Chapter 3: NOVAH Commander Conflict
Shaggy, Tristan, and Jesselyn froze in horror by the monster in front of them. It was smaller compared to the Octillery heartless about the size of a full-grown man yet, it emitted a dangerous aura that was vicious to them.
"...Let's back up...slowly…" Jesselyn whispered to the two quietly. Shaggy and Tristan reply with a silent nod. The three slowly tiptoed backward while eying the serpent heartless. They were almost in the clear until Tristan accidentally crushed a kick beneath his feet.
"...!" The serpent's head quickly turned upon hearing the noise, only to find no one there. Jesselyn and Tristan hid in garbage cans while Shaggy disguised himself as a lamp. Not noticing them he scanned the area he was in.
"...So this is EARTH huh?" He rasped scanning the area.
Without warning, the creature lashed out his tail at a nearby bench, smashing it in half instantly with the tip of its tail. The brute strength was enough to cause Tristan and Jesselyne to flinch in fear when they peek a bit.
"Tsk," He clicked his teeth. "This place seems nothing special. NOVAH can easily curb stomp this place no problem. Ssstill, I better disguise myself. I don't want these primitive vermin to sssee me while I hunt for the Houndour."
The man suddenly glowed blinding the two children. Once the light disappeared, the three were surprised to find him gone.
"H-How... how could a monster like him just vanish like into thin air?!" Tristan exclaimed quietly.
"I don't know," Jesselyne said. "But whatever it is, we better warn the others before it's too late."
"That a good suggestion," A voice from behind them said. Jesselyn and Tristan froze as they were picked up by a muscular and huge man red short head. Beside him was Giraffe smirking at the two. "But before you go, would you care to explain what you've investigated?"
"Uh...what investigate?" Tristan fibbed.
"Yea, we are but kids enjoying the fundamentals of trash and treasury," Jesselyn added. "How futile for people to throw out some valuable items."
"Like this 'Exotic lamp?" Giraffe questioned as he took out the head of the lamp that revealed Shaggy, who chuckled nervously.
"COME BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE RUNTS!" Harry roared as the three. Blaze, Bugs, and Garfield continued to being chased all around the neighborhood by Harry, Marve, Scratch, and Grounder.
"I'm... already losing…. so many pounds," Garfield wheezed after every word. He was slowing down his pace. "...I can't take another step."
"Hey Garfield, I heard there doing a lasagna festival up ahead." The minute Bugs ended his sentence, the black and orange cat instantly dashed ahead of the two with tremendous speed.
"How do you do it?" Blaze asked awed.
"There's an old saying," Bugs shrugged. "The more you learn about the people around you the better to manipulate them."
The two rushed ahead while the two thieves and robots chasing after them. Leading them back to the schoolyard to Connaught Public School which was still damaged after the Grade Dance Incident. They ignored the police tape blocking the entrance towards the schoolyard. Not far behind them, a small garter snake slithers into the schoolyard. Garfield looked around searching for the lasagna, while the other two to catch up.
"You lied about the Lasagna didn't you?" Garfield questioned while glaring at the rabbit, who responds with a shrug.
"There they are!" Scratch announced as they cornered the three.
"I'm going to make a bag out of you runt," Harry growled.
"And you two will be joining our robot army!" Grounder said.
"But first can I please get your autograph Bugs?" Marv asked eagerly holding a pen and notebook.
"Enough with the fangirling Marve just get him!" Harry ordered.
The four were about to close on the three. Garfield was still tired, while Bugs and Blaze were ready to fight. Meanwhile, the small garter snake slithered towards the group and started glowing and growing into a human snake. Blaze, Garfield, and Bugs noticed it causing their eyes to widen in a cartoonish fashion as Bug's ears dropped down in horror.
Grounder was the first to notice the silhouette and he tried to get his brother's attention. "Um...S-Scratch?"
"Oh, what is it...n-n-now?" Scratch said annoyed but his expression changes into fear when he saw the silhouette. Soon Harry and Marve noticed and were startled as well.
