Jellal was more than just a natural chemist. He was also a gifted storyteller. He would occasionally tell Juvia stories that he had heard from the days they traveled with their parents. But now that the poor girl had no means of seeing the world and that the disfigured boy would have to face the cruel reality of prejudice, he had to tell them stories almost every day. Stories that would Juvia something she could see in her mind and could give Gray a moment of relief from mockery.
And when Jellal told stories, he didn't just tell the tale, he acted it out for them. He played the narrator and the characters and the music. It was almost like a stage production. In fact, one day he was telling one of his stories to the children a gentleman passing by took note and became fascinated. He was greatly entertained by the young man's emotion and creativity, convinced it was an actual show. So convinced that he actually three a few coins at the man's feet. That's when Jellal got the idea to take a second job as entertainer.
He built a stage into the carriage, crafted puppets, and taught himself magician tricks. It wasn't long before he would be impressing crowds with his remarkable stage performances, wowing them with his talents, and earning just enough money to keep the three of them fed and warm. However he would earn a very generous amount of money whenever he performed at an annual fair and he'd save that extra money for something very special in the future. Like new clothes for them or a house or maybe even a trip to America. He didn't know yet but whatever it was, he be sure that it would be something for all of them to enjoy.
"What kind of fair is this one Jellal?" Juvia asked him as he was setting up the stage in the town square.
"It's called The Fest of the Heart." He answered.
"What's that?" Gray asked. "Do they sell chicken hearts to eat or something?"
"No. It's a romantic fair. Couples get together for dancing, singing, and watching love stories performed through plays and shows. Then the couples loudly proclaim who they love the most."
"Does this mean we're going to see a lot of kissing?" Gray asked.
"I'm afraid so."
"Gross." Gray said disgusted. "I think I'll just stay inside for today."
"Don't worry Gray there's plenty for non-couples to do. Tell you what." Jellal took a few spare coins out of his pocket and handed it to Gray. "Why don't you take Juvia over to the bakery across the street and the two of you buy yourselves a special treat."
"Alright."
"Remember to stay together, Juvia don't wander off, and Gray don't leave her alone."
"We know." The two children said.
The bakery was warm and smelled deliciously sweet with the baker lady going back and forth between mixing dough and topping some buns with powdered sugar. Gray could see many displays of tasty cakes, pies, cookies, rolls, and other baked goods.
"What do you think we should get?" Gray asked Juvia.
She inhaled a delightful aroma of blackberries and vanilla which made her swoon.
"I think we should have whatever is giving off that wonderful smell." She answered.
The smell was coming from a tray of small blackberry tarts that the baker lady had just taken out from the oven and was now topping them with vanilla cream. Gray bought two with the money Jellal gave them and they went outside to eat them. Gray chose to eat in the shadows so no one could see his face when he took off his scarf.
"Am I getting anything on my face?" Juvia asked after eating two bites of her tart.
Gray chuckled, her lips were painted purple from the blackberry filling.
"Your face is fine." He told her. "But you have blackberry rouge all over your mouth."
Juvia laughed and continued to eat, making a mental note to wipe her face once she was done. Gray ate his tart very slowly, his eyes wandering as he chewed, watching how everyone was acting today. He could see couples in almost every corner either walking hand in hand, embracing, or kissing. It made Gray almost puke up his tart.
"What's going on?" Juvia asked. "I hear a lot of voices."
"It's nothing Juvia. Just couples acting all lovey-dovey." Gray said.
"Can you describe one for me? So I can picture them in my mind?"
Gray searched through love sick crowd and picked out one happy pair of lovers playfully waltzing in the street.
"There's a gentleman with dark skin and a lady with violet hair." He described.
"Is she beautiful?"
"I guess."
"What are they doing?"
"They're dancing. Now he's giving her flower, she's hugging him, he's taking her in his arms. Now everyone's one watching them.
"I love Kinana!" The dark-skinned man proclaimed devotedly.
"And I love Erik!" The violet-haired woman declared tenderly.
Then they sealed their words of love with a passionate kiss.
"Yuck! Now they're kissing!" Gray gagged.
"How sweet." Juvia sighed. "I think it would be the most wonderful thing in the world to have someone who loved me that much."
"Not me." Gray said putting his scarf back on. "Trust me Juvia, my mouth was not meant for kissing."
"Maybe."
"What do you mean maybe?"
"Just maybe. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Have you ever tried to kiss anyone?"
"God no!"
"Then how do you know that your mouth isn't meant for kissing?"
"Because I don't like kissing."
