Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.

"Is all of this true?" Maolo asked as he, Zellard, Alwin and Ena were chatting with Red as he had arrived to their village on his trusty Rathalos.

"They're not just regular fissures in the ground." Red responded. "These pits… they're everywhere too."

BGM: The Pit of Sad Memories (Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin)

"I have to find the truth behind what's causing them.."

"The truth?" Alwin wondered.

"Have you seen something in the pits?" Maolo asked.

"No, I haven't seen anything. But I've heard something… it was a monster's voice, echoing from the depths."

"A monster's voice?" Zellard asked.

"Yes. Just hearing it, I knew… ruin is coming to our world."

"As unbelievable as that sounds… it behooves us to investigate." Maolo said.

Once at the site…

Red slowly approached the pit with everyone behind him. As he got closer to the rays, they all heard a distant roar coming from within.

"So you think the truth to the pits… is this noise?" Zellard asked.

"Yes…"

Another loud roar, causing Red to gasp.

"It is a voice…"

"It certainly is…" Zellard agreed. "Did it say… the beginning?"

The roar grew more intense, as did the lights of the rays, not to mention the ground shook.

"It's… the cry of new life!" Red said.

At that moment, Ratha let out a roar of his own and slowly approached the pit. "Ratha?!" Red wondered as he tried to stop him, and then climbed on. "What's wrong?" He asked as Ratha flew toward the pit.

Behind them, the ground started to break apart underneath everyone's feet… when they all heard a new roar. They looked up to see a monster on top of a cliff, angrily roaring at them.

Alwin gasped. "It's a Nergigante!"

The Nergigante jumped off of the cliff and swiped down as Red looked up in horror… and was knocked off of Ratha as he landed hard on his back, his Kinship Stone also coming off.

"Red!" Alwin called out as Ratha landed in front of Red as Nergigante snarled. Ratha growled before the two lunged to begin their battle. Ratha chomped down on its front leg as the Nergigante used his other arm to try and claw Ratha off of him.

The ground started to break apart as the roar from underneath bellowed, causing Red to slowly awaken from his injury. "So… you're going to be born, huh?"

"So this… is the beginning…" Zellard mumbled.

The ground started to cave in as Ena quickly tried to run for Red, but Zellard reached out and grabbed her wrist, but Ena pried herself away. "Let me go!" She said as she kept running toward Red.

"Ena!" Alwin called out as he chased after her as Ena knelt down and started to reach out toward Red, who weakly tried to reach up to her… but the ground gave way as Red fell into the pit right as Alwin grabbed a hold of Ena before she fell in with him.

Ratha growled and pried himself free of the Nergigante's grasp. He flew up and breathed fire, striking the Nergigante as it fell into the pit below as Ratha flew down into the pit.

"Nooo… Red!" Ena called out to him before she broke down in tears and sobbed uncontrollably as Alwin comforted her while Zellard looked on.

"This was his fate. …Life is fleeting, so fragile and precarious…"

A tear escaped Zellard's eye.

"Red may have been strong and skilled… but against the awesome power of nature… he was merely a man."

He turned away and walked off.

"He never stood a chance."

Ena spotted Red's Kinship Stone as she went over and picked it, gently cradling it in her arms. "Red…"

End BGM

"That was the last time I've ever seen him…"

Back in the present…

"Things had gotten worse, but then I've heard Guardian Ratha had survived and returned to Hakolo Island. I went there to see Red's old Monstie again. Then of course… that's when I met all of you. Red never managed to find the truth of the pits. It's my purpose to finish what he started. But I can't do it alone! I'm going to need all of your help… and Ratha's too."

"Yeah, you can count on us!" Kora nodded.

"Yeah, after all, we're buddies, aren't we? We got this, so ya don't need to worry!" Navirou said proudly.

""Buddies"... yeah, you're right. We're definitely friends." Ena smiled.

Ratha, at that moment, turned his head and growled as did the other Monsties as they saw more Rage Rays in the distance.

"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to shoot something to let off some steam." Mine said.

At that moment, the Velkhana landed on the ground along with the Shrieking Legiana landing with a trophified Vulture, and they were joined by the other three.

"A Velkhana?!" Cardin said in surprise as the mysterious rider hopped off along with Koro, Seryu and an exhausted Sheele.

"Sheele…? Why do you look so exhausted?" Wendy asked with concern.

