A/N: Happy New Year everyone! My New Year's Resolution is to aim for shorter chapters (10K words) so I can update a little more frequently. Wish me luck! Also, I've decided to have Link be both a Slayer and a Warrior because why not? Happy reading!
Gift of the Dragon King
It was hours past midnight and Wendy was still wide awake for the most part. Her worry for Link wouldn't go away in spite of Porlyusica assuring her that he was just sleeping. As far as they could tell anyway.
Shortly before nightfall, Wendy had watched with great trepidation when Porlyusica handed Link his catalyst. The moment the crystal had touched his hand, it flashed a bright blue and his dragon and markings on his skin responded in kind. Then the catalyst flew so fast it appeared to vanish, instantly piercing right into his chest in a blink.
Link had suddenly collapsed right after, his awakened power gone as fast as it had come.
Wendy's stomach had dropped at that moment, thinking the worst had happened. However, after a thorough examination by Porlyusica, she had concluded Link had fallen into a deep sleep of sorts. There was no wound or mark where the catalyst had struck him, truly disappearing into his body.
Since then, Wendy, Carla, and Romeo had stayed by Link's side in the small tent they shared. Multiple sleeping tents had been set up over the remnants of the magic circles in the glade. Predicting they would spend at least a few days on Tenrou Island, Makarov had their ship packed with plenty of provisions and supplies.
Most of the guild was asleep, their snores audible to Wendy's sensitive ears. She'd occasionally hear the loud yawns of the few individuals who took turns on night-watch duty. With the island inhabited by various large, dangerous animals, it was necessary to be cautious.
Sighing, Wendy gently massaged her weary eyes. She had tried to sleep several times and when all attempts failed, she switched her mind to her medical notes, jotting down ideas that could help improve her motion sickness medicine for sea trips. Sitting on her mat with a blanket draped completely over her head and body, she quietly worked under the lowest setting on her Light Lacrima. The scratching of her pencil on paper was rather cathartic, putting her mind to ease.
She was distracted enough that she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard someone whisper her name. She threw off her blanket and immediately sighed in relief, seeing Link awake and resting on his elbow, one hand rubbing his eyes.
"You're okay! Thank goodness," she murmured, leaning over to give him a hug. The moment she touched him, she knew something was different. She could sense his magic power had grown significantly, his enchanted bracelets no longer able to conceal it. Though not as immense as when his power first awakened, it was still an astonishing level.
"Finally awake, hmm?" Carla's muffled voice grumbled from under the blanket Wendy had accidentally tossed on her. The Exceed crawled partway out to shoot her partner an annoyed glare.
Their voices woke Romeo up who was asleep on Link's other side. "Hwha – Oh? Link!" He sat straight up and lightly backhanded the other boy on the shoulder. "Man, you scared us, you know."
"Sorry," Link mumbled, giving them an apologetic smile. He shifted to sit up, his smile becoming more assuring. He realized he was still shirtless and felt the middle of his chest.
"Do you feel something there?" Wendy asked, a little concerned. "Your catalyst–"
"It flew right into your heart!" exclaimed Romeo in a frantic whisper.
Link furrowed his brow as he continued to probe the spot. "Really? I think I remember that happening... Yorenthall called the catalyst his 'heartstone.' Now it's part of my heart too?"
Both Wendy and Romeo perked up and said at the same time, respectively; "Yorenthall?", "You saw him?"
Link smiled fondly. "His last gift was also a memory. It was like he was here, talking to me; teaching me how to wield the power of Aether." He held up a hand and suddenly it was enveloped in an icy blue aura that flickered like a gentle flame, its light brighter than the Lacrima Lamp by Wendy's knee. Though cool in colour, there was a sense of warmth and assurance emanating from the aura that Wendy remembered all too well.
"Whoa..." Romeo uttered in breathless awe, his eyes wide and shimmering in the light of Link's magic. "That's awesome. It doesn't hurt anymore? You're dragon's staying dark."
"No pain," said Link, extinguishing his blue flame to run that same hand over the mark on his arm. He soon noticed his surroundings. "It's night? Is everyone sleeping? How long was I out?"
Romeo shrugged and rubbed his eyes. "Dunno. Still feeling tired so, like, a couple hours?"
"Um, more than that, I think," said Wendy, tentatively.
There was a scoff from Carla as she crossed her arms. "Wendy, did you sleep at all?"
The girl looked bashfully to the side. "No... I tried though! I was just too worried about Link..."
"Well, there is nothing to worry about now," came the weary, disgruntled voice of Porlyusica from one tent over. "Link, if you're feeling fine, then get some more rest. A thorough examination will be done first thing tomorrow morning."
The boy flinched from the woman's tone, likely able to feel her unseen glare. "O-Okay..." Obediently, he plopped back down on his mat and pulled his blanket up to his shoulders.
Wendy followed suit. She put away her notes and flicked off the Lacrima Lamp before laying down.
Before closing her eyes, Link whispered, "Yorenthall taught me something else. Something special. I'll show you guys tomorrow."
"Cool. Can't wait," Romeo replied.
Wendy smiled. "Looking forward to it. Wait, when you say it's 'special', it's not some sort of ultimate attack, is it?" She dreaded the outcome.
Link quietly chuckled. "No, it's something to share with everyone."
Romeo made a sound of disappointment.
Relieved, Wendy pushed aside her concerns and let sleep finally take over.
She was rudely awakened by a loud explosion. Heart pounding, she had bolted upright, frantically looking around. Her tent was empty and hot from the sun heating it from directly above. People were shouting from somewhere outside, though it didn't sound like screams of terror; more like angry taunts and jeering. Sounded like a typical day in Fairy Tail no matter where they were.
Everything's fine... she assured herself, laying back down; Granny is here. She can do the scolding if things get out of hand.
