A/N: Hooboy. This chapter gets a teensy bit dark, (no pun intended), so a little warning.

The Light-eater

Unlike the rest of her team, Bisca was in awe at the sudden appearance of the young man clothed in green. He stood fearlessly within the silent chamber, wielding a sword that shone with a mystical holy light, looking like a hero out of a legendary tale. Capable of slaying the very same monster Erza couldn't keep down, he was a skilled swordsman who no doubt possessed great power.

For a fleeting moment, Bisca was afraid he could be another powerful foe. However, when his eyes found hers, she instantly knew who he was. There was no mistaking those sky-blue eyes that always looked at her with fondness and gratitude.

The young man was no stranger, but the wolf she had loved and cared for. Her eyes had likely grown thrice as wide the second she realized the truth. Overwhelmed with shock, she had forgotten about her assault rifle and accidentally dropped it to hide her gaping mouth with an unsteady hand.

She was stunned speechless and could only stare, her head slowly shaking in disbelief. Somehow Links had transformed into this youthful warrior with golden hair. He gave her a smile that defined his strong, bold features. After a small, confident nod of his head, he sharply turned his attention towards the fat man named Owen and within that instant, those pretty blue eyes suddenly turned fierce, reflecting the beast within.

It was as if Bisca had fallen into a trance as she silently watched the following confrontation between the High Priest and Links. Owen pointed his crystal staff at the other, his chubby face red and furious, and yet there was a hint of fear present in his unsteady glower. Links faced the follower of evil, taking on a valiant stance with his blessed sword held before him. The light from the magnificent sword brightened Links' blue eyes, making him seem inhuman; almost god-like.

Bisca, once again, experienced another wave of shock when she recognized the symbol etched upon the blade's surface. Four small triangles forming one set within an octagon…

That's… the Divine Blade From Heaven!

Links did not fall from an island in the sky; he fell from the realm of gods!

"I am the one destined to wield this legendary blade…" he said, his voice so strong and brave that it seemed to resonate within the chamber.

Bisca's eyes couldn't go any wider. She couldn't breathe at this point and started hyperventilating.

Owen's wrong. The Thirteen Gods are real! And standing before her was a holy warrior chosen by the God of Light.

She didn't notice Alzack standing right beside her until he gripped her by the shoulder. He glanced at her sideways, his brow furrowed with worry. "What's wrong, Bis?" he asked, "You know that guy?"

"H-He's…" was all Bisca managed to stutter before Links charged at Owen.

Both mages watched, amazed and impressed at how easily the swordsman slashed through the priest's magical attack, dispelling it completely. Bisca felt a smile tug on her lips and her breathing start to calm.

Links had the power to defeat Owen; a mighty god versus the fool who chose the path of darkness.

The terror on the fat man's face was genuine and seeing it made Bisca grin. She knew he stood no chance against Links!

But then the High Priest cried for aid and summoned a shadowy imp-like creature with a pair of horns. It hovered in midair in front of Owen, its one visible eye shining a dull red and looking straight ahead in a blank stare. It was tiny compared to the giant snake monster and yet its appearance made Links suddenly freeze in his tracks.

Why did he stop?!

From where Bisca stood, she couldn't see the young man's face, but she could tell his will to fight was lost. No longer did he hold his sacred sword ready by his side, but lowered with the sharp tip nearly brushing the ground. He did not move or flinch, even when the imp grew a large, flexible arm from the back of its head and began to gather some sort of black energy within its palm. It was a strange, dark, unnerving power, something Bisca had never seen or felt before. It brought goosebumps on her arms and made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Look out!" she cried.

But her warning went unheard. The imp threw its energy ball at the swordsman and hit him dead-on. The ball burst into a massive orb of black outlined in pale gold and marked with greenish-blue lines and strange symbols. It produced an ear-deafening explosion that destroyed the floor and rattled the whole temple.

Alzack wrapped his arms around Bisca, blocking her view and shielding her from the flying debris. He grunted when something pelted his back, but he didn't fall. Clouds of dust shrouded them, making them cough and wheeze. Bisca covered her mouth and nose with one hand and waved the dust away with the other. Once things had settled and Alzack finally let her go, she gasped in horror at the sight of the huge, deep crater where Links once stood. Floating silently beside it was the shadow imp, staring impassively ahead at nothing in spite of the destruction it caused.

"No! Links!" Bisca screamed.

"What? That was Links?!" Alzack exclaimed, gaping at her in disbelief. She ignored him while her eyes swept across the room, frantically searching for both sword and wielder. Her heart wrenched when she found neither.

Laughter thundered throughout the chamber, coming from the gullet of the loathsome High Priest. "Damn the God of Light and its Chosen!" he bellowed, his voice high with glee. "And damn the Thirteen Gods and their Children! Bahahahahaha!"

The sound of his grating laugh combined with his words brought Bisca's blood to a furious boil. She pushed past her husband and equipped her sniper rifle, her violet eyes blazing at the ugly, overweight, and pathetic excuse of a man.

The sharpshooter didn't hesitate. It took only a second to aim and a split second to pull the trigger. There was no Divine Blessing spell to divert her shots this time. Her killing bullet hit its mark, piercing into Owen's thick skull right between his eyes, instantly putting an end to his awful laughter. His head snapped back from the impact and he started to teeter backwards. Bisca expected his heavy body to crash with a satisfying thud, but instead, he somehow stayed precariously on his feet.

His laughter returned, abruptly cutting into the still silence that had briefly fallen over the chamber. Slower, deeper, and reverberating, his booming voice sent nervous chills down Bisca's spine. He swung forward and straightened in his posture, which should have been impossible with that bullet hole in his forehead. Blood slowly trickled down his nose and cheeks, a shade of red so dark it looked nearly black. "Was that supposed to hurt, Lady Bisca?" he mocked, his pudgy lips twisting into a fiendish sneer. His eyes snapped open, no longer a dark brown and human, but crimson and cat-like with the sclera now all black. They narrowed at Bisca, flashing bright with murderous intent.

