Hello, everyone! ^.^ ♥ Sorry I didn't update at all yesterday; I had written so much the day before, my brain needed a break! ^^;  So, gomenasai!  I hope you all like this one, though. c:  I'd update once more, but I have Volleyball again tonight. xP  But it's okay, because after that I have a full week off then Camp starts. (I think Camp is all week, every week for a month or so though...T.T) I dedicate this chapter to NaLuGirl~!  She's awesome, so make sure you fan her, alright?  She's a great friend as well! ^^  Feedback is very much appreciated, and until next time. c:

яу-¢нαи, тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ☆

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"I know it now..."  Lucy murmured, and everyone looked at her with different expressions; surprise, relief, excitement, but the biggest one was determination.

Turning to look at them, Lucy creased her eyebrows, staring at the ground.  Like she had been doing, Lucy ran the information through her head, going through the route step by step.

First, they had to head off the island, back to Fiore.  There, they had to head northwest, from the sea to the mountains.  Inside one of the many caves located a portal; however, after that, Lucy couldn't see anything else.  What resided behind that portal?  As Lucy thought about it, red eyes flashed in Lucy's mind, ending her route.  Dragon eyes.

All I know is that the dragons will be on the other side, even if we don't know what kind of grounds are on the other side.  She thought.

It'll be dangerous...

When she told the others about this, they looked puzzled.

"I've never heard of such in Fiore..."  Gray murmured.

Erza nodded in agreement.  "Same.  Lucy, are you sure the portal takes us farther into Fiore?  Or...somewhere else?"

Lucy flinched when attention was directed to her.  "Well, I don't know.  It's all we have, isn't it?  All I know is that it'll take us to the Land of Dragons.  So, we have to go."

There was a small silence.

"Let's go, then!"  Natsu exclaimed, grinning.  "I'm ready to find Igneel!"

Lucy smiled.  "Right."

"We will have to be on guard..."  Erza reminded, but agreed.  "Let's head off, then."

Gray sighed.  "So much traveling; it's getting annoying..."

Lucy laughed slightly, and everyone turned to look at her with confusion.

"What's so funny, Lucy?"  Happy asked, residing by Natsu who was also looking at Lucy weirdly.

"You guys are really going to owe me,"  She replied, crossing her arms.

"Eh?"  They all asked, confused.

Lucy lifted her hand, something in between her fingers.

Everyone gasped.

"Cana's transportation card!"  Wendy exclaimed, stunned.

Lucy grinning triumphantly.  "I asked Cana for one before we left, just in case we had to go back through Magnolia during our journey.  I've been saving it this entire time, since Cana said it could be only used once."

Natsu grinned, along with the others.  "That's so smart, Luce!"  Natsu exclaimed, excited.

"You really are trying hard here, aren't ya?"  Gray replied as everyone cheered.

"Of course I am!"  Lucy exclaimed, outraged.  "Geez..."  She crossed her arms, looking away and biting her cheek.  "Why wouldn't I be?  Seriously..."

Forgetting her anger, Lucy looked back at them with warmth.  "Anyways, it's programmed back to the guild.  I thought once we'd get there we could get some rest, and then continue on later in the evening."

"This is great,"  Carla replied.  "Using this card has at least cut this trip down by five days."

"Imagine if we had to walk..."  Gray muttered, suddenly looking very sullen.

Erza stepped forward.  "Well then, let's get going.  We don't have anytime to waste."

"Right!"  Lucy exclaimed.  "Well, we all have to be touching each other in order to all be teleported, grab onto each other's shoulders."

Nodding, Natsu put his hand on Lucy's shoulder, and they grinned with anticipation at each other.  However, when Gray approached, Natsu and him glared daggers, making Erza pull them apart and stand between them.  Then, Wendy was hanging onto Gray's white duster while Happy resided on Natsu's shoulder, along with Carla in Wendy's arms.

"We ready?"  Erza asked, and they all nodded.  "Then do it, Lucy."

She nodded, pressing the tip of the card to her forehead.  As they began to glow, there was a loud swoosh through the air, and they were gone.

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"Ouch!"  Lucy exclaimed, and all of them groaned when they landed on the cobble-stoned floor of their guild.

They were in a rumpled pile, Erza and Gray on the bottom stomach-first while Natsu was in the middle of the pile, legs sticking up in the air.  Then, Wendy and Lucy were on top of them all, half sitting half laying down in the heap of limbs.  Carla and Happy hit the top of the pile but then bounced off, landing on the ground a few inches away.

Everyone from the guild looked at them in surprise, but then started laughing.

Jet walked up to them, putting his hands on his hips.  "Looks like you guys got back okay!"

"Shaddup!"  Natsu exclaimed, dragging himself out of the dog-pile.

Everyone pulled themselves up, either rubbing their backs or their heads.

"What the heck, Lucy?"  Natsu whined, stomping over to her.  "Why'd we land like that?!"

