A/N: Yay! I figured out how to post with real line breaks! Fanfiction never keeps the ones on my documents *growls*

Disclaimer: Natsu hasn't been severely deformed yet, so I guess I still don't own Fairy Tail.

Erza was now leading the procession, with slight adjustments from the worry-stricken Happy. While the group was fairly certain Gray wouldn't go over the edge, he did seem empty-minded when he ran off. With a sigh, the scarlet-haired woman turned on to a new path.

The trio had been traveling for nearly two hours now, and Happy was currently perched on Lucy's head. Sitting on Erza would have been more convenient, but… we all know Erza. The woman only turned back every now and then to make sure she hadn't lost Happy or Lucy and that they were still going the right way. She knew they needed to get to Natsu soon, because even if Gray made it first, he probably wasn't in the state of mind that would be useful.

Happy told Erza to take another turn through some trees to the right. They were making ground, but not nearly fast enough for him. He had started to shake with fear for what had happened to Natsu, and could only hope his shortcut allowed them to reach him in time.

The world had gone black for a short period of time. It was cold, and lonely, and Gray could no longer feel anything. His mind was blank. That is, until a sudden flash of light brought him back to reality along with a sharp sense of pain and an even sharper sense of worry. Struggling to get back up, Gray was relieved to find the shadows around him in the position they had been before he passed out. He now knew he was pushing himself far past his limit, but he had to. If he didn't, there was a good chance the guild would never be blessed with Natsu's warm and comforting presence.

Gray couldn't deny it. If Natsu was gone, he would be devastated. No matter how many times they fought, underneath all of it had been their way of showing they cared. Fire and Ice may not seem the most compatible, but once they get together they are impenetrable. That flash of light, he was sure, had to be from Natsu. Even if it wasn't on purpose, even if the boy didn't realize he had done it, Gray was certain. And he got the feeling that there wasn't much longer until Natsu would be gone.

Gray got up as quickly as possible in his condition, and moved with a speed that did not know pain. Natsu was his only goal. And there was nothing to stop him now.

It took a while for Gray to notice, but he finally felt as though he was getting closer. Even though the ominous feeling was still present, there was much less worry around him. And he was getting warmer by the moment. The black-haired mage could tell it was Natsu. Heat didn't just happen like this without magic, and heat like this would feel suppressing or daunting if it was done by anybody will ill intentions. Gray knew from experience that Natsu could do that. He also knew that Natsu was one of the few that could easily bring heat without any of those, even though he only did it when somebody was in need or the pink-haired boy himself was out.

And that thought worried Gray the most.

Erza was making great time. She had already been through about half of the past in only two hours and fifteen minutes, and she had barely even broken a sweat. If it wasn't for the dire situation that brought this about, the woman would have enjoyed herself. Lucy, on the other hand, was out of breath and had long since run out of strength. Still, she continued through. They would find Natsu, and she was going to help.

Suddenly, the great Titania stopped. The blonde was unable to stop in time, and therefore the sound of bone on metal was heard. With a quick recovery, Lucy was back up, wondering what had occurred that made the girl stop. With a voice that was nearly inaudible, the scarlet began to speak.

"You can feel it too, can't you? It's been slowly getting hotter as we move closer. "

For a moment, Lucy just stood there, wondering how Erza had noticed. But as the Exceed said 'Aye' to the woman, Lucy found herself nodding her head as she realized it had been getting warmer. It hadn't been by much, and Lucy had probably attributed it to the running. But it was definitely getting warmer as they went further into the forest. Erza sure could be amazing sometimes.

Erza began to speak again, yanking Lucy out of her thoughts in an effort to hear.

"You know what this means, don't you." She stated, more just to say it out loud than for anything else.

Happy's next 'Aye' was quite solemn, and Lucy showed a look of curiosity as she realized they knew something. Noticing this, Erza spoke up one more.

"This kind of heat is magic-induced, and usually heat made form magic like this feels suffocating and eerie. But this heat doesn't. Not many mages can do that, it takes pure intentions or really, really strong magic manipulation. Natsu is one of the mages that can, but he only does it when there's somebody that strongly needs heat, or…"

"If something bad's happened to him and his magic is trying to protect him!" Happy finished, looking more and more anxious by the second.

