I've returned from...where I was to give you all another joyous chapter. I'll stop going by the storyline after they defeat Nene. Now enjoy!
''So, someone stole the Extra Seven?'' Rikaru asked and Zola nodded. They walked into a room where Homeron was waiting for them.
''I see you've arrived with another member to your group.'' Homeron said smiling.
''My name is Rikaru.'' the white werewolf introduced.
''Well, let me tell all of you what I found out.'' Homeron said and everyone sat down. ''The woman you're after is named Delphinium.''
''Geez, her again? I'm sick of dealing with her of all people.'' Rikaru said and everyone looked at him.
''You know Delphinium?'' Marumaro asked.
''Not completely. She works for Grand Kingdom but I don't know who specifically. I've been on missions with her before and she really pisses me off.'' Rikaru said and Kristina thought for a moment.
''Oooooh. Wasn't she the one you told me about who kept calling you mutt?'' Kristina asked and Rikaru growled at that memory.
''Anyway, after stealing the Extra Seven, she boarded a Grand Kingdom army battleship called the Norg.'' Homeron said until Rikaru and Kristina heard something. A few minutes later, everyone heard it and Shu headed to the window.
''Are those Grand Kingdom ships?'' Shu asked.
''No. Those battleships are from the Subaru Kingdom.'' Zola said.
''I never did like their leader.'' Rikaru said.
''The Grand Kingdom battleships are headed here as well.'' Homeron said.
''So let's go and get to the Norg.'' Shu said.
''Hold on. We should check in with Subaru's fleet first.'' Zola said and Rikaru sighed.
''Great. Now I have to see that old geezer again.'' Rikaru said sarcastically.
Outside...
'Three...two...one.' Rikaru counted down in his head when he smelled the leader of Subaru Kingdom's scent.
''What are you doing here again you damned werewolf?'' the old man said.
''Shut up old man. I'm not in the mood to deal with your crap.'' Rikaru growled and Zola stopped him.
''We would like to offer our services in the battle against Grand Kingdom.'' Zola said.
''What can these kids do anyway?'' the leader asked and everyone summoned their shadows.
''Does that answer your question?'' Kristina asked. However, the leader just left them there.
''Now you know why I don't like him.'' Rikaru said and their shadows disappeared. Then Homeron walked up to them disguised as the leader.
In the engine room...
''I call shotgun!'' Kristina shouted as they hijacked a smaller Subaru ship. ''Hurry up bro!''
''Coming!'' Rikaru shouted back in his wolf form after chasing some human mechanics away and he hopped inside the ship. He shifted back to his human form just as the ship took off. Then the Subaru fleet came into view.
''Can we catch them?'' Jiro asked and Kluke nodded.
''The basics of this gun are very interesting.'' Rikaru said looking over it.
''Where's Zola and Homeron?'' Kristina asked.
''They're inside the ship talking.''
''So you think. What if they're doing something else? Wouldn't you be jealous Rikaru?''
''Shut up Kristina!'' Then Rikaru noticed the size of Grand Kingdom's fleet. ''Damn.''
''Leave them to me.'' Marumaro said and the battleships started firing.
''What did you do?'' Bouquet asked.
''Nothing!'' Marumaro shouted and Kluke flew right into the battle.
''I'm not ready for this kind of action!'' Kristina shouted holding onto the rail. Then three smaller Grand Kingdom ships started shooting at them. ''Bro, do something!''
''I'm on it.'' Rikaru said and he summoned his shadow. ''Crystal Ice Shield!''
''Sir yes sir!'' Winter Wolf said and he crossed his arms. Then light blue ice crystals started forming around the ship into a shield that blocked all the laser fire. Zola and Homeron appeared just in time to see the action and an ice shield surrounding them.
''Rikaru, can you open the shield so we can shoot rockets at them?'' Kluke asked and Rikaru nodded. Winter Wolf uncrossed his arms a little and a small hole in the shield opened. Three rockets shot out and destroyed the three Grand Kingdom ships. Winter Wolf fully uncrossed his arms and the shield disappeared. ''Which ship is the Norg?''
''It's that small one over there.'' Homeron answered pointing to the ship that was moving slow and unsteady after Winter Wolf disappeared. They flew closer and Shu summoned Blue Dragon.
''And you summoned your shadow why?'' Kristina asked.
''I can send Homeron over with Blue Dragon.'' Shu answered. Homeron, not wanting to argue, allowed Blue Dragon to pick him up and they flew over. Homeron landed on the Norg and climbed inside.
''We'll keep our distance from the Norg. When Homeron signals us, we'll pick him up.'' Zola said.
''Kluke! Incoming!'' Kristina shouted and a large Grand Kingdom ship was heading their way. It started firing at them and they flew out the way until one laser hit the ship.
