Turned out that Zeref was an old friend of Igneel and he ensured that Zeref would not hurt them as long as they kept their distance from them.

Aversia and Zeldaris were still vary, but they decided to trust him for now and there were more important things to do right now.

The two of them and the others run towards their respective parent and inspected their wounds.

Every one of them was heavily injured and Challot, Emrissen and Igneel had the most and worst wounds.

It was easier to count the places where they didn´t were injured.

“What happened?”, asked Vulcan.

“Our words towards Belserion came back to bite us. Only Challot, Emrissen and Igneel were a threat for Acnologia. The rest of us could barely penetrate his scales. To make matters worse, we became a dead weight for the three of them and Acnologia took advantage of that. He focused his attacks on us. Challot, Emrissen or Igneel would then intercept them or take the hit themselves, because if Metalicana, Skiadrum, Weisslogia or I had received even one of them, then we would have died. We tried to run away, but he didn´t let us get away. In the end, the four of us were able to flee from the battle, but it came with a huge cost for the three of them. After our escape, was the battle no longer in Acnologia´s favor, but the three of them were already heavily injured, but Acnologia was also quite injured. The three of them fought a battle that I will never forget and in the end were they able to drive Acnologia away.”, said Grandeeney, while looking at Belserion with an apologetic look.

“What about the villagers were they able to flee from Acnologia?”, asked Irene.

“We didn´t see any of the villagers, neither human nor dragon slayer. Which means that they were able to flee from the village, but if they are able to hide from Acnologia in the future is something that we can´t say.”, said Weisslogia.

“Where did you meet him?”, said Aversia, in a not friendly tone and pointed towards Zeref.

“He appeared after Acnologia fleet. He said that he wanted to help us in defeating Acnologia.”, said Igneel.

Everyone continued to tread the wounds of the seven dragons in silence, while Zeref sat on a rock, at the other end of the cave.

After every wound was treated, were the 5 young dragon slayers exhausted and fell asleep.

Anna made sure that they were sleeping comfortably and walked back towards the others, who were sitting in a half circle around Zeref.

Igneel looked around to see if everyone was there and after he saw that everyone was present, he looked at Aversia, Zeldaris, Vulcan and the others and said,” There is something that we didn´t want to tell Natsu and the other 4.”

“While it is true that we were able to drove Acnologia away, but he was able to do damage most of us in a way that we could never expect. He was somehow able to damage our souls and absorb it. But he was only able to damage a small amount of our souls. And to be fair, it would have been much worse if not for Challot and Emrissen.”, said Igneel.

(AN: To this day it was never explained how or why Acnologia had this ability)

“The damage to our souls left us in a weakened state and the only way to recover is for us to heal our souls. But the world is not rich enough with magic for us to do that.”, said Grandeeney, while sighing.

“That is why we came up with a plan. Time travel.”, said Metalicana

“Seriously? Time travel? Really? That sounds like the dumbest idea ever!”, yelled Aversia.

“Trust me dear, Challot and I had the exact same reaction.”, said Emrissen.

“Well it is possible, if we combine dragon magic, celestial spirit magic and Zeref´s magic.”, said Igneel.

“I have the feeling that there is a very important detail that you guys didn´t mention.”, said Zeldaris, with a raised eyebrow.

All seven of them were not able to look him into the eye and looked away.

“So, I was right. Let me guess. You cannot travel through time in your current body´s and need to, I don´t know, transfer your soul towards a new body. Like your adopted children for example.”, said Zeldaris in a joking manner.

Challot and Emrissen looked at the other 5 dragons with a look, that answered Zeldaris joke, while the other 5 dragons continued to look away and didn´t respond.

“YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!”, yelled Zeldaris, while covering his face with his hands.

“If I understand correctly, then that means that you seven are going to transfer your souls unto us and then send us into the future, so that you can heal your souls and fight and or kill Acnologia. Or am I missing something?”, asked Aversia.

“Me and Emrissen will not transfer our souls into you two, since we were able to keep our souls unharmed and we will also not travel with you into the future.”, said Challot.

“WHAT? HOW?”, yelled Igneel and the other dragons in confusion, because they had thought that they also had their souls damaged.

“Even Acnologia needs time to damage someone’s soul and absorb it then. We just made sure that he didn´t get the chance. Afterall, the two of us have centuries of experience, while he has only a few years and he isn´t used to a fight with someone that is similar in strength, who is only relying on physical combat.”, said Emrissen.

“Wait he absorbs the parts of the souls that he damages? Well that explains his fast growth, but why or how does he has such an ability?”, asked Vulcan.

“That is the part that we don’t understand.”, said Igneel.

“To come back to the topic of time travel. Is it going to be just the children and most importantly how?”, asked Vulcan.

“I had worked on time travel, or the theory of it at least, for multiple years. Combined with Miss Annas Celestial Spirit Magic, my own magic and the vast magic reserves of the dragons should I be able to create the magic tool that will allow you to travel in time the ‘Eclipse Gate’.”, said Zeref, who until now didn´t say a single word and just watched the banter from everyone, with a hint of nostalgic in his eyes.

