https://i.imgur.com/JdPZ8te.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/JdPZ8te.jpg]

I'm floating, unable to move as I remain suspended in a void without sight or sound. Just stillness and nothingness. There is no one here to hurt me or call me names. No violent boyfriends or unloving, abusive parents. There are no teachers or counselors lecturing me about decisions made or irresponsible behavior. Just an empty void full of nothing. No disappointments or heartbreak.

I remember when I was just a little girl, I wanted nothing more then to be held by my mother. To be held and loved. Shouldn't a little girl be held? Why was I never loved? What a stupid life. But this isn't so bad, right? I'll just stay here like this and just exist as nothing. I was always nothing, anyway, but this nothing is not so bad.

Is it just my imagination, or did I hear someone whisper my name? Just then, specks of light like stars came into being. I tried to reach out and touch them, but I have no arms or hands. I tried to sigh, but I have no lungs with which to breath. I'm just a tiny speck of light amongst an infinite void of stars.

Lately, it's been hard to tell whether I'm awake or asleep, alive or dead. Although, I'm pretty sure I'm dead. Maybe from the sickness I received from running around in the woods. It would make sense to me if I died while laying in an abandoned church, suffering from a head injury and the flu. That would explain my delusions of magic. After all, how can a statue come to life? Am I so starved of love that I would imagine statues coming to life to be my friend?

"Yes, I am."

I was never loved. I would've done anything for it, though, even pretend that magic existed and statues came to life, even being a queen where I'm loved by a king and his people. What girl doesn't want to pretend to be royalty?

I heard it again, the sound of my name rang out from somewhere, even through the stillness of the soundless void. Someone said my name. Though it wasn't a voice I recognized. It asked me a question.

"Who are you?"

"Who am I? I'm Sonia, a sad girl that was never loved. I lived a stupid and pointless life of heartache. But now I'm dead, right? It's better this way."

"No, that is not who you are." The voice whispered.

What? What's going on? Am I hearing something, or is this just my inner thoughts? If I'm not an unloved Sonia, then who am I?

The specks of light that once came into being, now became an entire sea of stars that gathered together and became a face that was so big, I was just a speck of dust in comparison. The starry face spoke another question.

"Sonia, if you had to choose a single desire, what would it be?"

"What are my options?"

"Money, fame, power, immortality, to name a few." The starry face smiled, waiting for my response.

"Okay, I'll entertain your question, mystery face. Let's see, I could've definitely used the money. I spent all of my life relying on others to take care of me. Isn't that stupid? If I had my own money, I could've just bought my own house and lived there alone without anyone there to hurt me. Fame and power kind of come hand-in-hand though, doesn't it? Money could give me either of those if not both. Immortality, though." I paused, unsure of what to say. Immortality would've been nice to some people who enjoyed life, but for someone like myself who's lived a mostly unhappy life, would just rather die. Why prolong a crappy life?

Images of Gran came into my mind. Gran, the King, and all the people. The dream that I had was so real and vivid, that I could still feel the old woman's embrace when she hugged me. It was so wonderful, for someone to hold me and even cry on my shoulder. Together, we laughed and loved one another. With company like them, I could live for an eternity. For them, I would walk through fire. Just for a chance to be among them, I would do anything. I would die for them.

I looked up at the giant face. It was so massive in scope that it seemed to fill the entire void. It had a kind expression of satisfied understanding, as it nodded in approval. That's when I understood. When I spoke, I wasn't speaking. I didn't have a mouth, let alone, a voice that could be heard. The great celestial being could hear the thoughts of my heart as it ached for the woman and her son. I've only known them for such a short time, but in that short time, I had felt something so profound, and that one thing was love. I had a taste of it, and I wanted more. What must I do for it? Name your price.

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"Yes, THAT is who you are, and that is why I've come to you. Your heart." Said the face.

"What do you mean? I don't understand."

"Sonia, don't you know where you are? We are within the innermost part of your soul. In this place, you are the one that is in control. The reason there is a difference in size between us, is because of the way you view yourself. You see yourself as so small, but do you know how I see you?

At first, I was nothing but a tiny little light that drifted in the darkness, and in the blink of an eye, I grew and became a blazing sun that shined its light in all directions. The endless void was now full of light. There was not a single bit of darkness that my light did not reach. It was like I was light itself. I am magnificent. I am glorious.

