Day Five: The Burning Abyss
It was a few hours before dawn and the streets of Crocus were eerily quiet to Wendy's ears. She was not the least bit tired. Even though she only had a few hours of sleep, she was wide awake, fueled by nervous anxiety.
Soaring over the sleeping city on the wings of her feline partner, the Sky Dragon Slayer followed behind Natsu and Happy towards their rendezvous point. All four were dressed to blend in the night for better stealth. While Wendy and Carla wore simple, tight-fitting black clothes, Natsu and Happy had decided to go all out in full ninja-garb, concealing everything but their eyes in black.
The sky above was covered in thick clouds that hid the moon and stars, while down below, the city was bright and dazzling, lit up from all the street lamps, flashy neon store signs, and interior lights coming from the windows of every building that had yet to close. Everything on the ground blurred together as the Dragon Slayers and their Exceeds flew at top speed to avoid being spotted.
They touched down at the edge of the park near the main bridge that connected the city to Mercurius Castle's main gate. It didn't take too long to find Mirajane and Pantherlily waiting for them under the flowering cherry trees, both dressed appropriately for their stealth mission. But there were also two others with them who were not supposed to be a part of their rescue team; both the size of children and wearing hooded cloaks.
Wendy instantly recognized the cloaked pair by their scents before she even saw their faces as she approached them. "Bacon? Romeo? What are you two doing here?" she demanded in a hushed, stern tone.
"Someone is worried about you," answered Mirajane as she placed a hand on Bacon's back.
Before Wendy could ask, Bacon rushed to her and blurted out, "Don't go."
The girl frowned at the concern in his voice. "What's the matter?" It was obvious what was troubling him, but she felt the need to ask.
Bacon grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. "Don't go to the castle. If you do, you won't come back."
Wendy blinked in confusion, her anger suddenly gone.
"What do you mean?" Carla asked, beating Wendy to the question. The Exceed gazed upon the boy with a worried brow, arms crossed and pretending to be unfazed by what Bacon had said, but the slight twitching at the tip of her tail gave her anxiety away.
"He just had a bad dream," Romeo explained, stifling a yawn. "It bothered him so much that we had to sneak out to tell you."
Pantherlily harrumphed to gain everyone's attention. "As I've mentioned to them before your arrival," he began, looking directly at Wendy, "we can't alter our plan due to some mere dream."
"That is correct," spoke a young girl hiding behind one of the cherry trees, giving everyone a start. Mavis Vermillion silently stepped into view, her normally carefree, childish face replaced with a stern, hardened expression that made almost everyone flinch back. "I chose the six of you specifically for this mission in order to have the highest probability in successfully rescuing Lucy and Jellal's informant from the palace. We cannot afford to deviate from the plan." Her emerald eyes fell on Bacon and her expression slightly softened. "Especially because of a dream."
"The First is right," Wendy agreed as she gave Bacon's hand an assuring squeeze. "You just had a bad dream."
The boy shook his head however. "No! If you go to the castle, you won't come back! I saw it…"
"You dreamt it," Wendy corrected. Dreams of dragons and talking yellow foxes may signify something in relation to Bacon's past, but dreaming about Wendy's terrible fate? Such a bad dream could only be caused by stress and worry combined with a magical Dreamstone.
She pried her hand free to pull him close for a comforting hug, a gesture that always calmed him down after he woke up from a nightmare. It worked effectively; she felt him relax and lean against her. "You're still worried about me, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
Right before leaving Bar Sun to retire for the night, Wendy had tried her best to make Bacon believe she would be fine on this mission. After all – as Mavis had previously mentioned – Wendy was chosen to be a part of the rescue team because of her healing abilities, she couldn't back down from something so important no matter what.
Bacon nodded and wrapped his arms tight around her as if afraid to lose her. "Yes…" he murmured into her shoulder, "But…"
"I'll come back," she interrupted, gently stroking his back. "I promise you. I left you many times before and I always came back. This time won't be any different." Except instead of going away to train, she was going to infiltrate one of the most secure places in all of Fiore.
She pulled back only to meet his saddened gaze. He wasn't convinced on just her words. "Here," she said as she undid both of her pigtails. She grabbed his hand, placed one of her pink, pointy-ear-shaped hair ties in his open palm and closed his fingers around it. "Hold onto this, okay? It's the other half of my favourite set so I'll definitely be coming for it once we're done."
Natsu strolled over and planted a hand on the boy's cloaked head. "You shouldn't worry about anything, Bacon," he assured, his voice slightly muffled by the cover over his mouth, "You're forgetting that I'll be with Wendy. I'll make sure nothing bad will happen to her."
"Me too!" Happy chimed in. He hopped forward, punched the air, and performed a swift roundhouse kick to act tough and fearless. "Hiyah! If any bad guys get in our way, we'll beat them up ninja-style!"
Mirajane giggled and clasped her hands together in amusement. "Our mission is to go in and out without getting caught," she reminded her teammates in a light-hearted manner, "So hopefully we won't have to lay the beat down on the kingdom's guards."
Natsu soundly cracked his knuckles as he eyed the distant castle with a murderous glare. "If we do get cornered, I'll make sure to defeat every single guard in our way as payback for what they did to Lucy."
"Hear that?" Romeo asked Bacon, nudging the other with his elbow, "If anything does go wrong, Natsu will take care of it. He'll protect Wendy and keep everyone else safe."
Wendy gave Bacon a confident smile. "See? There's nothing to worry about," she said, "Now hurry back to your hotel with Romeo and get some more sleep."
"Yeah, we should head back before Dad wakes up," said Romeo as he nervously scratched the side of his neck, "He might ground us if he finds out we're gone."
Bacon looked at Romeo in confusion. "Dad can 'ground' us?" he asked tentatively. He pointed at the ground by his feet. "But… aren't we already standing on the ground?"
Everyone erupted into quiet giggles or snickering, making poor Bacon pout at being laughed at.
Romeo had to slap a hand over his mouth to stifle his burst of laughter. "I'll… I'll explain later," he said the moment he calmed down.
Wendy grabbed Bacon by the shoulders to gain his attention. "Keep my hair tie safe with you. I'll come find you right after we save Lucy and Jellal's friend, okay?"
Bacon's sad frown returned. He looked down at her hair tie clutched within his hand and, after a moment of hesitation, he finally nodded. "Okay…" he mumbled and met her gaze once more. "Please be careful, Wendy."
"I will," she assured with a nod.
"And Carla," the boy knelt down to pet the white Exceed between the ears, "Take care of Wendy."
The cat looked slightly annoyed by the boy's touch, but Wendy knew she was only feigning it. "I will make sure she stays out of trouble," was Carla's response, giving her partner a look that spoke of a silent promise.
"I know you guys can save them," said Romeo, giving the team a wide grin and a 'thumbs-up' in encouragement.
"They will save them," Mavis stated with a confident smile of her own, "I'm putting all my faith into this team. Make this mission a success not only for me, but for Fairy Tail. Best of luck to you all."
