Side by side, in solemn silence, the swift pair made their way through the thick forest foliage. The petite, lithe fairy glanced at her stoic and aloof companion from time to time, but the tall, grim faced dragon only looked straight ahead - occasionally scenting the wind to determine their way.
At last the female ventured to speak.
"Gajeel? How much further do we have to travel?"
"Not much." Her gruff companion replied, sparing her a quick glance. "We are about a hundred yards away from our destination."
At this news, the fairy nervously chewed her lower lip, losing herself in her increasingly frantic thoughts. Her companion, sensing her unease, ground to an abrupt halt. She stopped beside him, bewildered by his sudden brake.
"What's bothering you, shrimp?"
"Oh, err, nothing!"
"I can tell when you're upset, Levy. And I can't help you unless you tell me what's troubling you."
The fairy let out a defeated sigh, twiddling her thumbs as she arranged her thoughts. The ore dragon waited patiently by her side, gazing down at her pretty form with warmth and adoration. He swiftly looked away when she looked up to address him, unwilling for her to discover the depth of his feelings.
"I fear it was wrong of me to agree to accompany you. This is a very intimate moment between you and your parents - would I not be an intruder there?"
"Twas I who invited - Nay, begged - you to come. I want you there. Why would you feel like an intruder then?"
Levy smiled at him, the action lighting up her visage with a warm glow and causing Gajeel's traitorous heart to skip a beat.
"I know you won't see me as an intruder, dummy." She responded playfully. "But the same cannot be said of your parents. Wouldn't they prefer to spend time alone with you?"
Gajeel scoffed. "You know as well as I that my father adores you! Heck, he'd rather you be his child than I - the old tin bucket has said so himself. As for my mother - she is the high fairy of the earth, is she not? And you are the high fairy of spirit. I'm sure she would be thrilled to meet you! You're the only other high fairy in existence aperture from her, I can only guess how much you both would have to catch up on. You might even forget I'm around…" Gajeel flashed her a teasing smile, poking her cheek impudently.
Levy swatted at his hand and stuck out her tongue at him, which prompted a bark of laughter from the towering metal giant.
"Technically, you are wrong - Mavis, the high fairy of the stars still lives. Although her energy signature is so faint… perhaps she has gone into stasis as well?"
"Gihihi. She probably wished to escape the new high fairy of spirit - wasn't there a rumor that those two titled fairies never got along?"
Levy glared at the now chortling dragon. She huffed and trounced forward, murmuring expletives in various tongues under her breath.
She was yanked to a stop by a strong arm, the dragon man's grip firm, yet gentle.
"Hey! Why did you do that?!"
"This is the place, shrimp."
Levy instantly sobered, gazing ahead into the clearing visible through the low hanging boughs of the trees. There, at the center, lay a glass casket opened to the rapidly lightening early morning sky. A beautiful woman with wild black locks so similar to Gajeel's lay upon the soft sheets of the rectangular box besides which kneeled Metalicana, his fervent gaze fixed on the unmoving figure. Levy and Gajeel entered the glade, their footsteps soft against the fresh green grass coating the ground. They were still not quiet enough to evade Metalicana's keen dragon hearing. The older ore dragon tore his eyes away from the prone form in front of him, glancing over his shoulder at the hesitating pair.
"Come you two. It is almost time."
His solemn words propelled them forward, Levy falling back slightly to nudge Gajeel to the front. The nervous younger dragon knelt beside his father, his breathing heavy and stressed. His father laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, all the while not removing his intense gaze from his beloved bonded's form.
A few agonizing moments later, the beautiful form began to stir. Her chest, which had hitherto been still, began to slowly rise and fall with each shallow breath she drew. Her eyes, that had been lovingly wiped clean by her doting husband, opened up a crack - the gray tint of her orbs evident in the gentle rays of the first morning light. Slowly and steadily, the high fairy before them returned to life, color flooding her previously ghostly pale complexion as her breaths deepened and quickened.
