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!

28. The Legendary Hero

The Legendary Hero

---

It was pandemonium. There was no better way to describe the current state of Crocus. Unlike the Magic Game event, it wasn't a hundred monsters in an arena, but the entire city in turmoil.

Dragons. Demons. Angels. Hurricanes. Meteors. Earthquakes and explosions. Way too much chaos to handle all at once. It felt like things kept getting worse and worse, but then the nightmare finally came to an abrupt end in the form of heavenly light. A brilliant beacon of gold had shot to the sky, vanquishing the dark clouds and wicked evil that had threatened the city.

The battle was won, however there was no peace. Crocus, what was once the beautiful, flourishing capital of the Kingdom of Fiore, had been reduced to ruins in a single night.

There was destruction as far as the eye could see and bodies of dead dragons strewn throughout. Domus Flau was completely annihilated, replaced by a towering, cracked crystal barrier that contained the heat and smoke coming from the deep, molten purple pit. Since the eruption, the gigantic hole had been burning, and it would continue to burn for several days more, maybe even weeks.

Not far from the crystal tower was ice left from the final battle – tonnes and tonnes of it – as if someone had smashed a giant glacier right on top of the entire western district. It would take at least a week for all of it to melt, but the main problem was the amount of water it would leave behind; there was enough to flood half the city without any proper drainage.

Despite all the damage the city had sustained, the number of casualties and injured was turning out to be much, much lower than anticipated. The Royal Family was safe and secure, having been the first to be escorted out. It was all thanks to the early actions of the Magic Council initiating a city-wide evacuation hours before the terror began, due to an unrelated bomb threat.

Or was it somehow related? The timing seemed almost too coincidental.

Think about it later, Doranbolt grumbled mentally to himself.

With a deep, weary sigh, the man crumpled into his chair at his makeshift desk, which was originally a dining table in one of the few restaurants that hadn't completely collapsed nor was on the verge of falling apart. It used to be a breakfast joint, but now it served as the Rune Knights' temporary base as they tried to get the whole situation back in order. It was a futile attempt so far because where does one even begin at this level of catastrophe?

What a freaking disaster... Doranbolt slumped forward on the table and buried his face in the palms of his dirty hands. He smelled blood and grime, but didn't care. He was exhausted, hungry, and aching, having been on his feet for over thirty-six hours assessing what was left of the city and aiding in the rescue of civilians who were trapped under rubble.

He had no clue what had truly unfolded last night nor why it even happened right in the heart of Fiore. However, he had heard the gossip and rumours spreading around coming from the mage guilds: A demon had opened a magic portal to summon dragons from another dimension or world on top of Domus Flau; angels had descended from heaven to save the people, slaughtering the dragons and smiting the demon, only to vanish once the deed was done. Seemingly wild stories and yet Doranbolt believed some of it true.

He, as well as every person in the city, had sensed the powerful entities clashing throughout the city; tremendous, otherworldly magical powers against an unholy evil that had made everyone cower in fear. And Doranbolt had seen the bodies of the slain dragons up close; giant, mighty beasts of legends, some killed more brutally than others. It was a gruesome, unbelievable sight.

However, not all dragons summoned were killed that night. Five of them were spotted flying away together after the battle was over, including the storm-summoning behemoth. Most troubling of all was the missing body of the demon where the final battle took place. Lahar and his Rune Knights had combed every inch of the broken ice and found nothing, not even a trace of the angels either. Perhaps the angels had completely vaporized the demon before they returned back to the heavenly sky within that beacon of light.

It was a crazy assumption, one that may not be too far from the truth, given the lack of evidence. Doranbolt wanted to find out what really happened, but hadn't had the time or energy to interrogate for answers. He hadn't even contacted Headquarters to report about the incident yet; saving the lives of others came first.

So far, there were over five hundred people wounded and seventy-eight confirmed dead, either crushed by falling buildings or trampled to death on the streets. The numbers were undoubtedly going be higher once the search teams consisting of Rune Knights, Royal Guards, and volunteers from the mage guilds thoroughly searched the rest of the south-western district; the last sector that was in the middle of the evacuation process.

Doranbolt was busy rubbing his tired eyes when he heard someone clear their throat nearby. He jumped. Normally, he would be able to detect others before they could sneak up on him, but he was just too exhausted to keep his magic sense up.

He had a good guess who it could be and groaned, "What now, Lahar? I was just about to call Headquarters. Just give me a goddamn break."

However, it wasn't the Head Captain of the Custody Enforcement Unit demanding Doranbolt's attention, it was someone else.

"Sorry to bother you when you need your rest," said a man with a gruff, elderly voice, "but there is something urgent we must discuss at once before you get in contact with the Magic Council Headquarters."

Doranbolt blinked through the bleariness in his eyes and found Master Makarov and Mystogan standing by his table. Both appeared just as worn out as the other, having likely not slept a wink for the past two days. Despite that, Makarov wore a stern face while Mystogan was noticeably tense, his wary gaze flickering between the handful of Rune Knights taking a much-needed nap at other tables and on the floor.

Sighing, Doranbolt leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, not liking Makarov's tone. "What is it, Guild Master? More bad news? Did your guild find more dead?"

Makarov shook his head. "Fortunately, none. We did find ten more wounded, but that is not the reason why we're here. Please, may we speak in private? What we need to discuss is of vital importance."

Doranbolt narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he glanced between the old man and Mystogan.

"What's so important that–"

"Please, Doranbolt," Makarov interrupted, lowering his voice, "what we will tell you will affect the outcome of our future."

Doranbolt raised his brow in surprise. He suddenly felt the need to listen to the old man. Perhaps he was just too tired to argue.

"All right," he conceded, lazily waving his hand in defeat. He pushed onto his sore feet, grunting from the painstaking effort. Slowly, he started to hobble towards the door that led to the kitchen, taking care not to disturb his sleeping comrades. "Follow me. I think there's an office in the back of this place that's still intact."

He pushed through the squeaky swinging door and entered the mess of a kitchen. It used to be a complete disaster when Doranbolt and his Knights first stepped into it; standing shelves had tipped over and cookware and utensils were strewn across the floor. They had to shove everything aside in order to access the walk-in coolers and dry storage. With provisions lacking, they were fortunate the restaurant was fully stocked with food and ingredients to keep the Rune Knights going.

Doranbolt led Fairy Tail towards the back, their trek far from quiet. Boots and shoes crunched on broken glass and ceramic and occasionally stepped on or kicked metal cutlery around. Along the way, Doranbolt grabbed the last apple out of a fruit bowl that someone had left out on a prep table and took a quick bite. With only a gesture of his hand, he offered his two guests what was left in the bowl. Both kindly declined.

Starving, Doranbolt devoured the rest of the apple and tossed away the core before reaching the lone office. Last he had checked, the door was blocked on the other side by fallen file cabinets. With a running shove, he managed to crack the door wide enough for them to sidle through.

Doranbolt snapped his fingers to activate the Lacrima lights mounted on the walls. Inside the small room, spilled papers, folders, and manuals decorated the hardwood floor. To one side was a plain metal desk and two wooden chairs. Opposite of that, was a broken window that brought in the cool evening breeze, making the ugly yellow curtains gently flutter.

Mystogan was the last to enter. He soundly locked the door behind him before marching over to the window to draw the curtains closed.

Doranbolt became suspicious once again. Before he could voice his concern, Makarov spoke first;

"Please have a seat, Doranbolt."

The man obliged without thought. He turned the closest chair around and plopped right into it, glad to be off his feet. "Guild Master–"

Makarov held up a finger to silence him.

"Listen closely to me," the old man whispered, moving to stand beside Doranbolt. He placed a firm hand on the Head Captain's shoulder and leaned uncomfortably close, his eyes staring intently at the other. "Herein lies the hidden truth. Bring forth the true soul residing deep within. The time to awaken is now, Mest Gryder."

Doranbolt furrowed his brow. "What – ack!" It felt like someone had split his head in two with a battleaxe. If it weren't for the strong hand holding him up, he would have collapsed onto the floor from the excruciating pain.

He clutched at his head, digging his nails into his scalp, wanting to scream, but he could only gasp for air. He felt dizzy and sick; on the verge of throwing up the apple he had just eaten.

Forgotten memories suddenly flooded his mind. A life-time's worth. Memories of his true life; his true self. And most important of all, he remembered the special mission Master Makarov had assigned him over eight years ago.

I... I am Mest Gryder... That's who I really am. I belong to Fairy Tail, not the Magic Council...

"Deep breaths, Mest," he heard Makarov murmur. "Drink this. Porlyusica made it just for you." Something cold pressed against his lips and he caught a whiff of strong smelling herbs. A familiar scent. Medicine. One that would instantly cure his godawful migraine. He grabbed the vial and poured it down his throat.

He had never tasted anything so pungent and bitter in the longest time. As nasty as it was, it brought relief from the pain and nausea.

"M-Master..." Mest choked out, stifling back a sob. Along with the memories, he was overwhelmed with emotion. Seven years he had lived his life as Doranbolt, never truly understanding why it hurt so much when he saw Tenrou Island destroyed by Acnologia. Back then, he had lost most of his family and he didn't even realize it.

