The Keys to Protect the Future
New Years came and went without any problems for Fairy Tail, when ignoring the near-complete destruction of the guild due to extremely drunk Fairies going all out at each other as a form of celebration. Thankfully, Ultear was around for the festivities to undo the damage, half of which she was responsible for in her drunken, enraged state.
Two days had passed since then, giving everyone the time to recover from the long night of partying and the resulting hangovers for those who drank a little too much.
Wendy was a little saddened to see all the holiday decorations put away when she and Carla stepped through the doors of Fairy Tail. The lack of colourful lights and shiny, sparkling, decorations made the hall look so drab, but the upbeat spirit of Fairy Tail remained. It was early in the morning and it was no surprise to find the guild bustling and loud with chattering and laughter.
Wendy paused when she noticed a large number of wooden barrels and crates stacked off to the side near the entrance, each stamped with the golden crest of Sabertooth. Elfman, Droy, Gajeel, and Pantherlily were busy running back and forth, moving the items into the kitchen.
"Looks like the gifts from Sting have finally arrived," remarked Carla.
"Only a quarter of it," said Levy, coming up to the pair with a welcoming wave and smile. "Sting left a note saying he'll send a shipment each week. So we'll be getting stuff from Sabertooth for this whole month!"
"That's only a quarter of it?" Wendy asked, shocked.
"Makes sense considering the amount of food we've requested," said Carla, her mouth curling into an amused smirk. "Don't want to let it all go stale."
Levy giggled and glanced over her shoulder. "At the rate Happy is downing those sausage rolls, I doubt the food would go to waste before it's all gone even if it all arrived today."
Wendy followed Levy's gaze towards one of the tables piled with opened boxes of goods, several beer kegs, and bottles of wine. Natsu, Happy, and many others had gathered around to try out the different items.
"By the way," Levy continued, turning back to Wendy, "Master and Porlyusica have been looking for you. They're in the infirmary."
Wendy frowned, her attention immediately drawn towards the closed door of the infirmary. "Granny is here? Did something happen?"
Levy shook her head. "No, nothing bad happened. However, whatever they wanted to talk about sounded important. Better not make them wait!"
Nodding, Wendy hurried to the infirmary with Carla following at her heels. She knocked on the door and opened it wide enough to poke her head inside. "Master, you wanted to see – oh?" To her surprise, it wasn't just Master Makarov and Porlyusica in the room, but Link, Romeo, Macao, and Lucy too.
All but Porlyusica turned and smiled at Wendy and Carla as the pair entered the room. Link was sitting on the edge of the closest bed with the short sleeve of his shirt rolled up to his shoulder. Porlyusica sat right next to him, her narrowed eyes examining the dragon on his left arm. Seated on a chair facing them was Makarov while the others had gathered by the foot of the bed.
"Ah, Wendy, Carla, please come in," said Makarov, waving them over, "and close the door behind you."
Wendy obeyed and quickly joined them. "Is everything okay?" she asked, looking between Makarov and Porlyusica before meeting Link's cheerful gaze. The boy appeared perfectly fine.
"Nothing to worry about," Porlyusica answered brusquely, her attention remaining on the dragon as she gently ran a thumb over it. She shot Makarov a sideways look and resumed where they left off in their conversation beforehand; "As I was saying, there's no guarantee it would work considering the magnitude of power, but it is the only solution we have at the moment. Perhaps, the only solution to even exist."
Makarov let out a short, humourless laugh and shrugged. "Well then, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try when there's really no other option available."
Wendy raised her brow questionably, wondering what they were talking about. She glanced around at Link, Lucy, Macao, and Romeo and saw they were engrossed in the ongoing discussion. Not wanting to interrupt, Wendy could only try to follow.
Sighing, Porlyusica pulled away from Link and stood up to tower over Makarov. She crossed her arms and scowled down at him. "It is not as simple as trying, Makarov. You do understand all the risks involved? My resources are very limited and I doubt you would like to spend another fifty-five million Jewels for materials. There is only one shot at this."
Both Macao and Makarov looked ready to cry while Wendy and the others gaped at the huge sum of money spent.
Drawing a sharp breath, Makarov regained his composure and nodded, his expression now sincere as he grinned confidently at Porlyusica. "Aye, I have complete faith in both you and Wendy to be able to pull this off. Whether or not it will be effective will be something we'll have to find out."
"U-Um, what are we... pulling off?" Wendy questioned meekly, her eyes shifting between the elders.
"A magic seal," Porlyusica muttered in response, her scowl becoming frighteningly more irritable.
"Oh ho! And not just a normal magic seal," said Makarov, wagging a finger, "but the strongest humans have ever created in all of Ishgar. The Immalgus Seal. We will use it in an attempt to seal the power of the Ancient Dragon King."
Carla was first to ask the same question that sprang to Wendy's mind; "Seal it? For what purpose?"
"To keep Link safe," said Macao, frowning at the boy with the deepest worry. "Ever since the incident on Christmas night, we've been busy looking into different ways in preventing that from ever happening again."
Makarov grunted in agreement, his mood sombre as he glared ahead at nothing. "Now that the Evil King has made his return," he began in a gruff tone, "there is no telling when he will use his Triforce once again and cause Link harm. We believe that the Ancient Dragon King's power is triggered by the boy's own Triforce resonating with the demon's. Like a defensive mechanism of sorts, perhaps? Link," he softened his expression as he met the boy's stare, "you've mentioned the dragon burned like fire before its power fully awakened, correct?"
Link rubbed the mark on his arm and nodded. "It hurt like hell," he described nonchalantly as if it was no big concern.
"The intense burning sensation was likely caused by the sudden increase in magical energy," Porlyusica surmised as she brought a hand to her chin. "If we are able to seal the dragon, it should not activate along with the Triforce, sparing Link from the pain it causes when its power is not needed."
"Aye, it was most fortunate that the Evil King did not use his Triforce while you and the others were battling Succubus Eye down in the mine," said Makarov, giving Link a look of relief.
"The situation would have been a lot worse for sure," commented Lucy, shuddering at the grave thought. "It would definitely put our minds at ease knowing the dragon wouldn't flare up at the most inconvenient times."
"Wait," said Romeo, knitting his brow in slight confusion, "Why not seal the Triforce instead? Since it triggers the dragon in the first place?"
"We have considered doing that at first, however..." Makarov leaned forward and motioned for Link's left hand. Gently with a finger, the Guild Master lightly traced the hidden Triforce on the back of the boy's palm.
"Unlike the Dragon King's power, the Triforce is not magical," Makarov continued, his eyes focusing on the bare spot, "A seal created by mere mortals would not be able to suppress this sacred power. We would need something far greater. Something... beyond our realm. So! Sealing the Triforce is definitely out of the question at the moment, which leaves us with the only other option: sealing the dragon instead." Chuckling, he released his hold on Link.
Wendy took a small step forward to draw everyone's attention and gave Link a worried look. "If we do that, will Link be okay? His magic won't be sealed away as well?"
"Theoretically, it shouldn't," said Porlyusica with a slight shake of her head, "The armlet he had worn was a mid-level seal and it did not limit his magic capabilities. Therefore, the new, stronger seal we will place should target only the dragon. However, if it does affect his magic in some way, the seal can be undone."
"The Immalgus Seal is extremely powerful," remarked Makarov as he folded his arms across his chest, a smug grin on his face. "It was designed in ancient times to subdue some of the strongest – and most diabolical – Dark Mages in known history when not even cells or multiple binds of Sealing Stone could restrain them. However, as strong as it may be, there are a few factors that will determine its effectiveness on Link."
