Hello! It me. Chapter out. Read now please.

"You've got to be out of your mind."

"Yeah I said the same thing," Drake replied. He was currently sitting across from his mother in her house, him on an armchair while she was on the couch. She had narrowed her eyes at him and was watching him with an annoyed expression. He'd come to her first thing in the morning that day, intent on asking her opinion on what he'd been told. So far she looked lost.

"So let me get this straight," she said as she raised her hand. "Some voice is speaking to you."

"Yes."

"It's telling you it has a solution to the dragonification."

"Yes."

"You're to travel to the South, presumably to Hargeon, and find a boat."

"Yeah."

"Take it into the Southern Waters and find an uncharted island."

"Mm Hm."

"And the voice will meet you there."

"That's the size of it." His mother watched him carefully for a few more seconds before she sighed and leaned back on the couch.

"Well what do you want me to say?" She demanded incredulously. "Did you want advice?"

"I mean, I guess?" Drake asked, no really sure what he wanted himself. "I figure it'd be rude to leave without telling you, at least." He watched her run a hand down her face as he spoke before she looked at him again.

"Are you going to go?" She asked quietly.

"...I don't know," he said. "That's why I need a second opinion." She frowned at this.

"I don't know what you came to me for," she replied. "Anyone else would've been better."

"Yeah but mother knows best, right?" He asked, trying to lighten the mood. His mother moaned.

"You are such an ass," she said.

"I got it from somewhere." He shot back.

"Not from me!"

"Yeah, sure." Silence fell upon them again, which was uncomfortable seeing as it wasn't one either of them wanted. Drake didn't really know why he'd come to his mother for advice, but when he thought about going to someone for advice she was the first person he thought of. They had that relationship.

"I don't know what you want me to say," she said finally. "I don't know that I have any advice for you." Drake made a face.

"None at all?" He asked curiously. She shook her head.

"No," she replied. "I don't want you to go, but the longer this goes on, the less sure I am that the others will find a way. I don't want to trust some random voice in your head, but, what other choices do we have?"

"Limited ones," Drake answered.

"Exactly," she replied, "so what exactly do I say? Don't take this one chance at reverting the dragonification? I can't in good conscious say that."

"So your saying go?" He asked for clarification.

"Do you need my explicit permission?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "If you think you should go, I'll support you. That's all I can do. I won't be happy about it, not in the slightest, but I'll do it." Drake smiled at this. He'd been somewhat worried that his mother would be against it, leaving him to argue a case he wasn't confident in. But having her on his side no matter what was a good feeling.

Before either of them could say anything else, they both heard the sound of the front door being barged in.

"Kinana?" Drake heard his Dad's voice ask. "Are you here? Is Drake?"

"Perfect timing," his mother muttered to him. "We're in here, Erik!" He could hear his Dad approaching, and know Drake felt a pain in his stomach. What was his Dad going to say? He didn't have time to wonder, as his Dad rounded the corner immediately. When their eyes met, he could see horror etched on his face.

"Drake?" He asked weakly. Drake decided to try and lighten the mood by flapping his wings in greeting.

"Hey Dad," he said as the gale from his wings fluttered around the room. "How're you? I've been better." His Dad just stared at him for a few seconds before he let out a quick huff.

"I don't even know what to say," he said. "You really are turning into a dragon."

"Did you think we were lying?" He asked curiously.

"No, but I didn't want to believe it." His Dad walked further into the living room, his eyes on him the whole time. "Anyone want to explain what the hell happened?"

Drake worked with his Mom to explain exactly what had been happening for the past few months. Drake did his best to justify why he hadn't brought up the scales growing on his body, which was as hard as he expected it to be. He explained how he'd told the other Dragon Slayers, the situation in the graveyard with Secarus, and everything since. His Dad was silent the whole time, listening intently. After the story was finished, his dad just watched him quietly before leaning back on the couch and sighing.

So what the hell are we going to do?" He asked as he stared at the roof. "Any ideas?"

"Well," his Mom said, "your son was just telling me about an idea of his. Well, saying it's his idea wouldn't be accurate, would it Drake?" Drake gave his Mom an annoyed look as his Dad sat up, watching him intently.

"What was it?" He asked. Drake summarised what he'd been talking to his Mom about, which was all about the voice and what it wanted from him.

"And that's all we have?" His Dad asked. He nodded, making him exhale out of his nose loudly. "This isn't a great situation."

"No, it's quiet the opposite," Drake agreed.

"Is that what we're going with?" He asked. Drake shrugged. That was what he'd come here to ask about.

"I think he should," his mother said. "I don't think the others will come up with a solution. This might be the only way to resolve the problem."

"You think?" His Dad asked, Mom nodding. "Hm, I agree. If we knew anything about reversing dragonification we'd have found it by now. You should listen to the voice. What did it ask again?"

