WARNING: Rated M for Explicit Graphic Depictions of Violence, Graphic Depiction of Rape/Non-Consensual Sex, Graphic Sex, Graphic Physical and Mental Abuse, and Mental Instability. Please read at your own discretion.

I do not own Fairy Tail; All major characters depicted in this fan-created fiction story belong to Hiro Mashima.

This chapter is Beta-read by the awesome YungVodkaDikost, if you haven't read any of her stories, you should go check them out!

Chapter 24

"Absolutely fuckin' not." The salmon haired pyro stood from his seat on the ground to point at the half naked ice make mage who was currently smirking like he had thought of the perfect dare to give the flaming bastard.

Which he had.

Earlier while still in the hot springs the men had decided to play a little game of truth or dare when they got back to the room. The fire breathing male had brazenly declared that he would do any dare demanded of him. Though, at the time his partially tipsy mind hadn't even taken into account that any dare meant, well-

Any dare.

Steam lifted from Natsu's salmon pink hair while his face took on a crimson shade purely out of frustration. The slayer had never had any problems with doing any type of dare before, and he had certainly never backed down from one- but he was seriously considering throwing in the towel from this particular request.

"No way, Salamander. You said any dare earlier, remember? Don't be a pansy now." Dismay flittered through the now irritated slayer's onyx eyes before spitting flames out of frustration at the shit eating grin plastered on the iron dragon slayer's face.

"Man, fuck all of you. Every last one of you fuckers." Whistles and catcalls could be heard all throughout the male's rented inn room while Natsu flipped off every single last occupant before opening, then promptly slamming the door shut.

The slayer took in a nervous breath when the sounds of boisterous laughter morphed into feminine giggles the closer he got to the women's rented room. To think that of all the hilarious and gross dares the guys could have subjected him to, they went with something that had the salmon haired positively red faced and embarrassed.

The salon haired mage stood petrified when he finally came to stand just outside of the Fairy Tail women's rented inn suite.

Great. Now, how should I even start?

The fire mage took a tentative step forward while finally bringing his sweating palm up to knock on the door. It didn't take long for the slayer to register the sounds of clumsy footsteps padding across the floor before a loud bang was heard on just the other side. Feminine giggles and louder laughter pierced the male's ears when the door was flung open to reveal a heavily intoxicated Titania.

"Ah, good! More entertainment has arrived, ladies!" The scarlet haired woman didn't even wait for a response from the now confused slayer before the drunken redhead dragging him across the door's threshold and into the women's room, causing feminine squeals of both joy and surprise to filter through the open area.

Onyx eyes scanned the large living area of the rented room, taking in all the intoxicated women- who all seemed to be plotting something devious in a huge circle. The slayer gulped when he realized he must have walked in on some odd woman bonding ritual of some sort when all the women turned to face him while he was shoved down into a chair in the middle of the open area of their circle.

"We were just trying to decide who would go first, but it looks like we don't have to anymore! We have a gracious volunteer." Natsu sweatdropped at the evil glint in the white-haired barmaid's eyes before he glanced at the wide brown orbs of his blonde best friend.

The slayer knew that he and Lucy didn't get off on the best of terms when she first arrived back to Fairy Tail, but he had hope that maybe the blonde would show him some type of mercy and save him from whatever hellish torture the Fairy Tail women had in mind for the poor unsuspecting male.

"N..Natsu! Oh… I have the perfect idea for him" All hope was crushed when the blonde clumsily held out one of her celestial spirit keys before calling on her crab spirit. The blonde blushed and giggled, causing the pink haired male to gaze at her marked arms.

A sinking feeling grew in the pit of Natsu's gut.

"Wonderful idea, Lucy!" An overly excited Lisanna exclaimed when she came to sit right in front of the now weeping slayer. The salmon haired pyro noticed that the pale haired woman's eyes were glazed over, obviously from the amount of alcohol the takeover mage must have consumed in such a short amount of time.

"For cryin'out loud, why me?" A stream of flames erupted from the hot tempted male's mouth before he was promptly doused in water thanks to the blue-haired water wizard. His flames died out when inevitable defeat crossed over his features.

The male hung his head, it was obvious he had no allies here.

"Miss Lucy, it's so good to finally see you again. What can I do for you, baby?" The celestial spirit's voice caught the slayer's attention while his blonde friend seemed to contemplate the question asked.

What exactly did they plan on doing to him?

"Oh, I know! Cancer, can you make Natsu's hair long and curly like a doll? OH!- and don't forget to add a big bow, maybe red?" Natsu could have sworn he felt the force of his jaw hitting the floor as renewed despair gripped his heart like a vice.

