The Grimoire Heart gang managed to escape from jail and were still up to no good for END. Zancrow and Kain managed to get through a metal fence through and were planning to steal some cars from a car shop in the dead of night.
"I don't know about this." Both of them looked behind them to see a young girl with long pink hair coming with them.
"Don't be such a wuss, Meldy." Zancrow said.
"You want to be part of the gang, right? All we're doing is taking a few wheels." Kain said.
"I know, but I've never done something like this before." Meldy said.
"Don't worry. It gets easier." Zancrow said. "It will be a cinch as long as a certain someone doesn't try to get in our way."
"Do you mean me?" All of them looked on one of the cars and spotted Salamander there. "What are you all doing here?"
"Nothing. We're just trying to take some of these cars." Kain said.
"Yo, tubby, just because we're doing that doesn't mean you have to tell him about it." Zancrow said.
"That's all I needed to hear." Natsu said. He jumped from the car and landed down on Zancrow as he pushed him to the ground. Kain tried to get a hold of him, but Natsu jumped over him. "Look! They're selling free ice cream."
"Where?!" Kain said. He looked around for it and ran off with him slobbering like a dog to find that ice cream.
"I can't believe he actually fell for that." Natsu said. He failed to notice that Meldy was sneaking up on him with a lead pipe. She was about to hit him with it, but she hesitated. Natsu felt something was wrong. When he looked behind him, he saw Meldy was standing there.
"Um…hi." Meldy said as she was backing away.
"Who are you?" Natsu said as he doesn't remember seeing her with the gang before. Before he questioned her, Zancrow got up and smacked Natsu across the face and knocked him down.
"What's the matter with you? Why didn't you attack him?" Zancrow asked.
"I…I…." Meldy didn't really know what to say.
"Forget it. Let's just get out of here." Zancrow said and the two made a run for it with there being no time to hotwire a car. Natsu got back up and saw the two gone.
"Great. Somehow I just know Mailer is going to make this look bad for me." Natsu said.
….
The Next Day
"Hahahahah. Salamander getting knocked by a guy that doesn't even have any powers. I love it!" Mailer said as he looked over some photos Natsu submitted and hated what Mailer was saying. "Maybe that will show that lizard weirdo."
"You are aware those guys were from Grimoire Heart. That gang is always up to no good." Natsu said.
"You leave the facts to me and you just focus on the pictures." Mailer said. Natsu couldn't stand around and listen to Mailer talk like this as he left the room. He would love to march in there and give Mailer a few flaming fists, but he knew better. Besides, he has other problems to worry about as he brought up his camera and looked at the pictures he took. He was curious about that girl he saw.
'Who was she exactly? She didn't seem like the rest of members of Grimoire Heart. She actually seemed like she didn't even want to be there.' Natsu thought.
"Hey, Natsu." Robert said. "Mailer giving you a hard time again?"
"Is it ever different?" Natsu questioned. "Besides, I'm a little curious about this girl with the pink hair. I don't ever remember seeing her before with the Grimoire Heart gang."
"Let me see." Robert said and Natsu showed him the picture. "They're probably just adding new members. She does seem familiar though, but I wouldn't worry about it too much."
"I guess you're right." Natsu said.
….
Grimoire Heart
Since their old hideout was burned down, Grimoire Heart found another abandon building to use their hideout. Ultear didn't look happy with Meldy.
"I told you she didn't have what it takes." Zancrow said.
"Now, now." Rustyrose said. "Dear Meldy is just a small flower trying to bloom in such a harsh environment. It needs some nurture and time to grow."
"Where's Kain?" Azuma asked.
"Still looking for that free ice cream? Why do we keep jumbo?" Zancrow said.
"Forget it." Ultear said. "Just go and get him back here. Meldy, you stay behind. I would very much like to talk to you." All the other guys did what she said and left and leaving Meldy at Ultear's mercy.
