A/N: To everyone who has been waiting since the last update, I'm so, so sorry for taking forever. If there is anyone still interested in this story, I'll let you all know now that I'm going to do my hardest to get this done!
Day Five: Dark Secrets
The hands of the clock kept ticking by, seemingly slower and slower the longer Bacon laid awake in bed.
Ever since they had snuck back into their room unnoticed, he couldn't fall back asleep. Romeo, on the other hand, was out like a light the instant his head hit his pillow.
Bacon sighed for the umpteenth time and rolled onto his side, feeling frustrated but anxious as well. He opened his eyes and spotted his dream journal lying open on the bedside table under the gloom of early dawn. It was too dark to read, but he knew the details of his latest dream were written upon those pages.
'Wendy goes to the dark castle and never comes back.'
His heart grew heavier with worry.
He carefully slid off his covers and sat up, one hand moving to close the leather book only to accidentally knock something off the table. With a soft thud, Wendy's hair tie landed on the carpet.
He bent over to pick it up, his fingers cold and shaking. This bad feeling he had – it was unlike the time Wendy had left for days to train – it was much worse, as if something was eating away at the pit of his stomach.
Romeo had assured him over and over that things would be alright. Bacon wanted to believe his brother, but he just couldn't shake away the bad feeling.
Stressing about it made his head hurt. The room was getting too hot and uncomfortable. He needed some fresh air.
Treading lightly on his toes, he made his way to the balcony door. He slipped behind the drapes and unlatched the glass-sliding door. Now the hard part: Slowly, he slid the door open. The wheels were old and ungreased, making the door sound as loud as a train as it ground along its track. He paused at every inch to make sure his family wasn't disturbed by the awful sound. Both continued to snore soundly throughout it all.
Once the door was wide enough, Bacon sucked in his stomach and squeezed through to the other side. Cool morning air greeted him as he stepped onto the small balcony.
High up on the fifth floor, there was much to see on the streets below. However, something else got his attention first; a slight tingle ran down his neck, warm and ticklish. He sensed her presence the instant his bare feet touched the cold wood of the balcony floor.
He turned and found Mavis Vermilion sitting precariously on the railing with her back towards him, kicking her feet over the edge. It was as if she had been waiting for him for a while when in reality she had just appeared out of nowhere.
She smiled over her shoulder and tilted her head, beckoning him to come over.
The boy didn't hesitate to stand beside her, arms propped atop the icy metal rail. He shivered but didn't pull away, curious to know why she was suddenly here. He was used to her appearing and disappearing whenever she pleased.
She was unlike anyone else; invisible to all but the eyes of Fairy Tail. As Romeo had put it, she was like their guardian spirit, here to protect and guide them in their time of need.
Bacon heard the story of how she had saved Wendy and most of the guild from a terrifying black dragon. And had it not been for her, Macao might not have found Bacon and the others unconscious near the castle
Mavis looked as old as Wendy, but she had a mind like an adult – most of the time. Whenever the situation revolved around the Games, Mavis was as sharp and wise as Master Makarov. However, when it came to having fun, such as the water park, she was as cheerful and energetic as any other kid.
Right now, she was a kid who seemed real eager to play rather than sleep the night away. (Did guardian spirits even sleep?)
"Morning!" she greeted in an excited whisper, being careful not to wake up the others inside. "Did you want to watch the sunrise too?" She gestured over to the mountainous horizon where the sky was beginning to lighten.
Bacon shook his head.
She looked disappointed. "No? That's not why you're up so early?" she questioned before he could say anything. She hummed in thought for a brief second. "You had that bad dream again?"
He frowned and shook his head again, slower than before.
Her eyes found the hair tie clutched in his hand. "I see. Then I know what it is..." She twisted around and slipped off the railing, floating down instead of instantly dropping onto the balcony. Her bare feet made no sound when it touched the wood nor did her robe when she twirled back around. She copied Bacon's pose and stared forward, eyeing the cityscape that still thrived with activity despite the hour.
"I'd be lying if I told you everything will be alright," she said, glancing at the boy from the side. She grabbed a lock of her blonde hair and started to twirl it around her finger. "I know you're worried about Wendy and them – I'm just as worried too. I wish I had the power to see the future, but all I can really do is predict the outcomes."
"See the future..." Bacon murmured, wondering where he had heard that before.
A sense of fascination fell upon Mavis's face as she continued to play with her hair. "Did you know it's an extremely rare form of magic? Throughout history, there have only been eight known mages who held such power. In the year X104, King Abrador Kelfish of Pergrande was the first to be recorded. He could predict the weather months ahead of time, leading to bountiful harvests every season. His people had lived in prosperity under his rule. Unfortunately, a few years after his death, the Pergrande Kingdom was hit hard with blight and famine.
"The second was a woman named Mistress Selina Yerling of Enca. She could..."
Bacon couldn't quite follow everything the girl was saying. She spoke so fast and used words he didn't know the meaning of. But it was interesting to listen to her talk. The passion and energy in her voice and the sparkle in her eyes made her stories sound exciting.
There were a bunch of funny-sounding names that made him snicker and she would repeat them, just to make him laugh. Lord Oogenstein the Third. Camletto No-no Sagriffy. Duke Ikenshire Haffletuff Hornsworth. And so on.
The sun was already peaking over the mountains by the time she finished. "It's been three hundred years since the last living seer. No mage living today has the power to see the future – none that we are aware of, at least."
"Auntie Cana says she can see the future," Bacon spoke up. "Could she be one of them?" Ever since the card-reading, Cana had constantly warned him to be careful and never go anywhere alone or else something really bad would happen. And bad things had happened since then, but not the very, very bad thing she was warning about. What exactly that was, she wouldn't say.
The First smiled. "True she has the power of divination through her cards. But it is, to say the least, a weak form of future telling. She can predict the good and bad but can not see all the details that matter most that could be used to alter the future."
"Alter the future..." Bacon shuddered as the sense of familiarity washed over him yet again.
"Blind I am, but the future I can still see... the future is not absolute. It can be altered and you are the key..."
"Are you okay? You're shaking," said Mavis, snapping his attention back on her.
The boy blinked, his heart racing and his head pounding. "He can see..." he blurted out without thought.
Mavis fully turned to face him, intrigued. "Who?"
Bacon's tongue was tied for he didn't have the answer right away. A few seconds felt more like minutes when he finally realized where it was all coming from. The Dragon Dream, as Romeo had titled it. There was more to the dream than what was written in his journal. Lost fragments were drifting back; carrying small details that somehow felt important.
He took a deep breath, needing a moment to put the missing pieces together. It would have been more comfortable if he was talking to Romeo instead of Mavis.
"A dragon," he finally replied, watching the girl's eyes grow wide, "In a dream I had. He was my friend."
Mavis leaned close, her eyes flashing with excitement. "Give me your left hand."
"Huh?" Bacon flinched back in surprise. He glanced at her open palm and back to her eager face before moving to grab her hand.
Smiling, Mavis cupped his hand in both of hers. Bacon was fascinated, her touch sent a warm, ticklish sensation through his skin. He was tempted to pull away, but curiosity got the better of him.
"Now close your eyes," she said and he listened without question.
"Tell me," she continued, her voice soft and gentle, "what does this dragon look like? Imagine it in your mind as if it was standing right here in front of you."
At first, he imagined the small dragon Reedus had brought to life the other morning. The magic lizard was similar but not exactly the same to the one in Bacon's dream. It wasn't just the size that had been wrong, certain features were also incorrect.
Eyes shut tight, he focused on Reedus's dragon, watching it slowly shift and transform into its true form.
"He's big," he began.
"How big?"