''We've been hit!'' Shu shouted.
''What was your first clue?'' Kristina shouted back as the ship began descending from the sky.
''I can't control the ship.'' Kluke said.
''We're doomed.'' Kristina said until they landed on another Grand Kingdom ship.
''You'll need to repair the ship Kluke.'' Zola said.
''I'm on it.'' Kluke said.
''Me too.'' Jiro said.
''Me three.'' Kristina said following Jiro and Kluke. Then large robots with shadows appeared.
''We've got company.'' Rikaru said summoning his shadow. Then he smelled smoke and looked at the Norg which was falling from the sky. ''That can't be good.''
''Oh no. Homeron!'' Shu shouted and Rikaru flipped over the robots. ''Where're you going?''
''I'm going after the ship. Winter Wolf, Crystal Ice Shards and aim for that burning ship.'' Rikaru commanded and Winter Wolf's claws turned light blue and the attack shot out. Ice shards rained down towards the ship and Rikaru hopped on one of them.
On the ground...
''Homeron! Homeron! Answer me dammit!'' Rikaru called out until he saw the crashed Norg and ran up to it.
With the others...
''Grand Kingdom's withdrawing? You don't see that everyday.'' Kristina said while helping Kluke fix the ship.
''Where'd you learn to fix ships?'' Jiro asked.
''My brother's friend Rei taught me a couple of things.'' Kristina answered until she sensed great danger and stopped. Her werewolf ears appeared and twitched when she sensed it. ''Hey Zola, do you see anything like danger or anything cause I'm sensing something bad here.''
''Over there!'' Zola shouted. A Grand Kingdom ship was pointing its guns at them. ''Everyone get in and hurry!''
''The ship isn't ready yet.'' Kluke said.
''That ship's about to fire at us.'' Zola said and everyone got in. Kluke started the ship and Kristina summoned her shadow.
''Help us out of their line of fire.'' Kristina said.
''You got it.'' Pegasus said and pushed the ship off before the Grand Kingdom ship fired.
Back with Rikaru...
''There you are Homeron.'' Rikaru said and saw Homeron with four other people from Grand Kingdom. ''So where are we?''
''We're in Brandish Woods.'' Homeron answered and Rikaru stared at him wide-eyed. ''What?''
''Are you serious? Brandish Woods is a very dangerous place for humans. There are a lot of monsters that live here.'' Rikaru answered.
''If that's the case then we should head to Subaru since it's closer.'' Homeron said.
''You expect us to surrender?'' a soldier asked and Rikaru glared at him. His mouth stretched when his werewolf fangs grew and his eyes turned into wolf eyes. The Grand Kingdom soldiers backed away in fear and Rikaru's face returned to normal.
''Ether that or be eaten by monsters.'' Rikaru answered taking off his hat, folding it, and putting it in his jacket. His werewolf ears appeared and twitched. ''Homeron, to your right.''
''Got it.'' Homeron said taking out an electrical device and he threw it at the insect monster. It was shocked to death and two more appeared. Rikaru shifted to his werewolf form and tackled both to the ground. The insects' oddly colored blood splattered on some trees and Rikaru turned to the soldiers, giving them a good view of Rikaru's blood covered fangs.
''Subaru sounds good right now.'' the captain said as a soldier looked into an escape pod.
''Not much to salvage. Not even food for us.'' the soldier said.
''We'll have to rely on my survival skills and Rikaru's senses.'' Homeron said and Rikaru snorted.
''I'll remain in my werewolf form for this unfortunate occasion.'' Rikaru said and he followed Homeron.
''So which direction?'' Homeron asked.
''This should be the right way.'' the captain answered and Homeron looked at Rikaru for confirmation. Rikaru lifted his head and sniffed the air.
''He's right. It's faint but I can smell Subaru Kingdom ahead of us.'' Rikaru said and just listened to Homeron and the captain talking about Logi with a bored expression.
With the others...
''Hey Kristina. Can you howl so Rikaru and Homeron will know where we are?'' Bouquet asked.
''I would love to. However, if I did that then monsters will also know our position and may attack us. If Rikaru howls back then monsters will know where they are and attack them.'' Kristina explained.
''Smart.'' Jiro said.
''I'm going to find them.'' Shu said.
''Alright but take Marumaro with you.'' Zola said. ''Saber Tiger's abilities will be of great help.''
''Awesome.'' Marumaro said and he summoned Saber Tiger. Then Shu, Marumaro, and Jiro jumped on Saber Tiger's back.
''That's just great. They leave us girls here in this crappy place.'' Kristina said and Kluke giggled.
With Rikaru and Homeron...
''It's getting darker out here.'' a soldier said.
''No problem. I can still see in the dark.'' Rikaru said and his eyes started glowing. ''My eyes can act like night vision goggles.''
