Dragon Mating Season

On a war path

Third, they will become protective.

{EMERY'S POV}
What's going on? This fake kidnapping was supposed to bring them closer together, not further apart! We can't get near the dragon slayers while they're in their fit of rage, so we have to focus on bringing the girls over to them. Or else they won't get to phases four and five.

One thing I didn't put in the book is that if they don't move past phase three within three days, their new powers won't settle into their bodies and they'll be consumed by their magic. We have to hurry.

{LEVY'S POV}
I hope Gajeel isn't mad. Emery and Misaki were all over us as soon as we ran off the train. Misaki said she was tracking the dragon slayers, and they were apparently heading to another town on the train line, Haumaforte, in a rage. Then she swept all of us up in a snow cloud, so now we're flying east at break neck speeds. I'm freezing to death, so Mira, Lu-chan, and I huddle together for warmth.

"S-So c-c-cold." Mira's teeth chitter.

"We kn-know." Lu-chan and I respond in unison. Lucky Emery doesn't seem affected at all by the high altitude or icy winds, perhaps because of who his mate is. Misaki looks quite impressive, her body glowing white in the center of the cloud we're traveling on. She looks ethereal.

"Look!" Emery points to the ground suddenly. The three of us peer over the edge of the snow cloud. The view, as if I can see the whole world, would be breathtaking, except for a path of destruction right through the middle of it. The path is weaving, completely random, like a tornado's path, and in the wreckage I can make out iron spikes jutting from the ground, with electricity jumping from spike to spike in between burning trees.

I have a sinking feeling in my gut, and, sharing a look with the other girls, I think I know what caused the destruction. The boys. Soon we spot them, three streaks of light, a three part rainbow of red, yellow, and grey, carving the ground in half.

Yup, he's mad.

Misaki brings her cloud just low enough that we can make out their figures. I'm drawn to the grey streak. All three dragon slayers have entered dragon force, and Gajeel's skin is completely covered in iron scales as black as his hair. His eyes glow purple.

"What is that?" Lu-chan lets out a breath in awe of the seemingly endless rage and power they exude. I can't help but echo her amazement.

"That," Misaki responds, hair whipping in her face and teeth frighteningly canine, "is phase three."

The town of Haumaforte is now in sight. It's small, quaint, and about to be totally annihilated. Gajeel and the others barrel straight towards it, on a war path. I can't help but worry what they'll do. I can feel their oppressive killing intent, even from all the way up here in the sky.

Thinking the same thing I am, Mira turns to face Misaki and Emery. "How do we get them to stop?" I shuffle around to see their response. Emery smirks deviously, and I get a bad feeling.

"We give them what they want. You." He says calmly. A second later, the snow cloud disappears out from under us. I feel gravity kick in, and a scream is torn from my throat as I plummet.

{GAJEEL'S POV}
I freeze in my tracks when I hear a painfully familiar scream. It's mingled with other screaming, but there's only one that I care about: Shrimp. I look around frantically, noting that Salamander and Laxus are doing the same.

I sniff the air, catch her scent and follow it with my eyes. My vision tunnels to where Shrimp falls through the sky. With no second thought, I rush to save my Shrimp. My mate.

{LUCY'S POV}
I'm not a stranger to falling from the sky, as sad as that sounds. That doesn't stop me from screaming though, and that's exactly what I do as I watch the ground get closer and closer. I squeeze my eyes shut, and then everything's gone. The cold, the wind, the feeling of falling. I open my eyes.

True to form, just like I'm not a stranger to falling from the sky, Natsu always catches me. He did when I escaped Phantom's tower prison, and again after I separated myself from the Clock. And now. He's caught me easily, and carries me bridal style as the impressive pilar of fire he stands on brings us gently back down to the ground.

I can't help but start crying uncontrollably as I throw my arms around him. I feel his arms move to wrap around my waist as well as he sets my feet gently on the fire pilar. Surprisingly, it doesn't burn at all.

"I was so scared!" I choke out between sobs. His face is buried in the crook of my neck, as he breathes in my scent. I'd usually think that was pretty weird, but now I think it's sweet.

"Luce," I can barely hear his whisper, because his voice is muffled by my skin. "I will never let anyone scare or hurt or touch you ever again."

That might be a little overboard, but hey, it's Natsu. He's known for going overboard. I nod, smiling and biting my lip, my face bright red. "I know that. Thank you for saving me, Natsu."