As promised, the Beauty and Beast instalment, featuring Gajeel x Levy!

For those who haven't seen the musical, this scene was actually borrowed from there. Go check it out! Just youtube "End duet/transformation Beauty and the Beast Broadway" and it should come up. I love the song she sings and the music is just so damn good! I was listening to it when I was writing... :D

Enjoy!

Gajeel felt his body changing.

He could feel the magic swirling around him, manipulating his bones, his skin, his being. He could feel his magic being manipulated out of his control; he was changing and he couldn't control it. The pain ripped through him.

The dark mage he had been hunting was long gone, leaving him with this monstrosity of a body and a promise that the spell would break.

But only when he could learn to love another and earn their love in return.

His traitorous mind conjured up the image of pale blue hair and doe eyes… Levy…

If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.

If she couldn't love him…

For who could ever learn to love a beast.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Levy woke with a start, her heart pounding in her head and bile rising to her throat. Her fingers jumped to her wrists where the iron cuffs had encased her to the tree.

She breathed out deeply, realizing that she was safe. She was safe and in her own bed.

And Gajeel had become a friend; he had become someone dear to her heart.

Frowning, she tried to process why she had the nightmare. She hadn't dreamt of the time when Gajeel was hunting their guild down for years. Those nightmares, those fears, had long faded away.

She had forgiven him, had taken him into her heart.

She knew that he would protect her from anything now; he would risk his life for her safety, help her succeed, and even give his dying breath for her.

So why had she had this dream? Why had this long-past fear reemerge?

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Levy ignored the tell-tale prickles of her foot falling asleep and allowed herself to be sucked into the story further. She had found her favorite novel from ages ago buried in her room beneath the various books on script and history.

She remembered why this one was her favorite when she was a child, before she went on adventures daily and lived her own fairy tale.

Far of places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!

She loved the adventure, the story of how love conquered all.

Levy sighed in contentment, her nose burrowing further into the book as she ignored the chaos around her. She was in a different world, a different life.

Suddenly, she was broken out of her fantasy world.

"Levy!"

The black exceed broke through the guild doors in full battle mode, running towards her. Lilly let his magic go as he sunk to his normal size and jumped into her arms, panting.

"Lilly, Lilly what's wrong?" She held him close, trying to give some comfort to the obviously jilted Exceed.

"Gajeel…" he mumbled and burrowed himself into her. He was shaking, his fear evident.

Levy's breath hitched. Something was very, very wrong. She took a deep breath and tried to go about it rationally. She pulled the small Exceed from her chest so she could look in his face. "Okay, Lilly. First, I want to tell me if you are okay. Do you have any injuries?"

He shook his head 'no.'

"Good. Now, can you explain what happened to Gajeel? Is he injured?" The worry was evident in her doe eyes.

Lilly had finally caught his breath, but the panic in his eyes was still present. "We were in the woods a few towns over, trying to track down a mage who specializes in magic that curses people. And Gajeel was hit with a curse and now he is stuck! He wouldn't leave the woods, he can't break the curse."

Lilly paused for a moment, looking up at Levy, "And I think he has given up hope. I've never seen him like this before."

By then the guild had gathered around, watching the spectacle, worried about their guild mate. Levy looked up into the concerned eyes of Juvia, as well as a few others.

Juvia sighed, "If Gajeel-kun has truly given up hope, then Levy would be the one to save him."

Levy still prodded the Exceed, "Do you know what the curse was, Lilly?"

Lilly shuddered, "I don't know what the stipulations were, but I know that his appearance and temperament has changed dramatically. I think the curse amplified the 'bad' traits in him and turned him into a monster based on that."

Levy pondered this, "So he turned into a…"

"A beast."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Levy raced through the woods with Lilly flying at her shoulder. It had taken some time, too much time, to convince Jet and Droy that she had to go by herself. They were terrified that Gajeel would hurt her, as he could be violent at times. Levy knew that he would recognize her and held fast to the hope that their friendship would be enough to shine through the curse.

She was worried. She had read the job request on the board before they had taken it. She knew that this mage would take the 'badness' in the person and amplify it, causing their appearance and temperament to change for the worse. And the only way for them to go back to normal was to break the curse.

She had to break it.

She had some background on this 'mind-affecting' magic and knew that the most success in breaking these curses was when the person they cared the most was there to help bring them out of their stupor.

Levy was honored that both Lilly and Juvia, both who she would have thought fit the bill better, told her to go.

She just hoped she wasn't too late…

If the curse wasn't broken in time, it would take over their body and their soul would cease to exist.

But if Levy was involved, she would never let that happen to Gajeel, whom she cared deeply about.

Maybe even loved.

He had always been a bit of a beast, with his dragon slayer magic and rough exterior. He had been lost when she had first met him; he had been violent and scary. Yet, that had melted away when he had joined Fairytail. The comradery and love had melted his iron heart, allowing him to begin to let people in and allowing himself to care for people.

She knew he cared for her.

Levy burst through the trees into the clearing, stopping in shock. Laying in the middle of the clearing was Gajeel.