“As for who will travel with you. We had thought that Vulcan, Anna, Irene and Tia would accompany you, but it sems that Irene and Tia will not be able to accompany you since they have transformed into dragons as well.”, answered Igneel.

Anna thought earnestly about it, while Vulcan was looking at his wife.

Emrissen turned back into her human for and even in her human form was she covered in bloody wounds.

“Vulcan they will need you and Anna, and we cannot come with you.”, said Emrissen and laid her hand on Vulcans cheek.

“They need both of you as well and I need you too.”, said Vulcan and grasped Emrissen´s hand.

“Nothing would please me more than anything to be with you. But this is necessary, to give them a future that is not filled with Acnologia´s terror. Which is why that Challot and I will continue to fight him and hopefully kill him. And no matter how long it will take, I will always wait for you. Even if it means to wait a thousand years. Because my heart belongs only to you and no one else.”

Vulcan said no more and simply hugged his wife, who returned it and tears started to cover their eyes.

Aversia stood there and didn´t know what to do.

But the decision was taken from her, because Challot gave her a little push, that made Aversia stumble before her parents, who then included their daughter in the hug as well.

Zeldaris walked towards his mother, who also transformed back into her human form and the two of them walked away to talk alone.

Everyone else decided to give them some privacy as well and walked away as well.

A few minutes later and Anna had decided that she would help in the plan to stop Acnologia and would travel with the kids into the future and started to talk with Zeref about the process and the so called ‘Eclipse Gate’.

Sometime later and Challot and Zeldaris came back, both of them had red eyes from crying.

Vulcan, Emrissen and Aversia calmed down as well and everyone continued to talk about their project, no one was against it anymore.

Zeref would need a week to make the gate and Anna began to write a book, in it she wrote instructions for her descendants, how and when they should open the gate.

The others tried to emotionally prepare themselves.

Igneel, Grandeeney, Metalicana, Skiadrum and Weisslogia took their respective child and flew away, to spend the week alone with them.

Challot, Emrissen, Vulcan, Aversia and Zeldaris wanted to spend their time together with Irene, Tia and Belserion, because they saw the three as much as their family as their parents.

 

After a week, was Zeref and Anna finished with Eclipse.

The so called ‘Eclipse Gate’ was a giant gate.

The Gate had a large door with an elaborate design.

At the center of the door was a sun with a darkened moon below it.

The lower section of the door from the sun past the moon was dark blue with golden lines, the upper section was green and split into twelve segments.

Around the sun were several circles, the innermost one connecting the moon and twelve holes, one in each segment.

A set of steps lead up to the door and two pillars stood on either side of the door with an arch connecting them.

Atop the arch was an emblem consisting of an eclipsed sun.

On either side of the Gate was an additional support, fashioned in the shape of a leg.

It was standing not inside the cave, but it stood outside.

Challot, Emrissen, Belserion, Irene and Tia were pouring their magic power into it and Anna was checking the book one last time.

As for Igneel and the other four dragons and the five dragon slayers, the dragons had put the children in a trance, so that they would not remember that that the dragons had transferred their souls into them and the fact that they travelled in time.

Vulcan, Aversia and Zeldaris were still deciding what they were going to take with them.

Vulcan planned to take the most precious materials, a few of his best creations, including his war hammer and a giant package that contained something that he Challot and Emrissen hold one day, they never told anyone what they did and what was inside the package.

The problem was that he could not decide which weapons he should take with him.

Zeldaris and Aversia planned on taking a few books and a few prototypes for weapons an armor that they made themselves.

One of the books that they decided on was actually the book on Celestial Spirit Magic that they bought from the old vender in Dragnof all these years ago and was the only book that they had with them when the castle from Dragnof was destroyed by their mothers.

Although, it was a little frayed and the two of them had made their own nodes inside of it, but it had a lot of meaning for them to take it with them.

The problem that they had was which other books and which prototypes they should take with them.

Funnily enough the only question that was answered pretty much immediately was the question of clothing.

Mostly because they had not much variety when it came to their clothing.

In the end they were able to decide, all it took was a threat from Challot and Emrissen, in which they said that they would burn everything if they would not finally decide on their choices.

Knowing that they were not kidding, made them decide quickly.

After the gate was filled with magic power and the three had sorted their belongings, stood everyone before the gate and looked at Zeref.

“Now then what is the next steep?”, asked Irene.

“We will need to wait for the night, because the moon and the sun intersect and fortunately there is a Lunar eclipse this night. But right now, we can unlock the gate already and for that we need Anna and the 12 zodiac keys.”, said Zeref.

Anna took all 12 keys into her hands and threw them toward the gate.

The keys flew by themselves into their respective lock and turned exactly at the same time.

After unlocking the gate, the keys returned into Annas hand.

She looked at every single key in her hand and a look of sadness appeared on her face.

The keys were again frown into the air, and she cancelled her contract with all 12 keys.

All 12 keys emitted a golden light and the twelve zodiac spirits appeared.

Anna looked at every single one of them, they were her friends and companions for many years, but for the plan to succeed she had to do this.

