Harujion, a port town in the continent of Fiore. This town is famous for it's fishing industry and delicious seafood cuisines. However, the security on this town is lax, making this port also famous as an illegal trades and goods highway.

On it's paved roads in the middle of the day, a person with pink, ruffly hair is walking by. He is wearing a sleeveless black waistcoat that is left open, exposing his bare chest and abs. He is also wearing a white, knee length trousers. A sleeping bag is hanging on his back. And even though it is hot today, this guy has a scale patterned scarf around his neck. Together with him is a strange blue creature, lying down on his head. Both of them looks really exhausted, to the point where they look like they will collapse at any moment.

"Aahh.. I'm so tired. Its so hot. I'm so hungry. I'm quickly drying up like a fish."

The strange creature muttered.

"Aahhh... Me, too. But, we have to finish our mission first to get the reward. Master told us to do this as quiet as possible, or we will be noticed. You don't want those bastards who kidnaps and enslaves innocent people to continue their dirty activities, do you?"

The scarfed guy replied.

"I am completely aware on what our mission is. But, I can't do a decent job while hungry. In the first place, it's because you melted our money that we weren't able to have breakfast. I already reminded you more than a hundred times to remove your wallet when you are about to fight. The money is not magically enchanted like your clothes so they will melt in extreme heat. Why do you always forget about that? Natsu you idiot. Haaah..."

"I get it already, jeez. Just hold it in until we finish this mission. The moment we find them, I will beat them up really quick and go back right away so we can get the reward already. That's why, keep your eyes sharp, Happy. You're better than me in recognizing faces of people based on posters and pictures. Don't miss anyone around us."

The strange creature, who is named Happy, just sighed, defeated. He's been the partner with the scarfed guy, Natsu, in his entire life and he knows that he never backs down during a mission. No matter what happens, he won't go back until he finishes it. It's not that he is too prideful of himself. It's just because he is quite strict with himself when accepting jobs. Also, he wants to finish it up quickly so that they can accept another one.

Not that he dislikes it. But, today is an exception. He is hungry. And he can't concentrate while he's hungry. Also, hunger causes the timespan of his magic to shorten. That's the only magic he could use so he feels uneasy when it is shortened.

Well, we don't have any other option right now, anyway. I hope there would be a miracle, something like a fish falling from the sky. Aahh, how nice that would be. Whoops. Thinking about fish just makes me hungrier. Hold it in, Happy. Don't let your own desires win against your pride as a mage.

The pair continued to walk around the town. They have no particular destination. They are just waiting for a miracle that somehow, they would stumble upon their targets. They could've asked around for information but they avoided doing something like that. It's because they have to stay unnoticed to keep their enemy from knowing their purpose for coming in this town. If they would be careless, their targets might know about them and do a countermeasure to make their job harder. Or worse, they might flee. Their targets are a bunch of people who do dirty jobs, after all.

Because of that, their only information they have about their target is the one given by their master. He said that their main target will show up in this town between the third day till the sixth day of this week. After receiving the mission, they dispatched immediately to this town.

It has been three days already since then. And in these three days, they already experienced a lot of things, such as beating up robbers who tried to take away their belongings and running away from the military due to the damage they have done while they were beating up those robbers. Definitely not quiet at all. But they are too tired and too hungry to reflect on their actions. All that could do is to walk around the town while avoiding the military at the same time. And this situation makes it seem that they were playing hide and seek, where they're the seeker and the hider at the same time.

While they were walking aimlessly, they noticed a crowd forming up in the middle of the road. The ones in the crowd were all women, mostly ones in their teenage years. To avoid attracting attention, they carefully approached the crow and pushed themselves forward. When they were almost at the center, they heard a man's voice from the middle.

"We have a party in the ship tonight. Please come."

After that, someone emerged from the crowd. Its a tall guy that wears a blue cape that hangs loosely on his shoulders. He is standing on a little cloud made of flame. It looks like that flame cloud thing has an ability to make its user or rider fly. With it, he soared upwards while smiling at the ladies, making them squeal with excitement.

"Eh? Isn't that him?"

Happy suddenly exclaimed.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Natsu replied, quite alarmed.

"If I'm not mistaken, that guy is Bora, one of the people we are looking for."