"As big as... No, bigger than this hotel. Twice as big! He has a long neck and a big mouth full of sharp teeth. Silver scales covered in green fur. Moss, I think? Thick around his neck and shoulders. He has golden horns, like antlers, covered with vines and birds."
"Birds?" Mavis giggled. "And do they sing?"
He nodded. "Yes. There are many. Of every colour. And the dragon has six wings, but... he can't fly anymore."
"Why can't he fly?"
Bacon furrowed his brow. "Because... he is old and his wings are full of holes. And there are trees. Giant, super tall trees where you can't see the tops. Their roots have grown around him, keeping him to the ground. But he doesn't care."
"He lives in a forest?"
"Yes. His eyes..." They stood out most in the black sea of his mind, calm, radiant and full of wisdom. "He has three eyes that shine like the moon. He's blind."
"Three eyes? Where is the third?"
"Middle of his forehead. I don't think it blinks."
"Hmm. If he's blind, how can he 'see' the future?"
Bacon shook his head. "I don't know... He only told me..."
Mavis lightly squeezed his hand when he hesitated. "What did he tell you?"
"He said he could still see even when blind."
She tightened her hold, sending warm tickles up his arm. His body was itching to pull away, but he felt the need to stay in touch with her. Somehow, she was helping him remember.
"And what did he see?" she asked.
"Our world will become a bleak and dismal place..."
The boy swallowed, his mouth had gone dry as something heavy suddenly settled in his gut. "He said our world would become... bleak and dis... dis-mal. And then he said the future is not... absolute? What does that mean?"
Mavis made a small sound of interest. "He's saying that the future doesn't have to be bleak and dismal – not terrible. It can be changed for the better."
"Change for the better... I am the key to that change..."
She squeezed his hand again. He could hear her take a slow deep breath. "Did he say how?"
"How?"
"How are you the key to change the future?"
That piece was somewhere. Bacon dug deep into the recesses of his mind, ignoring the headache that threatened to stop him. Where was it? Keep searching. It should be here.
But he couldn't find it.
The pain was too much. He used his free hand to rub his temple. "I don't know..." he uttered in disappointment.
"Don't worry about it. It's okay. You can open your eyes."
First thing he saw was Mavis's smiling face, framed by her wavy blonde hair that glistened from the few rays of sunlight that shone through the trees.
Trees? He blinked a few times and glanced around in confusion, finding the hotel and the entire city gone, only to be somehow replaced with a lush green forest with trees so thick and tall they appeared to touch the sky. He gaped at the new scenery, wondering how he hadn't noticed the changes. The hard wood under his feet was now a soft carpet of green moss. The air was no longer cold but warm and humid, fragrant with the earthly smells of a forest. It had gone awfully quiet too, save for the few birds calling from somewhere in the distance.
He was about to ask Mavis where they were when a rustling of leaves made him abruptly turn around.
He gasped at the familiar sight towering before him: a wizened, silver-scaled, three-eyed, blind dragon trapped in the roots of humongous trees. His head was held high and proud while colourful songbirds rested on his golden horns tangled with leafy vines.
The dragon lowered his head, his three sightless eyes seemingly staring at Bacon, each glowing as bright as the moon in the shadows cast by the trees. The birds in his horns noisily chirped and flitted around from the movement.
The boy moved towards the dragon, feeling a rush of emotion and familiarity. He had walked this path before. He hadn't just dreamt the moment. He knew in his heart that he had met the blind dragon sometime in his past.
After a few steps, Mavis suddenly pulled back on his hand that he had forgotten she was still holding. Her voice broke the spell that had fallen over Bacon; "Wait, this is as far as you can go."
"He's not dangerous. He's my friend," Bacon assured. He tried to keep going, but the girl was a lot stronger than she looked.
She had laced her fingers between his own for a firm grip. "Your friend isn't really here, little one," she said with a sad shake of her head. "All of this is just an illusion that only we can see. This forest isn't real and neither is your friend... we're still on the balcony. Go any farther and you'll be walking into the railing."
The truth pierced Bacon like an arrow to the chest. His eyes stung and his breath grew short. The dragon was dead, of course the one before him couldn't be real.
Mavis spoke in a quiet, soothing tone, "He was a good friend, wasn't he? What was his name?"
His name...
He let his tears fall as he met the dragon's blind stare. For a minute or two, everything had gone quiet and still as if time itself had stopped around them.
"Come, come closer, Herial Yaarez... There is no need to be afraid of this weary, old dragon. Long have I waited to finally meet you, my young friend... Yes, I know who you are, ah, but you do not know me. Ages ago, I ruled the land and sky of Ishgar as..."
"The Ancient Dragon King, Yorenthall."
He was delirious. There was no doubt about it. Sleep deprivation, fatigue, blood-loss; it was a deadly combination that often led to wild hallucinations.
The Wendy he could see couldn't be real; he had been fooled far too many times before to believe it true. And yet... he could feel the illusion pressed against his body as he held her close; so close that his bruised and broken ribs were screaming in protest. Unlike every hallucination, this Wendy was warm. He could hear her breathing. Strands of her navy hair actually tickled his cheek.
And she smelled so pleasant, like fragrant wild flowers blooming in an open meadow.
Flowers...?
He took in a sharp, deep breath, drawing more of the familiar scent.
It pulled him back into reality faster than the stabbing in his chest. He remembered now... The very night he had last seen her walk away to her doom, she had smelled just the same.
This wasn't a hallucination. This was real.
"W-Wendy..." was all he managed to croak before choking on a sob. There was so much more he wanted to say; how he had missed her, how he had loved her, how he was so overwhelmed to see her alive again. His body started to shake uncontrollably. It hurt to cry and it hurt to hold her, but he couldn't stop or let her go. Her death had left the deepest void in his life, leaving him to struggle silently for years with guilt and sorrow. Now that he could hold her, that void had quickly filled, overflowing with all sorts of emotions.
He hadn't noticed the soft hushing in his ear or the gentle caress on the back of his head until his eyes ran dry. For a minute longer, he didn't move, lost in the moment, his mind drifting to the fond memories he cherished so much.
Once he collected himself, he slowly pulled back, leaving one hand to rest on Wendy's shoulder while the other he used to hastily wipe his eyes. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, hanging his head out of embarrassment. "I-I..." He was silenced by a small hand cupping his jaw.
Wendy gently turned and lifted his chin so he would have to meet her gaze. It was no surprise to see nothing but compassion upon her young, delicate face that shone under a flickering golden light. She studied him closely, her warm brown eyes wandering over every inch of his face.
"Bacon," she said. Keaton's heart leapt at the sound of her kind voice; "It's really you, isn't it?"
"Yes," he answered, his throat hoarse and begging for moisture.
Her eyes widened slightly. "H-How is this possible?" She gingerly rubbed her thumb over the scar on his chin then brushed away his matted bangs to get a good look at the scabby wound running down his right brow. She frowned. "What happened to you? You look terrible!"
Keaton couldn't muster the strength to laugh at how many times he has heard that already. He lightly pushed her hand away and bowed his head. "The future is what happened."
"The future?" exclaimed a familiar voice.
Carla appeared from behind Wendy as quick and smooth as a shadow. She stopped a foot away from the pair, wearing an expression of disbelief with her arms crossed and her ribbon-tail twitching. Her sharp eyes narrowed on Keaton, more so out of fascination than suspicion.
Oh, brave little Carla... Keaton would have broken down into a sobbing mess if he still had any tears left. Having gone a month without her icy glares and nagging guidance made Keaton realize just how much he truly missed her. This Carla was whole and composed, unmarred by the disaster that had yet to haunt them all, completely different from the feline he considered his partner and close friend in his timeline. He held back the urge to pet her between the ears knowing full-well she wouldn't appreciate the gesture.
"Carla," she flinched at the sound of her name spoken from his lips, "I'm happy to see you again."
