A/N: Heigh ho lovely reader! We're finally onto the last section of opening part! Yay!
Opening Part 5: Dawn after Dawn
Day 1:
Levy spent her day unpacking and practicing using her new influence over the Library. She had taken to her role with ease.
In the afternoon she had given entrance to a wandering wizard in who traveled from far away to research a curse plaguing his village. When he had called out to the library, requesting to enter Levy had heard him. She's also somehow felt that his intentions were true.
Master Falcon had spent the day with the wizard and although Levy was not with them, she was still able to guide them to the books they would need. When the wizard had found all the information he needed, Levy had allowed him to leave, creating an archway in the room he stood in that lead outside. The man thanked Master Falcon for all his help, this made Levy giggle.
Master Falcon seemed to be the figurehead of this little operation. Everyone though it was he who had some kind of mystical connection to the library, but in reality he was just a kind old man who couldn't even cook breakfast without disaster. She knew this because she'd had to put out a fire he'd started this morning. She understood what Hebe meant by making sure he stayed out of trouble but Levy didn't mind. It was probably better if nobody knew the truth about the Guardians role in the Library. It could make them, or her for the time being, a target. Though she felt her fear begin to creep forth she was comforted by the fact that no one could pass into the Library without her permission. She knew, however, that her comfort came from the power she wielded. And that was only temporary
With that at the forefront of her mind she decided to begin researching. Using Hebes powers she sought out a useful section on the seventh floor, all about solid script magic. There were hundreds of books she could read but instead of going alphabetically as she would usually do she attempted to 'feel' which book would be most useful to her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to take hold of the building. The power she wielded consumed the pages and curled around the book titles until she narrowed her once mountainous reading list to 5 books.
"How's your first day been Levy? You did well with helping that wizard today." Master Falcon squawked kindly when he found her, sitting cross legged on the floor. She looked up to him and smiled brightly
"Thank you Master Falcon! And it's been interesting. I've never felt anything like this power before. It's really something else." He was smiling and nodding thoughtfully for a while.
"I want to thank you Levy, after so many unsuitable wizards came along my Grandaughter and I were worried she would be unable to leave. We couldn't find anybody strong enough to protect this place, and I'm too old now to be very useful... You've no idea how important this was to her. And to the library as well "Levy's breath caught when she saw the old man's teary eyes and runny nose. He looked as if he might burst and he was making small squawking noises with his throat.
"Oh, please don't be upset... I'm happy to do this for you both, and I'm so glad I've got you here with me." Still with her book in hand she jumped up and ran over to where the Master Falcon was basically falling apart. She engulfed him in a hug which seemed to pull him together slightly. He sniffed and shook his head. "You're the heart and soul of this place aren't you... You spent all day with that man so he could save his village." Levy realised as she looked at him, that he wasn't useless at all. Despite a mild case of the clumsies and a laughable accent, his compassion and caring nature was clear to her now - she felt terrible for thinking less of him. What a horrible thing she had done.
"Don't be silly Levy... Anyway my dear! What are you doing in this section?" He peered down at the book she held and Levy handed it to him. He took the book and turned it over to read the title, careful not to lose her page. The trademark of a fellow bookworm.
"I'm just trying to see if I can find a way to develop my magic..." She looked at her toes, the fear creeping back into her body.
"Would you like some help?" Master Falcon offered.
"You would help me, Master Falcon?" Levy was touched by his offer, especially since he had only just met her.
"Of course, of course! And stop with this master business, call me Grandfather." He laughed in his bird-like way and Levy joined in, delighted at the prospect of a new friend and mentor.
Day 8:
"That's it Levy, balance is the key..." Master Falcon shouted up to the girl who had, mistakenly it seemed, agreed to try out the magic stilts. "Relax child!" He squawked as she nearly toppled over for the second time.
"I think I want to come down now Grandfather. I'm not so sure this will help with my – ah!" She nearly toppled over. "I don't think this is going to help conquer anything! I'm just going to end up with a flat face!" Her legs shook tremendously and she was in a great deal of pain, but he had yet to tell her how to get down.
"Don't fret my dear, I've fallen many times before and look at how pointy my nose has stayed." He tapped upon it for affect and danced on the spot mischeviously. So he was getting her back for earlier when she had called him beaky, how rude.
"I already apologised for that! And besides, you said I looked like a little boy!"
"I did not!" He replied haughtily, clicking his fingers. The stilts disappeared in a puff of smoke and suddenly Levy was falling through the air. She began screaming. "I simply said I had always wanted a Grandson... Now come on dear, like we practiced!"
"Solid Script: NET!" Levy yelled, just barely managing to complete the hand formation before she would have to use Hebe's powers to remove the floor. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut but fortunately the word 'NET' had appeared, criss-crossing to catch her. She had saved herself with her own magic! "Yes!" She sat up and her fist shot up into the air.
"Good boy!" Master Falcon nodded as she jumped down. She rolled her eyes at the old man.
"You know what, you can call me a little boy all you want Grandfather, cause I never could have done that without you!" Levy was busy doing a little happy jig, something she may or may not of picked up from the Master.
"What did I tell you? The only way to achieve true strength is by pushing yourself to the absolute limits of your fear. Falling from such a height could have paralysed you, but you coped amazingly well. I'm so proud of you!" He beamed at the girl who was making such progress. She really was doing well, but when they were not training he could tell that she was beginning to pine for her friends. Although he could keep her busy during the day he knew the nights must be long and sad.
"Well, what's next then?" She tied her hair back in anticipation of another physical challenge. That one had ended up being fun.
"Well, you should rest my dear. But I don't think you will..." He pursed his lips and was deep in thought for a moment. "Why don't you have a look at the section we have on meditation. I've always found those books to be filled with fantastic training techniques. And try rummaging through the section on dreams, I think there might be a few books on using them in training too. Perhaps you'd find that kind of training useful. Especially if you're trying to work through your lack of control..." Levy was amazed yet again by him. He was so good with her, the perfect teacher.
"I'll do that Grandfather! But why don't we have dinner first?" She giggled as his pondering expression contorted in horror. He held out his hands in front of him.
