Till Death Do Us Part

A/N: Hello reader's, me again with my brand new story "Till Death Do Us Part". This is a *drum role* NATSU X AQUARIUS STORY! I think I am the first author to do this pairing and am proud to bring it to you. This story may contain some spoilers so be on the look out for that, even though you should be caught up. *Cough Cough*. Just finished Tokyo Ghoul and Tokyo Ghoul Root A and all I got to say is, That f***ing cliff hanger! Man Tokyo Ghoul was my life but dayum it's too short. Well I hope you guys enjoy the story. Lets get on with it! *OOC* *Maybe AU?* *Natsu's old/new appearance*

Chapter 1: The contract

The forest...It is a beautiful place. A place that represents freedom and an untamed spirit. A place to go to clear your head or just to feel like your in a different world, and this forest did not disappoint. It was lush with green and was as fragrent as a flower shop. Tree's roofed the ground bellow, causing a mesmerizing shadow affect. An alluring slilence plagued the entire plain and the atmosphere was a solemn one. It looked as if it never ended, mile after mile of tree's shading the earth below. The air was crisp and clean and the ground soft yet firm. Animals could be seen all around the forest, eating, socializing and hiding from a new figure who has just entered the forest.

This figure was dressed in a long black cloak that was slightly tatered and almost swept the floor. A red sash was placed around the outside on the shoulders, along with white bandages wrapped around the arms. Black combat boots were being worn on the strangers feet and a scaly looking scarf wrapped tightly around the figures neck.

The figure's face was hidden behind a hood and was calmly and queitly walking down a dirt path going deeper inside of the forest. The stranger sneezes and sighs. They look around and notice a small clearing in the brush and decide to take a quick rest before venturing any further into the forest.

From this point, the stranger could see the sky clearly without being obscured by the tree's. It appeared to be sunny and their were no clouds present in the sky. The person takes a seat on the stump and un fastens their hood, revealing long spikey pink hair.

Natsu Dragneel.

It has been six months since he left Fairy Tail, after the Tartoras events Natsu decided he needed to become stronger to better protect his family. So one day after Fairy Tail began to recover abit he left. A simple note stating he needed to get stronger was all that he had left. He left Happy behind because of all the dangerous training he was going to be doing and he knew that the other members of the guild would not take his leaving lightly. Natsu shivers at the thought of Erza getting her hands on him and sighs, he lays down on the stump and gazes at the small portion of clear blue sky.

"Six months huh." Natsu says aloud.

These past months have gone by quick and Natsu could already feel a differnece in his power. He was stronger, quicker and somewhat smarter than before. He has been training non stop these past months and was on his way to an active volcano to test his strenghth against some lava vulcans. He needed to ensure his family never came that close to death ever again. He felt so helpless, the world was crumbling down around him and he had no idea were to start. He had no idea on what to do. He needed to get stronger. He needed to protect those he loved most. He needed to protect his family.

Natsu continued to stare at the sky, watching cloud after cloud pass by over head, he then sighs. "Im sorry guys. I had to do this, I have to get stronger so that you guys never get put in that position ever again. I hope you guys will forgive me, and I hope you'll understand." He says aloud.

Natsu then remembers a breif encounter with Gildarts he had a few months ago. Natsu told him about his perdiciment and Gildarts supprisingly understood Natsu and actually encouraged him to follow his heart and what he believed was the right thing to do. That was the last he ever saw of the man.

Natsu continued to gaze at the sky for some time before he started to feel his eyes begin to close. "I guess I could sleep here..." He says lazily as his eyes fully close and embraces the sweet temptation of sleep.

We are now in another clearing of the forest, this one is much different than the rest. It is dead... all dead. Trees are husks of their former selves. The grass is no more, just rugged charred dirt covers the floor. A once beautiful water fall is now dried to the bone and hollow. This piece of forest once beautiful is now nothing more than a baren waste land. Even the sky above the clearing was not spared from the agony of death. It was a pale sickly yellow color with black clouds looming over head. No animals passed through this section and those who did littered the ground with their bones. This haven of death is home to all but one. A woman laying in the middle of the dried oasis, strangley enough the woman appears to have a tail... a mermaid tail. She lies motionless not uttering a single word, just laying there.

Just then a massive golden seal appears behind the woman and a giant armoured clad figure comes out of the seal. He stands tall, towering over the surrounding brush and stares at the woman.

"Aquarius my friend, you have not much time left." The figure says to the now identified woman as Aquarius.

Aquarius says nothing but turns over very slowly to face the giant. Once she is looking at him she scowls. "What do you want my "king" She says the last word with venom.

