Bookworm And The Dragon {GaLe}

Chapter Three: Bad Luck

Levy snapped back to what she had thought was reality, standing in the middle of the busy Town Square. She blinked, looking around as she tried to think back to when she had left the Guild Hall. Wasn't she just talking with Jet and Droy? That was the last thing she remembered.

Curiously, she started walking back towards the Guild, confused as her surroundings seemed a little different than what she was used to. At least, the glances she was getting from the people around her were different. It made the small girl slightly suspicious, and those suspicions were confirmed after bumping into the lady from the flower shop.

"I-I'm sorry I was lost in thought and wasn't looking where I was going." Levy tried to explain but the usually nice lady gave her a cold look.

"Maybe you shouldn't think so much, Strange Girl." Then she turned away, leaving Levy to gape after her. Levy passed her every day on her way to the guild and she had always greeted her with a smile and asked her how she was doing. She had always been a nice person. Until now.

With an annoyed "Hmph!" Levy continued her walk to the guild, walking faster with every confused, cold glance thrown her way. Has she always been the center of attention in town? It was like they had never seen her before, like she was a foreign object they didn't understand.

It made her feel extremely uneasy.

That uneasiness only grew as she rounded the corner, hoping to find the Guild in sight, only to see a similar building, but not Fairy Tail. It was just a Pub! And from the looks of it, a popular one. People came in and out, some sober and some hopelessly drunk to the point of wobbling down the street past her laughing at nothing.

Panicked and confused, she found enough confidence to make her way into the building, her nose scrunching at the smell of cigarette smoke and heavy booze mixing together. She saw Mira, normal smiling Mirajane and instantly made her way to her as she served a customer. "Mira! I'm so relieved to see you!"

Mira turned to her and her smile fell into a surprised look, as if it was uncommon for Levy to be there. "Can I help you, Miss?"

Levy blinked, frowning. Miss? "Could you tell me why the Guild is a-" She was cut off by a man yelling for Mira's presence with a beer, in which Mira called back she was on her way.

"Sorry, I'll be right back." She offered a small smile, one nothing like the bright one that Levy was used to being greeted with.

Suddenly she was left alone and her nerves skyrocketed. What was going on?

"Oh, why if it isn't Levy Mcgarden."

Relieved to hear her name being called, she turned around quickly to smile up at whoever it was, and was happy to find a familiar face. "Laxus!"

He gave her a smirk as he sat in the tall stool next to where she was standing at the bar. She briefly noticed Freed sit on the other side of him, but was brought back to Laxus as he leaned closer to her. She blinked, suddenly noticing a strange look in his eyes. "What a rare sight! Seeing a Beauty like you in a place like this. Were you that eager to come find me? Maybe even finally accept my offer?"

Her smile that was filled with excitement of finally finding a familiar face quickly fell. Levy had never felt uncomfortable around Laxus before. Even when he had gone slightly ballistic and almost hit her with lightning, she had never felt uncomfortable. Afraid maybe, but not this kind of uneasiness. This wasn't like him. It was like he was almost flirting with her, and it was throwing her off. She leaned away as he tried to get closer to her face, gulping. "O-Offer?"

He laughed, throwing his head back in a very un-Laxus like way. "You couldn't have forgotten! Playing hard to get just makes me want you more."

He leaned even closer as Levy took a small step back. "W-What are you-?"

He grabbed her wrist so she couldn't get away just yet, his smirk grew and she locked eyes with him, unable to keep the gasp from escaping as she recognized a hint of lust in them. "For you to make me the happiest man alive by marrying me of course!"

She jerked her hand away from his grasp. His arm stretched out making his unbuttoned jacket reveal his bare chest. A bare chest without a tattoo. And without a guildmark. Her eyes widened with a mixture of shock and fear. They quickly flickered to Freed's hand, where again there was no mark. She took another step back. "Y-Y-You're not-!"

The blonde went to stand but she bolted, using her small body to dodge through the crowded Bar and streets. She might have ran into a person or two, but she didn't care.

She needed to get away from this place. This wasn't Magnolia, and that wasn't her guild or her guildmates.

So she ran as fast and as far as her feet would take her. When she finally stopped to try and remember how to breathe, she looked around to find herself in the woods. Some very dark and suddenly very chilly woods. "W-Where am I?"

She started walking deeper into the forest, her curiosity getting the better of her. Of course, anywhere was better than being in that town full of fakes and strangers.

The farther she walked, the denser and colder it became. Suddenly, it started to snow. She blinked up, unable to see the sun through the thick dark clouds and tree branches.

A howl was heard behind her and she froze, slowly turning her head in fear. It sounded like it had come from right behind her, and unfortunately, a wolf glared down at her from atop a snowy cliff. Suddenly two more wolves came up next to the first one, their growls sticking to her ears. This just wasn't her day...

Before they could jump, she turned and ran, barely able to scream as loud as she could as tears collected in her eyes. They gave her chase as she heard their paws crunch their way through the snow. Her heart was in her throat as she glanced behind her. Not her brightest move, as she tripped and slid down another steep hill, scraping her arm enough for it to bleed. She grunted as her back harshly hit a tree, blood trailing down her arm into her lap.

Her gaze was fuzzy and she was beyond panicked at this point. The wolves started to circle her. Slowly, she put her two fingers together, ready to use a spell when her eyes widened.

There was no magic power. Not even a little.

Terrified, she glanced back up at the wolves, not ready to die yet. She had too much to say. She had something to tell someone first. If she died now she'd never see him again.

She'd leave him all alone.

Tears trailed down her face as one of the wolves jumped. She closed her eyes and screamed, not hearing her name being called. She knew she would ever be prepared for the pain that was sure to follow.

However it never came.

Levy only managed to peek one eye open. Her body was hot, her heart was far past a safe speed, her stomach so tight that she wasn't able to speak or breathe. With all of those things happening to her small body at once, she could only make out a dark blur standing protectively in front of her. It growled, but it sounded nothing like a wolf.

Her eyes slipped closed and only one thought made it through her head before she slipped into unconsciousness.

It sounded like a Dragon.