Finished: February 25, 2020

Word Count- 3574

Music - Mad Father - Old Doll (Slowed Down Version)

Summary:

Natsu, Lucy and Happy are on a mission to drive a peculiar Witch away from a village. The Witch is know for her transforming everyday items into oddities. What will happen if one of their team mates is turned into a doll?
**********************************

It was an odd mission to begin with, they should have noticed something was off from the start. However, the Title was too bizarre to pass up. The request was from a small village on the outskirts of Magnolia.

A Witch Running Rampant

Strange Changing Objects - Trees Turn to Cloth and Animals Transform into Paintings

Please Help! Need of Removal

Nonetheless, once the damage was done, it was too late to go back. The Witch was no more than a child, she looked so innocent and pure. Her demeanor resembeled the young Dragon Slayer, Wendy. For she had long black hair, a sweet face and a tiny frame. But she was nothing like Wendy at all. Her miniature mouth spread wide into a cooked grin and her high pitched giggle sent shivers down their spines.

The girls blue and white dress was coated with thick layers of grime, most likely from all the time she had spent in the forest. Though she stood half his height, Natsu felt a bite of fear in the pit of his stomach.

Natsu swallowed the little saliva left in his dry mouth and held out his hand, lifting his partner to her feet.

"Are you both alright?" Happy flew over to Natsu and Lucy after they had been thrown.

"Im okay buddy." Natsu cracked his shoulder.

"She came out of nowhere." Lucy rubbed her neck.

The mage lifted her eyes to once again see what they were up against. Around the girl was a glowing red sphere, acting as a shield or force field. Making it impossible for any attacks to reach her. Truthfully, Lucy didn't want to fight. She wanted to talk, see if they could come to some mutual agreement.

Because the villagers just wanted the Witch to stop changing the environment, the Witch would be free to what ever she liked if she was further away from the village. Or simply stop using her magic to transform the terrain.

"I'm gunna beat this little girl to a pulp!" Natsu lit his fists and crouched, ready to charge. But Lucy held out her arm and stepped in front of him.

"Wait." She stopped him and slowly walked towards the crazed girl.

"Luce." She could hear the worry in his voice, but she did not stop. "What are you doing?"

She ignored him and continued her approach, holding out her hands in a peaceful manner. "I don't want to fight you."

The Petite Witch starred at Lucy with large, unblinking eyes. Her temperament unchanging as Lucy drew closer.

"We don't want to hurt you, I just want to talk." Her voice floated softly in the air, the soothing notion of her nature.

However the young girl did not want to abide and shrieked back, her cry a mix of a shrill howl and a childs complaint . The very volume made Lucy flinch. "I DON'T WANT TO TALK!"

"Alright, alright." Lucy tried to ease her. "What would you like then?"

"I want my dolly." She whined.

"I'm sorry, I don't know where your dolly is."

"NO!" Her ghostly screech repeated. "Thats not what I meant!"

"Then what do you mean?"

"I want you to be my dolly." She raised a pale finger and pointed it straight at Lucy.

Finally realizing the situation, Lucy took a step back. Knowing that there was no negotiating with this child. She had to get out of there!

"Lushie!" She could hear Happy call out to her.

But it was too late. A stream of red magic spat out of her pointed finger and shot itself directly at Lucy. She had no time to react, it was coming too fast!

Suddenly she was loosing her balance, her feet leaving the ground as an abrupt force shoved her aside. A black blur had pushed her out of the path of the red magic. However, in the process it had taken her place. The shadowed figure was hit by the deadly magical blast.

Lucy's eyes widened in recognition of the clouded man, Natsu had pushed her pushed her out of the way!

"Natsu!" Lucy called out to him as red dust engulfed his body.

Natsu didn't yell out, nor did he look in pain at all. Instead he simply sank to his knees and glanced sleepily over at her.

"Luce..." His voice sounded tired.

Without hesitation she rushed to him as he fell in her lap. She held him in her small arms for a few moments before he completely passed out. For the second he fell unconscious, his form started to shrink. Smaller and smaller his body dwindled, until he was smaller than happy.

Natsu's tanned skin completely changed texture, even his hair turned into folds of pink fabric. His trademark clothing shrunk, now fitting the stuffed figurine perfectly. Natsu's coal eyes had now become black buttons sown on the front of a cotton face. A tiny scarf wrapped around his throat, complementing the small, red Guild mark on his open shoulder.

