Chapter 10: The Worse is Over.

"Erza?...Erza?"

Erza slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Natsu's relived face.

"Erza! You're awake!"

"Natsu? Where am-" Erza winced in pain as the violet marks on her body grew brighter.

"Don't get up." Natsu demanded. "We have the cure for the Armor Rot but you need to close your eyes first."

"W-What?"

"Just do it!"

Erza reluctantly closed her eyes and after a few moments she could hear something being dragged in front of her, along with a familiar voice.

"Let me go! Haven't I been humiliated enough?"

"You brought this on yourself for cursing our friend." Erza could hear Lucy talking. "This is the only way to break the curse so suck it up and stop being a baby.

"Alright." Natsu's voice spoke. "You can open your eyes now Erza."

Erza did as she was told and she could not believe what she was seeing. It was Mist. She was frozen up to her neck and her body was completely nude. She was stuck in a position of covering herself.

"It turns out when Mist changes back into her human form, her clothes take half a second longer to catch up." Grey explained. "I managed to freeze her just before that half second."

Erza just sat there, dumbfounded. A smirk crawled on her face, followed by a giggle. All of a sudden, Erza burst out laughing. Everyone's response was to smile and laugh with her. Mist, on the other hand, blushed so hard her face was as red as Erza's hair.

The purple cracks along Erza's body started to disappear and she felt more and more of her strength return. She got up and with a loud voice shouted "Requip!" There was a flash of light and the celestial dress she was wearing disappeared. In it's place appeared her Heart Kreuz armor, cracked but intact.

"It's gone! Erza shouted in delight. "The Armor Rot is actually gone!"

Everyone cheered in delight, except for Mist who was still blushing.

"Okay Grey. Let Mist go." Lucy ordered. Grey unfroze Mist and her clothing finally returned to her body.

"I suppose now we should turn her in huh?" Happy asked.

"Sure seems like it." Natsu agreed but I don't know ho-

All of a sudden, Mist threw a smoke bomb in the middle of the group, blinding everyone.

"Shit!" Laxus shouted.

"Somebody stop her!" Natsu demanded.

By the time the smoke cleared, Mist was gone.

"Dammit!" Grey yelled. "She got away."

Natsu agreed. "Let's go after her!"

Before the Fire Dragon Slayer and the Ice Demon Slayer could run off, they were startled by a loud "STOP!" It was Erza.

"Let her go for now." She said. "We'll tell the guild and go after her another day."

"Erza?" Lucy asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am."

The group went back home and told Master Makrov what had happened. The Ringleader and his goons were arrested and the jewel for Mist's capture doubled. Erza was able to repair all of her damaged armor and the whole situation inspired Levy to further investigate the Everleaf Tribe.

After Mirajane recovered,she and Erza sat under a tree and talked.

"So I heard Mist was still at large."

"That's true." Erza admitted.

"Are you going to go after her?" Mirajane asked.

"In time." As Erza said this, she heard Natsu, Grey, Happy, and Lucy calling for her. The sight of them made her smile.

"And when I do, I know I'll have my friends right by my side!"

The End