The sharpshooter flinched, feeling a twinge of fear.

"So it's true, you really are a demon," Erza snarled, soundly cutting the air with her sword.

A demon?!

Bisca gulped and broke into a cold sweat. Her hands had gone cold and clammy and yet she dared to keep her aim on the demon disguised as a man, the crosshairs locked on his smug, bloody face. Her trigger finger was itching to pull, however she knew it was useless to fire. Never had she encountered a demon before and never had she dared to face one. They were a whole other level compared to the criminals, monsters, and wild, ferocious beasts she had dealt with all her life. Demons were intelligent, powerful, terrifying, and downright evil. This was no longer just a simple A Rank mission, but an S Rank and Bisca couldn't be any more grateful to have Erza on her team.

Unlike the sharpshooter, the scarlet-haired warrioress stood unfazed, still dressed in her pink Fairy Armour. She was glaring at the vile fiend, looking ready to kill with her twin blades. An expert in battling demons, she was perhaps the only one on the team who could fight Owen, especially with Links out of the picture.

"A demon," the priest echoed, reaching up to touch the hole in his head. His fingers came back red and glistening. He slowly licked the blood off and formed a twisted smile, showing his set of perfectly white teeth that all seemed sharper than normal. "The truth has been exposed," he mused, his attention flickering between each mage before finally settling on Bisca's disgusted face. "You have awakened the darkness inside me, my dear Bisca, and the darkness is angry."

Erza growled. "I don't know how you are able to wield such holy magic, but your game ends here!"

"Oh, I am playing no mere game. I am a part of a grander scheme: the revival of our true Lord and the downfall of the human race." Owen held his staff before him, one hand caressing the shining egg on top while his red eyes never left Bisca's. "My mission is to eliminate all who wish to hinder our plan. You've heard the old legend of this temple, I'm sure. Jarron had likely rambled on about it. It spoke of a Chosen One of Light who would appear when the forces of evil began to rise. Well, I have nothing more to worry about. That legend will remain a legend because you have witnessed it yourself; that pathetic Chosen One is dead!"

He pointed the crystal end of his staff towards Bisca and Alzack, his eyes wide with madness. "How unfortunate that you and your friends will never see the day of my Lord's return, Lady Bisca! Say farewell to this world for there are no gods to protect you here! Imp! Kill them!"

The little black creature that had not moved since the blast finally reacted to Owen's command. It lazily turned to face the Fairy Tail couple, its dull stare looking beyond where they stood. The extra arm behind its head was already raised above its horns, gathering dark energy within its large palm.

Bisca quickly shifted her aim towards the imp and fired an exploding bullet. Instead of hurting or interrupting the creature's attack, her shot went right through it as if it truly was a shadow. Her bullet ended up blowing apart a pile of rubble and nothing more.

Erza was next to try. Wearing her Lightning Empress Armour, she was a white and scarlet blur, moving as fast as the lightning she wielded. She was upon the imp in half a second, her lance charged with crackling electricity. With a furious yell, she thrust her weapon at the monster, shooting brilliant arcs of lightning out of the split-open tip. But just like with Bisca's bullet, Erza's attack harmlessly passed through the phantom creature, resulting in the lightning to scorch and shatter the ground and broken machines behind it.

Over the noise, Bisca heard Erza's startled "What?!" before the imp threw its black energy straight at Titania. With no time to dodge, the warrioress attempted to slash the energy with her lance only to have it explode the instant her blade connected, catching both her and the imp in the blast.

Another explosion rocked the temple. The dark energy destroyed everything it touched, blasting a new hole in the floor and throwing debris in all directions.

Alzack moved quickly to act as Bisca's shield once again. He took the brunt of the impact when something heavy knocked them both down.

Bisca landed on her back with her husband on top, the wind knocked out of her and her rifle and hat lost. Her hat and gun were the least of her worries. She choked on dust before she could ask, "A-Al, are you all right?"

Alzack groaned and started to push himself off. "Besides a concussion and sore back, I think I'll live. Oh…" He swore out loud, prompting Bisca to sit up and follow his gaze one heartbeat later.

She peered through the settling dust and found no sign of Erza. Only a crater remained. Panic took over. "Erza… Even Erza was…" Killed, she was afraid to say. She couldn't believe it. Erza was the toughest, most indestructible person Bisca had known. There was no way Titania could be defeated, and yet… the fearless warrioress was nowhere to be seen.

First Links and now Erza… The shadow creature was too strong and untouchable. Where it had gone, Bisca didn't know. Maybe it killed itself in its own attack. She could only hope. Her thoughts were interrupted by the demon priest's very obnoxious laugh.

There was no time to be afraid; fear turned into rage. "None of us can touch that shadow imp," she growled. "Not even Erza. We have to take out Owen first!"

"I was just thinking the same thing," was her husband's response. While rolling onto his feet, he equipped his special pair of magnums, both shiny and gold with black leather grips.

Bisca opted to use her heavy, hand-held, six-barreled gatling gun. With two extra ammo belts strapped over her shoulders and another belt feeding into the gun, she was ready to go all out. "Ready, Al?" she asked, her violet eyes locked on their target who had yet to care about them.

Standing beside her, Alzack cocked both of his guns. "I'm locked and loaded. Ready when you are, dear."

Together, they raised their magic power, surrounding themselves in a vibrant blue aura. They fused their magic energies to become one in mind and heart, a feat accomplished after years of love and practice. A pale blue casting circle appeared beneath their feet and the barrels of their weapons began to shine white with imbued power, signifying an increase in firing power and an infinite supply of ammo.

"Let him have it!" Bisca shouted.

And they both pulled their triggers.

"Unison Raid: Endless Triple-Bullet Barrage!"

The chamber erupted with rapid gunfire. The demon never noticed the couple's combined attack until it was far too late. Bisca was pleased to wipe that stupid smile off his face with a deadly spray of magic bullets. Drilling, piercing, and explosive: these three types of bullets pelted the priest's plump body in endless succession, ripping, tearing, exploding, and burning all at once.

