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!

27. The Final Day: Rise of the Hero

The Final Day: Rise of the Hero

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When Bacon returned to the smoky ruins of Crocus, the first thing he noticed was the heat flaring in his left arm. It was instantly followed by a horrible, fiery pain, feeling as if Romeo had ignited his skin on fire!

His tears of sadness became tears of pain. He was writhing on the ground before he knew it, screaming, crying, and clawing at his burning skin, desperate to put out the invisible flames. This was the hell Keaton was talking about and it was possibly the worst pain Bacon had ever felt.

Someone grabbed him by the shoulder, trying to hold him still.

"Bacon! What happened?!" he heard Romeo shouting over his cries, "What's that on your arm?! Wendy! He's bleeding!"

Bacon felt another pair of hands. Fingers firmly grasped his clawing hand and forcefully pried it away. There was a sharp gasp.

"It can't be...!" Wendy exclaimed, her voice wavering and thick with grief; "That mark! It's Acnologia's curse!"

"W-Wait, what did you say? Acnologia's curse?!"

Bacon vigorously shook his head. Not a curse, he wanted to say, but a sob escaped his throat instead.

Wendy hushed and gently stroked his hair, however that did absolutely nothing to ease the pain. "I can't heal it," she uttered, dismayed. "All we can do is... Cold! Romeo, make it cold!"

"Huh?"

"The curse is burning him! Use your cold fire to help cool it off!"

"Oh! Okay! Hold perfectly still, Bacon!"

Not a moment longer, Bacon felt a freezing sensation upon his skin, like a block of ice had been placed on his arm. It immediately brought some relief, extinguishing the worst of the fire. Gradually, the fiery pain subsided, but the heat remained, warm as the summer sun, vying against the intense chill of Romeo's magic.

"It's working," said Wendy with a big sigh of relief. She continued to stroke Bacon's hair and hold his right hand, making sure he kept it out of the way. "Are you feeling better now, Bacon?"

The boy nodded. Blinking away his tears, he peered through the wisps of steam coming from Romeo's cold fires and found Wendy kneeling before him. She gave him a small, fleeting smile before a worried frown settled on her dirty, tear-streaked face, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

Behind Bacon was Romeo, whose hands were engulfed in pale blue flames. Romeo held them steadily over Bacon's arm, being careful not to directly touch the other's skin with his icy fire. "What's going on, Wendy?" Romeo asked, looking completely lost and overwhelmed by the situation, "You said this was Acnologia's curse? H-How – Where did it–"

"No..." Bacon weakly moaned, his throat hoarse.

Romeo looked at him in concern. "What's wrong?"

"No..." the younger boy said again, shaking his head. "He said it's not a curse."

Wendy blinked in surprise while Romeo appeared even more bewildered.

"'He said'? You mean... that guy?" Romeo glanced behind Wendy at something, his expression sombre.

Bacon followed his brother's gaze, catching only a glimpse of the smiling yellow mask. His chest tightened at the sight of it, his heart aching from anguish and sorrow. Fresh tears began to fall when he remembered Keaton's final moment.

"He was able to talk to you?" Romeo questioned, raising his brow. "How? Was it when you touched him?"

Bacon nodded. "We were in a forest that was real and not real. He said it's a power..." The power to change the fate of the world. "He gave it to me before the darkness took him..."

Hearing that, Wendy bowed her head, her lower lip trembling. She covered her mouth and whimpered as she was overcome with grief once again.

Romeo frowned heavily. "So he's..."

With a sad shake of his head, Bacon murmured, "He's gone..." Dead. Forever would he sleep, never to smile or see the sun rise ever again.

There was a brief moment of silence other than the sounds of a ferocious battle booming in the distance.

"Who was he?" Romeo asked, his voice quiet and sympathetic. "Wendy, you never got the chance to say..."

"He's me," Bacon answered for her, "Seven years from the future..." A future that should never be.

Romeo's eyes were the widest Bacon had ever seen. "What?! Are you serious?!"

"It's true..." Wendy managed to say, fighting to hold back her tears, but failing miserably. "H-He traveled back to this time using the Eclipse Gate..."

"To save everyone... to protect the future..." Bacon added, finally understanding the heavy burden Keaton had carried. It was a valiant, selfless ambition driven by fate and now it had been passed onto Bacon.

Romeo was agape before he was stricken with a deep sadness. His quivering eyes began to water when they fell on the fallen hero. "So then that incredible magic from earlier... It really was Bacon. But... what happened? How could he have lost?"

"It's... It's all my fault..." Wendy choked out, hanging her head in guilt. She broke down, body wracked by sobs. "H-He was protecting me... from the demon..."

Romeo tensed in fear. "A demon?! That's the dark entity..."

"A powerful evil," said Bacon, hardening his gaze at the wicked terror beyond his sight. Despair and grief was quickly replaced with courage and determination. "He is the one I am destined to defeat."

"What? No!" Wendy shook her head, her teary eyes pleading. Her hand, still clasped within his, tightened to the point that it was almost hurting, afraid to let go. "Bacon, you can't! You can't!" she begged. "That demon is too strong! You'll die!"

"I have to do it. I promised Keaton... I promised him I would protect you and everyone else. He gave me the power to help me fight." He looked at his shoulder, eyes drawn to the black, six-winged dragon adorning his flushed and bleeding skin. The mark still burned like stubborn embers, refusing to be put out by Romeo's cold flames; the chained fury of a mighty Dragon King waiting to be break free.

"Bacon, Wendy might be right," said Romeo, his voice wavering with doubt. "If future-you couldn't defeat the demon–"

"I will defeat him," Bacon assured, both his tone and expression fearless and full of conviction. It brought looks of surprise upon Wendy's and Romeo's faces. He clenched his left hand into a fist and held it up to show them the golden mark of the Triforce, casting them within its sacred light. "I am the key to change the future. I will save it no matter what it takes!"

Wendy was noticeably calmer the moment she saw the golden triangles. Fear had instantly turned into astonishment as she gently grasped Bacon's shining hand within both of hers. "What is this?"

"It's Bacon's secret power, the Triforce," explained Romeo. His worry was gone when he looked at his younger brother, his hope renewed. "Can you feel it, Wendy? This power can counter that demon's evil. I... I hate to say this, but I think Bacon is the only one who can stop him..."

Wendy wanted to deny it, Bacon could clearly see it on her face. But when she met his unwavering stare, all her doubts seemed to have dissolved away. She believed in him. Giving his hand a squeeze, she opened her mouth to say something, only to pause when the ground started to rumble.

At first, Bacon had thought it was caused by another distant explosion. However, the shaking steadily got worse and was soon accompanied by the sound of thunderous footsteps, each one louder than the last.

Wendy gasped in terror when she spotted something behind Romeo. Whatever it was, it sounded enormous as it smashed through solid structures and noisily cracked the earth it stomped upon.

Romeo was just as terrified when he glanced over his shoulder. "Is that a dragon?! I-It's coming this way! Wait! Wendy!"

She was already on her feet and running towards the approaching danger. "Romeo! Take Bacon somewhere safe! I'll lure it away!" she shouted.

Completely distracted, Romeo had forgotten to keep his cold fires burning, which allowed Bacon to quickly sit up without getting hurt.

"No! Wendy!" Bacon cried. His stomach sank like a rock when he saw her charging at a huge, reptilian creature marching in their direction.

It truly was a fearsome dragon, one covered in smooth, aqua-blue scales that shimmered like the shallow waters of the ocean. It walked on four muscular legs, each foot webbed and armed with hooked white claws. A broad pair of soft, spiny wings sprouted from its back, closely resembling the long, wavy fins of an elegant fish. It once had a full, magnificent webbed frill around the back of its head, however the left side was torn and frayed, that half of its face badly wounded. It was as if a thousand knives had slashed it apart, blinding its eye and marring its flesh. Its remaining eye was bright with a wicked red glow, glaring at Wendy with a ferocious hunger.

The dragon snarled at the girl, baring its rows of glistening, razor-sharp teeth, and lunged for its prey.

Bacon tried to get up to help Wendy, but the awful fire in his arm had suddenly returned with a vengeance. Screaming, he collapsed back onto his side, his right hand clawing at the mark of the dragon, once again desperate to stop the pain. It felt worse than before, like liquid fire in his blood; an excruciating, searing agony that threatened to burn him alive as it quickly spread throughout his entire body.

Romeo was shouting and grabbing at Bacon, trying to help, but his efforts were in vain. Nothing could stop the torture, not even Romeo's magic.

Bacon heard the dragon roar and felt the ground violently shake right under him. However, it was the sound of Wendy's pained yelp that made him pry his eyes open. Through the tears and agony, he saw Wendy scrambling back to her feet. She was limping, one of her legs scraped raw and bloody, as she tried to lead the dragon away from the boys.

The giant lizard was stomping after her, its drooling mouth wide open and ready to gobble her up.

Wendy tried to run, only to stumble due to her injuries.

Wendy! Bacon felt his heart wrench at the thought of losing her. He needed to save her!

When the dragon was almost upon her, that was when the fiery pain became something else – the promised power of the Ancient Dragon King. Bacon's scream of anguish transformed into a scream of fury as he was overwhelmed with an incredible, invigorating sensation. Power coursed through every fibre in his body, granting him strength that he had never thought imaginable. The Triforce flashed, sending a rush of warmth that merged with the intense heat in his blood, bringing forth an aura of gold that burst from his form like sacred flames. At the same time, strange, gold markings appeared on his bare skin, shining just as bright and holy.