Hushing, Makarov gently patted Mest's arm. "There, there, my boy," he said through telepathy. "Don't make too much noise now. We don't want to alert your Knights."

Mest nodded and hastily wiped the tears and sweat off his face. After a few deep, stuttering breaths, he regained his composure and straightened in his chair to meet his master's kind eyes. "Yes, apologies... I'm just so overjoyed to talk to you again, Master... after so long."

Makarov stepped back, his smile wide and proud. "I wanted to meet up with you when we returned, but getting a hold of you was difficult, seeing how high you've risen among the ranks at the Magic Council."

Mest bowed his head in shame, feeling nothing but regret. He didn't deserve the promotions he had gotten after the Tenrou Island incident. He had unknowingly abandoned his own guild, and thought little of them as the years passed by...

"Sorry to intrude on the moment," an awfully familiar voice interjected their minds, "but we should get straight to the point. We mustn't dawdle here for too long."

Mest shot to his feet when he recognized the speaker. He sharply turned to face the masked man standing near the window, casually leaning his back against the wall with his arms crossed. Mest angrily pointed at the imposter who dared to disguise himself as Mystogan. "It's you..." he snarled under his breath. "Jellal Fernades!"

The fugitive soundly smirked under his bandana. "So you've been a spy for Fairy Tail all this time. Impressive," was his reply, infuriating the other.

Makarov quickly stepped in front of Mest, stopping the man in his tracks. "Mest, calm down. Jellal is not an enemy."

"What?" Mest uttered in shock. "Master! He's a wanted criminal! He escaped the Council dungeons–"

"I am aware of his crimes."

Mest was surprised by his master's lack of concern. What was more troubling was the fact that Makarov was allowing the Magic Council's most wanted man to hide among Fairy Tail.

"Then you know how dangerous he is!" he pressed on, "He endangered the lives of the Royal Family and threatened to blow up the entire city!"

"And it is because of that threat that the Royal Family and over two million people aren't dead," Jellal pointed out, steeling against Mest's accusing glare.

Mest froze. He lowered his arm and stared at the masked mage, stunned. "Wait... You tricked me? You lied about the bombs because... you wanted me to evacuate the city? You knew? You knew that there would be dragons and demons attacking the capital? Were you a part of it?!"

"No!" Jellal snapped, anger flashing across his eyes.

Mest winced at the volume of his voice and immediately shifted into a defensive stance when Jellal took a step towards him.

Jellal suddenly stopped, his anger gone as fast as it had came. He fell back against the wall, his hands covering his face. No longer did he stand confident like a dignified man, but someone overcome with despair. Even his tone sounded weak and defeated when he said, "We tried to prevent it... We tried to stop it all from happening... But obviously, we didn't fully succeed..."

Makarov gave Jellal a pitying look. "You didn't fail either. It is true lives were still lost, but this future is still far brighter than the one you spoke of. History has been changed for the better, Jellal. Most of us would not be here today if it were not for you and the others fighting to protect our future."

Jellal slowly shook his head. "No... all I did was blow up a goddamn Gate. Keaton... He was the one who made all of this possible. He sacrificed everything to give us this second chance. We owe him our lives..."

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on here," Mest said aloud, glancing between the two, not quite following what they were saying. "Start from the beginning," he demanded, unable to mask his frustration. "Tell me exactly what went down. I know you want my help for something, Master, so if you want it, give me the whole truth. We have four hours before the next rotation of Rune Knights so don't spare any details."

"Fair enough," said Makarov. He motioned for Mest to sit back down and pulled himself the other chair. Legs crossed, the old man stroked his rough, unshaven chin and sighed. "Now, where shall we even begin?"

"The Grand Magic Games," Jellal muttered in disdain as he slid down and made himself comfortable on the floor. He went on to explain how it all started seven years ago, when King Toma first announced the annual magical event.

Although Jellal kept it brief and concise, with input from Makarov here and there, Mest couldn't help but react to every truth and secret that was revealed. He was certain he was making a wide range of faces and was fortunate that neither of them were looking his way.

One of the biggest surprises was Jellal being one of the founders of Crime Sorcière, an unofficial, elusive guild whose name and reputation were well-known in the Magic Council. Having eliminated and disbanded over a hundred Dark Guilds all over Fiore in only less than six years, Mest – as Doranbolt at the time – had secretly admired Crime Sorcière's work despite the mess they often left behind for the Magic Council to clean up.

No longer did Mest distrust Jellal, but instead regarded him with newfound respect, especially after learning that Crime Sorcière's main goal was to bring an end to Zeref and his dark forces. Mest now understood why Jellal was disguised as Mystogan; it was to get closer to the Grand Magic Games in hope of uncovering the source of evil he could detect every year during the main events.

The true purpose of the Grand Magic Games was to discretely siphon the magic energy from the participating mages in Domus Flau to fuel the Eclipse Gate, a forbidden gateway through time. Forewarned of a dragon invasion by a man who had called himself 'The Prophet', King Toma had the Eclipse Gate built to defend against the massive army of beasts. It was a secret operation called the Eclipse Project and it was supposed to save the Kingdom's future. However, it had all been a lie.

"I suspect the demon may have been posing as The Prophet," said Jellal, scowling at the floor at his feet. "He infiltrated the castle and either fooled or gained control of the King in order to put the Eclipse Project in motion. No doubt he was pulling the strings to ensure his plan would come to fruition while he hid among the Holy Knights, disguised as the man named Geraldo."

"It is clear the King and Princess were manipulated by this demon," Makarov added, shaking his head. "They were tricked into believing they were protecting the Kingdom. Mest, this is where I must ask a favour from you."

"You don't want that fact known to the public, I assume?" the other questioned, raising his brow.

The old man nodded and gave Mest a stern look. "Word must not get out that the Royal Family had any affiliation with the demon. Especially to enemy nations. It would make Fiore appear weak and vulnerable. With Crocus in ruins and over two million homeless, the people are in need of a strong King who would lead them through this desperate time of need."

By 'enemy nations', Mest knew his master was inferring to the Alvarez Empire, an enormous opposing country situated across the western sea. After discovering certain records that involved the Empire had gone missing, Makarov had assigned Mest to infiltrate the Magic Council to investigate as well as to keep an eye on the Council's latest actions.

Mest held back the need to groan at the amount of extra work piled on top of his responsibilities as the Head Captain of his division. Not wanting to disappoint his master, he simply agreed to do the job that would likely take days to get under control. "Got it. What do you propose?"

"The King was never approached by The Prophet. There was never an Eclipse Project and this Geraldo was never a Knight in the Royal Army. Twist the story to explain the demon's sudden appearance in Crocus."

Mest grinned at how easy that was going to be. "Well, there's already a few wild rumours going around that I can further spin away from the truth."

Makarov smiled. "Excellent. Jellal, please continue."

Without pause, the mage of Crime Sorcière resumed right where he left off.

Nothing could top what Mest had learned next. The boy who travelled through time to change the fate of the future.

His name was Keaton. He had come from a desolate future conquered by merciless dragons. One of the few to survive for seven years, the boy had grown to become a strong and fearless warrior capable of slaying dragons. Including the mighty Acnologia. It was from a dying Acnologia that the boy had learned of the demon's existence and the Eclipse Gate. Armed with this knowledge, Keaton sought out the Gate and used it to travel seven years into the past. He had arrived on the Third Day of the Games and met up with Jellal to warn about the calamity that would take place on the Final Day.

"We came up with a plan to destroy the Eclipse Gate," said Jellal, meeting Mest's wide-eyed stare. Eyes sunken, Jellal was visibly exhausted; recalling the events seemed to drain every ounce of his energy. "I didn't lie about those bombs. You saw what happened to Domus Flau. That was my doing."

Mest was horrified, but kept his mouth shut and his own thoughts to himself, assuming Jellal had good reason to blow up an entire mountain. And indeed, he had a damn good reason.

Mest was on the very edge of his seat as he listened to Jellal recount the last few days of the Grand Magic Games. It was one incident that led to another, eventually building up to the events of the night of the lunar eclipse.

It began with Lucy Heartfilia accused of treason and getting thrown in prison. Keaton attempted to break her free, however a trap was triggered and they were sent to Abyss Palace, a vast, labyrinth of ruins underneath the castle grounds that was ruled by skilled executioners. When Keaton did not return, Jellal joined up with Fairy Tail's team who were secretly planning to rescue Lucy. On that night before the Fifth Day, Jellal, Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, Pantherlily, and Mirajane snuck into the castle only to also fall into Abyss Palace.

Fortunately, they were able to rescue Keaton and Lucy from the executioners before it was too late. Down there, they were joined by Arcadios, the ex-Captain of the Holy Knights who had also been charged of treason. With Arcadios's help, they learned of a secret passageway and tried to use it to escape. However, they ended up walking into a deadly trap set by the newly promoted Captain of the Holy Knights, Geraldo.

