The battle against celestial spirits continue on, but each battle is as strange as the last. Simon was the one to face Eclipse Sagittarius and the centaur has issued a challenge to Simon.

"You're challenging me?" Simon as he got ready for a fight.

"You can relax. I don't mean the way you think." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "I mean that I wish for you to partake in a set of challenges against myself."

"Really?" Simon said. "No need to be so formal. I thought you were planning to actually fight me. Instead, you wish for me to partake in a competition against you?"

"That is correct. There will be three challenges. The one who wins two out of three shall be declared the winner." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "Therefor, if you are able to beat me, I will admit defeat and stand down. I might hold the same goal as the other zodiac spirits, but I am not without honor."

"That's very honorable of you." Simon said. "Before we begin, I like to ask you something. Why are you and the others so determined to break the bonds between all humans and all celestial spirits?"

"We desire freedom." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "Humans have constantly abused and misused us. They treat us spirits coldly, but we hold more power than them. We've decided to take a stand against that and liberate all our spirits so we don't have to live with that fear anymore."

"But it's not like that." Simon said. "There are some humans that treat their spirits kindly. They see their spirits as their friends. Nashi's mother, Mrs. Dragneel, is a clear example of that. She never once misused her spirits and she always showed them with the respect that they deserved."

"Even if that's true, the act of a few humans can't make up for the suffering we've endured for centuries." Eclipse Sagittarius said.

'Centuries?' Simon thought. 'He sounds like he's been around forever like any other spirit.' Simon thought that was rather strange when he hasn't been around for very long.

"Now do you accept my challenge or not?" Eclipse Sagittarius asked.

'What's going on?' Simon thought. 'It doesn't seem like he has any recollection of when he faced my mother and the others before. Perhaps I'm just speculating too much since my encounters against these spirits haven't been very long. Still, I remember the stories I heard about when our parents faced them. So wouldn't he know I'm Erza's son? Maybe I'll find some answers if I take this challenge.' "Very well. I accept your challenge"

"Good. Let us begin." Eclipse Sagittarius said as they both stepped over to the shore line. "The first challenge will be of archery." Simon looked further down and saw two fans on posts in the water. "We will aim for those targets and tried to shoot as close as we can to the two targets. The one who gets the closest will be declared the winner. Tell me, do you have a horse to ride?"

"Never really had the need for one. Don't think I'm going to need one now either." Simon said.

"Very well. If that's how you want it." Eclipse Sagittarius said and both of them were given a set of bow and arrows. "Watch and learn." Eclipse Sagittarius went first as he ran down the shore line. He pulled back his arrows and launch both of them as they both landed on their targets. "Your turn."

"Here goes nothing." Simon said as he ran as fast as he could. He tried his best to aim and launched the arrows, but they both missed their targets.

"It would seem that I am the clear winner." Eclipse Sagittarius said.

"Never was good at archery." Simon said.

"That's one win for me, but you still have a chance." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "However, it's a small chance. Without a horse to ride, you won't stand much of a chance against me."

"The animal doesn't make much of a difference to me." Simon said. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve that can help me out. After all, this is a test of our skills, isn't it?"

"Very well." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "I'm curious to see how an average human has any hope of besting me."

"I'm no average human." Simon said. The set was ready for the next challenge. Two lanes that has a finish line at the end. "So the second challenge is a race?"

"That's correct." Eclipse Sagittarius said.

"Very well." Simon said as he took his position.

"Are you sure about this?" Eclipse Sagittarius said. "Look at the difference in our physique. It's obvious who the winner of this will be. No one maybe watching, but I do not wish to humiliate you."

"You don't need to worry yourself with me." Simon said. "Let's get this over with." Both of them took their positions and were ready.

"Ready….. Go!" Eclipse Sagittarius said. Both of them started running, but Eclipse Sagittarius was pulling out in the lead. "I told you that I would win this one!"

"Guess again! Meteor!" Simon said. Simon increased his speed. He practically flew past Sagittarius and was able to take the finish line very easily. "You were saying earlier?"

"Very tricky, boy." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "Using a spell to increase your speed, but this is a challenge of our skill. The second victory is yours. Now it is on to the third challenge."

"And what would that be?" Simon said as he had to be ready for anything. Eclipse Sagittarius held out his hand and a spear appeared in his hand.

"A true test of our skill and might." Eclipse Sagittarius said.

"Very well." Simon said. He decided to play on equal grounds as he requipped and a spear appeared in his hand. Both of them took their positions in the sand and were ready to do battle against each other. "Before we begin, there's something I wish to ask of you."

"And what may that be?" Eclipse Sagittarius asked.

"How long have you been around exactly?" Simon asked.

"Excuse me?" Eclipse Sagittarius questioned.

"You heard me. How long have you been around?" Simon said. "You faced my mother once before. Do you have any memory of that?"

