Disclaimer: Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Chapter 5

It was a warm sunny day. There were only few puffs of clouds around and not a single sign to show that there will be any change in weather. It was the perfect day to sulk and stare at my reflection at the pond like a corpse with its eyes open.

My blue hair had grown uneven and choppy, but it reached past my shoulders. My peach skin turned a slightly paler shade because I haven't been getting enough sun lately. My brown eyes stared back at me, reflecting the hidden sadness and pain I held inside me.

My pink dress was in tatters. I wanted to get a new one, but I refused to go back to my hut and grab the extra shirt and shorts I have. Though there was a low possibility of Jellal being there, I don't want to face that no-good coward!

I grew hungrier after a few days, but I most definitely did not stay in the same place longer than three hours. I only took short breaks eating a few fruits and grabbing some fish, but that's all.

I guess my hunger got the best of me, because my vision suddenly blurred. I felt myself fall face forward into the ground, but I didn't bother protecting myself from the fall. The hot sunshine was getting to me to, because I felt as if I was a roasted marshmallow. Might as well get a stick and some biscuits, I would've made a perfect s'more.

My eyelids felt heavy, but I knew better than to fall asleep in the middle of the path. But it was so tempting to just close my eyes and rest, so I did.

The last thing I remembered before falling asleep was the shadow of a small man who had a peacock shaped head looming over me.

I opened my eyes slowly and found an old man staring right at me. He looked sort of tiny compared to me and his figure was looming over my body.

First reaction?

"PEDOPHILE ALERT!"

I quickly bolted up and readied myself in a defensive stance.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

"Wait, wait, wait!" the old man cried out in protest, waving his hands in front of him before my attack destroyed the hut we were staying in and literally blew the man away.

After a few seconds, I was left alone in a wreckage of a wooden hut with only the old man to accompany me. Only then did I notice the tribal tattoos on his body and the native-like attire he wore.

I paled.

"I am so, so sorry!"

The Chief sat on a chair, his head covered in bandages.

"No, no, it's fine!" he said before he suddenly howled in pain.

I sweat dropped. "You sure?"

"I am fine!" The Chief said as he gave me a reassuring glance.

"But what is someone so young like you doing out here on your own?" he asked. "Surely your parents must be looking for you."

I laughed nervously and scratched my cheek.

"It's sort of the other way around." I said. "I'm the one looking for my parent."

"Hmm?" the Chief hummed.

I was about to go and describe Grandine and how I ended up here until I started doubting. What if this man doesn't believe in Grandine as well?

"I... I just need a place to stay." I said after a few moments of silence. "If that's okay with everyone here, that is. I don't want to intrude."

The Chief looked at me, as if he was deciding whether or not it was a good idea. I was a bit uncomfortable with his gaze, and before I could accuse him of being a pedophile again, I looked around frantically for something as a conversation starter.

"Oh yeah!" I said as I clapped my hands. I turned to the Chief. "This is your village, isn't it? I mean, you are the chief. I'm wondering where the other citizens are."

I saw the Chief pale a little before he laughed it off.

"O-other people? T-that's... uh, well..."

I looked at the Chief weirdly. "This IS a village, right?"

"W-well, that is..."

I looked down, disappointed.

"I-I mean, of course!" the Chief said as he stood up and grinned.

I looked up in surprise and gave him a funny look.

"Really?" I asked, crossing my arms in suspicion. I closed my eyes and sniffed the air before turning back to him. "I can't recognize any human scents around other than you and me."

He looked at me in confusion.

"You... are you perhaps a mage?"

I internally blanched.

'Dammmnnn I just blew my own cover!' I thought. 'But if this old man is a mage, he should have been able to block my attack from earlier... so I guess it's safe.'

I hesitantly nodded.

"What type of magic do you possess?" he asked.

I grinned. "I'm the Sky Dragon Slayer, Wendy Marvel!" I boasted proudly, puffing my chest.

His eyes widened. "Dragon Slaying Magic?" he repeated in disbelief. "That's impossible! That kind of magic has been said to be long forgotten!"