"Not again Levy. I'm not hungry!" Levy tried to keep a serious face, she had been giving the older gentlemen cooking lessons in exchange for his assistance but he seemed to be almost beyond help. She supposed she was a little hard on him too...
"What if I cooked for us tonight, would you be hungry then?" She grinned and they were suddenly standing in the kitchen. Hebe's powers were incredibly efficient.
"Thank you, Levy." Master Falcon sighed in relief. Spared another lesson. "Can we have fish again?"
"You know, you remind me of someone from back home..."
Day 33:
Levy sat, cross legged, on her bed with her back straight and her eyes closed. Whilst Master Falcon busied himself with 2 wizards who had arrived earlier in the day, she had decided to meditate and then cast a dream spell she had found in an old book.
It had been a month since she'd left her friends back in Magnolia and she was missing them terribly, all she could do to cope was attempt distract herself but it was getting difficult. And she had not been able to get in touch with those back home thanks to her forgetfulness.
Two days earlier she had searched her trunk for the communication Lacrima she thought she packed and found that it was missing. She'd nearly had a breakdown but Master Falcon had managed to calm her down with the promise of sending a letter to the guild to have it sent to the library. The letter would surely take a while, but Master Makarov could have the object to her within a day. Then she would contact Lulu immediately.
Focusing on keeping her breathing steady, she began reciting the words of the spell. The book it had come from was written in an ancient language, so it had taken her some time to interpret it. From what she could tell, the spell would allow her to conjure up something from her dreams that scared her. And although the dreams could hurt her: they couldn't kill her. So it seemed like it would be a useful training tool, just enough danger for it to be effective. She just hoped she wouldn't have to kill anything. She loathed killing.
"Gaia, Luna, Vertisibo. Gaia, Luna, Vertisibo. Gaia, Luna, Vertisibo. Levy McGarden." She whispered into the dim room. A sudden dizziness came over her as she felt the air being sucked from her lungs. What had she done? She fell back on the bed with an almighty thump and she seemed to spin out of consciousness for a moment.
When Levy finally came round, her eyes fluttering open she sat up and slow blinked. Her heart thudded in her chest and she leaned up on her elbows. She was still in her room. She must have recited the spell wrong - the rhythm had to be perfect for it to work and she hadn't been assaulted yet. She puffed out her cheeks, relieved. When that dizziness had come over her she'd sort of chickened out. Not knowing what to do next, she thought she would go grab something to eat. Comfort food would stop her missing her friends!
She moved sluggishly and swung her legs off the side of the bed, rubbing her eyes. She suddenly heard the unwelcome sound of breathing that was not her own. Her hands fell onto her lap and she froze. She then spotted movement in the corner of her room and she peered into the darkness to see a huge, shadowy figure. A recognisable one. She shrieked when she realised.
"Evening, Shrimp." His course voice permeated the darkness and she gawked at him. She could see the way he smiled crookedly at her and her head spun. What the hell was going on? She was stunned into silence.
"G-Gajeel?" She finally breathed out.
"You expecting someone else?" He growled and began stalking towards her, his ruby eyes stood out from the darkness. He looked like a predator, moving as if he expected his prey to take off. Readying himself to make chase.
"Of course not! I wasn't expecting anyone - let alone you- to be in my room! What are you doing here?" She stood up quickly and tried to back away but she was trapped by her bed and the wall. She coughed a little when he stopped just in front of her tiny body, looking down at her. It made her feel ten times smaller when he looked at her that way. But it did something else as well.
"Good. And you forgot this." He held up her communication lacrima, it seemed to appear from thin air in his hand. She immediately reached out to grab it, but he held it up above his head.
"No way - I'm not going to jump for it Gajeel..." She folded her arms in front of her and scowled, her brow creasing. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness now so she could see the mocking expression on his face with utter clarity.
"Fine then." He smirked and tossed it into her open trunk, he took another step towards her and she in turn took another step backwards - but now she found herself lodged between the bedroom wall and his body. Which was basically a wall too. She gulped and stared up at him, wide eyed. "Ain't I getting a thank you Shrimp?" He brought his face down close to hers.
"Yeah, sorry. Thank you Gajeel, I just don't understand why you're here." She couldn't put her finger on it – but something was amiss. She shrunk downwards, trying to be small enough for him not to reach her.
"So you're not glad to see me?" His question was laced, his expression dark. Levy shook her head quickly. She was just glad she was finally getting to talk to one of her Guild Mates.
"Of course I am..." She said slowly as he rested his hands on either side of her head. She wanted to believe he was here with her but how had he gotten into the library? She hadn't sensed anyone outside and she knew she would have wakened up if someone needed let in. She had to consciously allow them to enter. "How did you-" She was cut off as without warning he grasped her shoulders roughly and threw her onto the bed. The shock had silenced her and she could only stare at the dragon slayer as he crawled above her, putting his hands beside her face again and kneeling over her tiny body, effectively caging her in.
"Me too." His voice was husky though it still retained its roguish quality, she felt her heart beginning to thump as a blush coloured her cheeks. She turned her face away from him to avoid the way he was looking at her. All she wanted to do was run her hands along every inch of him when he stared at her that way, but she couldn't. Something wasn't right.
"Gajeel, what are you doing?" She attempted to move out from under him but his large hands found her wrists, yanking then above her head. She tried to struggle free but it was in vain, he was too strong. "Get off me, iron breath!" She yelled at him, meeting his eyes with a furious expression as she squirmed.
"Don't you get it Shrimp?" He yelled back."I can't stand it anymore!" A low growl came from the back of his throat, as if he were in pain. It sent shivers up her body and she stilled. Her lips parted in awe when she caught a glimpse of his tortured expression. Something about it was incredibly attractive, despite how wrong that sounded to her.
"What do you need?" It tumbled out her mouth before she'd really thought it through and she realised that her voice sounded strange. The Dragon Slayer was quiet for a moment.
"I need you." He spat this out venomously, as if it burned. He released Levy's wrists quickly and moved his hands to rest by her waist now. She felt exhilarated. His torment seemed to have the ability to turn her into a quivering mess. She felt his long black hair tumble onto her stomach as he hung his head, ashamed at his admission. She realised then, with minor embarrassment that she was only wearing the silky silver kimono Lucy had gifted her, meaning there was only a very thin layer of fabric between her and the brute. Although he was still wearing that positively sinful leather vest, but that almost seemed like his second skin.
