Fairy Tail was back in Magnolia, the title of Fiores strongest back where it belonged. In true Fairy Tail fashion, the guild was throwing a party. Beer was flowing, fights broke out, and for the first time since their return, the Tenrou group finally felt at home. The party had been going on all week, and though most had stayed, one mage had been gone the entire time.

Gajeel entered the noisy guild, regretting it almost instantly. He sat in his corner, rubbing his forehead as Mira brought him a beer. "Everything alright Gajeel?" She asked, her voice laced with concern for the tired looking dragon slayer. "M' fine." He said quietly. Though she didn't believe him, she left him to his drink. Gajeel didn't look up from his beer, even as a new scent invaded his nose. Ink and spring flowers. She sat at his table, a small frown on her face. "Hey Gajeel, where ya been?" She asked sweetly.  His red eyes looked at Levy, her concern for him making his chest ache. "Just been busy." He grumbled.

Lily, who had been sitting beside him, elbowed him hard. All week the exceed had tried talking Gajeel into sharing his secret with Levy. Saying it would be good to have another set of eyes. But Gajeel couldn't bring himself to tell her, this girl he had started to have feelings for. He still couldn't forgive himself for what he had done, and he wouldn't allow himself to get involved until he found Avery. Gajeel jumped slightly as tiny hands touched his, and he brought his eyes up to a set of hazel.

"You know, you can tell me whatever is bothering you." Levy said sweetly, a soft smile on her lips. "Nothings bothering me." He lied, earning another elbow from Lily. Levy giggled, "Your lying. When somethings bothering you, you get this crease right here." She poked between his eyebrows, smoothing the indeed creased skin. Gajeel sighed softly, leaning slightly into her hand as it rested on his cheek. "You can talk to me Gajeel, I'm your friend." He looked up, almost startled. Levy smiled softly at him as her words sank in. Gajeel had never had anyone before aside from Juvia, and he couldn't trust the others. Levy was different, he knew that he could trust her, if only he could bring himself to tell her.

"I'm ok Shrimp," Levy puffed out her cheeks. "Just once can you say my name?!" Gajeel couldn't help but laugh before poking her forehead. Levy pouted slightly before breaking into a grin and standing. "I'm your so ok, then come dance with me!" Gajeel groaned as she pulled him to his feet. Lily laughed as the dragon slayer was pulled into the new dance, watching from his spot on their table.

It wasn't long into the night when a pair of unsuspecting guests arrived. Cloaked in blue hoods, they didn't draw much attention at first. As they made their way through the crowd the dragon slayers noticed first, turning towards the scents. Soon the crowd became silent and the music was stopped as the pair halted in front of Markarov. The master was quiet as he looked at them, glancing to Erza as she approached them. He stood without a word, and the four headed into his office.

"Was that?" "Yeah, Jellal." Gajeel answered, looking down at Levy. "I wonder what he's doing here." She mumbled with a frown. "If it's important, gramps will tell us." He said, giving her head a pat. She nodded and smiled, soon the music returned though the party didn't have as much energy as before. Gajeel and Levy had returned to their table by the time anyone emerged from the office, and Meredy made her way to the dragon slayer. "Markarov asked me to get you. He said you should hear this." She said simply. Gajeel frowned and nodded, heading for the office with the girl.

In the quiet office, Gajeel stood in front of the masters desk, waiting to hear what was so important. "Jellal. Please show him what you just showed me." The blue haired man nodded and set a lacrima on the desk. An image emerged, showing a desert wasteland. In the center of the picture was the silhouette of a large tower. "Have you heard of the R system?" Jellal asked and Gajeel nodded. He vaguely noticed how the Titania tensed. "This is one of the old towers on the edge of Fiore. It was thought to be abandoned. Recently, there has been an increase of magical power, much like the tower of heaven incident." Gajeel frowned, trying to recall it. He had not been part of the guild yet, but he remembered Juvia telling him of it. "Weren't you trying to revive Zeref with it?"

Jellal nodded. "But Zeref is alive. The system won't work, so what's the danger?" He was quiet for a moment. "The tower is in the middle of an old graveyard. A dragon graveyard, to be exact. We believe they are trying to bring them back, and plan to control them." Gajeels eyes widened. "Then why havnt you stopped them?" Jellal sighed. "It's just Meredy and myself. Against a dark guild this string, we have no chance." Gajeel sighed. "So what's this have to do with me?" Jellal looked to Markarov who nodded.

"Do you know how the tower of heaven was built?" Gajeel shook his head. "Children were kidnapped from surrounding villages, and forced to work as slaves." Gajeel felt his stomach drop and his throat go dry. Jellal touched the lacrima and the image changed. It was a close up of the compound, where they could see a handful of children slaving away, surely only a fraction of what was there. Gajeel couldn't stop the choked sound that came from his throat at what he saw. Probably the oldest of the group, blue eyes fierce as she helped the smaller children, black hair cropped at the shoulders. She was thin and covered in scrapes but she stood tall and proud. Erza couldn't help but think she looked familiar, though she knew she had never met the child before. Her eyebrow rose as she saw Gajeels stunned look, and she barely heard his whisper. "Avery..."

×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

"Back to work you worthless maggots! " A cloaked man shouted as he cracked a whip. The children cowered, staying close to their oldest sister. The raven haired girl was carrying a younger child that had gotten hurt, but she continued to work. "Nee-chan... I'm scared." She wimpered in the older girls ear. The girl smiled and pat the child's hair. "Don't be. My dad will save us, I know he will!"

{Sooo yeah. Let me know what you think! I don't know if it's very good}