This was worse than the dare!

"No problem, baby!" The crab spirit moved behind the now struggling slayer, however, he stopped his attempt to escape when Erza pinned him with a glare that promised death if he kept struggling.

The male slumped into the chair, defeated once again.

"Okay, so who wants to do his make up?" The salmon haired slayer felt his soul leave his body when the over exuberant she devil raised her hand high in the air.

Oh gods, please help me.

Crimson eyes slid to a close when the feeling of happiness and excitement slipped throughout Rogue's body from his and the celestial mage's shared bond. The warm feeling of joy had the slayer involuntarily purring softly in delight. The only thing that could make the shadow dragon slayer more content would be if he were able to witness the blonde's happiness first hand, for himself.

"Man, Rogue.. Is this what you have been dealing with for the past month?" A contented sigh slipped past his intoxicated blonde guild master's lips. The dark haired slayer could only assume that Yukino must have been having just as much a good time as his blonde celestial maiden.

"No, this is actually one of the first time's I've been able to feel any type of pure happiness from Lucy, usually there is apprehension or lingering anxiety." The shadow mage admitted to his long time best friend while he took another swig of his beer.

Maybe it was his own alcohol induced haze, but the shadow mage didn't even care to be sarcastic or witty with the blonde master.

The slayer just felt at peace.

There wasn't any worry or fear- no amount of dark magic slipping through the bond and no annoying pulling except for a small ache to see the blonde in her pure state of bliss. Something the male was sure he could handle, as long as his blonde was happy.

"Oh, well this feels fucking awesome." The shadow slayer nodded his head, obvious content apparent on both the Sabertooth dragon slayer's faces.

"Yeah, well, my mate has sick and twisted feelings most of the time." Both Sabertooth mages looked up from their love drunk -and actual drunk- state to witness a rather grumpy lightning mage chug the rest of his beer before he left to get another one.

The two saber's vaguely heard the soft grunt that sounded like "damn crazy bitch" before he was out of view.

Well… Mira wasn't called she devil for just her magic,afterall.

"You look beautiful, Natsu!" A crimson flushed Lisanna marveled at the sulking slayer. The short haired take over mage tightened the sash of the yellow sun dress that Virgo had brought from the spirit world, thus completing Natsu Dragneel's make over.

"Like a real woman!" Evergreen assured, which only made the salmon haired male feel sicker.

"He has bigger breast than me.." Wendy whispered to an appalled and distraught Carla, who tried to reassure the little bluenette she still had a lot of growing to do.

"Awh- Natsu, I think you would make a fine bride some day." Lucy giggled while straightening the big red bow that adorned the pinkette's now mid-back length ringlet curls. The slayer was just relieved that the blonde seemed to be okay with being near him or even talk to him again.

"Very funny. Since you have all had your fun, I'm gonna borrow Lisanna now." The salmon haired slayer quickly stood from the chair while grabbing the confused Strauss sibling's hand. A goofy grin played across the male mage's face as he pulled the woman across the room and to the door, all while ignoring the "ohs" and "awhs" from his other female guild mates.

Most of the Fairy Tail women were too drunk to care to stop their hotheaded pyro from stealing the youngest take over mage. After all, it was Natsu, and they trusted the slayer to keep the white haired woman safe.

Once the dragon slayer was sure that none of the women had chased after them, the male slowed his pace, allowing the short haired mage to match his now slower strides. The youngest Strauss sibling didn't pull her hand from his own while they walked through the inn's hallways without a sure destination in mind.

The slayer had spent most of the time getting his girlish make over mulling over and trying to wrap his mind around how exactly he was going to do this, after all, he did have a dare to fulfill. The pinkette was pretty sure that was what got him through the surprise make over without biting someone's head off.

The slayer had never been in tune with his feelings, at least not until Lisanna returned to the guild from Edolas. Once the white haired mage was back in his life, it was like the woman had lit a fire he had never felt burn in his belly. He felt all sorts of emotions he never knew existed.

After all, the white haired beauty always had a way of getting on his more sensitive and mushy side, even when they were younger. So, that's why the salmon haired slayer wanted- no, needed- to make sure that this went right, regardless if he was dared into it.

After seeing how Alzack loves Bisca, and how Laxus treats Mira since they became mates- and now knowing that Rogue and Lucy have become something within the past month or so- regardless of how he felt about his blonde friend's relationship- he couldn't deny that the shadow dragon slayer cared for his celestial mage partner.