The feline studied Keaton briefly. She uncrossed her arms and took one small step closer, her caution melting away. "So you are Bacon from the future? But how–" Her eyes widened; "Of course! The Eclipse Gate... You used it to travel to the past."
The swordsman nodded and turned to the masked man wielding a golden flame in the palm of his hand. "Master Jellal, why didn't you tell them on your way here?"
Jellal grunted and lightly shrugged his shoulders. "Better to show the truth than have to explain. The less questions, the faster we could come to your rescue."
"I know you didn't want Natsu and his team to come here, but it was unavoidable," he added, grumbling only in Keaton's mind. "You were gone far too long trying to rescue Lucy and Fairy Tail was already in the midst of their plan to save her. Thought it'd be best to bring some extra help in saving your hide."
Keaton tried to hide his grateful smile as he replied, "Sorry, things didn't go as well as expected. Completely forgot about the trap. So you were worried?"
Jellal mentally groaned. "It was Meredy who is worried. Better be thankful we weren't a minute too late."
"Yes, Master. I am in your debt."
Jellal discreetly shook his head. "It will be us who will be in your debt if our plan succeeds. Everything is almost in place. Once Meredy and Ultear do their part, it's only a matter of waiting for the right opportunity."
Keaton nodded. "We need to get out of here first. But even then..."
"You and I are both here with them this time," Jellal assured, sensing the other's unease. "Every one of us will escape before the day of the ceremony."
Carla, oblivious to their private telepathic conversation, frowned at Jellal. "So you knew who he was all this time?"
"I found him four days ago, so yes, I have known since then," Jellal answered in a nonchalant manner.
Keaton gave Wendy's shoulder a small squeeze. "I arrived on the third day of the Games, just in time to watch your battle against Chelia. I was happy to see that moment again."
Wendy gripped his hand resting on her shoulder and gave him a troubled look. "Why are you here from the future? What happened? To you and everyone?"
Keaton swallowed, unable to rid the desert in his throat. He dreaded having to tell her the truth, but there was no way around it. Perhaps the sooner she knew, the easier it would be to keep her and everyone else out of danger. He sighed only to be quickly reminded of his injuries and exhaustion. With the adrenaline gone, fatigue and pain hit him like a boulder.
"Fiore is destined for ruin," he muttered wearily as he carefully pulled away from Wendy. Kneeling on rough stone was taking a toll on his bruised knees and wounded leg. He was far from graceful trying to shift into a sitting position.
Wendy was down by his side faster than he could say "I'm fine", one glowing hand pressed over the bloody rag on his leg. Her magic instantly chased away the dull ache, replacing the pain with a blissfully cool sensation. The Sky Dragon Slayer said nothing as she worked, eyes closed in deep concentration.
He missed that face and he missed her healing – oh, how he missed it so much. Her power was a blessing when compared to Granny's nauseating medicines.
"What ruin do you speak of?" Carla demanded, drawing his attention. The Exceed was tense and glaring. She knew exactly what Keaton was talking about.
The swordsman's face was drawn and sombre. "You've seen it already, haven't you, Carla?"
"I saw the castle fall, the city burn, monsters in the sky...If I had known it would all come true... I could have saved her! I could have saved them all!"
Carla hugged her body, shivering as if caught in a cold wind. "The premonition..." she whispered, sounding quite distraught.
Wendy snapped her attention towards her partner all the while keeping her magic steady. She furrowed her brow. "Carla?"
"Tell us," said Keaton, his voice but a rasp, "what did you see in your vision?" He needed to hear it again; to make sure this world was on the same path of destruction so all his and Crime Sorcière's efforts hadn't been for naught.
Carla gave Wendy an apologetic look before hardening her gaze at Keaton. She was putting on a brave act, but there was no hiding the fear in her quivering eyes. "Smoke and flames," she began, "Crocus was burning and Mercurius Castle had fallen. There were screams... people crying in terror – fleeing from a horrendous monster in the sky! And riding upon that shadowed beast was a man in black armour..."
Keaton stiffened, feeling his gut twist in nervous dread.
"What is it?" Jellal was first to notice his distress.
Keaton clenched his jaw until it ached. "Her premonition is not the same. The man in black armour... Carla of my time has never mentioned him – no one was even aware. Only Acnologia revealed the truth..."
"Foolish little whelp... the one you ought to kill... is a demon wearing the vile skin of man... Armour blacker than night... eyes like the pits of Hell..."
"Was there anything else?" Keaton probed, keeping his tone calm.
Carla flicked her ear as if annoyed by his question. She looked off to the side towards the darkness, her eyes growing distant. "There was... another man," she murmured after a moment of hesitation. "Cloaked in white and wielding a sword. He stood fearless against the monster in the sky, his face hidden behind a mask of a smiling yellow fox..."
Wendy perked up, her magic gone from her hands and her healing complete. "Wait, a yellow fox?" she asked.
"The mask of Keaton," said the swordsman in disbelief. His headache became noticeably worse as he tried to make sense of Carla's altered vision. He rubbed his forehead and shut his eyes. "The man in the mask is me and the monster in the sky... a dragon controlled by the man in black. If that is what you saw, then that means..." There was a high chance the plan to destroy the Eclipse Gate was going to fail.
He furled his hands and mentally swore. There was no more time to waste.
"We need to hur – ugh!" His attempt to stand was rudely interrupted by the sharp pain in his chest.
Wendy grabbed his arm to support him. "Wait! You're still hurt!"
"Don't... Don't worry about it." He brushed her away and tried again, only to suffer just as much.
"Keaton, calm down." Hearing Jellal's commanding voice made him pause.
Jellal stepped forward, his golden flame flickering wildly with the movement. "You will accomplish nothing in your condition. Rest and let Wendy heal you. They need to know what we're up against."
Carla huffed and crossed her arms. "Yes, what exactly is going on?" she demanded. She glanced between the men; confused, suspicious, and terrified all rolled into one.
Keaton grunted. "I'll explain on the way."
"Keaton." Jellal's tone was just as firm as the hand that planted on the swordsman's shoulder. Stern eyes gleamed within the hollows of his bird mask as he looked down at the other. "It's only the morning of the Fifth Day. There's still time. Now rest, or should I have Wendy put you to sleep?"
"Wait, what?" the girl exclaimed. "I don't have – I-I mean, I would never do that without permission... However..." She tightened her grip on Keaton and gave him a hard, oddly determined look – one that resembled so much like Granny's take-your-medicine-now-or-you-will-dearly-regret-it scowl. "If I must, I'll do it if you refuse to stay put."
This was a battle he knew he couldn't win. Stubbornness had often gotten him so far on the battlefield, but not so much when under the care of a healer – Granny's former 'apprentice' no less. He sighed in defeat and waved a hand in the air. "Fine. Alright. I suppose a little break won't jeopardize the future," he grumbled, not bothering to hide his sarcasm. "I need a goddamn drink anyway. Any water?"
Jellal wordlessly handed over his canteen, in which Keaton was eager to snatch away.
Swallowing each refreshing gulp was agony, but Keaton's thirst was stronger than the pain.
"We should wait for Natsu and the others to come before we begin explaining. Save our breaths from repeating ourselves," Jellal advised as he stepped back to scan the area. He eyed the fallen Knights closely. "Once they arrive we should get away from any listening ears. They should be on their way soon."
"Have they already won?" Carla asked. "Lucy is safe?"
"Five against one Knight. I'll be very disappointed if they lose with those odds."
Keaton wiped his mouth with the back of his hand once his throat was quenched. He did not need to ask to know who else had tagged along with their rescue mission. Natsu, Happy, Pantherlily and Mirajane... The only four missing from the original rescue team. With them on Lucy's side, Keaton felt rather sorry for Kamika.
