Lucy waited around, checking her phone and outside the terrace. She was excited for something for today was a special day. Stella was just as excited for the same thing.
"Happy Birthday, Lucy!" Stella announced.
"Thanks, Stella." Lucy said, but she paid more attention for the arrival of something.
"You must be excited for your birthday." Stella said. "You're one year older, wiser, stronger, and much more." She was trying to appease to Lucy, but Lucy wasn't paying much attention. Stella did had one thing that might get her attention. "Since you seemed a little occupied, I guess you wouldn't want the special gift I got you."
"Gift?!" Lucy said as that really did get her attention. She held out her hands for Stella, but she wasn't expecting Stella to spit right in her hands. Certainly not the best way to give a gift "Urgh... Thank you... What is it?"
"A kwagatama!" Stella said as the spit cleared away and formed a small piece charm that was half of the Yin-Yang. "It's a symbol of friendship! We take the hairs of our previous owners and merge them together. We give them to our current holders on special occasions..." Stella tried to explain her gift, but Lucy seemed more focused on her phone. "You don't like it. You're just trying to spare my feelings."
"No! No! I'm sorry, Stella." Lucy said as she felt bad for her behavior. "I'm just waiting to hear from Erza and Levy. They said they "need my help" on a special project. I'm expecting to hear from them by four."
"What special project do they need your help with?" Stella questioned.
"Nothing. They're trying to trick me and take me to a surprise birthday party." Lucy said.
"But you already know about it." Stella said as she didn't understand the situation.
"No. They just think I'm not aware of what's going on." Lucy said. "I just need to act surprised when they come to take me to the party."
"Well, what makes you think they're throwing a party in the first place?" Stella asked.
"It's simple. Earlier, I spotted Juvia with and air pump." Lucy said as she remembered seeing Juvia with one, but she tried to hide it from Levy. "That's what they're using for the balloons."
"That doesn't really mean there's going to be a party." Stella said.
"Well, I did spot Gray and Gajeel earlier. I heard them listening to music that I love." Lucy said as she remembered spotting those two working with some music. When she tried to take a listen, they tried to act like they weren't doing anything. "They have to be making a mixtape of all my favorite songs at the party."
"Maybe they like the same music." Stella said.
"No way. Gajeel hates that kind of music." Lucy said. "The biggest clue I saw was Levy talking to Natsu. When I tried to tell them what was going on, they acted like nothing was." She was right. When she saw Levy talking to Natsu, she went over to them. When she got close enough, they tried to act completely innocent. "That has to mean that he's going to be there!"
"I don't know. None of this sounds like there's a party going on." Stella said.
"Still not convinced? Watch and see. There's one sure way to know." Lucy said. She took Stella with her and headed down to the bakery. "Watch closely." She said as she was planning to talk to her parents. "Mom! Dad!" She called as she opened the door. Her parents were working on a massive cake for their daughter's birthday. When she was about to enter the bakery, the two of them had no time to think and just smashed the cake into a trashcan and acted like nothing happened. "Have you two heard from Erza or Levy about my birthday?"
"Erza? Levy? Don't know them." Jude said as he tried to act innocent.
"Of course you do. Her best friends, remember?" Layla said as she was doing a better job at acting.
"Oh! Them! Nope! We have not." Jude said. All clear signs that they were trying to hide something. Lucy thought she proved her point to Stella. Just as she was about to leave them, she heard a knock on the door.
"That must be them." Lucy said as she went for the door. "There you are..." She opened the door, but it wasn't who she expected. It was a woman who greatly resembled her and a white and blue dress. "Aunt Anna?!"
"Anna?!" Jude said.
"Sis?!" Layla said as they were all surprised to see her. Lucy was so happy to see her aunt again that she ran out and hugged her.
"Lucy! Look how big you've gotten!" Anna said. Lucy welcomed her inside with all of them happy to see her. "I would have called about my arrival, but it's been so long since we last saw each other. I thought I make it a surprise."
"Anna, it's her birthday." Jude whispered.
"Why do you think I'm here?" Anna said. She reached in her bag and pulled out a present for Lucy. "Happy Birthday, Lucy." Lucy was excited for the gift as she tore open the wrapping. "I had a friend of mine make it for your tenth birthday."
"You are aware she's in high school, right?" Layla questioned. That embarrassed Anna. Especially when they saw a lavender shirt with a black glittery butterfly on it was too small for her.
"Maybe I can have her make it again in your actual size." Anna said.
"It's okay. I can find a way to make this work." Lucy said as she put on a brave face. "I'm just glad you're here."
