Fate of Legends Chapter 2: Mystery of the Great Forest, a monster hunter fanfic

Following a suggestion from one of my reviews, here's a description of the armours that each character has for those of you who don't play the game. Steven's Tigrex S armour looks like several large claws attached to the armour and is orange with blue stripes. Stuart's Rathalos Soul U armour has some spikes, and is a deep blue colour. Alisdair's Rathian, Rathalos armour is Rathian S leggings, Rathalos S mail and tasset, Rathalos Soul U gauntlets and a Rathalos S helm. The S stuff looks like wings, whilst the helm looks like a Rathalos' head. The rest looks like normal armour. Grant's Diablos U armour is black and gold, looks very bulky, and the helm looks like a Viking helmet. It also has massive spikes on the shoulder pads.

They also all wear different items. Steven wears a Mane Necklace around his neck. It's a lump of Kirin mane attached to a gold chain.

Grant carries around a Wyverian Artisan's Hammer on his side.

Alisdair wears a Rathalos Scale Necklace. Same as a Mane Necklace but with a Rathalos scale instead of Kirin mane.

Stuart wears a Ring of Darkness on his middle finger. It was awarded to him for leading the mission that slew one of the Fatalis' in the world. And keeping everyone else alive until med teams arrived.

Their main weapons are a Blacksmith Hammer (Grant), Ultimate Gaelic Longsword (Steven), Eviscerator Blade Greatsword (Alisdair), and an Akantor Bow (Stuart).

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Monster Hunter

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Chapter 2: Mystery of the Great Forest

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Pokke Village. It's a quiet village nestled in the Furahiya Mountain Range which lies in the Minegarde region. It hardly ever sees any monster attacks and is a hot-spot for Machalite Ore mining. The mountains are also home to a variety of different species. Which makes it an ideal site for training newbie hunters as it allows them to manufacture decent weapons and trains them in hunting a variety of different monsters.

It is also home to our band of hunters. They all share a house in the north of the village which has over the years been extended.

The house now has a floor for each of them where they sleep and train, and then there is the ground floor where the kitchen and the meeting room is.

This room is currently being used.

"All right then. Let's go over what we know." said Stuart, crossing his arms over his chest.

They were all sitting around a table that was covered in pictures of monsters, and food.

"There is apparently a new type of wyvern that's been discovered, that is of a similar species as the Tigrex." said Steven, who was pouring over his notes.

A Felyne Chef was pouring out some orange liquid into each of the hunters mugs.

"Thanks Crystal." said Grant as he took a large swig of his mug.

"Nyaa. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. So I suggest you get your feet of the table Master Alisdair, and clear the table!" the Chef said pointing at Alisdair.

She wandered back into the kitchen.

"I'm thinking that Crystal's spent too much time with your mum Steven." Grant said. "Look what she's done to her!"

"Hey, Mum wanted some help around the house so I sent her over Crystal. A week later she sends her back, fussier than ever." Steven said.

"Yeah well back to the matter at hand.." said Alisdair who still hadn't taking his feet off of the table.

"Indeed. So far there has only been one other confirmed species of Pseudo Wyvern." Stuart declared.

They all stared at a man-sized tusk that hung over the door.

"The Akantor." said Grant.

"Well I can say with certainty that it wasn't an Akantor that did this to that Chameleos." Steven said. "The claw marks were way too small for an Akantor."

"Well it could have been a baby Akantor." Alisdair suggested.

Steven shook his head.

"No way. There aren't any baby Akantor, at least not in the Volcano regions. I think any baby Akantor spend their time underground, until their fully grown or something similar to their full size."

"Enough hypothesizing! You have an entire wall on your floor dedicated to your theories!" Alisdair said.

"If you two are quite finished." Stuart said.

The two brothers looked at each other.

"Now, we're probably going to hear an announcement from the Guild about this new monster so we might as well just sit back and wait."

A loud voice emanated from the kitchen.

"Nyaa! Have you four cleared that table yet?! If not then no dinner for any of you! Nyaa!"

"Right Crystal!" they all shouted back.

When the table was finally cleared, five Felynes including Crystal, appeared from the kitchen carrying trays of food.

"Hold on. I don't remember you guys ever making this much for the four of us." said Grant as he stared at the large pile of food.