Towering above them was the serpent heartless. It leaned into towards the four with his snake-like tongue flickering with a grin on his face. "...
...
…Boo..."
..AHHHHH!" Scratch, Harry, Marv, and Grounder screamed in horror. Without hesitation the four dashed towards the school door, roughly shoving each other to get inside. Garfield shoved them inside but before he could join them, the serpent's tail slammed in front of the cat, it rattles flickering intensively.
"Not you," The serpent said as Garfield felt his tongue licking his face. "You look quite plump and juicccy. Maybe I should have you as my main dish."
"Um, I'm not that appetizing," Garfield shivered frighteningly. "Trust me I'm all big-boned."
"Nonsense...bones are my favorite treat," The serpent snickered as he prepared to swallow the chubby cat.
"Shadow Ball!" The creature didn't react in time as a dark purple orb flew towards him and exploded when it came in contact with his face. This allowed Garfield to latch unto Bugs Bunny.
"You really need to clip your claws doc," Bugs said trying to keep his balance.
"You two need to get out of here now!" Blaze ordered not leaving his eyes off the dust cloud.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Garfield quickly said as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"You sure you can take care of him?" Bugs asked.
"To be honest, not really," The Houndour replied. "But I can at least buy time for you guys to escape.
"Well good luck," Bugs called out as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I admire your ssselfless act," The serpent praised. He didn't seem upset nor injured by his surprise attack. "Yet you are foolisssh to fight me alone, Houndour."
"Well it's better than passing the buck to the authorities here," Blaze answered as he gestured his short tail back and forth. "So are you planning to take over this world, or am I on your hit list?"
"My, you're intelligent little dog aren't you?" The serpent complimented sinisterly. "...You're right the names Chouka Arbok: Commander and assassin of NOVAH."
'NOVAH?' Blaze questioned in his head. However, he shook it out of his mind and growled slightly at the creature. "If you lay a hand to anyone in my home."
"No worriesss, they're safe in prisons," Chouka answered. Blaze can sense the serpent's body shifting like a viper ready to strike. "Sadly you won't have a chance to see them again. Because this will be your grave!"
The Houndour swiftly leaped back just as Chouka lunged forward, slamming his fist into the ground where he was. Chouka anticipates where he would land and lashed his tail at his direction. Blaze didn't have time to react as Chouka's tail struck him, launching him across the soccer field. The Houndour quickly got onto his feet but was still sliding back a bit leaving a trail of dirt from his paws.
Chouka wasted no time and fired a stream of dark purple substances out of his mouth. Blaze quickly rolled out of the way, causing the slime to hit the fence. The substance was quickly eating the gate
"You like my custom move, I've been practicing when I was a little Ekans," Chouka taunted. " I call it: Gunk Shot!"
Chouka spat out another stream of gunk towards Blaze who avoid the attack by running to the left. However, Chouka turned his head causing the stream to trail after him much faster than before.
'I can't outrun it,' Blaze thought in his head as he witnessed the deadly acid. 'But maybe…!'
Blaze's tiny tail glowed turning into metallic gray. With tremendous timing, he lashed it out towards the acid causing an explosion.
Chouka hasn't noticed Blaze's trick in the distances and frowned. "Is this all the fight the mutt had in him? I expect better resistenc-!"
Before he could finish, the Houndour swiftly flew towards Chouka, delivering a powerful headbutt into the serpent's stomach. Chouka was surprised at first as he upper body bend forward, however, he was able to stand his ground.
"Isss that all your strength?" Chouka questioned with a smirk on his face. "If that so, then you're going to have to do better than that! "
His upper body suddenly bulked up. His skinny arms were suddenly bulking up with muscles as he flexed his abs launching Blaze high in the air.
'Man he's much stronger than the Octillery,' Blaze thought as he flipped into the air and unleashed a burst of flames out of his mouth. Chouka stood there letting the flames made contact with him.
