Fairy Boy Forgotten

by Icy Cake

While out on a mission, Wendy and her teammates discover an ancient temple where they find a mysterious, injured boy. Much to their disappointment, the child suffers from severe amnesia and is devoid of any memories. It's up to Wendy and her friends to help him remember who he really is. Many thanks to The Epic Legion for the fantastic cover!

21. Day Five: Legends of the Future

Edit: Fixed stupid FF net's dumb formatting issues.

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Day Five: Legends of the Future

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Keaton carried them as far as he could before his strength finally gave out. Out of the magical realm of green and into the real world filled with hard, solid objects. He fell and landed face-first onto a cold, stone floor, the wind knocked right out of him. His other two companions hardly fared any better as they soundly crashed on either side of him.

To his right was Natsu, hacking and wheezing for air, every breath a hoarse rasp.

To his left was Jellal, coughing and moaning in pain.

Keaton lay motionless between them, too tired and breathless to move. All he wanted to do was sleep for a week. He likely would have fallen asleep right there and then if it weren't for the annoying little paws lightly smacking the side of his face followed by the cheerful "Puu-puu-puuun!" right in his ear.

He jolted awake and immediately remembered what had just happened. Through painstaking effort, he pushed off the floor and did a quick scan to their surroundings, finding no black knight or any guards, much to his relief. So where did they end up with Farore's Wind?

The first thing he noticed were the huge barrels; hundreds of them, neatly stacked in orderly rows on their sides and piled on top of each other on metal racks in perfect order. They were kegs, upon closer inspection, likely all full of beer or wine.

If Keaton had to guess, it appeared they had ended up in the castle's rich wine cellar.

It was far from what he had in mind when he cast his spell. His destination was supposed to be the same as what he told Gemini: Warp to Meredy. He had long since memorized her aura, making it easy for Keaton and Gemini to lock on within a city full of mages. But with his magic energy down to almost nothing, Keaton didn't get as far as he had hoped.

Did Gemini and the others manage to reach their destination? Keaton had sensed the spirits somewhere far away for a brief second before they had to return to the Celestial Spirit World. He tried to feel for Lucy's aura, but his reach was limited due to the combination of exhaustion and lack of magic energy. Wherever Gemini had taken Lucy and the others didn't matter as long as they were far from the castle.

Keaton slid his mask up to rest atop his head, ran a cold, metal hand down his weary face, and glanced at the little canine spirit that had decided to accompany him on his shoulder. "Plue, how'd you get here? Did Master Lucy send you to find me this time?" he asked with a curious eyebrow.

"Puun." Plue shook his head.

Keaton gave the canine a questioning stare, but decided not to ask any further, knowing he wouldn't get much of an answer. "Is Master Lucy safe? Wendy too?"

There was a nod and a happy squeal of "Puu-puuun!"

Keaton smiled in relief and gave Plue a gentle pat on the head. "Good. You can head back home now."

"Puun." Plue shook his head as expected.

There was an angry growl coming from Natsu.

It was a struggle, but the Dragon Slayer had managed to sit himself up to lean against the nearest barrel despite his mangled right hand and bloody hole in his left shoulder. He was wincing and scowling at the many barrels lying around them. "Where are we?" he croaked, his voice rough due to his bruised vocal cords. "Where the hell did that bastard go? Where's Lucy... and everyone else?"

"We got out just in time," Keaton answered. "Master Lucy and the others are safe. Gemini warped them out. They should be with Ultear and Meredy. Plue is sure of it."

Plue soundly nodded in agreement, making Natsu realize the spirit was hanging around.

"Unfortunately, we aren't so lucky..." Keaton continued, "because it looks like I warped us to the castle's wine cellar. I ran out of magic... Couldn't get us very far..."

Natsu raised his eyebrow at the swordsman, looking rather impressed for a half-second before furrowing his brow in confusion. "Warped? How'd you pull that off? That bastard sealed our magic."

"Everyone's but mine."

"Huh?"

Before he could explain, Jellal coughed and groaned in agony, catching Keaton's immediate attention. Keaton moved to help his master up, carefully propping the wounded man against the same wall of barrels as Natsu.

Jellal coughed again, an action that pained him greatly. He draped one arm across his chest to press against the large, terrible gash that bled profusely. With his other hand, he removed his mask, revealing a pale face beaded with sweat and lips spotted with red. He spat to the side and wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his gloved hand.

"Master, your wound," Keaton said, frowning with concern. He felt extremely guilty. Keaton was supposed to be the distraction, but Jellal had commanded to take his place, knowing Keaton wouldn't have lasted even a second against the formidable black knight. "Can you use magic here? Give me my pouch. I have something that might stop the bleeding and numb the pain. It'll help you and Natsu in the meantime before we can find Wendy."

Jellal wordlessly nodded. He simply flicked his wrist and instantly brought all of Keaton's items back from his storage dimension, putting everything into one pile. His eyes swept the room soon after. "The wine cellar? I suppose it's better than the dungeon. Or the fountains," Jellal remarked, opening a telepathic link between the three of them for he was likely in too much pain to talk verbally.

Keaton rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Sorry, Master..."

Jellal shook his head and gave Keaton a slightly apologetic look. "Don't be. We got away before it was too late, thanks to you. I understand now. You don't rely on Ethernano as your source of magic. That's why you were not affected like us by the Nullification trap."

"Wait, really?!" Natsu exclaimed, his voice sounding normal within their thoughts. "That's why you could teleport us out?"

Keaton shrugged as he dug through his pouch. When he had trained under Jellal, his master had made a similar observation. Because Keaton's magical essence differed greatly from the mages of Fiore, learning sensory magic was so goddamn difficult for him.

"Seems that way. I guess it's an advantage in some situations. There is a big downside to it, though. My magic energy takes a long time to recover naturally compared to everyone else's. I need Granny's potions all the time."

And unfortunately, he had used the last of her elixirs she had ever made for him during the final battle against Acnologia. The potent concoction was a complex recipe that only she could make. However, her knowledge and skills had died with her over half a year ago in Keaton's time when a dragon razed her hideout to the ground.

His magic had been limited before he had even passed through the Eclipse Gate. He had tried to conserve it as much as possible, but the battles against the executioners left him with no other choice.

"Who's Granny?" Natsu asked.

Keaton smiled fondly. He found the bottle he was looking for and uncorked it. As he began to smear the goopy salve over Jellal's wound, he answered, "Grandma Porlyusica. We called her 'Granny' for short. She was never a big fan of that name. But we kept calling her that anyway."

Natsu soundly smirked. "That old hag? Bet she smacked you good for that."

Keaton chuckled quietly while Jellal hissed and flinched under his care. "You bet. Don't know where she kept hiding her broom, but she always had it on hand when she wanted to smack the living shit out of us. It took maybe five or six years before she finally accepted 'Granny'. Master, let me see your arm." He slathered the salve on the deep cut on Jellal's right arm and realized something when he finished.

Granny of this time could make him some much-needed potions. Although, this Granny had yet to master and improve upon the magic restoring recipe. Keaton however, had salvaged one of future Granny's notebooks that detailed some of her work. If he could give it to her...

"The guards are moving below," Jellal interrupted Keaton's thoughts. "They know we're no longer down there. We need to get moving. Get out of here and meet up with Ultear and everyone else. Before that Captain finds us."

"Let him come!" Natsu growled, nearly shouting within their heads. "My magic ain't sealed here. I'll kick his goddamn ass as payback!"

"No," Jellal said firmly, giving the fire mage as stern of a look he could muster. "That man should not be underestimated."

"He's the one behind everything," Keaton snarled bitterly, shifting to Natsu's injured shoulder. "He is the one who will control the dragons."

How Keaton knew, he still wasn't quite sure. Hearing the man's voice in that foul room had triggered something; a strong feeling – a powerful hatred – so overwhelming that he was certain it was not his own. Thinking about it made his stomach roil and his curse start to uncomfortably itch.

Natsu's eyes widened. "What?!"

"If he can control ten thousand dragons, including Acnologia, then it's possible he can do more than just wield a sword," Jellal stressed. "His eyes, did you see them? They were not human. Red... evil..."

"Like the pits of Hell..." Keaton whispered.

"He can hide his aura from me," Jellal continued. "There's no telling where and when he'll show up. We need to hurry. He wants us dead no matter what now that we revealed what we know."

Natsu scoffed angrily, blowing out a puff of smoke out of his nose. "I can take him down. As long as he doesn't pull that cheap trick again–"

"Our mission," Jellal cut in sharply, "is to rescue Lucy and Keaton. We got Lucy out, now we need to get Keaton to safety."

"You mean all of us need to get to safety," Keaton corrected. "No one is being left behind."

Natsu ignored the swordsman and glowered at Jellal. "I'm not running away," he stated out of frustration. "I can stop him! Stop him before it all goes to–"

"Natsu, no!" Keaton hissed under his breath. He shook his head and placed a firm hand over Natsu's good shoulder. "Please, listen to Master Jellal. I want to kill him as much as you, but right now neither of us stand a chance against him. You will die if you try to fight him. Master Lucy will never forgive you and every day, she'll cry. Believe me, I've counted the days." Years, to be honest.

