Sorry for any spelling/grammar issues. On to the story!

Standard disclaimer applied.. Fairy Tail isn't mine..

Chapter Ten

(Laxus' point of view)

I couldn't do anything as I watched the knife connect with the blonde's flesh. The man that attacked her disappeared and Freed tried to examine her wounds. My eyes widen as I saw the deep cut in her side blood seeping from the wound. I listened trying to make some sense of the words she managed to get out only to have her blackout before she could finish speaking.

"Well, well Little Lucky Lucy I never would've thought that was the Lucy we needed." I heard an unknown voice and figured it had to be the man from before, the one who attacked Lucy.

I felt rage build up within me I wanted to tear the sorry piece of shit apart for touching her. Then it dawned on me this man knew her. He just said her name. They needed her to summon a spirit. It could kill her. My mind went blank and all I could do was listen, watch, and gather whatever information I could from this before setting out for vengeance. I wouldn't let these sorry fucks kill the blonde before I had my fun with her.

"I don't know whether I should give her to the master, keep her for myself, or trade her in for fucking ransom." I heard a loud thug like something colliding with another object I furrowed my brows what the hell did he mean by ransom, was Blondie a wanted person?

"Maybe I'll just do all three, it's not very often such a beauty falls into my grasp." He finally came into my line of view taking out a knife that was coated in blood he licked the end of it.

"Lucky for you pretty boy they want you alive." He said before disappearing again leaving Freed wide open for attack.

Freed reached for his rapier but the man appeared before him faster than he thought. I could only watch as the man's knife pierced Freed's shoulder and twisted the handle. Freed was down and not getting back up from that single attack. I took a moment to study the enemy looking for any tattoo's that would indicate a guild mark. There on his neck was the mark of the dark guild the Raijinshu took down a few days ago. Ghoul Spirit. I didn't understand how they could still have any active members, after the members had been defeated they were taken by the Magic Council.

"I knew I should've handle that guild myself." I muttered under my breath as the lacrima finally cut off the connection.

I knew I needed to get to Acalypha Town quickly to stop these dark mages before something happened to Blondie. Taking a deep breath I pour a bit of magic into the communication lacrima. The only way I could go after the blonde and ditch the mission was if the old geezer approved of it. Odds are he would first freak out give some shit speech about nakima and then want to send someone else. I would have to tell him the people who took them were the dark guild I was supposed to take out. If I stressed that it was something only a S - Class mage could do then he would have to send me or Erza. I seem to remember her mission being farther away then mine so he would have to let me go. I inhaled another deep breath and remained calm as I heard the geezers voice finally cut through.

"Laxus my boy! What seems to be the problem?" He smiled raising an eyebrow in the process.

"Listen old man I don't want to repeat myself and really don't have the time to fuck around. I need you to let me leave the mission I'm on to go after Freed's team. I had been speaking with him when his team was attacked by a member of that dark guild the Raijinshu and me took out a few days ago. The blonde chick had been injured as well as Freed. They took them captive and I didn't see the other two dumb shits. One of my teammates are in danger so whether or not you approve I'm going after them." I tried to remain calm as I waited for him to answer.

"Hmm it's unlike you to volunteer to go play the hero Laxus. Is there maybe something you want to tell me my boy?" The old geezer responded his demeanor completely changing to a much more serious one.

"What do ya mean?" I asked not quite sure what he was thinking.

"Now Laxus I know that you are close with Freed and that the two of you have been friends for sometime now. I also want you to know that no matter what your relationship with Freed may be that I will always love you, you are my grandson and all I want is your happiness. As you know Freed is quite fond of you and I have questioned a few times if maybe there were a deeper meaning to his.. complete loyalty to you. I have also wondered if maybe you cherished him a bit more than the other members of the Raijinshu. Anyway my boy I guess what I'm trying to say is that I support your relationship. Though I still expect some great grandchildren." I felt my jaw drop as the old geezers smiled from ear to ear.

He thought I was involved with Freed, a man! I felt my anger rising as his smile grew like he had it all figured out. How in the fuck did he assume I like men from wanting to go take out that dark guild that had Blondie? Yeah I didn't really say I wanted to save her ass but that was because I didn't need any shit about her being a keeper and babies and shit.

"Stop." I growled trying to keep what little sanity I had together. "I ain't interested in fucking men you god damn idiot. That sorry fuck was supposed to be under lockdown yet he isn't so in my eyes I haven't finished that damn mission. Freed is hurt as well as the little blonde bitch the other two weren't even there. This is serious shit we are dealing with." I seethed feeling my magic spark around me. "Now I'm leaving to go take care of that sorry bastard I think Loke will be fine and if not it just shows how fucking weak he is." Grabbing my bag I stand ready to teleport.

