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!

41. Brighter Skies

Brighter Skies

---

Darkness was looming on the horizon, slowly creeping across the land and taking over the sky. Black, ominous clouds and endless shadows. Earth withered and crumbled. Nothing but bones and dust.

Floating within the dark void, a fortress of black stone and steel. Shadowy monsters wandered within and soared above. Malevolent creatures with glowing eyes, ranging in shape and form. They followed their king, a mountain of a beast, who wore a crown of horns and whose single eye was red and wicked.

Corruption and death followed in their wake, cursing the world that he held dear.

The darkness was approaching him like a roiling black mist, every sinister being eyeing him with utmost hatred deep within.

He stood at the edge of the light, staring at the oncoming threat, his body cold and quivering.

"Don't be afraid, Link," said a kind, feminine voice by his ear.

"I'm not..." he trailed off when he saw the speaker fluttering over his shoulder. A shining pale orb with insect-like wings. A glowbug – no, different from a glowbug. Something special. A friend. The very same winged light he had seen in his dreams, always guiding and leading him to adventures in new, yet familiar, places. Quiet forests, sunny fields, dark caves, hot volcanoes, moonlit lakes, and endless, searing deserts; together they explored them all, searching for something important. But sometimes, he would see it fly away where he couldn't follow, never returning, leaving him to venture on alone.

The little orb giggled, vibrating from the sound of her own voice. She flew a quick circle above his head before stopping to hover in front of his face. "Of course, you aren't afraid. Hey... what's with that look? Don't you remember me?"

He opened his mouth, but suddenly couldn't answer. 'A friend,' he wanted to say, but deep down in his heart, he knew she was more than that. There was a twinge in his chest and his eyes stung with tears for reasons unknown. Frowning, he shook his head.

There was a hint of sadness coming from the light orb with her dimmer glow and slightly droopy wings. Her voice was softer and filled with regret; "I'm sorry, Link... Has it... really been that long out there? Where I've gone, time has no beginning and no end... so I haven't been keeping track. Not only that, you were nearly..."

She flew around him, looking him over from head to toe. There was an audible sigh when she fluttered close to his chest.

Instinctively, he cupped his hands beneath her, the light of her body slightly warm against his palms.

"But you're okay now, that's all that matters." She lingered long enough to see his smile before taking off towards the shadows. She stopped at the boundary; a tiny, fragile light against the overwhelming darkness.

"Evil is growing stronger in this realm," she continued, unafraid, "but so, too, does the power of good. There will come a fateful day when you must face this danger. A destined battle between the hero of legends and an enemy of old. That is as far as he could see into the future, but... Link," she looked at him, her light suddenly brighter, slightly pushing back the shadows closest to her; "I know you will not fail to protect this world. Your new home, your new friends... don't let this evil take it all away.

"Link, you're nearly there. The celestial stars will one day help you find the strength you need. When that time comes... I hope we can truly meet again. Be safe, Link." She entered the darkness, quickly vanishing into the mist.

Link wasn't sure why, but he chased after her, his heart suddenly heavy with despair. He was blinded by darkness until he reached out his left hand. Golden light burst from his sacred Triforce, instantly vanquishing all the shadows.

He found himself standing before a wall of bluish-gray stone with a radiant sun carved upon it. Hand still aglow, he touched the sun and jerked back when the wall shimmered with light. Stone heavily ground against stone as the wall split open like a door.

In the next moment, he was in a strange corridor with a floor of old, mossy stone and walls of silently falling water. Tall, rounded columns wrapped with ivy held an endless ceiling of stars and brightly coloured moons. There was one very large, pale moon up ahead that had a face and it was staring down at him with mean red eyes and a menacing grin.

But Link was more curious than intimidated by the ugly moon as he met its gaze. He started to walk down the mossy walkway towards it only to pause when he noticed his distorted reflection on the silent waterfalls. Cautiously, he touched the water with his shining left hand only to feel nothing against his fingertips.

His Triforce flickered and he felt an invisible hand grab his wrist and yank him into the water. He was tumbling downwards, surrounded by flowing blue water, falling as quickly as through air. The world shifted before his eyes and his feet touched solid ground.

He stood in a tall, enormous room with multiple shelves full of old, musty books. A library. At least ten times larger than Fairy Tail's. It was several levels high with each floor carrying thousands of more books likely rich in history, knowledge, and enticing tales.

Link was down on the main floor, his eyes wandering the shelves on either side of him. Written on the spines of the books were odd characters that differed from the language in Fiore. And yet, he was certain he had seen it before. Words he recognized somehow.

Once more, his Triforce flickered, followed immediately by a flash of gold coming from the end of the long aisle. A twitch of his foot and he was suddenly standing where he wanted to be.

Waiting before him was an open, rounded area with tables and chairs arranged in neat, orderly rows. All of them were empty except for the one closest to him.

Back turned, a woman with long blonde hair and wearing a flowing, pink gown stood at the table that was piled with books and unravelled scrolls, some hanging down and running across the wooden floor. Her chair had been knocked over behind her as if she had jumped right out of her seat. Head bowed and hands up to her chest, she appeared to be in the middle of a prayer while holding onto something that gave off a bright golden light.

Link drew a sharp breath when he noticed her long pointed ears.

The woman shuddered and perked her head as if she heard him. She started to turn around, but before he could catch a glimpse of her face, he was suddenly pulled away by a strong hand grabbing his arm.

"Link! Wake up!"

He gasped awake in his bed, his body hot and sweating. He was startled to find Romeo and Macao leaning over on either side, their brows furrowed with worry.

Before Link could say anything, Romeo asked, "You okay?"

"What–"

"Your Triforce! It's shining!"

Link shot up into a sitting position, nearly smacking his forehead against Romeo's. He gaped at the golden mark on the back of his left hand that shone as bright as his bedside lamp. So it wasn't all just a dream...

"Evil is growing stronger in this realm..." a voice had told him. His stomach dropped when he remembered shadows swarming with malicious creatures creeping across the land and sky, led by their evil, demonic king.

A gentle hand fell on Link's left shoulder, snapping him away from his troubled thoughts. It was Macao. "It's not hurting, is it?" asked the man, eyes on the faint, colourful lights shimmering under Link's long sleeve.

The Immalgus Seal was activated, its runes glowing softly. The mark burned like the summer sun, but it was thankfully not painful as it kept the Ancient Dragon King's power from awakening.

"No, it's just hot and..." Heavy, feeling as if his arm was weighed down by the heat, his strength completely sapped. He could barely lift his left arm higher than his lap. Effects of the powerful seal at work, Porlyusica had warned him. The magical runes were originally designed to cripple bad mages so it was no surprise Link was weak and tired.

He clenched his trembling left hand and frowned at the sight of his Triforce. "He is using it again... He's getting stronger..."

"No way..." Romeo sat next to his brother, visibly quaking in fear. "H-How is that even possible? He's already got dragons! What else could he be after using his Triforce?"

"A flying castle..." was Link's answer, recalling the image in his dream.

Romeo gasped, eyes wide. He grabbed Link's Dream Journal and began to flip through the pages. "You mean like the black castle in the sky? The one you and Carla saw in that premonition on Christmas night? It's all coming true?!"

"Romeo, calm down," said Macao, giving the boy a firm look. Although he appeared composed, his unease was evident in the slight quiver in his tone. "As Carla had mentioned before, premonitions are not absolute. We don't know for sure what's going on. Unless... Link, are you able to sense what's happening with your Triforce this time?"

Link stared at the glowing mark in hope of trying to utilize its power, but it disappeared the moment he tried, leaving only his lamp to light up the room. He held his breath for a moment, feeling his body rapidly cool as the heat of the Immalgus Seal quickly dissipated.

For one long minute, he anticipated the Triforce to shine again, but it never did. The moment was over. Disappointed, he murmured, "Sorry, I wasn't able to sense anything again."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Romeo assured, putting on a small smile. He picked up a pencil and flipped to a new page in Link's journal. "But you must've seen something, right? In your dreams? Was it another premonition maybe?"

"I saw the dark castle and monsters and..." Link thought hard as he tried to remember everything else that felt important. But it all escaped his mind. Ever since he had traded his Dreamstone to Lupus, he couldn't really remember most of his dreams. His journal entries had become few and far between and sparse on details after that day.

Romeo scribbled just those few words Link uttered nonetheless.

"When you're finished with that," Macao began as he started to open some drawers, "Link, I need you to get dressed and pack a few days worth of clothes. I have a good feeling we aren't the only ones to have sensed your Triforce just now. A few Council members were spotted in town yesterday and they could still be around."

"Really? Is Link going on another mission out of town then?" Romeo asked, hopping off the bed to help.

"Another S-Rank mission with Team Natsu?" Link asked eagerly.

Macao was less than enthused. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "No, no. Sorry to disappoint, but you will be going to Porlyusica's instead. Have her check on you, Link. Make sure you're okay. How are you feeling right now?"

Link moved his left arm and flexed his fingers. "Just stiff and tired," he answered.

