Part I
Tarragon
(Lasting Interest)
From where she stands in the middle of the busy cobbled streets, hand-in-hand with her agitated mother, she stares wide-eyed at the building before her. It's massive and white, towering hundreds of feet above their heads, and she can't help but gawk in awe at the beautiful architecture, the gloriously stained windows, the professionals that walk in and out of the heavy wooden doors. It's the second time she's seen the building, and she loves it. She had visited it once – only once – and knows what beautiful words reside within.
"Where is he?" mutters her mother, checking the nearby clock tower that stands high above the surrounding roofs of buildings. "He's taking too long – again."
She looks to her mother only briefly before returning her gaze longingly to that beautiful building, wishing she, too, could walk in and out of those doors. Her heart aches with want when she sees a group of older girls excitedly speaking to one another in another language, their clothes indicating that they likely come from a neighboring country and have arrived to deliver their annual reports. She nearly weeps, thinking of how much she wishes she, too, could look upon the old scrolls and parchment that resides within that building.
"Did you hear me?" her mother suddenly snaps, and Levy McGarden turns her face back to her mother hastily, knowing better than to not pay attention a second time.
She falters, but doesn't dare lie. "No," she whispers, and her mother glowers angrily at her.
"Of course not," mutters her mother, sneering as she looks back to the building across the street. "You never listen. Just like your father – and you'll amount to as much as him, too, I suspect."
Levy tries not to flinch; she's heard it before, and she knows she'll hear it again. It's common that her mother spits such insults at her. She feels her heart sink with misery and winces when her mother suddenly stamps a foot like an angry bull. She doesn't bother to fight it when she's suddenly half-dragged down the street, her mother angrily pushing through the people.
She knows then that her father won't be home that night. "With that wretch he's seeing on the side," her mother will say as she rampages around their small, crumbling home. She knows that she will hide herself away in her small room; it's more of a closet, really, with a simple mattress and a few pieces of reading materials she's gathered over her mere ten years of life. But it's hers, and it's safe from her mother's brutal words and insults - and her occasionally just as brutal fists.
And Levy knows for certain that she will go to sleep thinking of the beautiful building full of even more beautiful words.
Her father never comes home. Upon understanding her mother a little better five years later, Levy can't say she blames him. She wishes she, too, could leave, but her mother is ill, and guilt towards her thoughts about leaving, too, drives her to stay. There's nowhere else she can go anyways. In her bitterness, her mother had failed to acquire an education for her daughter, leaving Levy to wonder just how she's going to survive the day that she wakes up and finds that her mother has passed away during the night.
There isn't even a funeral. Levy can't afford it, nor does her mother have any friends or family left.
Effectively an orphan at thirteen years old, Levy finds herself wandering the streets uncertainly, seeking work and shying away from the shadowed alleys with curiously watching men and dead-eyed women who stand with them. She learns the city of Crocus as best as she can, memorizing its layout and listening to anyone she overhears, gathering information no matter how useless. Anything can be made useful – one of the very few things her father had taught her before he'd left.
She spends much of her time before that beautiful building. The official Fioran Archives, she hears it being called after a few days of studying it from across the street with longing hazel eyes, the hood of her cloak drawn over her head to help hide her face. Her hair is easily recognizable, and something her mother had cursed her for while alive.
"The only ones with hair the color of yours," her mother had oftentimes said, "are witches, and witches get burned."
It isn't necessarily a lie; Levy knows that magic does exist, and here in Fiore, it is safe to use it. Mages in the streets often times performed to entertain others when they had free time between jobs. Magic was celebrated here, but then, her mother had originated in a small village on the outskirts of the Pergrande Kingdom. Her childhood memories had been full of smoke and burning flesh, her own parents burned for their small claims to magic. Her mother had taught her to fear magic, so Levy avoids those mages at all costs.
Until one day, while her stomach rumbles and urges her to steal from the cart only six feet away, she stops and considers an amused girl who performs nearby in a small city square for a group of children. The girl can't be more than a year or two older than her. Her magic is beautiful and deadly all at once as she draws weaponry from thin air and makes it dance around her in complex patterns, never once hurting anyone else. Levy finds that it appeals to a piece of her she's never considered. It draws a tug in her heart, and it makes her curious when the girl suddenly stumbles in her dramatic performance, snapping her head around.
All it takes is one glimpse of curious dark eyes, and Levy hastily turns away, bustling through the crowds of the city. Her heart races in her chest as she swerves around a corner and starts back for her home, which is in shambles with no money to upkeep what is left.
It was one of very few things her mother had taken the time to teach her: magic is bad. Magic brings death and pain to those involved. Avoid magic, and perhaps you'll survive.
So why does that tug in her chest make her feel so light? Why does it make her want to smile? She presses a hand over her heart when she considers that, biting her lip until it bleeds. She wants to know the answers, almost more than anything else she's ever wanted.
She thinks of the building. Almost anything. What she wants more than anything else is to learn to read and write and speak in a thousand languages. She wants to learn about other cultures and read about their history in their own languages.
Frustration fills her; how does she go from this to there? How does she go from a poor orphan to one of the pretty girls who walk like they are on air in their rich robes and walk among words like she so desperately wants?
Levy debates this over the next few days as she wanders the city, accepting money with immense gratitude when someone offers it on a kind whim. She's acquired more than normal that day, and perhaps it is her stroke of luck that she finds herself in the same city square, watching the same girl dance with her weapons. This time, she's accompanied by a few others around their age. A pair of boys who are off on the side, bickering with increasing volume; one appears several years older than the other. A trio of siblings, who are all speaking quietly with one another; the oldest girl looks as if she's gently instructing her younger sister despite her aggressive appearance. Another boy is off to the side, looking bored and standing beside an older man with a kind, creased face. He looks on at all of them with pride, and Levy can tell immediately that they all belong together, in one family.
Her face falls as she watches them from the safety of the shadows. Curious, saddened eyes watch as the bored one suddenly mutters something aloud and the old man grins at him with so much love, it draws frustrated tears to Levy's eyes. She wants that, she realizes. She wants family and love like that, given as freely to her as it was to them.
She feels guilty almost immediately and winces. Her mother hadn't been the best woman, but Levy tells herself she'd loved her in some form.
Shaking thoughts out and focusing on the girl with the dancing swords, Levy feels that tug on her heart again. That warm tug full of light and laughter, and it draws her forward one step, and then another, until she finds herself standing at the front, with a group of children. Her head tilts as she watches a series of knives fly through the air, twisting and turning.
Curious, her attention goes to the girl, and she's surprised to see the girl flustered and sweating, exhausted despite the smile that graces her face. It's hard work, flinging those swords around, no matter how effortless she makes it seem, and Levy's willing to bet that girl has been there for hours, working nonstop.
Levy slides her feet into a better stance when that odd tug takes shape, rising to meet the heavy weight that she can sense in the air. The girl pauses only briefly. Levy doesn't notice, but someone else does, and they take a curious look around before suddenly locking onto her, finding the source immediately.
Intelligent onyx eyes study her with interest, taking her appearance in. A moment later, he abandons his argument and leaves his confused rival to stare and gape after him, not certain of why he's been left behind in such a way when their arguments usually end with full-blown fights despite their differences in age and size.
He slides into place beside the older man watching the girl with the swords and mutters something into his ear. The older man immediately looks over with interest, and Levy remains ignorant to the attention that they've suddenly rested on her.
Instead, she watches the girl finish her dance with a shuddering gasp. The girl sweeps her arms out in a bow and the swords vanish. Cheering and applause fills the air. She smiles despite her exhaustion as she stumbles over to where one of the boys who'd been arguing remains, and Levy blinks, realizing that the other one is beside the older man, easily picked out with his shockingly pink hair and the odd scaled scarf around his throat.
She blinks a second time when she finds them staring at her.
Hastily, she turns and disappears among the people, anxious. The girl is one thing; she doesn't want more than one noticing her. She makes a mental note to avoid that square from there on out.
She's just rounded the corner when a voice shouts, "Hey! Wait!"