"Grisela…"
The shapely female turned her head towards the voice that had uttered her name with such warm passion.
"Metty?" She croaked, as she endeavored to sit up. Metalicana clucked his tongue disapprovingly, placing a steadying arm around her slender waist as he helped her complete the motion.
"Slowly now! You've just come out of stasis, you must be bone tired…"
"Hardly. I'm as fit as a fiddle."
A small cough racked her frame, belying her confident words.
"Can't you just take it easy for a few minutes?! For me? Is that too much to ask?!"
"Stop fussing over me like a new mother dragoness, you old metal heap, I'm the blasted high fairy of earth! I can take care of myself! Back off, Metty!"
"Err. Metty?"
The attention of the bickering pair was immediately drawn to the speaker, the high fairy's breath catching in her throat as her gaze fell on the still kneeling figure of the younger iron dragon.
"G-Gajeel? Is that truly you?"
"Y-Yea…"
"Come here, you little iron idiot!"
With a strength unexpected of the recovering fairy woman, she yanked the dragon man off his feet and into a tight embrace.
"When I last saw you, you were barely the length of my forearm… But look at you now! Oh, you've grown so handsome and tall…"
She pulled back, gazing into her son's crimson orbs as the young dragon man blushed at her praise.
"And yet, why do I get the feeling that you are still a virgin? Here I hoped you would be introducing me to my grandchildren…"
Gajeel leapt back, letting out an indignant and undignified squawk. Levy, who had been witnessing the tender scene with a soft smile until that point, burst into a musical peal of laughter.
"A-aye! As delicious as he is, he takes the concept of 'dark and brooding' far too seriously…"
Gajeel turned his head to glare at Levy, who smirked back at him unrepentantly. The fairy woman in the casket glanced over her progeny's shoulder, beaming at the last occupant of the glade.
"And who may you be, my dear?"
"Oh, M-my name is Levy your excellency. I-I am the new high fairy of spirit…"
Grisela raised a brow. "Selena chose you? You seem different from what I expected..."
Levy's eyes narrowed slightly as she shot the other fairy a strained smile.
"Actually no. I evolved into the role. Why? Are the differences a little too jarring for you? It would be entirely understandable to feel so disoriented - especially given that you've been in a self induced coma for the past many years."
Grisela blinked at her before bursting out into a raucous bout of laughter.
Levy's annoyed look dissolved into one of confusion as she sought out Gajeel's and Metalicana's eyes - the former mirroring her bewildered look, while the latter merely grinned in amusement.
"O-oh, I like you! You've got faaar more spunk than Soil used to have! What's the point of being a spirit fairy if you haven't got spirit?! Am I right?! Mav and I used to have so much fun teasing her! But it would be ten times as fun with one as sharp witted as you."
Grisela ended her little speech on a wistful note, shooting Levy a soft, genuine smile.
"The fact that you evolved into the role must mean that my old friend passed on quite a while ago - is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Ah. And Mavis?"
Levy shot Gajeel a troubled look before turning back to Grisela.
"She should be well… However I am unable to fully detect her magic signature. Perhaps she is in stasis as well?"
A shadow passed over Grisela's face.
"Perhaps. Or, it could be a signal of the return of the Celestial Priestess…"
Levy's eyes sharpened as she unconsciously took a few steps closer to the casket.
"Why would you suspect that? Are there other signs I've missed? What would such a foreboding mean for our land?"
Grisela raised her hands and shook her head, an amused smile hovering over her lips.
"One at a time, dear Levy! And to answer all your questions - it is simply a premonition. Nothing more, nothing less. Do not worry about it… when the time comes to act, you will know what you need to do."
Levy opened her mouth to question Grisela's statement, before thinking better of it. She drifted to the back, lost in fervent thought. Grisela shot her one more affectionate smile before turning to her son.
"Now my boy. Are you ready?"
Gajeel stiffened imperceptibly. This was his moment of truth.
