Hello everyone!

Here comes the eighteenth chapter! Thanks for those who are following&waiting and your wonderful reviews and favorites! I'm quite glad to see it's popularity on the readers.

Special mention (For those who I can't PM):

TigerArrowgirl Thank you! That will be great since I can reply to you personally on PMs.

Enjoy this chapter everyone!

Eighteenth Wish:
Don't Mess With Me!

"This. . ."

Wendy stared in shock and wonder at the herbs that they had brought her. Natsu scratched his nose, still unsure about the medicine. "So, what do you think?"

"This is amazing! How did you get hands of such ingredients?" she exclaimed at him.

"Oh, I just found it on the way and thought you could use it. . ." he said.

She looked up at him, excited. "Of course! With this much, I can make enough medicine for everyone!"

He smiled. "That's good to hear. . . I look forward to the results" he told her as he left for the door to look for Happy.

Romeo looked from Natsu to Wendy. "Is it true? You can heal everyone?" he asked hopefully.

She stared at him sideways, a bead of sweat on her temple. "Uh, yeah. . ." she was still uncomfortable with the boy who blatantly ignored her words at the port. Wait, he's the friend of Natsu-san. . . maybe he's fine?

Not to mention, he seemed very worried about the villagers too.

". . ."

There was an awkward silence between the two.

"U-uh, well I guess Natsu bro is really great . . . to find a medicine for the cure. . ." Romeo suddenly praised him when he couldn't think of a topic to talk about.

"Y-Yeah, but I'm surprised that he is giving such rare items away for free. . ." she answered back politely. Wendy wasn't the type to act cold on people, even when she doesn't like them.

But Romeo didn't miss that. He tilted his head to the side, surprised. "Rare? Those seaweeds are rare?"

She nodded. "Yeah, don't you know? These are called Aquarius's Kelp. It's really rare as these kinds of materials only forms in places at the depths of the water with high spiritual pressure. . . This has been named after the Goddess because it has the ability to cure almost any poisons and many diseases, just like the Holy Water her jar bear."

Honestly, she was quite surprised that he was giving away so much for free. "Mister is really rich, after all. . ." she said, sweat running on her temple. "A piece of this already cost a hundred thousand jewels. . ."

"WHAT!? A hundred thousand!?" he was very surprised to hear they carried so many precious herbs. He didn't even know. When they were about to leave the lake, Natsu suddenly doubled back, saying that he had forgotten something. When he returned, he was already carrying those purple seaweeds. Romeo had no idea that they were such precious items. . .

"That's very . . . generous of him. . ." Romeo said. It didn't occur to him that Natsu could be such a benevolent person. For some reason, he struck him more as a 'selfish' type of individual. He got the feeling that if he knew of this, he would horde at least half of it for himself.

I've thought you wrong, bro. . . He thought, not knowing that he was actually correct.

"With this much, we can save the whole village . . . and many others too" Wendy followed up with admiration, tears in her eyes.

What they don't know was that if Natsu heard of this, he would literally faint in regret. He just threw the gold out of his hands. Fortunately, this information didn't reach his ears or else he would be forever tortured at the fact that he just missed his chance to be a rich millionaire!

"Happy! Where are you?"

Outside, the oblivious hero was calling out to his friend.

"Geez, where did he go?" he mumbled in irritation.

Though they went on a little side-way trip because of the medicine, they were still looking for the genie. He was planning to go as soon as this was done. He was surely hoping that the creep didn't do anything bad to her. He just couldn't trust that guy and really hated his guts!

"That's strange," Natsu scratched the back of his head. Usually, when he called, Happy would be right there. I wonder what's wrong . . .

Little did he know, his friend was very busy doing something else. . .

The blue cat sneezed.

"Ugh. Gross! Put that away from me!" Carla looked away in disgust. The tomcat was just offering her some fish and sneezed on it.

"C-Come on, m-maybe we can go walk at the lake and g-go some fishing?" Happy was persistent.

Yes, the hero was ignorant that his partner was currently very love-struck and oblivious to the world. He was, at that moment, fighting an uphill battle against Wendy's other cat partner.

But he doesn't have the time to wonder about that. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, a familiar presence approached and alerted his senses. His not exactly the person he was looking for, but close enough.

He glared at his direction. "You. . ."

The creep smiled. His mane-like orange-hair glowed like copper underneath the sun. "Waiting for me?"

"You think!? Where is she!?" he yelled angrily at him.

Loki just shrugged nonchalantly. "Why should I tell you? You lost the deal. . ."

"Don't mess with me! You just tricked me and that's not our deal!" he yelled, annoyed. Although it was true that it was his fault for falling for it. But still, he made use of his "princess" which made him hate him even further. That was just cheap and dirty.

The creep just smiled tauntingly. "Oh? Which is not our deal?" he asked

"You said you'll only talk to her for awhile!" he pointed out at him.

At that, Loki smirked and laughed. "You fool. Don't you know that 'time' doesn't matter for us immortals? An hour, a day, a year . . . You could spent your whole lifetime waiting, but even a hundred years is just a blink of an eye for us. . ."

Natsu glared at him. He knew he couldn't trust him, but he returned the smirk. "Heh. For someone who thinks that a hundred years is a mere moment, you sure act impatient for a girl who was only gone for a few days. . ."

Loki smiled. Pushing his sunglasses up, his eyes were hidden by the white glints of his glasses and the shadows of his bangs. "Well, it seems your luck's getting up to your head. . ."

A chill went down Natsu's spine. The air surrounding him turned cold and dark. I . . . can't move!

