Chapter 15: Potion of the Heart
Three days went by quickly. The fuss around Erza's childish form died down considerably since then, and Gray and Juvia were back.
"Welcome back!" The guild shouted.
"Thanks, guys." Gray responded for the two of them.
While everyone was congratulating them, the young Erza caught Juvia's attention.
"Who's that?" She said pointing at Erza.
"It's me, Erza!" She kept up her childish act and sprung up on them.
"What the hell happened to you, Erza!" Gray exclaimed, Juvia sharing his look of surprise.
"Calm down! It's not like this hasn't happened before. Remember what happened before we fought Tartaros?" Natsu said from the side.
"So, how's the honeymoon? Did you guys have fun?" Mira said the last part with a teasing glint in her eye.
The newlywed couple blushed. "Mira!"
"My, my, I was just asking you if you enjoyed yourselves. Why are you so worked up?" Mira continued to tease, giggling at them.
"Don't tease us!" The couple shouted in unison again.
The spectators sweat dropped. Ever since Natsu announced his relationship with Mira, she's become more playful. Everyone understood she was just happy she didn't have to hide her relationship with Natsu anymore.
After the commotion died down, Team Natsu and Juvia sat together in one table (minus Lucy, who was with Levy).
Looking at Erza again, Gray asked "So, what did we miss?"
Happy told them everything that happened for the past few days.
"What the heck! So many things happened while we weren't here." Gray shouted.
"We really felt bad you guys couldn't join us. But it was also our fault for forgetting Master Makarov's birthday." Wendy replied.
"Oh no, don't feel bad. While you guys were all busy doing that, we were just enjoying ourselves…" Gray comforted them.
"…More importantly, Erza's a kid again, huh?" Gray looked at Erza.
"I drank something weird!" Erza loudly answered.
"O-oh, you did?" Gray was uncomfortable around the innocent Erza. He couldn't get used to this.
"Why isn't anyone doing anything to turn Erza back?" Juvia casually asked. She was able to break a liitle her habit of speaking to others too formally this past week.
"We are. We've given up on looking for the guy who sold her the drink. We couldn't find him no matter how hard we tried. We already searched the whole city" Natsu said.
"Then how do we get Erza back?" Gray asked.
"Lucy and Levy are working on it."
"Is she still living alone, or is someone looking after her?"
'She doesn't need anyone to though.' Natsu thought.
"I'm staying with Natsu!" Erza excitedly said.
"Natsu? Why him of all people?" Gray asked. Natsu butted heads with him.
"You trying to say something to me, ice pick?"
"Yeah. I'm saying a kid shouldn't look after another kid."
And with that, their usual brawl began.
"(sigh), those two never change." Carla complained.
"But is it really just Natsu who's taking care of Erza?" Juvia asked. They still weren't used to her casual way of speaking since it's already become a part of her image, but they chose to ignore it.
"Mira offered to help Natsu out, but he said he didn't need it." Happy answered.
Flashback
"Anything new?" Natsu asked Mira.
"Lucy and Levy are still searching for answers. And as for the mystery seller, no luck yet."
Erza frowned when she saw Natsu pout at this.
"Do you want me to fix you guys something to eat? You're probably hungry, right?" Mira was subtly trying to ask them if they want to have breakfast already.
"We're good. We already ate at Natsu's house." Erza answered for them. This came as a surprise for Mira because she didn't expect it, but she remembered that she gave Natsu all those cooking lessons so he could use it at times like these. She thought it wouldn't hurt for him to learn how to make his own meals when she wasn't there.
"Oh, I see." Natsu didn't know if he was just imagining it or not, but he thought she sounded disappointed.
"So Erza, how was your night with Natsu? I hope he took care of you properly." Mira changed the topic, looking at Natsu while saying this. It looked like she was trying to say something, and if he was reading her right, she was wondering if he did any monkey business with Erza while they were alone with each other. That, or she just simply wanted to know if he really did take care of her properly. After Erza's childish act yesterday, and hearing Levy's guess as to why, she had a reason to be worried leaving a childlike Erza in Natsu's hands.
Erza didn't really intend for everyone to see her childish act. She acted purely on instinct when Gildarts haphazardly decided that she stay with Jellal. But because of Levy's misunderstanding, she decided to go with the flow and act her part.
While Mira wanted to be the one to take care of Erza, she insisted on staying with Natsu. They all found it odd, but chucked it up to her preference for her closest male friend (since Gray wasn't here). She probably wanted to be around someone she's most comfortable with.