There was not a moment to waste. The boy was already up and bounding straight for the blue dragon with Freedom drawn from its sheath. Within a blink, he reached the big lizard from the side, his blade charged with golden energy. He leapt high up in the air and swung his sword as he rose, slashing the side of the dragon from its belly to its lower back. The edge of his sword harmlessly scraped against thick, tough scales, however the energy unleashed was sharper than any blade. The magic took on the form of a giant, golden crescent as it cleaved through the dragon as easily as slicing through air.

The beast howled in pain as it was thrown aside, its huge body crashing into the few buildings that still stood.

Bacon landed in a crouch and slowly stood up, blinking in surprise at what he had just done. He warily eyed the fallen beast. It lay motionless, half-buried in rubble, dying if not yet dead.

"Bacon!"

Caution instantly turned to worry at the sound of Wendy's voice. Bacon sheathed his sword as he twisted around and hurried over to her. He frowned at her shaken, battered appearance, seeing her worse than before under the bright glow of his aura. "Wendy..."

"I'm okay," she said, a small tremor in her voice. She pulled him into an assuring hug, in which he didn't hesitate to return.

She needed the hug more than he did. He felt her calm down after she drew a few slow, deep breaths.

As Wendy pulled away, she gave him a grateful smile. "I'm all right now, thanks to you."

Gently, she wiped the remnants of his tears from his face before looking him over from head to toe, completely in awe. Her wide eyes lingered on the golden dragon on his arm as she moved to touch it. However, she hesitated when her fingers were only an inch away. "It doesn't hurt anymore?"

He shook his head. The pain was gone, but the mark still burned as hot as flame, evident by the burnt, missing portion of his short sleeve.

"So you've awakened Acnologia's power..." she murmured under her breath.

"Acnologia?" Bacon cocked his head in confusion. He wasn't sure why she kept saying that name; Keaton had never mentioned it. But then, the boy suddenly remembered his dream... where Yorenthall was slain by the hands of the evil Dragon Slayer who called himself King...

"It was Acnologia who gave Keaton this power. And now... he has given it to you." Wendy's amazement turned into slight confusion. "It's different from Keaton's. Gold instead of pale blue. Calmer. Kinder even. And feels... more divine. Why is that?"

Blinking, Bacon shrugged. "What is 'divine'?"

"It means sacred. Like the power of Gods..." As she spoke, her focus drifted to the glowing mark of the Triforce on the boy's hand. She was about to say more when Romeo shouted to catch their attention.

"Hey, guys!" Romeo was still kneeling where Bacon had left him over a minute ago, beckoning the pair over. There was something small and white hopping and yapping beside him.

"Is that Plue?" Wendy wondered out loud.

Together, they made their way back to Romeo with Bacon keeping in pace with Wendy's limping gait.

"Whoa! Bacon! You were incredible!" Romeo exclaimed, running up to the pair once they were close enough. He stared at the younger boy with great admiration, jaw hanging. "Your magic power... it's unbelievable! Feels just as strong as before, when it was future-you."

"Puun!" the white creature beside him squealed as if to agree.

Indeed, it was Lucy's Celestial Spirit named Plue. The little canine trotted over to Bacon, holding a small ring of jingling keys above his head. With a sad whine, he offered the keys for the boy to take.

"Plue just suddenly showed up even though Lucy isn't around," said Romeo, his excitement quickly replaced with sympathy. "He was crying earlier..."

Bacon knelt before the spirit and picked up the keys. Four gold and one silver. Keaton's Celestial Spirit Keys. Now they belonged to Bacon.

The boy could sense something within three of the golden keys, the warm, living energy of each spirit that was bonded to his heart and soul. One was noticeably weaker than the others however, likely the one Keaton had lost in battle. The other gold and silver keys were ice-cold to the touch. Despite feeling no connection to those spirits, Bacon knew they were just as important as the others.

Plue lightly pawed at the boy's hand before repeatedly tapping one of the gold keys, prompting Bacon to select it from the ring.

The boy examined it closely, unable to tell which Celestial Spirit it was since he was not familiar with their symbols.

"Those were Keaton's keys," Wendy began to explain, her voice quiet. "He was a Celestial Spirit mage like Lucy. In the future, she was the one who trained him and Plue became one of his spirit companions."

Romeo was astounded. "What? Really?! If that's true, then does that mean Bacon can summon spirits too? It looks like Plue wants him to use that key."

"Keaton told me I should be able to," said Bacon, looking between his friends and Plue, "But I don't know how to do it..."

Wendy furrowed her brow in thought. "If the spirits are still under Keaton's contract... then that must mean you are now their master, Bacon..." Intrigued, she knelt beside him to get a better look at the key in his hand and drew a sharp breath upon recognition. "Of course! Gemini! Bacon, they can help you! That is... if they're still able to transform..." She bit her lower lip for moment as she pondered over an idea.

She gave Bacon an encouraging nod and smile. "We'll just have to try and see if it works. Just say the words 'Open the Gate of the Twins' while channeling your magic into the key. I think that's how you summon them."

"Puu-puun!" Plue nodded to confirm she was right. He cheered and clapped at Bacon in excitement.

The boy held up Gemini's key and said, "Open the Gate of the Twins," while focusing his magic into it. He was afraid he may have infused it with a little too much magic because the key suddenly flared up with gold fire. Before he could ask if he did it right, the key flashed a blinding white. Two identical little blue spirits appeared right in front of him, hovering in midair, both enveloped in golden flames similar to Bacon's aura.

Bacon remembered meeting them before, back in the Celestial Spirit World. Their names were Gemi and Mini and they were twin brother and sister.

"Master Link!" the spirits cried with childish joy, "We thought something bad..." They froze in place when they saw it was Bacon who summoned them.

"Wait, you're..." Gemi began to say, his mouth always a frown.

Mini looked around and sharply gasped when she found Keaton. "No! It can't be true..." she murmured, her smile now a frown to match her brother.

The twins slowly drifted towards their fallen master, leaving a sparkling trail behind them. Tears welled in their beady black eyes. "Master Link is..."

"Gemini," Wendy said softly, drawing their attention away from their sorrow, "We need your help. I know this will be hard for you both, but please... can you still transform into Keaton?"

Romeo and Bacon stared at Wendy in surprise.

The twins slowly nodded, their moods glum.

"Yes..." said Gemi hesitantly, "We still have memories from the moment he was luring the dragons away from Domus Flau."

Wendy clasped her hands together, pleading. "Please, will you do it? Bacon will need your guidance as Keaton. Show him what he can truly do in order to fight against the evil demon!"

"Bacon?" Mini uttered in shock. Her smile returned.

Flying in opposite directions, the twins began to circle around the boy, looking him over closely.

"Of course! You're Young Master Link! That's why you were able to open our gate!"

"And why our contract wasn't broken. It is still under your name."

"Wow, Young Master! What is this power? You're glowing!"

"Wait! That dragon mark – It's Acnologia's curse!"

In unison, the spirits gasped, completely stunned in horror in midair as they gaped at the golden dragon.

"It's not a curse," Bacon grumbled with a pout. He honestly didn't know what a 'curse' actually was, but judging from everyone's tone, it sounded like a very bad thing. "It's a power Keaton gave me..."

"He did?" The twins noticed the ring of keys in Bacon's hand and appeared to understand the situation. "He has given us to you as well!"

The spirits hovered before their new master and started to twirl in a synchronized dance, their golden auras flickering wildly with their movements. "Young Master Link," began Mini, sounding more determined, "We will always be your Celestial Spirits–"

"Only for another ten Earthland hours," Gemi corrected. "We're temporarily on loan from Master Lucy."

"But we will still assist you however we can for as long as we are yours. That demon..." Mini paused in her dance and shuddered in fright, "He's killed too many of us already... Even Master Link..."

Bacon moved to stand, his eyes drawn to the fiery inferno where the evil being was raging within. "I promised Keaton that I will stop the demon and that is what I am going to do."

"Young Master, we'll help you take him down! We'll help you save the future!" the twins cried as one. They touched their stubby hands together and in a flash of white, they fused into one entity.

Standing tall and proud before the group was Gemini who had transformed into Keaton, their body alight with a golden aura. They were the living memory of the strong, brave hero who wanted nothing more but to save the world and protect the ones he loved.

There was only silence as all eyes stared at the Celestial Spirits with a mixture of wonder, grief, and hope.

"Aw, don't look at us like that..." mumbled Gemini, their voice muffled behind the copy of their mask. They slowly slid the smiling face of Keaton to rest it atop their messy blond head, revealing their sad frown beneath. Kind, blue eyes began to shimmer when they met each of the children's gazes. "You're going to make us cry..."

Wendy hastily wiped her eyes and sniffled. "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, Wendy," said the spirits, reaching to touch her shoulder. They suddenly pulled back to look at their armoured hands, furling them into fists before them. They raised their brow as their wide eyes wandered their body, finally noticing the golden aura surrounding them. "This is incredible, Young Master! Feels like we can stay in this form forever. So strong too! We can probably take down the Spirit King if we tried!"

"Puu-puu-puuuun. Puu-puun!" Plue chirped, bearing a wide, amusing grin.

