Chapter 6: The Blazing Samurai Comes to Neotopia.

Bakunetsumaru, having been pulled from his world to Neotopia's while fighting in a war had difficulty adjusting to the city's peace and quiet.

"Where are they! The forces of the Dark Axis, where are they!"

…To put it mildly.

In a park by the ocean, the headstrong samurai was on the warpath, cutting anything in his way. Luckily, your average Neoptopian had the sense to stay away from an irate swordsman, so no one got hurt. However, that only served to anger the Musha Gundam even more, and in his fury he left a trail of sliced off benches, trees, lamps, and swings.

"Talk, blank-faced simpleton!" Bakunetsumaru ordered, pointing his sword at a mobile policeman. "Tell me where they are, or feel my blade! They're near, I can sense them!"

The mobile policeman was too stunned to reply, so another from behind said, "I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to hand over your weapons. Here in Neotopia, we mobile citizens are not allowed to have-"

"Are you mad!" Bakunetsumaru roared, "A warrior surrender his sword! Never!"

While this was going on, a crowd of cautious but curious onlookers had formed. On the other side of the wall of people, Captain, in mobile citizen mode, held Shute up for a better look at the situation.

To the boy's eyes, it did not look good. "This could get ugly…"

"Come, take them from me," Bakunetsumaru sneered at the mobile police, "If you dare."

Shute looked at Captain, worried. "Don't you think that maybe we ought to do something, Captain?"

"He is not an easy Gundam to reason with." Captain admitted.

"Hold there! Stop your bellowing!"

Shute looked up. "Zero!"

"You!" Bakunetsumaru glared up at the decorative sail Zero was standing on. "Do not interfere, knight of Lacroa!"

Zero glared back down in disdain. "Call yourself a warrior…bah."

Shute groaned. "That's not gonna help…"

"I am a mightier warrior than you!" Bakunetsumaru shot back.

Unfazed, Zero said, "A true warrior knows when to temper his rage with humility and courtesy. You are but a guest here, and you must respect their ways. Sheath your sword!"

"What!" Bakunetsumaru cried, "With the minions of the Dark Axis all around us?"

Zero looked around. "I see none of them here in this peaceful park."

"Perhaps it is their presence in my own dimension I sense," the Musha Gundam considered, "I must return there at once!"

Zero floated down from his perch and gave the samurai a sad smile. "A task easier said than done, as I well know."

Bakunetsumaru's horse trotted up and rubbed his head against his master's. For a moment, it seemed like the Musha Gundam would calm down.

THUD…THUD…

There were gasps and murmurs. Shute's jaw dropped.

A gigantic robot, built to resemble a beautiful and full-figured woman in a toga marched up, wearing a tiara that looked like Neotopia Tower. In one hand was a platform like a painter's pallet, in the other a brush. On her back was a Ferris wheel.

"I knew it!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, "It's one of them!"

Bakunetsumaru leapt aboard his horse, and with a cry of "Forward, Entengo!" the two were galloping at the giantess with reckless abandon.

"…There he goes again." Zero sighed, and snapped his fingers.

One of Zero's larger rune circles appeared in front. Entengo crashed into it, sending Bakunetsumaru flying.

"I'm sorry," Zero told the horse, "But your master must learn to control his temper."

"Oh boy." Shute sighed, and hopped off Captain's shoulders.

"Pest!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, and ran at Zero, swords waving. "You shall taste my blade for that!"

As the Knight Gundam floated away mockingly, Shute leapt between the two.

"Hey, I don't think that thing is what you think it is!" He cried, trying to defuse the situation.

The giantess's 'mouth' opened, and through a speaker it said, "Welcome to Neotopia's new Peace Park. I represent the power of art, to unite people and bring peace to the world."

Shute nodded. "There, see?"

But Bakunetsumaru was nothing if not persistent. "How do we know it's not a ruse, just to put us all off our guard!"

"Calm down, samurai," Zero replied, snapping his fingers. "You need to relax. Stop and smell the flowers."

There was a sparkle of light, and a violet rose sprouted on the tip of Bakunetsumaru's sword, followed by a few more.

