The Baby Craze
Team Natsu had just returned from a mission, fighting against a dark wizard that loved to torment people. And tormenting in a particularly evil way, almost a childish way. He just hit people with spells or potions that were basically pranks! People complained about being turned into cats, speaking in another language, or having purple skin, or doing embarrassing and uncontrollable things in public and so on. They were never life-threatening and eventually disappeared, but the spells were annoying. So this dark wizard was just a nuisance! Luckily they captured him and handed him over to the council. But something unfortunate had happened during the battle...
Natsu had jumped in front of Lucy and was directly hit with a spell. They had no idea what, and so far nothing abnormal had happened to him. They all waited for something, but he was still just Natsu. They thought maybe since he was a dragon slayer it wouldn't affect him the same way. They were currently in the guild, many people eyeing him warily every once in a while. Lucy particularly wouldn't stop bugging him.
"Luce, I told you I'm fine! Stop fussing over me!" Lucy pouted. "Natsu what if the spell just takes a while? I'm just checking that nothing bad has happened to you!" Natsu huffed, turning away from her. Secretly he was thrilled that she was so concerned for him, but he'd never admit it.
Cana was already drunk by the time they'd returned, even though it was only late morning. She slurred, "Natsuuu, just be a good boy and let your girlfriend take care of youuu. Hehee." Natsu flushed and retorted, "She's not my girlfriend you drunkard."
After another ten minutes had passed, Lucy was inspecting him again. Making sure he hadn't grown another limb or developed duck feet or something. "Luce! I'll tell you if I feel funny! Stop it. You're bugging me." Lucy scowled at him, she was just concerned for him! She was also secretly excited, she wanted to see what embarrassing thing the wizard had done to him! What if his innermost desires were expressed? What if he turned into a cute little kitty! Or what if he turned into a girl!? Whatever it was it had better be good! She hid her anticipating smile as she got up from the table, heading to the bar for a milkshake.
As Lucy finished slurping down the last of her liquid strawberry goodness, she heard loud gasps throughout the guild. She perked up, jumping down from the bar stool to see what had finally happened to Natsu. She nudged through the crowd that had surrounded him. A huge smile spread on her face when she heard all the coos and awes. Surely he was some sort of fuzzy animal!
She broke through the front lines and froze. Her eyes bugged out as she stared at Natsu.
He was...
a BABY?!
A small pink-haired boy who looked no older than one or two looked up at her. Natsu's clothes were piled around him, falling off his now tiny shoulders. His scarf covered his face a bit. His big round black eyes stared at her. Lucy's heart melted. She knelt down to the baby, squealing with pure adoration. She loved babies, and just because the baby in front of her happened to be Natsu, her best friend and teammate, did not change a thing. If anything, it made her adore the baby more.
She cooed at the baby, "Natsu? Can you talk?" Baby Natsu blinked sleepily, his eyes still fixed on her. He raised his small chubby arms to her. Perhaps he couldn't talk then? Did he still have any coherent thoughts or was his brain also morphed into a one-year-old's? She beamed and reached out to pick him up. She ignored his nakedness, it was different now that he was just a babe. His teeny hands clasped around her long blonde hair. His face pressed into the crook of her neck, sniffing her deeply. Lucy blushed slightly, maybe Natsu still remembered her?
She gasped slightly when his small face nuzzled her bountiful breasts. He better not be aware of what he was doing! Baby Natsu yawned widely and cuddled into her neck again, instantly falling asleep against her. She smiled down at him, holding him tightly. She noticed everyone around her was either recording or taking pictures of the scene. Erza stepped closer, taking a picture of Natsu pressed up against Lucy's chest, his plump lips open slightly. Erza asked, "Do you think he remembers everyone? Obviously he still has a preference for Lucy." Lucy blushed deeply, "Still?! What is that supposed to mean Erza?!" Everyone in the guild rolled their eyes dramatically, Lucy was as dense as Natsu. Gray smirked, getting a nice shot of Natsu's bare baby butt in Lucy's arms. "He probably won't remember this, so let's take all the pictures we can get to show him. He'll be so embarrassed. I can't wait."