"Seriously? There's no time to waste here, then. Let's go and follow him, Happy!"

"Aye!"

Happy exclaimed.

They began to run towards Bora but they didn't look where they are going. They didn't notice the person right in front of them. Because of that, they crashed into that person.

"Ah!"

"Kya!"

Both Natsu and the victim tumbled in the road, while Happy successfully avoided danger by jumping down before he fell down with them both.

Natsu stood up first and checked the other person.

"Um, are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?"

After saying it, he observed the person he just bumped into. It turns out that it is a woman. She has a blonde length hair that is tied up into a ponytail. Her skin is white and smooth. She has a slim, sexy body. She's wearing a sleeveless white shirt with blue stripes, and a short, black skirt fastened with a belt. A whip is attached to the left side of the belt while a bunch of keys is attached at the other side.

"Ah, it's fine, I'm alright."

The blonde woman reassured.

"That's great to hear."

Natsu held out his arm to help the blonde woman stand up. She then grabbed it and pulled herself upwards.

"Thanks."

The blonde woman said. After thanking him, she bent down and picked up her sling bag.

"Its fine. I am the one in the wrong, anyway. I was too busy chasing that guy that I forgot to look where I am going."

"Guy? You mean, that one from here earlier?"

"Yeah, I need to chase after him before I lost him. Well then, I need to go now. I'm sorry for what I did. Let's go, Happy!"

Natsu almost broke into a sprint but Happy did not jump on him. So he turned around and looked at his partner who is standing still on the street, unmoving.

"Hey Happy, what are you waiting for? Hurry up already or else we'll completely lose our only guide."

However, Happy did not budge a bit. His eyes is glued somewhere in the other side if the street. Puzzled, Natsu approached him.

"Hey, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Happy stayed the same. Now that he is closer, he saw a little drool on the edge of Happy's lips. His eyes is shining brightly, an expression Natsu perfectly recognize.

Eh? Don't tell me-

Natsu then looked at the same place Happy is staring at, and just as he guessed, there is a restaurant at the other side of the street. He inhaled a little from the direction of the restaurant.

Woah! That place smells good! Is that a high class restaurant? Damn, I wanna eat. But, now is not the time for that. If I don't hurry, we will surely lose him. Also, we don't have any money.

"Happy! Come on!"

"Hmm? Ah! Bora! Let's hurry, Natsu! No time to waste! [Wings]!"

After activating his magic, Happy flew towards him and grabbed his scarf. They quickly flew 20 meters upwards, higher than the buildings on the ground. After surveying their surroundings twice, they didn't see Bora. Even the traces of that flame cloud is gone.

"He's gone."

Natsu mumbled dejectedly.

"Aye, he's gone."

Happy replied in the same tone.

Natsu just sighed tiredly as Happy slowly descended back to the streets. After landing, Natsu walked towards the sidewalk and sat, since the sidewalk is built a foot higher than the streets. Happy did the same thing without saying anything. They sat there in silence for quite some time, discouraged of themselves until a female voice interrupted them.

"Um, excuse me, are you two alright?"

Both of them turned around at the same time and saw the face of the speaker.

"Ah, its you from earlier. Do you need something?"

Natsu asked.

"Hello. We met again. Actually, I need to ask you something. Can I have a bit of your time?"

"Huh? What do you want to ask?"

"Sorry but I prefer not to say it here. Can you come with me?"

Natsu then stood up while Happy jumped at Natsu's shoulders.

"Fine by me. So, where are we going?"

"How about that restaurant there? My treat."

The blonde woman smiled at them, showing sincerity on her words.

Doubting their ears, Natsu and Happy looked at each other, then at the woman.

"A-are you serious?"

Unable to believe their stroke of luck, Natsu can't help asking the woman for confirmation. And it doesn't look like the woman is a bad person, but he can't be so sure. For all he knows, this woman might be just pranking them.

"Eh? Yeah, I promise."

The woman smiled to them once more.

Right after she said those words, both Natsu and Happy groveled into the ground and planted their foreheads into the ground with an incredible speed. In unison, they shouted out their wholehearted thanks to the woman.

"THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!! REALLY, THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!! WE DON'T DESERVE YOUR KINDNESS BUT WE WILL TAKE IT ANYWAY!!!"

