I gripped my chest, letting out a strangled sob. My vision went blurry and I let out a pained scream. What the hell?

We were on a smaller version of my ship. There had been a change in the number of us, now there was Erza, Gray, Happy, Cana, June who we needed to show us the island, and Gajeel for some extra power. I had been standing at the helm, looking over a map when it felt like someone had run a sword through my chest.

I struggled for breath, searing pain flicking up every time I got some air. I dropped to my knees, hardly able to see a thing but from the little air I got in I could smell everyone's scent closer.

"Natsu! Natsu what's wrong!?" It was Erza, yelling loudly. She put her hand on my shoulder and I burst into flames. What the hell is happening to me?! I couldn't control anything. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision that had gone foggy. I felt as if someone had punched me in the face, falling back. I arched my back. I felt cold water hit me and my flames went out, steam rising from my body. I went to grab my chest again, rolling on my side and curling up. It felt like someone was dragging claws through my insides. I let out an agonized scream. I felt like someone was peeling my skin away from my muscles, I scratched at my chest and arms to try and get whatever was under my skin out. I coughed, blood spattering onto the ship deck. I felt cold as if I didn't have fire in my veins, my skin prickled as if thousands of tiny poisonous needles were jabbing into me. I let out another agonized scream, tears pricking in my eyes. This wasn't something I could fight, am I being attacked? What's causing this? I thought in fear.

Then suddenly the pain was gone and I sucked in a huge breath, rolling onto my stomach and pushing myself up to my hands and knees, opening my mouth and letting the contents of my stomach empty. My body shook, still feeling the ghost of the pain that had struck me. I pushed myself up, sitting on my knees and tilting my head up to the sky, taking deep breaths and closing my eyes. What the hell was that…? I thought, not really able to hear all the questions everyone was spitting out at me in fear and worry, the blood still rushing through my ears. I took in another deep breath and pushed up slightly at the faint scent I caught, some how knowing it was my brain placing it there. Then it registered.

"Lucifer knows…" I said quietly, opening my eyes. I felt sore all over. Erza and Gray's faces were in mine, both holding one shoulder each.

"H-how could she know!?" Gray exclaimed and I shook my head, in a daze. I could only think of one thing at the moment and I grabbed Erza's shoulder, my legs shaking and unsteady as if I really had been tortured like it had felt like.

"June...Gray...make us go faster.

~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~

I paced back and forth in my room. Lucifer...is Salamanders mate? Am I going to lose both girls I love to him? I rubbed the back of my neck, looking out of my window. Lucifer wasn't my actual mate. I knew that. Yukino was my mate. Or had been. I never meant to lie. Ever. I had found out the day we lost her, I had kissed her forehead playfully to make her feel better and I had been shocked. I told her and she had accepted me. I had been ecstatic, joyful and hyper because in that moment I had felt over flowing love I hadn't ever felt. I knew that I would love her forever and protect her and nothing would go wrong ever if I had her with me.

We were going to tell Lucifer that night and then everything had happened...Yukino was killed. The joy and happiness, the love and brightness I had felt had shattered. My heart had literally broken when she hit the ground. Her blood all over his sword. I figured it wouldn't hurt not to tell Lucifer, she didn't need to know. I did love Lucifer however and I was happy with the idea of her by my side, however she would never give me that feeling of complete joy I had felt in the few hours of having Yukino love me. I had been devastated, so had Lucifer. Perhaps that was the only reason I stayed with her at the time. It was the next best thing. She loved Yukino nearly as much as I did, not quite though. I had clung to her as she was the closest thing to Yukino I had. It still hurt when I thought about it too much. Lucifer had helped me move past it slowly. It was still too early for me to give up on it though. Now I would lose the second closest to me. To the same man. How could she just forgive him after everything!? I let out a loud snarl/roar of pain and anger, whipping around and shoving my fist into the wall, my skin on my fist and forearm glowing with magic in the hole I had just created.

