Hot and Cold

Grand Magic Games

~*****~

Just as I finally manage to sniff out Natsu and the others, I hear Lucy's voice echo above us. "What're they talking about? I didn't go anywhere, I'm right here!" I peer around as I stroll into the room, looking for her. "Whoa, wait a sec! Don't tell me that I'm... YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!" Lucy bellows.

"Who was that?" Elfman wondered.

"Are you just dumb, or do you seriously not know?" Cooper retorts plainly.

"Is Lucy here somewhere?" Romeo asks.

"That's weird, I can smell her all around us." Natsu commented.

I begin giggling. "She's--- oh my gosh, it's not funny, I swear--" I keep giggling. "She's the Infinity Castle."

"Wait, wait-- lemme get this straight, you're saying that Lucy turned into a humongous fish?" Happy asked.

"So, in a way, this is her body now, huh?" Natsu asked.

"Wow, she sure put on weight," I mention impishly.

"NO!" Lucy wails. "I can't believe this is happening to me. One minute, I'm normal and the next I'm Happy food?!"

"Don't worry, I won't eat ya!" Happy chirps.

"It's gonna be okay!" Warren's voice shouted. "Unfortunately, you sped up the merging whenever you used the Real Nightmare to save Natsu."

"Way to go, Natsu," I complain.

"Hey, don't blame me for this!" Natsu exclaimed, shaking his fists at me.

"It's absolutely your fault, you told me to try and save Lucy instead of nullifying that freaks magic." Cooper retorted irritably.

"Look, I'm just glad I finally got through to you!" Warren explains. "Listen up, everyone! I've got some news from the team back at the guild hall. Jean-Luc and the others have figured out a way for us to save Lucy!" Warren explains.

"One question!" I chirp. "Who's Jean-Luc?"

"Yeah, I don't know who the hell that is either!" Natsu agreed.

"He's the guy who always says actually!" Happy beamed.

Natsu and I hum as we share a surprised look. "If the seals aren't removed from the Infinity Clock before the merging process is complete, the person who has been merged can only be freed if they focus their mind and actually control the Real Nightmare spell." Jean-Luc explains.

"According to what is says here, the clock is remaining in this world because of the magic power it's absorbing from the Celestial Wizards who are serving as body links." Levy hums.

"They're stuck in chrysalis form, so we need lift the curse that's been placed on them. Luckily, it should be pretty simple." Warren mentioned.

"Lucy's gotta alter their perception of time to one hundred years in the future!" Coco adds.

"Yep, you got it!" Warren agrees. "If she does that, then the clock will break apart, and all the pieces will scatter themselves."

"Are you sure?" Wendy asks meekly.

"Wait-- but what about Lucy?" Gray asks.

"How is this going to affect her?" Erza adds.

"I wish I could tell you," Jean-Luc sighed. "All we know for sure is this will undo the merging."

"Yeah, but it could also send her flying along with the clock pieces!" Elfman snaps.

"What'll we do?" Romeo whimpers.