"There's been a change of plan, mother. I shan't be accepting your gift of magic today."
"WHAT?!"
Levy's indignant shout rang out in the small clearing - her thought induced pacing brought to a grinding halt as she stood stock still, glaring at the iron dragon.
"Why not, son?" Grisela enquired, her tone curious and slightly mirthful as she shared a sidelong glance with her husband.
Gajeel took a deep breath, pointedly looking away from Levy.
"I would like you to gift it to Levy."
The silence in the clearing was so poignant, even the drop of a needle would have sounded like a crashing boulder.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Levy roared, stomping forward to stand toe to toe with the much taller dragon man.
"Why would you ask that of her?! The gift of fairy magic is for you - and don't bother trying to say you don't need it, I've observed how much of a toll your imbalance is taking on you!"
Gajeel growled, leaning down to glare into the petite fairy's eyes.
"You deserve this far more than I, shrimp! You're the high fairy of spirit! You're too important to the universe… too important to me. You need to survive! As for me… what difference would one less dragon make? You on the other hand…"
Slap
The motion echoed in the small clearing, Levy's entire form trembling as she glared up at her beloved iron idiot.
"Don't you dare speak like that, you metal imbecile! Never, ever again! Do you understand?! Because… You - not important? The unsung hero of the demon wars? The Protector of both Alagesia and Pergrande? The honorable and righteous dragon companion of the noble exceed Pantherlily? The son of the General of Alagesia and the high fairy of the earth? You are all this… and much, much more. This universe needs you. I need you. I-I can't watch you die before me… please…"
Gajeel gazed down at her, emotion overwhelming him and granting him courage beyond that which he had ever had before.
"I love you."
"W-what?!"
"I-I love you. I always have, in fact. And I bonded with you. Soul bonded. The moment we first met after I returned home."
"… WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THIS BEFORE, YOU ASS?"
"WHAT IF YOU REJECTED ME?! YOU'RE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL AND INTELLIGENT AND PERFECT AND I'M…"
"YOU'RE FUCKING SEX ON A STICK - YOU IMPOSSIBLE BASTARD! AND YOU'RE LOYAL, BRAVE, NOBLE AND A FUCKING TEDDY BEAR BEHIND THAT ADORABLE TOUGH DRAGON ACT - HOW COULD I NOT LOVE YOU!"
Gajeel blushed, cocking his head to the side in curiosity.
"…Wait, you love me?"
Levy stared up at her dense lover, her mouth agape and with a look of absolute disbelief.
"… YES!"
"Oh. Gihihi."
"SERIOUSLY?! NOW YOU FIND THAT FUNNY?! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LOW LIFE, ASININE, mmphh…"
Gajeel's lips descended on hers, as he pulled her into his arms. He was surprisingly gentle as he coaxed her mouth open to deepen the kiss, one hand tangled in her light blue locks while the other pressed into her lower back, dangerously close to her plump derriere. After a few minutes of showing her his passionate affection for her, he broke the kiss with a nip to her lip, leaning back to gauge her reaction.
Her shell-shocked yet aroused look had him inwardly preening with male pride.
"I'm glad we got that cleared up. Now. Since you're accepting my mother's fairy magic gift…"
Levy swiftly recovered from her lust-filled daze, glowering up at him again.
"No."
"What?"
"I said no, it's still your mother's gift to you. I refuse to have anything to do with it."
"JUST ACCEPT THE GOD DAMN GIFT, LEVY!"
"NO!"
"WHAT THE FUCK?! HOW CAN SOMETHING SO SMALL AND FRAGILE BE SO GOD DAMN STUBBORN?!"
"I MAY BE SMALL, BUT I'M NOT FRAGILE, YOU METALLIC ASS! DON'T FORGET I'M THE FUCKING HIGH FAIRY OF SPIRIT!"
ahem
The polite, amused sound had the pair halting their altercation to gaze curiously in the direction of the older dragon and fairy pair.
