Very well, don't you guys dare getting used to it! I'll never again in my life update after one day, mark my words. I want to rain reviews, did I make myself clear?

Disclaimer: FT belongs to Mashima-sensei.

Beneath the Southern Cross

Chapter VIII – Broken

As soon as he reached Magnolia, Sting went straight to Lucy's house, not caring at all to wait for Rogue or Lecter to follow him. He was just eager to see her again. She hadn't called him to warn of her arrival, but he figures she should already be home by such time.

Disappointment, however, filled him as he reached her house. Her scent wasn't there, and there weren't any paths that showed she had left. All of these details could only indicate she hadn't returned yet.

His eyebrows wrinkled. That was simply not right.

"She's not home." He said when Rogue and the exceeds approached him.

"I could figure that much, thank you." Rogue answered, fighting an urge to roll his eyes.

"But she should be."

"Fairy Tail is not far. Go there and ask."

Rogue wasn't even finished talking and Sting was already rushing down the way to the city's guild (Twilight Ogre hardly mattered to be considered the guild of Magnolia). The white haired take over mage (her name was…. Mirajane?) should know where Lucy went and when would she return, right?

In the pace he walked, he reached the building a few minutes later. He hesitated a bit before entering, but his wish to see Lucy got the best of him.

"Oh, Sting-kun." Miraje saluted, filled with uncertainty.

Sting, not even taking some time to absorb the details of the beautiful building, went directly to her.

"Mirajane-san, can you tell me where Lucy is?"

Immediately all the sound stopped. The whole guild went silent as all the mages present turned their eyes to stare at Sting. Not liking the sudden change, Sting looked back with raised eyebrow. He saw pity in some eyes, and that disturbed him in more ways than he cared to admit.

"What's happening?" he asked out loud to everyone and no one in particular.

Everyone got back to their previous conversations, not wanting to be the person who would tell the Dragon Slayer what had happened. Erza, however, approached him.

"I'll take to where she is, but you'll have to promise me you'll behave."

Sting felt his heart do some weird twist he had never experienced before. Was Lucy hurt? Or worse, was she dead?

"I'll do my best."

"Your best is not enough, Eucliff." The Titania announced. "You'll behave or I'll kick you out and not allow you in again."

"Just take me to her already!" he shouted in frustration. He was done with all the mystery. He needed to see her, and he needed it right away.

Erza nodded and made him follow her to the upper floors. He followed quietly until they reached a door with "Infirmary" written on it with red ink.

This time, he carefully analysed the environment he was entering. Natsu was sat on a far corner, his face hidden between his hands. By one of the beds sat Levy, with a big pile of books next to her, while she read one with monstrous speed. Gajeel was on the floor, as if he was only there to take care of his girlfriend.

However, the only person inside the infirmary that really mattered to Sting was Lucy, and she was the one lying on the bed, unconscious.

"What happened to her?"

"She was affected by the magic of her enemy during a job."

But that wasn't the real problem, he could sense that much. They were tense, but not desperate, and that could only men her life wasn't in risk. What could be wrong, then?

Approaching her carefully, he was able to take in her features. Her face was peaceful and her breathing steady. But… what was it about her smell? It was all wrong, as if there was someone else's smell mixed with hers.

Sting froze in place, his face going paler than usual. He could see it now, on her neck. The mark. The Fire Dragon Slayer mark.

"She's been unconscious for thirty hours now." Erza informed. "Her body must be recovering the energy spent to keep her alive."

Sting didn't really apprehend any of Erza's words. He was… furious. How dare he mark her when she belonged to him?

Marching towards Natsu, Sting raised him by the scarf, cold fury turning his eyes into freezing ice.

"You had no right." He hissed, menacing.

Natsu didn't even flinch. His otherwise warm brown eyes were empty.

"He had to do it, Sting-san." Levy said, not taking her eyes off the book. "Wendy couldn't heal her, so the only thing that could have healed her was the cleansing power of the Dragon's mark. You weren't near, you weren't even in your guild, so there was nothing else we could do. Natsu was the only one who could have saved her life."

Dropping Natsu to the floor, Sting found himself not knowing what to do. He could feel the bile, bittering his mouth. He just felt… crushed. All he wanted was for her to wake up, so he could fully comprehend what would be the consequences.

His knees faltered. What would he do if she didn't love him anymore? She was the one helping him change… if she wasn't there… He felt like roaring in frustration. Damn Salamander!

"Gajeel, why don't you take them into the boys' dorm? Master isn't here at the moment but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if Sting used an empty room to rest a little bit."

"I don't need to rest."

Levy, finally taking her eyes off the book, looked at him with all seriousness she could muster.

"Of course you are. She is not going anywhere, so you go rest and when she wakes up someone will go get you."

Gajeel got up, pulling Sting with him.

"She doesn't ask me much, you know. So, when she does, I must attend."

Sting tried to break free, but Gajeel didn't let him escape. When both Dragon Slayers were far enough not to hear them, Erza said:

"He will be crushed."

