Hello people! Welcome to my newest story 'Rise Of The Dragon Knight'!
This is a SD Gundam Force story. It goes completely by the episodes, but starts at episode 11. There is an OC insert, but you won't meet her until later! Oops Spoilers! XD
-Zako-
Not long after the Super Dimensional Guard started the Gundam Force project, they soon realized that they couldn't always play a defensive role when the Dark Axis would begin attacking Neotopia. To that end, they began to work on creating their own means of time-space travel, believing that one day they would need to take the offensive. The project was centered at one of their research facilities, Lab C.
The project head was Bell Wood, a child prodigy, now in his early teens. Bell Wood was exceptionally skilled in pushing the boundaries of the local space to their limits, and in need of something to do after proving to be able to skip through college. After being sworn to secrecy, he was made an SDG member and put to work on the Project: Dimensional Transport Device. And after 5 years, he was starting to make progress.
And then it fell to pieces. By some fluke, the Dark Axis had discovered the project, and launched an attack on Lab C. the Gundam Force, currently consisting of the SDG-made Captain Gundam, local wiz-kid Shute, other-dimensional Gundams Zero the Winged Knight of the kingdom of Lacroa and Bakunetsumaru, a samurai from the land of Ark, were able to repel the invaders.
However, by the same laws that caused a slice of toast to land butter-side down on the floor, Murphy's Law, the Dimensional Transport Device was destroyed anyway, by the sword-happy Bakunetsumaru. Bell Wood, after having a breakdown, a nap, and some coffee, got back to work, trying to undo the damage. Luckily, he kept all of his files backed up.
At present, he was at a computer consol on a raised platform, typing in commands. He could feel the stares of his audience. From alternate platforms, The Gundam Force, Chief Haro , and a troop of mobile soldiers watched him. On the ground were Entengo, Bakunetsumaru's robotic horse, and Gunbike, a support vehicle run by the AI of Captain's instructor.
"Okay, I think I've got the Dimensional Transport Device running again," Bell Wood explained to everyone, "But, we won't know for sure unless we give it a test-spin. So, here goes nothin'!"
Bakunetsumaru watched as Bell Wood typed in commands on the holographic keyboard. His attention was drawn to the round object on the table on another platform.
"What is that," the Musha Gundam asked, "A strawberry?"
"Yeah, that's the plan," Shute explained, "Better to start with something small and work our way up. Just…to be safe."
"We don't know what dimension the gate will lead to." Captain stated.
The spinning parts on the Device sparked with lightning, and a crackling purple vortex appeared in the sky.
"Okay, strawberry!" Bell Wood yelled, and grabbed the aforementioned fruit. "Let's do it!"
With a throw that would make an Olympic athlete point and laugh, the young scientist flung the strawberry into the violet swirl.
"Bon voyage!" Dr. Bell waved.
There was a bright flash of light as the strawberry and portal connected. Shute was forced to shield his eyes, and he wished he had brought sunglasses.
"It's working!" Bakunetsumaru cried, pointing. Somewhere within the light, the strawberry dissolved, before vanishing without a trace. There was another flash, and the portal ceased to be.
"Piece of cake!" Bell Wood grinned, "Piece of strawberry shortcake!"
"Ah!" Chief Haro cried, his 'ears' flapping to display his wonder.
Bakunetsumaru, however, was not as impressed. "All this for a piece of fruit!"
"Relax! Just leave it to Bell Wood!" Shute laughed, amazed. "He knows what he's doing!"
"Indeed." Captain nodded.
Bell Wood smiled at the praise. "You see," He began, "There are a lot of calculations to make, and variables to take into consideration…" He then realized that two members of his audience hadn't known about quantum physics until Shute told them. "…It's complicated," He said at last. "Take things too fast, you could get into big trouble. You gotta do it in stages. You know, baby steps."
"Baby steps!" Bakunetsumaru bounded over to where Bell Wood was. "I cannot wait any longer! You will send me next, Bell Wood!"
By now, Bell Wood was used to the samurai's frequent demands, and regarded him with a casual eye.