And things did sound like they were getting out of hand when another explosion rocked the ground. Could it be Link showing off some new moves? The hostile-sounding yelling made her think otherwise. Curiosity finally got Wendy up and out of her tent. She winced from the bright midday sun beaming down from above, needing a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light.
"Morning, Wendy," she was greeted by Carla waiting by the tent; "Or to be more precise, good afternoon."
"Afternoon? Really? H-How late am I?" she asked, hastily brushing her hair with her fingers to be somewhat presentable.
Carla waved a paw at her, quietly laughing. "Why, only an hour past noon."
Wendy groaned in dismay. It was very rare she'd be the last person to wake up, though it couldn't be helped when she had stayed up most of the night. She noticed plumes of dust rising from the treeline behind Carla, past the pavilions. The noise was coming from there.
"What's going on over there?" Wendy pointed as she shielded her eyes from the glaring sun.
Carla scoffed and shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't want to leave you alone since everyone has left to see what the commotion is all about. I can only assume Natsu and the boys are having a bit of fun when Natsu wanted to see what new abilities Link is capable of. Though I may be wrong, by the sounds of it." Her ears twitched at the loud bang and she shook her head. "Nevertheless, Master Makarov and Porlyusica have gone to check it out. Hopefully they will have the situation under control. In the meantime, why don't you go get ready? The girls have set up a female's only area just over there." She pointed at something blue hanging between the trees, opposite of the pavilion.
Feeling icky from yesterday's nauseating trip combined with the tropical humidity, Carla's suggestion was exactly what Wendy needed at the moment. "All right. I'll do that. Thanks, Carla."
The Exceed nodded and started to leave. "When you're done, just follow the noise. I'll be observing the chaos with great judgment."
Wendy climbed back in the tent and grabbed her bag containing fresh clothes and necessities. She made a beeline for the blue thing near the edge of the forest. It was a large tarp tied between the trunks of trees to make a relatively decent-sized private area. There were basins of fresh water and even a makeshift, lever-controlled shower hooked up to an enormous water barrel, engraved with runes to heat its contents. Juvia and Levy had likely rigged the setup together.
The warm shower was exactly what Wendy needed to relax and fully wake up. She was nearly done when another loud explosion rattled her tranquil moment. Sighing, she quickly finished up. She had a strong feeling her healing would be needed.
Wet hair hastily tied in a ponytail, Wendy dropped off her bag back in her tent and hurried past the pavilion to finally see what was happening. The trail of voices – now a mix of angry shouting and cheering – led her to another large, open glade where everyone had mostly gathered on one side. They were clapping, hollering, and screaming with as much enthusiasm as a drunken party.
"Hi, Wendy," Levy was first to notice the girl, waving her over. "Did the noise wake you up?"
Wendy brushed a loose strand of wet hair out of her face to hide the embarrassment she felt. "Yeah... What's going on?"
Levy turned aside so Wendy could slip to the front of the rowdy crowd.
The girl wasn't surprised to find a badly scorched, crater-filled battle zone with two rowdy Dragon Slayers tussling in the dirt; Natsu and Gajeel. The two were going hard in what appeared to be their most viscous battle yet, rolling on the ground and exchanging punches and profanities.
"As you can see," Levy began, gesturing as if giving a lecture; "Natsu and Gajeel are in the middle of a very heated argument."
"Arguing about what?" Wendy exclaimed, wincing at the sight of blood and spit flying.
"On how to properly train Bacon Bits in the ways of a Dragon Slayer," said Cana, sitting atop a keg with a beer bottle in hand right next to Levy. Cana finished the drink in one satisfying gulp and dropped the bottle in the pile of empty ones collecting around her feet. She was clearly enjoying the show.
"It started with Natsu making a few suggestions. But then Gajeel overheard and added his own input," said Levy, shaking her head. "However, with both raised by different dragons, and therefore, different methods, there were lots of disagreements on how the training is supposed to be done. Quickly, escalated into what you're seeing now."
"They've been at it for like an hour now, haha!" said Cana, grabbing some beers from a large cooler next to the keg. She handed one of the drinks to Gray when he approached her for one and tossed another over Wendy's head to Evergreen.
"Over thirty minutes, to be precise," Levy corrected. "It's gone so far that Master has announced that whoever wins will train Link."
"A betting pool has even started," said Cana, cackling evilly. "I've got ten thousand Jewels riding on Natsu. Oh, Wendy! You're a Dragon Slayer too. You can teach Link, right? How 'bout you get in there and kick Natsu's and Gajeel's asses! I'll bet twenty thousand Jewels on you!"
Wendy was stunned that Cana would have that much faith in her. "Uh, n-no, I'd rather not get involved with this... insanity. But I am happy for Link! He wants to train as a Dragon Slayer! Although... Is that a good thing? Where is he now?"
She searched the audience and spotted Romeo on the other end, cheering for Natsu to win. Link was nowhere to be seen.
Levy raised her brow as she also looked around. "You know, I'm not sure. I thought he was still here."
"If you really want to know," started Evergreen, giving Wendy a sly smile as she adjusted her glasses, "Laxus dragged the boy off not that long ago. Said this was ridiculous and that 'those two idiots don't have a clue what they're doing.'"
Wendy did a double-take. "You're saying Laxus took Link to train? I have never thought he would ever do something like that for Link..."
Next to Evergreen, Fried grunted and crossed his arms. "Laxus was never trained by a dragon. His skills as a Dragon Slayer was mostly self-taught, so understands the difficulties of transitioning from a normal mage to a Dragon Slayer."
