Hot and Cold

The Punishment

~*****~

I sigh in delight as we finally make it back to Magnolia. Natsu is already cheering happily. "I'm bummed," Gray sighs. "All that time and hard work for some lousy gate key."

"Yeah, and that S-Class reward was big time money!" Happy chirped.

"Well, I'm sorry, but it wasn't an official job." Erza comments. "Just be glad you got something."

"She's got a point. No quit your complaining." Lucy hummed.

"Yeah, money's not everything." I beam.

"That's pretty easy for you to say," Happy comments. "Lucy got a reward and Aria's got more money than anyone in the world."

"Wh-What?!" Gray stammers at Happy.

"Can we sell it?!" Happy asks excitedly, ignoring Gray.

"How could you even suggest that, Happy?!" Lucy exclaims. "You guys just don't get it. They're hard to come by. Sure, there are lots of silver gate keys, but there are only twelve gold Zodiac keys. And I'm lucky enough to have five."

I snort. "It's too bad they're all crazy." I comment.

"Right," Natsu nods.

"You had better watch your mouth, you punk!" Lucy exclaims. "Me and my celestial spirits are gonna be stronger than you someday!"

"So, which one of the zodiac keys did you end up getting?" I ask, waving off her proclamation.

"It's Sagittarius, the centaur!" Lucy exclaims happily.

"It's a horse man?!" Gray exclaims.

I snort and begin to laugh. "Yeah, but it's more like this..." Lucy trails off. Natsu thinks of a completely strange being. "And that is not even close, dummy."

"You're all so carefree," Erza sighs. "It's almost as if you've forgotten you face punishment when we get back to the guild."

"Haven't forgotten," I shrug. "Just don't care."

"But why?!" Natsu shouts.

"Everything worked out in the end!" Lucy exclaimed. "Can't we just forget the whole punishment thing?"

"You're right, everything worked out. But only because I came here and finished the job none of you were qualified to do. Stealing an S-Class request is a serious offence." Erza snapped.

"Technically, Happy stole it," I murmur under my breath. "C'mon, we said we were sorry."

Erza sighs loudly. "If you promise that you'll never do it again, then I don't think you need to be penalized by the guild." She says after a moment. "Unfortunately, I don't have a say in the matter. Your fate is in Master Makarov's hands. So I'm sure you'll be facing punishment."

"Now I'm scared, you think he's gonna make us do that?" Happy chirped nervously.

Gray immediately ducks to his knees. "JUST KILL ME NOW! I DON'T THINK I COULD LIVE THROUGH THAT AGAIN!" Gray shouts in mortal terror.

"You guys are freaking me out!" Lucy screams.

"Don't let him scare you," Natsu beams. "I'll talk the old man outta punishing us. That guy loves me!"

"I don't know if you should do the talking..." Lucy murmurs.

"Natsu. You can't talk your way out of this one." Erza hums. "Good luck with that."

He begins to sweat and immediately panics as Erza drags him off. "NO, SAVE ME!"

"So, what is that?" I ask curiously as I lean over Gray, who's still crouched down and sobbing in fear.