At a magic market, where Romeo finds it

"Thanks for coming along with me, Romeo! I really appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it." Romeo answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anything for a friend and fellow Fairy Tail wizard. I would have just spent my afternoon training anyway."

Lucy smiled prettily in response and turned her attention back to the yearly Magnolia Magic Market.

It was the kind of smile that lingered in Romeo’s mind longer than it had any right to. Friendly, yes. But also radiant. The way her honey-blonde hair bounced in the sunlight, catching gold in every strand… it wasn’t hard to see why half the guys in Magnolia tripped over themselves around her. She was stunning, plain and simple, even when all she was doing was scanning a booth of trinkets and homemade spells.

Romeo exhaled slowly and followed after her, keeping his hands tucked in his pockets to hide how nervous he suddenly felt. When Lucy had asked for help this morning – just someone to carry a few things, keep her company, maybe help haggle – he’d jumped at the chance. Maybe a little too fast. But could anyone really blame him?

She was Lucy ‘Sorcerer Weekly material’ Heartfilia. Smart. Strong. Gorgeous. Not to mention super sexy. She had a figure that caused his hormones to go crazy. Even now she wore a simple skirt, brown thigh high boots, and a blue jacket that concealed everything yet accentuated the whole package.

His gaze drifted over her from behind before he caught himself. Nope. Bad. It’d be bad if Lucy caught him staring.

Even so, being eighteen now didn’t mean the thoughts stopped coming. In fact, they’d only gotten more persistent. Especially when he wasn’t at the guild hall every day training, and instead spent nights remembering how someone like Erza once wore a bikini armor to a summer party. Or how Cana somehow made drinking sexy. Or how Juvia, for all her dramatics, had a body that could make any guy stammer.

And Lucy? Lucy was a top three contender for the position of Fairy Tail’s bustiest mage. The years had been kind to her. He’d be lying if he said he never imagined copping a feel of her huge boobs.

Not that he’d ever say any of that out loud. He was still the kid in a lot of his friends’ eyes – Lucy included. The junior. The runt or little brother. Sometimes it felt like he’d never quite outgrow that image, no matter how many missions he completed or how tall he got.

"Ugh, see what I mean?" Lucy groaned suddenly, shaking her head as she stepped away from a stall full of enchanted perfume bottles, simultaneously shaking him out of his thoughts too. “This is why Natsu never comes with me. He gets bored or distracted five minutes in. Last time, he picked a fight with a broom that turned out to be sentient and nearly set a food cart on fire. I figured you’d be a safer bet.”

Romeo chuckled. “Well, I’ll try not to set anything on fire. No promises about sentient brooms, though.”

Lucy laughed, brushing some hair behind her ear. It was a little thing, that movement. But it drew Romeo’s eyes again, just for a second too long. He **** himself to focus on the booths instead.

Stalls lined both sides of the market square, vibrant awnings fluttering in the early afternoon breeze. Magic lanterns flickered even in daylight, displaying miniature illusions to advertise their wares; glamour charms, portable portals, enchanted spices that changed flavor every bite.

The scent of roasted meat mingled with fresh parchment, brewed potions, and exotic flowers. Everywhere was motion, noise, color. Yet Romeo felt hyper-aware of the girl next to him.

She glanced over her shoulder, lips curved in a faint smirk. “So, you’re not bored yet?”

“Not a chance.” He said truthfully.

Certainly not with a gorgeous girl at his side.

“Good! Because I intend to scour the whole market for celestial keys. It’s been ages since I got any. I love my zodiac companions, but I can’t call myself a master celestial wizard if I don’t expand my repertoire.”

They continued on, weaving between stalls, Lucy pausing here and there to browse or haggle while Romeo occasionally offered input or carried her purchases. She was careful with her money, however, moaning about rent and the challenges of adult life. Romeo understood her all too well. He couldn’t wait to get a place of his own, but prices weren’t cheap.

They passed a vendor selling self-playing violins, one of which was aggressively sawing through a dramatic concerto as if auditioning for a symphony. Several children sat close by were completely enraptured by the impromptu show. Meanwhile, the parents chatted among themselves, eager for a reprieve.

Lucy tilted her head at it, amused. “Do you think it’d follow you around playing theme music all day?”

Romeo grinned. “It would make quests more dramatic, that’s for sure. I show up to a job with this thing blasting behind me? I’d be the talk of the town.”