She lay still for a moment, deciding how to proceed in this current predicament. A controversial answer came to her. Give in to temptation.
"Gajeel..." She very nearly slurred, drunk with desire and was shocked again by the tone of her own voice. She reached out and caressed the side of his face, running her thumb over his eyebrow studs. She pulled his down turned face up and saw to her delight as his expression changed upon seeing saw her dreamy one "I need you too."
Now the iron dragon slayer seemed to come back to life.
"I hope you did get stronger Shrimp. Cause I ain't one for being gentle." He growled and hooked one arm underneath the small girl's waist, lifting her whole body off the bed. She gasped and grabbed the fabric of his vest, tugging hard when his lips slammed into hers, kissing her hard and pulling on her bottom lip. Her back arched towards him and he grinned triumphantly against her mouth. Levy thought she was going to have a heart attack when he then hoisted her up. He staightened his back and sat on his heels meaning all Levy could do was wrap her Legs around his waist. Her chest was heaving and she tangled her hands in his hair, deepening the kiss with desperation. She slipped her tongue in his mouth and tugged hard on his hair. He groaned and grasped her thighs hard then bit down on her tongue.
"Ouch!" She cried out, tasting blood.
"If you're gonna pull my hair Shrimp, you better be prepared for the consequences." He almost purred before he hoisted her up a bit further and began working on her neck. The sheer sensory pleasure caused her head to fall back and she couldn't help but moan. Her hands wove themselves into his hair again and with a wicked smile she gave a sharp tug, eliciting a dangerous sounding groan from him. With that he all but tossed her back down onto the bed and climbed over her again. She liked this dark little world she had tumbled into.
He went for her neck again and she wrapped a leg around him arching her back again to get closer. The electricity between them was addictive. Every touch felt explosive. Slower now she felt him push the satin fabric of her kimono off of her shoulder. Though she expected a kiss she ended up crying out when he bit down, his teeth cutting into her skin. Though she knew that he had probably drawn blood she could not find it within herself to be angry. Never before had she felt such pleasure from pain. She returned the favour by dragging her nails down his huge arms. He hissed and she smiled at the marks she'd left.
Her eyes rolled back in her head as she managed to catch his mouth again, delighted by the roughness of his lips against the softness of hers.
"Are you gonna let me have you Shrimp?" Gajeels hands went to the tie on her silky robe. Oh Mavis! The haze in Levy's mind began to clear. She grabbed his hands and he looked at her in confusion. It all became clear to her. This was the dream spell, it had worked after all. She couldn't find it in herself to feel pleased, she mostly just felt panic.
"Shrimp?" Dream Gajeel said. She stared up longingly towards her beautiful fantasy.
"I'm sorry Gajeel, but this isn't real." With that she leaned up and began to kiss his neck, sending his eyes rolling back in his head. Then with lightning speed she managed to flip him onto his back, straddling him and pinning his arms above his head. "I just can't allow myself to need you anymore."
Levy saw Gajeels face cracked, literally. He shattered underneath her. She felt the dizziness again and everything had gone.
Levy collapsed onto the empty bed with her hair ruffled and her blood pumping. She had beaten the illusion - which was good. But she really hadn't anticipated something like that. It was believable that Gajeel had been the embodiment of her fear but to come to her like that. Instead of fighting him off in some sort of battle she had to stop herself from letting him... It was too awkward to think about.
She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on them, there was a pain in her shoulder that made her groan. She stopped breathing when she remembered the bite. Oh no.
Day 39:
"Levy! Levy! It's here!" Master Falcon was hammering his hand against the blunettes door she was lying tangled up in her sheets, her face smooshed into the pillow and there was drool everywhere, it was disgusting. But as soon as she realised what the old man was shouting about – she all but flew to the door.
"Seriously?" She yanked open the door to see the Master hopping about in front of her holding the communication lacrima aloft. His scrawny arm buckled underneath the weight of the orb he looked as if he might drop it upon his head, Levy clutched her stomach from laughing.
"I think you may need to take it Levy..." He squawked and she caught it from his hands before it fell. "So? Will you call them?" It was quite early in the morning.
"Uh..." Nerves gripped her all of a sudden. "I guess I should."
Levy walked back over to the bed and sat down with Master Falcon's kind eyes watching her from the doorway.
"Call them dear - they'll be missing you." Levy nodded vacantly, focused on the sphere and tapped the top of it
"Okay then..." The girls face broke out into a smile and the Master chuckled as she fiddled with the strange object. He'd never used anything like it before.
"Is it working?" He asked and his ears were suddenly assaulted by a screeching sound coming from the orb. "Is it broken?"
"Lucy?" The blunette breathed, tears shining in her eyes, the screaming had come from the tiny blonde whose face appeared inside the glass. The girl was talking so fast that he couldn't understand how Levy knew what she was saying. "I'm fine! I'm okay, Lulu!" She turned around quickly, "Grandfather, come meet Lucy!"
The old man's heart was filled with joy.
Day 157:
"I think I've got it now Grandfather..." Levy huffed out, sweat dripping down her body as she grasped the edge of one of the book ledges and hauling herself up some more.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, child?" Master Falcon bit his nails and clutched at the tufts of his white hair that was now sticking up at odd angles. The small blunette had begun scrambling up the wall, using the bookshelves like a climbing frame, and muttering that she had it. What she had, however, he did not know. He was both terrified and amused simultaneously. Though she swung herself from ledge to ledge she had yet to knock a book from its place.
"Of course!" She yelled and before his very eyes, she catapulted herself off the wall, twisting through the air. She was so high up that she might as well have been jumping off a cliff. He began screaming and running around the room!
"Levy! NO!"
"Solid Script: PORTAL. She did a complicated hand movement as adjusted herself so she was falling sideways, one arm was pointed downwards and one upwards as she cut through the air. From each side of her light exploded, the words PORTAL spun quickly forming a vortex.
Master Falcon clicked his fingers and his stilts appeared, he catapulted up with the aim of grabbing her falling body but instead she raced past his gobsmacked face and into the swirling light made by the spell she had cast. He cried out!
But then she fell past him again.
And again.
And again.
