The creature glared at the small mermaid, his narrow ruby eyes sending shivers down her spine. His skin shimmered a silver color, his layered black hair cascading down his back. Pointed ears peeked out from said hair, and as he grinned, canines were on full display. His tail was more of a serpent rather than a mermaid tail—more angular and strong without any fins. He reminded her of Wendy, and Levy knew why. This creature was that of a sea-dragon, the nomadic enemy of her kind. Despite this, Levy felt very little fear towards him.

"Are you hungry?" she asked him, keeping a cautious distance from him, "I have some leftover seaweed salad and shrimp in the house."

He chuckled slightly, his accent thick, "I search for something."

"Oh? What would that be, and why would it be in my trash?"

"You have one of my kind," he replied, his eyes dangerously dark.

Levy's hazel eyes widened at the realization that this was no peaceful encounter. The king had warned the kingdom of the risks that keeping Wendy would bring, and this was one of them, "I uh...don't know what you're talking about."

His eyes narrowed as he leaned down, his face leveled with hers, and a blush coated her cheeks, "I smell dragon on you. You know her."

"She's fine right here in Fairy Tail! This is her home—the only place she's ever know! Would you really take her away from her family?!" she snapped at him, a surge of confidence emerging from within.

He smirked, "She needs her own kind. Tell me where she is."

"I won't! I refuse to!"

"I see...if you do not tell, I will take you. We will try until we find, and we will take many of your kind to put you fish in your places," he growled lowly, grabbing her by the shoulders, "...so I say again, where is she?"

Tears formed in Levy's eyes, "Then I guess you're taking me."

An evil grin appeared on his face, followed by a strange laugh that sounded similar to a 'gihi' sound. Without warning, he threw her over his shoulder, his hand dangerously close to her bottom as he swam away in the night. Tears flowed from the blunette's eyes, but she knew that Wendy would never fit in with her own kind. She was much too innocent and shy. This was for the best.

As he swam away from her home, his tail wriggling from side to side, Levy almost hoped that someone, somehow would find them and save her from his talons, but the guards were all within the walls that surrounded the underwater city, and this dragon was quite dark in color. They would never notice him, but Levy...they would notice her orange even in the dark. As if he had a similar thought, a dark blanket was thrown over her form.

"You make noise, and I will end life," he whispered to her.

That immediately shut the small mermaid away. Without a way of seeing where they were, she just accepted her fate. She suddenly felt the overwhelming sensation of exhaustion, though she wasn't sure why.

"W-what...is..."

She heard him chuckle softly, his voice venomous, "Magic to sleep..."

Before she could risk her life further to demand a full explanation, the comforting darkness engulfed her being.

~~

Gajeel was not one to change his daily routine, but when one of his scouts discovered the location of her long lost younger sister, the sea dragon did not hesitate to find her and bring her back.

Ten years ago, the mermaids invaded their clan, a clan ruled by his parents, a powerful dragon couple by the name of Metalicana and Grandeeney, and together, they had two hatchlings. Gajeel was the oldest and the now ruler of the clan, and his younger sister, Wendy.  During the invasion, Gajeel was ten, and his sister was only four. During the caos, Gajeel was able to help the females and hatchlings escape the battle, but he lost Wendy during the battle. His parents perished fighting, and the battle was lost. Gajeel and the others managed to make it away, but not before he witnessed his sister kidnapped by the mermaids. He swore that one day, he would find her and bring her back.

Now, he was closer than ever before. This small mermaid would be the key to getting his sister back, and no matter what he had to do to this creature, he would find a way to make her talk.

As he entered the trench, the sound of soft snoring trickled into his ear. Gajeel had to admit: this mermaid was adorable, but he would never admit it out loud. She was small yet full of determination and spark. The dragon couldn't help but to admire that about her. He wasn't unforgiving—Gajeel was well aware that she had nothing to do with the taking of his sister, but she had her scent all over. This girl spends a lot of time with Wendy, and perhaps after a careful explanation, she would be willing to help them bring her back. He could only hope, anyway.

As the large sea dragon neared the system of caverns that his kind called home, he noticed a speck of pink in the distance. A grin made its way on his face as he continued onward.

"Did you find her?" The pink sea dragon called out in their native tongue, his array of spiky hair flowing in the current.

"No, but I found a girl who might be able to help us. She smells of Wendy, so she has to know where they are keeping her."

The smaller male's eyes widened, "You brought a mermaid back to our home? Are you crazy?"

"Natsu, I have been without my only family for ten years now. I told you before that I am willing to do anything to get her back. If that means kidnapping a member of the mermaid kingdom and holding her hostage until she spills, then so be it," Gajeel nearly growled out.

"But what if she manages to escape and alert the soldiers? They would kill us all!"

"Not with our power. Our parents were wise to leave their essence within our souls. Our magic is stronger than any other sea dragon in existence. If they even try to attack us, we will be ready."

Natsu bowed, "Of course. I will go inform the others of her arrival. Where will we be keeping her?"

Gajeel removed the blanket off of Levy's sleeping form, glancing at the soft features of her face, "I want to show her that we are not the savages that her kind seem to believe. She will stay with me."

Natsu smiled, "Maybe there's another reason, eh? She's a cute thing."

The clan leader rolled his eyes, "You always assume things like that. No, she is clearly a friend of my sisters...she will tell me where she is."