"I faced her before?" Eclipse Sagittarius said.

"Yes. You do remember, don't you?" Simon said. He watched Eclipse Sagittarius carefully, his reaction and what he might say. Simon's hoping to get a better understanding of what's been going on.

"I faced her before?" Eclipse Sagittarius said. He held his head and was acting a little dizzy. He was trying to remember, but something was not allowing him to do that. "How long have I been around?" Simon thought he was acting very strange.

'Does he not know himself?' Simon wondered. 'It's almost like someone else altered his memories for him to believe he's been around like any other celestial spirit, but he has no recollection of facing my mother. What is going on here?' He was concerned for Eclipse Sagittarius, but he started to calm down.

"I do not know what you are talking about, but that does not matter at this moment. If you are trying to distract me, it shall not work." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "We still have one last challenge to get through to declare the winner."

"Fine. I tried reasoning with you, but if this is the only way to stop you, so be it." Simon said as he got ready to do battle.

"Then, let's not wait a moment longer!" Eclipse Sagittarius said as he raised his spear and swung down. Simon held out his spear and tried to block the attack, but there was a lot of weight behind that attack. Simon tried to hold it off, but Eclipse Sagittarius was adding some pressure to it. Simon was able to jump away as the spear slammed against the ground. Eclipse Sagittarius went on the attack as he charged right at him and the two of them had their spears clash against each other.

'He's stronger than I thought.' Simon thought. 'This could be a real challenge.' Simon avoided another attack, but he felt his foot press against something under the sand and it caused an explosion that blew him back. "What was that?!" Simon tried to regain his footing, but he stepped on something again and it happened again. Simon flew through the dust and landed on the sand without another explosion going off. "Where did those explosions come from?"

"Just a couple of the many mines that are placed just beneath the sand." Eclipse Sagittarius said. He charged at him again and the mines didn't even slow him down. He thrusted his spear forward, but Simon was able to jump right over him and landed behind him.

"Yet you have no problem with the mines." Simon said. "I suppose you wouldn't if you placed them and would know where each one is."

"Horses such as myself are more sensitive to this stuff. I can detect where they are." Eclipse Sagittarius said. He kicked his back legs and kicked Simon right in the back. Simon was knocked back and landed on another mine with him being blown back. Simon was starting to feel both of the attacks. Eclipse Sagittarius went at him again. Simon thrusted his spear forward, but Eclipse Sagittarius was able to knock it right out of his hands and held his spear at Simon. "It's over. You have been bested."

"Oh yeah?" Simon said, but Eclipse Sagittarius really thought he did had him. "I tried being fair about this, fight you on equal ground with the same kind of honor and respect you showed me, but if it's our skills in battle that really matter, I'll have to use other methods." He held out his hand and fired some blasts of light with them hitting Eclipse Sagittarius and him being pushed back. "Plus, I don't remember hearing any rules. Just that we fought each other with what we are able to do."

"Absurd! I thought you wanted to face me fairly. You said so yourself." Eclipse Sagittarius said.

"I did, but sometimes you must seek victory, not fairness in battle and there's too much riding on me to win." Simon said. Simon used his magic and flew into the air and placed his hands together. "Placing all those mines may not have been the best idea. The seven stars shall now judge a fellow spirit. Grand Chariot!" Simon used his spell and had the stars blast through and rain down at that horse-man. As they blasted the ground, it caused the hidden mines to detonate and cause more damage to him. Eclipse Sagittarius was sent flying from the explosion and crashed into the ground. Simon was able to get a hold of his spear and held it at Eclipse Sagittarius. "So what do you say now?" Eclipse Sagittarius didn't really have the strength to continue even if he wanted to.

"No more. I yield." Eclipse Sagittarius said. "Victory is now yours."

"You are an honorable warrior. I wish we could face each other again, but I don't think that will be the case." Simon said. Eclipse Sagittarius accepted his defeat and he turned to stardust like the others. However, Simon wasn't so certain of his victory like the others were.

'He acted very strangely.' Simon thought. 'He had no memory of facing my mother before and he acted like he's been around for a long time like any celestial spirit. What could be going on around here?' More and more questions are appearing and it doesn't seem like they're getting closer to answers. Simon can only hope now that Nashi and the others are doing well.

….

Nashi

Nashi appeared in the strange place with all the pyramids, but she hasn't engaged in any battle yet. She believed it was Leo she went after, but there wasn't a sign of him anywhere. He hasn't even made his appearance known yet. Nashi looked around, but she didn't see him anywhere.

"Nothing?" Nashi questioned as she didn't like the look of this. "This doesn't make sense. Why isn't he here? Come on, Leo! Where are you?!" Four spirits down and only eight to go, but Leo seems to have disappeared. Stranger and stranger things are going on.