Geraldo killed Arcadios and wounded Natsu and Jellal. If it weren't for Keaton's Celestial Spirit powers and ability to teleport, they would not have escaped alive. Split into two groups, Lucy's group managed to warp to safety with Gemini while Jellal's group ended up in the castle's wine cellar. During their escape, they were confronted by a mind-controlled Sergeant Yukino Agria and were forced to fight her out in the front plaza, which explained all the property damage.

With time running short and their initial plan jeopardized, Jellal sought out Doranbolt to prepare for the worst.

Mest grunted. "Bastard, you really made me believe you've gone crazy and wanted to blow up the city out of spite."

A sneer was evident from the gleam in Jellal's eyes. "Had to make it convincing otherwise you would've wasted time trying to find and stop me instead of getting everyone out of the city."

That part was true, Mest hated to admit.

Yukino, free from Geraldo's control, had provided some important information about the demon's plan to open the Eclipse Gate on the castle grounds. However, unaware to Jellal and the others, Yukino had been implanted with false memories, as if the demon had used a spell similar to Mest's Memory Control on her. Believing Yukino's words, the group returned to the castle on the night of the lunar eclipse. What they walked into wasn't another trap, but a diversion. They had thought they were battling the demon and thwarting his plans, but in truth, they had only defeated his phantom.

The real demon was up on Domus Flau and had somehow relocated the enormous Eclipse Gate to the arena. When it was time for the total lunar eclipse, the doors were believed to be opened by Yukino. Although her body had yet to be recovered, Lucy and her spirits had confirmed that Yukino Agria had died that night...

Dragons began to appear through the Gate shortly after, summoned to the present from the past, and immediately brought under the demon's control, one after another.

Mest could remember the sinking dread he had felt that night when he sensed the powerful beings steadily growing in number. At that time, he was down by the South Gate, directing the civilians out as fast as possible. Little had he known, that that was the beginning of all the madness.

Dragons had swarmed the skies, destroying the city while in pursuit of Keaton and Carla. The brave pair had been luring the great beasts away from Domus Flau to give Jellal the chance to destroy the Eclipse Gate.

And they were successful. Domus Flau had violently exploded with bright purple flames behind a strong, magical, crystal barrier. However, unforeseen was the resulting earthquake that affected the entire city.

Jellal hung his head in guilt at the amount of deaths and injuries caused by the quake. "I have killed more people than that demon..."

"It is not your fault," Makraov tried to assure, "You could not have anticipated the explosion triggering an earthquake. You and the others had done everything within your power to prevent the worst from happening."

"Yeah, I can't blame you at all," Mest added, "It was either that or a city overrun by dragons... If I was in your place, I would have done the same."

Jellal narrowed his gaze at Mest. "I will still take full responsibility for all the damage I caused. Let Headquarters know that I, alone, was the one behind the destruction of Domus Flau and the resulting loss of innocent lives."

"Are you sure you want that?" Mest inquired, shocked. "I can tell them it was the demon–"

"No, this is another burden that I will have to live with... I am already their most wanted man. How much worse can it get?"

"Possibly a lot worse. They will issue a very high bounty for your head and it'll be kill-on-sight. No arrest. No trial. No jail time. You'll have to hide and watch your back for the rest of your life if you plan to stay in Fiore."

Jellal snorted and waved a dismissive hand. "Then so be it. I'd rather be dead than tortured in that fucking hellhole again. I've avoided detection for six years, I can stay under the radar for several more."

Mest frowned. He wasn't aware that guards were torturing prisoners in the Council dungeons since his division had no reason to venture down there. Jellal had endured the brutality for a full year before his escape, so no wonder he would rather die than be locked up in a cell.

Mest turned to his master, hoping the old man could somehow persuade Jellal to choose otherwise. It just didn't seem fair given the circumstances.

However, Makarov looked at Jellal in understanding. "You had played a vital role in stopping the demon's plan. Once the Chairmen hear about your heroic actions, there is a good chance they will no longer view you as a criminal, but a man who had a change of heart, seeking redemption."

Jellal scoffed. "Knowing that stubborn, senile lot, I highly doubt their opinions about me would be so easily swayed. They'll want someone to blame for the consequences, so let it be me."

Not in the mood to argue about that any further, Jellal continued on.

The demon was not happy after the Eclipse Gate was destroyed. Outraged, he had sent dragons to attack Jellal and all the mages that had gathered near the barrier. Every guild and Guild Master was there, including Makarov and Fairy Tail.

"We were surrounded," Makarov recalled, his brow creased and his mouth a grim line, "Trapped with nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. We were rendered helpless under the sheer might of those great beasts combined. I was certain we would meet our end when the dragons began to charge their breaths. But then, we were saved – by many who had thought him an angel answering their prayers."

"It was Keaton," Jellal clarified, "and he had transformed."

Mest leaned forward. "Transformed into an angel?"

"No, not quite. He had awakened an incredible power he wasn't aware he had. You see, Keaton had thought Acnologia had placed a curse on him moments before the dragon's death. But in truth, Acnologia had chosen to give the boy his power."

"What?!" Mest almost fell out of his chair. He was completely flabbergasted. There was no way... It was impossible to believe the same black dragon – that nearly wiped out most of Fairy Tail – could ever do such a thing. And didn't Jellal mention that Keaton was the one to slay Acnologia? "Why... Why would...?"

Jellal shrugged and shook his head. "I don't understand it either. Keaton never knew the reason and now we may never know why. Nevertheless, it was with Acnologia's power that Keaton was able to protect us from the dragons. He slayed each one without effort before he went after the demon shortly after. That was the last time we saw him alive..."

Jellal looked away and drew a slow, deep breath, needing a moment to gather himself. Even Makarov had fallen silent, his attention drawn to the floor. Both were overcome with grief.

It wasn't difficult to guess that Keaton was more than just a random boy who had come from the future. For a moment, all Mest could hear was the quiet flapping of the curtains covering the window. He closed his eyes and took the time to process what had been said. He already knew the outcome of the battle, however he soon realized one thing.

"Wait," he said, glancing between the two, "Was it Keaton who defeated the demon? Did he–"

"No," Jellal cut in, slowly shaking his head, "He was fatally wounded while trying to protect Wendy..."

Mest gasped. "Wendy?! She was there?! Is she okay?!"

"Don't worry," Makarov assured, "She had sustained some injuries during the ordeal and has already been fully healed. It is her heart that will need some time to mend..."

"I do not know the full details on what happened," Jellal continued, "I only know the demon had somehow gained more power when the sky turned dark and ominous. He had transformed into a real demon from Hell, Wendy had said. An evil being so strong, that she was paralyzed with fear within his presence..."

Mest shuddered, remembering the monstrous cry and the intense chill that had haunted the city when the terrible evil had truly awoken. People had collapsed to their knees in absolute terror, including Mest and every soldier and Rune Knight. That overwhelming level of fear was suffocating, as if the darkness was closing in on him, draining every ounce of his life away. He couldn't imagine how much worse it felt to be so near the main source of evil.

"So she was an easy target..." Mest concluded, hands furled angrily upon his knees. "That despicable monster! If Keaton was killed, then... who defeated the demon? The rumours spoke of more than one angel..."

Jellal met Mest's stare, his eyes reflecting a hint of sadness, but also admiration. "Before Keaton died, he was able to pass on Acnologia's power to his past, younger self. He may only be just a child, but it was this young boy who finally brought the demon down. That sacred light of gold that pierced the dark sky; that was the child's true power, and it was capable of eliminating the evil brought upon by the demon."

Before Mest could even react to that astounding bit of news, Makarov spoke up, "This is where I must ask another favour from you, Mest. The Magic Council, as well as the public, must not know of the child's identity nor his existence. You know very well what the Council will resort to if they learn that a mere boy is in possession of such powers. And if word gets out to the public, there may be some who desire his power and try to harm him. Or worse."

"Not only that, evil forces may pursue after him," Jellal added, his voice a bitter snarl in their heads. "The demon is not dead; the enormous storm dragon named Dreadwing was seen carrying the demon away right after his defeat. There is a possibility he will make a return in the near future with more than just a handful of dragons under his control. Evil will attract evil. Now that the demon's true nature has been revealed to the world, he would likely gain followers of every kind. Maybe even join forces with Zeref... I can only hope that would never come true."

Mest leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "I see... So you want me to wipe everyone's memory about the boy in order to protect him."

Makarov nodded. "That is correct. As of now, the boy is the only one who has the power to counter the demon's evil. We cannot let anything happen to him. He is a Fairy, Mest," Makarov smiled, proud and grateful, "We must do everything to protect him as he has done for us. He has given us this future."

Mest was elated. "He's a Fairy? Since when did he join the guild? The last member to join was Asuka Connell when she turned five and that was a year ago. I've unknowingly kept an eye on our guild's registrations back at Headquarters and the name 'Keaton' had never popped up."

"That is because we have, more or less, adopted him into our guild. Link is his true name and he is no ordinary child..." Makarov shared the story on how the boy was discovered in a mysterious temple in the middle of a forest, unconscious and injured, and worst of all, suffering with severe amnesia. The boy was not human either, with ears long and pointed and his magical essence far different from the people of Fiore. It is suspected he may have come from a distant land or even a whole other world. Until the boy could remember his past, they could only make assumptions.

