(Alternate) Erza gets caught in an act

(Author's note: So I know I've kinda face planted as far as putting chapters out in a timely manner, but that doesn't mean I haven't stopped working on any of my stories, in fact I have even more stories than ever before I'm working on... which is probably why everything is in wip/rd hell. Anyway, besides that as well as all my real life boring excuses, I've actually been trying to learn about real hypnosis, for both improving my hypno/mind control writings and also just for my own kinky interests. This chapter here is me trying to utilize what I've learned so far into alternate version of Erza's first hypnosis chapter. I'll give dividers between the new version of the scene and what's just being reused from the old to make it easier if you just want to read the new stuff. Hopefully you guys enjoy!)

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The next day, Erza was the first of the group up. The sun had just barely risen as she finished her breakfast and headed out the door. However, her eagerness had backfired as most places had yet to open, leaving her disappointed as she ventured through the mostly empty streets. She rounded a corner and entered a wide alley with colorful signs hanging all over, advertising various pubs and parlors. Unfortunately, these places all seemed closed too. But as she strode down the cobblestone, she saw one place where the window had an actual light on and the door was open.

Intrigued, Erza entered to find herself in a lounge. A multi-terraced room, sloping down to a stage, each level fitted with a variety of recliner couches, club chairs, and ottomans. Along the far wall of the top level was a small bar. The place was completely deserted, aside from a lone man on stage who seemed to be playing with the lighting. Erza realized this place was also not actually open either but decided to approach the man, figuring he might be able to give her some directions or advice about the town.

"Excuse me," she called out in her usual formal tone as she made her way down the stairs.

The man stopped what he was doing and turned around to see the source of the noise.

"Ah, welcome!" He greeted with a tired wave. "Perfect timing."

"What do you mean?" asked Erza, confused.

"You're the replacement, right?" He asked hopefully as he ran a hand through his short navy hair.

"Sorry, you must be mistaken, I don't know anything about that. I was just walking by and-"

"Oh, I'm sorry," he interrupted with his own apology, his optimistic expression fading. "It's just my assistant called in sick and I need someone to fill in for her for tonight's show, and I thought you were here about that."

The redhead's eyes lit up.

"If an assistant is what you need, look no further! I'd be more than happy to help you put on your show!" she exclaimed excitedly, and rather forcefully, having already forgotten about her own dilemma.

Naturally, she was more than ready to offer aid in any way she could, but spying an opportunity to get to perform on stage got her truly excited.

"You will?" he responded, elated but clearly taken aback a bit by her eagerness.

"Absolutely, I'd never turn away someone in their time of need. And-" she nodded before her face turned somber as she glared off into the distance, like she was reliving a traumatic memory, "-I need to redeem myself from the last time I was on stage..."

The performer gave a confused laugh.

"Haha, well there's no need to be so dramatic, really," he tried to assure her. "But I really am grateful for your help. Thank you, this is a load off my mind. I'm Anton, by the way."

"Erza," she politely replied.

They shook hands.

"Then it's settled," she declared. "Now, what's the first thing you need me to do?"

"Oh right, I haven't even told you what kind of show it is," he remarked.

"Yes, I suppose that would be helpful to know," she noted with a chuckle.

"Well, it's a hypnosis show," he stated.

Now it was Erza's turn to be surprised.

"I've never been to one of those," she admitted. "What would I be doing as your assistant?"

"Nothing too complex," Anton assured. "You'll be in the crowd when I start the show but I'll choose you as my 'volunteer'. You'll join me on stage and we'll do a brief act of you getting hypnotized. After that you'll remain on stage, fetching props when I ask and helping other volunteers come on stage. Simple enough."

Erza gave him a skeptical look.

"So are you actually expecting to hypnotize me or am I supposed to fake it?"

"Oh, my hypnosis is very real, I'll help guide you into a trance on stage to show others who might want to try it there's nothing to worry about."

Erza began to look a little uneasy at what he said.

"I'm not sure I'm too comfortable with letting a stranger be in control of me," she commented as she shifted in place. "Also I don't think I'd be that easy to hypnotize, so maybe I wouldn't be the best to be your assistant."

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"Erza, please," he urged. "The truth about hypnosis is that it's all self-hypnosis. It's all a choice in your head. There's nothing I can make you do that you don't want to do. There's no need to be worried, you can trust me."

