Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Monster Hunter, only how the story goes. The characters and world of Monster Hunter belongs to Capcom. The only thing that I do own are the OC's of the story. I do apologize for any errors in grammar and/or if I was not accurate in reference to something.
A/N: A funny and true story, originally, when I thought of having Lagiacrus in this story, I was thinking that the Leviathan would somehow wreck Jacob's uncle's boat. Like a lot of other monsters, I almost made Lagiacrus an antagonistic monster. Funny how ideas can change.
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Chapter Thirty-Seven: Warming Up With a Swim
Two days had passed since Jacob's meeting with the Lagiacrus. After returning to the boat he checked to make sure that he hadn't picked up anything while out in the ocean. The teen was currently leaning on the bow of the boat, clothed in the gear again, and staring out to the horizon. He wondered if the Lagiacrus would ever return and if she would ever heal from her wounds to her heart. Jacob was about to go and see if he could find something to eat tonight when he noticed something moving in the water.
He was greatly amazed when the Lagiacrus rose out of the water and pulled herself onto a rock before the boat. The rock allowed her to raise her head up to the boat and she stared into Jacob's eyes. He could still see the sad look in her eyes, and couldn't help but wonder what she might do. With a sad groan, the Lagiacrus lowered her head and Jacob backed away for her to set her head down. The deck of the boat slightly creaked and Jacob slightly wondered how much the boat could take.
He noticed how upset she was as her gaze was looking down at the deck of the boat. Slowly coming a little closer, Jacob extended his hand towards her snout. The Lagiacrus didn't growl or back her head away as he came closer. His palm lightly brushed against the scales on her snout and she gave another sad groan. Her eyes lifted up to meet his and Jacob lightly shook his head, "I wish that I could give you back what you lost.
"But I wouldn't know how." He sighed in sadness and frustration. Moving to sit on the bow he tried to soothe her by saying, "I can only imagine what you must be feeling as a mother. And I know that this might seem a little odd, but I'll be right here if you need me."
It made the Lagiacrus tilt her head slightly and Jacob told her, "And we don't even have to really do anything.
"I can just sit here, and do my best to be a friend to you." He said while lightly stroking her nose. It seemed to make the Lagiacrus feel a tiny bit better as she gently pressed the side of her muzzle against his legs. She closed her eyes, and if she could, Jacob could have sworn that she had a bit of content face right about now. He gave a small smile as maybe that his new friend would start that healing that she needed.
…
The Lagiacrus disappeared for half of the day before returning to the boat, most likely to hunt for food for herself. Jacob was currently sitting up in the cabin of the boat when he saw her head rise out of the ocean, climbed up onto the rock and she raised her head over the bow. Jacob came out of the cabin and up to the Leviathan. She gave a small groan and with her head she gestured to the ocean behind her. Jacob wondered what she was wanting. The Lagiacrus showed him by sliding off the rock and back into the water. She backed up a few feet before diving down, coming up and turning in a circle in the water.
He started to get the idea that she was wanting him to come swimming with her, a smile formed on Jacob's face. The teen decided to keep his gear on while going to get a weapon. Though he felt like he was going to have a bit of fun, Jacob knew that it would better to be safe than sorry in case they were to run into anything down there. He decided only to take the Dual Blades and placed them and his knife on his back.
Jacob ran back up onto the deck to see that the Lagiacrus was still waiting for him. Like the other day, Jacob looked over the side to make sure that he some space. Hopping over the side of the bow, Jacob screamed with joy as he fell towards the water, "Cannonball!"
(Cue Good Mood by Adam Levine)
The Lagiacrus found it a little odd when she tilted her head just as he splashed down into the water. Jacob came back up with a gasp and laughed from the fun he was having. The Leviathan gave a small growl and he swam after her to deeper waters.
Adam Levine: You make me dace, yeah you do
You got my heart beatin' rhythms when you move
After swimming a good deal from the shore, the Lagiacrus turned her head to the human before diving down beneath the surface. Jacob took in a deep breath and went down after her. He became a little confused when he saw her tail disappear amongst the rocks that he saw the last time he was under the water.