Iron had begun to take over his body, but at the same time his face had manipulated to that of a beast. His hair had grown more wild, his hands had begun to take on the form of claws, and his teeth had grown to fangs.

Though he was ferocious, Levy was unafraid.

He noticed her, his dark red eyes swiveling to take her in. "Stay away," he growled.

Levy took a step forward, "Gajeel, it's me. It's Levy."

"I said, stay away!" His voice got louder, the last word coming out in a loud roar.

"Oh Gajeel," she rushed forward, falling to her knees a couple feet from him and reaching out her hand. She sensed Lilly somewhere to her right, watching from a distance. "I could never stay away from you."

He groaned and turned, hiding his face from her. "Yes, you should stay away from me. I'm a monster. I hurt you once, I can do it again."

Levy huffed in frustration, "Gajeel, don't say that! You have protected me, saved me, and kept me from harm more times than I can count. You're not a monster, you're not a beast. You're my friend, someone who I care deeply about."

Gajeel stiffened, and growled as a tremor of pain racked his body. More fur began to travel up his arms and horns were beginning to grow out of his head. He yelled in pain, folding over onto the ground.

"Gajeel, no!" the gravity of the situation began to become evident to Levy. He was being quickly overtaken by the curse; she would have to break it soon.

Or she would lose him.

She scooted forward, throwing her tiny arms around the big brute of a man that was laying on the ground. She wouldn't lose him, she refused to.

"Gajeel, please don't leave me. I don't think I could live without you."

She felt another tremor run through his body, and she attempted to turn him so she could look into his eyes. His hand extended, catching her cheek. Though it was a claw, he was gentle not to scratch her. He treasured her, "At least I got to see you one last time."

She clutched his claw to her face as another painful tremor hit him, and he began to lose consciousness.

"No! Gajeel, you aren't going anywhere!"

She could see him slipping in and out, battling the curse within him.

"Gajeel, you need to come home, this is home. We are home. Trust in me Gajeel, I won't run away ever. And you know that! You're all I need…"

Tears were streaming down her face as she watched his soul slip through her fingers. The curse was over-taking him.

She whimpered, her hand tightening on his own. "Don't you see how you've changed me? I found home, you're my home Gajeel. Please stay with me."

His red eyes were clouding over and turning black. His grip on her fingers was fading.

"No, no Gajeel, please!"

She burrowed her face into him, not ready to lose him.

"I love you."

The choked sob escaped her lips, her words tumbling out. He had to know before he was gone.

She gave up, she let him slip away. She had failed.

Suddenly, the air around them started swirling, the leaves started blowing. Levy fell backward, being pulled by an invisible source. Gajeel rose into the air, magic circles swirling around him.

Levy gasped as he began to change, the beast aspects fading away. She could see his skin, his own being returning.

She had broken the curse.

His feet hit the ground, his eyes flying open as he stumbled forward. Levy jumped up to catch him, but the sheer weight difference caused them to tumble back onto the grass.

Levy was laughing, tears running down her face, as she took in the man leaning above her. His eyes were wide, but she could see his care for her reflecting back at her.

"You're home! You're okay!" She shouted gleefully, throwing her arms around his neck.

He automatically caught her with one arm, holding her to his chest, the other supporting him from collapsing on top of her.

His words stuttered out, "You… you broke the curse?"

Levy pulled back, setting her forehead against his, "Damn right I did! Wait, what was the curse?" She looked down sheepishly, "I don't even know how I broke it. All I did was…"

A blush emerged on Gajeel's face and Levy's mouth fell open in realization.

"Love… You had to be loved…" It was her turn to blush, realizing the words she had uttered in the face of losing him.

Gajeel sat up, releasing her to the ground. He gruffly said, "Yea, I had to love and be loved in return."

Levy's blush deepened with his confession. He loved her! She felt happiness bubble inside of her, rising up, barely contained.

"Look, Shrimp, I guess this means that… what I mean to say is… I really…" He was scrambling, trying to find the words to articulate how he felt.

And so she kissed him.

She captured his large face in between her two small hands and swallowed any further attempt of him trying to explain how he felt. She pressed her lips to his, relishing in the warmth, the taste, that was entirely Gajeel.

And she loved it.

She pulled back, her lips still tingling, and then giggled at the still shocked look on his face. His hand flew up to touch his lips, unsure if it had really happened.

Then he smirked. There was the Gajeel she knew and loved.

He leaped forward, one hand entwining in the back of her hair, the other catching her as his body pinned her to the ground. His lips sought hers feverishly, all his emotion, passion, and unsaid words pouring out into their kiss.

Now this was home.

I hope I captured the moment well enough :D This was my most feared chapter because the whole "Beauty and the Beast" Gajevy is really cliche. I hope you enjoyed! Please let me know what you think.

I'm not quite sure what's coming next, but I have a few ideas! I'm gonna try to go through some of the other ships before I enter back into these four... Though Jerza needs another one :D

Also, I (finally) made a tumblr, so please feel free to go look me up. My username is the same (thesirenserenity) and the link is in my bio! I'd love to follow and hear from all of you :D

Thanks!