(Lucy's view)

I couldn't rest the whole night. I kept thinking about Natsu and telling myself that I could never understand nor feel his pain. He tried his hardest to put on this new person and to be happy, but really he hurt so bad…he loved the Queen. Lisanna loved him as well…but they distance themselves. Quietly I sewed back my dress that he ripped together. Each thread I pulled a wave of exhaustion swept over me. However, I needed to prepare for tomorrow.

The next morning I watched carefully as Natsu wasn't in his human form…but his dragon. He growled so loud that I looked up at the Queen's window to see her covering her ears. Natsu's tail swiped me off of my feet. The Zodiac Guardians stabbed him and threw chains around him. For the first time, I was terrified…his form was a true beast. Quickly I found an excuse to leave. Not in a rush, I headed to the Queen's chambers. The leader of the Zodiac Guardians whispered to me as I passed down the hall.

"You and that dragon are close…what will Queen Lisanna think about this?" he said and put on a dastardly smile. I stopped and glared at him with as much hate that he gave me.

"I only tend to my chores, so go ahead and spread a rumor around the castle; however I was your rightful owner and I technically still am." I pulled out a golden key with the zodiac sign of a lion.

"We were close friends Loke at a time…however, I could still force your gate closure even if I'm not your owner anymore. I have the power, but I don't close it because I love you all…I would never treat you how she does."

I felt his eyes widen with hatred and shock…I knew all too well that he would tell the Queen about this but I'll take the risk. Slowly the Queen's servants that were a higher rank passed me. Erza and Juvia both looked at me with no expression or emotion. I couldn't tell if they hated me, though, everyone did so they probably did as well. I opened Queen Lisanna's door and saw her glaring at me.

"I was hoping you would be late…but I guess not today" she said as she opened letters and took glances at Natsu fighting the guards.

"How has he been?" she asked me continuing her watch and letter opening.

"Natsu…of course. He has been…"

"I am the only one who may call him that…let me hear you ever call him that again I will punish you ten times worst."

Quietly I nodded and continued.

"He has been good, he's quiet and doesn't talk very much…when I check his chains, though…I see very bad wounds on him and he tries to hide the pain" I said quietly with my head down. I felt her stop what she was doing and turn her attention fully towards me.

"Is…he ok?" she asked her voice cracking a little.

"I can't be definite but I know he's in pain lately because of the stabs the guards give him. My Majesty you do know that anything caused to harm him in dragon form…also harms him in human?" I asked her.

"Yes I do Heartfilia don't ask a question just out of the blue like that though…it makes it sound like I trust you a little too much," she said before looking at Natsu.

"I want you to examine his wounds for me…report to me in the morning if they need to be tended to."

"Understood…" I said. She gave a little smile before returning back to her cruel self.

"Lucy." Surprised and shocked I looked at her. Never has she called me by my name but instead always rat or my last name.

"Does he ever try to harm you?" she asked making my body freeze. Quickly I thought of an answer…I could tell her the truth…or lie to her just to keep my secret hidden.

"No, my Majesty…" I responded still having guilt in me even after telling the truth. Her lips slowly opened and her eyes were wide with sadness.

"Does he…talk to you?" she asked dropping her letters that she was opening. Quickly I picked them up and stood back up.

"Not often my Majesty…he allows me to get close to him without minding my presence though" I replied handing her letters back to her.

"Heartfilia next week I will have your chore be done by someone else instead" she stated snatching her letters out of my hand and walking away. I never felt so sad and angry. This chore I did I treasured and yet she was taking it away from me… just like everything else.

"Understood…" I said. She waved her hand at me telling me I was dismissed or she needed alone time so I left her chambers and felt hot tears stream down my cheeks. Carefully I pulled out the 12 golden zodiac keys. Even though the queen let me keep the keys she took ownership with the guardians and contracted with each of them breaking my contracts I had. I didn't care if they hated me…I still loved them as friends and I would never give up on them…not yet.

I saw Juvia talking to Gray. Gray was a villager however the Queen was thinking about moving his class up to an adviser or guard. Some people would think that Juvia and Gray were having a secret affair but I had no idea if that was true. I watched Wendy, who was a servant like me carefully clean the metal bars of Natsu's cage. She had terror in her eyes and her body was shaking. She dropped the rag and quickly picked it up again but then dropped it again. I walked over to Wendy.

"Don't worry Wendy I will have Gray tend to this let's go," I said reaching my hand out to her. Quickly she took it and we both walked away not bothering to look inside the cage, for we were both scared.