Horrible screams filled a vast land. Black filled the skies, bringing in strings of various colors and magics. Fear was everywhere. Especially with those who were non-magical. They hadn't a clue of what was going on, panicking was all they could do while the magical died from extreme magical extraction.

This terrible, terrible shrilling scream bounced through the atmosphere, it could have broken anyone's eardrums if they were close enough to the creature causing this hellish chaos. Death shouldn't have bothered the way it was. It wasn't supposed to be like this!

It was awakened, but why it is targeting all of them?! A young woman in her early twenties spun around, watching people, even her fellow occult members fall with their magicless bodies lifeless now. As much bad as she has done, this shouldn't have affected her the way it did.

So much destruction...

"SISTER!!"

A strangled gasp weaves into the still air. In her bed, Evanora sits up, glaring at nothing in particular as she sweats profusely from that horrendous dream. That screaming voice was one she wished she would never hear again within her immortal life.

Damn. The older woman frowned deeply, eyeing the long-forgotten trunk in the far corner of her bedchambers. It sat there, for decades, hell, even centuries, just collecting dust. Forgotten and unopened.

Sliding out of her bed, near-silent as she glided across the cold floor. Her body bends, hands clasping the rusted padlock, crushing the metal with her fingers. Strangely enough, the broken iron never sounded as it hit the floor, much to her relief.

The trunk groans, resounding through the chambers. Dust coughs into Evanora's face, onto her nightdress, and into the still air.

Evanora swats the dust particles away, frowning that so much of it had formed over the years. The trunk held many things Evanora collected over the years. Things that needn't be mentioned. Pushing aside many items, Evanora had to crouch as she dug through the various collection.

Her body tensed upon seeing what she yearned to gaze upon. Evanora grasps the flimsy parchment with both hands, ever so softly, the woman blew any dust away. Even after so many years, the picture was in good condition, except for the darkened edges.

The picture was of two lovely females, ravished in well-befitted dresses and beautiful headwear. Evanora remembered how their father forced them to sit while the artist painted them.

"My sister..." Evanora's crimson eyes hardened into frozen blood. Her fingers trace over the surface. "It won't be too much longer, Sister. I swear on my life, I will avenge you."

Her fingers tighten on the parchment, but are not clutched enough to crinkle the precious piece of memory.

~

"Ouchies!"

A cry rang through the apartment. I hold my swollen stomach as my child decides to be an active baby and kick my internal organs with such harshness.

"You okay?" Rogue asks, gazing at me with some concern.

"You know what, no! I'm not! I can't do anything anymore!" I complain immediately. "I'm a bum on a couch these days!" I whine, which is unlike me to whine.

"I'm sorry?" Rogue couldn't contain his amusement and sprouted a smile.

"You shouldn't be, " Midnight sassily says. "It's her who has people after her."

"You really didn't have to bring that up..." I bite my lip in my crestfallen pout.

"Here you are, Blondie." Cobra waltzed into the room, giving me the food I had asked for.

"Yay!" I cheer, taking the plate and chomping on the chips, my aching sore long forgotten.

"You're such a child." Midnight curled his lip in distaste.

"You're just jealous 'cuz I'm getting special treatment." I childishly stick my tongue out at the gothic man.

"What special treatment?" He coughs in a cold cluster.

"ALRIGHT! I've brought that communication lacrima you asked for--uh...did I interrupt something?" Sting practically pounced through the door, Lector perched on his shoulder and the said lacrima in his left hand. He stood there awkwardly, looking between every breathing being, shutting the door as slowly crossed the threshold.

"Not anything interesting, anyway, " I say before earning the stink-eye from Midnight, but I brush it off. "And thanks again with bringing the lacrima."

"Are you sure you'll be able to use it? That tree lady told you not to use magic." Sting said, reluctantly approaching me. "I also rather not be hit by her broom again."

I chuckle wholeheartedly. Yes, it was true. Porlyusica had gotten a good whack on Sting. "Then, don't tell her and you won't be her target practice."

"Um...erm, okay then." Sting crouched down in front of me, not really convinced by my words, instead he powers it up himself.

It would've insulted me, but I didn't really mind. I had my food. I was a happy pregnant lady.

The lacrima lit up like a firework. The lacrima dimmed and brightened several times as it tried to connect with Makarov. Dorinbolt never told me if he got into contact with my grandfather-figure and I wasn't entirely sure if he knew about the whole "my pregnancy was sped up and now these weirdo guys are after my baby", which is very blunt, and yes, I'm scared. I have my fantabulous friends to help protect us.

"I wouldn't call us that, Blondie." Cobra read my mind, scoffing.

"What?" We all look at him.

"What's what?" He returned the confusion.

"Nevermind." I dismissed him and readjust myself in my recliner so that I was criss-cross. "Why is it taking so long?"

"Don't know, just give it a minute," Sting said, peering up at me.

Statically, a face appeared with a giant smile, "Ah! Lucy, child! It's been a while hasn't it?" Makarov's face emitted a warmth that I could feel even through a lacrima.

