Chapter Four:

"Laxus! Laxus!"

Laxus opened his eyes, grumbling when he saw it was still dark out. Why was someone-

Wait, that was a man's voice. There were no men who lived in this house except him! Who was snooping around his house?

Laxus jolted straight up, straining his ears for any noise of any intruder.

"Mmm-axush…" Mirajane stirred slightly in the bed next to him as she turned towards him, with a bit difficulty given her rather large baby-bump.

"Go back to sleep," Laxus said, gently running a hand over her hair.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a small yawn.

"Just thought I heard something. It's probably nothing but I'll check it out anyways. You get some rest."

Laxus slipped out of the bed and headed out into the hallway. He knew he'd heard a voice, a male's voice, and seeing as he and Cato were the only two males who lived in this house that meant someone was lurking about. Of course he didn't tell Mirajane that. She didn't need to worry she needed rest. The baby was due any day now.

Laxus cautiously made his way to the livingroom and saw that the communication lacrima was on, Jellal's face shimmering within it.

"Laxus! There you-"

"Don't scare me like that you blue-haired freak!" Laxus scolded a bit louder than he meant to. "I thought someone had broken in!"

"I'm sorry, but there's something you must know-" Jellal said before going into the whole story. Laxus listened intently, brow furrowing deeper and deeper by the minute.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that there is a serial killer on the loose and that my wife could be the next person on their hit list?" Laxus asked in a half-concerned, half-enraged voice.

Jellal sighed from the other side of the communication lacrima. "As of now that's only a theory. But every victim thus far has been a woman, an S Class wizard, a mother, and has either had blond or white hair, all of which are qualities that Mirajane possesses."

Laxus gripped his hand into a fist, his brow grimacing into a deep frown.

"Erza told me of another woman who fits that description within your guild, a Reina Orlando I believe?" Jellal asked.

"Yeah, she came here from Phoenix Grave after her husband was locked up for beating her and her kids," Laxus said.

"Well, I'd keep an eye on her as well."

"She's not an S Class wizard in Fairy Tail yet, though," Laxus said. "I mean, she was back at her old guild but she has yet to pass our specific trials."

"Still," Jellal sighed. "The fact that she was once an S Class wizard may be enough to put her on this killer's radar. We still haven't found a possible motive or even a person of interest yet, so best to be cautious."

"Right," Laxus nodded, crossing his arms. "How are Lucy and Yukino?"

"Lucy is alright. Scared, but alright."

"And Yukino?"

Jellal sighed. "She's alive. Which is more than we can say for the other three victims."

"Tch," Laxus spat in anger. "Do I need to send someone down there to keep an eye on Lucy in case whoever this is tries to finish what they started?"

"That might be wise," Jellal nodded. "The Fullbisters and Conbolts are already here, but we can never be too safe."

"I'll send Freed, Bixslow, and Lisanna up there tomorrow."

"Very well. Take care of yourself and your family."

"Will do."

Jellal signed off and Laxus stood there, arms still crossed, jaw clenced, brow furrowed. Someone had just tried to kill one of his guildmates, and was possibly going to try and target his wife.

"Tch, whoever they are better hope Jellal gets to them before I do," he muttered to himself. Just then he heard a small sound. A sniffling sob. He turned and walked towards it. It was coming from Farrah's room. Laxus sighed. Of course she'd overheard. She was a dragon slayer, same as him. Her senses weren't quite as sharp as his yet, but they were strong enought that he should have known Jellal's late night cry would wake her too. Laxus carefully pushed the door open. Farrah was sitting on her bed, her knees pulled to her chest as she rested her head upon them and rocked back and forth.

"Farrah?" he asked softly as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Farrah didn't pick her head up, but she did ask in a soft, scared voice:

"Is someone trying to kill Mama?"

Laxus sighed as he sat down next to her and set a hand on her back. "We don't know that for sure, kiddo. Your Uncle Jellal just wants us to play it safe."

Farrah shuddered. "He wouldn't call you in the middle fo the night if he didn't think there was a good chance of it. That means there probably is someone out there trying to-"

"But they won't," Laxus cut her off, setting a hand under her chin and turning her face towards him. Her blue eyes were red from crying, her face soaked with tears. Laxus used his thumb to wipe them away. "You really think I'd let someone take your Mama away from us?"

