Chapter Seventy-Two

"Ouch…ouch…ouch." Lisanna rested her head against the panel in front of her and she softly kept tapping her way along the panels.

"What are you doing?" A soft voice asked and she rolled her forehead on the panel and met the concerned gaze of a male. She offered a weak smile and rolled her head back the other way.

"Trying to find the restroom."

"Here, let me help." He stepped forward and held his arm out and she took it. Surprised by how strong he felt under the long sleeve shirt he was wearing. He led her to the correct panel and it opened and he helped her in before stepping back out. Lisanna wanted to be embarrassed but she was too tired to be. And too sore. Everything was sore, even her hair felt sore. She used the restroom, washed her hands and face and then hobbled out.

"Here…where to now?" The male was still there, waiting.

"Oh, you can go back to your room." Lisanna blushed, "I can find…"

"I can't sleep." The male interrupted. "Please, let me help."

"I'm starving." She said and he grinned and nodded. "And so so thirsty."

"Lets get you food and drink then." He grinned and she nodded and let him wrap his arm around her shoulder and lead her towards the front of the shuttle. Like Magi-Hovers; the food and beverage panels were close to the control panels. He helped her to get seated at the table and then turned and started pulling things out.

"Thank you. I'm Lisanna, by the way."

"Alzack. Nice to meet you officially." He said over his shoulder and she smiled.

"It's nice to meet you officially too." She responded and he put stuff out on the table.

"I think you should like most of this." He said and ran a hand through his hair.

"I do. Alfie has helped us find the foods that work best with our systems, and we've gotten used to eating the fare from the Guild Station." Lisanna said and he sat down, relief showing on his face.

"It's weird calling the AI by a name."

"I can understand that. But she's been Alfie pretty much from the start for us." Lisanna said and shrugged. She started to eat and he watched, surprised as she ate more and more of the food he'd put out. She turned and drained an entire bottle of water and Alfie replaced it with a more hydrating drink and he watched as she drank half of it in one go before she returned to eating. After some time she set down her utensils and sighed.

"You good?"

"Yeah…this is helping. I have never been so hungry or thirsty before."

"Probably a result of all the shifting you did. Going from one animal form to the next. I worked with a few TakeOverians over the years and most didn't try to do as many things as you did tonight."

"That…makes sense." She said and took a bite of something and groaned. "That reminded me of a chicken wing. So good."

"Chicken wing?"

"Small flightless birds. We'd pluck the feathers, coat them in flour and seasonings, and fry them. Then coat them in various sauces. Sooooo good."

"You turn into animals, but ate them?" He looked horrified and she nodded.

"I know it sounds weird. But I just learned I could change into animals. And besides; here—while there are many people who believed in not eating animals…that wasn't my belief. We typically kill them humanely. And I didn't witness it. If I did I might think or feel differently."

"I see." He nodded slowly. Trying to understand but then shaking his head. He wasn't going to try and understand, and he wasn't going to judge. She ate until everything was gone. She leaned back and her shirt was straining over a small bulge over her abdomen.

"I ate so much, but it was so worth it. I hope that doesn't end up hurting the food supplies." She said, somewhat bashfully and Alfie hummed before Alzack could speak.

"No worries. We are still properly stocked."

"Thanks Alfie." Lisanna said and yawned, shaking her head. "How is Bixlow and everyone on the Magi-Hover?"

"They are well. Resting. I am navigating the Magi-Hover to meet us at the bank that Laxus is configuring for securing the non-combative humans."

"Cool." She said and blinked. "How is Alexander and his mama?"

"Also well." Alzack narrowed his eyes and she pushed her hair behind her ears.

"We found a female who was being abused by a male. She was trying to protect her hatchling and it took us a long time to get her to trust us enough to eat or drink anything. Let alone let us try and heal her injuries."

"I see. I was not aware there were still survivors here."

"There are some. More are dangerous though; raiders, militants, and supporters of Mard Geer." She noticed that he shivered and wrapped his arms over his chest. "Sorry. I can not say his name if you'd prefer that; in the future."

"It's fine." He said and she lowered her gaze.

"Did you know anyone…on the Guild Station?" He asked after some time.

"Yes. We'd been there a few days before we came back down to help Lucy and Natsu." She said and he nodded. "Many of the girls who were with the Dragis when we met; stayed behind though."

"You were not with them from the beginning?"

"No…my siblings and I were alone. Then we joined a group who were horrible. We went back to being alone and then Elfman got hurt…then Mirajean got sick. I managed to get them into a Library. I was protecting them when Lucy appeared. If she hadn't…then…" She shook her head. "But when we were on the Guild Station; it was nice. Being around so many people. The girls that were with Lucy and Levy were cool. Some of the other Guild inhabitants were also nice. Did you know a Kelzis?"

"Yes…he was a Spladox. Nice male. Told great stories." Alzack said and Lisanna nodded.

"Yeah. He told us about a well on some planet that granted wishes to those brave enough to climb down inside."

"Hadn't heard that one. But he traveled many galaxies so I'm sure he's heard more stories than I will ever know."

"Sam was cool, watching him shift into sand."

"Sam is also an incorrigible flirt."

"Yes he was." Lisanna nodded and smiled. "But harmless. I think it made some of the other girls feel better to be flirted with. Made them feel like there was something…normal around."