"I guess that makes sense," said Wendy. She wondered if Grandeeny's way of teaching was also 'wrong' compared to her fellow Dragon Slayers. Different for sure, since the powers of the Sky Dragon focused on healing and support rather than offensive spells. What Wendy knew about being a Dragon Slayer may not apply to what Link was capable of. "If Laxus is actually training Link, then shouldn't someone stop Gajeel and Natsu?"
Evergreen chortled. "And ruin everyone's fun? This fight isn't going to stop until one of them wins. We've all got our bets made, so let's enjoy this madness."
"She's right," Levy agreed with a little chuckle; "We've all got money in this. No one is going to stop them now."
"Even you, Levy?" Wendy questioned in disbelief.
Levy let out a short nervous laugh and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "Well, I've only put five thousand on Gajeel..."
Wendy groaned. With the guild's encouragement, Natsu and Gajeel were determined to beat each other to a bloody pulp. Not wanting to stay and deal with the aftermath, she asked Evergreen, "Do you know where Laxus has taken Link?"
"They're–"
Fried loudly cleared his throat next to her. He gave her a stern sideways glare which then shifted to Wendy. "Unfortunately, his location cannot be disclosed."
"Sorry, gal!" added Bickslow, peering around Fried through the slits of his visor. "He doesn't wanna be disturbed! Boss's orders!"
"Boss's orders! Boss's orders! Boss's orders!" repeated Bickslow's floating dolls that resembled mini, winged barrels.
Evergreen snorted and rolled her eyes at her fellow tribe members whilst taking a sip of her beer. "I'm sure Wendy would be an exception. She promises not to cause any disruptions to their training, right?"
Wendy bowed her head. "Yes! I promise not to cause any trouble!"
"You heard her. Let her pass." Evergreen motioned for Fried and Bickslow to step back with a curt nod of her head. On the other side of the two men, there was an old, overgrown path leading into the forest.
"Let her pass! Let her pass!" chanted Bickslow's dolls as they circled around the man's head.
Laughing hysterically, Bickslow took a deep, theatrical bow while gesturing for Wendy to go on through. "As she wishes."
Meanwhile, Fried silently watched with a stern eye as Wendy sheepishly walked by him.
Before Wendy stepped foot into the forest, Evergreen advised, "Follow the main path until it branches off. You'll have to find them on your own then."
"Got it. Thanks, Evergreen!" said Wendy with a polite wave.
The sound of Natsu's and Gajeel's screams gradually faded behind her as she pushed her way through the forest path. The scents of Laxus and Link were still faintly present along the way, allowing Wendy to follow her nose for the most part. The trail split into three distinct paths just as Evergreen had said about fifteen minutes later.
Knowing Link would always have his Celestial Spirit Keys on him, Wendy pulled out her set of personal keys in which her half of the Locator Charm was attached to. The arrow in the crystal star was pointing relatively close to the lower left path.
She followed the chosen path which led down to a sandy beach that stretched along the island's coast. The cool sea breeze and salty spray welcomed Wendy as she stepped into the bright hot sun. Footsteps in the sand that belonged to an adult and a child led her towards a rocky cliffside at the far edge of the beach.
She spotted Laxus and Link near some boulders. Laxus was poised in front of one of the larger rocks with lightning sparking around his body. Standing far back, Link was watching intently, hands over his ears.
Wendy was just in time to witness Laxus completely destroy a boulder by punching it with a lightning-infused fist accompanied by a thunderous boom. Lightning arced and crackled, scorching and melting the shattered pieces of stone that flew in every direction. Dry spots of sand instantly turned to glass when struck by a stray bolt.
Link's words of amazement shifted to a welcoming greeting when he noticed Wendy watching from afar. Enthusiastically, he shouted and waved her over, making Laxus notice her approach.
Very rarely did Wendy ever interact with Laxus back at the guild so she was nervous when she had his attention. With the surrounding air still tingling from the electrical discharge, combined with the narrowing of Laxus's eyes and stiff lip, Wendy was very intimidated by his presence so she kept her distance.
"S-Sorry!" she uttered meekly, quickly glancing down at her feet to avoid his fervent gaze. "H-Hope I'm not... uh, interrupting a-anything..."
"You're not interrupting," said Link before he added tentatively, "Is she?"
There was a disgruntled sigh from Laxus before he grumbled to himself, "Didn't I tell them not to let anyone come here? God damn it..."
Wendy winced from his annoyed tone and started to shuffle backwards, bowing her head. "I'm sorry! I-I'll leave you two alone..."
Laxus groaned and heaved another sigh. "You're already here, so... fine, whatever. You can stay – only if you keep your upbringing to yourself, got it? I don't want to hear any lectures on how to properly train as a Dragon Slayer."
Wendy nodded vigorously. "Of course! I'm not here to do any of that! I just wanted to watch, if that's okay?"
"You want to watch me learn some Dragon Slaying moves?" asked Link, bounding over to her.
Smiling, Wendy strolled over to close the distance, hands clasped behind her back. "Yeah, I heard you wanted to be a Dragon Slayer. Is that what you really want?"
"Yeah! Natsu suggested I could learn a few moves. I can be a Warrior and a Slayer. Would be cool and versatile in battle, as Romeo says."
"You don't just learn a few moves as a Dragon Slayer, Link," Wendy advised, giving him a slight frown; "Your body and senses will change. You will, essentially, become part dragon. Will you be okay with that? You saw how we fared on the trip here..."
Link didn't hesitate to nod and smile. "I'm not worried about getting motion sickness because I can take your medicines."
"But they're far from perfect..." Wendy mumbled, pursing her lips to the side and fiddling with her fingers. Remembering how sick she was on the ship made her stomach roil.
Link gently touched her arm, making her look at his confident grin. "I know you'll keep working hard to make your medicines better. It's like training, right? You'll perfect it one day."