Their strange action attracted the attention of the people on the street. They were really surprised from the loud shout of the two. However, the woman was much more shocked and embarrassed by the scene, since she's the one they are bowing down to.

Eehh?? Eeeehhh?! Wait, what are these two doing?! God, this is so embarrassing!! I have to do something right away to stop them from doing this!

After inhaling and exhaling her breath for a few times, she finally calmed down. First she needs to have them stop groveling. But how? Using the 'Taking it Back' strategy seems too cruel so she will only use it as last resort. She has to do this in a peaceful way.

"I see, I see. Then, please stand up. Let's go inside so we can talk properly."

However, they refused to move. It seems like they really wanna show how grateful they are. But, her next words bent their resolve.

"Also, so that we can eat already."

Both of them stood up faster than the speed they executed when they groveled. In fact, she wasn't even able to see them standing up. After she finished talking, their groveling form just disappeared, and changed into the two standing up timidly.

"Well then, let's go."

She started to walk towards the other side of the streets, the place where the restaurant is located. And behind her, there were two starving creatures who were drooling openly. Without further ado, she went straight inside and the pair followed her.

She surveyed around the restaurant. There were numerous people inside. In fact, the restaurant is almost full. The available tables can be counted with only one hand. She then proceeded towards the nearest available place and sat down. Seeing the two still standing, she smiled at them again and gestures them to sit down. And they did in a quick flash. When everything is ready, she took three menus from the stack and offered the two to the pair.

"Please choose the ones you like. You can pick as many as you want. Okay?"

She expected them to behave this time, since they are inside a populated place but she guessed wrong. The two stood up and inhaled.

Oh crap, they are going to do something embarrassing again. I need to stop them right away, no matter how.

Seconds before Natsu and Happy thank her once more, the woman interrupted them.

"Opps. Stop right there. Please be seated and stop doing that. Or else I will go away."

So I ended up using that strategy in the end. Haaah. I hope they wouldn't hate me for that.

Those words froze the both of them and made them regain their senses.

She will leave = no money = no food

After analyzing the fearsome truth, they seated once more and behaved. They realized they were causing trouble for this kind woman. And thus, they apologized. But this time, in a low voice.

"Um, I'm really sorry. It seems we were too excited that we didn't realize that we are troubling you."

Natsu apologized in a sincere voice.

"Aye."

The strange animal chorused weakly.

"Its fine. I'm just glad you understood. Well then, please choose already so that we may already eat."

"Alright. But actually, we already have something in mind."

She was surprised by their answer since they never even glanced at the menu. But, they might've came here before already so she didn't ask further.

"Great. I'll go call the waiter, then."

She then reached for the bell at the center of the table and rung it. Things like these are common in restaurants since it is loud but not too disturbing. This way, the customers who are dining won't be disturbed too much.

After a little while, a waiter wearing a black apron over a white long sleeves and long black pants came over. It must be their uniform. He approached Natsu and the gang and politely greeted them.

"Good afternoon, dear customers and welcome to Blue Fin. May I take tour order?"

The woman was the one who spoke up first.

"I'll have a strawberry parfait, please. I'll also have a pineapple juice."

"Understood. How about your companions?"

"Ah, I'll have one of each dish. Happy will have the most delicious fish dish you have."

Natsu spoke up.

"Aye! Fish is the best!"

Naturally, the woman was surprised. She never met anyone who is that's absurd. In fact, someone who orders something like that doesn't normally exist. They only exist in books as a gluttony, third rate character. Like an informant who asks to be fed as payment or something like that. But now, she really did meet one.

Uwah. Just how much is that all in total? I hope it won't be too much or else I'll go broke before I even get to reach my goal. Well, I did say that they can have anything they want so I can't say something about it. I just hope it won't amount into too much or I will get broke before I even reach that city.

The waiter then interrupted her thought as he asked for confirmation.

"Is that all, ma'am, sir?"

"Ah, yes. That's all. Thanks."

The woman replied to him.

"Well then, please wait for awhile as we prepare your orders."

The waiter then walked away towards the counter to submit their order list. The woman then proceeded to do her real intentions.

"Can we begin now? First, let's start with self introductions. I am Lucy, a mage. I don't belong to a guild yet, though. How about you two?"

