Secret of Verloren Woods
It was another night to remember as every guild member from both Fairy Tail and Crime Sorcière joined together for a send-off party for those who would soon embark on an important journey. It was originally planned as a small, quiet get-together, but it eventually became a huge event, which was no surprise with Mirajane and Makarov behind the organization.
And thus, the Grand Hall was decorated with all sorts of seemingly random decorations taken from storage, ranging from Christmas snowflakes and sparkling stars hanging from the ceiling to birthday balloons and colourful ribbons tied or taped to walls. It wouldn't be a party without a huge feast, each delectable dish lovingly prepared by the Strauss sisters. To quench their thirst and sweet tooth, a vast variety of desserts and drinks were also available to satisfy everyone's individual tastes.
Full and content, the party turned into a typical evening with drinking games, banter, and violent drunken brawls between the rowdiest and loudest members. The fights didn't get too out of hand – or what was considered 'reasonable' in terms of Fairy Tail standards – with damage limited to broken furniture, glassware, and holes in the walls and ceilings, thanks to Makarov prohibiting the use of dragon gear and related spells inside Fairy Tail. After nearly losing the entire guild more than once and paying for costly repairs, he thought it wise to strictly implement the rule.
It was an hour past midnight when things finally wound down and some people started to head home. The hall was in shambles with the snoring bodies of the very drunk strewn throughout.
Wendy sighed wearily, ready to head home and jump into her comfy bed for some much needed sleep. All through the night, she kept a close eye on the battles, being lenient with her healing when others got injured because it was a party of fun (and violence). With Erza, Ultear, and Gildarts mixed in the chaos, Wendy's magic was pretty much needed even when they tried to pull their punches.
Before deciding to head out, Wendy went around to check on her unconscious guild mates to make sure they were going to be okay. Snoring and drooling, those that drank far too much and fought way too hard were completely out cold.
Once finished, she joined up with everyone else who were still hanging around, awake and mostly sober. Gathered around what appeared to be the only table to survive the night were Makarov, Bero, Lucy, Levy, Link, Romeo, Macao, Mirajane, Carla, Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy.
Link smiled sleepily at Wendy as she came up between him and Carla. "How are they?" he asked.
"They'll be fine, aside from the massive hangovers they're going to wake up to," said Wendy with a slight shake of her head and roll of her eyes. She mentally groaned to herself, knowing she was going to be busy in the morning making remedies to help ease the pain of her patients.
Makarov laughed, his face a bright red from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He sat on the edge of the table, his crossed legs dangling over the sides. "A lesson we've yet to learn! Regardless, tonight was spectacular."
"If you can ignore this mess..." Macao groaned, running a hand down his stressed and tired face.
Makarov snorted and simply waved away the comment. "This happens almost every night. You should be used to this by now. Besides, tonight we have the lovely Matilda to grace our presence. Would you mind tidying things up a bit for us? Pretty please?"
Ultear, with the stern, scowling face and sharp tone of Matilda, replied, "Guild Master Makarov, I've already undid the damage I was partly responsible for during my, excuse me, 'drunken rampage' as you have kindly put it. If you require my assistance, it won't be free."
Beside her, Meredy quietly giggled. "Playing Matilda a little too seriously, aren't you?" Her comment brought a slightly amused smirk on Ultear's red lips.
"Erm, n-nevermind then," said Makarov, either too cheap or too intimidated by Ultear. Wendy assumed both. Sighing, Makarov crossed his fingers over his raised knee and turned his attention on Link and Wendy, giving them a kind smile. "So, the day we've been waiting for has finally come. Or so we hope our speculations are correct."
"We tried our best to make sense of the Ancient Dragon King's message," said Levy with a shrug and apologetic look in Link's direction, "but with no information on the Dracotongue language, there's no way to decipher all of it. We can only go with what we can understand. Hopefully, you can find more answers when you enter that special part of the forest."
It had been over two weeks since Mavis had shown Wendy and her friends the illusion of Yorenthall, which may not have been just an illusion, but a vision of the Dragon King, himself, who was somehow able to communicate from beyond the living realm. Mavis had yet to return to clarify what happened, so Fairy Tail could only trust their gut and make assumptions, as usual.
Since then, Levy and Bero had their noses deep in tomes and scrolls at various libraries in Magnolia and other nearby towns, hoping to find a clue on the mysterious language of ancient dragons. Even Lucy had tried asking Crux, but the Celestial Spirit also had no luck, saying the knowledge was long lost in their world, alongside the old kingdoms once ruled by dragons. All that history was destroyed by Acnologia in the distant past, without a doubt.
Although no translation could be found in regards to the words spoken in Dracotongue, they were not left completely in the dark. The 'day before the next full moon' wasn't too hard to figure out when following the lunar calendar. The last part of Yorethall's message, however, had Wendy and everyone else scratching their heads.
"Star. Sky. Soul. Unite as one to bring forth my light, Nyi Ven sil Natare."
Seemingly spoken to Wendy, she had wondered if the dragon was referring to her Sky Dragon abilities, most particularly, Milky Way. The special spell contained the three elements 'Star', 'Sky', and 'Soul' and would be able to call upon the 'light' that she assumed was Yorenthall's spirit body. But was it that simple or much more complex than she thought? The ancient words included at the end made it sound complicated.
While Link was busy training with Lucy to continue mastering his Celestial Spirit Magic, Wendy had spent most of her time trying to figure out the little riddle. She had scoured her notes Grandeeney had left her, hoping to uncover a new spell she may have missed. Unfortunately, there was none she hadn't learned or tried to modify.
The only way to prove their assumptions true was to venture back to Verloren Woods during what they assumed was the correct time and conditions.
"Link, are you prepared for what you may find?" asked Makarov, his tone gentle and sympathetic.
Link started to frown until he met Wendy's assuring gaze. He clutched a hand over his heart and nodded, his blue eyes unwavering. "Yes, Master. I'm ready to find the truth."
As did they all. Many others wanted to tag along on the journey, but such a large group would draw too much unwanted attention. Not only that, in fear of messing up what could be their one chance, they decided to closely follow Keaton's final words: "Once you have full command of the stars, return to this forest with your friends." The very same friends who accompanied him on that tearful day. So once again, it was only Wendy, Carla, Link, Happy, Natsu, Lucy, and Ultear who would travel together to Saffarion.
"So you guys are leaving in a day," said Meredy with a slight pout, appearing a tad disappointed she couldn't join them.
"That's right," said Lucy, pulling out a folded sheet of paper from the pocket of her hooded sweater. It was the calendar for the current month of May that also depicted each phase of the moon. "This Thursday night is the next full moon so we'll be heading to Saffarion early that morning."
"He said he will be waiting for me..." said Link quietly, sounding unsure.
"We'll find him, don't worry," said Wendy, gripping his shoulder. "We'll do our best to make that happen."
"Indeed. It certainly won't be like last time," added Ultear, placing her hands on her hips. She turned to face Link, her stern expression temporarily replaced with a knowing look and smile. "We're better prepared to enter the enchanted part of the forest, now that we know what we can expect. Unless we encounter another group of lost idiots." She glared off to the side and huffed at the last part.
