Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). The only things I own that are currently revealed in the story are E, Nylon, Shine, Angelica Tsukoro, Curtis Herrakoro, Gretchen, Harumi Kisamaru. Izo Uramori, Myriam, Mystrael, Metallix, Professor Linda, Orion, Jade, and Zale.
Chapter 6: Trial and Error
With Curtis, Gretchen, Angelica, and E becoming the last of the allies recruited, Zatch and his friends have finalized their army that will be heading to Deboro Ruins in South America. Curtis immediately called Izo to have him tell Dr. Riddles and the others he and Gretchen were coming. When asked about his scheduling and about his parents' consent, Curtis simply said "they wouldn't mind" and left it at that. Unlike Curtis and Gretchen, who immediately started heading over to meet their allies, Angelica and E opted to stay behind and get every single thing in order—seeing as Zatch and the others, as per Izo and Nylon's information, knew they were coming into the battle late.
The brave souls who have formed a resistance against Zofis are these legendary heroes and heroines: Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine, Tia and Megumi Oomi, Kanchome and Parco Folgore, Ponygon and Kafk Sunbeam, Dr. Riddles and Kido, Wonrei and Li-En, Curtis and Gretchen, Izo and Nylon, and Angelica and E. Working separately but jointly in their cause are Sherry Belmont and Brago, and the team whose alignment is completely unknown are Myriam and Mystrael.
The war against Zofis and his army of Millennium Mamodo has long since started but is nowhere near over. Zatch and the others have made impressive progression so far, triumphing over two of the Four Heavenly Kings and many other powerful underlings. Sadly, however, they lost one ally—Kido during his and Kanchome's fight against Belgium E.O.
Currently, the resistance has been divided: Zatch and Kiyo, Ponygon and Sunbeam, and Izo and Nylon formed one group—long finished their fight with Dalmos; Curtis and Gretchen were originally apart of the group of Kanchome and Folgore and Kido and Dr. Riddles until they volunteered to stay behind and handle a troublesome Ancient Mamodo; and Tia and Megumi and Wonrei and Li-En were the last—traveling further into the ruins after a long and grueling against Tsao-Lon. As of now, Angelica and E have still yet to make their appearance in the ruins, Sherry and Brago are being constantly held up by Ancient Mamodo in the forest below, and Myriam and Mystrael are absolutely nowhere to be found.
In a single room in the higher levels of the ruins lied one particular team who was not in the action in the grounds below. The room was dark, a neutral yet chilling atmosphere about the room, with a single window shining light and providing view to the spoils of battle below.
"Sounds like both sides are having fun." One of the two characters hidden in the room said with a composed yet astringent tone. In the sunlight, a pair of bright crimson eyes looked out it from the shadows and commented plainly, "If you call losing fun, then yes, they are."
"I wonder…" the first one spoke wonderingly, "will we be lucky enough to encounter any of the resistance that are actually strong?" The owner of the red eyes replied, "Who knows? Then again, at this pace, I wouldn't be surprised if any of the Ancient Mamodo actually lost."
The first hidden character would have snickered mercilessly at the red eyed person's remark, but the door to the room opened up abruptly. There stood a teal-haired girl sporting two large pigtails while wearing a rather vivid dress. "Shine! Zale! Zofis wants you two out in the battlefield now." The girl said commandingly.
The two figures stood up and revealed themselves in the light. It was true; Shine was back and sadly also suffered at the hands of Goren a thousand years ago. He looked somewhat different than before: his whitish-blue fur was now completely white, most likely from paling, his emerald eyes now had a constant ferocious glint in them, and his teeth were sharp and feral.
This partner, Zale, was an eighteen-year-old male with chin-length, two-layered black hair. His sharp, bright crimson eyes reflected that which is in an upset mood. His outfit consisted of a long-sleeved, black leather jacket in which the side of the cuffs that faced the backhand was as long as the hand itself while the side facing the palm was regular length. Within this jacket was a black vest with thin, red lining along the collar, sleeves, and hem. The last portions of his outfit were black pants and shoes.
"Hmph. He needs to watch his tone when talking about us." Zale said vindictively as he and Shine began walking out of the room. "Rest assured, Penny, whether they are weak or strong, anyone who comes in our way is good as gone." Shine stated seriously.
"Y-You better live up to that!" Penny shouted to the two as they continued walking away. Meanwhile, Penny's partner Uri watched the two pensively, "There is just something about those two…Zatch better watch himself if he meets them. Shine and Zale are a team on a level of their own."
"Guys, I see some light dead ahead!"
