Gajeel's vision was getting blurry. While a hefty scolding from the dragon coupled with Hades getting distracted by the spell Levy casted had allowed him to break free from the ominous tendrils, they had sapped more or less all of his energy. Not to mention the multiple blows he'd taken since he sent the last of his ancestral protection to Levy to shield her from whatever Hades was plotting. He hadn't found an opening to attack yet, but so far he wasn't even sure he could kill him. Whatever Levy was doing had an effect on him, but who could tell what the crazy mage had up his sleeve.

He'd never hesitated much in battle, for hesitation usually means death. But this was no ordinary fight, the dark mage no ordinary enemy. The risks of a counterattack were many, his stamina fading. He could feel his movements getting sloppy and slower, his head was throbbing, as were his wounds. If not for his enemy focusing on Levy he'd be long dead. The thought woke him up. Levy was fighting, he needed to do something. He couldn't tell what was going on exactly, but his pride wouldn't let him fight on her own. What kind of partner, what kind of king would leave his queen fending for herself. Her distraction was providing him an opening, he just needed to gather strength and take it.

Hades was still boasting a shield, but the battle had given Gajeel much opportunity to learn and strategize. He had minimal magic left, but he didn't need to enchant his whole sword like before. He just needed enough to kill him. The silver thread was thin and translucent, but it was still there. Carefully, he wrapped it around just the tip of his sword, enough to pierce the shield and get close enough for a finishing blow.

Hades tried to sidestep his attack, surprised that his shield had failed, yet still focused on the tendrils that were holding the dragon.

Suddenly, a wide grin appeared on Hades' face.

"Come on, try your best! Kill me! You'll herald her doom."

Gajeel slowed down. What was he getting at?

"What, tryna delay the inevitable?" he barked back, frustrated that Hades was still speaking as if he was merely toying with him.

"The girl, your lover. We're connected like this, you know. If I die, she'll die too. I can come back, but I doubt she has those capabilities."

He knew Hades was trying to distract him. It was so obvious, he needed to focus on his magic and Gajeel was making it difficult. But…he'd seen what the mage was capable of. And he'd glimpsed enough of his character to realize he was most likely telling the truth just to see him squirm with the decision. He retreated, his brain working overtime to figure out what to do with this new information. If only he could talk to Levy or maybe Lily, but with the dragon in such a state, he doubted it would be able to help him. As if he'd felt Gajeels thoughts or saw him hesitating, the dragon's voice appeared in his head.

"Why are…you hesitating? Kill him!"

"Didn't you hear him? He'll take Levy with him!"

"Why are you falling for his tricks?! Either he dies..hrgrrrh..or you all die! Including her!"

Still Gajeel hesitated. His vision blurred again, his sides ached, it felt as if someone had emptied a bucket of ice onto his neck. How should he make that decision? To possibly be responsible for the death of the only thing lighting up his world? He glanced to where she was standing, barely able to make her out behind the shining light, only reinforcing his thoughts.

How was he meant to snuff that light?

But then he noticed something else. It was faint, but he would recognize it anywhere, a melody as natural to him as breathing. The song of his ancestors, their battle cantrip. A translucent blue light emerged from behind the brighter golden circle, barely visible. If he was a more emotional person, Gajeel thought he might have cried right then. They were singing for her. His people had come to her aid, singing to protect her.

"You…hear them…sing. I'll protect her too…now…do your part…hrrgghhhh"

The dragon was right. He needed to act. He could almost hear Levy's voice in his head, scolding him for holding back while she fought with everything she had. If only they could talk, but then again, that's why he'd made his promises to her before battle. They still held true. Once he'd been scared of love, scared of himself and what he might do to someone who loved him. Now he relished in it, bathed himself in the overwhelming love he had for this miracle of a person.

Only one thing left to do.

More. Faster. Stronger.

The words bounced around in his head as he pushed his body beyond its battered limit. His wounds could heal. He didn't care much for the magic either way. His muscles strained and burned from the exertion, his bones squeezing painfully as he pushed forward. He'd heard of it, that the human mind prevented the body from using strength that would damage it, but right now he couldn't afford that luxury. Closing his mind to pain was nothing new to him, he'd done it countless times before and he would certainly do it right now. He'd need to trust the dragon, but at least Levy would also have the protection of the ancestors. One last strike and everything would be done, no more hesitating, no more uncertainty. Just fast enough to get past his defences, just nimble enough to land the hit, just strong enough to actually deliver the killing blow.

He poured the last of his remaining magic into Dragonfang, not bothering with complicated enchantments, just coating it in whatever he had left so he could make sure to break through the shield once more.

Faster. Faster. Faster.

