Crimzon: Well, I guess two reviews are okay . . . though it does make me sad.

Happy: But didn't one of them say that the review button wasn't working?

Crimzon: Damn technical difficulties. Well, I hope you all like this chapter. Please read, review and enjoy and I OWN NOTHING!

The Price to Remember

~Nora's POV~

I wasn't sure how long I was sitting there crying like a little baby. I had gone years without shedding a single tear. Now, with this mission, it just seems like it's getting more difficult with each passing minute. All of this guilt and shame, it continues to come at me with all of its might and my barrier can only hold for so long. I keep wondering if what I'm doing is the right thing. Every time I feel my thoughts start to waver, I think of Elliot and the pain he had gone through. The pain of me leaving him behind, the pain he went through with training in order to follow in my footsteps, and worst of all, the pain he probably felt when I wasn't able to save him from the monster he was forced to become.

That fateful night, I had pleaded to Master not to force Elliot to become a Dragon Slayer, that he was only a kid and wouldn't be able to handle the training. Of course, he had ignored me and continued with his training behind my back. It was one day that I had come back from a mission that I found my brother's lifeless body in the training hall. At the time, he wasn't really dead, but the look in his eyes said different. He seemed soulless . . . broken. I had only seen him like that once before and that was after our parents had died.

~Flashback~

"Elliot!" my lungs were burning as I ran down the long halls of the castle. I had only just arrived from a mission when I had overheard one of the guards talking about Elliot. "Poor kid," they said, "being put through something so traumatic at such a young age." I knew who they were talking about and I knew what was happening at that moment. I called for whatever adrenaline I had left and started sprinting. All I could really think was getting there before it was too late. I had to stop Elliot before something happened to him.

It was when I got to the giant ornate double doors did I realize I was too late. The stench of blood was thick in the air and I could feel my stomach churn in disgust. Fear enveloped me as I placed a trembling, sweaty palm against the door and pushed with whatever strength I had left.

The scene inside the enormous room was frightening. Puffs of smoke swept across the floor, concealing my legs. Blood was spattered all over: on the walls, the floor, everywhere. I noticed pieces of flesh caked the floor around me and all I could think at that moment was where my little brother was. I ignored the bile that threatened to escape. I ignored the pounding headache that threatened to split my head in two. I ignored everything I was feeling and concentrated on finding my brother.

"Elliot!" I yelled into the room. I heard laughter coming from high above the room. I looked up to see Master standing at a small balcony. It was high up off the ground and it was put there just so he could watch us becoming true Dragon Slayers. It was sickening how he could watch the horrors we had to commit under his orders. I knew it was his fault that all of this happened. And it was also my fault for not trying harder to stop this from happening.

"Ah, come to watch the show, Nora? I'm sorry, but you're a tad bit late." He chuckled once more and looked down at a figure below. It didn't take me long to follow his gaze and see the silhouette of someone standing at the very center of the room. I couldn't see, due to all of the smoke, but as it started to clear, so did the figure. I started hearing manic laughter and for a moment, I thought it was coming from Master . . . and I really wished it was. There, standing in the midst of all the bits and pieces of flesh and pools of blood, was none other than my dear little brother.

"Elliot . . ." I saw his head turn in my direction, his clothes were torn and caked in blood . . . none of which was his. I saw the empty look in his eyes, as if he had gone to hell and back. "Elliot . . ." I mumbled his name once more, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. He smiled sweetly, as if nothing were wrong, and let out a raspy chuckle.

"I did it, Nora. I'm a Dragon Slayer now . . . I can fight with you now," he smiled. I couldn't respond to that . . . I was too much in shock to say anything. He then looked down at his hands and I could see the heat emanating from them. "I'm no longer a burden to you, Nora-neechan."

~End Flashback~

I punched the ground below me once more, trying to suck in the tears that continued to escape me. I needed to get back to the city and keep an eye on Lucy before something else happens. I needed to get my mind off of Elliot and back on the mission.

~General POV~

Gajeel was beyond annoyed. Levy had dragged him to a library to help sort through books and all he wanted to do at the moment was punch a hole in the wall.

"Find anything yet, Gajeel?" asked Levy as she set aside her hundredth book and went to number 101. Gajeel looked over to his pitiful pile of four and picked up number five. He sighed and shook his head, feeling completely useless. Now he knew what those weaker than him felt.

Pantherlily hovered down form one of the top shelves with a giant dusty book that was close to slipping out of his paws. Levy looked up to the Exceed and, for once, did not recognize the book he had.

"What do you have there, Lily?" she asked as he dropped the book right next to the girl. She removed her magic glasses and studied it carefully.

"I found it hidden behind a few other books. It seems like it was put there so no one would find it." He said. Gajeel got up from his spot on the floor and walked over to look over Levy's shoulder as she opened the dusty book. Some of the pages were so old that the letters were fading. Levy had never seen a book like it nor did she have a clue as to who could have written it. She looked at the title and on it was the very thing she was hoping to find.

