Kids

by DD42

There are those who say that the future is not written in stone; that our destinies are ours to make. However, when a new group arrives at the doors of Fairy Tail, they will turn that theory upside down and then some (Multi-Pairing). *Cover art by Toni Boloni*

25. Chapter 20

A/N: *Pokes head out of closet and moves barricade away, waving white flag in surrender and removes riot helmet*

Uhmm…Hi everyone, welcome back! Sorry for this being really late but as I said, I took some time to relax from writing. I'll be honest, this past week hasn't been one of my best. Work has been really rough on my legs and back (I dish wash so I'm standing a lot) and my hours are not on a permanent schedule; they change every week so that throws me off here and there.

I've also had some work around the house to take care of.

And to add to my already crazy week, my car has been acting up. Something with two sensors for the engine are not properly set, even though I had the main sensor fixed.

…Yeah, it's been one of those weeks.

Last chapter I took the ballsy move of killing off the characters I created. Except for Igneel-which this chapter is mostly focused on. I know I made you guys upset with that, but it had to be done. I knew I'd catch some flak for the last chapter but I'm glad it hasn't' been too bad.

Still, I understand and apologize if I made any of you sad or upset over what happened in the last chapter.

I really am sorry.

I have an important announcement to make, so please read this. This story will be coming to an end soon. This chapter marks the fourth to last chapter of the story. It saddens me to admit it, but everything that has been leading up to this point will all come together in a climactic ending.

In the meantime, as you can probably tell, this chapter will be a pivotal point for the story…but it may be a semi-sad one; with these recent chapters-what else is new!?

Regardless, I hope you guys will stay with this to the end: I'll make it worth every word for your reading pleasure.

So, before we continue, here is a shout out to you wonderful readers who have been so supportive through this stories progression.

Mistwing: Hello! I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY! Please forgive me; I didn't know I'd make you so sad because of the last chapter.

Darkhope: Hello there and welcome back. Yeah, last chapter was brutal (believe me, from a writers stand point, it was a tough chapter to write) and I'm sorry you had to read what happened to Sam. I know he was your favorite of the kids so I'm sorry for "breaking" you with his death. At least Gray avenged him if that's any consolation. Even though the kids haven't been born yet, their deaths have been devastating to their parents. You have to remember, they've had two months to bond and get to know one another so even though they were told to protect the future, their still torn up by what happened and aren't ready to act…yet. To answer this question-yes; Igneel will carry out a plan. But to what extent, you will find out. Don't worry, I have an ending planned that will wrap up everything nicely. Don't worry, there will be PLENTY of feels for when that comes.

BelieveInYourself7: Hello and welcome to the story. A review for Chapter 17!? Wow, that seems so long ago. But, I'm glad you liked in none the less. That part with the cabbages was inspired by Avatar the Last Airbender; it was one of the funniest running gags of the show. Yeah…poor cabbages indeed.

Toni Boloni: Hello, hello and welcome back! HAVE MERCY! DON'T KILL ME; I'M JUST A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO LOVES TO WRITE! Sorry to drop a bomb on your feels but it had to be done. I did and didn't enjoy this chapter. It was hard to wright but at the same time, it felt good to try and wright something like it. I'm not saying that I enjoyed "killing" people, I enjoyed throwing the readers for a series of jaw dropping loops. I'm glad my daring risk paid off and that the backlash hasn't been serious. I'm sorry about Saito by the way; I forgot you liked him. And that goes for the other kids as well. But they passed their powers onto their parents; people who will cherish and use that power for good. Yes! Future Aya! HAHA! I kept you guessing to the end! Thank you for the compliments about my style and growth as a writer; it means so much to me. I can't guarantee that someone won't die; you'll have to read to the end to find out…sorry. I'm really glad to know that the last chapter got your creativity going on overdrive! I never thought I would be able to inspire someone else to go nuts with their own creativity; it make me really glad to know that. If you want to draw something for the previous chapter-or the entire thing-you go for it! Take your time with the cover art; I don't mind. The longer the wait, the more excited I get for the finished product. OH! I found your Tumblr again and browsed your art and saw the FT style you were talking about; very impressive. Keep up the good work and enjoy this chapter!

kazenoseiren: Hello my reader from afar; how are you!? Sorry for the wait, I've been a little busy even though I'm on vacation from school. Yeah, the last chapter was a particularly sad one and I think it takes the spot from Chapter 17 in terms of emotional damage. Killing off the characters was a risky move but it had to be done; the plot demanded it! For Lilly's scene, I actually had to stop and come back to it; it was hard for me to write. And Jenny…well that's obvious. Sorry; please don't cry! Will they come back? Will Fairy Tail win? Hmmm…you'll just have to read and find out. ;)

Guest (Is that you ichihime4?): Hello and welcome back! You are more than welcome for the B-Day wish. I'm so sorry for making you want to cry! Everyone keeps telling me that I made them do that and I feel like a jerk because of it. I don't think I could ever imagine what it would be like to lose a child or what a parent goes through when that happens…just thinking about it makes me shudder. Surprised you didn't I? Sorry about Sam and Lilly by the way. Yes, Igneel is now the lone survivor out of his group. Don't worry though, he will play a big role in these next chapters and as for Aya, well…she'll get what's coming to her…eventually.

The Muffin Slayer: Hello and welcome back! Yes, you were correct with some of your predictions but I'm also pleased that I threw you for a loop here and there. Ah, you guessing/imaging what I would say was relatively spot on…which is semi weird but okay at the same time. The deaths of the other kids should have been expected but still, I'm glad you read on. Igneel does have a plan to take down Aya but what it is may slightly shock you. So…you picked up on what I meant for Sting and Millianna. Harsh-brutal even-but it was effective without giving too much detail. I like to think of my story as a little more…visceral from some of the other FT stories out there. Granted, there are some good FT stories out there but I like to stay a little more grounded when I write. The fact that I've managed to keep everyone on their toes and not see some things coming makes me feel accomplished-so thank you for being understanding of that fact. Chiara's death…was something I dreaded writing. I didn't want her to die but every scenario I came up with led to the same outcome. I can't stand it when children are hurt but for this story, unfortunately, she had to die (I did intentionally cut out the part describing her death…THAT was something I refused to write and instead left it to the aftermath to explain). I know it was something you wouldn't expect from Fairy Tail. Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter none the less and hope the same will apply for this one.

Guest: Hello and welcome to the story, I'm glad you like it so far. Wow, chapters two and nine; that seems like forever ago. I'm glad you like them and that I was able to make you laugh with my attempt at being funny.

The-Unnamed-Artist: Hello and welcome to the story! Yeah, I can understand the love/hate relationship I've created with this story. Still, glad to know you like it. I take it that by the time you read this, you will hopefully understand why I've built up so much suspense. Still, you're reactions are worth it! And don't lose sleep over this; it's not worth it!

AyeeeItsCoco: Hello and as always, welcome back! I see by your reaction that the risk I took last time paid off. Yeah, it was tough killing off the kids but it had to be done. Even though the parents are alive, that doesn't necessarily mean we'll see the kids again anytime soon…or will we? Meh, read on and find out (I'm such a troll aren't I?). Positive thinking is always good :3. For the parents to see the kids die was hard to write but that's combat for you; you see horrible things no matter how hard you try not to. Not to argue with you but I'm pretty sure I didn't get the names mixed up. I know there are a bunch of errors I need to fix, which I'll get to sometime soon, but there was a lot going on last time so maybe you got confused yourself…no offense or anything like that! Life has been hectic on my side of things but other than that, I'm doing good-thank you for asking :).

So, without further ado, here's the next chapter you've been waiting for!

P.S. Forza Massima is Italian for "Maximum Force." AND…there is a surprise guest(s) in this chapter…eho I'm sure you haven't been expecting.

XXXX

CHAPTER 20: I stand alone; A destiny is chosen

XXXX

I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself today

-"Somewhere I belong", Linkin Park

XXXX

Three Days Later; Fairy Tail Guild…

The rain steadily poured outside as it gently left a staccato beat on the roof of the Guild.

It reflected the somber and grief filled mood of the inhabitants inside.

Inside the main hall, the members of Fairy Tail kept quiet or whispered as quietly as they could so as to not break the silence.

The grief was so heavy that is could almost be cut with a knife.

Mirajane Strauss stood behind the bar as she silently and slowly cleaned a glass mug in her hands. Every now and then, her deep blue eyes would look up from under her bangs and glance at the end of the bar, where Gray and Juvia sat.

And each time she looked, she felt her heart break a little more.

Juvia leaned slightly against the bar with her head lowered and hair covering her eyes. Her shoulders shook as she silently cried while she clutched a small teddy bear to her chest; Chiara's teddy bear. Gray sat next to Juvia, his hand holding hers while he starred at the bar shelves with a disinterested look. His eyes were starting to become bloodshot; whether from the tears that filled his eye or the burn of the vodka he'd been drinking, Mira didn't know.

Mira watched as Gray slowly downed the last of his drink before refilling it from the bottle she had given him earlier.

Mirajane swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought back to the events of three days prior.

Mira and a team of mages had been the ones that found Gray and Juvia after their battle; the one to find Jenny and Chiara's lifeless bodies. It broke her heart in two when she saw the little girl and her older sister's dull, lifeless eyes staring at nothing. While two members of her team carried Jenny's body to the safe zone, Mira had taken the task of carrying Chiara's while the other members of her team guided Gray and Juvia along.

Only when she had reached the triage tent did she see the other losses that Fairy Tail had suffered that day.

There were wounded in the tent, yes, but none were suffering life threatening injuries. They were townspeople who had been unfortunately caught in the main attack.

No, the real loss had been the other children of her friends.

It had been only after she had set Chiara down next to Jenny and covered their bodies with a bed sheet did she realize there were other bodies.

They were covered as well in a miss matched assortment of blankets and jackets but their boots… and the grieving parents at their sides told her all she needed to know. It took a minute for it all to settle in, but Mira's shock had turned to horror and then to grief as she went to comfort the others. Porlyusica on the other hand had pulled her away before she could act.

"Let them grieve. They need to be alone." The chief medic of Fairy Tail had told her.

Mirajane had hesitated but complied none the less.

Still, she couldn't get over the fact that Senna, Saito, Sam, Jenny and Chiara were dead.

And Igneel…

Dear Mavis, Igneel was still unconscious in the hospital.

Mira silently sighed as she set her glass down and picked up a new glass to clean. She looked over to the three empty seats of the bar near where she stood. They were where Sam, Saito and Igneel usually sat.

And now they were empty.

"Mira?" a voice gently said to her right.