Her being of royal blood was a slap to the face and I was angry about it. But after a lot of thinking, I had decided I could move past it. Everyone had heard her screams during her punishment. I hadn't watched, knowing that my brother and master were causing her so much pain. I felt like throwing up. She was strong so she hadn't passed out like the others. She was probably one of the very very few people who lasted throughout the entire thing. I needed to talk to her but Jiemma was refusing. What the hell was that stunt about? Did she really care for Salamander? What happened while she was gone? What even happened to June? Lucifer wouldn't have let June go off on her own unless she was sure she could make it. So many things weren't adding up.

My eyes widened. What ever happened to that blue haired guy? I licked my lips. I needed to find him and get some answers. He looked familiar...who was he? I opened my door, coming face to face with Lector who jumped. He offered me a smile and I returned a scowl.

"Captain." He said respectfully, his eyes shining. I mentally flinched. I had always wanted to be Captain, ever since I joined. I never meant to earn it like this though.

"Lector I'm talking to you as my friend. It's top secret." I said, stepping into the hallway and starting to walk quickly. He floated behind me.

"Of course, what happened?" He asked and I ran my tongue over my teeth, getting out of the guildhall and ignoring the greetings and cheers of congratulations. Do they not care that their previous Captain lies broken just below them? I thought bitterly. I didn't agree with everything that Lucifer said but I did agree with most of it. Sabertooth needed to be changed.

"Sting?" Lector asked as I headed towards the ship.

"I'll explain on the ship, give me a lift?" I asked and without breaking stride or pausing I was raised into the air, keeping my body loose since we weren't in battle and it was harder for him to move when I tensed. He flew me onto the ship and the second my feet hit the ground I was moving. I ran up the stairs to the helm, moving past the wheel and throwing the doors of Lucille- Lucifer and I's room.

"That guy that came with Lucifer and left the guild hall for air right before Lucifer told us everything. Did you recognize him?" I asked, going to one of the book shelves that lined the room. There was a bed bolted to the floor in the middle of the room against the back wall, dark black and blue sheets with a star on the pillows. Next to it was a lightwood desk, pens scattered and papers everywhere from when Lucifer had last sat down and written.

"Uhh…he looked faintly familiar." Lector said behind me as I ran my finger across the spines of books before grabbing a thick red one with a crown on it. I laid it on my own desk, it being much neater than hers seeing as I had cleaned most of it off a few days ago. I set the book down, flipping through the pages. I paused when I flipped over the three ripped out pages in the 'H' section, realizing that Lucifer must have pulled them out so I wouldn't see her family name. I already felt stupid for not realizing who she was sooner. I sighed and kept flipping before I stopped, pushing the book onto the desk completely as I saw a younger version of the man who had been with Lucifer.

"Jellal Fernandes...disowned son of Duke Josh Fernandas Lockser. Held the title as one of the ten wizard Saints until his disgraced disownment and the Magic Council was disbanded. Previous suitor for Lucy Heartfilia of Fiore." I read out loud and looked at Lector who had wide eyes. I sucked in a deep breath. I remembered the pain of losing Yukino, even if she hadn't been my mate it would have hurt. But since I had known...since she had accepted me. It felt like I had died, physically and emotionally. I had been torn between rushing to her side and holding my beloved and killing the man who had run her through. My vision had gone red and I moved forward. I was surprised when my sword went through that white haired girl. But once I realized who it was I didn't regret it. Not one bit. I still had nightmares from that day.

Salamander had taken the girl I loved away. I didn't care if it was an accident. He killed Yukino...he's always going to be a threat. He killed Yukino and now he's going to take away the only other light I have in this dark world. Ironic...I'm a Light Dragon Slayer and yet it's so dark all the time. No. I don't care if he loves her or he's her mate. He won't take Lucifer from me. She's mine.

"Lector. We need to find this man." I said, a dead serious tone in my voice as I pointed to the picture of Jellal.

-edited version-