Author’s note: Ok, guess who watched every
episode of Your Lie in April. SPOLIER ALERT: it’s a Goddamn tearjerker. Now
this, I had planned for the longest
time. I wasn’t sure about writing it at first; but I personally feel that
people need to be made aware of how serious what I’m about to write really can
get. Hopefully this will open a few eyes and maybe help make a change in this
issue. I know it opened my eyes a bit because my friend has this and it breaks
my heart seeing her struggle at times. I hope you all enjoy it!!!
Inner
Strength
by MangaGuitar96
Rated T
Levy was recently diagnosed with Scleroderma. An
auto immune disease that attacks one’s own body. Seeing her as she struggles
through it, Gajeel decides to be her rock during this difficult time and will
fight tooth and nail to help her through this.
The
sun shined down on the cobblestone streets of Magnolia. It was a warm, summer
afternoon. It was hot, but not hot enough where you were dying from heatstroke.
A blue haired girl with milky white skin, honey brown eyes and an orange dress.
She wore a pair of red Roman-style sandals. But what caught the people’s
attention the most was the bandages on her body. One halfway up the calf on her
left leg, one on her right wrist and a few bandaid on her fingers and toes.
This girl was Levy McGarden, the Solid Script Mage of Fairy Tail. Normally,
days like today Levy would be sitting outside in the shade under a tree and
would read a novel to pass the time; but today wasn’t an ordinary day.
No,
her day was far from ordinary. In fact, the rest of her life was going to be
far from normal ever again. Yesterday, she returned back to the guild with Jet
and Droy after a successful mission, and noticed some unusual wounds on her
body that seemed to have appeared over night. She thought that it was a delayed
reaction to the injuries she received during the mission; but when she started
to notice some of the digits on her hands beginning to act stiff, her joints
began to hurt and she wasn’t getting enough circulation in her fingers and
toes, she knew something was wrong. This morning she paid Porlyusica a visit,
showed her the symptoms and received a diagnosis she didn’t expect.
“You
have Systemic Scleroderma Levy.” Porlyusica sadly diagnosed"It’s an
auto immune disease, your body is producing more collagen then it should, it’s
hardening your skin,organs and muscles.“ Levy looked at Porlyusica in a
stupor. She never expected something like this.
“Is there a cure?” she questioned
“Something that can be done?”
“There isn’t a cure for it unfortunately. A
few clinical trials are out to try and cure it but you’re going to need to
visit a major hosptial in order to get into the trials. I can try and come up
with a cure; but it’s going to take some time.”
“How long?”
“About 6 months to a year. Your Scleroderma
is in the early stages and seems to be not life threatening. But please be
cautious, this can be a tricky disease.“
So there Levy sat, her
hands, arms and legs covered in bandages, trying to hide the disease from
everyone in the guild. She knew if it progressed, it would become noticeable
and things will get worse from then on. Just how could she pay her rent? People
who suffer from scleroderma could die eventually! If Jet and Droy found out
they’d be devastated. But what made Levy wonder most was how Gajeel was going
to react to this.
”Oi.” she jolted into the air and
looked back to meet a pair of red eyes staring at her.
“Gajeel!” Levy exclaimed “You
startled me!”
“Gihihi, got ya didn’t I?” he stood up
straight and looked at Levy with a smirk.
“Sorry about that Levy,” another voice
sighed, it was Pantherlily who was using Area to come to eye-level with Levy
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“O-oh it’s ok guys.” Levy waved “I
had a lot to think about that- *Cough cough cough*” Gajeel’s eyes
widened when he heaed those coughs pass her lips.
"Are
you alright?“ Lily asked with concern.
“Yeah.” Levy replied hoarsely
“Just a dry spot. Hey, I think I’m going to head back to my apartment. I’m
starting to get a headache.”
“Then I’ll walk ya back Shrimp-” Gajeel
tried to offer.
“No! I-it’s ok, I’m f-AAAAHHH!” she was
startled when Gajeel suddenly slung her over his shoulder like a sack of
potatoes.
“I ain’t taking no for an answer. I’m taking
ya home.” a blush crept up on her features but she tried to ignore it as
Gajeel walked back to Fairy Hills. Once he arrived at the front steps, he put
her downand slightly bent down so he could face her angered expression.
"Gihihihi,
yer welcome.“ he laughed. She let out an exashperated sigh at his words
before rubbing her temples.
