After defeating another foe, everything returned to normal once Celestria used her Miraculous Starlight and restored everything.
"Another battle won." Salamondra said. "I think we deserve a nice treat." He offered, but he saw Celestria was still on guard as she was looking around for any sign of trouble. "Celestria? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah. I'm fine." Celestria said, but it didn't sound convincing. "Hey, why don't we do an extra patrol. Now that Black Knight has more power, we need to be ready for anything. In fact, I rather do anything but talk when time could be spent on something more useful."
"Okay..." Salamondra said as he played along. "I think I know just what we can do. It will helps us work on our patience and stealth, and where there is no talking."
"Really?" Celestria said as she liked the sound of that.
...
The Theater
Salamondra claimed it was some sort of training session, but it was really the movies. They did had to be quiet and be patient for the movie to end. Salamondra was certainly enjoying it, but Celestria was not.
"You tricked me." Celestria said.
"No talking." Salamondra said as he helped himself to some popcorn. Celestria tried being patient, but the genre of the movie was making it a little difficult.
"I can't live like this anymore. You're right. I've been keeping secrets, and I can't hide them from you because...I love you. I'll tell you everything."
"No, you fool!" Celestria screamed and disturbed the movie. "You shouldn't tell him anything! It's for yours and his own good!"
"Hey! No talking!" Salamondra whispered as she was disturbing the other viewers.
"Romance movies are lame anyway. Do you know why?" Celestria said. "It's because what happens in them, they never happen in real life. In real life, the girl takes forever to tell the guy she likes that she loves him, but is always stammering, stuttering, and can barely finish a sentence. So, she never knows if he likes her, and it seems like nothing is ever going to happen. Then, just as she starts thinking it's all pointless, another guy comes around and she starts to like him. Only this time, things are different. She feels more relax and calm around him, and thinks that she can make it work with him. Of course she can't because she has secrets she has to keep and is unable to tell him anything when all he wants is for her to be honest with him. Sadly, she can't and they have to break-up. No happy ending, no living happily ever after, nothing like what happens in the movies. That is why romance movies are lame." Her ranting greatly disturbed the other viewers and it wasn't looking good for either of them.
"Uh... We should go." Salamondra said as he grabbed a hold of Celestria and tried getting her out of there. Of course, he could tell there was something bothering her, but she wasn't willing to talk about it. "I know I don't know about you normal life, and I didn't quite get all of that, but it sounds like you're suffering from a broken heart. I know what it's like." He said as they left the theater.
"Me? Heartbreak? Don't be crazy. I've never been happier!" Celestria said as she tried to act like she really was happy.
"I think we really should talk." Salamondra said.
"There's nothing to talk about since everything is fine! Yay! I'm going to charge my kwami, but if you want to miss on all the fun, so be it!" Celestria said as she took off and tried avoiding talking, but Salamondra was really worried about her.
...
Celestria
The truth was that she was suffering form heartbreak. She had to break-up with Sting because of her life as Celestria. On top of that, it made her realize she's constantly lying to everyone, but she can't quit being Celestria. As she dived into her room, she just laid on her bed and stared at the photos on her wall. Photos that reminded her of what she believes she can't have and feeling so alone.
"The poor thing." Bull said.
"I told you we should take these down." Roar, the lion kwami, said with them about to take the photos down.
"Leave them." Celestria said. "They don't bother me. They're just photos of my friends. There's no reason to take them down." She claimed, but even the kwamis didn't believe her.
...
Erza
"Okay, we've got a problem." Erza said as she, Lisanna, Levy, Juvia, and Cana all gathered at her place. "Lucy might be suffering from heartbreak."
"She and Sting broke up." Levy said with the girls all shocked about this.
"What happened?" Juvia asked.
"We don't know." Erza said. "First, Lucy is never able to tell Natsu how she feels, so she starts dating Sting. Now, they break-up? While that is sad, something else is wrong. She didn't tell any of us. She didn't even tell me or Levy. The only reason we know now is because Sting told Rogue, who told Gajeel, who told Levy, who just told me. Lucy never said anything to anyone, not even to her best friends."
