When Destiny Calls: The Master of the Desert: Ragnorak and Roll
By Cale Kuecker (Ashertye@aol.com)
Disclaimer: Sorry about being so long with this chapter, it's just I haven't had a lot of time what with school and the other two stories I'm also working on. Now let's get one with the boring stuff. I do not own Monster Rancher, nor do I own any of the characters from the series. Tecmo owns them. As to the new characters and monsters, yes I do own them, so if you want them to be guest characters in your fanfiction, you've got to ask me first. Also, I have never played any of the monster rancher games; so all the information I have to go on is the anime. That said, you'll understand if I take certain liberties with the rules of the monster rancher universe.
Author's Note: And Melodi Hare scores again with her guess of Nermal and Odie from the show Garfield and Friends being the identities of the baku and the mew guest stars of Temptation. Now we're gonna pick a new character... No peaking. ^_^
Summary: Gali has begun his own assault on the searchers, sending a powerful monster to destroy them. Outclassed and cornered, the searchers look doomed. But fate has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it.
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"Two heads are better than one."
-Unknown
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Prologue
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The sun shone brightly on the white sands of Gali's desert palace, sparkling in the water of the masked monster's white marble fountain. The lush foliage of the baddie's garden sparkled with morning dew as they were tended to by their owner. A golden mask, shaped like an ancient sun, comprised the face of the monster, as a bright white cape framed nonexistent shoulders. The cape was decorated by painted figures that seemed to be of Aztec origin. Hands of golden energy extended from the shadow of Gali's cloak as he moved from plant to plant, caring for them each with the skill and dedication of a master. A dark shadow flew over the garden, catching Gali's notice. The golden masked monster quickly moved to a clearing as a black form landed in his courtyard, careful to keep from destroying the plant life. It had the form of a dragon, but it was much larger, and its scales were blacker than darkest night. Blood red eyes blinked as the bright sun hit them and the dragon's narrow head looked from side to side as it took in its new surroundings.
"Master Gali, I have arrived," the ragnorak said, his voice a deadly growl as he drew himself to his full and impressive height. Gali's cape flapped in the wind generated by the dragon's landing.
"And you look as fearsome as ever, Eclipse. But I have warned you before not to disturb my garden with your comings and goings.
"Apologies Master Gali, your summons sounded urgent and I did not wish to be late," came the dragon/monol's reply.
"I summoned you because I have a mission for you Eclipse," Gali said, his lips unmoving. "Master Moo has demanded that the rebels be eliminated."
"You mean those seven fools who search for the Phoenix... They still live?"
"They not only live, if the reports are to be believed, they have defeated Pixie, one of the Big Bad Four. But Master Moo does not simply wish them destroyed. A human boy and a mocchi purebreed travel with the searchers. Master Moo wishes they and the magic stone carried by the elder human be brought to him alive and without permanent injury. You are free to employ any methods necessary for the others, but the boy and mocchi are his."
"Seems a bit much for creatures barely out of diapers," Eclipse said. "Why does the master want them?"
"Ours is not to reason why, ours is just to do or die," Gali answered. "It would be wisest to take those words to heart. Sufficed to say that there is a position open on the Big Bad Four, and the monster that complies with Master Moo's wish will find himself filling that spot."
"It still seems like a titanic waste of my talents, but the prize does appeal. To call you equal, that would be a pleasure."
"You would not be my equal yet Eclipse, but you would be closer. Now go, prove your worth. Destroy the searchers. Claim a spot on the Big Bad Four." With those words of encouragement, Eclipse's wings once more spread wide as the dragon hybrid tool off into the morning sky. Gali watched him go as a shadow suddenly appeared behind him, blue eyes glowing from it as a painted mask hovered and a black and copper cloak flew out. A gauntlet- clad hand grabbed the single-bladed scythe that materialized beside the body. Joker hovered near his master for a few seconds before speaking.
"This is how I find out about a new position open in this army, second hand information?"
"What are you babbling about Joker?"
"I want to know why you didn't alert me to this situation immediately. I am infinitely more qualified than that scaly wurm."
"I will not have my decisions questioned, Joker. You are forbidden to act in this matter, that is an order." With those words, Gali went inside his sandcastle, leaving an angry Joker alone in his garden. A single plant grew from the ground, strong and vibrant right next to the floating clown. Joker's hand touched the plant and dark energy began to circle it as it's green flesh turned black and it withered and died. His anger vented, the dark monster disappeared in shadow.
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End Prologue
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The sun had almost completed its trek across the sky, casting its red light down on the seven figures that walked through the sparse forest, intent on their quest to save the world. At the head of them all, his faithful friend Mocchi on his back skated Genki. The boy looked to be none the worse for wear do to his experiences mere days ago when he had been captured by the commander of the baddies, Moo.
*That kid's really tough,* Gray Wolf thought as he walked along with the group. The silver hound had vowed not to let Moo sneak up on them again. The other searchers walked along as well, unsure of the consequences of what they had discovered about their seemingly immortal enemy.
*So, after all that, our enemy turns out to be nothing but a ghoul inhabiting the bodies of his victims,* Joshua thought, his chin in his hand as he walked. *I wish we'd known that before we'd confronted him. He seemed to be so much weaker when his body decayed... Not that that will help anymore. What are the odds Moo will ever give us another chance like that again.*
Hare looked around at his friends, not liking what he saw one bit. Even Mocchi and Genki didn't seem to be their normal happy selves. He himself was feeling depressed over what had occurred. *If Moo can just move between bodies like that, he's an immortal.*
"Hey mind waving that cotton-tail of yours in someone else's face for a few seconds, Hare. The last thing I need is another dose of one of your farting attacks," Gray Wolf said, snapping Hare out of his thoughts.
"Will you be quiet you flea-bitten mutt, some of us are trying to think," Hare countered, irritated that the tiger-hybrid would choose such a time to get on his nerves. True to his nature, the Gray Wolf was not about to let himself be insulted, especially by his rival.
"Watch it rabbit or I'll...."
"Do what? As I recall, the last time you challenged me, you were carried away with a concussion," Hare said, a very smug look on his face as Gray Wolf got angrier and angrier.
"That doesn't count! You cheated to win!!" Gray Wolf snarled.
"Is it my fault you're gullible enough to fall for the same trick twice?" Hare taunted.
"In any other situation, at any other time, you would never have even come close to beating me!" snapped Gray Wolf.
"Talk is cheap, wolf-boy."
"It's a pity you can't just settle this right now," Pink Eye said as he watched the two butt heads with each other. Suddenly, both tiger-type and hare-type stopped cold, looking at the pink suezo like he'd just disclosed a secret weakness of Moo. Genki was the first to speak, beating both combatants to the punch.
"That's a great idea Pink Eye!" the boy declared, scrambling to grab a big stick. Mocchi jumped off his back, as if sensing what his trainer was planning to do as he grabbed a stick of his own.
"What was a great idea? What are you up to?" Joshua asked.
"We're making a monster arena," Genki said.
"Genki I don't think we have time for..."
"Ahh come on, Josh. It'll be fun... Besides, these two have been butting heads since the day they met over that tournament. I say it's better they take out their aggressions now than later."
"Well... I guess it couldn't hurt."
"Finally, a chance to wipe out the loss from that meaningless tournament," Gray Wolf said.
"If it's so meaningless, how come you're obsessing over it?" Hare asked. "But it'll be nice to rub your nose in the fact that I'm the superior warrior one more time. Just try not be too upset when you loose."