"Levy?"
"Look Grandfather! I won't hit the ground!" He looked up as soon as she fell into the light again and saw her fall out of the other vortex further up.
"Amazing..." It truly was. How had she managed something like this?
"SOLID SCRIPT: PORTAL." She moved her hands once more and this time the portal above her disappeared and reappeared on the ground further down. When she fell through the portal once more, instead of falling back down again she appeared to pop up from the one she had created on the floor and land on her backside on the floor with and 'oomph.'
"My goodness, my goodness! Are you hurt dear?" Master Falcon appeared beside her in a puff of smoke and fell to his knees beside her. She stared forward for a moment, but then suddenly burst out laughing manically.
"I did it! It worked!" The old man joined in, his laughter was nervous though. The more the child pushed herself the more likely he was to end up having a heart attack.
"You certainly did... But how?" Levy got to her feet and dusted off her orange dress, holding out her hand to haul him up.
"I just took inspiration from Hebe's powers. You can do something like that with the library floor, as long as you loop back to the room you were in you can fall for hours. That's what I was trying to achieve with my own magic. All I needed to do was push myself." She grinned sideways at Master Falcon who had raised his eyebrows, impressed by her creativity.
"And isn't that what it's all about my dear... Were you drawing energy from the fall to boost your power?" He queried.
"No, I think that kind of thing might be beyond me to be honest. But with all the fitness and meditation I've been doing, I think I may have increased my own power. I've taken ownership of it, more so than before. If that makes sense?" She didn't know if she was saying it right, but she just wanted to let him know that she felt stronger.
"You've come so very far my dear. But I must say, you looked like a spider creeping up the shelves like that." He chuckled and she made a scoffing sound.
"At least I don't have a beak!"
Day 250:
Levy awoke again, on all fours and panting.
Since she'd first cast that dream spell the illusions had continued to plague her. They were more frequent to begin with, dream Gajeel had showed up nearly every night, and she had been relieved when they had eased off.
After a month of uninterrupted sleep she had thought the effects of the spell were over. But if tonights heavy petting session was anything to go by - apparently not.
"I can't believe you found a way to follow me here, Iron Breath..." Levy whispered to herself with her head in her hands.
She crawled back up to the top of her bed and slipped under the covers. She decided that she would call Lu-chan the next afternoon, just to check and see how everyone was getting on.
And to make absolutely certain that Gajeel was still in Magnolia.
Day 342:
"Master Falcon, there's someone waiting to get inside!" Levy could feel someone pounding on the side of the library wall, it was as if they were pounding on the side of her head. She had just finished up with the sparring partner she'd conjured up when she was assaulted with the urgency of the wizard's plea. He had a noble heart and a dire cause, she would allow him entrance.
"Good Evening, boy. How may I assist you?" Master Falcon stood where he usually did, his arms folded over as his face took on a sagely expression. Although, his voice never failed to make Levy giggle.
"I don't have much time, sir! My companion needs help. Help that can only be found here." Levy's brows furrowed slightly, she recognised that voice...
"What do you need?" She could tell by Grandfathers tone that he was deeply concerned.
"My friends been poisoned and I- We were on our way here to do some research and- I didn't know she'd breathed any in!" That voice. The colour drained from Levy's face.
She shifted her position in the Library so that she was above Master and the familiar sounding stranger.
"Well I can certainly help with that. Where is your friend?" Squawked Grandfather kindly, as if trying to sooth the stranger. Levy had made the floor clear and gasped at who she saw standing below her. She'd been right.
"She's outside, I left her on the boat. I don't know how much time she has. She got sick right after we –"
"Jellal?" Levy had appeared suddenly, her eyes wide.
"Levy! What are you doing here?" Jellal almost fell back when he saw the girl. She looked like a different person.
"That's not important! Where's Meredy? I assume it's her out there on the boat?" Levy was all business as she turned to face Master Falcon, who looked upon the two of them with great interest.
"I trust that you know this boy, my dear."
"Yes Grandfather, his name is Jellal. He's- Well he's a long story. But first we must know the condition of the girl." She pointed to an entrance she created in the wall. "Bring her up now. I can't leave the building but the Master will aid you." She spoke directly to Jellal who looked a tad overwhelmed to see her. He needed to calm down, she wasn't that shocking.
"But Levy-" He began to speak but she held up her hand. A girl had been poisoned and he wanted a chat. With Hebe's powers allowing to feel his feet where he stood and more importantly, what was on his shoes she knew they had to act fast.
"Bring her here Jellal. I have work to do." Levy turned tail and seemed to disappear into thin air.
"Take me to your boat please young man. Do you know what kind of poison we are dealing with?" The older gentleman with the beak like nose ushered him through the open passage Levy had created for them.
"It comes from some kind of purple plant, if you inhale the spores you get sick- half a town is dead from it so we came to find some sort of solution. But then Meredy started showing symptoms as soon as we hit the water. I can't let her die!"
"Don't fret youngster, Levy will fix it." The two of them rushed towards the pier where he had docked the boat. He couldn't believe that he'd managed to run into Levy McGarden of all people. What was she even doing here? And how was she going to fix anything?
Day 343:
Levy ran a hand through Meredys damp pink hair. When she'd seen the girl, with her veins popping out and looking green it had confirmed her suspicions. She had been foaming at the mouth and trembling, so there wouldn't have been much time before her heart gave out. She was lucky that Jelllal had arrived when he did, and that he'd had some of the spores still on the bottom of his shoes.
Having been part of the library for so long it was easy to notice these things. Though he had been standing away from Levy, she could almost taste the poison like it was on her tongue. The poison, she was sure, had come from the Flowering Pris Plant. It was a type of ancient magic infused plant which was created to be used as a weapon which could wipe out a whole town in a day. It was rendered useless years ago, however, as it became easy to cure. All you needed to do was open a vein and extract the magic. The spores were harmless when the magic was removed and a simple rune spell had taken care of that.
Meredy became stable thanks to Levy's efforts, her veins had returned to normal and the shaking had ceased completely. Right now she was lying unconscious in Levy's bed, the covers tucked up to her chin, looking peaceful.
"That was something else Levy." Jellal had appeared behind the blunette with Master Falcon trailing in after him.