Macao grunted, his worry still present in his creased brow. "Let Porlyusica know, all right?"

With a slight pout, Link nodded. He was not looking forward to the nasty medicines Porlyusica would force him to take.

"I'm sure she'll understand and let you stay with her for a little while," Macao continued. "Hurry and get dressed. Both of you."

Romeo stopped what he was doing and stared at his father, excited. "I'm going with him too?!"

"It would be safer if you stay with Link and keep a lookout," said Macao, giving Romeo a trusting smile. "Now, come on, boys! Get a move on!"

"Aye!" Link and Romeo hurried and did as they were told.

In less than ten minutes, they were both dressed in dark clothes and ready to head out. Romeo had stored their packed items and equipment within his pocket dimension so they weren't burdened by extra weight. Link had lent one of his concealing bracelets to Romeo so neither could be tracked by their magic.

Before they stepped out the back door, Macao pulled them both in a hug. "Be careful, okay? Lay low. Don't let your guard down and stay out of sight. What does Mystogan always say to you, Link? Always sharpen your senses?"

"Keep your senses sharp," Link corrected.

Macao shrugged after he pulled away. "I was close. But you two better do that, you hear?"

"Hey, don't worry, Dad," said Romeo, wearing a confident smile as he exchanged a sideways glance with Link. "No one is going to see us in and out of town."

"I can only hope," Macao sighed, but soon shook his head. "No, I can trust you boys to stay out of trouble. See you in a few days or until we send word that it's safe to come back." With a final pat on their backs, he sent them off.

The boys quietly slipped out the back door into the fresh, chilly air of early dawn.

Romeo took the lead, dashing to the back of the yard, his footsteps fast and nearly soundless across the damp, spring grass. In a single bound, he hopped onto the short, stone fence and crouched, extending a hand for Link.

Link tried to copy Romeo's running style, but his gait was as noisy as a stomping horse in comparison. However, when it came to walking, he could move as silently as Mystogan. Learning how to sprint like a stealthy ninja was a lesson Romeo had promised to teach him later.

When Link reached the fence, Romeo helped pull him up. They dropped onto the other side and carefully made their way through the small forest behind their neighbourhood, their path lit by a small orange flame in Romeo's hand. Neither spoke a word as they traversed the woods towards the eastern mountain range, focusing their senses on their surroundings. Thankfully, the only living things they could detect were small animals and birds.

They followed the foot of the mountains to reach the town gate that would take them straight to East Forest. It was still so dark and early in the morning, there was no one around the gate to see the boys leave town.

They knew they were in the clear once they entered East Forest. In a more relaxed pace, the brothers journeyed through the old woods, taking in the beauty nature had to offer.

Link took a deep, invigorating breath, loving the fresh smell of new growth and flourishing life. After a long, cold, and very snowy winter, the season of spring felt magical with all the growing, blooming plants and abundant, lively animals. Birdsong filled the tranquil air at sunrise and continued on well into mid-morning. But as they ventured deeper into the ancient parts of the forest, the noise gradually faded.

"We should've packed some snacks," said Romeo when they were about halfway to Porlyusica's. His stomach had been rumbling for the past half hour. He was so starved that he kept stopping to look for fruit growing in the bushes, but it was too early in the season to find anything edible.

"Granny can make us food," said Link, holding back a yawn. The lack of sleep and the effects of the Immalgus Seal were finally taking a toll on him.

Romeo frowned and looked apprehensively at Link. "How angry do you think she'll be when we tell her we'll be staying with her for a couple days?"

Link gulped. He knew firsthand how much Porlyusica hated having people in her home – even if they were her patients. (She did have a soft spot for Wendy though, Link had noticed.) He could already picture the old woman's annoyed scowl when they have to explain their situation. "She'll be very angry..."

And he was right.

The first thing that greeted them after knocking on Porlyusica's door was her irritated scowl and demand of, "What?"

"U-Uh... Can we – I mean – Well, we have to... um..." Romeo badly stuttered as he nervously fidgeted under her intense stare.

She scoffed and crossed her arms as she glanced impatiently between the boys. "I can see neither of you are in need of emergency medical care so there is another reason why you're both here. Spit it out."

Link pointed at his left arm and blurted, "It's the seal! It was shining because the Triforce was shining too!"

"Yeah! And because of that, Link needs to hide for a bit because there could be Council members in town!" Romeo quickly added. "So... uh, is it okay if we stay with you until it's safe?"

Lips a thin line, Porlyusica narrowed her gaze, appearing none too pleased with their request. "And you're sure you were not followed coming here?" she questioned, taking a quick glance behind them.

The boys nodded.

Sighing, Porlyusica rubbed her wrinkled forehead and stepped aside to let them in. "Clean the mud off your shoes or else you'll be the one to scrub my floor."

Once inside, Porlyusica gave Link a thorough examination and forced him to drink a potion that somehow tasted ten times worse than the Magic Restore Elixir. After that, Porlyusica went over some rules for the boys to follow for the duration of their stay. One of those rules included helping in preparing meals so the three of them made breakfast together.

As they ate, they discussed the events of the morning and what it could signify, for the fate of Fiore and their future.

"You believe the Evil King is growing stronger," Porlyusica stated as she stirred honey into her cup of steaming tea. "How do you know this? Since the Games, these incidents involving your Triforce have only been brief."

"A bad feeling I have," Link answered, clutching a hand over his heart. A sinking dread that wouldn't go away. "And I saw in my dream, a huge evil shadow covering up the world... I know it was him."

"So the same vision as what you saw in your premonition."

Link bit his lip and nodded.

"The demon must be gaining more and more power each time he uses his Triforce..." said Romeo with a mouthful of food. "If Link's premonition comes true, we'll be dealing with dragons and a flying castle full of monsters too! Everyone's going to be training twice as hard in hopes of stopping him... Natsu and Gray are already killing themselves trying to complete Erza's insane No-Magic Obstacle Course. Oh! And I heard Shadow Gear and the Thunder Tribe were going to give it a shot too!"

Porlyusica snorted and took a sip of her tea. "Such lunacy. I understand the need to train to prevent another catastrophe, but everyone must know that pushing past your limits will do more harm than good in the long term," she advised, giving the boys a stern look. Her gaze lingered on Link. "The body can only withstand so much before it gives in. I'm sure you're well aware of that."

"Yes..." Link mumbled before putting on a braver face. "But I am the only one who can stop him. If he's getting stronger, I have to too!"

"And you are," Porlyusica pointed out. Her expression remained the same, but her tone was kinder. "Strength comes in many forms. Wendy has told me you are now able to perform Star Suit albeit for a very short time. Progress is still progress in the right direction."

"Don't forget that we've been working on some cool new moves too!" said Romeo. He scratched the back of his head. "Although, some still need a bit of work, but yeah, I guess we are getting stronger. And not just everyone in Fairy Tail, but Sabertooth too!"

Link smiled at that truth. He had to believe in his guild as well as their allies. But when the time came, would their combined strength be enough to stop the Evil King and his forces? It was something to worry about later because Porlyusica asked, "Are you a master of these 'stars' now that you are capable of Star Suit?"

Link slightly tilted his head. "I'm not sure. I don't feel like a master yet. Master Lucy said there's still lots more to learn." Building endurance to extend the transformation time was the next toughest step. After that, Link would then get the chance to practice fighting using his new abilities granted by Libra's Star Suit. He couldn't wait to try out the giant gold hammer as well as the Star Suits of the other spirits.

"I see," Porlyusica murmured as she went for another sip of her tea. "And what of this 'eye' that is supposed to see lies? Have you figured what that is yet?"

Stuffing his mouth with a bite of toasted bread, Link shrugged. "Maybe?"

"We might have an idea," said Romeo. He flicked his hand and brought out Link's item bag in his lap. He started to rummage through it. "We took a closer look at each of Link's things and the only one that kinda resembles an eye is this."

Romeo pulled out the purple lens that looked similar to a magnifying glass. Besides giving objects a purplish hue when peered through the lens, the item didn't really do anything else. It wasn't just some fancy, coloured lens either because Jellal could sense some sort of strange power coming from it when held. However, Link couldn't remember what it was used for and no one in the guild could figure it out either. Gray, Natsu, and Erza still had an ongoing bet on what its true purpose could be, whether it shot lasers, found hidden treasures, or neither.

"It's useless now, but maybe when Link is back in that forest, it might do something?" Romeo suggested. "Levy thinks that's how it could work. You know, like a key item!"

Link stared quizzically at the lens. "You think it's a key that will open a door?"

"Sort of, yes? I'm not saying it's like an actual door key, but an important thing to have that might activate at the right moment in time."

"Let me have a look," said Porlyusica, holding out her hand. Romeo passed the lens over and Porlyusica examined it from every angle, poking and prodding each part, her brow slightly raised and her gaze scrutinizing. Unable to come up with a conclusion of her own, she handed it to Link. "Have you tried using it with your magic?"

