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!

47. The Sky's the Limit

A/N: Apologies for the long wait yet again! Feels like one of these days, FFnet is going to croak. I'll keep posting here until then, but when that time comes, you can still find this story on Archive of Our Own under my name IcyCake.

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The Sky's the Limit

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Multiple auroras of soft blue wavered in the starry night with a lone moon shining silver far above. Drifting along within the cosmic realm was an enormous island where a large temple was built upon. A grand walkway led from a stone platform towards the temple gates.

Alone and with nowhere else to go, Ultear had no choice but to follow the path and pray to whatever merciful god there was that she wasn't marching straight into danger. She was completely on edge, especially when she could not conjure any spell at will in spite of the abundant magic all around.

Her clothes had also changed upon her arrival into a loose white gown with wide, elbow-length sleeves and a pleated bottom hemmed with gold. Black leather sandals were now in place of her boots and a star-shaped talisman hung around her neck, set with a glowing pearl that was likely important. To complete the gaudy, celestial look, there were three large, rounded buttons from collar to breast, each containing a miniature galaxy of swirling colours. Being forced to wear the outfit was part of the reason she wore a scowl in spite of the fascinating oddities around her.

Slowly, Ultear followed the walkway where pillars – tall as mountains and thin as tree trunks – stood on either side, each made of smooth black stone. Every now and then, light would travel up or down the pillars with no discernible pattern, depicting rings of foreign runes in pale blue or green. There were a few symbols she recognized, seen on the walls and magic circle back in the small chamber in the forest temple.

Speaking of which, where was Link and everyone else? They were together when the magic circle activated, so where could they have disappeared to?

This better not be a trial for me, Ultear grumbled, thinking everyone was experiencing their own solitude somewhere and not just Link.

Ahead of her, the temple gates loomed; a pair of massive arched doors made for giants. Carved in the middle of the bluish-gray stone was a familiar circle surrounded by small triangles pointing inward, the very same that was painted on the forest temple doors.

Ultear paused only for a moment to drink in the details when the gates suddenly moved inward, opening on their own by an unseen force. An invitation to enter.

The opening gates rumbled like thunder, the sound shaking the ground and echoing far. With a final bang, the entrance was wide open and a rush of cool wind blew past.

Ultear stared into the pitch-black darkness waiting inside. There was not a trace of light. However, sounding from deep within was a melody softly sung by a woman, her voice resonating as if coming through several corridors. The song piqued Ultear's interest for she knew she had heard it from somewhere before. Enticing like a siren's song.

It worked like a charm. Overcome with curiosity, Ultear stepped into the void. The darkness was gone in an instant as if someone had flipped a switch. Ultear was already poised in her battle stance only to remember her inability to conjure any spells. Her eyes darted around the sudden change in scenery, finding herself in a huge room four-times the size of a typical banquet hall in a castle.

Mechanized gears, rotating disks of stone, and other intricate pieces of metal and rock made up the walls and ceiling, moving together like the innards of a specialized machine. Spiralled columns connected the floor to ceiling, acting like axles as they spun in place, their surfaces marked with shiny runes.

Though every part of the temple was busy moving, Ultear could barely hear the sounds of machinery over the angelic voice that reverberated throughout the chamber. The song was coming from the bright sphere of pale blue light suspended above a large altar at the opposite end of the room. Standing before the light was a silhouette of a tall woman with long wavy hair that nearly touched the floor.

Ultear's skin tingled as magic surged around her in the form of silky blue streaks. She saw nothing but blue for a split second before suddenly finding herself now standing in the shadow of the woman at the altar.

The woman was a twelve-foot tall giant, looking down at Ultear with eyes that shone an ethereal white within golden eyelashes that were long and fine. A beautiful goddess, was Ultear's first impression as she stared, frozen in awe as if caught in a spell. But it was not magic that transfixed her; it was the overwhelming power emanating from the divine being before her.

The goddess towered from the highest step of the altar, her thick, long hair cascading behind her in golden waves, shimmering softly as if struck by sunlight filtered through trees. Her skin was like bronze, shiny and smooth, and marked by radiant blue lines and swirls that curled around her arms and legs like the streams of magic flowing through the air. She wore a silky white dress that conformed to her body's natural curves, split on either side of her hips and cinched with a golden medallion belt. The voluminous sleeves reached down to her elbows and the top, loose folds hung low on her shoulders, revealing the cleavage of her breasts.

Jewelled bands of blue and black adorned her slender fingers and numerous bangles clinked and jangled on her wrists as she moved her arms in a welcoming gesture. When she spoke, her strong voice resonated throughout and within Ultear's chest;

"Wielder of Time, you have come far beyond realms. Destined we are to meet."

Ultear gasped and eventually found her voice, meek and humble to her ears; "You are... expecting me?"

The goddess brought a finger to her chin, her smile humorous as she chuckled. Kind and omnipotent, she was. "Those who toy with the power of time and mingle with the threads of fate tend to draw my eye. Especially souls who find their way through an Eternal Gate. Worry not," she added, seeing Ultear crease her brow, "if you were expecting a trial of sorts, there is none, for you have already passed. Very few mortals ever end up in the Eternal Realm, let alone one who can control the essence of time as well as you, Wielder. I, the Goddess of Time, want to commend you by bestowing you with my blessing."

Ultear flinched back, wide-eyed in disbelief. "You're the Goddess Chronos?!" References to legends and tales of gods were uncommon in her studies in magic when she was a young child. Chronos, the Goddess of Time, was a name Ultear had come across often, having sought out every tome and scroll related to the fundamentals of time magic during her research into Arc of Time.

Ancient lore in forgotten tomes and fragile scrolls hinted at magic as a gift from the old gods to all living souls on Earthland. A theory Ultear once believed as a gullible child and now her faith was reignited.

As if flattered, the goddess placed a hand upon her breast and brushed back some of her thick locks of hair. The motion revealed the shape of her ear, which was pointed like Link's, but longer in length and adorned with several sparkling earrings. She shook her head, however, and said, "Chronos is my sister in Time. She watches over your realm. I watch over another, the very same from which the evil that has touched your world was borne. Time will be vital in your battle against this evil and Time is what my blessing will grant you." She stretched out a hand. Hovering above her palm was one of her rings, bluish-gray and shining with runes that shone white like her eyes.

With a soft puff from her lips, the goddess sent the ring flying towards Ultear. It magically stopped to float in front of the mage, shrinking to perfect size to fit her finger, similar to Lupus's equipment. When Ultear lightly touched the ring with her right hand, it flashed blue and suddenly appeared on her middle finger. The light of the runes faded, leaving the surface smooth and unmarked and appearing like a normal common accessory.

Ultear shifted her hand for a closer look, sensing nothing significant, but she didn't doubt the powers it contained. Wearing it seemed to give her the knowledge on what it was truly capable of. "This blessing..." she murmured, still in disbelief; "With it I can manipulate time on other people?"

"A temporary effect with a limited use, though it can turn the tide in any situation," replied the goddess with a knowing smile. "The power can only be released when my Song of Time is played on an instrument made of the same heavenly stone as that ring."

"An instrument?" Ultear raised an eyebrow.

"You have heard its melodies. Songs like magic flowing from a wind instrument. The Hero of Time holds this instrument but he has forgotten my song. A pity, truly." The goddess sighed and lightly shook her head. She looked rather hurt but soon smiled. "You can help him remember. Sing my song and the notes will return to him."

"I don't really sing..." Ultear tried to explain, however the goddess didn't hear her.

Eyes closed, the goddess raised her head to the ceiling and sang, arms moving like a singer on stage. Her strong voice resonated throughout the temple, singing the same song that had lured Ultear inside.

Listening closely to it now, Ultear was certain she had heard the song before, albeit incomplete and off-note on Link's ocarina, which – if she remembered correctly – was the same colour as her new ring. After the last note was sung, she felt her finger tingling from the surge of power coming from the ring that now pulsed with lit up runes. She didn't have a moment to admire her gift when she was suddenly surrounded by blue. A transparent crystal had encased her and was lifting her towards the ceiling.

The goddess was waving goodbye down below, her smile hopeful.

"Use my blessing wisely, Wielder of Time. May you brave ones walk among the light," were the goddess's last words that echoed from afar.

Ultear didn't have a chance to utter a word of thanks when she was blinded by blue light.

---

The smoky portal of the Divine Gate wavered as the last Celestial Spirit vanished within its unseen depths, following diligently after Link.

Lucy was confident that her student would pass the trial with flying colours. Over the last two weeks of near non-stop training, Lucy was proud to see Link's abilities develop and greatly improve. And with infinite magic reserves and no contract restrictions, Link was free to go all out.

Knowing there wasn't anything to worry about, she turned to the Celestial Spirit King and asked, "How long do you think we'll have to wait?"

Still bearing his wide enthusiastic grin, the king glanced skyward as if to ponder and answered, "Shouldn't be too long. Why, it looks like it's over already. Hahaha!"

Lucy was flabbergasted. "What? It's only been–"

"Link!" Wendy cried in surprise.

