If Only You Knew

Chapter Eleven - Befriending Brightflash

The wizards stood around the star, frozen in shock, wondering how everything could have gone so wrong so quickly. The star rose up out of the hole and rotated to look at them. It had a face, which they had not expected. But then, they were wizards, so they supposed anything was possible. Then, right on cue, as if to prove a point, the impossible happened. The star spoke to them.

"My name is Brightflash," stated the star, matter-of-factly. "I wish to speak to the celestial wizard. Alone."

"There ain't no way in hell I'm letting that happen!" exclaimed Natsu. "Anything you gotta say to Lucy you can say to all of us."

"I know what it is that you seek," said Brightflash. "I know what you wish to ask me. I also know that you will never get the answers you so desperately need unless I choose to give them to you. I am in no way obligated to, because, as you can see, you have failed to capture me. However, I will consider staying if, and only if, I speak to the celestial wizard alone. The choice is yours, but I will not wait, and I will not return."

Natsu and Gray were about to protest when Lucy stepped forward.

"It's alright, guys. I'll talk to him. I'm sure he won't hurt me, and if he tries anything, you guys will be nearby. I have to, for Erza, remember?"

The boys grudgingly agreed and walked away, Happy trailing them.

"I'm, Lucy by the way," she said to the star. "Just in case you were wondering."

"I know quite well who you are," replied Brightflash. "You are the girl who saved Leo the Lion from destruction by restoring his place in the Celestial Spirit World. You clearly have a deep and mutual love for your spirits, and as a celestial wizard with most of the Zodiac keys, surely you understand the vast importance of the stars."

"I do," said Lucy. "I look at the stars every night, and when I do I think of my spirits. When I'm lonely, I look to them, and I tell myself that all of the people I love are under the same stars. When I think about it like that, I realize I can't possibly be lonely. Not when everyone I could ever want by my side is right there with me, right under the same sky, the same stars. When I have a problem, I look to them, and I tell myself that millions of people for millions of generations have had infinitely bigger problems, and they probably looked up at the same stars, the same sky, thinking the same thoughts as I am. I tell myself that if they could get through their problems, then I can get through mine. When I'm in need, or I seek consolation, and there's no one I can really turn to, I turn to the stars, and in them I have always found guidance and peace. Wisdom and answers. Anything I could ever really need to feel like myself again. To reach a decision when undecided. To know I was doing the right thing, when two paths were pulling at me with equal force. I have come to feel as though the stars know me better than I know myself."

Lucy's answer came from the bottom of her heart, and she found that she was tearing up. Brightflash heard her answer, and though it was what he had expected, the bare truth and weight of it still astounded him. He had never before encountered a human with such a deep and essential connection to his kind. He was touched. He discovered in Lucy what he had always admired in himself. Honesty, compassion, loyalty, and a touch of the child-like innocence that some never lost, all tried not to lose, and that, once lost, could never be regained. He said as much and Lucy felt the star pulling at her heart.

"I will answer any and all of the questions you and your comrades have. My knowledge is endless and my patience is vast, so be not afraid to ask. I will accompany you on the remainder of your quest, and if ever you should find yourself back in this wretched realm, do not hesitate to call upon me, and I will come to your aid. You need only to return to this spot and call out my name and I will hear you and come," declared Brightflash.

"Th-thank y-you!" sobbed Lucy, finally breaking down and crying tears of both joy and sadness at the memories that had resurfaced when she thought about the stars. She was also flooded with relief, knowing that now they would be able to save Erza.

She called Gray and Natsu and they returned. She explained to them what had happened and they stared at her in awe. They were impressed and glad that she had established such a relationship with the star. They knew in that moment that they wouldn't have gotten Brightflash without her.