Disclaimer: Monster Rancher, Monster Rancher Advance and related copyrights are properties of Tecmo and I do not work for them. In other words I do not own Monster Rancher or any related concept, this work of fiction is done purely for fun and not money. Don't sue me I'm poor!
AN: Yes there will be more in future chapters, there is a small battle in this chapter to give you something to chew on for now, but it's just a tiny sample of what is to come... VERY tiny ;).
Episode 4: Meeting the Neighbors
After visiting the new ranch the little group returned to the house. The sun had some down and all the lanterns and candles were lit up. The main room was bathed in a warm glow. Holly headed toward the kitchen corner.
"Why don't you check out Kanar's stat while I cook dinner." Proposed Holly to Metin.
"Allright!" Agreed the boy, sitting down at the table.
Kanar sat on the other chair and Mei pulled a log to sit on it. Metin opened up his Mon Unit and the screen lit up after a few seconds. Five option appeared on the screen : "Monster", "Breeder", "Book", "Battles" and "Scan". The boy scratched his head and decided to ask for some help.
"So...how does this work?"
"My, you're a strange boy, you got a Mon Unit and you don't know how it works? Mei, why don't you show him." Replied Holly, while she was cutting something.
The Lip Pink fluttered her wing and floated behind Metin, leaning forward. The boy was a bit uncomfortable to have the monster's head almost resting on his shoulder.
Mei pointed the options on the screen as she explained them. "Monster is the stats of your monster, Breeder is your own data, like your winning and loss record or your level. Book is where you can see all the monster species you regenerated, Battles allow you to contact the Central Unit of AGIMA and register for battles. Holly's Mon Unit doesn't have Scan, I don't know what that means."
A delicious aroma filled the air, Holly seamed like a great cook. Metin tought it smelled like stew. She looked back from her cooking when Mei talked about the Scan option.
"The Scan option let you acess the opponent's monster data. Your Special Mon Unit also keep data from that monster's specie into your Book, but you don't have the basic stats. It gives you great tactical advantage in a battle, you know what to expect." Explained the experienced breeder. "Mei, it's getting late, you and Kanar should eat and go to sleep."
"What? Right now?" Complained the ducken.
"Kanar, your a baby, you need your sleep! It says here your 0 years 0 month old!" Replied Metin.
The monster glared at the boy with his black eyes "I'm not going to sleep because you say so!"
"Metin is right Kanar, your still weak from your regeneration." Added Holly.
"Allright then, if you say so Holly." Agreed the Kokkung.
Metin almost fell off his chair "Why do you listen to her? I'm your breeder!"
"Because SHE knows what she's talking about! You don't!" Answered Kanar.
"I do so!" Shouted Metin edging toward his monster above the little table
"No you don't!" Shouted back the monster, doing the same.
"Yes I do!"
"No you don't!"
"Yes I do!"
"No you don't!"
"Yes I do!"
"No you don't!"
"Yes I do!"
"No you don't!"
"Dinner!" Chimed Mei, putting a little plate in the middle of the table, intterupting the argument.
Kanar and Metin looked down, in the little metal plate was three red and white pills.
"What the heck is that?" Asked the Ducken.
"Vitamins!" Answered Mei, smiling as she popped one in her mouth from her own plate.
Kanar looked dissapointed "That's dinner?"
"Mei likes vitamins and I only buy monster food once a month. You'll have to take those until we can get something else." Explained Holly.
"I like them because it's easy to eat, you just swallow them." Added the pixie.
"Your weird... I got something else you could swallow later tonight!" Said Kanar, snickering, until he was smacked by Metin, his head flew backward a few feet before it came back to his body like it was linked by an invisible rubber band.
"What you do that for?" Complained the monster, holding his head.
The boy glared at him"Your too young for this kind of innuendo! Your perverted duck!"
Holly was shaking her head.