It was as if Link and their Celestial Spirits had turned right back around after entering the Gate. However, the team who were focused and determined a few seconds ago were now happy and cheering, conveying a triumphant energy. In what felt like a moment to Lucy's group, Link had emerged victorious.

It was evident Link spent a longer time on the other side of the portal, enduring a trial that was probably no cakewalk. Seeing his hair completely out of place and his robe dirty from grass and dirt, Lucy assumed that was the case. Fortunately, he appeared unhurt as he laughed and smiled, surrounded by his spirit friends with Lucy and the others quickly joining in too.

"Bacon, did you win already?!" Natsu practically shouted as he pushed his way to the boy with Happy riding his shoulder.

Aquarius huffed and cocked her head to the side, arms crossed and smirking. Her pointed look had a hint of pride as she glanced in Link's direction. "Of course he was victorious. We wouldn't be back here celebrating otherwise."

"Wow! That fast?!" Happy exclaimed, jaw to the floor.

"Pretty sure it was longer than an instant," said Lucy, laughing. Having experienced the difference of time between two worlds, it was really no surprise. No matter how long it took, Lucy couldn't be prouder of her student. She gave Link a congratulatory hug. "Well done! We knew you could do it! The trial wasn't too challenging, was it?"

"It was four trials," Link replied as he pulled away, his expression bold. "Four different battles against masked monsters to prove my worth. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help."

Snorting, Taurus stomped a hoof and swished his tail. "Can't believe I lost to that metal bull in the test of strength! Damn it! I'm outta shape!"

"Hey, Link still passed so don't beat yourself over it," assured Loke. He smacked a fist against the palm of his hand and put on a cocky smile. "Soon we'll be back in top fighting form. I can feel our strength recovering faster just being here."

"Your strength will return in full, not much longer now," said the Celestial Spirit King with a curt nod. The Celestial Spirits parted to allow their King to approach Link, his heavy footfalls sending tremors across the crystalline platform. He knelt on one knee so the boy didn't have to crane his head so far. "An admirable feat, Link. You have passed the Trial of the Fierce Moon and reunited with some old friends, am I right?"

The boy nodded and grabbed his ring of keys. Lucy hadn't noticed before, but there were two new keys to his set, both made of crystal that shimmered softly with light. Link held them in his palm, his smile fond and full of warmth. "They've been waiting for me, all this time..."

"Those keys," Lucy began, shifting closer for a better look, "are they Celestial Spirits too? They're actually old friends of yours, Link?"

"They are my friends! Well, Navi for sure," he replied, pointing to the white key with the winged bow. "The Fierce Deity though, he used to be a mask. I think I borrowed his power one time when I was fighting another mask. A very evil one."

"An evil mask?" Wendy murmured. She wasn't the only one bewildered by Link's strange explanation as most of Fairy Tail and the Celestial Spirits appeared confused or curious.

"They're not spirits though, I don't think," Link continued, oblivious to their reactions as he kept his eyes on his new keys.

"Spirits, they are not," the king chimed in, "but they are Greater Celestials of the Eternal Realm, nonetheless, beings of extraordinary power. Summoning them to Earthland to aid in your battles will not be as simple as calling your spirits, as I am sure you were told."

"Yes," said Link, standing firm. He stared at the back of his left hand, his determination from earlier returning. "The power of my Triforce will be needed in order to open their gates."

"What? Really?" Wendy exclaimed.

The Celestial Spirit King chuckled at her reaction. "To call forth great power, you will need to be able to control it yourself. Such is the condition with summoning Greater Celestials, and each of us are particular on how that is done. While Link has gained two old friends as allies, Lucy, since you are here, how would you like to have a Greater Celestial as an ally in battle as well?"

Lucy stumbled back in shock, pointing at herself. "Uh? M-Me? Can I really? But I don't have anything like the Triforce... How would I even qualify to summon them?"

"As I have said, each of us can have very specific conditions," said the king, waving a finger, his grin growing wider. "You may not possess a fragment of gods such as Link, however, what you have instead is fathomless love for us, Celestial Spirits. The unwavering bonds between you and your spirits can be felt beyond the boundaries of our worlds and deep within our souls. It is very rare for a Celestial Spirit Mage to resonate with each and every one of us as strongly as you."

Humbled by His Highness's praise, Lucy bowed her head respectively, only to snap it back up. "Wait, are you saying..."

There was a playful gleam in the Spirit King's ruby eyes as he stood back up to tower over them. He spread his arms wide and announced to the entire realm at an ear-shattering volume, much like earlier; "Yes, the Greater Celestial who would love to fight by your side is none other than I, the Celestial Spirit King!"

Lucy couldn't believe it as she gawked at the king, dumbfounded and half-deaf. Beside her, Link had his ears covered as he looked extremely happy for her.

"Whoa! Are you serious, Your Highness?" asked Loke, seemingly so shocked that his spades had gone askew. The rest of the spirits were just as stunned or ecstatic over the news, as if it was the first time their King had ever made the decision.

"Absolutely," answered the Spirit King, crossing his arms and grinning from ear to ear. "Lucy's compassion and utter defiance to dare challenge me to change my rules had summoned me to Earthland before. She can no doubt do it again, but on better terms and a rightful reason."

Lucy shared a look with Loke, remembering that fateful day that felt so long ago. It was then she had earned the Celestial Spirit King's respect when he saw just how far she would go to protect Celestial Spirits.

Loke fixed his shades and smiled. "You're definitely right on that, Your Highness."

"Heh, nothing is going to stop that stubborn girl from trying, that's for sure," said Aquarius, flashing a smirk at Lucy.

Lucy's heart swelled with pride from the support of her spirits and the king, himself. She nodded gratefully at the Celestial Spirit King and said, "It's an honour, truly! I never knew it was possible to summon you without having to sacrifice a Golden Zodiac Key! Am I... the first?"

"The first in a long, long time for a master to hold my key," said the king, waving a hand.

Appearing in a puff of smoke in front of Lucy was a crystalline key floating in midair. It glowed gold and was entwined with silvery wire that formed multipoint stars that seemed to connect to form a constellation. The bow was in the flattened shape of a crown with curved horns that matched the Celestial Spirit King's great helm.

Lucy gently plucked the key from the air, gasping at the power and warmth emanating from it. She couldn't believe the strongest Celestial Spirit would choose her as his master. She was over the moon; which could be literally considering their place in the galaxy. She took a deep bow out of respect for His Highness as she clutched his key to her chest. "Thank you, Spirit King. I will take good care of you!"

"And I, of you," the king replied kindly. "Now, opening my Eternal Gate is not as simple as it seems. You will need all thirteen Zodiac Keys and you must survive summoning them all at once. Their powers combined will open my Gate and allow me to exist in Earthland for a limited time."

Lucy gulped at the conditions. The toll to summon more than two spirits at once was already a huge strain. She couldn't imagine summoning thirteen altogether! Wait a minute... Thirteen? She took a quick glance at the king and other spirits, only to remember the spirit known as the Forgotten Zodiac. "That includes Ophiuchus?"

The Spirit King nodded and raised a hand to the side. Beyond the crystal platform and high above the starry sky, a cyclone of black clouds appeared, growing steadily by the second. "Ophiuchus' heart has been filled with darkness and despair since the death of her master, Yukino. Lucy, in order to be able to summon me, you must prove to Ophiuchus that not all is lost and gain her trust. Only then will she reveal the location of her key."

At that moment, something burst from the twisting eye of the black cyclone. Black-scaled and metallic, the huge, serpentine body of Ophiuchus coiled and thrashed in the air, erratic and angry. Metal piston jaws repeatedly snapped at the stars, their light vanquished within silver fangs. A rattling hiss reverberated through the spirit's body as blackish smoke spewed between the joints connecting each segment. With every star gobbled up, rainbow light filled the black spaces that ran along the sides of her body, starting from her tail towards her head, appearing like some sort of gauge.

"In other words, Lucy will have to try and calm Ophiuchus down the hard way," said Loke, looking nervously at the hissing serpent. The other spirits also wore grim or sad faces, watching their friend soar wildly throughout the realm. A mad and hungry mechanical beast.

Lucy had only seen Ophiuchus in action once, during the Games. Back then, the serpent was just as intimidating, but wild it was not under Yukino's command. Seeing Ophiuchus now, Lucy could sense the serpent's pain hidden behind the rage burning in her bright red eyes. To the spirit, Yukino's death was still a fresh wound.

Libra bowed her head, her brow deeply furrowed."When Ophiuchus had learned of Yukino's passing, she hid away in the far corners of the Spirit World. We tried to console her many times, but our words could not be heard."

"She's hurting..." said Lucy, feeling her own heart ache. "I may not have known Yukino for as long as you, but I know she was a good master and friend to you guys."

"Not very many masters could tolerate Ophiuchus' disobedience and aggressive attitude," Mother Pisces began, slightly shaking her head sympathetically. "As a result, she was often abandoned. Yukino, however, spent a few years trying to get Ophiuchus to accept her. That girl never lost her patience." A fond smile curled on both her and her son's lips. "All that time spent finally paid off and Yukino managed to charm the Snake Charmer."

