Alrighty everyone! I'm uploading to Chapter 9 and I'll post the rest after they get one last edit. Just so you know, there's 15 chapters and an epilogue :) Thank you to everyone who's favorited/reviewed so far! It means a ton to me!
And of course, I don't own Fairy Tail. Forgot to say that at the first chapter lol
Gajeel stretched his wings and twisted his body in the air. The cool wind felt wonderful on his scales and he smiled in what felt like weeks. Levy was right, he could feel himself getting better.
He still had hard days, when he simply wanted to be left alone and ignore everyone and everything around him, but those days were becoming fewer and fewer. Probably thanks to Levy's smiling face keeping him from falling too far into the darkness.
She always seemed to know when he was at his limit and would distract him with one of her outrageous schemes. Hence, their impromptu training in the woods the other day. They hadn't trained in a while, which had given the girl plenty of time to come up with her mud-covered disguise.
Gajeel chuckled and banked to the right. He was actually quite impressed with her idea. He was still surprised that she managed to get the better of him but she really did earn her win. For the life of him, he just couldn't tell where she was hiding. He knew he had chased her into the forest, but once he had gotten there, he had completely lost her scent. Levy had explained to him how she even used her Solid Script to create the wind that had surrounded him. It had been a great idea; and a good reminder that they should probably be focusing on more important training, like her Solid Script, than playing hide and seek.
Call him overbearing, but he would feel much better about leaving the castle if he knew that she could hide herself whenever she needed. And there were plenty of times he had to leave. His patrols and scouting, hunting, or even chasing out Flame for Brains when he wandered into their territory.
The idiot flame dragon seemed bent on trespassing whenever he could, even though he knew that Gajeel was the larger of the two and could easily beat him in a fight. Natsu was probably just bored, not having a clutchmate like Rogue and Sting, or a strict study schedule like Wendy. But that didn't mean he could bother Gajeel all the time. Go annoy someone else for a change. Preferably Grandeeney. He would love to see the grouchy old hag rip Natsu a new one.
But this time, Gajeel was heading into flame territory, itching for a fight.
He would usually spar with his old man, but since the dragon up and died on him, he decided the salamander was the next best thing. Natsu wouldn't hold back, always eager for a fight, and Gajeel was guaranteed to get the workout he wanted. He knew he had a few hours at least before he needed to return home. Levy was busy collecting herbs, which she repeatedly forbade him from helping with. Which was fine with him. He needed time away from the blue-haired girl anyway.
Gajeel frowned and slowed his wings. It wasn't as if he didn't like her; Levy was his best friend, his constant companion since she first arrived. She had been so tiny and adorable, with her short blue hair going every which way and words that seemed to rush out like a river during a storm. He instantly vowed to become her defender against all evils in life.
But recently, he felt strange whenever she was around. She would smile and his heart would thump. She would lean against him and he would fight the urge to curl around her and never let go. And whenever he did leave, there was always an ache in his chest and the desire to turn around and just be near her.
He shook his head and increased his speed. He wasn't being clingy. He just...wanted to protect her. After all, she was the only family he had left. And he would ignore the voice in his head that told him he was lying to himself.
He wouldn't think about it, wouldn't worry about the fact that she was getting older every day and sooner than later they would come and take her away. Levy, thankfully, never brought it up, so Gajeel never had to admit out loud that he wasn't ready for her to leave. And he would never, ever admit that during patrols he was constantly looking for traces of human knights moving up the mountain.
He hadn't seen any so far, but he would not relax until he was back home with Levy tucked away safely by his side.
The trees thinned below him and Gajeel shook himself out of his thoughts, realizing he had passed Igneel and Natsu's territory. He twisted around and angled his wings to lower himself to the ground. Scorch marks marred the rocks around him and he smirked. Hopefully Natsu sported some scorches from his old man as well.
He kept low to the ground, just above the few trees that dotted the landscape around him, and soon spotted the two red dragons near a small grove. Grandeeney's white scales came into view, as well as Wendy's pale, blue feathered wings. He folded his wings, purposely making sure to ram into Natsu as he landed.
"Eh, Salamander! Haven't seen ya sneaking into my territory for a while. Finally got scared, huh?"
"You wanna say that to my face, Metal Mouth!"
"I just did, Flame Breath. Whatcha gonna do about it?"
The two dragons circled each other, a wicked grin on each of their faces. He heard Grandeeney snort and knew that Wendy was hiding behind her mother. As the only female dragon their age, she never liked it when the male dragons fought.
"Natsu! We don't have time for this." Igneel's deep voice boomed over the rocks and Natsu reluctantly straightened.
"Next time, Metal Head."
Gajeel frowned, straightening from his crouch, and looked around at the three other dragons. Wendy refused to look him in the eye, and the two adults glanced at each other in a silent conversation.
"Oi, what's with everyone?" He tried to laugh, but it sounded hollow, even to his own ears. As the silence lengthened, a pit formed in his stomach.
Igneel finally spoke. "Skiadrum just told us that he spotted a group of human knights riding through his territory."
Is that all?
Gajeel snorted, the sinking feeling disappearing. "So what? His land is the closest to the humans. They overstep their boundaries all the time." He smirked, but didn't like the way everyone looked at each other. Wendy looked ready to tell him something, but stopped when her mother hissed. He shifted on his feet, the pit reforming.
"What's goin' on?"
"We were just thinking about telling you…" Wendy said slowly, glancing to Grandeeney for permission.
"Tell me what? Eh? Spit it out!"
Grandeeney sighed. "The humans...they were carrying the flag of Magnolia. They were knights of Makarov himself."
That...wasn't unusual. Knights at the base of the mountains, that could mean anything. He had watched them train there many times and thought it was funny how they tried to use their tiny swords like dragon claws.
