The Final Day: A Hero's Promise
Just outside the great arc of the castle gate, Wendy stood by and watched as Crocus was hit by one disaster after another. It was complete chaos over the past hour and she had felt utterly useless throughout it all. A swarm of dragons wreaking havoc from the sky; a giant meteor falling right above Domus Flau; the whole mountain erupting in a tower of bright purple flames (that hopefully took out the Eclipse Gate as well); a mighty earthquake that shook the entire city and nearly made the castle bridge collapse; and now, a dangerous storm raging over the eastern district controlled by a powerful, humongous six-winged dragon.
The dragon may be impressively strong, but it didn't compare to the new power that had just awakened. There was an incredible surge of magic that far surpassed every magical being in Crocus, seemingly charging the very air with harmless electricity.
The familiar tingling sensations running across Wendy's skin; she recognized it immediately. It was Keaton's magic and it had somehow grown so strong that it was almost frightening. There was only one other time Wendy had felt so much raw magical power and it was in the presence of Acnologia back on Tenrou Island.
Wendy shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, both cold and apprehensive. She took a small step onto the bridge, hearing the cracked stone under her feet groan from the strong, blowing winds and the lake below swelling with waves. Her eyes were wide and quivering as she stared at the angry dark sky, wishing she could see what was happening within. She knew Keaton was in the middle of it without having to learn Sensory Magic, his unique power overwhelming all others. "Do you feel that?" she asked Pantherlily and Mirajane.
Beside her, Mirajane soundly nodded while Pantherlily answered in a stuttering, squeaky voice; "Th-The awful storm? Yes, h-hard to miss!"
Wendy glanced down at Pantherlily and found the poor panther curled up in a frightened ball behind her legs. She had forgotten he was deathly afraid of thunderstorms. Feeling sympathetic, she knelt down and gently picked him up, holding him as she would an infant against her shoulder. Wendy had seen Levi do it a few times whenever it stormed back at the guild and it usually helped him cope through it. Without a word of protest, Pantherlily clung to her, head buried against her neck, his body badly shaking.
The storm was no ordinary storm. Every crack of thunder was like an explosion that shook both heaven and earth and every flash of lightning was bright and blinding. It could very well be the worst Pantherlily had ever experienced.
Mirajane furrowed her brow as she met Wendy's worried frown. "It's Keaton, isn't it? What is this power? It's almost like..." she trailed off, her mouth a grim line.
A terrible sense of dread settled in the pit of Wendy's stomach. She bit her lower lip. "Do you think it could be Acnologia's curse?"
Right at that moment, Keaton's power suddenly vanished, only to blink back into existence in a different location. Wendy turned her attention towards Domus Flau where a tower of crystal, shimmering with purple light, had taken the mountain's place. He had teleported somewhere around there.
Mirajane followed Wendy's gaze and said, "There's a good chance it may not even be a curse at all. Acnologia... The dragon must have given him this power. But for what reason, I wonder? Wendy! Don't!" She grabbed Wendy by the shoulder before the Dragon Slayer could hurry across the bridge. "It's too dangerous! You need to stay here!"
Wendy pouted and sighed in frustration yet again. Mirajane had been constantly holding her back ever since Crime Sorcière had left with Gemini. Wendy had a good suspicion that Keaton was behind it, wanting to keep her safe.
Keeping Wendy out of danger only made her angry. She hated being left out when all her friends were fighting. She was a Dragon Slayer and a proud member of Fairy Tail! It wasn't fair to the others to hang back and do nothing when she could use her abilities to help them. Porlyusica's extremely bitter and potent elixir had rejuvenated most of her magic energy, she could still fight, heal, and support her teammates.
Having witnessed the destructive power behind the dragons, Wendy knew what she would be up against. Although, she hated to admit it, she was well aware she was no match against any of the dragons if she were to encounter one alone. Her strength paled in comparison to her fellow Dragon Slayers, but despite that, she was willing to risk her life to lend everyone a hand.
Especially for Keaton. Even though it felt as if he was nigh unstoppable with Acnologia's power, Wendy had a strong, sinking feeling deep in her gut that things were about to get worse.
After what she had seen of Captain Geraldo's phantom, Wendy feared what the real Captain was truly capable of.
With her stomach twisted into knots, she was sick with worry not just for Keaton, but for Carla as well. Carla had bravely teamed up with Keaton to fight the dragons. Was she okay? Was she still with Keaton? And what could have happened to have triggered Acnologia's power to awaken within him?
Wendy was desperate to find out.
She needed to somehow get away from Mirajane first. An idea came to mind when she felt Pantherlily tense up after another jarring crack of thunder. Sighing, Wendy bowed her head to feign defeat and mumbled, "You're right... There's nothing I can do in this situation..."
Mirajane gave Wendy's shoulder a gentle squeeze before letting her go. "I'm sorry, Wendy. I know you want to help, but I sort of made a promise..."
Wendy shook her head and gave Mirajane a knowing smile. "It's okay, I understand. You're only looking out for me on Keaton's behalf."
Mirajane smiled teasingly. "He really cares for you, you know."
And Wendy felt just the same for him. She took a deep, stuttering breath to prepare herself for what she was going to do next. She adjusted her hold on Pantherlily and pretended to hush in his ear. "I'm sorry, Pantherlily," she whispered the moment the sky lit up with lightning.
A questionable look was the only reaction the Exceed could give her before she tossed him at Mirajane's face. At that exact moment, thunder rocked the heavens, which undoubtedly made Pantherlily panic.
Wendy was already madly dashing across the bridge when she heard Mirajane's startled shriek turn into one of pain. The Dragon Slayer didn't dare look back, knowing full-well it wasn't a pretty sight; Pantherlily had likely latched onto Mirajane's face out of terror, claws sinking right into her.
"I'm so sorry!" Wendy meekly apologized under her breath, heart heavy with guilt. She would have to make it up to the both of them later. That is, if they can survive through this catastrophe first...
Extremely terrified of experiencing Mirajane's demonic anger, Wendy quickly chanted, "Fast wind that run the heaven... Vernier!" Her magic surrounded her in a white glow, enchanting all parts of her body. The spell temporarily granted her a boost in energy and doubled her movement speed, allowing her to run to the other side of the bridge in a matter of seconds.
The effects of the storm were stronger once she stepped foot on land. She was right at the border of it, getting pelted by freezing rain and nearly swept off her feet by the howling winds. All the cherry blossom trees in the park had their beautiful pink petals stripped from their branches, leaving them all bare and looking lifeless.
Wet and shivering, Wendy fled in the opposite direction of the storm where the rain was light, but the wind still chilling and strong. She carefully made her way through the streets with the purplish crystal tower acting as her guiding beacon. Along the way, she encountered the extent of the damage done by both the earthquake and dragons. Fissures ran deep down some roads, numerous buildings had crumbled or collapsed, huge sections had sunken and flooded, while several other areas were destroyed by various types of spells.
Most of the Lacrima streetlamps had been taken out, casting the city in near pitch-black darkness. Wendy had to slow down significantly in order to manoeuvre through without hurting herself. The trek may be slow under the shadows, however it also made it much more difficult for Mirajane to search for her.
Wendy's speed enchantment had faded by the time she was only partway through the central business district. She glanced at the crystal tower in the distance and mentally groaned at how far away it still was. Another forty minutes on foot at the rate she was going. She quietly sighed, wishing Carla was with her... The thought of her feline partner made her frown as she was once again filled with worry. Without another thought, she continued on.
Thunder muted the sounds of her footsteps as she hurried along the ravaged streets. It took a moment before she realized the storm was weakening. Curious, Wendy paused to look at the dark clouds behind her, but saw instead the glow of red eyes approaching fast from the sky. Monstrous growls and the heavy beating of wings... They were dragons!