Thick black smoke from the explosive shots quickly obscured the mages' view on their target, but that didn't stop their rain of hurt. They continued to unload their infinite clips at the exact spot where the demon last stood, shooting to kill.

Although the spell lasted a good few minutes, it wasn't long enough to Bisca, not when she wanted to keep pumping the wretched demon full of magic ammunition. She felt dissatisfied when the magic circle faded and their guns returned to normal. She kept her finger on the trigger a little longer, going through half her ammo belt, before releasing it. She lowered her gun with the barrels still smoking hot and spinning. Piles of bullet casings surrounded them, glinting like golden coins under the Lacrima.

The green-haired mage held her breath, her eyes never leaving the veil of black smoke ahead of her. She was so focused that she barely noticed her arms shaking from the gatling's weight and heavy recoil. She couldn't hear anything over the ringing in her ears except the rapid beating of her anxious heart.

Alzack suddenly grabbed her arm and yelled, "Behind us!"

That was when Bisca sensed the familiar dark presence by the goosebumps running up her arms. She whipped her head around and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of the imp hovering a few feet away, its dull red eye staring through them. Its head-arm was already raised and starting to gather its fearsome power within its palm.

In haste, Bisca sent her gatling and extra ammo back to her personal storage dimension and allowed her husband to pull her away. They ran in the opposite direction, desperately trying to avoid the phantom's attack. Bisca tripped and fell over something sharp and metal, scraping her bare legs open. Alzack quickly helped her back to her feet and glanced backwards. The fear in his expression spoke of the terror coming their way.

Grim determination flashed across his face. He easily lifted Bisca off her feet with strength she never knew he had and dove forward, leaping an impressive distance.

Bisca shut her eyes and clung to her husband right when the imp's attack exploded the ground right where they last stood a second ago. They were thrown through the air by the ear-shattering blast. Within that one second they were airborne, Alzack somehow managed to twist his body in midair to cushion Bisca from the jarring impact against what felt like a wall.

Next thing she knew, she was lying dazed and winded on the floor with Alzack prone on top, his head right below her chin. He was limp and unmoving. "Al…" she whispered, giving him a little shake. He didn't respond and it made her worry. "Al! Please, get up!"

There was an audible moan and nothing else.

She breathed a quick sigh of relief. He was still alive and only knocked unconscious. She freed her arms and braced the back of his head, only to frown when she felt warm blood in his hair. He had protected her yet again out of instinct and devotion. There was no man she could love more.

She kissed the top of his head and whispered her thanks before carefully rolling him off and laying him on his back. It was her turn to keep him safe.

Bisca ignored every new bruise and cut on her body and climbed to her feet. Black smoke shrouded her view and she realized where she landed. She armed herself with another assault rifle, this one packing more firepower compared to the one she had dropped somewhere in the chamber.

Something stirred within the thinning smoke, making the sharpshooter stiffen and point her weapon directly at it. She saw the egg-shaped jewel of the High Priest's holy staff shining through the haze and it was held high and moving. Next to follow were the pair of large, inhuman eyes that burned bright red and angry and they immediately narrowed at the only mage of Fairy Tail standing nearby.

"Oh, Lady Bisca… how you've ruined me…" snarled the demon whom refused to die, his voice now a deep, throaty growl. The smoke finally dissipated to reveal the fiend's true form. 'Ugly' didn't even begin to describe his transformation. He was hideous; grotesque; an abomination. He was a manifestation of a twisted nightmare.

He towered before the lone woman like a giant, standing five times as tall as the other on thick stumpy legs. He had a head and face like a toad with a short, wide snout, blubbery lips, and round, bulbous eyes. His flabby skin was a sickly grayish-black and covered in disgusting warts. Rows of sharp teeth filled his huge, toady mouth and they were all bared at Bisca in wide, terrifying snarl. He was fat as a man and fatter as a demon bearing a huge, rounded, sagging belly and many, jiggling rolls beneath his jowl that swallowed his neck. An extra set of arms sprouted from his back, thin as sticks with long, slender, bony fingers that curled around the sacred staff. His other two arms were massive and strong, ending in chubby clawed fingers.

Worst of all, there were no signs of any damage done to him from Bisca's and Alzack's Unison Raid, only the destruction of his robe. Scraps of torn, burnt cloth clung to parts of his body and his glowing pendant lay forgotten on the floor.

Evil radiated from his being, no longer concealed under a disguise. Cold, unforgiving, powerful, and malicious… Bisca stood frozen, suddenly stricken with newfound fear that shattered the last of her courage and vanquished her will to fight. She could only gape in horror, her body refusing to move.

"You tore up my human flesh," the demon continued, taking one heavy step forward. Stone and metal crunched beneath his weight and every flab on his body wobbled like jelly. "I had worn the skin of that man for over twenty years after I killed and devoured his delicious soul. What a mess you've made, my dear. Such an impudent lot you Fairies are, ruining my work and now this. I have no other choice now, I have to kill them all, every damn worshipping fool of this wretched rock pile before I can return to Tartaros.

"Are you pleased in knowing what you've done, Lady Bisca? Their deaths will be yours to blame. None shall see the morning sun. Not even you." He approached her slowly, each pounding step sending a miniature quake throughout the chamber. He swung his staff in a circle above his head and instantly absorbed the magic from every Light Lacrima in the chamber into his jewel, casting the room in shadows. The egg shone as bright as the sun for a brief moment before the hideous demon began to suck the light into his gaping mouth like a living vacuum. The life of the crystal faded to black after the last of its energy was drained, bringing complete darkness to fall. There was a loud smacking of wet lips as the demon savoured his meal. Only his eyes remained visible, and they continued to draw closer to the lone mage with each pounding step.

It was more terrifying being surrounded by darkness. Bisca was uncontrollably shaking. A part of her mind was screaming at her to run the other way, but her feet remained glued to the floor. The other part was yelling at her to fight or else she would die. Alzack, Romeo, the people of the temple… with Links and Erza gone, she was the only one left to stand in the demon's way.