"And she's trying to hide it." Levy said. "I thought I heard her crying at school the other day, but she acted like everything was fine and wouldn't tell me what's really going on."
"Why is she keeping this a secret from us?" Lisanna questioned.
"If she's not telling Erza and Levy, there really is something wrong." Cana said.
"Which is why we're going to call her and tell her we're here for her." Erza said as they gave Lucy a call.
...
Celestria
Celestria just remained in her bed and didn't move. Her phone was going off, but she didn't bother answering it. That clearly wasn't a good sign.
"Hey. Sorry, but I can't answer the phone right now. Leave a message and I'll get back to you soon." Her voicemail said as she just ignored her phone.
"Hey, Lucy. It's Erza here, and I'm with the girls. We're all a little worried about you and we just want you to know we're here for you." She claimed with all the other girls saying the same thing.
"This is not good." Fangg claimed.
"We must do something, but we might need Stella." Pixi claimed.
"Allow me." Steel said as he went down. "Why aren't you using the magic light box to talk to your friends? It sounds like they're really worried about you."
"Talk to them about what? Everything is fine." Celestria claimed with her face in the pillow.
"Then, shouldn't you detransform?" Steel asked.
"No. It's easier if I stay like this so I'll be ready the next time Black Knight decides to attack." Celestria claimed.
"But what about Stella? She's going to need a brake." Steel pointed out.
"Oh my gosh! Stella!" Celestria said as she completely forgot about her. "Lights Out!" She quickly detransformed with her catching Stella in her hands.
"Stella, are you okay?!" Lucy asked.
"Better than you, Lucy. It sounds like you do need someone to talk to." Stella said. At least she does have Stella to talk to about her problems.
...
Erza's Room
"She's not answering. Something is seriously wrong." Levy said.
"We've got to do something." Cana said with the girls in full agreement that they have to help her.
"I have something that might do just that." Erza said as she reached for a bracelet and some beads. "I heard that a South American tribe use to do this. We tell our secrets to the beads in our minds and unite them on this friendship bracelet so she knows she can come to us and we're with her." All of them liked the sound of that.
"Wouldn't it be easier to take her for a smoothie or something?" Cana asked, but they all looked at her like it wasn't good idea. "I'm just saying."
...
Lucy's Room
"As long as I'm Celestria, I can't have love in my life." Lucy said.
"What makes you say that?" Stella asked as she ate a cookie to recharge her power.
"I had to break-up with Sting because I'm Celestria, unable to tell him the truth." Lucy said. "It would be the same with Natsu, even if I could talk to him. I have to constantly lie to everyone, including my parents and my closest friends. I can't go to anyone about my problems." She cried as she just can't take that burden. "What do I do, Stella?"
"Maybe... Maybe the secrets is too big of a burden." Stella said. "Even Master Mavis didn't keep the miraculous a secret. She told Zera, her closest friend, about us. Maybe it's time you told someone the truth."
"You know I can't do that." Lucy said. "No one can help me because no one would understand. I'm doomed to be a liar. My life as Lucy is too complicated. I should just remain as Celestria forever. Stella, Twinkle!" She called and just instantly transformed into Celestria and went up to the balcony.
"Lucy! Your parents let us up!" Levy called. All the other kwamis heard the girls coming and quickly hid away in the Miracle Box hiding inside a large sewing kit of hers.
"Lucy? You up here?" Erza said as all five of them came up and looked around for her.
"Hey, check out this sewing kit. It's huge." Lisanna said as she spotted it.
"Maybe she's out on the balcony." Levy said.
"What are you waiting for Black Knight?! Here I am! Attack already!" Celestria called as her frustration just kept getting the better of her.
"Lucy! Are you up there?!" She heard Levy that time and hurried back down there with her changing back to normal just as Levy climbed up to her bed. "There you are."
"What are you even doing here?!" Lucy said.
"Check out all the colors." Lisanna said with Lucy realizing she's looking at the sewing kit that had the Miracle Box in it.
"No! Don't touch that!" Lucy shouted as she moved fast and got between her and the box.
"Uh... Sorry..." Lisanna said with her not sure what else to say.
"Just get out of my room." Lucy said as she wants them out before they find the box.
