Year: X790

"Where did it go, Sting-kun?" Lector questioned.

The twin dragons of Sabertooth, Fiore's strongest guild for the past four years, decided to split up on their latest mission. This time they were tracking two monsters so strong that no one had been able to subdue them in the past ten years.

Much to his chagrin, the one Sting was perusing was said to move at thrice the speed of most trains. After taking a moment to sniff it out, the dragon slayer found the beast's location.

"It's by the ruins a half mile ahead. We should hurry." He smelled something else in that direction, a perfume. Sweet and floral. She was young, maybe his age. The blond fancied he'd like to see what this girl looked like before she became a corpse.

Seventeen year old Yukino Aguria dug through the decrepit remnants of the dark guild Grimore Heart. She was searching for Capricorn, the last of the twelve zodiac keys. According to an urban legend it had last been seen with members of that organization.

Maybe when she found it, she'd finally be strong enough to approach Sabertooth.

Suddenly, a piercing roar sounded and a great serpentine beast crashed through the wall above her head. Yukino rolled out of the way of the flying debris and stared up at the scowling monstrosity. It was jet black with red glowing eyes and patches of green-grey scales on its face and back.

"Open: Gate of the Scales!" She called as it locked her in its sights. "Libra! Cancel his gravity!"

As the serpent flew toward Yukino, he was pushed up onto the roof. The beast started writhing, struggling violently against her magic.

"T-this strength is incredible." Libra strove to keep full control of her scales. "I'm not sure how long I can hold him."

"I understand." The celestial mage pulled out another of her keys. "Pisces! Restrain him."

The black and white fish spirits wound themselves around the serpent, one at the neck and the other at the tail, making it impossible for the monster to escape Libra's anti-gravity zone.

Beads of sweat dotted the young wizard's forehead. Neither of these spirits could actually defeat the monster in combat and she hadn't the power to summon more than two at a time.

She could only hold it in place, and when she ran out of magical power the serpent would surely eat her alive. "This is just my luck," she sighed.

"White dragon's roar!" Just then a laser ran through the beast's middle. However, it's flesh quickly began to regenerate.

Yukino had to dodge to avoid being hit with the backlash. "Hey!" She called, before she could hold her tongue. "Please be a bit more careful! If these celestial spirits disappear, it would be very unfortunate for us both."

It was then when Sting realized that the infernal beast was actually still for a change. He glanced at Yukino curiously. A small voice in his head commented that she was even cuter than he'd anticipated. "You did that?"

"Yes," she breathed, starting to feel dizzy from the heavy strain on her magic. "But it won't last for much longer."

"Take a break. I've got it from here." With that he immobilized the beast with his own magic. "White dragon's claw."

Yukino sent the spirits back and leaned against the wall, catching her breath. It was then when she got a good look at the young man, and at the guild mark on his left shoulder. It was him; one of Sabertooth's twin dragons.

"Holy Nova!" With that the monster was vaporized, bringing the ten year task to a close. Eight million jewels, easy.

Afterward he turned to the celestial wizard who was staring at him, clearly stupefied. "Come with me."

"W-what?" For some reason she found it hard to breathe under his sharp cerulean gaze.

"To get a cut of the reward," he clarified, smirking at her flustered expression. "I'm not gonna try to seduce you, or something." Not yet, at least.

"Sting-kun is fair like that." Lector affirmed, nodding proudly.

"You don't have to," she responded, looking down deferentially. "After all, if you didn't come along it would have killed me eventually."

"You're a morbid one, aren't you?" The dragon slayer asked rhetorically. "But seriously, just take the money. I don't like feeling indebted to anyone."

"We insist!" Lector chimed in.

"But you-"

"I'd still be chasing the thing if you weren't here. So, come on." With little regard to personal space, he took the girl by the hand and pulled her toward the exit.

She knew that she'd remember every detail that small contact for years to come.

"What was your name, again?" The dragon slayer asked when they'd been on the road for awhile. Long silences were Rogue's thing, not his.

"Yukino," she replied shyly. "Yukino Aguria."

"Nice to meet 'ya, Yukino-kun. I'm Lector," the exceed announced. "And of course you already know who Sting-kun is."

"I can't imagine there's anyone who doesn't," she said with honest admiration in her voice.

Everyone knew that the twin dragons were the very heart of Sabertooth's strength.

Sting smirked again to himself. A more modest person would have blushed at being praised by such a cute girl. Though he hated to admit it, he was starting to take a liking to her. "What were you doing all the way out there, anyway?"

"I was looking for something," she sighed. "I had a feeling it wouldn't be there, but I had to try anyway."

"What kind of thing?" Sabertooth's influence was as strong as it was far reaching. He might have helped her if the notion struck his fancy.

"The last of the twelve zodiac keys," she explained. "I have two, and nine of them disappeared six years ago with a wizard named Lucy Heartfilia."

"What a waste," he commented. He remembered that a girl named Lucy had been Natsu's partner. Maybe his girl, too, but no one really knew about that bit. "Fairy Tail, huh? I actually wanted to join that guild when I was younger."

"They were once very popular, if I remember correctly," Yukino mused, as they reached the village.

"Yeah, but it's just a bunch of losers left there now. No self respecting mage would end up in such a weak guild."

As they walked through the small village the pair received a hero's welcome, complete with small children requesting autographs.

"Cool! COOL!" Jason, the reporter exclaimed. He caught them right in front of the mayor's office and started snapping pictures. "Gold keys? I haven't seen such cool magical items in years!"

Sting sighed. Killing a reporter would probably create bad publicity for the guild. "Just pose, Yukino," he advised.

"A dragon slayer and a celestial spirit summoner. I haven't seen this cool combination since Fairy Tail's Natsu and Lucy. It's like a reincarnation," he went on. "Saber is TOO COOL! This is my front page story!" He sped away, off to get started on what he was sure would be the best article of the year.

"Please wait, Jason-sama!" She called after him, to no avail. "Is this alright?" She asked Sting. "I mean, I'm not in Sabertooth."

"You should be," was his calculated response. Fiore's strongest guild should have what must have been its strongest celestial mage. "But we can just get him to print a retraction. What guild are you actually in?"

"I'm still independent," she replied as they entered the building. The mayor's accountant handed Sting the sum of eight thousand jewels, half of which he gave to Yukino without a second thought.

After taking a second to gawk at the large wad of money, she tucked it into her purse and continued. "I've gotten offers from Pegasus and Lamia, but I've been holding out."

"Lamia and Pegasus are both stronger guilds than Mermaid Heel," he advised, thinking that was where she wanted to join. "Don't be drawn in."

Yukino took a deep breath. It was now of never. "Actually, Sting-sama, the guild I've been aiming for is Sabertooth." And if luck was on her side, she just hit the mark.

"Your wait is over," he said decisively. "I'll get you in as soon as we get back."

Her face lit up, eyes welling with tears of joy. "Really?"

"Of course," Lector affirmed. "Sting-kun always keeps his promises."

"Thank you, Sting-sama!" She exclaimed. "Thank you, so much!"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't thank me yet."

Getting her in would be one thing, if he could even manage that, but there'd be no protecting this innocent girl once she was dropped inside of the tigers' den.

Author's notes: Thanks for reading, everyone! Chapter two is already up on tumblr. Feel free to check it out.