"I am Natsu. And this is my partner, Happy. We are also mages, but we are in a guild."

"Nice to meet you, Natsu and Happy."

"Same here, Luigi."

"Aye!"

Eh? Did I just misheard it? Surely, they won't get someone's name wrong when they just heard it a few seconds earlier, will they?

"Anyway, what do you wanna ask us, Luigi?"

Ah, they really did.

"Its Lucy. And I have a few questions for you. I hope you can answer them."

"Alright. As long as we know the answer, Lucy"

"I'll start with this one. Why are you chasing that guy from earlier?"

Uwah. I sound like an interrogator at a military post.

"Its our mission. We are here to arrest a slave trading group."

"I see. So, you mean that guy from earlier is one if them?"

"Aye! I recognized him right away since his sketch shows a strange marking on his right forehead. And his face looks similar, too. His name is Bora, Bora of Prominence. He is quite a troublemaker, with repeated offenses of thievery. That's the reason why he was banished from his guild, Titan Nose several years ago. However, his troublesome attitude was well-known so an illegal smuggling group scouted him. After some years, he became the leader of the group himself and he further expanded their specialty and variety. Selling slaves is one of those."

Slaves. People who are treated as a property. No matter what their masters do to them or makes them do, they can't refuse. Their freedom are taken against their will and they were bound to suffer for the rest of their lives. Powerless people who doesn't have the power to fight back or refuse are the ones who usually fall to the palms of the powerful ones. Even if they were treated like toys or disposable things, they can't refuse. This is truly a gruesome and cruel act.

But, this act is already banned in the whole Magnolia. Eight years ago, the newly appointed king of Magnolia submitted this law as his first project. Anyone who breaks this law will face dire consequences. Owning a single slave will result in being imprisoned for 25 years. Slave traders are worse. They will spend the rest if their lives in a prison cell, where they will be treated 'appropriately', just like how slaves were treated.

However, some people still continue doing these acts in secret. That is why slave traders are still all around. The cooperation of some corrupt government officials played part in this matter.

So, to be able to capture these criminals while keeping the corrupt officials from knowing, the King's faction decided to use the magician's guild and it's mages, since they can't have their own military force to move and arrest these criminals. Because spies of these corrupt officials surely exist within the military. And if the military were tasked to do the subjugating mission, these corrupt officials will then be informed by their spies and they will surely do something to keep their involvement into the dark, like notifying these slave traders of the advancing danger and have them hide. Or maybe wipe them out, along with the secret that they were in cahoots in their illegal business.

The King's faction also gives out information and missions to the guilds secretly. Only the guild leader gets informed about it. And only the mages that the guild leader entrusted the mission with learns about it. These missions are treated as S-class missions. And the reward money from these kinds if quests is pretty big, varying from 1 million jewels till 5 million jewels. The reward for the mission Natsu and Happy is a 2 million one.

"So that means, that guy is gathering his victims earlier."

"Huh? Bora is gathering his victims? How?"

Natsu asked, surprised by Lucy's statement.

"You saw how woman flocked him earlier, right. They were not attracted to him because of his looks. I think it is due to magic. If I were to guess, he is using a mind control magic, something like [Charm]."

"What kind of magic is that?"

Before Lucy could explain, Happy spoke up and answered Natsu's question.

"[Charm] is a mind controlling magic. It makes the victim thinks that they were attracted to the user. When in effect, the user can have the victim do some light orders like making the victim follow him or make the victim buy him something, just like what women or men asks their suitors to do. A higher form of this magic is[Bewitch], where the victim thinks and feels that they are deeply in love with the user. This is the kind of magic where the saying 'Love is Blind' is truly evident because the victim does almost anything the user asks for, even if the order is to kill one's own self. Seeing how dangerous these kinds of magics were, the Council decided to ban them 15 years ago. It is strictly forbidden since then."

"Aside from the dangers of it, knowing if you are being mind controlled by these magic is hard to know. It is because the victim abides the user's orders willingly. They were made to think that they were in love, after all. And manipulating someone with the pretext of love is very powerful. Even when the magic is gone, there were cases that the victim still feels that they love the user. Having a strong mental fortitude or being in love with someone else is the only way to prevent yourself from falling in these kinds of magic."