"Yes. Nothing happens." Link demonstrated by infusing a bit of magic into the lens and looking around Porlyusica's home through it. Everything, including Romeo and Porlyusica, only became a shade of purple.

"Same, when I try it too," said Romeo.

"Hmph. Then perhaps Romeo is right," said Porlyusica, eyeing the strange lens cautiously; "You may need to be in the right place to use it. Namely the forest where you were found."

Link could only hope for that to be true. "Maybe it will open the true path forward..." he said quietly, remembering his dear friend's parting words.

By the time they finished eating and cleaning up, Link sensed two familiar presences quickly heading their way. He smiled and exclaimed, "Wendy and Carla are here!"

Not before long, there was a frantic knock on the door and the pair came barging in without waiting for Porlyusica to answer.

Wendy was first to rush over to Link, looking quite frazzled and out of breath as if she ran all the way from town. Gently, she gripped the boy's shoulders and checked him over from head to toe for any sign of injury. "Are you okay?! Macao told us what happened! With the Triforce and–"

"Enough," Porlyusica sharply interrupted as she shut the door the girl had left wide open. "Your concern is wasted. He only experienced minor symptoms from the Immalgus Seal. Nothing that could not be treated."

Wendy let out a big sigh of relief. However, her frown was still present as she grabbed Link's left hand. "I suddenly woke up this morning and knew something was wrong. Lucy said she had the same bad feeling too."

Porlyusica grunted and folded her arms. "What you had both sensed may have been the seal's activation through your connection with the spell."

"Oh! That must be it!" Wendy squeezed Link's hand and ran a thumb gingerly across the hidden mark. Her eyes quivered in fear when she met his gaze. "Is it true? Macao said your Triforce was shining because he was using it again..."

Link curled his fingers tight around hers and nodded.

They sat down and once again, Link shared his dream and what may come of it. Porlyusica had brewed a fresh pot of tea while Wendy provided a vast variety of sweets thanks to Mirajane quickly putting together an 'emergency care package' for the boys.

"Carla, did you have the same premonition too?" Link asked as he helped himself to a mini fruit tart.

Sitting atop the table between Link and Wendy, Carla closed her eyes and lightly shook her head. "I haven't dreamt of any premonitions since Christmas night. Though that may change sooner or later if what you say is true. Monsters and dragons, a flying black castle, and the Evil King on top of that..." Carla shuddered and held herself; "I don't like these odds... We will have to double our efforts to prepare for this nightmare that may come."

Porlyusica loudly scoffed from her work bench from hearing the same thing spoken twice. She paused in the middle of grinding dry herbs to glower at Carla and the children. "Rest is equally as important as training. You better relay this message to those thick-headed idiots back at the guild. If none of you humans heed this advice, then I will not be merciful when you desperately need my help to recover. Wendy, I expect you to be just as punishing with your healing or else. Is that clear?"

The girl stiffened in her seat and exclaimed, "Uh, y-yes! Understood! I-I'm not sure how to be punishing... but I'll try my best!"

Romeo leaned over to Link and whispered in his ear, "What does Porlyusica mean by 'not merciful'?"

"It would be in your best interest to avoid finding that out, believe me," Carla muttered under her breath.

Romeo chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "I guess we'll have to be careful and pace ourselves with our training, huh?"

"As you should be doing from the start," said Wendy, wagging a finger. She had healed the boys' training-related injuries more times than they could count. Cuts, burns, broken bones, strained muscles and tendons; she had taken care of their recklessness and given them a stern lecture every time, a trait she had unknowingly picked up from Porlyusica.

Following the old woman's order, she proceeded to say to Link and Romeo, "Right now should be a good time to go easy on your training. We ran into Doranbolt from the Magic Council just as we were leaving the guild."

"He stopped by your house shortly after you left this morning, we were told," Carla added, crossing her arms; "Which means the Council are able to quickly pinpoint Link's Triforce using whatever means they have. Not only that, I believe Doranbolt is a Sensory Mage as well, so don't do anything to attract the Council's attention until it's safe to return to Magnolia."

Romeo ran a hand through his spiky hair out of frustration. "Damn, that sucks! That means Link can't really use his magic."

"It's okay," Link tried to assure. Most of their attack spells were extremely loud and destructive, especially when using their dragon gear, so they were limited to what they could do. However, there were other techniques Link was interested in trying out that didn't involve any magic. "You said you'll show me how to run like a ninja. Can you teach me that?"

"Eh? You really want to learn that? Well, okay, but you need the right shoes for that. What you got on are kinda clunky." Romeo wiggled his feet covered in light and flexible, black leather boots that were custom-made. A Christmas gift from his master, Totomaru.

Link's worn, saggy brown boots were better suited for long-distance travelling in comparison. They were his original pair from the day he was found and they were starting to feel a little tight around the toes.

"Hey, we could ask Dad to get you some new boots for your birthday! For now, we could practice running in bare feet," said Romeo as he began to untie his laces.

"Do that outside," Porlyusica commanded, pointing at the door with her pestle.

"But we're only gonna–" Romeo immediately clamped his mouth shut when Wendy started to frantically shake her head and wave her hands for him to stop.

Porlyusica's mean scowl returned as she looked at Link and Romeo, making them nervously sweat. "Out. Side. We spoke of this rule: Absolutely no shenanigans and no tomfoolery within my home while you are here. Understood?"

The boys vigorously nodded and quickly finished the rest of their tea and snacks. Quietly, they grabbed their coats and shuffled out of the door with Wendy and Carla tailing them outside.

"Are you joining us in our ninja training?" Link asked the girls.

Wendy blinked in surprise. "Me? Actually, no, I wasn't planning on that..."

"Hey, you guys should learn too!" encouraged Romeo. He planted his hands on his hips and looked over Wendy and Carla as if assessing their forms. "Shouldn't be too hard for you two to learn. Carla, you're a cat, so you're already half-way there. And Wendy, if you use your Sky Dragon magic, you could soften your steps and sneak around like a ghost!"

"Oh? Do you really think I can do that?" Wendy asked, looking down at her feet.

Romeo grinned mischievously. "Absolutely. Think of all the fun you can have when no one hears you coming. I used to sneak up behind Link before he got good at magic sensing."

Link was a little flustered to be reminded of those instances. He did not miss the days when Romeo would surprise him seemingly out of nowhere around the house or guild. Nowadays, ambushes no longer worked on him and he took pride in that.

"Being able to move swiftly around without alerting our enemies would greatly benefit us," said Carla, intrigued by the thought. She gave Wendy a confident smile. "Wouldn't hurt to add that ability to our growing list of skills."

Hearing that made Wendy's eyes brighten with determination. "You're right! You can never know when we'll need to be extra careful. But before we start, do you want to come with me to pay a little visit to Keaton? I was just about to head there."

"Oh, sure," said Romeo while Link nodded.

The group of four followed the narrow trail that had been trodden regularly by Wendy. No matter the season or time of day, the Dragon Slayer would always walk down this path whenever she visited Porlyusica.

It was a quiet journey with none saying a word to break the surrounding peace. When they entered the meadow, their breaths were taken away by the beautiful sight before them. Blooming under the morning sun were fragrant, colourful spring flowers that covered every inch of the ground. The calm, sweet air was alive with birds and busy flying bugs and a few animals were noticeable among the plants.

The last time Link had visited the meadow was during the middle of winter when everything was seemingly dead and white. It was truly astonishing to see the place filled with so much colour and life once again.

"It's so pretty here at this time of year," said Wendy. She took a deep breath, her smile as warm as the sunlight and her eyes just as bright.

"Really makes this place feel special," commented Romeo, looking around in wonder.

"It really does. There's even a rare flower that only grows here late in the fall." Still smiling, Wendy led them through the meadow, being mindful not to trample too many flowers along the way.

They stopped before the grave in the centre that was free of weeds and other plant debris thanks to Wendy keeping it clean. One by one, they bowed their heads and silently offered their prayers to the Legendary Hero.

As the others started to turn back, Link stayed a moment longer. His eyes roamed from the bright yellow mask, to the sparkling, blue crystal star, to the white, sheathed blade, and finally, the words engraved on the golden plaque. Seeing each item brought forth a sense of hope and determination, greater than he had ever felt.

Link furled his left hand and held it close to his chest. His Triforce may have fallen dormant yet again, but he could feel its sacred power deep within.

The Evil King will someday return, but I will stop him before he can hurt anyone ever again. I promised you that I would protect Wendy and our friends forever and I will keep that promise no matter what it takes. I will become the Hero they need.

---

Mest was still reeling from the godforsaken migraine threatening to split his skull in two. Porlyusica's medicine was taking far too long to ease the pain, leaving him writhing on the bathroom floor of Makarov's private home.

Minutes felt like agonizing hours. Mest was sure he had begged for death's embrace more than once.

"I hate to see you like this every time we meet, my dear boy."

Mest cracked open an eye to find Makarov frowning down on him in the dark room. The curtain over the only window had been drawn, thankfully sparing Mest any more pain caused from bright light. "Could say the same for myself..." he groaned, clutching one hand to his sweaty forehead. Massaging and applying pressure helped a little bit. "Sorry, Master. Give me... another minute..." Or hour. The horrible throbbing was like a stake pounding directly into his brain. "Mmfgh... should ask Porlyusica to increase the dose."