"This time I'm not stopping until you're the one lying unconscious."
"Okay, we're gonna need a referee to keep this match on the up and up," Genki said.
"What you don't trust us?" Gray Wolf and Hare said in unison.
"Not as far as I can throw Golem here... hmmm." A sudden sly look came to the boy's face as he glanced at his rocky friend. Golem caught the hint, holding up his hands as he responded.
"No, I do not like fighting. I do not wish to participate..."
"Ah don't worry big guy, you won't actually be in the fight. And you'd be perfect to make sure this doesn't get too intense," Genki said, trying his best to get Golem to go along with them.
"I suppose..."
"Great," Genki said as he drew a line down the center of the arena circle. "Now, you two start on either side of this line and we'll..."
"Yeah yeah yeah, we know the way this works kid," Gray Wolf said as he took the left side.
"Just be sure to root for me, you wouldn't want to be on the loosing side."
"I don't know Hare," Genki said. "You're good, but you did need a trick to win last time. This time Gray Wolf knows what to expect. I'd bet my allowance on him."
"Hmph, some friend you are," Hare said indignantly.
"Don't blame him for having sense rabbit. Isn't that right Pink Eye?"
"You're kidding me right? I'm cheering Hare on. He won last time and he'll win this time."
"I'm gonna have to agree with Pink Eye on this one Gray Wolf."
"Gray Wolf strong," Mocchi said as he walked over to his partner who stood on Gray Wolf's side. "Mocchi will cheer for Gray Wolf."
"Well, now that that's settled," Hare went into a fighting stance on the right side facing his wolfish opponent. "Let's fight."
"Ready..." Golem said as his massive hand came between the two. "Fight." In one swift motion Golem's hand raised, allowing both fighters to begin. And begin they did. Gray Wolf was the first to move, utilizing his fantastic speed to quickly create a much larger gap between the two. Once he was far enough away, Gray Wolf began using his torpedo attacks to assault Hare from a distance.
"My mistake last time was thinking I needed to close on you. You hares lack any real distance attacks, so playing keep away is a good way to deal with you," Gray Wolf said as he loosed another barrage of energy blasts.
"I'm not some rank amateur that can be caught like that," Hare said as he weaved and dodged out of the way of the blasts. Suddenly, he jumped into the air. "DRAGON KICK!" Hare's body was accelerated forward as his foot stretched out, catching on fire. The attack never connected with Gray Wolf, but then, it was never intended to. Hare landed, quickly crouching down as he attempted sweep the tiger hybrid's legs out from under him. The wolfish monster jumped over the extended leg, roaring at his grounded opponent to summon a super-strong wind that held him in place. Hare rolled out of the way, ready to attack again, when suddenly, a beam of black fire crashed into the ring.
"What the...."
"Puny rebel scum! Prepare to surrender to the power of the mighty Eclipse," called a loud voice. Pink Eye, Genki, Golem, Joshua, and Mocchi looked up to see a very large silhouette coming down in the path of the sun. His black wings cast a huge shadow, which was only offset by the sparkle of light coming off his As the fire from the blast died down, it could be seen that both Hare and Gray Wolf had managed to survive the attack, though both had scorch marks on their fur where the heat had gotten them.
"Who the devil is that?"
"A baddie... a very big baddie."
"My, how observant you are. I am Eclipse, the mightiest dragon in all of Master Moo's army. His exalted darkness demands you surrender the boy and his monster to me, or be destroyed," Eclipse bellowed.
"We beat out that corpse you call a master only a few days ago, dragon breath. We'll turn you inside out too," Gray Wolf spat back.
"I had heard rumors that a group of nuisances had dared attack Master Moo in his own castle. Perhaps you will be more of a challenge that I thought."
"Better believe it… ARCTIC BLAST!!" Gray Wolf yelled as he leapt into the air and led off with his favored icy attack.
"DARK FIRE!!" A blast of black flame rose to meat the blue beam. The arctic blast was successful in freezing the fire, but it did little else. Suddenly, Eclipse grabbed the silver wolf, spiking the tiger hybrid into the ground so hard Gray Wolf's head was buried in the dirt. The ragnorak lifted off the ground and into the sky. "Now I'll finish you off you filthy, crawly..."
"DRAGON KICK!!" Hare charged forward through the air, his foot on flame as he raced to his target. Eclipse had spotted him though, and was ready. The dragon hybrid disappeared just as Hare reached the space where his target had been. Eclipse re-appeared behind the flying lapine and, with a vicious swipe of his claws, left four very deep gashes in the rabbit's back. Hare yelped as he felt the razor sharp claws cut into him a second time before he fell from the sky. Eclipse raced passed the falling lagomorph, ramming his knee into Hare's back. "All too easy. How you losers could give Master Moo a problem is beyond me."
"NO!" Golem bellowed as he grabbed Eclipse's tail, yanking the flying lizard away from his furry friends as Joshua and Pink Eye raced to see if they were okay. Eclipse was ready however, taking once more to the air and bringing Golem along for the ride. The dragon moved fluidly through the air, turning and pulling off loop-de-loops as Golem struggled to hang on.
"You can't hold on forever rock head. But this is getting boring." The ragnorak plunged downward, turning just before hitting the ground. Golem slammed into the soil and was dragged along as he held onto the dragon hybrid's tail. Finally he was forced to let go, skidding to a halt at the end of deep rut in the ground. Golem's head poked up as he rubbed the aching appendage watching as Joshua pulled Gray Wolf from the ground. The wolf's nose looked broken, as did a horn, and his eyes were closed, but he was breathing. While Joshua worked on reviving the injured lupine, his eyeball comrade was dealing with Hare, who had also lost consciousness. Blood was flowing from six gashes in the rabbit's back and Pink Eye was working his hardest to clean the wounds. In front of their friends, Genki and Mocchi stood ready for battle, much to Eclipse's pleasure. "Ah, the runts, just who I'm after. Come with me without further trouble and maybe I'll let your friends live."
"Fat chance lizard lips," Genki said as he pulled his eye-lid and stuck out his tongue, an act mimicked by Mocchi.
"Be it so." Eclipse charged at the boy sweeping by so fast it was impossible to see him clearly. In an instant Genki and Mocchi were gone, with the boy being suspended above the ground by the ragnorak's claws. "Now I just need to collect your little sweet cake and..."
"I'm right here!" Mocchi yelled as his ball-form slammed into the dragon's head.
"Don't even think I'm down for the count either," Genki's skate-clad foot slammed into the dragon's less protected underside, driving the air from his lungs. Fire escaped from Eclipse's mouth as he and his two passenger's crashed into the ground. Genki and Mocchi crawled from the wreck, singed from the dragon's fire. "Got him," Genki said. In front of him, Hare and Gray Wolf were finally coming to.
"Good work... Genki," was the first thing Gray Wolf said as he hobbled to his feet.
"I hope we don't have to fight any more like him..." Hare said as he stared at the fireball that had engulfed the dragon. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he saw a black from rise gracefully from the flames, totally unscathed by the inferno it'd just gone through.
"You have yet to succeed in handling me rodent, much less any others," Eclipse said as he rose into the air, positioning himself in front of the sun as his wings spread full. Small pinholes of light appeared in the dragon's wings as he looked down on his opponents, casting a dark shadow on the ground below. "I gave you a chance to do this the easy way, but now I'll show you my true power. TWILIGHT OF THE GODS!!!" Concentrated beams of solar energy flew down, widening and getting more intense as they hit the ground, destroying anything they hit. Rocks melted and plants burst into flame as the dragon directed his attack towards the searchers.
