Hot and Cold

Dragonoid

~*****~

Erza and I don't have it easy fighting against the lizard men she sends our way. Thankfully, we get into more and more saturated air, giving my magic a boost with each breath I take. The dragon faulters in its flight path. "Is it breaking down?!" Erza yelps.

I try to fly down and get a good look at the orb on it's chest, but I have to fight along the way. "It looks like it's overloading!" I shout back, my talons slinging off the head of a golem that I'd destroyed.

Just as I think Natsu is gonna be able to break through, the dragon rights itself and resumes its regular path. I give a shout of frustration before I crash against the orb, slamming my fists against the side.

"Natsu! I know you can hear me!" I shout as I feel the lizardmen around me start to close in for an attack. "Don't tell me this things already got you down! You were strong enough to push me out of there, and I will not sit by while you wither away! You've shown me time and time again that you can be the strongest wizard around, now its high time you prove it to me once and for all!" I slam my fists against the side of the orb again before the dragon lands, sending me hurting towards the ground. My wings spread quickly and stop my descent.

My nails scrape against the ground as dozens of magic spells fire off towards the Dragon. "Wait, wait--" I shout. "What the hell is going on?!"

I get a very brief-- and very aggravating explanation-- about Makarov's orders. "Let me get this straight. Master told you that destroying the Dragonoid should be our top priority?" Erza asked.

"What about Natsu?!" I bark.

"He said he's tough enough to survive this," Lucy explained softly.

I grimace. "I see. Natsu, we've been ordered by Master Makarov to destroy the Dragonoid by any means necessary!" Erza calls out. "But before that, I need to know what you want us to do! Answer me!"

"Sure-- It's about time someone asked me that--" I hear Natsu retort. "Now listen up! I'm only gonna say this once, so clear the gunk out of your ears! Forget about me! Destroy this thing, no matter what! You gotta destroy this thing with me inside!"

"I don't think that's a good idea!" Happy whimpers. "If we do that, what's gonna happen to you?"

"Just do it, would ya?!" Natsu bellows. "If Magnolia were to end up gettin' flattened because of me, I won't be able to live with myself!"

"Please, tell me you've got some sort of strategy in mind," Lucy asks Erza.

When she doesn't answer, I shout. "Erza!" Just when I try to get her to speak, I feel a familiar rush of magic behind me. I turn my gaze over my shoulder and start snarling. "You better have a good reason for showing your face, you punk!"

"Okay, I'll be the first to admit I screwed up," Gray retorted irritably. "But I need all of you guys to listen to me. Even though you may not believe what I have to say." Gray briefly explains what he'd done-- adding to my aggravation.

"Are you serious? How could he forget something like that?" Lucy asks.

"I swear, no matter what happens, he just never learns!" Erza growls.

"I'm so relieved!" Juvia sighs. "I knew my beloved Gray would always be true!"

"I don't give a rats ass about any of that!" I snap aggressively. "You should've at least told one of your friends about this stupid plan!"

"Listen, this was the only way I could think of to make things right, but because we can do that, we've gotta deal with Daphne and her monster." Gray explains.