Grisela addressed them with a twinkle of mirth in her eyes. "As much as I hate to interrupt your… err... discussion, I would like to ask you a few questions, Levy dear."
"Oh. Of course, your excellency."
"Do you love my son?"
"Yes."
"Enough to marry him today?"
Gajeel gawked, stammering a little in embarrassment.
"W-wait, that's too private, mother, she doesn't have to answer that…"
Levy did not even pause, her answer swift and sure.
"Naturally."
"Would you be willing then, Levy, to participate in a ceremony even more intense and binding than marriage? Such as a dragon's mating ceremony?"
Gajeel attempted to intervene again, this time with a hint of anger in his voice.
"That's going too far, mother! Levy, let's go!"
But Levy did not hesitate at all.
"With Gajeel? I would love too."
Gajeel sputtered. "What?!"
He was ignored by both the fairy women, his father chuckling quietly in the background.
"Then it's settled. Levy, I will gift my magic to you. We will perform the power transference ceremony right now."
This finally threw Levy off guard.
"W-what? Why?!"
"Because today evening, you and my son will participate in the dragon mating ceremony - with the added force of fairy magic - to bind your sources of light magic together, forever. Together, you may both not be immortal, but neither of you will you die very soon. And both your magical stores will be completely stable. You will no longer need any other source of magic other than your bonded mate, Levy, and Gajeel need only be in your presence to feel himself at ease."
"...Thank you, Grisela."
The pair whispered, gazing into each other's eyes.
They were going to be okay.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Lady Scarlett, if I could have a word?"
Erza paused, turning around to face the orange-haired playboy with a slight, polite incline of her head. It was rare that he accosted her in the castle - their interactions these days were mostly in the enchanted woods and outskirts of Pergrande, limited to the time they spent as a part of the Protectors - so it was with a fair bit of curiosity that she followed him to a deserted training room attached to the grounds. She felt energized and buoyant - having finished her daily training session with Seigrien barely a quarter of an hour before - and she was eager to return to her palace duties. Loke, however, appeared to have other plans, for the moment Erza walked into the small room, he closed and bolted the door behind them, lighting the torches lining the walls as soon as the lock was secure. Erza raised a curious brow - either the man intended to try one of his infamous 'moves' upon her - which she was absolutely confident she could not only rebuff, but teach him a solid lesson in abstinence with her sword and her fists - or he had something of grave importance and absolute secrecy to discuss with her. Considering she had already punished him harshly for merely joking about 'wooing' her when they first met, she highly suspected the cause for all this preparation was the latter.
"Erza, there is something serious we need to discuss." He began, his tone unusually solemn and stern, confirming her suspicions. "It is a delicate matter, and I'm sorry I have to drag you into it, but circumstances being what they are…"
"It is fine, Loke." Erza interjected, equally as solemnly, but with a kind smile to temper her strict tone. "You can trust me. I will be as discreet as the situation requires."
Loke still hesitated, his eyes not meeting hers. "It is about Seigrien…"
Erza's grip on her sword hilt unconsciously tightened, as her tone went from gentle to harsh. "What about him?"
"I have noticed you getting closer to him, and he to you… And I just wished to warn you that in the interest of your desire to serve the crown, it might be better if you kept this man at arms length."
Erza relaxed a little, her breathing slowing down, although the piercing look she leveled at her friend did not abate.
"Why? He was appointed a high court official by her majesty, was he not? Does that not mean he serves the crown just as I? And as for your concern, it is unnecessary, he and I are just acquaintances…"
Loke scowled at her, his momentary chagrin overcoming his normally healthy dose of fear towards the Protectors' 'Titania'.
"Those sentiments only display your naivete, dear Erza, and the reason I'm here and trying to warn you. For your first point - he was admitted into the courts on the simple principle of 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer'. And as for your claim of viewing him only as an 'acquaintance'...
Tell me, which acquaintance risks their honor and status all for the sake of doing their mere 'acquaintance' a favor?"
