Author's notes: So, as I was typing this chapter and testing things in-game, I found out that you actually can't use a Bonus Card to earn another Bonus Card. Thing is, I kinda had exactly that happen back in Chapter 4, but luckily, it was in a moment where it really didn't matter, so it was easy to go back and fix that.

Also, I found out that using the Mega Attack with the Heat Ball does actually move you right in front of the enemy. Don't know why I thought it didn't, but I went and fixed that as well.

Edit: Whoops, accidentally had a Battle Card used twice. Fixed it.

Star Force Ark, Chapter 9: Taurus Fire

After having unlocked the last security barrier, Luna ran up to where Bud stood. "What's that smell?", Bud asked before turning around.

Seeing Luna, Taurus gave a loud growl. "And who are you?!", he asked.

"H-He's huge...", Luna said as she tried to stay calm. Hearing this, Taurus gave another loud growl before noticing something.

"Haven't we met somewhere before...?", he asked.

"Hey, long time no see, Taurus!", Omega-Xis said, catching Taurus' attention.

Surprised, Taurus gave another growl. "Omega-Xis?!", he asked.

"Are you the only FM-ian that came to Earth?", Omega-Xis asked, catching Luna's attention.

"Yup, so far!", Taurus replied, "But that's because I'm the fastest! Don't worry. The other guys'll be here in a bit!"

Changing the topic, Taurus directed his attention at Luna. "By the way, you picked a real loser as a host!", he said, catching Luna off guard, "Strong, powerful people, that's the way to go! On top of that, she's a girl? Did you forget that the gender difference would drop the sync rate?"

"(Sync rate...?)", Luna thought to herself, confused.

"Shut up!", Omega-Xis replied, "I'll win no matter who my host is!"

As Luna was about to speak up, she suddenly heard someone running up behind her and looked back to see Geo, to her shock. After taking a moment to catch his breath, Geo looked up and saw the transformed Bud. "Wh-What the?!", Geo asked as he stepped back, "A-A m-m-monster?!"

Hearing Geo's voice, Taurus laughed. "So you came right to us, Geo Stelar.", he said, catching Geo's and Luna's attention, "Perfect. Once you're gone, that Prez girl will have to acknowledge Bud's strength!"

"What...?", Luna asked herself in shock before looking at her right hand, "(Is this... my fault...?)"

"Wh... You mean that's Bud?!", Geo asked.

"Hey, kid!", Omega-Xis said, trying to get Luna's attention, "Don't just stand there!"

"(I'm the reason Bud turned into that thing...)", Luna thought to herself as she closed her eyes and right hand, ridden with guilt.

Surprised, Geo looked over to Omega-Xis. "(Did her hand just... talk?)", he thought to himself, "(No, wait, there's something attached to it... a head?"

"Yup, you picked a real winner there, Omega-Xis!", Taurus said sarcastically, "Looks like the fear's already getting to her! I'm going to mow you down and take back the Andromeda Key!"

"Omega-Xis...?", Geo asked, "Andromeda Key...?"

"So, you really do plan to attack this planet!", Omega-Xis said, catching Geo's attention.

"The king's commands are absolute!", Taurus said, "Using Bud's body, the destruction of this town will signal the attack on Earth!" This caught Luna's attention. "Now just stand still while we delete you! Bud... No, I mean Taurus Fire! Destro-"

Before Taurus could finish speaking, Bud- rather, Taurus Fire- was hit by a charge shot, causing him to stumble back into the control panel. "Wh-What in the...?", Taurus asked before looking forward at Luna.

Luna, now with her left foot forward and Omega-Xis aimed at Taurus Fire, looked up with a calm, yet determined look. "You're the one who's going to be deleted, Taurus.", she said in an eerily calm tone before lowering her left arm, "I won't allow you to hurt anyone else."

"Y-You little...", Taurus Fire said as he got up, "I'll crush you!"

Stepping forward with her right foot, Luna brought her right hand in front of her chest as she clenched it into a fist. "Wave Battle!", Luna said before throwing her arm to her side, "Ride on!"

As the battle started, Geo found himself floating outside of the battlefield, catching him by surprise before he looked onward, noticing Luna and Taurus Fire standing on the battlefield. "What the...?", he asked himself as he watched on.

Glancing at the Custom Screen, Luna saw as it displayed a Long Sword, a Cannon, a white Ground Wave 1, an Air Spread, a white Cannon, and a white Recover 30. Quickly, she selected the Long Sword, both Cannons, and the Ground Wave 1 in that order, choosing to ignore the Recover 30 for the time being.

