Hey guys. This is going to be my latest project, and once im done with IMHIMDR all i will focus on is this. Im hoping you will all like the concept of it, so please read and let me know your thoughts.

Rated M, because there will most certainly be strong language and future chapters may be more..mature.

Please enjoy!

Chapter 1 - When things turn Gray.

"Natsu you know that's my favourite top!"

Ah yet another average day in the guild of Fairy Tail. The sun was shining, birds were singing and Natsu was being chased around the living room by an angry and half naked Lucy.

"Haha maybe I should burn it then" Natsu grinned as flames formed around his hand. Lucy glared at him and stopped running.

"You wouldn't" she whispered. She then pulled her trick card. Pursing her lips into a soft pout she looked at Natsu through tear filled eyes. She knew him all too well and smirked in victory as he threw the top at her and huffed.

"You're just lucky we're best friends" Natsu said as he gave her space to get dressed. She giggled at his words. He was right though, they meant the world to one another. They were so close it was scary and knew everything about each other.

That is apart from one thing. Lucy was completely unaware that Natsu was desperately in love with her. She seemed oblivious to his constant glances at her and to his protectiveness towards her no matter what. She was also unaware of how he would threaten all her boyfriends on a regular basis and when they broke up with her he would burn them to a crisp for hurting Lucy.

Yes she was completely unaware and would continue her life as normal. Natsu didn't mind that she didn't know. He was happy being the one she would turn to in times of need, her shoulder to cry on and at times her punch bag. As long as he was hers it didn't matter that he could not be with her in the way he wanted. Maybe it was time to tell her though, and soon.

At last Lucy emerged from the bedroom. "So are you ready for another day at the guild?" she giggled.

"Of course" he grinned broadly. "Let's go! I feel a mission calling!" Lucy smiled at him as he rushed out the door and she followed swiftly after.

As they neared the guild Natsu stopped dead in front of the doors.

"What's wrong Natsu?" Lucy asked worriedly. Natsu turned to gaze at her deeply.

"There's something I think I should tell you and it's not going to be easy but I really want to say it" he replied softly. Lucy was taken back, Natsu seemed rather sincere which was well... un Natsu like.

"Go on" she answered as she looked at him deeply.

"Well I..."

"Lluucccyyyyyy" Happy screeched as he came flying at the pair to land on Natsu's shoulder.

"Hey Happy" she smiled back and looked on as Gray came running towards them.

"Oi give that back you thieving cat!" he yelled as Happy dodged his attempts to catch him. It was then that Lucy noticed what Happy had stolen. Clutched between his paws was a key and not just any key, but one of the silver keys she had been longing for, Atlanta the key of dreams. It had the ability to create whatever the holder requested and would surely come in handy.

At last Gray caught Happy and pulled the key out of his paws. Smoothing his shirt he turned and looked at Lucy.

"I wanted to give you this after" he said.

"After what?" Lucy asked confused. Natsu gritted his teeth in anger at having been interrupted. Life was about to get worse though...

"I asked you out" Lucy's face showed true shock. "Lucy, will you go out with me?" he asked as he held her hand. She continued to stare in disbelief whilst Natsu felt as if his heart had just been ripped out. He didn't even know Gray liked Lucy like that, never mind wanted to ask her out. He just couldn't bare it.

"YES!" Lucy yelled as she hugged Gray. Natsu then officially died inside. She said yes, to Gray and not him. That was it, there was just nothing left for him.

Turning and taking his chance, Natsu ran. He wasn't sure where, but he just ran for as long as he could.

"Yay Yay! Gray finally asked Lucy out" Happy yelled. "Hey Natsu isn't it great that Lucy can be happy. Natsu?" he turned around looking for his companion but Natsu was long gone. Thinking nothing of it, Happy followed Gray and Lucy into the guild.

Once inside they were greeted by a huge applause.

"Gray you finally got some guts!" Loki smirked as the pair walked over to his table hand in hand. "And Lucy you must be so happy" he added. His master smiled and nodded lightly at his words as she and Gray took a seat.

There was only one person who realised how bad this all was… and as she stood behind the bar pouring drinks, Mirajane could only imagine how hurt Natsu was. However, she had been sworn to secrecy and so when Lucy came over to fetch some drinks she could only smile and congratulate her.

"You two seem rather happy" Mira said as she finished wiping down a glass and set it aside.