Lucy had always called Natsu a stubborn, arrogant fool whenever she shared her stories and Keaton could now see why. When Keaton was young, he had looked up to Natsu like an older brother the same way Romeo had. Strong, unyielding, a hero; Natsu was still all that in Keaton's eyes, but there was such a thing as being too stupid and reckless. (There was no denying that Keaton had done the same many times over, which often resulted in heavy consequences.) No one in Fairy Tail was unbeatable, even the bravest and strongest; it was a painful truth Keaton had learned since that fateful day.

Keaton wanted to set things right; to fix the future that should never be and erase all the hurt everyone has yet to feel.

But first, they needed to get out and heal and recover their strength before they could come up with a strategy to take down Geraldo and his plan to open the Eclipse Gate.

Natsu tensed from Keaton's words. The moment he met the swordsman's fervent gaze, his anger vanished instantly. "Shit... Did she really?" He let out a ragged sigh when the other nodded and quietly cursed mostly at himself.

With Natsu somewhat calm, Keaton resumed to helping the other. Front and back, he covered Natsu's ugly shoulder wound and gestured for the Dragon Slayer's broken hand. They both grimaced at the sight of it; each finger and thumb were bent at odd angles and there was swelling around every knuckle and broken joint. Very lightly, Keaton dabbed some salve on the swollen parts to help numb the pain.

"How'd I die?" Natsu asked, making Keaton pause.

"If he didn't come for me... then he wouldn't have stayed back and..."

Keaton frowned heavily as he remembered what Lucy had told him. "While escaping from the castle guards," he began reluctantly, "You stayed behind to give Lucy and the others time to escape. However... Shortly after that... the dragons appeared and... only Lucy and Carla made it out that day..."

"Hey." Natsu tried to lift his other arm but to no avail. He gave Keaton a familiar cocky grin instead. "It's different now, right? With you being here and helping us. You're changing the future already."

Keaton wished that were true. Although Carla's power of foresight had yet to mature, her altered premonition still troubled him; she saw the black knight and she saw Keaton standing amongst the ruins of the city...

"The same thing won't happen again," Natsu assured when he noticed the other's distress. "I'll make sure of it. I promise you, Bacon." He lifted his broken hand. If he could move his fingers, he would have formed a fist.

Natsu's confidence was something Keaton always admired. It was contagious, always rubbing off onto others around him and right now, Keaton was starting to feel it. He matched the Dragon Slayer's grin and nodded. "We'll do it together. We'll change the future for the better. By the way, just call me 'Keaton'."

Natsu perked a curious eyebrow. "Is that your real name?"

Keaton shook his head. "No, Link is my real name, but I've grown up as Keaton."

Natsu furrowed his brow in slight confusion. "Really? Why not stick with 'Bacon'?"

"Because I'm not 'Bacon' anymore."

"But I gave you that name. You loved it."

Keaton snorted in amusement. "When I was a kid who knew nothing. I don't hate it," he added when he saw Natsu's disappointment, "I've just outgrown that name."

Natsu's grin was teasing. "Heh. Well, if you don't hate it, then I can keep calling you 'Bacon' because I still love it."

Keaton refrained from rolling his eyes as he put away his salve. There was no point in arguing over something so trivial at the moment. "Master, how far away are the guards?"

He didn't get an answer right away, making him glance at Jellal in worry. Head bowed and eyes closed, it looked as if Jellal had fallen unconscious, but Keaton knew otherwise.

Natsu, on the other hand, was blunt in his observation. "Hey, ya dying already, Crow?" he mocked out loud, every word a grating rasp, "Erza cut you up worse before, so this shouldn't kill ya."

Jellal grunted in annoyance as he responded with, "I'm not dead yet. Erza hesitated to kill me. That Captain did not. So shut it, Dragneel. I'm concentrating. The guards have split up like ants below us, likely given new orders from that Captain. I'm trying to keep track of where they're heading. Half are combing the lower levels, the other half are climbing up. Seems like they don't know where we are at the moment, so we have a bit of time before they reach the main level. Thirty minutes at least."

"Understood," Keaton acknowledged with a nod. "Let me bind your wounds. I'll use your cloak." He unbuttoned Jellal's hooded cloak and grabbed one of his knives to cut it up into usable strips. He did a rushed job of covering their injuries, hoping it was enough to stop their bleeding otherwise they would leave a bloody trail wherever they went.

Once finished, Keaton took off his own cloak and began to equip all his gear in haste. Metal fingers deftly snapped on clasps and tightened belts with ease, having done the same routine daily. Once finished, he slowly climbed to his aching feet, unable to suppress his groan. He was grateful Wendy had healed the worst of his injuries, however, she only tended to the ones she could see. Both of Keaton's feet were hurting badly, likely suffering with a few fractures caused by stomping onto Uosuke's ugly face at such high gravity and height. He could barely stand and every step was akin to walking on pins and needles.

Nevertheless, as he leaned heavily against the barrels, he lent a hand to pull Jellal up while Natsu easily stood on his own.

"Master, let me help," said Keaton as he quickly draped one of Jellal's arms over his shoulder. The older man was visibly dizzy from blood loss. With Jellal and Keaton greatly hindered by their injuries, thirty minutes to get out of the castle was a very short time when they didn't know the layout.

The three of them put on their masks to keep their identities hidden in case they were spotted. There were other people besides the guards working in the castle; maids, servants, cooks, attendants – all innocent and likely unaware of the events that had occurred right under their very own feet.

Keaton moved Plue from his shoulder onto his capped head. "Be my eyes, Plue. If you see something we don't see, let me know."

"Puu-puuun!" The spirit cheered and clapped with excitement at his new perch.

Natsu, being the most mobile of the three, took the lead while Keaton and Jellal slowly hobbled behind.

The stone steps leading out of the cellar were the worst; too steep and too many to climb. Thankfully, it was the main floor from there. With Natsu's nose and ears and Jellal's magic sense, they carefully manoeuvred through the castle to the best of their limited abilities, purposely avoiding rooms and halls occupied by people. Lucky for them, there weren't too many workers around and the reason became clear when Keaton overheard a pair of maids chatting down a hall.

"The final event is about to start!"

"Let's hurry and finish cleaning the princess's room so we can watch it on the Lacrima-Vision!"

"Oh man! The last Game!" said Natsu excitedly as they huddled around the corner, waiting for the maids to pass. "Wonder what kind of event it is? Hope everyone dominates it!"

"It's a battle royale throughout the entire city," Keaton recalled, smiling at the memory. "You can already guess who the winning team will be."

Natsu whipped around and stared at Keaton with wide eyes. "Wait, really?! We win?! Damn it! I wanna watch!"

"It's clear," Jellal intruded, sounding rather irritated. "Let's get moving. We have more important matters to focus on than the Games right now."

"Yeah, yeah," Natsu grumbled.

"Yes, Master," said Keaton.

The closest exit they could find – without having to break a colourful stained-glass window, which Natsu was tempted to do – were the fancy gilded doors of the back entrance leading to the garden courtyard.

Keaton winced at the sunlight shining down from a clear blue sky. Outside was so bright compared to Abyss Palace and the dark dungeons. Even though there was no one around, they stayed close to the castle to avoid being seen from the windows above. Shortly after they slipped behind the tall hedges, they were suddenly assaulted by what sounded like a hundred voices ringing in their heads.

Jellal buckled to his knees, bringing Keaton down with him. Jellal immediately cut the telepathic connection and rubbed his temple to ease his new headache.

"The hell was that?!" Natsu demanded in a harsh whisper, looking around as if expecting an ambush.

"Everyone trying to talk at once," Jellal managed to utter breathlessly.

"Sorry about that," Ultear's voice echoed through their heads, exasperated. "We're going to try that again. One at a time, everyone. One. At a time. I'll start. Glad to see you three finally made it out. Lucy and the others are here. Do you–"

"Jellal! Keaton!" Meredy cut in, pretty much screaming in their heads. "Do you know how much you had me worried?! Just hang tight! We're coming to get you!"

"Don't," Jellal commanded, noticeably wincing from her voice. "All of you stay where you are. We'll come to you."

Many worried voices jumped in to argue against him. Again, they were all cut off.

"That's it. It's just me on this end," Ultear assured with a noticeable sigh soon after. "Tell me why we shouldn't come bail you guys out of there. You all look ready to keel over."

Natsu growled. "Not me!"

"Certainly not your best," she shot back.

"He's here. The man who will control the dragons," Jellal informed, motioning for Keaton to get them back up so they could resume their escape. The swordsman staggered to his feet, heaving Jellal with him. "He's a demon disguised as the new Captain of the castle guards and he's very dangerous, Ultear. If it were not for Keaton, we would all be dead by now. We don't know what he's truly capable of and I do not intend to wait around to find out. We need to regroup and rethink our plan."

The three of them continued on, squeezed between the hedges and castle, making their way around to the side gate. In the distance, Keaton could faintly hear the Magic Games announcer shouting away to start off the final event that will soon take place beyond the castle walls.

"A demon? Goddamn it... Well, getting here without our help is going to be a problem, Jellal," stated Ultear. "The whole city is under lockdown and under surveillance for the final Game. Unless you're a participant, you can't wander the streets or fly around."

Jellal muttered a curse under his breath. They reached a barred, black metal gate, which had been left unlocked. They left the courtyard and made their way to the front plaza. "If that's the case, then how were you planning to come to our rescue?"