Clearing his throat, the Guild Master held up a finger and began to count; "First off, due to the nature of Link's magic, he is immune to certain seals, so we have to wonder if the Dragon King's power is fully tied to his magic or not. If so, it could render the seal completely useless, which would also explain why the armlet failed as well. And if not, then secondly, will the seal even be strong enough to restrain the dragon's power? The answer to that may depend on the third factor, the strength of the emotional binds from the ones who will cast the seal.
"Again, we won't know the actual outcome of this trial unless we give it a try. It's a gamble we're willing to take. A fifty-five million Jewel gamble..." He pitifully whimpered at the last point.
"One which we will not regret," Macao assured, hard-set on keeping Link safe no matter the cost. And yet he still shed some tears alongside Makarov.
Porlyusica quietly grumbled at the two silently weeping men and turned to Link. "You are willing to proceed with this, boy?"
Smiling, Link nodded and looked at each person gathered around him. "Yes. I don't want everyone to worry about me. Please do it."
"Very well. Wendy," Porlyusica gave her young apprentice a firm, commanding look, "you will assist me. Compared to the simple, four-layer seal you had managed to use against the curse of Succubus Eye, the Immalgus Seal is far more complex. It is one-hundred layers of rune magic. It will take nearly twenty hours to prepare and complete."
Wendy gawked at Porlyusica, her jaw likely down to the floor, daunted by the sheer difficulty of the task she was suddenly thrust into. A one-hundred layer, fifty-five million Jewel seal that would take almost a whole day to finish?!
Her gut twisted in dread for she was afraid of somehow badly messing it all up while under the strict guidance of her teacher. However, her anxiety waned when she saw the trust behind Porlyusica's stern gaze. Even though the old woman never praised Wendy for the feat she had accomplished with the demon's curse, Porlyusica didn't disapprove of the decisions she had made either. With Porlyusica wanting Wendy to work alongside her meant she was truly confident in the girl's abilities.
And it wasn't just Porlyusica who believed in Wendy, but Master Makarov, Link, and everyone else in the guild.
Shaking away her doubts, Wendy put on a determined face and said, "I'll do my best, Granny – ow!" A broom that Porlyusica had pulled from seemingly out of nowhere smacked Wendy over the head.
Grunting, Porlyusica pointed the bristled end of her weapon of choice at the large and very thick tome sitting open on the bedside table. "Then you better start studying, girl. The last of the ingredients required for the seal just arrived this morning. We will set everything up in here and begin early tomorrow morning."
Rubbing the throbbing bump on her head, Wendy went to take a quick gander at the book and was nearly rendered speechless at what was drawn on both pages. It was as if she was looking at an intricate map of a diamond-shaped, multi-walled labyrinth. One-hundred different sets of runes of various colours stared back at her, ranging from short and easy to long and overly complicated with fine little details dispersed throughout.
Porlyusica came up behind her. "Normally this would be inscribed on the backs of Dark Mages to lock away their Magic Containers, but you will have to shrink it down in order to fit it around the arm of a child."
"W-What?" Wendy stared wide-eyed at the Medicinal Advisor. "You want me to do the inscription?"
"My eyes aren't what they used to be," the old woman admitted with a disgruntled sigh, "It will be impossible for me to inscribe that level of detail accurately at such a reduced scale. Besides, the eyes of a Dragon Slayer are sharper than any other human. I can rely on you to do it. As well, you will be one of the two chosen for the incantation. The second will be Lucy."
"Huh? I... I am?" Lucy blinked in surprise at the news.
"The seal requires at least two magical individuals to cast," Makarov began to explain while stroking the bottom of his clean-shaven chin sagely, "It is to add another layer of protection to prevent it from breaking too easily. Those who cast it are also the only ones who can release it. And as I've mentioned earlier, having a strong emotional bond to Link may strengthen the seal somewhat, although that has yet to be proven in past records.
"Hatred and vengeance were often the powerful emotions that drove the casters into securing the seal, but in our case, it shall be love. And because there may come a time when Link will need the seal removed in some sort of emergency, Wendy, Lucy," he glanced between the girls, "the two of you are usually with him in and outside of town so I entrust this responsibility to you both. Are there any objections?"
Lucy shook her head and smiled warmly at her student. "No, of course not. I'm more than happy to do this for Link."
"Me too," said Wendy.
Their answers brought a joyful look to cross the boy's face.
"Excellent." Makarov clasped his hands together to signal their discussion over. "Shall we start getting everything ready?"
While Porlyusica prepped the infirmary with the help of Makarov, Macao, and a few volunteers, Wendy slipped into the guild's library while juggling the big, heavy tome in her arms.
Compared to the hall, the library was quiet, peaceful, and always kept neat and orderly. There were rows of bookshelves that reached the ceiling and a lounge and reading tables in one corner of the large room. To the right of the door was a staircase leading to the second floor where cabinets, chests, and drawers full of scrolls and old relics were stored.
Bero and his faithful reading companion, Baffie, were the only other living souls in the library. When he wasn't busy teaching Lucy and Link, the kind old scholar could often be found somewhere within the guild's vast collection, nose-deep in one of the tens of thousands of books, always with a cup of tea. Other odd days, he would be sharing endless tales and knowledge with Levy, who, as a fellow scholar herself, loved to engage in deep discussions with the wise elder.
As Wendy walked by Bero's table piled high with books, Baffie smiled and waved at her from his perch on his master's shoulder. Meanwhile, Bero didn't notice her, too immersed in the large volume he had lying open before him. Not wanting to disturb him, Wendy sat at the farthest table and began to read about the Immalgus Seal in the chapters Porlyusica had marked for her.
There were over a hundred pages worth of information and diagrams to study from. The more she read, the more overwhelmed she started to feel. There were so many critical and cautionary steps in making the rune inks and the insane number of materials required answered her question on why it cost so much money to perform.
It wasn't just the ordinary ingredients Wendy was used to seeing lying around Porlyusica's home, the recipes also called for valuable ores and rare gemstones, various poisons extracted from dangerous creatures, and body parts of monsters and magical beasts from around the world. The rarest and most expensive ingredient on the list was the clear, crystal canine tooth of the King Glacialfang Tiger, a critically endangered species found only in the arctic region of Iceberg. A single fang was worth nearly thirty million Jewels!
How did Master Makarov and Porlyusica manage to obtain all these expensive – and some very likely illegal – items on such short notice? And without drawing too much suspicion?
The only assumption Wendy could come up with was that Crime Sorcière may have lent a hand. The trio were known to have some outside connections with shady, yet resourceful characters across the kingdom, having dealt with them numerous times in the past.
All morning and throughout the lunch hour, Wendy's eyes stayed glued to the pages of the book. She read each instruction carefully, jotting down notes to ensure there would be no mistakes during the long and arduous process.
By early afternoon, Wendy finished up and went into the hall for a late lunch, joining Link, Romeo, and Carla at their usual table near the kitchen. Afterwards, she borrowed some art supplies from Reedus to practice inscribing the seal on parchment before moving onto Link's left arm.
With the book propped open on the table, Wendy used a very fine-tipped paintbrush and washable, coloured paints to copy the seal, carefully drawing over Link's black dragon. Romeo sat across from them while Carla chose the tabletop as her seat, both curiously watching and sometimes commenting, which Wendy didn't mind since she wasn't currently under a lot of stress.
