The Star Queen

Chapter Five: The Final Choice

"Natsu? Did we have to leave so soon? We missed a lot of things we were supposed to do at a wedding you know."

"Not really, a Dragon Wedding is different than a regular wedding Luce. Generally the bride and groom go straight home to perform the ritual and then come back for the party, but I wanted to give you a proper honeymoon before we got back so Gramps gave us two week passes to Akane Resort after he pulled some strings with the other Masters. It's not everyday a dragon gets married you know."

Natsu laughed as Lucy blushed lightly at the mention of the marking ritual, while she greatly looked forward to it, it still made her nervous to think of. The warmth of his hand on hers comforted her, he understood that she wanted to be his mate and still somehow feared it. In truth she feared the possibility of being used as a weapon against her husband, those who knew of the Mark understood that the connection between them affected their hearts and souls, should one be injured the other would feel the pain too, should one die, the other would slowly succumb to the same fate… For dragons it was gruesome, to be without a mate was a death sentence, and to lose a mate was worse. The loss of the mate would eventually cost the remaining partners life, but first it came as pains throughout the internal organs and aching bones, sickness that lasted weeks or maybe months, paralysis of the body and eventually death. The process was slow, with time ranging anywhere from a year to two weeks depending on how deep the bond was between the two, and the result was always the same. Through the history of Fiore, there were no records of a Dragon surviving the loss of their mate.

To say Lucy could be used as a tool to defeat her husband was an understatement, through her, the enemy could easily wipe out the Fire Dragon Slayer without much resistance if they weren't careful, and once she was marked it would be all to easy to spot her and find her mate. However the mark didn't come without its own protection, once the person is marked, they become immune the element of their mates magic and gain a heavy resistance to its opposite element. In very rare cases the mate even gains the ability to wield small forms of the element their partner embodies, usually this happens when the bond between them is so strong that they were able to recognize the souls of their future mate apon first introduction, and are then able to settle easily into the knowledge of their impending status.

"So after two weeks, we'll come back as full mates and then we have a wedding party? What are the other members doing during that time?"

Natsu frowned, a confused look on his face.

"I don't know actually, they said they'd be working on a present for us but refused to say what it was. The whole guild is in on it except for us, and Makarov told me if I kept asking he was gonna whack me across the ocean to Tenrou Island…"

Lucy had to laugh at that one, the horrified pout on his face was more than enough to make her giggle. The two of them made it to resort just before the Troia spell wore off, leaving Natsu with a light stomach ache for about five minutes after they got onto the land. They were met with the Manager of the hotel and a concierge to collect both their bags and verify their passes, then were shown to their room. They were given the Bridal Suite, fitted with an indoor jacuzzi and a fireplace along with the usual accommodations. The bed was elevated on a platform and featured sheer curtains on either side of the frame, the colors were done in a red comforter and silken white sheets with white rose petals sprinkled on the blankets. It also had a balcony with french doors and a love seat beside two long chairs ment for tanning or relaxing, they could easily see the park from their room but thankfully were too high up for anyone to see past the stone railing.

"Luce! Do you want the left side or the right? I need to know where to put your clothes and stuff!"

She smiled and walked back inside the room, in the end she opted to take the side farthest from the door since she would need to reach for her keys if something went wrong, whereas he could just use his fire to smother the assailant and remove the threat from his mate. Once Lucy had unpacked and changed clothes, she headed toward the fridge to see what there was to make for dinner and was shocked to find the entire place fully stocked with meats and fresh vegetables along with several containers of fruit, even the cupboards were loaded with goods and dishes.

"Natsu? Is it normal for resorts to stock the fridges for their guests, or did you pay extra for that?"

"Gramps probably sprung for the extra bit, but don't worry about dinner tonight. We have a reservation downstairs at The Water Lily for our celebratory meal, they even give newlyweds a free bottle of wine if they can answer three questions about their spouse."

"Wow, The Water Lily has some fantastic reviews, I heard they even offer special drinks for slayers!"

"Yeah, they have specific drinks designed for each type of slayer and often have photo ID of them for verification that the person they're selling to is in fact a slayer of that type. Guess it helps keep the morons from killing themselves trying to look macho… They do have a dress code though, they're a pretty classy place so its formal attire only."

"Natsu did you even pack formal clothes?"

"Umm.. I think Mira put them in the… blue?... Yeah, blue short suitcase. I remember her saying she picked the one that looked like Happy so I'd remember it easier. Although i don't know how the heck is have so hard of trouble remembering stuff.. Dragons have great memories!"

Lucy didn't bother to argue with him there, instead letting him grumble to himself about it for a bit while she found their formal wear. The blue suitcase was sitting on the table so it wasn't hard to find, however their clothes were a different story. She searched through the entire suitcase and found no trace of their missing clothing, although she did find rather… skimpy… underthings that only Cana or Clara could have ever thought to pack.

"Natsu they're not here."

"I'm positive she said the blue one."

"Do you think she could've been talking about something else?"

"I dunno, like what?"

The skimpy lingerie in the case came to mind and she felt her face flame, leave it to Natsu to mistake formal wear for sexy underwear. She groaned and turned toward Natsu, a nervous frown on her face.