Wendy and the others nodded, their spirits invigorated in knowing their guild trusted them in saving Lucy. Wearing proud, determined faces, the team began their trek across the bridge with the boys and Mavis waving at their backs.
Wendy overheard the First telling the boys, "Better head back now. We don't want to bring any attention to them or the guild, understand?"
"Right," said Romeo. "Come on, Bacon. We need to go."
Wendy glanced over her shoulder one last time, seeing Bacon still watching her until Romeo pulled him along. Her stomach twisted with guilt for making Bacon worry about her. But she had promised him – just like every other time she had left his side – that she would return no matter what.
"Come on, let's hurry," said Natsu before breaking into a run.
The others followed suit and together, they quickly sprinted over the lake towards the enormous palace gate. Castle Mercurius loomed ahead, appearing like a foreboding fortress in the night than a beautiful castle out of a fantasy book during the day. Most of the lights were out in the castle but its enormous silhouette was still visible.
Seeing it made Wendy remember her first night in Crocus followed by the awful guilt she had felt for missing out on the Preliminary Event with her team. Huffing, she shook her head to momentarily forget about the memory because she needed to focus on the mission at hand.
There was one more person missing from their team, an additional member who wasn't truly a part of Fairy Tail and had joined the group at the very last minute of planning. Once they crossed the unguarded bridge, it didn't take too long to find their last teammate beneath the great arc of the open gate.
Hidden well in the darkest shadows, the only way Wendy knew the man was even there was by his scent alone.
When he heard the team's approach, the man silently moved to stand at the edge of the light cast by the nearest Lacrima lamp mounted on the outer side of the gate. He appeared like a demonic ghost before them, wearing a hooded black cloak and a spooky bird mask.
In spite of knowing his true identity, Wendy jumped back in fright and covered her mouth to suppress her scream. Carla froze in her tracks while Happy let out a frightened squeak and dove behind Natsu for protection.
Natsu, on the other hand, cocked his head to the side and pointed right at the man. "What's with the new getup?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, "Aren't you supposed to be Mystogan?"
"It's a precaution," Jellal answered, his hushed voice muffled by his mask, "In case something goes wrong and I end up captured or my face seen."
"I see," said Mirajane with a knowing smile, "You don't want the Magic Council to find out that Fiore's most wanted criminal has been hiding among Fairy Tail and participating in the Games in our stead."
The man nodded. "Exactly. It will not bode well for your master and your guild if they make that connection. From now on, address me as 'Crow'. Are you all prepared for this?"
Natsu snorted and gestured at his outfit. "Of course. Look at me and Happy, we're way prepared for sneaking in and stealth stuff."
"Yeah! We bought these costumes last night!" said Happy, punching the air again.
Pantherlily shushed the blue cat. "The first step in being a ninja is to be quiet," he pointed out sternly. "The guards will hear you at this rate."
"It's fine for now," said Jellal with a dismissive wave of his hand. He turned around to face the lit cobblestone path that led straight to the main plaza garden before the castle's main doors. It was empty and oddly quiet with the exception of the splashing fountain in the middle of the garden. "I haven't seen any guards patrolling the grounds since I arrived over an hour ago and it's rather disconcerting."
"Eh? No guards?" asked Natsu, visibly raising his brow in surprise.
"How odd," said Mirajane with a slight frown, "With this being the home of the Royal Family, I would expect security to be tight. Especially with the Games going on."
"My exact thoughts," said Jellal. "We should hurry. I know a way inside, follow me."
Without waiting for the others to respond, Jellal ran ahead, quickly merging with the shadows in the garden. Wordlessly, the group tailed the mage of Crime Sorcière between the manicured trees and hedges and around the sprawling beds of fragrant flowers.
Wendy kept her eyes on the flapping black cloak in front of her, trusting the man in the lead. She was secretly glad Jellal was with them and it wasn't because he was a powerful mage. Being around him brought back fond memories of the time she had spent with Edolas's Jellal when she was a young girl. Although his personality greatly differed from King Jellal's, this Jellal possessed the same willingness to help others.
Originally, Mavis had planned to have Natsu's team infiltrate the castle and rescue Lucy while using the Final Event of the Grand Magic Games as a diversion. But that had to be changed after Jellal joined the guild's discussion. He went straight to the point and told Fairy Tail about his mysterious informant that had been captured and thrown into the castle dungeons. He spoke of Meredy losing her magical connection with the informant and feared that something had gone wrong. He suspected that Lucy may have been involved as well.
"It might be too late to save them if we wait for the Games to start," Jellal had warned them.
Thus, they had agreed to go before dawn, using the night as cover and the assumption that fewer guards would be on patrol. And right at the end of that decision, Jellal, without argument, had stated that he would be joining the team. In spite of the risks, he never explained his reason for wanting to come along. None of the members of Fairy Tail, not even Erza, could get any clear answers from him before he left the bar in a hurry yesterday evening.
Perhaps Jellal wanted to ensure his informant was still alive to obtain every detail about the dark entity lurking around the Games. Whatever he had already been told, he wasn't willing to share with Fairy Tail just yet, it seemed.
Jellal led the team to the east side of the palace, past the rope fence and towards the tall hedge wall – the very same one that Bacon had crawled through when he chased after Raven Tail's little black creature. He slowed to a walk and placed a black gloved hand against the castle wall above his head, gliding his fingers along the stone as if feeling for something in the darkness.
He stopped a few feet from the hedge, his hand still pressed against the castle. Then, very lightly, he tapped three different spots on the stone wall in quick succession. There was an audible click followed by the grinding of stone as a narrow section of the wall slid away, revealing a small hidden entryway.
"Whoa!" Natsu exclaimed in a whisper, "How'd you know this was here?"
"My informant," Jellal quietly replied as he stepped into the pitch black entrance. He melded with the darkness, disappearing right before their eyes, but his voice indicated he was still there. "This will lead us straight to the underground chambers and deep within is the dungeon. From here on out, speak only with–"
"Your minds," he finished, his voice suddenly ringing through Wendy's head. She jumped a second time that night. Although she was familiar with telepathy, it was always startling to hear another's voice in her mind right out of the blue.
"I've opened a telepathic link between each of us. This will reduce our chances of being heard. Watch your step." A tiny flickering flame of gold appeared in Jellal's hand to light the way. There was a steep staircase made of ancient, dusty stone bricks.
"Oh! That's cool!" Natsu's enthusiastic voice sounded through Wendy's head while he followed right after Jellal like an excited child.
"I feel like a spy!" Happy chimed in, mentally screaming his words in everyone's heads.
Pantherlily hissed and clutched the sides of his head. "Please, Happy, not so loud!"
"Sorry!"
The group descended the narrow stairs in a single file with Jellal lighting the way and Mirajane taking up the rear. The hidden door suddenly closed itself shortly after Mirajane passed through.