The demon stopped before the sharpshooter, so close she started to suffocate from his evil aura.

Fight, damn it! FIGHT!

If she died here, she would never see her daughter again.

She screamed more in terror than in anger and pulled the trigger. It was useless. Her rifle was smacked painfully out of her hands and sent clattering somewhere far away. Huge icy fingers grabbed her and lifted her off the ground with ease. Giant red eyes filled her vision as the demon held her up to his face.

Perhaps she should be glad there was no light; she didn't have to see his hideous mug up close and personal. She could smell him though, and he reeked of smoke and spicy cologne. With her arms pinned within his pudgy fist, she could only kick uselessly at the air and wriggle her head side-to-side.

He could crush her into a bloody pulp if he wanted to, but instead he chose to snicker at her futile attempt to break free. Flesh as cold as a dead corpse gently stroked the side of Bisca's cheek, making her skin crawl. She whipped her head away, however there was no escaping the demon's repulsive touch.

"My, what beautiful skin you have," he said, a sneer evident in his harsh voice. "So soft and smooth and flawless. I want it. Since you ruined my old skin, I shall now wear yours. I will live on as you, as a mage of Fairy Tail. I will become Lady Bisca. Don't cry, my dear. Don't cry."

Bisca was so terrified by the demon's words that she didn't realize she was crying. He was going to steal her life and take her family and friends.

"No no no…" she managed to whimper as she squirmed and shook her head in a wild panic in his unyielding grip.

"There is no Light to guide you this time. Now hold still, my dear. I don't want to damage that pretty face of yours."

It felt like a knife made of ice was stabbed deep into Bisca's right temple, sending chills and pain throughout her body. She screamed and kicked wildly, hoping to hit her torturer, but to no avail. The knife slowly cut down and she screamed even louder, her throat raw and hoarse. It was so excruciating she wanted to beg the demon to stop, but only sobs escaped her lips.

She prayed for someone to help her – even the Thirteen Gods – when the pain became too much to bear.

Everything turned cold and numb when her consciousness slipped away. She thought she heard a wolf howling in the distance, its cry echoing all around her. It summoned the golden sun, bringing light and warmth to the world.

Bisca smiled weakly towards heavens before everything went black.

A loud explosion combined with someone splashing cool water over his face made him jerk awake. He sputtered and tried to get up out of battle instinct, but the sudden ache in his chest prevented him from rising very far. Groaning, he rolled onto his side and wiped the water off his face with the back of his hand before he cracked open his eyes. He was greeted by bright light and Romeo's wide-eyed stare.

"Links!" the boy breathed in relief. He was holding his water bottle, which explained where the water came from. He suddenly looked guilty and nervously hid his bottle behind his back and quickly bowed really low, nearly smacking his forehead on the floor. "I'm really sorry for getting you wet! You wouldn't wake up and… Well… Uh… Are you okay?"

"I think so…" Link grunted in response as he carefully moved into a sitting position. A golden sparrow landed on his shoulder and chirped wildly in his ear before nuzzling against his neck, her body warm and soft. He reached up and gently stroked Pipo's tiny head with a finger to assure her he was fine. Pipaya was hovering above like a guardian deity, silently keeping her keen eyes on him.

Link looked around, seeing a wall nearby that was cracked and slightly caved in and broken machines scattered about. "What happened?" he asked Romeo. His chest was bruised and aching, feeling as if he had gotten punched squarely by a Goron. A few ribs were likely cracked. And his head… When he touched the back of it, he found a swollen, tender bump. He had a good feeling that he was the one who made the dent in the wall. The last thing he remembered he was facing off against the fat priest who wielded a holy staff.

The young mage straightened and stared at the swordsman in shock for some reason. "You don't remember? There was a… a shadow… goblin thing. The High Priest summoned it to stop you. And it did! It somehow paralyzed you and then it threw this weird black energy bomb that blasted you across the room!"

"Shadow goblin?" Link closed his eyes and tried to remember. Midna appeared in his memory, a shadow who rose from the ground to hover before him, her one red eye unfocused and staring through him. She did not paralyze him, it was her sudden appearance that caught him off guard; he did not expect to find her here as an enemy. His heart wrenched and he touched the pain his chest, the feeling of betrayal returning. Deep down, he knew she did not attack him willingly. In fact, she would never listen to another person's command. She was somehow being controlled by the demon and knowing this made him furious.

"It got Erza too," Romeo continued, shaking his head in utter disbelief. "She couldn't land a hit on it – no one could! And it probably got Bisca or Alzack in that last explosion I just heard!" He suddenly prostrated before the hero again. "Please, Links! You have to help us! You're the Chosen One of Light, aren't you? You can defeat that shadow goblin and the mad priest like you did with that snake monster! Please! I'm sorry I called you 'boy' all those times… I didn't mean to disrespect–"

"Romeo," Link grabbed the young mage by the shoulder and made him rise, meeting the child's pleading gaze with a kind expression. "Treat me as you would a friend. There is no need to ask and no need to apologize for anything. I already know what I must do." Pipaya twittered shrilly. A warning. He turned his head towards the rising evil he could sense within the chamber, beyond the piles of broken, twisted metal. "My sword, where is it?"

Romeo shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't see where it flew. I'm sorry."

Link gave the boy an assuring squeeze on the shoulder. As long as the Master Sword was not taken, he wasn't too worried. "Stay here. I will search for it."

"Wait!" Romeo grabbed the sleeve of Link's tunic just as he got to one knee. "You dropped this." Within an instant, something magically materialized within the boy's right hand and he handed it to the swordsman.

Link eyed the object closely out of confusion, having never seen it before. It was a solid bracelet made of the blackest metal he had ever seen. No light reflected across its smooth surface, making seem like a solid form of shadow. There was a familiar dark power emanating from it; the power of Twilight. As he ran his fingers over it, he finally realized what it was when he felt the runes etched in the metal.

