We are halfway done with this story! It's hard to believe how fast I move through these things. If you like these types of stories better than my usual drabbles, please put that in your review (this is for the readers who have read my other story).

Wendy rubbed her eyes. Each step was becoming increasingly difficult, and she was forced to take deep breaths. The whole thing perplexed her. She hadn't even used any of her magic, so why did she feel so...drained?

The dragon slayer looked at Carla. She looked tired as well. They were indeed moving slower than before, and Wendy put her hand on a trunk to steady herself. She let out shaky breaths, her knees beginning to collapse beneath her. Carla's eyes widened.

"Wendy...Wendy!" she said, watching in horror as the girl fell unconscious. Her limp figure lay on the floor, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes. Carla watched in silence for a minute, unable to process what had just happened. She opened her mouth to call for help, but she felt her eyes grow tired. The world began to spin, and she fell to her knees.

And darkness fell.

Natsu and Erza defeated another wave of the mages. It was becoming difficult to move. The dragon slayer glanced at Erza, who looked like she was about to pass out. In an explosion of worry, he took her hand.

"Erza, are you okay?" he asked her, and she stared at him with exhaustion. He smelled the air again, cringing. Damn, that was some bad smelling air. As soon as he did, he felt extremely light headed, and he stumbled.

"This air isn't normal," she murmured. "I don't like it. We should finish this off as quickly as possible." The Silver Chimera mages laughed at her. One of them licked the edge of his sword, fixing her in a condescending glare.

"Getting tired?" he asked them, and Natsu glared at him. "Imagine it. The Salamander and the famed Titania losing to Silver Chimera. Think of the glory we would get. Hell, we'd be the top mage in all of Fiore!" Natsu laughed at his statement, and Erza giggled knowingly.

"Beat US?" he mocked, incredulous. The mage glared at him angrily. Natsu grabbed him by the collar, his fist ignited in flames. "We haven't even gotten started." Natsu punched him in the chin, throwing him into a wall. The other mages began to back away. Erza grabbed one, looking at the cowering warriors with a gleeful smile on her face.

"Who's next?"

Gray panted a bit as he made his way up the stairs. His eyes were growing heavy. He thought back to all of the activities that he had done in the past week. Sure, he had killed a few hundred mages, had a duel with Elfman, and had done more training that usual-but that would not explain the extreme exhaustion he felt right now. His breath hitched, and he felt his body sway.

"Gray, are you okay?" Happy asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. The ice mage smiled at the exceed.

"Why wouldn't I be? Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "I'm worried about Erza, though." Happy, despite his tiredness, giggled, covering his mouth with his paws.

"You llllike each other~," he said, and the ice mage glared at him. Lucy laughed at Happy's statement. She looked up at him mischievously.

"Don't bother denying it Gray, everyone knows~," she said, and he felt his face grow hot.

"Of course I don't. Now, let's get you back to bed," he said, trying to change the subject, but Lucy and Happy laughed at him even more.

Still though, he was so exhausted...

"Wendy!"

Cana kneeled over the blue haired girl as her eyes opened. Makarov also approached her, his forehead creased in worry. Wendy looked around. How...and why...was she in the guild infirmary? She looked at Carla, who was still sleeping peacefully.

"What...happened?" she asked, and saw Porlyusica approach her. Her face was unreadable.

"That is what we would like to know. Weren't you on a job with Team Natsu?" she asked. Wendy nodded slowly, before she began to remember the events that had occurred. Her eyes widened, and the guild members leaned closer curiously.

"Yes, I was. It turns out that the job was a trap, though," she said, and her eyes filled with tears. "The inn we stayed in was actually their guild hall. Before we realized, Lucy was captured. She's really hurt." Makarov grimaced, his eyes filled with anger. Cana wrapped her arms around Wendy,rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"Gray took her somewhere to rest, while Natsu and Erza took care of the rest of the guild," she continued, slowly. "Natsu sent me here to tell you all, but then I suddenly felt tired. I don't know why...," she said, before wincing. Porlyusica turned to her suddenly.

"Did the air smell weird?" she asked. Wendy, taken aback by her question, looked down at the white sheets that covered her.

"Well, yes. All of us were-"

"That's enough, Wendy. Thank you," she said, a serious expression on her face. Makarov turned towards her, looking for a report.

"That air that you all were breathing," Porlyusica murmured, so quietly that she was nearly inaudible, "Saps a mage's magical power. You most likely collapsed because of magic deficiency." Makarov and Cana gasped.

"Wait, if this is true, then doesn't that mean...," Makarov started, and Porlyusica nodded gravely.

"Certainly. Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, and Happy are all in deep trouble," she said. "It might also explain why none of their mages use magic." Wendy gulped, reality hitting her hard. Cana felt her heart tingle, and she looked down.

"Gray..."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Makarov said impatiently. "Those brats need us! Come on!" Everyone nodded, and Porlyusica turned to Wendy with a reassuring smile.

"You both stay here."

"But they might need me to heal them...," she said, but Porlyusica shushed her before she could speak any further.

"They would never forgive me if I let you do a rash thing like that. Stay here, and rest," she said. "You're out of magical power anyway." Wendy, who did not have the heart or energy to argue any further, smiled at her weakly, snuggling back into her bed.

"Bring them back, Porlyusica."

"I will."

"Safe and sound."

"I will try my best," she promised, and watched as the blue haired girl fell into slumber once more. Her smile disappeared at once, and she frowned.

Those idiots.

Aaaand there are only two more chapters! In celebration, in the reviews you can ask me questions (AKA age, birthday, favorite bands, my first name,whatever strikes your fancy). I will answer as many as I can. Anyway, see you in a bit! Time to work on Chapter 4!

~Hiraethe