His confidence in her brought a nice warm, fuzzy feeling that settled Wendy's stomach. If he believed in her that much, then she should do the same for him. "Thanks, Link. Hearing you say that, I'll try my hardest to make my medicine work for all occasions. In the meantime, try your best in becoming a Dragon Slayer."
Link's grin broadened. He tilted his head slightly and started to look at his hands. "A Dragon Slayer is part dragon, huh? Yorenthall said I would awaken as the new Dragon King. Does that mean I am already part dragon?"
Wendy blinked in surprise. "He said you would be a Dragon King?"
Seeing him nod made Wendy's stomach drop. A Dragon King... like an actual dragon? Could he end up like Acnologia? No, with the catalyst, maybe things will turn out differently...
Laxus's chortling cut through Wendy's worries. Arms crossed, he cocked his head at Link and smirked. "I don't doubt your potential, kid, but you as a Dragon King? Hard to imagine that considering your puny size. A Dragon Baby, more like."
Link didn't mind the tease as he placed a hand over his chest, his expression determined. "I don't look like a dragon, but Yorenthall said I have the courage and strength like one! A king protects his vol tierru and that is what I intend to do with my power."
"His... Volt-u? Was that Dracotongue?" Wendy questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, did I say it in Dracotongue? I meant..." Link scratched his chin and furrowed his brow, thinking hard. "Vol tierru... Clan. Like our guild. As Dragon King, I will protect our guild."
"Is that so?" said Wendy, smiling in assurance. "I believe you will be a wonderful king if Yorenthall thought so too. If you are supposed to be a Dragon King, then perhaps you are part dragon in a way. Can I see your hand?"
Without a word, Link offered his left hand and stared curiously.
Since magic was usually cast and controlled through the hands, the changes from human to Dragon Slayer often started there – according to Grandeeney's lessons. One of the first traits to show was the hardening of the nails that would grow into annoyingly sharp claws if not filed down regularly. Wendy had accidentally scratched herself more often than not.
She closely examined and felt Link's nails, surprised to find they were still normal. She leaned close to his face and asked him to show his teeth. He had no fangs either. "You're not showing any signs of being a Dragon Slayer. I wonder if your development is different?"
"Aside from the great battle in Crocus, he hasn't really used his power all that much to develop anything," Laxus pointed out. "It takes time to hone. And a fuck-ton of patience. So, if you don't mind, we were in the middle of something, girl."
"Oh! R-Right! Sorry!" Wendy slunk away due to Laxus's irritated tone and scowl. She started to inch backwards towards the shadier part of the cliffside. She quickly found a nice rock to sit on. "I'll just quietly watch over here..."
Laxus grunted and nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Less distractions, the better, hm? All right, Dragon King," he mocked Link in amusement, "you saw what I did? The Dragon's Iron Fist is one of the easier spells to pull off. Let's see you try it against that boulder." He pointed to a boulder next to the smoking remains of the one he demolished earlier.
Link moved to stand in front of the boulder that was at least five times his height. He shifted into position, mimicking Laxus's stance when he demonstrated the attack. The boy's left fist was shrouded in an icy-blue aura as he held it back, concentrating his power.
Wendy's skin tingled from Link's growing magic as the flickering aura around his fist grew stronger and brighter by the second. She held her breath in anticipation when Link let out a mighty yell and thrust his fist forward.
Blue flame burst from impact against the boulder with a whoosh, spreading over the surface of the rock. The boulder sparkled as if coated with blue glitter for a few seconds before it returned to its normal, dull gray-brown.
With a pained yelp, Link stumbled back and shook his left hand in the air. Laxus burst out laughing. Wendy was rushing over to check before even realizing she had left her spot.
"Link! Did you hurt your hand?" asked Wendy.
Wincing, he showed her his scraped, bloody knuckles.
As she promptly healed him, Laxus looked at the boulder and asked, "Did you actually hit it with your fist? You're supposed to let your magic do all the talking."
Rubbing his healed hand, Link smiled at Wendy in thanks before giving Laxus a look of confusion. "Let my magic... talk?"
Laxus held up a fist that sparked with yellow electricity. "Your magic shields your body from harm if you do it right. When you've concentrated your magic in your fist, you push it all towards the front of your knuckles right before you strike your target." He jabbed the air to demonstrate, lightning soundly crackling from his knuckles. "The impact alone should release that energy into an explosive blast of your element. Once you can change your skin to the protective scales of a dragon, you can add more hurt to your punch. Until then, just focus on striking only with your magic."
Link nodded and massaged his left knuckles. "Okay. I'll try again."
Laxus grunted in response. He glanced at the spot Link had punched earlier and poked at the small crack that likely wasn't there before. "What you did earlier looked impressive but you hardly left a den–" His words were cut short when the entire boulder suddenly collapsed into fine dust, sending a thick cloud of brown in the air.
Wendy breathed in a mouthful of dust by accident. She coughed and wheezed and her nose started to tickle. An explosive sneeze escaped her in the form of a tempest, clearing away every speck of dust in a single breath. When she blinked away the tears, both Link and Laxus were gone and a blown out sand crater lay before her.
"Oh no!" she gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. It wasn't just the dust she had blasted away, but Link and Laxus too! She searched the ocean and spotted their heads bobbing on the waves a fair distance out. "Sorry!" she shouted in a panic, her voice rippling across the sea and likely deafening their sensitive ears, adding insult to injury.
She single-handedly made the situation worse!
Extremely embarrassed, Wendy covered her burning face and sank to her knees. Her promise to Evergreen was as broken as the shattered boulder next to her. Head hung in shame, she waited anxiously on the beach as the pair swam back.
It took close to ten minutes for Laxus and Link to reach the shore. Both were panting and exhausted by the time they climbed out of the water, their clothes heavy with water.
