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!

30. Trial and Error

A/N: 'Chelia' is now 'Sherria' and I've made this change in older chapters. Please enjoy!

Edit: Increased the reward value for the S Rank mission.

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Trial and Error

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The grand hall of Fairy Tail was loud with boisterous laughter and endless chatter, which was a typical morning in Fiore's top guild. It seemed like there was never a moment of rest with everyone constantly full of vigour and joy.

Jellal was getting used to the noise and boundless energy every time he stepped foot inside. It had gotten to the point that he was no longer bothered whenever an argument or fight spontaneously broke out between members, which, more often than not, involved the consumption of alcohol. In fact, Jellal would be very concerned if the guild was ever calm and quiet.

Starting from the kitchen door, he calmly sauntered through the hall along the bar, silently nodding at Makarov and a few others who acknowledged him as he passed. It didn't take long to locate Erza amongst the rowdy group for her scarlet hair stood out like a beacon.

She was right on time as usual, waiting for him by the Request Board. Back turned, she was busy looking through some of the job posts that she didn't notice his approach until he was right beside her. Without breaking her focus, she said, "It's your turn to pick. There's a few good ones I saw if you're interested. Decent pay."

"How much?" Jellal asked as he started to read the first posting in front of him. He checked the rank first. Only a B. He skipped to the next one.

"Thirty to forty-five thousand. All in Magnolia," she replied while digging under the multiple layers in hope of finding something even better worth doing. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack with hundreds of postings tacked and stapled on top of each other.

Intrigued, Jellal pressed on, all the while sifting through his own section. "What sort of jobs?"

"One's an escort mission–"

"No," he sharply cut her off. Although he had partaken in only one of those missions, it was enough to make him loathe them. Especially if the client was rude, demanding, and arrogant during the journey from point A to point B, with many annoying and unnecessary stops in between. What should have been a half-day excursion ended up being a long and agonizing two-day trip of torture. Remembering that awful mission from last week made Jellal grumpy. "Anything but," he grumbled. "Next."

He noticed the corner of Erza's lips curl into a smirk in the periphery of his vision.

"How do you feel about investigating a 'haunted' warehouse? Twenty-one thousand."

"Maybe. What else?"

"The one for forty-five thousand is for the mayor. Hunt a pack of wild stinkfangs killing livestock just outside of town."

Jellal took the time to ponder over that one. He wasn't sure what a stinkfang was nor did he like the sound of it. He was in no hurry to find out.

"Also a maybe?" Erza questioned when he didn't reply right away.

He grunted and gave a half-shrug. He was about to ask if she had another when one caught his eye. It was hidden at the very back behind a slew of newer postings. S Rank. Right in Magnolia. Fifteen million. He skimmed over the details and found it appealing. "This one," he said as he tore the paper off the board.

Before he could share what it was, the front doors of the guild slammed open and Elfman burst right in, out of breath and anxious.

"Guys! Guys!" Elfman shouted, waving his thick arms to catch everyone's attention. "I just saw Jason and his camera crew. They're on their way here! Right now!"

"What?" Erza exclaimed. She wasn't the only one surprised as there were several more outbursts within the guild.

Jellal raised an eyebrow at Erza. "Who's coming?"

Crossing her arms, Erza looked rather irritated when she answered, "Jason from Sorcerer Magazine. He scheduled a photo shoot and interviews with Fairy Tail for next week's issue, but I thought it was supposed to be Friday! Are you sure he's coming this way, Elfman?"

Elfman nodded. "I'm not a man if I'm lying! He'll be here soon!"

He was telling the truth; Jellal could detect a large group of ordinary people heading towards the guild at a leisurely pace. They were at least five minutes away.

Erza ran a hand through locks of her hair and looked at a few scarlet strands in disdain. "I didn't wash my hair this morning. It's a mess..."

"You look fine," Jellal blurted without thought. When he realized what he said, he abruptly turned away without waiting to see her reaction. "I better go."

He heard her smirk in amusement. "Thanks. This will likely take all day. We can meet up again tomorrow."

With a nod and a quick wave behind him, Jellal started to retreat towards the back of the building, following the same path he had come. He folded the job posting in his hand and sent it to his storage dimension for later.

"Mystogan," Makarov called out from his seat at the bar, making Jellal pause. The old man spun fully around to face the mage of Crime Sorcière. He gestured at the table at the back corner, closest to the kitchen, where Wendy and the other children usually sat together. "Take Link with you."

"Understood," said Jellal with a curt nod.

"Keep him out of trouble," Macao added, seated next to Makarov. His brow was slightly knitted with worry, yet he looked upon Jellal with trusting eyes.

"Will do."

As Jellal neared the children's table, he overheard Wendy cry, "... going to wear my pretty pink dress and put up my hair so it would look nice!"

"It already looks nice," Link pointed out.

The girl sighed wistfully as she looked at the ends of her long, dark blue hair between her fingers. "It's just... plain. I was planning to dress up for the photo shoot. Sherria looked so cute in last week's issue with her hair neatly braided with all those beautiful flowers. I want to do my hair just like hers!"

Romeo groaned and rolled his eyes. "I don't understand why girls are obsessed with that stuff. You just need to brush it once and you're done for the day. Easy. Right, Link?"

"I don't have a brush though," the younger boy replied.

Romeo chuckled. "That's because you don't really need one. Your hair is naturally messy no matter how many times you try to comb it."

Before anyone could say anything else, Jellal stepped up to their table and caught their attention.

"Link, come with me," he said at once, beckoning the boy with a quick motion of his hand.

Link tilted his head questionably while the others stared, a little taken back by the sudden demand.

Carla was first to inquire, "What's wrong?"

"Neither of us can be seen," Jellal explained. Again, he motioned for Link to move. "Come. We need to go."

"Oh, that's right," said Wendy, giving Link a look of sympathy, "You better hurry and go with Mystogan."

The boy frowned, obviously disappointed he was going to miss out on the event that was now on every guild member's mind. "Okay..." he murmured, sliding off his chair.

"We can start your training while everyone is busy here," Jellal suggested as he glanced around. People were frantically cleaning up the mess on the tables, as well as themselves, before their guests arrived. Getting published in Sorcerer Magazine was often a big deal for every guild in Fiore. Jellal however, didn't understand the appeal of it. He was relieved he didn't have to participate in the ridiculous activities usually involved.

Link perked up at the sound of Jellal's idea. He ran up to the man, his blue eyes bright and eager. "You're going to start teaching me Sensory Magic?"

Jellal nodded.

Wendy smiled at them both. "That's a great idea! These photo shoots tend to take all day so training with Mystogan will be a good way to spend the time. Good luck, Link. It will be difficult, but I know you can learn it."

"You can do it!" Romeo encouraged, patting the younger boy on the back. "We'll see you sometime tonight! Tell me all about your training then!"

There was heavy knocking on the building's front doors, signaling Sorcerer Magazine's arrival.

"Let's hurry," Jellal commanded, sharply turning on his heel. He swiftly made his way to the kitchen doors with Link soundly jogging behind him. He pushed through to the other side and was instantly greeted by the sweet and savoury aromas of cooking food.

Bustling about the large kitchen were Mirajane and Lisanna, the talented chefs behind everyone's meals. No matter what time of day, the sisters were always seen prepping, cooking, and baking for the entire guild to enjoy.

Mirajane was first to notice Jellal and Link enter as she was in the middle of wiping down the stovetop.

"Leaving already, Mystogan?" she asked, her brow raised and her lips curled into a teasing smile. "Did you get into a disagreement with Erza?"

Jellal crossed his arms and answered brusquely with; "No, you guys have company. We need to disappear."

"Oh? You're taking Link with you?" She hardened her gaze. "Who's here?"

"Sorcerer Magazine."

"Sorcerer is here?" Lisanna exclaimed by the sink. She twirled around, holding a soapy dish and sponge in her hands, the front of her apron soaked. Her eyes were wide with shock. "I didn't wear my nice clothes! I thought they were coming on Friday!"

"Seems like they forgot," Jellal muttered. He started to head towards the storage room only to be stopped by Mirajane.

"Wait! Before you go..." She rushed to another table piled with baked goods and other prepared food items and started to throw a number of things into a big, brown paper bag. She neatly folded the top a few times, sprinted over to Link, and handed him the bag that was nearly a third of his size. It was heavy, judging by how the boy nearly lost his grip on it when Mirajane let go. "Here's some lunch for you both and plenty of treats for the day!"

"Th-Thank you, Aunt Mira," Link struggled to say as he tried to get a better hold on the big, heavy bag without dropping it.

Jellal relieved the burden off of Link's hands by sending their lunch to his storage dimension. "Thanks," he mumbled to Mirajane.

Smiling, she waved them off. "You're welcome! Have fun now!"

The pair continued on with Jellal leading them into the storage room.

"We're training... in here?" Link asked tentatively, thinking they had reached a dead end.

But it wasn't a dead end. With Makarov's permission, Jellal had created a secret doorway that only he could access, allowing him to slip in and out of the guild unseen.

"There's a way out," said Jellal as he walked between two, tall, standing shelving units filled with various foodstuffs towards the back wall. He placed a hand upon the bare, wooden wall and infused it with a little of his magic. Runes that were once invisible to the naked eye were activated with a flash of bright blue. Within the next moment, the section of the wall disappeared in the shape of an arched doorway to reveal the bright outdoors.

