The first few chapters aren't that much different, but the further along we go, the more differences there'll be. So far, I have 5 completely new chapters, and some of the old ones were almost if not completely different. I'll be uploading the first 3 chapters, then go back to writing some more.

{General Narration}

Death.

Depending on who you asked, death was either the worst thing a person could fear, or something that would happen eventually and was accepted. Me? For me, death wasn't something I focused on unless it was appropriate at the moment. Which leads me to where I am now.

My name is Valerie Rosa, a 24 year old flight attendant doing her job, and I'm currently plummeting to my death while me and who knows how many passengers are screaming our lungs out. It should've just been another day. A normal day. I didn't think it was going to be my last day. But then again, who does?

But while I was scared out of my mind, I couldn't help but see my life flash before my eyes, even though I thought that was complete shit. Funny how you learn things at the worst moments.

I saw my parents, the doting and infinitely supportive couple who couldn't have children, adopt me despite how much of a problem child I was for the orphanage. That's underselling it really, but that was in the past. To me, my life really started with them, and it looked like my flashback agreed with me.

I saw the day they first came to the orphanage, an ok-ish place somewhere in Jersey. I never really looked up where the orphanage was, cause I was outta there and didn't really think about it anymore. Though now, I saw the day they fully adopted me and took me home, to the place I would always consider my real home, even after I moved out for college.

My parents were a lovely interracial couple with creamy skinned redhead as my mother, and a brown haired and tanned Hispanic father. Roxanne, my mother, knew her way around the kitchen so well you'd assume she was a professional chef. Meanwhile Emanuel, my father, was a mechanic that helped out whenever he was needed. Then there was me, an at the time 6 year old who still had a 'bit' of tomboy in her.

I still have natural red red hair like my mother, though I dyed it to be a bit more brownish because I wanted to have some of my father's hair color so it would look like both of theirs... The first time I tried it, I was 12 or 13, and I fucked it up, which made dad laugh for a solid minute while mom snapped pictures for blackmail.

I saw my younger self, the hellion that I was, running around the halls of our two story house, a house that would later contain the happiest memories of my life. My birthdays, my first report card that had all A's, that I was pretty sure was still on the fridge till this day, the kitten that my parents got me, a little black and orange lazy ball of fluff I call Tom, and the sleepovers with my bestfriend.

I saw my parents taking my 7 year old self to school. It took a bit, but the year after they adopted me, and gave me a bit of homeschooling to catch up, saw to me going to a nice public school. The teachers were eh, the other kids were kids, and we had some nice food for lunch... Sometimes. There were ups and downs with the food situation sometimes.

A week after would be when I met my best friend and damn near sister. I didn't know if it was possible, but when that memory came up I felt like my screaming lessened a bit. Just a tiny bit, I was still screaming my lungs out, but just a tinny bit lower then normal.

But back to my best friend, the 'older' sister I never knew I wanted or needed, Maria Velacrux, a Puerto Rican girl that lorded the fact that she was a day older then me for the years to come. At the time she was half a foot taller then me, which didn't say much when you're a 3'10 child. She had lovely brown hair, that had to have been blessed by god, since no matter what we did she never had too many knots in her hair and it would be another thing she'd hold over me for the years to come. I would try for years, and even beg her parents for the secret, but it was something I never figured out how she did it, (And looking at it now, it looks like I never will.)

Our friendship started on complete accident. One day we had a competition at gym, and as children with seemingly unlimited energy, us and some other kids competed like it was war. Said war led to me and Maria crashing into each other like miniature warheads. We were down for a minute but eventually we got back up. It was just the two of us by the sides of the gym, and for what felt like an hour neither of us said a thing. Then she complimented a hairpin my mom got for me, and we were inseparable ever since.

Children were strange like that.

I had other friends and best friends sure, but Maria was pretty much my sister in all but blood. If we weren't at my house, we were at hers and vice-versa. We went to the same middle and even high school together. By that point, everyone knew that if one of us was spotted, the other wouldn't be far behind. Even our parents followed our example, the four of them did almost everything together, turning us into one extended family.