Their journey into the deep, dark depths of the castle was accompanied with a rather tense silence with the exception of scuffling feet. Everyone was keeping their own thoughts to themselves as they prepared for their task ahead.
It felt like they had gone three to four stories down before they finally stepped onto flat ground. Dim, golden light softly illuminated the low, narrow path. Wendy could see dust on the floor and old spider webs hanging above. The air was cold and stale, indicating this passageway was rarely opened and used. It was a known secret only to a select few and that now included everyone here. It was a rather thrilling thought.
They stopped at what Wendy first assumed was a dead end until Jellal began to turn a loose stone brick tucked in the corner. There was a quiet click followed by the slow sinking of the wall before them. Dust briefly trickled from above the hidden doorway. Coming from the other side was slightly fresher air and complete darkness. Jellal stepped out and shone his light into a large chamber filled with crates, boxes, tarp-covered furniture, old statues, and dusty antiques. Hanging on the walls were giant framed paintings of landscapes, castles, citadels, and cities. They have apparently entered one of the Royal Family's storage rooms.
The secret passageway was guarded by two white statues of armoured knights, both facing each other, mirroring the other's pose with their stone swords held up and forward to form a point. Once Mirajane entered the room, the hidden door slid back up, becoming a part of the solid wall once more. The only hint to the door's whereabouts was the tiny crest of Fiore on one of the stone bricks.
Swiftly, yet carefully, Jellal made his way around everything towards the chamber doors and expected the others to do the same. "Touch nothing," he warned seconds before Natsu and Happy were about to open a small, ornate chest sitting on a table.
The ninja-garbed pair bowed their heads in disappointment and quickly joined Jellal who was already pushing one of the doors open. The creaking hinges sounded as loud as a siren to Wendy's sensitive ears, making her worry about getting caught.
"There are no guards on this floor," assured Jellal, confidently strolling into the torch lit hall. "It seems they have all gathered in one place beneath us. But why, I wonder?"
"Are they guarding the dungeons?" was Wendy's guess.
"No. The dungeons are located on this floor, however… I am not sure what's going on. It's best we hurry."
Understanding Jellal's concern and trusting his senses, the team threw away their precautions and broke into a run, following the older mage down the long, dreary corridor of the castle's basement. Burning torches mounted to the walls were few and far between, resulting in short sections of the hall to fall under the darkest shadows.
Around a few corners, and down several more corridors; they passed by every closed door until reaching the very end of the longest, darkest hall. Waiting there was a large, heavy iron door that reeked of rust that someone had left wide open.
Natsu pushed past Jellal and rushed inside.
The castle dungeon was smaller than Wendy had imagined, but just as dank and grimy. There were only eight cells and one had its barred door open.
Natsu was already searching the open cell, frantically looking around. "Lucy was here!" he exclaimed in a growl, forgetting to mind-speak. "But where is she? Did they take her somewhere else?" He pulled down his mask and took a deep breath through his nose, drawing in the foul odours lingering in the dungeon.
Meanwhile, the others examined the rest of the dungeon, finding the other cells empty and their doors locked. It stank so much that Wendy had to breathe through her mouth.
"Your informant isn't here either," noted Pantherlily after checking the last cell. He raised an eyebrow at Jellal.
"This is where Meredy lost track of him," replied the man. He approached what used to be Lucy's cell and touched one of the iron bars. "I cannot sense him or Lucy anywhere within this castle. I thought in coming here, we could find a clue to what may have happened to them."
Frowning, Wendy turned back to Natsu who was now trying to trace Lucy's scent. He was crouched near the open cell door, sniffing around. "Someone opened her cell," he mumbled, brow furrowed in deep concentration. "Someone with a familiar smell… Lucy followed this person out and then…" he walked towards the dungeon exit and stopped half-way, "The trail suddenly ends around here. It's like they disappeared."
"Meredy said the same thing," Jellal mused with a heavy sigh. He joined Natsu's side and scanned the ceiling and floor; a crow hungry for answers. "It's been over a day since my informant disappeared from here… Whatever happened to him likely happened to Lucy as well."
Natsu swore under his breath before resorting back to telepathy; "So what the hell happened to them?"
The answer to his question appeared as if on cue; the floor they stood upon suddenly dropped wide open.
Wendy's cry of surprise instantly morphed into one of terror as she and everyone else plummeted into a black abyss. They were quickly swallowed by darkness, leaving Wendy blind and scared.
She was tumbling fast, her arms and legs flailing and her hair whipping about. She screamed Carla's name and Carla screamed hers in return. There was a flash of gold coming from someone, casting enough light for everyone to find each other.
The Exceeds flew to Wendy's, Natsu's, and Mirajane's rescue while Jellal, bathed in golden magic, used his own power to save himself.
"I guess now we know what happened to them," grumbled Pantherlily as they descended the deep, dark hole.
That statement alone made Wendy's chest ache with worry. It was such a long fall – was Lucy and Jellal's informant okay?
They touched down on solid ground moments after, their feet kicking up dust upon landing. All the light that surrounded Jellal was now back in flaming form within the palm of his hand. Gold shimmered off the rocky walls and dusty floor of a natural cavern. Just like the dungeon, it was unfortunately empty.
"Lucy! Lucy!" Natsu called, his voice ringing loud in the silent cave.
"I don't see her…" said Happy with a sad frown.
Natsu scoffed and sniffed the cold, stale air. "Her scent is here and so is… the other guy… He kinda smells like Bacon."
Happy's stomach started to growl. "Mmm, bacon? You're making me hungry!"
"No, not delicious bacon bacon. I mean Bacon Bacon."
Mirajane smiled and quietly giggled. "Oh, you mean like our little Bacon?"
"Yeah."
Curious, Wendy moved to where Natsu was standing and took several deep breaths through her nose, catching the faint traces of Lucy's favourite perfume. It was mixed with one very familiar scent Wendy had already imprinted to memory: the smell of ancient stone surrounded by an old, thriving forest – it was Bacon's natural scent, no doubt about it.
Wendy looked at Natsu and found him watching her, waiting for her reaction. He raised an eyebrow as if to silently ask her, Doesn't it?
Together, they both turned to Jellal and found him already making his way towards the farthest cavern wall. She wanted to know who exactly his informant was and where he came from, but she was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a bright, holographic screen hovering right above them.
"It's the princess!" Carla exclaimed in shock.
Indeed it was and she was staring down at them, dressed in an elegant white robe with the laced hood pulled over her head. Princess Hisui stood within a dark room, holding onto a burning candle that embraced her beautiful face in warm, orange light. Her emerald eyes, no longer were they kind and full of compassion as Wendy remembered, but as sharp as knives as she glared at each mage caught in the trap.
Wendy gulped and hastily turned her face away when the princess's gaze turned her way. She was afraid of being recognized – but then again, it probably wasn't difficult for the princess to recognize Carla even if the cat was disguised in black. There weren't that many white Exceeds who hung around a girl with navy blue hair after all.
