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Tenth Wish:
A Plan

It was plain darkness.

She stood there alone, the only light in the middle of nothingness. Yet everything remained dark. Her world, her home.

"What is my purpose?"

This nagging thought would occasionally come to her mind as she continued to exist witnessing only darkness. Sometimes she would find lost souls and guide them back to the world of light, their home. She would watch them, unable to join as the people immense back at their homes and bath in starlight.

She couldn't leave. She has no place there. This was her home.

"King . . . What is the purpose of my existence?"

All the celestials have each of their own roles to fulfill. Yet she only remained in darkness, ignorant of the world.

"Your purpose is to exist . . . You shall lead the lost ones back to the light"

She knew. She had expected that answer. She was the vessel of light, the torch against the darkness that was a part of her.

She wasn't really alone. There were a lot of creatures of darkness. Though usually, they were all immense in darkness that no one truly sees her. She also couldn't come to them directly, for pure light would make them vanish. At times she would find people but they would leave as she had to guide them back to their place.

Sometimes, she wondered if she was cursed.

She wasn't really lonely. But she couldn't say she was happy either. She was just really alone. She was living her life becoming the beacon and doing nothing.

"Boring, isn't it? Don't you feel tired living in such a dark place?"

She knew that voice. That goddess would occasionally waltz into her place and would talk to her. Gods would visit her sometimes for personal reasons, blessings and guidance. This particular goddess however, would come to her even if she doesn't have a particular business.

"Esha, why are you here?"

The said goddess pouted at her, putting her hands on her side in protest. She wears a long silver dress that flows smoothly to the ground, the color which, gave good contrast to her long wavy hair that was as black as midnight

She raised an eyebrow as her golden eyes scrutinized her. "Do you have to ask? I'm here to visit you!"

Lucy tilted her head to the side. "Why? It's not like there's anything particular to do here. You're not born of darkness."

Esha scoffed at her. "Oh please. What's wrong with the goddess of desire doing whatever she wanted? And it's not like I'm not welcome here. There are lots of people who have dark wishes."

Lucy stared at her with curious eyes. "You're going to tell me another story?"

She shook her head. "No. Today, I'm bringing you out of here."

She reached out her hand. Lucy was hesitant.

She smiled at her. "Come on! Don't you wish to get out of here? I'll talk to the king!"

And with that, she was reassured. She took her hand.

"Esha . . ."

Lucy opened her eyes.

"Woah!"

Before she could recognize her surroundings, she was pushed back to the cold wooden ground. "Aw! What the . . ."

"Don't 'what the –'me! Why are you on my bed!?" Natsu yelled at her, his face was red. He was panting as he leaned to the wall as if he wanted to stay as far away from her as possible.

"Bed . . ? Ah . . ." Lucy rubbed her sleepy eyes awake, unaware of the discomfort of her contractor.

Natsu was blushing hard.

He had taken the futon a few feet away from the futon Happy and Lucy shared. However, when he had woken up, he saw that the beds had been brought right next to each other. He had no doubt it was Happy's doing.

Still, he hadn't moved when he saw her sleeping soundly beside him.

The reason was that her hands were clinging to his sleeve and she was soundly sleeping. Natsu wouldn't admit that he was staring at her peaceful face. Her long eyelashes, her pink cheeks, her nose, then her . . .

He remembered the scene last night when he made a contract with her. The "kiss" which was actually just forehead-touching was not really what he had imagined. He touched his lips. He was sure he saw their lips touched and felt her warmth in his mouth. Was that really just his imagination?

If so, why would he see such a thing?

He felt his cheeks burned at the numerous possibilities. But he pushed those thoughts aside. After all, they were just friends. He must just have a hyperactive imagination. Besides, he was in his teens. It's normal to imagine a girl kissing you if she had moved so close.

That was just an instinctive reaction of his hormones, nothing more.

There was only Lisanna in his life. The only one who filled his heart was the girl who saved his life when he was drowning. The light in his darkness.

He was lost in thought when Lucy stirred and woke up.

"Woah!"

He instinctively pushed her away and crawl back fast till he hit the wall.

"Aw! What the . . ." she yelped in surprise.

"Don't 'what the –'me! Why are you on my bed!?" he yelped at her, though technically, she was on her bed.

"Bed . . ? Ah . . ." Lucy rubbed her eyes, still sleepy and unaware of her surroundings. She turned to Natsu and smiled. "Good morning, Natsu. I had a nice dream".