Lucy held the doll at ams length, in complete shock of what her best friend had become. Her jaw trembled and tears rushed down her cheeks silently. She was too appalled by the events, that her brain couldn't comprehend that it was real.
Natsu. Was. A. Doll.

"Natsu..." Lucy glanced down to see Happy place his paws on her leg, looking at his caretaker.

It was in that moment that Lucy broke. She clutched onto the doll tightly, bringing it close to her chest and sobbed his name. Happy climbed into her embrace and begged for Natsu to return to normal. Her emotions could not be bottled, she morned the loss of her partner and friend.

Then she remembered. Lucy remembered who was responsible for her sorrow. The Witch.

"Happy. Look after Natsu." She handed the Exceed Natsu's puppet.

Lucy stood and apprehended the small girl, her eyes deeply furrowed in animosity. After summoning her Tartarus Star Dress she slowly marched forward. One step at a time, she stomped closer to the Witch. She had done this!

"Turn him back." Lucy demanded coldly.

"I don't want to." She girl huffed and crossed her arms.

"I said. Turn. Him. Back!" Lucy yelled and slammed her foot into the red barrier, earning a large crack in its surface.

"Hey!" The girl looked stunned and upset. "You aren't allowed to do that!"

"Turn Natsu back to normal!" Lucy demanded once again hitting the force field, spreading the cracks even further across the sphere.

"No!" The girl coward in fear.

One last strike and her shield shattered, sending little red shards crashing to the grass. Lucy took advantage of the girls moment of defense and grabbed her by the collar. All her sympathy had been thrown out the window, she was a completely different person now. Because this girl had taken Natsu away from her.

"Turn him back." Her voice dripped with poison.

Tears stumbled out of the child's eyes as she started to cry, yet, somehow Lucy didn't seem to care. Instead, she was further angered by the fact that she was too busy crying to answer her. Therefore, Lucy shook her gaining her slobbery attention. "Turn him back now!"

"I-I can't!" The girl blabbered.

"What do you mean you can't?!" Lucy was only heated more by this.

"Lucy."

"WHAT?!" Lucy whipped her head around fiercely, to see a hesitant Happy at her ankles. His face was full of sadness and fear, but not fear of the Witch. Fear of Lucy.

She immediately realized what she was doing and released the child, looking at her hands. The Witch scampered away from Lucy in fright, sniffing away her tears.

"...I-I..." Lucy had no words, for her actions were unforgivable.

She looked to the girl with the intention of apologizing, but she flinched at Lucy's gaze. "Leave me alone!"

Her small feet scurried off and disappeared into the forest, too scared to stay a moment longer. Lucy's heart dropped, she didn't mean to frighten her, she simply wanted Natsu back. This was the first time she had experienced blind rage. She was glad no was saw it, except for Happy. Poor Happy.

Was Happy also afraid of her now too?! She couldn't bare the thought! She couldn't loose both of her friends in one day!

Lucy climbed to her feet and paced slowly to the spot they both sat, Natsu and Happy. The blue Exceed held her Doll partner in his small blue paws, they were about the same size now. Natsu slightly smaller, it was a very odd sight. To see her beloved friend a stuffed toy.

"I'm so sorry Happy." Lucy didn't dare touch him, in case he was still shaken by her ravenous actions. "I hope you are not scared of me now."

"Lushie. We've seen Natsu do much stupider and terrifying things than that. I would never be scared of you."

Lucy's shoulders slacked and she held out her arms, allowing the cat to crawl in comfortably. "Thank you, Happy."

They stayed like that for a moment, squeezing the stuffed Natsu in between them. Just taking in all the events that had happened before they moved on.

During their silence, Lucy heard a soft voice. it sounded like it came from further in the forest. A girls voice, no older than ten, maybe twelve? This strange voice only said two words, still, they echoed through her brain like a vortex.

"...you can..."

What did that mean? She could what? Lucy shook the voice out of her mind, she couldn't waste time thinking about trivial things. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

"Come on, we need to get Natsu to the Guild. Maybe they can do something about this curse."

Together in agreement, Happy picked up Lucy with ease and they took to the sky. Lucy held Natsu's likeness close, embracing it under her chin snuggly. She squeezed the cotton folds of his tiny clothing and fiddled with his fluffy hair.