Looking to her side, Mira saw Laxus leaning on his elbow near the bar. He hadn't left her side since she had returned from the triage.

"Are you okay?" Laxus asked.

Mira nodded albeit sadly.

"Yeah…I'm still in shock, that's all." Mira answered.

Laxus reached over and gently grabbed her wrist, rubbing his thumb over her skin in a circular motion. Mira set her glass down and held his hand.

"I just…I wish there was more I could do for them. They're in so much pain and there's nothing we can do." Mira whispered as tears formed in her eyes.

Laxus gave Mira an understanding look and moved his hand so his fingers became intertwined with hers.

"I know you want to help them, but they need to be alone to grieve; if only for a little bit." Laxus said before looking over to the boy's vacant seats.

"And one way or another, we'll avenge their sacrifice."

Mira nodded and looked back to the Guild.

Fairy Tail wasn't alone however. Word had spread quickly about the battle and the loss of the kids. As a sign of support and good faith, the Guilds of Sabertooth, Mermaid Heel and Lamia Scale had sent small groups of mages to help reinforce Fairy Tails ranks should the dark mage, Aya Higurashi, return to finish what she had started.

Mira watched as Sting and Rouge talked to Master Makarov near the door to his office while Millianna did her best to comfort a crying Asuka Connell. The poor child couldn't seem to understand why her best friend, Chiara Fullbuster, had died or "gone to heaven" as Alzack and Bisca had tried to tell their distraught and confused daughter.

A slight movement from the rafters caught her attention. Looking up, Mira saw the three exceed, Happy, Carla and Pantherlily, sitting on one of the beams that held the supports up. Happy sat with his ears flat against his head as he quietly sniffled and whimpered to himself while Carla gently patted her paw on his back in a comforting manner. Lily leaned against the support beam with his arms crossed while his eyes glumly looked about the Guild. His eyes met Mira's for a second before he turned away.

Mira sighed.

"I hope so…for their sake, I hope we can." Mira said as she looked to the rest of her friends with a sad frown.

The rest of the parents sat scattered about amongst the tables and shadowed areas of the main hall.

Erza and Jellal sat near one of the walls as the two leaned up against it. Erza had fallen asleep against Jellal's chest although it wasn't a peaceful sleep. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and her eye lids fluttered in a tormented sleep. Jellal seemed of equal worse for wear as he held Erza close, his eyes half lidded and tired…his daughter's death playing out in his mind's eye over and over again.

Lucy and Natsu sat a table all to themselves. Lucy had buried her face into her arms as she silently sobbed into them. Natsu sat close to Lucy with his arm wrapped tightly across her shoulder, holding her close while his other hand covered his eyes. He didn't want people to see him cry.

In a nearby corner, sat Gajeel and Levy. Levy sat close to Gajeel as the iron dragon slayer held his mate in his arms. Levy sat with Saito's jacket wrapped around her body; the jacket practically dwarfed the smaller framed girl. He had left it at the Guild before he had gone with Gajeel…not knowing that he was going to die. Levy couldn't shake the image Saito's lifeless body out of her head. It reminded her too much of the nightmare she had had in Crocus.

…A nightmare that had come true.

Occasionally she would look up from Gajeel's chest to Lucy who sat only a couple of feet away from her; a guilty look in her eyes.

The previous day had been something Levy wished she could've taken back.

Having not fully recovered from their shock, Levy and the other's had been taken back to the Guild. They had spent the night there in the Guild infirmary but it was not till the next day that Levy had found out about Igneel after Natsu and Lucy returned from their visit to Magnolia Hospital.

Seeing her best friend getting the chance to see her son made something stir to life in Levy. For the first time, Levy had felt two uncharacteristic emotions take a hold of her; anger and jealousy.

And they were both directed at Lucy.

In her grief, she had taken out her pain on her best friend.

Why was her son alive?

How come Lucy's son got to live and hers didn't!?

How come she got to still keep her son when hers had his heart cut in two!?

Levy had voiced these thoughts to Lucy, much to everyone's shock. With tears rapidly running down her cheeks, Levy's tone had grown from strained to open anger before she did something no one had expected.

She had slapped Lucy right across the face; hard.

Lucy had staggered back in shock for only a moment before she returned a slap of equal force. Before anyone could react, Lucy and Levy were throwing punches and grappling at each other. The two had started screaming at each other all the while.

It had taken both Natsu and Gajeel, with the help of Wakaba, Maco, Jet, Droy, Bickslow and Laxus to pull the screaming women apart from one another. The two then limply fell to their knees as they openly wept in sorrow while they were held by their mates.

Levy felt horrible for what she had done and had yet to properly apologize to Lucy. She had just felt so angry and so grief stricken that she didn't truly know why she had snapped at her best friend.

Levy let out a dejected sigh and shifted her eyes from Lucy to her hands as she slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers around Saito's blood stained bandana.

Something told her that if Saito had seen her do that, he would've been very, very disappointed with her.

She and her friends had suffered greatly as had the rest of the Guild when it came to the loss of the kids. They had formed a close connection with everyone and the loss was felt by all.

"How?" Levy thought, "How did things go so wrong so fast?"

One moment her son had been there alive and well and now he was laying in the hospital morgue.

And the woman who had helped orchestrate his death, Aya Higurashi, had disappeared.

She now had the Master Time Key in her possession; who knew what she was planning to do with it.

Levy sighed again.

To say things were not looking good for Fairy Tail at the moment would be the understatement of the year.

It was then that the front door to the Guild burst open with a startling "BANG".

Every head snapped to the source of the commotion to see Wendy at the threshold. Her hands rested on her bent knees as she panted for breathe. Her skin was slick with rain water and sweat while her hair was matted down.

Wendy took a shaking breathe before raising her head to look at her Guild.

"Igneel…" Wendy panted, "Igneel's awake!"

XXXX

Minutes earlier; Magnolia Hospital…

Wendy Marvell stood in the hospital room as she gently rearranged the vase of flowers she had set on the bed side table while doing her best to suppress a shudder.

She never really liked hospital rooms; they were too bright and sterile-uncomfortable even.

She preferred the infirmary back at the Guild or Porlyusica's home. There she felt safe in the warmth and subtle comfort offered by those environments.

But here, in Igneel's hospital room, she felt on edge.

Whether it was from her frayed nerves or the grief she felt over losing the kids, Wendy supposed it was a mixture of both.

Wendy rose from the table and gently brushed her shoulder length hair back over her ear. She then looked over her shoulder to the wall behind her where Romeo leaned against it. His arms were crossed but he gave his mate a gentle smile.

Wendy returned the gesture with a slight blush before turning her gaze to the bed next to her while a sad frown formed on her face.

There, lying flat on his back, was Igneel.

The young lightcaster mage was motionless as his chest slowly rose and fell; each breathe being punctuated by a rasp of air from the oxygen mask fitted snuggly over Igneel's nose and mouth.

Igneel was in rough shape. His bed sheet was tucked in low so that it covered his torso and legs thus leaving his hands to openly rest atop the sheets. The bandages wrapped around his abdomen could be seen, however, and there was an adhesive bandage tapped to his neck where Natsu had cauterized his neck wound.

However, the most severe damage was focused to the left side of Igneel's face.

Bandages were wrapped and tapped to the left side where Igneel had taken a direct hit from Aya's shadow attack. Wendy remembered seeing Igneel lying unconscious on the ground as she rushed over to help Porlyusica…she had never seen someone's face bleed so badly before.

Since then, Wendy had stopped by the hospital over the past two days to check on Igneel. Although Porlyusica and Wendy herself had managed to seal up Igneel's wounds and stop his bleeding, the doctors had been the ones to fully patch Igneel back up. All Wendy could do was make sure Igneel was comfortable in his unconscious state and change his bandages if his wounds opened up again.

Wendy sighed and gently brushed Igneel's hair away from his forehead.

"Please get better soon." Wendy said as she walked away from the bed and over to Romeo, who gently took Wendy's hand.

"Igneel's a tough guy," Romeo said, trying to comfort his mate, "he'll be back up in no time and kicking ass like he always does."

Wendy gave the young mage beside her a halfhearted smile and wished she shared Romeo's optimism. She knew he was trying to lift her spirits given all that had happened, but right now…things seemed bleak.

It was then that a nurse with a clipboard and a roll of bandages stepped into the room.

"Oh!" The nurse said as she touched her hand to her chest, "I didn't know you two were in here."

"Sorry we were just checking up on our friend here." Wendy said with an apologetic smile.

"No, I should have checked the roster to see if anyone was in here to visit." The nurse said as she looked over to Igneel with a sad frown.

"I take it you two are from Fairy Tail?" The nurse asked.

Romeo and Wendy nodded in confirmation.

"I…I heard about what happened a few days ago…I'm so sorry."

"Yeah…" Romeo said, "We are too."

The nurse looked back to Romeo and Wendy.

"If there's anything you need, let me know okay? I'll be working the afternoon shift so just ask for me at the front desk." The nurse said.

"Thank you…we appreciate your help." Wendy said.

The sky dragon slayer made to leave the room but a sound caught their attention; it was the sound of Igneel's breathing.

The once slow and steady rasps had picked up in their pace as Igneel's chest began to heave as if he were about to hyperventilate. His eyes moved rapidly beneath his eye lids and his hands suddenly gripped the bed sheet with enough force to turn the knuckles white. Igneel's body suddenly arched as if it were in extreme pain before falling back down as his eyes snapped open.

With a pained and startled gasp, Igneel bolted upright before being yanked back down by his oxygen mask. The nurse let out a startled cry as her clipboard and bandages fell to the floor. Romeo and Wendy starred wide eyed at Igneel as the mage began to double over with violent coughs.

The shock quickly wore off and the nurse regained her composure.

"Stay with him; I'll get him a doctor!" The nurse said as she ran out the door.

Romeo and Wendy were quickly at Igneel's side as they attempted to hold the struggling mage down.

"Igneel, it's okay!" Wendy said as she struggled to hold Igneel's right arm down, "Igneel, you're awake now; it's okay!"

Igneel managed to pull his arm away from Wendy and rip his oxygen mask away from his face as he violently coughed.

"Lilly!" Igneel wheezed, "Where's Lilly; where's my sister!?"

XXXX

Now…

Igneel stood in front of his hospital room's bathroom mirror as he let his hand fall away from his face.

The young mage stared at his reflection with tired and dull eyes; the proverbial thousand yard stare as it were.

Igneel had just finished applying his healing magic to his abdomen, neck and face. The wound inflicted to his torso was still deep but he had managed to permanently seal it shut and heal most of the damage from what had already begun to heal during his three day unconscious state. A nasty scar and a pain that came and went was his only reminder that the wound had been inflicted.

