Gajeel toppled over backwards, hand clutched around his gaping side. His vision began to swim but he shook his head, trying to clear it. Embriora lashed forward again, and Gajeel was feeling sluggish, and he couldn't seem to move his body from the floor. He needn't worry, however, as an angry battle cry echoed in the clouded room. Juvia burst forth from the steam, a look of fury plastered onto her face. Water covered her hands like blades, and it only took one swift hit to the womans chest to finally take her down. Juvia stood there panting, holding her own gaping wound on her shoulder. She was also covered in burns, and looked like she was ready to collapse.
She staggered towards Gajeel and fell to her knees beside him, quickly putting her hands on the wound. "We gotta go..." Gajeel coughed, wincing as Juvia tied bits of cloth around his middle. "Avery?" She asked as she helped him sit up. "Erza and Levy have her..." Juvia tried to help him stand, but he nearly doubled over in pain. Lily appeared out of the steam and helped Juvia walk him out of the room. The tower, which had slowly been rumbling, gave a violent shake, before slowly tipping. "We won't make it!" Juvia panicked slightly. Lily grabbed a hold of both mages, using the last bit of magic he had to fly them through the halls.
Outside, the group of Fairy Tail mages and children were watching from a safe distance, as the tower began to tip away from them. They could just make out the sound of Natsu going smash happy at the base of the tower. "They'll be ok... Right?" Avery asked nervously, looking up at Erza. The armor mage pat her head gently, not missing how she flinched slightly. "They will be just fine." She gave her an encouraging smile. They watched, and just as the tower tipped to the point of no return, a black shape shot out from one of the windows. The tower collapsed into the desert sand, damp from Juvias angry storm. The watched as the black shape lowered to the group, simply dropping like dead weight once it was close enough to the ground.
"Charlie!" Wendy called. The white exceed picked up the small girl and raced her forward, their friends close behind. Charlie dropped Wendy to her feet once they had arrived Juvia, Lily and Gajeel. She knelt next to Juvia but the rain woman pushed her away. "Help Gajeel first." She demanded. Wendy nodded, gasping slightly when she caught sight of the wound in his side and the massive burns. Wendy put her hands on his bloody side, he tried not to flinch, and began healing him. By this time the others had arrived. "Dad!" Avery shouted, falling to her knees beside her father. Gajeel smiled weakly up at her, "Hey squirt."
Avery sniffed as she looked at him, more tears in her eyes. Gajeel gently pat her head, "Hey, no tears. Wendys good, I'll be fine in no time." Even as he said it, Wendy sat back, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I took care of all the major damage, but I'm a little low on power. You'll have to heal from the bruises and burns yourself until I'm back on my feet." The small slayer said as she moved to stop the bleeding on Juvias shoulder. Gajeel sat up, wincing only slightly at his sore muscles. He smiled at Avery before pulling her into his lap, holding her tight. Avery shook slightly as she clung to his shirt, silently crying into his chest. The other mages smiled softly at the sight, and Gajeel paid them no mind as he gently rubbed her back.
"Hey look. The calvary has arrived." Gray called, pointing to the horizon. The others looked to see guards from the council arriving at the newly uncovered train station. "Little late for the party." Natsu said as he finally rejoined the group, Happy floating near by. "I'm just ready to go home. Or at least to a hotel. I need a bath!" Lucy whined, and Gajeel noticed for the first time she was covered in ash and smelt like smoke. "Juvia agrees." She said as she stood, with the help of Gray. Gajeel finally stood, still cradling Avery to his chest. "Let's get going then."
{Two options. 1. The next chapter is the last. 2. There will be several more chapters, daddy/daughter bonding, how Avery is adjusting after her horrors, and Avery trying to hook her dad up*cough cough* gale *cough* you guys pick!}
