Disclaimer: I don't own Zatch bell

Chapter 3: Protective Intellect

"That is so..."

"Awesome!" Warren exclaimed.

"Well, I wasn't going to say that... But whatever." Lana shrugged. She and Warren had just been filled in on what's going on with their new 'partners' Neo and Sina and their friend Vex.

Neo jumped in excitement, "This is great, now we can become the strongest." He smiled, "Well, when we find Vex's partner we'll be the best." He corrected.

Vex smiled and looked out of the window, he didn't want his friends to see how disappointed he actually was, why couldn't he have found his partner at the same time as the others?

Sina quietly sighed, she could sense Vex's disappointment and walked over to him. "We'll find your partner Vex, I promise." She whispered. "Yeah!" Warren agreed, "If he's here that mean he probably goes to school with Lana and I, right? So we'll just take you book to school with us and it should glow."

"Maybe, but it doesn't always work like that." Neo mumbled, "I hate to say this, but Reala and Alena might need to try and fight us again." He said.

Tory Collins sighed boredly as she walked back to her apartment. "Jeez it's crappy out..." She mumbled, but crappy was an understatement it was a downpour and thunder boomed as lightning flashed throughout the sky. As she got to her door she saw a young boy walking down the street. Sighing, she realized, though she didn't want to, she had to do something.

"Hey, kid!" She yelled out.

Corto looked up and blinked. Walking towards her. "What?"

"Shouldn't you be inside? Where are your parents?" She asked

"I don't have parents." He laughed.

Tory looked at him in shock and confusion, "he must really be messed up..." She mumbled inaudibly. "Just... Get in." She sighed, leading him into her apartment. "I'm Tory."

"Call me Corto." He said hopping onto the bed and throwing her the book. "You're my partner now."

"Wha-ow! What the hell!" She yelped as the book hit her in the face. "What is this?" She asked, setting it on her counter. "Partner?"

"Yeah, I'm a demon and that book gives me my powers, but my partner is the only one who can read the book and cast my spells." He explained.

"I'm gonna get you some clothes and go to sleep..." She mumbled, this kid was a bit off. She handed him an oversized sweater and a blanket and pillow to sleep with and went to bed herself.

Corto smiled goofily and laughed, happy to find a partner.

The next day , Warren had been woken up by a blow to the gut.

"Warren! Wake up!" Neo yelled out loudly, jumping onto his stomach. "Sina and Lana are downstairs waiting on us!"

"Ooohhh." Warren groaned as he sat up, staring at Vex who had picked him out an outfit before staring at Neo, sighing softly, and then smiling. "Thanks... Just, less force next time." He said.

"Got it!" He chirped as he jumped into Warren's shoulder.

"You sure are energetic." Warren laughed before looking over at Vex, who yawned and hopped into his bed, "What are you doing?"

"I'm not hungry, so if you don't mind..." Vex yawned again and curled up, instantly asleep.

Warren shrugged and Neo sweat dropped. "Sorry about him, he's lazy." Neo said quietly as they went downstairs.

Warren slipped on a yellow and red tribal pattern shirt, cargo shorts and white shoes. Heading downstairs he saw the two girls sitting at the table and eating breakfast.

"Morning sleepy head." Lana smirked, finishing off her orange juice. "Hurry up and eat so we're not late!"

Warren nodded quickly and started to grab some bacon. "Has my mom already left for work?"

"Yep, she told me to make sure you are ready and eat." Lana chuckled

Sina hopped down and started to sigh. "You guys need to go and I'm gonna go watch Tv." She said, Lana introduced her to crime dramas and she had become addicted.

Warren laughed a little. "Remote is on the stand!" He called, finishing his food and grabbing his book bag. "Ready?"

Lana nodded and put her shoes back on. "See you guys!" She called as she headed out of the door with Warren in tow.

"Warren! Don't forget this!" Neo yelled, throwing him Vex's book.

Warren turned and the book connected with his face, causing him to yelp and catch it. "Got it..." He mumbled, rubbing his face, waving, and walking off.

Neo smiled and ran back upstairs, hopping into bed and dozing back off until Vex decided to get up.

It was the end of the day and Warren was sitting next to Lana and Marco in math. They had sat by Marco today just to get to know him more, he was a really nice guy.