"Sorry," the young scientist said, "You gotta wait your turn, dude."
"'Wait my turn'!" Bakunetsumaru roared, "What could it be that takes precedence over my burning desire to see my homeland once again! What is it would you send through the gate before me?"
Zero held something out. "This."
"A banana!"
"At least it's a larger piece of fruit," Zero explained, "You'll get your turn."
"No! It cannot be!" Bakunetsumaru cried to the heavens, "I am to be superseded by the makings of a fruit salad?"
Bell Wood pointed to a pile of bric-a-brac. "And after that, we're gonna try some stuffed animals and wind-up toys."
"Some what?!"
"Calm down, Bakunetsumaru." Zero chuckled.
"This is ridiculous!"
Bakunetsumaru fumed, and rushed over to Bell Wood. The scientist walked around him.
"You do not understand, Bell Wood," the samurai said, following him. "I need to return to Ark! Please, do you want to see a samurai beg?"
"Not really." Bell Wood shrugged, waving the Musha Gundam away.
"I insist you-!" Bakunetsumaru was to make another demand when a giant bunch of bananas appeared on top of him in a poof of smoke. "What is this?!"
"You heard him," Zero said sternly. "The banana goes next."
With a disgusted grunt, Bakunetsumaru threw the giant bunch off of him.
"Stay out of this!" Bakunetsumaru yelled at Zero, "Just because you do not care about Lacroa, and have forgotten what it means to be homesick-!"
Zero gave Bakunetsumaru a very cold look. "Don't tell me what I've forgotten, you hot-head!"
Zero snapped his fingers, and more bananas appeared, this time regular sized. They flew at the Blazing Samurai in a potassium blitz.
"You pest!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, unsheathing his swords. "Stand still and I will peel you as I would a banana!"
They two Gundams began to fight, with Zero dodging Bakunetsumaru's attacks.
"Yo! Guys!" Bell Wood hollered angrily, "I'm tryin' to work, here!"
Up at his station, Shute watched the three ring circus at the controls and slumped.
"Well, this is turning out well." Shute groaned. He then noticed that Captain seemed…preoccupied. "What is it?"
Captain looked at Shute. "I thought I heard voices."
Shute opened his mouth to say something when something occurred to him. He could hear voices as well!
The sound that echoed throughout the Lab didn't come from a specific place, but instead felt like they had always been there, but Shute never noticed.
"…Mana, that dwells in all the universe…"
Shute frowned. "That sounds like something Zero would say…"
He looked down at where Zero and Baku' were fighting, with Bell Wood caught in the middle. They wouldn't hear anything, not without help.
"Hey, guys, listen up!" Shute yelled as he and Captain rushed over to them. "Something's happening!"
This got their attention, though moments later Shute wished he didn't. With his focus drawn, Bakunetsumaru, didn't look where he was walking, and stepped on a banana. With footing lost, the samurai fell against Bell Wood's console. Immediately, the moving parts on the Device began to pick up speed. A crackling purple portal appeared in the sky as the chanting grew louder.
"…In the stars….O Mana…"
Bell Wood pushed Bakunetsumaru away and began to type furiously.
"I don't know if we got someone's attention," The prodigy said, "Or if someone's tryin' to get ours!"
Yellow lightning streaked down from the portal, striking around where the Gundam Force had gathered together.
Shute looked at the light show with trepidation, trying not to get hit by the dancing electricity. Whatever was happening, it was happening to them!
"I am ready!" Bakunetsumaru yelled fearlessly, "Send me through the gate!"
"The banana goes first!" Zero snapped out of reflex.
Then, light filled the Gundam Force's vision. Everyone else's vision, however, was filled with the sight of the Force being engulfed in a ball of white light and blasting into the air, vanishing without a trace.
Chief Haro's head flapped.
-z-
When Shute opened his eyes, he found himself drifting through a multi-colored space, like a universe designed by hippies from the 1960s. Something floated by.
Well, whaddya know… It's the banana! Shute realized, and tried to grab the fruit. The foodstuff, however, stayed just out of his reach.