Loki looked down at him with dark cold merciless eyes. "I need to teach you a lesson or two. . ."

Dang it! For some reason, he couldn't move. It felt like he was being pushed down by the heavy weight of the sky, the air seemed to turn dense like he was submerged in the deep abyss of the sea of darkness. He couldn't breathe, his knees were giving in.

This was his magic? No, he knew that wasn't it. He wasn't doing anything but stand there. He simply stopped concealing his power. This paralyzing pressure was just from the immense power and density of his spiritual aura.

The difference in their strength was that of heaven and earth. There was no need for words. This was obvious. For this celestial, he was simply an ant he could stomp anytime if he wanted. He could be killed any moment now by him.

Putting his hands in his pockets, Loki walked slowly to him. With each step he got closer to him, danger crept ominously closer and closer to the mere mortal man.

Natsu's own body betrayed him, breaking into cold sweat. He was going to fall on his knees, sprawled to the ground at the mercy of the man who took away his. . .

No!

Gritting his teeth, he refused to fall. I won't let you. . . I won't let you take her away!

Now, his enemy was only a foot away, standing in front of him like a wall as tall as a mountain. Still shaking, he put his foot forward.

Loki stopped and stared at the man. "Ho. . . What's with those eyes?"

He was sweating, he was trembling. And honestly, it was taking all his strength to keep his self from falling. Yet, he doesn't falter. Panting, he stood resolutely in front of him in absolute defiance. His eyes were burning with determination.

"Don't . . . mess with me! I won't let you take her . . . never!"

That shocked him. How come you haven't fallen yet? Even a veteran warrior would have succumbed to his knees in fear and despair when he released his aura. This man . . . is he really resisting because of her?

The man was a mere mortal . . . yet he was persistently standing against a celestial like him.

"Touch him . . . hurt him . . . and I will make sure that you'll regret it."

He gritted his teeth in frustration. Don't mess with me! Why!?

Why him!?

He was the one who was supposed to be by her side. He was the one who she relies on. He was the one who guided her. He was the one who was protecting her! He was the one who showed her the world.

. . . So why?

. . . Why is it that it was him who she was concerned about? Why was it him who could evoke such anger from her? Someone so innocent and naive, she couldn't harm a fly or get angry even when she was hurt by someone.

He clenched his fist. If it wasn't for Lucy and the golden contract, he would have gotten rid of him. If he knew it would have come to this, he wouldn't have been hesitant.

It was all because of that boy. . .

If he had known, he wouldn't have let her go.

But seeing this man struggle . . . to fight even when he was near crawling to the ground . . . to still wield the determination in his eyes to break through any kind of obstacle, no matter how big. . .

. . . He was reminded of his past self.

He sighed. Even a god would waver at this kind of willpower.

As he cooled his head, he let go of him. He concealed his Celestial's aura again. At the sudden change, Natsu fell to the ground. "What the . . ."

Loki only pushed his glasses up and turned his back from him. "For now, I'll acknowledge your determination. . ."

Natsu looked up at him with confused eyes. "Are you serious?"

He smirked. "Well, truth be told, I've very much like to kill you right now. But I doubt Lucy will be happy to see her first contractor as a cold corpse. . . Still, I'll try to give a cent on this will of yours. . ."

The man still looked at him doubtfully. "Why do you even kept on bothering us? From what I know, you just want to keep her for yourself!"

That was because he doesn't know the whole situation. "I won't deny that. . ." he told him. "But you really shouldn't push your luck with me. Do you want to see her or not?"

That shut him up. He looked at him with grudging acceptance.

Well, at least he began to listen. . . Loki smiled at that. "Before that though, let me warn you. . . It is true that it is a mere moment for someone like us, but . . ."

He looked down at him with dark cold eyes. "For Lucy, it is different. She is too pure and naïve. For her, this is a chance of a lifetime. She will cherish a mere moment like this as if it will last for eternity. That is why she will come across as naïve and very vulnerable to cunning humans like you. . ."

Natsu frowned. "Like hell I want to hear that from you. . ." It was like a pot calling a kettle black.

Loki looked at him seriously. "But you are catching my drift, are you not?"

". . ."

He looked at the sky, the sun reflecting in his glasses. "A mere moment like this . . . is very dangerous for her. I've tried to get this point across so many times, but she never listened. Anytime, she could be taken advantage of . . . or worse . . ."

There was no need to finish the sentence. For a powerful celestial like her to descent, there was no doubt that many with dark hearts would try to take her for themselves.

Natsu looked back at him with all seriousness. "I will protect her."

He smirked at that. "That's my line. . ."

He started to walk, leading the way. Dangerous thoughts running in his mind.

If you ever mess with her . . . use her . . . betray her. . . I . . .

His eyes turned dark cold, like a fierce lion ready to devour anyone in its path.

. . . I will put an end to you myself!

. . . * . . .

End of Chapter

With Loki's grudging approval(?), Natsu and Lucy will finally reunite again!

. . . Or will he?

Author's Note:

There's supposed to be more, but I'll end it here.

I've put on bit of a background on this chapter! It'll give you a bit more insight to the characters. I guess it has been a little slow lately, so I added a bit of spice and foreshadowing. I got a bit of a hard time on the transition of the Fimorian fishes (but they'll play a role for the next part!). It might seem uninteresting if you wanted to see fluff but I kinda want to make this sound as a novel adventure as possible. You can say this was an "accident" stepping stone on Natsu's part. You'll understand more if you read on to the later chapters. . .

Next chapter, the gears will kick up again. So stay tuned!