Episode 24: Nightmares of the Norse part 3: Through the Forest of Spirits
The trek to the forest near the foot of Mt. Nifelheim was a cautious one, the Z-Team took into account what both Thor and his father Odin warned him about, and the cryptic riddles Odin said that he mentioned that could possibly defeat Fenrir. Not only that it was starting to snow and the temperatures were dropping, the Z-Team would have to find the winter goddess Skadi fast before it either got dark, the snow would fall harder, or dark forces unleash the beast before they could get there.
It had only been a few seconds when Pluto began to start acting strange, wagging his head and standing up on his hind legs and then cowering a bit, as if sensing something sinister, the others noticed this. At the same time, Zack's Threat Detector began to self-activate, he pointed it in the exact location Pluto was detecting it. Before anyone had a chance to comprehend the situation, a growling sound was heard, yet there was no evidence of anything in the area of trees and rocks. Pluto started to cower and whimper a bit more, for as he did a nearly invisible lupine form materialized in front of Pluto, tail straight up, in a crouched position, teeth bared, and snarling viciously. The other Z-Team members' eyes widened at the sight of the wolf ghost, then a laughter was heard and from behind materialized the ghost of a man dressed in animal pelts, holding a spear in one hand and a knife in the other.
"What a feast this will Fang!" snarled the wild man ghost, his voice dripping with malice, hoisting both weapons up, but Donald with spear in one hand and the Shadow Bane in the other hand blocked his attempted attack. All the while, Pluto and Rajah were dodging the bites of the wolf ghost, it was difficult to battle 2 ghosts simultaneously. Zack stepped forward with sword out and then pointed it at the wild man ghost, then with a grin of excitement said, "It's burning time! Flame Blade!" then a stream of fire came out burning up the ghost. Aladdin came forward as well with his scimitar out and then shouted "Squall gust!" creating a gust of wind, and then Moana came forth pointed her oar and shouted, "Hydro Surge!" the magic attacks combined trapped the ghost, and then Aladdin threw out the demonic chest, and then Zack said the dark words to trap that ghost, in a matter of seconds the wild man ghost was sucked into the chest.
One ghost caught it was time for the other one Donald threw the Shadow Bane to the lions. First Simba stepped forth with the amulet in his mouth and shouted, "Harden Body!" and his body hardened to rock, enough to push back the wolf ghost and not get bitten. Nala, Rajah, and then Pluto came forth to hold him down. Now Zack threw the box towards the wolf ghost and then said the dark words to suck that ghost as well into it.
"Two more in the box!" shouted Goofy with glee.
"Perhaps you know of the secrets of these two Zack?" asked Minnie, the ever knowledgeable Zack stepped forth to speak.
"That was Daryl Reydyick and his wolf Fang, the man came from a family of hunters until his family members left him one day, then never returned. That's when he snapped and went completely savage deciding to hunt the old fashioned way, even tamed his wolf Mephis to be his "hunting dog" even taught the thing how to be vicious. Daryl was later caught by the authorities do to claims of his hostile demeanor, then had to be committed to a mental hospital. Due to his unpredictable nature, he had to be bound in the straightjacket which eventually got to him while in a padded room after going bonkers too many times. Fang returned to the wilderness but never forgot his master, eventually got attacked by his own kind, which got to him."
As the Z-Team were listening to Zack, Pluto started smelling something out of the ordinary, then bolted towards Goofy, and had him hoist up his shield, and as soon as that happened, an arrow clanged Goofy's shield, knocking it out of his hand. Noticing this, Zack picked up the arrow and looked at it, it wasn't any ordinary arrow, the point was made of some kind of rare stone unknown to him. Soon Zack felt some kind of presence around, but chose not to draw his weapon for he felt like something the Z-Team were seeking was approaching them.
"So you're the ones who were disrupting my hunt!" said a strange female voice, the Z-Team turned to the direction where it came from, and spotted a woman with blue skin and robes and white hair holding a bow and arrow, the arrow's point matched the one that was found by the Z-Team. Astounded, the team decided to bow, knowing that was the right thing to do. The goddess, pleased by their acts of curtsy and respect, smiled and then lowered her bow. "So you're the ones Odin was telling me about earlier, the famous Z-Team who hunt down monsters. I am Skadi goddess of winter and the hunt, the one you seek, you may rise." The Z-Team did as told, without any question knowing it would be wrong to disrespect a god.
"We're trying to find the location where Fenrir is locked away so that we can defeat it before dark forces use him!" Zack informed the wintry goddess.
"Mere mortals against the gigantic wolf?" Skadi gave a brief laugh at the possibility, but then regained her composure. "Well you all have guts, I'll give you that, but how in the world do you plan on possibly defeating such an enormous creature?"
