Hello everyone!

Surprise! Here comes chapter 26 with a bang!

Seriously, I didn't realize where my fingers are taking me this time. This was supposed to be a happy and funny chapter (T-T). Oh but I do kinda like how it turned out in the end.

Hue hue, I was trying to wait for a week before uploading but I really got excited cause I receive reviews from the previous chapters (many thanks! I enjoyed reading them!). I'm a bit surprised from one of the guest reviews who nicely pointed out some points in which Natsu seemed a little bit too selfish for the taste. I'm glad that Natsu's selfishness got conveyed, because I'm quite worried that his protectiveness of Lucy and his "impulsive" reactions in the previous chapters (with Romeo and Wendy) makes Natsu look like a "nice" person. Actually, he was originally a nice person, specially to spirits because of his "fairy eye", but something happened in his past which is heavily connected to Celestial's Blessing (refer to Chapter 3) which really threw him off. It was like having The Sun stolen from him, forcing him to live through the cold night. And oh yeah, that one's a spoiler (sorry not sorry :P) He was supposed to be Lucy's contrast, and I was planning to develop both of them due to the other's influence. I think they were both developing nicely.

Actually, I am more worried about Lucy in this one because of her "childish" persona might make some readers hate her or be irritated. While I find it funny and use it to lighten the tone of this series, this is actually crucial to the main plot also. I guess it wasn't evident, but it's this trait of hers that moves the plot and there's really a reason behind her personality (actually there's a driving reason why the main casts act the way they are now). To put it simply, it wasn't just for show. Lucy looked bright and born with a silver spoon as the universe flows in her favor, but in all actuality, she really has "nothing". To put it simply, she was like a doll. People adore and cherish her, but in the end, she has nothing but emptiness inside. This is something I tried to portray when Natsu saw through her "inner world" when the contract was made. Even Lucy had never realized this before until she met a certain someone.

For all the mysteries in the series, I actually put a lot of foreshadowing and clues in the chapters so far to the point you can put two and two together when you analyze it. One of the readers had actually already guessed what really happened in the past and I don't know whether to cry or laugh that one of the mysteries are solved. T-T

Well, that's enough for the explanation. Let's focus on the "event" right now because it will be a milestone for both Lucy and Natsu.

Enjoy!

Twenty-Sixth Wish:
Help (3)

"Long live the Strauss! Fellow brothers! Even if we have to die today, we must secure the Princess's safety!"

The leader of the guards yelled as he defended against the group of bandits.

Meanwhile, Lucy stood up at the top of carriage and sent out an energy ball half the size of her palm. She threw it at the bandit who was sneakily moving to slash at the Captain's back.

Whoooshh!

With a scream, the man was sent flying to the very back of the bandit's group. He rolled to the ground and hit the tree with his back very hard. A loud cracking sound can be heard that made the fighting crowd stop for a moment.

"What the . . ."

"What happened . . ?"

They looked confusedly from the fainted man on the ground to the direction he came flying from.

Oops. . .

She had forgotten. No one can see her.

For better or for worse, she had decided to just sneakily attack from now on. She had grown cautious from the repercussions of standing out. She had a bad feeling that both Natsu and Loki would scold her if she did, so she decided to stay low. After all, she just wanted to test whether she can control her abilities right now. No need to go for flashy attacks that celestials do at the mortal realm.

So instead, she just decided to shake the ground for a tiny little bit, enough so that the enemies would lose their footing while casting bluffs to the imperial guards so that they won't be imbalanced from the tiny earthquake.

Yup! Tiny earthquakes cannot be considered as "flashy", right? She thought.

No one had even realized that there was an earthquake because the only ones affected were the bandits. She had made sure that the others won't feel a thing by casting magic on them. Of course, she couldn't continuously shake the ground less they would discover something odd. So instead, she would use some weeds to 'accidentally' entangle the feet of the bandits or dug small holes on the ground to make them trip. She also released a bit of energy in order to press down the enemies with her aura and caused their moves to feel heavy to the point that it drains their stamina, making it easier for the guards to attack. Whenever there was a guard that was about to be slashed or hurt, she would form a spirit whip and wrap it around the weapon, making it 'mysteriously' slip from the owner's hands. They would always be in shock after realizing they weren't holding anymore weapons and ashamed at the thought that their hands had become sweaty and slippery. If it weren't for the fact they didn't 'see' anyone near them and the fighting and bloodlust were adding to the confusion, they would have realized that it was not a mere 'slipping' accident!

Sometimes, in order not to make it too obvious, she would instead use telekinesis to control her ally's hands and made them swing strongly against the opponents when in critical danger. This would make them think that it was adrenaline and instinct that cause them to take such action.

To put it simply, with the mayhem, no one had really noticed Lucy's interference. They were more likely to contribute it to luck.

