Chapter 37 a New Ally
A blond haired traveler was walking freely with a lady bug like creature with a scarf around its neck on his shoulder.
"The clouds are moving so fast aren't they Rops" the blond haired man said
"Kau" Rops said and jumped off the man's shoulder and started to run a random direction.
"You want to go in that direction" the man said following Rops
Meanwhile Kiyo and Zatch were walking down the street.
"It's a Sunday and I have to fix the front gate" Kiyo sighed
"Sorry Kiyo, me and Ponygon didn't mean to get carried away" Zatch apologized; earlier that day Zatch and Ponygon broke the front gate fooling around, Dufort was supposed to be watching them.
"Dufort should be doing this, he was supposed to be watching you three" Kiyo said with an annoyed tone.
"Hey mister" a child's voice yelled, a kid ran up to Kiyo.
"Huh?" Kiyo responded looking at the boy.
"Do you know where this store is?" the boy asked showing Kiyo a magazine of toys.
"Cool, Kiyo can we go?" Zatch asked Kiyo while looking at the paper
"No, you just broke a gate now you want a toy?" Kiyo responded then looked around. "It's over there" Kiyo pointed out the store that was across the street and a ways down.
"Thanks mister" the boy said and ran across the street when cross walk sign was still red.
"Kiyo" Zatch yelled out pointing to a car
"What?" Kiyo turned around. "Shit, kid get out of the road" Kiyo yelled while pulling the red book. "I'm not going to make it" Kiyo shouted while flipping to the 2rd spell.
Zatch ran at the boy as fast as he could but wasn't going to make it.
"Rigron" Apollo shouted out, Ropes lifted up the car in the air saving the young boy just in time.
"What?" Zatch and Kiyo said at the same time and then traced back the spell to its source.
The car was put back down on pavement and it speed off, Apollo and Rops left the scene.
"Wait" Kiyo shouted running across the street while grabbing the boy and setting him on the sidewalk.
"He's gone Kiyo" Zatch stated, sensing the mamodo's presence getting further and further away.
"Can you track him?" Kiyo asked looking Zatch
"Shouldn't we go to the store to fix the gate" Zatch responded
"That comes later" Kiyo explained
"Fine, but let me tell Zeno first" Zatch said then pulled out a piece of his hair and transformed it into a puppet, no one noticed since they were seeing if the other little boy was alright. "Go tell Zeno that we found a mamodo" Zatch ordered his puppet; it then turned into a piece of blond hair and flew away in the direction of Kiyo's house. "Follow me" Zatch said playfully and started to lead the way toward Apollo.
Kiyo and Zatch arrived at the park to find a bunch of kids listening to a guy playing music.
Zatch walked up to him without hiding himself.
"What you doing" Kiyo whispered
"He's a good musician" Zatch responded and joined the crowd of kids listening to Apollo.
Kiyo kept his distance but was keeping an eye on Zatch and the blond haired man.
"Try this" a kid handed Apollo a harmonica
"This is my first time using one" Apollo explained but then began playing it wonderfully.
(That's really his first time) Kiyo wondered but was amazed
"Try this one, try this one" the kids chanted, Zatch couldn't find anything for him to play.
"Ok, ok I'll play them all" Apollo said with a smile.
Kiyo noticed Rops (That must be his mamodo) Kiyo thought. "Zatch doesn't think he's a threat or he wouldn't be so close, I guess we don't need to fight him" Kiyo whispered and started to leave
"Your spell book is red isn't it? I saw you pull it out" Apollo said suddenly catching both Kiyo and Zatch off guard.
Kiyo pulled out the red book and took a defensive stance.
"My book is azure" Apollo said in a nonchalant way and lifted up his book showing Kiyo and Zatch, Zatch was still standing with the group of kids.
"Sorry guys I have something to do" Apollo explained to the kids.
"Aww" the kids pouted and walked away.
Zatch knelt down near Rops "What's your name?" Zatch asked kindly, Rops reacted otherwise.
"Zatch" Kiyo yelled
"Don't worry we're not here to fight, and it looks like the boy doesn't want to fight ether" Apollo explained then looked at Zatch. "My name is Apollo and this here is Rops, what are your names" Apollo introduced himself.
"My name is Zatch Bell" Zatch introduced himself
"I'm Kiyo Takamine" Kiyo introduced himself.
Apollo took off his cloak and laid it on the ground.
"So why are you here?" Kiyo asked
"I'm just a traveler, I'm not interested in fighting, I don't care about this battle to be King" Apollo explained lying on his cloak; Rops took out his lunch but then began hitting Apollo on the head.
"Unu Rops doesn't like it when you say that" Zatch said looking at Rops, while sitting down on the cloak.
Kiyo followed suit and sat beside Zatch.
"You see my family owns a business in America, and I wanted to see the world before taking over" Apollo explained. "I found Rops during my travels and people have been challenging us ever since" Apollo explained, Rops started eating a rice ball. "Here" Apollo said giving Zatch a rice ball
"Thanks" Zatch accepted the snack
"So you see we've meet a lot of mamodo, but I never burned any of their books" Apollo stated while holding up his book.