She speeds up, heart missing a beat in fear. She remembers stories of burning men and women, of children screaming among ashes–
A hand closes around her wrist, jerking her to a rough stop, and she whirls around with a whimper of fear to find that the pink-haired boy is there, his eyes wide. He blinks at her, and she pales when she realizes that his eyes are more animal than human, with slitted pupils and an intensity that reminds her of a snake intent on a mouse. But rather than eating her, he smiles broadly, friendly even with the tight grip on her. "Why are you running? We won't hurt you."
She tries to tug her wrist away, her lips nervously pressed together. She says nothing as his grip gently tightens. He makes it clear he won't leave, so she finally admits in a voice that's hoarse from lack of use, "Magic is bad." He looks so startled by her explanation that she races to say, "My mother taught me that. She was from the Pergrande Kingdom."
He tips his head, looking sincerely interested. "They burned mages there, right? My dad told me that when we passed through a while back. They don't do that here, you know." He jerks his head in the direction they'd come from, where Levy's sure his companions are waiting. "You've got magic; I felt it. We can teach you if you want. It's fun. We live in Magnolia usually. Gramps brought us here. Something about experiencing bigger cities and an older one's culture." He's so friendly – happy.
Her mind flashes to those beautiful archives. Her lips tremble with uncertainty. "Why?" she says suddenly. "Why would you…?"
He beams at her like they've known each other for decades. "We all come from places like you," he says cheerfully. "Well, the others do. Mira, Elfman, and Lis were kicked out of their village for having magic, and Erza's village got burned to the ground for being a gathering place for 'em. Dunno about the stupid icicle, 'cause he's never talked about it, but I think it's like that."
Levy finds herself reluctantly interested and hesitantly asks, "And…and you?"
He beams, proud that he's gotten her to relax a little. He trusts her to not bolt and releases her, rocking back in a playful manner on his heels. "My dad thought it'd be a good idea to make some relations with the guilds. S'been a bit rocky between mages and dragons in the last few decades, ya know?"
Levy stares at him, her mouth dropping open. "You're a dragon?" she blurts, and he grins when she becomes flustered, embarrassed with her loud, nosey behavior. She expects a scolding for her response.
"Half-dragon. I'm Natsu," he says instead, extending a hand in a friendly way.
"…Levy," she murmurs back with reluctance, taking his hand. He squeezes it as he shakes it and then releases with ease. She hastily tucks her own behind her back, no longer feeling the desire to flee. Instead, she finds that the tug is getting worse. She wonders if ignoring that tug is what killed her mother – realizes that she is so damn tired of living this life as she has been.
Perhaps it's not a straight-to method, but…
"Could…could learning magic help me get to the archives?" she asks tentatively. She shyly meets his eyes. "I want to learn." Her words become increasingly desperate, tearful, and the one who's introduced himself as Natsu begins to look a bit uneasy. "I want to learn everything about everything. I want to read and write and–"
Natsu grins again now. "'Course. Erza can teach you." He pauses, and then flinches. "Maybe see if Gramps can help you first. Erza's not a very nice teacher." He extends his hand again, this time wiggling his fingers. "The guild's not gonna hurt you and if you don't like it, you can always leave. They'll even help you get to a better place for you if you don't like it. You'll have to go to Magnolia though."
Levy debates that. Leaving Crocus isn't something she's ever done, and it'll mean leaving those wonderful archives…but if it means getting to step inside them…
Levy curls her fingers around his and nods slightly.
Natsu's happy smile widens and he says simply, "Welcome to Fairy Tail, Levy."
Fairy Tail is as wonderful as it had appeared, even within the confines of Crocus. She's introduced to Makarov Dreyar and his grandson Laxus; the former is as warm as can be and welcomes her with open arms to his guild, while the latter could care less, although Levy's told to not take his cold looks to heart. "He's like that with everyone," a scowling Mirajane Strauss tells her when she greets her a moment later. Her siblings, Elfman and Lisanna, are just as friendly to her, though Gray Fullbuster is a little more standoffish and the sword-dancing Erza Scarlet merely greets her with a quiet smile.
Levy feels bad when Makarov announces their trip will be cut short with Levy's appearance, but none of the others seem to mind. If anything, most of them seem relieved, which Levy finds a little disappointing. Surely someone else has to express as much interest as she does in things like history and culture?
She's nervous enough when they leave Crocus that Lisanna, a few years her junior, holds her hand comfortingly when the train carries them away. She's grateful for her comfort, and the fascinating stories she and her siblings offer about their journies before they'd found Fairy Tail. With each minute that passes, Levy finds herself relaxing, comforted and reassured by the warmth they all offered. Well, most of them.
And when they arrive in Magnolia, it's a whole new world. Unlike the never-ending business of Crocus, Magnolia is slow and warm, welcoming anyone to its streets with a bright cheery attitude. Where Crocus is fast-paced and unforgiving to those without the money to keep up with its economy, Magnolia is pieced together so beautifully and carefully that no one can fail in its walls. Its old gray stone streets and buildings are filled with people who are just as kind, who shout their greetings to the leader of their local guild and know him by name. Others eye a few of those present with wary amusement – particularly Natsu, Levy notices.
Levy loves it from the second she sets foot in it.
And then there's the Fairy Tail guildhall, so welcoming that her heart aches and she feels sick to her stomach with how much she loves it. There are so many more people in the guild than she'd initially thought, and they notice her almost immediately. They welcome her with open arms, everyone offering to help her where she needs it, and Levy nearly cries with the happy feelings that rise in her chest. She can't remember ever being so happy, she realizes when a stamp is placed over her shoulder blade, proclaiming her a member of a mage's guild. Her emblem is pretty – very fairy-like someone tells her, with its soft white coloring and just as soft pink outline.
It is there that she meets two people her age by the names of Jet and Droy. Within a matter of days, she finds herself orienting to them whenever given the chance. They work closely with Mirajane and Erza to help her find somewhere to live – a local dorm for the girls of Fairy Tail, Fairy Hills – and agree to work with her so she can pay fees necessary. It is them who begin the long, painful task of teaching her to read and write, though she picks up on it quickly. So quickly, in fact, that within a few months she's reading better than much of the others her age.
When Levy feels confident enough in her own language, she seeks out a new one, just as she's always longed to do. Excitement floods her when she realizes that it is just as easy for her to pick up on it. She ensures to pick one that another in the guild speaks, and often times converses with them for practice, much to their delight.
By the time she quietly turns sixteen, never once informing anyone about when her birthday is even when someone asks, Levy is far more confident and has learned enough about magic to know that her mother is wrong. Magic is that light feeling it started out as in her chest. It is what gives her more happiness than even reading and writing. It is specialized for only her, her solid-script magic, just as everyone else's magic is unique and special.
When they are finally old enough, she and those close to her age are finally allowed to take real work. Rather than simply helping around the guildhall, many leave on quests out around Fiore to hunt monsters that dwell within the darkness they prefer to hide in or go to hunt treasure in the middle of the ocean. Some take escort missions, or delivery missions.
Levy's first job is one she takes alone, though she doesn't mind. Jet and Droy go off on their own delivery job, and she wishes them well even as she excitedly bounces over the translation work the Magic Council has requested a guild member of any guild accomplish. She doesn't recognize the language, for it is an older one that she's not yet studied, but she rushes to start and loves the puzzle it presents her.
She finishes the job in record timing without a single mistake, and receives high praise from both the councilman who picks it up and Makarov, who beams at her in pride like she's his own grandchild.
She continues to take such work as time goes on whenever it is offered and finds herself translating documents of importance when the situation requires it. She's even requested by the Council on several situations, and Levy prides herself on it. She prefers such work to the jobs she sometimes takes with her friends, who themselves prefer wild jobs that involve danger. Many of her guildmates do – particularly Natsu, she realizes one day six years after joining the guild, who has barely seemed to age since she's met him.
Finding herself curious one day when he comes back surprisingly serious from a meeting with his father – the first in nearly five years, she's heard – Levy inquires about his lack of aging.
He blinks at her when she's finished asking, mouth open. The serious, troubled look that had revealed him to be far more grown up than he normally acts is replaced by amusement. "You wanna know about dragons?"
Flustered, Levy ducks her head and admits, "I've read a little on them, but they're secretive and just…fascinating. I've always loved learning about old cultures, and theirs is one of the oldest."