After listening to Happy and Lucy's explanation, Natsu sank in deep thought. He then remembered something that his master had mentioned during their last meeting, the same one where the mission was entrusted into them.

"Now that I remembered it, Master also mentioned that a mage from Blue-something will be coming. I forgot the name, though. He said that this mage can block and remove the enemy's magic. So, that must be what that magic is, since it was necessary to have someone who can deal with it."

"Aye, I remembered about it, too. We were supposed to meet on the fourth day at the port. That would be tomorrow. I wonder what kind if magician he is."

"Yeah, I wonder if he is strong. I wanna fight him if he is."

While they are talking about this, the waiter arrived with a tray cart. Countless dishes, mostly Natsu's, is on it.

"Here's your order, ma'am and sir."

"Yay! My lovely fish is here!"

"Ah! All of this smells good! I'm getting hungrier!"

The two looks like a hungry predator, ready to pounce in its prey the moment it touches the table.

Without further ado, the waiter laid the foods in the table. After laying down all of it, he then bowed down to them and departed.

"Well then, let's eat!"

Before Lucy even said it, they already started. Natsu and Happy ate in a quick pace, eating several dishes at once but she just let them be. They must be really hungry. She just enjoyed the sweetness of her parfait in silence while enjoying the rowdy scene before her.

Fifteen minutes later, the plates were all emptied. The waiter then proceeded to clean it up.

"Um, can I have the bill, please?"

"Yes, ma'am. Please wait for awhile as I write it all down."

While waiting for the waiter to finish, she glaced to the pair. They sat in a comfortable way, their legs spread while leaning at the chair. Unlike their pale, tired faces earlier, they now look really satisfied and happy.

"Here you go, ma'am"

"Thank you."

She took the receipt from the waiter and read it. After reading it, she almost screamed out loud from the shock she received.

Eeeehhh?! What the hell is this?! Just his much is it each plate?! Haaah... I'm gonna starve for a while with this. Haaah...

Lucy then took her wallet from the bag and pulled out 50 000 jewels with a painful expression on her face. After handing it to the waiter, the waiter then left.

"Ahhh... That was great. I can feel the energy return to my body. With these, I can continue the search for the lost prey."

"Aye. I can look around and observe better. I wish we will finish this tomorrow."

"Thanks, Lucy. You're really a good person. Thank you."

"Thank you so much."

After hearing their heartfelt thanks, Lucy is filled with joy. Even though she spent so much for them, she didn't regret it. Also, she has another purpose for doing this.

"You're welcome. Well then, can I ask you both a favor?"

"Sure, whatever."

"Then, will you take me with you?"

"Eh? Where?"

"On your mission, obviously."

"But, its our mission. And its supposed to be a secret."

"You already told me about it, though."

"You don't smell like a bad person, after all. In fact, you smell good, like flowers. That is why telling you about it is alright."

"That's just the perfume. Anyway, will you take me with you?"

"But, we can't just involve you with this. It is dangerous."

Lucy smiled. It seemed that they did not realize Bora's words earlier. She can use this to force them to make her join.

"If you'll let me join, I will tell you where they are."

Natsu and Happy was surprised. This person in front of them has the information they need. But, it could be a trap. It is a common sense that strangers shouldn't be trusted. Because they might have ulterior motives behind their actions. Or worse, they could be the enemy themselves.

However, they already spilled the beans. They can leave right now, but that would be foolish. Lucy told them that she has the information they want. Whether it is true or not, they have to know first. For now, they have to know if Lucy is an enemy or not.

Natsu spoke up and asked for this.

"First of all, tell us why you want to join us. We can't just decide to let you join without knowing that."

"Actually, I saw your guild crest, when you helped me up earlier. That is of Fairy Tail, right? I want you to introduce me to your guild. Because I want to join you guys. I always wanted to join that guild. I heard how strong and unique and fun the mages in that guild are. In fact, I am heading towards there tomorrow. But, having someone to introduce me is better. Is that good enough?"

"What? So that's all? Alright, deal."

"Eh? Really? I thought you will ask more."

"Nah, I dislike complicated stuff. Also, your heartbeat didn't beat fast while you were explaining earlier, proof that you weren't lying."

"Heeh. How are you able to hear that?"

"It's just another part of my abilities. Now then, tell us where they are."