“Thank you all for all these years and I hope that I will see you again one day. Goodbye.”, said Anna while tears filled her eyes.

All twelve of them bowed to her and disappeared, except for one, the leader of the bunch Leo.

He looked like a young man of average height and with short spikey brown hair, he also had two stands of hair that looked like animal ears.

He wore a dark suite.

Leo looked at Aversia, Zeldaris and Vulcan and said, “Please protect Lady Anna.”

And disappeared right after saying this.

 

It didn´t take long before the sky began to turn darks.

Natsu and the other four dragon slayers were brought before the gate, their eyes were hollow and the five of them resembled puppets more than living humans.

Igneel and the other dragons looked at the night sky.

“We will leave things in your hands and I prey that you two are able to slay Acnologia while we are gone.”, said Igneel and looked at Challot and Emrissen.

“We will do our best. But we can not guarantee anything. Sleep well old friend.”, said Emrissen.

Igneel nodded and he and the other four dragons started to use Dragon Soul Technique and transferred their souls into their children.

As their souls left their body, it turned into stone and would have than turned into dust, but Irene casted an enchantment and kept their bodies intact.

When the transfer was finished, was the Lunar eclipse almost upon them.

Aversia and Zeldaris hugged their mothers a last time.

Vulcan received one last kiss from his wife and from Challot.

Surprised by that he looked at his wife, but she just smiled at him and didn´t say anything.

After Challot´s lips separated from Vulcan, stood both of them side by side and gave Vulcan a necklace, that was made out of both their scales.

Vulcan looked at the necklace and didn´t know what to say.

Tears started to fill his eyes and he swore that he would find them in the future no matter what it would take.

“It is time the eclipse is upon us. Now go and bring hope to the future of this world.”, said Zeref and the giant gates of Eclipse opened.

Anna, Aversia, Zeldaris and Vulcan looked at everyone one last time and without another word did they step into the gate with the five dragon slayers.

Challot and Emrissen turned around, because if they didn´t they would have stopped them and they didn´t want them to see the tears that fell down from their eyes.

The same was true for Vulcan, Aversia and Zeldaris tears flowed down their eyes.

The gate closed and the rest stood before the gate.

All of them walked away toward the cave and started to plan for the future.

Zeref turned halfway around and walked back towards the gate and the five statues like bodies were.

Something unexpected was happening and he wasn´t totally sure what it was.

 

 

It was the year 777 and human civilization had progressed tremendously.

Dragons became legends and would only appear in books and tales.

Even the terror of Acnologia became forgotten.

Their tales and names were forgotten by humans and the only sing of their existence were fossilized bones and a single book that told some tales about a few dragons and even Acnologia the king of the dragons.

Magic filled the lands and many people became able to wield it and many different types of magic came to be.

 

As for the gate that should bring Aversia, Zeldaris and the others to the future, it was hidden by the royal family that reigned the kingdom of Fiore.

Fiore was a kingdom that ruled over the entire peninsula, that was connected towards Ishgar.

(AN: I didn´t say that the first time, but a peninsula of a peninsula. Mind blown.)

For hundreds of years did they try to find the secret of the gate, but to no avail and the only hope that they had was the prophesy that someday, someone would open the gate and reveal the secret of the gate.

Many kings waited for this day, but it never happened and still they waited none the less.

The same was true for the current king of Fiore Toma E. Fiore.

He was a rather short man, with white hair and a moustache.

Like the previous kings, he was fascinated by the giant gate and like them he could only wait.

Of course, did he let his most trusted people research it, but even they were not able to find much about it.

Currently was he on a balcony and thought about the current happenings of the kingdom, when he noticed a person going into the underground corridor that connected the castle with the surrounding places and the cave system beneath the capital.

At first did he want to notify the guards, but his curiosity stopped him from doing so and in stet he started to tail that person.

He was not able to see to much, only a vague shadow, but it reminded him of a noble woman in a dress.

He tailed the figure until a crossing, where the path continued into three different paths.

The king stood behind a pillar and waited for the decision of the figure; he would react according to the path that it would take.

He didn´t had to wait for long before the figure chooses a path and continued.

King Toma E. Fiore new where the path would lead, it was a path he would never mistake.

The person was headed towards the Eclipse Gate.

Not knowing if it was intentionally or not, he decided to follow.

Maybe this was the person that he and his family had waited for so long.

But he had to calm his emotions and continue to be stealthy, for the case that it was not so.

Not long after and the person arrived before the gate.

The King of Fiore was close behind and was finally able to see who this person was.

It was indeed a young woman, around her mid to late twenty’s, with long blond hair that was in a bun and a baby pink band with ruffles that rested on her hair.

Her figure was voluptuous and wore a baby pink dress, that was similar to those of rich people or nobility.

The woman had 11 golden keys in her hands and threw them towards the gate.

All 11 of them flew towards a hole in the key, but there was still one that was empty.

The young woman released a tremendous amount of magical power, which formed the 12^th key, that flew towards the last hole.

After all 12 keys were in place, did they turn and the gate started to open slowly.