"RUN!" Genki said, grabbing Mocchi as he skated off. Golem snatched both Hare and Gray Wolf as he ran past them with Joshua and Pink Eye in hot (no pun intended) pursuit. As fast as they were, the searchers were unable to outrun the burning beams. All seven screamed as the blinding energy fell upon them. Eclipse's attack ended and the dragon looked down to see... nothing but scorched earth. The former meadow had been reduced to a charred and blackened husk just as Eclipse had intended, but there was no sign of the searchers.
"Where did they go?" the ragnorak asked no one in particular, his crimson eyes narrowing as he searched.
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Approximately three miles away from where the attack had occurred, in a rather small cave, a small flash of light occurred as the searchers reappeared.
"Quick thinking Pink Eye," Joshua said as he patted the eyeball on the back. Pink Eye simply fell over, exhausted from the effort of teleport himself plus six passengers over so great a distance.
"What do you know, you are good for somethin' after all," Gray Wolf said as he looked out the entrance of the cave. He didn't like what he saw one bit. Eclipse was still in the air and traveling in an ever-widening circle as he searched for his elusive pray. "But that blasted dragon's not about to give up."
"Eventually, he's gonna find us, even in this cave. We might as well be in a paper bag as here," Hare said as he looked over their temporary shelter.
"Well don't everyone thank me at once," Pink Eye mumbled, irritated by his friends reactions. "This is the only place I could think of for shelter from that burning attack of his."
"No one's belittling what you did Pink Eye, but if we don't come up with a plan we're done for."
"He's still a ways off," Gray Wolf said. "Hare and I should be able to fend for ourselves, you five put as much distance between yourselves and that… thing as possible," Gray Wolf said as he tried to stand. His legs betrayed him, however, as he fell to the ground with a grunt.
"No one gets left behind," Genki said.
"A noble sentiment, kid, but even a pack of wolves knows when it has to sacrifice a member to save the whole," Gray Wolf said.
"Let's not do anything drastic until we've exhausted every other option, okay wolf-boy," Hare said. "We know we can't out-muscle Eclipse, so maybe there's a way to out-think him."
"I take it you have a plan?" Pink Eye asked.
"Uh... not yet, but I am working on one," Hare answered sheepishly.
"RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!" Came a call from outside the cave. "I know you're here, I can smell your foul stench," bellowed Eclipse as his shadow moved over the outside of the cave.
"Think fast rabbit," Gray Wolf said as he watched the dark shape go.
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As Eclipse flew through the air, his rage was steadily growing. That these searchers had been able to avoid an attack that had claimed thousands galled him no end.
*Perhaps these searchers are more of a challenge than I thought,* the Ragnorak thought to himself. Suddenly, a smell began to assault his nose, the odor of human sweat mixed with several monsters. A smile came to the dragon/monol's lips as he surveyed the area. It was riddled with caves, possibly a network, an excellent hiding place, but immobile, making them sitting ducks.
"RRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!" The dragon hybrid called, shaking many of the rocks loose. "I know you're here, I can smell your foul stench. It is only a matter of time before I find you!" How was something Eclipse hadn't thought up yet. That's when an idea hit him. He flew to one of the caves, landing lightly. They were too small for him to enter, but if he couldn't go in, he'd just make the searchers come out. Drawing in a deep breath, the ragnorak let loose a huge burst of fire breath into the cave. All around him, other caves erupted with flame. The dragon watched in delight as several furry creatures escaped the flames, the furry pompoms at the end of their long rodent-like tails smoking. They were curious creatures, with big noses and wearing human-like clothing as they escaped, several racing away with radishes of all things. One in particular caught his eye a light green and yellow furred rodent in a floral print shirt with a big nose that seemed to have trouble deciding which of two perfectly identical radishes. Alongside the rodents, other creatures ran as well. These were much smaller and almost completely naked, save for the tool belts and hard-hats that adorned their plump green bodies. The ragnorak made a mental note to come back and flush out more of the creatures, which looked tasty to his saurian eye. Eclipse was a little upset that not all of the caves had been similarly effected. There was a chance that not all of the caves were connected.
*I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.*
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"Did you hear that?" Pink Eye asked. The eyeball monster poked his head out of the cave just in time to see Eclipse begin his little cave experiment. "Guys, we gotta do something, or that crazy dragon's gonna roast us in here."
"If there was only some way we could sneak out of here and get to the top. When he tried to blast this cave, we could get a rock-slide going and bury him," Hare said.
"Pink Eye, think you could handle another group teleport?" Joshua asked.
"Not any time soon Josh, I need to have time to recharge."
"Then we'll have to sneak up there," Hare said. "It's a gamble, but if I stay low enough I should be able get past that dragon." The searchers shuddered as the cave rocked from Eclipse's assault.
"You'd never make it. I can give that black dragon a real distraction, just don't waste any time getting there."
"Neither of you is doing any such thing," Joshua said, standing between the wolf and hare and the exit. "You're both injured and no match for that ragnorak."
"Joshua's right, you'd both be creamed in your condition," Genki added.
"We need to do something soon, before that dragon flames us," Gray Wolf said.
"We'll think of something that doesn't risk lives, Gray," Genki said before turning back to his other friends. Hare looked at Gray Wolf, and Gray Wolf at Hare, there eyes locking as an unspoken conversation seemed to pass between the two. Quietly, both began to slide away from the group. The rest of the searchers, too wrapped up in planning their escape.
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Meanwhile, Eclipse landed in front of a new cave entrance. He'd already blasted five other caves, only to watch as several more of the rodent creatures came running out. The dragon took a moment to snatch one by the tail and "sample" this new cuisine.
*They do taste good,* Eclipse thought to himself as he prepared to blast the next cave.
"Eclipse!! Prepare to DIE!!!!" Bellowed a figure on the ledge under the dragon/monol. It was Gray Wolf, standing as though he was in perfect physical condition, his very presence seeming to issue a challenge to the dark dragon.
"So you did survive. I had almost given up hope," Eclipse said in a not-so-nice voice. "But tell me, where are your friends little cub?"
"DEAD! Your blasted attack killed them all," Gray Wolf said angrily. "I'll make you pay for each and every one of them!"
"Ha ha ha. You? Make ME pay for anything? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard," the dragon cackled. "And now little one, tell me the truth about where your friends are. I know they didn't die in the blast, no corpus delectable at all. Such a shame, Master Moo wanted the boy and mocchi monster alive. He was even offering a promotion into the Big Bad Four."
"You're never gonna make it back to Moo," Gray Wolf said as he spotted Hare behind the dragon, slowly making his way up to the peak of the mountain.
*Hurry up rabbit, I don't know how much longer I can stall this guy!* Gray Wolf thought to himself. *Genki, I hope you and the others know what to do when those rocks start flying.* The silver wolf suddenly leapt for Eclipse, his mouth open as his teeth sank into the scaly chest of the black dragon. Eclipse didn't so much as wince, swiping away Gray Wolf as if he were an insect and sending him reeling to the ground.
"Fool, did you really think your chances would have improved since last time?" Eclipse bellowed. "And if you think your little friend up on the ridge is going to help you, you're dead wrong!"
"NO!" Gray Wolf. Abandoning the quiet approach, Hare scrambled up the mountain, racing to dislodge the boulders.
*Legs don't fail me now,* Hare thought to himself as he leapt into the air.
