Journey of the soul chapter 75

Hey Hunter, did you know that there are over 1 million words in the English language?

Hunter: that's…..interesting, but I don't see what that has to do with what's going on right now?

It doesn't, I'm just trying to distract us from the increasingly dire situation both you and the outside world are in.

Hunter: well that's depressing. Can we get to what's important no-

Spinax: Hey, did you guys know that male Seahorses are the ones that give birth?

Hunter: ooooooooooohhhhhhh

Quickly! While he's distracted! Start the chapter!

Hunter: wait, wha-

Hunter sat on an incredibly uncomfortable metal bed. It was hard and cold, but there wasn't really anywhere else to go. Todd lay unconscious on the bed next to him, shaken from the ride here. Hunter, who had woken up first, knew they were in the brigade base. But where was Don boneyard? And what did he want with them?

"I say we eat him."

"He's literally a talking skull."

"Cool, I like them crunchy." Hunter ignored Spinax and instead decided to wake up Todd.

"Ugh….where are we?"

"Brazil."

"Well that's not good."

"Tell me about it." Hunter tried the door, it was open.

"Then let's get outta here." Before they could though, the two boys heard a strange noise. It was like a ball bouncing, only the ball was made of stone. When the source of the sound came into view, Todd let out a shout. Don Boneyard, or rather, Don Boneyard's disembodied skull head was bouncing towards them. Hunter's Hand flew to his holder, but skipped over spinax's medal. He still wasn't 100%. Thankfully, there was no need to fight.

"Hol' on there pards!" Don shouted. Hunter felt his suspicions confirmed.

"Don Boneyard!" Unfortunately, Todd was a little slower on the uptake. He reared back and was about to punt "Don" across the hall before Hunter grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Hold on! He at least saved us, we should hear him out."

"Why? This is the same guy that wanted the islands to sink, not to mention HES A FREAKING TALKING SKULL!"

"Well, that's sorta accurate. Although I ain't in this pickle by choice."

"The way you talk….."

"About 3 months ago, you an' I wrangled a wild allosaurus."

"….JOE?!"

"In the….well, I was gonna say flesh but-"

"Zongazonga. Evil wizard. Possessed you. After my body now…..god that's sounds weird."

"Seems I don' need to do much explaining."

"So….what do we do now?" Todd tried to wrap it all around his head, "Zongazonga's in Joe's body. We can't go back to the islands now!"

"Of course we can." Hunter clenched his fists.

"Hunter?"

"That bastard has been pulling the strings from the start. This tournament was specifically for him to get a new vessel. If we leave now, then the only people who know about him are gone. We can't let that happen."

"I mean, I know you're brave and all Hunter, but this is a freaking WIZARD we're talking about. Do you want to get your body stolen?"

"No, but I can't just-"

"Hunter, he's after YOU."

"I know that but-"

"You need to run."

"I can fight."

"Hunter please."

"I know you're worried. I am too. But I'm also the strongest fighter on this island, I don't want to sound arrogant, but I'm the best shot we-"

"Stop trying to the hero dammit! You could die!"

"Todd, I've come close to dying before, I can handle-"

"FINE! Get your body stolen!...see if I care." Those words hit Hunter the hardest. Todd rushed out of the room, probably to fly away on one of his vivosaurs. Hunter started after him, but stopped half way out the door.

"Todd!" He shouted, but he knew it wouldn't do anything. This was more than just Todd being scared. He was angry with him, but it felt like it was anger towards more than the argument they just had. He turned to Joe.

"I'm real sorry about all that….uh…Hunter right?"

"Y'know, it kinda hurts that you can remember Todd's name but not mine. Was I really such a different person back then?"

"Guess not, it just fells a bit strange pard. But that not the main thin' to worry about. We need to know howta fight Zongazonga, and we need to know now." Hunter rested his head in his chin, trying not to think about Todd.

"What if we just walk up, knee 'em in the crotch, and then take Joe's body back?"

"That's a terrible plan Spinax."

"It's also the only plan, so let's go with that one."

"Hang on….there was something on the calio tablets about how Zigazaga."

"Zongazonga."

"Zongazonga was defeated…but I can't remember what." A thought occurred to Hunter.

"Hey Joe, can you fit yourself in my bag?"

"…..what?"

….

Professor Scatterly was busy dusting off the caliosteo tablets when the finals finished. When Hunter appeared on his television with a flaming eye and wind whipping through his hair, the professor gave a satisfied chuckle. He had known for a while that Hunter Elwood was Hunter Cloud. His phd wasn't just for show. One thing he wasn't able to expect however, Was Hunter appearing at the doorstep to the museum.

