User blog comment:Sargenttacos115/Natsu and Gajeel age Theory/@comment-67.167.56.174-20140102024442

If think all of the dragon slayers were that had learned Dragon Slayer Magic during the Dragon Civil War. Then they were frozen in time, (by something similar to Fairy Sphere) or they were sent to the future (because Layla had opened the gates for the Eclipse Project) on July 7th, X777. Though each of them were released or sent to different years placing them at their respective ages. Though once the awoke the dragons that had taught them disappeared and they were left with memories of the foster parents. Therefore Natsu and Gajeel were unable to go through Freed's barrier because they make look young but they are still older than they look because being frozen in time or being sent through time won't affect appearances but their age is still affected. As for the reason we don't know Natsu or Gajeel's ages I am at a loss with answering that but I do believe this why they could not get through the barrier.