Sorry this hasn't been put out until now. I had health issues in January that dragged into February; and that put me in a bad mental space and I couldn't bring myself to write. This short chapter is my attempt to dig out of the funk and focus on writing some more. I am challenging myself to start writing in the evening instead of doom scrolling. Sorry if I worried anyone. Thank you for waiting and reading.

Chapter Seventy-Five

"Why is it always a bright light?" Gajeel swore, his arms around Levy's waist tightening instinctively as he twisted them to the side. The light slowly dissipated and they turned back towards the screen. Levy blinked repeatedly as her eyes watered at the brightness she was still looking into.

"Alfie, what's happening in there?" Laxus snarled hating that he was blinded and having to look away. The AI merely hummed.

"Luce?" Natsu shivered against her, the light irritating his eyes even as he had them buried in the crook of her neck.

"Yeah…I know, it's really bright." She breathed and he relaxed ever so slightly. Finally the light was gone and they all blinked. Natsu felt Lucy pull away and he focused, making the haze shrink from his sight until he could see clearly. Lucy was wrapped around Cana; who was standing where the card had been floating. Lucy was shaking with sobs, and Cana had her arms wrapped tightly around Lucy's body. Erza stepped forward and wrapped her arm around both and Cana moved to rest her head on Erza's shoulder.

"Cana." Mirajean said and the brunette lifted her head and offered a small smile. Lucy inhaled deeply twice and pulled back. She wiped at her face and shook her head, and released a quick breath.

"Glad you got out. Wish it could have been less blinding but I'll take it."

"Sorry. Guess it was tied to my emotions." Cana rubbed the side of her nose and snickered as she looked around. Smiling and tearful faces met her gaze and then she heard a voice clearing. She turned back to the screen and stared at her father's face.

"You are right. The powers you have are tied to your emotions. Only the individuals with the strongest emotional control were ever granted power over cards. Which is why it's so rare. Geometrians aren't know for being level headed."

"Cana is level headed?" Gajeel asked from behind Gildarts which made him whip around and then Cana burst out laughing; which had Gildarts turning back to look at her. Cana had her head thrown back, an arm wrapped around her waist and the other covering her face.

"She has her moments." Levy piped up and Cana laughed harder.

"I think it's probably those who are level headed in a crisis." Erza said and put a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "She did grab General Makarov when he tried to stay behind."

"And she was the one who triggered the alarms to get the Guild Station Evacuation started." Alfie offered and Cana slowly calmed down and shook her head. She reached for her wrist and pulled off a hair tie and pulled her hair back and into a ponytail.

"You all better hurry to the bank." Cana said and then cleared her throat. "We're going to have to start getting people out of the cards; but I think we're going to have to prioritize who. I already feel a little woozy so I'll have to release them in batches."

"I'll be there as soon as I can to make sure and help you recover." Wendy chimed in and she smiled at the screen as the bluenette waved.

"Thanks Wendy." She sighed and turned her back to the screen as Gildarts opened his mouth to speak. He closed his mouth, looked at her for a moment, before turning as well and walking away. Everyone sighed; but they didn't know what to say. A lot had been unloaded and they would have to cross that bridge when they got to it.

"You all just be careful. Those things hunting Lisanna are worrisome." Elfman said and PantherLilly and Rufus nodded while Alzack flipped a long barreled weapon up onto his shoulder.

"You all worry about yourselves." Freed said and looked at him and the others. "There are a lot of issues on your end too."

"We got Lucy and Natsu. I'm not worried." Elfman said which had several of them laughing.

"Why are they after me?" Lisanna asked when the screens went dark and everyone looked at her. Alzack shifted and looked at Bixlow who cleared his throat.

"A message came through, with ideas." She glowered at him until he shifted and sniffed. "The main idea is the Mard Geer wants to use your genetics to make his demons able to shift into animals."

"They'd be even more….Oh…" her eyes widened. "Or not the demons."

"What do you mean not the demons?" Bixlow asked and she looked up at him, her eyes flickering with worry. "Lisanna?"

"What if the draconics could shift?"

"Oh Mavis…" PantherLilly shivered and shook his head. He pulled out his communication pad and started tapping at the screen. Lisanna bit her bottom lip and touched the panel and they watched as the walls went transparent. She looked around and swore, pointing at the rooftops to their left. They watched as the creatures leapt from building to building.

