Wendy searched over her appearance for what she deemed as imperfections. Checking her hair again for the fifth time, adjusting her bra straps to ensure her girls were in proper place. Running her right-hand index finger along her lips to align her lip gloss.
"You look fine! Let's go already!" Carla stated in an agitated manner while looking over at Wendy who seemed to be obsessing about her appearance more so than ever before. "Do you want to talk about it?" Carla finally asked, letting out a sigh as she had an idea as to what it might be about.
Turning around with such speed that Carla didn't see her movement, but simply the direction in which she was now facing, "Talk about what?" Wendy let out a slightly worried chuckle that Carla might be onto her, "Everything's fine!" Throwing on her best smile in an attempt to fool Carla.
Carla looked at Wendy with suspicion, noticing that today Wendy seemed to be putting extra effort into her appearance. Thinking about it a little longer, her fretting would make sense given that it was Wendy's birthday party they would be attending. As a guest of honor, it would be important for Wendy to look her best. Thinking upon her actions further, Carla had come to the conclusion that maybe she was over thinking Wendy's appearance. After all, Wendy wasn't the type to scheme to get things she wanted. Often times she approached it directly if she wanted it bad enough and other times, Wendy would come around to face whatever it was rather than hide from it.
"Well, if everything's fine, let me help you with that dress. I can't have you embarrassing me in front of everyone!" Carla stood up from her seating position on the bed near the mirror that Wendy was using, moving towards Wendy and pointing at her in a matter-of-factly manner, "YOU HAVE IT ON BACKWARDS!"
Peering down at her dress before realizing what Carla said was correct, "AHHH!" Quickly running behind a nearby changing screen to turn her dress around, straightening her attire and then stepping back out for Carla's inspection. Waving her hands around in a grandiose fashion to show Carla her magnificence with turning her dress around.
Sighing while looking over Wendy, Carla accepted her appearance with a nod, "Let's go."
"Ehh? But wait! I still have to put my shoes on!" Wendy clamored while briskly walking to a nearby chair to fasten her sandals to her feet. Strapping them on a little tighter than normal to make sure they wouldn't come off while hurrying to catch up with Carla who had already begun her way downstairs and out the door. Turning a final time and running her fingers through her hair a few times to straighten it out before leaving her bedroom to catch up with Carla.
Several moments had passed and Wendy finally caught up to Carla a few blocks down from their apartment. Wendy caught her breath while walking a modest pace with Carla at her side, "This should be fun!"
Carla still thinking through the morning with Wendy's behavior, something seemed off about her but she couldn't put her finger on it. Deciding that for now, making conversation with her would be best until she could gather more information, "It's your 18th birthday, do you feel any wiser?"
Wendy thought about the question, and as she did, she thought about what present she would like the most. Her cheeks blushing a bright red at the thought, and a feeling of embarrassment coming over her expression. Hoping Carla wouldn't notice, turning her head away from Carla while pretending to inspect the nearby restaurants and apartments they passed before finally answering, "I don't feel any wiser…"
Carla knew there was a 'but' coming, she just had to wait for it. Keeping silent she continued to walk next to Wendy and let her finish her thought.
"But, I have learned a lot of new spells this last year that Grandeeney left behind for me that Porlyusica was able to help me with. I'd have felt wiser if I was able to go on more group missions with everyone and practice my spells in more than just the guild arena."
"Well, you're an adult now. So you have to become wiser to set examples for the other children in the guild," Carla reminded Wendy while taking note of her blushing as she pondered her thoughts. Humans did typically begin to exhibit courting behaviors around this stage in their life if not earlier, but Wendy was a raised by a dragon. She had dragon blood within her body and aged slower than the average human. So at what age was it appropriate for dragons to start taking an interest in one another? Carla smiled to herself at the idea of seeing Wendy being courted by one the members of the guild. "Who would it be?" Carla muttered to herself while lost in her thoughts thinking about the situation. She hadn't seen any visions about Wendy with another; Carla had no clue who Wendy could be blushing about.
"Did you say something?" Wendy asked Carla while turning back towards her, both of them still walking towards their destination.
"Oh, just thinking to myself."
Wendy smiled sweetly at Carla, continuing with her companion towards the guild hall. The pair finally arriving at the guild hall entrance a short time later.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" A chorus of voices echoed from the massive hall.