"Got him," Blaze said, hoping that he did a bit of damage.
"Did you now?" Blaze quickly froze once he saw the red eyes glow out of the dust cloud. Then suddenly a string of green slime emerged out and stuck unto Blaze's tail. The dust cleared out revealing the green substances coming out of Chouka's mouth.
"Uh oh…!" Blaze gulped as he was lured in by Chouka who pulled his arm back. Once he was close, Chouka struck the Houndour launching him in a straight line sideways and into the fence.
Chouka grasp both of his hands together and raised them above his head. He then reels in Blaze closer to him, and with great timing he slammed his hands down unto the Houndour, causing a crator to form and a massive shock wave that shook the area a bit. Once the dust cleared, Blaze laid in the middle of the crater, with his swirls replacing his eyes.
"Thanksss for the workout mutt," Chouka snickered as he raised his fist. "Now let's scramble you a bit before lunch."
Chouka lowers his fist and was about to crush Blaze until a stream of water lashed at his arm stopping him. Chouka clicks his teeth in annoyance at the culprit.
"Didn't your mother ever told you to wash before meals?" Irma taunted. Next to her were Ashely, and Bugs Bunny.
While he's distracted Ericha ran towards the crator and picked up Blaze. "Blaze...Blaze! Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" Blaze he replied weakly. "Just...a bit weak."
"Thank you for cleaning my hands girly," Chouka snickered as the water around his wrist broke apart and then glared at Ericha.
"GIVE ME MY LASAGNA!" Garfield roared as he lunged at Chouka's face and began to violently scratch him. This gave Ericha some time to retreat away from the beast. Chouka wasn't phased by the assault and used his fingers to flick him off like a mosquito.
"Really?" Irma glanced at Bugs.
"Well, It worked once," Bugs replied with a shrug.
"I-Is that another heartless?!" Ashely exclaimed freaking out a bit. "J-Just like the one that attacked the school?!"
"Don't put me in the same category as that abomination," Chouka scolded sounding annoyed. "I'm one of the commanders of NOVAH's General."
"NOVAH?" Ericha asked, looking confused by the odd name.
"FREEZE!"
Out of nowhere a ton of police cars and SWAT vehicles surrounded the entire school. Once parked, multiple men in SWAT armor came out of the vehicles with their guns aimed at the heartless. A black car drove through the gate and stop in front of the group. The door opened revealing Agent Giraffe.
"Protect the kids and restrained the invaders!" Giraffe ordered loudly in the megaphone. The squat team was able to restrain Bugs, Irma, and Garfield. While another group got in front of the kids with their shields up and guns pointed at Chouka.
"Hey watch the tail!" Bugs ordered the officer who handcuffed him. He along with Irma and Garfield were taken to the back of a prisoner truck.
"Attention beast!" Giraffe announced. "State your business in our world! Any hostile or threats towards us will conclude an immediate execution!"
'Are you serious right now?' Ericha questioned in her mind while glaring at the midget agent.
"...Where are my manners," Chouka said politely before bowing down. "My name is Chouka and I'm a servant of Emma and a proud follower of N.O.V.A.H, our savior. My business in your world is to capture the Houndour over there."
Ericha gripped him closer to her chest, looking cautiously at Chouka. She knew after the experience with Mizella and the Octillery that she should never trust anyone with a heartless logo.
"Why should we just hand him over?" Giraffe interrogated suspiciously. "One of your comrades causes critical damage in this school behind us a couple of weeks ago!"
"I see, well I apologized for that failure's decisions," Chouka concurred. "I reassure you that once I find her, I'll wring her neck."
"So...if we hand the Houndour over to you, then you'll leader will leave our world alone?" Giraffe questioned. Ericha turned to Giraffe in shock.
"Affirmative," Chouka answered. "We both comprehend that the safety of the people in this world is your top priority. Having the Houndour will only risk casualties and unnecessary deaths."
Ericha slowly turned to the small FBI agent while holding Blaze. Despite being frightened she stood her ground. "You can't ...You can't believe what he's saying!"
