Authors note: Do I have to put an authors note?
Disclaimer: Um, I don't own these trademarks and the candy ones either... Just read it and you'll figure it out (you know The Monster Rancher characters)... Don't sue me!
Part 1: A Wonderful Beginning
Hi, my names Katerina I'm a Monster Breeder! I'm proud to say my monsters are the best and are in tough and ready for any challenger... Well, that's what I'd like to say anyway. Truthfully I'm thirteen and about to receive my very own license and my first Mystery Disk. Luckily I live near the monster shrine so I can visit when I want without any big trouble. My town is very peaceful... Well, all except Lance who is a mean and spiteful boy with a Naga monster. I heard that the monster you receive is destined to fit your own individual personality and heart.
Of course we already knew his monster was just perfect for him and he took it for granted. He eventually became so powerful that he ran away with his Naga Nichiro and never came back... "Katerina, are you messing around again! I told you to get ready for your big day... It's such an honor for you to get your very first monster." My mother yelled, from in the kitchen. I put on a short sleeve shirt and shorts and darted out of my room. "Here is your lunch honey, have a good day... Come home when you get your first monster!" She cried, as I grabbed my lunch pail and stormed out the door in a flurry of my hands and legs shuffling through the crowded streets.
When I got to the service desk in the Monster License Bureau Tory, the manager in whom I had known all my life greeted me. "Katerina, I'm so glad to see you. Come into my office and sign the authentication of your registration..." He zipped, and I stepped in. Talk about using sophisticated words, he had a mouthful to say in the amount of time it took him. I sat down in a large chair at least twice my height and looked up at the tall, young, husky man. "Sign right here on the dotted line and then Geoffrey, the photographer can take you picture for your ID." He babbled, and I picked up the black ink pen with my right hand and scribbled my name... Which just happened to be my so-called "best penmanship".
"All right M'dear just stay right there and I'll go get Geoffrey." Tory smiled, and darted out the door. Why didn't he just call the guy Geoff? He did like a challenging way of putting things.
Of course, like everything that Tory did the guy was rushed in the door with a slam and it was time to show my "pearly whites". I swear at that one moment I felt like I was a prisoner being taken in for an ID thing so I couldn't escape. I was up against a black wall and I was sure my picture would turn out awful. Geoffrey took the camera up and this time I felt like I was at a theme park with some nutty guy with funny hair saying, "Say cheese!" In that funny my nose is plugged up way.
And what did I tell ya? Just like magic my ID card popped out like Grandma Felicia at her belated 50th anniversary with the crusted X- husband of Grandma Brittany. He handed it to me and what do you think I saw? You're absolutely right... Me with that look of terror on your face like you were caught murdering your own bird or something... Pure torture and a half. I took it and half smiled at him... Great I look like a dying cow crossed with my great Aunt Betsy when I knocked her in the head with ping-pong ball at the Fourth of July. Yes, things could get no worse. The first thing I thought was, "Just give me the Mystery Disk and let me scram." Turns out life isn't fair and those stupid people stayed and talked for an entire hour... Without even once looking at me.
About an exact hour later I was handed the disk at last and I felt for once the wind against my face and skin as I ran to the shrine at the end of the town from where I departed from... I hope I get Pixie, she seems to fit my personality perfect. I entered and for once heard the eerie silence that not many people get to hear. Shaking with excitement I placed the disk in the hollow center and ran up to the stand-like place to unlock the disk at. "Unlock!" I called, and hoped for a spirited monster with a pure heart... And I think that's what I got too.
As the disk spinned a white ball bounced down on the ground and slowly it appeared... My very own Spot Dino! I smiled at the small Dino and picked it up and cuddled it. I had never seen anything so cute and yet spunky. "Hello, I'm....Er, I don't know my name..." The Spot Dino insisted, and looked up at me hopefully. "Um, I'll call you Mac... Is that okay with you?" I asked, and Mac nodded. "My name is Katerina, I'm your new friend." I sighed, and let it walk on its own as I left the shrine. "Mommy?" Mac asked, but I smiled and shook my head. "No not mommy, friend." I repeated, and entered my house. The pixie tiger my mom owned jumped at my feet as I entered. "Hey Petunia." I smiled, but I knew it was a pathetic name for such a cool monster.
"Oh, honey your back all ready? Your friend Joey came by with his Suezo... It was quite cute, it was white and gold." She laughed, and I closed the door behind me to feel the cold air-conditioning. "That would be Orion then mom, didn't you use to be a Monster Breeder." I questioned, and got my hat from the closet in my room. "Yes dear but that was along time ago. You can't remember everything... Though I do remember something amazing that people today would die trying to see every day just for a glimpse of it." She hinted, and Mac and I came darting out to hear another one of her amazing tales.
