Alrighty, another chapter ready for you guys. This one is a little longer than the starter. Also I forgot to mention that this story supposedly takes place after their return from Tenrou Island. That might be helpful ;)
Thanks to piranha pk, I Am A Freaking Epic Ninja, CupCakesYummeh, Coraline Mcgarden, D4sssy and Yankee-Chan for your reviews of Chapter 1. :D
It had been a while since Levy took on a mission all by herself. She needed a break from Jet and Droy's smothering ever since she and the others returned from Tenroujima. This one was right up Levy's alley and she accomplished it rather easily. Levy had just bid the client farewell and was one her way to the train station when she heard someone approach her from behind...
Levy woke up in a small, dark room. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around, trying to get her eyes to focus. "Where am I" she mumbled. Levy then realized that she was lying on cot that was pushed up againse a wall. She laid there waiting for her eyes to adjust to what little light there was coming through the door that led into the room she was in. She sat up on the cot and looked around the room more closely. There were no windows in the room. That could only mean one thing she thought as she looked down and noticed a pair of shackles on her wrists.
"I...I was captured? But why?" she asked herself. Leve placed her head into her cupped hands, trying to remember anything that happened to her. All she could remember was finishing her mission and heading to the train station. "Someone must have used magic on me" she muttered.
Levy stood up, determined to find out what she was doing here and why. She walked over to the door and placed her ear upon it. She couldn't hear anyone or anything on the other side. She backed away from the door, thinking she could try magic to break free. Levy held out her hands and shouted "SOLID SCRIPT FIRE!"
...Nothing.
"What? Why isn't my magic working?!" she said with slight panic. Trapped in a room with no means of escape and not able to use magic? This wasn't looking good already. Levy inspected the shackles on her and noticed some very small writing on them.
"Runes? Someone is using runes to nullify my magic?" she said with despair. She looked at the door, anger and frustration rising up within her. Levy began banging on the door and yelling in an attempt to get a response from anyone who might be out there, whether they be friend or foe. After several minutes and no response, Levy backed away and made her back over to the cot she woke up on. She sat down, resting her back against the wall and pulled her knees up to her. She whimpered as she buried her face in between them. "...Somebody...please..."
As the train departed from Magnolia's station, Gajeel sat in his seat with his arms crossed an staring out the window. All he could think of was Levy and if she was ok. Across from him sat PantherLily who was mimicing Gajeel, only he was staring at his partner sternly. Gajeel could sense the black Exceeds stare but tried to ignore it. Finally after 15 minutes of silent staring Gajeel turned to PantherLily.
"Alright, spit it out cat! I know something is bothering you!" Gajeel shouted to PantherLily, who just sat there with his eyes narrowing more at the iron dragon.
"We've been partners for some time now, right?" PantherLily finally spoke. "Did it ever occur to you that I should have been made aware of your double agent job. Gajeel?" PantherLily was rather upset that his partner has been hiding such a secret form him.
Gajeel rolled his eyes. "There's a reason that you, nor anyone else, needs to know about it" he said. "It would out the guild at risk but more importantly it eould put my life at risk" he said calmly to his partner.
PantherLily closed his eyes and looked down. "I suppose you have a point" he said. "But you still should have told me...I am your partner after all."
"Well, now you know. So don't mention anything about this to anyone...especially Levy" he said as he went back to looking out the window.
Makarov explained in detail his plan for Gajeel to get Levy back safely from Raven Tail. After Gajeel agreed to everything he left Makarov's office and headed back into the guild. PantherLily was still sitting at the corner of the bar, waiting for his partner to come back. He saw Gajeel turn the corner and he quickly stood up. "What was that all about?" he asked Gajeel. "Is there something wrong?"
Gajeel looked down at his partner and sighed. "Come one Lily...we've been assigned an important mission and I've got a lot of explaining to do" he said, motioning for the black Exceed to follow him.
The two headed back to their place and packed for their trip. "Gajeel, what exactly is going on? I've never seen you like this" PantherLily asked. Gajeel tied up his travel bag and sat down. "Alright...this isn't going to be easy to explain but I have no choice but to tell you." he said as he began to explain everything to PantherLily about his role as a double agent, Levy's disappearance and Makarov's plan.
PantherLily sat there and listened to everything the iron dragon had to say with eyes wide. He couldn't believe what he was hearing or how to respond. Instead PantherLily closed his eyes, stood up and made his way to the door. "Well...what are we waiting for" he said, waiting on Gajeel.