As they were running, Zatch pointed straight ahead so that the rest of his group could see the vague, outside light shining. Kiyo, Ponygon, Sunbeam, Izo, and Nylon—his accompaniment—looked ahead and saw it too. "That means we're getting closer! Let's go, guys!" Kiyo said.
With Zatch leading, Kiyo and his group went straight through the exit. They were indeed back outside; there were in a large, stone open-air connection to the next main section that would inevitably lead to the Stone of Moonlight they were so desperately trying to get to.
But the next thing they noticed was that they were not alone. Blocking the next entrance was a semi-large, brutish Ancient Mamodo were a blue-grey vest of armor and shin and arm guards. Next to him was his comparatively smaller bookkeeper, a redheaded male wearing a trench coat.
"This is where you stop." The Ancient Mamodo spoke powerfully, "So says Orion and his partner, Jade."
"More gatekeepers, huh?" Nylon scoffed as he looked at Zatch and Kiyo, "You two don't need to be wasting your time here. We need to get you closer to the Stone of Moonlight!"
"What? Are you sure about that?" Kiyo questioned. "Kiyo, remember what Curtis said before he had to separate?" Sunbeam said, looking at the intelligent keeper of the red book.
"'Ey, it don't matter if one or ten of us make it to the Stone of Moonlight. Even if one of us gets there and destroys it, and the rest of us are okay, then, well, it's okay! Now, get to steppin'!"
Those were the words of Curtis before he and Gretchen stayed behind to take on that troublesome Ancient Mamodo by the name of Jizuro some rooms back. He was right; as long as at least one team made it to the Stone of Moonlight and got rid of it and everyone else was fine, nothing else mattered.
"Ok!" Kiyo replied as he nodded, "Mr. Sunbeam, Ponygon, Izo, Nylon, clear the way for me and Zatch!"
"Leave it to us/Meru meru!" The four replied readily.
"None of you are leaving this place alive!" Orion roared and then looked at the human at his feet, "Jade! Time to begin!" Jade smirked as he took a bistre-colored spellbook, "But of course. Roggan!" Orion pointed his left-hand arm guard and it suddenly morphed into that of a cannon. The cannon then released a blast of energy at Zatch and the others.
"Shudoruk!"
"Shigeruk!"
An orange aura surrounded Ponygon as he gained silver armor on his back, feet, and forehead. A silver aura covered Nylon was a metallic sheen appear on his whole body and clothing. The Shudoruk-induced Ponygon used his enhanced to zip Sunbeam and Zatch out of harm's way while the Shigeruk-induced Nylon did the same with Izo and Kiyo.
"Hey, you got some pretty fast guys here, Orion." Jade said as he smirked. "Perfect," Orion replied, "I've always wanted to test how good my aim is on fast-moving targets. Again, Jade!"
"No you don't!" Kiyo said, still being carried by Nylon, and the red spellbook in his hand glowed brightly, "Zakeruga!" Zatch's eyes rolled to the back of his head as a concentrated beam of electricity was shot out of his mouth and straight toward Orion from his position of the field. "Roggan!" Jade recited the same spell in retaliation. This time, the right arm guard of Orion's turned into a cannon and fired an energy blast that collided with Zatch's Zakeruga.
"Heh. Do you mind firing that same attack?" Orion asked cockily, "It has excellent resistance against my spells."
"Sorry, but I'm afraid they're no longer your opponents!"
Orion and Jade turned around in shock to see Sunbeam, Ponygon, Izo, and Nylon at the exit with Kiyo and Zatch running down the hallway that followed. "Good luck, you four!" Zatch's hopeful words echoed to them.
"You're not getting away!" Orion shouted. The bistre spellbook in Jade's arms glowed as he spoke, "Rogganruno!" Orion's left arm guard morphed into a long, thin bazooka-like cannon. Then, it discharged a thin but concentrated beam of energy toward the four.
"Leave this to me." Nylon volunteered as he extended his arms. "Then we'll go around him. Shudoruk!" Sunbeam said as Ponygon once again assumed his armored transformation as carried his partner away. "Ave Shield!" Izo shouted as Nylon summoned a steel, medieval-style shield to block Orion's Rogganruno.
"Get his blindside, Ponygon!" Sunbeam commanded as he jumped off the horse Mamodo. "Meru me!" Ponygom neighed obediently as he then rammed himself into Orion's side with great force. "Ugh!" Orion exclaimed as he stopped using Rogganruno, "You're gonna pay for that!"
