I DO NOT OWN MONSTER ALLERGY
Inside an old cave hidden behind the waterfall is the pirate Bristlebeard secret hideout. There Zick the Monster Tamer came here hoping to find his missing friend Elena but instead he found two others sneaking up behind him. "How many times must I say I'm sorry, but in my defense I wouldn't have attacked you if you two hadn't snuck up on me like that." Zick pointed out.
"Owie, owie, but Zick did not need to hit Bombo so hard." Bombo cried.
"I said I was sorry," Zick apologized again. "And besides, what are you two doing here anyway?"
"Well Bombo here thought he could find Elena by playing pirate!" Timothy ridiculed.
"Bombo came here to get me boat the Mullet so me can search the seas," Bombo smiled proudly. Both Zick and Timothy didn't bother to point out the fact that Elena wasn't taken over the ocean. Not to mention that the Mullet has more holes in it than Swiss cheese from the battle with the Unicorn, so there's no way it can sail for very long. In fact it's a miracle that it still floats at all.
"So what brings you here?" Timothy asked Zick.
"I heard that several Dark Phantoms were gathering here so I thought that maybe the Wraiths were hiding here." Zick explained.
"Well as you can see that they are most definitely not hiding here," Timothy pointing out the obvious. "But do think I may know why they were here." Timothy guided Zick and Bombo to what looked like a storage area. "Over there," Timothy pointed. Zick investigated the area Timothy was pointing at and found and empty space.
"So what?" Zick asked not really understanding.
"Take a look at dirt here. There was something here that was removed recently." Timothy explained.
Zick examined the ground. The slight discoloration in the dirt did indicate that there was something there. Something big and rectangular. "Another coffin?" Zick guessed.
"That would be my guess," Timothy agreed. "It would seem that Char is planning on reviving his entire covenant."
"But what is it even doing here?" Zick wondered.
"There are two likely scenarios. After the Wraiths were sealed, they were separated and hidden so that no once can find them, and this just happened to be one of their hiding places. That or Bristlebeard acquired it in one of his pirate raids and brought it here not knowing what it really was. Either way this proves that the Wraiths got what they were after and are long gone. I'm afraid that this lead is a dead end." Timothy informed him.
*ENERGY DOM* In his frustration, Zick fired a full powered Dom blast at the spot the coffin once stood, blowing up almost everything in the path of the beam. Scaring Bombo so much that the pirate monster hid in some old barrels. After about a minute or so, Zick finally ceased fire due to exhaustion.
"Feel better," Timothy asked.
"A little, but I'll feel a lot better when I do that to Char." Zick hissed. As the rage drained from his body, Zick dropped to his knees in depression realizing that he failed. "What am I going to do? I'm all out ideas. How am I going to find Elena now?" Zick cried.
Timothy sympathizes with the boy. He hated the feeling helplessness especially when one of their friends is in danger. That's when he decided on a risky course of action. "There may be a way Zick," the Tutor finally said. Zick looked at his old friend curiously. "It dangerous and has a small chance of success. Not only that it might also get us in trouble with the Maximum Tutors." Timothy warned.
"If it'll help us find Elena, then I'd say let's do it." Zick said with determination. Bombo after crawling out of his barrel stood beside Zick with equal determination.
"Alright then come with me!" Timothy ordered as he ran out of the cave with Zick and Bombo following close behind.
Over at the funeral home, Char floated to the main entrance to meet with Vex and Drak. "This better be important," Char warned. "I certain hope you didn't disturb me just to report that you failed to acquire our brother?"
"No we succeeded," Drak gulped directing his attention to the new coffin.
"But there is a complication," Vex finished.
"Complication? Did that Dark Phantom give you trouble?" Char asked.
"No brother, apparently he crossed over some time ago. It's just that these wimps never bothered to check up on him." Drak reported.
"Then what's the problem?" Char demanded getting frustrated.
"Well it's the size," Drak said pointing to the coffin. The coffin was indeed big. About 10 feet long.
"So what of it? Just break the seal and free our brother." Char ordered.
"That's the thing. There's only one 'brother' who would have required a coffin of this size." Vex reminded him.
"Bruticus," Char groaned. Bruticus was a very tall witch, rather unusual for their kind. Smart as he was powerful, both in terms of magic and physical strength. Back then he served as Char's second in command, often undermining his authority and constantly competed with Char for the head position. Right now the last thing Char needed is another foolish power struggle with his old rival. Especially not now when he is so close to his goal.
