The Blooming Capital
The glowbug quietly hushed by his ear before fluttering slightly ahead to take a peek around the corner. "All clear," it whispered, happily bobbing up and down. It zoomed out into the open and he chased after its glittering trail, clamping a hand over his mouth to refrain from laughing. He dashed across the stone path bordered by an enormous wall of white brick on one side and a tall leafy hedge on the other.
The glowbug rounded the bush only to suddenly fly back in a panic, nearly smacking into his face. "Hide! Hide!" it squeaked as it shot past his head, dove down, and vanished beneath the hedge, rustling a few leaves.
He immediately dropped to his hands and knees and crawled in the small gap between the bushes to follow the glowing orb's lead. Woody branches scratched his bare skin, snagged at his clothes, and stole his hat as he squeezed through. He emerged on the other side, finding an empty rectangular space filled with grass and weeds.
The shining ball of light with wings was hovering near the ground, prompting him stay low. He stiffened when he caught the sound of clinking metal drawing closer. Carefully, he peered through the gaps in the hedges and saw the legs of a man dressed in armour and wielding a spear stroll past. There were many of these men patrolling the area, but none had found the boy and the glowbug playfully sneaking around just yet.
It was a fun, thrilling game; somewhat similar to the hide-and-seek game he had played with Asuka, Wendy, Happy, and Romeo around the guild from time to time.
He patiently waited as the heavy footsteps of the armoured guard got farther and farther away.
"Now! Let's go! Don't forget your hat!" whispered the flying orb before it dove back into the bushes.
He pried his green cap free and crawled back onto the stone path. From there, he followed the glowbug's speedy flight, running past the hedges and swerving into a tunnel. Once he stepped onto the other side, he was greeted by warm sunlight. He paused to stare at his new surroundings, finding the area enclosed by more towering walls of pale stone. It was a large garden full of lush green flowering plants growing in a pattern. Streams of crystal clear water ran along the outer perimeter of the garden, sparkling like jewels under the golden light.
This was a new place in his dreams and yet it felt like he had wandered this very same garden before.
He shrugged away the odd feeling. Putting on his hat, he started to walk forward, confident in knowing the guards will not find him here. He wanted to look more closely at the water but his body seemed to move on its own accord, heading instead across the center towards the one window on the far side.
There was someone there, he quickly noticed, standing on the raised stone platform and looking into the window where it was completely black and empty on the other side. His walking stroll turned into a run, his boots stomping on the flowers in his way. His running steps slowed to a stop when the person heard his approach and sharply turned around with a startled gasp.
It was a girl with eyes that were blue and ears as long as his. She wore a dress that was long, white, and flowing on the bottom while the top was pink and cinched around her waist with an elegant belt made of gold. Her blonde hair was hidden beneath a white cap banded with pink and, clasped in the front center to hold it all together, was a golden medallion that bore the familiar symbol of three triangles in unity.
He recognized those triangles having noticed them engraved into his ocarina and painted on the shield he sometimes got to use. He had even seen them at various places within his dreams; carved on old stone temples, decorating rugs and tapestries, painted on armour and equipment, and now, as he looked over the girl before him, the same three triangles were sewn on clothing and made into jewellery too. There was something important about those golden points… It was a strong feeling that suddenly arose when he met the girl's blue eyes.
She was shocked at first, holding one hand timidly over her open mouth. Her surprise was soon replaced with a hopeful smile, one that seemed to brighten the area, as she clasped her hands before her chest. She took a small step forward, the heel of her shoe clicking against stone, the sound echoing around in the quiet place. When she spoke, no longer could he hear the flowing waters or the gentle winds; only her kind voice; "Who are you?"
He blinked in surprise. No one has ever asked him that before. It was a simple and easy question, but when he opened his mouth to answer, he hesitated, his mind suddenly blank.
"Who are you?" she repeated in the same tone and kindness, her smile never fading.
Bacon… he remembered. It was his name that Wendy, Romeo, and all of Fairy Tail called him. But it didn't feel right to tell her that. He didn't understand why. He frowned and looked over his shoulder at the glowbug, wanting it to help him like the many times he needed its guidance. The shining orb hovered close to his ear and whispered; "Tell her your name."
He nodded and turned back to the girl. "Bacon," he said. However, when the word left his mouth, he couldn't shake away the regrettable feeling that he had told her the wrong answer.
It didn't seem like she heard him. She lowered her clasped hands and asked once more, "Who are you?"
His frown returned. "Bacon," he said again, louder.
'That is… not your name.'
He tensed at the voice that only he could hear, echoing loudly within the walls of the garden. His frown deepened. He was more confused. Wendy always called him Bacon. Romeo called him Bacon. Everyone else called him Bacon. Bacon was his name… wasn't it?
When the girl in the dress asked the same question, he only stared, not knowing what to tell her.
He felt lost here. He didn't like this place and he didn't like this girl. He wanted to go back to having fun sneaking around behind hedges and walls to avoid being seen by the armoured people. On his heel, he twisted around only to gasp in shock at the sudden change in environment.
The colourful garden had vanished as did the great stone walls and the warm sun, all replaced by a vast open field shadowed by roiling black clouds above. The sky was rumbling. Streaks of lightning split the darkness, making the heavens roar. A cold wind blew, giving him goosebumps and sending ripples through the long grass.
Just when he thought he had avoided the girl, he saw her again, rushing past him while riding atop a tall, white, four-legged animal with an older person dressed in dark clothes seated behind her. They were galloping away at a great speed; the animal's hoofed feet kicking up clods of dirt and grass.
The boy met the girl's wide blue eyes one last time, seeing fear instead of hope, before she and her rider disappeared from sight.
"You…" Another voice, one that was deep, angry, and accusing and coming from right behind him.
Bright lightning flashed and thunder boomed soon after, loud enough to deafen the boy's ears and make his breath quiver. Slowly, he turned around only to freeze at the sight of a towering beast standing before him. It looked similar to the tall, four-legged creature the girl had ridden but this one was larger and was as black as the darkest night. Its eyes were fierce and burning red like hot coals and its crimson mane flowed like living flames. Plates of silvery-black steel adorned its head, body and legs and they noisily rattled when the big creature stomped its front right foot into the earth where it scraped its foot back, soundly tearing up the grass. It loudly snorted through its nostrils, its hot breath steaming into mist.