Natsu now knew what he wanted. It took a thrashing from Laxus for the blinded pinkette to understand just how much his determination to get Lucy back and away from Rogue might have been hurting Lisanna, and Natsu didn't want to hurt her anymore. He didn't want to hurt either of the two most important women in his life anymore.

The salmon haired male had come to terms with the fact that he needed to let Lucy go if that is what she needed, and he had also recognized that if he was ever going to stand a chance with Lisanna, he needed to do what was right by both of the females.

He had seen so many of his guild mates find love and Natsu knew he wanted that with the white haired woman currently walking beside him. The fire dragon slayer also wanted to make sure that Lisanna knew that he wasn't as dense as everyone in the guild thought him to be.

He wanted her to know that he sees her the same way Laxus sees her older sister, and Evergreen sees her older brother.

The two Fairy Tail wizards finally reached the outside of the inn that opened up into the small shopping district of the tourist part of town. It had gotten considerably dark outside and the cobblestone pathway was now lit up with strings of lights that connected from each lamp post, creating a peaceful- and from what Natsu could tell- a romantic aura.

The two had found themselves in front of a bench situated right under the soft glow of a lone lamp post, the salmon haired male moved to let the white haired women sit before following onto the bench beside her.

"What's all this about, Natsu?" The way Lisanna gulped while the pink dusting her cheeks rose to her ears didn't get lost to the onyx eyed male. He had come to realize that he noticed everything about the woman sitting beside him.

The pinkette moved to where his body was now facing the blushing woman, who must have noticed by now that the slayer was so close into her personal space.

"I have somethin' I have been meaning to tell ya', but I have been too chicken shit to say it." The slayer could feel an unusual cold sweat break out over his forehead before the droplets turned into steam to float in the air above the two blushing wizards.

He was nervous and the young slayer was finding it difficult to control his magic. Honestly, the salmon haired male was starting to wonder if it would be a good idea to tell her now, or if he should wait when they both haven't been heavily drinking.

The white haired woman floundered while the fire mage just stared intently into her sapphire eyes. Lisanna was obviously feeling embarrassed, but she nodded none the less, a gesture to urge the slayer to continue.

Natsu took a deep breath, knowing that there was no going back after telling her this, knowing full well he would have to deal with the repercussions and evidential heartbreak if for some reason the takeover mage didn't feel the same way about him.

"I think you're supposed to be my mate." Lisanna's face flushed even more while her mouth opened to form a small gasp before the impulsive slayer lurched forward to press a simple chaste kiss to the stunned mage's lips.

The kiss was delicate, much more than Lisanna ever thought the pyro would be possible of. Gentle wasn't exactly the word that came to mind when she thought of Natsu Dragneel, after all.

Just as fast as the kiss had happened- it was over, leaving both wizards a blushing mess while they avoided eye contact with one another.

A loud gasp caught both the Fairy Tail mage's attention when a little girl pulled on her mom's hand to get the woman's attention.

"Mommy! Those two ladies are confessing to one another!" The mother horridly rushed her daughter away while whispering an apology for her daughter's uncouth mannerism, leaving the two wizards to awkwardly look around at the attention the little girl had drawn their way.

It was then that Natsu's alcohol induced mind decided to remember that he was still currently dressed like an overgrown female doll.

Great.

Lucy had had an eventful night, to say the least.

She laughed, she cried and she had even felt an immense amount of joy, both from herself and from the slayer she was bonded to as well.

The blonde celestial mage couldn't help but feel lucky to have such amazing people in her life- people that cared and loved her regardless of how besmirched she thought herself to be.

Tonight had been everything that the blonde needed and more.

Lucy had received acceptance from her fellow Fairy Tail women. Though most were positively pissed, they all seem to understand that the blonde had received her revenge and that the man who had defiled her was in prison and that was enough for her. So they didn't bring it up again, and for that the blonde was grateful.

However, they did bring up Rogue. Multiple times, over and over again.

And with each inquiry, the blonde found herself blushing crimson a little more than the last.

Her fellow females were insistent on getting all of the low down and dirty details from the blonde, even Yukino and Levy-who had once been trying to stop the inquires- started to join in. The blonde chalked it up to the alcohol, of course. But she knew that behind their usual caring demeanors, they were also curious about hers and the shadow dragon slayer's blooming relationship as well.

Eventually, the celestial mage relented.

Lucy's emotions for the shadow dragon slayer had poured out like a broken dam, the inebriation from her drinks had finally broken down the wall keeping in all the feelings she felt for the dark haired male who was trying his best to take care of her.

She broke.