And so, Lucy learned to be a bit sneaky.

After having many casualties from the attacking side and having zero casualties from the defending side (aside from a few cuts), the leader of the bandits immediately called back his people. They retreated a bit, creating a space between the defending guards and the attacking bandits.

The Guard Captain also did the same and called back his soldiers in order to strengthen the formation. Others looked unwilling, wanting to chase down the retreating group, but still followed the order. They looked bewildered at the Guard Captain.

Their captain ignored their looks and looked vigilantly at the front. He called them back because he sensed something odd. His sixth sense had told him something bad was about to happen so he anxiously called back his fellow brothers to ensure their safety.

"It seems that I have underestimated the abilities of the imperial guards. I have to give you a proper apology. . ."

A blue haired man who looked like the leader of the shrewd looking villains stepped out. His eyes hold malicious intent as a smile plastered on his lips. He had not thought his prey would actually be formidable enough to force him to use his trump card.

"You better surrender now" the captain of the guards warned him. "If you do, you can at least still keep your lives."

Bora laughed at that. "The one who should surrender are you people . . . not that I plan on keeping your lives anyway. . ."

After saying that, he raised his hand where a ring with dark gemstone started to glow fiery red. From it, flames began to sprout and covered his entire arm.

Everyone looked in shock as the fire burned and spread at the man's arm. The imperial guards couldn't understand where the flame come from and why would he set his self on fire. The bandits looked in awe at their boss.

The bewildered looks of the guards were suddenly changed to fear and terror as they realized that the fire was not only in the man's arm. From his hand, the fire gathered into a giant fireball and he threw it at them. Suddenly, fire erupted at the center of the formation, scattering them. Their clothes caught the flames and spread slowly. They tried to put out the fire by rolling on the ground or covering it but it only spread further on everything it touched as if it couldn't be extinguished by normal means. Smarter ones immediately ripped their clothes away but the others were not so quick in doing so. What's worse was . . .

They were now surrounded by fire.

. . . Lucy, meanwhile, looked in shock. She was not shocked because a human has a divine treasure in his possession, what really surprised her was what she saw from seeing through his heart.

She gripped her chest, not understanding why she felt cold all of a sudden. A pounding pain throbbed at her heart and mind as the familiar feeling crept to her. She wanted to get away as she didn't want to see anymore.

. . . Is this fear?

She looked at the man again, not understanding.

She wasn't scared of his power or the person. It was the dark shadow covering his heart. Lucy thought it was strange because all humans have darkness and light in their hearts. Why was this one "special"?

Looking closely, she had realized.

Compared to the hearts of the people she had seen so far, this man's heart was completely covered by the dark shadow. This wasn't the normal darkness in a person's heart because. . .

. . . It was corrupting him.

It was this "corruption" that scared her. She doesn't understand why it felt like there was a heavy stone pressing on her chest.

Was it that divine treasure in his hand that was corrupting him?

Why was she feeling "guilt" in her conscience? She doesn't want to see people being corrupted. Her heart mysteriously hurts after seeing it.

Suddenly, she remembered her own divine treasure, The Necklace that Loki made for her.

Where was it? Why does she not remember where she put it? Did she give it away . . . ?

She remembered the child. Did I give it to him?

A vague memory of handing down her divine treasure showed in her mind. . .

. . . But it was followed by a dark memory.

Dark clouds gathered. . . Dark miasma surrounded the forest of withered trees. . . Spirits cried in woe and agony, turning aggressive at all living and warm beings . . .

Different scenes flashed through her mind.

Darkness and corruption gathered at the necklace being held by a person. . .

"You're a liar . . ."

She couldn't see his face. It was dark and covered by shadows but . . .

. . . She could see the glistening tear falling down his cheek.

Lucy's eyes widened as her heart fell with a thump. The child . . .

Tears fell down her eyes as she felt the heavy feeling in her chest tightened. She watched the chaos that surrounded her. This "corruption" had evoked an unexplainable fear on her. She wanted to get away. She doesn't want to remember this one. She doesn't want to remember the screams, the darkness on that day. . .

She doesn't want to remember his tears. . .

No. . .

"NNNNNnnnnnoooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOO!"

A blinding light flashed in the middle of the mountain forest.

. . . * . . .

End of Chapter

Memory triggered! Who was the boy? Where was her necklace? What happened in the past? Lots of questions are left to be answered and only by remembering could she know the truth behind it all . . . no matter how painful it would be.

A/N: Darn, it started with light-hearted and funny tone only to turn into serious and dark in the end. Keep your reviews coming, your insights and thoughts in the story are very interesting! :D

Thank you for everyone who favorite and followed this story!

For those who reviewed, thank you! I'll try my best!