"Only a few weeks." I chuckle with a shrug.

"Give or take, " Cobra comments roughly.

"A month." I correct with the flick of my wrist.

Sting plants his butt on the ground, readjusting the lacrima in his hands.

"So, child, why have you called, not that I'm plenty happy to see you again, which I am, but why?" Makarov asks.

"Well, I don't know if Dorinbolt has told you anything or not, but, uh, well, " I look to the other guys, pleading for some help with my eyes. "I'm going to put this a way so you don't have any heart palpations."

"Pardon? Child, what do you mean? What's going on?" Whelp, Makarov is worried now. Nice going, Lucy!

Cobra chortles, "Yeah, nice going."

"Stay out of my mind, Snake Boy!"

"Snake boy? Wanna say that again, Blondie?!" Cobra snaps his head toward me with a glare.

Ignoring him, I lock my eyes with Makarov. "Well, I wanted Dorinbolt to get you, but something came up and now we're...kind of....in danger..." I twist my hands together awkwardly.

"In danger?" Makarov was clearly strained. "What does that--"

"It means that there are these crazy occult people after Lucy and that baby she's carrying." Midnight suddenly pipes up, leaving over the back of the recliner.

"What?!" Makarov exploded. "Are you alright? Are you unharmed? Is your child alright?"

His questions turned him red with despair. Who could blame him?

"Makarov, please take a breath before you pass out, " I try to calm the old man down. "It-It's really not as bad as it sounds..."

"That's too optimistic, Blondie," Cobra says.

"Shut up!" I growl his way.

"Care to elaborate on the situation, Child?" Makarov gestures for me to continue.

So, I tell him everything. All the way up to the first attack, excluding Sting's attack because he doesn't exactly count because he's a friend, not a foe. Including the most recent attack on my baby, which caused a tremendous growth spurt.

Makarov rubs his jaw with a grim frown forming on his lips. "This...This doesn't boat well for either of us."

"No kidding."

"But I must ask, how did you end up in the hospital?"

I freeze. I knew very well why I froze. There's no denying it. I don't think I've ever been more afraid of just one person. My father doesn't even come close to this fear that is bubbling in my chest.

"Natsu." Just saying his name made me go pale.

"What?" Makarov said in disbelief.

"Did you not hear her, you geezer? That pink bastard somehow found her and he beat the livin' shits outta her!" Cobra growled.

"Right, " Makarov breaths lowly, his eyes narrowing at the maroon-haired man. "This matter will be dealt with upon their arrival."

"Their?"

"Yes. Erza, Grey, Wendy, Carla, and Lisanna. Natsu and the team left out for a mission yesterday morning. It was nothing too serious or they would be gone for a week. Erza had contacted me, informing me their client got impatient with them and hired another guild to finish the job." Makarov explained, wiping his mouth sourly.

"Please, Makarov, he already knows of Loke telling you! I don't want a repeat of---"

"You really think we're gonna let you out of our sights, Blondie?" Did Cobra grumble...protectively?

"Well, I only assumed because I'm supposed to---"

"Well, stop assuming. It's getting on my nerves." Midnight nonchalantly said twidling with his braid.

I say nothing. It was a little too late for me to protect them. It was kinda hard to even look after them with this new weight on me and all.

"Fine, but I'll still complain!" I huff in a pout.

That earned me a few chuckles from the guys.

"We'll protect you, Lucy. If anyone wants to hurt you or your kid, they'll have to get through us first." Sting said, adopting a completely earnestly serious expression.

"That's right! Me too!" Happy suddenly flies onto my head, his tail swishing against my ponytail.

"You guys..." I trail off.

"Don't get mushy on us now!" Sting and Lector hurried to say.

I laugh, "I won't, but I appreciate your declaration." I smile at him.

"Anyway, Child, " Makarov catches our attention. "It'd be best if you found a mage who specializes in cloaking magic. I'm not there to protect you as well, and I will never forgive myself if something happened to you or my grandkid."

His grandkid? For some reason, I couldn't have it any other way.

I nod at his words. "Okay, but I don't know anyone who uses this cloaking magic. I mean, we could get Yukino to use the Zodiacs to do it."

"Then that settles it. I should be getting off of here, you young men watch over Lucy, ya hear?" Makarov's glare caused the guys to shiver in fear and making them nod furiously.

"Goodbye, Makarov! It was nice talking to you!"

And then the lacrima shut off.

"Tense was he?"

"How else would he act?" I twist to look back at Midnight.

He shrugs lazily.

"Of course, " I roll my eyes, returning to my previous position. I hiss out, suddenly being kicked in my frickin' bladder. "You know what? Yukino really needs to get back, I'm not totally fond of being around a bunch of dudes..." I mumbled, struggling to get out of the recliner, only succeeding after a solid minute.

" 'A bunch of dudes?' Oi, Blondie! We're literally here trying to reminisce!" Cobra calls after me.

"Yeah? I need to pee, so I guess we all got problems!"