"Did you hear what Bora said before be left earlier? He said that there will be a party later on his ship, at the port. I'm sure that it is a trap. The women who are charmed will surely attend that party, where they will be captured. If we slip inside the ship during the party, we can capture Bora and the gang inside and turn them towards the authority."

"That sounds troublesome. Let's just destroy the ship before they leave the port."

"Idiot, what if there are innocent people inside the ship? We have to confirm it first before we trash around the place."

"But, the party is tonight, right? We can hit them before sundown to avoid that risk."

"We don't have any information about the components of that ship. What if they already kidnapped people and put them inside?"

"If they really did, then there's no need for them to trouble themselves to make that party. They could just grab people all around the town. But, they don't because using their that method is too risky. So, they do it by charming the victims into attending their party. Because it is easier to acquire victims in that way and it is easy to escape, too. That's why, there shouldn't be innocent people inside that ship."

"But, we're not sure about that."

Natsu pondered for awhile. Lucy doesn't seem that she will budge from her stand. After thinking deeply for a while, he arrived at a conclusion.

"Alright, I understand. I won't blast the ship off. I'll fight them without breaking the ship too much. How about that?"

"Well, that will do. Also, how will you blast the ship, anyway? Do you have an explosive or something?"

"That's not it. Natsu's magic is pretty strong and pretty destructive. People fly all around the places when he fights. Houses and buildings burn down to ashes. Even the landscape of the land changes when he gets serious."

"I see. Is it fire-based, then? Well, you seem pretty confident with it so I won't pry further. A mage shouldn't reveal their cards before the battle, anyway."

"Now then, should we go now and hit them?"

Natsu was about to rise but Lucy stopped him.

"Wait. Wait until sundown. The party starts at evening, so we should hit them at that time. At this time, they may be all around the town since their plan won't commence until sundown. We should strike them by the time they will all likely to be present in the ship."

"I see. Let's wait till sundown, then."

"Aye."

After that, no one said a word. They just sat there in silence while doing their own things. Natsu started to play with the toothpicks. Happy is grooming his tail. While Lucy is thinking of a topic they could discuss about.

This is not good. We have to talk about something so that we can get to know each other better. We are a newly formed them, after all. Speaking of knowing each other, what kind of creature is Happy? Can I ask abut that? Would he think it is rude? I'll just find out.

"Happy?"

"Aye?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Anything."

"Um, what kind of creature are you?"

"Ah, so that's it. Actually, I don't know. I haven't met anyone who looks like me yet, so I wasn't able to ask. In fact, no one knows what I am. But, I am surely related to a cat. So, you can just think of me as a taking cat."

"I see. But, you don't meow, do you?"

"Aye, I don't."

"Hmm..."

And they fell into silence once more. Natsu is building something with toothpicks. Lucy, without anything to do, just watched him.

He's really concentrating in this one.

Just when she was thinking of that, Natsu suddenly stopped and started to speak.

"By the way, how did you know that the girls are being charmed earlier?"

"Ah! I almost forgot! Actually, when you crashed into me, I came back to my senses. Seems like I was also charmed. I almost forgot to thank you for that. Thanks!"

"Ah, it's fine. You fed us in return, so we're now even."

"But that's not really the reason why I fed you. Well, let's just leave it like that."

Lucy smiled at him. They continued to talk to each other about anything, mostly about Fairy Tail. Lucy was interested about this so she listened intently to Natsu. She was surprised to hear about someone who walks naked all the time. She was amazed when she heard about someone who can drink barrels of beer everyday. She laughed when she heard about how rowdy Fairy Tail is.

And most of all, she felt quite intrigued when she heard about a certain woman in Fairy Tail, the one they call Titania. Natsu talked about her a lot, saying how scary she is. However, Lucy felt a sense of admiration and fondness from Natsu's tone while he is speaking about her. Just like how someone talks about someone they like. This just made her more interested in knowing about this woman.

Like this, they have spent the whole time jut chatting with each other. And suddenly, it is already 5 PM.

"Guess we should go now. They must be at the ship already by now."

"Yeah. Let's go, partner."

"Aye!"

They stepped out of the restaurant with a serious expression. They were determined to destroy those bastards who toy with humans for money. They are determined to crush them and lock them up behind prison bars.

The battle is nearing.

To be continued...