"Nyaa. That's because the Village Chief, Nekoht and the Guild Master are coming over to inform you about the recent Guild developments."

Crystal and the other Felynes returned to the kitchen where they then sent food to each of their Felyne Fighters.

"OK did anyone else get told about this besides Crystal?" asked Alisdair.

Everyone shook their heads.

They then heard a knock on the door.

"I've got it Crystal." Stuart said as he got up.

When Stuart opened the door, a Felyne wearing a fur robe regally stepped through.

"Hmm. So this is the house of the four who discovered the Nargakaruga. I'm not impressed."

An old lady in a big hat and fur robe stepped through after the Felyne.

"Be nice Nekoht. Oooh hello boys! So nice to see you again."

A middle aged lady in a purple robe came through next.

"Indeed. The Chief has missed you four dearly." she said smiling at the four of them.

"Good evening Guild Master." said Alisdair.

"I always get confused. Are we supposed to call you Guild Master or Guild Mistress?" asked Grant. "You know because of the whole being a woman thing."

"Well, you can call me Mistress if you want." the Guild Master said grinning at Grant. "But I think that should wait until tonight."

Grant went all red as his friends tried to contain their laughter.

"Enough of this foolishness." Nekoht barked (although how she did that none of them know.)

"Oh lighten up Nekoht." said the Chief as she thumped Nekoht on the back.

"I believe we were about to divulge upon these hunters an impossible task." said the Guild Master.

"What do you mean by impossible?" asked Alisdair. "We can take on any hunt you throw at us."

"Well it's not exactly a hunt. It's more of a reconnascience mission." said the Chief.

"Well Alisdair's already off of this mission." said Steven.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" asked Alisdair.

"Well you're not exactly the most stealthy person in the world." pointed out Stuart.

"That's true. Remember when we tried to throw that party for Chief here. All you had to do was hide in the dark behind the chair." said Grant.

"She has the hearing of a bat!" Alisdair explained.

"I'm sorry." said the Chief. "What did you say?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

"But seriously Alisdair, you cannot sneak around to save your life......and if that Nargakaruga is there........" Steven said thinking back to the grievous wounds on the Chameleos.

"By the way, what exactly is a Nargakaruga?" asked Grant.

Everyone looked towards Nekoht.

"A Nargakaruga is a black, sleeker variation of the Tigrex. It is very deadly. It is mainly a nocturnal predator, so it will react to sudden flashes of light."

"So we flash bomb it if it sees us." Alisdair said triumphantly.

"If you do that, you will severely, how you say.....piss it off. Its eyes will glow red, and lethal 3 foot spikes will shoot out of its tail in a wide burst. And it will move with the speed of one of your human ninjas." Nekoht said.

Alisdair looked deflated when she had finished.

"The monster also has very precise hearing.......and before you open your mouth young hunter," Nekoht said pointing at Alisdair, "the same effect I mentioned earlier will occur if you use a Sonic Bomb."

"Well this is just perfect." muttered Grant. "We'll be sitting ducks if we bump into that thing."

"Maybe not......" mused Steven.

Everyone stared at him.

"What are you thinking?" asked Stuart.

"Well, Flashing won't work as it will still be able to hear us. Sonic Bombing won't work because it will be able to see us. I think we need to use both bombs simultaneously, if we are discovered. It will require precision timing if its legendary speed is any indication." finished Steven.

"Are you nuts?!" asked Alisdair.

"Possibly. But I can't see any other options. Pitfall Traps won't work if we're discovered as the Nargakaruga will simply jump off of them before they can be set off, and Shock Traps would only work for a brief moment." concluded Steven.

Everyone sat back and considered the facts.

"You see, this is why Steven usually makes the plans. He thinks constantly. I just like to smash the monsters." declared Grant.

"Anyway boys, the mission is to scout out and explore the newly discovered region of the Great Forest." said the Chief.

"Indeed. You will need to gather supplies as you will be there for at least a week. So you will need your stealthiest set of armour and weapons, in order to remain undetected." said the Guild Master.

"Also stock up on smoke bombs, farcasters etcetera. You will leave on this mission, tomorrow. If you choose to accept it." finished Nekoht.

"Well it would be something different to put on the records." said Stuart.

"I have always wanted to be the first hunter in a new land." said Steven.

"It could be like a vacation." said Grant.

"Well, I can't stay here by myself otherwise Crystal will go crazy at me." said Alisdair.

