IM GOING TO FUCKING CRY I HAD TO REWRITE IT AND IM SICK ANFD FFUCKK. UGH ...\

Natsu scooped a weak Lucy up, cradling her close to him. He seemed quite content with himself as they sped along through the forest until they were back on track. She could see the weaker contestants running along, such as the exceeds, which could only mean the worst. They were in last. Gray iced the floor beneath them so Natsu could speed along quickly, past the slower members, waving to the cats in the process. "Hey Happy, why aren't you guys flying?"

"Carla hurt her wing so were making it even" Happy huffed out. "Is Lucy hurt as well, why are you guys so far behind?"

"Yeah we had an accident but we'll emerge on top don't you worry?" Natsu grinned widely before speeding ahead, Gray following closely behind until Natsu motioned for him to keep icing a trail for him and to hold on to his scarf. Gray silently obeyed and with one hand grabbed onto his collar, his free hand releasing a constant stream of ice. His mind was heavy in thought, since every time Natsu smiled he could only think about the scary figure above him. Did he already forget what overtook him? I mean it wasn't his fault exactly but it was terrifying knowing he had that in him.

Lucy glanced over Natsu's shoulder to see a crying Gray. Their eyes met, Lucy mouthed "What's wrong?"

Gray mouthed back "I'll tell you later" Lucy could visibly see the pain in his face and it haunted her.

She curled back into Natsu's warm embrace and suddenly his skin was burning. It had been about three hours of nonstop running so was it possible that he was over heating? Now what? Lucy sighed. These boys are just one problem after the next. His temperature was rising erratically to the point where it was burning her. She quickly summoned Virgo who could carry her and Natsu passed her off. Virgo was much smaller and faster so Lucy was clinging to her for dear life. She looked at at Natsu who was flushed and sweaty.

Wait? A fire dragon slayer...sweating? Now she was looking at two boys she had to take care of when this was done. They passed countless others as time ticked on.

"Hey, look, it's Erza's and Laxus's group. We must be close to the finish!" Natsu exclaimed as they saw the others in a slow jog. Bickslow was piggybacking Freed and as Natsu approached them he made sure that Gray tripped them with an ice block. The trio laughed as Laxus yelled at them. Master was waiting at the finish line with his arms crossed in bewilderment. Natsu with Gray attached to him crossed the line and Lucy was close to follow. Then Erza's group and Laxus's in third.

"Well uh... Since you three won and were two towns over. Your prize is a stay at the nicest hotel in town, a humble jewel prize and three buffet passes." Master bowed at them and gave them directions to their stay.

The room was large with two beds and a washroom. It wasn't late enough for dinner so Lucy wanted to see what was wrong with Gray. Natsu collapsed on the bed immediately but Lucy left him a note anyways.

Gray and Lucy went for a walk around the area and Gray filled Lucy in on the events that happened through the day.

"Wow" Lucy had a hard time processing it.

"Yeah, i'm still in a fair amount of pain, but I was just scarred y'know" Gray avoided eye contact.

"Well I think we forget that Natsu is a dragon slayer, and has the potential of destruction unknowingly. Did you see him today? He seemed like he had a fever? So something was triggered" Lucy tried to make sense of the events.

"Shit then."

"Well if you don't want to see him I understand, you can have the bed to yourself if you want." Lucy rustled her fingers through his hair.

"Ah it's fine. I forgive him, we should see if he's awake though in case he is sick" Gray and Lucy turned around and headed back for their room.

"Natsu? We're back" Lucy shouted, and in response a throaty groan echoed in the room. They walked around until they found the pinkette sprawled across the bed in his own sweat. The rushed to his side.

"Natsu what's wrong? Are you okay?" Gray went to make a bag of ice while Lucy just tried to get a response out of him. He shook his head weakly.

"Where does it hurt?" Natsu motioned from his belly button to his upper thigh.

"Lucy maybe you should go find Gajeel and Laxus cause it might be a dragon slayer thing. I'll watch after him." Gray placed the ice pack on the boys forehead.

"Good idea Gray." She rushed out the door. Gray sat on the edge of bed and watched as Natsu thrust upwards. A deep laugh found its place behind him. Loke.

"He looks like a cat in heat" Loke laughed at his friend.

"Loke leave before I freeze you to death." Gray didn't even glance at him. Loke appears on his own too often.

"Well someones being salty" Loke mumbled before disappearing.

Lucy had found the two dragon slayers eating at a local restaurant.

"Whatcha need hun? Two real men to take care of you?" Laxus chuckled and Lucy punched him.

She had explained Natsu's current state to them and Gajeel laughed.

"It sounds like he was thrown into a forced heat, which is less dragon like and more cat-ish. You'll need to keep relieving him or he could suffer for awhile. Since it already sounds pretty bad. I'd rush back Blondie. Good luck hahaha" Gajeel waved as she ran back.