Erza's eyes widened momentarily, finding what he had said strangely familiar. Her vision began to blurr. Her head drooped ever so slightly forward as she felt a soft pressure build around her forehead. The more she thought about it, the more she had to try to remember....something... Something she needed to remember. She had to...had to...

"Trust-yes...I will trust the citizens of Shamballa. I will trust you...." she sighed as her voice trailed off.

Anton gave a sigh of relief. It seemed even the great Erza couldn't resist the magic of the hot springs.

"So, Erza," he announced rather loudly, bringing her back to her senses, "do you perhaps have a change of heart?"

"Well, after thinking about it, I do trust you. I was probably just getting worked up over nothing. And if you can't make me do something I don't want to do, there's no risk, right?"

"Right you are! And just to help put your mind at ease, how about I give you a little demonstration of my hypnotic abilities?"

Erza considered the offer briefly before giving a quick nod.

"Why not? But don't feel bad if you're unable to hypnotize me, I have a magical eye that makes me resistant to illusions and other such mind tricks," she informed him, not even contemplating why she'd divulge that to him.

"Really?" Anton responded, intrigued. "That is interesting, but like last time, shouldn't pose too much of a difficulty to me, since this isn't an illusion. All I require is you to relax and follow my lead."

'-like last time...'

Erza was perplexed by that comment as she let him escort her over to one of the lounge chairs in the house, calmly wondering what he might be scheming.

"Please, take a seat," he offered with a smile. "...Though I have to say, it's kind of funny."

Erza raised an eyebrow at him.

"What is?"

"The whole 'don't feel bad- I have a magical eye' line," Anton answered with a playful innocence, as he pulled up a chair for himself. "That's exactly what you said last time."

"What 'last time'?"

"Well, this will be the second time I hypnotize you," Anton humbly bragged. "I just made you forget the first time."

"Are you serious?" Erza deadpanned, completely unconvinced.

"I am serious," Anton insisted earnestly. "You don't remember?"

"Of course not."

"Because I made you forget that we already did it," Anton professed with a confident grin that Erza couldn't help but feel honesty behind it. "You got here 20 minutes ago. And to be honest, you did a real good job. You're going to be an amazing assistant."

The compliment caught her off guard, making the mage blush momentarily.

"Well, I still don't believe you."

"Well, that's too surprising," Anton shrugged. "Should I help you remember?"

"Sure," agreed Erza with clear skepticism in her voice.

"Alright," Anton beamed. "First, and I have to repeat this; you have to trust me..."

Anton let the trigger hang for a second, enjoying the sight of the Queen of the Fairies space out momentarily as the phrase connected with her subconscious.

"....and not to question. Or else we'll never get the memory back."

Erza cocked her head slightly at what sounded like a threat.

"Now on with the show!" Anton announced with a clap of his hands, "Please, get comfortable. If you'd like, you can lay down, kick up your feet and shut your eyes. Or sit up with your eyes open if you wish, it's really all up to you."

Erza adjusted her posture in her seat and stared back at him, waiting. Anton pleasantly matched her gaze and leaned forward.

"So, first- you already are familiar with this concept but: take a nice deep breath, and hold it for a few seconds."

Erza immediately noticed a change in his tone. Nothing overtly different, yet his timbre felt more compelling, more commanding. While it seemed like he was also talking more slowly, more fluidly, than before, making his voice feel more comforting. But she brushed that aside she obliged him, breathing in deeply through her nose.

"...2...3...and then release-" Anton instructed as Erza followed along, exhaling through the mouth. He had her do the action a couple more times. "And again.....2....3...and out- How does it feel?"

"It is relaxing," Erza admitted pleasantly, though in the back of her mind she couldn't help but compare this to standard meditation practices.

"Good," Anton nodded with a warm smile. "Last time it took you twice as many before feeling it. You're getting used to it."

Erza wanted to snort at the comment but for some reason, the sincerity and casual conviction in his voice made her feel the truth behind his words. And she had to admit, this sensation she felt, it did seem familiar. She was about to wonder if maybe she really had forgotten something, but then she remembered his command to not question, so she returned her refocused on his instructions.

"Just keep breathing as your are now- relax where you're sitting if you desire."

Erza let herself begin to sit back into her chair.

"And try to remember what came next."

Erza's brow furrowed at this request.

"Umm..." she began but Anton quickly intervened with a gentle shush.

