Mira: What happened to the author? *looks around*
Gajeel: She said something about chasing Natsu down and dragging his ass back to Lucy * Shrugs* You should have heard her. She was going crazy saying she is going to kill him for leaving and making her cry.
Mira: I guess I have to take over introducing the story
Gajeel: No way in hell! I am doing it.
Mira: It is better I do it! *Demon aura chokes Gajeel* Right?
Gajeel: *nods head furiously*
Mira: ok…So I should thank Digi-fanCatt, JollyRancherYum219, Guest, and Elfen Children. Thank you guys for all the review! :D Now I hope you like this chapter…Please review and let us know
Gajeel: Hey demon let me go!
Mira: what you say?
Gajeel: This is my story, Lady! I am taking over. You can't do shit!
Mira:Okay *smiles sweetly*
Gajeel: Okay? *sweats* I don't like your face.
Mira: What face? *cocks head to the side still smiling* this is my normal face. You want to take over this story so I'm giving it to you. *steps closer*
Gajeel: Why do I feel like I just dug my own grave.
Chapter 23: Layla
"Hey Lady?" Sting let out. "Lady?"
The blonde dragonslayer was waving his hand in front of Layla's frozen face. The older woman had been frozen in shock for what seemed to be hours now. She stared at Loki and his friends as they occupied the couches across from her. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe. What normal mother would?
Her babys.
Her little girls.
Why do they have to suffer so much? Why has fate chosen her girls? Layla's honey brown eyes then focused towards the closed door of her home. They came inside not that long ago.
Layla's home was grand on the inside. A soft tan color covered the walls along with portraits and shelves with books. Two large white couches stood side by side while a beautiful wooden coffee table occupied the middle of the living room. The atmosphere of the home was usually calm and refreshing. But now. The atmosphere was filled thickly with urgency and worry. Layla then turned her eyes towards the couches to see Natsu scowling at the door.
Before they came inside, Jasmine grabbed Taiyo stating that she had much to discuss with him. The action angered Natsu as he argued with the temperamental dragon. Natsu didn't want the boy to leave his side while Jasmine wanted to scold the boy about his behavior as of late. Sting did not help the situation by calling Jasmine names as well as telling her to leave already. In the end, Layla had stop the fighting. She informed Jasmine to hurry with Taiyo then return back immediately. Then the blonde woman had scolded Natsu. Layla told Natsu that Jasmine needs to scold Taiyo for the boy's behavior was not acceptable. Natsu tried to argue back, but one look from Layla and he immediately stomped inside with a scowl. Like a child he sat on the couch scowling at the door with his arms crossed over his chest.
Once inside, Loki informed Layla of Lucy's condition. The dragon fighting to control her body while the Spirits fight to keep it. Loki only informed her of Lucy's current state and how they left her. He didn't tell her yet about the dragon's plans.
With that horrid information torturing her imagination, Layla was frozen in place with a passive stare. Her thoughts going to her blonde daughter. She could not imagine the torture she must be going through. The pain she must be feeling. The darkness she is fighting. But Layla believes in her daughter. Lucy is strong. Lucy will make it through.
Layla sat elegantly on a chair across from the couches. Layla was staring down at her hands that were on her lap in worry. Her mind kept playing tricks on her. It made Layla fearful.
Soon enough, everything in her home faded along with everyone in it into a dark abyss. All Layla saw in the darkness was her girls standing in the middle. They don't even look human. Both of her girls seemed to stare at her with cold lifeless eyes. Agony swimming in the depths of the honey brown orbs.
Cindy's skin was no longer a glowing tan but a sickly pale color. Her lips shaded into a chapped dark purple. Any signs of life on her was long gone. She had blood flowing down the side of her face from her head. Deep claw like wounds covered her abdomen. Blood flowed down the wound. Layla stared in horror at the sight. No. This can't be happening.
Then she focused her wide eyes on Lucy. Tears went down the woman's eyes as she took in the sickening sight that was her oldest daughter. Lucy stood next to her sister staring at her mom with the same cold lifeless eyes. Layla took in her appearance letting out a gasp at the dark horns that have grown on her head. Black scales started to fade into her skin covering different parts of her body like patches. A long black spiked tail swayed back and forth behind her. Layla continued to stare at Lucy's body in horror. Lucy's hands turned into long sharp claws.
