After discovering the dragon remains with the sword and also finding the mechanical horse buried in dirt of the dragon's den located in the canyon. Natsu and Cana brought the two to the guild, in trying to search information about its origin and found out that it belonged to a hero of a story while also finding out the fact that the stallion goes on a rampage by pain.
In the guild of Fairy Tail, the damage down by the rampaging stallion is being cleaned up and Natsu who has bandages around his face and body, is being scolded by an angry Makarov.
"you stupid brat!" Makarov angrily shouted while at the bar as he shakes a hand that holds some papers in his grasp. "look! The mayor sent me this! They're bills! Bills that he doubled because of what you did!"
While Makarov nags at Natsu from the sidelines, Cana along with Erza, Mira, Levy, and Lisanna are checking on the mechanical horse that Gray and Elfman brought and stand up on its legs.
"we brought it back.." Cana said before she looks at the others. "so what we do now?"
"let's prepare it before we have it talk." Erza said as she looks at Levy. "how do we activate its talking function, Levy?"
"mmmhmmm..it says that it's on the…" Levy spoke as she read the information from her books. "we can activate it by pressing a switch under its mouth."
"a switch under its mouth?" Mira said while Lisanna went and check before making a noise because she finds the so-called switch.
"I found it!" Lisanna said while pointing a finger at the switch. "here it is."
"good." Erza nods as she began to think with a hand to her chin. "let's go with this." She points a finger up. "Gray, make restraints for it. Elfman get some rope and tied it around the horse's neck and back." she then looks at Mira. "you and I will hold it down if he tries to go on a rampage again."
"what about us?" Cana said in referring to herself, Levy, and Lisanna.
"you guys try to talk to it." Erza replied while holding her hands up. "we need to get information on it and talking to it is our current best option."
"I guess you're right." Lisanna said.
Some time later, the horse was restrained with ropes, and hooked ice chains as the group prepared to reactivate it.
"what are you guys doing?" Natsu came to the scene as he had finished being scolded by Makarov who also joined the group.
"we're trying to get information from it." Cana said in reply. "we found out that it has a function to talk, so it's our best shot in finding out why the heck it went on a rampage."
"but why must you do it inside the guild?" Makarov said while sweatdropping in watching how Erza and the others prepped themselves to restrain the metal stallion. "this is going too make more bills for the repairs~!"
"relax, Master." Elfman said as he tied the rope around the horse's back very tight. "with how much we're restraining it with, there's no way it can get off like last time!"
"I hope so." Lisanna replied. "with how much it went on a rampage just after it being reactivated, I'm kinda worried that it might be able to break free from its restraints."
"let's just hope for the best." Levy said as she checks more info of the metal horse in her book.
After a few seconds, everything was prepped as Erza, Elfman, Mira, and Gray got the horse restrained from all side.
"we're ready" Mira said while gripping hold of her rope with Erza doing the same on the other side.
"we're going to reactivate it now, okay?" Levy said with a nod before she looks at Natsu. "do what you did again, Natsu. But back away the moment it goes berserk, okay?"
"got it." the salmon haired man nodded before he went and reopened the compartment on its breast to reveal its magic crystal that had died down when its magic run out. he reaches a hand and place it on the object that sucks his magic and turns red before flashing.
Just like before, the mechanical stallion's eyes flashes into life before it neighs and goes on a rampage against the restraints.
"s-strong!" Erza exclaimed as she pulls on her rope that is pulling down the horse's front right leg.
"Elfman! Gray! We might need your help!" Mira shouted as she is struggling.
The two men instantly went on each side as they helped Erza and Mira in pulling the stallion.
"what now, Levy?" Natsu asked Levy who went to the front while checking her book.
"we need to activate its switch under its mouth." Levy said as she takes small steps in going near the stallion that rampages while neighing loudly. "Natsu, hold its head for me."
"got it!" Natsu said as he went and grabs the stallion's head. "s-stay still!"
The stallion continues to neigh loudly as it struggles and shakes its head from Natsu's hold.
Levy went near very slowly before she reaches a hand under the stallion's mouth then pressed the switch that made the metal horse's glowing yellow eyes to flash and flicker three times.
"UNHAND ME!" a robotic male voice shouted from the mechanical horse as it continues to struggle against the restraint. "unhand me! I must return! I must return to my master! Unhand me!"
"it really can talk!?" Cana exclaimed in surprise.
"what now!?" Lisanna said as Levy looks a bit nervous but soon sees Makarov coming forward.
"calm yourself, oh nameless stallion." Makarov spoke out in a humble voice as the mechanical stallion neighs and looks down at the hobbit old man. "I ask of you to calm yourself so that we may converse in order for us to aid each other."
"I must not be here! I must leave! I must return to my Master!" the mechanical horse shouted as it neighs while continuing to struggle. "where am i!? unhand me!? I must return!"
"if you continue to struggle in a rampage, you will never be able to leave this place!" Makarov said in a stern voice. "so I ask of you again, calm yourself so that we may converse in order to aid each other!"
The metal stallion neighs as it struggles for a moment but it soon calms down and stands still that it allowed Natsu to let go of its head.
"thank you for calming yourself." Makarov said as he place a hand to his chest. "in introductions, my name is Makarov Dreyar, you are in the domain of my guild named Fairy Tail in the town of Magnolia." He then waves the hand to the side. "You were brought here after some of my members discovered you buried under the dirt in a canyon. They believed that you could be revived, and we could get answers as to why you were located within the earth in the first place."
"I am the White Stallion under the service of Ludwig Einhorn! My name is Catastoras!" the mechanical horse exclaimed while introducing itself. "I must return! I must return to Series Kingdom! I was in battle with my Master! We were in battle against Warlock Bereus and his Dragon servant!" it neighs loudly and shakes its head once then puffs out steam from its nostrils. "the battle! I must return to aid my master in battle!"