"Not a wise idea to take your eyes off me!" Nylon said as he jumped straight toward Orion's face. "What?" Orion shouted as his head turned back to face Nylon. "Shigeruk!" As Nylon's body was covered in a silver aura, he swung a powerful kick, striking Orion in the face and causing him to fall over.
"Groovy!" Sunbeam shouted elatedly. "Meru meru me!" Ponygon neighed in agreement as Shudoruk deactivated. Nylon landed on the ground next to Izo as Shigeruk deactivated, "Heh. Many thanks, you two."
Jade looked at his fallen partner and said, "Yo, Orion. You should take these guys a bit more seriously now." Orion got back to his feet as he replied, "I think you're right, Jade. Very well then!" Jade smirk as he then shouted, "Riogras Roggan!" Both of Orion's arm guards transformed into triple-barreled cannons after the spell was said.
"Here he comes!" Nylon alerted everyone as the cannons released powerful blasts of energy. "Let's see you try this on for size." Jade said as he interestedly watched Ponygon, Sunbeam, Izo, and Nylon scurry around while avoiding the blasts. "Hey, Nylon, it seems like to me the source of his powers is the armor on his arms," Izo stated to his Mamodo partner who was carrying him on his back. "That so? If that's the case, we must destroy them." Nylon replied.
"Mr. Sunbeam! Ponygon!" Izo shouted to the other two allies in the room, "Go for the cannons and the armor that made them!" Sunbeam nodded in response, "Okay, Ponygon, you heard the man! Time to rock 'n' and roll! Go Shudoruk!" The orange aura returned around Ponygon as red and yellow armor adorned the house Mamodo along with a red horn and chest-plate.
"Meru meru me!" Ponygon neighed as Sunbeam jumped on his back. Using the enhanced speed that he acquired from Go Shudoruk, Ponygon easily evaded the shots from Riogras Roggan directed to him. "Izo, summon my sword!" Nylon yelled as he too began making his way to Orion while dodging fire. "Sorudo Shigeru!" Whitish-silver light appeared in Nylon's right hand as he gripped it, and it solidified into the powerful sword known as Sorudo Shigeru.
"Ngh. You two really are fast!" Orion commented, suddenly finding it difficult to land hits on Ponygon and Nylon, more so the former for being the faster of the two. "You don't know the half of it!" Izo and Sunbeam—the latter jumping off his Mamodo at the last second—said in unison, smirking. Astoundingly, Ponygon and Nylon were already making their way to the cannons on each of his arm. "Careful, Orion!" Jade alerted.
"Too late!/Meru!" Nylon swung powerfully, a bright silver light left in the wake of his slash as he made contact on Orion's right-hand cannons. Ponygon slammed into the left-hand cannons as a fiery orange blur, driving his horn straight into it. Riogras Roggan dispelled as the arm that made shattered from the force of the two Mamodo. "There we go!" Izo shouted elatedly. "Now we've stripped him of his armaments!" Sunbeam added in.
"Don't underestimate me!" Orion vociferated, "Jade!" Jade then simply said, "Kurigas Roggan!" Then, the vest of armor sprouted same cannon openings along the lining of its side. Sunbeam's and Izo's eyes widened as they screamed in unison, "PONYGON! NYLON! WATCH OUT!"
Before either Mamodo got a chance to dodge, they were both hit by simultaneous energy blasts from Kurigas Roggan. Both Nylon and the Go Shudoruk-induced Ponygon fell and skidded across the ground. "Guys, are you okay?" Izo asked in concern. "Never been better." Nylon replied, his clothing slightly charred from the impact, and stood up confidently. "Meru me!" Ponygon stood up too, equally ready.
"So it looks like we'll have to take down that vest of armor as well." Izo pointed out. "No problem." Sunbeam said, "Follow our lead, Izo and Nylon." Izo and Nylon nodded in response. "Go, Ponygon!" Sunbeam commanded and the armored horse dashed speedily toward Orion.
"Same spell, Orion?" Jade asked. "No. Something different, Jade." Orion replied. "You got it. Hyrogas Roggan!" The shin guards on Orion's legs sprouted cannon barrels and start unleashing rapid shots of energy toward Ponygon. "The shin guards, too?" Izo exclaimed in disbelief. "Not a problem!" Sunbeam reassured and then yelled to his partner, "Ponygon, use your speed!"
"Meru Meru Me!" Ponygon neighed powerfully as he burst into a tremendous sprint. He was dodging all shots from the Hyrogas Roggan left and right, and with relative ease as well. "Hold still!" Orion roared in demand as he continued firing. With Ponygon continually dodging, it was safe to say he was not going to oblige. Eventually, Ponygon was in close proximity enough to make a great leap for the vest of armor on Orion.