"DRAGON KICK!" Hare screamed as his foot struck the boulders right at their base. The rocks began to move, slowly at first, but soon they tumbled down full force. Unfortunately, the momentum of Hare's attack threw the lapine off balance and he came tumbling down the mountain right behind the rocks. Eclipse turned towards the approaching landslide, his jaws opening wide as he prepared to retaliate.
"SPURTING LAVA!" Eclipse called as several balls of fire escaped from his gaping maw, smashing into the boulders and shattering them to pieces. The smaller rocks simply bounced off the dragon hybrid's armored hide with no affect.
"ARCTIC BLAST!" Gray Wolf attacked, hoping the ragnorak was too distracted to counter. The dragon/monol quickly turned around, reveling Hare to be pinned in his arms, and directly in the path of the icy laser. The silver lupine quickly closed his mouth, cutting off the lethal attack, but not before the blast froze half of Hare's body.
"AAHH!" the lapine screamed as his temperature drastically dropped. His usefulness at an end, Eclipse casually tossed his temporary shield to the ground before using his tail to club the ice-firing wolf over the head.
"Now you die!!" Eclipse said as he prepared to crush the two rebels.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiyaaaaaa!" Came a yell as a wheel-clad foot struck Eclipse's jaw. The dragon hybrid looked down to see Genki standing in front of his fallen friends, preparing to attack again. Behind the boy, clearly a distance away from the battle, the other searchers were racing to get there in time.
"You are bold boy, I will give you credit for that. But there is no way you can stand against me by yourself."
"Who says... he's by... himself," a weakened but defiant voice said. Gray Wolf was getting to his feet, energy crackling around his horns. Hare too was recovering from his encounter with the arctic blast, his fists balled up as he stood.
"You persist still? I am stronger than any of you, you cannot hope to conquer me!" The angry eclipse said.
"You may be stronger than any one of us..." Gray Wolf said, gasping a bit for breath.
"...but we're a team," Hare continued. "And together we're..."
"INVINCIBLE!" Genki called. Suddenly, a white light began to emanate from Genki as lightning energy struck both Gray Wolf and Hare, enveloping them in twin cocoons of white energy. Wind kicked up as the two cocoons lifted off the ground just as the rest of the searchers arrived.
"What's going on?" Pink Eye asked. He received no answer from Genki, who seemed to be in a trance as the energy flowed from his hands. The two cocoons merged into one, which steady began to shrink, revealing it's occupant to be a tiger type monster. At first, the searchers, and even Eclipse, thought that is was Gray Wolf. But the coloration gave away to be some sort of hare hound. This one was not the run of the mill hare hound though. While it's fur remained the brown and white normally associated in with the breed, it's other features were off. Long floppy ears framed a less angular head, and it's eyes were not the normal gray of a hare hound, but were instead jet black. Its paws were thicker than a normal tiger types, with long toes and shorter claws. And around the monster's neck was tied a red bandanna. As the light died, Genki fell to the ground, unconsciousness taking the boy as Golem ran to catch him.
"What the devil are you?" Eclipse asked.
"We are Hare Hound, and we are your destruction," the hybrid monster said in a voice that was both Hare's and Gray Wolf's. He floated in midair as serenely as if he were standing on the ground, a fact that was not lost on the dragon hybrid as he rose to meet his new opponent, firing balls of fire as he went. The balls of energy didn't faze Hare Hound as the tiger hybrid also charged. Instead of a conventional attack, thought, Hare Hound got in much closer, doing a backflip and kicking the dragon twice to send him tumbling back to the ground. Eclipse was quick to recover, and looked incredibly angry over what had been done to him. The dragon used his superior strength and picked up a rather large rock, throwing it at the offending brown wolf. The projectile shattered from Hare Hound's charge attack, but Eclipse was right behind it, ready to use his dragon combo attack to flay the wolf alive. He was unprepared for the tiger/hare to change his direction in midair, however, and the attack missed. Hare Hound's bite attack, however, was on the mark, ripping into the dragon hybrid's wing and once more sending him to the ground.
"You blasted mutt!" the enraged ragnorak yelled. "Fight fair!"
"Fight fair?" Hare Hound said in a quizzical voice. "You only demand that because you're loosing. But very well, since you can no longer fly, we won't either." With those words, the brown wolf slowly and gently descended to the ground.
"So much the fool be you," Eclipse said as he prepared to fire a beam of black fire.
"WHITE LIGHTNING!!" Hare Hound called, as a blast of pure white energy lanced from his horns striking the dragon hybrid in the mouth and cutting off his attack. "The golden gift has afforded you a great many victories, especially over those lacking such a distinct advantage. Now, though, you face an opponent against whom you trick provide you with no advantage. Now we see the true extent of your skill... or should we say lack there of."
"HOW DARE YOU!!"
Hare Hound turned back to his friends. "Get into the caves, you'll be safe there."
"What about you?" Joshua asked as he and the others raced into a nearby cave.
"We shall ensure that this weak coward does not follow." With those words, Hare Hound returned to his fight, watching as Eclipse's wings opened.
"TWILIGHT OF THE GODS!!!" Eclipse screamed pouring all of his energy into the attack to drive his tormentor away. For his part, Hare Hound jumped very high into the air.
"ARCTIC BLAST!" came Gray Wolf's disembodied voice, which was soon followed by Hare's.
"DRAGON KICK!" Finally, Hare Hound spoke, calling for his own attack.
"COMET'S CHARGE!!!" The brown wolf flew forward as a ball of ice engulfed him. Soon a fiery coat surrounded the ball as it flew forward at fantastic speed, creating tail of flame that helped to give the attack its name. The energy beams of Eclipse's attack bounced off the comet's curved surface, unable to do anything to protect their master from imminent destruction.
"No! NO! NOOO!!!" Eclipse screamed as the ball of ice smashed into his body, reducing him to a lost disk that was instantly crushed. Hare Hound's attack ended, releasing the brown wolf in time to watch the side- effects of his devastating attack on the mountain. Rocks were sliding down all over the place, covering the caves quickly. Hare Hound looked to his friends. Already their cave was nearly three-fourths of the way covered. The group was trying desperately to reopen the cave, but having no luck. Hare Hound ran as fast as he could, diving through the last hole and into the shelter. As he did so, his body glowed and split as he once more separated into Gray Wolf and Hare, just as the last of the opening was sealed.
"We're trapped!" Mocchi wailed, crying as he stood next to Genki, who was recovering from his fainting spell earlier. Golem moved some of the rocks, only to have more take their place.
"How did you two do that?" Pink Eye asked as he walked around Gray Wolf and Hare.
"We have more important things to worry about Pink Eye," Joshua said as he lit a torch.
"If we can't go out," Genki said as he slowly got to his feet, "then we can only go deeper."
"I'm afraid the kid's right," Gray Wolf said. "There's a lot of old scents here, like this used to be used by a lot of people."
"But there's a chance it's just a dead end," Pink Eye pointed out.
"What choice do we have," Genki said as he led the way, leaning on Mocchi for support as he went, followed by the others. The tunnel lasted for about an hour before the group was confronted by a new challenge. Before them, nestled in a large cavern, was...
"A maze!!" the group cried in unison. None of them noticed the dark shadow approaching them from behind.
To be continued....
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Up next is my version of Underground Adventure, where the searchers must defeat the deadly labyrinth, as well deal with it's deadly guardian. But just how did Hare and Gray Wolf merge to become that super Hare Hound? And who is it sneaking up behind them. Be here next time for "The Underground Labyrinth."