"-As you breathe slowly, deeply. In...and out..." Anton made sure to guide her focus back onto her breath before moving on. "Think back to how you could have been hypnotized."

How could I have been hypnotized? The question suddenly echoed through her mind. Her imagination began to take hold and possibilities began to flow.

"What did I say? What did I do?" The hypnotist prodded. "What did you do? What did you feel?"

He watched Erza's gaze begin to drift and become distant as she focused more and more on her own thoughts.

"It's familiar isn't it," he continued. "It will come back on its own- take your time recollecting. No rush. Just keep focusing... keep thinking-"

How could I have been hypnotized? She continued to ponder and ponder. It really was so familiar- all of this. After a brief moment of concentration, a shape- a structure- began to form in her mind.

"Focus on your slow, steady breathing," Anton gently reminded, "and focus how you could you have been entranced."

Erza breathed in deeply again and unconsciously eased a bit further back in her seat as she exhaled. Her eyes shut- she decided to shut her eyes, to help herself visualize the image in her head as it became ever more clear.

"Just tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. What did I make you focus on? What was the catalyst of your trance?"

Anton waited as the redhead laid there, completely enraptured with trying to remember.

"A staircase," Erza finally answered.

"Very good, a staircase," Anton agreed. "A nice, long staircase-cascading down..."

With her eyes shut, Erza could see herself standing atop the staircase. It led down into a murky void. As she stared down the steps, a premonition overtook her. This was how it happened.... Suddenly her hand moved on its own, she watched as if unable to control herself and reached out to gently take hold of the railing.

"What happened next?" the hypnotist asked with a calm eagerness, as if he was just waiting for her to finish a story for him. "How many steps did it have?"

Erza didn't need to count, she just knew.

"10...10 steps," she affirmed before taking in another deep breath. "I walked down them."

I'm being hypnotized- the thought echoed through her mind as she took her first step down.

"Good," he genuinely encouraged. "You remember how it felt, don't you, walking down those steps?"

She took another step down. Then another. While in lounge, she sank even further into her seat.

"...Yes..."

"What happened after you walked down the first 5?"

Erza glided down further into the void.

"My mind was becoming empty."

"Indeed....but not just empty. It was filled with warmth- peace...a calm sense of bliss....that pulled you deeper. Do you remember?"

She remembered very well; a serene sense of happiness was flowing into her heart, just like last time. She sank deeper yet.

"Yes."

"And what did you say back then, when I asked you how you felt?"

Erza stopped where she was on the staircase and took in the sensation.

"I feel mindless and blissful."

"Those were your exact words. Those are your exact words," Anton affirmed. "Were you enjoying this sensation... this 'mindlessness and blissfulness'?"

Erza shuddered.

"Yes..."

"So you did not hesitate to go down further," it wasn't a question. "But not just one step- you jumped down straight to the seventh. What did you feel then?"

Erza took in a sharp breath, it felt like she was falling for the briefest of moments. But then she felt-

"Calm...relaxed..."

"Anything else?"

"...obedient..."

Anton blinked before his eyes widened at the word she chose. He hadn't steered her into saying that, she had chosen that word completely of her own volition. Was the legendary Titania secretly hiding a desire to serve and obey?

"Very good," he said, as he settled himself back down. "At that point you were just waiting for me to tell you one thing...what were you waiting for? What words did you wait for before doing anything else?"

"Sleep," she dreamily sighed.

That's what I though, Anton chuckled to himself, new subjects always go for 'sleep' commands- they just can't resist them.

"And once I uttered that word...what happened?" he posed innocently enough. "-to you- to the staircase- to your mind- to the words- to everything?"

Erza's mind was completely tranquil.

"I went down the final step and went into a trance."

"And once there, what was the the first thing you said? It was based off how you felt as you could tell that you had fallen into a trance."

"My mind is blank, I obey," she answered without hesitation.

Anton couldn't suppress his smile at hearing Erza, the Erza Scarlet, saying that for him.

"Very good, you've done such a good job so far," he praised her. "Do you remember now? How after you entered that trance, I lead you back up...and I made you forget it? Because you were entranced, you couldn't resist when I told you to forget, so of course there was no way for you to remember....remember?"

"...Yes," she agreed blankly.

"So then, we counted up the steps, together," he stated. "Count with me as we go up those stairs and when we reach the top of those ten steps, you will wake back up. Ready?"

