Hot and Cold

Crazy Maze

~*****~

"Hey, is everybody all right?" I hear Natsu groan.

"Aye..." Happy and ballad whimpered.

"I'm still alive somehow," Romeo mutters.

"I thought we were goners," Lucy stammers. "Wait, where's Michelle?"

"Over here--" I hear Michelle whimper. "I may have landed on poor Aria... She looks a little hurt."

I let my eyes slip open as I stare up at everyone surrounding me. "I feel like my back got broken in two... What the hell kinda dress is that? It weighs a ton..." I murmur.

"I'm so sorry--" Michelle whimpers as Lucy helps me sit up. I give a sharp groan and try stretching my arms to rub at my back.

"That's gonna leave a mark," Lucy giggles as she peels the frozen water bottles off my back.

"This one's the same as the other one," Natsu complained once I'm on my feet and staring at the door he's looking at. "It's been sealed shut with magic."

"It doesn't even have a keyhole anywhere," Happy comments.

"Don't' worry! This kind of puzzle solving is right up my alley!" Lucy hums. "All we have to do is say the correct phrase and it'll open up! Let's try the obvious first... Open, sesame!"

"Why sesame?" Romeo asks as I start trying to rub at my back again.

"I got no idea, kid," Natsu sighs. "You need a massage?" He says immediately after, his hand on fire.

I snort at him and glare. "Is this really the time to be runnin' with your instinct?" I ask irritably. "You already marked up my hips, no need to mark up my back."

"Goodness," Romeo stammers before the others start barking phrases at the door.

"Aren't you guys gonna help out?!" Natsu asks irritably.

I hum delicately. "Hey door, will you please open up?" I call out and to my surprise it slides open. My cheeks suck inwards as I slump forward.

"What do you know? All Aria had to do was ask politely for a change." Ballad comments.

Lucy starts smirking at me. I snort and Lucy squeals at the sudden chill over her skin. "That's Zentopia's emblem! I wonder why it's here." Happy commented as we walked into a large, oddly shaped room.

"It makes sense.... You see, these ruins are known the Holy Tomb... It's one of Zentopia's sacred sites." Lucy explains. "It's been mentioned in a ton of their historical documents and other church literature... But it's existence was never proven, that is, until now."

"Wait, does that mean--" Michelle stammers.

"We're the first people to step foot in these ruins!" Natsu exclaims.

"Oh, I get it..." Romeo hums. "So that's why those old guys made such a big fuss."

"I don't blame 'em, 'cause there's a good chance we'll wreck the place..." Happy trails off. "Especially with Natsu and Aria."

"Get off our case, fur ball." Natsu snaps.

The room rumbles for a moment. "The door closed!" Happy gasps.

"What are we gonna do now!?" Romeo exclaimed. "We're locked in!"

"Don't worry. I totally got this!" Lucy beamed. She starts fiddling with the emblem. "I read a lot of adventure stories. When the heroes get stuck, they--" She turns the emblem. "Do something like this!"