By Cale Kuecker (Ashertye@aol.com)
Disclaimer: Sorry about being so long with this chapter, it's just I haven't had a lot of time what with school and the other two stories I'm also working on. Now let's get one with the boring stuff. I do not own Monster Rancher, nor do I own any of the characters from the series. Tecmo owns them. As to the new characters and monsters, yes I do own them, so if you want them to be guest characters in your fanfiction, you've got to ask me first. Also, I have never played any of the monster rancher games; so all the information I have to go on is the anime. That said, you'll understand if I take certain liberties with the rules of the monster rancher universe.
Author's Note: And Melodi Hare scores again with her guess of Nermal and Odie from the show Garfield and Friends being the identities of the baku and the mew guest stars of Temptation. Now we're gonna pick a new character... No peaking. ^_^
Summary: Gali has begun his own assault on the searchers, sending a powerful monster to destroy them. Outclassed and cornered, the searchers look doomed. But fate has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it.
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"Two heads are better than one."
-Unknown
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Prologue
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The sun shone brightly on the white sands of Gali's desert palace, sparkling in the water of the masked monster's white marble fountain. The lush foliage of the baddie's garden sparkled with morning dew as they were tended to by their owner. A golden mask, shaped like an ancient sun, comprised the face of the monster, as a bright white cape framed nonexistent shoulders. The cape was decorated by painted figures that seemed to be of Aztec origin. Hands of golden energy extended from the shadow of Gali's cloak as he moved from plant to plant, caring for them each with the skill and dedication of a master. A dark shadow flew over the garden, catching Gali's notice. The golden masked monster quickly moved to a clearing as a black form landed in his courtyard, careful to keep from destroying the plant life. It had the form of a dragon, but it was much larger, and its scales were blacker than darkest night. Blood red eyes blinked as the bright sun hit them and the dragon's narrow head looked from side to side as it took in its new surroundings.
"Master Gali, I have arrived," the ragnorak said, his voice a deadly growl as he drew himself to his full and impressive height. Gali's cape flapped in the wind generated by the dragon's landing.
"And you look as fearsome as ever, Eclipse. But I have warned you before not to disturb my garden with your comings and goings.
"Apologies Master Gali, your summons sounded urgent and I did not wish to be late," came the dragon/monol's reply.
"I summoned you because I have a mission for you Eclipse," Gali said, his lips unmoving. "Master Moo has demanded that the rebels be eliminated."
"You mean those seven fools who search for the Phoenix... They still live?"
"They not only live, if the reports are to be believed, they have defeated Pixie, one of the Big Bad Four. But Master Moo does not simply wish them destroyed. A human boy and a mocchi purebreed travel with the searchers. Master Moo wishes they and the magic stone carried by the elder human be brought to him alive and without permanent injury. You are free to employ any methods necessary for the others, but the boy and mocchi are his."
"Seems a bit much for creatures barely out of diapers," Eclipse said. "Why does the master want them?"
"Ours is not to reason why, ours is just to do or die," Gali answered. "It would be wisest to take those words to heart. Sufficed to say that there is a position open on the Big Bad Four, and the monster that complies with Master Moo's wish will find himself filling that spot."
"It still seems like a titanic waste of my talents, but the prize does appeal. To call you equal, that would be a pleasure."
"You would not be my equal yet Eclipse, but you would be closer. Now go, prove your worth. Destroy the searchers. Claim a spot on the Big Bad Four." With those words of encouragement, Eclipse's wings once more spread wide as the dragon hybrid tool off into the morning sky. Gali watched him go as a shadow suddenly appeared behind him, blue eyes glowing from it as a painted mask hovered and a black and copper cloak flew out. A gauntlet- clad hand grabbed the single-bladed scythe that materialized beside the body. Joker hovered near his master for a few seconds before speaking.
"This is how I find out about a new position open in this army, second hand information?"
"What are you babbling about Joker?"
"I want to know why you didn't alert me to this situation immediately. I am infinitely more qualified than that scaly wurm."
"I will not have my decisions questioned, Joker. You are forbidden to act in this matter, that is an order." With those words, Gali went inside his sandcastle, leaving an angry Joker alone in his garden. A single plant grew from the ground, strong and vibrant right next to the floating clown. Joker's hand touched the plant and dark energy began to circle it as it's green flesh turned black and it withered and died. His anger vented, the dark monster disappeared in shadow.
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End Prologue
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The sun had almost completed its trek across the sky, casting its red light down on the seven figures that walked through the sparse forest, intent on their quest to save the world. At the head of them all, his faithful friend Mocchi on his back skated Genki. The boy looked to be none the worse for wear do to his experiences mere days ago when he had been captured by the commander of the baddies, Moo.
*That kid's really tough,* Gray Wolf thought as he walked along with the group. The silver hound had vowed not to let Moo sneak up on them again. The other searchers walked along as well, unsure of the consequences of what they had discovered about their seemingly immortal enemy.
*So, after all that, our enemy turns out to be nothing but a ghoul inhabiting the bodies of his victims,* Joshua thought, his chin in his hand as he walked. *I wish we'd known that before we'd confronted him. He seemed to be so much weaker when his body decayed... Not that that will help anymore. What are the odds Moo will ever give us another chance like that again.*
Hare looked around at his friends, not liking what he saw one bit. Even Mocchi and Genki didn't seem to be their normal happy selves. He himself was feeling depressed over what had occurred. *If Moo can just move between bodies like that, he's an immortal.*
"Hey mind waving that cotton-tail of yours in someone else's face for a few seconds, Hare. The last thing I need is another dose of one of your farting attacks," Gray Wolf said, snapping Hare out of his thoughts.
"Will you be quiet you flea-bitten mutt, some of us are trying to think," Hare countered, irritated that the tiger-hybrid would choose such a time to get on his nerves. True to his nature, the Gray Wolf was not about to let himself be insulted, especially by his rival.
"Watch it rabbit or I'll...."
"Do what? As I recall, the last time you challenged me, you were carried away with a concussion," Hare said, a very smug look on his face as Gray Wolf got angrier and angrier.
"That doesn't count! You cheated to win!!" Gray Wolf snarled.
"Is it my fault you're gullible enough to fall for the same trick twice?" Hare taunted.
"In any other situation, at any other time, you would never have even come close to beating me!" snapped Gray Wolf.
"Talk is cheap, wolf-boy."
"It's a pity you can't just settle this right now," Pink Eye said as he watched the two butt heads with each other. Suddenly, both tiger-type and hare-type stopped cold, looking at the pink suezo like he'd just disclosed a secret weakness of Moo. Genki was the first to speak, beating both combatants to the punch.
"That's a great idea Pink Eye!" the boy declared, scrambling to grab a big stick. Mocchi jumped off his back, as if sensing what his trainer was planning to do as he grabbed a stick of his own.
"What was a great idea? What are you up to?" Joshua asked.
"We're making a monster arena," Genki said.
"Genki I don't think we have time for..."
"Ahh come on, Josh. It'll be fun... Besides, these two have been butting heads since the day they met over that tournament. I say it's better they take out their aggressions now than later."
"Well... I guess it couldn't hurt."
"Finally, a chance to wipe out the loss from that meaningless tournament," Gray Wolf said.
"If it's so meaningless, how come you're obsessing over it?" Hare asked. "But it'll be nice to rub your nose in the fact that I'm the superior warrior one more time. Just try not be too upset when you loose."
"This time I'm not stopping until you're the one lying unconscious."
