Crimzon: OMG, I am loving your guys' reviews right now . . . I think I might cry -sniff,sniff-
Happy: Crimzon-chan can cry?
Crimzon: HEY, I FEEL EMOTIONS SOMETIMES!
Charla: Yes, but that's mostly anger and sarcasm.
Crimzon: . . . mean -rolls eyes- Well, I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL, ONLY OCS! READ, REVIEW AND ENJOY!
~The Price to Remember~
~General POV~
"I'm sorry Natsu. I really don't know what will happen once she remembers, otherwise I'd tell you."
"So what the hell can I do?" he growled through his teeth. Nora sighed, giving him a sympathetic expression.
"All you can really do for her is be by her side and hope for the best." With that last statement said, Natsu let go of his grip on her and made his way back to the infirmary. It was before he was out of sight that Nora said one last thing. "Don't tell Lucy. Things won't go well for her if she starts to panic . . . especially in her current condition."
The conversation from only moments ago kept replaying in his mind. Even though Nora told him that there wasn't much of anything he could do for Lucy, that didn't stop him from trying to think of a solution. It was when he came back into the infirmary that he was bombarded with questions.
"What did Nora say, Natsu?" asked Gray. They knew that there was more to the story that she wasn't able to say in front of them, especially Lucy. Natsu couldn't tell them, he didn't have the heart to, but he knew that they had to know. Before he could really say anything, he looked over to Lucy and smiled as if nothing were wrong.
"Ne, Lucy. Why don't you get some sleep because the moment you're all rested up, we're going on a job!"
Lucy could tell that Natsu was hiding something from her because of his random change in mood, but decided not to question. It was then she realized how tired she was and fell right to sleep. The others gave Natsu a worried glance, but said nothing. In a whisper, he turned to the two Exceeds.
"You two stay here with Lucy." Then he looked to the others and motioned for them to follow. Once they got to the front of the guild, they sat at a table just out of ear shot of the other members. Last thing Natsu wanted was everyone causing a panic.
~Somewhere Outside Magnolia~
Not far from the town, two unknown figures stood by a large oak tree.
"The countdown has begun," mentioned one. The other nodded and let out an exhausted sigh. "You realize that Nora is here."
"Yeah, and?"
"You really don't feel the same for her as before?" he asked again. The second figure was reluctant to respond. " . . . Emrick?"
"It's my mission. If she gets in my way, then I'll have no choice but to cut her down. Besides, like Luciana, she's a traitor as well." The one called Emrick stood up from his crouched position and made his way down the hill towards the city.
~Back at the Guild~
Pantherlily joined the group just when Natsu sat them down at the table to tell them what Nora had told him. After he told them, they were dead quiet. Erza was the first one to break the silence.
"Seven days?" she murmured to herself.
"Will she get her memories of us back?" asked Wendy. Natsu was looking down at the table and shook his head.
"Nora said that she doesn't know whether or not she'll get them back. She just said to stay close to her and make this week last." He clenched his hands together in frustration. Gray was about to jump up from his seat and beat him sensless for thinking that there was nothing they could do when Gajeel beat him to the punch . . . literally. The Iron Dragon Slayer jumped up from the bench, over the table to Natsu's side and threw a right jab at his jaw, causing him to fly into the nearby wall. The other guild members took notice for a second then looked away, thinking that it was just another daily brawl between guild members.
"So is that it? You're giving up?" he growled in anger. Natsu grunted as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head.
"Gajeel?" murmured Pantherlily.
"What happened to the hothead who stopped at nothing to rescue Blondie from me, huh?" he questioned as he walked over to Natsu. He leaned over and grabbed him by his precious scarf then slammed him into the part of the wall that wasn't damaged. "You wouldn't stop when you came to rescue Lucy and not even for a moment did it occur to you to give up." He yelled. Natsu didn't bother fighting back. Instead, he just took it. Gajeel saw the look on his face and could tell that he want getting through to him, so he does the only logical thing to do . . . beat the lights out of him until he gets it. But before he could, he felt a pair of small hands rest on his raised arm. He looked down and noticed Levy standing there with a saddened expression.
"Stop it, Gajeel."
"When the hell did you –"
"I heard you guys talking, and I think that maybe I can help."
"Wait, you heard?" gasped Wendy, not sure of where Levy had come from.
"So you know about Lucy's 'situation'?" asked Erza. Levy nodded her head.
"Yeah, I do and maybe I can help her in some way. Lucy is a dear friend and I want to do what I can."
"Well Natsu, did you realy expect us to go and give up like you are now?" Questioned Gray as he walked over without a shirt . . . again. No one bothered to metion it. Natsu looked down, avoiding everyone's gaze. He felt ashamed that he could ever think of giving up like this. A sly smile then crossed his face and he raised his fist in the air.
"Alright! Levy, what's you plan?" he asked her. Everyone chuckled at his sudden change in mood as they returned to the table to hear Levy's idea.
"I heard everything Natsu said and I also heard the story Nora was telling you all before. I'm sure she noticed me eavesdropping, but probably didn't find it as something she should bother with." She sighed, "Anyway, I have also heard of that story and maybe if I look back in some old books I inherited then maybe I can find something that can help Lucy." She explained. Levy knew that the only way to find some kind of remedy to this then the answer was hidden in the past.
The group of mages discussed their plan. During the seven days, Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Wendy were going to stay by Lucy's side while Levy was going to spend that time researching.
"Well, this might take some time so I should get started." She stood up then stared over at Gajeel. He raised an eyebrow in a questioning look. Levy then grabbed onto his arm with both hands then started draggin him away from the table.
"Where the hell are you taking me?" he yelled.
"I need all the help I can get. You can come too, Pantherlily!" she called over to the silent black exceed. He let out a slight smile and jumped off the table to follow them.
~Not far outside the guild~
Nora sat next to the river with her legs dangling over the edge.
"Careful, Miss!" called over some random guy in a passing fishing boat. She merely smiled and waved in response. All I have to do is protect her for seven days and then . . . she looked down at her at the dog tags around her neck.
"Elliot, Im going to save you. I promise . . ." she murmured to herself. It was at that moment that she felt someone standing behind her. She knew who it was without having to look over her shoulder. Letting instinct take over, she quickly got to her feet then jumped off to the side then jumped up and landed on the otherside of the river.
"Emrick . . ."
"Hello Nora. I hear you're the one protecting the traitor?" he asked. Pure white hair and slightly tan skin. Onyx eyes that looked like a void. On him was a white dress shirt with black slacks with matching dress shoes with white gloves covering his hands.
"Why are you here?" she managed to say.
"My job. I'm here to make sure that Fiore doesn't fall like Trinity." He said. He brough up a gloved hand and covered one of his eyes. A dark aura started to surround him as random white feathers started to fall around him. "Even it is you standing in my way, then I have no choice but to cut you down." I could tell he wasn't joking. He was charging up his magic and he was going to hit me with all he has. White feathered wings formed on his back as random patches of silver scales appeared on his cheeks and down his neck. His ears grew until they had a slight tip as fangs started to peer from under his lip. This is the true power of a Dragon Slayer.
Crimzon: dum dudum dum
Happy: ? ? ?
Crimzon: Im adding suspense!
Happy: Can I have some fish?
Crimzon: You're just ignoring me arent you? Well whatever. Yeah, it's short, but hey . . . I'm just evil that way.
Nora: Hell yeah, you are.
Crimzon: . . . why do I feel insulted. Anyways, please review and maybe I'll add another chappie later this week . . . hard to say since I have finals to study for, but whatever haha.