"Well, you see Katerina... It was long before you were born when your father David and I met. We were sent out on an expedition to search the Cavern of Fate and look for the Legendary Monster-" She began but I knew what she was going to say and interrupted her. "The Pheonix bird!" I cried, and made Mac fall out of his stool that we usually use for Petunia. Mother smiled at me and nodded for permission to continue her story. " Well, we went so deep in the cave the light of our lantern burnt out from the chill of the cavern itself... We felt as if we were doomed and that we would never see the light of day again." She stopped, as a small power surge began in the house.
"But of course we made for your here. And I think, if I may say it was the love that bound us together that helped us survive for a brilliant light shimmered in that cavern that day lighting our way out... And the source of that light as we saw with our very own eyes was none other then the Pheonix!" Mom finished, and my mouth dropped to the ground. "No way Mom, that's like im-" I started, but someone burst in the door. "Hey Kristin! Your actually here now, did Tory talk to you that long?" Joey laughed. "And that's not the worst part!" I insisted, and pulled out my crazy ID card.
"Joey, haven't I reminded you that you should knock?" Mother questioned, and I yanked Joey back to my room as he yelled, "I'll try harder next time!" I practically fell over laughing when we reached my room. Just Orion, Mac, Joey, and I sitting in a circle talking. It was our only chance to talk from the crazy world we live in. Then the window popped open and once again I had a visitor. "Hey you guys how what's up?" Clarice asked, coming into my room and joining the circle with her Pixie. "Join the club!" Joey laughed, and in came Abe. "I'm a little to old for squeezing through your window but hey! What the heck."
But his Golem had to stay outside. "Yeah, I think Smasher is a little bit too large to fit through any window or in any house in fact." Abe smiled, being the older out of us all. "Well, I see we all have new friends... And old." Joey noted, and we smiled at Mac and Orion. Then out of no where my mom came in and ruined it all. "Oh, no Katerina! You are not going to start a party in your room tonight, that was yesterday and all last week... I need a break, everyone out except for the original guest. "Op, I better be going then, I practically live in this house." Joey smiled, and left through the window along with all the monsters. "Bye!" I cried, but I knew tomorrows adventure would be even better.
Part: 2 The Power of Eight
Tonight was very tiring. If I can say that that is. My first challenge was muting Mac and Petunia's choir concert that began at the middle of the night for absolutely no reason. The funny thing was though that it didn't seem happy at all. Actually it sounded like a cry for help... I ran to the kitchen where Mac had gone once I had fell asleep. They were staring out the window suspiciously and howling (well, Petunia, Mac was squealing). "What are you guys up to?" I insisted, and they turned to me immediately. "Something strange is out there Katerina... It's terribly powerful, whatever it is. And it's presence is near, we're warning all the other monsters in the town." Petunia chilled, and continued to howl. "Yeah, we believe it's someone even more powerful then Moo." Mac said, and started yelping once again.
At first I was confused, I'd heard of the great Ganki who defeated Moo and became a legend but I thought the evil had ended? I stood there with my pj's on and wondering why all the lights in every house was on. I walked outside with Mac following behind me. I kicked some dirt up under my bare feet and looked up at the clear night sky. "Look you guys there's nothing here... Just the wind and the night." I sighed, but I too felt a presence. Even after I had said that though I too felt an evil. It really did send a chill down your back and make your heart skip a beat. And the silence made it overbearing, so much that I felt like whoever it was was really there. "Boo!" Someone cried, from behind and I screamed and flipped around.
In front of me stood Joey and his smiling face. "Gotcha!" He laughed, and I sighed. "Don't do that again Joey... Why are you here anyway?" I asked. "Orion and all the monsters in town are acting really weird... I think it's Lance, I think he's come back to no good." Joey said, but I wasn't so sure. "This town will be mine..." Someone insisted, from in the distance. "Everything you see Yoshamu, your dream will become mine... I am no longer yours. I am solo and in being so you shall die." It laughed, and I ran behind my house to see to slick blackish purple eyes like a cat. "Huh, who are you? You mind your own business and leave this place!" It sneered, but I took another step forward instead. "Go, he's to powerful for your monsters! Go I don't matter." Lance coughed, but I didn't look back. "Petunia go!" I called, and in stepped the pixie tiger. "Ha, that monster doesn't even compare to me." The Naga replied, stepping into the light. "Then how about us." Clarice and Abe insisted, with their monsters and Mac. "That still doesn't compare but for now I'm gathering my troops. I'll return, I promise you that." The Naga snickered, and slide away unseen. "T-thanks... Um, what's your name, the girl who wouldn't leave." Lance asked, looking at me. "Katerina, why?" I questioned, and I saw Joey get red. "You're really cool... I'm sorry I was such a jerk along time ago before I left with Nichiro." He apologized, and stood up.
