**This takes place on the day of the evening preliminaries**

"Wake up you guys! We're almost here!" Yelled Ezra front he front of the cart.

Levy opened her eyes wearily and sat up. The others where still out of it but no longer glowing red, Natsu looking the worse due to motion sickness.

She looked down at her leg and frowned. What happened to her injury?

Wanting to see the city she hopped out onto the seat next to Ezra. "Moring Ezra-chan" She said happily.

"Morning, glad to see you up and about. Heard you had an interesting run in with a pack of silver wolves."

She blushed. "Yeah, so much for being careful. Sorry if I made you worry."

Ezra laughed. "You do have a knack for getting into trouble."

"So I've been told." Levy said remembering what Gajeel said.

"I'm just glad Gajeel was there to help. When he came back carrying you back in his arms passed out I didn't know what to think."

"You didn't hurt him did you?" She said knowing Ezra's over protectiveness.

"No, he explained what happened before I had a chance to knock his teeth in." She said an devilish glint in her eyes. "If he was he who'd had harmed you he would be nothing but a pile of ashes by now."

Levy just looked at Ezra in horror but laughed. "I know you would. But he wouldn't harm me."

"I figured that out." Ezra said a knowing tone in her voice nudging her shoulder. Levy just blushed and looked ahead not really knowing what to say.

They rode the rest of the way in silence until they got to the main square. While the others got off (or more pushed out) at the town square Levy asked Ezra to drop her off in the shop filled part of the town so she could sight see, since she didn't have to worry about the games not being in them.

Levy had wondered around enjoying the city life for awhile before she had found what she was looking for.
It was a small book store she hadn't had the chance to visit the last time she was in the city and was happy to find it was still open. Eagerly she went in letting the small of dusty books come over her.

She felt like a kid in a candy store.

"Welcome, are you looking for anything particular?" said a voice and she turned to see a small old man smiling at her from the counter. He had a large book open in front of him and glasses that made his eyes two times to big for face.

She shook her head. "Just looking for now." She paused. "Any recommendations?"

"Everything here is worth the read." Levy liked this guy even more. "But we just got a shipment of old books though. If you're interested they are piled next to the back wall, haven't sorted them yet."

She said her thanks and headed that way. Old books where the best ones in her opinion.
She found the stack and began reading titles.
Tales of Alithorn the knight
1001 poems of Shar
The green diamond
Creatures of the Sea, illustrated.

None really caught her attention. She was about to turn to look at the rest of the store when she noticed near the bottom of the last stack one of the books was turned around hiding its title. Curious she pulled the others off and flipped the book over. It was bounds in a deep green leather and gold trimming and letters. The pages edges of the book where worn from being opened and the some of the title was faded.
Dragonlore of Magnolia.

She flipped a few pages. Maybe Gajeels dragon is in here somewhere.

She stood up and took the book to the front.

"Find anything good?

"All of its good. I wish I could take them all."

"You know how to flatter an old bookshop owner." The man chuckled taking the book from her. "Dragon lore, you like dragons?"

"Ever since I was little."

"They are fascinating creatures. And this is a very good, and rare, book with said possible real accounts of real dragons. An old friend recommended it."

"You've read it?"

"Of course. Won't put anything in my shop I haven't read myself." She looked around. There where a lot of books.

"You've read all of these?" She said in wonder and jealousy.

He nodded proudly. "And then some. Would you like a bag?"

She shook her head smiling "No, I plan on reading it right away." He chuckled at that.

"How much do I owe you?" She asked taking out her wallet.

"For you? Free. I appreciate youngins like you that have a passion for books. I always give them a free book. If they promise to come back sometime in the future.l

"Of course! And thank you!" She hugged the book smiling brightly. "The next time I'm in town I'll be sure to come by and buy a book."

"I look foward to it miss.."

"Levy, Levy McGarden." She held out a hand.

He shook it. "A pleasure, Mis levy McGarden. I'm Charlie Rook. Just Charlie will do."

"Nice to meet you Charlie. And thank you again." She opened the door and turned back. "See you in the future."

"I look forward to it."

The young bluenette left and the old man smiled after her, a sweet girl she was. But her name. "McGarden eh? Now where have I heard that name." His old age was getting to him since he couldn't figure it out. He shrugged he'll remembers sooner if not later.