"What were the girls like? Who stayed behind?" Alzack asked and she closed her eyes and smiled softly.

"Cana was…formidable. She could fight if she had to. She was Erza's second in command and Lucy's friend. She was a drinker though; she out drank Gramps in mugs of Klork."

"She could out drink General Makarov?" Alzack's mouth dropped open and Lisanna nodded.

"But she could handle her drinking. Yukino was…quiet but kind. She could make Sting blush, which was amusing."

"Oh, I missed some fun times then. That dolt blushing?" The male whistled while shaking his head exaggeratingly.

"Yep. Rouge just rolled his eyes when Sting tried to impress her. Kinana was really shy but kind. She helped with the hatchlings. Bisca was showing the armory workers how to use some of our weapons. Apparently she was in college on a marksmanship scholarship."

"A…marksmanship scholar…ship?" Alzack's brows furrowed and he repeated the words silently.

"Sorry…" Lisanna shook her head. "A scholarship is when a place of higher education grants a student money to attend the place of education. They're usually hard to get; the good ones anyway. And she I think she said she'd placed first or second in several national competitions for shooting."

"If my entire sniper core hadn't gone on the mission together; she may have been recruited then."

"She probably would have loved that. She wanted to help; but she didn't think she was strong enough to come back down here…Now I wish I had encouraged her more." Lisanna spun a plate on its side until a mechanical claw reached out and stopped it. She watched as everyone sank into the table. "I would have loved self cleaning tables before the invasion."

"They're pretty handy. It's awkward when you are living on another planet and don't have them. You have to retrain your brain."

"I can only imagine." She laughed and looked at him. "I'm sorry…"

"For what?"

"Your losses too." She reached over and he froze, her hand warm on his face. She wiped at his face and as she pulled away; he saw the gray tears on her skin. He wiped at his face. He hadn't realized he was crying. "I won't tell anyone I saw that. Your secret is safe with me…and Alfie."

"Agreed. I will not tell anyone either." Alfie said and Alzack choked on a chuckle.

"I thank you both, but at this point. I don't care. At least I'm not completely numb to everything." He shook his head and sighed. "I wish I could have met the others. I look forward to meeting those that are here."

"They'll love you." Lisanna smiled and he tilted his head. She scrunched up her face. "Not like…growlkin love…but really like you and consider you family."

"Got it." He ran a hand through his hair and yawned.

"Let's get back to our rooms. Try and sleep." Lisanna suggested and pushed up. Then winced and sat back down. "Actually, I think I'm just gonna camp out here. Alfie, can you make this a bench I can lay down on?"

"I can help you…"

"I know, but you are tired and I'm so sore. I don't want to move unless I have to." The seat elongated and a mattress raised her up. Alfie even provided a pillow and a blanket. Lisanna slowly laid down and curled up. Alzack stood and took the blanket and covered her with it and she smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Thank you for talking with me." He said and watched as she closed her eyes and instantly fell asleep. He straightened and stared at her for a few moments before turning and walking away. Alfie lowered the lights behind him, allowing him to have light while ensuring darkness for Lisanna. He was impressed, as he had never seen the AI do that before; and there had been times he would have enjoyed that consideration.

"You could have woken me and told me we were here and needed to work." Mickey grumbled and both Laxus and Freed jerked as she appeared carrying a box of supplies. Her hair was crazy and she had marks in her face from her blanket, but she was moving.

"You need to rest."

"I'll rest when I'm dead." She said and turned back to the Magi-Hover. Laxus shook his head and Freed looked at him and waited.

"Don't look at me. Go get more supplies." Laxus snarled and Freed nodded and left with a swish of green hair. Laxus looked around the expanse of the large room inside the bank. He and Freed had installed lights on the ceiling and could see how the floor gleamed in the spots where their repetitive footsteps had cleared some of the dirt and dust off of it. This place had once been impressive to look at, he was sure of it.

"I have found armor and finished conforming it to Mickey's measurements." Alfie said from the box on his waist and he grunted. "I had to borrow some of your old training armor to outfit parts of the armor."

"Whatever it takes." He said and stopped and tilted his head. "What parts?"

"The chest plate and electric ribbons for the leg armor."

"Make sure and explain it all to her. Don't want her electrocuting herself."

"Understood." Alfie hummed and he went back to work. Freed came out with Mickey, each carrying the end of a large box of supplies.

"Where do yo want this?" Mickey asked and he jerked his head to the left and they went over there. Once they had set it down; Alfie told Mickey that there was armor for her to try on in her room. She rolled her eyes but thanked the AI and headed back for the Magi-Hover.

"Armor?" Freed asked and Laxus nodded and looked over at him.

"She wants to fight and she's not like the rest of us. She needs all the help she can get."

"I'm more upset I didn't think of it." Freed shook his head and threw his hands up. "My mind is being pulled into too many directions. I'm ashamed of myself and my lack of foresight into the need of our allies."

"Don't beat yourself up." Laxus said. "That only helps Mard Geer."

"Good point. I'll go get the last few boxes of supplies." Freed turned on his heel and disappeared outside. Laxus grabbed one of the slabs of marble and grunted as he picked it up. Mickey hadn't been lying when she had said that it was a heavy material. He turned and looked at a high window, and squatted and slightly adjusted his position. He pushed off of the ground, landing against the wall, with one leg on the window's ledge. His claws dug into he wall as he shifted the stone into place. He leapt back down and eyed it.