With the executioners soon to be defeated, there would be no more obstacles barring their way out of Abyss Palace.
There was a soft pattering of feet fast approaching them, accompanied by a happy, "Puu-puu-puun!"
Wendy gave a startled squeak. "Plue?! You're here?" She took a quick look around. "I don't see Lucy. Where is she?"
Keaton smiled at the bounding spirit. His voice now clear, he said, "He actually showed up on his own to help our Master. Isn't that right, Plue?"
"Puu-puun! Puu-puun!" the canine squealed cheerfully. He stopped before the swordsman and proudly held up the black iron key that was once in Uosuke's possession.
The Dragon Slayer raised her brow. "'Our Master'?"
"Master Lucy. I'll explain later."
She seemed rather disappointed but didn't press on. "What's that key for?"
"We'll need it to get out of here," said Keaton. He patted Plue atop the head as thanks before stuffing the key into his pouch. He nodded towards the unconscious forms of Kama and Neppa, who were being carefully watched by the mage of Crime Sorcière. "Each of the five executioners carried one. Once we reunite with Lucy, we'll have all five keys to open the doors to escape."
Jellal made a disgruntled noise. "It won't be freedom waiting on the other side. Even with the executioners defeated, we're not out of the fire just yet. The princess gave us a warning."
"Every soldier will be waiting on the other side of the door..." Carla murmured with a troubled frown.
"Into another Hell..." Keaton muttered under his breath.
Jellal turned his head slightly to catch them all in his view. "We'll worry about that later. In the meantime, focus on healing."
Wendy nodded and went straight to work. The hard, determined mask she had worn earlier was replaced with a much gentler face. She placed a hand on the swordsman's neck to quickly heal the cut left by Kama's scythe before pausing. "You're chest is bothering you," she spoke softly. "Is it bruising? A broken rib?"
Keaton hated seeing her so worried, but there was no more hiding his pain. He needed her help – her healing power was the main reason she was chosen for rescuing Lucy. There was no way she would ignore a wounded friend. "Both," he said and gestured to the right side of his upper torso. "Two broken ribs here."
He winced at both the horror on her face and the tone of her voice when she shrieked, "Broken ribs?! Was it from fighting with the executioners?"
He shook his head and gave her a sheepish smile. "No... From stupidly falling into a trap." The humour quickly faded from his expression. "No, it wasn't just the fall. I broke them a month ago and they hadn't fully healed."
"What were you doing?" she demanded.
Fighting to save what was left of our world...
"I'm sorry. Nevermind," she murmured, glancing away out of regret when he didn't answer right away. She lightly prodded the fabric of Keaton's tunic. "Um, you'll have to take this off... I can't heal broken bones through clothing."
Keaton nodded and was about to start unbuckling his gear when he noticed Wendy was keeping her eyes to the ground, her cheeks a bright pink. "You okay?" he asked.
She shot up and nodded vigorously. Her face turned redder for some reason and she cupped her cheeks to hide it. "Me? Y-Yes! I'm fine! There's nothing you should worry about. Hurry up and... and take your shirt off."
"Oh dear..." Carla sighed with an amused shake of her head.
Keaton decided it would be wise not to inquire about it any further. He went back to removing each piece of his equipment. Wendy had to lend him a hand because a bruised and broken ribcage made the simplest of motions absolute torture. One by one, they unbuckled every belt and took off every item Keaton carried, piling them atop his dropped shield. Quiver, bow, knives, item pouch, Freedom's scabbard, and last, but certainly not least, his second, larger, heavier sword that was strapped to his back.
Dragonslayer was the name of the sword and Keaton prayed to never have to wield it in this timeline. It was made from the sharp wing-blade of a metal-plated dragon and forged into shape by Celestial Spirit magic. It had lived up to its name, having slain a number of dragons since the day Keaton first obtained it at the age of thirteen.
Without the burden of his equipment, the swordsman could breathe a little easier. Taking off his tunic was the challenging part. It was a painful, desperate struggle that nearly brought him to tears and required Jellal to step in to pull it over his head.
Wendy and Carla gasped while Plue let out a tiny whimper the moment they saw the ugliness hiding under Keaton's tunic.
The young man cursed under his breath when he saw how bad he truly was hurting. The two broken ribs was actually three and almost every inch of his skin was a different shade of bruise. Some month-old scabs by his left hip were cracked and bleeding, leaving lovely trails of red.
Wendy bit her lower lip and frowned deeply as her eyes roamed his torso, taking in every wound and scar. "You've been through a lot in those seven years..." she said, her gaze lingering on the hideous scar that ran across his stomach.
Behind every mark on his body was a different story; a different battle; a different outcome. Failure. Arrogance. Weakness. Stupidity. Despite suffering with injuries, it was the old scars that hurt most because they were constant reminders of sadness, loss, misery, regret... Never did they evoke a moment of triumph or victory.
"I... I didn't make it... did I?" Wendy continued, her eyes beginning to water. Her hand wavered over the swordsman's broken ribs, but she couldn't seem to concentrate her magic. "I never came back to you like I promised... did I?"
The sudden lump in Keaton's throat prevented him from answering. He could only match her saddened look as the truth finally dawned on her.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I broke my promise! I-I'm sorry I wasn't there for you! I'm sorry... I-I..."
Seeing Wendy cry was like a knife to the heart. Keaton gently pulled her close and lowered his head to touch his forehead to hers. She leaned against him, wrapped her arms around his head, and broke down into trembling sobs. Their roles have now switched; it was his turn to give her support while she cried.
The clock was ticking but he didn't care anymore. They stayed like that for a while, neither moved and no one interrupted.
Keaton waited until Wendy was calm when he murmured softly, "Hey, you don't have to apologize for anything. It wasn't your fault. It could never be your fault." He pulled back and started to slip off his left gauntlet. "A part of you has always been with me. I've kept it all this time. As a good-luck charm."
It was filthy, worn, and frayed and the elastic band had long been replaced with cheap string, but it was still recognizable; the second half of Wendy's favourite hair-tie. He had worn the keepsake as a bracelet ever since the fateful day, always holding onto the fragile hope that Wendy would somehow, someday, keep her promise.
"It took seven years, but you've finally kept your promise," he managed to joke. "Sorry it's gross and smelly and broken. You don't have to take it back if you don't want to."
Wendy wiped her eyes and half-sniffled, half-laughed.
"Hey, didn't I ever teach you not to make girls cry?" Loke spoke up from somewhere off to the side.
"Shut up, Loke. You're ruining the moment," was Keaton's reply as he turned his head in the lion's direction.
The grinning spirit, still wearing Keaton's borrowed items, was not alone. He, Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Pantherlily, Mirajane, and Arcadios were making their way towards Keaton and the others. With both his fists engulfed in flames, Natsu lit the path ahead as well as everyone around him. Each wore a different expression upon their face, (with the exception of Natsu and Happy, whose faces were hidden under their ninja masks), ranging from curious to astonishment to relief.
First to rush over were Natsu and Happy with Lucy and Loke not too far behind. Although Natsu and Happy were dressed from head to toe in black, their excitement was evident by the gleam in their eyes and their body language.
"Bacon, is it really you?!" Happy exclaimed, bounding up beside Wendy.
"'Course it's him! No mistaking his scent," said Natsu. He knelt on Keaton's other side and pulled down his mask to reveal his toothy grin. "Seven years from the future, huh? You've really grown up, kid. But hell, you look awful! Looks like you've been through one of Erza's intense training sessions."
Keaton cracked a smile. Hearing Erza's name brought back memories of the brutal 'sparring' sessions he had endured when he was young. "Does feel like that. And more."
