The next morning when Natsu and Juvia awoke the very first thing they did was search for their father. They looked through the forest and went over fields and moors, calling out Igneel's name but never once did he answer them. Not sure what else to do, the children began to wander about and try to find someone, anyone who could possibly help them.
Unfortunately Natsu's new appearance caused nearly every human they encountered to react in either fear or disgust. Screams filled the air, curses were spat in his face, and rocks and sticks were thrown at him. Juvia shielded him from this cruelty the best she could and it broke her heart to see him being treated in such a manner. She begged her fellow man to show just a little compassion and perhaps maybe tell her where she could find someone who could undo the effects of witchcraft but alas her pleas were ignored.
But then finally her heartfelt words won the sympathies of a peddler who told the children that he knew of a blind old woman called Porlyusica that lived near far the reaches of the village, a woman who was believed to know remedies for curses and hexes.
Natsu and Juvia then went to the far reaches of the village where there lay a small cottage. They approached the front door and gave it a polite knock.
"Who is there?" A cranky voice from the other side asked.
"I beg your pardon but are you Porlyusica?" Juvia said.
"Yes I am and this is my property so why don't you just run along home? I'm not in the mood for childish pranks or mocking games."
"We're terribly sorry for intruding but my brother and I were told that you knew magic."
"So what?"
"We were wondering if maybe you could help us."
"I don't do handouts. Especially to anyone from that village."
"What if we pay you?"
They heard the sound of a latch clinking and the door was opened by an elderly woman with pink hair.
"Pay me with what?" The blind woman asked.
"Well we don't have any money but will you accept jewelry?" She undid the necklace she was wearing. "I'm not sure how much it's worth but the chain is real silver and I think the pendent has an aquamarine embedded in it."
"Sounds tempting."
Porlyusica held out her hand, Juvia moved to give it to her but was briefly stopped by Natsu gently grabbing her arm.
"Don't give her that." He protested.
"It's the only thing of value that we have." She said to her brother.
"But you love that necklace."
"I know but I love you much more."
Juvia placed the necklace into Porlyusica's hand. She felt it carefully with her fingers, she learned the necklace's design and material, even appeared to recognize it.
"Where did you get this necklace?" She asked Juvia.
"Our mother gave it to me before she died."
"And what was your mother's name child?"
"Avonlea."
Recognition flickered in her old, blind eyes. She then moved her hand to Juvia's face, proceeding to study her features with touch instead of eyes.
"Indeed you are Avonlea's daughter." She said. "Your face is so much like hers was."
She handed the necklace back to Juvia and invited the two children into her cottage where she served them hot stew and bread to eat, along with honeyed tea to drink. Both were starving and did not hesitate to partake of the meal.
"Years ago." Porlyusica began. "Back when I was a traveler, I was caught in a God forsaken Winter storm and when I came upon this village I begged nearly everyone I met to give me shelter from the cold for just one night but they all turned me away without any pity. All except Avonlea. She welcomed me into her household and allowed to stay with her until Winter passed. She was excellent company and was very courteous toward me. When the time came for me to leave, I gave her that necklace as a reward for her kindness. It's charmed to protect whoever wears it from black magic."
"Really?" Juvia said looking down at the pendent. "I never knew."
"Avonlea was the only person in this village to ever show me any compassion so I will gladly help her children. What troubles you two?"
So Natsu and Juvia told Porlyuscia the whole story of their wicked stepmother and her evil spell. How she had not only bewitched Natsu but had also driven both children from their home and father. Now they were completely alone in the world and not sure what to do.
"What a sad tale." Porlyuscia said. "Come closer boy, so that I may see just what kind of curse this witch put upon you."
Natsu stood up from the table and approached the old woman. She ran her bony fingers all around his face, ears, arms, hands, and chest. Now Porlyuscia may have been blind but years ago, when she had been a young lass she discovered a spell that would allow her to see the proper image of anything if she touched it with her hands. That was how she could recognize Juvia's necklace, see her resemblance to Avonlea, and of course see how accursed Natsu had become.
"You should count yourself lucky." She said.
"Lucky?!" The boy cried at the notion.
"Yes. She only managed to transform part of you into a dragon. Your face and upper body do resemble the reptilian beast quite well but you still retain your human mind, voice, lower half, and eyes."
"Somehow I'm not comforted by that."
"Can you change him back?" Juvia asked.
"Alas I cannot. This curse was carefully constructed and planned, this witch made it so that it can never be broken by another magic user."
"So I will be stuck like this forever." Natsu wailed.
"Now hold it, I didn't say that. The spell can't be broken by another magic user like myself but it can be broken by an average mortal like you or your sister."
"Do you know how to break the spell?"
"I do. I am familiar with this type of curse and there is only one thing that can break it. A very special type of scarf that must be spun and sewn by hand."
"But I don't know how to sew or spin, I never learned and with fingers like these it's probably impossible."
