All the Slayers, except for Wendy who had gone back to the guild to tell them what they had found, moved towards the coroners office at the Magnolia police station. The three young men entered the room without a word, gagging slightly on the overpowering scent of death and charred skin that assaulted their heightened sense of smell. Natsu and Gajeel held back as Laxus tearfully moved to the centre of the cold, dimly lit room to where two bodies hid under pale crisp sheets. The tears fell freely as Laxus inspected the body of his first crush Mira. The flesh had been charred and melted to the bone by the fire but the spike that had been driven through her head had been left until the Slayers could get there to investigate it themselves.

"Gajeel, what kind of metal is this?" Gajeel moved silently to the body of Mira, careful to plug his nose. Though technically classified as a Dragon Slayer Laxus was second generation, not first. He had the powers of a Dragon because of the lacrima inserted in his body which did give him some heightened senses, but nothing near what the first generation that included Natsu and Gajeel had. Holding his breath Gajeel sliced a small bit off of the spike with a transformed index finger and walked over to the sink. In the background Natsu had found some blades and was quickly trying to figure out how many he could juggle. Making sure there wasn't any leftover blood from his cleaning job Gajeel popped the piece of metal in his mouth. After a few seconds he looked over at Laxus

"It's iron. Pure iron. Never tasted anything better in my life if we're gonna be honest." A yelp distracted the two as Natsu jumped in the air dodging the scalpels he had failed to juggle as they went by his sandalled feet. Red faced he quickly picked them back up and put them back where they belonged.

"Where would they find something like that? I mean it's gotta be a pretty specialty item right? Pure iron isn't something you just accidentally step on!"

"Salamander's got a point. I don't know where you would find this though, it'd be pretty expensive. Can we talk about this back at the guild? The stench is killing me." The three quickly left the precinct and headed for the guild but halfway there Gajeel split off towards Fairy Hills.

"Gonna see if the shrimp has any books about iron we can use. Every damn book in Magnolia is in her room so she as have at least one that can give us a clue as to where we can find some." Natsu and Laxus nodded their consent and kept walking through the shivering crowds of people, barely noticing the cold winds that plagued the streets. Upon entering the guild the two found Wendy and Lucy talking with Makarov at the bar in the back. Even though it was the middle of the day the only ones there were Gray, Juvia, the Raijinshu, Lisanna, Cana and Elfman who were all in a corner comforting each other. Erza was also there though she was leaning on the railing of the balcony, looking over the guild with her hair falling to cover her face. She didn't want anybody to see that she had been and still was crying for her best friend and rival.

"Natsu, Laxus. Wendy tells me it's somebody in the guild doing this." Most people wouldn't have heard Makarov whispering but to the Slayers it was clear as day. Laxus moved to lean beside his grandfather as he made their report.

"Yeah. We went to the coroners office as well. The spike used to kill Mira was pure iron according to Gajeel. I don't know who would have the funds or the time to buy something like that though but to grate it to such a fine point would take a lot of skill." Makarov nodded as he listened, trying to put all the pieces together.

"Good work kids. It's about to get dark so go home now. You all head home as well and be safe! I don't want to have to bury any more of my children." At that point the guild doors swung open and Gajeel strode in carrying a stack of books with the wind swirling past him and into the guild; filling the nostrils of the Slayers.

"Hey guys I got some books-" A bolt of lightning went through the books and into Gajeel's chest. A look of shock spread across his face as a white hot bullet of fire went through his stomach a second later. Still standing Gajeel coughed up dark red blood while trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Able to take out Mira in one shot." Laxus muttered.

"Pure iron grated to the finest point" Natsu snarled.

"We knew that smell was familiar." Wendy raised a finger and pointed it at Gajeel's head. A small stream of air shot faster than any bullet ever could straight through the point between Gajeel's eyes, killing him instantly. He toppled backwards sending paper everywhere as Lisanna and Juvia fell to their knees screaming. Erza jumped from the balcony and broke the boards she landed on as she ran to where the body of the Iron Dragon Slayer lay.

"I- I don't- he couldn't have." Lucy was crying and shaking as she stared at the three Dragon Slayers who were still alive. "But he was Levy's- oh God." The blonde threw up under the stress of comprehending what she had just witnessed. Wendy, realizing what she had just done, fainted into the arms of Natsu who cradled her close to his chest. The rest of the guild was deadly silent. Erza stood from the body Gajeel and turned to look at Natsu and Laxus.

"You just killed. Do you realize that? You just killed and not only that but you allowed Wendy TO HELP YOU!" The two Slayers faced her with silence, not willing to say anything. Tears started to flow freely down her cheeks as she screamed at them. "YOU DIDN'T WAIT! YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT'LL HAPPEN WHEN WENDY WAKES UP! SHE'S 12 YEARS OLD YOU FUCKING MONSTERS!" Erza went to charge but a hand rested on her right shoulder, spinning her around and embracing her in a large hug. She didn't need to look to see who it was, she was just happy he had finally shown up. Jellal looked to Makarov and nodded as he held a weeping Erza.

"Better late than never."

Lucy, finally recovering from the shock of it all, stumbled her way to Natsu.

"Natsu please. Let's just go home okay?" Natsu looked at her and nodded silently. Turning he walked to Elfman and put Wendy in his arms without saying a word. As he walked Lucy out he turned and looked to Makarov.

"Don't tell Levy until tomorrow. I think if anybody should do it, it should be Lucy." Makarov nodded silently and watched the two walk past Jellal and the still crying Erza. Makarov sighed.

"I fear tomorrow may be a hard day for us all."

Next week, the repercussions of the actions just taken! Reviews are as always welcome!