BlackLynx17: Finally everyone! It is my new Mendy! But that's not all this is! My new NaLu fic is out too so make sure you swing by that as well and have a read of it! I've been working on this fanfic for a while now, I got the idea from a Kingdom Hearts one I read a couple of years back and though, Fairy Tail would do wonders in a circus, so here is what happened! I really hope you enjoy this story and please tell me your thoughts, what you laughed at, what you loved, what you think is going to happen, any advice, anything please! I would really love to hear your feedback! Now enough about me, let's finally start the Mendy!
A circus is in town.
"A circus? In Era? Are they not aware of what town this is?" I ask, dribbling a basketball on the ground.
Circus never visits our town.
"Most likely not or else why would they have a group of freaks visit our small middle of nowhere?"
The word 'circus' doesn't even exist in our town.
"I bet it's a joke, a senior prank or something."
What is a circus to begin with?
"What if it's for real though?" I ask taking my shot.
The ball flies into the basket, like I knew it would, adding two points to my score and ending the game. No one cares, we all stopped caring after we heard the news that spread like wildfire as soon as it came out. This was probably a bigger scandal than when our town realized one of our own council member was embezzling money from the town funds.
"Well if it is real then I say why the heck not? I've never been to a circus before and chances are I never will if I continue to live in this town." One of my best friends, Jamie, says spinning the ball on his finger.
We've been friends since we were born; a lot of people are like that in Era. No one ever leaves here, so our families have been knowing each other for generations and more than likely my kids and Jamie's kids will be friends too.
"You can't be serious, haven't you heard the news? The council and churches are extremely against anyone going to see them." Lahar, my actual best friend, says right after.
"Actually I haven't, seeing as we only heard of the news when you came running over here." Jamie laughs.
"Why so quiet Doranbolt? What do you think?" Max, the calm one in our little group, asks.
I look at him and simply shrug, "doesn't interest me," although I know it is a lie.
Everything interests me. Anything to help me forget about the cruel realities of my life. Because chances are I am going to live and die in Era. I am going to graduate from my current high school, go to college here because it is one of the best in the country, probably is the best, and everyone who lives in Era gets into Era University because we're all like smart as heck, become super successful because that's just what kids who graduate from there do, and probably have a wonderful job in the council making tons of money to support myself and my future family. I'd probably meet a girl in my section of work, go on a few dates, know her for a year then marry her and start our life together. I know my future. Sure I don't know all the small little details, but I know the big picture.
I am destined for greatness, just like the other 400 and something seniors in my school.
So when lay it all out like that, why wouldn't I go see the circus? I could only think of one reason for that; it isn't real. With a shrug I walk over and steal the ball from Jamie, dribbling it as I start doing a few tricks.
"It's obviously fake, nothing exciting ever happens in Era." I tell them.
"Yeah, except what happened with our previous council member Fernandes." Max notes.
"Now that wasn't funny, that was an embarrassment to Era and as soon as I'm in the council, I'll make sure that never happens again." Lahar says stealing the ball away from me.
"My friends said they saw people passing out fliers, strange people with stripped pants, polka dot shirts, and crazy red noses. Now if that's a prank then it's a damn good one." Jamie says.
Max snorts, "like there's a place in Era you can get clothes like that."
"I know, right? I say we go to town plaza today and see if we can spot them. Who knows? They might do some tricks or something. I loved to see a bearded lady, that would be something."
"I'm in, I'd love to see our police arrest them for disturbing the peace." Lahar chuckles to himself.
"Alright, Max?"
"Like I have anything better to do."
I snort at that.
"Last one is Doranbolt, what do you say bro?"
I shrug, "I got things to do today. If they do appear though try and see if they can make Lahar laugh, then I'll regret not wasting my time with you fools." I joke.
"Aw Doranbolt, stop being such a sourpuss." Jamie laughs wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
I don't think I can bare the disappointment in not seeing them, so I crush my hope right then and there. Interesting things don't happen in Era, it is a common known fact. If there is a circus in town, everyone in it must be complete idiots. How else would can it be explained about bringing freaks of nature into the most lawful town in all of Fiore?