"It'll be a freak chance if something like that happens again," stated Lucy, furrowing her brow at the thought.
Jellal quietly grunted and crossed his arms. "Regardless, remain on your guard in those woods," he advised, looking between the present members of the travelling party before settling on Link. "The enchantments protecting the temple can confuse your senses so do not rely on your Sensory Magic once you've entered that area. You may detect presences that are not there or lose track of your companions in spite of them walking beside you."
"Smells and sounds also become unreliable," said Wendy, frowning deeply. When Link had suddenly disappeared in the forest, she remembered how difficult it was to find him. Wendy and Natsu were led in circles following misleading scents and noises that almost sounded like Link's voice. Being in a panic-filled state certainly didn't help during that time either.
"We'll just have to stay close together to avoid losing sight of each other," suggested Carla. She let out a small sigh as she glanced behind her at the snoring duo sprawled in the middle of the floor, Happy and Natsu. "As long as we don't get distracted."
"I'll be careful," promised Link, thinking Carla was referring to him. From the pouch on his belt, he pulled out his mysterious purple eye lens and stared intently at it. "I hope this is the key item that Keaton was talking about. The 'eye that can see through lies'..."
Levy gave him a confident nod. "Won't know until you try using it there, but I have a gut feeling it's what you need."
There was a pondering hum coming from Bero as he stroked his whiskery chin, eyes narrowed on the object in Link's hand. "And what awaits you is not only your friend, but a trial of stars, I believe? I am not sure what that entails, but I have faith you will prevail, my boy."
Mirajane soundly clasped her hands together and chuckled. "No matter the feat, nothing is going to stop our brave, little hero."
"That's right," said Lucy, holding up a fist and grinning at Link. "We've been training hard these past few weeks. Link is ready to take on whatever challenge awaits. I got your back. We'll be there to cheer you on and lend you a hand too."
Weariness forgotten, Link was beaming at the support of his masters and guild mates.
"Sounds like there's nothing to worry about," said Makarov, smiling. Exhaling a big, tired sigh, he took a quick glance around the group and his guild and waved a dismissive hand. "It's late. Why don't you all head on home and rest until your departure? Prepare yourselves for the journey ahead. We'll clean up this mess later. It'll be tomorrow's problem."
"Don't think we'll be getting much rest," Macao groaned, running a hand through the messy mop of his hair. At the beginning of the night, his hair was neatly combed back, but had become progressively unruly as the guild got trashed. "Link still hasn't started packing yet and it tends to become a chore when he's at it."
The boy slightly pouted. "It was too early to pack though..."
"Hey, we've got a whole day tomorrow, so don't worry, Dad!" said Romeo. "I can help Link pack so he won't forget anything important!"
With that, the group exchanged good luck and good nights before going their separate ways.
One day later, early Thursday morning, Wendy was knocking on the front door of the Conbolt household. She stepped back and quietly waited, hearing Carla yawn beside her. It was about half a minute when Wendy heard the sound of Macao's footsteps quickly approaching the door.
"Morning, girls," the man kindly greeted as he welcomed them inside. Sighing, he glanced down the hall where the frantic voices of Link and Romeo could be heard, coming from an open bedroom door. "Link is running a little late again. I told him to hurry."
Wendy quietly giggled. "It's okay. There's still some time before our train leaves. Is he still packing?"
Macao nodded and brushed a hand through his hair, already messing it up for the day. "Told that boy to have his things ready last night. You know how that goes. Anyway, he should be about finished. Wendy, Carla, I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but promise you'll keep an eye on him." His brow was furrowed with the deepest worry, betraying his exhaustion that was likely due to stress. Lately, it wasn't just Link he was concerned about, but Romeo too, now that the older boy had finally gotten the approval to train with Gildarts – after much begging and persistence. "I don't know what's going to happen when Link finds Yorenthall and that temple again..."
"Neither do we," said Wendy, sharing the father's sentiment. She put on a confident look for Macao's sake. "But whatever happens, I promise I'll take care of him."
Macao smiled in thanks. "Oh, here he comes now. About time – Why are you wearing that?"
Lugging his large, bulging suitcase by his side, Link was noisily stomping down the hall, fully equipped in his dragon armour and gear. He stopped and looked at his father through the slits of his Keaton mask. In a hesitant tone, he replied, "Because there's no room in my suitcase..."
"He can't be too careful, right?" said Romeo, grinning smugly next to his brother.
"Link, you're supposed to be inconspicuous," reminded Macao with a wag of a finger. "You're going to stick out like a sore thumb wearing that feather cloak and mask. Just how many sets of clothes are you bringing? You only need two at least."
"It's two," said Link, setting the heavy suitcase by his armoured feet. It made a loud thunk, its contents rattling with metallic clinks. "Romeo said I should bring everything, just in case, so I have Freedom and my Storm Shield and my other shield and my other pair of boots and quivers with normal arrows and dragon arrows and bombs–"
"Wait a minute, even your deadly Poison Arrows?"
Link nodded.
Macao vigorously shook his head, his furrowed brow somehow gaining more wrinkles. "Nononono, that is far too excessive! You're just going to tire yourself out carrying all that weight. Come on, you need to travel light."
Macao helped Link repack and change, selecting only a few necessary items and switching his large suitcase for a medium-sized travel bag that could be slung diagonally across one shoulder, freeing the boy's hands. While Link kept his armour on, he packed away his mask and his Sky Cloak of Warding, hiding his identity as well as his Storm Shield and Dragonslayer under his hooded cloak instead. The Magic Council were supposedly in town so it was best to not catch their attention as Macao had pointed out.
"Sorry for making you wait," Link apologized to Wendy and Carla, slightly bowing his head.
"Don't worry about it. Ready to go?" asked Wendy, putting on a cheerful smile.
Matching her smile, Link nodded.
"Be safe," said Macao, kneeling down to pull the boy in a hug. "Remember everything I told you."
"I will, Dad," said Link, returning the gesture.
Romeo jumped in on the hug. "Good luck! I'll be crossing all my fingers that nothing goes wrong!"
The family of three stayed together for a few seconds longer before they pulled away.
Wendy, Carla, and Link waved goodbye as they hurried out the door.
The morning sun was beginning to rise over the mountaintops, casting its warm rays on Magnolia. There was still a bit of extra time before their train would depart so they calmly made their way towards Magnolia Station.
Link's armour and Celestial Spirit Keys clinked and jingled with every step, sounding almost like music. At first, Wendy was afraid people would question why a boy would be strolling around in armour, but so far, no one even batted an eye. Some kindly greeted them with a smile or hello, recognizing the small team of three from the various jobs they did around town over the past few months. Wendy was still slowly chipping away at her huge debt. It would be a while longer before it was fully paid, but she didn't mind too much since she enjoyed working with Link and Carla.
"How did you sleep?" Wendy asked when they were halfway to the station, walking down a quiet street. With the excitement – and copious amount of anxiety – involved with their important journey to Verloren Woods, Wendy and Carla had barely slept a wink.
It seemed like Link fared no better as he let out a big yawn. "Not too good."