His face and neck were a different story.

His neck hadn't been cut too deep but just enough for him to nearly bleed to death. His father had cauterized the wound, leaving the seared pink flesh as a reminder that such a wound had existed. The scar, which was now in the shape of two fingers, was still ragged and red when he had torn the bandage off, nearly opening the wound again.

But Igneel paid the wound no mind…not when he was focused on the wound to his face.

Igneel numbly touched the healed skin with his fingers as he tried to look himself in the eye. He still had feeling, that was good, but there was a phantom pain that was irritating him.

And it was all in part to the spider web like scars that marred the left side of his face and jaw line. From the skin of his temple to the curve of his chin, Igneel saw the effect of what a concentrated beam of shadow energy and stone could do to a person's face.

The scars were deep and had still been ragged when he pulled the bandages away. A particular line from a scar had curved up and under his left eye, pushing the bottom lid up half way as if it were trying to hide the damage. But Igneel could see it clear as day in his reflection…or almost.

His left eye had been damaged in the attack. The organ was still there in one piece but the blood vessels in his eye had been broken, causing the white to turn a dark red. His once emerald green iris had turned a ghostly white and the pupil didn't focus as it normally should have. He was essentially blind in his left eye for all intents and purposes.

Not wanting to stare at the reminder of his failure anymore, Igneel picked up the cloth eye patch his doctor had given him and placed it over the eye. He couldn't wear his glasses though, on account that they had been blasted to pieces in the attack.

He didn't need them…he could see just fine, he stubbornly told himself despite his vision being hazy on his left side.

But still, Igneel continued to stare back at himself as his grip on the sink strengthened and the muscles in his jaw and neck tightened.

Failure.

The word echoed through Igneel's mind.

For three days, Igneel had been trapped in the darkness of his mind, not fully aware of his surroundings. He had been neither here nor there and he barely remembered wondering if he had been alive or dead.

But then, at some point or time, he had heard a voice calling out to him.

"Igneel…" the voice had said, "Igneel…wake up."

He had recognized this voice; it was Lilly's.

Her voice had been an echo as if she had been far away.

"Igneel…wake up." Lilly had repeated.

But then it had gotten closer, almost like it was whispering in his ear.

"Wake up."

Lilly's voice had grown louder; firmer.

"Wake up!"

Louder.

"IGNEEL!" Lilly screamed in panic.

And then a barrage of images had flashed before him. Images of his childhood, his home being destroyed, and the journey back to the past, and the battle that had unfolded the previous day. The final image was that of Aya firing her shadow magic at Igneel and the pain that had followed.

That had been when he had woken up.

His struggling and panic had been so great that it had taken the doctor two attempts to sedate him. He had been lucid for an hour before the effects of the sedative had worn off. By then, his parents had arrived from the Guild.

The mood should have been a joyous one…but it had been tense and charged with sorrow the whole time.

Natsu and Lucy were now outside his room talking to his doctor but had earlier explained what had happened during the time Igneel had been unconscious. The arrival of the other Guilds, the grief that had stricken the Guild and that Aya had escaped.

But the worse news that Natsu and Lucy had been forced to tell their son was that of the deaths of his sister…his girlfriend…and his friends.

They were gone.

And he had failed to protect them.

The people he had known all his life, his last semblance of family…were dead.

He had failed.

Igneel squeezed his eyes shut as hot tears pooled in his eyes while gritting his teeth.

All that time they had fought for survival, their plan to protect the future, the bonds they had rebuilt with their parents and the battles they had fought…it had all been for naught.

Aya was now in possession of the Master Key; she now had access and control to time magic.

He had failed to protect the future…they were now all officially dead men walking.

Igneel's fingers squeezed the porcelain of the sink to the point that it began to crumble in his grip. Igneel slowly raised his head and opened his eye as he glared at his reflection.

"Damn it…" Igneel hissed, "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!"

Igneel then raised his fist and punched the mirror before him; shattering it in an attempt to vent his anger and sorrow.

Igneel's fist burst into pain but he ignored it as he pulled his hand from the glass.

"Damn it…damn it…" Igneel sobbed as he fell to his knees while cradling his hand.

"Damn it why? Why am I so weak? Why was it them instead of me?" Igneel said as tears fell from his eyes and landed on his bleeding knuckles, diluting the blood.

Igneel squeezed his hand, contracting the muscles and forcing the pieces of glass out. He then applied his healing magic to his hand, sealing the wound.

Despite the pain and the anger that filled his mind, a tiny thought of denial whispered itself forth. He didn't want to believe that his friends and sister were dead.

He had to see them; he needed proof!

Slowly standing, Igneel donned the hospital scrubs a nurse had left for him from off the toilet. He was still a little unsteady on his feet and it didn't help that the wound to his stomach inhibited his movement slightly. Ignoring the limp in his step, Igneel opened the door to his room and stepped into the hallway.

He heard voices softly talking off to his right and with a quick glance, Igneel saw his parents gently talking to his doctor.

They hadn't noticed him yet.

Looking to his left, Igneel saw a stairwell at the end of the hallway. He knew that if he went down to the first floor and made his way to the back of the building, he would find the morgue.

And it would be there where his fears and denial would be answered.

Igneel was halfway down the hall when his presence was noticed.

"Igneel!?" Lucy called out in shock.

Igneel paused and looked over his shoulder with his good eye, a frown on his face.

"Hold it young man," the doctor said as he made his way over to the young mage, "where do you think you're going?"

Igneel didn't answer and turned back forward. He was stopped when the doctor placed his hand on Igneel's shoulder.

"I don't know where you're going son, but I can't let you go forward. You still need some time to recover before you can fully move about."

Igneel ignored the doctor and shrugged his hand of his shoulder.

"Young man-" the doctor said but was cut off when Igneel spun around and quickly punched the doctor in the stomach, causing the man to double over in pain.

"IGNEEL!" Natsu and Lucy yelled in surprise as they watched their son dash down the stairs.

"I'll help him," Lucy said as she kneeled by the coughing doctor, "you go after Igneel!"

Natsu nodded and leaped down the steps two at a time in pursuit of his son. Igneel however, despite his limp and pain in his stomach, had a head start on his father as he ran down the hallway while staying close to the wall for support.

Making a hard right, Igneel slipped on the floor, startling a few nurses and patients who were out and about. Hissing through his teeth, Igneel pushed himself up.

"Igneel!" He heard Natsu call out.

"Stop!"

Igneel continued to run down the hallway, ignoring Natsu and pushed himself forward. He reached the end of the hall and made a left, sliding into the wall and pushing off it. He then paused at the intersection before him where a sign was mounted on the upper wall.

"Surgery…rehabilitation…coroner!" Igneel said as he made a right.

It didn't take him long to make it down the hallway before coming upon a large set of double doors. Taking a quick breathe, Natsu looked over his shoulder as he listened to the sound of pounding footsteps echo down the halls.

Natsu was close behind. He didn't need signs to follow when he had his enhanced sense of smell.

Igneel turned back to the door and stormed in.

It was just as he expected. The room was large and was occupied by two stainless steel tables that took up the center of the room. At the back of the room was a series of small doors; the lockers that held the bodies brought into the morgue. There were shelves and cabinets that held all the tools and supplies at medical examiner would ever need spread about the room. To the right, were two desks; one of which was occupied.

"Excuse me, this area is restricted from patients and limited to staff only!" A man said as he stood from his desk.

He was a man of average height and build but appeared to be in his early fifties' if his salt and pepper hair, moustache and beard indicated anything. He wore a pair of scrubs under a lab coat. His name tag read G. BURK.

"Leave now before I call for security and-" Burk was cut off when Igneel stormed past him, grabbed the chair from his desk and jammed it against the door handles, blocking it from anyone who wanted to enter.

He didn't want to be interrupted.

"WHAT IN BLUE BLAZES ARE YOU DOING!?" Burk raged as Igneel turned to him…and held a light blade up to Burk's neck. The doctor held up his hands in a plight for mercy as his complexion paled and eyes widened.

"A day or two ago, six bodies were brought in here." Igneel said as he panted slightly, "I want to see them."

Burk's eye's moved from shock to understanding as he lowered his hands.

"You…you're that boy they brought in. The one from Fairy Tail."

Igneel lowered the blade and let it fade away.

"Are they here?" Igneel asked before he leaned against the desk, placing his hand over his stomach.

"Yes, they're the only ones I have on ice at the moment." Burk said as made his way over to the lockers.

"I haven't cut them open yet…I was asked not to, if only for a little bit, by Makarov…it's the least I can do for an old friend."

Igneel didn't answer and kept his gaze trained on the lockers.

It was then that the doors buckled inward but were halted by the chairs. The furious pounding of a fist followed.

"Igneel!" Natsu raged, "I know you're in there; open up!"

Natsu looked through the window in the door and angled his head to see his son.

"Igneel, if you don't open this door, I swear to Mavis I will break it down and…" Natsu paused when the squeaking of metal caught his attention.

Burk had opened up the first locker and rolled out the gurney halfway.

He then moved onto the next one and then the next one until the six occupied lockers were opened. And on those gurneys were six bodies covered by white sheets.

Igneel's breathing had become shallow and his hands shook as he pushed himself off the desk. Slowly, Igneel approached the lockers as Burk finished pulling the sheets back. He gave Igneel a saddened look and put his hands in his pockets as he stepped away from the mage.

With shaking breathe, Igneel came to the first body.

It was Lilly.

Tears silently fell from Igneel's eyes as he gently moved a stray strand of his twin sister's hair behind her ear. Her skin was cold and pale and her normally vibrant and bouncy hair was now straight and dull.

Lilly had not been just his sister. She was his best friend and confidant. Lilly had meant the world to him…and now she was gone.

His body shook as he leaned down and placed a soft farewell kiss on Lilly's forehead. It took an extreme amount of effort on Igneel's part to move away from his sister's body. He wanted to stay with her…but knew he had to move on.

Next was Saito.

His best friend had always stood tall and strong. He never backed down from a challenge and would do anything to protect those closest to him.

And now here he lay on a cold slab…with a hole in his side. Igneel couldn't bring himself to look at the wound.

"My dad told me that you went down protecting yours," Igneel whispered as he gently tapped his fist on Saito's shoulder, "…that sounds about right."

Igneel moved to the next body and froze for a minute before nearly collapsing. Steadying himself, Igneel let out a pained whine at the back of his throat that was reminiscent of a wounded animal before he leaned down and rested his forehead against Senna's.

The warmth Igneel had always felt from his girlfriend had long since faded. Igneel pulled back and gently placed his hand on her cheek, gently rubbing his thumb over her marble white skin. Senna was his everything. She kept him sane…made him feel alive; made him forget the pain that filled his heart and the nightmares that plagued his dreams.