"From slaying raptordiles to slaying dragons, the boy has grown so fast within such a short amount of time. He does not bear the mark of Fairy Tail, but he does possess the same heart and spirit shared within our guild. We had kept him hidden under our wings and will continue to do so. All of us had sworn to keep him safe so do not alter Fairy Tail's memories."

"I must ask that you spare Crime Sorcière as well," Jellal requested, narrowing his eyes at the pair, "For Keaton's sake. He was one of us and we will treat Link the same. There will come a time when I will teach him Sensory Magic. Until then, Crime Sorcière will continue to purge this land of Zeref's forces and keep an eye out for any activity in regards to the demon from here on out."

"Very well," said Makarov, meeting Jellal's gaze evenly. "Then you must promise not to compromise Mest's secret identity. Only you and I know the truth. No one else, understand?"

"Understood. After today, he will never see me again. If I'm lucky."

Mest crossed his arms and grunted. "You better stay out of the Council's sights. Once I'm done what Master has asked of me, I'll be mucking my own memories. I won't remember any of this, so we will be enemies depending on what the Chairmen want to do with you."

With their discussion over, Makarov hopped off his chair, prompting the other two to stand.

Mest checked his wristwatch and saw that only an hour had passed even though it felt like they had been talking all night. Communicating through telepathy was a lot faster than talking verbally.

"Where is the boy now?" Mest inquired as he straightened his clothes and smoothed out his hair. He didn't want to look too dishevelled if they happened to run into any conscious Knights on the way out.

Makarov frowned deeply with worry. "Hidden at our camp. However, he is not well. Expending that enormous amount of magic during the battle has taken a heavy toll on his untrained body. He has fallen ill with a high fever and no healing magic or any potions on hand are able to cure it. Porlyusica is trying her best to make a remedy, but she is lacking vital ingredients and equipment. Everything she needs is back at her home and–"

"Let me help," Mest quickly offered, "I can teleport them home without anyone noticing."

Makarov's face lit up with hope. "I was just about to ask you that favour. Then let's hurry back to our camp. Be warned, the others are still grieving. They're all exhausted and wary. A member of the Magic Council is the last person they want getting near the boy."

Mest nodded, knowing full-well how overprotective his guild mates could be sometimes. "Got it. I'll warp us just outside the camp and hope you can defend me from their wrath before it's too late. Especially Erza's."

Jellal snorted in amusement as he joined them. "Lucky for you, she's not standing guard at the moment. Right now, it's Natsu, Gajeel, and Elfman you'll have to tread carefully around."

Mest grinned. "Those three combined is still better than Erza. All right, brace yourselves." He shut his eyes and concentrated, recalling the location of Fairy Tail's campsite situated near the mountains east of the South Gate. He sensed around to find a safe spot to warp to without getting seen. Once the perfect location was set in his mind, he mentally grabbed onto his master's and Jellal's auras with invisible hands and cast his teleportation spell, taking them with him.

He felt the floor shift under his feet. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted with the darkness of night and the quiet murmur of voices. No longer were they in the small, messy office, but up on a short cliff under the starry sky.

Below was Fairy Tail's campsite, made up of several small tents that were lit up by the many portable Lacrima lanterns hanging throughout the area. Cliffs and tall trees protected all sides of the site with the exception of the main entryway. It was private and secluded, far away from the noise and crowds of the main area the other stranded guilds and travellers had made camp. There was less chance of outsiders poking around and stumbling upon the guild's secret.

Makarov led Jellal and Mest down the cliff and straight into camp. There was only a handful of people outside of their tents. Some had gathered around a cooking fire in the centre, eating their late evening meals, while some stood or sat around, obviously on guard. Not every guild member was present, over half were still in the city helping with the search and rescue of survivors.

The moment Makarov's group entered the light, all conversations stopped and every head turned in their direction.

First to greet them was Natsu and Happy who both stood guard nearest to the entrance. The Dragon Slayer appeared relieved at first until he noticed Mest walking behind his master. Fangs were suddenly bared as he glared and pointed at the Head Captain. "Gramps! Why the hell is he here?" he demanded.

Natsu was soon joined by Gajeel, Pantherlily, and Elfman, and altogether, they blocked Makarov's path. Those by the fire stood up, but hesitated to move in closer to see.

Gajeel's mouth twitched into a sharp-toothed snarl. He was highly agitated by Mest's presence, looking ready to pounce at the Head Captain at any moment. "We weren't expecting a visit from the Magic Council," he growled, cracking his knuckles in an intimidating display.

Mest hung back out of caution. The level of hostility coming from his own guild mates stung a little, but he kept up his act.

Makarov approached Natsu and the others and waved his hand to motion them to step aside. However, none of them moved. "Stand down. Doranbolt is not here as the Magic Council, but as a friend. He came on his own accord."

Natsu wasn't convinced. "What do you mean?"

"Look, I'm not here to stir up any trouble," said Mest, his tone calm and sincere. He slowly made his way over, hands raised as if surrendering. "No one else in the Magic Council knows I'm here. I swear to you. Your Guild Master has asked for my help and that's the only reason why I'm here."

"And what sort of help will that be?" said Elfman, folding his burly arms before him.

"I heard you have a very sick child here. I can take him home where your doctor can make the proper medicines to help him."

Natsu was shocked at his master. "Gramps, you told him?!"

"Calm down," Makarov commanded, keeping his voice low and firm, "Bacon cannot stay here and we cannot wait any longer for our ride back home to be arranged. It could take several days before that happens and I fear his health will only get worse if we don't hurry and do something. Doranbolt has agreed to take the boy and Porlyusica home using his teleportation ability. She can work on her medicines there."

"Master!" Macao and his son, Romeo, ran up to join them. The man shot Mest a stern glower. "Are you sure about this? Can you really trust him?"

"I do. I have faith he will do no harm. If you're all worried then," Makarov glanced back and gestured at Jellal, "Mystogan will accompany them. Please watch over Bacon until we can return to Magnolia. Make sure nothing goes wrong, understood?"

Jellal silently nodded and exchanged a knowing look with Mest that the others could have easily mistaken as a glare.

Hearing that seemed to put some of Fairy Tail at ease. Elfman lowered his guard and moved out of the way with the two Exceeds following suit. Natsu and Gajeel hesitated a moment longer before they both finally stepped aside, huffing and grumbling under their breaths.

Makarov continued on with Mest and Jellal not far behind.

As Mest passed by, he gave the Dragon Slayers an assuring nod, only to receive scathing, distrustful glares in return. He could feel their gazes boring into his back when they both decided to tail after him, making sure he kept his word.

A few people were now standing outside of their tents, having heard the commotion. They, too, looked at the Head Captain with either worry or scorn.

Mest ignored them and followed Makarov into one of the tents.

It was dimly lit inside and the smell of herbs and ointments was strong. Standing in the middle like a guardian was Porlyusica, arms firmly crossed, and her face twisted into a fierce and frightening scowl. She was in the most foulest of moods by their sudden intrusion that Mest knew it was best to stay by the entrance.

Sitting on the floor behind her was Carla and Wendy, their backs turned towards them. Carla only gave them a quick glance over her shoulder while Wendy didn't seem to notice their arrival. Downcast, the girl kept her attention on the boy sleeping on the mat in front of her.

As Makarov briefed Porlyusica on the situation, the old woman's expression eventually became somewhat grateful.

Her sharp eyes pierced into Mest, making him stiffen. "You can warp us all the way to Magnolia Town?" she inquired.

"That's right," Mest answered, maintaining his composure. He took a few steps forward only to have Jellal roughly pull him back by the shoulder.

"Don't move any closer," Jellal warned through a private telepathic link.

Indeed, it was a bad idea when Mest wasn't entirely trusted. One of the Dragon Slayers was growling with displeasure, forcing Mest to stay put.

"Good," said Porlyusica in response to his reply. She began to shuffle around to pack some items into her bag. "Then take us to the eastern gate of town. Wendy, grab your things. She is coming too."

Wendy didn't move right away. With a gentle nudge from Carla, the girl slowly lifted her head and turned to look at Porlyusica seemingly in a daze. It took a moment longer before she climbed to her feet, her movements sluggish and clumsy.

Mest was taken aback by Wendy's haggard appearance. Hair unkempt, eyes dull and unfocused, face pale and drawn, almost sickly. The cheerful, confident, and energetic girl that Mest remembered was gone, replaced by a shell of her former self.

"Please, I would like to come too," Carla pleaded, eyeing Wendy with worry.

Porlyusica didn't wait for Makarov to answer. She was already issuing orders as if she ran the place. "Then help Wendy pack. Mystogan, grab the boy. Keep him warm with one of the blankets."

The pair quickly did as they were told and within five minutes, everyone was ready to depart. As the group stood before Mest, he got a good look at the boy sleeping in Jellal's arms. He was surprisingly young, only nine or ten years old at most.

So this is the little hero, Mest mused. The child who defeated a powerful demon and saved the future from complete ruin. He was astonished, but also saddened by the tremendous burden the boy had to carry.

