The Second Salamander

52) This is gonna be tough...

Natsu

"So... how are we gonna explain this to the guild? What are they gonna think when they see two Natsus?" Lucy asked.

"I've got it all planned out. If everybody sticks to their part, nothing will go wrong..." Kameel explained. Everybody looked around nervously. "What? It's a great plan, and a simple one too! Not even Natsu can screw it up!"

'I kinda doubt that...' I thought and raised an eyebrow.

"You just have to act normally. You can do that, right?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah!" I said, waving my hand. "That's the easiest thing in the world!"

"And... everybody knows where Ember's room is, right?" Everybody nodded. "Good. Perfect! Since everyone is... afraid of Ember, we can keep Jack there for the time being..."

"Why my room?" Ember whined.

"Shush! No complaining!" Kameel scolded. "Anyway, Jack, Ember and I will go to the room and leave Jack there. While we're doing that, the rest of you will be in there showing off our captive." She said, pointing to Violet. "You guys will destract everyone while we sneak in and out through the balcony. If anyone asks where we are, tell them I stayed behind to get Ember a fish as a reward for coming with us. We will come back in as soon as we are done with Jack, and then Ember's going to say that she's tired, make a big fuss, and then I'll follow her to the room. Everybody got it?"

We all nodded, and I smirked confidently. "Piece of cake! Nothing can go wrong!"

"Ya jinxed it." Grey smirked under his breath.

"Shut up, Ice Princess!" I snapped.

"I don't really see why such a well thought out plan is necessary for a thing like this. I mean, couldn't we just stick a bag over Jacks head and take off his scarf?" Lucy asked. A look came over Kameel's face that said 'You dare doubt my plan?!', but then she tapped her chin in consideration.

"Ya know, that might... nah! His figure is too similar to Natsu. People are bound to notice!" She sighed.

"Then are we really gonna do this over-the-top plan?" Grey asked.

"Why, do you have a better one?"

"Why don't we just walk in? The guys took the fact that Kameel was related to Natsu pretty well, so what's wrong if we just tell them the truth instead of hiding it. And, since he's already 'changing back', it won't be a problem for very long, right?"

"You're not wrong..." Kameel said, staring intensly at the ground as she rubbed her chin. "But.. I really wanted to do this plan..." She sighed. Her face fell, clouded with dissapointment. We all looked at eachother awkwardly and sighed.

"If you really wanna do it, we'll do it too." Lucy sighed with a small smile.
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Jack

The "plan" ran through my head a third time, although, I had to agree with others. This situation wasn't really dire enough for a plan like this. We could've just improvised, or do what Grey or Lucy suggested. Something simpler than Kameel's "simple" plan...

"I don't see why we needed to take the Blaze Cat with us. She could've just waited for you at the gate... wouldn't that have been easier?" I asked simply.

Ember gave me a glare and huffed. I was surprised no smoke came out her nose. I smirked and puffed a cloud of steam at her face. She swatted the steam away and morphed into a normal cat. She showed her teeth and hissed, slashing the air with her claws.

"Maybe you should get this kitten de-clawed. Just a suggestion." I whispered. I winced as Kameel whacked me good and hard on the chest.

"Don't joke like that, Jack!" Kameel scolded. I looked at her, the spot on my chest still stinging from her slap. As I stared into her slightly aggitated, amber eyes, I realized we were more or less alone. Together. "Wha-what are you looking at?" She asked, her voice soft and smooth, rich and thick, almost thick enough to touch. I could feel the blood rush to my face, and I stiffened suddenly and turned.

"N-nothing! Nothings wrong!!" I stuttered. "What are you talking about!" I laughed nervously, my eyes darting everywhere except her face.

I could feel her confused gaze on the back of my neck as I hurried past her to the site beneath the balcony. She followed after me, her eyes still staring at me. I gulped, balling and un-balling my fists at my sides, a nervous habit of mine that had nothing to do with Natsu. I knew she had a few questions on the tip of her tongue, but she stayed silent.

"I-I'm pretty sure this is it. Uh..." I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping to dull the irratated spot. My face grew warm as I thought of the idea, but I pushed it down best I could. "Uhm... ya need a boost?" I asked in a super rough and quiet voice.

"Are you sure? I mean, we do have Ember... she can just fly us up there." The firey cat sat by her feet and scoffed, rolling her feline eyes. "Oh, don't you be like that, Missy! You were fine with picking me up earlier..." Ember looked up and gave her a look that said, "It's not you... ", then then cat turned her glare to me. "Oh, come on, Ember! He's fine! Please don't be mad at his over-the-top obnoxiousness!" I stared at her, completely offended. "It's just a few seconds! C'mon, please!?" And then she pulled the PUPPY eyes on a CAT!!

'I can just jump. It's not that high...'

I heard a small sigh. "Ya know, I kinda hate it when you use that against me... fine! I'll fly him too." I turned to see Ember out of her cat form, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes shut. I looked at a triumphant looking Kameel with her hand on her hip as she smirked at the aggitated cat.

"Huh. Good job, Kamy..." She looked up, a surprised look on her face, then she smiled. My eyes widened. "Did I say that out loud..?"

She giggled and smiled even bigger, making my cheeks burn. "Thanks, Jack! You're so sweet!"