"Unu so you are merciful" Zatch said while eating the rice ball.
"Then why are you traveling with him" Kiyo said and pointed at Rops
"It's fun traveling with Rops plus he's a good companion" Apollo responded
"His powers are useful, but I don't really need them, I just try to travel freely" Apollo said in a calm manner.
"So you're a good book master" Zatch said with a happy smile because he found another good team in the battle for king.
"Do you fight" Apollo asked
"We don't fight everyone, I only fight to make him King" Kiyo said making Zatch smile
"I want to become a kind king who helps protect the weak" Zatch stated with confidence
Kiyo wanted to say more about how Zatch helped him but didn't since Zatch was sitting right next to him.
"My brother also fights to become King" Zatch added
"What kind of king?" Apollo asked
Zatch thought about for a moment "A strict and orderly king, yet kind" Zatch explained
"Well I'm glad we don't have to fight you, it would be better if everyone was that way" Kiyo said then got up. "Well we got to go, got to fix that gate" Kiyo explained and Zatch got up as well.
"It was nice meeting you" Zatch said waving goodbye
"Are you really ok like this" Kiyo asked
"What?" Apollo responded
"No it's nothing sorry, maybe it's because you two don't look truly happy and free" Kiyo said scratching his head. "See ya" Kiyo waved off and started walking away with Zatch following in toe.
Apollo was silent for a moment "wait, you seem to have something I don't" Apollo stated pointing at the two. "You looked really big to me just now" Apollo explained. "Kiyo, Zatch can we fight one another, our books are bound to burn at one point. I want to fight you before that happens" Apollo said getting up and making his point clear.
Zatch and Kiyo were shocked by the person who said specially that he didn't wish to fight anyone.
Zatch stood there in silence for a few moments "I accept your challenge" Zatch accepted the offer with confidence
"Zatch" Kiyo said in a low tone
"Me and my brother were raised to accept every challenge and perceiver, so where should we meet" Zatch asked
"I saw a quarry on my way here, meet me there in two hours" Apollo stated
Zatch and Kiyo came back home to get ready and they found that Dufort had already fixed the front gate with homemade materials.
"Hey Zatch I got the letter, did you finish the job already?" Zeno asked walking up to his brother.
"No we're fighting them in about an hour and a half" Zatch explained
"So why are you here?" Dufort asked
"Zatch wanted to see Zeno" Kiyo explained
"Why what's up Zatch?" Zeno asked
"The book master, I don't know for sure but he has a secret ability" Zatch said still confused about Apollo's aura.
"Is that all this is about? You're afraid of losing" Zeno stated
"No of course not, it's just that this battle is going to be unpredictable" Zatch said still unsure of Apollo's ability.
"Well let's get going Zatch" Kiyo said ready for the fight.
An hour and a half later Zatch, Kiyo, Zeno and Dufort arrived at the battle grounds.
"Oh so will you be double teaming me" Apollo asked with his spell book out ready to go.
"Stupid human that's the coward's way of fighting" Zeno explained then teleported him and Dufort to some high point on a rock for they can see the battle without interfering.
"Well then, thanks for not running away" Apollo yelled across the distance, this statement infuriated Zeno yet he decided not to do anything.
"I have one question, why is it that you suddenly want to fight?" Kiyo asked with a hint of anger in his voice
"That's simple, I just want to fight you" Apollo said in a calm manner. "This is just one more battle it doesn't matter" Apollo stated
"It matters, what kind of reason is that anyway" Kiyo shouted
"Enough fight already" Zeno yelled at the high point
"The child has a point, Rigron" Apollo yelled, Rops shot out ropes and used them to throw a boulder.
"Zaker" Kiyo yelled, Zatch's lightning easily destroyed the boulder
"Show me your greatness" Apollo yelled
"His power is ropes" Kiyo said looking at his spell.
"Rigron" Apollo yelled, Rops picked up another boulder and was getting ready to throw it.
"Time to put him to sleep" Kiyo said observing the battlefield. Kiyo aimed his hand "Zaker" Kiyo yelled
A Zaker at quarter strength destroyed the boulder above Apollo's head
"Let's see you do counter that" Kiyo stated
Apollo started dodging all of the falling rocks without looking up but keeping his eyes fixated on Kiyo and Zatch.
"Kiyo how?" Zatch was confused but he knew that was the secret power of Apollo
(Does he have the answer talker like Dufort? How else could he dodge all that?) Kiyo thought to himself.
"Using the rock I lifted as a weapon, you are smart" Apollo stated then lifted his hand and a remaining rock fell into his hand. "You're not going to win like that" Apollo stated and threw a rock at Kiyo's spell book; Zatch blocked it with his cloak.
"Don't underestimate us" Zatch yelled
"This guy is strong Zatch" Kiyo warned
"Yeah" Zatch agreed
"We can't hold back" Kiyo stated then the red book began to shine
"Rignon" Apollo shouted, Rops fired multiple ropes at Kiyo with hooks attached to the ends.
