Inside, the ruins were equally impressive. The main entrance led down to a grand atrium, the size of a football stadium. This section was lit by lamps the archaeologists had set up. Beyond that were three gateways that led off into the darkened temple.
"There's so little detail," Levy said, commenting on the décor. The walls appeared to be made out of sandstone, and there were no statues of any kind. The staircase down had been murder for Levy, but had been made with some apparent consideration for humans.
"They're big creatures, dragons," Gajeel replied with a sarcastic inflection. "They don't exactly do fine detail."
"I know that! But then, how can they write?"
"Big letters, sharp nails and magic," He replied laconically. He pointed at the end of the hallway, above the middle of the three gates where runes glowed. "See?"
Levy bounded across the distance so fast that she left everyone else behind, her eyes filled with stars. She was so excited to see the mystical writing that it took her several long moments to realise just how high up it was. She hopped up and down like a bunny as if it would make any difference; the gateway was easily ten metres tall.
"That's not fair!" She shouted. "Why do dragons have to be so tall?"
"This could be a dwarf ruin and you'd still have prob-ow! Hey Lily! What was that for?"
"Don't insult the girl you fancy," the black cat hissed quietly. "It's not rocket science!"
"I don't-," Gajeel started, strangling his sentence lest he be overheard.
"The writing's boring," Natsu moaned, drawing venomous looks from the two girls. "Maybe if we go deeper there'll be something cool, like dragon treasure or cool art or something!"
"Maybe there'll be writing nearer to the ground," Lucy suggested tentatively to Levy.
"But…if the writing's above the gateway, it might be instructions on where to go," Levy protested.
"You can't figure out a whole language from a sign," Lucy said with a little laugh. "We'll have to find something more meaty."
"But…it's dark in there," Levy said with a small shiver. She hated the dark with a passion, ever since she'd had to infiltrate the mansion of an evil witch when she was eleven. Thank goodness that Erza had been there...the young Levy had completely seized up. No matter how many times that she tried to convince herself that adult Levy was over this childhood fear it never quite worked.
"Calm down Shortstack, we're here too," Gajeel said dismissively.
"Yes, but you two are reckless and will get lost," Happy noted. Lily nodded, until Gajeel reached down and picked him up, dropping him in Levy's arms.
"Hey, Gajeel!" Lily cried.
"Look after the Shorty then, I'm going exploring! Gihi!" Gajeel ran off into the middle gate and Natsu and Happy ran after him, eager for adventure. Levy looked up at Lucy, now alone with Lily. Wasn't splitting up the worst possible thing a group could do?
"You look calm, Lu-chan."
"I'm used to this; my teammates aren't as reliable as yours."
"I am not a plush toy!" Lily raged from Levy's arms. "If that bonehead thinks that he can just ditch me, he's got another thing coming!"
"Still, could you stay with us, Lily? Just in case something happens?" Levy asked, bringing her hazel puppy dog eyes to bear. Lily folded his arms and closed his eyes.
"On the other hand, spending time with you two will be much less stressful. Deal!"
===][===
Natsu led the way, using flame from his right hand as a torch to light the way. He was growing increasingly bored. Beyond the size of the place, this was as boring as hell. There were no cool statues, no cool paintings and no treasure. It was just plain corridor after plain corridor.
There was writing everywhere, though. The girls would have a field day. But…
"I'm bored!" He shouted.
"I get it, Salamander," Gajeel growled. Both of them were disappointed. This temple could have been some kind of connection to the past, but it was just a building, nothing more. It felt like the dragons had stripped out everything of worth when they left. Gajeel spat on the ground. "Oi Salamander. What do you think about Shortstack?"
"You mean Levy?" Natsu asked with a laugh.
"That's what I bloody said."
"And why are you asking me that?"
"Answer the fucking question!"
Natsu shrugged. "She's nakama."
"Bull-fucking-shit. Reedus is nakama. Do you consider him the same as Lucy?" Gajeel grinned as Natsu's expression deepened, his mouth puckering.
"What do you want me to say? Levy's a good person."
"I mean, I'm the newcomer to this guild. I don't know all of you guy's histories and shit. I'm just asking."
"But why about Levy? Why not Reedus?"
"No one cares about Reedus! Just answer the fucking question, god damn it!" Gajeel shouted. Damn it, why had he started this conversation?
Natsu shrugged again. "Levy's great in most ways. She's just about the kindest and most forgiving person that I've ever met." Natsu wasn't watching, but he felt Gajeel tense a little at that. "She's pretty much the smartest person in the guild. She's not strong, but does that matter? You could take both of us out, and the guild would still function. If we lost Levy and maybe Lucy and Fried, we'd be pretty boned."
"I used to think strength was the only important thing in the world," Gajeel admitted. There was silence only broken by their footsteps down the empty corridor and Gajeel realised that Natsu was waiting for him to continue. "But you remember Fried's barrier? We were two slayers and were helpless. That little midget was the only one who could have broken it."
"You remember when we fought Laxus in the cathedral?" Natsu asked, drawn into remembering. "Laxus was infinitely more powerful than Levy. If he'd chosen to attack her…I hate to think about it. But Levy ran in without hesitation. That's Levy."
"Weaklings shouldn't put themselves in harm's way," Gajeel replied harshly.
