What the hell?
It's starting to change form.
Maybe it's powered up?
Be careful, everyone. It's gonna throw something at us.
What's it doing?! At this rate, the Celestial Spirit World...
Yeah. It doesn't look like we have time to wait for Natsu and Happy to come back.
Anyway, let's beat that thing... and gamble that they'll be back by then!
I don't mind gambles like that.
If our positions were reversed, he would do the same thing.
Hey, Natsu...
Not that I'm complaining about diving into this creature,
but it's too dark to see anything!
I smell Loke and the others, but I can't really tell the direction it's comin' from.
Oh, no... You don't mean they've been absorbed?
That's possible, but I sense they're still alive. The others, too.
So much space! It seems like we're in another place altogether, not inside its stomach.
Hey, Loke! Can you hear me?!
Believe!
Well?
I still can't really tell. Their scent is comin' from all over.
Then how should we look for them?!
The tried-and-true method. Find somethin' that looks breakable and break it!
What was that?!
That was close.
Wha...?!
We're between rocks and a hard place!
Damn things! Wing Slash of the Sky Dragon!
Look, Natsu! Something shiny!
I can hear sounds coming from there, too!
Their scent!
It's that way, right? Let's go, Natsu!
Now what?!
Maybe it's like an immune system attacking bacteria that enters the body.
Who're you callin' bacteria?!
Dammit! It's attacking so we can't get in close.
Yeah. If we can somehow take out those energy-generating stalks...
It's in pain... Or more like, it doesn't like something?
Gotta be Natsu.
Raisin' hell from the inside.
Natsu! Behind you!
This guy's stubborn!
Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon!
It's attacking even more fiercely!
At any rate, it's a pain in the ass to work in here when it's so dark!
What the...?!
It seems sentient...
Why, you...
It's just playing with us!
It can go to hell!
Tryin' to make fools out of us?! I'll beat the crap outta you!
Roar of the Fire Dragon!
Natsu!
I know!
Roar of the Fire Dragon!
Eat this! Club of the Iron Dragon!
Hey, did you see that? I cracked it!
Focusing our attacks on one spot seems to be working little by little!
Gajeel! Gray!
Lucy!
Just one more push!
Swing!
Yes!
That's one!
Let's keep it up and cut 'em all off!
We've still got a lot left! Next!
Yeah!
Hey, Natsu, is it just me, or is it getting a little brighter in here?
Huh? And it's not attackin' like it was...
Maybe everyone outside is pitching in.
Yeah!
Uh-oh! They're starting to discharge energy! Everyone, dodge!
Dodge how?!
For cryin' out loud!
Club of the Iron Dragon!
It seems its attacks aren't as powerful as they were before.
Then our attacks are working!
So let's keep at it!
Yeah!
Wait for me, everyone!
Natsu, is it gonna be okay?
Aw, come on. This ain't nothin'.
It's a lot brighter now.
Over there! Their scent is getting stronger.
It's comin' from over there!
Let's go, Natsu!
Yeah!
Gray! Hang in there!
Crap. That was nothin'.
Natsu's still wreaking havoc on the inside, right?
I'm not gonna let him, of all people, get all the glory!
Natsu, what's that?
There. That's where Loke and the others are.
It's so bright! And kind of hot!
Never mind that! Let's go, Happy!
Aye, sir!
Ice Impact!
We only have a few of those stalks left! Anyone seen Natsu?!
They haven't come out yet!
Sheesh! How long is he gonna rock 'n' roll in there?!
Natsu...
What is this?!
What's going on here?
Beardie...
If the Celestial Spirit King is being held captive...
...then this is its core.
What the hell is goin' on here?
This must be its core!
Hey, wake up, Beardie!
Look, Natsu! It's getting worse!
Beardie is bein' dragged down! But not for long!
The chains! Natsu, you've gotta break the chains!
On it! Crushing Fang of the Fire Dragon!
Roar of the Fire Dragon!
No good. You didn't even make a scratch.
Looks like this is gonna take some time to cut through 'em.
They're starting to move again!
Dammit! We ain't got time for this!
At this rate, he'll be sucked into the core!
I'm not gonna let Beardie become a meal!
Pull! Harder!
Aye, sir!
It's shooting sparks!
Loke! Is that you?!
Do not interfere, human.
Loke!
Hey, Natsu, I just noticed something.
There are 13 chains holding the Celestial Spirit King captive.
You mean representing Loke, Ophiuchus, and the others?
I mean the 12 Zodiac Celestial Spirits turned into those chains.
It's all for the sake of the Celestial Spirit King.
It is all for the sake of the Celestial Spirit King.
What should we do?!
Now what?!
Even though we destroyed all of those stems!
Is it drawing on something to gain power?
Hey! Salamander! What the hell are you doin' in there?!
This isn't good. It's trying to change forms again.
If we don't stop it now...
We have to do something to stop it, but what?!
Happy... I'm gonna do whatever it takes to wake him up.
You stay here.
Don't interfere, human.
This is all for the sake of the Celestial Spirit King.
You should leave here, human.
What do they mean by that?
Who cares? Take me down!
Aye, sir!
Hey. You can hear me, can't you?