"Well, I have something else for you. Your favorite candy." Anna said as she handed her a container of it, but Lucy forced a smile for her aunt. "It gets better. I have a whole day planned just for us." Anna was excited to spend the day with her niece and was on her way out.
"Anna, can I talk to you for a moment? Now's not really a good time." Layla said.
"Layla, I hardly ever get to see my own niece. Now that I'm here, you're saying I can't spend time with her?" Anna said for that's all she wants. Lucy looked to her phone and kept her an eye on the time.
"It's okay. I have some time to spare." Lucy said.
"Great. Let's go." Anna said as the two of them headed out for a day of fun, or what Anna believed Lucy thought was fun.
...
Anna and Lucy
Anna and Lucy went out to spend some quality time together. Lucy did like the idea, but the actual activities might have been questionable. They went to the zoo and enjoyed all the animals. That part isn't so bad, but Lucy also went on the merry-go-round with other kids. She even made it look like she enjoyed the candy, but spat it out when Anna wasn't looking. At the same time, she kept her eyes on her phone for any messages from her friends, but there was nothing. Through all of it, Lucy tried putting on a happy face for Anna's sake. After the zoo, they went to a bridge with Anna getting some ice cream. While Lucy waited for her return, she still had no new messages.
"It's just about four. Maybe you were right, Stella. Maybe I jumped to conclusions." Lucy said with Stella hiding in her bag. She took another piece of candy in her mouth and spat it out.
"Why don't you tell your aunt that you don't like this candy anymore?" Stella asked.
"She lives so far away. We don't get to see each other often. I don't want to upset her." Lucy said. This isn't turning out to be much of a birthday. That changed when she heard her phone go off and saw it was Erza. "Hey, Erza."
"Hey. Sorry, but Levy and I were running a little late." Erza said. "Can you meet up with us? I'll text you the address."
"Sure. I'll be right there." Lucy said. She ended her call and was ready to go, but she saw Anna came back and looked upset.
"You're going to meet with your friends?" Anna questioned as she thought this could be there time.
"Yeah... It's nothing personal, Aunt Anna. It's just that..." "It's okay." Anna interrupted as she tried putting on a brave face.
"Go and see your friends. We can catch up later." Anna said.
"Thanks, Aunt Anna." Lucy said and took off with excitement, but Anna was upset she didn't get to spend anymore time with her.
...
The Bakery
With Lucy out, her parents were free to work on her cake again. Jude almost had it done.
"Jude! They're back! Hide the cake!" Layla said. Jude hurried, but panicked. He just ended up smashing the cake in the trash again. Layla went in the back, but she was surprised to see it was just Anna. "Where's Lucy?"
"Out with her friends." Anna said with some sadness. "I guess she's just at that age where she would rather hang with her friends than her aunt. I really don't know her anymore. I just never thought she would be like that."
"Wait. It's not like that." Lalya said.
"It's sweet you want to cheer me up, Layla, but I'm not naïve." Anna said and just went upstairs to be alone. Layla felt bad her sister feels that way.
"Jude, we need to talk to Anna." Layla said, but she noticed the cake was ruined again and the party is suppose to start. "Never mind. We'll finish the cake and just take Anna with us to the party." Jude was in full agreement with that. As for Anna, she went up to Lucy's room. Being in her room, she looked around and thought that she really didn't know her niece at all. While she's upset, Lucy is having a fun time. She met up with Levy and Erza and saw all her friends were at her birthday party, especially Natsu. There was her favorite music, decorations, and so much more. It was everything Lucy loved. All while Anna sat in Lucy's room. When she opened up the candy, she saw that Lucy spat out all the candy she had. Anna feels like she doesn't really know her niece. Thinking her sweet niece has become something spoiled, she felt nothing but the loss of the sweet girl she knew.
...
Black Wizard
Sensing her misery, only one person would take advantage of Anna's situation.
"How sad. She wants to spend time with her niece while her niece wants nothing to do with her." Black Wizard said. "I think the young lady needs some discipline, and my etherious can help with that." He took an etherious in his hands and gave it dark power. "Flyaway, my evil little etherious, and evillize her!" He released the etherious into Paris and to use Anna's pain.
...
Anna
The etherious flew to Anna and entered the candy container. It established a connection to her and Black Wizard.
"Sweet Witch, I'm Black Wizard. People these days need to be reminded about reward and punishment. I'm giving you the power to do that with these candies. In exchange, you must bring me the miraculous of Celestria and Salamondra. What do you say?"
"Sounds as sweet as candy." Anna said as she accepted the deal and became a villain herself. Meanwhile, Jude and Layla finally were able to finish making the cake.
"Done!" Layla said. "We better hurry. The party has already started."
