Chapter Text
Wendy smiled and looked in the book again, “This one is silly, it’d be perfect for Natsu!” she said. “Yeah?! Let me check it out!” Natsu looked over her shoulder, “Oh, I know this one! Igneel told me it when I was little!” he said grinning. “A dragon told you fairy tales?” Gray asked. “Yeah, what about it?” Natsu challenged. Gray shook his head, “Nothing.” “Come on, Lucy! Let’s do the fairy tale!” Natsu dragged her backstage.
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
“Once upon a time, there was a prince who wanted to find a princess- but she had to be a real princess. He met many princesses, but he was never sure if they were real, there was always something not quite right about them. And so he never married. Until one day…” Wendy began.
Natsu sat on a throne in a handsome suit, a crown tangled in his mess of hair. Happy sat beside him on the ground. Natsu whistled, “Sure is a nasty storm, ain’t it Happy?” “Aye, sir!” The two looked to the prop door as there was a knock on it. “Who would wanna be outside in this?” Natsu asked. Happy shrugged, “I don’t know. Let’s go find out!” The two raced over to open the door. A sopping wet Lucy stood on the other side, courtesy of Juvia. “Woah! You look terrible!” Natsu grabbed her wrist and dragged her in.
“I’m a princess from a far off land, and I’ve lost my way.” Lucy explained, “Can I please stay here for the night?” Natsu shrugged, “Sure. You can go dry off in the other room.” “Thank you.” Lucy said as she left. “Do you think she’s a real princess, Natsu?!” Happy asked, eagerly. Natsu was skeptical, “I don’t know…” We’ll have to test her!“ "How?” Natsu paced for a moment. “I know!” he turned to Happy, “We’ll put twenty mattresses down for a bed and put one tiny pea beneath them! That’ll prove she’s sensitive enough to be a real princess!” “Natsu, you’re a genius!” Happy praised, hugging him.
Natsu lead a nightgown-clad Lucy to the door. “Well, this is where you’ll be staying tonight. Sleep well!” he skipped off. “Thank you.” Lucy tried the knob. It was locked. “Uh, Natsu! You forgot to unlock the door!” she called. There was no answer. “Natsu?! … Prince?!” Lucy sighed, “I guess I’m sleeping on the floor tonight…” she grumbled, before laying down on the floor.
“The next morning, the prince was eager to see how the princess had slept.” Wendy continued. A bedraggled Lucy stumbled towards a giddy Natsu. “Well, how’d ya sleep?” he asked. “Terrible!” she replied, glaring. “You passed the test!” Natsu cheered, “We can get married! You’ll be queen!” Lucy stared at him, “… What?” “I put a pea under twenty mattresses to test you! You felt it, you passed! I’ll start the wedding preparations!” Natsu dashed off eagerly. Lucy sighed and shrugged, “Why not? This kingdom won’t survive if he runs it alone.” she followed Natsu offstage. “The two were wed and lived happily ever after! The end!” Wendy finished.
“Wendy.” Carla said gently, “It’s getting late.” Wendy looked towards the window to see it was already dark. “Oh…” “I think we have time for one more story.” Carla said, pointing in the book. Wendy looked down and smiled. “Okay! But I want Chelia to be my wife!” Chelia beamed and hugged her friend, “Let’s go! Lyon!” “Gray!” The ice mages stopped bickering over Juvia to glance over, then followed the girls backstage.
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Carla began the story fondly, “I will tell you a story I heard when I was young. Each time I recall the ending it seems to get better. There are some stories, like some people, who seem to get better as they grow older."
"In a farm, lived a couple who owned almost nothing, except for an old horse. One day, they decided to sell it.” Carla continued. Chelia and Wendy walked in, wearing peasant rags. “Husband-uh-wife.” Chelia giggled, “Take our horse to market. Sell it or trade it. Whatever you do is fine with me.” she held out a horse stuffed animal, which Wendy took and began walking in place with, while Chelia left.