Wendy frowned as she brushed away a loose strand of hair from her face that had escaped one of her pigtails. "I guess you're still a little worried?"
Weren't they all? Not knowing what exactly they were getting into or how it was going to turn out in the end did little to erase the doubts lingering in their hearts.
Link nodded, dropping his gaze to the ground. It looked like he was going to answer, when Wendy spotted the white uniforms of Rune Knights turning a corner half a block ahead of them. It was Doranbolt and two other men, making their rounds around the town. They were moving at a casual pace towards Wendy and her friends, seemingly deep in conversation.
"The Magic Council!" Wendy exclaimed in a hushed tone.
In haste, she grabbed Link's hand and pulled him into the nearest alleyway, praying Doranbolt wouldn't notice them. They ran past some smelly dumpsters and hopped over stagnant pools of nasty water before emerging onto the busier street on the other side. They merged with the flow of people and resumed their journey towards Magnolia Station, trying to act as if nothing had happened to blend with the crowd.
"Did they see us?" Link asked, taking a wary glance over his shoulder.
Carla snorted and raised her brow at Wendy. "Well, if we hadn't bolted like that, I'm sure we wouldn't have drawn any suspicion in the first place."
"Sorry, I just panicked!" said Wendy, face red and flustered. She took a brief look around, eyes peeled for any white uniforms. She saw none so far, but what Carla had said made her extremely uptight. Quickening her pace, she said, "We should hurry to the station."
They made it to Magnolia Station without another incident and with fifteen minutes left to spare. It wasn't too busy, making it easy to find Lucy, Natsu, and Happy waiting for them outside of the entrance.
"Morning," Lucy was first to greet them, stifling a yawn behind her hand. Usually a chipper morning person, she appeared just as tired as Wendy, Link, and Carla. However, even when exhausted, nothing went past her when she followed up with, "You guys okay? Did something happen?"
"Sort of. We almost ran into the Magic Council on our way here," answered Wendy, taking another wary glance around to make sure they hadn't been followed.
Cursing, Natsu shielded his eyes and checked the roads too, peering as far as he could see. "Don't see 'em, but let's get going anyway!" He hoisted his big backpack over his shoulders and hurried inside the station with Happy right at his heels. The pair were unlike the rest of the group, wide awake and full of energy.
However, once they passed the gate and stepped onto the platform, Natsu saw the train and was immediately stricken with – what Wendy had medically termed – phantom motion sickness. Skin pale and clammy, he was dragging his feet to get in line to board. He loudly groaned and openly complained about the 'stupid train', making the other people waiting in line glance their way, annoyed by the disruption.
There was an audible scoff off to the side and Wendy spotted Ultear standing in line one car over. The woman was shooting Natsu a sideways look of disapproval under the brim of her beige sun hat. Maintaining her disguise as Matilda, she was supposedly on a little vacation to Saffarion to 'visit family' and yet she was formally dressed and poised as if she was off to attend a very important business meeting at the capital.
Wendy emphasized with Natsu's misery. Her stomach would be churning in anticipation for the dreaded three-hour train ride, but this time she had prepared something for the both of them. "Natsu, I think I've finally perfected it," she boldly proclaimed as she held out a small flask containing a dark, yellowish liquid for him to take. "Drinking this will help with our severe motion sickness."
Natsu scrunched his face in disgust and glared at the medicine like it was poison. "You sure about this one?" he asked her, hesitant to take it out of Wendy's hand. Which was fair, considering she had made him – as well as Gajeel – her test subjects for a number of trials since they took the train more often than her. She had tweaked her recipe fifty-five times and believed her latest version was going to work. Or at least, reduce the symptoms to a more tolerable level for Dragon Slayers.
Wendy nodded vigorously. "Absolutely. You can trust me this will help." To demonstrate, she uncorked the flask, plugged her nose, and drank the medicine all in one gulp. It was so bitter, it brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly downed some water to rinse the awful taste from her mouth.
Although the intense revulsion of her own concoction was hardly convincing, Natsu gritted his teeth and held out his hand. "Ugh, all right. Guess it's better than nothing..." he grumbled as Wendy happily passed him another flask. He choked it down and horribly gagged soon after, clutching his neck with tears streaking down his face. His dramatic reaction brought strange, horrified looks from the other passengers, making Wendy hope they didn't think she really did poison him...
Thankfully, Natsu was back to moaning and grumbling shortly after.
The effects weren't immediate so when it was time to board the train, Natsu still suffered from motion sickness. He was grumbling and stumbling blindly down the aisle of the car with Lucy dragging him along.
Fairy Tail found their seats near the back and sat facing each other in groups of three.
As they waited for the train to depart, Wendy kept a close eye on Natsu who sat right across from her. She noticed he was getting a little better with each passing minute. Hopeful, she took out her notepad and began jotting down observations and notes.
Lucy soundly stretched her arms before her as she tried to get comfortable for the long ride. She rested her elbow atop the small ledge of the window she and Link shared. "Here we are, off to Saffarion again almost one year later. I think we're even sitting in the same seats," she said, smiling in amusement at her teammates.
"It's really been that long?" Link asked, astonished by that fact.
Lucy nodded, her smile turning proud. "Yeah, can you guys believe it? Almost feels like a dream at how much stronger we've become since then. Link, you've really exceeded all of my expectations as my student! You're definitely ready for whatever trial awaits you."
"Not only that, we're going to look for your friend, Bacon!" said Happy, wagging the tip of his tail in excitement.
"Not just look," Natsu spoke up, straightening in his seat and wiping the cold sweat off his brow. Colour had returned to his face and he looked fully recovered. Grinning, he held the back of his fist towards Link. "Find. We're going to find him, Bacon. You got my word. We're not heading home until we do."
With a grateful smile, Link lightly smacked Natsu's fist with the back of his own.
At that exact moment, Wendy's worries melted away. She gripped Link's shoulder to silently add her own encouragement, knowing he had heard her words many times over. He placed his hand on top of hers in return, his smile broadening into a joyful grin.
Soon after, the train sounded its whistle and jerked into motion. Wendy heard her stomach gurgle and braced herself, expecting to feel a wave of nausea. Even Natsu was visibly tense with apprehension, gritting his teeth and his knuckles white on his lap.
But after a worrisome minute or so, neither felt even the slightest symptoms of motion sickness.
Elated, Natsu jumped to his feet and practically shouted for everyone in the car to hear; "Wendy, you really did it! I don't feel like puking my guts out for the first time since forever! This is what riding a train feels like?!"
Lucy shrank in her seat and covered her face with a hand as people murmured and stared in their direction. "Did you have to say that out loud?!" she hissed, yanking him back down in his seat.
Wendy blushed profusely when it felt like everyone was staring at her. Although she was embarrassed by the attention, she was also extremely happy from Natsu's praise as well as her own personal accomplishment.
However, she knew it was too early to celebrate. She wasn't sure about the medication's duration or if there were any side-effects so she took diligent notes as the train began to speed out of town, keeping track of any changes.