"stop. The battle that you seek to return is now over." Makarov spoke out. "you have been in a mode of hibernation for a long period of time." He closed his eyes and looks down. "The Series Kingdom has been destroyed and lost in time, your battle in action is over, and your Master's life has perished."
"LIES! LIES!" Catastoras neighs as it begins to go on a rampage against the restraint. "UNHAND ME! I MUST RETURN! I MUST RETURN TO MY MASTER!"
"gramps! Don't make it angry!" Gray exclaimed as he and Erza continues to pull on the rope in trying to stop its struggle.
"I'm afraid I have to be honest." Makarov said while opening his eyes to look at the metal stallion. "it is the truth, I do not know the time of your era but it is now the year X782. Years, decades, and possibly centuries after your time."
Hearing Makarov's words got the stallion to stop its rampage as it looks down at the old man with its eyes glowing brighter.
"X782? That's impossible!" Catastoras neighs while letting out steam from its nostril. "I have been asleep for 4 centuries!? That is impossible!"
"4 centuries…" Lisanna said in a whisper while looking surprised. "that's an incredibly long time.."
"no! I must return! I must return to my Master! I cannot have failed!" Catastoras neighs while going berserk. "I cannot have failed my Master!"
"it's breaking the restraints!" Gray exclaimed as he sees cracks upon the ice chain hooks.
"it became more stronger!" Elfman shouted while struggling his hold on the rope with Mirajane.
"it's…." Levy spoke out as she sees tears running down Castastoras' yellow eyes. "crying?"
"I have vowed to aid him! I have vowed to aid my Master! Yet i! yet i!" Catastoras cries out as it goes on a rampage against the restraints that are breaking soon. "I have failed him!"
Catastoras neighs loudly before its eyes dims and died out while its head leans down and its movement grows sluggish. A minute later, the mechanical stallion froze in its place as it looks to have been deactivated.
"it ran out of magic?" Erza stated before checking the time. "it hasn't even been 10 minutes, let alone an hour!"
"maybe…because it was in shock?" Lisanna spoke out as everyone looks at her. She placed a hand to her chest and frowns sadly. "it woke up and found out that it was asleep for such a long time. its Master now gone and it's now left alone. For it to go such a thing…." She tears up a bit. "I can understand its feeling…"
Hearing Lisanna's words, Natsu thought about it and could feel sadness if the same thing happened to him and Igneel.
Makarov let out a silent sigh as he looks down and nodded a bit in agreeing to what Lisanna had said.
"Master, what should we do now?" Elfman asked while slowly letting go of the rope with Mira. "should we hand it to someone else or?"
"he's staying with us." Natsu said as everyone looks at him. "Catastoras is staying with us!"
"Natsu, what the heck are you saying?" Gray said. "you've seen how it goes on a rampage and how it wants to return to its Master and stuff." He crosses his arms and huffs a bit. "I'd say we should just leave it to go to where it wants to go."
"that's just damn cold, Gray." Mira said to the ice maker wizard. "you've heard what it said right? If we leave it to go to where it was found. It'll go in more shock when it sees its home no more and its master now gone." she then looks at the metal stallion with a frown. "even if it's not a living being, it had emotions to care for its Master. Something like that is.."
"it's manly." Elfman nodded while crossing his arms.
"How is that anything connected, Elf-niichan?" Lisanna sweatdrops to her brother's words.
"Master, what is your decision?" Erza asked Makarov while coming near him. "should we let it return to its home or" she then looks at Natsu. "should we leave it in Natsu's care?"
"hmmm, let me think…" Makarov muttered out while scratching his chin. "Catastoras desires to return to his Master but if we let it come back, it'll be like what Elfman had said." He grumbles a bit. "but if I leave it to Natsu, there might be more damage coming."
"hey!" Natsu shouted from hearing what Makarov had said.
Makarov continues to ponder before he sighs.
"fine! I'll leave it to Natsu." Makarov said as he looks at the salmon haired man. "but remember! whatever you want to do with it, you have to do it in the forest where you can minimize the damage." He points a finger at Natsu. "do not do anything while in the town, understand!?"
"got it!" Natsu replied while grinning. "leave Catastoras to me!"
After the matter was settled, Natsu is now pulling a cart that has Catastoras placed upon it.
"see you guys later!" Natsu hollered as he pulls the cart and heads off to the western forest.
Natsu left the guild as everyone stands in the front door and watches him leave.
"will he be alright?" Lisanna asked with a worried look. "I mean, if he tries to help Catastoras, he might try to reactivate it, right? And then…"
"we just have to hope that he can somehow tame it." Erza said while crossing her arms. "it has a troubled life after what happened in the past. But somehow, I feel that Natsu might be able to help it."
"red is right." Mira said with a nod while placing her hands on her waist and grin. "if anyone can help a person in trouble, it's Natsu."
"even though it's a mechanical horse than a person?" Gray said with a sweatdrop.
"don't comment, Gray." Elfman told the ice maker wizard.
"all the matters is that we have to leave it to Natsu to deal with Catastoras." Makarov said as he began to walk back into the guild. "whatever he plans to do, let's hope he'll be able to help with our mechanical friend."
"I guess so." Lisanna said with a nod as everyone goes back into the guild one by one but Cana stays outside and watches Natsu's shrinking figure before she holds up the sword of Ludwig Einhorn that she has been holding the entire time.
"hope, huh?" Cana said while seeing her reflection on the blade that glimmers from the light above.
Natsu brought Catastoras into the western forest where there is a rundown-looking house located nearby. The home is actually the Dragon Slayer's Home that he built a few years back after he realized that he could just make a house rather than living at an inn or hotel or anything.
