Episode 40: Ratoniik: Planet of Nature

The soft choir of crickets welcomed the Earth Eleven players as they exited the Galaxy Notes. This was what they least expected from their enemy planet, a warm welcome.

"I-it seems they are a race evolved from bugs..." Manabe stated.

"We can see that." Minaho frowned.

"Welcome to Ratoniik, players of Earth Eleven!" The Ratoniiks sang harmoniously.

Tenma looked around, however, only forests surrounded them, "Um... where is a place we can... practice?"

One of the Ratoniiks nodded, "If you go through the Karimarine Forest, you'll be at our village. Soccer training grounds are there."

Mizukawa nodded, "We'll be staying at a hotel in that village for the night since it's much too far to travel from here to the field each day."

"Well then, let's go!" Komori cheered as she and the three pixies walked ahead.

"...hmm? The Karimarine Forest...?" Alsius frowned.

Han frowned, "? Something the matter, Haku-ne?"

"Nothing... I think."

The team walked on the large branches of the giant trees. In Ratoniik their vegetation was about three times the size of those on earth. Not only the plants, but the bugs were also large.

"I-I don't like here..." Sakura whimpered and Aoi nodded in agreement.

"I like it..." Konoha whispered.

Zephyr was trying his best to keep up, but was having trouble navigating through the unfamiliar terrain. The many plants made it difficult to keep focused on one scent. However, his pride kept him from asking for help.

"...Zephyr..."

A familiar, nostalgic voice rang in his head.

"This way, Zephyr..."

The voice beckoned.

The boy sniffed the air in the direction of the sound. Nothing.

"Zephyr..."

Zephyr knew who this voice belonged to, but how was it possible!?

"Hm? Zephyr?" Komori turned to check on her teammate, who was just standing waaay behind staring off in the distance. "Awawawawa!? Captain...!?" The dragonis girl got Tenma's attention.

A dark mist surrounded the members of Earth Eleven. And from the mist, an image of a person familiar to them appeared.

"Dad!?" Manabe gasped

"M-me...!?" Sakura stammered.

"S-Sato-chan!? What are you doing here!?" Kusaka gaped.

"W-what's going on...?" Tenma gasped.

"An illusion..." Alsius said. She scanned the area, however, the fog made it difficult to see anything beyond the image of the person before her.

"C'mon, Haku. It'll be much easier this way..."

"Sorry, but I don't think so. HE wouldn't say that. Your illusion is useless!"

"Nggh...!" The figure vanished and the fog around Alsius dispersed.

It seems others had come to the same conclusion as her and were released by their respective illusions. Only Sakura, Manabe, Kusaka and Zephyr were still under the spell.

"Wake up, everyone! It's just a dream!" Tenma called out to his teammates.

The fog around them started to form into 11 faceless shadowed humanoid figures. 4 of them transformed into actual people...

"Isn't that Manabe-kun's father...?" Minaho frowned.

"A-and a young Nozaki-san!?" Aoi gasped.

Tenma recognized the other girl, "the girl from Kusaka's school!"

"So the last should be someone from Zephyr's memories..." Shindou concluded, "Do you recongnize him...?"

A red pony tailed boy stood before them. He had pale skin and empty emerald eyes.

Han shook his head.

"I-I don't know either...!" Komori stammered.

A soccerball materialized underneath one of the shadow's foot, "Sakka... Yarouze..."

Suddenly the members of Earth Eleven were forced to play in a soccer match. Matatagi, Alsius, Tetsukado, Narukami and Han were benched.

"If we beat them, we may be able to release everyone from this illusion." Shindou nodded.

Tsurugi passed the ball to Komori who back passed it to Tenma.

"Let's go everyone!"

"Yeah!"

One of the shadows went to steal the ball from Tenma.

"Z-slash!" Using his hissatsu, the captain easily passed his opponent. "Shindou-san!"

"You have to let the ones still under the illusions to play!" Alsius yelled. "They have to defeat their own dark memories!"

Shindou nodded, "Nozaki!"

Sakura trapped the ball and was about to continue, however, she stopped when she saw her young self.

