Chapter 13

Confectionville

Confectionville was by far the most beautiful city they had encountered throughout their entire adventure. Gajeel couldn't help but look at his surroundings with wide-eyed wonder, wondering how in Fiore he managed to dream up such an intricate design.

Each building was built out of pure white stone that glittered in the bright sunlight. Jeweled sugar candies decorated the doors and windows, creating bright pops of color throughout the city. The steep roofs of the buildings seemed to be made from golden, pointed crowns, each decorated with dark green garland that draped from one pointed peak to another.

He and Levy bobbed and weaved through the city streets, dodging the tiny gingerbread and bonbon people who ran rampant through the streets. What looked like frosted sugar cookie people pounded tiny tools against destroyed walls and roofs. Gajeel grabbed Levy's arm, drawing her away from a rolling group of bonbon people, and nodded towards the rigged scaffolding set up against a tall building.

"Looks like those cinnamon sticks that you liked."

Levy sighed, jerking backward when a candy dropped from a crumbling roof. "You're insufferable, you know that right?"

"Probably, so it's a good thing I don't know what that word means!" He smirked and took them back into the crowded street.

Tiny screams drifted down the road in front of them. Gajeel ran towards the sound, Levy hot on his heels, and skidded to a halt at the sight of over a dozen rats crawling through the streets. With a growl, Gajeel drew his sword and activated his magic in his opposite arm, turning it into a metal sword with a spinning blade.

"Let's just push through and get to that hot-headed mage."

"I agree," Levy murmured and they entered the fray.

They ducked and weaved through the rats, using magic and metal to fight off the sharp teeth and claws. Flashes of magic shone next to him. Gajeel twisted his arm, using the flat edge of his sword to knock the screeching rats into the magical holes Levy created in the ground. With the combination of their two magics, he and Levy barreled through the sea of rats and entered the center of the city, where a tall, gleaming castle sat against the bright blue sky.

Four tall towers sat on each corner of the castle. The walls sparkled with white and rose tinted stones and the sloping roofs were covered in tiny stars and flowers. Two thick doors made from what looked like candied fruits barred the entrance. Turning his arm into a thick club, Gajeel punched the doors. They opened with a bang, revealing the bright courtyard of the castle. A cackle filled the room.

"Welcome to my castle, you puny gnats!"

"Eye eye, Sir!"

Gajeel sighed, turning his arm back to normal, and shared a look with Levy. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. They entered the large room, where a tall throne sat nestled against the back wall. Natsu stood on top of the throne, Happy swinging a long gray fish next to him. Fire flashed from Natsu's mouth and he waved a book above his head. Gajeel heard Levy wince each time the book came close to the flames.

"In vain you have traveled to retrieve your precious treasure, but your efforts will be in vain!"

"Natsu, if you're going to monologue, do it right!" Levy groaned, covering her eyes with a hand.

Ready to put the cringe-worthy villain act to rest, Gajeel marched across the courtyard directly towards the throne and the reckless mage standing on top of it. Footsteps pounded the stone floors behind him as the entire Fairy Tail guild ran into the room. Natsu cackled at the newcomers and shot blast of fire into the air

"You have all fallen for my trap! You are right where I want you, you silly…uh, fools! There is no escape from the strength and might and awesomeness of–"

Levy cringed and Gajeel felt the last thread of his patience snap. Shrinking the metal pole on his arm, he stalked up the stairs to the throne and rapped Natsu on the head with the metal pole.

The flame mage froze mid-rant. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he dropped like a bag of penny candy. Cheers erupted from the gathered mages.

"Finally," Gajeel sighed and carefully retrieved the fallen book.

Dust coated the cover and several pages were nearly bent in half. After quickly putting the book to rights, he hopped down the candy stairs back to Levy's side. The corner of her mouth quirked and Gajeel felt his face warming.

"Here," he said, shoving the book in her direction. "It doesn't look so bad, after all it's been through…"

Levy's smile blossomed full force and Gajeel jerked backwards.

Don't even think about it…

"Hmm, I suppose I should reward you for helping me out all this time."