The Celestial Spirit King just watches his friend, slowly dying before him. He sighs. "I hope their are no Ill feeling my friend, I could not have stopped what is happening even if I wanted." He says.

Aquarius speaks. "Tch. Your the one that came up with that stupid rule. I dont blame Lucy for this I blame you." Her voice failing herself at the end of her sentence.

The king lowers his head. "I know... If I would've known that my power would have been need so direly, I would have not set the price so steep." He says as lowly as he could.

Aquarius seems to soften abit. "Whatever. Its not your problem, im the one who's dying, im the one who's about to be wiped away from existence not you." She says.

"The breaking of your key was no easy for young Lucy to do. It was a choice she had to make in a dire situation, I hope you do not resent her." The giant says.

Aquarius scoffs. "Tch. I could never hate that brat, I've known her for so long. She's an exact copy of her mother." She says weakly.

"I wish I could help you but in your current state, their is nothing I can do." The king says sadly.

A single gust of wind passing over the two figures.

Aquarius moves her head so she is looking at the sky, a tear cascading down her cheek. "Can you tell Lucy...tell her that I love her...and I want her to grow strong like the woman her mother was...please...tell her." She croaks out.

The celestial king nods. "I will my friend...goodbye...I hope we will see eachother again one day." He finishes as another magic seal appears in the sky and he dissapears in crash of lightning.

Aquarius sighs, tears still running down her face. "What I wouldn't give for a hero." She says aloud closing her eyes, silently waiting for deaths cold grip.

*CRASH*

Natsu is startled from his sleep by a loud crash. He bolts up and gets into a fighting stance. He looks around sharply and inhales, he almosts vomits at the smell.

"Whats going on?" Natsu thinks. Were was this smell coming from, and what was causing the smell.

Sulfar and rotting flesh is what entered the dragon slayes sensitive nose. He covers his nose and resists the urge to vomit. His eyes begin to water and he emptys the contents of his stomach on the ground.

After his episode, Natsu picks himself up off the floor and takes in a deep breath through his mouth. "I need to pin-point the location of that smell." He thinks. Natsu kept taking in deep breaths from his mouth and then one final breath from his nose, singling it out too one particular direction.

To the north...

The smell was coming from the north.

Natsu this time successfully keeps himself from vomiting and looks towards the smells direction. "Im on my way, if anyones still their, please stay alive." Natsu says aloud and then dashes through the forest towards the smell.

Aquarius was still laying on the dirt floor of the dried oasis. She has been replaying the events of her thousands of years of life over and over in her head. Remembering all of the good times she's had with her celestial spirit freinds and her time with the 'supposed' love of her life. The time with Layla and finally the time she spent with Lucy. Some of the best of her life.

She might have been harsh on Lucy after Layla's death, but Aquarius loved Lucy as if she was her own. She enjoyed watching Lucy grow into the strong proud woman she was, just like her mother. Her biggest regret...Not personally telling Lucy she loved her.

She wanted to, as Lucy was about to break her key. Aquarius didn't want to leave Lucy, she didn't want to die but what choice did she have? Layla gave her a final request to protect Lucy in her place, to watch over her and act as the motherly figure she needed. So she needed to sacrifice her life to ensure a more important one was sparred. The time she spent with the golden haired woman will have never been forgotten by the mermaid.

She shakily opens her eyes and looks at the deathly sky above her.

"I love you Lucy...you damn brat..." Aquarius says lowly. A teary eyed smile making its way to her pale face.

Just as those words leave the maidens mouth, she feels her body begin to fade. (A/N: Like when Loki was dying) She raises a hand to her face and studies her features. It looked as if she was dissapearing...into nothingness. A sad end for a soaring star.

"Good luck with that pink haired hunk...Lucy." Aquarius says aloud, closing her eyes once more waiting for them to never open again.

"Aquarius!" A voice yells.

"I must be hearing things." Aquarius thinks.

"Aquarius damnit answer me!" The voice shouts again.

"Damnit why am I hallucinating?" Aquarius thinks again.

"Hang in there please hang in there!" The voice yells frantically.

"Tch. Why am I hearing things? Why can't I die in peace?" Aquarius rants. She then stiffens when she feels her body shift and feels a massive amount of warmth envelope her. "W-w-what is this?" She thinks again, all of this thinking was hurting her head.

"Your going to okay, you hear me your going to be okay hang in there." The voice says soothingly, rocking Aquarius back and forth cradling her in his arms.