"I know how to sew and spin." Juvia said. "I could make the scarf."
"You could but I must warn you girl that this task will be very hard and strenuous for you."
"I don't think so. I've spun, weaved, knitted, and sewed for years. Ever since I was no older than six."
"Aye but the material required for this scarf will not be wool or cotton. There are two special plants that grow near caves, marshes, and graveyards, they're called fire leaves and water blossoms. To free your brother from the witch's cures you must sew him a scarf with thread spun from the fire leaves and fabric spun from the water blossoms. However the fire leaves are sharp and they sting like fire, they will be quite painful to the touch. The water blossoms on the other hand are soft and delicate but slippery and very difficult to weave. The scarf must be the exact same height and width of a dragon so it will take you a few years to complete your work but if you succeed then once you wrap that scarf around your brother's neck then he will be a full human being again."
"Is that all I must do?"
"There is one more thing."
"What?"
"Until that scarf is finished you must not speak one word. You must not talk or laugh or cry or scream, as soon as you start working on that scarf you must not let one word fall from your lips until you are finished for if you do then his remaining humanity will be forever lost. His lower half will change to resemble a dragon's, he will lose his ability to speak, and he will forget that he was ever human. He will become a real dragon."
"That's a lot a pressure to put on one person don't you think?" Natsu asked.
"Hey I don't make this stuff up that's just how it is. Besides fire and water are the most common ways to kill a witch so it does seem rather appropriate that fire leaves and water blossoms act as a remedy for witchcraft."
"I suppose but is there any other way to break the spell?"
"No. That scarf is your only chance and it will be very difficult for your sister. Do you believe that she has the strength to do this? To suffer painful labor and keep silent through it all?"
"It doesn't matter because she's not doing it."
"But Natsu you'll never be human again if I don't." Juvia said.
"I'm not putting you through that. I'll do it myself."
"But you don't know how to do textile work and your large scaly fingers will not be able to thread the needles or wind the spindle. It's best if I do it."
"But you won't be able to talk or make any kind of sound."
"I've always been a quiet person, I'll just have to be extra quiet."
"But what about the pain?"
"No pain is as great as seeing you like this. A half creature who people have now learn to fear and be disgusted by. I can't let you live like this. You're the only family I have left now so I'll do whatever it takes to save you. I don't care how long it takes or how painful the work is, I will make that scarf and I will not make a single sound with my lips until it is done. I promise."
Now Natsu did try to persuade his sister to reconsider. After all he was the one under the curse, not her. He should be the one to break it. He should be the one subjected to strenuous toil. He should be the one to suffer in silence. But Juvia loved her brother too much to change her mind and she knew for a fact that the task would be done quicker and more accurately if she was the one to do it. Thus her choice was made.
Porlyusica then gave the children an enchanted map that would show them locations of where all the closest fire leaves and water blossoms grew. She also gave them a little meat and bread rolls, to Juvia a basket of sewing and weaving tools, and to Natsu a very odd blue kitten that was about the size of a foal.
"Be good to him and love him." She said. "In return he will be forever loyal to you and when he reaches adulthood you can ride him like a steed and he will prove to be even better than a king's stallion."
Both children found having such an animal for a steed unorthodox but still they accepted the large kitten, thanked Porlyuscia for her help, and left her cottage.
Once again they traveled a great distance and everywhere they went people and animals would flee at the sight of Natsu. However the cat strangely enough was not afraid of his new master. He did not see the scary dragon hybrid that everyone else saw, he saw the sad and frightened little boy in desperate need of a friend. He nuzzled Natsu whenever he felt hurt by the insults and shrieks of others which filled him with a great happiness. So Natsu chose to call him Happy.
Eventually the children and Happy found a cave in the forest where there were plenty of fire leaves and water blossoms growing. Before Juvia began her work she wanted to say one final thing to Natsu.
"Natsu I want you to know that you don't have to worry about me ever giving up on this because I intend to succeed no matter what the cost."
"You can still back out." He said. "It's not too late. Maybe being half dragon won't be so bad."
"But if you remain like this the world will not accept you. You'll never make any friends or find true love. You'll be a pariah wherever you go for the rest of your life. I can't allow that. I won't allow that."
She threw her arms around him again like she had done the night before. He was so soft, it made her wonder why that was but she didn't dwell on that long.
"As your elder sister it is my responsibility to take care of you when Mother and Father no longer can, and that I shall. I love you Natsu, with all my heart and I promise that no matter what form you take I shall always see you as my brother."
Natsu moved his clawed hands to return her embrace and was carefully not to cut her with his sharp talons.
"I love you too Juvia and I promise that I'll protect you, provide for you, and try to make this as easy and painless as possible for you."
She planted a kiss on Natsu's snout and for her last words, she said a prayer to God. She prayed that he would give her the strength and courage to complete the task and that he would watch over them and somehow reunite them with their beloved father one day.