The hallway was unusually chilly, which had Levy wishing she had grabbed her cloak or that she had at least worn a more appropriate dress. Using her hands to rub warmth into her arms she continued her walk, the sound of her heels clacking against the marble floor. A sullen looking castle guard was stationed outside the door and Levy paid him no mind as she knocked once before opening the door and stepping inside.

"You called for me?"

The door shut behind her as she strolled into the room, the temperature in Acnologia's study was even colder than the hallway. Skimming her eyes around the room she finally settled them on Acnologia himself, who was currently leaning against the far wall flipping through a tome.

Slamming the book shut and placing it on the table next to him, the warlord glared across the room at her. "I was starting to get impatient. What took you so long, plotting another escape?"

Levy huffed. "Did you call me here only to berate me again or is there something you actually need?"

Levy watched as he crossed the room with a scowl on his face. Roughly gripping her chin and forcing her to face him he spat back, "Mind that tongue of yours."

Releasing her chin he stroked a finger down her cheek, "Or would you enjoy having this side match the other?"

Levy glowered at the man as she reached up to touch the cheek he wasn't currently stroking. That side of her face still stung from the hit she had received upon her return two days prior.

After he had unleashed his verbal wrath upon her for her escape, he concluded with a slap across her face, and banished her to his quarters. He hadn't returned that night nor the next, and Levy was unsure if she truly wanted to know where the man had been staying.

"You've barely spoken to me since your return," he said as he released her face and took a few steps back. "Did you really think I was going to just let you live happily ever after with that prince? My dear, you belong to me. No one else but me."

Crossing her arms over herself she held her chin high. "I belong to no one."

Acnologia snickered. "Don't lie to yourself, my dear. Does he know?"

"Does who know what, exactly?"

Levy's eyes followed the giant of a man as he circled her, shaking his head.

"So defiant," he crooned as he came in close to her neck, his hot breath leaving unwanted chills on her skin. "Does our dear prince know his lost love belongs to another man?"

"He knows I'm with you."

"But does he know how you belong to me?"

Levy turned around, he was at her back now, and faced him. "No, he does not. To be honest, I had intended to tell him but, things happened." Meeting his gaze, she continued, "Now tell me, does anyone here know what you have done? What taboo you have played with, and sealed your fate in the lowest possible way by committing?"

Levy already knew the answer; only two. Yukino and Pantherlily. One she had told herself during one of her weakest moments, and the other had been forced to help against his will. Acnologia's mouth opened to answer her, but a roar pierced through the chamber, rattling the windows and shattering a glass vase across the room.

"It seems my attention is needed elsewhere. Care to join me?" The tyrant didn't give her the chance to answer, instead strolling forward and ushering her alongside him with a hand at the small of her back.

The two guards stationed outside the door didn't flinch as the two exited the study, simply remaining at their assigned post. It wasn't until the two of them began their trek down the winding staircase to the depths below that they were flanked by four new guards; two at their front and two at their back.

Descending into the room below Levy felt the temperature skyrocket. If the upper floors of the castle had been bitterly cold, down here it was stifling hot. But despite the heat, Levy noted Acnologia did not remove his cloak. He never did when he was in the presence of others, only when he was within the confines of his quarters, or in attendance with Cobra or herself did he ever allow himself to be seen without the article of clothing. It was because of his arm, or lack thereof, that he kept his cloak on. It was a weakness he refused to be seen with or acknowledge.

Mid snarl the beast halted its roaring, nostrils flaring widely as it whipped its head around in the direction Levy had just entered from. Acnologia smirked at the notion, eyeing the woman on his arm, then returning to the beast. The dragon's molten eyes never left Levy, but the beast was more than well aware of its surroundings. Though its sight may not have been on the man beside her, its senses were on very high alert.

"What are you planning to do with the dragon?" Levy questioned softly, her eyes trailing over the massive beast and the locks and chains holding him hostage. "Why keep him shackled and entrapped here?"

"Once upon a time I would have shared that knowledge with you," he replied, looking down his nose at her. "Now, I'm not sure where your loyalties lie, and you must forgive me, but I shall be keeping that information disclosed."

Acnologia released his hold on her he moved across the room, the dragon diverting its attention from Levy towards him.