Aquarius was shocked, shocked that someone had found her and had not died and shocked that the person was so warm. It was like standing next to a heater. It felt nice and the way the person held her, in a strong embrace was also very comforting.

"W-who a-are y-you?" Aquarius questions lightly.

The stranger continues to sooth her and gently says to her. "It's me Natsu, Lucy's friend, dont you remember me?" Aquarius again was shocked by the mans identity.

"N-N-Natsu?" Aquarius questions.

Natsu chuckles. "Yeah, It's me. Just hang in there, im gonna warm you up, your as cold as ice.

What Natsu saw of the once beautiful spirit did not sit lightly with him. Her skin looked pale and sickly, it was also cold as ice, her hair once a vibrant aqua marine color was now dull, her once deep blue eyes were now gray and faded and her tail, her beautiful tail once blue was now nothing more than a shriviled gray apendege. Her death was taking a massive tole on her body.

Aquarius was still at a loss for words. What was Natsu doing here, and why wasn't Lucy with him. She was worried, worried that if Lucy was with him what would she think of her now. She knew that she looked like, why would anyone want to look at something as dried up as herself? Maybe thats why he left her.

"How could you even touch me while im like this?" Aquarius questions, thoughouly confused.

Natsu is stunned by the question. She's worrying about her appearence, at a time like this!? Man woman are something else.

"What are you talking about, is that really all you care about?! Who cares about how you look, your dying for Mavis sake!" Natsu yells, furious that she really thought he wouldn't help her because of the way she looked. He wasn't that type of person, he was never one to judge other people, not before getting to know them.

Aquarius was taken back by the out burst. Why was he getting so worked up? The fact that he didn't mind touching her even in her current state brought a warm feeling to her cold heart, even though the reasons behind it were incompetent, they still made the heart broken spirit feel slighlty better. She then hears Natsu sigh.

"Sorry for yelling at you, I was just angry that you really thought I wouldn't help you just because you look like how you do. I could care less about what you look like. I just want to help you, and if it helps...you still look as beautiful as ever." Natsu finishes, with a small smile gracing his lips.

Again, Aquarius was taken back by Natsu's choice of words. Were was the idiot from all that time ago? She still hasn't opened her eyes but she knew if she did she would be tearing up right now. She manages to snuggle closer to Natsu's form and sighs contently. "Dying in his warm embrace may not be so bad after all" Aquarius thinks sadly. She almost forgot she was about to die.

"Thank you." Aquarius says lowly.

Natsu smiles. "Anytime." He says.

Aquarius then decided to ask him the question she has been fearing since she found it the man was Natsu. "Where's Lucy?" She asks almost silently.

She feels Natsu shift slightly at the question and fears the worst. Natsu then sighs. "She's not here, she's at the guild. I've been gone for six months so I dont know what she's been up to." Natsu tells Aquarius.

Aquarius calms, knowing that Lucy was okay and relaxes. She wanted to see Natsu's face but opening her eyes was becoming difficult, so she takes in a deep breath and uses all of her strenghth to crack her eyes open.

She see's it, the pale rays of sunlight cascading onto her face. She opens her eyes as much as she could and once her vision clears, looks towards the man infront of her.

He sure has changed. He was even more hunky than before and despite all the damage happening to her body, she still found it in her to blush.

"Wow..." She mutters quietly.

Natsu's enhanced hearing however could still pick this up. "Wow, what?" He questions.

Aquarius says nothing and continues to stare at the man before her. He was perfect, strong jaw line, perfect facial structure, endless dark eyes and even the pink hair was doing him some good. Her eyes venture lower and stumble upon his open cloak, revealing abs seemingly crafted out of stone by the gods themselves. "What I wouldn't give to wash clothes on those abs." Aquarius thinks dirtily.

Natsu starting to feel uncomfortable under her stare, decided to bring up Lucy again. "Sorry Luce isn't here, I wish I could've stayed at the guild but I needed to get stronger, I needed to make sure my friends never got pushed into that situation again." As Natsu went on he began to feel guilty. Guilty because maybe if he was stronger, Aquarius might not be in this situation.

"Im also sorry because if I were stronger, you wouldn't be in this position. You would be with Lucy and eveything would be okay. But I was weak, I was so lost and afraid I didn't know what to do. So Lucy had to take it upon herself to sacrifice her closest spirit just so we could live. Its all my fault." Natsu finishes, pouring some of his heart and soul out to the woman. He was beginning to cry now and sobs raked his body. He still held onto Aquarius but this time tighter.

Natsu continued to cry untill he felt a hand being pressed to his cheek. He opens his eyes and see's Aquarius gazing up at him. She looked rather worried and somewhat angry.

