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Chapter 2 Wendy's Escape.

The morning had started like any other for the mages of Fairy Tail. Many were still asleep at the time. Mirajane, along with the Master walked to the Guild Hall to open up for the day. As they arrived they noticed Wendy jumping down from a low tree branch near the Guild Hall entrance. The girl always seemed to be up and ready long before many others in the guild so her presence wasn't very odd. But both Mira and Master noticed there was something off in Wendy's greeting and smile.

"Good morning Wendy. What brings you to the Guild Hall so early today?" asked Mira.

"Good morning Mira. Master." replied Wendy. "I just thought I would go on a mission to keep me busy for a while."

Master and Mira glanced at each other before smiling back at the girl. "Well alright. I think there is actually a special request for you. Maybe Natsu and the others can accompany you when they get here." replied Mira as she opened the Guild Hall doors. "I'll get it for you." Once inside Mira went to get the mission request and gave it to Wendy. While the girl read the request Mira got a few things ready for the start of day. Master was about to go to his office to get the accursed paperwork finished when his attention was called back by Wendy.

"Master?" Wendy called.

"Yes, Wendy?" he replied.

"This is a very simple request. Healing the sick in a Port Town. It should take me a week to get there, clean the air, and to finish healing the sick. But I can do this on my own. I wouldn't need any help. Is it alright if I go on my own? I've done it before."

"I don't know Wendy. The times you've gone alone have always been nearby. And you usually take someone when it's farther way. Maybe you should wait for some help."

"Carla isn't here. She's off on her own mission. Natsu and Gajeel are busy this week. And I really don't think I need anyone to come along. It's a very well-traveled town. A trading town actually. And as I said the mission is easy. Besides its something no one can really help with. It's asking for Fairy Tail's Sky Maiden after all. I can do it Master."

Wendy stood on the tips of her feet, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She needed something to distract her. And this was perfect. Master could tell she wanted to go. But he didn't know exactly why. And after hearing her explanation he saw no problem with letting her go. It would be fine. She was a very responsible girl. And it was time to for her start to grow as a mage.

"Alright Wendy." He said. "But you must make sure to be back in the time you said. Or I will send someone after you. If you need to stay any longer then make sure to contact us. Like Carla did. Pack carefully. Don't over use your magic and be careful." He said in an authoritative voice.

"Yes, Master. I promise to do so. I'm going to go pack. Thank you!" she said as she bowed. With that she ran back to Fairy Hills avoiding all the girls barely awakening. She entered her apartment and grabbed the pre-prepared travel bag, only adding her wallet, house keys, and fresh food from her fridge. She left a note in case Carla or anyone else wondered where she was and left to get a train ticket to her destination. All leaving before her Guild Mates had started to head off to the Guild. No one but the Master and Mira knew she was gone as she left in such a rush in order to preoccupy her mind and forget her unpleasant thoughts.

The job was fairly simple. A port town called Bābena, located directly to the south of the National Council Fiore Branch, needed help clearing a poisonous fog from their air. It seemed to be coming from the mountainous regions nearby, but no one was able to investigate why since it was so dangerous to one's health. Many of the residents were getting sick as a result, so not only did they need a mage to investigate but also a doctor to heal them. Wendy was the perfect choice. It was far from Magnolia. About a day's trip and usually Wendy would be accompanied by someone.

But at the moment Wendy only wanted to be left alone. She had recently lost someone whom she had searched for so long. Now there was no way to get her back. Not many understood that pain. And even less understood the feeling of being abandoned. Her guild mates tried to help. She knew they cared, but the pity in their eyes only made her want to kick and scream. The nightmares soon returned, and telling others never helped. So she pretended they never happened. Pretended it didn't hurt, and they all believed the false smiles she portrayed.

But it was starting to get harder and harder for her to pretend. Natsu and Gajeel became distant. Most likely feeling similar things to her, and wanted to deal with them on their own. Carla knew she was upset. She could hear the cries for help at night. The pleas to those only she could see. But she knew Wendy had to get past them herself. So she resigned herself to reminding Wendy that she was not alone. And soon it seemed they became less frequent. What she did not know was that Wendy had begun to avoid sleeping in order to stop some of the pain. She was so tired. Exhaustion was making her masks more and more transparent. And now she needed to be alone. To be in a place no one knew her. Somewhere she could stop forcing smiles. So when she awoke from her nightmare and she realized Carla had left and the others were too busy to come along anywhere she had decided to get a job. One she would go on alone. And one that was far away from anyone she knew.

Wendy arrived at the port town early in the evening the next day. She had tried sleeping on the train for a while but was awoken from another less frightening dream then her usual ones. Although it had been a fitful night's sleep she has been able to get a few hours of rest and was prepared to face the job at hand.

The town was small and dull. Wendy had come to this same town before for shopping sprees when she was still in Cait Shelter. Back then the town was vibrant and full of life. From the looks of things the illness had begun to spread over town. Its inhabitants were slowly but surely getting weaker and weaker. She had arrived just in time.