Kanar quickly ate his food and headed for the door. "Com'on Pink! Let's go... So what side of the hay stack do you want?" He asked, opening the door.
Mei floated toward the door. "Doesn't matter... Good night Holly! Good night Metin!"
"Good Night!" Both human replied at the same time.
Once the two monsters were out of the house, Metin returned to check out his Mon Unit. He checked his Monster's stats and liking.
"Hmm... We'll have to train in INT, ACC and DEF... Kanar got the TufArmor trait, it gives him greater DEF but lower dodge ability... oh he's got Up Fire too... So far he has two moves : Missiles and Wing Flap... his liking is... Pixies?!? And his dislike... WHAT?!?" The boy suddenly jump up from his chair.
"What?" Asked Holly, turning around, concerned.
"My name is in his dislike." Groaned Metin, sweatdroaping.
Holly barely managed to hold out a giggle. "Give it time."
"Why doesn't he want to obey me?" Asked the boy.
"You're a rookie trainer, monster sense a Breeder's level. Monsters are fighters by nature and they prefer to be with someone who can make them strong, if they don't feel like you can make them strong, they won't obey you... for the moment. Like I said, give it time and you'll grow closer together than you think." Answered the older girl.
Metin gave Holly a disbelieving look "Closer to him? That monster is a pervert! He's like Donald Duck with an hormone boost! Did you heard him earlier? How can an artificial type monster born of the combination of two artificial monster can be this... lively."
"I know what you mean...even if I don't know this Donald Duck thing you mention... anyway, dinner's ready."
Holly put down a wooden bowl in front of the boy, in it was a meaty stew that looked delicious. It had a bunch of vegetables in it. Holly them put down a palte of mangos at the center of the table, probably for desert and served the two of them a glass of water. Holly sat down and was about to start eating when she noticed Metin was just looking down at his dish, his hair were hiding his eyes. She then saw a single tear drop fall onto the table.
"What's wrong?" She ask softly.
The boy snifled and another tear felt down. "I'm...glad to be here...it's just... I just realised I might never see my... parents... my family... my friends... my home again... I wish I could tell them I'm allright... that I'll probably be happy here... I'm... I'm sad I can't just tell them not to worry."
Holly wasn't sure how to act, she didn't even know where this strange boy came from, she had no choice but to say something encouraging. "We'll find a way... don't worry."
"Thank you Holly... thank you for accepting me." The boy replied, and they proceeded to eat his dinner.
Neither of them spoke during dinner, or until bed time. Then they slipped into bed, still wearing their day clothes, and the light were blowed out.
-----------
Metin stepped out of HIS house-after all he was the breeder of the Hopestar Ranch so he could say it was his house- and stretched his arms as the sun shone down on him. He looked around and smiled. His ranch... this was gonna be his first day of training! This would be great. He heard a creaking door and turned toward the nearby barn. The door was opening and Kanar was coming out, yawning as he stretch his wings. Mei shot out into the air, flying above her friend. She flew high into the sky and stretched out her legs and arms before landing down beside Metin.
"GOOD MORNING!" She chimed happily, and loudly.
"Good Morning Mei! Good morning Kanar." Replied the boy.
The Ducken just turned his head around muttering a "Yeah yeah... good morning schmorning."
"Good Morning everyone!" Said Holly, coming out of the house.
"Ready for some training? I tought we could start slow with some INT training today!Even tough I'm not very sure how to proceed." Proposed the boy, walking toward his Kokkung.
"What do you think Mei? Want to join in?" Asked Holly.
The Lip Pink nodded in agreement."Cool! We can meditate together Kanar!"
A few minutes later both Kanar and Mei were sitting on the ground in front of the house, their eyes closed and uttering mantras every second or so. Metin was looking at them while Holly was sitting on the bench, reading a book calmly.
"That's it?" Asked the boy " They do that all day and their INT score raise?"
"Pretty much yep." Answered Holly, making the boy sweatdrop.