The twins looked off to the side and chuckled nervously. "No, Plue, no need to tell His Majesty we said that..."

"You need to hurry," Wendy urged, turning her attention to the distant fires. "Natsu is fighting against the demon right now. As much as I want to believe in him, I'm afraid he's not strong enough alone... He's going to get killed!"

"It really is Natsu..." Romeo murmured, eyeing the towering flames in awe. However, he soon became worried.

"Understood," said Gemini with a curt nod. They quickly moved to crouch beside Keaton's body. "First thing we need to do, is to prepare you for battle, Young Master. You will need more than just sandals if you're going to fight a powerful, evil demon."

Bacon glanced at his footwear, seeing the strange gold markings shining on his bare legs and feet. It was true he wasn't suited for battle wearing only shorts, sandals, a hooded cloak, and a plain T-shirt. All he had was his sword, Freedom, as well, whereas Keaton was well-armed with more than just a small blade.

After pocketing his ring of keys, Bacon tentatively joined Gemini's side. He purposely kept his eyes on the Celestial Spirit's working hands.

"Forgive us, Master Link..." the twins whispered regretfully as they began to slip off Keaton's armoured boots.

"He wouldn't be mad," Bacon began with a slight shake of his head, "He told me to take everything he had to fight the demon."

Gemini glanced at the boy from the side, a small knowing smile on their lips. "Makes sense for you to have Master Link's equipment. Everything Lupus had made for him is also magically soulbound to you, so they will alter in shape to fit your size when you use or wear them. Here, put these on." They handed Bacon the large, but surprisingly light, pair of armoured boots before shifting over to start removing Keaton's gauntlets.

Bacon kicked off his sandals and stepped into the pair of boots that were too many sizes too big. However, true to Gemini's word, the boots magically shrunk to perfectly fit his smaller size the instant his feet touched the bottom. They had also changed in appearance; unlike the smooth, layered plating from before, the armour had thickened with spiky ridges along the centre and the edges, and short, curved spines now guarded the outer rims, thin and sharp like blades. Behind the spines, the trim of white feathers was more noticeable, flaring out like little wings

The same thing happened with the big gauntlets the moment Bacon shoved his hands into them. They shrunk and morphed, the plating thicker and bladed, and the feathers had grown to spread back past his elbows. Each thumb and fingertip, once smooth and rounded, now ended with a long, metal claw, sharp and deadly. The Triforce shone through the layers of protection, appearing on the back of his left gauntlet, a sacred power that refused to be hidden, it seemed.

Gemini perked an eyebrow as they curiously eyed the design of the boy's new armour. "Looks like anything made from the parts of a dragon is affected by your new power, Young Master. Interesting."

One by one, Gemini removed the rest of Keaton's equipment, being mindful when needing to move the hero's body. As they passed off each item to Bacon, the spirits gave a brief explanation detailing the item's properties and use.

First, was the Sky Bow, a large bow that slightly changed in both shape and size the moment Bacon held it. Covered in pearly white scales, and with limbs carved into the shape of feathery wings, it was a bow that could fire swift arrows that never missed their targets.

It felt like forever ago since Bacon had last wielded a bow. He could vaguely recall the time he had practiced shooting targets with Gray. Despite that, his body instinctively remembered how to properly grip the weapon as he pulled back on the bowstring to test its tension. He grinned when he heard a satisfying sharp twang the moment he released the string.

Along with the bow was a large quiver half full of arrows. Each arrow was crafted from ironwood, the strongest wood to grow in all of Fiore, and fletched with white feathers. Their black, metallic points were made from the hard, spiny scales of a thorny dragon and were capable of piercing through almost anything.

Within the quiver, there was a smaller compartment that held five arrows fletched with red. These different arrows had points that were long, narrow, bright purple, and barbed at the crimson tips.

"Handle these with care," Gemini warned sternly as they held one of the purple arrows just out of Bacon's reach. "Made from the quills of a very poisonous dragon. Extremely deadly so don't even touch them unless you're wearing the Sky Cloak of Warding. The smallest prick can kill a person in an instant while two or three arrows can usually kill an average dragon in less than an hour. Not sure how effective they are against a demon, however. These are limited so use them wisely."

Bacon nodded as he took off his hooded cloak to strap on his bow and quiver. While buckling the straps, Gemini took out a normal arrow from their own quiver to demonstrate something very amazing; infusing arrows with three types of elemental magic.

Fire Arrow. Ice Arrow. Light Arrow. With a flick of their wrist, Gemini showed off each one.

Seeing the familiar magic before his eyes sparked something within Bacon. He could remember the feeling of each spell tingling at his fingertips. The Fire Arrow was hot like the scorching sun. The Ice Arrow, frigid as the coldest frost. And the Light Arrow, warm and serene like a ray of hope coming from the heavens.

"That arrow of light," Wendy began, her eyes drawn to the shining, golden tip in Gemini's hand, "it was able to hurt and stun the demon."

The spirits sneered wickedly. "Is that so? Then we'll hit him with Light Arrows when we get the chance."

Next was Dragonslayer, a large, heavy sword that reduced to nearly half of its original size when Bacon took the sheathed weapon from Gemini. The hilt was long and shone a metallic blue, and the guard was sharp and curved like the silvery claws of a fearsome beast. Embedded in the centre was a black gem that was round, smooth, and appeared almost like a dragon's eye when held at a certain angle. The blade was over twice as long as Freedom, and broader too. As the boy slid the sword from its ornate scabbard, he was mesmerized by the flawless gleam of the flat, silver blade until he found the last half of the weapon missing.

"What?! It's broken?!" Gemini exclaimed in disbelief. "Impossible... That sword's made of dragonsteel... Was it the demon who did this?"

"Yes," said Wendy, wearing a deeply troubled frown.

"Shit," the spirits growled, "We're guessing he broke Master Link's shield too? It's not here."

Wendy nodded and shifted her eyes to the ground before her feet, a look of guilt upon her face.

"Goddamn it," Gemini hissed under their breath. They sighed in frustration before giving Bacon a reassuring look. "Don't worry, Young Master, we will be your shield. As for Dragonslayer..." they glanced at the broken blade for a quick inspection, "It's still a decent length. Longer than Freedom, much sharper and stronger too. Use it when you fight the demon and his dragons."

The next item was a brown leather sash holding six large knives, each with a different hilt and sheath. However, instead of giving them to Bacon, Gemini passed them off to Romeo. And much like all of Bacon's things, the sash of knives shrank to match Romeo's size the moment he grabbed them.

Gemini smirked at the surprised look on the older boy's face. "Those are bound to you, Brother. Even though Master Link had them, their true potential can only be unlocked by you. In the future, you had slain many dragons with these knives."

"I did?! R-Really?!" Romeo's jaw was hanging.

The spirits laughed. They pointed to each hilt respectively as they spoke; "Each one is made from a different dragon's fang: Sky, Fire, Iron, Nova, Quake, Coma – careful with this one, one small nick can knock you out for a week. Each knife has a special name, but we have no memory of what you had given them. We do know that you can combine some of the knives with your different fires to create different effects. If any of the remaining dragons come after you, use them."

Romeo gulped and glanced at his new set of weapons with unease. He nodded hesitantly. "So all those flying monsters attacking the city are dragons..." he whispered to himself.

The last item Gemini gave Bacon was the most fascinating of all; the Sky Cloak of Warding. Made of large white feathers and stained with the blood of the fallen hero, it protected the wearer from any magical ailment. With a heavy heart, Bacon allowed Gemini to drape the large cloak around his shoulders. The cloak shrunk as expected so it no longer dragged on the ground, but then the bottom ends lifted and grew out, transforming into broad, feathery wings.

"Wings?" Gemini mused, just as fascinated as Bacon at the change. The twins gently grabbed one of the wings and spread it wide open, impressed by its wingspan.

"Keaton could fly with these wings," said Wendy as she reached out to stroke the soft feathers of the winged cloak, her eyes forlorn. "They are my mother's wings..."

Romeo gawked in excitement. "Wait, so Bacon can fly?!"

"I can? How do I fly?" Bacon asked, looking at the others eagerly.

Both Gemini and Wendy didn't have an answer right away so Romeo suggested, "Maybe it's like Erza's winged armours? Think of where you want to go and your wings might take you there."

Bacon tried and noticed the wings did indeed move with his thoughts as if they were his own limbs.

Gemini planted a firm hand on Bacon's shoulder before the boy could go anywhere. "Don't take off just yet, Young Master, there's still a few things you need to know."

Bacon settled down and nodded, his full attention back on the Celestial Spirits.

The spirits stood back and looked the boy over. A sense of pride reflected in their keen, blue eyes. "Having those wings will help you move around swiftly. At this point, you haven't learned Sensory Magic yet, correct?"

Bacon cocked his head.

Seeing Bacon's blank expression, Gemini waved a hand dismissively before the boy could ask. "Master Jellal will have to teach you that magic sometime. It allows you to use Farore's Wind much more effectively by sensing where you want to teleport instead of needing to create a warp point."

"Farore's Wind..." Bacon looked at his armoured hands, recalling the green glow of the spell and the cool winds it brought.

"That's the spell you used to warp us here, isn't it?" Romeo asked.

Gemini smiled broadly. "Oh, so you remember that magic, Young Master?"