"You must have it hard, you have a large burden to bear. I can feel it. But don't you go blaming yourself for something you had no control over. It's not your fault you were being human, it's not your fault you cant do everything yourself. So stop being an idiot and just accept the fact that your only human." Aquarius mutters softly.

Natsu listened to every word the spirit had to say. It was eye opening to say the least. She knew of his burden and she knew of his pride which sperated the dragon and human half of himself. But what could she possibly know about his burden? It was his deepest darkest secret, something he would never let anyone know about, so how did she know?

Natsu just continued to gaze at the woman under him and felt himself at ease, it has been awhile since Natsu has felt like nothing was wrong, like he was...whole. Like he wasn't what he actually was. It felt nice...

"AHHH!" Natsu is knocked out of his thoughts by Aquarius's screams of pain. Her whole body looked as if it was fading and her face showed pure and utter pain. Natsu begins to panic.

"Aquarius! Whats going on!?" Natsu yells frantically, setting the woman down on the ground and kneeling beside her wondering what was going on and what he could do.

"Ugh! AHH!" Aquarius now began to writhe on the ground, tears spilling from her eyes due to the imense pain she was in.

"Aquarius please tell me whats wrong!" Natsu bellows. Tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

Watching someone he considered family going through such pain was making the dragon slayer ache. He could do nothing but watch as his freind go through this torment, her eyes were shut tight and tears streamed down her pale face. Her screams of agony were all that filled the dragon slayers senses. Natsu began to feel it again...The feeling of helplessness.

As Aquarius was going through this her mind was also plagued with pain. The memories of all of her life came flooding in all at once, peppering her with emotion after emotion. Happiness, sadness, depression, envy, love and hatred. She was slowly going insane, her mind beginning to collapse. But then...one memory caused the siren to break, it caused her to really feel the cruelty of life, the eternal question...

Why do we live?

It was Layla...The memory of Layla Heartfillia's death. The horror, the pain and the sorrow at it's fullest and now she had to relive that pain over and over and over again.

"NO! MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE!" Aquarius screams. Her eyes shut even tighter than before. She could not open them and the darkness that was plaguing her mind was taking hold on her soul.

Then and new image worked its way into her mind. The one she feared the most. The one thing she swore she would never let happen was now right before her eyes.

Lucy Heartfillia was dead...

She lay in a pool of her own blood, clothes tattered and hair matted. He once vibrant brown eyes were now a hollow gray and an expression of pure horror forever written on her features.

Aquarius just stared at the image of her daughters death, she could say nothing her already broken heart finally shattered and dropped as low as it could go. She swore she would always protect Lucy but here she was dead...just like her mother.

As Aquarius continued to gaze at Lucy's form she is startled when she hears a strangled cough coming from Lucy's body. Aquarius gasps and watches as Lucy's head looks her ways and stares.

"Why? Why did you let me die Aquarius? I thought you were going to protect me, so why did you let me die? You promised mom Aquarius..." Lucy chokes out but then instantly turns into ash and joins the wind to the sky.

Aquarius's eyes widen in shock and pure horror. Her daughter had died and she could do nothing. Regret and guilt began to creep into her mind causing even more pain. All of the memories of what she told and did to the girl were now surrounding her. All of the times she insulted Lucy, all of the times she hurt Lucy and all of the times she wasn't there for Lucy all shouting at her from all sides.

"NO NO NO! PLEASE STOP IT!" Aquarius screams again. Her eyes shoot open and the tears as well as the emotion run rampet. The light of the sun and the cold gray sky was what greeted her eyes. The worried expression of Natsu was also in sight. She's never felt so weak, so fragile or so vulnreable in all of her life and now she could feel it. She was about to be erased into nothingness. She was scared, she didn't want to die but what choice did she have? She knew what was coming when her key was broken and now she would have to deal with the after affects.

Natsu is shocked by Aquarius's pleading screams, but what really shocks him the most is what he saw in her eyes. Fear. Fear is all that was present in the sirens eyes. He's never seen such a pure look of fear in someones eyes in all of his life. He's also never seen the woman with fear in her eyes, Not through out the countless battles they've been in nor during the breaking of her key. It really disturbed him. The reason is unknown to the slayer.

"Aquarius please tell me whats wrong...please." Natsu begs, tears threatining to spill from his eyes. (A/N: I did say OCC...Wait did I?)

Then it happens...