"Link, you need to stop fidgeting," Wendy lightly scolded when the boy shifted in his chair, making her once again mess up the tiny rune she was working on.
"Sorry..." Link mumbled, clearly bored having to sit still for what had only been an hour.
Carla smirked and shook her head. "I believe the true challenge of this seal is trying to have Link not move for a full twenty hours."
"Twenty is the rough estimate if everything goes well," Wendy murmured as she carefully erased her latest mistake with a damp cloth. Every subtle movement Link made affected her calligraphy and, with her brush sometimes tickling or making him itch, it happened often.
"Twenty plus hours of doing nothing sounds like torture," Romeo pointed out, giving his brother a pitiful look. "Hey, so what happens if Link gets hungry or needs to use the washroom in the middle of it?"
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that..." Wendy paused and pursed her lips, pondering on what could be done.
"I can eat with my other hand," said Link as he demonstrated by reaching for a cupcake sitting on a plate.
"No, that's not going to work," Wendy told him, "You're still moving too much even if you're careful and I don't think Granny would approve having food around while she's working with poisons and chemicals in the same room."
She sighed at the problem. Even with Link taking short breaks, it was impossible to make him sit as still as a statue for long periods. Not only that, they couldn't prepare all the rune inks beforehand and start inscribing the seal afterwards; some of the inks were very time-sensitive where they would quickly evaporate or their magic properties would expire shortly after they were made unless they were immediately infused into runes. Because of those inconveniences, Link had to be present for most of the procedure.
Link suddenly perked up with excitement as he looked at his brother. "Romeo, you can test your Dreamblade on me! Put me in a coma!"
Romeo was horrified. "What?! No! I'm not going to do that!"
"He's right! Don't be ridiculous," Wendy snapped, making the younger boy guiltily pout and look away. Never again did she want to see him in such a helpless state. However, thinking about it gave her an idea. "Instead, we can put you to sleep. Make a strong sleeping potion for you to take right before we start. Then we don't have to worry about you moving at all."
"What if I have nightmares though?" Link asked, grasping at the Dreamstone hanging around his neck. Even if he took the jewel off, there was still a chance that he could suffer from dreams bad enough to make him thrash in his sleep.
"I know," Wendy pulled out her own special pendant she wore and smiled, "I'll trade you my Sleepstone for your Dreamstone tomorrow. You won't have any dreams when you wear this."
Fascinated by the onyx jewel, Link was happy to go along with the plan.
With that, Wendy returned her focus on drawing the perfect Immalgus Seal, constantly having to fight with Link's restlessness.
On the next day, it was an hour before dawn when Wendy stepped foot in the infirmary, well rested yet anxious to start. Porlyusica, Makarov, Macao, Romeo, and Link were already waiting for her inside.
The infirmary had been mostly converted into a laboratory with all but one bed shoved into a corner. Multiple tables lined up against the walls, each set up with equipment, glassware and ceramics, and special apparatuses, a few already in the middle of brewing solutions. Jars, bottles, vials, and small boxes of materials were organized and labeled on two large tables in the middle for quick and easy accessibility. And displayed upon a little pedestal like a trophy was the large, beautiful, thirty million Jewel, King Glacialfang Tiger tooth in a special glass case that was starting to frost over. It was the size of Wendy's forearm, the entire thing completely unnecessary when all they needed was a small, ten-gram chip of it.
Opposite of the work tables was a lone bed where Link sat on top, shirtless and with a blanket draped around his shoulders. Hanging above the headrest was an enlarged copy of the Immalgus Seal perfectly drawn onto a scroll, courtesy of Reedus, saving Wendy from having to constantly interrupt Porlyusica to borrow her book. On either side of the bed, magic circles had been drawn with chalk on the floor where Wendy and Lucy would have to stand once the seal was ready to cast.
"Looks like you ladies are all set," said Makarov, turning to leave and prompting Macao and Romeo to do the same.
Macao squeezed Link on the shoulder while Romeo grinned and gave a 'thumbs-up'.
The three of them paused in the doorway, giving Wendy, Porlyusica, and Link encouraging looks.
"I've told the kids to be quiet today so you won't hear a peep on the other side of this door," said Makarov. "If you need anything, we'll be in the hall. We all wish you the best of luck!" The door closed behind them with a click.
Wendy quickly stripped out of her winter gear, tied back her hair in a single ponytail, and took a big, deep breath to steady her nerves. It was time to begin.
She went straight to Link, her hands already unclasping the necklace she wore. "How are you feeling?" she quietly asked as she sat down beside him.
"Tired," he answered with a big yawn, looking ready to nod off. He fumbled with the clasp of his own necklace, prompting Wendy to help him. She secured her Sleepstone pendant around his neck before clasping his Dreamstone around hers.
"He took the sleeping potion a few minutes ago," informed Porlyusica, keeping her attention on the first set of concoctions boiling on one of the tables. "Won't be awake for much longer now."
"Get comfortable and lie down on your right side, okay? We'll take care of everything," Wendy assured, gently gripping Link's hand.
The boy nodded and smiled sleepily at her. "You and Granny can do it," he whispered, wanting to avoid the wrath of Porlyusica's broom.
Wendy returned the smile and lightly kissed him on the forehead. "Thanks. Sleep tight. See you when you wake up."
He was asleep the instant his head hit the pillow.
Throughout the entire day, Wendy followed closely to Porlyusica's instructions as they worked together. The stress and anxiety that plagued her that morning gradually went away as her mind and body concentrated on her given tasks.
While Wendy took care of the simpler steps and the drawing of the seal whenever a rune ink was ready, Porlyusica handled the more complicated procedures that required her expertise. They took turns taking short breaks when it was safe to do so, their workflow rarely interrupted, aside from Wendy accidentally spilling a few things and, thankfully, causing only minor setbacks. Delicious tea, snacks, and small, but hearty meals kindly provided by Mirajane helped them endure the long hours. Meanwhile, Link slept peacefully throughout it all.
So focused on her work, Wendy didn't realize how much time had passed until she applied the last stroke to the seal on Link's arm. She blinked and stared at her handiwork for a moment, seemingly lost in a daze. It was surreal seeing a perfect replication of the Immalgus Seal, albeit a hundred times smaller in scale compared to the scroll on the wall.
"Are you finally finished, girl?" Porlyusica's grouchy voice snapped Wendy out of it. The old woman was in the middle of cleaning up when she noticed Wendy staring off into space. Having been on her feet all day, Porlyusica was tired and cranky, evident by the terrifying scowl set on her grumpy face.
Wendy stiffened and stuttered out, "Y-Yes! I-I'll get Lucy right away!"
Porlyusica huffed and waved the girl away as she headed for the door. "I'll get her. Get ready for the incantation."
"Right!" Wendy set aside her brush and ink and moved her chair out of the way. Carefully, she stepped onto the centre of the closest magic circle just as Lucy rushed into the room.
Lucy took her place in the second magic circle on the other side of Link's bed, across from Wendy. "Ready when you are," she said to the Dragon Slayer.
Wendy nodded. The night before, they had practiced the incantation together until they could recite it off by heart. They shifted in their positions, holding their palms forward and their attention focused solely on the Immalgus Seal on Link's arm. Their voices were one as they spoke the incantation in the language of old.