"I really am Mira" Lucy replied cheerfully. "Gray is an amazing guy and I've had a HUGE crush on him for like ages. I just never thought he'd feel the same way. I assumed he like Juvia, you know because of the whole water thing..." Lucy trailed off as she felt the familiar glare of death on her back. Turning around slowly she addressed the girl behind her.

"H...heyy...J...Juvia" Lucy smiled nervously.

"YOU! You stole my Gray. My dear sweet Gray. I'll kill you for this." She said already forming a whirlpool around her fragile body.

"That's enough Juvia" Gray said firmly, moving to stand in front of Lucy. "You will not harm her. She is mine and I shall protect her with my life" He stared down at Juvia as she sadly returned to her human form and ran out of the guild, a storm following after her.

"She's a funny one" Gray sighed. "You okay Lu?" he smiled at his new girlfriend.

She nodded and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. The whole guild sighed in awe as the new love birds blushed and returned to their seats.

Whilst most people had been distracted by Juvia, Mira had slipped out back to see Makarov.

"Master, you know what this could mean" Mira was saying in a hushed but panicked voice.

"Yes I know, but what can we do? She has chosen Gray for now. He will see this as a defeat and his nature just may emerge" the guilds master replied, rubbing his temples in thought.

"So that means…"

"I'm afraid so. Unless Natsu can have the partner his heart chose, he will be unable to control the primal dragon instincts. You know how they are, they keep it in until it's too late and then they fight for what they believe is theirs" Makarov sighed.

"But what if she doesn't feel the same? I mean that's why she chose Gray isn't it? Because she doesn't share that bond" Mira speculated.

Makarov smirked. "That my dear Mira is where I believe you are wrong. The bond was made the instant our Natsu saved Lucy from those rascals. She has developed her feelings for him ever since. Even though her mind is blocking it, her heart yearns for the dragon. It has been written in history, my dear. Natsu is the dragon who will surpass all others with his ultimate power, the power of the flame. However, he will only be able to unleash that power when he finally mates with the one his heart desires"

"MATES!" Mira yelled and then covered her mouth as she continued to whisper. "You mean sex? He has to have sex with Lucy?"

"Well he doesn't have to, but to gain full power, yes. He needs to feel truly bonded to another person. But now that there is competition, another power will come out in order to fight. That is the power we must most fear. He could lose who he is if it takes over him" Makarov sighed.

Mira looked at him confused.

"Ah well you see, right now Natsu is probably trying to convince himself that he needs to support Lucy as best as he can, and remain her friend. But that's now. If Lucy and Gray take their relationship further, the primal jealousy will kick in and just as animals would, the two males fight for the female. However, it isn't as simple as a cat fight. They are both members of this guild and respect one another. Instead, Natsu will allow the dark power inside him to guide him. If that power grows too strong, we will lose the Natsu we know and love to the darkness"

"So what about Gray?" Mira asked. "Won't he be devastated when he loses Lucy? Or will he fight back?"

"I honestly don't know. Gray is equally as capable of retaliating, although the affects won't be as harmful. But that doesn't mean that things will run smoothly. All I know is this is very bad and we need to be on full alert. You must not let Lucy or Gray suspect anything and Natsu cannot learn of the powers within himself. It's not safe" Makarov said to Mira as she arose to return to the bar.

"I understand master" and with that Mira left.

"Natsu…you can do this. Just show her you love her..." the master said out loud. "For the sake of Fairy Tail".

"Stupid Gray, stupid ice power, stupid topless freak. Agh he's so stupid. How can she pick him?" Natsu fumed as he kicked yet another innocent rock into the river in front of him. "I mean come on, I have flames for fucks sakes. FLAMES! She's got to be impressed by that" with that Natsu turned his fist into flames and threw a punch in the air.

Sighing, he slumped down on a huge rock and put his head in his hands. Small tears rolled gently down his face as realisation hit him. He couldn't have Lucy, the girl he knew he loved. If only he had been a few moments quicker, it would have been different. She would have been saying yes to him and the two of them would be celebrating.

He slapped himself in the face. No, he had to be happy for her, support her as a friend. Gray would just be yet another one of Lucy's boyfriends. They would date for a few weeks, maybe kiss a little but then Gray would move on and Natsu would be able to resume his role as Lucy's man. It would be fine, he was certain of it.

Well….almost certain. With a heavy heart and a clearly faked cut on his face, Natsu made his way back to Fairy Tail before he was noticed missing.

OK! :D chapter 2 may take a while, but as i said this will be my focus so hopefully it wont be too long.