Chapter Twelve:

"Easy my man," Ichiya said as he lifted (with a bit of difficulty) a panting Cato into his arms. "Seems you've overdone it. I smell almost no magic energy in your parfume."

"What is going on?" Ren asked as he surveyed over all of the children.

"Well, you see, what had happened was…" Persephone stated before going into the full story. As she spoke Nashi stared down into the crater where Storm was still fuming. She said nothing, but the wheels were turning inside of her head.

"Whatever you're planning, don't do it," Roman warned her.

"So everytime we defeat a clone it'll just disappear until she makes a new one…" Nashi mused.

"I said whatever you are planning don't do it!" Roman shouted.

Nashi ignored him

"Atlas," a voice whispered from somewhere, as well as the same "Iapetus," from before.

"Hm?" Nashi asked, looking about. "What was that."

"I said don't do anything stupid!" Roman repeated.

"Not you, someone else," Nashi stated flatly.

"There's no one else talking to you, Nashi," Roman answered, a bit of a concerned tone in his voice. "Are you okay? Do you need to sit down? Did you over do it too?"

"I'm fine," Nashi waved him off as she continued thinking.

Meanwhile Persephone had finished telling her tale. Hibiki clutched Jenny close to her chest, eyes wide.

"So someone was coming here to kill me and take our baby boy!?" Jenny shrieked.

"Yup," Persephone nodded. "And Aunt Sherry."

Ren clenched his fists closed, jaw tight at the thought of someone attacking his heavily pregnant wife.

"And you six were able to fight her off?" Eve asked.

"So where is this monster of a woman, man?" Ichiya wondered.

"Well, turns out to only be a clone of her," Persephone explained. "She disappeared right after we defeated her. We know where her other clones are, though...kinda…"

Persephone downloaded the map into the Blue Pegasus members minds.

"How'd you do this?" Hibiki asked.

"I got a bit of blood off her during our fight at home and used it to track her whereabouts," Persephone said.

"You what?" Hibiki blinked.

"Yeah. That's also how I found out there were clones to begin with. I analyzed the magic energy in her blood to find out what kinds of magic she can use."

"Uh, bu-uh, huh?" Hibiki stuttered. "And, um, what did you say you used to save your mom?"

"Protective Cube with a IMEorB lock."

"A what?" Koree asked. "Individual Magic Energy or Blood lock. That's why only me, you, Mom or Dad can get into 'em."

"H-h-how long have you been able to do that?" Hibiki stuttered.

"Hm. Looks like the student has surpassed the teacher, Man!" Ichiya mused.

"No true!" Hibiki thundered.

Meanwhile, Nashi was still deep in thought at the edge of the crater. If beating a clone makes it disappear, what happens if you beat the actual person? Would all the clones disappear?

"Well, come on, we better get your kids to our Guild Hall," Ren said, motioning to all the children to follow them. "We'll let Master Bob know what's happened."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"WHAT ON EARTHLAND!?" Erik thundered as the hospital was engulfed in a bright light just minutes after they'd left.

"Laxus, isn't that-" Gray began.

"That's Fairy Law," Laxus nodded as he began running back to the hospital. "That creep must be in the hospital. Why else would someone cast that spell?"

"Juvia!" Gray gasped as he took off after the guild master.

"Yukino!" Sting shouted as he too ran off.

"And...there goes my back up," Erik sighed. "Well, guess I'm going solo," he sighed as he turned and slumped his way towards the black markets.

The three men made their way inside just as the light dimmed. Gray all but pushed past Laxus to make his way up the staircase and to the recovery room where Juvia and the other two victims were placed.

"JUVIA!" he shrieked as he pushed the door open.

He was shocked to be met by the sight of Rogue clutching Minerva close to him. At first his heart sank.

No, don't tell me Minerva's-

He gasped as Rogue leaned back a little to reveal Minerva was perfectly fine, smiling brightly as Rogue held their son out for her to meet. Tears brimmed her eyes as she stroked the baby's hair.

"Why, hello there…" she whispered.

"Yukino!" Sting shouted as he rushed passed Gray and to Yukino's bedside. It was only then that Yukino had been sitting upright, hugging Soran.

"Sting!" Yukino called as she jumped to her feet and ran into her husband's arms.

Sting held her close, tears rolling down his face. "Oh thank goodness, thank goodness."

Gray turned to the bed at the end of the room and slowly walked to it. Juvia was seated upright, hands folded in her lap.

"Juvia?"

She turned to him, a soft smile on her lips. "Gray."

Gray rushed to her, grabbing her face with both hands and passionately kissing her on the lips. She sighed as she kissed him back, hands getting lost and tangled in his hair.

"You're okay," he whispered when they broked for air, only to dive back in for another kiss. "You're okay!"

Juvia nodded as he began peppering her face in kisses. He wrapped his arms around her neck and held her as close to him as possible, tears running down his face.

