KEY:

Malayalam (Indian dialect)

Russian

Once lunch was through, Levys father lead her outside. "What are we doing?" She asked as she headed down the steps before him.

"I'm going to train you dove. No one knows better than I do about your gift."

Levy smiled, it was true. After all, her father was who she inherited the gift from.

"Mind if I join you?" Levy looked back to see Gajeel leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his massive chest. She had felt the strength in those arms, even as he had held back, and every bit of it amazed her.

"Don't you have your own training to do?" Her father asked gruffly as he made his way beside her.

"No sir. My mother has been training me since I could walk to control my strength. I should have no problem unleashing it."

"You should have seen it when he was but a wee tot," Regin said as she came out beside her son, bumping his shoulder. "Every lil' tantrum that had him stomping his feet rattled the house! Talli had ta bolt the shelves to the walls ta keep em from fallin!"

Gajeel turned a rather adorable shade of red as he sputtered before shoving past Regin as she cackled. "I'm definitely coming now." He grumbled as he stood next to her.

Levy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as her father snorted and hobbled out to the field behind the villa. On the way, Gajeel snagged one of the lawn chairs near the large in ground pool. Once a ways from the house he set it down and stood to the side as her father turned towards her.

"Why come out here papa?"

"Because when you are training with summoning, you want plenty of room for the expanding of energy. It's easier to control once you've got the hang of it. Now, summon Baghira."

Levy nodded before calling to her companion. She felt him before she saw him as he rubbed his large head against her hip.

"He is the only one you've summoned so far, but what I've never taught you is how to summon others."

Levy frowned lightly. "I thought you could only summon one spiritual partner?"

Ramal shook his head. "Summoning is one of the strongest gifts out there, and it varies from person to person. As in the human world, there is a type of hierarchy. The stronger a summoners potential, the stronger a spirit they can summon, as well as others below that. It takes many years of training to improve ones power to move up to a stronger spirit." He gestured to her beast. "Go ahead and guess what level in the hierarchy Baghira is."

Levy turned to face her friend, looking into his large golden eyes. "I would have to guess higher middle class."

Ramal chuckled. "My darling Levy, Baghira is the King of spirit beasts."

Both Levy and Gajeel gaped at her father. "That was much your mother and I's reactions when you summoned him at five years old. My sweet dove, you have the potential to be one of the strongest summoners in the world. With him as your companion, you could summon armies of beasts. Though not yet. Even for you, that requires power you have yet to unlock, strength and energy that will take more time than you have right now."

Levy was still reeling, but stood straight and held her head high. "I'm sure there must be something I can do then, if you've brought me out here."

Her father grinned and ran a hand through her long hair. "My smart girl, you are correct. We can do more than summon beasts and long dead warriors. We have what is called a soul weapon," he moved his hand down and placed it over her heart. "It is hard to first draw out this weapon, it is made from your very being."

Ramal handed one of his crutches to Gajeel, and now with his arm free, he fisted his hand in the air. The blade was silent as it appeared, it appeared ghostly at first, much like Baghira, with blue wisps drifting from it before solidifying. The blade still held a blue tint, and when he moved it through the air, it left wisps in its wake.

"You must look deep inside your soul, for each summoner has a warrior buried there. Draw her forward, and she will gift you with your weapon." The sword vanished and Levy nodded, determined. He moved her a little ways away and had her face west towards the sun. "Hold your hands out to accept the weapon, for when it materializes." When Levy complied, holding out her hands palm up, he nodded. "Now close your eyes, and concentrate."

He made his way back towards Gajeel and the chair, sitting in it and nodding towards her. Levy looked towards Gajeel, who gave her an encouraging smile that she returned with a nervous one. Baghira laid beside her, curling his tail around her feet as she closed her eyes.

She took deep even breaths and reached deep inside herself. She could hear the wind in the tall grass, the birds that flew overhead. Feel the warmth of the summer sun on her skin as well as the eyes of her father and Gajeel on her. She had to be able to do this, without her weapon, how could she fight beside him? How could she hope to protect her friends and family?