They all believed Jellal not wanting to bring Erza with him to avoid any unnecessary burden for her to be a valid excuse because they saw no reason for him to not want to take care of his own girlfriend. As long as they knew the brunette, he was a stand-up guy, just like his girlfriend. No one believed he would just ditch Erza like that.
"He really did. He cooked me food and waited for me to finish my shower before tucking me in for bed."
"Did he, really? My, my, you even gave Erza your bed. You make such a wonderful father."
"Please don't even joke about that." Mira giggled at his expense.
"But one day, you really will be a father, so why would I be joking?-Unless you don't want to have children with me?" Mira looked at Natsu with puppy dog eyes.
"I-I guess you're right." Natsu awkwardly blushed.
Erza also blushed at Mira's boldness. She didn't like getting caught up in the middle of their flirting.
Feeling playful and too caught up in the moment, Mira continued to flirt abrasively. Riled up from the topic of having children, she had an idea to have some alone time with Natsu.
"Your back must have hurt from sleeping on the couch last night. Do you want me to give you a massage in the infirmary? I'm sure Erza wouldn't mind if I take you away for a few minutes, right?" Mira smiled at Erza. He had a bad feeling about this.
Erza immediately caught on to what Mira was trying to do. Ever since Natsu and Mira started dating, Erza distanced herself from them more to spare her the pain. She didn't really develop a solid resistance to their flirting because she wasn't around them much. She didn't know Mira could be so bold, but she won't let them have their way as long as she was around.
"But Natsu slept with me in the same bed last night. Why would his back hurt from that?" Natsu and Mira froze.
"Come again?" Mira asked with a forced smile while releasing some of her magic. The rest of the guild felt themselves shiver for some reason, and more so for the panicking Natsu.
"It's not what you're thinking! I just slept with her because she didn't want me to sleep on the couch." Natsu panickedly answered.
It was a good thing Natsu was able to diffuse the situation.
"Is that so? I'm sorry for getting angry there for a second. I'm just not comfortable with someone else besides me sharing a bed with you." Just as Mira suddenly got angry, she returned to normal just as quick.
"It's okay! I totally get you!" Mira smiled at how understanding Natsu was.
"Then, how about I help you look after Erza?" This time, it was Natsu and Erza who froze in shock.
"You don't need to. She's not that hard to take care of."
"Yeah! I can look after myself too."
"Huh? Then why did you ask Natsu to take care of you?" Mira genuinely asked.
"-sometimes. Jeez, you didn't let me finish." Erza awkwardly covered with her quick thinking.
'She slipped!' Natsu exclaimed in his mind.
"Oh, I see. Then I leave her to you then, Natsu."
"You can count on me!" Natsu said with a thumbs-up and a forced smile.
Flashback End
After Natsu and Gray calmed down and stopped fighting, they went back to the table like nothing happened.
"Are you two done fighting already?" Juvia asked.
"Yeah. It's not exciting anymore when he isn't a challenge anymore." Natsu smugly replied.
"You son of a-" Juvia placed her hand on his mouth before he could finish.
"Mind your language in front of children." Everyone at the table was stumped. So now she could also control Gray and not the other way around. Their week-long honeymoon really changed them.
Stifling a laugh, Natsu pointed tauntingly at Gray "You're whipped! Pfft"
Gray felt a vein appear on his forehead "I can't wait to see how you act around Mira especially once you get married." Erza frowned at this.
"Anyway, Gray! There's something Natsu has to tell you." Erza interrupted.
"Huh? What do I tell him?" Natsu seemingly forgot their plan to have a Team Natsu get-together for a mission.
"The mission…" Erza gritted her teeth.
"Oh right! Wanna go with a mission with the team for old times' sake?"
"We were on a mission together just 3 months ago."
"Yeah, but once you and Juvia have a kid, you wouldn't be able to come with us anymore. Look what happened to Gajeel and Levy!" The married couple blushed.
"It's still too early to think about that!" Gray shouted.
"Stop being a smartass and just go with us." Natsu said in his usual tone towards Gray.
"Why are you forcing me, jackass!" Gray immediately regretted what he said. He forgot what Juvia said.
"Darling…" Juvia looked at him with a gaze so intense he felt like it could melt his face.
"Ok, ok, I'll go." Gray steered the topic away.
"Yosh! Then it's decided! We're taking an S-Class mission as soon as Erza turns back." Natsu announced to the group.
"You can come with us if you want, Juvia." Natsu suggested.
"Oh no, I wouldn't want to intrude on your team's bonding time."
"That's really not it, but alright."