Link made a sound of awe, but otherwise said nothing.

The entrance opened up to the right side of the building where Fairy Tail stored their empty beer kegs, wine barrels, and wooden crates. With those piled high and obscuring the view, no one outside could see the wall suddenly vanish.

They stepped out into the small space. Jellal waved his hand over the secret entrance to bring back the solid wall of wood.

Before proceeding any farther, there was an extra precaution Jellal usually took to ensure none would ever see the mysterious 'Mystogan' roaming around town. He reached over his left shoulder to equip one of his staves. Rain Stick, he had named it; a long staff made of a twisted, dark branch of oak with the top carved into a mythical fish leaping out of water. The round eyes of the fish were embedded with smooth Water Lacrima, granting the wielder the use of weak water magic without having to expend their own energy.

Holding Rain Stick high in the air, Jellal drew a few quick circles above his head. The eyes of the fish shone an aqua blue and from its gaping mouth, a thick white mist began to silently spew forth. Not before long, the mist had spread all around, shrouding the area in dense fog. Soon, it would swallow the entire block and eventually the whole town, providing them with cover.

Again, Link made a noise out of childish wonder.

Although the fog dampened the sounds they made, Jellal didn't want anyone to suspect their presence. He created a telepathic connection with the boy and said, "Try to be as quiet as possible from now on."

Link visibly jumped from hearing Jellal's voice in his head. The boy nodded and whispered, "O-Okay."

"This is telepathy. Speak with me with your mind. Think of what you want to say to me and I will hear your thoughts. Only what you want to say," Jellal stressed, "Otherwise I will hear everything going through your mind."

"Like this?" Link's voice was loud and shrill with unrestrained excitement.

Jellal winced. "Yes, but tone it down. Be calm or else you will give me a headache. Now, follow me and don't knock anything over."

"Okay," Link replied. He repeated the word a few more times until he found the right volume that Jellal could bear.

With Rain Stick still activated and slowly breathing out mist, Jellal led them through the mini maze of barrels and crates. They squeezed between narrow gaps and climbed over a large crate marked with a painted red apple at the end.

Jellal glanced around, only able to see twenty feet ahead of him through his magical mist. He did not need his sight to know that there was no one loitering nearby.

From there, Jellal rounded the building towards the back gate, his footsteps light and brisk. Hearing Link running after him, Jellal dropped his pace to match the boy's shorter stride. The boy copied him then, taking lighter steps, his shoes barely making sound when they walked upon stone.

The back iron gate was well-oiled that it made no sound when Jellal carefully unlatched and pulled it open ajar. They both slipped into the back alley on the other side.

Once Jellal had gently closed the gate behind him, Link asked, "Are we going to the Training Grounds?"

Jellal took a moment to focus his magic sense on Fairy Tail's newly designated training area.

It used to be the guild's second building located at the top of a hill near the southern edge of town. After Lucy had suggested turning it into a place where members could freely train, it took less than a day for everyone to pool more than enough money to purchase the property.

It had been almost three weeks since the guild had bought the place and renovations were planned to begin within the next month using the extra cash.

Jellal could not detect anyone hanging around the Training Grounds, as expected with the guild now occupied with Sorcerer Magazine. There was no one to disturb them, and hopefully, there would be no unwanted visitors later on either. As he started down the empty alleyway shrouded in mist, he answered Link; "Yes, there's no one there right now. It'll be safe for us."

"How can you tell no one is there?" Link sounded confused.

Jellal smirked. "Sensory Magic."

The boy was greatly enthused as he ran up beside Jellal, looking up at the other in awe. "You can sense all the way to the Training Grounds from here?!"

"Yes, that's right. One day, you will too. Once you're familiar with it, it eventually becomes a sixth sense – a passive skill that does not require you to maintain your focus at all times. It will take patience and diligence to master this ability." Not just for the boy to learn, but for Jellal to teach as well.

Jellal had to make the training into a game somehow. It was how the child learned quickly, a tidbit Jellal had learned from eavesdropping on some of the conversations back at the guild.

As long as the task was fun or repetitive, Link would be able to understand how to do it eventually. It was quite impressive, given the boy's circumstances.

Despite that, Jellal was at a loss on what to do exactly. He had no experience being a teacher and he never had the time to plan or seek advice for that matter. Ever since the day Link began training with Lucy, Jellal, as well as the rest of Crime Sorciere, had been too caught up in trying to gather information in regards to the demon's whereabouts as well as the activities of Zeref and the Dark Guilds.

Posing as Mystogan, Jellal kept a vigilant eye on the various job postings at Fairy Tail. He had yet to notice any that sounded odd or suspicious.

Makarov had been lending Jellal a hand by providing him with updates from the Magic Council. Other than placing a five-hundred million Jewel bounty for Jellal's head, the Council still currently had their hands full dealing with the mess in Crocus. There was a rumour, however, that the Chairmen were going to devise a special team to investigate the 'mysterious angels' and the demon. Although it was only a whispered rumour floating among the lower ranks of the Council, it was one that shouldn't be completely ignored. Makarov would be sure to keep everyone posted if there was any truth behind it.

While Jellal was occupied at the guild, Ultear had managed to sneak her way into the heart of Magnolia, working as the mayor's newly hired personal assistant under the disguise and name of Matilda. Responsible for handling confidential reports and whatnot, she would be the first to notice anything shady going on around the town and perhaps even the entire kingdom with the help of the mayor's outside connections.

Meredy also kept herself busy by pretending to be Juvia's 'cousin', Valerie. She had cut her hair short, dyed it a deep blue, and altered the colour of her eyes from red to aqua with special contacts. Sharing a dorm with Juvia at Fairy Hills, she stayed home during the day, but at night, she took on the role of a bartender, working at the most popular pub near Magnolia Station.

"Drunk people love to talk," Meredy had said after her first shift, "Especially the sleazy, old men. When you know how they feel, you can say the right words and they will spill their darkest secrets to you in no time!"

With people from out of town always stopping at the pub for drinks, it was the second-best place to glean new information from the outside world.

So far, the three of them haven't gotten any useful leads. The world had felt the demon's immense power... Surely that would have stirred up Zeref and his dark forces into action. But there was nothing but dead silence since the demon's disappearance.

It was deeply troubling not knowing what exactly lay ahead in the upcoming future. Evil was brewing another terrible catastrophe behind the scenes; Jellal could just feel it in his gut.

He wished he could do more to uncover the truth, but Crime Sorcière's resources were terribly limited. And, with the ridiculously high bounty on Jellal, he was forced to lay low. Wherever he went, he had to tread carefully, constantly shrouded in mist so no one could see, hear, or sense him through the distorting fog of magic.

As far as the public was aware, 'Mystogan' was still an active member at Fairy Tail, but none had seen him since the Games. Jellal never registered for job requests nor did he ever appear before clients; Erza took all the credit while he would hang back, supporting her from the shadows. Tedious at times, but it was the only way to avoid risking exposure.

Jellal quietly sighed and snapped his focus back on the task at hand: getting to the Training Grounds undetected. Once they reached their destination, he would have to quickly come up with something for Link's training.

Their journey through town was quiet and free of confrontation. It was still early enough in the morning that not too many people were out and about. Without question, Link had followed each of Jellal's commands – even mimicked every one of the man's stealthy movements – as they manoeuvred through the foggy streets. They were like phantoms; mere glimpses of shadow to the people they snuck past. They were gone and out of sight before anyone could turn to look or question what they saw.

Once they reached the foot of the hill that led to the Training Grounds, Jellal deactivated Rain Stick and returned it to its holster on his back. There was little wind to disperse the fog and the sun was hidden behind an overcast sky; it would take at least an hour for the town to clear up again.

As they climbed the winding path, Link kept taking brief stops along the way to pick the abundant wild flowers growing on the hillside.

When the boy had gathered well over a dozen of them, Jellal's curiosity finally got the better of him. It was safe for Jellal to ask out loud, "What are you doing?"

Smiling, Link caught back up with Jellal and showed him his large bouquet of yellow, blue, and white blooms. "Wendy said she wanted flowers in her hair so I'm going to give her all of these."

"They're going to wilt by the time you give them to her," Jellal stated bluntly.

That turned the boy's smile into a worried frown. "Oh... How do I make them not do that?"

Putting them in water was going to be Jellal's first suggestion, but then a better idea came to mind. "Are you done picking them?" he asked, holding out a hand.

Link nodded and gave the man his flowers.

The instant Jellal grabbed the bouquet by the stems, it disappeared in a blink of an eye, making Link gape in shock. "Time stands still in the storage dimension," Jellal explained to ease the boy's worries, "so your flowers will be fine by the end of the day. Remind me to give them back to you."

The boy was beaming in gratitude, his eyes seemingly bright despite the veil of mist. "Thank you, Master Jellal."

Jellal grunted and waved a dismissive hand. "Call me 'Mystogan' whenever I'm in disguise. Don't want you to mistakenly say my real name out of habit in public."

"Okay, Master Mystogan."

For some reason, that sounded rather odd to Jellal. "Just Mystogan," he grumbled, "No 'Master'."

"Okay..." the boy murmured quietly. He wasn't disappointed, but rather genuinely confused as he looked up at the other. "Why can't I call you 'Master'? Romeo said it's a form of respect to people who teach others... so shouldn't I call you that?"