Mira walked around the counter, holding out a diaper from her own baby bag. She had a smiling blonde baby girl on her own hip. "Here, put this on him. I imagine he has reverted completely back to a child so he probably won't be potty trained." Lucy took the diaper, eager to put it on him before he peed on her or worse. She gently laid him on a table, strapping the diaper around him securely. All the girls crowded around him, cooing and pinching his rolls and running their hands on his smooth soft skin. He stirred under their hands and opened his eyes.
His eyes filled with heavy tears as he took in the girls surrounding him. He let out a high pitched shriek, starting to cry. Obviously he did not remember any of them, or else he wouldn't cry. The girls fussed and cooed, trying to calm him. Lucy picked him up again, feeling protective of him. She balanced him on her hip, swaying back and forth and cooing. Eventually his tears ceased, but he didn't fall back asleep. He clung to Lucy, squirming when anyone else touched him.
A few hours had passed, and people still cooed over baby Natsu, knowing not to try to take him from Lucy's arms anymore even though they wanted to pass him around. She cradled him sideways like a newborn, his head resting in the crook of her elbow, his face nuzzled into her chest again. Her other hand was stroking his chubby baby cheeks. His miniature and pudgy hand suddenly wrapped around one of her fingers tightly. She smiled down at him murmuring softly, "Natsuu..." She heard more pictures being taken, knowing Mira was probably recording every moment with an evil mischievous gleam in her eyes.
Lucy shifted uncomfortably. She had had to go to the bathroom for a while now, but she couldn't take Natsu with her. She had been trying to put him back to sleep so she could go quietly, but he was still wide awake. She sighed. She really couldn't hold it anymore so it would just have to be done the hard way. Maybe she could find another girl he really liked. She looked around until she spotted Lisanna. She strode over to her, calling Happy over as well. The two of them would keep him calm right?
Lisanna cooed over the baby Natsu, squeezing his chubby little legs. "Lisanna can you take him for a moment? I really gotta pee.." Lisanna looked up at her worriedly. "Ah.. I dunno Lucy... He seems to cry if he isn't with you..." Lucy bounced a little, showing how much of an emergency it was. "I'll make it quick! I can't bring him with me. And Happy is here too to help keep him peaceful." She forced Natsu into Lisanna's arms. Natsu's face immediately crinkled into discomfort and he reached wildly for Lucy, fussing coming from him. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, cooing to him, "I'll be right back my little baby!" Happy flew in front of Lucy, trying to distract and entertain the babe. She quickly turned and ran to the bathroom, ignoring the loud screams of distress behind her and the chuckles of amusement from everyone else.
Lisanna struggled to keep Natsu in her arms as he thrashed about aimlessly. Big tears rolled down his small face as he cried loudly. Happy tried making funny faces at Natsu while Lisanna rocked him back and forth. Nothing eased his displeasure. Lisanna quickly hurried to her sister. "Mira-nee! You have a baby! Help me!" Mira chuckled, taking the screeching child into her motherly arms. Even her motherly touch could not soothe his uneasiness. Erza clamped her hands around her ears, glaring at the small baby Natsu. "Mavis! Even as a baby he still has a set of lungs in him!" Gray chuckled, "Of course he'd still be annoying as hell as a baby. What'd you expect?"
Gajeel leered down at the baby in Mira's arms. "Stupid flame brains. Getting turned into a stupid annoying baby." Levy scowled at her boyfriend, rattling a toy in front of Natsu's face. "I love babies. If you don't then go home Gajeel." Gajeel's face furrowed further. He didn't like Levy scolding him. He tried to redeem himself in his girlfriend's eyes. "Babies are fine. It's just that this baby happens to be Natsu." Levy just rolled her eyes at him, returning her attention to the frustrated Natsu.
After a few moments had passed, Lucy ran back to the bar, breathless. As soon as Natsu laid eyes on her his screams escalated with yearning, his small arms stretched out to her, his chubby hands opening and closing demandingly. Mira could barely keep him in her arms. Lucy chuckled and eagerly took him from MiraJane's arms. It was funny, she had gotten used to his warmth and weight on her hip and had felt strangely empty without him there. She felt guilty leaving him alone, even if it was necessary. She hugged him to her chest, kissing his face in apology. His cries stopped instantly, and soon he was only whimpering against her skin. Lucy swayed him back and forth, reassuring him that she wouldn't leave again.
