Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima © Fairy Tail

Chapter 4

Pitter patter

I watched from inside my hut as the rain poured down. Normally I wouldn't hesitate to jump inside the rain and enjoy a fresh nature-styled shower, but now doesn't really fit my mood.

It was odd how little time I spent with someone and how much I managed to care for her. Was it really how it felt when you lost someone you cared about? Then again, I needed to give Grandine some credit. At least she warned me that she was leaving. But it would help if she told me why. But if she did, I would probably do everything I can to stop her.

I scoffed at myself. Look at you Wendy, I thought. Practically acting like some sappy main character of a drama movie. Hell, even the scenery matches the mood.

I heard my stomach growl loudly. I sigh to myself before slowly standing up from my spot inside the hut.

I guess I should go and grab some grub, I thought grudgingly. As much as I fancy the thought of sulking in my hut all night, my stomach won't last long at this rate. Stupid stomach, thinking of its hunger rather than my emotions!

I peeped outside the rain. Thankfully it was light enough for me to walk into. There were hunters and raiders around the area, and I'm not too keen of having to reveal my magic on those losers.

After making sure the coast was clear, I ran into the rain. It only took a few seconds for the water to soak me whole. I didn't mind though. I felt it relaxing my body.

I ran deep into the forest, searching for the mutant pink fruit I had first stumbled upon during my first day in this world. It was actually clobberberry, which was a nutritional fruit that was equally as delicious. The yellow ones were mangapetals, which taste sweet and can give me enough energy to run a whole mile.

Since it was raining, the foot prints I left behind me on the ground would gradually wash away. It took a while, but I found a tree that bore both clobberberries and mangapetals. A grin made its way on my face as I neared the tree trunk.

My magic isn't that strong during these weather conditions, but it was worth a try.

"Vernier," I whispered to myself.

A blue magic circle appeared beneath my feet. I felt my own magic power lift me up above the ground. I willed myself to float upwards and I hurriedly grabbed all the fruits I could possibly collect.

As soon as I did, I landed softly on the ground and hurriedly ran back inside my hut, clutching my batch of fruits.

Only that I wasn't the only one inside anymore.

A boy with a lighter shade of blue hair was sitting inside. He had a red tattoo over one of his eyes which oddly looked like a scar. He carried a huge green backpack behind his back where a wooden staff was sticking out from.

It took me a moment to compose myself. I dropped my food and backed away. The boy looked as startled as I am, but he managed to keep his composure.

"Wait!" he called as I ran back outside the hut.

I ignored the feeling of pricking water on my body and just ran inside the rain. Screw hunters and poachers, if this boy finds out about my magic, he'll be sure to let everyone know! I can't let him have that!

Maybe it was because of the fear of being discovered after being so well-protected all these year I had become this paranoid. I couldn't trust anyone, not even my own self to protect who I am. Hell, even Grandine seemed to not trust me alone!

I don't know how long I ran away, but I do know that I didn't pay attention to the road clearly because when I wanted to sprint to the left side of the road, the mud on the ground was too slippery for me to handle. As a result, I found myself tumbling down a cliff and into lower ground.

I couldn't use my magic to heal myself because it was meant for others, so I just sat there on the ground, staring at my bloodied hands. Soon, I felt the urge to cry. Since no one was around and Grandine had pretty much disappeared off the face of the Earthland, I outwardly sobbed as hard as I could.

I didn't know how long I cried in the rain. I should've just shut my trap because the hunters or any other rogue mages could just track me using their magic. Though the type of magic they might carry would vary to their talent, it still pays to be careful.

Despite my inner scolding to myself, I couldn't keep myself from bawling my eyes out. Even after so many days, I still couldn't get over the fact that Grandine had left me and that I was alone in this world.

I was alone in a world I barely know about, and I was so very scared about that.

"Hey!" I heard a voice call. The sounds of footsteps in the rain broke through my thoughts and momentarily paused me in my crying session.

The boy from earlier ran to me and stood in front of me, his palms on his knees as he tried his best to catch his breath. He didn't bring his bag, which meant that he was a in a huge hurry to catch up with me.

Instantly did I stand up and arranged myself in a fighting stance. I didn't want to fight this guy, but I would do anything to protect myself from any harm. That's what Grandine worked her life here to ensure, and I swear I won't make her regret it.

