Gajeel was frustrated, he and Natsu had been searching for a week and there was still no sign of Ivan. The pair of dragon slayers and their exceeds were currently at Raven Tails old headquarters, the building a crumbling mess with no one to care for it. The towers of wind that circled the area obscured the building from questioning eyes, only those who knew of its location could find it. The wind was roaring, nearly defining, and neither slayer was happy with the temporary loss of hearing. Now, inside, it was mostly quiet as they searched, the only sound their footsteps. They caught no scent of the man or his followers, only dust and mold. A sound came from Gajeels bag, startling Happy who had been close by. Gajeel retrieved the communication lacrima that Makarov had given him before they left, and activated the screen. Mirajane was there, her face lined with worry, and maybe a trace of fear.
Gajeel immediately felt panicked.
"What happened?" He asked, harsher than he meant. Mira wouldn't meet his eyes, "It happened so quick Gajeel... I almost don't know what happened... Rouge had come to see Avery and they were both outside... Ivan used Asuka as bait to lure Avery from the guild... She was caught saving her." Mira had tears in her eyes, and Gajeel was trying not to smash the lacrima in his hand. "Most of the strongest were out on missions, even the master wasn't here. Rouge, Levy and Juvia left almost immediately, trying to follow her. Rouge said her scent was headed Northwest, towards Oak Town." Gajeel swallowed thickly, trying to contain his anger. It wasn't Miras fault, or Rouges or anyone else's, if anything it was his for leaving her again.
"Thanks Mira," his voice was barely a whisper before he turned of the lacrima. He didn't wait for Natsu, he knew he heard the whole thing, and Lily was already at his side as he made his way for the balcony. Flying would be the fastest way out, and he wasn't going to waste any time. Gajeel simply jumped from the balcony, trusting his partner to catch him, and he did, taking him skyward. Natsu was close behind, not making a sound, he knew words wouldn't help.
The flight to Oak Town was a long one, and Gajeel felt guilt for making Lily fly so long, but they had to be quick. It had been a long time since Gajeel had been to Oak Town, and he had tried to keep it that way. Only passing through, or quickly finishing whatever job he had in the area. The ex members of Phantom Lord were a nasty bunch, and they held strong grudges, he didn't doubt they would turn on him and Juvia for joining Fairy Tail.
When they arrived, Gajeel directed Lily towards where the old guild had once stood. As they flew, he easily caught the scent of Juvia, Levy and Rogue, they must have been in town for hours already. The old building was in worse shape than Raven Tail, it had never been cleaned up from Fairy Tails attack, and was a crumbling mess. However, unlike Raven Tail, there was a scent. Five distinct scents. Three he could easily pick out as Ivan, Jose and Avery, the other two seemed familiar, but he couldn't place them. The scents were faint, but he could tell that they had traveled back towards where the main headquarters once stood, before Jose had mobilized it. Gajeel decided to walk it, giving the exceeds time to rest as they did.
As they walked, he caught a sixth scent and he shook his head with a slight chuckle. "Why is Juvia alone?" Natsu asked, having caught the scent as well. "She knows where the headquarters is, so she probably decided to check here while letting Rouge and Levy continue the search elsewhere." Gajeel guessed. Natsu nodded but otherwise kept silent as they walked, and an uneasy feeling twisted in his stomach as they grew closer to their destination. A new building stood in place of the old, only slightly smaller than the original, and a pale figure was approaching the doors. "Juvia," Gajeel called, and the woman paused, turning to look at them. Juvias eyes immediately teared up as the dragon slayers approached herm, and she quickly wiped her eyes. "Juvia is so sorry," she whispered, but Gajeel shook his head as he pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault Juvia, and your instincts are right on track. As usual," he smirked lightly.
Juvia looked up at him, "You can smell her?" Gajeel nodded, his face going hard. "Yeah, and it seems like Gajeel and Jose brought some friends." He looked down at Juvia, "I need you to go find Levy and Rouge. We'll need all the help we can get. I'll have Salamander here till you get back." Juvias face set in a determined look before she hurried back in the direction of Oak Town. Gajeel and Natsu shared a look before nodded and heading inside. The building was permeated with scents, and it was nearly impossible to tell what came from where. Natsu wrinkled his nose, "This scent is so familiar, but I can't place it." Gajeel nodded, it nagged at his memory, but it was like something he only had a passing smell of.