"We've been up against the executioners since we fell down here," Lucy explained as she dropped like a rock beside Natsu. She was looking a little worse for wear. Despite the few scrapes and bruises covering her bare arms and legs, she had emerged mostly unscathed from her battle against the Knights. "You had me worried," she told Keaton with a proud, tired smile. "Thought the worst had happened until I saw you take down Uosuke."
"That fire show was pretty impressive," Loke commented. He raised a brow at the two prone bodies lying nearby. "Hey, is that the acid-spewing bastard and that other guy?"
"Kama and Neppa?" Lucy glanced in their direction before giving Keaton a frown. "You had to fight them again?"
The swordsman shook his head and nodded at Jellal. "Just Kama. Master Jellal knocked Neppa out before I had to deal with him."
"Hope you hit him hard," Loke growled, glaring at the unconscious Neppa while rubbing his knuckles. "I punched him square in his ugly face with Regulus Impact and that wasn't enough to keep him down for long, it seems."
Jellal scoffed under his mask. "He likely won't be moving again for a good day or two. I made certain of it. But even still, there are sensitive matters we mustn't discuss around our enemies. We need to get moving. Wendy."
"Right," said Wendy, returning to the mission at hand. She was back to her confident self. Her hands were steady as stone as she lightly touched Keaton's broken ribs. She gave him a firm look. "It's going to hurt when the bones snap back into place. Are you ready?"
Keaton clenched his jaw and nodded.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes in concentration.
Wendy didn't exactly lie; it was far worse than Keaton was anticipating. The instant Wendy used her magic, it felt as if she had plunged a knife into his chest and twisted it repeatedly. Black spots exploded in his vision and the world started to spin around him.
Down he fell, seemingly forever through a cold, black abyss, until there was a sudden, painless stop. Darkness receded to reveal a world filled with green.
A forest. Lush and vibrant and reeking of life. But it was dead silent and oddly still. Not a single leaf stirred as if time itself had stopped.
No – time did stop. He couldn't move; frozen in place by magic that should have died along with its caster.
Something moved in the corner of his eye and soundlessly drifted into view. White. Ghostly. Enormous. A lingering soul in the form of the slain Dragon King.
Three eyes of fiery gold gazed down at him; eyes that were no longer pale and blind. There should have been anger or spite, but there was neither, only a deep remorse behind the dragon's wizened, tired stare.
"I knew this day would come," the dragon spoke, its saddened voice seemingly echoing all around. "Since the beginning of my time, I have seen my fate. And yours.
"I do not hate you. You were destined to come here... to slay me... and take my power to wield as your heart desires. By your hand alone, the war will end. And by your hand alone, old kingdoms will fall. Lives will be lost. Countless. My brethren... my children... your people... You will become a great terror among this land. A bringer of destruction. The Black Wings of Despair. Feared. Loathed. Unloved.
"Ishgar is on the path to ruin. However, it will not be you who would bring upon the end. No... A greater threat looms ahead. An evil entity this world has never seen... A shadow so dark that even I could never see its true form. When that time comes, you will understand... You will understand... what must be done. The fate of Earthland will fall on the final choice you will have to make..."
The enormous gates of Abyss Palace were about as tall and wide as the main gates of Mercurius Castle and far more intimidating. The doors were made of slabs of heavy black iron and steel and secured by five locks evenly spaced in a circle around the middle at a reachable height.
When Jellal shone his golden flame off to the side, his eyes caught the faint outline of runes engraved into the metal. He studied the runes closely and quietly grumbled at the level of security the Kingdom of Fiore had placed down here.
A powerful reflection enchantment protected the gate. Any magic used against the doors would reflect right back to the caster.
Luckily, there was no need to even try brute force.
Jellal pulled out one of the black iron keys Lucy and Keaton had painstakingly obtained from the Garou Knights. All five executioners were defeated and detained to ensure they would not get in Fairy Tail's way during their escape. Natsu and Pantherlily had bound each unconscious Knight tightly with indestructible rope and left them behind in the dark. Since then, Jellal had kept his magic sense on each executioner and noticed none had moved an inch from any of their positions.
Black key held tight in his hand, Jellal turned around to meet everyone's gazes. All of Fairy Tail stood waiting with anxious, determined faces. The only one to be afraid was the ex-Captain of the Holy Knights, Arcadios. The burly man stood behind the mages with an unconscious Keaton upon his back.
Keaton had passed out from earlier when Wendy started to mend his broken ribs.
It had been as painful as Wendy had warned. The audible snap of bones shifting back into place had made Jellal cringe out of sympathy. Wendy had felt extremely guilty about hurting Keaton and making him faint, but there was nothing else she could have done better. The young man had worn himself to the ground; his body desperately needed to rest. All the sleepless nights, sustained injuries and exertion had greatly taken their toll on him.
Shortly after Wendy had finished healing him, the group had travelled far away from the unconscious Knights and had stopped for a short break to give Lucy and Arcadios some time to recover. Although none had asked, it was evident upon Wendy and the others' faces the many questions in regards to Keaton.
Jellal and Lucy spoke of what they knew – as much as Keaton had told them. Both had played the role of Master to Keaton sometime in the ruined future; Jellal, a year before his death, taught Keaton how to survive with Sensory Magic while, during the last two years, Lucy trained and honed his Celestial Spirit capabilities. They spoke of the terror that would soon be upon them and shared the plan that was already in motion.
Jellal, however, held back on the details of their plan to destroy the Eclipse Gate. Arcadios was a man of the castle and Jellal could not fully trust him. Nor could he trust in Natsu from accidentally leaking any vital information to potential enemies. The Fire Dragon Slayer was sometimes as unpredictable as his element, forcing Jellal to act accordingly.
The stories Jellal and Lucy had told evoked many instances of surprise and amazement from the others, but the most shocking thing everyone, including Lucy, had learned was the defeat of Acnologia.
"He fought and killed Acnologia?!" Lucy exclaimed, speaking telepathically to avoid waking Keaton.
"Whoa! He's really that strong?" Happy asked.
Jellal nodded without hesitation. Keaton was a Fairy through and through; he needed to be strong to survive in the world he came from.
"It is what I've been told," Jellal replied, "He did not fight the dragon alone, however. He mentioned others, a small number. Who they all were, I did not ask, but Lucy, you were likely there. He and you were the only ones to survive in the end. It was a battle won... with a heavy price. Before Acnologia died, he cursed Keaton with the mark on his arm, in which I can only assume it was out of spite." To add insult to injury no doubt.
Wendy frowned at Keaton, her eyes falling on the young man's left arm hidden under the white feathered cloak someone had placed over him like a blanket. She had noticed the tattoo-like mark when tending his wounds, a black serpentine dragon with six feathery wings and a long tail that curled around his bicep. "So that's what that is?" she asked.
Jellal glanced between Wendy and Natsu. "Do you Dragon Slayers know anything about it?"
Wendy shook her head. "Grandeeney never mentioned anything about dragon curses..."
"Same with Igneel," said Natsu. He had been oddly quiet since the beginning, seething in silence as more of Keaton's past unfolded. He cursed Acnologia's name out loud and glared at the hidden mark. "The hell did the bastard do to him?"
Jellal sighed whilst shaking his head. "Keaton doesn't know exactly. From what he has told me, the mark causes him pain and discomfort at certain times."
"If Acnologia wanted him dead, the dragon wouldn't have hesitated," Pantherlily growled within their heads. "Acnologia would have wiped us all out at Tenrou Island if it were not for Mavis. That dragon is not merciful."
"No, he is certainly not..." Carla spoke up, her expression sombre, "Perhaps... Acnologia wanted to make Keaton suffer beyond the grave..."
Natsu let out a furious snarl, looking as if he wanted to punch a hole through the stone wall behind him.
"Nevertheless," Jellal said firmly to calm the Fire Dragon Slayer, "it was from Acnologia Keaton learned the truth, that a single man was the one responsible for the Festival of Dragons and the Eclipse Gate was the beginning of it all."