The only place we didn't go to together was college. Not for a lack of trying either, but when your basically sister, gets a scholarship to MIT you sit back and celebrate till the day you gotta separate. She was always the smarter of us and we knew it, so I wasn't jealous, it was the opposite really, that memory was one of my happiest since the face of pure and unadulterated joy I saw on her stayed with me ever since I saw it.

We worked to get a place together though. Just because we were going to different universities didn't mean we had to be apart. That only happened when she found the right guy. And that was a good few years after when I played matchmaker with her and a handsome chef that worked at our favorite place. Even till this day, the day I was going to die, the engagement party me and our families threw her was sitting at my third favorite memory in my life, and one of the last things I was seeing. And that momentarily stopped my screaming. Because I realized, (I'm never going to be there when she has her kids. I'm never going to see my best friend have her twins.) And that was the last thought I had as our plane crashed into the earth. And that was it.

...

Or it should've been. And it probably would have been... If not for what I heard next.

"Oh dear, now isn't this just a mess."

{First person POV}

It may have been because I was still replaying my last moments, but I didn't react to the mysterious voice as quickly as I normally would. I was still 'laying?' there as I processed what just happened. The plane crashed. I died...

I died...

I was having so much trouble wrapping my head around it that I just didn't do anything. I couldn't feel anything, but I could still hear, and that was slowly starting to make me realize that maybe I wasn't dead. Maybe I survived? Maybe I was just paralyzed? (I can handle that, I'd still have my parents and our friends and Ma...-)

"I'm sorry to tell you dearie, but you died. No two ways around it, you and every passenger and staff on that plane died."

(Oh... Neve-... Wait. If I'm dead... Who's talking? And answering me when I knew I was thinking that?)

"That would be me. However, considering you're still a soul, you can't exactly see me or speak. I was waiting for you to process your death to have the necessary conversation with you. And before you go down the common train of thought, you are not going insane, yes I am real, yes you really did die, and yes to whatever other questions that are about you questioning if this is really happening."

Ah... I can't tell if that was rude or not, but considering I'd probably go right back to freaking the fuck out, I'll just accept that... Actually... (Why am I not still freaking out?)

"Again, that would be me. Due to the excessively violent and traumatic way you and the rest of you mortals died, this portion of the transition period prevents souls from panicking and lets you process your life and death in as calm a manner as possible. You are still capable of 'Freaking out' as you put it, it's just exponentially harder to do."

... I get it... But now what miss mysterious voice? (Is this the part I get judged for my sins and if I go to heaven or hell? Or is it something else?)

"Well technically you'd be correct. The transition period is used just for that cause... However due to the... Nature of your death, and the cause of it, you and the rest of the humans on the plane are being given a second chance. Just not in a traditional sense such as reincarnation back on Earth."

OK. Now that I know why I'm not freaking out and I can actually think, there's something real fucking suspicious about this. The 'cause' of our death? I knew the forecast was saying things were going to be fine and dandy, I especially knew there weren't even that many clouds in the sky, so now that I'm thinking about it... (WHERE THE FUCK DID THE LIGHTNING BOLT COME FROM?!)

"Ah... Yes. That... Unfortunately that was my husband..."

It was like a super car SLAMMING the breaks in my mind, and without even pausing, I felt my anger ignite. (Excuse the fuck outta me?! Did I just hear that right? I know I don't have ears or anything right now so maybe that's what's messing with me, but did I just hear that me and everyone on that flight died... Because of YOUR HUSBAND?!)

"No... You heard correctly dearie... That's the reason you and all the other mortals are being given a second chance. My husband doesn't exactly care about the lives of mortals and tends to take out his frustrations against them. You were unfortunately another case of him doing just that. Normally mortals either pass on or re-enter the cycle, however for cases such as these which are the fault of a deity, said pantheon has to step in to rectify the mistake."

'The mistake' That's what it was..? A mistake... A mistake that cost me my life... A mistake that stole me from my family? From my best friend and the lives of her kids? It was all a mistake? I wanted so badly to rage, to scream at the injustice but I couldn't. Not for lack of trying or anything like that, I just didn't have a throat to scream apart. Didn't mean I didn't scream my thoughts out for the lady and whoever else could possibly hear. The mysterious lady was giving me time, that or she was tuning me out as I screamed out in my mind for who knows how long. I didn't know how long it took, but eventually I ran myself dry.