"I have a… plan, for him. He serves a certain purpose to me and the complete control over this miserable kingdom. And if I've already damned myself with one taboo," he turned his head to look back at Levy, smiled at her frown, and turned to face the dragon once more. "I might as well commit another."

Levy's heart squeezed as she watched the dragon eye a guard who had stepped too close. She felt a hint of sadness for the lives that had been lost due to the dragons capture, but she couldn't blame the beast - it wasn't his fault he was chained and imprisoned. Even still, she didn't care to watch another foolish soldier carelessly get too close and gamble with his life. Turning around she headed back towards the stairs.

"Where might you be going, my dear?"

Levy stopped and turned her head enough for her words to carry. "Back to our chambers. I find no fulfillment in watching the torture of this animal and the lack of sense from your soldiers expressed in its presence."

"Don't wait up."

Picking up her skirts she continued forward, gliding up the winding stairwell. Upon reaching the top of the landing, she noticed the lack of usual guards too late, and quickly found herself with her back held against the front of a strong body. Suddenly there was a hand over her mouth and a knife to her throat.

"We need to talk."

She recognized the voice as Sting. Swallowing hard she nodded as her nostrils flared for air and her throat bobbed against the edge of the blade. Removing the hand from her mouth, but only after a threat for her to remain quiet, he gripped her hands behind her back and guided her towards an empty room. Once inside he released her with a shove and latched the door behind him.

Levy fell to the floor in a heap, catching her breath and clutching the spot on her throat that had flirted with Sting's weapon.

"Where is my brother?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Honestly, I've no idea, I've not even been here, I only just returned."

"I know, but I also know he's the one who got you out; set you free. The fool put himself in danger to aid you and I can't figure out why. Why didn't he tell me? Why did he help you? And why did you have to come back? He got you out! He disregarded his own life to get you out, and you're back! WHY?"

"Who exactly are you angry with?" Levy begged. "I understand your frustration, but I didn't ask Rogue to do any of the acts he committed. I am beyond grateful for his help and I fear for his wellbeing but my being back here was against my will, not against him."

Sting staggered back and hit the wall behind him, dropping the knife to the floor he grabbed at his hair and fell to his knees.

"Why didn't he tell me anything? Why did he keep me in the dark?"

Levy sat up slowly,crawling to her knees in preparation to flee if need be. "He did it to keep you safe. There is so much wrong going on within the walls of this castle, and you are fiercely loyal to Acnologia. Rogue wanted to do something right but also keep you alive, therefore he kept you in the dark."

"He was stupid! A fool! How could he defy our lord?" The anger radiating off Sting filled the room and Levy knew he could not be thinking rationally at this point.

"Rogue made his own decisions."

"Stop saying his name like he meant something to you, you bitch. You life stealing bitch! You took my brother from me and for that I will take you from him!"

Levy knew he did not mean Acnologia, and only for this reason alone would Sting dare to kill her. She realized she had to move fast, scrambling backwards she dodged the first strike as he lunged at her. The room he had taken her to was fairly unfurnished but she managed to grab a stool, flinging it at him in hopes to slow him down. It worked enough for her to get around him and in line for the door, but she wasn't quick enough. Striking her from behind with his boot she landed face first against the wall next to the door. Blood leaked from her nose onto the carpet and the silks of her dress.

The sound of a body hitting the ground came from behind her and before she was able to turn herself around a firm hand settled on her shoulder. "You need to stop picking fights."

Levy loosed a breath and relaxed.

"Lily."

Still cupping her nose, she allowed Lily to assist her in standing up and turning around. Sting's body was face down on the carpet, his weapon of choice laying casually beside him.

"Is he…?"

"He's merely knocked out and, unharmed for the most part," Lily answered.

Levy nodded, stepping around his prone body towards the room's exit and followed Lily into the hall. The two were silent as they walked towards Lily's chambers. It wasn't until they were securely inside did they drop their guard and relax. Lily immediately retrieving a cloth and basin of water as she sat on a chase near his work station.

"What happened to Rogue?"

The question hung in the air as Lily wrung out the excess water into the basin and walked over to Levy, cleaning the blood from her face. "I can't say for sure, but, I have an idea."

The silence carried on as Lily tended to her nose, when he finished she thanked him and slowly made her way towards the exit. With a hand at her elbow, Lily stopped her just before she opened the door.