And riding upon its broad back was a tall, muscular man with a face hidden in black shadow. Darkness shrouded his entire figure. Only his eyes were visible, seemingly glowing a sinister red that was the same colour as freshly drawn blood, and they were boring right into the boy with great intensity. "Where did they go, boy?" he demanded, his words a low, threatening snarl. The wind picked up, snapping back the frayed, shadowy cloak he wore.
The boy didn't answer, not liking the man's tone. The glowbug hovering over his shoulder flickered to a yellow colour – the sign of an enemy. The boy clenched his jaw apprehensively and instinctively reached for the weapons strapped to his back. Sword and shield were drawn into his hands, fortifying his will to stand boldly against the dark beings before him. He steeled against the man's glower, knowing there was nothing to fear.
The girl was in danger and fleeing from this man. She had to be protected, but the boy didn't know why; he didn't even like her. But some unforeseen force was prodding him; silently telling him that this was the right thing to do because the man in front of him was evil and had to be stopped.
"Who do you think you are, you little fool?" mocked the shadowed rider.
Again, the boy said nothing, his unwavering gaze never leaving the other. He shifted into a defensive stance in anticipation.
The man sneered at the small one's brave display, his dark lips parting to show his pearly teeth. He raised his hand to his chin, forming hooks with his thick shadowy fingers, and suddenly sank his nails into his own black flesh. He tore deep into his own face, ripping upwards to peel away the skin and tissue. Blood gushed from the self-inflicted wounds, pouring down like scarlet rivers that drenched the back of the four-legged animal that continued to glare down at the child. The man gouged out his own eyes with his fingers, leaving bloody sockets that endlessly wept red. Then he raised his head towards the sky and laughed; a reverberating, mocking laughter that rumbled like the thunder above. He didn't care if blood filled his mouth and stained the shadows red and he didn't care if his face was falling apart, piece by bloody piece.
It was a chilling sound combined with a gruesome sight, disturbing the young swordsman greatly. Lighting flashed once more, much brighter than before, lighting up the clouds and blinding the boy for one brief second. He rapidly blinked to readjust his eyes only to stiffen in alarm to find both the man and his black creature gone along with the wide open field and thunderous clouds.
He now stood within a small, dark chamber with several walls decorated with giant, framed paintings, each one depicting the same empty dirt road bathed in moonlight. Icy blue flames burned on the few standing iron torches, casting the room in a dim, cool light, making the air feel just as cold as ice.
Frantic, he looked around, unable to see where the man shrouded in shadows had disappeared to. He was quick to realize that he was tall again, no longer the size of a boy but at the height of an adult, and the sword and shield he had drawn were gone from his gloved hands. The glowbug still accompanied him, back to its normal white glow.
Laughter suddenly shattered the silence in the room; the very same awful sound that sent shivers up his spine and made the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. He twisted around and gasped in horror when he found the shadowed man standing within an arm's length away right behind him.
The fiend's face was mostly torn off, revealing the glistening white bone beneath. Pieces of bloody flesh still clung to his skull, wet and dripping. Within his sockets were two fiery red eyes that shone with a malevolent light. Two long pointed horns of white sprouted from the top of his head while his many teeth were now all sharply pointed like a monster's. Gone was his lower jaw where it must have fallen off somewhere and within his gaping mouth was a burning flame that was the same icy blue as the torches.
The glowbug screamed a warning and flashed yellow, but the boy was too late to react. Something cold and sharp was suddenly plunged into his stomach, piercing him through to his other side. Excruciating pain flared from the injury, making him cry out in agony. Through his grimace, he saw and felt his own blood begin to spill, running down the long central blade and black metal shaft of the dreaded spear belonging to the man. He grasped the weapon by the base of its three blades in hope of pulling it free only to have it thrust deeper by its wielder, eliciting more pain and making him choke. His knees buckled and he would have fallen if it were not for the spear holding him up.
Mocking laughter turned into mocking words. "Who do you think you are?" the man asked again, his harsh voice overshadowed by a demonic entity.
The wounded boy couldn't answer, his body wracked with pain, and his mind filled with torment and confusion. He had no strength to resist or to fight back, not when his life was slowly seeping away and staining the floor crimson. With trembling hands, he weakly gripped the shaft of the weapon, using it as a crutch to stay upright.
This isn't supposed to happen! his mind was screaming at him. He had been here before in this cold, dark room; he had fought the bone-faced phantom that could meld within the many paintings with its four-legged mount and defeated it once before.
It was here that the kind girl with green hair and blue eyes had slept and it was him who had awakened her.
He didn't know how he knew; he could never understand how and why and it often left him feeling lost, frustrated, and vulnerable.
The vile creature leaned forward so his repulsive, peeling face was right before the swordsman's. The boy couldn't pry away from the pair of wicked eyes dwelling within the hollowed sockets that cried scarlet tears.
"Who are you to stand in my way?" the fiend whispered, his voice a grating rasp, his eyes glowing with anger and his inner blue fire flaring with each spoken word.
The swordsman flinched from the question. His quivering lips moved but there was no sound for he had no breath left to speak with. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, and it hurt so much more to stand.
This isn't suppose to happen, his mind was telling him again. He was supposed to be the triumphant victor wielding a holy sword of light in his left hand and a sturdy shield in the other. But now that moment had changed…
The man pulled back, yanking the point of his weapon free from the other's body.
The boy staggered and fell backwards, landing hard on the stone floor on his back. His body was growing cold and numb, the pain gradually disappearing. His head was spinning. Everything was blurry. Darkness was starting to crawl into his vision.
Hands that were like iron grabbed his shoulders, the icy fingers digging deep. The fiend loomed above him, peering down with spite, its burning eyes penetrating the growing shadows.
"You are no hero," the phantom hissed in contempt, his dreadful voice echoing all around, "You are no one!"
No one? I am…
"Bacon."
No… that's not my name…
"Bacon. Wake up."
That's… not who I am…
"Bacon!"
Gasping, the boy snapped his eyes open only to find someone shrouded in shadow gripping him by the shoulders. Panicking, he immediately backhanded the person and broke free from the person's grasp.
"Ow! It's only me!"
There was a sharp snap of fingers followed by the sudden blindness of light. The boy flinched from the brightness and shielded his eyes. He jerked away when he felt a hand grab his arm, not wanting the man with the bloody face to hurt him more. He rolled to the side, but ended up falling over the edge and landing face-first onto a carpeted floor with his legs all tangled up in something. In haste, he pushed off the floor and soon blinked in surprise when he finally realized he was no longer in the cold, dark chamber surround by desolate paintings and stone walls.
