"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
Natsu was in the hidden village in the Garuyama Mountain as he was welcomed with open arms by the villagers and the ninjas
"where is your elder?" Natsu said as he walked in the village with Irene and the others behind him
"he is at the center shrine of the village, o great dragon lord" a ninja answered him while having utter respect in his voice
"let my companion take some rest in your village, and.." Natsu takes a look to Éclair as she was clinging on to him while hugging Momon who was still asleep for some reason "prepare a room for us to sleep"
"At once!" the ninja replied before he and several others disappeared in a flash
Natsu and the others arrived to the center of the village where an ancient shrine stood in its place
Everyone saw a red shine in the shrine as it was glowing bright and so was Enryuo no Kiba
"how we have waited for centuries of your return" a voice spoke as an old man with a staff came walking out of the shrine "O great Dragon Lord"
"name yourself" Natsu said
"I am Haruto, 49th village elder and keeper of the Dragon Shrine" the old man replied before bowing "it is a great honor to be in your presence and return, o great dragon lord"
"rise" Natsu said as he stepped forward before reaching his hand out to the shrine
"Steel is thy body, and fire is thy blood. Thou have threaded the path of thousands. With the power of lightning in strength" Natsu chanted as a dark cloud suddenly formed above the shrine with lightning and thunder striking around
Thunder strikes down the shrine before it burns into flames
Everyone watched the shrine burns before the flames all flied around and into the shrine
The shrine collapses before revealing a stone statue of what looks to be a horse
"that's….Catastoras" Irene said looking at the stone statue
"come to my call…great steed of thunder and lightning…Catastoras Voltonoir!" Natsu exclaimed as the stone statue started cracking and shining red glow started to appear all around its cracks
Soon, the statue exploded in a big red flash and a loud horse' neigh was heard
Irene and the others shielded their eyes from the bright red light before they see a white mechanical warhorse appearing
The horse rises up to its back legs and let out a loud neigh with lightning flying everywhere
"I see..centuries of sleep and your forgot on who I am" Natsu said before he grins "very well!"
Catastoras neigh before charging towards Natsu and the others
"come! I shall remind you!" Natsu exclaimed before he jumps up and gets on Catastoras' back
"aaah!" Éclair screamed as she tried to reach for Natsu but Erza pulled her back
"stop! It's too dangerous!" Erza exclaimed but Éclair just screamed at her
Catastoras started running around everywhere as Natsu rides on its back
Thunder and lightning started to fly all around Catastoras' body as the electricity started to shock Natsu all around his body
"with thy blood…thy soul of thunder and lightning…I Natsu Dragneel…reawakens the ancient pact…for thy to heed my call!" Natsu chanted before Catastoras burst into flames
The mechanical warhorse's body colour started to change as it turns from metallic white into crimson metal red and a dragon motif drawing appeared on its neck and flames burst out of its back mane
Metal railings appeared as Natsu holds it and pulls up
Catastoras raised up to its back legs before letting out a loud neigh as thunder resounds
The mechanical horse stomps down the ground before shaking its head and let out a soft neigh
Natsu patted its head with a smile before patting the right side of its neck as Catastoras turns around and started walking back to the others
Solemn air filled the village as the moonlight was shining from a hole above
Irene and the others were situated at an inn of some sort as they were served by Geisha maids
Natsu however was at a porch, tending to Catastoras while Éclair was clinging on him
Catastoras neigh as Natsu patted its head
Éclair looks at the mechanical horse with Momon in her arms as she looks to be fascinated
Catastoras neigh before blowing a breath at Éclair and Momon from its snout
Éclair and Momon looks at Catastoras as she reached her hand out for it
Her hand caressed Catastoras' head as the mechanical horse leans its head to her hand
Natsu had a small smile as he watched Éclair and Catastoras together
"Natsu, can I get on Catastowr- Catastwro" Momon said while trying to pronounced its name right
"just Catas is fine" Natsu said patting Catastoras' back
"can I get on Catas' back?" Momon asked as Natsu nodded
Momon smiled before getting on Catastoras back while pretending that he's a cowboy
"auuu ahhh" Éclair voiced out to Natsu who looks to her before knowing what she wanted
"here" Natsu said as he carried her up and sat her down on Catastoras' back
Catastoras neigh as its flaming mane died down for the two
Natsu smiled as he lets Catastoras walked around with Éclair and Momon on its back
While they were doing so, Irene watched from their inn room, and she watched how Éclair and Momon had fun with Catastoras
"mother?" Erza called out as she was being served tea by a geisha
"yes?" Irene replied looking away from bellow
"are you alright?" Erza asked
"I'm fine" Irene said taking a seat before a geisha maid came and poured her a cup of tea "just thinking, that's all"
Erza looks to her mother before seeing the small amount of jealousy and sadness in her eyes
Everyone had fallen asleep as Natsu was in the porch while Éclair and Momon were asleep on their futon bed
He looks up to the hole above and sees the full moon
Black markings were spreading all around his body before a black demonic wing appeared on the right side of back
"if you don't gather them all before the eclipse, the world will end" Natsu spoke out as beside him was an astral figure of himself but not demonic, it seems like they've switched places
"you don't have to remind me that" Natsu told his other self while crossing his arms
"I am reminding you because if you don't, the centuries past mistake you've once made will repeat itself" he told Natsu who looks away before squinting his eyes as to remember the disaster of Dragnof "till that day comes, collect them all and take them back from the impostor. I can sense one Ryubusou was taken already"
"which one?" Natsu asked
"Vlad…Drac's Counterpart" he replied as Natsu's eyes widen a bit before it turned red with dragonic eyes "I suggest that you go alone, going there by yourself will make more time go faster than usual. Having those companions of yours will just slow you down"
Natsu looks at him before looking away
Demonic Natsu looks at Natsu before they switched personality
Natsu looks at his demonic claws of hands as they were reverting back to human
"thou are two personality within one" a voice spoke as Natsu turns to see the village elder "one controls the body while the other provides power"
"state your business here" Natsu said as the black wing on his back disappeared
"one's fire is red the other is black. Both coming and originated from one" Haruto said as Natsu looks to him "thou have not once yielded both fire….thou has hesitation clouding the heart and mind"
"and your meaning is?" Natsu asked
"thou must clear the cloud from the heart, then thou will find true meaning of life for thou whose fate has changed" Haruto said as Natsu looks puzzled by his riddle "there are a few moons left before the coming of the black sun, thou must clear the cloud before then…and find true answer"
Haruto soon disappeared as Natsu looks to where he once stood
"so annoying," Natsu said before walking into the inn
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
