AN: Hello again. I realized I should mention that I probably won't update this story consistently or frequently. I have college classes, plus I have not started on chapter 3 yet. Really, I posted chapter 1 immediately after finishing it to figure out how posting stories on worked.

Anyway, I've decided to split up Natsu and Millianna's pre-Tenrou relationship into two chapters. When I was writing this chapter, the end of their first date just felt like a good place to stop.

Also, a quick thanks Kriim-Sauce786, Cor Aurum, and ShadowScythe666 for reviewing my story.

Dear Natsu,

Life outside the Tower has been so fun! Wally, Shô, and I spend a day at sea eating fish, then we ended up in a place called Hargeon Town.

It's so pretty here, and I saw a bunch of cats with adorable scars. I chased one for a while before losing it (and Wally and Shô) in a warehouse full of nice guys with weapons.

The guys called me cute and talked about getting me a job. When I asked why I should work for them, they told me I could make a lot of Jewels and, when I asked what Jewels were, they explained money to me.

I ended up saying no and explained that I had to leave and find Wally and Shô. They were really understanding, and one offered to help me look. He said we should try going to the park, and that he even knew a shortcut there.

Unfortunately, we got attacked by a group of criminals while taking his shortcut. I ended up having to use my magic to beat them up, and a bunch of town guards showed up.

They arrested the criminals and brought us to a place called "The Station." They split me and my guide up and asked me about what happened. I explained everything and the guards helped me find Wally and Shô.

They also found us a hotel to stay at and showed us a post office. They even gave me a bunch of Jewels for beating up the criminals, and one guard said he would tell my guide that I found my friends. He apparently went to some place called "The Slammer."

After checking into a room, we went to the post office. We got a punch of pens and paper, and even a magic item that lets the mail people know where to bring our letters. By the way, our item's code is 3R2A-RU13S.

It's easy to remember, since it looks like it says "Erza Rules." I think that might be why Shô chose that specific one, since it's bright pink and covered in pictures of butterflies.

Speaking of Er-chan, we're also writing a letter to her. Wally and Shô… agreed to not mention my letter to you. I definitely didn't threaten to lie to Er-chan and say that they bought a magazine of women in skimpy clothing. Definitely not.

Anyway, I hope you write soon. Really looking forward to our date.

Love From,

Millianna

Millianna,

I think that Lacrima gave me food poisoning! I've felt really tired and weak these past few days! From now on, I'm sticking to fire! This is Natsu, by the way!

But other than food poisoning, things have been pretty cool here at Fairy Tail! They finished rebuilding the guild hall after Phantom Lord destroyed it! It looks really different, but we all brawled like usual! Erza even joined in after her cake got destroyed!

Juvia (the water girl) joined the guild, and so did Gajeel! He sang some crappy song he made up, full of stupid words like "Shubiduba!"

Also, some shitty reporter showed up! The guy acts like he's my biggest fan, but he is always destroying my reputation by writing that I destroy everything! He tried to shake my hand, so I punched him in the face!

By the way, "The Slammer" means jail! Those creeps who offered you a "job" were perverted criminals, and they were the guys who jumped you were a part of their group! Your "guide" led you right into that ambush!

The Harvest Festival is coming up soon here in Magnolia Town! Fairy Tail's gonna take part in the Fantasia Parade in a week. I was thinking that if you're in Hargeon, then you and the other guys can make it to Magnolia in time for the parade! Plus, I could show you around the festival for our date! There are tons of stands with delicious food and fun games!

Hope things are going well for you! Can't wait for your reply!

-Natsu

P.S. This is Happy. I'm writing this while Natsu is in the bathroom. Having your date during the Harvest Festival was my idea. I hope to see you then.

Dear Natsu,

I don't know who "Gajeel" is or what "Phantom Lord" is, but I'm happy for you.

Things are going well for me and the guys. We helped the guards capture those armed guys from the warehouse (you were right, they are criminals).

Also, I talked with Wally and Shô, and we will go to Magnolia for the Harvest Festival. I'm looking forward to our date! Shô and Wally even… offered to distract Er-chan while we're together.

I'm so happy! I've never been to a real festival before, and I can't wait! I'll see you in four days.

From,

Millianna

Millianna was pumped! The four days passed in a flash. Her and her fellow ex-slaves arrived in Magnolia late in the morning, and what they found was more amazing than they could have imagined. (Granted, their imagination was limited since this was the first festival they had ever been to.)

