Hey Guys, this is my new story. Honestly I'm not sure how good this story will turn out to be, but I'll try my best. So I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

I Will Slay This Beast!

The tavern was just as loud as always. The town was just as lively as the tavern. The people announced an official event the other day. All of the knights would compete in a competition today. The tavern was currently getting ready to see what kind of tournament it was. It was something like this that kept the guild lively. A red headed woman walked up to me along with a short blue haired girl.

" Lu-chan, are you coming with us?" The blue haired girl asked. She smiled.

" Yeah."

Erza, the red haired woman smiled. It was Erza's dream to become a knight, one that would protect the village, but sadly the other knights would not allow a 'delicate' young woman to become a fighter. Despite how pretty she was Erza was one of the scariest and strongest women that ever lived. Her and the white haired demon, as the others would call her. Mirajane, the most beautiful woman here. She tended to the bar, but just like Erza, she could fight and she was strong, she was also nice, but if you pissed her off, you're entering a world of pain. The lady like women that don't enter the tavern, because they think its unlady like to hand out and drink with a bunch of men, would never bother talking to us. But we didn't mind, because our friends were here. And we enjoyed it here. I watched as the men downed their last cup of whatever they were drinking and leave. A black haired teenager walked over to us.

" Gray, are you ready to leave?" Like all guys, Gray was a street fighter. He was good enough to be a knight yet he'd rather hang out with the rest of us. I asked him about it one time, he just shrugged and said ' The knights are all overly self confident, its not like we actually need them. What are we protecting ourselves from? The outside world is better than what everyone else thinks. We can all handle ourselves. They all just think their so high and mighty. I don't want to be like them. I like things the way they are. I'll just let fate decide what happens next.'

" Yeah, we're ready. Where are they meeting?" I wasn't really sure why we were going. This was for knights or men only.

" Out in the middle of the town. The people are gathering there." Gray answered, " Now lets go." I walked out with them. The town was crowded with a lot more people than usual. Everyone was cheering and laughing. Knights were pushing through trying to get to the center of the attention. When we found an area where we could see as well as hear, we stood there waiting for whoever was going to do the announcement to start. A tall man with long black hair that reached his shoulders, a thin moustache, a sharp face and pointed ears, stood in the center of a platform where everyone surrounded. I watched as he started to speak.

" Ladies and Gentlemen! As I'm sure you all know, a great fire breathing beast destroyed part of the town the other day. It has been happening for months now! And now, I am holding a competition, I am sure you will all enjoy. Anyone is free to participate," That was the first. Which means the women can join as well. Not that any will...actually no one will but Erza. Mira might." The goal is, whoever manages to slay this dragon and bring back its scales or anything of value it may have, will be rewarded greatly, you may do anything you can to accomplish this."

" What is the reward?" Someone shouted from the crowd.

" The reward my friends! It is 1,000,000 Jewels! Enough to support you for months! Not only that but you will be honored in becoming a knight! As a knight you will be paid greatly, with this you'll be able to support your family," The crowd gasped, everyone was shocked, including myself. The poor could become rich. " You have 2 weeks to accomplish this! When you have finished you may come and meet me here on that day, if you manage to finish ahead you may meet me at my office. Remember! Only one of all of you may be rewarded. You may work in a team, but only one of you will get the reward! Now the best of luck to all of you!" With that the man left. Everyone was shouting in excitement. I looked up. Erza seemed happy. She smiled and said.

" I'll be joining this competition. It seems fun. Plus it would get rid of the beast who has been destroying the crops and homes. " People who heard her starred The men especially, laughed. ," What?" She glared.

" A woman? Fighting a beast! Laughable! You hear that men? The delicate beauty wants to join!" Everyone laughed at that point. I glared at everyone of them. I hated how they looked down upon us. Girls can fight, we're not as weak as they think. This beast slaying seemed to give me an opportunity. I wanted to prove to them, that I along with any girls here, well besides the ones that think they're better than everyone else, that we can slay a beast, just as well as the men. We can become knights. We should in fact. Erza and Mira here can fight better than any man. I stood near Erza.