"I'm sorry. I know I messed up, but I've never done something like this before and how am I suppose to fight Salamander." Meldy said.
"I understand. Fighting Salamander is a real challenge as much as he is a nuisance." Ultear said. "However, you've got to remember why you came to us. Don't tell me you've already forgotten."
"Of course not." Meldy said.
"Good. Keep reminding yourself about it and you'll be fine." Ultear said. Meldy seems to be aware of what she's doing is wrong, but she also feels like she needs to do this.
….
Kain
"Where's all the free ice cream?" Kain said as he was wondering the streets all the time and rubbing his belly. "I'm really hungry."
"You're always hungry." Kain turned around and saw the other guys managed to find her.
"Hey. How did you find me?" Kain asked.
"Not that hard. Loose a few hundred pounds." Zancrow said.
"Don't tell me you've actually been out here all day and all night." Azuma said.
"They say the stomach is weak, but it's hard to believe considering our own walking mountain." Rustyrose said.
"You guys want to get free ice cream?" Kain asked.
"No you idiot!" Zancrow shouted as he was getting annoyed with him. "There is no free ice cream. Salamander lied to you to get you out of the way. I can't believe you were stupid enough to actually fall for it."
…
Natsu
Natsu changed into his Salamander costume and was doing some patrolling around the city.
"Okay. Grimoire Heart is no longer at their old hideout since it was burned down." Natsu said. "So where would they be hiding out now?"
"I don't care if you're hungry. Stop thinking with your stomach for once." Natsu looked right below him and saw the guys from Grimoire Heart were right there.
"Talk about being at the right place at the right time." Natsu said.
"Let's just go." Azuma said. "Ultear is waiting for us and you know you shouldn't make her mad." Kain got that. He's upset that he isn't getting ice cream, but he doesn't want to be on Ultear's bad side either.
"Why? What happens?" All of them looked up and saw Salamander hanging on the wall. "Is she going to kick your butts for me? I would love to see that."
"Salamander!" All of them shouted.
"Salamander? Where?" Natsu said as he looked around as a joke. They all just decided to skip right to the fighting. Azuma used Kain to give himself a boost and jumped up to Salamander's height. He tried to give him a strong kick, but Natsu jumped off the wall and landed on the ground.
"You're going to stay down." Zancrow said as he charged at him to attack. He tried to hit him, but Salamander flipped over him and kicked him in the back of the head. Rusty tried to hit him, but Natsu grabbed his fist and tossed him into Zancrow.
"Kain, get him." Azuma said.
"Right. Time to get on the destructive train. Choo-Choo!" Kain said as he ran right at him, but Natsu leaped over to the side and avoided him. Kain didn't stopped and he smashed against Zancrow and Rusty with them both being knocked out. "Oops." Azuma went to attack him with a jump kick, but Natsu moved out of the way. He balanced on his hands and kicked Azuma. He thrusted back up and kicked Azuma, but Azuma blocked it. "I got him!" Natsu was surprised to see Kain was able to lift a car.
"Why do fat and flabby guys actually appear to have muscles?" Natsu said. Kain swung it at him, but Natsu ducked down and Azuma did the same, but Natsu used this opportunity to kick Azuma in the head and then did an axe kick to knock him out.
"Hold still." Kain said as he tried to slam the car on top of him, but Natsu jumped out of the way.
"Now play nice with your toys or I'm going to take them away." Natsu said. Kain was about to attack him again, but Natsu leaped at Kain and grabbed one of his arms. He ignited his flames and burned Kain.
"AW!" Kain was forced to let go and couldn't hold the car up with one arm. It slammed down on his face and knocked him down.
"Glad that's done." Natsu said and heard his phone go off. "Hello?"
"Natsu, its Robert. Remember how I told you that girl looked familiar? Turns out she's form my neighborhood. Her name is Meldy. She doesn't get along well with her father, but her grandmother isn't doing well."
