Smoke filled her lungs and fire kissed her skin as Layla Heartfilia ran through the burning castle with her child in her arms. She had to find a way out... before he found them. Her lungs burned as she struggled to take in enough oxygen, coughing from the smoke that she inhaled instead.

She knew he would find them eventually, she just didn't think it would be so soon. She was unprepared and this was the price to pay. Debris fell around her and embers floated through the air. She could feel her shoulder becoming wet with the tears of her terrified daughter. She wanted to console her but couldn't spare the energy... besides, it would do her no good now anyway.

Still Layla ran, she ran through the halls and down the stairs. She ran past the burned corpses of the servants and staff, gagging as the smell of chard flesh hit her flared nostrils. She dodged burning wood and falling brick as the structure of the castle weakened with each second. She was running on borrowed time.

Time be damned, she would borrow and cheat and take any time she could if it meant getting Lucy out safely. Her precious Lucy. Why did he have to want her. Of all the people in the world, why her daughter? Oh well. It didn't matter now. She wouldn't give Lucy to him before and she wouldn't now. Her daughter would survive this... Even if she didn't.

Finally Layla made it out of the castle. Now she just needed to get to the lake in the woods, then she could summon Aquarius to take Lucy far away. If she could just make it without him catching them, Lucy would be safe.

So Layla ran as fast as her legs could carry her, she ran through the trees and shrubs and bushes. She didn't pause when branches cut her face or whipped her legs. She nearly tripped over roots from the bigger trees but regained her footing and kept running. All while the child in her arms sobbed quietly.

"I'm scared mumma".

"I know baby, but I will keep you safe. I promise". Layla's lungs burned from running and the inhalation of smoke, talking did not help but she had to try and comfort Lucy. Even if it was hopeless now.

Her husband was dead. He had bravely gone to try and hold off the attack, to give Layla and Lucy time to run. He hadn't even lasted a minute.

As soon as Layla reached the lake she wasted no time in summoning her only spirit. She would be Lucy's spirit now.

"Open gate of the water bearer!".

The mermaid appeared with a look of concern plastered on her normally angry face.

"What happened?"

"Aquarius, I need you to take Lucy and swim away, as far as you can! Go somewhere safe where nobody will know who she is and watch out for her, can you do that for me?".

The blue haired spirit nodded, reaching out her arms to take hold of the small child. Her normally harsh demeanour suddenly gentle.

"Mumma! You're coming too right". Lucy sobbed with tear filled eyes.

"I'm afraid not my dear, this is an adventure you and Aquarius need to take together... I love you so much" Layla placed a single key in the small child's hand and kissed her forehead before looking again at the spirt " Now go".

"I promise I will take care of her".

Aquarius quickly swam away with the crying child in her arms, using magic of the waves to make them go quickly and being careful to make sure the child got enough oxygen.

Layla watched as her only child disappeared. Then she heard him clicking his tongue.

"You will never find her". Layla tried to make her voice strong. Lucy had gotten away, whatever happened now did not matter as long as her daughter was safe.

"Oh I will and when I do she will finally fulfill the destiny I have planned for her". The demon spoke with a cocky tone.

"I don't know what destiny you think she will have but it will have nothing to do with you, she is the princess of the stars and you...are demonic scum". She spat the last part of the sentence with as much venom as she could manage.

"It's King demonic scum to you thank you very much" the dark haired demon smirked " besides, it's not me that I want her for. It's my brother".

"E.N.D" Layla gasped. Not him, she had heard the stories of the demon child. Evil stories that made her sick to think about. He was as young as Lucy but he was vicious and had a bad temper. He could never be allowed near Lucy.

"He prefers to be called Natsu, E.N.D is so formal" The demon waved his hand casually "Can you imagine it Layla? The prince of demons and the princess of the stars, having a child together! Imagine the power that child would have!". Zeref the demon king laughed manically with his hands raised above his head and a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"A wise man once said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. You will never have my Lucy and neither will your brother".

"I hope so, sounds like a blast... And yes, my brother will have Lucy, the moment she is of breeding age he will come for her. But don't worry, he will take good care of her, I'll make sure of it personally... because Layla, I really do care about you so much".

Without another word Layla's body fell to the ground with a small thud, completely lifeless with the mighty Zeref looking down at her laughing.

"Caring really does kill, doesn't it my dear?". His laughter didn't cease as he spoke.

Then he vanished into thin air, leaving Layla's corpse in the dirt of the forest, even death not erasing the worried look in her now unseeing eyes.

A/N

I do not own fairytail or any charecters from fairytail. I own nothing but the plot.

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