The Reason

Danger In The Castle

Gajeel's P.O.V

Levy and I danced almost all night, but after a few spins, I picked her up bridal style and carried her to the balcony. She giggled uncontrollably, and it was the cutest damn thing I had ever heard.

I set her down on the stone seat, and sat down beside her. The moon was full and provided plenty of light, and her beauty was even more radiant in the soft moonlight.

"Shrimp, if you want, you could stay here forever, and be free to go wherever you want, as long as I know for a fact that you're safe. I don't want to chance losing you, and also, if you wanted, the old man could come and stay here with us, it wouldn't be a problem.

"Gajeel...... I would love to.

"I have something for you."

I pulled out the mirror I had hidden in my overcoat back pocket, and put it lightly in her hands. She looked up at me with awe in her eyes.

"It's a magic mirror, you just say a name, and it'll show you where they are.

"Really?

"Yeah, go ahead and try it.

"Alright, show me Makarov."

The mirror swirled with lime green light, and what it showed next was horrifying.

He was stumbling in the snow, carrying a dying lamp. He was coughing, with only a ragged cloak to keep the cold from biting him. He fell, and the flame of the lamp died.

"OH my god! I've got to help him, I've got to go, Gajeel I ne-

"Go, just go. Go help him, take care of him. You're free to go. He needs you, you can leave Levy. You don't have to stay.

"Thank you Gajeel, I'll be back, as soon as he's able to make the trip here safely. I promise.

"I'll hold you to that."

She ran as fast as she could, and got Phillip. She rode out of the gates, a single glance back at me. And then she was gone. I felt my heart sink to my stomach.

"Why'd you do it? Why'd you let her go?

"Would she have loved me had I kept her here forever by force, kept her like a prisoner and let the one man she cared a smidge about die out in the cold? Would she be capable of loving me, knowing that it was my fault that he died, that his cold blood was on my filthy paws? No, I don't think so. It was better to let her go.

"But what about-

"FUCK THE CURSE NATSU!!! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF I'M LIKE THIS FOR THE REST OF MY PATHETIC LIFE, JUST AS LONG AS SHE'S HAPPY!!! Just, just as long as she's ok, and happy..... I'd hate myself if I were the cause of her suffering..... I'm sorry Natsu, I'm sorry I dragged you and Grey into this shit storm.... It shouldn't have been this way, Wendy and Porlyushca, none of you should have to share my punishment...

"Honestly, I'm fine with this. We'll weather this shit storm with you, that's how we are. You do realize your stuck with us for the rest of your non-pathetic life dumbass.

"Non-pathetic? That's a new one, Flamebrain.

"Do you want to be alone for a while, or would you like to tear shit up out in the woods?

"Leave me alone for a while, I don't feel like training....

"Alright."

NORMAL P.O.V.

As Levy was running out of the castle, no one noticed little Wendy sneak out of the house and bury herself in Levy's bag. The ride was bumpy, but it would be worth the risk to the little healer.