Melting an Iron Heart [Gale] {The Fairy Tail Love Chronicles; Book 1}

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hano and Makarov were easy to find, thanks to the old geezer’s huge body. Gajeel could see how angry Makarov was, and almost felt bad for Hano. Gajeel ran into their fight, plan-less as usual.

“Gajeel, what are you doing?” Makarov demanded, blocking an attack from Hano.

“I can handle this bastard, you should go help everyone else,” Gajeel told him.

“You cocky--”

“Levy needs to be taken to Porlyusica's,” Gajeel interrupted, sending Makarov a pleading look. He hated asking for help, but he trusted Makarov, and knew he would do what he could for Levy.

“Damned brat,” Makarov mumbled, allowing Gajeel to take over.

He watched as the master ran into the battle. He then turned attention to Hano, who looked angry that Gajeel had taken out Himiko. “It'll be over soon,” Gajeel said to Hano. “I can't believe an old man like you would be behind all of this.”

“Himiko and Levy did their jobs well, keeping the attention off of me.” He chuckled when Gajeel tried to punch him, dodging the fist easily. “You're getting sloppy, dragon slayer. If you'd calm down you may be able to fight better.”

“Shut up! How do I help Levy?”

“She is beyond the point of help,” Hano shrugged, completely indifferent to the life he had stolen. “If I'm lucky, she'll become a good replacement for Himiko—no thanks to you.”

“To hell she will!” He spat, casting Iron Dragon's Sword once more and attacking Hano. “There has to be an antidote, so tell me what it is!” Gajeel's wound had begun hurting, and small trickles of blood ran down his torso. I need to end this while I can still stand!

“Sorry, but there is no antidote for this stage of the poison. If you had caught it about two weeks ago, you may have been able to save her. It's too bad you didn't pay closer attention to the poor girl, considering she was living in your house. Your ignorance made her such an easy target—not to mention how easily we fooled you into letting your guard down around her.”

Gajeel knew that Hano was just screwing with him—trying to make him angry—but he couldn't help but shaking with fury. I know that I should have caught on to something being wrong sooner, but I didn't. It's my fault that Levy's in this mess, so I have to find a way to help her!

“No words, dragon slayer?” Hano taunted. “Not even any excuses for why you failed, and let Levy die?”

In response, Gajeel shouted, lashing out in fury. After several minutes of Hano blocking his every attack, he finally left an opening. Gajeel didn't think before taking the opportunity to strike. I'll probably only get one shot at this. I was in bad shape before, so I can't risk losing much more blood than this. Gajeel's sword-arm found Hano, leaving a large cut from his left shoulder blade, all the way down to his right hip.

“Tell me what to do to reverse your damned spell!” Gajeel grabbed the man by his tattered shirt—no longer concerned about their fight now that Hano had a debilitating injury.

“It's all up to that girl, now. The poison has traveled throughout her entire bloodstream, so she has to be the one to fight it off. Though, I must warn you that no one has ever survived longer than a month after being exposed—no matter how hard they fight against the poison.” Cursing, Gajeel threw Hano to the ground. Glancing around the guild, he saw that the battle was beginning to come to its end. Once the members of Elite Helix had spotted their defeated master on the ground, most of them took off. The ones who chose to stay were immediately defeated and tied up along with Hano.

Gajeel found Makarov kneeling on the floor next to Levy. Bending over her was an exhausted Wendy, obviously trying her hardest to help. “I'm sorry,” Wendy said, tears filling her eyes, “there's nothing I can do. I though that, since it was poison, I could heal Levy the same way I did Erza after she fought Cobra, but I was wrong. This is strange. It's like the poison fused with her blood, and there's no way of removing it without killing Levy in the process.”

“Porlyusica might be able to help,” Makarov said, not sounding very convincing. “Gajeel, get Levy and follow me.”

As gently as he could, Gajeel picked Levy up off the floor, cringing when she groaned. “Let's hurry. She isn't breathing all too well.” Gajeel rushed after Makarov, not sure how many of the other guild members followed them. The only thing his mind could focus on was the shallow breaths Levy struggled to take. Levy, don't die!

When they arrived at Porlyusica's, she gave them the news that Gajeel had been dreading to hear. “There's nothing I can do for her now. She must fight this battle on her own. All we can do now, is wait.” Gajeel stared down at Levy's unconscious body, reaching his own limit. I have to get heal up. If I'm still pitiful-looking when Levy wakes up, she'll just feel bad. When she woke up. Gajeel refused to think that she wouldn't make it. That shrimp is the most stubborn person I know. Something like this won't kill her.

The end of Chapter 25!! Thanks for reading!! The next chapter will be the FINAL CHAPTER!! :O