“Or you’d drive your teammates crazy.” She said, giggling. “I can imagine Natsu and Happy using it incessantly. And think of Erza listening to that all day! She’d snap the bow in half.”

He laughed with her. Moments like this made it feel almost like a date – almost. He didn’t dare entertain the fantasy too far. Lucy didn’t treat it that way, and he couldn’t think of a way to make her fall for him yet.

Walking beside her, sharing jokes, made him feel like he was closer than before. But was it wrong for him to want more? Romeo shifted as his mind began conjuring perverted fantasies again.

They turned down another row of stalls, and this one was noticeably quieter, filled with odds and ends that didn’t quite fit into the main attractions. Stuff like strange magical knick-knacks, antique scrolls, cracked gemstones that hummed with residual energy, and other trinkets that Romeo expected to find in an antique shop.

Lucy slowed beside a stall draped in deep indigo cloth, covered in charms shaped like crescent moons and little stars. She turned toward him, one hand resting on her hip.

“Okay, so…” She started, eyes bright with curiosity. “I heard there’s a booth ahead that supposedly has some silver-colored celestial spirit keys. Could just be a scam, but I want to check it out just in case.”

“Alright. Want me to come with you?”

She shook her head lightly. “Nah, I’ll be quick. You go ahead and explore. This shouldn’t take too long.”

“If you say so. I’ll stay here and wait for you, then.” Said Romeo.

“Perfect! Be right back.”

She gave him one more of those dazzling smiles – casual, affectionate, completely unintentional in the way it made his heart beat a little faster – hen turned and disappeared into the gentle crowd, golden hair swaying behind her like a banner. Although that wasn’t all that swayed, as Romeo’s eyes were drawn to her round ass and shapely hips.

He exhaled slowly and glanced around. With her gone, the buzz of the market seemed to dull slightly. Yet he also began paying more attention to his surroundings now that his sexy friend was gone.

Romeo started to wander between the stalls on his own, aimlessly at first. But then something caught his eye; down a side path, half-obscured by a crooked hanging curtain, tucked in shadow, was a small, weathered stall with no crowd. He heard no shouting vendor. Didn’t see any signs that gave an idea of what the stall sold. Just a table of dusty objects, and at its center, a tarnished brass lamp.

It almost seemed to shimmer, despite the lack of sunlight.

Romeo paused, drawn toward it for some reason. He looked left and right for the owner without success. Approaching the stall, Romeo inspected the object more closely.

It was a normal oil lamp by all accounts. There was nothing magical about it. Or at least as far as Romeo could tell. It wasn't’ unheard of for the Magnolia market to attract common goods next to the magical ones. Its inhabitants and tourists were mainly looking for a fun time and good buy. Master Makarov once told him that the event started out as a gathering for wizards, and then eventually became a spectacle for everyone.

“I don’t know who would want to buy this old thing, though.” Muttered Romeo.

The lamp looked, quite frankly, like old junk you’d find in some old attic. Its pristine condition was the only redeeming quality it had. But why bother leaving it behind in some shady stall tucked in an alleyway? Where was its owner?

Romeo’s curiosity was piqued. He couldn’t help himself and picked up the lamp, inspecting it more closely. There was a bit of dirt across its rotund body. His fingers brushed across the brass to wipe it–

WOOSH!

Blue smoke erupted from the snout without warning. It took Romeo aback, almost causing him to fall over. The smoke quickly gathered, swirling rapidly, before taking shape.

First came wide hips leading to a narrow waist, with a golden belt following suit. Romeo’s wide eyes traveled up a toned stomach as blue as the smoke. Next came slender arms and a generous chest, covered in stylish cloth that cut off just underneath the breasts; its design vaguely eastern.

Predictably, what came last was a head. Short hair, not unlike Kinana’s, but colored indigo. A pretty, tomboyish yet somehow sensual face. Supple lips and a cute button nose. Attractive eyes that were a rich purple, contrasting the blue skin. This… girl for a lack of better terms was hot!

“Mhmmm, finally!” Said the figure excitedly. She stretched her arms behind her back, cleavage jiggling in her top. “About time I got some fresh air! I’ve been cooped up in that damn lamp for hundreds of years. The boredom has been torturous! Ugh, and the lack of freedom. Being a genie isn’t too bad and all, but can a girl at least get a change of décor now and then? Redecorating my home gets tiresome after a few decades.”

