of the manacle, curiously eyeing it before tossing what's left into his mouth with a smirk when she makes a face of horror. "Tastes good. Whoever made it knows what they're doing."
She sighs. Only Gajeel would think in such a way, she thinks. Well, he and Metalicana, seeing as how they're father and son, and Gajeel had to have acquired such habits from somewhere. Still…
She brushes her fingers gratefully over his shoulder after getting up again. "Thanks, Gajeel," she says honestly before going to find somewhere to rest, comforted by the fact that her magic is available to her again.
Gajeel merely watches her go with a sharp-eyed look, his skin burning where she'd touched it, and Levy knows for a fact that he allows her to see that look on purpose.
Levy is awoken by the warning scream of a dragon accompanied by the smell of blood so heavy on the air that her human nose can pick it up.
Having been sleeping near Grandeeney, who'd been resting, Levy rolls to her feet, already for the battle that has suddenly and violently erupted around her. She gasps in shock when Grandeeney assumes her larger form, her massive body nearly crushing Levy in her rush. Levy darts out of the way and immediately finds herself confronted with a humanoid man streaked with the marks of a demon. His smile is wide, his eyes glimmering with malicious amusement.
Levy understands immediately what had happened; the dragons and spirits had not won the previous battle. The demons had allowed them to take Crocus and had sneaked their most human-looking demons into the safe spot.
She launches into action. Her magic rises and roils beneath her skin in a violent wave as she shouts a warning to Grandeeneey. Grandeneey rounds on the demon immediately with a piercing cry of warning to those around her. They understand immediately, turning their attention on those that have begun their violence among the clueless group of humans that begin to flee in every which direction, only to be met by the jaws of demons they thought to be allies.
Knowing she can do nothing, Levy bolts out of the way, letting Grandeeney take over. Frost and ice stain the world around her, making her shiver as she slips to safety. When she's sure she's out of the way, Levy fearlessly launches herself into action upon hearing a scream from some nearby children.
She slams her magic into the demon that towers over them again and again, refusing to let it touch the three that clutch one another. Two younger children cling to their older sibling, sobbing hysterically in fear, while the eldest glares up with terrified wide eyes at the demon. Levy fights harder to drag its attention away when it ignores her. Finally, the demon roars in outrage and rounds on her.
It's in that moment that Levy remembers that she is but a human herself and that even the dragons have problems with demons.
She forces such thoughts away. She might be human, and her magic incapable of matching a demon, but she can certainly do her best to try and keep these children safe. She wields words of sharp stones, of steel, of flame and water and earth and wind, driving the demon back step by step until it finally loses patience with her, its black blood raining down around her from the wounds she has left upon its body. The animalistic creature that has torn free of its humanoid disguise barrels towards her with a snarl, gaping jaws parted to gulp her up. Levy scowls, readying her magic, but the person that appears at her shoulder, unleashing a bellow of iron, doesn't allow it much closer.
Gajeel doesn't hesitate as he falls into step beside her. Levy wonders why he doesn't take on a larger form like the other dragons, but appreciates his help nonetheless as they work seamlessly together, until the demon retreats with a high-pitched cry of rage, vanishing into chaos.
Heaving for air, Levy flashes her companion a wicked smile and then ushers the children away from the fight, towards a safe little pocket of space near a cliff. They press to it, sobbing softly. She makes sure they'll be safe, and then bolts back to where Gajeel is watching through narrowed eyes, ready to leap to her defense if need be. "You good, Levy?" he rasps, not at all bothered by the mass of swirling shadows that suddenly curves through the air. Levy gawks at the sight of a full-sized Skiadrum's shadowy form exploding around them, slamming several demons into the shadowy ground.
This canyon is a world of shadows in the early dawn, making it the shadow dragons' playground.
"I'm fine," she reassures, winking despite the anxiety curling in her stomach. How had they not considered that this could happen. "Go help the others. I'll keep an eye on the humans over here," she promises, glancing back at the scared children.
He nods curtly, ruffles her hair, and vanishes into the chaos. Levy watches him go nervously, hoping he'll be okay.
Levy has taken but three steps back towards the children when the eldest suddenly screams, "Look out!"
