"I see," master says after Ezra finished explaining everything about our mission. "This is news to me. Gildarts didn't you have a mission out that way a few months ago?" he turned to older man.

"Mhm yeah and those same monsters were plaguing that town back then too. But there wasn't anything about little girls walking around town bloody and half-dead," he muttered.

"What does it mean master?" I ask from under Mira's arm. "Does it have anything to do with her mission?" For the last six months the newest member of our guild, Mahari, has been working with the newly formed Magic Council to try and eradicate the last of the sex slave cells that have been kidnapping mages.

"No, I don't believe this is the same thing Wendy," master said grimly. "I think this is an entirely different problem. Besides Mahari hasn't said anything about information coming from that area."

"How can you be so sure?" Natsu pipes in. He always did speak so informally with everyone even if they could beat him into the ground it always causes me to groan internally. "I mean there have been dozens of these girls how did you not see one, Gildarts?"

"We were only there for a day Natsu," Gildarts grunts in annoyance. "Maybe she needs to stop being so good at her job," the annoyed S-class grumbles.

"You don't really mean that Gildarts," Cana sighs. "Oi, so you gonna take charge of this mission Wendy?"

"Huh?" I look at her incredulously. "What do you mean? Shouldn't a more experienced mage look into this problem?!"

"Wendy you were the first to respond to this problem we knew nothing about. It's up to you, but I think you should lead this mission," master replies.

"I-I don't know if I can…" I stutter. "That girl sh-she was just so—so broken and I was so scared," I whisper meekly. "Her injuries were like nothing I've ever seen before," I look down at my shoes in shame. 'Haven't I gotten any stronger than this?'

"Wendy," Mira chuckles while dropping down to my level. "You've grown so very strong in the few months. Yet you lack self-confidence and that worries me greatly. I believe in you and so does everyone else here," at that the entire hall erupts in cheers. "So, do not fret my dear. Take your team and whoever else you think you'll need and finish this mission mhm?" she smiled brightly at me.

I smile back at her finally, "okay!"

"Wendy can't you sit down for a moment?" my best friend sighs exasperatedly at me. I've been pacing back and forth in my room ever since we left the guild. "Please you're going to give yourself a headache."

"Charla how can you be so calm about this?" I snap at her. "That girl…she wasn't much younger than me. Something terrible has happened to her and there was nothing I could do for her!" Before she could respond there was a knock at the door. "Come in."

"Um Wendy are you alright?" it was Nikki. "I could hear you from down the hallway."

"Oh I'm sorry Nikki," I sigh finally sitting down. "I'm just so frustrated is all. I don't think I can do this mission, besides those townspeople don't seem like they're going to be much help. I think they're going to hate us once we start looking into this thing—and after we did such a nice job on the mission," I rub at my temples vigorously.

"You know Romeo and I will help you with this," she says as she sits down next to me and rubs my back.

"Aren't you going with Laki on that really big mission in three days?" I inquire.

"W-well yes, but that can be put off!" she tries to reassure me.

"No," I say softly as I place my hand over hers. "Thank you, but it's okay I have my team!" I try to say brightly. "Besides you have to make rent and I wouldn't want to be a burden to you." Nikki laughs lightly causing a small blush to dust her dark cheeks.

"You never cease to amaze me Wendy," she smiles radiantly at me. "You are not a burden to me. You're one of my best friends," her purple eyes dance with mirth as she hugs me. "If you are so sure that you will be okay without me then I understand. I trust Lucy and Gray to keep you safe. But take as many people as you can this mission sounds…troublesome and I don't want you to get mixed up in something you can't handle."

"What about Natsu and Ezra?" I tease trying to quell the raising unease I feel.

"No," she replied with a deadpan look. "Those two have to earn my trust back after that whole theater mission," she practically growls. I laugh, actually laugh at her face.

"You have to admit Nikki that was really fun though," I smile at her. Her expression relaxes as she breaks out into an easy grin.

"Yeah well it doesn't mean it was right of them to pillage and plunder the place before Natsu burnt it down," she sighs as she remembered the whole fiasco. "Well Nee-san will be home tomorrow and I promised her the house would be clean, so I gotta get going." We both stood up and moved to the door. "Good luck Wendy, I believe in you," she says before giving me one final hug. I shut the door quietly behind her and a silence falls over me and Charla again.

"Let's get to work Charla."

"…no I haven't seen her yet today," Lucy relies nervously as we all glance around the guild for our tiniest teammate.