"Take as much time as you need dearie, we have quite a bit of time set aside for your compensation and you're free to mourn as much as you want."

So that's what I did. I looked over my life, everything that made me happy, every moment with my family, my best friend, every relationship that I had, any and everything I loved. I looked over everything that made me ME and everything that I lived through, and slowly, ever so slowly, I did my best to make peace with it. No matter how hard it was, I tried as much as I could to make peace and accept that it was over. But I couldn't. If I could cry I would've been in a river of tears trying to accept it all, to accept I'd never see any of them ever again. I wouldn't even know how my parents would take my death. Just thinking about them made my heart break even more.

"If you'd like, I can do something about that dearie."

That snapped me out of my downward spiral of depression so fast I was surprised I didn't suffer from mental whiplash. All I could think was how. How could she do anything about that? Knowing I was giving her my undivided attention, the mystery lady spoke.

"Despite the fact that you cannot be brought back to life in your world, that doesn't mean you cannot view it. If you would like, I can show you the lives of your parents and that of your sister from the moment they receive news of your death till the end of their lives. All you need do is ask."

(Yes! Please yes! I- I have to- no, I NEED to know. I NEED to see it.)

"Very well then dearie."

And then I saw it.

I saw it all.

I saw my parents and Maria break down. I saw them cry their hearts out at the news. I saw all of my friends, my family and Maria's family mourn me at my funeral. If I wasn't so distraught, I might have come up with a joke about it. Too bad I was more focused on my family to think of gallows humor.

I saw my mom and dad speaking at my funeral, and when it was Maria's turn to say some words, I started to breakdown again.

I was trying so hard not too. But I was already back on the edge after my parents finished talking, but seeing and hearing Maria speak while trying not to cry despite how much her voice cracked re-broke the dam. I cried through it all. But then there was something that stopped my crying. It stopped everything for me.

6 hours after the funeral, Maria went into labor. I don't know if it was possible, but I felt like I was biting my nails, a habit I never really got over, despite my family trying to help me grow out of it.

I watched through it all, and when her two little bundles of joy came into the world I felt everything was brighter. The look on her face when the doctors let her hold them would always stay with me. The next thing she did however hit me harder than anything I've ever felt.

She named her little girls after me. She named the older one 'Valerie' after me and the youngest 'Risa,' a nickname she gave me after she mispronounced my last name one time, she'd lost one of her front teeth and was in the process of regrowing it, and gave both of them 'Rosa' for their middle names.

The mixture of joy and love I felt from that one moment overshadowed everything I felt after I died. I cried tears of joy, and I almost chocked on my sobs when Maria said I'd be the older one for once. That petty bitch only let me have it after I died.

I saw everything they went through from then on.

I saw them torture her at night when they woke up and started crying, which was damn near every night, the little hellions that they were.

I saw them crawling around the ground, and even when they took their first steps. Watching them waddle over to their mommy and daddy, who were both smiling megawatt smiled, was so wholesome. And even though I wasn't with them physically, I was together with them every step of the way.

I watched our parents pick each other back up after my funeral, and saw them live out their lives in peace. But every year, on the anniversary of my death, both my family, and Maria's, visited my grave together. Year after year, they went. The little ones didn't know me personally, and were curious about why they went, so my family and Maria's told them stories about me. It made me feel so happy, and also heartbroken to hear them talk about me in past tense. 'Valerie would always' or 'Valerie used too', hurt so much to hear. Thankfully, they all had enough pictures and videos of me to share with them, so they knew of me and who I was to Maria. They even came to visit 'me' of their own accord into their teenage and adult years.

But eventually, time kept marching on, and my parents got too old, their health slowly started to decline. Mom and Dad were going gray, wrinkles steadily growing on their once young faces, and their bodies just kept getting worse. Maria's parents were also getting older, but they were slightly healthier then my own, which was good for them, but made me just a bit sadder.