"alrighty!" Natsu said as he stops pulling the carriage and begin to drop out Catastoras from the back. "come on!" he lifted the mechanical horse by himself and placed it by his home where he let out a long tired sigh. "phew! This guy is really heavy!"
Natsu did some prepping at his house as he made a big area for Catastoras who remains deactivated.
"alright!" Natsu went to the breast of the mechanical horse, opening the compartment to reveal its crystal that he touched and it soon glows red. "let's get you up and ready, Catastoras."
Catastoras' eyes flashes before the horse neighs into life.
"where?" Catastoras looks around, the stallion didn't go rampage like last time. It looks side to side before to Natsu. "you. Did you reactivate me?"
"yeah." Natsu said with a grin. "you suddenly deactivated in the guild, so I woke you up."
"why did you do that!?" Catastoras shouted while neighing as it rise on its hind legs and galloped its front legs a few times before slamming it to the ground then blowing out a stream of steam from its nostrils. "I wished to be deactivated! I wish to slumber in eternal darkness! I wish to die!"
"w-what?!" Natsu said in surprise. "why!? why you got to do that!?"
"you do not understand! You do not understand at all!" Catastoras exclaims in anger. "I have failed in my duties to my Master, Ludwig Einhorn! I have failed in my task to aid him! for such a disgrace, I can only atone by forever vanishing into the darkness!"
"h-hey! Just because you failed your duty, doesn't mean that you should blame yourself!" Natsu exclaimed. "we still don't know if you even did fail! We found you buried under dirt, maybe it's your friend who buried you!"
"no! my Master, Ludwig would never do such a thing!" Catastoras neighs loudly. "I was with him in our final battle against that despicable warlock! I was at his side! Yet i! why was I buried within the land for 4 centuries!? Why!?"
Catastoras begins to go berserk as the horse charges pass Natsu and hits against a tree then runs into the forest.
"h-hey! Catastoras!" Natsu shouted as he chased after the mechanical horse.
Catastoras neighs loudly as the mechanical horse just runs and hits several trees while stomping over bushes and anything in its obstacle.
"why?! why?! why was I left behind!?" Catastoras shouted loudly into the orange sky of the setting sun.
Time soon passed as a month came and went away.
At the Fairy Tail Guild, Cana along with Levy, Lisanna, and Erza could be seen coming out as the group of four heads for the western forest.
"I wonder what Natsu is doing with Catastoras?" Lisanna asked.
"no idea." Levy replied while shaking her head once.
"It's worrying on the fact that he hasn't been coming to the guild for an entire month." Erza said while crossing her arms on her chest. "just what has he been doing?"
After Natsu took Catastoras to his home, the dragon slayer has been a no-show to the guild as no one has seen or heard of him for the past few weeks.
"if it's Natsu, he might try to befriend Catastoras first and then help him with adjusting to the new world," Cana said while carrying Ludwig's sword that is now sheathed in a brown leather scabbard. She looks and holds up the weapon. "but I guess he might be having a hard time considering how long Catastoras was buried in the dirt."
"indeed." Erza nodded in agreement.
The group heads off to the western forest as they were asked by Makarov to check on Natsu and see his progress with Catastoras.
The trip took a few minutes as the four young women arrived to the western forest where they find Natsu's home.
"Natsu! Hey Natsu!" Cana called out in a holler to the Dragon Slayer as she went to the front door and pushed it open. "Natsu, you in here?"
While Cana checks the inside of the home, Erza and the others checked the surrounding to see tracks of a horse's hoof and a human's bare foot.
"I wonder what was going on here." Levy said as she checks the tracks. "Natsu is bare footed."
"was he trying something with Catastoras?" Lisanna asked Erza who got down to one knee to trace a hand on the tracks and then look at where they are going.
"possibly." Erza nodded while standing back up and looking at the trees in the forest. "but what was he trying to do?"
Cana soon came to the group as she told them that there was no sign of Natsu in his home, therefore they all began to follow the tracks into the deeper parts of the forest.
"Where is he now?" Cana asked while pushing away some branches in front of her.
"he must be somewhere deeper in the forest." Lisanna said as she checks on some broken tree branches. "these are old."
"possibly a month." Erza said as she checks some tracks on the ground after swiping away some leaves. "the tracks by his house were also that old."
"you mean, he's been outside of his home for a month?" Levy asked a bit surprised. "for what?"
"I think it got something to do with that." Cana said as she pointed at the front cause she saw smoke flying into the air.
The group saw what she saw and they quickly hurried their pace to go to where the smoke is coming from.
Upon an opening, Cana and the others arrived and look in surprise from seeing charred and burned grass, broken trees that are slightly burned, and smoke flying off some parts of the ground.
"What the heck happened here?" Levy said from seeing the utter destruction in the area.
"h-hey! Look!" Lisanna pointed to a broken down log where there are Natsu's hands and legs sticking out. "is that!?"
"go!" Erza exclaimed as everyone instantly went to the broken down log and finds Natsu who looks terribly injured as his face and the entire body is covered in bruises and cuts, the young man also looking more skinny than he usually looks.
"what has he been doing here!?" Cana said as she and Lisanna helped Natsu up. "he's a total wreck!"
"let's take him back to his home for treatment!" Levy cried out as the group worked together in carrying Natsu away.
Erza follows behind Cana and the others, but she made a noise and turns when she hears a branch snap from behind. She fully turns around and sees that Catastoras is by a nearly broken down tree and looks still as it seems deactivated.
"what were they doing?" Erza said in confusion before she focus on taking Natsu back to his home for treatment of his wounds.
An hour later, Natsu is laid on a couch in his house as he is bandaged on every part of his body that has injuries and bruises.
"for him to be this injured…" Cana said as she placed away a medical kit to the side and looks a bit worried for Natsu. "did he fight Catastoras or something?"