"Yes, he will." Levy agreed.

The girls shot a quick glance towards Natsu, but he was still at the same position he had been for the past thirty hours.

Natsu had no idea what would happen next. Igneel had always told him a dragon's mate was for a lifetime, that he should only mark the mate he was truly sure he loved. But now… they didn't love each other, Lucy and him. Not in a romantic way. And to make everything worse, she had been in love with another dragon at the moment she was marked by him. No good was destined to come from that situation, he just knew it.

He felt so guilty. Sting had all the right to be furious at him. For all that Natsu had seen, he was the one meant to be Lucy's mate. He took great care of her, and she was so happy that her smiles became even easier than they already were.

Natsu was painfully aware he was the responsible for the ruin of those two's love. And that was the saddest perspective of all.

"Hmm…" he heard the soft moan and looked up in time to see Lucy slowly opening her eyes. "Natsu?" she called.

Levy and Erza looked expectantly at him.

Getting up, Natsu walked towards her.

"I'm here, Lucy." He tried to smile to her, but only a fake came to his lips.

"Natsu…" with no warning whatsoever, tears escaped her eyes. "Why do I feel so… empty?"

Feeling her heart break a little, Levy pushed her book aside and took Lucy's hand on hers.

"Lu-chan, what is the last thing you remember?"

Lucy thought for a minute before answering:

"I remember that crazy woman kissing me. Then, the world went black." She looked around her, trying to figure out what was missing, but not managing to find anything. "Seriously, why am I feeling this way?"

"Luce, I'll take you home and explain everything, 'kay?" Natsu said.

Lucy looked at him and she couldn't remember feeling safer in her entire life.

"Okay." She nodded.

"We will send Sting in a few hours, it's this all right, Lucy?" Erza asked.

The blonde gave her a puzzled look.

"Who's Sting?"

A few hours later, Lucy felt normal again. Natsu had explained to her why he had had to mark her, and she understood and thanked him for doing such a thing for her. Life would probably get more complicated now, since they weren't a couple, but she could only thank him for saving her life.

There was one thing bothering her, though. The emptiness of her heart simply refused to disappear. She cried just to think of it. Why did she feel so incomplete?

A firm knock on her door made her mind stop overanalysing her situation. At the other side, stood a very nice looking guy. He had blond hair, a little bit lighter than hers, and bright blue eyes. She had the feeling she should know who he was, but just couldn't remember from where she knew him.

"May I help you?"

She saw hurt maculate his eyes, and it hurt her too, even though she couldn't understand why.

"You really don't remember me?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

"I'm sorry, I feel like I've seen you before, but I just can't really recall."

Sting got in the house, looking at her with desperation.

"We met at the Daimatou Enbu, but we really got to know each other at that job, remember? On the lake, beneath the Southern Cross?"

"The lake?" she was surprised. "No, it can't be. It was just me and Levy-chan. Ah, and that Sabertooth's Dragon Slayer, Rogue."

Sting felt his heart break. She remembered Rogue but didn't remember him?

"We went on a date after that, remember?" he kept trying, even though he just wanted to die. "And I went to Tenrou Island with you… We… don't you remember the beach?"

Lucy was starting to feel really uncomfortable with that situation.

"I'm sorry, but are you sure you are not mistaking me for someone else?"

"No, Lucy, I'm not."

She felt a shiver run through her body as he said her name.

Taking the few steps that separated her from him, Sting trapped her in his arms and kissed her. It was his least resource. If the kiss didn't make her remember…

She pulled him angrily, and rushed towards her bathroom. He followed, worried, and heard the sounds of her throwing up.

"Are you alright?"

She tried to smile to him, but it was really hard to make someone not worried when you were kneeled on the bathroom's floor, holding your hair to avoid vomiting on it.

"Can you please just leave now? As you can see…"

She didn't finish the sentence, and she shouldn't really need too. He wasn't stupid. He could read those signs.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you." He said before turning around and leaving the apartment.

As soon as he was gone, Lucy felt her stomach getting better. She couldn't really understand what happened. Maybe it was the mark, preventing her from kissing another guy? As annoying as it seemed, it felt like a good explanation. Natsu explained to her a dragon only had one mate for life, which meant he or she must really love the person they marked.

She sighed. Poor Natsu, trapped with her for life. She hoped Levy was already working on a way to undo the procedure.

It didn't even cross her mind that she should have been bothered by a stranger trying to kiss her.

Rogue didn't ask anything when Sting came back to the room Gajeel had lent to them. For the face of his friend, the Shadow Dragon Slayer could deduce it was all true. His Lucy, his beloved Lucy didn't remember him.

Closing the door, Sting dedicated his strength into breaking every single object on the small room. Rogue didn't interfere. When he was done breaking, he fell into his knees, and a dreadful sound escaped his mouth.

Rogue had never heard such an intense sound before. It felt like… the lament of a dragon, a broken dragon. He heard Sting's sobs, and even though he was truly shocked to see him cry, Rogue still didn't interfere.

After all, what could have he done?