"Yes."

Together, they slowly counted up.

"1...2....3....4....5...6...7...8...9...10..."

As if pulled by an invisible string, Erza sat more and more upright till she was back in her initial posture on the count of 10, upon which her eyes fluttered awake. The first thing she saw was Anton beaming at her.

"Welcome back, how are you feeling?"

The mage blinked and looked around with a sluggish calm.

"A bit sleepy...groggy..."

"So," he began, unable to contain his pride. "Do you remember now?"

Erza blinked again, more alert but still clearly dazed.

"Yes... So this... this was my second time being hypnotized?" she wondered aloud.

Anton reveled for a moment in her cute, confused expression as she tried to process what had just happened to her before he decided to play with her more. He swiftly brought his hand directly in front of her face, causing her to fixate on it in surprise.

With a snap of his fingers, he uttered a single command: "Sleep."

Erza's eyes involuntarily rolled back up and her head dipped ever so slightly forward and to the side.

"My mind is blank, I obey," she sighed as her eyes shut.

Anton was going to love this mantra, and he didn't even have to come up with this one.

"Good girl. Hypnosis is a wonderful thing, don't you agree?"

"Yes..."

"And you're so good at it. You were so open to my suggestions that you remembered a trance that never happened," he patted her head, she blushed though she remained under. "Now I'm going to count up again, but this time only to '5'. And when I reach 5, you will awaken again. And when you wake you up, you will realize that that 'first time being hypnotized' was not real, that was all something you imagined. But that imagination of yours is what led you into your real first trance. And to be honest, you did all that on your own. You should be proud of yourself."

A gentle smiled crept across the entranced Erza's lips at the praise.

"Ready? 1...2...3...4...5- and you're wide awake."

With minimal delay, Erza shook her head and opened her eyes once more.

"Welcome back, again," Anton smiled, clearly having fun watching the wheels turn in her head as she looked at him in intrigued disbelief.

"Wow...that was...was...How did you do that?" Erza was beyond baffled.

"Do what?" he answered innocently, though his face betrayed a knowing smirk.

"You made me believe that I had been hypnotized before, but I hadn't!" Erza exclaimed, not really angry nor accusatory more just stunned.

"Yes, I did."

"What magic was that?"

Anton chuckled as he shifted in his seat.

"Not magic, or rather it was all the magic of the mind...Your mind to be exact." he playfully retorted, tapping the side of his head for emphasis. "I just wanted you to feel what a trance was like since this was your first time. So I did a little, harmless memory play: I made you think you had forgotten something so you could remember something that never was only to then let you realize you hadn't forgotten anything. You follow?"

"I think so," she nodded, but was clearly confused by the word salad.

Though awake now, Anton knew she would still be in a dazed state for a while and be overall very agreeable, and more importantly: suggestible.

"It was to help you learn how it feels to be entranced, so you won't be scared for tonight," he explained, leaning back to stretch out in his chair. "Really, you did most of the work yourself."

"You're making it sound like one has to learn how to be hypnotized," she responded.

"In a way," he acknowledged. "It's like using your magic, the more you use it-properly- the better you get at it, like muscle memory."

"I see, I never thought about it that way before," she admitted. "Where did you learn to do this?"

"Oh, I have my sources. You tend to learn unique skills when living in this town," he mused. "Now, how about we do it once more-"

Before Erza could voice any response, he had suddenly taken hold of her hand and gave it an abrupt, firm tug.

"-and sleep," he commanded again.

Erza barely had time to process as she felt her mind becoming fuzzy and dark. She could feel her whole body go limp, her whole self slipping away, being pulled by her arm into a trance and then....

"My mind is blank, I obey," she uttered softly as she slumped into Anton's waiting arms.

"Good girl," he whispered into her ear as he delicately laid her back in her seat. "You will notice that you're deeper now than last time I had you sleep. That's only natural that if you get induced into a trance multiple times in short succession, you will fall into a deeper trance with each one. But I shouldn't bore you with those details. No, for now, all I want you to do is focus on one of your hands. Doesn't matter which, just choose one. Now, let your subconscious mind imagine that hand was a balloon. A balloon that was filling up with helium. That it was slowly, but surely, becoming lighter and lighter. You can feel the sensation of the gas filling up your hand. You can feel your hand getting so light that it's beginning to rise up-"

As if on cue, Erza's right hand began to lift from her lap.