The voice chanted in his head, drowning out the screaming of his body ripping apart as he pushed it far beyond its limits. Once again he heard and felt the horrible scraping of steel against flesh, forcing its way past bones and cartilage and he almost believed his body finally had enough. But when the man in front of him finally fell he knew he'd succeeded. Somehow, he'd pushed past the shield and past all defences to end him once more.

He tried to walk, tried to figure out where Levy was, but his legs denied him this desperate wish. They gave out beneath him, his knees hitting the trampled ground with a hard thud. Letting himself fall back on his heels he knelt there, trying to ignore the searing pain in his body and the way the borders of his vision were frayed and black. He could still feel the ominous energy coming from Hades and the soldiers were still there. His men had fought valiantly, slowly reducing their number, but they were in similar shape as him, growing tired by the second. A small purple tendril wormed its way around Hades' crumpled body, but as much as he wanted, Gajeel couldn't do anything about it besides watching it with exhausted horror. He cursed his uselessness, his weakness.

Now he really wished to see Levy.

.

.

.

A warm light caressed the side of his face.

He lifted his head towards it and what he saw would be seared into his memory for as long as he lived.

She truly was his sun. The light that chased away the darkness, the warmth that melted his cold steel heart and nourished his tired soul. She shone so brightly, so beautifully, standing strong and true like a blinding beacon of hope on the bloodied, muddy battlefield. Wisps of shimmering white and gold magic wafted around her, gently caressing her face and arms. Her azure locks billowed in the wake of power that emanated from her, so different from how he remembered his own outburst, which had been tainted with rage, fear and the metallic smell of blood. Hers was a gentle spring breeze, smelling of fresh grass, blooming mint and the promise of longer days.

Behind her the last of the Erkarian forces crumbled to purple dust while Hades' body began emitting more ominous energy, obviously absorbing the magic he'd used to make the puppets in the first place. His men cheered half-heartedly, too exhausted from fighting to really celebrate the opposing soldiers vanishing. He'd have gotten nervous, but Levy seemed to have noticed the ominous energy.

Gajeel didn't trust people much. He was weary and introverted by nature and preferred doing things himself. Now he had no choice but to trust in her and it was the easiest choice of his life. Her determination was tangible, her face stern as she wrote in the air before her.

The runes started glowing and soon engulfed everything in a blinding light. Before he had to close his eyes, Gajeel could see the tendrils near Hades' body crumbling to dust, the energy he'd felt from the corpse was fading.

When the light subsided he opened his eyes again. Now he could be sure, looking at the petrified, crumbling body of his former foe.

Finally, Hades was well and truly gone.

Now he could focus on more important things, his beloved first and foremost.

Levy was panting, the glowing energy and wisps gone, her hair falling in disarray around her face, where her eyes slowly glazed over. Realising what this meant, Gajeel scrambled to her, barely managing to catch her head before it could hit the hard ground. She was breathing slowly, but the immense amount of magic she'd exerted had taken a toll on her. Sweat glistened on her face and her pulse was quick, her eyes flickering in and out of focus. Not like he was much better, he could feel the effects of having torn his body to shreds, blinding pain slowly spread to a point where battle fever couldn't carry him anymore.

A shaky hand lifted to his face, gently wiping bloodied strands of hair from his forehead.

"don't…cry…we made it, didn't we?"

Gajeel hadn't noticed, but she was correct. He could feel the hot stinging sensation of tears in his eyes. Relief, shock, pain, whichever it was.

"You made it, bluebird. Couldn't have done him in without you."

Levy giggled nervously, the stress of battle had clearly not left her. Despite having fainted, she felt tense in his arms.

"So…then why are you crying? Who do I need to go after for that?" she joked weakly.

"Calm down little spitfire." He grinned, proud of how feisty she was and how persistently she'd fought not just for him, but for his people as well. His grin turned softer when he saw her smiling. He tried to blink the tears away, but they just welled up when he thought about everything that had happened.

"Thought I'd lose you, Lev. Hades was one scary fucker. Just…just happy to have you back. Happy that it's over and done with." He wanted to stroke her face or nuzzle her cute nose or give her a kiss, but one look at his hands made him painfully aware just how bloody and dirt-covered he was. The last thing he wanted was to smear anything of that sort on her face. She looked so pristine compared to him, even though she'd just ended a war.

But even the angelic face of his beloved spitfire wasn't enough to wash away the mind-numbing pain coursing through his legs.

"'Sides from that…" he winced, making sure to position her safely on his lap before relaxing his muscles "I'm just in a lotta fuckin pain."

Levy reached out and grabbed his free hand, gently squeezing it. Her eyes were glazing over again, but her relaxed smile told him it was worth it.

/

AN: As usual, thank you so much for reading and special thanks to kaniyah for leaving me another review ;) I'm happy to hear you like it so much :3