"Yet Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and Freed aren't weak for not being able to handle such a simple mission? I have a feeling you either know something more or you care more than you let on. Tell me boy what were they after?" The old geezer asked raising an eyebrow in question.

"How the fuck should I know?" I cut off the connection tossing the lacrima back into my bag before teleporting to the outskirts of Acalypha Town.

Arriving at the edge of the town I encountered one of Freed's perimeter runes. Silently I thanked whatever god would hear for paying attention when Freed insisted our team learn some basics about runes. Stepping into the perimeter I was hit with the smell of the little blonde's blood, bracing myself against a nearby tree my head began to spin. How much blood had she already lost? The thought worried me, almost scared me. Trying to get a grip on my senses I looked around the small space and seen nothing but crimson. Blood covered the ground tainting the once green grass with the blood of the blonde. I could pick up Freed's blood and Gray's but Lucy's had been far more stronger of the three. Trying my best to ignore the damn smell of her blood I walked around the area searching for some sort of clue as to what happened. Their bags were still here and for the most part didn't appear to be tampered with. Walking towards the untouched luggage something crunch beneath my boots. Glancing down I noticed a piece of worn parchment paper. Curious I kneeled down to pick of the paper hoping for some sort of information on what might happen in the near future. Flipping the parchment over it revealed a picture of a key and a strange reddish bird that had flames blazing around it. Everything written on the parchment was in a different language so all I could really do was study the few pictures and try to put sense to it. Looking farther down the parchment were a series of pictures side by side.

The first picture showed the strange bird standing next to a body with others surrounding them crouching over. Some had their eyes covered and some held on to another person. The second picture showed a single water drop, nothing else just a fucking drop of water. In the third picture a strange beam came from the body lying on the ground. In the last picture the body now stood as well as the others as they hugged one another. What the fuck is this? How the fuck does a little water drop make everyone happy. Shaking my head I put the parchment in my coat pocket deciding that I would look it over again later.

Looking back at the bags I noticed something glissen, going over to the bags I felt my eyes widen as I stared down at a single silver key. I picked the key and search around the area for the rest of the blonde's keys. Suddenly a crow landed on top of the bag that belonged to Lucy squawking as I reached for the bag. Scowling I glared at the ugly little rat with wings.

"Fuck off." I grabbed the bag attempting to knock the thing off of it only to have the creature begin pecking at my hands.

"Do you make a habit of stalking young ladies sir?" I groaned hearing the all too familiar voice of that damn crow spirit of Blondie's, Corvus.

"What the hell do you want?" I stood turning to look at the creep.

"Well Lucy-sama left my key her with the hopes that maybe someone would stumble upon it." The crow spirit said in a hushed voice.

"So where are the rest of her keys then?" I asked looking around the ground where I had spotted the silver key.

"She sent them to the Celestial Spirit World so they would be safe. She feared that the enemy would use her keys against her in some manner and force her into summoning the spirit they need. With her keys in the Celestial World they can't threaten her too much seeing as Freed was needed alive and Natsu is still nowhere to be found and Gray in a little ways further barely breathing. Virgo has done what she could to patch the ice mage up but he took incredible damage." Corvus began walking forward until we reach the area where Freed had been when we last spoke.

I glanced around the area the smell of blood being a little stronger with Freed's scent mixed with the blonde's and something else. Looking around I seen the local stripper or what I believed to be him leaned against a tree with a pool of blood beneath him. The kid really took a fucking beating but as the crow had said the maid spirit did what she could to bandage the kid up. His bandages weren't making much of a difference blood seeped through the cloth as his breathing grew shallow with every breath.

"Fuck." I cursed under my breath.

I couldn't leave the little shit here he would fucking die if something wasn't done soon. I stood there for what seemed like a century struggling to decide what I knew I needed to do. I had to get him back to the guild so Porlyusica could heal him otherwise he would die. On the other hand I wanted to rush off to go get Blondie before anything could happen to her. I knew she would be sad though if Gray died hell I bet she would be the type to blame herself for it too. So there I was trying to decide what to do as I glance between the bleeding and battered Gray and the path to the town where I knew the blonde would be. Sighing I knew I couldn't be the one to let this guy die, after all he tried to talk Lucy out of the insane notion to stay and find Natsu. Hell he did everything he could to just get back to warn her.

"I don't suppose you could take this one back to the guild so I could go after Blondie." I sigh glancing at the crow spirit.

"Sadly no, not without him taking my key with him. You'll be needing my help in collecting Lucy-sama from this dark guild seeing as I can sense her and conceal your aura from the enemy. I am able to open my own gate but I cannot stray too far from my key." I nodded looking around the area one last time.

"Well he's gonna bleed out before we can get him to the guild." I didn't know if I could teleport with him and didn't really wanna risk him dying from being electrocuted.