Midway, Wendy felt her magic surge, charging the circle beneath her feet with pale green light. With each spoken word, the light gradually brightened, casting the room a brilliant green. Upon the last word uttered, the circles emitted a blinding flash, making Wendy wince. She felt her magic channel out of her palms where it merged with Lucy's before their energies fused into the Immalgus Seal. There was another flash followed by a blast of cool wind that nearly knocked Wendy backwards.
The room was back to normal soon after. Wendy rapidly blinked to readjust her eyes, just in time to see the many little runes on Link's arm shine with their respective colours.
The boy noticeably twitched, but otherwise remained asleep just as the glow of the Immalgus Seal faded.
Wendy hurried to Link's side. She was shocked to find the dragon on his arm had disappeared, leaving only the multi-coloured, diamond-shaped, intricate seal on his skin. Carefully, Wendy ran her fingers over the fancy new mark, pleased that the runes were now permanent.
"Did it work?" Lucy asked as she and Porlyusica approached.
"The dragon's gone, so the seal must be working, right?" Wendy asked Porlyusica. She moved aside to let the old woman take a closer look.
"For certain, it has been activated," Porlyusica answered in a quiet murmur, one hand upon the seal. She touched Link's forehead and felt his neck. "No adverse effects so far. Should keep an eye on him until he wakes. The potion should wear out in a few more hours." Gently, she rolled the boy onto his back and pulled the blanket up to his chin.
"I can stay up and look after him," Lucy offered. "It's already five in the morning! You two should get some rest."
Wendy looked at the clock to confirm Lucy was right. It was ten after five. She rubbed her dry, tired eyes and sighed, suddenly stricken by exhaustion and fatigue. Her warm, comfy bed was calling to her, however she wanted to be around when Link woke up to make sure he was feeling okay.
After helping Porlyusica clean up a bit more, Wendy freshened up in the washroom and got ready for bed. With Lucy's help, she moved one of the infirmary beds right next to Link's so she wouldn't have to wander far. The Dragon Slayer crawled under the sheets, murmured a goodnight to Lucy and Porlyusica, and quickly fell asleep in spite of the firm, uncomfortable mattress she was lying on.
She had forgotten about the Dreamstone...
There was a foul stench in the air. Wendy moved to cover her nose only to freeze at the blood that had drenched her hands. Glistening red and warm, it ran down her arms in rivulets.
"S-Save... me..." someone croaked.
Wendy gasped in horror and her stomach turned to ice. Arcadios lay bleeding on the ground under her hands, desperately pleading for her help. Her magic wasn't working. All she could do was press hard against his wound, but it was useless.
His mouth moved, but no sound came out. He was motionless soon after, the life gone from his eyes.
"I'm sorry!" Wendy whimpered, tears streaking down her face, her hands soaked in red. "I'm sorry... it's my fault... I'm so sorry..."
"Never..." rasped a familiar voice in her ear. Strong arms held her in a protective embrace that enveloped her in icy-blue flames. Right by her shoulder, kind blue eyes peered at her through fringes of messy blond hair. "Could never be your fault..."
"No!" she sobbed, her heart heavy with guilt. "It is my fault! Because of me..."
He was dying. She was trying to heal his wounds, but her spell was weak and unsteady, unable to stop the flow of blood.
"I'll keep you safe... I promise..." he continued, his voice growing weak, blood trickling from his lips. His arms began to slip away, his strength and flames waning. "I will always love you... Wendy..."
"No! I'm sorry! I'm sorry... Please..."
The darkness took him, leaving her to cry alone.
"Wendy. Wendy!"
She was shaken awake by a firm hand on her shoulder. Sniffling, she blinked through her tears to find those same blue eyes looking down at her with worry. It took a moment to realize who it really was.
"L-Link..." she managed to choke out, hastily wiping her face. Before she could apologize and say she was all right, the boy lay on his side beside her and gently stroked her hair, mimicking what she used to do for him when he had a bad dream.
"It's okay. Everything's okay," he said softly.
Hearing that however, made Wendy tear up more. She rolled towards him, wrapped one arm around his body, and quietly wept.
Lucy took a deep, refreshing breath of cool, pine-scented air the moment she stepped out onto the back patio deck of the Training Grounds. The afternoon sun was blinding as it reflected off the snow, forcing her to temporarily shield her eyes from the glare.
Her boots clunked against wood before softly crunching on snow the moment she walked off the deck. From there, she followed the stone path that led straight to the open yard that had been expanded during the renovations over the summer.
Several rows of trees had been cleared to fit in a proper shooting range as well as a paved, rune-fenced battle ring big enough for double-teams. The stone path continued on ahead beyond the trees, leading to a rope bridge that connected the hill to the nearest mountain. Up there was the start of Erza's 'No-Magic-Only Obstacle Course from Hell'. The so-called obstacles ranged from easy and fair to deadly and seemingly impossible throughout the course, which spanned across the entire mountain range, weaving in and out of valleys, through nearby forests, and deep within caves. It supposedly took four whole days to complete and so far only Erza was able to finish it, which was no surprise considering she was the one who designed it.
With the sun out, it was warmer than usual, making it perfect for a bit of training outside without having to worry about frostbite. But today, Lucy wasn't here for that. Instead, she was going to attempt to negotiate a contract with the Celestial Spirit, Lupus.
She hadn't touched Lupus's Key since Sting had given it to her a week ago. She wanted to wait until all the festivities were over and things to calm down at the guild. In truth, she was reluctant to summon the spirit, having learned of his troublesome personality straight from Keaton and Loke.
"Lupus always brought out the worst in you, Master Lucy. Sometimes you got so angry, Loke would call you Erza incarnate!"
It was a confrontation she was absolutely dreading. Nevertheless, Lucy had no choice but to brace herself. Fortunately, she didn't have to deal with Lupus alone.
Master Bero, Link, Romeo, Wendy, Carla, Natsu, Happy, Gray, Juvia, Erza, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Levy, Jet, and Droy were tailing right behind her. Some of them, Lucy had asked specifically to accompany her, while the rest were either taking a break from training or were bored and curious.
If Lupus truly was as stubborn as a mule and refused to agree to reasonable terms, then Lucy had Natsu and Erza as backup to help persuade him. It may be cruel, and Lucy hated the thought of having to threaten or force the spirit to obey her, but Fairy Tail was in need of his abilities.
Lucy stopped in the middle of the yard with everyone gathering around behind her. There was plenty of room for Erza to bring out her dragon horn without damaging anything, for when it was time to show it to Lupus.
From her pouch, Lucy pulled out her ring of keys and selected Lupus's Silver Key. She looked it over with a heavy heart, seeing the golden howling wolf-head gleam under the sun. The key was supposed to be Yukino's eighteenth birthday gift...
Heaving a sigh that steamed in the chilly air, Lucy composed herself and put on a smile. She glanced over her shoulder and motioned for Link to come stand beside her.
The boy was eager to join her, back to his happy, energetic self. Yesterday, he had been groggy and miserable due to the side effects of the sleeping potion. Other than that, and aside from having a sore and tender arm, he was fine; the Immalgus Seal did not negatively impact his health or magic. They hoped they wouldn't have to find out anytime soon whether or not the seal could hold against the Dragon King's might.
Lucy showed Link Lupus's Silver Key and began a new lesson he had yet to learn; "When you obtain a new Celestial Spirit Key, summoning and forming a contract is a different process compared to when a spirit is given to you by another Celestial Spirit Mage. You will need to know the name of the new spirit's gate in order to call them to Earthland, which can be done with a little research. But, luckily, we have Master Bero who can identify every Celestial Spirit symbol so you can always ask him which key you have."