Wendy smiled as large as she could as an emotion of happiness filled her being. Small tears welling up in her eyes to express the sincerity of her emotions to everyone that was shouting before her. Instead of an expression of words, Wendy giggled aloud and began walking towards the company before her. The first to greet her was Erza.
"So how does it feel?"
"It feels older!" Wendy retorted. Erza and Wendy taking a moment to laugh at the comment before Erza hugged Wendy and moved along so that Wendy could continue to greet the guests. Gray and Juvia holding one another's hands, stepping up to wish Wendy a happy birthday. The greetings continued while Carla slipped away. Taking advantage of her small stature, stepping aside from Wendy to look for Happy, finally finding him on a table near Natsu. "Why are you not up saying "Hi" to Wendy?"
Happy finished his most recent bite of his fish, "She always seems to find us. Besides, look at that crowd!" The pitched squeak of his voice crashing against the chorus of voices in the room, his finger pointing towards the nearby swarm of guild members giving their birthday wishes to Wendy in the form of hugs, pats on the back and handshakes, "So many people!" Happy lifts the fish to his mouth to take another bite of it before remembering something, "Oh! And…" Happy leans into Carla, "I remembered to bring her a present."
Carla quirking her eyebrow, "You mean, it is from us. Right?" Knowing that her husband would not have put that the gift was from both of them, but likely just himself. Happy forgot that Carla had been with Wendy this whole time, helping with her new spells, which meant that she wouldn't have had time to go shopping for a present.
"AYE!" Happy responds. Placing his fish on the table and quickly flying over to the pile of presents, picking up the present he had placed in the pile and writing Carla's name on the gift label portion before putting it back and flying back over to Carla and Natsu, "All done!" Puckering up to Carla to await his reward, only for Carla to give him a dissatisfied look. Happy had fish breath, but Carla didn't want to tell him that. Looking over his appearance, "You have something right here," pointing to a spot on her face to denote that Happy had fish on his face. As Happy wiped off the fish, Carla turned her attention to Natsu, "So what did you…" stopping in her sentence as she peered upon Natsu in astonishment.
Natsu was digging into his meal like he hadn't eaten in weeks. Carla smiled as his appetite was typical of what she was used to seeing. Finding herself staring for too long when Natsu looked up from his meal, "You hungry? You can have some if you want!" Holding out a portion of meat from his plate towards Carla.
"I've eaten already. Thank you."
"MORE FOR ME!" Natsu chimes before digging in again, deciding that it was time to turn his plate up and simply empty the remaining food into his mouth. Opening his mouth wider in a near-comical manner to get all the food to slide in without any of it missing his mouth. "Ahh! That really hit the spot! So when do we get to eat cake?" Patting his stomach area while his eyes scanned the room for the cake.
"Are you some sort of bottomless pit?" Carla asks Natsu in a sarcastic but near serious manner. Sighing over her shoulder while looking for Wendy as the crowd began to clear from the entry way.
"Carla? CARLA!" Wendy called out while looking around for her Exceed companion.
"Over here!" Carla replied while continuing to stand next to Happy and Natsu, waving her white furry paw around to flag Wendy down.
Holding her dress to her body as she squeezed through the crowd continuing to take the well wishes with a bit of grace finally reaching her destination, "Phew! So many people!" Wendy begins patting her dress of dust from some of her guildmates recent adventures before peering up at Carla to see Happy and Natsu standing nearby, "Hi, Happy!"
"Happy Birthday Wendy! Have you opened my… er… I mean our present yet?" Happy exclaimed, correcting himself as Carla threw him a dirty look.
Laughing to herself, "No, not yet. Presents come after cake."
"Happy Birthday, Wendy!" Natsu stood up from his seat and began walking around the table. Wrapping his right arm around Wendy's shoulders and squeezing her tightly in the form of a hug, "May all your Birthday wishes come true!" Smiling genuinely at Wendy in a way that only Natsu was capable of.
Wendy smiled sheepishly to herself while turning towards Natsu and returning his hug. Her mind wandering to how Natsu felt pressed against her as she hugged him. She had always admired Natsu, but lately, those thoughts and emotions had begun developing into something else. The smell of his scarf tickled her nose, a smell that it had been recently washed but mixed with his fragrance. Wrapping her second hand around his torso and giving him a tight hug, "I hope they do too!"