"We're in." all four of them said at the same time.

"Excellent." said the Chief. "I'll see you boys when you get back. Now that business is out of the way, let's eat!"

Everyone laughed, and started eating.

For the rest of the day, the team started to gather what supplies they could.

They didn't know what to expect in the Great Forest so they brought a whole variety of items.

But each hunter was adamant about bringing a form of large weapon in case of a run-in with the Pantherex as they were nicknaming it, so the Village Chief made for them a laquer that would hide the gleam of their blades, whilst keeping them sharp and workable.

Steven took two bags, one with supplies, the other with pads of paper and pencils.

"For taking notes and sketches in case we run into any new creatures." he explained.

"Of course. Typical." said Alisdair.

Everyone else took with them one bag with supplies in them.

On the day of their departure, Crystal ran up to them and stuffed some food sacks onto the Aptanoth that was going to carry the gear.

"Crystal," said Grant, "we already have enough food."

"Nyah, not at the rate you eat, you don't!" Crystal meowed at them.

"OK. Besides we might actually need the extra food." said Steven.

"What as bait to lure the Pantherex away from us?" asked Alisdair.

"Precisely." said Stuart. "We have no true understanding of this things abilities. So every possible escape route has to be planned." he finished, hefting his Akantor Bow onto his back.

"So at the first sign of this monster, we're gonna run?" asked Grant.

"Hey, none of us likes that part of the plan. But if it proves neccessary........." said Steven.

"Well, we'll never know until we go to this forest so lets get going!" Alisdair said impatiently.

They all mounted up onto their own smaller Aptanoths, and started to head out of the village.

"Do we really need the Aptanoths? We could just walk there." asked Alisdair.

"So you want to walk over 100 miles before reaching the campsite?" asked Grant.

"Point taken." Alisdair said.

"Then lets ride on out. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can accomplish our mission." said Stuart.

So they rode their mounts out of the village, and set course for the Great Forest.

It was only half way down the mountain that Alisdair asked, "Are we going the right way?"

Several days of travel later they arrived at the Great Forest. Steven had arrived a day before them as planned and had already picked a secure spot for base camp.

"Ok, there are only two paths in and out of the Forest and then there's the path you guys just took with the Aptonaths. The two paths are only large enough to allow us passage."

"What if they decide to fly in?" asked Alisdair.

Steven pointed above them at the tree cover.

"This area is heavily wooded above us so they can't land in this area. Also, see these trees? They're bark produces a slight pheremone that keeps away the insects so we can sleep in piece."

Stuart looked over one passage whilst Grant looked over the other.

"Hmm, nice spot as usual Steven." Grant said.

"Mhhm. So have you scouted out the next areas as well?" asked Stuart.

"Nope sadly I haven't had time for that yet, as I've been busy setting up my tent. I did go down to the ends of the paths though. I can tell you from a brief scan of the next areas that there seem to be the usual variety of monsters. I few of the Prey variety and one or two large bugs."

"OK." Alisdair said, "lets go hunting for that Pantherex."

Steven sighed, Stuart shook his head, Grant just nodded.

"Have you forgotten the mission already?" asked Stuart. "We're here to recon the area. Not to go hunting the Nargakaruga."

Grant and Alisdair moaned.

"If we encounter the Nargakaruga we might decide to fight it." Steven said trying to bring up the mood. "But in the mean time, we better set up watch. It's getting dark."

Alisdair looked at Steven.

"But isn't the Nargakaruga a nocturnal predator?" he asked.

"Yes, but we're new to the area and have no idea about the terrain. That's why we go and do recon during the day, and if the chance arises, fight it during the day." Steven explained.

"That way we may actually have a chance. If we were to fight it in the dark which is its element we would be creamed." said Stuart.

"Fine, I'll take first watch." Alisdair said.

"Ho no bro." Steven said pushing Alisdair to his own tent. "I know you. I'll take first watch. You will take third. Grant is second, Stuart takes fourth."

"OK, scout in morning, kill it if we have chance in daylight."

"Good, now we'll have to split when we go scouting in the morning. That way we can get a working map of this area nice and quick so remember to take accurate drawings. And dont try to fight any of the monsters unless absolutely neccessary." Stuart said before heading into his tent.

"Right plans sorted lets get some sleep." Grant said before going into his tent.