The old mage chortled as he hobbled over with his cane to stand on Lucy's other side. "Oh, you're giving me too much credit, my dear," he told her humbly, "Once you've lived as long as I have, the both of you would be able to recognize all the symbols with a single glance as well."
"It'll certainly be a while until then," said Lucy with a lighthearted laugh. Turning back to Link, she continued, "There's a certain incantation you have to say as well so the spirit can hear your voice in the Spirit World. Sometimes they'll come right away, other times, it may take a little while. Really depends on the spirit's mood and character. And well... there's no doubt that Lupus will be the latter. He's going to be a difficult one to make a contract with," she muttered the last part in displeasure.
Link frowned. "Difficult? Can he choose not to be your spirit?"
"Fortunate for us, he cannot," said Bero, slightly shaking his head. "By law of the Spirit King, all Celestial Spirits summoned by a Celestial Spirit Mage cannot refuse to form a contract. They can, however, negotiate terms and conditions to suit their needs. And from what we've already learned of Lupus's reputation, we will likely expect some absurd demands coming from him."
Lucy sighed in agreement. "Yeah. Well, here goes. Everyone, wish me luck."
"Good luck, Master!" said Link cheerfully.
"My dear, I know you can sway Lupus with your kindness as you've done with all of your companions," said Bero with a confident nod.
"Hey Lucy, if that doesn't work, we'll make sure he'll listen!" Natsu assured behind her, his mouth twisting into a cruel sneer. He cracked his flaming knuckles menacingly.
"Indeed," said Erza, her expression just as wicked as she held up a steel fist. "I've been waiting a long time for this day! If we have to break some bones, then so be it!" She let out a short, evil cackle that made those around her nervous.
"Man, you really want your new armour, don't you?" Gray muttered under his breath as he inched away from her.
"Let's hope we don't have to resort to hurting him... too much," said Lucy, anxiously praying for that outcome. Even though she had brought Natsu and Erza along for intimidation purposes, she was actually starting to worry for Lupus's safety.
Clearing her throat, she faced the empty yard and took her stance, holding Lupus's Key upright by the bow in front of her. As she infused it with a bit of her magic, she took a deep breath and spoke in a loud, unwavering voice, "Heed my call, Celestial Spirit of this Silver Key, I stand before your Gate of the Wolf. Open and come forth!"
Her voice echoed over the field of snow. There was a still silence as everyone on the hill waited in anticipation. However, nothing happened.
"So... is he gonna come out sometime today or what?" Natsu asked impatiently, breaking the silence after a while.
"Oh my, this Lupus is tardier than most spirits I've met," commented Bero.
"Hey, you sure he heard you?" Gajeel growled from the back.
He definitely heard me, Lucy grumbled to herself. She could feel a connection to the Spirit World through Lupus's Key, indicating his gate was open."Heed my call," she repeated fervently, glaring at the key, "Celestial Spirit of this–"
The key flickered and in a puff of white smoke, Lupus finally appeared before her in the form of a huge, light golden-brown wolf the size of a full-grown grizzly bear. He was low to the ground looking ready to pounce; front paws stretched out front and long fluffy tail straight up in the air. Every sharp fang was bared in his gaping mouth as he let out a vicious snarl in Lucy's direction.
She tensed in alarm, prepared to forcefully close the wolf's gate.
"Ahh! He's attacking!" Happy shrieked, prompting everyone to soundly shift into a defensive stance.
But then the wolf's growl soon turned into a shrill, drawn out whine before he slowly straightened in his posture. Lupus wasn't attacking, he was only yawning and stretching as if he had just woken up!
"Wait! Wait! It's okay!" shouted Lucy, frantically waving her arms to keep her guild mates back.
The wolf shook his whole body, sat on his haunches, and scratched behind one ear with his hind foot. He licked and smacked his mouth as his purple eyes slowly blinked at Lucy and the rest of Fairy Tail, appearing only half-awake.
At full sitting height, Lupus was just as tall as Lucy, and his appearance was far from an ordinary beast. In the middle of his white-furred chest was a blue, tribal-like mark of a clawed, paw print. Dark leather bracers carved and painted with his golden Celestial symbol protected his lower legs. He wore brown leather sashes across both shoulders, one with multiple pouches and the other with holsters carrying a number of small, crafting tools. Belted around his waist were larger pouches and bigger tools such as a hammer, knife, chisel, and handsaw.
He was adorned with jewellery as well, his ears pierced with silver stud and hoop earrings that sparkled with colourful gems. Behind his right ear was a black-feathered accessory clipped into his thick mane and around his neck was a braided necklace interlaced with shiny beads and more black feathers.
"He's so big and scary-looking. I don't like him..." Lucy overheard Happy whisper. And if Lucy could hear him, then Lupus probably could too, although the wolf didn't show it.
Putting on a friendly smile, Lucy took a step forward and started to introduce herself, "Hello there, Lupus. I'm Lucy Heart–"
The spirit cut her off with a short, gruff bark and turned his head abruptly aside, his black nose pointing haughtily up in the air. He gave Lucy a bored glance before completely turning around, nearly whipping her in the face with the tip of his tail. With another loud yawn, he curled up on the ground to sleep, not minding the snow.
"H-Hey!" Lucy exclaimed, stomping one foot indignantly. She honestly wasn't expecting that level of rudeness straight out of the gate. Normally, most free spirits would be very happy to have a Celestial Spirit Mage choose their key and form a bond; Lupus was clearly not one of them.
"This is him?" Gajeel snorted, unimpressed. "He's just a big, lazy mutt! He doesn't even have hands. How does he even make anything with his paws?"
"We have paws and we can hold things," Happy pointed out.
"Yes, but our paws are more dexterous than most animals," noted Carla.
"Perhaps he's like Pisces and can turn into a human?" Pantherlily suggested.
Lupus flicked an ear at the remarks, but otherwise continued to ignore them.
Grumbling, Lucy marched around and stopped by the wolf's big head. Hands on her hips, she glowered at the spirit. "Hey! Excuse me! Hello? We're supposed to be making a contract here!"
"Lucy, just say the word," said Erza as she and Natsu were itching to jump in and 'help'.
"No, I got this," said Lucy as she motioned for them to stay where they were. As much as she wanted to hurry and get things going, she didn't want to give Lupus the impression that she was a mean and abusive master. She had to somehow earn his trust. "Lupus the Wolf," she addressed in a firm tone, "My name is Lucy Heartfilia and I ask you to join me as a companion spirit of soul. I will entrust my heart to you, only if you shall do the same."
The wolf grunted and didn't budge.
You really are a pain in the ass, Lucy mentally growled, growing more frustrated by the second. "Are you listening?" she demanded, practically shouting in his ear. The answer she got was another irritated flick.
"Hey, dumb dog! You deaf?! She's talking to ya!" Natsu roared, stomping over. He was about to give the wolf a rude awakening when Lucy quickly jumped between them.
"Natsu! No!" she screamed, holding her arms out to block his path. She gave him a hard, even stare. "I told you, I got this, okay? Please let me handle this."
Groaning, he backed down and crossed his arms, pouting in disappointment. "Okay, fine. But if he doesn't agree to help us..."
"He will," Lucy assured, returning to the wolf's side. She knelt down, softening both her expression and tone; "Because the fate of Earthland depends on your cooperation, Lupus. Please, we need your assistance. You must know by now what happened to Leo, Taurus, Gemini, and Mother Pisces?"
