"Wait! Natsu can't be dead right? Because Lucifer is alive. Don't they have some bond like that?" Gray asked suddenly and everyone shifted at the new idea, looking at Levy who was most likely to know. She shook her head, frowning.

"No that's not how it works. See if the dragon slayer confesses to their mate and they're rejected then the slayer descends into madness and in most cases they die of too much stress to the heart. But if their mate accepts them or they die before the slayer confesses then it's different. If one dies after acceptance then it doesn't matter, I mean yeah it would hurt like hell but it hurts whenever you lose someone you love. If Gajeel died then I wouldn't automatically die." Levy said slowly, her voice cracking here and there in sorrow.

Everyone shifted back into their slouching positions. They were being held in the same damn room they had held Sting, the king's soldiers using the sails to get by the barricade easily. The walls had been lined with the orange ropes that bound their magic and they were still tied down, their feet now connected to the rope as well so they couldn't run.

Erza and Juvia were both leaning against Jellal and Gray, both men trying to comfort both their lover and what they considered their sister.

Levy was on the other side of the room, Happy and Charla both at her sides.

"I just...can't believe he's gone…" Erza suddenly whispered. She hadn't said anything since they had been dragged on the ship, only bursting into tears and sobbing. Jellal had backed off of her, letting her lean on Gray as she cried, Gray himself burying his face in her hair as she leaned on his chest and cried, Happy between them both as he let out his own sobs. Neither Jellal nor Juvia had felt betrayed or angry. They had known him better than anyone. Happy lost his best friend and his adoptive father, and Gray and Erza had lost their brother.

So Jellal and Juvia took comfort in each other, Levy leaning against Juvia for a time. After a few hours Erza had quieted and just leaned against Gray and Happy. Gray had looked up finally, his eyes red and puffy like everyone else's. that's when Jellal and Juvia had scooted awkwardly over, wanting their lover next to them as they had just lost a good friend. Levy hadn't moved toward them, instead sitting with Happy and Charla.

"I've known him almost his entire life...I've seen him beat the unbeatable...he was my biggest rival...a pain in my ass 24/7. He can't...he can't just be dead. There's no way. He...he wouldn't just die and leave. I...I regret ever asking for him to just leave me alone…" Gray's' voice trailed off, cracking with emotion as he responded to Erza. Jellal let out a chuckle that lacked any humor.

"I remember the battle of Shingta...I was struggling...my men were too. I was just about to sound the retreat when in walks Natsu...his scarf waving in the wind like a damn flag. He took a blade to the shoulder and that bastard...he just grinned at the poor man and unleashed hell. Within the span of ten minutes...he turned the tide of the battle, by himself. After the battle he walked around with the knife stuck in his shoulder for another two hours, checking on everyone he could to see how they were." Jellal said and Happy sniffled.

"I remember that…" He said quietly.

"Juvia remembers...when Natsu took out Jiemma. Juvia had witnessed his power first hand, she knows what he was capable. And the rest of them...together they were so powerful. Juvia has never seen such brilliance before...Juvia can't believe Natsu is dead.." She trailed off and Erza started to shake again, Gray having the same reaction except for a bit more late. They were at war. Casualties were expected. Many of their friends and comrades had fallen, and most of them bowed their heads in sorrow and respect before continuing on. But Natsu...there had been so many times they watched him go down with buildings and ships, they had seen him take on an entire troop by himself and disappear in nets and swords, only for him to be the person who walked out from the dust.

"Erza...calm down." Levy suddenly snapped, tears in her own eyes. Everyone stilled, looking at the small woman who had been quiet in shock. Levy took a deep breath. "We have to worry about ourselves right now and what we're going to do." Levy said firmly and Erza let out a growl, leaning off of Gray and Jellal.

"I just watched my brother bleed out on the sand! I had to watch while I sat on the ground unable to do anything! Don't tell me to calm down Levy!" Erza yelled and Levy leaned forward as well.

"I know! I had to watch too! We are at war Erza. He gave his life for us and for Lucifer! He knew the dangers of what he was doing! But now we need to focus on what we can do now, before we meet the same fate! If you've forgotten Lucifer is stuck upstairs with Sting, and Mavis knows what he's going to do to her. That and Wendy was left on Sabers Grave alone with the dead body of her older brother and mentor, and we are HELPLESS in these fucking bonds!" Levy shot back, her face turning red in anger and every other emotion there was. It got quiet for what felt like hours, but was only a few seconds. Charla took a deep breath, looking up.

"Wendy trained under that idiot, and she picked up some of his destructive behaviors. She'll find a way to signal the barricade I know it…all of you need to take a breath! Now I know that I've always been the skeptical one and the one who doubts everything. But you all taught me to have faith in our family and friends! Everyone in this room is considered a powerhouse and the person you want by your side in battle. But you can't forget that the others can handle themselves, and they'll come for us! We have to have faith." Charla said firmly and the others looked around at each other, shoulders sagging.