…
3 days ago, after Ichiya gave Erza the parfum
Ichiya was walking towards the Fairy Tail guild to find Erza and tell her that if she doesn't meet the right conditions, she will never turn back to normal again.
"Stop right there, you bastard!" A random woman shouted.
"Hm?" Ichiya looked behind him for the source of the voice…and instantly regretted it. The lady decked him straight in the face.
"MEEEENNN!" Ichiya shouted as his body was twirling in the air.
"You said your potion would work! All it did was make the guy I like hate me even more!" She said, kicking his body on the ground.
What he sold her was a likeability potion that only works on someone who wasn't in love with someone else. If only she followed his instructions to use it only when her target has no one else they like.
Because of his violent customer's carnage, he was stuck in the hospital. For a seemingly rich, spoiled woman, she sure knew how to hit hard.
…
Natsu was going grocery shopping with Erza. Since Erza told him how much she likes his cooking, they've been having dinner and breakfast at his house. That, and also because he couldn't disobey Erza.
"No, that's enough! I already told you I don't know how to bake." Natsu berated Erza who kept on getting cake mixes and putting it in the cart.
"Fine, then buy me some on the way home."
"Stop acting so spoiled. You may have everyone thinking you're a kid again, but not me." Natsu bluntly revealed, which caused her to pout.
"Can't you just go along with it?" Erza said with a hopeful look. He had to give it to her. She really knew how to use her childish charms.
"I don't see why I should have to, but fine. Just let me get the things we need so we can buy your cake." Natsu said, earning him a smile from her.
"Thanks, Natsu!" She beamed. He didn't know why she insisted on keeping up her act around him, but he brushed it off as just another one of her quirks… because she's Erza (the best explanation for everything Erza does).
Feeling a light drizzle, they finished their errands quickly and went home. By the time Natsu started dinner, it was already raining. Erza sat on one of his chairs in the living room and started to read.
When Natsu was done cooking for them, he called Erza over to eat. And just like they've been doing for the past 3 days, they started a light conversation in the dinner table. They were stuck with each other until God knows when, so they had to get used to it. By doing something as simple as this, they would make sure it wasn't awkward around them.
But Erza had another reason for wanting to do this. Simply talking to him over a nice meal provided her the chance to get closer with him. He was helping her plan to get closer to him without even realizing it. Since Natsu was a natural talker, it was easy to start a conversation with him.
"…and then the horse got so mad at Gray he kicked him through an electric fence. Hahaha!" Erza couldn't hold in her laughter, which got Natsu to laugh too. Apparently, a lot of things happened during Gray and Juvia's honeymoon. Erza was retelling the funny story Juvia told her about how Gray got on the wrong side of the horse on one of their fun activities together and got himself kicked through an electric fence. In Gray's defense, he didn't know where to climb the horse from.
Natsu laughed along with her. The past three days they spent together alone at his house made him realize having Erza wasn't as bad as he expected. She still hasn't forced him into doing anything like she said she would, and they had their fun (not anything couples do, I'm talking platonic sense). Overall, things were going greater than he expected.
In the span of three days, they got used to each other's habits around the house. They slept in the same bed like good friends, they respected each other's privacy in the bathroom, they ate together, and they talked about anything they could think of. In Natsu's mind, this was just like when he first started to get closer to Mira, but he was confident in his ability to resist Erza's charm. He sincerely believed nothing would happen between them.
And just like every night, Natsu brought it upon himself to clean the dishes (another thing Mira taught him) while Erza started her shower. He would take his after her and they would usually read something before they went to sleep. Since Erza had the body of a child, she had the energy of one. While Natsu can stay up late because he's a naturally energetic person, he also has the mind of a child most of the time.
…
After Natsu finished his shower, Erza was already on the couch reading her book, wearing her nightclothes. Natsu didn't know where she was getting the clothes that fit her, but it didn't really matter. Erza was independent even when they were still kids, so he understood. Besides, she still had her memories, but she chose to act like a child in front of everyone.
They shared the books they were reading, and went to bed early tonight. Seeing how blessed she was for enjoying such great times with Natsu like this lately, she decided to tell him the truth about how she became a child again. She thought he wouldn't get mad because he didn't question her act around the others, and then being her normal self whenever they were alone.
After they were on the bed, Erza turned to Natsu before he could say 'good night' to her.
"Natsu, I have to tell you something. Promise you won't get mad?"
"Huh? Oh, sure. Hit me"
"Alright… you know how I said I drank something that made me like this?" Natsu's interest was piqued now.
"Yeah, from that guy we couldn't find, right?"
Erza shyly looked away, "To tell you the truth… I was talking about Ichiya."