Quite calm compared to the panicking boy, Natsu regained his composure after thinking that he was looking like an idiot for over-reacting. After all, there was nothing to worry about.

NOT!

He still remembered the "kiss" scene and couldn't get over it every single time she went too close to him. And he knew that his reactions had caused Happy to have some "funny thoughts" and started pulling pranks at him.

He had to get over it.

He sighed. "Forget it. It's not like . . ." his voice trailed off as he saw that his girl partner was in deep thought.

"Uhh. . . Lucy?"

She flinched then looked at him. "Ah! Oh. . . w-what is it?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Ah. . . I just remembered an old friend of mine" she told him with a smile. Yet something seemed to be off. She looked a bit sad about it.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Right. So . . . about the contract, I figured we should form a plan on what we are going to do" he told her.

She perked up at that. "Yes! A plan! I'm one step closer to finding that person!"

"While I had not taken any step yet," he interjected.

She froze then looked at him. "What do you mean?" she tilted her head to the side.

He sighed for the second time of the day. "Look here . . . I helped you with turning away the creepy guy and making sure you stay here. Meanwhile, you had not done anything for me yet. Actually, I'm not sure you are sure what you're doing" he told her.

He knew it was just the first day but he began to worry. She obviously had no idea of romance if she doesn't even know what a kiss was.

She waved away the thought. "Oh, it's fine. It's just a matter of raising your standings so that you can stand as equals with the princess. I could help you with that" she told him.

He brightened up. "Oh! So you can make me into something like a prince?"

"Uhh . . . no. Isn't a 'prince' a royal blood? I can't possibly change your lineage" she explained.

"What!? . . . Then . . . what are you going to do?" Natsu deflated. Well, she was right about that.

She grinned, her eyes glinting.

"I'm going to make you into a hero!"

She yelled dramatically. Natsu blinked.

"Pfft. Hahahaha! Natsu? A hero? Hahahahahaha!" Happy laughed, rolling on the ground. He just came in to call them for lunch when he heard that.

Natsu glared at his partner. Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Why not? In stories that I read, heroes always gets the princess" she told him, holding up the book of fairy tales.

"Yeah, and Natsu isn't really anything near a hero" Happy told her. Why does he have to be so blunt!?

Lucy pointed at herself confidently, "And that's why I'm here!"

"Hey! Why are both of you talking as if I'm a hopeless case!?"

"Well, you're not entirely hopeless" she corrected him, though not denying the fact.

"Oi! I just saved you yesterday!"

She just giggled with Happy. Tick marks appeared on Natsu. "Oi. . ."

"Yeah, sorry," she grinned mischievously then shrugged. Then, as a thought came to her mind, she waved at them. "Oh well, I have something to do. See ya!"

"Oi! Wait . . ."

She flew to the door, some ability she started utilizing after the contract was made. Natsu wasn't still used to it.

"Kyaa!"

Then she screamed and fell to the ground, as if hitting some sort of barrier and pulled back.

"W-What was that!?" Lucy rubbed her head then she looked below her. A golden chain of light was at her torso, connecting to Natsu. It then faded away.

"Oh right, I'm chained to you. I can't go too far away" she realized. Natsu crossed his arms, choosing to ignore what just happened. "So . . . where are you going this time?"

"Geez! I'm only going to investigate! I just want to talk with Hydrea!"

Happy tilted his head to the side. "Hydrea? Why?"

She crossed her arms. She doesn't really plan on bringing them alone since Hydrea wasn't really particularly fond of humans. Plus, they might bring trouble at the lake which won't be good. But she got no choice if she was tied to them.

She sighed. "That's because . . ."

.

Loki landed near the edge of the lake.

"Loki-sama!" Hydrea waved at him in welcome. Her seaweed hair flowing through her shoulders as black fish eyes stared at him. Half of her body was submerged in the water, showing only the white pale skin of her torso. Her chest was covered with starfishes.

He had not even taken notice of her as he stared at the ground dejectedly. She stared at the poor form of the celestial, resting her head on her arms.

"I guess your quest is a failure then. Are you gonna leave then? You haven't taken Lucy back right? Does that mean you are going to leave? That's a bummer. Your last visit here had been years ago. We won't materialize if there is no presence of a god, you know?" she told him.

He wasn't really listening though. He fell to the ground in defeat, swallowed in misery. "I . . . the contract . . . kiss . . ."

Hydrea stared at him in surprise. 'To think that this fickle god would turn like this for a girl . . . She must be a really special heavenly spirit' she thought. Wait . . .