"Let's get Anna. She's not moping up there all day." Jude said as he was going to make his way up there, but Anna came down herself as Sweet Witch. She flew in through the door riding on a cross between a motorcycle and a magic broom. As Sweet Witch, she wore all black leather with fingerless gloves and heeled boots. She also had black wing-shaped mask around her eyes with a tiny witch's hat attached to a hairband.
"Sorry, Jude. Knowing you, you'll ruin everything between me and your daughter." Sweet Witch said as she shot candy from a blaster and turned Jude to stone. She turned to Layla with Layla afraid. "Don't worry, Lalya. You've always been a good sister. I'll make you a fairy." She fired another candy. Lalya's clothes turned all white with her getting wings and mask over her face. She was also under her complete control. "Now, do you know where Lucy is?"
"Yes, Mistress." Layla said.
"Take me to her." Sweet Witch said. With that, they flew off with Sweet Witch wanting to punish Lucy.
...
Lucy's Party
"Happy Birthday, Lucy." Natsu said as he handed a small present for her. Lucy was in complete shock of joy that Natsu was giving her a present. Levy had to close her mouth shut.
"Go on. Take it." Levy said.
"Before flies enter your mouth." Erza said. Lucy took the present and couldn't wait to open it. She wouldn't get the chance.
"The lady comes out at night with her fairies taking flight." They heard singing and could see Sweet Witch arriving with her fairy. She jumped off the ride with everyone getting spooked by the arrival of a villain.
"Aunt Anna?!" Lucy said as she was shocked to hear this.
"I'm not your aunt anymore. I'm Sweet Witch. So, you decided to party with your friends rather than spending time with your dear aunt?"
"Wait. Lucy didn't know about the party." Levy said.
"It was a surprise for her." Erza said.
"Actually... I did suspect, but I did enjoy our time together, Aunt Anna." Lucy claimed.
"Just like you enjoyed all that candy?" Sweet Witch questioned thinking Lucy was lying.
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings." Lucy said.
"You lied, chose your friends over your family, and you only feel guilty because you were caught. You don't deserve to be a fairy." Sweet Witch claimed as she aimed her blaster at Lucy and fired a candy, but Lucy moved out of the way. However, Gray did get hit and he was turned to stone.
"Gray! No!" Lucy called. Knowing this was trouble, Natsu snuck off so that he could transform and had Igneel come out of hiding.
"I don't suppose you're sneaking me a piece of cake." Igneel said.
"We've got to help Lucy. Igneel, Fire Up!" Igneel was pulled into the ring and became Salamondra. As for Sweet Witch, she chased after Lucy and tried turning her to stone while her friends took cover.
"Come back here, Lucy. You need to learn some discipline." Sweet Witch claimed as she kept trying to blast her. Lucy kept running, but ended up tripping and dropped Natsu's present. When she reached for it, it was blasted by Sweet Witch and it turned to stone. "You don't deserve all these presents, you spoiled brat." She was about to shoot her again, but Salamondra extended his staff forward and knocked her aim away.
"I hope I'm not being a party crasher." Salamondra said.
"I was told of you. You will look lovely in white." Sweet Witch said as she tried to shoot him, but he moved out of the way.
"No thanks. Red's more my color." Salamondra claimed.
"Get him my fairy." Sweet Witch ordered and had Layla attack him.
"I thought fairies were suppose to be nice." Salamondra said as he tried to avoid her. Lucy kept trying to run from her aunt as she ducked under a table.
"This is not the birthday I had planned." Lucy said to Stella.
"You need to transform." Stella said, but she doesn't have the chance. Especially when the table started to turn to stone as well. She quickly ran out with her moving to a stage, but Sweet Witch had her cornered now. She was about to shoot, but she saw her blaster ran out of ammo. She reached for a black container on her side and was refilling it with candy.
"I'll make sure you get what you deserve." Sweet Witch claimed.
"Salamondra!" Lucy called for help.
"I'm coming!" Salamondra called as he jumped to help her, but the fairy grabbed him and kept him away.
"Have you lied to anyone else? Your parents? Your friends?" Sweet Witch said as she was ready to turn to her stone. Erza and the others could see she was in trouble.
"We've got to help Lucy." Erza said with everyone agreeing.
"Are you really just a spoiled brat that only cares about herself?" Sweet Witch said with her getting frustrated. She was about to shoot, but plates were being thrown at her by Erza and Levy.
"Lucy is nothing like that!" Erza said as they tried to defend her. Sweet Witch aimed at them and blasted both of them as they too turned to stone.
"Erza! Levy!" Lucy called. With Sweet Witch distracted, Gajeel attempted to save her by grabbing the blaster, but Sweet Witch saw him coming and turned him to stone as well. "Gajeel!"