"The oldest," he boasts before pausing. "Except for the stars, I guess. They're a couple millennia older than even the dragons. They were here before anyone else was." Levy wants to know more about the stars, too, then, and perks up. He grins at her response. "What do you want to know about us, Levy?"
"Like I said," she says, finally sliding into the seat across from him. She knows it's rare that Natsu is willing to sit and chat about anything for an extended period of time, so she fully intends to take advantage of it. "You've barely changed at all since I came here…do you guys not age at all?"
He looks immensely amused with her question. "We age, just really, really slowly. And I'm half-dragon, by the way. So I age a little faster than a normal dragon."
"Calculating it out, what's the ratio compared to us?" she fires off, and then adds, "For you, at least."
"I'm not good at arithmetic," he complains, but he still sits there and puzzles it out. Finally, he decides on, "Maybe thirty to one? We don't really keep track of ages like you guys do. I'm around six hundred years old though."
Levy's jaw drops and she sputters. She's been expecting something of the sort, but still! Such a difference in age…he's older than anyone else in the guild, even surpassing the guildmaster itself! Natsu cackles at the look on her face, looking pleased with her response. Longing fills her. All of the lost words and languages he must have heard in just six hundred years, let alone the thousands that other dragons had lived…
His expression shifts, and as if he's read her mind, he loses his smile and says quietly, "It's not as fun as you think. There's a reason we're kinda isolated with our own kind. All of the guild will be dead within the next century, and all the friends I've made in the guild…I won't get to see them again, but I'll have to keep going."
Levy's face softens at the way he says this, so sadly. She knows now, after overhearing him complaining irritably on one of his rare bad days, that Natsu had not initially wanted to come to Fairy Tail. From what she's gathered, his father had forced him to come, figuring that the son of the king of dragons would be the best choice to soothe over the relations with the humans. It was working, from what Levy's gathered.
So to hear him say that he's grown fond enough of the guild to claim he'd miss them when they were all gone…it's nice.
Their conversation continues for some time, with Natsu cheerfully telling her about dragon customs and whatever else she wants to know. He mentions proudly that Igneel, the Fire Dragon King and his father, has declared him successful enough in his endeavors that Igneel has sent a pair of young dragons to work alongside a guild and the Magic Council, a high-ranking government of sorts, itself in Crocus. When Levy carefully asks about her own home and how the two are doing there, Natsu's smirk widens.
Apparently, upon listing some of his new friends and connections, Igneel had mused that he'd heard of Levy's name from the two in Crocus as well and had expressed interest in her growing expertise. Levy flushes upon the realization that her name's grown big enough to be recognized by someone so important.
Natsu only makes her feel even more flustered when he tells her, "It's hard to get Igneel's attention like that. You're only the second one to have done it."
She asks, "Who was the first?"
Natsu's entire person seems to soften and his tongue curls fondly around the name. "Lucy." His gaze fills with what Levy thinks might be something more intense and deeper than love – as well as grief and longing. "He noticed Lucy when she visited our nest with the Spirit King and Leo a few centuries ago, before they isolated themselves from our world."
Carefully, Levy murmurs with sympathy, "You really like this Lucy, don't you?"
A smile appears on her face when he turns as red as she had upon being told Igneel knew of her. "Yeah. She stayed with us for a few years – both her and Leo. She used to be a human, but when she sacrificed herself for the celestial spirits she held contracts with, the Spirit King granted her a place among the stars." That look of mourning and loss grows with each word. "But then my half-brother attempted to murder her, and the stars chose to cut off all ties with the dragons 'cause they blamed us."
"You have a half-brother?"
"I did," he corrects with the beginnings of a snarl on his face. He forces it away. "I'm half-human, remember?" he tells her. "My mom was a human who died a long time ago. Igneel liked her on a passing fancy," he looks annoyed by this, "and then took me at her request when he heard. My brother was entirely human. He hated the dragons. I didn't know until after he tried to hurt Lucy." His jaw works angrily. "I didn't even get to say goodbye before they left."
Levy slides a hand over to pat his. "I'm sure you'll see her again some day," she murmurs. "How long ago did it happen?"
"One hundred and fifty-three years ago." Natsu shakes off his misery and instead forces a grin back to his face. "What else do you want to know about dragons?"
Levy lets him change the subject willingly and proceeds to ask him about the hierarchy of dragons instead.
Levy is sitting casually at the bar in the guildhall two years later with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other when Mirajane slides the letter in front of her. She looks up in surprise, setting her book aside. "What's this?" asks Levy, her eyes latched onto the official looking seal.
Mirajane taps the envelope with a finger, indicating the seal. "This is from the Fioran Archives in Crocus."
Levy's heart misses a beat as she remembers the glorious building she has yet to walk through. She's not seen it since coming to join Fairy Tail, and her nimble fingers snatch that letter up quickly, ripping it open.
Her lips part in shock at the letter's message. It's a simple, but official letter, requesting her presence at the Fioran Archives by one of the higher-ranking Council members. Supposedly, they have a specific task they'd like to designate to her and her alone, and would like to speak with her about it. She is to send a response through her guildmaster at the earliest convenience and report to the Fioran Archives on the first of the month. Curiosity floods her when it's added that she needs to bring Natsu Dragneel along with her.
Levy can barely think straight for a few moments, and is fairly certain she must look like a fish.
The one place she's dreamed about visiting – and she's finally been offered permission to see the inside of it in person.
"What?" Mirajane asks with a hint of amusement on her face when Levy begins smiling so widely her cheeks begin to hurt. "I assume it's something good?"
"I've been asked to visit with a Councilman at the Fioran Archives," Levy breathes, unable to disguise the excitement and awe in her voice. She sets the letter down and grins up at Mirajane, nearly bouncing in her seat. "It's the one place I've dreamed of going since I was little. All of the ancient works kept in there…I dreamed about being allowed to walk through its halls when I was young."
Levy lets Mirajane read the letter when she asks and Mirajane tips her head curiously at it. "I wonder why they're requesting you bring Natsu with you," she says, looking across the guildhall where he's bickering with Gray again. Neither had gotten along any better over the years, always finding something to argue about. Levy isn't surprised, somehow. It seems to fit them, considering their magic.
Levy shrugs, too excited to think much of it. "Who cares?" she says, nearly squealing as she throws her hands in the air and promptly captures some of her guildmates' attention. A few shake their heads, chuckling; others wonder briefly what's gotten such a generally calm member of the guild so worked up.
She merely beams at that piece of paper like it's the most important thing in the world – and to Levy, it is.
Crocus is just as Levy remembers it to be – busy and cold.
Natsu peers around curiously beside her, his arms bare despite the frigid temperatures. Levy envies this as they walk down a messy, busy street. She herself has a heavy coat pulled on. Her normal headband's been replaced with a pair of earmuffs and the gloves on her fingers keep her from being capable of being as nimble as she prefers. Her odd appearance – albeit one many people share at this time of year – is only completed by the heavy bag she carries on her bag, full of supplies. Everyone in Fairy Tail carries supplies like this. "Just in case."
She finds that she still knows her way around Crocus. Natsu lets her lead as he muses about how he's glad his father sent him to Magnolia rather than here, where two of his cousins are supposedly holed up. Levy's not yet met many in the Sabertooth guild, but she hears that their workings are as different from Fairy Tail as she is from Natsu. Their guildmaster is rumored to be cruel, and she briefly questions what Natsu's two cousins are thinking of humans if that's the case.
Natsu snickers when she nearly bolts around a corner, taking his time as if he has as much as wants. Which, Levy supposes, he does with his long life-span. But she doesn't, and she so desperately wants to see the place she's dreamed of for so long.
Her eyes catch white and she stops, staring.
There.
It's just as she remembers it. Tall and graceful with its arched doorway that holds those massive wooden doors that have kept her out for so many years. She bounces on the balls of her feet excitedly as she looks upon the stained glass windows. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembers the misery that had previously accompanied this sight; no longer does she feel that.
Instead, she's filled with joy as she impatiently makes sure the ever-so-slow Natsu is with her before practically flying up the steps. Her fingers curl around a handle to one of those heavy doors and when she opens it, she can barely breathe.