All Celestial Spirits were aware of their deaths on that fateful night. According to Aquarius, the Spirit King's rage was felt throughout the entire realm and his mood was most foul even to this day.
Lupus cracked open one eye, finally paying attention to Lucy, although he seemed quite grumpy for being disturbed. She continued anyway, putting on a brave face; "The demon who killed them still lives and will one day threaten our world once again. We want to be able to stop him, but right now we're just not strong enough. Please, I..." she swallowed her pride and bowed her head, "I beg of you. Become my spirit and my friend. Lend me your strength and together we can–"
The wolf grunted loudly to interrupt her once again. It looked like he was rolling his eyes as he started to move. His whole body shone white, making Lucy jump back in surprise as he transformed from wolf to man, proving Pantherlily right.
As a human, Lupus kept a few of his beastly traits such as his wolf ears, tail, claws, and fangs. He lacked a shirt and footwear and gained a pair of ragged black trousers. He was lean, tan-skinned, and had the youthful face of a man in his early twenties. His jewellery, equipment, and the paw-print mark on his bare chest remained intact.
He continued to lie in the snow on his side, his head propped up by an arm, scowling up at Lucy in a disgruntled manner. "All right! All right! Enough of your whining already, you damn annoying girl!" he snapped, angrily scratching the back of his head with his free hand. "First you drag me out here in the middle of my nap and now you're giving me this long, boring spiel about saving your world? Spare me the drama!"
"Uh, sorry?" Lucy blurted without thought, having not expected this sort of reaction.
Lupus looked her over from head to toe and snorted in disdain. "You're the great Master Lucy? Hmph. Up close, you're not much to look at. What does His Highness see in you? You're just a wimpy, little girl."
Lucy was irked by his attitude, but refrained from showing it. She couldn't let Lupus aggravate her so easily. Push back instead and make the situation even.
Now that she knew what annoyed him, she was going to use it to her advantage. Drawing a quick, calming breath, Lucy steeled against the wolf's glare and boldly stated, "Do not underestimate me as a Celestial Spirit Mage, Lupus. This 'wimpy girl' has rightfully earned the respect and honour of your King and your fellow spirits. My desire to protect my friends knows no bounds and that is something you will understand when you join my side, not as a spirit I can call upon, but a reliable companion and friend as well. I will give you the same respect and kindness as I have shown others as long as you do the same for me.
"Do we have a deal? Or do you want to hear more on why your assistance will be greatly appreciated to me and my guild?" Lucy cocked an eyebrow and dared to put on a smug smile as she gestured to her friends standing behind her. "Everyone here will be more than happy to share their reasons with you. We can go on and on until you comply."
Ears flat against his head, Lupus visibly cringed and waved her off. "Ugh! No! I get it! I get it! Save your lame, sappy stories to yourselves. I've heard enough from Sagittarius already, oh great, wonderful Master Lucy. Damn fool wouldn't shut up about you and your righteous group of do-gooders and honestly, I don't give a damn! If you want my help, fine. Now stop your godawful whining and let's get this over with."
Lucy internally cheered in triumph.
With an exasperated sigh, Lupus got up. He stood a head taller than Lucy and his thick mane of light golden-brown hair draped down to his lower back. Snow clung to his hair and body and he violently shook it off like an animal, flinging some of it onto Lucy and Natsu.
"Hey!", "Watch it!" both Lucy and Natsu exclaimed respectively.
Lupus smirked and didn't bother to apologize. He snapped his fingers to make a scroll magically appear and hover before Lucy. The scroll unrolled itself to reveal the spirit's twenty-foot long contract. "Conditions one to ninety-nine are non-negotiable and that's final," he told her with a sneer, baring his fangs, "Everything else, I may consider changing if it's still within reasonable terms."
Nodding, Lucy put on her Gale-Force Reading Glasses and quickly skimmed over the contract, learning more about the spirit with every line. Lupus the Wolf, a non-combatant Celestial Spirit who specialized in creating items out of any raw materials. However, his service wasn't free; the future owner of the items must be willing to trade their most important belonging they have in their possession. The stronger the sentimental value, the higher the quality of Lupus's creations. Which meant the very first time having Lupus make something was often the most critical moment.
The conditions he had set weren't too bad from the beginning, but as Lucy kept on reading, it became more and more ridiculous.
"What?! 'Upon summoning, and after every three consecutive hours spent in Earthland, a rare, marbled steak, preferably beef, must be hand-fed by the master to the spirit,'" Lucy read out loud incredulously.
"That's right, girl," said the wolf, hungrily patting his belly and licking his lips, "You want me to work, you better feed me. I can't create masterpieces on an empty stomach. And it better be the good stuff too. Not the tough, chewy crap."
"But those steaks are so expensive..." Lucy moaned. Just one high-grade beef steak was typically two-thirds the total price of her weekly groceries! "And it says here that 'the master must be able to maintain the spirit's gate open for extended periods of time per request of an item.' How long does it take you to make something?"
"Hours. Days. Depends on the material and what you want made out of it. You can't rush perfection. Line eighty-five: 'The spirit works at his own pace and is not obligated to listen to a master's command to hurry up.' Got it? If you don't want a piece of junk that'll fall apart after one use, you better keep your mouth shut."
Lucy frowned, worried about how long it would take to make everything the guild wanted out of the dragon horn. Due to the huge time difference between their worlds, it made sense for Lupus to stay in Earthland during the entire process.
She heard Erza and some others murmuring the same concerns she had. However long it took, Lucy was willing to endure. Her poor wallet, on the other hand... Keeping the wolf fed for the entire duration was going to be a steep cost for sure.
For the conditions that could be negotiated, Lucy tried her best to alter them just enough to give her some fair and favourable benefits in their partnership. But due to Lupus's stubbornness and grouchy mood, persuading him over every little change required a tonne of patience and sound arguments. He didn't let up easily and neither did Lucy, making the negotiation process the longest she had ever had with any Celestial Spirit. It felt like a good hour or two before they came to a final agreement.
Somewhat satisfied, Lucy signed her name on the contract with a magical, golden quill, which soon vanished in a puff of smoke. She smiled at her new partner, actually grateful to have him despite the headache and frustration he caused. "Welcome aboard, Lupus the Wolf."
The spirit grunted and flicked an ear, not quite as amused. He looked past her at the merry band playing and laughing in the snow. Everyone had gotten bored listening to Lucy and Lupus argue that they went off to build a giant snow castle together instead. So far, they had the walls of the castle built right in the middle of the battle ring and were now working on a second-storey, using Gray's ice as support.
"So this is your guild?" Lupus scoffed, crossing his arms. "A handful of humans and puny cats? Not an impressive sight."
"And Celestial Spirits," added Lucy, nodding at Plue and Baffie who were both frolicking alongside their masters. She shot him a warning glare. "This isn't all of Fairy Tail, you know. You'll meet everyone soon and you really shouldn't judge people by their looks. Trust me. Or else you'll dearly regret it if you try mocking my guild."
He sneered, clearly tempted by the mischievous gleam in his eye. "Hmph. Even still, how do you fools intend to defeat the very same demon that has His Majesty all riled up? And don't tell me 'through sheer willpower and determination!'" he tried to mock in her voice.
"You'd like to hear that, wouldn't you?" she muttered, returning his sarcasm. "And... Well, yes, it's something like that. Plus lots of intense training and, of course, with your cooperation as well." Lucy smiled, confident and steadfast. "I've been searching for your key, hoping that you could grant us the strength that we lack. And that is the ability to fight against the dragons under the demon's control."