He was back in the bedroom he shared with Romeo and he had fallen off his mattress with his legs tangled in the sheets.
"Bacon."
Bacon sharply turned his head at the sound of Romeo's voice, seeing the older boy kneeling on Bacon's mattress with worry clear on his sleepy face.
Romeo was rubbing a sore spot on his cheek that was turning red. "It's okay now. You were only having a bad dream," he assured, his tone gentle.
The younger one blinked and stared for a moment, his breathing rapid and his heart pounding loud in his ears. Only a dream? He untangled himself and lifted his buttoned pajama shirt, relieved to see no bleeding hole where a spear had impaled him through.
Romeo shifted closer and frowned. "What's wrong? Do you have a stomach ache?"
Bacon dropped his shirt and shook his head. He wished for Wendy's comforting presence and to hear her calming voice, but the girl had gone back to Fairy Hills to stay for the night to do her laundry and pack her things for their long trip to the capital city of Fiore tomorrow. He glanced at the closed window above Romeo's bed. It was still dark out and he could hear the familiar pattering of rain against the roof.
Romeo gave him a light pat on the head. "Are you feeling okay?"
Bacon slowly nodded and let out a deep sigh, feeling more at ease.
"What did you dream about?" Romeo quietly asked as he motioned for the other boy to climb back onto the mattress.
Bacon frowned and lowered his gaze as he tossed his covers back onto his own bed. It was a question Romeo asked every morning and every morning Bacon didn't know how to respond. It was difficult to put his dreams into words before they were forgotten.
Thunder suddenly cracked the sky, making him freeze before he could get off the floor. The sound brought back the vivid image of the evil man ripping apart his shadowed face beneath the stormy sky.
Then Bacon remembered the sunlit garden surrounded by towering walls of pale stone and the strange girl in the pink and white dress peering through a blackened window. Her haunting question rang through his mind: "Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?"
Bacon had the answer, but at the same time, he did not. It didn't make any sense to him. When he tried to think about it his head started to hurt. He pressed a hand to the side of his head, feeling a sharp pain arise. He felt a hand on his shoulder, giving him a little squeeze.
"Are you okay? Does your head hurt?" Romeo asked in concern. "Lie down. You'll feel better if you get some more sleep."
Bacon slowly shook his head in disagreement. If he closed his eyes again, he may have another bad dream full of confusion and pain. And he might see that man again, ripping away his own face, laughing and ridiculing and glowering down at the boy in contempt…
Above, the storm was angry, now pounding the roof with heavy rain and unleashing a booming roar that seemed to shake the whole house.
Romeo's frown deepened at the younger boy's reaction. "I'll be right back," he said and quietly left the room.
Bacon glanced over at the window, seeing a bright flash coming from outside. Anxious, he made his way over; climbing onto Romeo's bed and kneeling on top to rest his arms on the sill to look through the glass. Instead of seeing the raging storm outside, he saw his own reflection in the window.
He was a boy with wide blue eyes, messy blond hair, and long pointed ears and yet… he knew nothing about himself. "Who are you?" he whispered. His reflection didn't have an answer.
Romeo returned shortly with a damp towel for Bacon to wipe his face and a small mug full of warm, sweetened tea for him to drink. Seeing that Bacon wasn't going back to sleep any time soon, the older boy joined the other in looking through the window. "Well, it's only two more hours until we have to get up anyway," the fire mage commented with a yawn. He snapped his fingers to turn off the crystal lights.
Shadows swallowed them both and the view of the drenched street outside became clear. The boys quietly watched the storm together, one a little more apprehensive than the other. Lightning occasionally lit up the dark road and thunder would follow right after, drumming along the black clouds. Rain lashed against the window, whipped about by the howling winds. Gradually, the thunderstorm passed over the sleeping town of Magnolia over an hour later. A light rain continued to fall as the dark sky began to lighten at the first sign of dawn.
Bacon looked over at Romeo, seeing the older boy resting his head over his folded arms, looking as if he had fallen asleep. "Romeo," Bacon began hesitantly. At the sound of his voice, Romeo was instantly awake, his eyes wide and staring at Bacon. "Who am I?"
Romeo blinked a few times and mumbled, "Huh? W-What did you say?"
"Who am I?" Bacon repeated, desperate.
Romeo's surprise morphed into a sympathetic frown. He opened his mouth only to close it again. After taking a moment to ponder, he cleared his throat and said, "I… I don't know…" He patted Bacon on the back when he saw the younger boy's disappointment. Romeo held up a fist, his weary face now determined as he gazed upon the other. "Don't worry. The answer will come to you someday. Everyone in Fairy Tail has been trying to help you remember your past and we will always keep trying. We won't give up." He perked up and grinned. "Actually, I lied. I know who you are. You're a strong, amazing, fearless kid who can fight one-on-one against Titania! You're better than me with a sword and bow and you're fifty times better than me in playing the ocarina. Your songs can make people happy and dance and your magic is incredible. You like cake and ice cream and you hate spicy curry and brussel sprouts. You love to play games and listen to Levy's stories.
"You are Bacon of Fairy Tail and you are a friend and valuable member in our guild. That's who you are."
The youngest smiled, feeling more assured. There was one thing that still bothered him, however. "Is Bacon my name?"
Romeo laughed. "No… You probably don't remember at the time, but it was Natsu who came up with that name and it kinda stuck since you seemed to like it." He suddenly became curious. "Why do you ask? Do you remember your true name? Or something about your past, perhaps?"
The other boy shook his head.
Romeo gently nudged Bacon's arm with an elbow. "It'll come to you someday. I know it will. Do you still like to be called Bacon?"
The younger boy thought for a second and nodded. He was Bacon of Fairy Tail. No longer did he doubt that name for it was the only thing he truly knew.
Romeo lightly patted him over the head. "Are you feeling better now?"
Again, Bacon nodded.
The fire mage grinned again. "You should try talking more often. Dad and Wendy would be really happy to hear you speak. It'll be funny to see their surprised faces!"
Bacon matched the other's smile. "Okay."