"Just a little closer…C'mere, you…" Shute muttered, and tried to extend his arm even farther.
Then, the multi-colored world vanished, and the banana fell.
"It's gone!" Shute gasped. Looking around, the boy saw that he was in some sort of cavern, over a pit…hanging on to an edge!
"Ah!"
"It's all right, Shute, I've got you!" Captain said, and pulled his friend up. The Gundams were standing on a floating rock, with giant crystals sticking out of it. The 'island' was in the middle of a gigantic space, seemingly unconnected to anything, even the ground, far, far below. Light came in through holes in the cave ceiling.
Shute forced his heartbeat to slow down. "What is this place?" He asked at last.
"It is not in my memory banks," Captain replied, "I estimate a 98.2% chance that we are in another dimension."
"Another dimension?" Shute repeated, entranced. Now that he was paying attention, he noticed that the rock they were on had some sort of rune circle carved into the ground, and several staffs sticking out. The crystal stalagmites had jeweled rings.
"If this is my beloved Ark," Bakunetsumaru remarked, looking around. "It is changed greatly in my absence, and not for the better!"
Zero said nothing. He looked around the area with wide, trembling eyes.
"…No," He whispered, mortified. "It's not possible!"
Shute, meanwhile, had flipped open his PDA and tried to make a call. All that appeared on the small screen was static and the words OUT OF AREA.
"Communicators are out," he announced, "So there's no way to call for help."
"It can't be!" Zero cried, and flew off, flying across the chasm and into a tunnel on the other side.
"Zero!" Captain called, "Zero, come back!"
Captain took off after the flying knight- and began to run across thin air!
"Yaaah!" Shute and Bakunetsumaru cried in alarm.
Captain stopped his chase and looked behind. "What is it, you two?"
"C-Captain!" Shute forced himself to say, "You're not standing on anything! I mean…look!"
Captain looked down at where Shute was pointing. "My sensors disagree with you, Shute," He replied, analyzing the pathway he was on. There was an energy coating it. "It's an invisible bridge, extending all the way," He pointed to the tunnel Zero went in, "To that cave!"
"Oh, that's a relief…" Shute said, sweating with Bakunetsumaru.
"C'mon on now, hurry!" Captain said, and resumed his run. Shute hastily rushed up behind him, while Bakunetsumaru slowly stepped out, his arms extended to keep his balance in case he missed a step.
"C-c-coming!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, moving as fast as his knocking knees would allow. Invisible bridge…sounds like witchcraft to me!
-z-
"Well, any progress? Can we use the Spirit Tree yet?"
"Patience, master. Before we can use the Spirit Tree we must find the Spirit Egg."
In an abandoned castle, one that was built for more than its currents inhabitants, a knight in dusty grey armor with a flowing purple cape stood in front of an ornate mirror. In the mirror's reflection, the knight saw not himself, but the hologram of the Commander for the Dark Axis.
"It seems to be hidden within a powerful spell," The knight went on, "I've been unable to locate it."
"Find it at once!" The Commander snapped.
"Yes, Commander," the knight replied dutifully. Examining a yellow feather in his hand, he said, "Oh, by the way, I heard you were having some trouble conquering that other dimension. If I could be of use in any way …" He trailed off meaningfully.
"Your help is not needed," the Commander answered stiffly. "Find the egg!"
"Of course." The knight bowed.
"However, I am sending someone to watch over your activities for a time. She is to be treated with respect, for she is my niece." The Commander told the knight. "I trust that you will not try anything dumb around her."
With that, the Commander's image vanished from the mirror. Behind him, the knight could hear the air ripple as his most trusted servant appeared. He did not turn to greet the servant. If he had, he would have seen a floating mass of green energy with ghostly yellow eyes, with a faint purple outline of armor underneath the green.
"Shouldn't you have told him about the intruders who just arrived?" the servant asked.
The knight shrugged. "Why? Fate sent them to me, not him. Besides…they may be of use."
"Ooh, you think there's a connection between them and the Spirit Egg?" the servant asked excitedly.