Levy blinks - and then gasps as she's slammed to the ground from behind by a figure that is much heavier than hers and distinctly humanoid. She swears loudly, earning a startled look despite the situation, and manages to squirm enough to peer over her shoulder. Her heart sinks in her chest when the man that had imprisoned her grins back with a nasty look in his eyes. He is taking advantage of the chaos to attempt a final blow.
"You let him off too easy, Levy."
Apparently, Gajeel had been right.
She let the bastard off far too easily.
Her entire body stills outside of trying to lean away when a blade materializes in his hand, angled at her throat. She hisses when the tip slices delicately along her skin, drawing blood. She hears a roar above her head somewhere as demons and dragons and celestial spirits all clash with one another. The screams of humans are fading as one by one they are slaughtered around her.
She scowls and scribbles a word as quickly as she can. She will not allow anyone else to die because of her mistake.
A mass of stone slams into the Councilman's face, and she barks out a triumphant laugh when he is thrown away from her. She rolls to her feet with a neat shove, gasping for air. He'd been heavy. She is relentless on her attack. Word after word slams into the man before her, even as he seems to laugh it off, stalking towards her. He wields magic, too - magic he uses to defend himself from her attempts.
Levy swallows thickly and comes to the grim realization that her magic will fail her for the first time in her life. That beautiful light that gives her such joy can no longer help her. So, she'll have to take him on in a different manner - and that she needs to deal with him permanently.
"But I'm not that kind of person, Gajeel. He hurt me, yes, but...I'm not one who takes revenge so brutally."
She feels so hypocritical as she lunges, catching the councilman by surprise. This time, it is her who catches him by surprise - her whose body carries them to the ground. She wrestles with him, fighting until she kneels over him, pinning his older body beneath her. He might be larger by far, but she has youth - even if she's nowhere near as well-fed or as strong as she could be after sitting in a prison for as long as she had.
"You had several warnings," she breathes. "They warned you. I warned you." Even as she speaks, her voice shakes and tears spill down her cheeks. She doesn't want to hurt him, let alone kill him, but that is what she'll do, if only to stop him from hurting her and those she cares about any further.
The Councilman only laughs. "The words of a woman who gives her body and service freely to a monster is as worthless as the dirt beneath my feet," he tells her as he lashes out. She doesn't react when the knife skims her cheek, carving deep into her flesh.
She smiles coldly when she wrestles that knife from his hands and takes it in her own. "You forget," she rasps, "that without the dirt beneath your feet, you would have nothing to support you. Wherever you go in your next life, remember that. Those you consider your lesser are the ones who give you everything you have and if you choose to erase them…they will in turn erase the footing with which you stand upon."
Levy has never felt colder than when she forces herself to plunge the knife into the man beneath her.
He cries out when the knife sinks up to the hilt in his heart. She withdraws immediately, wincing at the way the blood slicks her fingers. She waits until he stills, eyes staring sightlessly at the sky above, before looking over. The children are silent, staring, and for a moment she worries that she's scared them.
Instead, the youngest smiles nervously.
She smiles back, retrieves the knife, and retreats to stand protectively in front of them, forcing herself to steel her nerves and slash at anything that thinks about coming close. A celestial spirit eventually comes to help her, and it isn't long before the battle wanes.
The cold feeling doesn't leave her throughout the next few minutes, as the dragons finish chasing the demons out of the canyon. It is a devastating victory for them. They've won the ambush and successfully chased the demons out of Crocus - something they double-check, this time - but have lost almost all of the humans they had saved in the process.
All but three children, the silver-haired woman proudly bearing the Sabertooth emblem and clearly knows Rogue well, and Levy, who stands proudly before them, heaving for air. She doesn't look at the body of the man she's killed. She feels her stomach churn, the icy feeling creeping further through her veins, and she finds herself worrying about what the dragons have turned her into.
"You alright, little one?"
Levy is unprepared for the voice to her right, and her first instinct is to slash with the knife. There's a low swear as the person who'd approached lurches back to avoid it, but even so, she catches them across the cheek, creating a wound that matches her own. Metalicana looks so shocked that she feels hysterical laughter bubble up.
But when her confusion fades, she reacts immediately. "I...I'm sorry," she stammers, hurling the knife away. She feels sick, her stomach churning. Her hands are shaking, she realizes, eyes blearing. Black spots fill her vision.