Wendy let out a big yawn as she tried to stretch out her stiff and sore body. The effect of Ultear's Arc of Time still hadn't faded away. Every joint was aching and every body part was tender. Not only that, she had just spent three hours in a cramped carriage seated between two sleeping boys who were both using her shoulders as pillows. She was stuck in the middle for nearly three hours and unable to move since she didn't want to disturb her sleeping companions. Last night's storm had woken almost everyone up in the middle of the night, so it wasn't a surprise that her friends were tired. Plus, they had to get up early in the wee hours of the morning too.
Romeo explained to her what had happened during the night. Bacon had another nightmare; one that resulted in him refusing to go back to sleep. But most shocking of all was that he had spoken to Romeo, questioning about his identity and name. It was a moment Wendy had wished to be there for Bacon.
"Wendy."
The girl turned around at the sound of the young boy's quiet voice and smiled. It wasn't the first time she had heard him say her name that day. When they had gathered at the stables that morning, he had surprised her and everyone else by calling Wendy's name. Since then, everyone had been trying to get him to talk more before Master hurried everyone onto the carriages so they could leave at six o'clock sharp.
Bacon was now wide awake and eagerly pointing at the pair of dark brown horses that had pulled their carriage.
"You want to see the horses?" Wendy asked and got a happy nod from the boy. She looked around the street of the small town they had decided to stop at for brunch, seeing only a few carriages and some of her guild members loitering around and taking a break. Not everyone was here yet so there was plenty of time to relax for a bit.
The boy was grinning broadly as he ran up to one of the tall animals, pulling Wendy along. He was excited when he first saw them, but during the morning rush, he didn't get a chance to get a closer look.
Bacon stood before the hoofed beast and stretched out a hand, wanting to touch its face. Snorting, the large animal only looked down at him.
"Do you like horses, Bacon?" Bisca asked as she strolled over with Asuka not far behind. She reached up and gently stroked the animal's snout, managing to make it lower its head so Bacon and Asuka could pet it too.
The boy's smile was bright when the animal nuzzled its nose against his hands. "Epona?" he murmured curiously.
"It's not a pony, silly. It's a horsey!" Asuka corrected him, giggling. "We have one at home!"
"Horsey?" The boy slightly tilted his head at the odd name and continued to stroke the animal.
"Wendy, you and Bacon should stop by our house sometime after the Games are over. We have many different animals I'm sure you would love to see," said Bisca with a kind smile. "I can even show you how to ride a horse."
The Dragon Slayer liked the sound of that idea since Bacon often showed a great interest in every moving critter, no matter how big or small. "That sounds fun, don't you think so, Bacon?" she asked.
The boy grinned and nodded.
However, Wendy's smile faltered when she recalled Cana's ominous prediction with her magic cards: "It's not love he'll find first… It's… death."
Will something bad happen to Bacon before the Games were over? Wendy had demanded to know more about the boy's misfortune, but the only detail Cana could obtain from her readings was that the event will take place 'sometime in the near future'.
Upon hearing the bad news, Master had taken a few precautions by providing a special gold bracelet engraved with sealing runes for Bacon to wear. The shiny accessory concealed the boy's magic aura so it felt as if he was just an ordinary child with no magic capabilities. The bracelet wasn't cheap either; Master had to use more of Bacon's treasure which had made Wendy very unhappy to begin with. After realizing that Master's intention was to protect Bacon, the girl was quick to forgive him. Along with the bracelet, Bacon was given a hooded cloak to wear to hide his appearance. Deep green, trimmed with white, and embroidered with the sigil of Fairy Tail on the back in yellow thread, the article of clothing did well in shrouding the boy's face in shadow whenever he wore the hood.
The city of Crocus was going to be filled with all sorts of people from all over Fiore and possibly from the neighboring countries as well so it was best to keep Bacon's identity well hidden. Especially when dark forces will be present at the Games…
Wendy, Bacon, Asuka, and Bisca spent a little more time with the horses. The children got a chance to feed them as well when the carriage driver offered them the opportunity. When the animals were done eating, everyone in Fairy Tail had arrived into town by then.
The guild ate a hearty meal before boarding their carriages to journey another three hours on the road leading to Crocus. For the duration of the trip, Bacon entertained Wendy and her group, consisting of Carla, Happy, Romeo, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Erza, with a number of songs played on his ocarina. The upbeat tunes brought joyous smiles on everyone's faces while the soothing melodies made them calm and relaxed. Even Natsu, unsurprisingly stricken with motion sickness, was feeling slightly better from listening to the boy's music.
Outside, the terrain gradually transformed from lush green forests to vast open plains to enormous rocky, mountains. The capital of Fiore was situated between the grand mountains near the center of the country, built upon the solid earth of the wide valley. The city was massive; the largest Wendy had ever seen. Giant stone walls, nearly twenty meters high, surrounded the perimeter while a huge arced gate allowed passage into and out of the fortified city.
Beyond the gate, Wendy was instantly drawn to the many different sights and sounds. The streets were packed full with people and carriages from other parts of Fiore, and alongside the road were numerous vendors selling food and wares. Crowds of curious civilians stood by to watch the traffic of carriages, many of them waving at the different mages that had just arrived. Various shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bars lined the main road, courting to tourists and visitors. Colourful banners depicting the kingdom's symbol, the crocus flower, and all sorts of flowery decorations adorned the walls of buildings and streetlamps in celebration for the annual Grand Magic Games. There were street performers at every corner doing various kinds of captivating magic tricks, playing live music, and sometimes there was the occasional loud pop from someone launching fireworks high in the sky. In the distance, Wendy caught sight of the golden peaks of the kingdom's castle located in the center of the capital.
Wendy wasn't the only one in awe; beside her, Bacon was pressing his hands and face against the glass window, trying to see every fascinating thing outside with wide blue eyes. She heard sounds of amazement from her teammates as they too gazed out the windows, astonished by the festivities and the sheer size of the city. If Wendy had to guess, the population of Crocus was likely over one million people. Romeo was the only one not so enthused having experienced the lively celebrations for seven years straight. He was more amused by everyone's reactions.
It took at least an hour for their carriage to maneuver through the busy streets before reaching Team Fairy Tail's designated lodging, the Honeybone Lodge. Located in the north-eastern district, the building was humble in size with the front porch decorated with little smiling skull heads made of white wax on each rounded post. Above the wooden, stain-glass door was a wooden sign depicting a bee with a skeletal head and surrounded by red and pink hibiscus flowers.