"I don't know," the knight admitted, "But until I do know-" His eyes glinted. "They're mine. Watch their every move."
"As you wish…" the servant replied, and vanished from sight.
The knight waited until he was absolutely sure that he was alone before moving. Taking out a large ridged sword, he stabbed it into the wall, which was not a wall, but rather the surface of a gigantic tree.
"Patience, my poor little Spirit Tree," The knight whispered, "Soon I will let you speak…"
The knight heard a rumbling sound that was neither his servant nor the Commander. Turning, he was greeted with the sight of a figure appearing from the shadows.
The knight smiled, and bowed slightly in greeting.
"I trust you are here to watch over the happenings here?"
The figure nodded, then turned to the mirror. "I see that you have company." She murmured.
The knight sighed. "Indeed. Do not worry though," he smirked. "they will not stand up against my army."
The figure only hmmed.
-z-
The Gundam Force continued to follow Zero down the tunnel. As they hopped over a large hole in the ground, Shute noticed a light at the end.
"There's a light up there!" He told the other Gundams.
They were soon outside the caves, but upon seeing their new surroundings, Shute wished they weren't. Before him was a great canyon, and in the center was an enormous dead tree. A castle was built around the trunk, and on its roots was a town, both decaying. The air was dotted with clouds of mist, and gigantic red horns were jutting out from the ground around the tree, some going through buildings.
"What happened here?" Shute asked, gaping. "It's a wasteland!"
"This bare and dreadful place cannot be Ark!" Bakunetsumaru exclaimed, his tone a mirror to the shock Shute felt.
"It's not."
Everyone looked a Zero, who had a somber expression on as he stared out at the ruined fortress.
"That is Lacroa Castle yonder," The Winged Knight explained sadly, "And this, my friends, is my homeland, though I would give my life that it were not."
"This is Lacroa?" Shute asked, looking from Zero to the ruined kingdom. As he took in the ravaged land, he thought, Is this what the Dark Axis does to its conquests? Then his heart stopped at another thought. Is that will happen to Neotopia if we fail?
"What is left of it," Zero lamented, "Flowers bloomed here once, and birds sang because of the benevolent Spirit Trees. That one held the castle. Now, all is turned to stone because of those minions of darkness."
Shute realized that the dark clouds were not mist, but swarms of Bagubagu, robotic insects whose sting turned living things to stone.
"Bagubagu!" Bakunetsumaru cried, "The Dark Axis is here!"
Captain nodded. "Yes, we must be on our guard."
"How I wish you could have seen it as it was," Zero sighed sadly, "Not like this. Lower your eyes, my friends, gaze not upon these sad remnants of its glory."
The Gundam Force did so. As they did, they noticed that Zero was trembling.
"I have no right to be here," The knight said, "Why have I been made to return?" His voice increasing in volume, he cried to the heavens, "I shouldn't have been allowed to set eyes on my homeland again! Not until I found a way to save her!"
"Forgive me, Zero!"
Zero looked back down and saw that Bakunesumaru, proud, arrogantly proud Bakunetsumaru, was on his hands and knees, his head bowed.
"I accused you of not caring about your homeland," The Musha Gundam said humbly, "I see now how deeply you feel its suffering."
"…Thank you, my friend." Zero replied, appreciating the gesture Bakunetsumaru was making.
"Pawn! Pawn! Pawn!"
"What was that!" Shute asked, looking around. As far as he could see, it was just the four of them, so who was chanting 'Pawn'?
"I detect evidence that we are being surrounded!" Captain reported.
Bakunetsumaru shot up. "The enemy!"
"I don't see anybody-" Shute began, when a barrage of arrows shot out from the thin air above the ledge over their heads.
"Quickly!" Captain ordered, grabbing Shute. "Scatter!"
The Gundams ducked away, dodging the arrows as they struck the ground.
"Where are they?" Shute asked, looking at where the arrows had come from. Captain's targeting scope slid down over his eye as he scanned the area. On that ledge he could see the outlines of little robots built like suits of armor, with yellow visors where their faces should be. They each held some kind of crossbow in hand, except for one with a decorative head-fin, who was holding a sword. The read-out indicated an energy-field like the one over the invisible bridge covering their bodies.