"If Natsu is dead the rebellion won't last…" Erza said softly, hanging her head in defeat. Jellal nudged her with his nose, trying to comfort her.

!?

I laid on the bed that I knew was Natsu's. It had a few scattered clothes of his and a fish bone or two were on the ground. I had been drained of tears and snot, left with a pounding headache from dehydration and the punch I took from Sting. My body ached all over.

I was curled in a ball, staring blankly at the wall. I clung to Natsu's scarf, my nose against it and my thumb rubbing against the material ever so softly. It was drenched in his scent. I couldn't get the image of him bleeding out, out of my mind. Watching him suffocate on his own blood, coughing up the red liquid that stung my skin like venom when it hit her. It was my fault he was dead. It was all her fault. It was her fault that Sabertooth had been slaughtered, that Yukino died. It was her fault a war had started. It was my fault Natsu had died. Hell, if I hadn't been bothering the doctors and nurses then my mother would probably still be alive.

I had spent the past three months healing, most of the time I stayed in one room, only allowed out for an hour or so every few days because my body couldn't handle the differences between the Celestial kingdom and Earth land. I had been visited by Loke a lot, my other spirits stopping by occasionally. Loke and Plue had been almost constantly by my side. I had suffered from depression and ptsd from the torture, and I still wasn't completely better. The only thing that would lift my spirits is when Loke would flicker. That meant Natsu was trying to open his gate. We knew it was Natsu because Loke could feel who held his key. Natsu hadn't given up on me, throughout everything he still tried to contact my spirits. That was what got me through. I had spent the last three months thinking of him, dreaming of his smile and his laugh. When I wasn't tormented with nightmares of the horrors I went through I dreamed of Fairy Tail, I dreamed of belonging. Even as I walked among the stars I thought of them, of him.

The door opened and someone stepped in but I didn't look away from the spot on the wall I had chosen to stare at. The door closed and I flinched away, hugging the scarf to me tighter. I had found a knife, knowing that Natsu would never put himself in a place where he was unarmed. It was under the scarf, in my hand. I gripped it tightly, holding the scarf as well.

"Hey...how are you feeling?" Sting's voice rang in my ears and I felt dizzy, hearing the question echo over and over. I didn't respond, not able to push my brain hard enough to form words. The silence stretched on through the room as I tried to figure out which way was up and which was down, the room spinning slowly. I shifted my head slightly and the room stilled.

"I have something for you, I think you'll like it…" Sting trailed off and I refocused on the spot on the wall. I felt the bed dip as Sting added his weight to it, not touching me but close to where my feet were.

"You left it on the ship that day...I kept it safe for you...for when you came back to me." Sting said, pushing his hand closer to me. I didn't acknowledge him until his hand was close to touching me. I looked down at his hand, taking a moment to register the fact that he was holding Plue's key. I reached forward, my hand shaking. Sting gave me an encouraging nod and my fingers grasped the silver medal. I quickly withdrew, pulling it away from him so he didn't have a chance to pull it away. I quickly pulled it next to the knife that I still concealed under the scarf. Sting took in a deep breath.

"We're making great time, we'll be at our stop by tomorrow morning around 2 am. From there we'll be smuggled onto the last remaining bullet train that your father owns." He told me and I narrowed my eyes at the wall. I wanted to kill him.

Something inside of me snapped, my mind pushing the grief way for now. I was a survivor. I would play Sting, and I would play him hard. I wanted him to hurt more than he ever had. I would do what I had to do. If I could get to the others...if I could free them then we could retake the ship. I sat up suddenly, startling Sting who gave me a weary look. I met his gaze slowly through my lashes, feeling my hair tumble over the front of my shoulder.

"Do you want me Sting?" I asked suddenly, shifting on the bed. Sting's brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What?" He asked and I let my gaze become sultry. I moved forward, slowly. Natsu's scarf dragging against the bed as I swayed toward Sting, shuffling forward on my knees.

"You want me, to marry me and become king?" I asked him and he sucked in a deep breath, holding my gaze.

"Yes, that's what I want. I want you Lucifer...no, you're Lucille to me. I want you Lucille." He said and I mentally recoiled from him, but my anger pushed me forward.

"Would you take me Sting?" I asked, dropping my voice into an almost teasing sing song voice, very slowly straddling him as he turned on the bed. I could tell he was confused, but that didn't stop his hands from grabbing my hips. I leaned forward slowly, brushing my lips against his cheek.

"Anything for you Lucille." He said and I could feel the excitement buzz through him and his voice. I brushed my lips against his ear, opening my eyes as my hands slid around him, Natsu's scarf still in one hand.