Makarov quietly laughed. "You've said the same thing the last few times."

"H-Have I? Sorry, hard to remember right now..." Too much to remember, in fact. So many memories to sift through and put in order due to his double life.

"And I'll tell you again, this is the strongest dose she can make that won't give you the worst side-effects later on. You'll have to endure it if you persist to wipe your memory like this."

Mest was desperate to stop the self-inflicted torture. However... "Can't be too careful..." he grumbled. The Magic Council were not to be underestimated, especially with security as tight as it was, having learned from their past history involving betrayals, enemy infiltration, and prisoners escaping from their supposedly fortified and inescapable dungeon.

Mind reading, psyche manipulation, emotional control, and truth serums were at the Council's disposal. Any minor slip of the tongue or careless thought within the walls of Headquarters would definitely raise alarms. The slightest suspicion would result in instant arrest and interrogation no matter the rank.

Jellal Fernades's escape eight years ago was the Council's last recorded incident and Mest did not want to be the one to break the streak.

After a while, the pain in his head gradually subsided and he was crawling back onto his feet. Once he cleaned himself up, they migrated to Makarov's home office. Windows were covered for privacy and the door was locked. Special wards were in place. No spoken word was getting out of the room.

The Guild Master's office was nearly identical to his office back in Fairy Tail with the same placement of furniture and decor; twin bookshelves on the back wall with a ticking clock hung in the middle, one large, wooden desk with comfy, plush chairs, and a coffee table and stools set near the back corner close to the door.

The main difference were the framed pictures Makarov had hung on his walls and sitting on his desk. The smiles of his old friends and family looked back at them, each picture capturing an important time in the Guild Master's life.

In one of the photos, Mest recognized a youthful Yajima standing beside an equally young Makarov, the two men together in their prime. In another photo was a very young Laxus smiling and holding hands with a beautiful blonde woman that could only be his mother, however, Ivan was nowhere to be seen.

As Mest pulled up a chair, Makarov kindly poured a cup of coffee and offered a plate of fresh biscuits with butter and jam to spread.

Mest nodded in thanks and took a sip of his coffee. "When did we last meet up?" he had to ask.

Humming in thought, Makarov flipped back a page in his little desktop calendar. "Beginning of February. Do you need a reminder on why you came to Magnolia and what we last discussed?"

Mest shook his head. It was all starting to come back to him. The first week of February; as Doranbolt, he was given an order by Yajima to investigate a strange, powerful, magical anomaly detected in Magnolia. However, Doranbolt and a few select Rune Knights couldn't make it to town until half a week later due to a three-day-long freak snowstorm that halted the trains and any other form of travel. Later on, Mest found out the storm was the anomaly. Powerful dragon magic cast by two powerful people and their new toys; Mest had to twist the truth on his report back to Yajima.

However, that wasn't enough to deter the Council's attention on Magnolia. Suspicions had tripled since Christmas. Patrols were sent every two weeks to keep a close eye on things and, unknowingly, Doranbolt had volunteered to take charge of that duty.

By coincidence, he and his two randomly chosen Rune Knights happened to be in town when their sensors picked up a strange energy source very early that morning. Doranbolt and his team had begrudgingly left the comfort of their inn beds to promptly begin their investigation. They ended up at the home of Fairy Tail's former master, Macao Conbolt, who was none too happy to be woken up before dawn. After a round of questions and receiving less than satisfactory answers from a grouchy man, Doranbolt concluded there was nothing of interest at that location.

However, they didn't give up searching. Doranbolt and his two Knights had split up afterwards to scour the town for anything out of the ordinary. He was wandering close to Fairy Tail when he spotted Wendy, Carla, and Makarov outside the entrance. It was then that Makarov had invited Doranbolt for a quick chat, which led to where they were now.

"So what was it that our sensors actually picked up this time around?" asked Mest, reaching into his front uniform pocket. He pulled out a magical device that looked like a small, clear glass orb set in a bronze, wire frame stand. Spinning inside was a hovering arrow embedded with a preserved shard of 'Angel Ice', making it sensitive to Link's otherworldly magic within a mile-long radius. When it detected the boy's specific powers, the arrow would pulse with blue light and generate an annoying ticking sound. There was a much larger and stronger version of the sensor back at Headquarters shaped like a tower with a wide enough range to cover the whole country of Fiore.

Mest placed his portable sensor on top of Makarov's desk. The dull arrow spun only from being handled. There were no 'angels' detected in the vicinity.

Makarov eyed the device with a stern frown, loathing its existence. "The very same as on Christmas Day," he answered in a low, gruff tone, clasping his hands around his cup.

Brow raised in shock, Mest leaned forward in his seat. "You mean..."

"Indeed. Link's Triforce," said Makarov with a slight nod. "It was resonating in response to the Evil King's own Triforce. The boy suspects the demon was using it to somehow gain more power."

A curse escaped Mest's lips.

"Our future is beginning to look grim... These old bones of mine can feel it," said Makarov, hardening his expression.

"You're not kidding," Mest sighed, falling back in his seat. He ran a hand down his weary face, feeling ten years older. "Don't know if you heard any rumours lately, but... The Kingdom of Seven; word is spreading around Headquarters that the entire nation has fallen. Everything destroyed or taken over by the evil demon. We've lost contact with Seven's Magic Council Branch back in mid-January and no one can get a hold of the king or any representative of the kingdom. Can't even reach any civilians in the country with Communication Lacrima either for that matter.

"King Toma closed the border between Fiore and Seven not that long ago too. Halted all trade and travel routes. An attempt to keep the citizens of Fiore in the dark."

"Ignorance is bliss," Makarov quietly grumbled. He ran an anxious thumb over the lip of his cup as he stared at his coffee rather than drinking it. "The less Fiore knew of the fate of our neighbouring country, the less panic that would ensue. After what Crocus had endured, I understand King Toma would want to prevent mass hysteria. But rumours are spreading, as you've said, some saying that the land of Seven has become cursed."

"'Those who enter never return'," Mest recited the most common of the rumours, whispered in fear amongst the folks living near the border. "Headquarters is becoming desperate, Master. They're doing everything they can to prepare for the demon's return before it's too late. So desperate that they..." he leaned forward once again and lowered his voice out of precaution, "are trying to create Black Lacrima."

"What?" Makarov exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. "That can't be... Are you certain of this?"

Mest glanced off to the side. "Yajima suspects something big is underway in the Magic and Technology Research Department. Top secret stuff. Something called the 'Black Hole Project'."

"Oh dear..." Makarov groaned, shaking his head. "I can only hope they understand the danger they're putting themselves in."

"Pretty sure they know the risks, otherwise they wouldn't even consider it. I hope so, anyway," Mest murmured, picking up a biscuit only to set it back down. He suddenly had no appetite.

Black Lacrima; extremely rare and extremely unstable and dangerous. It wasn't a naturally occurring Lacrima, but one that could only be created in a lab under perfect conditions. Mest wasn't sure what the process was for making it, but history spoke of a disaster in another country that involved countless lives lost and an entire city destroyed. Since then the creation of Black Lacrima was forbidden. Until now.

Nicknamed the 'Black Hole Lacrima', it was said that a crystal the size of a marble could absorb all forms of energy, draining massive amounts of both life and magic, until it would potentially reach equilibrium and transform into a powerful Lacrima. It was how it supposedly worked in theory anyway, but in the end, there was only death and destruction.

"The Council believes they can defend against the demon's Eclipse Dragons," Mest continued; "They studied and salvaged whatever they could from the slain beasts in Crocus, using parts and extracting dragon magic to develop anti-dragon weaponry. Kind of similar to what you guys did.

"And now, with this 'Angel Project' failing to yield any promising results, I'm guessing they want a backup plan. The Black Lacrima must be a last resort."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, doesn't it?" Makarov growled in disdain. "I will not lie. If it was possible to control the Black Lacrima, it would give Fiore a huge advantage against the Evil King and his forces. But... this demon has proven to be far too resilient, immune to our magic and able to withstand even the holiest of blades thrust into his heart. Will Black Lacrima even be effective against him? We still do not know the full extent of his powers. With the Triforce at his command, he could very well be immortal..."

Mest sighed at that dreadful possibility. An immortal, evil being who could control powerful creatures and people; did Fiore stand another fighting chance?

The Evil King has become the Magic Council's biggest threat, currently greater than the Alvarez Empire and Zeref. Every decision the Council made was to protect the kingdom, even if it meant having to break their own rules, it seemed.

Although it may seem hopeless on the Council's side, they had yet to notice the growing force that was Fairy Tail and the secret hidden under the guild's wings.

"Is Link capable of pulling the same abilities with his Triforce? Or I suppose the better question is if he remembers anything about it?" Mest inquired before taking a gulp of his coffee.