"Dragons?" Lupus cocked his head and narrowed his gaze, dubious of her claim. "And how exactly do you plan to do that with my help?"
Lucy's smile broadened. She turned to her friends. "Erza! Link!" she shouted, drawing all eyes on her as she beckoned the pair over.
"You guys finally done?" Natsu was first to ask as everyone started to abandon their snow castle and head over.
"Yeah, sorry it took a while, but our contract's been established. Lupus is now a part of my team," said Lucy, gesturing to the grumbling wolf.
Excited, Link ran up to Lucy with Romeo, Wendy, Plue, and Baffie right behind him. The two little canines happily yipped as they ran circles around Lupus.
"Oh, you pups better shut your little mouths. It's nothing like that," Lupus growled at the pair, rolling his eyes in response to whatever they were saying. The Nikoras laughed and continued to hop around the larger spirit, playfully tugging on the end of his tail with every lap, which the wolf didn't seem to mind.
"Master Lucy, can he fix my sword now?" Link asked, looking between her and Lupus hopefully.
Lupus grunted in annoyance and barked, "Hey, that's not a part of my contract! I don't fix other people's junk!"
"What if it's something that you had made?" Lucy questioned.
The wolf furrowed his brow. "What're you talking about? I have a keen memory on everything I've ever created and I've never made anything for you or this kid."
"Link, show him your sword."
The boy nodded and turned to Romeo who quickly brought out Dragonslayer from his storage dimension. Link grabbed the sheathed weapon and moved to stand in front of Lupus, presenting it towards the spirit like a gift.
"I made this?" Lupus raised a skeptical eyebrow. He got his answer the instant he took the sword because the weapon suddenly grew in size to better fit his larger hands. His eyes widened and his ears perked straight up, completely surprised to see his own magic at work. Slowly, he slid the sword partway from the scabbard to find his golden insignia gleaming on the flat surface of the blade.
"I did make this..." he uttered in disbelief. He dropped down to sit on the snow with his legs crossed, his tail lightly wagging as his eyes drank in every detail on the scabbard and hilt. He was like a child fascinated with a new toy. When he fully freed the blade, his wonder turned into dismay the moment he saw the broken end. He laid the scabbard on the ground and brought the sword to his nose, taking a few deep breaths to draw in its scent.
"Made from dragon. One with the power of iron and steel," he deduced, twisting and turning the sword in his hand to look at it at every angle. He lightly touched his golden mark on the blade, an elated smile on his lips. "Such a powerful soulbind too. Some sort of magical stone was used. Can't make out what exactly, but... this is incredible. It's the strongest soulbind I could ever achieve and yet... How did it just break? Where did you get this, boy?" he suddenly demanded, making Link slightly flinch from his tone.
"It came from an alternate future," Lucy answered, hardening her expression, "where the demon and his army of dragons ruled over the world. In that timeline, you also became my spirit, Lupus, and with your help, you made this sword for Link. He was the one to bring it here to the past when he used a magical gate that could travel through time."
Plue patted the wolf's knee and cheerfully babbled what sounded like an enticing tale.
"What?! You gotta be joking!" Lupus exclaimed. Gawking, he thrust a hand out at Link. "This little brat is the Hero?!"
"You bet! Link's the destined Hero of Time!" said Romeo, grinning proudly at his brother.
Meanwhile, Link had grabbed the wolf's hand as he mistook the gesture as a friendly greeting.
Lupus pulled away and rocked forward so his face was less than an inch away from the boy's, his nose sniffing and his purple eyes scrutinizing.
Link stared back with a curious tilt of his head.
Huffing, the wolf stood up and brushed the snow off his pants. "You don't look anything special, kid, but I suppose I shouldn't judge by appearances alone, huh?" he grumbled, glancing sideways at Lucy as he recalled what she had said. He carefully touched the broken end of Dragonslayer. "So how'd you manage to break this, boy? You must've been dumb and careless to damage it this badly!"
"It wasn't me! I didn't break it," Link answered with a pout which soon turned into a sad frown. "The demon broke it when future-me was fighting against him..."
Lupus grunted, looking rather unnerved. He picked up Dragonslayer's scabbard, sheathed the blade, and took a few steps back. "The demon did this to you, huh," he spoke to the sword, eyeing the hilt intently. "The memory of that moment must still burn strong. I want you to show me what happened."
He laid the sword on the ground before his feet and transformed back into a giant wolf in a flash of white. He placed his front right paw on Dragonslayer, raised his nose towards the sky, and howled. His cry was loud and drawn, resonating within Lucy's chest. Plue and Baffie howled alongside him, their cries joining the wolf's in a resounding harmony.
Lucy felt Lupus's magic surge as he drew upon her as his source. The paw mark on the wolf's chest glowed and a dark blue, sparkling mist began to spew from the wolf's howling mouth. The mist quickly shrouded the area like a magical veil of a beautiful, starry galaxy.
By the end of his howl, the sparkling mist began to recede. His spell had changed the surroundings. No longer did they stand atop the sunny, snowy hill of the Training Grounds, but under the darkness of night where the crimson sliver of a lunar eclipse shone above. Snow and trees had been replaced with rubble and crumbling buildings and the chill of winter was now the humid air of summer.
Lucy's brief moment of astonishment instantly turned into shock when she recognized the dusty, ruined city of Crocus. There were sharp gasps and shrieks of terror from the others as each took in their surroundings.
Lucy froze in horror the instant she saw a dragon glowering in their direction just a few buildings away. And it wasn't the only one.
Surrounding the area were four mighty, fearsome beasts that towered over the ruins, each with eyes that shone a wicked red. One had the plumage and appearance of a mythical Phoenix. Another was stout, huge, and rocky like a mountain. The third was a monstrous mixture of different animals. And the fourth resembled an enormous, reptilian flower with its colourful, leafy scales.
There was a fifth dragon that Lucy noticed last for it lay wounded on the ground, whimpering in pain. It had smooth aqua scales and fins like a fish and half of its face was a bloody mess.
The dragons weren't actually focusing on Lucy and her friends, but the three individuals in the middle of it all: Keaton, Wendy, and the Evil King.
The black knight was down on his knees, paralyzed by binds of golden energy. Straight across stood Keaton, armed with his large, pearly-white Sky Bow. Fierce, valiant, and imbued with the immense power of the Ancient Dragon King, his bright, flickering aura of icy blue lit up the area. He looked worse than Lucy last remembered him. The arduous battle against the demon had left him suffering with a terrible injury. His clothes were torn and stained heavily in red and the feathered wings of his cloak drooped behind him. In spite of his battered condition, he faced his foe without hesitation, wishing to protect Wendy who stood nearby, dirty, bleeding, and scared.
Lucy heavily frowned, her eyes stinging and her chest tight as she was overcome with sorrow. They were within an illusion of a memory, witnessing Keaton's final moments against the Evil King...
The real Wendy made a quiet, choking sound. All the colour was drained from her face. She covered her mouth as tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"Don't look, Wendy," said Natsu, coming up behind her. He forced the girl around and wrapped his arms tight around her so she would hide her face in the front of his coat. He was absolutely livid, baring his fangs in an angry snarl as he glared venomously at the vile demon.
Everyone else had gone quiet, too transfixed by the scene unfolding before them.
In a blink, Keaton had closed the gap between him and the Evil King and plunged Dragonslayer right through the demon's heart and out his back.
It should have been a killing blow. Seeing the demon's eyes go dark and his body fall lifelessly still, Lucy would have mistaken him dead if she had been there.
But Fairy Tail knew the outcome of the battle. Despite knowing that, it was still a terrifying shock to see the wicked fiend suddenly come back to life.
Lucy and many others gave a start when black, armoured hands clamped onto Keaton's sword with a sharp clang, stopping him from freeing his blade.
An evil black aura shrouded the demon and red eyes flared within the broken, horned helm, piercing into Keaton with utmost hatred. The Evil King spoke, his deep, dreadful, haggard voice sending unnerving chills up Lucy's spine; "It's you... It's you... You're the wretched Hero of Time!"
Keaton flinched and demanded, "How do you know who I am?"
"How can this be?!" the demon seethed, ignoring the question, "How?! How dare you... How dare you! This world is mine to rule! You will not stop me! Never again! Never again!" The Triforce shone on the back of his right gauntlet, the top golden triangle brighter than the rest. He raised his head towards the heavens and unleashed a thunderous roar that turned deep and monstrous.
Lucy winced and clamped her hands over her ears, remembering the awful, deafening cry all too well.
With a sharp snap, Dragonslayer was split into two from the frightening strength of the demon.
In a single bound, Keaton instantly retreated, moving to stand protectively in front of Wendy who had fallen onto her hands and knees, overwhelmed with fear. Dark clouds had gathered in the sky, thundering and crackling with crimson lightning. The dragons that once stood tall and mighty, cowered and fled in absolute terror.
Lucy horribly shuddered, her knees feeling weak like jelly. Even though it was only a memory, it almost felt like she was truly back in Crocus again, struggling to stave off the tremendous fear that wracked her body.
She watched helplessly as the Evil King stood up and tore the broken half of Dragonslayer out of his chest like it was nothing. He then removed his helm to reveal his true face, a hideously scarred man with darkened skin, a pair of tusks for teeth, and a wild mane of fiery red hair that flared down his back. In a flash of dark, purple fire, he summoned a deadly, black lance in his hand and slammed the bottom into the ground, cracking the stone around his feet.
He was the greatest evil to exist, feared by all, except for Keaton. The Legendary Hero continued to stand strong and fearless against the fiend, his broken sword in hand.
That is when the memory ended. The ruins of the city and the evil black sky faded like fog, bringing back the blinding sun and snow of the Training Grounds.
Lucy wiped the moisture in her eyes and let out an unsteady breath, honestly gratefully they didn't see what happened next. Undoubtedly, Keaton had sacrificed his life to save Wendy shortly after that.
With a whine, Lupus turned around and morphed back into his human form, holding Dragonslayer in his hands. "Damn," he growled, looking at the weapon with a troubled frown, "Broke you with just his bare hands. That demon really was something else... Even those dragons turned tail and ran..."
"That bastard was pierced through the fucking heart!" Gajeel exclaimed angrily, shaking his head in dismay. "How the fuck did he survive that?!"
"Not once but twice too!" said Happy, quivering in place. "Young Bacon's ultimate light attack also stabbed him in the heart, but he somehow lived through that as well!"
"That fiend doesn't have a goddamn heart," Erza snarled, hands clenched by her sides. "He could be immortal... If that's the case, how can we even defeat him?"
"I will stop him no matter what it takes," Link told them, his voice unwavering. He looked at each member present with conviction, seemingly invigorated after witnessing the encounter between the demon and his future counterpart. He became more determined the moment he looked at Wendy, seeing how pale and shaken she was. "I made that promise and I will never break it."
Plue bounded over to the boy, paws raised and squealing to cheer his master on.
Lupus snorted and smirked at Link. "If you're going to do that, kid, then you'll need an unbroken sword."
Link's face brightened with a smile. "So you can fix Dragonslayer?"
The wolf grunted and shook his head. "Can't really fix it as is. The other half is missing. I can dismantle and reforge what's left of it, but it would end up smaller and weaker. Unless you happen to have any spare parts from the same dragon it's made from that I could use?"
Everyone but the spirits turned to Gajeel.
He stiffened. "Wh-What? Why the hell are you all looking at me like that?"
"It's made from your dad," Natsu pointed out, "Can't you, like, shed some iron scales or something since you're the Iron Dragon Slayer?"
"What? The hell kind of dumb question is that, you moron?! Can you shed scales off your body, huh?" Gajeel shot back.
Natsu shrugged. "Never tried. Hey Wendy, have you?"
The girl blinked at the odd question, looking a little better. "Uh, no..."
"Wouldn't work anyway," said Lupus, scoffing at the Dragon Slayer's idea. "Has to come straight from the actual dragon and not a human because the composition of the material isn't the same."
"I know! You can use Dragonslasher!" offered Romeo, magically equipping his sash of knives. He drew one of his blades and held it out towards Lupus. "It's made from the Iron Dragon and also came from the future."
Intrigued, Lupus went in for a closer look.
"No, you can't do that, Romeo!" said Link, grabbing the older boy by the shoulder. "Dragonslasher is yours to keep!"
"But if it can help fix your sword, I'm willing to give it up," said Romeo without a second thought.
"What if," Erza began as she started to walk away from everyone towards the empty yard, "we gave you a piece of another dragon part to work with. Would you be able to combine it with the sword to fix it?"
Lupus cocked his head at her and narrowed his gaze. "I could, yes. The sword won't entirely be the same if the part is from a different dragon however. So you're saying you have a piece of dragon? Whatcha got?"
Erza sneered in delight. Lucy could tell this was the moment Titania had been waiting for. With a wave of her hand, Erza summoned the enormous, golden horn of Dreadwing from her storage dimension. It landed in a shallow crater with a resounding boom, making everyone bounce off the ground by at least a foot. The resulting quake toppled the snow castle and knocked the snow off trees, making flocks of startled birds noisily flee from the area.
Lupus's eyes lit up and his tail started wagging. He ran right up to the horn, hands and face pressed against it, once again fascinated like a child. "Look at this thing," he said, nearly breathless, "A well intact dragon horn! Incredible! There's so much magical power locked within! Feels like... lightning. No, wind and water too. Oh! Storm attribute! This belonged to a mighty dragon with the power of storms."
"So you can use this?" Erza asked, once the wolf was done mumbling to himself.
The spirit faced the group with a wide grin, one hand remaining on the horn. "This is more than enough to fix the sword," he answered, bringing happy smiles on Link's and Romeo's faces.
"Excellent, because we want you to use it all up to make equipment for our entire guild as well," said Erza, hands on her hips. "If we are to go against the demon and his dragons, we need to be prepared and I know I can rely on you to give us the best both of our worlds have to offer."
Lupus crossed his arms and smirked, looking smug from her praise. He glanced at the many faces who looked at him with high regard. "Is that so? You really are a bunch of idiotic do-gooders. All right. All right." He looked at his master and licked his lips hungrily. "I'm going to need a lot of steaks, oh great Master Lucy."
A/N: The word "Immalgus" is comprised of the Latin words: "impius" = wicked, "malus" = evil, and "magus" = mage.
For some reason I can only imagine Lupus having the exact same face and English voice as Zaveid from Tales of Zestria. Kinda the same personality too, minus the tendency to hit on every female monster and character.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter.
We're getting closer and closer to the final arc of this story! I'm super excited.
Thanks for reading!