"It's not my fault!"  She exclaimed back at him.  "How was I supposed to know we'd land like that?"

"You landed on top of me!"  Natsu exclaimed, pouting dramatically.  

"Seriously..."  Lucy sighed, sweat-dropping.

Makarov was residing on the bar desk.  "So you all are back.  This is--"

Nastu was suddenly sent flying backwards, slamming into the guild wall and knocking over a table.

Natsu shook his head, immediately standing up.  "What was that for, Gajeel?!"

Gajeel had a big anger mark on his head, his fist still raised.  Pantherlily was by his feet, his paws on his hips.  "What the hell is your problem, Salamander?!"

"It's Gajeel..."  Wendy murmured in surprise.

Natsu looked ridiculously angered.  "What?!"

"I heard you guys went off and looked for the dragons!  Well, why didn't you come and get me?!"

"You were off doin' some stupid stuff, and we didn't know where you were!  It ain't my fault!"  Natsu yelled back, stomping around.

"Hey, Gajeel..."  Lucy replied, stepping forward.  "What's wrong with your left arm?"

Gajeel stopped, and everyone looked at it.

It was wrapped in bandages, supported by a sling.

"It ain't nothing, Blondie."  Gajeel replied, looking away.

Levy stepped forward.  "Gajeel hurt his arm while on his last mission.  It's broken for now..."

"Broken?"  Wendy asked.  "In that case, I'll heal it for you!'

Gajeel scoffed.  "Can't do that.  The person who broke my arm had a partner.  Those two guys put a curse on me, making sure my arm wouldn't heal with any magic for a week or so.  It'll have to heal on its own."

"We still caught the two minor mages, though.  However, they weren't the famous male and female rumored around."  Pantherlily scuffed, looking at Lucy.

"That's awful."  Lucy replied, shocked.

"See!!"  Natsu exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Gajeel and waving his arm around.  "Even if we would've told you, you wouldn't have been able to come!"

"Ah, shut up!  The point is is that you didn't tell me!  So in result of that, you're screwed Salamander!"

"Bring it on!"  Natsu exclaimed.  "I'll break your other arm!"

Lighting his fists, Natsu and Gajeel bumped foreheads, their auras radiating in anger.

Makarov super-sized his fist, slamming it onto the top of both of them to knock them out.  "Calm yourselves!  Natsu, don't you need to keep going this evening?  You don't want to be exhausted, so cut it out!"

He moved his eyes to Lucy.  "It was a good idea to do this, Lucy.  I'm proud of you; you haven't given up."

Lucy rubbed the back of her head, blushing with embarrassement as everyone looked at her with happy smiles and grins.  "Eh, well..it wasn't mostly me, you know.."

"I'll have you all use communicator cards from Warren when you head off on your journey.  When you guys get close, contact us.  But for now, rest up 'till the evening."  Master replied, and the group nodded.  

This time, Master Makarov turned to Gajeel.  "I know how badly you want to see Metalicana, Gajeel, but your arm resricts you from going."

"Damn it all.."  Gajeel muttured, staring at his arm as if he was going to rip it off.  "Of course, this happens now..."

"Poor Gajeel.."  Wendy murmured.

Sighing, Lucy took the time to remember how happy she was that she was back at the guild.  She desperatly wanted to get back home, even if it was only for a few hours.  Lucy excused herself, exciting the doors.  As she was leaving, Erza was starting the tale of all they'd been through so far, which Lucy guessed would take quite a while.  As Lucy walked down the path, she sighed with relief at the familiarity of the area.  She had missed familiar grounds; familiar faces.

But it wasn't over yet.  They still had to go northwest; to the mountains.  There, they would enter the portal and continue on, to the place where Lucy's vision ended.

Lucy unconsciously grasped the necklace Natsu gave her, seeking comfort from it.  It was nerve wracking, dealing with all of this.  From being the translator and having the responsibility of guiding everyone to being in foreign areas so much.  And, adding the fact of having new enemies got her worried and stressed.

But...she wasn't scared.

No, not at all.  As Lucy stopped in her tracks to look at the view of Magnolia, the wind blew and rustled her hair and clothing.  She felt peaceful; confident.  Lucy believed she and her friends could do anything if they set their minds to it, and not give up until they had what they wanted.  Yes, she would be fine.  Lucy had her friends, after all.  And with them, she felt like she could take on any enemy; any obstacle.  They gave her strength, that was certain.

Yes, Lucy would try her very hardest for this final obstacle.

Just like her friends.

She'd be just fine.

.

.

.

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This is it! After a brief rest, "Team Lucy" is off on the final road to get to the dragon's land.

But why couldn't Lucy see past the portal?  What awaits on the other side?

Find out what happens in the next chapter,

Chapter 17: Last Mission With An Unexpected Transformation!

Thanks for reading! See you next time!  ^.^