"Please, I have heard your guild is most kind..." She rasped, coughing a little at the end of her sentence.

Master Macarov, who had been quietly seated at the bar, stood and approached the stranger. "What would your name be, young lady?" He asked, staring into the goggles that blocked her eyes from being seen.

"I'm Venus Martima, the healing Mage from the Northeast." She spoke in raspy breaths, as if she was struggling to even breathe.

"You use healing magic?" Wendy spoke up, standing from where she was seated to slowly approach Venus. "I-I do too... but it's rare to find another Wizard who would know it..."

"Why, you must be Wendy Marvel." Venus's tone grew more gentle. "Stories tell of your wonderful Sky Dragon magic, as well as your healing abilities." Wendy seemed to be flustered and taken aback by the sudden praise, and simply smiled shyly at the stranger.

"Why do you know so much about Wendy, huh?" Natsu stood and demanded with narrowed and suspicious eyes. "And what do you even want?"

"I simply know what I've been told." She explained, coughing after her statement, "And I told you all already, I simply need a place to rest and heal myself. Perhaps some bread and water... I have not had anything to eat or drink in many days..."

Master Macarov looked thoughtful for a second. "Let the girl in, what harm can she do?" The Master finally decided.

Natsu grumbled, but Lucy and Erza bounded up to the young girl eagerly. "Come, Mira will fix you something to eat and drink at once." Erza told Venus, wrapping her arm around her shoulder and leading her towards the kitchen.

"Actually..." Venus rasped, reaching her hand into her cloak and pulling out a small pouch. "In return for your kindness, I would like to buy a round of drinks for the whole guild."

Her statement was met with cheers from the guild, who immediately became rowdy and excited again with the prospect of drinks.

Mira smiled from behind the bar. "It's very kind of you to buy everyone drinks, but we don't expect anything in return. We're happy to help any wizard in need!"

"Nonsense." Venus rasped, breaking away from Erza and Lucy to approach Mira. "In fact, I would love to help you prepare the drinks. Anything I can do to help while I am here."

Lucy and Gray frowned and looked at each other suspiciously, but Erza smiled gleefully. "What a helpful young lady you are!"

"Oh I've performed many jobs on my time as a traveler," Venus explained, making her way behind the bar, "And Bartender was one of them."

"You'll be a helpful asset to me this evening then! I usually have Kinana to help me, but she's out tonight. Would you care to help me serve drinks?" Mira asked Venus, an inviting smile on her beautiful face.

Venus grinned under her mask, "I would be honored to."

•••

The night went on with fights and drinks, rowdy cheers and smiling faces.

And slowly but surely, everyone in the guild passed out where they stood. Well, everyone but Venus.

She watched the guild fall into slumber with her sly grin hidden under her mask. And when the entire guild had finally fallen asleep, she stepped out into the center of the guild hall.

She stood and laughed for a second, before calling out. "Rise from your slumber, those whose hearts have wavered! Your mistress is here to lead you away!"

From the pile of sleeping bodies, four people arose to stand, with pupil-less, blank eyes. The outlines of Juvia, Gajeel, Evergreen and Natsu could be barely seen in the dark guild hall's light, and Venus stared upon her victims with glee.

"Hello my army. I am the Poison made Venus Martima, of the Wings of Roaring Justice. You have been put under a curse by my poison, and you are now my army." Venus smirked, stepping forward towards the door of the guild hall. "Follow me, and say goodbye to your precious guild."

As Venus lead Natsu, Juvia, Gajeel and Evergreen out of the guild hall, the mysterious Poison mage purposefully dropped a piece of paper onto the floor for the Guild to find when they woke up.

•••

As the first light of sun-up filtered through the windows of the Fairy Tail guild hall, Wizards began to rise from their slumber.

This wasn't uncommon. Guild parties often ended in everyone getting drunk and falling asleep on the guild floors. But the disappearance of their friends was almost immediately noticed...

Gray sat up, rubbing his head. "I've got a killer headac-" he stopped mid-sentence, looking around the room swiftly. "Wait a minute... where the hell is Juvia?"

Lucy, who was waking a few feet away, glanced around. "Dunno, why?"

"She was right here when she fell asleep." Gray stood, looking around as his Guild-makes began to stir.

"Come to think about is, where's Gajeel?" Levy added, her eyes wide with concern. Pantherlily flew around the Guild hall, searching.

"Evergreen is gone too!" both Elfman and Cana spoke in unison.

"And... Natsu." Lucy spoke up in a hushed voice.

"What about Natsu...?" Happy finally woke up, rubbing his eyes as he looked at Lucy.

"He's disappeared." Macarov stood up, walking through the Guild hall with a long, serious stride. "As well as Juvia, Gajeel, and Evergreen. I think we-" Master stopped upon stepping on the note that had been left on the floor.

"A note..." Lucy spoke quietly, her voice broken and full of concern.

(To be continued...)