As predicted, Laxus was none-too-happy about the unexpected dip in the water. He looked ready to unleash his wrath on her, one vein pulsing on his forehead and his magic rising.
"I'm so sorry!" Wendy apologized again, bowing her head deeper for forgiveness. She heard a crack of electricity that made her jump and broke into a nervous sweat. "Th-That was an a-accident and–"
"Goddammit, just forget it," Laxus snapped. He let out an aggravated sigh, his magic noticeably waning.
"I thought that was fun," Link spoke up, walking up to Wendy.
She blinked at him in disbelief. Seeing his playful smile slightly lightened the guilt in her heart. He helped pull her up, his hand wet and sandy, not that she minded. She dusted off the layer of sand on her legs and quietly asked, "Are you two okay?"
"I'm okay, but I got water in my ear and lost my sandals," said Link, rubbing his right ear. He wasn't the only one missing his footwear.
Laxus was also bare-footed. Though obviously grumpy, he didn't say anything about it as he was busy wringing water out of his shirt that he had just taken off. Bare-chested, the black tribal tattoo that ran from his left shoulder down to his guild crest above his left hip was visible.
"Don't worry, Wendy," Link assured, seeing how sorry she was, "I still have my shoes back on the boat."
She mustered a small smile. "I-I'll buy you both a new pair when we get back home."
"Don't bother. They were cheap," Laxus grumbled with another heavy sigh. He draped his wet shirt behind his neck like a towel and looked at the spot where Link's boulder used to be. The crater was already half-filled with sand and water from the tides. "You turned that rock into complete dust, Your Highness. Not the outcome I was expecting... What exactly is Aether?"
"It's... the oldest and purest form of magic," Link replied, copying Laxus by taking off his own shirt to wring out excess water. "Yorenthall said that all magic in Earthland is derived from it."
"All magic, huh?" Laxus furrowed his brow slightly as if pondering over that. With a tired groan, he ran a hand through his dripping wet hair and scratched the back of his head. "Not sure how it turned rock to dust, but whatever. We'll continue your training later. I'm heading back to camp to change."
"Yes, Master." Link started to follow after him while Wendy trailed a little bit behind.
"Skip the 'Master', kid," Laxus growled, marching on ahead. "Just Laxus is good enough, all right?"
"Yes, Laxus," Link obliged. Noticing Wendy was falling behind, he slowed down and matched her pace, walking next to her. His keys rhythmically jingled by his hip.
"Sorry for cutting your training short," said Wendy, quietly. "And very sorry for also sending you out into the ocean."
Link laughed at that. "It's okay. I was getting a little too hot in the sun. Master – I mean, Laxus said we'll keep training later, so I'm not disappointed."
They had just entered the cooler parts of the forest when Link spoke up, "Oh yeah, Wendy, there was something I wanted to show you. Do you want to see it now?"
"Oh? That special thing you mentioned last night? Sure."
Stopping, Link grabbed her right hand and faced her. He turned her palm upwards and held up his left index finger. A tiny blue flame flickered at his fingertip. "Are you ready?" he asked, giving her a very intense look.
"Ready for what... exactly?" Wendy questioned, eyeing his magic warily.
"To receive Kar Drakin Ryikose," he answered with a big smile.
Wendy narrowed her gaze and slightly tilted her head. "I didn't catch the last part. I think you said it in Dracotongue again."
He blinked in surprise. "Did I? Sorry... I might have picked up a few words from Yorenthall..."
"Don't be sorry! It's interesting, actually. So what were you trying to say?"
"Kar Drakin Ryikose..." Link repeated, pronouncing it slowly not just for Wendy, but for himself too. "It means... Dragon King's Blessing. Yorenthall showed me how I can share my power with my friends so I can protect you all as your king."
Wendy's eyes widened. Intrigued, she glanced between the blue flame on his finger and his smiling face. "Really? Share your power? How does it work? Do I need to do anything?"
"No, I just have to remember the words..." Link closed his eyes tightly in thought. He was confident when he met her gaze once more. He took a deep breath and in an unwavering voice, he said, "Kerniyaz, rei sa yuir kasi Drakin Kar farin." After the last word, he lightly tapped his burning finger against her palm.
The blue flame suddenly burst outward, spreading across her palm like rivulets of glowing water. Wendy gasped and instinctively pulled away when she felt a warm, tingling sensation rush up her arm before it settled in her chest, making her heart flutter. At the same time, the streaks of blue had collected at the back of her hand into a small pool before quickly morphing into a familiar – albeit smaller – serpentine dragon with feathery wings and a long, thin tail that curled around her wrist. Before she could admire it, the dragon vanished, leaving her skin normal.
"Did it hurt? Are you okay?" Link asked, gently grabbing her hand for a look.
Wendy shook her head. "No, just... surprised, is all. That dragon that appeared... Wasn't it the same as yours?"
"Maybe? I didn't know that would happen!" He chuckled sheepishly. He started to lightly rub the back of her hand, tracing where the mark once was. "The dragon... It's here, I can sense it. So it must've worked!"
Wendy was flabbergasted. She nearly huffed in disbelief and instead became apprehensive. "Wait, you didn't know – Am I your first test subject? Does anyone else know about this?"
Link glanced away as he dropped her hand to scratch the back of his head. "Um... Not yet... I wanted to show you first... Are you mad?"
Wendy sighed. "No, but you should have discussed this with Granny first. Sharing your power must come at a cost, right? Do you feel okay? It didn't drain too much of your magic, did it?"
"No, I'm feeling fine. Really. I have more than enough magic to spare," he boasted, igniting his left hand aflame with his blue aura. His determination returned in the form of a smile. "I should be able to bless everyone here and still feel okay. Let's hurry and catch up to Laxus. He's waiting."
"He is?"