As they went to their tents to rest Steven took his place at watch.

The following morning they all went down the paths and split up.

They were all wearing their Stealth Gear and were armed with several bombs for escape purposes.

Here's what happened to Steven.

"Oh my god what a magnificent specimen." he said as he saw a monster that resembled a giant turkey.

Steven then skimmed through the book that Nekoht gave him before the trip.

"Ah hah, so this is a Hypnock."

He pulled out his sketch pad and started to draw it whilst it was drinking from the lake.

Then the Hypnock stopped drinking and looked up.............in Steven's direction.

"Uh-oh. I couldn't have been that loud...........was I?" he whispered to himself.

The Hypnock then started to look around in other directions then continued drinking.

"Phew." Steven whispered. Then he continued his drawing, whilst also making notes alongside his sketch on the behaviour exhibited.

After ten more minutes, there came from the Forest the sound of Velociprey.

Three Velociprey sprung from the Forest wall, heading for the Hypnock.

"Mustn't interfere." Steven whispered, but he reached for the Claymore on his back anyway, just in case the Velociprey spotted him.

The Hypnock turned around and then started to spit out blue balls of gas at the raptors.

When the gas hit the Velociprey, they stumbled for a bit then fell to the ground.

The Hypnock screeched at them and then flew off.

Steven put away his pads and half-drew his Claymore as he approached the Velociprey.

When he got closer to them, he could see that they were.......sleeping!

"Hunh. Well that's something that the Felyne records don't mention. Better get moving before they wake up."

Steven then looked into the Forest.

"I wonder how the others are doing?" he mused.

"Ahh! This is usually Steven's job!" Alisdair shouted as he stumbled through the Forest.

He was being chased by a smaller monster than Velociprey.

Alisdair had stumbled upon a settlement of Shakalaka's, and they had spotted him.

Naturally he had tried to fight them straight off the bat, but he hadn't counted on there being 5 tribes being together, which meant there was 5 King Shakalaka's.

And they were pretty pissed off at him, because he had disturbed what looked like an ancient ceremony........lucky him.

Alisdair turned his head to look behind him and saw they were still chasing him and getting closer.

"Argh, how do I lose these things?!" he asked himself.

Then he slapped his head, remembering that he had some smoke bombs.

He quickly went through his side bag trying to find the right bomb, and then threw one.

A second later and a bright flash of light appeared behind him and in front of the Shakalakas.

The Shakalaka's were temporarily blinded but then they continued running after him.

"Oops, wrong bomb. Lets try this one." he said throwing a different bomb.

This time a loud screeching noise emitted from the bomb.

This didn't affect them as much as the flash bomb had.

"OK this has to be a smoke bomb." he said before throwing another bomb.

This time it did erupt into a cloud of smoke...........unfortunately it was a really foul-smelling smoke. He had used a dung bomb.

However this did stop them in their tracks......and set the Kings' crowns on, an even greater and uncontrolled, fire.

"Whatever works." Alisdair puffed as he kept running.

After several more twists and turns, he stopped for a breather.

"Wooh. I haven't had to do that much running since that fight with the Akantor."

He stood up and straightened himself and went over his supplies, until he found his notebook.

"Note to self," he wrote on the map part, "Shakalaka cave. Beware!"

He looked around when he started to hear the chatter of more Shakalakas.

"Oh come on." he groaned before deciding to hide himself in a bush.

Just as he did so, twenty Shakalakas ran through the area. They smelled really bad, and looked even madder than before.

OK if I just stay really quiet maybe they'll keep on going or head back to their cave. Alisdair thought to himself.

Ten minutes later they ran off back in the direction of their cave.

Alisdair waited until they were all gone then started making his way back to camp.

"OK, that has got to be the worst recon ever. Hope the guys are having better luck than me in this place."

Grant wasn't doing much better.

He was investigating the tree at the Forest's center and had discovered it was hollow.

"Hmm, this could be the Pantherex's lair." he mused as he went inside.

The inside of the tree was littered with bones of other monsters.

"Well, it's definitely someone's lair." Grant said as he looked over all the different bones.

Then he heard a rustling of wings coming from up above him.

"Uh-oh." he said as he started looking all over for a hiding spot.

He finally spotted a grouping of rocks which looked like it could do the job.

He dived for cover just as the monster landed.