"Gray, the children-"

"Are fine," Gray told her. "Their fine. You're fine. We're all going to be okay."

Juvia smiled as she wrapped her arms around his middle.

"I love you," Gray kissed her cheek. "I love you. I love you so much!"

"I love you too," Juvia whispered back, craning her neck to kiss his lips once again.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"This way, Mama, it's okay," Farrah said as she helped her mother back through the hallway.

"Mira! Farrah!"

"Papa?" Farrah asked as she saw her father running down the hall.

"Laxus!" Mirajane called.

"Are you okay?" Laxus asked as he reached his wife's side.

"Not exactly," Mirajane answered. "This little one decided it wants to come today," she patted her belly.

"Wait, what!?" Laxus asked. "The baby's coming!"

"Mm-hm," Mirajane nodded as she winced from another contraction. "And Cato...Cato...oof!"

"What's wrong with Cato?" Laxus asked Farrah as Mirajane couldn't speak through the contraction.

"We don't know, he's missing," Farrah said. "He went missing right before that killer lady showed up."

"SHE'S HERE!?"

"Was. She disappeared after I cast Fairy Law."

"THAT WAS YOU!?"

"Mm-hm."

"Since when have you been able to cast Fairy Law?"

"Since about ten minutes ago," Farrah shrugged.

"How-whatever, where's Cato?"

"We don't know, that's why he's missing!" Farrah exclaimed.

"What's going on!?"

The three Dreyars turned to find Lucy running towards them, pushing Natsu in his wheelchair in front of her.

"Cato, Roman, Storm, and Nashi," Farrah explained. "They're missing. And the killer was just here so she might have taken them."

"WHAT!?" both Dragneels shrieked.

"AUGH!" Mirajane cried in pain.

"Farrah, get your mother to the birthing ward, and take Natsu with you. Lucy, you're with me. She was just here she couldn't have gotten far."

"Oh, come on!" Natsu grumbled as he was forced to go along with Farrah and Mirajane.

Lucy and Laxus began running back to the waiting ward where the battle had taken place. Erza was there, filling in Jellal on all that had happened.

"...doesn't make sense," Jellal was saying.

"What doesn't make sense?" Lucy asked as she and Laxus reached their sides.

"Erza was telling me that there was no sign of anything wrong until right before Elena Alteria showed up," Jellal said. "Had she truly taken Roman and his friends we would have known it before then. Roman's not one to go down without a fight."

"Yeah, neither is Nashi," Lucy nodded.

"Or Cato for that matter. And that Storm ain't a shy little thing either."

"So what happened to them?" Erza asked.

The doors to the hospital busted open and in raced Gajeel and Levy.

"RUGRATS, ARE Y'ALL HERE!?" Gajeel shouted.

"The twins are missing too!?" Lucy gasped.

"Yes," Levy said in a hoarse voice, stumbling forward. Everyone gasped at the bruising surrounding her neck.

"Levy what happened to you!?" Erza exclaimed.

"Well, see, I was asleep on the couch when-" Levy roughly began to recount the horrifying ordeal from earlier.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Girls, I'm home!" Gajeel called as he pushed the door of his house open. He was quickly taken aback by the mess of the house. He let out a sigh.

"Rugrats, did you two get into a wrestling match agai-"

He stopped as he took a step inside. He smelled something weird, someone who was either his wife nor his daughters had been in his house!

He rushed further in and gasped when he saw Levy, bloodied and bruised, clutching her stomach and groaning loudly as she lay in the floor, trapped inside a cube.

"Levy!" Gajeel yelled, rushing forward and punching at the cube. Turns out he didn't need the force of the smash because the minute he touched it the cube fizzled away. Gajeel dropped to his knees and scooped his wife into his arms.

"Levy!"

"Ga-Gajeel?" she asked, straining to open her swollen eyes.

"Hey, shush," Gajeel ran a hand over her hair. "I gotcha, Lev. You're alright, just tell me who did this to ya."

"Ga-Gajeel…" Levy croaked, voice hoarse. "The girls…"

"The girls!?" Gajeel looked about. There was no sign of Koree or Persephone anywhere. Even their scent was fading. "What happened to the girls, where are they!?"

"I think...I think they're going to Crocus…" Levy whispered as she began explaining the story.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed as she finished telling her tale. "I couldn't get out and help them. I just-"

"Hey, now," Gajeel cradled her close to her chest. "It's alright. You're gonna be okay that's all that matters, now-"

Gajeel stood up, carrying Levy in his arms. "Now, let's go get our girls!"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"After Gajeel came home and let me out of the cube I told him everything that happened. I heard them say something about back up so I assumed they came to find their friends here. We took a horse and raced here as quickly as we could. But you said the other four are missing too?"