"Calm down, Lucy. We're here because we care." Juvia said. "We know about you and Sting."
"Yeah. We came here to help." Cana said.
"There's nothing to help. I don't want or need any help." Lucy said. "The only problem I do have is that you guys are here without my permission."
"Okay, what's going on, Lucy?" Erza said. "Something is seriously wrong and we're not leaving until you talk to us."
"Yeah. We even have something for you." Levy said as she held out the bracelet that had a bead with each color representing them. "We each told a secret to this bracelet. Now you get to and know that we're with you."
"We're your friends. You can talk to us." Lisanna said, but Lucy just couldn't take it anymore as the burden of keep the secret was getting to her again.
"Then maybe I don't want you as my friends. Get out!" Lucy shouted with all of them heartbroken and shocked that Lucy would say such a thing. They all thought Lucy really meant that and just left her room, but Erza hung back for a moment.
"I don't know what's going on with you, Lucy, but you're clearly not handling it well." Erza said before she left the room. When they were gone, the kwamis came out with Lucy dropping to the floor.
"I had to do it, Stella." Lucy said.
"I'm not so sure about that." Stella disagreed.
"At least now I won't have to lie because there's no one to lie to." Lucy said as she really feels alone now. All the girls left in sorrow. Lucy was a great friend to all of them and now that friend is gone.
...
Black Knight
"It's hard to help someone when they keep secrets. You try to be a good friend, but they won't let you. Well, maybe you just need to be a little more "persuasive" to get them to talk." Black Knight said as he took an etherious in his hands and filled it with dark power. "Fly, my evil etherious, and evillize all of them!" He released the etherious, one etherious for all of them to share.
...
The Park
All five of them were at the park, sitting in a circle as they passed around their bracelet with them hurt and upset that Lucy ended their friendship when all they were trying to do was help.
"I just lost one of my best friends." Levy said as she passed the bracelet to Erza.
"This was suppose to help." Erza said as she passed it to Lisanna.
"How could this have happened?" Lisanna cried with her passing it to Juvia.
"This is so...heartbreaking." Juvia said and passed it to Cana with her crushing the bracelet in her hands.
"This can't be the end." Cana said. That was when the etherious came in and went into the bracelet, one item for all five of them. All of them were connected to Black Knight now.
"Secret Gang, I'm Black Knight. Your friend won't share her secret with you? Well, I'm giving you the power to get those secrets out. In exchange, you will bring me the miraculous of Celestria and Salamondra."
"Lucy will stay our friend." Levy said.
"Even if it means we have to force that secret out." Erza said as all of them became their villainous forms once again.
"I'll get her to tell her the truth." Phantom Writer said.
"If she runs, I'll track her down." Animal Soul claimed.
"If she's upset over someone, we'll make that person upset." Miserain claimed.
"We'll help her, comfort her, and show her how much we care so she'll be our friend again." Mirrorina claimed.
"And if Celestria and Salamondra get in our way, they'll be sorry they did." Knightwalker claimed. With five villains out to learn the truth, they'll stop at nothing to get it.
...
Lucy
Once Lucy pulled herself together, she made sure the Miracle Box was perfectly safe in the sewing kit. Until she has a better hiding spot for it, it's the best she can do. Just then, she heard a sound and saw Phantom Writer busting through her window.
"I'm here for you, Lucy. We're friends. Just tell me your secret." Phantom Writer claimed. Lucy was in trouble with no way out, but the kwamis had a way to help her with that.
"Pixi, wait." Finn said.
"You know what happened the last time you used your powers without a holder." Moon said.
"We have to protect the secret and this is the only way. Solid Script: Illusion!" Pixi used her powers to create an illusion. It looked like Lucy was making a run for it while the real Lucy was hiding behind an illusion.
"Freeze!" Phantom Writer called as she used her powers to actually freeze her, but all her shots miss with the illusion heading out towards the balcony. Phantom Writer made her way after her, but saw Lucy running through the street and disappearing from her sight "How did she...?" Thinking that was weird she got down there, she still chased after her with the other four villains meeting up with her.
"Spread out and find her!" Knightwalker ordered as all five of them got moving to try and find her. What they didn't know was that the illusion already faded.
