I don't own Fairy Tail.

Chapter 5

[Gajeel's home in the forest, on the edge of Magnolia]

Gajeel POV

I wake up to the sound of lacrima clock going off. It's 7:30 AM. I grumble, to myself and yawn. Another day another jewel to make. I reach for Pantherlily on the pillow next to mine, stare at him, and reconsider waking him up. I'll wake him up in a few more minutes, he looks like he is having a good dream. I bet it is about Carla. He may tease me about Levy, but I get him back when I mention Carla. I wonder what do exceeds dream about? I bet he dreams Carla, Gihi. If I was exceed I would be the biggest baddest one out there.

No surprise I have the toughest exceed out there also. I am the second toughest dragon slayer out there after all. As much as I want to admit I am the toughest, I know Laxas is the 'King of Dragon Slayers'. I would never tell him this to his face, assuming he was still around the guild. But, he was able to beat me and Salamander, with no effort at all. Despite what everyone thinks about the fight between Natsu and Laxas. Laxas was the clear victor. We only won because we worked together, and even then we did not win officially. If he had put all his effort into that fight from the start, not cast 'Fairy Law', which failed anyways, but still cost more magic then I had experienced except for Master Makarov fighting Master Jose. I know we would have been toast, literally, especially me. His magic and mine do not mix well.

The only reason Natsu, won the fight is because I stepped in and take a hit that Freed said would have killed him or at the very least knocked him out. After I did that he never once thanked me or acknowledged it. He just went around the guild saying he beat Laxas by himself.

Typical of him to always brag about victories when others helped him in the fight. I only lost to him, because Lucy helped him via her spirit Sagittarius coming to his aid to make an explosion to produce fire. Giving him the chance to refuel by eating the fire. Did he mention that when he talked about beating me? Nope, not a single time, did he once add that to his story of defeating me! I have ears, and he is so loud when he talks, it is hard to not listen to him to brag to everyone in the guild when he tells his 'stories' of events.

I normally would did not want to join this guild, but hearing Juvia joined was a surprise. She was and is my best friend from Phantom Lord. We have similar pasts on things others cannot relate to. Despite not being raised by a dragon, she understand isolation. Her magic used to be temperamental and not very friendly to others around her. We often worked together as an unofficial team in Phantom Lord. I will always have her back.

But after listening to the words of Master Makarov and Juvia joining, I joined. Master claimed his guild mates treat each other like family, and this guild was more like a family then a guild. It was nothing, but lies.

After being in Phantom Lord, I figured Fairy Tail would be better. Phantom Lord, was not the worst guild in the world, just not very entertaining and friendly. The change to Fairy Tail was nice at first. I know I am not 'Mr. Friendly' and realize my appearance is quite intimidating to others. But, even after Fantasia people still avoided me, and then the whole Lisanna return from the 'dead' BS, made things even worse. I am not some pussy or 'attention whore', always needing to be around others. But, at least acknowledge my presence when I am open the door and enter. Just them looking at me when I walk in the door would have been enough for me. I never figured a guild centered on 'Nakama' could forget 10 people so easy, and all because of one person. At least in Phantom Lord guild members, acknowledged my presence. Despite me only being 'friendly' with the Phantom Four.

I feel dumb for believing his words, but I suppose it is not his fault. He is not the boss of how people act towards others, despite being the Master of Fairy Tail, he is not the master of people's actions. He does not dictate how people act. I would at least suspect him to do something about it, the guild goes on no missions except my team and the Thunder God Tribe. This guild is full of weak mages and 'freeloaders'. How can Master afford to pay for all the free drinks and food the guild provides? Not to mention all the fees and bills he used to receive from the Magic Council. If not for the free benefits and reputation of being the strongest guild in Fiore, most of these people would not be here.

I wonder what will happen if both of these things were taken away. Would most of them stay around or just leave the guild? I suppose they could go on missions, but most of them I have not seen or heard them go on any jobs. Being in the corner of the guild, I get overlooked a lot, and can listen in on people's conversations. These 'no names' talk about their missions and what not, but what missions are they talking about it. They must be talking about missions they did a long time ago. They just seat around and talk, eat, drink, fight, and then usually pass out. It seems to be usually in that order to. Phantom Lord was never like this, even the weakest in that guild, had to go out and do missions. If not they could not afford to sustain their lively hood. This guild is weird and full of hypocrites.