"Defile my sacred blade, will you!" The Musha Gundam yelled, and resumed his assault on the knight. Shute quickly tried to calm him down, but the two Gundams only stopped moving when a red rug unrolled between them.

"Be careful!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, "It's a trap!"

"It's a carpet." Shute sighed.

The rug led to the automated billboard for the Park. Next to it, the robot giantess had halted her Ferris wheel and held out her easel/platform in front of one of the cars, and a woman stepped out, carrying a sketchpad.

"Hold it right there!" She called out, "Please don't move, not yet!" She held out her thumb in the universal stance of artists. "Almost done…"

"She and that giant- they're the same!" Bakunetsumaru exclaimed, staring at the woman.

"Yeah, she was the model for the statue." Shute replied.

"You know that woman?"

"That's Margaret Gathermoon," Shute explained, "She's our mayor."

"Ma-yor?" Zero asked, confused. Lacroa was a monarchy when the Dark Axis attacked, and as such, its natives had yet to discover the concept of elected officials.

Meanwhile, Mayor Margaret was walking up to them, flanked by two aides- a human man with a monacle in a dark grey uniform with a red shoulder pad on his right, and a GM mobile citizen, painted the same with a shoulder pad and mustache.

"And…finished!" She giggled, adding the final touches to her sketchpad. "I hope you don't mind, but I just had to try sketching the three of you. Voila! What do you think?"

She showed them her drawing, and the Gundam Force gaped. It was such an amazing picture- not only stylish, but felt so real that Shute was almost afraid its subjects (Him, Zero, and Bakunetsumaru) would leap off the paper.

"Whoa, cool!" He exclaimed.

"Lovely, milady!" Zero, ever the gentleman, applauded.

Mayor Margaret smiled, and then focused on Bakunetsumaru's sword…point. "Oh, are those flowers for me?" She took the roses and smiled sweetly. "You really shouldn't have."

Bakunetsumaru bowed his head. "My pleasure."

"It was my pleasure." Zero put in. Those were his roses.

Bakuetsumaru glared at him. "Your pleasure!"

"Oh, stop it you two!" the Mayor giggled, and walked between them up to Shute and Captain. "You must be Shute, how do you do?"

Shute stared. "Huh? Y-you know me? Really?" He asked, amazed. The most powerful woman in the city knew him! Wow!

Mayor Margaret nodded. "The Chief's told me all about our new honorary member of the Gundam Force."

Shute blushed as they shook hands. He was famous!

"You and your friends have caused quite a crowd," Mayor Margaret commented, "Try and keep a lower profile from now on, okay?"

"Okay."

Walking past Shute and Captain, she waved the onlookers off.

"They're just shooting a movie, everyone!" She told them, "Now, please clear the area so you don't get in the way of their cameras, all right? Thank you!"

Catching Shute's eye, the mayor winked.

Shute grinned. "A movie- that's quick thinking."

-z-

Bakunetsumaru stared out at the sea, a forlorn expression on his face. But he did not see the ocean…not in his heart. Behind him were the rest of the Gundam Force.

"I know you're homesick," Shute said comfortingly, "But there's plenty you could do here while you're waiting to get back. After all, you're not the only Gundam in the same boat. Isn't that right, Zero?"

Zero nodded. "Yes," He said sadly, "I too am an exile."

"…Even now, Ark is under attack by the Dark Axis," Bakunetsumaru said at last, "I cannot stand helplessly by, I must return at once, and wield my sword in its defense!"

"You can't, the Transport Device…" Shute replied, "Are you forgetting you broke it?"

"You cannot blame me for that!" Bakunetsumaru protested, "How was I expected to know what it was!"

"No one blames you," Captain said, "Still, Dr. Bell says it will be inoperative for some time."

Bakunetsumaru groaned.

"Bakunetsumaru," Shute said, "You can still help to defeat the Dark Axis by helping us! C'mon, join our Gundam Force, whaddya say?"

"I am no sword for hire!" Bakunetsumaru retorted hotly, "I fight only for Ark!"

"Calm yourself, samurai." Zero sighed, and made roses sprout from Entengo's head, much to the robotic horse's surprise. Bakunetsumaru took one look at his steed's new decoration before lunging at Zero.

"Stop doing that!" He yelled, chasing the knight around. "Stand still!"