"I want you...to hurt. I want you to know that I will marry you Sting...because I want you to hurt, knowing that every time you touch me, every time you call my name or walk into the room," he tried to pull away but I held him tightly, my voice growing darker as I continued, "I will think of him. I will call his name, crying out in bliss as I imagine Natsu...the mighty Salamander on top of me, taking me. Just like he did when I was on his ship." I hissed, raising the knife up. I was lying of course. I had never been with Natsu, not like that anyway. But Sting didn't know that. Before I could bring the knife down I was roughly shoved off of Sting and back into the bed. The knife fell from my hand and I looked up to see a furious dragon slayer. Fear was absent as I glared at him.

"No!" He yelled at me and I spit at him.

"He took me Sting. We danced through the night, we laughed. He pulled me into him and kissed me. And I kissed back. He asked me "what about Sting?" And I said nothing but pulled him back to me, begging him to take me to his bed!" I love him, my voice rasping as I taunted him. Sting let out a roar, bright light flashing the room as he shifted into his dragon force.

"You're mine!" He yelled and I stood up, getting in his face.

"I WILL NEVER BE YOURS!" I screamed and he lashed out, punching me hard. I spun, hitting the bed as I fell. My vision was blurry for a few seconds, my ears ringing. My cheek ached where he hit it. I took a deep breath, looking up at him.

"You'll never be as powerful as Salamander. You'll never be as strong, or as handsome as him. You will never live up to his reputation. You will die and no one will mourn you like they will for him. And once you enter the afterlife...he will be waiting at the gates. And he will send you straight to hell." I told him and Sting growled, lunging at me. I let out a scream, lifting my knees up. He let out a grunt, both of us scuffling. I scratched and pinched, kicking and hitting any part of him that I could.

"That's enough!" He yelled, grabbing both of my arms tightly. I tried to scramble away, grabbing the bedpost as he pulled. My body strained as he tugged on me, my hands straining. I tried to pull away from him but he was clearly stronger than me. I was yanked free and I barely grabbed Natsu's scarf, clinging to it and letting out a scream of anger and grief when Sting forced me into my feet, shoving me outside into the cold air.

"Let me show you who's side you're picking." Sting snarled and I gasped as he shoved me down the stairs. I stumbled, nearly falling but his bruising grip on me kept me up. "Guards! Open the door and pull out two of them!" Sting yelled as we got onto the deck. People scrambled to follow order, opening the door. I gritted my teeth in pain as Sting gripped me tighter, dragging me toward the edge of the ship.

"Get the fuck off of her!" Grays angry voice came out and I looked up, seeing a struggling Gray and Juvia being dragged out of the room, the others yelling out in defiance before the door was closed and locked again.

"Bring them to me!" Sting yelled and my breath caught.

"What are you going to do?" I asked him, suddenly fearful.

"Rot in hell." Gray growled at the guard before he was shoved to his knees, his hands being forced behind his back. Juvia let out a yelp, being forced into the same position. She looked up, defiance in her eyes but when our gazes met fear and concern ran through them.

Sting drew his sword, pulling me against his chest roughly and forcing me to look at them on their knees, bruises on their faces from where they had it up a fight. Gray was missing his shirt but he still had the necklace with the cross he always wore on. Sting pointed at them with his sword and my breathing hitched as he squeezed me hard.

"Look at them Lucille. They kneel before me. They are going to die when we make port. I'm going to to torture them and kill them." He told me and both of them took in deep breathes. I closed my eyes and turned my head but a hard jostle from Sting made me open my eyes.

"LOOK AT THEM!" He yelled and I let out a soft, silent sob, my eyes filled with tears. Grays chest was heaving, adrenaline clearly coursing through him. I watched his dark blue Fairy Tail insignia, it showing proudly on his skin.

"I'm going to kill them...however...I may be able...to pull some strings. I'll let them live, I'll keep them from slavery...if you chose me. Stand with me Lucille and I will let them live." He said and I swallowed hard, watching Gray and Juvia watch me. I felt like I couldn't hear anything at all, the blood rushing in my ears drowned anything else out. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Bring the rest out." Sting suddenly snapped and I watched in horror as one by one they were each dragged out, thrashing and struggling and cursing. They were lined up, swords held to their throats.

"No! No Sting please!" I begged, holding his arm that was around my waist tightly. Sting let out a chuckle that vibrated through his chest and against my back.

"Do you stand with me?" He asked again, his voice smug. My mouth hung open as I stared at all of them, watching them stare right back at me. I was still covered in Natsu's dried blood, my hair wild and messy and looking like it belonged to someone who lived in a box. I was clinging to Natsu's scarf as if it was the only thing keeping me alive. Could I do that…? Would I suffer for the rest of my life with Sting, just so that they can live? They've gone three years now without me...do they care? Why do I have to save them?