Who that man was was still a mystery – a matter that needed to be discussed later, once they were out of Abyss Palace.
With Arcadios, they planned their escape. The ex-Captain knew the castle layout beyond the heavy doors and the strategy and positions the guards would most likely take to ambush them. There were even traps designed to render even the strongest mages powerless situated at various key locations, making escape for a criminal mage impossible.
But it wasn't impossible for Jellal and Fairy Tail; there was a secret path that would bypass all the traps and where the guards were likely waiting. Only Arcadios knew about it – he swore upon the late Queen's name. They could only hope that luck was on their side that no guards were stationed before the hidden passageway.
Jellal held up the key in his hand and nodded at Arcadios. "Does it matter which key goes in which lock?" he asked.
Arcadios shook his head. "No. They're all the same. As long as you have all five, the door should open."
One by one, Jellal inserted and twisted each key in their respective locks. Four heavy metal clicks echoed from the door. Jellal paused on turning the fifth and final lock. Without needing to look back, he mind-spoke, "Get ready."
The last click was quickly followed by the loud grinding of gears and echoing boom as the giant bolt inside the gate was finally released. The doors slowly swung inward, screeching at their hinges. If the guards weren't aware of their escape yet, they would surely now due to the sheer volume of the horrid sound.
Jellal stepped away from the opening gate, never turning his back. The instant he saw light come through from the other side, he extinguished his golden flame. Warmer, fresher air welcomed him next. Through the tiny gap, he reached out with his magical senses, probing the area right outside the gate. There was no one waiting. "It's safe."
There were a few sighs of relief. They didn't have to fight their way out just yet.
Jellal pushed the doors open just wide enough for them to pass through unhindered. Waiting on the other side was an empty hall dimly lit by burning torches mounted on the walls. On the opposite end was the beginning of a spiral stairway.
There were guards lying in ambush at the very top of the stairs, Jellal could sense each and every one of them, outnumbering Jellal and Fairy Tail twenty-to-one. Jellal motioned for everyone to move as planned; Natsu in the lead, followed by Jellal, Arcadios with Keaton, Lucy, the three Exceeds, Loke, and Mirajane at the back.
The stairway was narrow, forcing them to walk single-file. It was purposely structured to make it easy to dispose of any escaping criminals.
They marched in silence; listening, smelling, sensing for any sign of danger. For now, it was only the guards coming up ahead that Jellal could detect.
"W-Wait," Arcadios's voice suddenly interrupted Jellal's concentration. Everyone stopped to look at him. The ex-Captain leaned towards the wall, pressing his squarish nose against it as he tried to get a good look at something under the poor light. "This might be it."
Jellal wordlessly held up a small flame in his hand for the man to better see. Golden light lit up the tiny crest of Fiore engraved into the corner of one of the bricks
Arcadios grinned. "Yes! This is the passageway! Crow, there should be four movable stones that you need to push in the correct order."
Jellal scanned the wall and found no stones that were distinguishable from the others, much like the other secret entranceway. "You need to be more specific than that, I'm afraid."
With his arms full, Arcadios could only gesture with his chin and give out vague instructions, but the attempt was just as fruitless. Groaning in frustration, he turned sideways and nodded at Keaton. "Please, take him. I'll open it."
After an awkward shuffle, Keaton was successfully transferred to Jellal's back. Without all his gear weighing him down, the young man was actually lighter than he appeared to be. His weapons and most of his items were safely stored away in Jellal's storage dimension, saving anyone from having to carry them. Aside from the clothes on his back, he at least still had his feathered cloak around his shoulders and his fox mask atop his head.
Arcadios proceeded to carefully feel the wall, consecutively pushing in four different stones in a particular order. There was a grinding of stone and a quiet rumbling as the section of the wall slid sideways to reveal a pitch black tunnel that was narrower than the stairway.
Natsu lighted the way inside with Arcadios right behind. Since there would be another special door that only the ex-Captain could open, Jellal continued to carry Keaton. Mirajane once again guarded the back, holding onto a torch she had acquired from one of the sconces.
The passageway was awfully claustrophobic; the tallest had to hunch forward to avoid hitting their heads on the ceiling while arms and shoulders noisily scraped against the walls. The path eventually turned into steep winding steps that climbed at least two stories. At the end of that tiring trek was another stone door that required Arcadios's attention.
"What lies on the other side is a secret room," explained the man as he worked. He had to reach over a crouching Natsu in order to push the concealed switches. "Long ago, it was a... torture chamber... It was sealed away and forgotten for many generations. Try not to be alarmed by what you see..."
"Torture?" Wendy whispered under her breath.
The door opened the same way as the first.
Natsu immediately gagged and quickly covered his nose. "It reeks!" he hissed, reeling.
Even Wendy and the Exceeds made disgusted noises.
The smell struck Jellal just as hard under his mask. Sour, rancid, putrid, metallic; the powerful stench was far from pleasant.
"Ugh! What is that?!" Wendy exclaimed, her words muffled under her hands.
The answer appeared before them when Natsu made his flame bigger to light up the whole room. There were gasps of horror and frightened squeals at the ghastly sight lying around them.
Small as it was, the secret chamber held many old torture devices and tables piled with filthy, menacing tools from wicked hooks to jagged saws. Everything wood and leather were heavily stained and worn, and anything metal was dirty and rusting. Crusted on the stone floor were layers upon layers of dried blood that had long since turned black. Just with a glance, it was apparent that nothing in the room had ever been cleaned since its existence.
There were bad vibes coming from every corner of the room. The spirits of the dead haunted this place; Jellal could feel them, hundreds, if not thousands, of tortured souls. It threw his senses into overdrive. Chills ran down his spine and he broke into a nervous sweat. It suddenly became hard to breathe and the stench was not helping. He needed to leave and he wasn't the only one desperate to get away.
"Can't stand this..." Natsu mumbled, looking pale and sick. His flame had dwindled to the size of a candle, bringing back the shadows. "We need to get out of here. Now!"
Arcadios flinched from the mage's demand. "Y-Yes, it's... it's this way, I believe. Or this way? I need light to see."
Mirajane wordlessly offered her torch in which Arcadios took with a firm nod of thanks.
The secret door slid closed behind them. Arcadios led them through, being careful not to brush against anything in fear of disturbing the ghosts of the dead. Silence hung thick in the foul air.
"I'm sorry you all had to see this," Arcadios murmured after they were half-way across. "This room may be the castle's darkest secret... Before our time – before Abyss Palace and executioners even existed – prisoners were physically tortured here no matter how small the crime. It was cruelty–"
"But a punishment all criminals deserved." A deep voice came from the shadows right before them.
Some jumped and screamed in fright while others fell into their battle stances. Natsu pushed in front of Arcadios, his hands wreathed in fire. Something gleamed in the light of his flames.
"Whoever you are, you better get out of our way!" Natsu warned, his tone low and threatening. He was visibly restless, highly on edge from everything wrong with the room.
Blocking their way was a tall, large man. He was one with the darkness, suited entirely in black armour. He ignored the Fire Dragon Slayer entirely; "I would have preferred the use of torture than rely on those idiots to get the job done."
"G-Geraldo," Arcadios stammered upon recognition. He quickly shot a nervous glance back at Jellal, silently asking the same question that ran through the mage's head.
How did he go unnoticed?
Unnerved, Jellal silently cursed. No matter how much he focused, he couldn't detect the black knight's aura. It was somehow concealed.
"A shame to see you still alive, Arcadios."
Arcadios moved to stand beside Natsu and steeled against the black knight. "How do you know about this place?" he demanded. "How did you know we would come this way?"