Igneel's tears fell onto Senna's cold skin as he leaned down and placed a farewell kiss onto her lips; lips which were no longer warm and inviting. Lips that would never give him the smiles filled with love and trust.

"…Goodbye." Igneel whispered as he pulled away. It was all he could say.

Next came Sam.

Igneel felt his heart drop into his stomach when he saw his other best friend.

Igneel wasn't fully prepared to see the wounds Sam had sustained. His head, left and right arms had been reattached…due to Gray freezing them back on. Gray couldn't stand the thought of his son being stitched back together. So when his son was brought in by a horrified Bickslow, Elfman and Freed, Gray had set about freezing the body back together; with the element that connected him to his son.

Now Sam lay back in one piece. The ice would forever be frozen to his body…a testament to his father's love.

Igneel felt himself starting to go numb but he moved on.

Jenny lay motionless and silent. She had always been a quiet girl but her love and compassion knew no bounds. Jenny was one of his older friends, much like Kaito Strauss had been, but she loves spending time with him and the others. Her magic had helped save his life on the day everything went to hell and he never forgot that.

He did everything he could to keep her safe…but in the end, it appeared his efforts had been in vain.

"At least you died with a smile." Igneel said, noting the almost unnoticeable smile that gently tugged at Jenny's lips. Whatever she had done before she died, it must have brought her peace.

Igneel walked away from Jenny to the last gurney…and couldn't stop the pained sob that broke past his lips, even when his hand shot up to cover his mouth.

Little Chiara lay on her back, cold and unmoving.

It had been an unspoken agreement between Igneel and the others that Chiara's safety took precedent aside from their own. She was the baby of the group; too young to defend herself and too young to fully comprehend what had happened to her family and the others. Igneel had done his best to wipe her memory of some of the terrible sights she had been forced to witness.

He had tried to protect her, the only way he knew how.

And every time he saw her smile, giggle or just be herself, Igneel believed that he had done the right thing.

Now…seeing her laying on the cold metal slab was too much for him to handle. With pained gasps of breathe, Igneel backed away from the bodies of his friends until his back connected with the wall. His knees lost the ability to hold up the rest of his body and gave out, causing him to slide to the floor. Clutching his hand above his heart as a deep pain split into it, Igneel buried his eyes into his free hand and uncontrollably wept.

"I'm sorry…" Igneel sobbed, "I'm so sorry…"

Burk gave the young, grief stricken mage an understanding and sympathetic look. Closing his eyes and shaking his head sadly, Burk went back to the bodies and moved them back into their lockers before going over to the door and pried the chair that had been jamming it away.

Stepping back, Burk allowed Natsu to slowly enter. The fire mage had watched the whole event in stunned silence.

"I'll be outside if you need me," Burk said before placing his hand on Natsu's shoulder in a comforting manner, "Stay as long as you like."

And with those words, the aging medical examiner left his office.

Natsu lowered his eyes in sorrow as he walked over to Igneel, who continued to sob out his pain. Not really sure what to do, Natsu sat down beside his son, wrapped his arm around his shoulder and pulled his son close. Igneel buried his face into Natsu's chest as he continued to sob. Natsu wrapped his other arm around Igneel, thus creating a full hug and shared in his son's pain.

Igneel had gotten his answers…

…and had fallen to pieces from what he saw.

XXXX

Later, midday; Magnolia Lighthouse…

The rain had stopped shortly before twelve in the afternoon, allowing white fluffy clouds to appear in the sky with a bright blue back drop.

The shift in the weather had given the residents of the town reason to venture outside and begin repairs to the damage their town had suffered in the fighting from the previous day. Many of the residents were used to the damage their town suffered every now and then whenever a magic battle broke out and these repairs should have been no different.

This change in the weather still did nothing to alleviate the solemn mood that filled the town.

Many if not all of the residents had become aware of the deaths of the kids. In the time that they had been in magnolia, they had become regular sights around town and the residents came to accept and love them just like their favorite mages from Fairy Tail.

Their deaths had been felt by all.

It was by this time that Igneel had been released from the care of the hospital and was free to go about his business. With a fresh set of clothes given to him by Lucy, Igneel had numbly dressed and made his way out of the hospital.

His parents had urged him to return back to the Guild with them…but Igneel had refused.

He just wanted to be left alone.

Before he had left, Burk-the medical examiner- had given Igneel Lilly's bandana. It was the only item he was allowed to give to Igneel. With the piece of cloth in his hands, Igneel bought a pack of cigarettes from a street vendor and then wandered about the town, not going anywhere in particular. His feet eventually led him to the long a winding steps of the Lighthouse. Situated atop a rocky outcropping, the steps rose through a wooded area before coming to a paved, stone area with the lighthouse situated at the edge.

When he had been younger, Igneel, his sister and his parents would go there to watch the sun set over the lake. It had been one of his favorite places to visit so he could clear his mind and relax.

Taking his time to go up the steps, Igneel eventually made his way to the top. Walking over to the veranda that overlook the lake, Igneel took a seat on one the benches as he rubbed his thumbs over Lilly's bandana. The cloth was now unfolded revealing how torn up it was.

It was a piece of his mother's skirt after all…the only thing Knight had been able to find of her.

And now it was the only thing he had left of his sister.

Igneel let out a pained sigh as he tucked the cloth away and withdrew the pack of cigarettes he had bought. Opening the pack, Igneel withdrew a cancer stick and put it to his lips. He then held up his finger as a small ball of light formed at the tip. The light was just a centimeter away from lighting the cig when a voice spoke out, catching Igneel of guard.

"Those things will kill you." The voice said, almost sounding as if it was coming and going with the breeze.

Igneel sighed, playing it off as fatigue.

"Please leave me alone." Igneel said.

The person didn't respond.

Igneel brought the light back up to the cig and lit it…but before he could inhale, the voice spoke up again.

"I'm serious, those things will kill you." The voice said a little more firmly.

Igneel pulled the still burning cig from his lips with an irritated growl.

"Look buddy, I'm not going to tell you again." Igneel said through clenched teeth as he began to turn around.

"Leave. Me…alone?" Igneel said as he looked to face the person who had decided to irritate him…only to see that there was no one there.

"The hell?" Igneel said.

It was then that the breeze began to change to a strong wind. The wind blew Igneel's cigarette from his fingers as a series of leaves began to circle around him in a circular pattern. Igneel felt an unknown presence make itself known at the back of his mind.

There was something here with him.

"Who's there?" Igneel said as he looked around and above the gentle din of the wind.

"I know your there…show yourself!"

The wind picked up speed again but now the sky began to change. It became dark as if it were filled with smoke and the sun became slightly blocked. Ash and embers gently fell from the sky as the ground beneath Igneel's feet transformed into dry and cracked rock. Here and there, the rock cracked open to reveal the glow of fiery lava. The environment hand changed from bright and lush green to arid, dry and rocky.

Where he now stood seemed borderline inhospitable so great was the desolation.

A rumble, similar to thunder caught Igneel's attention and he turned around to see two, large volcanos simultaneously erupt far off into the distance.

"Where…" Igneel said as he looked around, "where am I?"

"Hello Igneel." The voice said again; this time deeper, firmer…but gentle at the same time.

Igneel turned back to see that he stood before the entrance to a massive cave.

"It's nice to finally meet you." The voice said.

A large shape began to materialize from the darkness of the cave. As it grew closer, it grew larger and larger and with it came a glowing pair of bright yellow eyes.

Igneel involuntarily took a step back.

"Do not be afraid," the creature said, "I will not hurt you; I have no reason to."

It was then that as the creature moved forth from the mouth of the cave, the sun broke through the ash filled clouds, and the creature moved into the light.

"Who are you?" Igneel asked.

"I think you know who I am." The creature said in an amused tone.

"After all…you are my grandson after all."

"No way…" Igneel whispered in disbelief.

There, looming over him, was the Dragon King himself; Igneel the Fire Dragon.

His grandfather…

…And the dragon he had been named after.

"G-Grandpa…Grandpa Igneel!?" Igneel said, his tone still that of disbelief.

The dragon smiled gently as he leaned his head down before his grandchild.

"My goodness…you look just like your father." Igneel said as he looked over…well, Igneel.

"But at the same time…you remind me of his mate…Lucy, I remember her name correctly." The dragon said before frowning slightly.

"Lucy…she looks a lot like your twin sister…it saddens me that I will not be able to meet her."

By now, Igneel had recovered from his initial shock as looked back at his Grandfather in the eye.

"How?" Igneel asked, "How do you know who I am…who my sister is, why am I here and…and…" Igneel paused before holding his hands out at his sides in exasperation.

"Where have you been all this time?"

Igneel smiled and sighed gently.

"I do suppose I owe you an explanation." The dragon said as he pulled up and looked up to the sky.

"I sensed your arrival into this time. I've dealt with time magic before…but it was hundreds of years ago since I last felt its presence. But once I recognized it, I knew a time gate had been opened. And then…the strangest feeling came over me…as if two extensions of my son's spirit were suddenly in existence. I put two and two together and I knew you and your sister were my son's children."

The dragon spoke with a hint of pride in his voice.

"My dad's spirit?" Igneel asked.

"Yes," Igneel said with a nod, "even though Natsu cannot sense me, I can sense him. He carries my magic and therefore, we are connected. Besides…a parent is always connected to their child; in one way or another."

Igneel looked back to his grandson.

"Because of the connection we share…I was able to sense his emotions. His anger, his joy, his fear, and…his love. I was able to sense when he and your mother became bonded as mates. The moment the connection was formed, I saw a face appear in my mind's eye; a face of a beautiful human female and a name by that of "Lucy Heartfilia." It was then that I knew that Natsu had found the woman who would receive his undying love…and bear his children."

Igneel processed this before looking back at his grandfather.

"That doesn't answer my question as to why you ran away from dad."

Igneel tensed slightly.

"Why I left your father was for reasons you could not understand…but that is not the real question that's bothering you. You are wondering as to why you're here in my domain?"

Igneel nodded slowly.

"To be frank with you, you did not leave your current position…at least in the physical sense." The dragon said.

"Pardon?"

"All that you see is an astral projection I created. I brought you to me by locking onto your magical signature. If I came to you…well, that would cause too many problems."

Igneel held up his claw to silence his grandson before the young mage could speak.

"That is not the issue; your current predicament, however, is." The dragon said as he watched Igneel's eyes harden.

"You know of Aya Higurashi?" Igneel asked in a hard tone.

The dragon nodded and let out a sad sigh through his nose.