Bacon nodded and placed a hand over his heart, being careful not to poke himself with his metal claws. "When I felt... something calling for me – it was Keaton! He helped me remember... To bring me here before he..."

Gemini's smile vanished. There was a short pause before they asked, "Do you remember your other powerful spells as well? Din's Fire and–"

The twins were suddenly interrupted by an ear-shattering explosion coming from somewhere nearby. All heads turned to the billowing wall of flames, seeing huge chunks of burning debris hurtling high up in the air. Luckily, the group was out of range of the hellish rain of fire. Not long after that, another deafening explosion rocked the burning remains, closer to the barricade of flame, much stronger than the last. It created a massive pillar of fire that seemed to touch the dark clouds high above, making it appear as if the sky had been lit aflame.

A deep, monstrous roar sounded from within, louder than thunder, making both heaven and earth tremble under its might. All the fires suddenly dwindled as if cowering from the demonic cry, quelled to smouldering coals. The wall of flame was instantly reduced to a wall of smoke, thick and black. Gone was the sweltering heat, quickly overtaken by the bitter chill of evil.

Soon to follow was a loud, echoing bam before a large fireball burst through the cover of smoke, shooting horizontally through the air as fast as a comet. It disappeared from sight when it crashed through a line of buildings, leaving a long trail of destruction in its wake, evident by the plumes of rising smoke and dust. It eventually came to a full stop somewhere a great distance away with structures noisily crumbling around it.

"That was Natsu!" Gemini uttered in horror, frowning in the direction of the newly collapsed section of the city.

"Natsu?!" Romeo exclaimed, worried. "Is he okay?!"

The twins shook their head, their expression grim. "His aura has gotten really weak – Brother, no! Stay here!" They had snatched the end of Romeo's yellow scarf before the boy could get too far, accidentally choking him back.

Gemini scowled at the cover of smoke, their body tense with apprehension and their eyes flashing with hatred.

Bacon followed their gaze, unable to see, but able to detect the powerful evil making its way towards them.

"The demon is heading this way!" Gemini snarled, "Young Master, it's time. Are you ready? We need to draw him away from here." They held out a hand for Bacon to take, their expression steadfast. It was the same look Keaton had given Bacon when the hero spoke of his destiny.

Bacon nodded without hesitation, his expression matching the spirits'. He was fully determined to bring an end to the terrible evil who threatened to conquer the world.

"Wait!" Wendy cried, just as Bacon was about to grab Gemini's hand. A look of concern was deeply etched on her features. She pulled the boy into a tight hug. "Be careful, okay? Please! Please! I don't want to lose you too!"

Bacon wrapped his arms around her and spoke quietly into her shoulder. "I promise. I promise I'll protect you forever, Wendy."

She held on for a brief moment longer before pulling back, her hands sliding down to hold onto his. Her worry was replaced with her own unwavering determination. "Let me help before you go." Quickly, she chanted one spell after another, her hands glowing white with magic throughout it all, blessing both Bacon and Gemini with her special enchantments. A boost in speed and stamina, a stronger physical defense, and a great increase in strength in their arms; enhancements that would undoubtedly aid them both in battle.

Once finished, Wendy let Bacon go and said with a confident smile, "I believe in you, Bacon. Stop that evil demon and save our future!"

"Yeah, you can do it!" Romeo cheered. "You're the Hero of Time! Kick that demon's ass!"

Plue clapped and happily squealed to join the encouragement.

Bacon grinned and nodded, holding his armoured fists before him. "I will!"

Plue babbled something to Gemini.

As the twins slid down their yellow mask to hide their face, they replied with; "We'll make sure it will never happen, Plue. Don't you worry. Young Master, let's go. We need to rescue Natsu first."

With a final nod to the others, Gemini grabbed Bacon's hand and cast Farore's Wind.

In a blink of green and a rush of wind, Bacon was teleported to a new location.

They reappeared in the middle of a street littered with broken, burning debris. Gemini's spell blasted away the dust and smoke that shrouded the area and blew out any nearby flames.

"Ugh... What the hell?" a familiar voice coughed and groaned behind them.

Both Gemini and Bacon turned to find Natsu sprawled on his back on the sidewalk, having likely been thrown off his feet by the twins' magic. He was in rough condition; clothes reduced to torn and burnt rags, body badly bruised and scraped up, blood flowing down the side of his head from a nasty blow, one arm dislocated and bent at an odd angle, and an awful, bleeding gash that ran across his stomach.

"Oh! Natsu!" exclaimed Gemini, as they rushed over to the Dragon Slayer's side, "Sorry! You all right?"

In a daze, Natsu stared at Gemini as if they were a ghost. "B-Bacon? You're okay?! I thought–"

"No." The twins sadly shook their head. "It's just us, Gemini."

It looked like Natsu was kicked in the gut by the truth. Anger crossed his face for a moment before he noticed Bacon kneeling on his other side. He gaped at the young boy's appearance in disbelief before his eyes lit up with amazement. "Bacon... You're..."

"Natsu," Gemini interrupted, grabbing the mage's uninjured arm, "We'll take you to Wendy to heal. Young Master, stay here and be on your guard. We'll be back shortly!"

"Wait," said Natsu before the twins could warp. His flames may have extinguished, but a fire still burned bright within his eyes. He held up a trembling fist towards Bacon in a familiar gesture. "Bacon! Trash that bastard! Ya hear me?! Go all out!"

"All out..." Bacon's cocky grin was one Natsu was visibly proud of. The boy lightly smacked the back of his arm against Natsu's, having seen the Dragon Slayer do the same to encourage his teammates during the Magic Games.

Natsu and Gemini disappeared in a blinding flash of green and a strong burst of wind that made Bacon reeling backwards.

The boy's annoyance lasted only a second. He sharply turned to face the oncoming threat that was noticeably advancing towards him. Dragonslayer was drawn and ready by his side, the broken blade gleaming like gold within his light. He gripped the hilt tight in both hands as he anxiously waited. With each steady heartbeat, the cold got worse and worse, until it felt as if the world was frozen over.

Bacon shuddered from the biting chill and steeled himself the moment the evil demon appeared into view.

The Evil King was like a phantom hovering over the smoking remains of the city, his imposing form illuminated with every flash of crimson lightning. Darkness flickered from his armoured body like black fire, a shadowy veil that did not hide his ugly wounds nor his monstrous features. His one red eye narrowed the instant he spotted Bacon standing below.

"What is this?! A mere child?!" the demon roared, his beastly voice booming throughout the ruins, louder than thunder, and painful to the ears. His eye flashed with absolute hatred when he got a better look at the boy. Teeth and sharp tusks were bared in a furious snarl. He curled his left, armoured hand into a trembling fist while his right clenched tightly around the shaft of his fearsome black lance. Shining gold on the back of his right gauntlet was a familiar mark that made Bacon's eyes widen with shock.

"You possess a piece of the Triforce and wield that same accursed power as his..." the demon hissed vehemently, "You must be the wretched Hero of this timeline! I should have known... All along, it was you, the brat with the little healer – the trespasser back at the castle!"

Bacon blinked and hardened his gaze soon after when he finally recognized the demon by the remaining pieces of his armour. The Evil King was the mean black knight that Bacon had literally ran into on the very first day in Crocus. Bacon hadn't liked the knight back then, and now he had a good reason to hate him even more.

The demon seethed, a terrible rage distorting his scarred and wounded face into something more hideous. He pointed an armoured finger at the boy and bellowed; "No matter what powers you possess, and no matter which timeline you hail from, you will never defeat me! I have killed you already, Hero of Time, and I can do it again! Once I pry that piece of the Triforce from your lifeless body, I shall reign over this world and there will be no one to stop me!"

Thunder cracked and red lightning split the skies to match the Evil King's mood. He heaved his lance over his shoulder and threw it at the boy with an angry yell.

The lance was only a glint of shadow and flame, shooting through the air faster than any arrow, but not fast enough to catch Bacon by surprise.

Moments before the deadly point could pierce him through, Bacon leapt to the side. He was thrilled at how far and fast he could go with Wendy's enchantments and his wings combined. He had to quickly reorient himself in mid-leap to avoid smashing his shoulder into the wall of the nearest building. The bottoms of his boots slammed against stone bricks that soundly cracked and caved upon impact.

Bacon sunk his right claws into solid stone to cling to the wall. From his perch, he watched the demon's lance plunge deep into the ground where the boy once stood. The cobblestone road sank and shattered from the incredible strength behind the thrown weapon, tossing broken stone and splitting the ground, creating multiple crevasses that spread out far and wide.

Through the thick plumes of dust and rain of debris, Bacon saw wisps of shadows quickly gathering beside the lance. A crimson eye shone through the growing darkness and soon the demon fully emerged, his right, shining hand already grasping onto his weapon. His eye was ablaze, clearly infuriated that he had missed his small and nimble target.

Not yet aware of Bacon's position, the boy took the opportunity to strike back at the demon. He launched off the wall like a fired cannon with Dragonslayer fully charged with fiery gold energy. In less than a heartbeat, he closed the distance, locking onto the crimson eye that penetrated the haze of dust.

The demon noticed him at the last instant. A black gauntlet deflected Bacon's sweeping blade with a resounding clang and diverted both sword and wielder to the side.

