A/N:

Heigh ho there lovely reader.

I'm thinking that this little bit of story that I'm using to set the scene will be about 5 parts long. Then I plan to actually take them to Brigadoon! This has definitely ended up a bit of a slow burner in chemistry wise so apologies for that! I will get the GaLe flames a-roaring as soon as possible, I can barely contain my excitement and I'm doing the bloody writing! I suppose that's a true testament to my love of Fairy Tail and all things GaLe.

Part 2: Escaping the Fear

Fairy Tail was alive with its usual hustle and bustle a few meager hours after Levy and Gajeels less than stellar encounter in the pool room. It was a typical day, no great overarching plots of destruction or ancient enemies were bothering the Guild at the moment so they simply kept themselves busy with the many requests they had received after their triumph at the Grand Magic Games.

Natsu, the cherry haired dragon slayer and Happy, the fish loving blue exceed devoured their second breakfasts of the morning, whilst their usual companion Lucy could only look across the table in mild horror, but with a strange fondness even she didn't understand. The trio bantered with one another in a way only Team Natsu could. There was a contented joy radiating from their table, it was easy to see that they were completely devoted to one another. Although they were loath to admit it themselves.

The ice mage Grey was deep in conversation with Erza, whose scarlet hair shone nearly as brightly as her armour, about a job they were about to undertake. All whilst Juvia, in full stalker mode, looked upon the scene intensely from a few metres away, hidden stealthily (or so she believed) behind a plant attempting to make out what the two were saying through reading their lips. She gasped at one point of their conversation and let her head fall to her chest, comically turning to water over the plant, perhaps misreading something?

Others like Mira-Jane, Wendy and Charle were laughing joyously as the mid-morning sun lit up the guild, casting a warm and bright light which raised even the most emotionally constipated mages spirits.

Master Makarov, with lines over his kind face, observed his family from a landing above the mess hall and smiled contently. Even Laxus and his Thunder Legion joined in with everyone. It filled the old guild master with pride that made his short stature feel ten times taller. That's when he spotted a certain blunette hasten through the open doors and head straight for the request board. She seemed determined. And troubled. Not something he usually sensed from the happy go lucky child.

When Levy finally entered the busy guild it was now full and buzzing with the energies of her many friends who she could see were filled with joy. Although she could not find it within herself to share in their happiness. Last night she had returned to her room at Fairy Hills and headed straight into the shower. As if the warm water could wash away the anguish of her encounter with Gajeel. She had come to the conclusion, as the water rained down upon her, that though she had lost her fear of the dark, it seemed that she was now afraid of her own helplessness. Despite the heavy weight on her mind, her body felt refreshed after a few hours' sleep and the solid script mage had that morning concocted a plan. It had come to her as she watched the boats sailing along the river this morning. She headed straight for the request board with one thing in mind. Escape.

Lucy and Wendy were the only ones to catch the blunette enter, she did not call out to everyone as usual to wish them a good morning which seemed strange. They both waved over to her but she seemed to take no notice causing Lucy to raise her eyebrows in surprise and Wendy to look down at her shoes in embarrassment for being shunned. They then looked to one another from their places on opposite sides of the room. What was with their bubbly little Levy? The two of them acknowledged one another and jumped up to go see what was wrong.

Levy didn't hear her friends come up behind her as scanned the board on her tip toes. Where was that thing she saw the other day? The one on printed on parchment.

"Morning Levy-chan!" Said Lucy in a sing song voice as she and Wendy approached the girl. Levy jumped slightly, as she was grabbing the job listing before turning to greet them. She put on her game face and broke out her sunniest smile. Wendy didn't believe it, but she stayed silent.

"Lu-chan! Wendy!" The small girl grabbed them both into a tight hug.

"Eugh! Levy!" Cried Lucy as the petite girl basically squished her face in between her cleavage, she and Wendy exchanged glances once more as their faces reddened, their eyes darting about to see if anybody was paying attention to the exchange. If Levy kept this up they would have a lot of nose bleeds on their hands.

"Are you alright, Levy?" Questioned a concerned Wendy as their friend released them. "You seem a little..." She trailed off as Levy began to laugh.

"Of course! I'm absolutely fine." She grinned and began to bounce on her feet giddily. "Actually, I'm better than fine." She thrust the piece of paper detailing the job she was about to undertake towards them. Lucy gasped.

"But Levy - this is whole year..." Cried the blonde haired mage. Wendy's eyes widened as she brought a hand up to her mouth.

"And it says here you'll have to go all the way overseas..." By now Charle had flown over the trio and perched upon the table next to them to listen.

"Please guys, don't worry. It's just a little protection job, and I'll get to live in one of the largest libraries in this hemisphere!" Levy patted their heads and skipped towards Mira behind the bar. "It'll be easy." She winked over her shoulder at the pair.

"I think she's snapped." Lucy took a deep breath in as she watched Mira's face go from cheery to confused. But Levy just danced on the spot in excitement.

"I- I hope she's okay." Wendy said softly, continuing to watch the fellow blunette.

"She's running, you know." Piped up Charle who dusted down her dress, feigning a polite disinterest.

"Huh?" Questioned the girls at once, Levy was headed back over.

"Perhaps you should ask her why she wishes to run." The pretty, white haired exceed suggested. Her ability to see into the future assured the girls that their concerns for Levy were just.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning!" Beamed Levy, sitting down next to Charle. "You wanna give me a copy of your novel? I could slip it onto one of the shelves at the library." She giggled mischievously.