Her tears had flowed when she admitted to not feeling good enough or deserving of someone as doting and wonderful as the shadow mage from Sabertooth. Her insecurities and her worries were all made apparent to her friends.

Laughs were shared as she recounted the times she and the dark haired male had been caught by Yukino or Levy in compromising positions.

And Lucy had also felt joy.

Multiple weights were being lifted off her shoulders the more she let out her emotions, the more she shared with her family and friends the troubles she had been feeling.

The more she talked, the better she felt- like the shackles from her abuse were being ripped away to reveal to the blonde what true freedom felt like. It was elating, and Lucy couldn't bring herself to worry enough about her mild intoxication, she couldn't find herself to worry about not being good enough anymore, becausehe said she was.

Rogue said she was.

The Sabertooth slayer had openly let her know how he felt about her- and she was relieved, but it still brought about feelings and emotions that she didn't know how to handle yet.

The celestial wizard had never even had a boyfriend, let alone thought about being someone mate for life. Sure she's read countless romance novels and even over heard juicy gossip from her more experienced guild mates, but other than that- the blonde was clueless.

Lucy wanted to be Rogue's mate, but how could she bring herself to complete the process with him if she was so deathly afraid of being hurt again? She wasn't ready- and she didn't know if she would ever be.

Sorrowful eyes had looked back into her chocolate brown eyes when she made that fact perfectly clear to her friends. She needed some type of advice and some type of reassurance, but she didn't know how long Rogue would be willing to wait for her to be ready.

What if she was never ready and the mating process was never completed? And what if it was completed and future Rogue's magic stayed with her? There were just so many questions that the blonde had within her head and no way of getting factual answers.

So much stress had been put on the blonde fairy and so many doubts and worry that when her emotional dam was released, she just didn't know where to start and where it all ended.

But it did eventually end.

Eventually, Mira had taken her head into her lap and ran her pale slender fingers through her blonde tresses while whispering that everything was going to be okay.

The blonde had no choice but to believe her, after all, the snow haired take over wizard was the first mate of a dragon slayer anyone had ever witnessed in most likely 400 years. Even though it was still fairly new, Lucy couldn't help but think that Mira made it look so simple and easy. Maybe it was because the barmaid and Laxus's personality complimented each other.

She couldn't really be sure.

But Lucy trusted the older woman none the less, after all, she had no reason not to. The Satan soul take over mage was everything Lucy had once aspired to be, and now that rang true once again. She was a good mate for Laxus, and Lucy wanted to be a good mate for Rogue, too- eventually.

When she was ready.

"Lucy, I promise. Everything is going to be okay. If what you say is true, then it will happen in time. Rogue won't force you, he probably already thinks of you as his mate anyhow. He really cares about you. You've changed him so much in the short amount of time that you have known him." Lucy felt the soft touches of a hand on her shoulder and looked up to be met with honey brown orbs staring down at her. Her fellow celestial mage would know, she was Rogue's guild mate, after all. She knew what he was like before Lucy, and Yukino had definitely seen a shift in the shadow dragon slayer since they've met.

Lucy felt tears well up in her eyes. All the women around her were so fast to comfort her, so quick to be there for her when she needed it the most.

How did she ever get so lucky?

Feeling Mira's hands running through her hair, the blonde couldn't help but think the gesture was somewhat akin to what her own mother would have done if she was still alive. The advice from Yukino and all the other women were also akin to something her mother might have said to her if she had been able to.

How could Lucy have ever been so foolish to think that the guild couldn't carry her pain with her? How could the blonde have ever thought that she was a burden to them, and that her suffering in silence would have been better than letting all her friends know what was going on with her?

How could she have done that when everyone just wanted to help her? Had Lucy really been so blind to the amount of love she had around her this whole time?

Most likely.

Lucy knew she was stubborn and a bit naive, but she really did believe she had everyone's best interest in mind at the time. What a silly thought it was now, though.

"I think I might be falling in love with him." Lucy's subtle voice sounded so loud in the silence of the room. A lot of the women had passed out drunk or were on the verge of it. The only women really left listening were Mira, Erza, Yukino, and Levy.

"I could see myself living a happy life with him." The blonde yawned when sleep threatened to take her away from her friends into the land of nightmares she was so used to residing in, but the celestial mage couldn't find the strength to care.

She was content with where she was, and with who she was with. She felt safe, like when she was around Rogue.

That thought lulled her to sleep while she wished for dreams of her dragon slayer, and not the future one to take her away into the world of unconsciousness.

Four women watched with smiles on their faces as the blonde slept peacefully in Mira's lap.