"Okay, we're gonna need a referee to keep this match on the up and up," Genki said.
"What you don't trust us?" Gray Wolf and Hare said in unison.
"Not as far as I can throw Golem here... hmmm." A sudden sly look came to the boy's face as he glanced at his rocky friend. Golem caught the hint, holding up his hands as he responded.
"No, I do not like fighting. I do not wish to participate..."
"Ah don't worry big guy, you won't actually be in the fight. And you'd be perfect to make sure this doesn't get too intense," Genki said, trying his best to get Golem to go along with them.
"I suppose..."
"Great," Genki said as he drew a line down the center of the arena circle. "Now, you two start on either side of this line and we'll..."
"Yeah yeah yeah, we know the way this works kid," Gray Wolf said as he took the left side.
"Just be sure to root for me, you wouldn't want to be on the loosing side."
"I don't know Hare," Genki said. "You're good, but you did need a trick to win last time. This time Gray Wolf knows what to expect. I'd bet my allowance on him."
"Hmph, some friend you are," Hare said indignantly.
"Don't blame him for having sense rabbit. Isn't that right Pink Eye?"
"You're kidding me right? I'm cheering Hare on. He won last time and he'll win this time."
"I'm gonna have to agree with Pink Eye on this one Gray Wolf."
"Gray Wolf strong," Mocchi said as he walked over to his partner who stood on Gray Wolf's side. "Mocchi will cheer for Gray Wolf."
"Well, now that that's settled," Hare went into a fighting stance on the right side facing his wolfish opponent. "Let's fight."
"Ready..." Golem said as his massive hand came between the two. "Fight." In one swift motion Golem's hand raised, allowing both fighters to begin. And begin they did. Gray Wolf was the first to move, utilizing his fantastic speed to quickly create a much larger gap between the two. Once he was far enough away, Gray Wolf began using his torpedo attacks to assault Hare from a distance.
"My mistake last time was thinking I needed to close on you. You hares lack any real distance attacks, so playing keep away is a good way to deal with you," Gray Wolf said as he loosed another barrage of energy blasts.
"I'm not some rank amateur that can be caught like that," Hare said as he weaved and dodged out of the way of the blasts. Suddenly, he jumped into the air. "DRAGON KICK!" Hare's body was accelerated forward as his foot stretched out, catching on fire. The attack never connected with Gray Wolf, but then, it was never intended to. Hare landed, quickly crouching down as he attempted sweep the tiger hybrid's legs out from under him. The wolfish monster jumped over the extended leg, roaring at his grounded opponent to summon a super-strong wind that held him in place. Hare rolled out of the way, ready to attack again, when suddenly, a beam of black fire crashed into the ring.
"What the...."
"Puny rebel scum! Prepare to surrender to the power of the mighty Eclipse," called a loud voice. Pink Eye, Genki, Golem, Joshua, and Mocchi looked up to see a very large silhouette coming down in the path of the sun. His black wings cast a huge shadow, which was only offset by the sparkle of light coming off his As the fire from the blast died down, it could be seen that both Hare and Gray Wolf had managed to survive the attack, though both had scorch marks on their fur where the heat had gotten them.
"Who the devil is that?"
"A baddie... a very big baddie."
"My, how observant you are. I am Eclipse, the mightiest dragon in all of Master Moo's army. His exalted darkness demands you surrender the boy and his monster to me, or be destroyed," Eclipse bellowed.
"We beat out that corpse you call a master only a few days ago, dragon breath. We'll turn you inside out too," Gray Wolf spat back.
"I had heard rumors that a group of nuisances had dared attack Master Moo in his own castle. Perhaps you will be more of a challenge that I thought."
"Better believe it… ARCTIC BLAST!!" Gray Wolf yelled as he leapt into the air and led off with his favored icy attack.
"DARK FIRE!!" A blast of black flame rose to meat the blue beam. The arctic blast was successful in freezing the fire, but it did little else. Suddenly, Eclipse grabbed the silver wolf, spiking the tiger hybrid into the ground so hard Gray Wolf's head was buried in the dirt. The ragnorak lifted off the ground and into the sky. "Now I'll finish you off you filthy, crawly..."
"DRAGON KICK!!" Hare charged forward through the air, his foot on flame as he raced to his target. Eclipse had spotted him though, and was ready. The dragon hybrid disappeared just as Hare reached the space where his target had been. Eclipse re-appeared behind the flying lapine and, with a vicious swipe of his claws, left four very deep gashes in the rabbit's back. Hare yelped as he felt the razor sharp claws cut into him a second time before he fell from the sky. Eclipse raced passed the falling lagomorph, ramming his knee into Hare's back. "All too easy. How you losers could give Master Moo a problem is beyond me."
"NO!" Golem bellowed as he grabbed Eclipse's tail, yanking the flying lizard away from his furry friends as Joshua and Pink Eye raced to see if they were okay. Eclipse was ready however, taking once more to the air and bringing Golem along for the ride. The dragon moved fluidly through the air, turning and pulling off loop-de-loops as Golem struggled to hang on.
"You can't hold on forever rock head. But this is getting boring." The ragnorak plunged downward, turning just before hitting the ground. Golem slammed into the soil and was dragged along as he held onto the dragon hybrid's tail. Finally he was forced to let go, skidding to a halt at the end of deep rut in the ground. Golem's head poked up as he rubbed the aching appendage watching as Joshua pulled Gray Wolf from the ground. The wolf's nose looked broken, as did a horn, and his eyes were closed, but he was breathing. While Joshua worked on reviving the injured lupine, his eyeball comrade was dealing with Hare, who had also lost consciousness. Blood was flowing from six gashes in the rabbit's back and Pink Eye was working his hardest to clean the wounds. In front of their friends, Genki and Mocchi stood ready for battle, much to Eclipse's pleasure. "Ah, the runts, just who I'm after. Come with me without further trouble and maybe I'll let your friends live."
"Fat chance lizard lips," Genki said as he pulled his eye-lid and stuck out his tongue, an act mimicked by Mocchi.
"Be it so." Eclipse charged at the boy sweeping by so fast it was impossible to see him clearly. In an instant Genki and Mocchi were gone, with the boy being suspended above the ground by the ragnorak's claws. "Now I just need to collect your little sweet cake and..."
"I'm right here!" Mocchi yelled as his ball-form slammed into the dragon's head.
"Don't even think I'm down for the count either," Genki's skate-clad foot slammed into the dragon's less protected underside, driving the air from his lungs. Fire escaped from Eclipse's mouth as he and his two passenger's crashed into the ground. Genki and Mocchi crawled from the wreck, singed from the dragon's fire. "Got him," Genki said. In front of him, Hare and Gray Wolf were finally coming to.
"Good work... Genki," was the first thing Gray Wolf said as he hobbled to his feet.
"I hope we don't have to fight any more like him..." Hare said as he stared at the fireball that had engulfed the dragon. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he saw a black from rise gracefully from the flames, totally unscathed by the inferno it'd just gone through.
"You have yet to succeed in handling me rodent, much less any others," Eclipse said as he rose into the air, positioning himself in front of the sun as his wings spread full. Small pinholes of light appeared in the dragon's wings as he looked down on his opponents, casting a dark shadow on the ground below. "I gave you a chance to do this the easy way, but now I'll show you my true power. TWILIGHT OF THE GODS!!!" Concentrated beams of solar energy flew down, widening and getting more intense as they hit the ground, destroying anything they hit. Rocks melted and plants burst into flame as the dragon directed his attack towards the searchers.