The inside is just as clean and perfect as the outside. It's massive, the ceiling arching high above their heads and every single wall is lined with books and scrolls and parchments. Some shelves are hidden away by bars, signaling the importance of the documents there. Levy's fingers itch at the idea of getting to touch them.
But she contains the excitement that is making her so happy she's delirious. Instead, she merely smiles widely as she looks around before approaching the front desk. Natsu keeps close, and she makes sure to keep a very close eye on him. He's notorious for burning buildings down, and Levy's not sure she'd let him live if he burned such a glorious one to the ground. Natsu seems to know precisely what she's doing and smirks at her playfully.
She points at him with a warning glare before turning to a man at the desk. "Hi," she says when he greets her, "I'm Levy McGarden, and I'm here to meet someone from the Magic Council?"
The man blinks, and then offers her a warm smile. "I've heard of you. Your translations are well-known here in the Fioran Archives." Levy flushes, pleased. She's worked hard on such matters, and is happy to find herself being recognized for her hard work. "But we were told to expect you and Mr. Dragneel! Please," he says, rising to his feet, "this way."
Levy and Natsu follow the man through the Fioran Archives. Natsu laughs at the way Levy practically bounces even as she tries to contain her excitement. The man guiding them looks amused, too, though he keeps his thoughts to himself as he walks them into a large meeting room.
Levy studies it as she ducks in, taking immediate notice of the pair of people already seated at a conference table within it. The room is much like the rest of the inside of the building, with high-arching white ceilings. Rather than being lined with books, however, this room is fairly empty except for the large mahogany table at its center. The table itself is littered with clean parchment, quills, and ink. A lacrima of sorts sits at its center.
Her attentions turns to the two men waiting for them. One calmly watches with a smile dancing along his lips and Levy swears she's seen him somewhere else. The other is eyeing Natsu with a strong dislike in his eyes. Natsu notices immediately and grins widely, earning a rather disgusted snort from him. Both are dressed neatly and cleanly in the Magic Council's uniform clothing of white, and when Levy clears her throat, the friendlier one lifts a hand and says, "Thank you for coming, Miss McGarden. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Perhaps they've not met then, Levy thinks, sinking into a chair across from them. Knowing better than to not keep an eye on Natsu, she drags him into the chair beside her, shooting him a warning look. He pretends to pout but settles to listen within seconds.
The Councilmen introduce themselves as Mest and Lahar, and don't hesitate to launch into describing the task they want her to do. It takes only one phrase, and it explains immediately why Natsu's there with her.
"We would like to extend a hand of friendship to the dragons in the same way their king has done for us," says Lahar, "and thought you would be more than capable of doing so while simultaneously expanding our knowledge on the workings of their society since it appears to be so different than our own. We wanted to know, of course, first and foremost, if such an idea would be plausible on the dragons' end."
Natsu rocks forward in his seat with an interested look in his eyes. "I'd have to talk with my dad. We're interested in knowing about the rest of the world, but we have a bunch of things that we're not too keen on letting other people know about. Ceremonies, that kind of stuff."
Lahar, pleased that Natsu is serious for once, nods in understanding. "We've thought as much."
Head still spinning from the offer that is being made to her, Levy says hesitantly, "If it's just me who would do this, I'd have no issue with being sent to wherever I'd be staying instead of witnessing things like that. I could work on a day by day basis and check in with whoever's in charge – Igneel, I suppose – about what I could or couldn't send back in reports."
Mest nods slowly as he considers this. "That could work on our end. Some of the higher-ups might be a little cranky about the fact that they wouldn't get everything they want, but they can't say no to that plan when it's the only option."
"Would that work?" Levy asks with a glance at Natsu.
Natsu frowns at the table in thought for a couple of minutes, slowly piecing together his thoughts. Finally, after what seems like ages, he repeats, "I'll have to talk with Igneel first, but he's been really interested in solidifying ties with the humans in the last few years. I don't see why he'd say no if we followed Levy's plan and went day by day.
"You'll have to remember," he adds, turning his attention on the excited Levy. "Not all of the dragons like humans. There's a couple that straight out hate you guys. You'll have to be on your toes until they get used to you and even then you'll have to be careful. We don't have the same moral laws as humans."
Levy knows she should be more worried about that idea than she is, but she can only smile brightly and say, "I'll be careful," as if she already knows she's going.
Months later finds Levy still unsure of whether or not she'll get to do such an exciting task. She takes work with Droy and Jet on occasion, but is reminded how much she prefers her normal work when she comes home with a nasty scar hidden away beneath her shirt. The scar stretches from beneath her left arm all of the way down to her right hip, and though it wasn't a life-threatening injury, she knows it'll be there permanently – something she's not excited about.
She's moping about the scar at the bar with an ancient book in hand when Natsu casually sidles up to the bar and slides into the seat beside her. Levy's startled by the sight of him; Natsu had vanished weeks prior without telling anyone where he was going. Clearly, by the relaxed response of everyone else, he'd been there a day or two before she'd gotten back.
"Hey, Levy," he says far too casually as he slides into the seat beside her and Levy narrows her eyes suspiciously. He's much too calm and relaxed. Normally, he's bouncing off the walls.
"Hi," she answers suspiciously. "Where have you been? Makarov was complaining before I left that you'd disappeared."
"I was doin' something," was his suspiciously empty answer, "and then I had to go meet with my dad." Levy perks up, getting a feeling at where this conversation is going, and she finds that she's excited and hopeful. "He's willing to give the Council's plan a shot so long as the situation we had with the stars isn't repeated."
She nearly tips her stool over as she shoots to her feet, grinning. "When do we leave?" is all she asks.
Levy finds it surprisingly difficult when it comes time to say goodbye to her friends and family. Droy, Jet, and Makarov are the hardest to say farewell to. Levy admittedly sheds a few tears when she wraps her arms around her friends, crushed between Jet and Droy in a group hug. She promises that she'll come and see them as soon as possible before turning her attention on Makarov.
Makarov is the one who gave her a family when she'd spent a few years alone after her mother's death, and she can't help but think of all that he's done for her as she leans down to hug him tightly. He pats her back comfortingly and says, "Make Fairy Tail proud, my child. It's a miracle that someone's come out of this guild without the tendency to destroy something and is trusted with something so important."
Levy grins despite herself. She's only not destroyed anything because she's oh-so-careful to not do so. It's incredibly hard to avoid such a thing when you're a member of Fairy Tail; it's as if it's trained into you, even if it's unintentional on everyone's part.
Natsu, who'll be escorting her to the island of the dragons, is told to bring back a full report, and he grins and agrees to do so. Levy knows despite the mocking smirk he shoots Gray when Gray scoffs about his ability to do so that Natsu will make a very detailed report to Makarov upon his return. It's the one thing Natsu doesn't take lightly – ensuring that his guildmates are safe and happy.
Set and ready with her two bags, one of which Natsu picks up, Levy turns and leaves the guildhall with only one backwards look, wondering when she'll see it again.
Natsu would have taken her straight to the island, he tells her, if he was a full dragon. But he isn't, and because of it, he can't fly there like the others. Instead, they have to meet with another dragon on the shores a few hours away from Hargeon.
She's a massive beautiful white dragon, with feathers and a kind look to her as she bends her head in greeting when they approach. Grandeeney, Natsu calls her with a happy look when she trills a soft greeting to him, looking amused by his delight. A sky dragon, he tells Levy, and his aunt. Grandeeney eyes her warily, but seems to give her approval only minutes into their conversation when Levy greets her with politeness and inquires carefully about how long it will take to get to the island of the dragons without asking precisely where is.
It takes about as long as Grandeeney tells her it will: a few hours. Levy finds that she enjoys every minute of those long hours, the wind streaming through her hair. She's astonished to find Natsu completely accustomed to flying on the back of a dragon. She shouldn't be surprised, she supposes, with his heritage, but to see him not ill from some form of transport…it's interesting.