Farrah turned away from him again. "I know you'll do whatever you can but sometimes...sometimes we can't stop bad things from happening. Just like...just like...like…"

Farrah burst into tears again. Laxus' heart broke. He knew exactly what she was referring to. He pulled her into his lap and hugged her close, rocking her back and forth.

"I'm not going to let you lose another mother, Farrah. I'm going to keep your Mama, the baby, Cato, and you safe. Besides, Jellal and the rest of Crime Sorciere are working on the case as we speak. They'll get this sicko before too long and this whole thing will be over as quickly as it came up. Don't worry about it."

"But what about Aunt Lucy?"

"She's fine. Jut scared is all."

"And...Aunt Yukino…?"

Laxus sighed. "She's still pretty sick, but-"

"She's going to die, isn't she?"

"We don't know that. The healers, Storm, and Wendy are doing everything they can to help her."

"But I though Uncle Jellal said that they used Torbernite poisoning on her."

"Yeah, so?"

Farrah scooted out of his arms and walked to her rather large bookshelf, pulling out a rather large volume of "An Alchemist's Dictionary of Potions."

"I've read about Torbernite poisoning before. It's made specifically for killing wizards. Almost no one survives it."

"Almost no one. But Yukino's a toughie, she'll pull through."

Farrah stopped on a particular page and shook her head. "I don't know about that."

"You read too much, kiddo."

"You said two days ago you were glad I liked reading."

"Yeah, just wish you'd read a romance, or a fantasy every now and then instead of just morbid facts on death."

"Not all my facts or morbid, some of them are fun and interesting."

"Says the girl who owns literally own three volumes of 'Strange, Dark, and Morbid Magical Facts,'" Laxus said as he walked to the book shelf and pulled one of said volumes off the shelf.

Farrah snatched it from him and pointed to the cover. "It's aimed for ages 8 and up, so they can't be that morbid or dark."

"Whatever you say, Sparky," Laxus shrugged, before noticing something. "Why do you have a pamphlet on forbidden spells?"

"Uncle Freed leant it to me."

"You spend too much time with him."

"Aren't you on a team with him?"

"Don't sass me, young lady."

"I'm not sassing, I'm stating a fact. Besides, what's the big deal about a forbidden pamphelt when Mama's magic is called Satan's Soul?"

Laxus shrugged. "I just don't get your fascination with the dark and creepy, that's all."

Farrah shrugged. "I dunno."

Laxus smiled softly as he ruffled her hair. "Go back to sleep, kiddo. It's late."

He turned to walk out, but Farrah stopped him.

"Papa…"

"Hm?"

Farrah hung her head. "I...I just...I'm…"

Laxus knealt down to her level. "It's gonna be okay, sweetie."

"But-"

"It's gonna be okay."

Farrah jut stared at him, eyes brimmed with tears.

"Besides," Laxus continued. "The attack happened in Crocus, which means the killer is probably still there. They won't be able to get here tonight, so don't worry about it tonight."

Farrah nodded slowly. "Okay."

Laxus gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, then led her back to bed and tucked her in. He headed back to his own bedroom. Mirajane had drifted back to sleep, snoring softly. He sat down on his side of the bed, sighing deeply as he set his hand on her belly. He could feel the baby moving around inside her. Should he have felt hypocritical about telling Farrah not to worry when he was scared sick?

He lied down, pulled the blankets over him and then wrapped his arms around Mirajane, pulling her close to him.

No. There was no way that he would let anything happen to her. That killer was not going to get his or her hands on his wife or his baby.

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Minerva hummed softly to herself as she slid a casserole into the oven and closed the door. She shuffled over to a chair and ran a hand over her belly. The baby was still for the moment, probably sleeping. She smiled softly, despite the events of the day. She'd never really pictured herself as a wife and mothe. She was always too focused on being the stongest, showing no weakness. Yet here she was, married to Rogue Cheeney of all people and now carrying their child.

Her smile soon faded though as her mind drifted back to the events of the day. Poor Yukino. Minerva sincerely hoped she'd pulled through. If she didn't…

...It would kill Sting. And poor little Kari. Minerva knew better than anyone what it was like to grow up without a mother. She pushed her thoughts aside as she flipped through her cook books. What could she fix to go along with the casserole to send Sting and Kari's way?

As Minerva flipped through the book she heard a small shuffling noise from the dining room.

"Huh?" she wondered as she looked up. "Rogue, is that you?"