"We'll figure it out later. Come on," the iron dragon slayer grumbled, moving deeper into the castle like building. The stone corridors were quiet, nothing but their footsteps echoing in the din. The silence was interrupted but a loud grating sound, and both dragon slayers looked up. The ceiling had begun to collapse, and it was falling fast. Gajeel dove forward and Natsu back pedaled, Lily and Happy were caught with Natsu as the ceiling finally stopped. A stone wall now separated Gajeel from his comrades and he cursed, it was a trap. "You guys still alive?" Gajeel called through the stone.
"Yeah!" Natsu shouted, coughing at the dust that had been kicked up. "You go on," Lily shouted. "We'll find another way through." Gajeel nodded as he turned away, "Don't do anything stupid," he called back. "Same to you iron face!" Natsu shouted, and Gajeel couldn't help but smirk before continuing on. The hall continued for a short while before opening to a large room, it was almost an arena. No, it was exactly an arena he realized, as the hallway he had come from was blocked off by another wall. "Welcome Gajeel!" he looked up to the very familiar voice of Jose. He stood on a balcony, and Gajeel hardly recognized him. Between Fairy Law and seven years of age, he wasn't sure how the old mage was even alive, or even how he broke out of jail.
"Where is she Jose?!" Gajeel snapped, his anger suddenly flaring. Jose smirked and gestured across from him, behind Gajeel. He turned to see Avery in Ivans grip, limp and unconscious. Gajeel bit down his panic as she stirred and lifted her head, confusion quickly giving way to fear. She struggled in Ivans grasp as the man laughed, and Gajeel growled in anger. His hand morphed into a sword as he prepared to launch himself at Ivan, "Smoke Gods Poison Bellow!" A solid tunnel of smoke slammed into Gajeel, sending him tumbling, his lungs constricting for air. He quickly slashed his sword arm forward, causing a draft of wind to carry away the smoke.
Gajeel looked up to see a man and a woman, nearly identical twins. He realized were he had smelt their scents before, at Dragon Tower, he had smelt them on Natsu and Lucy. Gajeel growled, "I don't have time for you." The woman, Aerith, snarled, "Thanks to that wretched guild of yours our plans are ruined. We spent years harvesting from that brat of yours," smoke swirled around her body as she shouted at him. "First, we will slaughter you in front of your child," a sadistic smirk crossed both twins faces. "Then we will send her right after you, and then your whole guild." Ronan finished for his sister. "Maybe we should go after that tiny bluenette next, you seem to have a soft spot for her." Jose added, and Gajeel only felt his anger rise.
Gajeel looked up at Avery again, fear for his daughter coursing through his veins. He had expected her to be crying in fear, but that was not what he saw. Avery had calmed herself, and a look of anger was on her face. "I..." her voice was soft at first, but gradually grew louder. "I will not be used again!" A surge of power surrounded her, surprising all in the room. "Iron Dragon Secret Art: Reverse Iron Maiden!" It had not been as powerful as she had hoped, but it did what she needed. Iron covered her skin before protruding in small spikes to pierce Ivan. He cried out in pain and shock as he lost his grip on her. Avery wasted no time in running for the railing, throwing herself over it and away from Ivan.
Gajeel easily caught her, the spikes on her skin were gone and she clung to him. A flicker of movement caught Gajeels attention and he quickly dove to the side, shielding Avery as Ronan rushed forward with an ash covered fist. Gajeel set Avery down and stood in front of her, but instead she stood beside him. "We can take 'em." she said with a grin, and Gajeel couldn't help but feel pride well inside him. "If I tell you to run, don't question me, understand?" He said sternly. He did not want her fighting these people, but if she was stationary, she would be nothing but a target. He had faith in her abilities and her strength, but if he was being honest, he was terrified. Avery nodded, her skin turning silver with scales as she put up her defense. As if on a silent cue, both iron dragons rushed forward, a battle cry on their tongues.