"It's because..."

Master is unbefitting of me... Ever since Keaton's death, Jellal had felt inadequate to carry the title. He had failed Keaton; a master wasn't supposed to outlive their pupils, just as a parent shouldn't outlive their children.

Even though Jellal wasn't truly the one who had taught Keaton, Jellal had felt a sense of pride when he saw what the young man was capable of, using the skills he had learned from Jellal's future counterpart. It had hurt when Keaton died; Jellal could remember the exact moment when the hero's aura faded to nothing on the Final Day.

Jellal shook his head. That was all in the past; there was no point in dwelling on it. There was nothing he could have done to prevent it, given the dire situation they were all in. He had to keep reminding himself to focus on the present as well as the future.

Link was the light who would protect the world from evil, but he was still only a child who needed guidance and mentorship from others. Jellal had sort of made a promise to the boy that he would take on the role when the time came.

Realizing how important this was for Link, Jellal suppressed a groan and sighed in defeat instead. "If you're so inclined... Then fine, you may call me 'Master', but only during our training sessions. Any other time, I am only known as Mystogan. Understood?''

Link's smile returned, broad and cheerful. He nodded his head vigorously. "Yes! Mast – uh, Mystogan."

At the very top of the hill, the fog was thinner due to the elevation and thick cover of trees. They gradually saw a tall windmill emerge from the mist, followed by the rickety old sign that had Fairy Tail's faded name and insignia. Slowly, the whole building came into view in all its ugly glory, horribly rundown and full of newly patched holes.

Since purchasing the place, other guild members had been constantly using it to train. However, they were training a little too aggressively, judging by the poor state of the building. Along with the temporary patchwork, one side of the building was supported by a number of poles to prevent it from collapsing completely over.

Seeing the excessive damage, Jellal wasn't sure if the old place would survive another month of abuse before renovations were supposed to start.

Link ran ahead to unlock the crooked front doors with his own set of keys. He pushed the right one open, producing a horrible screech as the bottom scraped along the badly scratched, wooden floor.

Even though it looked ready to fall apart on the outside, inside was rather neat and organized, much to Jellal's surprise. All the old-looking furniture was still intact and there was hardly a mess anywhere. He had expected the hall in shambles, which was often the case after a drunken brawl at the other guild; duels between members were certainly no less destructive. Perhaps there were certain rules in place of the Training Grounds that prevented the guild from completely annihilating the place before they could restore it.

Once the door was closed behind him, Jellal pulled down his mask and removed his head cover, glad to be able to freely breathe. His disguise was often hot and itchy when days were warm and humid, which was almost every day with the summer season at its peak.

Link followed suit and pulled down his hood before looking at Jellal expectantly, awaiting the man's next instruction.

Where do I even begin? Jellal mused as he made his way over to the closest table. He unbuckled the sash holding his staves, set the weapons down on the floor, and sat down. He motioned for Link to take the seat across from him.

When the boy was settled, Jellal leaned forward and rested his elbows atop the table, lacing his fingers under his chin. "Tell me," he began in an even tone, "are you able to sense magic when someone casts a spell? Every mage is capable of sensing magic to an extent, some more strongly than others without needing Sensory Magic."

Link slightly tilted his head as he thought for a moment. "I think I can..."

Jellal held out his right palm and summoned a small golden flame within it. "Can you sense this?"

The boy's eyes shimmered as he stared at the flickering spell. He nodded.

"What does my magic feel like to you?"

"Hot."

Jellal raised his brow in suspicion. "Are you saying it feels hot because you see fire?"

"Yes... and I can feel the heat," the boy replied, reaching out towards Jellal's flame to make his point clear.

All right, bad example, Jellal grumbled to himself. He dispelled his fire and commanded the boy to close his eyes. Jellal's hand was enveloped in golden light as he called forth only raw magic. "What do you feel now?"

Eyes tightly shut, Link scrunched up his face as he concentrated on Jellal's magic. "A strong energy..."

"How does it compare to Wendy's magic?"

"Wendy's?" Link was more relaxed as he thought of her, a fond smile on his lips. "Hers is... cool and gentle. Soothing."

He was only describing the properties of Wendy's healing spell and not her magic itself.

Jellal hardened his expression as he thought of a better example. "How does my magic compare to the power of the Evil King? Do you remember what it felt like?"

Link opened his eyes in response, his face bold and angry. "Yes. It was very strong and cold... like the air had turned to ice..."

"That was evil at its purest," stated Jellal, his tone bitter from the memory. He vanquished his magic and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Everyone in the city had felt it on that day, alongside your incredible magical strength."

Link looked at his hands. "I remember Wendy saying... my power was divine. Does my magic still feel like that?"

"It certainly felt divine when you were empowered by your Triforce," answered Jellal. It was only brief, but he had caught a glimpse of Link's transformation back in Crocus, shortly before Jellal, as well as every other mage, was washed away and nearly drowned by Aquarius's humongous tidal wave. The Triforce was a mysterious mark that had shone on the back of Link's left hand and on the right of the Evil King's. It was the same mark seen on some of Link's possessions, however the boy was unable to recall anything about it other than it was a sacred symbol. Similar to his dragon power, the Triforce lay dormant and unseen, leaving his skin bare.

"Right now, you are just an ordinary child lacking in magic. Your bracelets prevent me from sensing anything special about you. Don't take them off," Jellal warned when Link moved to grab one of them, "Your magic aura stands out and is easily recognizable."

"Stand out?" Link questioned.

Jellal nodded. "Meaning your magic is very different from ours. You see, all mages generally draw their magic from something called Ethernano – invisible particles of magic that can be found in nature and in every living creature on Earthland. It can be infused into objects," Jellal pointed at his various staves, some engraved with magical runes, others embedded with Lacrima, "or concentrated into crystals in the form of Lacrima. Because of Ethernano, all magic basically feels the same to the untrained. The only exceptions are demons and Celestial Spirits. Their magic, as you may already know, greatly differs from the people of Fiore.

"However, you are neither demon nor spirit. Your magic is significantly different from every living being I've come across and that is because you do not rely on Ethernano as a magical source, but... something else... Something that only your body can utilize and can only be effectively restored with Porlyusica's potions. Whatever this magical component is, it makes your power feel completely different compared to the rest of us.

"Don't be worried," Jellal added just as Link started to frown, "it actually gives you a great advantage in some situations. It seems you can not be afflicted with Magic Deficiency Disease and you are likely immune to all spells and objects designed to seal a mage's magic. Has anyone told you what happened when we went to rescue Lucy at Mercurius Castle?"

The boy slowly nodded as he looked away. "Yes. Wendy told me what happened..."

"We were trapped and powerless." Jellal shuddered. The memory was still vivid in his mind; the awful stench, the chilling vibes, and Arcadios, lying on the floor bleeding to death... "Had Keaton's magic been the same as ours, he wouldn't have been able to teleport us out of that death chamber..."

"Will you teach me that?" Link suddenly asked, looking at Jellal pleadingly. "I want to be able to teleport like Gemini – like Keaton... Please, can you show me how?"

Jellal smirked, actually feeling a sense of relief in knowing how to proceed with Link's training. Honing the boy's teleportation ability was a better lesson than having him endure a long and boring lecture.

"Very well," said Jellal as he stood up. "The teleportation part is all on you. I can only point you in the right direction. Understood?"

Grinning, Link hopped off his chair and nodded. "Yes! Understood. Can I call you 'Master' now?"

A grunt was Jellal's only answer as he began to walk away. He held up a hand to stop the boy from following him. "Stay there. First thing we will test is your current limit of detectability. Close your eyes and focus on my magic like before. Tell me when you can no longer sense anything."

Once again, Jellal concentrated the same amount of raw magic in one hand as before for the boy to blindly keep track of him. He was almost at the back entrance when Link spoke up. Roughly ten metres; it was a decent natural range, allowing Link to detect most magic attacks coming his way and give him enough time to react accordingly. It would take some work, but if the boy was truly ambitious to learn, then it may not be overly difficult to sharpen the boy's magic sense.

The first lesson was going to be a simple one before they would dive into the more difficult task of using actual magic to detect and distinguish other sources of magic, no matter how strong or weak.

Jellal took a few steps back into Link's limited range. "Can you sense me here? Good. Now concentrate on my location and teleport to me."

The boy nodded. Brow deeply furrowed in concentration and hands clenched by his sides, it took a little while before his body began to shine with a familiar green light. A cool wind picked up, making his cloak and hair flutter.

His bracelets worked effectively in concealing his magic that Jellal had to keep his eyes on him. Link disappeared in a bright flash and a burst of wind that knocked every surrounding chair over.

Knowing he would be blasted by a strong gust, Jellal braced for the boy's sudden return. However, after waiting a few seconds, there was no wind and no Link anywhere in sight. A tad concerned, Jellal did a quick scan with his senses and found the boy standing behind him, outside.

The lock to the back door clicked and Link sheepishly shuffled back in.

"Looks like you overshot it," Jellal remarked, smirking. "We'll have to work on your accuracy in detection before trying to increase your sensitivity. Let's move outside and try again." To avoid crashing into hard, solid objects.

Out in the open backyard, the mist was nearly gone and the morning sun was beginning to peek through the clouds. The expanse of the yard was well intact and maintained, aside from a few broken trees piled on one side and a large patch of scorched grass on the other.