This was what Natsu had become, all because of her. Lucy was supposed to take that hit, not Natsu! Lucy felt entirely responsible for Natsu's condition. She had let her guard down, making him step in and save her.

He always did that. Natsu was always saving her. He was always there when she was in trouble, not just on the battle field. But even in her social life, if she was feeling sad, somehow he knew. He could see through her like she was colored glass. He always knew exactly how she was feeling at all times, no matter how hard she tried to hide her emotions. He knew.

Therefore, Natsu must have sensed her unease. Tears fell from her eyes, dripping onto Natsu's synthetic forehead and soaking into his stuffing.

Soon enough they had arrived at the Guild, Happy gently landed Lucy's feet upon the floor and flopped sleepily on her head. With no time to loose she rushed inside. Not wanting to cause a panic she tucked Natsu's form close to her and ran up the stairs to the Master's office. Hopefully he would have a solution.

Lucy knocked on the door, her heart beating rapidly. Every second the door lingered unopened, the more her anxiety increased. Finally, the door swung open and the small an stood in the door frame. However Lucy did not wait for him to welcome her, instead she burst into the room and sank into one of his chairs.

"I'm so sorry Master!" Lucy couldn't hold back a moment longer and held out Natsu's moppet. "It all happened so fast! I couldn't do anything! He took the hit for me, it was supposed to be me! What am I supposed to do? How can I..."

"Lucy, my child."Master seemed to grasp the situation and placed a hand on her shoulder in attempt to calm the shaken girl. "Please, take a deep breath."

With a shaky jaw, she tried her best to take a long, deep breath. It did help her nerves to relax a bit, but she was still a mess on the inside.

"Good. Now please, tell me everything from the beginning." He instructed calmly.

Lucy did as she was told and recounted their Mission, describing the odd request, the Witch and the spell. Happy rubbed her arm softly with his fluffy paw, trying to comfort her and himself at the same time. The Master seemed to follow as he held his pointer finger over his chin and nodded several times during the narration.

At the end of her tale he stood up and took hold of the doll, examining it curiously. "I know of this curse."

Lucy's heart rose, her hopes rising in anticipation. "Really?"

"Unfortunately..." He sighed.

With this single word, her dreams plummeted.

"This is not a curse I can reverse."

"What?!" Lucy stood up, her hands placed upon his desk aghast. "That can't be right!"

"I'm afraid it is true. This is a strong spell neither I, nor anyone downstairs can break."

Lucy's legs feet weak as she fell back into her chair, dismay flooding her. "Does that mean Natsu..."

The Master simply hung his head and nodded. In silent understanding Lucy scooped up Natsu's body and walked out of the office. As she walked dimly out of the building, people tried to ask her questions of how her mission went and where Natsu was. However the inquiries made her feel even more overwhelmed and she continued her slow, mute pace out the doors.

Happy seemed to have been in such a state of disarray that he flew home, unable to console himself. Which left Lucy by herself, alone and with her thoughts. The haunting memories of how she got Natsu Dragneel killed.

Opening her apartment door she dropped all her items loosely across the floor. Not caring that she had made a mess, Lucy only clutched onto one item. Natsu.

She collapsed morosely upon her bed, not bothering to cover herself with her sheets. Lucy knew she would be cold either way. Therefore there was no point in trying to comfort herself if he was not there to console her.

Lucy held tightly unto Natsu's remains as she starred blankly at her ceiling. Her mind was blank and she could not longer process complete thoughts. Soon enough her limbs grew limp as her dull tears dried, making Natsu's doll fall off her chest and crumble to the floor.

"Oh! Lucy noted her careless treatment and rushed to pick him up.

She rubbed her fingers over his cotton arms, scanning him for any damage his small fall might have caused.

As she examined his button eyes and cloth cheeks, her heart broke. "I am so sorry Natsu."

A verbal burst of grief resonated from deep with in her throat. She pleaded and apologized repeatedly, though she knew he couldn't hear her.

"I'm sorry! I know you can never forgive me! Please, let this be a dream! I can't loose you, not you too." She continued to babble. "Why did you do that? It should have been me to take that spell, not you. I deserve it, my life has already been a mess of the ones I love leaving! You of all people said that we would always be together! I believed you...I believed you..."

Lucy let out all of her emotions, now feeling completely drained. Both her brain and her body had lost all its energy. She laid back down on top of her comforter and squeezed the doll tightly between her chin and chest.

