"What?" Orihime said. Lilly and Orihime learned that Suegaps real name is Pegasus and he's a celestial spirit. He also just revealed that if he returns to the Celestial World, he will die because of a strange cursed mark on him.

"That's right. If I return, Luca will die." Pegasus said.

"I don't understand." Lilly said.

"It happened a long time ago." Pegasus started as he began to tell the story that affected his and Luca's lives.

"Curse of the Stars"

"Luca was a great celestial wizard." Pegasus began. "She was actually a lot like your mother, Lilly. She loved celestial spirits and treated us like we were her friends. She was an independent wizard meaning she didn't work for any guild. I enjoyed all the times we had together, but it didn't last."

"What happened?" Orihime asked.

"One day, we fought this powerful man." Pegasus said. "He wanted my key for his own selfish reasons. I could tell that he didn't care for spirits like Luca did. However, since my key is a rare one. He probably wanted it for himself or sell it for money."

"I can't believe someone would do something like that." Lilly said.

"Luca and I tried our best to fight him off, but he mastered dark arts of magic." Pegasus said. "He was just too strong, but I refused to go with him and Luca refused to give it to him. That's when he got the idea that if he couldn't have me, no one could."

"What does that mean?" Orihime said.

"Luca ended up becoming greatly injured. She's actually on the verge of death right now." Pegasus said.

"That's why she's in that hospital? But how did she manage to live for so long if this was a long time ago?" Lilly said.

"The doctors found a way to use stabilizing lacrima to help preserve a person's life." Pegasus said. "Another reason is this curse I have embedded in my body. That man placed this curse on me and it ties our lives together. He told me that if I return to the Celestial World, it will end Luca's life. However, when my life force drains, it's also transferred to her. Every time my life drains out, the pain becomes worse."

"So if you disappear, does that mean Luca will live?" Orihime asked.

"That's right. It's my job as a celestial spirit to protect my key holder." Pegasus said. "If it means Luca will live, I'll gladly give up my life. At this rate, I don't have that much time left."

"No. This isn't fair." Lilly said. "There has to be some way we can remove it. I'm sure we can find an answer."

"I've been trying." Pegasus said. "When Luca became injured, I brought her to the nearest hospital, which is why I brought her to Magnolia. After I did that, I thought joining Fairy Tail would help me find an answer, but I ended up with nothing. The only way this curse will be removed is if I die or return to the Celestial World, but that will kill Luca."

"And you're planning on letting her live. You're going to give up your life." Lilly said.

"That's right. It's the only way." Pegasus said.

"That can't be true! There has to be someway both of you can live." Orihime said.

"I'm afraid there isn't. There isn't enough time to look for an answer." Pegasus said. "The only way she and I will be free is if one us dies." He turned away from them and felt bad to put them through this, but he had no choice. That was when the pain came back and he dropped on all fours.

"Pegasus!" Lilly shouted. Orihime ran over to his side and lifted the side of his shirt up. She saw the cracks on his body were slowly getting longer.

"Oh no. It's spreading." Orihime said.

"That happens little by little as the pain continues to grow through my body." Pegasus said. "My power is very low. Orihime, Lilly, please tell everyone in Fairy Tail I said goodbye."

"No. You can't just give up." Lilly said.

"You won't. I won't let you." Orihime said and held out her hands and her hairpins lit up. "Sōnten Kisshun!" She placed the barrier around him and tried to heal him.

"Orihime, don't." Pegasus said. "I know what you're trying to do and it won't work. I know the limit of your magic. You can't heal anything that's over a month old. I've had this curse for over a year. It won't go away."

"I don't care. I'm not going to sit by and watch one of my friends die right in front of me." Orihime said. Orihime focused all her power to try and heal him. She didn't care how long it's been. She'll do anything to save her friends. However, it seemed like her magic was being rejected or failing as the power blew her back a little and knocked her off her feet.

"Orihime!" Lilly called in worry.

"I told you that it won't work." Pegasus said.

"I won't let that stop me." Orihime said. She got back up and started to heal him again. Orihime was practically forcing all of her magic power out.

"Orihime, stop it." Pegasus said.

"No. I won't let you die. I'll find some way to save you and Luca." Orihime said.

"I'm telling you that it's pointless." Pegasus said. He kept begging her to stop, but Orihime was too determined to have him live.

"I'll do whatever it takes to save you, Pegasus!" Orihime shouted and screamed as she let out more magic power and the barrier was starting to glow.

"Cut it out, Orihime. If you don't stop, you'll use up all your magic power and you'll die." Pegasus said. "It's bad enough with what happened to Luca. Don't risk your life for mine."

"Stop trying to talk me out of this! I'm doing it and you won't stop me!" Orihime said and kept releasing so much magic energy. She could feel her body growing in pain from all the exertion, but she didn't care. In fact, she was actually getting somewhere as the cracks of the curse mark started to close up slowly.

'What?' Pegasus thought. 'It can't be. It's actually retracting, but how? It's not really an injury so Orihime's healing magic shouldn't even be working on it in the first place. Orihime also said she couldn't heal anything when it passes a month. Is she growing stronger? What kind of magic is this really?'

"Orihime, it's working!" Lilly said.

"Just hang in there! You're not going to die and neither is Luca!" Orihime shouted.

…

Magnolia Hospital

It is unclear if this is from Orihime's magic or the life that was drained from Pegasus. Either way, Luca was resting in the hospital, but a spark of life was ignited inside her. She slowly began to open her eyes and it was like she could feel what is happening with Pegasus as if it was happening right next to her.

"Pegasus." Luca whispered. She could actually feel all the pain and torture he went through all to keep her alive.