"Good show m'boy! The finale was quite worth the wait if I do say so myself!"

"Thanks doc, can I come in. There's something really important we need to talk about," Hunter said this all really fast, all while looking around nervously.

"Certainly, but why are-" as soon as Hunter was inside, he slammed the door shut and looked for the lock. When he realized the door didn't have one, he leaned up a chair against it.

"What kind off museum doesn't have locking doors?"

"This kind apparently," Spinax replied. Hunter turned back to the professor.

"What's wrong m'boy, you should be celebrating! Especially considering you might be going to jail soon."

"True, although jail is the least of my concerns right now. Doc, you remember Zongazonga right?"

"Of course I do!" Scatterly gestured to the tablets on display in the middle of the room.

"Great. So hypothetically, how would one go about killing zongazonga while not killing the body he's in?"

"that would be-"

"Let's also say, hypothetically, that Zongazonga is in the body of Joe Wildwest. Again, hypothetically, and I would need to fight him while also avoiding having my own body taken."

"….what is it kids are on these days? Methanol is it?"

"I'm pretty sure it's not, but I'm not on whatever it is." Hunter reached into his pocket and pulled out Joe.

"Ain't no trip doc, just looked what happened to me."

"My! A talking skull! That is simply fascinating."

"Uh….doc. We kind of need-"

"What? Oh! Yes, I suppose this is rather concrete evidence. So Joe Wildwest is in fact Zongazonga?"

"Either that or He does a FANTASTIC impersonation with the dark magic and everything."

"I see, in that case. I'll tell you what I know based on the tablets. Zongazonga was defeated by the caliosteo army. Partly because he was in a weaker vessel. This could actually be beneficial see as he's currently in….ah…."

"A 43 year old with creaky joints?" Hunter finished for him.

"….46" Joe replied.

"Yes, that. However, the two major tools used against zongazonga was the ancient guardian as well as the ancient weapon."

"Everything's ancient once it gets dust in it." Spinax commented, "heck, I was ancient for a while when I sat in the holder." Hunter ignored him.

"So where are those now?"

"Based on what I can glean from the tablets, they are within the same temple that zongazonga was imprisoned in."

"That'd be the temple smack in the middle of jungle labyrinth." Joe's teeth clacked together, "but I didn't see an ancient nothing while I was in there."

"We should check just to be sure. Thanks Doc." It wasn't much, but they had a lead to start off of.

"Or you could just let me out of a medal and let me tear down the entire Wildwest."

"As tempting as it is to watch you go King Kong on Zongazonga, we should take this seriously."

"Alright, super serious. Gotcha." Spinax sent a mental image of his "super serious" face. Hunter moved the chair away from the door.

"Be careful doc. This guy has access to everything in the park pretty much. He might be listening right now."

"Nonsense my boy. The park doesn't fund the museum." The professor gave Joe a look, who went back into Hunter's bag.

"Uh….right. Well, I should get going, stay safe."

"Indeed, and when you return. We shall discuss the capability of…soulflame you call it?"

"Sure." When he returns…..

Hunter left the museum and went down the alleyway next to it.

"Albright chief, what's the plan?"

"Zongazonga's definently the threat Alvis was talking about, we should go meet up with him next before we investigate the jungle temple."

"Blech."

"I don't like him either, but we still need to talk to him."

"Fiiiiiine. I don't know why, but I remember that guy just really pissing me off."

"The feeling's mutual." Hunter thought about his hazy memory for a moment as he slinked through the alleys on the way to Lila's apartment building; Alvis would be there. Let's see, he could remember his childhood, a bit of what happened on the dinaurian ship, everything that happened on vivosaur island, and most of what he did while he was in hiding. For some reason though, he felt a similar mental barrier to the one that blocked his mind link with Spinax whenever he tried to think about the final month before coming to Caliosteo. He might be able to push past it, but he would need his energy for whatever comes next. Eventually, he was behind the apartment building when a thought occurred to him. Wasn't Duna with Lila? Well, that doesn't particularly matter, he could talk to them both and that'd be great. What did matter was the sound of a helicopter touching down. Hunter peered over the side of the building, but didn't see a helicopter. Instead, it was the massive television that "Joe" would use for public announcements. Joe's face appeared on the screen, but Hunter could tell that it was contorted with anger.

"Folks, we've got a problem. I'm sure you're all well aware by now that a criminal made his way into our Tournament." Hunter clenched his fists. He expected this.

