Of Fire and Ice

C.57

Lucy and I stood backstage and I saw a lot of other girls from the guild entered too. The announcer was talking and Lucy, Erza, and I were peeking. I saw our whole team in the audience, minus Juvia, but including Harley.

I watched as they called out Cana, who changed into a bikini with her card magic, Juvia, surprisingly, who also changed into a bikini with her water powers (damn, was everyone using the bikini trick?). Mira was next, who actually changed to unflattering scenes of other guild members. Erza went next and changed into Gothic Lolita, which I've gotta admit, she looked great in. Levy was next, who didn't change clothes at all, just did 3D letters. Bisca was next, who came out in a bikini and shot a hole through four coins she threw in the air.

"And now may I introduce our female hothead, Henley Targaryen!" He announced and I stepped out and grinned. "How about a little-known talent of mine?" I asked and they cheered, Grey especially.

I readied myself and started singing.

"She's just a girl and she's on fire
Hotter than a fantasy,
lonely like a highway
She's living in a world and it's on fire
Feeling the catastrophe,
but she knows she can fly away

Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
She got both feet on the ground
And she's burning it down
Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
She got her head in the clouds
And she's not backing down..."

I paused and smirked, leaving them in suspense. Then I burst into flames while singing as impressively as I could.

This girl is on fire!
This girl is on fire!
She's walking on fire!
This girl is on fire...!"

I finished with a bow and a pose as the crowd went wild. I went back backstage and Lucy stepped out. I actually didn't watch, I went straight to the dressing room and touched up my eyeliner and powder.

Then I heard a commotion, and decided to stay hidden. It took almost ten minutes until I crept back out and found the other contestants turned to stone. I clapped my hands over my mouth in shock. "Holy shit..." I gasped and saw Gramps, Ari, Harley and Natsu turn to stare at me.

"Where were you?" Natsu yelled. "In the dressing room. I heard a commotion, so I hid. Where is everybody?" I asked. "Off to fight. We can't get past the wall." Natsu said and pointed to the doorway. I looked in confusion. "I don't see a wall." I said. "It's invisible. A barrier. You won't be able to get past if you're over eighty." Master explained.

"Natsu, you're over eighty?" I chuckled. "No, I don't think so." He said and I went to walk out, but I smacked right into something I couldn't see.

"What the fuck?" I asked and pressed my hands and couldn't do shit. "You can't get passed." I heard Harley say. I turned and she walked over to me. "I can't either." She said and put her hand against the thing we couldn't see.

"Mind explaining, Harley?" I asked. "I can't. I'm not allowed to." She said, biting her lip. "Fine. But you better tell me soon. My nineteenth birthday was only a few months ago." I huffed.

"So we're all stuck here?" Natsu sighed and I just sat down. "Fucking great." I said. Reports started showing up on the invisible wall about fights occurring between the guild members.

Harley sat beside me on the floor, hugging my waist and resting her head on my shoulder. I swore at a few times she was trying not to cry, but I never saw any tears. "Harley, why can't you tell me?" I whispered. "I just can't. I promised mom and dad." She said and I nodded.

Ari moved over and lied down behind us, letting us lean on her side as she curled around so she could see us and we her.

"Ari, can you get through the barrier?" I asked and she slowly shook her head. "I already tried." She hummed. "You seem down." I said, tilting my head. "I'm just worried about the egg." She said and I nodded. "Of course."

Soon a thought projection of Laxus appeared and I looked up, Harley's head still on my shoulder. I didn't pay attention, because I didn't need to. "Grey's as strong as me?!" Natsu yelled in disbelief. "Hey." I called and they all looked at me. "Don't bash on Grey like that while I'm here." I warned.

"Oh, Henley. The female fire dragon slayer. I wouldn't mind getting a piece of you." Laxus smirked and I glared at him. "You're never going to get a piece of anything Laxus." I said. "What do you mean by that?" He asked. "You're a dildo." I said and their faces fell in shock.

"I would call you a dick, but why call you something you obviously don't have?" I hummed and he looked absolutely stunned. "We don't want to talk to you. Bye." I said and he went away.

I looked back at the scoreboard and read "Grey vs. Bixlo; Bixlo wins, Grey KO" and I frowned. "Fucking DAMN IT."I swore loudly. I got up and threw my hardest punch at the wall, and it just bounced back to my hand. "Hey, don't. You're going to hurt yourself." Natsu stopped me.

I just went and sat in silence again.