Jade gritted his teeth, "No you don't! Kurigas Roggan!"
"No you don't!" Out of nowhere, Nylon made a beeline for the shin guards and slashed powerfully with Sorudo Shigeru. In one fell swoop, a line of silver energy that marked the arc of Nylon's swing shattered the shin guards.
"You were so concerned with Ponygon's speed that you forgot Nylon is pretty light on his feet, too!" Sunbeam said, grinning a little. "Now, get him, Ponygon!" Izo shouted victoriously.
"MERU ME!" With that, the Go Shudoruk-induced Ponygon rammed his mighty horn into the vest of armor. With a loud cry of agony, Orion toppled onto his back as the vest shattered, leaving his actual body exposed and devoid of extra protection.
"No more armor means no more cannons!" Izo announced elatedly as Nylon and Ponygon landed before them—their currents spells deactivated a second afterward. "You are better off yielding than continuing to fight," Nylon told Orion and Jade, "or else the finishing blow will be quite violent."
Orion gritted his teeth as he sat up indignantly. Jade just simply stared at them with an expressionless look on his face. "Seems like they don't plan on complying, boys," Sunbeam said as he pointed forward, "Then let's go for that book in one—…"
Everyone was silenced when they heard the sounds of one—no, two people making their way onto the battlefield. "Who's there?" Orion roared questioningly, whipping his head to the direction of the sounds.
The duo revealed themselves as they casually sauntered onto the battlefield. "Our names are Mystrael and Myriam. Pleased to meet you." They were the two mysterious women going around and watching others, gathering Intel they found useful.
"Are they more allies?" Sunbeam asked, leaning toward Izo, as Nylon and Ponygon looked on wonderingly. "I'm not sure what their intentions are at all. They're so calm and composed." Izo whispered back.
"Hey, are you two were here to fight with or against us?" Jade asked, looking at the two females. "I haven't seen all of my allies from one thousand years ago, so I can't be sure." Orion admitted. Mystrael exchanged glances from Orion and Jade to Izo, Nylon, Sunbeam, and Ponygon. She then pointed a slender forefinger at Orion when she locked eyes with him.
"Neither."
A lavender-grey glow came from behind Myriam, definitely from the spellbook she possessed, as she said, "Chanigras Maborose." A small grin appeared on Mystrael's face as her fingertip launched black and dark purple chain toward Orion. The Millennium Mamodo's body was instantly bound by the dark chains which all connected to a lock located where his heart would be.
Izo, Sunbeam, Nylon, and Ponygon could only just look with mixed expressions. Mystrael just said she and her partner were not on either side, so why was she unleashing a spell on their enemy? Meanwhile, Jade gave the two newcomers a look with an arched bow, "Well, well, what exactly are you two planning?"
"You don't mind if we borrow him, do we?" Myriam replied as she walked over to Jade, "I'm sure you're sick of watching your partner getting knocked around." Jade rolled his eyes as he looked at the motionless Orion. Myriam's statement was left without a response because Jade was wondering why Orion hadn't reacted accordingly to the situation yet.
Then, something strange happened. Orion finally spoke but…he was laughing. Jovially, at that. "I have NO idea in the slightest what they did! But I feel great! I'm like I'm on top of the world!" Orion hollered euphorically.
"…Uhhhh…" Izo and Nylon droned in confusion.
"…What?" Sunbeam said flatly as Ponygon shook his head rapidly in confusion.
"Chanigras Maborose is a special spell of mine," Mystrael spoke, finally putting an end to this confusion, "It's one of our "tests." Those black chains of mine bind the will of my target, forcing them to see if they can have enough strength to battle away from the euphoria it provides." Jade chuckled dryly, "Good luck with that on Orion's part. He won't be passing that test anytime. The weak-minded fool."
Now that they knew what they were doing with, the group of four heroes now had a right to feel utterly appalled. "That's not cool at all." Sunbeam said icily as Ponygon growled. "So now it seems the right thing to save Orion." Izo said determinedly as he opened the dark brown spellbook in his hands. "You're right, Izo. The Code of Chivalry would agree with you! Such methods offend knights like me!" Nylon said as he got into a battle stance.
"Come on, Jade! Let's crush them!" Orion said alacritously, apparently unaware of the bad situation he was caught in. Jade looked at Mystrael and asked, "I can use spells, right?" When he got a nod from her, Jade proceeded to recite, "Rogganruno."