"Fools," Her Royal Highness called them. She glanced left and right in a suspicious manner before she leaned closer to the screen and spoke in a quieter tone. Her hushed voice was unbefitting of her currently sour expression and authoritative position. "Welcome to Abyss Palace. The worst criminals, escaped prisoners, and intruders, such as you foolish lot, are sent here to receive their final judgment. Do not think you can escape here so easily; powerful executioners roam this underground palace and they guard the only way out. Even if you somehow succeed in defeating them all, know that every soldier in this castle will be waiting for you on the other side of the door."
She looked at Wendy for what felt like one long moment before she said her last words, "Only the brave and just will prevail. Farewell."
The screen blinked out, casting the mages back in the dimmer light of Jellal's gold fire.
Natsu grunted in annoyance. "She sent us here? How'd she know we were in the castle?"
"Don't know, but did it seem like she was trying to hide from someone?" noted Mirajane.
"As if she didn't want to get caught sending us to our doom…" Pantherlily growled.
Carla crossed her arms and knitted her brow in worry. "She spoke of powerful executioners down here… Is Lucy…"
"She's still alive," Jellal assured, resuming his trek towards the far cavern wall, "And so is my informant. I can sense them beyond this wall. However, we need to hurry – they're battling the executioners as we speak."
There was a heavy smack of a fist striking an open palm coming from Natsu. "Why are we still standing here then?! Let's go help them!"
The team nodded and together, they followed the bearer of the golden flame. The way out of the cavern revealed itself as a fissure in the wall when the flickering light shone upon it. Sharing the same thought and wearing the same determined expressions, the group fearlessly ventured into the claustrophobic passageway with Natsu leading the way.
He shot through the sky in hot pursuit of his prey, never letting it out of his sight. The coward was fleeing in desperation, diving and ascending through the sea of clouds in hope of losing him.
There is no escape from me!
He unleashed a mighty roar that parted the heavens, eliminating all traces of cover in the sky. His target panicked and dove for the mountains below. He folded his wings and chased right after it like a fired canon, his claws itching for the kill. He was death – a true slayer of dragons!
He caught up to his prey in mere seconds, right before it could reach the first valley. Black claws slashed through thick purple scales like a blade shredding through parchment. He ripped off his prey's webbed wings and grinned in gleeful satisfaction as he watched it plummet helplessly to earth, screaming and flailing in agony.
His moment of joy was suddenly cut short when the sky turned dark, darker than night itself. Shadows covered the land and enveloped him in darkness. The next thing he knew, he was lying on his front on a cold stone floor, his right eye blind and stinging. He couldn't move any part of his body; his head, arms, legs, wings, and tail were tied tightly to the floor with thick, heavy, black chains. The chains were barbed and tore through scales and deep into flesh when he tried to snap them apart with only brute strength. They noisily rattled and clanked, but failed to even crack.
A puny man shrouded in black appeared before him – no, it was not an ordinary man, this insect did not stink of human flesh but of something else, something unearthly and vile. This man was a demon, with eyes that shone crimson and an aura that was dark and sinister.
He snarled in anger; the very same chains that bound his body also sealed his jaws shut, preventing him from roaring and cursing at the wretch who dared to show itself. It was the demon who somehow captured him and knowing this infuriated him to no end. His mouth filled with searing energy that wished to be unleashed upon the man in a powerful, incinerating blast. But his wrath was contained behind the cursed chains and only sparks and smoke could escape between his clenched teeth and nostrils.
"It is useless," said the man, his deep voice seemingly coming from all directions. "Struggle all you want, you will never break free. I will release you only if you submit to me."
'Submit' to you?! Do not think me weak, fool! These chains will shatter from my power! He jerked forward, attempting to lunge at the fiend and tear him apart. But the chains held strong and his efforts were in vain. He hissed in both pain and frustration, spewing his scorching breath at the demon.
The skin and clothes of a normal human would be melting and burning under such intense heat, but this man stood unfazed, treating it like a harmless gust that made his cape flap wildly behind him.
"Obey me." Eyes of red burned brighter as unholy black flames swallowed the man's raised hand. "Resistance is futile. Even the strongest, fiercest beasts have fallen under my control. The King of Dragons is no exception."
Still your tongue, wretch! You will never control me! Once I am free, I will kill you and your pathetic army of pets!
He silently screamed in rage when the black fire that was once in the demon's hand was now engulfing his entire body. The fire was freezing, colder than the coldest ice, quickly chilling his blood and turning his anger into actual fear. He tried to thrash about, thinking he could throw off the flames, roll around the ground, bury beneath the earth – do something to escape the terrible cold – but again, the accursed chains would not yield. He started to choke as his body turned numb, making if feel like he was drowning beneath the icy ocean. His strength was waning by the second and it wasn't long until he could no longer fight. The black fire consumed his vision and the last thing he saw were those wicked red eyes shining through.
"Puu! Puu-puuun!"
Keaton woke up gasping, his brow covered in cold sweat and his left arm hot and burning like fire. He shuddered. He could still feel the cold, suffocating black flames all over his body even though it was a figment of his dream. Someone lightly smacked his face, fully bringing him out of his nightmare. He moaned and slowly brought his right hand to his struck cheek, flinching from the icy touch of his own metal-covered fingers.
"Puun!" something squealed right in his ear, making him grimace from the sheer volume of it. It took some effort and a few more light slaps by a tiny, furry paw to force his heavy eyelids open. He saw nothing but shadows and decided to shut his eyes for more sleep. He was so tired. He hadn't slept in a while.
Wait… when did he fall asleep?
It was at that moment he remembered the reason why he was lying uncomfortably on his back atop what felt like a pile of rubble. He pried open his eyes again, much to the delight of the little creature that kept pawing his face. It was too dark to properly see, but he knew who it was by its distinctive cries.
"Plue…?" Keaton managed to croak. His mouth and throat were dry and hoarse from lack of hydration. He licked his chapped lips with a tongue that felt like sandpaper.
"Puu-puu-puuuun!" Plue answered excitedly, soundly hopping up and down.
Keaton hushed the spirit and carefully rolled onto his side. It hurt to move; there were sharp, stabbing pains in his chest and his wounded leg stung and throbbed. He was stiff, sore and aching from head to toe; new injuries kept adding to the old. He was certain he was covered in fresh bruises, especially after getting thrown somewhere and knocked unconscious when he blew up the giant flower. This wasn't the worst he had ever felt, so he had that going for him.
He was up and sitting one minute later, propped against a crumbled wall that could have likely belonged to one of the buildings he and the others had blown up with his bombs. His head spun and pounded and his left arm continued to burn with a feverish heat. With his good arm, he dug into his pouch by his side and brought out a bottle. The last of his water tasted like the gift of gods as he downed it all in two gulps. Thirst quenched and mind now fully awake and aware, he looked around, seeing very little in the dim, flickering green light that shone from somewhere far away on the other side of his wall. It was uncomfortably quiet, as if there was no other living soul nearby other than Plue.
