AN: I want to thank my brother for the many days worth of hunting in 4U.
It in a deep forest where the sounds of a young man being pummeled could be heard.
"Not again, woah!" another sound of a dull thud and some snarling sounds.
It now shows a young man with glasses that somehow have stayed on through the ordeal, leather armor and a black haired pony tail that now had come undone. In front of him was large raptor like creature with a large frill around his neck like a fleshy flower, it snarled at him as more little raptors came to back it up. The young man was beaten and bruised and had his back against a large boulder. At the ground near him was a large katana, a longsword as people called it, but it was an iron katana. "Damn it...why won't you die!" he cried out taking the blade and swinging at the raptor but it spun and slammed its tail into him throwing him back against the boulder and cause his sword to fly out of his grip.
The raptor seemed amused by this prey and began to slowly walk over ready to bite his neck when he heard something, a horn?
The young man groaned a bit as he looked at his arm, the wounds and bruises were healing over and he saw behind the pack a figure holding a horn. The figure had used a healing horn. "You, behind you!"
The large raptor and the pack turned around and the figure threw the now cracking horn away. The armor of the man looked like a japanese oni, a demon. It was redish orange, and on his back was a long sword itself, but of a different kind. It was red and covered in scales, almost as if flesh was growing on the blade itself. "You seem to be attacking someone I care about," he said cracking his neck.
The raptor snarled and jumped, "Prinny now!"
A little figure in a strange penguin costume threw out of his little pack a small sphere, the man at the boulder knew what this was, he covered his eyes just as a large flash of light engulfed the area, the raptor missed its mark. The armored man swung his blade slicing into the little raptors, beheading many or taking their legs, and now the big one got up and turned around glaring at him. It snarled at him and charged.
"You picked a bad day to mess with me, "The man said swinging his blade, the sword seemed to catch ablaze and hit the raptor in the side, it screamed in pain as its flesh began to cook and the armor man sent a right hook into its face knocking it to the ground before finally grabbing his knife at his side and slamming it into the beast's neck. The raptor struggled a bit before finally succumbing to the wounds, the battle was over.
"You ok?" the armored man asked walking over to the leather bound one.
"Yeah Ean I am," He said getting up and putting the large katana on his back, the small figure now revealed to be a felyne, a cat like creature who are known to help hunters, began to work on carving up the raptors. His hood that was the blue penguin head was down revealing the cat head, on his back was the pack carrying all sorts of items and other junk he collected.
"Great Jaggi, threat level 3 stars, wow Bren you sure got beaten," Prinny said in a cheerful tone as he carved up pieces of flesh.
"Cram it Prinny, just...you know having an off day," the one called Bren said now getting angry.
"Must be an off month in that case dood," Prinny said laughing.
"Thats it I'm gonna wring all 9 lives out of you!" Bren cried out but Ean grabbed him by the back of the collar and threw him back. "Bren control your anger," He said removing his helmet to reveal a young man of short black hair, "What would dad think if he saw you like this?"
"He would have trained me to be a better fighter, I need a better weapon, not this long sword!" he cried out throwing the weapon off his back. "Pops used a great sword, that was a real weapon, not this thin piece of metal you force me to use!"
Ean sighed, "You are training with this sword because the great sword takes more skill, it's not a weapon to swing wildly, if you do, you will get worn out and be open to more attacks," he tried to explain but Bren continued to glare at him. "Just shut up! And why won't you use your regular weapon!?' he cried out
"Because I want you to learn, besides I like mixing it up a bit, this rathalos blade was the last thing dad forged for me before he died," He said sheathing it on his back. "Yeah yeah, you are doing it to mock me," Bren grumbled, "Can't even go on missions on my own."
"Look you will get your license soon enough, just keep practicing and you will be an official hunter before you know it, "Ean said walking over and putting a hand on Bren's shoulder. "Yeah right," Bren said walking off, Ean sighed and put on his helmet, they had enough proof to show that they took down the Great Jaggi and he and Prinny followed Bren out of the forest back to town.
The town went by the name Lothon, it was a small town, plenty of travelers coming in and out for whatever reason. The three were met by an attendant near the gate coming into the forest who confirmed that Ean completed the mission and rewarded him with a slip to turn in for money and a cut of whatever was left over when the felynes collected and carved up the monster he slain.
"Come on Bren, lets head back home, Prinny said he will prepare that Jaggi stew you like," Ean told him.
"I'm good, just gonna...I don't know," He said walking off in a direction. Ean knew where he was going, it was an abandoned home, a small hut that years ago the brothers discovered and made into a hidden base. Bren made it and walked in sighing
"Another failure," he muttered throwing his sword onto the ground.
"I shouldn't be this pathetic, I'm the older brother, and the son of one of the greatest hunters!" he cried out punching a nearby leather bag filled with even more leather pieces for a makeshift punching bag. "Dad I'm better than this...I know it," he cried out punching at it more and more.