“Thanks I guess.” Lily looked at the
Script mage with surprise when he noticed something off.
“Levy,” he questioned “what
happened? Why are you in so many bandages?” she looked at Lily with
surprise.
“Oh! I was injured on the last
mission.” she lied “I’ll be fine in a few days.”
“Alright, have a good night Levy.” she
closed the door as Gajeel and Lily made their way home.
"Hope
she’s going to be ok.“ Lily commented on the way back "Those looked
like a lot of-”
“She’s hiding something.” Gajeel
stated. Lily looked at him in a stupor.
“What makes
you think that?”
“She smells like that old hag’s place in the
forest.”
“Just because she smells like Porlyusica’s
hut doesn’t mean she’s hiding something.”
“It’s more than that Lil, she just seemed a
little….. off.”
“Off?”
“Yeah, like there’s something going
on.”
“I don’t know if you’re onto something
Gajeel; but Levy seemed alright to me. We’ll check on her at the guild tomorrow
if you’re that persistant.”
The
next day at the guild, Gajeel and Lily arrived to find Levy but to no avail.
They asked Lucy who was just about to leave with Natsu and Happy if they’ve
seen her but learned from Lucy that she hasn’t seen her all day. Just when they
were about to sit down, they overheard a conversaton between Jet and Droy.
“I can’t believe Levy is bailing on
us!” exclaimed Droy.
“She said she’d go on this mission with us
today;” sighed Jet “but we’re not Shadow Gear without our Levy!”
“Hey! Chumps!” Gajeel hollered to them
without bating an eye “Where the fuck’s Levy?”
“She’s back at her apartment.” Droy
sadly replied “She said she wasn’t feeling well.”
“It must be from the injuries she got during
her mission.” Lily reasoned. Both males in ShadowGear looked at
Pantherlily with confusion.
"Injuries?“
Jet asked "What’re you talking about?” that made Gajeel and Lily’s
eyes widen.
“Didn’t Levy get injured during your last
misson?” Lily cross-examined.
“She was,” Droy explained “but
they were minor cuts and bruises. Normally something you’d put a band-aid
over.” Gajeel gave Lily a knowing look and both Dragon Slayer and Exceed
rushed out of the guild at Max Speed.
They
both soon flew up to the window that belonged to Levy’s apartment and managed
to sneak their way in.
“Levy?” he called out “Are you in
here?!” they rustled through the many stacks of books until they spotted
Levy, covered in a few more bandages then she had yesterday, carrying a cup of
cocoa and looking at the Dragon Slayer and Exceed with an utter stupor.
“G-guys!” she squeaked “What’re
you doing here?!”
“I could ask the same to you.” Gajeel
grumbled while sitting his rear flat on one of her chairs “Why are you
here when you should be with fat ass and speedy?”
“I-I’m not feeling well.”
“You’re covered in more bandages than you
were yesterday.” Lily pointed out.
“Delayed reaction?”
“Levy,” Gajeel finally spoke up
“The fuck is going on?”
"Nothing!“
she tried to hide "I’m fin-” she stopped suddenly when she noticed
one of the bandages on her arm came loose. She began to try and haphazardly
place it back on, only to have Gajeel quickly grab her arm and remove the
remaining bandages on her forearm to reveal a large, swollen rash that felt
hard to the touch.
“The fuck is this?!” he freaked. Levy
tried to come up with the best excuse but was fumbling to find one.
“I-it’s a rash ok!” Levy finally
confessed “I have Scleroderma! Are you happy now?!” Lily’s eyes widened at her words but Gajeel
looked at her with confusion.
“The fuck’s scleradruma?”
“Scleroderma
Gajeel.” Lily corrected “It’s an auto-immune disease where the body
produces more collagen then it should. It hardens the skin and could attack
other parts of the body, such as the organs or the nervous system. It’s common
in women.”
“Yes!” Levy nodded “Wait- how did
you know?”
“When I was a soldier for the Edolas
Kingdom, a soldier’s wife had it as well. Levy, why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t want anyone to worry
anyone..”
“You know this could get worse to the point
of no return! You need to see if there’s a wa-”
“Wait a fucking minute!!” Gajeel
interruppted “There’s a chance she could die?!”