They all loved spending time with Maria's nieces/their grandchildren though, so they were never really alone as they reached their twilight years. And I could tell they enjoyed them all. Though finally, it was their time. 15 years after I died, that they followed.I saw them on their deathbeds, dad went first, and 3 months later, mom followed. I wasn't entirely surprised at that, she had lost a good portion of the light in her eyes when dad died, she had lost just as much when I did, and was noticeably more... Aloof? I think was the word.

She was paying less attention to the world around her, and only regained some kind of spark when Maria came by. It made me love my bestfriend even more as I saw her spend at least 1 hour a day with my mom, no matter what she was doing, and just talked to her. They talked about 'the good old days' when the two of us were brats doing brat things, just being menaces to society, or the wholesome stuff.

I was heartbroken when she joined Dad, but I knew, because I saw it all, that they were content. Mom died with a small smile on her face as her rocking chair slowly rocked her back and forth. They didn't have any diseases or anything, so it was just their time. I wasn't able to interact with them when their souls came through, but I saw they were together, and they'd be together wherever they went.

I started seeing the rest of Maria and her kids lives, she even had another one, a boy she named Marcus, and I saw them all live their lives and grow. Though I may have been a bit biased and loved the twins just a bit more. They were almost mirror reflections of me and Maria. Valerie was such a tomboy that I almost thought that I was looking at myself. Risa however, was just like her mother, smarter then she had any reason to be. But seeing how they interacted with each other, it was like the sibling relationship me and Maria always had. I'm pretty sure Maria noticed it too because the day she figured it out, I saw her cry. It was a mix between joy and heartache but I think that made her love for them grow stronger. Not to say she didn't love Marcus, 'cause she did, and she treated him perfectly, but those girls held a place in our hearts that was never going to lose out to anything.

Eventually the girls were in high school and things went from there. Maria eventually retired from her job, and with all the cash she had stocked up, bought a nice enough home for her and the kids if they ever wanted it. Her husband was great and it made me that much prouder to have been the one to match them together. I really was the best wing woman in my opinion.

But all good things had to end.

And soon, despite knowing it was coming, I saw Maria and Eddy grow older. The girls had their own fun, be it giving their parents gray hairs, their first boyfriends/girlfriends, Valerie was gay like me, which was another thing that made Maria cry in the solitude of her room. They eventually graduated, and had well paying jobs, budding relationships, and a bright future. Then Eddy died. His death wasn't violent but it wasn't exactly over quick.

Eddy had cancer, Lung Cancer, he put up a good fight, but eventually, he lost. He put up such a brave face for his kids, but Maria saw through it without a problem, and did her best to stay by him in his time of need. It was because of him putting on such a brave face that it hit their kids so hard, I think the twins had been hopeful, while Marcus truly thought his dad would be fine. So when the call came that he was running on fumes, the kids were devastated.

I saw them all gather around the hospital bed and watched as he spent his final moments with his family around him, talking about some of the embarrassing stuff the kids did when they were younger, how it was me that pushed him and Maria together, which I was sure they told the kids before but was saying it again so he could thank me, which he did a little bit afterwards. Eventually though, his heart finally gave in. Maria and the kids were grieving hard, and I couldn't do anything but cry along with them. I may not have known Eddy as well as I could've, but I knew him enough to trust him with Maria. He earned that and then some.

It took time, but Maria put herself together and got her family together to grieve all they needed and to start the process to move on.

Months passed and it took 4-6 months for them ALL to somewhat get over it, and they were as good as they could be. It wouldn't be till years later that Maria would follow. Her girls had families of their own starting and she was getting on in the years.

Eventually time caught up with her.

She was going on to her 90's, and her body was ready to give in. Valerie, Risa and Marcus had families and kids of their own, and they were all gathered around Maria as she laid there consoling all of them that they'd be ok. Even when she was dying she was being strong for them just like she had been for me.