"Remind me to keep INT training for rainy days... at least I'll have rain to watch. Tomorow we'll train accuracy. I'm sure it's more interesting." He complained.
This went on for a while, Metin just standing there tapping his foot rythmnically. Suddenly all that was disturb by a loud crashing sound coming from behind the house and barn. This took both Kanar and Mei out of their meditative trance and they both felt back on their back. Metin could almost see the words 'FAILURE' written in blue in front of him, like in the game. Altough his monster's failed training was the least of his concern.
"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?" He asked, rushing to go around the house.
Everybody followed him, they passe betweem the house and the barn, and quickly emerged on the other side. On that side the Hopestar Ranch was separated from the next ranch by a small stone wall standing before a strip of forest and something had just crashed right through it! A... A Psiroller was laying on the ground! It seamed beat up and slowly got up. Metin gasped, it was as big as him, bigger than Kanar and Mei, it was a medium size monster. The Psiroller growled angrily, glaring toward the gap in the wall. then a shaped stepped through the trees. It was an Antlan!
It was totally black with red eyes and it's shell seam to be polished and reflecting light. Metin had no idea what type of monster it was. The Psiroller charged toward the black Antlan who quickly dodged it, moving aside with awesome reflexes. While the monster was next to him he charged in with a series of punch...a punch Rush attack! That move sent the Psiroller flying to his side. It quickly recovered but the black Antlan was charging him with his right fist ablaze. He layed in a powerful Fire Punch move and sent the bigger monster aback once more. Another figure, this time human, then stepped through the gap. It was a boy, about Metin's age and height but with black spikey hair, one strand hiding one of his eye, the visible one was black. He was wearing a black chinese shirt with red highlights and black loose pants. His Mon-Unit was black too and Metin gasped when he notice it was metalic black! All shiny like his monster.
"An Onyx Mon Unit..." Whispered Holly.
"time to finish this off Darkalon! METEOR!" Ordered the boy, speaking in his opened Mon Unit.
The antlan, named Darkalon lept up into the air and glowed brightly. From his glowing form suddenly erupted small light balls, letting a trail of light behind. The attack hit and created a series of explosion on impact. When the smoke cleared all that was left of the Psiroller was a black tablet. It looked a lot like a GBA cartridge, only it was twice as big and made out of solid stone with strange markings on it. Metin stared at the scene, schocked
"What...what happened ... to that Psiroller?" Asked Metin.
"It... lost too much life energy... it reverted into a tablet... now it will take a whole year before it can be turned into a monster again." Explained Holly, softly.
"Oh..." Said the boy, as if noticing the crowd for the first time. "You must be my new neigbhor."
Metin was furious at the seamingly cold blooded breeder who just turned a Psiroller into a tablet "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT? Why did you crashed through MY WALL!"
"That Psiroller was a stray, he interupted Darkalon's training. He had to be tought a lesson." Replied the dark haired boy, closing his Mon Unit as his red eyed monster walked next to him. "My name is Chiroh Heruno of the Heruno Clan and I am the owner and Breeder of the VictoryBlade Ranch."
Metin went bug-eyed with anger "You...you beat up that wild homeless monster like that just because he interupted your TRAINING?"
"YEAH! THAT'S NOT NICE!" Squawked Kanar in agreement.
Both Mei and Holly nodded sternly in aproval.
Chiroh just sneered, crossing his arm, showing off he had impressive muscle for a boy his age "I do not care what little breeders like you think."
"Little BREEDER? My name's Metin Uchara and I will become the GREATEST BREEDER ON AGE ISLAND! You better remember my name!" Shouted back the other boy, obviously furious as he stomped toward the black haired boy while Kanar did the same toward the black Antlan.
The Victory blade breeder just scowled. "You and what awesome monster?" He asked.
Metin growled, he wasn't sure of the answer, but then he realised what to answer. "THIS ONE!" He answered, pointing to Kanar "KANAR! MY AWESOME KOKKUNG!"