“Well,” Levy tried to explain as easily
as she could “if my scleroderma progresses to a severe state….. then
yes, I could die.” Gajeel’s expression changed the moment he heard those
words from her mouth.
"Is…..
is there a cure?“ he swallowed.
"At the moment…..” Levy teared up
“No.” a pregnant silence
filled the room before Gajeel stood up, made his way over to Levy, kneeled down
and firmly placed his hands on her shoulders.
“I ain’t letting you die.” he gritted
to her “If you need help I’ll do what I can. You need treatments, I’ll do
everything in my power to make sure ya get it.” tears formed in Levy’s
eyes at his words before finally creating tiny streams across her face. Her lip
quivvered and she broke down into a hug with Gajeel. Lily quickly entered Area
and joined in the moment as well.
Later
that day, Levy arrived at the guild with Gajeel as well as Lily and told the
guild of her diagnosis. Those who were aware of the disease’s existance were
stunned about this news while some needed an explination on what it was about.
Knowing it could get serious, Makarov decided to get Levy enter a temporary
leave in the guild but allowed her to work in the hall so she could still make
ends meet. Shadow Gear decided to try their best by take simple jobs and give
Levy a cut of their money so she still had a roll in the team. To make things
easier on her joints, Gajeel had Levy move in with him and Lily in their small
ranch house while they began to research more about her current condition (He
also made sure both of them can share a bed since he refused to let her take
the guest room in her current shape). Despite Porlyusica explaining that Levy’s
condition was in the early stages, they felt it was best to help find some way
to prevent a horrid future for the Script Mage.
Two
months had passed since her diagnosis and things seemed to have been quiet.
Despite a few rashes, some skin beginning to harden and a few other symptoms,
Levy was handling things really well. However, things were going to change from
then on. One morning, Lily left early to go around town and ask for information
about areas offering clinical trials for
scleroderma while Gajeel and Levy helped out at the guild; but when Levy tried
to stand up so she could grab her clothing, she suddenly collapsed onto the rug
covered hardwood floor.
“G-Gajeel!” she yelped at the top of
her lungs!
“SHIT!” Gajeel hollered “Levy!
What’s wrong?!”
“I-it’s my legs! I-I can’t move them!! No
matter what I do, they won’t work!” realizing the seriousness of the
situation, Gajeel picked her up bridal style and rushed to Porlyusica’s hut.
Porlyusica
examined Levy after Gajeel bursted through the door of her hut, freaking out
over what was wrong with her. After much yelling and few arguments, Porlyusica
managed to realize what was wrong with Levy.
“It’s her Scleroderma.” she explained
“It’s beginning to attack her nervous system. I never seen a case that
actually progressed this fast. You’re going to have to find a clinical trial as
soon as possible while I try and work on a cure. I’ll need to draw some blood
from Levy to get a basis for the cure.
Until then, Levy is going to have to get around via a wheelchair.”
Levy’s heart shattered at Porlyusica’s words. After her visit, Levy felt as if
she was in a rut. That she would never get better and her life as a mage is
completely over.
"Hey.“
Gajeel suddenly said while wheeling her out "I ain’t giving up on ya. Yer
a lot stronger than this and I’ve seen it over and over again. Ya ain’t the
same girl I met back when I was in that fucking Phantom Lord Guild, yer a lot
stronger than what you originally were. And I know you’ll kick the shit out of
this thing.” A true smile appeared on Levy’s features and before she could
even say anymore, Gajeel kissed her directly on the lips. It took her by
surprise at first; but she melted into the kiss and enjoyed every second of it.
“GAJEEL! LEVY!” a voice called out. The
Dragon Slayer and Script Mage broke their kiss off for a moment to find Lily
flying directly to them “There you are- Levy are you alright?!”
“It’s her Scleroderma.” Gajeel
explained “Fucker attacked her nervous system. She can’t walk.”
"Dear
God….“ Lily said, uncertian of what to say "Well, I don’t think
Levy has to worry anymore! I asked around town today and found out there’s a
Blood Transfusion Clinical Trial in Calendula City Hospital meant for people
who are suffering from Scleroderma!”
“What are the results?” she questioned
the Exceed.
“So far, 75% go into remission and 25% are
still struggling..”
“Gihihihi, I like those odds.” Gajeel
smirked. Levy looked at the two with uncertianty but then realized it’s her
best hope.