"Shall we free him?" Drak asked.
"No, put him in storage. We may have use for him later." Char decided. A group of Dark Phantoms came in and carried the coffin off. "Now come, we have other matters to attend to." Char guided Vex and Drak to where Elena was waiting for him.
Char guided Elena to the special room he had prepared for her. Inside was the coffin she was sleeping in earlier, along with desk, various books and scrolls, and jars filled with different potions. "I trust that this will fit you satisfaction?" Char asked his newest ally.
"Are you kidding me? I can't work under these conditions! Listen if you want me to help you, I have a few demands." Elena said. Drak was about to teach this little impudent girl some manners, but Char raised his hand telling him to hold back.
"And what would these demands be?" Char asked.
"Well first off," Elena sniffing herself. "I'm going to need a shower and a change of clothes. Phew, I've been wearing this same outfit for two days now."
"What is it with girls these days? In my day we only bathed once a year." Vex commented.
"And you wonder why no one ever asked you out," Drak laughed. This of course prompted Vex to punch Drak in the face.
Ignoring the sibling squabble, Elena continued, "second I'm going to need my laptop."
"Laptop? What is that exactly?" Char asked.
"It's my personal computer, with all my data stored." Elena explained. Char and the other Wraiths and few of the Dark Phantoms all gave her blank stares. "Right before your time," Elena joked. "Look books and scrolls are fine for you old timers, but my generation, we need computers okay."
"That wouldn't happen to be that strange contraption you were fiddling with at the library?" Char asked.
"Yes. Wait how did you know I was at the library?" Elena asked.
"You're not only one who likes to do research in their spare time my dear." Char quickly said not wanting Elena to know that he's been spying on her. "That device, would it per chance be in your room?" Char asked before Elena got too curious.
"Yes," Elena replied.
"Very well, then I shall personally get this laptop and pick up a change of clothes for you while I'm at it." Char volunteered.
"Hey you can't just go through a girl's belongings! It's indecent. Besides you don't know what else I need. I should go." Elena argued.
"Nonsense, I should be able to handle it. Unless this is a ploy to get a message out to your Tamer friends?" Char accused.
"What? No!" Elena denied even though it was true. "I mean my laptop requires several things to work: my adapter, the power cord, memory drives, floppy disks, and my flex capacitor. Everyone knows that a laptop is useless without a flex capacitor." Elena smiled hoping that Char will buy her lie.
"And yet you didn't seem to require any of those other items in the library," Char catching her bluff.
"Well I don't need everything at the same time. Back in the library I was just um, collecting data. Yeah that's it, but now that I'm doing actual work, I'm going to need all my stuff." Elena justified.
"I think this is a trick," Vex whispered.
"But she does have a point. Even an artist doesn't need all his brushes all the time." Drak putting in his two cents.
"So can I go?" Elena asked.
"No, there will be no need." Char finally decided.
"But," Elena tried to argue.
"If need be, I'm certain that your parents help get all the supplies you need." Char grinned.
"You said you wouldn't hurt them!" Elena accused.
"I won't, but a simple hypnotic spell will make them very compliant for a short time." Char explained. Elena gulped, it seems that Char has just outwitted her, but this was just round one. She still had one last ace up her sleeves. "Is there anything else you require?" Char asked.
"Yes, I'm going to need a cauldron." Elena said. Surprising everyone present.
"What do you need a cauldron for? You're not a witch." Vex said.
"Exactly! You guys want me to find a cure for whatever your problem is, that means I will need to experiment with magical potions. So unless one of you Wraiths is willing to be my personal petri dish, I will need my own cauldron brew potions in." Elena explained.
"What's a petri dish?" Drak wondered. Vex just shrugged.
"Valid point my dear," Char applauded. "But where would you be able to acquire one?"
"Well there is on inside Emily's mansion," Elena suggested.
"You mean that manor currently under control of the Tutors?" Char seeing through her ploy. "Surely you can do better than that?" Char mused knowing that he outwitted her.
"Well the only other place I can think of is the Anguanes Fair," Elena admitted.
"And where will that be?" Char asked.
"Inside an old tree in the forest," Elena said.
"And which tree would that be?" Char asked.
"Here let me write the address for you, oh wait, I can't do that because trees don't have addresses!" Elena shot back.
"Can't you just draw a map?" Vex suggested.