No answer. Minerva frowned as she walked into the dining room. What was that?

As she stepped into the dining room she heard something from behind her. Before Minerva could even turn around she felt a sharp pain across her left arm. She whirled about. There was a figure dressed in all black standing right next to the door leading to the kitchen, a large knife in their hand. Minerva could feel a warm liguid trickling own her arm. She didn't even have to look to know it was blood. The figure lifted the knife again. Minerva teleported out of the way. The figure stumbled forward with their blade met with nothing. Minerva reappeared behind the figure, delivering a strong kick to the back of their head.

The figure stumbled forward a few steps, then whirled back around, swinging their knife towards Minerva again. Minerva leaned back just enough that the knife went over her. She let herself fall into another territory void, teleporting herself away once again. She popped back up behind the attacker, grabbed them by the top of the head and tried to jerk them towards the wall where she could pin them. Instead, she accidentally tore the hood off the attacker's head. A billowing cascade of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple streaked hair fell down the attackers back. They set a hand to the top of their head and then, realizing they'd been unmaksed, took of running. Minerva chased after them, stopping as they ran straight through the dining room wall.

"Denisty magic?" Minerva asked. That would explain how they were able to-

"AUGH!"

Minerva fell to her knees as her arm began burning. She looked down at it and gasped. Rather than blood coming from the gaping wound on her forearm, yellow foam was bubbling out of her arm. Her arm began spazzing and shaking uncontrollably, like it was being electrocuted. The edges of the wound began to blister and boil. Minerva's insides grew cold. She stumbled towards the livingroom and activated the communication lacrima, calling the hospital.

"Send someone quick!" she shouted. "Someone broke into my house and I think they just poisoned me!"

Her arm began to jerk up and down. She could feel an excruciating burn crawling from her forearm, to her elbow, to her shoulder. It would only be a matter of time before it spread to the rest of her body, and to her baby. Minerva gritted her teeth. No. She was not going to let the happen. She pulled herself to her feet, rushed back intot he kitchen and grabbed a meat cleaver from off the wall.

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Knock! Knock! Knock!

Lucy slowly opened her eyes as she heard someone pounding on the door. She sat up. It was still dark out, what on earth was-

Knock! Knock! Knock! "These are the Rune Knights! Open up!"

Lucy gasped as threw the blankets off herself.

"Rune knights?" Natsu asked as he sat up. "What are they doing here?"

"I don't know," Lucy said as she put on a bathrobe.

"What's going on?" Nashi's voice called out as she, Layla, and Igneel shuffled out of their room and into the hall.

"It's okay," Lucy assured them as she headed to the door. All three children watched her with worried eyes as they shuffled towards their parents bed where their father was still seated. Lucy reached for the door's handle and opened it up.

"Hezim!" she gasped as the green hair man met her gaze.

Without even thinking Natsu grabbed Nashi and snatched her close against him. It may have been nine years since Hezim's last and first attempt to steal Nashi away for "observations" but that didn't mean Natsu trusted him one bit.

"Mrs. Dragneel we have reason to believe you are in danger. Come with us," Hezim said matter-of-factly.

"In danger?" Lucy asked.

"We have been informed you were the target of a Torbernite Poisoning attempt alongside Yukino Eucliffe. And just a few minutes ago Minerva Cheney was attacked with the same poison at her home."

"Minerva!" Lucy gasped. "Is she okay?"

"She's in the hospital. Come with us and we'll take you to her."

Lucy nodded and rushed back inside to get the rest of her family ready. Within minutes they were whisked into the Rune Knight's carriage. Despite the torment going on in his belly, Natsu continued to keep a grip on Nashi, not letting her out of his sight or hold for a second as he glared at Hezim. Hezim made no attempt to speak to or even interact with Nashi, though. He just stared at her, eyes narrow, judgemental.

Nashi noticed his gaze and snuggled up closer against Natsu, trying to hide her face in his shirt. Being a Titan Fire wizard, the only Titan Fire wizard to ever exist, she had gotten this look from many people many times. It was a look of distrust. A reminder that she was different from everyone else. That to a good portion of the population she would always be considered dangerous or wrong. At this point she should have been used to it, but she wasn't.

Natsu sensed Nashi drawing closer against him. Figuring it was because Nashi had caught onto Hezim's accusing gaze Natsu held her closer and glowered in the commander's direction.