"So what did you wish for?" Natsu asks.
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ASK THAT!" Happy shouts as if appalled by Natsu's blatant disregard for Wendy's wishes.
Natsu plays it off by lightly chuckling, relinquishing his grip on Wendy. Straightening his posture to get a good once over on Wendy as she was dressed differently than her usual attire, "That's a nice dress you're wearing! Way to pick it out!"
Wendy folded her hands in front of her body and smiled at Natsu. She could feel the heat rising through her face and landing squarely on her cheeks. Wendy knew the reason for the room feeling like it suddenly grew a few degrees hotter.
She had experienced the same sensation when she began thinking about Natsu while taking a break during one of her training sessions. Originally letting her mind wander to the intensity of which he cast his spells and committed himself to his training, then switching to how she wished she could have personal time with Natsu to have coffee or grab something sweet together. She wanted to get to know him away from Carla, from Happy, and from one of her closest friends that was also very close to Natsu, Lucy Heartfilia.
Carla watched the interaction unfold as the realization hit her. Wendy had dressed up for today, not for her birthday celebration, but for Natsu, knowing that he would be here. Carla leaned over to Happy, "Did you know about this?" Asking as if he might have known that Wendy had an interest in Natsu.
"Did I know about what? That there would be so many presents and we should have gotten a BIGGER one?" Happy having a mental meltdown at the size of the present that he had left on behalf of Carla and himself on the present table. Compared to the others, their present was the smallest. Causing himself anguish over the size of the present, watery eyes and tears rolling from his eyes while Carla continues to watch Wendy with Natsu, "I should have gotten a bigger one!" Happy exclaimed while pulling on his ears viewing the presents on the table. Completely disregarding what Carla was trying to ask him about.
"I'm glad you like it…" Wendy's voice trailed as she stood as still as she could, mortified that Natsu was this close to her and complimenting her. Her hands cold as ice, her toes also going numb in her shoes despite the hotter temperature in the room.
Wendy had grown into her own over the years and often times won the guild beauty contests over Lucy, Erza, and Juvia on certain years. However, often times embarrassed to wear some of the revealing clothing that Erza would sport. Juvia would try and loan her clothes to Wendy, but typically the shirts were especially snug in the chest area for Wendy. The fabric of the dress hugging Wendy's hips snugly while the low-cut top showed off the top crests of her breasts. Her muscular but fit legs sticking out from below her dress, freshly shaven, and feet within sandals to make her appearance seem taller.
Looking over Natsu's appearance, Wendy recognized Igneel's gift to Natsu immediately. The rest of his attire was a thin vest that was more decoration than anything else. A pair of plain shorts worn lower on his body with near nonexistent sandals to keep his feet free for quick movement. Wendy's eyes catching on the curves of Natsu's torso that lead down to his hips. Mentally smacking herself before turning her attention back up to his face, doing her best to keep a smile, "I picked it out…" Wendy was cut off by Carla.
"OKAY!" Carla shouted to break off the last word from Wendy before she regretted it, "TIME FOR CAKE! WHO WANTS CAKE?" Carla unfurled her wings and began to draw the crowds' attention to break up Wendy's confession.
"I WANT CAKE!" Shouted Happy. Using his wings to lift himself up into the air, surveying where the cake was currently at.
Mirajane smiling from behind the cake, "I added a special candle for you this year!"
Wendy turning her attention from Natsu towards the nearing cake, "Why is it special?"
"This candle is special because it will grant one wish. You could wish almost anything in the whole world, and it will grant it," Mirajane clarified.
"Almost?" Wendy asked. Mirajane's words catching her attention.
"You can't force someone to love you, that's the one condition it won't grant!" Mirajane smiled at Wendy, pushing the cake in front of Wendy. After situating the cake into position, lighting the candle with the pull of her finger as if it was a magical gun that she fashioned in her hand. To the surprise of everyone, a flame lit up on the top of the special candle that Mirajane had brought for Wendy. Clasping her hands together in front of her body while waiting for Wendy to make her wish.