"The sewers, of course," Ultear replied matter-of-factly as if it was the most obvious answer. "The sewers beneath the city are all connected. They're not sealed off by magic like everything else."

Natsu made a sound of disgust all the while keeping a cautious eye around the plaza that was unsurprisingly empty. "Yuck. The sewers?"

Jellal ignored the Dragon Slayer and nodded, his attention on the main castle gate that was unfortunately closed shut. "Then once we cross the bridge, we'll look for the nearest drainage pipe."

"I'll be waiting for you guys there," said Ultear.

"No, Ultear–"

"I'm not going to risk going to the castle. I'll only be waiting at the sewer entrance. Whether you like it or not, Jellal. And you, Keaton?"

Keaton stiffened from her demanding tone. "No objections here, ma'am."

Jellal quietly grumbled. "Very well," he finally conceded, too tired to argue. "We'll meet you there."

"Wait, Ultear! I need to ask Wendy a favour," said Keaton before Ultear could break the connection.

"Wendy? All right, she's here. Talk away," she said.

"Wendy."

Wendy's voice was shrill with worry, but Keaton smiled nonetheless, knowing she was somewhere safe.

"Bacon! Or is it Keaton? A-Are you okay?! You still look hurt! I'm sorry! I–"

"Wendy, I'm okay," Keaton interrupted. "Please, listen to me. I need to ask a favour of you."

"A favour? What is it?"

"Granny – Porlyusica. Can you find her and bring her there? I need her to make me a potion. Have her bring everything she needs."

"Porlyusica? Yes, I can bring her here at once!"

Before Keaton could say thanks, Plue made a noise and frantically slapped the top of the swordsman's head.

"Behind us!" Jellal warned, speaking only to Natsu and Keaton.

Natsu fully turned around while Keaton and Jellal could only glance behind their shoulders in time to see the front ornate doors of Mercurius Castle swing wide open. Standing in the doorway was not the black knight, but a young woman with short silvery-blue hair decorated with a dark blue rose. She was dressed in the uniform with the colours of the royal military, her rank obviously higher than an ordinary guard.

"Yukino!" Natsu exclaimed out of surprise.

There was no reaction from the woman as she marched forward, her expression blank. She moved with purpose as she headed their way and yet she saw nothing through half-lidded eyes. Jingling in her right hand was a ring of keys, twelve gold and one black – Lucy's keys.

"Keaton?" Wendy asked with worry.

"Go find Granny, Wendy. We'll meet you back at the hideout," Keaton assured, keeping his attention on the approaching danger. Ultear severed the telepathic link before Wendy could reply to that.

Natsu stepped forward and shouted, "Hey, Yukino! It's me, Natsu! What are you doing?"

"On your guard. A dark power is controlling her!" Jellal growled.

Without needing to select her key, Yukino spoke in a monotone, "Open the Gate of the Snake Charmer."

Right above them, the sky turned dark, almost pitch black, with hazy, deep purple clouds twisting in a spiral. Emerging from the darkness was a giant black snake with red eyes that shone with a wicked light. It looked more machine than beast with a body and head composed of metal parts and a jaw hinged by pistons. It slithered in the air, coiling around itself in the same, spiraling pattern as the sky. It hissed, the sound echoing throughout its hollow body, as it hungrily eyed its targets on the ground.

"Ophiuchus..." Keaton whispered more so in awe than dread. Rarely did Lucy ever summon this Celestial Spirit in Keaton's time due to its aggressive, disobedient nature.

Ophiuchus was a powerful Celestial Spirit, but also a great risk and very unreliable. A devourer of energy, the spirit had a gluttonous appetite and would consume all forms of magic from friends and foes alike in order to increase its strength. If it did not feed shortly after being summoned, it would quickly drain the caster's magic instead in order to sustain its form in Earthland. It required a huge amount of magic energy to fill the gauge that ran along its body, but once it had eaten enough, it would become an unstoppable, savage monster that could overtake anything – even dragons.

Jellal pulled away from Keaton and began to form a magic seal with his hands, each fingertip alight with golden energy

"Wait, Master!" Keaton quickly grabbed Jellal's wrist to break the seal before the man could cast. "Don't use any long-range energy spells! It'll eat it!"

Jellal snarled a curse.

That brief spike in magic was enough to gain the snake's attention. Its metallic tongue flicked out, rattling in the air, tasting and smelling the magical source. Uncoiling its body, it shot straight for Jellal and Keaton as fast as a fired arrow, its enormous mouth agape, aiming to swallow them both in one bite.

A flaming kick from Natsu knocked it aside moments before it could reach the pair.

Ophiuchus's head smashed into the centre fountain, demolishing it completely. Water shot out of the broken fountain like a geyser, spraying everyone in the vicinity.

Despite getting wet, Yukino still showed no emotion.

Ophiuchus coiled its head around, its eyes finding its new target. It lunged for Natsu whose legs were enveloped in flames.

"Come on, ya big ugly snake!" the Dragon Slayer taunted.

But before Natsu could make a move, Jellal swung one hand up to make a number of sharp stalagmites burst out of the ground. They failed to impale the serpent's sturdy metal plating, but they were enough to slam its head upwards.

Natsu used that opportunity to leap high into the air above the snake and performed a rapidly spinning burning kick propelled by the flames at his heels. Ophiuchus was sent straight down with so much force, it completely demolished all of Jellal's stone spikes as well as bury its head deep into a crater. Defeated, the serpent was sent back to the spirit world and the sky returned to normal.

Yukino was neither disappointed nor annoyed at the defeat of her spirit. She had already summoned another one right after Ophiuchus disappeared. Libra stood before her master, a golden scale in each hand. Unlike Ophiuchus, this spirit made Keaton's stomach drop.

"Crush them," ordered Yukino.

The moment Libra tipped her arms like a scale, gravity shifted and Keaton was suddenly thrown to the ground by invisible hands. Crashing face-first, he gasped and choked, feeling as if a giant stone golem was stepping right on top of him, painfully crushing the air from his lungs and threatening to break every bone in his body. He couldn't move or breathe. The ground beneath him cracked and sank as gravity tried to drag him through the earth. He wasn't the only one affected. He heard Plue squeal helplessly nearby and beside him, Jellal was flat on his stomach, soundly sputtering up blood, the incredible pressure doing his wound no favour.

"Yukino!" Keaton heard Natsu scream, his voice strained. "Stop it! I don't want to hurt you! Snap out of it, Yukino!"

His cries went unheard. Gravity continued to force them deep into the crumbling ground. Natsu roared out of anger, his magic flaring to match his rage.

Keaton could see and feel the Fire Dragon Slayer's power grow. Fire danced at the periphery of his vision. He could feel the intense heat coming from Natsu's flames and easily broke into a sweat.

With a mighty yell, Natsu unleashed something powerful that exploded, shaking the ground and deafening Keaton's ears. A blast of scorching heat washed over Keaton, stealing whatever air he had left. Gravity instantly returned to normal and he was free to breathe again. Gasping, he lay motionless, desperately trying to catch his breath. He didn't even flinch when charred clumps of dirt and rock pelted him from above.

There was violent coughing and laboured breathing coming from Jellal, which forced Keaton to try to move. But even with gravity back to normal, his body still felt as heavy as lead.

"Get up!" Ultear's voice rang loud through their minds. "You guys need to get out of there! Now!"

It was the urgency in her tone that gave Keaton the little strength he needed to keep going. He shook away the dust and debris and pushed off the ground on trembling hands and knees. He gaped at the huge, smoking crater where Yukino and Libra once stood. The remains of the fountain were completely blown apart, leaving only a massive hole and a broken pipe where water continuously poured. He found Natsu off to the side, kneeling over the Celestial Spirit mage who lay motionless on the ground, her clothes singed and skin burned red.

"Hey, Bacon!" Natsu called, glancing back at Keaton. "Help me lift Yukino onto my back. We're taking her with us!"

Keaton nodded. As he clambered onto his horribly aching feet, he peeled a deflated Plue off the ground. "Plue, you okay?"

Plue sprang back into shape and clapped out of joy to show he was fine. After telling Plue to stay with Jellal, Keaton stumbled towards Natsu. There was no time to be gentle; as Natsu crouched with his back towards him, Keaton tossed Yukino's prone body over Natsu's good shoulder like a heavy sack of flour.

Natsu rushed to the castle gate and Keaton was about to follow when something gold and gleaming caught his eye. Half-buried in the dirt was the ring of Celestial Spirit keys. Keaton snatched them off the ground and hurried to Jellal's side. He half-carried, half-dragged his barely conscious master towards the locked castle gate that Natsu had decided to open himself.

With one angry roar and a fiery kick, the ornate gate was blasted off its gilded hinges. Being quiet and stealthy was no longer an option after they have already destroyed half of the plaza. All the guards were likely alerted of their location after all that noise.

They dared not look back as they made their way across the bridge. It seemed like luck was truly on their side when no guards or even the black knight appeared to give chase. When they reached the other side, Keaton couldn't help but wonder they had gotten away too easily.

---

Porlyusica was still in disbelief as she carefully flipped through the old, tattered notebook in her hands for the third time. Her own hand-writing and drawings stared back at her, detailing new recipes for various types of medicines that utilized ingredients in ways she had never even considered. She was not the one who had written it herself, and yet there was no mistaking her own work.

