Team Natsu Week Day 2: Magic
Title: Weakness
Character: Wendy
Summary: No magic is ultimately "better" than any other, but it didn't always feel that way.
Wendy Marvell was the weakest link, and she knew it.
Natsu was strong. Erza was strong. Gray was strong. Even Lucy, whose magic wasn't the overtly attacking type, could deal so much damage alongside her spirits that the ground shook with the force of her attacks.
Then there was Wendy.
She'd taken to tagging along on the team's missions lately, but it was hard for her to feel like she was really a part of them. Her magic was more of a support type, powering up her teammates so they could fight better. As for her, she didn't do much attacking. She could do sky dragon roars and stuff, sure, but she was still weak. Her hands shook with fear after every battle, the nerves all hitting her at once.
Erza was strong. Erza never shook with fear. She had her magic to protect her.
"Erza, I'll bet you've never been scared, huh?" she said, feet swinging off the front of the magic-powered carriage where she rode next to Erza. Gray, Lucy, and Natsu were inside with the exceeds. Gray was yelling at Natsu not to throw up on his shoes. The usual.
"What makes you say that?" Erza said, not moving her focus from the road in front of them.
Wendy looked at Erza in surprise. "I mean, your magic is really strong. It can always protect you. Mine's not as powerful, so I get scared a lot."
There was a long silence between them, and Wendy worried that she'd said something wrong.
"Wendy," Erza said slowly, "there is no such thing as strong magic."
Wendy blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"It's not the magic that's strong or weak. Nobody's magic is better than others. Do you think Levy is weak just because she can't attack?"
"Well…no."
"Her magic is stronger than mine in many ways," Erza continued. "When confronted with Freed's runes, I can't do a thing. In that sense, my magic is weak. You get what I'm saying?"
"I think so," Wendy said. "But my magic is still weaker. It's support magic. You guys can attack and fight, but I end up standing on the sidelines because I can't do anything. I'm weak where it matters most."
"Wendy, you're a dragon slayer," Erza said. "That's one of the strongest types of magic around when it comes to battle. You were taught that magic so you could fight. Natsu and Gajeel can't use support magic. They can't heal their allies when they're hurt; all they can do is fight, and fight some more."
"I still wish I could fight," Wendy said.
"You know all the proper attacks, don't you? I imagine they're similar to Natsu's."
"Yeah."
"How about this? In our next battle, come with me on the offense. It'll be your job to protect me."
The very notion was absurd enough to make Wendy laugh. Erza didn't need protection. She was one of the strongest mages in Fairy Tail, and Wendy doubted she'd ever lost a fight. There was no way she, little Wendy the new kid, could protect the legendary Titania.
"I'm not joking around," Erza said. "It's my desire to protect that makes me stronger. I won't force you to try and protect your teammates like that if you're not ready, but think of what about your magic makes it strong. What makes you strong? For most of us, it's the desire to protect. To protect our friends. If it weren't for that, we'd have nothing left."
There was a vulnerability in Erza's eyes, and Wendy wondered if she'd underestimated Erza by thinking of her as some indomitable force. There was more to Erza than her physical prowess. Even Erza had her weaknesses. And somehow, seeing this odd expression on Erza's face, Wendy really did feel the urge to protect her.
Maybe not now, when she was still learning. But someday. Someday it would be her protecting her friends instead of the other way around.
"Thanks, Erza," Wendy said. She decided to keep those thoughts to herself for now. "I feel better now."
"Anytime," Erza said smoothly. "Now, I know you said you didn't want it to loose effectiveness, but you might want to casttroia on Natsu. If he doesn't stop all that moaning, I'm going to have to stop the carriage and knock him unconscious."
Wendy giggled. There was the usual Erza again. "Okay. I'll take care of it."
"Wendy."
"Yeah?"
"No one in Fairy Tail is weak. Least of all you."
"Yeah. Thanks, Erza."