It was Bisca's tracking bracelet he had worn as a wolf. It had unknowingly fallen off when he changed back to normal but why was it now covered in Twilight? One theory came to mind and he wanted to test it.

Cautiously, he clasped the bracelet on his right wrist and immediately saw the effect of the curse. Flakes of Twilight spread from the bracelet to his fingertips, up his arm and over his entire body, covering him in a suffocating darkness. His skin grew uncomfortably hot and itchy as it sprouted fur and his body felt really awkward as parts contorted, stretched, and shrunk as he transformed from man to beast.

When his transformation was complete, the first thing he noticed were the different scents his sensitive nose picked up upon his first breath. He could smell Romeo, his spirits, the burnt metal from the machines, the reek of fresh smoke and blood – his blood. He had forgotten about the bleeding injuries on his right side and shoulder.

Romeo gasped in surprise. "Whoa! What was that black stuff? It changed you back into a wolf!"

Link looked at the gleaming gold bracelet around his front right foot. As he had surmised, without Midna around to collect the Twilight repelled from his body, the curse had instead somehow gotten absorbed into Bisca's golden bracelet. Perhaps the magical properties of the accessory attracted the dark energy towards it like a magnet. If this was the case, then he would be able to transform into a wolf without Midna's help.

Pipo was most ecstatic at the return of Link's beastly form. She landed on top of his furry head and hopped up and down while happily chirping, "Master! Master! I'm glad you can turn back into a beast! It's much easier to talk to you this way!"

Link winced at her loud voice. "Please mind the bump on my head. I hope I did not make you worry," he replied, glancing up at his spirit companions.

"That little shadow monster got you good! We thought you were done for!"

"That little shadow monster… She is my friend and I must save her from that demon."

"What?! Your friend?!"

Link winced again.

Pipaya fluttered down to the wolf's eye level, ignoring her daughter's outburst. "Master Link, do you sense it? The demon is finally showing his true form after your companions tried to attack him!"

He nodded and started to growl at the evil presence in the chamber. It was strong and more noticeable than before, bleeding with malicious intent. Every hair on his body stood on end.

"Yes, I can feel it," he replied. And he could hear it too. Heavy, stomping footsteps that sent tremors throughout the chamber and the deep, growly rasp of its voice. The demon was confronting whoever was still capable of battle. Whether it was Alzack, Bisca, Erza, or all three, Link wished to aid them.

He was about to ask the falcon about his sword when the room suddenly turned dark. The light from every crystal disappeared as if someone had turned them off with a switch. Thanks to Pipaya's glowing body, he wasn't completely blinded by darkness.

"Wh-What just happened?!" Romeo squealed in a panic. He jumped to his feet and quickly engulfed his hands in orange flames. He frantically looked around, expecting an enemy to suddenly appear out of the shadows.

Link sensed nothing nearby. He remained calm and quietly barked at the boy to show there was no immediate danger. The threat lay elsewhere, beyond their sources of light.

Romeo was on the verge of tears and shaking in fright by the time he understood the wolf's body language. He fell to his knees with a trembling sigh.

Meanwhile, Pipaya was looking at the lifeless crystals hanging in the chandelier above them, her eyes full of worry. "My power…" she said softly, "The demon has taken my magic from the Lacrima…"

"That must be why it's so dark in this temple," said Pipo with a shudder. "It's the demon's fault!"

A scream filled the chamber, snapping Link's attention. Ears perked straight up and eyes wide, he listened. The scream was full of fear and it was soon accompanied by a short burst of mini-explosions before both came to an abrupt end.

"That… That was Bisca!" Romeo exclaimed, jumping back onto his feet. "She's in trouble!"

Link shot into action – or tried to. The ache in his chest combined with the sharp pain in his right shoulder and side made him fall face-first after he attempted to run.

"Master! You're too hurt!" Pipo cried.

The wolf grunted with effort as he got back up. "As long as I can move, I can still fight!" he grumbled, shaking away the new pain. He limped forward with no other protests from his spirits. Even Romeo stayed back.

Another scream pierced his ears, shrill and full of agony. Hearing Bisca's tortured voice drove Link past his limits. Adrenaline numbed his pain and fueled his limbs. He broke into a sprint, swerving and leaping over every obstacle in his way with Pipaya providing enough light to see. There was no time to search for his sword, saving Bisca came first.

Hurry! Before it is too late!

Her screams turned into tearful sobs.

Fearing he would not make it, he leapt onto one of the machines to gain a better view. Nothing but darkness waited ahead of him, however he could sense the demon by his aura and stench. And Bisca… the sharp scent of her blood worried him greatly.

"Pipaya, bring us light!" Link barked.

"As you wish, Master!" replied the falcon. "Shine!"

The wolf took a deep breath and howled along with her cry, to make it appear as if he was the one to summon light back to the lifeless crystals. Every Lacrima flashed bright and intense, chasing away the cold shadows. Not only did he want to draw the demon's attention away from Bisca, he also wanted to show the accursed fiend that it was useless to hide in the darkness. Light will always shine upon evil and Link was here to prove it.

Blue eyes were fierce and angry when they spotted the giant, grayish-black abomination that had taken the fat man's place.

Bisca's screams had gone silent.

"What is this?!" the demon snarled. The creature spun around on fat stumpy legs, revealing his hideous toad-like face to the hero. He scowled at the wolf, but the beast paid no attention to him.

Link was instead focusing on Bisca who was held within the demon's clutches. She was limp and unmoving, her face pale and her eyes closed towards the ceiling. Fresh blood trickled down the side of her face, mixing with her fallen tears, and soaking into her green hair, staining it a deep red.

Link felt a twinge in his heart. Was he too late to save her? He whimpered at the thought only to have his anger renewed at the sound of the demon's riling voice.

"Wretched mutt, you're still alive?!"

The wolf bared his fangs in a vicious snarl, growling like a savage beast.

