General Disclaimer: I do not own the anime/manga "Fairy Tail," copyrighted by Mashima Hiro. No offense is intended in the production of this fanFICTION, and any (well, most) resemblance to people or places in the real world is (kind of) coincidental.
**This story takes place out of timeline after the timeskip: in other words, it really doesn't have much to do with canon events and shouldn't be read as such.**
Information on pairings and updates in the bottom AN.
Prabha
"And like a colorful bloom of temporary lights in the sky, you will shine."
Wendy Marvell was many things.
There were, of course, the obvious ones—Sky Dragonslayer, accomplished healer, adorable moe character, and of course the most important: member of Fairy Tail. Wendy was also other things: kind, brave, at times horrifyingly naïve. Wendy was everyone's little sister, barring a few (read: Romeo). Regardless, the truth remained that among all the many things that Wendy Marvell was, there was one thing that she certainly was not:
Wendy Marvell was not weak.
This was something that was often difficult to see behind her kind and passive disposition. Even in Fairy Tail there weren't many who could see the strength behind her fragile exterior—and not just physical strength. Indeed, few could ever even hope to see the mental strength, and the strength of character that was truly uncommon in a girl of her age. Then again, one can only suppose that is what comes of being a true Fairy Tail mage.
Getting back to the point, Wendy Marvell was anything but weak. And small and plain and soft-spoken as she was, even the smallest of people gets his (her, in this case) chance to shine brightly.
This story, my dear reader, is such a tale. This is a story of opportunity, and the destiny of one Wendy Marvell...of Fairy Tail.
Come.
Let's begin.
Prabha
"And like a colorful bloom of temporary lights in the sky, you will shine."
Wendy sighed, slumping down on a table in the crowded and noisy guild. Head lying on one arm, she lazily surveyed the normal antics of her beloved guild.
There, to the right, Natsu the Fire Dragonslayer and Lucy the Celestial Spirit Mage arguing about something or other (Wendy caught "personal space", "weirdo", and "sneaking into my bed" among others) as they were circled by a flying, taunting blue cat named Happy. The conversation was interrupted snidely by a dark-haired mage currently missing a shirt (in the process of removing his pants as well)—that would be Gray, Fairy Tail's famous strip—that is, ice mage. Wendy giggled inwardly as Natsu and Gray snarled at each other, standing for the oncoming brawl as Lucy tried vainly to calm them down. Wendy smiled at the familiar scene; now if only—ah, there was Erza Scarlet striding in from the left to bash Natsu and Gray's foreheads together. Wendy watched as she embarked on a stern lecture, Lucy laughing nervously in the background while Natsu and Gray rubbed their heads. Wendy smiled. It was always nice to see Fairy Tail's Strongest Team gathered together.
And who was that, two tables to the left, hiding behind an overturned chair—dark blue hair and a strange hat, with hearts in her eyes; it could only be Juvia of the Deep, stalking Gray as usual. Mirajane stood behind the bar, polishing glasses with her usual serene smile as Lisanna and Elfman laughed nearby. And nearer to the entrance was a woman wearing only a blue bikini top and a pair of reddish brown pants, guzzling beer from a large barrel. Two more sat by her side, apparently empty. Wendy winced. That could only be Cana Clive, Fairy Tail's resident drunk. In the back corner, a grumbling Gajeel Redfox vainly pretended to ignore a petite, light blue haired chatterbox who went by the name of Levy McGarden. Close by Jet and Droy seethed in jealousy.
The usual chaos surrounded Wendy on all sides, fading into the background as she closed her eyes. It was always nice to be surrounded by the people who had accepted her into their guild and into their hearts; really, it was the best family a girl could want.
Even so…
Wendy was still plagued by doubt. Doubt in herself, and in her abilities.
Don't think about that, she told herself vehemently. You're the Sky Dragonslayer, for goodness' sake. You'll be just as strong as Natsu-san and Gajeel-san, if you just work hard enough…
Wendy frowned as she continued to contemplate. When she had first come to Fairy Tail, she had been happy to blend into the background, to examine her new nakama and to get to know them. Slowly, she had grown closer to Team Natsu, and Gajeel and Levy and everyone. And she was still happy just to be around them. But regardless, Wendy began to wonder.
Why was she there?
What was her reason for being? Why was it Wendy that Grandeeney came across in the woods one day, and not someone else? What power did she have that gave her the right to stand alongside such great and brave people—people like those at Fairy Tail? Wasn't there anything that only she could do for them?
Wendy scrunched her brow, so deep in thought that she didn't even register the mildly foreboding presence slowly creeping up from behind her. She stared vacantly out at the guild, questioning and wondering like she had been for so long.