"So, Mira. When are you and thunder thighs gonna start trying for kids?" The bluenette giggled when the white haired mage sputtered from the unexpected question.

Over in the next room, Laxus let out an annoyed grunt when white-hairedired mate's emotions crashed into him.

'Fuckin' Crazy she devil."

'What in the gods name happened to you, flame brain?" The ice-make mage's voice was barely audible over the amount of drunken boisterous laughter that sounded throughout the room that the Fairy Tail men and two sabers were residing in.

It was late and the slayer was just ready to go to bed now that he had sobered up after confessing to Lisanna. The pinkette knew he should have went straight to the changing areas right after having the white haired mage retrieve his clothes from the women's suite, but he didn't want to deal with trying to figure out which changing room he should go in.

He didn't want to risk frightening women, and starting a fight between men, crazy as it sounds.

Besides, at least the men could see that he completed his dare, plus Natsu didn't really get embarrassed by these sorts of things, however the way his guild mates opening mocked him made the slayer start to regret not changing before hand at the very least.

"Shut the fuck up, ice princess. I completed the dare, you can call Mira to ask, I'm sure the girls are all over Lisanna at the moment." The fire dragon slayer tried to take off the dress, but ended up ripping the delicate fabric, causing the once beautiful celestial garment to fall to piece on the ground.

"Salamander, the only one here who's lookin' like a princess is your ass!" The salmon haired male suppressed a growl at the iron mage while throwing the rest of the now destroyed dress at the other slayer. Even more laughter erupted from the male mages who weren't passed out.

"Natsu, you make a pretty girl!" The flying blue exceed swirled around in the air above his best friend while giggling, causing the dragon slayer to slouch in defeat.

"So you told the barmaid's sister you liked her, huh?" Glossy blue eyes caught the pinkette's attention while he was struggled to rip the huge red bow from his still curly locks. Sting smirked when the salmon haired mage decided to just shake his head furiously back in forth in hopes to dislodge the seemingly stuck accessory, which only caused the male's now long hair to tangle and poof out.

"No, I told her I think she's supposed to be my mate before a little kid decided to point out that 'two women' were about to make out." The salmon haired mage ignored the hard slap on the back from an intoxicated Elfman who made it his mission to point out that that was so not manly, causing everyone to cackle at the irony.

"That is so fuckin' hilarious. Okay, Okay, Laxus call Mira and see if Natsu is tellin' the truth." Onyx eyes narrowed at the now fully naked raven haired male who couldn't seem to get enough of Natsu's misfortune.

The older slayer only tsked before taking out his own personal lacrima while a huge smirk crossed his lips when the white haired barmaid slipped into everyone's field of vision. The hulking male wasn't even able to get a word in before the white haired woman started rambling on.

"Oh my goodness, you will never believe what just happened to Lisanna! Natsu asked her to be his mate while dressed like a woman! It's true, Lucy's spirits did his hair and provided a dress, and I did his make up! Then when we were done he ran away with Lisanna into the night and proposed to her! Isn't it magical!?" Laxus just rolled his eyes before ending the call while the woman was still rambling.

"See! But I didn't propose to her, Mira is just getting ahead of herself again." The pinkette smirked while masculine cheers and congratulations sounded around the suite. Many mages slapped the fire mage on his back and some offered him shots.

"All I know is it's about fuckin' time." The iron mage held up his own shot in congrats before downing the dark amber liquid.

"Yeah, fuckin' right. Now, let's talk about you and Levy." Gajeel's crimson eye's widened while he choked on his shot. Of all the people to call him out, he hadn't expected the usually quiet ebony haired saber to be the one to do it.

"Shut the fuck up, Ryos!" The iron mage yelled at the obviously drunk shadow mage who was currently leaning against his chair, not even caring that the other crimson eyed male was sending him wave upon wave of death glares.

"For real, it's iron ass's turn to fess up, or even the popsicle!" The salmon haired mage's goofy grin slipped onto his lips as all attention fell to either the long ebony haired male or the raven haired mage instead of him. Agreements and cheers erupted once again at the idea of yet another guy making a confession tonight.

"Fuck all of you, I ain't confessing to no one tonight, you all saw what happened to Salamander. I ain't gettin' anywhere near those drunk insane women tonight." The iron mage scowled while wiping off the reminisce of his drink from his lips.

"Me either, I got no one to confess shit to." The raven haired male foreigned indifference while trying to keep the fact that the blue haired water mage had entered his mind during the thought of a confession.

Drunken curse words and boos echoed both the ice mage and iron dragon slayer's words in return.