"RUN!" Genki said, grabbing Mocchi as he skated off. Golem snatched both Hare and Gray Wolf as he ran past them with Joshua and Pink Eye in hot (no pun intended) pursuit. As fast as they were, the searchers were unable to outrun the burning beams. All seven screamed as the blinding energy fell upon them. Eclipse's attack ended and the dragon looked down to see... nothing but scorched earth. The former meadow had been reduced to a charred and blackened husk just as Eclipse had intended, but there was no sign of the searchers.
"Where did they go?" the ragnorak asked no one in particular, his crimson eyes narrowing as he searched.
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Approximately three miles away from where the attack had occurred, in a rather small cave, a small flash of light occurred as the searchers reappeared.
"Quick thinking Pink Eye," Joshua said as he patted the eyeball on the back. Pink Eye simply fell over, exhausted from the effort of teleport himself plus six passengers over so great a distance.
"What do you know, you are good for somethin' after all," Gray Wolf said as he looked out the entrance of the cave. He didn't like what he saw one bit. Eclipse was still in the air and traveling in an ever-widening circle as he searched for his elusive pray. "But that blasted dragon's not about to give up."
"Eventually, he's gonna find us, even in this cave. We might as well be in a paper bag as here," Hare said as he looked over their temporary shelter.
"Well don't everyone thank me at once," Pink Eye mumbled, irritated by his friends reactions. "This is the only place I could think of for shelter from that burning attack of his."
"No one's belittling what you did Pink Eye, but if we don't come up with a plan we're done for."
"He's still a ways off," Gray Wolf said. "Hare and I should be able to fend for ourselves, you five put as much distance between yourselves and that… thing as possible," Gray Wolf said as he tried to stand. His legs betrayed him, however, as he fell to the ground with a grunt.
"No one gets left behind," Genki said.
"A noble sentiment, kid, but even a pack of wolves knows when it has to sacrifice a member to save the whole," Gray Wolf said.
"Let's not do anything drastic until we've exhausted every other option, okay wolf-boy," Hare said. "We know we can't out-muscle Eclipse, so maybe there's a way to out-think him."
"I take it you have a plan?" Pink Eye asked.
"Uh... not yet, but I am working on one," Hare answered sheepishly.
"RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!" Came a call from outside the cave. "I know you're here, I can smell your foul stench," bellowed Eclipse as his shadow moved over the outside of the cave.
"Think fast rabbit," Gray Wolf said as he watched the dark shape go.
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As Eclipse flew through the air, his rage was steadily growing. That these searchers had been able to avoid an attack that had claimed thousands galled him no end.
*Perhaps these searchers are more of a challenge than I thought,* the Ragnorak thought to himself. Suddenly, a smell began to assault his nose, the odor of human sweat mixed with several monsters. A smile came to the dragon/monol's lips as he surveyed the area. It was riddled with caves, possibly a network, an excellent hiding place, but immobile, making them sitting ducks.
"RRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!" The dragon hybrid called, shaking many of the rocks loose. "I know you're here, I can smell your foul stench. It is only a matter of time before I find you!" How was something Eclipse hadn't thought up yet. That's when an idea hit him. He flew to one of the caves, landing lightly. They were too small for him to enter, but if he couldn't go in, he'd just make the searchers come out. Drawing in a deep breath, the ragnorak let loose a huge burst of fire breath into the cave. All around him, other caves erupted with flame. The dragon watched in delight as several furry creatures escaped the flames, the furry pompoms at the end of their long rodent-like tails smoking. They were curious creatures, with big noses and wearing human-like clothing as they escaped, several racing away with radishes of all things. One in particular caught his eye a light green and yellow furred rodent in a floral print shirt with a big nose that seemed to have trouble deciding which of two perfectly identical radishes. Alongside the rodents, other creatures ran as well. These were much smaller and almost completely naked, save for the tool belts and hard-hats that adorned their plump green bodies. The ragnorak made a mental note to come back and flush out more of the creatures, which looked tasty to his saurian eye. Eclipse was a little upset that not all of the caves had been similarly effected. There was a chance that not all of the caves were connected.
*I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.*
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"Did you hear that?" Pink Eye asked. The eyeball monster poked his head out of the cave just in time to see Eclipse begin his little cave experiment. "Guys, we gotta do something, or that crazy dragon's gonna roast us in here."
"If there was only some way we could sneak out of here and get to the top. When he tried to blast this cave, we could get a rock-slide going and bury him," Hare said.
"Pink Eye, think you could handle another group teleport?" Joshua asked.
"Not any time soon Josh, I need to have time to recharge."
"Then we'll have to sneak up there," Hare said. "It's a gamble, but if I stay low enough I should be able get past that dragon." The searchers shuddered as the cave rocked from Eclipse's assault.
"You'd never make it. I can give that black dragon a real distraction, just don't waste any time getting there."
"Neither of you is doing any such thing," Joshua said, standing between the wolf and hare and the exit. "You're both injured and no match for that ragnorak."
"Joshua's right, you'd both be creamed in your condition," Genki added.
"We need to do something soon, before that dragon flames us," Gray Wolf said.
"We'll think of something that doesn't risk lives, Gray," Genki said before turning back to his other friends. Hare looked at Gray Wolf, and Gray Wolf at Hare, there eyes locking as an unspoken conversation seemed to pass between the two. Quietly, both began to slide away from the group. The rest of the searchers, too wrapped up in planning their escape.
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Meanwhile, Eclipse landed in front of a new cave entrance. He'd already blasted five other caves, only to watch as several more of the rodent creatures came running out. The dragon took a moment to snatch one by the tail and "sample" this new cuisine.
*They do taste good,* Eclipse thought to himself as he prepared to blast the next cave.
"Eclipse!! Prepare to DIE!!!!" Bellowed a figure on the ledge under the dragon/monol. It was Gray Wolf, standing as though he was in perfect physical condition, his very presence seeming to issue a challenge to the dark dragon.
"So you did survive. I had almost given up hope," Eclipse said in a not-so-nice voice. "But tell me, where are your friends little cub?"
"DEAD! Your blasted attack killed them all," Gray Wolf said angrily. "I'll make you pay for each and every one of them!"
"Ha ha ha. You? Make ME pay for anything? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard," the dragon cackled. "And now little one, tell me the truth about where your friends are. I know they didn't die in the blast, no corpus delectable at all. Such a shame, Master Moo wanted the boy and mocchi monster alive. He was even offering a promotion into the Big Bad Four."
"You're never gonna make it back to Moo," Gray Wolf said as he spotted Hare behind the dragon, slowly making his way up to the peak of the mountain.
*Hurry up rabbit, I don't know how much longer I can stall this guy!* Gray Wolf thought to himself. *Genki, I hope you and the others know what to do when those rocks start flying.* The silver wolf suddenly leapt for Eclipse, his mouth open as his teeth sank into the scaly chest of the black dragon. Eclipse didn't so much as wince, swiping away Gray Wolf as if he were an insect and sending him reeling to the ground.
"Fool, did you really think your chances would have improved since last time?" Eclipse bellowed. "And if you think your little friend up on the ridge is going to help you, you're dead wrong!"
"NO!" Gray Wolf. Abandoning the quiet approach, Hare scrambled up the mountain, racing to dislodge the boulders.
*Legs don't fail me now,* Hare thought to himself as he leapt into the air.