"Legend of Trinity," she mumbled, re-opening the book to the very front page. There, on the inside cover was a name written in intricate cursive letters.

"Could that be the author?" asked Pantherlily. Levy didn't say anything. She quickly skimmed through the pages and saw that it was all completely hand written along with a few sketches on every other page.

"Levy?" mumbled Gajeel. Levy looked up at him and smiled.

"I think we found our book." She flipped back to the inside cover and attempted to read the faded writing. "Ana I. Cul . . . I've never heard of this author before. I wonder who it could be."

"Whoever it may be should be dead now. From what we heard, the Kingdom of Trinity existed way before Fiore," commented Gajeel.

"Yeah, you're right. Well, we have the book. Let's see what we can find before catching up with the others." She said as she put on her magic reading glasses and started flipping through the book.

~One Hour Later~

Because the writing was difficult to understand, it took longer for Levy to get through the book, even with the magic glasses. It was when she got to the end of the book that she slammed it shut and set it aside, not bothering to take another glance at it.

"Levy?" murmured Pantherlily. Gajeel looked over to the silent girl and wondered what could be wrong.

"There was nothing there that was helpful."

"Are you sure?" asked Gajeel.

"Of course!" she snapped only for her to realize that she had snapped at him out of irritation. "Sorry."

"Well, what did you find?" asked Pantherlily, trying not to irritate her more.

"Just everything we already know, except for . . ."

"For what?" asked Gajeel.

"Well, it went more into detail, as if this person witnessed everything. If only it had something about helping Lucy," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. Gajeel, feeling a slight bit sympathetic, stepped closer to her and placed his hand on her head. It was his own way of reassuring her that everything would turn out alright. Of course, he'd never say that with spoken words.

Levy clenched her teeth and rammed herself into Gajeel, wrapping her arms around him. This surprised him greatly. He stayed completely still, looking over to his cat friend for help. Shame for him, Pantherlily shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention elsewhere. Fully knowing that she wasn't intending of letting go anytime soon, he sighed and wrapped one arm around her while scratching the back of his head with the other.

"I feel so useless. Here I thought that I could find something in books to help Lucy, but now I think that our best bet would be in a fairy tale." She mumbled into his chest. He closed his eyes and thought carefully about what he could say.

"Don't worry, we'll find something," was all he could think of saying.

~Lucy's POV~

The rest of the day went by uneventful . . . except that I kept getting really bad migraines. At some point, I'm not sure when, Natsu made me go to bed, saying I needed rest. Erza and Gray had left just before that to go get something to eat. I offered to cook for them, but they refused . . . which they never do. All I can really think at this point was that they were hiding something from me. Whenever I tried asking Natsu, he'd get this pained expression in his eyes and turn away, saying it's nothing. That he's just worried. Now, I can't help but worry that there is something that they are deliberately keeping from me.

I laid there in bed with the covers pulled just below my shoulders. Happy was snoring away right next to me while Natsu sat at the edge of the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Natsu?" I mumbled without really meaning to. He looked over his shoulder with a questioning glance.

"Hmm?"

"You sure everything is alright?" I asked, probably for the thousandth time today.

"Yeah, of course." He answered, just a bit too quickly. I rolled my eyes and sighed, knowing full well that he wasn't going to tell me anything. I closed my eyes and attempted to get some sleep when I felt something patting my leg. I opened my eyes and saw Natsu patting my leg with his hand.

"Natsu, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Uh, well Igneel used to do this for me whenever I had trouble sleeping." He said with a faint smile on his face. I blushed and looked away. "Uh, if it bothers you then, I'll stop," he stuttered, sounding embarrassed. I then smiled and shook my head.

"No, it's okay."

Minutes passed and for some reason, I felt uneasy. I was fading in and out of my little dream world and it was then that I started hearing one of the voices again. I wasn't sure what it was saying at first but it sounded sincere. "Don't forget . . . don't forget who you are . . . who you really are."

What it said startled me wide awake. Why would I forget? I can't forget, right? I snuck a glance at Natsu and saw him still patting my leg.

"Natsu?" I mumbled. He looked over and smiled.

"What?"

"These memories from the past . . . you don't think that they'll make me forget, will they?" I asked. It was then that I felt Natsu's hand stop and he went completely still. For a moment, I thought that he was going to tell me 'yes' and I started feeling scared, but when he turned back to me with a smile, I felt some relief.

"No, no you won't forget," he said. I smiled in return and, for the first time in what felt like ages, I had a dreamless sleep.

Crimzon: Although it's short, I like what I did with this chapter. So, I hope you all liked it and please tell me what you think . . . preferably in a review haha.