"Well, definitely won't be easy to charm her now," Loke grumbled, running an anxious hand through his hair. "She's downright mad and feasting on the abundant magic in this realm. She's going to be nearly unstoppable once she reaches max power..."

Instead of backing down, Lucy took that as a challenge. And she could only blame Natsu's damn influence. Grinning, she faced the Spirit King with hands on her hips, and boldly stated, "So this is my trial, isn't it?"

The king returned the enthusiasm with a grin of his own. "Consider this as such. You may have my key, but it is useless without Ophiuchus' trust in you. Once you're ready to face her, I shall whisk you and my spirits to a private location where there is no fear of harm to your companions. As well as to avoid disturbing the realm of the Deity of the Fierce Moon too much, hahaha!"

"All right. Link," when she turned to the boy, he already had their keys ready for her to take.

"You'll need these, Master Lucy," said Link, his blue eyes shining with confidence in her. "You let me use your spirits, so now you can use mine!"

"Thanks. I'll take good care of them!" she assured, giving a nod to Libra and Pisces.

Natsu, Happy, Wendy, and Carla gathered around Lucy and wished her luck.

"It's your turn to win your trial, Lucy!" said Wendy, cheerfully. Her lack of concern was a good sign – at least Lucy was hoping – that she believed in Lucy's capabilities.

Next to Wendy, Natsu snorted as he eyed the black serpent circling above, whose body gauge was nearing full rainbow. "Should be no problem beating that thing. If I can do it, it should be easy for you too!"

"Uh, you didn't exactly fight Ophiuchus at full power," Lucy pointed out in both finger and fact. "And didn't Jellal help you?"

Natsu looked to the side and crossed his arms. "I did most of the work, really. But hey, with your new Star Dresses, still wouldn't be too hard, eh?"

"Even with a Star Dress, it won't be easy to win Ophiuchus over when she's raging mad and at full strength," Loke warned, wagging a finger. Noticing Lucy wasn't fazed, he added, "But knowing that ain't stopping you, huh?"

Lucy smiled. "Of course not! Look where we are! The Eternal Realm with unlimited magic. I don't know if there would be another chance to come here now that Link's trial is over. This may be the only good opportunity I'll have to do this."

"She's right," said Aries, shuffling next to Loke. She was eager, fists raised before her chest and her expression fearless, which was rare to see coming from her. "Lucy will be able to switch between Dresses with no effort in this realm. Ophiuchus is powerful, and more so now, fuelled by this world's magic; however, we will do everything we can to help you, Lucy, to help our friend."

"Stubborn as she is, Ophiuchus needs to snap out of her mood," grumbled Aquarius, flicking her hair out of annoyance. "I'm all in for this. Girl, you better not mess this up."

"I won't," Lucy assured, grateful to have Aquarius actually believe in her. She twirled hers and Link's key rings around a finger before clasping them to her belt. "Everyone ready?"

All the spirits – with the exception of the king – raised their hands in the air and shouted, "Yeah! Let's do this!"

The Celestial Spirit King clapped his hands together and gazed skyward at Ophiuchus. "Excellent. Your challenge awaits, Lucy. When a heart is lost in darkness, the light from others who care and love is sometimes the only power that can save it. Prove to Ophiuchus that she is not alone."

He flung his arms outward, making his cape billow out. A white aura enveloped his entire body and he suddenly grew to the size of a mountain. Thousands of stars dotted the inside of his fluttering cape, some with connecting lines to create numerous constellations. His starry cape extended in all directions like a wavering veil, covering the Eternal Realm's galaxies and crystal platform under Lucy's feet.

Before she knew it, she heard a distant shout of "Good luck, Master Lucy!" and her friends were gone, leaving only the Celestial Spirits to stay alongside her. The king's starry cape pulled back and he returned to normal size, revealing a new world.

They had been transported onto a huge rectangular platform about double the size of Domus Flau and made of pretty white stone with golden cracks. Square pillars lined the perimeter of the platform, each at various heights with no distinct pattern. Atop of each were orbs that resembled miniature planets, some with rings and others with tiny orbiting moons.

It was a cloudy, sunset sky beyond the platform's edge with pinks and golds lighting the platform. As breathtaking as it was at first glance, looming in the distance was a twisting black hole. Colourful streaks of the sky spiralled into nothingness within the enormous dark void in the centre.

"This is a temporary realm I've created," said the Spirit King, his voice booming all around. "A battleground where you are free to use your magic to your heart's content. You have but an hour before this little universe collapses upon itself."

Lucy spun on her heel to stare at the king in disbelief. "Only an hour?"

"Small new worlds tend to be very unstable," he answered, his wizened tone giving away his personal experience. "An hour should be ample time for you to prove your worth to Ophiuchus, wouldn't you agree?"

The pressure Lucy was feeling suddenly let up. If the Celestial Spirit King had this much faith in her, then there was nothing to be worried about. Her friends were no doubt still cheering her on and the Celestial Spirits were just as confident in her as their king.

"You're right. One hour is more than enough," said Lucy, facing the open battleground with a brave smile on her face. It was missing something. "So... where is Ophiuchus?"

As if to answer her, the spirit came flying up from the side of the platform; a humongous, black metallic serpent surrounded in a dazzling rainbow aura. Wind rushed past from her size and speed, shaking the platform and dispersing the clouds in her wake. It wasn't just Ophiuchus' size that seemed abnormal, her overall appearance had changed since Lucy had last glanced at her.

The spirit was filled to the brim with magical energy, light pulsing through the entire length of her serpentine body. When she opened her great jaws to flick out her long tongue, her fangs were noticeably longer and serrated along the back. Bladed horns now armed her head, curved back from her pronounced brow with several more protruding behind her ears. Similar bladed spines ran down her back and her tail ended in a needle-like spike. The black smoke that once spewed from her joints had turned into rainbow steam, creating a mystical aura.

"She looks different... and bigger. A lot bigger," Lucy noted, warily eyeing the serpent exploding through the sunset clouds, which quickly reformed behind her. The spirit either didn't notice them yet or just didn't care.

"Happens when she's gorged on magic," said Aquarius, examining her nails nonchalantly. "Which is both a bad and a good thing."

"What's the good thing?"

Sagittarius stepped up to explain, with his horse head frowning in dread; "With Ophiuchus full and content, she won't have the appetite to eat our spells. The bad thing, however, is that she is at least ten times as powerful. Could say she is equally matched in magical strength of an ordinary dragon. Maybe more."

"You're kidding!" Lucy exclaimed, horrified.

A boisterous chuckle from the king seemed to quell her moment of trepidation. "Might does not always prevail over the heart, Lucy dear. You will prove that true in this Trial of the Eternal Celestial Bond. The time has come! Ready yourself!"

The proclamation to his only audience was the signal to start for both sides. Ophiuchus dove from the heavenly clouds, straight towards Lucy and the spirits like a hissing bolt of black lightning.

Ophiuchus was not only larger, but faster too.

Lucy knew of one solution. "Scorpio! Let's do this!"

"We are right behind you, Master!"

As they lunged towards the centre of the battleground together, Lucy's attire changed to Scorpio's Star Dress. Skin-tight, light, and flexible, the ninja-like Dress granted her incredible speed and reflexes. Sand Magic was also one of the perks, allowing her to blind her opponents as well as conceal her presence in the cover of sandy dust.

With a joyful shout, Scorpio spun in a rapid circle as he sprayed sand from his tail, creating a whirlwind that spread a brownish haze throughout the arena.

Lucy used the combination of wind and sand to quickly manoeuvre across the platform. With each bound, she flew tens of metres, boosted by the combination of hers and Scorpio's magic.

Through the cover, Lucy could spot the large shadow of Ophiuchus fast approaching. As predicted, the serpent was unable to find them in the sandy shroud as she crashed head-first into the ground far from Lucy's and Scorpio's location. The heavy impact blasted away most of the sand and sent a tremendous tremor through the ground, making Lucy stumble over. There must have been enough force to shatter the platform, but, being the Spirit King's creation, there was no mark left on the white stone.

Ophiuchus' entire body followed suit, smashing hard into the platform in a cacophony of noise. Black and rainbow coils and blades bounced and skidded across stone in a shower of sparks and colourful steam. Ophiuchus slammed against the side pillars that did not yield to her sheer size and power and crumpled into a tangled pile. For a moment, she didn't move, likely stunned from the ungraceful landing.

Lucy used the opportunity to get close. In three bounds powered by twisting sands of her own creation, she landed near Ophiuchus' head with Scorpio right behind her. They were close enough that she could safely talk, just shy of yelling.

"Hey! Ophiuchus, are you okay?"

A sharp hiss escaped the serpent's throat and a metal tongue rattled out from between her fangs. Red eyes flashed angrily as the spirit raised its head high to glare down at Lucy.