"That strength isn't fair." Mickey lamented and he looked over his shoulder and tried not to snort. Mickey was carrying a helmet under her arm, propped against her hip; while the armor wore her made it look like a hatchling trying to wear their parent's armor. "Go ahead and laugh, pretty sure Alfie did."

"I unfortunately cannot alter much of the armor; it requires more skill than my programming allows." Alfie stated.

"Can anyone?" Mickey asked, setting the helmet on a long counter. "Because that helmet is too large and moves like crazy when I try to wear it. It would break my nose before an enemy got a chance to hurt me."

"Gajeel, Rouge and Natsu should be able to manipulate the materials." Alfie stated and Laxus gaffed which had Mickey's eyes narrowing.

"Two of the three named are our most reckless Dragis."

"Joy…my personal wellbeing is in the hands of the reckless." Mickey rolled her eyes. "Better than staying looking like this."

"Oh my." Freed dropped the box he was carrying and Mickey swore and started pulling off the armor. Laxus snapped his fingers and Freed looked to him.

"I need help securing the stone at the window. It won't stay there if it's attacked.

"We have bonding straps that should work. In the box closest to you." Freed said after looking around at the boxes already brought in. Laxus nodded and went to the box in question and Mickey started muttering to herself as she hopped on one leg, trying to pull the armor off of her shin. Freed opened his mouth and she snarled at him so he went back to the Magi-Hover. Laxus chuckled and leapt up onto the wall. She stopped hopping around and tilted her head, her mouth hanging open in awe.

"Freakin' alien jumping bean." She murmured and he looked over his shoulder at her. "Yeah…I called you a bean!"

"Brat!"

"Jerk!"

"Civilian!"

"Dictator!"

"You two are horrible at name calling." One of the males said, making them both jump and then laugh. Freed was right behind him, smiling softly.

"I don't know if he knows all our swear words." Mickey defended herself and started tugging at the armor on her left thigh. "I feel like I'm trying to get out of a wet snowsuit."

"Looks as complicated." The man said and knelt beside her and started to tug on the anchors that held the latches in place. They started to release and Mickey sighed. "Maybe worse."

"Poor Alfie didn't enjoy trying to get it on if that describes how complicated."

"When the AI complains; we should revolt." He said and looked up at her and shrugged. "But I guess without sacrifice there is no reward."

"Something like that." She said and looked over at Freed. "ETA on the incoming parties?"

"Sooner than we expected. The shuttles are moving fast; and Bixlow is pushing his Magi-Hover to its limits."

"I wonder why." She wagged her eyebrows and he shook his head while eying Laxus. "I ain't scared to point out the obvious."

"I would be around Mira if not Laxus." Freed warned and headed back to the Magi-Hover for the last box.

"You really are chummy with them." The guy said and she shrugged. "Aren't you worried they're going to turn on us?"

"No. If they wanted to; I don't think they'd have any reason to wait." She said and held her hand out to him. "But you can stay inside and wait to see if they do."

"Patrick is in there praying. I couldn't take any more. I was about to unleash my athestist argument and decided I didn't want to upset the others who looked somewhat comforted by his prayers."

"Faith is tricky." She said and put all of the armor on the counter and started to open the boxes. "Just sit back until you are told what to do."

"Why aren't you?"

"Because she helped with the planning and knows what to do." Laxus said, landing nearby and the guy jerked. "Sorry. Should I announce when I'm jumping up and down?"

"Just down…so I know to look for a growing shadow so I don't get turned into a pancake." The guy said. He held his hand out. "Tyler."

"Nice to meet you Tyler. I'm Laxus." The Dragis grasped his hand and then released it and Tyler stared at his hand.

"Why did that feel like static shock?"

"Laxus can manipulate lightening and electricity." Freed said walking by and Mickey grinned as Tyler stared in disbelief.

"Like an electric eel?"

"He's not nearly as slimy." Mickey said, ducking as Laxus tossed a hunk of marble at her. She laughed and threw him some rivets for the straps on the wall he was working on.

"What is that? On the radar?" Minerva asked as Bixlow zoomed in on it. Alfie spoke before he could pull up the reading.

"That is the first shuttle; with the Snipercore in it. Gajeel and Levy's shuttle is next; with Gildarts' bringing up the rear. We should meet up with them in a few nano-skrits."

"Thanks Alfie." Bixlow said and spun in his seat and started to pace up and down the Magi-Hover's open floor plan. He heard some shuffling and turned, the female was shuffling forward; and Lector and Frosch were walking with their paws on her calves as if to steady her. She offered a very small smile, Alexander cooing in her arms.

"Hungry?"

She shook her head and sat down. Alfie put a bottle water in front of her and withdrew the metallic claw. Alexander's large eyes followed the claw's retreat.

"He doesn't miss much does he?" She shook her head again, her smile a little bigger. She rocked him against her body and looked at the screen. He turned his head and saw that Minerva and Rufus were watching from the corners of their eyes. They had picked up on their presence making her uneasy so they tended to try and not look at her or her hatchling head on. He appreciated the effort.

