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When the sun hides far away, a breezing night comes. Barely tangible, yet sneaky wind appears to disturb ones who cannot fall asleep that fast. For example, those who we love the most.
There our friends stopped on the hill, right before the shortcut to a lively town in case they'd be feeling quite hungry on next morning. As Erza had commanded earlier, everyone had to be on watch for about 2 hours, so Wendy volunteered to go first. In fact, Carla did insist her on taking a nap, however all the mother-like speech didn't help at all. She knew it was quite a tiring day, mostly because of Natsu and Gray started a reckless and completely useless fight (as always), so the whole team had to deal with a crazy bunch of monsters. Luckily, no one was heavily wounded, yet it was all up to Wendy to heal everyone's broken noses and bones. That's exactly the reason why she ended up all exhausted and actually needed some rest.
However, recently something heavy and unknown has been bothering her kind, poor soul. This late time to stay alone with her brainworms and elusive feelings could be in handy to deal with those. At least she guessed so.
Eventually, Carla gave up and had to accompany her child, even though she drifted off as soon as the town's bustling ceased and nothing else could interfere the dreamy atmosphere that everyone needed. Everyone but Wendy. She leaned on a high, thick tree with long, cluster branches and gloomy dark-blue leaves, supposedly, some kind of a magic tree like once she saw in Magnolia. She hugged her knees and rested there head as well, her cheeks slightly puffed out and bare feet lightly brushed against the grass. Her mind slowly, unnoticeably drifted away as she fell in dozens of disruptive, irrational fears. Our child could not still admit she's a valuable guild's person.
Supporting magic does say volumes of her status, but it can't save the day, can it? The best way to deal with a threat is to stop it, to wield and shrink it or if nothing else works, — to slay it. And that's the weak point, the fragile component at which Wendy's not a best solution. It hurts to feel like a Fairy without her wings, losing mobility and luminosity, becoming a simple person who seeks protection rather than suggests it to those in need.
From time to time Wendy silently observes older guildmates trying to tell their strengths, training routine and self-improvement paths. It's like deciphering a coded magic glyph, looking for the solving patterns. However, it doesn't seem to help her overcome the issues. They're all different. It's impossible to utilize their experience and approaches. She needs something her own. But how to find it when you always dwell on the same point, feeling only like drowning in dark waters deeper and deeper?.. Deeper and deeper... Deeper and deeper. In the state of anxiety and overwhelming thinking.
There's no way to fall asleep. Only to behold, breathe and shatter her own heart in pieces, even though unwillingly. No healing magic could save that day. Nor Wendy assumes anything in the world could.
— Something on your mind, huh? — a sharp and strong voice suddenly appeared.
Natsu stood before her. Full of his youthful enthusiasm and fiery character, he never looked weak in her eyes. It's a great example of who Wendy might've become if she'd worked harder. Or if tried to figure out his secret. Something, but not what it actually is nowadays.
She didn't utter a word. Eyes meet the others, ears hear the tough heartbeat. Also there's the scent. The scent of fish, apparently Natsu's and Happy's supper. The tomcat himself came alongside his friend as well.
— I'll be your sleep guardian, Carla! See me securing your safety! — he declared as a true warrior waving both paws over the head.
But his beloved kitty stayed dreaming and quiet, gently pressing her head to Wendy's thigh and murmuring something unintelligible. Today there were no premonitions, so she might finally be sleeping well.
— That's true, — confidently added Natsu to his friend's spirit, — Your time's over, Wendy, we're gonna light the night up, huhuh! Take a break while we're about to have fun a bit!
As the words headed to the stars and spread as his own sparkles through Dragon's Roar, there nearby Erza rolled over, and her armor's clang echoed in the night's perfect silence. Both previously all fired up heroes of the day out of the blue scared themselves and shouted as little kids, hiding behind that thick tree.
— Errrrrrza... Is s-s-s-s-she watching us even while as-s-s-s-sleep? — asked Happy in barely audible whisper.
— Beats me...
However, even such an amusing fuss didn't make Wendy crack a smile. Her gloomy face stayed fading and gray. They say, sometimes one's eyes can tell more about a person than any their own words. Here and now Wendy's eyes were full of suffering and self-hatred, begging for immediate help and comfort, for something but not those dire feelings.
In fact, Natsu isn't a kind of shrewdie or at least an understanding person, but now something definitely turned the tables in his head. He felt something off and the mood changed after him. He made a little flame in his hand and sat next to Wendy as a gesture of sharing his warmth, power and confidence.