She walked down a streets her nose deep in the book and wasn't watching where she was going, completely absorbed inthe book. She was reading a particular story of the dragon, leriviany, the knowledge dragon.
An ancient hall of knowledge held all the story's of the great land of Fioran. This place was hidden in the deep cliff in the mountains carved from the stone cliff itself. And in these great walls living between these stacks of books, and scrolls lives the wise and respected dragon of knowledge. Levieviany.-
She hit something hard with her shoulder losing her trip on the book.

"Hey watch where your going!" The object, or now she noticed a guy, yelled at her.

She fumbled to catch her book. "Sorry." She looked up and saw two scary looking guys standing in front if her.

"Ah, well well, that's alright. But if you're really sorry you can just come and buy me and my friend here a drink."

"Ah no thanks." She started to walk off and one grabbed her arm.

"You don't get it. There wasn't a choice in that."

"Let's go." Levy said tugging her arm. And the men just laughed.

"Better do as she says." A voice spoke up.

Levy looked behind her and in surprise saw Gajeel standing behind her giving the two an menacing look.

The one let go. "Hey man we didn't now she was your girl."

Gajeel growled.

The two backed off farther. Then scoffed and turned away. "Wasn't much there anyways." The one who grabbed her arm muttered.

When the two rounded a corner Levy turned back to Gajeel and smiled. "Thanks Gajeel."

He flicked her in the head. "Don't go wandering around this part of the city shrimp It ain't safe."

She rubbed her head and looked around. It was a dingy part of town that had bars and other unfriendly places.

"Eh!" Her eyes widened. She hadn't realized where she had been walking.

Gajeel laughed. "Idiot."

She punched him in the arm. "Hey!"

But Gajeel only laughed. "Glad to see that Ultear girl fixed your leg up good though."

She looked down as well, not a scar, she had awoken the next morning as good as new, then she remembered "Ah Gajeel I'm sorry for falling asleep last night!" She blushed bowing slightly remembering that she fell asleep.

"Eh? Can't blame ya. That took a lot out of you." He grinned evily and bent down and ruffled her hair. "But if you want make it up you can buy me a drink. I ain't had in months. It's the least you could do for your savior."

"Sure!" And she saw Gajeel raise an eyebrow at the speed of her response.

At the mention of food Levy's stomach had growled. And Gajeel laughed. "Gehi, guess you're hungry as well." He turned and walked away. "Come on bookworm, I know a spot."

As a huge plate of broccoli and beef noodle was placed in front of her her eyes widened. She was starving.
She shoved a few mouthfuls into her mouth before speaking. "Er di u nd hiss pla?" she said her mouth full.
He laughed swallowing a bite of a beer.

"It's near a junk yard I used to get metal from. I lived here in the city a long time ago and I came here for a drink after eating in the scrap yard. They make damn good liquor."

And food Levy thought looking around. They where sitting at a back table of a small pub in the shadier side if the town. She was a little nervous about the spot but when they entered that pub she had relaxed. Despite its location in the city it was ver friendly looking. It had a huge fire and was a decent size room that was also kept farley clean. Nut what hooked her was the wall around the fire crammed full of books. The place also smelt pretty dam amazing and it had made her stomach growl even more.

"I've been to the city often and have never heard of this place." she said wiping her mouth with her hand. Two new treasures in one day. She saw him staring at her.

"What?" she demanded.

"You eat like a pig when your hungry." he laughed.

"I never knew you a stickler for manners."

"Not, just never thought you'd be a slob."

She shrugged. "Im full of surprises." she laughed. She thought she saw him grin but it was hidden instantly behind his raised beer glass.

"Speaking if food habits. Do you consume anything besides beer and metal?"

"Gihi I could eat as much as that fire breathing lizard but it's not as satisfying as metal. As with all dragon slayers, we need to eat our power. As for the beer." he took a big swig finishing it off. "just taste damn good."

Levy laughed at that and took another bite of her food considering Gajeel. You dragon slayers are interesting guys. She sat down her fork. "Hey Gajeel. Can I ask you a personal question?"
He looked at we and smirked. "Even if I say no are you still going to ask it?"

"Maybe." she smiled.

He shrugged. "Ask away then. But it doesn't mean I'll reply."

She rested her elbow on the table And rested her chin on her hand. "Can you tell me about your dragon Matallica?"