"Anyone else?" Sweet Witch threatened as she aimed at all of her friends.
"Leave Lucy alone! She's the nicest person ever!" Lisanna said.
"Rude to talk back, but it is quite admirable to stand up for her. I think I'll make you a fair." Sweet Witch said. She shot at Lisanna and she became a fairy as well. This wasn't looking good. Lucy had to do something as she rolled off the stage. She was about to transform until she saw the first fairy dropped to the ground and Salamondra landing in front of him.
"Come on. Let's get you out of here." Salamondra said. He grabbed a hold of her and got out of there with Sweet Witch spotting them.
"Don't let them escape!" Sweet Witch ordered her fairies. They would have chased after her, but her friends used party decorations like rope and tried to hold them down.
"Don't touch her!" Juvia said.
"We won't let you hurt Lucy!" Hibiki said.
"Is that so?" Sweet Witch questioned. She decided to punish all of them by turning all of them stone. Now none of them can stop her from disciplining her niece.
...
Salamondra
"You must be a cool girl if your friends are willing to risk themselves like that." Salamondra said as he carried her to safety. "So what's the deal with your aunt?"
"I think she wanted to spend more time with me, but now she thinks I'm a brat." Lucy said.
"Well, I need to get you somewhere safe." Salamondra said. He looked around and spotted the Eiffel Tower thinking it was a good spot. He headed straight there and placed her there. "You should be okay up here. Hopefully, my little star is on her way. We'll get your aunt back as soon as we can. In the meantime, Happy Birthday."
"Thanks." Lucy said. Salamondra jumped off and went to face Sweet Witch. With her in the clear now, she let Stella out and was ready to go. "Stella, Twinkle!" Stella was pulled into Lucy's earrings and became Celestria. If anyone is going to save her aunt, it's going to be her.
...
Sweet Witch
"The lady comes out at night with her fairies taking flight. For she gives out candy to those who are dandy. She turns those to coal, the ones that have no soul." Sweet Witch sung as she flew around. She turned those she saw act naughty to stone while others who acted nice were turned into fairies. Before she got any further, Salamondra jumped on her ride and and caused her to crash on a rooftop.
"Salamondra arrives unexpectedly..." He sung, but ended up getting stuck. "Wait. How do I make that rhyme?"
"Fighting evil with his lady." Celestria sung as she arrived.
"Nice." Salamondra complimented.
"Thieving dragon! Where have you hid my niece?!" Sweet Witch asked as she demanded for answers.
"I'm a thief? You're the one that wants to turn her to stone? How am I the bad guy?" Salamondra asked with Sweet Witch getting annoyed.
"You'll get your niece. Discipline those two to get them to tell you. Just bring me those miraculous." Black Wizard told her.
"You didn't say the magic word." Sweet Witch said with Black Wizard dumbfounded that she would bring that up.
"Please..." Black Wizard said.
"That's better." Sweet Witch said. She snapped her fingers and had her fairies attack the two heroes. While they were occupied, Sweet Witch wondered where Salamondra did with Lucy. "What would a dragon do with a maiden?" She pondered about that until she spotted the tower. "Keep her in a tower!" She got back on her ride and flew to the tower.
"Uh-oh!" Salamondra said as he saw her fly off. "We need to get to the Eiffel Tower!"
"Why?!" Celestria questioned.
"That's where I hid her niece, Lucy Heartfilia!" Salamondra said as he hurried after her. Celestria hurried after them herself.
...
The Eiffel Tower
"Lucy?! Where are you?!" Sweet Witch called as she searched around for Lucy. She can't find her, but she doesn't know she won't be able to. Salamondra and Celestria made it to the tower themselves as they continued to fight off the fairies. "Bad dragon! Where is Lucy?!"
"I... I honestly don't know." Salamondra said.
"She must have made a run for it." Celestria said. "At least we can focus on this witch!" Celestria swung her whip at one of the beams and swung at Sweet Witch with Sweet Witch chasing after her.
"What about me?!" Salamondra said. Poor Salamondra was left alone with the fairies and tried to fight them off. Celestria swung around with Sweet Witch following after her. She kept trying to shoot her, but Celestria wouldn't stay still. Celestria made her way up as Sweet Witch tried to shoot her. The candies did miss, but they came down after loosing momentum. Celestria dived back inside the tower with Sweet Witch seeing the candies coming at her. She moved away from them with Celestria seeing that. Sweet Witch tried shooting them again, but she ran out of ammo again.
"Salamondra!" Celestria called as she kicked a fairy back. "I just saw Sweet Witch dodging the candy. Even she can't tough them."