The trio spent a few hours exploring the festival. Wally tried and failed to beat a ring toss booth. Millianna avenged him and won a toy wand with a cat pawprint design on it. Shô ate so much junk food that he barfed.

After a while, they searched for a spot to watch the Fantasia Parade. As luck would have it, the three found a one with a clear view of the procession. When Fairy Tail's parade floats passed through, it was one marvel after another. Erza caught sight of them when she passed by, smiling and giving a nod in their direction.

"Nee-san looks amazing," said Shô as he watched Erza's float move by. He had been captivated by the parade even before seeing his surrogate sister. Now that Erza was here, the Alvarez Empire could invade and Shô wouldn't notice.

"As expected of Erza," agreed Wally.

"Yeah," spoke Millianna absently. She was busy searching the procession for a certain pink-haired mage.

Wally noticed her distraction immediately and smirked. Now was a good time for him to get back at the cat girl for threatening him and Shô.

"Wow! If you're ignoring Erza, you must really be lovestruck."

"Mya! W-what do you mean by that?" stammered Millianna. Her cheeks lit up, embarrassed by Wally's accusation. "I'm just curious what else Fairy Tail has in store for the parade."

"Oh, really?" Wally said with mock suspicion. "So, you aren't searching for Salamander? And you aren't wondering what he's dressed as? A fire-breathing dragon? Maybe a knight in shining armor? Or perhaps a lion?"

As he spoke, Millianna's face grew redder and redder and she mentally begged for something to shut Wally up. Unfortunately, Shô provided that escape.

"I think he's a fire-breathing mummy. Either that or he's really injured."

"Huh?"

"Mya?"

Indeed, Natsu was walking through the parade wrapped in bandages, stumbling like an undead monster, and breathing flames. However, the cast on his arm made it clear he wasn't a mummy.

Millianna and Wally froze with shock, only able to gawk at the battered dragon slayer. Shô did not notice their reactions, too enraptured by the parade. Luckily for the two of them, all of Fairy Tail raised their right hands and performed an unknown gesture, an act that snapped them out of their stupor.

"Who could have done that to Natsu?" exclaimed a panicked Millianna. "He was strong enough to defeat Jellel and rescue Erza!"

"Calm down, Millianna," responded Wally, attempting to appease the cat girl. "I'm sure Natsu's fine, otherwise he wouldn't be in the parade. Whatever happened to him probably wasn't as bad as it looks."

"Right," agreed Shô, who was broken free of the parade's spell by Millianna's outburst. "Just ask him what happened when you meet for your date."

"Okay, you're both right," said Millianna, mollified by her friends' words. "I'll just find him after the parade and ask what happened. It couldn't have been too serious."

"So, four of your guildmates, one an S-Class mage like Er-chan, turned other members of your guild to stone, including Er-chan, and had the rest of you fight each other and them, but everybody lost against them? Then Er-chan broke free, beat up one of them, and de-petrified the others, who then defeated two more of the rogue mages? But the S-Class mage used some huge spell to take the whole city hostage and you and another dragon slayer beat him while Er-chan and everyone else in your guild stopped his city-destroying spell?"

Millianna summarized all of this while wearing an incredulous expression.

"Aye sir," responded Happy.

"Does stuff like this happen often in Fairy Tail?" asked Millianna, baffled.

"Aye sir" repeated Happy.

"I just wish I got to fight more," complained Natsu. "That stupid spell Freed put around the guild hall stopped me from doing anything until the final battle. Even then, I had to work with Gajeel, so it doesn't count."

Natsu watched the cat girl's face scrunch up cutely as she processed his and Happy's explanation of the Battle of Fairy Tail. After the parade, Natsu searched for Millianna by her scent and found the girl in a side street, looking for him. Happy followed him, and together they answered her questions about the cause of Natsu's injuries.

Millianna's expression changed to one of acceptance. "Okay then. Should we go on our date, or are you too injured?"

"Are you kidding? I'm all fired up. A little pain means nothing," bragged Natsu.

And so, the dragon boy and cat girl's date began, while Happy visited a sushi stand. Natsu and Millianna stuffed their faces with festival food and played at several of the game booths. Honestly, Natsu just did what he always does during festivals.

But, somehow, doing it all with Millianna made it better. He felt a warmness in his chest whenever she laughed, and her smiles made him want to grin too. He even forgot that he was badly injured from fighting Laxus, something that caused him to mistakenly slam his damaged arm on a table at one point. Damn, that hurt.