"I have notified the shuttles of our approach, Gildarts has requested you perform a stacked landing on their shuttle; the one in the middle." Alfie stated and Bixlow took the seat he'd just departed. He started flipping switches and pressing buttons.

"Everyone strap in. Alfie, please secure our mother and hatchling."

"Affirmative." Alfie stated and straps appeared, slowly moving over her body. They wiggled under Alexander while a soft fabric wrapped him towards her chest. "I have studied the air files of this planet; this is called a wearable swaddle."

"Thank…you." The female said as Lector and Frosch had small seats with hardnesses appear out of the table top for them. They strapped in, Lector helping Frosch and they stared ahead at the screen; watching as Bixlow started to gain altitude to get into position over the shuttle.

"That was fun." Gajeel snarled, pushing off of the floor. Levy was peering at him over the edge of the bed and rubbed the back of his head where he'd landed. "What the hell just happened?"

"Bixlow's Magi-Hover has stack-landed onto the shuttle. I am creating the secure transfer lock now." Alfie stated and he got to his knees. Levy's brown eyes bore into his and he held his hand out to her. She eyed it and then looked up at him.

"I know you aren't wanting to wait here. Come on."

"Thanks." She said and let him pull her out of the bed. They headed out fo the room and started down the hallway. They stopped when they saw Lisanna curled up on a bench, Alzack and Gildarts in seats on the other side of her and the table; looking up at the ceiling. The panels had been replaced with multiple latches and locks.

"Never seen this before."

"It's fine. Alfie knows what she's doing." Gajeel said and dropped into a seat, pulling Levy with him. She blushed but didn't try to pull free. Alfie produced drinks for both of them and they took them without speaking. Gildarts and Alzack shared a look before returning to staring at the ceiling.

"Transfer lock will open shortly." Alfie stated and hummed. And true to her words, less than thirty seconds later the latches and locks whirled and the panel opened. Stairs came down; but Bixlow leapt down; Frosch on his shoulder. They watched as his eyes landed on Lisanna, and he instantly relaxed. Frosch leapt off of his shoulder and landed on the table, wobbled for a few steps before hurrying to her side. He leapt down onto the bench and wiggled close to her. His head popped up and he smiled brightly.

"She's just sleeping."

"She's fine." Alzack, Levy and Gajeel reassured him in unison and he nodded before looking up through the hole.

"Whose next?" Lector scrambled down and pointed up.

"Surprisingly the female wants to come down first with her hatching. Minerva is helping to get her into position. Alfie is going to help since she can't navigate the stairs with her hatchling in her arms."

"Good call." Bixlow said and waited. Soon a small platform lowered with the woman in the middle, her legs shaking almost violently. Once she saw him, he was surprised when she shuffled to the edge of the platform and hopped off. He caught her, spinning at the momentum it took to catch her, and then set her down.

"Awww…she trusts you Bixi." Lisanna's voice was groggy but light; making both of them look over at her. Her hair was sticking up on one side, and her eyes were glazed and hooded.

"Never call me that again." He growled and helped the female into a seat. Wendy came up and she gave a small wave around her hatchling. Wendy smiled and returned the wave and watched as Minerva and Rufus joined them. The ceiling closed and they felt the shuttle rock.

"I have the Magi-Hover on auto-pilot and I am altering its appearance to mimic a shuttle; to ensure whatever is following has more to worry about." Alfie stated and they all nodded a little bit of unease settling over them. Lisanna was blinking, rubbing her eyes and trying to sit up but Bixlow was pushing her back down.

"Go back to sleep Lis…you obviously need it."

"I'm…fine." She yawned and shook her head. "I need to…"

"Rest." Wendy cut her off and Bixlow picked up her pillow and sat down where it had been, putting it over his lap and then pulled her down onto it. She looked up at him briefly before closing her eyes and falling asleep instantly.

"She really did wear herself out." Alzack muttered.

"Yes. She was nearly depleted of energy when I was healing her." Wendy said and helped extend the table as everyone pulled up seats around it. "She'll be hungry when she wakes up."

"She already ate four rations; drank an entire bottle of water as well as an entire hydro pack." Alzack stated and they all looked at him. "She was hungry after waking up and trying to find the communal bath."

"Poor Lisana." Minerva shook her head. "What were her health metrics reading at during the battle and escape?"

"She does not have her health tracker installed yet. She and Bixlow have been waiting until they had privacy to do so." Alfie stated and they saw the hue in his face change.

"What privacy do you two need?" Gildarts asked and Bixlow slowly turned and glowered at him.

"We didn't want to do it in front of the female and her hatchling and traumatize her worse."

"Oh…Good call." Levy said and looked at the female who was eyeing Gajeel wearily. She turned her attention to Levy and she offered a smile.

"You…okay…now?" She asked slowly and Levy nodded.

"I am…are you from Russia?"

"Da." The girl nodded, surprise written on her face.

"Your accent gave you away. I wish I spoke Russian but I don't. Sorry."

"It's…okay." Alexander cooed and she looked down, stroking his cheek. He grabbed her finger, staring up at her. Levy inhaled sharply, a longing flooded her that didn't make sense. She'd never had baby fever hit her like that before. But the longing was…different. She couldn't place it. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on it. As if it would explain why it felt different. But in the end is just gave her goosebumps.