Layla could only whispered her daughter's name for she was frozen in fear. Tears went down her eyes. She couldn't move. She couldn't go to her girls. She can't help them.
Upon hearing her mother's voice, Lucy smiled sinisterly. Pearl white sharp fangs extended replacing her teeth. Deafening loud flaps echoed around Layla making the older woman scream for her daughters. Layla cried as she witnessed Lucy's body encompass itself with different light blue designs as enormous black wings burst from her back. Without thinking Layla took a step forward towards her daughters. Her hands extended out towards them as she cried their names. Lucy let out a warning roar making Layla take a couple steps back.
No. This couldn't be happening. Not her daughter.
Layla then focused back on Cindy to see she hasn't moved. Blood continued to flow out of her wounds even fresh ones started to open. She just continued to stare at Layla with her lifeless honey brown eyes. Lucy turned following Layla's gaze to Cindy. Lucy let out a deep dark laugh as she stared at her sister with mocking eyes. She then tilted her head to look at Layla daring at her to do something. Layla started to panic as Lucy lifted a clawed hand up placing it soft against Cindy's cheek.
'I won't let her save me.' Lucy spoke. But it was not her. This was not Layla's daughter speaking. This voice was dark and deep. Sinister. Evil. It wasn't angelic or joyful. It was filled with almost a mocking hate. 'I won't let anyone take this body.' Layla let out a yell begging for this to stop. Lucy let out a dark laugh, she turned her head focusing her eyes on Layla. 'This won't stop. This will never end. Try and bond us together.' Lucy yelled lighting her hand in blue fire. Layla screamed and begged as tears flowed down her eyes. She tried to move to help her daughter who was now burning in her sister's blue flames. Cindy's cries echoed breaking Layla's heart. The dragon that took over Lucy let out a loud laugh enjoying everything. 'Bond us together, Layla. Bond us and I will torture her in my flames forever. Then I will move to the boy.'
Just then, Layla's body shook furiously in fear as she slowly looked down. A sob escaped her mouth as she saw Taiyo's bloody disheveled body lay lifelessly at her feet. Layla stumbled back her legs giving up making her fall to the ground. Her torturous cries echoed through the darkness as well as the dark evil laughter.
'I will never let go of this body. Tell your precious Spirit King that he can fight for her all she wants. I won't give up. This is my body now!'
"Layla" Loki let out in worry. The Lion Spirit cautiously got up from the couch moving towards the shaken blonde woman. Layla has sweat dripping down her face as her breathing became labored. The once soft honey brown eyes now held pain and fear as they stared at nothing in particular. "Layla?" Loki let out more urgently.
Layla let out a gasp snapping out of her trance. She breathed heavily. Her eyes darting around in panic taking in her surroundings. It wasn't real. None of that was real. As in conformation, Layla stared at her daughter, Cindy. She let out a sigh in relief to see Cindy still sitting sullenly on the couch in her own world.
"Lady?" Sting let out. "Lady. You ok?"
"Stop calling her Lady." Rogue scolded his partner as he pushed himself off the couch making his way towards Sting. Once he reached his partner, he lifted his hand pushing the blonde man playfully to the side. "She has a name."
Layla's honey brown eyes stayed focused on her red haired daughter with sadden eyes. Cindy looked exhausted as she softly pet Happy, who was sitting on her lap. Her nose was red as her drained eyes looked at her mother. Every now and then through the silence you can hear her sniff the air. It was not real. Layla kept chanting that phrase in her head as she stared at her daughter. It was not real. Her daughter is fine. So is Taiyo. It was not real.
"Name?" Sting let out looking at his partner in confusion.
"Don't tell me you already forgot her name? Loki just said it. You can't be that dumb." Rogue argued.
"Don't start with me! I didn't forget her name!" Sting exclaimed. He crossed his arms over his chiseled chest giving Rogue a pointed look. His blue eyes then turned towards Layla. "Oi, Larry!"