"Hunter Cloud is a murderous psychopath and I offer you all my sincerest apologies for ever allowing him to even step foot on these islands. He has rigged this entire tournament without me noticing to assure his victory. I can only assume this rigged system would allow him to take over the fossil park. However, he is also incredibly strong and I know many of you carry sentiment for this boy due to him saving your planet." Something caught Hunters attention. Why would Zongazonga say "your" planet and not "our"?

"So, Now we as people of the caliosteo islands must come together to capture this boy. You have my word that he won't be hurt, but I want Hunter Cloud brought to me! He must pay for the crime he has committed against us!" The crowd was moderate in their cheers, but each of them had a strange determination in their eyes. Zongazonga didn't even bother trying to mimic Joe's accent.

"Furthermore, whoever brings Hunter in will had to have bested him in a fossil battle, making them the new Caliosteo Cup Champion!" That was what made the crowd roar. Hunter felt roaring too, from Spinax. The caliosteo cup was their saving grace, and now it was ripped away from them with no say whatsoever. Hunter slowly opened the door to the apartment building and entered while the crowd was fully distracted.

"Damn it!" He shouted, banging his fist against the wall. He was glad Joe couldn't hear anything from in his bag as he shouted to himself.

"Hunter."

"I know."

"We gotta move."

"Right, can't attract attention." Hunter pulled his goggles over his eyes and moved through the apartment building, trying to shield the strange lump in his duffel bag. However, he noticed more and more people were leaving their rooms, probably to Look for him. Hunter moved into the bathroom and locked himself in a stall. He quickly unzipped his duffel bag.

"Gwah!" Joe shouted, "ya got no idea how stuffy it is-"

"Shhhhhhhh!" Hunter made wild hand gestures as he reached around Joe to grab a dark blue pendant.

"What I'm about to do might freak you out, so don't scream." Hunter pulled the pendant around his neck and pressed on of the buttons. He felt the hologram overlap with his body. He could tell it work because Joe's jaw was agape. As he exited the stall, he checked himself in the mirror. A dinaurian that looked remarkably like him stared back. Hunter pulled up his goggles and gave a sad smile.

"Why do I never get to use this thing for anything fun? It's always to hide." He ran a hand through his now light blue hair.

"At least you look fabulous doing it." Spinax replied. Hunter rolled his eyes as he left the bathroom. He waited for most of the crowd to funnel out of the building before walking back to Lila's room. He got some strange looks from passerby, but nothing more. Hunter finally made his way to the room number Lila had told him a long time ago. He knocked on the door and waited. Nothing. He knocked again, still nothing.

"I promised I'd be here." He said loud enough for the sound to pass through the door. He heard shuffling, but still the door would open.

"Duna sleepwalks. She once woke up in my-" the secret apparently convincing enough, as the door flew open before he could finish the sentence. Duna was directly in front of him with Lila right next to her.

"Uh….hi." He said, suddenly feeling very awkward. Spinax face palmed from Hunter's stupidity, then immediately started Shrieking because he clawed his own face.

"I…..I said it."

"You did."

"I'm sorry I couldn't say it before."

"You've already said that."

"I know, I wanted to say it again."

"Mmhm."

"I…I'm sorry." He knew he was too late. He missed his chance to fix things with Duna a long time ago. That's why he was even more surprised when she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder.

"What? Are you okay? Did something happen? Are you hurt? Lightheaded? On your-"

"Hunter Cloud!"

"Yeah?"

"I missed you." Those words held more weight than he could ever imagine. Hunter held Duna close to him and rested his own head on hers.

"I missed you too." Lila joined in the group hug.

"Took you long enough to get here huh?"

"I don't think I ever taught you sass when I was your teacher."

"You never taught me anything when you were my teacher."

"Ouch"

"I swear dude," spinax clicked his tongue. "You've got too many women in your life."

"How's your wife?"

"Dead"

"Then shut up and watch this." Hunter turned off his disguise and looked at Duna, who had turned her head to look at him.

"Hey Duna?"

"Yes?"

"Can you be my Girlfriend?"

"….wha-"

"It's a person who you spend time with because you like each other and might want want to marry."

"…Okay." Spinax let out a girly squeal.

Done! Jesus Christ it feels weird to write the romantic stuff.

Hunter: please don't let that mean that you won't write that stuff anymore.

I mean, maybe? I want to, but it's so different from what I usually write. So. Question of the day….week?...Chapter? Just general question. Should I include a bit more romance stuff between Hunter and Duna?

Hunter: please do. Turtle dove needs it.

….what?

Hunter: Spinax is having an overload right now. He's writing what he wants to say on little bits of paper and having me translate.

Spinax: WWRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Sounds about right. Thanks for reading!