When they land on the dragons' island, the first thing Levy notices is the massive red-sclaed creature awaiting on the beach. Others are gathered around him, all appearing as humans, much to Levy's surprise. Perhaps it is easier to live in a smaller form. She wonders why the dragon who is so clearly Igneel doesn't do it, too, as Natsu shouts a happy greeting and practically throws himself towards Igneel the second his feet hits the sand. Levy marks it down for later in the back of her mind, her hazel eyes missing nothing.
The second thing she notices is how hot it is. Within seconds, the sash she's wrapped around her head to keep her hair from her eyes is damp with sweat, as is her clothes. She's grateful she'd dressed in shorts.
There aren't a lot of dragons present. Enough for a small village, with a few more hanging back in the tropical trees. She guesses that those are the ones to be careful of, for it's from the trees that she feels malicious intent.
The large red dragon – Igneel, Natsu confirms with a happy cry of his name – lowers his head to greet Natsu. Levy watches them with interest and jumps when a hand brushes over her shoulder. Grandeeney has taken on another form now. She appears as a tall, graceful middle-aged woman with waist-length white hair that is streaked with feathers and a kind, semi-creased face. Her body is clad in a dress of feathers that seem to sprout right out of her skin. "Welcome," she says warmly, "to Tenrou Island, Levy McGarden."
Levy smiles broadly at the warm greeting, grateful, and has hope that she'll do well.
Rather than trying to get Natsu to focus as he launches into a fast-paced rant about their travels, Levy decides to sit back and wait, watching the others patiently as they warily watch her and look impatiently to their king. It's a few minutes before a young looking girl suddenly breaks away from the group and comes to join them, her blue hair sleek and soft. She wears a similar dress of feathers to Grandeeney's.
"My daughter," introduces Grandeeney with a touch to the girl's cheek, pride shining in her gaze, "Wendy."
"Hello," chirps Wendy shyly, and Levy gives her a friendly grin, remembering what it had been like when Natsu had first approached her all those years ago.
"Hi, Wendy. My name's Levy."
Wendy's approach breaks the tenseness in the air and within moments, a few others are cautiously approaching, inquiring about her. Levy patiently answers any and all questions thrown at her – even the rude ones, mostly asked by a particular male dragon with hair the color of fresh iron. He's tall, too, and towers a few inches above Grandeeney, standing beside her with familiarity. Grandeeney introduces him as the iron dragon Metalicana, and Levy knows he'll do no harm, even if he does give her a playful grin that's full of razor sharp teeth.
Eventually, she finds herself before Igneel himself, and the fire dragon lowers his large head to her level, his large green eye peering at her carefully. "Welcome to Tenrou Island, Levy McGarden," he says, echoing Grandeeney's earlier words. His voice is loud and deafening, but Levy forces herself not to jump. "Natsu speaks highly of you, as do Sting and Rogue. I hope that what I have heard is not exaggerated, and that you prove yourself worthy of a dragon's trust."
Levy forces herself to meet his gaze confidently. "I'll do my best to do just that. It's an honor to have been allowed to come here, and I won't let you down."
Igneel snorts softly, smoke curling around his nostrils. There is a gleam of amusement in his eyes as he pulls back, content with her answer. Natsu gives her a playful thumbs up to show she's said the right thing and Levy bounces a little on the balls of her feet, proud of herself.
She's worked hard to get to where she is and she refuses to ruin it for herself.
Natsu helps her find a good place to stay on the island. As he does, he explains that dragons are very particular about where they stay, and that after he's left to go back to Fairy Tail – something that admittedly makes her nervous – she'll need to make sure Wendy or someone else who likes her is willing to help her memorize the strict borders the dragons keep to. Apparently, though they all live together and work together, there are nests of eggs and hatchlings that no dragons but the parents are allowed near. Generally secluded, they're easy to miss.
Lucy writes this all down from the cavern she's selected for herself, located beneath a large tree. Natsu's helped her carve out a decent living space within a few days, trading from his own supplies to gather some comforts for her. Levy's eternally grateful and promises to make it up to him.
He merely shrugs and tells her it's the least he can do after everything Fairy Tail's done to accommodate his appetite.
She's met most of the dragons with Natsu, Wendy, or Grandeeney beside her by the end of her second week. There are still a few that they report she have yet to meet, although she's told that they're the ones she should avoid on a daily basis if she can. They're the ones who don't like humans, she's been told.
"Actually," corrects Natsu quite bluntly one day, "they hate humans. Zirconis ate them before Igneel took over as the king of dragons and banned it, and Gajeel's…Gajeel." There are only a few others that hate humans, but they're the two to avoid, she's been told, at all costs.
The day Natsu leaves is even worse than the day she left the guildhall to come to this island.
"You'll be fine," Natsu tells her, ruffling her hair fondly. She's joined Wendy and a few other younger dragons on the beach to say goodbye. Normally confident, she finds her stomach twisting with anxiety. She wants him to stay, to not leave her alone with a group of strangers. But he has to go back and continue his own work on the dragons' behalf – and meet with his cousins in Crocus on Igneel's part.
"I know," Levy says uncertainly. "Just…you'll come visit?"
"Sure," he agrees readily. "I have to come talk with Igneel every now and then anyways. It's his turn to meet me on the mainland next time, but then I'll be back."
When he's gone, flown to the mainland by an amused Grandeeney, Levy finds comfort in the happy Wendy offering to show her some of the prettiest parts of the island. Other young dragons gather around her, none of them taller than she, and offer to show her their favorite parts of Tenrou, too.
Levy spends the first few days without Natsu among the younger dragons, and when they grow bored of her, she moves onto shadowing Grandeeney, who teaches her a lot in regards to herbs and healing. As a sky dragon, it's her specialty, and she prides herself on the knowledge she shares and teaches to Wendy.
After Grandeeney's coaxing, a few other dragons begin to approach Levy and welcome her into their parts of the island, teaching her about their daily lives. She learns a lot about them, and finds herself growing close with more than just one or two. She's relieved that they seem to like her just as much and don't mind that she's constantly asking questions, fascinated.
It's on her sixth month on Tenrou Island that she's summoned to Igneel.
Igneel's favored location is on the southern-most tip of the island. He has a nest for himself contained within the sands, and it takes Levy a few hours to hike her way all the way there. He doesn't mind that it took her so long when she finally gets there, instead greeting her warmly.
After exchanging pleasantries, Levy is startled when he says, "The Festival of the Dragon King will happen within the week. It's a holiday to honor the king of dragons," Levy notices how he seems to roll his eyes at this, clearly not amused with the fact that he's the one being honored, "and one in which all of the dragons here attend. You are more than welcome to join in with the festivities if you wish."
Levy's eyes stretch wide at the idea. "I'd love to," she says happily, but before she can get further, Igneel cuts her off.
"You need to be aware that it is all of the dragons that will be attending. Natsu mentioned when he was last here that he spoke of a few that hold a strong hatred for humans. These few spoke openly against your presence on the island and hold a particularly dislike to you. I need you to be aware that they may purposefully seek you out with malicious intentions."
Levy considers this for a few quiet moments before smiling reassuringly at him. "I'll make sure to stick close to Wendy and Grandeeney," she says simply in response. "Thank you for the warning. I'll be careful."
Igneel nods, accepting her decision without protest. "I'll request that Metalicana stays nearby as well. He is respected by the majorit of those on this island, and one of the more outspoken dragons won't be willing to attempt anything with him around."
Levy accepts this without question, although she is semi-curious as to why one dragon in particular would avoid doing anything with Metalicana around. She instead thanks Igneel for allowing her to take part in something that clearly means a lot to the dragons.
The day the festival arrives, Wendy busts into Levy's little cavern in a surprising burst of energy. Normally, the girl is calm and quiet with a cheerful attitude. Now, she doesn't hesitate to drag Levy from her circle of blankets and pillows with a loud "Come on, Levy, we have to get ready!"
Levy, bleary with sleep, lets Wendy drag her back to Grandeeney's part of the island, only a few minutes' walk from where Levy has made herself at home. "What the hell is going on?" she mutters when she's bombarded by several other female dragons, who are already far too awake for Levy's liking.