Missing the front cover and the first few pages, the book was mostly intact and legible. Every page contained knowledge as well as a story; wrinkles and stains from spilled liquids, worn edges, creased corners, ink lines smudged and redrawn, tears repaired with tape, steps crossed out and rewritten – it was clear this book was used often. And it smelled strongly of home.

"It's because of you, Granny... You are the reason we have survived for as long as we did. You brought us back from the brink many times over. You always yelled and scolded, called us idiots and selfish fools... and yet you still took care of us. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the last of your gifts you had left us."

With a heavy sigh, Porlyusica gently laid the book down on the wooden counter and flipped back to the potion she was in the process of making. Magic Restore Elixir. Just as the name implied, it was a revitalizing concoction that fully restored a mage's magic energy as well as stamina. It was ten times more potent and worked thrice as fast than the current recipe Porlyusica had derived from Bacon's blue potion. She was determined to make it right the first time, knowing it was her own instructions she was following.

While her hands were busy with a mortar and pestle, she grumbled at the situation Wendy had dragged her into. Right after the final Game had just started, Wendy had suddenly appeared in the infirmary at Domus Flau with Carla and a young woman with pink hair and, without so much as an explanation, had begged Porlyusica to grab her things and quickly follow them into the foul sewers. It sounded urgent so Porlyusica listened without question, thinking something serious had happened during their mission to rescue Lucy.

And it did turn out to be something serious. Hidden behind the glamour and fame of the Grand Magic Games was a diabolical evil planning its course.

Everything was explained to Porlyusica the moment she stepped foot in the small abandoned house Crime Sorcière was currently using as their hideout. Located in the slums of the city, it used to be an old, rundown, hollowed shell. Time had been reversed on the building, thanks to the woman named Ultear, reverting the tiny abode back to when it was still fairly new. There was only one floor with three rooms: a kitchen that was also part of the living room, one bathroom, and one bedroom.

The kitchen counter had been converted into Porlyusica's work space while the bedroom served as the infirmary where the wounded and weary could rest. The house was lacking in most furnishings with only a small round dining table, three chairs, a couch, and a single bed; old abandoned items all restored by rewinding time.

As Porlyusica worked in the crowded room, she listened to the chatter. The joy of hearing Fairy Tail announced as the winners of this years Grand Magic Games had finally died down. For the past hour and a half, they had been listening closely through an open window at the narration of the final event blaring from the many speakers placed throughout the city.

Once the group had finished their brief celebration, Porlyusica's attention didn't stray as she ordered Wendy and Lucy to get some rest. The tone she used brooked no argument; Porlyusica was not in the best mood and it was clear upon her face.

Lucy hadn't slept for over two days, having been imprisoned and sent to Abyss Palace to fight for her life, and Wendy had spent most of her magic energy healing the wounded. The two girls wordlessly shuffled into the bedroom where Jellal and Keaton were sleeping. Unconscious on the couch was Yukino, kept under close watch.

It wasn't the fact that Porlyusica had to work in such cramped quarters with a bunch of humans that made her cranky, it was learning the shocking truth about Keaton. From a curious, amnesiac boy to a fearless, young man who had slain many dragons, Bacon had to grow up fast in a grim and hopeless world.

And he was still fighting, having travelled through time, seeking to protect the ones he loved and foolishly pushing himself far beyond his limits, much to Porlyusica's displeasure.

'You are destined to save our realm, Hero of Time.' A prophecy translated from the ancient language of dragons. It was all starting to make sense. It was no mere coincidence that Wendy had found a lost boy in a temple forgotten by time.

"My dear, there are never any coincidences in Fairy Tail," Makarov had said what seemed like ages ago; "Every incident involving our guild happens for a reason."

Porlyusica shook her head; never had she thought the boy named Bacon would be destined with such a cruel fate.

The future was safe, for now, Lucy had assured them. The twelve Gold Zodiac Keys were needed to open the Eclipse Gate and right now they were in her possession. But could it really be that easy after the ordeal they had endured beneath the castle? One man was dead, his body left behind in the castle, and Jellal and Natsu were nearly killed – all done by the same man who wished to rule the world using dragons summoned from the past.

It was a concern best left to the humans involved to discuss while Porlyusica focused on preparing the medicine they needed.

It fell quiet in the kitchen room with the only sounds coming from a ticking clock on the wall, the gentle simmering of liquids, the grinding of a pestle, and the steady dripping of extract collecting into an open beaker. The constant noise coming from the busy streets outside carried through the open window; fireworks, cheers, music and song; the entire city was alive and celebrating the victors as well as the end of the Grand Magic Games. It was a festival that would undoubtedly last all throughout the night by the oblivious populace – unaware of the evil that hid in the heart of their city.

Inside the cramped little house, those still awake and waiting eventually got restless. Nastu, in particular, wouldn't stop pacing and there were a few instances where he wanted to charge right back into the castle only to be subdued by Mirajane each time.

"Keaton saved you once already. Don't think he can save you again," Mirajane had warned the third and final time Natsu had tried.

"Look, I know how badly you wanna beat the shit out of that bastard," Loke began, "but you can't just blindly barge right in. Not after what nearly happened to you guys. You'll be waltzing right into another trap."

"There's been no activity around the castle other than the guards cleaning up the mess you made, Natsu," Ultear pointed out as she peered into her crystal levitating in the centre of the dining table. Her eyes narrowed in frustration, wishing she could find all the answers within the orb. "No sign of the Captain anywhere either. He hasn't left the castle at all. He's hiding behind those walls, scheming something big. I just know it."

"Yeah, I have a bad feeling about all this," said Meredy, seated across from Ultear. "They know prisoners have escaped and yet they haven't sent any search parties or even issued warnings throughout the city."

"They want to keep the people in the dark," said Mirajane. She was leaning against the open window, keeping a lookout for any sign of danger. "Less suspicion drawn to the castle that way while the whole city is busy celebrating."

"Looks like they also want to keep the guards stationed near the castle," Pantherlily noted. He sat cross-legged on top of the table alongside Happy and Carla, studying the live image in the crystal ball. "They do not want to thin their numbers, which could mean they want to keep security tight. Make it appear they're protecting the castle, but in reality, they are protecting the Gate."

Happy frowned with worry. "But they can't open the Gate, right? They need a Celestial Spirit mage and the twelve Zodiac Keys! Now they don't have both!"

"If they needed both," Carla began, her brow furrowed deeply in thought, "then why would they allow Yukino and the keys to be taken away? Why are they not searching for her? I must agree with Meredy on this. This doesn't feel right."

Mirajane soundly agreed. "It's as if they handed her and the keys right to us. Maybe to have her attack us when we have our guard down?"

"Jellal will know for sure if she's still mind-controlled once he wakes up," said Ultear.

Natsu growled and clenched a flaming fist, his eyes falling on Yukino. "That damn Captain made Yukino act against her will. I'm going to kill that goddamn bastard! I swear it!"

"He can control people and he can control dragons," Pantherlily stressed, shooting Natsu a stern glare. "For all we know, he could be controlling everyone in the castle. We cannot afford to be careless."

The fire in Natsu's hand flared up in rage. Before he could even think of charging back to the castle again, Porlyusica shouted, "You! Come here. I need your help with something."

The Dragon Slayer's anger and flames quickly extinguished as curiosity took over. "Huh? My help? What do ya need, Granny?" he asked as he bounded over to the kitchen counter.

Porlyusica wished there was a broom nearby to conk Natsu over the head for calling her the name he had picked up from Keaton. With a huff, she handed him a flask half-full of liquid that contained the ground-up contents of the mortar she had just dumped in.

"All my Heat Lacrimas are in use," she lied. "Gently warm this up until it boils. Keep mixing it while it heats up."

Natsu nodded. Under Porlyusica's watchful eye, he slowly warmed up his hands to the correct temperature she wanted. For the remainder of the process, Porlyusica kept him occupied with other small tasks to keep his mind off of everything else. She even had him perform a few redundant steps so he would stay busy. The others silently thanked her for keeping the Fire Dragon Slayer out of trouble.

When the potion needed time to slowly brew, Porlyusica made Natsu simmer a beaker of water while she quickly checked on her patients.

Yukino was first, tucked beneath a blanket on the couch. The major burns she had suffered on her face, arms, and hands had been healed by Wendy while the minor burns on her legs had been cleaned, dabbed with ointment, and bandaged. She hadn't stirred since her arrival, but there were no concerns for her health other than the state of her mind once she woke up.

Next, Porlyusica opened the door to the small bedroom and stepped inside. It was dark in the room, with the only window covered by thick, heavy drapes. She nearly tripped over an armoured boot that was haphazardly left on the floor. She quietly grumbled at the assortment of weapons and armour piled messily in one corner before turning her attention to the five occupants crammed within.

Passed out on the only bed beneath a feathery cloak was Jellal, his skin pale and body weak from heavy blood loss. He was cold and clammy to the touch and his breathing was shallow, both worrisome symptoms, but once the Magic Restore Elixir was finished, he would make a full recovery in no time.

Out cold on the shaggy rug with his back right against the bed was Keaton with Plue napping in the crook of his neck. Huddled beside him and squished in the middle was Wendy while Lucy was between her and the wall, both fast asleep.