She was like a mouse in the shadow of the great serpent. However, Lucy stood her ground. "I want to be your friend, Ophiuchus," she stated boldly, arms held up to show she didn't want to fight. "If you're feeling lonely or sad, I'll be here to–"

Ophiuchus suddenly struck without hearing what Lucy had to say. The spirit was fast and so was Lucy. Metal fangs snapped only air when the mage launched herself sideways in a flurry of sand and wind.

The serpent followed the trail of dust with a keen eye and lightning reflexes, curving her large body this way and that to stay at Lucy's heels.

"Scorpio! Blind her eyes!"

"On it!"

Just as Lucy swerved to the side, a stream of sand came flying over her head. An angry hiss and rattling of metal was the sign Scorpio had hit his mark.

Lucy was thrown off her feet from the turbulent gust caused by Ophiuchus quickly retreating to the sky. Lucy flipped and landed in a crouch, silent and graceful. The great serpent circled above, her body twitching and pulsing erratically.

Lucy was worried. It was painful to see Ophiuchus behaving like a sick animal. The spirit's madness was perhaps a mask for her grief. With that in mind, Lucy braced herself with the duty of befriending Ophiuchus in whatever way she could.

The serpent's body flashed bright like an exploding star. Numerous rainbow beams shot from her sides and curved downwards. A wide-range attack in the form of deadly, colourful laser blasts.

There was no time to think, only to react. Lucy switched out Scorpio for Aquarius, sending him back to the Spirit King's side. Scorpio's Star Dress was instantly changed to Aquarius's aqua-blue bikini top and miniskirt, the Star Dress fashioned after the mermaid's attire and Lucy's taste in clothes.

Standing side by side, Lucy and Aquarius raised their arms above their heads and conjured a barrier of water that surrounded them in a shimmering blue globe. The sphere held strong when beams of rainbow struck the water, the energy absorbed and converted into hissing steam. Attacks that exploded nearby merely caused ripples in the barrier, the explosions muffled as if they were deep underwater.

Lucy let out a quick sigh of relief when the barrage was over. But then, Ophiuchus followed with a second wave of rainbow death shortly after.

Aquarius grunted in annoyance. "You're not going to accomplish anything staying in here!"

"I know! Just waiting for an opening!" Lucy replied, keeping her focus on maintaining their barrier. Her arms were shaking from the strain. The second wave seemed to last longer than the first. Much longer. Or was it because Ophiuchus was sending one barrage after another?

Groaning, Lucy was starting to get impatient. "She'll tire out eventually, right?"

Aquarius let out a disgruntled sigh, her arms equally wavering. "When she's out of all the magic she's eaten and that could take longer than we can keep this up. Doesn't look like she's going to come down anytime soon."

"Then we'll have to go to her. Think we can create a whirlpool high enough to reach her?"

Aquarius snorted at Lucy's idea and shot her a side-glare. "If we had a whole ocean to work with! So that's not happening, girl. Think of something else! And fast!"

At that point, Ophiuchus' had finally stopped her seemingly endless barrage. Only to charge up another different, and possibly much stronger attack, to Lucy's horror. Through the wavering, shimmering water, she could see the serpent hovering right above them in a spiral, head straight down with jaws wide open and gathering energy within metal fangs. A breath attack that could possibly be as strong as a dragon's Roar.

Despite the situation, Lucy smiled as a plan came to her. "All right. I got this! Libra, I need you!"

The spirit appeared within the water barrier with the soft clinking of chains. "What is your command, Master Lucy?"

Lucy could count on one hand the number of times Libra was temporarily her spirit when Link was still learning Celestial Star Contract. With that limited amount of time spent together, Lucy and Libra haven't quite developed a strong enough bond to manifest a Star Dress of their own. However, that didn't mean Lucy never had some fun utilizing Libra's abilities.

"When we dispel this barrier, make me fly to Ophiuchus as fast as you can," Lucy answered.

"Understood." A hand gripped firmly on Lucy's shoulder as Libra stood ready next to her.

"I'll give you guys a boost," said Aquarius.

Lucy involuntarily shuddered, but quickly shook her doubt away. Aquarius's offered help never ended well for Lucy in the past, but right now she knew she could trust the spirit's word. She steadied herself and nodded. "Let's do this!"

Lucy and Aquarius dispelled their barrier. With a yell, Aquarius swept her arms upwards and created a powerful geyser of water that shot both Lucy and Libra towards the sky. At the same time, Ophiuchus unleashed her attack; an enormous ball of white light with a rainbow hue.

The momentum of Aquarius's water, combined with the inverse of gravity to make the sky the 'ground', allowed Lucy and Libra to fly as fast as a bullet past the deadly ball of energy. Lucy saw nothing but a blur until Libra slowed their 'fall', shifting gravity back to normal and making their bodies light as feathers. They were floating in the sunset sky, high above Ophiuchus who appeared like a medium-sized snake and the platform as big as a cracker.

Ophiuchus' attack exploded with a mighty explosion of rainbow light that swallowed the entire platform. The enormous shockwave blasted the cover of clouds and nearly blew Lucy and Libra away had the spirit not adjusted their gravity in time to stay relatively in place. Every cloud was gone, leaving a twilight sky void of stars.

The platform remained unharmed, glowing faintly in the dim light. Every spirit below, including Aquarius, were safe under the Spirit King's protection.

Ophiuchus was as bright as the moon in the darkened realm, her rainbow aura casting a beautiful shine all around. She started to fly in a circle, head whipping back and forth and tongue constantly flicking, likely in search of Lucy. She hadn't noticed the mage's ascent to the heavens during the attack. The gauge along her side had depleted by a third, which meant she still had plenty of magic left to spare.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Lucy clung to Libra's arm and whispered in the spirit's ear; "Make her head the ground."

Libra nodded. They dropped like rocks, their descent constantly shifting directions to follow Ophiuchus' moving head as she cut through the twilight. When they entered the serpent's misty aura, Lucy was nearly knocked breathless by the level of concentrated magic exuding from the spirit. Their landing was a little rough due to the uneven surface of Ophiuchus' large head and the speed she was flying at. Bladed horns were also a tricky obstacle to avoid. Wind rushed by so strong that Lucy was grateful that Libra had more than doubled the gravity on their bodies to keep them rooted on the flying serpent.

Down in a crouch, Lucy summoned Aries to join them. Aries was unprepared by the sudden increase in gravity on her body and let out a shriek as she was forced downward, nearly face-planting against the serpent's scales.

Their presence was known after that. Ophiuchus hissed, spewing steam from her mouth and nostrils. She jerked her head side-to-side, flew upside down, and threw her head back in an attempt to toss them off. However, Lucy and her spirits stayed attached like parasites with every manoeuvre.

"Aries!" Lucy grabbed the spirit's hand to gain her attention. "Let's try to calm Ophiuchus together!"

"R-Right!"

Lucy's clothes changed to Aries' Star Suit; a soft, pink wooly dress with pink and black leggings, a warm woolen scarf and arm covers, and adorable little ram horn accessories to tie her hair in pigtails.

"Wool Bomb!" they shouted as one.

Thick, pink wool exploded into existence at their command, soft and fluffy like clouds. It surrounded Lucy and her spirits up to their shoulders and literally pulled the wool over Ophiuchus' eyes as it enveloped her entire head, sealing her mouth shut, but not her nostrils. It wasn't suffocation they were aiming for, but the warmth and comfort of a mother's hug, which was one of the effects of Aries' magical wool.

With her head and upper neck swaddled in fluffy pink, Ophiuchus appeared to relax. Her thrashing ceased and her aura was a gentler flow of steam. Perhaps she was a little too relaxed because she suddenly took a nosedive.

Aries screamed.

Lucy's heart leapt to her throat. She panicked the instant she saw the platform rushing towards them. "Libra! Quick! Slow her fall! Libra?!"

Lucy turned to find Libra staring off in a sleepy daze. The spirit was also affected by Aries's calming wool. Though the spirit's gravitational pull was no longer in effect, the thick wool held them in place atop Ophiuchus' head.

"M-Master Lucy, we can cushion her fall!" Aries shrieked, waving her arms frantically.

"Then let's do it!" Lucy sent Libra back to safety by the Celestial King's side so she could pour her limitless magic into her next spell.

"Wool Cushion!" In the middle of the arena, a giant magic circle appeared where a copious amount of pink wool burst forth. In a matter of seconds, the entire arena was covered in fluffy pink due to Lucy's and Aries' combined efforts.

Lucy braced for impact by hugging the wool around them. Ophiuchus landed and bounced once, twice, and on the third landing, she sank deep into the soft wool bed. More of the magical wool embraced her whole body, giving her the comfort she needed.

Lucy was unhurt and only a little shaken up. She sighed in relief. With a motion of her hand, she parted the wool that surrounded her and made her way to the left side of Ophiuchus' head. She cleared a small space to stand on the ground under the serpent's eye and hopped down to face the spirit.

The red glow in Ophiuchus's gaze was as dim as a candle, her rage quelled by the fluffy wool. Unfocused, she stared over Lucy at nothing, sadness having replaced her anger.