"Oh?" Chouka chuckled at the girl. "You don't have to worry, I'm not going to kill him."
"Oh really? Then why the hell did you pound him to the ground for?" Ericha snapped angrily.
"The Hound made the first move," He replied calmly. "I was just joking around when I said I was going to eat the cat."
"You're lying," Ericha argued angrily. "Your army is involved in attacking the cartoon worlds and I doubt you'll come after us next, admit it!"
"That enough Ericha!" Giraffe interrupted loudly, startling Ericha a bit. The midget man glared sharply at her. "You will hand that abomination to Chouka this instant!"
Ericha couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew that FBI leader wasn't fond of the little Pokemon, but to be believing this dangerous snake man's word like he's an innocent bystander?
Before she could get a chance to speak, a static noise startled everyone minus Chouka. Forming behind him was a giant green semi-circular portal. Ericha eyes widen in shock as she took a step back slowly out of fear of something emerging out of it.
"No worries!" Chouka called out calmly, trying to calm everyone down. "This portal is made for me to return home with my captive. Just a heads up, the portal can only stay open for a couple of minutes. Once it disappears...I'll is stuck in this world..for eternity."
"Ericha~!" Giraffe's voice quickly snapped Ericha out of her shocked state. "You will return him to the beasts immediately! Failure to cooperate will result in dire consequences!"
Ericha desperately turned to Ashely for support however her friend was more horrified staring at the monster to move. Sighing deeply she sluggishly walked over to Chouka, glaring at the ground frustrated.
'This is wrong,' Ericha thought bitterly. 'Why does Blaze have to be treated like a criminal?'
As she walked towards Chouka, memories of how she met Blaze flashed into her head. She remembers when his ship landed in front of her apartment, and the time she met the Houndour in her closet after she took her shower. The way he was feeling modest and frightened of her that day, and how he saved their home from bandits.
'He even saved that Remoraid from being consumed by the energy,' Ericha thought to recall the battle between him and her older evil sister Mizella and the monster she created. 'Why? Why is everyone treat him like a killer? Are Houndour's killers?'
Ericha realized that she was a least two feet apart from Chouka who lowered his hand down and opened his palm out. The teen stared at the hand hesitantly. 'What can I do? I don't want to give him up, but I'm just a kid! I don't have powers or skills like Blaze or the others! Damnit!'
"You have 10 seconds to hand to him miss Hames~!" Giraffe demanded from his loudspeaker. "Or else your family will be arrested for assisting a criminal!"
His voice caused her to flinch yet scowling a bit at FBI leader. He wasn't making it easier for her to just hand over him to this monster. She was hoping that a miracle would happen or some civilians would help defend Blaze.
"Don't worry Ericha was it?" Ericha jolted hearing the Heartless generals, calm yet sinister voice. She slowly looks up to meet up with his deadly snake-like eye and a crazed grin on his face, which was enough to give off warning bells in her head. "...I won't break him...to badl-"
"EAT TIRE DUST~!"
Before anyone could react, one of the black SWAT trucks accelerates forward towards the schoolyard shoving Giraffe's car out of the way. Luckily, Giraffe and a few officers in front of the pathway of the van dove out of the way just in time.
"What the…?" Giraffe grunted as he quickly turned. The van past him, and slowly he could see Bugs Bunny behind the wheel chomping on a carrot with Garfield and Irma beside him, innocently waving at stunned midget.
Knowing the van was going in their direction, Ericha quickly dove out to the left with Blaze still in her hands while Chouka slithered out of the way to the right. The van zoomed past them and crashed into the fence which almost collapsed by the impact.
"Well...that failed horribly," Garfield acknowledged.
"We would've had him if you didn't shout "EAT TIRE DUST!"," Irma chided.
Ericha slowly stood up and noticed Chouka glaring at her. "This is your last chance, hand over the Houndour this instant, brat!"