"it has to be." Levy stated as she came by while bringing a bowl of water with a towel dripping wet. She began to wring the towel and fold it before placing it on Natsu's forehead. "remember the last time Natsu tried to stop Catastoras? He held on to him for an hour straight and came out very injured in the end." She then frowns. "his current wounds are exactly the same."
"but why was he trying to do that?" Lisanna asked as she and Erza are standing near the door. "I mean, I know that Catastoras is in shock to know that his Master and his home now gone from the centuries. But what were they doing? I don't think that they were fighting or something."
"no, it's possible that they were fighting." Erza said with a nod as she cups her chin. "but to be correct, it was more like they were in a challenge of some sort."
"eh? A challenge?" Levy asked confused. "what challenge?"
"I can't clearly say, but if I have to guess.." Erza spoke out while thinking but soon stops when she hears Natsu grunting.
Everyone looks at the salmon haired man who grunted and soon opens his eyes then sat up.
"h-hey, Natsu! Stay put!" Cana said as she grabs his shoulders and gently push him down. "you're injured for crying out loud!"
"ugh…w-why?" Natsu muttered out as he looks at the people in his house. "why are you guys here?"
"isn't it obvious?" Levy replied. "you've been away from the guild for a month. What were you doing here?"
"ah…so it's been a month, huh?" Natsu said as he slowly sat up, even with Cana trying to stop him from moving. The young man grins as he held a hand to his bandaged side. "and here I thought it was only a week after I start the challenge against Catastoras."
"a challenge? What challenge?" Erza asked Natsu who just grins.
Flashback
a Month ago
Natsu had followed after Catastoras who ran into the forest and into the opening where it neighs loudly while just galloping straight towards a tree that it crashed into.
"why?! why was I abandoned in the earth!?" Catastoras exclaimed while ramming itself against another tree that it crashed into. "why?! why, Master Ludwig!?"
Catastoas keeps on ramming itself against the trees before Natsu suddenly got onto its back and cause the stallion to neigh loudly.
"what are you doing!?" Catastoras exclaimed at Natsu and begins to neigh while going in a crazy rampage. "away with you! Only my Master may ride upon me!" the metal stallion jumps around in trying to get its rider off its back. "away with you!"
"like hell I am!" Natsu shouted. "you want me to get off your back!? then accept my challenge!"
"challenge? What are you talking of?" Catastoras said while temporarily stopping its rampage.
"I challenge you to a battle of endurance!" Natsu exclaimed with a grin. "the rules are simple! If I ride on your back, you have to get me off your back before sunset! If I win, you have to listen to my words and stop rampaging! If I lose, you can do whatever you want! Sounds fair!?"
"for what reason do I have to accept your challenge!?" Catastoras exclaimed while going back on a rampage. "away with you!"
"hah! I knew that you were going to say that!" Natsu exclaimed. "I knew that even if you're a horse, you're just a chicken!"
"What did you say!?" Catastoras shouted in anger. "what did you call me, brat!?"
"I said that you were a chicken!" Natsu exclaimed with a big grin. "you didn't accept my challenge, therefore you are a chicken!"
"you little!" Catastoras neighs loudly while getting up on its hind legs. "very well! I'll accept it! this challenge of yours will be over when your life is extinguished! Do you understand!?"
"fine by me!" Natsu exclaimed as he began to hang onto Catastoras' back very hard, the stallion going on a rampage as it tries to get the young man off its back.
Flashback
"and I've been trying to beat him for over a month." Natsu said with a grin while looking at Cana and the others who just look baffled.
"a-are you crazy?!" Lisanna cried out. "you challenged him to a battle to the death!? Do you know what you just did, Natsu!?"
"challenging him to an endurance battle is one thing, but why did you let him make the terms in how it ends!?" Erza exclaimed loudly. "your body is an entire wreck after a month! If we let you do this for another month, you would've been dead!" she raise a hand and swings it to the side. "enough of this! Surrender to the challenge! Your life isn't worth something like this, Natsu!"
"no, I ain't surrendering," Natsu said as he gets up and just smirks. "I'm close to winning this challenge. I ain't backing down now!"
"for what!?" Cana exclaimed while getting up with Levy. "for your pride!? You want to keep your pride by dying in a stupid challenge!?"
"just stop this, Natsu!" Levy cried out. "you're going to die if you go at it again!"
"it's not stupid!" Natsu retorted. "this is a battle of man vs stallion! I ain't going to give up just because I got a few bruises here and there!" he then began to go towards the door. "I'm winning this challenge!"
"what!? are you insane!?" Lisanna exclaimed as she went and held her hands in front of Natsu. "don't do something so stupid, Natsu!"
"I ain't going to stop!" Natsu replied as he looks like an insane man with how he is grinning. "Igneel told me that I should never back down from a challenge! No matter the cost, I won't ever give up!"
"just why are you so obsessed on it!?" Erza said as she grabs Natsu's right hand. "you and Catastoras are two individuals from separate times! What he has been through doesn't need your interference! Just why are you doing this for!?"
"it's because he's someone in need of help!" Natsu exclaimed as he pulls his hand away from Erza. "I know his pain! He was left behind by the one he trust and care for! He's just like me!"
Everyone looks at Natsu all surprised as the man raises a fist that is shaking.
"I can feel his pain every time I ride on his back!" Natsu said while gritting his teeth and having a frown on his face. "he missed his one true friend who had died so long ago! He feels guilty for not being there for him in his final moment! He's angry at himself for failing his own friend! That's why!" he looks at everyone and showed tears running down his eyes. "I was left by Igneel who is who knows where! This painful feeling! I don't want to let anyone else have it!"
"Natsu…" Erza muttered out.
