First off - Shout out to staryskylines221 for the idea that inspired this story. (Energy sharing at its best! lol)

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail.

ALL MY ENERGY I GIVE

Chapter 1

Lucy moved between the trees easily, enjoying the pleasant weather and the stillness of the forest. She loved the fall with all the beautifully colored leaves and the slightly brisk feel to the air. Having finished her mission earlier that day, she had opted to walk home through the woods. It wouldn't take her long, and she wanted to relish the quiet before it was obliterated by her friends.

She chuckled as she thought of them all, knowing the moment she arrived at her house, they'd be crawling through every opening they could find. That was why she had gone on this solo mission. Sometimes, she just needed a bit of time to herself, and that rarely ever happened when she was in Magnolia, not even in her own home.

In the next instant, the silence was broken by an agonized shout. The sound immediately set her on edge, her steps quickening as she raced in the direction of the noise. The blonde rushed forward, not a thought in her mind for her own safety. She just knew she had to get to the man who had released that heartbreaking cry into the forest. He was in pain, and Lucy wasn't one to stand by while another was hurt.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran, her quick feet leaping over fallen logs, dancing around obstacles in her way. Finally, she slowed. She was close, and she knew the situation required caution. So creeping forward, she edged towards a slight clearing up ahead, making certain her steps were as quiet as possible.

She inched to the outer rim of the clearing, squatting behind a large bush, and using her hands, she gently tugged a leafy branch aside and neared gasped aloud. There on the ground lay Gajeel, his strong body slumped and bleeding as he stared defiantly at the cloaked figure who stood above him. The unknown assailant stretched out his hand to the prone form of Gajeel and cackled. "You thought you could beat me! How pathetic!"

The tall man crooked his fingers, and a wisp of white rose from Gajeel's mouth. "I could do this gently. I could make it where it wouldn't hurt a bit, but where would be the fun in that?" the man crowed.

It was easy to see he was enjoying himself, and it made Lucy sick. She could never understand the satisfaction some people got from harming others. Hearing such maniacal pleasure in his voice, she shuddered, getting a sinking feeling in her gut, her body telling her that something bad was coming. No, she thought, she would stop him. She would save her friend.

Softly, she whispered the incantation, "Open Gate of the Lion, Leo."

The Spirit appeared before her, his mouth set in a firm line as he took in the situation around them. "He's trying to take his magic." Loke's voice was soft with horror, his face shifting a second later into a mask of anger, "That son of a bitch intends to kill him."

Lucy watched as Gajeel's head began to turn at the sound of their voices, his eyes widening marginally, but she hurried to whisper, "No, don't let him know we're here." She wanted to jump out and demand the despicable man leave her guild mate alone, but she knew they had to be smart. If he managed to take her magic as well, weaken her to the point she couldn't fight, they wouldn't have a chance in hell of getting out alive.

The Iron Slayer halted his movements, following her instructions, making sure to not to draw the man's attention to Lucy's location. Lucy felt a mix of sympathy and pride for him for his ability to remain so stalwart when he was in such a precarious position, but his silence didn't last long. In the next moment, Gajeel was screaming, his broken voice sending chills down her spine as the man above him shouted with glee, "Yes! Let me hear your pain!"

The vile man threw his left hand down beside his right, using both to call forth Gajeel's magical energy. He clutched his hands into fists, pulling them toward him as if he were yanking on something tangible, and Lucy supposed he was. Several smoky trails joined the first, seeping out of multiple places all over the Slayer's bare chest as if he was bleeding the magic out from far too many wounds.

Lucy covered her mouth on a sob as she watched Gajeel's body writhe along the forest floor, his entire being rebelling at the rape of his magic. It was the most terrible thing she'd ever seen, so monstrous she can scarcely breathe. No... She shook her head fiercely, dashing her tears away with her hand before giving Loke quick instructions and sending him to the other side of the clearing.

Loke left in a quiet flash of light and she hurriedly called out Virgo, knowing that Gajeel didn't have much time. That man fully intended to suck her friend dry, and that would leave him far to weak to sustain his life. She had to take him out before that happened, before he had drained every ounce of Gajeel's energy.

She spoke to Virgo in a rush, explaining her plan, and then Loke stepped into the criminal's line of sight across the expanse, lighting up his hands as he growled out, "Get away from him!"

The man shifted at the new arrival, moving his hands toward Loke in an attempt to stop his attack. Scowling dangerously, Lucy stood to her feet as the villain turned, making sure he wouldn't notice her moving up behind him.

"Another mage! How delightful! Twice as much power!" he sang, his face set with total assurance as he looked at Loke. He raised his hands higher, his fingers curling back to form a fist once again.