"This makes no sense," Erza said. "How could Elena have been attacking you if she was attacking Mirajane and myself around the same time?"

"I might be able to answer that," came a voice from seemingly inside their heads.

"Hibiki?" Lucy asked.

"Hello, Lucy. None of you need worry, we have your children with us and they are safe."

All of the parents sighed in relief.

"Wait, how'd they end up with you?" Laxus asked.

"A bit of a long story…"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"...we're on the train back to Crocus now, we'll meet you at the hospital," Hibiki said as he disconnected the telepathic link and turned back to the six children they had with them, in particular Persephone.

Persephone sat cross-legged, her grumbling and motion sick sister's head rested in her lap. She was studying a screen in front of her, brows furrowed.

Hibiki sighed. He could tell her magic energy was lower than normal but nowhere as low as he assumed it would be after all she'd done. He was right when he said she hadn't surpassed him in skill...yet. She was getting very close, though. If her were being honest there was not much else he could teach her.

He turned and looked at Cato. His magic energy was starting to replenish thanks to all the snacks he and the other Trimen had given him. Eve, Ichiya, Ren, and even Jenny were practically stuffing him with cakes, cookies, and sodas.

He deserved the spoiling, though. He'd recreated a very complicated spell that must have taken his father days to accomplish! Granted, it was only a small version of Laxus' original Thunder Palace, but still, it was quite impressive.

And to think these two were once considered the weaklings of the bunch. That late bloomers had now come back with a vengeance!

Suddenly Persephone gasped, eyes wide.

"What's wrong?" Hibiki asked.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Erik grumbled as he shuffled through the black market. Figures, he finally, actually ASKS for back-up and they all dump him. Figures. He tried to block out all the vapid conversations going on around him as he made his way to the dealer's stand who had bragged about selling Torbernite crystals before and made his way in.

"Hello, hello," the dealer said as Erik sauntered forward. "How can I help you, kind sir?"

"I hear you're a pretty popular guy," Erik answered, brows furrowing a little bit. He'd seen this guy before, but from where exactly?

"Oh?" the man arched an eyebrow. "And who might that be?"

"A lady by the name of Elena Alteria."

Schwing!

Erik took a step back as a knife appeared from under the man's desk and pointed straight at him.

"And why do you wanna know about Miss Alteria!?" he thundered.

"Yeesh, calm down will ya? I'm just looking for someone to help me out with a heist, that's all!" Granted, it wasn't the best story Erik had ever come up with, but the dealer seemed to buy it because he ever so slightly lowered his weapon.

"Oh?" he asked.

"I heard she's a master of density magic. I need someone to sneak into the vault of one of the big wigs on the magic council. Old timer's got a thing against me, you see?" Erik wasn't quite sure where he was going with this story, but hey, he was winging it. He was not expecting the dealer to care so much for his client. "He recently got his hands on some documents that could spell trouble for me. I need her to go swipe those papers so I can destroy them. I'm willing to pay her handsomely for it, obviously. And anything she wants to take out of the vault for herself is fine by me."

"What did ya do to make a magic councilman so angry?" the dealer asked.

"Oh, you know…" Erik shrugged, trying to come up with something. Anything! "I...erm...slept with his daughter. Hey, we met at a bar! It was a one night stand! I had no clue who she was!"

"Pfft!" the dealer rolled his head back and laughed. "Oh, that's rich! Alright, kid, alright! I'll help you out. Unfortunately Miss Alteria doesn't like letting people know her location. A bit of the secretive type, ya know? But she's scheduled to come visit me at about 8 tonight. Come by then and she and you can talk."

"Thanks," Erik slipped off. Well, that didn't go according to plan-

"He's onto us…"

Erik stopped and strained to listen.

"...and with two of your clones taken out, I think we need to do something quick!"

"Agreed," a woman's voice answered. "We should-"

"Eavesdropping are you?"

Erik turned just in time to be punched square in the face. He toppled over but jumped back to his feet. Standing before him was a massive man, his entire right arm encased in green crystals.

"That little trick ain't gonna work on me," Erik said as he stood back to his feet as the other buyers and sellers at the market began to scatter. "Poisonous crystals may weaken any other opponent, but I'm a poison dragon-slayer! Those things are only gonna make me stronger!"

"Are you certain?" the man asked as he waved his other hand at Erik. A blast of green and black gas shot at him. Erik dodged it, but barely. As it passed by him he caught a whiff of something.

"No way," he muttered.

"Did you not wonder how I was able to cast Torbernite Crystals upon my body without weakening myself?" the opponent asked as he stepped forward.

"You...you're a-"

"That's right," the man bowed in a mocking way. "Allow me to introduce myself, Laertes, the Poison god-slayer!"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Well, now that we know the children are safe," Jellal sighed in relief as he turned back to the other parents. "Laxus, go to your wife so you can be by her side when your new child is born."