"Okay," Elena took a piece of paper and a pen and drew a bunch of trees with an X on the center tree. "Here you go," Elena said handing the makeshift map to them. Everyone started glaring at her. "What, I never claimed I was an artist. But I got to say this is probably one of my best works." Elena joked.
"Fine, Vex you accompany her to the Anguanes Fair." Char ordered.
"But Char," Vex objected.
"Keep a close eye on her, we don't want her to tip the Tamers just yet." Char winked.
"Fine," Vex pouted. She really hates these babysitting jobs.
"Drak you are in charge while I am gone. Continue searching for more of our brothers and get more monsters for our Dark Phantom allies." Char instructed.
"As you wish brother," Drak said respectfully.
Later at the Potato residence, Char carefully floated into Elena room. The room is definitely a lot cleaner than when he first came here. Most likely due to her parents wanting their daughter to come home to a clean room. Looking around he found laptop on the desk. Remembering seeing her plug and unplug the device at the library, Char figured that the cord must be important some how. After unplugging the computer, he then searched her drawers for whatever it was that Elena was talking about. While he found several devices, he had no idea what they were or which ones were important. He was just about to grab all of them when Elena's mom Julie came to clean her daughter's room.
Ever since her daughter's abduction, Julie comes in every hour on the hour to clean Elena's room, hoping beyond hope that it was all just a horrible dream and that she will find her daughter inside. However what she found instead was the last person she wanted to see. "You!" Julie pointing accusingly at Char. "What have you done to my daughter!" Julie holding the vacuum hose like a bat.
"You're daughter is fine, and if you help me she will be returned better than ever." Char promised.
"WHERE'S MY ELENA!" Julie swinging the vacuum hose in a fit of rage. To her surprise the hose just passed through the intruder like if he was a ghost.
"Feel better now?" Char asked. Julie was about to scream in terror when Char blew some dust into her face causing her to go into a hypnotic daze. "Now that you have calmed down a bit," Char joked. "How about you help me get all the devices Elena needs for her laptop, while I get her some fresh clothes." Char ordered. Julie nodded and obediently walked over to the desk and pulled out a bunch of memory drives, cell phone, and connecting cables, and phone charger. As she did that Char went through Elena's closets and grabbed about a weeks worth of clothes. A week's worth by his standards anyways. After using a shrinking spell, he stuffed everything into a handbag that he got from the store. "I thank you for your assistance," Char said politely to the still mind control human. "If all goes well, your daughter will be back in your arms very soon."
As Char left the premise, the spell on Julie wore off. Shaking the haze from her head, she recalled seeing the man, no monster who took her daughter. Looking around she could also see that several of Elena's belonging were now also gone. Not knowing what just happened or what to do, Julie screamed in terror and fear.
Somewhere in the old forest Elena guided Vex and a few Dark Phantoms to the old tree that serves as the entrance to the Anguanes Fair. Only to find that the Fair not only abandoned but in ruins as well. "What happened here?" Elena wondered. True Zick burned the place to the ground when he was a Bommerbang, but she figured that the witches would have rebuilt it by now.
"An interesting question. I'm rather curious myself." Vex said as she vomited out a blue grayish powder. Throwing the powder into the sky they all saw the ghostly images of the Anguanes preparing for Moog Magister's birthday. The next scene showed Moog entering and he seemed less than enthusiastic about the event and proceeded to destroy the decorations as well as restraining the Anguanes. He then started talking to Emily about something, but since the spell only showed images, there was no dialogue. Emily then left and returned with Hector Sinistro. More discussions took place that they couldn't hear, then Moog killed Emily as well as the rest of the Anguanes before shaking hands with Hector.
"I guess this is when Moog and Hector teamed up to invade the Ancient Armory through the 101st door." Elena commented. Even though she always hated the Anguanes and Emily especially, she still wouldn't have wish for this fate to befall them.
"On the bright side our witches problem seem to have been solved." Vex cheered. She was afraid that they would have to fight the Anguanes for their cauldrons. Knowing how protective witches are for them, but now that they are gone, it's easy pickings. "Well go ahead, pick whichever one you want." Vex pushing Elena along.
Elena looked around the Fair, and while there were plenty of cauldrons around, Elena wasn't interested in them. She was looking for a good place to hide the business cards so that maybe Zick or some of her friends could find it and lead them to her. Which in retrospect a lot harder than she thought it would be, since Vex has been watching her like a hawk the entire, making it harder to plant the cards. Originally Elena was planning to drop the cards out in the woods like breadcrumbs, but there was no way she could do that without Vex noticing. Now she had to do it somewhere in the Anguanes Fair. Which has its own set of problems since she wasn't sure that Zick would even come here, and even if he did he wouldn't know to look for the cards.