The train arrived at their destination which was a small town about a day's journey from Magnolia. Gajeel and PantherLily exited the train station and searched for an inn so they could stay the night and rest up for their journey on the next day.
Tomorrow's destination would be Raven Tail's hideout. Since this was the closest town they could travel to by train the two would have to continue the rest of the way on foot into the Barren Mountains. It would be a long trip but one that had to be made.
After the two got settled into their room for the night, Gajeel decided he would go over the plan with PantherLily as to how he was going to get into Raven Tail without raising suspicion. "When we get to their hideout tomorrow you're going to have to follow my lead exactly or the plan won't work. We have to convince everyone that you're a suitable candidate to join Raven Tail." Gajeel said.
PantherLily's mouth hung open. "You expect me to pretend that I'm a Raven Tail member?" he said, practically yelling. Gajeel nodded at his partner. "Why not, I've been doing that all this time. So can you." PantherLily closed his mouth and nodded. "You make a valid point...continue please" he said to his partner.
"Once we get inside just stay close to me until we reach Ivan. After that it will just be a matter of convincing him that you're a more than suitable member for Raven Tail" Gajeel continued explaining the plan. "Once he sees that you're worthy of being a member we can move about more freely inside their hideout. That will make it easier for us to find Levy and get her out!"
PantherLily nodded in agreeance with the plan. "Do we know why the kidnapped Levy in the first place?" he asked Gajeel. The dragon shook his head, "I don't...but I intend to find out. When we gain enough trust from Ivan and find out why they took her then we let Master Makarov know using this" he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small communications Lacrima.
"This is a very risky plan Gajeel...for you and for Levy. Do you really think that we will be able to pull it off?" PantherLily asked Gajeel.
"We're going to try our damndest to get her out of there. One way or the other, no matter what, I'm going to save her. I promised that I would protect her and I'm not backing out on that!" he said with great determination in his voice.
PantherLily smiled when he heard Gajeel say this. He knew for some time now that Gajeel had a soft spot for Levy and this mission just proved it even more...Gajeel was in love with Levy.
"Well then let's rest up" PantherLily said as he made a spot to sleep at the end of the bed. "We've got a really big day tomorrow. We have to go and rescue the damsel in distress, gi hee" PantherLily said teasing the dragon.
Gajeel couldn't believe what he just heard the Exceed say. "...just shut the hell up cat" he said as he laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. As he did PantherLily could have sworn he saw Gajeel's face turn a light shade of red.
Levy was unaware that she had fallen asleep. She awoke to the sound of a door slamming and footsteps coming down a corridor. As she sat up quickly the door to her room opened up and light poured in.
A figure appeared in the doorway as Levy placed her hand in front of her eyes, trying to make out who it was. "I see that you're awake now fairy-chan" the figure spoke as it came into the room. Levy lowered her hand to see a tall, bearded man staring sinisterly at her.
"Who are you and why am I here?" she asked in a demanding tone.
"How dare you speak to Master Ivan that way!" a voice shouted out. Levy looked behind the man to see that the voice came from a woman who was now standing in the doorway.
"Now, now Flare-chan. There's no need for any of that" he said looking back at the woman. Flare Corona, the woman with long, braided red hair, went quiet as a look of fear came across her face.
"Master...Ivan?" Levy mumbled. She had heard the name before. "You're Master Makarov's son are you not!?" she asked. She had never seen the Master's son, she had only heard stories of him. Levy then realized the amount of trouble she was in if she was captured by Raven Tail. "What do you want with me? Are you trying to start trouble with Master Makarov and Fairy Tail?" she asked with a bit of fear behind her voice.
Ivan turned back around to look at Levy again. "Don't worry fairy-chan. All I require are your services" he said with a smirk. "If you do a good job I might consider letting you return to Fairy Tail with only minor damage to you" he said as he laughed.
Levy clinched her teeth as she heard him speak. "I will never do anything for you or your guild!" she shouted out.
With a grin on his his face, Ivan spoke, "Oh, you will fairy-chan...you will or you'll die" he said, turning to leave the room. "Flare-chan...why don't you stay and play with our guest some. You may remove her shackles this once if you would like for her to play back" he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Yes, Master Ivan. It would be my pleasure" Flare said, tilting her head with a sadistic grin appeared on her face. "Play time, little blue fairy!"