Lucy placed a hand on the spirit's jaw, flinching at the ice-cold metal. However, she didn't pull away. Her expression and voice gentle and compassionate, she spoke; "Hey, Ophiuchus. It'll be okay. You miss Yukino? I know you're angry and sad that she's not here... But she's not gone forever."

Ophiuchus shifted, her eye flickering, though not quite yet broken free from her trance. Emotions were surfacing.

"The memories you have of her," Lucy continued, unfaltering, "the memories that Libra and Pisces also share with her, they live in all of you. In us. I may not have known her that well, but I got a chance to meet her. She was a good Celestial Spirit Mage and a good friend and master to you all. I know I can't take her place. No, I just want to be another friend. Someone to make and share more memories with. Someone you can trust.

"It doesn't have to be now. Heck, it took a good while before Aquarius actually acknowledged me as a friend. So I'm willing to wait however long you want until you want to consider me a friend too. In the meantime, let's try to work together. Bit by bit. For Yukino's sake. She wouldn't want you to be sad and lonely. I think... she would want you to live on and keep fighting, alongside your fellow spirits and friends."

By the end, Lucy had tears running down her face. Ophiuchus' sadness and grief; Lucy could feel it in her own heart as she kept in physical contact with the spirit. For a little while, it was all she felt when other emotions began to emerge; a sprinkle of happiness, a moment of content, a flash of anger, a wave of guilt, and finally, remorse.

A quiet hiss rumbled through the serpent's throat and she leaned into Lucy's touch.

Images suddenly flashed through Lucy's mind. Red moonlight shining on a familiar arena atop a mountain. Domus Flau. The ground giving way. Falling rocks and dust. Darkness. A glimmer of gold and black. The weight of a mountain. Crushing. Suffocating. Alone.

Lucy gave a start when she was thrust back to reality. "Your Key," she began, understanding what she just saw, "It's buried under Domus Flau. I'll find it. Promise."

Another hiss, more fervent, as if Ophiuchus was satisfied. The serpent pulled away and rose, tearing away from the wooly trap that no longer had any calming effect. Not that it mattered. Lucy had said her piece and Ophiuchus was willing to trust her.

With a flick of her wrist, Lucy dispelled the wool and returned back to her yellow robe. She and Aries watched Ophiuchus soar majestically above, her rainbow light leaving a sparkling trail in the twilight sky.

A sharp snap of fingers and Lucy and Aries were standing in front of the Celestial Spirit King next to the other spirits.

"Well done, Lucy," said His Highness, baring all his teeth in a big proud grin. "A spark of hope has touched Ophiuchus' heart. You've gained her trust. Cherish this new bond."

"I will," said Lucy, hand upon her heart.

"Let us return to the Eternal Realm." With a swish of his starry cape, the twilight sky appeared to collapse upon itself into the black hole.

Lucy felt a strong pull in the opposite direction just as the black hole shrank into nothingness, darkness replaced by the twinkling stars of the Spirit King's cape. In a blink, she found herself back on the crystal floor under the starry, planet-filled galaxy of the Eternal Realm.

Familiar voices shouted Lucy's name and she was surrounded by Natsu and everyone else.

"Hey! Did ya win?" Natsu asked.

Lucy smiled and winked. "You bet." It was her turn to receive joyful shouts and congratulations.

When the group had calmed, the Celestial Spirit King cleared his throat. He gestured to the side where a new platform with a magic circle suddenly appeared. "With your trials complete, it is time you all return to Earthland. Lucy, Link, take good care of those Celestial Crystal Keys. We will be waiting until fate brings us to you."

"We'll see you guys soon," Loke added with a grin as he clamped a hand on Taurus's shoulder.

With one last farewell to the Celestial Spirit King and the spirits, Lucy and her friends stepped onto the magic circle. The circle activated the instant they were all standing inside, shining white with the same runes and symbols as the one in the forest temple. A flash of blinding light and they were teleported away.

---

Somewhere deep within the depths of Cube was Hell's Core, a laboratory once under the control of the Mard Geer. It had always been a dark and cold place, lined with rows upon rows of specimen tubes filled with glowing blue liquid. It was here that humans were transformed into demons; their development carefully engineered and monitored by Lamy and the demonic entity that made up every black tentacle that fed each unit. Etherious slain in combat were also reborn within these chambers, their minds and memories intact, but that privilege died along with Mard Geer. Any Etherious slain during the Demon War and after were met with a crueler fate.

With the Underworld King's orderly conduct gone, Hell's Core had become an even darker and colder place. And Silver's presence wasn't entirely to blame for the unnerving chill that hung in the air. Evil that belonged to a demon far worse than Mard Geer had taken over Hell's Core like a plague.

In place of enslaved humans and chosen elite, vile, horrific creatures now resided within most of the specimen tubes. Numerous monsters and demons sacrificed as experiments. Modified into terrifying abominations, in which some of the souls of Etherious now resided within. Trapped to serve their new king. Lamy was at the helm of it all, working at all hours, unable to stop in fear of disappointing His Dark Highness.

Silver could hear her and a few of her surviving clones muttering away somewhere in the laboratory as they toiled about. Their hushed voices and ramblings echoing throughout sounded like eerie, demonic chanting. Fitting for such a hellish place.

Since his twice-cursed resurrections back into living hell, Silver had rarely ventured down to Hell's Core knowing what ghastly things he would discover. It was horrible the first time when Keyes had decided to show Silver around Cube, and even worse this second time. So much worse that not even his shadow would follow.

There was a rancid stench that burned his eyes and nose. No doubt coming from the large open vat of bubbling, dark red liquid built into the floor in the middle of the laboratory. Silver caught a glimpse of two clones of Lamy dragging a mutated corpse that was mostly blood, boils, and ragged flesh over to the pool and kicking it in. The body slowly sank into the thick liquid with a disgusting squelch.

Silver held back from making a face and pressed on in his search. There was only one reason to come to Hell's Core. To confirm a rumour true.

Row upon row of large specimen tubes he marched past, eyeing each floating monstrosity closely. Malformed creatures of all shapes and sizes, some of them awake and watching him; terrified, in pain, pleading, or hungry. Others were either unconscious or dead. He was rounding into the next corridor when he encountered another Lamy. She was a few tubes down, her face and body completely pressed against the glass as she peered at the large creature inside, quietly laughing her annoying laugh.

Her rabbit ears twitched at the sound of Silver's approach. She snapped her head at him, her wide eyes blood-shot and crazed, looking as if she hadn't eaten or rested for months. She was ragged; her short dark hair dirty and matted and her white coat torn and stained with all sorts of nastiness.

An ugly grin twisted on her lips, her front teeth larger and sharper than the rest like the demonic bunny she was. "Captain Silver..." Her obnoxiously cheery voice had become a hoarse, dry hiss. She was excited at his presence. Manic, even. She twirled towards him like a playful child, stumbling to a stop an arm's length away when she saw his glare. She cowered slightly, wringing her hands anxiously, dirty chipped claws scratching away skin, while her nose sniffed for familiar scents. Her mad smile never faded. "Still you in there?"

Silver grunted. "It's me, Lamy. Always me. You look awful."

She ignored his comment and stepped a little closer, laughing her stupid laugh in a wheezing hiss. There was a wicked gleam in her eye as she clapped her hands together. "Oh, I know why you're here. You came to see him. Your old pal!"

Silver's glare narrowed further, his anger rising. Frost crackled, coating his armour. "Then it's true?"

"Yes! Yes! He's my latest project! My prize to His Dark Highness! Come se – ksssss!" Lamy made the mistake of grabbing Silver's gauntlet. She shook her frost-bitten hand, the tips of her fingers black and smoking. Her mad grin returned as if nothing happened. She made a beckoning gesture with her good hand as she hopped back to the specimen tube she was glued to prior. "Come see my precious new baby, Silver. You're going to love him!" Her tone was mocking. She pressed her cheek against the glass and stroked it lovingly, purring over her 'baby'.

Silver stomped over. Stoic was his face until he saw the unmistakable horns that belonged to the demon he deeply loathed. "Deliora," he snarled vehemently, hands clenched into trembling fists. Ice seeped around his feet, prickly and steaming.

The demon that killed him and took away everything he had loved. His life forever changed, Silver had vowed to slaughter the wretched fiend with his own hands. It was the main reason why he sought the powers of a Devil Slayer. However, years ago, he had learned that Deliora was eventually felled, and so his vengeance had shifted to bringing down Tartaros instead.

The Deliora suspended in the tube by black, veinous tentacles was obviously not the same giant brute that Silver had burned into his memory. This version of Deliora appeared humanoid – similar to Lamy and some of the other Etherious in their normal form – with pale skin and a mane of thick black hair. Curled upon himself, his face was hidden behind his crossed forearms that were heavily plated, his hands large and clawed. A thick, black, armoured tail coiled around his lower legs, both of which were also plated down to each big taloned toe.