The world around them freezes (A/N: Like with Lucy and Loki) Natsu is shocked as is Aquarius. The tree's being disturbed by the wind are now frozen in place. The clouds as well as the rays from the sun have froze and stay in place. Aquarius's pain has also froze, it has vanished and now she could finally think straight and was allowed to catch her breath. Her chest heaved with each labored breath and her eyes still stung with tears. She was now shaking and could only grab onto Natsu tightly, hoping and wishing he could save her from death.

Natsu is confused by all that is transpiring, Aquarius has just grabbed onto him tightly and burried her face in the crook of his neck, silently weeping. Natsu could feel her tears running down his body and was barley able to keep his at bay. Natsu then began to rub her back soothingly.

"Aquarius, whats happening?" Natsu questions silently.

Aquarius just continues to sob. She didn't want to tell Natsu she was dying, knowing how he cared for his friends and what his reaction would be.

She then feels Natsu's arms wrap around her waist and he pulls her closer, his head resting on hers.

"Please...Tell me whats happening." Natsu begs. He wanted to help his friend, he didn't want his friend to go through this pain alone she just needed to let him in.

Aquarius stiffens and Natsu feels it. "Please just tell me, let me help you." He says.

All is silent for what feels like hours until Aquarius decides to finally give in.

"Theirs nothing you can do..." Aquarius says sadly.

"Why?" Natsu questions.

"Because im dying." Aquarius says. Her voice failing her as her throat closes up and sobs rake her body.

Natsu was left with wide eyes. His friend was dying? Was this becuase her key was broken?

"Your...dying?" Natsu questions and as she nods, he feels his heart sink. One of his precious nakama was dying right before his eyes, in his arms and he didn't know what to do.

"How can we stop this? How can I save you!?" Natsu yells. Not wanting another member of his family to die.

Aquarius continues to sob into Natsu's chest, clutching onto the front of his cloak. She didn't want to die either but it was too late for her now, there was nothing no one could do. She just had to wait for her time to come.

"THIS ISN'T FAIR!" Natsu screams.

It wasn't her fault, her key was needed and their wasn't any other way. Why should she have to die for protecting the people she cared about? It wasn't right and Natsu would not let it happen.

"Aquarius, how can I save you?" Natsu asks pleadingly.

Aquarius continues sobbing and shaking. There was nothing he could do. The price to pay for ultimate power isn't cheap. It's as they say all power comes at a price.

She knew the breaking of her key was suicide but she made a promise and she was going to keep it. She stops crying for a moment and looks up at Natsu to see him staring down at her with a worried expression on his face. His onyx eyes bored into her soul looking for a way to help her but sadly their wasn't anything he could do.

"Natsu..." She whispers, staring into his eyes.

Natsu is startled by the softness of her voice but answers quickly. "Yes?" He was hoping she found a way to save her, he'd do anything no matter what he had to do.

Aquarius continues to stare into Natsu's onyx orbs, almost losing herself in the process. "Promise me..."

"Promise you what?" Natsu asks.

"Promise me you'll protect Lucy in my stead...promise me...please..." Aquarius begs, tears staining her cheeks yet again.

Natsu felt his his heart fall as deep as it could into the pit of his stomach. Was this it? Was this the last time he would see the woman? Natsu's tears could not be held now and he let them flow freely. He hugs onto Aquarius tighter and dropped his head into the crook of her neck, weeping steadily.

"No...you cant die...TAKE ME INSTEAD!" Natsu bellows towards the sky. He wanted his freind to live, he didn't want her to die. He knew how much she ment to Lucy and he wanted to save her and reunite the two. Even if it costed him his life.

Thats just the type of person Natsu was. A selfless kind hearted individual. One who put others before themselves. A person you only met once in your life. A very special type of person.

Aquarius scowls at the man over her. "You idiot, why would you want to be the one in this position? Your so young...you have your whole life ahead of you...you shouldn't die here...stop being so damn selfless and just accept the fact that my time is up...you...damn...idiot..." She was angry at the man, his heart was in the right place but he knew it and she knew it, the guild wouldn't survive without him.

Natsu continued to sob, staring into Aquarius's gray colored eyes. "Please...you cant leave Luce...she needs you...dont make me lose another member of my family...please..." Natsu pleads to the siren.

Aquarius softens abit. "Its too late for that Natsu. Im done for. Just please make it back home safe and keep Lucy safe for me. Thats all I ask of you." Natsu didn't want to believe she was dying. He didnt want Lucy to find out that her first and oldest freind was gone forever. He was also breaking a promise he made to himself...to never let anything happen to his family, no matter what.

