Hot and Cold

Acnologia's Return

~*****~

"What, they sealed that monster?" I exclaim loudly at the news from Warren.

"Yeah! Somehow!" Warren responds.

"That's awesome!" Happy chirps. "So does this mean that all the fighting is over now?"

"Ah, no way!" Natsu complained. "I was lookin' forward to goin' head to head with him and givin' him the beating of his life!"

"YOU'RE FALLING APART AS IS!" I bellow at him, causing him to hunker down and cover his head with his good arm.

Gray snickers. "You wanna catch a beating?!" Natsu snaps at him.

"Shut your mouth, Flame Brain!" Gray barks back.

They both cowered when my posture shot up, menacing horns bursting from my head as I tilt over them. "Both of you need to rest and heal. So shut up and play nice."

Lucy laughs nervously. "Leave it to Aria to completely flip to mother mode."

Natsu and Gray peek at one another skeptically before discretely bumping their fists as if calling a truce, until Natsu bellows in pain, holding his injured arm. "Man, that hurts! Are ya trying to break my hand?!" Natsu shouts.

"Sorry about that," Gray hums.

"What's the big idea, ya droopy-eyed naked weirdo?" Natsu snapped, getting into his face. "I oughta melt you down!"

"You're too trashed to take a fist bump, spikey?!" Gray barked. "Why don't you go sit on an icicle?!"

"I'm so glad they're back to normal," Lucy giggled.

"And she's goin' for the knockout!" Ballad and Happy cheer. My fists crack on top of their heads, sending them to the ground.

"If you insist on acting like children, you'll be treated like it," I snap. I haul Gray up by the belt of his pants and toss him onto my shoulder before grasping onto Natsu's ankle. "Come on, Lucy, let's get back to the guild hall."

~*****~

"Seriously, though, your arm is lookin' rough," Happy mentioned when I release the two morons.

"I guess I got a little too fired up," Natsu hummed. He snapped his fingers on his good hand. "I'll get Wendy to cast one of her healing spells on me!"

"The guild hall's right ahead," Gray mentions.

Natsu sighed. "Every time I see that place, it brings back so many memories." Natsu sighs.

I snort in response, my head tilted down. "All the fighting is over," Lucy sighs. "I can't wait to get back to normal life. I've got books I need to finish reading, some manuscripts I need to finish writing- there's so much to do!"

"No kidding," I sigh. "I've got so much rent to collect, I don't know where I'm gonna put all that jewel." I complain.

Lucy giggles. "Rich girl problems, huh?"

"You know, first thing on my list, is thankin' Juvia." Gray comments.

"And I'll be sneakin' around to see you smoochin' her." I chirp.

"SHUT IT!" Gray barks at me.

Lucy giggles again. "I wanna relax. Then it's time for a new adventure!"

"Now you're talkin'." Gray smiles.

"Sounds good to me!" Happy chirps.

Lucy bumped my shoulder. "So, since you went ahead and made a new one for me, how about you guys help me track down Aquarius' key?"