I'm going to try something new: writing a fanfiction. I think this is going to be a one-shot.

I own nothing but Mashima had better not ruin my ship.

Lucy looked up at the sound of someone knocking on her door. She didn't immediately get up from her desk as she tried to remember if anyone was expected that day. Finally, after the third round of knocks, she stood. The impatience made her smile, reminding her of Natsu. However, she didn't think that he'd magically learn to use the door in the six months that he'd been gone. That thought made the smile disappear as she opened the door.

"Yukino?" she questioned, staring at her friend. "Was I expecting you?" Yukino responded with soft laugh and a shake of her head. "Good. Sorry. Do you want to come in?" Lucy moved out of the way so that the other celestial wizard could enter. "I have this article deadline coming up and I'm not a hundred percent what day it is? Would you like some tea?"

She turned to look at Yukino and saw where Yukino's eyes had fallen. On the table was some information Hibiki had sent her concerning Erza but with her assignment, she hadn't had a chance to put it up on her map. Yukino was the only one who knew about her wall, though all the guilds knew to send her any information that they heard concerning her friends.

"Did you find-"

"No. I found something else that you need to see though."

"What?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told. Really. You need to see it for yourself."

"I can't right now. I need to finish this article. Though, I should let you read it since it's about Sting." Lucy giggled at how fast Yukino's face flushed.

"Do I want to know what he did? I haven't seen them since I got home from my job. Tomorrow morning?"

Lucy glanced back at her desk and thought about how much she still needed to write. "That's doable, but I'll need coffee."

"I can handle that. See you tomorrow."

Yukino let herself out and Lucy sat back down to finish her article. The burning curiosity at what Yukino wanted to show her invigorated her and she finished in record time.

Not wanting to get caught by Jason and his ability to talk, she slipped in and dropped of the article with a note saying that she'd be back in a few days. Like a guild, articles were posted on a board for writers to choose from. For once, she left without ever glancing at the board to see if there was an assignment that sounded like it might be about Natsu. Though, she had taken note of the exploding mountain that certainly sounded like Gildarts' doing.

-o-

Yukino was at her door with an offering of coffee the next morning. Seeing her pack, Lucy asked, "Will this be a camping job?"

"It's about a day's hike from the road. I was on a pet retrieval job alone when I found-" She stopped, as if uncertain of how to finish the sentence.

"Found what?"

"Come on, Lucy. The train will leave in a bit."

Lucy grabbed the pack that was in her corner, always ready in case she heard a rumor about Natsu.

The two women sat on the train in companionable silence, not needing to fill the air with idle chit-chat. Two older women walking down the aisle were gossiping about an article in Sorcerer's Weekly. It made Lucy think of a story she'd seen on the board and asked Yukino about it. Soon, they were commiserating about the hijinks that the dragon slayers caused.

They got off at Cedar Village and found a wagon headed in the direction they were going. The driver was curious about where they were headed but Yukino remained tight-lipped. The dirt road wound through forest the slowly sloped up a mountain with a rocky peak that could occasionally be seen through the trees. Somewhere around the time that the train had passed through Oak Town, Lucy had stopped trying to wheedle information out of her companion.

The first night, they camped not far from the road. They stared up at the stars and talked about the still lost keys.

"What key would you want?" Yukino asked.

"Hm…Monoceros, I think."

"He's a healer, right? I'm surprised that you'd want one so peaceful."

"Ouch," Lucy replied, pressing her hand to her heart. "You got me right here. What about you?"

"Hm…Orion."

"Nope. I've already got an archer and more perverted spirits than I know how to handle."

"Is Leo still declaring his undying love for you?"

Hearing his name, Loke summoned himself, nearly blinding Lucy and Yukino after adapting to the night. "You called, Beautiful."

"I didn't. Now, go away. We're have girl time," Lucy said, tiredly.

"If I must," he said, bowing with a flourish. As he straightened, he froze and his eyes widened.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

He was looking around and saw Yukino shaking her head. "Nothing. Good night, Princess." He disappeared in another show of bright lights.

"That was weird, even for him."

"It's late. We should sleep since we have a lot of walking tomorrow and it's all uphill."

-o-

The following morning, neither of them spoke beyond chit-chat. As the climb got steeper and the day got longer that faded off.

"Shouldn't we stop for the night," Lucy asked, seeing the setting sun and knowing that they must be nearing the tree line.

"No. It's better if you see him at night."

"'Him'? Yukino, where are you taking me?"

"C'mon."

"Yuki," Lucy whined, but followed. The trees gave way to rocks but what shocked Lucy was that there was a definite path made in them. It was narrow and rocks jutted out from the sides, but it was a path.

The path started to go downhill into a valley. Faintly, she could see trees and a hint of orange water reflecting the sky. By the time that they'd fully descended down into the valley, only the stars and moon lit their way. Yukino led her through the trees, to the opposite side of the valley.

"Are you going to tell me what-" Lucy's voice trailed off as she saw the massive creature that Yukino had led her to.

Its scales were dark blue or black and looked smooth to the touch like a snake's skin. The snout looked big enough to eat her whole and his closed eyes were probably size of her head. The massive wings, a few shades lighter than the scales, blocked enough of the white spots on his scales that it took her a moment to realize that they were a reflection of the night sky.

"Oh my god. Draco…" Lucy breathed. "He's real. Like, properly, real."

"Lucy, ever think about becoming a dragon slayer?" Yukino asked and Lucy whipped around to gawk at her.

"What?"

"Did you ever want to become a dragon slayer?"

"I- don't you? Why didn't you?"

"Because I'm too old. Our boys trained as children."

"You're the same age as me."

"But you're a Heartfilia."

"I-"

"Are you two done talking?" Draco said, his voice deep and rolling in his chest. He opened one eye, silver as the moon, and studied Lucy. "You Heartfilias all look the same. Anna asked me to ground myself to Earthland. It's been awfully dull."

"Why?" Lucy asked, stepping forward.

"She was afraid her five dragon slayers wouldn't be strong enough. Only a Heartfilia would be strong enough to become my dragon slayer. It'll be difficult and painful so it's up to you to decide." Both eyes were open now and watching her. She had a life that she knew she was giving up but it went back to Yukino's question.

"I-I want to be a dragon slayer."