Wendy stifled her gasp and quickly dove into the nearest alley. She pressed her back against the wall and held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest and her hands cold and clammy. The dragons quickly soared over her hiding spot without stopping, their wings stirring up strong gusts of wind as they passed.
Relieved, Wendy peeked out of the alleyway to see the many winged shadows moving as one towards the crystal beacon as if drawn to the light. However, Wendy suspected they were seeking out the same thing that she was after.
Wendy needed to hurry! She rushed out of hiding, managing to take two running steps before she sensed Keaton's aura suddenly shift to another location. She twirled around on her heel and couldn't believe he had gone back inside the storm.
Her groan of frustration was cut short when the dark clouds were suddenly blasted away, bringing back the calm night sky and the lunar eclipse. A loud, metallic ring of something metal heavily striking metal reached her ears soon after.
Wendy's eyes slowly grew wide as she was struck with awe at everything that happened next. It all occurred so fast that she couldn't keep track of what was going on.
There was a being enveloped in pale blue flame flying fast through the air like a shooting star. The enormous six-winged dragon was falling only to rise back up again. It unleashed a devastating roar attack towards the city, its cry like a crack of thunder, its breath, a golden beam that crackled with lightning. The powerful attack would have decimated all of Crocus, but was instantly erased by a bright flash of white. All of a sudden, the dragon was shrieking in pain and dropping out of the sky before crashing into the city below.
Wendy was certain she felt the ground rumble from the giant dragon's fall from where she stood. Mesmerized, her eyes followed the descending blue flame until it disappeared from her line of sight. Wanting to find it, Wendy broke into a run.
That blue light was Keaton and he had just somehow single-handedly defeated the giant, storm-summoning dragon without a sweat.
Wendy froze when she heard the swarm of dragons returning as they, too, were drawn to Keaton's light like moths. They completely ignored the lone girl standing out in the open, their fierce, hungry eyes set on their prey somewhere in the distance.
Keaton suddenly warped again, this time appearing much, much closer to Wendy's location. There was a startling bam from something large and heavy smashing through buildings about half a block away, making the earth tremble and Wendy yelp in surprise. Soon to follow were several towering, claw-like blades of white energy that erupted from beneath the ground, soundly cleaving through everything they touched. Structures noisily crumbled, sending thick waves of dust throughout the vicinity.
Wendy braced herself against the dust rushing down the street towards her, shielding her face with her arms. She cringed, hating the feeling of grime on her skin and dirt in her clothes and hair.
The dust was quickly swept away by the numerous dragons circling in the sky. Wendy let out a muffled squeak of fright when she saw how close they were soaring right above her head. It was too dark to count how many there were, but it was likely more than ten.
She hesitated to venture any closer, worried of getting caught in either a dragon's or Keaton's deadly attacks.
Perhaps Mirajane was right... it truly was dangerous!
Especially when Keaton's magic power suddenly spiked to an unfathomable level.
Next thing Wendy knew, all the buildings across the street from her were suddenly slashed in half by a blinding flash of light that was white hot and sharp like a blade. She was blown right off her feet by the powerful tempest left in its wake. Her landing was rough and jarring, however there was no time to writhe on the ground in pain; she was about to get crushed and buried by toppling buildings!
Wendy ignored the aches of her new injuries and scrambled to her feet as huge chunks of debris began to fall on her. Arms protecting her head, she sprinted through a narrow alleyway to escape to the other side of the street block. She crouched around a corner and shielded her face from the massive cloud of dust that quickly covered the entire area. Her ears were ringing from the cacophony that sounded as if hundreds of buildings were all falling at once.
The echoes of destruction hadn't even ended when her sensitive ears were suddenly assaulted by the ear-splitting roars of the dragons flying above. Grimacing, Wendy slapped her hands over her ears, but that did absolutely nothing to block out the beasts' awful cries.
Their combined roars blasted away the surrounding dust and shattered every nearby window that had yet to break.
Broken shards of glass rained down beside Wendy, grazing her right hand and leg. She flinched and huddled into a protective ball, praying nothing else would fall on her.
For a while, she didn't move, too overwhelmed by the seemingly endless chaos. Not to mention she was hurting all over. Her head was pounding. Her ears were aching. Every little cut and open scrape stung like mad and every bruise was sore and throbbing.
She realized she was shaking. She wasn't sure if it was out of fear or shock.
Before Wendy could even gather her bearings, something huge suddenly smashed through a row of buildings just a few stores away from her spot, making her shriek and nearly jump out of her skin. The object turned out to be a big, bulky dragon that tumbled ungracefully to a stop in the dead centre of the road. It lay on its side, its horned head facing Wendy.
Wendy quickly dove around the corner and dropped into a crouch. Cautiously, she peered out and saw the dragon wasn't moving, its eyes closed. She had thought it dead until it began to loudly snore. Slightly confused, she blinked and raised an eyebrow, wondering why it was taking a nap.
The answer came to her when she smelled something sweet and pleasant in the air. It was so enticing, she took a deep breath of it and suddenly felt her eyelids grow heavy.
Oh no! A sleep spell!
Wendy slumped against the wall and bit the inside of her lower lip until she bled, using the pain to stay awake. Acting in haste, she summoned her magic and chanted the spell she needed, her words slurring; "A-Anomaly Re... Resistance Enchant... Re-Raise!" The enchantment surrounded her body in a soft white glow, protecting her from the magical ailment. She felt the effects of sleep beginning to wane. However, what completely snapped her out of her drowsiness was the blood-curdling scream of a monster.
Wendy's heart leapt to her throat, hearing the shrill cry resonating all around. A wounded beast, it sounded like, stomping and thrashing about somewhere close by. Wendy noticed the sweet smell was disappearing, quickly getting replaced by the awful stench of something burning.
And then she caught sight of Keaton and saw what he had become.
He was like an angel of death when he dropped down from above on white feathered wings, wielding a large sword that was stained with red. His fox mask rested atop his head, his identity no longer hidden. Body drenched in blood, armour sharp and bladed, blue eyes fierce and hateful, a vibrant aura that flickered like angry flames; he was as fearsome as he was overwhelmingly strong. The curse of Acnologia burned bright on his left arm, an icy blue just like the strange markings that have appeared on his face and skin.
He was merciless; he went straight for the slumbering dragon, slashing his blade deep across its neck. The dragon shuddered awake, red eyes wide for only a brief second as it made a horrible, strangled noise before it went silent and still, its eyes dark and lifeless.
Once the deed was done, Keaton was gone before Wendy had a chance to even blink. He soared over the rooftops towards something else, taking the light of his aura with him, casting the road back in darkness.
Wendy was in shock as she stared at the dead dragon in disbelief. Keaton's appearance and demeanour were both so frightening... and yet Wendy did not fear him. She knew he was still himself despite the terrifying power he now possessed.
He was taking on all the dragons himself, fighting to protect everyone and Earthland, to create a better future that he never got the chance to see. A true hero at heart.
Realizing what he was up against, Wendy gathered her courage to stand on trembling legs. She was, without a doubt, afraid of the dragons and Captain Geraldo, but she was not afraid of putting herself in danger to lend Keaton a supporting hand. She would not leave him to fight alone.
Wendy was about to carefully make her way towards Keaton's location when she suddenly felt an unnerving chill brush against her skin. A bitter cold had just settled over Crocus, colder than the coldest ice. It was so dense it seemed to have silenced the entire city.
It was unlike anything Wendy had felt before. Unholy, corrupt, daunting; the darkest evil to ever exist. Hands wrapped around her body, she quivered in place, nearly dropping to her knees.
She froze when the silence was suddenly broken. The city violently rumbled as something powerful made its way through, soundly shattering everything in its path. It drew near within an instant, bringing with it the awful cold.
A voice so loud and sinister thundered in Wendy's ears; the dreaded voice of the black knight. He was the source of evil haunting all of Crocus. Being near his presence was enough to fill Wendy with utmost terror, several times worse than facing his phantom.
