This story might just about to be winding down, I am planning about one more chapter or two more, I'll let you know when this story is on the last chapter.

I have been thinking of putting up a sequel, but I don't know what I'd do it about, like if I should venture off and do when Luffy is pirate king or some time before that.

One more thing, a question in the reviews got me thinking. Should I do a prequel of sorts? Like a story of Layla and her journey on Gol D. Rogers crew? What I worry about is not being able to write Layla as who she is and not making her out-of-character.

NO, WAIT, ONE LAST THING!!! I also fixed Chapter Twenty Three, I have re-read the past two chapters and what I found was that I CANNOT COUNT!!! I completely miscounted the time from finding out Wendy and Lucy's bounties to the present time! Don't worry I fixed it...I think.

Sorry, I went into blabbering.

(*In Earthland*)

Makarov's P.O.V.

I heaved a sigh as I looked at the little stack of papers on the corner of my desk.

It's been almost two months...

Just about two months have passed since Wendy and Lucy have gone missing. Most of the guild has been going almost non-stop looking for the two - especially Team Natsu, as well as Levy. The first month had everyone joining in the search but once the second month hit some started to slowly give up.

The guild has been almost like a ghost town since.

I have just about asked every guild I could to keep an eye out for the two, I even went so far to send in missions for them to either help look or bring books about any kind of transportation spells. I had tried to ask First Master Mavis if she had an idea but only got silence from her.

I have asked the Magic Council too - they didn't do much - they sent out missing posters.

Which brings it all back to the dreaded papers on my desk. The Magic Council had recently sent D.R.'s (Death Reports). Trying to nudge me into giving up and pronounce the two dead already.

Short Explanation: D.R.'s are technically like K.I.A.'s or M.I.A.'s just for guild masters to fill out and send back for the Council to file into some records collection then announce to everyone that those people died.

Those smarmy bastards! Like hell, I ain't filling those out until there is actual proof that they are dead!

Giving up I stood and left my office. Walking out and looking over the ones I consider my children I could just imagine the dark cloud over everyones heads.

It was too silent.

It also seems that Team Natsu came back from their recent search. The team was all sitting at a table, Natsu had his head laying on his crossed arms as Happy layed, like a starfish, on the pinkette's head - both were just staring into space. Erza was picking at a slice of strawberry cake in front of her with a fork while Gray looked to almost pass out from exhaustion. Carla wasn't with them, she must have went home.

What saddened me even more was the dark bags under all of their eyes from little sleep.

I have told them to get some rest - I have also told that to everyone in the guild - but it seems that went in one ear and out the other for them all.

I heaved another long sigh as I hopped to the bar and sat down on the counter. Mira instantly give me a drink which I slowly swished around in my mug while lost in thought.

It felt like an eternity - which was honestly like an hour - that I sat there trying to think of ways to cheer everyone up or maybe re-motivate them. I hadn't noticed Carla come in through the front doors and make her way over to the table that the rest of Team Natsu sat at.

Finally, I came to a decision.

Standing up I put my fingers to my mouth and whistled loudly to get everyones attention.

Once seeing that I managed to do just that, I started, "I recently got some paperwork from the Magic Council. These papers are something that is filled out when some one in a guild dies or is assumed to be dead." I saw everyone tense and looked like they were about to protest, but continued any way, "The Council automatically wrote in Lucy and Wendy's names before sending them. I was-"

I didn't get to finish what I was saying when Natsu interrupted me in anger, "THEY ARE NOT DEAD!!!! The Council can't do that! We can't give up now!!"

"As I was going to say," I continued, ignoring Natsu, "I am not filling them out. I plan to write a letter to them, with the papers in it, telling them that they can shove the papers where the sun don't shine. So until we know for sure where Wendy and Lucy are and if they are okay, we can't give up yet. But we also can't run ourselves into the ground from exhaustion while looking for them."

I could practically feel the dark cloud I have imagined earlier start to dissipate when I was finished talking.

Smiling lightly I started up again, "So, how about everyone go home now, get some rest, and when we come here tomorrow we'll be refreshed and ready to continue our search for them with gusto."

That seemed to do the trick, the guild gave a cheer in agreement and started to gather the things they needed, but before everyone left the main door swung open and a voice broke out over us all, "What about when they are found!!! How big will the party be then!?!? I've been feeling very homesick, so I hope this party is big enough to make me feel at home again - in fact - I want almost all of Earthland to hear us celebrate!!!"

Another voice cut in after the first, it wasn't as loud but still heard by us all, "Y-yeah!! B-but you should take it easy, you all look like you're about to collapse!"

The atmosphere thickened only to be broken by Lucy sticking out her tongue and pulling her right eyelid down as she said, "Why are you all so tense?! Loosen up! We got a party to start!"

Sorry, I don't know if 'D.R.' stands for anything else or if there is an actual name for some thing like a Death Report - and it's not Soul Eater related - my memory sucks so that's the closest name I could come up with.