"That's right," said Lamy, oblivious to Silver's seething hatred. "His soul lay dormant in Hell's Core for ten or so years after he somehow died. Mard Geer didn't want to bring him back until we were ready for our war against the ugly humans because Deliora would've been so much weaker at this size. But Mard Geer's gone now! No more waiting!" She pulled away and spun in circles in happiness.

"And with His Dark Highness's evil coursing through my baby, Deliora will be reborn stronger than ever! Isn't that wonder–"

In a blind rage, Silver lunged and grabbed Lamy by her thin neck and froze her completely, killing the clone in an instant. His sight was soon locked on Deliora, his mind filled with nothing but hate. He pulled back a fist imbued with fury and magic – only to suddenly be blinded by shadow. A strong wind blew and next thing he knew, he was standing elsewhere, his anger and power gone like a doused brazier.

Silver sighed heavily, shoulders drooping in defeat. There was no remorse in killing Lamy; failing to slay Deliora quick enough, however, was his biggest regret. Due to that sudden impulse, Hell's Core was now forbidden. An unspoken order that resonated throughout his core.

He had been taken to the top of the castle, where a constantly gloomy, gray sky mirrored the utter misery in his chained and wretched soul. He didn't need to question how or why he was here.

Armoured feet shuffled back in a quick retreat.

Silver turned at the noise, finding his shadow moving to stand aside, keeping the usual, respective distance between them. The silent demon knight Silver had named 'Shade', for convenience. Often a wolf who tailed behind the mage like a lost pup.

Through the narrow slits of his helm, the knight's ever-watchful eyes met Silver's sullen stare before flickering to the Demon King waiting by the edge of the wall.

His Evil Highness had his back turned to them as he overlooked the activities in the courtyard, his crimson cape fluttering in the wind. Although his imposing stance and outer demeanour appeared relatively composed, something was... troubling him, to say the least. It wasn't entirely because of Silver who had tried to destroy part of Hell's Core a few seconds ago, as far as the mage could tell.

It was something else that had suddenly fouled the king's mood, and when the king was perturbed, every living soul within the vicinity felt an uneasy pressure that bordered on fear. All knew to steer clear of His Highness's way, unless you were summoned, which was Silver's case, unfortunately.

The Demon King leaned forward to rest his hands on top of the wall, a deep grumbling in his throat that sounded like the distant thunder in the sky. He took a moment, as if to gather his thoughts, one finger slowly tapping on stone. When he finally spoke, Silver shuddered, for the Demon King's voice sent unnerving shivers throughout his body and silenced all other noise;

"More uninvited guests have entered my domain. From the direction of Fiore. Foolish, little flies in a magical airship." He turned his head slightly, his one good eye piercing into Silver's unblinking gaze. Annoyance was clear on his scarred, mutilated face. "Intercept their course and find out why they're willing to sacrifice their lives. Use whomever else you need and bring back anything useful. Hm, there is no use for prisoners," he added with a grunt, sensing the question in Silver's mind. "When you're done with them, feed their souls to the one-eyed fiend and their flesh to the dragons. Now, go."

Silver gave a curt nod and briskly walked away with Shade following closely behind, silently joining without needing to ask. The mage wasn't too thrilled to embark on a new mission, but at least it was something to distract his thoughts from Deliora.

An airship from Fiore, huh? Either a dumb guild, the Royal Army, or the Magic Council with some idiotic plan. If Silver was supposed to ambush their flying ship, then he'd have to bring one of the dragons along. "And whomever else..." the mage grumbled, running an armoured hand through his likely unkempt hair. He had left his horned helm back in his room and didn't want to bother getting the stupid heavy thing. He glanced over his shoulder at his shadow. "You good at interrogating, boy?"

The only reply he got was a silent stare.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." Silver wasn't expecting much of an answer anyway, having never heard the kid say a single word. While verbal communication was seriously lacking in the knight, his sense of smell and magical sense were incredibly sharp. Main reason why Silver could never lose his shadow, most of the time. Which also explained how he and Keyes were easily discovered when they attempted to infiltrate Nuseptima.

Since interrogation was neither of their strong suits, Silver knew of one Etherious perfect for the job.

With her chambers in mind, Silver warped instantly, the dreary outside shifting to the cozy, candle-lit room lined with bookshelves. Shade appeared next to him in a black tempest that knocked some books off their shelves, instantly ruining the organization that went into it all.

There was an annoyed clucking of the tongue before someone loudly slammed their book shut. "Do you mind knocking before entering a lady's chamber?" Seilah snapped, glowering at her two guests who appeared unannounced. She tossed her book onto the table next to her and crossed her arms indignantly. "What do you want, Silver? Or should I call you 'Captain Silver'?"

Silver grunted at the fake sweetness of her tone and answered gruffly, "We've got company coming our way and now His Evil Highness wants me to find out what the hell they want. I need you to come with me."

Seilah tilted her head slightly as she brought a finger to the playful smile on her lips. "Is that so? You want me to join your party?" Her calm, sly look turned to utter hatred when her eyes fell on Shade. "Does that mean this wretch is also coming?"

Silver glanced sideways at the knight who had steeled against her glare, his stance noticeably tense. A bitter tension between former enemies. Losing to the knight during the war wasn't something that was easy to forget for Seilah. Silver didn't want to deal with the issue so he just shrugged. "He's got the nose to find our target."

Seilah's expression soured as she leaned back in her chair, one arm on the table to prop the side of her head on her knuckles. "What if I refuse?"

"Then it could be another long while before you get some fresh air and a change in scenery," answered Silver, crossing his arms and leaning his back against a shelf. "If you want to stay with your books, then I'll have to force Kyoka along, though her interrogating methods tend to be long and messy. His Evil Highness doesn't have the patience and I'd like to avoid bringing her, if possible."

Seilah hid a grin behind her sleeve. "Good luck trying to rein Kyoka to your side, Captain. You'll need to bind and gag her to make her cooperate," a slight blush on her cheeks, "because her grudge against you and His Wickedness runs deeper than the deepest pit in Hell."

Silver sneered; having spent nearly two decades with demons, he had mastered the art of intimidation. The black armour and faint red glow in his eyes may have also further enhanced his ability to look threatening. "I'm well aware. That's why I said I will force her to come. It won't be pretty. She might not even be herself anymore afterwards."

That was enough to make Seilah's brow visibly twitch. After a moment, she sighed heavily and slammed a palm on the table to abruptly get out of her chair. Her mouth was an angry frown. "I hate you, you know," she snarled under her breath as she strolled towards Silver with a swagger of her hips.

"I know. I hate me too," said Silver, his sneer turning into a humourless grin. "Do me a huge favour by somehow killing me for good."

Seilah's teasing, seductive smile returned as she stopped an inch away from him. Being a head shorter, she had to crane her head to meet his gaze. She leaned forward, a hair's breadth of space between their faces. Her hot breath tickled his unshaven chin as she crooned softly, "And free you of your eternal damnation? Why, I love seeing you suffer like this, my dear, sweet Captain."

She giggled at his visible disappointment and stepped back with a flourishing flick of her hand. All the books that Shade had blown off her shelves suddenly began to fly back to their places, pelting both Silver and the knight in the process.

Once the mess was clean, Seilah brushed away a loose strand of hair over her bare shoulder and said, "Shall we be on our way? His Wickedness must be very upset by these visitors if he's casting this... unpleasantness."

With a groan, Silver rubbed the side of his neck where one book had smacked him hard. "Part of the reason. Something else has him on edge. He could have easily sent a dragon to eliminate our guests like before. I'm thinking he wants to find out what his potential enemies have in store for him in the future." He purposely left out details about his incident because that was definitely not the cause.

Seilah raised one eyebrow while cocking her head at him. "Shouldn't you know what his intentions are, given your... current state?"

Silver scoffed and held out a hand for her. "He may have bound my soul, but we're not exactly kindred spirits. Let's go."

Dainty and lady-like, Seilah placed her hand gently in his. For her amusement, he pretended to be a gentleman, giving a slight bow. He teleported them out of her prison.

They were met with a dull, gray world and a brisk blowing wind outside the castle. A black gust further blew back their clothes and hair due to Shade appearing right next to them without warning.

They stood among the hollowed, disintegrating husks of giant thorns that were the last remnants of Mard Geer's decorative touch on Cube. Most of the thorny forest had been razed by the dragons and the remaining land was transformed into their roosts.

"Now we need to find a dragon willing to fly us," said Silver in an exasperated sigh. He made his way across the dead, trampled vegetation, hearing it snap and crunch under his boots. He was dreading having to approach one of the mighty, fearsome beasts, especially the storm-summoning behemoth named Valvarion. At least he was fortunate that the legendary black dragon, Acnologia, wouldn't be around. That 'special' dragon was kept under lock and key elsewhere when his presence wasn't required.

"I suppose you're just going to ask them nicely?" questioned Seilah, soundly following right behind the mage. It was the first time she had left her room since Tartaros' defeat and, in spite of the ugliness the outside offered, she seemed ecstatic.