"Ho-ho!" Zero chuckled, "I thought you only fought for Ark!"

"Fight like a Gundam!"

Shute watched the two run around and sighed. "Oh, brother…"

-z-

No one had noticed Zapper or the Zakos climb into the robot statue's Ferris wheel cars, even when Zapper was forced to take one alone when it became apparent that there were too many Zakos for the entire squad to fit into one.

"Zako, no sign of the Gundam Force, sir, zako-zako." One Zako Soldier reported.

"Phew…that sure is a relief…" Zapper Zaku sighed.

"Zako? Come again, sir? Zako?"

"N-nothing! You're absolutely sure the coast is clear!"

"Affirmitave, we're safe, zako," The Zako replied, "A good idea to hide from them in these rotating pleasure-pods, sir. I don't blame you for not wanting to face them again, zako-zako."

As the other Zakos chattered their agreement, Zapper said quickly, "I didn't mean hiding, you animated ashcans! I was just waiting to spring my trap!"

Zapper then left his seat and leapt to the statue's tiara.

"Let's see how they handle a fifty-foot woman with a bad temper!" He cackled, and threw a Control Horn onto the statue's forehead.

The Horn crackled to life as it unfolded, and the robotic likeness of Mayor Margaret Gathermoon's eyes turned red. The Ferris wheel spun so fast that Zakos were thrown off it completely.

-z-

Shute had just plucked the last rose off of Entengo when he and the Gundams heard the crash.

"What's that?" Bakunetsumaru asked, his eyes narrowed. "So!"

The Gundam Force stared as the statue hammered the auto-billboard into the earth.

"I sensed there was danger in that statue!" Bakunetsumaru declared.

Captain focused his vision on the statue's head, increasing the magnification enough to see the Control Horn, and the one who placed it.

"Zapper Zaku." He reported.

Shute nodded. "Right." It was time to move.

And Bakunetsumaru thought so too. "Perhaps this 'Zapper Zaku' will know how I can get back to my homeland… Forward, Entengo!"

"Bakunetsumaru!" Captain called after the horse-riding Gundam as his steed galloped off.

"Hey, wait up!" Shute yelled.

"Come on!" Captain said, "He'll need our help!"

Shute pumped his fist at Captain. "Go for it!"

Captain entered the Re-equip Ring and entered defender mode. Now armed, he rocketed towards the scene, with Zero flying close behind, carrying Shute.

-z-

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Zapper called, "Time to meet your doom!"

Down below and far away, Bakunetsumaru rode towards the rampaging giantess.

"Whoever he is," He swore, "I will force him to tell me!"

And with that, he jumped out of Entengo's saddle and onto the Ferris wheel…

"Nice view, huh?" Zapper chuckled to himself when he saw Captain land down ahead of the statue.

"Cease and desist at once!" Captain ordered, "You are endangering public safety!"

"That's the whole idea, Einstein!" Zapper retorted as Zero and Shute landed next to Captain.

"Hey you dummy!" Shute yelled, "Get offa that thing!"

"Ooh, she doesn't like to be called a thing," Zapper taunted, "You've made her vewy angwy!"

The statue glared down at the three heroes and opened its mouth. The speaker inside glowed to life before firing a sound blast at the trio. The Control Horn's manipulation was going even deeper than usual.

"Get back!" Captain yelled, and grabbed Shute as he and Zero dodged the blast.

"Thanks, Captain." Shut grunted, and watched as Zero rolled and dipped in the air to avoid the sound bullets.

Zapper Zaku laughed nastily at the one-sided fight, when a voice from above startled him.

"You there!" It was Bakunetsumaru, coming down from where he leapt off the Ferris wheel.

"Uh, I didn't do it!" Zapper said, panicking. "She did!" He jumped to the ground and took off.

"Stop!" the samurai yelled.

"I don't think so!" Zapper shot.

"Stop, I say!"

"No, forget about him!" Shute yelled, "Take the Control Horn out of the statue!"

But the Musha Gundam simply followed after Zapper, ignoring him. Shute groaned. Meanwhile, Zero summoned his shield and sword, had erected a magical barrier to block the sound blasts.

