It had been two months since Natsu Dragneel had left Fairy-Tail and went away with Happy to train for a year. They had settled in a nearby town from Magnolia and had stayed in the woods. After Igneel had passed away Natsu had gathered the last remainder of Igneel's magic and decided to use it to destroy the dark wizard Zeref once and for all. But he couldn't use Igneel's magic power yet; it was too powerful so he was training to get even stronger in order to wield Igneel's power. Even though it was only a little bit of Igneel's powers it was far too strong for him to control. And each time he tried to use it would burn his arm; his flames were stronger than regular fire dragon slayer magic. Natsu groaned in pain, clutching his arm, Happy could see the pain on his partners face.
"Natsu" Happy said worriedly.
"It's okay Happy I've got to do this in order to get stronger" he said as if it would make Happy's worry less.
"But it's getting worse every time you use it" Happy said.
"I'm fine" Natsu said "This is the only way we can protect our guild and defeat Zeref."
"Okay" Happy said; Natsu wasn't the only one training Happy was training too. Their food storage had gotten low so they went to town to get more food. Every week a ship full of food, fish, vegetables and fruits would be shipped off to the town and the townspeople would sell it in the market. Natsu and Happy had this idea to just take the food out the crates but they always left enough for the rest of the town once their supply of food for the next month was full they'd leave back to the woods. But they weren't very good at being sneaky the townspeople knew someone was taking their food, once they opened the crates portions of food would be missing. So in that same day they decided that someone should be taught a lesson, so a bunch of townspeople waited around until the culprit showed up. A shadow that got bigger and bigger drawing nearer, with eyes that looked like the devils, and pointy ears and a tale; It was so bug that the townspeople ran away screaming. All except one young woman, she had long silky purple hair.
"Honestly have you never seen a cat before?" Happy said.
"What… your just a cat?" the girl said in surprise. "And you talk!"
"And I can fly" Happy added, his wings appearing out of his back.
"So this is what was stealing the townspeople's food?" she said. "It's so cute!"
"I get that a lot" Happy said.
"However this will have to do, I will smite this foul beast" She said taking out a dagger
"Whoa women calm down, don't kill me" Happy said "I'm too cute to die!"
"It is my new mission to take out evil!" she said then shut her eyes from its cuteness and swiped her dagger down but stopped, she dropped the dagger. "Forgive me Haruko. I couldn't kill him, what kind of dark wizard am I?" she looked up and saw a crazed looking man with long unkempt spikey pink hair. She jumped in front of Happy taking out her dagger.
"I'll protect you cat!" she said swinging her dagger at the pink hair guy, who grabbed her arm and swung flaming punch.
"Stop, that's my friend!" Happy yelled
"Friend!" the girl said
"You know this girl?" Natsu said
"Yes, she kind of tried to kill me!" Happy said
"I didn't try to… I mean I did… but I didn't" she stammered.
"Kill you?" Natsu said "You tried to kill my cat" he used his fire dragon fist, which erupted fire at her, burning her skin.
"No stop we're friends now because I tried to save him, by attacking you" she mumbled in fear.
"Is that true?" Natsu asked
"Yes" Happy said, the girl flinched as he gave his hand for a handshake and smiled.
"In that case then how about we are friends" Natsu said.
"What?" she yelled "Were friends just like that?"
"Why not?" he asked, she exchanged the handshake shakily.
"I'm Natsu and this Happy" Natsu said
"Kayla" she said "Did you say Natsu? Like as in Natsu Dragneel?"
"Yes, that's me!" Natsu said she was even more shocked, she looked at her photo of him then back at him then back it her photo, she could see the resemblance, he looked a lot different.
"You look different from Grand Magic Games" she said
"Yeah I know, I've been living in the woods these past few months." He said nonchalant.
"You don't say" Kayla thinking.
"What's up with your face?" Happy asked
"Nothing, I was just thinking instead of stealing food from people how about I pay you a meal" Kayla suggested.
"YES" Happy and Natsu said.
The three went to a restaurant, Happy and Natsu gobbled the food down excitedly, it had been so long since they had food this good. They had gotten to know each other, and it wasn't until said that they were training to get stronger that Kayla piped up.
"I know someone who could help with your training" she said "He's a strong wizard and he'd be able to get you even stronger. They say he's stronger the ten wizard saints"
"Really Kayla, you're awesome!" Natsu said
"What's friends for?" she said "I can come with you and show you were he is"
"You're the best!" Natsu said.
"Where is he?' Happy asked
"He lives in the Seri desert" Kayla said.
"That's in another continent!" Happy and Natsu said at the same time.
"Well if it's too far away then I guess I'll be on my way" Kayla said
"No, Kayla, take me to this man" Natsu begged "I need to get stronger" They started walking to the edge of town.
"Look I know you are easy to make friends but I don't trust her." Happy said
"Come on Happy your just being paranoid" Natsu said "Besides she knows someone who can help me."
"Look somethings off about her I can't quite put my finger on it" Happy said "Just be careful"
"Fine" Natsu sighed.
"Come on slow pokes hurry up" Kayla yelled. Happy and Natsu ran up to her when they were out of earshot she whispered.
"Don't worry Haruko I'll show you how strong I can be" she muttered under her breath
"What did you say?" Natsu asked his dragon senses were able to hear sounds most normal people couldn't.
"Nothing, let's get going right away" Kayla said cheerfully.
"See nothing is wrong" Natsu said.
"I hope your right" Happy said.