But then she caught Keaton's voice echoing from afar, faint but still bold and assuring nonetheless. It gave her the strength she needed to fight against her own fear. Wendy took a slow, steadying breath, and hurried to find him, hoping she would be able to help him save the future.
Their weapons collided with a deafening clang; one blade wreathed in purple shadow and the other, icy blue and blazing. Dark and white energy exploded between them; the opposing energies unleashed in the form of a tall, twisting pillar that stretched far into the night sky and decimated the ground it touched. The force blasted each wielder in opposite directions and generated a shockwave that was more powerful than the last.
It was like a fire-less bomb had detonated; most of the surrounding structures that were weakened or composed of wood were blown apart and anything not bolted down was blasted miles away.
Stunned and temporarily deaf yet again, Keaton was thrown back several metres before he snapped back to his senses. With an annoyed grunt, he flipped forward, planted his heels, and used his sword as an anchor by driving it deep into the stone ground. His blade left a long, jagged line down the already broken city street by the time he came to an abrupt stop.
Once he pried his weapon free, he charged forward, eyes locked on the demon glaring across the ruins they had both created. Being larger, heavier, and sturdier, the black knight did not fly as far as the other and was already marching forward, his large blade held ready by his side.
Keaton needed to avoid clashing against the demon's blade if the end result was going to be the same with every hit. He flung three giant crescent blades of energy at the demon, one right after the other, each at a different angle to obscure his enemy's line of sight. Blinding white and sharper than any normal blade, they sheared through the ground and anything left standing in the way with Keaton following closely behind.
As predicted, the Captain easily cut through each magical blade into nothingness. It left him wide open in the end.
Keaton was upon his foe immediately after the last crescent blade was dispelled. He slashed his shining sword at the knight's unprotected stomach only to have the blade suddenly caught by a strong, black armoured hand. In an instant, the magic charged in Keaton's weapon vanished from the Captain's touch as if it had been completely nullified.
It took Keaton by surprise. He saw the wicked sneer flash across the demon's gaze before he was kicked hard in the gut by a heavy metal boot. It was like getting hit by Libra's Golden Gravity Hammer; Keaton was sent flying far and fast, his back smashing through solid brick walls and every other hard object for what felt like an agonizing eternity.
He eventually tumbled to a dizzying stop. Winded and hurting, he found himself writhing on top of broken stone and wood, coughing and wheezing, tasting blood and dust in his mouth. It took a short while to regain his breath and for the worst of the pain to subside. Groaning, he rolled over and managed to push back onto his feet, sword still in hand.
He shook off the dust and debris and took a quick glance around, seeing what remained of a small shop of some kind. One wall had caved in, thanks to him. He scowled at the hole, unable to see the demon hidden behind all the piles of rubble left in his wake, but he could clearly sense the bastard's location.
The Captain hadn't moved from where he last stood nor did any of his seven obedient slaves. He was patiently waiting. No longer a coward who hid in the shadows, he remained out in the open, fully displaying his might and ferocity just to taunt and bait his opponent. He wanted Keaton to rush back in, completely consumed by rage.
Keaton was very tempted to do just that, wishing to tear the wretched fiend limb from limb as payback for that blow. But the throbbing ache in his gut held him back, restraining his boiling anger and keeping Acnologia's hatred in check. It would be foolish to attack in a blind rage after tasting the demon's true power. Any more reckless mistakes could end up being fatal.
Charging head-on was proving to be ineffective. Keaton would have to try a different approach.
He shifted into his stance, holding the hilt of his sword in both hands, and imbued the blade with a dangerous amount of magic. Searing hot and unstable, Dragonslayer flared wildly with icy blue fire. He swung fast from the side to unleash the magic in the form of a blazing white arrow that shot straight for the vile demon. Keaton did not linger to witness its destructive power; he warped the instant the energy left his sword.
Keaton appeared right behind Geraldo just in time to watch the Captain bring down his huge sword, empowered with purplish black flames, upon Keaton's deadly energy blade. Farore's Wind further shredded the knight's crimson cape and slashed apart the surrounding ground, but it did little against the knight himself. The spell didn't even disrupt the demon at all as he stood his ground, slicing through Keaton's enormous white blade of energy with ease, dissipating the powerful magic into millions of light particles.
Keaton thought little of it for he already had his weapon charged beyond his limits once again. He slashed his sword across the demon's armoured back and unleashed his wrath with an angry yell. Much like the first time, the incredible magic penetrated the metal plating but was unable to fully cleave through the demon's cursed flesh as easily as a dragon's.
Geraldo snarled from the hit and was helplessly carried along with Keaton's magic, smashing and cleaving through everything in their path. However, much to Keaton's frustration, the demon was somehow able to counter midway through his second journey to the city's outer wall.
Keaton sensed the Captain's evil power surge before it was unleashed to create a massive explosion. It was a combination of blinding white energy, wicked black fire, and crackling red lightning that annihilated more than an entire city block, leaving nothing but devastation within and around its radius.
A heated curse escaped Keaton's lips. The demon's aura had yet to falter, implying he was unharmed and likely mad.
Keaton tensed in alarm when dragon magic suddenly surrounded his entire body, enveloping him in a soft white glow. Cool and pleasant, the magic was harmless, he quickly realized; not a spell from one of the seven dragons, but an enchantment coming from another being – a mage. The spell penetrated deep, invigorating every part of his body, making it feel as if he could run for days. Another enchantment was cast upon him soon after, this one focusing on his arms, imbuing them with newfound strength.
This dragon magic had a familiar aura. It was one he had memorized just recently. Light and calm as air on a warm, still day.
Wendy!
He sharply turned his head in her direction, catching only a glimpse of her silhouette as she hid in the darkest shadows among the nearby ruins. She was busy chanting another spell in a quiet whisper, her words muted by the bellowing roar of an enraged demon.
Keaton faced the oncoming black knight, seeing the fiend leaping towards him in a single bound, a fury of black fire and crimson lightning. Right in that instance, Wendy granted Keaton her next enchantment, this one toughening his skin and muscles to greatly enhance his defense.
Keaton jumped back and blinked in astonishment at how much faster and farther he could move with a simple leap. He watched from afar as Geraldo punched his armoured fist into the ground where Keaton was standing seconds ago.
Stone shattered and sank upon impact under and around the demon. Black, purplish flames flared from the spreading cracks before violently bursting from beneath, creating a shadowy infernal charged with arcing red lightning that fully protected the Captain from all sides.
Keaton was coiled and ready. He waited until the dark magic was only mere wisps of shadow, and the demon's form visible, before he lunged forward. Keaton appeared in front of the demon in less than a heartbeat, faster than the Captain could react. With his arms greatly strengthened by Wendy's spell, Keaton was able to plunge his shining sword deep into the fiend's unprotected stomach and out his back.
"What?!" Geraldo choked, red eyes wide.
It was Keaton's turn to sneer. He unleashed the magic from his blade in a blazing white point.
The demon cried out in pain as he was shot backwards by the energy piercing through his flesh like a spear of light. He crashed through piles of rubble and the remains of buildings in the same manner Keaton was sent flying earlier.
It was the perfect revenge. Even though it was satisfying to finally spill the demon's blood, Keaton knew it was far from over.
The Captain's aura had yet to weaken, still as bitterly cold and wicked and strong. His evil power began to gather, spiking to a far greater level than before, only to be unleashed in a mighty explosion of twisting darkness.
From the dust and ruins, the black knight emerged like a demon reborn; flying instead of leaping, shrouded in thicker shadows that made him appear larger in size. He did not land, but levitated high above the other, his smouldering eyes boring into the one who dared to defy him. But then his fervent gaze flickered onto something else, and narrowed with seething anger.
Without a word or even a gesture, the seven dragons began to stir. They grunted and growled, their heads all turned in the same direction the demon was looking. As one, they took to the air and began their hunt.
It wasn't Keaton they were after; the demon had commanded them to go after someone else lurking close by.
