As much as she tried, Frigga could not get the scowling, arms folded, pouting little girl to put on the dress she had found her. Kari had thrown somewhat of a tantrum when the queen suggested several new colours and went to sit under a table piled high with fabric. Despite being by age an adult, the change to child had also brought a decrease in emotional stability to the young woman turn young girl – it was frustrating for everyone but at least Frigga had extensive experience with sons.
"You can not keep walking around in those outsized garments presently worn, my dear." Frigga tried to coax Kari from out of her hiding place and squatted better to see the child giving her no eye contact. "They will descend and then you will find yourself very exposed in public. Is that what you wish?"
"No!" She grumbled back at the queen, still refusing to look at her.
"Then try this dress on. I am sure you will look every bit as-"
"No!" Kari wailed. "I hate dresses! I hate them! No! No! No!"
"Well I can not in all conscience dress you in boys clothing."
"Why not?"
"Because it would not be appropriate for a young lady."
"I'm twenty-eight!"
"You are not behaving it right now." Frigga suggested only to set the youngster off into a series of wailing sobs. "Oh dear me." The queen lowered herself further onto her knees and slid the child across the well-polished floor into her arms. "No tears now. Thor will uncover Loki and we will have this whole confusion sorted out very soon. In the mean time…"
Wiping her thumbs across Kari's cheeks she did her best to clear the tears before standing and heading for a very deep looking closet. Kari continued to sniffle on the floor, trying her best to clear the newer forming tears from her eyes, as she looked around at all the textiles. After a few minutes the queen called from the closet for a servant that diligently came forward and helped the queen bring in two worn looking trunks.
"Come, dear, we shall see what we can find for you in here." Frigga indicated for the girl to rise and look within the chest. "These are some of my sons old clothes from when they were young. Perhaps we shall find something that will fit." She began filtering through layers of what appeared to be Loki's old outfits. "Loki was always a slight child. How about this one?" She held a green and black shirt to Kari, checking the match of size as the girl made a 'blurgh' sound at the colour.
"I like these!" Kari grinned as she lifted a pair of blue trousers from what was obviously Thor's chest of mostly torn clothing.
"Those will not fit." Frigga declared then rolled her eyes at the pouting. "I suppose they can be taken in."
She closed the lids to the chests, having picked up several items and took Thor's too big trousers from the girl's hands as well. It would be enough for a few days and by that time they would hopefully have fixed this latest intrigue and be back to normal.
Half an hour, new fittings and finally they were ready to head off again to join the search for Loki. Kari was giggling excitably at her new attire, Frigga joining in with an amused chuckle at the scampering nature of a previously melancholy woman. Even if she did not make an elegant little girl, she still made an adorable looking little boy with much too much hair. They were heading towards the library, that being the best place to discover Loki at random points in the day but upon reaching the doors instead found Thor exiting. He froze in the doorway, obviously not having expected to find them there until a gigantic grin washed over his face muddled with relief.
"Mother, he is within. I was just on my way to find you." The god of thunder moved to allow the queen entrance but found further humour upon looking down. "Is that Loki's old tunic?"
"And your trousers." Kari added, giving him a twirl to show off her outfit.
"I had not known you kept such keepsakes, mother." Thor laughed, placing a hand behind the girl's shoulder blades to coax her ahead of him into the library.
"For when the memories fade, my son." Frigga smiled as she led the way across the library at a brisk walk towards her youngest lounging in his chair curiously. "Loki, dear, you must explain this."
"Explain this?" Loki sat up straight, confusion forming across his features.
"You know very well, brother!" Thor raised an accusing finger whilst simultaneously pushing Kari closer for inspection. "It is as I told, Fandralkin is but a child."
"And you believe I had something to do with his?" The trickster was shocked, appalled even as he leaned in closer to examine his so called prank.
"You made me drink that blue stuff!" Kari scowled at his make-belief bafflement.
"I forced upon you nothing." He corrected her accusation. "I merely asked."
"So you admit it, brother!" Thor was quick to jump in, though Frigga held him back from physically leaping.
"Loki, an explanation of the previous nights occurrence is required."
"Yes, mother." Loki sighed back into his chair and pondered for a moment. "The tonic I gave was nothing more than a trait amplifier configured to increase its potency. I had expected physical and psyche elements to increase: Intelligence, attractive qualities, speed, strength, courage and so forth."
"Loki, you know your father has banned the use of such magic in this realm." Frigga was not impressed. "They are undeterminable, at the will of the consumers personal opinions and self-identity. What did you think to accomplish by altering such a dangerous creation?"
"I was striving to perfect it for the good of the realm."
"And for selfish reasons of your own, brother." Thor interjected the charitable nature of his brother's tone with an add-on pat atop Kari's head. "But how has this, trait amplifier, created a child of Fandralkin?"
"That is quite obvious to see." Loki shrugged then snorted at the bewildered look of all around him. "The self-identity of this mortal is that of a child."
"What?" Kari looked up at Thor and Frigga in turn for further divulgence.
"It could very well be so and with the amplification of the effect would be enough for such a physical change." Frigga was puzzling out, a reassuring smile spared for the head-tilting bundle of confusion looking up at her.
"Do you mean to say, Fandralkin see's herself as a child?" Thor finally delivered a simplified answer to the room in general.
"No I don't!" Kari screeched, giving a stomp of her foot for emphasis.
"It would appear so, brother." Loki smiled, his expectation having not been met but certainly made up for by the genuine answer of Kari's internal workings.
"How best do we resolve this, Loki?" Frigga moved closer to her youngest, a delicate hand rested upon his shoulder as she sought out a way to conclude the mess he had created.
"I know not, mother." He shrugged in turn and sighed at her continued concerned gaze to think deeper on the subject. "The original formula would naturally ware off in most cases. I suggest waiting to see if the configured version will do the same or…"
"Or?" Thor repeated his last word.
"Or… Kari Motter will simply have to grow up once again." Loki spread his arms wide as if to say 'taa daa' at a magnificent display of magician trickery.
"The allfather will not be pleased."
"Mother, father will understand." The god of mischief was self-assured, unthreatened in the least by the prospect of the kings wrath – worse come to worse, he would probably be sent to pick up litter for a few weeks.