"He's precious." She said, pulling her drink up to her lips.

"Thank…you." His mother looked up. "You…mother?"

"No…I'm not a mother." Levy shook her head, blushing. The longing kicked up and she fiddled with her drink before looking back up. "Never found anyone to put up with me."

"Men are pigs." The women wrinkled her nose and Minerva and Levy giggled.

"We are that." Gildarts nodded which made them giggle again. Gajeel snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Speak for yourself. I ain't no pig."

"Just a grumpy dragon." Levy said with a smile and he glowered at the back of her head.

"And don'tcha forget it Gwolmp."

"Watch it you tarnished smelt lump."

"I ain't tarnished." He growled and the mother choked on her laughter. Levy looked over, and saw the smile, it was knowing. She felt her face heat more. She murmured something to her son in Russian and then looked up and winked at Levy.

"What did she say?"

"I don't know. I already said I don't speak Russian." Levy rolled her eyes at Bixlow who shook his head.

"But ya know just about everything."

"Hardly." Levy snorted. "And I would't want to. I like learning new things."

"Can't ya just override yer restrictions Alfie? And figure out Russian from the air files?" Gajeel asked, crossing his right leg over his left.

"Unfortunately the failsafes are locked and I cannot override."

"To be fair, there could be bad tools on there that would give her the wrong translations." Levy defending the AI. He nodded and sighed. "How far until we get to the bank?"

"We should arrive there in the next…hour." Alfie said and Levy smiled.

"Thank you. That isn't long." She reached forward and tapped the table, grabbing the mother's attention off of Alexander. "We'll get you somewhere safe soon."

"To…Mickey?" The woman asked and Levy's brows furrowed and Bixlow cleared his throat.

"Yes, to Mickey. She's there helping Laxus and Freed." The female nodded, a small smile on her lips. Levy looked over and Bixlow shrugged gently.

"You and Mickey are…family?" Levy guessed and the female shook her head. "Friends?"

"Da…Friends." Levy smiled, understanding filling her. She definitely felt safer and better with friends around. She couldn't imagine having had a child with an abusive creep and no friends around. She watched as the woman shifted, looking uncomfortable. SHe looked up at Levy and then to Lisanna and then down and back to Levy.

"What?" Levy asked softly. She knew that everyone could hear, even though they were all quiet and acting like they weren't hanging on every word.

"Hold, Alexander? Need…restroom."

"Yeah, I'll hold him." She set her drink down and held her arms out. The woman was slow to hand her son over, but did so and then all but ran where the lights on the floor led her. Levy watched, surprised, but then Alexander drew her attention by cooing. She looked down at his large brown eyes.

"Hello handsome." She smiled, shifting him higher in her arms and pulling him closer to her chest. "Aren't those big brown eyes something amazing? You'll break hearts with eyes that beautiful caramel color."

"Brown eyes aren't special." Gajeel snorted under his breath and she rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore him. Her longing for a baby ramped up as she held him; his baby scent wafting up to her.

"Ignore Gajeel, your brown eyes are gorgeous." He cooed, kicking his legs free of the blanket he was wrapped in. She inhaled sharply. "Look at those chunky legs! All those rolls!"

He laughed, wiggling against her. She shifted him, freeing one hand so she could grab his right leg. She jiggled it and he laughed. "Such a happy baby. Your mama has taken such good care of you. Yes she has. Happy babies come from loving mamas. I bet your mama loves you more than anything."

"He can't understand you." Minerva said and Levy looked up at her. "Why do you speak to him?"

"Because it's how babies learn, at least on Earth." She looked down at him. "They learn from listening and watching. Then they start to mimic."

"He doesn't walk. His mother carries him everywhere." Rufus pointed out. "Is it because he has such…chunky legs?"

"No." Levy giggled and shook her head. "Human babies can't walk usually for a year after they're born. We don't have the muscle strength, coordination or instinct for it at birth. We can't even hold our heads up on our own until we're a few months old."

"How do you all survive?" Rufus asked looking confused.

"Parent's protect and raise their babies. And we know it's weird; but it's because we're only carried for, on average, 40 weeks of gestation. It's possible if we had longer gestation periods we'd be stronger and able to walk; but the female body isn't built for that."

"You carry your eggs for the entire gestation period?" Minerva asked and Levy tilted her head.

"We…don't…have eggs…like that." Levy stated slowly. "We form in utero."

"Seriously?" Gajeel looked horrified.

"Yeah. Wait…you all are born from eggs?"

"Dragis are."

"As are mine and Minerva's races." Rufus offered and PantherLilly and the Exceeds all nodded as well.

"Same for us. Frosch's egg was purple and pink." Frosch claimed, his hands raised excitedly.

"Purple and pink speckled. Most Exceed eggs are with with spots; there are a few rare full color ones but not many." Lector corrected but his friend wasn't paying attention. He was trying to pick up Levy's bottle to take a drink. Lector covered his eyes and shook his head.

"That's interesting." She said and looked at Gajeel. "I guess Lucy and Natsu are going to have some…interesting experiences if they try to have hatchlings."

"I don't want to think of him having spawn." Gajeel growled and Levy giggled and shook her head. She gasped and he pushed off of the wall with a start before Levy clucked her tongue.

