"What the hell?!" A voice shouted from below deck, rousing the Captain and his fairy companion from their sleep. Gajeel groaned as Natsu continued his rampage, the noise rising to the deck and drawing closer to the captains cabin. Levy, knowing what was about to happen, pulled the blanket over her naked form and rolled back over. As the door burst open Gajeel threw a perfectly aimed boot at the cannon masters head. "Damn it Gajeel, this is serious!" Natsu shouted, rubbing the mark on his head from the boot. "It better be life threatening." Gajeel grumbled as he slowly got out of bed, not even attempting to cover himself. "It is! All of the rum is gone!" He shouted, earning a snort of laughter from the fae.
"Cana took it all as payment for helping with the sirens." Levy said through a yawn as she rolled back over, keeping the blanket around herself. "She what?!" He stormed back onto the deck, where he proceeded to shout at the drunken wenches and demanding his liquid life back. Gajeel snorted as he looked down at the sleepy fae. "When were you gonna tell me?" She simply shrugged, giving him a shy smile. He rolled his eyes but smiled at her before pulling his clothes on. "Come on Shrimp, we should be making land shortly anyway." Gajeel left the girl groaning in protest as he made his way to the deck. The had long since abandoned the frozen ocean and were now in warmer waters, a stretch of land sitting on the horizon. It rose high in the center, the mountain the fountain was in, he assumed.
"Morning Captain." Lily called from the helm, never taking the telescope from his eye. "What do you see Lil?" He asked as he made his way to the large man. "He has already made land. It appears he left the brunt of his crew on board, taking only a small group inland with him." Lily said, handing the device to his captain. As Gajeel pared through the sight he could see it, the massive ship anchored a small way from the shoreline. It's black haul gleamed in the light, her captains colors hung high on the mast. A skull, framed with skeletal wings and a golden crown perched crookedly on its head. "So what's the plan?" Levy asked as she joined them, easily snagging the scope.
Gajeel turned to the Magnolia and caught sight of her captain."Grey, move us over." He called as he walked to the edge of his ship. Erza called to Juvia as she walked to meet the Dragons captain. "What's the plan then?" Erza mimicked the question. "With them anchored so close we will have to head further down beach, which will cost us too much time. But we can not afford the time to battle them either." Gajeel simply stated. Erza nodded, placing a hand to her chin as she thought.
"We could hold off the ship while you all make land. Then once they have been taken care of, we will join you." Mirajane said as she stood beside her lover. "Will you be able to handle yourselves?" Gajeel asked. Erza snorted as she crossed her arms. "We arnt as reckless as some." She retorted, earning a chuckle from the small group. "We do not know how many are inland and how many are on board, you ladies my need some assistance." Lily said as he stepped forward. "We should leave most of the boys with them, only sending a small group in land ourselves." He continued. Gajeel made to snap but Levy intervened. "Lily is right. Once his ship is destroyed and his crew wiped out, the rest can follow us. We don't want to take any chances."
Gajeel snorted at the fae but otherwise remained silent. "Who shall go inland then?" Erza asked. The members of the Iron Dragon looked between themselves, silently conversing. "Gajeel, Lily, Natsu, Grey and myself." Levy said, looking back to the scarlet haired captain. She nodded before shouting instructions to her crew. Gajeel went about giving orders as well while Lily prepared a rowboat to take the group to shore. "You sure about this?" The helm master asked as he took his place at the wheel. Levy nodded, keeping an eye on the ever growing shoreline. "Positive."
With the rowboat read and his crew armed for battle, Gajeel stepped in and slowly lowered it to the choppy water. Both ships made their way to Acnologias ship, The World Ender, and the air split with cannon fire. The four men rowed, taking direction from the small fairy, and soon they were pulling the boat onto the beach and running through the dense jungle. "The cave is three days away, what if we're already too late?" Natsu called as they cut through the trees, running as fast as the crowded wilderness would allow. "We arnt." Levy called. "How do you know?" Grey asked. "The trees told me. It's a fairy thing," she replied with a grin, causing the men to chuckle.
Their three day run was mostly uneventful, only stopping at night when they could no longer see the trees in front of their faces. The morning of the third day the cave could be seen above them, set into the mountain they had seen when they arrived. Mear feet from the cave, they could make out Acnologia and his three companions. One man had flaming red hair, and a scowl fixed to his face. The second had jade green hair that was pulled into a small pony tail, and he was grinning at the third man. His hair was long and black, also tied into a pony tail, a bored expression on his face.
"Think you boys can handle his friends?" Gajeel asked, looking to his men who nodded. He looked to Levy, who had a grin on her face. "I hope you know I'm coming with you." He sighed. "Can I at least try to ask you to stay put?" She giggled and shook her head, earning another sigh from her captain. The group split, Gajeel and Levy taking a round about path to the cave, where Acnologias companions now stood waiting. Lily, Natsu and Grey approached the men, swords drawn, easily capturing their attention. Once they were lured away from the cave opening, the two slipped inside and hurried into its depths.