Makarov rubbed the bottom of his chin in a pondering manner. "Aside from its holy nature, there is little that we know of his Triforce's true power. But you know, I'm starting to wonder if it's the source of his tremendous courage."

Mest shrugged and chuckled. "Could very well be. That kid is braver than anyone I know. And apologies, Master, that does include you!"

Makarov broke into a fit of laughter. "Would explain why he was never afraid of Erza! Oh, the dangers she had put the poor lad through... Ahem! Anyway, the Triforce." He grabbed a notepad and a pen and began to draw a large triangle and filled it in with four smaller ones. "The symbol itself seems important from wherever Link came from. He recalls seeing it engraved on stone structures and painted on objects. Why, a few of his possessions have this golden mark, so that much we know is true.

"There is one very important thing to know as well," Makarov turned his paper so Mest would view it upright. Using his pen, he pointed at the drawing as he continued; "The Triforce consists of three gold triangles, representing three separate powers divided. Link wields the right piece. The demon, the top. And the third... belongs to another."

Mest slammed a hand on his master's desk out of shock, making the dishes slightly clatter. "What?! There's someone else with the Triforce?!"

"Rest assured, the third wielder of the Triforce may not be an enemy to fear, but a friend of Link's," said Makarov, holding up a hand.

"R-Really?" Mest relaxed upon hearing that. "Who is this person? Does he know?"

"A man with red eyes who plays a small, golden harp. He had taught Link how to play some songs, apparently. Unfortunately, we do not know where this man could be."

"I see. No way to identify this person with only that vague of a description. Though, I can't blame the kid for not remembering more."

Sighing, Makarov laid down his pen and clasped his hands together, his eyes remaining on his drawing of the Triforce. "The three wielders of the Triforce – not only are they connected, but there lies some sort of history between them. Link... may have fought and defeated the Evil King once before the events of Crocus and that mystery man may have played a part.

"Did I tell you about Lupus? Well, not only can the Celestial Spirit create magnificent weapons and equipment, but he can also draw upon the memories stored within his creations. One such memory came from the sword wielded by Keaton, the final confrontation between him and the Evil King in Crocus. I wasn't there to see it myself, but I was told the demon recognized Keaton as the Hero of Time – the title which Link only remembers from his dreams involving the Ancient Dragon King."

Mest only stared, not quite sure how to respond to that. The complexity of Link's situation was making his head hurt.

Makarov quietly chuckled when he noticed Mest's confusion. "I know, I know. The boy's past is quite a complicated puzzle, isn't it? As confusing as it is, we are able to start piecing together what we have. I'm led to believe the Ancient Dragon King purposely brought Link to our world however many years ago."

"Um, by that, you mean..."

"The dragon must have known the Hero of Time was the only one to stand a chance against the Evil King. Everything that has happened was determined by fate since the beginning." He began to count with his fingers; "Wendy finding Link in the forest temple, the building of the Eclipse Gate, Keaton travelling back to our time, Acnologia's power being passed on – it was all in order to protect our future.

"However, the ordeal is not over yet. Our future will need saving once again when the Evil King makes his return to Fiore. But this time, we will be ready to fight back."

"We won't be caught off guard for sure," said Mest, burning with resolve. Fairy Tail, the Magic Council, and even King Toma and the Royal Army were busy preparing for the worst. However, even with all their resources and secret weapons at hand, there was still the strong reliance on the 'angels' to truly secure their victory against Ganondorf.

Link was their hope. The young hero would undoubtedly stand above all to become their saviour once again.

Mest was always impressed to hear how quickly Link was advancing in his various forms of training. The boy would be an unstoppable force in no time, and he would have to be when evil reared its ugly head once more.

Link wasn't the only one to move forward; as Doranbolt, he had personally witnessed the rest of Fairy Tail's incredible gain in strength over the past year. Nothing made him happier knowing his guild was still at the very top of Fiore. However, it was sad he couldn't be a part of their lives at every pivotal moment. Overcoming hardships, the crazy late-night celebrations, drunken brawls, and merry cheers – he missed his guild so very much.

"Master," he murmured, shifting awkwardly in his chair, "I know you want me to stay undercover with the Magic Council, a-and I will continue doing it for as long as you need me to, but... when the time comes, I want to be there to fight alongside you. Not as Doranbolt, but as Mest. As a proud member of Fairy Tail. Please, will you let me do that?"

Makarov smiled and didn't hesitate to say, "Of course, my dear boy, of course. When that day arrives, I will gladly welcome you back to the guild in less than a heartbeat. I'm sorry to put you through this. You've been risking your life for us, living as another. I know how difficult this is."

"No, it's okay. I am the only one who can pull this off and I'm grateful you're able to trust in me. Thank you, Master." Mest bowed his head graciously. He couldn't wait to return to the guild, though he wished it would be under different circumstances; when his mission was finally considered complete. He had longed for that day every fleeting moment he was himself again.

Taking a deep breath, Mest regained his professional composure. In the meantime, he had to focus on his given duty. "I've been gone for a while. I should head back to my Knights. So... what should I report back?"

Makarov crumpled up his drawing of the Triforce and tossed it in the trash. He grinned devilishly. "Well, I have a few fun little suggestions."

---

Erza and Jellal had been travelling across the 'forbidden' land of Seven for only a few days, and they could already see why the common folk back at the border town in Fiore had called it cursed. It was mid-April, but spring was unusually late to come in the northern country, with ice and snow still prevalent in most areas. Days were dark and miserable with overcast skies or cold, rainy weather that would turn into freezing rain or snow at night.

They were constantly chilled no matter how many layers they wore or however hot of a flame they carried – an unbeatable cold that could only be caused by the plague of evil. Jellal could sense the source of it, coming from the direction of the capital located near the heart of Seven. There was no doubt the kingdom had fallen, once only a rumour, but now starting to become true.

The border between Fiore and Seven was closed for a reason and it was because there was nothing left on the other side, as far as Erza and Jellal could tell. Every village, town, farmland, or settlement they tried to find along their way have been reduced to ruins or completely wiped off the map. Attacked by dragons controlled by a powerful demon, Erza could only assume. It must have happened so suddenly that no one could escape to speak of the tragedy.

The first couple of times they stumbled upon ruins instead of civilization, Erza was wracked with anger, hatred, grief, and despair. But her energy was wasted. Nothing could have been done to prevent the disaster. It was far too late to save the people; their lives long gone.

Wherever they went, they discovered more of the same. Eventually, Erza became numb from the cold and desolation. Jellal fared no better, suffering with constant headaches and restlessness due to his sensitivity to the lingering evil. He couldn't suppress his Sensory Magic however, not when they wandered the cursed land of their enemy. They would be foolish to lower their guard.

In spite of the emptiness and harsh conditions, the pair pressed on, needing to lean on each other for support along the way in order to maintain their sanity and ambition.

They were on a secret – and very dangerous – mission for Master Makarov: find and rescue someone gone missing. Makarov didn't spare too many details on who this missing person was, only that he was Makarov's friend who may need saving. With current information on Seven being kept under tight lips, Makarov had requested this man to sneak into the neighbouring country to investigate around the same time Link's Triforce had reactivated. The person was supposed to report back to Magnolia a week ago.

Trusting in Erza and Jellal, Makarov had privately asked the pair to enter the forbidden land, in return for paying off the remainder of their debt; four hundred and seventy-five million Jewels! Erza wasn't entirely sure if Makarov even had that kind of money in the bank, but if he promised to pay that much, it meant he was desperate to save his lost friend.

Seven was a kingdom slightly larger than Fiore with their capital located farther north from the central region. However, Erza and Jellal were only going as far as Seacht, which was a large town built near the mountains along the western coast. It was supposedly the last place Makarov's friend was assigned to investigate before retreating back to Fiore.

Unable to drive Erza's Magic Vehicle past the securely closed border, the pair had travelled through the air on calmer days and on foot when the weather was bad. With no towns or villages left intact, they had to rely on an old roadmap and whatever landmarks and worn out signs they could find to lead them in the right direction.

On the fifth day in the late afternoon, they reached what should have been the bustling trading town of Seacht bordered by magnificent mountains. Instead, all that was left were blown craters, flattened and hollowed buildings, and crumbled mountainsides. The only clue they were in the correct town was the broken, half-hanging welcome sign swaying and creaking from the remains of a stone gate.

Erza stood before the shattered entrance, slowly taking in the devastation that stretched as far as she could see. If Seacht was still standing, it would have been roughly the same size as Magnolia and just as lively.

Hands furled by her side, Erza sadly shook her head and let out an exhausted sigh. "I've had nightmares where this would become our future. Fiore would have met this very same fate were it not for Keaton changing its course..."

Jellal nodded with a grunt beside her. Maintaining his disguise as Mystogan, only his eyes were visible and he appeared just as tired and forlorn. "He survived that future for our sake. However, the nightmare he wished to stop... has only just begun. The rumours that Seven has fallen are becoming true by the day. We shouldn't stay here much longer." Drawing a deep breath, he shut his eyes to concentrate, using his magic sense in hope of finding any traces of the living.