"Just as I suspected," Captain said, "They are equipped with some kind of cloaking device!"
"This can only be their doing!" Zero realized, and shot an angry glare at Lacroa Castle's ruins.
-z-
The knight, figure, and the servant watched the Gundam Force in the glass of the mirror.
"It would seem one of them is capable of detecting my Pawn Leo squad." The servant remarked.
"Good," The knight nodded. "Things have been dead here for so long, I'm grateful for the…entertainment."
The figure spoke up from where she was standing, "If you plan on revealing yourselves, do not mention myself. Uncle wishes for me to remain… hidden."
The knight hummed. "I see, but do you have a way of hiding yourself in case they find you?"
The figure smirked. "Of course."
With a wave of her hand, the shadows surrounding her vanished, and her dark armour changed into a lighter shade, her red eyes turning blue. She smirked at their stunned expressions.
"I'm always ready."
-z-
"On your guard, everyone!" Captain ordered, unplugging his beam saber from his backpack. "Incoming!"
Another barrage of arrows shot down.
"What I can see, I can fight!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, jumping up and knocking the arrows away with his swords. Captain stood protectively in front of Shute, blocking some arrows with his saber.
"Super Magical Violet Tornado!" Zero cried, and unleashed a torrent of winds at the cliffs, catching cards that were not there. Several puffs of purple smoke later, the forms of the Pawn Leos appeared, no longer unseen to the naked eye.
"Holy cow!" Shute cried, staring up at the little army.
"We've been spotted," The finned Pawn Leo, the leader, cried. "Prepare invisibility magic!"
The Pawn Leos whipped out cards of a sort, and they placed a card on the back of the Pawn in front.
"Prepared, pawn!"
"Execute!" the leader ordered, and the Pawns vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Uh oh," Shute gulped, "They vanished again!"
"Not to my scanners!" Captain yelled, and fired his helmet guns at the ledge. There was another puff of smoke, and the Pawns reappeared, struck.
"I don't need to see them!" Bakunetsumaru declared, and jumped onto the ledge. With his swords out, Bakuentsumaru ran across the ledge, causing Pawns to appear as he hit them. Zero unleashed a rune circle, sending it at another batch of Pawns. Several Pawns hit the lower ground, vanishing in a puff of smoke. When the smoke vanished, dice were seen were they had lay.
Shute stared at the dice in amazement. "Whoa… What happened to them?"
"Actually," Zero put in, "This is their true form, Shute."
"Weird…"
Captain fired some missiles at more Pawn Leos, forcing them to appear.
"Retreat!" the lead Leo cried, and he and the remaining Pawns took off in a flurry of footsteps and 'Pawns'.
"That-a-way!" Shute cheered, "The Gundam Force kicks evil robot booty once again!"
-z-
"The Gundam Force, eh?"
The knight felt a sinister smile form as he watched the Gundams on the mirror. "What a coup to smash them once and for all."
The figure frowned from where she stood at the back of the room. So they're here…
"I would not count them so easy to defeat."
The knight turned, surprise evident in his voice, "Oh?"
"They are the ones that we have had trouble with." She murmured, "Do not take them lightly."
"Of course…"
-z-
With the Pawn Leos vanquished, Zero told the Gundam Force of how the princess of Lacroa, in her final moments before becoming stone, used her magic to send Zero to Earth.
"…and so I was cast out," Zero finished unhappily, "If only I had the strength, I could have remained, and protected the princess and my compatriots. Now, alas, it is too late."
Shute, Captain and Bakunetsumaru stared at their feet, unable to reply. But after a moment, Shute looked up.
"Hey, c'mon!" He said firmly, "It's never too late!"
The Gundams looked at him.
"All we gotta do is take Lacroa back from the Dark Axis," Shute explained, building up steam. "Then find a spell that'll return it to the way it was. That's an easy job for the Gundam Force!"
Shute's optimism was both inspiring and contagious. In his confident voice the Gundams found their own spirits rising.