The group unloaded their luggage from the carriage. Wendy and Carla stayed with Romeo and Bacon while the rest of her team checked in and dropped off their stuff in their room. Since Team Fairy Tail was strictly assigned the one room in the lodge, the two boys had to stay elsewhere with Macao and the others.
Wendy stretched her body, unable to shake away the pain and fatigue. "I still don't feel right," she groaned in misery as she plopped on the bottom step of the porch, right beside Romeo. Erza was the only one on the team who was feeling perfectly fine which made Wendy a little envious of the woman's extraordinary endurance and willpower. At this rate, Erza may have to carry most of the team's weight until each member fully recovered.
Bacon was standing close by, keeping his attention towards the sky in search of random fireworks. Every minute or so there would be a colourful explosion in the shape of flowers, hearts, stars, animals, or happy faces.
Romeo frowned at Wendy in worry. "Yeah, I'm still aching all over. I hope you guys can make it through the preliminary though. That's one of the toughest parts."
"Preliminary? What's it like? Does it start tomorrow?" she asked, getting nervous.
"The preliminary is different every year and starts at different times. It's basically an elimination round where over a hundred guilds enter, but only eight to ten will actually succeed in participating in the main events. One year, it started right at midnight," Romeo explained. "Fairy Tail has never lost the preliminaries, however… we always end up dead last in the actual Games against the top guilds…"
"This year will be different!" Natsu hollered from behind them as he and the rest of the team stepped out. "Fairy Tail is going to be number one again!"
Wendy heard snickering from across the street. "D'you hear that?" a man asked another as they both glanced over at the mages, sneering. "It's Fairy Tail, the losers!"
"Gonna drag your asses along at the bottom again, Fairy Tail?" jeered the other, jiggling his butt in the guild's direction.
"Sabertooth will dominate the Games just like every year!" the first man added.
"Why you–" Natsu snarled vehemently only to choke midway through his threat when Erza yanked back his scarf.
She gave Natsu a stern glower. "Don't you start anything, Natsu. That won't prove anything." Her glare shifted to the two men and both noticeably shivered when they met her eyes. "We will show all of Fiore Fairy Tail's true strength in due time. Just not now. You'll spoil the surprise," she added with a devilish sneer that suddenly sent the men backpedaling the other way.
"The hell is she?! She's freaking scary!" one of them yelled as they sprinted away.
"Whoa… Geez, you're pretty worked up too, aren't you?" Lucy mumbled under her breath, inching away from the silently fuming Titania.
Even though Erza was her teammate, Wendy felt just as intimidated by the murderous look in the older woman's eyes. Wendy was overwhelmingly relieved to have the fearsome Titania on her side.
Around that time, Bisca, Alzack, Master, with Asuka riding atop his shoulders, and Shadow Gear stopped by, each one wearing a proud or happy smile. Levy was first to discuss the ever-changing rules of the Games and brought up three very important ones that she had read about in the two-hundred paged rule book she skimmed through over the trip: the Master of each guild could not participate, only members who bore the mark of their guild were allowed, and each event was held secret until the moment before they began where then the rules of the event would be explained.
The last rule made Wendy extremely nervous. Not knowing what she was getting into was going to be stressful since she was not particularly good at anything. She was a healer, not a fighter nor an athlete. She could only hope to do her best and make her guild proud.
"There's also a little warning at the end here," Levy noted as she flipped to the last page of the text, "You guys have to return to your lodgings by midnight."
"Hmm? So we have a curfew?" Gray grumbled in disappointment.
Romeo looked thoughtful. "That rule was applied another year before. It could mean the preliminary might start at midnight tonight!" he said.
"What? Tonight?!" Lucy groaned.
"It's possible," warned Jet. "Caught us off-guard that year and we barely made it past the elimination round."
Erza smirked and looked between her teammates. "Very well. Everyone, be here before the clock strikes twelve. Understood?"
Natsu glanced up at the nearest clock tower and found the time to be nearing one in the afternoon. He grinned. "There's lots of time. C'mon, Lucy, let's go check out this city! I'm starving!" he said as he started to sprint down the road with Happy gleefully flapping over his head.
Lucy quietly sighed and jogged after Natsu and Happy nonetheless, yelling at the pair to slow down.
To Wendy, Carla, and Bacon, Romeo suggested, "There's some cool things I'd like to show you guys. Wanna go see?"
The Sky Dragon Slayer smiled and nodded as she hopped onto her feet. "Sure! Bacon, come on, let's have some fun!"
Bacon was elated. But before he could turn to follow, Master Makarov called him over.
"Not too hasty now, my boy. You're forgetting something," said the elder as he pulled the boy's hood over his blond head. "Always keep that on while we're here, okay?"
Bacon nodded.
"Why does he have to?" little Asuka asked, peering down at the other boy from her perch.
"To keep him safe." Makarov lightly patted the boy on the arm. "Now go have some fun and do be careful."
"Oh, and Romeo," Alzack began before the children could leave, "Your father wants you and Bacon to be back at the inn by ten o'clock."
The older boy pouted. "Aw, ten? That's so early!"
Alzack shrugged. "It's what your dad wants."
Romeo crossed his arms and sighed. "Which inn? The same one?"
"Yeah, Humming Way by the west plaza. Don't be late or else you'll make him worry," Bisca added with a short laugh.
"Yeah, yeah." Romeo motioned for Wendy and Bacon to follow as he started down the road. "You guys hungry? They sell some really good food at the central plaza."
"Sounds good – Oh, wait!" Wendy stopped in her tracks, making her companions stop as well. "I forgot my money! Let me go grab–"
"Don't worry about it!" Romeo grinned and flashed a thick wad of bills he had tucked in the inner pocket of his vest. "I saved up a lot from all the jobs I did. I can pay for everything. My treat."
"But–"
He didn't even wait for the girl to respond. As excited as Natsu, he sprinted down the road with Bacon right at his heels, prompting Wendy and Carla to chase after them without an argument.
The city of Crocus was a loud and busy place with bustling streets full of people and many wonderful things to see, hear, and smell. As they neared the central plaza, crowds were so thick that Bacon, Romeo, and Wendy had to link hands so not to lose one another as they squeezed and nudged their way through the maze of people in order to reach their destination.