Colour was starting to return to Keaton's face. When Porlyusica had first laid eyes on him, he looked as if he had dragged himself back from the grave. Saying he had only slept for a grand total of five or six hours over a span of seven days earned him a nasty scolding from Porlyusica, which was soon promptly followed with a threat upon his life if he didn't go straight to sleep after Wendy was done healing his battered feet. It would be best for him to rest for a couple days, but time was not on their side.

Porlyusica suppressed a frustrated sigh. As quietly as she came, she slipped out of the room and went back to work.

It took nearly two more hours before the batch of elixir was finally complete. Viscous, dark and bluish, and smelling strongly of herbs, the concoction closely resembled Bacon's original blue potion. Supposedly ten times more potent, she was eager to test its effects right away.

She was in the middle of pouring the elixir into vials when the bedroom door swung open and Wendy poked her head out with a worried expression.

"Gran – Porlyusica! Come quick! It's Keaton!" the girl cried in a frightful panic.

Porlyusica stopped what she was doing and rushed into the bedroom. Someone had opened the drapes to allow daylight to shine through to better see.

Keaton was curled up on his right side on the floor, moaning and writhing as he clutched at his left arm in anguish, his nails digging deep. Everyone in the room was wide awake. Lucy and Plue were beside him with worry, pleading at him to stop clawing at his own skin, but to no avail.

"What's wrong?" Porlyusica demanded. Lucy moved out of the way for Porlyusica to achingly drop to her knees for a better look.

"His curse is acting up again," Jellal explained, barely sitting half-way up on the bed.

"I tried healing it with my magic, but it had no effect!" Wendy exclaimed, her voice shrill with fear.

Through the pain, Keaton tried to assure her, growling out his words; "Don't worry, Wendy... It'll pass! Ugh... It usually does... Don't worry about me... I-I'll be fine!"

By the way he continued to squirm and sweat and noticeably bleed, Porlyusica wasn't convinced. "What sort of pain is it?" she inquired. "Sharp? Stabbing? Burning?"

"Burning..." he hissed. "Like it's on fucking fire!"

Porlyusica pursed her lips and turned to the doorway, finding all the other mages peering inside.

Natsu was first to meet Porlyusica's narrowed gaze. She pointed straight at him. "You!" she barked, "Bring me a bowl of water. Make sure it's ice cold. And bring me my bag sitting on the counter. The rest of you humans, get out of here! Not you." She shot Jellal a stern look, making him freeze. "Lie back down and don't you dare move."

Jellal obeyed without so much as a blink while Lucy hastily picked up her spirit companion and gently pushed a reluctant Wendy out.

After Natsu brought Porlyusica her things, she shooed him right out and slammed the door behind him.

With a heavy sigh, Porlyusica returned to Keaton's side and dug through her bag, pulling out a few supplies. She began to soak a few clean white cloths in the bowl of water. "Let me see. Move your hand," she commanded. He didn't listen, forcing her to pry his bloody fingers away, which required a reasonable amount of effort due to his strength.

She clicked her tongue in disapproval at the many scratches he left on his reddened skin. But it wasn't just the scratches that bled, the entire outline of the black, serpentine dragon was also bleeding as if someone had traced the entire tattoo with the tip of a knife.

His skin was hot, as if inflamed, but the mark itself was truly like fire, making Porlyusica jerk back the instant she touched it.

"Keep your hand away," she growled as she grabbed one of the cloths from her bowl. She wrung some of the water out and wrapped it around his arm in hope of cooling it off. "Does that make it feel better?"

Keaton exhaled a sharp breath at the cold touch and nodded, instantly falling still as the wet cloth quickly soothed the burning. "Yes, a little better," he murmured after a short while. He wiped the sweat off his face and shifted slightly to give her a tired look of gratitude. He was hopeful and trusting of her when he asked, "Granny, do you know anything about it?"

She refrained from smacking him for giving her that accursed name. Scowling, she shook her head. "Never seen anything like this," she answered truthfully, bringing nothing but disappointment on Keaton's face. He looked away, making Porlyusica slightly soften her expression out of pity. "Is it true Acnologia was the one who did this?"

"Yes... right before he died," he muttered bitterly. "It was a month ago. In my time."

A month since he fought against the fearsome black dragon. Barely enough time to make a full recovery, that was clear by the old, scabby wounds he still had. "How did he do it? Was it through magic? By touch?"

Keaton shook his head. "I don't know. I wasn't conscious when it happened... Master Lucy found me lying near his body and even she didn't know how I got it."

Porlyusica frowned at that. She replaced the cloth that was now hot and spotted with red with a fresh one. "It has hurt before? What triggers the pain?"

The young man shrugged. "Many times, although it has never been this bad before. It happens whenever I sleep? No – whenever I have dreams. Dragon dreams."

Always dreaming about dragons, it seemed, but it was very unlikely they could be the same dreams he had as a child. Porlyusica took a quick glance at his neck and found no Dreamstone.

"What are these dreams? Nightmares? When did they start?"

His expression turned dark and grim and his tone quiet and somber; "Nightmares... Most of the time. They started right after defeating Acnologia. In them, I am a dragon. A dragon who finds great joy in killing other dragons..."

Hearing that sent a shiver down Porlyusica's spine for some unknown reason. She was unnerved, unable to comprehend why she suddenly felt afraid. It was similar to when Makarov had spoken of the dragon graveyard hidden beneath the city and the truth revolving Acnologia that Natsu and the others had discovered just recently.

"But it's not always about hunting other dragons," he continued, unaware of Porlyusica's reaction. "Sometimes, there's a lot of anger. A lot of hate. Fear for the fleetest moments. Black shadows, so cold... rattling chains... and... and..." He winced and reached for his curse, the fiery sensation likely returning.

Porlyusica snapped out of it and quickly slapped his hand away before replacing the cloth with a new one. She let out a slow, steady sigh to calm herself as she focused back on treating her patient.

There was not much else she could do for Keaton other than to keep the mark cool. If it was these nightmares that made his curse flare up and bleed, that would explain why he rarely slept. Bracing herself, she continued her round of questioning once the pain became tolerable for Keaton to bear; "What did you dream about just now that triggered this?"

Eyes closed, Keaton slowly shook his head. "I... I can't remember exactly. I was a dragon again... Maybe? Lying somewhere, unable to move. Everything was either hurting or numb. Dying... Maybe I was dying... Gods, the pain felt so real."

"Might not have been just a dream," Jellal spoke up. Lying on his back, he had been staring intently at the ceiling, quietly listening to the pair. "They could be memories. Acnologia's memories."

There were audible gasps and surprised exclamations coming from the other side of the door, which indicated the others were eavesdropping.

Porlyusica took off one of her shoes and threw it at the door while yelling at them to shut up out there. It immediately fell dead silent in the other room.

"What... do you mean?" Keaton asked.

Jellal slowly rolled over to meet the young man's skeptical gaze down below. "The curse was affecting you just as bad when you woke up at the castle. Somehow you knew, right then, that Geraldo was the man we are after. Only Acnologia knew his true identity and yet you recognized his voice in spite of never encountering him in your time. It's only an assumption, but I believe what you've been dreaming are actually pieces of Acnologia's past right up to his death."

Keaton snorted in disbelief, however his tone betrayed his uncertainty; "What? No. No, that can't be what it is. You're delirious, Master. Lost too much blood. You're not thinking straight."

Jellal grunted. "My mind may be as clear as mud right now, but I know what I'm saying. Dreams can sometimes be fragments of memories... I've experienced it the most when I had amnesia. Perhaps you've experienced it too."

"I... have," Keaton admitted hesitantly.

"Then it is a possibility," Porlyusica mused, intrigued by Jellal's observation. "In these dreams, were you always the same dragon?"

Keaton blinked at the question. He shifted to look at his right hand as if it held the answer, curling his fingers like claws. "No... Or maybe, yes? Black scales. Black claws. Never different... But then, sometimes I was blind in one eye... My right eye..." He stiffened, his eyes growing wide with realization. "Acnologia was missing his right eye... He lost it sometime after the Festival..."

"Can't be a mere coincidence," said Jellal, hardening his gaze.

"And Acnologia hunted other dragons," Porlyusica added. "Remember the dragon graveyard hidden beneath this city?"

Jellal raised his brow in surprise.

Keaton, on the other hand, was shocked, confused, and then angry in that order. He swore under his breath. "Why? Why did he do this to me?"

"A side-effect, perhaps?" Porlyusica surmised. "It may not have been intentional that he somehow transferred some of his memories when he inflicted the curse on you."

Keaton groaned in misery and stared glumly ahead.

"As much as you hate it, it has helped us," Jellal tried to assure, giving the other a sympathetic look. "Now we know Geraldo is the one we need to go after."

"Great," Keaton grumbled sarcastically. "Glad it's helpful in some way. Now get rid of it."

"As I have said before," Porlyusica began with a shake of her head, "this curse is beyond my knowledge. I have no means of curing it."

Keaton shot her a serious look. "I know the perfect cure. Granny, please cut off my arm."

Porlyusica smacked him over the head, eliciting a quiet "Ow" from him. "Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped. "That will cause more problems than it'll solve, boy."

He chuckled unexpectedly, erasing the dour mood that had settled over them. "I was kidding, Granny," he said with a grin before sighing wearily in defeat. "Guess I'll just have to get used to this torture every now and then."