“W-What?” Asked Romeo, having lost the plot completely.

The girl looked down and grinned. “Whoops. Sorry about that. It’s been a long time since anyone claimed the lamp, so I’m not as used to this anymore. Forgive my lack of manners. Let me introduce myself! I’m Amelia, your new sex genie!”

“Sex genie?!”

“That’s right. Pleasure to meet you, master.”

Romeo waved his hand. “Wait, wait, wait! I’m not following. A genie? Like, the kind that fulfils three wishes?”

“Pff. I’m not as lame as those posers.” Scoffed Amelia, crossing her arms. “Only three wishes? And screwing over their masters? They give genies a bad name. The only screwing that I guarantee is of the good kind.”

That… still didn’t make much sense. Romeo desperately tried to gather his thoughts.

“So, a genie but not a genie?”

“No, I’m definitely a genie. But my powers and rules are drastically different. Let me explain.” Amelia sat down on the stall’s table, her lower half a vortex of smoke connected to the brass lamp. “Us sex genies have no limits in terms of how many wishes we can bestow upon our masters. Also, we don’t twist your words. Our sole purpose is to fulfil your sexual desires, so obviously your wish is my command. Plain and simple. I can also guarantee that we’re staunchly loyal to our masters. We don’t fulfil someone else’s wishes unless they get permission from our master. If our master dies, then we’re up for grabs naturally”

“I’m not so sure about that last part.” Romeo blurted out.

Amelia laughed in response. “Ha! I bet! But seriously, don’t worry about it. And as you can probably tell, the only rule is that your wish has to be sexual in one way or another; either explicitly or indirectly. Money and power are things I can grant you if it's in the pursuit of carnal pleasure.”

His cheeks flushed red at her blatant admission. She talked so freely about sex. Although he shouldn’t be too surprised, considering what kind of genie she was. Wait, what was he saying? Surprise was more than reasonable in this scenario!

“That’s a lot to digest.” Romeo admitted.

“I don’t blame you. If you want, I can answer some questions for you. It’s been too long since I’ve held an actual conversation.”

“Well, can you give an example of what I could wish for?”

Amelia smiled, perking up. “Of course! The basic premise is that your wish has to be of a sexual nature, right? But we follow that rule quite loosely. A sex genie’s task is to satisfy you in any way possible. The most obvious thing I can do is make a girl fall for you. Do you have a crush by any chance?”

Naturally, Lucy immediately came to mind. The slightly older – not so much anymore since she’d been frozen in time for several years – girl graced his dreams often nowadays. Although to be fair, so did many of the female build members. Erza, Mirajane, Juvia, Lisanna, and so on; all of them attractive in their own right. Romeo would do anything just to date one of them.

“You could say that.”

Amelia grinned knowingly. “Figured as much. Like I said, I can make any of them fall in love with you. They’ll be happy to share a bed with you. And don’t worry about their feelings. One snap of my fingers and they’ll be happier with you than if they were still single or with anyone else. Trust me; all’s fair in love and war. And with me, you’ll win every single time. I can make them agree to a harem, too.”

“A harem?!” Romeo’s eyes went wide as images of half-naked girls featured in Sorcerer Weekly smiled at him from a lavish, king-sized bed. “You could make that happen?”

“Sure can! And my powers don’t stop there. I can alter the very fabric of reality to make your dreams come true. Want to play out a high school fantasy? Done. Make it normal for girls to walk around in bikinis? Easy. Change your girls physically to better suit your tastes? Been there, done that. The world’s your oyster, master. That’s a sex genie’s promise!”

She certainly knew how to sell her services. Romeo swallowed as his mind raced with possibilities.

In a way, this sort of power was immoral. He could turn all of the guild’s women into his harem if he so desired. Against their will, no less. But was it truly a problem if they came to like it? Plus, even if he went too far, he could always ask Amelia to undo everything he’d changed; wipe the slate clean.

Plus, he’d dreamed of this so many times. Romeo was tired of being attracted to women who viewed him as a little brother. He wanted some action, dammit! Romeo’s suppressed feelings and desires surfaced suddenly and violently. A slightly perverted grin graced his young features, prompting the genie to mirror it.

“Alright, we have a deal!”

Amelia winked. “I knew I snatched myself a good master! Looking forward to working with you!”