"What?! Why didn't you say that from the beginning? Let's go tell everyone as soon as we get to the guild tomorrow."
"No!" Erza shouted. She didn't want her precious alone time with Natsu to end. Once she was back, it would be harder to get him alone with her. If she was being honest, sleeping in the same bed with Natsu every night was something she didn't expect, so she was enjoying it as much as possible. When he thought she was already asleep, she would wait to hear his loud snores first before she started sniffing him and snuggling his sleeping form. It was a well-known fact that Natsu was a heavy sleeper, and she used this to her advantage.
"Why? Now that we know who did this to you, let's ask him for the way to turn you back."
"I said no!"
"No? Why do you keep saying, 'no'? Why do you want to be a kid so badly?" First, she lies about not knowing who did this to her, and now she doesn't want them to help her turn back. What was her deal?
Erza shifted uncomfortably from her spot in the bed.
"Because I want things to stay like this a little longer! I don't want to lose my time alone with you. This is the only time I ever feel like I'm the most important person to you." It was mostly the truth. She also wanted to be a kid because in her mind, she could be the pure person Natsu wanted. Her desperate need to grab his attention was making her do (and think) weird things.
"Because you're the only person with me right now!"
"Exactly! Mira can have you all to herself anytime she wants, and no one will find it weird, but how about me? I may have something on you, but I can't even get closer to you."
"You are! I admit I hated you for what you did at first, and I was so careful around you. But seeing how you spent time with me like a good friend these past few days, I'm starting to see you really do care about me."
"I said I don't want to be just a friend to you anymore!"
"Why are you shouting! And if you don't want to be my friend, then what you're doing now is useless."
"No, it's not. I'll show you why." Erza straddled Natsu and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Erza, what are you doing?! I thought we agreed-"
"I know! But what we agreed on was just your suggestion. Remember that we still have a deal, and you need to follow what I have to say."
"Erza, don't do this. You did a good job of making me forgive you for what you did three nights ago, but if you do it again, you'll let all the moments we spent together go to waste."
"I don't care anymore, Natsu. Hearing how Mira's always on your mind even if we're alone made me realize that no matter how hard I try to make you love me, it won't happen as long as she's around."
Natsu misunderstood what she was saying and angrily released her hold on his body and grabbed her tightly.
"What are you planning to do to Mira?!" Natsu looked so serious it sent shivers down Erza's spine.
"N-Natsu? Wait, you're misunderstanding something here."
"Then tell me what you mean!" He didn't care if he was doing this to a child. Knowing how far Erza was willing to go, he couldn't help but feel alarmed when she said what she said. Erza was still Erza to him.
"I won't hurt Mira!" Erza shouted, making him ease his grip on her and let her finish.
"But I'll start using my cards now. I've been holding myself back because I didn't want you to hate me even more, but hearing you constantly talk about things you do with Mira even when I'm the one in front of you is making me lose my mind."
"Are you saying-"
"Yes. Our original deal still stands, and I'm tired of pretending it doesn't because I want to play it safer with you." Erza cut him off for the second time.
"What are you gonna make me do?" Natsu paled. Was she seriously thinking about doing this? Not only was it wrong because Natsu already has Mira, Erza was just a child right now.
"Something I've wanted to do ever since I knew I was going to stay with you." Erza's sultry smile added to Natsu's concern.
"Just lay back and enjoy it, because I'm going to make you feel good" Erza pushed him back down.
"You're crazy!" He shouted.
"We already know that." She predatorily looked at him as she started to unzip his pants.
Feeling her breath come closer to his manhood, he couldn't take it anymore and pushed her off. He ran out of his bedroom into the living room. He collapsed on the couch and started taking deep breaths.
She was crazy. Not only was she forcing him to satisfy her sexual needs again, she was also doing it with the body of a child.
"Natsu, didn't we agree you had to do everything I say?"
"What makes you think I'll do it with you when you're just a kid right now? You're crazy! Just stop it already."
Erza chose to ignore the last parts, "So you're saying you would mind less if I had my old body back?"
Natsu looked at her dumbfounded.
What would he say to escape this situation? If he said yes, he could stop her right now but give her the idea that he wanted to do it with her mature form. If he said no, then seeing as it wouldn't matter either way, nothing would stop her from pouncing on him. If he didn't answer her properly, he might as well be saying no. He knew it was the wrong decision in the long-run, but he had to stop this from happening.
"Yes." He reluctantly said. Erza was surprised he didn't just steer the topic away and answered her affirmatively.
"Really?"
