"Shrimp..." Gajeel said as he glanced over at Shrimp's motionless body, only to get no answer from her.
"The shadows have her now there's no use..."Payne said smiling.
"What are you talking about?" Gajeel asked as he stood up.
"they're too strong the shadows, no one can fight them, now that I've gotten rid of her, there's only you left to deal with" Payne hissed, as he gathered up a large amount of shadow energy in the palm of his hand, ready to strike at the dragon slayer. Gajeel swiftly dodged the hit, which didn't please the dark mage as he turned himself into black smoke and reappeared behind the dragon slayer; who had prepared himself for this and gave Payne a face full of 'Iron Dragons Roar'. Gajeel fought with all he had, determined to fight for both himself and his Shrimp, who most likely was facing a battle of her own...
"There's nowhere to hide...the shadows are everywhere" an eerie voice whispered, she could feel herself suddenly get very cold and everything was dark. The script mage stood up, inspecting her surroundings; she wasn't in the forest where herself and Gajeel where fighting against Payne, but found herself in a black void; full of emptiness, loneliness and darkness.
"Who's there?" Levy shouted, as she franticly spun round in a circle, searching for the owner of the voice.
"Shadows..." The voice whispered back, sending a chill down her spine. That's not very helpful.
"Can you tell me how to get back?" Levy shouted to the voice, only deep down the script mage knew the answer.
"No, there is no way to escape the darkness, no way to escape the shadows!" the voicehissed
"No, you're lying!" Levy shouted back to the voice, only to receive a demonic growl suddenly she felt a strong force hit her, sending her flying to the floor breathless.
"There is no way..." Levy whispered as tears clouded her vision and fell down her face.
"There is no use trying to resist..." the voice whispered. Levy looked up and found a shadow like hand opened up in front of her. "Give in now and all will be clear..."
Levy reached out her hand.
"No!" she shouted as she pulled away her hand, earning a hiss from the shadow creature.
"Fool, there is no escape!"
"That doesn't matter I rather die trying than surrender to the shadows!" Levy shouted as she stood up.
"Then you'll die here!" the voice shouted.
"No. I won't..." Levy stated whilst smiling, she knew why she wouldn't die here, why Payne needed her soul, knew why she could break the ancient runes and dispel Payne's containment spell. I don't know why it took me so long to realise...
"What makes you so certain?" The voice hissed "I'm Levy McGarden and I am the Heavens Light Pearl!" she shouted as a bright light appeared causing the darkness and the shadows to disappear...
His muscles ached after all the hits taken from the dark mage and he had hardly any magic energy left, every time he moved his body screamed in pain, causing the dragon slayer to start to lose hope, even by some miracle he defeated the dark mage he didn't even know if there was going to be a way to bring his shrimp back to him once more.
"You might as well give up..." Payne sighed "seeing you like this really is pathetic"
Gajeel growled at Payne's remark, smiled then gave Payne the finger, causing the dark mage's expression to change to one of pure rage.
"How's that for pathetic?" Gajeel asked smiling then suddenly Payne punched him sending him to the floor and giving him a face full of earth.
"You. Dare. To. Mock. Me!" Payne shouted between punches, Gajeel grabbed Payne's arms just as he was about to land another hit, and with all the strength he could muster he pushed Payne off of him, sending him rolling on the ground.
"You really are full of shit..." Gajeel said as he staggered up.
"Excuse me...?" Payne said his sinister voice barely a whisper.
"Shrimp is stronger than that; the shadows don't have her..." Gajeel explained to the dark mage.
"If she's so strong then why is she there..." Payne hissed as he gestured to her motionless body which was shrouded in shadows "why is she not fighting by your side?"
"She is fighting, she may be small but she's stubborn she wouldn't go down that easily..." Gajeel growled.
"You should stop worrying about her and worry about yourself!" Payne shouted as quickly gather a large amount of shadow energy in his hands and before Gajeel could register what was even happening, the shadow energy was coming right at him.
Gajeel brought his arms up to his face, ready to brace himself for the impact, however it never came. Opening his eyes, which he didn't even know where closed and removing his arms, the dragon slayer looked up above him to see the word 'Shield' written gold, surrounded by a white light.
"Shrimp...?" he said as he turned to find the small script mage give him a warm smile, he hair was matted and wild, her clothes dirty and torn, however she turned to the dark mage who was frozen in complete shock and gave him a look that meant business.
She was pissed off.
"The shadows, they, they..." Payne started
"They didn't work..." Levy stated as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"There is no escape from the shadows..." Payne hissed
"You said that already" Gajeel growled, the dragon slayer getting annoyed at Payne singing the same tune.
"Payne, it's time for this battle to end..." Levy said as she stood in fighting stance.