The demon's strength was truly frightening; multitude of times stronger than Erza! Bacon winced at the numbness in his hands and arms as he was knocked backwards through the air. He landed roughly on his feet and skidded across the bumpy road, his armoured boots screeching on stone until finally coming to an abrupt stop. With his blade still imbued with golden magic, he was about to lunge at the demon once more only to hesitate when there was a bright flash of green light.

Gemini appeared right behind the Evil King with Farore's Wind, blasting away all the dust while the demon stood unfazed. The twins' copy of Dragonslayer was unbroken and blazing red as they slashed it down the demon's back, the energy unleashed flaring like a wave of flames. However, the attack didn't seem to harm the demon at all, but only infuriated him even more.

In retaliation, the Evil King tore free his weapon and spun on his heel, swinging his lance around to attack the twins.

Gemini performed a backflip to avoid the heavy blow and jumped back a few times to a safer distance. They fell into a defensive stance, glaring through the slits of their mask at their enemy.

"You live?!" the demon growled in disbelief. He thrust his lance in the twins direction, his crimson eye narrowing in spite. "No, you're only a weak spirit!"

"We may be only spirits," said Gemini, pointing their own weapon at their foe, "but we stand before you as our master. We possess his will, his courage, and his strength. He fought to protect this world and that is what we will continue to do in his stead!"

The twins boldly charged at the demon only to vanish in a flash of green a moment before reaching their opponent. In a blink, they reappeared above the knight, their fiery sword pointed downwards in hope of driving it through the top of the demon's skull.

Sensing the spirits, the demon tried to twist out of the way. The tip of Gemini's sword grazed only the armour protecting the Evil King's left shoulder and sank into the broken road by his feet. The twins didn't falter from their miss; they released their magic into the ground, causing numerous giant claws of red to burst from below.

Gemini's attack further ripped apart the earth, however none of the magical blades appeared to have even touched the knight who stood right beside them.

The demon countered by thrusting a knee right into the spirits' side.

Gemini was sent flying past Bacon where they crashed through what sounded like multiple walls of stone and brick.

Bacon twitched, but didn't dare turn away to look and see if the twins were okay. He was worried for the spirits, but knew he needed to keep his sight on the demon.

"Never turn your eyes away from your opponent or else you may dearly regret it," Erza had told him once. It was shortly after she had sent him tumbling over sharp, rocky crags and into the dark, freezing ocean during the last 'sparring' session they had.

It was a painful lesson Bacon had never forgotten.

The Evil King was a formidable enemy – fast reflexes, strength beyond measure, and the ability to instantly warp to his thrown lance – any distraction could be a fatal mistake.

Before the knight could fall back into his stance, Bacon cut the air vertically before him, releasing the magic in his sword in the form of a giant, golden crescent, just like when he had slain the blue dragon. Being so tall, the bottom edge of the magic blade sliced deep into the ground as it shot towards the demon, leaving a thin, straight line along the road.

The knight's eye was wide when he saw the light heading his way. He quickly crossed his arms before him to brace against the attack.

Bacon noticed the bright flash coming from the demon's Triforce a split second before his golden blade struck his foe. His magic failed to cut through, but it managed to knock the demon right off his feet and carry him along with the spell. The knight's body vanished from sight blocks away when he crashed through a line of buildings.

Gemini appeared near Bacon's side in a powerful gust of wind, close enough to make the boy slightly stumble. The twins quickly apologized before praising, "That was incredible, Young Master!" Despite their enthusiasm, their voice was noticeably strained and they were slouching forward in pain, one hand holding their side.

"Are you okay?" Bacon asked, bounding over to check on them.

The spirits grunted, visibly wincing under their mask. "Now we know how Master Link's shield got busted; that bastard hits so goddamn hard. How does he even move with those wounds?! He cracked a couple of our ribs just from that jab. Surprised we haven't changed back to ourselves after sustaining damage."

"Hurry to Wendy to heal!"

Gemini shook their head. "No ti–"

An explosion suddenly rocked the area where the demon had ended up. Swirling black flames had blasted every structure apart within the vicinity, leaving nothing left standing. The only thing to remain was the evil being whose eye shone wickedly within the darkness. The demon was fuming, his deep, angry growls rumbling throughout the ruins like a ferocious beast. His glare was chilling to the soul, full of intense hatred directed straight at Bacon, making the boy stiffen with caution.

Gemini took a wary step forward, trying their best to straighten their posture as they held their sword steady before them. Keeping their attention on the demon stomping their way, the twins grumbled, "Doesn't seem like our own magic is strong enough to hurt him, but it looks like your golden Acnologia power is effective. You'll have to keep hitting him with that while we distract him."

Bacon glowered at their foe and lowered into his own stance. "I don't think it hurt him that much. He has it too... The Triforce!"

Gemini gave the boy a questionable glance from the side. "Triforce? Wait, is it that golden light on his hand, just like yours?"

Bacon nodded and showed the spirits the same glowing mark on the back of his left gauntlet. "He used it to protect himself. My sword attack didn't cut through his armour like it did against a dragon!"

The twins sharply exhaled at the sound of that. They slightly bowed their head, one finger rapidly tapping the hilt of their sword as they thought up a plan. "Light Arrow," they murmured, loud enough for only Bacon to hear. A sneer was evident in their eyes when they met the boy's gaze. "Once we create an opening, shoot him with a Light Arrow to drop his guard, then attack him with everything you got."

Bacon nodded. He moved to sheathe his sword, but stopped half-way when Gemini held out their hand towards him.

"Don't pull out your bow just yet. We don't want him to figure out what we're up to. First, we'll have to draw his attention. Shoot him when he's not looking your way."

The boy frowned with worry once again. "But you're hurt..."

The twins soundly smirked. "Please don't worry about us, Young Master. We will do whatever it takes to help you defeat the demon. Here he comes!"

In a single, incredible leap, the Evil King quickly crossed the huge gap between them, his blazing red eye focused solely on Bacon. Wielding his lance in both hands, he pointed it downwards, the blade engulfed with black fire.

Bacon leapt to one side while Gemini went the other way. The boy could feel the demon's gaze follow him as he soared far from where the knight landed.

The demon pierced the ground, appearing to break only the stone at first. However, he then unleashed the devastating power charged within his weapon deep beneath the earth. The ground swelled right under the demon's feet before erupting with dark energy in one massive explosion. Twisting shadows shrouded the knight from view and instantly decimated everything around him.

Bacon was already flying fast on his wings to escape the shadowy blast. He shot over the tops of buildings, seeing the city below pass by as a blur, shortly before it was completely wiped out by the demon's powerful attack.

An unnerving chill ran up Bacon's spine. Sensing something drawing near, he took a quick glance over his shoulder and caught a fiery glint within the wave of shadows. Reacting on instinct, he twisted in the air, just in time to avoid getting impaled by the demon's thrown weapon. He had dodged the lance's large blade, but couldn't evade the curved spikes jutting from either side as one tore across his left brow, sharp and cold as a frozen claw.

The boy didn't even have time to flinch when a freezing sensation soon overwhelmed him. Shadows flickered before his eyes followed by a flash of red.

Within the next instant, the demon fully appeared, his ugly sneering face mere inches away from Bacon, one hand gripping his weapon while the other was a glowing purple fist.

Before it was too late, Bacon veered away from the Evil King's swiping punch, managing to avoid the brunt of the attack. Cold, icy knuckles grazed the boy's right shoulder, the force of the blow capable of knocking Bacon out of flight.

Right arm numb and hurting, the boy spiraled towards the city, seeing the tops of buildings spinning at a dizzying speed. Bacon gritted his teeth and focused on breaking out of his fall. His wings flapped hard to reorient his body as well as slow his descent, moments before he could crash headfirst into the slanted roof of a house.

Bacon landed in a crouch upon the roof, breaking clay shingles and cracking wood under his feet. He drew a few quick, deep breaths to regain his bearings before moving to stand. Warm blood trickled into his left eye and he quickly wiped it away, feeling his wound sting. He spotted the knight floating high above soon after, the demon's sneer replaced with a bitter snarl.

When their eyes met, the Evil King roared and dove at the boy, fully charging his lance with his evil power once more.

Bacon was prepared, now knowing what to expect from his enemy. The boy launched off the roof to meet the demon head-on, imbuing his sword with a greater amount of magic than before. Dragonslayer was ablaze with brilliant gold, lighting both the cloudy sky and the ruinous city in golden light.

Bacon swerved over the lance wanting to pierce him through and appeared before the demon with a counterattack ready. The boy feigned a side slash, tricking the knight into bringing up his gauntlet to defend. Bacon then sharply twisted out of the demon's falling path to strike the fiend from behind.

With a yell, Bacon slashed the demon's back and unleashed all the magic stored in his sword, taking his enemy by surprise.

The Evil King was propelled downwards by the enormous blade of sacred energy. The magic cleaved through every obstacle in its path, including the ground, driving the knight deep beneath the earth.

But the light suddenly vanished sooner than before. Somehow, the demon had managed to summon a fierce and greater power to counter the holy magic, making the ground explode with gold and darkness. Dirt and stone were thrown high in the air, forcing Bacon to retreat.

Hovering at a safe distance, the boy peered through the dust and gasped at the huge shadow standing within the pit.

The demon's appearance had changed from that burst of power and rage; he was taller – nearly double in height – and bulkier, with arms as thick as tree trunks, and a body triple the size of Elfman.