Closing the Custom Screen, she activated her Mega Attack and waited for Taurus Fire to make his move. It didn't take long for Taurus Fire to appear in front of her and try to throw a downward punch, which she responded to by activating her Long Sword card. Though it caused him to flinch, it didn't count as a Counter, to Luna's surprise.

After a second, Taurus Fire tried to ram her from the back row, but just as he began dashing, Luna countered with her first Cannon card, stunning him right as he got close to her and earning her a Long Sword Bonus Card. Making use of the opportunity, she quickly used her second Cannon card before moving out of the way, wanting to save her Ground Wave 1 card for another possible Counter Hit later on.

After another second, Taurus Fire moved to the middle of the battlefield and pulled his head back, covering it with both his arms. "What's he...?", Luna asked before a realization came to her. Quickly, she activated her Ground Wave 1 card and tried to activate her shield, but it didn't activate in time, causing her to get hit by Taurus Fire's flame breath. But at the same moment, the Ground Wave hit Taurus Fire, causing his attack to stop.

Wincing from the pain, Luna noticed that Taurus Fire had been stunned and, using the Mega Attack, quickly activated her Long Sword card before noticing that she had earned another Bonus Card, being a Plasma Gun 1, and that her Custom Gauge had been filled up. In that same moment, Taurus Fire recovered, but was immediately hit by Luna's Plasma Gun 1 card, stunning him again as she opened the Custom Screen.

As the white Recover 30 slid to the left, Luna saw as another Recover 30, a Long Sword, a Sword, and a second Long Sword appeared, replacing the cards she used earlier. Quickly, she selected the white Recover 30 and both Long Swords before closing the screen, using the Recover 30 to heal herself before striking Taurus Fire with a Mega Attack Long Sword. As she returned to where she was, she noticed as Taurus Fire began exploding and disappeared.

Finding themselves back in the Comp Space, Luna and Geo watched on as explosions engulfed Taurus Fire. "M-Mega...", Taurus began, "D-Don't be too happy... You may have beaten me... but we'll... Andromeda K... for sure..." As he talked, the explosions began to muffle out his voice before he separated from Bud, with one final explosion destroying him.

With Taurus gone, Luna gave a sigh of relief as Geo ran up to Bud. "They'll be okay now, right, Mega?", Luna asked as she looked at Omega-Xis. At the same time, Geo gave a relieved sigh of his own.

"He's still breathing.", Geo said, catching Luna's attention, "That's a relief.

"That's right.", Omega-Xis replied, "Now that Taurus is gone, they'll return to the Real World soon."

"The Real World?", Geo asked as he stood up, looking at Omega-Xis, "If this isn't the Real World, then where are we?" There was a short pause.

"We're currently inside of a Comp Space.", Luna replied, catching Geo's attention, "It's part of the Wave World, where being made of EM Waves reside. I suppose you could think of it as the space inside of a machine's system."

"EM Waves...?", Geo asked himself.

"Taurus called you 'Geo Stelar', didn't he?", Luna asked, catching Geo's attention, "By any chance, are you related to Kelvin Stelar?"

"Y-You know my dad...?", Geo asked, having been caught off guard.

"Not personally, but I've heard of him.", Luna replied, closing her eyes as she gave a small smile, "But from what I've heard, he seems to be an amazing person that deeply values his bonds with others." Caught off guard, Geo was left speechless for a moment as he grabbed his pendant and looked down at it.

"Wh-Who are you?", Geo asked as he looked back up at Luna, "That creature- erm... Taurus, was it? He mentioned a name, but..."

Luna Glanced at Omega-Xis for a moment before looking back at Geo. "Call me Mega Girl.", she said before turning away, "Try to stay out of trouble like this in the future, kid." She then Pulsed Out, leaving Geo behind with Bud and Zack. After a moment, Geo looked down at his pendant again.

"Bonds... huh...?", Geo asked himself. Closing his eyes, he gripped the pendant in his hand.

*To Be Continued*

Author's notes: Whew, this might actually be my longest chapter so far. I still have one chapter to go before I can officially end the "Taurus Saga", but so far, I think I've actually handled it way better here than I did in the original story. I feel like Luna's reactions to what Taurus said were a lot more realistic as well. But what do you guys think? Feel free to leave a review or send me a PM.