"You did well, child." He was nodding silently to himself.
"Thank you." She laughed at Jellal who judging by his bewildered expression must clearly have held very low expectations of her. "It's amazing what you read in books." This knowledge of how to save Meredy had actually not come from the library, but was within the pages a book she had brought with her from the Guild.
"No, thank you. If you hadn't known what to do then she would probably have died. I just had no idea how to help her, or the people back in town." She could see it in his eyes how truly grateful he was. Jellal did not need to loose anyone else.
"It would have been weird if you had known, it's not something that people should just happen across. All types of Flowering Pris were destroyed around 20 years ago so that there could be no magic infusion practiced upon them. And anyway, it's easier to cure the effects of the poison than it is to find enough magic to make it poisonous. It just isn't worth the trouble." She paused thoughtfully. "But someone had to have sought out the plant and used their magic to make it poisonous. I can't imagine why though."
"Well my dear, from what the boy told me, a lot of people died before he destroyed the plant." Master Falcon looked grave.
"Was it easy to destroy the plant then?" Levy asked and Jellal nodded. She pursed her lips in annoyance. "So it was pretty pointless making it..."
"It killed people Levy. You should have seen them, the victims. And their families." The girl patted his shoulder as she moved past him.
"I know, sorry Jellal. Lives were lost and it's completely awful, but I want to understand why. Was the town involved in anything particularly important? Anything strange about it?" Levy had knelt down beside her box of books from Fairy Tail and was rummaging through it.
"No, it's barely even a town. More like a big village surrounded by miles and miles of farmland. It's isolated." Jellal recalled and shook his blue hair when sat down on the bed beside where Meredy lay.
"Well, perhaps that's the key then. Maybe whoever made the plant poisonous wanted privacy. Maybe he wanted to make sure there was minimal damage. There are spells and things that require the spores of the plant to work." Levy was engrossed in her box when Master Falcon piped up.
"I think you may be right dear. Remember that Wizard who came to us at the beginning of your stay." Levy nodded vaguely. "Well, he was looking for a way to stop the growth of a very particular kind of weed that was growing all around his village, very small and atop a tall mountain in the east. I remember it because I found it strange that an extinct genus of Yaoi Vines just appeared overnight in a mountain village. They were native to the tropical south. I think that it was also used as an ingredient in some ancient rituals."
"Perhaps this deserves more attention then, maybe it has something to do with Brigadoon... We will return to the village as soon as Meredy awakens." Jellal nodded to himself, resolute in his decision.
"What's Brigadoon? The wizard I was talking about earlier mentioned that too." Master Falcon had taken a seat near the fireplace in the room.
"It's another town. Meredy and I were on our way there when we came across the poisonous plant. Apparently it's full of ghosts." Jellal answered the Master as he and Levy listened intently. So they had found a common point between plants, death and a town called Brigadoon. "And it disappears. You can only see it when the mist falls, every third full moon. I wanted to check it out when it seemed that everyone who mentioned it ended up dead." His expression darkened and he looked down at Meredy. "Perhaps this wasn't a coincidence then..."
"It does seem like it should be investigated..." Levy was forming a stack of books beside her.
"I agree my dear and you should help him! You'll be leaving in 22 days anyway. What a perfect opportunity to take advantage of your new skills" The Master squawked from his place by the fire. Both wizards glanced towards him and Levy raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"You know that might not be a bad idea... I would appreciate the assistance. Especially since this seems to be bigger than I realised." Jellal's eyes, one surrounded by his strange tattoo, implored the kneeling blunette to consider.
"You're right, I suppose, something doesn't sit well with me. And I'm interested in finding out more about this disappearing town. We could make a plan and-" Levy was cut off by Jellal who jumped up to his feet and began to pace back and forth.
"How about this? I'll take Meredy back to the town we hired the boat from so that she has the chance to regain her strength, then I'll meet you at the Doc's. You can look up stuff in the library and I'll organise our transport and stuff."
"So I'm the brains and you're the brawn?" She looked over her glasses at his determined expression.
"No, we're both the brains. But I know exactly where we can find our brawn." The way he was looking at told her everything. A dazzling smile broke out on her face as she breathed out her next words.
"Fairy Tail."
Day 364:
"I can't believe this is my last day here... It's gone so quickly!" Levy sat down at the table in the small, antiquated kitchen. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears as she watched Master Falcon dance expertly around the kitchen. It had taken a while but Levy had finally gotten through to him. It made Levy's heart hurt to think she was leaving him behind. She couldn't remember her parents, it was an old lady named Miss Kira who'd taken care of her until she was 11. That's who Grandfather reminded her of. And that's why it would be so difficult to say goodbye.
"Time's funny that way, my dear. And though our time together has been fleeting..." Levy looked up towards him. He was standing in the centre of the kitchen, trembling. His whole body. He sniffed and then turned dramatically. "IT HAS BEEN SO PRECIOUS!" The old man erupted with tears, they seemed to form waterfalls.
"Don't do that grandfather... If you start all that then..." Levys voice cracked and the tears had already begun to flow. She could feel them dripping onto the floor as she ran towards Master Falcon and grabbed him in a tight hug.
"Oh dear... It's not even really goodbye yet and look at us. Silly boy! What have you done!" He sniffed again and Levy wiped her eyes with her arm. They gave each other a watery smile.
"Sorry Beaky. What's for dinner anyway?" All they could do was carry on.
"Your left arm if you're not careful boy!" He wagged a finger at her and she sat back down.
"When do you think Hebe will get back? I didn't get to see her leave last time." Levy traced the shape of a wing on the table in front of her dreamily.
"You want to see her fly, do you?" He asked as he busied himself with stirring. It was indeed quite a sight to behold.
"Of course! It must be amazing to be able to fly!" The closest Levy had gotten was falling through those portals of hers.
"Well, I imagine she'll be back as the dawn breaks. We could wait up for her if you'd like?" Levy's eyes sparkled at the thought. She could picture it now. Hebe soaring through the air, her wings illuminated by the fiery glow of sunrise. Her red eyes alight with the rush of true freedom.
"I'd like that." Levy tried to remain nonchalant, she didn't want to let on how much she was fangirling over the winged woman. It was embarrassing how overwhelmed she was at the thought of her.