No matter how many times you strike me down, I will always return with a vengeance! I am the wielder of the legendary blade and the bringer of light, demon! I will not fall so easily! For everything you have done to me and my friends, you will pay for it by a hundred fold!

Link jumped from one machine to the next, quickly closing the distance between him and his opponent. He was enraged; he wanted to rip through every one of those saggy chins and tear out the demon's throat.

The fiend hissed in frustration, his eyes blazing. "You are no immortal beast! This time I will send you to the Gates of Hades!" he roared, raising his free hand. His yellowish-brown claws flashed white as he swiped vertically down in the air, sending five deadly waves of energy in the shape of crescent blades. It was similar to his Divine Scythe attack except the blades were wider and faster. They cut through stone and metal as if they were only butter, slicing everything in their path towards the lone wolf.

Link mustered all his strength in his back legs to perform a mighty leap. He sprang up high to avoid the attack, soaring mere inches above the magic blades. Once all four feet touched the open floor, he charged at the demon as fast as a fired arrow.

He was upon the fiend within seconds, leaping at the monstrosity's shocked face. Sharp fangs sank into thick, flabby skin, drawing a startled cry. Link managed to tear off a mouthful of disgusting demon fat just as he was swatted aside by one giant hand.

With a yelp, he crashed hard onto his uninjured side and skidded across the rough ground. He was back on his feet one heartbeat later, too angry to feel any pain. He lunged at his seething foe, his mouth hungry for another bite of demon.

Dark blood gushed from the missing chunk from one of the demon's many chins, but the wound was barely deep enough to be fatal. Seeing his own blood made him cry out in fury. He swiped at the charging wolf, sending another wave of crescent blades.

The hero swerved. The blades rang past him, clipping the hairs off the tip of his tail. He breathed a quick sigh of relief at narrowly avoiding getting sliced to pieces.

"Cursed mutt! Die!" the demon bellowed. He plunged his whole fist into the floor, shattering the rock around it. "Divine Ray!"

"Below you!" Pipaya shrieked.

The ground violently shook right where Link was standing. Something big was definitely coming. The wolf jumped out of the way a second before the floor violently burst with a huge beam of blinding white energy that was more than wide enough to swallow him whole. It struck the roof and blinked out a second later, leaving behind a scorched circle in the ceiling and a gaping black hole in the floor.

"Die! Die! Die!" the demon bellowed.

"Keep moving!" Pipaya shouted.

Link didn't need to be told what to do. He could sense the demon's attacks coming his way. Without skipping a beat, he dodged three more incinerating rays of light before resuming his course towards his foe.

The fat toad snarled and pulled his fist free when he couldn't hit the nimble wolf with such a large, predictable attack. He resorted to cowardly tactics instead. "Stay back, mutt! Or else I'll snap her body in half!" he warned, holding Bisca high up for the wolf to see.

That stopped the hero in his tracks.

"Damn him!" he barked, snapping his bloodied teeth at the fiend. Snarling viciously, he impatiently paced back and forth, his eyes never leaving the demon's heinous face. He regretted not freeing Bisca first, thinking he could kill the demon swiftly.

A smug, toothy smile formed on the abomination's big fat lips. He started to laugh, a thunderous rumbling coming from beneath the jiggling folds of his neck. It was suddenly cut short by a loud bang and a small fiery explosion to the back of his head. He jerked out of surprise rather than in pain and twisted around with an angry hiss.

Standing behind him was Alzack and the man was absolutely livid.

The mage held one of his firing weapons steadily in both hands, aiming the golden barrel directly at the toad's ugly mug. A loathing glare met the demon's furious scowl. "Let her go!" Alzack demanded.

The demon was hardly intimidated by Alzack's stance. He snarled and took a stomping step towards the man, staring down at the human as if he was an irritating insect that needed to be squashed.

Alzack stood his ground unflinchingly. "Are you too ugly to hear me? I said 'Let her go!'"

"How annoying…" the demon muttered in distaste, curling his fat fingers into a massive, tight fist. "You pathetic little worms keep crawling back! I'll make sure you all stay dead – argh!"

Someone beat Link in attacking the demon while he was distracted – someone with long flowing red hair and dressed in gleaming black armour. It was Erza and she was as quick as she was strong, flying in on webbed dragon-like wings and slashing with her sword. She attacked so fast that her weapon appeared only as silvery streaks to Link's eyes.

Multiple gashes appeared on the demon's meaty arm, making him flinch back and drop Bisca.

"Alzack!" Erza cried.

The man was already diving to catch his wife. Once she was safe in his arms, he made a mad dash out of there, leaving Erza to deal with the demon.

The scarlet-haired warrioress continued her onslaught, hacking at the toad's flabby body without any mercy, farther pushing him back.

Link thought she had the battle won, but then the giant managed to snatch her sword by the blade in mid-strike with one of its bony hands. Erza let go of her weapon in an instant and back-flipped away. In the midst of her maneuver, her black armour was suddenly replaced by another set within a blink of an eye.

Her new armour was a sight to behold, both beautiful and gallant. All silver and gray, she was like an angel with four majestic wings made of sharp blades. She wielded twin swords in her plated hands, but it seemed that two blades were not enough. At least fifty more copies of those swords magically appeared out of thin air, hovering over her head. Each one was aiming its deadly point towards the enemy, ready to turn him into a living pin-cushion.

Link quietly watched the showdown in astonishment. An angel versus a demon; beauty versus abomination; good versus evil. He prayed for Erza's strength to overcome the other.

"Your terror ends now!" the woman proclaimed, fearless and angry. "Trinity Sword!" She slashed both her swords outward, unleashing a blade of bluish-white energy in the shape of an arrow head. At the same time, she launched all the levitating swords towards their target.

Despite the many bloody cuts covering his body, the demon didn't seem affected by his wounds. He was more angry than hurt, glaring vehemently at Erza. He raised a hand at the last moment, erecting a transparent barrier that deflected the mage's magic and her many weapons. The magic blade dissipated into nothingness while her many swords soundly clattered to the floor, piling around the demon's feet.

