The next morning

Heat

Ember still felt a familiar heat when she stirred early the next morning. Opening her eyes to find herself pressed to firm chest. The room was still dark. The sun yet hadn't risen and the team remained asleep. She probably shifted in her slumber.
Ember slowly began slither out of natsu's strong grasp. But just as she was almost free, his arms pulled her back to him. He cradled her head with one hand, his head perched upon hers as he once again bonded her to himself.
"To...early" he mumbled quietly half to himself. He was still fully asleep. Ember decided to stay put, knowing her attempts would be futile.

They stayed like that for what seemed like forever. Natsu finally stirred, shifting against her. He opened his eyes to find he had trapped ember in his grasp.

Oh no I did it again! He though as he looked down to find her awake.

He pulled his arms away quickly
"I'm sor..." He began to apologize but was stopped by a slender finger to his lips.

"Shhh, let's go for a walk. We should let them sleep, it's still early." Ember said sitting up and slipping slowly out of bed. Natsu followed, getting his cloths and changing in the darkness. After they finished, they opened the door and headed out of the inn.

The town was quiet. They only sound was their foot steps. The walked to a small hill facing the brightening sky. The sky went from purple to pink until it was a glistening gold. Being so enthralled by the natural display, ember didn't notice that natsu, who had been silent, was shifting uncomfortably beside her.
"Ember I'm really sorry! When I sleep it just kinda happens and..." Natsu blurted. Ember laughed putting natsu into a confused state.

" natsu, it's alright," she said giggling slightly "it was actually nice"

He stayed silent, which ember took as acceptance. The sun peaked over the horizon giving off warm energy. Ember soaked it up like a sponge. It made her feel strong.

"Come on let's head back," she said as she began to stand but was pulled back down. She landed into an open arm which wrapped around her.

"Just...a little longer" natsu whisper still staring at rising sun.

...

Their journey up would take a portion of the day. Ember found it particularly difficult. The mountain was giving off energy that her body was absorbing. If she let to much in it could break the seal. To counter the amount she was absorbing, she let it out through her feet. This scorched the ground beneath her. Luckily she was walking behind everyone. She distracted herself with other activities like making flower crowns. The path was littered with millions of poppies. Carefully crafting four crowns she placed them on the teams heads.

"Wow ember these are so pretty. How did you learn to do this?" Lucy side looking at the fine weave of the stems.

"Back in the circus, I would sleep with the Tigers. Don't ask me why or how I just did. If I couldn't sleep I would make crowns and wreaths for the animals to wear the next day for the show," she said as they all sat down to rest. Sitting on a stone she made sure her feet didn't touch the ground.

The finally part of the path was mostly rocky terrain. The heats energy was almost unbearable at this point. Ember Began letting heat out from her hands. If you looked closely you could see the waves of  heat coming from them.

Lucy's hand brushed against hers as they walked.
"Ouch!" She cried grasping her slightly burnt hand.
"Your hands are so hot!"

"Lucy I'm so sorry!" She said backing away.

"Don't worry about it," Lucy said waving away her worry.

"Grey I need chunks of ice?" 

Grey used his magic to create two think chunks of ice. Holding out her hands, he handed her the two pieces of ice. They sizzled and melted almost immediately.

"Again please,"

The team stared as her hand turned the ice to steam.

"I think it's ok, let's continue." She said continuing on the path, her foots steps marking her path. The team followed curiously behind.

Finally they reached the boiling center. The curves of its mouth almost seemed to be reaching for them. It had a large stone platform but was mostly bubbling lave. They investigated the walkable area.

" the volcano is going erupt. Guess that's why there has been so much rumbling and smoke." Grey said sitting down on a bolder. At that moment the bolder and all the stones around it came alive. A huge monster stood tall. Letting out a huge roar it slammed its stone fist down. No matter what the team did their magic didn't seem to effect it. Unlike her team mates, ember was full of magic power. But even her power didn't do any damage. Then something caught her eye.

On the monster head was a glowing red gem.

"There's a gem on it head. We need to destroy it!" She yell over to the team. They nodded and focused their attacks on it head. But it was obvious it wasn't going down without a fight. Erza took a heavy hit.

"Erza!" Natsu yelled look over to her as she skidded over the stony surface.

"Natsu, watch out!" Ember screamed as a stone arm swung down towards her distracted team mate.

She ran to him, pushing him away, just to take the hit herself. She was thrown into the air, landing into the boiling lava.

It was Almost like time stopped. The team stood shocked. Rage over came them.

"YOU KILLED HER!" natsu yelled is angry radiating off of him. What the team didn't know was that ember was very much alive.

The heat's to much the seal its breaking! Ember screamed with in her mind. She could feel herself starting to transform.
No no no!
Like breaking glass the magic seal was broken. Ember opened her true eyes.  Her true taking shape.

On the surface the team panted in frustration.

"What the hell is that!" Grey said as a huge wave of lava formed.

"Wait, are you seeing what I'm seeing." Lucy said pointing to the peak of the wave.

Riding it was a changed ember. Her hair wiping behind her. The wave hit the monster full force, tipping It.

"Grey cool it!"

"You got it," he said blasting the lava with cold until it hardened. The monsters head was still visible. With a powerful punch ember shattered the gem on its head.

Jumping down from the lifeless stone,  she was tackled by her team.

"We're so glad your Alive," Lucy said as she squeezed her. Thinking back on her own word she stepped back. Look at her new appearance they stood shocked.
"But...how?"