"You can create window then, you know you're not supposed to go outside until she regains her Guardianship, so you can watch from inside."
"Fine... I think I'll go call Lulu after dinner. I haven't called her for-"
"Two whole days my dear, how will she even remember you?" Master Falcon squawked good naturedly.
"Whatever Beaky."
"Just tell Lucy 'hello' from me, okay boy?"
Day 365:
This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for all this time. Levy could see Hebe, just a dot in the distance, soaring towards the Library.
She had spent the night packing up her things and when she'd finished, Master Falcon had taken them down to the pier so they could be picked up by Master Makarovs 'special' courier who she had as of yet never laid eyes upon. Now she only had her satchel slung over her shoulder with the things she would need to get back to Magnolia. She almost couldn't believe that tonight she would actually be seeing her friends again after so long. It would be difficult to leave Grandfather, of course but she could not find it within herself to be too sad.
"Can you see her, child?" Master Falcon yelled giddily and clapped his hands. It was easy to see that he had missed his Granddaughter. His knobbly knees were on display as he'd dressed in his finest clothing – a smart shirt with yellow and green kilt. Only him.
"It's going to be just like I imagined!" Levy half squealed as the sun suddenly broke free of the horizon. Lighting up the sky with pinks, oranges and reds that made Hebes rapidly approaching form seem utterly majestic. She couldn't take her eyes off of the woman. Although, Levy noticed that she was losing altitude and that her wings seemed to be out of sync with one another. Her brow furrowed slightly.
"Levy!" Cried the Master. He pointed to the horizon where to both their horror a shadowy figure had come into view and was gaining on Hebe fast. Levy was almost in tears for as Hebe drew nearer the library you could see that she was definitely struggling to stay in the sky and escape whatever was after her.
"What is that?" Levy could see that one of her great copper wings were damaged and he was clutching something to her chest. Levy and the Master screamed when the thing that was chasing her threw something and knocked her out of the sky. You could see what it was now, a large and deformed looking man with humungous metallic wings.
The winged woman was tumbling and spinning downwards like a comet and unable to lift herself into the air again with one wing.
Without thinking Levy dove straight through the window she had created to watch Hebe flying in and yelled at the top of her lungs: "SOLID SCRIPT: PORTAL!" She completed the hand movement with dizzying speed and pointed to where she was now falling and to the air just above Hebe. She shot through the swirling vortex and in under a second she was above her and watching her fall with a tormented look on her face.
"Levy... My child!" Hebe barely managed to gasp out.
Levys eyes widened as she finally saw what Hebe was holding. It was an egg.
"SOLID SCRIPT: NET!"
Hebe made contact with the Net, landing with a gentle bounce upon it, through the tears in her eyes Levy could see slight relief - but it wasn't over yet. Levy crashed onto the net beside her in a kneeling position.
"Make the transfer, Hebe. You need to get into the Library!" Levy groaned and grabbed the sides of the terrified woman's face. "Hurry up, that things coming and I can't fight it unless you take back the Library. Please!"
"Levy I-"
"There's no time." With a desperate nod, Levy kissed the woman's forehead and with a rush of electricity, the transfer had been made.
Hebe's thoughts rushed into her as the power rushed out. She knew exactly what was going on now.
"Be careful Levy!" Said Hebe softly, still hugging the egg.
Returning Hebe's powers seemed to have strengthened her and her wing seemed to have lost its bent shape. Nodding to the blunette, she rose up.
"Don't fight him dear girl – he'll kill you. She held out her hand but Levy merely turned around to face the direction the guy was coming from.
"I'll take care of this guy for you and Hebe jr. Okay?" The villain with metal wings fired again, this time at Levy who was standing upon her net – he missed the blunette but hit it. It was destroyed in a burst of light causing Levy to drop.
"No!" Cried Hebe who lunged towards the girl in an attempt to rescue her but she didn't have to. With another flurry of movement she had disappeared through one of her portals.
"Hebe! Get into the Library!" She heard Levy shout from behind her as she dropped onto the ground in front of the Library from the other portal. Hebe relented and flew with great speed back to the library. The wind she created blew Levy's hair back as she and her egg disappeared through the brick wall.
Whilst Levy realised it would be easy just to go inside with Grandfather and Hebe – she didn't want to. The huge metallic monster crashed to the ground in front of her, his mangled silver wings were out behind his head and she could see him sneering under a tangled green fringe that obscured his face. His chest heaved and his knuckles were white. He was incredibly ramped up – but Levy reckoned that her fury far exceeded his.
She stood, shoulders back feet apart and faced the bastard who was after Hebe and her egg. She had experienced the same kind of memory transference that Hebe had a year ago. And what Levy saw pissed her off. The villain who stood in front of her seemed more monster that man being hooked up to those ugly metal wings.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Boomed his disgustingly cracking voice. She had a flashback from Hebe's memories that told her what he had tried to do to her wings and her egg. It was demonic.
"That's not really important," She shrugged at him, her fury was under control but his clearly was not. He snarled as she continued speaking. "What's important is who you are, and what you tried to do to Hebe and her baby. You've made me angry you see." She growled this and, somewhat theatrically, threw her arms up in the air. "And now I'm gonna kick your ass."
"How could one so tiny ever hope to defeat me? I will have those wings, there is nothing you can do to stop me."
"You don't understand just how absolutely sure I am that there is no way on earthland you're getting through those walls." She pointed backwards to the Library and he looked up at it. He most likely did not realise that it was impenetrable unless you were allowed in by the Guardian. "And as for my height... It isn't going to stop me from destroying you."
"Big talk for an itty bitty." He snarled, puffing out his chest and cracking his iron encased hands. Levy began to laugh. She took notice of the cannon that looked to have been melted onto his right forearm. So this is what he was shooting from?
"Perhaps..." She smiled wickedly at him. "Would you like to shoot me?" She asked and he looked bemused for a moment. "I promise I won't move from this spot." She made a cross over her heart.
"You'll just use your little portal on me... I won't fall for that one!" He nodded, pleased with himself that he'd foiled her scheme and she feigned a disappointed pout. Then a look crossed his own face – she imagined he realised that he wouldn't be able to shoot at the library without that happening either.
