Poll for deciding Lite's candidates are up. More info at the Authors Note at the end.

Chapter SEVENTEEN

Lucy collapsed onto her knees. Beside her, Jellal sunk down onto the floor as well.

"Did that actually happen, or was I just hallucinating?" Jellal asked.

Lucy took a deep breath and gazed at Darque's key. "It was real." She said. "That was Lite."

A sudden thought hit her. "Wait." She said. "So, the monster was not a monster?" Jellal looked at her.

"Because Darque said that Lite teleported some sort of failed take-over mage to lure her out." Lucy said. "So, the monster was not a monster, but a boy who was forced to take-over a monster he had no way of controlling in an attempt to protect his life."

Jellal frowned. "Yeah..."

Lucy bit her lip. "We killed an innocent child." She placed her hands over her eyes. "We..."

Jellal reached out and touched her shoulder reassuringly. "I know, but more the reason to avenge him by beating Lite."

His mouth formed a straight line and he turned to Lucy. "We can't tell the village about this." He said. "To them, the mon-" He stopped. "To them, the boy was a monster that had killed countless of their villagers."

Lucy nodded in agreement. "The boy, Lite, creeps me out." She said, then shot Jellal a glance. "We'll talk later." She jerked her head towards the key. Jellal nodded, getting her message. They had to discuss this somewhere out of Darque's earshot.

Jellal glanced at towards the sky. The sun was starting to rise, and though he couldn't see it yet due to the mountains, he knew it was already morning. "He knows who we are." He said. "We have two to three weeks until full moon and Lite is free to attack us."

Lucy gripped Darque's key harder. "We're going to have to go back and prepare." She took a deep breath and a look of fierce determination rushed over her face. "I'm going to train and protect those I hold dear." She smiled. "That includes you, Darque."

Lucy stepped out of the bathroom and Jellal stepped in. She heard the shower start to run and sighed. She started to pack her bags, and get ready for the night. Darque hadn't said anything to any of the, ever since they had met Lite and Lucy reminded herself that she needed to talk to Jellal.

When the two mages returned to town center, they were surprised to find out that the villagers were waiting for them anxiously. When Jellal told them the news of the monster, they broke into cheers. The mages received their rewards and had tried to retreat to their inn to rest.

Lucy didn't know when or how, by somehow, they had been convinced into staying until the next day, so that they could enjoy the town. The two mages had tried to decline, but after the whole town had swarmed them, they had finally given in.

Lucy couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed herself like that. Now, she and Jellal were packing their bags, ready to leave on the first train the next day. Lucy grasped Darque's key and murmured. "Jellal and I are going out to sort somethings out, okay?"

'Sure.'

Lucy nodded to herself and placed Darque's key onto the bedside table, then turned to Jellal. "Lets go." She said. Jellal nodded, then followed her out of the inn.

Lucy leaned over the edge of the small bridge that was built over a small river that ran through the town and stretched.

Jellal stood net to her. "So, what now?" He asked.

Lucy paused. "I'm still going to help Darque." She said. "She's my spirit, and my friend. I promised her my help and a Celestial mage never breaks her promise."

Jellal smiled and glanced at her knowingly. "I've heard."

The raising sun was still hidden behind the mountains, but there was enough light for Lucy to be able to see Jellal's face. Lucy met his smile with her own.

"Darque told me that the wish cycle can go on for a very long time." Jellal said. "She only ever got her first candidate two cycles ago. She hadn't actually told them about the cycle, and just drove them into thinking that Lite was an evil mage that wanted her key. She told me that the whole thing went on for over seven years before Darque decided that she didn't want to kill her candidates, who had shown her nothing but kindness, for something like this." He said.

"So she told us the truth this time, and gave us a chance to draw out if we wanted to." Jellal concluded.

Lucy nodded. "Lite hasn't found his candidates yet. Both he and Darque said that they can only attack the other when they both have found candidates, or after the full moon. I think that means that after the full moon, they can attack whether or not they have found candidates. That most likely means that Lite will find his candidates before the full moon, because if he doesn't, it will give him a disadvantage."

Jellal nodded. "We're going to have to tell Cobra and Midnight about this. Rogue and Sting as well, if they decide to help us." He said. "We'll have to tell master and leave Fairy tail. We'll leave the guild side of things to Darque, as she said to leave it to her."

Lucy made a sound of agreement. "I don't think we should recruit too many people, as it will bring more attention if many powerful mages quit their guilds all at once."

Jellal paused. "I have an feeling that Darque will want to keep this as unknown as possible, because from looking at her personality, she's the type that doesn't want to hurt people without a proper reason."

"We'll talk to master about this as soon as we get back, then discuss this with the others after we get Rogue's response." Lucy added.

When Jellal nodded in agreement, the two mages made their way back to the inn. Lucy fixed Darque's key to her key pouch then picked up her bags and followed Jellal as he made his way towards the train station. The villagers were waiting for them at the station, where the two mages received more words or gratitude.

Lucy leaned out of the train window and waved until the town was no longer visible, then turned and made herself comfortable on the train seat.

Hi guys, sorry about the mistakes and errors, as this chapter was sort of rushed.

We put a poll up in order to decide Lite's candidates.

The options for now are:

OC

Angel (Escaped somehow. If chosen, will be explained)

Natsu (Some one suggested him, and we're actually considering it)

Yukino

Please give us more ideas. We'll add it onto the list. Votes through PMs and Reviews are also accepted.

Thanks.