The man stood there, so certain of his victory, but Loke just smiled in spite of the pain he felt, in spite of the magic trickling out of his body. The Spirit simply stared at the cloaked man, not an ounce of fear on his face as he taunted, "You're going to lose."

The smirk fell from the man's face, the lack of reaction to his thieving magic infuriating him. "What are you smiling about? Do you look forward to your death?"

Lucy grit her teeth, anger flooding her body at the mistreatment of her friends, and with a snap of her wrist, she sent her whip flying towards her enemy. The Fleuve d'étoiles sailed through the air, slinging around the man's throat. "That's not going to happen, you sick bastard!" she shouted, yanking back to close off his airway.

He stumbled back, caught off guard at the surprise attack, and immediately moved his hands to the whip cutting off his air supply. He clawed at his neck frantically, struggling to remove the offending weapon, but he couldn't. Finally giving up, he turned with a vicious look, reaching a hand out in a last ditch effort to stop the blonde who had him caught. He activated his magic causing Lucy a moment of pain, but she endured it, refusing to let go when there were lives on the line. She wouldn't fail her friends.

With a shrill war-cry, Virgo popped out of the ground, snapping magic-quelling cuffs around his wrists, cutting off the disjointed flow of the man's vampiric magic. Lucy gasped, her shoulders slumping, and then Loke was there, plowing his fist straight into the villain's face, sending him flying into a massive tree. The man's head lulled for a moment before he drooped and fell over into a heap.

Lucy closed down the magic of her Fleuve d'étoiles and set the whip back on her hip as Loke made his way over to her, ignoring his own discomfort in favor of making sure she was alright. Meanwhile, Virgo moved quickly to the defeated mage, wrapping the evil man in chains to ensure he wouldn't be getting away. Lucy sank to her knees beside Gajeel, reaching out to grasp his hand. "Are you okay?"

The normally fierce Slayer lifted glazed eyes up at the woman who'd saved him, and barely managed a nod. "Thanks..."

His voice came out hoarse, softer than she'd ever heard it before, and a jolt of fear shot through her. Was she too late? She looked up at the orange-haired man, her face set in worry as she asked, "How can I help him?"

Loke's brow wrinkled as he watched Gajeel struggle to breathe. He wished they had found him sooner. It seemed his strength was almost gone, and the Lion sighed, knowing there was only one way to save him now. "You'll have to share your energy with him. He won't make it otherwise."

Her body tensed, her concern coming through quite clearly. "Share energy? I've never heard of that," she said in a panic, shaking her head. "I don't know how..."

"It's okay. I do." Loke touched her head with his hand, pushing the information into her mind. Her eyes closed as the pictures assaulted her brain, clicking through her head like a movie. It stole her breath away, and she gasped as Loke drew his hand away.

Lucy opened her eyes and swallowed hard. She now knew how to save him, but it was far from what she'd been expecting. Her face flushed as she thought of what she'd have to do. Was there no other way? What would Gajeel have to say about it?

Suddenly, the man in question groaned painfully, the sound pitiful in the quiet surrounding them, and Lucy huffed, pushing aside her doubts. There would be time for recriminations later, she knew. Now, she had to save him, and once she did that, she could go home and wallow in her embarrassment. Turning to Loke and Virgo, she pointed at the man they'd fought and said, "I need you two to take him to the local authorities."

Loke flashed her a pregnant look, and though she understood his concern, she shook her head. "I'll handle it. Just take care of the bad guy."

The man in the suit studied her, taking in her determined expression and simply nodded, knowing there was nothing else that could be done. Virgo looked between them, confusion etched on her face, but Loke kept quiet, herding her toward the dark mage. The Lion Spirit lifted him up, and glancing back at Lucy a final time, disappeared, taking the pink-haired maid with him.

Lucy sighed in relief. There was no way she could do what had to be done in front of them. Her humiliation really would be complete then. Still, this wouldn't be easy.

Her eyes took in the sight of Gajeel, finding his skin pale, all sign of color seemingly leached away along with his magic. She'd never seen him so weak, and her eyes teared. It was all wrong. He shouldn't ever look this way. He was strong, brave, arrogant, but there was no sign of that in the man lying before her anymore. There was just a shell, just a ghost of the man he'd been.

Without further hesitation, she firmed her resolve and moved to straddle the man at her side. His eyes cracked at the sudden movement, his face a mask of surprise as he gasped, "What...what are you...doing?"

"I'm sorry, Gajeel. This is the only way to save you."

Stay tuned for the second part of this short story! I'm so excited!