"We can't take them to the bank." She said and Bixlow swore.

"But we also can't face them. Whatever they are, they're dangerous!" Minerva groused and looked at Rufus who sighed.

"And we're Fairy Tail." Levy said slapping the table top and everyone turned to look at her.

"Levy is right." Lisanna sat up and slapped at Bixlow's arm when he tried to pull her down. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them and looking at Alzack. He tilted his head.

"I don't think I enjoy your gaze." He said and his hand tightened on his weapon.

"You're part of a sniper core. Get them organized. We can jump ahead of the draconics; pull them away from the bank and set up kill boxes."

"Kill..boxes?" He squinted in confusion.

"It's a location where a target is lured into a location with only one entrance or exit; and attacked." Levy said and turned and started touching screens. They watched as her eyes scanned the maps that appeared on them. "There are four blocks where we could set up a kill box."

"Pick the two closest to one another." Lisanna said and pushed up and climbed over Bixlow and shuffled over to join her at the screens.

"Two?"

"We split the core in half. Make the number of draconics easier to deal with. We also split our numbers in half. Keep Wendy in the middle."

"Good idea." Levy nodded and pulled her hair back and tied it up and bit her bottom lip for a moment.

"Okay, I think it would also be a good idea to get Alexander and his mother to the bank sooner rather than later. We can put them on a shuttle with Gildarts and send them ahead to the bank."

"No!"

"Not happening." Voices objected and looked at Gildarts and the female and she shook her head.

"We need to be able to focus on the fight; not worrying about you and your son." Levy was stern and stared into the worried eyes of the mother in front of her. "Gildarts will make sure you get there safely; and despite the icy reactions we just witnessed; he needs to be there to help Cana with her new heritage skills."

"Fine. But…be…careful." She nodded her head slowly and Levy nodded.

"We will." She tilted her head and saw the Exceeds. "Frosch, will you and Lector go with them?"

"Of course." Frosch nodded, the frog costume falling over his face and Lector straightened his vest.

"We'll protect the female and her hatchling the best we can."

"Thank you." Lisanna smiled at them and she and Levy shared a look. Levy nodded and turned to Gajeel. He was glowering.

"We're going to be at one of the kill boxes…"

"No. You are staying with Wendy."

"No." She shook her head. "Minerva and Rufus are going to stay with her. We'll take one box. Bixlow and Lisanna will take the other."

"No way. Lisanna needs to rest." Bixlow objected and started to stand up when he flinched as long slender needles flew through the air and nearly impaled him. Lisanna had her forearm crossed over her chest; quills quivering in it.

"I'm rested enough." She bit out and glowered.

"Ya two don't need to be in the thick of the battle." Gajeel objected and both looked at him. "Yer tryin' ta prove yer not weak or a liability. But if ya keep pushing yer gonna be. Stay back with Wendy. I'll take Rufus with me and Bixlow and Minerva will run the second box."

"Gaj…"

"Damn it Levy!" He growled and towered over her and she jerked back, surprised by the anger rolling off of him. Alexander started to cry and his mother curled away from the Dragis. "Ya nearly died for the second time in less than a few days! Stop running towards danger."

"This is war." She tried to argue and he grabbed her chin and pulled her forward and glared down at her. Lisanna's eyes had gone wide when he grabbed her chin and her mouth fell open.

"And yer not running into hell on my watch." He leaned down and his nose brushed along hers and her breathing stuttered. "Yer staying with Wendy on this one."

"No I'm…" There was a clinking sound and she blinked as he pulled back and she looked down. "What the hell Gajeel?"

She stare at the black metal linked around her wrist and the chain that was stuck to the floor. She tugged but the chain had little give. She turned and looked up at him and he crossed his arms over his chest. She lifted her free hand to point at him and blinked. On top of every fingertip was a small black tip. She looked at her cuffed hand and it was also there on those fingers.

"Once we're in position; the metal will come off. Because I know yer not gonna leave Wendy alone." He said and started for the back of the shuttle.

"Stupid Gajeel!" She groaned and looked over at Lisanna who was shaking her head. But there were four wooden objects flying around her chirping and she was glaring at Bixlow.