I cried harder then I think I ever have, including after I died, as I saw my best friend, the girl I grew up with, the woman that was like a sister to me, die. And her last words broke me. Surrounded with family and the people she loved, she said "Valerie, I'm coming." It HURT, god did it hurt. 70 years, she kept me in her mind. Kept our friendship alive through her daughters. Did her best to keep the good times on her mind, while also visiting 'me' every year. So having her last words be to ME, hurt just as much as dying did.

And then something happened that I never expected. As her soul was moving on, I could feel her stop. And someway, somehow, she turned, and came towards me. I could feel it as she came closer to me and eventually ended up right in front of me. She felt like a beacon of warmth and love, one that seemed to just latch onto me, seemingly afraid that I wasn't real, or going to disappear if she wasn't holding onto me.

Which, to be fair, I died 70 years before her, so she was justified to feel/think that way.

"That's... Not supposed to happen. She should've moved on as usual. She shouldn't have been able to move let alone know you were there unless... Ah... A Demi-God. This, this seems to be fate then... It seems an exception will have to be made."

Even with the mysterious woman talking, I wasn't paying attention. My focus was solely on the golden light just inches away from me. On the soul of my best friend and sister. Nothing else was registering for me. Nothing but the fact that she was here. She was here, right in front of me. I couldn't hear her or even see her face, but I could feel her 'holding' onto me, and I knew. I just knew she was happy we were together again. Though, my thoughts were interrupted by what the mysterious lady said next.

"It seems the exception was allowed. We'll address that first then. Due to miss Maria here, finding you in transit and refusing to leave your side, she will be going with you to your next life."

Any thoughts I was having just ceased all at once. I processed those words faster then I did dying. Maria was coming with me. My best friend was coming with me. My SISTER was coming with me! I must've been radiating my joy because everything seemed to be lighting up. I think Maria understood or heard her too because even the golden sheen of her soul was glowing as bright as I felt.

"Well then. Let us begin the process to see you girls off. Originally dearie you were going to be given a set amount of wishes and the ability to choose a world to be reborn in, however due to little Maria here, your choice of world has been chosen for you, and your wishes reduced to 5 instead of the normal 8. Little Maria will be given 3 wishes, and before either of you wish it, you WILL be reborn as sisters. I am not allowed to say what world you'll be reborn in, only that it will have beings of immense power and magic, so choose your wishes wisely in order to survive."

The fact that we'd be sisters pretty much filled me and Maria, if I'm reading her radiating even more light correctly, with an unbelievable amount of joy. It took us a bit but eventually we calmed down enough to think of our wishes. I say we, but it was mostly me, since Maria calmed down way earlier then I did.

I couldn't hear Maria but that could wait for when we were reborn... Which was a crazy thought when it passed through my mind. But now it was time to think about what we were going to wish for. My immediate thoughts were about keeping us alive so I thought about what would help us in the short and long term. My first wish was forming in my mind and soon, it was complete.

"Interesting. Are you sure you'd like that as your first wish dearie?"

(Yes ma'am. I want this to be my first wish.) It really was a no brainer for me to be honest.

"Very well then. I believe this one can be applied here for the sake of speeding up this process as well as re-uniting you two a tad bit earlier."

{What's that supposed to mean?} I couldn't help but ask. I wasn't exactly expecting for whatever wishes we had to be fulfilled on the spot. But I think I'd have to thank whoever this woman was even more after we were born.

[Valerie?! Please tell me I didn't just imagine that!] A voice that I'd never mistake ever in my life sounded off in my head. And then I realized what that woman said meant. My first wish, to be able to talk to Maria no matter where either of us were. I didn't get to say goodbye, and that was something I REFUSED to allow in our next life.

{Maria... I-Im here, I can hear you. God I can really hear you.} I couldn't keep the hitch out of my thoughts, and Maria caught that immediately as somehow sent her feelings over the, whatever this was since that was way more then telepathy, and I could feel her joy and reassurance through it. We just sent our feelings over to each other and I might've been a step away from breaking down again just out of sheer happiness.

We talked for who knows how long, and even though I saw it all, she told me about her life. Her kids and how she noticed her girls acting just like we did. We had to just stop and take the time to take that in together, and then we were right back at it. She told me about my family and the reassurance that they passed peacefully made me happier then I already was. The two of us just talked until we were ready to make the rest of our wishes.