“Looks like we’re heading to Calendula City
then!” Levy smiled.
“I already got our tickets,”
PantherLily revealed “we leave first thing tomorrow.”
After
the incident, Levy applied for the Clinical Trials and was immediately approved
once they learned of her condition. Gajeel, and Lily took a temporary leave
from the guild and decided to rent a cheap apartment in Calendula for them and
Levy so they could be closer to the hospital for Levy’s clinical trials. The
first month of her Clinical Trial was quite a rough one because immediately
after her treatment, she became more than exhausted. The doctors warned Gajeel
and Lily that she was going to need plenty of bed rest for the next few days and
is heavily advised to not leave the apartment until two weeks after the
treatment.
The
Guild would try and visit Levy to see how she was holding up, only to have
Gajeel tell them right of the bat that the only way they’re ever going to see
the Script Mage is by Lacrima Vision since she was still recovering. Three
months into the treatments and Levy was showing little to no progress. She was
able to walk for a small amount of time but would get tired and needed to sit.
Her skin was developing less rashes and beginning to soften to the touch, her
circulaation was beginning to return to normal but she still had a long way to
go. One morning after her third trial, Gajeel was bringing Levy her breakfast,
wearing a sanitary mask while she recovered in bed and brought her her favorite
book to read. As he set the tray down Levy looked up at Gajeel with a confused
look.
"Gajeel,“
she began "why did you stay by my side? I know this isn’t your battle to
fight and you’d rather be back at the guild getting into a fight wih Natsu or
beat up a group of bandits-” she was cut off by a quick kiss on her forehead.
“To be honest,” Gajeel admitted while
getting his mask back on “I would like to go and break a couple of
Salamander’s bones; but I rather be here with you. I want to see you kick the
shit out of this Scleroderma and make it back to the guild. And fuck, I ain’t
leaving this place without the woman I love.” her heart fluttered at his
words and then she did the unexpected; she gave Gajeel a loving yet strong kiss
on the cheek.
“I love you too.” she smiled.
Two
weeks after Levy’s Clinical Trial, they recived a call from Porlyusica that she
had managed to concot a cure for Levy’s Scleroderma. She manage to run a few
tests on untreated blood samples and all came back cleared from Scleroderma.
The moment they heard the news, Gajeel, Levy and Lily packed their things,
payed the last month of their rent and made it back to Porlyusica’s hut for
Levy’s cure. Once it was administered, Levy began to notice her once tough skin
becoming smooth, feeling in her legs were returning, her joints no longer ached
and the swelling had gone down. Tears of joy poured down the Script Mage’s eyes
and with her first steps back to normal, she ran and kissed Gajeel straight on
the lips.
"Thank
you..“ she hiccupped, breaking the kiss "Thank you for being there
when I needed you most.” he held
her tight in his arms as she clutched onto his shirt and whimpered.
“Hey, didn’t I tell ya once to never leave
my side?” Gajeel smiled genuinely while kissing her forehead and giving
Porlyusica a look of grattitude for bringing this miracle to life.
The End.
Author’s
note: I know it was quite angsty, but I wanted to raise awareness in this
story. Systemic Scleroderma is a real disease that does mainly effect women
(Men can get too but 6 out of 7 who get it are women). As stated in the one
shot, it’s an autoimmune disease that makes the body develop more collagen then
it should. Causing the skin, organs or joints to harden. It will attack the
heart or the GI tract and if it goes untreated, it will eventually kill you.
I’m friendly with Kristi Kang, Levy’s English dub voice actress and she’s been
struggling with this disease for quite sometime. It attacked or autoinomine
system making her wheelchair bound. Fortunately, there is a Clinical Trial out
that seems to be doing some great progress and Kristi is getting a lot better
to the point she’s able to do some of the things she once was able to do.
As
of right now, there is no cure for Systemic Scleroderma; but you can make a
difference for anyone who’s going through this by donating to the Scleroderma
Foundation or maybe if you’re willing and can, donate your Plasma for the
treatments. Despite it being a rare disease, people are still heavily affected
by it and I wanted this one shot to open the eyes of so many people and help in
making a difference. Here’s the link to the Scleroderma foundation and I ask
people to research a reputable place to donate your plasma at.
Scleroderma foundation:http://www.scleroderma.org/site/PageNavigator/patients_whatis.html#.WY4VttKGMdU
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