Adam Levine: Don't need no plans, feeling loose
Like there's a rainbow of magic next to you
Kicking his way towards the stone structures, Jacob entered after the Lagiacrus and wondered how far she had gotten. Carefully swimming through the trenches, he looked for any signs of which way she might have gone. As he came around a corner, he found himself in a much bigger space. And close to a group of underwater columns, he saw something gathered together in a ball.
Adam Levine: When it's good, when it's bad, yeah, you got me
Not alone in the town, 'cause you make me feel
He had a feeling that it was her as he swam closer. Jacob was proven right when she opened her eyes and stared right at him. Uncoiling herself, the Lagiacrus swam towards him. Jacob stopped his swimming and followed her movements as she swam underneath him.
Adam Levine: Anytime that I call, you'll be ready
Anytime, anytime
He caught one of her dermal spikes and was taken along for the ride as she swam faster. The Lagiacrus carried him made turns left and right and Jacob was greatly nervous when she seemed to be heading straight for a wall. The rock wall was coming up pretty fast. But his fears were alleviated when she turned towards the surface.
Adam Levine: And when I turn around, I see you there
You got a way to make a problem disappear
As they got closer and closer, the Lagiacrus started spinning as she went. Jacob did his best to hang on and felt a rush of excitement go by when she jumped out of the water. He quickly took in a deep breath before they went back under.
Adam Levine: Up to the clouds, I'm spinning round
And now you know why
After landing in the water and going under, Jacob's grip on the dermal spike slackened and he drifted off her back. The Lagiacrus must have sensed him letting go and turned back in the water. She was playful with him by swimming around him again and caused him to spin around a bit.
Adam Levine: 'Cause no on in this world can make me feel loved
In the way that you do now
When he stopped spinning around, the Lagiacrus swam by again and he grabbed onto her back again. They went around rock columns, through openings big enough to fit through and scared a bunch of fish in the process.
Adam Levine: No, no one in this world can make me come down
When I'm in this so good, good mood now
They had to come up for air a few times since one of them could only hold his breath for so long. And sometimes when they did, the two took a break on a rock and Jacob watched the Lagiacrus bask in the sun kind of like a crocodile from back home. When they felt ready, the Lagiacrus slipped back in while Jacob waded in after her. After taking a deep breath, the teen dived down again with the Leviathan following after him.
Adam Levine: Woo-hoo (ooh)
Good mood
As they swam through the rocks again, the Lagiacrus seemed to sense something. With a twist and turn of her body, she carefully grabbed Jacob with her forelegs and quickly swam off in another direction. Jacob concentrated trying to hold his breath while wondering where she was taking him.
Adam Levine: Hop in my ride, don't you know, oh?
We got the sun always shining wherever we go
They swam to a much more open and deeper part of the ocean. The Lagiacrus stopped and let the human go from her grip. Jacob glanced up to her as he swam forward before turning his head to see what was going on. The sight before him was absolutely amazing.
Adam Levine: Don't need no map, we just roll
Let the vibe give direction, take control
Swimming before Jacob and the Lagiacrus were large underwater beasts; this world's whales perhaps. They were much bigger than the Leviathan, but seemed to be a lot more docile as they swam by. They looked to be furry and had large horns on their heads. The sea creatures only seemed to notice them as they swam off into the ocean.
Adam Levine: When it's good, when it's bad, yeah, you got me
Not alone in the town, 'cause you make me feel
When the herd of sea creatures were gone, Jacob started kicking his way up to the surface again. His head broke through the water and he took in a big breath of air. The Lagiacrus popped up next to him and let her head float next to him.
Adam Levine: Anytime that I call, you'll be ready
Anytime, anytime
Feeling a little playful at the moment, Jacob slapped the water and a small wave splashed over the Leviathan. She slightly narrowed her eyes at him and her head slowly rose out of the water. Jacob became worried when she threw herself forward and it created a wave that knocked him over. He came up with a gasp and looked to the Lagiacrus who gave a laugh-like grunt.