Wendy fidgeted in place, thinking carefully about her wish from earlier. What she wanted wasn't love, but under close scrutiny, it could be construed as altering the feelings of an individual or individuals. Growing agitated at herself, she was overthinking this. Keep it simple. Keep it simple. Wendy knew that if Mira was correct, in that the candle would grant any wish that didn't involve love, she could wish for something that would grant her more time.
Closing her eyes tightly, Wendy spoke her wish aloud in her head, took a deep breath and blew on the candle. The smell of the smoke instantly registered within her nostrils. Opening her eyes to see Mira standing before her with a warm smile on her face.
"TA-DA!" Mira exclaimed as she began bringing up a knife to cut the cake, "Our guest of honor gets the first piece!" Handing a hefty slice to Wendy and shuffling her along to cut another piece for the next guest.
Looking down at her slice of cake in her hand, running her thumb along the edge of the plate. "Will it really work?" Wendy muttered under her breath while eyeing her slice of cake. Looking up to find a seat near Natsu, only to find that he had left. Searching around the area she saw Carla and Happy enjoying a piece of cake nearby.
"Where did Natsu go?" Wendy asked, still holding her slice of cake in her hands.
Happy turned his head to look up at Wendy to reply with his mouth full of cake, "hmmfhhf Natphssu…"
"Don't speak with your mouth full!" Carla lectured Happy, "He means to say, Natsu left because he said he forgot something."
Wendy still standing, holding her cake while peering at Carla in a curious fashion, "Forgot something?"
Happy finally swallowing his mouthful, "Yeah, said he would stop by later to drop it off. It was your present!"
Wendy paused in her movements before nearly being knocked over by someone that looped their hand through her arm, "Let's go eat some cake!" said a feminine voice that was nearby.
Turning her attention to the new individual, Levy had come by to share her cake with Wendy. "Gajeel doesn't want any cake. Something about how chocolate rusts iron, I can't eat this all on my own!" Levy chuckled at the thought of chocolate rusting Gajeel before pulling Wendy to a nearby table and getting her to sit down.
"How about I wrap up that slice and you can take it home for later? The cake is even better when it's leftovers, especially Mira's cake!" Levy spoke.
"That sounds like a good idea, the cake is still good as leftovers!" Wendy smiled at Levy, taking her fork from her plate and slicing into the piece that Levy brought with her to begin eating it.
Slicing into the cake with her left hand, Levy peered over Wendy and smiled to herself, "I've always wished I could wear dresses like that."
Wendy paused briefly in her movements of cutting the cake before peering down at her attire, "What do you mean? You wear super cute dresses, and your hair fits perfectly into your headband! Honestly, these get in the way when I am training," Wendy referred to her chest as an obstacle while spell casting or tumbling in the arena to avoid enemies.
Levy giggled aloud while slipping another forkful of cake into her mouth, "Don't be ridiculous Wendy. You're lucky!"
Chewing the cake thoughtfully in her mouth, wondering if her wish would really come true. At the most basic level, the wish would give her more time to confess to Natsu, assuming it worked at all. Wendy turned her head over her shoulder to look back at the remaining crowd to see Mira serving the last pieces of cake to the remaining fairies. Catching Mira's attention, giving a quick smile before her eyes shifted to the burnt candle that lay to the side of the cake. Staring at its position on the table while smelling the ash from the flame still lingering in the air. Letting forth a sigh that caught the attention of another guest.
"What seems to be the problem?" Gray's voice traveled from nearby, catching Wendy's attention.
Turning her attention up to Gray who was attached at the arm to Juvia, "Just thinking."
Juvia continued to squeeze Gray's arm tightly while approaching the table, "You mean about the wish?"
Wendy nodded. Setting her fork down and adjusting her body to get out of her seat to stand up to talk to 'Gruvia'. Since Gray finally broke the ice to Juvia and proposed, they have been near inseparable. Admittedly, Wendy was a little jealous of the two of them as Juvia was always relishing affection on Gray. While he rarely showed it, often times Gray could be seen whispering something to Juvia that would make her blush. Wendy wanted someone that she could be happy with other than Carla.
"So how are the plans going?" Wendy asked both of them, referring to the wedding plans.
