Hello my loves, happy to see you again! This will mark my last upload for a few days, as I have to prep for Winter classes. So unfortunately this is it for now, but with four new chapters in two days I think you guy's will be fine!

As always: General Disclaimer here. I own nothing but the story, all characters, locations, powers, etc. belong to the great Hiro Mashima!

Thank you all for being so loving and supportive toward me, it means so much.

Much Love,

BlackRose999

The Star Queen

Chapter Fourteen: Saying Goodbye

Timeskip: One Week

Natsu sat beside his wife, his mate, clutching her hand as she slowly faded away. Her breathing was shallow and harsh, every inhale a ragged rasp of effort. The wounds from the attack had barely started to heal, their bandages still stained red with her blood. The broken state of her body only making it harder for him to cope with the fact that he was losing her, that the woman who had been made for him was dying right in front of him and there wasn't a thing he could do to stop it. Her magic was seeping out of her at an alarming rate and took with it her strength, her very life force. She had poured everything she had into birthing their children, and while the two of them were perfectly healthy, Lucy quietly withered in front of his very eyes. For the last week, she laid in the Guild Infirmary, never wakening and slowly getting worse.

For now, nobody seemed to know why she was losing so much magic so quickly. Porlyusica was only able to tell them that her body was rejecting the regeneration of her magic, that it seemed like it was being drawn out of her from an outside force. She explained to them that she couldn't do much aside from ease the pain, that the Mate of Natsu Dragneel and the Light of Fairy Tail, would not last the night. Natsu let his tears fall silently as he searched her face for any sign of consciousness, sending his love and fear through their Mark as though he could will her awake, as though she had any chance of survival.

"L-Luce… Come on, y-you can't.. leave me, not yet. We still have a f-future, remember?"

He ran his free hand through her hair frantically, pushing a few stray strands out of her face. He remembered somehow that she liked the feeling of his fingertips in her hair, that it was calming and hypnotic in a way. His fingers found their way to her cheek, lightly tapping it in the hopes to rouse her.

"Lucy… Come on baby you can't... You can't do this to me. You can't leave me like this… You have to wake up, baby girl please, please. J-just wake up... I know it hurts right now, I know you're tired and you're afraid, but you've gotta look at me. I need you here Lu... We all need you here honey.."

When he saw no response, he let his head drop onto the bedding beside her hip, finally letting himself cry loudly. He let all of his pain, his fear, and his rage come boiling to the surface. He let it scorch through the Mark, unable to keep it in check any longer, and unable to care anyway. He sat there beside her and cried for most of the night before passing into a dreamless slumber, his knuckles white and his right arm numb from laying his head on it. His tears had long since dried, and he raised his head to look at the woman in front of him, trying to come to terms with the coldness of her skin. He let his fingers brush over her face and down her neck, searching for a pulse, for warmth, for anything that told him she was still there.

But the silence of their Mark was all the proof he needed.

He just didn't want to accept it.

"Lucy?... Lucy?... No no no no no, no please! PLEASE!"

A loud wail erupted from him as he realized she was gone, that she had died in her sleep beside him and had never once woken to see her children or her mate for the last time. He pulled her out of the bed and into his arms, the both of them sinking to the floor as her body went limp, prompting him to hold her head against his chest with one hand and clutch her body close to him with the other. Natsu pressed his forehead to hers, fresh tears dripping down his cheeks. He let himself rock back and forth, trying to force life into her through their Mark.

"Natsu what-... Oh no…"

Mirajane stood in the doorway, her icy-blue eyes filling with tears as she choked back a sob. She slowly walked towards him, hoping not to startle him any further. The last thing anyone needed was Natsu burning down the entire town in a fit of agonized rage, even if it was understandable, it could not be allowed.

"Natsu… Honey I have to put her back, she has to be prepared for burial."

"No."

The word was a whisper, a warning so soft it nearly fell unheard by the She-Devil. His face was pressed into the curve of her neck, unintentionally muffling his voice further.

