We'll have a little fun with this chapter!... I promise a few surprises over the next three chapters.

I know I said it before but I mean it... Thank you all for your kind reviews and for following and favoring my story, as it means so much to me. So thank you very much.


Previously...

'That was the last time I saw Igneel,' I thought as I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked a few times while my eyes adjusted to the light and when I saw where I was, I smiled as Igneel's grin came to mind. We were on a large black dragon headed for a familiar volcano.

"Sleepyhead!... You're finally awake!" Lucy smiled down as she held my head tightly against her lap.


Chapter 7


Natsu's POV

As I slowly opened my eyes, it took me a moment to realize where I was... We were high a-top a Dragon headed for a large mountain range. This familiar feeling of the wind against my face, felt so good, almost nostalgic! I grinned as I looked up and saw Lucy smiling down at me and a wave of relief washed over me... 'Lucy was safe!' I thought as I noticed she grimaced when I moved.

"Hey Luce... Why are we here?" I asked as I shifted and slowly sat up. It was nice resting in Lucy's lap but I could tell she had been uncomfortable for some time. When I sat up I heard a quiet sigh of relief.

"That's what I've been asking for the past couple of hours!" Lucy groaned as she jabbed her heal between the dragon's scales and pushed with all her might until the dragon suddenly arched it's back in discomfort and roared.

"Damn-it!... I swear if you do that one more time, I'm throwing you off!" The dragon bucked as she turned her head and growled at Lucy.

"Luce!... I wouldn't do that if I were you!" I said as I pointed down towards the ground which was a long. "It's a long way down Luce!" I laughed.

"She wouldn't dare!" Lucy laughed but I shook my head knowing the answer as experience taught me this. My heart pounded at the thought of what was probably coming and with that it happened...

The dragon stretched it wings straight out and with one large push, its speed increased tremendously as it soared straight up and then performed a loop... Without warning we were in a falling and headed towards the fast approaching ground.

Lucy screamed as only Lucy can... Like a girl!... No wait, that was me! "Damn-it!... HAPPY!" I yelled while I watched the dragon circle above, obviously proud of herself for dumping her annoying cargo.

"Aye!" Happy screamed and dove straight down towards me at a record speed. When he got close enough, I noticed a little red ball of fur in his arms. At the last moment Happy reached forward with his back paws and grabbed the back of my jacket and with a jolt I stopped in midair.

"Thanks buddy!" I smiled as Happy tried to salute but grinned when he realized his hands were full.

"HEHEHE!" Happy laughed and then his eyes widened in horror as he noticed Lucy speeding towards the ground. "Natsu!... Lushee's gonna go splat!"

"Nah!... Igneel did that to me once too!... Luce will be fine!..." I halfheartedly laughed as thoughts of a flattened Lucy never appealed to me. "...I hope she'll be fine!"

"Hey smart-ass! Either fly or go splat!" The dragon roared as it laughed at the pitiful blonde, who was now getting closer and closer to the ground. "Hurry up!... Fly!"

"I can't fly you stupid dragon!" The blonde yelled back, her hair whipping around her face the faster she fell. Lucy attempted to slow her descent by flapping her arms like a bird but that was idiotic and not working at all! "NATSU!... HELP MEEEEE!" She screamed but passed out a moment later.

I looked up and grinned as the dragon roared and tucked it's wings into it's side and dove straight down. As it started to free-fall, it spread it's wings and flapped them... Increasing its speed with ever stroke until it burst past us causing Happy to falter and drop me for a second before he quickly caught me once again. As Lucy was only feet from hitting the ground the dragon swooped underneath Lucy and caught her on her back. She laughed and headed back towards us as if nothing had happened!

"See!... Told you she'd be alright!" I laughed as the dragon slowed down just beneath us. I dropped onto it's back, followed by Happy, who landed gently on my head. I reached forward and pulled Lucy into my arms. I laughed out loud... I was feeling exhilarated!

"Lushee's gonna be super scarey when she wakes up!" Happy grinned.

"Yup!... But at least she won't be mad at me this time!" I grinned as the dragon turned it's head back towards me and at that moment I thought I saw a hint of fear in it's eyes.

"Damn-it!... I forgot about her temper!" The dragon cringed as it remembered what Lucy was like when pushed over the edge.

"I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when Lucy wakes up!" Happy laughed.

"Don't remind me!" She growled.

"Miss dragon!" Happy smiled as the dragon looked back, "What's your name?"

"Yes... Where are my manners!" The dragon roared! "I'm Latasia!... The First Fire Dragon!... You could say in some weird way, I'm the Mother of all fire creatures, for their powers at one time came from me... Well something like that!... Oh!... And I'm Lucy's Mother!... But you may call me Layla!"

"AHHHH!... But your a dragon!... How can you be Lucy's mother?" Happy exclaimed as he noticed a volcano fast approaching and we were headed straight for it. "Natsu! I don't wanna die!" Happy cried.

"Long story!" She laughed. "Don't worry! I know what I'm doing!" The dragon grinned and dove straight towards the churning lava bubbling up form the volcano. "Hold on tight!" Layla roared as a magic circle appeared just feet above the lava. Layla roared and flew into the magic circle.

Layla's POV

As I entered the magic circle we were transported deep beneath the volcano. How deep I don't know! All I know is that this portal leads to another world, a world created specifically for me... Besides I'd only spent a short time there when I wasn't hibernating. After a few short moments I finally passed through to the other side of the portal and emerged into a large underground cavern. I quickly flapped my wings to halt my decent and gently landed on the crystal floor.

The cavern was large, having more than enough room for me to fly around without any problem. I looked around and spotted large fire cauldrons around the edge of my lair, they were all lit and illuminating the large cavern. Each cauldron was of a different design and at one time held... I shook my head as thoughts of the past ran through my mind! The light they cast was magnified by the fact that every square inch of this cavern was covered in polished diamond. Around the edge of my lair were multiple tunnels that lead to many different rooms. Some led to training areas, while others led to sleeping quarters and one special tunnel led back up to the surface. In the center of the cavern, stood a ten foot-tall column with a large, red glowing stone... the Dragon's Heart!

It didn't take long for my keen sense of smell to recognize some familiar scents. 'There here!' I smiled to myself as I gently placed my passengers on the floor and moved them in to a sitting position against the column that the Dragon's Heart rested on. I reared back and placed my claws on the Dragon's Heart and drew a small amount of it's power into myself... I felt rejuvenated after exhausting so much magic earlier. It had been many years since I've last felt this powerful...

I looked down at my reflection on the diamond floor and grinned as I realized I was still in my dragon form. I focused my magic and released it into a cloud of smoke and walked towards the familiar scent. As I neared a tunnel that held the familiar scents, my body slowly changed into a form I had not seen in quite some time... My human form!... 'A beautiful blonde woman', I thought as my vanity kicked in... Layla Heartfilia, to be more precise!

I was wearing the same long red formal gown that I had been so fond off when I attended parties back at my mansion many years ago. I looked up and grinned as I was pleased to be able to wear this form, my human form, once again! Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my darling daughter, resting peacefully against her companion Natsu and I smiled at how much she looked like me... Well this me, the one that she knew as a child, her Mother!

As I neared the tunnel I heard familiar voices echoing through the corridor and one in particular caught my attention.

"Layla!... You've finally arrived!" A deep voice resonated through the tunnel.

"Mackey!" I yelled as my pace quickened towards the tunnel... It had been so many years since I spoke with my savior.


Next update Saturday!

See you then!