I pouted. "Well too bad gramps, because that roar of mine from earlier is definitely Dragon Slaying Magic!"

'Oh come on! Is it really that unbelievable to have Dragon Slaying Magic?'

He looked at me uneasily before I sigh and looked down in depression.

"You don't believe me." I stated.

He blinked and looked around nervously. "W-well, dragon slaying magic is extremely rare these days."

I looked to the side, feeling angry and bitter.

"Are you affiliated with a guild?"

I looked up at him and shook my head.

"Wait, what's a guild?" I asked.

"Well, a guild is basically an organization for mages to take jobs coming from different clients and earn a living." the old man explained. "I'm surprised you aren't affiliated with a guild yet. How did you manage to come this far all by yourself?"

I scratched my head. "Technically, I wasn't living by myself all these years..."

Then an idea hit me.

"Gramps!" I said, catching the Chief's attention. "You seem to know a lot about guilds! Maybe you know one nearby?"

He frowned behind his bushy beard and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but this place is very far and secluded from civilization. Even if you traveled using a magical vehicle, it would take you a few weeks to reach the nearest town."

I frowned in disappointment before launching into a full-scale tantrum.

"Unfair!" I cried out, banging my fists on the floor childishly. "I finally find a place where I won't be hunted down or whatever, and I have to make the extra effort to go there! Noooo! I don't wanna! This is unfaiiiirrrrr!"

The old man looked at me, a bit torn at what to do.

Despite me being a matured adult, I couldn't help the tears that started to run down my cheeks. The chief seemed startled and so did I, so I quickly tried to cover it up by laughing and wiping my eyes with the sleeves of my dress.

"Ahaha!" I said. "S-sorry grandpa. I just got something in my eye!"

A few moments of silence passed before I heard the chief laugh.

I opened my eyes and looked at him in confusion. He patted my head and gave me a warm smile.

"You pass!" he said.

I looked at him blankly.

"What?" I asked.

"T-this is also a guild!" he said as he stood up. "I am a guild master here! We don't get a lot of people here, so I told everyone to hide the village."

I looked at him blankly.

"... liar." I stated. "I don't sense any human scents nearby."

"That's because our village is hidden, and so is our guild." the chief said. He looked nervous and sweaty, but his smile was genuine.

"Ohh? And what's the guild's name then?" I asked, crossing my arms and looking at him suspiciously.

"Eh?" I heard him say before laughing. He started looking around and I swear I saw a light bulb appear on the top of his head.

"C-caitshelter!"

I blanched.

"What the- Is it like a place for adopted kitties?" I asked. "Honestly, if you're going to lie, at least try better."

He looked like a cornered rodent at that moment. But then I started laughing and took his hands in mine. I gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks, grandpa. But unless I sense some people around, I'll just assume you're trying to make me feel better."

He looked at me for a few moments before I stood up from my spot in the ground and dusted my dress.

"... you caught me." he said before scratching his head.

I laughed happily and hugged the old man.

"Thanks gramps!" I said before pulling away. "Oh yeah, what is your real name anyways?"

"Roubal." he said. "I am Roubal."

"Well, I'm Wendy!" I said, pointing a thumb to my chest.

"The Sky Dragon Slayer, Wendy Marvel!"

[A/N:] Okay, please don't kill me for not updating in a long time. ; w ;

School is hectic, I tell you. But don't worry, since it's currently Christmas Break, I have loads of time writing for my fanfics here. I'll be updating my other stories too, and until I complete one fanfiction, I won't be writing any new stories yet.

In this story, I plan on my oc!Wendy realizing that there is no such thing as Cait Shelter. It's sort of obvious, and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact canon!Wendy wasn't able to distinguish the difference between a spirit and a real human. Maybe it was because of the powerful magic influence or some magic hocus-pocus in Fairy Tail, I'm not sure.

But either way, this story will be moving at its own pace, which means it would most likely stray from canon. Don't worry, I'll be including loads of canon arcs here but most of them will be messed and jumbled up to the point that you will not know what might happen.

Anyways, bye-bye and hope ya have a Merry Christmas! O w O