"You see I left with Nichiro in hope that I could rule the town... But I was wrong Nichiro had me under a trance and I followed his every command. But soon he became so powerful he insisted on taking over the world and threw me away." He admitted, and looked away into the nearby forest. "That forest is called "The Forest of-" He began but I finished, "The Golem!" I smiled, and realized that all the different kinds of Golem lived there. "Yes, and that's more then likely why he's headed there... It'll take him awhile though because he's gathering his troop of Naga buddies to help attack them." Lance finished,and Smasher said something. "Then were going to stop him... I use to live there before I met Abe." Smasher snapped, and it scared the group. "Whoa, that's impossible Smasher! A group of kids, ehem, and an adult can't stop him!" Clarice noticed, including Abe in this.
Smasher turned away from the group and looked at the stars in the sky. "Do you see that star right there that connects the five together in this endless sky?" He asked, and we nodded slightly. "That star is the Star of Hope... Normally it comes out in an October sky when it's June isn't it? That's a sign that tells you destiny is at hand... With a team like us there is a hope tonight..." Smasher smiled, and we smiled back. "Let's go!" Clarice called, but then we noticed something. Joey was in his boxers, I had my pj's on ditto with Clarice, and Abe already had his jeans and a T-shirt on. I ran to my house and when I entered I saw Petunia quietly sitting on the dining room floor. "Your going aren't you?" She whispered, somehow knowing everything. "Yeah, but I'll be back... I promise." I smiled, and crept back in my room. I grabbed a backpack, food from the kitchen that wouldn't spoil like canned goods, a couple of pairs of clothes, a water bottle, and I put on some socks and shoes.
"I think I've packed wisely." I sighed aloud, and grabbed the necklace Joey had given me. I put it on quickly and snuck out the door... Well, almost. "Katerina?" My mom asked, seeing me ready to leave. "Yeah, look Mom I have no time to explain really... I'll be back okay? Bye." I said, and darted out the door even as she told me to "come back this instant!" I met up with them in the same spot we saved Lance at and left from there. "My mom saw me leave." I told them, and Joey looked over seriously. "They're going to have police reports all over the town for us." Abe insisted, but I already figured that. "Then we'll just have to lay low." Lance said, leading the group next to me. "Yeah, hey I'm tired." Joey yawned, but no one stopped. "So Lance, you seem to know a lot about the Monster World... I like that." I smiled, and Joey went red again, probably from jealousy. "Really, I admire your courage, I wish I could be like you.." He insisted, and I smiled over at him. But I knew I could never like someone who use to work for Nichiro for it was a lie that he was under his spell... I remembered his evil ways, he just had a change of heart that Nichiro didn't like.
The night seemed never ending without sleep and I slowly fell back in the group as I every one in a while closed my eyes and ran into a tree. "Um, Katerina stay awake." Joey laughed, and I jerked them open slightly. "Well, I'm just tired, that's all." I sighed, and saw Mac once again at my heel. "Where are we?" Mac asked to the group. "We're not even close to half way through the forest yet... Just don't ask." Lance told him, and directed the group farther. "Hey, your wearing my necklace I gave you for your birthday aren't you?" He asked, and I shoved it away. "Yeah, why?" I questioned, nervously. I always have had a crush on him but I never told him. I never felt he liked me back so I didn't want to embarrass myself by confessing. "I think we can rest for tonight." Abe sighed, and took out his sleeping bag. Everyone else did too, all except for me who decided to climb up a nearby little tree. The night wind chilled me even up in the safety of the tree and I shivered.
"Katerina? Is that you up in the tree?" Joey whispered, after everyone was asleep. "Yeah, w-why?" I asked, and he climbed up with me. "Well, isn't it cold to you?" He questioned, and sat down with me. "K-kinda." I admitted, and shivered. "Here have my coat." He smiled, and wrapped it around of me. I smiled and sighed as the warmth if the coat lulled me to sleep... The funny thing was though that it was in Joey's arms that I fell asleep in. But I for once didn't mind.