"Oh, we don't pull hair. No no no." She said and carefully pulled her lock of hair free of Alexander's grasp. "But you do have a strong grip. You are gonna be a strong man, aren't you?"

"Hopefully." His mother said, coming back and Levy smiled up at her and shifted and held Alexander out. She took him as she sat back down. "Thank…you."

"Your welcome. He's a happy baby. You've done a great job considering the apocalypse and everything." She blushed, her eyes welling with emotions before looking down at her son who cooed up at her.

"My...everything."

"I can see that." Levy said softly and the other woman nodded and stared down at him. A peaceful silence filled the shuttle.

"Natsu?" He opened his eyes and saw Lucy looked down at him. He smiled and stretched, then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back down. She was sprawled over him now, but she wrapped her arms around him the best she could and put her head on his shoulder.

"What is it Lucy?"

"Those things…why would they want Lisanna?"

"Probably on orders." He said and thought about it. "Mard Geer probably wants her for her rare ability. If he could make his demons shift into animals…"

"They're be stronger, harder to identify." She said and he nodded. He ran his hands up and down her back. The scalut was hanging up and she was in a shirt and a pair of his pants, and he was oddly fine with that. He rolled onto his side, so they were both on the mattress, facing each other. She looked up at him and he stared down into her brown eyes.

"Don't think about them right now. It's just you and me." He whispered.

"And Happy. Don't forget him or he'll never let you live it down." She whispered. Happy had come into their room shortly after he'd come out of the shower and had curled up at their heads.

"But he's asleep, so you and me." He whispered and winked and she nodded conspiratorially. He leaned forward, putting his forehead against hers and breathed her in. She did the same and he felt peace filling her.

"Natsu…" She tilted her head back and before she could finish, his lips brushed hers. She sighed against his lips and he deepened the kiss. She moaned and he rolled, getting on top of her and pushed up on his arms. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks flushed, and her lips were swollen. He felt her desire, her need and something else. It was as hot as any flame, and drew him closer.

"Lucy." She opened her eyes and the swirl of starlight mesmerized him. She reached up, pushing his hair back from his face, and then running it down the side of his face and cupped the back of his head near his neck. She lifted up off of the pillow, kissing him before dragging her lips away. She pressed them to the side of his neck; right over his pulse and he shivered. She smiled against his throat and his hands gripped the mattress and she slowly pulled back.

"Sorry." She slowly reached up and around his torso and pulled him down to her. She wrapped a leg over his and sighed. She ran her nails up and down his back, and he sighed as he relaxed against her. "Natsu I need to tell you something."

"Anything. You can tell me anything." He said and pulled his head out of the crook of her neck. "What is it?"

"Natsu." She looked all over his face before smiling at him. "Natsu, you…"

"Happy, please report to the front. I need your help with the Hybrids." Alfie's words caused them to jerk and their foreheads smashed together. Natsu pulled back, growling while Lucy rolled onto her side, swearing. Happy, still sleepy, popped out his wings and flew out of the room as if on autopilot. Natsu got off of the bed and rubbed his forehead. He looked over at Lucy and watched as she swung her legs over the mattress. He knelt in front of her.

"What were you trying to say?" He asked and she grabbed his face and pulled him even closer, surprising him.

"I've tried to say this a few times, and we always get interrupted." She whined, pressed her lips to his quickly and pulled back. Smiling at the dazed look on his face. He blinked and nodded, urging her to go on. "I have to tell you this and…"

"Just say it before we get interrupted again." He urged her and she bit her lip amused he was the one interrupting her now.

"Natsu I..."

"What the hell?" Natsu swore as Lucy was pitched away from him, the scalut leapt from the wall and covered her, absorbing the impact as she hit the floor and groaned.

"Alfie!?" Lucy and Natsu shouted in unison the AI hummed.

"Apologize, but we soon as I retracted the shelter, the Hybrids smelt danger and urged us to depart quickly." Alfie announced and the two shared a look. Natsu helped Lucy up and pulled her out of the room.

"Want to say it as we go?"

"Not really." She muttered as Gray and Juvia joined them and they headed up front.

"Anyone else feel like we just got shaken up like a cup of dice?" Cana asked, her card was on it's back and she was staring at the ceiling.

"You have no idea Cana." Erza said, righting the card. Mirajean and Ren were at the front, Eve standing behind them.

"Any idea what the threat is?" Lucy asked and they all three shook their heads. They stared at the screen.

"There!" She pointed to the left and Alfie zoomed close to where she was pointing. The signatures of several draconics appeared.

"The Hybrids must have felt them or smelt them." Habiki muttered as he and Jellal appeared from the open panel to the outside world. Everyone stared. "We had to secure the Hybrids. They can't move as fast as the Magi-Hover and we can't bring them in. Unfortunately their DNA is labeled still as enemy and we can't override it. Alfie tried all night."

"So what did you do to them?" Meredy asked her eyes wide.

"They're on top of the Magi-Hover in a pen created by Jellal's spell work. I was up there attaching shields and weapons so they don't get targeted."

"Thank you." Lucy said and shook her head. The draconics were inbound at a rapid pace. Something heavy set in her chest and she closed her eyes, trying to silence the murmurs around her. She sought out the voices of the stars, and finally she heard them. She tilted her head back and turned her right ear close towards the sky.