He put his mug down and gave her looked. She felt she had over stepped some boundary so she flustered. "Ah I mean. My father he was always fascinated with dragons. I guess I sort of take after him on that part. Natsu always told us stories about his dragon when he was a kid and Wendy told me all about hers, and well I'm just curious I guess. " she realized how lame that sounded. Like she was just using him to get information about his dragon. "But, that's not it. I also want to learn more about you Gajeel. We are nekama now. I really want to learn more about you."

He gave her a look but then gave his half smile and laughed, she relaxed. "Gihi Shrimp don't get your nickers in a twist." He was secretly happy she blushed at that. "I'll tell yah but I don't understand why you give a rats ass."

Not wanting him to change his mind she kept quiet waiting for him to speak. He sat there awhile in thought then finally sighed. "Ah, well Metallica was one bastard of a dragon and the only family I've ever known. He was Loud, rowdy, and tough but also had a funny bone that could fucking make you laugh until you couldn't breath."

he took a swig of beer his eyes growing distant entranced with the memories. Levy smiled and leaned forward taken away by this side of Gajeel she never knew.

Gajeel continued. "He taught me all I knew. My abilities, my fighting skills. Even how to hunt and swim. But, like Natsu. He went up and vanished one day without no notice." levy watched his face grow cold. "I hated Metallica for a long time after that. The only person I ever knew abandoned me in this 'ere godforsaken world that didn't care none bout me. It made me distrustful to everyone else and I swore never to get attached to anyone ever again.
A year after he disappeared I left the mountain we lived on and became a sort of nomad. I didn't trust no one. I kept to myself and didn't give no damn about anyone, or anything. just fought and did odd jobs. I began to hate everyone around me and all the weaklings that needed to depend on one another to be strong. If they had to need other people's help I thought them weak." he chuckled. "I was a damn idiot though."

A drunk guy toppled of his stool behind Gajeel and was followed with roars of laughter from his companions. Gajeel glanced over and grunted then settled back into the story. "Then I was I was picked up by phantom lord. Jose approved of my thoughts and wanted to get rid of all them weaklings. I joined out of boredom mainly, and still kept to myself when I was working with those people. I only tolerated Juvia because she was the most separate from the other three and if I hung around her they would leave me alone."

levy laughed at the thought of juvia and Gajeel sitting and being glooming together in the rain and she smiled. But that did explained why they sometimes sat together when they both first joined the guild and he would tolerate her. She knew they had been in the same guild but she never would have pegged those two at getting along back then. guild a waitress came by and cleared her plate and put another pint in front of Gajeel.

Gajeel cleared his throat and levy could tell he was not going to finish the story now. "Anyways you know the rest of the bloody story. Phantom lord was destroyed, I joined the guild and now I have to deal with nekama again." he took a swig of beer and belched. "And if you tell anyone that story I'll deny it and burn all your damn books as pay back."

Levy looked at him in shocked at his threat. He wouldn't. But nodded but secretly she was smiling for she was very happy he had opened up so much. She looked at the dragon slayer in front of her very happy, but also sad. No one should grownup alone, she of all people knew that.

_

Gajeel POV

Gajeel some how liked that levy knew his story. He hadn't felt like he needed to tell her it for her to like him. He also knew that if she did know, she wouldn't pity him or try to comfort him (which he as sure hell didn't want).
If he had refused she would have still have been friends with him and been the levy he knew.

He had also wanted, even though he'd never admit it, to know his past. Even master didn't know as much as she knew now.

He saw her glanced up at a clock behind him and her eyes widen. "Ah! We better get you to the arena rooms Gajeel. They will be having a curfew and if you're not in the rooms who knows. Plus I need to meet with the other team."

Gajeel raised an eyebrow but stood up as well. "How do you know so much shrimp? like the second team? I thought master was keeping all that a secret. "

She smiled slyly. "Who do you think told master? He wanted me to collect information on the games for him before we went training. So I know all that needs to happen and who are on the teams. Where do I pay for the food?" she pulled out her money purse.

He shook his head. "Just leave the money on the table."

Levy nodded and counted the money and he couldn't help but ruffle her hair as he walked out the door. He heard her complain and then the small sounds of her foot prints after him. Once out of the street he glanced over at the girl and a thought popped in his head.

"Tell me shrimp. How did a gal like you end up in fairy-tail?"

She looked up at him confused. "Why the sudden interest?"