A few minutes felt like a long time to Erza as she waited, shivering from the cold and listening to the wind howling through the valley.

"There's nothing here," Jellal groaned, rubbing his forehead to ease his headache. "Let's do–" He abruptly turned his head to the side, eyes narrowed, and body stiff and wary.

"What is it?" Erza whispered, following his gaze. They were looking at a slope of rocks layered with ice.

With a slight frown, he shook his head. "It's... nothing. Let's do a quick sweep around the perimeter before it gets dark. If we don't find anything, then... it's likely we never will."

Having come all this way, Erza wanted to disagree. However, she couldn't deny the possible truth right in front of her. It was dangerous as well as hopeless to keep searching. Seacht was as far as Makarov had told them to go and ten days in Seven was their given time limit.

The final sweep was their last hope before they had to accept their mission a failure.

Erza switched out her winter coat for her winged chest piece of her Black Wing Armour. Normally, the armour exposed parts of her skin to the elements, but she had modified it with a fur poncho with slits for the wings and the loose ends tied tight with a long scarf.

She exchanged a look with Jellal and the pair took off into the air in opposite directions, staying connected through a telepathic link.

Slowly, she glided along the southern mountainsides over the edge of town, eyes peeled for anything that could lead them to their missing person. Ice and fresh snow covered most of the ground and ruins, hiding any potential evidence. Nothing stood out, until she came across an unnatural gap split into a mountain cliff.

She dropped down in front of the opening for a closer look, seeing the perfectly straight ravine stretching to the other side of the mountains. Piles of cube-shaped rocks laid on either side. Curious, Erza picked one up and dusted off the snow. The rock as well as the walls of the narrow valley were recently broken, judging by the darker colour and rougher surface compared to the outer mountainside. The hole wasn't due to a normal energy blast either, but from a particular type of magic that Erza was sure she recognized.

"I found something," she told Jellal.

"On my way," he quickly replied. It didn't take long for him to join her as he dropped out of the sky, bathed in golden light.

"Someone dug through here recently. Look." Erza tossed the rock she was holding at Jellal without a thought. She didn't take into account that the rock was about the size of a bowling ball and probably twice as heavy. It nearly knocked Jellal right over when he caught it with his stomach unexpectedly. "Oh... sorry."

Doubled over with the rock clutched to his stomach, he groaned, "A little warning next time..." It took a little while before he regained his composure. He examined the stone cube and the valley, coming to the same conclusion. "Let's see where this goes, but we'll follow over the mountains in case there could be some sort of trap inside."

They soared over the mountaintops to the other side of the ravine where a sprawling, dead forest awaited them. There was a noticeable trail of broken branches, leading to patches of toppled or burnt trees, which then led to huge, sunken craters filled with cube-shaped chunks of wood and stone. Parts of the forest were also destroyed by some sort of monstrous creature trampling through and leaving deep, enormous trenches and footprints behind. Judging from the size, it could very well be from a dragon.

Flying low above the trees, Erza and Jellal cautiously followed the trail of damage that was roughly a mile or so long.

"I sense something over there," said Jellal, pointing off to the side. There was a clearing in the forest surrounded by uprooted trees and piles of blown snow, soil, and rock. Someone or something had blasted the area not too long ago, creating a wide, squarish space big enough to fit Mercurius Castle.

The pair softly touched down on a thick, sturdy log of a fallen tree at the edge of the clearing, partially concealed by the dead branches.

Erza scanned around, finding nothing but a flat pad of dirt and snow. "Where is it?"

Jellal gestured towards the middle of the clearing. "The centre. A couple metres beneath the ground. A strong presence."

"Enemy?"

Jellal shook his head. "Not evil as far as I can distinguish out here..."

Erza smirked, suddenly in a better mood. "Then it must be who we're looking for! Let's lure him out!"

"Erza! Wait!"

She was already flying fast across the clearing, making a beeline for the centre. Her landing was purposely loud and rough as she skidded and stumbled over the ground.

"Look out!" Jellal warned just as she felt the sudden spike in magic power followed by the earth rumbling under her feet.

Prepared, she sprang upwards and flew backwards as the ground burst in a massive explosion of cube-shaped dirt and rocks. Amidst the flying mountain of dust and debris, she caught sight of a darkly cloaked man leaping high into the air, his right fist raised above his head. The moment the person reached his maximum height, he spotted Erza and swept an arm to launch a barrage of earthly cubes in her direction.

Erza equipped her Heaven's Wheel Armour. In a mad fury of silver blades, she cleaved every stone and dirt block thrown her way, reducing them to dust and pebbles.

As the man began to fall from gravity's pull, he was about to send another onslaught of blocks when he suddenly recognized who she was. "Erza?!" he exclaimed, shouting over the roar of falling stone, his voice slightly muffled by his winter garments.

He landed with a thunderous crash, further demolishing the hole he made, sending a wave of pulverized earth in all directions. Erza swooped over and flapped away the clouds of dust with her wings as she gently fell to the ground in front of him.

The man unbuttoned the raised collar of his heavy fur coat to reveal a familiar, rugged face she hadn't seen in over a year.

"Gildarts," she greeted, unable to contain her smile. She quickly changed into warmer clothes to further prove it was her.

Gildarts' grin broadened, looking as if he wanted to pull her into a bear hug. But coming from him, there was a chance it could end up being more than just a hug. "Damn, it really is you, Erza! Ha! You're a sight for sore eyes, you know that?"

She let out a big sigh of relief, her breath steaming in the cold air. "We're glad to have finally found you, Gildarts. We were starting to lose hope."

Gildarts raised an eyebrow and glanced around. "Oh? 'We'? Who else is crazy enough to come here?"

As if on cue, Jellal landed next to Erza.

Gildarts' brow shot up in surprise as he pointed a finger at Jellal. "Oh! Hey! It's you! Uh... Mist Gun, was it?"

"Mystogan..." Jellal mumbled stiffly. "Or should I tell him the truth?" he asked Erza privately.

"Eventually."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Gildarts chuckled with slight embarrassment. "Right! Right! My bad! Haven't seen you in ages, man. You know, I don't think we've ever spoken a word to each other back in the guild, haha! Heard you left Fairy Tail, but you came back in time for the Grand Magic Games. Good on you."

Before Jellal could respond to that, Erza cut in, "Gildarts, Master has asked us to find you – though he didn't exactly mention it would be you we were supposed to rescue. I'm a little upset about that."

"He had his reasons," said Jellal, crossing his arms. "If word got out it was one of your own – uh, one of us – others would undoubtedly tag along. And we don't want a huge group when we want to be quick and inconspicuous here."

Gildarts burst into laughter. "Hell yeah, you bet half the guild would be here otherwise. So I missed the deadline, huh? I've lost track of time and lost my map too! Usually I would ask a cute girl for directions, but... no girls out here. No people left alive for that matter. Only weird monsters and a blood-thirsty dragon around these parts."

"A dragon?" Erza exclaimed. She and Jellal both tensed in caution, ready to summon their weapons at the slightest twitch.

Gildarts hardened his expression as he gestured to their shattered surroundings. "Yeah, main reason why I'm still here – aside from being lost. Ugly bastard took my leg." He pulled back the left side of his cloak. His armoured prosthetic was missing from the knee down and replaced with a makeshift log tied with rope. "Can't get around too easily through the deep snow with this and I got a feeling the dragon's still actively hunting for me. It wasn't too happy when I took out a tooth as payback."

"Is that why you were hiding here?" Jellal asked, searching around for any sign of said dragon. He stared intently at a pile of rocks and trees in the distance, but it didn't seem like he found anything of concern within the vicinity. Erza assumed they were safe for now.

"That's right. Was hoping to take it out by surprise if it showed up again. Wasn't expecting anyone else – let alone you guys – all the way out here. So, sorry about attacking you earlier, Erza."

Smirking, she shook her head and planted one hand on her hip. "No harm done. But, if that dragon is still prowling around the area, we better get moving and hide before nightfall."

Even though Erza and Jellal were equipped with powerful dragon-slaying weapons and gear, she didn't want to attract the enemy's attention, especially when they were in their territory. There was no telling what could happen. Their mission was to rescue and retreat as quickly as possible.

Gildarts couldn't be happier to agree. He winked at Erza. "If we gotta move fast, mind carrying me, darling? Also, you guys got any food to spare? Ran out of rations a couple days ago."

"We'll feed you once we're safe," promised Erza. As she moved to stand behind Gildarts, she shifted back to her modified Black Wing Armour. She lifted the bigger, heavier man by the back of his collar and took off into the sky with Jellal close behind. Gildarts' extra weight required twice as much magic to flap Erza's wings in order to keep them both aloft. Fortunately they had Porlyusica's elixirs on hand to replenish their magic energy.

It was dusk when they decided to take cover within the mountain ravine Gildarts admitted he had made. About midway, Jellal excavated a small cave into the cliffside using Earth Magic and sealed the entrance with a perfectly indiscernible wall once they hid inside, leaving a few small tunnels for ventilation.