"Fine then... But remember, I did offer you the chance to get a hit in." Levy raised her tiny fists up. "Let's get this done then. Just try your best to last more than a minute, I really need to practice with someone who's actually trying to hurt me."
"How about you quit being stupid itty bitty and move out of my way. I won't play games!" The veins in his neck stuck out as he readied himself to take a run at the wall. Levy simply shrugged.
"Okay then. SOLID SCRIPT: IRON!" The blunette yelled and completed the necessary hand movement. The winged creature – who in Hebe's memories had called himself Drew – jumped back in terror. But the word she had created just plopped unceremoniously to the ground.
"Wow. Scary." His fear turned to laughter and Levy joined in momentarily. Then her face turned stony.
"I'm not finished." She raised her right hand and pointed to the sky, stretching right up onto her tip toes. "SOLID SCRIPT: IRON GOLEM!" With that the word of iron that lay on the ground exploded in a shower of light and the pieces hung in the air for a moment before they began to swirl around like a hurricane. Drew looked on in disbelief as the swirling pieces of metal burst into tiny versions of the word 'iron' and began piecing themselves together again around the small blunette who was lifted slightly into the air.
"What ARE you?" He half screamed this as she dropped down to her feet. It was an unbelievable sight, though you could vaguely see Levys small body, she appeared to be inside some kind of iron monster. It was huge, all the tiny words had stitched themselves together around her and made a beast of epic proportions. And it moved when she moved inside. She took a step towards the winged man.
"A Fairy Tail wizard." Levy informed him in a dangerously low voice and leapt up towards him, her metal encased fist colliding with his jaw resulting in a sickening crunch. The punch sent him flying backwards into the air where he had to use his giant wings to steady himself. "And it's a bad idea to mess with our friends."
"I think you broke my jaw bitch!" He shot at Levy with his cannon balls but they simply bounced off her armoured golem form. When that failed, he tried to fly up but Levy in her caught his ankle and threw him back against the wall of the library. The force completely crushed one of his wings and he ended up collapsed on the ground. He held out one of his hands as Levy in her Golem approached. "No! I can't fight anymore, don't do this!" He cried out to her but Levy was having none of it.
"I saw into Hebes mind, Drew." She grabbed his neck and lifted him up, he made a strangled noise and attempted to kick the golem but it only served to hurt his foot. "You locked her up and tried to tear her wings off. You were going to 'eat' her child! You would have killed her if she hadn't escaped! And if you can't give me a fight – consider this a beating!"
Levy's beating was quick and it ended up with him floating off out to sea in a little row boat she had put him in. As enraged as she was and as much as he had put her friend through she knew that she couldn't kill anyone that couldn't defend themselves.
When she finally dissipated her Golem, Levy collapsed to her knees completely exhausted and out of power. The Golem tended to make her tired and she was grateful when Master Falcon wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hauled her up, leading her back into the library. She felt that same watery feeling she had a year ago as she passed through.
"You were marvellous Levy!" The Master squawked as Hebe had brought Levy straight into the office room they had sat in together the year before.
"Thank you, dear girl... I daren't even think what would have happened had you not been there." She glanced towards the fireplace where her egg sat, her red eyes shining with tears. The way she looked at her child made Levy want to cry it was so beautiful.
"It's been my job to protect you until our year is up. And I couldn't let that man get away with what he did to you." Levy grasped Hebe's hands to reassure her. "I can't believe you're going to be a mother though! Is that why you had to leave?" Hebe nodded to the blunettes question.
"Yes." She wiped her eyes and sniffed, moving over to the fireplace. Levy followed and knelt down in front of the egg. "It's how things are done you see. Like my Mother and my Grandmother. The Guardians of the Northern Phoenix have one year where they are able to leave and travel the world in search of a... Well a mate. Only then can they return to the Library and have the child born in this nest of knowledge, from the ashes of this very fireplace." Hebe's voice had a soothing quality that was very motherly indeed, she looked softly at the copper coloured egg. It was quite large, Levy thought.
"Levy, the boat is here." Master Falcon had re entered the room although Levy hadn't noticed him leave.
"Really?" Something struck Levy upon hearing this. She really didn't want to leave this fantasy behind. Here she believed that she had become strong and capable. What if back in Magnolia she realised that in actual fact she was not?
"Oh my goodness!" The Master squawked and dashed forward with flailing hands, Levy turned back to the egg. It was moving.
"It's time." Hebe sighed lovingly.
"Do we need, like, towels or anything?" Levy received a look from the two and shut up.
The gorgeous copper shell cracked and a little hand popped out. Then another. And then two little legs. Levy and the Master awed as Hebe leaned forward, her long black hair brushed the ashes in the fireplace. She lifted away the top half of the shell and picked up a tiny blue haired baby with pitch black skin and the most gorgeous sapphire eyes that Levy had ever seen. The cutest part, however, was the little inky blue wings on the child's back that could be seen as Hebe hugged her daughter to her chest with a blissful expression.
"My dear child..." Master Falcon was full of intense emotion as he cried and sniffed. "You've given me another Grandaughter!"
"She's beautiful!" Levy was crying too and Hebe stood up, now cradling the baby who was peacefully watching instead of crying. Levy waved at the little baby and sniffed.
"I don't understand though..." Master Falcon was barely understandable from his sobs of joy. "When you hatched you wouldn't shut up!"
"Grandfather!" Both women shouted and then turned to laugh at one another.
"So he adopted you then?"
"I know you told me to keep an eye on him – but he was the one looking after me. I did teach him to cook though!" Levy smiled fondly at the Master.
"Although the boy did call me Beaky..." Master Falcon shook his finger good naturedly at her.
"Thank you again Levy... I'm so glad that our paths were allowed to intertwine..." Hebe had noticed Levy begin trailing to the door.
"I have a lot to thank you two for. For letting me come here, supporting me. Letting me be part of your family. I'm a better person for knowing you both... And Hebe Jr." Levy sighed, a tear fell down her cheek and she picked up her satchel that had somehow ended up here. "I know I'm going home guys, but I feel like I'm leaving home too." Master Falcon pulled her into a hug.
"Please don't let this be goodbye forever, my dear. Come back to see us sometimes. I'll cook for you." The Master squawked sadly.