As Bacon was pulled along by Wendy, he couldn't help but stare at the many different people walking around him. There were people that resembled animals, people that wore rich, fancy clothes, people that dressed in shiny plates of armour, people that barely wore anything at all, people who painted their bodies and faces in bright colours, people with stylish headdresses and vibrant robes, and many, many other types of individuals that caught his attention.
Once they turned around a corner and emerged onto the busy plaza, the young boy was stunned by all the decorations that adorned the planted trees, street lamps, and stone statues of maidens and knights mounted on horses built around a large stone man wearing a crown and wielding a great sword carved from rock. There were ribbons that burned as if they were on fire, balloons that changed colours and patterns, signs with moving images and flashing lights, glowing lamps in the shape of flowers suspended in midair, a rain of pink flower petals that fluttered to the ground that disappeared before touching the ground, and most amusing of all were the twirling pinwheels that hovered around, carried by the light breeze.
There were dozens of carts and stalls that sold tasty treats that Romeo bought for his friends to try. Bacon snacked on grilled meat on a stick, a scrumptious meat pie, a sweet strawberry tart, delectable dumplings, and honey-dipped doughnuts and drank ice-cold juice to quench his thirst.
As they ate, the four wandered around the plaza and watched the different shows put on by various street performers. Since the children were short, it was difficult to see anything over the countless heads of adults so they often had to force their way to the front. Bacon kept a hand on his hood, being mindful not to let it fall off as he was pulled along by Wendy.
Together they watched as people in extravagant clothes danced and sang to the rapid beat of drums and strummed guitars. They smiled at the sight of jugglers balancing atop giant rolling balls, tossing a number of objects ranging from balls to flaming swords at each other. They laughed, clapped, and cheered with the crowd at the costumed actors on a stage that surprised and dazzled the audience with all sorts of cool, showy magic, most of which Bacon had never witnessed before back at the guild.
When they saw everything they could see, Romeo led them out of the plaza and into an alley. From there, he took them to a huge, wide bridge constructed over a large body of shimmering water. On the other side in the distance was a tall, massive building with many pointed towers that shone bright and gold under the sun. A wall of stone surrounded the building so the only form of entry was the arced gate built into the wall. People were flooding to and fro across the bridge.
"That's Castle Mercurius," said Romeo, pointing at the magnificent structure. "That's where the King and Princess of Fiore live."
"I'd like to see it up close," said Wendy, shielding her eyes against the sun to peer at the castle from afar.
Romeo shook his head. "It's best to go around evening. Less people that way. It gets very crowded with tourists at this time so it'll take forever to get in and out."
For the rest of the afternoon, they travelled up and down the roads, browsing shops and stopping every now and then for a little bite to eat. Romeo purchased a set of specialty Light Pens for Bacon along with some picture books, puzzles, toys, and a souvenir pin that had a picture of the castle they had just seen. It magically lit up with a touch of a button located at the back of the blue, metal clasp. He also bought Wendy a plush doll of a round pink character with little black eyes and a smiling face after she commented on how cute it was. And, after seeing Bacon staring curiously at the same doll, Romeo bought another for the younger boy to have. They ventured into a local bakery, picking up various sweet breads and rolls, fruit tarts and pies, assorted cookies, and a dozen cupcakes, each one skillfully decorated with different blooming flowers made of coloured frosting. The goodies were packed in boxes where they would be eaten later.
When the sun began to set, the four began their trek over the now sparsely populated bridge, each one carrying a bag of goods. Bacon gazed over the side, seeing the surface of the lake below glimmer like orange jewels under the evening light. Visible beyond the city's outer wall were the enormous, pale gray mountains that were at least one hundred times larger than the mountains near Magnolia. The thin trickle of people leaving the gate ended when the four members of Fairy Tail were half-way across and it seemed like they were the last ones heading to the castle.
It was quiet and peaceful when they passed through the enormous stone walls of the gate, a stark contrast compared to the rest of the city. Instead of the music, explosions in the sky, and the buzz of constant chatter, the only sounds Bacon could hear were their footsteps and the quiet rustling of their paper bags as they strolled along the empty pathway.
Bacon took a deep breath, liking the cool, fresh air. Tailing Wendy and Romeo, he looked around, seeing well-trimmed hedges and dozens upon dozens of flowers planted in a specific order to form an eye-catching pattern of colours and shapes. In the middle the huge garden was a large fountain that sprayed crystal-clear water up at the sky. Bacon leaned over the marble ledge and smiled at his distorted reflection in the basin, feeling the cold spray of mist against his face.
"It's getting late, so let's hurry and get a closer look at the castle," said Wendy as she gently pulled him by the hand.
The boy glanced up at the tallest tower of the enormous building they were approaching, astonished by its size and height. It was the biggest structure he had ever seen. Made of dark gray stone at the bottom and gold-coloured rock mid-way to the top, the castle had so many windows Bacon wasn't sure how many rooms were inside of it. Most of the rooms were lit up because the last of the sun's light was about to disappear behind the distant mountaintops. He had seen other castles before somewhere within his dreams; one that was dark and floating in an ominous sky, and another that was built within a lively town, similar to the one he gazed upon.
"Wow, look at that," the Dragon Slayer whispered in awe, eyeing the top of the building. "Have you ever been inside it, Romeo?"
The older boy shook his head. "No. I don't think visitors are allowed in without permission."
"It's a beautiful place," said Carla.
"It would be interesting to see…"
Bacon didn't hear the rest of the conversation. He turned sharply to the side when he heard a strange chittering sound coming from behind them. He spotted a tiny black creature wearing a strange crown made of leaves and a little red cape slowly crawling towards them. It had round yellow eyes, a wicked grin, and a long tail that ended in a triangular point.
It froze the instant it noticed Bacon looking at it. Before it could even flinch, Bacon dropped his bag of toys and swiftly dove at it, snatching the little creature in his hand to get a better look at it. Unfortunately, the creature didn't like being roughly handled and ended up sinking its sharp little teeth into the boy's thumb in retaliation.
Crying out in pain, Bacon instinctively tossed the mean animal where it landed on the ground with an audible squeak and immediately scampered away on all fours.
"Bacon, what happened?!" Wendy asked, grabbing the boy's injured hand.
Before she could start healing, Bacon dashed after the escaping creature, mad that it bit him.
"Wait! We're not supposed to go over there!" Romeo shouted, but the younger boy didn't listen.