"Something tells me the two have something to do with why she's part of the Grimoire Heart gang." Natsu said.
"Yeah. I've seen her around. She's usually a sweet girl." Robert said.
"Thanks, Robert." Natsu said as he ended the call and turned to Kain. "It sounds like she's similar to me. I have some hard times like with Mailer and my living problems, but I wouldn't resort into something like this. Time to talk, big guy. Where's the new hideout of Grimoire Heart?"
"Why would I tell you?" Kain said.
"This is why." Natsu said as he tempted him with a candy bar.
…
Grimoire Heart's Hideout
Ultear was looking over the schematics of a new heist she was planning. A job to rob a jewelry store and take every gem in it. Meldy was a little nervous and wasn't quite sure about this.
"Okay. As soon as the boys get back, we'll strike that store and take every accessory there is." Ultear said.
"You swear no one will get hurt?" Meldy said.
"I swear." Ultear said.
"That's one promise she's not going to keep." Both of them looked up and saw Salamander enter through a window.
"You again?!" Ultear said. Natsu jumped off from the wall and tackled Ultear. It took her out of the room and through a railing with her hanging from the second floor.
"I'm…I'm warning you. You better get out of here." Meldy said.
"Meldy, don't do this." Natsu said.
"How do you know my name?" Meldy asked.
"I know about you. I know you're really a good person and you don't want to commit crimes." Natsu said. "Don't do this. Don't throw your life away. I know it must be tough at home, but this isn't the answer."
"Of course it is." They looked to the door and saw Ultear was able to climb out of her situation. "Why wait for things to happen when you can just make them happen." Ultear pulled out her blade and tried to attack Natsu with it. Natsu grabbed a hold of her by the arms and he used his knee to push her back.
"Meldy, you know what's right and wrong. Don't be like them." Natsu said.
"If I were you, I would stay focus." Ultear said as she tried to take his head off, but Natsu bent backwards. He tried kicking her, but she stepped to the side and kicked him under his other leg to knock him to the ground. Ultear tried to slice him down, but Natsu rolled out of the way from each of her attacks. Natsu grabbed a table and slammed it against Ultear.
"Meldy, I know things are hard and believe me I know. I wish my life was actually better." Natsu said.
"What do you mean? You're a superhero." Meldy said. Ultear tried again, but Natsu used the table like a shield and her blade got stuck in it. Natsu pushed back and had her pinned to the wall.
"Yeah, but people see me as some sort of threat and I have some other trouble." Natsu said.
"Oh shut up!" Ultear said as she managed to kick him in the gut and got free. She smashed the table against him and it broke to pieces so her blade got free. She gave him another kick and knocked him off his feet and she placed her foot on him to hold him down. "No escape this time"
"Lady, you've got some issues. Did anyone ever tell you that?" Natsu said.
"I'm about to have one less one." Ultear said as she raised her blade to deal the finishing blow. Natsu was all set to counter, but something hit Ultear in the back of the head and messed her up. Natsu was able to kick her in the back and knocked her off. She landed on her head and was taken out. Natsu looked up and saw that Meldy was the one that was saved him by whacking a piece of the table on her.
"I knew you would make the right choice." Natsu said as he got back up.
"It is hard. When the Grimoire Heart gang offered me the chance to be part of this, I thought my life would get better, but I guess I acted like a big idiot." Meldy said.
"Don't be too hard on yourself." Natsu said. "Everyone makes mistakes that might seem wrong, but you know what the right thing is. I know things haven't been easy for you at home, but you can make them better."
"How?" Meldy asked.
"Start by making things right with your father." Natsu said. "Maybe there's something you two can do together to help your grandmother. In the meantime, make sure the cops come and get her." Meldy shook her head as she understood all of that and Natsu left.
'I know it's not easy to make your life the way you want it to, but it's important to remember the rights and wrongs.' Natsu thought. Being a superhero with his life, he knows that better than anyone and he believes things will get better for him in time.