Almost instantly Rogue, Gajeel, and Loki let out a groan as they smacked their foreheads. Natsu went from scowling at the door to staring at everyone in confusion. He let out a sigh. There is no point in glaring at the door. It will do nothing at all. He would just have to wait till Taiyo and Jasmine returned. Natsu stared at Sting. He didn't understand why the guy's groaned at Sting. What was wrong? Isn't her name Larry? Speaking of Larry, how did she know his name?
Natsu isn't the only one that focused on the conversations at hand now. Cindy finally looked up at the scene in front of her. Snapping out of her depressing thoughts, Cindy rolled her eyes. Her fingers still running smoothly through Happy's soft blue fur. Happy laid comfortably on her lap letting his eyes close softly. He slowly drifted to sleep. The blue exceed decided to finally let his exhaustion get to him in hope of taking a short peaceful nap. Cindy stared at Sting with disbelief. She couldn't believe at the stupidity. Like seriously. Where did Sting get Larry from Layla?
"Idiots." Cindy breathed out. She got up softly placing a sleeping Happy on the white sofa cushion. "It's Layla, Dumbass." Cindy hissed glaring at Sting.
Natsu snapped his head at Layla as realization hit him. Lucy's mom. This woman in front of him is none other than the woman who died many years ago. The woman who Lucy wrote countless letters to. The woman who saw the future and told Lucy about the dragons. The woman who is also mother to Cindy. Layla. Why didn't he see it earlier? Lucy is a spitting image of her. Natsu shook his head as he smiled softly to himself. Even sometimes he is bewildered by his own stupidity.
"Layla?" Sting repeated. His blue eyes softened as he stared at Cindy with worry. "Are you-"
"I'm fine." Cindy answered ignoring the worried gazees she was receiving from the twin dragonslayers. Cindy focused her eyes on her mother. She noticed her state, recognizing the symptoms of a vision. "Mom? What did you see?"
"Mom!?" Sting and Rogue let out in shock.
"You seriously didn't realize they were mother and daughter." Loki exclaimed shocked at their stupidity. "They look alike."
"Idiots." Gajeel muttered under his breath rolling his red eyes. The iron dragonslayer then focused his gaze on the redhead. "So you ok now?" Cindy looked up at the dark haired man in confusion before finally nodding cautiously. "About damn time." He sneer.
Cindy let out a shriek as she felt Gajeel's large arm wrap her neck. He forced her to bend down under his armpit. Lifting a fisted hand up, he placed it on her head rubbing as hard as he could.
"What the hell! Stop!" Cindy yelled as she tried to pry Gajeel's hands away from her head. Her head is starting to burn from the nuggie he was giving her. You could even see steam rise up.
"Who the hell gave you permission to let you die? Who the hell gave you permission to stay here?" Gajeel yelled as he continued to rub her head.
"What the hell, Gajeel. Let go of her!" Sting yelled running to Cindy's aid.
Gajeel grabbed the blonde man putting him under his free arm. Gajeel laughed out loud as he held a screaming Sting and Cindy under his arms. He tightened his hold on their necks making them flail the arms and legs. They tried to escape his hold, but he just continued to laugh. He was enjoying himself.
"I asked you a question, Glacier?" Gajeel now sneered looking down at Cindy. "Who gave you permission to die?"
"Are you my keeper? Fuck you!" Cindy yelled. She let out an unladylike grunt as she tried, but failed to pry herself out of Gajeel's hold. "Don't fucking call me Glacier, you overgrown Tin Foil."
"You know, you sisters really love to piss me off. Always doing whatever the hell you want! Not caring about what others might feel." Gajeel growled. Cindy and Sting immediately froze. Cindy looked up at him in shock. "You and Bunnygirl really piss me off." Gajeel sneered. He let go of Sting and Cindy letting them drop to the ground.
Everyone watched in shock as Gajeel stomped out the door informing them that he will wait for them outside. Also letting them know to hurry the hell up.