Lucy had never realized this. She had never seen Natsu warm somebody up by changing the climate, only by warming herself up. Erza realized this, and explained she had only seen it twice. Once when there was an accident on a mission when they were about 12, and Natsu had to keep somebody from going into shock and once when a few of them were stranded at the guild during a blizzard. Happy was the only one who had seen Natsu's power do that in another situation before. They had been out on a mission, and the train they were on got into an accident. The car he and Happy were in had been crushed by some boulders that fell from the mountain they had crashed into, and Natsu had shielded Happy. Natsu had gone comatose from it, and his power ended up releasing that way. Happy was pretty sure it was his magic trying to protect him, seeing as they had been flung into the forest in the aftermath and Happy was unable to do anything for the pink-haired boy.

Even though Lucy now understood how dire the situation may be, she couldn't help but be amazed. The number of times magic had ever behaved like that was only in the single digits, in the history of the world.

The heat was becoming unbearable. Even so, the ice mage pressed on. The hotter it got, the more worried the boy became. He had never truly seen Natsu's magic protecting him like this, but from what Happy described, it wasn't this strong before. After all, while heat makes ice hot faster, Gray had gotten a pretty good understanding of his sense verses other people's sense of heat over the years. And he knew Happy hadn't meant this strong of it.

His leg was hurting him again; the ice had started melting a while back. Gray had given up on trying to replenish it; it had become a waste of magic, energy, and time.

The dampness that remained on his pant leg clinging to the bone underneath wasn't helping things either. It was muggy and restricted his movements further, especially as Gray found the heat mixed with the pain bringing him borderline unconscious.

Even so, the fire mage continued on. He had to stay strong for Natsu, he had to reach him. If he didn't… Gray couldn't finish that thought. He wouldn't, seeing as he would make sure it never happened. After all, minds in that state don't understand the difference between impossibility and reality.

The heat was getting stronger now. Gray could feel it in the air, pulsing through his body. His lungs were burning from over-exertion and the air's scalding temperature. His ribs were aching too, from what the boy no longer knew.

About 20 feet away, the trees stopped. Whether it was a clearing or the end of the forest, Gray didn't know, but he knew that was where he was headed. He could feel the heat radiating from there; the air was suffocating the child of the cold. Almost as if to protect the heat source from him.

Walking a mere 5 feet forward brought the ice mage to the ground. The heat was unbearable; he could feel it scorching his insides. Its pressure had killed any remaining energy and resistance regarding his leg.

12 feet remaining. Gray had begun to drag himself forward. It was hard work, and increased the pain on his leg even more, but it was the only way he could continue forward.

7 feet until the clearing. Gray could see the trees looming higher above him, wavering from the heat of the air. His eyes were getting blurry, but he had to press forwards. He would save Natsu, no matter what happened to him.

When only 3 feet remained between himself and the end of the trees, Gray managed to hoist himself up. He didn't know what the ground would be like past them; therefore he had to be prepared. Even so, his leg gave out on him almost instantly as he stood up. Had it not been for the tree next to him, the boy would have fallen right on top of fractured limb.

Pressing hard against the trees for support, the raven-haired boy made his way further. His body would give out on him soon, the heat would make sure of that if his injuries didn't, but he had to make it. It never occurred to him that if his ice was melting when he was still fairly far from the pink-haired boy, it wouldn't stand a chance here.

At long last, the trees had ended. In front of the boy stood a clearing that looked as though it had dried up long ago. He had been so focused on finding the other boy that he hadn't noticed the state of death in this part of the forest. Looking into the clearing, however, the boy still didn't see the plants. His sight was focused on one thing, and one thing only.

And that thing was Natsu.

A/N: There we have it! Fire and Ice have met, and already so far done in. But the pain has only started *demonic smile and a sadistic gleam in her eyes*

How long will they survive? Why is Gray being so annoying? And if they survive this, will they survive Erza? *demonic grin and eyes again, this time with thunder in the background*

Next chapter, Erza's back and the forest arc will begin to come to a close. How will it end?