"Adam decided to play with her with his neurotoxins." Seryu said, folding her metal arms. "Disarmed her and then went to town. I had to do something… even if it meant using my semblance on her weapon to get new metal arms for myself."

"I… I do not… blame you… f-for that…" Sheele said tiredly as Rosalina and Wendy quickly went to healing her up.

"Do you know who this rider is?" Ruby asked.

"I don't… though they showed up when I was kicking Adam's ass." Seryu responded. "It's… kinda weird though. I feel like I've met them before yet I can't figure out why…"

"In due time, you will." The mysterious figure said, having a deep manly voice.

"...Though I don't recognize the voice." Seryu tilted her head. Did I meet this person in a dream…?

"You also have a Barioth… you have good taste." Avinia said.

"A Mizutsune and a Kirin… man, I wouldn't want to mess with ya." Cardin said as Ruby slowly approached the Kirin. The Kirin made eye contact with Ruby and approached her, causing the latter to stop. The Kirin put its head down and nuzzled Ruby's neck.

"H-hey! That tickles…!" Ruby giggled before petting it. "Goodness, I've heard a lot about these guys but I never thought I'd see one up close. How did you tame such a majestic creature?"

"Long story."

Once Wendy and Rosalina finished removing the toxins from Sheele's body, Seryu had Sheele's arm wrapped around her neck.

"So, I guess all of us are accounted for?" Ena wondered.

"Not all of us…" Weiss mumbled. "Adam killed Kiran right in front of me… and right now, I want to poke him full of holes when I'm done with him."

"Yeah? Get in line." Mine said, cleaning Pumpkin. "I've got a few bullets with his name on it."

"I think the best course of action is for you to rest. The poison that Adam had introduced to your body had done a number on it." The Rider explained. "Not to mention that you, like Sheele, are visibly exhausted."

"I… suppose you're right." Weiss looked at the Rider. "...Seryu, you're not the only one who feels like you've seen this person before."

"I get that a lot." The Rider said.

"Wow, definitely famous around these parts, huh?" Yang chuckled. "Alright, let's go take a look at these rage rays."

They headed off toward the lights, and as they did, they would come across an entrance to a village… only the village in question had been devoured by a large pit.

"Oh gosh… this village didn't even stand a chance." Mahiru whispered.

"Whatever's going on, these pits seem to be getting more and more frequent." Cardin said. "And honestly, I want to know what's causing all of this."

"If only we knew…" Annette sighed.

"Waaaaah!"

They all turned to the source of the noise to see a Felyne going at it against a rage rayed Crimson Qurupeco.

"Lay off, will ya!" The Felyne got back up. "You tryin' to make a meal outta me?"

"Hold on a moment…" Navirou's eyes widened.

BGM: Sturdy Shoulders: Orgo (Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin)

"You think I'm a Konchu for you to chew on?!"

"Isn't that…"

"Must've gotten me confused with a regular Felyne!"

"I know that voice!"

"Pawsitively… clawdacious-"

The Crimson Qurupeco swung its tail into him. "Aaaargh!" He grunted.

Pause BGM

At that moment, the Crimson Qurupeco was startled by the sound of the Legiana as the creature tackled it to the ground and held it there with its talons. The Qurupeco roared and tried to get off, but the Shrieking Legiana refused to budge.

"Anyone up for calming it?" Ruby asked.

"I can try…" Weiss said, but then Meryl stepped up.

"I got this. You sit back."

"Wait, huh? Since when did-"

Meryl turned her head, giving her sister a wink before conjuring up a lyre made with fire as she put her hands on the strings, closing her eyes and remembering what Nayru had taught her.

She started to play a soft melody, which was a bit sharper than Weiss's given that it was made of fire instead of ice, but despite how sharp it was, Meryl lightened it up a bit as she continued playing, which turned into a hauntingly beautiful melody, which was enough to manage to calm the Crimson Qurupeco.

The Crimson Qurupeco stopped struggling and relaxed, as the rage rays disappeared from it. The Legiana nodded in confirmation and got off of the Wyvern as the Crimson Qurupeco shook it off and wandered away.

"Huh… ya don't see that every day!" The Felyne got back up. "Music calming even the most savage of beasts."

Resume BGM

Navirou smiled. "Sarge!"

Sarge?! Most of them thought at once.

"His name's Sarge? …Like a certain guy we know? I didn't even know he even shared a name." Mahiru said.