Laxus leered at baby Natsu, cradling his own sleeping babe to his broad chest. "Mavis, I'm glad Emmy isn't like that. What a nightmare. And I thought Natsu couldn't get any more annoying..." Elfman laughed softly next to him, trying to be quiet and not wake his sleeping niece. "Getting turned into a baby is not manly." Evergreen wrapped her arms around his neck, her engagement ring gleaming on her hand as she leaned in to whisper something in his ear. Whatever it was, the big burly man blushed profusely. Laxus gagged next to them, "I'm right here Ever. I can effing hear your nasty dirty talk." Both guilty mages' faces went bright red as their friends laughed. They had forgotten Laxus had dragon hearing.
Lucy chuckled at the scene, absentmindedly stroking Natsu's soft hair. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Juvia approaching her slowly. She smiled encouragingly at the water mage. This was the first time all day Juvia had come near Natsu. Juvia inched forward, unsure. "Juvia... doesn't have any experience with babies. Juvia doesn't know how to behave or what to do." Gray laughed, "It's just a baby Juvia! And it's just Natsu!" Gray patted Natsu's small head, surprisingly gentle. Natsu whined, probably because Gray's hands were too cold. Juvia took a deep breath and stepped forward. Lucy turned Natsu around in her lap so that he was facing Juvia. Juvia hesitantly reached her hand out. One slender finger poked his round cheek. Natsu stared at her questioningly, but didn't fuss since Lucy was still holding him.
Juvia gasped slightly and continued to prod and pinch Natsu's chubby body. She exclaimed, "His skin is so soft and smooth! Juvia thinks Natsu is very cute this way!" Lucy nodded in agreement, "Isn't he adorable?!" Juvia suddenly dropped her hand, her face flaming. Gray looked at her quizzically. "What's wrong Juvia?" Juvia blushed deeper, shaking her head in embarrassment. "I-! Ah... I mean. Juvia- no..." Gray stared at amazement at her. Had she just dropped her peculiar third person address for a moment? Why was she so flustered? "Juvia what is it?" Juvia stared at her feet, drawing patterns into the ground with her toe. "Um... Juvia was just struck by how badly she also wanted a baby. It took Juvia by surprise." Gray's face flushed deeply as his mouth gapped at her. "Y-you want a baby?" Juvia just nodded, shyly looking up at his face.
Lucy cackled at the timid scene in front of her. Everyone knew that Gray had developed feelings for the water mage, but he was so awkward he didn't know how to tell her. And of course, Juvia was still deeply in love with him since first sight. Lucy smiled wickedly at the moment of her opportunity, and she couldn't pass up her chance. She leaned down and whispered to Natsu, knowing he wouldn't understand anyways. "Watch this, Natsu." She planted a firm kick right into the ice mage's butt, forcing him towards Juvia. He just needed a little kick, so that's what she was giving him. "I'm sure Gray will volunteer to help you make a baby!" The guild howled in laughter while Gray and Juvia flushed dark red. Juvia shook her head, "Juvia knows Gray-sama doesn't want a baby with her." She smiled sadly and turned away. Gray watched her in disbelief as she exited the guild. Lucy scowled at him. "The hell Gray? I just gave you an opportunity. Now go make babies!" She kicked his backside again.
He shot an icy glare at her. "If this ends badly it's all your fault for being so pushy. But I can't hit a girl. So I'll be taking it out on your precious baby there." He ran out of the door, chasing down the water mage. Lucy frowned at his declaration. How was hitting a girl worse than hitting a baby? She wasn't too worried though, no matter how badly Gray screwed up Juvia would be overjoyed that he followed after her.