The teenage girl scanned at the portal which was slowly contrasting, and then back at Chouka. She returns his response by pulling her tongue out. "If you want it, then you're going have to catch me~!"
After finishing her sentence, Ericha dashed towards the portal, which astounded Giraf, Ashely, Irma, Garfield, and Bugs. Chouka clicks his teeth in annoyance and slithered towards her easily closing the gap between him and Ericha.
"Quick! Reverse back!" Irma shouted at Bugs who quickly complied and step on the gas pedal. The van reversed back and ran over Chouka's tail.
"ROAR~!" The snake man roared in pain just barely snatching Ericha by the foot. However, the noise startled the blond preteen causing her face plant on the pavement, and subconsciously released the Houndour as he flew towards the portal.
"NO!" Ericha screamed as she quickly got her footing and ran after him. She leaped forward with her arm extended trying to grab Blaze, but the Houndour was already a quarter of the way in the portal. Ericha could only touch the fur with her fingertips as she and Blaze vanished through it.
"S-She went inside…" Giraffe stuttered in shock.
"Damn it!" Chouka snapped. He got his tail off of the van and slithered after them through the portal which was shrinking much faster after two hosts entered. As soon as his tail disappeared the portal shrank back down into nothing.
Everyone around the area froze with a shocking look on their faces. Ashely went down to her knees staring horrified at the area where the portal formed and when Ericha, her best friend had gone to.
"Well, it seems that we've done more harm than good," Bugs Bunny said getting out of the van.
"Who's fault was that I wonder?" Irma rhetorically asked glaring at Garfield.
"Don't be hard on yourself," Garfield answered snarkily. "You couldn't have used your water whip on time to rescue them."
"You're right, next time I'll use the water to whip into shape, fatso," Irma snided back at the cat.
"Um sir…?" One FBI officer called out to Agent Giraffe, who shook off his shocked trance. "What should we do with those three?"
Giraffe glared at the three cartoons in the distance. Garfield and Irma got into a cloud fight with Bugs Bunny observing them in a safe distance. "Tranquilize them and bring them to my car. After I explain to the Hames about their daughter's fate then we'll use their DNA to figure out a way to defend ourselves against the NOVAH army."
Ericha found herself tossed violently out of the portal, and landed face-first onto the ground. She groaned as she peeled her face of the ground and spat out dirt off her mouth.
After she cleaned her face a bit, Ericha's vision finally came to focus as she scanned the area. She found herself in the middle of a clearing of a forest, which looked a bit different from trees she has seen before. Ericha finally got to her feet and scanned around a bit for anything unusual. Once she glanced at the sky though, she felt her heart skip a beat.
The sky was covered in thick dark purple clouds clumping together in one big group. In the middle of it was a dark black orb and Ericha could feel that it was eying her.
Suddenly she heard a rustling sound from her right. She quickly turned to find the bush moving a bit. Part of her mind wants to dash away as far away as she can, but the other part was curious about what was spying on her.
"H-Hello?" Ericha weakly stuttered. She inched closer as the rustling stop a bit.
Ericha hesitated as a bush move a bit and out emerged a tall cyan figure. It had a big head with "" symbols for eyes and a zigzagged mouth with a frown.
Without taking her eyes off of the figure, Ericha frighteningly took a step back, however, the creature waddled forward revealing the rest of its body and it's a black tail...that had eyes. Ericha felt like screaming, but knowing that would provoke it more.
The creature brought one of its flat arms above his head like he's saluted and opened its mouth.
"...WOOBUFFET!"
"AH~!" Ericha shrieked loudly like she saws a cockroach and quickly bolted away from the creature. However, she didn't get far as she slammed right into a tree, causing her to stagger back a bit dazed. It didn't stop there as an apple fell from the impact and conked her on the head. Ericha can feel her eyes spinning and her head throbbing in pain as she fell backward unconscious.
The creature walked towards her and stared down at her, a bit confused. "Wobbuffet?"
Next Chapter: The Fate that Saved a Life.