Being raised by a dragon, is far different than anyone can imagine. Metalicana was not a friendly dragon, he preached 'tough love' and was the 'strong silent type'. I do not know how Igneel or Grandeeny raised the others, but my dragon is more like a 'grumpy old man'. He was not overly affectionate or conversed much about things. He believed in training and fighting. It is rather hard to learn hand to hand combat when trying to fight a dragon. So my teachings were very intense and left me bruised and battered constantly. He never said he loved me or really anything about his feelings.

We for the most part just trained for all those years. I suppose in hindsight I can admit now that I do love him. It is hard to admit feelings and thoughts to others when you were raised up away from any other human and social etiquette. I am not used to so much interaction and conversation to others. Being in Phantom Lord, did not help either, most people kept to themselves or their own groups.

Metalicana, taught me and would always say, "Talk is cheap and actions will always speak louder than any need for pointless words". I lived by this motto for as long as I can remember.

Being in this guild for 9 months, well 6 months if you count being ignored for 3, has taught me a lot on how people say one thing and do another. Just because this Lisanna girl came back from the 'dead' does not mean stop all guild activities and missions. Now everyone seats around listening to hear spread lies about Lucy Ashley. I know almost all the stories are false, I can smell the pheromones and read her facial and body language. Other people don't see the small things like dragon slayers. Why do all the stories have to be about Lucy Ashley, it is apparent to my team and Thunder God Tribe, she has it out for Lucy. With all the stories about Lucy she either hates Lucy or loves her. She does kind of look like a lesbian with that short hair, tom boy fashion sense, 'Sponge Bob' like body, and always talking about Lucy Ashley. Maybe she had a crush on her and is playing the 'love hate' approach to missing her. I do not think it is the case though. The way she looks at 'our' Lucy, it is more of a jealously and contempt look to it.

I would say they are under some kind of spell, but I have not seen her use any magic ever. I know she is an Animal Take Over Mage, according to Lucy and Levy, it is the weakest form of Take Over Magic. Seriously animals, what kind of animals can she do? Animals are generally not very strong from my experience and do not contain magic. She is a disgrace to her family line, at least her brother and sister have more useful Take Over Magic's.

Normally I would not care and seat in my corner with Lily, but they decided to ignore Levy. I can kind of understand ignoring the Thunder God Tribe, after Fantasia. But, ignoring everyone who joined after Lisanna's return from the 'dead' is completely fucked up. Is that how it works, lose a member a few years ago, gone a few more, said 'dead' member returns, and everyone else who joined after the 'attention whore' is dead to them? Apparently so.

I cannot forgive them, they tossed us out like trash. Is that how a family treats each other? Makarov, must have being taken about some other guild, when he approached me. They are nothing, but a bunch of hypocrites, liars, and freeloaders.

Levy has been in this guild for 9 years and she did nothing wrong. Even her own team ignored her. They just tossed out 9 years, like it was nothing. All to listen to someone tell stupid stories all day and night. Seriously get fucking a life. 9 years and this how you treat someone? I feel bad for her, she grew up with them, like they were literally family. Only to be rewarded with being ignored completely. I can handle the treatment around the guild, I am used to being ignored. It is harder with other people who have more feelings and emotions to deal with. I really want to help Levy, so I try and spend as much with her that I can. I still feel bad after the whole incident with Phantom lord. My inner dragon tells me to keep her close and protect her. Usually I tell him, to shut up, but this time I listen to him.

I was happy when Lucy approached me and the others to join The Forgotten. Normally I like to go solo on missions, but being around others can be fun as well. My inner dragon pipes in and says 'Especially Levy'. I grumble internally, thinking he always has to have the last word does he, but he is right must of the time. So we formed our team and have been kicking ass ever since. Not that anyone notices anyways. We have become a strong team. Being the only male besides Pantherlily on the team, is rather 'interesting'. I listen to so much 'girl' talk, sometimes I wish I was deaf. After being with them for 2 months now, Lily and I feel like we must protect the girls. It goes beyond just being on a team, almost like I am an older brother of the group. It does not help that they are all either cute or beautiful, so where ever we go, they literally turn heads. No one is worthy of their attention, they have to get through me first. My inner dragon pops his annoying voice in and says, "Especially Levy… Gihi".

I look at the clock again and it says 7:39 AM. Okay time to get up, I wake up Lily, do my morning rituals, and pack for our one month training mission at the Heartfilia Estate. This should be interesting after everything that went down between Lucy and her father, but she said she made up with him, so let's see what really happens. Oh well if he tries anything I will put him in his place, no one misses with my team.

Me and Lily, walk outside our home on the outskirts of Magnolia, and head to the guild to meet our team. Why do we have to meet there? I hate going to the guild I would rather be training, on a mission, or anymore else. When will Lucy just activate 'Alpha Protocol' already?