"What are you doing, teaming up with them? To become number one, teammates are unnecessary." The young Sakura snickered.

"Uh..."

"You want to be number one right? That's what mom and dad want."

"Y-yes... That is what I was always aiming for..."

"Then what are you pondering? It's such an easy decision!"

"But I'm not the past me! I'm going to aim to be number one, with captain and this team!" Sakura felt power surging from within her. A light wrapped around her and she transformed into a Serow. Sakura leaped over her opponent with a mighty jump.

"Sakura!" Tenma smiled.

"Captain!" Sakura passed to the midfielder. However the shadow impersonating Manabe's father stole it. He started to dribble towards Manabe.

"Hmf, useless son. Unable to solve such easy problems..."

Manabe stopped for a second, "No, you are wrong! I have been able to solve and find answers to victory. And I'll keep doing so! Plus..." Manabe looked at Minaho who nodded, "My father wouldn't say something like that!"

"Urgh...!"

Manabe unleashed his soul, a small mammal.

"Huh? What's that small animal?" Tenma gasped.

Konoha smiled, "A Honey Badger! They're very small, but super strong!"

"Uh..."

Manabe ran up to the shadow and swung his small sharp claws at his opponent knocking them down. Large claw imprints were left on the field and Manabe got the loose ball.

"Nice, Manabe-kun!"

"Pass to Zephyr!" Shindou instructed and Manabe did as told.

Zephyr got the ball, however, he didn't anything else.

"Zephyr!?"

"I disappeared because of you... It was your fault Zephyr..." The red haired boy choked.

"..."

The ball was stolen from Zephyr, "Kuku... Too easy!"

"Maboroshi Shot!" He proceeded to shoot. Unexpecting it, Ibuki was unable to react fast enough.

"Urgh...!"

"Ibuki! Are you alright!?"

"Tch..." The white haired keeper cursed.

"Zephyr! Don't listen to him! He's just an illusion...!" Komori yelled.

"I-I know... B-but his voice...!" Zephyr trembled.

"Kusaka-kun...! Snap out of it!" Konoha stammered.

"Weak... Weak... Ryu-chan, you'll always be weak..." The Sato impersonating Shadow continued to mumble.

"I... I..."

"This isn't good...!" Narukami gasped.

"Haaaah!" A voice screamed and the strange fog vanished at that instant. The forest scenery returned to what it used to be.

"Huh!?"

"Wha...!?"

Kusaka and Zephyr shot awake.

"What just happened?" Tenma gasped.

It was then everyone noticed the source of the previous scream, a Ratoniik. And also the fact around them were remains of some large plant.

"You guys are the members of Earth Eleven, right? Are any of you hurt?" The Ratoniik asked.

"Uh... No, we're all fine..." Tenma answered.

The Ratoniik grinned, "I'm called Banda. I'm so glad no one's hurt."

"I'm not sure what just happened..."

Banda showed a large plant behind him. It was torn in half and obviously no longer alive. "This plant's called Madowashiso, it traps its victims in an illusion and proceeds to feed on them."

"Y-you mean we were almost..."

"Yup!" Banda grinned.

"Well, we were fine so, don't worry about it too much." Han chuckled.

"...you knew about this didn't you..." Shindou frowned.

"Maybe~"

"I'll be privileged to lead you to the village, if you don't mind..." Banda offered and the team didn't hesitate to take it.

Komori took a deep breath before asking, "Zephyr... who was that boy... the red haired boy..."

"... My former partner, my Feyra partner." Zephyr said.

"P-partner...?"

"But I killed him... My mistake took his life. That's all I need to say." Zephyr smiled sadly before following the rest of the team.

Komori bit her lip. She wanted to ask more, but knew he wished not to speak anymore.

"...I'm so... weak..." Kusaka whispered to himself in frustration.

Episode 41 preview

Earth Eleven decide to participate in a practice along with their opponents, the Ratoniik Eleven. They then know an unexpected truth of them. Kusaka is bothered by the fact he was unable to see through the illusion and still not able to awaken his soul. Banda tries to encourage the Earthling and forms a new friendship. Episode 41: Ratoniik: Ratoniik's Secret.