"Are you two ready to make the rest of your wishes? You still have time to talk if you want."

{I'm ready. I think I know what else I'll wish for so I'll wait for when Maria's done.} And I was in fact prepared for what I'd wish for. While we talked I also got a sense of what Maria wanted too. And I was prepared to back up whatever she was always the one to prepare and have anything you'd need. Though when she was too accommodating I'd step in and make sure no one messed with her or tried to take advantage of her. I never lost that brash and tomboyish side of me and I never would.

[Alright. For my first wish I'd like the ability to heal. Wounds, diseases, lost limbs, if it's an affliction that can be healed I wish to be able to heal it.] Maria went right for one I knew she'd go for. Seeing her husband dying to cancer put a fear in her that I could see and hear when she talked about her kids. The worry that they'd get sick had grown in her after Eddie's first diagnosis. His death just cemented that fear/desire in her.

"That can be done. However I should make this apparent now. Any abilities such as that, will need to be trained and take time to reach that potential. This is to ensure wishes such as 'I want to be the strongest in the world', don't happen immediately. It will take time and dedication, but you will be able to fulfill that potential."

That was a bit surprising but it made sense. {Can't exactly be born one moment and then suddenly heal everything wrong at the hospital because you used that ability on accident. Though, those requirements won't be an issue at all huh Maria?}

[You're damn right they won't. Nothings taking anyone from me EVER again.] That might've come out a bit strong but I couldn't fault her at all.

[For my next wish I'll ask for an affinity for all kinds of magic that exist in the world we'll be going too. You've said it yourself that magic will exist there, with an affinity for all migiks I'll be able to study and come up with countermeasures against whatever tries to harm us.]

"Interesting. Very interesting. If I didn't know better I would've assumed you were one of Hecate's. That wish has been granted. What is your last wish little Maria?"

I set aside that Demi-God comment from earlier since I wasn't paying attention, but now another one like that? We were pretty much forced to read Macbeth in high school, so I remember her being the goddess of magic and stuff, but I don't know if she belonged to a pantheon or if she was a standalone goddess... I'll probably ask Maria about it later since she knows a ton of obscure shit.

[For my last wish I would ask to be able to teleport to wherever Valerie is no matter where she is.] That caught me off guard. I expected for her to ask for something else. Something to help defend herself. But that? That sounded like something I'd wish for. Which it was, that would've been what I'd ask for next but Maria beat me too it.

{Maria are you sure? I would've asked for that if you didn't. You could ask for anything else. Something to help protect yourself or something like that. Are you sure that's what you want?} I had to really make sure she knew what she was asking for. I could easily take that one and let her wish for something else. I was about to say something else, but Maria sent over her feelings again and I felt her determination with her choice.

[Val... I need this. I know you told me you saw how we reacted, and I told you how much it HURT to hear you were gone. But you need to understand. I wasn't there. You died, and I WASN'T THERE! I WAS HOME JUST GOING THROUGH THE DAY AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DIED! YOUR PARENTS HAD TO TELL ME TO TURN ON THE NEWS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T OUTRIGHT SAY YOU WERE GONE! It's stupid and I shouldn't feel like this, everyone keeps telling me it's not my fault or I couldn't have known, but when I heard you died, I felt so unbelievably guilty! We were together since we were kids, you would protect me whenever I needed you, you were family, my SISTER! You helped me meet my husband! The love of my life and the father of my children, and the worst moment in your life happens and I didn't know, and I wasn't there! You DIED before I could ever really make it up to you! That's never happening EVER again! I am going to be there for you like you always were for me, and I'm never going to let something like that happen to you again. This time you're going to be there for everything you missed! You will be there if I ever have children again, you will be there to see their first steps in person, you will be there for their first days of school and you will be there for their weddings! Are we clear Valerie!?] If I didn't already know I wasn't going to be able to change her mind, that emotionally charged response locked in the fact that she was truly serious.