As the dust began to settle, more and more of the knight's monstrous features were revealed, bringing upon a new sense of dread. The demon now had a large pair of horns sprouting on either side of his head, brown and twisted and curving forward. His tusks had grown, further protruding from his lower jaw, the sharp points reaching just below his eyes. He had shed most of his armour, leaving only the black pauldrons on his shoulders, the armour on his forearms, and his big metal boots. His mane of fiery red hair was thicker and longer, flowing down his broad back and flaring out like flames. Strong fingers ended with sharp claws and powerful hands no longer gripped a lance, but instead held onto a twin pair of black steel swords. Both blades were broad, jagged, and double-edged and nearly as long as he was tall.

Not only was the Evil King physically stronger, his wicked power had increased as well to match his new form.

Before the dust had completely cleared, Gemini teleported atop the roof of a building right below Bacon.

The boy dropped down to join the Celestial Spirits, relieved to see they were still okay.

"Gods, he just keeps getting uglier the stronger he becomes," was the first thing Gemini muttered in disdain when they saw the state of their foe. They gave Bacon a quick glance and was appalled; "Young Master, you're injured!"

"Hurts only a little bit," said Bacon, wiping the blood constantly dripping down his eye. He glared at the demon below, not liking how the situation was turning. The evil radiating from the dark being was so overwhelming that Bacon was shivering uncontrollably. "We have to stop him before he gets any stronger!"

Gemini eyed the demon as well and nodded. "Understood. We saw you hit him with that attack and yet that only made him angrier... Our plan might still be the only way to take him down. However, he's so keen on trying to kill you that it's impossible for us to grab his attention."

"I can be the distraction."

The twins shook their head and whispered, "No! You can't risk it. Your magic power far exceeds ours. It has to be you–" They cut themselves off when the demon decided to attack.

The Evil King jumped out of the dusty pit and charged at Bacon and Gemini like a raging bull, slashing aside everything in his way with his blades. He was upon them in a matter of seconds, nothing but fury blazing in his eye, as he leapt high up, his huge weapons raised over his shoulders.

He's slower, Bacon was quick to notice. The demon was still fast for his size, but his movements were not as quick as before his transformation. He had sacrificed speed for power, making it a little easier to read his attacks, however getting hit would result in more than just an injury.

Bacon and Gemini dodged to the same side, with the boy taking to the air and the spirits leaping to the next rooftop. The large house they once stood upon was instantly demolished by the demon in a single strike. Homes lined up behind it were also taken down by the wind pressure generated by his blades.

Broken debris was further pulverized when the heavy demon landed on top with a mighty quake, rattling the neighbourhood.

Gemini went in for a counter. They sheathed their sword and bounded off the roof, their hands cupped together. A spiraling ball of flame gathered between their palms in a familiar spell. With a cry, the twins slammed the burning orb atop the demon's head, releasing Din's Fire in a bright and massive inferno. Searing flames engulfed the Evil King and everything else around him, instantly incinerating surrounding structures.

Bacon shielded his face and backed away from the intense flare of heat.

Smoke and cinders filled the air. Only piles of soot and molten rock were left after the quick, but devastating flash of fire.

However, much to Bacon's and Gemini's dismay, the demon stood unscathed among the charred and smouldering ruins. Not even a single hair upon his head was singed.

The Evil King ignored the Celestial Spirits down on the ground and launched straight for Bacon instead, snarling like a savage beast.

Bacon dove at the last instance, making the demon soar right over him. He heard the fiend crash into stone before seeing a clock tower collapse and bury his enemy a short distance away. Once the boy landed, he charged his sword and fired a golden blade at the big pile of rubble.

The demon smashed free and slashed his twin blades at the golden light, dispelling the magic with ease. The Evil King then made his swords vanish in a short burst of black flames and sank his claws into the ground. With a heavy grunt, the demon hurled huge clumps of dirt and rocks in Bacon's direction.

The boy jumped backwards, instinctively shutting his eyes and covering his face from the spray of earth.

"Master!" Gemini screamed.

Bacon snapped his eyes open. He felt a twinge in his gut when he saw a gigantic shadow bursting through the cover of dirt. Before Bacon could react, the Evil King was already looming in front with one giant hand reaching towards him.

The boy was soon blinded by a flash of green light. Gemini magically appeared between Bacon and the demon's claws, their arms wrapping protectively around their master. The spirits recast Farore's Wind immediately after.

But something went wrong with the spell.

There was a flash of crimson mixed with the green. The strong wind that swept them away was harsh and bitterly cold, chilling to the bone. The ride wasn't quick and pleasant either; they were tumbling seemingly forever, feeling as if they were trapped within a tornado.

A deafening crack of thunder split the realm. Bacon was blinded by red at the same time he felt a painful jolt of electricity.

All of his senses had gone numb. Next thing he knew, he was lying face-first on a cold, hard ground, his ears ringing, head spinning, and body numb and tingling. For a while, he didn't move.

Voices murmured in the distance. Bacon twitched. Gradually, his hearing returned and the voices became louder and clearer, sounding much closer than he had first thought. And there were many of them too, coming from every direction.

"... another angel?"

"Looks like this one's just a child..."

"That insane power... is it really coming from that kid?!"

"Hey, isn't that...?"

"No way! It can't be...!

"Bacon? Bacon?!"

The boy groaned when he recognized a few of the voices. Footsteps were fast approaching only to stop short when he started to move.

With his limbs all tingly and his right arm sore, Bacon slowly pushed onto his hands and knees. He shook away the dizziness in his head and blinked a few times before he could focus on all the shocked faces staring down at him.

He found himself surrounded by a large group of people. Most of them kept their distance out of caution, their bodies aglow within his aura. Others farther back were tinged purple from the enormous, tower of crystal shimmering not too far away.

Bacon's eyes swept across the bewildered crowd. He could pick out Master Makarov, Macao, Wakaba, Shadow Gear, the Thunder God Tribe, and a couple others from Fairy Tail amongst the mixed group of mages from every other guild. Some pointed fingers while they whispered and spoke to one another, their expressions ranging from curious to fear.

Bacon stared back at the mages in confusion. It took a moment before he could remember what had just happened.

He wondered where Gemini had gone and why the spirits had warped him here. And where was the demon? Bacon could still feel the intense chill of evil in the air, but he was too distraught to pinpoint the source. There was so much noise, tension, and fear coming from the people that it was hard to concentrate.

"Bacon?"

The boy snapped his head towards the speaker and found Macao who had taken a few steps closer than everyone else. The man flinched and held his breath when Bacon's gaze fell on him.

"Dad?" the boy mumbled as he staggered to his feet.

His father's wariness instantly melted away.

Macao heaved a big, relieved sigh and sprinted the last few steps to stand before the boy. The other members of Fairy Tail followed suit and gathered around, excited, concerned, and stunned with disbelief.

"Bacon! It's really you!" Macao exclaimed. He reached out to touch Bacon's right shoulder, but his fingers stopped inches away as if afraid of getting burned by the boy's flickering aura.

Bacon grabbed the man's outstretched hand out of habit. It was a gesture that broke his father's hesitation.

Giving Bacon's hand a squeeze, Macao knelt before the boy, his brow deeply furrowed. His eyes wandered over Bacon, taking note of every new change. He especially looked troubled when he saw the golden dragon on Bacon's left arm. "What happened to you? What is this light and what is that?! A dragon?! How did you..."

Bacon frowned and slightly pouted his lips for he couldn't quite follow the barrage of questions coming out of Macao's mouth. He only caught the very last thing his father had asked after what felt like a minute later; "... and where's Romeo?!"

"Romeo's okay. He's with Wendy and Natsu," Bacon answered with an assuring nod. Blood had dripped down his eye from the motion and he hastily wiped it away.

Macao somehow managed to furrow his brow even deeper, making his forehead nothing but wrinkles. "Are you okay? How did you get that nasty wound?"

The boy clenched his fists before him, his expression bold. "I was fighting an evil demon."

Macao froze, all the colour drained from his face.

"Wh-What?" someone uttered while the other members of Fairy Tail either gasped or gaped in horror.

Master Makarov stepped up beside Macao, looking just as pale as the other man. "Wait a minute! Bacon, don't tell me you're fighting–"

An earthquake shook the area, knocking Macao and almost everyone else to the ground. Several buildings collapsed a block away, farther down the street. People screamed, but their cries were soon silenced by the demonic roar that rent the air.

Those greatly affected by the powerful evil cowered in terror where they had fallen or stood. Only a few were brave enough to run in the opposite direction of the red-eyed shadow emerging from the dust and rubble, its stomping footsteps echoing like thunder.

The demon sharply turned and glowered at Bacon over the heads of the trembling mages. He raised his hands in the air and summoned back his twin blades, each appearing in a short burst of shadowy flame. He swept aside debris and dust to reveal his ugly, monstrous form to all.

People shrieked and panicked, desperately scrambling out of the way when the demon began to advance towards Bacon, stone shattering under his boots.

Bacon moved to stand in front of Fairy Tail only to realize he was empty-handed. He had lost Dragonslayer. Not only that, Wendy's enchantments had faded, dropping his physical abilities back to normal. He had to be extra careful from now on.

He didn't dare look away from his foe and search for his weapon until he heard the sound of rushing water.

Tides taller than the surrounding roofs suddenly gushed through the streets. It slammed into the demon from the side and washed away the poor, unfortunate people nearby who had yet to flee.