"To go and find a boat and sail into the sea South of Fiore," he said. "She said I'd find an uncharted island out there."

"Do you have to go alone?" His Dad asked.

"I don't know, why?" He asked curiously.

"We have an airship," his Dad replied. "We could fly you out there no problem." Drake hadn't thought of that, but he gave it some thought. It would be easier than sailing, seeing as the airship was equipped with stabilising lacrima for his Dad.

"You will come alone."

Drake's eyes widened and he looked around in a fright. Whoever that was needed to stop doing that.

"I have to?" He asked weakly.

"Have to what?" His Dad asked.

"Yes," The voice said. "I will only come for you, no one else."

"But my Dad is a Dragon Slayer too, he could-"

"Your father controls a bastardised version of Dragon Magic. Yours is a true poison."

"But I learned from him!"

It is possible for frauds to teach truth they themselves cannot understand. You will come alone."

Drake suddenly felt alone again, which told him the voice had receded from the telepathic link.

"Drake," his mother said. Looking back at them, Drake saw they looked rather frightened. "You're scaring us."

"Oh," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. The voice was talking."

"She was?" His Dad asked, "What did she say?"

"She said I had to go alone." His Dad frowned.

"How does she expect you to sail there?" He demanded, "You'll get motion sick."

"You could fly," his mother offered. Drake made a face and looked back at his wings, fluttering them.

"I don't have great control of these things yet," he said. "With my luck I'd plunge into the sea within five minutes."

"So how are you going to get there then?" His Dad asked again, "She's asking too much of you."

"Maybe she is," he agreed, "but this still might be our only chance. I need to take it." There was silence among the family then, no one saying anything. Finally, His Dad sighed and cracked his knuckles.

"We'll fly you to Hargeon so you can find a boat," he said. "Surely she has no problem with that." Drake waited for an objection, but he heard none.

"Seems that's fine."

"Did she say so?" His Mother asked.

"No, but she didn't object to it either, so I'm assuming. You sure Jellal is alright with that?"

"I'll make him alright with it if he objects," His Dad muttered. "So don't worry about that."

"Huh. Well, alright then. I guess we have a plan."

"I guess we do," his Dad said. There was another silence before his Mom stood up and brushed at her lap.

"I'll make us some tea," she said, "and we can discuss what needs to be done. I also have something to say." She watched Drake pointedly, a hand over her stomach. Ah yes, that. He'd almost forgotten amid the excitement. At this point Wendy was the only other person who knew, as she'd confirmed it for them. As his Mom left the room, Drake looked to his Dad.

"You alright?" He asked him. His Dad made a face.

"I should be asking you," he said. "You look like shit."

"Thanks," he replied sarcastically, his wings flapping in response. "That makes me feels loads better." His Dad huffed at this.

"I just don't get it," he said. "I don't have this problem, so why do you? Why do you need antibodies but I don't?" Drake thought back to what the voice had said.

"Probably has to do with how you use it," he said. "After all, a dragon didn't teach you. The lacrima in your body gave you the ability to use it."

"But it's still 'fake' Dragon Magic," his Dad said. "And I taught you. So why are you affected?"

"I guess because a real Dragon taught me," Drake answered smoothly. "Even if that dragon used 'fake' magic, my learning was all real."

"Nice one, suck-up," his Dad replied with a sigh as he leaned back on the couch. "I suppose I won't be teaching your younger sibling any Dragon Magic."

"Yeah, I guess-" Drake froze. "Wait, you know?"

"Of course I know," his Dad said snarkily. "I smelt it on her the second I walked in the room. Can't you?"

"I don't go around sniffing my Mom," Drake replied.

"Don't be a smart ass, I'm serious. Doesn't she smell different?" Drake made a face, but figured it was worth a try. Inhaling and focusing on his mother's scent, he found his Dad was right. She did smell different. It was a slight difference, but it was there.

"I take it, from the face you're making, that you can sense it now." His Dad said. "She smells different, right?"

"Yeah," Drake replied. "It's...I don't know, I can't identify it."

"It's hormones," His Dad said. "Her body's producing hormones while pregnant. Our noses can detect it."

"Gross."

"Don't be a weirdo, it's a sign of life for God's sake."

"Still weird." After ribbing his Dad, Drake took a moment to think about what he'd said. Come to think of it, Drake's sister in the future timeline, Kaida, hadn't used Dragon Slayer Magic. She'd used Transformation Magic to turn into a giant, flying snake like there Mom could. Did this fall into the category of certain facts that the future had no matter what? He'd been playing with that theory for a while now, and this certainly worked within that. Because now, with his Dad not going to teach her, she'd probably learn that magic. Interesting. Before he could think about it anymore, his Mom walked back in with three cups of tea.

"Now, Erik, I've been meaning to tell you..."