"Don't. Never stand with him Lucifer." Jellal suddenly said. My eyes snapped to him, tears pricking my eyes as the sword in front of his neck pushed against the skin. He sucked in a shallow breath, glancing down at it before meeting my eyes with a hard, confident and determined gaze.

"Let me die knowing you'll never stand with him." Jellal spat and before I could control myself I started sobbing, shame and humility rushing over me, fear and anger. I went limp in Sting's grasp and a second later there was a loud growl.

"Alright fine!" Sting snarled and I flinched, attempting to catch myself when he threw me onto the deck. My body ached in agony, my heart feeling like it had been carved out. "I gave you a chance!" Sting yelled and I looked up at him, fear and regret running through me. I felt nothing but agonizing fear. I felt like my blood had frozen in my very veins.

"You won't stand with me? Then they'll never stand again." Sting spat at me, swinging his sword at Jellal. His eyes widened and before I realized what I was doing my lips moved and so did my body.

"WAIT!" My voice was frantic as I stood ms Stings blade stopped right next to Jellals neck. The tears hadn't stopped rolling down my eyes, my body shaking. Goosebumps covered my skin, not an effect from the cold weather. I could feel all eyes on me and I looked at Jellal. He had known me since I was little. They had all come to save me. They were Natsu's family. And Juvia and Jellal were mine. "Wait…" I whispered, slowly looking at Sting. He was still in his dragon force, his eyes holding pent up rage. I looked back at Jellal and he shook his head, his eyes widening in disbelief. I looked at Sting again, my heart breaking further as I slowly shuffled towards him slowly.

It took me what felt like centuries to cross the few steps between us, a little piece of me falling with each movement. I felt dead. I slowly put my hand on his, looking at him. I very gently moved his sword away from Jellal and I heard Erza let out an audible sigh of relief. "Wait…" my voice cracked as I said it one more time. I met Stings gaze, clutching Natsu's scarf to me tightly I brought my hand up to his cheek, ready to flinch away at any moment. I took a deep, ragged breath.

"Natsu…no. Salamander...Salamander is dead. I'll stand with you...future king of Fiore." I said loudly, my voice wavering in pain. I closed my eyes, my tears not allowing me to see anyway. I leaned up, feeling his lips against mine. I felt like with every movement of our kiss he took a hammer to my soul, shattering, breaking, and finally, burning everything left of me. But maybe that's how I was meant to go, up in a blaze of flames. I would burn to nothing but ash, embers of me floating up into the night sky where I would either walk among my spirits or rejoin the dragon who had been assigned to protect me, the one that fate had declared the love of my life and I his. Up in flames I would go, to be with him.

Sting pulled away from me, letting out a gasp of relief and amazement while I just bowed my head.

"Congratulations. You saved your friends...but you weren't fast enough to save all of them." He said and my head snapped up, looking at him in terror and surprise as he lunged forward. I felt a scream rip through me, the people on their knees echoing with their own as Stings sword went into Juvias stomach. She stared at it blankly for a minute, all of us watching in horror as blood seeped out around her wound.

"With magic restraining bonds...she can't turn to water, which is a pitty." Sting chuckled, twisting the sword. Juvia slowly looked up, looking at Gray and then me. Sting pulled the sword from her and she hiccuped, blood dribbling from her mouth. I stared at her, my body turning to stone as she gave me a strained smile.

"Juvia...fought for Fairy Tail." She whispered before she was yanked off the ground by Sting, dragged to the side of the ship and thrown over the side. Seconds later a splash followed and I looked at it the others. This is my fault… I thought. I looked at Sting as he approached me and the world around me spun as my brain and body shut itself down, my body falling.

Into the fire I'll go…

Hey Guys! SO I started this chapter off answering a question that a lot of you asked me. Earlier on in the story it said that if a slayers mate REJECTS the slayer then more often than not the slayer will descend into madness and eventually die. HOWEVER we know that Yukino was Sting's mate and she accepted him, and then she died. Sting, against all of your wishes, is alive still. It never said that the mate of the slayer would die automatically. I mean ofc there's those times where an old couple pass away together but that's not what happened here, so i hopped that that cleared it up!

Questions!

What the FUCK just happened here?

What happened/will happen to Wendy?

What will Lucifer do? Is she down for the count?

Will the others find strength to keep fighting?

How will Juvia's death affect everyone?

Is Sting going to force himself on Lucifer?

Answer all in the comments below! Tell me what you guys thought of this chapter and any other predictions! I love seeing you guys comment because it makes me remember that there are still people who enjoy the work I put out and that means a lot to me.

Have any questions, comments or concerns? Feel free to pm me or drop a comment.

Shout out to BakaFangirl bc they've been with this story from the beginning! (I also think we follow each other on tumblr by coincidence?)

And shout out to Vk201 because my story kiled their soul and with my plans for this story...I'm going after their heart next :)