"So good!" Juvia chimed while Gray looked off into the distance as he knew Juvia was more excited about the actual wedding day than he was. Gray would be content to just have an event between the two of them while Juvia wanted the whole guild to attend. "A lot of the preparations have been completed, Lucy has been a big help!"
"Oh?" Wendy acknowledged Juvia's commentary.
"The caterers are already in place, a company is coming in to provide lighting and decorations, we just have to do the invitations!" Juvia confirmed for Wendy while squeezing Gray's arm tighter, hopping in place with a bit of glee on her part.
Smiling at Juvia's actions made her realize that many individuals in the guild over the last several years had conjoined with one another. Gajeel and Levy had gotten married. Lucy was still dating heavily but seemed to be zeroing in. Juvia and Gray were now engaged, and Erza had been with Jellal a long time but nothing formal had ever occurred between the two of them. Wendy was now much older and desired someone, and that someone that she wanted was Natsu.
Wendy nodded politely and smiled sweetly at Juvia as she continued about her plans. Inwardly reflecting that Happy said Natsu would be stopping by later, that means she would get to talk to him away from the guild. This was looking up. Wendy sat her fork on the table next to the plate that Levy had finished polishing off before standing up. Wishing Juvia the best of luck on the invitations while reminding her that she wanted to come to the wedding; to ensure that she would receive an invitation from Juvia and Gray. Excusing herself from the table by announcing, "I think it's time for presents!"
Wendy walked over to the mountainous table of presents and plucked the smallest one from the area of viewing. Happy immediately flew to Wendy and put his hands on the present, "Please don't open this!" Carla peering at Happy with a look of dissatisfaction from the scene he was creating as Wendy added, "It's usually the smallest presents that are from the heart. I want to open it." Leaning forward to plant a kiss on Happy's face before he fluttered back to Carla's side and rejoined her on a nearby table.
Beginning to unwrap it, Wendy knew what to expect given the shape of the present. Pushing back the last of the wrapping paper, it was a silver snapper from a river nearby. Chuckling under her breath but smiling at the gesture, Wendy turned to Carla and Happy, "I will cook it later for dinner! It will make a great meal."
Happy smiled excitedly and turned to Carla who had an expression of total annoyance with Happy. Muttering under her breath, "It's her 18th birthday and you get her… A FISH?!" A vein bulging from her forehead while staring down her husband. "It's not just any fish! It's a fish that she thought was pretty when it was swimming in a river we walked next to. It's a special fish!" Happy retorted, quickly talking as if trying to avoid Carla's wrath.
Carla closing her eyes in an attempt to calm her blood pressure, knowing that Happy had good intentions and a big heart, but sometimes didn't exactly think his actions through 100%. Finally taking a deep breath, remembering that the very trait itself was why Carla agreed to marry Happy. His heart was bigger than his brain in most cases. Finally placing her index finger of her left paw on her temple and taking another deep breath.
Picking up the next present on the table, Wendy began to unwrap it. Finding a white box enclosed within the creases of paper. Setting the paper aside and opening the box before abruptly closing it, Wendy's eyes growing wide while looking up at Erza. "Are you sure this was for me?"
Erza smiling slyly and walking a little closer while speaking loud enough that everyone could hear her, "Of course it's for you. It's an outfit you can wear at the next beauty contest! Don't worry though, I will be upping my game at the next one as well!"
Sheepishly pushing the box to the side, Wendy thanked Erza and picked up another wrapped item. Continuing through the pile, Wendy began to formulate the idea that many of the gifts were impressions by the people that gifted them. Instead of being for her, they were more of a benefit for the person that brought them. Thanking everyone for the presents, Wendy stepped away from the table to continue to mingle with her guildmates.
A swift slap to her backside came from nowhere, Wendy jumping up in surprise.
Ahhh
Wendy's ferocity quickly building as only one person in the guild ever did that to her, the guild master, Makarov Dreyar. Building up a huff of air within her chest to roar at Makarov before someone blocked her path to him. Loke had stepped in between her would be assaulter and her current position, putting his face within a few inches of Wendy, "So how about you blow me with that instead." Loke's fingers quickly finding their way up the side of Wendy's face, causing her to flush and start to choke on the air that was now stuck in her throat. Wendy's lungs felt like they were ready to explode with the back draft hitting her system.