"Nice work, Pixi." Lucy said as she was safe to come out of hiding. "Stella, Twinkle!" She had Stella pulled into her earring and became Celestria. She was on her way out, but thought of a problem.
"When a kwami uses their powers without a holder, doesn't it cause a catastrophe?" Celestria questioned.
"My powers give words power. It shouldn't be that bad." Pixi assured. Celestria trusted her and climbed out, but the kwamis knew better. "Her Miraculous Starlight will fix everything. I hope..." Celestria made her way out, but saw actual the Eiffel Tower having the word "Fire" over it with it being actual flames.
"Pixi..." Celestria complained, but that will have to wait.
...
Natsu
"No one knows what happened as this strange fire at Paris' greatest monument appeared without warning." Natsu watched the news and thought that was rather strange.
"I say this is Pixi's doing." Igneel said.
"Pixi? Wasn't that Mavis' kwami?" Natsu asked with Igneel confirming. "Well, Celestria is going to need out help with this. Igneel, Fire Up!" Natsu became Salamondra and went to join the party.
...
Celestria
Celestria made her way over the rooftops of Paris, but saw the five villains in different directions. She's going to have her hands full with this. That was when she saw Salamondra messaging her.
"It's looking like a party, Celestria." Salamondra said. "What's going on that requires five villains?"
"They're looking for Lucy Heartfilia, one of their classmates." Celestria said.
"Haven't we saved her before? She seems so nice. Why would anyone have a problem with her?" Salamondra questioned.
"Apparently, she alienated all of her friends." Celestria said.
"Why would she do something like that?" Salamondra questioned, but Celestria couldn't bring herself to answer. "Are you still there?"
"Just thinking. With five villains, it's not going to be easy to find the object that has the etherious." Celestria said. "We'll have to try and take them on one by one until we can find who has the etherious. I'll take Knightwalker, seems like she's acting as leader. You pick your target."
"Got it." Salamondra said as the two of them got to work. It didn't take long for Celestria to track down Knightwalker. Once Knightwalker jumped through the air, Celestria's whip got around her and she was pulled into an alleyway and kept her down.
"Hi there, Knightwalker. I don't suppose you're just going to tell me where the etherious is." Celestria said.
"Not a chance. Especially since I have friends who have my back." Knightwalker claimed. That was when Phantom Writer appeared behind Celestria. She tried attacking her by having fire shot at her, but Celestria jumped back and right over Knightwalker with her getting her whip around Phantom Writer. Once she had Phantom Writer restrained, she reached for her journel and tore it, but no etherious.
"You're out of luck. I don't have the etherious." Phantom Writer said.
"No worries. It gives us girls the chance to talk." Celestria said as she had something else in mind.
...
Mirrorina
Mirrorina wasn't just looking for Lucy. She used her powers and was turning everyone else into images of her.
"As fashionable as those shoes are, as well as me grown accustom to them, I'm not sure I like to wear them again." Salamondra said as he chose Mirrorina as his opponent.
"But you'll look so much better with them." Mirrorina said as she tried using her powers on him again, but Salamondra jumped up and swung his staff down at her, but she jumped out of the way.
...
Celestria
"Erza... Levy... I understand you two have had some sort of problem with your friend. Her name is Lucy, right? Something about how she was keeping a secret and you just want to know so you can help her. Is that right?" Celestria asked, but both villains remain quiet. "Let me tell you about a couple friends of mine. Their names are Titania and Sylph." That certainly got their attention. Meanwhile, Salamondra was trying his best to fight off Mirrorina, but Miserain and Animal Soul showed up and joined in the fight against him. "I keep secrets from them, like my secret identity, but I trust both of them and they trust me. Even if we can't tell each other everything, we trust each other and are able to help each other when we need it."
"Really?" Phantom Writer questioned.
"Don't listen!" Knightwalker said.
"That's why I know you both can resist Black Knight's power. You have to trust your friend." Celestria said. "Maybe she overreacted, maybe she wasn't ready to talk about her problems, but I know she wouldn't want you to do this just to help her." Both of them thought about Lucy and how they wanted to help her, but Celestria was right. Lucy wouldn't want this. They were both actually resisting Black Knight's power.