Jellal gave Mest a discrete glance from the side. "There is one last favour we need you to do after this. I'll tell you more about it later." He cut the connection before the other could respond.

Mest nodded as both a signal he understood and to acknowledge that it was time to go. "All set? Then I'll take you guys home."

---

Their footsteps echoed throughout the narrow cave as Ultear led Gray deep within. Floating above her head was a pair of glowing orbs of magic that lit up the winding path. It wasn't too long until the cave began to sparkle like diamonds under the white light. Frost covered the rocky walls, growing thicker the farther they went. Eventually, they began to pass under icicles that hung among the frozen stalactites. With every turn, the colder the air became, turning their breaths into puffs of mist.

Ultear made certain to keep the temperature extremely low. Those unaccustomed to the cold would already be shivering to the bone and risking frostbite, whereas trained ice mages like Ultear and Gray were completely immune.

When they finally reached the end, Ultear slowed in her steps, as if afraid to disturb what lay before them. She stopped several feet away, her eyes tracing the beautiful crystal vines and roses entwined in an intricate pattern around the coffin made from her ice. She wasn't sure why she bothered to add so many fine details; perhaps she had done it for Meredy without thought.

Ultear slightly bowed her head out of respect before she stepped aside. With a quick nod of her head, she motioned for Gray to proceed without her.

He returned the gesture and gently brushed past her shoulder. His footsteps were light, nearly soundless upon the icy ground, as he carefully made his way over.

Ultear sent one of her shining orbs over so Gray could better see.

He stood over the coffin in silence, peering through the clear, glassy layers.

Encased within was Keaton, forever sleeping, never to wake. Hidden away and preserved in ice until Fairy Tail could take him home and lay him to rest.

For a while, neither of them moved nor made a sound, keeping their thoughts to themselves.

Gray was first to break the stillness. Breathing out a heavy sigh, he placed a hand gently upon the ice. "This was Cana's prediction..." he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "That night, she read Bacon's death in her cards. We were so scared – we thought we lost him for good when we got separated after the earthquake hit. But all along... All along, the death she saw was his, future-Bacon's..."

He turned around, a mix of emotions crossing his face. "Why didn't you guys come to us for help?"

"And what could you have done?" Ultear asked, giving him a stern look.

He shrugged, exasperated. "I don't know! Something! Anything! We could have helped you hunt down that demon. Could have helped you fight him! Then maybe... maybe this wouldn't have happened..."

"We had everything planned out from the beginning. We couldn't risk getting anyone else involved. It was a good thing too, especially after we discovered the demon's identity and what he was truly capable of. Increasing our numbers wouldn't have done anything other than putting more of your lives in danger.

"You sensed that demon's true power, didn't you? It was so terrifying that I had thought the end of the goddamn world had come. You saw what it took to take him down, and the sacrifices that had to be made... So what could any of you have done against an enemy that strong?"

Gray looked away, hands clenched into fists by his sides. He had no answer.

Ultear softened her expression. She held her body, feeling not the cold, but a sense of regret. "I had considered using a forbidden spell," she said quietly, drawing his eyes back on her, "that would have sacrificed my life to reverse the flow of time. Try to take us back to the point before Keaton's death and save him... However, what would that have accomplished? The outcome would have ended up the same with him having to fight the demon alone. Sometimes, fate cannot be changed once it has already been set."

Gray was disheartened by that. He turned back around, his saddened gaze falling back on the ice.

"He was a good kid," said Ultear, a rare smile gracing her lips, "With the heart of a Fairy and the same ambitious nature of a Sorcière. No doubt the bravest among us all. After everything he had suffered through, he never gave up. He kept fighting until the end." To protect them all and give them hope. A second life in a brighter future.

Gray nodded in agreement and gestured at the roses. "This is nice, what you did for him. It's beautiful. I wish I could have met him. You know, Natsu told me that I was one of the few to survive in Keaton's future. Can you believe it? Me, slaying dragons and battling against the likes of Acnologia! Man, I wish I could have heard the stories."

"Is that so? He would've been happy to see you."

"Yeah..."

After one final moment of silence, Gray bowed his head to the fallen hero and began to walk away.

Ultear gave the coffin one last glance before she recalled her orb of light.

Together, they trekked back towards the cavern entrance where Meredy and Juvia were waiting.

The cave was located in the mountainside roughly a mile away from Fairy Tail's camp. Gray and Juvia had stopped by to drop off food and supplies for Ultear and Meredy. With roads heavily damaged and transportation unavailable, everyone who had travelled to Crocus for the Grand Magic Games were currently stranded until further notice.

Ultear wasn't sure how long she and Meredy had to hide in the cave. It wasn't too bad, honestly. Crime Sorcière had camped out in the wilderness many times before during their travels; this was no different.

She was secretly glad the pair came to visit. Having some familiar company around was a nice temporary relief from the grief and dismal situation they were stuck in.

Juvia's presence had certainly helped lift Meredy out of despair. Ultear had tried once to snap Meredy out of it, but she, herself, was in a constant bad mood and lacked the energy to keep trying.

Keaton was as close as family to Meredy – his death had crushed her soul and left her empty. She had cried all throughout that night until she could no longer shed anymore tears, reverting back to her cold, emotionless self from long ago.

Juvia was the first to break through Meredy's icy personality seven years ago, and, once again, she was successful in bringing the real Meredy back.

Ultear heard voices when they were rounding the last bend that would take them to the entrance. Male voices. "Who else is here?" she asked, giving Gray a questionable look.

Gray frowned with uncertainty. "It was supposed to be just me and Juvia."

Worried, Ultear ran the rest of the way and summoned more magical orbs of light, preparing for the worst.

All eyes were on her when she appeared into view, brightening the area with her magic. She slowed to a walk when she recognized Jellal in his Mystogan disguise. But then she noticed another man beside him, dressed in the uniform of a Rune Knight. It was Doranbolt!

Ultear stormed at the man from the Magic Council only to have Jellal step between them, one hand raised to motion her to stop.

"Ultear, wait," Jellal commanded, his tone firm.

"What is he doing here?!" she hissed, glaring past his shoulder at the Head Captain.

"Been getting that a lot lately," Doranbolt murmured with a nervous chuckle. He stopped short when Ultear's face morphed into a murderous scowl. He cleared his throat and straightened in his stance, putting on a serious expression. "Ultear, this is quite a surprise. Honestly didn't expect to see you still alive and working with Jellal no less. Wait... it was you! You're the one who helped Jellal escape! That explains how you got past all our security."

Doranbolt seemed impressed rather than angry upon that realization. Ultear's scowl deepened as she became wary of the man's intentions. He knew Mystogan was actually Jellal and he was here, alone.

Gray stepped up beside Ultear and asked the very same question that was on her mind; "What's going on here?"

"Jellal, explain," Ultear demanded, keeping her eyes on Doranbolt. She maintained the number of orbs hovering above her head, just in case the Captain decided to pull something out of the blue.

Jellal slightly moved back so he could see both of his guild mates. "As I was telling Meredy, Doranbolt is only here to help us. He can take Keaton home to Magnolia. Yes, he can be trusted," he quickly added when Ultear shot him a skeptical look, "He has already teleported Bacon, Wendy, Porlyusica, and Carla back to Magnolia. We will be staying with them until Fairy Tail can return."

Ultear crossed her arms, not quite sure how to feel about the situation. There was some relief knowing Bacon was safe and soon, Keaton would be too. However, she didn't understand what Doranbolt wanted out of this. "Why are you helping us, Doranbolt?"

"Because I want to," he answered, his brow knitted in a frown. "Jellal told me what you guys did. If anything, all of Crocus – Hell, the entire Kingdom – owes a great debt to you all. But I know for a fact that some of the Council Chairmen won't see it the same way as I do. So let me help you get out of here safely, it's the least I can do. I promise, I will not expose your identities to the Council. After tonight, it'll be like I was never here and I've never saw any of your faces."

Ultear connected telepathically with Meredy. "Is he telling the truth?"

Meredy glanced at Ultear, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yes, he's not lying. He really wants to help."

Ultear scoffed and finally relented. She dispelled her magic orbs, leaving only the original two for light. "Fine. I suppose I can believe you."

"Good," said Jellal, no longer tense, "Then gather what we need. We're heading out right away."

Meredy and Ultear didn't have much to begin with so it didn't take long to grab the few things lying around.

"We're gonna head back," said Gray, standing by the mouth of the cave with Juvia. "Guess we'll see you guys again whenever we get back to Magnolia."

"Meredy, take care until then," said Juvia. Her warm smile brightened Meredy's face.

With a final wave of farewell, the pair left while Doranbolt and Crime Sorcière ventured deeper into the cave.

---

The demon was approaching.

The boy couldn't move. His body was cold and stiff, frozen like ice. He could only watch in terror as the wicked red eyes steadily drew closer.