"I knew your arrival in this time wasn't an accident. It was a planned arrival. If it was an accident, the magic used would have been scattered about in a chaotic mess. No, the magic you used was applied in a logical but desperate influx of power. It doesn't take a genius to know that something is wrong when desperation can be felt in the magic one uses. I knew that something was wrong with the future…and that Higurashi, being the only other one to use time magic, has played a part in it."

The dragon flexed his front claws.

"Yes…that woman is a dangerous one."

"No shit." Igneel retorted.

The dragon's eyes narrowed.

"Don't get pissy with me young man."

"Sorry but have you not seen what she did to my face?" Igneel said as he pointed at his scars, "Do you know what she did to my sister; to my friends!?"

"I am well aware of the fate that befell Lilly and your compatriots. I've been sensing Higurashi's presence for months now…as well as the brief arrival of her future self, the one you are more associated with. I knew that once your paths crossed, a confrontation was inevitable. I thought you would be able to stop her and that you would be able to fend her off and fix whatever you came to the past for…I was wrong. I chose to stand by and do nothing…and you in turn paid dearly for my blunder in judgment."

This revelation made Igneel freeze before his hands slowly clenched into fists.

"What?" Igneel said as he watched his grandfather look away from him.

"You mean to tell me that you not only know about Higurashi…but that you were able to sense her and that you knew she was coming after us; that we would fail!?"

Igneel's tone had increased as his shoulders trembled in anger. His grandfather's silence was all he needed for an answer.

"You…you bastard!" Igneel hissed.

The word stung the dragon but he did not show it.

"You're telling me that you sensed her and chose to do nothing about it!? That you chose to sit by and watch as we were slaughtered!?"

Igneel couldn't believe he was hearing this from his grandfather.

"How could you…HOW COULD YOU!?" Igneel raged.

The dragon did not respond.

"ANSWER ME YOU COWARD!" Igneel screamed.

The dragon's eyes snapped open and he quickly turned his head to look back at his grandson.

"What did you just call me?" The dragon hissed.

"You heard me; coward!" Igneel bit back.

"How dare you." The dragon growled.

"Don't act so high and mighty you overgrown lizard!" Igneel snapped as he stomped his foot forward while pointing accusingly at his grandfather.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" The dragon snarled.

But Igneel ignored the dragon before him.

"WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO SIT BY AND WATCH YOUR FAMILY DIE, HUH!? WHAT RIGHT!?" Igneel roared as tears fell from his eyes.

"HOW COULD YOU JUST SIT BY AND WATCH AS MY SISTER BLED TO DEATH!? SHE WAS MY TWIN SISTER YOU MOTHERFUCKER!"

"HOW DARE YOU!" The dragon roared in equal ferocity.

"NO," Igneel snapped, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU COULD HAVE HELPED US! YOU COULD HAVE SAVED EVERYONE BUT NO! YOU CHOSE TO RUN AWAY AND HIDE! YOU CHOSE TO ABDON MY FATHER, YOUR OWN FUCKING SON!"

Igneel took in heaving breathes as he held his ground against the fire king himself.

"IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD PROTECT HIM!" The dragon roared.

"BULLSHIT! THAT'S A PISS POOR EXCUSE AND YOU KNOW IT!"

The dragon growled low and deep.

"You could not even begin to fathom the reasons behind my decision! Why I and the other dragons chose to leave!" The dragon hissed.

"What I am doing will help safeguard humanity; will protect your father!"

"You could've at least said goodbye instead of leaving my dad in his sleep…you could've let him know you were alright! But no, you had to abandon your son in the most cowardly way imaginable."

"Don't you dare call me a coward again," the dragon warned, "Or so help me I'll-"

"YOU'LL. WHAT!?" Igneel challenged.

"You'll kill me, huh!? Is that what you'll do!?" Igneel said as he let out humorless laugh.

"You don't have the balls to kill me; just like you didn't have the balls to protect my sister and my friends when we needed you most!"

It was then that the dragon had had enough. Letting out and an enraged roar, Igneel raised his claw and slammed it on the ground causing the rock to crack and shake. The force was so great that Igneel lost his footing and he fell to the ground.

He did not break eye contact with the dragon before him.

"You don't scare me." Igneel said, the venom dripping from his voice.

"YOU DARE QUESTION ME!?" The fire dragon roared, "YOU DARE QUESTION IGNEEL THE GREAT!? WAS IT NOT I WHO RAISED YOUR FATHER!? WAS IT NOT I WHO GAVE HIM HIS POWER AND THE DRIVE TO SURPASS THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD!?"

Smoke and embers left the dragon's moth as he spoke.

"YOU, WHO KNOWS NOTHING, HAVE THE GALL TO QUESTION ME!?"

"WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT YOU!?" Igneel snapped as he looked the dragon in the eyes. It was then that his lip began to quiver as hot tears ran down cheeks.

"What's so great?" Igneel repeated as his voice broke.

"All my life, I heard stories about how great you were; about how my dad worshiped the ground you walked on." Igneel said as he began to sob.

"Now…all I see before me is a dragon who chose to turn a blind eye to the world and let it fall into ruin."

Igneel didn't answer as he lowered his head in shame.

Igneel began to openly sob as he buried his face into his hands.

"Why?" Igneel moaned, "Why did you make my dad kill you…why did you have to die? We needed you in our darkest hour and you weren't there."

Igneel looked at his grandfather with tear stained eyes.

"Why?"

The dragon sighed and gave his grandson an empathetic look.

"If my death ensures the safety of humanity…if it ensures that your father will be protected, then so be it."

The dragon gently caressed Igneel's cheek with one of his massive talons.

"Oh Igneel, I wish I could tell you what's going on. But I can't. There are forces at work here that are beyond your understanding."

Igneel sniffled and looked down at his shaking hands.

"But that is not the issue here. Although I have my reasons for leaving, your problem also takes precedent." Igneel said as he used his claw to gently raise his grandson's head.

"I did not bring you here to argue with you," The dragon said gently, "I brought you here to help you."

"Help me? How could you possibly help me?" Igneel croaked.

"My sister and friends are dead. Higurashi now has the master key and can now control time at will. I failed my mission…the future is still doomed. My power was nothing compared to hers…I'm weak; pathetic."

"No…it's not." The dragon said, "And don't put yourself down like that."

"…What do you mean?" Igneel asked.

"There is still time to save the future."

"How!?" Igneel asked incredulously, "Higurashi has the master key now and-"

"There is still time because I know where she is and what she's planning." The dragon said causing Igneel to halt mid-sentence.

"Wh-what?" the young mage said.

The dragon nodded.

"You have to understand, time magic is an ancient and powerful magic…but it is also extremely unpredictable. The origins of this magic have, ironically, been lost to time. But that didn't stop people from trying to manipulate it as a weapon…especially during the Dragon Civil War. It was during the war that humans and dragons alike tried to use time as a weapon and in order to control this power, they created the Master Time Key as a way to tap into this energy. But after a series of horrific accidents, on account to the magic's unpredictability, the usage of the magic fell out of practice and most of the knowledge associated with it was destroyed. But…the fact that time could be accessed so freely warranted enough attention that The Keeper appeared before me at the end of the war."

"The Keeper?" Igneel asked.

The dragon nodded.

"The Keeper of Time. Neither man nor woman; a being far beyond our understanding who dwells in a realm far beyond our own. The Keeper approached me, the other dragons and the first magic council asking that the power of time never be abused again as a weapon for war or personal gain by man and beast. It said that such usage went against the laws of creation and that the power was too great to fully be mastered by creatures of the mortal realm. So, together with the Keeper, we sealed away the power of the key…making it inert except to those who know the workings of time magic."

"I still don't see how this pertains to Higurashi and whatever her plan is." Igneel said.

"The key," the dragon said, his tone becoming grim, "is also the Keeper's Achilles heel. Because the majority of the key's power is linked to the Keeper, it also means that the Keeper can also be controlled against its will. You see, the Keeper is not an omnipotent being. It lays dormant and let's time play out naturally, only to awaken when an error has occurred within the flow of time. But, if someone were to learn to harness the power of the key and catch the Keeper off guard, they could control it. And in turn, they can control time without any backlash."

Igneel's eyes began to widen in horror and understanding.

"So…that's how Higurashi became so strong in the future."

The dragon nodded.

"Higurashi and her cohorts must have stumbled upon the Keeper's domain, The Realm of Time, and figured out a way to seal away the Keeper until the Master Key could be obtained. Never in a thousand years did we think something like this would happen when we sealed the Key's power…but, once again, we were wrong. In your future, Higurashi found the key, manipulated the Keeper's power and used it to gain unimaginable strength for herself and her companions. She used it to destroy the world."

"…Which is what she is doing now." Igneel said as he stood.

"Correct." The Dragon said.

"Then…isn't it too late to stop her?" Igneel asked.

"No. There is a safeguard in place to ensure the magic of the Keeper isn't gained at once. There are multiple barriers that guard the Keeper. Each barrier can drain the user of the key's magic over the three day process. However, the closer to the final barriers you get the weaker they become and the user's magic is returned two fold."

"But it's been three days already!" Igneel said in panic.

"Yes, but you can still act." The dragon said.

"How!?" the boy questioned.

"I'm…not strong enough to face her…I don't even have a plan." Igneel said as he clenched his hands in frustration.

"And I can't drag my parents or the others into this…we'd all end up dead."

"True," the dragon said, "you are not on par with Higurashi. Not yet…and don't lie; you do have a plan."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Igneel said.

"Igneel," the dragon said, "you do have a plan. I can see it in your eyes. You have a plan…but it is one you have pushed into the back of your mind; a last ditch effort you thought you would never have to use. But as things stand, it is time to put that plan in motion."

Igneel had grown stock still as his skin palled.

He swallowed hard.

"Grandpa…you can't be seriously saying that I do that?"

"You have no choice. In order to protect your parents and the rest of your Guild, you must act accordingly."

Igneel shook his head.

"I can't…I just can't." Igneel said as tears formed in his eyes.

"You can and you must."

"But…" Igneel said as he tried to stop his tears, "If I do that…I'll break their hearts."

Igneel sighed and gave his grandson a soft smile.

"Igneel, my grandson, there comes a point in everyone's life where they must make the toughest choice they will ever make. The outcome of their decision may not necessarily be good but it is a decision none the less. In your case, see it as this; would you rather see your parents and friends live and hate you than not live at all?"

Igneel lowered his head in defeat. He knew the answer…but didn't want to accept it.

"You must choose what you want to do. Will you fight till the bitter end and save all that you know or will you let the future come to pass?"