"As the new Captain of the Holy Blossom Knights, should it not be my sworn duty to protect the Royal Family? One must know the secrets of the castle in order to properly serve the king," was Geraldo's reply as he stepped into the firelight. The light of the fires softly reflected off the smooth surfaces of his armour, making him appear as if he was blessed by flame.
Arcadios snorted. "So they made you Captain."
Geraldo soundly smirked. "Does that anger you? That honour will never be yours again now that you are branded a traitor."
Arcadios bared his teeth in anger. "You have it all wrong! You know I was wrongly accused of treason, Geraldo. Minister Datong–"
"I do not need to hear your excuses. You have broken your oath and fallen so far that you would dare side with these criminals. You are a disgrace. Once Her Highness learns of your betrayal, it will break her little heart."
Arcadios's eyes widened. "The princess! Wait! Geraldo! There is something Her Highness needs to know. The Eclipse Gate must not be opened. Our Kingdom – all of Fiore – will be in grave danger if those doors are opened during the eclipse!"
"What are you talking about?" the black knight snarled.
"We were lied to from the very beginning. The Eclipse Gate will not save Fiore from the dragons... It will summon them!"
There was a short pause as Geraldo needed a moment to understand what Arcadios was saying. "'Summon' them?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Who told you this?"
"It was–"
"Say nothing," Jellal warned Arcadios through a private telepathic link.
Arcadios flinched and hesitated, but it was too late to keep the truth secret. Arcadios had subconsciously glanced back at Jellal and Keaton in the midst of his answer, giving Geraldo a subtle hint.
Jellal stiffened. He could feel the black knight's gaze fall upon him from the shadows of the man's helm; cold, intense, malicious. This man was dangerous.
"I... I cannot say..."
"You cannot say?" the black knight spat. He took another step forward, his appearance more imposing in full light of the fires. "We have spent years preparing the Gate and now you are telling me we should not even use it? Did this other person claim to be a prophet as well? That he had seen the future?!"
Arcadios shook his head and slowly approached the other man, arms spread to show he did not want to fight. He stood before Geraldo, matching the black knight in height and posture, his expression stern. "A prophet, no. But he had seen the future and he had lived through it. I saw the truth in his eyes when he told me what will happen on the day of the eclipse. Fiore will fall and it will be our own doing. Believe me, Geraldo. I know we've had our differences, but please, you need to trust me. For the sake of our Kingdom; if the Gate is opened, Fiore is doomed."
There was a tense moment of silence as the two men stood face to face, still like statues, not even daring to breathe.
Geraldo finally sighed and turned his caped back towards the other, head slightly shaking. "I understand now," he began, his voice a low murmur, "If what you say is true..."
Arcadios slapped a hand over his heart. "I have sworn an oath to the Royal Family. I would never lie to endanger them. You have my word."
"Very well then."
Arcadios was elated. "So you believe me?"
"Yes. I have no choice, it seems, but to kill you all."
It happened before Jellal could even blink; Geraldo had whipped around and rushed at Arcadios, thrusting his large sword right through the unarmed man.
Arcadios didn't even realize he was stabbed in the chest until he started to cough up blood. "W-Why...?" he managed to choke out.
"Because you are a traitor and a criminal and all criminals must face their due punishment. No one has ever escaped Abyss Palace and I intend to keep it that way. You will not stop the Gate from opening. No one will as long as I stand." With that, Geraldo kicked Arcadios off his bloodied blade, sending the wounded man to fall before Natsu's feet.
"You bastard!" the Fire Dragon Slayer roared.
Fire engulfed all of Natsu as he lunged at the black knight with a great fury. He swung a blazing fist only to suddenly have his flames completely extinguished and his punch caught in Geraldo's armoured hand. "What the – my magic – augh!"
Natsu screamed and fell to his knees in agony as the bones in his hand were crushed under the black knight's unforeseen strength.
"Natsu!" Lucy and Happy shouted out of concern.
Mirajane was about to move in to attack but stopped in her tracks, staring wide-eyed at her hands. "What's going on?! I can't use my magic!" she exclaimed.
"Me too!" cried Wendy, panicking. She was down by Arcadios's side, trying to heal him before he bled out, but she couldn't form any spells. All she could do was press her hands against his wound.
Lucy turned around and called for Loke but the spirit was nowhere to be seen.
Jellal swore under his breath. He wasn't spared either. There was an annoying buzzing in his ears and a weird tingling at the back of his head that ran down his entire spine. Something had been activated and it was likely one of the traps used against mages Arcadios had warned about: an Ethernano Nullification Zone.
Without his magic sense, Jellal felt disoriented and enclosed from not being able to detect the proximity of everyone around him. But worst of all, he felt weak and helpless, reminding him of the awful time he had spent imprisoned at the Magic Council.
"Do not think I would come unprepared," said Geraldo, his grip on Natsu never faltering. "Resistance is futile. Submit and I shall give you all a swift and painless execution."
"Never!" Natsu hissed, shooting the black knight a defiant glare through the pain. He tried to break free only to have his hand further crushed under the larger man's hold.
"Slow and painful it shall be then," Geraldo snarled over Natsu's screams.
"It's him," a voice quietly rasped in Jellal's ear.
"Keaton? Are you awake?" Jellal asked, keeping his attention on the chaos unfolding before him.
Keaton was stirring, head shaking and hands noticeably clenched into fists.
"Yes, Master... It's him. It's him. It's him. It's him! He's the one! You have to stop him!"
Jellal took a sharp breath when he realized what the boy was talking about. "Are you certain of this? How do you know?"
"His voice. I recognize it. I...I don't know how... But I know it's him!"
Keaton was squirming now. Jellal moved behind a table to hide from Geraldo's view and lowered Keaton to the ground.
Keaton more or less fell off the other's back. He dropped and curled up on the dirty floor, clawing at the mark on his left arm with metal fingers. He swore and groaned and writhed as the curse burned and bled. "Stop him... you have to stop him," he hissed through clenched teeth, his face distorted in pain.
"I wouldn't be hesitating if I could," Jellal told him, "Our magic is completely sealed here. None of us can use any spells against him!"
Geraldo may be one man, but he was sharp-minded and physically strong. He had caught them in a deadly trap and cornered them like rats in a cage.
It was not looking good up ahead. Natsu had been thrown flat on his back and was now struggling to breathe from the black metal boot crushing his throat and chest. Geraldo's sword held him in place, pierced deep into his shoulder and into the stone ground beneath him. Happy and Pantherlily had tried to help him, but were easily swatted away like flies. Now Mirajane stood boldly before the black knight, swinging one end of a rusty chain she had picked off a nearby table. However, she was careful not to make a hasty move.
Wendy remained by Arcadios's side, desperate to help him, but the man was nearing his end. Carla stayed near the girl, standing protectively beside her. Meanwhile, Lucy was kneeling on his other side, her face pale and her mouth a grim line as she glanced between the dying man and Natsu.
With a grunt of effort, Keaton rolled onto his front and pushed himself onto his knees and elbows, one hand constantly rubbing the mark on his arm. "Everyone's magic is sealed?" he mumbled, peering up at Jellal from the side.
Jellal nodded. His frustration was hidden behind his crow mask but not his tone. "Yes. Even mine. I'm sorry, I stored away your weapons and now I can't return them."
Keaton shook his head. "Even if I had them right now, I wouldn't put up much of a fight." He dared to look at the state of their dire situation and outright swore. His expression turned dark the instant he saw the black knight. "We need to get out of here."
"The only way out is through him–"
"There's another way," Keaton quickly cut in, his face now determined. "I'll get us out. I won't let anything happen to them again. Wendy and Natsu... Everyone. I won't let them die." He struggled to rise, prompting Jellal to help him sit up.