Adam Levine: And when I turn around, I see you there
You got a way to make a problem disappear
She was quick to follow up by raising her tail and used it to splash him a few times. Jacob shielded himself with his arm from the onslaught of water and it earned another laugh-like grunt from her. He couldn't stay mad at her for long as he shook his head with a grin. The Lagiacrus lowered her head back down to the water and just floated with the rest of her body.
Adam Levine: Up to the clouds, I'm spinning round
And now you know why
A few moments later, the two new friends were back at it again when they dived back down. They went all the way down to the sea floor and Jacob ran his hand through the sand. He turned his head to see the Lagiacrus spinning around and around and using her feet and tail to kick up the sand into a tornado.
Adam Levine: 'Cause no on in this world can make me feel loved
In the way that you do now
Jacob made sure to keep his distance as the tornado of sand and debris started to get bigger and bigger each time that she went around. She soon stopped and swam out of the twister. It was quick to die down and she swam right for him.
Adam Levine: No, no one in this world can make me come down
When I'm in this so good, good mood now
Thinking that she was going to charge right into him, Jacob braced himself. But he was proven wrong when he felt something under his feet. Opening his eyes, Jacob found himself standing on the Lagiacrus' back and saw that they were rising in the water. Only that she wasn't swimming and he figured that they were floating.
Adam Levine: Woo-hoo (yeah, ooh)
Good mood
Oh-oh
Woo-hoo
You make me feel good (oh)
Good mood
Yeah, oh
The two floated back up to the surface and Jacob looked to where the sun was shining down. The Lagiacrus and Jacob burst through the surface with a big splash. The human teen fell on his rear and took deep breaths.
Adam Levine: You make me in a good mood
Woo-hoo
Yeah-yeah
Hey
Oh-oh-oh
You make me feel good (woo-hoo)
Woo-hoo, ooh
You make me feel good
Woo-hoo
Good mood
You make me
Woo-hoo
Woo
Good mood
Good mood
As he sat there on her back, Jacob laughed as he ran his hand through his wet hair. Looking up to her he saw that she seemed be looking a little less sad from the look in her eyes. She brought her head closer and lightly pressed her muzzle against him as a way of showing her gratitude.
(End of track)
An hour later…
The sun was a little while from setting as the Lagiacrus floated on her back with Jacob laying on her belly. Jacob could feel the rising and falling of chest as she breathed. Opening his eyes, he saw that they had moved a great deal away from where Ancient Tree and his uncle's boat was. He could see that the terrain was still within the Ancient Forest, but there was something a little strange not too far from them.
He thought he was seeing parts of shipwrecks by the rocky cliffs. Getting a little curious about it, Jacob shifted to try and get a better look. The Lagiacrus felt his movement and raised her head from the water. Looking down at the human, she saw him looking to something. Turning her head in the same direction, she saw what he was seeing. Moving her head down to the teen, she got Jacob's attention when he looked up to her.
With a small movement of her muzzle, she scooped the boy onto her nostrils. Jacob was a little nervous as she twisted her body to righten herself up. When her dermal spikes were above the water again, she set Jacob down onto her back. The teen fought to keep his footing and hung onto the Leviathan's back. With her passenger secure, the Lagiacrus started swimming in the direction of the cliffs.
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Author's Note: I'm quite surprised that no one guessed about the monster that I consider to be my rival. But I did promise to tell you guys and I'm gonna keep my word. The monster that I consider to be my rival is the one that got me started in Monster Hunter all together: the Tigrex. I have been waiting to face this monster for quite a while now and I look forward to that battle more than any of the others. The Tigrex is my number one favorite monster out of the whole franchise. But don't get me wrong, I have other favorites, such as the monsters that are becoming a part of Jacob's family, plus many others that we haven't run into just yet. I only have up to a chapter or two left for this arc before I move on to the next one. I'm thinking something a little Halloween for what I have planned. I look forward to reading your reviews. Be sure to leave a comment either about if I've done something wrong or if you want something specifically to happen. See you all next time.