While wandering around one cauldron caught Elena's attention. She didn't know why but it just seem to call out to her. As she approached she recognized it as the cauldron she used to brew the cure for when the Anguanes turned Zick into a Bommerbang. If Zick felt the same connection to the cauldron as she did, then maybe Zick might find the business card hidden here. Elena sighed longingly wondering what Zick is doing now. While she had no doubts that he and the others were looking for her, she couldn't help but worry that they will never find her. Suddenly she felt cold chill as a ghostly hand landed on her shoulder.
"Does this one catches your fancy?" Vex asked pointing to the cauldron. "It seems you have a connection with it."
"I um, used it some time ago to help Zick." Elena gulped.
"Zick? Your little Tamer boyfriend?" Vex teased.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Elena objected. "Besides he likes Lay." Elena sighed.
"This Lay, is she a Tamer as well?" Vex asked.
"Yes," Elena answered wondering why Vex would ask that.
"Makes sense that he'd drawn to one of his own kind," Vex shrugged.
"Wait what do you mean, his own kind?" Elena asked.
"What? You're a Monster Keeper and you don't know." Vex laughed, causing Elena to scowl at her. "Just like how Tutors disguise themselves as cats to walk among the humans, Tamers long ago took the form of humans for the same purpose." Vex explained.
"Holy spit are you saying that Tamers are monsters in disguise as well?" Elena couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Of course, where do you think they get all their powers from? Wait you didn't think that they were some kind of super humans did you?" Vex laughed like it was obvious. "Still I wonder why they never told you."
"I guess all those years in exile they must have forgotten." Elena heart sank as she said that. Ever since she became part of this world of monsters, Zick and the other Tamers treated her as a bit of an outcast, and now she knows why. The Tamers may have forgotten their monster origins, but deep down on a subconscious level they knew they were not human and had no desire to socialize with them. Making seem like her desire of being viewed as an equal by them is nothing more than a pipe dream.
"Hey boss we found something," one of the Dark Phantoms called out.
"What is it?" Vex hissed. The Dark Phantoms showed her jars and vials that were filled with monster body parts. "It appears you found the Anguanes supply stocks. This will be very useful." Vex smiled. "Alright load it up we're leaving."
"But I still need to find a cauldron." Elena protested.
"Seems to me that you found one," Vex pointing to the cauldron that Elena was planning to hide the business cards in.
"Um boss, there are a lot of these." the Dark Phantoms looking all the jars they found. "Which ones do you want?"
Vex moaned in frustration as she vomited out the same shrinking potion that Char used and threw it at the jars. Soon all the jars became as small as marbles. "Put those in the cauldron, we'll leave as soon as it's full." Vex ordered. As the Vex was busy overseeing the Dark Phantom's labors, Elena took this opportunity to secretly hide the business cards around out in the open. Hopefully the ghosts would be too preoccupied to notice them.
Meanwhile just outside, Zick and the others were approaching the Anguanes Fair. "Timothy, what makes you think we'll find a clue in here?" Zick asked. While he knows better than to question Timothy's judgment, he really hates dealing with witches.
"Yes, why? Me no like it here." Bombo shivered knowing how much witches love using monsters for their potions.
"The Anguanes were the ones who imprisoned the Wraiths in the first place. So most likely they may know where the other coffins are, and possible the spell used to capture them as well." Timothy reasoned but clearly he didn't want to be here any more than his companions did. While they could see the logic in this course of action, that didn't mean they had to like it.
As the trio of Tamer, Tutor, and Monster made their way into the tree, they found a surprising sight. "Elena!" Zick yelled seeing his old friend safe and sound; and surrounded by Dark Phantoms and a Wraith. "Get away from her!" Zick screamed.
*ENERGY DOM* Zick and Timothy both fired at the Dark Phantoms causing a few of them to dissolve. Bombo drew out his cardboard sword and started swinging it at the Phantoms wanting to eat him. All the while Vex just stood back, standing or rather hovering next to Elena.
Zick saw Vex floating next to Elena. Pulling out his glasses, he charged up a full power blasts and shot it right at the Wraith. Surprisingly Vex did not move and simply took the full force of the blast. "You'll pay for that young Tamer!" Vex said sounding more pleased than upset.