"They're for your protection. But they'll make you regret it if you leave that spot." He said and she narrowed her eyes on him. "Like with Gajeel's metal trap; they'll leave you alone once we're in position."

"This isn't funny!" Lisanna hissed as he walked away.

"It is from where I'm standing." Minerva snickered and both human females glared at her.

"Gildarts is bringing the female and her hatchling and the two Exceeds to the new base." Alfie announced and Cana's eyes rolled and she took a swig of water.

"What about the others?" Gray asked.

"They are splitting into three groups; two will trap and attack the draconics that are after Lisanna and and the third will be made up of Levy, Lisanna and Wendy who will wait in the middle to assist as needed." Alfie announced.

"They had to trick Levy and Lisanna into staying back, I'm sure of it." Mira murmured and looked at the draconics that were charging them.

"Affirmative." Alfie hummed. "But their logic is sound. They do not want to bring the draconics to the new base. I believe we should attempt to get rid of the ones following this shuttle."

"Juvia can distract them." She said, pushing off of the wall. Cana had seen her and watched as Gray's eyes narrowed.

"You can't take them all on alone." Lucy shook her head. The Aquaterran tilted her head and was about to speak when another voice chimed in.

"She won't be alone." Flare stepped forward and put her hand on bluenette's arm. "I will fight beside her. My hair can delay the draconics. I'm sure of it."

"Your hair?" Erza asked and that's when everyone watched as the red tresses moved off of her shoulders and swayed like snakes.

"Yes. It was a gift from the Fire God Atlas." She said and Natsu blinked.

"It is decided." Juvia nodded and then Gray made an angry sound.

"Not it is not. We aren't leaving you two alone to fight the draconics. These are newer and more dangerous. You heard the warning from the stars. It needs precision shots."

"My water pistol attack is very accurate." Juvia reassured him.

"They won't be alone Gray." Meredy swung down from her perch. "I'll stay with them."

"And me." Ultear said and stood up, stretching. "The four of us can handle them."

"I don't like this." Gray snarled, ice forming on his shoulders.

"Don't worry. We have the health trackers." Ultear tried to reassure him.

"I don't think that is going to reassure him." Erza murmured to Lucy who shook her head.

"Nope. He's icing over." Natsu whispered and leaned on Lucy's shoulder. She rested her head against his and they watched.

"Why don't you stay with them Gray?" Jellal suggested. "We can leave a Magi-Hover behind for you all."

"Fine." The Dragis muttered and glowered at the females who smirked at him.

"Don't worry Gray. We'll protect you." Meredy grinned and laughed as he spit ice at her. Ultear blocked it and put a hand on his forehead and shook his side to side.

"Let's go get ready to try and get out of here."

"I'll make an opening in the barrier." Lucy said and pulled away from Natsu who sighed heavily. He didn't want her to keep wearing herself down but he also knew that they had to get out.

"Thanks Lucy. Ultear nodded at her. Gray shifted, breaking the ice that had him locked in place to the floor. Alfie hummed and everyone took a deep breath collectively.

"This is going to be so weird." Cana said and looked at the screen, where Alfie was showing the work that Laxus and his group were performing at the new base.

"We'll be with you." Erza whispered before she turned and walked over to talk with Mira and Romeo.

"We'll keep you safe." Happy promised Elfman and nodded at Mira. "And Mirajean too."

"Thank you." The male said and sighed as he sat in his seat. The idea that they were targeted by Mard Geer worried him. But he also knew that they were stronger together than they could hope to be separated.

"Get ready to leap into the Magi-Hover. I have it across from us." Alfie stated and everyone tensed. Lucy put her hand on the walls and they watched as her hair lifted around her shoulders.

"Go now!" She ordered and the door slid open and they watched as a metallic tube connected the shuttle and the Magi-Hover together. Everyone raced through and it snapped shut quickly. Lucy topped her arms and sighed heavily.

"They made it safely into the Magi-Hover. They are pulling away; and the draconics are following."

"Why did they turn so quickly and leave us?" Happy asked and everyone waited.

"I replicated Mirajean and Elfman's scents as well as your's Happy and had it coming from the vents of the Magi-Hover."

"That's clever." Jellal said and watched as everyone sighed heavily.