Chapter 12
Sweetmeat Grove
The red clouds fluttered in the wind and moved until the sky was once again a bright, pristine blue. Much to his delight, Levy held onto his hand the entire walk towards the capital. Never one to stay still for long, her free hand waved in the air and pointed out all the unusual sights. Gajeel quietly listened to her continuous rush of commentary.
She called the newest forest they passed through 'Sweetmeat Grove' and showed him how the red and white branches on the trees twisted and coiled until they formed large, circular disks; the disks reminded Gajeel of the candies always present on the Guild Hall's bar counter. Even the air was thick with the familiar sharp scent of peppermint. Gajeel smirked and jostled Levy with his shoulder.
"That ain't meat, Shorty," he pointed out, wiggling their joined hands.
She smacked his arm, which only earned her a hearty laugh, and stuck her nose in the air.
"Obviously–" she huffed as if he should know all the details of the book she kept rambling on about, "sweetmeat is another name for candy. But I don't know why."
Gajeel froze in his tracks, dragging Levy to a halt as her arm stretched behind her. "Wait…yer tellin' me there's something this little know-it-all bookworm doesn't know!?"
He easily dodged the punch aimed at his arm. He dropped his hold on Levy's hand and darted around the red-faced mage. She yelled and chased after him, the laughter in her voice making her vague threats fall on deaf ears. He smiled broadly and gave a whooping laugh.
When's the last time I've played like this?
He rushed to the edge of the trees and darted behind a thick trunk. Levy scurried out of the forest and into the meadow, her head whipping back and forth in her search. Gajeel pounced from his hiding spot and scooped up Levy by the waist. She squealed and pounded his arm with her tiny fists, her hair tickling his nose. Her feet wiggled wildly in the air.
"Put me down, you big dummy!" she laughed, trying to twist out of his arms.
Gajeel tightened his hold, but lowered her until her feet were safely planted on the ground.
"Gihee," he chuckled, pressing his cheek against her temple.
He listened while she grumbled and complained; something about messing up her bandana if he kept nuzzling against her hair like that. Gajeel rocked her back and forth until the harmless rant finished.
"So…" she began and Gajeel lifted his head at the laughter in her voice. "I wasn't expecting you to be the snuggly type."
Gajeel stiffened, realizing she was practically trapped in his arms. Face flaming, he began to lower his arms.
"Sorry-"
"No no, it's fine!" She wrapped his arms around her waist until his head lowered against her shoulder. "I don't mind."
Her small hand played with the strands of his hair, turning his insides to cotton candy. He breathed in the sweet, flowery scent of her hair, grateful that she was turned away from him and couldn't see the ridiculous grin that refused to leave his face. Levy remained in his arms for several moments; just the two of them in the entire world. Gajeel closed his eyes, dreading the moment he woke up and the dream would come to an end.
A thunderous boom echoed across the meadow. Levy jerked in his arms and Gajeel drew her behind him, drawing his sword in one smooth motion. The familiar crackle of Levy's magic popped behind him. They stared across the empty meadow in front of them.
Fresh snowfall covered the land in a fine, white powder. The colorful road was swept clean, with small snowbanks pushed against the sides. Small hills dotted the smooth expanse. Gajeel slowly walked down the road, sword at the ready. Levy followed close to his side, her magic alive and active on her hands. They rounded the road and Levy stopped.
A large, dark shape broke the pristine landscape. Smaller shapes stood next to it, each wearing a red jacket identical to the one he was forced to wear for the entire day. With a glance to Levy, Gajeel sheathed his sword and the two slowly approached the group. A tall figure turned to watch their approach and Gajeel recognized the commanding stance of Fairy Tail's most imposing S-Class mage. The dark mound shook and trembled and the sound of heavy sobbing filled the air. It shifted, revealing a round, muddy face caked with tears. Gajeel tilted his head.
Where have I seen him before?
"Oh no…" Levy groaned and hurried towards the giant person.
Gajeel ran down the pathway, trying to place the blubbering mess of a mage. The giant turned his tear stained, pleading eyes towards Levy and a memory surfaced. Gajeel laughed, earning more than one dirty look from the gathered mages.
Levy smacked his arm before hissing, "Be nice!"
"Gihee, but he's so…round!"
If looks could kill, he would certainly be a dead man. After giving his arm one last shake, Levy approached Erza.
The red-haired mage eyed him warily, glancing between him and Levy. Gajeel worked to erase the laughter from his face and shuffled backwards. After a single step he froze.
What's her problem? I haven't done anything wrong!
He drew his shoulders back and stood by Levy's side; if she and the Master accepted him into the guild, then the rest would just have to deal with it. Gajeel pursed his lips.
Huh…strange thought…
"What happened, Erza? What's wrong with Droy?" Levy asked, placing a gentle hand on her lackey's knee, effectively drawing Gajeel back to the activity around him.
Levy's other team member stood by the giant's side, patting his leg while murmuring encouraging words that slowly quieted the giant's wails. Gajeel tilted his head, noticing a red licorice rope binding the giant's hands and feet.
"Apparently," Erza sighed, gesturing to the chocolate covered giant, "he was caught eating the roofs off the city buildings. The cookie townsfolk are busy repairing the damage he caused, but they have officially dubbed him the 'Giant Sweet Tooth.' Apparently, he didn't take too kindly to the nickname."
At the mention of his new title, Droy resumed his blubbering. Chocolate dripped off his face and landed on his friend's head. The red-haired mage gagged and hurried to shed his red uniform. Gajeel bit back a chuckle, glancing at Levy to make sure she didn't hear him laughing at her fellow team members. A loud boom came from the capital, cutting off Droy's sobbing. Erza sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"And if I didn't have enough to worry about, Natsu is running amok through the city, setting fires and destroying everything he can. Last I heard, he was heading to the castle."
"Wait," Gajeel interrupted, dreading the answer. "What's the city called?"
Erza and Levy glanced at one another.
"Confectionville?" Erza said, staring at him as if he grew new metal studs.
"Course it is," he grumbled and headed for the main road.
"We'll take care of it, Erza!" Levy called out as she ran after him.
"Look for Marchpane Castle! That's where he should be!"
Gajeel heard a chorus of goodbye's and good lucks follow after them. He waited until they were safely on the opposite side of the hill before leaning down to Levy.
"What's march…pan?"
"Marchpane. It's like cake, but made out of almonds and sugar."
Gajeel nodded appreciatively, "That actually sounds pretty tasty."
His comment earned him another smack on his arm. "Don't even think about eating the castle!"
"I'm just saying, gihee!"
Levy rolled her eyes, intertwining her fingers in his. "I'm not gonna be able to take my eyes off of you, aren't I?"
Gajeel shrugged, "Fine by me."
Another heavy sigh tickled his ears. Gajeel laughed and swung their arms back and forth, easily following the booms thundering behind the city walls.