Fairy Tail's Future

The Truth

Layla still has not woken up yet, and they had already returned Ally, got their reward, and is currently waiting for the train home.

Natsu turns to Igneel, "Let me hold her, you need to rest."

Igneel looks at his sister, smiles, and hands her to Natsu. Layla stirs, but quickly recognizes her father's smell and his heartbeat. She settles with a sigh. She had always slept better when she was near her dad.

Lucy, who is currently very worried, says, "She singlehandedly took down a powerful monster, a kind that I have never heard about. How? And how do you know she is going to be alright?"

"It's a long story. One that I do not know all the details." Igneel tells her.

"I am worried, I can't stand seeing her in such a state. Please tell me what you do know."

Igneel sighs, he thinks maybe if his parents know more about her magic they'll be able to help her when she is older. "The actual name of her magic has been lost for many generations, so my family refers to it as 'Golden Knight'. It was created when the Darkness Monsters began attacking children of a Mage village a very long time ago. The mothers banded together and came up with to counter the beast magic by harnessing pure light energy."

It is late and the train station master tells them that the train is running late.

Natsu looks off into the distance, "Continue." He says, gripping the sleeping girl in his arms a little tighter.

"They destroyed many of the creatures, but a dangerous part of the magic came to light. For such pure light energy to exist in any one body, the body must also have a equal amount of dark energy."

He waits to let that sink in and continues, "Many of women went crazy, and some killed the children that they were trying so desperately to save. The magic was soon banned after this. But a prophecy was created 'When a child of Fire and the Heavens is born the magic will be reborn with it. The darkness will destroy her or she it. The past and future will look to her for protection'."

"A child of fire and the heavens?" Lucy asks.

"My mom is a Celestial Spirit Mage, that explains the 'heavens', my mother also had the blessing of the Celestial Spirit King. He blessed her marriage to my father."

Lucy smiles, "And the 'Fire' part?"

Igneel purses his lips, "He is a Fire DragonSlayer. A fire dragon trained him with the magic to protect my mother." That is technically not a lie. Igneel hates lying to his parents, especially his mother.

Natsu looks at him, "You inherited his magic?"

"Yeah but I have certain limitations. I don't replenish magic energy fast enough because of something that happened to me when I was little."

Natsu laughs, "Let me train you."

Igneel, inwardly wanting to cry, simply nods. "Thanks that would be nice."

Lucy continues to pounder the story, "Were you attacked by one of those monster things?"

"Yeah but Kayla doesn't remember it, please don't tell her. I fear it might be enough of a push to let the darkness take over."

"I won't." Lucy says. She has a theory, 'past and future' has her thinking. There are way too many coincidences for her taste.

Layla mumbles, Natsu can't make it out but Igneel understands. I love you Daddy.

"My dad," Igneel says, "you remind me of him. He was so protective over her. She was his first baby girl."

"How many brothers and sisters do you have?"

"Including unborn?"

Natsu stares, "Sure ok."

Igneel counts on his fingers. "9."

"Wow, that's just wow."

"Yeah, my dad says 'When push comes to shove, I need a small army.'"

Natsu laughs, "I am going to use that, in the future."

"My uncles have this competitive thing, they want their children to continue the tradition."

Natsu smiles, something about this weird boy remind him of Igneel. It is something he can't put his finger on.

Layla cuddles closer to her father when she hears the train pulling into the station.

Igneel looks over to his mother, she looks so tired. Without giving it much thought he picks her up. Lucy doesn't feel the need to argue, she's too tired for that.

When they all getting into the train and their seats, they all quickly fall asleep. Lucy resting her head on Natsu's chest, while he has his arm protectively around her. Layla cuddling on her brother's side and he rest his head on hers. The fire within keeping them warm on the cold trip home.