There was no time to waste. She went directly to the hospital where the Mayor was hospitalized along with many other residents of the town. It seemed as though the townspeople were on the lookout for her. She was directed in the proper direction as soon as she began her search. Once she arrive the nurses and doctors began to thank her for the quick response, and got to work explaining the situation.

"It seems to be a radioactive base illness." explained he head doctor. "It is air borne, but you must be under constant contact for it to affect you; the more concentrated, the more dangerous. We have isolated the infected area but it does seem to continue leaking in. A few of our townspeople have tried investigating the origin area but have returned gravely ill or not all. It's a new poison. We've never seen anything like it before. And it seems to affect those without magic more severely. That's why we asked for you. You're both a mage and a healer. Thank you for taking the job despite the small reward." The doctor said as he and the others bowed in respect.

"No reward is necessary. I will do my best to help. Do you have any medicinal herbs?" She responded. And with that she began to tend to the sick.

Wendy found many cases that were far advanced and needed immediate attention. It seemed to be shutting down their vital organs as well as eating away at the patient's magic. Once she was able to stabilize the gravely injured patients she began to make some remedies for the rest. The symptoms seemed like something she had heard of before. But she couldn't quite place were. Although it would be a quicker to help them with her magic she knew she wouldn't be able to help everyone before falling from exhaustion. So she settled with making a type of medication to prevent them from progressing.

Once she was able to find the correct formula for the different states she shared them with the doctors and nurses. She made a basis of the liquid and showed them exactly how to prepare it using the herbs located in the hospital garden. Luckily, with the amount of herbs in the garden, they were able to create enough antivenin for all of the patients in critical condition. As for the other less severe cases, they were set aside in order for Wendy to focus on the stronger ones. Soon enough everyone was stable or recovering. So finally the day's work as well as the little sleep she had on the way there was soon catching up to her.

"Most of the patients have been stabilized. With the medication they should begin to recover. You said it was air borne but has been contained to some extent, right?" asked Wendy as she sat down to rest for the first time that day.

"Yes. The fog is coming from the mountain area to the West. We have a few mages here, but they are weak and have fallen ill from containing it with a barrier. But it isn't any kind of magic they use so it is weaker than most. We did our best in our investigation, but it is stronger than anyone thought. And we have never seen anything like it. Although it seems you have. It hardly took you any time to find a treatment. Where have you seen this before?" asked the head doctor.

"I don't believe I have ever treated this illness before. But it did seem familiar. It reminded me of one of the few my mother taught me to heal earlier in life. She taught me everything I know. And working as a mage has given me the chance to learn so much more. I keep everything I learn in my journal in case I ever have to cross check anything."

"You mean the one you asked me to hand you when you arrived?" asked the doctor as Wendy nodded. "I wondered what that was. It was in a foreign language I have never seen. And I have read many since a lot of medical research come in their original language."

"Yes, I know. I speak a few myself and I have learned a lot of basics for that purpose, although I am not nearly as fluent as my friend Levy. She helps me a lot when I am reading a new medical book."

"But what language was it in? I didn't recognize it at all. And I speak 8 different languages." insisted the doctor.

"You wouldn't know it. It's an old language, and it's hard to understand. Let alone learn. If you'll excuse me doctor, I think I am going to rest. The patients are stable now, and I am going to need my rest if I am going to find the cause of this illness." responded Wendy as she stretched. The doctor wanted to press more. Especially if she would be willing to part with the journal for while in order to learn himself, but she was clearly tired. And after a long day of healing and teaching he thought it prudent to leave the issue alone. So the girl left the hospital in search of her hotel room booked earlier that day. She sent a quick message, both to her guild as well as another and set off.

The following morning Wendy went to the hospital to check on the heavier cases from yesterday. There seemed to be no improvements but any declines in health either. Since the hospital had everything under control for the time being she decided to begin her investigation immediately. From the reports she discerned the best location to search first; a small clearing in the NW area of the mountains.

Once she arrived at the bottom of the mountain's base she located the barriers instantly. They were crud versions of the basics. A simple magic infused tap would be enough to destroy it. It was a miracle it was still standing, let alone holding anything back. Once she opened the barrier she replaced it with a stronger and more advanced one she had learned from Freed. That should be enough to stop the leaking completely. She felt the strain on her magic as soon as she continued her walk. She would have to work quickly.

Wendy began to consume the surrounding air. Slowly it began to dissipate and disappear completely. Thanks to her magic she was able to consume the poisonous fog but stay immune to it. The only down side was how weak she felt after using so much magic the day before and then using contaminated air to replenish her magic.

"I hope that's the last of it." murmured a tired Wendy.

"Impressive." came a voice from the caves she was going to check afterwards. "But nothing we shouldn't expect from Grandeeney's daughter."