Erza growled a curse and magically retrieved her discarded weapons with invisible hands, making them hover around her once more.

With his barrier still up, the demon stomped towards the angelic mage, his whole body wobbling with every step, spraying the floor with his own dark blood. He snorted and formed a hideous, twisted smile. "How very wrong you are, my dear," he hissed, swinging his staff in a circle above his head. "My terror has only begun!"

Light from every Lacrima was suddenly drawn to the egg-shaped jewel atop his staff, bringing back the haunting darkness. The egg shone brightest for only a second before the demon sucked the energy into his gaping mouth.

Pipaya gasped, "He is consuming my power?"

Not good, was Link's first thought.

Under the falcon's natural light, he could see that it was truly not good indeed; all of the demon's gaping wounds quickly mended before his eyes. And his aura… it had grown stronger.

If the demon could use the Celestial Spirit's power to his advantage, it would be risky to have Pipaya return light to the chamber.

However, that meant leaving Erza to fight blindly in the dark.

"Master Link, what shall I do?" the falcon asked as she swooped down to the wolf's level, reading his thoughts.

Link growled in frustration. He tried to think fast, only to get distracted by the sudden appearance of a flaming red sword. Erza had switched into yet another set of armour, this one consisting of black, red, and gold plating. She had somehow changed her hairstyle as well, going from free-flowing to pigtails.

She steeled against the approaching demon, her eyes burning as fierce as her blade. She was unafraid against all odds, a true warrior in heart and soul. Her weapon was her light and she could clearly see her enemy in all his fat, ugly glory.

"Master! Master! Over here!"

Link turned his head at the sound of Pipo's voice and found the sparrow on the opposite side of the room, flying in circles around Romeo. The boy was walking backwards, dragging something very heavy with him, something that lit up his face in pale white light. When he pulled the object into view, Link's eyes widened.

"The boy has found your sword!" exclaimed Pipaya.

Believing Erza could hold her own for a little while longer, Link fully turned and sprinted towards Romeo and Pipo.

Something stirred in the shadows behind Romeo. Link had first thought it was only due to Pipo flying around, but then even the sparrow noticed it. The little bird twittered in fright when a small creature shrouded in black emerged from the ground and opened its one red eye.

"Midna!" Link pushed hard, ignoring his burning muscles and aching wounds, in hope of saving the boy in time.

Frantically chirping, Pipo fluttered in Romeo's face, trying to warn him of the danger, but the boy was blind and deaf to the spirit.

The moment Midna began to charge her attack was the moment Romeo sensed something behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and completely froze in terror.

The wolf leapt just as Midna finished gathering her energy. He tackled Romeo from the side and as they fell, he reached for the hilt of the Master Sword clutched in the boy's hands. He accidentally scratched flesh before touching warm metal.

The uncomfortable prickling of needles as his body morphed from beast to man was over in a heartbeat.

Link's left hand firmly grasped the familiar handle of his sacred blade while his right arm wrapped around Romeo protectively. Together, they landed on their sides with a jarring thud. Within the same breath, Link quickly disentangled from Romeo, pushed himself onto one knee, and swung his blade at Midna's dark energy ball she had thrown their way.

The Master Sword effortlessly cleaved the dark orb in half and flashed with power, vanquishing all traces of Twilight. Link was standing tall one second later, facing his mind-controlled friend. He raised his sword before him, shining the light of his blade in Midna's face.

She winced and shied away from the brightness.

The sanctuary rang with the noises of battle coming from the demon and Erza so Link had to speak loud and clear; "Midna, it is me, Link."

Her one eye blinked and slowly focused on the young man. Recognition flashed across her face before she clenched her eyes shut and clutched the sides of her head as if in pain. "L-Link…" she groaned, gradually drifting to the floor.

Hearing his name spoken made him hopeful. The demon's control was weakening; Link could bring her back. The swordsman took one small, slow step towards her. "Yes. I am here," he assured, softening both his voice and expression.

"Link… I…" She shook her head and hissed. "M-Make him… s-stop… Please… Shut… him… up… Please! I don't… I don't want… Aaaah!" She curled up and sank into the floor, melding with the shadows before Link could reach her.

"Wait! Midna!" The hero kneeled by the spot where she vanished and found only stone in the pale light of his blade. She was gone. He stood up and lowered his weapon in hope of luring her back, but she failed to reappear.

There was a sad chirp on his shoulder followed by Romeo's questioning; "You know that shadow goblin?!"

"Her name is Midna," Link uttered in dismay, his eyes remaining on the floor. "And she is not a goblin, she is a friend… The demon somehow controls her, but I will soon free her of this torment."

How long had Midna suffered like this? As many days as Link was lost and cursed as a wolf?

Too long… he thought bitterly, his hands clenching in anger.

He faced the ongoing battle to bore holes in the demon he abhorred.

A sword of fire danced around in the distance, slashing, thrusting, and twirling, its flames licking, singeing, and burning the blubbery, warty skin of the abomination whenever it did not strike a magical shield. Erza was still going hard at it, but she had yet to deal a fatal blow. The ground around them was torn asunder my magical claws and powerful fists.

Slow-moving as he may be, the demon's ability to withstand almost every attack without flinching made him a formidable opponent.

It was time the battle came to an end. Link was exhausted and hurting all over and it would not be long before Erza began to wear herself out cutting and burning away all those thick layers of fat.

Link reached into one of his satchels and pulled out one of his red potions he had been saving for his battle against Zant. He needed it now more than ever. He sheathed his blade, uncorked the potion, and drank its contents in two gulps. It was sweet and bitter on the tongue and tasted mildly like forest mushrooms. The potion worked quickly, soothing his pain and replenishing some of his energy.

He drew his sword back in his hand, feeling its sacred power flow through his rejuvenated body. "Romeo," he said, meeting the boy's curious gaze with a grateful smile, "thank you for finding my sword. Now go and hide. Pipo will stay with you and warn you of any danger."