"Yes it is..." Payne hissed as he too got into fighting stance. The three mages stood silent, Payne and Levy staring each other directly in the eye, searching for a clue for when the other would strike, whilst Gajeel stood near Levy, to offer his support however the dragon slayer knew that this wasn't his fight.
"Internal Suffering" Payne shouted as he released large amounts of shadow energy.
"Solid Script: HEAVENS SHEILD!" Levy shouted as the words 'shield' appeared in gold, and to Payne's surprise it not only stopped his attack but dispelled it.
"How did you...?" Payne asked, shocked, he knew that Levy never had this kind of power before.
"Being with the shadows helped me become stronger, physically, mentally and spiritually" Levy stated to the dark mage, who growled with anger. Before she could react Payne sent a blast of dark magic her way, sending her to the floor, Gajeel aimed a punch at the dark mage, however Payne dodged it and blasted he dragon slayer with large amount f shadow energy, sending him to the floor too.
"You've finally unlocked this power...and now it shall be mine!" Payne shouted as he wrapped his smoke like arms round Levy's wrists, keeping them in place, Levy struggled to free her arms but to no use, causing the dark mage to laugh evilly.
"You want my power then take it" Levy shouted "Gajeel cover your ears!"
"Shrimp...?" Gajeel said as he stood up, confused as to what she was planning
"Trust me..." she whispered, earning a nod from the dragon slayer "Solid Script: HEAVENS LIGHT!"
Suddenly the words 'heavens light' appeared in gold, surrounded by a blinding light and accompanied by the sound of heavenly singing. The bright light caused the dark mage to scream in agony, with his hands placed over his ears. His screams filled the forest once more before he exploded, leaving behind only a pile of ash; silence filled the forest as the shadow walls disappeared, allowing the Fairy Tail mages to be reunited once more.
"Levy-Chan!" Lucy shouted as she grabbed her friend into a tight hug.
"Lu-Chan!" Levy shouted as she hugged blonde mage.
"Levy, I'm impressed at the power that you've displayed when fighting Payne" Erza said smiling, earning nods from Wendy and Gray.
"We heard the whole fight..." Natsu moaned as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Then why are you complaining?" Gray asked.
"Coz I didn't get to fight, even the iron maiden got to" Natsu moaned.
"Shut up, you idiot." Gajeel growled as he punched Natsu "You wouldn't have stood a chance against him anyway"
"I was so worried for the both of you, I'm glad you're both okay" Wendy said, sighing happily.
"Yeah and Levy-Chan, since when did you become the pearl?" Lucy asked, causing the mages to start chucking theories as to where Levy got her newfound power.
"She got it when she died!" Natsu shouted.
"She didn't die, you idiot, she was in a coma" Gray shouted at the fire dragon slayer.
"You had that power in you all along and you just needed to...awaken it" Lily stated, earning gasps from some of the mages.
"Amazing..." Charle whispered, earning a nod of agreement form her partner.
"I'm just glad that it's over..." Levy sighed as she turned to face where Payne's body had once been.
"We should head back to the guild" Erza suggested, as she Pulled Natsu and Gray by the arms, while Happy, Wendy, Charle, Lily and Lucy followed behind.
"Levy-Chan, you two coming?" Lucy asked as she turned around
"Lucy, I think it's best if we give them space" Lily suggested, earning a nod from the celestial mage.
"Okay, see you at the guild" Lucy said before her and Lily turned and left.
The two mages stood in silence, now that the whole ordeal was over it was as if neither of them knew the right thing to say. Levy averted her gaze to the floor, afraid that if she looked into the dragon slayers, eyes she would pour her hear out there and then.
"So it's over now..." Levy said as fidgeted with her hands.
"Yeah, everything's back to normal now" Gajeel sighed, with a hint of sadness.
"I don't want it to go back to normal..." Levy whispered as she slowly looked up at the dragon slayer.
"Neither do I" Gajeel said, as he closed the distance between them with his gaze totally focused on her.
"Gajeel, I-..." Levy started, however she was interrupted when Gajeel pressed his lips to hers and before she could register what was happening she realised that she was kissing him back. He slowly licked her bottom lip as if asking for permission, only she happily inclined his offer as she parted her lips for him, allowing their tongues to begin a sensual dance. She moaned against him as he dominated her mouth, causing her to press her body closer to his as she wished that the kiss would last forever. Gajeel placed his hands on the sides of her face as if he was starting to further the kiss even more, but to Levy's surprise he was ending it.
"Gajeel..." Levy said, breathless.
"Levy..." He said, causing her freeze, for he never called her by name. "I'm no good for you"
Before she could argue, before she could tell him he was perfect for her, he was gone.
Leaving her alone.