Igneel was silent for a long time as he contemplated his answer. Then, slowly but steadily, Igneel's shoulders broadened as he stood straighter while his eyes hardened with resolve.

"I know what I must do." Igneel said.

"And that is?"

"I will fight." With renewed determination.

The dragon smiled.

"Good to hear." The dragon said as he raised a talon to Igneel's forehead as a ball of white energy formed at the tip, "In this light I give you the location and means to access the Keeper's domain as well as a portion of my power so that you will be able to take on Higurashi once more; this time on equal ground."

Igneel pressed his talon to his grandson's head and watched as his body glowed briefly. Igneel's eyes now had a new light to them.

"I will not fail." Igneel said.

"I know you won't." The dragon replied, "I have the utmost faith and confidence in your abilities. I know you will do whatever it takes."

The dragon then straightened himself.

"Time is of the essence. I suggest you make whatever preparations you must and say your goodbyes."

The world around the dragon and his grandson began to slowly fade back into reality.

"And this…my grandson is where we must part ways." The dragon said in a dismayed tone.

"I wish this meeting could have been under better, happier circumstances."

Despite that fact that he was fading away, Igneel moved forth and hugged the dragon's still outstretched talon.

"Will I ever see you again?" Igneel asked.

The dragon smiled and leaned down to gently nuzzle his grandson.

"I'm sure we will…someday."

Igneel pulled back as a single tear fell from his eye. That didn't stop him from smiling though.

"Thank you grandpa…I… I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

"You were angry, you don't have to apologize."

Igneel wiped the tear away and nodded.

"I love you grandpa."

"…I love you too…Igneel."

Igneel's legs had started to fade along with his waist.

"Be strong…be brave." The dragon said.

"I won't fail you; I promise."

And with those words…Igneel was gone.

"I know you won't." the dragon said.

It was a long time before he moved away from where his grandson had been standing. With a heavy sigh, Igneel the Fire King moved back into his cave.

"You do realize you broke the rules we set forth for not interacting with the humans?" A voice said.

Igneel turned around to see a large glowing ball of light before him accompanied by a swirling orb of shadow with a pair of glowing white eyes at its center.

"The situation demanded it. Our plans and the world we know is in jeopardy of falling into oblivion. I had to act…besides," Igneel said as he laid down, "he's my grandson. I couldn't forsake him. Not after what happened to his sister."

"You do realize he is going to his death and that you too are also responsible for that." The white light said.

"Wouldn't you do the same, Grandeeny?" Igneel asked.

"If it was Wendy's child, wouldn't you do the same for them?"

Grandeeny didn't answer as the light morphed into a projection of her true, dragon form.

"Its suicide and you know it. He'll just end up like Saito." The black orb said as it too morphed into that of Metalicana.

Igneel sighed and gave his two old comrades a sad smile.

"I'm well aware of that…but don't you want him to avenge your grandson Metalicana?"

The iron dragon scoffed but made no move to argue the fire dragon.

"Do you have that much faith in the boy? Do you truly believe with all your heart that he will succeed?" Grandeeny asked.

Igneel nodded.

"Without a shadow of a doubt." He answered.

Grandeeny sighed…before smiling slightly.

"Then I will put my faith in him as well…for the future."

"…As will I." Metalicana said begrudgingly.

"He will not fail…" Igneel said, "Besides…he's not the only one who knows of where the Keeper resides."

It took a minute for the other two dragons to catch onto what Igneel was saying, but realization soon reached them.

"You're talking about her, right?" Metalicana asked.

XXXX

Lucy's Apartment…

Igneel stepped out of the shower as he toweled himself off. His hot shower had done wonders when it came to relaxing the tension in his body.

Still, he felt slightly jittery considering her knew what was about to come.

He wished he had a better plan…but at the moment, it was all he could do. He was running out of time and he was out of options.

Wiping the condensation away from the mirror, Igneel looked at his reflection. He was still amazed by his appearance. Without the scars and if her kept his hair in its damp, messy state he would pass as an exact copy of his father. It was something that amused and saddened him more than once.

Sighing, Igneel finished drying himself and donned the clothes he had left out for himself. Dressed, Igneel walked back into the empty apartment.

His mother and father were still at the Guild with everyone else.

He wasn't surprised.

He would be heading there soon anyway.

Stepping into the kitchen, Igneel retrieved some leftover beef stew that his mother had made along with the last few slices of sourdough bread she had bought.

After heating the last of the stew over the stove, Igneel poured himself a bowl and sat down at the table. He ate in silence, doing his best to enjoy Lucy's home cooking on what time he had left.

Dear Mavis did he love his mother's cooking.

After another helping of stew and finishing off the bread, Igneel downed his meal with a glass of water before washing his dishes and leaving them out to dry.

Igneel took a final look around the apartment, enjoying the familiar warmth and comfort it offered before leaving the apartment, locking the door behind him as he did so.

With his first tasks completed, Igneel quickly ventured to the other side of town. Before he carried out the last few parts of his plan, he had to conquer his current goal. It wasn't long before he reached a small shop built into a three story building.

The sign above simply read: THE FORGE.

Entering, the door opened with the tinkering of a bell that echoed throughout the store. Igneel let out a low whistle as he observed the shops many wares and prices for battle armor, weapons, equipment and combat apparel.

"Can I help you?" A voice said, deep and gruff, catching Igneel's attention.

Igneel turned from the display case he had been looking at to see a man standing in front of a curtain that led from the back of the store behind what appeared to be the cashiers station. He was a tall, bear of a man with thick arms, shoulders and torso rippling with muscle. He had dark gray hair which was wrapped in a doo rag and bushy mustache which covered his upper lip. He wore a black, well used apron over a pair a red t-shirt and brown work pants. A tool belt and welders hood hung from his waist.

"I believe you can." Igneel said as walked up to the counter.

"What do you need?" the man asked. It was obvious he was the owner of the store.

"I'm looking to buy a set of armor and some clothing." Igneel said.

The owner smirked with a sardonic chuckle.

"In case you haven't noticed," The owner said as he gestured to his store, "I have plenty of those things; you're going to have to be specific."

"Fine then…" Igneel said, "I need a set of armor; the strongest that you have. Well, at least the strongest armor that offers the greatest chance of keeping me alive…if only for a little bit longer."

The man's smile faded as he looked over Igneel.

"You fixing to get into a fight?"

"I am." Igneel said.

"You look like you've been through the wringer already."

"It's not your concern. Do you have what I'm looking for; yes or no?" Igneel replied, keeping his tone firm and even.

The owner crossed his arms.

"I may have what you're looking for…but it's expensive."

"I can pay for it."

"Can you?" The owner asked, "Because the strongest suit I have costs 4.5 Million Jewels."

Igneel blanched slightly.

"Are you serious?" Igneel asked, his shock evident in his tone.

"The armor offers Level Seven protection from most known if not all magic and physical attacks. That kind of protection is worth the price tag."

Igneel sighed and lowered his head.

"Crap." He muttered.

The owner was silent before placing his hands on the counter.

"You're Igneel Dragneel of Fairy Tail aren't you?"

Igneel's head snapped to the man in shock.

"How did you know?" Igneel asked.

"Word travels fast." The owner said as a sad look crossed his features.

"I heard about what happened to you the other day. About what happened to your sister and those other kids…I'm so sorry."

Igneel bit his lip but nodded none the less.

"So am I." Igneel said.

"Grandpa?" Igneel heard a voice say.

The two men turned around to the curtain to see a little boy and girl shyly looking out from behind the curtain. The boy was probably eight or nine at best and the girl had to be seven. It was obvious from their appearance that they were brother and sister. Igneel also noticed that the boy had bandages wrapped around his forehead and had his right arm in a splint. The girl had a cast on left leg.

The owner looked back to Igneel.

"My grandchildren. My wife, son and daughter in law are still out of town for a series of errands. My grandchildren and I stayed behind however. We were in town when those dark mages attacked. They were just coming from a candy vendor when they were caught near one of the explosions made by that sound guy. I was only banged up a little but they…"

The owner paused and gave Igneel a knowing look.

"Well you can probably guess."

Igneel sadly nodded.

"I heard those mages were killed by members of your Guild…but that two got away. Is that true?"

"Yes." Igneel nodded.

The owner's eyes hardened.

"You came here, asking to get a set of armor…so you could go after those two mages, right?"

"Yes." Igneel said with equal determination.

"You're going to kill them?"

Igneel paused for a moment before nodding his head.

"With extreme prejudice." He answered.

"Good to hear," the owner said, "Nobody messes with my family and gets away with it; especially when it comes to my grandchildren."

"A man who puts his family above all else," Igneel said in admiration, "I can respect that."

"…You're going back into the fire aren't you?" The owner said.

"If I have to go through hell itself to get to the one responsible for killing my sister and friends…the one responsible for the attack; I will do so without hesitation."

The owner nodded. He then exhaled through his nose and cracked his knuckles.

"Very well. I'll go get that armor for you. In the meantime, take whatever you need."

Igneel gave the owner a surprised look.

"Sir, I couldn't just take any of your stuff from you without paying for it."

The owner shook his head.

"Whatever you need; it's on the house. Especially the armor." The owner then turned to his grandchildren and kneeled down so his hands rested on their shoulders.

"Something tells me that giving it to you is the right thing to do. That by doing this, I will somehow be able to ensure that my grandchildren won't be hurt like this again."

The owner looked over his shoulder at Igneel with a small smile.

"You have the fire of a warrior in your eyes."

Igneel was silent…but lowered his head slightly in understanding.

"…Thank you…I…I don't know how to repay you."

"You can repay me by sending those dark mages to hell where they belong. Now get ready, I'll be back with the armor in a moment when I get the crate of the back."

And with that, the owner ushered his grandchildren back behind the curtain and followed after them.

"Thank you," Igneel whispered, "I won't forget this."

Fifteen minutes later, Igneel emerged from one of the empty changing rooms just as the owner returned from the back of his store as he pushed a cart with a wooden crate laying down on it.

Igneel now wore a form fitting black t-shirt with a blue shoulder trim and a pair of combat pants with a three pattern urban camouflage pattern and a leather belt secured around his waist. His pants were tucked into a pair of black leather, tanker style combat boots. As he walked out, he finished wrapping a series of combat bandages around his knuckles, hands, wrists and forearms before pulling a set of half finger gloves over his hands. Standing in front of a mirror, Igneel pulled Lilly's bandana out of his pocket and wrapped it around his forehead. He then pulled a section of the cloth down and covered his left eye, making an eye patch to replace the one he'd been using.

"Here you go." The owner said with a slight grunt as he wheeled the cart over to Igneel. His grandchildren stood back, watching with interest.