And then a heavy hand is on her head. Metalicana grins at her, not at all bothered by the blood slicking his face, mingling with the blood of humans and demons alike. His eyes are bright with mischief. "Who knew ya had it in you, shorty," he muses, and Levy blinks blankly at him when the humanoid dragon looks over his shoulder and bellows, "Hey, brat, your girlie cut up my face!"
She stares at him in horror as several other dragons take interest - including Igneel himself.
And as Gajeel emerges from the chaos with only a couple of nasty scratches on his arms, annoyed, she barely catches her whimper of relief before it leaves her throat. He frowns at Metalicana in disapproval before frowning even more at her. "The hell happened to…" His words die off as his gaze touches the body nearby.
She sets her jaw, finding herself suddenly worried that he'll think badly of her. She knows better; he'd been the one scolding her for letting the man off too easily to begin with. But still, the silly thought wracks her mind with fear until he asks simply, "You good, Levy?"
Her knees buckle and Metalicana grabs her arm to keep her from falling.
She is anything but okay, she thinks as she retches.
She's killed a man, and it is the one thing Fairy Tail tends to avoid doing it all costs.
Levy can't help but stare numbly at her hands as she listens to Igneel announce what he plans for them all. She barely hears what's being said, too distracted by the feeling of blood crusted beneath her fingernails. She's long since scrubbed them clean. She'd scrubbed them so hard that Yukino had forced her to stop, wrapping her in a warm hug instead.
"-return to Hargeon," Igneel continues, and she snaps her gaze up blearily, confused. "They will be accompanied by Rogue, Leo, and Gajeel, as requested. From there, they will remain in Hargeon to keep an eye on the human population that is gathering there. Metalicana, you and Wiessologia will go northwest to investigate the state of the world there. We need to know where the demons have spilled over before we can continue onward."
Murmurs of agreement fill the air and Levy can't differentiate between celestial spirits and dragons. The two sides have become one in their determination to eradicate the danger that surrounds them.
Levy blinks a few times, and then glances over when Yukino sighs in relief beside her. Realizing she's being watched, Yukino flushes. "Sting and Rogue are good friends," she explains shyly. "I don't like when they're running around participating in these fights. Not that they told us...Sabertooth only knew because Makarov sent word."
Levy's heart twists at the mention of the man who'd welcomed her into a guild that had accused her of lies, and she wonders what those who disagreed with her will think now, when the dragons arrive to tell them what she warned them of had come true. She wants nothing more than to return to a time where she and the other children curled up in the guildmaster's office and listened to the stories he'd tell them.
But then…
She'd have never met the dragons.
Life is much more complicated than what she once thought.
"Come on," says Yukino, ushering her away. "Let's go find the children. Grandeeney was watching them, and we'll need to start preparing them to leave...I think the oldest will be okay, but the middle has been having some issues since the battle ended, and the youngest…"
Levy forces herself to function normally, though she finds it incredibly difficult as she does just that. Together, they prepare the three children. The younger two, though rather uncomfortable with the battle that had taken place, are excited at the prospect of riding a dragon. The oldest is scared, but says nothing.
Levy lets Yukino do most of the work, occasionally trying to wipe her hands on her clothes, fighting the urge to get sick when they don't feel any cleaner than they did before. She finds herself quickly getting worked up about it and after a third round of trying to wipe them clean, simply leaves, ignoring Yukino's worried questioning.
She finds a basin and quickly goes to retrieve some water from a nearby creek that crosses through the shadows of the canyon. When she has her water, she finds a secluded place, knowing no one will leave without her. She carefully kneels, sets the basin down before her, and goes to work, even going so far as to rip a piece of cloth from her clothes to use to try and scrub her hands clean.
They're raw and stinging by the time someone comes across her. A massive shadow falls over her, and Levy hunches her shoulders, but doesn't stop as a voice booms above her, "That will not help, Levy."
Igneel. That admittedly startles her. While Igneel is friendly, he has rarely ever come to speak with her one-on-one. The Fire Dragon King crouches on the canyon overhead, his massive head lowered into the canyon so he can peer at her when she finally looks up.
"You don't know that," Levy mumbles, dropping her gaze hastily. She feels guilty for some reason; as if it's wrong to feel so bad about killing another human being. And out of cold blood, nonetheless.
She doesn't realize that she's said as much aloud until Igneel responds, "But it was not cold-blooded murder. It was self-defense, was it not? The human children have told the dragons as much. The man took advantage of your mercy and attacked you when we were ambushed by demons; it is only right that you defended yourself."