Natsu was as restless as a child at first, able to enjoy the thrill of the ride. But his energy died down within the first hour as boredom took hold, followed by drowsiness. When he let out a big yawn, it triggered a chain reaction in everyone else.
A sleepless night combined with the motion of the train, and probably a side effect from Wendy's medicine, eventually lulled her to sleep. Unknowingly, she used Link's shoulder as a pillow and dreamt of nothing for the rest of the trip.
Verloren Woods was just how Link remembered it, thick and lush with overgrowth and swarming with bugs that made Wendy squeal and itch. Unlike last time when it was the middle of summer, the forest was thankfully not as hot and humid, which was a slight relief because Link was getting very warm under his armour. It was late spring and most of the plants were in bloom, sweetening the air with their many different smells and brightening the forest with their colours.
A pleasant breeze blew over the treetops, stirring the leaves and making the late morning sun flicker below. Birds and animals were busy singing and foraging about, until they were scared away by the angry sounds of a Fire Dragon Slayer.
Natsu was leading the way for the group, breaking through thorns and brush, wishing he could use his fire to make a clear path. But not everyone was a fan of that idea, as usual, so he had to endure the brunt of every scratch and prick.
Right behind him was Lucy, Wendy, Link, and Ultear in that order, the four of them occasionally having to defend against whipping branches and prickly thorns snagging at their clothes. Happy and Carla had the advantage of avoiding the hazards by flying above their heads.
As Link followed closely behind Wendy, he kept a lookout for any bugs that seemed to love getting caught in her hair. His other senses were tuned on the surrounding area, listening and feeling for any nearby oddities. There was nothing unusual since they entered the forest, but that soon changed about an hour later around noon.
Link stopped in his tracks the moment he noticed something wrong with his magic sense. It was just as Jellal had said the other day; even though Wendy was right in front of him, it felt like she was quickly running to the side in a zigzag pattern. Everyone else's auras also seemed to be moving in random directions, forcing him to dispel his magic sense.
"Have you noticed it?" asked Ultear as she came up from behind to stand beside him. She saw his confusion before she swept her wary eyes across the forest.
Her question made the others stop and turn back.
"What is it?" Wendy asked as she looked around, tense with caution.
At first, there was nothing that visibly stood out, but then Link began to notice the subtle changes; the cooler air, the stillness in the trees, the sudden silence that almost seemed deafening.
"This is it. We've entered the enchanted part of the forest," answered Ultear, gesturing around the woods. Crossing her arms, she met Link's gaze and gave him an assuring nod. "Now's the time to see if we really have this figured out or not."
Link nodded and anxiously dug into his pouch for his purple lens. Holding it in front of his face, he infused it with a bit of his magic and peered through the lens. "Use the eye that can see through lies and the true path forward will reveal itself..." he quietly recited what Keaton had told him. He looked left, right, straight ahead and back. He scanned the sky as well as the ground and walked a circle around his friends. Wherever he looked, there was nothing but a purple-hued forest.
Disappointed, Link sighed and dropped his arm to his side. "It's not working... Maybe this wasn't the eye like we thought..."
"No, that can't be..." said Wendy, frowning.
"Maybe we're just not in the right spot?" suggested Lucy with a slight shrug.
There was a frustrated growl from Natsu. He started to stomp over to Link, huffing. "If that damn thing doesn't shoot lasers, then it's gotta be the eye thing! Here, Bacon, let me give it a shot! I'll make it work – Ow!" Before Link could properly hand it over, Natsu had grabbed the lens from the pointy top and ended up poking himself, which resulted in him flinging the object over some tall bushes off to the side.
Link gasped in horror while Lucy demanded; "Natsu! Why'd you do that?!"
"It was an accident! Stupid thing stabbed into this big cut on my hand!" Natsu exclaimed, rubbing his palm that was covered in bleeding scratches.
"You should've told me it was that bad!" Wendy shrieked with worry. Within a second, she was grabbing his hand and healing his wounds.
"Hey, it's not as bad as it looks..." Natsu grumbled, his pain and anger instantly soothed by her magic.
"I'll go look for my lens," said Link. He only took one step when a firm hand gripped his shoulder. He froze when he met Ultear's fierce scowl.
"We're supposed to stick together," she reminded, her tone on the verge of threatening; "We move as a group, otherwise we're going to lose each other in here, got it?"
"Y-Yes. Understood," Link murmured, hanging his head bashfully. He was worried about losing the lens or finding it broken. Thankfully, it didn't take that much longer for Wendy to finish healing every little nick on Natsu's arms and face.
Invigorated, Natsu soundly cracked his knuckles like he was getting ready to battle against the thicket and proceeded to force his way through it. Everyone followed one by one, hanging on to each other's clothes so the protective enchantments had no chance of separating them.
Waiting on the other side was a small open clearing that felt oddly warm and welcoming compared to the previous area. Moss carpeted the ground and patches of yellow flowers flourished wherever sunlight beamed through the trees. Butterflies with silvery, blue wings fluttered throughout, making the air shimmer when caught under the sun. Most of them had gathered over the largest flower patch in the middle where there stood a familiar little cross made of two large sticks tied together with a faded red ribbon.
"It's Mr. Snuggles' grave," said Happy, gently touching down near the edge of the big flower patch. He looked at the cross with a hint of sadness, ears and tail slightly drooping.
Eyes on the grave, Link slowly walked towards it, being mindful to step around the smaller patches of flowers. Butterflies parted when he drew close, not the least bothered by their presence. Midway, his foot stepped on something hard. It was his purple lens. He picked it up and wiped away the smudges of dirt with the end of his cloak, relieved that it was not broken from his boot or Natsu's throw.
"Great! You found it!" said Lucy as she and Wendy joined him for a closer look. Lucy placed a gentle hand on Link's shoulder and glanced at the cross in the middle of the flowers. "You know, I don't think we found this place out of coincidence. This could be the spot I was talking about."
"I agree with Lucy," said Wendy, holding out a hand in a failed attempt to have a butterfly land on her. She smiled, nonetheless. "Your friend brought you here before he died... This place must be special."
Feeling hopeful, Link held his lens firmly before him and infused it with some magic. All seemed normal through the glass eye until he turned his focus on Keaton's little grave.
Something large was standing over the cross.
Before Link could make out what it was, the eye of the lens flashed red and the three points on top suddenly crackled with a crimson spark. He dropped the lens with a surprised yelp in fear of getting shocked.
"Link! What hap... pened..." Wendy trailed off to stare ahead at the large beast that had suddenly appeared before them.
It was a big, red-brown horse with a long white mane and tail, white forelegs, and a white stripe down its face. It was no ordinary animal, however, because its body was transparent like a ghost. Butterflies passed through the horse, seemingly unaware of the animal's presence.
"Ahh! A ghost!" Happy shrieked, leaping over to Natsu to hide behind his partner's legs for protection.
Natsu raised an eyebrow as he took a few deep sniffs. "No scent. Really is a ghost. Bacon, did your eye-thing summon it?"
"I think so?" was Link's tentative answer as he quickly retrieved his lens off the ground. The eye continued to steadily glow red, its strange power drawing from his magic. "I saw it through the lens a second before the eye part started to shine like this."