"Shute is right!" Bakunetsumaru cried, "We can do it!"
"I estimate our chances of success at ninety-nine- No," Captain amended, "100 percent!"
Zero looked at his friends with renewed hope. "My good friends and noble comrades- Look!"
Zero pointed, and the Gundam Force saw three Pawn Leos peeking out from the cave the entered from.
"Aha!" Bakunetsumaru shouted, "Stop!"
These Pawns were much smarter than the last bunch, and turned and bolted into the cave. Bakunetsumaru gave chase, followed by the rest of the Gundam Force.
"You thought you could sneak up on us, did you, you cowards!" Bakunetsumaru yelled as they ran down the tunnel, "Come back here!"
The Pawns ignored him and jumped down the hole the Gundam Force had bypassed before. Bakunetsumaru was quick to follow them.
The hole deposited the Pawns in a much lower cavern, and as Bakunesumaru got stuck at the end and struggled to free himself, one Pawn turned back and pointed a threatening finger.
"Stay back, you! Or- Aahh!" The Pawn tripped over a rock, and fell on top of his fellows. As they tumbled, their visors fell off. When the rest of the Gundam Force arrived and helped Bakunetsumaru out, they noticed that these Pawns were much bigger and more rigid-looking than the first batch. Coming closer, they soon realized why.
"They're just kids!" Shute cried.
Inside the Pawn Leo costumes were three boys, a bit shorter than Shute, with short, curly green hair and green eyes. They looked exactly alike, and the only way to differentiate between them was by the patterns of their headbands. One had a triangle pattern, one had a circle pattern, and one had a square pattern.
"What?" The square-pattern child snapped getting up with his brothers.
"I detest that!" Circle-pattern grumbled, "Who does he think he is, a grown-up?"
"Who are you calling a kid, kid?" Triangle-pattern asked fiercely.
Shute stared at triplets in wonder. "Um, are those disguises?"
"Yes!" the triplets chorused, "We disguised ourselves as the enemy in order to avoid capture until the savior arrives!"
Shute stared, now with more questions in mind. "Savior? What savior? And one at a time!"
"Well, we have been guarding the-!" The triplets began at once before stopping.
"I'll tell it!" Square-pattern grumbled, and said, "We're guarding the Spirit Egg of the sacred tree. When the savior comes, we will give it to him, and he will use it to save Lacroa! Oh, and this is a secret!" Square-pattern added, "Don't tell anyone, okay? If they found out…"
Triangle-pattern grabbed Square and pulled him aside. "Hey! They could be with the enemy," he hissed, "Let's not go blabbing everything before we know who they are, okay?"
The other triplets nodded.
Zero smiled. "You have done Lacroa proud by surviving so long," He said grandly, "And by protecting the sacred object entrusted to you. But now you may put your fears to rest, for I am no enemy. I am Zero, the Winged Knight!"
The triplets looked at him.
"Yes!" Zero continued, "I am your compatriot, returned at last to right the wrongs done to my homeland!" He began to fidget under the Triplet's glares. "Really… I am!"
"Oh, sure," Triangle snorted, "You're Zero."
The triplets zipped around the Knight Gundam, checking out every angle before huddling.
"Could be…"
"Maybe not…"
"What do you think?
"I dunno, what do you think?"
"I dunno…"
Shute patted Zero on the shoulder. "Isn't there anyway you could prove it to them, Zero?"
Zero had just the thing. Snapping his fingers, he made a violet rose blossom in his hand and held it out to the triplets.
"Behold!" The Knight Gundam said, "This flower only blooms in the garden of the princess of Lacroa."
"He's at it again!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, "Pulling flowers out of thin air!"
Everyone ignored him.
"Who but a knight of Lacroa would know of this rose, the Princess Rose!" Zero went on, "How she loved its pale violet petals."
The triplets huddled.
"He has a point, it is a Princess Rose, after all." Circle-pattern remarked.
"No stranger would know about the rose." Square-pattern added.
Triangle-pattern nodded. "All right, then. Let's give this guy a chance."
