Hello everyone! Me again :) I know it's been a while since I've posted something on here, but life has been making me busy and I've actually been working on a few stories that I hope to publish someday. But I started reading a ton of GaLe fics lately and a few stories popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone. So here you are! It's inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest but I can't tell who the original artist is. Like I said, I haven't posted anything for a while so please tell me if my formatting is off or there's any serious errors. Anyways, hope you enjoy! (Ahhh, super nervous, I hope everyone likes it!)
For centuries, dragons had been considered the most feared race in all of Fiore. Strong of body and magic, and harboring an innate desire to protect those they loved, they shielded the humans from any threat that wished to annihilate them. But with so few of them left in existence, dragons had begun to loathe the idea of war and destruction.
They had fought wars in the past, when the rogue dragon Acnologia unleashed his wrath upon the world. They managed to defeat him, but just barely, and the world still bore the scars of their battle. The remaining dragons agreed to never involve themselves in wars again, but as Metalicana flew toward the city of Magnolia, he wondered if he and his companions would be begged into yet another battle for the humans.
Earlier that day Metalicana and his four companions received an urgent message from King Makarov of Fairy Tail. The king rarely asked them for help and the fact that he had one of his mages send the message via telepathy across the plains to the Phoenix Mountains made his scales itch with worry. The dragons had quickly departed, intent on reaching their friend to hear his urgent news. They flew over the valley between Magnolia and Oak Town, seeing the flashes of magic explode beneath them. The yells and screams of fighting mages carried across the wind. Metalicana shook his head at the foolishness of humans and angled his wings to drift toward Fairy Tail Castle.
When they reached the city, he let out a roar to inform Makarov of their arrival. In a matter of minutes they landed in the large courtyard in front of the castle. He folded his wings and kept his tail close to his body. Makarov would have his hide if he ruined the manicured gardens again.
They had barely settled their large bodies when the doors of the castle opened and Makarov hurried down the castle steps. Metalicana was no expert, but the man's face seemed to be more worn than usual.
"Makarov, we received your message. What is so urgent that you needed to send for all five of us?" Grandeeney asked without any greeting, not one to mince words. His other companions shifted on their feet, the sounds of the magic battle looming in the air.
"As you had probably guessed, we are at war," Makarov answered with a weary sigh.
"With whom? Isn't your kingdom considered one of the strongest in all of Fiore? Who would dare challenge you?" Igneel moved next to Grandeeney and lowered his head to peer at Makarov's face.
Makarov grimaced and ran a hand over his head. "Phantom Lord, a group of bandits and rogue mages, but strong in their own right. They've been terrorizing the countryside as of late, and of course we couldn't just sit by and watch the innocents get hurt."
Metalicana could understand the king's position. He was one of the few humans who seemed to be reluctant to go to war, but if provoked he would prove to be a powerful adversary. The fact that this Phantom Lord dared to meddle near Fairy Tail's land...well, it bordered on imbecilic.
"But why did you summon us?" Weisslogia asked, his pure white scales glittering in the evening sun. "You know that we do not involve ourselves in the wars of humans anymore."
"Yes, yes, I know. And as much as I would love your help, we can handle this situation on our own. My knights are well trained and our mages vastly outnumber that of Phantom Lord."
"Then again, why did you summon us? Get to the point, Makarov." Grandeeney growled, her impatience beginning to show.
"I am worried for my children," he said, clasping his hands behind his back. "I don't know how long the battle will last and I want my children to get to safety. Laxus is already in Crocus training with a friend of mine, but I have no where to send my little Levy." The king looked at each one of them, a plea in his wise eyes. "Please, I know it will be difficult, but I beg of you: Can one of you take my little girl? There is no one else I trust with her safety more than you five."
Metalicana blinked in confusion. Did the king realize what he was asking?
"How do you expect a dragon to raise a little human girl?" The usually stoic Skiadrum shocked everyone with his outburst.
Makarov shook his head. "Not raise her, just to keep her safe until the fighting is over. Please, it will only be for a few weeks, a few months maybe, until the tensions have died down."
Metalicana pondered the king's strange request. He had seen Princess Levy on a few occasions. Five years old, tiny for her age but with enough energy to run circles around her poor nursemaids. She was a talker, from what he could remember, and smiled at the simplest things.
Maybe she could help the brat learn some manners.
