UNEXPECTED

"GRANTED"

As those words left his mouth I grew ecstatic and was about to shout in glee, until his next words stopped me in my tracks, as though cold water was poured on me.

"But it will be restricted until certain conditions are met" he said, in a completely serious tone.

Feeling my hopes dashed, I couldn't help but be slightly depressed, and I mean who wouldn't? It practically felt as though one won the lottery but was then told that the numbers were one digit off. The situation was enough to send men from heaven to hell in seconds.

As though he could sense this, he lightly laughed and said "You have no need to worry, for you will undoubtedly get even more than what you have ever imagined with this wish"

"Get ready" says as he flourishes his sleeve and points his palm at me "You will receive the essence of Lucifer, the first of my creations, endure" finishing this a blazing light shoots out of his palm threatening to burn even the very space we were in and then to my horror it shoots at me with the speed of a falling star.

As I was being enveloped I closed my eyes and couldn't help but scream, all the while cursing myself for being stupid enough to make a wish like this, yet the sweltering sensation never came, not even a tiny singe.

Opening my eyes to check, I was mildly surprised to see no visible change to myself, other than a golden glow which I now exuded. Lifting my head I caught his eyes and was about to ask "What…" until a searing heat began welling up inside me, almost as though I was a piece of metal being smelted inside a forge.

"You must endure the heat Lucifer. As my first creation was born of fire, so to must you endure the flames baptism, until you become one and the same" He said in a calm voice.

As I listened to him I could only bitterly smile, as I once more cursed myself for choosing these powers. 'Why couldn't I just choose Saitama's power or Onslaught's, or Franklin Richards's powers, why did it have to be the angel made by THE FREAKING FLAMES YOU IDIOT!' mentally sighing I could only chuckle at the thought 'Dying while saving someone and then being roasted as a reward, I really embody the wanting to cry, but having no tears trope, who knew that one day I, Lucifer would experience this sagely saying'

An even bigger wave of heat hit me, quickly bringing me out of my little moment, while reminding me how serious my present condition was and as the ever growing heat threatened to burn me out of existence, I dug as deep as I could, digging up every ounce of willpower in me to stave of death.

While I was enduring the trail that came from hell, there was someone else that was enduring their own trail, as their mighty fist threatened to crush the armrests beneath it.

"I have to endure, I must endure, I can endure, common Lucifer you can do this, just think of it as relaxing warm bath. You can do it endure, success is but a moment away, as long as you hold out you will reap the sweet rewards. ENDURE!" I repeated, to give myself encouragement for what felt like hours.

Finally as I was about to pass out and ultimately fail, the heat dissipated. Relived at the feeling of escaping death, my concentration broke and my body fell forward, as though a puppet cut from its strings and just as I was falling unconscious I could feel a warm embrace holding me up, and finally I lay in Morpheus arms.

Holding Lucifer in his arms, the being revealed a gratified smile "You have finally learned compassion and self-sacrifice after countless reincarnations, finally making it back here, you've done well my child, your father is proud of you" said the being as he gently held Lucifer in his arms.

*SZZZ*

Suddenly a buzz could be heard in this space, which caused the being to frown and sigh" It would seem our reunion must end Lucifer, now that your seals have been lifted and you are regaining your powers, I trust you will have a grand adventure, so let me send you on your way to a world of heroes and villains, of gods and cosmic entities, where I am sure your compassion may light a bright path, as it was always meant to be."

The being slowly lets Lucifer go as his body begins to drift back into a seemingly endless abyss, while pondering he raises his hand and waves, throwing an amorphous blob Lucifer's way, which upon contact melts into his being. "Since your wish was mostly my own designs and not your own, may this serve as a reimbursement my son, I'm sure it will come in handy, so you may one day, find your way back here… back… home, to the forge of creation, farewell…Lucifer…"

While bidding his farewell the being watches as Lucifer slowly recedes form view, until nothing but a small point of light can be seen in the distance, slowly flickering, vanishing from his sight. Sighing the being turns around and proceeds to his throne, when suddenly one of the orbs which orbit his being, explodes in a blinding white flash and at an unimaginable speed shoots out, as it tries to chase after the vanishing light dot that is Lucifer.

Caught off guard and blinded by the cowardly tactic, employed by his artifact the being is temporarily disoriented, yet when he turns around to see the nature of the occurrence, he pales, while his face takes on a contour all too familiar in the passing moments of Lucifer's arrival and parting, one of utter shock, all the while he couldn't help but think of one word, that perfectly embodied the type of situation he was currently in.

"Crap"