They continued their journey up the forest path and true to Link's word, Laxus was waiting around the bend, his back resting against the trunk of a large tree. The man scoffed at the pair before he resumed to lead them back to camp.
"Dangerous beasts lurk around here," warned Laxus, glancing over his shoulder at them, clearly annoyed. "Easy to lose your way too so don't lag behind, got it? What were you two doing back there anyway?"
"I was giving Wendy Kar Drakin Ryikose," said Link.
"Huh?" Laxus managed to raise his eyebrows up to his hairline in utter confusion.
Link ran up to the man's side and held out a hand. "A Dragon King's Blessing. Can I give it to you too?"
Not losing his pace, Laxus glanced at the boy's hand and grumbled, "Give me what now? This some sort of trick or something?"
"Not a trick. A blessing. I can share some of my power with the guild and protect everyone as the Dragon King," Link explained, patting a hand over his heart.
Laxus snorted and smirked at the boy incredulously. "Really? You can do that, Your Highness?"
"Yes. It's a King's duty, isn't it? To protect their people?"
"A king who rules a kingdom, yeah. A Dragon King, however... Well, I suppose you're not like that black bastard..." For a moment longer, Laxus kept walking until he finally sighed and stopped to face Link. He crossed his arms over his bare chest and gave the boy a pointed look. "All right, I'll bite. Show me this blessing."
Link grinned and motioned for Laxus's hand. "Not show, give." He gently grabbed the man's offered right hand and turned the large palm upwards.
Wendy quietly watched as Link performed the same ritual with Laxus, with one finger inflamed in blue and reciting the words of his blessing in Dracotongue. Laxus noticeably flinched the instant Link tapped his shining finger on the man's palm.
Wendy took a step closer when the same mark of the dragon appeared on the back of Laxus's hand.
Hand clenched into a fist, Laxus pulled away to look at the burning mark before it vanished a few seconds later. He looked as surprised as Wendy had felt when she received her blessing. "That dragon just now..." murmured Laxus, rubbing the spot on the back of his hand, "ain't that the same as yours?"
Link looked at the dragon on his own arm. "I think so."
"Same thing happened to you?" Laxus asked Wendy.
The girl nodded and held up her own hand. "The dragon appeared in the same spot for me too."
Laxus grunted as he massaged his chest, likely rubbing away that strange warm, tingling sensation that lingered. "How does this blessing work?"
Link shrugged. "I'm not sure yet, but I do feel some sort of connection to the two of you now."
"Great," Laxus grumbled before resuming their journey.
"So you feel a special bond between us?" Wendy asked Link as the pair followed behind the older Dragon Slayer.
"I do," said Link, giving her a smile. "It's like Magic Sense except I don't need to concentrate. I just know you're here." He suddenly perked up. "I just remembered what Yorenthall told me. There's a song... Drakin yi Sele Seis. Once everyone has received my blessing, playing it will unite us together."
Wendy was curious what he meant by that, but decided to wait and see. During the rest of their trek, conversation shifted to Link asking about other Dragon Slayer abilities he could learn from either Wendy or Laxus.
Wendy wasn't sure if Aether was capable of supportive spells or healing so she had little to say.
Meanwhile, Laxus simply told him, "Stick with the basics first, kid. Once you have the Dragon's Iron Fist down, we can move to something a little more complex."
"Like the Roar?"
Laxus huffed. "That one's easy. As Wendy demonstrated, you just have to sneeze."
"Roar attacks are just sneezes?" Link exclaimed, looking at Wendy in shock.
Wendy felt her cheeks burn from Laxus's teasing. "What? No! He's just joking, Link. It's actually not like that!"
"Oh? But every time you sneeze, it's like–"
"A Dragon's Roar is not like that!" Wendy stressed, covering her face to hide the deep blush of embarrassment. It was true her sneezes may have caused quite a disturbance when caught off guard, blasting people and furniture off their feet; however, a true Dragon's Roar was more devastating than that, capable of levelling buildings or entire towns if not controlled.
Laxus erupted in laughter, highly amused by her reaction. He pounded his chest afterwards. "She's right, you know? To pull off an actual Dragon's Roar, you'll need the powerful lungs of a dragon. Far too early for you to learn that, Your Highness."
Link appeared a little disappointed. However, hearing that made him more ambitious in his training.
By the time they returned to the glade where Natsu and Gajeel had held their battle, it was significantly more quiet. No one was around. The area was left with a mess with burnt pits, soot, metal shards, and a few poor, abused trees bearing broken branches or splintered trunks.
"I wonder who won," said Link, as they walked around the damaged zone. The smell of smoke and blood lingered in the air.
"Neither," Laxus remarked with a smirk, "because I'm already training you. Keep it that way, unless you want to be disappointed."
The trio followed the sounds of chatter towards the pavilion, finding everyone enjoying a late lunch and playing various card or board games. The delicious smell of grilled meat made Wendy's stomach growl, reminding her she hadn't eaten anything since waking up.
"Back so soon?" The question came from Fried. He and Evergreen were standing guard by the trees, cold drinks in hand. Meanwhile, Bickslow was resting against a tree on the ground, hands folded behind his head, a toothpick in his mouth.
"Did something... peculiar happen?" Evergreen questioned, taking note of Laxus's damp clothing and dirty bare-feet. Adjusting her glasses, her attention shifted to Wendy, one questioning eyebrow raised.
"Was getting hot. Decided to go for a swim," was Laxus's response, much to the surprise of Wendy. "Now we're starving. Getting changed and grabbing a bite to eat. Eat lots, kid," he sneered at Link, "We're going hard with your training this afternoon. As long as we don't get interrupted, yeah?"
That last part was directed at Wendy. She let out a quiet, guilty chuckle. "I-I'll hang around here when you guys decide to go back to train," she assured. She averted her gaze when Fried sent her a sharp glare, quickly suspecting something.