"We've got 2 measures that can do it: a creature of the night that's practically invincible, but uncontrollable, and the other can petrify anything no matter how powerful."
"Hmmm" The winter goddess smiled in wonderment. "Looks like I've underestimated you all, I can sense you have what it takes, and Odin told me to guide you to where the wolf is locked away. So on that note, I have no choice but to oblige, you'll have to follow me to it." With an arrow in her bow, the goddess started leading the Z-Team to where the gigantic wolf was locked away. She suddenly stopped to turn to them. "I suggest keeping your weapons at the ready, this mountainous ground is the home of the Einherjar."
"The Ein-her, what?" Goofy replied with confusion, a few others were confused as well.
"The Einherjar, spirits of great warriors buried with high honors by the Valkyries long ago, I must warn you their more powerful than the average warrior."
"Don't worry Skadi, we have a tool that can repel them!" replied Elsa, holding up the Shadow Bane.
"Lucky you all, but don't fully rely on silly talismans to repel such powerful beings!" Skadi then turned front and continued leading the Z-Team through the snow covered mountain with a thick forest. Everything all seemed quiet as the Z-Team followed the goddess through the forest, even with Zack holding his Threat Detector out and Pluto keeping his nose on guard. Suddenly Pluto froze, turned then tilted his head a bit in curiosity then recoiled in a bit of fear as several larger than average beings emerged from the ground, armored enough from head to toe, no one could see their faces, surrounded by an aura of whiteness, all were holding battleaxes. The Z-Team clutched their weapons tightly not willing to start a fight with these things, remembering what Skadi said.
"Who are you all?" boomed one of the spirits. "What is your business in our woods?"
"They're here to try and fight the wolf Fenrir, great Einherjar!" Skadi replied to them. The spirits broke out in haunting laughter at such a notion.
"These bunch of puny mortals want to face up to a gigantic wolf?!" The lead Einherjar laughed. "You couldn't even fell a giant with what you have!"
"Oh really?!" seethed Mulan, holding up her sword with Mushu on her shoulder glaring right back. "We were able to snuff out a fire giant earlier!"
"And don't think we're making this up!" Squawked Donald.
"We've taken on a lot of things that were hundred times bigger than us!" added Simba growling a bit. Zack came forward and blocked the rest of his team with his sword, then looked at the lead spirit.
"We don't have time to challenge all of you...dark forces are at work to hasten his release!" Zack said firm but calm. The spirits looked at each other upon hearing this.
"You don't mean….Ragnarok is hastening upon us?"
"Not unless we can stop it! Now if you all will excuse us we've got a gigantic monster to stop!" Zack lead his team's attention back to Skadi's lead, while the Einherjar began discussing amongst themselves. Skadi lead them to a cavern at the foot of Mount Nifleheim, an ominous roaring was heard, as the skies darkened. Suddenly, a strange rumbling was heard, and then bone like hands shot out of the ground once again capturing the Z-Team, to Skadi's shock. Out from a hole emerging was the black gaseous form that was Dakmogon once again to the Z-Team's horror, laughing demonically.
"You've been a thorn in my side for quite a while Z-Team, but this time I have the upper hand!" the Dark Master laughed evilly. Skadi fired her arrow at the demonic being, but an armored arm came out and blocked it with one open hand, shattering it on impact as though the arrow was made of glass, much to Skadi's shock. Several Einherjar came charging towards the Dark Master, but another armored arm emerged carrying a halberd and took one swipe as the spirits approached, instantly making them disappear and then get absorbed into the gaseous form of Dakmogon, who laughed at his developing power. "You all amuse me with your feeble efforts trying to completely stop me….but this time the world will be in the grasp of complete darkness once I unleash Fenrir!" The Dark Master then looked into the dark cavern, and one more armored arm emerged, unleashing a dark purple energy sphere. "Rise out of your trap Fenrir!" An earthquake shook the mountain and a sudden burst of gigantic rocks emerged from Mount Nifleheim, and out came the enormous wolf Fenrir, the Z-Team couldn't believe their eyes. "Now watch as your world plunges into darkness!" the Dark Master laughed evilly, the Z-Team were helpless as the gigantic wolf charged out of his mountain prison and then scoped out the sun, opened its gigantic jaws and immediately swallowed the sun, plunging the land into complete pitch black darkness. "Now I will release you all to try and deal with the wolf to my amusement!" The Dark Master did just so and then vanished, just as Fenrir slowly came back to where the Z-Team were, thundering with each step the enormous wolf took. The Z-Team knew this would be their toughest challenge yet…
To Be Continued…..