Yet she quickly wakes up with the promise of a meal, and Grandeeney makes good on that promise after Levy's been dressed up in warm colors like the rest of them. Her normal preferred pants, tank top, and vest have been replaced with a short red top and a skirt. Her favored hairband is replaced with an equally as red one, and Levy arches a brow when she realizes that not only is all of this lined with gold, but it is heavy and clearly real gold.
She brushes her fingers unhappily over the scar that's still looking rather fresh even months after healing, not at all pleased that it's on display. But she's pleased when none of the other dragons say anything about it. Instead, they act as if it doesn't exist.
After preparing for the day, Levy's swept into the chaos that is preparing the endless food. She willingly helps, smiling when a few sneakier dragons, male and female alike, sneak in to snatch snacks when no one's looking. Levy is excitedly surprised when she finds that Natsu's returned to the island unannounced – when he got there, she has no idea – and is among those stealing food.
His thievery is put to an end when Grandeeney quite literally hisses at him and shoos him away, telling Levy to take him before he gets himself into more trouble.
Levy laughs, but does so willingly, eager to chat with her fellow Fairy Tail member and find out how the guild and her friends back home are doing. Natsu willingly offers the information and then some in addition to introducing her to Sting and Rogue. They're both fairly pleasant, although she can tell Rogue isn't all that fond of having her on the island. Sting, on the other hand, is nearly as loud as Natsu and is caught only minutes later stealing an entire platter of food.
The festival truly begins at dusk, just as the sun sets and Igneel finally arrives. Then there's music and singing and dancing and feasting and so much laughter and happiness that Levy can barely contain her own joy.
This, she thinks as she sits back and watches dragons of all kinds interacting, dancing and chatting and clearly having fun. This is what she loves most, outside of the written word. She loves learning about others, figuring out their part in society and how they work.
She's still thinking on such matters when a finger taps her on the shoulder. Levy glances up and finds a smirking Metalicana looking down at her through squinted red eyes. She's a little surprised; Metalicana is friendly, but very rarely approaches her. She's never understood why, when all of the others seem inclined to learn about the outside world, but has never questioned it.
"You good over here, little one?" he questions, jerking his chin in the massive dragon's direction. Igneel is looking fairly amused with the young hatchlings that are crawling over him in their own dragon appearances, their claws bouncing harmlessly off of his naturally heavily plated armor. "Igneel sent me to check."
"I'm fine," she reassures, "thanks, though." She looks briefly to the people enjoying themselves and smiles before looking back at him. "Are you going to join in?"
He shakes his head. "I used to enjoy such festivities," he muses, "but not for many centuries now. The mother of my hatchling was rather fond of them, and since her death, it's not been nearly as fun."
Levy feels a stab for sympathy. It's another thing she's learned since coming here: dragons selected one to pair up with and if anything happened to half of that pair, they called it quits on finding another. They were two halves of the same whole, and felt the loss so keenly that many simply wasted away when that other half was gone.
Rather than focusing on that, she asks, "You have a child?"
"A hatchling," he corrects, "although he hates to be referred to as such." Metalicana grins. "Brat that he is. He's around. Dunno where, but he's here. He has to be if Natsu's here." He laughs at Levy's confused look. "He likes to pretend he dislikes Natsu and tries to pick fights with him. Grandeeney doesn't allow it, and he knows better than to start anything with Wendy watching though." He nods to where Wendy is hanging onto Natsu's arm with a wide smile.
"Have I met him?" Levy asks, curious, and Metalicana shakes his head.
"No. And if you do, let Igneel or me know." Metalicana lifts his chin. "Won't go into the details 'cause it's not my business to tell anyone, but he ain't too keen on you being here."
Levy makes a face, understanding why Igneel had picked Metalicana to keep an eye on her. It made sense why one of those who hated her would respect Metalicana and keep their distance if they were actually Metalicana's son.
As Metalicana leaves her to her own devices, promising to check in again later, Levy ponders what could have made Metalicana's son hate humans so much.
Levy has been at the island of the dragons for nearing eight and a half months when she has her first truly concerning run in with a dragon.
At this point in her stay, Levy finds that she rarely gets lost. She knows which parts of the island to stay away from, where she can go freely without looking over her shoulder, and where she can go but needs to be a little more alert.
Yet buried in her notes while walking, she's gotten herself lost, and Levy curses herself as she picks her way through a thick portion of trees. It's so cluttered there that the sun is blocked out, ruining any chance of figuring out which way to go, and she is very aware that she's never been to this part of Tenrou before as she ducks around a particularly large tree.
She's been fairly lucky thus far, she supposes, with regards to staying out of trouble, but it appears her luck has run out.
She's been wandering for near an hour when a voice suddenly croons, seeming to surround her from every direction, "You shouldn't be here, little human."
She snaps around, her heart skipping a beat. Something malicious resides in that voice, warning her that if she doesn't figure out how to get out of the area now, she'll be eaten or worse. She forces her breath to even out, her mind working furiously to figure something out as an emerald-scaled dragon emerges. She wonders how it had gotten so close without her noticing it,k but dismisses her own idiocy. Dragons are powerful creatures; it's likely he'd hidden his presence for some time before revealing himself.
It doesn't help that he is one of the few that prefer to remain in their original form.
There is a gleeful look on his face. His teeth are bared and sharp, his talons digging eagerly into the earth as if he's waiting for him to run. From the descriptions Grandeeney has given her – and warnings – Levy guesses that she's finally come across Zirconis, the dragon famous on the island for eating humans.
Just my luck, she thinks irritably, drawing up on her magic. She knows that it will do nothing against a dragon, but at least if she goes down, she'll have gone down fighting as a Fairy Tail mage should.
"I know, and I sincerely apologize for intruding upon your land," she says politely, deciding that being honest and polite might help her get out of this tough situation. She thought quickly through her options and decided that admitting she'd gotten lost wouldn't be the smartest idea. "I was doing some exploring and accidentally passed into it. I'll leave immediately."
Feigning confidence, Levy turns to leave and it takes everything in her small body to not flinch when a massive taloned foot slams down in her path, blocking the way she'd come. She swallows nervously when Zirconis laughs at her. "Come now, it's rude to walk away from a dragon."
Levy knows that's not the case; she's spent enough time watching dragons leave carelessly mid-sentence and not offend anyone in the process. Dragons would be considered the rudest of people in her social circles. Not here though.
Carefully, she turns to face Zirconis and says simply, "My apologies. I do need to get back though. Metalicana is expecting me."
Zirconis does pause at the mention of Metalicana, debating. Levy is grateful for Igneel telling her that Metalicana is greatly respected among the dragons. She holds her breath, hoping that it will work.
Zirconis merely cackles. "Is he? Then he shall be waiting for a long time, I think." His teeth snap once and it's only then that Levy realizes he's been waiting for her to run. A chill goes down her spine and she hopes that there is someone nearby. She stands as still as a terrified rabbit, unsure of what to do.
Luckily, the decision is made for her.
A low, raspy chuckle fills the air and a new voice rumbles, "S'rude to keep Metalicana waiting, Zirconis."
Levy's head turns when Zirconis immediately growls at someone to his left, her right. He spits furiously. "This is my land, brat, get off!" he snarls, immediately angry and ruffled.
Levy nervously peers at the newcomer, realizing that it's yet another dragon she's not met. This one's kept a humanoid look, and it only takes her a few moments of studying him to guess that this is Metalicana's son. If the piercings that dot his face hadn't given it away, the look on his face and his irritable crimson eyes would have, for they were nearly identical to Metalicana. His dark hair is wild and long, and he's dressed in clothes that are ripped and tattered at the hems. Braces on his forearms made of metal gleam in the dim light of the little sun that gets through the canopy.
He doesn't look at her. Instead, he smirks at Zirconis, displaying his own sharp teeth. "You're the one who's distracted. Just took advantage of it. I like that collection you've got over there." He jerks his chin towards a dark area, so sheltered it's simply in darkness. "Plenty of jade and emeralds. Does Skiadrum know about that little ruby collection?"
Zirconis roars in fury, stamping his feet. "Out!" he bellows. "Out!"
Metalicana's son merely rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath. Levy doesn't hear, but Zirconis certainly does and is worked up into a frenzy. The ground trembles and shakes as he whirls away, storming towards that hidden collection of gems.