"So your lens can let you see the spirits of dead animals?" Lucy assumed, bringing a hand to her chin.
"Spirits that have yet to pass on to the afterlife, it seems," said Ultear in a pondering murmur. She marched towards the ghost with purpose, eyeing it intently like it was prey.
Like every other being caught under her gaze, the horse was intimidated by Ultear.
Spooked, the horse whinnied and quickly ran away from her, its hooves silent and undisturbing on the ground. It circled the edge of the clearing and stopped at the farthest distance from the group. With a snort and flick of its ears, it stood warily, watching them from the side, one front hoof soundlessly scraping the ground and leaving no mark.
"Even the dead are scared of you!" Happy snickered behind his paws. Ultear's scowl immediately shut him up and made him retreat behind Natsu.
Ultear crossed her arms and directed her glare at the horse, making it visibly stiffen. "Could this be the 'lie' we were supposed to figure out?" she grumbled, fingers tapping impatiently against her elbow.
"Uh, here, let me try a friendlier approach," suggested Lucy with a slightly amused laugh. She put on a kind face and slowly walked towards the horse, hands raised and voice, soft and gentle; "Hi there. It's okay. It's okay. It's – H-Hey!"
Although the horse didn't appear as frightened as with Ultear, it still bolted away from Lucy when she got too close. Letting out a short, breathy whine, it circled the group once more to stand at the farthest point, closest to Natsu.
Natsu smacked a flaming fist into the palm of his hand and grinned, suddenly enticed by the challenge. He dove at the horse. The result was just the same. "Come here, you!" he growled, refusing to give up. He gave chase, catching up to the horse a few times, but his efforts were useless when he couldn't physically tackle it.
"This is ridiculous. You're not going to catch a ghost," Ultear muttered under her breath, watching the stubborn Dragon Slayer and the equally stubborn horse running laps.
"Link," Wendy began softly. Wearing a heavy frown, she turned to him, her eyes shifting from the shining lens in his hand to the fleeing ghost. "This horse... Do you remember anything about it? Could it be a friend from your past?"
"A friend?" he echoed, furrowing his brow. He watched the horse closely as it continued to run from Natsu, hoping to recognize something familiar about it. When Natsu finally gave up out of frustration, the horse stood afar with an annoyed snort and shake of its head, tossing its mane over its eyes. Head slightly bowed, it stared at them, anticipating their next move.
"It seems like Epona is afraid of you, fairy boy..."
Link's eyes slowly widened. There was a certain horse that sometimes appeared in his dreams; a loyal, trustworthy companion who carried him all across the different lands of his slumber. Her name was Epona and in some dreams, she was young and small, while in other dreams, she was full-grown and wearing a saddle and reins, her appearance very, very similar to the ghost's.
She loved one particular song sung by a girl with red hair...
"My mother composed this song. Want to follow along with your ocarina, fairy boy?"
Link knelt down to place the lens gently on the ground and slipped off his gauntlets. From his pouch, he pulled out his ocarina. As he brought the mouthpiece to his lips, he closed his eyes and played.
He had called it the 'The Plains Song' because it reminded him of sunny fields and pastures, but he now remembered its true name; Epona's Song. The music flowed from his ocarina to form a complete melody, no longer off-tune from missing notes. When he finished, he heard the horse let out a shrill, joyful neigh and saw it rise onto its hind legs to kick the air with its front feet.
Then in a happy trot, it headed straight for Link, ignoring and passing through Lucy and Wendy like they were not there, making the girls jump away with a start. The horse stopped in front of Link and lowered its head, its snout an inch away from his face and its eyes shimmering with affection.
"Epona..." he choked out, his heart suddenly aching. There was no mistaking it; the ghost really was his friend who accompanied him on all those adventures...
The horse's ears pricked at the sound of her name and she tried to lick his cheek, her tongue only leaving a slight, tingly chill on his skin. She was too happy to notice as she bobbed her head and tapped her front feet. Then, with a short whinny, she turned aside and trotted away, running through Natsu and Happy before stopping at the edge of some bushes between two trees. She glanced back at Link, flicked her tail as if beckoning him to follow, and disappeared into the brush without a sound.
"Hey! Did it just leave?" asked Natsu, scratching the back of his head, bewildered.
"No, Epona wants us to follow her!" said Link, quickly stuffing away his ocarina and grabbing his things off the ground.
"Really?! All right! Then let's go!" Natsu charged into the brush like a madman, wildly swinging his arms and noisily snapping branches, undoing Wendy's healing without a care.
Wendy quietly groaned. "Natsu, please be more careful!" But the Fire Dragon Slayer didn't seem to hear her.
One-by-one, Link and the others ran after Natsu in a less destructive manner. The next area was a larger clearing that was sparse in flowers but abundant in thick shrubbery that formed multiple pathways.
"Where'd she go?" asked Natsu as he brushed off twigs and leaves off his clothes.
As if to answer him, there was a whicker followed by Epona silently trotting out of the wall of shrubs and down one of the paths where she vanished from view behind a tree trunk.
The group hurried after her from one area to the next. Through thick brush and thorns, over rocks, logs, and streams, and weaving between the trees, they traversed the forest maze while guided by the spirit of an old friend. The deeper they went, the older the forest, noticeable by the large size and aged wood of the trees.
It was about an hour or so when they started to tire, their pursuit slowed to a walk. Not that Epona seemed to mind as she patiently waited for them to catch up before happily running off towards their next destination.
"I don't remember it being this hard when we were chasing Mr. Snugglebottoms through here," Lucy moaned, heavily panting and sweating from exertion. Twigs and dead leaves clung to her clothes and tangled in her hair, but she no longer bothered to pick them off after the twentieth time. "I hope we're not just walking in circles..."
"As far as I can tell, we haven't looped back to the beginning," said Ultear, elegantly fanning her face with her hat. With the exception of Happy and Carla, Ultear was somehow the least disheveled and uncomfortable out of the team. Her light-coloured clothes were surprisingly free of stains and plant debris as well.
"Then we must be going the right way," noted Carla as she and Happy soared above their heads.
"Epona is taking us on the true path... she has to be," said Link, holding his purple lens tight in his hand. The magical eye continued to shine and flicker, keeping Epona visible to them all.
Wendy slowed down to walk beside him. "I believe she's leading us the right way," she assured, smiling at the ghost up ahead. "Epona's a beautiful horse. You must've rode her to all sorts of places."
"Leaving to find your lost friend? Take Epona with you so you won't be alone on your journey, fairy boy. She really likes you!"
A fond smile found its way onto Link's lips. "Yeah, I think I did."
"How'd you get on her back when she's so big?" asked Happy.
"She used to be smaller," Link replied. The few memories of her standing just a head taller than him were the most vivid in his mind. She was once a spry little horse, capable of overcoming most obstacles in a single bound. "I've had dreams where we rode across fields and up a snowy mountain. Across a beach too! I guess we entered this forest together, but then..." They were separated by fate and time.
"Looks like she grew up and lived a full life here, waiting for you," said Lucy in a soft, compassionate tone. "She never forgot about you even after all these years. That song you played earlier, she really liked it."