Porlyusica hid her frown as she switched cloths one last time. No longer did the mark burn upon touch and the bleeding had nearly stopped. There were no visible cuts around the dragon that Porlyusica could see, making her wonder how it bled. Nevertheless, she bandaged his arm, covering the entire tattoo.

"I have finished the Magic Restore Elixir," she informed while she cleaned up her things. "You will need to tell me if I made it correctly. I'll bring it for you."

"Wait, I can grab them," Keaton offered, helping her stand and retrieving her thrown shoe. The moment he stepped out of the room, he was instantly bombarded with questions from Wendy. Even though he was a grown man who had endured the worst of the worst, she still worried for him.

Porlyusica hated to admit that she felt just the same.

She was extremely pleased by the various looks of disgust that crossed Keaton's, Jellal's, Natsu's, Wendy's, and Lucy's faces when they each drank her elixir. It was pure revulsion; a true measurement of the effectiveness of her potions.

"Tastes... just how I remember it..." Keaton sputtered, cringing horribly at the bitterness.

"How is this even medicine?!" Natsu gagged, looking ready to throw it all back up.

After washing it down with water, it was evident upon their glowing complexions that the potion truly worked. Keaton and Jellal especially looked much healthier compared to a minute ago.

Porlyusica had one extra vial of the elixir left, in which she gave to Keaton. "Take it when you need it most," she said. "This is all I could make with the limited ingredients I had on hand."

Keaton's warm smile quickly became apologetic. "Thank you for your help, Granny. Sorry to drag you into this..."

Porlyusica crossed her arms and scoffed. "The only thing you need to apologize for is forcing me to walk through the vile sewers. Here." She tried to return the tattered notebook, but Keaton pushed it back towards her.

"It's yours. Always will be. I have no use for it so keep it."

With a subtle nod of thanks, Porlyusica carefully put the book in her bag, secretly wanting to read through every page in greater detail. Next, she handed Wendy a small care package that contained extra rolls of gauze, ointments and salves, and some herbal teas. "For Yukino as well as yourselves," she informed the girl, a fleeting smile on her lips.

She looked over the group standing before her, seeing their hardened, determined expressions and fearless stances, their minds all set on their next important mission. "Looks like I'm done here. I should head back before Makarov believes I've been kidnapped. There are bound to be some injuries I need to take care of after Fairy Tail won that insanity of a battle royale."

"You have my thanks," said Jellal with a grateful nod. "Please, keep all that has transpired a secret. This must remain our mission alone. There is too great of a risk if more people get involved."

"I'll keep them out of trouble, but I cannot make any promises," she retorted, scowling at his request.

"I can take you back," Keaton offered, grabbing both of her hands.

She raised an eyebrow only to see he had closed his eyes in concentration. She was about to demand what he was doing when he announced, "There's brother. Hang tight, Granny. I'll be back soon, guys."

His body was shrouded in bright green light as his magic came to life, sending a tingling sensation through her fingers. Porlyusica had to shut her eyes when the light became too unbearable and felt a strong wind begin to blow.

Before she knew it, she was swept right off her feet, carried away by a magical gale. Then in the next moment, she came to an abrupt stop on solid ground. She stumbled forward, only to have Keaton keep her steady.

She blinked rapidly to adjust her eyes to the dimmer light of an empty hall in Domus Flau. "First Celestial Spirit magic and now teleportation," she remarked. "You're full of surprises, boy."

She stepped back, expecting Keaton to let go, but his hold remained firm. She met his sorrowful gaze.

"Granny... I-I..." he stammered, hesitant to say more.

She glowered, pretending to be impatient. "If you have something to say, say it already. I don't have all day."

He swallowed, his eyes downcast, head slowly shaking. "Seven years you've watched over me and I... I never got to thank you for everything you've ever done... before it was too late. I never got the chance and I'm so sorry... I failed to protect you..."

What Porlyusica did next was something she had never thought she would ever do in her life; she pulled him close and embraced him, prompting him to wrap his arms tight around her. If her future counterpart was stubborn enough to live through seven years of Hell to keep this boy alive, there was no doubt she had somehow grown to love him as one of her own. It was a strange, foreign feeling, but one she did not despise.

"If I had never told you in the future, then I will tell you now: I am very proud of you," she said. It was the truth that made her genuinely smile.

He cried quietly on her shoulder and she didn't mind at all. He suddenly pulled away. With one last smile, he whispered, "Thank you, Granny."

Before she could tell him to be careful, he was gone in a flash of green and a strong gust of wind, leaving her alone in the hall.

Or so she had thought. A pair of footsteps fast approached her from behind. She spun around to find Romeo and young Bacon sprinting towards her.

"Porlyusica!" Romeo exclaimed. "Who was that? Are you okay? Everyone's been looking for you! What happened?!"

"I'm fine. I was – oof!" She was cut short when Bacon ran into her and hugged her by the waist. "What are you doing? What's the matter?"

Bacon shook his head as he stepped back, tears in his eyes. "I don't know..." he mumbled, looking rather confused. "I really missed you, I guess?"

Porlyusica knew the real reason. She placed a gentle hand upon his hooded head. "Come with me, both of you. I need your help in gathering some supplies. There's a lot of work to be done to get Fairy Tail back on their feet."

She said she would not tell, but she did not say she would not help to prepare for whatever terror may soon be upon them.

---

Evening had fallen over Crocus, but the city was far from done with all the celebrations. Fireworks have been going non-stop and revellers, both drunk and sober, have filled almost every street and corner, even down here in the slums. It was a city-wide party and everyone was invited.

Compared to the care-free chaos outside, the atmosphere inside the little home Wendy and the others had occupied was the complete opposite.

Right after Keaton had taken Porlyusica back to Domus Flau, Mirajane and Wendy, while wearing their stealth clothes to avoid being recognized on the streets, had stepped out to quickly pick up food, clothing, and other necessities for everyone. Those that needed it most freshened up, showered, and changed into new outfits before they all crowded around the kitchen to eat. While they ate a wide assortment of street vendor foods, including a bunch of desserts Mirajane knew Wendy and Keaton would enjoy, the group tried to plan their next course of action.

Their number one priority was the destruction of the Eclipse Gate, in which Keaton and Crime Sorcière had spent the last three days preparing for. However, now that the black knight was aware of what they knew, simply blowing up the Gate was no longer feasible. It was possible the Gate could be moved and hidden elsewhere or heavily protected by both soldiers and deadly traps.

Defeating the black knight was their next priority. However, they couldn't just run into the castle and hunt him down. He was a dangerous enemy; his true power hidden under his disguise as the Captain of the Holy Blossom Knights. Wherever the Gate will be, there was a good chance he would be there to protect it.

The Captain was well-prepared to stop them from escaping the castle; undoubtedly, he would be ready to prevent them from interfering with his plan. If he could control Yukino, then he could control others to do his bidding, such as the King or Princess. It wouldn't be wise to charge the castle and have all of Fairy Tail and Crime Sorcière branded as traitors against the kingdom.

The group had a limited time to come up with a strategy. The lunar eclipse – a vital, natural phenomenon needed to fully activate the Eclipse Gate – was going to occur sometime in the middle of the night. Keaton didn't know the exact time nor could he remember if his Master Lucy ever mentioned it. Knowing this, they needed to think of something before midnight.

The same concerns that were discussed earlier were brought back up; the Eclipse Gate required the twelve Gold Zodiac Keys and a Celestial Spirit mage, in which the black knight now had neither. So why was he not in search for Yukino or the keys? As Mirajane and Carla had mentioned, the whole situation was rather suspicious.

They needed answers; answers that only Yukino may be able to provide.

Jellal had confirmed that Yukino was free of the dark power that had been controlling her earlier so there were no concerns when she finally woke up shortly after they finished their meals.

Confused, ashamed, and guilty, Yukino had broken down when questions were thrown at her. She couldn't remember what happened after she was taken out of her prison cell by the black knight, making her fear she had done something wrong to hurt them. Lucy and Mirajane had escorted her to the bedroom to help her calm down as well as give her some privacy so she could change out of her burnt uniform.

The rest of Fairy Tail waited in the kitchen and living room since then, while Crime Sorcière stepped out for a quick patrol around the area, wanting to make sure they were still safe.

Wendy had been anxious and upset ever since Abyss Palace. She was overwhelmed, to say the least. Keaton. The fate of the future. The black knight. Arcadios's death... It was so much to take in in such a short amount of time. (She still wasn't quite over the initial shock that Keaton was Bacon, seven years from the future.) The guilt from being unable to heal Arcadios had troubled her most until Keaton had assured her, through kind words and a much-needed hug, that there was nothing that could have been done for Arcadios in that situation. The wound was fatal; even with magic, Wendy would not have been able to heal Arcadios in time.

What was once a rescue mission had now turned into a mission to save the kingdom and the future.

The lives of many rested on their shoulders, but they couldn't act recklessly as Natsu wanted to do so badly. One wrong move and it could be the end for them; for Fiore; for Earthland.

Even though Wendy was a nervous wreck, she was actually glad to share the burden that had once only been Keaton's. He did not deserve the responsibility, not after what he's been through already.

Wendy sat on one of the chairs at the dining table with Carla on her lap, gently petting her feline friend atop the head in hope of calming her nerves as well as Carla's. Wendy's nervousness was replaced by curiosity when Keaton decided to clean his feathery cloak seemingly out of boredom.