Levy doesn't take her eyes off of the newcomer for a second, not trusting anything at the moment. He only shocks her by suddenly storming over, muttering under his breath. She gasps in surprise when he grabs her by the arm and starts hauling her roughly away from Zirconis's territory. She yelps, sputtering and instinctively trying to free herself, but he merely tightens his grip to a bruising one, muttering under his breath.
When they're a safe distance away and the sunlight has returned, dappling her face with its warmth, he shocks her by suddenly throwing her arm aside and pinning her with a nasty glare.
"If Metalicana," he rumbles, and she blinks, gasping when he jabs a finger against her chest, knocking her back a step, "tells you to avoid something, you avoid it. How stupid are you to go straight for Zirconis?"
Levy's caught entirely off guard. She's been told time and time again that this dragon doesn't like humans…so why is he standing there before her, giving some odd form of advice after helping her out? Riled up by his attitude and unnerved by her experience with Zirconis, Levy shoves her uncertainty down and instead glares furiously at him. "First of all," she spits back, "no one told me that Zirconis lives in that part of the island, and secondly, you don't just grab someone and drag them along, you jerk." She surprises herself by jabbing him right back in the chest. She then rubs her arm, knowing that there will be bruises forming soon.
He stares at her, seemingly not prepared for the attitude she's thrown at him, and she briefly prides herself on it before he utters a low, frustrated growl. He takes a threatening step into her personal bubble and something about the way he's glaring at her only irritates her further. She stands her ground, glaring up at him without caring that he's so much taller than she is.
And then he grins, in the same threatening manner he'd smirked at Zirconis. "I could rip you to shreds and leave the pieces where no one would find 'em, and I could do it even nastier than Zirconis could. You're a human on an island of dragons, lady, don't forget it."
Her stomach twists with anger as she realizes what he wants.
He's expecting her to worship the ground he walks on. He wants her gratitude, her never-ending gratefulness for him saving her from Zirconis, just so he can throw any negative idea he has about humans in her face and make her feel bad about herself.
She stares him in the eye angrily for a few moments, staring at that triumph.
Furious, she suddenly draws on her magic and scribbles a quick "splash" into the air with it. The word hangs between them for a moment before suddenly turning to water that churns violently and promptly flies right into his face.
"I'm a mage, thank you very much," she spits as he stares at her, dumbfounded, water dripping from his face. Finished with her declaration, Levy turns and storms off, knowing precisely where she is now and where to go.
She makes the wise decision to go to where she knows Wendy will be when she finds herself mortified only minutes later, hoping that the presence of the much-loved sky dragon will keep anything from happening in retaliation.
As instructed, Levy makes sure to inform Metalicana about what happened with his son when she finally comes across him a few days later. She sheepishly explains it all to him, and when she's finished, Metalicana tips his head back and roars in laughter. Levy stares at him. How is this something to laugh about? She's insulted someone who not only helped her when she likely would have been eaten, but also someone who's been mentioned to dislike humans.
Wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, Metalicana wheezes, "So that's why he came to me complainin' about 'shrimp.'"
"He called me what?" seethes Levy, which only serves to draw more laughter from the amused iron dragon.
Metalicana waves her irritated comment off and instead tells her, "Brat showed up the other day and tells me that a shrimp splashed him in the face with water." He cracks a grin, trying to stifle his laughter. "Haven't seen him that flustered in years. Normally I'd tell you you're an idiot for behaving like that to something that can eat you if they want, but…good work, little one. It's hard to piss him off like that. Only Natsu's really succeeded."
Levy hesitantly asks, "Is he going to try and murder me in my sleep though?"
Metalicana laughs. "Nah," he promises. "He's not killed Natsu yet, has he?" Levy silently admits that such a matter is true, though she is still fairly worried about it. "Can't tell you what he'll do, but he won't kill you. The brat should at least respect you a little bit now. I drilled such things into his brain, as did his mother. Don't apologize," he growls when she opens her mouth to do just that. "It's good for him."
Levy isn't sure what that means, but she finds herself not any less worried about how the nameless dragon might respond.
She finds out a few weeks later, when she's enjoying a peaceful day out on a beach with Wendy. It's a particularly fun day since Wendy's practicing her own ability to manipulate the wind, and encourages a nice refreshing breeze that ruffles Levy's blue hair and pushes it out of her face. Levy is comfortably sprawled out on the beach, content with where she's seated, while Wendy trots from one end of the beach to the other, muttering to herself and working to encourage the breeze where it fails. Fascinated, Levy can't help but watch – until a shadow falls over her at the same time that Wendy trills a name excitedly.
"Gajeel!" calls Wendy excitedly as Levy slowly and nervously tips her head back to look up. She finds the previously unnamed son of Metalicana standing over her, smirking. Levy narrows her eyes, immediately on the defensive after what had happened at their last encounter.
"You're easy to sneak up on, shrimp," he tells Levy, still smirking.
She fights the urge to bristle at what he's calling her, knowing it will only amuse him further. Scoffing, she turns her face back to Wendy as she scampers over in the sand, her dark eyes alight with excitement. Levy can't help but gape when Wendy suddenly tackles Gajeel in a hug, ignoring the grunt of protest on his part. "What are you doing here?" she cries. "You're supposed to be on the mainland!"
Rather than being as rough as she had thought he'd be, Gajeel fondly pats Wendy's head and tells her, "Finished up and came back early. Some of us have actual work to do."
Levy turns her attention entirely onto Wendy then, ignoring Gajeel. "Are you going to practice some more or can I interrupt your focus now and go mess around in the water? It's too hot, and I've been wanting to do it for hours."
Wendy giggles and looks hopefully to Gajeel. "Are you going to stay?"
Levy forces herself not to react, not to beg this odd dragon to leave, but he seems to see through her plan anyways. His smirk widens into a mocking look. She fears he's actually going to agree. But then he shakes his head, returning all of his attention to Wendy. "Gotta report to Igneel," he says simply. "I'll see ya later, Wendy."
She nods happily and watches as he gives her a final pat on the head before leaving without a backwards glance. When he's gone, Wendy comments, "He likes you."
Levy chokes on her own saliva. "Like hell he does," she mutters, rolling her eyes. She questions to herself why he made it a point to stop by and visit with Wendy while she's around when he's previously avoided her at any cost.
"He does," insists Wendy. "At least, he respects you. Metalicana told Grandeeney and I what you did." Levy stares at her in upmost horror, terrified about who else might have heard what happened with Gajeel after Zirconis's near success at eating her. Wendy hastily reassures, "Don't worry, he only told us and Igneel. Gajeel has at least a little respect for you if you did something like that."
Levy isn't sure she believes her friend, but nods nonetheless, and finds herself subjected to similar odd interactions with Gajeel for the next few months. They are small and last only minutes, though she notices that he occasionally inquires about something or another that's rather personal. She never finds that her frustration with him fades, nor does he ever get even the slightest bit more friendly, but Levy supposes it's just a part of who he is.
She doesn't judge him for it, and even appreciates that he doesn't bother to hide it.
A peaceful era for people of all kinds comes to an end when a flash of bright light suddenly fills the evening sky. Levy is curled within the cavern she's lived in for the last year when she sees it. Slowly, curious, she creeps out of the fire-lit shelter and squints up at the sky. The light is bright enough that it hurts, and is growing brighter with each passing moment. She wonders what it is with curiosity – and then fear when it suddenly seems to explode outwards. Just as quickly, the light flies back inwards on itself and hurtles downwards.
It strikes Tenrou Island so hard the ground shakes, only a couple hundred feet away in Grandeeney's lands. Levy staggers, nearly failing to catch her balance. She stares at the light that fills the trees, so bright and gold. Curiosity gets the better of her and within moments, she's edging her way forward, watching as the light begins to die away and fade.
She's been walking for a few minutes when she sees the source.
The light radiates from a girl. She stands at the center of the crater she's created, heaving for air. Her eyes are wild with fear, her long golden hair glowing silver in the light even as it fades from her entirely, leaving only an unearthly gleam to her. She's dressed in clothing unlike anything Levy has ever seen, and it's ragged and stained with golden blood. A whip is still held in her white-knuckled hand. The moment she sees movement, she's moving and Levy yelps when the whip collides with the tree beside her, snapping branches violently.