She felt Natsu getting fussy in her arms. She cautiously lifted him to her nose, sniffing his diaper. Grateful that that wasn't her dilemma, she called out to Mira. "Hey Mira? Knowing Natsu, I think he's getting pretty hungry." Mira laughed brightly. "Yes I bet he is! I'll warm up a bottle of milk for him." Lucy was glad that Mira was a new mother; she was experience and prepared and extremely helpful.
Lisanna chuckled at the whining Natsu. She shook some toys in his face, trying to distract him from his hunger. Seeing that it wasn't working in the slightest, she gave up. Lisanna looked up at the blonde holding him, she had such a loving and tender look on her face as she played with Natsu's little fingers. At this angle, the pink-haired babe could pass for Natsu's child, and not actually Natsu. Lisanna gasped slightly, imagining that this baby was actually Lucy and Natsu's child instead of a dark spell that had transformed Natsu. Lisanna couldn't help but pull out a camera and snap a picture. Lucy glanced up at her questioningly. Lisanna chuckled. "I was just thinking- if you didn't know the situation, someone could think that he was actually your kid! I wonder if in the future you'll have a mini Natsu on your lap like now?" Lisanna wriggled her eyebrows at Lucy as she gasped and blushed.
"L-Lisanna! W-What are you saying?!" Lisanna lowered her voice and leaned closer to the celestial mage, "Oh come on Lucy. We all know you two will end up together eventually, although it's taking forever since you're both idiots." Lucy blushed again, shaking her head fiercely. "Natsu doesn't know the first thing about romance or women. I doubt he even understands where babies come from. There's no way he views me that way." Lisanna sighed exasperatedly. After all these years, Lucy was still in denial. Although, Natsu was pretty stupid most of the time, he was still a man. She wanted the best for her nakama, being rather close with Natsu herself. He was her best friend from childhood after all, she only wanted him to be happy, and only Lucy made him happy. Lisanna shook her head, why couldn't they both just see it already? They were made for each other.
Mira walked back from the kitchen, a bottle of milk in her hand. She handed it to Lucy. "Just the right temperature!" Lucy thanked her, positioning Natsu in her arms so she could feed him. She was still blushing from Lisanna's words, now scenarios and fantasies swirling in her mind. She saw children with pink flowing hair and chocolate eyes, golden spikes and warm onyx orbs... She shook her head. She doubted that would ever happen. Of course she wanted to settle down and start a family, she was in her twenties after all. Wasn't it time to settle down like the rest of her nakama were starting to do? But the only man she wanted that with was as dense as a rock. He definitely wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and he probably wouldn't realize she was even a girl until they were thirty something. She sighed sadly as she looked at the baby in her arms. Natsu was greedily drinking the milk, some of it dribbling down his chin. Lucy giggled, grabbing a napkin and wiping it up.
She was startled by the warm depthless black eyes that were staring at her. It was like at that moment, Natsu was himself again, and he was staring at her like he recognized her. Like he could see into her soul. She was mesmerized by his large eyes, frozen in place by his gaze. But then he blinked his eyes closed, breaking the connection she had felt. She lifted the empty bottle from his lips, cleaning his mouth. She leaned him forward over her leg, gently patting his back, pondering about his intense gaze a moment before. Was the spell wearing off and he was becoming himself again? She was buried in thought as she cradled Natsu in her arms, lulling him to sleep.
It was now late evening, and Lucy still held a slumbering baby Natsu in her arms. Her arms were a bit stiff now, being in the same position all day. When would Natsu return to normal? She leaned back on her bench, laying down and letting her arms relax, only barely placed over Natsu's sleeping form, ready to catch him if he slid off of her. Gravity kept him in place on top of Lucy, his head cuddled into the comfortable pillows of her chest. Lucy sighed in content, rubbing Natsu's soft back before closing her eyes.
I'm sorry to my faithful readers out there; I know I've made two new stories instead of updating my ongoing one. But be patient with me! I've just got a bit of writer's block and the only ideas I have are for plot lines that don't mix. So new stories! I'll get back to the other one soon, but for now enjoy my other Nalu goodness! I'm not sure yet how far I will go with this story here, but tell me if you'd like me to continue it. So far I like it, and I could probably do a lot more with it. Thanks for reading!