With every quaking step, the demon grew larger and larger until he was as tall as the crimson moon in the pitch-black sky. He had the head of a monstrous boar, with a short, flat-nosed snout, long sharp tusks, droopy ears, and a fearsome pair of gigantic, curved horns. Bristly, black hair covered his huge, muscular body and in his hands was a pair of enormous swords that could cleave entire mountains. His feet ended in giant hooves and a long, spiked tail swung behind him. And when he roared, it was like the cry of a thousand beasts; so loud and painful that it sundered the ground and brought the boy trembling to his knees.

"Link! Hurry and grab the Master Sword!"

The boy snapped his head at the sound of a young woman's voice and saw only shadows beyond a wall of flames. The flames quickly spread into the darkness to consume an entire city. Burning buildings were collapsing and the molten streets had split or sunken. And towering above the fire and smoke was the demon, crushing the fiery devastation beneath his hooves.

Despite the sweltering heat, the boy's limbs still felt frozen. He whimpered out of fear, feeling weak and helpless.

"It's okay. It's okay, it's only just a dream," a voice whispered softly in his ear. Kind and soothing. It broke the spell that bound his body and extinguished all the flames.

"Wendy?" The boy jumped to his feet and looked around, knowing it was her. However, he couldn't find her no matter where he turned. All he could see were plumes of smoke.

His gut sank with dread. She was in danger... The demon was after her!

"Wendy!" He reached into the smog and felt someone grab his hand.

"I'm right here. Don't worry. I will always be here for you."

When he looked, he was holding onto nothing. And yet, he could feel fingers laced between his. Warm and reassuring. Wendy's blessed touch. He tightened his grip and said, "I'll protect you."

"You did. You defeated the demon and protected all of us. We're safe now."

His eyes widened. She was right, the giant demon was nowhere to be seen; vanquished by golden light – the very same light that erupted right under the boy's feet.

Wendy's fingers slipped away as he began to plummet through the realm of blinding gold. He came to a sudden stop shortly after, his back flat on the ground.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the colours of dawn through the tall canopy of trees. He gasped, breathing in the fresh scent of a forest. Leaves rustled nearby. He quickly sat up and found someone standing before him. It was a man whose back was turned.

A robe of black and a long, white, sash flowing over his left shoulder; the man was a stranger at most. However, when he slowly turned around, he wore a familiar smiling yellow face.

Keaton's mask... but the man was clearly not Keaton.

"If you had the power to bring back the dead, would you do it?" asked the man, his voice quiet and muffled.

The boy stared in confusion, too distracted by the mask to pay full attention to what was asked.

When he received no answer, the man took off his borrowed disguise to show his true face. Fair skin, short black hair, dark eyes, and young. A small, strange smile curled on his lips as the boy continued to stare. "You don't recognize me. I suppose it has been a very long time."

The boy blinked and quickly stood up, wary, but also anxious. "You know... who I am? Do you know anything about my past? I've forgotten everything..."

The man's smile became pitiful. He shook his head. "Is that so? How unfortunate. I'm afraid only you can find the answers you're looking for. I don't even know your name."

Disappointed, the boy dropped his gaze and was immediately drawn to the mask in the man's hand.

"... you will remember. Piece by piece, your memories will come back..."

The boy could almost hear Keaton saying those reassuring words again. With a sad smile, he nodded in understanding.

The man turned aside. Behind him was a short wooden cross erected in the middle of a small mound of smooth stones. Nailed to the wood was a small gold, oval plaque engraved with words the boy couldn't make out from where he stood.

The man hung Keaton's mask on top of the cross. It sat crooked. He adjusted it a few times, but the mask just wouldn't stay straight. Silently, he gave up.

"Perhaps it is for the best that you don't remember me," the man continued, turning back to the boy, "Back then, I was in a completely different state of mind. Ugly, you could say, consumed by hideous emotions. Madness. Revenge. Hatred. For a while, I was no different from him.

"I was certain he had eliminated you. And yet, here you are, still alive, and unaged. Somehow you survived both his wrath and time itself. I can assume the old King had something to do with it. Or... could it be the will of the gods?"

The boy was staring once again, completely lost at what the man was saying.

With narrowed eyes, the man took one step closer to look the boy over, his mouth twisting into a strange, intrigued smile. "This must be what they call 'fate'..." he murmured to himself, one hand under his chin. "But I wonder, are the gods in your favour or are they against you? And why have they chosen you? I am curious to know, but it's a true pity you do not remember who you are. Do you at least have a name?"

The boy perked up when he was able to understand the last question. "My name? It's Ba..."

"... you are Link, the Hero of Time."

The man raised his brow. "'Bay'? As in the ocean bay?"

The boy shook his head. "No... Link. My name is Link. Who are you?"

"Who I am will not matter. This moment will be forgotten when you wake up. Before that happens, I want to hear your answer to the question I asked you earlier." The man turned slightly to glance at the mask of Keaton. "Would you bring back the dead if you had the power to do it? To see those you have lost alive again, no matter the consequences?"

"Bring back the dead..." the boy echoed, slowly realizing what that meant. His heart ached at the thought, not caring if it was possible or not. He didn't hesitate when he said, "Yes, I would do it. Then no one would be sad..."

"No one would be sad..." the man repeated, his tone quiet. His dark eyes shimmered as he smiled in amusement. "I was once as naive as you... We will meet again someday, Link. Wake up."

Next thing the boy knew, he was lying in bed, staring up at a blurry ceiling of carved wood. He blinked to clear his vision before his tired eyes slowly wandered around, gradually taking in his surroundings. It took a while to recognize the familiar sights and smells of Porlyusica's home. The room seemed to brighten when he noticed Wendy seated by his bedside, busy reading a large, heavy book in her lap.

Link was so happy to see her. He tried to say her name, but the only sound he could make was a horrible rasp.

Wendy was startled by the noise. The instant she met his gaze, she shot to her feet, dropping her big book onto the floor with a loud thud. "Bacon!" she gasped into her hands. Tears welled in her eyes as she shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, looking so relieved. "You're finally awake! Carla! Hurry and find Granny!"

"Yes!" Carla replied from somewhere. The door soundly opened and closed.

Wendy hastily wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her blouse and smiled down at Link. She brushed strands of his hair away from his face and lightly kissed his forehead. "I'm so glad! I was scared you wouldn't wake up... We waited so long..."

Link frowned heavily in guilt. He wanted to apologize, but his mouth and throat were both drier than sand.

Wendy noticed his struggle. "Are you thirsty? I'll get you some water."

When she left the bed, Link tried to get up, but found he had no energy. Exhausted, weak, sore, and aching all over; it felt like Erza had beaten him relentlessly ten times over.

No – it wasn't Erza he had last fought – it was something else. A powerful, evil demon with one red eye and armoured in black. The Evil King.

Wendy was back with a cup of water before Link could remember what had happened. She helped him sit up and allowed him to rest against her for he barely had the strength to support himself. Carefully, she poured small sips of cool, refreshing water into his parched mouth, instantly quenching his thirst.

Once every drop was gone, he managed to croak out, "S-Sorry..." His voice was hoarse from lack of use.

Wendy looked surprised. "Why are you apologizing?"

"For making you worry..." he moaned, his voice becoming clearer the more he spoke. "How long... did you wait?"

She put down the cup and pulled him close into a hug, gently resting her head against his. "Too long," she whispered, "You had a bad fever for a while and fell into a coma. You were asleep for over two weeks."

"Two weeks... Is that very long?"

He felt her nod. "Sixteen days in total... I was afraid you would sleep forever."

Sixteen was a big number. He knew Wendy had stayed by his side for all those days. "I heard your voice... I think you woke me up."

She held him a little tighter.

Footsteps were approaching from outside. The door swung open and Porlyusica stepped inside with Carla flying behind her.

Carrying a small basket of herbs, Porlyusica made her way towards the bed.

Wendy kept one supporting arm around Link and shifted slightly away so Porlyusica could get close.

Porlyusica placed her basket on a nearby table and lowered herself onto the edge of the bed. Her face was stern and her eyes, sharp, as she examined the boy over. "About time you woke up," she said, sounding much kinder than she looked. "How are you feeling? Tired?"

Link nodded.

She felt his forehead, followed by his neck, then both his hands, her expression gradually becoming kinder as she worked. She looked at the back of his left hand more closely. The golden Triforce was gone, leaving no mark on his skin, its power dormant. He could feel it and it seemed like Porlyusica could sense it too as she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand.

"Do you feel any pain?" she asked.

Link nodded again.

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

"What sort of pain?"

"Aching."

Porlyusica scoffed and gave him a look of disapproval. "Not unusual considering the amount of strain you had put your body through. Flex your fingers. Make a fist a few times."

He followed her instructions and winced at the dull pain in every joint and muscle. Three times, he curled his hands before he quickly grew tired.

Porlyusica looked satisfied. She touched him right below his left shoulder, her fingers lightly brushing over the solid black dragon on his skin. Her eyes narrowed. "Any burning sensation?"

He shook his head. The mark of the Ancient Dragon King was lacking the fiery heat he could remember. Its flames had gone out as if it had fallen into a deep slumber.

"Keep him upright," Porlyusica told Wendy as she stood up. The old woman went to the opposite end of the room to prepare something at her work station.