Jellal moved to stand in the middle while Link waited near the door. Once the man gave the signal, Link concentrated his magic and tried to warp where he was supposed to go, only to reappear off to the side near the treeline. Unfortunately, teleporting wasn't as easy as the both of them had thought.

Over and over, Jellal had Link repeat the exercise with varied results. Most of the time, the boy wound up too far off from Jellal's position. There were a few instances where Link came close, but the distance was still too great to actually count. There was no consistency in his spell, the pattern seemingly random as if he had difficulty controlling it. By the twentieth attempt, Link was clearly getting tired and frustrated that he lost focus and ended up somewhere Jellal had least expected; falling from the sky, right above him.

Stars exploded before Jellal's eyes. Next thing he knew, he was lying face-first on the ground, his head throbbing in pain and something heavy crushing his back. The object on top of him suddenly gasped and rolled off.

"Master! I'm sorry!" Link cried out. "Are you okay?!"

Winded, Jellal could only moan in reply. He shrugged off Link's attempt to help as he slowly sat up and shook away the dizziness. Gingerly, he touched the top of his head and winced at the large, swollen bump. He was about to snap at Link out of his own frustration when he saw the guilt on the boy's face. Biting back his anger, he heaved a disgruntled sigh and growled out, "We're taking a break."

He rose unsteadily to his feet, dusted off his clothes, and marched back towards the building. Link silently trailed after him.

It was cooler back inside, allowing Jellal to quickly calm his mind. They returned to the table where he had left his staves, picked up the fallen chairs, and sat back in their spots.

Not wanting the both of them to sulk in silence, Jellal brought out Mirajane's big bag for a bite to eat in hope of lifting their moods. As he took out one small package after another, he was alarmed at the amount of desserts Mirajane had given them. Buttery, flaky pastries, tarts, and cookies, all filled with berry jam, custard, or both. There was enough to feed a ravenous group of four.

Jellal opened one of each and set them over the table for Link to choose from.

However, the boy made no move to grab any of the treats. Instead, he just stared at the open box of cookies sitting in front of him, clearly miserable.

Jellal shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not sure how to deal with the situation. He was never one to make small talk and often his words were a little too blunt for anyone's liking. Neither of those traits were going to help him here. Fortunately, Link was first to break the awkward silence.

"I'm sorry, Master," the boy mumbled, hanging his head, "I don't know why I can't do it properly... I've done it once before with no trouble..."

Jellal crossed his arms on the table and raised an eyebrow. "You have? When was that?"

Link's expression turned solemn. "Right before Keaton died... He called for me and I was somehow able to teleport exactly where he was."

"I see," murmured Jellal, feeling a pang in his chest. For a moment, he said nothing else as he pondered over what the boy had told him, his fingers lightly tapping upon the table. "Do you remember how it felt when you cast the spell that first time?"

Link glanced at his master and nodded. He placed a hand over his heart. "I felt something here... a strong urge like... like a hand was pulling me, showing me where to go."

Intrigued, Jellal raised a finger in the boy's direction and noted, "Then that may be the key. Follow your heart, so to speak. That is something you could try when we go back outside. I want you to focus on my magic, but also feel where you want – where you need to go. Imagine that hand pulling you towards me. And stopping in front of me and nowhere else. Especially not above me. Understood?"

"Yes, understood," said Link with a determined nod of his head. Visibly in a better mood, he grabbed a cookie and a tart and started to eat.

Jellal helped himself to a pastry and took a small bite. The combination of custard and jam was a rather pleasant flavour. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten something so sweet.

After finishing his tart, Link asked tentatively, "Did Keaton ever talk about his past... my past? Who I am or... where I'm from?"

Jellal gave the boy a look of pity and sadly shook his head. "Unfortunately, no," he answered, his voice quiet, "We had little time to discuss anything other than the fate of our future and what we could do to change it. Destroying the Eclipse Gate was our main priority above all else."

Disappointed, Link frowned, but nodded in understanding.

Jellal was actually lying. There were a few instances where he could have inquired more about Keaton's past, but he had never bothered. Averting a world-wide disaster was the only thing on his mind during the entire time they had spent working together.

Jellal regretted not asking, but thinking about the moment reminded him of something. "Do you know what a Rupee is?" he asked Link.

"A Rupee?" The boy blinked and knitted his brow slightly.

"Those colourful gemstones of yours that are highly valuable here in Fiore. Keaton had called them 'Rupees'. Does that sound familiar to you?"

"Rupees... it does sound familiar..." Link murmured, rubbing his forehead as if to ease an oncoming headache. He suddenly straightened in his seat, his eyes wide. "Oh! You mean these gemstones?" From his pants pocket, he pulled out a small, red, hand-woven pouch, pulled open the drawstring, and dumped its contents onto the table. Five different coloured gems of the same shape and size noisily scattered across the wooden surface; blue, red, yellow, purple, and green.

Jellal eyed the sparkling gems, estimating their total worth to be at least sixty to eighty thousand Jewels. He gently plucked the nearest one off the table and held it at eye-level. Smooth, flawless, and as large as a gold coin, it was a beautiful emerald that could be made into very expensive jewellery in the right hands. "Yes, these are the exact same ones."

Smiling, Link picked up the red one and looked it over closely, copying Jellal. "So these are Rupees! I have a bigger pouch full of them at home with some gold and silver ones too. Dad stored it away for safekeeping though. He said they are valuable treasure. I think... I think you can find these in the tall grass!"

Jellal snorted in disbelief as he rolled the emerald between his fingers. "I doubt you will stumble upon these lying in a field for what they're worth."

Link tilted his head. "Really? What about... inside pots? And big old chests?"

Narrowing his eyes, Jellal began to suspect what the boy was asking. "Do you remember finding these gemstones in such places?"

Link stared intently at the red Rupee in his hand as if trying to find the answer hidden within. After a short while, he winced and touched his forehead, dropping his arm on the table. "I... I don't know..." he mumbled, shaking his head.

Understanding the difficulties Link was going through, Jellal didn't press the boy any further. Amnesia took time to recover from, months to even years, depending on the individual. Patience was the key. Most of Jellal's memories came back within a year or so. However, it had been six years since then and he still had some missing gaps and vague moments. He was too afraid to ask others about those parts of his life, knowing he would hate what he would hear.

Jellal suggested they finish up and resume their training.

Back outside, Link followed Jellal's advice from earlier. Each time the boy cast his spell, he would trust both his heart and senses. Using this technique, Link's accuracy with his teleportation noticeably improved, little by little. After a number of tries, Link eventually stopped warping behind Jellal. After several more, Jellal could feel the wind rush by him when the boy blinked back into existence.

No matter how small the feat, it was progress. When Jellal made note of it, Link was highly ecstatic and wanted to keep going at it throughout the rest of the day. With a few vials of Porlyusica's potions on hand, the boy had the energy to do just that.

It was then that Jellal had learned a lesson himself, that a bit of encouragement went a long way in helping the boy strive and not give up.

Shortly after evening, they traversed back through town under the shroud of magical mist, moving like phantoms once again as they headed straight towards the guild. It was made more difficult with more people crowding the streets, forcing them to take several detours, doubling the time it took. Link made no complaint, however, making Jellal wonder if the boy saw it as a game.

Despite Sorcerer Magazine long gone from the guild, Jellal chose to enter using his secret entrance out of caution. Right after he sealed back the wall, Link kindly asked for the return of his flowers.

With a quick flick of his wrist, Jellal summoned the boy's bouquet and wordlessly handed them back.

"Thank you, Mast – uh, Mystogan!" said the boy with a grateful bow of his head. He ran ahead a few steps only to screech to a halt at the doorway leading to the kitchen. He quickly turned back around and sprinted up to Jellal, holding out a closed fist, a wide grin on his face. "This is for you!"

Jellal raised a questionable eyebrow as he tentatively held out his hand. Link placed a familiar red pouch in the man's open palm.

"Wait, I don't need..." Jellal started to say, but the boy was already out of the room and half-way across the kitchen, no doubt eager to give Wendy her flowers.

Jellal quietly sighed and safely stored the boy's Rupees away. Even though his face was hidden, he was glad no one was around to notice his smile.

---

Lucy couldn't help but feel anxious as she rode on the train that was heading for her hometown, Acalypha. She wasn't traveling there alone for her own personal matters however; seated next to her by the window was Link and together, they were on a journey to search for Bero, Lucy's old Master.

Lucy remembered Bero as a kind and wise elderly man who lived with the Heartfilia family back at the manor. He was like a loving grandfather to her growing up. When her mother fell gravely ill, Bero was the one who took over in teaching Lucy Celestial Spirit Magic. A teacher and a scholar, he was always full of knowledge. Whether it be about the world or the Celestial Spirits and their realm, listening to his stories was one of Lucy's favourite pastimes. It was because of him that Lucy had fallen in love with literature and writing.

Lucy and Link were on their way to find him because they were both in need of guidance in learning the next biggest spell in Celestial Spirit Magic: Star Dress and Star Suit respectively.

When Lucy wasn't out on a job or busy training Link, she had tried to teach herself the advanced spell, going by what little she could remember from her last lesson with Master Bero, shortly before she ran away from home. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get a handle on it, prompting her to seek advice from an expert. There was no one else she knew who was a greater Celestial Spirit Mage other than Master Bero.