"Wait you promised not to hurt him!" Elena pleaded.
"I may have, but that doesn't mean I won't defend myself should he attack me." Vex grinned. Elena cursed at that loophole as Vex started shooting magical bolts at Zick. Zick desperately dodged her attacks while continuously firing back. After taking one too many hits, Vex fell to the ground. "Is that all you got Tamer," Vex laughed.
"Not by a long shot!" Zick yelled as he charged up another full blast and shot her with it. Vex screamed as Zick's Dom beam continuously struck her! As his Dom energy ran out, he prepared to charge up another round when something hit him on the side of his head. "Hey what the?" Zick looked over at what hit him and saw that it was one of Elena's shoes.
"That's enough Zick!" Elena scolded now wearing only one shoe.
"Elena what's going on?" Zick demanded.
"I'm telling you to back off! You too Bombo." Elena said to the monster who was doing some wrestling moves on the Dark Phantoms. Reluctantly Bombo released the ghosts he was holding. "I'm sorry Zick," Elena cried.
"All ghosts grab the cauldron, we're leaving!" Vex ordered.
"But the monster," some of the Dark Phantoms pleaded wanting to eat Bombo.
"Stay here and fight them if you wish, as for me us we're going." Vex said as she regurgitated a teleportation potion. Hearing that the Dark Phantoms all hurried and lifted the cauldron now full of miniaturized jars.
"Elena don't go!" Zick begged as Vex threw her potion on the ground creating a pink cloud that teleported them elsewhere. Leaving behind a distraught Tamer, Tutor, and Monster.
About a mile away, Vex, the Dark Phantoms, and Elena materialized. "I must say you certainly proved your loyalty back there, any doubts I have about you are now gone." Vex praised.
"That's great, I just hope that Char remembers to bring me an extra pair of shoes." Elena ranted. Even though things didn't go quite as she planned, she only hope that Zick gets her message.
"Why? Why did she go with them?" Zick cried as he picked up the shoe Elena threw at him.
"Whatever it is I'm sure she has her reasons," Timothy assured him.
"Elena! Bombo sad, why Elena so mean!" Bombo cried grabbing the shoe from Zick. "Oh Elena leave nice, tasty, sweet smelling shoe," Bombo started drooling as he sniffed the shoe's aroma.
"Bombo give it back," Zick demanded. After all he didn't want to explain to Elena that he got one of her shoes eaten when she came back.
"No! This is all Bombo have to remember her by." Bombo inhaling even deeper now.
"You know she's not dead," Timothy tried to reason with him even though he knows it's pointless.
"OW!" Bombo cried in pain after this small rectangular object came flying out of Elena's shoes and jammed into Bombo's nose. "Why does Elena have hurty things inside her shoes?"
"Probably so you don't eat them," Zick joked since he used similar methods. "What's this?" Zick wondered taking the object from Bombo's nose. "It a business card. Old Mill's Funeral Home?" Zick read.
"Why would she have a card for that?" Timothy wondered.
Zick recalled how some of the monsters told him that the Dark Phantoms were collecting at the old cemetery. "That's it, that must be where the Wraiths are hiding! She was trying to tell us where they are." Zick realized.
"So ghosties are hiding in a cemetery? Creepy." Bombo shuttered.
"But then why go with them? Why not just come back with us?" Zick wondered.
"I'm sure she has her reasons. The fact that she just gave us their location is proof of that. We're just going to have to trust her." Timothy advised.
"You're right, let's hurry to the cemetery." Zick insisted.
"Hold up Zick, now is not the time for rash decisions," Timothy stopping him.
"But"
"No buts, we can't just blindly rush into an enemy stronghold. We need to make a plan." Timothy lectured.
"Right, so what do we do?" Zick reluctantly agreed.
"For now you and Bombo head back home, call the other Tamers and let them know what has happened. I must inform the council of this revelation." Timothy instructed.
"Alright," Zick pouted not at all liking having to wait.
"And Zick please don't do anything foolish. Any reckless action could put Elena in more danger than she's already in." Timothy warned.
"I understand," Zick sulked.
"Bombo, make sure Zick goes straight home; and that means no snack breaks. Elena's life might be on the line." Timothy stressed. Bombo saluted his Tutor before escorting Zick back home. Timothy hated use Elena's situation to motivate them, but desperate times call for desperate measures.