"These aren't normal draconics." She said and everyone went quiet and looked over at her. Her hair was billowing around her shoulders, and they felt the cold air swirling.

"Lucy?" Erza asked cautiously. Lucy turned, her eyes shining a mix of silver and gold. Streaks of black and blue ran from her eyes around her cheeks and up towards her brow. Natsu stood frozen, captivated by this new appearance. Power was evident in her scent, hot like a burning star.

"They've been upgraded. They're armored. The stars say only precision strikes to the joints will cause damage." She turned, tilting her face upwards again. "They have orders…to take out the hybrids with us; and retrieve both Mirajean and Happy."

"Why me?" Happy looked horrified and flew over to Natsu who wrapped his arms around him.

"You speak the tongue of the hybrids. He wants to know if the newer models of draconics are also learning to speak against his wishes." Lucy's voice was deepening. Happy whimpered and snugged against Natsu's chest.

"Great, how do we handle armored draconics? Precision attacks aren't the speciality of anyone on board." Even muttered.

"Get us to the convoy with Gajeel and Levy. The sniper core is our best bet." Lucy said and walked over to the wall and put her hands on it. They watched as light flooded from her to the shuttle. Alfie's hum went to a high pitch.

"Luce?"

"I have created a barrier for protection." She said, turning. Her hair settling around her shoulders, her eyes slowly darkening back to brown. She sagged and he and Happy rushed to her side. She waved them off. "I'll be fine. That was just…exhausting."

"What barrier did you set up?" Jellal asked and Alfie hummed as all the walls and even the ceiling turned transparent. Everyone gasped. Flames encircled the closest to the Magi-Hover but swirling all around the flames were starts and meteors.

"I have never heard of this before." Eve murmured softly in awe.

"That makes two of us." Jellal said and watched as the stars and meteors encircled every angle of the Magi-Hover. The two Hybrids were also watching everything in awe, protected by the pen created by Jellal.

"It won't last long." Lucy warned. "The stars say I wasn't strong enough to try the spell; let alone pull it off for long if I got lucky."

"Lucy." Natsu chided and she smiled up at him.

"I figured you'd have tried anyway."

"You are supposed to be smarter than me." He ruffled her hair and pulled her in close to rest his forehead against hers.

"Ick. Lucy is all sweaty!" Happy complained as he was crushed between the two of them. Everyone laughed as they separated and he flew up and over to Mira who patted his head.

"Alfie, connect a transmission to all shuttles and Magi-Hovers…if anyone isn't in them; patch into whatever coms they have on them." Alfie hummed and Lucy nodded at Natsu who helped her to stand.

"You look like shit." Laxus muttered and Mickey slapped the back of his head. He turned to snarl and she was holding up a specific finger and he growled deeper.

"I'm glad someone there is keeping you in line." Mirajean giggled and he looked up at the screen. She waved and he struggled not to grin at her. Happy was waving too and he felt Mickey responding but didn't look at her.

"I just pulled off a spell I shouldn't have." Lucy shrugged. "It won't last long. Mard Geer has armored the new generation of draconics. They need to be taken out with precision attacks at the joints where the armor meets."

"No breaks." Levy sighed and Laxus turned and saw the screen split, showing the shuttle that she was in. Gajeel was behind her looking mutinous.

"No rest for the wicked Levy, you know that." Lucy grinned and looked at all the split screens in front of her. "I know some of you know who I am and some don't. For those who don't; I'm Lucy. Temporary General of Fairy Tail Guild."

"Already tired of leading?" Bixlow asked and she grinned.

"I will gladly hand the title back to Gramps when we can free him." Everyone tensed and she held up Cana's card.

"Hey losers!" Cana waved her arms and smiled brightly.

"Apparently someone cast a card magic spell and it collected every member of the Guild Station in their own individual card. We just don't know how to get them out."

"Thank Mavis!" Voices cried out and everyone in the Magi-Hover with Lucy smiled.

"We didn't say anything because we didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. But since we're about to meet up; and Cana can't be quiet; I figured it was time. That and Gildarts might know something."

"Why would I know something?" Gildarts asked, looking confused.

"It's a Geometrian power." Eve stated calmly and Gildarts started to flush.

"Right…it is…isn't it. Wow… Haven't seen that since…my grandmother was alive. I think she was the last card power carrier."

"Do you have kids?" Erza asked and his face went even ruddier.

"That is not something you ask a man you've just met."

"She ain't hitting on you!" Gajeel scoffed and rolled his eyes. Gildarts glared over at him but Levy's giggling caused him to relax a bit.

"As far as I know I don't have any hatchlings."

"Wait…he understood what kids were." Lucy said and Gildarts cringed. "You've been here before! You know English; without the translating program, don't you?"

"Yeah…I was here before that program was implemented on Fairy Tail." He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face. "But that was nearly a quark ago."

"A qua…" Lucy's eyes got wide and she turned and looked at the card. Cana was shaking her head.

"Cana…"

"No way!'

"Its pos…"

"He's a slob! Look at him! Mom wouldn't have touched that with a ten-foot pole!"

"I'm not a slob." He argued and every female turned and looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "I'm terrified you all did that in unison."

"Get used to it." Sting warned and shook his head. Rouged punched him in the arm while Gray punched the back of his head.

