BlackLynx17: We got a good 3 to 4 more chapters for this story I think. For some reason I thought it was going to be longer, but it turned out it's not. Lol. Hope you like.
"What are you thinking Doranbolt?"
"That cloud right there looks like a dumpling almost, kind of, sorta. You have to really see it though, really envision it."
"No you idiot," Jellal says then sighs out at me, "I mean in life."
I start chuckling, "what do you mean?"
"Wendy." Is all he says.
Wendy, a smile appears on my face, "I love her."
"She's leaving in a few days."
"You don't think I know that? You don't think I'm spending every precious second with her before she has to leave? Making our time really count?"
"You see? This is exactly why I'm calling you an idiot. What are you going to do after she leaves?"
I shrug and scratch my chin, "go back to my old life, but not fully return to it. I won't let Era change this new man I have become; it took me this long to finally be someone I love and is proud of, I'm not going to change that anytime soon."
"And yet you say you love her?"
"What are you getting at Jellal?" I ask turning my head towards him.
Jellal isn't looking at me though, but at the clouds. His face is completely calm, his eyes wide open as he stares up at them. Somewhere his mask is abandoned on the ground; there's no one here watching us, no one here lying in wait. It's just me and him.
"I don't want you joining the circus."
"What are you talking about? I'm not-"
"No, you are. I've seen this play out before Doranbolt. She's going to leave and you're going to sit here, waiting for her to come back. She will come back of course, the first couple of weeks are agonizing, so when she does your meeting will be full of passion and love like the two of you never left... but then the waiting is going to get longer and longer until you can't stand being away from her anymore. I've seen it happen Doranbolt, I know. You're saying you love this girl and I believe you, I believe you so much because you've never loved someone before her like this and you were always picky with your women. There is no way a free spirit like Wendy is going to settle down in a place like this with you. You're going to join us, I know you are. I don't even know why we're having this conversation. I'll give it six months, maybe eight."
"Would that be such a bad thing? If I joined?" I ask him, "do you not want me apart of your life anymore?"
"Doranbolt you don't know how happy I've been lately, especially when I first saw you. I know I acted cold, but that was only because I didn't want you getting roped into this life. I almost cried when I first saw you though there, a tear really did come to my eye. I thought about looking for you, finding you inside of Era and talking with you again, but I knew the chances were too risky. I was so grateful for Wendy and everyone to pull you in despite trying to push you out... but you have to know Doranbolt I left things unfinished back in the council. I left before I had the chance to make any real differences in the world; you don't know how much it hurt when they said they no longer needed me, when they said they were kicking me out and banishing me from Era."
"Jellal," I whisper.
"I wasn't able to do anything, I wasn't able to do anything for anyone nor make my mark in the world. I had so much I wanted to do, so much greatness and potential, I trained my whole life in order to do one thing, to help change the world, and in an instant... it was all taken away from me, because I decided to save a man. I never regret it, in fact I think those council people are crazy thinking I should have just let him die instead of revealing my 'curse' they so call it. What helped me with the pain though, what made me finally accept and be able to move on from Era, was knowing that you were still here Doranbolt to pick up my legacy. That you were still here to make a real difference... hopefully it'll be a small difference now that you're joining."
"Jellal... you don't have to worry about me. I'm not going to join, Wendy and I have talked this out. I'm leaving Era and moving to this small place called Magnolia; I've never been there or anything like that, but I'm hoping it'll be a good place. That will be our new home whenever she visits me, in some place that will welcome her, but I'll still be apart of the council commuting there and back. I'm still going to make a difference and be able to have her."
"If you say so Doranbolt, if you really say so, I wonder how long that will last though."
To that I have nothing to say back; I go back to looking at the clouds and sigh out.
"I wonder how long too."
"I want you to have this," Erza says taking her top hat off.
"But Erza, isn't this your hat? Your leader hat?"
"What, this old thing? Don't worry, I have plenty of them inside of my cabin, and you've more than earned to keep one Doranbolt. What you've done for us here we're never going to forget it and I wish that I had something more to offer you than a silly old hat, but nevertheless I want you to have it. Please." She says.
I reach my hands out and grab it, holding on to it tightly in my hands, "thank you Erza."
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us? Your welcome to Doranbolt even if you have no magic abilities; I can always use another good man like yourself."
"Thanks for the offer Erza, but I still have unfinished business here."
"Very well, I've said my final good byes. Take care Doranbolt."
This week passed by way to fast. It was moments with Wendy to a moment with Jellal and then the final performances before... goodbyes. Everyone was nice, everyone hugged and patted, even cried to leave me behind. Jellal simply nodded at me, no hug or anything; I know the two of us would have broken down if he did anything more. Natsu and the rest were so kind and generous with their words just like Erza, some even threatening to kidnap me against my will to join. It hurt saying goodbye to these friends because they were my family. It only took a month, but I generally care for this people and I'm going to make sure that next year they're going to have the warmest welcome ever.
"No tears now, okay?" I ask of her.
Wendy looks at me and puffs out her cheeks, "who do you think you're talking to? Why would I cry out over you? I knew this day was going to happen. I've prepared myself, besides this isn't goodbye. It's just until the next time we meet."
I lean over and press our lips together, giving her and soft and memorable kiss to last us god knows how long of each other apart.
"I love you."
She blinks and smiles up at me, "I love you too Doranbolt."
"Don't forget to write, you have my address, and be sure to warn me ahead of time to when you're visiting. I hate surprises, even if they come in cute little fun-size ones as yourself."
She giggles at me.
"I'm sorry you had to fall in love with a guy like me who can't be with you every waking second of every day, but I swear to you Wendy I'm going to work my hardest and become a great man so you don't regret it."
"Doranbolt I already know you're a great man; I understand this. Don't overwork yourself, okay? And remember to have fun once in a while, and don't you dare be looking at other woman! If I come back and see or smell some other scent on you I'm going to tear your arm off," she growls.
"I promise, I swear, cross my heart and hope to die. No worries Wendy, you're the only one for me."
"I better be."
This was it. She smiles brightly at me and rubs her face against my hand, I pull her in for our final hug and then... then I let her go. She leaves, I stay, I'm left standing where there tent use to be watching it until it disappears into the distance and still watching it after that, waiting, some small part of me hoping that...
That nothing.
Lahar finds me, I don't know how he would know where I'd be, but he finds me at Kana's Bakery eating my feelings away with dumplings and takes a seat next to me.
"They'll be back; I'll make sure they'll be welcomed back here." He tells me.
"Yeah, thanks Lahar."
"How are you feeling?"
I tip my top hat up to look at his face; I feel terrible, like I can't go on, like I've made the worst mistake in my life and I can't do this and that I should be running to chase after them. She's left me, Wendy has left me. She's gone! No more visiting her whenever I want to, taking a dream down to see her. No more waking her up early in the morning to hear her complain or eating breakfast with her, no more taking care of the animals together or practicing her performances. No more anything with her! No more...
"I'll feel better soon."
I will feel better soon, I'm sure of it. Right now I'm allowed to feel this down and eat my feelings away, but I'm not going to stay like this forever. I made a promise to become a better person for her, to stay the great person that I am and I'm not going to be forgetting that promise.
Just you wait Wendy.