Note: A Gamera is a monster turtle with tusks growing from its lower jaw, sort of like a boar's. Its shell is also spiked around the edge.

Requiem for the Wrestling Few

By Son Rhandi

Chapter 03: 'Hello, Muscle Leaguers!'

"It's time for an Intergalactic Wrestling Federation update! Sources tell us that yesterday, a mysterious, turtle-shaped space craft landed at the base of Mount Fuji. Turns out this was the travel bus of the scant-heard of Animus School of Pro Wrestling! We take you live to downtown Tokyo where representatives of the school have declared a party day with Doc Nakano! Doc?"

"Thanks, Mac! I'm trotting along side this 6-feet tall turtle float where the reps of Animus are making a delightful day of their stay here on Earth. I'm here with Mister Tamerlion, chief representative of the school and the one in charge of this show. Can you tell us a little bit about this, Tamerlion?" The diminutive fellow raised his arm to hand the lion man the microphone, which he took with zeal.

"I'd be happy to!" He boomed. "As stated before in our broadcast, we are on our way to the IWF center to meet with the Earth defenders. We go around from planet to planet looking for new students to attend our school, and we've found two promising candidates in Gazelle Man and Seiuchin!"

Doc, neither willing nor able to make a hop for his mike, pulled out his trusty clip version and lifted his collar to speak. "But, Tamerlion, those two are already graduates of the Hercules Factory..! What can the Animus School offer them that wasn't already presented by Hercules?"

"That's simple!" The lion flipped his highlighted mane back. "We can show them a fighting style that puts all others to shame! With our school, with their help, we can bring everyone in the universe love and peace!" He chanted the last part several times.

"And there you have it, Mac! All that's left now is to wait for their arrival to the IW--poit!

"These are the guys we should be worried about?" Terry tossed the remote aside. "Harabote must've gone plum loco 'r somethin'..."

"Hey, all these guys want are love and peace, right?" Mantaro tried to affirm in his most hopeful yet cowardly voice. "Maybe they just want to make friends..?"

"That'd be nice, but it's not likely," Meat replied, pacing around the room a bit. "You heard 'im. They're looking to get Gaz and Seiuchin, remember?"

Gazelle Man snorted at the notion. "Let them come. If they start to get rowdy, we'll show them just why were made protectors of this planet. We're not just pets to be passed around, you know. We're men."

"Don't worry none, Gaz. We know." Terry put his hand on the crimson stag's shoulders. "Fer now, we'll just hafta wait and see what happens." And wait they did for the next hour until those old animals hopped up on their doorstep, Harabote ready and waiting.

"Please, please! No more questions! We're where we need to be now and I've got nothing more to say at the moment. Thanks for your interest! Bye, now!" Tamerlion breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the door on the paparazzi.

"Animus..." The old man pushed up the glasses on his face.

Tamerlion blinked. He rummaged through the pockets of his blood-red coat and pulled out a photograph with text below. "Hmm.... Harabote... Muscle... Ah, good! Hello, there! Just the person I needed to see! I am Tamerlion. It's a pleasure to meet you." He stuck out his paw in an offer to shake hands. Harabote glared on it and pushed his glasses up once again.

Tamerlion shrugged. "Well, alright. I'll just introduce you to my associates. On my left is Huskitooth: a marvelous student and a prodigy, to boot. Awfully young, but an extreme opponent in the ring. And on my right, Minotoro: Number One wrestler of the Animus School's super heavyweight class." They both bowed to Harabote. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to meet with this planet's defenders. Are they available?"

"Hmph. Right this way," the old man replied in his gruffest voice. Down the hall and around the corner Harabote took the three to where he'd positioned them minutes prior, a sort-of formal briefing area, which really only consisted of a fine oak table and about ten chairs to complete it. Meat and the others were already seated, standing to greet their new guests.

"I'm flattered that you all would stand for us," Tamerlion chuckled, smoothing out his mane. He took a seat in the center chair, his men flanking him. Harabote took his at the head of the table. "So, this is the Earth Team... Mantaro Kinnikuman, Terry the Kid, you two are unmistakable. You look... just like your fathers..."

"Well," Mantaro grinned. "I'd like to think that I'm the better looking of the Kinniku--OWW!" Terry stomped on the pig-faced prince's foot. "Now's not the time for that..!" He hissed.

"Seiuchin, Gazelle Man, my team and I are honored to be meeting with you." He reached across the table and took their hands in each of his. "As a token of friendship, please accept these gifts, courtesy of Animus School." Tamerlion dug inside his jacket and pulled out two chains, each with a Gamera monster--the letter 'A' emblazoned on its face--hanging from them. "The Gamera is the mascot of our school, founded by Gamera Man, the greatest Dôbutsu Chôjin who ever lived. He'd be proud knowing we've turned out so many wonderful graduates: Sneagator was valedictorian of his class. The Rigani, well, he could have been something great had he taken his studies a bit more seriously. Oh, well... We've even looked at Rex King, but you know how out of hand things can get when you're dealing with saurians. He killed one of our reps who was a bit too insistent, so needless to say, we didn't see him that semester." He laughed.

Meat quirked an eyebrow. "I can't help but notice that all your 'greatest graduates' happen to be or were with the dMp..."

Tamerlion shrugged. "We're a wrestling school, not an association. Whatever our graduates choose to do with their lives once they leave our halls is no business of ours. Some go on to fight in the circuit, and some stay to help with the school, like myself. People have a right to make their own choices, good or bad. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I suppose..."

"Okay then. Anyway, the higher-ups have expressed in your two Dôbutsu Chôjin, and we'd like for them to come learn under us for a while."

"And what do you propose the rest of us do while the Earth is short two defenders?" Asked Harabote in a tone that suggested his request ludicrous.

"Don't try that, now..." The lion-man chuckled. "It would be ridiculous of you not to have reserves. Why not have Jade or Dead Signal take their place?"

"Because Gazelle Man and Seiuchin aren't going anywhere," the old man snapped. "If you want someone to take, make it Crione Man. He's technically a Dôbutsu Chôjin..."

Tamerlion politely declined, waving his hand side to side. "There's nothing we can teach him. He's already in full control of his talents." But, man, that would've gotten us great publicity for sure...

"What do you mean by 'talents'?" The red gazelle inquired.

"Like I said to that reporter earlier, we give our students the ability to bring love and peace to the universe. It's only when those abilities are misused is there trouble. But if you'd like to find out more, why not spend the day with my associates? Harabote, you've met them already, but for our Muscle friends, this is Huskitooth and Minotoro, two of our finest pupils." The two bowed once again. "They'll brief you on Animus and what it's about and in return, they can find out more about the planet Earth. Everyone benefits, you see?"

Mantaro's manager, still unsure, called Harabote. "Hrrmm... What do you think?"

"Let them do what they want," he replied grumpily. Meat nodded and turned to the stag and pinniped.

"Gaz? Seiuchin?"

"Well, I'm curious. I'm going." Gazelle Man excused himself. "Seiuchin," he turned to the walrus. "You may as well come along, too. I know you have questions." Seiuchin twiddled his thumbs, not saying anything for a bit, then got up from his chair and joined his teammate.

"Okay, then. I'm glad everyone's been so cooperative. You two meet me back at the ship when your done. Thanks for your time." Tamerlion turned to exit. "Oh. You humans can tag along, too, if you want." He disappeared from the hall.

"Well, shucks. I didn't know we needed permission..." Said the Texan, feeling a bit offended.