After three months of training with Lucy, Link was ready to learn with her. She had taught him as much as she could within that short period of time. Diligent and eager to please, her young student was quick to pick up on every one of her lessons until there was nothing new she could teach. He had mastered Force Gate Closure and no longer had a problem switching between spirits during mock battles. There was one obstacle he couldn't overcome however, and that was opening more than one Celestial Spirit gate at a time.

It was no surprise, given his current skill level and the complexity of the spell itself. In order for a Celestial Mage to open multiple gates, the mage must have excellent control over their magic, otherwise they would expend it all too quickly. Not only that, it was a skill rarely achieved by male Celestial Mages. Historically, it had been known to be easier for females to master.

After realizing Link would never be able to pull it off anytime soon, Lucy had moved on to something more feasible and enjoyable for him; Celestial Star Contract, the ability to loan and lend out Celestial Keys with a fellow Celestial Mage.

One Celestial Key at a time, Lucy had lent him her available spirits, allowing him to bond and get better acquainted with each of them. It gave him the opportunity to learn their strengths and weaknesses, and adapt different strategies during battles. If he ever needed any extra help, he would know who to ask for in any given situation.

The boy loved spending time with each of her spirits as much as they loved him as their temporary Master. Even Aquarius seemed rather fond of him. Lucy was certain Aquarius was putting on an act just to spite her, but the mage honestly couldn't tell...

Although Link was able to perform Celestial Star Contract, he had yet to memorize the incantation by heart. He often had to refer to the note Lucy had written for him in order to say it right. She couldn't blame him, it was a lot of words to remember and some weren't typically used in a normal conversation. When she was about his age, it probably took her half a year before she could recall it all from memory.

Since it was going to take about an hour for the train to reach Acalypha, Lucy asked Link to practice the incantation with her to pass the time.

The car they rode in was loud and full of other people, but the pair had their own private section at the very front.

Facing each other, Lucy had to lean in close as Link began to quietly recite, "Master Lucy, here I stand beneath the Celestial Stars... I hum-ly – humbly ask of thee, lend me thy strength, thy... thy love?"

"Thy gifts," Lucy corrected.

Groaning, Link unfolded the worn and creased paper in his hand to double-check. "Does it have to be the same order every time?"

With an apologetic smile, Lucy nodded. "I'm afraid so."

The boy pouted. His eyes flickered over the sheet as he mouthed the words scribbled upon it. Folding the paper in half, he tried again. And again and again and again. He stumbled, paused, and forgot a word or two each and every time. Gently, Lucy would always correct him.

"You'll get it eventually," she assured after the umpteenth time, giving him an encouraging smile and pat on the arm. "It takes a lot of practice. Took me well over a year to nail it." She was exaggerating, of course, but she was hoping it would make him feel better.

Link stared at her. "Did you use a hammer to nail it?"

Lucy covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. She kept forgetting that Link took everything spoken literally, which made it easy to tease him. "No, but I was tempted to hammer it into my head – I'm only joking!" she quickly added when Link's face twisted into one of horror. "What I meant to say was that I had trouble memorizing it too, so don't worry if it takes a while. Just keep trying."

Link nodded. "Was it your Master Bero who taught you all your magic?"

"Almost," said Lucy, her smile turning wistful, "My mother taught me a few things when I was still very young. Aquarius and Cancer once belonged to my mother before I inherited their keys. Before their keys became mine," she rephrased when Link looked a little confused at the end.

The boy smiled. "So your mother gave them to you?"

Slowly, Lucy nodded, feeling her chest tighten and her eyes sting from the very last memory she had of her beloved mother. Her mother had been lying in bed, so pale and sickly, barely any strength left to hold up the two Gold Zodiac Keys for Lucy to take. She had died peacefully in her sleep not long after that.

"Right before she passed away..." said Lucy, wiping the corners of her eyes.

It took a few seconds for Link to comprehend what she had said. His smile turned into a sad frown. "Oh..."

"I'll never forget the things she taught me," said Lucy, cheering herself back up, "One of the most important lessons I had learned from her was to always love and respect every Celestial Spirit under your command. These past few months have been a great joy to me, Link. I'm really glad that I'm able to pass my mother's teachings onto you."

Link's smile returned. "I'm happy you're my master. Your mother must have been really kind, just like you."

The comment made Lucy swell with pride. Scratching her cheek, she let out a short, embarrassed laugh. "Me? Well... My mother was the kindest person to have ever lived, I don't think I can ever compare to her in that regard. But, I really appreciate hearing that from you. So," she gestured at the crumpled note in his hand, "do you want to keep at it or do you want to take a break?"

Growling, Link glared at the paper as if it was his mortal enemy. "I want to keep trying."

For the remainder of the trip, they practiced the incantation together, switching between roles every now and then so it wouldn't become too dull.

Shortly before the train reached their destination, Link noticed something outside the window. Eyes wide with fascination, he pressed his hands and face against the glass as it began to snow.

It was the first snow of the late autumn season. With the morning sky dark and gloomy and the weather cold enough that they could see their breaths, it was no surprise that it finally started to fall.

"It's snowing," said Lucy, leaning over Link's shoulder to get a better look outside. "The first sign of winter. Soon everything you see out there will be covered in all that white fluffy stuff falling from the sky."

"Everything? Even Magnolia? Is that bad?" Link asked, worried.

She chuckled. "Not at all. It's normal. Think of snow as rain in the winter months, except it lasts a lot longer on the ground. It's going to be cold and white until the snow starts to melt in the spring."

They were prepared for the brisk weather. Lucy had donned multiple layers under a hooded, black leather cloak lined with fur. Link wore a thick coat under a similar fur-lined cloak, but his was a dark green with a blue trim. Not knowing how long they would be staying in Acalypha, both had packed a few days worth of warm clothes, just in case the weather took a turn.

When the train stopped at the station, Lucy joined Link in pulling up her hood, wanting to hide her face. She didn't want to draw too much attention while walking the streets of Acalypha.

Once out of the car, they were greeted by the cold, wintry air and falling snow. Large, fluffy clumps of white softly pelted their hooded heads as they made their way across the platform. Curious, Link held out his hands to catch the snowflakes and was astonished when they quickly melted away.

Inside the station, they stopped at an information booth near the entrance to look at the town map.

Lucy quietly sighed as she stared at the hand-drawn map, suddenly feeling lost and hopeless. She didn't know where to start looking for Master Bero. She wasn't even sure if he was still in town after losing his residency at the Heartfilia Manor when her father's company went bankrupt. Her eyes roamed the map, seeing the huge property that was once Heartfilia Konzern now under a different name. The town had expanded since her disappearance; there were a number of new roads she didn't recognize.

Realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere staring at a map, she thought it wouldn't hurt to ask around.

Lucy turned to the bored-looking woman working at the information booth. "Um, excuse me," she began, drawing the woman's attention, "This may sound strange, but do you know if there's an old man named Bero who lives in this town?"

"Sorry, who?" the woman replied in a nasally voice, raising a lazy eyebrow.

"Bero. He's an elderly man about this tall," Lucy held a hand just above her waist, "He's a Celestial Spirit Mage who used to work at Heartfilia Konzern."

The woman continued to stare at her, clueless. "Sorry, miss. I don't know who you're talking about."

Lucy nodded and politely waved her hand. "That's okay. I can ask some other people if they know. Thanks for your time. Come on, Link."

As the pair started to walk away, the woman muttered in a monotone, "Enjoy your stay in Acalypha."

Snow continued to steadily fall as Lucy and Link wandered the streets. It wasn't too busy with the weather keeping most of the people inside where it was cozy and warm. With so few people out, it made it difficult for Lucy to get any information on Bero's whereabouts. The handful of individuals they came across unfortunately had no idea whom she was asking for.

Nevertheless, they kept searching.

They splashed through growing puddles and slush with Link enjoying it more than the other. When they were walking by a small park, Link stopped to watch a couple children playing around, throwing snowballs at each other.

Lucy was amused as the boy tried to make his own snowball, scooping the slush by his feet with his bare hands. He succeeded in making a messy, dripping lump, but didn't hold onto it for long when it got too cold to handle. His slushy ball splattered on the sidewalk and he vigorously shook his reddened hands that were wet and likely freezing.

"You'll need some gloves if you want to play in the snow," said Lucy, chuckling. "Let's go inside to warm up and grab something to eat." It was nearing noon and she was getting hungry.

They stopped at a small restaurant and ordered bowls of hot, delicious stew that came with freshly baked bread. As they ate, Lucy asked the server and the locals near their table if they knew about Bero, however none of them even heard of that name.

At the end of their meal, Lucy treated herself and Link to mugs of hot, frothy cocoa to help them stave off the cold a little bit longer.

Back out on the streets, Lucy decided a different approach. She headed straight towards her old manor, hoping the people living near the enormous property would have some useful information. Along the way, she kept asking the same questions only to receive the same disappointing answers.

The more people she asked, the more disheartened she became. Bero was already up there in his years when she left home for good... Seven years had passed since then and she was starting to fear she may never find him...

By mid-afternoon, the wind had picked up, dropping the temperature and blowing snow in their faces. Cold and shivering, and barely able to see five feet ahead of her, Lucy had no choice but to call it a day. She turned back around and headed straight for a hotel she saw a block away.