The water was rapidly flooding throughout the rest of the area, giving everyone little to no time to escape.

Bacon quickly scanned around for his sword and found it glinting on the ground a little ways back. He dove, flying fast on his wings, and grabbed the hilt of his weapon. He swooped up into the air right before he could get caught in the turbulent water. Hovering high above, his heart sank when he couldn't see Macao or the others under the dark currents.

"Bacon!"

"Young Master! Over here!"

With the spirits shining like a golden flame, it wasn't hard to spot Gemini waving atop a flat roof of one of the few tall buildings that stood above the waves. Standing alongside the twins was Happy, Lucy, and one of her spirits, the mermaid named Aquarius. It was because of Aquarius the streets were overflowing; the Celestial Spirit was vigorously shaking her blue vase over the rooftop, pouring a seemingly endless amount of water from the magic container.

Bacon sheathed his weapon and soared to their location. Unlike the other members of Fairy Tail, Happy and Lucy greeted him with looks of sadness instead of awe.

When the boy landed, Happy jumped into his arms, crying. The cat had buried his face in Bacon's chest, murmuring what sounded like an apology.

Before Bacon could say anything, Gemini was first to speak; "Thank the Spirit King you're all right, Young Master! Sorry for the rough landing. The damn bastard had grabbed onto our cloak," they turned around to show Bacon the torn feathers hanging down their back, "and hitched a ride with us. His power interfered with our spell and messed up our senses. That's how we accidentally ended up here."

The twins huffed at that. They had their mask sitting atop their head so their anger was visibly clear as they glared at the enormous whirlpool where the demon was currently trapped beneath.

"Will Dad and everyone else be okay?" Bacon asked, pointing at the spot where Macao was last seen.

Gemini shrugged while Lucy let out a nervous chuckle.

"I'm sure they're okay," said Lucy, although both her tone and expression were doubtful as she glanced sideways at Aquarius.

"They're fine!" Aquarius snapped, making Lucy flinch back. The scowling mermaid continued to dump water out of her vase as if on a mission to submerge the entire capital underwater. "You ungrateful girl! You asked me to get everyone out of here so what do you think I'm doing?! I'm flushing them as far away as possible from that... that monster!"

"It's working," noted Gemini, giving Aquarius a nod. "We don't sense any others around except us. And aside from the demon."

The water spirit grunted. Her pointed gaze shifted from the twins to Bacon. "Damn it, kid, you better hurry up and finish this fight! Too many have died tonight... Three of us and now two Celestial mages. His Highness is absolutely furious back in the Spirit World!"

Lucy noticeably stiffened, her face as white as a sheet. "Two mages? No, it can't be..." she whispered, her eyes watering. She bit her lower lip and abruptly shook her head, her grief turning into anger before finally morphing into ambition.

"Bacon," Lucy knelt before the boy, one hand gripping his arm. "I will fight alongside you. I'm not letting you face that demon alone."

Bacon shook his head and showed her the Triforce on his left hand. "But only I can fight him–"

"No!" Lucy pulled him into a hug, squishing Happy between them.

The boy was surprised by the touch, but didn't pull away.

"This time I will not stand by and watch!" she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "There's so much I want to teach you, so I can't have you dying on me, understand? I will help you however I can. I don't care how dangerous this is going to get, I will not run away."

Bacon felt a sense of warmth rush through him. She was Master Lucy. Someday, she would train him on how to be a proper Celestial Spirit mage as she had done with Keaton in the future.

Happy started to struggle, forcing Lucy to pull back. The cat snapped his head up to gasp for air. "I'm helping too!" said Happy, breathlessly. His sadness was replaced with newfound courage as he looked up at Bacon. "We'll defeat that scary evil demon together!"

"Don't just stand there! Hurry up and do something!" Aquarius demanded, glaring over her shoulder at everyone on the roof; "Or else I'm going to send you all out to sea!"

Lucy jumped to her feet and waved her hands frantically at Aquarius in protest. "Okay! All right! First, we need a plan."

Groaning, Gemini ran a hand through their blond hair in frustration. "We already have one, but pulling it off is proving to be difficult."

"Then come up with something else!" Aquarius shrieked, her voice so shrill it made everyone wince; "My water isn't going to keep that demon distracted for long!"

The twins suddenly perked up at what she had said, their face bright with an idea. "Maybe it will..." they mused to themselves. "Master Lucy! Remember our battle against that ugly, purple acid guy?"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "With Neppa?"

"Yes! We can try a similar strategy against the Captain. Here's what we're thinking..." Gemini went on to briefly explain the steps in their plan, which wasn't too complicated for Bacon to follow.

The boy understood his role, knowing that the fate of the world depended on him. He was not going to fail; not after the promises he had made.

There was no hesitation among the group, only boundless determination and hope. It was time to finish the battle and they would do it together.

Gemini had moved to stand at the very edge of the rooftop with Happy clinging to their feathery back. "Young Master, follow our lead, but keep your distance," said the spirits, their Sky Bow drawn and an arrow ready in their hand.

Bacon nodded as he equipped his own bow.

"We got your back," said Lucy, giving the trio a confident smile while Aquarius gave a curt nod in agreement.

Bacon glanced behind him at his folded wings. "'Got my back'?" he questioned, cocking his head in confusion.

Lucy shortly giggled. "It means we'll watch your back and make sure the Captain won't see you coming."

"Let's do this!" Happy shouted, raising one paw in the air.

Gemini grinned and jumped off the roof. Happy sprouted his wings and lifted the twins high into the air. They soared towards the giant whirlpool up ahead, the light of the spirits' aura shimmering off the water's choppy surface.

Bacon followed after them, flying off to the side and a little farther back as instructed. With no Lacrima illuminating the city below, it was as if they were flying over a vast, dark lake that glistened purple, gold, and crimson. There were a few man-made structures protruding the surface, appearing like lost, old ruins.

When Gemini and Happy reached the edge of the whirlpool, the centre began to swell as something seemingly enormous rose from beneath. The twisting currents shone a dark purple before a horned shadow enveloped in evil energy burst through the surface in an explosive entrance. Water splashed several meters high and tall waves were sent in every direction.

Happy squeaked in fright and sharply veered up and sideways to avoid the oncoming tide and the deluge of water.

The shadows dispersed to unveil the sword-wielding demon levitating above the waves, his body dry, untouched by water. His attention was drawn to Gemini first before he abruptly twisted around to face the one he desired to kill most.

For a split second, the Hero met the Evil King's gaze; eyes a valiant blue against a sinister red. They lost sight of each other when an enormous wave rose between them.

Happy and Gemini swooped around to soar along the rising tide that was big enough to wipe out half a city block. The spirits loosed one Ice Arrow after another, striking multiple parts of the tidal wave as they passed. Each arrow flashed with a deep blue light that instantly froze the water.

Bacon moved in closer as the crackling ice quickly spread and fused together to form a frozen wall. However, before the wave could completely solidify, the demon barged through, splitting ice and water with his blades.

Bacon instantly changed direction to avoid the huge chunks of ice hurtling towards him, purposely staying on the demon's blinded side. More water surged to hide the boy moments before the Evil King could spot him.

Ice Arrows rained down from above to freeze the second tidal wave. Happy and Gemini dove down to skim near the forming ice to act as bait, which prompted Bacon to head in the opposite direction.

The demon smashed through the new, partially frozen wall with an audible growl, his swords missing Happy and the twins by only a margin. Again, his sight was blocked by tall waves swelling all around him before he could get a clear view on his swift targets.

With Gemini separated on one side, Bacon needed to help freeze the water to keep up the confusion. He nocked an arrow and concentrated, recalling how the magic of the Ice Arrow felt at his fingertips. Chilling, frigid, numbingly cold – he greatly infused his power into the metallic black tip. The point shone blue, bright as a star, and was shrouded with a thick, bluish mist.

Mimicking Gemini's maneuver, Bacon flew alongside the waves and fired the magical arrow downwards, seeing it turn into a flash of blue light the instant it left his bow. He had expected his arrow to burst with energy and freeze part of the tide, but instead, it pierced through the water unhindered. It shot straight to the bottom and struck one of the submerged buildings.

The Ice Arrow released its magic upon impact, making the water and the surrounding city below briefly glow a deep blue. Ice suddenly exploded from under the surface in a blink of an eye; humongous, frozen spires that were as thick and tall as towers and extremely sharp and jagged. Every drop of water instantly froze a split second later, transforming the flowing tides into icy walls, and the vast lake into a sparkling glacier.

Bacon gasped in surprise at what he had done and saw his breath steaming in the frosty air. The temperature had significantly dropped as well; a natural cold that blended with the penetrating chill of evil.

Aquarius's cry echoed from somewhere below; "All my water is frozen!"

Bacon's gut twisted with guilt. He was afraid he had messed up the plan.

The icy tower of spikes began to rumble. The sound growing louder and louder with each passing second. Cracks appeared on the jagged surfaces, spreading like lightning deep throughout the ice. Pieces broke off when the frozen spires began to visibly tremble.

"Master Link, keep moving!" Gemini's voice rang in the distance.

Bacon snapped his focus back onto the battle. He started to realize it was the demon breaking the ice, having likely been caught in the Ice Arrow's blast. By then, all the spikes were crumbling like fragile glass.