Sometimes I like to amuse myself into thinking I might actually leave this place someday by going into a bookstore and looking at the travel section. I know five different languages other than my native one, it is required at our school if we want to join the council someday. We'd be talking to people all over the world so it is mandatory to know the three mains ones and for the other two you learn for your own pleasure, like someone really learns a language for pleasure here though. Hardly anyone will ever visit the countries of the languages they learn, and those who do is more than likely just for business.
You'll never see a person from Era talk about their cultures of a new place, or how beautiful their homelands are, or how delicious the cuisines are. Simply business, business, business. Honestly what is the point of learning two extra languages if I am never going to go there?
Maybe this is my dreaming time, or daydreaming would be more accurate. Midi seems like a nice place, near the ocean. We only have a lake in Era, the nearest thing to the ocean being two cities away. I imagine myself with a tan, I think I would look good with one. Bellum seems like a very peaceful place, surrounded by greenery. Maybe I'd learn to be more at peace with myself if I visit there, more kind and calm and actually mean it and not pretend like I sometimes do, like we all do. Tennis seems like a well-known thing there, I could pick that up instead of the usual Era basketball and baseball. The most common sports in all of Fiore.
I daydream for too long, not even noticing the sun setting down through the tiny window of the shop. The last book I look at is about Caelum, a small island off the country of Fiore. I wonder how big that island is? How do they live being completely surrounded by the ocean around them? Being able to see the sea if they look into the distance and not large buildings or wilderness?
"I'll see you later Konda." I wave at the owner before making my way home.
"Stay safe Doranbolt." He says back.
I've been going there since I was a child, been reading the traveling section secretly since middle school. It is unheard of actually buying and reading those books unless it was for a school report or if people from those places were coming in to visit us. I just read for fun, which shouldn't be considered fun. No one talks to me about it though; Konda seems to keep it a secret for which I am grateful for.
I've already missed my train, three trains in fact and the next one doesn't show for half an hour. At times like these, since this isn't the first time I've lost track of time, I usually go to Miss Kana's bakery shop and eat a dumpling, reading up on homework or something. With school almost ending and done with I had nothing to read. I could enjoy my dumpling and think about my future... not much to think about.
"Dammit."
A curse word, from a women no less. I raise my eyebrow as I look over to this little girl kneeling on her hands and knees in this very inexpensive, but also eye catching bright blue sundress with random yellow patches in shapes of flowers and smiley faces that have been sewn onto it. She isn't from around here, if so she must have relatives that aren't from around here that sent her strange clothes for presents.
"Grrr." She starts growling as she pushes a stick through a drain on the street, moving it around.
I don't know how long I watch her, the curse words continue to grow though the longer she stays on the floor. I am the only one noticing her; the streets is mostly empty with everyone trying to make their way back home at this time.
"Ah!" She grunts out loud.
"Excuse me?" I finally decide to intervene.
She looks up at me for a slight second before focusing back on the drain.
"Sorry if I'm hogging the sidewalk, feel free to step over me." She says in a light voice, sounding like church bells ringing in the air.
Church bells ringing in the air? Where did that come from? I should have stepped over her like she told me to do, anyone else would have or at least walked around her. I want to know why I think her voice sounds so heavenly though, so I stay.
"I'm not trying to get across, I am just wondering what you are doing."
She stops whatever she is doing and looks back up at me, blowing the bangs covering her doe brown eyes out of her view. Brown eyes that I see everyday in this town, the most common eye color, but hers have a certain... ping to it. Her eyes... there is a fire or something storming inside them. With a heavy sigh, she stands up and I offer her a hand. She refuses and gets up by herself, dusting the dirt that had gotten on her bright blue and yellow dress off, my own eyes widening when I see her huge shoes. Those are obviously not her size and now that I am looking at her, the crazy hair, the fight in her eyes, the dress that could stop a truck, she must have been a hobo or hitchhiker. I regret talking to her now; I should just turn and walk away. Hobo's aren't common in Era; they are extremely rare with how successful we are.
