Standing on the edge of Magnolia Draco looked out to the sea. He could just barely see her there on the little island that had just been created, far off in the distance. Biting his lip in worry he went over every possibility in his head only half way through when a familiar voice interrupted him.
"We'll never know if she can do it unless she tries," the self-assured voice cooed as the unexpected visitor appeared suddenly in a burst of heat.
"What are you doing here Igneel?" Draco hissed as he watched the zodiacs set up a set of barriers, ones that would hopefully contain what was about to happen.
"I can't be here for my kin?" The fire dragon asked raising an eyebrow.
The dragon king scoffed as he looked up at the dragon made man. It had always bugged him that somehow while in human form Igneel was much larger than he was. Add to the fact that the man had a point, Draco conceded. Growling under his breath he felt the spirits call out letting them know that they were done.
"Is it wise to do this so close to Magnolia?" Igneel asked sensing his son's apprehension as he held his mate and two youngest hatchlings. The rest of the brood not far off each holding the rest as close as possible the mother in the middle. Even Nash's mate was there sitting between his legs as she bit her lip in worry, the young pair had rushed home when they had heard this was happening and had just arrived a few hours ago. He could hear Natsu's inner dragon growling at the thought of his child having to deal with all that was before her.
"Her mother insisted," Draco growled as he remembered the conversation with Lucy well.
"You want to what?" The blonde shrieked as she dropped the bowl of pasta she was making. Thankfully Draco's reflexes we're fast enough to keep it from crashing to the ground.
"We need a test this power that she has. None of us expected this of her, but this maybe the key to defeating my son," The Celestial dragon spoke as he placed the bowl down.
"I thought her training had to be done in the Celestial world," Lucy spoke as a loud thump and shout came from upstairs not even flinching the blonde went back to her task of cooking dinner as the sound of several feet pounded on the floor above them.
"We've been coming to the mortal world for a few years now, far away from any part of civilization. She has to be able to draw on enough power while here. But several of the spirits insisted that I speak to you before we do this exercise," Draco spoke as he watched Lucy ladle sauce onto the pasta as her mind spun.
"What do you want to do exactly?" She finally asked as she finished tossing the dish as Igneel raced through the kitchen grabbing a bottle out of the fridge and three cookies out of the jar on the counter. "Dinner is in ten minutes and you'd better be hungry!" She shouted after her eldest as he raced out the door.
"Be back in twenty!" He shouted as the door slammed shut.
"Layla is unique in that she has two types of dragon magic. We have trained her to master both. And while running through her sequence we noticed that for a brief moment in the transition she was capable of using both at the same time. So, we had her push through and use it for real. The power in that moment was staggering, I doubt that even I could take her then," Draco confessed quietly as he heard Natsu shout upstairs.
"What did I say about tying a bedsheet parachute to your sister!" The dragon Slayer growled in the background.
"And you want her to use it here?" Lucy said somehow staying focused on the conversation they were having.
"Here is the only place she can use it. Lucy, we can't risk the gate between the mortal realm and the realm of souls to be blurred. If she were to do this in the Celestial realm she could destroy the balance we paid a dear price to achieve," Draco hissed as the house fan flipped on followed by another shout.
"Nayla I need help clearing out the smoke!" A male voice shouted as the smell of singed hair filled the house.
"Nash that fire better be out!" Lucy hollered to her second eldest son.
"It is Mom!" Nash responded.
"So, what you'll just destroy the mortal realm to do it," Lucy asked frustration laced through her voice.
"Better a realm that can be remade without so much sacrifice," Draco countered.
"You really have no other choice?" Lucy asked as Natsu chased the kids down the stairs herding them towards the bathroom to wash up before dinner.
"No, and this power can mean the difference between her living and dying later," the Celestial dragon said as Saraphina tried to sneak in the door.
"Where have you been young lady your still grounded!" Natsu called as he stood behind Ryu forcing the six-year-old to actually wash his hands.
"Fine but on one condition," Lucy spoke as Saraphina popped down at the table pouting.
"What's that?" Draco asked as the kids all raced to the table as Happy, who was in town to celebrate the twins birthday, helped take all the food there as Lucy spoke, "That you do it as close to Magnolia as possible."
So here they were, a few months since then. In that time, he, the high twelve and Orion had worked endlessly setting up wards so that of the first time in her life Layla could use her full strength.
"Is this plan even going to work?" Igneel asked as he watched the final wards put in place as the spirits signaled to Layla their competition.
"You know that that answer has eluded me always," the celestial dragon whispered as the air grew tense as if the Earth knew what was about to happen.
The air deathly still not even the sound of birds chirping could be heard for miles. Several tense moments filled the air as soon she stood and began. Right foot. Left foot. Sweeping kick. The intricate movements would be a graceful dance if it wasn't for the powerful magic that flew around her as she eased thought the difficult sequence that drew much power. Flame coated hand flickered in the distance as she quickly switched to Celestial magic. Golden light and purple smoke now flew in every direction. The tension in the air mounting as Draco counted through her steps again. A single flip signaling what was about to be attempted. And soon the once tense air was suffocating. Golden fire with purple smoke erupted from her as the waves beneath her feet receded. Kick, kick, punch, spin she moved through the routine flawlessly.
"What's happening?" Igneel asked as Draco's attention was draw to her arms. Where tan skin once lay was now cracked black with red nearly consuming her whole arm. It was spreading quickly now after just one-minute barley reaching her shoulder as the heat in the air grew higher.
"Stop," he whispered as he watched Layla continue seemingly unaware of what was happening to her body and soon it was fully covered.
No longer stood the girl he had watched grow. Now stood a being covered in fire and radiating so much heat the even Igneel was sweeting from it. The waters evaporated until even the area at his feet was nothing more than caked dry land. A familiar pressure appeared as all fourteen high spirits surrounded the barrier each attempting to hold it in place as the magic now coming from the center was too much. But Layla somehow was still doing her routine. Unaware of the destruction she was causing.
"No," The young Igneel spoke as the blonde hair male stared out at the land in horrified recognition.
Draco turned to watch as the fire dragon king assisted the spirits in containing the heat as Layla was about to finish her routine with a single blast the knocked every spirit back to the Celestial realm, destroyed every barrier they created, and knocked out a dragon king in one shot. Her raspy breath was all that could be heard for miles as he watched her collapse a moment later.
"Layla!" Lucy shouted in panic as she ran past Draco and towards her daughter on the masticated earth, her mate right behind her.
That seemed to break Draco out of his stupor as he teleported right next to his Slayer. Hissing at the heat she was still radiating.
"Layla!" Lucy called out as she finally reached her.
"Luce don't she's too hot, don't touch her," Natsu spoke as he held back his mate both wearing the same helpless expression.
"Grandeeney," Draco spoke as the sky dragon appeared.
"We've taken Igneel and the hatchlings back to Fairy Tail. He's being looked at by my daughter. We'll take her back once she has cooled down," the woman spoke as she manipulated the winds so that a frigid breeze was blowing over the girl.
"The spirits, how are they?" Lucy asked as she looked at Draco.
"They will be fine but do tell Yukino that they will need a month to recuperate, Leo said that he will come see you the moment that he can," Grandeeney spoke as she removed the wind. "She's still too warm for me but Natsu if you would please," the sky dragon asked as Natsu bent down to pick up his daughter. She was running a high temperature and her breath rattled her body but he thanked Mavis for every breath she took. And soon the group was moved back home.