It looked like a Tigrex, but was skinnier, was covered in a black coat of fur and had a sleek, long black tail.

Around its eyes were a distinctive red pattern, and in its claws was the dead body of the Hypnock Steven had seen earlier.

It was the Nargakaruga, returned from a hunt.

Grant then heard a sound like kittens squeaking at the opposite end of the lair.

Miniature versions of the Nargakaruga popped out of the shadows bounding towards the larger one.

Well, this makes things just a little more difficult. One its a mother, and two, how the hell am I getting out of here?! Grant thought to himself.

The mother looked around the lair, and then prowled over to the back of the lair where the kittens had come from, whilst the kittens started tearing into the meal she had brought them.

Ok, the entrance is over there, he thought looking just passed the kittens. Now mummy is looking in the opposite direction, but I bet that as soon as I reveal myself I'm gonna be next on the menu.

Grant sat down on the ground without making a noise as he considered his options.

On the one hand I could sit here and wait for them to all either fall asleep or leave. But then my friends would wonder what happened and come looking and more than likely end up here.

On the other I could try and make a break for it as soon as I get the chance, but run the risk of leading the Pantherex to our campsite, or getting eaten in the process.

Just as he finished thinking all of this, the rocks forming his cover were swatted aside by the Pantherex's paws.

It stared straight into Grant's eyes.

Grant raised his right hand and slowly waved, whilst going into his side pocket for a smoke bomb.

"Hello."

Then he bolted like a mad hare, after dropping the smoke bomb.

The Pantherex roared at him and chased him as far as the door, swiping apart his armour when she got the chance.

She didn't chase him any further after he left.

Once Grant got far enough away that he believed was safe, he stared at the state of his armour.

"Aww man! The bill for this is going to be huge!"

Then he remembered the others.

"I gotta tell the guys about this. And soon!"

He started running towards the campsite.

Stuart in the mean time whilst all this was going on, had had the most peaceful recon ever.

He had encountered only one Velociprey, had only been stung by a couple of bugs, and had found some new species of fauna and wildlife that didn't try to kill him.

Of course he had seen the explosion of light, sound and then seen the fire from the Shakalaka's that were chasing Alisdair.

"Ho boy." he said holding his head in his hand. "Why did we bring him along again?"

He then went off back to camp.

That night when they had all returned to camp they each took turns in discussing their findings.

"Ok so we know not to go to that cave." Steven said when Alisdair had finished his report.

"Yeah but back to Grant's little adventure........you just sat there and waved at it?!" Stuart asked Grant, trying not to laugh.

"Grant even for you that was a little stupid." Steven said.

"Hey, I'd like to see any of you guys in that situation." Grant exclaimed.

Steven just sat there and looked at him.

"Oh right. Sorry." Grant said remembering how many times Steven had been used as bait.

"The point is," Stuart started, "that we now have a problem on our hands. One, the Pantherex now knows we're here. Two, its a mother still raising its young. So we can't just kill it."

"True. So how do we defend ourselves if we have to fight it?" asked Alisdair.

"Simple," Steven said as he pulled out his Tigrex Armour from a pack on his Aptonath., "we use our escape plans. That means knowing which bombs do what." he finished looking at Alisdair.

"Why are you getting your gear on?" asked Alisdair trying to divert the bomb issue.

"Because my gear can give us a head's up in case the Pantherex decides to pay us a visit. I'm assuming I'm not the only one who brought his gear?"

The rest of them looked at each other and then went to their own Aptonath's and pulled out their gear.

"Right tonight we sleep in our gear, just in case mummy decides to pay us a visit." Steven said as he was putting on his armour.

"I thought you said that the tree cover would keep any flying monsters from landing?" asked Grant.

"Well, I figured if they can't see where they were landing they wouldn't want to risk it, but since we've got a pissed off mother after us............" Steven trailed off as he put on his helmet.

His eyes then briefly glowed as he used the Psychic Ability in the armour.

"We're fine guys for now." Steven said as his eyes stopped glowing. "Just stay out of the Forest tonight."

"Right then, same watch plan as last night?" asked Stuart.

Everyone nodded then went either to bed or to take their watch.

Sorry this chapter took so long guys I've been busy with university and my other fanfic. Hope you enjoyed it.

Next time Chapter 3: To Kill Or Not To Kill?