When I woke up I was on the ground in Joey's sleeping bag while he was asleep in his coat. I smiled, maybe he DID like me after all. "Everyone wake up! We're going on now!" Lance roared, awaking everyone up in a fury. "Grrr, I almost got five hours of sleep." Pixie complained, getting up immediately to check her nails. "Eew, dirt!" She insisted, and I rolled my eyes. "Get use to it." Abe sighed, yawning and packing up his stuff. I rolled up Joey's sleeping bag and went over and gave it back to him. "Um, thanks that was really sweet of you." I admitted, and he smiled and took it. "That's the least I could do.. I believe I gave this to you." He smiled, and gave back his jacket to me. I took it and folded it into my backpack. I grabbed a snickers bar and split it with him... Maybe it wouldn't be that bad being stuck in this journey.
"It's getting warmer." Orion noticed, happy that the sun was slowly coming up after an hour of nothing but walking in the silent dark. "I wonder, was my Mom telling the truth..." I pondered, remembering the Pheonix tale. "About what?" Joey questioned, looking at me. I turned to him and responded. "She told me she had seen the Pheonix in the Cave of Fate." I said, and Lance glanced back slightly and can back with us. "You know Katerina, the thing that amazes me is that your family is so awesome." Lance sighed, but I that only saddened me. "Not really, my dad left me when I was five and never came back... He was on a quest to find a --Oh what was it?" I asked, aloud. Thinking really hard. And then I remembered the picture he use to show me... It was of a golden staff... "The Golden Staff of Orion." I said, and Orion stood tall laughing. "Not you Orion, but he was of your kind... It was that very staff that possessed the power to banish evil." I said, and Lance got close. "Your very smart too." He said dreamily, but I stepped that much away. I lifted Mac up and walked away. Disappointed he went back up to the front.
"He's flirting..." I coughed, and Joey snickered. "Good, at least you don't fall for that fake love he was trying to get you into." He said, but I had a comeback just for him. "And I'm sure you know all about it." I smarted off, and walked up near the middle of the small group. Ouch, was that harsh or what? But then it didn't seem so cool anymore. I guess it was my way of testing if he was really true hearted... Though I already felt he really was. "Food." Clarice grumbled, and took out a Payday candy bar. I looked back at Joey as he stared at the dirt. And in came my consciences. "Come on Katerina, he gave you his coat, looked into your eyes, and let you sleep in his sleeping bag while laid out miserable." The angel conscience said, but in came the other one. "Oh, COME ON! Show him your no prissy little girl, punch him with all your verbal assaults ya got and don't give in!" The devil conscience insisted, and it really confused me. "You know you could leave me alone..." I offered, and everyone turned to see me talking to myself. They all shrugged and walked on thinking I was really odd... But of course I was.
After a couple hours the only news was Lance telling us it would be at least another day of walking unless we journeyed through the night... Guess what he picked for us? Yep, we get to walk all night and not even get an hour of sleep until we make it. "Now, about that kiss I wanted..." Lance hinted, and I slapped him. "How about not on my life okay? Haven't I made it clear? Your our director to this Golem place and that's all you'll be! I like someone else." I crowed, and stormed to the back of the group angrily. "Grrr, the nerve of some people." I growled, as Mac followed. "Yeah, I agree." Joey said, and I knew why. Even after all these hours he was still sour about that remark I had made. "Look I'm sorry okay? I just needed to know if you... Oh, forget it it'll never happen!" I cried, once again talking to myself. "Oh, come on Katerina look at him he's hot! Say you love him admit it!" The angel conscience insisted, but in came hot head. "Don't listen to that harp headed nincompoop listen ta me. Kiss him danget get-" The devil conscience started, but I whacked him off my shoulder. "This story is suppose to be PG for god sake not rated X!" I shouted, and Joey backed up a bit.
"Who are you talking to Katerina?" Abe asked, and when I shrugged they went back to walking. "Okay, that was quite odd... Moving on." Joey laughed, and I thought he forgot what I had said. "Now what did you say about if I was-what? He asked, and I took in a deep breath. "I- I guess I wanted to know if you like me." I admitted, but I don't think he got the point. "I've always liked you." Joey said, but he said as a friend. "No, I mean like, like... You know boyfriend-" I started, but he interrupted. "And g-girlfriend... I-I don't know." He insisted, and kept silent for that day... Was it still going to be the power of eight? As we neared the Golem's home we weren't sure ourselves whether or not they were still going to be there... Possibly, were we too late?