Fairy Tail's Future

What is Family?

In the hall, Mark sees his family trying to defend themselves. He knows it won't end well.

"Stop," he yells, "you are just going to make it worse." His pleas fall on deaf ears.

Igneel joins his friend, "We have to stop them."

"How?"

"Destroy things?" Igneel laughs as he says this.

"Spoken like a true Dragneel."

"After this, I'll kick your ass for that."

"Let's just handle this, then we will see Dragon Boy."

Meanwhile, Layla finds herself alone in some random forest somewhere. "God Layla, you have to stop with doing things impulsively. Deny the inner Dad."

She closes her eyes, "Mom would be so pissed right now."

Mom, the idea of her plays in Layla's mind. Lucy is a great mom. She has all the qualities a good mom is supposed to; kindness, understanding, love, and all around intuition. Lucy has been through it all so she knows it all.

"I'm sorry, Mommy."

A voice speaks in her head, "You don't have to apologize. What did you do wrong?"

"I lost it. I couldn't lose anymore people."

"And leaving was the best thing to do?," the voice becomes more familiar.

"What was I supposed to do?"

"Tell them."

"Mom, you know why I can't do that." Layla's conscience was her mom's voice , it always her voice of reason.

"You were always hard headed," Lucy's voice flutters in her head.

Images of the past play in her head. One in particular stands out.

"Come on Lay, stop begin like that," her brother says. He looks no more than ten.

"No, I need to do this by myself," the blonde girl says defiantly.

"You aren't the boss of me," Igneel whines.

"Yeah," his black haired partner-in-crime echoes.

"Shut up, Mark."

"Make me, Layla."

"Hey children, why are we fighting?," Lucy asks, seemingly out of no where.

"Mom, Lay won't let go with her," Igneel tattles.

"Only cause I have to do it by myself," she protests.

"What do you have to do?," Lucy asks.

"I saw a hurt bunny run into the forest. I have to help it."

"I wanna help," the little boy whines.

"Me, too." Mark chimes in.

Layla scowls at the boy, "I'm the one who hurt it. It was an accident. I have to make it right."

"Why can't the boys help you?," Lucy simply asks.

"Because it's my problem and I have to fix it."

"Layla," Lucy looks at her daughter, "family is there to help you when you are down. To fix your mistakes. To fight your battles along side you. That's what Fairy Tail stands for. You wanna be a Fairy Tail member when you grow up?"