He placed a gentle hand atop the canine's rounded head, feeling the Celestial Spirit's nervous shivering through his metal gauntlet. The swordsman smiled; Plue's constant shaking was a quirk he found amusing. Not only that, ever since Plue became his to summon, having the little spirit around always lifted Keaton's mood when times were tough and very depressing.
But that had been his Plue who became a very close friend. This Plue belonged to Lucy. He wondered if the spirit could even recognize who he was. Nevertheless, the spirit's presence still had the same uplifting effect on the swordsman.
"Did Lucy summon you to find me?" asked Keaton.
"Puun." Plue shook his head.
The young man furrowed his brow in confusion. "No? Then… why are you here?"
"Puu-puuun. Puu-puu-puuuuuuun. Puu-puun. Puu-puuun."
Keaton understood absolutely none of that. "Is Lucy nearby?"
"Puun." Again, Plue shook his head.
"No? Did something happen to her? How long was I out?" Long enough to dream, he realized with newfound fear. A couple hours at most, which was too long – anything could have happened within that time frame. All the worst-case scenarios instantly came to mind.
Keaton didn't wait for an answer and tried to sense Lucy's aura. Having to deal with pain, fatigue, and an anxious heart hindered his ability to detect any living magic source beyond the ruins of the building. He had to shut his eyes in order to concentrate. Searching for magical signatures was a lot like how a dog would sniff for odours. Every person had a different scent and every mage had their own unique aura. He had Lucy's and Loke's auras memorized so distinguishing them from the remaining Garou Knights wasn't too difficult.
He reached out with invisible hands, probing and sweeping through ancient walls and rubble, gradually expanding his range in search of his missing companions. Seconds quickly turned into two dread-filled minutes before he eventually found something. His heart skipped a beat; it was one of the executioners, which one exactly, he wasn't too sure. It didn't matter, however, because the other two Knights weren't that far apart from the first. They were roughly two blocks north of his position and all three were heading in the same general direction, moving at a prowling pace. They zigzagged and stopped frequently; seeking; hunting; in search for their lost prey like a pack of hungry wolves.
Have they already found Lucy, Loke, or Captain Arcadios?
Growing more worried, Keaton pressed on, knitting his brow in deeper concentration. He scanned within the vicinity of the Knights, desperate to find his master before they could.
Another long, agonizing minute passed and at last, he could sense two familiar presences half a block away from the executioners. Lucy and Loke, they were together, alive and moving, seemingly circling the Knights to avoid confrontation.
The swordsman breathed a small sigh of relief. They're safe… for now. But where is Arcadios?
It was impossible for Keaton to sense the Captain since the man was not a mage and lacked any magical items on his person. Although Arcadios was only an ordinary human, he, like all living things in Earthland, possessed at least a little or trace amounts of Ethernano. Only a master sensory mage like Jellal could detect the faintest of magic in others and, unfortunately, Keaton was far from being a master. The swordsman could only pray the Captain was still alive and staying out of the executioners' sights.
Keaton gave Plue an assuring pat on the head and said, "She's okay. How did you find me, Plue?"
"Puu-puun. Puuun. Puu-puu-puuuun."
The young man smiled. He could only assume the canine tracked him down either through magic or scent. He was still curious as to how and why Plue was here if Lucy hadn't summoned him. Nevertheless, he was glad to have the spirit around to keep him company. "Thanks for waking me up, little friend. I would still be dreaming if it weren't for you…" Dreaming he was a powerful dragon who took joy in slaughtering others of its kind no less. Such twisted nightmares haunted his sleep ever since he was cursed by Acnologia.
He massaged his left shoulder where the curse marked his skin, feeling the burning sensation gradually subside. It used to bleed and burn for days when the mark was still fresh like a new tattoo. Nowadays, it only flared up whenever he had dragon dreams.
Three more keys were needed to open the only way out of Abyss Palace and they were unfortunately still in the hands of the three remaining executioners. Trying to defeat them all in one fell swoop obviously didn't work and attempting a similar strategy would no doubt end in failure yet again.
Keaton kept his focus on the Knights, Lucy, and Loke as he wracked his brain for a good plan.
Uosuke was the main problem. Capable of manipulating gravity and altering the terrain on a whim made the ugly man the most troublesome out of the three Knights. He had to be taken out first. A surprise attack wasn't going to work with the three executioners staying near one another, watching each others' backs.
They won't fall for another trap, that's for sure, the swordsman thought glumly. He sighed and brought a hand to his forehead, carefully scratching the skin beside the scab above his right eye to relieve an annoying itch.
"I need them distracted…" he murmured to himself. Only then would a surprise attack be effective in quickly incapacitating Uosuke. "But how?"
Plue hummed and lightly tugged at the end of Keaton's tunic.
The young man glanced down at his spirit companion, catching only a glint of the canine's beady eyes. The answer to Keaton's question didn't come from Plue, but from a new, familiar presence that had suddenly appeared alongside Lucy and Loke.
"Gemini." Keaton smirked.
They must be planning some kind of sneak attack, judging from their positions. It was three against three; Lucy and the Celestial Spirits each crept towards one of the Knights, moving as one. But what was Lucy thinking trying to fight an executioner unarmed and with her only two combat spirits focusing on their own opponents?
Keaton needed to get ready to help her. "Plue, head back to the spirit world," he grumbled as he started to move to stand.
"Puun!"
The swordsman, having gotten not very far, dropped back to the ground with a grunt and raised an eyebrow at his defiant little companion. "No? What's the matter, Plue?"
Of course, the response he got was incomprehensible. Whatever may be keeping Plue from returning to the spirit world, Keaton would have to figure that out later. He couldn't force Plue to go back since the spirit was not under his contract. Having no other choice, he picked up the feather-light spirit and placed him over his right shoulder. Soft little paws clung to the fabric of his tunic.
"Hold on tight, okay?"
"Puu-puuun!"
Keaton used the surrounding rubble as support as he painstakingly climbed onto his feet. His wounded leg was hurting badly, but numbing it again with the salve would greatly limit his mobility. Limping was better than not being able to move. He stretched his stiff arms and flexed his fingers to ease some of the tension in his sore, aching muscles. He needed to be quick to the draw in order to survive this next ordeal.
He waited for the right opportunity to strike. There was a tingle down his spine the instant he felt a rise in magic energy. Loke and Gemini attacked first, unleashing some sort of ranged attack at the backs of their foes. Keaton's ears pricked at the distant explosion that rocked the underground cavern.
More magic flared to life, emanating from the three executioners. Each Garou Knight held respectable power, but one stood out among the others. This Knight had cast a powerful spell that instantly covered a wide area, infusing magic into the terrain, physically changing it to suit the caster's desire and affecting everyone in it. Keaton could sense and hear the land transform as old ruins soundly shifted and collapsed. This type of magic belonged to no one but Uosuke.
Keaton's target was now clear. He drew a slow, steadying breath, as deep as his broken ribcage would allow, and called forth his magic. A powerful gust surrounded him as his body flashed a bright green, blasting away the dust and gloom. Plue cried out in awe.