"Natsu please, she can't just stay here…"

"I said no…"

"Honey she-"

"NO! I SAID NO GODDAMNIT MIRA. SHE'S MINE, SHE'S FUCKING MINE, YOU LITTLE BITCH! TOU WON'T TAKE HER FROM ME!"

He spat flames at her, not caring when she yelped and scrambled back away from him. She was trying to take his Lucy from him, but Lucy was his, she would stay with him. She would stay with him, right? He needed her, he needed her to keep him sane. The rushing sound of footsteps coming toward them instantly put him on alert, he tensed up and growled a warning, clutching her lifeless body tighter against his chest.

"Mira?! Are you all right? Is everything-... Lucy?... Oh, gods no…"

Natsu no longer saw the faces of his Nakama, to him, they were faceless enemies who were trying to take the one thing in this world he had lived for, the one thing he had loved with every piece of his heart and soul. The children in the other room were forgotten to him, and for the most part, it was for the best. The more his draconic side took over the more it would be imperative that his offspring were protected at all costs, the last thing anyone needed was for Natsu to lose the last piece of his mate before his time.

And his time was short enough as it was, if he could bring himself to live for their children, then perhaps his remaining weeks could be extended into months. But the result would be the same, the children of the only Fire Dragon Slayer in existence would be orphans before their first birthday. Slowly, the four newcomers made their way toward the agonized form of their friend. They needed to corner him, to make him rush toward them so they could subdue and contain him before he destroyed what remained of the guildhall.

He knew what they were doing, he knew and some part of him thanked them for it. But the rest of him, the side that couldn't bear the loss of her, ruled him now. Laying her down on the bed beside him, he leveled rage-filled black eyes on Mira, the biggest threat to him. Sensing his intentions, she allowed her She-Devil form to take over and stared him down. He charged, raising his fist to strike her down, and got sucker-punched in the jaw by Gray.

Snarling, he landed his own punch on the icy-cheeked ice mage. He flinched, and then reached back for his wife's hand. Joining magic, they unleashed a burst of ice magic that encased him in thick ice, nullifying his magic. Tears tried to drip down his face and were frozen immediately. They then checked on Lucy's body, and Makarov entered, thawing Natsu.

"Bring her downstairs… I have a way to make so he can see her anytime he pleases."

Nodding, carefully they carried her body toward the staircase but were stopped.

"No. I mean downstairs."

Finally understanding what he meant, they watched nervously as he brought down the giant lacrima that had once been Master Mavis's tomb. He instructed them to lay her on the lacrima, but when they hesitated Natsu quietly took the naked form of his wife and laid her on the lacrima, watching in awe as the lacrima slowly allowed her to melt into it.

"She'll be safe there, preserved?"

"Yes my boy, she's safe here."

He touched the smooth glassy surface of the lacrima, wishing once again that he could touch her soft skin, smell her perfume, and look into those caramel eyes. She was silent, their mark barely alive within him. Kneeling, he allowed himself to be swallowed by the unending ocean of sadness.

In The Celestial World

She woke with a gentle start to see an unfamiliar room in her resting position, her upper body propped up on pillows. Her hand immediately flying to her now-flat stomach, she felt a wailing cry escape her as she realized she was no longer carrying her husband's children. Frantically looking around, she took in finery that she'd never seen before. The raised bed was made out of solid gold framing and the softest mattress she's ever laid on, the portraits of two people she'd never seen before, and marbling on every surface. She wore a dress she'd never seen before too. It featured short sleeves, barely covering her shoulders, and a long tulle train that reminded her of a wedding dress. It poofed around her hips, like a ballgown. She moved to stand, uncovering white heels with silver leaves curling up the heel onto the cusp of the back of the shoe.

Standing, she realized she was a bit wobbly, so she straightened and extended her hand instinctively for Natsu's support. She nearly toppled when no aid came to her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, suddenly finding sure footing again. She made her way toward the double doors, past an ornate makeup mirror and its chair, throwing open the doors she was shocked to see the two guards behind it immediately move and kneel before her.

