Sting and Kaede were almost at the town for their mission. Sting noticed that Kaede still had that bothered, irritated look in her eyes as they were on the train. Actually, she looked like she felt guilty about herself. But the reason why was unknown to Sting.

He knew that he shouldn't ask her what is wrong, since he worried that will only worsen it. But he was concerned about her, and now felt the urge to ask the question.

"Kaede." he spoke up. The pink haired diclonius turned to face him. "I meant to ask this earlier before we left, but what's bothering you? Is it something I did, or the other Guild members did?"

Kaede shook her head, releasing a sigh. "No, it's not that. It's just that... when Nana was attacked by a group of boys not too long ago, I felt regret and remorse. I wasn't there to help her when she needed it, though Rogue went and saved her from those two terrible people." she had her arms crossed, and was rubbing one of them lightly with her right hand. "I... have a hunch that those boys that attacked her had also attacked me as well."

Sting went to say, "I see." but the last part made his eyes widen. "You do? How can you be sure?"

"Well, it's obvious that those boys didn't learn their lesson." Kaede told him, feeling fury rushing in her crimson eyes remembering them. "...Even when their friend got burned by my powers. I knew that they would be back again, but not that they would harm Nana. Nana..."

She now had her arms uncrossed, fists clenched in her lap. They were trembling as tears ran down her eyes. Sting's eyebrows descended down at seeing how sorrowful Kaede was over Nana. Not knowing what to do, he wiped the tears away from her eyes. She looked at him, and before she could say anything, the Dragon Slayer pulled her into an comforting embrace.

Blinking in surprise, she lifted up her hands, not really knowing what to say or do. But she eventually rested her hands on his back, returning the hug. "Thank you... Sting."

Throughout all that Sting had an ill look on his face, which confused Kaede. However Kaede soon had the same ill look on her face. They both held their heads out the window and released all the contents from their stomachs.

They got several looks from the other people on the train, which Kaede and Sting didn't even care about. All they cared about was getting off this train as soon as possible. Although they couldn't do that until they were at their destination.

"How long until we get there?" Kaede groaned out as she brought her head back in and laid down on the booth. Sting brought his head back in and laid down on his booth as well.

"Attention! We have a problem with the engine so the train ride will be slower than normal. Also, be prepared for a bumpy ride. We are going through a mountain. It will take about one more hour before we arrive at our destination. So until then, have fun on our train!" The captain of the train announced.

"Oh, God. Why?" Both Sting and Kaede said, both still looking ill.

Kaede and Sting were now sitting back down on their seats after their stomachs had stopped complaining. The pink-haired diclonius felt a bit dizzy from throwing up and her eyes were starting to close with drowsiness.

She fell into a deep sleep soon entering into a dream.

(Kaede's Dream)

Kaede was a lot younger than she was now, at the age of two. She was holding her father's hand as well as her mother's. Laughter was coming out of her throat as a smile was on her lips. Lucy and Natsu smiled at their daughter's expression happy to see her so cheerful.

"Mommy, Daddy. Where are we going?" Kaede asked them, in which Natsu's eyes perked up at his daughter's question.

"We're going somewhere special, dear." he told her. "It's one of your favorite places to go."

Kaede grinned. "Yay!"

Suddenly, the family was surrounded by people. The three looked at the people baffled of as to why they had such serious looks on their faces.

"What's... going on?" Kaede looked at the people, who was mostly looking at her. She was starting to get afraid.

"So is that child, even human?" One of them asked, their tone sounding as if they think someone is lying.

Kaede's parents looked at each other and then at their daughter. "What in the world do you mean?" Lucy questioned the odd crowd.

They didn't answer her, they just started walking forward. They grabbed Kaede tightly by the arms, taking her away from her parents.

Kaede screamed, calling her parents' names as this was happening. Lucy and Natsu went to step forward, but were stopped by two men.

The people that grabbed Kaede started beating her up. She suffered a punch after punch and kick after kick. Lucy and Natsu were becoming pained at seeing this happening to their daughter. They were also on the verge of tears.

Lucy slowly started reaching for her keys getting ready to protect her daughter. However, as she now held them in her hands, she saw something peculiar about the people bullying Kaede.

They were wizards as Lucy observed from the wands hanging from their belts.

'Damn it...' she thought. 'I should've known...'