Keaton grinned at his spirit friend, pleased to be able to see the canine's bewilderment in the light of his spell. "Don't make a sound, okay? We want to catch our foes by surprise. Now, let's go help our master."
Plue nodded. "Puu-puuun!"
He cast Farore's Wind and saw nothing but green soon after. He was soaring blindly through the air, heading towards the destination set within his mind. He did not plan to teleport right behind Uosuke in fear of getting caught in the executioner's magic; he needed a good vantage point to assess the situation first and there was no better view than directly above the male Garou Knight.
Keaton warped to the highest spot he could achieve and that ended up being the very roof of the cavern, right beneath the pointy stalactites. Just as gravity took hold of him, his eyes went wide in horror and shock when he saw what had become of the battle zone. It was as if he was staring right into the mouth of Death Mountain; lava flowed freely within a lake, red hot and bubbling, eating away at rock and ruins and giving off thick plumes of black smoke. He already broke into a sweat, able to feel the intense heat from such a height. Through the haze and wavering heat, he spotted Lucy, her Celestial Spirits, and the two female executioners all stranded on different platforms that either floated on top of the molten lake or protruded from below. And in the center of it all was Uosuke, safely hovering above a towering pillar of natural rock in which the lava did not touch.
Gemini was closest to Uosuke. Perched on top of a tall sinking column, the twins had taken on Keaton's disguised form and were busy aiming a shining blue arrow at the man. They fired, not just one Ice Arrow but three more right after the first.
The arrows were nothing more but deep blue streaks that soared across the wide gap. However, with a simple wave of his ape-like arm, Uosuke cast another spell that made the magical arrows suddenly drop like dead weights before they reached their target. The Knight had manipulated the gravity all around him, increasing it to an unbearable level.
Gemini collapsed onto their hands and knees, barely able to withstand the incredible force pulling them down. Their sinking column started to crumble apart. Soon, they would plunge into the molten lake unless Keaton could save them in time.
The swordsman continued to plummet feet-first towards Uosuke, determined to take the man out in one blow. He had the advantage of surprise and a clear, direct shot, it was too hard to miss. Thanks to the Knight's magic, he fell at a faster rate and his body felt as heavy as a boulder. He gripped onto Plue with one hand to brace the spirit for what was next to come.
Uosuke failed to notice him up to the last second. The bottoms of Keaton's boots connected with the top of Uosuke's shiny bald head with a loud, satisfying thunk! The impact was so hard and jarring it felt as if every bone in Keaton's legs and feet had shattered. Down the executioner went, his fishy face slamming into the rock pillar with so much force the entire structure smashed to pieces. Farther down he fell with Keaton not far behind. Dust flew and rocks rained beside the falling pair. By then gravity had returned to normal and the fiery lake below had instantly cooled to black volcanic rock, bringing back the darkness of the cavern.
Keaton no longer had to worry about the lava, only his next landing. Fortunately, he had Uosuke's limp, unconscious body to cushion his fall. The executioner was first to crash down, creating a small human-shaped crater upon impact, and Keaton landed on top of him, back-first. Keaton bounced off and ended up tumbling over huge chunks of rock before finally coming to halt. Dazed, winded, and wracked with pain, it took a long moment to regain his bearings. It felt like forever until he realized he was lying on his side on the ground that was still hot and steaming.
He groaned and carefully rolled onto his front, accidentally crushing Plue with his shoulder. His mumbled apology was cut short when he heard Cosmos's shrill, angry voice.
"How many of you are there?! Just die already!"
Next to follow was her magic coming his way. With both legs now badly hurting, he managed to rise only onto his hands and knees by the time her spell was upon him.
Giant, thorny flowers grew from the black earth, surrounding Keaton and Plue in a perfect circle. They bloomed like roses, their petals emitting a soft blue glow and their dark centres spewing clouds of purple pollen that were probably not healthy to breathe in.
Keaton quickly covered his mouth and nose with one hand and scooped up a disoriented Plue with the other.
"Master Link!" Gemini dropped down beside them, still disguised as the swordsman from the future. The twins spun on their heel and whipped their feathered cloak around to fan away some of the pollen. Then they kneeled and covered themselves, Keaton, and Plue under their cloak to protect against the poison. The pointy nose of their replicated mask was pressed uncomfortably against Keaton's cheek within the close quarters they had to share. "We're so happy you're still alive! Lucy feared you dead! Are you all right? Can you stand?"
"Worry about me later. Let's burn these flowers away with Din's Wrath!"
"Understood!"
Keaton and his doppelganger both raised their left hands, their palms facing each other's but not touching. Heat rushed from their chest and down to the tips of their fingers as they called forth their magic. Small orbs of fire appeared in their hands, bright, hot, and swirling. They slowly pressed the two orbs together, carefully fusing their magic to create a more powerful spell. Larger and brighter, their new, combined orb burned intensely with contained fury. They had to shut their eyes to avoid going blind. Keaton and Gemini did not need to see if the other was ready; they were one and the same, having the same mind and sharing a magical bond; they could feel when the moment was right.
As one, they yelled and slammed their miniature sun into the earth right by their feet where it melted deep below and exploded underground, causing a massive quake. Twisting pillars of fire violently erupted around the casters soon after. They were so tall they licked the stalactites hanging on the roof and illuminated the entire cavern in a hellish, fiery glow. Many more pillars followed the first set, spreading outward in a spiraling pattern, instantly incinerating everything caught in the deadly flames.
Mere plants stood no chance against the blazing inferno. Rendered helpless, Cosmos had no choice but to retreat. However, she didn't get very far. She was thrown high and far from an erupting blast.
Keaton was certain he could hear her screaming over the eruptions. Even though Loke had taught him to never hurt a woman, it was still rather satisfying to get a little revenge. But then he remembered he was fighting people, not dragons. He felt a small twinge of guilt. Did he overdo it? Would Cosmos survive? And what about Uosuke who was also caught in the attack?
"The Garou Knights are the toughest executioners in this kingdom," Arcadios had told him. If the Captain believed that falling buildings would not crush them to death, then it could be possible a little fire wouldn't kill them either.
Keaton could only hope as he watched the last tower of fire flicker away in the distance, leaving behind a razed, smouldering ground covered in fissures and holes that glowed bright red. There were no standing buildings in sight, only molten piles of rubble and scorched stone. Embers and ash filled the air, falling and rising in the heat coming from the burning earth.
"That was excellent, Master Link!" praised Gemini as they helped the swordsman onto his aching legs and feet.
Plue, unharmed and clutched upside-down in the crook of Keaton's elbow, clapped and cheered to agree.
"Plue? Why is he here?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me," said Keaton, wanting to divert Gemini's attention away from his injuries. Without his mask, it was difficult to hide the pain from showing on his face as he stood slightly hunched over, favouring his right leg. His wound had unfortunately reopened from his rough landing and blood was trickling into his boot.