" I'll be participating in this fight too. I swear to all of you, that I will be the one that slays this beast! And when I do, all of you will regret the day you looked down upon us." That seemed to shut them up for the time being, but I'm sure that they would return to their arrogant selves. Erza looked down at me.

" Are you sure Lucy?" I nodded. Just then a man walked up to me.

" What are you gonna do? Choke it to death?" He said laughing. I guess he noticed the whip I hung on my belt against my waist. Others laughed. I simply smiled.

" Who knows." With that I walked away, Gray, Mira, Erza and Levy followed. When we reached our tavern I sat down at our table.

" Lucy, are you sure you want to do this? You're not much of a fighter like Erza and Mira."

" I'm sure. Its about time someone teaches them a lesson. I can't stand it anymore! They look down upon us because they think they're better than anyone here! They won't let us become knights! I think Erza and Mira should just fight them, beat the shit out of all of them. That should show them."

" You'll be up against the other knights. You know what the man said, you can do anything to accomplish your victory. They can kill you. "

" Not if I get there first." I said standing up.

" I think that it would be best if I set off right now." I turned around and stopped for a bit." Where is this dragon?"

" They said that it comes down from the mountains once a week and destroys the crops here. So I'm guessing its there, in the east mountains. Lucy, be careful, you don't know what can happen out there." I nodded.

" I'll be fine, but aren't you joining in?" He shook his head.

" I told you before right? I have no interest in becoming a knight. I like things the way they are." Right.

" Lucy you should take a sword just in case." I shook my head. Swords were too heavy.

" I can't even lift one, so I don't think that's a good idea."

" Then takes some sharp knives," Mira suggested holding out a box filled with the sharp long knives. Much like swords only shorter and lighter. I took them.

" I guess I'm off. I'll see you guys when I come back. Oh, Erza do you want to come with me? You said you were joining right."

" Yeah, but I'll give you a head start. You're not the only one who wants to show them how strong we are." Erza said grinning. With that I left and headed towards the east. I past the farms on the way there. The field was black. Smoke and the smell of burnt vegetables lingered in the air. The houses around the area were burned down, nothing but ashes stood in its place. The poor people. They probably had nowhere to go right now. I bet some of them are going to try and slay the mountains looked pretty high. But it turns out it wasn't all that steep. In fact there was a path that lead up to the peak. I'm guessing someone made this. I was pretty high up already. the town looked so small. I couldn't even see the people! Just then I heard screaming. A few Knights ran down the path almost pushing me over.

" Run! Its a monster! Its going to kill us all!" I felt myself shiver. The cave couldn't be so far. I could smell the trees burning. More knights fleeing. One casually walked down. Acting as if it didn't frighten him. When he saw me his eyes widened.

" You're the girl who wants to slay this beast? Let me warn you now girly. This thing will fry you. Best you turn back now." I shook my head.

" I will not. I'm not as cowardly as you." He glared.

" Suit yourself. Don't come crying when you get hurt," He walked past me, and watched him leave before continueing my hike to the cave. I was glad it wasn't so far away. I could see it already. A knight ran from the cave, fire stretching out after him. The fire engulfed him. The knight screamed running around until he ran off the cliff and plummeted down to his death. I couldn't help it, I came here to slay the thing yet already I was afraid. I slapped myself, this wasn't the time to back down. I made it this far I'll see it to the end. I stood in front of the cave and stared in trying to see the dragon. It was pitched black. I should've brought a torch. I'm so stupid! Gray said it was a cave of course it would be dark! I walked in slowly. I hoped this thing wasn't nocturnal. But it did incinerate the other knights. I heard something move. By instinct I grabbed two of my knives and threw it. I heard something cry out. Which freaked me out even more. I reached for my whip and walked further in. There were flames on the ground. Torches! Yes! I grabbed one. Then heard something fall with a loud thump. I swung my whip, I knew it made contact with something. I heard it move and run further down the cave growling.

" Show yourself beast! I'm not afraid of you!" I yelled, it was a lie of course. Because right now I was shaking. I was starting to wonder how much it would hurt to burn to death. I stepped closer holding out my torch. I saw something. It was sitting against the cave wall. But what I saw, wasn't a dragon, nor a beast.