Nashi listened halfheartedly to Damien and Steph argue, but what about she had no idea. Whatever it was, Damien was taking great pleasure in annoying her. Steph looked pretty annoyed, which made her smile. The little things that made things feel normal meant the world to her. Like they weren't just about to jump into the void.

Looking up, Nashi saw Drake approaching them from the doorway. He'd managed to hide his appearance to everyone outside the guild by somehow shoving his wings into his jacket and then pulling up his hood. He looked awkward and stiff, but it made him look more normal.

"Hey guys," he greeted as he stood in front of them. "Can I talk to you guys? Outside?"

"Why not here?" Simon asked curiously.

"I'd like a little privacy," he replied quietly. "Out back, if that's okay." Nashi made a face and exchanged it with Elise, but got up with everyone else and followed Drake out to the backyard behind the guild. The yard was covered in a light layer of snow, with extended far back into the woods to the left and a ledge overlooking the sea. Drake seemed to watch it with a forlorn expression.

"So what's going on?" Elise asked, "Why did you call us out here?" Drake didn't reply to her at first, but finally he sighed and turned to them.

"I want to be honest with you guys," he said. He pulled his hood back, revealing his scaled face. Even though he was half-way through transforming, The rugged handsomeness of his face was still prominent. Nashi tried not to think about it. "I think I have a way to solve my problem."

"Well what is it, then?" Steph asked, "Stop wasting time!" Drake watched her quietly before he sighed.

He began by explaining how he'd been hearing a voice, a voice that told him it could solve his problem. He explained how he'd talked to his parents about it, and how he was catching a ride with Crime Sociere to Hargeon to find a boat. Apparently he was to sail to an uncharted island to find his help. They were completely silent throughout, no one saying a word. When Drake finished, he watched them warily. Clearly, their opinion meant a lot to him.

"Did your Mom ask if you were insane yet?" Elise asked.

"She might have implied it," Drake replied.

"Did she push it, though," Elise wondered. "Like, did she try and find you a therapist or something? Cause this is insane."

"Elise is right," Simon said, "Do you really think this is wise?"

"What isn't wise is acting like the teams out right now will find something," Drake said. "Did you guys find anything?" No one said anything. "That's what I thought. It's pointless to look for leads, there are none. This is all we have."

"Drake," Ultear tried, "Elise is right. Trusting this voice isn't a good idea. It could be anyone or anything trying to lure you in!"

"And what other choice do I have?" Drake asked. "Hope my mind survives the transformation into a dragon? Because I know the odds of that. I read enough books with Wendy to remember." Nashi didn't know what to say. Was she supposed to agree with this?

"How long would you be gone?" She asked finally. He shrugged.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "It would only take a few hours to fly to Hargeon, and the voice said it might take a few days. But after that...I don't know."

"Then let us go with you!" Steph said, "we can't let you go alone!"

"You have to," he said. "That's what the voice said.

"Screw what the voice said!" Steph exclaimed, "we can't let you sail into God knows what with no one to back you up!"

"But it doesn't sound like he has a choice," Damien said. "After all, he's right. He only know of one way to solve dragonification, but only a Poison Dragon could do it. And we're fresh out of those."

"What about that dragon Nessia mentioned?" Elise asked, "What was her name Nashi? Mercuria?"

"Yeah," Nashi said. "That's it. Queen of Toxins, presumably the strongest Poison Dragon."

"We could look for her!" Steph said.

"And how long would that take?" Damien asked. "Where exactly are we going to find a four-hundred year old, God knows how big Poison Dragon? That's if she's even alive." No one said anything. "I figured as much."

"But we can't-!" Elise tried.

"We have too," Simon said, a sad frown on his face. "As shit as it is, we have to let Drake follow this path. We have no other way." Drake looked relieved some of them were siding with him.

"Nashi," Elise tried, tugging on Nashi's arm. "Tell them this is insane! Drake can't go alone, right? Right?!"

Nashi gave Elise a frown, before staring at the ground. She didn't know what to say. Her initial response was no. She didn't want Drake to go, much less alone. That wasn't something she was inclined to agree with. But when she looked back up at her friend, and say how his face was beginning to deform from the transformation. She saw how his wings fought against the fabric of his jacket, and it made her sad. She didn't want him to turn into a dragon if they could prevent it. And they might have been able too. They just needed to let him go.

Which was the problem, wasn't it?

"Nashi!" Elise said, looking irritated. "Right?!" Nashi closed her eyes in exasperation before she opened them and met Drake's eyes. He was waiting for her, already watching her.

"...Do you think this is the only way?" She asked quietly. Drake nodded.

"I do." She closed her eyes again, fighting off the wave of anxiety she felt from the answer that welled up within her.

"Did the voice say when to leave?"

"Tonight." Seriously? Tonight? That was too quick. She couldn't come to terms with it that quickly!

"Then you'd better pack a bag. I think you should go."

I'm into making drama between characters. Can you tell? I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!