[Ink x Iron] A Gajeel x Levy Fanfiction Pt. 5

Chapter Five: Who’s Past Will Be Their Downfall?

“I’m surprised you didn’t you go with them,” Raina Skyraider asked, curiously looking down at the small black cat.

“The mountain had a rune barrier. Most likely to keep animals from wandering in,” Pantherlily replied, crossing his arms.

“Oh, I see,” she held her hand up to block the sun, “what are you going to do now? Sit around and wait?”

“No, I’m going to see if there’s another way in,” wings appeared on his back, “hopefully at the top of the mountain. I can’t have Gajeel thinking I’m slacking off.”

With that, Pantherlily took of into the air without a backwards glance. He flew as far as his wings would take him, until he finally found a small clearing near the top of the mountain. A small cave was off to the side. He landed with ease, and cautiously walked to the cave’s entrance.

“You know, you can’t enter unless you’re a human,” a voice spoke behind him.

Pantherlily’s hand quickly moved to the handle of his Bustermarm Sword, and he turned to face the speaker just as quickly. Expecting to see a human, he was surprised to find a small grey female Exceed hovering a few feet away from him. She had a splash of white on her forehead, and her eyes were the same color as Carla’s. Pantherlily was shocked at seeing another Exceed, he couldn’t find words.

“I wanted to get inside too,” she smiled sadly at him, “that’s how I figured out you have to be a human.”

“Why did you want to get inside?” he asked, not moving his paw from his sword.

“I’m surprised you don’t recognize me, Lily,” she blinked down at him, ignoring his question.

“You know my name?”

“You’re apart of Fairy Tail, right? I think I remember reading that somewhere..well, it doesn’t matter, does it? You know, I’m so proud of you. You did exactly what I asked. I never thought I’d live long enough to see you again,” tears welled at the corners of her brown eyes.

“You must have me confused with someone else..” Lily finally removed his hand from his sword.

Her eyes grew sad, “I knew you wouldn’t remember..I hope you don’t remember. It would be the best for both of us,” her ears suddenly flicked to the side, “I shouldn’t have talked to you, she’s mad now. I have to go.”

“Wait a minute!” Pantherlily stepped forward, “who are you?”

She smiled, “I’m Rain.”

A searing pain pulsed through the scar above Pantherlily’s eye. He doubled over, grabbing his eye. He gasped for air, the pain steadily growing worse. He closed his eyes in attempt to block out the pain, but behind his eyelids, memories started to play.

He was standing in the forest of Edolas, it was storming hard. He wasn’t afraid of the storm. Instead he was angry and confused. His burlap sack was thrown to the ground beside him, and he was staring up into the rainy sky.

“Rain..”

* *

Levy silently followed behind Gajeel as they walked through the opening of the bookshelves. The hallway they entered was exactly like the one they had gone through before. This hallway, however, was colder, and most of the torches were still lit.

It was creepy, but Levy felt a lot safer by Gajeel’s side. Safe? She internally laughed at herself. Who had ever felt safe standing next to Gajeel?

‘Obviously you did,’ the voice in her head smirked, ‘And you seemed pretty alright with his fingers being in--’

She quickly shut down that thought, feeling herself turn a bright shade of red. Why was she thinking about her wet dream now? She had tried so hard to push those thoughts to the back of her mind, but, to no avail. Behind her eyes, she could see the look in his eyes, the danger, the warning. She shook her head, trying to make the images go away. While wrapped up in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed Gajeel had stopped.

“Oof!” she bumped into him.

“You have a really bad habit of running into people, huh shrimp?” he turned slightly, giving her a small grin.

“I-I’m sorry,” she stuttered.

“Don’t worry about it, look,” he stepped aside. Beyond him on the floor, were words. They were glowing blue, also in Ancient Ermong. Levy’s eyes immediately began deciphering it.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall,
who’s the careless of them all?
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
who’s past will be their downfall?
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Will they survive, if at all?” she read slowly aloud, “well, that’s not very specific..” she stood up.