"Wait!" the boy said, stretching his arms in front of him. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise Wendy!"

I froze. "How do you know my name?!" I asked loudly, though my voice wavered a bit.

My knees shook in fear, but I found myself slowly calming down as the boy smiled gently.

"I read it in the drawings and writings you were doing in the hut," he said. "I figured that a girl lived there and I was just looking around. Sorry if I scared you. Are you okay?"

Am I okay? The question was directed simply, yet to me it held a deeper meaning.

Am I really okay? Last I checked, I had been mentally insane and out of it for the past few days.

The boy's brown eyes softened. "Why were you crying earlier in the rain?" he pressed.

I bit my lower lip and looked away. "That's none of your concern." I stated simply.

The boy smiled. "You're right." He said before walking to me and raising his arm at me.

"I'm Jellal."

I looked at him in confusion but hesitantly accepted his handshake. "You already know who I am." I said rather sulkily.

Jellal laughed. "Yeah, I do. Sorry for going through your stuff earlier."

I shrugged. "I would've done the same if I happened to stumble into a random hut in the middle of nowhere."

"I guess so." Jellal admitted, slightly embarrassed. "But what are you doing here? I mean, where's your parents?"

I took my time pondering about what to give as an answer.

"Gone."

That one word caused Jellal to take a small step back in surprise.

"Gone?" he repeated. "You're an orphan, then! But how did you survive here? There are so much monsters around here."

There are? I didn't know that. Maybe Grandine had scared them off. After all, she was pretty frightening. She wasn't called a dragon for nothing.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I said.

Jellal laughed. "I've experienced loads of stuff before. You can try me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"So you would believe me if I told you that I had met a female dragon who didn't eat me because she wanted to teach me how to protect myself and who by the way taught me magic and is currently AWOL because she left me alone to fend for myself and that a gigantic orange fish tried to eat me during my stay in that hut?"

Jellal stared at me, his mouth open.

"Are… are you sure you didn't hit your head too hard?"

Jellal was great company.

Unlike most boys his age, he wasn't childish. Compared to them, he was actually more mature and understood the world as it is at a young age. I was glad to meet someone like me. At least I don't have to pretend to be a child in front of Jellal. I felt like I could trust him, since he was like me.

Though we spent so much time together with collecting food, sharing information, and just talking, we didn't bring any specifics about our past and how we winded up in our situation. We were just comfortable being friends and until we can fully feel comfortable with each other's presences, we can't trust each other with our pasts and weaknesses. It was like a simple, unsaid rule.

"You're a Dragon Slayer." Jellal stated, bewildered.

I grinned and nodded. "In the flesh!"

"B-but isn't it impossible?" Jellal asked. "Dragons are extinct! They shouldn't exist anymore."

I frowned. "I was raised by a Dragon a couple of weeks ago, Jellal. I would be happy if you didn't refer her to dead since I clearly remember her being well and alive."

"If that's the case, where is she?" Jellal asked.

Despite his maturity, he still has the innocence and curiosity of a child. This question saddened me and depleted my happy mood.

"How should I know?" I mumbled. "She just disappeared without saying a word. You would think that leaving a kid alone to fend by herself is the greatest idea in the universe."

I couldn't keep the bitterness and loathing from my tone. Jellal frowned at this and I couldn't help but feel slightly ashamed of myself for speaking about Grandine like that. She helped me and willingly gave me compassion and help where others would've just scoffed and brushed me away from their lives.

"I've never met a real dragon before." Jellal stated. "But from what I can tell, Grandine is a kind and caring one. I'm sure she had a reason for leaving you."

"If there is, I would be glad to figure it out." I said sadly. "I miss her too much to think clearly."

Jellal stood from his place across me and knelt in front of me, pulling me into a hug. My eyes went wide with the sudden action, but I readily accepted the physical interaction and closed my eyes.

"I know how it feels." He said quietly. "Missing someone a lot. I had a friend too, he saved my life once and at the cost of being expelled from his own hometown."

I pulled away from the hug and looked at him in surprise.

"Really?" I asked. "That's terrible, Jellal. Why was he expelled?"