Jellal also made a small cooking fire and brought out utensils, canned goods, bottled drinks, and a half-eaten loaf of bread from his pocket dimension. After witnessing Jellal casting various spells without the use of his magical staves, Gildarts started to question if Jellal really was the Mystogan he once knew.

No longer needing to hide his identity, Jellal took off his disguise and briefly explained his situation as food began to cook.

In return, Gildarts spoke of his investigation as they ate their meals.

"Old man Makarov suspected things had gone south here in Seven and wanted me to get a closer look. See what our big bad demon was up to. I knew this kingdom was doomed the moment I found the first village in shambles. You guys can feel it too, can't ya? That chill you can't shake off. The damn taint of evil. It's all over this land. No life to speak of remains. Except for monsters I've never seen before."

Erza furrowed her brow and exchanged a concerned look with Jellal. "Were these monsters... evil? Possibly under the command of the Evil King?"

Gildarts lightly shrugged as he took a bite of his soup and bread. "They weren't friendly, that's for sure. But thinking about it now, they did have a malicious aura to them. It was... about two weeks ago? When I encountered one out in an empty field, just a couple miles away from Seacht. It looked like a centaur with a lion's head and the damn thing could breathe fire! It was carrying this." From his big travel sack, Gildarts pulled out a large, broad sword that had a rounded end instead of a point. He handed it to Erza who wanted to take a closer look.

The blade was thick, heavy, and badly scratched and the edge was dull and chipped. The hilt was worn and a rusty brown with a thick chain attaching the pommel to the guard. It was in such poor condition that Erza mentally berated the monster who once wielded it.

"Also had a shield and bow to go along with that sword," continued Gildarts; "Weapons of a soldier. It must've been a scout because when I killed it, three more showed up the next day. Had no problem getting rid of them, but... It was some days later, when I was looking around the ruins of Seacht, a whole gang and their buddy dragon appeared. Didn't want to get surrounded so I broke through this mountain and took out the monsters first in here. The dragon though, that bastard was a tricky one. Had the ability to transform into all sorts of nasty beasts."

"What did it look like?" Erza questioned, resting the monster's sword on the ground beside her. "We know of five dragons under the Evil King's control. All of them summoned on the Cursed Night of the Eclipse."

"Five, huh? Well, this one's gotta be the ugliest out of all of them. Looked like it was made up of different animal parts."

"Hm, must be the Chimera Dragon," noted Erza, remembering its twisted appearance in the brief memory conjured up by Lupus. "However, now that we know it has the power to transform into other creatures, I think 'Beast Dragon' is more fitting of a name."

"'Ugly' is what I want to call it," Gildarts muttered with a huff. "Anyway, long story short, I tried to take it on myself. Tough fight that was. When it got my leg, I got my revenge by punching out a tooth." He rummaged in his bag and brought out a giant curved fang that was as long as his forearm and stained with dried blood at the base.

Gildarts never failed to impress Erza. Intrigued, she leaned forward and cupped her chin as she studied the tooth. "The fang of a Beast Dragon! I wonder what sort of weapon Lupus can make with that? And what power would it have?"

A little bewildered, Gildarts cocked his head at her. "What're you mumbling about? Who's this Lupus?"

"Lucy's Celestial Spirit." Erza went on to explain about the arrogant wolf and his incredible craftsmanship. She even showed off her Storm Dragon Slayer Sword and asked Jellal to bring out his special staves too. When she was done, she perked up with an idea. "Gildarts, you're in need of a new leg. Why not replace it with one made of dragon? Your arm too. We still haven't used up Dreadwing's horn and now that you have a fang of a Beast Dragon, you can try combining the powers together."

Scratching his bearded chin, Gildarts grinned. "Interesting. I like that idea. This damn log's definitely not cutting it!" Laughing, he smacked his artificial knee with his fake hand, producing a loud metallic clang. In a more serious manner, he closely examined his artificial, armoured arm that was noticeably scorched and dented, marred from countless battles. As he moved his arm and fingers, parts and joints squeaked and ground against one another due to damage and wear. "Could really use a new, stronger arm, like you said. Maybe then I could pay that Black Dragon back for giving me these scars."

"It's possible," said Erza with a curt nod and confident smile. "Has Master ever told you what happened during the Games? About a time travelling gate and an alternate future?"

"I know a few things. Vague details at most since you can only say so much over Communication Lacrima at a public bar. There's a lot more to it, ain't there? Tell me everything. We got all night, don't we?"

"We should rest early and conserve our strength as much as we can," Jellal advised, giving both of them a stern look. "It took us five days to get here and the journey back would be the same if not longer, depending on the weather. And if that dragon knows you're here, then the Evil King would know too. He is connected with those under his control. He sees what they see. It's possible he could be sending reinforcements since you managed to single-handedly defeat his monsters and wound his dragon."

"That could be a possible scenario," said Erza, anxious of that thought. If Dreadwing dared to show up, stirring up hurricanes or blizzards or the like, she wasn't sure they would be able to escape alive, not when she was still limited on how long she could wear her Storm Dragon Empress Armour. She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes, feeling the fatigue from the long, cold journey catch up to her. "All right. We all need the rest for the long trek back. We'll need to get moving at the first sign of light."

"The big bad demon is really that bad, huh?" Gildarts asked.

Erza clenched her hands and nodded. "Jellal can attest to that," she said quietly, frowning in his direction. More than once he was nearly killed by the demon back in Crocus and knowing that angered her deeply.

"The three of us combined wouldn't even make him flinch," Jellal growled in a hateful tone.

"Damn," Gildarts uttered, running a hand through his tangled mess of hair in disbelief. "Now I really wanna know the whole story. Just tell me a chapter each time we have a break. You know, like a story before bed, haha!"

His humour lightened Erza's mood and made her laugh. "Very well. Funny that you said that. Lucy mentioned she was planning on writing a story. An epic tale of a young, lost hero and his friends." That night, she shared the first chapter out of many, sparing no details of her many creative ways of helping Link with his amnesia.

For three days, the weather was mostly in the trio's favour, allowing them to travel through the skies towards Fiore at a reasonable pace. However, in the morning of the fourth day, an hour after they had departed, Jellal sensed danger approaching them fast. Stronger than any ordinary dragon, Jellal feared it was Dreadwing coming after them. They dove straight for the nearest mountain and hid within a hastily made cave with a narrow opening.

Crouched in the small space and huddled shoulder to shoulder, their eyes were raised toward the overcast sky, expecting to see a dark storm rolling in upon the Storm Dragon's arrival. The clouds remained the same, however, because a smaller, but awfully familiar black dragon with light blue markings appeared instead.

"That's Acnologia!" Erza exclaimed, feeling her gut sink in dread. She was shaking. Even from afar, the dragon's incredible magic power made her body tremble in apprehension. The sensation only got worse as the dragon closed in on their hiding spot.

"No fucking way!" Gildarts snarled, teeth and hands tightly clenched. "You guys didn't say he was one of the five dragons working for the demon!"

"That's because he wasn't one of the five that came out of the Gate!" Jellal spat bitterly, appearing just as apprehensive as Erza. He glowered at the flying menace, a mixture of anger and fear. "It appears the demon has gained a sixth dragon. Look at his eyes, they're red like all the controlled beasts!"

Erza saw it and couldn't believe the nightmare true.

The eyes of the fearsome, powerful dragon was as red and sinister as the Evil King's as he circled the heavens, busy scanning the area as if searching for prey.

"No... Could this be what Link was telling us?" said Erza; "The demon used his Triforce to capture Acnologia! This is how he's getting stronger!"

"Damn it! I didn't think he'd gain control over Acnologia so soon..." Jellal hissed.

"I hope you two aren't thinking of testing your dragon weapons against him," said Gildarts, glancing between Erza and Jellal almost pleadingly from his spot in the middle. "Fair warning, you might end up losing an arm, a leg, and a kidney or worse."

"Engaging in battle with that dragon is the last thing on my mind right now," Jellal replied, keeping his attention on the beast.

"Agreed. We're not prepared for this," said Erza. They were sorely lacking in numbers and dragon-slaying experience. If it had been the weaker Beast Dragon, she would have thought differently, but Acnologia was far beyond their level.

Gildarts patted the pair on the shoulders as if proud of their sane decision. "Good. We're on the same page then. We better bail when he's not looking this way."

"It would be safer to wait for him to pass," Jellal argued. "He's got a huge sight advantage in the sky."

Gildarts shook his head. "He knows we're around here. That's why he's circling."

"What? How? How could he have tracked us?"

Gildarts shrugged and sniffed the front of his coat. "Our stench probably? Admit it, we don't exactly smell like roses after spending over a week out here. Come on, it won't be long until he decides to blast this whole area just to get us. Get ready to – Oh shit."

It was too late. Barely a minute had passed when Acnologia lost his patience. He shot up to hover just below the clouds, looking downwards in their general direction, his mouth agape and his throat burning bright. A fiery orb of icy blue energy formed between his jaws, growing larger and brighter by the second. An immense power that felt like it could split the earth to its core.