Laxus didn't need telling twice and raced off.

"Levy, you should probably let a healer look at you," Jellal continued once Laxus was gone.

"I'm fine," Levy tried to reassure him, but Gajeel grabbed her arm and dragged her off.

"No you ain't, now c'mon."

As the Redfoxes would stomped off, Jellal's lacrima began to buzz. He held it up, revealing a reflection of Richard's face in the orb that floated above it.

"Report?" Jellal asked.

"Jellal, I've just gotten done talking to the Gramlush Guild Master. Apparently there's a reason why Elena Alteria has been reported as missing," Richard said.

"Oh?" Jellal asked, Erza drawing closer to him to listen.

"She ran away after she learned she was going to be formally expelled from the guild."

"Expelled?" Erza asked.

"As you know, once you've been expelled from a guild it's difficult to join another. Guild Masters will start to wonder why you were expelled in the first place. And in Elena's case, there was good reasons for her expulsion. You see, Miss Alteria seemed to have had an infatuation with Gramlush's guild master. She was constantly flirting with him, trying to seduce him, even though he was already in a relationship. About a month or so before her expulsion the Master's girlfriend found out she was pregnant. Three weeks later one of the guild's members walked in on Miss Alteria working on developing a spell she called "Infant's Re-homing." Essentially this spell, once perfected, would allow her to use her density magic to steal a woman's unborn child and place it in her own womb to grow."

"What!?" Jellal exclaimed.

"That's insane! Why would she do that!?" Erza asked.

"Clearly she wanted to steal the master's baby from his girlfriend so that she could birth it. She thought if she carried his child he would love her. Once he found out he threatened to expel her, so she disappeared. He filled out a missing wizard report as is the law, but has not made any efforts to try and find her."

"I can understand why…" Jellal nodded.

"What is this woman's obsession with stealing other women's children!?" Erza all but thundered. "If she wants children so bad why not have her own!?"

"Because she can't," Richard answered plainly.

"What?" Jellal asked.

"Years ago Miss Alteria was the wife to the Holy Hound's fifth Guild Master, Juven Alteria. Erza, you may be unaware of this, but for about the first three years after you and the others disappeared on Tenrou Island the Holy Hounds guild was one of the, if not the top guild in Fiore. This is of course before Jiemma took over Sabertooth, and before the accident."

"Accident?" Erza asked.

"While on their way to a job several Holy Hounds wizards were killed in a freak accident," Jellal explained. "A railroad bridge crossing a chasm snapped, sending the train and all of its passengers into the river rapids below."

"Juven was killed," Richard continued. "And Elena was impaled by some of the shrapnel. She survived, obviously, but the accident left her barren. She cannot conceive children of her own."

"Oh," Erza nodded, almost feeling sorry for Elena.

Almost.

"Hm…" another voice on the lacrima mused. Jellal swapped over to find Sawyer making contact. "Seems she developed a pattern of sorts after the accident. Talked to the Titan Nose guild master. Apparently they DID go out for a little while, until he found out she was flippin' insane and broke the relationship off. She didn't quite get the memo, though, and started stalking him. He finally had to ask her to leave the guild, which she did, and then went to Gramlush."

"A similar thing occurred at Phoenix Grave," Macbeth's voice called. "It appears Elena Alteria and the former guild master, Mace Orlando were having an affair. Once Mace was sent to prison, though, she left the guild."

Erza bit her tongue. Reina, Mace's wife, was now a part of Fairy Tail. She shuddered to think of telling Reina her husband had been cheating on her as well as beating her and her children. Then again, Reina may have already figured it out.

"It seems she's trying to recapture her glory days," Jellal mused. "It still doesn't quite make sense. I can see why she'd want to remarry to another powerful Guild Master. I can even see how someone that twisted would think stealing a baby would help her attain her goals. But why kill a bunch of innocent women who did nothing to her."

"I might have an answer for that," Erza said.

Jellal turned to her, eyes wide with curiosity.

"While we were fighting Elena seemed angry at me. She said something about taking what's rightfully hers, and how it's unfair that I had something she didn't. I think she's misdirecting her anger and grief from the accident onto myself and the other mothers she's attacked."

"Hm…" Jellal pondered. "Perhaps…"

Just then the ground began to shake and a whirring sound filled the air.

"What's happening?" Erza asked.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Persephone, what's wrong?" Hibiki asked as the little girl's eyes went wide.

"They're back!" Persephone shouted. "The clones are all back! And they're all…"

She furrowed her brow as the rest of the children drew closer, then gasped. "They're all headed to the hospital where our parents are!"

"Remain calm, we'll be there soon," Ichiya assured the children, but a bit too late.

"We gotta help them!" Nashi shouted, holding her hand out. "Styx!"

Before any of the Blue Pegasus members could stop them, all six children had disappeared through the portal.