Facing the Gundam Force, the triplets introduced themselves.
"My name is Coah. Greetings!" Triangle-pattern said.
"And my name is Noah." Square-pattern said.
"And I'm Doah!" Circle-pattern finished, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Nay, the pleasure is mine, fair triplets!" Zero chuckled, "For in your bright eyes shines the hope of Lacroa!"
The triplets huddled again.
"He talks like a knight…"
"Yeah, too much like one! He's laying it on kinda thick…"
"Do you think he's a phoney?"
"Quiet!"
Zero felt his Shute pat his shoulder again.
"Not very trusting, are they, Zero?" the boy chuckled sheepishly, "But then, I suppose you can't blame them…"
Zero couldn't. While he, unwilling as it was, was sent to the pristine Neotopia, the triplets had been forced to live in this nightmare, reminded every day of the plight the kingdom was in. He could not begrudge them for their feelings towards him. They had suffered much more than he did…
"Tell me, triplets…" He said softly, catching their attention. "Two years have passed since the princess and the sorcerers cast me out into another dimension. I can only assume that my lady were turned to stone like the rest of Lacroa. But after that, what? What has become of them?"
"They turned the princess into a statue and put her somewhere!" the triplets cried, "We don't know where!"
"Accursed villains!" Zero swore, clenching his fist. "And the sorcerers?"
The triplets refused to meet his eye.
"Skip it, we've got bigger problems," Shute said, and gestured. "Take a look!"
All around, little screens appeared in the air. There must have been dozens.
"Sensors detect Dark Axis forces in the area." Captain reported.
"Hmm!" Bakunetsumaru glared at the screens, noting their similarity to the Pawn Leo's visor. "I need no sensors to detect that we're surrounded!"
Aside from the dozens circling the Gundam Force, more and more squads of Pawn Leos appeared, cloaked, aside from their visors.
"Uh-oh!" The triplets gulped, "The Dark Axis! That's not good!"
Shute gave the Lacroa children a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you're not alone! You're with the Gundam Force!"
The triplets were not reassured. "Can we still worry a little bit?" They asked, eyebrows raised.
"O Mana, come to me!" Zero cried, and summoned his sword and shield.
"Justice calls to me, and I answer! I am Bakunetsumaru, the Blazing Samurai of Ark!" The Musha Gundam yelled, unsheathing his swords.
Captain unplugged his beam saber and began to scan the Pawn Leos, confirming their locations.
What he did not notice, however, was a form cloaked in shadow, staying just out of sight.
"Will you hide, or will you fight?" Bakunetsumaru challenged, "Show yourselves, cowards!"
"If you insist!"
A yellow feather shot down and stabbed the ground before Zero's foot. Zero followed the voice and saw who threw it.
"Up there!" he yelled, and the others followed his gaze. The triplets gasped.
Floating high in the air was a knight, though this one was as different from Zero as chalk is to cheese. While Zero's armor was a decorative and shining blue color, this one's was rigid, and a speckled grey color. His cape was poison purple, and his helmet was topped by a jagged red fin, like a two-dimensional ember. A golden(or brass) bird was perched on his forehead. But most chilling was his face…his face was like a mask, a sinister smiling one. His eyes were dark and iris-less, and only lit red when he spoke. He held another feather in his hand.
"That's right, little ones!" he chuckled evilly, "Cower in fear and dread! For your end is near!"
"I do not fear you!" Zero yelled defiantly at the newcomer.
"You?" The knight snickered, "The coward who abandoned his princess?"
"A lie!"
"Good, very good!" The knight nodded, "I delight in your rage! I take sustenance from your fear. Your hatred is as mother's milk to me! And your moans of terror- music to my ears! For I am Tallgeese, Knight of the Tempest! Gaze on my magnificence, and despair!"
The Gundam Force and friends stared up at the evil knight as he struck a pose.
"Tall-geese?" Shute commented, "That's a pretty funky name."
Hidden in the shadows, the figure snorted.
Talgeese lost his composure. "What did you say, worm!"