…

The Woods

Orihime kept trying to remove the curse, but it wasn't retracting any faster. It was hardly moving at all. Pegasus continued to have Orihime stop, but Orihime was set on making all of this go away.

"Orihime, you won't be able to keep this up much longer." Pegasus said.

"I'm not giving up. I'll remove this stupid curse myself if I have to." Orihime said. However, she lost control again and was blown back down.

"Orihime, are you alright?" Lilly said, but Orihime didn't respond. All she did was push herself off the ground, but she hardly had any strength left. Pegasus can't stand to see her like this. She didn't want her to die as well, but she just wouldn't listen. He could see that she was going to keep trying.

"Orihime, please….stop." Pegasus begged, but she got right back next to him and tried to heal him again.

"I don't care what happens to me." Orihime said as she continued to heal him. "I understand why you're doing all of this, but I'm doing it for the same reason. You're one of my friends and I'll give my life for any of them. You've been through so much pain and torture because of this. I'll free you and I won't stop until it's done."

….

Magnolia Hospital

Luc wasn't going to put up with Pegasus going through so much pain either. She used whatever strength she could to get herself out of bed and reached for a switch on the lacrima that helped keep her alive. She used these moments to think back to all the times she and Pegasus had together.

"Pegasus….thank you." Luca whispered with tears in her eyes. She flipped the switch and only one sound was coming out of that room.

…

The Woods

Orihime kept going, but something strange was happening. Orihime's barrier shattered and she was pushed back with the curse mark on Pegasus breaking off. Pegasus could feel all the pain was instantly gone and he knew that it wasn't from Orihime's doing. It only meant one other thing.

"It's gone." Lilly acknowledge. "Orihime, did you do it?"

"I…don't know." Orihime said.

"No…you didn't." Pegasus cried as tears began to flow from her eyes. "The connection with Luca has been severed. I can feel it. Luca, she's gone." Orihime and Lilly couldn't believe it. Neither of them didn't know what to say. "No!" He screamed as he punched the ground. "It should have been me. I don't understand. She was kept alive because the curse mark was draining my life force and was giving it to her."

"Pegasus, is it possible she ended her own life or something else killed her." Lilly suggested.

"The reason doesn't matter. The fact is that Luca is gone." Pegasus said. "It should have been me. This isn't fair." Orihime got up and walked over to his front side and placed her hands on his shoulders to have him look at her.

"She probably did it for you." Orihime said. Pegasus looked into her eyes and saw she was getting misty eye as well. "You were willing to risk your life so she could live. If she loved celestial spirits as much as you said she did, wouldn't she have gave up her life for you?"

"That does sound like her, but…." "There are no buts." Orihime interrupted.

"I know I don't know her as well as you do, but she probably hated that she was the reason for all your pain and suffering." Orihime said. "She had to be suffering as well and she was able to end all of it. What's done is done. The only thing left for you to do is live for her. Otherwise, it was all for nothing." That struck Pegasus right in the heart. He knew Luca would do that and she would want him to continue to live.

"You're right." Pegasus said as he smiled through his tears. The sun began to rise as this was about to be the start of Pegasus' new adventure. "I'll live for her. Thank you, Orihime. You actually freed both of us. If I can do anything to repay you, let me know."

"The person you should really thank is Lilly." Orihime said as she looked at her. "I never would have known any of this if it weren't for her."

"You're right." Pegasus said as he looked at her and stood in front of her with his hands on his knees. "Lilly, I can't thank you enough."

"You would have done the same for any of us." Lilly said.

"I've heard that you're searching for your own key. How would you like to have mine?" Pegasus offered.

"Are you serious? Me holding a legendary key?" Lilly said.

"Yes. You're so much like your mother. I would be honored if you hold my key." Pegasus said.

"Yes. I would love to!" Lilly said. Both of them shook hands and Pegasus began to disappear in a light and returned to the Celestial World. Just before he completely vanished, Pegasus saw an image of Luca and she was happy for him. He returned and Lilly was holding his blue key with the teeth end a horse's head and the top shaped like wings with a horse's face.

….

The Guild

Lilly and Orihime returned to the guild and brought Pegasus out and everything was explained to everyone.

"What?! No way! You're a celestial spirit?!" Ichigo and Renji said at the same time and Pegasus nodded.

"Amazing. I never would have expected that." Rukia said.

"That's right and he's mine." Lilly bragged as she waved her key around.

"No fair. Why does the princess get the rare legendary key?" Nagato said.

"I want one." Igneel whined.

"Sorry, but he belongs to me." Lilly said.

"I am proud of what you did, but remember to treat your spirits like equals." Lucy said.

"I know." Lilly said.

"I think I'm in good hands." Pegasus said. "Anyway, I'm honored to work with Lilly. I can tell she's going to be a strong wizard in the future."

"So are you going to be okay?" Uryu said.

"After some rest in the Celestial World, I will be." Pegasus said. "I just wanted everyone to be aware of the situation. Sorry I never told you guys the truth."

"We're just glad you're doing better." Ichigo said.

"Yeah and no matter what, you'll always be part of Fairy Tail." Lilly said. Orihime looked around and was real happy.

'At that moment, I learned that it doesn't matter what you are.' Orihime narrated. 'People are willing to risk everything for those they care about and that's another reason I love Fairy Tail so much.'

….

Orihime: Do you smell that Ichigo? It smells like love is in the air.

Ichigo: Yeah….sure

Orihime: Are you okay? You're acting a little nervous.

Ichigo: No, I'm fine.

Orihime: Really?

Ichigo: Next Time: Watch Out, She Likes You

Ichigo: I don't think I'm going to make it till the end of the day.