"Majesty."

Majesty? She turned around, fully expecting there to be someone standing behind her. There was nobody there but her. Mumbling something about thanking them, she made her way through the palace as every guard called her the same name, turning this way and that until she came across a large ornate room with a starry ceiling, a ceiling that dripped stars to the floor. She watched in amazement before her eyes settled on a large, intricately carved throne made entirely of gold. A white cushion sat on the bottom of the throne, and as she neared it she felt the sudden unavoidable urge to sit there, slowly, she eased herself onto the throne, mindful of her dress.

"It suits you."

She turned her head to see Leo walk up to her, looking somber. Her hands fingered the incredible carvings that sat under her palms and found herself feeling more and more at ease.

"Why am I here? Why do the guards call me 'Majesty' every time I pass them by?"

"Because you were born to be here, your mother sat here before you, and her mother before her. As your daughter will too."

That got her attention, she stood, feeling the calm serenity of the throne leaving her paralyzed with unease and fear.

"What do you mean? I have a daughter? What of my other child? Did it survive?"

He met her panic with calm, watching her panic diminish the closer she got to the throne.

"You have two young, healthy children and a still-living husband, though he mourns you greatly."

Again, her attention was caught by a singular word, her musings of her children shattered.

"Why would he mourn me? I live!"

"No your majesty, you live here, not there."

She took in the information slowly, realization dawning on her as she understood the truth of his words. She looked up at him from her throne and blinked away the tears that poured down her face.

"I.. Did I... die in Earthland?"

HE met her gaze with unyielding calm and support, letting her work through what she already knew. She worked through it, understanding filling her face before unimaginable sadness and pain took their place.

"I died… I'm here because I died."

Weeping, she reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes at the knowledge her husband would raise their children for as long as he could before he too died. Leo let her weep, let her feel the emotion running through her before the throne's magic could do its job. The thone had its own natural power, bestowed to it by the first ruler, and then enforced by the next one. It acted as a permanent sense of calm for the ruler who sat upon it.

"Yes. You died Lucy, but here you stand. Do you know why?"

Tears drying, she looked at him with a sense of calm despair.

"I'm meant to rule. Why?"

He gently took her hand, pulling her to her feet. He led her to the middle of the room, where he snapped his fingers. The ceiling began to rain starlight, and slowly, the stars became people. They were glowing, still images of the previous rulers. She wandered through them, pausing at the only image she recognized, the image of her mother.

She was clad in a white form-fitting gown with golden leaves embroidered into the hem, her shoulders bearing feathered golden pauldrons and a sheer train. Her hair was pulled back at the temples, forming two gentle braids on either side of her head that allowed the rest of her long hair to flow freely. She looked regal, powerful even with her gentle expression.

Lucy could barely look at her.

"Why show me this? To hurt me?"

"Never… I've shown you this because it's your destiny to rule this realm, your family did it for millennia. As did his."

He showed her a boy, no older than she was herself, who stood some ways behind one of the last kings. He bore black hair darker than the night sky, eyes so golden they nearly shone, and a build that rivaled Elfman's. Strangely, her eyes noticed she was given the monarchy before he was, even though logic told her that she should've been next in line.

"Why was I chosen before him?"

He looked at the boy with pity, his gaze saddened.

"Because he doesn't know who he is yet. We chose you, not because you're strong, but because you see the value of life and have enough conviction to help it flourish. Your strength lies not in physical aspects or even magic, it lies in the steel of your spine and the morality of your heart. You have what he does not, the ability to love."

Frowning, she turned toward him, her heart full of emotion she didn't dare explore now, and walked away. She went back to her rooms, stepping out onto the balcony to look at the star she somehow knew was her home. She stared for some time, praying he could survive without her for the sake of their children, before she silently sunk to her knees and wept with the broken tunes of her heart.