"I don't care if I lose my life doing this challenge!" Natsu said as he pushed Lisanna away. "I'm doing this challenge to prove to him that he has hope! Hope that always in reach of everyone's despair!"
"wait! Natsu!" Levy cried out as everyone tried to stop Natsu who just left his home in a rush.
"is he stupid or something!?" Lisanna said as she looks at everyone. "we have to stop him! he's going to die if he keeps this up!"
"right!" Erza nods as she plans to stop Natsu from doing suicide, but when she reaches for the door; she was stopped by magic cards thrown by Cana.
"what the!?" Levy exclaimed in surprise towards the card mage. "Cana!?"
"what are you?!" Lisanna stated.
"let him go." Cana said while slowly lowering down her outstretched hand. "let Natsu do this challenge."
"Cana, what are you?" Erza spoke out with a hardened gaze at the card mage.
"I know it sounds crazy, but we should let Natsu do this challenge of his." Cana said with a serious voice. "we have to let him win against Catastoras."
"what are you even talking about!?" Lisanna stated. "we have to stop him! his body is terribly injured! If we let him go anymore with the challenge!"
"I know! but we have to trust him!" Cana exclaimed out loud as everyone looks surprised at her outburst.
"Cana…?" Erza muttered out with wide eyes.
"I know that what I'm saying is stupid and crazy, but I got a feeling that Natsu will win this challenge." Cana said as she looks down while placing a hand on her chest. "my mind is telling me to stop him from doing something stupid, but my heart is telling me to support him." she then looks at her friends. "I don't know which one to pick, but I feel like I should support Natsu in his challenge against Catastoras than going against it." she held up her hand and formed a shaking fist. "I..want to…no. I will support him!"
"Cana, just why are you?" Levy muttered out.
"very well." Erza said as Levy and Lisanna instantly turns towards the scarlet knight. "I am against Natsu in his idiotic challenge, but I understand your reason to support him." she nodded with a smile. "for Natsu, he was able to give hope to everyone who needed help. I feel like we should return the favor by having hope in his victory."
Cana nodded before she walks towards the door.
"I'm going after him first." Cana said. "you guys can tell the guild about this challenge, I won't stop you."
"I got it." Erza nods with a smile. "make sure that he doesn't die on us, Cana."
Cana smiles back with a nod before she left.
"Erza, is this really alright?" Levy asks Erza as she and Lisanna goes near the scarlet knight. "Natsu is way too injured, you saw his wound, didn't you?"
"I did." Erza nodded with her eyes closed but soon opened when the scarlet knight looks at the door with a serious expression on her face. "but hope…the hope that Cana sees…I am beginning to see it with my own eyes as well."
Levy and Lisanna looks at Erza confused for a moment before they look at each other and frowns a bit.
A few hours later, Erza is walking towards the western forest as she brought along Makarov and a few of their guild members.
"That guy sure is damn insane." Gray said as he and the others heard from Erza about Natsu's suicidal challenge against Catastoras. "is he planning to die!?"
"to challenge a horse in a battle of endurance…." Elfman said as he nods with a grin. "that's a man!"
"it's just too crazy!" Mira exclaimed all angrily at her brother and Gray who squeaks in fear. "you guys want him to die or what!?"
"i-I'm sorry!" Elfman and Gray cried out.
"hey, red! Why didn't you talk some sense into Natsu!?" Mira exclaimed at Erza. "you said that he was terribly injured, right?! Why didn't you stop him!?"
"I know, but I didn't stop him because I saw hope." Erza said as Mira made a surprised noise to see her rival smiling at her direction. "I saw hope that Natsu will win in his challenge against Catastoras."
"hope, you say?" Gray said to Erza. "so you're sure that Natsu can win against that horse?"
"I am not sure, I just hope for his victory." Erza said with a nod. "after all, Natsu brings hope to people in need, remember?"
"I guess she got a point there." Elfman said while crossing his arms.
"what matters now is that we just check it out." Makarov spoke out as he scratches his chin a few times. "for Natsu, he might still be in trouble in this challenge of his."
"if it was Master, how much of a percentage of a chance Natsu has in this challenge of his?" Mira asked Makarov who hums once.
"if it's Natsu…." Makarov spoke out as he scratches his beard a few times. "I would say that it is a 70-30 chance."
"in favor of Natsu?" Gray asked Makarov who shakes his head.
"in favor of Catastoras." Makarov stated, implying that Catastoras will win the challenge instead of Natsu.
The group continues to walk as they arrived at Natsu's home and then walked into the deeper parts of the forest where they heard the sound of shouting, neighing, and crashing.
"man, hearing it now. It sounds crazy." Elfman said as he listens to the sound. "how are they even doing this?"
"let's just go and see." Gray said as the group arrives at the opening in the woods where they find Cana, Lisanna, and Levy who are watching Natsu riding on Catastoras who went on a rampage in trying to get the salmon haired mage off his back.
"I'm not letting you go!" Natsu exclaimed as he holds onto Catastoras' back while the horse is jumping around and kicking its hind legs into the air as a donkey would. "never!"
While Natsu keeps on going in his challenge against Catastoras. Makarov and the others joined Cana and the others in watching from the sidelines.
"Cana, how long has he been doing this?" Mira asked Cana who is watching Natsu getting rammed against a tree by Catastoras who continues to do so.
"4 hours." Cana replied as this made some look surprised.
"he's been at it for 4 hours!?" Elfman exclaimed in shock as he sees how injured Natsu is, seeing how some of the bandages on him were turning red. "in that body!?"
"an hour straight would be already crazy!" Gray said with wide eyes. "but 4 hours is just insane!"
"you said that the challenge will end at sunset?" Makarov asked Erza who nodded before he takes out a pocket watch to check the time. "there are only 5 hours left before sunset."