Carla landed softly on the bed on Link's other side. She stood there tentatively, until he quietly said her name. She ran up to him and gave him a small hug, nuzzling her face into his chest.

"I'm so relieved you're okay, Bacon," she murmured into his shirt.

"Link," he corrected. He mustered a weak grin when Carla and Wendy gave him curious looks. "Keaton told me that's my real name."

Wendy smiled, however, she seemed a little sad. "It's a nice name. We can call you that from now on, if that's what you want."

Carla smirked as she pulled away. "Certainly a lot better than 'Bacon'."

"Bacon is a food, right?" Link asked, "Why was I called 'Bacon'?"

Carla groaned and crossed her arms. "You have Natsu to blame for that."

Wendy giggled. "When we first brought you to Fairy Tail to meet everyone, we were all coming up with names to call you. And well, Natsu kept calling you 'Bacon' and you kept responding to it, so it kind of stuck."

"Really?" Link knitted his brow, having no recollection of that day.

"Feels like a long time ago... so much has happened since then, so it's okay if you don't remember. I'll let everyone know we can call you by your real name now!" Wendy laughed again, more joyfully.

"Everyone is okay? Is the demon...?"

"Everyone is safe," Wendy assured, gripping his hand and wearing a grateful smile, "The demon is gone. You defeated him!"

By then, Porlyusica had returned with a tray full of cups and bowls filled with liquids of various colours. Some gave off strong, unpleasant odours, while a few appeared to be bubbling and steaming. Link was forced to drink each one no matter how much he coughed, choked, sputtered, and gagged. No amount of begging could make Porlyusica stop.

The last of her potions was truly the worst of all; so thick and bitter and awful. He was certain he had fainted from it because he found himself waking up two days later. However, to his surprise, he felt so much better afterwards.

Despite Porlyusica's medicines being the nastiest concoctions Link had ever tasted, he was starting to learn how incredibly effective they truly were. Her potions could cure what Wendy's magic was unable to heal.

For two more days, Link had to stay at Porlyusica's to fully recuperate. He didn't mind, even when he had to keep drinking Porlyusica's potions; with Wendy and Carla also keeping him company, the time went by quickly.

During those two days, others from Fairy Tail had dropped by for a visit.

On the first day, it was Master Makarov, Macao, and Romeo.

Right after the door swung open, Romeo was already charging across the room before Link could even smile. He nearly tackled the younger boy to the floor while giving him a big, brother hug. "Bacon – err, I mean, Link! It's going to take a while to get used to calling you by your real name! I'm glad to see you're okay. Everyone's been worried about you!"

Macao joined in the hug, wrapping his arms around both boys. "You gave us quite a scare! You have to stop making me worry, understand? My hair is going gray from all the stress!"

Link gasped and looked at his father's hair. However, it didn't look any different from before.

Macao laughed and patted the boy on top of the head. "I'm joking! But seriously, I'm happy you're all right now."

"He's a tough lad," remarked Makarov, stepping up to the boy. He smiled wide and proud, making his eyes wrinkle. "I knew you would pull through, my boy. Your strength and courage are truly beyond measure. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you, Link. You are a hero. You saved not just the people of our kingdom, but everyone's future as well."

"Is the demon really gone?" Link asked, anxious to know. He couldn't remember how the battle exactly ended. All he could recall was the sound of shattering ice and being blinded by warm, golden light.

Wendy had said the demon was defeated; his evil completely vanquished when he was stricken by Link's holy light. However, Link couldn't shake away the gut feeling that the Evil King's terror was not truly over...

Makarov's expression was dark for a brief second before he put on a cheerful grin. "Yes, gone for now. It's a matter that can be discussed another time. By the way, I have something for you, Link. Two things, actually."

With a simple wave of his hand, the master pulled out two pieces of jewellery from thin air. One was a gold bracelet that was nearly identical to the one Link was already wearing, except it was engraved with glossy white runes instead of black.

"Your magic power has grown significantly," Makarov began to explain, holding out a hand, in which Link didn't hesitate to take. The old man clasped the new bracelet onto the boy's bare wrist. "Your current bracelet can no longer fully conceal it, so I had another one made with a stronger enchantment. Wear them both at all times, whenever you can."

The second item was an armlet made from a thick, wide, solid band of gold rimmed with silver. Several lines of crimson runes were engraved upon the gleaming surface. But what caught Link's attention the most, was the sparkling, emerald jewel embedded in the centre for it was in the shape of Fairy Tail's crest.

"This one is very special," said Makarov, helping Link put it on. The armlet was snug in the middle of the boy's left bicep, partially covering the black dragon. "Wearing this, you appear to be an official member of Fairy Tail! Not only that, watch what it does."

The emerald jewel suddenly flashed bright and the runes came to life, burning a deep red. Then, to the boy's horror, the black dragon faded away, leaving only bare, unblemished skin.

The armlet stopped shining and Link – as well as everyone but Makarov and Porlyusica – was left gaping at his arm.

Makarov chuckled. "Don't be alarmed. This is another type of concealment magic. Your dragon is invisible for as long as you wear this armlet over it. It's very important that you do not take this off, understand? It is for your own safety. Only Fairy Tail and Crime Sorcière know about your special power, so let's keep it that way."

Link tilted his head. "Crime Sorcière?"

They were a tiny guild of three. It was later that evening that Link remembered their faces when all members came by for a brief visit. Two women named Ultear and Meredy, and one man, whose real name was Jellal, but he was currently disguised as 'Mystogan' of Fairy Tail.

Ever since arriving at Magnolia, Crime Sorcière had been staying near Porlyusica's home, guarding Link and the others. Even when Fairy Tail had returned from Crocus over a week ago, the trio continued to keep a vigilant watch.

"You're Master Jellal," Link realized, remembering what Gemini had told him.

Jellal shook his head and pulled down his bandana to give the boy a faint, wistful smile. "I'm not a master at the moment. However, I won't say no if you are willing to learn from me. In Keaton's future, I became his master and taught him Sensory Magic, an ability that would greatly help you as it had done for him."

"I do want to learn," said Link. He looked at his hands, eager to use Farore's Wind as Gemini had demonstrated during battle. To be able to teleport around would no doubt give him a great advantage in any situation. Most importantly, he could protect Wendy and his friends from any sort of danger.

Jellal crossed his arms and hardened his gaze. "It won't be easy for you."

Meredy grinned. "Oh, that won't be a problem. We already know he can and will learn it."

Jellal smirked. "That is true. But it will still be difficult, for me to teach and for you to learn, given both of our circumstances."

Wendy frowned. "Is it because you have to leave Magnolia soon?"

"No... that won't be an issue..." Jellal grumbled.

Meredy chuckled sheepishly. "We're flat broke so we can't really go anywhere..."

Ultear groaned. "It's too bad your guild didn't receive your winning prize money. Could have gotten a cut of it. You know, for our efforts."

"Crocus needs all the funding it can get to start rebuilding," said Meredy, looking sympathetic. She soon wore her smile again and happily slapped Jellal on the back. "Since we need to save up some cash, 'Mystogan' will be doing a number of jobs for Fairy Tail..."

Cupping a hand around her mouth, Meredy leaned in close to Link and Wendy and whispered teasingly, "With his girlfriend."

"What did you say?" Jellal demanded in an annoyed growl.

Meredy giggled and playfully tussled Link's hair. "I said I'm looking forward to seeing Link around. Even though we only knew him for a short time, Keaton was like family to us... So now, you are too."

On the second day, late in the afternoon, Natsu and Happy barged through Porlyusica's door with an apologetic Lucy right behind them.

"Hey Bacon – Ow!"

A broom, wielded by none other than a furious Porlyusica, had conked Natsu over the head.

Natsu growled angrily and glared at the old woman. "What the hell was that for, Granny – Ack! Stop!"

Swift and precise, Porlyusica smacked him once more with a little more force. She shook the bristles of her weapon in the Dragon Slayer's face and hissed, "That is not my name! And lower your voice! You're making too much noise for my liking."

Rubbing his sore head, Natsu huffed, but didn't say or do anything else to provoke Porlyusica any further.

Once it was safe, Link ran up to Natsu and the others, smiling in greeting.

"Hey Bacon!" Grinning, Natsu held out his arm in a familiar gesture, prompting Link to lightly smack the back of his arm against his.

"My real name is Link," the boy pointed out.

"I know, but can I still call you 'Bacon'? Please? I just love that name."

"Yeah, same here! Please? I hope you don't mind?" Happy pleaded, touching his paws together to beg.

Link nodded. "Okay."

Both Natsu and Happy cheered while the others in the room either groaned or rolled their eyes.

Natsu patted the boy on the shoulder. "I'm proud of ya, kiddo. You were so amazingly strong!"

Link was beaming from the praise. "I went all out like you told me to."

"Yeah, we all saw that last attack! Incredible!"

"I advise that you to never do that again," said Porlyusica, her expression stern. "If it were not for Wendy's quick healing, you would have suffered permanent damage to your body."

Link pouted from her tone. "But I had too..."