The girl takes one look at Levy and blinks, surprised. "Sorry!" she gasps immediately, looking guilty. She tucks the whip securely into a belt that's wrapped around her waist. She staggers forward, moving towards the wary Levy. "I…I was… Please. I need… Help me." Her words suddenly slur, and before Levy can even think about moving to catch her, she's collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Oh!" Levy gasps, throwing herself forward. She hits the ground hard on her knees beside the girl, feeling for a pulse. Despite her condition, it's strong, and Levy feels a flicker of relief. At least no one's going to die on her watch.
She looks over her shoulder, hoping a dragon will come and help, but quickly realizes that either they're turning a blind eye or refusing to. She takes a deep breath and then hoists the new, strange girl awkwardly onto her back, very aware that she's much taller than she is.
Slowly – very slowly – Levy begins to haul her towards the direction of Grandeeney's lands. She doesn't know who else to go to outside of the kind sky dragon who she can trust to not immediately be on high alert, who will listen before reacting. Even Metalicana reacts first and thinks later. Igneel, perhaps, but he's on the entire other side of the island.
She's been walking for some time, her legs burning beneath the effort of hauling this strange girl, when she hears a snap. She freezes, nervous, and then wants to cry in frustration when a voice she's come to recognize fills her ear.
"What the hell are you doing?" snaps Gajeel as he seems to materialize. His crimson eyes seem to glow in the darkness like those of a predator, reflecting light in a way that makes Levy uncomfortable. He stands not more than four feet away, his attention entirely on the girl Levy's struggling to carry.
"Help me," begs Levy, not caring what he thinks at the moment when her knees begin to buckle. The girl's dead weight is cumbersome, and she can't hold her any longer. She's rather surprised when Gajeel wordlessly comes to the rescue, easily plucking her up. Levy pretends to not be annoyed when his calloused, scarred hands touch her with a rather purposeful and harsh touch. Anxious when he shifts his grip on the girl, Levy hovers and says, "She just…there was this light, and I walked outside, and she was there. She collapsed. I didn't know what else to do, so I was taking her to Grandeeney–"
"Do you know who this is?" he seethes suddenly, staring at the face he'd missed in the process of grabbing her. Horror resides there and he shoots Levy a rather nasty glare quite suddenly.
"No," she retaliates with a glare, "like I said, she just…she passed out before I could get that far. Look, can you walk and talk at the same time? She clearly needs Grandeeney's help."
Gajeel merely rolls his eyes. She thinks for a moment he's going to just dump the girl and leave them there, but Levy finds herself relieved when he starts walking. She hurries along, legs moving quicker than normal to keep up with his brisk stride. "So who is she?" she asks after a few moments of silence.
"Lucy Heartfilia," he says sharply, and the name rings a bell. Levy squints as she walks, trying to figure out where she's heard the name. It doesn't click until he mutters under his breath, "Natsu's gonna lose his shit when he hears about this."
"Oh!" she gasps. "He's mentioned her before! She visited here previously, right?"
Gajeel jerks his head in a nod. "She's a favorite of the Spirit King," he mutters, just loudly enough to allow her to hear. "So what the hell's she doing here?"
"Do I look like I know?" says Levy in exasperation, rolling her eyes. He acts as if she knows more than he does – and she probably knows less! "She nearly killed me with that whip…she looks as if she was fighting something."
Gajeel merely grunts. Levy can't tell if he agrees or not with her. When they reach Grandeeney's clearing, he doesn't hesitate to encroach on her territory, calling loudly for she and Wendy. Wendy stumbles into view first, fumbling and bleary-eyed. Her eyes clear and she gapes when she sees who Gajeel carries. "Grandeeney!" she squeals, and it's her cry that brings Grandeeney rushing out a little quicker.
Grandeeney's eyes stretch wide at the sight of Lucy Heartfilia. "Oh, my. Gajeel, place her over there and then go fetch Igneel, and Levy, please go into my den and get a bowl of water to clean her up with. Wendy, dear, please find her something clean to wear, those clothes are in absolute tatters…"
Levy doesn't sleep that night. She rushes around, focused only on what Grandeeney tells her to do and then on Igneel when he arrives, his massive body weaving into the large clearing with grace. His eyes are narrowed suspiciously when he demands to know what has happened, and Gajeel – unhelpful but present at the very least – makes her tell him what she'd seen.
When she's finished, Igneel rumbles a oud growl. "Something must have happened in their realm."
Levy keeps quiet, knowing she has no place in the conversation now. She watches and listens closely though, her heart racing in her chest. Something big is happening; she can feel it, especially as the anxious Wendy takes her hand and lightly squeezes it for comfort.
"The shrimp," says Gajeel, jerking his chin in Levy's direction, "says she looked like she was fighting somethin'. Went after her when she saw her."
Igneel's gaze briefly turns to Levy, who nods in confirmation, before turning back to Grandeeney and Gajeel. "There isn't much we can do until she awakens," he admits. "We have no way of contacting the stars, nor of going to their realm. We will have to wait and see."
Levy feels a flash of guilt that she can do nothing for the girl who'd begged for help before she'd collapsed, but convinces herself that she's brought her to dragons who can, at the very least. And much better than she can.
Igneel turns to Levy. "You are certain there is nothing else you can recall, Levy?"
She nods confidently, meeting his gaze. "Absolutely certain, Igneel."
Troubled by this, Igneel leaves a few minutes later. Levy looks to Grandeeney for further instruction, very aware that she's not yet slept and the sun is beginning to creep over the horizon. She wonders how terrible she looks from her hiking in the middle of the night with a girl across her back, but pushes such thoughts away. They don't matter now.
Grandeeney smiles warmly at her. "You've done well, Levy," she tells her, "and you as well, Gajeel. Thank you for finding her and bringing her to me. She'll be well cared for, and I'll call for you if there is any change."
A clear dismissal, and Levy fights the urge to protest. She merely nods, murmuring her thanks, and then leaves. She leaves them to it, rubbing at an eye tiredly. She knows better than to think she'll get through the day without at least a nap and decides then and there to take one when she gets back.
She's only been walking for a few moments when she realizes that Gajeel's trailing her. She pauses to peer over her shoulder at him and finds him frowning at nothing, looking puzzled rather than mocking or aggressive like normal. "What's wrong?" she decides to ask, keeping her voice pleasant for once. She's tired, and doesn't have the energy to put up with the normal interaction she has with him.
He meets her gaze with a frown. The piercings on his face make the look intimidating, and she wonders if he'd copied his father's preferences for that very reason. "The stars vowed to not come back over one hundred years ago. If they're here now–"
"Then it means trouble?" finishes Levy, and he blinks, as if he'd not expected her to be thinking along the same lines. "I've been thinking the same," she tells him, glancing to the sky and wondering what the presence of someone who was so clearly beloved by the stars could mean. Especially since that someone had fallen to the earth and landed among a group of creatures that had been labeled as near enemies in the past. She suddenly looks to him with anxious eyes, biting her lip. "Do you know of anything that could do such a thing, Gajeel? That could hurt the stars like that?"
He pauses, studying her closely, and then nods slowly. "Metalicana," he says slowly, "sometimes talks 'bout these things that used to run around ages back, before I hatched." Levy fights the urge to giggle at the idea of Gajeel emerging from an egg despite the fact that they're having such an important conversation. "There was a war, and the stars and them clashed. We sided with the stars, and the humans did, too. It's the only reason we won. Dunno what happened to 'em afterwards."
"What were they?" asks Levy with wide, worried eyes.
"Demons," he tells her grimly, and Levy's stomach sinks as she realizes that not only has the peace come to an end, but it might mean the end of many, many lives, too.
I started something that was supposed to be like "Redemption" and "The Traveler's Song" and it quickly morphed into something far larger. SO! Have a new short fic! I'm expecting something between three to ten chapters (not sure, I'm still writing Part II), and have no idea when the next few parts will come out. I'm very excited about this though. It's primarily Gajevy with plenty of Nalu to go around, and I think it's turning out beautifully. ;)