"do you guys really think Natsu can do this for another 5 hours?" Mira asked as she looks worried from seeing how Natsu has blood running down the side of his lips after getting hit against a tree. "i-i…I can't even watch this!"
"we can only hope for the best." Lisanna said while having her hands in a prayer on her chest. "we can only hope that Natsu pulls this through."
Mira looks at her little sister before she looks and watches Natsu riding the metal stallion that continues to go berserk in getting him off its back.
Everyone just stood in silence as they watched Natsu and Catastoras faced each other in their challenge.
Natsu keeps on hanging onto Catastoras who continues to torture him by hitting him against trees, shocking him with electricity, or anything that is possible to get him to weaken his grip on him.
Makarov and the others continued to watch as sometimes, the girls would wince in pain when they see Natsu getting rammed into a tree where he hits his head very hard and caused bleeding on his forehead or when he gets his arm and back slammed against a tree when Catastoras stands on its hind legs and moved back.
Seconds, minutes, and soon hours goes on as the clouds moved in the sky.
By the time anyone would realize it, the sun was setting off the horizon as it is almost sunset.
"just a few more seconds!" Elfman exclaimed with a fist raised. "Natsu! hang in there! There are only a few more seconds!"
"you're almost there!" Gray shouted. "just hang on!"
"don't give up!" Mira shouted. "if you give up, I'll beat the crap out of you!"
"hang in there, Natsu!" Lisanna cried out.
"don't give up!" Levy exclaimed.
With the passing time, everyone began to give cheers of support for Natsu who is almost finished with his challenge.
"Master." Erza called out to Makarov who nods as both saw Natsu is completely worn out as he is huffing his breathing while Catastoras is moving a bit sluggish.
"it's almost finished." Makarov said as he grips hold of his staff. "just a few more seconds and the challenge will be done."
"but will it be in his favor or Catastoras?" Erza asked while looking tense as she watch Natsu getting rammed and thrown around by Catastoras who continues to ram him against trees that have now broken down a few seconds later.
"you're….n-not winning….this!" Natsu said in between grunts as he continues to cling hard onto Catastoras' back. "I…I ain't giving up!"
"so…persistent!" Catastoras neighs as the stallion continue to run around amok before it ran straight for a tree.
"10 seconds!" Cana said as she is watching the time from a pocket watch and sees it was counting down to 5 o clock which is the time for the sun sets and night comes. "9!…8!…7!…6!….5!….4!"
Cana began to count down as time began to slow down in everyone's sight.
"3!"
Catastoras ran as it charges straight for the tree.
"2!"
Natsu hangs on as he gritted his teeth hard with his bloodshot eyes that looks extremely serious.
"1!"
Everyone was on their edge as they see that this might be the final blow.
"0!"
Catastoras instantly crashed through the tree and fell forward with Natsu.
CRASH!
"it's time!" Lisanna exclaimed as everyone quickly runs towards Natsu and Catastoras.
Catastoras let out a neigh as its glowing eyes flicker.
"i-i….lost?" Catastoras spoke out. "t-that is…i-impossible." It then turns its head towards Natsu. "y-you…you're in a dying state and yet…h-how could…you win?"
"h-he..hehehe!" Natsu grins with a snicker as he looks and smiles toward Catastoras. "it's because….I got…hope and support…from my friends and family!"
"i-I lost…I lost because of…" Catastoras spoke out as Makarov and the others came before Gray and Elfman helps Natsu up. "I was lacking..that?"
Catastoras' eyes soon dies down as the stallion deactivates because of the lack of magic power.
After the challenge was over, Natsu is quickly brought away as he really needs emergency care from a doctor or two after seeing how bloody his bandages are showing.
2 weeks later, the wheel of a wheelchair is seen spinning on the road of Magnolia as sitting upon it is Natsu who is bandaged up from head to toe while having his right arm in a cast and a sling.
"man, I really thought I was a goner." Natsu said with a grin. "but I'm sure glad I won!"
"you're so crazy…" Cana said as she is behind the wheelchair and is helping Natsu in moving around. She sighs and shakes her head before looking with a frown at the salmon haired boy. "you nearly died, for crying out loud!"
After Natsu finished winning his challenge against Catastoras, he was immediately hurried to Porlyusica, Fairy Tail's unofficial medic consultant who healed him up but at the price that he gets his head smacked repeatedly by the medic who actually has a dislike of people.
"well…I feel like I could've died from how that grandma keep on hitting me with that broom of hers!" Natsu said as he had a grim look in remembering how Porlyusica keeps on hitting her head with her straw broom. "that grandma was scary!"
"hey, are you even listening to me, Natsu?" Cana called out to the young man who turns to look at her. "you nearly died! Does that even mean anything to you!?"
"yeah, it does." Natsu said as he smiles while looking to the front. "if I die then that means, I won't be able to find Igneel. But I won't plan to die, not until I find him." he then also turns and grins very stupidly to Cana. "and also! I can't die because if I do, you and the guild will cry on me, right?! So that's why, I ain't planning to die any soon! Not when I got a family to care for!"
Cana looks a bit surprised to Natsu's words as she soon smiles with a blush.
"it's official, you really are a stupid person." Cana said as she sighs with a giggle escaping her lips. "a real stupid person."
"I guess so!" Natsu replied snickering.
Cana keeps on pushing Natsu's wheelchair as they are now in front of Fairy Tail' guild which they entered.
"hey, guys! We're back!" Natsu hollered out as he waves his left hand to everyone.
"oh! He's back!" "looking good, Natsu!" "man, you really gave us a fright!" everyone chattered non stop as they bombarded Natsu with congrats in his victory against Catastoras and everything.
"hey, Natsu!" Levy came to the scene as she is with Elfman who carries the broadsword belonging to Ludwig Einhorn.