The cave darkened, and yet not completely, an eery glow emitting from the depths of the cave as it turned into a tunnel. A faint hum could be heard, like the rush of water over rocks. The tunnel narrowed slightly, before opening into a vast cavern and giving sight to a magnificent waterfall. The water itself seemed to glow pale blue as it fell deeper into the cave, where it vanished into a dense fog that covered the true depths of the cavern. They could just make out a winding path that lead to the clouded cavern floor, where they were sure the pool of the waterfall, the true fountain of youth, waited. Before they could move, however, a movement in the shadows drew their attention. Levy barely had time to blink, let alone scream as a heavy boot connected with her side, sending her tumbling across the hard ground. "Levy!" Gajeel shouted, drawing his sword just in time for another to connect with it.
Gajeel had never meet the pirate king or even seen him, but just seeing him he could tell he radiated danger. He was a large man, large than the young captain that was locking blades with him. His deep dark hair held a blue sheen too it as it fell in his eyes, the shaggy bits escaping his black hat. A scar cut across his face, a wound that nearly took the mans nose. His black eyes glared at Gajeel, seeming to size his opponent. "Yer out of yer league boy." He said in a thundering voice that shook the fae to her core as she stood. She remembered this voice, the voice of the man who destroyed their home. The man who took everything away from them, she had never had a name for him then. Acnologia, the man who took Gajeel away from her for twenty years.
She drew her own cutlass as a boot met Gajeels gut and sent him stumbling. She charged, her sword cutting a wide arch but the man easily side stepped, his sword lashing out. Levy hissed in pain as the iron met her left bicep and she had to leap back. "Iv got this Shrimp, stay back." Gajeel said as he took a stance in front of her, shielding her. "Gajeel you can't win alone." She said, her eyes never leaving Acnologia. "Listen to the broken fae. Ye will never best me boy, leave before ye get yerself killed." Acnologia said, pointing his sword st Gajeel. The crimson eyed captain growled slightly before Levy grabbed his arm.
"Gajeel, we have to fight together." She urged. Gajeel huffed angrily but nodded, stepping aside slightly so Levy could stand beside him. Acnologia laughed at the pair, "It is yer lives then."
Gajeel and Levy lept forward, mirroring each other's sword thrusts, but the captain dodged aside. His boot came out again for Levy, but thanks to her tiny size she was able to duck beneath it and roll away while Gajeel followed through. His sword caught Acnologias shoulder, but the man didn't seem to flinch as he brought his elbow into Gajeels jaw. Gajeel threw a punch into the man's side, but was left open for a slash that opened a gash in his chest. While distracted, Levy took advantage to lunge for Acnologias side. He barely saw the fae and spun to the side, thrusting his sword towards her. Levy had too much momentum, and she screamed as the sword pierced her leg.
She crumpled to the ground as a wave of sickness surged through her before he ripped his sword free. "Levy!" Gajeel shouted as Acnologia raised his sword to the girl. Gajeel lunged forward, his sword catching the others and pushing him back. The two captains were in a heated competition to over power the other now, blood was drawn as metal met skin, and Levy could only watch. Gajeel was easily being over powered by the pirate king, and things were looking bad. As the two broke apart, Gajeel breathing heavy while Acnologia barely broke a sweat, the crimson eyed captain looked to the fae. He gave her a sad and pained smile, and her eyes widened.
Before she could call his name, Gajeel rushed forward while Acnologia raised his sword. He never stopped, even as the blade impaled his gut, and he continued to push him back. "Gajeel!" Levy screamed as the two toppled over the edge. Levy drug herself to the edge, peering into the fog in hopes of seeing her lover. When she saw nothing she fought the pain and forced herself to stand, using her sheath as a walking stick. The walk down the winding path was painful, both physically and mentally. Constantly her leg would give out and she would have to pick herself off the ground, and she was terrified of what she would see at the bottom.
The path finally leveled out, the fog now above her head as she was able to see the glowing pool that lit up the area around her. The first thing Levy saw was Acnologia, impaled on a large stalagmite near by. She shuttered slightly and she drew her eyes away, gasping when she found Gajeel. "Gajeel!" She cried, limping as fast as she could towards his still form. His white shirt was now stained red, and his long locks wet and stuck to his exposed skin. Levy fell to her knees beside him, carefully rolling him over as a lump formed in her throat. Blood splattered his face, his arm bent at a hard angle and his skin was sickly pale. Her hands shook as she carefully held his face, the skin beneath her fingers already like ice. "No..." Her voice caught in her throat as tears welled in her eyes. An idea formed in her head, her only hope. She looked towards the glowing pool feet from her as she steeled herself, wrapping her arms beanth Gajeels. Levy dragged him, agonizingly slow, towards the water. "You can't die on me you bastard... I just found you, and I'm not loosing you again." She choked as she slid Gajeel into the water, making sure to hold his head above the water. She watched his face, hoping for something, anything. Levys eyes began to fill with tears again as her body became cold in the water and there was still no life in the body in her arms. She held him close, her body shaking with silent sobs until the mournful cry ripped through her throat. "GAJEEL!"