The crate seemed to be made of a smooth hard wood that set itself apart from standard shipping containers. On the lid, was an emblem that denoted the manufacturer; a closed hand gripping a grinning skull which overlay a shield with crossed swords behind it. Below the emblem in big bold letters was the name of the manufacturer: FORZA MASSIMA INDUSTRIES-SIGNATURE MODEL.

Using a crowbar, the owner popped the lid revealing black foam padding with the armor set in individual sections.

"Forza Massima Industries Model Nine Advanced Battle Armor," the owner said as he removed the vest from its place, "this thing is for guys what Heart Kreuz is for girls."

The complete armor set was matte black in color while the vest had a Velcro strip on the back and two patches on the shoulder guards.

The main vest consisted of a collar, shoulder/deltoid, groin, kidney, upper and lower back protectors. Attached to the collar was a strip of armor that held a head guard together in a "T" shape fashion. The rest of the armor consisted of arm and leg guards. They appeared to be made from the same material as the vest but had integrated knee and elbow guards. The arm guards had integrated hand/knuckle guards that he could thread his fingers through and the leg armor had special clamps that locked to his boots at the ankle and covered the top of his foot and toes. One unique aspect Igneel noted about the arm and leg armor was that it all seemed to connect to the thigh rigs and vest.

"Here, let's get the vest on and then put the rest together." The owner said as he helped slide the vest over Igneel's head and onto his shoulders and frame.

"The armor," the owner said as he buckled the sides up before covering them with a protective panel, "is made from a high strength metal alloy that has been infused with a special ceramic weave. This makes it light but extremely durable, weighing in a t only thirty pounds. It's this factor that allows the armor to articulate with your body's movement to ensure both ease of movement and protection."

With the vest and head guard secured, the arm armor was applied.

"As I said, the armor can withstand most known magical and physical attacks but it can't survive a direct hit at close range. I wouldn't recommend testing that out by the way. If your armor takes too much damage, there's an emergency release tab located near your left shoulder guard. Simply pull it hard and the armor will fall to pieces and away from the rig."

Igneel fished locking his leg armor in place by giving the final buckle a solid tap. He then stood and flexed his joints. The armor did have some weight to it but it wasn't cumbersome.

It would suit his needs just fine.

"There's one other thing that makes this armor unique; why it's called a signature model." The owner said.

He then tapped the back of the armor than ran up his neck.

"Apply your magic here."

Igneel arched an eye brow.

"Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

Slowly complying, Igneel touched his index and middle finger to the back of his neck, and sure enough, he could feel a glyph there. Concentrating his magic, Igneel felt is surge forth into the armor. Then, suddenly, the armor plates that covered the sides of his head slid down slightly, leaving the top of his head uncovered and snapped forward, meeting at the center of his face.

His nose, mouth and jaw were now completely covered; the armor had made a face shield.

It was then that Igneel noticed that a series of hidden slots located at the armor that covered his joints had glowed to life.

"Wow." Igneel heard the owner's grandchildren whisper in unison.

"Look in the mirror." The owner said.

Igneel turned back to the reflective panel…and saw that on his face mask was a glowing blue design of a grinning dragon.

"Nice." Igneel said, his voice now taking a metallic ring.

"You are not just wearing a Model Nine armor set. You're wearing the signature "Dragon's Grin" model. It taps into your magic to give you enhanced strength and agility."

Igneel suddenly snapped his arm up before him as if to punch; there was a definite increase in his movement speed. Igneel pulled his arm back and let his magic fade from his armor. He then looked to the owner as his face mask pulled back.

"I seriously can't thank you enough."

"Think nothing of it. Just make sure you put that armor to good use and don't do anything crazy."

Igneel chuckled.

"Have you met my family or my guild?"

The owner laughed before holding his hand up, remembering something.

"Hold on, I have one last thing to give you." He said as he ventured back to the counter before returning.

"I've been saving these in case anyone from Fairy Tail decided to drop by to get some extra protection; especially if Miss Scarlett happened by."

The owner held two Velcro patches in his hands. One a long strip and the other, a circular patch. The patch said "FIARY TAIL" in bold white letters while the patch was that of the Fairy Tail emblem. He then applied the patches to their respective spots on Igneel right shoulder and back.

"There we go…now you're ready."

Igneel gently touched the emblem on his shoulder before looking at the owner, his hand extended.

"Thank you…for everything." Igneel said.

The two men shook hands firmly.

"Good luck Igneel Dragneel." The owner said.

Ingeel nodded, turned on his heel and left the store. He then reached beneath his armor and removed the necklace chord around his neck.

Attached to it were Knight's celestial spirit keys. Lucy had given them to him while he had been in the hospital. Removing his keys, Igneel combined them together, concentrating his magic.

"Open gate of the Celestial Paladin." Igneel said.

It took some effort, but soon enough, the Celestial Warrior appeared before Igneel.

"Igneel…" Knight said in slight surprise.

"Knight…" Igneel said.

Knight took notice of Igneel's appearance as he took in the young mage from head to toe.

"What…what on Earthland are you wearing?" Knight asked.

"...Walk with me." Igneel said.

The celestial spirit silently complied. Together, the duo walked to the Fairy Tail building in silence. When they reached the outside of the building, Igneel stopped before bending down to the ground and using his light magic to begin making a magic circle of which Knight had never seen before.

"Igneel…what are you doing?" Knight asked.

Igneel didn't answer. He was almost finished now.

"Ingeel please; what's going on?" Knight asked in concern.

Igneel cracked his knuckles before rising and turning to Knight.

"I know where Aya Higurashi is Knight…I know what she's planning."

And with that, Igneel told Knight his plan.

XXXX

Knight, compared to the rest of the Celestial Spirits, was a young spirit by about a hundred years.

Despite this fact, he was one of the strongest spirits in existence.

So great was he in power that he had been made the guardian to the Celestial Spirit King himself.

He was a natural leader and was loyal only to those closest to him and his masters.

He was also a husband and father being one the few spirits to wed another spirit and conceive a child from the love of that union.

He had fought many battles over the many years that he had been used by his surprisingly small number or masters.

During his time in the human world, he had only six masters.

His first two masters, he had been given to by the Celestial Spirit King himself when the bond between the human and spirit realm had been forged.

They unfortunately died during the early stages of the Dragon Civil War.

His second set of masters had come to him during the war.

And after the war ended, he changed hands many times over the years.

The reason behind this was of Knight's own power, which proved to be his Achilles' heel. He was powerful yes, but not powerful enough to fight the corruption of his masters. When he was in the spirit world, he was cleansed of that corruption…but when he returned to battle, the corruption returned.

Knight's masters, as per a requirement of his contract with them, had to be pure of heart and share a bond of either love or trust. But as time went on, his masters would be overcome by the strength Knight offered them. They lusted for power; their greed consumed them.

It would only be a matter of time before Knight realized he would lose himself to his master's influence.

In a desperate move to prevent this, Knight had the spirit king seal him away…until the day someone pure of heart, love and courage could find him. Only then, could he live to his full potential and fulfill his duty as the Celestial Paladin.

It was a decision that still haunted him.

He had been forced to leave his wife and son behind; the spirits that would one day become known as Pisces, "The Paired Fish".

He had been forced to leave all that he knew.

And so he waited, locked away from the world, his keys resting in a metal box in the dark recess of a cave that was far away from anyone.

It was a long dreamless sleep…

…Until one day, he was discovered-albeit accidently-by a Lucy Dragneel.

The Celestial Spirit Mage was only twenty two when she found Knight…but from their first meeting, Knight knew his true master had been found. He knew that she and her husband, Natsu Dragneel, would be the ones to call upon him.

And so it had been that Knight, resurrected from his slumber, pledged his loyalty to Lucy and Natsu…and their children, Igneel and Lilly when the time came. From the get go, Knight knew Igneel had an affinity for light magic, magic that was similar to his own. He had taken the young boy under his wing and trained him in the art of the light.

Igneel had become a second son to him. And Lilly, a daughter.

But then the day came when Natsu and Lucy had been taken from him. They day Igneel and Lilly became his masters. It was on that day that Knight swore he would carry out Lucy's last orders to him to the letter; protect her children at all costs.

But now, as he looked down upon a heavily armored Igneel, Knight found that what the young mage had just told him contradicted those very orders.

He was loyal to a fault, he knew that, but what Igneel told him overrode his sense of strict loyalty.

So…for the first time in his very, very long life, Knight did something he never thought he would do…

"Absolutely not."

…He rejected a direct order.

"Knight…this is not a request." Igneel said firmly.

"I am well aware of that Igneel and my decision stands; I refuse to let you carry out your plan."

"You have no choice," Igneel said, "I am giving you a direct order."

Knight's hands clenched into fists.

"Igneel, what you just told me is tad amount to suicide!"

"…It must be done." Igneel said as he lowered his eyes.

"No!" Knight snapped taking Igneel by surprise.

"Your mother ordered me to protect you and your sister no matter the cost! I promised her that I would keep you safe! I failed to protect Lilly…I can't…I won't lose you too; not after coming this far." Knight said as his shoulders shook.

It took Igneel a second to notice the strain in Knight's voice and the way his shoulders twitched.

Igneel came to the realization that Knight was silently crying.

In all the time that he had known the Celestial Spirit, he had never once heard him cry or be so vocal about an issue.

"I won't lose you too Ingeel." Knight said in pain.

Igneel did his best to hold his tears back.

"Knight…I know what my mother said. But I have to do this; it has to be me."

Knight's shoulders sank.

"It was my job to protect you."

"I know…and you did an amazing job. Without you, I don't know if we would have lasted as long as we did."

Igneel placed his hand on Knight's shoulder and gripped it firmly.

"You've been my teacher, friend and protector…I couldn't have asked for a better guardian."

Igneel gave Knight a sad smile.

"But it has to be this way…it's time to come full circle." Igneel said as he unclasped his hand and took up Knights. He then uncurled his fist and dropped the silver and crystal keys into Knight's open palm.

"Knight…I, Igneel Dragneel, end our contract together and transfer control of your power to Lucy Heartfilia and Natsu Dragneel. Do you understand?"

Knight straightened up and nodded.

"Say it."

"I understand." Knight said resolutely.

"Good…but before you carry out that task, I have one final order to give you."

Knight nodded silently in confirmation.

"When I give the word, I want you to activate the teleportation circle…and then erase it, so that no one can follow me. Clear?"

"Crystal." Knight said…before suddenly pulling Igneel forth in a one armed hug.

"…I love you like a son…you know that right?" Knight asked.

Igneel closed his eyes and returned the gesture before pulling away.

"I know."