"DRAGON KICK!" Hare screamed as his foot struck the boulders right at their base. The rocks began to move, slowly at first, but soon they tumbled down full force. Unfortunately, the momentum of Hare's attack threw the lapine off balance and he came tumbling down the mountain right behind the rocks. Eclipse turned towards the approaching landslide, his jaws opening wide as he prepared to retaliate.
"SPURTING LAVA!" Eclipse called as several balls of fire escaped from his gaping maw, smashing into the boulders and shattering them to pieces. The smaller rocks simply bounced off the dragon hybrid's armored hide with no affect.
"ARCTIC BLAST!" Gray Wolf attacked, hoping the ragnorak was too distracted to counter. The dragon/monol quickly turned around, reveling Hare to be pinned in his arms, and directly in the path of the icy laser. The silver lupine quickly closed his mouth, cutting off the lethal attack, but not before the blast froze half of Hare's body.
"AAHH!" the lapine screamed as his temperature drastically dropped. His usefulness at an end, Eclipse casually tossed his temporary shield to the ground before using his tail to club the ice-firing wolf over the head.
"Now you die!!" Eclipse said as he prepared to crush the two rebels.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiyaaaaaa!" Came a yell as a wheel-clad foot struck Eclipse's jaw. The dragon hybrid looked down to see Genki standing in front of his fallen friends, preparing to attack again. Behind the boy, clearly a distance away from the battle, the other searchers were racing to get there in time.
"You are bold boy, I will give you credit for that. But there is no way you can stand against me by yourself."
"Who says... he's by... himself," a weakened but defiant voice said. Gray Wolf was getting to his feet, energy crackling around his horns. Hare too was recovering from his encounter with the arctic blast, his fists balled up as he stood.
"You persist still? I am stronger than any of you, you cannot hope to conquer me!" The angry eclipse said.
"You may be stronger than any one of us..." Gray Wolf said, gasping a bit for breath.
"...but we're a team," Hare continued. "And together we're..."
"INVINCIBLE!" Genki called. Suddenly, a white light began to emanate from Genki as lightning energy struck both Gray Wolf and Hare, enveloping them in twin cocoons of white energy. Wind kicked up as the two cocoons lifted off the ground just as the rest of the searchers arrived.
"What's going on?" Pink Eye asked. He received no answer from Genki, who seemed to be in a trance as the energy flowed from his hands. The two cocoons merged into one, which steady began to shrink, revealing it's occupant to be a tiger type monster. At first, the searchers, and even Eclipse, thought that is was Gray Wolf. But the coloration gave away to be some sort of hare hound. This one was not the run of the mill hare hound though. While it's fur remained the brown and white normally associated in with the breed, it's other features were off. Long floppy ears framed a less angular head, and it's eyes were not the normal gray of a hare hound, but were instead jet black. Its paws were thicker than a normal tiger types, with long toes and shorter claws. And around the monster's neck was tied a red bandanna. As the light died, Genki fell to the ground, unconsciousness taking the boy as Golem ran to catch him.
"What the devil are you?" Eclipse asked.
"We are Hare Hound, and we are your destruction," the hybrid monster said in a voice that was both Hare's and Gray Wolf's. He floated in midair as serenely as if he were standing on the ground, a fact that was not lost on the dragon hybrid as he rose to meet his new opponent, firing balls of fire as he went. The balls of energy didn't faze Hare Hound as the tiger hybrid also charged. Instead of a conventional attack, thought, Hare Hound got in much closer, doing a backflip and kicking the dragon twice to send him tumbling back to the ground. Eclipse was quick to recover, and looked incredibly angry over what had been done to him. The dragon used his superior strength and picked up a rather large rock, throwing it at the offending brown wolf. The projectile shattered from Hare Hound's charge attack, but Eclipse was right behind it, ready to use his dragon combo attack to flay the wolf alive. He was unprepared for the tiger/hare to change his direction in midair, however, and the attack missed. Hare Hound's bite attack, however, was on the mark, ripping into the dragon hybrid's wing and once more sending him to the ground.
"You blasted mutt!" the enraged ragnorak yelled. "Fight fair!"
"Fight fair?" Hare Hound said in a quizzical voice. "You only demand that because you're loosing. But very well, since you can no longer fly, we won't either." With those words, the brown wolf slowly and gently descended to the ground.
"So much the fool be you," Eclipse said as he prepared to fire a beam of black fire.
"WHITE LIGHTNING!!" Hare Hound called, as a blast of pure white energy lanced from his horns striking the dragon hybrid in the mouth and cutting off his attack. "The golden gift has afforded you a great many victories, especially over those lacking such a distinct advantage. Now, though, you face an opponent against whom you trick provide you with no advantage. Now we see the true extent of your skill... or should we say lack there of."
"HOW DARE YOU!!"
Hare Hound turned back to his friends. "Get into the caves, you'll be safe there."
"What about you?" Joshua asked as he and the others raced into a nearby cave.
"We shall ensure that this weak coward does not follow." With those words, Hare Hound returned to his fight, watching as Eclipse's wings opened.
"TWILIGHT OF THE GODS!!!" Eclipse screamed pouring all of his energy into the attack to drive his tormentor away. For his part, Hare Hound jumped very high into the air.
"ARCTIC BLAST!" came Gray Wolf's disembodied voice, which was soon followed by Hare's.
"DRAGON KICK!" Finally, Hare Hound spoke, calling for his own attack.
"COMET'S CHARGE!!!" The brown wolf flew forward as a ball of ice engulfed him. Soon a fiery coat surrounded the ball as it flew forward at fantastic speed, creating tail of flame that helped to give the attack its name. The energy beams of Eclipse's attack bounced off the comet's curved surface, unable to do anything to protect their master from imminent destruction.
"No! NO! NOOO!!!" Eclipse screamed as the ball of ice smashed into his body, reducing him to a lost disk that was instantly crushed. Hare Hound's attack ended, releasing the brown wolf in time to watch the side- effects of his devastating attack on the mountain. Rocks were sliding down all over the place, covering the caves quickly. Hare Hound looked to his friends. Already their cave was nearly three-fourths of the way covered. The group was trying desperately to reopen the cave, but having no luck. Hare Hound ran as fast as he could, diving through the last hole and into the shelter. As he did so, his body glowed and split as he once more separated into Gray Wolf and Hare, just as the last of the opening was sealed.
"We're trapped!" Mocchi wailed, crying as he stood next to Genki, who was recovering from his fainting spell earlier. Golem moved some of the rocks, only to have more take their place.
"How did you two do that?" Pink Eye asked as he walked around Gray Wolf and Hare.
"We have more important things to worry about Pink Eye," Joshua said as he lit a torch.
"If we can't go out," Genki said as he slowly got to his feet, "then we can only go deeper."
"I'm afraid the kid's right," Gray Wolf said. "There's a lot of old scents here, like this used to be used by a lot of people."
"But there's a chance it's just a dead end," Pink Eye pointed out.
"What choice do we have," Genki said as he led the way, leaning on Mocchi for support as he went, followed by the others. The tunnel lasted for about an hour before the group was confronted by a new challenge. Before them, nestled in a large cavern, was...
"A maze!!" the group cried in unison. None of them noticed the dark shadow approaching them from behind.
To be continued....
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Up next is my version of Underground Adventure, where the searchers must defeat the deadly labyrinth, as well deal with it's deadly guardian. But just how did Hare and Gray Wolf merge to become that super Hare Hound? And who is it sneaking up behind them. Be here next time for "The Underground Labyrinth."