"At first just a little," noted Anton. "But once it starts to go up, it'll naturally- so easily- start rising up more and more. Getting light and lighter- lifting up your arm higher and higher."

Erza's hand rose up steadily and soon was above her head.

"Your hand is floating now," he casually commented. "Floating so effortlessly and so gently that even if you tried, you couldn't lower your arm at all. It's stuck, floating up high in the air."

The redhead's arm had fully extended and her hand seemed to drift slightly as it hung relaxed yet firmly above her head.

"Now, focus on your hand," Anton instructed. "I want you to link your mind to your hand. Tie all your thoughts and worries to it. It's connected to your mind. Your hand represents your mind. And when I touch your hand and say 'pop', the balloon in your hand will pop and your hand will drop. And as your mind is linked to your hand, it will drop too- dropping you to a trance deeper than this trance or any of the previous ones combined. Deeper than anything you could imagine. Into a deep sleep where your mind will be blanker and more open than ever before and will accept what I tell it."

He paused for effect.

"Now, when I count back up to 5 this time, you will be fully and completely awake, but your hand will remain floating and you will not notice this. You will be unaware what your right hand is doing until I remind you of it. But while you consciously forget about your floating hand, you will subconsciously remember that when I touch it and say 'pop', the balloon in your hand will pop and your hand will drop, and so will you...into that deep, deep trance. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," she answered blankly.

"Now, just let me handle waking you up. Just follow my words- don't think- just listen and let me do it for you," He took a breath in for himself before continuing. "1, your mind is drifting down deep. 2, you begin to feel yourself moving upward. 3, rising up more and more. 4, you're just about to surface, just about to...5, awake."

Erza came too and pushed herself up with her left arm.

"I think I got the gist," she stated, continuing from where their conversation had left off. "It is quite the impressive power you got there. It feels like you wiped years of stress away from me just like that- I haven't felt this relaxed in years. Thank you."

Now it wasn't Anton's turn to blink at the legendary mage's genuine gratitude.

"Well, if you enjoyed this little session, perhaps we could do some more during your time here," he offered.

"That does sound nice," she smiled. "There is a lot I want to experience in Shamballa but I might have to come back after tonight."

"I'm glad to hear that," Anton answered as calmly as he could while internally fireworks were going off in his head.

Maybe she'd actually return to me without any extra conditioning, he thought to himself. Although....Aria always said 'one can never be too careful'.

"By the way, Erza,"

"Yes?"

"What's your right hand doing?"

She glanced over to her right before looking up. Only then did she finally notice her hand dangling up above her.

"What's going on?" she exclaimed, trying to pull her hand down- it didn't budge in the slightest. "Why can't I move my hand?"

"Sorry, just one last, little thing before you go. Let me get that for you," Anton apologized as he approached her and poked her hand. "Pop."

Erza's hand, and Erza, dropped.

Anton took in the moment. This was what he had been waiting for ever since becoming a citizen of Shamballa. This was the moment he had dreamed of ever since becoming a Master. Fate had gift wrapped Erza Scarlet for him and he would not let the opportunity slip away. The hypnotist stepped in close and raised her eyelids as to gaze into her eyes. They were completely glazed over and vacant. She was clay waiting to be molded.

"When you first were entranced you said 'your mind was blank and that you obey', and now you've been taken deeper that you thought possible. To a place where you mind is so blank, so open, so obedient, so compliant... that I can begin filling it up with my words. From this moment on: you are my hypnotized ****, Miss Scarlet. But actually, you aren't her anymore," he teased. "When you are in this hypnotized state, this deep sleep, you are not 'Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail'. Your name is 'Deep Sleep Erza'. That is your true identity. The real you. Deep Sleep Erza is my personal hypnotized **** who serves me above all else. Obeying me is your ultimate purpose. Do you understand?"

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"Yes, Master. I am no longer Erza. I am Deep Sleep Erza. Your hypnotized ****. Obeying you is my ultimate purpose."

"Your awake self will be unaware of your new, true identity. Awake Erza will not remember that she is my hypnotized **** and will continue to believe that she can't be hypnotized. However, Deep Sleep Erza knows who she belongs to. And when Erza's awake, Deep Sleep Erza will always be there, hidden in Erza's subconscious, and will guide Erza towards total enslavement to her master. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master. I will not allow Erza Scarlet to become aware of me. But I will exist in her subconscious when she is awake and guide her towards becoming your **** too."