The young mage backed up before turning to the doors of Fairy Tail. Before he entered, he looked over his shoulder at Knight.

"Goodbye Knight…I'll miss you."

"…As will I." Knight said.

The Celestial Spirit watched as Igneel opened the door and let it close behind him. He then drew his sword and raised it high above his head with the blade pointing down and aimed at the magic circle. Magical energy coursed through the blade, giving it an otherworldly glow.

"Goodbye…Igneel." Knight said as he waited for his young master to return…for the last time.

XXXX

Inside the Fairy Tail Guild Hall…

Igneel stepped past the threshold of the door as his boots echoed heavily off the wooden floor, the door closing behind him.

He quickly spotted his parents sitting at the bar with their backs to him. Taking in a deep breathe, Igneel made his way to the bar.

"Here goes nothing." Igneel thought as he inhaled deeply and slowly.

It didn't take long for the people in the Guild Hall and the upper level of the building to notice Igneel. They silently watched him in shock and disbelief as he calmly walked pass those who openly gawked or stared.

Igneel paid them no mind, however.

It wasn't long before he reached his parents. They were silently talking to Mirajane about something Igneel couldn't hear when the barista took notice of the armored mage.

Mira let out a surprised gasp as she nearly dropped the glass in her hand.

"Igneel…is that you?" Mira asked in surprise as she clutched her hand to her chest.

Natsu and Lucy instantly turned around and were taken aback by their son's appearance.

"Igneel!?" Lucy said in shock.

"What…what in the name of Mavis are you wearing?" Natsu asked.

"Body armor; what else?" Igneel retorted.

Natsu gave his son a quick glare.

"Don't get smart with me." Natsu said.

"Sorry." Igneel said as he crossed his arms.

"…Why are you wearing that?" Lucy asked as she looked over her son. There was a different air to him compared to before when he had left the hospital.

Before, the air around Igneel was one of depression and of absolute defeat. He was lost…angry…and in pain. But now…now Igneel carried an air of…what? Acceptance, determination and regret.

This change in her son put her on edge for some reason she couldn't explain.

Igneel was silent for a moment before he looked Natsu and then Lucy in the eye. He let out a deep sigh before lowering his hands to his side.

"I…I know where Aya Higurashi is." Igneel said, his words echoing throughout the silent Guild.

This revelation brought a series of gasps from all present.

"What?" Natsu whispered.

"You heard me. I know where Aya Higurashi is and what she's planning."

"What…when…how!? Lucy said in shock.

"That's not important," Ingeel said, "what is important is this; Higurashi is using the Master Key to manipulate and control the flow of time in order to unlock an unprecedented amount of power. There is only a limited window of opportunity to strike however."

"Then tell us where we can find Higurashi," Master Makarov said, having ventured over to where the young mage was standing, "tell us where she is so we can launch an assault and avenge the loss we have been dealt. So we can avenge your sister and your friends."

The Guild Master's words brought forth a series of battle cries and cheers. Everyone was anxious to act…to take the fight to the dark mage who threatened the future of the world.

Igneel lowered his head and spoke.

Somehow, amongst the din that had been created, Makarov heard his words.

"…What did you just say?" Makarov said, not sure if he had heard Igneel correctly.

Igneel clenched his fists before looking Makarov in the eye.

"I said you're not coming with me." Igneel said firmly. Somehow, his voice breeched the din and caused everyone to stop their pre battle cries.

Natsu's eyes were wide in shock while the color drained from Lucy's face.

"I am going; alone."

Mira dropped the glass she had been holding and let it crash to the floor.

"Igneel," Mira said in fear, "you…you can't be serious."

"I am." Igneel replied, making no effort to refute his claim.

"Have you…HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND!" Natsu yelled as he rose to his feet from his bar stool.

"No dad…I know what I'm doing."

"No, you don't!" Natsu said as he raised his finger to Ingeel.

"You're saying that you somehow figured out where that shadow bitch is and that you are going after her alone. With no back up…no support!" Natsu fumed.

"Are you blind to what she did to you!? What she did to Lilly!?" Natsu raged, "She overpowered you and toyed with you. We have no idea what she can do now and you're saying you want to go on a suicide mission!?"

Igneel sighed deeply as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"That's the plan."

Natsu was shocked even further by his son's attitude. Ingeel did his best to ignore the sharp intake of breathe that came from his mother.

"Igneel…you…you can't be serious…you can't be." Lucy said as she shook her head in denial.

"I'm sorry…but it has to be this way." Igneel said, his voice filled with regret.

"No!" Lucy protested as she grabbed the front of Igneel's vest and shook him, "You're lying!"

Igneel gently pushed Lucy back while tears flowed from her eyes.

"I have to go. It's the only way that I can protect you; the only way I can save the future."

"That's not true." Kagura Mikazuchi said as she stepped forward from the crowd.

"I, along with my fellow Guild Mates and the other Guilds present, were informed of the future from whence you came. We have just as much stake in this fight as you do…and I won't stand by and let you go off on your own. You can't do this by yourself."

"I can and I must Aunt Kagura," Igneel said as he looked at the swordswoman, "in order to save the future, I have to do this alone. It has to be me who finishes this fight once and for all. By doing this, I can prevent you all from dying…I can stop a needless loss of life from happening."

Igneel turned back to his father.

"It's just between me and her now; this is my fight."

"No," Natsu hissed, "this is our fight."

The fire mage gestured to the entirety of the guild with his hand.

"We are a family, a nakama. One way or another, we will stick together. And I refuse to let you run headlong into death."

"If I die, so be it." Igneel said, shocking those around him, "If I die, I'm taking that bitch with me. If I die, I will do so knowing that I kept you all safe; that I was able to complete my mission and ensure the future is meant to play out the way it's supposed to."

Natsu's shoulders shook in defiant anger while Lucy hands covered her mouth, holding back her pained sobs.

"For the last time Igneel," Natsu said low and dangerous, "you're staying here. We'll finish this together as a family…as a nakama."

Igneel began to back away from Natsu as he shook his head slowly.

"I'm sorry dad…not this time." Igneel said as he turned around and began to walk back to the door and past the stunned groups of people.

Lucy couldn't stop the pained whimper that escaped her lips.

"No…" she whimpered, "no…Ingeel, please…."

A vein popped in Natsu's neck.

"Don't turn your back to me." He growled as he stormed after his son.

"Don't you dare turn your back to me!" Natsu raged.

"I'm sorry dad but it's the only way." Igneel said, not looking at Natsu.

"No! You're not leaving!" Natsu said as he caught up to Igneel and spun him around, "I forbid you; I FORBID YOU TO GO!"

Igneel smacked Natsu's hand away.

"I'm not a child!" Igneel yelled.

"YOU'RE MY CHILD! YOU'RE MY SON!" Natsu raged as tears fell from his eyes.

Igneel held his father's pained gaze with a look of equal turmoil.

"Goodbye dad." Igneel whispered and turned around.

"Igneel," Natsu said, the pain in his voice causing Ingeel to pause mid stride, "your sister is dead…the others have lost their children too…I can't stand the thought of losing you."

Natsu swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Please…don't do this." Natsu begged.

Igneel didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry…but this is my choice dad…not yours."

With those words, Igneel moved at a quicker pace to the door.

"Stop…" Lucy pleaded, "Igneel, please stop!"

Igneel ignored her.

"Stop him!" Lucy cried out, "Somebody please stop him!"

Natsu quickly gave chase after his son with Lucy close behind him.

But it was too late, for Ingeel was already out the door.

"Knight; now!" Natsu heard Igneel yell.

He opened the door just in time to see the Celestial Spirit plunge his sword into the ground as a magic circle flared to life beneath Ingeel. There was an audible, high pitched whine as the magic surrounding Igneel became supercharged.

The young mage looked over his shoulder with pained expression.

"Goodbye." Igneel whispered as the light became brighter and brighter.

"NO!" Natsu and Lucy screamed in terror as the fire mage made a lunge for his son…

…only watch him disappear in a brilliant flash of light.

XXXX

Seconds later; The Realm of Time…

The light faded around Igneel as the young mage let out the breathe he had been holding.

Landing in a crouch, Ingeel slowly stood as he found himself in what appeared to be waist high tall grass that gently swayed thanks to an ever present breeze. Unlike the normal greens and browns associated with grass, the grass Ingeel found himself in had light sheen to it…as if it were glowing in the light.

Looking to the sky, Ingeel saw an awe inspiring sight.

Glowing brilliantly were three suns held upon high while a green and blue aurora with natural pink pigments gently swayed against the star filled back drop.

Grandpa Igneel had been right…this was a realm far beyond his own.

Looking back forward, Ingeel saw a natural path fan out before him which led to the top of a small hill before him. Following it, Igneel soon reached the top.

The path continued on in a straight line and ran through what appeared to be a small valley before ending at the base of a large, snowcapped mountain. And situated, on a large incline, was a magnificently built castle.

And from what could only be the center of the castle, a beam of concentrated energy rose high into the star filled abyss above.

Igneel instantly knew where to go; he knew where Aya Higurashi was.

Taking a calming breathe, Igneel touched the glyph on the back of his neck armor and made his face shield form to his face. The armor promptly glowed to life as the glowing dragon grin appeared on the face shield.

"Lilly…Senna…Sam…Saito…Jenny…Chiara…everyone," Igneel thought, "it's time for me to make things right."

Igneel flexed his hands, causing his knuckles to pop and crack.

"I promise." Igneel said aloud before smirking beneath his mask.

"I'm all fired up."

And with those words, Igneel Dragneel used his enhanced agility to charge forth…and meet his destiny.

XXXX

A/N: Well folks, that certainly took me longer than I would have liked-but here it is!

Personally, I blame life for getting in the way but hey, it happens.

Like I said, there are only three more chapters left, but I'll do my best to make it worthwhile right until the end. For those of you wondering, I based Igneel's armor off of some modern day body armor rig's and some pictures I saw of futuristic exoskeletons being developed by the military.

Anyway, if you don't hate me already, this chapter might make you change your minds…you do realize I'm kidding right?

I'll do my best to work on the next chapter as soon as I can. I've been really busy recently and I don't expect that to change for a little bit. I'll try to get the next chapter out during the week or during the week after. I don't like making a late post but I have other priorities at the moment.

Next time; Chapter 21: United We Stand

What? You didn't think Fairy Tail would sit by and let Igneel pull a stunt like this now did you!? Yes, our favorite mages will spring into action while Ingeel shows off how much of a badass he can be.

As per usual, if you guys have any comments or questions, please put it in your review and I'll make sure to respond to you in the next chapter.

Once again; thank you for your patience.

Until next time; read, review and most importantly of all, HAPPY READING!