"Don't get them riled up at us!" Gray snarled and Rouge shook his head.

"Cana, think about it. You've always been obsessed with your tarot cards. What if it was because you felt drawn to cards." Lucy said and Cana looked around, shaking her head. She looked up at the screen and the man who was looking at her intently.

"Your mother's name was Corneila." Cana jerked back visibly and they saw the pain flash in his eyes. "You have her strong chin and the shape of your eyes remind me of hers as well."

"No way." Cana shook her head.

"I met her on a lake." Cana gasped, shaking her head as her hand went to the collar of her jacket. "She was so beautiful…and she wasn't scared of me. And I looked a sight; having been living off of the land in hiding. She taught me the language; eventually telling me she thought I'd gotten lost as a child and gone feral like Tarzan."

"She read me that story all the time as a kid." Cana tilted her head. "She said it reminded her of…"

"Me."

"You!" Cana screamed it and Gildarts jerked back, surprised by the viciousness. "She died, alone! Waiting on you! Always telling me that you promised to come back for her!"

"I tried. I did." Gildarts held up his hands. "But the war with Mard…"

"Don't use Mard Geer as an excuse!" Cana pounded on the barrier of the card. The card shook out of Lucy's hand and levitated in the air. "You were a coward! You lied to her! She told you she was pregnant and you never intended to comeback! But you lied, making promises you never planned on keeping!"

"That isn't true." He shook his head, looking wounded. "I loved…"

"Don't you dare say you loved her! Getting someone pregnant on a backwater planet then leaving and never coming back isn't love!" She was crying as she pounded on the card.

"Cana…" Lucy choked up, reaching for the card but Natsu grabbed her arms and pulled her back. Something about the energy around the card making him wary. Erza and Levy were crying too, watching as Cana raged inside of the card. Everyone else was looking from Gildarts to the card and back.

"I mated her!"

"Obviously or I wouldn't be here you schmuck!" Cana retorted when Gildarts tried to defend himself.

"No…I….We…." He ran his hands over his face and then he pulled off the wrappings on his forearms.

"Whoa…no way." Minerva and Ultear whispered in awe. Cana froze, staring at the marks on his arms.

"Wha…."

"Cornelia and I…were mated. Under the stars. Properly." He held his arms up. Black and gold marks ran over his arms like tattoos. The geometric shapes and solid lines creating beautiful imagery. "We wanted to do an Earthen wedding, but I didn't have paperwork since…I wasn't human. But she said it was fine; as long as it was recognized by the stars."

"She…"

"I am sorry she is gone." He ran a finger along a jagged scar of white on his left forearm. "When she died; it tore me apart. But somehow I didn't follow her."

"It was Cana." Eve guessed and everyone looked at him except for Cana who was still staring at her father. "Her life force, being half her mother's bloodline; probably kept you alive."

"What do you mean kept him alive?" Elfman asked looking concerned.

"Geometrians die when their mates die. Unless there is a young child that requires them to survive; but sometimes even once that child reaches maturity; they die then." This came from Rufus and Eve looked at him. "I saw it happen once."

"So what…now that he knows I'm an adult he gets to die? That isn't fair!" Cana looked as if she had one arm resting on a pane of glass as she pounded on it with the other. "She died, hoping you'd come back! She suffered! Both from the illness that took her, and your failure to come for her."

"I am so sorry." Gildarts shed a tear. "I did try to come back, but every time I got close to Earth; I was sent somewhere else. I couldn't go against orders. If I had told Makarov that I had gone to a primitive planet and…"

"What? He'd have slapped you on the wrists. That man is a helpless romantic!" Cana pounded with both firsts, then stopped, resting her head against the barrier. She looked down, so no one could see her.

"He would have wanted to bring the Guild Station here; to tell the authorities of Earth that they weren't alone in the universe. Dragged you all into the war. I couldn't risk that."

"And yet here we are." Cana's voice was soft, almost broken.

"Cana…" Lucy, Levy and Lisanna whispered tearfully.

"Here we are." Gildarts agreed. "But you are alive. And you are surrounded by a family that I could only have dreamed for you and Cornelia."

"Mom never knew the girls." Cana sighed and lifted her face, her tears running down her face. "She died when I was six."

"Six…" Gildarts deflated, looking at the young woman in front of him. "You were alone at such a young age. I am so sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix anything. It doesn't change anything." Cana wiped at her face. She punched the barrier.

"Cana, don't hurt yourself." Levy begged, flinching at the visual of Cana attacking the card from the inside.

"On the Guild Station, in my room I had journals from my grandmother; she wrote everything about her powers in them. Maybe it will help get Cana and the others out."

"Except everything in the guild station blew up." Freed reminded Gildarts who sweat dropped and shook his head.

"We have stuff from the guild station in cards, so it might be there. But doesn't help getting anyone out."

"Erza…grab a sword and cut me out!" Cana ordered and looked over at her friend but Erza shook her head. "That wasn't a request. It was an order."

"No way. I'm not risking cutting you in half and killing you or trapping you in there!" Erza shook her head. "We'll find another way and…"

"And what… Am I supposed to just wave my arms and say "Set me free from Card Imprisonment!" Cana shouted and everyone groaned and jerked as a bright light lit up the Magi-Hover.