Levy swallows thickly, pausing in the scrubbing. "You say," she rasps, "that it is only right, Igneel, but it doesn't...I never wanted to become someone who was capable of murder, self-defense or not."
Igneel snorts softly, smoke rising from his nostrils in a manner that reminds her so heavily of Natsu that she feels a wave of homesickness; she misses her friends - her family. She wonders what Jet and Droy, who she'd not spoken to before she'd left for Crocus, think. "There is a difference between being capable of killing another being and defending yourself once. Your reaction tells me that you are of the latter kind."
Levy falters, studying her red hands, painfully throbbing from the effort she'd put into scrubbing them. "I...I suppose so," she whispers. "But I still feel terrible about it, regardless." She takes a shuddering breath. "I wanted to help in the war, Igneel, but I didn't...I really didn't think I'd end up in this situation."
A low chuckle scrapes from the dragon's throat, bitter. "None of us think such things, Levy, yet here we all are. I had a request, if you will." Levy blinks up at him in surprise, waiting, and he says calmly, "When you return to Hargeon, it is very possible that Natsu would have disobeyed orders and returned to the guild he has lived with for the past few years. The boy has no patience," he sighs suddenly, "nor does he understand the risk he puts himself in, particularly now that the demons and Zeref have broken through to this realm. Will you ensure that he is careful and safe?"
"Of course," says Levy, startled. "Lucy will help, I'm sure."
"Thank you." Igneel's gaze is warm with love for his son, the warmest look Levy thinks she's ever seen on the dragon's large face. It strikes her that the Fire Dragon King is just that; a king, who likely cannot allow his subjects to witness much weakness, for there are some who would turn against him. "I have asked the same of Gajeel as well, so it will not remain entirely up to you. I would not wish dealing with my son alone on anyone but Lucy, who seems surprisingly capable."
Levy laughs softly. "Lucy is quite capable," agrees Levy. She sighs softly, eyeing her raw hands for a few moments before shaking them free of water and rising to her feet. "Igneel...do you think that we'll win this war?"
"I thought, perhaps, the chance that we would not was slim, but it had become an increasingly larger possibility as of late." Igneel cocks his head a fraction, looking to the sky grimly. "I will not lie and say that I fully believe we will. There are equal chances in us succeeding and us losing."
Levy nods, not letting herself be frightened by such a prospect. What is there to be scared of, after all? After what she's seen in the last few weeks...from the dungeons, to this mess before them...she can't bring herself to be as frightened of death as she had been initially. But the deaths of those she loves...the potential danger to Fairy Tail, Lucy, even Gajeel...that is what scares her more.
Hot smoke washes over her as Igneel softly snorts. "Gajeel was seeking your company. Perhaps you should find him." Igneel's eyes glimmer with mischief. "Metalicana informed me recently that Gajeel holds an oddly particular fondness for you that he's not expressed before, and I find that I agree. Even when he was a young hatchling, I would have not thought him one to eventually be one capable of what he's done in recent times."
Levy's cheeks flame red and she clears her throat rather awkwardly. "Th-thank you, I think," she murmurs uncertainly. "I suppose I'll go find him then." She flashes Igneel a faint, grateful smile, and then hurries away, eager to get away from the playful glint in the dragon's gaze. He wants to tease her, which makes her feel a little strange, given that he's the king of dragons.
Levy spends the next while trying to find the elusive iron dragon, who clearly has taken to avoiding the group that has gathered. Levy pauses, watching dragons and celestial spirits alike chatting like old friends, a few of each occupying the human children she'd saved. Yukino stands shyly with Rogue, Skiadrum, and a smirking Weisslogia.
She remembers the people who have called the dragons monsters in the past and thinks them ridiculous when a playful dragon scoops up the youngest child and nuzzles their face playfully against the child's.
Levy eventually finds Gajeel watching everyone else from the shadows of a cliff. No, not the others. He's watching her as she approaches, his expression unreadable and his crimson eyes blazing with something she couldn't read. She doesn't bother to call out a greeting as she strides swiftly over to him, her eyebrows lifted. "Igneel said you were looking for me."
"Yeah," he grunts, rocking forward as she carefully slides to sit beside her friend on the ground. "Wanted to check on ya. Didn't look so good earlier."