"Kiyo" Zatch yelled then threw Kiyo into the air
"What the" Kiyo yelled then found himself floating in the air suspended by Zatch's cloak, Zatch was also in the air.
The ropes with hooks followed them into the air but with the ropes exposed
"Zaker" Kiyo shouted, Zatch aimed at the burnable part of the ropes
The lighting burned away at the ropes and the hooks fell harmlessly to the ground.
Zatch then charged Apollo with Kiyo by his side supported by the cloak.
"I won't let you" Apollo responded to Kiyo and Zatch closing in on them. "Rigron" Apollo yelled throwing multiple boulders at them.
"Rashield" Kiyo countered and a powerful shield rose out of the ground blocking the attack and was about to rebound back, Apollo somehow seen it coming and dodged the attack.
"We have to be careful of that spell from now on" Apollo warned Rops.
"Rigrosen" Apollo shouted, Rops shot a powered up version of Rigron at Kiyo and Zatch and threw even larger boulders at them.
"Zakerga" Kiyo shouted picking up Zatch and destroying all of the boulders in midair.
"I've already decided to make you King Zatch so we can't back down" Kiyo told Zatch with the red book glowing even brighter.
"Zaker" Kiyo shouted, Zatch's lightning was so bright it blinded Apollo and Rops but the spell was aimed at the ground in front of Apollo decreasing his vision even more.
"Rigron" Apollo countered, just then Kiyo came out of the smoke trying to land a kick, Rops just threw him aside with the ropes.
"Zakerga" Kiyo shouted
(There thoughts are together and their combinations are sync, not only that but their first spell alone is powerful enough to take us out) Apollo thought.
Zatch appeared above both Apollo and Rops and a high concentrated blast of lightning came down at them with incredible speed, Rops was able to push Apollo out of the way with the ropes, but Rops ended up getting hit directly by the powered up version of Zaker.
"Rops" Apollo yelled out.
Rops barely managed to stand back up with the burn marks all over his body.
"It was able to withstand that attack?" Zeno asked now impressed
"The enemy won't be able to last much longer" Dufort stated while looking at the wearing Rops
Apollo had a flashback of the conversation he had with Kiyo and Zatch. "… Rops lets make you the next king" Apollo stated. "It looks like we have no other choice but to use our strongest spell" Apollo stated with his book glowing brighter
"Kiyo get ready" Zatch warned
"Yeah" Kiyo took a defensive stance and started to charge energy from within into the red book causing it to glow brighter.
"Dino Rigron" Apollo shouted pouring all of his energy into his book. Rops picked up the largest boulder changing the landscape of the battle field.
"I've never felt this way before, so thank you Kiyo but we can't lose now" Apollo stated with confidence
The huge boulder began to lose balance and tip to one side until Apollo gave more power to the book.
"Now for the ultimate spell" Kiyo shouted
"Don't waste your energy" Zatch interrupted Kiyo
"What?" Kiyo asked looking at Zatch
"It's unstable, he's unable to control its power, use two Jikerdors to tip its balance" Zatch pointed to the huge metal anchors barely holding on.
(I see, I wonder why Zatch would risk it though, oh well he's the one with the training) Kiyo thought then took aim
"Jikerdor, Jikerdor" Kiyo yelled and Zatch shot out two magnetic balls of energy
"Damn" Apollo cursed out as he was still having difficulties controlling the spell. "It's all or nothing Rops throw it" Apollo yelled but couldn't make it in time as the two Jikerdors hit the anchors causing them to cling together on one side making it tip and fall to the ground with a thunderous crash.
Apollo fell to the ground completely out of energy from within.
"Looks like you lose" Kiyo said standing in front of them with Zatch
Apollo nearly turned to stone
"Well are you going to finish them" Zeno asked walking up behind Apollo and Rops, Dufort was walking behind Zeno.
"This is the first time I didn't win a fight I wonder why" Apollo said looking up at the sky; Rops took a defensive position in front of Apollo to protect him.
"We're not going to burn your book" Kiyo stated with a calm tone
"Unu you're not bad people, so I don't see why we should" Zatch explained
"Is that ok with you Zeno?" Kiyo asked the silver haired boy
"It's my brothers fight not mine, he can decide to hand out mercy if he wants" Zeno said it in a way which it seemed Zeno didn't care if Apollo's book got burned or not.
Apollo struggled to get up until Kiyo gave him a hand "so is this is it. I think we'll be on our way" Apollo said looking at the horizon
"I would like to hear your travel stories" Kiyo said
"Unu that sounds fun" Zatch said a little excited
"I think I'll do that… I'll come to your house later" Apollo stated
"Hey Apollo… what kind of King does Rops want to become?" Zatch asked looking at Rops
"I would say a King of freedom and adventure" Apollo responded
Zatch shake Rop's hand "When there are only good mamodo left I hope to find that you're one among them" Zatch stated.
"Kau" Rops said with a smile but still hurting from the damage earlier.
Later Rops and Apollo left after they regained their energy and they were happy to find a few more ally's among the remaining Mamodo.