''Let's hurry out of this place.'' the old engineer said scared and Homeron took out a flashlight.
''I feel very uneasy right now.'' Rikaru said and he looked at the rising full moon. ''The good news for you guys is that there's a full moon which means I'm at my strongest.''
''That is good news. We can count on you to protect us.'' Homeron said until Rikaru turned to his right and snarled. Everyone turned to where he was snarling at to see a large group of Obacks run out towards them. Rikaru ran towards them with his fangs bared and he managed to tackle three of them with his large body. A group of them carried a soldier off and the others retreated. More of them appeared behind the old engineer and took him away.
''Dammit all to hell!'' Rikaru growled and turned his head around to see another group take another soldier away. ''Shit they're fast.''
''We're going after them.'' the captain said and he took off with Rikaru and Homeron following. Then they came upon a large blue nest with the others trapped in what looked like egg sacks. ''How do we lead the Obacks out of there?''
''Leave that to me.'' Rikaru said and he howled. The Obacks charged out and Rikaru ran out towards them snarling. He tackled one and ripped its throat out. The captain started shooting and Homeron threw more electrical devices at them. The werewolf tackled and killed more of them causing blood to cover parts of the battleground. More Obacks appeared and captured the captain and Homeron. Rikaru summoned his shadow and Shu, Jiro, and Marumaro appeared with their shadows summoned. The Obacks released them and ran towards their new prey.
''To think that these are just kids.'' Homeron said and Rikaru agreed until he smelled a familiar scent and growled.
''Well look who I've found out here.'' a voice said. ''I never expected to see you here Homeron.''
''You're too late Delphinium. I know that General Logi is behind this.'' Homeron said and he started running to Shu until Delphinium appeared and summoned the arms of her shadows.
''Look out!'' Rikaru shouted as Winter Wolf disappeared and he knocked Homeron out of the way. The arms shot towards the werewolf and ripped straight through his stomach and chest.
''Rikaru no!'' Shu shouted and the werewolf coughed up blood.
''You damn mutt!'' Delphinium shouted and the arms retracted. Rikaru glared at her and ran towards her with a burst of speed that her eyes couldn't keep up with. He dug his fangs into her left shoulder and she screamed in pain. The arms ripped straight through Rikaru again and he let go. The arms threw him to the ground but he continued to weakly stand on his paws in defiance, large fangs bared with loud snarling. Delphinium held her shoulder in pain and disappeared into the forest. Rikaru closed his eyes and collapsed on the ground in a pool of his own blood that continued to grow. The rest of the Obacks retreated and Shu ran to Rikaru with Homeron following.
''Please hang on Rikaru!'' Shu pleaded and shook the unconscious werewolf, his blood getting on Shu's hands. Then Kristina and the others arrived to see everyone standing over Rikaru. Jiro and Marumaro returned after freeing the other Grand Kingdom soldiers.
''Brother!'' Kristina shouted and rushed over to him. Rikaru opened his eyes halfway and was surprised to see Jiro looking at him with sad eyes.
''Do those eyes mean that you've forgiven me Jiro?'' Rikaru asked and Jiro nodded. Zola bent down and started petting his neck, carefully avoiding the fur stained with his blood. ''I managed to save Homeron before Delphinium killed him with her shadow. He received new info and I would hate for it to go to waste.''
''We're gonna save you Rikaru.'' Bouquet said with tears forming in her eyes while Kristina licked the wounds from his stomach and chest in her werewolf form. Rikaru snorted and looked at Zola, surprised to see her with sad eyes too.
''Please don't look at me like that Zola. I hate to see you of all people sad because of me or anything else.'' Rikaru said and Zola could hear a small amount of affection in his tone which caused a small blush to appear on her face.
''How is he Kristina?'' Kluke asked.
''Thank Kami it's a full moon otherwise he wouldn't be able to heal as fast as he is now. After licking his wounds, I managed to stop the bleeding so he should be fine in a couple of days.'' Kristina said and everyone sighed in relief.
''The Extra Seven is in Logi's battleship right now and Logi is the one who Delphinium works for.'' Homeron said and everyone looked at him. Kluke lifted Rikaru's head and put it in her lap while the white-furred werewolf was sleeping the injuries off peacefully. Kristina was laying down beside her brother and rested her head gently on him.
''We'll leave as soon as Rikaru fully heals up. Kristina, escort Homeron and the others to Subaru.'' Zola said and Kristina nodded. She summoned Pegasus and they flew off on Pegasus' back. Zola summoned Killer Bat and everyone hauled the injured Rikaru in Killer Bat's hands. Zola climbed in his other hand and they flew off with some riding on Blue Dragon and others riding on Phoenix.
That was a close call for Homeron! Read and Review!