"I was trying to get a dumpling, but dropped my only quarter into this stupid drain on accident. I've been trying to get it with this stick I found, which I attached some gum to at the end to get the quarter, so I can get the stupid dumpling so I can finally eat it and go do my job since that's all the money I have! I don't even want the dumpling anymore actually, it's not even about the dumpling anymore. I just want to get that quarter." She tells me, yelling at some points and sounding irritated during most.
It is funny, very funny and I am laughing on the inside though on the outside I don't show a thing.
"I bet the dumplings suck anyway." She pouts, glaring at Miss Kana's store.
Her stomach rumbles a few seconds later proving her wrong and I smile lightly.
"You can have the rest of mine, if you want?" I ask offering her the half bitten dumpling I held in my hand.
She stares at me and I stare back at her.
"Actually, dumb offer. I can just buy you one, why would you want a half eate-"
"Thanks! Thank you for this meal!" The hobo says snatching my dumpling.
I watch as she shoves the whole thing in her mouth, her cheeks turning a rosy color as she moans and closes her eyes.
"Delicious! Now I definitely have to get that quarter." She says, kneeling right down as she says it.
I dig in my pocket and pull out a quarter along with some random change, "just take mine."
She looks up at me and giggles, "you're really nice, do you know that?"
I'm not, not really. I don't know why I am acting nice to her. If anything I should be getting away from her. I stay though for some unknown reason. She buys her dumpling and walks with me to the train station, a bright smile on her face.
"I'm Wendy by the way, thanks for the dumpling. It was so delicious, I think it's the third best one I've ever eaten." She says.
Third best one? Miss Kana is the only store that sells dumplings in town, so how can that be true? Maybe she is talking about her Mother's dumplings and Father's? She must have had one before living on the streets.
"You're welcome, I'm Doranbolt. Pleased to meet you." I introduce myself with a slight bow.
She stands in front of me, blinking weirdly making me feel awkward. Apparently she was put on the streets before getting taught any manners as well.
"You're funny Doranbolt, I like you."
I jump up and just stare at her, my cheeks turning red from her sudden love confession. She is acting normal though and continues walking so maybe I am the one acting strange.
"So this train station? Is it close by? Are you heading home?" She asks.
"Yes, school ended a few hours ago and I got caught up in something. A quick right turn at this block and I'll be there in a matter of minutes." I answer.
She pouts, "oh. I'm supposed to be going to the town plaza and do my job. The scent of those dumplings distracted me though. I wish we could talk more, but oh well. It was nice meeting you Doranbolt, oh um." She says then bows weirdly at me.
I chuckle, actually chuckle out loud which I quickly cover my hand over my mouth to hide. Wendy looks up though and smiles, laughing very loudly and unladylike.
"You're a strange one, aren't you Doranbolt? Here, I'd like to invite you to something before I go." She says digging around her pockets.
Oh no, is it one of those hobo soup kitchens or something along those lines? I'd kindly accept it and not go, if running into her again in the streets I'd say I lost it. It seems I don't have to do that though actually since what she pulls out is a colorful flier, a flier I saw earlier in the day with my friends.
"Here, I'd love for you to come if you can. Hopefully you'll have a free day off of work or school. Anyways it was nice meeting you, hopefully I'll see you around." She says.
And with a smile and a wave, plus one extra awkward bow, she goes running into the middle of the street and down the road. I stare at the flier in my hand, seeing Fairy Tail's Circus written on it with extravagant pictures and letters. She wasn't a hobo, she was a clown. I turn to see where she ran off to and start running after her, my heart racing while my brain tries to process what is going on here.
It is impossible. The circus never comes to Era, ever. Nothing ever comes to Era. I arrive at the town plaza out of breath and see her, see Wendy standing in front of the water fountain. There are tons of fliers in her hands and with a smile she throws them all up in the air. Logically all of them should have fallen right back down, some landing a few feet away from her while most landed in the water behind her, but they start flying around in the air. Wendy is waving her hands around, it seeming as if she is controlling the winds and make the papers fly higher and further. Some of them start taking shapes, small paper airplanes and flowers, then she stops moving and watch as it start raining fliers.
She gathers a crowd, both good and bad, and smiles at her job well done. A paper airplane heads towards me and I catch it, staring at the flier again. This is real. She is real. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believe it.
There is a circus in Era.