“Neither was the last one,” Gajeel muttered.

“It was solvable, but this one...”

“Let’s just go,” he roughly grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

“Wait, Gajeel!” she protested, trying to pull her arm back.

He pulled her into the middle of the cave. He looked back, realizing how rough he had been, and let go. Levy was still pulling away, his sudden release caused her to fall back, hard. His hand shot out, in attempt to catch her, but instead of flesh, his hand came into contact with a transparent wall. He watched helplessly as she rolled to a stop on the hard ground.

“Levy!” he yelled, slamming his fist on the invisible wall.

* *

Levy slowly opened her eyes. Her body ached, especially her head. She slowly tested the rest of her body, moving every part slowly, making sure nothing was broken. She was bruised in several places, but nothing serious.

She blinked, and slowly looked around. She was surrounded by mirrors. Mirrors on the floor, on the walls, and even on the ceiling. She gazed in wonder, was this real? No, she thought, none of the mirrors showed her as she was now. Instead, they all had a different image of her. One when she was eleven, one when she was five, they seemed to have one from every age. The eleven year old version of her moved to stand up. She looked Levy in the eyes, and opened her eyes.

“Weak,” she said. Another version of Levy stood up.

“Unwanted,” she spoke. Another stood, then another.

“Not good enough!” one yelled.

“You call yourself a wizard?” another laughed.

The words started out defined, Levy could understand what was being said. Soon, the words started to blur together. They became unrecognizable. They blurred into screaming sentences.

“YOU CALL YOURSELF A WIZARD?” they screeched. Levy attempted to use her Solid Script Magic, writing the word ‘silence’. It didn’t work.

“WEAK!” the screams grew louder.

Levy clapped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the words. The screams only grew louder. Now, she could recognize who the voices belonged too. Lu-chan, Jet, Droy, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Wendy, even Happy and Carla.

“Stop!” she yelled, feeling tears fill her eyes, “STOP IT!” she screamed, falling to her knees, pressing her hands harder to her skull, “stop, please,” she whispered to the ground, feeling her tears fall.

* *

“Roar of the Iron Dragon!” Gajeel yelled, releasing his breath attack against the invisible wall. He had been trying to break through the wall for hours, draining over half of his magic as a cost. Yet still, nothing had worked. A fear was growing in the back of his mind. Fear that Levy had seriously hurt herself, for she hadn’t moved in hours. He pressed his sweaty forehead against the invisible barrier, he was breathing hard.

With his eyes still on Levy, he prepared to attack again. Movement caused him to stop. She sat up slightly, he gritted his teeth, she was fine after all. He watched as she made sure her body was fine. He saw her look around, and watched as her eyes grew wide in amazement. The amazement was soon replaced by horror. Gajeel watched helplessly, as she clapped her hands over her ears, and fell to her knees. He saw tears form in her eyes. Then his blood ran cold. She was screaming.

“Levy!” he yelled, feeling something break within himself.

She slowly opened her eyes, and looked to where he had called her name. Tears  left tracks on her cheeks, her eyes were puffy and red. Another fit of screams ripped through her body, Gajeel hissed at the sight of seeing her in pain.

“Levy! Follow my voice!” he yelled to her, slamming his palms agains the invisible barrier. She opened her eyes again, looking to where Gajeel had yelled.

“Gajeel?” the words were inaudible, but he knew she had said his name. Gajeel watched as she shakily rose to her feet. Another scream rippled through her body as she stumbled forward.

“Just a few more steps, Levy, just a few more,” he yelled, hitting the wall with impatience.

She took the last few shaky steps, and fell against the wall. It melted at her touch. Gajeel caught her, and pulled her into an embrace.

“I’ve got you, shrimp, I’ve got you,” he murmured, holding her close. Levy sobbed into his shirt, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Don’t leave me,” she cried, clinging to him.

“I’m right here, Levy. I’m not going anywhere,” he said as he slowly stroked her blue hair.