"Because that's what we're for?" Natsu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Right. Strong morons like us are supposed to do all the dangerous stuff," Gajeel declared boldly. "Little people are to be…uh…"
"Looked after? Protected? Hugged?" Happy teased, flying circles above Gajeel's head as the iron dragon tried to swat him away.
"N-no! I was just trying to say-"
"That you don't think that strength is the only important thing anymore?" Natsu guessed, silencing Gajeel. "Otherwise, why protect the weak?"
"Some people are worth protecting."
"You're such a pansy now!" Natsu shouted, barking out a laugh.
"S…SHADDUP SALAMANDER!" Gajeel shouted back. "God, here I was trying to have a pleasant conversation!"
"No, I think it's great that you two like each other!" Natsu said with a ferocious smirk.
"I never said that-"
"Yes, we're just talking about a random guild member," Natsu deadpanned.
"Right! Let's talk about Lucy next! Big tits, right?"
Natsu choked so hard at the sudden course change that Gajeel had wrought that he almost managed to fall over. He stayed upright and staggered on a few steps, trying to gather his wits. Lucy's tits. Damn brain, think of something else! Lucy's smile. Gah! That's not helping!
"It's alright Salamander! I like that type too! I mean, blonde, leggy…bouncy."
"Shut up! Lucy is much more than that!"
"Oh?" Gajeel was grinning. Poor dumbass was playing into his hands and didn't even realise it.
"Lucy's real smart and kind! She solves all the clever stuff on our missions and Lord knows that she's halved my usual damage bill! And the guild's just been much more fun since she joined!" Natsu huffed and turned away.
"So…the boobs are just a bonus?"
"Yes," Natsu replied, blood dripping from his nose.
"Lucy will be happy to know!" Happy sang. Natsu grabbed him and frantically swore him to silence as Gajeel's mocking laughter rang down the hallway.
"Earth Dragon's Roar!" A cyclone of dust and rock was hurtling down the corridor in a heartbeat. The two Slayers had been far too preoccupied by their conversation to counter it and it filled the entire corridor – there was no dodging it. Natsu managed to throw himself between the attack and Happy, shielding his exceed.
"Pathetic," Erutan mocked as he appeared in the darkness at the end of the hallway. Gajeel and Natsu were picking themselves up, the corridor now strewn with dust and rock detritus. This person looked a bit like a stockier version of Natsu, with deep brown hair. He had a sandy tunic and trousers and strange blue half-carapace armour.
"A slayer?" Natsu questioned.
"Bastard," Gajeel hissed. "This some kinda trap?"
"That's exactly what it is! Earth Dragon's Curtain Wall!" Erutan swept his hands up and behind Natsu and Gajeel a thick wall of rock began to rise, cutting off any chance of escape. Not missing a beat, Natsu hurled Happy through the gap before it closed.
"Find Lucy and the others! Tell them what happened!" He roared.
"Aye sir!" Came the faint reply a moment before the wall completed.
"Moron. You gonna take on both of us at the same time?" Gajeel said with a leer.
"Wait!" Natsu objected. "I wanna fight him by myself!"
"Hey, I wanna fight too!" Gajeel snapped.
"Seriously?" Erutan asked, eyes looking around for the source of the joke. "That easy? I thought I was going to have to separate you two or something. I wanna fight Dragneel! You, Metalhead! I've got an associate who's looking to fight you!"
"What?"
"This whole thing is a trap just for you, Mr Kurogane," the earth dragon mocked. "I am Erutan, the Dragon Slayer of Earth, and my friend is called Garren the…well, I should let him tell you. Oh, and I have three more friends on the other side of the wall to take care of your guildmates!"
"Lucy!"
"Shorty!"
"Before you two try, I'm sure that you can break my wall with enough time, but it's heavily reinforced with hardened minerals from the deep mantle. It'll take a while, and careful – don't wanna collapse the ceiling, do we?"
"I am going to kill you!" Gajeel roared.
"If you wanna help your friends, then your goal is simple. Defeat me, Natsu. Defeat Garren, Gajeel. Then go and save your friends. You might wanna hurry, he's waiting down there," Erutan pointed to a doorway.
Gajeel glanced at Natsu, who nodded, and took off down the hallway as fast as his legs could go. If Shorty got hurt, he'd have to kill someone. This was his own fault! This trap was for him, and Shorty might get hurt. He'd have to trust Lily to look after her. He swore bitterly.
"Did Metalicana teach you that potty language?" A voice rumbled in the darkness. A finger clicked and magical sconces on the walls blazed into life, revealing the chamber. It was enormous and square, and at the very end was a man. He was tall, taller than Gajeel and far broader. His face was swamped by messy black hair and beard. He wore simple britches and a long coat that revealed his biceps and chest. He had no shoes at all.
"You're Garren, I take it?" Gajeel asked brusquely. Then, something hit him in the brain, always a bit behind his mouth. "Wait! You know Metalicana? How?"
"There'll be plenty of time for answers when you beat me," he replied guardedly.
"Fine, don't say you didn't ask for it, Gihi! Iron Dragon's Roar!" The metal cyclone of blades hurtled across the room, but Garren waited patiently for it, a smile growing on his face.
"I've waited a long time for this day! Iron God's Howl!"