He shrugged. "I told you mine you might as well tell me yours keep thing even 'n all."

She smiled and nodded. "Mhmm."

She looked ahead again and scrunched her face in thought. She finally spoke."Well, sort of joined the same way you did, in a way. Master found me alone and at a low point in my life and brought me in."

He didn't really believe she was comparing her life to his depressing one. He thought to himself her low point being she couldn't find a book she wanted to read.

She continued moving his attention from his own thoughts to her. "Well my mom died when I was just a new born so I never knew her. It was only me and my father. He was a great professor in his time his specialty was the history of Fiore. Before I was born he traveled all over the place discovering stories, writing about this countries history and and folklore. That's one of the reasons he was so interested in dragons."

Levy pulled out the book she had been reading. "My dad wrote one of the stories in this book actually, about the Dragon of knowledge, Levieviany. He used to tell me the stories of him actually meeting that dragon and that I was named after her." She laughed. "I never believed him though."

She sighed. "But anyways, when I was born, in order to provide for the two of us he quit his nomadic life and got a job as a clerk for the mining company as well as the janitor at the Great library. Thats where we lived, in the basement of the great library in Magnolia"

"No wonder your re such a book worm." Gajeel added and she laughed.

"Yep. when he came home from work he would take me up stairs when it was closed and he read to me. All the best stories" she laughed. "for his smarts and gentleness he was a big guy. Even bigger then you Gajeel! More like beast man but chubbier and crazy red hair, I got my hair and body size from mom dad, said but I know I got my love of books from him. I also got my script magic from my mom. When we found out I could make words come to life like her he was so proud. Those where the happiest moments of my childhood."

"Then one day when I was five, while I was in the library reading, a man from the mine came." Gajeel watched as her face smiling suddenly turn sad and her smile disappeared. "There had been an accident in one of the mining warehouse. An explosion that killed 20 men including, my dad. He was unlucky and doing inventory at the time. They made me move into the orphanage after that." her face turned a little pale and her pupils grew slightly larger. it made his heart hurt to see that pain on her face. Honestly it scared him.

She shook her head and took a breath. "Let's just keep it short and say it wasn't the best time for me. I didn't fit in well and was bullied. Like you it felt like no one cared I existed after my father died. In a way I felt the same abandonment with my father as well."
She forced a smile. "But thats in the past and I tend not to dwell in the past." Gajeel knew that to be true.
"Anyways I still visited the library often, it was sort of my little sanctuary away from the orphanage. Around two years later I came across the master who was looking for information and helped him. Soon I was helping all the fairy tail mages when they came to the library in search of books and information. Master visited the place often, even when he didn't come for books. And one day he saw me being bullied by some orphan kids and me fighting back with my solid script. He scared them away and inquired about my life at the orphanage. When I finally told him the truth he offered to take me in and live at the guild if, when I became old enough I would stay and keep working in the guild. Soon I became friends with Cana, Natsu, Gray and the others. A few years later I met Droy and Jet and we started shadow gear. The rest is history."

Gajeel looked at the small girl astounded and saw her in a new way. He always thought she had it easy and was one of those run away twerps that landed in fair tail, like bunny girl. Instead he felt her story, in a way, was more depressing than his. Guess it was true that everybody in fairy tail had a sad pass. He wanted to say something but no words came to his mind. What does one say to that?

"What made the orphanage so terrible?" he prodded, curiosity getting the better of him.

"I'd rater not say at the moment." the tone of her sounded torn and he guessed they were stiches not ready to come out. He thought it funny that she was already over what he did to her but something that happened about 8 years ago still left open wounds. Then again it also scared him, so he let it be. He knew better then to pry farther no matter how curios he was.

He glanced over and saw her touching her shoulder subconsciously while she was deep in thought and made a mental note to check for a scar when he had the chance.

Suddenly her face lit up. "We're here!"

Gajeel looked up and saw the building the teams where suppose to be staying in.

"I got to go. Master wants me to explain the rules to the other team so I'll run ahead. You now where your team is meeting?"

"Yeah yeah yeah." Gajeel grunted.

Levy ran up to the hotel and waved back at him. "Oh! Good luck Gajeel. I'll be cheering!"

He raised his hand and she turned back an entered the hotel.

He was glad he did because he swore he blushed.

That damn girl. She was a lot tougher then he figured her out to be.