"How many times have I told you," Lucy's voice chimed, "leave her alone!" A firm slap came to Loke who expertly dodged it, only for it to land on the man of short stature, Makarov. Lucy hitting him so hard that Makarov took flight into a nearby wall, spinning quickly with a firm thud as he connected with the wall.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Lucy quickly spoke, hurrying over to Makarov to help him up. Offering her hand out while bending over slightly to help him up only to feel his hand slapping her backside.
Ahhh
"It would appear to me that he's had too much to drink," Cana added.
"Master Makarov, please control yourself!" Erza spoke firmly while staring Makarov down. Walking over to where he landed, placing her hands on her hips.
Makarov chuckled to himself before saying, "Alright, Alright. I can't have you two double teaming me again. You, youngsters, are becoming too much for me."
Erza's eyes narrowed at Makarov as he stood up, dusting himself off, "It was your own fault that it happened in the first place. Jellal had every reason to give you a piece of his mind when you tried to touch me. You further added insult to injury when you then tried to legitimately defeat him, in your drunken stupor, so you left me no choice but to step in!"
As Erza spoke, a silence had fallen over the room. Many of the fairies knew that their last guild hall had been destroyed by that battle amongst the three of them. It probably was best that Makarov would be cut off from any additional party favors.
"Let's go somewhere where you can touch and drink all you'd like!" Gildarts chimed over to Makarov, picking him up in one arm and carrying him off like a sack of potatoes.
"Ugh," Cana muttered, knocking back another drink before glaring at her father stepping out the door.
Wendy had finally gotten her breathing back, but only after Erza had stepped in to keep things civil. "Thank you, Erza."
"No problem! Besides, I can't let him crash all of our parties, can I?" Erza winked at Wendy before turning her current outfit into her standard attire. "I think it's about time I head out anyways." Erza walked up to Wendy, leaned in and hugged her tightly. Wrapping both arms around Wendy, "I hope you wished for something good." Stepping back a pace, Erza smiled again at Wendy before bringing her hands up to Wendy's face. Tucking her hands around the sides of Wendy's jawline, patting her skin softly, "You have grown up to become a beautiful and powerful dragon slayer."
Frozen stiff at Erza's compliment, Wendy knew her face was bright red. A high compliment from Erza. Smiling back at her friend, peering around the fine lines of Erza's face. Human's definitely did age differently than what she expected. Remembering how Erza used to look when she was roughly Wendy's age. It seemed like so long ago.
"Thank you," Wendy finally mustered.
Erza took another long look at Wendy before smiling at her beauty, stepping back and beginning her destination towards the door.
Levy taking the initiative to start cleaning up. Mira noticing her movements and assisting in gathering Wendy's presents up into a nearby cart that would go to Wendy and Carla's residence to be dropped off later.
"Let me do that," Gajeel chimed in. Picking up the packages from the table and loading them into the cart instead.
Mira wrapped something up in front of her before turning around towards Wendy, "Remember, this is for later." Placing the first piece of cake that was cut into a container for Wendy to take with her, "please enjoy it!" Mira brimmed with excitement while staring at Wendy, handing off the piece of cake. "I will have all of this delivered later. It will be unpacked for you by the time you get home."
"That fast?" Wendy inquired, considering it didn't take very long for her to get home from the guild.
Mira raised her index finger to the tip of her nose, "I happen to know someone who is excellent with teleportation spells."
"Sounds like a plan!" Wendy acknowledged while looking down at the piece of cake in her hand. Nodding to herself in affirmation that she would wait to give it to Natsu when he came by to visit her later; he had left before the cake was cut, therefore never got a piece.
Wendy waved goodbye to everyone at the guild before departing with Carla and Happy behind her, fluttering their wings to stay afloat. Walking at a moderate pace so that they didn't have to fly quickly, Wendy's mind began to wander as to what Natsu's present would be. Peering back over her left shoulder, she could see Carla and Happy sharing in a mid-air kiss. Wendy enjoyed seeing Carla happy, even though she knew that sometimes Happy would drive Carla crazy. However, whenever Happy was with Natsu on a mission that she wasn't able to attend, Carla was often worried about Happy. Turning her head forward, Wendy continued onward to her apartment so she could begin unpacking the gifts and await her most cherished present of all.
The one she had yet to receive from Natsu…