Wendy spun around trying to get a proper look at the man. She was so caught up in purging the air she hadn't noticed his arrival. 'He knew Grandeeney? How?' thought Wendy. "Who are you?! Come out! There is no sense in hiding. I can smell you. And I know exactly where you are." she said as she stared in the location the man hid. As the man walked out into the open space she senses many more emerging from the caves. Each was dress in similar attire. A long blue and white tunic with a symbol of a star faintly printed on his back. The one who had spoken was tall and had a scar that ran across his nose. His hand was wrapped in bandages, and he wore a necklace with a substance that seemed familiar to Wendy.

"Yes, I suppose hiding when you're so close is pointless, especially when I have nothing to cover my scent. Tell me Wendy how were you able to heal all those people from my poison in such a short time?" asked the man.

"Your poison… You did this! Why? What have the townspeople done to you?"

"The poison, your instant ability to heal it… Surly your mother told you of us…" He said looking expectantly at Wendy. When she didn't answer he became enraged. "Did she not tell you!? How dare her! We were her followers! Her people! It was she who abandoned us, and she did not dignify it with a tale of the past in your lessons!" He yelled in frustration. Soon Wendy was surrounded as he began to speak slowly. "Well… It matters not. We always knew she abandoned us. And your reputation upholds you. I can see by the anger in your eyes you would never take your place with us. You would never fix what your mother broke. You are just like her. Sky Maiden." he sneered.

"Who are? What are you talking about? And how do you know my mother?"

"We were once her people, her worshipers. She taught us the use of herbs. But she denied us the chance to learn her magic. We chose to work hard and prove to be worthy. But when she realized we had done so, using the people of the village she was furious. All we wanted was her approval! Her love! But she rebuked us. She abandoned us! Many of the townspeople and our ancestors were killed by her hand. But a select few were able to escape. And they began to grow once again; waiting for the chance to gain her love, or destroy her if she refused. But soon she disappeared, leaving us in the dust once again. And then there was you. The Maiden of the Sky. The daughter of Grandeeney. You refused us, left us, again and again. Then we learned of her death. She left us once again. She abandoned us again… You are just the same! You look at us with anger! We should have known you were the same. You would kill us all, just like she did."

Wendy was in shock. 'They knew momma? How is that possible? It can't be true. She would never kill innocent people. She would never harm anyone… Momma was a healer... Just like me. Me… He said I left them. How? What does he mean?' she thought. She was confused. Thoughts swirled in her mind. She was so caught up in her internal struggle she failed to notice the man had slowly approached her during his speech. It was until she felt a sharp pain in her arm that she noticed. She jumped back immediately. Pain began to spread throughout her body. She could feel her magic draining. Her breath became labored and painful.

"It's a pity. You would have been our queen. We would have worshiped you always. But you are just like her. Uncaring and cruel. You would abandon us just the same." Wendy fell to her knees as he spoke this. "The poison should take full affect soon. I know you can reject almost any kind." he said as he took her chin in his hand. "But after using so much magic to heal the town, inhaling such contaminated air, and receiving a concentrated amount of Dragon's Bane and Strychnine you are too weak to fight it."

'Dragon's Bane… Strychnine … Different from the others. They're both deadly. I can heal myself if I can get back to the town hospital before the poisons overtake my nervous system. But I would have to take these guys down first. They want to harm innocent people. All because of something my mother did? Something I did? I can get answers later. Right now… I have the defeat them.

"I'm sorry… for whatever caused this…" The man looked startled. "But… I can't… let you do this." Wendy took his wrist into her right hand, the hand holding her chin, and struck him with her left. Her blow landed on his jaw, causing his head to snap to the side. He blacked out instantly. The surrounding men called out to him in shock. When they saw he was out cold they charged her.

In their shock she had, had enough time to get up and jump into the air before they reached her. She arched her head back taking in air and yelled. "SKY DRAGON ROAR!" The attack hit them as soon as they reached the center of the clearing where she had stood before. The intense strike knocked out almost everyone. She landed in the center of the fallen men. Four or five were still standing. It was hard to tell as she was starting to get dizzy. Two ran towards her, arms raised to punch. She quickly dogged, causing them to hit each other, and then gathering her magic she attacked.

"SKY DRAGON WING ATTACK!" She yelled as she expelled whirlwinds of air from her hands to attack the remaining men. A few had worked at calling their magic forward, but Wendy was too fast for them. She had knocked everyone out before they were able to complete their magic circles. Her magic was weakening quickly so she gathered the men and set up a Prison Barrier around them. It would be strong enough to hold them until she was healed and able to return for them.

She turned to head for the village when a strong head ache came. Her vision was blurred and she felt dizzy. The pain from the injection was starting to increase. She fell to her knees. 'I… won't get to… the hospital… in time.' She thought as she saw the sun begin to set. Her vision soon turned to darkness. And silence soon followed.