"Does Acnologia return to your quarters at night?"

Levy shook her head. "No, he hasn't been. Why?"

Lily spoke low, "There's somewhere I need to take you."

Shaking her head Levy glanced at the floor, fidgeting with the material of her gown, "There are still guards stationed outside the door."

"Don't worry about them, I'll take care of everything. It is pivotal for your role in all of this that you come with me tonight."

Levy nodded and Lily released her as she pulled open the heavy wooden door and stepped out into the hallway.

…

Gajeel ran his hands through his hair, the stress was taking a major toll on him. He hadn't slept in over a day; Acnologia's soldiers were gathering strength within the city and between him, Natsu, and Gray they'd only been barely successful in keeping them from the safe house. In between the nightly brawls and the research regarding his father's dragon he hadn't spared a thought on Levy. Her sudden departure had angered him and they hadn't parted on the best of terms and despite the fact he missed her like crazy, he still couldn't swallow the thought that she had gone back to him.

The sound of splintering wood brought him back to reality and Gajeel realized he had been gripping the oak counter with a bit too much strength. A knock came from outside his room, leaning over his shoulder he gave permission for whoever was awaiting entry to come inside.

Gray stepped inside and shut the door behind him. "Do you have your father's sword?"

Gajeel turned around and walked over to his bed, sitting on the edge. "I have the sword my father gave me, but it's not his sword."

"You need to obtain your father's sword," Gray leaned against the counter previously occupied by Gajeel. "The steel in his sword was forged with the dragon's fire, therefore that sword is the only thing that can kill a dragon."

"Is that what you were able to gather from the documents Rogue had delivered?"

"Indeed. I wasn't able to figure out exactly what plans he has for that beast but, if it truly did give its loyalty to your father then we can at least assure it remains alive by obtaining that sword. Do you know where it would be kept?"

"I do and lucky for us, it's not within the castle. We get that sword and then I think it's time we pay that warlord "king" a visit."

Gray nodded his head in firm agreeance. Unsheathing the sword hanging from his belt - but keeping it close enough to grab if need be, he sat across from only man he would ever call his king.

WIthout making his stare too noticeable, Gray's eyes wandered over the hard lines on Gajeel's face. He had aged these past months, and it showed. His expression had always been hard, firm, but soft when the moment called for it, or when a certain individual was present. This brought a new thought to the forefront of his mind; Levy.

He wouldn't deem her a traitor but someone more or less caught in the middle of something much, much bigger than herself- despite her small stature. He'd known her father from his workings amongst the other nobles; he'd been a kind man, too kind. Which could have been the reason as to why he had not flourished within the ranks of nobility. He hadn't flaunted his daughter in front of the king and prince, actually, now that Gray thought back on it, he was certain the man had never even mentioned his daughter. Not that it hadn't kept her from coming around, or being noticed by said prince.

"Out with it," Gajeel interrupted Gray's thoughts.

Gray opened and closed his mouth, shaking his head. It had been a silent agreement between the two of them to not mention her, he wasn't about to break that quiet promise.

Gajeel sighed, kicking his feet up on the bed and twisting his body to lie down, hands behind his head. "Fine then, I'll answer the question."

"I didn't ask anything."

"I've not heard from her, I've not sent word to her either, and damn if I've not stopped thinking about her."

Gray chuckled quietly. "I didn't ask anything."

Gajeel huffed and rolled over onto his side. "Your face had it written all over it. I've known you for a long time and I can read you like a book."

Gray chucked a pillow at the man. "Well, if we're being honest here you might as well be walking around shouting it to the bloody world!"

Gray's face turned serious. "Answer me something, Gajeel. Where did she come from?"

Gajeel sat up, his face sullen as he fidgeted with the blood red ruby ring on his finger, a ring once adorned by his father. "I wish I knew. Lily gave me back the rest of my missing memories, and I had hoped the answer would have been within them, but sadly it only left me more confused. Her being here somehow coincides with Acnologia though, this much I know."

"So you don't believe her to actually be with that man do you?"

"No. I mean, I don't want to believe that but it's also hard not to think something is going on. But what I do know is she is here because of him, I lost her because of him, and she left me again because of him. It all comes back to him."