"Targeting…" Captain tried to aim at the Control Horn, but had to keep moving to avoid being hit.

"…Can't get a lock!" He muttered.

Shute looked on with growing feelings of frustration. "All I can do is just stand and watch," He grumbled, "Some honorary Gundam I am…!"

-z-

"Surrender!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, fighting Zapper.

"Give me one good reason, horse boy!" Zapper demanded, his back to the sea.

"I won't carve you into scrap metal!" Bakunetsumaru said venomously.

"Hmm, so tempting…"

Then, the Komusai floated up behind Zapper, Zakos armed and ready to fire on top.

"But I have a counter-proposal," Zapper snickered, "We blast you into atoms!"

The Zakos and Komusai fired, sending Bakunetsumaru flying back from the multiple impacts.

-z-

Captain saw the Musha Gundam's plight out of the corner of his eye.

"Bakunetsumaru!"

-z-

"There are too many…even for me!" Bakunetsumaru panted, staring up at his assailants.

The Zakos were about to unleash another rain of bullets when a purple beam shot through their line, sending them flying. Confused, the samurai looked to where the beam had come from and saw Captain, his rifle smoking.

"Captain…you saved my life!" Bakunetsumaru cried, "…Watch out!"

Unfortunately, with his attention on the Musha Gundam, Captain did not have time to avoid being snatched up by the rampaging statue.

"Captain!" Shute cried in alarm as he and Zero saw what happened.

"I'll save him!" Bakunetsumaru declared.

"Really?" Zapper asked, coming up from behind. "And just who is going to save you!"

Zapper fired his machine and gatling guns at Bakunetsumaru, who blocked the bullets with his swords.

-z-

"Forget about me!" Captain yelled as he struggled in giantess' iron grip, "Look out for yourselves!"

"Captain, hang on!" Shute cried as he tried to think of an idea.

"Shute!"

Shute turned and saw Mayor Margaret run up, followed worriedly by her aides. "Mayor Gathermoon?"

"It isn't safe here, milady!" Zero cried, floating down.

"I came as soon as I heard," Mayor Margaret said, ignoring Zero. "I think I might know how to neutralize that statue."

"We're all ears, ma'am!" Shute said, standing to attention.

"See that platform on its left hand?" She asked, pointing at the giant pallet. "There's a switch there for the loudspeaker!"

"That's it!" Shute realized, "Without that speaker-cannon she's nothing!"

"But how to get at it?" Zero wondered.

Before any more could be said on the subject, the statue glared down at the group and fired.

"Stand back!" Zero yelled, and summoned another magical barrier, blocking the shot.

When the fire ceased, Shute made his move.

"Here goes nothing!" He exclaimed, and ran out and at the statue.

"Shute, come back!" Zero cried, and flew after him.

Mayor Margaret simply nodded, smiling. "That's just what I would expect from a member of Gundam Force." Looks like the rumors about that boy were true.

-z-

As Zero kept dodging the statue's sound blasts, Shute leapt aboard one of the Ferris wheel's cars.

Captain saw this and whispered, "Careful, Shute!"

Carefully, Shute made his way over to the platform, while the statue fired at the Mayor and company again.

"Watch out!" Zero was back in front of her, shield ready.

But then, the statue noticed something. Shute was on her easel! Angry, she began to wave her pallet as hard and fast as she could, which, though it was fortunately not very fast, still was enough to make Shute cling to life on the railings.

"I've always hated this kind of ride!" Shute wailed as he hung on.

-z-

Down and away, Bakunetsumaru continued his fight with Zapper when he saw it, Zero's defense of the Mayor, and especially Shute's courage.

"…I see that there are brave warriors in this dimension too…" He murmured.

"Not for long!" Zapper crowed, and charged at the samurai, guns a-blazing.

Bakunetsumaru glared at his attacker, and in one clean stroke, cleaved the ends off of Zapper's guns.

"Someone's gonna have to pay for those, and it won't be me!" Zapper grumbled, glaring at his sliced arms when he found himself at swordpoint.

"Now we will talk." Bakunetsumaru said firmly.

-z-

On the pallet-platform, Shute, slowly and steadily, moved towards the controls.