"Dear lord, now there's two of them…" Mine groaned.

"Meowdy-do, pawnter!" "Sarge" said as Navirou glomped him in his face.

"Pawsitively clawdacious! I must be dreaming!"

"Took the words right out of my mouth! With your antics, I'm surprised you're still alive…! Nyahahaha!" He laughed as Navirou laughed with him.

"How do you know Navirou?" Ena wondered.

The bigger Felyne turned around and smiled. "Name's Orgo!" He said, not noticing most of them breathing a sigh of relief.

"Okay, it's just a title…" Mahiru relaxed.

You guys feeling okay? Kora wondered.

"The two of us go way back! He's my brother from another mother!" Navirou said proudly.

"What'd she call you? You're going by Navirou now?"

"Navigatin' Navirou! Pretty cool, right?"

"Sure is. Pawsitively… clawdacious… and… fur-... uh…"

"And what?" Navirou wondered.

"It's nothin'. I mean it's pawsitively clawdacious." He said with everyone but Navirou sweatdropping.

"Nyahaha! You bet it is!"

"I owe ya one. Why don't you drop by my place?"

"Huh, so you live around here now?"

"Yeah, lot's changed!"

"I haven't seen you in forever… there's so much I wanna tell you!" He turned to the others. "Do you mind if we swing by Sarge's house?"

Ena smiled. "It's fine."

"Eh, we got nothin' better to do. Why not?" Zinnia shrugged as they walked off toward Pomore Gardens.

Once at Orgo's place…

BGM: Cave Dwelling Cats: Felyne Shelter (Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin)

"Wow, this place is pretty with all these cherry blossoms!" Avinia said once she walked in. "It's so calming and peaceful if you don't mind the monster's wandering around."

"This is where you live…?" Navirou wondered as they had settled in a shelter.

"Yup. The whole village was swallowed up by the pit, so we're doing what we can for now. It ain't much, but it's home." He grinned. "I ain't lost my spirit either, I've got my family in these hard times."

"C'mon, we're family too! I can help out!" Navirou said.

"Heh, much appreciated! Make yourselves at home if you want and stay as long as you need to!"

"Paw-don us." A Felyne approached the group. "We have a settlement in Bloomburst Grove but this monster is making a mess of things. We were wondering if you could look into it."

"Yeah, we can check it out." Meryl nodded and turned to Weiss. "As this Rider had said, you need to rest. You and Sheele had been through the wringer with those poisons."

"I'll keep an eye on the both of them." Seryu said.

"I will too!" Wendy nodded.

Weiss sighed. "Okay…"

Meryl hugged her, gently giving her a small kiss on the cheek as she walked out as she was joined by Ruby, Yang, Blake, Rosalina, Kora, Avinia, Ilia and Sienna.

End BGM

BGM: Hills of Fragrant Flowers: Pomore Gardens (Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin)

"Hmmm…" Meryl hummed as she walked through the gardens and smiled at the cherry blossoms. "Ya know… it's kinda funny."

"What is?" Blake asked.

"My whole life, my whole purpose was to destroy Weiss after I was born from the Mirror of Truth. But then after I died, I kinda mellowed out for several months. Then Hades gave me a second chance after I was bored from tormenting Dark Ruby and, to my honest surprise, I walked into Weiss's home thinking I'd be met with hostility, but I was welcomed with open arms. I even surprised myself when I found myself saving Weiss from the darkness…"

She closed her eyes, a tear escaping with a smile on her face. "I go from wanting to kill her to calling her a sister. Just now, I just kissed her on the cheek… ironic… I don't know why I'm tearing up, it's probably something from the cherry blossom." She chuckled, wiping it away.

"You're more than just a clone." Ruby smiled.

"Yeah… I shed my old life away and was reborn into Meryl. And I don't regret it one bit. I'm proud to call her my sister."

"And we're proud to call you a friend!" Yang smiled as she gave her a big ol' hug.

"Gah! I feel my bones… cracking…!" Meryl grunted with a pained chuckle as Yang put her down and then Rosalina hugged her next. "Ooooh… that feels nice…"

Ilia put her hand on Meryl's shoulder. "Come on, let's go find this monster together."

"Yeah." Meryl nodded, hugging both Ilia and Sienna before they walked off with Meryl's head held high.

"...Mirror of Truth?" Kora whispered as Navirou and Avinia shrugged.