"Don't listen to her!" Black Knight ordered as he could feel his power was fading. "If you do this, you will never learn your friend's secret!"
"I trust you, both of you! I need both of you! I need Sylph and Titania!" Celestria said as she trusted both of them and that was when a miracle happened. The mask outline that established their link to Black Knight shattered. They actually broke his hold over them on their own will.
...
Black Knight
Black Knight felt the connection between both of them break. It was actually painful as he dropped to one knee for it felt like getting hit with a club or a bat to the head.
"That's...impossible!" Black Knight claimed as he couldn't believe that actually happened.
...
Celestria
Celestria watched as the two of them actually turned back into Levy and Erza. It took a lot of strength for them to do what they did, but it was nothing less than amazing.
"That was incredible." Lucy said as she helped both of them stand. "No one has ever done that before."
"It's because we've got a good friend." Erza said as she and Levy were grateful for all Celestria has done. However, the victory was short when Celestria heard her whip messaging her.
...
Salamondra
"Celestria, the villains are ganging up on me." Salamondra said as he tried to fight off all three of them, but it was a difficult to do. "I'm not sure I can fight off all three of them like this."
"Phantom Writer and Knightwalker has betrayed you. They chose to help Celestria." Black Knight told the other villains with them in shock. "Hurry and seize Salamondra's miraculous before anything else happens." All three of them went at Salamondra and Salamondra could be in real trouble.
...
Celestria
"What object holds the etherious?" Celestria asked.
"It's in a friendship bracelet. The last one who had it was Mirrorina." Erza said.
"How are you going to fight off three villains like this?" Levy said.
"With a little help." Celestria said as she can now use a new feature of hers. She opened up a small portal in her whip and reached inside and was able to pull out the miraculous of both the fairy and the knight.
"How did you do that?!" Erza said as they were both amazed by that.
"There've been a few upgrades since I've been named Guardian." Celestria said.
"Guardian?!" Levy said as this just kept amazing them, but it was time to get to work. Celestria handed both of them their proper miraculous with Pixi and Steel emerging.
"Pixi, Flutter!"
"Steel, Armor On!" Both of them transformed and assumed their superhero identities and now the odds were in their favor.
...
Salamondra
The girls shifting to Celestria's side couldn't have happened at a better time. Salamondra tried fighting off the villains, but it didn't go so well. Animal Soul turned herself into a giant snake and coiled herself around him to hold him down.
"Time to hand over your miraculous, Salamondra." Mirrorina said as they were ready to take the miraculous. Luckily for him, the girls were able to find them. However, they needed to do something fast or else his miraculous is going to be lost.
"What's the plan?" Titania asked.
"Let's find out. Open the Celestial Gate!" Celestria used her powers and ended up getting life preserver with the Pisces sign on it. Once she got that, she had a look around and saw Titania, Sylph, and they saw they were near the pool. "Here's the plan." While she was telling them the plan, Mirrorina was going to take Salamondra's ring.
"The second you touch it, I'll use my Dragon Fire and then who knows what will happen." Salamondra warned to keep them away.
"That's not a problem when you're too sad to use it." Miserain said as she was about to use her powers on him. That was when Celestria signaled Sylph to act now.
"Solid Script: Disguise!" Sylph used her powers and made herself look like Lucy. Then, she made her way down and try to seal the act. "Salamondra! No!" She called and got their attention.
"It's her! Get her!" Mirrorina said as the three of them let Salamondra go and chased after her. Not what Black Knight wanted. When they were gone, Celestria and Titania helped Salamondra up and told him their plan. Sylph was able to keep the rouse going and ran straight into the pool. The three villains hurried after her, but Celestria and Titania got in the way.
"Sorry. Only one entry into the pool." Celestria said.
"You two take care of them. I'll go for Lucy." Mirrorina said as she jumped right over the two of them and went after her. Miserain jumped right at Titania, but Titania caught her and threw her. Animal Soul turned herself into an octopus and grabbed a hold of Celestria and tried to hold her own. While they were all fighting outside, Slyph ran straight to the pook and made it look like she was trapped.