Silver groaned and scratched the back of his head. "Don't know. Not sure if they'll even listen to me. Eh?"

A black and white wolf darted past him. Shade stopped for a moment to glance back at Silver. With a slight gesture of his head and a flick of an ear, the demon wolf was beckoning the mage to follow before sprinting ahead.

Silver raised a curious eyebrow.

"He's ditching? Good riddance," said Seilah, a smile evident in her tone.

"No, more like, he knows what to do. Fine by me, 'cause I'm not talking to a dragon." In no hurry, he resumed his walking pace after hearing Seilah grumble in contempt.

Shade waited patiently for them to catch up before moving on every now and then. Once they stepped foot in the dragons' roosting grounds, they could sense the immense magic that saturated the area. A short mountain range of craggy, gray-black rock was created on one side of the trodden path. They passed the large mouth of a cave that housed the heavy, brutish Slate Dragon, Barok. Though it was pitch black inside, Silver could hear the loud, rumbling snores of the slumbering beast reverberating from within.

Past the mountains was a splash of colour and life amidst the wasteland in the form of a raised mound of entangled flowering plants and vines. As they walked by, Silver was enticed by the pleasant, sweet smell of the blooms that sent him into a calm state of mind. The plant life could survive the harsh winds and low temperatures on the surface of Cube thanks to the powerful, rejuvenating magic of the Flower Dragon, Hanarosa.

Leaves quivered and rustled. All the blooms quickly closed up and thorns sprouted on every vine, long and sharp. Glowing red eyes peered from the shadows of the trembling mound, hungrily watching Silver and Seilah saunter on by. A low growl could be heard, but the Flower Dragon didn't dare come out of her roost. With the sweet scent gone, Silver slowly came out of the calming lull as he continued to follow the shadow of a wolf.

Shade had started to climb up a hill of broken brambles, heading in the opposite direction of the other roosts; the deep burrow belonging to the abominable Beast Dragon, Otharo, and the tall, mountainous, sunlit perch of the majestic Sun Dragon, Zuruda. Silver's gut felt like lead when he figured out where the wolf was leading them.

Waiting at the top of the hill was a massive, scorched and glassy black crater the size of the entire castle bordered by tall, wind-swept dunes of dirt. The Storm Dragon's roost. Rarely was it occupied since the great dragon could stay aloft in the sky for weeks on end without rest.

Seeing the crater and sky equally empty brought a sense of relief to Silver. He stopped next to Shade, shaking his head in disbelief. "Looking for the big guy to help us? Well, he's not around."

The wolf shook his own head and took a few steps forward. He raised his nose skyward and started to howl, much to Silver's bemusement. So Shade wasn't a complete mute – as a wolf, at least. Loud and drawn, the wolf's cry could be heard afar, shifting to various tones with each breath. It blended together like a song.

"How cute. He sings," was Seilah's snide remark. Shivering with her arms wrapped around herself, the chill winds made her irritable. "Is he planning on serenading the dragon to come?"

Silver stiffened at the thought. "Don't tell me he's trying to summon it?" He was hoping to be wrong after the wolf's last note was carried away by the wind. For nearly a minute, nothing appeared to happen when a sudden boom of thunder sounded from above. Dark clouds gathered and it started to pour, drenching the three in a matter of seconds. White lightning flashed and a stronger wind blew. A thunderstorm, relatively tame in comparison to the monsoons the great Storm Dragon could easily whip up.

A distinct tingling hung in the air similar to the electrical charge of electricity; a spell conjured by none other than Shade. Why the wolf would decide to make it storm – the answer to Silver's unspoken question came as a giant, winged shadow among the clouds accompanied by a deafening, earth-shaking crack of thunder, ten times louder than before. Valvarion's roar.

Silver was literally shaking in his boots at both the volume and sight of the great Storm Dragon descending through the dark clouds. He watched in stunned silence as the small storm Shade had created was devoured by the behemoth. Lightning, rain, and even the wind, consumed by the mouthful as Valvarion circled the radius of Shade's spell. It didn't take long for the dark sky to completely disappear, leaving a hole of blue and dearly missed sunshine to beam through.

Silver knew that dragons could eat magic, but it was still strange and rather fascinating to watch a dragon munch on an actual storm as a snack. Lost in awe, he didn't notice Shade approach until he felt a hand clamp around his wrist. The wolf had shifted back to his knightly form and had grabbed hold of both Silver and Seilah.

A black, chilling wind blinded them in darkness before either could react. Silver's skin tingled once more as he was carried by the powerful tempest. The veil of shadow was suddenly blown away and he found himself up in the blue sky, his feet no longer touching the solid ground of Cube, but the moving, horned head of the giant Storm Dragon.

Silver dropped into a low crouch out of instinct, digging the short claws of his gauntlets between the spiny, deep purple scales as the rush of wind and the dragon's movements threatened to throw him off. Seilah did the same thing right next to him, looking none-too-happy. In fact, she looked ready to murder Shade who was down in front.

Flat on his stomach against the dragon's head, Shade gave the beast a few pats on the head. A signal, it seemed, for the dragon grunted aloud and made a swift turn, nearly tossing off his passengers.

"Fall, then you shall have to find your own way back," warned the dragon, each thunderous word feeling like a minor quake right under Silver. A deep rumbling in the beast's throat followed after, sounding like mocking laughter aimed at their situation.

A loud flapping of many wings and the dragon picked up speed. Cursing, Silver froze his hands and feet in place just to hang on. Seilah screamed, one arm losing her grip. Silver quickly dispelled the ice on his left hand and managed to grab her by the hand before she completely lost her hold. With a snarl, the mage pulled her close so she could at least brace against his larger body.

She clung to his arm out of desperation. They both kept their bodies low and endured the torturous trip complete with deafening thunder, turbulence, and the occasional stomach-churning dips and turns as Shade somehow guided the dragon with only pats on the head. All they could see beyond the golden horns of the great beast were storm clouds speeding by as a dark – and sometimes blinding – blur.

It may have been hours before the Storm Dragon finally slowed down, reducing his speed to a gentle glide. The sky had darkened to near pitch black. Either evening or nightfall; Silver couldn't tell.

"The vessel. Ahead," said Valvarion, his voice booming over the ringing in Silver's ears caused by the constant blowing wind and thunder.

Silver sighed, his jaw stiff from clenching too hard during the entire trip. He shattered his ice and stood, pulling Seilah with him. The Etherious staggered to her feet, badly shivering from the unkind weather, but there was no sympathy from the mage. He peered over the dragon's nose in search of the airship, seeing a tiny blip of moving light in the distance.

Red eyes shone in the night as Shade turned and approached Silver and Seilah. He moved to grab them again, but Seilah quickly smacked his hand away and stumbled back.

"Don't you touch me again," she snarled, her eyes flashing yellow. She had fair reasons to loathe the knight even more, but Silver didn't have the patience for arguments. Nor did he want to linger on top of the head of the Storm Dragon for any moment longer.

"Kid can warp us inside better than I can," Silver growled, extending his own hand for her. "Let's go, or else we'll leave right here."

Seilah huffed and snatched the mage's hand, her grip so tight, Silver could feel the metal around his fingers bend. The mage nodded at Shade and the knight moved in to grasp them both by the wrists, drawing an angry hiss from the Etherious.

The chilling black wind surrounded them and once more carried them off their feet towards their destination. From the darkness of night to the blinding glare of interior lighting in an instant. Shade had transported them into what appeared to be a small kitchen at first glance. They were standing in the middle of a huge mess, thanks to the knight's magic blasting everything away.

There was one other person in the cabin; a man lying dazed on the floor, likely thrown into the wall by Shade's tempest. The man was dressed in a uniform of light blue and white, bearing the familiar crest of a Rune Knight on his chest. He was slowly coming to, but Seilah was already kneeling next to him, brushing her fingers down his face, placing her Macro Curse on him.

The man instantly woke up and stood straight up like a puppet on strings.

Voices could be heard elsewhere. Some shouting and the stomping of feet heading in their direction, having heard the commotion.

"Magic Council," Silver groaned in annoyance, more so in frustration at their stupidity for coming here. "How many more on board?"

Shade held up four fingers.

A small crew, which meant a small aircraft. A scouting ship. On a suicide mission. It was possible all five members had all the information Silver needed, but it was also possible that only one of them knew everything while the rest were left in the dark. None could be killed just yet.

"Think you can control all... five?" Silver's eyebrows may have touched his hairline the moment he saw Seilah's new slave stripping down to his undergarments.

The Etherious had the man drape his high-collared cloak over her shoulders while his boots and the rest of his uniform were kicked aside. Just for her amusement, was Silver's guess. She smiled teasingly at the look on his face.

"Can't you see I'm craving the warmth of a handsome man?" she said soothingly, wrapping one arm around her puppet. "You really have to ask? Enslaving the rest of this merry band will be a breeze. Go on, take care of your friends for me." With a light peck on the man's cheek and a wave of her hand, she commanded him to hurry out of the room.