As Natsu continues to craddle Aquarius he feels her begin to lighten in his arms. Her form was beginning to fade even more and he could now clearly see through her. Aquarius gives Natsu a weak sad smile and grabs his hand, the coldness of her skin making Natsu feel even worse.

"Thank you Natsu...For everytihng..." Aquarius mutters as her eyes close and she completly fades, dissapearing out of Natsu's arms. All that is left behind was her gate key. One of Natsu's family members has just died in his arms. The feeling of helplessness returning.

Rage...

Rage is all that Natsu was feeling. In his hand was Aquarius's gate key. It was broken in half and was a life-less gray color. Natsu clutched the key tightly in his palm and looked up towards the yellow sky.

"NOOO! GIVE HER BACK! GIVE HER BACK, LUCY NEEDS HER!" Natsu bellows. His magic flaring greatly. His eyes had morphed into reptilian like slits and were completly crimson save for the black slits and red pupils. Scales covered his face and his bandages fell off revealing black marking up both arms, they were now making their way to his face (A/N: My theory for why Natsu is still wearing them). Natsu was entering his dragin force and his demon side was beginning to take control.

"THIS ISN'T FAIR! GIVE HER BACK!" Natsu yells once again.

Suddenly time again stills around Natsu and he freezes, his rage doubling. He stands and thrusts his straightned hands foward as the back of his palms were facing eachother and feels them break through an invisible barrier. He then begins to tear the fabric of space and time itself with his bear hands, letting loose a dragon like roar with it.

Natsu was literally tearing a hole in reality. His eyes had made contact with the spirit world as he remembered it from the GMG and increased his power as well as his roar.

"IM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT AQUARIUS!" Natsu rages, his voice sounding like that of a real dragon but contrasted with a demonic sinister edge.

With on final push and scream, Natsu tears a massive hole into the other world, his arms flailing to the sides as the rip extends even further.

Natsu falls to his knee's and reverts back to his original form, panting heavily, blood leaking from his eyes. He looks at the rip in front of him and chuckles(?). It was atleast 100ft tall and 5ft wide. He had no idea how it got that tall but he was too drained to question it.

As Natsu was catching his breath a large figure began to emerge from the tear he had just made. It was clad in armour and towered over the dragon slayer. Natsu's eyes widen in shock as he recognizes the figure in front of him. The Spirit King.

"Who dare's breach my world?!" He demands in an enourmous voice.

Natsu recognizes the figure as the Spirit King of the Celestial world and feels no threat. He looks up at the figures face and hardens his expression as well as his resolve.

"You...GIVE ME BACK AQUARIUS!" He yells at the king.

The giant is startled by Natsu's outburst but as his eyes come into contact with the key in Natsu's palm, dread as well as regret hits him.

"My freind...she has passed. Has she?" The armour clad figure says sadly.

Natsu nods. "She didn't deserve to die, you have to tell me how to get her back. Please, I dont want to tell Lucy she's dead. Please help me save her." He pleas. The helplessness from before returning full force.

The Spirit Kings just sighs. "Im sorry young dragon slayer, but their is nothing that can be done. Her soul was broken along with her key and it was only a matter of time before she was lost. Im truely sorry."

"PLEASE! Their has to be something I can do! Anything, I'll do anything!" Natsu yells he would not leave empty handed, he was going back to the guild with Aquarius no matter what.

Natsu didn't want to lose another member of his family, especially not one as important as Aquarius was. She was his best freind's mother figure and her oldest and greatest freind. He needed to bring her back to Lucy so she could be happy again, and he would at all cost.

"Young dragon slayer, their is not-"

"Don't give me that! Their has to be something I can do! I won't let her just die, not without a fight! Luce needs Aquarius and you know it! What would Layla think if she could she her now!" Natsu cut the celestial king off before he could even finish. He was know pouring his entire being out the the king, hoping he would help him.

The king sighs again. "You give a good point. Lady Layla was always looking out for her spirits and would have done anything for them. As would young Lucy. I am also so moved by your determination to help someone you hardly know. Ready to give anything in order to save someone for someone else's happiness. You truely are one of the kindest and bravest people I have ever know."

Natsu just drops his head, literally kneeling before the Celestial Spirit King, he was ready to do anything in order to help Lucy's guardian. Whatever it took he would do it.

The spirit king was startled by Natsu's show of respect, it was at these moments that he began to ponder on an idea. Something that hasn't been done in thousands of years. A process in which an other worldly being attaches themselves to the soul of another in order to live in that world and be born anew. A merging of the souls you would call it. But the real question was, will Natsu be able to carry that responsibilty and would it even work?