"Almost…there!" Shute grunted, and then realized something. "She forgot to tell me which one's the switch that shuts it off!"

-z-

The Komusai came down onto Bakunetsumaru and Zapper, forcing them to separate. Zapper quickly leapt aboard and fired its cannons.

"You can't escape!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, but was forced to jump back from the cannon fire.

"That's exactly what I'm doing!" Zapper sneered, "You just try and stop me!"

As the Komusai lifted off, Bakunetsumaru whistled. "Here, Entengo!"

Zapper's evil laugh was cut off as the horse-riding samurai was suddenly above them.

"Kenpu! Tenkyo-Ken!" Bakunetsumaru cut his flaming X into the air and sent it at the Dark Axis.

"Whoa, let's simmer down- not do anything I'll regret-!" Was all Zapper had time to say when the fiery X cut through them, with Bakunetsumaru now standing on the Komusai.

"Open Zakurello Gate! Mommy!" Zapper screamed as he and the Zakos were sent flying through the air. The Gate opened, catching the invading robots in its maw.

"What is that?" Bakunetsumaru wondered aloud.

"Hurry! Now's your chance! Follow them!" Shute yelled.

Bakunetsumaru looked back. "My chance… What do you mean?"

"Go through the gate!" Shute told him, "It can take you home!"

"He's right, Baku'!" Captain yelled, "It's a type of dimensional transport device!"

Bakunetsumaru looked up at the gate, still open. "What… That?"

"You must hurry before it closes!" Zero exclaimed.

Bakunetsumaru needed no more convincing. "Forward, Entengo!"

-z-

Shute, not knowing which switch controlled the loudspeaker, did the most intelligent he could do; He guessed.

"Eeny…meany…miney… Oh, whatever." Shute muttered, and pressed a button.

That did it. The statue's speaker deactivated, leaving it to mutter silent curses.

"Bingo!" Shute sighed, but in doing so he loosened his grip. The statue flung him into the air. "Whoa!"

"Zero!" Captain yelled, breaking out of the statue's other hand. "Catch him!"

Zero was already in flight. "I'm too far away!" Hecursed.

Bakunetsumaru and Entengo were about to make the jump through the Zakurello Gate when they heard Shute's wail. Looking back, he knew he had a choice. Or rather, it was the kind of choice that wasn't a choice at all. Entengo jumped.

When Shute reached the ground, there was an explosion of dirt.

"Are you all right!" Captain asked as he and Zero arrived.

The dust settled, revealing Entengo, carrying Bakunetsumaru and Shute. The Musha Gundam had the human boy by his shirt.

"You are too reckless for one with such a fragile structure!" Bakunetsumaru scolded Shute.

Shute, a bit dazed from what happened, had not the strength to argue. "…Yes, sir…"

Bakunetsumaru threw Shute to the ground and looked up at the statue's Control Horn. "Now, will you leave this to me?"

Shute nodded, and off Bakunetsumaru went, riding Entengo towards the still rampaging (Though silently rampaging) giantess.

"Up, Entengo!" Bakunetsumaru ordered.

The horse leapt up the statue, using the pallet-platform and Ferris wheel as stepping stones. Once they were high enough, Bakunetsumaru leapt off, and sliced the Control Horn into three pieces. The statue's eyes returned to normal as Bakunetsumaru and Entengo landed.

"Way to go!" Shute cheered.

Off to the side, the Komusai tried to fly away as silently as it could. No dice. The statue booted it through the Zakurello Gate.

Shute then realized that the only reason the Gate had remained open was for the ship. Now that it was through…

"Hurry!" Shute yelled, "The Gate's closing!"

Bakunetsumaru needed no coaxing. Saddling up on Entengo, the two set off, riding up the statue's extended leg and leaping off.

"He may need some help." Shute told the other Gundams.

"I think you're right!" Captain agreed.

"Definitely!" Zero nodded.

As Bakunetsumaru and Entengo went up, Zero summoned another rune circle.

"Way to go, guys!" Shute cheered.

With eyes enflamed, Captain took the rune circle and began to spin, winding up his throw before releasing the circle. Up in the air, Entengo had reached the height of his ascent and was about to fall under gravity's law when the rune circle appeared beneath them, carrying the two Arkens up, up, and away.