"hey, Levy. Elfman." Natsu greeted the two. "what's up?"
"congrats on getting back, but I think you got to know something very important." Levy said as she motions towards Elfman who handed the broad sword to her.
"what is it?" Cana asked curious as Levy pulled out the sword from its scabbard and held it towards Natsu.
"I was checking on some stuff from Ludwig and his sword, and I found out something really incredible!" Levy said as she points a finger to the engraved writing on the blade. "there's a lacrima recording of someone on it!"
"a lacrima recording?" Natsu said as he held the blade up and looks at his reflection on the blade that flickers and soon shows the reflection of a stranger who is a man in his early 20s, has shaggy brownish hair, tan skin, and is wearing a noble prince like attire that has armor plates around the shoulders and arms. "this is?"
'to the one who now holds my sword, Kamui. I am Ludwig Einhorn and I wish for you to relay a last message of mine to my comrade.'
Natsu and Cana looks in surprise as they are seeing the last message from the Hero of Series Kingdom; Ludwig Einhorn.
Night time, at the forest near Natsu's home. Catastoras remains in his position after Natsu's victory in the challenge.
The mechanical stallion remains frozen and alone in the forest but soon had company as Natsu with Cana came into the scene. The Card Mage pushing the Dragon Slayer's wheelchair from behind as they got near Catastoras.
Natsu was about to get up from his seat, but Cana stops him with a hand to his shoulder.
"let me do this." Cana said as she went around and kneels in front of Catastoras, right in front of the breast area that she opens with the press of the switch to reveal its deactivated magic crystal. "I just need to touch it, right?"
"yeah." Natsu nodded. "give it magic and it will wake him up."
Cana nodded back in reply before she place a hand on the crystal and it glows red then reactivates Catastoras whose eyes flash into life.
A loud neigh is heard as Catastoras rises on its feet and then shakes its head before looking at Natsu.
"what a pitiful state you are now in." Catastoras said in seeing Natsu's bandages. "you have forsaken your own welfare for the victory of a challenge. How idiotic and yet at the same time admirable."
"I guess so." Natsu said with a smile before he looks rather serious. "you keep your word, right? You'll stop going berserk and listen to me, right?"
"I am loyal to my promises." Catastoras stated as it turns and leans its head down to bow to Natsu. "I lost in the challenge, and therefore bound to my words to listen to your words."
"good." Natsu said with a smile. "but let's start with introductions first, okay?"
Catastoras leans its head up and looks at Natsu while tilting it to the side.
"I'm Natsu, Natsu Dragneel." Natsu said with a grin before he motions a hand to Cana. "and this is my friend, Cana Alberona." He then looks at Catastoras. "the both of us were the ones who found you in the old dragon's den at the canyon."
"I see." Catastoras said with a nod. "as you may know, I am the White Stallion under the service of Ludwig Einhorn. Prince of Series Kingdom." It then looks down. "former prince of Series Kingdom to be correct."
"I know." Natsu said with a smile. "but he is actually the former king of Series Kingdom."
"pardon?" Catastoras leans its head up and looks at Natsu who smiles before looking at Cana who went to the back of the wheelchair to pull out Ludwig Einhorn's broad sword.
"that is….Master Ludwig's sword; Kamui!" Catastoras spoke out in surprise. "how did you get that sword in your possession!?"
"we found it lodged into the skull of a dragon's remain." Cana explained while holding the sword with a hand on the handle and the blade. "it was rusted so we had a friend polish and brandish it."
"there's another reason why we brought this here." Natsu said as he receives the sword from Cana and then held it up with a hand with the blade shown towards Catastoras. "there's the last message from Ludwig that is meant for you."
"what?" Catastoras said in surprise before seeing the reflection on the blade changing from its image to the image of Ludwing Einhorn. "M-Master Ludwig!"
'to the one who now holds my sword, Kamui. I am Ludwig Einhorn and I wish for you to relay a last message of mine to my comrade.'
The message recorded in the blade instantly played as Catastoras looks upon it.
'I record my message upon this sword in hopes of someone finding my lost steed; Catastoras who had saved my life by jumping in the line of fire from my enemy; Warlock Bereus and his servant dragon. I am eternally grateful for his sacrifice. But I know that he is still somewhere alive. I believe that he is still alive.'
"t-that is correct!" Catastoras said as it sees memories of itself running towards a dark dragon in a canyon. The reptilian creature unleashed a fireball that consumed it in an explosion. "that time! I was trying to save Master Ludwig from our enemy, I charged into battle and then…" the stallion neighs softly and looks down. "darkness…"
"it must be also the reason why you were buried in the dirt." Cana said with a frown.
Catastoras neighs softly again before it watches the recorded message of its master.
'to my beloved and trusted steed, Catastoras. This message of mine is my last message intended for you. I have vanquished Bereus and slayed his servant dragon. Saving our people from harm's way. It was all thanks to your brave sacrifice to protect me, was I able to defeat them with Kamui. Catastoras, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
"no, my liege!" Catastoras neighs loudly while stomping its legs a few times on the ground. "I am but your humble servant! I was created to serve as your steed and protector in battle! I!"
'Catastoras, I know that you believe that you are nothing more than a servant under my command. please not say such things.'
"m-my liege?" Catastoras shakes its head once and looks more closer to the blade.
'you are my trusted steed and friend, Catastoras. You are not my servant, you are my trusted partner. You were always was and always will be. Do not see yourself as a tool of my usage, you are more than that.'
Ludwig shows a smile as he sighs with a happy expression on his face.
"M-Master Ludwig…" Catastoras spoke out sadly while tears were running down his yellow glowing eyes watching its master who soon showed a serious face.