"I'm sorry, old friend, but I already have my claws full with Natsu. That hatchling seems bent on destroying everything in his path and I cannot take my eyes off him for a moment. I'm certain I'll return to a burnt forest after this meeting."
The princess would be an easy charge, compared to the runt. I could take her.
"And Wendy is in the middle of her medical studies. I cannot interrupt my teachings to watch over another hatchling." Grandeeney's ridges furrowed and she shook her head sadly.
He doesn't demand much attention, so what's the harm of adding one more to the mix?
"I can take her." Metalicana said softly. It would be tricky, fostering a human child so different from his own species, but his territory had plenty of shelter and fresh water. There were forests and meadows for the girl to explore. It shouldn't be too difficult.
"Sting and Rogue are already like clutchmates. Er, brothers in human terms. I don't think they would do well adding another to their, what do you think, Skiadrum?" Weisslogia turned to his companion, who nodded in agreement.
"They are practically inseparable as it is. I don't think it would be wise to add another hatchling."
"I can take the princess." Metalicana growled over the talking dragons, causing all conversation to come to a shattering halt.
"Metalicana? You want to care for my girl?" Makarov frowned at him, his confusion mirrored by all of the dragons.
"What about Gajeel? I thought he's been giving you trouble lately?" Igneel stared at him and Metalicana understood the fire dragon's doubts.
Metalicana snorted. "Yeah, he's been a real brat of late, but it might be good for him to have some other company for a change."
Someone snorted and he didn't need to twist his neck to know it was Grandeeney. "The princess isn't some pet, Metalicana. She's a human and you're going to have to take care of her. You can't just leave her on her own then fight her when she gets on your nerves."
"I know that," he scoffed, neck bristling at the insult.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Makarov bowed low and Metalicana backed away, his scales heating in embarrassment.
"Uh, yeah, sure. So um, when will she be ready to leave?"
"She's ready now. Marcao!" Makarov's voice thundered up the stairs and a dark haired man opened the castle doors, a large bundle in his arms and a pack slung over his shoulder. Makarov met him at the bottom of the stairs and relieved his second-in-command of the pack.
"Here's everything you'll need. Some extra clothes, books, she already knows how to read, magic scrolls. I think she might have a penchant for script magic, but I've been busy lately so I haven't been able to test it yet, let's see um...a few blankets-"
"It'll be enough. I can always get more from the village." He stretched out his neck to look at the bundle in Macao's arms. He could only make out a peek of blue hair among the blankets.
"Yes, yes, of course. And like I said, it shouldn't be too long. A few weeks, a month at most. The sleeping spell will last for a few more hours, so she won't wake up during your flight. Thank you, my friend, thank you!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't mention it." He picked up the pack with a claw and gestured for Marcao to set his bundle down. The man looked to the king, who nodded permission, and gently lowered the sleeping princess.
As gently as he could, Metalicana opened his claws and scooped up the princess, blankets and all. The girl didn't stir. Makarov hurried to arrange the blankets more securely around his daughter, his hand lingering for a moment on her blue curls.
He looked up at him, pain filling his eyes. "Take care of her, please."
Metalicana blinked and slowly nodded, "I will guard her with my life."
The king heaved a large sigh and nodded his head. He slowly removed his hand and backed up to the stairs as Metalicana flapped his wings and carefully took flight. He banked west, flying over the city of Magnolia and in the direction of the Phoenix Mountains. He flew much slower than he usually did, careful of the precious cargo in his claws.
"Are you sure about this, Brother?"
Metalicana tilted his head to look at Igneel, and grunted. "Yeah I'm sure. This'll be a good chance for that punk of mine to finally learn some manners."
Igneel shrugged and beat his wings, hurrying back to his territory and his own destructive hatchling. The other dragons studied him for a long moment, giving him their silent support. They flew on ahead, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He hadn't told anyone, but he could feel the years starting to creep up on him. He knew he wouldn't be around much longer and wouldn't have anyone to look after his hatchling when Metalicana was gone. Weisslogia and Skiadrum's hatchlings had each other and even though Gajeel treated Wendy like an obnoxious younger clutchmate, she was closer to Igneel's brat than to the young iron dragon. Call him selfish, but he wanted Gajeel to have at least one friend in his lifetime and at the rate the brat was going, this was the only chance he would get.
True, the human princess of Magnolia probably wasn't the best choice, but Gajeel had always been a sucker for small, cute things.
And the princess was by far the tiniest thing he had ever seen.