"Pi -who?" the young mage asked, raising an eyebrow.

Link gestured at the sparrow perched on his shoulder, but to Romeo, it looked like he was pointing at nothing. "A little Celestial Spirit of light you cannot see nor hear, but I know you can sense her. Keep an open flame in your hand and she will make it move. Right, Pipo?"

To answer him, Pipo sang cheerfully and took flight, circling right above the boy's head like a guardian fairy.

Romeo gasped. "Celestial Spirit?! So then… that key is… T-The Light God is…"

"Go hide, Romeo," Link interrupted. "There will be time to explain everything later."

"O-Oh! Yes, sir!" The boy nodded and summoned a small ball of orange fire in the palm of his right hand. When he saw the flame flicker wildly from the beat of Pipo's wings, he smiled. "Links – no… I'm sorry. It's just 'Link', isn't it? I know you can defeat that demon!"

"I will."

And the boy ran off into a dark corner with Pipo not far behind.

Link's boot kicked something small and metal after taking his first step towards the battle zone. It was Bisca's bracelet and it was coated black with Twilight once again. He picked it up and tucked it into one of his satchels before resuming his pace. He charged forward, though not as quick as he would a wolf, but still fast enough to cross the room within a short number of strides.

"Pipaya! Light!" he called the instant Erza and the demon noticed his approach.

The falcon trilled loud in his ears but silently to others. The Lacrima flashed with life once more, making the demon flinch and hiss at the sudden brightness, a short enough distraction which allowed Erza to penetrate his defenses.

In one split-second, Erza magically switched from a fiery red sword to a long spear that sparked with white electricity, from red, black, and gold armour to a silvery blue set, from pigtails to a single long braid. She thrust the lightning-emitting point into the demon's plump chest, deep enough to pierce where his heart should be.

But he was an evil demon, and demons like him were void of hearts.

Seemingly unhurt, the abomination swiped at Erza with one fat hand, forcing her to leave her weapon embedded in his flesh and retreat. He then tore the spear right out without a care, ripping open a gaping hole that bled profusely. A waterfall of dark red blood poured over his rolls of fat and rounded belly and pooled on the floor. Outraged at the sight of the oncoming swordsman, he flung Erza's weapon in the hero's direction.

Link rolled to dodge the thrown spear and continued onward, never losing his speed.

"You!" the fiend roared, his voice like thunder, "How can this be?! I watched you perish! You should be dead! You and that accursed mutt… Curse you both and curse your gods!" He swiped both of his fat arms downward, sending two waves of slashing energy at the warrior in green.

Link said nothing in return. His words from earlier still held true; he would be the one to bring the demon down. There was no point in wasting any more of his breath. Without slowing down, Link cut through the attacks as easily as cutting through air, dispelling the magic in two quick swings. A few more running strides and he was upon the fiend with a battle cry, slashing upwards as he leapt high to cut through the barrier the fiend had erected in haste. As gravity brought him back down, he cut down with both hands, aiming at the toad's hideous face with all his strength. However, one huge, meaty arm got in the path of his blade. He sliced through flesh and bone as easily as slicing through water, severing half of the demon's forearm

The severed limb landed with a heavy, wet thud on the floor and wriggled and twitched as if it had a life of its own. The demon cried out with genuine pain and stumbled backwards, his face horrendously twisted into a horrified mess as he looked at the bloody stump of his left arm.

Every drop of tainted blood touching the Master Sword bubbled, fizzled, and evaporated into black smoke, leaving the blade clean and flawless. Its edge remained as sharp as ever, thirsty for the flesh of evil.

Link did not give his enemy a chance to recover or retaliate. He moved in and thrust his weapon deep into the demon's sagging gut, up to the hilt.

The demon choked and gurgled in pain, sputtering blood on his gray blubbery lips. Still able to stand, he raked his remaining claws at the hero out of desperation.

Link wrenched his sword free and simply ducked under the hand. He spun on his heel to perform a spin attack, slashing across the demon's great belly.

The demon staggered backwards and clutched his horrid wound, wailing in agony. "No!" he spat, "I will not die here!" He waved his staff and absorbed all the light energy from the Lacrima into his egg jewel.

Pipaya shrieked from above while Link silently cursed. Healing would only delay his demise and Link was in no mood to continue the battle any longer. He had to stop the demon quickly.

Once again, Erza beat him to the action. She was already soaring towards the shining staff on gleaming, silvery wings. "Not this time!" she yelled as she slashed at the bony arm holding the weapon, cutting it off by the elbow. Both arm and staff clattered to the floor.

The demon was rendered helpless now and it was clear that he had finally lost. "No! No! Imp! Save me!"

"She is not yours to command!" Link roared, jumping high for the finishing blow. He met the demon's gaze one last time and relished at the fear reflected in those big red eyes.

For Bisca! For Midna! For everyone you have harmed! This is the end for you!

He swung with all his might. His sword descended upon the toad's ugly face only to hit nothing but air a second later.

At the very last moment, the demon's giant body was suddenly enveloped by darkness before disintegrating into hundreds of small, flaky black pieces. The flakes fluttered upwards like paper caught in the wind, drawn into a familiar black and green portal that had appeared in the ceiling.

A Twilight warp! There was only one person here capable of creating one.

"No! Midna!"

And she appeared as if summoned by her name, coming from the shadows untouched by the light of the crystal egg and the Master Sword. Her visible eye was dull and unfocused, indicating she was under the demon's full control once again. The Twilight Princess levitated to the portal to follow after her enslaver.

Link helplessly reached up for her. "Midna!" he cried, "I will find him and free you! I promise you, Midna!"

I always keep my promises…

She hesitated for the briefest of moments before disappearing into her portal, which soon closed and vanished without a trace.

A/N: Apologies for the long wait. Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter!

I'm planning to ignore the Grand Magic Games arc in this story mainly because, holy bologna, I do not want to write it all out a second time.

Thanks for reading! And please review!