Tengteng and I sat on the soft grass, the weight of the decision ahead pressing down on us. We had spent the last few minutes in silence, letting the possibilities swirl in our minds. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was our chance to shape our future, but the power to make wishes was no small thing. We had to be careful.
Tengteng broke the silence first, looking at me with his usual enthusiasm. "Ate, we can do this, right? I mean, we've been through so much already. What do you think we should wish for?"
I bit my lip, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "I think we need to make sure we're strong, but also smart. We don't want to just rely on brute force. We've seen what can happen when you do that."
Tengteng nodded vigorously. "I agree! We need to be smart, adaptable... We can't just be powerful. We need to outthink our enemies and outsmart them." He looked down, then back up at me with a grin. "Let's do this. Let's make the best wishes ever."
Taking a deep breath, I stood up and turned toward the woman who had guided us here. Her warm smile never wavered, and I couldn't help but feel a little comforted by it. "We're ready," I said, my voice a bit shaky but determined.
The woman stepped forward, her gaze soft and expectant. "Very well. What is your first wish?"
Tengteng looked at me with excitement, his eyes shining. I nodded and spoke first, my voice a little more confident than I felt. "For our first wish, we want Darna's stone and Captain Barbell's barbell. We've always looked up to them. They're iconic Filipino heroes, and they're incredibly strong. We think it's the perfect start."
The woman nodded, her expression thoughtful. "A wise choice," she said. "It is a symbol of strength, both physical and moral. Your second wish?"
Tengteng's eyes gleamed, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "For our second wish, we want genius-level intelligence, perfect combat skills, and tactical knowledge that rivals Batman's. We want the ability to master any skill instantly, so we're not just relying on our strength. We want to outthink our enemies, adapt to any situation, and use technology to our advantage."
I nodded, impressed by how well thought out his wish was. He wasn't just thinking about brute strength—he was thinking about strategy, intelligence, and adaptability. I didn't even have to speak. I knew it was the right choice.
The woman smiled and nodded, as if approving our choices. "And your third wish?"
I took a deep breath and felt my heart race again. This was the big one. "For our third wish, we want an absolute adaptive evolution and regeneration ability. Something that lets us instantly overcome any threat, attack, or environment. We want to be immune to fate manipulation, plot-induced events, and any form of forced narrative constraints. We want to always retain our free will and survive any challenge. We want to adapt to any attack, and heal instantly from any injury. We want to be impossible to erase from existence or controlled by higher beings."
As I finished speaking, I felt a strange sense of relief, like I was letting go of all my worries and fears. We were asking for a lot, but this wish would give us the freedom to make our own choices, no matter what we faced.
The woman's smile didn't falter. "And your fourth wish?"
Tengteng and I exchanged a look. He was so excited, but I could tell he was nervous too. He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice filled with determination. "For our fourth wish, we want a divine and cosmic body—something that makes us immune to mortal limitations. We want to be able to withstand reality-warping, mind control, and god-tier attacks. We want to be comparable to the New Gods or celestial beings. We want protection from mental attacks from Martians or gods like Darkseid."
I felt a sense of finality when Tengteng finished speaking. We had asked for so much, and yet, it all felt necessary. I looked at him and saw the same mix of nerves and excitement in his eyes. We had done it. We had chosen wisely.
The woman's smile grew softer. "Very clever of you. You combined your wishes in such a way that they count as a single wish. I can see the bond between you two is strong. You are not only asking for great power, but you are also thinking strategically."
Tengteng and I looked down shyly, a little embarrassed. We hadn't expected her to point that out. It felt like we were still just two kids trying to do the right thing, even in this crazy situation.
The woman nodded approvingly before turning away. "I will leave you now for a moment to consult with the Lord God. Stay here and think. I'll return soon."
Tengteng and I watched as she walked away, our minds racing. "Do you think we overdid it?" I asked him, my voice small.
Tengteng shrugged, though I could tell he was nervous too. "I don't know, Ate. We asked for a lot... but we really need all of it, don't we?"
I nodded. "Yeah, we do."
We sat in silence for a few minutes, the weight of our decisions hanging over us. Then, just as I was about to say something, the woman returned. Her warm smile was unchanged, and she held a calmness that made the air around us feel less tense.
"The Lord God was very amused by your choices," she said, her voice gentle. "You have been granted your wishes."
I let out a sigh of relief, and I could see Tengteng doing the same. We had done it. We had made the right choices.
But then, the woman's smile faded slightly, and she said, "There is, however, one condition."
My heart skipped a beat. "A condition?" I asked, my voice trembling.
The woman's smile returned, softer this time. "Yes. You must become heroes."
Tengteng and I exchanged glances, then let out a collective breath. A condition? It wasn't so bad. "We can do that," Tengteng said, his voice full of determination. "We've always wanted to help people. We'll be heroes."
The woman nodded, her smile returning in full force. "I knew you would understand. Now, are you ready? It's time to send you to Young Justice."
Tengteng took my hand, his grip tight but reassuring. I nodded to the woman, feeling a sense of peace settle over me. We were ready. Whatever came next, we would face it together.
A blinding light flashed, and the woman's voice echoed in the distance. "Good luck."
And with that, everything went white.