"Levy McGarden!" Hebes voice was raised and Levy turned round immediately to listen. Her face was serious, she looked so powerful with her child in her arms. Motherhood suited her. "You will come back to us! You hear me! My daughter must know you..." She looked down at the baby in her arms and Levy was stunned into silence. "In fact, I name you as her guardian... You are the only person I would trust to aid her – and us. Do you accept?"
"I do." Levy responded immediately.
"Well then, Levy McGarden, I guess you'll never be done protecting the library. Master Falcon squawked and danced around.
"Now that we know this isn't truly goodbye, I believe you have a boat to get to." Hebe smiled.
"I do indeed!" Levy hugged Master Falcon and then moved over to hug Hebe. She stroked her wards cheek gently, "What are you naming her?" Levy asked and bent over to kiss her forehead.
"Her name is Levy. Fitting, don't you think?" Levy's eyes widened and her throat closed up with raw emotion.
"How the hell do you expect me to leave now?" Levy yelled. "You just named your daughter after me!"
Master Falcon and Hebe only laughed joyously as Levy fished around for something in her bag.
Day 366 – Fairy Tail Guild:
"I just don't get it!" Gajeel was pacing up and down the Guild Hall. "She was supposed to be back yesterday!"
"You need to chill out..." Grey muttered boredly, it had become boring watching the big brute wearing down the floor for a girl he 'didn't' care about. Natsu began to laugh manically.
"Chill out? Seriously?" Lucy hit him over the back of the head. She was concerned too. When Levy had called her last she'd said she would make it to the Guild by yesterday evening. There had been a party planned and everything but the blunette didn't show up. She couldn't get her on her communication lacrima either.
"Is that supposed to be funny, Ice Princess?" Gajeel cracked his studded knuckles but Grey just held up his hands.
"I'm just saying that she's only a little late... We shouldn't worry." Gray was sitting right next to Juvia who was doing her best to ignore him. Only shooting him a sideways glare now and again. Or every time he would talk.
"Yet." Lucy added, trying to comfort Gajeel.
"And anyway, she probably decided to stay! Levy loves books doesn't she?" Natsu earned another slap across the back of the head from Lucy.
"No, Fairy Tail is her home. We are her family..." Erza pitched in.
"Maybe the librarian was hot so she started banging him. She might be making a new family!" Cana yelled from her place at the bar as she slammed down a barrel filled with her favourite pastime.
"Don't say that in front of Gajeel, Cana." Mira said sweetly, drying off some glasses behind the bar.
"She can say what she wants. Ain't any of my business who the shrimp... Bangs" He coughed the last part out and Pantherlily patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, sure." Cana scoffed and Gajeel glared at her. Folding his arms over his chest and moving over to lean against the wall.
"I'd actually like to know where she is. Considering her things arrived back yesterday." Wendy piped up, albeit quietly. Charle nodded in agreement, she had yet to see Levy returning even in her visions.
"I just miss her." Lucy had tears in her eyes. "I want her to be here! All we've had is that stupid communication lacrima to talk with. I didn't think it'd feel like such a long time." She lay her head on Natsu's shoulder and he instinctively wrapped an arm around her.
"You liiike- eugh!" Lucy swatted Happy away before he finished.
"This is serious you damn cat!" Natsu caught Lucy's wrist and pulled her back into his chest. She blushed but he remained oblivious.
"We've all missed her..." Pantherlily said and everyone else nodded or hummed in agreement.
All of a sudden the door flew open and everyones heads snapped towards it. Their faces were a mix of shock, horror, amusement and in Gajeel's case indifference. The blunette stepped through the door.
"I have a job request for Fairy Tail. Well, we have a job request."
"Jellal?" Erza gasped and Mira clapped her hands giddily behind the bar. "What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer and instead looked back over his shoulder. Everyone followed his eyes.
"LEVY!" The Guild yelled collectively
"Hi Guys!" Levy stopped beside Jellal. She tilted her head and waved sweetly before looking up towards Jellal. "They clearly like me better than you."
Gajeel growled at the two standing together, smiling at each other. So she was banging someone.
"Levy, I'm so glad to see you!" Lucy tackled the girl and hugged her tightly. "You look so good!"
"I've missed you so much Lu-chan! I've missed you all!" He arm remained around Lucy's shoulder as she motioned to the Guild.
Jellal had moved casually towards Erza, and now the two were locked in conversation whereas everyone else had rushed forward to see the tiny blunette. Everyone except Gajeel who just stared at her. His eyes, the way he was looking at her, seemed to drown everyone else out momentarily. She held his gaze, drinking in the sight of him, until his stern expression finally turned into a smile. He nodded to her. She nodded back.
She turned her attention back to the crowd of people that had gathered around her and allowed it all to sink in.
The noise, all the faces – even the burning smell. It made her want to cry. She was home.
Gajeel POV
He watched her there, amongst all the chaos and he couldn't move. She had come back after all this time and all he was able to do was stand there like an idiot statue.
She was bright eyed and happy, just like he remembered her. But there was something different now and it was only when she'd met his stare that he knew. It filled him up with a genuine happiness that lingered even when she returned her attention to everyone else. She had done what she needed to do.
"It good to have her home, isn't it?" Mira-Jane had appeared suddenly beside him, smiling dreamily.
"Suppose'." He grunted. He vowed he wasn't going to give Mrs Matchmaker anymore ammo.
"She looks good..." The girl trailed off and walked away towards Levy. What the hell? He growled and looked at his feet, his arms still folded but he couldn't help but sneak a peek. Blondie had managed to clear away the crown with her demon voice and had given Levy tight hug.
He tilted his head and raised a studded eyebrow. It was true, she looked good. But she always did anyway. He let his eyes trail over every part of her and as usual he had to fight to tear them away.
Her laugh interrupted his thoughts and he all but turned to molten iron. He smiled to himself. She'd come home.
Oh my goodness! Thank you for reading if you got this far! Seriously, that was pretty long!
Now that we've finally finished our opening we can move on! Our next chapter will be organising the team that's going to Brigadoon and the journey to get there. I promise it will be filled with GaLe moments! And obviously lots of NaLu, Gruvia and Jerza fluff too! I literally cannot wait!
See you Soon!