Brain and Brawn

Chapter Twelve: Forgiveness

Gajeel growled after taking Viktor's hand, pulled him closer, grabbed his throat, and pinned him against the wall. "Yeah I want to be able to do that old man," he said, "but magic like that is never free." Viktor's smiled gave away that Gajeel was right. "So what's the catch?"

"There's an additional price to opening this door," Viktor explained. "You see the grooves on the ground that lead to the door and go under it?" Gajeel look down at the ground and followed the grooves to the door. "I need blood to open that door but it can't be just anybody's blood. I need the blood of someone who is pure at heart. Someone who would, say forgive the man who attacked her?"

Gajeel's eyes got wide as he realized what the old mans angle was. To his right Viktor's accomplice had disappeared into the shadows she had come out of. He dropped the old man and grabbed Levy just in time to move her away from the dagger that pierced through the darkness.

"Shadow magic!" Levy yelled.

"Lily keep an eye on the old man," Gajeel ordered. His partner took out his sword and cornered Viktor who didn't look to happy about being pinned again. "I've got this one."

"How are you-?" Levy started but stopped when she remembered what he could do.

Next to her Gajeel's scales began to appear, shadow-like tendrils began come off him like smoke, and his red eyes turned completely black. "You've been trying to kill something that means everything to me since we got here," his growl had gotten more menacing, "and I'm getting really sick of it." He faded into the shadows where Levy lost sight of him. "You're not the first shadow Mage I've fought lady!"

Levy tried to keep her eyes on the darting shadows but it was hard in the dark cave since the only real light came from her Solid Script. As the two shadows fought Viktor began laughing in his corner.

"Try all you like dragon slayer but I will get what I want!" He shouted deliriously.

Suddenly the woman Gajeel was fighting was thrown out of her shadow and into the wall. Gajeel slowly emerged from his shadow.

"Look I understand why you want to do this," he said as his scales disappeared, "but you plan on hurting Levy to do so and I can't allow that." He picked up Viktor by his cloak.
    
Viktor smirked at Gajeel. "You've already lost dragon slayer."
    
"Gajeel..." a faint voice behind him made Gajeel's blood turn cold.
    
He slowly turned around and froze as he saw Levy with a dagger in her stomach. "LEVY!" Gajeel cried in agony and caught her as she fell. He quickly removed the dagger and put pressure on the wound. "How did this happen?" He asked as tears fell down his face.
    
"My magic is telekinesis," Viktor answered. "While you were busy with your fight and your cat was busy guarding me you left her wide open." Levy's blood flooded under the door and Viktor pushed past a shaking Lily. He took off his necklace and placed it in the key hole. "And now I can finally get my family back."
    
The door opened, revealing a large room with several stone coffins and scattered artifacts around. Viktor walked up to the center coffin and flicked his hand, causing the top to fly off. He reached in and grabbed a jade idol in the shape of a griffin. He began speaking in ancient Fiorian but before he could finish his incantation an iron club smashed into the side of his face. Viktor crashed into the wall but scrambled up out of the rubble.
    
Gajeel stalked into the room, his eyes red from the tears that still poured down his face. "Take care of her Lily," he whispered. The Exceed was already rummaging through Levy's first aid kit. "It took me a long time to be able to forgive myself for what I did to her all that time ago," Gajeel growled, "and I wish I could change the past."

Viktor held out the idol. "You can Gajeel. You can change the past and create one where both of us can be happy."

Gajeel paused for a moment then reached out and grabbed the idol from Viktor. He stared at it for a moment and it gave him a glimpse of a future where he didn't attack Fairy Tail. "Yeah but you see the problem with that is if I didn't mess up so much in past I wouldn't be the man I am today. I'd still be in Phantom and I wouldn't have Levy or Lily." He looked up at Viktor and smiled sadly. "It showed me my future if I changed it. And it showed me yours. I'm sorry but there isn't a way to save your family."
    
Viktor slammed his fist on a nearby coffin. "No!" He screamed. "I'll be with them again. They would've wanted me to do this! I did it for them! I-" Viktors eyes went blank and blood spurted from his mouth as he coughed.
    
Gajeel removed his iron sword from Viktor's chest and sighed. He threw the idol on the floor and shattered it then walked back over to Levy who Lily had medicated and bandaged. She was pale but breathing. Gajeel picked her up in his arms and brushed her hair from her face. "They wouldn't have wanted you to do this Viktor. I'm sorry but at least now you're with your family. Please, forgive me..."

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When Levy woke she was blinded by a bright light. An infirmary? She winced as she tried to sit up and lifted her blanket to find her torso bandaged. The last thing she remembered was a sharp pain and Gajeel screaming.
    
"Gajeel!" She looked around frantically for him and then noticed heavy breathing to her left. He was sitting in a chair that he pulled up to her bed, he had ahold of her hand, and his head rested on the bed. She smiled at him and poked at his face. He grunted and slowly opened his eyes. "Good morning Gajeel."
    
His eyes watered and he smiled at her. "Good morning Shrimp," his voice shook and he wrapped her in his arms.
    
"Um Gajeel...ouch," Levy groaned.
    
He quickly released her as Lily entered the room. His hand was on his sword hilt and he was in full battle form. Levy could only guess he was guarding the door. His guard dropped and he grinned. "You're awake. How do you feel?"
    
Levy moved around a bit. "A little sore but other wise okay. Where are we?"
    
"I said let me through!" A familiar voice cried from outside the door. Suddenly Lucy came crashing through the door and flung herself onto Levy's bed, crying like a two year old. "Levy! I'm so glad you're okay!" She sobbed.
    
Gajeel laughed as Levy hugged her best friend. "We're home."

Authors Note: I know these chapters are taking a bit longer to update. I'm in the process of writing a story of my own creation that I will begin uploading here after this one. The final chapter is next. Gajeel, Levy, and Lily return to the guild and get the chance to fill their friends in on their adventure.