Link's smile returned. "It is Epona's Song. She would come to me whenever I played it." No matter where she was or what she was doing, she would come trotting at the sound of the music.
"Hey, that sounds awesome," said Natsu in the lead, flashing a grin over his shoulder. "Your Epona's a good friend, Bacon. She's a lot like Happy! He comes to me when I call him. Right, Happy?"
"I do? Now I want my own song!" shouted Happy, swooping to catch up to his partner. He was beaming with excitement. "Natsu, you have to play it if you ever want my help!"
Natsu snorted and waved a dismissive hand at the cat. "What? I don't know how to play any music! And what does your song even sound like?"
"Um... Like... I dunno. Bacon!" Happy flew back to flutter next to Link and pressed his paws together pleadingly. "Can you compose a song for me on your ocarina? Pretty please? Oh! Oh! And can you call it 'Happy's Song'?"
Link slightly tilted his head. He wasn't sure if he knew how to compose a song, but seeing Happy beg made him want to try. Lyra could probably help since the Celestial Spirit loved to write new songs when she wasn't busy being summoned. Nodding, he said, "Okay, Happy, I'll compose your song."
The cat squealed with happiness and dove at Link to give him a hug. "Thank you, Bacon! You're the best!"
There was a loud and delightful neigh from Epona as she seemingly agreed with Happy's sentiment. She broke into a gallop, quickly disappearing into the wall of shrubs up ahead.
"Hey, I see more light through there. I think we made it!" exclaimed Natsu, running after Epona and prompting everyone else to do the same.
After barging into and wrestling free from the shrubbery, Link was instantly blinded by the bright afternoon sun on the other side. He shielded his eyes and gawked in breathless wonder at the vast open area before him.
Hidden deep in Verloren Woods was a clearing full of tall grasses and flowers of every colour, surrounding one of the greatest secrets of the forest; the ruins of a large and ancient stone temple overgrown with plant life.
Wendy pointed and cried ecstatically, "There it is! We found the temple!"
"Finally! Felt like we were going to be walking forever," said Lucy, wiping her brow and sighing with relief.
"Incredible," Ultear whispered in awe as she put her hat back on to block the glare of the sun. She raised one hand and slightly curled her fingers as if to grab something in the air. "The ancient magic is much stronger here..."
Link could feel it too; a familiar, powerful magic that seemed to shroud the area in an invisible fog. A protective enchantment undoubtedly cast by the Ancient Dragon King long ago...
Wendy took a deep breath and swallowed it. Her face brightened with content. "I don't think I've noticed it the first time we came here, but there's... something else in the air. It's so pure and refreshing."
"This place has been isolated from the outside world for who knows how long," noted Carla, staying in the air to avoid having to trek through the grass that was as tall as her. "It's safe to say we may have been the first to come here since..." Trailing off, she frowned as she glanced at Link and then the temple.
Epona was waiting at the bottom of the mossy steps of the ruins, staring at the collapsed entrance at the top. Hearing the group's approach, she circled around and trotted back towards them. She passed through Natsu, Lucy, and Wendy only to slow to a stop in front of Link.
Link smiled gratefully at her. Epona reared her head with a joyous whinny and moved in to nudge his face with her nose.
However, in the next instant, she completely disappeared before he could feel her phantom touch against his cheek. He blinked at the empty space for a second, his smile wiped from his face. "Epona?" he gasped, frantically looking around. He noticed the eye of his lens had stopped shining. Infusing it with magic, he searched for Epona, but she was nowhere to be seen. All he saw were the sad faces of his friends behind the purple hue of the glass.
It didn't take long for him to realize where Epona had truly gone.
Devastated, his arms dropped by his sides. There was a soft thud from his lens hitting the ground near his feet.
Wendy was pulling him into a hug before he knew it, soothing the heavy ache in his heart. He held her back tightly, burying his face in her shoulder, tears stinging in his eyes.
She gently stroked the back of his head and spoke softly in his ear; "It's okay, Link, it's okay. Epona... I think she's moved on after helping you one last time. Did you see? She was the happiest horse I had ever seen. She's finally able to rest in peace..."
Hearing the truth hurt. It was exactly like the last moments with Keaton, the yellow fox; another bittersweet reunion with an old friend abruptly cut short.
Nevertheless, Link swallowed his grief and nodded, understanding that Epona had died a long time ago and her spirit couldn't stay with him forever.
He wasn't sure how long it took before he was able to compose himself. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he pulled away from Wendy and wiped the moisture from his eyes.
"Let's take a little break," said Wendy as she picked up his lens and handed it back to him.
A nod was only his answer.
Link, Wendy, and Carla sat at the top of the mossy steps, partially shaded from the sun. They quietly shared one of the many boxes of baked goods that Mirajane had prepared for them the day before. Meanwhile, Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Ultear had gone inside the temple to check around and 'make sure nothing weird will happen,' as Natsu had put it.
Mirajane's sweets often worked like magic to cheer Link up. He was feeling ten times better after the first few bites of his strawberry tart, making him wonder if she really did use magical ingredients in her food. As he slowly ate, he looked around the area, taking in his surroundings in hope of remembering more of his past.
The tall old trees that stood guard around the area; the vast field of grasses and flowers; the ancient gray stone buried under the layers of moss; he tried to piece it all together, but nothing really sprang to mind.
Sighing, he turned to stare at the collapsed entrance of the temple draped in vines and other leafy plants, unable to picture how the entire building once looked. "This is where you found me?" he asked Wendy, breaking the silence.
She nodded as she followed his gaze, a slightly amused smile on her face. "We chased Mr. Snugglebottoms all the way here without knowing he was actually leading us to you. He showed me where to find you inside... Are you ready to go in and see?"
Link nodded and brushed off crumbs from his armour and clothes before standing up. They packed away their snacks and ventured into the temple, needing to push aside and duck under the overhanging growth.
A tall open chamber awaited within, filled with light beaming through the gaping holes that were once large, glass windows. Vines and moss made up most of the walls and floor, hiding the old, dusty stones beneath. Rounded columns choked with vines lined the central walkway that led to a slightly raised altar where Natsu and the others were standing around and talking. Behind them was a pair of heavy, bluish-gray stone doors that were left partially open.
Wendy and Carla kept up with Link's slow pace as he wandered down the walkway, head turning in every direction in fascination and wonder. While they made their way towards Natsu's group, they overheard their ongoing conversation:
"... wind back time to fix this whole place up," said Ultear.
"Uh, maybe hold off on doing that?" said Lucy with a short, nervous chuckle. "I don't think we should mess with anything until we know for sure it's okay..."
Ultear snorted and sounded a little annoyed; "And how do we know if it's okay or not?"
"We can ask the Ancient Dragon King," suggested Happy.
"Yeah, he'd know for sure!" Natsu exclaimed, his eager tone echoing in the chamber.
Lucy turned towards Link, Wendy, and Carla at the sound of their approach. She gave the boy a small smile and asked gently, "Are you feeling okay now?"
Link smiled and nodded, bringing looks of relief among his friends. As he climbed onto the altar, his attention was immediately drawn to the heavy stone doors. The others stepped away so he could get a closer look.