"Wendy! Run!" Keaton screamed over his shoulder.
He sensed her scramble away in the opposite direction, however the dragons were gaining on her fast.
A low, sinister laugh rumbled from the demon's throat. "That troublesome little healer..." he hissed, his breathing noticeably heavier, his voice strained. Blood so dark it was almost black steadily dripped from his gaping wound, pooling on the ground far below him. He met Keaton's furious scowl, a sneer evident by the gleam in his eyes. "She will not escape death again. I will see to her demise!"
Keaton cursed at him. "You will not touch her!"
"Perhaps not I, but my dragons, they are ravenous. They will stop at nothing until that girl is dead and her body devoured!" His laughter thundered throughout the sky, purposely provoking the other.
Keaton was infuriated. He had to bite hard into his tongue in order to stop himself from losing control.
Trembling with boiling anger, Keaton fought to stay where he stood, keeping his attention on the floating demon taunting him from above. He couldn't act out of haste or emotion. If he chose to take out the dragons first, the Captain could use that opportunity to go after Wendy instead. Keaton had to wait for the dragons to draw close enough to Wendy in order to quickly jump to her rescue if needed.
Glowing red eyes watched Keaton closely, awaiting his next move.
When the first dragon was nearly upon Wendy, Keaton shot a spiteful glare at the demon and warped to the dragon's location. He reappeared beside the giant lizard's head and knocked it sideways out of the air with Farore's Wind. There was no time to finish it off where it had crash-landed because the next closest dragon was already diving straight for Wendy.
Soaring swiftly on the wings of his cloak, Keaton rushed after the second dragon. He approached from the beast's side and attacked it in midair, slashing Dragonslayer deep across its throat as he flew past in a blur. The dragon was dead before it was even aware what had happened.
Below, Keaton saw Wendy frantically swerving around a corner to avoid getting crushed by the humongous body of the slain lizard.
The next dragon in pursuit had flown high and charged up a roar attack. It let out a shrill, ear-piercing scream as it fired an emerald beam in Wendy's direction, destroying the tops of towering buildings that stood in the way.
Keaton quickly moved to intercept the blast a second before it reached its target. He slashed at the dragon's breath, firing a deadly white crescent in retaliation. His magic cleaved through the beam as well as the beast.
He heard Wendy scream at the same time he felt the demon's presence suddenly upon her. He spun around and felt his blood run cold.
Wendy had fallen, likely from tripping over something during her narrow escape in the dark. She was down on her bloody hands and knees, frozen in terror at the sight of the red-eyed, shadowy demon looming before her. The Captain had one hand pulled back, his open palm alight with dark purple fire, ready to inflict the killing blow.
Keaton's body reacted on its own. Sword sheathed, he dove at Wendy as fast as he could, just as the demon was bringing his hand down on her. Even with his speed enhanced, Keaton barely made it in time to save her. He swept her up in his arms only to be stricken out of flight by the demon's merciless attack.
Keaton choked out a pained grunt. It felt like giant claws made of ice had torn into his right side.
He instinctively shielded Wendy with his arms and wings as they crashed into the ground together. They bounced once, smashed through solid walls, rolled a number of times, and finally skid to a rough stop.
Despite the horrible agony surging through his body, Keaton forced himself to move when he detected the demon and the remaining dragons quickly heading their way. He parted his cloak, untangled from Wendy, and managed to rise as far as one knee before he started to painfully cough up blood. The world spun before his eyes and he fell forward, slumping against something.
"Keaton!" Wendy cried, wrapping her arms around him to hold him steady.
He embraced her, pulling her close, and draped his cloak around them to hide beneath its protective wings. He then cast Nayru's Love the instant the demon dropped down from above, wielding his huge sword high above his head.
All sounds were muted in the blue, diamond-shaped crystal barrier that safely encased them. There was a very dull, echoing clang as the Captain's sword was deflected by the magic. Nayru's Love held strong against each of the demon's following attacks, however Keaton knew he couldn't maintain the barrier forever. He could already hear it start to crack under the Captain's fearsome power.
"W-Wendy..." he croaked, nearly choking out her name. It hurt to talk and it hurt to breathe. Every breath he took was a harsh, grating rasp. He loosened his hold when he felt Wendy try to pull back.
She couldn't get very far in the confined space they shared. Kneeling before him, she continued to hold him steady as she met his weary gaze, a worried frown visible upon her face in the light of his aura. She was frazzled, dirty, scraped up and bruised, but thankfully didn't suffer from any serious injuries.
She glanced down at his wound and gasped in horror, her face pale.
Keaton didn't dare look for he could feel how bad it truly was. Had it not been for Wendy's enchantment providing some protection, the damage would have been worse. Maybe even fatal.
Wendy didn't waste another moment to heal him. Eyes shut, she gently placed her hands over his wound and summoned her magic. Her blessed spell slowly soothed the agony and chased away the bitter cold left by the demon's evil touch. "Keaton... I'm sorry..." she whispered, head bowed in guilt, her lower lip trembling. Glistening tears trailed down her cheeks as she began to weep. "It's my fault this happened..."
Keaton felt a sharp pang in his chest at the sight of her crying. He rested his head on her shoulder and gave her a gentle hug without interrupting her healing.
"No... Never..." he murmured in her ear, head shaking, "Could never be your fault. Focus... Focus on healing... I'll keep you safe... I won't let him hurt you. I promise... I promise..." Never was he going to lose her again on this cursed day.
Wendy stifled a sob and vigorously nodded. "Focus... focus..." she quietly repeated to herself. She drew several deep, stuttering breaths and sharply exhaled each one to help calm herself.
Her magic grew stronger when she finally got her mind and body to relax, speeding up the healing process. However, it was not fast enough; Nayru's Love was weakening after every heavy blow coming from the outside. More and more cracks were soundly appearing. Soon, the barrier was going to shatter under the Captain's demonic strength. And it wasn't just the black knight waiting on the other side; the remaining five dragons had surrounded the pair, waiting to feast.
Keaton could warp them away, but they wouldn't be safe for long; wherever they would go, Geraldo could easily follow, bringing nothing but devastation and ruin along with him.
With the demon focused solely on them, Keaton wanted to avoid endangering anyone else.
And Keaton needed Wendy's support spells; with her enchantments, he was capable of inflicting physical harm against the fiend instead of merely throwing him around. Dragonslayer was designed to slay dragons, not powerful demons. And the Ancient Dragon King's power could only do so much against the one who had complete dominion over dragons.
Keaton needed to hurry and end the battle before the situation could get any worse. So far, he could only rely on raw magical power to deal any considerable damage. Since Farore's Wind did absolutely nothing, he doubted any of his other spells could hurt the demon. Fire, ice, his Celestial Spirits... Light.
Keaton closed his eyes in thought.
The Light Arrow. Sacred, holy, divine; it defied all forms of darkness. Truly effective against the greatest evils and perhaps the demon was no exception.
Keaton took note of each dragon's position as a plan quickly formed in his head.
The pain was mostly tolerable when Nayru's Love was nearing its limit. Keaton abruptly grabbed one of Wendy's hands, breaking her concentration.
"Give me every enchantment," he told her before she could utter a word. "Hurry! He's breaking through!"
"R-Right!" she said, her expression morphing from concern to determination in an instant. Her gaze was steadfast as she quickly chanted each of her spells, her hands glowing with magic. Vernier increased his movement speed. Armour boosted his defense. Arms granted him strength.
By the end of her last spell, Nayru's Love was about to give.
"Hold onto me," Keaton commanded. Wendy followed without question, wrapping her arms tight around his neck while he held her with his right. As he adjusted his position, he whispered his plan to Wendy.