"You are not nothing. You are amazing. Your heart is so big, it deserves to be seen by all. And with your light, you will help me give light to my world."

The giant face exploded into another sea of stars that spread out before me as a shiny black transparent lake. I suddenly had arms and legs as my body came into focus from the darkness of the void. I drifted onto the shiny lake, its cool watery surface felt nice to the touch. The lake seemed to go on forever into an endless starry horizon.

"Sonia." The same voice called out again as a figure descended onto the lake. It was a woman of striking beauty. Her entire figure radiated the same divine glow that I had seen in the eyes of Gran and her son.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Celeste, and I am the deity and guardian of the land of Celestia. And I have a proposition."

"Umm, Okay." I stared blankly. "How does this proposition work? Are you going to give me an offer that I can't refuse? Like, bring me back to life, with a catch?"

"Yes." She said, simply.

"Well that was honest of you."

The goddess laughed a beautiful laugh. I like her. Her presence is comforting. And I feel no judgement from her.

"So, what's the catch?" I asked

"I am the guardian of Celestia. Which means, whenever the realm is met with great danger, I make my presence known in order to bring peace to the land. I do this through chosen vessels, and I choose you, Sonia. Through you, we shall bring peace to the realm."

"What am I, a Pokemon? How does this work, exactly?" The goddess chuckled before answering.

"Your friend is reviving you as we speak. Before you wake, I will send with you a piece of myself. With it, you may protect your friends and the realm."

"Maybe I'm a little slow. When you say, 'A piece of yourself', what does that mean?" I asked with a cringey, awkward expression.

"I will bless you with a mark of power that you will claim as your own, if you choose." She explained.

"If I choose?" The woman nodded.

"So I can either accept it or deny it?"

"Yes, though I believe in my heart that you will accept it and use it for good.

I stood a moment in the dark, crystal water, which came up to my ankles. I swished my leg around in it, deep in thought. There were still some things that didn't make sense to me, so I asked.

"You say that you are the guardian for Celestia. I thought Gods didn't interfere with mortal affairs. Is this true?"

"Yes, this is true. We do not interfere with mortal affairs. However, Celestia is not a realm of mortals, but a divine realm of gods."

"But, but. Wait a minute. I just had a dream that I married the king of Celestia. Are you telling me that he's a god? And what about Gran, is she also a god?"

"Yes, they are both immortal beings, and more." The woman giggled as she leaned in to speak to me in emphasis. "You were not just an ordinary queen, but royalty even among the gods."

If my mouth could drop any lower, I'd probably look like a cartoon character. To think that I had married a god. Should I be impressed? Technically, I was quite impressed. But either way, it changed nothing. They were still the same people to me, just on a bigger scope. Gods, wow.

"So, Gran, the king, and the people, They're real, right? I didn't just dream it?"

"Yes, they are as real as can be. The same as you."

"What is the nature of their curse? And why are they cursed?" I asked.

The goddess thought for a moment as she frowned.

"This is not for me to answer. In time, you will learn of this from your friends. Let them tell you."

"That's fair. Thank you for answering me so patiently. I'm sure I have questions to ask, but I can't think of any more at this moment. Will I see you again in the future?"

"From this moment on, Sonia, you will be able to spirit-travel anywhere you choose as part of the power that will be granted to you. Whenever you sleep, you will be able to visit anywhere you choose, whether it is to see me, the king, or the vast realm to Celestia. The power will be yours.

"Wow, well you drive a hard bargain. I still don't understand what the catch is, though. What's the downside to all this?" I asked.

"Well, it all depends on whether you see it as a blessing or a curse. Should you choose life over death, you would be waking up, not as a human, but as an immortal, as a goddess. The task I ask of you is not an easy one, however, if you desire to pursue a life with Gran and the king, it will be a life that you will have to fight for. My world is being threatened by the evil presence of the wicked queen whom you have already met. We must end her wicked reign, and bring love to my world, for my world has forgotten how to love. So now the time has come, Sonia. Which will you choose. To live, or to die. There is no wrong answer."

"To live a life with Gran and the king? It seems to me that you already know my answer. For them, I would do anything. For them, I will choose to live."

The great celestial goddess embraced me in a firm hug, to which I returned in kind. As the very reality around me became a blinding white light, she whispered in my ear.

"Sonia, you are a miracle, even among the gods."