Levy dove inside herself, and after a moment she could see a faint light. It was so far away, surely she couldn't reach it. She tried moving towards it, and felt almost as if she were attached to a rubber band, being pulled back when she made any progress. When she tried again, pulling against it, it through her back with a snap that made her head hurt. She huffed and tried once more, making only slight progress before being snapped back again.

Levy stomped her foot and ran a hand through her hair as she opened her eyes. The sun was already lowering in the sky and it startled her. How long have I been out here? She blinked a few more times when she realized Gajeel was sitting in the grass in front of her, watching her intently. He smiled and stood when he realized she was back in her own head.

"I was wondering when you'd be back. You're doing good."

Levys already frayed nerves were stretching thin. "Good? I've made no progress! I've got no weapon, nothing to use against Ethros. There's no telling when he'll attack and I wont be ready for him." She huffed and ran her hand through her hair again before speaking quietly. "Maybe I'm not as strong as Da thinks I am... I wouldn't be surprised if Baghira just came to me because my fathers partner was his mate..." That had to be it, there was no way she could summon a King. She noticed then that Baghira had left some time ago.

Large hands gently cupped her face and tilted it up until she was looking up into intense crimson eyes. "Listen to me Levy," his voice was gruff and serious in a way that struck her heart. "You are one of the strongest women I know. I could feel the power all around you, I could see it. Baghira came to you through your own power. I have faith in you, your parents do and so does everyone else."

Levy felt her eyes water slightly and she quickly blinked, "But Gajeel-"

"No buts," he practically whispered it. His gaze was burning, intense, she could feel herself getting lost in it. He made her feel strong, he was her rock in this storm they found themselves in. She would fight beside him. She would do what it took, she wouldn't be left behind.

He must have seen the determination in her eyes, he smirked lightly. "That's my girl."

She instantly had butterflies, or maybe they were tiny birds with the way they fluttered. "Your girl huh?"

The smirk widened before he planted a hot kiss on her lips, stealing her breath and pulling back before she could kiss him back. "If you'll be mine that is."

In answer she reached up and pulled him down for another kiss, this time holding him in place. She wasn't sure when she had fallen for him, but she fell so hard it was a crash. When they had left the states and he wasn't breathing, she felt her whole world slipping away from her. She refused to lose him.

They finally broke apart, panting lightly and grinning at each other. "I'll take that as a yes then?"

"Like you could get away from me."

Someone cleared their throat behind them and she felt her skin blaze as she turned around. "Papa!"

"If you're well and done, try again." His voice was serious, but she could see him fighting a smile.

Gajeel gave her a last quick kiss before sitting in the grass again. "You've got this."

Levy smiled at him before closing her eyes and concentrating. She would do it this time, she would be out here all night if she had to be. The light seemed brighter than before. Her confidence maybe? She struggled with all her might to reach it, sweat broke out on her forehead, she could feel her hair whipping around in the wind and the air grow thin. She need only stretch out her fingers, just a little farther.

With a sudden snap, her eyes were open wide as power whirled around her. Gajeel was watching her with wide eyes as a long glowing blue and white battle ax laid in her hands. It was so unearthly light she almost hadn't noticed it. It was taller than she was, the end double bladed. The handle was wrapped in white leather and along the blue steel there was a carving of a beast, a jaguar.

The power slowly faded, and it wasn't until her feet touched the ground that she even realized she was off it. She hadn't been floating far, maybe an inch or two.

Gajeel stood as her father came around in front of her, a proud smile on his face. "Congratulations Levy, you are now a summoning warrior."

A large round of cheering behind her had her turning to see everyone had gathered. The sky was dark, the moon just peeking over the horizon and stars scattering the sky. Levy grinned brightly and hefted the ax up to another roar of cheers. It was then she noticed how dizzy she was and the ax slowly started to vanish. She hadn't realized she was falling until Gajeel caught her and lifted her into his arms.

"She's alright," she heard her father say. "She used a lot of power and never has before. A good nights sleep and a large breakfast and she'll be on her feet."

Sleep sounded good to Levy, and as she started to drift away, she felt lips on her forehead and heard Gajeel whisper, "Sleep little love." She did, a smile on her face.