Chapter 1

I was cooking dinner when the door flew open. It was Mom, she removed her coat and smiling vibrantly at me. Michelle, My little sister, who was sitting at the dinner table noticed her unusual expression as well.

"What happened, Mom?" She smiled too. "I bet it's good, isn't it??" She leaned on the side of the table. She nodded to Michelle before turning to me.

"Lucy." Her smile grew bigger. "I have good news for you." I could see she was extremely happy about something. She was always smiling, but this is the first time I've ever seen her really happy after my father died.

"What is it?" I asked her, happy seeing her like this. I've always wished to see this face of her. It was hard to see a real happy and excited face in the world. This way was hard, but people have divisions here. Of course, it depends on the magic of your ancestors. 'A' was the royal dragon slayer family that reigned over whole Magnolia. B's and C's were the people who's ancestors had a strong connection to the other stronger countries around Magnolia. D's were average people who had less trouble than the E's like me who struggle to earn enough for the family. There's also the F's who are the lowest in the society, they serve people to earn money. E's are suppose to earn money, in specific means of performing, such as playing instruments, singing, anything creative.

We used to be a C, but instantly everything was gone when the business made a little mistake and cost my dad the job he earn years to attain. The Heartfilia Konzern was no more due to the stack of debts that kept raining down on us. Unaffordable, we sold the mansion just to pay for everything. So we were left in a normal house, a little poor, but I'm fine with all of this. Dad left to get a job out of the country, but the money he was earning was low, still, it was higher than what me and mom earned here in Magnolia. Everything between me, Michelle and my mother disappeared, all the problems, we were sometimes hungry, but at least happy that we're still together in this struggling situation.

I've never had interest in performing anything. Singing? I wouldn't let anyone hear me. I know I'm awful at it. Painting? Haven't tried it, but all I had was a passion for writing a book and hoping that it'll be a great and famous novel.....but, People say it's impossible for an E to publish a book, but I say it is. I stared at her, waited for her reply.

"After a long wait, they've finally announced it." Her expression was calm, but her voice was full of excitement. They? Announced? What's she talking about? "Here." She slid a large brown envelop across the table.

"That's for you." She smiled. "Tell me your decision when your ready." The smile couldn't be removed out of her face as she turned her back on me and went upstairs to rest like she always did. What was it that she was so happy about? I grabbed the brown envelop while Michelle clung to my arm.

"What is it, Luce??" Her curiosity is really cute. She let go off my arm and I watched her jump up and down in excitement. "Open it up, Luce! Open it!" She's busting with excitement. We don't usually get envelops or letters, so this is a new thing for us.

"Hold on a sec." I untied the knot and opened it. There was a piece of paper with the bold words on top saying.

'DRAGON'S CHOOSING' Then I suddenly realize and remembered what this is. It was a form. Does mom want me to fill it out?

Michelle gasped.

"Oh. My. Gosh!!!! Lucy!! Do you know what this means???" She asked, so much excitement just waiting to burst out of her. I nodded, speechless.

"What are you waiting for?!? Fill it out!!" She exclaimed, tugging on the sleeve of my shirt. I knew this program was very important to magnolia, but selling myself out? To a crips and tidy prince? It's just like being a puppet. I smiled at Michelle and patted her head.

"I'm going to my room. Dinner is done, so why not check if the soup isn't so hot." I walked up the stairs, hands fidgeting behind my back and still thinking of what I should say to my mom. I stood in front of her door, hesitating to even knock. I'm a bit nervous. This form could change my life, my family's life.

"Come in." I opened the door. She was sitting on her bed, giggling as she was looking at old pictures. I sat beside her, trying to peek at the pictures myself.

"Mom." I said softly.

"Hmm?" Her tone sounded happy. How could I tell this to her??

"Well," I gulped. "I opened the envelop." I said with a happy mixed with worry tone. She turned to look at me with, still, the smile that I've missed so much.

"What do you think? Have you decided yet?" Her expression calm. It was a bit easier for me to say it with her eyes still and composed.