The black animal rounded to the side of the castle, ran under a roped fence, and disappeared beneath a tall hedge that stretched as far as the stone wall encircling the castle.
The boy rolled under the rope then dropped onto his hands and knees and crawled through a small gap in the bushes, ignoring the pain from his bleeding thumb. Branches scratched at his arms and face and tore back his hood but he didn't care. He broke through to the other side and spotted the end of the creature's tail vanishing around the corner of the castle. Pulling his hood back on, he pursued after it. When he sharply rounded the corner, he ran right into what felt like a wall made of metal.
He soundly rebounded off and fell flat on his back with his face throbbing with pain. Moaning on the grassy ground, he gingerly touched his sore nose, feeling something hot, wet, and sticky on his fingers.
"You… How did you get in here? Who do you think you are?" demanded a man whose voice was deep and angry.
Bacon stiffened. He remembered hearing the same words from somewhere, spoken in the same tone of voice; "Who do you think you are, you little fool?"
Wary, the boy slowly lowered his gaze and stared at the large man towering at his feet. It was a soldier covered from head to toe in heavy armour that was as dark as night. He could feel the man's eyes hidden in shadow boring down at him through the narrow slit of a horned helm.
One black plated hand lifted to rest upon the steel hilt of a sword belted by the soldier's waist. "Answer me, boy," he snarled impatiently. "What are you doing here?"
"Bacon!" Wendy and Carla dropped from the sky and rushed to the fallen boy's side. The girl was appalled by the blood on Bacon's face. Cautiously, she turned to the man in armour and bowed her head in apology. "I-I'm so sorry, sir! We didn't mean to come in here! We'll leave right away!" she said as she carefully pulled Bacon onto his feet, making sure his hood stayed on.
The man angrily scoffed and stepped forward, his armour clinking with the movement. "You little–"
"Sir Geraldo, what is all this commotion over here?" a woman's voice suddenly intruded, making the man pause.
The soldier stepped aside for a young woman wearing a sparkling dark blue dress that reached down to her ankles. She had shoulder-length hair that was light green and adorned with a ruby-studded circlet atop her head. She had matching ruby earrings and a ruby necklace as well to add to the glamour.
"We have some trespassers, Princess," the man informed in a brusque manner.
Wendy gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Y-You're the Princess?"
"Oh my, this is a good first impression," Carla whispered under her breath.
The woman's attention shifted between Bacon, Wendy, and Carla. "Trespassers? They are mere children and an Exceed." She approached the young boy and frowned, her kind green eyes full of concern. "Looks like you're hurt. What happened to you? Did you do this, Sir?"
The man crossed his arms. "I've done nothing. This ignorant boy ran right into me after infiltrating your courtyard, Your Highness."
Wendy was flustered by the comment, however she deeply bowed, the ends of her pigtails touching the ground. Bacon mimicked her soon after, keeping his head low so he could only see the Princess's blue-painted toenails and diamond encrusted heels. He wiped away the blood dripping off his lips, but his nose kept bleeding.
"We… We're so sorry, Your Majesty! Please forgive us. We didn't intend to infiltrate your castle at all!" Wendy said in haste. She gestured to Bacon. "My friend was chasing a black rat and… he accidentally ended up here."
"Clearly a lie. I did not see a rat come by," the man muttered.
The woman sighed. "Say no more, Sir Geraldo," she commanded.
The soldier grunted irritably and fell silent after that.
The woman placed a hand on Bacon's shoulder, prompting him to stand up straight and look upon her worried face. "Please, be at ease. We should stop the bleeding first."
"I can take care of it. Don't worry," Wendy assured as she held her hand over the boy's face and summoned her magic.
Cool blue light filled the boy's vision and he instantly felt the girl's power soothe away the pain.
"Healing magic. So you are a mage," he heard the woman with many names murmur in amazement. "Are you a member of one of the guilds participating in the Grand Magic Games?"
The Dragon Slayer nodded the moment she finished her spell. She wore a small, shy smile and answered, "Y-Yes. I am Wendy Marvell and we are from Fairy Tail."
The woman piqued at the name. Her red lips curled into an amused smile. "Fairy Tail… I've heard much about your guild. Come, I shall escort you back to the front gate."
The armoured man stepped up and said, "Your Highness, you shouldn't waste your time. Allow me to take them out."
"Uh, we could probably go back the way we came…" Wendy suggested, pointing towards the hedge Bacon had previously crawled through.
The Princess held up her hand to stop the soldier from advancing any further. "I insist to escort young Wendy and her companions. Alone. Sir Geraldo, please remain here. We shall discuss the other matter once I return, understood?"
Reluctantly, the man obliged and stepped back. "Understood, Princess."
She motioned for the children and Carla to follow her. "Now, come with me."
Bacon carefully took a peek at the man as he passed by. Even though he couldn't see the man's eyes within the heavy helm, the boy could feel them watching his every move like a preying animal. Bacon didn't like him; he didn't like his voice, and he definitely didn't like his rudeness towards him and Wendy. Bacon could sense danger around that man.
Blue eyes hardened when he gave the soldier one last look over his shoulder.
As the trio quietly strolled behind the woman with green hair, Wendy had taken a napkin out to wipe the blood off of Bacon's face. She then remembered his injured hand and quickly healed that up without a word.
The sky was turning a deep shade of blue by the time the group had crossed the length of the courtyard to the opposite end of castle, walking on a straight cobblestone path. The courtyard was a wide open garden that was thrice as large as the one at the front of the building. It was too dark to see much colour and details, but Bacon could make out the silhouettes of tall, full grown trees and thick, well-trimmed hedges growing all over.
"I must apologize for Sir Geraldo's behavior," the Princess suddenly spoke up, breaking the awkward tension that had settled over the group. "He is only being wary considering the situation we are currently facing."
"Um, what kind of situation?" Wendy inquired in a polite tone.
The woman paused before a barred, black metal gate. There was a crystal lamp mounted on the castle wall that brightened the area in a pale yellow glow. "The Games…" she quietly answered. She flicked a series of latches attached alongside the gate in an odd order to open it. The metal hinges quietly creaked as the door swung outward. She turned to Wendy. "Thousands of people come and go to see this castle at this time of year. We can never be too careful. The Grand Magic Games keeps all of our guards busy and stressed. However, when things go as well as planned, it makes the annual event well worth the effort." She clasped her hands together close to her chest. "I pray that things will go well this year…"
"It's been done for seven years now, I'm sure it will be successful again," noted Carla.