"I'll show them…" he said after 15 minutes of punching and crying, "Tonight I'll sneak into the forest and bring back something big…" Bren of course was an idiot for this, hunts were regulated to make sure weaker hunters don't get in over their heads (hopefully) or to not destroy the ecosystem.
Bren returned home, it was a simple building, neither too big or too small, just enough for the two brothers and Prinny. "Bro I'm home!" Bren called out, Ean was out of his armor, wearing some dull green pants along with a light red shirt. Just something simple unlike his armor. "Got it out of your system?" He asked, the smell of stewed Jaggi meat filling the home.
"Yeah, so how much money we got for this one?" Bren asked plopping on a couch. "Around 3000, the parts will come tomorrow, looks like we paid off the bills this month," Ean said chuckling. "...Ean why do you go on these small missions?" Bren asked laying back "I'm working with you, besides its good practice for me, I don't mind trying to help you," Ean said trying to be a good brother.
Bren sighed, "I'll be in my room, call me when dinner's ready," with that he walked up and went to his room locking the door, he went to his closet and found what he was looking for hidden in the back behind his regular clothing, a set of chainmail armor and an iron great sword.
"Glad Ean doesn't know about those odd jobs I did while he was away for a week," He thought shutting the closet door. He then spent the rest of the day mentally preparing himself as well as daydreaming of the town celebrating his victories over the mighty prey such as the Great Jaggi or a swarm of the insects Bnahabra.
Dinner came and Bren enjoyed the hearty meal, feeling strong from it. "Prinny good work on this, I almost forgive you for teasing me," He said finishing his second bowl. "Hey dood its what I do, provide aid to Ean not to mention amusing quips," The palico felyne said eating his portion.
"Work on the quips, they need practice," Bren said. "So does your sword swings," Prinny retorted and Ean had to restrain Bren again from strangling the cat.
"Bren calm down, I don't need you causing trouble while I'm out tonight," Ean said, "I heard the Wycoon is getting a shipment of some rare metals and I want to see if he is willing to trade some materials for em, so try not to strangle Prinny ok, "Ean explained.
"Oh don't worry dood, I'm heading out, me and some of the other palicos are having a poker game tonight, I'm so gonna take them to town tonight," Prinny said walking off and out of the door. "Whatever, I'm going to bed," Bren lied, it was getting late, and it takes at least 30 minutes for Ean to get to the Wycoon's store and back, it wouldn't be hard to set it up that he was asleep.
"Alright bro, and Bren, next time I'm sure you will do good," Ean said but then smiled at Bren, "Trust me, you will go big, and show the next monster whose boss, I promise." He left with his list of parts he was willing to trade and Bren got to work, piling books, towels, and other items under his covers and positioned them to look like he was under the covers asleep, he doubted Ean would check on him, he was a young adult, but hey never hurts to do this.
He put on his armor and strapped the sword to his back, "Damn weighs a lot more than the wooden training blades, but hey nothing I can't handle," he thought to himself going out the window and making his way to the entrance, he had gone out many times and timed the shift change of the attendants, she wasn't watching, this was his chance. He made his way into the forest and ran further inside, he was ready to do some night hunting.
For 20 minutes he looked around carrying the heavy sword and to his frustration he couldn't find any monsters out.
"Damn it this forest is always teaming with something, even if it's a damn Aptonoth!" he cried out and he swung the sword off his back into a nearby tree, the loud thud echoing in the forest. "Fuck me," he said sighing and sitting down against another tree, "Maybe I'm not cut out for this…."
He then heard loud growling behind him he turned around and his eyes widened in horror. It was a large wyvern glaring at him, he recognized it immediately, the large wing, the dark browish green scales, and the way she seemed regal, it was the original queen of the wyverns, the Rathian.
It arched its neck back and went forward letting out a loud roar in front of Bren. He had intruded on her territory and woke her up, now he was gonna pay.
"Shit!" he cried out reaching for his stuck blade but he couldn't wrench it from the tree. The Rathian swung her tail destroyed the tree and sending Bren flying to the ground, his sword now dislodged and flying away from him. "Damn it," He cried out getting up and jumping just as she sent a fireball from her mouth. He could feel the heat from it, she was really pissed and Bren knew it.
"Need to hide!" he thought pulling out one of the flash bombs he took from Ean's supplies, and threw it towards her doing its job, she was now blinded and even more angry. He took this moment to get out of there and hide behind a rock. He prayed it didn't see him hide behind the cover.
He could hear her roar again and flap her wings as she got airborne, but she was flying away. Hopefully he was safe….
He got out from cover and ran to his blade, he needed to get out of here, he was way over his head….
He gripped the blade and frowned, he was always over his head. This was no different….
He looked to the sky and could see her looking for him, he looked at his blade and then back up glaring at her, he wasn't backing down. He took a deep breath and cried out, "Hey Bitch I'm not afraid of you!" The Rathian now out of its blindness turned towards him, her eyes narrowing as she swooped down onto him.