'Catastoras, I did not record this message just to give my gratitude to you for your services. But I recorded this message as my last wish for you to live a life with a new partner. The Series Kingdom has been completely wiped out of existence and there are only a few of its citizens remaining. Your duties has been completed and your existence will cause great turmoil if you were recovered.'
"w-what!?" Catastoras exclaimed in confusion and shock. "what are you saying, Master Ludwig!?"
'Catastoras, you were created as the Series Kingdom's most powerful magical weapon that cannot fall into evil's hands. If I were to recover you and return you to our people. There will be a conflict of minds in the usage of your power to wage war on other kingdoms in trying to regain a new home. you will be used as a weapon and that is something I do not desire.'
Ludwig sighs as he rubs a hand to his face before looking back at the reflection of its blade.
'I know that you must be conflicted about my words, but it is the truth. Too much power in a single person's hands, can cause conflict in the hearts of many. It is why I did not recover you, I let the earth wrap its hold upon you and left you to be one with the land. Only awaiting the time for someone to unearth you.'
"n-no! Master Ludwig! I would never fall into the hands of evil!" Catastoras neighs very loudly while galloping in a circle once before looking back at the blade. "I would only serve under you, my liege! No one else!"
Ludwig sighs as he had a sad smile on his face.
'I had wished for nothing more but to recover you so that we may run under the vast land under heaven's eyes. To feel the wind caressing my face and dancing in my hair. To feel the rush of your speed spreading upon my body as you gallop. Catastoras, my old friend. I wish for us to one day be reunited.'
"My Liege! I wish for nothing more!" Catastoras neighs while shaking its head furiously. "I wish for nothing more!"
Ludwig smiles sadly as he reaches out a hand towards the reflection in the blade and it was as if it was magic did Catastoras felt the hand of his Master upon his head.
'Catastoras, as my last command upon you under my service. I wish for you to serve under a new Master; one who is worthy of your power and your trust. One who will face challenges with a smile towards death. One who will see you as a friend instead of a tool. One who will help us to one day reunite in the heavens. Please….heed this one last wish of mine, my friend."
Catastoras neighs as it cries endless tears.
"I shall abide to your wish…" Catastoras cried out as it soon neighs loudly. "Master Ludwig!"
Ludwig smiles in the reflection as he soon disappears and Catastoras now only sees his own reflection in the blade.
Catastoras neighs before it shakes its head and stands on its hind legs while galloping its front hoofs in the air then slamming them to the ground.
"Catastoras, you can have this sword with you." Natsu said as he held the sword by the blade with its handle pointed towards Catastoras. "this sword belonged to your old Master and therefore should be with you as you find a new Master."
Catastoras looks at Natsu for a moment and nodded before a part of its body on the right side expanded as a compartment to store a sword to which was where the salmon haired mage place Kamui inside before it was hidden away.
"take care of yourself as you find your new Master." Natsu said as Cana went and stands behind him.
Catastoras neighs once before it blows out steam from its nostrils then bows its head to Natsu.
"I do not need to as I have already found my new Master." Catastoras spoke out in a humble voice.
"what?" Natsu asked as Catastoras raises its head to look at the salmon haired mage directly.
"as wished by my previous Master Ludwig, I must find a new partner who fulfills these criteria." Catastoras spoke out after neighing. "one who is worthy of my power and my trust, One who will face challenges with a smile towards death, One who will see me as a friend instead of a tool, and One who will one day assist me in reuniting with Master Ludwig in the heavens." The stallion neighs loudly as it bows its head to Natsu. "you are the one. You are my new Master, Natsu Dragneel!"
"h-hey…you sure?" Natsu asked. "I mean, there must be other people who are worthy, right? I'm just a normal mage of Fairy Tail."
"I have decided after listening to Master Ludwig's final message." Catastoras said with a neigh. "the one who is worthy to be my new Master can only be you, Natsu Dragneel!"
"but I'm…" Natsu said before he stops when Cana placed a hand to his shoulder to make him look at her.
"better if you just accept your fate, Natsu." the Card Mage spoke with a smile. "if you keep rejecting him, he'll just keep on bothering you till you accept, you know?"
Natsu looks a bit tiresome to Cana before he turns to look at Catastoras who neighs and bows its head to him.
"if you say so…." Natsu said with a sigh before he grins and raises a fist towards Catastoras. "alright! If that's what you want, then I'll do it! I'll be your new Master, Catastoras!"
Catastoras neighs before it leans its head towards Natsu's fist and its eyes flash yellow.
Natsu and Cana looks wide eyes as Catastoras neighs while standing on its hind legs. The mechanical horse turns its color from silver white into a crimson red color along with its eyes that turn from yellow into green. A dragon head of a marking soon appears on the right front shoulder that burns in flames for a few seconds.
"I am Catastoras! The stallion of Natsu Dragnel, the child of the Fire Dragon!" Catastoras neighs loudly as it gallops its front legs into the air before it slams them down and let out streams of steam from its nostrils. "those who are my Master's enemy are my enemies to be vanquished!"
Natsu and Cana looks at Catastoras' new appearance in surprise before they notice a glow coming from the salmon haired mage's right back palm as a black and white dragon tattoo marking appears in the shape of the head facing front with two wings on its side.
"That mark is proof that you are my Master who I am in service to." Catastoras said while bowing its head. "speak my name and I shall come to your aid, Master."
"hey, stop calling me Master, will you?" Natsu said with a weirded out face that soon turns into a happy smiling one. "just call me Natsu! We're friends, right!?"
Catastoras neighs as it looks at Natsu and sees Ludwig's face overlapping with the salmon haired mage.
'we're friends!'
Their voices echoed in unison as Catastoras shed a single tear before neighing and then nodded its head.
"indeed." Catastoras spoke out. "we are comrades!"
Natsu grins as he raises a fist towards Catastoras who touched it with its leaned head.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye