Terrified, she whirled around to try and seek an escape, but there was none.

No one escaped Acnologia's wrath.

Once, she'd welcomed the heat of a fire with open arms.

As a girl raised by dragons, she had known what it was like to be shivering from the cold in the dead of winter She'd suffered terribly several times over. When Cait Shelter disappeared, when Tartaros had raised its nasty head, and definitely when her mother had said goodbye.

This, though.

This was different.

Slain people rested on the ground all around her. She could hear screaming. The pleading for their lives to be spared just seconds before they were killed. She screamed a few times herself, seeking help that didn't come. Wendy Marvell may have been a dragon slayer, a mage of Fairy Tail, but she was young, and she was scared. She'd lost Charle long ago, and had even managed to get separated from Erza.

The fire that she once felt safe around stifled her as she tried to figure out where she was. She couldn't breathe; she was smothered with how thick the air was, and she swallowed back a sob when she tripped and hit the ground, curling up into a ball.

It seemed like forever before the flames died down, before Acnologia left with a final deafening cry, her breath coming in short and soft pants as she was nudged.

Terror filled her as she lifted her gaze to discover none other than the one who she was sure would make everything right - despite knowing that he couldn't. Natsu's onyx eyes were blank, showing no emotion as he offered a hand to her, trying to help her up. His hand trembled when she took it, as if startled that she'd willingly done so.

And then she'd thrown her arms around the other mage in a tight hug, crying.

"Why?" she sobbed. "Why?"

He hugged her back to comfort her, his own heart aching with grief. "I don't know, Wendy. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeated his apologies as his voice broke, and a soft groan of pain left him as he mourned the losses they'd both suffered. He remained like that as Gajeel picked his way over through the rubble. Levy and Team Shadowgear weren't far behind, Lily held gingerly in her arms. Cana was carried over on the back of a near silent Mira with Lisanna at their sides. Laxus and the Thunder Legion appeared shortly. Erza cradled Charle in her arms, and Wendy threw herself at the scarlet-haired woman with a cry.

Charle purred weakly and reassured her, and Wendy thought that maybe, everything would be alright.

But then the first body was revealed.

Wendy cried again as they brought Juvia out, her eyes staring blankly at nothing. The body count only grew as civilians were brought out. Gray arrived and made a strangled sound. Wendy thought that Natsu couldn't handle it when he left, his throat thick and his choked sobs loud in the air.

Elfman's body was found beneath the crushed guildhall alongside several others and Mira and Lisanna collapsed in each other's arms, wailing their grief.

Levy screamed when Natsu came back.

Because in his arms, he cradled Lucy. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping, her hair tangled and matted with blood and her lips stained with it. But they knew better.

They all did.

Happy flew in and began to screech in horror almost immediately when he realized who Natsu held, and the pink-haired mage seemed at a loss. What was he supposed to do without his partner? She was the one who organized his thoughts, the one who told him what to do in situations like this.

But she was gone, too.

The next horrible shock came when Makarov was discovered to be dead, and then there was terror.

What would Fairy Tail do without their master? The man who'd loved them all as his children?

They all cried then; even Laxus held tears in his sharp blue eyes as they struggled to come to terms with what had happened.

Acnologia had come seeking revenge for what had happened with Igneel in the battle with Tartaros, and he'd sure as hell gotten it.

It was hours before they'd gathered themselves back together. Erza took charge alongside Mira, naturally, ordering with a shaky voice that they should all continue looking for survivors. But by the time dusk came, they'd found only three survivors, and had given up.

Wendy healed injuries throughout the searching, keeping an eye on Natsu when Erza had asked. She felt a strong flash of grief every time she checked on him, fresh tears arising when she found him sitting there with his forehead pressed against Lucy's, his voice low as he whispered to her about things she couldn't hear. People avoided him as he was forced to come to terms with the loss of his partner, and the one time someone did approach, he nearly incinerated them when he told them to leave.

Finally, when the sun was just about to set, Wendy went over.

"Natsu," she whispered, capturing his attention. He tensed, refusing to look away from Lucy's closed eyes as she settled cautiously beside him. "Natsu, you...you have to say g-goodbye. We have to go."

"Where?" was all he said in response, closing his eyes.

"We've decided to go to Lamia Scale for shelter," she said softly. "We'll come back with help. To clean up Magnolia, find more of our friends, the likes." Her voice trembled dangerously. "We're...we're going to have funerals. For our friends that we've found. And L-Lucy…" She trailed off with a whimper.

Natsu paused, and then suddenly crushed Lucy to him, pressing his face into her blonde hair as he began to sob loudly. "I can't," he moaned. "I can't leave her. Or Juvia, or Elfman, or Gramps-"

"You have to," Wendy said shakily. "We all have to. We don't want to either, Natsu."

Wendy could tell that they were being watched by their friends nearby. Those that lived had clustered together, seeking comfort in one another. Gray was sitting with his head close to Erza's as they tried to figure out their next course of action. Levy dozed against the iron dragon slayer that already held her on his back, ready to leave, and Lily was dozing atop of his head. Laxus was speaking with Mira and Lisanna, who held the sleeping Charle for Wendy.

Happy was standing alone, watching with tears in his eyes.

"Happy needs you," Wendy urged gently.

He was quiet for a few moments before he suddenly gave a shaky sigh and pressed his lips to Lucy's cold forehead, tears escaping his shut eyes. When he pulled back, he took a deep breath, and then said hoarsely, "I wanna cremate Luce. And the others."

Wendy was startled, but said hesitantly, "We need to speak with the others, but Lucy at least, we can."

"The Spirits...they'll wanna..y aknow…"

"Loke can see if they can come." Wendy touched his arm soothingly, and then stood, studying the stars that had begun to dot the sky. Her tired legs trembled beneath her, but she stood strong. "Come on. Let's go see what the others will agree to."

We're Fairy Tail, Wendy told herself as he reluctantly climbed to his feet, moving to follow her with Lucy cradled gingerly in his arms.

The pain they felt hurt them terribly.

The grief killed them.

But they would live on for their lost nakama, stronger than ever.

"I'm going to kill Acnologia," Natsu said darkly, surprising them all when he spoke upon reaching the group.. "I don't care what I have to do. I'll kill him someday."

"And we'll be right there beside you," Gray told him, clasping him on the shoulder gently when he heard him speak.

Everyone murmured their agreement, and Wendy licked her lips with a dark look in her gaze as she gave a surprisingly loud growl.

They would get their revenge.

And if it killed them in the process...so be it.

Because they'd have friends waiting on the other side.

My next addition to angst week! The prompt was "smothered".