“While the farmer walked,” Carla continued, “She came upon a stranger walking a cow.” “What a beautiful cow!” Wendy exclaimed, “She must give delicious milk! Sir? Would you like to trade your cow for my horse?” “The man agreed, and the exchange was soon made.” Carla said. Wendy tossed the horse into the audience and got a cow stuffed animal in return. Wendy hummed, “Well… I have a cow- but I’m gonna continue to the fair to see what else I can find!” She decided, and kept walking.
“Along the way, the farmer saw a man with a sheep of a rare breed.” Carla added. Wendy gasped, “Look at that splendid sheep! Oh, my wife would love that! We can take it in the house in winter! Hello, friend! Would you like to swap?” she tossed the stuffed cow into the audience and got a sheep.
“Next she came upon a man with a goose.” Carla continued. “What a nice creature!” Wendy praised, “And I remember my wife saying she’d like a goose, would you like to trade, Sir?!” she threw the sheep out and caught the good stuffed animal… with her face. Carla gasped. “I’m okay!” Wendy assured.
“Next she came across the tax collector with a chicken.” Carla said. Wendy giggled, “What a funny looking bird! Chickens are the easiest to keep. Sir! Would you like to make an exchange?” Wendy threw the goose out and caught the toy chicken- this time with her hands.
“The farmer decided to go to an inn for some food.” Carla continued, “On the way, he saw a man with apple’s and traded the chicken for them.” Thankfully, they had decided not to throw a bag of apples at the guild’s most accident prone member, and simply handed Wendy the bag. “My wife loves apples! She’ll be so glad!” Wendy sat at the table onstage and Gray and Lyon approached her in fine suits.
“What have you got there, farmer?” Gray asked as he and Lyon sat down at Wendy’s table. “The farmer told them the whole story.” Carla explained. “Wow, you’re wife’s gonna be mad when you get home.” Lyon said. Wendy shook her head, “No she won’t. She’ll be happy with whatever I bring back.” Lyon leaned forward, “Really? I’ll bet all the gold on me, she’ll be mad.” “I’ll take that bet.” Gray agreed. Wendy shrugged, “All I have to bet is my apples.” “We’ll take it.” the men agreed.
“The men went home with the farmer.” Carla continued. “I’m home!” Wendy smiled and hugged Chelia, “I traded the horse!” “The farmer told the story over again.” Carla continued. “Really?” Chelia gasped, “I could kiss you! I love apples!” The two hugged again. Gray and Lyon laughed. “You’ve won the bet! Our gold is yours!” “That is how I was told the story.” Carla finished, “And now you know it. All’s well that end’s well."
WENDY’S BIRTHDAY (CONTINUED)
The guild cheered as Wendy hopped down and closed the book. "Thank you guys for making this the best birthday ever!” “Is there anything else you would like?” Carla asked. “… Can I keep one of the stuffed animals?” Wendy asked hopefully. Several bodies came forward to thrust the toys into her arms, along with Jellal and Freed’s unopened presents. “You can keep all of the stuffed animals.” The guild waved as Wendy, Carla, Lyon, and Chelia left. “Bye!” “Have a good night!” “Happy Birthday, Wendy!” “Thank you!"
Wendy sighed in content as they left, but stopped at the end of the guild’s front yard. "They didn’t remember my birthday, did they?” The trio gasped and whirled to her. “How did you know?!” Carla exclaimed. Wendy smiled, “I love Fairy Tail. They’re my family… but they’re not the brightest.” she admitted, “Especially Natsu.” Wendy glanced back at the guild, “But even so…” she beamed, “They did all this for me.” Wendy sniffled and wiped her eyes on her shoulder, as they were filled with tears of happiness and her arms were filled with stuffed animals and presents. “Oh, Wendy.” Carla shifted human to hug her dragon slayer properly. “Thank you, Carla. I love you.” “I love you too, Wendy.
THE END