"What are you planning?" Jellal whispered, lending a shoulder for Keaton to lean on. He caught the boy's tired smirk right before Keaton slid his mask on.
"Not everyone's magic is sealed," was Keaton's reply, making Jellal raise his brow. "Lucy! Master Lucy!"
Over the battle cries coming from two angry Exceeds, the Celestial Spirit mage heard his call. She turned her head and immediately went to Keaton when he beckoned her over. She crouched before him, relieved but worried at the same time. "Keaton, are you–"
Keaton grabbed her hand before she could say more and said, "Master Lucy, here I stand beneath the Celestial Stars, I humbly ask of thee, lend me thy strength, thy gifts, thy love, for as long as thou choose to part. Heed my wish, the gold Key of the Twins, wherein I will entrust my heart as one would a companion spirit of soul, unto the end of our time."
Jellal was confused while Lucy was nodding in full understanding. She quickly grabbed her borrowed set of spirit keys, picked a gold one off the ring, and placed it in the palm of Keaton's hand. While still touching the key, she met his gaze with a steady stare and said, "Under these Celestial Stars, I heed thy wish and grant thee the gold Key of the Twins. From sun to moon, moon to sun, may this companion spirit be thy heart and soul. When the end of our time comes, or if thou breaks thy trust of heart, then this Key and spirit will return to me."
The key between their hands shimmered white for a brief second. Then together they spoke as one, "O Celestial Stars, the promise has been made. Open! The Gate of the Twins!"
There was a bright flash coming from the key that was mostly concealed within their palms. Not long after that, two little, blue, identical beings appeared, both holding onto a scroll of parchment.
"Master Link," said one.
"Master Lucy," said the other.
"The Spirit King gives his blessing!" they said at the same time. Together they unrolled the very long scroll that would have stretched from one wall to the other if laid flat. From one end to the other, it was covered in hundreds upon hundred of neatly written lines detailing what Jellal could only assume were the summoned spirits' rights.
One of the spirits said to Lucy, "Master Lucy, once you read and review this–"
The girl waved her hand to cut the spirit off. "There's no time for that, Mini. Skip to the end!"
Mini picked up the bottom end of the document and pointed, with a golden quill that had magically appeared in its stubby hand, at one of two blank lines marked with an 'X'. "Then, as the owner of our key, you must sign here."
Lucy took the quill and quickly wrote her signature.
The other spirit used the same quill and pointed to the other blank line and said to Keaton, "Master Link, as the loaner of our key, sign here."
Keaton hastily scrawled his true name, his hand-writing much messier than Lucy's. The contract disappeared into magical dust the instant he finished.
"The temporary contract has been made!" the twins announced happily with a twirling, synchronized dance. "Master Link, we are yours to command for twenty-four Earthland hours before we must return to Master Lucy."
The boy nodded. "Understood. Now listen, Gemini, we need to escape at once with everyone. Do you still have memories of when you first transformed into me?"
"Yes!"
"Take on my form from then."
The spirits fused into one, turning into a perfect replica of Keaton, fully equipped and in much better shape than the real Keaton. "Master, you're running on such little magic..." they said, their worried voice slightly muffled under their fox mask. "We have less than three minutes."
"Then everyone, please listen..."
Keaton quickly briefed Jellal, Lucy, and Gemini on his plan, in which Jellal did not entirely agree on. There was no time to argue and Jellal made it clear it needed to be done a slightly different way.
The boy had huffed in annoyance but knew better not to protest against the one he called 'Master'.
With the plan now set, the four split up and proceeded to do their part.
Jellal rounded the table and headed straight for the black knight, wielding Gemini's copy of Keaton's small sword he called Freedom. Jellal was no swordsman, nor did he ever engage an opponent with only a weapon, so he wasn't quite confident he could overtake a skilled brute of a knight. He did, however, likely stood a better chance than Keaton at keeping the Captain distracted long enough for their escape plan to work.
By the time Jellal was close enough, Mirajane had whipped her chain at Geraldo who blocked with his free hand. The chain harmlessly wrapped around the man's gauntlet, allowing him to easily grab it. Just as he yanked the chain out of Mirajane's hands, Jellal rushed in from the side.
His approach did not go unnoticed.
Geraldo had reflexes better than most; he pulled his sword free from the floor and out of Natsu's shoulder and used it to parry Jellal's blade in one fluid motion. The power behind the Captain's swing was more than the mage anticipated; it was, perhaps, even equal to Erza's. Freedom was easily knocked aside from the heavy impact and nearly sent flying out of Jellal's grip.
Hands numb and aching, Jellal held onto his weapon as firmly as his trembling fingers would allow as he regained his balance. The knight followed smoothly with a forward thrust that moved faster than Jellal's eyes could follow.
The mage twisted to the side in hope of avoiding the deadly point only to feel it bite into his right arm. He hissed from the sting and staggered backwards, just out of the knight's incredible reach. He was definitely outmatched in terms of swordsmanship... and his opponent had yet to move an inch from his spot. Natsu remained pinned to the ground by one solid foot, his struggles weakening and his lips turning blue.
Geraldo, with his attention locked on Jellal, tossed away the chain that was once Mirajane's and soundly smirked. "What was that pathetic attempt? You are no swordsman, that I can see. Without your magic, you foolish lot are nothing but mere insects."
An idea to bait the Captain away from the Dragon Slayer suddenly sprang to Jellal's mind. "Bastard," he growled heatedly, pointing the wavering end of his sword at the other. "It was your doing all along! You opened the Gate and summoned the dragons! You used them to destroy the Kingdom and all of Fiore!"
There was a sudden change in atmosphere; the air felt colder, stiffer, and unwelcoming. Jellal was certain he saw Geraldo's eyes flash red from within the shadows of his helm.
The Captain fully turned to face Jellal, purposely using Natsu as a stepping stone before slowly making his way towards the mage like a predator that had cornered its prey. Each footstep was a thunderous clang that seemed to resonate within the room. With every step the knight took, Jellal took two back, drawing the armoured man as far as possible from Natsu.
"So you are the one," the knight snarled vehemently. "You are from the future. You used the Eclipse Gate to come here. And for what?"
"To end the terror before it begins."
Derisive laughter filled the room. "Fool! Do you think you can alter the past as you see fit? To stop the inevitable? Your coming here will change absolutely nothing! I will make sure of it!" He lunged, closing the distance within a heartbeat.
Jellal barely had enough time to dodge the sword arcing down at his head. It sliced into a table instead, cutting it cleanly in half and noisily spilling its contents to the floor. There was no time to catch his breath or even think as Geraldo quickly followed with a backhanded sweep. Left with no choice, Jellal used his sword to block the attack, but it did next to nothing as Freedom was shattered to pieces by the larger, stronger blade.
He felt the cold edge cut deep across his chest as he was sent flying. He crashed into something hard before landing on his back on the floor.
"Master!" Keaton cried, sounding very close.
Jellal moaned in response, overwhelmed with excruciating pain. Everything seemed to hurt. He forced his eyes open at the sound of the knight's steps stomping his way. There was a bright flash of green light that made the footsteps stop. Next came the strong gust of cool wind as Gemini used Keaton's teleporting spell.
"What?!" Geraldo roared. "How? Impossible! The three of you will not escape me!"
"Master! Give me your hand! Hurry!"
Through sheer effort, Jellal rolled towards Keaton's voice and found him crouched beside Natsu, extending a hand for the older man to take. Jellal reached out and grabbed the boy's hand firmly in his and instantly felt his fingertips tingle from Keaton's familiar magic. A strong wind began to blow as the spell took form.
Knowing Geraldo was soon upon them, Jellal risked taking one last glance. What he saw was no longer a man who wished them dead, but a demon straight from Hell.
Glowering red eyes loomed above them for one split-second before everything turned green and blinding.