Porlyusica sighed and looked away, frowning with slight concern. "I know... But next time you have to rely on that power, you need to be careful."

"He just has to train and master it," encouraged Natsu. He suddenly looked confused. "Wait a minute, Bacon, what happened to your dragon mark? Did you lose it?"

Link shook his head while Wendy pointed at his new armlet and said, "Master gave him this to magically hide it."

"Oh, I get it. So no one can see it." Natsu smiled at Link in excitement. "So, with Acnologia's power... are you a Dragon Slayer? Like me and Wendy?"

"Oh? That thought never crossed my mind..." said Wendy, leaning close to Link for a better look.

"Am I, Wendy?" the boy asked curiously.

The girl pursed her lips to the side. "I don't know..."

Natsu knelt down to Link's eye level. "Let's see your teeth, Bacon. Say 'ahhh'!"

The boy opened his mouth wide. "Ahh..."

Both Dragon Slayers peered inside.

"No fangs... yet," Natsu commented. He grabbed the boy's right hand. "What about your nails? Still pretty soft and dull. Well, you'll probably start showing traits of a Dragon Slayer the more you use your power."

"A Dragon Slayer and a Celestial Spirit Mage," said Lucy, sounding quite impressed. "I know you'll be able to excel in both with the proper training."

Link smiled. "Will you be teaching me Celestial Spirit Magic?"

"Of course! We can start whenever you're feeling better."

"I do feel better, but Granny won't – Ouch!" It was Link's turn to feel the wrath of Porlyusica's broom. Calling her 'Granny' had become a habit ever since he noticed Wendy doing it. Despite the pain, Link persisted for some unknown reason.

"Ah! Should you be hitting him?!" Happy cried in shock.

Porlyusica snarled. "He's well enough to take a blow to the head! Tomorrow! After taking the last of your medicine, you're free to go home in the morning."

Excited, Happy waved the tip of his tail. "Tomorrow? That's great! We can prepare the surp–"

Lucy slapped a hand over the cat's mouth.

"The 'surp'?" Link questioned.

Lucy shifted her gaze to the side nervously. "Uh... The... Surp... Sur-oup! The soup! We can prepare a delicious soup for tomorrow! It'll be great! We'll see you back at the guild tomorrow!"

And tomorrow couldn't have come sooner.

That morning, Link was ready to go shortly after breakfast. He had changed into a set of clean clothes and wore his hooded green cloak Macao and Romeo had left him during their visit. However, before heading back to town, Wendy wanted to show him a special place in the forest.

Holding him by the hand, she led him in the opposite direction of Magnolia, deeper into the woods. It was just the two of them together while Carla and Porlyusica stayed behind.

Golden rays of the mid-morning sun shone through the small gaps of the giant trees, lighting up their path. The forest was tranquil and the air was rich with the smells of living earth.

Their journey was quiet. Neither had spoken since leaving Porlyusica's home.

Link had been wondering where they were going. However, he didn't ask when he noticed the sadness in Wendy's eyes. She stared only forward, her mind lost in thought while her body seemingly knew where to go. Not wanting to further upset her, the boy had decided to wait and see.

They walked for roughly half an hour before they eventually entered a small meadow flourishing with wild flowers. The sun shone brightest here, casting its warm light upon the beautiful blooms and the standing object erected in the centre. It was a short wooden cross atop a small mound of stones.

Wendy paused by the meadow's edge for a moment to take in the scenery. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet, fragrant scents of the flowers. When she turned to Link, she was crying, tears flowing down her cheeks. With a small, sad smile, she pulled him along.

Lightly, they walked through the meadow, being careful not to trample too many of the flowers. They stopped before the cross, their attention automatically drawn to the yellow mask of Keaton hanging crooked on top.

Link slightly furrowed his brow, feeling as if he had seen this before. However, he couldn't quite figure out where.

He let go of Wendy's hand and stepped a little closer, seeing the sunlight catch the sparkling, blue crystal star pendant that dangled beneath the mask. Below that was a small sword with a familiar sheath and hilt. Freedom. However, it wasn't the same as his; the hilt was worn from constant use, the silver all scratched up, and the white leather strap, draped diagonally over the cross, was old and dirty.

His heart grew heavy when he began to realize what all of this was. He looked at the golden plaque under the crystal star and started to read the words etched upon it out loud; "'Here lies a'... um..."

"'Legendary Hero'," Wendy finished, her voice cracking. She moved to stand beside him, hands clasped together and her head bowed. Her tears continued to fall. "This is where we have laid Keaton to rest... Do you think... he would have liked this peaceful meadow?"

Link nodded. A forest meadow was the last thing Keaton had seen... An important place that held some sort of meaning that Link would hope to remember some day.

"I'm glad..." Wendy choked out. "I hope... I hope he could forgive me... If it wasn't for me, he... he wouldn't have..."

"Wendy..." It hurt to see her so sad. Remembering what Asuka had told him once, Link quickly hugged Wendy, wanting to make her feel better. She wrapped her arms around him, only to cry harder into his shoulder. But then he remembered something else; the very last thing Keaton had said to him.

"Wendy," he said softly in her ear, "Keaton wanted me to tell you that he was happy to see you again. He will always love you, Wendy..." And so will I.

Wendy drew a sharp breath. "He... said that?"

Link nodded. "It was his final wish to let you know..."

Wendy said nothing. She only hugged Link tighter, quietly sobbing.

For a while, they didn't move, staying in each other's embrace, the world around them forgotten.

Once Wendy was calm and ready, she gently pulled away, her eyes red, but no longer burdened with sadness. She wiped her face and turned back to the cross, smiling at the mask of Keaton.

Wordlessly, she grabbed the mask, twisted the string on the back a few times, and placed it back on the cross where it hung straight. "The wind must've knocked it around a little. Are you ready to head back, Link?"

The boy nodded. Together, they gave the Legendary Hero one last glance and silently left the meadow.

They returned to Porlyusica's to grab Carla and their belongings. Before departing to town, they thanked Porlyusica for her help and ended up with new bumps on their heads for calling her 'Granny' one last time.

It was another quiet stroll, but this time, Wendy was in a noticeably better mood.

Link pulled up his hood the moment they passed through the eastern gate and entered the familiar streets of Magnolia. Seeing the familiar sights brought a smile to his face. It was nice to be back home. It wasn't as noisy or crowded as Crocus, which Link greatly appreciated.

People were busy roaming about, some minding their own businesses, while others gave a friendly wave or hello as they passed.

At a familiar crossroads, Link had thought he was going the right way to Fairy Tail until Wendy turned down a different direction.

"Aren't we going to the guild?" he asked.

Wendy smiled. "We are. But first, I want to show you something." She pulled out a strip of white cloth from her bag. "It's a surprise so I have to blindfold you."

Link blinked. "Blind... fold?"

"It means I am going to cover your eyes with this. Don't move." She stood behind him, pulled down his hood, wrapped the cloth over his eyes, and tied it behind his head. She then pulled his hood back on. "Can you see?"

"No." He was about to tug at the cloth, but Wendy grabbed his hands.

"No, no. Don't touch. The point of the blindfold is so you can't see."

"Why?"

Wendy giggled. "You'll find out! Now, follow me. We'll go slow."

Holding his hand, she guided him the rest of the way, telling him where to step to avoid obstacles he couldn't see. He rounded people, stepped off and onto curbs, up and down gentle slopes, and turned multiple corners, feeling absolutely lost.

"There it is," Wendy spoke up after a short while, "We're almost there!"

Link tilted his head. "Really?" It didn't feel like they were going the right way. They were still walking on flat, even pavement rather than climbing a winding, dirt road. It also sounded like they were still on a busy street instead of up on top of a peaceful hill.

"Keep your blindfold on," Wendy told him when he tried to take it off to see.

Pouting slightly, he kept blindly following her.

He heard a loud click, followed by the creaking of hinges as someone opened a large, heavy door in front of him. Wendy tugged him inside the building, soundly stepping from stone to wood. The air was noticeably cooler and filled with the delicious smells of food.

Link could hear the rustling of clothing, hushed voices, and stifled giggles coming from up ahead. Before he could ask, Wendy yanked his blindfold off over his head.

"Surprise!"

The boy jumped at the thunderous volume of voices shouting at the top of their lungs.

He blinked and immediately gawked at the large group of smiling, laughing, and cheering people gathered at the entrance before him. It was all of Fairy Tail, and Crime Sorcière as well, standing within an enormous grand hall covered in decorations. Balloons, streamers, banners, lights, floating stars, and many other shiny things brightened the humongous room. Off to the side were multiple tables pushed together piled with a wide assortment of dishes and desserts, enough food to last them for days.

Wendy laughed at Link's reaction and led him towards the waiting crowd. "This is Fairy Tail's 'new' guild, Link. Everyone's been waiting for you. Welcome home!"

---

A/N: At long last, this arc has finally come to a conclusion! A light-hearted end that hopefully brightened your day, because I know some of us really need it right now.

Sorry it took this many chapters before Link is finally called by his real name...

Acnologia's element has been voted Aether. Thanks for all your votes!

And thanks for reading. Stay safe out there.