Levy tucked the book under her arm and stood toe to toe in front of him. Gajeel scratched the back of his neck, craning his head to the side so she wouldn't see how his face flamed. The celebration in the courtyard grew louder and louder.

Gajeel turned his back to the noise and crossed his arms. "You…you don't hafta. Just keeping my promise, that's all."

"I still think I will."
Gajeel scratched his neck. "No, really–"

Levy stood on tiptoe and quickly pressed a kiss against his lips. Gajeel jerked backward, glancing around the room and the preoccupied mages. He turned a glare down to Levy, who simply rocked on her feet with a proud smirk lighting her face.

The noise of the hall gradually grew until Gajeel was certain Old Man Makarov himself would show up and beat them into silence. The group shifted towards the throne room, bunching together in a large cluster. Levy smiled and chatted with each guild member. Gajeel studied the tops of their heads, recognizing many many of the mages he and Levy met during their adventures; Jet and a somehow shrunken Droy hurried to Levy's side; the trio from the Almond Gate, who began to cling onto Laxus the moment he entered the room; even the nameless little girl darted from one mage to another. The girl skidded to a halt and beamed a wide smile in his direction. Her hand lifted in a wave before pointing towards Levy.

With a silent chuckle, Gajeel clasped Levy's hand in his own, earning him a strange look in the process, and wiggled their joined hands. The little girl clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes until her long braids flopped in the air.

A shimmer swept through the air, bringing with it a surge of magical energy. The guild quieted, each mage staring at the image of a small woman that appeared at the top of the throne. Her white dress ruffled and bounced at her knees and her long, golden hair draped down her back like a sparkling waterfall. She slowly floated off the throne and down the stairs. Gajeel took a step back, seeing each member of the guild follow suit until a narrow pathway cut across the center of the room.

The woman slowly walked through the crowd, looking at each mage in turn. After a single pass, the woman turned and made her way back towards the front of the room. Her voice rang sharp and clear throughout the room.

"Good morning. I'm so happy to finally meet all of you."

Her head slowly turned as she gazed at each mage gathered. Levy squeezed his hand, but he could only weakly return the gesture. A shiver ran up his spine; the woman stared at him, long and lingering and with a gaze so full of magical power that even the great Makarov himself wouldn't be able to match. His chest tightened and a trail of sweat dripped down the center of his back. Right as Gajeel was certain he would be crushed under the weight of the woman's gaze, she smiled.

"I see now…you must be the reason he planned all of this. I have high expectations for you, young Dragon Slayer."

She winked, her grin sparkling. Gajeel frowned, a question on the tip of his tongue, when the air around them grew thin. A breeze trickled through the room, lifting the coattails of his jacket. Levy's hair waved in the breeze and her dress twisted around her legs.

"Gajeel?"

Her fingers dug into the fabric of his sleeve as her feet lifted from the ground. Gajeel fumbled for a hold on her arm, her body lifting higher and higher into the air. Shouts from the other mages echoed in the room. A bright light flashed overhead and Gajeel saw the ceiling of the room disappear in a shower of sparks. His body grew light and airy and he held back a yelp as his body lifted up into the air.

"I do believe it's time for you to wake up now," a musical voice called to them.

The woman stood at the bottom of the stairs, waving farewell. Gajeel's hold on Levy's arm slipped and he twisted in the air. He circled his arms in a desperate attempt to right himself.

Wake up? No, not yet!

He kicked his feet, reaching for the ground with his booted foot. His breath came in huge gasps. He couldn't wake up yet, not yet. He still had things to tell Levy, still had things to do in his dream world. He wanted to visit Christmas Woods with her again, to sail across the Rose Lake and sit next to her on the tiny boat. He wanted to go back to Gingerbread Village and finish the incomplete gingerbread house. He wanted to hold her in his arms, see her smiling at him with no fear in her eyes. He would gladly eat all the candy stashed in Droy's pockets if it meant he had even one more hour in his dream world.

"Gajeel!?"

"I'm right here!" he answered, his stomach clenching as he twisted in the air.

Arching his back, Gajeel jerked his body to the side and flailed until he floated right-side-up. Levy reached for him, her feet kicking widely. Gajeel stretched out his hand. A thunderous boom shook the air and the world flashed white.