Forbidden Mage

Prologue

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Hiro Mashima the author of Fairy Tail.

* Some Mature Content and Language*
*Characters may be OOC at times*

The outer kingdom was in complete chaos. Citizens were screaming and fires were blazing. The sky was painted orange and the the ground was pitch black from ash and debris. You could hear the crackling of wooden homes burning. The kingdom's knights ran around trying to shelter as many as they could. Taking the women and children first and sending them inwards towards the city and to the castle.

King Jude is on the front lines as he and his men align and charge for the beast. "Acnologia!" The king screams. The ground below the dragon's feet fracturing with every step it took. A sea of arrows fly into the sky, barely penetrating their target. Cannon shots slice through the air one after another. All attention focused on the dangerous black and blue monster. Acnologia seemingly unfazed by their fierce attacks inhales and releases a beam of fire incinerating half of Jude's men with one blow. "Damn Dragon-Slayer..." Jude grunts while he looks around at the dark, red-stained battlefield. Jude decided he needed to make the hard decision and yells for the rest of his army to retreat. Some getting one last hit on Acnologia before jumping onto their horses and heading back towards the city.

Layla and Lucy, were being watched over from inside the family's castle. The Dragon's explosions sent shock waves from the outskirts of town causing the palace to shake and rumble.

"Mama..." Little Lucy cried while being held tightly in her mother's arms. Battle cries of knights and the screams of the citizens echoed throughout the land.

"I-It's okay Lucy....It will be fine." Layla comforts her quivering daughter, embracing her tighter.

"My Queen." A guard, out of breath and just as terrified as Lucy, runs up to them. "Ki-king Jude was forced to retreat from the front lines! The Dragon-Slayer has destroyed almost half of the outer towns. We must take you and the Princess down to the cellar." He states. His stance uneven as he bows to the royals. Outside, another flaming blast roars out of Acnologia hitting closer than the last. The tremor of the blow had pieces of bricks now cracking and some falling from the building's frame. The staff of the castle begins to panic swarming the Queen, looking to her for an answer and shelter.

"My Queen what shall we do!" A maiden on her knees was clasping her hands together, praying to whoever might hear. Others cover their heads, protecting themselves from the falling debris. Layla holds her hands up, trying to tame the crowd.

"It's the mages faults!" Another member stands up. "This is why magic is a curse! It causes nothing but destruction and death of the ones we love!" He announces. More and more of the royal staff surrounds the Queen and Princess. Some frightened and others angered as the clamor of their voices heighten.

"Enough!" Layla orders. She pushes Lucy behind her leg and stands in front of her. "Everyone will CALMLY make their way down to the cellar helping the injured ones first. You will wait it out till the battle is over!" The Queen stood her strong stance as the dazed staff listened to her. "The last thing we need now is more chaos. Now please collect yourselves and believe in your kingdom!" A slight silence fell over the room as everyone took in her words. Soon, the members' anxiousness faded away, turning into hope as they did what they were ordered.

"Quickly do as our Queen says and grab the wounded!" One knight claims, pointing to other staff to fulfill the demand. "My Queen we shall escort you and the Princess to safety." He said, bowing and holding his hand out as a pathway to their direction.

"No please just take Lucy. I must fight alongside my husband." Layla states, handing off Lucy to the guard.

"But My Qu-"

"Please hurry and get my daughter to safety." She snaps.

"Mommy!" Lucy yells as her mother releases her hand. Layla kneels down to eye level with Lucy, stroking the top of her daughter's matching blonde hair.

"Now listen to me Lucy." Layla's demeanor was calm and composed as she spoke. "There will come a time when things will get hard for you. And you will feel almost as an outcast. No matter what anyone thinks, you must do what you believe is right."

"Mommy why are you saying this?" Lucy's tiny voice questions her mother's cautious words. To which Layla responds with a small smile. Suddenly the ground begins to shake and Acnologia's piercing howl slices people's ears. The Dragon was stepping closer and closer to the center of the Kingdom and to the crumbling castle.

"Lucy I want you to know you will never be alone. I will always be with you, even when I am gone. I will leave you with new friends that will protect you and care for you." Her mother delicately holds her head in the palms of her hands.

"Whe-Where are you going!? Why do you want to leave!?" Lucy cheeks were stained with tears as they spilled from her eyes. Layla's smile still as steady as before leans in and kisses the top of her daughter's forehead.

"Stay strong my dear." She whispers. Letting a lone tear fall from her eye and onto the cracked floor. Layla stands up and looks towards the guard that was holding Lucy. "You must not let her go. Please protect her." She demands.

He bows and throws his first to his heart. "Of course my Queen, but may I ask what you will do?" He questions hesitantly.

Layla chuckles as she walks to the balcony where the Dragon and the damaged kingdom can be seen. Acnologia's mouth was open wide. Inside a small ball of light slightly grew bigger and brighter. She turns back to the two awaiting her reply. "I'm going to protect my kingdom." And with that, multiple golden keys fly out and encircle Layla, creating a golden glow on her silhouette.

The guard holding Lucy pulls them both back from her, horrified... "Th-The Queen is a...is a mage!" A gust of wind rotates around Layla as her royal dress is replaced with beautiful golden armor and her hair loosened from her tight bun.

"Don't go!" Lucy ignoring the repelled man grasping her, calls out to her mother. Layla seeming hurt, forces another smile to her hollering daughter and the frightened guard. The golden keys then flash. Dark figures then appear around her. They all place their hands onto Layla's, creating a radiant beam shooting vertically up into the orange sky, parting the clouds. "MAMA!" Lucy yells with all her might trying to escape the guard's arms. The light her mother created brightens the entire sky and kingdom. Acnologia's small ball of light was now triple it's size as it moves closer to Layla.

Jude still somewhat far from the castle, and trying to fight off as much as he can of Acnologia's flames, watches as his palace illuminates. The beam coming from the castle was so bright he had to shield his eyes with his arm. "Wha-What is that!" He says aloud. You could sense the amount of power the ray had, even from were he was. "Is that magic?" The ray then disappears allowing the sky to darken just a bit before reappearing into a giant globe of light, aiming right at Acnologia. Jude shoots his gaze at the Dragon Slayer. His flaming globe was just as big as the one at the palace. "Dear Go-" Jude's breath escapes him with no warning as Acnologia releases his fire as it heads straight towards the castle. "LAYLA! LUCY!" Jude's raspy voice cries out his wife's and daughter's names, riding as fast as his horse could take him. Before Acnologia's attack hits, the globe of light illuminating from the castle explodes. It collides with Acnologia's. His beam vanishes as debris and an overwhelming force is sent outwards; hitting and almost destroying everything in its path. The shockwave knocks Jude off his horse and onto the dirt ground.

Acnologia being the center of the blast, had his arm blown off. The roar of his pain echoed over the land as the sky became dark. The injured dragon still howling in anger and agony flew off leaving the damaged, broken kingdom silent. The only thing breaking the stillness was a faint cry from the castle; a cry which Jude recognized as Lucy's as he heard the bloody scream of "MAAMAAA!"

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, a favorite and comment is appreciated. Next chapter will be updated as soon as possible. I'm working with one other person with the stories grammar and flow. Plot and main body does belong to me though! Together I hope we make a story that you love.

- キャラウェイ ヘリー