"Uh, sure Levy..." The celestial wizard sat down to face her friend. "And I'm happy you're taking on such a good job - but it's not like you to go off like this." Her eyes were pleading.

"Have you told Jet and Droy?" Queried Wendy who stood rubbing one of her elbows timidly.

"What about Gajeel?" Mira-Jane had appeared behind them with a tray of drinks and saw Levy flinch at his name.

"I don't need to tell Jet and Droy!" She defended, losing her cool slightly. "And what about him?" She spat venomously.

"Well, he normally likes to go with you on dangerous-" Mira began only to be cut off by the solid script mage.

"He can't protect me Mira." She scoffed and caused those around her to regard her quizzically, Mira only laughed. Levy relented slightly. "Well, not forever anyway. I've got to deal with things by myself. I've got to be stronger."

"Levy, he won't like it you know." Mira giggled. "I don't know how he'd handle a whole year without you!"

"I doubt he'd notice I'm gone." Levy knew she was of little importance to the iron dragon slayer but that didn't stop her wanting to reconcile with him after her anger from last night had faded. She would have to wait until after she got back from her job however. Something told her that if she were to see him and tell him her plans, he may try to stop her going. In fact, she hoped he wasn't lurking around the guild somewhere.

"Levy, think about this. A whole year without Fairy Tail?" Lucy really didn't want to think of her friend in some far off place. A place she had to protect alone. She was so little.

"I have thought about it Lulu..." Her eyes were far away for a moment. "I just know that I have to do this. It's the only way." If she were to get stronger she would have to go to a place that would work for someone like her. The North Phoenix Library was that place.

"I wish you wouldn't go alone though." Tears brimmed in the blonde mages eyes. She could sense her friend's pain now, Charle was right. She was indeed running. But from what? All Lucy could do was beg her to stay, if she hadn't immediately told her then it must be something she didn't want to get into.

"Oh Luce. I have to and I especially have to be alone..." She reached out and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "But I'll call all the time! It'll be like I'm still here." She chased away the sorrow from her face and voice. "Maybe, you, Wendy and Charle could even take a trip out to see me!"

"All right then Levy-chan" Lucy relented whilst Wendy and Charle giggled happily. If it was Levys final decision, they would support her with everything she needed.

The four of them talked for 20 minutes or so until a huge burst of flames shot past them.

"Fight me then stripper! I'll show you who's fat and slow!" Came the idiotic and crazed roar of a certain Natsu Dragneel. "Eurgh! I'm all fired up now!"

"Uh oh..." Cringed Lucy as she took off across the hall to try and calm him.

"That quiet didn't last long." Sighed Wendy.

"It never does... And that reminds me, I forgot to punish Team Natsu for the mess they left of my library!" Levy's shoulders shook with a laugh as Wendy gasped and took off towards the fighting. It was safer than an earful from Levy after all. The blunette rolled her eyes and used the table to support her jumping up, she'd better grab some books for the trip. She was sure there was a few that would be useful... The Library probably wouldn't have some of the books Master Makarov kept.

"Let go of me Luce!" Roared Natsu again as Lucy tried to tear him away from his prey, a very angry looking and very naked Ice wizard. "I gotta' melt this Ice Princess bastard!"

Levy winced now at her friend's face that read 'I'm in over my head again' and weaved her way through the watching crowd and overturned tables as she headed for the resource room.

"Fools!" Yelled the deadliest voice one could ever encounter. Erza stood over the mages, her signature glare that seemed to make her look ten feet taller stopped the young mages in their tracks.

"Aye Erza!" And now they were mimicking Happy as they clung on to one another in sheer terror.

"You have disrupted my cake! Prepare yourselves for punishment." It was true. There was a rather sad looking and flat strawberry cake near one of the upturned tables. Erzas favourite. Levy smirked good naturedly, she wouldn't need to take revenge for her library after this. Erzas wrath was punishment enough.

Levy had begun to walk backwards as she smiled at a scene she may not be seeing for a while, although she could always get Lucy to record it and send it to her if she felt particularly homesick. That'd be funny.

She ran into something as she got lost in her own amusement. Backwards walking wasn't really a good idea.

"Oh sor-" She turned around only to feel her blood run cold. Gajeel stood before her. Just as he had last night, towering over her small form. She backed away from him and stared up in horror. He was really the last person on earth she wanted to see. The memories of last night flooded back. Though she was ready to forgive him, he reminded her of the fear that made her wish to run thousands of miles from her home.

Once she tore her eyes away she attempted to run past him, through the very same door he had blocked last night.

"Shorty, wait." He grabbed her wrist in an attempt to get her to stop and talk to him, maybe he'd even apologise. All it did was bring her fear to the surface.

"Get off me Gajeel!" She yanked her arm back and cradled it to her chest, as if his touch had burned her. They stared at each other, she with pain in her eyes and he with disbelief. Then she took off towards her fortress of solitude. The tower. Surely he wouldn't follow her, he disapproves of weaklings.

Master Makarov, from his high place, shook his head with disappointment. This was not due to the childish antics some of his family were participating in, it was because he could see something with such promise dying off. He watched Levy run off and then looked back to the boy, staring after her. He then saw him pull back his fist and punch, with great conviction the wall next to him. What was going on here? He remembered the day he promised to guide the boy towards the light, but it seemed it kept running away from him. And the big idiot didn't even realise it.

Thanks for Reading if you got this far! Especially since I haven't really put in any 'squee' moments! You know that part of a story or that sentence that just makes you want to shout and scream and cheer for your ship!