He looked like an ordinary teenager wearing the new clothes Mirajane and Wendy had picked out for him: a plain black T-shirt, a light, green, hooded sweater left unzipped and sleeves rolled-up, and beige cargo pants that was one or two-sizes too big. Hooked to one of his pant loops was his set of Celestial Spirit keys, two gold and one silver.

With Keaton being the future owner of Plue's key, it was clear why Plue was so attached to him since Abyss Palace. Right now, the canine was riding atop Keaton's disheveled blond hair with a joyous smile upon his adorable face.

Loke was also one of Keaton's future spirits, their strong bond already evident by how natural they talked like close friends. There was no better proof at how kind and caring Keaton was towards his Celestial Spirits, having taken after his master, Lucy.

There were many questions Wendy wanted to ask Keaton – personal questions that she knew would cause him grief. Now seemed like the only time they would be able to talk freely, but she was hesitant to say anything.

Fortunately, he was first to start.

He caught her staring and asked, "You okay, Wendy?"

All heads in the room turned in Wendy's direction. Flustered by the sudden attention, Wendy straightened and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind; "I-I was just wondering about your cloak, that's all!"

"This?" Keaton held up his feathered cloak for her to better see. "Do you recognize it? I don't know if it still smells like her or not. It's been like four years since I've had this so it probably has my stink on it now."

"Like 'her'? What do you mean?" Wendy asked, blinking in confusion.

He spread the cloak open to make it appear like wings. "This cloak... It's made from the wing feathers of the Sky Dragon. I didn't kill her, if that's what you're thinking," he quickly added when he saw her horrified reaction.

"Then how'd you get that?" Natsu asked, almost demanding. He was sitting on the kitchen floor, back against the counter.

"It was two years after the Festival..." Keaton began, his voice quiet. He started to absentmindedly brush his fingers through the feathers of his cloak, straightening them and picking out pieces of dirt. "Granny had felt... a summon? A call? She felt something that lured her deep into East Forest. She led us there and that is where we found your mother, Grandeeney. She was fatally wounded..."

Stunned, Wendy gasped into one of her hands. "A-Are you sure it was her?" she asked, barely able to find her voice. The thought of her kind, gentle mother dying alone in the woods made Wendy's heart wrench. "Not a different Grandeeney? From the past?"

Keaton gave her a pitying look. "It was her. Granny was sure of it."

Wendy felt a sharp pang in her chest as tears stung her eyes. "Grandeeney... Did she say... where she's been all this time?"

He shook his head, lightly making Plue sway with the motion, his eyes and hands back on the cloak. "No... We arrived moments before she died. She only had enough time to tell us this; 'Only the power of a dragon can defeat another dragon. Use my body for a chance to fight back.' Then in her final breath, she somehow showed Granny the locations of two other dragons who had fallen battling alongside her; Igneel and Metalicana."

"Igneel..." Natsu murmured, just as shocked as Wendy at hearing the name of his parent. He shot up in anger. "What the hell happened to them? What were they fighting that got them killed?"

Keaton shrugged. "Acnologia and the other mind-controlled dragons is my guess, judging from the wounds I remember seeing..." He avoided going into more grisly details for the Dragon Slayers' sake.

Natsu growled heatedly, only to have relief wash over him soon after. "That means Igneel's still alive somewhere..."

Keaton nodded, giving both Wendy and Natsu a grateful smile. "That's right, your parents are still alive right now as we speak. I wish I could thank them. If it were not for their sacrifices, I wouldn't even be here. Even in death, they have protected us and gave us the strength we desperately needed to fight and survive. I'm sorry I can't tell you where they could be."

"We know they're okay. That's all that matters," said Wendy, her tears becoming joyful. She wiped her eyes and gently put Carla on the table before she stood up. She walked over to Keaton to lightly touch the feathers of his cloak.

He held it out for her to take. "It's yours if you want it. Or would it be... odd to wear a part of your mother?"

"There's nothing wrong with that," said Natsu. He grabbed the end of his favourite scarf. "This is made from Igneel's scales and I have no problem wearing it."

Loke raised an eyebrow. "Didn't he give it to you as a gift though? It's not quite the same as... you know... Sorry, Wendy..."

Wendy shook her head. "It's fine, Loke. It was still a gift from Mother." She waved away her hands to refuse Keaton's kind gesture. "It belongs to you. I can't take it. Besides, it's too big for me."

In spite of what Wendy had said, Keaton draped the cloak around her shoulders, stepped back, and raised his brow as he looked her over.

"Guess it has gotten pretty big," he remarked.

Wendy felt her cheeks burn out of embarrassment because Keaton was so much bigger than her now, standing nearly two heads taller. Wendy would be tripping head over heels if she tried to wear his cloak.

"It used to be a lot smaller," said Keaton, "but it's been growing to match my size since its bound to me."

Wendy handed the cloak back to him. Even though it wasn't made for her, she still loved it; it was soft and warm, reminding her of the cold nights she had slept under her mother's protective wings. Her mother's scent was faint, nearly overpowered by Keaton's scent, but it was still present and it made her smile.

Happy hopped over for a better look, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Growing? Because of magic?" he asked.

"Correct. Because of Celestial Spirit magic." Keaton flipped the cloak over to expose the downy feathers lining the inside. He pointed to a small, golden emblem of a howling wolf-head that appeared to be stamped on near the collar. "This is the handiwork of Lupus the Wolf."

"Wait, that obnoxious asshole?" Loke exclaimed in disdain, shooting a pointed look at Keaton over the rim of his shades.

Keaton sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes, that obnoxious asshole."

"Why would you ever have him make that for you?!" Loke demanded with a huff, his mane bristling.

Keaton cocked his head at the lion and raised his brow knowingly. "Because there was no one alive who knew how to craft weapons or armour out of dragon parts. We had to look elsewhere and that's when you, Loke, mentioned Lupus the Celestial Spirit. You even helped Master Lucy locate his key."

Loke crossed his arms and made a disgruntled noise. "No way. I don't believe this..."

Natsu snorted out of amusement. "The hell did this Lupus guy do to ya?"

Loke bared his fangs and growled indignantly, "He's rude, lazy, obnoxious, loud, and a goddamn greedy prick."

"And he's a wolf," Keaton added.

"Yeah! And that too!"

Keaton smirked. "It's true Lupus was all that. 'A big pain in the ass to deal with,' according to Master Lucy. But once she managed to negotiate a working contract with him, he was a big help. There's no denying he's very good at what he does. He could create anything you wanted out of anything you gave him, but at the cost of something most precious to you. The stronger the sentimental value, the stronger his creations would be.

"What was most precious to me at that time was the Dreamstone you gave me, Wendy. Gods, it was so hard to part with it... I had to think about it for two days before I could do it."

"Why the Dreamstone?" Wendy had to ask. She had thought the hair-tie would have been more important. She had taken the accessory back despite it being old, broken, worn, and dirty; it was a promise kept that made Keaton happy.

He smiled at her fondly. "Because the Dreamstone was the very first present you ever gave me."

Wendy returned the smile. In truth, it was actually Porlyusica who had given Wendy the Dreamstone to give to him. She dared not correct him for it was one of his most cherished memories of her.

Keaton wandered over to his pile of things he had tossed beside the couch shortly before Yukino, Lucy, and Mirajane went into the bedroom. "In return for the Dreamstone, Lupus made me some of the stuff you see here out of the dragon parts we managed to collect."

He held up his cloak again, spreading it out as if it was a display. "This is the Sky Cloak of Warding. It protects from any magically afflicted ailments, but unfortunately not dragon curses."

He folded the cloak and set it aside before picking up his bow covered in pearly-white scales, the limbs shaped like feathered wings. He met Wendy's gaze. "Sky Bow. With it, my arrows are swift and never miss."

His edge-shaped shield plated with crimson scales was next. He looked at Natsu as he spoke. "Shield of the Flame King. It can block any type of fire, no matter how powerful or devastating."

He picked up his larger sword, its black leather sheath decorated with silver bindings that intertwined like a pair of twisting, scaly tails. It had a cobalt hilt long enough to be wielded by two-hands and a silver pommel that ended in a diamond point. The guard of the sword resembled the curved claws of a beast with a round onyx gem gleaming in the centre. Keaton's eyes were drawn to the sword as he unsheathed it half-way. The blade was broad, lustrous, and sharp on both edges. Glinting upon the reflective surface was the golden emblem of the howling wolf. "Dragonslayer. It can cut through almost anything, the blade never dull."

"A fine sword," Pantherlily remarked with admiration, perched upon the open window sill. "How many dragons were you able to slay with it, may I ask?"

Keaton slid the sword back into its sheath and shrugged. "I never kept count," he answered, not quite enthused at such a great feat. "Could be fifty. Could be two hundred. Whatever it was, it barely made a dent against the vast army that roamed the land."

Losing a few hundred out of ten thousand was, indeed, insignificant. Wendy shuddered at the thought of seeing so many hostile dragons at once.

Keaton slid on his armoured boots and gauntlets. They were a combination of Metalicana's and Grandeeney's parts, providing a strong defense as well as the benefit of being nearly weightless compared to ordinary armour. Hidden in each thumb and fingertip of the gauntlets were hooked steel claws that allowed him to cling onto and climb rough surfaces, such as the scaly backs of dragons. He used to have more pieces of armour to make a complete set, but they were either lost or destroyed over the years.