As she sharply rounded a corner, she suddenly tripped over something and ended up face-planting into a pile of wet snow.

"Oh no! I'm terribly sorry!" someone croaked.

"Master Lucy!" Link exclaimed, soundly running to her side.

Lucy sputtered snow water from her mouth and pushed back to her feet. Snow had somehow gotten down her shirt, making her squirm from the freezing water dripping into her bra. She tried to shake it all out before brushing off the slush that covered the front of her clothes. Soaked and shivering worse than before, she managed to stutter out, "I-I'm okay! Just c-cold!"

The person from before hobbled up to her with a tall cane in hand and sharply gasped. "Did you say 'Lucy'? Can it be? Do my old eyes deceive me?"

Lucy wiped her face with her sleeve and blinked at the short old man standing beside her. Slowly, her eyes went wide when she recognized the faded pink cap with a yellow heart in the middle sitting upon his head. Not only that, his thick white moustache, tiny narrow eyes, long pointy nose, and large droopy ears were all unmistakable features. "Master Bero!" she cried in relief and happiness. She leaned over to pull the old man into a big hug.

With a joyous chortle, he gently patted her on the back. "It really is you, sweet child! I never thought I would see you in person again! Look at you! You look the same as the day you left!"

Lucy frowned in guilt as she pulled away, keeping one hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, Master Bero... but I..."

Shaking his head, the old man gripped her arm with a trembling, wrinkled hand, his fingers long and bony. "You had your reasons," he said. His eyes gleamed as he looked at her knowingly. "You are the one asking all around town looking for me, aren't you?"

"Yes, how did you know? No one here seems to know who you are..."

"That's because I rarely show my face in town other than to pick up supplies every now and then. I have a special way of keeping informed, you see, for matters such as this." He nodded at the small Celestial Spirit standing by his feet that Lucy hadn't noticed earlier. Link, on the other hand, was already crouched beside the spirit, giving it a friendly pet on the head.

It was a Nikora different from Plue; blue, short and chubby, and extremely adorable with its stocky limbs. It had big round, quivering black eyes and thick, dark blue eyebrows that made it look angry. However, it wasn't angry at all for a wide smile adorned its face from Link's gentle touch.

"Oh, and who is this young friend of yours?" Bero asked, smiling down at the boy.

"Master Bero, this is Link," said Lucy. "He's my student. I've been teaching him Celestial Spirit Magic."

Link stood up and stuck out his left hand at the old man in greeting.

Bero's face brightened as he shook the boy's hand. "Oh! Your student? That's wonderful!"

"I have a Nikora too," said Link. Eager to show the old man, he didn't hesitate to summon Plue.

The little white canine happily squealed upon entry and immediately saw the other Nikora. Excited, the pair ran up to each other and started to babble like old friends. Compared to Plue, the blue spirit had a deeper, manly voice that would make Elfman proud.

"Marvelous!" praised Bero upon seeing Link open a Celestial gate with ease. He turned to Lucy. "You are an excellent teacher, my dear. How about we get out of this nasty weather? You've come looking for me with good reason, yes?"

Lucy nodded, always amazed at the old man's ability to know what was on her mind even after all these years.

"Then let's hurry along to my place. Baffie! Please, lead us home with our new guests."

"Puu-puu-puuun!" shouted the blue Nikora with a salute.

Baffie took the lead with Plue and Link strolling right behind. Bero started to hobble after them, leaning heavily on his cane with every step of his right foot. Lucy moved in and grabbed his free arm to lend her support so he wouldn't slip. He smiled in thanks.

They made their way across town, keeping in pace with Bero's slow gait. It was probably only half an hour when they stepped foot in the outskirts of Acalypha. Houses and trees were so far and few between that there was no barrier from the harsh, blowing wind. The sky was growing darker with evening fast approaching.

Lucy was shivering so badly that her teeth were chattering by the time they finally reached a small, old shack situated near a rocky cliff.

The instant Lucy stepped through the creaky door, she was appalled by the messy clutter waiting inside. There were dusty, old books piled on the main floor and on top of every table and rickety chair. There was a single bed tucked away in a corner, the foot of it used as a bookshelf. She turned towards the tiny kitchen, seeing more old books all over the counter and dining furniture. Lucy could only assume it was a part of his collection he had managed to save when he was evicted from the manor.

"Baffie, please start a fire," said Bero once the door was closed behind them. "These old bones of mine won't stop rattling from the cold."

Baffie nodded and quickly manoeuvred through the maze of towering books towards the fireplace in the back. The spirit tossed a few logs of firewood from a nearby pile and grabbed a matchbox. With shaky paws, Baffie tried to light a match only to end up snapping the head off in the process.

"I can start a fire!" Link offered, running over to help. He cupped his hands together in a frightfully familiar stance, but before he could even produce a spark, Lucy screamed at him to stop.

"Only a small fire, okay? Small fire," she begged, giving him a stern, yet also nervous look. She knew he loved playing with his big fire spell, especially whenever he was around Natsu, but using it to light the fireplace would be absolute overkill. "We don't want to burn this place down!"

"Oh! Okay. Small fire." Link reached over his shoulder and grabbed an arrow from his hidden quiver. He flicked his wrist and magically ignited the sharp metal tip with a hot orange flame, drawing sounds of awe from Plue and Baffie. He stabbed the burning arrow into the middle of the logs where they soon caught fire, providing light and warmth.

No big fiery explosion and nothing accidentally set aflame. Lucy sighed in relief.

"My, thank you, my boy. You're a talented Fire Mage too!" noted Bero.

"He's a lot more than that," said Lucy, smiling.

With the fireplace ablaze and providing warmth to frozen limbs, they shuffled into the kitchen. Link and Lucy helped move books off the dining chairs and table so they could get settled.

Bero lit an oil lamp to give them better light to see and put a kettle on the stove for tea. While the water was heating up, he joined Lucy and Link at the table.

A few small boxes of baked goods sat open, provided by none other than Mirajane, who loved to spoil her guild mates with treats whenever they went on a mission or trip. Baffie and Plue had already scarfed down a cookie each and were now playing in the living room, climbing the book towers as if they were treacherous mountains.

"You live here all alone, Master Bero?" Lucy was first to ask once the old man sat down.

Bero shook his head and gestured at the Nikoras. "Not alone. I have Baffie to keep me company. Shortly after I was rudely escorted out of Heartfilia Manor, I purchased his key in a Magic Shop and he's kept me happy since. I don't mind the small space, really. I have no need for a bigger one. I have enough funds saved up while I was still employed under your father to live the rest of my life in peace." His expression became solemn. "You have my sincere condolences. Your father... he was a good man. Truly tragic for him to pass so soon..."

The kettle started to shriek, making Link cover his sensitive ears. Lucy beat Bero in getting up to grab it off the stove. She poured the hot water into the teapot Bero had prepared and brought the tea tray over to the table. As she sat down, she said in a sullen tone, "Thank you, Master Bero..."

He reached over and gripped her hand. "How are you holding up, my dear? I've read all about Fairy Tail's victory in the recent Grand Magic Games! As well as the terrible disaster that had befallen Crocus. I can't imagine what it was like to be there when that tragedy happened. Bless the Celestial Stars you made it out alive."

Lucy bit her lower lip. He as well as the entire kingdom were unaware of the whole truth. Bero was someone she dearly trusted with all her heart, however she couldn't reveal Link's true identity to him. Not just yet. "Master, there's a favour I want to ask you..."

He squeezed her hand. "Please, ask away."

She looked him in the eyes, pleading. "I never finished learning Star Dress from you. Will you be able to teach me, starting from the very beginning? Link as well? He's already at the stage where he is capable of learning it."

Bero gawked at the young boy in amazement. "He's that far in advance in his lessons? That's spectacular for his age! You must hail from a very gifted bloodline, my boy. Who is your family?"

"Dad and Romeo," the boy answered, misinterpreting the question.

"'Dadenromeo'?" Bero raised his brow. "I've never heard of that family name before. What region are you from?"

Link tilted his head. "Region?"

"Um, Master Bero," Lucy intruded, "There's something you need to know... Link wasn't born a Celestial Spirit Mage, he was given the power."

Bero's eyes widened. "'Given'?" he uttered in disbelief, "As in... taught the magic like other forms? Why, that should be impossible!"

Lucy shook her head. "No, no. Given. As in passing onto another."

"What? H-How? By whom?"

With a nervous chuckle, Lucy glanced off to the side. "Uh, well... you probably won't believe this, but... it was the Celestial Spirit King."

There was dead silence. Lucy looked back at her master and found his jaw hanging and his eyes so wide, she was afraid they would pop out of their sockets. "Master Bero? Are you all right?"

He started to stammer, "Th-The... The Celestial... Spirit... King? The Celestial. Spirit. King? Did I hear that correctly?"

Lucy nodded.

Bero shot to his feet, almost knocking over his chair. "How?"

"I stuck out my hand like this," said Link with a little demonstration, "and then he tapped it with his giant finger."

"What?! You've personally met the Spirit King?!"

"The Spirit King invited us to the Celestial Spirit World for a big celebration," Lucy began to explain only to pause when Bero started to sway on his feet, his mouth flapping like a fish out of water.

"Both... Spirit World... by the King... Oh d-dear..."

"Master Bero!" Lucy dove off her chair to catch the falling old man. Small and light, it wasn't hard to stop him from getting hurt. She was down on her knees, gently lying him flat on the ground. When he started to slowly come to, she sighed in relief.