"His people… hates me." Jellal said. "They hate me, and since he saved my life, they found it shameful and expelled him."

I felt like there was more to his story than what meets the eye, but I didn't want to pry.

"I guess we both have issues, huh." I said with a teasing smile on my face.

Jellal looked up and grinned at me. I looked at him in question before he pointed a finger at me.

"That's the first I've seen you smile ever since I met you Wendy." He said, his voice obviously relieved.

I blushed and looked away.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

Blistering winds and raging currents left my lungs and my mouth as I released my magic. I had been doing better with controlling my magic, I guess. I mean, I could do three consecutive roars in the same day and I won't feel the least bit tired. It was a huge improvement on my part.

Jellal watched in awe as I landed back on the ground. I turned around and grinned triumphantly.

"I want to see you beat that with your magic." I said.

Jellal grinned. "I can't. Such destructive magic power can't be surpassed by mere Illusion and Staff Magic."

I stuck my tongue out.

"Oh please," I said with a teasing smile. "I'm sure you'll become a strong wizard someday. At least your magic varies on the type of staff you use. I'm stuck with only one magical affinity."

"That's only because these staffs are lacrima infused." Jellal said. "Without them, I guess in a fight I'm pretty much stark naked."

"Somehow I can imagine that." I mused.

Jellal had the decency to blush red. "Wendy!"

I laughed at his red face. "Aw, what is it Jellal?"

"Don't say such crude stuff! You're only a kid!"

"Hey, hey, you don't know my whole story. Maybe I'm an old hag who's acting as a child." I said with a wolfish grin.

"I highly doubt that!" Jellal protested.

"How. The. Hell. Did. You. Get. That."

Jellal laughed nervously, holding his bleeding arm in front of him. My eyebrow twitched uncontrollably and I could feel my hands itching to strangle the blue haired boy in front of me.

"I was looking out in the woods and a couple of Vulcans got the best of me." Jellal said.

I stared at him blankly before sighing.

"Sit down. I'll patch you up."

Jellal raised an eyebrow. "You have a first aid kit?"

I shook my head as he sat down. I took a seat in front of him and hovered my hands over the gash on his arm. Activating my magic, sky blue light poured from my hands and into Jellal's wound, where it was slowly closing up.

Jellal watched in fascination while I worked on his wound. I was busy focusing on his wound to deal with how he looked like a weird guppy fish with a face like that.

Once I finished, I felt my breath come out short. Sweat beaded by forehead, but nevertheless I smiled and wiped it away using my forearm.

"There." I said. "It's as good as new!"

Jellal grinned as he stretched his arm. "That's amazing, Wendy!"

"No, I'm amazing." I said smugly.

Jellal rolled his eyes.

"But still, healing magic!" Jellal exclaimed. "That's really rare and ancient magic, Wendy. How did you learn it?"

"I learned from the best." I said cockily.

Jellal gave me a look of disbelief. "You mean that dragon story you've been going on about?" he said.

I frowned. "Hey, Grandine is real! I've been taught by a real dragon."

"That's impossible, even with magic these days." Jellal pointed out.

I growled angrily and stood up from my seat.

"Why can't you just believe me?!" I asked. "Grandine is real, she's as real as both you and me!"

Jellal's eyes widened. "Wendy, I didn't—"

"You're just like everyone else, always thinking that dragons don't exist and that I'm just a crazy kid!"

"No I don't Wendy!" Jellal said. "But I can't—"

"You can't what?!" I said as I stomped my foot angrily.

Jellal didn't say anything but instead looked guiltily at the ground.

I was frustrated. Grandine is real. She's real. I know I can remember her clearly. It's annoying that he won't believe me!

"I believe you Wendy." Jellal said quietly. "But I don't know about it. A dragon teaching you magic?"

"Yes." I said through gritted teeth. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, I—"

I huffed angrily and ran out the hut, ignoring Jellal's calls and protests.

[A/N:] Short chapter, I know. :( But I do hope you guys enjoyed it. I wanted to show you guys that despite Wendy's carefree nature, she's still human and there are still things that will frustrate her and annoy her. I'm thinking that Wendy here doesn't like being disagreed with. :P

I got other fanfics, if you guys are interested. :3

Reviews are love~