As then celestial spirit continued to gaze at Natsu he saw three things that stood out the most in the man's lowered eyes. Determination, Willingness and Desperation. He really looked as if he was ready to give his life to save another. Not something you see everyday, but something you see once in a life time. It was in these moments that the king knew if anyone could pull this off it would be Natsu.

"Natsu Dragneel." He says loudly

"Are you willinging to give up a piece of your soul and give it to Aquarius so that she may pass over into your world? Are you willing to care for the woman who will be stuck with you for the rest of your life? She will become a part of you and you two may never leave one another no matter the circumstance. Are you willing to accept that burden?" The Celestial Spirit King asks in a serious tone.

This was a very serious manner. They would be bound to one another spiritually and physically. One would not be able to live without the other, sharing the same soul. Aquarius might not be happy about being bounded to Natsu for all eternity but she would be allowed to live so she would just have to learn to live with it.

Natsu after listening to what the King had just said and let it all sink in.

Being forever bound to Aquarius for all of his life was the hardest thing Natsu had to swallow. Did she even want that? Was bringing her back just to be forced to stay with himself worth it? Natsu didn't really mind but he still had another opinion he had yet to hear and would never hear unless he did this. A merging of souls. Something he's never heard of.

A thought of Lucy crying suddenly crept it's way into Natsu's mind and he felt his heart drop. She looked so distraught and so lost. Natsu felt a sharp pain in his chest as he watched the blond haired beauty cry. Natsu was standing right in front of her but she paid no mind to him but just stared at the ground crying. Natsu followed her gaze and gasped. She was at her mother's grave, her father next to her and resting next to Lalya's grave was a plaque.

"Aquarius" was all the plaque said.

Natsu was shocked by the revelation and felt massive amounts of guilt and shame plant itself in his mind. Was this what would happen if he didn't preform the soul merge? Was this a preminition of the future? If it was Natsu was not going to let it happen, even if Aquarius hated him for it he would spent the rest of his life trying to make it up to her. He would save Lucy's guardian. He would give up a peace of his soul to ensure Lucy never had to live in a world without Aquarius. Natsu was ready, ready to change his life forever.

He looks up at the giant figure in front of him and takes in a deep breath.

"I'll do it..." Natsu mutters lowly.

The Spirit King hums in response. "Are you sure young one? Are you ready to give a piece of your soul to my freind and are you willing to never leave the womans side?" The amount of seriousness in the giants voice scared Natsu but he brushed it aside and procceded foward.

"I am, I'll do anything to make sure Luce is happy and to make sure each and everyone of my family members lives a long happy life." Natsu says. A grin creeping its way onto his face.

The Spirit King smiles at the dragon slayer. "Very well. Natsu Dragneel, prepair yourself. This will not be an easy task."

Natsu nods and goes to his knee's and lowers his head once more, his arms resting at his side. The King points a single finger at the pinkette and a massive golden magic circle apears under and below him, as well as on all of his sides. The Kings face hardens.

"Are you ready young dragon slayer?" The Celestial Spirit asks one final time. Natsu just nods and clentches his fists. The King also nods and begins the transaction.

All of the magic circles begin to glow and an array of golden beams shoot out and all pierce Natsu's body, holding him in place.

"AHHHH!" Natsu screams in pain. He felt each and everyone pierce his flesh and bone's. He feels his vision fade and his mind faulter, the amount of pain the dragon slayer was in was unimaginable. Atleast 20 thin golden beams of light energry had peirced his body in various places and they were all scolding hot. Heat has never affected the dragon slayer before but now that heat was unbearable.

The King watched in fascination as Natsu had not been killed instantly by the first stage of the contract. "Natsu...Are you ready for the second stage?" He questions.

Natsu grits his teeth and nods slowly, prepairing himself for the pain to come but is was all in vein.

The Spirit King then pointed another finger at Natsu and a pure white magic seal appeared beneath the man. "Prepair yourself. For you will experience pain as you have never before." The Celestial King says lowly.

Natsu nods and feels all 20 of the golden beams inside of him begin to rotate, tearing and ripping at his flesh with slow shallow movements. He roars in pain as he feels this, blood started to pour out of his wounds and onto the white seal below, slowly changing it to a deep red color.

This goes on for about 5 minutes before the beams stop moving and dissapear. Natsu then falls face first to the floor, panting and writhing in pain. His wounds slowly closing due to the red seal beneath him.

"Rise dragon slayer." The giant commands. The contract was not near finished yet.

