Hot and Cold

Galuna Island

~*****~

Lucy was brimming with excitement. "You're sure in a hurry to get to a cursed island," I comment impishly.

"I'm in a hurry to get that gate key~" Lucy chirped excitedly. She takes a deep breath and gazes around the town. "Wow, this brings back memories. It seems like only yesterday when we met here for the first time." Lucy coos.

"It practically was yesterday," Natsu grunts. "You don't gotta get all mushy."

"Yeah, you sound like an old lady!" Happy adds.

Lucy quickly shoots him a glare before trotting off. "Well, let's go find a boat that'll take us to Galuna!"

"Are you crazy?!" Natsu snapped. "Forget the boat, why can't we all just swim for it?"

I hum impishly. "I can just walk over the water. Ice magic is pretty handy." I comment dryly.

"Aw shut it, ya frozen lizard!" Natsu barked at me.

"And you think I'm the one who's crazy?" Lucy sighs.

"Aw, cheer up, Natsu! I got plenty of motion sickness potions stored in my bag! It'll work for an hour, but after that you're gonna need to hang on, cause you can't take another for a few hours." I explain.

"That's kinda useless." Natsu grumbled.

I shrug. "Yeah, well, I didn't say it was perfect."

No one on the docks wanted to give us a ride. I suggested buying one of the boats, but Lucy put her foot down as soon as I rifled through my bag for my jewel. Natsu seemed pretty pleased we couldn't find a boat. "I don't get why you're so pleased, you have to exert yourself, what happens when you get there and you're all exhausted? How you gonna defend yourself--"

"I found you~" I hear a cool voice in my ear. I immediately swing my hand backwards, ensaring my hand in the grip of someone very cold. "Watch it, will ya?"

"Dammit, Gray!" I hiss as I snatch my hand from him.

"What are you doing here?!" Natsu shouts.

"Gramps found out about your harebrained scheme and sent me to bring you back." Gray retorts.

"Why? We're not in danger yet!" Natsu snaps.

"If you come back now, you might avoid being kicked out of the guild." Gray hums. "Maybe."

"Kicked out?!" Lucy stammered.

I push my finger into my ear. "No big deal. I can go back to mercenary work." I shrug. "Not like we care."

"Yeah, we're going on this S-Class Quest!" Natsu snaps.

"Man, you're way out of your league here. Just come home." Gray says aggressively. "When Erza finds out about this, she's gonna be so angry."

"Uh-oh--" Natsu, Happy, and Luch chirp.

I grunt. "What's the big deal? She's a big softie, and you're all too wrapped up in your little image of her to figure that out."

Happy caves immediately. "Please, Gray, you got to save me!" Happy exclaimed. "I told them this was a bad idea! But they forced me to come along!"

"YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR!" Lucy and I bellow.

"I've got to prove my power to Erza, so like it or not, I'm doing this!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Master ordered me to bring you home. I'll drag you back to Fairy Tail if I have to!" Gray snapped. Ice erupted from his palm as he held it up. "Don't make me hurt you, buddy!"