Hot and Cold

Jail Break

~*****~

I groan loudly as I rub at my head from being socked in the face by yet another attack from the cat machine. It gives a gleeful laugh. "Whoops! Silly me! I was having such a good time playing with you, I completely forgot about my mission! Gotta run!"

"Hey!" Natsu exclaimed. "You can't just punch Aria in the face and run off! Someone's gotta pay!"

I rub at my swelling cheek and grimace. "So not the time to be chivalrous." I mention irritably.

We all flinch as the church we'd been sent to protect explodes almost immediately. "Dammit!" Natsu barks.

"Why's he attacking the church?" Lucy asked.

"This is reprehensible!" Byro suddenly shouts as he runs after the cat machine. "Curse you!" He leaps up to attack.

"Quit your blabbin' and come fight me!" Natsu bellows as the cat machine tells Byro to follow out his orders. The two of us run up on him, ready to strike.

"Okay! Wow!" The machine cheers. "Another Lightning Bolt Bonus-- what the--"

"DON'T GET DISTRACTED!" I shout as I slam my heel into the creatures face.

"How did you hit me?!" The cat machine cries.

"You will suffer the consequences for this sinful destruction!" Byro snaps

"Fire Dragon Talon!" Natsu shouts.

"Ice Dragon Wing Attack!" I bark.

The machine starts patting at its chest. "What have you done to me?! Now I can't use my slot magic! I don't even know who I am without it! You're gonna give me an identity crisis!"

"I knew we'd get a hit in eventually!" Natsu smirks. "But that was nothin' compared to this! You ready, Aria?!"

"Oh, hell yeah!" I shout excitedly.

"Double Dragon Combo! Wing Attack!" We shout. "Double Dragon Breath Attack! Steam Roar!" The air hisses violently as our attacks blast the machine one after the other.

The two of us flinch at the strange-- and overwhelming scent-- suddenly invading the air. "Aw, man, now what?!" Natsu barked.

"God, it reeks!" I growl, my hands cupping my face.

"It would appear that the Infinity Clock has been activated." Byro hummed.

"Oh, no!" Lucy gasped. "We've gotta find a way to stop it!"

"I'm afraid I cannot help you with that." Byro said softly. "I've been ordered to take you to the Cardinal, Lucy Heartfilia."

"What?!" I snap through my hands.

"Why now all of a sudden?!" Lucy asks. "What could he possibly want with me?!"

"I don't quite understand it, either," Byro retorts. "But it's my duty to follow orders, so please, cooperate."

"You're not takin' her anywhere, got it?!" Natsu bellowed.

"I couldn't care less about your orders!" Lucy shouted angrily. "Look at that thing in the sky! We can't waste any time! I know you're just trying to do the right thing, but deep down, you've gotta know that's not it!"

"No, I don't." Byro stated.

"Byro." A strangely familiar voice echoes out. "You're only making this harder on yourself by thinking." We stare at the cat machine in shock as the zipper on it's face slowly slides down. "Why are you hesitating? Simply remain faithful to the doctrine and carry out your orders!" The stupid staff of the original Oracion Seis pops out of the machine's head.