"How long?" Layla breathed out making everyone focus back on her. She finally calmed her nerves and fear down enough to speak. She cannot let herself show fear for her children. Her girls are strong and Layla knows that. No matter what happens to them, Layla knows her girls will overcome their struggles. As long as they are together. Then they can fight off any thing. Layla will never believe what she saw. Lucy will never let her body be taken over in darkness. Lucy will never let herself hurt her sister. Nor will Cindy let her sister suffer in darkness. Layla looked at Cindy with much worry. Cindy won't let her do it alone. If Lucy is in darkness Cindy will fight to bring her back to the light. "How long does Lucy have before the dra-" She couldn't even finish her sentence.
Loki sighed and looked up at the clock against the wall. Upon realizing the time, Loki's eyes widen then he looked down scowling at the ground. He couldn't believe how much time they have wasted so far. They need to leave and leave now. They found Cindy and there is no doubt she will happily come with them.
"Five hours. We wasted too much time." Loki breathed out. "We need to take Cindy and return her back to her body. Then bond her to Lucy."
"Bond?" Cindy spoke up. Crossing her legs under her she sat up on the ground. Her honey brown eyes stared at right at the Lion spirit. "Are you sure that is the only way? Do you know.."
"We know, but there seems to be no other way."
'Bond us together, Layla.' Layla's eyes widen as she heard the sinister voice laugh in her head. Layla closed her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed together. She kept seeing images of her daughter burning. Her grandson laying lifeless on the ground. And Lucy. No longer a human, but a dragon. 'I won't give up. This is my body now!' Layla shook her head to get the images out of her head. They mean nothing. They are nothing.
"The dragon's said it's alright! It is the only way to save Lucy." Loki yelled at Cindy.
"It's dangerous. It could put us both in a coma. Not only that. Our lives would be bond together. If I die then she dies. If she dies then I die. Don't they know to Bond someone is forbidden." Cindy yelled back jumping up to her feet. She then looked at Natsu who was just watching everything in silence. "Natsu? Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't put you both in danger. You know that. Before we came here. Luce, doesn't have much time left." Natsu sighed. He looked down rubbing his hand on his forehead. He is starting to get a headache now from everything. With one last sigh, he let his worries and fears leave him. Natsu looked up at Cindy with toothy grin. "We want you back to. We can't let you die. You are still a kid. Anyways I want to fight you when we get back. Maybe fight Lucy too when she wakes up."
"Lucy won't fight you." Loki pointed out.
"Yeah, she will kick your ass." Sting laughed along with Rogue.
"No, she won't! I can take her!" Natsu exclaimed puffing out his chest.
"And to think he is in love with her." Loki muttered under his breath rolling his eyes.
"You and everyone here are all idiots." Cindy chuckled to herself rolling her eyes. She then turned back to Layla. "I was just starting to get to know you."
"You will have plenty of time in the future to know me." Layla said smiling softly at her daughter. She got up moving towards Cindy to wrap her in a tight hug. She wanted to put her daughter at ease more than anything. Layla knew she couldn't tell them. It will only worry everyone. Anyways, Layla believes her daughters will strive through. Her daughters can overcome this. Layla believes in Lucy and Cindy. "I will always be here. Maybe I can talk to the Spirit King into letting you and Lucy come to the Spirit world with Taiyo sometimes." Tears came down Cindy's eyes as she held tightly to Layla. "Anyways you are causing too much trouble here with Aquarius. We could use a break."
"That's so mean. We weren't that bad!"
"That bad!" Layla exclaimed pulling away from her daughter to look her in the eyes. "Sweetie, you both stole all the spirit's cloths at the bath house and got rid of the hot water. Not only that you covered the floors in soap creating chaos."
"Right. My bad."
Layla rolled her eyes. She blames Metallica for her pranking behavior. Those dragons. She shook her head. But no matter their difficulty raising her. They raised her well. Layla is proud of the woman her daughter has become. Of both of her daughters. Lucy of Fairy Tail and Cindy of Dragons.
Layla looked up at Natsu and Sting. They stared at the older woman in shock as she smiled sweetly at them. Noticing what her mother is about to do, Cindy pulled slowly away from her.
