Natsu felt his jaw drop to the floor in shock. Fiancé? As in marriage? Lucy… with that guy! Suddenly he wanted to laugh. There was just no way! No way Lucy would ever want to be someone like that. Azazel was puny and weak- Natsu bet he would be able to snap the guy in half without even trying too hard and at that moment, he very much wanted to try.
"We knew from the moment we met that we were fated to be together" The silver haired man spoke wistfully. No one told him to shut up like they had Levy. "Our love was so strong that after just one day together I asked my Lucy to spend eternity together as man and wife. She accepted, making me the happiest man in the world."
Natsu seethed. His Lucy. HIS Lucy. Who the hell did this guy think he was!
"And then that man!" Azazel accused, pointing a finger at Natsu. "Stole my beloved from me in a jealous rage."
"That's Bullshit!" Natsu cussed, unable to contain his anger "You lying, slimy, no good...mmmmph…mmmmph!" Before he could finish shouting insults one of the guards came over and wrapped a gag around his mouth, not really silencing him but at least muffling his shouts.
"Maybe we should see the witness testimony now?" Suggested Veryl while everyone was still recovering from Natsu's outburst. Abra nodded.
"Ah, um yes. Please think about the last time you saw your beloved." She said. More muffled insults could be heard from Natsu, this time directed at the frog woman.
Azazel nodded and closed his eyes while Veryl touched him on the forehead.
Lucy and Azazel were walking down the street by the river. They were both laughing and holding hands as they approached her apartment.
"Lucy, I had a really great time tonight." He said
"Me too." She muttered, looking up at him from under her eyelashes with a soft blush forming on her cheeks. She looked over at the door to her apartment. "I wish it could last forever."
"Then why shouldn't it?" Azazel asked, spinning her around to look at him. "Why don't we spend every night like this for the rest of our lives!"
"Azazel!" She breathed, flushed and embarrassed "You almost sound as if your proposing to me!" He pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her while her hands rested gently on his chest.
"Maybe I am?" He teased "What would you say?" Her blush deepened.
"I-I don't know." She confessed turning her head away.
He seemed to come to a decision, and stepped back from her, falling down on one knee.
"Lucy Heartfilia." He said, looking up at her and grasping her hand. She gasped, realizing what he was doing, her free hand flew to cover her open mouth.
"I love you" Azazel continued "and I know this is sudden, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Please, say yes and become my princess for all eternity."
Her hand moved from her mouth to her heart as she clutched it, hearts filling her eyes.
"Oh Azazel! Of course I'll marry you!" She squealed in delight as he picked her up in his arms and spun her around in circles.
Then he set her down and stared greedily into her eyes.
"Soon, with your help, I'll have everything I dreamed of." He whispered to her, and it seemed to take her breath away. Slowly he leaned in, as she leaded up; her eyes closed and their lips just centimeters apart when….
"Lucy!" Natsu called from the distance.
Finally. The Natsu in the court room thought. He didn't think he could stand watching any more of that. But as he looked at the scene, he couldn't help but feel like this part was vaguely familiar.
"Hey Luce….What are you doing?" Natsu said tilting his head to side completely confused.
"Natsu?" Lucy said, also confused. She looked from Natsu back to Azazel and then it was like a glass shattered and she jumped out of Azazel arms, staring at him in confusion.
"Were you guys….were you about to...?" Natsu questioned, horror and mortification filling his face.
"It's none of your business what we were about to do! Right Lucy?" Azazel said.
Lucy stared at him, and it looked like she was putting the last piece in some mental puzzle.
Then the projection jumped. Only slightly, and only for the smallest of seconds, but it was enough for a deep frown to form on Veryls face. When the projection returned Lucy was facing down Natsu.
"He's right Natsu Dragneel. It's none of your business what we do. But if you must know, Azazel and I are going to be married!"
Natsu stared at the projection. There was something different about Lucy's voice, but he couldn't place his finger on what exactly. And she called him by his full name, she never did that!
"You can't marry him!" Natsu hissed at her and grabbed her neck, pulling her to him harshly. His skin instantaneously turned to dragon scales and fire flew from his nostrils. "You belong to me!"
"Ahh! Help me!" Lucy cried out.
"Get your hands off her!" Azazel yelled in a heroic fashion, attempting to punch Natsu in the face. Natsu tossed Lucy to the ground and threw a flaming punch into Azazels stomach, sending him flying.
"No!" Lucy gave heart wrenching cry, then she said with determination "You'll pay for that! Open gate of the archer: Sagittarius!"
Sagittarius saw Natsu lunge at Lucy and let loose an arrow straight at the dragons heart. But Natsu was too quick, jumping up into the air with inhuman speeds. A second arrow caught him in the leg and he screamed in pain. Snarling, he threw a hot fireball at Sagittarius, knocking him into the river before turning on the girl iin front of him. Lucy tried to run, but he caught her and spun her around.
"If you won't give me your heart, then I'll have to take it." He said villainously. Then he shoved his flaming fist into her chest and heard her bones break and her flesh tear. Blood rhythmically flowed down his arm as her eyes flew wide with shock.
"Lucy!" Screamed Azazel.
"Natsu…" She whispered and her eyes looked at something off to the side that wasn't there. Natsu removed his hand and stared at the bloody appendage while Lucy's body fell to the cold stone street.
"I-I have to run and get a healer!" Azazel yelled to no one in particular. Then he left, running as fast as he could.
Everyone in the room was dead silent when Veryl stopped the projection. They all stared at Natsu with looks ranging from horrification to absolute disgust. Everyone, but the members of Fairy Tail, who looked simply confused and shocked. Then Markarov gave a grim smile at Mavis, who looked down right cheery.
Natsus eyes hadn't moved from the spot on the flood where Lucy's projected body had landed. For the first time he began to doubt himself.
(Authors note: Sorry if this is confusing, but if you stick with it everything should start to make sense pretty soon. (not in the next few chapters, but eventually))