I'm gonna wake you up if it's the last thing I do.
I'm not gonna let you put Lucy through this ever again.
Lucy's an old friend of yours, right?
The next time you make her cry, there'll be hell to pay. Remember that, Beardie!
Natsu... What are you gonna do?
Erza, what about Natsu and Happy?
They haven't come out yet. But...
We gotta do this now, before it attacks again!
Get the hell outta there, Salamander!
Natsu!
W-What are you doing?! You can't eat that stuff!
It'll do more than give you an upset stomach!
Come and get me!
Erza!
Idiot! Get outta the way!
I can't hear their voices...
...but I have faith in them.
I have faith that Natsu and Happy will save our friends!
Natsu and the others will all come back! That's another reason we're gonna take you down!
Natsu!
That's totally reckless! You don't even know what that stuff is!
Eatin' that junk makes me feel stronger than ever!
No way!
Get back, Happy! I'm gonna blow that thing up!
All right!
Look! The light got dimmer!
I'll take it!
Dragon Slayer's Secret Art!
Planetary Flames! Exploding Flame Edge!
Natsu!
Lucy...
Natsu!
Erza!
You did great, Natsu.
The Celestial Spirit King!
Star
Look, Natsu! The Celestial Spirit World went back to normal!
Yeah.
Thanks, Natsu and Happy!
Thanks to you guys, too.
I'm the one who's grateful! Even though you were reckless...
Anyway, the important thing is that you're safe.
Yeah!
Ow...
I still hurt in places.
That's what you get for plunging into its stomach at the last minute!
Getting to be the big hero!
Where's everyone who was turned into constellations?
Right here!
Everyone!
Sheesh! I never want to go through that again!
Gray-sama!
It wasn't bad being a constellation for a change.
Gray-sama, let's become a constellation together next time!
Why would I want to do that?
Carla! I did my best for you,
and beat up that gigantic thing!
So what happened with the Celestial Spirits?
That's right. Where are Loke and the others?
Don't tell me we were too late...
We changed back into our normal forms.
I'm sure that somewhere in the Celestial Spirit World...
But still...
Yes.
This is the true Celestial Spirit World.
It's so beautiful!
Hey!
Hey, look!
Pisces! Libra!
Everyone! You've changed back to normal!
Virgo! You really are your normal self...
I don't know why you're crying...
Did something happen, Princess?
I finally get to hear those words from your mouth!
Maybe you don't remember anything?
I get to see your nice body even when you don't have something for me to do?!
Mooo! You're the best, Lucy-san!
Um...
I didn't hear anything about a get-together...
Hi, Loke!
Hi, Natsu! Long time no see.
What the hell?! You don't remember anything?!
Remember what?
Then you don't remember acting stuck-up and saying things like, "I hate women"?
Me? Oh, please!
I would never say anything like that! Right?
Pretty convenient that they've forgotten everything...
Ah, well...
Old... friends...
The Celestial Spirit King! Maybe you don't remember anything either?
Hey! So you're all right, Beardie!
I sense...
...that I had a long, dark evil dream,
but that is all.
And now, it is gone.
So you don't remember!
However, old friends,
this dark dream that came from afar...
...was like a gust of pale, nostalgic wind...
...blowing through my inner world.
I do not know why...
...but for some reason, these words come to mind.
"Thank you for everything."
Go ahead, Princess.
Yes.
Celestial Spirit King!
My name is Hisui E. Fiore.
As the daughter of the king of Fiore...
No, as a Celestial Spirit Wizard, I deeply apologize to you.
It's all... It's all my...
You did what you did
to save my old friends' world from an awful predicament.
Why must you feel regret for that?
Perhaps we were turned into prisoners
because of our own weakness.
But...
Let us look to the stars for guidance in everything.
Grin!
Okay!
Now, you should go, old friends.
Princess...
What's this?
This is my key. Please accept it again.
I look forward to working with you again.
Punishment, right, Princess?
And here are our keys.
Call us anytime!
We'll come running for your sake, Lucy.
Indeed, as it were-moshimoshi.
Lucy-san moooves me!
Perhaps you would allow me to recite my poetry again...
Are you angry again?
No. I guess I gave you a hard time.
But I have no memory of it. I feel like such a loser.
That's not like you!
Thanks!
When we returned to Magnolia,
all of the abnormal phenomena had died down.
I think the Celestial Spirit King told us we should go
because there was no time difference with the Human World
while their world was being restored, so we could get back home without a time gap.
Everyone did get home safely.
Kabo!
And we soon fell back into the rhythm of our daily lives.
But one thing was different. Or rather, it had changed.
That's...
...my feelings for the Celestial Spirits, which are even stronger than before.
Right, Puru?
Natsu, it's unusual to see you with Asuka.
Yeah, Alzack and Bisca asked me to babysit her.
I hear kids are reckless, so it's probably tough on you.
No, not at all!
I guess not for you, Natsu!
It's adults who are reckless!
Not what I meant. You're still a child yourself, so you're good at playing with kids.
I ain't no kid!
Next time: What the True Heart Spins!
Since I'm an adult, how about I babysit the both of you?
I said, I ain't no kid!