"Goddamn fuck! It's Tenrou Island all over again!" Gildarts hollered.

The memory of that moment flashed before Erza's eyes where she stood with her guild mates, their hands linked together as one, all ready to accept their fate as the sky came crashing down in the form of Acnologia's blazing breath.

No! Can't give up now!

Erza snapped out of her fear, her heart burning with resolve. There wasn't going to be another miracle to save them this time.

She was a split second away from equipping her Storm Dragon Empress Armour when Jellal shouted, "Stay close!"

He swiped his arms outward to magically hollow out the sides and ceiling of their cavern to make more room. As he moved forward to stand, he brought out his three dragon staves and impaled their ends into the rock around them with a quick snap of his wrist. The three standing staves formed a triangle, each one activated with their respective magic. The ruby eye of Stormbringer pulsed and crackled with electricity; Hellstrom was open, its crimson runes shining and the crystal Flame Dragon King ablaze with the hottest fire; Frostbite shimmered and glistened like diamonds, the beautiful bladed fangs veiled in a thickening, sparkling mist.

Jellal fell into a low stance, his hands forming seals that summoned a rainbow magic circle on the ground beneath them. Intricate, glowing lines connected the three staves and the caster together, the circle drawing upon their magic.

Erza's skin was tingling from the sheer amount of magic Jellal was pouring into his spell, offsetting the terror that she felt hanging high above. She could only watch in awe, putting all her faith into him.

"Pray this barrier will hold!" Jellal cried as he flung one arm forward and one arm back, his glowing hands forming the final seals. "Tri-elemental Magic Circle: Dragon Shell!"

In a flash of colours, a transparent, rainbow barrier composed of large, flickering, diamond-scale panes surrounded them from all sides, including the ground under the circle.

At that exact moment, Acnologia unleashed a deafening roar as he fired his charged breath, clearing the sky blue. Erza saw the blinding beam of energy for only a second before shutting her eyes and bracing herself.

She heard and felt the dragon's attack explode upon impact with the ground. Within a heartbeat, they were overwhelmed by bright light and heat. Jellal heavily grunted from the energy striking his barrier like a roaring inferno. The ground seemed to disappear under their feet as the mountain and earth were vaporized, and yet Jellal was able to maintain the floor of his magic circle even as they began to fall straight down. However, Erza could sense he couldn't hold it much longer; his magic was dwindling fast and his barrier was soundly cracking like glass.

"Lend him your strength!" a girl's voice suddenly shrieked in Erza's ear. A child's hand grabbed hold of hers and pulled, making Erza stumble blindly forward on her knees. It was too bright to see what was happening and before she could pull back out of instinct, she felt her palm touch someone else's. She found herself tightly lacing her fingers between theirs and realized it was Jellal when he returned the gesture out of desperation.

"Jellal! Take my magic! We're not dying here!" She gave him everything she had, transferring her magic through the bond they shared – one that had been mended and gradually strengthened ever since they reunited. Individually, they were respectfully strong, but together, they were an unbeatable force, something they had learned from the time they had spent as a team.

His only response was a strained grunt and a tighter grip. Her magic became his to wield. The cracking stopped as the barrier returned to full strength, protecting them once more as they continued to plummet downwards.

But Erza feared it wasn't enough because the barrier began to wane shortly after. With barely an ounce of magic left to offer, she was quickly losing hope – when there was a sudden jolt that nearly threw her face-first into the ground if it weren't for Jellal holding onto her. They had stopped falling and the blinding energy blast finally came to an end.

Jellal sank to his knees and the barrier shattered, exposing them to an intense wave of scorching hot air and the stench of molten metal and sulphur.

Erza snapped her eyes open and gasped, the air suddenly very hard to breathe. Jellal was suffering just the same, but Gildarts; when she saw him, he was diving at her and Jellal, wrapping his burly arms around them both.

He knocked them into the ground that crumbled away with their descent. Again, they fell, this time in pitch black darkness, surrounded by burning hot earth that parted and shifted from Gildarts' magic.

They came to an abrupt stop somewhere deep in the dark underground, enclosed together in a very tight, claustrophobic space in a near-horizontal position. It was uncomfortably hot, but more bearable than up atop the molten surface. Panting and breaking into a sweat, Erza began to panic because the situation was similar to when she was buried alive in the mountain mine.

"Calm down. Calm down," Gildarts murmured, speaking in a slow and assuring tone, his head right by Erza's. "Breathe. Slow, deep breaths. Don't try to cast anything. Stay perfectly still. We're pretending to be dead. Hang on until he's gone for good."

Erza nodded and focused on slowing her breathing and heart rate, grasping onto the belief that they will be okay. It took a moment to realize she was still holding onto Jellal's hand and he didn't seem to mind. Feeling his touch was reassuring, helping her fall into a meditative-like state as they waited in the heat and darkness.

It felt like hours before she heard Jellal break the silence, "It's clear. He's long gone."

Gildarts made a sound and the surrounding earth began to rumble and shift. They were pushed upwards by the moving dirt and eventually broke through the surface like burrowing rabbits.

Erza was instantly blinded by the sun shining in the clear blue sky. So used to seeing miserable, cloudy days, it was almost like a miracle to finally see sunlight cast upon the cold, barren land. Even though Jellal said Acnologia had left the area, she scanned the sky for the dragon anyway out of precaution.

Right after Gildarts pulled her out of the hole, Erza was shocked to find they were at the bottom of an enormous, deep crater where a mountain range and empty snow field once existed. With a single breath, Acnologia wiped out a chunk of the earth roughly four times as large as the city of Crocus.

They stood on melted rock that was still hot and steaming in the cold climate, the misty air lingering with Acnologia's incredible magic. There were crevasses that ran deep, seemingly glowing a pale blue like molten streams of pure energy.

Mouth agape, Erza was dumbfounded they survived the dragon's attack – the very same that would have erased Tenrou Island. She heaved a big sigh of relief as she changed into a summer dress to cool off from the sweltering heat.

"We're alive," she said, taking a seat on the ground next to Jellal who was too exhausted to stand.

"Yeah," he mumbled. He had pulled off his mask and head cover to wipe the sweat trickling down his face. "Thanks... If you hadn't thought of lending me your magic, we wouldn't have made it."

She placed a hand over her heart and frowned. "I wish I could say the idea came to me in the heat of the moment, but... I heard a voice. Of a young girl. She told me to lend you my strength. Did either of you hear it too? She... I'm also certain she led me towards you when it was impossible to see anything."

Jellal titled his head slightly and gave her a skeptical look. "A girl? No, I was too focused on keeping the barrier up."

"I heard her," said Gildarts, plopping down in front of the pair with a heavy thump. He handed Jellal his three staves, which were instantly sent back to storage with a quick flick of his wrist.

"Right after the blast," Gildarts continued, glancing around the crater, "I heard a girl tell me to 'play dead.' That's why I pulled you guys under. What's weird is that playing dead was the same tactic I used to get away from the Beast Dragon."

"And it worked again here, didn't it?" spoke the voice of the young girl.

All heads snapped in her direction.

Erza and Gildarts were surprised to see Mavis Vermillion smiling back at them. Meanwhile, Jellal was glaring past her, only able to sense her presence. "What is it? What's there?" he demanded.

Erza grabbed his shoulder. "It's okay. It's the spirit of Mavis, the First Master of Fairy Tail. So that means, it was your voice we heard."

Gildarts laughed gratefully. "Damn, Master Mavis, you saved our sorry hides twice from that dragon! We really owe you, girl!"

Giggling, Mavis shook her head and clasped her hands behind her, rocking on her bare heels like a playful child. "It was by your own power and wit that you survived this time. I only provided some guidance." She bowed her head slightly, her cheerful demeanour suddenly replaced with a drawn and sad expression. "Out here, I am powerless... I've exhausted what little strength I had left and need to rest for a while. Hurry home, because I won't be around to watch over you anymore..."

Like a ghost, she became transparent and vanished out of sight.

"Mavis?" said Erza, staring at the spot where the girl once occupied. There was only silence. "She's gone... Didn't even get to thank her."

"Did she say anything?" asked Jellal.

"She said she was watching our backs all this time," said Gildarts, scratching the side of his beard in guilt. "Used everything she had to look out for us."

"Hm. That explains the odd presence I've been detecting on and off since Seacht," said Jellal, massaging his temples. "Thought I was losing my mind... Where has she gone?"

Erza shrugged. "She said she needed to rest and won't be around for us anymore."

"Which means we better not waste this opportunity she gave us and get out of this hellhole," said Gildarts, staggering to his feet and offering a hand to Erza and Jellal. "Come on, one final stretch and we're home free. Everyone is gonna want to hear about this, haha!"

---

A/N: Almost all the Fairies have reunited!

My New Year's Resolution is to finish this story by the end of the year, but I know that likely won't happen with everything I have planned out (in my head). Early 2023 is the goal!

Thanks for reading!