{Yes ma'am!} Being a mother made her way more authoritative then before, but I wasn't about to try to dissuade her about that either. It just made me think more. She was worried and guilty over the same things I was. I could hear it and feel it from her. That guilt felt like an ocean buried under everything else she felt. I think she needed this just as much as I did. But to really hear how much she wanted me to be there filled my heart with a feeling I've always had. The feeling to protect my family and make that a reality grew and secured itself into my very soul.

I didn't have eyes so I couldn't notice it, but the mysterious woman was watching us and a smile grew on her face.

"Now dearie, it's your turn. What are your other wishes."

I turned towards the mysterious woman and had to think. With Maria using one of her wishes for something I was going to ask, I had to think of something else. I'd save that for last since I already knew what my first 3 wishes would be. {Since we're going to a world with "Beings of immense power" I want to be a dragon. I'll need to be able to change whenever I want but yeah. I'm settling on that as my 2nd wish.} After I said that, it was quiet for a bit, with even the mysterious lady being a little silent.

"Interesting. Can I know why for that other then your stated reason?"

{I mean, it's simple really. What says 'Don't fuck with me and mine' harder then a dragon? People know you don't go to a dragon's territory or go after it's hoard if you want to live. And after that crash, I want to be able to fly to get the fuck out of something like that. Besides a world like that? If there aren't any dragons there are at least going be legends of dragons just like back on earth.} And it really was that simple. It's not like I also had the side motive of wanting to be a dragon. Who would guess that..? Maria it looks like since I'm FEELING her suspicion over our telepathy? Bond? Thing. But the mysterious woman is just quiet for a bit more.

"It is done. There had to be a bit of corrections since being born a dragon would indicate little Maria would be one as well, but as that wasn't stated in your wish it had to be corrected. And no you cannot wish for her to be a dragon as well either."

{Oh... Well shit.} I think Maria is sending over her exasperation over our... Link? Yeah lets go with that. I probably should've thought of that.. Actually. {Um, how long do dragons usually live in that world? Or is that something you can't tell me?}

"Hmm, usually they will live until something kills them. Why wo-... Ahh. I see. Clever. You may wish for it."

{Val? What are you doing?} There's no real accusation or feeling of what I'm doing is wrong being sent over, actually, I think I feel a bit of anticipation? Well, aside from the goddess in front of us, the only one that could really read my mind was her, so I wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out.

{I'm being a genius! For my 3rd wish, I want for Maria to share my lifespan.} That got her, and I could feel the gears turning in her head. Then a burst of happiness came over, and I could tell she'd be hugging me if she could.

"A clever loophole dearie. And another wish granted. You have 2 wishes left dearie what'll it be?"

2 left huh. That lifespan wish was for the wish I didn't know what to do with, so my last wishes are already set. {I wish for us to get the basic information of any supernatural species or factions in this new world. We'll need to know what we're gonna be up against and this'll double down on Maria's wish on what kind of magic is going to be in this world.} I can feel Maria's appreciation after I let my wish known, most likely because now she'll be able to focus on what's actually in the world instead of stuff that isn't real like Harry Potter magic.

"A wise choice. Information is power, but why not a more in-depth version of that information dearie? It would've been granted?"

That was a good question. You could never have too much knowledge. Except for when it's dangerous. {Too much knowledge could be dangerous. If we knew every black cat could actually give us bad luck, then we'd avoid them like the plague. But if we did that, someone could notice. If we know too much it'll be easier to stand out. If we know just enough we can still be casual about stuff and lay low until we're ready.}

[That makes sense. And I could always use what we do know and go from there when I research anything we don't know. Nice one Val.] I couldn't help but feel smug at the praise. Sure, Maria was the smarter one of us, but I knew how to prioritize. I kinda had to when my best friend can plan 10 steps ahead, except for when it's the very next step.

"Excellent reasoning dearie. Now, for your final wish before you two are off to a new life."

{Easy. Dragon-slayer magic!} And any emotions of pride I could feel from Maria take a backseat to her exasperation.

[Valerie Rosa... Did you just ask a goddess for something you saw in anime?]

{Yes. Yes I did.} No shame at all. I loved Fairy Tail, no matter what anyone said about it.

[Why?! You could've asked for anything else!]

