Hot and Cold

Seven Year Gap

~*****~

"What? You just figured out Gildarts was Cana's father?" I ask with a brow raised. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy were all shocked silent, their mouths open wide. I hadn't meant to butt in on the sweet moment, but it was just too weird for them not to know.

Cana choked on her spit. "How the hell did you know?!" She barked at me, Gildarts looking dumbfounded as I stared at them.

I tapped at the side of my nose. "Being raised on a mountain where it's storming ninety percent of the time, my nose, eyes, and ears had to be stronger than anything in the world to survive." I explain. "You two haven't exactly been livin' together at any point of your life, but I can still smell the similarities. Every person has a unique scent, and Cana's is kinda like Gildarts. I noticed it between Laxus and Makarov, too. I put two and two together." I shrug again. "Your dad's hot, by the way." Gildarts flushed darkly.

"Yeah, I got that from the countless times you've drooled over him." Cana grumbled.

I hum delicately. "I wouldn't mind goin' a round if he's the dirty old man you said he was." I continue to tease.

"Don't even try it!" Cana barked.

I laugh loudly and wave my hand. "No worries! I was only yankin' your chain." The hairs on my neck stand on end and I glance up quickly. "No, that can't be." I mutter delicately. My nose twitched against the breeze flowing in. A thunderous roar cracks through the air and nearly destroys my hearing. "We need to get back now, save the mushy reunion crap for later!"

Everyone nodded and we began running back to camp. "Hey! Are you guys okay?" Lucy cried.

"Did you guys hear that crazy noise?!" Happy asked.

"Yeah, what is it?" Gray asked.

Gildarts gave a sharp bark of pain. "Are you okay?" Cana asked worriedly.

"My wounds are startin' to burn like hell!" Gildarts exclaimed. "There's no doubt. That dragon... he's gettin' real close."

"Look up in the sky!" Lily shouted. "Something's coming this way!"

My gaze flew upwards and I felt as if my insides turned to ice in an instant. "Natsu, Aria! What's the matter?!"

"HOLY CRAP!" Gray shouted.

"That things humongous!" Elfman barked.

"It is a dragon!" Bickslow cried.

"You gotta be kiddin'," Gajeel grimaced.

"I don't think it's a friendly one--" Wendy stammered.

"I knew it." Natus growled. "I was right all along! They still exist!"

"I'm afraid that's Acnologia," Makarov stated. "The Black Dragon of the Apocalypse."

"Yeah..." Gildarts nodded. "It's definitely him."

"That sounds bad. What the heck are we gonna do?" Lucy whimpered.

"Hey, Dragon! You know where I can find Igneel?!" Natsu shouted. "Tell me! Grandina, Metallicana, and Everest, too!"

"Stop it, Natsu!" I hiss loudly.

"You don't want to provoke him!" Gildarts warned. "Did you forget what happened to me? How I lost my arm and my leg? Hell! I'm lucky I didn't lose my life that day!"

Acnologia roars loudly again. "It's coming down!" Freed shouts.

"I don't think this is the same kinda dragon that raised Natsu, Wendy, and Aria!" Happy cried. "This one seems evil!"