The man saluted. "Yes, milady!" He charged right out the door and ran into someone who was about to enter.

"Sam! What was that noise?! Uh, what happened to your unifor – urk!" The sound of a fist colliding with a face followed by a heavy thud.

Seilah giggled behind a hand, enjoying the confusion her Curse brought upon her victims. She sauntered into the narrow hall composed mostly of metal and pipes with Silver and Shade right behind her.

Her next puppet was an older man with graying brown hair, a long, braided beard, and a quickly swelling right eye. A different uniform, a little more prestigious. Could be the captain of the ship or the Knights. He was awake and standing a few seconds after Seilah touched him with her Curse.

"Be a lovely dear and subdue the rest of your crew," she ordered the older man in her sickeningly sweet tone.

"Aye aye, milady," said the man, saluting. He started down the hall and climbed the ladder to the upper deck where the first man had probably gone, evident by the shouting. It got noisier with the second man joining the chaos.

"Won't be too long now," said Seilah, giving Silver a smug smile as they casually made their way to the ladder. And she wasn't wrong; the surprise ambush by their own crew members made it easy to take down the remaining three.

By the time Silver was at the top of the ladder, it had gone quiet with the exception of one woman screaming. He followed Seilah to the bridge of the small ship where the two men under her control were standing over two other men lying unconscious and one woman bound by magical, golden rope from neck to ankle.

The woman gaped in absolute horror when she saw Seilah approaching. She wriggled like a helpless worm as she tried to squirm away. "Demons?! H-How did you get on our ship?! What did you do to Sam and the Captain?!"

Seilah hushed the woman as she closed in, her lips curling with a sinister smile. "The same thing I'll do to you, sweetheart." The demon's eyes flashed yellow and the woman suddenly fell limp. The golden rope disappeared in yellow dust and the woman was free to obey.

A gentle touch on the other two unconscious men and they were immediately under Seilah's spell.

Meanwhile, Silver had snuck to the front of the bridge for a quick look, seeing five main control stations. Large windows showed the cloudy night sky in a panoramic view with transparent screens on both sides showing diagrams and numbers that Silver couldn't make sense of. The main console in the centre with a steering apparatus had its own screen with the words 'AUTO-PILOT ENGAGED' blinking in red. The ship losing control and crashing into the mountains below was no longer a worry he had. To the right was the navigation panel with radar and other data readings and next to that was the ship's equipped weaponry controls. On the main display of the console was a line diagram of a magic cannon built into the bottom front of the ship. Below the digital image in yellow text read 'ARMED: PROTO-BLKHL'.

"This is all of them," said Seilah, having her five slaves line up before their master. Behind her was Shade, standing in the doorway like a guard, warily eyeing the Etherious and her puppets.

Silver grunted in acknowledgement as he leaned against the weapons' console, careful not to accidentally touch any buttons. "Ask them why they're here."

Seilah slowly paced in front of her slaves, twirling a strand of hair around one finger as if assessing each of them. She stopped before the older man now sporting a swollen black eye. The Captain. "You, speak. What business do you have coming here?"

The Captain nodded. "Headquarters has given us strict, confidential orders to find the Eclipse Demon and destroy him."

Seilah laughed hysterically. "Going after His Wickedness? With this little ship and so few of you? How arrogant are you humans?"

"Our possibility of success was calculated to be as low as twenty percent," the man replied, stoic and monotone. "We were issued a prototype weapon to test its functionality and effectiveness against the demon."

"What is this weapon?" Silver questioned, furrowing his brow. He glanced down at the cannon display, suddenly feeling a great sense of unease.

"A modified Level-10 Priority Homing Magic Missile set with a core containing a one centimetre fragment of Black Lacrima."

There was a sound of interest from Seilah as she tilted her head, one hand against her chin. "Sounds fancy. What is special about this Black Lacrima?"

The man turned to the woman next to him and it was her turn to speak; "It was developed under secrecy in a private institute outside Fiore, known as the Black Hole Project. In theory, Black Lacrima can absorb all forms of magic and life. One of this size can, presumably, affect a ten kilometre radius, killing everything within range in a matter of minutes."

Silver slowly stepped away from the weapons console out of caution. He snorted and crossed his arms. "What? So you don't even know if it works?"

"Hence, why it is a prototype," the Captain resumed to answer. "Not knowing the true end result, it was deemed too dangerous to test on an ally nation's soil as well as our own. The Dead Lands of Seven were then proposed for experimentation, which led to the finalized decision to test the weapon against the evil demon."

"It was made just for him?" Seilah inquired, highly intrigued.

"Yes. In hope of eliminating the threat of the world."

A sinister smile twisted on Seilah's lips as she looked directly at Silver. "Say, hypothetically, they use their weapon on His Dark Highness. Do you think he will survive?"

Silver's expression darkened. A part of him stirred; the side that was loyal to the Demon King; the seed of evil that kept him chained and obedient. Once it awakened, there was no control on what he would do.

"Careful what you're thinking, Seilah," he warned, furling his hands to suppress the urge to kill her. He made a vague gesture to the windows where Valvarion was flying somewhere outside. Betrayal meant instant death. And to an Etherious, death would only be a short reprieve before they were reborn into something worse.

"Yes, of course," she spat. However, her smile remained. "But, don't you want to be free, Silver?"

He let out a tired sigh. "You know damn well I want it. But there is no freedom for either of us no matter what we try. You know this."

The truth only made her angry. Her power was bristling, ready to burst in a fit of rage. She ripped off the Rune Knight's cape and dropped it on the floor, her hair and sleeves wavering, her eyes flashing yellow. The five people she enslaved were suddenly standing fully alert, three heads turned in Silver's direction and two at Shade, scowls upon their faces to match their master's displeasure.

"Seilah," Silver growled, his breath steaming. Frost was soundly crackling on his armour and around his feet. If Seilah chose to attack, there was no stopping Silver from retaliating.

For as long as he had known Seilah, she was always sound of mind, never to make any rash decisions such as this. But with Tartaros and Mard Geer's authoritative reign gone and forced to comply with the Demon King, she had finally broken. She uttered the words that she would deeply regret; "Kill them."

Just as Seilah transformed to her true demonic form, the five mages of the Magic Council attacked. However, neither of the five were able to cast a spell before they were encased in a wave of jagged, purplish ice. In such close quarters, Seilah was not spared. The lower half of her body was caught in Silver's spell and she was screaming in pain, her dark flesh hissing and turning darker and necrotic as frost crept to every other part. Clawing at the ice only spread it to her fingers, hands becoming black and useless in seconds. Her golden eyes glared vehemently at Silver as he slowly approached, his feet crunching on the icy floor.

"Silver! You inferior s-scum! I'll c-curse you in Hell!" she shrieked, shivering from the bitter cold running through her dying flesh.

"Then I'll see you there," he murmured, his expression as cold as his magic. He raised a hand and his ice spread over the rest of her body, slaying the Etherious within a frozen spire.

Shade appeared next to the frozen demon and swung his special purple bottle to capture Seilah's invisible soul. It was likely the same bottle that held Silver's soul before it was somehow shoved back into his dead body.

Running his hands through his hair, Silver groaned at the mess around him. The back half of the bridge was frozen, but, due to some dumb luck, he didn't damage any of the vital machinery or electronics that kept the ship flying. With a flick of a finger, he dispelled the ice. Seilah's shell of a body disintegrated into dust before it hit the floor while the five members of the Magic Council collapsed. Silver didn't check if they were still alive as he walked over to the steering console, leaving them for Shade to deal with.

Sighing heavily, the mage dropped into the pilot's seat like a rock and stared out the window, seeing the night sky occasionally flash with lightning. The ship continued to fly smoothly on its own through the mild storm, its destination mapped out somewhere in one of the displays. He wanted to let the ship continue on its course to wherever. Enjoy a moment of escape away from the misery and Deliora waiting back at Cube.

There was no running away, however, with his soul chained to the Demon King.

Perhaps the airship could still be used for excursions from time to time, without the need to ride a dragon. Silver just had to figure out how to safely fly – as well as land – it back on Cube. Not only that, it carried the Magic Council's secret weapon: a Black Lacrima Magic Missile. No doubt the Demon King would be interested to see it up close and personal.

Silver pondered over Seilah's question on whether or not the weapon would be effective against the Demon King. His Evil Highness was practically as strong as an evil god when the strange golden power shone on his hand. A life-draining crystal definitely wouldn't be enough. What the world desperately needed was the rumoured Angel of Light to return or else there was very little hope for Earthland and her people.

Hearing Shade come up from behind, Silver shook away his thoughts and took the steering apparatus in his hands. He grinned at his shadow. "Let's see if I can fly this damn thing."

---

A/N: A glimpse on what's been happening with Ganondorf and his army on Cube. Gray's going to have a fun reunion.

Some of you were probably wondering about Ophiuchus, well she's definitely going to play an important role now!

What do you think Ultear's gift will do when the time comes?

Thanks for reading! Hope to get the next update finished within a reasonable amount of time. (Though no promises...)