The corner of Gray's mouth tipped up in a wry smile, "Well then let's end him."

Gajeel mirrored his right hand man's smile with of his own, "Let's go get my father's sword."

. . .

After the sun had retreated from the sky, leaving a sliver of moon in its wake Natsu, Gray and Gajeel set out to the castle grounds. Natsu had been monitoring the guards for most of the day and had successfully tracked their rotations.

As three of them sat waiting for a guard to pass by Gajeel whispered, "The sword is hidden within the catacombs about half a mile from the castle."

"What can we expect once inside?" Gray questioned.

"Besides the sword? Just the remains of the past kings and queens - my family. It's not connected to the castle like some of the others. There are much older catacombs on the castle grounds, but many years ago one of the kings had the direct descendants of the royal family moved to this specific one."

"Interesting, but I was more or less asking if we need to be prepared for any surprises. Traps and the like."

Gajeel shook his head. "No. That same king thought that would be an insult to the royals, no surprises, no traps as far as I am aware. That's what my father told me at least."

Natsu cut in the moment the coast was cleared, "Let's move."

The men quickly and quietly left their hiding spot, circling around the outside grounds of the castle, simultaneously avoiding additional guards stationed in various pointed down towards a small slope. As soon as the last guard passed by they would have thirty minutes to get in, get the sword, and get out undetected.

The royal catacombs were hidden in plain sight, amidst a grove of trees. A heavy stone guarded the remains of Gajeel's family and it took all three of the men to push the slab aside, revealing the dark confines of their destination. Somewhere in this stone labyrinth was the sword of the past king, Metalicana.

"Let's get in, get the sword, and get out before the guards come back on their rotation," Gray muttered.

"Do you know where we're going?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah," Gajeel all but spat. "I hate having to sneak around on my own property. All of this is rightfully mine and yet here we are, infiltrating the hidden catacombs of my family to retrieve my father's sword and all before those damn guards of his show back up."

The three of them stepped down into the opening they had revealed, and as they descended the granite stairwell, Gajeel handed Natsu a torch from off the wall. "Light this, you'll need it."

Natsu's light illuminated the area, deep shadows appeared and the stoney faced likeness of the kings and queens past became visible. Their footsteps echoed lightly in the abandoned hallway as Gajeel was lead by memory to a hidden room at the end of a long abandoned hall.

Their feet stirred up the dust from the floors, a reminder to Gajeel of how long it had been since anyone else had dared visit the deceased monarchs of his family.

They walked deeper into the darkness, following Gajeel down a small set of steps. As they approached a small alcove hidden amongst the shadows, Gajeel came to a sudden stop. He stood there frozen in a state of disbelief.

Gray stepped around him, "I thought you said no surprises?"

"It should be here. Right here," he said through gritted teeth as he grabbed the edges of the alcove. Panic, frustration, and despair made themselves apparent in the two simple words he uttered next, "It's gone."

Still standing atop the steps Natsu asked, "Does anyone else know of this place? Of this sword specifically?"

"No, no one. Just the royal family."

"We're running out of time, we need to get out of here. We can come up with another plan, but for right now we need to leave before the guards come back," Gray all but shoved the prince back up the hallway towards the exit, Natsu leading the way with the light of the torch.

As they returned the heavy slab to its rightful place and hurried out of the grove, Gajeel stopped one last time to look back at the tomb, a mixture of emotions storming through him. Anger boiled to the surface and he rounded, his fist making contact with the tree closest to him.

"I understand your frustration but we have got to get the hell out of here and now. Leave the tree alone and let's go!" Gray grabbed the prince and hauled him up the hill, away from the grove of trees where his ancestors slept.

"To hell with all this hiding, let's just storm the castle now and get this all over with!"

"No," Gray replied firmly. "We are going to come up with another plan and I will be damned if I just let you stroll in there to your death. This is only a minor setback - we will come up with something. Now, can we please get out of here before we get caught?"

The prince begrudgingly obeyed.

I'm baaaaack! I am so unbelievably excited to be writing again and updating! I'm also working on "Keep It On the Ice" so that will be updating soon as well! Please be sure to review, Ill be responding to them. Thank you for sticking with me through my terrible roller coaster of a life and welcome to new readers!