Forget Me Not- NaLu

Thank You

Chapter 16- Thank You For Making Me Stronger

"Now," Lucy said. "Let's go find the wench and research."

"Like Hell you will!" Lucy's head snapped to the direction of the voice. Her eyes widened. Could that be. . .? No, the change is too sudden. Yet, the attire. . .

An old woman, probably Master's age, dragged herself from the shadows into the torch light. Her hair was dry, stringy, and as white as snow. Her wrinkles emphasized the age in her face, allowing her cheeks to sag. Her mouth was sour, eyes filled with hate, and it seemed as though her robe did not fill as it used to.

"Y-You're the castor?" Lucy asked. The others, who watched the old hag, too, frowned in Lucy's direction.

"Impossible," Wendy said. "This woman is much older." Lucy shook her head, pointing to the pink Sakura robe.

"Same robe, and the eyes." They looked into her eyes, cautious of the effects it may cause. Her eyes were the same color, even more bitter. However, they were slightly faded with age, but they still had their menacing stare.

"It is her. . ." Natsu realized.

"Then shouldn't we not look into her eyes?" Gajeel exclaimed. Erza shook her head.

"She doesn't have any magical energy left. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was you who screamed every time your spell was broken." The woman gritted her teeth.

"I don't need any magical energy to take down you twerps!" She screeched, pulling herself up from the ground, arms limp at her side. She lunged at Lucy, and head-butted her.

"Ow!" Lucy explained, pushing away the old lady. "You're gonna get it now Grandma!" She exclaimed. She charged forward, ready to kick her to the ground with a Lucy Kick, but Erza held her back. Lucy strained against Erza, clawing at the air in front of the old lady.

"Lucy- um, calm down. . ." Gray said cautiously. She glared at him, feeling a bruise form on her forehead.

"Come here, you old hag! I'll kill you!" She growled. Erza squeezed Lucy, making it difficult to breathe.

"Ow, ow, ok, ok! Sorry, I won't kill her!" Lucy said, gasping for air. Erza nodded, letting go of her. Lucy took a deep breath. Her sides hurt. "Didn't have to squeeze so hard," Lucy dared to utter. She stood and they all looked at the pathetic woman.

Erza re-equipped a sword, and it dragged to the floor. She rose it, the point of the sword only inches away from the woman's eyes which had caused them much pain. "I don't like repeating myself, so I'll tell you this once and only once." The old woman gulped. "Where is the research you so loyally guarded?" Erza's face looked so scary that Lucy took a step away.

"Like I'd ever tell the likes of you!" She yelled. Erza's eyes lit the same color of her hair.

"So you admit there is research," the woman cursed under her breath.

"There's no way you'll find it!" She exclaimed. Erza pulled back her sword, ready to slash the woman's throat. The woman scrunched her eyes tight, ready for the impact. She had promised to protect the secret, even if it cost her life. She knew they had defeated Malus, but she hadn't thought of them as this strong. No one has ever broken her spell. The magical energy usually age her over 60 years, but never had the risk addressed to her because no one had beaten it. Even she didn't know the secret to beating the spell without special knowledge.

Guessing from when she had watched the blue-hair girl heal her friends, the girl must be a medical mage. An impressive feat. Was she somehow able to break all three? No, impossible. The woman had brought up the very ground to separate them. She glanced at the woman in bandages and the one in armor. She frowned. She should be dead, had the red-head not killed her. She gulped at the slight pain in her throat. The point had pressed itself into her skin. It wasn't meant to kill her, nor harm her. It barley penetrated the skin. A small tinkle of blood rolled down her small cut.