"There's nowhere to run, Lucy." Mirrorina said. "Time to share your little secret, even if we have to force it out." She charged right at her and jumped to grab her, but Sylph ditched the disguise and jumped right over Mirrorina with her falling right in the water. When she fell in there, Salamondra used the life preserver and used it to restrain Mirrorina.
"Dragon Fire!" Salamondra used his powers and burned apart the bracelet with the etherious free and all the girls turning back to normal. When the girls were normal, the etherious flew out of the building for Celestria to catch.
"No more evildoing for you, little etherious." Celestria activated her whip and started twirling it. "Time to de-evillize!" She threw her whip and was able to catch it. "Gotcha! Bye-Bye, little guy." She freed the etherious after purifying it. When that happened, the girls regrouped and were glad to see each other again with Celestria regretting how she treated her friends.
"Uh..." Salamondra said to snap her out of it and handed over the life preserver.
"Miraculous Starlight!" Celestria added the final touches as she threw it in the air and unleashed the magic stars that restored all the damage that was done.
"Pound it!" All the heroes said.
...
Celestria
After that, she retrieved the miraculous from both Titania and Sylph. Once she got the miraculous back, she went up to the rooftops and thought about how she acted compared to what happened.
"Hey." Salamondra said as he came up behind her. "Before we change back, I just want to make sure if you're okay. I know there was something upsetting you after the last time we saw each other."
"You're... You're right." Celestria admitted. "All I can say is that sometimes this life can cause some real problems with close people, but I doubt you would understand."
"Actually...I do." Salamondra said. "Things between me and someone else aren't so great because I had to keep lying to her."
"Really? What did you do?" Celestria said.
"I talked to a few close friends and told them what happened." Salamondra said. "Of course, I left out some details like me being Salamondra. Still, it was nice to have friends who were at least willing to listen and help. Even if you think someone wouldn't understand, it doesn't mean they can't help." That was all he could say since they were short on time, but what he said really helped Celestria.
...
Lucy's Room
"It's true. Breaking up with Sting broke my heart, and not telling Natsu how I felt was just as difficult." Lucy said as she was finally talking to her friends about everything. "I'm sorry about before, girls. I tried acting like everything was fine because I felt like no one would understand or really help me."
"You know you can talk to us." Lisanna said.
"We'll always be here to listen." Juvia said.
"Yeah, you're never going to be alone because you have us." Cana said as they all gathered together in a group hug with Lucy really feeling loved and much better than she has in a long time. "We'll see you later, Lucy." The girls were on their way out, but Erza stopped Levy and could tell there was still something on Lucy's mind.
"You guys go on ahead. Erza and I like to talk a little more with Lucy." Levy said and their friends let them go.
"You didn't exactly tell us everything. There's something more, isn't there?" Erza said as the three sat together.
"We're not gonna try to force it out of you, but you should know that you can tell us anything." Levy said. "The thing is that we can't help if you don't tell us what's going on." They want to help, but it seems like Lucy still wasn't talking.
"You're right." Lucy said as she couldn't take it anymore. "You guys are right! I didn't break it with Sting because I don't like him! It's because I can't tell him something! It's also why I can't be with Natsu! I keep secrets, I lie, but there's no other way!"
"There's always another way." Erza said.
"No. Not like this. This is bigger than us." Lucy said.
"Maybe the weight of carrying all these secrets is too much for you." Levy said. "You can tell us the truth, Lucy. You're our best friend, but we can't help you if you don't tell us what's going on." Lucy has debated on what to do with all these secrets and the stress, but they're saying what Stella has said. She looked to Stella who was hiding and Stella was telling her to do it. Gathering all her courage, she walked right over to the sewing kit.
"This is my secret." Lucy said as she pulled out the Miracle Box and opened it up with all the kwamis coming out. Seeing all of them was a surprise to Levy and Erza, especially when they spotted the ones they know.
"Hello again, Lady Erza." Steel said.
"It's good to see you again so soon, Levy." Pixi greeted.
"I'm Celestria." Lucy said as she came out and admitted the truth, but now afraid of what they think. She had nothing to worry about as they both walked over to her and they both held her. Now Lucy will no longer have to feel alone.