When Link and Laxus departed for the camping tents to change, Wendy quickly excused herself and headed for the pavilion. She followed her nose towards the large red food tent, greeting everyone along the way. Just outside the entrance, she noticed Gajeel slumped over one of the tables, covered in bandages almost completely from head to toe like a mummy, his hair noticeably singed in some spots. Levy and Pantherily were with him, both sympathizing with their friend over drinks and salty snacks.
Inside the tent, there was a buffet table set up with plenty of food still available. Wendy filled up her plate and grabbed an iced tea from Lisanna tending the makeshift bar. Stomach growling even fiercer than before, Wendy quickly joined Carla at a nearby table that was also occupied by Romeo, Happy, and Natsu.
"Natsu, are you okay?" Wendy asked as she took a seat next to him. Similar to Gajeel, Natsu was generously wrapped in bandages, various spots bleeding through. His right eye was swollen shut and he had a nasty cut that ran down the corner of his lip.
"Pfft. Yeah, Gajeel punches like a wimp," he boasted, wincing through a forced grin.
"Did you... win?" she asked tentatively, cutting the meat on her plate to bite-sized pieces.
"It was a draw," Happy answered nonchalantly.
Natsu growled and stabbed his fork into his sausage. "I would've won, you know!"
"You both knocked each other unconscious," stated Carla, matter-of-factly. "Neither of you would have won."
Huffing, Natsu proceeded to chomp on his sausage only to end up hissing in pain from the cut on his lip.
Feeling sorry for him, Wendy reached over to heal his face, hearing a disappointed sigh from Carla.
Natsu's grin was the widest Wendy had seen and well worth the trouble. "Thanks, Wendy! Feels so much better," he remarked rubbing the side of his face. "By the way, have you seen Bacon? He wants to learn some Dragon Slayer moves and I wanna get him started!"
"But you lost, Natsu," Happy pointed out.
"I didn't lose! It was a draw! Means I can still teach him, right?" Natsu took another aggressive bite of his food.
"If it was a tie," said Romeo, hand to his chin, "then both you and Gajeel can train him together?"
"About that," Wendy quickly interrupted before Natsu could make a retort, "Laxus has actually started training him..."
Natsu choked and noisily swallowed the food in his mouth. "What?! Laxus?! Why the hell is he training Bacon?!"
"You got a problem with that?" As if summoned, Laxus came strolling into the tent, dressed in a new change of clothes and a pair of shoes. Trotting not far behind him was Link, still bare-footed, but at least he was dry.
The boy hurried over to Wendy's table at the same time Natsu sprang out of his chair to get right in Laxus's face.
An argument ensued between Natsu and Laxus, which was mostly ignored at Wendy's table when Romeo asked Link eagerly, "So you disappeared with Laxus to train? What did he teach you? Anything awesome?"
"The Dragon's Iron Fist," Link answered, stealing Natsu's seat. There was a plate of appetizers for sharing that Link helped himself to one.
Having overheard, Natsu snorted at Laxus; "You only taught him the Iron Fist? So boring! Gotta start with something cooler like the Dragon's Claw or Dragon's Roar!"
Sighing, Laxus ran a hand down his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, you see? With your brainless logic, Link isn't going to learn any Dragon Slaying from you. Reason why I decided to step in."
"The hell are you talking 'bout?!" Natsu demanded. The arguing continued. Embers and sparks danced upon the Dragon Slayers' clenched fists, the tension between them building up to another, potentially disastrous fight.
Erza abruptly stood from her seat and demanded, "Fighting in here is off-limits. Take it outside if you must. Natsu, haven't you had enough of a beating in one day? Besides, Laxus has a point."
"Ya heard her," Laxus snarled, soundly cracking his knuckles menacingly, "You've got no finesse when it comes to training others, so back off, Dragneel, or you'll soon regret it."
While Natsu was shouting something in the background, Link grabbed Romeo's arm to get his attention. "There's something I want to give you, Romeo. Do you want to see?"
"Oh, uh? Really? A present? Right now?" Romeo raised his brow, clearly distracted from Natsu's and Laxus's ongoing confrontation. Seeing Link nod, Romeo shrugged and said, "Okay, sure."
Link grabbed Romeo's hand, turning his palm upwards. Happy and Carla soon became interested, watching the boys instead of the Dragon Slayers.
Expecting a physical gift, Romeo was confused at first when Link held up a finger that ignited with a gentle blue flame. His confusion quickly turned to fascination.
Wendy sat back and enjoyed her meal as she watched Carla's, Happy's, and Romeo's reactions as the boy was blessed by the powers of the new Dragon King.
Upon the appearance of the dragon flashing on Romeo's skin, he let out a cry of surprise that silenced all the voices in the tent.
"What happened?" Erza demanded, immediately standing right next to their table.
"Romeo! You okay?! What's on your hand?!" Natsu exclaimed, pointing.
"It's – huh?" The dragon on Romeo's hand was gone before he knew it. He rubbed the spot before touching his chest, eyes still wide with wonder. "Uh, wh-what was that just now, Link?"
Wendy and Link shared a laugh. The boy went on to explain what the 'gift' truly was. Astonished; curious; interests piqued; details of his blessing made everyone gather and ask questions. Natsu completely forgot his feud with Laxus, allowing the Lightning Dragon Slayer to sit and eat in peace.
One by one, Link went around and blessed every member of Fairy Tail on the island. Wendy followed close by, making sure there were no negative aftereffects to his body. Suffice it to say, his magic was barely depleting, easing Wendy's and Porlyusica's worries.
Last, but not least, was Master Makarov to receive the blessing. With keen eyes, he watched the ritual unfold without a flinch. "Extraordinary," he commented, eyeing the dragon on his hand for the brief moment it shone; "You not only inherited Yorenthall's power, but the language of Dracotongue as well? Truly fascinating."