Natsu after hearing the Kings command slowly rises off the floor and stands on two shakey legs. He looks up at the Spirit King and sees him staring intently at him.

Without another word, the giant raises his hand outward towards Natus and as the seal began to glow even brighter the King clentched his palm and a massive beam of blood red shot up from the floor into the sky above.

Natsu again roars in pain, the amount and intensity previously unknown to the man. His whole being was ablaze and it felt as if his soul was being torn, physical pain that he could not even begin to describe taking hold on his mind.

The Celestial Spirit King continues to gaze at Natsu for some time before speaking. "Natsu Dragneel...Are you ready to proceed with the final part of the contract?" He asks in a very serious tone.

Natsu could only yell even louder as he heard the giants question. He tries with all of his might to reply but he could not fight the pain long enough to complete a coherent thought.

"Natsu Dragneel I need an answer!" The King yells. He needed Natsu to want this, to mean this and to know that this was his last chance to stop the ritual.

Suddenly something inside of Natsu snaps. A chain that was previously holding him back had been broken and he was ready to go through with this ritual.

"YES! IM...READY!" Natsu bellows, falling to his knees.

The King hums in response. "Do you Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel, member of the Fairy Tail guild and slayer of darkness willingly give a piece of your soul to another in need." He questions demandingly.

Natsu growls. "YES! THIS IS FOR LUCY...FOR LAYLA...FOR AQUARIUS!" Natsu screams.

The King too growls. "RISE DRAGON SLAYER!" He yells at the man.

Natsu screams and rises as quickly as he could to his feet, clentching his fists at his sides and planting his feet firmly in the ground.

The King again hums in response. "Do you promise to stand by the woman? Are you willing to spend each and every day with the woman, to never be Abel (A/N: AHH! You see what I did there? If you did you get a free cookie!) to part ways, for as long as you both live? One will not be able to live without the other. Do you accept?"

Natsu releases an inhuman roar and raises his head to the clouds. "I DO! I ACCEPT! I'LL PROTECT HER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!" He bellows, a little bit of his magic flaring as he screamed.

The King gives a smirk towards the dragon slayers determination and over all willingness. It really was rare to find such kindness in a human being and he knew deep down that Aquarius was in good hands.

"Well then Natsu...You have compelted the ritual." The King says happily.

Natsu eyes widen in shock but that did not last for long as his whole vision exploded in crimson and he lost all consciousness.

The entire blood red beam he was ingulfed in exploded suddenly, throwing Natsu off to the side onto a patch of dead grass. He lay motionless but still breathing.

The Celsestial Spirit King looks towards Natsu's body and sees Aquarius's gate key laying loosely in his palm. The key began to glow a bright gold and welds itself back together, while regaining its lost color. It then rises off of his palm and floats over to his chest, were his heart would be. It stills over the spot and drops. It then began to fade into his chest untill it fully dissolved, leaving an exact image of the key forever tattooed on his skin.

The Celsestial Spirit King who had been watching the whole time smiles to himself and looks over at the rift in space and time that Natsu had made and chuckles.

"Aquarius my freind...I wish you a happy life with this man...He's something special...Cherish him...Forever..." He finishes as he walks back into the rift and with a swipe of the arm closes it.

As Natsu lay in the dead grass and as the rift began to close, the whole area that was once dead began to sprout back to life. The sky began to change back into an endless blue without a cloud in the sky and the lush green began to return in full force. The once evaporated waterfall was beginning to flow and fill again and the scent of death began to lift and be replaced with the scent of dense brush. Life as we all know it was beginning to return to normal.

But as for the snoozing dragon slayer...His journey had only just begun. For when he awoke his whole life will have been turned upside down.

A/N: OMFG! That was killer! Phew! That was hella long and it's been a hella long time since i've uploaded. I got to say its all my fault this time. It was just me procrastinating "Oh I'll write tomorrow, Oh I'll write later for sure blah blah blah" And my job and school. Testing is coming up next week so maybe not writing time sorry. Well anyways, what did you think? Pretty good fist chap if I do say so myself. Also I do believe I am the first author to ever write a story with this pairing so yay me! Lemon? I have currently 3 stories in the works right now, A Natsu x Laki x Kinana one shot, A Natsu x Lucy x Erza smut story and a Natsu x Harem story. Well thats my time leave me a fav and a follow and please give me a review. It makes me try to do better and it always makes me happy to see words of encouragement. Fire&Ice:DoubleEcstacy will be uploaded next so look out for that. I hope to see you all soon! Love y'all! Bye bye! *Need idea's for Aquarius's new outfit. Help me out!*

-David115