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: Sorry guys it's taking me so long, I'm really busy nowadays and I barely had time to work on this, so not to make you wait any further I'm giving you this little part. Next episode will cover the ENTIRE Youth Cup! Hopefully anyway :p.
Episode 6:New Training
Metin emerged from the small house of the Hopestar Ranch with a huge grin on his face. It was the begining of a new day, the kind of begining he was getting used to, and he steped out into the morning Sun. He had that weird chasing dream again, but this time he understood the message! He looked back at the drowsy Holly slowly walking out of the house, yawning.
"You know you toss and turn too much, you kept me awake until late in the middle of the night." Complained the older girl.
Metin just dismissed it "Meh, it'll toughen you up."
"So what do we do today?" Asked Mei, flying in from the barn.
The Lip Pink pixie looked just as energetic as Metin was while Kanar yawned just like Holly. Holly remembered Metin saying that Kanar enjoyed sleeping, it was written in his 'Likes' space, right above 'Dilikes: Metin' in his stats. For a brief moment Holly tought that Mei might be more suited to Metin's energetic nature than the grumbling Kanar. But seeing the fire in the eyes of both the Breeder and Monster made her realise they had both the same thirst for victory and achievement, something the playful Mei didn't share.
"I just came up with a new way to train! With that we might be able to defeat Suzi in the Youth Cup! And come home with a shiney trophy AND money!" Proudly declared the boy.
"If you say so Rookie. So what's your idea?" Asked Kanar, yawning one last time.
"I'll show you, I'll be right back..." Answered Metin, before rushing over the shed near the barn.
It was in that shed that all the training supply was kept. Soon Metin emerged from it with one of the target used in ACC training. With some effort and a silly looking uses of his feet, Metin manage to yank the target off the supporting pole and he held it in front of him with a weird grin.
"We'll use rope to tie one of these on my back and one to my chest. I'll be running around the ranch and Kanar will have to hit me with his Missile Attack! Tomorow he'll have to use his Wing Slap!"Announced the boy, shouting a bit too loud, even if he was at a certain distance.
"ALLRIGHT! GREAT IDEA!" Cheered Kanar, a mischeivous grin at the edge of his beak.
Metin walked back to the little group, noticing Holly's doubtful and quizzical glances "It's simple, he'll train his SPD and LIF by running after me, hitting a moving target will increase his ACC and using his missle AND trying to find me will train his INT! Tomorow we'll train his POW! Isn't that great?"He then asked.
"I agree! This will be fun!" Giggled Kanar, before Holly gave his little head a slap, sending it tumbling down to the ground.
"It's crazy!" Stated Holly, as Kanar's head was reeled back by the attraction force keeping the Ducken in one piece, making the monster's head feel like a yo-yo. "You could get seriously hurt! Why don't you ask Mei to hold the target with some rope from higher in the sky?" Inquired the girl stomping in front of the foolish boy.
"Yeah, no reason to put you in harm's way." Agreed Mei.
"Sorry but I have to do this, I'm in charge of Kanar's training, and if he doesn't have motivation it'll never work. Beside, Chiroh trains with his monsters no? Well I CAN DO THE SAME!" Replied the boy, looking dead serious.
Holly glared back at him, like he was crazy. She tried her best but she could see his determination. There was no way she could make him back down, so she might as well give up and help him ot a little.
The older girl sighed."I give up, there's no hope to change you mind. I'm a pretty good judge of character and I can see the determination in your eyes." She stopped for a moment, scratching her chin."I was planning on going in town today buying a few supplies, I didn't expect to have a second monster on the ranch and I don't want to run out of nutrient. I'll also check out Crow's Monster Item shop, I wasn't planning on buying anything, but if you do your training well Kanar... I'll buy you a Dodorin cake! "
"Dodorin Cake? ALLRIGHT!" Cheered the little monster, jumping up in the air, his separate parts landing one after the other with stacking noises.
"What about me?" Inquired Mei.
"YOU will have to look out for those two idiots. "Holly pointed Kanar and Metin " And be sure they don't get hurt. If you do a good job I'll give you some candies."
"YOOHOO! CANDIES!" Mei did a double backflip in the air out of joy.
"Allright, Rookie, Let's get you strapped to those target so you can do your crazy stunt and I can go shopping!" Added Holly.
"Thanks Holly!" Replied Metin.
The girl smiled "I'm your assistant, it's my job to help you!"
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Metin was hidding behind a huge rock, panting heavily. He had managed to confused Kanar by going many time around the house then ducking (hehehe ducking a ducken) behind that old upside down barrel behind the barn before rushing to the spot he was on. He had already received a missile to his front plate and it hurt like heck, even for a guts depleating move.
"I need to catch my breath." Commented the boy.
"Looks like I catch you before that!" shouted Kanar, leaping on top of the huge rock, wings up in a menacing manner.
"WWAAAAAH!" Screamed the boy, running away from the hail of missiles... maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.
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Holly came back to the Hopestar ranch two hour after she left. She was carrying a basket with the little supply she had bought. All in all she had to pay only 300G, it wasn't bad at all. She passes the gate and saw Mei, sitting on the rock bench by the house, looking rather bored. Right in front of her on the ground were laying both Metin and Kanar, apparantly out of breath AND energy.The girl groaned. Metin was covered with dirt and ashes and the target on his chest was all black and cracked. It was probably the same for the one he was laying on.Must be uncomfortable tought Holly for a moment,but for now she had other things to worry about.
"How did it go?" She asked her monster with a total lack of optimism in her voice.
"It was fun." Mei smiled " But then they stopped about ten minutes ago so now I'm bored."
"Hi Holly." Weakly said Metin from the ground, in betweem breath. "Kanar won."
"I...rock." Agreed the Kokkung.
The girl shook her head."I told you, but you wanted to train the hard way."
"Holly...can you...check my Mon Unit...for me?" Asked the boy, not bothering to reply to her last comment.
"Sure."
Holly kneeled down and opened the device. She choose the right option and checked the stat. She gasped... she must have remembered wrong. She pulled a scrap of paper out of her pocket, Metin had asked her to note Kanar's levels for reference and she had to double check and triple check to be sure she wasn't hallucinating.
"It...it... it worked!" She stammered "Kanar won 3 points in EVER stats exept POW!" She declared, totally surprised.
"WOOHOO IT WORKED!" Both Metin and Kanar cheered, sitting up quickly and raising their arm/wing to the sky, startling Mei and Holly.
But they suddenly felt back to the ground, Kanar's head sliding down from his neck.
"Metin?!" Asked the girl, crawling over the boy, only to find him...sound asleep.
"Kanar's asleep too!" Commented Mei.
"Wow..that new training exhausted him... Com'on Mei, let's prepare some sandwiches, I think they'll be hungry once they wake up.
To Be Continued...