{Think about it! Dragon force boosting my already dragon self? That shit sounds like a match made in heaven!} For a few moments there's nothing. I'm pretty sure she's thinking about what I just said and I can feel the gears turning again.

Back when we were kids I got her into anime only because another friend of ours infected me with it. I was a young tomboy who liked people beating the shit out of each other. And then someone introduces me to Fairy Tail, which has a bombshell of a redhead who beats the shit out of everyone? Yes please! And I knew, despite Maria's protests at the time, that she got hooked too. Just not to the same shows I did. Even though we both watched Fairy Tail, she was more of a Levy girl compared to my obvious fangirling over Erza. Detective Conan was her shit.

[You know what... Fine. But Val so help me gods if you try to cosplay as Er-]

{That was one time! You'll never let me live it down will you!?}

[Of course not, why would I?] I couldn't help but mentally grumble at her. It was my most embarrassing moment in all my life. And it will never be recounted again! It seems the mysterious woman was enjoying our banter since I could hear her chuckling in the background.

"Well then. that last one can be arranged. Tell me dearie which type do you want? There are quite a few options."

Now that was a good question. If Maria didn't pick up healing, I would've. But since she did that's out of the equation. Fire like Natsu seems like an obvious choice sure, but that's too generic. Sure he's the MC and all the but there's cooler shit. Like Gajeel, but I don't want that. Sure defense and eating iron seems nice and all but if I'm going to be a dragon AND a Dragon-Slayer, kind of ironic now that I'm thinking about it, then I'm going to go for the most badass one I can think of. It's also a kind of fuck you as well. {Lightning.} The mysterious woman is silent for a bit before she lets out a few chuckles. I can also feel Maria's enjoyment at my choice.

"Very well then dearie. Now the last thing to be addressed. Do you two want to look the same when you grow up or do you wish to look different?"

As soon as the woman finishes speaking I blast my answer. {ERZA! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!}

[Oh dear.] I heard her, but I was too busy thinking of the implications of looking like Erza. As a woman, I had a healthy amount of respect for my body. I was fit, I took care of myself and all that... But I was SMALL. Sure, I had a nice ass and thighs, but Maria had a bigger chest then me, and I had to accept my B-cups would stay how they were.

BUT NOT ANYMORE! {GIMME GIMME GIMME!} I could FEEL Maria's embarrassment at me acting like a child on Christmas morning, but now she couldn't lord my cosplay failure over me since I'd BE Erza! I'd be a couple of inches shorter but I didn't care!

[Aside from Valerie here... If she wishes to look like Erza then I will have to keep her straight. I would like to look like Irene.] And all my hope and joy crashed faster then that plane.

{Maria... Please. Just give me this one thing. I NEEEED it.}

[Ah ah ah, if you're going to act like a child I'll have to treat you like one. And what better way to do that then by being 'your' mother.]

What have I done? I can't even see her and I swear I see the vindictive smirk on her face! I can never win with this woman. She's turned my love for Erza into a weapon against me! I can't even try to change either because the mysterious woman has sealed my fate.

"How vindictive. Athena would've loved you. Now then, with those fulfilled, your journey into your new world awaits. Just be sure to stay safe dearies, it'll be a dangerous one."

I swear I heard her laughing after she finished saying that. My best friend decides to look like the mother of my favorite anime character, the character that I'm going to look like in this new life? Must be real fucking funny! I'd probably find it hilarious at a later date but right now I'm not laughing! {I'll get the both of you back for this! I don't know how I'll do it to you mysterious lady, but just know I will!}

"I'll look forward to it dearie. When you come looking be sure to ask for Hera. I'll be sure to accommodate for the both of you."

And as we're falling, it clicks into place. Zeus! That fucker uses lightning, and his wife is named Hera! I just swore pranking vengeance against the queen of Olympus!

And Maria's related to Athena? Son of a bitch it all fits! No wonder I could never win against her. [So that's what she meant. Huh, we'll figure it out later. come on Valerie our next great adventure is right ahead!]

{THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO QUOTE HARRY POTTER YOU FUCKING NERD!}

And that's how my new life with my sister started.