"What about those knives?" Loke asked when it seemed like Keaton was done explaining. "I can sense that stupid wolf's magic on them."

A deep sadness crossed Keaton's features as he carefully lifted the leather belt that held six knives, each one with a different hilt. "These aren't actually mine. They belonged to my brother, Crow – Romeo."

"Really?" said Natsu, leaning forward in awe. "Was he there fighting in the end? Against Acnologia?"

Keaton grinned, no longer forlorn, but full of pride and admiration. "He was. Wish you could've seen how strong he became, Natsu! He lived by your words, by your beliefs; we both did. He was a master ninja and Rainbow Fire mage as well as Gildarts' disciple."

"Gildarts?!" Happy shrieked more so out of horror than surprise. "H-He can actually teach?! How was Romeo never accidentally killed?!"

Keaton winced at the volume of Happy's voice and chuckled in amusement. "Rarely did brother ever return without breaking something after training with Gildarts. I swear he had broken more bones than I had broken my ribs, and I've broken every single one at least once.

"Romeo... his determination was boundless and he possessed a will as strong as the toughest mountains. He never gave up no matter how painful or hopeless it felt. He was a great inspiration and role model to me growing up. The best big brother I could ever have..." Keaton's eyes fell on the belt in his hands, the sadness returning. "This was all I could find of him after the battle..."

There was a moment of silence, grief heavy in the air.

Wendy was completely heartbroken. Hearing the outcome straight from Keaton was just as devastating as she had feared. He had lost so much... the deaths of the ones he loved still fresh in his heart and mind.

"Gildarts was there too, then?" Natsu asked quietly

Keaton nodded.

"Who else?" Happy questioned only to be scolded by Carla. "Sorry! If it's okay to ask?"

"It's fine," said Keaton, a wistful smile on his face. He looked at each member in the room with great pride. "You should all know who they were, the legends they have become, the last members of Fairy Tail to stand against all odds: Master Lucy, Romeo, Gildarts, Gray, and you, Carla."

Carla stiffened at the sound of her name.

"Me?" Carla uttered in shock. She took a tentative step towards the edge of the dining table just as Keaton walked towards her.

"You were my dearest friend and partner," Keaton told her, his eyes shimmering with tears. "You were my wings; you carried me through the skies, through danger, through hardships and turmoil. Together, we took down dragons left, right and centre. And together, we took down Acnologia out of the air."

Tears freely falling, he reached out a trembling hand to give Carla a little scratch behind the ear where she loved it most. "You sacrificed yourself to protect me..." he continued, his voice cracking. "Gave me the chance to deal the final blow... There's no way I can ever repay you for that..."

Carla leaned into his touch and bowed her head in remorse, her body shaking. "I wasn't aware... Forgive me. I'm sorry if I came across as rude since meeting you," she murmured.

Keaton burst out laughing, giving Carla a start. "You call that rude? I consider that one of your better moods. Normally you're... No, I shouldn't say." He gave her a teasing grin as he wiped his face with the back of his armoured hand.

Glaring, Carla huffed and placed her paws on her hips. "Normally I'm what?" she demanded with a pout.

He was about to answer when the door to the bedroom creaked open.

Mirajane was first to step out, perking a curious eyebrow at everyone. "Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun out here," she said with a smile. Following behind her was Yukino, changed out of her uniform and into a pink blouse, a yellow-miniskirt, and red and white striped stockings that hid her bandaged legs. She was downcast, ashamed to look at anyone in the room. Lucy was beside her, keeping a supportive hand on Yukino's shoulder.

"Yukino, are you feeling okay now?" Wendy asked as she approached the Celestial Spirit mage.

Yukino gave Wendy a quick glance and nodded. "Yes... I'm sorry about before..."

Natsu came up to her, frowning in concern. "Hey, Yukino, sorry if I hurt you bad."

Yukino quickly shook her head. "No, it was... necessary. I... I attacked you and... But, you still saved me. You saved me from him. Thank you, Natsu." She managed a small smile in the Dragon Slayer's direction.

Natsu's expression darkened. "So then–" He was cut off by Mirajane holding up a hand in his face.

"Where's Crime Sorcière?" Mirajane asked, her eyes sweeping the room.

"They'll be back soon," said Keaton.

Mirajane nodded. "Once they're back, we'll tell you everything Yukino has told us. They need to hear it too."

Everyone nodded in understanding and backed away to give Yukino some space. Wendy offered to heal the rest of Yukino's wounds, but the spirit mage kindly refused.

"Thank you, Wendy, but don't worry," said Yukino, slightly shaking her head. "You've already done enough for me. I don't feel any pain."

"If it bothers you at all, please let me know," said Wendy.

Yukino nodded, her normal smile returning. She peered over Wendy's shoulder at someone, suddenly intrigued. She walked past Wendy and approached Keaton with renewed confidence, Lucy not far behind.

"Lucy has told me all about you," Yukino began, her brow furrowed out of sympathy. She held out the palm of her hand, in which there were two gold Celestial Spirit keys. "I want to give these to you. Please, take them."

Keaton raised his brow in surprise. "What? Why are you giving them to me? They're your friends."

"They are my friends, yes, and they have served me well," she replied fondly before hardening her gaze out of determination. "But I know they would be a greater help to you than to me on your mission. They will understand."

Keaton was hesitant to accept. "You could just loan them to me in the meantime."

Yukino shook her head. "No, giving them to you is the right choice. I know it in my heart. It was the Spirit King himself who gave you your power to summon spirits and it was you who travelled through the gate that could change the world. You are destined to have these keys."

Keaton still wasn't convinced. "I don't know about that... Because I'll be honest, I'm not the best Celestial Spirit mage in this room. You should give them to Master Lucy."

"No, Keaton," Lucy began, giving her future student a proud smile, "you're selling yourself short! If it weren't for you and your quick-thinking, we wouldn't have escaped the castle alive."

"Indeed, you have learned from a great teacher," Yukino added, meeting Lucy's gaze. She glanced up at a happy Plue still riding atop Keaton's head and giggled. "I don't need to see what you can do, I already know you're an excellent Celestial Spirit mage. I have no doubts in what you're capable of. I've discussed this with Lucy, you are more than worthy to have Libra and Pisces as your companion spirits."

Keaton looked off to the side in a bashful manner. "Look, I think–" He was interrupted by Loke draping an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey, Keaton, can I have a word?" Loke hissed in the other's ear. He gave Yukino and Lucy a charming smile and a flirtatious wink. "Please excuse us, ladies."

Yukino exchanged a confused look with Lucy whom only shrugged in response.

Loke pulled Keaton over to the kitchen sink. Hunched backs turned towards everyone, they conversed in hushed whispers that Wendy could easily overhear.

"Did future me teach you anything?! When a girl presents you a gift, you're supposed to take it."

"Puu-puu-puuuun!"

"See? Plue agrees."

"Those are her friends. I can't just take them!"

"You have to. When you refuse a gift from a girl, it's a big insult to her."

"What? It is?"

"That's right. Take it from me, kiddo. I know exactly what every woman wants."

Wendy wanted to roll her eyes, but it was true that women were highly attracted to Loke wherever he went when he wasn't busy being Lucy's Celestial Spirit.

"You don't want to hurt her feelings, right?" Loke continued.

"I don't, but–"

"Then accept her keys."

"I can't. What if she still needs them?"

"Look. You'll be needing them more. We'll be the ones going up against that bastard in the castle so you're going to need all the help you can get. If he somehow seals everyone's magic again, it's up to you to defeat him and protect everyone at the same time. You can rely on Libra and Pisces to get you out of that jam."

Keaton mulled over that thought for a moment and sighed. "Guess you're right about that. I can always give them back to her when this is over."

"Uh... Well, I suppose you can do that... All right. We're good?"

"Puu-puun."

"We're good."

They both turned around, Keaton with a reluctant expression while Loke wore a smug grin.

Keaton stopped before Yukino, bowed his head in thanks, and humbly said, "I am honoured to have your Celestial Spirits join me, Yukino. I will take good care of them and hope they will do the same."

Smiling, Yukino held out her golden keys for him to take, eyeing each one with great respect. "They are trustworthy companions. True spirits of heart and soul. Look no further when you need a helping hand for these two will always watch your back when you need it most."

As Keaton studied his new keys, Wendy noticed the excitement in his eyes that eventually reached his curling lips, forming an eager smile. It was the very same childish wonder she had seen many times when he was just a child.

Wendy quietly giggled to herself. She was happy to know that Keaton, having grown in a dark and desolate world, was still, at heart, the same boy she deeply cared for.

---

A/N: I wanted to name this chapter Day Five: Finally the End of Day Five. There was so much more I wanted to cram into this chapter. So many other perspectives and characters and details I wanted to add, but I didn't want to make this chapter longer than it already is.

Next chapter is Day Six! Can you all guess what happens on Day Six?!

And a gentle reminder: Future Rogue does not exist in this story. It's one of the many changes I've made to this seemingly never-ending arc and there will be many more. I hope you are all enjoying the differences so far. I haven't heard any complaints yet so I guess everyone's enjoying it? (With the exception of some people hating what I've done to Link, but whatever.) Any feedback would be awesome.

Thanks for reading!