Bacon began to circle the frozen tides. However, he didn't get very far when the section ahead of him violently shattered. Chunks of ice the size of boulders and crystal shards as sharp as blades flew across his path, the brunt of it missing him by an inch. Smaller, stray pieces grazed his skin and pelted his body and wings, making him stagger out of flight.

Bacon didn't get the chance to recover in the air; a hulking shadow was already upon him, one crimson eye flashing with malicious intent.

A wicked sneer twisted on the Evil King's lips as he brought one of his giant swords down on Bacon.

Something rammed into the boy's side and knocked him out of the way before he was sliced in two.

Happy screamed.

Bacon's heart skipped a beat. Wings flapping hard, he regained his balance and spun around in a panic. His blood ran cold when he saw that Gemini had taken the hit that was meant for him.

In a puff of white smoke, the twins had split into their individual selves. The pair were floating in the air, stunned and dazed, and at the mercy of the demon hovering right beside them.

The Evil King was downright furious at the spirits. He snatched Mini within his giant hand and crushed her entire body into glittering dust.

Bacon was horrified. He felt a sharp pang in his chest as if a knife had stabbed his heart.

"No! Mini!" Gemi shrieked. Enraged, the twin shot at the demon out of revenge, flying so fast that he was only a golden streak. He avoided the demon's swatting hand and managed to headbutt the side of the fiend's face.

It appeared as if Gemi had collided with a solid steel wall because the poor spirit bounced right off the demon's flesh, causing no harm at all. The fearless little spirit didn't give up. He rebounded and zoomed past the Evil King's shoulder, luring the demon towards the broken wall of ice.

Gemi had just reached the frozen tide when the demon's fist slammed into him from behind. The demon smashed the little spirit into the ice and demolished the entire wall in the process. Chunks of ice were sent flying in all directions, making the air glisten and shimmer with red, purple, and golden crystals.

Again, Bacon felt a pang in his chest at the loss of another spirit.

Shoot him! Now! A voice was screaming in his head. Bacon blinked away his tears and drew a sharp breath. Gemi had sacrificed himself to create the diversion the Hero needed.

Back turned, and with the hail of ice obscuring his view, the demon didn't notice the shining light coming from Bacon's arrow.

Brighter than the sun, the Light Arrow chased away the darkness of night. It was a warm ray of hope at Bacon's fingertips; a radiant power that vanquished the chill of evil that tainted the air.

The arrow itself had transformed; no longer made of wood, feathers, and dragon, it had taken on a heavenly form; an arrow of pure, holy light.

The boy loosed his sacred arrow. It shot between hundreds of pieces of falling ice, its light dazzling across the reflective surfaces, and pierced the Evil King right in the middle of his back. The arrow penetrated right through, vanishing deep within his flesh. Rays of gold then burst out of his chest only snake back around to further strike his body, drawing a pained cry.

The demon staggered but didn't completely fall, able to resist the holy light that ensnared his body. He twisted around, his mouth foaming, and fangs bared in a vicious snarl, glaring at the spot where Bacon was a second ago.

Using the raining ice as cover, the boy had shifted to the demon's blinded side, another Light Arrow at his command. He fired the second arrow of light and struck the Evil King's side. Like the first, the second arrow impaled all the way through and released its light out the other end.

The fiend roared in pain when he was once more stricken by golden rays. This time he went crashing to the icy ground. Limbs and body shining, he continued to defy the sacred power, successfully rising to one trembling knee.

Bacon wasn't finished; he dropped down, facing the demon, with a third Light Arrow taut on his bow. The demon's murderous expression morphed into one of terror shortly before the boy released his final arrow.

Light blasted the Evil King in the forehead and sent him sprawling onto his back. His body jerked and twitched. He was unable to fully move; light had weakened and held him in place.

Finish it! Go all out!

Bacon replaced his bow with Dragonslayer and held it in both hands before him, pointing the broken end skyward. He closed his eyes and concentrated, putting everything he had into this next attack. He called upon the divine power of the Triforce and the immense strength of the Ancient Dragon King, combining both forces into his blade.

Bacon looked at his sword, no longer seeing a blade of silver, but a blade made entirely of blazing gold energy. The broken end had become a sharp, flickering point that had extended twice his height. Several times stronger than any attack he had used against the demon, his arms painfully burned and shook from the strain required to keep the incredible amount of energy under control.

Without wasting another moment, the boy flew high into the air, lighting up the dark sky and the frozen city below, and came down on the demon with the force of a meteor. He thrust his magical sword through the demon's chest and out his back, driving it deep into the ice beneath.

The Evil King choked from the heavy impact, spit and dark blood flying from his mouth, while the ice cracked and caved under his body.

With a scream of fury, Bacon unleashed all the energy charged in his sword, and poured every ounce of his remaining power through his blade to further amplify his attack. The effort hurt like hell, feeling like his arms and hands had caught on fire. But he didn't care; the pain was nothing compared to the pain of losing his Celestial Spirits. He pushed through the searing agony, striving to bring an end to the Evil King's terror once and for all.

Intense light erupted from below, swallowing Bacon and the demon in gold. The boy had to shut his eyes from going blind. Ice sundered all around him; a deafening roar of what sounded like cracking rocks and shattering glass.

Down he fell, together with the Evil King right under him. They fell through light and landed in darkness, with broken ice clattering alongside them.

Bacon bounced off the demon and ended up rolling several times along a rough, icy ground before his back crashed against something solid. Dizzy and winded, the boy laid still. He couldn't move even if he tried; he had no strength left and everything was hurting. His head was pounding, his arms and hands throbbed and burned, and every muscle was sore and aching. The fiery heat in his left arm was now only as warm as dying coals, growing colder with every shallow breath he took. He was overly exhausted and his mind was lost in a haze.

Aside from the dull ringing in his ears, the night had gone quiet. He just wanted to sleep.

Until he heard Happy shouting from somewhere in the distance; "Bacon! You need to get up! Th-The demon... He's still moving!"

Through sheer effort, the boy forced his heavy eyelids open only to watch a nightmare unfold before him.

A giant, horned shadow was stirring atop a pile of debris several feet away. Its movements were sluggish and clumsy, but it still managed to rise unsteadily to its feet.

It was the Evil King and somehow he was still alive despite the sword impaled through his heart.

The demon turned his head, his glowing red eye burning with utmost hatred when it found the helpless Hero lying on the ground. With a hiss, he tore Dragonslayer out of his flesh. The sword was now back to its original form and only a mere toy in the demon's giant hand. Grunting, he tossed the weapon aside and pressed his right hand against his wound, the light of his Triforce faint and flickering like a dying glowbug. He dragged one foot forward, his blood soundly splattering on the ground, and his breathing harsh and wet.

Bacon tried to move, but his body refused to listen. He could only watch with heart-sinking dread as the demon slowly drew closer and closer.

The demon stumbled after the fourth step and started to heave up blood, an action that nearly dropped him to his knees. He gasped and wheezed, sounding as if he was about to breathe his last breath. And yet he still stood, too stubborn to give up.

He took one more step and began to sway forward. The Triforce vanished from his hand and the crimson glow of his eye faded away, bringing back the night.

The Evil King toppled over with a resounding boom that echoed throughout entire capital and didn't get back up.

Overcome with relief, Bacon was hit hard by the return of his exhaustion. He couldn't keep his eyes open, even when the wind blew strong and the sky thundered with the sound of beating wings.

The last thing he saw was the shadow of an enormous winged creature with a wicked, red eye descending upon the fallen demon. The boy didn't know what happened next because the world turned dark and silent.

---

A/N: At long last, this arc is finally coming to an end... What a journey it's been.

Some of you are probably wondering: Is Link a Dragon Slayer now? Technically yes, because he did slay a dragon! Honestly, I'm still contemplating about it. He will eventually become a Dragon Slayer, but his powers won't be exactly the same as Wendy and the others.

So what 'type' of Dragon Slaying magic will it be? Void Butterfly made some good suggestions and two really stood out, but I can't decide which is better: Aether or Arcane? I've opened a poll on my profile page, please help me decide.

Aether - "inspired by The Legend of Spyro series where Aether is the ultimate element there for Purple Dragons..." I like the sound of it and the inspiration behind it.

Arcane - it was revealed in the anime that Acnologia called himself the Arcane Dragon. Even though that's the case, it doesn't restrict what his magic should be called in the world of fanfiction.

Thanks for reading!

Little mini rant:

Received a 'wonderful' review from a guest a couple months ago: "amnesia is a trope used almost entirely by hacks and the uninspired. what's even the point of using it other then to gimp a character who didn't need it?. link is already mute/gruff/soft spoken enough to not blab his life's story to some rando strangers, but take said past away from him leaves only a link shaped charicature that;s hatd to give a shite about"

Ouch, like a knife to my weak, pathetic heart.

Yes, I know my story is full of tropes, but I still love writing it. After all this time, it's truly a surprise some of you are still here, reading my dumb, trope-filled story.

To my fellow authors and future writers: the internet has become such a negative place, but don't let those few people who like to voice their hate stop you from writing what you want. You'll likely stumble and start to lose hope from their comments, but know that those people never hang around for long. They say their piece and often flee, never to be heard from again. So just keep moving forward. Take a deep breath, look back, and laugh at the atrocious grammar and punctuation these people left behind.

Have a good day.