The Princess slightly frowned, but it was soon replaced with a smile. "Yes. Wendy, I wish you and your guild the best of luck."
"Th-Thank you, ma'am – I mean, Your Highness!" The girl bowed and Bacon soon followed. "Again, I'm really sorry about trespassing on your property!"
"Consider the incident an act of fate. I look forward in seeing how Fairy Tail will fare against the other guilds this year."
"We'll certainly do our best!" said Wendy, holding both of her fists before her in confidence.
The woman smiled at the three and gave them one final wave of farewell before closing the gate behind them. Bacon waved goodbye alongside his companions, and together they turned away.
"Wow, she was really nice. And beautiful too," commented Wendy with a hint of admiration. Her joyous expression quickly morphed into a stern one when she looked at Bacon. "Don't ever run off like that again! You had me so worried. You could have gotten in serious trouble, mister!"
The boy deeply frowned and looked away in guilt, feeling nothing but shame.
She wrapped an arm around his shoulders to comfort him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound too harsh. Just promise me you won't do that again, okay?"
He nodded.
"Let's find Romeo."
The older boy was frantically waiting near the main doors of the castle, pacing back in forth around the small pile of their belongings. He was so relieved when he saw the trio safe and sound. Wendy explained what had transpired on the other side of the castle as they started to head back to the bridge.
"Unbelievable… you actually met the Princess?" Romeo asked in disbelief, eyes wide and jaw hanging.
Wendy nodded. "Yup. She's such a kind person. Much nicer than that knight guy."
Romeo patted the younger boy on the head and smirked. "Glad you didn't get into too much trouble, Bacon. You're lucky to have met the Princess!"
Bacon grinned, but it was soon replaced with surprise when he noticed something small and black drop down from the stone gate above and land right in front of them. It was the black rat creature and its rounded eyes shone menacingly as it faced the group. It chittered; "Kihihihi!"
Startled, Wendy flinched back. "Wait, isn't that…" She trailed off, unable to finish because she started to sway on her feet. "H-Hey… Wh… What's…" Suddenly, she fell forward and hit the ground with a dull thud where she laid prone and unmoving.
Carla was next to fall over, landing on her back, her eyes closed towards the starry sky.
"Wen… dy?" Romeo weakly moaned before joining them both, collapsing right beside the fallen pair.
Bacon was the only one left standing. "Wendy? Romeo? Carla?" he managed to utter, horrified. None of them moved nor made a sound. Before he could check to see what was wrong, a pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed him from behind, covering his mouth and wrapping around his body, limiting the movement of his arms. His startled cries were muffled and when he tried to wrestle free, the arms that held him tightened, crushing his chest and hurting his face.
"My, oh my," someone cooed by his right ear, making the boy freeze in alarm. It was a man whose voice was as smooth as poisoned honey. "You're quite the troubling little fairy. Why do you not sleep like the rest of the vermin at our feet?"
Bacon drew a sharp breath and furrowed his brow in anger, realizing the man had done something to his friends. He struggled once more, managing to bend his arms enough to grasp onto the white fabric of the man's lower arm. In a futile attempt, he tried to pry the arm away, however the man was larger and stronger than him.
Snide laughter rang softly in the boy's ear. "Oh ho, I see. You are not a mage at all. Such a sad little fairy." The man 'tsked' and soundly smirked. "Looks like I'll have to clip your wings myself."
Bacon struggled harder. The man was going to hurt him. He had to break free. He had to fight and protect Wendy and the others from the person wanting to harm them. But he had no weapon to fight with; the sword Erza had given him as a gift was stored within Romeo's special dimension along with his smaller blade and the older boy was in no condition to retrieve either.
"Hold still, now. You don't want it to hurt too much, do you, little fairy?"
No! Let go! He wanted to scream; to yell; to defy the man keeping him restrained. The sight of his companions lying unconscious on the ground and the wicked black creature snickering close by infuriated him to no end.
Fight!
Bacon's hands suddenly grew hot; as hot as Natsu's fiery breath. There was intense heat and a bright flash of light as orange flames burst to life from his palms, incinerating the sleeve and searing the skin of the arm he touched.
A horrible, deafening shriek of pain erupted in his ear before he was roughly shoved to the ground. Now free, Bacon scrambled to his feet only to gape in shock at the small fires dancing on his fingertips. The flames vanished a second later, casting him back in shadows. He furled his hands and flexed his tingling fingers, finding them free of burns.
The fire wasn't harmful like Natsu's and Romeo's spells… the fire was his own magic, he quickly realized. The tingling sensation that ran down his arms to the ends of his fingers felt the same as the times he infused his swords with energy.
"How… dare you!" the man snarled venomously. No longer was his voice calm and smooth, but shrill with rage.
Bacon twisted around and boldly faced his attacker.
Dressed in a long, crimson vest coat with tapered ends and wearing a scarlet mask to hide the top half of his face was the man responsible for making the boy's companions fall unconscious. He wore a brimmed hat the same shade as his coat that was adorned with thick, feathery plumage that hung down his back, reaching as far down as his long blond hair. The man stood a few strides away, hunched over in agony as he clutched his wounded arm close to his body. There was nothing left of his white sleeve up to the elbow except for charred strands of fabric, revealing ugly, blistered, peeling skin that cracked and oozed with blood.
The man was breathing heavily through his clenched teeth, his visible face distorted in utmost anger. "Look at what you did, you damn, filthy brat! You marred me! What accursed magic do you possess?! How can it elude my memory?! You will pay for this, do you hear me?!"
"You're making a scene, Rufus. Shut it," a woman scoffed in disgust from behind Bacon.
Before the boy could whip around to see who it was, he felt a sudden chill at the back of his head that spread down his neck and through his entire body, seizing every muscle. Limbs suddenly turned weak and heavy and a terrible exhaustion plagued him. He felt himself fall, however he didn't remember landing because the world around him had quickly grown dark, cold, and empty.
A/N: The Games can finally begin! The poll has ended. Many thanks to the 117 individuals who participated. The results in popular order are Erza, Mavis, Mirajane, and Lucy. Expect to see these four lovely ladies play a bigger role in the story in future chapters.
Thanks for reading!
On a side note, Dragon Force Wendy looks so awesome! Can't wait to see how badass she is.