"Look!" Salamondra said as he pointed to her refilling. "That container of candy might be where the etherious is." Now that she knows that, she had only one trick left.
"Open the Celestial Gate!" Celestria used her powers and formed a large pipe. "A bendable Gemini pipe?" She wondered how she should do that? Suddenly, all the fairies gathered above them and came at them all at once. They were able to smash right through the floor and have them fall to a lower level. They soon found themselves surrounded with Sweet Witch landing down.
"Nowhere to go now." Sweet Witch said. "You might as well tell me where Lucy is, and don't lie." They were in a tough spot now. Celestria looked around. She saw the pipe was below them at the very bottom, the elevator, and Sweet Witch's blaster.
"Okay. You win." Celestria said. "Salamondra, we might as well show her where Lucy really is." Salamondra was shocked, but she winked at him without Sweet Witch seeing her.
"Yeah. I'll show you." Salamondra said. Sweet Witch had her doubts, but she allowed Salamondra to show her.
"Watch the girl." Sweet Witch told her fairies as she and Salamondra left. With them gone, Celestria reached for her whip and got her plan ready. Salamondra showed the way to a cleaning closet, but no one was in there. "What is this?!"
"I guess she did ran off when I told her to stay. No wonder you want to punish her." Salamondra said. She was ready to turn him to stone, but she heard the elevator running and saw it go down.
"Lucy!" Sweet Witch believed that was her and hurried after the elevator. Salamondra was going to go after her, but Celestria stopped him.
"Don't worry, Salamondra. Lucy is safe. Now for Sweet Witch." Celestria said as she was ready to put her plan into action. Sweet Witch made it to the bottom of the tower and had her blaster ready for Lucy. However, she was surprised when the elevator opened up and showed her fairies were tied up. Celestria jumped down behind her and got ready. Sweet Witch aimed at her and fired, but Celestria took grabbed the pipe. The candy went through one end and bounced around as it shot out the other.
"No!" Sweet Witch shouted as the candy hit her and turned her to stone. Salamondra jumped down and grabbed the container. He broke it apart with the etherious flying out and Celestria taking her whip back.
"No more evildoing for you, little etherious." Celestria activated her whip and twirled it around. "Time to de-evillize!" She tossed the whip and caught it. "Gotcha! Bye-Bye, little guy." She released it with only one thing left. "Miraculous Starlight!" She tossed the pipe in the air and caused the stars to restoring everyone to normal, the tower being fixed, and Sweet Witch becoming Anna again.
"Pound it!" The heroes bumped fists for their win.
...
Black Wizard
"No! Urgh!" Black Wizard complained with anger, but began to calm down. "I'll get your miraculous eventually. When I do, it will be sweeter than candy." This is one guy that needs to be disciplined.
...
The Party
With the day saved, Lucy's birthday continued on. Everyone was having a lot of fun. Anna got to join and she was enjoying herself.
"Aunt Anna!" Lucy called as she ran over and hugged her. "I'm glad you could make it. I was afraid you were still upset with me."
"It's okay, Lucy." Anna said. She looked down at Lucy's bag and saw Lucy turned the shirt she got into a purse. "What did you do with that shirt?"
"I told you I find a way to make it work." Lucy said. "I'm really sorry if I acted so distant from you today."
"It's okay. I understand. Next birthday, we do whatever you like." Anna said.
"Thanks, Aunt Anna, but it doesn't really matter what we do as long as we're together." Lucy said. She was just happy she got to spend time with her aunt. Soon, the cake came out, a giant one, and everyone was singing happy birthday to her. Gajeel and Jellal gave her a lift so she could blow out the candles. She blew them out and it ended up being a good birthday.
"Hey." Natsu said as he came over with his gift. "With all that has happened, you didn't get a chance to open it." Lucy took it and opened it up, but she was surprised to see it was bunch of stuff on a string. "I still have the lucky charm you gave me, so I tried making one myself." He said as he showed he still had the charm with her.
"Thank you. You're wonderful. I mean it's wonderful!" Lucy said in a panic. Her family could clearly see what was happening there. While everyone was enjoying the party, Lucy was admiring her gift from Natsu with Stella. "He made it for me."
"I'm glad you like it." Stella said, but was upset Lucy didn't like her gift.
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter what gift I got." Lucy said as she showed she had the charm Stella gave her as a small necklace. "What matters is who you get them from."
"So you did like it!" Stella said with joy.
"Because you gave it to me." Lucy said as she hugged Stella. Lucy ended up having a great birthday with the gifts from her loved ones and having her aunt around. One thing is for sure, Lucy really is a great person. No one can deny that.
