As promised, another chapter! Hopefully larger than the last one, but I'll do what I can until I feel satisfied with it. You all show me so much enthusiasm and attention, I have to put in at least my everything into it.

Chapter 27: Thar He Blows

OR

Sometimes You Need To Look Danger In The Face, And LAUGH

Its one thing to see storm clouds thunder in the distance, its a completely different experience to walk directly under and then into said clouds with the express purpose of finding the creature that MAKES said thunder, with the added bonus of a 12-ton dinosaur that can shoot beams of water thin and strong enough to cut through Angelic plate mail like I Can't Believe It's Blessed Butter.

It was also phenomenally stupid for obvious reasons, but as it stood, I was probably one of the few people in Dark World who could not get immediately eaten in the stormy heights. Why this might be you ask?

Because I was neck deep in a Dangerous posse of pals that would be all too eager to intercept any of that deadly deadly streaks of water or light. They would also (probably bordering on hopefully) be less willing to try and swallow me whole when I obviously had the acceptance of their archetype.

And if that wasn't enough...well, then I would get a close view at the universe in perpetuity for a second time, my Hire's would get 45% of my accrued finances, excluding anything I specifically sectioned out in my will, and my Three Stooges would either sink into a world they were ill-prepared for or rise to be legends. So, really, the usual worries, which just meant they could be dealt with at a later time. Say, 60 to 70 years later when I'm lounging around a nice luxury villa.

Until I got there though, well, I just had to fill the time. A perfectly justifiable excuse to roping down a Native legend and Scottish terror.

This was all I was willing to bet on before I lost the ability to see more than a foot in front of my face, along with a partial deafening from the constant rumbling reverberating through the air. I'm also fairly sure I stepped off the actual mountain 15 or 20 minutes ago, because all I could see was an endless see of nothing in every direction but upward, which was a gorgeous view of rainbow colored stars, each centered around massive moons that were most likely the next closest Worlds above The Dark.

I'd have loved to take a picture of the majestic site, but the same rules that allowed me to walk on cloud like it was solid ground also stated that any I could try and take would either end up too blurry to make out, or make a picture of George Bush eating an extra large hotdog. Learned that lesson early on when I tried to get a picture of Tsuchi smiling while curled around a stump.

So, I kept on walking, and walking, then short resting, then walking some more, above it all, by a technicality. I didn't do anything stupid like poke holes down to see what it was like down there, but that didn't mean I couldn't hear the sounds and fallout of the ideological war below. It just meant that I had some convenient covering, and Bigfoot surprised Monsters in a different way than usual when he plucked an unlucky soul out of the sky for a quick snack.

Finally though, either because we had come far enough or our quarry had grown bored waiting for us, the clouds parted into an empty plateau, confirming that I had in fact been walking on solid clouds, looking like they were supported by the scattered red and blue feathers of the Thunderbird as he stared at us imperiously. To say there was pressure behind that gaze would be wrong. No, the closest way to describe those eyes staring down...was electrifying. Not in their color, but the sheer, barely restrained energy just waiting to be unleashed sparking around and through them. This wasn't like Bigfoot, brute strength that snuck up upon a person before they even realized what they were dealing with. This was a Monster who struck down everything in its path and let everyone know it was coming. Only the truly foolish would try and oppose it.

Which is why I didn't try and tamper down my grin as I purposefully bared all my teeth, staring into those sparking eyes unflinchingly. He was looking for weakness, any reason to tear me apart with his razor sharp claws, because no Monster with his level of power would submit to some sniveling little brat.

That was fine though, because I was the exact same way. If some entitled little shit stepped into my home and demanded I serve him, I would rip off his face and shove my foot so far up his ass I'd have a new pair of shoes, but there was a world of difference between me and the previously imagined situation.

I, had follow through.

Step after step I moved forward, not caring that I was stepping on discarded feathers, pushing down picked clean bones, and assorted weaponry, only caring about the ones in front of each other.

In no time at all, I was directly under him, craning my neck to meet his downward gaze, the electricity running over my skin, but there was no reaction.

Instead, I spoke, words carrying over the charged air.

"You're strong. Strong enough to do whatever you want, however you want, and that's great. That's what I want in life to. But the thing is? This little streak you have going on isn't going to last long once the fighting below stops, and I can't do anything I actually enjoy while I'm stuck in this World. So I'm going to make you a deal. Give me your card, do what I need you to do, and I promise you'll have all the freedom you could want."

Thunderbird cocked his head to the side for a moment, considering, before letting out a "Ssssckkraaaa." that ended with a crackle of thunder. He might not speak English, but I could read his tone, and how he was stretching his talons what he said.

"Oh? Why don't you just kill me and keep doing what you are now? Hmmm, well, then we get to do things the hard way. You might be strong, you ARE, strong, but if you think you can take out your fellow Danger monsters and get away unharmed...well, then I could pass on you anyway, if you were that stupid." I chuckled as I thumbed backwards to where my Gang was waiting patiently, eyes watching.

Thunderbird fell silent at that, the electricity falling flat for a moment as his tail feathers drooped before rising back up.

Thunderbird...bowed his head, reaching into his wing with his beak before handing me down a small, golden rectangle. When it touched my hand, it became the Danger! Thunderbird! card, cementing that I now held claim to his loyalty.

My smile softened as I stared down at the new bond, tucking it away with my others, before patting the side of his head, enjoying the tingle that passed through my fingertips.

"You won't regret this, I promise. If I go back on it, feel free to eat me, I'd deserve it."

I wonder what it said about me that I laughed when he gave a resolute nod, even as the rest of my Danger crew gathered back around us, seeing that they wouldn't be fighting each other.

Soon, I was bundled tightly to Thunderbirds back, held in place by some strategically raised feathers, Tsuchi acting as some reins, and Chupa acting as a sort of seat for me. Just in case I fell, I had Mothman ready and waiting to catch me, while Dogman and Bigfoot were being securely held in his talons.

Now...all we had to do was catch us a Nessie, and then I had some important shit to do.

Like getting back home.

END OF CHAPTER

I was originally going to do Thunderbird AND Nessie in the same chapter, but I couldn't get it to flow together quite right, so I'm leaving it there for the moment. Right now though...I'm really fucking grinning to myself about a possible Toriko story now. Ahh, damn it, why do I do this to myself? ...Eh, at least you all enjoy it. Share your thoughts, let me feel that love, you all know what I'm about and after. Have a great night guys.