There has to be a reason, she insisted mentally. Grandeeney wouldn't have taught me if I didn't have something—anything, anything at all. If I could maybe just think a little harder maybe I cou—
"Boo."
Wendy shrieked and jumped out of her seat, her knees catching on the table and sending her flailing over on her side as the table and chairs scattered onto the floor. The guild roared with laughter as she sheepishly picked herself up, giggling quietly as she rubbed her head in embarrassment.
Maybe that's my purpose, she thought ruefully, moving to right the table and chair. Fairy Tail's resident comedian.
"Sorry, Wendy!" A pair of hands joined hers, helping stand the table back up and then fluttering awkwardly around her. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Wendy paused to turn a nervous smile to the dark haired boy by her side. "N-no, Romeo, I'm just fine. Promise."
"Eh-heh. That's good then," Romeo rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly. "I didn't mean to scare you that bad, Wendy, since you usually notice what with the dragonslayer senses…"
Wendy paused to consider her companion as he continued talking. Romeo Conbolt, son of Macao Conbolt, was a Rainbow Fire Mage and her best friend (best human friend—can't forget Charle). At 15 years old, he had grown into a handsome and strong young man—and an unfailingly kind one, worthy of being a Fairy Tail mage. His idolization of Natsu had taken him far, and he was quickly becoming just like Fairy Tail's Fire Dragonslayer (but with a more developed sense of personal space). Wendy blushed. As the only two of their own age in the guild, they had formed a strong bond (especially on Wendy's side), and often took missions together with Charle.
Handsome is right, she thought shyly.
Shaking her head rapidly, Wendy interrupted gently. "Really, Romeo-kun, I'm okay. It was just an accident, anyway. Did you need something?"
"Ah, I was just wondering if you wanted to take a mission or something. It's been getting kind of boring around here, and I want to have an adventure!" Romeo replied with a rakish grin, running his hands through his already messy hair.
Wendy smiled brightly. "An adventure sounds good, Romeo-kun. I'm ready if you are!" This is what I need, she thought firmly. A mission will get this nonsense out of my head.
The two chatted lightly as they made their way to the mission board, pausing to duck as a chair flew over their heads, and then again as Natsu flew over their heads, not stopping once.
"…So, what were you thinking about so hard over there?" Romeo casually inquired. "You looked like your head was going to explode."
Wendy gasped. "I didn't! Did I really?"
Romeo grinned. "Sure ya did! You were frowning so hard I thought your face might get stuck that way," he laughed, pulling his cheeks into a grotesque imitation of Wendy's earlier expression. She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hands.
Dropping his hands into his pockets, Romeo turned to Wendy pensively as they continued to make their way across the chaotic hall. "Seriously, nothing's wrong, is it? You know that Fairy Tail is willing to help out no matter what the problem is—"
"I know that, Romeo, of course," Wendy interrupted gently. Linking her hands behind her back, she smiled gently, a little sadly. "I've just had a lot on my mind, is all."
Romeo watched her for a few more seconds before smiling and stopping as they finally reached the mission board. "If you're sure, Wendy. But you can always talk to me, okay? I've got your back!"
Wendy stared at Romeo's bright grin, blushing and shyly dropping her head. "Thank you, Romeo. Thank you very much."
"So, what kind of mission are we taking? You can pick anything you want—just as long as it's not boring, okay? No kid missions!" Romeo stuck out his tongue. "Although, that one about the missing cat actually turned out pretty hard with the dog monsters and the talking mice and all…"
Wendy giggled lightly, perusing the board as she listened with half an ear to Romeo's chatter. Roving her eyes over the board, her attention came suddenly to a stop on one particular advertisement for help.
It was written on old, dark yellow parchment, crumbling around the edges; it seemed as if with one touch it would blow away into the wind. Wendy carefully unpinned it from the board to examine it further. The paper itself was almost entirely empty but for a few lines in the center written in a strange, alien looking language. Harsh black writing formed strings of boxes and strange symbols.
Wendy frowned, about to put it back—
Until she saw it.
On the bottom corner was drawn a small dragon, wings raised and teeth bared. Wendy's breath caught. The dragon's lithe shape, broad wings, delicate teeth and claws: even so crudely drawn on such old parchment they called to her with familiarity. Her hands shook minutely, eyes entirely focused on the small but majestic reptile; she could almost feel her mind adding in details of a dragon long lost but never forgotten.
"Wendy? Is something wrong?" Romeo waved a hand in front of her face, peering curiously over her shoulder at the paper in her hands. "What the heck is that? I can't read it at all."