Erza blushed, but stood her ground.
"I-I do not know w-what you are alluding too…"
"About a fortnight ago, Yukino offered me a snippet of odd news. Apparently, you had taken it upon yourself to search her entire quarters and her person for a spy lacrima - using another 'spy' lacrima to do so. Now then, oh Titania, where did you get that intricate little instrument? And who gave you the idea to search Yukino's room in the first place?"
Erza sighed, running a tired hand over her face.
"I requested her to keep that information as quiet as possible, I'm surprised that she went to you with it. And a little disappointed, frankly."
"Oh, she had no choice on the matter. Twas I who approached her, with an edict from our monarch - however faithful she is to her friends, she cannot refuse a direct order from her ruler."
Erza looked up at that, a worried expression on her mein.
"An edict? But why…"
"Erza, enough stalling." Loke snapped out testily, crossing his arms over his lean, well-defined chest. "Just answer my questions - who gave you the lacrima and told you to search Yukino's room?"
Erza gazed at the ground, an internal war taking place within her as Loke watched, his worry growing by the minute. At last she looked up, a steely tint in her eyes that made the lion spirit gulp.
"Very well, Loke. I will tell you all that I know - in return for a promise that you will hear me out, and not judge till I am done."
Loke nodded briskly.
Erza sighed, fiddling with the hilt of her sword as she began her explanation.
"First off, about Seigrien's true purpose here. He is actually a spy. And he originally hails from the land of…"
"Alvarez?"
If the circumstances had not been so grim and tense, Loke might have chortled at the expression of surprise on the Titania's face.
"We know he is a spy for Alvarez, Erza."
"We?"
"Her majesty is in on the secret. But tell me the rest of your tale."
Erza frowned, a little nervous and confused, but nodded in agreement. "He told me of his mission here - and his utter contempt of it. But he has no choice, his family and friends are at threat back home - he cannot afford to upset his monarch, however much he may hate the situation he is in. That is why he has been a dummy spy of sorts - the information he passes on to the King are inconsequential or details he can find through other sources, nothing of real importance makes it to Alvarez from Seigrien. Additionally, he has tried to thwart the plans of intelligence gathering that he gains knowledge of - the attempt to plant a spy lacrima on Yukino was one such successfully prevented event."
Loke nodded slowly. "The fact that nothing of importance passes from him to the King is, in fact, true… I myself have been monitoring his correspondence and can vouch for that fact…"
Erza blinked, before scowling, the expression far more threatening on her serious features.
"You are spying on him?!"
"By Lucy's command!" Loke squeaked out, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender and surreptitiously eyeing her tight grip on her trusty sword.
Erza's brow knit. "But if Lucy found he was a good intentioned spy, why would you still be monitoring him? And why would she send you to warn me?"
Loke just stared at her, sorrow and pity mixed in his gaze.
"Just because he claims his intentions are good, does not mean his entire purpose here is blameless." Loke let out a weary sigh, running one hand through his orange locks. "Lucy still suspects he has a hidden motive - one far more nefarious than a simple spy mission."
Erza shook her head, her lips pursed into a thin line.
"No. And even if that be the case, I trust him. He would never betray that trust. He is inherently a good man, Loke. Believe me."
Loke looked at her long and hard.
"As strange as it is for me to admit… I do believe you, Titania. I've observed the pair of you over the past many months… and I am undoubtedly one of the best at being able to judge whether a man's affection is genuine or not. And given the way Seigrien looks at you, talks to you and about you… his love for you is real. I can't see him betraying you…"
Erza blushed crimson, refusing to meet her friend's eyes.
"...Intentionally, that is. He may not have the same sense of loyalty towards your friends or monarch, I'm afraid."
"He knows how much they mean to me. I-If he truly feels as you claim he does, he will not hurt them… for my sake, at least…"
Loke arrested her with another long, hard look - one that made even the fearless Titania uneasy.
"For all our sakes, I hope you are right."