She hit one of the men blocking her and Natsu with her elbow, and stuck out one of her keys in front of her.

"Let go of my daughter or else!"

The people bullying Kaede saw Lucy as she was about to summon one of her Spirits. They started walking over to her with smiles on their faces. The smiles were creepy and they had something hiding behind their sleeves.

"So you're trying to protect her, aren't you?" one of them said. "How sweet."

One of them drew one of their wands, saying a few words to turn into a sword. They then thrust the sword right at Lucy, stabbing her right in the chest. Lucy's brown eyes widened as she gasped sharply, feeling the pain rushing through her.

Blood expelled from the stab, staining her shirt and the ground as the crimson liquid dripped onto it.

Her body collapsed to the ground as she let out her last breath. Kaede just stood there, horrified. "Mommy? MOMMY!"

Something cracked inside of Natsu as he saw this happen, and his fiery eyes set on the bullies and with one quick slash, he sliced all of the attackers in half, immense amounts of blood spraying from the bodies and covering the ground.

Silence, then entered the tragic scene as Natsu sighed sadly, walking over to Lucy's body. He picked it up, then turned around, making his way back home. Kaede, crying, followed him, asking him about Lucy, about what just happened.

Natsu didn't answer his daughter for tears ran down his face, making it unable for him to respond to her.

(End Dream)

Kaede woke up with a start, her breathing rapid. Sweat was running down her face. Sting saw that she had woken up from her dream and that she looked troubled.

"Kaede... ? Kaede, are you okay?"

Kaede turned towards Sting, but then went back into her lap. "I-I'm fine" Kaede lied. She just recalled about how her mother was killed. 'I was so young and helpless. I couldn't do... anything' She thought with a few tears dripping down her face.

'Something is definitely troubling Kaede. Maybe I should ask her about it?' Sting thought "Kaede" He said getting her attention.

"Yes?" She said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Tell me... what is troubling you?" He asked.

Kaede's expression grew sad, but she didn't cry this time. "I-I rather not talk about it. It's too painful to say" Kaede, then turned her head towards the window of the train and saw that they were almost to the station.

"We're here" Kaede said as she felt the train stop. Sting nodded his head, signaling that he had heard her.

Sting and Kaede were the first off the train, because they didn't want to spend another second on that dreadful vehicle. Once they got off the train they spotted two people. Two people who were very familiar to Sting and Kaede.

'Mother? Father?' Kaede thought looking at both Lucy and Natsu. She was surprised as to how her mother was still living and the appearance of her father. She then realized that this was their past selves. 'Ah so this must be them before I was born.' Kaede, then gave them a warm smile.

"Natsu-san, it's nice to see you here" Sting said. "It's nice to see you as well, Lucy"

"It's nice to be here. Actually, it was a surprise to see you here. We just got finished with a job."

"What kind of job?" Kaede asked them. 'I have to make sure that they don't know that I'm their future daughter'

"Well, we had to deliver this book to a wealthy businessman" Lucy said. Her eyes widened as she took in Kaede's appearance. "Wait... who are you?"

Kaede saw Lucy staring at her horns, but didn't pay much attention to it. "I'm Kaede"

"Well, Kaede. I'm Lucy Heartfilia and this is Natsu Dragneel"

"Nice to meet you" Kaede replied. She noticed that Natsu was looking away, not wanting to be in this boring conversation.

"Do you have a last name, Kaede?" Lucy asked.

"Umm..." Kaede said not knowing what to say.

"It's alright, you can tell them your last name" Sting said. Kaede gulped, nodding her head.

"M-my last name is Dragneel."

"So your full name is Kaede Dragneel?" Lucy asked, somewhat not believing her. 'Natsu never told me that he had a relative besides his adoptive father, Igneel. Could this be a trick?'

Natsu walked up to Kaede and sniffed her. She froze, not sure what to say or do.

"You smell weird." Natsu stated. He went around her taking in her appearance as well. "You smell like me."

"I do? I never noticed." Kaede laughed nervously.

"Yes and why is your last name Dragneel?"

'Oh, shit...this is de-escalating quickly.' Kaede thought. "Um Sting and I have to go. We have a monster to take care of, goodbye!" Kaede said, dragging Sting and running away from her parents.

"You are welcome to come to visit Fairy Tail if you want!" Lucy yelled after them watching them run away.

'I just might go visit them there, but not right now' Kaede thought.