Plue started to babble something to Gemini as Keaton adjusted the little spirit to ride on his shoulder again.
The twins nodded. "Plue says, 'I sensed Master needing some help so I came to help.'"
Keaton smiled at the canine. "I see now. You knew Lucy needed my help so you somehow opened your gate to come find me."
"Puu-puuu-puun!"
"'Something like that,' he says." Gemini cocked their head to the side in confusion. "But Plue, how did you open your gate on your own?"
"Puuu-puun."
"You don't know?"
Strange as it was, there was no time to discuss the issue. Keaton waved his hand aside. "That's not important right now. We need to deal with the executioners first."
"Right. Well, you have certainly taken care of the worst of the bunch and that flower girl landed somewhere over there," the twins pointed to their right, towards the darkness beyond the burning ground. "She hasn't moved since so I think she's completely out. Loke is supposed to be handling that other woman, but…"
"She's a woman," Keaton stated with a defeated sigh. He had a good feeling the battle was one-sided, unless Lucy was capable of convincing the great lion to not pull his punches against his female opponent. No, even with Lucy chewing out his ear, Loke would never try to physically hit a woman who was too pretty for his eyes. "Go back to Lucy and Loke and lend them a hand. I'll retrieve the keys from the fallen Knights and join you all after."
Gemini nodded. "Understood." With a flash of green accompanied by a powerful gust, the twins disappeared from sight, teleporting to Lucy and Loke's location.
No longer needing to keep up the façade, Keaton dropped to one knee, needing a moment to catch his breath. Plue sounded concerned as he tapped the swordsman's shoulder.
"I'll be all right," Keaton tried to assure the canine. "Head back to the spirit world. You've helped more than enough. Take a rest."
"Puun."
"Still no? You're a stubborn little fellow."
Keaton sighed and quietly watched as the lingering magic of Din's Wrath was finally beginning to fade. The red-hot glow coming from deep beneath the ground was gradually dying, slowly bringing back the shadows. The ground was cooling, turning solid and black.
"This nightmare's almost over," he grumbled as he forced himself to stand. But it wasn't the end once they escaped Abyss Palace – no, far from it.
"… ended up in Abyss Palace. We escaped, of course. Spent the whole night in the dreadful place… only to enter another Hell…" he suddenly remembered Master Lucy saying.
He had to hurry and escape in order to change the fate of the world lest history would repeat itself.
One hand pressed against his bleeding wound, he hobbled forward, wincing at the needle-like pain shooting from the soles of his feet and up his legs. He wasn't sure if any bones were broken from the fall, but as long as he could keep moving, he didn't care. The broken terrain was rough and bumpy. He stumbled many times but did not completely falter in his stride. Just as the last of the red embers burned away, he found Cosmos's motionless body lying prone at the very edge of the charred ground.
He grabbed an arrow from his quiver. With a shaft made from the strongest wood and a tip sharpened from a spiny dragon's scale, the arrow was designed to pierce the strongest of hides and armours. But right now, he needed it for another purpose. With a quick flick of his wrist, the tip of the arrow ignited aflame and he held it like a torch. Slowly, he approached Cosmos and shone his new light upon her. She didn't flinch and her aura remained weak, she was completely out for the count. He frowned when he caught the smell of burnt hair and clothes.
Her long pink hair was noticeably singed and the bottom ends and the back of her dress were full of burnt holes. She suffered the worst damage on both her legs; all that was left of her white boots were scraps of blackened cloth which did very little in hiding the large, angry blisters that covered her skin from the bottoms of her heels up to the back of her thighs.
Feeling guilty, Keaton murmured a quiet apology as he tried to kneel beside her. He succeeded in cracking one knee on the ground, resulting in a pained grunt, and proceeded to search for her key. Strapped to her hip was a leather pouch and he dug inside. He found four small glass bottles. Two contained a vibrant pink liquid and were labeled 'HEAL' and the other two held a deep green concoction and were labeled 'ANTIDOTE'. Just his luck, she had some healing potions!
He uncapped one of the HEAL bottles and sniffed its contents, surprised by its sweet, fruity scent. Never had he encountered such a pleasant-smelling potion before; all of Granny's potions were always unappetizing in both appearance and smell and that was because they were truly god-awful in taste. Having experienced the foulest of medicines growing up, he was rather skeptical about the pink potion's effectiveness.
"The more bitter the medicine, the better it is," Granny had beaten into his head.
There was nothing else to do but try it out. With a shrug, Keaton didn't hesitate to pour the whole thing down his throat. It was like drinking strawberry-flavoured oil loaded with sugar. It was far too sweet and it left a greasy feeling in his mouth; it was no doubt tailored for Cosmos's taste buds. He wished he had some water to wash it down.
He didn't feel anything right away, which proved his assumption true. Disappointed in the quality, he put the empty bottle and the antidotes aside and placed the remaining HEAL potion in Cosmos's hand before continuing his rummaging through her pouch. Right at the bottom of it, he found the black key. He tucked it away and, with much groaning and effort, stood back up.
Flaming arrow still in hand, he turned and limped towards Uosuke whose aura was just as feeble as Cosmos's. The man's unconscious body had been thrown not too far from where Cosmos had landed, saving Keaton from a long, arduous trek in his exhausted state.
Halfway across, Keaton finally began to notice the potion's gradual effects. His headache was becoming tolerable, the stabbing sensations in his chest eventually turned into mere pin-pricks, the throbbing in his wounded leg was less noticeable, and the bleeding may have stopped. Sore muscles and bruises were no more but a mild, dull ache. He wasn't fully healed, but he felt substantially better.
He could breathe and walk without wincing and the fatigue that had plagued him earlier was nearly gone. Perhaps he had been too hasty in judging the sweet potion because it was actually quite decent. With renewed energy, he strode towards the motionless body visible in the border of his firelight. He only got close enough to catch a glimpse of Uosuke's shiny bald head when he suddenly detected something magical coming from behind. It sounded like a whirling blade and it was closing in fast. He quickly equipped his crimson shield and twisted around just in time to see an all-too-familiar scythe flying straight for him.
With a deafening clang, the spinning weapon collided with Keaton's shield, knocking him back a few steps, and bounced off high into the air. Bound by magic, the scythe flew back to its owner lurking in the shadows.
Kama wasn't alone, Neppa was also with him. Both executioners were making their way towards the swordsman, as if lured by the beacon he carried.
Keaton mentally cursed at his bad luck. Just when he thought it was almost over, there was always something else in the way. He glanced at his companion and whispered, "Find the last key, Plue. Once you do, stay hidden, okay?"
The spirit soundly nodded, hopped off the swordsman's shoulder and scurried to the fallen Knight.
Keaton turned his attention forward, glaring into the shadows where the two executioners were approaching. Since there was no other light source nearby, he had to keep the Fire Arrow around. With his teeth, he bit onto the shaft of the arrow and unsheathed the smaller sword by his hip. Freedom palely gleamed under the flickering flame. Although the weapon was old and marred from years of use, it was still sharp and reliable against human opponents. Fearless, he stood his ground, prepared for any other surprise attacks.
