Hello. This is AMX. Some of you probably know me as the writer of "MXCC: Most Extreme Cartoon Elimination Challenge." This is my third fanfic, so I still might be a little rusty. I've always loved Calvin and Hobbes, and I've been watching Zatch Bell ever since it premiered. But I always thought this: "Calvin and Hobbes kind of remind me of a Mamodo's relationship with its bookholder. I wonder what they would do if they witnessed the events that happened on the show?" That's how this story was born. Like I said, I may still be rusty, so don't flame me too badly, okay?

Also, to avoid any long, legal procedures that you or I wouldn't understand, I guess I should tell you that I don't own Calvin and Hobbes or Zatch Bell by any means necessary.

Note: This story is told in Calvin's POV. Enjoy.

Hi, my name's Calvin. I'm six years old and lead a pretty average life. I have a mom and dad, both of whom I drive nuts on a regular basis, there's this one girl that lives down the street I love to torment, and, I'm sorry to say, I have a teacher who I'm sure has it out for me, just like the school bully and my sadistic babysitter . . . but that's another story.

Anyway, I don't have many friends. I pretty much only have one friend, and he's a real live tiger! I don't care if you say he's just stuffed, he's real, I tell you! His name is Hobbes, and we get into all kinds of crazy adventures together. Whether it's seceding to the Yukon or fighting deranged mutant killer monster snow goons, Hobbes has always stood beside me. He's my best friend, and I like it that way.

Sure, there are times I have to be away from him (mostly during school, who needs it?) But I'm able to keep myself entertained by one of my many fantasies of space travel, dinosaurs, and more. Much more. But like I said before, that's another story.

One of our (well, my, anyway) favorite contraptions to play with may look like an ordinary cardboard box to you, but you're wrong. It can be a transmogrifier, a duplicator, a time machine . . . the list goes on and on. But on one particular day, I found another thing I could turn it into.

It all started when I thought of another way to get rich quick (that was also another hobby Hobbes and I had.) After working on my cardboard box for what seemed like forever, I ran into the house to get Hobbes, who was in my room looking at my comics (Oh, I wish he didn't do that!)

"Come outside, Hobbes!" I said excitedly. "We're going to be rich!"

"Oh, great," sighed Hobbes, who didn't seem the slightest bit interested. "Now what have you made?"

"Come out and I'll show you!" I said, still excited.

"All right, you piqued my curiosity," said Hobbes, who put down my comic and followed me outside. But as soon as he saw my box, he started to go back in the house. "Oh no," he said as he walked away. "That box is bad news. You just leave me out of this."

"Fine," I said, casually. "I'll just have to travel around the world with all these snacks by myself." Hobbes stopped when he heard "snacks." He loved to eat.

"What kind of snacks?" he asked. "And what's all this about traveling around the world?"

"Hobbes, I'd like to present to you my latest invention," I said proudly. "The one . . . the only . . . All Purpose Travel Pod!"

"'All Purpose Travel Pod?'" asked Hobbes.

"Yep!" I said. "We can travel all over the world with this baby! Once I patent it, we'll be millionaires!"

"Forgive me for stating the obvious," said Hobbes, "but isn't that what airplanes are for?"

"Well, sort of . . . " I began. I hadn't thought of that. But an idea immediately sprang into my head. "But with this, you pay no money, and there's none of those blah peanut snacks."

"So, where exactly do you plan to go in this thing?" asked Hobbes.

"I was thinking Japan," I responded. Before Hobbes could say anything, I continued. "Japan has everything, Hobbes. They have some of the most sleek technology in the world!"

But Hobbes still looked hesitant. He thought for a moment. "Well . . . okay," he said finally. "I'll go. But only because of the snacks."

"Good choice!" I said. "I also packed the essentials: our vortex goggles, a journal, the camera, a watch, my transmogrifier gun, some writing tools, a few dollars I had stashed under my mattress . . . "

"In that case, let's get going," said Hobbes, putting his goggles on and climbing into the All Purpose Travel Pod.

"My thoughts exactly!" I said, climbing in as well and putting on my goggles. "Okay, all I have to do is set the Autopilot feature to Japan, and . . . OFF WE GO!"

And just like that, the All Purpose Travel Pod lifted off the ground and pretty soon, we were sailing high above my back yard. We were then zooming away from my house at high speed, high above all the houses in my town. We were up near the clouds. It was beautiful. However, after an hour or so, it was beginning to get a little boring seeing nothing but the sky and clouds above, and the sea below. I began to feel tired, and as I looked over at Hobbes, I saw he was tired, too. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I was just so tired that all of the sudden I blacked out . . .

Hobbes and I woke up at the same time. We were both jolted awake by the All Purpose Travel Pod being hit by something. We peeked out of the top. We must have been asleep for a while, because it was now nighttime. Or maybe it was the change in hours. It was hard to tell. But we did see something down below that got our spirits up. Land! There was land under us. But there was one problem . . .

"Is it just me, or is that land coming up fast?" I thought. I think that's when my stomach flew into my throat. The land was coming up fast! We were diving right toward a hill! "Brace yourself!" I shouted to Hobbes.

We hit the ground hard. Very hard. The Travel Pod screeched across the ground for a while before we were thrown out of it. We landed a few feet in front of the Travel Pod, and I looked back to see the damage.

"Oh no!" I yelled. "The Travel Pod!"

"Nope, no broken stitches or bones," said Hobbes. "Thanks for asking."

I looked back at him. "Are you being sarcastic again?" I asked. I then turned my attention back to our means of transportation. "Look at this!" I yelled. "The Travel Pod is totally wrecked! I'll have to make a whole new one!" It was true. The front part of the Travel Pod had been totally ripped off. It was beyond repair.

"Are you saying . . . we're stranded?" asked Hobbes.

"Let's not worry, Hobbes," I said. "See? There's a city right over there." I then pointed to a brightly lit city. "All I have to do is find a place that has boxes, and we'll be out of here in no time."

"Huh," said Hobbes. "Do you think there's tuna in that city?" he then asked, licking his lips.

I sighed. Hobbes' favorite food was tuna. "I don't know . . . " I began. Just then, I saw something up in the sky. "HOLY COW!" I yelled, pointing. "WHAT'S THAT?"

Hobbes looked where I was pointing. "Big deal. It's just a hawk . . . OH! I see it now! Is that . . . is that a kid riding it?"

I squinted. There was, indeed, a small kid riding the big bird. He had blond hair, gold-colored eyes, and he had what seemed to be a vertical line under each eye that made him look like a puppet. And the weirdest thing of all, he didn't have a shirt on. All he had on was underwear! We watched as they headed to the bright lights.

"Look's like they're headed toward that city themselves!" I said.

"I wonder where they're going?" asked Hobbes.

"I don't know," I said. Then I yawned. "But let's worry about it when it's light out. We might as well go to sleep."

"Fine by me," said Hobbes. He jumped back into the Travel Pod and immediately went to sleep. I, on the other hand, got the journal out and began to write.

Day 1:

Hobbes and I have crash-landed on unknown territory. It's probably a part of Japan, but I don't know yet. We just saw the weirdest thing. A young boy who looked like a puppet in his underwear was riding a hawk. We don't know what they're doing, but we're not going to worry about that now. Tomorrow, we're going to find another box so I can make a new Travel Pod. This is Calvin, signing out.

I then closed the journal and snuggled up next to Hobbes. I fell asleep a little while after that. As I did, I smiled.I could only imagine what we'd find in that city in the morning . . .

Well, that's the first chapter. I really hope I get some good reviews for this story.