She blinks, and then realizes she's not seen him since she'd collapsed earlier in the day, when she'd injured Metalicana. She flinches at the reminder; she'd not meant to hurt Metalicana, although she's heard since then that he's rather proud of the little wound. She hopes it doesn't scar.
"I'm…" She trails off when he glares at her, daring her to lie. She isn't fine. She's anything but fine. "I'm tired," she says instead, dropping her chin to her chest so she can look at her hands. They're still rather sore. "I'm really tired and want to go home, but...there's no chance of going to Magnolia or Tenrou yet. Hargeon will suffice, I suppose." She smiles faintly at him, and then lets her smile grow genuine. "I'm glad that you'll be coming with me though. It's been a while since we've gone anywhere together."
Gajeel wrinkles his nose. "Wish I could keep helping in the war instead," he grumbles, and Levy's smile fades slightly. "Why am I gettin' sent back to watch Natsu again? What the hell is so important about that bastard that Igneel needs three dragons and one of the commanders of the celestial spirits in the town to watch over him?"
Levy's smile vanishes entirely. Her hazel eyes flicker as she glances over to where Igneel in his massive form is conversing with various other dragons. "That's...a good question," she admits. She takes a deep breath and then sighs heavily, shaking her head. "I don't know. I'm sorry. I wish I had answers, but I think you know more than I do at this point." She'd not heard much during the big meeting earlier in the day, after all.
Gajeel reaches over and ruffles her hair with surprising gentleness, his gaze locked on her. "Don't worry so much, shorty. I'm annoyed, but we'll figure it out." She stills when his touch shifts to brush over the gash that the old Councilman had left on her cheek. She can barely breathe as his calloused fingers smooth lightly over her skin, a slight furrow in his pierced brows telling her he's not happy about the sight of it. "You get that looked at?"
"Grandeeney said it'd heal on its own," she sighs, grimacing at the thought that it will likely scar. She hates the scars that continue to increase on her body with every passing day. She's not vain, but they bother her nonetheless. She swallows thickly, somewhat unnerved by his proximity for a reason she can't understand. "Were you hurt at all?"
He shakes his head, dropping his hand away. She finds herself able to breathe again, though she doesn't know if it's because he stopped touching her or if it's because he's unharmed. "M'fine."
"Good," she murmures, leaning heavily into his shoulder. She's more relieved than she'd thought she'd be hearing such news. She moves to run a hand through her hair and freezes, unwilling to touch her face when she feels as if her hands are still staind red with the Councilman's blood.
"It ain't gonna go away."
"What?" mumbles Levy when she glances at him, completely confused by what he's saying.
He's not looking at her; instead, he extends his own hands before him, showing the marred flesh of his arms. Only then does he look at her out of the corner of his eye. "The feeling of the blood doesn't go away. But ya learn to live with it and after a while, it's not so bad."
Her lips tremble lightly as she realizes he's trying to comfort her in his own weird way. "Thank you," she murmurs, choosing to tuck her knees to her chest and wrap her arms around her knee. They sit in comfortable silence for a few moments until she murmurs, "Hey, Gajeel?" He merely grunts to signal he's listening, his gaze instead latched onto the dragons that are discussing something in a hushed voice. "If we survive all of this...you should join Fairy Tail."
"Why would I join that guild of idiots?" he says bluntly, somewhat amused with the question.
She answers simply, "So we can keep working together, even if there's no demonic army trying to kill us. I mean, I'm not a big fan of the jobs in which you have to look over your shoulder. I've always preferred to do translation work, but-"
Gajeel tips his head back and barks out a laugh, a wild grin on his face. After a moment, he ruffles her hair again. She sighs heavily at the fact that it's going to be a tangled mess now. "Why not?" he snorts, still snickering under his breath. "I'll join your guild of idiots. M'tired of hangin' around Tenrou Island anyways."
Levy's face glows as she smiles at him. For the first time in a while, she finds that there is truly hope.
Ey! A chapter! Was bored today (waiting to fly tomorrow) and thought I'd finish this chapter. ;)
Thanks to reviewers (Livalibus, stranger1999, triennigala, Meow Orbit, piranha pk, Lodemai04, Trollka21, MissVarta, madaraswife, CrazyZaika, Lovetoreadff, and Dragonfly2311!) as well as those who favorited and followed!