"Mom," I placed my hand on hers, trying to prepare her for what I'm going to say. I squeezed it. "I don't think I can fill this out yet. I'm really sorry. I know you wanted me to be a part of it, but I don't think I can." I closed my eyes, waiting for a shout of the word 'what?!' Or a disappointed sigh, but no. I didn't get any of them. I opened my eyes and felt her hand rubbing on my head, with the same smile as before. I looked up, surprised she didn't react the way I expected her to.

"Darling, don't apologize." She pulled my head up.

"But, weren't you really excited of me joining it?" I asked in a bit of sadness and confusion in my voice.

She shook her head. "Of course I am, because that's what you kept telling me when we were little. That you wanted to be a princess and live with the prince, remember?" She looked at me with a sly smile and a raised brow. I giggled, recollecting my memories of my past hopes and dreams. I remembering that I used to hear stories from my mother about Queen Grandine, who won the Dragon's culling, when she was still a normal girl. She was beautiful, dazzling with poise and grace. It was only stories and pictures, but it was enough for me to see how handsome the king was when he was young and how beautiful the palace was. The dresses were amazing! Gorgeous! Mom always told me that with that contest, you could marry a real prince, live in a palace, be a princess and rule over Magnolia with the prince. And being a little kid, I've dreamt to join, but now that I'm grown up....I don't think I can.

"Yeah, I remember. I used to fantasies myself in those thick and stiff dresses."

"But you wore dress in the mansion before."

"But have you seen the palace's dresses?" I joked. She laughed and I followed.

Then there was silence between us. A comfortable silence that let us reminisce the old day when my family was still a whole. She did a comforting rub on my shoulder.

"Didn't you dream about joining the Dragon's choosing? You always jumped up and down just like Michelle does whenever I tell you a story about the Dragon's choosing. What happened, dear?" She stood up and grabbed a framed family picture that was safely kept in her drawer.

"I.....I'm torn between two things, Mom" I looked down on the sheets of the bed. "I'll think about it.."

"Take all the time you need, honey." She smiled. I left the room, but I didn't want to leave the room leaving that dense atmosphere.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, to her surprise. "I've made dinner! Rate it on to ten, okay?" I smiled and giggled as if that discussion about a heavy decision weighing on my shoulders didn't happen at all and I just brushed it off of me.

She nodded. "I'm expecting the best!"

"And you won't be disappointed!" I replied and shut the door. As soon as the door was shut, I sighed and walked back to my room where I could be alone and everything was quiet. As soon as I entered my room, I jumped down on my bed and covered my head with my pillow. What am I suppose to do? Why the hell did this thing have to come up now? I started to argue with myself. Yes, I wanted to enter, but just to help Michelle and Mom to save up enough money to fix everything that's ought to be fixed in this house. And once that's done, I'll drop myself out of the competition! I thought before that it was as easy as that, but it's much more complicated than I've expected.

Crap! I don't want to stay in a palace with some crips and honey glazed prince! I want someone exciting...and I already have that guy! I smiled, hearing the pebbles thrown ot my window. I quickly jolted up to opened the window, but i suddenly got hit with a little pebble on the forehead.

"Ow!" I exclaimed in a whisper.

"Sorry." he chuckled softly. I looked at his figure that shadowed the grass, his dark blue hair glowing in the moon light and I couldn't stop myself from smiling. it was Gray Fullbuster, my--yet to be--Husband...well, he's secretly my boyfriend, no one knows it but the two of us. If anyone ever knew about this secret, I would be a huge disappointment to my mother. If I don't want to be a disgrace, why am I doing this might probably a good question to ask myself now, but the quickest and most honest answer I have is constantly laying in my mind in just three words.

I love him.

and Of course, He loves me too.

we have to be quiet or else we might attract attention. Not only is being with him like on a date is a broken rule enough, we're going past curfew. His lips moved to the word, "Let's go." He opened his arms, telling me to jump, and I did. He, as always, caught me in his strong arms that held me tight every time we're alone. I smiled.

"Nice catch." I smiled, tapping on his chest.