"So would you guys mind if I tagged along and walked home with the two of you today?" Marco asked with a hopeful smile. Calling Marco excited was an understatement, he still hadn't met many people or made any friends yet. He just wasn't the type to approach people, he usually just went home and watched his younger siblings, it's not like his parents were always gone, he just liked to.

Lana and Warren nodded simultaneously as the bell rang. "Let's go!" Warren said happily.

"Hmm, shall we go find the annoying trio today?" Reala asked.

Alena sighed. "We might as well... Finish them off quickly before Vex finds his partner." She decided, giving her nails a quick check before hopping off of her chair.

Marcus stood and grabbed his book, "Where should we look?" "We could go back to where we found them." He shrugged.

"Or... We could go close to the school." Nyla said with a roll of her eyes, "They will probably be there because their partners are in high school." She explained, checking her nails and heading for the door.

Marcus sighed and hurried after her with the two Mamodo in front of him.

Corto had been dragging Tory around all day trying to find a book to burn.

"I still don't understand..." Tory mumbled with a loud sigh, looking at the book. "But hey... Those people have books, can you fight them so I can go home?"

Corto squinted and beamed, "Reala! Alena! Hey! Guys!" He screamed.

Alena looked over towards the duo and groaned.

"Is that..." Reala mumbled.

"Yep. It's Corto..." She dead-panned

"I'm assuming you know him?" Nyla asked, earning two nods in return as the boy and his partner came over.

"Guys this is my partner Tory! Tory, these are my friends, Reala and Alena!" He said goofily.

"Sup." Tory said with a small nod, "You two were roped into this too?" Both partners of the girls nodded.

"We're headed to the school, wanna join?" Nyla smirked.

Corto nodded excitedly and grabbed Tory's hand, following after the four.

As the trio of teens walked down the street they started to noticed something going on with their books.

"Should they be flashing like this?" Warren asked curiously.

"Hell if I know. I'll call your house and get Sina and the others to meet us." Lana said quickly, pulling out her phone.

"What's going on?" Marco asked, "Anything I can help with?"

"Nah, thanks though." Warren said, brushing it off.

Lana hung up and put her phone away, "They'll be here soon." She said, just the a giant steel whip landed beside them.

Reala smirked and gave a small wink.

Marco stared wide-eyed as he was pulled away. "What the..."

"We'll explain later!" Lana shouted as they ran, thankfully meeting up with the three mamodo.

"Looks like we have company, now we're even." Alena said.

"Umbra!" Marcus shouted, allowing Alena to throw a shadow bomb.

"Ready Neo? Enersio!" Warren chanted.

Neo frowned, he couldn't see where he was aiming, leaping into the air he shot the orbs of energy into different directions, causing them to explode and somewhat dissipate the shadows.

"Sonicarsa!" As Sina was about the let out a screech she was hit by the steel whip.

"Sina!" Lana shouted out, running to her.

Neo let out another barrage and simultaneously he heard somewhat yell out "Vinscosi!" And with that he was slammed by a barrage of vines and soon wrapped up.

"Ahh, Vex!" Neo cried out.

"I'm gonna pull you apart." Corto giggled.

Vex frowned; he couldn't do anything, and it pained him to see his friends being hurt and he couldn't do anything about it.

Marco frowned; he didn't know what was going on but he didn't like it. Walking over to Vex, he grabbed his book and opened it, causing it to glow. "Maybe I can help you out?" He suggested.

Vex watched and smiled, "Yep. Just say the first spell." He said calmly.

Marco nodded, "Wallis!" He shouted.

Vex created a large circular shield and threw it infront of Sina, as she got up, let out her wail at The vines constricting Neo, and he dropped to ground, quickly let out a third and final stream of orbs and ended up hitting the three.

"Umbra!" Was the final spell cast before the three disappeared.

Vex looked up and smiled. "I'm Vex."

"Marco." His new partner said kindly.

"Well I'm tired, so if we could do introductions later." Neo mumbled, hopping into Warren's arms and slowly drifting off.

The trio walked with their partners as they headed back to Warren's. As far as they knew, their group was complete, little did they know there were four more duos they needed to recruit.

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Well here's chapter 3! Sorry it took so long, since I'm still new I've been trying to make sure each chapter is long enough. Oc's should be coming in around chapter 5 or 6 so make sure to submit! :) R&Rc