"Is he okay?!" Link asked, kneeling on Bero's other side. Plue and Baffie came running over to check as well.

"He just fainted," said Lucy. No doubt overwhelmed by what he had just learned. And there was a lot more to know. Holding the old man's frail hand, she said in a soothing voice, "Master Bero, I'm going to take you to your bed. I'll explain everything there, okay?"

"Y-Yes..." the old man croaked, blinking rapidly, still stricken with shock. Lucy helped him onto his feet and led him by the arm to his bed in the corner, near the fireplace. As they crossed the room, Lucy asked Baffie and Plue to clear off the bed and Link to pour Bero some tea.

With his back propped against the headrest and his legs tucked under a thick, woolen blanket, Bero got comfortable. His hands were trembling as he took a sip of his tea, somehow managing to avoid spilling even a drop. He seemed calmer afterwards.

After Link brought Lucy a cup too, she kindly asked him to stay in the kitchen and play with the Nikoras while she spoke with Bero.

She started from the beginning, when she was first confronted by the Spirit King while trying to save Loke from disappearing forever.

"Never... Never in my lifetime, or the generations before me, has the Spirit King ever appear before my eyes. For him to recognize your kindness and love for spirits is truly a great, great honour." Bero gripped her hand, his smile broad and his eyes teary. "Lucy, I am so very proud of you! You have accomplished what many Celestial Spirit Mages could only dream of! I wish your mother was still alive to see how much you've grown."

Lucy smiled warmly. "Thank you, Master. I owe it all to you and my mother for teaching me everything I know." She continued on, briefly going over the incident at Tenrou Island and the reason why she and the most of Fairy Tail had disappeared for seven years. Before she spoke about Link, she made Bero swear to keep everything she was about to tell him a secret.

"I swear by the name of your dearly departed mother that I will never tell another living soul," he promised, hand upon his heart.

And so she told him, from when Link was found, to the party in the Celestial Spirit World, to the Grand Magic Games, to Keaton and the future, and finally, the fateful battle on the Final Day. Throughout it all, Bero had sat quietly, staring ahead, rarely blinking, seemingly daydreaming, but Lucy knew he was listening closely to every word. When she was done, he didn't say anything right away. He was lost in his own thoughts, his cup of cold tea forgotten on his lap.

It was quiet in the little shack, aside from the crackling coming from the fireplace and the wind howling outside.

Lucy gave Bero time to process all the information she had shared in the past two hours or so. Seeing the fire was almost mere embers, she got up and tossed a few logs to feed it. She then went to check on Link, surprised at how quiet he and the spirits had gotten. When she stepped into the kitchen, she discovered why; the three of them had built a little fort using the stacks of books as walls and Link's cloak draped on top as cover.

Lucy picked up the oil lamp and peered inside the fort, finding the boy and spirits huddled together atop a pile of his clothes, fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb them, she quietly returned to Bero's bedside.

Bero met her gaze, his eyes quivering with fear. "I remember that night," he began, his voice low and wavering, "I had felt that great evil arise – all of Fiore may have felt it. I knew something grave was happening somewhere, but it never occurred to me that a single, powerful demon would be the source."

He bowed his head, breathing out a long deep sigh to calm his nerves. "Where is Link?"

"He's asleep in the kitchen."

Bero nodded, a sad smile gracing his lips. "That's good. It must have been a long day for him. We owe our lives to that young, brave Hero. Such a poor, poor child... to be burdened with such a fate."

"And yet," Lucy began, giving him a proud smile, "despite the odds stacked against him, he hasn't given up hope. He wants to grow stronger, Master. We all do, so he will not have to fight alone."

"Then, Lucy," Bero's expression was steadfast as he placed a firm hand on her arm, "allow me to help you and Link however I can. I will teach you both the greatest spells in the history of Celestial Spirit Magic."

"Master, thank you!" said Lucy, leaning over to hug the old man dearly.

"It's the least I can do to help protect this world," he replied with a small chuckle. "Now, how shall we do this? I don't want you both to constantly have to travel just to visit me and I'm afraid it's much too small here for you both to stay for long periods of time."

Lucy didn't have to think too long to come up with an idea. "You can move to Magnolia, Master Bero. We have an extra building that's currently used as a training area, but there are proper beds and facilities. You can stay there until we can find you a permanent place."

Bero's eyebrows disappeared under his cap. "Move to Magnolia? I... I don't know about that... What about all my books?"

"Our guild has a library. We can store them all there. I have a friend named Levi who would love to read every single one of your books. She will take care of your collection. So what do you say, Master Bero? Link and I will greatly appreciate having you close to our guild." Lucy's face brightened as another great idea came to mind. "In fact, why not become a member of Fairy Tail?"

Bero's eyes began to water. "You would... you would want me to join? Why... I don't know what to say... Aren't I too old to be a guild member? I'm ninety-five years old!"

Lucy quietly giggled. "Age doesn't matter, Master Bero. You're close in age to our Guild Master. I think you two would get along fine."

"Another wise man to share his wisdom. Then that settles it," said Bero, all smiles and joy, "I will come with you to Magnolia."

"Thank you, Master! Let me be the first to welcome you to Fairy Tail."

---

For days to weeks to months, Mavis had been following the man in the hooded black cloak. She stayed at a great distance and height, not wanting him to notice her presence.

Her eyes never left the man's back as he trekked through valleys and over mountains, across vast open plains, and into thick forests, choosing paths that were unknown to man. Not once did the man stop, walking day and night at a steady pace, unaffected by the weather and climate, an immortal being with no need for rest and other necessities required to support life.

He was moving northeast and Mavis could only guess why; the dragons that attacked Crocus were last seen flying in that direction.

As days went by, Mavis noticed the seasons gradually changing around her. Summer turned to fall, and fall to winter. What was once green and thriving had turned colour, trees naked and bare, plants withered and dead; now everything was covered in blankets of pure-white snow.

Snowdrifts high and thick barely hindered the man's progress as he trudged forward with a purpose, leaving footprints behind. Mavis nearly lost sight of him during a blizzard one night, forcing her to risk moving in closer. His black cloak became a cloak of white and gray from the layer of frost and snow clinging to his clothes. When it was clear he hadn't noticed her, she stayed at that distance from then on.

He eventually reached a coast covered in ice and followed along the shore. From flat, frozen beaches to treacherous rocky cliffs, he didn't stray off in any other direction.

Mavis could feel her strength start to wane the farther he went, a sign she was getting too far from Magnolia. He had crossed the border between Fiore and the neighbouring country of Seven some time ago.

Despite that, Mavis pressed on, desperate to find out what the man was planning to do.

One cloudy day, the man finally stopped atop a tall cliff. He was looking at something directly below. From her angle, Mavis couldn't see what he saw so she dropped down onto the edge of the cliff, a fair distance between them.

She gasped. What waited far, far below was the complete annihilation of a large fishing village. Buildings of stone and wood were flattened and blown apart and the earth and shore were torn asunder. Remnants of homes and fishing boats were left floating in the waves, the wooden pieces crashing mercilessly against the sharp and rocky cliffs.

However, it wasn't the state of the village that shocked her most, but the large dragon that stood in the middle of the ruins. Black and terrifying and unforgettable; it was Acnologia.

At first, Mavis had thought Acnologia was behind the destruction, but she was quick to notice the layers of ice and snow that covered the damage. The village was attacked a while ago and it appeared that Acnologia had arrived only just recently.

The dragon was down on all fours, violently smashing aside debris, stirring up dust and snow. Nose to the ground, he was searching for something. After upturning a few more piles of shattered homes, the dragon finally found what he was looking for.

A scent? A clue? Mavis wasn't sure as the dragon reared his head towards the sky, his nostrils puffing out thick white steam.

Acnologia opened his mouth and unleashed a mighty roar, sending a shockwave throughout the area. Snow and loose debris were blasted away and every chunk of ice shattered like glass.

Black, feathered wings unfolded upon his back and Acnologia shot to the sky, a mere speck against the cover of gray clouds in a matter of seconds. He was heading northeast, towards whatever may have destroyed the village.

"Looks like he's going the same way as us," the man spoke up, his breath misting in the frosty air.

Mavis froze.

"I know you're there," the man continued, glancing in her direction. His hood hid his features under shadow, but Mavis could see the gleam in his dark eyes as he stared through her. "I may not be able to see nor hear you, but I can sense you, Mavis. I know what lies in your heart. You've been tailing me for a while. Should I feel flattered by your devotion?"

"Zeref," she said evenly, steeling against his look. "I want to know what you're up to."

"Nothing," was his answer, a hint of a smile in his tone. "I am merely watching another chapter in history unfold before me. A pebble has been dropped into a pond, and perhaps, I may be the one who dropped it. How far will these ripples go, I wonder? And how many more lives will they affect further down this fated path? It's gotten quite interesting already and now I'm curious to see what lies ahead."

"That Eclipse Gate was your plan, wasn't it?" she demanded, pointing an accusing finger.

Zeref turned back forward, eyes drawn to the devastation over the steep cliff once more. "The Eclipse Gate is my creation, I will not deny that. However, how it is used relies on the will of whoever constructed it. You imply that I had played a part in what transpired in Crocus? You are sadly mistaken, Mavis. I do not interfere with the happenings in the world anymore, certainly not to that extreme. I've placed my pieces in this game long ago. I'm only waiting to see the choices people will make and the resulting consequences of their actions, nothing more. How it all ends is not up to me. Not yet, at least."