Seeing how Natsu wasn't answering her (because he had no answer left), she jumped in joy.
"Ok then! Tomorrow, let's go find Ichiya and get him to turn me back."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Since you said you prefer my old body, then there's no need to keep this body anymore." He didn't give her the impression that he liked her kid form either, but he was fine with whatever made things normal again. Erza may be more demanding and overpowering once she gets her old form back, but he'll deal with that after they get out of this mess.
Natsu slumped in the sofa tiredly.
"You're really a handful…" he groaned out, placing one arm over his eye.
"I know. I'm sorry. But please don't tell anyone it was me who did this to myself. It's embarrassing."
"Suit yourself. I have a feeling it will backfire on me anyway even when I tell anyone what you did."
Seeing Natsu like this, Erza sat next to him and snuggled his warm body.
"For now, I'm happy with just this." Erza said, making herself comfortable.
When he heard Erza's soft snores, he decided to sleep as well. He didn't want to wake her up, so he didn't bother moving from the couch.
Feeling Erza snuggling up to him some more, he realized she must be feeling cold without a blanket to protect her from the coolness of the rain.
He used his magic to make her feel warmer.
It was weird. Even when she was making him go through all these things, he still cared about her.
"I hope you can find happiness with someone else someday" He said to the air.
He would endure this obstacle on his relationship with Mira, and he would make sure no one will be left behind while he achieves happiness with Mira. He thought Erza was just lost right now, that's all.
…
When Erza woke up the next morning, she felt heavy.
When she looked at the person beside her, she smiled. She was glad he didn't push her away last night.
When she stood up, she noticed something. Everything looked smaller.
Looking down at her body, she couldn't resist the urge to cover herself. She had her old body back, and the small clothes she was wearing were ripped off her bigger and more curvaceous form.
She requipped into her usual attire.
Seeing Natsu still asleep, she wanted to get ready before him and surprise him.
…
Natsu woke up to the smell of eggs.
"Who's cooking?" He groggily asked, still half-asleep.
He looked around and saw that there was two plates of breakfast all set on the table.
"Who did this?!" He looked around, alarmed. He's gotten used to being the one cooking for both of them, he didn't even stop to think first that there was someone else living with him.
"Guess who?" Feeling two hands cover his eyes, he knew it was Erza. Wait, how can she reach him?
He uncovered her hands from his eyes and turned around. He felt his eyes pop out.
"Erza?! You're back!"
"I know. When I woke up this morning, I looked down and saw I had my old body back."
"What happened? How did you do it?"
"Strangely enough, I'm guessing I was turned back to normal while I was sleeping."
"So it is true what they said about kids needing sleep to get taller."
Erza laughed at his joke.
"Let's get ready quickly so we can tell the guild." Natsu sat down on his side of the table and bit into the egg Erza cooked. He spat it out and shouted "Too salty!", earning him another giggle from Erza. She was a bad cook.
…
When they got back to the guild, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the two of them.
The silence was broken when someone shouted "Erza's back!", which spurred a massive celebration.
"How did you turn back?" Levy wanted to know for future references.
"I don't know. I just woke up this morning, and then I had my body back already."
"Do you have an idea why that happened?"
"I really don't know. I was just sleeping beside Natsu as usual, and then when I woke up earlier, I was back."
Everyone looked at Natsu, and then at Mira uncomfortably.
"Don't worry, I already know. They just sleep on the same bed, that's all." Mira answered the obvious question weighing on their minds.
They all heaved a sigh of relief.
Hearing what Erza said, a light bulb lit on Levy's head and she came up with her theory.
"Maybe being around Natsu's magic was the trigger to turn her back to normal."
"Just let it go, it doesn't matter anymore." Gajeel told his wife while he was carrying their child.
"No way! I can't rest easy not knowing the answer to something." The guild and Gajeel sweat dropped at her persistence.
"If it helps, I used my magic to keep her warm from the rain last night." Natsu said. Mira felt uneasy by what he said, but she didn't show it on her face.
"That must be it! I can't believe it, I actually solved it!" Levy excitedly jumped.
Everyone deadpanned at her jolly expression. She was the only one still excited about that.
A heavily bandaged Ichiya hid himself in the entrance of the guild.
The potion he gave her was a type of love potion where the user becomes someone they think is the ideal person of their target. The only way to reverse its effects is for the target to make the user feel content with their true self. Basically, the user had to feel loved by his/her target to trigger their return to their old self.
Overhearing everything they said, Ichiya felt like it would be insensitive of him to tell them this now. Because why would she feel loved by Natsu when she was already with Jellal?