Carved upon the ancient doors was a radiant sun, a familiar symbol Link was certain he had seen before. He touched it with his left hand and flinched back out of instinct, expecting something to happen, but nothing did. Frowning, he shook away that feeling and peered through the narrow gap, seeing a small room with a big pile of dusty rubble in the middle.
"Inside that room is where we found you," said Wendy, looking over his shoulder. "You were badly hurt and buried under those rocks..."
"... They will come after you... They're here! Quickly! Inside!"
Link drew a sharp breath and furled his trembling hands. He remembered the angry eyes of a Dragon Slayer, the blinding flash of searing white energy, and the painful cry of his friend who leapt in front to protect him.
"Keaton brought me here..." said Link, barely able to find his voice; "He pushed me inside to save me from Acnologia..."
"And then those stones fell from above..." said Carla, her tone heavy with pity, "further causing injury that likely resulted in your amnesia. If it wasn't just the trauma..."
Link felt the top of his head as he looked up at the ceiling of the small room, noticing the gaping holes. Although he didn't remember the falling rocks, he knew it must've hurt really bad if it made him forget all his memories. The thought of it – alongside everything else – was giving him a headache.
"Are you okay, Link?" Wendy asked, seeing his discomfort.
"Yeah..." he mumbled, before putting on an assuring smile. He took a few steps back to look at the doors again. They felt important, but he wasn't sure why. It wasn't only the doors either, but the room and the entire temple; there was something special about it all.
Noticing his confusion, Natsu asked, "So where can we find your dragon friend? He can tell us what happened, right?"
"Well, he wouldn't be here, that's for sure," said Lucy, gesturing at the mess of the temple.
"In the illusion, he was surrounded by giant trees. So he has to be somewhere in the forest outside," said Wendy. "Link, any idea where?"
Link pondered for a moment. When he didn't answer right away, Natsu said, "Let's head outside. Could find some clues."
The group followed Natsu and Happy down the walkway towards the exit.
As Link traced back his steps, another memory suddenly flashed before his eyes.
"You mustn't! It is too late to save him..."
He saw himself charging down the same walkway, barreling through the large, wooden doors of the temple, leaping to the bottom of the stone steps, and rushing towards the forest, desperate to save his friend, Yorenthall. But his heart knew he was far too late...
"I know where he is!" Link ran past Natsu and Happy and heard everyone chase after him. He scrambled out of the low entrance and nearly tripped down the steps, but quickly regained his footing and continued on, driven by a different desperation compared to long ago.
He crossed the open field and turned into the woods between two specific trees that he knew held treasures of collected stones within the little nooks of their roots. Beyond that point, the beginning of a narrow, meandering path awaited. It didn't take long for Link to slow to a crawl with the path overgrown with low hanging branches and thick shrubs, concealing the way forward.
Natsu quickly took the lead when it was obvious Link was struggling to break through. Plus, with the much keener eyes of a Dragon Slayer, Natsu was able to see the faintest traces of the old path.
Until it became impossible.
Nose to the ground, Natsu crawled around like a dog, sweeping his gaze across the ground. He sat up and scratched the back of his head. "I lost the trail..."
"We didn't take a wrong turn, did we?" Lucy asked, brushing off the front of her shirt. She was visibly frustrated at the amount of plant debris getting caught in her clothes again.
"No, this is the right way," said Link. At least, it felt like it.
"Then where do we go next?" asked Natsu, hopping onto his feet and wiping his hands on his shorts. He scowled at the thorny thicket straight ahead and cracked his scratched and bleeding knuckles. "How 'bout we just barge straight forward and hope for the best!"
Lucy rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air in exasperation; "That'll get us lost for sure!"
"Even I get lost in here sometimes! If you ever lose your way, straighten your ears and listen..."
Ignoring the sounds of his friends, Link closed his eyes and tuned his ears to the forest. Leaves rustling from the slightest wind; the buzz of noisy insects zipping through the air; the song of birds echoing from the distance. He turned his head, focusing on the birdsong, recognizing the melody they sang.
"The song you hear is an old hymn once sung among my kind, but now only lives through these feathered ones... For your amusement, would you like to hear an old dragon sing?"
"We're close. We just have to follow the song of the birds..." said Link, opening his eyes and taking off his gauntlets once more. He put them away in his bag and brought out his ocarina. Following the notes coming from afar, he closed his eyes and played the long lost song of the ancient dragons.
The melody was slow and the notes were low and drawn, but the sound carried far on his ocarina. When he finished playing, he heard the rainbow birds respond, singing the same song in unison, making music echo through the forest.
Happy soundly gasped as he pressed his paws against his cheeks, eyes wide and sparkling. "Are they the Ancient Dragon's bird friends?!" The birds in Mavis's illusion had been Happy's favourite part – when he wasn't too afraid of a blind, old dragon.
Link smiled and nodded. "It has to be. They're the only ones who know that song."
"Really? Then we're almost there!" exclaimed Natsu, grinning. He led the way without complaint, now relying mostly on his ears instead of his sight.
The music of the birds gradually became louder and soon, they spotted a few of the colourful creatures flitting between the branches. When it wasn't obvious which way they should go from there, Link played the song for the nearby birds and they happily sang back before flying away in the same direction, seemingly showing the team where to go next.
It happened several more times as the group encountered the same flock plus some more, the number of birds almost doubling each time. It got to a point where their unified singing was nearly deafening, until finally, the path opened up to allow them to walk side-by-side.
Tall, massive trees lined the new, slightly sloped area, their high branches dotted with the colourful birds that loved to sing the ancient tune. Filtered sunlight shone through the thick canopy, lighting the mossy trail that was bumpy and uneven from the many roots that weaved through the earth. At the foot of each tree, a collection of shiny stones sparkled between the leaves of little plants and mushrooms.
When they reached the top of the slope, Natsu pointed straight ahead. "Hey, look!"
At the end of the short path was an enormous skeleton of a dragon lying between the largest pair of trees the team had ever seen in Verloren Woods. One tree was double the size of the other, its tallest branches appearing to touch the sky, whereas the smaller one bore an ugly, knobby scar near the bottom of its trunk where something had torn a huge hole, and yet it continued to thrive. Their roots had entwined between the bones of the fallen beast that rested under a layer of vines and moss.
Link met the hollow gaze of the huge skull lying amongst the shattered remains of its once majestic horns of gold. All noises seemed muted as he slowly walked forward almost in a trance, overwhelmed with sorrow for another friend lost by fate.
"Come, come closer, Herial Yaarez... There is no need to be afraid of this weary, old dragon..."
Memories of that fateful day were trickling back with every step Link took.
Keaton had led him down this very same path, excited to introduce Link to his dear friend, Yorenthall. The wise, old dragon had waited patiently between the giant trees, his blind, milky eyes staring ahead at nothing and everything. This was where it all began...
Link found himself standing before the grinning skull of the Ancient Dragon King. He craned his head to stare at the empty hole of the dragon's third eye in the centre of the forehead.