With that, he turned away and began his descent down the sheer cliffside, leaving Mavis behind.

She hardened her gaze at him, not liking what he had just said. Nonetheless, she continued to follow him, not caring to keep her distance. She knew she would not be able go on much farther, but she was determined to push her limits as much as she could, hoping to predict the outcome of the future.

---

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! What do you think Acnologia is going to find?

If you're curious, I did a quick Google search on the value of gemstones so here's my headcanon on how much Link's Rupees are worth, (information I'll probably use later on): Gold Rupee = Gold nugget = 120,000 Jewels; Silver Rupee = Platinum silver = 90,000 Jewels; Blue Rupee = Sapphire = 40,000 Jewels; Red Rupee = Ruby = 20,000 Jewels; Yellow Rupee = Topaz = 15,000 Jewels; Green = Emerald = 8,000 Jewels; Purple = Amethyst = 4,000 Jewels.

With everything that's happening in the world, I was in a mood to write something happy to cheer myself up. So here's an extra scene below. Takes place shortly after the end of Chapter 29.

Enjoy!

---

A Father's Pride

The day had barely started and already Macao was exhausted. He leaned forward on the bar and ran a hand down his weary face before taking a sip of much-needed coffee. Black, bold, and bitter, just how he liked it.

Sitting beside him, Wakaba chuckled and said, "Had a long night?"

Macao placed his mug back down and grumbled, "You could say that."

"The boys kept you up?"

Macao sighed. "Not exactly," he answered, glancing sideways at his grinning partner. "The better question to ask is: 'What were the boys up to last night?' Well, let me tell you–"

"Hold up," Wakaba intruded, raising a hand to stop Macao as well as to signal Kinana, who was currently working the bar, for a coffee refill. Once she topped their mugs, Wakaba thanked her and nodded at Macao. "Please continue."

"Well, let me tell you, my friend, they thought it amusing to walk on the walls and ceiling in the house. Not only that, not only that," Macao waved a finger, "they thought it would be a good idea to practice their swordplay inside while hanging upside down!"

Wakaba laughed and patted Macao on the shoulder. "Upside down, you say? I'm jealous. At least you had the chance to see the lovely Libra. Been a while since you've had a beautiful woman at your place."

"Oh, she's a beauty, all right," Macao agreed with a lecherous smile. However, he had to be careful around the Celestial Spirit; one wrong word or look in her direction and she would make you eat the floor. It had already happened to Macao twice in his own home when she caught him staring at her curvaceous body. His knees and forehead still ached since the last time.

"So I take it the boys made a little mess?" Wakaba asked, lighting up a cigar.

Macao groaned into his mug and took a big gulp. "It's more than just a mess," he grumbled, rubbing his face again. "We're going to have to move to a new place."

Wakaba raised his brow in shock. "It's that bad? What did they do? Tear up your house? Thought you would've stopped them before it got out of hand."

"I was taking a shower! Didn't know what the boys were up to until it was too late. Romeo accidentally dropped one of his dragon knives from the ceiling. The Quake one. And do you know what happened?"

Wakaba opened his mouth only to be cut off by Macao answering his own question.

"It created an earthquake. Right in my living room. The whole floor caved right in! I swear, that house is slowly sinking into the ground as we speak." The bedrooms were slanted, but mostly still intact. However, the plumbing in the house got damaged, resulting in no water from taps and leaky pipes wherever possible. Romeo and Macao had to quickly store all their furniture and belongings away in their pocket dimensions before the house was flooded. They had to stay at a hotel overnight.

"Oh, so that's what that was last night," Wakaba remarked, taking a drag on his cigar. "Felt a rumble while I was reading in my kitchen."

Macao stared in disbelief. Wakaba lived at least a block and a half away from Macao's place. "You felt it all the way there?"

His partner nodded and chuckled, puffing out smoke. "You could ask Ul – Matilda to 'fix' it for you."

Macao almost forgot about Ultear's ability to reverse time on objects, restoring them to their previous form. Even though Ultear was an ally, she was a frightening woman to talk to. Just thinking about having to ask her for a favour made Macao break into a nervous sweat. "No... That's all right. We need a bigger place anyway. It's getting cramped in that little house."

Back when Fairy Tail was rock-bottom and requests were few and far between, the small, two-bedroom home was all Macao could afford. It wasn't much, but it was the perfect size just for him and Romeo to comfortably live in. But now that Link was in the picture, along with his Celestial Spirits, it was starting to feel very crowded. And apparently, Macao was now a father of three sons with Pisces wanting to call him 'Dad'.

There was chuckling coming from Macaos' other side.

Alzack had unknowingly joined them some time ago and was listening to the conversation over his own cup of morning brew. "Sounds like your night was just as rough as mine," said Alzack, looking just as tired as the other.

Snickering, Wakaba leaned over the bar to look at the gunslinger. "Oh? And what kind of mischief did little Asuka get into?"

"Not Asuka. Nene, our tiger," Alzack answered, running a hand through his short, spiky black hair. "Not sure what she was trying to hunt last night, but she ended up on the roof of our neighbour and got stuck there. She was crying until we could get her down and that took hours. Around the same time, our old grizzly decided to get sick so we've been up all night keeping an eye on him. While Bisca's busy taking care of him this morning, I'm left watching over Asuka."

Macao glanced around the bar. "And where is Asuka?"

"With your boys, last I checked," said Alzack, going for a drink of his coffee.

Wakaba cleared his throat. "Don't look now, but..."

"Daddy! Daddy!" Asuka shrieked in joy somewhere nearby, "Look! Look! I'm upside down!"

With a mouthful of coffee, Alzack could only hum in response. He spat it all over the counter the moment he realized what his daughter had just said. "Wh-What?!" he coughed out.

Macao and Alzack joined Wakaba in craning their necks towards the sloped ceiling. Hanging upside down right above their heads was Asuka, Romeo, Link, and Libra. The children were joyously laughing and waving down at them while the spirit stood by, nonchalant.

Macao groaned into his hands while Alzack shot to his feet in worry.

"Asuka!" the gunslinger exclaimed.

"She'll be fine," Macao assured, grabbing the other man by the shoulder. He turned his attention back on the kids. In a stern, loud voice, he said, "Link, you better make sure Asuka doesn't fall, okay? Keep a close eye on her!"

"Okay," the boy promised. He looked at Libra and the spirit nodded, understanding his silent command.

"And Romeo! Remember what I told you! Absolutely no dragon knives inside the building!"

Pouting, Romeo rolled his eyes and groaned, "I know! I know! I won't take them out."

Without a care in the world, the three children went back to playing around in the rafters and ceiling. When they got bored of that, they decided to race around on the walls.

Once they were certain nothing horribly wrong was going to happen, Alzack sat back down and the men sighed in unison.

By then, Kinana had already cleaned up the mess and topped their mugs with fresh coffee.

After thanking her, Alzack turned to Macao and quietly laughed. "You definitely got me beat. Asuka's usually well-behaved and our animals tend to be predictable. Your boys, on the other hand, they're full of surprises, it seems. Especially that little hero."

Massaging his temples, Macao couldn't agree more. It was a big responsibility being a single father having to look after two kids, especially when one of them was a fearless hero destined to protect the world from evil. As nerve-wracking and stressful as it was, Macao wouldn't trade his life for anything else.

Normally he would be stricter with his children fooling around, but after hearing about the alternate future, and what his boys had to endure growing up, Macao realized that he shouldn't hold them back on their fun. He needed to let them grow on their own because he wasn't always going to be around to watch over them.

Romeo and Link were both strong in their own right. They would continue to grow stronger and more independent as time went on so Macao wanted to enjoy every little moment he still had with them.

"I love them dearly, but in the name of every god that ever existed, they can be such a handful at times," he grumbled.

Wakaba smirked at his friend. "When you start looking for a new place, mind if I come with? I like seeing all the different houses on the market."

"Sure. We're going to look at a few today that were listed in the paper."

They took the time to finish their coffee and discuss other things, occasionally checking on the children. Some time during that period, Natsu and Happy had joined the kids in their upside down adventure. Cocky and smug, Natsu was taunting Gray directly below him, wanting to start a ridiculous fight.

Before that could happen, Macao quickly called for Romeo and Link to get back down, much to their disappointment. The fight between Natsu and Gray however, ensued once the Dragon Slayer was on the ground.

Asuka was back with her father and Link and Romeo with theirs.

"Ready to go?" Macao asked his boys over the battle cries and sounds of destruction. It took a lot of effort to ignore the damage Gray and Natsu were causing. That would be a problem for later. Right now, he just wanted to focus on more important matters.

Romeo and Link grinned with excitement and nodded.

Macao smiled. "Then let's go look for a new place to call home."

---

A/N: Stuck a little Easter Egg from The Fanged Hero from the Sky. Coincidentally, I wrote this short scene a week before Father's Day so I dedicate this to all the great dads out there.

I have a million more cute scenarios in my head, but it'll likely take me years to write them all! So I've made a poll for you to choose your top three favourite characters from this story and I'll write three or four shorts involving that character and Link.

Thanks for reading! Please review!

Stay strong and take care.