"I'm not gonna let you TAKE ME!" he cried out swinging down, the blade striking her in the face, one moment late or early and she would have got him, but now she was on the ground with a gash on her face.
"Damn it so heavy," he muttered pulling back and hold the blade back, focusing as she began to rise and he swung down but this time she was prepared, she twirled around nailing him with her tail and he flew back down a nearby hill and this time into a more open area. "Damn it…" he groaned pulling himself up, she had jumped down to the ground and was facing him, her snout just inches from his face, she was going to show him that this was his last mistake.
Bren gulped and closed his eyes ready for the final blow when he heard a voice. "That's no way to go out!"
It couldn't be…
The Rathian turned her head and then cried out as a figure jumped down and slammed a large weapon onto her face, she cried out and backed off flying into the air to get away, the figure landed next to Bren, it was Ean in his armor. But his weapon wasn't a long sword, it was a large hammer, one made of the same material as his blade, the Rathalos.
"Ean how did you know?" he asked as Ean helped him up, the Rathian circling around the clearing. "Run now talk later!" Ean cried out pulling Bren away just as she rained fireballs down on them, Bren groaned in pain as one struck his back but they were now behind cover from the rock.
"Drink now!" Ean ordered passing him a bottle of green liquid, Bren recognized it as one of his brother's mega potions, he had passed up grabbing them thinking he wouldn't need them. He downed the liquid and could feel the wounds and fatigue lift from him. "So how did you find me?" Bren asked.
"I make sure I have people watching the house when I leave," Ean said. "What?!" Bren cried out. "A joke, I came back early to pick something up and noticed you running out through the window, saw you carrying that secret stuff in your closet, I knew what wasup. Followed you for a while," He explained. Bren looked down sadly, "I fucked up didn't I?"
"Yes you did, but don't worry about it now, right now we have to deal with this bitch-" the boulder they were behind was smashed and the two were thrown forward and they saw the Rathian, something was off, her eyes were red, from her breaths came a black mist. Ean could see from her talons pieces of the boulder in her grip, did she destroy the boulder to get at them?
It gave an even louder roar and charge them. Ean barely had time to swing redirecting her away from Bren. "Damn it, they never hit this hard…." He groaned, he barely could keep his grip on that one, and he could handle a rathian no problem with his father's hammer., but this one...something was off. The Rathian roared again its cry far more ferocious and arched back, flames forming in its mouth.
"DOWN BREN!" Ean cried out and Bren ducked in time for a barrage of fireballs to just miss him. "Bren back off, I can handle this!" Ean cried out charging the Rathian and swinging at her, it was foolish to do that from the front, but he was going to keep it off Bren. The Rathian was faster, it pinned Ean down with its mighty talon and Ean struggled to break free.
"EAN!" Bren cried out. "GO!" Ean cried out but Bren refused, he saw the Rathian preparing to bite down, and he saw a nearby small ledge behind her, he began to run behind her, the Rathian noticing him and sending a tail swipe to knock him away, but for a moment Bren noticed, he jumped… Ean smiled from his position, he had dodged the tail swipe, and now he prepared for what's next, he trusted Bren's intuition on this next move.
Bren was on the ledge he took a deep breath and ran off it and jumped swinging down on her, she cried out in pain and let go of Ean as he rolled out of the way narrowly missing Bren's blade slamming into the ground.
The Rathian was now on her side struggling to get up, her right wing damaged from Bren's aerial attack, Ean drew his hammer, "Quickly Bren we have to finish this!" he cried out, Bren had a smile on his face from that and the two got into position over her head as she struggled to get up and both swung down, Ean on her face and Bren struck her neck, the combination of blows was enough, she stopped moving….
"I...I DID IT!" Bren cried out tears down his face, Ean from behind his helmet smiled, Bren pulled it off. "Alright lets head back and report this to the guild, and Bren….I'm proud of you, but…" Ean walked over and then punched Bren in the face knocking him to the ground, "DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" Bren groaned and rubbed his face and looked up to Ean.
"Seriously, you were an idiot, not only could you have gotten yourself killed but you risk losing your chance to be a guild hunter. Your actions were irrational and idiotic….but I got to say you handled yourself pretty well," He said removing his helmet and showing his smiling face to Bren. "I told the attendant I was tracking you down, and I was permitted to help hunt anything you find, so for you, this is considered a mission of sorts, however….never seen a rathian do that before," he said looking at the corpse and walking over, he crouched down and looked over the head moving it a bit. "Do what?" Bren asked getting up and still rubbing his face.
"Go berserk like that, they are normally ill tempered but even at their angriest they don't go this crazy...least none I've seen," He said and then his eyes noticed something. "Bren, tell me, ever see something like this?" he asked holding up what he found, it was a black shard, almost like a sliver of obsidian. "No," Bren said, it didn't look like it came from any monster he has ever seen or heard of.
"Me neither, I think you and I stumbled on something big, come on let's head back."