Breathing deeply she attempted to calm herself, for it was late and she knew that she needed rest. Raggedly, she held his miniature head and whispered three words. Three words she had yearned to tell him one day. Three words she dreamed that he would say to her.

"I love you." Her voice was soft and with the last bit of her mental strength, she pressed her lips against the top of his forehead. Placing a light kiss upon his brow.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, she noticed that once her lips disconnected, the spot underneath was glowing. The golden light quickly grew until it enveloped Natsu completely.

Lucy eyes shot open, her drowsnyness immediately gone. Now to be replaced with curiosity and a slight tinge of hope.

The doll started to shake and float out of her hands, Lucy retracted her hands from him. She was now a bystander of what ever was going to happen next.

Natsu started to grow, blood and bone replaced cotton and fiber. His eyes returned, his real eyes! Fabric hair returned to normal as Natsu's messy mop finally materialized.

Soon enough Natsu was standing in the middle of her room, the real Natsu. Her Natsu! She was at a complete loss of words. For her partner, whom she thought was dead, was now fully alive. Therefore she sat silently astounded on her bed, unable to move.

However Natsu, after being immobile; seemed ready to finally move again. He walked up to the bed and approached her delicately.

"Thanks Luce." He took her hand gently, she was stunned by his physical touch, proving his existence was not a dream.

"H-How?" She stuttered, not able to take her eyes off him.

"You." Natsu took her other hand, now both neatly in his grasp.

"But I don't...I didn't-"

"Luce, you were the only one in the world who could change me back."

"Me?!" she gapped.

"Of corse, how else would a spell be broken. If not from the one you love." Without breaking eye contact he squeezed her palms.

"Love...You heard that?!" Lucy felt her face heat up, feeling utterly embarrassed.

"Luce, I was aware the entire time. I saw everything you did for me."

"But the Master said that it couldn't be broken." She remembered.

"Thats not entirely accurate, he said 'he nor anyone else on the lower level could'. But you were upstairs, with him. Guess you didn't notice that he felt you out of the equation."

"Did you know the whole time?!" She forgot her nerves for a second.

"I figured it out pretty quick, yeah." Natsu chuckled.

"You idiot!" She slapped his arm.

"Hey, I just came back! Don't hurt me." He teased.

"You deserve it, for pushing me out of the way. I was suppose to take that spell, not you." Lucy was starting to let her emotions show.

"You know I could never let anything happen to you."

"Why?" She breathed. "Why do you care so much, that you would put yourself in danger?"

"Because I love you too."

Three words. Those simple three words that Lucy craved to hear. The small sentence she lost all hope of hearing from this man. Yet, in all ways he took her by surprise.

"Then promised me something." Tears started forming in her eyes.

"Anything."

Lucy heart tugged, realizing how he said that so simply.

"Promise me you won't leave, you won't die. At least not for me, I don't know what I would do with myself if you left."

"Of all the things you could ask for, that is the one I can not guarantee. You are too important to me, if I have the choice, you always come first."

Lucy probably should have expected this answer, but it wasn't the one she wanted to hear. He never second guessed his actions when she was in trouble.

"Then, promise me this. Promise to live for me."

"I promise." Natsu bent down and embraced her. Lucy could feel the worry melt off her shoulders, his presence giving her confidence. "Now if I am correct, you were headed to bed."

Lucy looked out her window and took a glimpse of the dark sky. He was correct, she was settling down for the night before their "little development".

"Right." She sighed, relaxing.

"Come one, you've had a long day. It's time you rest." Natsu pulled down the covers of her bed that they were sitting on. He gestured for her to lay down and she accepted the offer. Natsu shimmied his way beside her once she was comfortable.

It was normal for them to share a bed, they would share hotel rooms all the time during missions. Plus, Lucy learned to accept finding her partner under her covers randomly. Secretly, she didn't mind his warm presence.

However, something was different now. They both knew each others feelings, everything was out in the open. Therefore, neither part feared their inner emotions and gladly accepted physical touch.

Natsu wrapped his arm around Lucy's back, just below her shoulders and pulled her closer. Her eyes now in line with his collar bone. She followed suit and wrapped her available arm around his lower waist, breathing in his smoky smell.

Neither Natsu and Lucy moved from their position all night, each too mentally and physically tired. They fell asleep instantly, snug in each others embrace. Together they peacefully slept, head filled with dreams of the future.