They walked into Bloomburst Grove, their weapons and Monsties at the ready in case if anything jumped out at them.

End BGM

As they got closer, they spotted a Tigrex seemingly stalking its prey. They curiously hid to see it in action as they would see it getting closer to an oblivious Mizutsune.

"A Mizutsune?" Rosalina whispered.

The Tigrex got closer as the Mizutsune's eye shifted to meet the Tigrex. With a roar, the Tigrex lunged but the Mizutsune "swam" away, leaving behind a trail of fire behind it as the Tigrex found itself in a ring of fire and bubbles surrounded it.

The Mizutsune leaped into the air and pounced on the Tigrex, making short work before the Tigrex fell limp. The Mizutsune then turned his attention to the heroes.

BGM: Bewitching Dancer (Monster Hunter Rise)

Dance of Eldritch Flame - Violet Mizutsune

"That's no normal Mizu…" Sienna said.

The Mizutsune slithered up to meet with the heroes, and with a roar, it proceeded to conjure up bubbles and sent them toward them where they exploded… however, Meryl manipulated the flames and threw it up in the air to create fireworks.

With a growl, the Mizutsune tackled Meryl to the ground with a roar and lowered his head to bite down on her face, but Yang punched it away as Ruby and her Zinogre electrocuted it as well, knocking the Leviathan back a bit as Ilia and Sienna both used their weapons to smack the beast and then Blake fired an Ice Beam at it.

The Violet Mizutsune growled and proceeded to create bubbles while secreting oil to create a ring of fire, but Meryl would create her own ring of fire to cancel it out, which intrigued the Mizutsune and curiously approached her.

Rosalina was ready to protect Meryl, but she noticed the behavior had changed. It went from hostility to mere curiosity, as it seemed like he was wondering how its own fire could be cancelled out so easily.

"Wait, cease your attacks!" Rosalina requested.

"What for?" Kora asked.

"Wait! I don't think it's charging at Meryl with hostility…" Avinia said.

End BGM

The Violet Mizutsune was face to face with Meryl, letting out a few curious growls. Meryl could see the curiosity in his eyes as she gently reached out…

…Until an arrow struck it on the side, causing the Violet Mizutsune to roar in agony.

"Huh?!" Meryl turned her head to see Kyle aiming his bow at the Leviathan, all the while Tsukino was facepaw-ing.

"I told you to wait…" Tsukino grumbled as the Violet Mizutsune lunged at Kyle, causing him to gasp and getting out of the way as the Mizu continued to chase after him.

"What are you doing?!" Kora demanded.

"Saving her from this vicious beast, what does it look like!" Kyle said.

"You look like you're running away from your consequences." Sienna said.

"You're lucky Zinnia isn't with us…" Ilia deadpanned as the Mizutsune turned around and whacked Kyle in the chest with his tail, knocking him into a wall.

"Aaagh!" Kyle grunted.

"Ooooh!" Avinia grimaced while Ratha let out a few growls, sounding like he was chuckling at Kyle.

The Violet Mizutsune cornered Kyle and roared, but Meryl sprang into action and got between the two, spreading her arms out as the Mizutsune growled… before it wandered off and slithered away with the arrow stuck inside of it.

Ruby sighed. "Well, now what?"

"Take him with us." Yang said as he picked him up, putting him over her shoulder. "C'mon. Let's go patch him up."

"Why are you- I do not want to be carried by your shoulder, ya weirdo! Let me go!"

"Okay!" Yang smiled, putting him down on her Azuros as he let out a roar and ran off back to the shelter.

"Waaaaaaaah!"

"You have to forgive him, he's not normally like this…" Tsukino said as they walked off, but Meryl stopped and turned to where the Mizutsune had wandered off. She immediately turned around and went after the Leviathan.

Once at the shelter…

"PFFFFFFFFT! HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, that's funny! You got beaten up by a dragon that plays with bubbles?!" Zinnia cackled as Kyle was being looked at by a few medical Felynes.

"It's not funny…" Kyle grumbled.

"You're right, it's hilarious! Just when I thought you couldn't sink any lower, you find a way to embarrass yourself even further!"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say those two act like siblings." Orgo said. "Actually, they might be a married couple now that I think about it." He quietly muttered to himself.

"I didn't ask to get pummeled by a Mizutsune! I just… came over to clear my head and… well, apologize considering I've been duped by that Adam guy."

"So you do have a soft spot!" Zinnia grinned.