Layla shifted her gaze from Nashi, to Natsu, to Hezim, and back. She'd been watching intently from where she was seated next to her father. He shifted uneasily for a little while, then reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys. She held one up, then brought it to her mouth and began whispering to it.

Suddenly a red lamp, like a genie's lamp, appeared in front of Hezim. He blinked, for once caught completely off guard. A poof of read smoke appeared and a woman with red skin, red hair, and dressed in a red belly dancer's outfit appeared. She sauntered over to Hezim, leaned down, and whispered in his ear.

"Hi, Misbah here, I'm contracted to the little cutie over there, and she told me to tell you that if you don't stop giving her big sister dirty looks I'll have to smack you."

Hezim blnked again, startled as he turned and looked a the blond little girl staring at him with an indignant look on her face. He had half a mind to say something about how threatening an officer of the Rune Knights could land little girls into big trouble, then decided it was not worth it and turned to look back at his men.

"That's better," Misbah said. "Besides, you should stare at people anyways. Rude!"

And with that she disappeared. Layla put her keys back and then hugged her Molly Dolly to her chest. She was worried about Auntie Minerva. And Auntie Yukino. And Mommy. What if-

Before she could finish that thought she felt a weight on her shoulder. Igneel, who had been sitting next to her, hand fallen back asleep and had chosen to use her head as a pillow. Well, at least he didn't look too worried.

The rest of the carriage ride was silent. After what seemed like an excruciating wait they finally arrived at the hospital and the Rune knights escorted the Dragneel family inside. They were brough up to the same ward that Yukino was being kept in, only now Minerva was also there, lying on a cot, writhing in pain, a bloody kitchen towel rapped around her elbow. Sting and Sorano were by her side, trying their best to comfort her as Yukino was currently sleeping, looking peaceful for once. Lucy raced toward Minerva, gasping when she noticed that there was nothing below the elbow wrapped in the bloody cloth.

"Minerva!?" she screeched. "What happened to your-"

"AUGH!" Minerva shouted as she began trembling. "Where's Rogue?"

"On his way," Sorano promised. "He said he was only a few minutes out last we-"

"It would seem some of the poison made it way into the rest of your system before you took your arm," the same healer from before stated.

Took her own arm? Lucy thought. But why?

"What does that mean?" Minerva asked.

"It means you have acute Torbernite poisoning," the healer said.

"And she's pregnant!" the nurse said.

"Yes," the healer nodded slowly. "If it were just her I'd say as small as the dose is she might be able to fight it off. But with the baby-"

"Get it out!" Minerva shouted as her trembling increased. "Get it out now!"

"Neutralizing your magic energy is too risky given you-"

"Not the poison, the baby, get it out!" Minerva said.

"You do realize that to perform a caesarean section on you now would only weak your-"

"I don't care, get it out!" Minerva screamed.

The healer nodded and grabbed a lacrima. "I need an OR prepped, and STAT!"

The nurse began to wheel Minerva out of the room. Lucy and the rest of the Dragneels could only watch as she was taken out. Hezim followed after them, askign Minerva if she saw any defining features.

Lucy thought she could hear Minerva say something about rainbow hair.

Rainbow hair?

The woman who had given her and Yukino the sample drinks had rainbow hair…

Lucy began looking about the room. One of the nurses had left a pen and clipboard on the counter. Lucy grabbed the pen and then looked for somethign to draw on. All she found was a napkin next to an untouched tray of food that had no doubt been brought fro Sting and Sorano. She picked it up and began sketching on it. As she worked Rogue busted into the room, gasping for breath, sweating profusely.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"They just wheeled her off to surgery," Sting said. "Their going to do an emergency C-Section to get the baby out so it doesn't-"

"Where are they?" Rogue asked.

"I just told you," Sting sighed. "They're going into ope-"

"No," Rogue lifted his head, eyes blazing. "Where is the person who did this to her?"

"We don't know," Lucy said as she finished her sketch and stood up. "But she said whoever attacked her had rainbow hair. The woman who gave me and Yukino the poisoned samples also had rainbow hair. Here's a sketch of what she looked like," Lucy held the sketch out to Rogue. He took it and examined it.

"You're certain this is who gave you that drink?" he asked.

Lucy nodded. Rogue hadned the napkin back to her.

"Thank you," and with that he turned and left.

"Hey, pal, where do you think you're going?" Sting yelled after him. "Rogue come back! Rogue! Rogue!"