Kanar was taken aback by this sudden vote of confidence and leaped away from the pointing Metin "WHAT?!"
Holly shook her head as Mei applauded happily, supporting her friends. But Darkalon, the Antlan, and Chiroh were less than impressed and laughed out loud mockingly.
"That excuse for a rubber duck? HAHAHAHAHA!" Chuckled the black monster.
Chiroh opened his Mon Unit and point it toward Kanar, pressing the Scan option.
"Kanar, Kokkung, Ducken/Durahan, POW: Level 2, INT: Level 2, ACC: Level 3, SPD: Level 2, DEF: Level 4, LIF: Level 3. Your pathetic, even if you have a Special Mon Unit. Take a look a Darkalon's stat ,if you know how, your Monster wouldn't stand a chance against him." He declared.
"I'll do just that!" Replied Metin, doing the same. "Hmmm... Darkalon... Phantom, Antlan/... MONOL?!?"
"Monol? I tought Monols were extinct!" Gasped Holly.
"They are... but Phantoms aren't. Phantom is just one of the many specie I can acess using my family's secret code. My family has a long history of powerful breeder and we are renown for our Antlan and especially Durahan monsters, we also take great pride in training with out monsters." Bragged Chiroh, smirking.
Metin growled and tried to ignore the boy's arrogance and checked the rest of his monster's stat... sadly the boy was right. " POW: Level 5, INT: Level 3, ACC: Level 3, SPD: Level 3, DEF: Level 4, LIF: Level 4..." he read slowly.
But Metin shook it off, he knew numbers like that don't mean anything in real life, watching too many Pokemon episode convinced him of that. "IT DOESN'T MATTER! You still crashed here RUDELY and bother OUR TRAINING! I... I... I CHALLANGE YOU TO A MONSTER BATTLE!" He shouted, too close to Chiroh's face who pushed the annoying Breeder of the Hopestar Ranch away.
Holly gasped, she knew this would spell trouble.
"I'm sorry pal but I can't accept." Simply said the boy, turning away and heading for the gap slowly. "Let's go do some more training Darkalon."
"WHAT THE... YOU COWARD YOUR RUNNING AWAY! HAH! WHERE IS YOUR FAMILY'S PRIDE NOW?" Challanged Metin.
"It's just how the rules go, my monster is already D-Class, yours is only E-Class. Once you won an AGIMA Official Tournament I will accept your challenge. Until then, stick with the kid stuff, ROOKIE!" Called back.
"Try to get a REAL monster before that!" Added Darkalon.
And with that and a mocking chuckle, Chiroh Heruno and Darkalon dissapeared among the trees.
Kanar and Metin stood there, staring at the hole in the forest. Fire was burning in their eyes.
"Metin... I want to beat that Phantom!" Said Kanar.
"And I want to wipe the smirk off that jerk's face! Holly...when's the next Official?" Replied Metin.
Holly checked her Mon Unit. "Week 4 of next month... you'll never have the time to reach the level to beat the E-Class Official by then, we're already at the begining of Week 2!" Answered the girl.
"We'll just have to train harder... that still leaves us with the equivalent of 5 weeks. Is there a tournament in the meantime?" Proposed Kanar.
"Well... there's one next week but..."Started Holly before Metin, who was doing something on his Mon Unit interupted her.
"Already registered! Com'on Kanar, we can still finish that Meditation training today!"
Holly sweatdropped when her over eager friend and his Monster ran off back to the front of the house.
"He doesn't know what he's gotten himself into... the Heruno family is renowed for being fearless, and Chiroh was almost raised by monsters, he's as savage as a civilized kid can get." Commented Holly, shaking her head as she looked over the gap in the stone wall.
"AND WHO'S GONNA FIX THAT?" She asked out loud, shaking her fist in the air in the general direction Metin and Kanar had ran off.
To Be Continued...