"What are we gonna do now? We can't get into the restaurant without a gown and a tux, and I'm sure as hell not climbing back into that bridal gown. It's beautiful but hard to breathe in. At least you can use your tux for this…"

"Why don't you ask Virgo and Loke to help you out and have that crab guy of yours do your hair?"

Lucy paused. Now why hasn't she thought of this sooner? It wasn't the first time her spirits had brought her clothing from the celestial realm, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

"That's a great idea Natsu.. I feel pretty stupid not thinking of it before. Do you want them to bring you something too?"

"If they want, like you said I could always wear my Wedding Tux."

Lucy smiled and kissed his cheek, then reached for her keys. Over the years her magic had grown to allow her to summon up to four keys without breaking a sweat, while seven was her limit. Grabbing three of them, she centered herself and reached for her magic while thrusting the keys forward and turning them as though they were in a lock.

"Open! Gates of the Maiden, Lion and Giant Crab! Virgo, Leo and Cancer!"

With a blinding yellow flash all three spirits appeared before her smiling and saying their usual hello's, the latter of the two immediately showing her pictures of hairstyles that he thought would look good on her.

"Leo, Virgo can you you guys help me and Natsu out with some nice formal wear? We have a reservation in a half hour and we forgot to pack normal dresses and suits…"

"Of course princess, how about a black evening gown with dark red designs? Its both elegant and modest, it certainly suits a newlywed lady."

"Sounds good, what about Natsu?"

"We can easily find something for him, now let's get both of your measurements and we'll go from there."

Lucy had no time to say anything due to the fact that Leo quickly ushered her toward the mock-dressing room that Virgo had somehow managed to construct out of thin air, and then suddenly she was in nothing but her underthings as her clothes were forcibly removed from her body by the very exuberant servant spirit, luckily the lion spirit that had been there not two seconds earlier was over doing the exact same thing to her loudly objecting husband…

"V-Virgo why are you stripping me…? I can remove my own clothing if necessary."

"You said you had a reservation in a half hour, speed is key. Now please close your eyes so I can do light makeup princess."

Ten minutes later Lucy's hair and makeup was finished and Virgo was helping her into the sensual evening gown that had been created for her, and when she looked at the mirror to see the finished result, she couldn't hold back a gasp. Her slender body was clothed in a sleek black form-fitting gown that accentuated her curves and with a long slit up the side to make her legs appear longer, her hair was put up into a messy bun that was held together by a thick onyx chopstick carved into the shape of a dragon and detailed in a glimmering red with ruby eyes. Her eyes were a dark smokey color paired with feline-inspired eyeliner that made her eyes look a more chestnut color than chocolate, giving them a seductive look when she narrowed them even the slightest bit. Her lips were painted a light reddish-pink, and her nails painted a shimmery dark red.

"Wow… Virgo I… I look… I look like a model.."

"You always look like a model Luce."

She turned to look at Natsu, who in all honesty looked more relaxed in his attire than when he was at their wedding. He wore a normal tux with no tie and the top two buttons undone and a silver chain necklace, his hair was spikier than usual and his eyes were covered by a pair of red sunglasses. Simplicity was always his thing, and to her the simpler his clothing the better he looked. Without thinking she reached out to him, smiling when he immediately went to her and wrapped her up in the heat of his embrace.

"I'll never ever ever, look as good as I do when I'm with you. You make me whole, perfect. There is no me without you…"

He smiled and claimed her lips gently, not worried about smudging her lips since they were painted with a fast-drying liquid lipstick. When they pulled back for air, the spirits said their congratulations and went back to the Celestial World, leaving them to go to their dinner reservation. They made their way to the restaurant, not really in a rush since it was on the first floor by the casino and wouldn't take them long to reach anyway. When they reached the elevator at the end of the hall, Lucy paused for a moment.

"Luce?"

"Natsu… I'm… I'm afraid."

That got his attention very quickly, prompting him to look around and see if there was any physical or magical reason for her fear, when he found none he turned his attention back to his wife.

"What's the matter? You feeling someone I'm not? Is it a spirit?"

"N-No… nothing like that. I just… I mean I'm afraid of later.. They told me it was going to hurt.. Alot. That it was the worst pain they'd ever felt in their lives.. Is that.. Is that true?"

He stared at her, his eyes pained and a bit nervous.

"It is... It will hurt, and because of my type of magic it will most likely feel like you're burning alive from the inside out. At first. The pain is your body being forced to welcome new magic, being forced to adapt and allow it to flow through your body as easily as your blood does. But when your body allows the scar to become the mark, when it takes form during the consummation, its supposed to be better than any kind of high you could find anywhere else…"

Lucy stayed silent, her eyes cast downward and away from his face. She felt foolish, pathetic to have taken this final step in their lives, only to falter now when she was so close to the destination. She had wanted this, she had begged for this. Why was she so hesitant now?

"Lucy? Baby look at me."

As they stepped into the elevator, she allowed herself to look him in the eyes. His own orbs softened as they took in the tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks, and without hesitation her pulled her into his embrace, letting her bury her face in his chest. After a moment, he pulled her chin upwards towards him, forcing her to look at him.