"Where is the princess!" Zero yelled, ignoring this.
"Oh, yes, let me see," Talgeese resumed his smug poise and looked away, acting confused. "What did I do with her? Did I drop her into the contaminated pond? Or did I pitch her down a hole, on the hill of illusion?"
"You vile fiend, how dare you!" Zero roared, and would have lunged if Bakunetsumaru hadn't jumped in front.
"Leave him to me, Zero!" the Musha Gundam insisted, "I will make this mocking villain talk!"
Bakunetsumaru's gemstone glowed as he spun his swords around hypnotically. "Secret Arts: Bakunetsu! Tenkyo-Ken!" A japanese character appeared, and he charged through it at Talgeese.
"That attack might be more surprising," Talgeese sniffed, "If you didn't announce it first!"
Talgeese transformed his feather into a sword, and Bakunetsumaru sliced a flaming X into the air as he charged. Talgeese, unyielding, swung his sword against the X, striking so hard that Bakunetsumaru was thrown back, landing at the edge of the chasm.
"Bakunetsumaru!" Shute cried in alarm. This was a first. The Tenkyo-Ken…lost?
Talgeese looked at Zero smugly. "Now it's your turn, Winged Knight! Or will you use your wings to fly away from this fight as well?"
"Monster, defend yourself!" Zero bellowed, and flew at Tallgeese.
"I shall do more than that!" Tallgeese retorted, and swung his sword down at Zero. The dark winds he blew forced Zero into stopping, while Captain stood protectively in front of Shute and the triplets.
"I summon thee, Mana of Darkness," Tallgeese chanted, "From the deep abyss! Give me the power of evil!"
A red octagon appeared behind the evil knight, covered in runes. A shield with a beast's face appeared in his other hand.
"What's the fiend up to now!" Bakunetsumaru asked aloud.
Tallgeese's shield began to glow, and the face began to…move! It seemed to be pulling itself out!
"Captain, what is that thing?" Shute asked, worried.
"Unable to analyze!" Captain replied, scanning.
The figure in the shadows watched with wide blue eyes. Impossible… it couldn't be…!
A pure golden beast, with the head, wings and talons of an eagle, and the body of a lion, burst out of the shield, screeching.
"The Griffen!" Zero gasped, "One of the four sacred creatures of Lacroa!"
The Griffen soared around the cavern, plowing into squads of Pawn Leo, forcing them back to dice.
What's it doing? Shute thought. Wasn't that thing and the soldiers on the same side?
Zero stared at the Griffen a minute more before whirling at Tallgeese.
"You have summoned the destructive power of the Griffen!" The Winged Knight demanded.
Tallgeese shrugged. "He is a bit of a loose cannon, to be true. A wild creature, a fearsome power! But not so wild that he can't be tamed by me!"
The Griffen was now flying above Tallgeese, still screeching.
"Griffen, come to me!" Tallgeese commanded, and shot up towards the beast.
The Griffen did a nosedive, and he and Tallgeese collided. But instead of a comical crash, there was a flash of light.
"It can't be!" Zero exclaimed, horrified.
The figure backed up closer to the wall, eyes locked onto the scene in the air. Not possible!
In the light, the Gundam Force could just barely make out the Griffen's body becoming mist, and enshrouding Tallgeese, becoming armor.
Golden talons appeared on his feet…
Golden claws appeared on his wrists, over his hands…
And Tallgeese's torso was surrounded by golden armor...
"Oh, yes…" The Knight of the Tempest hissed greedily, "Yes! I feel good!"
Spreading out his arms, two monstrous golden wings unfurled from his back, releasing a golden light that was neither radiant nor glorious…not from him.
The Gundam Force stared in shock, awe…and fear.
"What has he become!" Bakunetsumaru gasped.
Zero knew what exactly Tallgeese was.
"The stuff our worst nightmares are made of!"
The figure's eyes went wide. What is this?! Tallgeese, what are you up to?!
-Zako-
A/N- Oh my! What is Tallgeese up to? Find out in the next chapter! And my OC is here! But you won't actually meet her until later! XD