Wendy shook her head, too disoriented to even blush about their proximity. "This one," she squeaked. "I want to take this request, Romeo."
Romeo frowned in confusion. "Well, that's great and all, but how can we take a request when we don't even know what it says?"
Wendy grimaced, eyes roving over the guild in thought. "W-Well, that's certainly a problem…" Suddenly her eyes came to a stop, fixating on a flash of aquamarine in back corner of the guild. She beamed. "We can ask Levy-san to translate for us! I bet she knows what language this is."
Quickly she tapped her way over, almost losing Romeo in her sudden rush. She ducked under Elfman's arm and waved off Bixlow's shrieking dolls before coming to a stop at Gajeel and Levy's table. As Romeo came to stand at her shoulder she smiled quickly and apologetically before turning to tap the chattering bluehead on the shoulder—never noticing the slight tint of red that stained Romeo's face.
"Oh, hiya Wendy!" Levy beamed out, full of cheer as always. Gajeel nodded gruffly, in contrast to Pantherlily's gentlemanly greeting. "Did you need something?"
"Um, actually, Levy-san," Wendy began hesitantly, "we were wondering if you could possibly translate this request for us?" She held out the paper, bowing slightly.
"Let's see it," Levy said, gently taking the paper and smoothing it out on the table. She peered at the symbols for a moment before perking up suddenly. "I can translate this for sure! Actually, I just found a book on this language two days ago, and I kept it with me for some light reading. Crazy coincidence, huh?" She laughed, pulling a tome the size of her head out of her satchel. Romeo and Wendy stared at Levy's "light reading" while Gajeel rolled his eyes and pretended not to gawk. "This language is called Meshbaalan—from the country of Meshbaal. It's a ways down east of Fiore, a principality right in the middle of Bosco; there's a lot of desert and the people are very isolated. They don't really like outsiders down there from what I've read—I wonder who called us," she mused, scribbling down the translated request. Now finished, she held the request up to the light, nodding proudly at her work.
Smiling, she laid it back down on the table and turned it over to Wendy. "There's your request. You've got good intuition; looks right up your alley. And what a reward!"
Romeo and Wendy looked down at the request, surprise lighting up their features as they read. Romeo grinned. "That's our Wendy! She's got the best intuition out there."
Wendy blushed heavily, fiddling with the ends of her hair as she contemplated the newly translated job.
HELP
HEALER NEEDED: COUNTRY OF MESHBAAL
REWARD: 500,000 JWL
CONTACT MERIN IN CITY OF HAMIL
"That's pretty vague for a request, though," Levy said thoughtfully. "It sounds kind of urgent, so it might be difficult, even dangerous in a strange country with no details. Are you sure you're up for it?" Levy stared at the young team with concern.
"Definitely!" Romeo crowed. "If it's Wendy and me, we can do it! After all, we are Fairy Tail mages."
Wendy looked once more at the dragon in the corner, gathering courage from its familiar shape. She pushed down the small feeling of nervousness and foreboding that swirled in her stomach.
This is it, she told herself determinedly. There are people who need your help, and this is something only you can do.
Turning to face Romeo's confident smile, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. Let's do it—you, me, and Charle."
"Alright!" Romeo cheered. "You'll be the healer, obviously, and Charle and I can be your gallant escorts. Hey, where is Charle anyways?"
"Oh, she's out getting groceries, I think," Wendy said, putting a finger to her lips. "We usually take turns, so—"
"Oi."
Wendy jumped a little, spinning around to see Gajeel looking at her intensely. Levy and Pantherlily stilled, looking back and forth between the Iron and Sky Dragonslayers.
Gajeel peered at her for a moment longer before nodding pointedly at the request.
"What's with the dragon?"
Hai, hai, minna-san! Boku no atarashii monogatari he youkoso!
Nante, just kidding.
This story is titled Prabha, which is Marathi for "shine"—I felt it appropriate because this story is, essentially, Wendy's time to shine. Wendy's always fascinated me as a character, even as someone who typically favors naturals and such over cutesy-cutesy types like Wendy; but she's the only female DS, and we saw in the GMG that despite being so young she has Fairy Tail resolve. Anyway, I hope you enjoy—I'm making my goal for the next chapter to be two weeks from today.
** A note on pairings: Romance doesn't play a huge role here, but I can't resist just a little so…pairings will be RomeoxWendy, NatsuxLucy, GajeelxLevy. Again, these will not be the main plot, but you can expect some fluff, and at least one get together (depending on where the story goes).**
Also, if anyone is interesting in betaing, please let me know! As always, read and review!
Song listened to while I wrote the chapter: Transfer by Livetune (ft. Nakajima Megumi)
-WD2645