"I think I only picked up a few words from Yorenthall," said Link, scratching the side of his face.
Makarov chuckled before he rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Now, Link, you say your blessing will protect us as our Dragon King, however, do not think it is a burden you must carry alone. As Guild Master, it is also my duty to protect Fairy Tail. We will work together."
Link smiled. "I understand, Master. Thank you. The blessing is said to unite us together, stronger than ever when the ancient song Drakin yi Sele Seis is sung." He pulled out his ocarina and before he could play, Makarov put a hand on the instrument.
"Not so hasty, my boy! You say it will unite us, but what exactly is going to happen?" Makarov questioned, raising his brow.
Link looked skyward in thought and shrugged when he had no answer.
Makarov hummed and shared a wary glance with Porlyusica who stood aside. He scratched his chin and chuckled. "Well, let's play it safe and have everyone gather somewhere... more suitable."
And that place was the very same spot where Natsu and Gajeel had their battle. Everyone made a circle around Link who stood right in the middle, his ocarina in hand.
With a nod from Makarov, Link played his special song.
Wendy recognized the melody after the first three notes. It was the song the birds loved to sing back in Verloren Woods and the same song Link had played as a final farewell to Yorenthall's spirit. Each note resonated within her, bringing tears to her eyes, because it was a melody of great importance to Link.
After the final note, it happened all at once. The area turned bright and blue and full of magic and everyone either cried or gasped in shock.
Wendy felt a familiar rush of warmth in her heart, followed by a slight burn on the back of her right hand and an incredible surge of magic power. The mark of the dragon was shining an icy blue on her skin, matching the dragons that shone on everyone's hands or paws gifted by Link.
In the middle, Link stood the brightest and strongest with a pale blue aura surrounding his body, his hair and clothes wavering from the energy. The dragon on his shoulder and the familiar markings that covered his skin on his face to his feet, shone vibrantly.
Seeing the guild empowered by his blessing brought a hopeful smile on Link's face.
"Whoa! This is so cool!" Romeo cried, looking around at everyone else. "We're all so much stronger!"
Porlyusica made a sound of intrigue next to Wendy. She was examining the dragon on her wrinkled, spotted skin, her eyes shimmering within its light. "Though I lack magic power, it's as if I have the energy of my youth."
Makarov laughed and flexed his arms. "Indeed! I feel spry again! Why, I don't even feel any aches in this old body!"
"Interesting. My Storm Sword has changed," noted Erza, wielding her golden greatsword. It was terrifying before and it was even more terrifying now with a sharper, fiercer design from blade to hilt, its edge flashing erratically with lightning.
"Hey, my dragon weapons too!" said Romeo, looking over one of his daggers.
"Oh ho! Our dragon gear appears to be enhanced under this blessing," remarked Makarov, equipping his right, golden gauntlet, which was part of his armour set crafted by none other than Lupus.
"Awesome! So our dragon stuff is stronger too?!" Natsu exclaimed, adjusting the bracer on his right wrist. "Damn, this is great, Ba – ugh!" He suddenly doubled-over, clutching his stomach.
"Natsu! What's wrong?! Stomachache?!" Happy shrieked, clutching Natsu's pant leg.
"My insides... are burning!" Natsu moaned, down on his knees.
Lucy knelt beside him, placing one hand on his back, She suddenly jerked away. "You really are burning!"
Link ran over, worried. "Natsu! Is my power hurting you? I'm sorry!"
"N-No, I don't think – ugh! Fuck! Hurry! Everyone get back!" he roared, shoving both Happy and Lucy away. At that moment, Natsu's body exploded with searing hot flames. Everyone quickly scrambled away.
Natsu screamed in pain within his own inferno. The earth touched by his flames turned to ash and nearby trees and plants were engulfed within seconds.
The fires spread rapidly through the glade, only to be hindered by tides of water conjured by Juvia. The water hissed, boiled, and steamed, unable to douse the raging flames completely.
"His power is rising exponentially!" Makarov exclaimed.
"Natsu! What's happening?!" Happy cried tearfully.
Link was shaking his head. "It's my fault! H-How do I stop this?"
"We'll figure that out later! Everyone, get back before he explodes!" Makarov warned.
Wendy grabbed Link by the hand and pulled him along as everyone ran.
Gray quickly joined Juvia before she also decided to run. "Juvia! Let's do this!" he shouted.
They linked hands, fingers entwined and their dragons shining together. With a wave of their free arms, walls of ice burst forth to join the flowing tides. Their magic surrounded Natsu's inferno and extinguished the outer flames that threatened to spread throughout the forest. Water sputtered and steamed and ice melted and crumbled against the intense heat, however the pair did not relent, conjuring more and more of their elements.
Juvia's water continuously reinforced Gray's walls of thickening ice. Together they forged an enormous, frozen barricade as tall as a mountain, enclosing Natsu and his flames from all sides, leaving the top open to vent. For a few seconds more, the pair maintained their glistening wall, until Natsu's flames suddenly erupted like a volcano, launching a massive ball of fire upwards, searing hot and bright as the sun.
The ice wall shattered like glass, throwing Gray and Juvia backwards from a strong wave of heat. Natsu's screams were soon overcome by a thunderous roar of a great beast coming from the ball of orange flames tinged with pale blue.
Wendy gasped in horror when the fire in the sky began to change shape and form. Giant webbed wings, deep red scales, and golden reptilian eyes; the flames had transformed into a dragon.
A/N: Oh no! Who's that dragon?! Find out next time.
Thanks for reading!
P.S. I've become so popular I've had so many scam art bots asking to bring "my world to life through their amazing art." Sigh, I wish I was as good as they say, lol.