Before his barrier could break, Keaton purposely dispelled the magic in hope of throwing the demon off guard. White wings spread open at the same time Keaton leapt to the side, bursting through the curtain of blue light particles that were once solid, cracked crystal. He caught the gleam of the demon's blade as it fell, narrowly missing the pair by only an inch. Then, for the briefest of moments, he met the Captain's burning gaze before vanishing from his sight.
Keaton warped them in front of one of the dragons waiting a good distance behind the demon, taking the beast by surprise. Farore's Wind sent the giant lizard flying backwards.
The moment they landed, Wendy let go of Keaton and quickly moved to stand aside while he drew his bow and nocked an arrow. Golden light infused the sharp point, shining so bright it chased the night away in the surrounding area.
Geraldo twisted around, but he was too late; the Light Arrow was only a flash of yellow that shot straight for his face. It soundly struck the metal of the demon's helm and burst upon impact.
The Light Arrow truly was effective against all evil; not only did it blind the Captain with a bright flash, the sacred light completely vanquished his dark aura, revealing all the ugliness once hidden in shadow. Then the magic did something Keaton had never seen before; several golden tendrils shot out from the arrow only to curve back around to further smite the demon, drawing a pained growl and dropping him to his knees. His body shimmered gold, completely immobilized by the holy magic.
Keaton stiffened at the familiar scene before him. He was wrong; he could vaguely recall a time when his Light Arrows had done something similar, where it had stunned an enemy in the same manner. It happened in a dream... A dream that may have been a distant memory...
There was no time to dwell on the thought; the Captain was weak and vulnerable, his aura visibly gone and barely detectable.
Keaton lunged forward, flying fast on his wings. He had switched from his bow to his blade, and appeared in front of the stunned demon in one split second. Dragonslayer pierced right through the demon's chest and out his back, striking where his wicked heart should be.
Geraldo sharply gasped, his eyes wide with shock as they flickered between the sword thrust deep in his body and the wielder of the blade. He soundly coughed and heaved up blood within his helm, body badly shuddering, likely convulsing as he neared death. After a few gurgled noises, he finally slumped forward, head bowed, the light gone from his eyes. His struggles had gone silent and still and his wicked aura faded to nothing.
The entire city – or what was left of it – seemed to have fallen deathly silent, as if every living being was holding their breath. Even the nearby dragons had gone oddly quiet.
However, Keaton was quick to notice that the dragons' eyes still shone with an evil red light.
Keaton hardened his gaze at the unmoving body of the demon and warily stepped back, pulling his sword with him. He was stopped halfway when black, armoured hands suddenly clamped onto his blade in an unbreakable hold.
The demon's head shot up, his aura flaring back to life, and his crimson eyes blazing with malevolence as they pierced into Keaton like poisoned daggers. "It's you..." the demon hissed vehemently, sputtering blood with each spoken word, "It's you... You're the wretched Hero of Time!"
Keaton felt his heart skip a beat. Very few knew him by that title... Rarer still for it to be spoken with so much resentment. He steeled against the demon's murderous gaze and demanded, "How do you know who I am?"
The demon ignored the question and snarled under his ragged breaths; "How can this be?! How?! How dare you... How dare you! This world is mine to rule! You will not stop me! Never again! Never again!" The back of his right hand began to shine. Three golden triangles in unity appeared atop his gauntlet, the top one brighter than the rest.
Keaton couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The golden power. The Triforce!
There was only one other moment Keaton had ever seen that symbol shine so bright; it was on the back of his own left hand, moments before he had slain Acnologia. For him, it was the right golden triangle that outshone the others.
Keaton was stunned with horror when he finally realized who exactly he was facing. He had thought this man only existed in his dreams, haunting his sleep in the form of nightmares. But that was clearly not the truth. "Impossible... You're..."
The demon reared back his head and roared with a great fury, his cry seemingly reverberating to all corners of the city. His voice turned deeper and beastly, and his eyes completely red and pupil-less. His evil power rose to an ungodly level, far surpassing what it once was when he first awakened.
Dragonslayer snapped in two under the demon's strength.
Keaton cursed and sprang back in alarm, quickly putting distance between him and the growing threat. He stood protectively in front of Wendy, his attention never leaving the rising demon.
The dragons had become restless. They quickly scampered away like frightened animals, smashing carelessly into buildings, and cowered out of sight. Thick, dark clouds had gathered above, rumbling with thunder and flashing with crimson lightning. An icy, unnerving wind began to blow, carrying a wicked chill that penetrated deep.
The Captain was standing tall once more, his wicked black aura flickering around his body, no longer hiding his true form from view. He tore the broken tip of Keaton's blade out of his chest and tossed it aside, not caring about the blood pouring from the gaping wound. He then proceeded to rip off his broken helm. Beneath was the hideous, scarred face of a monster that was once a man; his skin dark as shadow, a pair of sharp tusks protruding from his lower lip, and his fiery red hair as long and thick as a beast's mane.
His sword lay forgotten on the ground as he summoned a new weapon in his hand in a flash of dark, purple fire; a large, black lance with a long, deadly blade and two smaller, curved points jutting outwards on either side. An oval, orange gem decorating the head of the metal shaft burned like embers, making it appear like a weapon forged from the depths of Hell. It stood two heads taller than the demon's already impressive height, giving the wielder an incredible reach.
The demon slammed the bottom end of his lance hard into the ground, cracking the earth around him. With red eyes shining with madness and an eerie sky at his command, he was an imposing being; the manifestation of pure evil. Even the bravest of souls who would dare lay their eyes upon his menacing scowl, or felt the bitter cold and his immense power, would be rendered helpless under the intense pressure.
Keaton, however, was unfazed by it all. He was the only one who could stand against the greatest evil this world has ever seen. Despite suffering with pain and his sword broken in half, he was not willing to back down. Fate had brought him here for this sole reason.
"K-Keaton..." Wendy whimpered in fright.
"Get out of here, Wendy!" Keaton told her, giving her a quick glance over his shoulder. "Run away as fast as you can!"
"I-I can't..." She was struggling to stand, her body shaking under the demon's tremendous power.
"Hurry!" he urged, sheathing his broken blade to draw out his bow. He shot another Light Arrow in hope of giving her time to flee.
To Keaton's dismay, the demon caught the arrow with his free hand and snapped the ironwood in half like a feeble twig, dispelling the sacred light to bring back the darkness.
With a monstrous growl, the demon countered by throwing his lance straight at Keaton. The weapon shot through the air as fast as Keaton's arrows, nearly invisible under the shadows of night if it were not for its glowing gem.
Keaton couldn't dodge it, not with Wendy still behind him. He quickly brought out his shield, finding it larger and the crimson scales layered upon it thicker and sharp. However, he knew it wasn't enough; he had to divert the lance or else it would completely pierce through from the demon's strength.
He swung his shield at the right moment, deflecting the lance to the side, hearing a horrible screech as the blade left a deep gouge through tough dragon scales and bone. The heavy impact numbed his arm and forced him stumbling back.
He saw a flash of red and felt the demon's chilling aura bite his skin when the fiend suddenly appeared right beside him. It was as if the demon had teleported to his thrown weapon for the lance was already back in his hand.
The only thing Keaton had time to do was raise his shield to block against the demon's next attack. An armoured fist glowing with dark purple energy smashed Keaton's weakened shield to pieces. The force sent him flying and made his right arm painfully throb.
Wendy screamed his name. The sound of her shrill voice immediately snapped him out of his daze. She was in grave danger! The demon stood only a few metres away from her – he could kill her within the next moment!
Save her!
Panic turned into uncontrollable rage in an instant. All pain was ignored and caution was thrown right out the window. Keaton desired nothing more but to rip the demon apart! Still empowered by the Sky Dragon's enchantments, Keaton flipped around in midair and shot back towards the bastard with a furious roar.
Raw magic gathered in his armoured hands to the point it was near impossible to contain. His gauntlets flared an icy blue, shining bright with the almighty power of the Dragon King.