"Place my key in his shirt pocket I shall teleport him and you will meet me. After we have seen this one taken care of we will save Lucy-sama and the others." I did as he said and watched as he disappeared within the shadows.

"Don't die on my now Blondie." I whispered glancing at the town before transforming into lightning and teleporting away.

It didn't take long for us to reach the guild once the crow reappear from the shadows I took his key from Gray's shirt pocket. I needed to get this little shit taken care of so I could leave and go after Lucy. I knew it wouldn't be that simple though. The old man would have questions and would demand answers before I could even reach the guild doors in an attempt to leave.

"I must return to the Spirit World. I need to save up my strength for when we go after Lucy-sama as I will be running off of my own magic. Call for me once you reach the area they camped at again." Nodding my head I threw Gray over my shoulder as Corvus faded away into the shadows.

Busting through the guild doors a few people glance to see who came in. Their faces quickly twist into ones of worried, fear, and rage. Though many people wanted to confront me on the condition the stripper was in no one seemed to have the courage to do so. As always nothing but a bunch of fucking cowards. Heading towards the infirmary I spotted Jet glancing at him he started shaking lightly.

"Well what the fuck are ya gawking at go get that old tree hag." It took him a moment to process what I said before he scurried out of the guild fast as he could. "Someone get the old geezer, Mira come with me." I didn't wait for her to answer as I walked pass the bar.

After momentary shock the guild went into an uproar demanding answers and promising pain to the one who dared to harm their precious nakama. None seemed to get the bigger picture though, not one of them bothered to ask where the rest of the temporary team was. They were unable to see how the blonde wasn't present. How? How could they not notice that she wasn't here? How could they not question if she or the rest of the temporary team were okay? The rage I tried to keep at bay kept rising I wanted to beat them all black and blue for not questioning the well being of her.

"Laxus! What happened?" Mira questioned as I put Gray on one of the beds closest to the medical supplies.

Honestly I didn't really have the desire to reply much less how to explain it. I didn't know that much other than Lucy and Freed were taken and Natsu most likely had his mind taken over. Sure I knew they wanted Blondie to summon some spirit but other than that I really didn't have any information. Taking my silence as a sign Mira simply began looking over Gray's wounds and pulling out what she thought Porlyusica would need. She worked quickly preparing the area and removing Gray's shirt. It didn't take much longer for the old geezer to enter along with Porlyusica.

"Get out of here so I can work without the stink of ya. The sooner this is done the better I can't stand being around so many filthy humans." She glared removing the bandages from around Gray's torso, quickly we shuffled out of the room.

"Laxus my office." I sighed knowing it was unavoidable before making my way up the stairs after the old man. "Explain to me what happened from the beginning."

"Freed and his team were attacked I told you already old man." I growled.

"Yes but I know you aren't being complete on honest with me my boy. You're my grandson and I've raised you Laxus I know when you hiding something or lying. Now out with what you know."

"The fuck you wanna know old man! The more time I sit here telling you shit that doesn't matter is another minute lost! They knew Blondie and her team were coming! They want to make her summon some damn spirit that can kill her! They needed Freed alive for some reason and I don't know. Some fucker from Ghoul Spirit attacked them and took them. We are wasting time talking I need to go after them before Blondie gets hurt!" I roared frustrated with all the time I've wasted being here.

"Blondie? You mean Lucy?" I froze realizing the mistake I made in my little outburst. "Well, well my boy you have fine taste. Had I known you wanted to save her to win her affections I wouldn't have questioned you." I stood there for a moment shocked at his assumptions. "Well what are you waiting for off you go. I expect many lovely grandchildren from you." He smiled one of his is famous shit eating grins as I left his office.

Walking back down the steps I realized just how bad I fucked up. He would never let me hear the end of this and worst be it if Mira ever found out. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of the she-demon demanding babies. No one knew just how crazy or scary the former S - Class mage was. Glancing at the lacrima clock I silently curse I wasted over an hour here. Nearing the guild doors I felt something tug on my coat stopping me in my tracks and turning ready to lash the fool how dared to touch it. Turning I seen the little blue hair mage Freed would speak with when stumped with something about one of those ancient languages.

"I-I'm sorry L-Laxus b-but I was w-worried about L-Lu-chan she didn't c-come in with y-you." She stuttered her legs shaking slightly from fear.

"Tell me kid you know many different languages right?" I asked her watched as she shook her head yes. "Good I need a little help from you."

XXX

Well first off I'm so very sorry about leaving you all in the dark for so long. It seems I can't catch a break my computer crashed on me around Christmas time. So I am posting this chapter from my friend's computer. Hopefully I will be able to replace mine soon so I can update more. Just know that I haven't abandoned this or my other story I am just in a pickle! Thanks for the continued support and reviews. Also again I'm sorry for any spelling errors I am on limited time so I don't really get a chance to read through this too many times.

**Midnights Fireflies**