He chuckled, forcing his voice to remain steady. "And here you guys were startin' to make me worried. There's knights trainin' at the base all the time-"
"They didn't stop at the base. They were heading up the mountain." Igneel shook his head and pity shone in his eyes. Gajeel's blood turned to ice, the fire in his belly cooling when Wendy looked at him with deep sympathy in her brown eyes.
"We didn't know how to tell you...but they're marching straight into your territory, Gajeel." Her voice was small and filled with regret, but Gajeel just shook his head.
"When was this?" He asked, turning to Igneel.
"This morning, two hours after the sun rose. They'll be there in less than an hour."
"No…" he shook his head, backing away. His claws scratched into the ground. "No, they can't take her, I won't let them!" He had been so careful, so watchful on his flight over. How did he miss them? How could he leave her all alone?
"Sweetling, you knew this would happen one day." Grandeeney's gentle voice pleaded with him.
"No, it's too soon...they can't...they can't just do this!"
Igneel growled low in his throat. "They're humans, Gajeel. And her family-"
"She's my family!" he roared and launched himself into the sky.
He ignored the calls of his friends, the pleas to come back and think things through. He had one thought and one thought only: he needed to hide Levy.
It seemed to take him hours to finally reach the edge of his territory. A faint line of dust covered the mountain trail and he urged his wings to go faster. "Please let her be at the castle, please, please…"
He flew over the lake and landed heavily, roaring out Levy's name before his wings fully folded. The rumbling of rocks alerted him and he saw Levy scrambling up the castle wall.
"Gajeel? What's-"
"They're coming!" he huffed, the rest of his words sticking in his suddenly thick throat.
Levy frowned at him in confusion, "...they? THEY!" Her eyes widened and she dropped back on the other side of the wall. "When? H-how?" she called over.
Gajeel shook his head, pacing in the grass. "I don't know, but we don't have much time!"
"Ok, ok, I'm coming!"
He heard the clanking of the lantern and the sound of her shoving things into the pack.
"Hurry up, Shrimp," he hissed, eyeing the growing dust cloud.
"I know!" He heard the panic in her voice and he saw her head peek over the wall. "Oh no, they're here."
She froze, but Gajeel wasted no time. He grabbed the back of her tunic in his teeth and lifted her, pack and all, over the wall. A trumpet sounded and they both jumped. Gajeel set her down on the grass next to him and used his body to block her from sight. He glared at the approaching knights, lips curling to show off his sharp teeth.
One knight rode in front of the rest. A tall human, with bright yellow hair and a jagged scar across one eye. He raised a hand and the rest of the knights halted their horses. Gajeel disliked him immediately.
"G-Gajeel?" Levy whispered behind him.
"I won't let them take you." He growled low in his throat.
"I am Laxus Dreyar, Prince of Magnolia and son to King Makarov. I am here to speak with Metalicana, the Iron Dragon."
"Metalicana has returned to the sky from where he was born. I am Gajeel, his son. You may speak with me."
The prince looked at him with a puzzled frown. Another man, not a knight, if his simple clothing was any indication, rode up to the prince and whispered in his ear. Laxus nodded, turning back to Gajeel.
"My condolences for your loss, Iron Dragon. I am-"
"Why do you humans invade my territory?" His heart hammered in his chest and he willed his voice not to shake.
Laxus frowned. "As I was saying, I am here by the request of my father, the king, to retrieve my sister, Levy McGarden Dreyar. The late Iron Dragon was entrusted with her care and it is now time for her to go home."
"Why didn't the king himself come, if it's so important? And what took you guys so long, anyway?"
Keep stalling, keep stalling. Think, Gajeel….think!
Levy shifted behind him and he could feel her lean close. Laxus's eyes furrowed and he rose on his horse to look behind Gajeel.
He shifted again, making sure Levy was blocked from his view. "And what if she chooses to stay?"
The prince shook his head and sat down "Why would a princess want to stay in such a place like this? It is my duty and honor to return her to her rightful home."
"This is her home," Gajeel growled, lowering himself into a crouch. The knights took out their swords and Laxus tilted his head. No one was touching Levy, not even an arrogant prince.
"You're not takin' her away from me."
"Then I will treat you as a threat." Laxus raised his hand and shot it forward.
The knights kicked their horses and Gajeel roared. The horses screamed in terror and reared, many of their riders falling from their mounts. Gajeel rushed forward, shooting a "run Levy" over his shoulder as he charged the prince. Laxus didn't flinch, just raised a hand again and clenched his fist.
A bolt of lightning coursed through Gajeel's body. He roared in pain, dropping to his knees as his body convulsed under the current.
"WIND!"
The convulsions subsided and Gajeel eyes widened in horror. Levy rushed the blond knight, her WIND script making him stagger on his horse.
"Idiot, why are you still here!"
Tears streamed down her face as she rushed toward him. "I can't just leave-"
"Levy, watch out!"
Laxus charged with his horse and snatched her around the waist, yanking her onto the saddle in front of him. She struggled and kicked, her horror filled eyes pleading with Gajeel. He rose to his feet and flapped his wings to carry him faster to his girl, but another bolt of lighting seized his wings. He fell with a loud crash, thunder echoing in his ears. He struggled to lift himself up. He had to get to Levy, he had to save her. He promised!
The lightning subsided and left his body convulsing on the ground. He squinted around the knights, over the grass. A flash of pain cut through his side. He howled, seeing the fuzzy image of a knight with his sword raised. More knights surrounded him, blocking any chance of escaping. Swords raised, coming closer.
"Gajeel! No, please!"
"Le-Levy…"
His world went black.