He was right in front of his foe faster than anyone could blink, raking his right claws at the demon's ugly face. A black metal hand caught his wrist and instantly nullified his magic in that arm. Before the demon could crush his limb, Keaton quickly lashed out with his left.
Shining dragonsteel claws tore into the demon's unholy flesh and burst with blazing white energy upon impact, further cutting deep. However, it wasn't deep enough to slay the wicked being.
The demon screamed and staggered back in pain, clutching at his face, his vile blood seeping between his plated fingers. Keaton had taken out the fiend's right eye and gave him a new set of scars to add to the old; five bloody gashes that ran from his right brow down to his chin.
The demon snarled as viciously as a frenzied beast, his remaining eye fuming with vengeance.
Keaton was already lunging at the demon, claws shining and ready to tear once more. He twisted to avoid getting impaled by the lance thrust in his direction and closed in within the next fleeting moment. Left claws ripped diagonally across the demon's torso, tearing through leather and into skin. The energy unleashed sheared deeper into cursed flesh.
The demon grunted and staggered back several more feet. Annoyingly resilient, he recovered quickly and was able to raise his arm in time to block Keaton's next set of swiping claws. In retaliation, he backhanded the other, striking the hero's left shoulder, and sent him crashing painfully into the ground.
The rough tumble badly aggravated Keaton's wound, sending waves of sharp pain throughout his body. He coughed and spat a mouthful of blood before he forced himself to rise unsteadily back onto his feet, one hand pressed against his injury. Through his grimace, he saw the demon heave his lance over his shoulder, aiming the point at Keaton.
Keaton flinched into a defensive stance, anticipating the vile being's next attack, until he saw the cruel smile twisting on the demon's bloody lips.
The fiend shifted to another target at the last instance and threw his weapon with all his might.
Keaton reacted on instinct and dove at Wendy out of desperation, flying as fast as his wings could carry him. He shoved her aside a split second before it was too late.
He was struck by what felt like a frozen sledgehammer to the stomach, the wind knocked right out of him. The next thing he knew, he was staring down at the demon's hideous, sneering face, held up high in the air by the black lance that had pierced him through.
He didn't feel any pain, only the freezing cold and sudden weakness. He hung limp, his body heavy and refusing to move, unable to breathe. The light of his aura was gone, allowing the shadows to reign.
The demon was visibly laughing at him and yet he heard nothing. All he could hear was the dull ringing in his ears and the weak beating of his heart.
His vision was beginning to blur. The glow of the demon's red eye penetrated the growing fog until it was consumed by bright orange flames. Sweltering heat kissed his skin, however it did little to melt the ice that had spread through his insides.
When the fire vanished, he started to fall, seeing light and shadow blending together before his eyes. In the end, only darkness remained.
A warm hand cupped the side of his face. He slowly blinked through the dark haze to find Wendy looking down at him, her saddened face illuminated in the soft blue light of her own power. Glistening tears streamed down her cheeks as her mouth moved to form words silent to his ears.
Even though he felt no pain, it still hurt to see Wendy cry.
Wendy, I'm sorry... he wanted to say, but he had no strength left to speak. He was dying; it was an excruciating sensation he knew all too well and this time there was no escaping it. It pained him even more knowing he had failed Wendy and everyone else he had vowed to protect...
Darkness slowly crept in his vision, taking Wendy away.
Before the last of the light was gone, he heard the familiar voice of an old friend that sounded as if he stood before him;
"... all is not lost... For the future is not absolute. It can be altered and you are the key to that change... you must first walk two separate paths..."
Two separate paths... He finally understood his true destiny.
He couldn't die just yet, not until he finished what he was supposed to do.
Silently, he reached out to the hero destined to save the world.
The streets of Crocus was a flurry of madness as thousands of people were trying to flee the city at the same time, barrelling and trampling over one another out of absolute terror. What was once a calm and orderly evacuation process had quickly spiralled into disorder and chaos when bad things started to happen all over the city. Flying monsters attacking Crocus, Domus Flau erupting like a volcano, followed by a massive earthquake, falling buildings, deafening thunder that shook the sky; it sent everyone into a wild panic. Even the guards who were supposed to safely guide the civilians out were seen running for their life.
There was so much shouting, screaming, crying, and wailing that Bacon's ears were ringing. He huddled behind Romeo, clasping tightly to the older boy's hand so they wouldn't lose each other in the frenzy. They've already lost the others from the guild who had been evacuating with them; Kinana, Cana, Gray, Porlyusica, Bisca, and Asuka were nowhere to be seen. The group got separated during the earthquake when the main road split apart and the surrounding buildings started to collapse.
Most of the Lacrima lamps had been knocked over and broken, making the streets dark and difficult to find anyone within the endless crowds.
Romeo and Bacon were lingering in a dark, narrow alley, waiting for the right moment to run back out into the open street. More than once, they had both been shoved to the ground and accidentally tripped over or stepped on before they could scamper out of the way. They were fortunate enough to escape with only scrapes and bruises.
Bacon peered around Romeo's shoulder and frowned, unable to see anything clearly other than the blur of shadowy people passing by. Sore and aching, he didn't want to go back out there. However, they couldn't remain in one spot forever, not when the others were likely looking for them. And especially when it was getting too dangerous to stay within the city.
The South Gate was where they were supposed to exit the city, about fifteen more blocks away. Romeo had mentioned that Cana and the others were possibly heading in that direction so they could hopefully reunite with them there. However, with rubble and toppled structures blocking roads, it was no longer a straightforward path from the boys' current location. It was especially much more difficult with the crowds so thick and full of fear.
The boys had been waiting for what felt like hours. It didn't seem like they would be leaving the safety of the alley anytime soon. With every audible explosion and every minor quake, Bacon kept wondering what was happening, but didn't try to find out. Cana had warned him that the very bad thing was predicted to happen to him today so he mustn't leave her or Gray's side.
Even with Cana and Gray missing, Bacon obeyed by staying close to Romeo, not daring to venture off alone in fear of getting into trouble. Aside from the sudden appearance of monsters and the destruction of the city, Bacon could feel something was also very wrong.
There was a powerful presence that had appeared within the capital, its unique magical essence feeling exactly identical to Bacon's – as Romeo had put it. Bacon wasn't sure what Romeo meant by that, but he could definitely feel something in the air that made his skin tingle and every hair on his body stand on end.
But that wasn't the main reason Bacon felt so uneasy.
A short while ago, he had noticed the sudden drop in temperature. A harsh, unnerving cold had settled over the city, sending nervous chills down his spine.
Bacon wasn't the only one affected. Romeo was visibly trembling, his eyes wide and fearful as he kept watch on the moving crowds.
Bacon's hooded cloak was too thin to ward off the cold. He wanted to use his magic to warm them up, but was afraid of getting scolded. Instead, he asked Romeo to make a fire.
"You're freezing too?" Romeo asked. He faced the younger boy and formed a small bubble of orange flame in his open palm, holding it between them.
Despite the heat given off by the fire, it wasn't effective in warming them up against the overpowering chill in the air.
Romeo frowned as they both continued to shiver. "This cold isn't normal... It's something else entirely..."
Bacon tilted his head questionably. "Something else?"
Romeo shuddered and met Bacon's stare with a frightened expression. "Something really bad... Something evil..."
"Evil..." Bacon furrowed his brow, feeling dread gnaw at the pit of his stomach from the sound of that word.
"I think it could be the dark entity Crime Sorcière was looking into," Romeo continued, "We... We need to get out of here as soon as possible." He glanced over his shoulder and groaned at the thought of having to go back out into the chaos. With a deep, stuttering sigh, he snuffed out his flame and started to lead Bacon out of the alley, managing to take one step when the younger boy suddenly felt a pang in his chest.
Bacon stopped abruptly and turned around to face the darkest shadows of the alley.
Romeo tugged at his hand. "What's wrong?"
"Wendy..." Bacon murmured. She was the first thing that sprang to his mind.