But none came. Instead, his opponents have chosen to confront him head-on.
A pair of footsteps drew closer, accompanied by a rhythmic clank clank with every other step, growing louder with each passing second.
Kama stepped into view first, his pale, masked face a menacing glower in the dim light. He held one of his scythes in his right hand, using it as a supporting staff, while the other remained strapped to his back. As he walked, his injured arm was pressed against his stomach wound that was now bandaged and still bleeding, evident by the wet, crimson stain.
"You should have killed us when you had the chance, boy," the executioner spat angrily. "As long as we live, you will not escape. We will make sure of it!"
Behind the leader of the Garou Knights was Neppa whose badly bruised face was trying to scowl. With his right eye swollen shut and his fat lips split and purple, he looked more comical than intimidating. Arms crossed, Neppa hung back while Kama continued to close in on their lone enemy.
Clank clank clank. The pounding of Kama's scythe against the ground was like a countdown to their rematch.
The executioner stopped before the swordsman, his narrowed eyes blazing with fury. Despite the serious wound hindering him, the man still possessed the burning passion to perform his duty. It must be stubbornness and pride that kept him going.
The tension Keaton had felt when he first faced Kama was still as intense as ever. Unable to speak, the young warrior in green could only stare and listen as he maintained his defensive stance, his body tense and ready for battle. Fortunate for him, it was only going to be Kama fighting him and not both Knights at the same time as he had previously dreaded.
"I'm actually impressed you have survived this long," said Kama, shifting into his own stance as he looked his opponent over, taking in Keaton's battered appearance. "You even defeated Uosuke. But it ends here–"
"Keaton." The swordsman flinched at the familiar voice that suddenly intruded his mind. He blinked in surprise before resuming his steely glare at Kama, pretending to listen to the executioner's prattle.
"It's me, Jellal."
"Master Jellal?! But how are you able to… There are enchantments–"
"I'm here in Abyss Palace and I didn't come alone."
"What? Why would you… Who–"
"… die!"
Keaton snapped his focus back on Kama the instant the man decided to lunge for him. Gasping, the swordsman's first reaction was to leap back to avoid getting cleaved diagonally in half.
"Explain later! Busy!"
Jellal replied with something, but Keaton was too occupied in trying to stay alive to pay any attention. He back-flipped to avoid losing his head to Kama's scythe and stumbled slightly on his landing.
The executioner leapt back as well to put some distance between them and threw his scythe right when his feet touched the ground.
Keaton easily dodged to the side, making the spinning blade miss him completely.
Kama was already equipped with his second scythe when he charged at the swordsman once more. He swiped at the other's neck only to be stopped by a crimson shield. Growling, he quickly twisted his blade around and slashed again, but to no avail could he break through Keaton's strong defense.
Keaton parried the third blow and shifted onto the offensive. He rushed in and slashed upwards, his blade cutting through leather and into the flesh of Kama's right shoulder.
The Knight snarled at the new injury and quickly countered by lashing out his foot, purposely kicking the wound on Keaton's left leg.
The swordsman's cry of pain was muffled by the arrow clenched between his teeth. He managed to stagger back without falling over, hissing and wincing with every step.
Kama didn't give him a breather. Possessed by rage, the Knight was already moving in for another onslaught, screaming with all his might.
Keaton deflected the executioner's scythe three more times and was quick to notice how much weaker the Knight's attacks were becoming. With both of his arms injured, Kama couldn't properly wield his weapon. Knowing this, the swordsman used his shield to divert Kama's scythe downwards so it would slice deep into the ground, making it difficult for the Knight to recover quickly.
Keaton was about to perform a leaping slash when he sensed something coming in from behind at the very last second. It was the first scythe Kama had thrown! He threw his body to the ground and avoided the brunt of it, feeling its cold sharp edge graze the side of his neck. Only a shallow flesh wound and not decapitation, he had the gods to thank. He landed hard on his left side just as Kama caught his thrown weapon.
"This is the end!" the executioner bellowed as he jumped at the fallen warrior, his weapon raised high above his head for a finishing blow. His eyes briefly met Keaton's one last time before the swordsman extinguished the flame from his arrow, throwing them in complete darkness.
There was a startled "What?!" coming from Kama just as Keaton frantically rolled aside. He felt the wind from the executioner's blade as it passed over his head by the width of a hair. Using the darkness to his advantage, he pushed onto his feet and drove the pommel of his sword into the Knight's wounded gut.
Kama choked, winded by the hit and in no doubt a lot of pain. He soundly coughed up blood and collapsed on the ground with his weapon clattering beside him. Moaning and writhing, he was unable to respond to Neppa's worried cries.
"What happened?! Kama! Kama!"
Arrow still clamped between his teeth, Keaton reignited it, shining light on his victory.
Neppa's one eye was wide, horrified to see the swordsman seemingly appear out of the darkness, standing over his defeated comrade. He visibly shuddered when he met Keaton's furious glower, reacting as if he was gazing upon a demon disguised as a man.
Keaton hardly felt like such a fearsome being. His jaw was aching from biting onto the arrow so hard that he was surprised he hadn't cracked a tooth yet. Sweat trickled down his brow as he panted heavily, barely able to stand straight. He was exhausted and hurting all over again, feeling just like the moment before he had taken the healing potion.
Despite feeling like shit, he wasn't ready to keel over just yet. Eyes locked on the burly man, he shifted into his stance.
"N-No way…" Neppa murmured in shock. He bared his teeth and clenched his fists that started to glow purple. "You bastard! I'll make sure you won't – oof!"
Someone dressed in black clothing and shrouded in golden light suddenly dropped down from above, one fist colliding with the top of the executioner's head, knocking the big man down and making a crater with his face. Besides a few twitches, Neppa didn't move after that.
The figure dispelled his golden magic and faced Keaton, wearing a familiar bird mask. For a fleeting moment, Keaton was certain he was imagining his brother standing before him, alive and well. But then he soon remembered he had lent that mask to Jellal.
Jellal's sudden appearance wasn't what caught him by surprise the most however, it was the young girl who flew down on the wings of a white Exceed. She landed right in front of him, her cautious expression quickly dissolving into disbelief when she finally met his gaze.
His blue eyes absorbed everything that she was. Long, flowing navy blue hair, large brown eyes that were filled with love and compassion, and a face so pure, innocent and beautiful. He couldn't believe he had forgotten what she looked like.
Memories of her were flooding back; memories he had thought were lost forever. From the first day he woke up to her smiling face to the day she went to Mercurius Castle and never came back. He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't breathe. All of his strength disappeared and he fell to his knees, his sword and shield dropping at his sides.
The girl ran towards him, worry etched on her features, a look he had dearly missed.
Keaton slipped his Fire arrow back in his hand and wrapped his arms around Wendy for the first time in seven long years.