"Its ok to be afraid.. All mates are at first, it's relatively normal. And I want you to know that I understand, we can wait longer if you need to honey…"

She shook her head, shoving her tears back and forcing her resolve to the surface. She wanted the life he could give her, she wanted him for everything he was and ever will be, for the life they could have together. She was not about to let her own petty insecurities ruin everything she had worked so fucking hard for over the last few years, quietly she took his face in her own hands, bringing his forehead down to meet hers.

"I want this Natsu! I want this so bad it hurts! You are everything to me and I refuse to back down this easily… The day I call it quits is the day I die Natsu…"

She smiled softly and pressed trembling lips to his, her heart constricting when he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle loving embrace. They pulled away just as the elevator reached the lobby, his hands rested gently on her hips, his expression thoughtful. Suddenly he pulled her out of the elevator and towards the front doors, smiling as Lucy tried to keep up in her heels.

"Natsu! Where are you going!? The Water Lily is by the casino!"

"We're not going to the restaurant Luce.. We're going to start this marriage off right and sitting in that uptight place is not the best way to do it, so fuck the reservation. We've always hated formal occasions anyway.. Now let's go have some fun."

Lucy stared up at him as he continued to pull her away from the hotel, her chocolate eyes slowly melting into their signature softened caramel colour that never failed to make his heart hiccup. Her mind's eye traveled back to their first encounter, when they were running from the army after destroying half of Hargeon in a fight against a half-wit fire user in a cheap suit with a superiority complex a mile wide. They were in the exact same position almost twenty years later, with her once again being completely blindsided by his love and insight, his genius and his stupidity.

She was at a loss for words, her heart swelling so large she felt it would burst at any moment. She felt the fear that had shackled her vanish, the heavy weights melting back into the ground where they belonged. They ended up walking toward the massive park not too far from the resort, talking and laughing about their adventures. As they rounded the corner, Lucy's attention shifted to the playground where little kids were laughing, a soft smile gracing her lips as she watched them play.

"Luce!"

She turned quickly, the elaborate gown swishing softly around her heels. Natsu stood in front of her holding two burgers, fries and a coke. Lucy felt her herself smile and reach for him, guiding him to the nearest table so they could enjoy their dinner. For them, time moved around them. Hours passed by like minutes, and before long the park was empty and the street lamps were lit. Lucy looked around and noticed a very large fountain by the benches that overlooked the ocean, and suddenly a thought appeared in her head. With a sly grin, she slowly walked toward it, keeping her eyes locked on her husband's.

"Where are you going Luce?"

"You'll see."

She smiled, when she reached the fountain she took a slow step over the rim and into the cool water. The fabric of her gown immediately clung to her ankles, making the heels she wore rather difficult to walk in and prompting her to remove them and toss them to the side. Her hands found their way into her hair, pulling the hateful pins that dug mercilessly into her scap out before finally removing the dragon-carved chopstick and allowing her golden hair to tumble down her shoulders in waves. Her hair was something he had always found to be the best part of her, it was silken perfection that always smelled like vanilla with a hint of cinnamon.

Before he knew it, he was standing beside her in the water, running his calloused fingers though those golden stands and caressing her jawline. She sighed softly, a sound he had only ever heard in the dark confines of their bedroom. He felt his lips pull upward into a smirk, letting his hands slide down her shoulders toward her hips as he kissed her throat. Her breaths now came in ragged gasps as he caressed and kissed her, filling her body to the brim with pleasure.

"Natsu…."

"Hm?"

"Take me back to our room."

He grinned and helped her out of the water, the two of them quickly making their way to the hotel and into the elevator. He had her in his arms the moment the doors closed, peppering her with kisses and bites. As the doors opened he pulled her down the hallways, past the prying eyes of the other residents, and into their room before firmly locking it behind them. He pulled the dress off her body, not caring as the seams popped and the stitching separated completely. Natsu guided her to their bed as she worked to rid him of his clothing as well, by the time they reached the heavy bedding they were both in nothing but their undergarments. Slowly, he eased her back onto the silken comforter and kissed the hollow of her throat, eliciting a soft moan from her.

"Luce? Are you sure you're ready for this? We can stop if you want."

A smile graced her lips as she pulled his lips down to meet hers, rolling her hips against his hard cock.

"Make love to me Natsu, make love to me and give me your Mark. Make me yours for eternity…"

Hey guys!

I am DREADFULLY sorry about the long wait but these chapters have been kicking my ass lately, I had to scrap two ideas before I finally went to my girlfriend to see if she had any ideas about how to write this out without making it seem like a cop-out...

NOT FUN.

For those of you that have waited EVER SO PATIENTLY for another chapter, I am going to be nice and upload the next one immediately after this as a thank-you for the awesome reviews and support. I cannot thank you guys enough for the amount of people who read my stories and provide so much input into it to help me make it better along the way. And like I've said many many times, I live for reviews. Send me chapter ideas or flaws you've noticed in the story, help me fix the issues you have to make this as awesome as possible.

Thank you so much for the support you guys! It means alot!

As Always,

BlackRose999