"She's here?" Romeo raised his hand and made another, bigger fireball to light up the darkness, however there was nothing down the alley other than pieces of old garbage lying on the ground.
Bacon shook his head as he looked beyond the shadows at nothing he could see, but somehow sense. "No, she's... She's in danger!" He wasn't sure how he knew; he just had a strong gut-wrenching feeling. He wanted to go look for her, but Romeo held him back.
"Hey! Wait! How do you know she's in danger?"
Again, Bacon shook his head. "I don't know... But I can feel it! We need to hurry and help her!"
"Bacon, wait!" Romeo quickly moved to stand in front of the younger boy and grabbed both of his shoulders. He tried to smile in assurance, but the waver in his voice gave his concern away; "Listen to me, you shouldn't have to worry. Natsu and Mirajane and Jel – I mean, Mystogan – are with her. She should be safe with them!"
Bacon didn't believe him. He knew she wasn't safe. He knew it in his heart. He needed to find her and protect her. He didn't want to lose her. Never again...
Desperate, he pushed past Romeo and sprinted down the alley, ignoring his brother's cries. He ran out into the road and tried to make his way through all the frantically moving bodies. However, it was a futile battle. Someone a lot bigger and heavier collided into him, painfully knocking him over. He would have gotten trampled if it weren't for a pair of hands grabbing and dragging him off the street.
"Bacon! Are you okay?!" Romeo exclaimed, helping the younger boy back on his feet.
Wincing, Bacon nodded and tried to head back out, but Romeo held him back.
"Bacon, stop!"
"No! Wendy is–"
They both froze when they heard the earth-shaking roar of an angry monster booming from every direction. It was so loud, it silenced all other noises and brought many to their knees.
Thunder rumbled in the dark clouds that had suddenly gathered in the sky. They flashed with crimson lightning, illuminating the city with a sinister light. An awfully cold wind began to blow, bringing a much colder chill than before that pierced right into the soul like an arrow of ice.
Romeo fell against the closest wall and slid to the ground, arms wrapped around himself. He was badly shaking from the combination of cold and intense fear. "Wh-What was that?" he choked out, barely able to speak.
He wasn't alone; out in the street, people had collapsed, cowering and whimpering and crying, completely overwhelmed by the terrible evil that had just awakened.
Bacon was the only one standing. He felt the bite of cold, but not the terror everyone else was suffering with. Worried, he knelt before his brother and reached out to grip his shoulder. "Romeo! Are you–" He stopped himself short when he felt a rush of warmth on the back of his left hand. Golden light suddenly flashed on his skin, bright and blinding in the dark.
Bacon pulled back in surprise and squinted at the shining mark that had just appeared. He made out three golden triangles in unity; the very same symbol he had seen on his ocarina and shield as well as in his dreams. The golden light was familiar and comforting. It chased away the darkness and vanquished the icy grip of evil.
"Bacon?" Romeo gasped, gaping at the light. Bathed in gold, he no longer shook with fear. He pushed off the wall and gently grabbed Bacon's glowing hand for a closer look. "What's this power?"
"Triforce..." Bacon whispered, suddenly knowing its name. It was a sacred symbol that represented something important, but he couldn't quite remember what.
"Triforce," Romeo echoed in fascination, his eyes wide and shimmering. He lightly rubbed a thumb over the golden triangles. "Your shield has this same symbol. But why is one brighter than the others? Is this... like your secret power? What does it do?"
Bacon shrugged at Romeo's questions. "I... I don't know..."
"It feels... holy," Romeo observed, his fascination quickly transforming into astonishment. "I can't sense that powerful evil anymore. Your power is able to counter it!"
Bacon stiffened, his heart heavy with worry. That bad feeling from earlier returned in full-force, making his stomach painfully twist in knots. He pulled away and stood up, turning towards the street, hands clenched by his sides. "That evil... That is where Wendy is."
Romeo joined Bacon and knitted his brow. "Are you sure?"
Bacon nodded and hardened his gaze at the other. "She's in danger, Romeo! I need to find her and protect her!"
Romeo's frown deepened. He glanced between Bacon's bold expression and the Triforce shining bright on his hand. His eyes slowly widened. "Wait a minute, this must be it... What you were destined to do..."
The younger boy blinked. "What?"
"Remember what the dragon in your dream told you in Dracotongue? 'You are destined to save this realm, Hero of Time.' Bacon... this dark entity... maybe you're the only one who can defeat it... But then... There's Cana's prediction..." Romeo bit his lower lip, clearly sad and upset.
"I beseech you, Herial Yaarez, please save this land from the forces of evil. Protect the future in my stead..."
Bacon took a deep breath, remembering Yorenthall's words and the promise he had made to the kind old dragon. He no longer worried about his fate now that he knew what needed to be done. Determined, he gave his brother a confident look. "I don't care what happens to me. I want to save Wendy and you from this evil! I want to save everyone!"
Romeo was shocked by the younger boy's courage. With a heavy sigh, he planted a hand on top of Bacon's head and smirked. "Sometimes I wish I was as brave as you, Bacon. If that's what you want to do, then... all right. But we'll go together. I promise to make sure nothing bad will actually happen to you, okay?"
Bacon smiled and nodded.
They were about to leave the alley when Bacon felt another sharp pang, this time in his stomach. At the same time, the powerful presence that made the air tingle suddenly vanished leaving only the great evil to rule over Crocus.
Both boys paused in their steps and gave each other worried looks. "That incredible magic that feels like yours is gone," noted Romeo, "I don't know whether or not it's a good or bad sign..."
Bacon clutched at his stomach, feeling as if he had swallowed a big block of ice. Whatever happened was definitely not good. "I think it's bad..."
Romeo muttered a forbidden word under his breath and continued on. "Let's keep going."
However, Bacon didn't follow him out. He suddenly felt a tightness in his chest as if an invisible hand had grabbed his heart and started to squeeze. A presence was calling for him, urging him to hurry to its location.
"Bacon?" Romeo finally noticed the other boy frozen in place, staring off into the distance.
"I need to go," Bacon slowly replied as if in a trance. He turned towards one of the walls, facing the direction of the presence he could sense somewhere deeper in the city.
"But we are going..."
"I need to go... before it's too late..."
Magic surged through Bacon's body when the strong desire to hurry overwhelmed him. He was surrounded by bright green light as a new, yet familiar spell took shape. Gusts of cool wind stirred up around him, clashing against the icy winds brought upon by the evil storm in the sky.
"What the...?" Romeo uttered in disbelief as he ran back to Bacon, gawking. "What's this? Another new power?!"
"This is... Farore's Wind," Bacon answered, looking at his glowing body in awe. He couldn't recall how the spell actually worked, but he knew it would get them where they needed to go faster than travelling on foot. "It will take us there."
"Huh? What do you–"
Bacon grabbed Romeo's hand right before the spell was complete.
They were blinded when the green light grew too bright, forcing them to shut their eyes. A strong gale swept them off their feet and carried them swiftly through the air towards their new destination set in Bacon's heart and mind.
Not a second longer, they were back on solid ground, with Romeo stumbling forward from the abrupt stop.
"W-What just happened? Where are we?!" Romeo exclaimed, blinking rapidly to adjust to the dimmer light to better see where they had magically reappeared. No longer were they enclosed within the narrow alley, but out in the open directly under the thundering black sky. They stood among ruins, seeing damaged and destroyed buildings and structures wherever they looked, the destruction obviously caused by something other than an earthquake.
The air was hot and thick with smoke. There was a trail of small fires leading to a tall, blazing wall of red and orange flames far off to the side. Wood burned and stone and metal melted under the intense inferno that was slowly spreading throughout the devastation. Beyond the burning wall was a massive tower of fire that moved as if alive, dancing and pouncing; a being made of flame. Sounds of a fierce, explosive battle between two angry monsters echoed and rang from deep within.
There was a sharp gasp coming from behind the boys. "B-Bacon?"