— So you do have something to share? — he started carefully far from the danger which is about to reveal, — It's not the Wendy I used to know. She's not a rainy cloud over the problems, she's strong and kind, two at once! Tell me, someone hurt ya? I'll kick their butts and tails up to make sure they'll never touch my friend again!
— And I will take all their fish for you and Carla! — Happy flew next to them, grinning like an evil villain (whereas in reality it looked more cute than evil).
That little flame Natsu had shared actually brought some warmness, soothing the pain of loneliness and burning mental-made walls to ashes. Wendy did start to feel better, to know that she's cared and loved. While still haven't done a thing in return, she finally pushed her limits. The time to ask has come. She gathered all her spirit and thoughts before confessing the truth.
— I... Ahm... S-s-sorry to make you go all the way to cheer me up... It happens sometimes. I...
As she opened her heart, Natsu, enjoying shining stars in the wonderful sky, patiently waited for everything to spill out.
— Well... — she continued, — I've been thinking on some stuff for a moment. Or even a month. Never mind! The thing is I don't feel myself useful. Am I good enough to stay here? To be a fairy too? To speak I am a Dragon Slayer?.. There's still Gajeel, Laxus and you. 3 most incredible sorcerers I've ever seen! You might defeat anyone only roaring on a foe, without using fists, you see? And me... I'm a little misfortune... A black nothingness around the rainbow of colors and abilities. I can't even... Even...
She completely lost in her whimpers and tears. Some of them fell off her soft, tiny cheeks on her beautiful green-yellow dress, even so she tried to cover her face with shaking hands. It all blew up of her chest after those long days of wondering, and the weight of sadness kicked the backs of any dreams to become once a better, more powerful, more valuable person.
The only light side was that her worst state, her most vulnerable herself had been revealed only to one single person. If it were everyone... She definitely couldn't survive that inner pain.
Now the smell changed. It's burning. Some grass turned into ashes under Natsu's legs and the tree became wholy covered in black dust behind his back. Even Happy gently took Wendy and Carla away to move them a bit farther from the flaming disaster in case they could've been burnt.
— No! NO, YOU'RE WRONG! — Natsu stood up. Whole his body got fired up and eyes sparkled lightly. — You must not see your value in power!
That intimidating (even though supposed to be supporting) shout and the pungent smell woke everyone up. Erza, Gray and Lucy ran to the highlight spot and looked on Natsu through their dreaming eyes, still quite unconscious and not understanding what's going on. However, the fire hazard now was not about to cease.
— You will always be a Fairy Tail's wizard! You are OUR Wendy! You are our friend and we are yours! No one cares about the power! It only leads to dark days and much pain! The only thing that matters is the love to your family and the bonds we share! Hear me out, Wendy! If one day I could donate my whole magic and my own life to be sure that my friends ALWAYS will be safe and sound, then I would do it!
In one fire kick he burnt down that enormous tree. It almost blew up like fireworks if he'd used magic a bit different way, however this show was pretty breathtaking as well. Everyone watched it astonished and dazzled. For that short moment, Wendy stopped crying and barely could smile. Because Natsu did mean to help, to take care of her feelings, to light the dark she was dying in.
— Never ever forget this! No one expects nothing from no one! You might be weak or strong, old or young, chatty or reserved, confident or shy, it doesn't matter! You are who YOU ARE! And you're always welcome here, in your home, in Fairy Tail!
Finally, Natsu bursted up the symbol of Fairy Tail in the sky and grinned mischievously. Friends calmed down as he finished the unexpected speech, and Wendy did actually feel saved, caring and loved again. As it's always been before. They always loved her and always will. She only got lost in her own world, however her family never could lose her anywhere.
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They're always here for you. Even when you think they aren't. And nothing will change it. You're always welcome here because family is what goes through any time and struggles <3
^_^
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(2 minutes later that fire show)
— That was definitely heartbreaking speech, Natsu, — declared Erza, but then punched him thrice: in face, belly and legs, then frowned like a soulless, evil demon, pressing her mighty leg over his wide chest, — However, you must have considered the slumber of your friends as well! You could have helped Wendy without waking everyone up!!! That's why I command you to stay on guard this whole night shift! You understood me clearly, didn't you?!?!
His crushed face was barely visible behind Erza's back, but it was quite understandable what grimace it was that moment. He could only blink multiple times as in act that 1) he's still alive; 2) he understood everything clearly.
Wendy as always started to blame herself for his injuries, but Lucy helped her out with careful words to calm down. And Gray silently stood alone, happy that he's not the one to get K.O.ed this time.
Family is awesome, don't you think so?