Juvia started to tease him.
"You know what I think?"
"If I say yes do you still have to tell me?"
"I think that one day you'll like kissing, and I think that one day you'll tell the whole world that you love someone."
"No way! That will never happen!"
"Well I know that I'm going to do it one day. In fact I'm thinking about doing it right now."
"Doing what?"
"Telling everyone here who I love. Yelling his name so loud that even heaven will hear me."
"Oh really? And just who's name are you going to yell?"
"Yours."
"What?!" He jumped. "Why?"
"Because I love you."
"You do not!"
"Yes I do and I'm going to shout it so everyone will hear."
"Don't!"
"Why not?"
"Because it's humiliating! And it's not true!"
"But it is."
"No it's not."
"Why don't you believe me?"
"Because...Just because okay. So do me a favor and don't shout anything like that."
"Alright. If that's what you want."
They walked back to the stage to assist Jellal. On the way, Gray caught sight of gilded coach passing by. Through the coach window, he could see that the inside was velvet and that a rich nobleman was riding along with his wife and their friends. They were all dressed in handsomely in expensive clothes, the men drinking wine and the woman adorning themselves with jewelry so bright that it could blind anyone. He could also see how the commoners would just stop and take a moment to admire them. Even though the nobleman and his wife were both as fast as pigs and wore enough and wigs to be mistaken for clowns. They looked utterly ridiculous but no one laughed at them. No one called them names. No one ridiculed them like they did to Gray.
It made him wonder, what if he was rich and had a title? Would he cease to be a source of mockery and revulsion? Would people finally accept him despite his disfigurement?
"What story are you going to tell tonight Jellal?" Juvia inquired, picking up Shagotte's kitten and petting her.
"I don't know yet." He replied. "Any ideas?"
"How about Beauty And The Beast?"
Jellal looked at Gray and wondered if that was a good idea.
"I don't know Juvia. That one might be a little upsetting to some people. How about Little Golden Hood?"
"Juvia hates that story." Gray said. "It gives her bad dreams."
"The Valiant Little Tailor then?"
"No Beauty And The Beast." Both children said.
"The Goblin And The Fishmonger?"
"No."
"The Bride who loved Salt?"
"No."
"A Cabbage And A Wasp?"
"Is that one even a real story?" Gray asked.
"The Boy Who Would Do Anything For Milk?"
"Please Jellal." Juvia pleaded. "You know that one's my favorite, and it's a love story, so it's perfect for this fair."
"Okay you win." He caved. "Beauty And The Beast it is."
"Yay!"
"Now I have to get the puppets and the silhouettes ready. You two can play around here but don't go anywhere and don't talk to any strangers."
"We won't." They assured him.
Jellal went inside the carriage to prepare the remaining necessities for the show, leaving Gray and Juvia to keep themselves amused until later.
"What should we do Gray?" Juvia asked him.
"We could give Carla a haircut." He said referring to the kitten in her arms.
"She doesn't need a haircut. She's just a baby."
"Then let's teach her some tricks."
"What kind of tricks?"
"Um..." He thought for a moment. "Do you think a cat can be taught fetch?"
Natsu loved a fair. London was always so boring and dull and dreary. Everyday was bleak with not a single shred of excitement to be seen. At times it made him feel ill. But whenever a fair would come London would instantly transform into its complete opposite. There would be loud music, blasts of color and light, everyone would act crazy instead of proper, and best of all there would be an endless amount of delicious food. In his opinion, a fair was the closest thing to Heaven on Earth, and nothing pleased his father more than to take him to the fair because it made him so happy.
"Father can I have some chestnuts?" He asked him.
"Of course my son."
"And then a toffee apple?"
"I don't see why not."
"And a smoke turkey leg?"
"A bit much but it is a special occasion."
"And a whole smoked turkey?"
"Natsu I make a living fattening up my pigs not my son." He finally put his foot down. "Besides, I promised your mother that I'd never let you over eat again after you devoured that entire ham bone last week."
"I don't understand what she's so worried about my diet. I'm a growing boy, I need to eat a lot."
"That doesn't mean you get to be a glutton. Now why don't we start off by seeing those fire breathers, huh? I know they're your favorite."
"Oh yes!" He said excitedly. "I hope they're as good as last years."
Igneel then picked up his son and put him onto his shoulders, walking over to where skilled street performers were preparing to provide entertainment for the festival.
"Father?"
"Yes Natsu?"
"You think I could learn to breathe fire too?"
Igneel chuckled.
"I guess anything's possible."
And off father and son went to enjoy themselves.