Bacon spun around, relieved to hear Wendy's voice. He instantly frowned with worry when he met her sorrowful gaze. She was crying, her face wet and her eyes full of tears as she knelt over someone lying motionless on the ground. Under the glow of the distant fires, she was noticeably dirty and hurt, her hands soaked in blood that may not be hers. She was trying her best to heal the wounded person before her, but her magic was weak and wavering, too distraught to focus. The heat, smoke, and ash tainting the air certainly made healing much more difficult for her.
"Wendy!" Bacon rushed over, pulling Romeo along.
They stopped across from her, their eyes falling on the person bleeding on the ground, seeing a young man with messy blond hair and a mask with a familiar yellow face atop his head. But what caught Bacon's attention most were the man's ears that were long and pointy, just like his.
The man was hurt bad, his clothes torn and stained bloody, and his face deathly pale, blood trickling from his mouth. He was barely breathing, his blue eyes dull and unfocused as they stared at nothing, the light behind them fading.
"Who's this?" Romeo quietly asked, aghast at the man's condition. "He looks like..."
"H-He's... He's..." Wendy stuttered between heavy sobs.
Bacon didn't hear what she tried to say for the man's unblinking eyes slowly drifted to find him. There was a silent message in the man's distant gaze that Bacon quickly understood.
The boy dropped down and reached out with his left hand to gently touch the man's forehead. The Triforce flashed bright, swallowing the world in warm, golden light.
When Bacon blinked, he found the burning ruins of the city gone and in its place was a familiar grassy meadow surrounded by towering trees full of life. He gasped in surprise and quickly looked around, seeing the sky clear and purple from the sun just about to set instead of a dark, stormy sky. It was quiet; the battle silenced and Wendy's crying nowhere to be heard...
Wendy and Romeo were missing. Only Bacon stood in the sacred forest meadow. Was he suddenly dreaming?
"It's not a dream," answered a tired voice coming from behind.
Bacon turned sharply around to face the person who could read his thoughts.
It was the young man with blond hair, blue eyes, and long, pointy ears. He was seated on the ground, leaning his back against the lone, bare tree that stood near the temple overgrown with green. There was not a single drop of blood on his body and his clothes appeared as good as new. Although his injuries were visibly gone, it seemed like he was still burdened with pain as he pressed an armoured hand to his stomach where it likely hurt most.
His face was drawn from exhaustion and yet he managed a kind smile when he met Bacon's curious stare. "We're in a place that's both real and not real," the man continued, "A realm created by your power and our thoughts – our memories."
"Memories..." Bacon murmured, looking at the meadow once more. "You know this place? Who are you?"
"Call me Keaton." The man chuckled at the boy's bewildered reaction. He lightly tapped the mask resting atop his head, a sad smile upon his lips. "No, I'm not actually that Keaton, if that's what you're wondering. I've just borrowed his name and face... Do you recognize me, Bacon? I'm you, seven years from a bleak and dismal future – a future that should never be. I've travelled back in time in hope of changing the past... to save everyone..."
Bacon blinked and tilted his head in confusion, not quite understanding what the man was saying.
The man who had borrowed the name 'Keaton' quietly sighed. "I know it's a lot to take in all at once. Unfortunately... I don't have much time left to explain everything..." He glanced to the side and Bacon followed.
The boy tensed in horror, seeing the surrounding forest suddenly burning from fire that was cold and black. The shadowy flames had already consumed the trees and were starting to creep into the meadow. The forest and sky was darkening by the second, as if nightfall was fast approaching.
"Do you remember what our friend, Yorenthall, had told us long, long ago?" Keaton questioned, drawing the boy's attention back on him. His expression was full of pain and sadness. "He spoke of two separate paths we had to take in order to gain the power to change the world. I had walked the path full of despair and loss, and now you must walk the path full of life and hope. I had thought I was the one destined to save the future having endured these past seven years... but no, that is not how fate intended it to be."
Keaton held out his left hand towards Bacon, his arm shaking from weakness.
The gesture prompted the boy to step in close to place his own left hand within Keaton's. Cold, metal fingers curled around Bacon's smaller hand in a firm grip, partially covering the mark of the Triforce that softly glowed.
Keaton's weary gaze became steadfast as he continued; "This world... this timeline, is not mine to save, but yours. I tried to defeat him, the great evil who threatens to rule this land, the Evil King, Ganondorf. Do you remember that name?"
Bacon frowned and shook his head. "There's a lot I don't remember..." He had been listening with apprehension, trying his best to comprehend what Keaton was telling him. Even though not everything was clear through words, Bacon could mostly understand the other through emotions that they seemed to share.
"I know, but don't worry," Keaton assured with a slight shake of his head, "you'll remember eventually. It won't be now, and it probably won't be anytime soon, but you will remember. Piece by piece, your memories will come back, and you will remember that you are Link, the Hero of Time."
"Link..." That name felt so familiar rolling off Bacon's tongue.
Keaton grinned. "That is our true name. Knowing it should allow you to summon the Celestial Spirits under my contract." His mouth quickly twitched into a bitter snarl. "However, be careful when you summon them. I've already lost one of my spirits when battling against the mere phantom of that accursed demon. Ganondorf... I don't know how he's here when he should be sealed away... in another time, no less. But he is the one... the powerful evil you are destined to defeat in this world. I have done everything I could against him, but now it's up to you to finish it! Stop him before it's too late!
"Everything that is mine is now yours. Take my Celestial Spirit Keys, my cloak, my weapons and armour... and take this power that I shall now pass onto you," Keaton tightened his hold on Bacon's hand, his eyes burning with determination, "It is the power to change the fate of the world... the power of the Ancient Dragon King."
Bacon gasped in surprise when heat suddenly flared from Keaton's metal fingers. It was an uncomfortably hot sensation that quickly rushed up his left arm. He wanted to pull away, but Keaton's grip was strong.
"I won't lie, it hurts like hell," Keaton continued with a deeply apologetic look, "But trust me, it's not a curse. It's an incredible power that will help you save this world from evil."
The heat was concentrating right below Bacon's shoulder now, growing so hot that it started to feel like his arm was blistering under the sun. He pushed up the short sleeve of his shirt for a better look and saw his skin flushed red with a big black spot right in the middle. The black mark quickly spread like runny ink, morphing into the shape of a serpentine dragon with six feathery wings and a long tail that wrapped around his arm right above the elbow. It burned and stung, but it wasn't as painful as Keaton had warned.
Once the transfer of power was complete, Keaton released his hold and dropped his arm like a dead weight beside him. The last of his strength was gone. Completely exhausted, he slumped heavily against the tree, his breathing shallow and raspy, and his eyes barely open.
By then, the black flames had completely surrounded them, the temple and meadow gone from their sights. The shadows were eating the lone tree behind Keaton and nipped at Bacon's heels.
"I made a promise to Wendy... but I can't keep it anymore..." Keaton murmured, his voice quivering. He gave Bacon a pleading, desperate look, tears welling in his weary eyes. "Please... will you keep my promise to her? Promise to protect her... Keep her safe..."
Bacon felt a tightness in his chest similar from before. He finally understood what it meant and where it came from. He could feel what Keaton felt, both having the same heart and soul.
"I will!" Bacon vowed, kneeling beside Keaton to tightly grasp his fallen hand. He shed the same tears that started to roll down the other's cheeks. "I promise to protect Wendy forever!"
Keaton weakly smiled, both proud and grateful. "I know you'll keep your word. Protect her... Protect everyone... Our family... this world... I know you can do it..."
Bacon felt something pull him upwards. His fingers slipped away from Keaton's as he was yanked away from the cold flames before they could touch him. He watched with great sadness as the darkness swallowed Keaton up, seeing the young man's smile disappear along with their realm.
Keaton's voice echoed faintly in the distance; "Tell Wendy I was happy to see her again... and that I will always... love her..."