"I wouldn't let you fall, wouldn't I?" He put me down gently. "Unless of course, you were falling for me." He looked in my eyes with this melting stare. I giggled.

"Stop being corny!" I joked, blushing inside. "Come on." I grabbed his arm and wrapped mine in his.

"Right behind you." He whispered happily. I ran, knowing that Gray's just behind me, and because of that, I feel as if everything good just covered me. no problems, no choices, no magic levels, no struggles, no nothing! it's just me feeling free. Not alone, but both of us, trying to escape the painful past and the callous society we live in now.

I stop and sat quickly down in front of a river with Gray following after.

"So..." He was panting a loud after chasing me this far. "how's your day?" He smiled like a little kid.

"Not so good." I stated.

"What happened? Something wrong?" He asked softly, trying to know what I was talking about and, probably, try and soothe the worry away.

"It's just...." I didn't want to tell him, but I had to. I need to. "This morning, my mother gave me a form..."

"To what?" He tilted his head forward to face me. "You can tell me." I hesitated for a second and the next seconds wondered why I even hesitated. This is Gray I'm talking to. I slid my fingers through my hair and turned to him.

"To the Dragon's choosing..." I answered. He was silent for a while and didn't make a readable expression.

"Does she want you to....?" I nodded sadly. Then the air suddenly became light when he leaned back, lying on the grass and smiled.

"It's your decision, Lucy." He grabbed my hand and pulled it, making me lie on the grass with him. "You'd be a pretty awesome princess though."

"Of course," He laughed. "I'm just confused. I mean, If I do this--"

"It could help your family, right?" He continued. I nodded. He knew me too well. Actually, he knew this through experience, his level was much lower than mine. I was an E and Gray's an F, even when he has three, almost, siblings and, just like me, a single mother.

"And yours. I'll be helping your family as well to the best of what I can." I smiled. His face didn't.

"That's really nice, Lucy." He turned to look at the glistening reflection from the moon light. "But, It's okay. I can handle it.." He, finally, smiled and rubbed my head playfully, ruining my side ponytail.

"Ah," I laughed. "Stop. You'll ruin my hair!" He chuckled.

"So, what are you going to do? About the D.C. I mean." Oh, yeah, going back to the Dragon's choosing....

"Any questions? suggestions? Violent reactions?" I joked. He laughed. "Speak now or forever hold your peace." He laughed again and kissed my forehead.

"You're always making things light in heavy situations." His smile of being cheerful, turned into a smile that pierced through my heart. It made me feel warm inside. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but shut it and stared at me. "W...We should go back. It's getting late. We wouldn't want to anyone to see us."

I nodded with a smile. We both stood up and I saw Gray unbuttoning his shirt. Looks like stripper boy's gonna do his thing. I giggled silently and put my hand on his shoulder, raising the other one.

"Let's hurry!" I stated playfully. Then he suddenly carried me in his arms and ran.

"Gray! Put me down!" A smile started to crawl on my face.

"Don't worry! You're not heavy at all." He chuckled.

"I am! aren't I??" And we started to begin a playful quarrel.

"No you're not. You're as light as a truck!" I tapped on his head and that followed by his laughter. "Just kidding. You're not heavy, Lucy. Don't sweat it." I smiled and let him carry me.

He stopped by the house and helped me climb back up the window. I shut the glass window and looked at him. He blinked at me and ran to where he lived.

I jumped back down my bed, feeling a bit of rush and happiness mixed together. Ahh, It's really sad to see Gray only once a week, but it's going to be hard to meet like that every night. I should just be contented...for now.

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I didn't go with the Ones and Fives thing. I didn't want to copy the whole idea of it, but as you can see. I'm making my own ploy twist. Don't expect it to be exactly like the selection, because I'm going to surprise you with every chapter.

Hope you guys like it! Pick a shipping will'ya? Haha. This isn't a Graylu fanfic, nor is it a Nalu. Its decided on who wins the Dragon's choosing. :)) This is a Fairy Tail fanfic.

💟🔑HeartInTheKeys💟🔑