Amazingly, the bazooka-like cannons reappeared on both of Orion's arms. "What? But we destroyed the armor!" Izo shouted in disbelief. Jade himself was quite surprised but did a good job not showing that. "Doesn't matter, Izo, concentrate on the matter at hand!" Sunbeam said as the orange spellbook in his hands glowed brightly.
"Shudoruk!"
"Sorudo Shigeru!"
Nylon regained his sword as Ponygon regained his armor. The armored horse proceeded to dash elegantly out of the way of the concentrated beam of energy. The chivalry-abiding swordsman, although cutting it closer, avoided the beam coming his way too.
"Jade! Another!" Orion demanded. "Roggan Fivuruk." Jade said, the bistre spellbook glowing more brightly this time. Multiple cannon barrels sprouted around Orion's fists, and they all connected into mechanical gauntlets. Orion then lifted his right hand and punched. This set off an energy shockwave much like one if one of his cannons fired at the ground.
"Ponygon, look out!" Sunbeam cried out, but even the speedy steed couldn't avoid the attack and was sent into a wall. "You're next!" Orion threatened, locking his eyes with Nylon as he raised his left hand and proceeded to throw a bunch. Nylon's red-violet eyes hardened uninvitingly, "Bring it on, tough guy!" Gripping Sorudo Shigeru double-handedly, Nylon swung at Orion's fist.
Nylon gritted his teeth as he struggled against the clash while Orion laughed boisterously. Within a matter of seconds, they broke their clash; Orion's first recoiled while Nylon skidded back a couple feet. "Not bad." Orion remarked as Nylon panted exhaustedly, "Too bad I can't say the same for your sword."
Confused, the silver-haired Mamodo looked at Sorudo Shigeru and saw that the part of the blade that clashed with Orion was scarred gruesomely. Its cutting edge was practically nonexistent now."Oh, perfect." Nylon huffed irritably. Around this time, Ponygon regrouped with the seventeen-year-old Mamodo.
"Well, Mr. Sunbeam, I don't think I need to say those chains are what we're targeting." Izo said. "Yeah, I figured that, but he won't let us get to them that easily." Sunbeam replied, eyeing warily those dark chains. "Nothing's ever easy, but that does mean it isn't simple." Izo said and then shouted to his partner, "Time for round two, Nylon!"
"Alright then!" Nylon replied as he sprinted for Orion. "Go, Ponygon!" Sunbeam yelled encouragingly. "Meru meru me!" Ponygon dashed rapidly for Orion, out-speeding Nylon in a matter of seconds. "Hmph. Jade?" Orion said grumbly. "I'm on it," Jade replied as the bistre spellbook glowed, "Riogras Roggan!"
Both of Orion's arm guards transformed into triple-barreled cannons. Nylon and Ponygon continued to go forward, dodging the proceeding energy blasts with their sights on the chains around Orion. "Hold still!" Orion barked as he kept firing, but the determined duo of Mamodo kept at it. They were eventually rewarded; they had finally gotten in close range to Orion. "What the-?"
"Come on, Ponygon! Do your best!" Sunbeam encouraged as the Shudoruk-induced Ponygon rammed into the dark chains binding the controlled Orio. "Back him up, Nylon!" Izo shouted as well; Nylon let loose a cry of effort as he slashed at the chains with Sorudo Shigeru.
As that happened, Mystrael's eyelids dropped with disinterest, "Honestly, Orio...You're not even trying anymore. I thought you said you liked that my gift."
"Gift?" Izo exclaimed outrageously, "You said it yourself; that spell of yours, Chanigras Maborose, binds the will of one captured!" Mystrael replied simply, "He doesn't know that. Besides, I'm doing this for a good purpose." Sunbeam cringed momentarily as Orio knocked both Ponygon and Nylon to the ground. He finally inquired, "And what, pray tell, might this purpose be?"
Myriam, for the first time since they made their appearance spoke, "One of the bookkeepers of an Ancient Mamodo in these ruins is my...younger brother. In a moment, I'll be leaving to watch them battle Kiyo Takamine and Zatch Bell."
"What/Meru?" Izo, Sunbeam, Ponygon, and Nylon cried out in incredulity.
"Okay, Zatch, another room is just up ahead!" Kiyo informed, his eyes locked onto the entrance that would him further and further to the Stone of Moonlight. "Got it!" Zatch replied, and they two went through.
They were greeted with a large spacious room of the same color and design as the majority of the rooms in the ruins. The arced openings on either of the walls provided ample light into the room. The next exit was on the wall faraway and parallel to the side of the room Zatch and Kiyo were at.
"So…you're our opponents, huh?"
Zatch and Kiyo gasped when they finally noticed their new opponents: Shine and Zale.