Bakunetsumaru looked back and waved to the Gundam Force. "Farewell!"

"You're gonna make it!" Shute cheered, "You're gonna make it! Goodbye!"

Bakunetsumaru looked back at the Gate and paled. It was starting to dissipate.

"Not yet…" He gritted, "Not yet!"

Shute clenched his fists. "Come on…."

But, it was to be too little too late. The Gate vanished just as Bakunetsumaru and Entengo reached it.

"Oh…" Shute groaned.

Bakunetsumaru looked back at the Gundam Force and thought about what Shute said earlier.

So be it, He decided, Here I must stay!

-z-

"If I go astray," Mark sang, strumming his guitar. "Gonna last it till next day…"

Captain, back in citizen mode, exchanged odd looks with Shute as he carried the grill out of the Ray family's garage.

"This is what is called music?" The Gundam asked.

"Well, some people call it that." Shute grinned.

"Crowds of people at the Peace Park witnessed today what appeared to be a violent battle between robot warriors…"

"What was that?" Shute blanched, and ran over to the portable TV set where Keiko was watching the news with Nana. "Uh oh!"

On the news report they were showing footage of the battle against the Mayor's statue and Zapper Zaku.

"Uh, you really think you should let Nana watch this, mom?" Shute asked hurriedly, and exchanged worried looks with Captain. "Robot warriors…yeah right!"

"Don't worry, they were just shooting a movie," The news then showed a press release from Mayor Margaret. "Actually, it's quite thrilling for Neotopia. Our city is going to be featured in a major motion picture!"

the Mayor stepped aside and showed a hand-drawn (Her hand, actually) movie poster featuring Bakunetsumaru, titled Blazing Samurai: Neotopia.

"Blazing Samurai…" Keiko read, "He's kind of cute…

"Oh, he's cute all right," Mark commented dryly, "If you like 'em short, red, and built like a trash can…"

"Mark, you're jealous!"

Shute released the breath he had been holding and whispered to Captain, "That was close. Let's just hope he stays outof sight at SDG Base!"

"Captain nodded. "My sentiments-"

There was a horse whinny, and Captain and Shute turned to look. There, plain as day, was Bakunetsumaru on Entengo.

"Bakunetsumaru!" Shute cried, and rushed up to him. "Uh, hi…what are you doing here?"

"I prefer solid ground underneath my feet." The Musha Gundam grunted. That floating castle of theirs had freaked him out.

Shute's family, drawn by the conversation, soon came up.

"It's him, the Blazing Samurai!" Keiko exclaimed, "We were talking about you!"

"What's up?" Mark asked, "What brings you here? Friend of yours, Captain?"

"Uh…yeah!" Shute cried, "That's right! They're old friends…right, Captain?"

"Er, that is right," Captain said, playing along. "We are old…friends…"

"Well, any friend of Captain is a friend of ours," Keiko said, and that was that. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"…If I wouldn't be intruding." Bakunetsumaru replied, somewhat meekly. Like any young bachelor, he held those who could cook and clean in great fear and reverence.

"Good, then it's settled, then," Keiko looked to Mark and said, "Better put another hamburger on the barbecue, then!"

The minute Keiko turned her back, a violet rose sprouted from Bakunetsumaru's head. Shute blanched and looked around. Where was Zero!

"I didn't quite catch your name." Keiko said to Bakunetsumaru.

"Bakunetsumaru."

"Oh. That's a mouthful. Do they call you anything for short?"

Bakunetsumaru didn't quite understand. "…No."

Captain tapped Shute's shoulder and pointed up. Shute looked and saw Zero standing on the roof, a rose of his own in hand.

"Well, come on in, buddy!" Mark invited, and the adults showed Bakunetsumaru in.

"Do you like your burger well-done?" Keiko asked.

"I, uh, prefer that to badly-done?" Bakunetsumaru tried, confused.

Shute looked at Captain and shrugged. "Might as well join them."

Captain nodded. "Right."

As the family, original and new members gathered, Mark yelled, "Come on, everybody, it's chow time!"

"Put on two burgers for me, dad!" Shute said, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"

Entengo gave a frightened whinny.

"Oh, sorry, Entengo!"