"Quiet you!"

"Make me~"

"You're right, they kinda do act like a married couple." Tsukino muttered with a teasing smile.

"Rrrgh…" Kyle grumbled. "I don't like the idea of teaming up with you people, but we share a common enemy so we have no choice…"

"Oh great, we get to team up with the idiot." Filo grumbled.

"There's just one condition…" Kyle said as he glared at Kora. "If that Rathalos tries any funny business with it's Wings of Ruin, I'm ending it once and for all!"

"Oh, give me a break!" Zinnia rolled her eyes. "Can ya stop being so moody all the time, Edgy McEdgerson?"

Kyle looked at her in surprise. "Edgy Mc… Edgerson…?!"

"You heard me~!" She smiled as a few of the heroes snickered.

"She's havin' way too much fun with him." Yang chuckled.

"Oh, let her." Gloria giggled.

Back with Meryl…

Meryl found the Violet Mizutsune by itself. She slowly approached it and brought out her lyre. She started to play a melody that caught the Mizutsune's attention but was entranced by Meryl's song.

She got to the arrow and gently put her hand on it before yanking it out. The Mizutsune roared as Meryl quickly seared the wound shut.

The Mizutsune responded by sending some explosive bubbles her way, but Meryl popped them with her own flames, which made the Mizutsune look at her curiously once more. She gently put her hand on its snout, where the Violet Mizutsune closed his eyes and nudged her hand.

Meryl smiled, and then suddenly in one swift movement, the Violet Mizutsune knocked her into the air and had her land on his back. "Waaaah! …Oh!" She smiled, petting him on the head before they both went back to the shelter.

Back at the shelter…

"How long have those two been bickering?" Mine asked.

"I'm not edgy!"

"Well, you definitely sound like an angsty brat!"

"I'm not a brat either, you weird dragon girl!"

"Ha! I've heard better insults from a Sunkern!"

"I don't know what that is!"

"Huh, they actually do sound like an old married couple." Mahiru said.

Mine snickered. "Guess we missed the wedding."

"Hey, um, Orgo?" Seryu spoke up. "You wouldn't happen to have some metal lying around, would you?"

"Oh yeah, we got a surplus of it in the back. Not sure what you want to use it for, but knock yourself out."

"Thanks!" Seryu smiled as she walked toward the pile of metal. "Time to craft a new weapon for Sheele~!"

Nearby, Rosalina was sitting down and chatting with Gloria and Aqua.

"Excuse me…"

"Hmm?" Rosalina turned her head to see Tsukino looking the other way.

"I've… heard from someone that you give off the best hugs. Uh… is it true that you do? Asking for a friend…"

Rosalina smiled. "Well, I'm sure you can let your "friend" know~" She said, giving her a hug.

"...Ooooh!" Tsukino's eyes widened. "Oh, this feels nice… like I'm hugging a cloud…"

At that moment, Meryl wandered back in with the Violet Mizutsune. "Heya!" She waved.

"Is that… a Violet Mizu?!" Russel asked in surprise.

"Yup!"

"OKAY!" A voice yelled as they turned to see Kyle. "I just want to know something… who the hell is this mysterious person near us? The mystery has been bugging me ever since I got here." He glanced at Zinnia. "Okay, second thing that's been bugging me."

"Glad to know I'm your top priority~!"

"Oh shut up!"

"I guess I can reveal myself now." The mysterious Rider said as they reached for their throat and tore something off before tossing it to the ground, as it was actually a voice modifier before the figure pulled back their hoodie.

Weiss gasped in surprise, her eyes widening. "Winter?!"

Winter smiled. "Hello Weiss, I thought you could use some help."

*hears cackling coming from both Ibuki and Deadpool* Guess "Edgy McEdgerson" was too hilarious.

Deadpool: It was! Hahahaha! I can't breathe! HAHAHA!

Ibuki: *uncontrollable giggles*

Nailed it! Anywho, the Game Awards have come and gone and even though Baulder's Gate 3 has won Game of the Year... at the end of the day, we all have our personal GoTY's. For me, it was Tears of the Kingdom... until I played through Rain Code. Goodness me, that was a rollercoaster ride! Heck, I even called Super Mario Bros Wonder Game of the Year as well. So I have three GOTY's!

...That being said however... how the hell did Spider-Man 2 not get a single award? They got robbed just like the first time in 2018. What gives?