"I'm sure she's gonna be here soon. We can't do this without her," Gray, who was usually a statue, had worry etched all over his face.

"I'm sorry everyone!" just before I get up to start a search party Wendy comes crashing through the door with Charla and Levy right behind her. "I overslept!"

"No need to apologize Wendy," Charla chides. All three of the women have bags heavy under their dull eyes.

"Lu-chan I'm coming with you on this mission," Levy says as they walk up to the group.

"Eh? Shrimp whadd about our mission together?" Gajeel whines before swallowing a nail whole.

"Sorry Gajeel-kun that's going to have to wait. This mission…this mission is going to be brutal." Levy casted her eyes downward towards Wendy.

"Whadd ya mean Levy?" I question.

"That girl that you saw Natsu—that girl wasn't human. At least not anymore," she relied, her face darkening.

"Eh?!" half the hall yells, clearly listening in to our conversation.

"Look here," Wendy holds open a giant book. The book was old red leather that had seen better days, the binding had two firm golden clasps holding it shut. However, Levy seemed to have the key and they opened the book to a page towards the end. "See how these pictures kind of look like that girl?" Wendy points to a dark and sinister looking creature with dull red eyes and blood running down its front side.

"That's disgusting!" Lucy intones while holding a hand over her mouth. "Wendy what are you talking about?"

"No Lu-chan this description is right. Look—a child of no more than its eighteenth year will work. The younger the better for the spell works well over the uncorrupted youth the best."

"What?" a powerful voice from the door called out. "What did you say Levy-san?" we all turn to see Mahari standing at the door with Evergreen and Nikki by her side. Laxus was up and across the room in a moment. "What's this spell you are reciting?" she doesn't even acknowledge her lover as she quickly crosses the hall.

"Just listen," Charla snaps before turning back to Wendy and Levy.

"Well if Wendy is correct then this girl was about her age or around fifteen. With hair as pure as the first snow and eyes as red as the blood of the innocent shall your creation come to life. Which…isn't that what you said she looked like Natsu?" everyone turned to me and I gulped.

"I mean I couldn't tell her hair color she was covered in mud, but her eyes…you're right they were red. A very violent red," I muse as images of that horrific scene play behind my eyes. Lucy grabs my arm and pulls herself closer to me before speaking.

"What does it all mean Levy-chan?" she asks with hesitation.

"That we have a very powerful enemy. Someone who uses a darker form of magic—a perverse form. It's—it's a um…"

"It's a puppet spell," Mahari interrupts with a sudden darkness surrounding her.

"Right," Levy mumbles.

"We must leave at once—!"

"I think not Mahari," the old man decided to come down the stairs at this point. "We have a very important meeting with the High Council in three days' time and we must prepare for it. I am sure Wendy and her team are more than capable of handling this."

"But Makarov-sama this is my area of expertise!"

"I will not hear another word about this Mahari!" master yelled at her. I watched as her temper, and magic, flared for a moment.

"If you should require my knowledge Wendy-chan call me," she levels her gaze at the old man. "Who is going on this mission with you?" she inquired.

"Um…"

"I am," I say before she can answer.

"Natsu-san," Wendy throws a kind smile my way.

"Me too," Lucy seconds.

"Aye sir!" both Happy and Gray agree.

"I shall be assisting Wendy on this mission as well," Ezra replied.

"I'm going to help with the research," Levy answered.

"I'm goin' cause she's goin'," Gajeel grumbled.

"I got your back tenny-tiny," Laxus said while rubbing Wendy's head. "I'll keep an eye on her don't worry," he says before kissing Mahari's cheek.

"Well that's settled then," the old windbag says with a nod. "Now get going you brats and don't tarnish the Fairy Tail name!" the whole hall erupted into a loud unintelligible mass of sound. I looked over at my team and even though we were strong there was a dreary look about us.

'This mission isn't going to be any fun at all,' I think despairingly.

Okay, hi...sorry! I really want to work on this story and I am so going to! It's just that well...I only have TWO WEEKS LEFT until I graduate from college! So for now I am going to focus on those papers that need to be written and the tests that require study time. However, here is the latest chapter and I hope it meets everyone standards!

Also note from last time: you DO NOT have to read my last story to understand this one. I just wanted to keep writing for my OCs from Lost and Found, but they are not the main characters.

As always please, please, please feel free to rate and review! I love hearing from everyone :)

Keep it sparkly!

xoxo

Sparkles