Around sunset, after Natsu spent the last of the Jewels he had with him on some meat skewers, him and Millianna began talking about themselves while eating. He told her about Igneel and his adventures in Fairy Tail, while she talked about her life in the Tower of Paradise.

"… And after all those years locked away, we all just want to see what the world is like," finished Millianna.

"Yeah, I get it," replied Natsu. "Earthland's full of different places, so sitting around in a single town is boring. It's like only trying one flavor of candy, or only fighting one person your entire life."

"Or only cuddling one cat," added Millianna.

"Yeah!" said Natsu. "Though I wouldn't mind if you were that cat."

Both their faces flushed crimson.

"Why did I say that?" though Natsu. "Sure, it's how I feel, and it seemed like the perfect thing to say, but it's also super embarrassing!"

At that moment, Millianna kissed him on the lips. She tasted like the skewers they had eaten, but so much better. Natsu kissed her back.

"Never mind. Totally worth it."

It lasted for about ten seconds, but it felt like ten years. A few more seconds passed afterwards, then Millianna began to talk.

"I had a great time. This was the best date I've ever had! I mean, it's also the only date I've ever had, but I'm sure it will still be the best after I have more dates."

"You're wrong," argued Natsu. "I'm gonna make sure our next date is better than this one!"

"You. Are. On," responded Millianna, her cheeks a bit pinker. "But if you lose, then you'll have to take me on a third date."

The young couple blushed, then burst out laughing. After that, Millianna had to leave. It wouldn't be right if she spent the whole day in Magnolia and didn't hang out with Erza once. She found her way to Erza, who was at a cake-selling booth that Millianna and Natsu had passed by earlier. The two chatted for a bit, then retired to Fairy Hills, where Millianna had her first sleepover. She learned that challenging Erza to a pillow fight was a mistake.

Natsu, on the other hand, tracked down Happy (who was still at the sushi stand) and went home. After a Fantasia Parade and his first ever date, all while recovering from a tough battle, even the hyperactive Salamander needed some rest.

That night, both dragon and cat dreamed of one another.

Omake

"It's nice to see you guys again," Erza said to Wally and Shô. She had sent a letter suggesting they come to Magnolia for the Harvest Festival and was overjoyed when they replied yes. She met up with the two of them after the Fantasia Parade. "Although I have to ask, where is Millianna?"

"Err, she went off on her own to find Natsu and Happy," spoke Wally. Him and Shô seemed a bit nervous to Erza, sweating and shifting around a lot.

"Hmm. They must not be used to large crowds yet," thought Erza. "Ah. She was rather taken by Happy before. I hope she'll be able to find them in this crowd."

"Speaking of Millianna, Nee-san," began Shô. "What would you do if she started dating a guy?"

"I would figure out if he is worthy of her," stated Erza sharply. "If he is, then I would give the happy couple my blessing. If he is not, then I would… intervene. Forcefully."

"Even if the guy was a member of Fairy Tail?" inquired Shô.

"Especially then. The mages of Fairy Tail are my nakama, but they are a wild and impulsive bunch. The only thing that would be worse than one of them being a bad boyfriend to Millianna is if they betrayed my trust by dating her behind my back. I would make such a man suffer even worse than Jellel did when the Tower was destroyed."

Unbeknownst to Erza, this statement terrified Wally and Shô so much that they decided to never tell her about Natsu and Millianna, lest they find out what she would do to men who helped a Fairy Tail mage date the cat girl behind Erza's back.

Erza's expression softened. "Why do you ask?"

"Uhhhh," droned Shô. The terror had frozen his mind.

"Just curious!" interjected Wally quickly. "That gang in Hargeon Town trying to take advantage of Millianna made us think about her dating!"

Erza's face then became scarier than before. "Ah. If any man were to defile her like that gang intended, then I would make him suffer so much that Hell would seem like a five-star resort."

At that moment, Natsu felt a shiver run down his spine.

AN: This specific omake is canon. Well, as canon as a fanfiction can be.

Millianna's naiveté in this chapter will not be a recurring thing. Her, Wally, and Shô will quickly learn about life outside the Tower. Also, since I worry it is not clear, the reason she was able to just accept the Battle of Fairy Tail was because it's the guild Erza joined. Being wild and extraordinary just makes sense. Plus, she got a glimpse of how eccentric Fairy Tail is during their celebration last chapter.

Next update should bring the story to the point described in my summary. Goodbye for now!