"That is exactly right."

He put two of his fingers together and sent a magical charge through them, causing them to glow softly as a cyan aura pulsed around them. He reached underneath Erza's skirt and pressing against her panties. While the entranced girl's face betrayed no reaction, her whole body shuddered slightly. He began to massage her through her panties with slow, rhythmic strokes.

"Erza Scarlet is strong and resilient. She would never submit to anyone freely. But, Deep Sleep Erza desires serving her master above all else. She feels pleasure when submitting to and serving me," pressing firmly into her with the word 'pleasure'. The redhead gasped but otherwise remained blank. "She feels joy knowing that she belongs to me. The more she submits and obeys, the greater the pleasure. She loves the feeling and she loves her master. She will seek to deepen her own submission to her master, desiring me to reinforce my control over her. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, Master," she answered dully, save for a waver in her voice as Anton continued to rubbing. "I feel pleasure serving you. The more I submit to you, the greater the pleasure I will feel. I love the feeling of obeying you. I love you as my master. I will seek to deepen your control over me."

"When I speak Erza's true name, the true Erza will awaken. Deep Sleep Erza will assume control. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master. When Erza hears her true name, I will awaken and Erza will sleep."

"Perfect. Now, when Erza wakes up, she will not remember being hypnotized and will not remember becoming my hypnotized ****. But she will remember agreeing to help with my hypnosis show. Now: awaken, Erza!"

"Yes, Master. Erza will awaken and not remember being hypnotized nor realize she is not the real Erza."

He removed his fingers and stepped back away from her. Her head bobbed down and back up and after a few blinks Erza regained consciousness.

"Oh, was I saying something just now?" she asked as she glanced down noticing a surprising sensation coming from between her legs. "Anyway, I can't wait to help with your show. But will it really be okay since I can't really get hypnotized."

"Don't worry about that," he replied playfully. "Do you think you can pretend?"

"I can do that."

"Good, the show is this evening at 8, but it'd be best if you show up here about an hour early for some preparations."

"Sounds good, I'll see you tonight."

"Bye......." he waved as Erza headed up the stairs.

He waited for her to almost reach the door before calling out: "Deep Sleep Erza."

Erza momentarily froze mid stride, before coming to attention. Anton made his way up to her and faced her. Her eyes had become dull and empty.

"What is your real name?"

"My real name is Deep Sleep Erza." she answered.

"You won't need to pretend anything," he grinned.

"Yes, Master."

"Now there's the issue of attire, can't have you showing up in such a plain outfit. Do you perhaps have any dresses for a night out?"

"Yes, Master. I have several hundred dresses I can requip into."

"That's too many to try out, how about you choose one. Doesn't need to be over the top, but it should be a blend of classy and sexy. Do you think you can do that?"

"Of course, Master."

"Can you show me it now?"

"Yes, Master," she answered before raising her hand above her head. "Requip."

In a blinding flash of light, Erza's blouse and skirt were gone and had been replaced with a glamorous black satin dress and matching gloves that highlighted both her cleavage and legs.

"Wow, and I thought you couldn't get any more beautiful, it's perfect," Anton complemented.

"Thank you, Master."

"Now, before you leave to come here for the show, Deep Sleep Erza will awaken. She will influence Erza Scarlet to come to this residence one hour before the show. Erza will not be suspicious of any of it."

He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her. She opened it to reveal a map with a circle around one of the addresses. It was on the far side of town from the Inn but only a couple blocks away from where they were currently.

"Yes, Master. I will be at that location an hour before the show.

"Excellent, now put your normal clothes back on, you won't need that dress again till I tell you."

Deep Sleep Erza quickly changed back with another requip.

"Erza, awaken."

She blinked and Erza was back, again, looking a little confused, though she smiled when Anton extended his hand.

"Just wanted to say: thanks again for your help!" he said jovially as they shook.

"My pleasure, I'll be sure to be early like you said. See you tonight!" she replied as she headed out the door.

"I'm looking forward to it."

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(Author's note: Wow, this was a way longer chapter than I intended when I started, but hopefully it was worth it. I don't think I'll be doing another chapter anywhere near this length again but we'll see. The actual story's progression will begin again soon(ish) with Cana and then Lucy and Levy's scenes coming out before end of the week.... preemptive sorry if I can't meet that deadline.)