"I leave my daughters to you. Protect them well and never let them go." Layla breathed out. Natsu and Sting stared at Layla nodding their head at her. A bright smile shined on their faces as a soft blush covered their cheeks. "Natsu?"
"Yeah?" Natsu answered.
"Take care of my grandson. He might be overprotective of Lucy and will sometimes get in the way." Natsu looked at Layla in shock. "Yeah, I know you tried to confess to her, but Taiyo would always interrupt."
"How-How do you-"
"Cindy told me everything." Layla breathed out. Natsu snapped his head towards the red head. His Onyx eyes stared at her accusingly. Cindy just muttered a sorry as she shrugged. "Natsu? Do you still not trust Lucy?" Natsu stayed silent knowing what she was talking about. His eyes narrowed at Cindy accusingly. That talkative red head told her everything. "Natsu, don't blame Cindy for telling me. Look my daughter loves you and she had her reasons to hold the dragons from you. I am not taking sides or saying that she did was right. Because honestly that was the dumbest move she could ever do. You now understand the depth of the situation she was in, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Look Natsu. I know you love her and she loves you. Don't live your life regretting not having a chance to be with her. Cherish her, protect her, and don't ever let her feel alone. Both of you deserve to live happily ever after when this is all done. Both of you deserve a family. About Taiyo. All that boy wants is a father even if he won't admit it out loud. Just give him time. Show him that you want to be that Father he so dearly wants."
"I will. I promise." Natsu breathed out smiling widely. He nodded his head at her. "Watch Lucy's mom. I will protect Lucy and Taiyo. Together we will all be a family."
Just then a loud knock echoed from the door. Everyone turned to see Gajeel peer his head in.
"The Dragon and the Brat are here. The Dragon says it's time to go." Gajeel spoke.
"We would have to fly back to the entrance of the Spirit World." Loki breathed out.
"Fly?" Sting, Rogue, Natsu, and Gajeel groaned all at the same time as their face turned green. They slumped down not looking forward to the ride.
Loki shook his head in annoyance while Layla and Cindy let out a soft laugh.
"Dumbass's I can't believe you get sick just thinking about it." Cindy laughed. She grabbed a sleeping Happy in her arms. They guys glared at her as they made their way to trudge out the door.
"How come you don't get motion sickness?" Natsu asked.
"Easy! I grew up with the dragons. I always had to ride on their backs. They made me train as they flew sometimes in order to train my body to handle transportation. All that matters is how you breathe during the ride. There is a certain way to breath in order to keep yourself from being sick."
The dragonslayer's eyes immediately lit up in excitement as they begged Cindy to teach them. But the water and ice dragonslayer laughed refusing them. She pushed them out the door stating it was time to go. Loki let out a chuckle as he followed behind the dragonslayers out the door.
"Hey! Blueberry! You better fly right this time!" Sting exclaimed once he was outside.
"What you say?" Jasmine's voice roared in anger.
"Don't start!" Gajeel and Loki yelled at the same time.
"You're leaving me alone with them?" Cindy let out looking back at Layla.
Cindy's eyes softened as tears threatened to spill out. Her heart felt like it was breaking. After all those years of not having a mother. After all those years of wondering what Layla was like? When she finally gets the chance to see her mother, she has to leave. Her heart felt torn. She wanted to stay and be Layla's troublemaking daughter, but she also wanted to go. She wanted to save her sister. Lucy, needs her.
Layla looked back at Cindy with soft eyes. She smiled sweetly at her daughter. Pride swirled in the older woman as she stared at her. She will miss her daughter greatly and she is happy she got to know her. She always regretted not bringing with her once upon a time back home. She regretted not leaving Cindy with her sister when she passed. They could have grown up together. They could have not been so lonely in the world. But she knew at that time Jude wouldn't have accept Cindy.
"Go. Save your sister." Layla encouraged. Cindy nodded a tear slipped down her face. She soon turned around leaving, closing the door behind her. Leaving Layla alone in her grand house. The house now seems to big, quiet, and even dark. Layla was alone. Soft tears went down her face as she stared at the door. "Please be safe."