"Contract!? With who, the human she's with? You mean she made a contract with that thief!?" she called out in worry. She had been friends with Lucy, after all.

Loki's ears twitched at that. He turned at her, a huge frown on his face. Thief . . ? No . . .

He looked at her, anxiety and foreboding brooding at his stomach. "Wait, you mean that person is a 'thief'?"

He remembered a piece of the prophecy. 'No, that couldn't be right. She hadn't received the prophecy yet, so it shouldn't have started, right?'

Still, the foreboding feeling in his gut persisted.

'It just couldn't be . . .'

.

The girl was still coughing, but she was a lot better. Romeo couldn't help but smile in relief.

"I'm telling you! I was sleeping here when I saw the vision of a fairy! A fairy did it! Look here! My boils are gone!" the old woman kept repeating over and over.

Everyone was agonizing in pain and sickness last night that even Romeo have to stay over, exhausting his self till he fell asleep as he helped out this poor people. That was why it was a great surprise when he woke up that morning fully vitalized even though he was so tired and sleep deprived.

It was a greater surprise however, to find everyone to have healed and recovered to some certain degree. Those who were heaving in pain for the last few days had now looked like they weren't sick at all. Actually, they were the ones who were the nosiest, telling stories of visions and light. Everyone was laughing merrily.

"I'm glad you're fine now. Just don't strain yourself too much" he told the brown haired girl. She nodded and smiled. "Uhn. Thanks, Romeo."

He grinned at her.

Big bro was right. Miracles could happen. The villagers may talk of seeing a fairy but Romeo was so sure it was because of the fish of Noden. Different tales were told on how those villagers suddenly had a recovery in just one night, but no one knows for sure what exactly happened.

It was really Lucy who had caused all of this.

When Loki had cornered her, she had thought that there was a chance she wouldn't be able to come back and heal everyone so she tried to take the risk and conjured Holy Light, a spell that summons brilliant light and bless the people she intended as target. It would revitalize them to a certain degree; at least, enhance their bodies over all attributes, strength, immunity, recovery, and a lot more.

It was two birds with one stone since she used this to blind Loki for a second and bound him up while she escaped.

There was a huge drawback for her though. This magic had been the main reason why her unstable energy immediately drained.

.

"So, this plan of yours is about saving everyone from the disease spreading?"

"Hmmm. That's the first step. We are going to raise your reputation" Lucy told him as she floated beside him.

"Huh. So you have an idea on what you're doing" Natsu commented, impressed at the fact. She just seemed to be running around doing whatever that comes to her mind. He was suddenly worried now at how he had no idea on how to search for the "unknown" guy.

She pouted at him. "Hey! What's with that tone? I do have plans! What about you? Do you have plans?" she retorted at him.

Natsu flinched, thinking up something along the go. "Uhh . . . uhhh. I was thinking that we're going to have to know more about that person. So it had to start with you. How would you know it's him? I need to have some clues, at least."

She shrugged. "Even I don't know much" she told him.

"You know that's not really helping" Happy chirped in above his head.

"Let me finish! I do seem to regain my memories back if I do something familiar or similar to that I've done before. For example, I just remembered that child had once shielded me when I felt in danger. Pretty similar on how you protected me from Loki" she explained.

"Then we'll go and get your memories back first then just search with the clues you remembered" he concluded quickly.

"Okay" she smiled.

They had been walking on the forest for a few hours already. Natsu couldn't help but feel that they were just running in circles. He was already tired too.

"Hey, Lucy. Where are we going exactly? Let's go back. The lake won't be anywhere near here. This place is not really familiar to me anymore" he told her.

"I'm not only looking for the lake. I'm also searching for a place to establish your new home" she explained to him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Home? In the forest?"

"Uh-huh. You are originally living in the forest right? Besides, I need some place secluded, a place no one had ever stepped through or visited for years. That way, they won't question your standings. You could say it's a payback for your destroyed house."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

She was being vague today. He still had his eyebrow raised, but then he decided to take in her explanation and let her do what she wanted. "There's the Cursed Land" he suggested.

"Nope, the name of the location gives off very negative aura. I've seen it maps, I'm thinking some place not there but also somewhere near."

"Ummm, before that. Why do we have to go at the lake again?" Happy interjected.

"I believe she has the answer to the disease that was spreading in this area" she told him.

"Huh? Why is that?"

She looked ahead with a determined expression.

"It's because the disease might not be a disease at all . . . but a poison".

. . . * . . .

End of chapter.

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