Holding his breath, he expected something to happen upon his arrival, but the skeleton remained still and lifeless. "Yorenthall, I'm here. I've come back..." said Link, desperate for a response. However, there was nothing.
His friends came up beside him, each one silently in awe of the great dragon's remains.
Wendy took a few steps closer, eyes sweeping across the skeleton and the surrounding area, extending her hands outwards to feel the air. "I can sense it... Fragments of an old and very powerful soul spread throughout this forest. This is the thing I have been feeling since we found the temple and... it could explain how his magic still protects this place long after his death..."
Wendy twirled around to face Link and grabbed both of his hands, a determined smile curling on her lips. "He's here, Link, waiting for you, just as he said. 'Star. Sky. Soul. Unite as one to bring forth my light...' I believe he wanted me to reform his soul and create the starry bridge of Milky Way. If I can do that, then we can speak with his spirit like the time we spoke with Zirconis back in Crocus!"
"That's great, Wendy!" said Natsu, sharing her enthusiasm. He had a broad, cheerful grin as he playfully nudged Link on the shoulder. "You're going to see your friend again, Bacon! Told ya we'd do it one way or another!"
Matching Natsu's smile and level of excitement, Link returned Wendy's hold with a firm squeeze. "We've come this far together so I know you can do this, Wendy!"
Hearing his words made her determination shine brighter in her eyes. She nodded. "I got this! Leave it to me!"
Everyone stood aside as Wendy prepared her spell. Before starting, she kindly asked Lucy to summon Virgo to create a large patch of soft dirt in front of the dragon's skull. Then with her notebook in hand as reference, Wendy used a large stick to draw a very big magic circle filled with multiple layers of smaller circles and runes etched between the lines. Finer details were drawn with a shorter, pointier stick and a steady, diligent hand. In the end, the magic circle appeared much more complex than the first time Link had seen Wendy cast Milky Way.
Once finished, Wendy put away her notes and tossed aside her drawing tools as she stood within the centre of her circle, facing the dragon. She took a deep breath and raised her hands towards the sky, fingers splayed.
Link held his own breath as he watched her intently, feeling her magic start to rise.
"I must first piece together his soul," she announced, closing her eyes tight. In a loud, strong voice, she chanted, "Hear the steady breath of Mother Sky, where I shall embrace you within my wings." The four outermost circles flashed white and the runes within glowed light blue.
There were sounds of surprise and awe from Link and the others as the air began to sparkle with silvery specks. They twinkled like stars as they drifted towards Wendy, harmlessly phasing through objects and people to gather above her head. From every direction, more flowed in like sparkling streams, collecting to form a growing, twisting orb of silvery light that softly pulsed like a heartbeat.
The orb was as large as a big beach ball when the last of the shiny stars merged with it. Wendy swept her arms outwards, stirring an upward breeze that lifted their clothes and rustled leaves atop the trees. Her magic surged and the inner circles shone pale green. Once again, she held her hands above her head, palms towards the light as if to keep it afloat.
She took a deep breath and chanted the next part of her spell, her voice seemingly resonating throughout the forest; "Calm soul of an ancient dragon, I am ready to receive your voice. Milky Way!"
The magic circle flashed bright, sending a beacon of green light skyward, swallowing the orb of light. The beacon expanded once it touched the canopy, rippling outwards like water. For a moment, the surrounding forest turned dark as if the night sky had fallen right above their heads. More stars twinkled within the rippling galaxy, bringing forth more sounds of fascination from the group.
It lasted for only a few seconds before the light of the beacon intensified and morphed, shrinking down to become one with the silvery orb.
Wendy clasped her hands to her chest and bowed her head as if in prayer. The light above her swirled silver and green and drifted down to levitate above the skull of the dragon.
Link jumped back when the orb suddenly burst with green fire and expanded to the size of a mansion. It was the burning portal to the realm of souls and emerging from the other side was the humongous spirit of the Ancient Dragon King, Yorenthall.
A stunned silence had fallen over the group – even the birds had gone quiet and still – as all eyes gazed upon the ghost of the mighty dragon hovering over his own set of bones.
Enveloped in a pale green glow, the Ancient Dragon King's form was slightly different from what Link could remember of the wizened, old beast. Free from the binds of nature, Yorenthall's silver scales shimmered in the sunlight, making the familiar icy blue markings on his body seem to flicker and shine. Great, golden, stag-like horns gleamed atop his head, their many points reaching just below the canopy. His six enormous wings were spread open upon his back, the top half of each feathered white and the bottom half webbed and pale blue. Swaying behind him like a slow pendulum was a long scaly tail that ended with several pairs of sharp, golden blades.
Head lowered towards the group, the dragon's three eyes slowly opened. No longer were they milky-white and blind, but molten gold and seeing. The very first thing he saw was Wendy, standing still in the middle of the shining magic circle, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration.
Those three eyes then shifted from one side to the other, meeting the gawking stares of Ultear and Fairy Tail before finally resting on Link. The corners of the dragon's mouth curled into a warm, welcoming smile as he bowed his head and spoke. Although his appearance was a little different, his voice was exactly how Link remembered; loud, gravelly, kind, and comforting; "Sei nu tivui,a great joy to meet once again, Herial Yaarez, my courageous, young friend. Blind I was when we first met, but I can now see the true hero you are and you are nothing less than I had imagined. Vol tierru – your trusted clan – they have taken good care of you; helped you grow and attain new strength and power, beyond what I could have done before my demise..."
"Yorenthall... I-I..." Link stuttered. He was overcome with emotion that he could barely speak. He shook his head regrettably, hands clenched by his sides. "I-I'm sorry... I don't remember everything, but I know I tried... I tried! But... I was too weak to save you back then and I'm so sorry..."
The dragon further lowered his head towards Link and gave him a sad, remorseful look. "Do not despair over my death. It had been my fate since the beginning. There was nothing you could have done to alter that course. My death, and the consequences that followed... It was my path I had to take in order to protect you..."
Link heavily frowned as he felt a pang of guilt. "Why?"
Yorenthall closed his eyes except for the one on his forehead that peered into what could not be normally seen. "This world was doomed to fall into darkness, however, there was one future that I could see where light and hope still shone strong to ward off the shadows of evil. This is that future, Herial Yaarez. You are the only one with the sacred power to defeat the terrible evil that has risen in this world. It is a destiny long foretold and one you once knew.
"The pain and suffering you had endured, the loss of your self and the friends of your past, and the burden you must now carry into this future... it was all determined by fate, on that tragic day, five hundred years ago..."
A/N: It's been a long journey to both the characters and myself as an author to finally reach this part of the story! The truth to Link's past awaits in the next chapter, so sit awhile and listen...
I'm interested in writing a few mini-shorts involving battles in the Battle Ring to showcase some of the characters' dragon gear that either have briefly been mentioned or not at all. They won't necessarily be Link vs. whomever, but I'm open to suggestions. If you're interested, please select your favourite characters or groups from the poll on my profile, thanks!
I have no shame to say that the next chapter may take a little longer than usual because my brain will only be thinking about Monster Hunter Sunbreak, which comes out at the end of June! So until next time, take care!