Disclaimer: I don't own Kamen Rider Faiz or Monster High G1. They belong to their respective creators, namely Toei and Mattel. For those that will ask, this story takes inspiration from Ten-Faced Paladin's story, Knights of the Otherworld. I write this as a fan of both franchises, wanting to make something as awesome and awe-inspiring like their stories. Feel free to comment.
The Champions of Monster High
By Yutilov
Chapter 9: The Confession and Trouble in Catacombs
Hello shounens!It's your favourite host, Seimei!~
If you paid attention to the events from our last monogatari, then one of our eiyuu's is in dire need of help.
It al began when two, or to be more precise three of our gakis have encountered at Monster High a student named Hoodude Voodoo who is as his name itself hints... a voodoo doll!
So imagine my deligh- I-I meant my deep worries when young Blake and later young Ken had suffered at the hands of such noryoku! In the end, by swallowing his pride, young Blake had a chance to get his fukushu at the true mastermind behind this incident, not Hoodude, but Toralei Stripe who used her spooky feline charms to make him act as an involuntary and unaware accomplice.
It all would have ended well if not for the fact that young Ken tried to make the ojou-chan repent, it seems she awakened an unpleasant memory for him. More exactly, the memory of his, dramatic pause tanomu...
Former girlfriend!!!Ikanimo, even at this moment I'm speechless, but now there is no time to waste! I must help the gaki!!!
(*)
Fox Flare Cafe
"Young Ken had a girlfriend!?" Seimei gaped in shock. "Hm... she definetly was the one that asked him out! Gomen gaki, but you are sort of oblivious to these things."
"Not awesome, fox dude!" Leon huffed. "...But, yeah, that was pretty much what happened, no offense buddy."
'Still no reaction, huh? Mataku, this is a chou warui case of heartbreak reminescence,' Seimei thought.
"Alright!" The adventurous teen suddenly exclaimed. "I know! Someone get me a bucket of cold water with ice! That will definetly work!"
"Coming right up!" Seimei nodded, about to snap his fingers, but was stopped by Michael who raised his hand.
"Mr. Seimei, I suggest you stop complying to Leon's mindset and both of you give Kenneth the adequate amount of peace and quiet to sort this on his own," he ordered with a forced smile present on his features.
Seimei sighed, lowering his hand. "If you say so, gaki."
"Nope man!" Leon butted in. "Last time we tried your way, it took him a week to say a few words!"
"M-Maybe..." Maximilian tried saying, but paused as Ken suddenly rose up from his seat.
"Thank you all for worrying about me, but Michael is right, I must make peace with this myself," the noble teen said, turning to Leon. "Please accept my decision. I know what happened that time worried you, but I just want some time to think about it."
"...Alright buddy," Leon responded with a worried look that turned into a peepy smile. "But of course I know you'll be fine! Then I'll tell you all about my failed romace stories! Man, they are something that would make a great book one day!"
Ken smiled for a moment. He has a truly great friend. "I will do so Leon."
(*)
Monster High - Halls
The very next day at the famous school for all monsters, many just arrived and began socyalizing early with their groups and friends.
Just like the countless days since arriving, the eyes of many are gazing at one of the famous normie 'exchange ' students, namely Ken.
The many monsters that the noble teen passed on his way were greeting him friendly, while not so secretly, various girls were gazing at him with admiration. His reputation and his good deeds are known to most, if not all of the students in Monster High by now.
"Ken is always so spooky-charming!" said a girl with red skin, golden hair styled like it's on fire and and a third eye on her forehead.
"I know, ghoul! If only all normies were like him~!" gushed a girl with pale skin and short pixie-cut dark hair that has pitch-black eyes.
"But is it just me or is there something off about him today?" asked a werewolf girl with dark skin and hair done in pigtails.
The other two ghouls looked at each other and shrugged, not knowing what their friend is talking about. Ken is the greatest and most helpul normie ever, not to mention the most handsome. So, him being something other than his helpful and charming self must meant something is very wrong indeed.
(*)
As Ken walked down the corridor, he finally reached his locker. The noble teen opened the door and took out the book for his next class and locked the door.
Suddenly, he felt a felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Toralei Stripe standing there with a sly grin on her face.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the human who ruined my fun~" she said, her tone dripping with honey and poison.
"Hello Miss Toralei..." Ken greeted. "May I help you?"
"Hmm~ Considering how I know you and that other normie with cheaply dyed hair had a hand in what happened to me yesterday then I don't think so!" she hissed, turning her back to him. "I easily connected the dots and it was quite obvious, but also surprising you oh-so-noble knight in shining armor participated.~"
Ken's eyes softened, a mix of guilt and caution evident in his expression. "I admit I am not guiltless, but I sincerely hope you saw the error of your ways.
Toralei turned back to face him, her eyes glinting with a predatory light accompanied with a wide sharp smile. "I only learned that I must use a fool with a bit more brain than that Hoodude. Just so you know, this isn't over.~" With that, she leaved the noble teen to ponder her words.
Ken watched as the orange werecat disappear into the crowd of students. He couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that settled in his stomach. As he turned back to his locker, he noticed the gaze of several students lingering on him, their curiosity piqued by the confrontation, even if they don't know the full details, but by now, being something that most if not all have gotten used to, their whispers have fallen low and now all could be heard were simple steps of the monster students minding their own business.
"...Are you okay Ken?" a familiar voice asked suddenly.
Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with Frankie and her friends.
"Yeah. Thank you Frankie," Ken replied, forcing a smile. "Just remembering somethings..."
"I see?" Frankie uttered with a worried look, not fully understanding.
"You don't need to be worried about Toralei for a while mate," Lagoona added with a confident tone.
"But knowing her type, let's just hope that she accepts this defeat," Draculaura hopes.
"Indeed. Just don't give her that kind of attention, silly normie," Cleo advised with a haughty tone. "You did help us, so listen well to this advice! When her schemes fail, she will always go for these cheap threats. You can say that Toralei is just a kitty with unsharpened claws now! She can only hiss at you."
Ken silently nodded at their advices. Based on their way of speaking, this isn't the first or last time that they were against Toralei, so they more or less know how she operates. Yet, this isn't what truly worries him...
"Alright! Enough with the sugar-coating, ghouls," Clawdeen sighed and stepped up. "We came here for something else and we think you might help us."
"Sure," Ken immediatly nodded. "What do you need help with?"
"We-Well..." Frankie stammered. "Weneedtocheckupyourlocker!"
"...Pardon?" Ken questions, not understanding what she said last.
"She says we need to check your locker," Clawdeen clarified with a sigh. "We think that the locker you use might've been the one her dad used back when he attended MH long ago."
The noble teen eyes slightly widened. "Her father? Frankenstein?"
"Yep!" Draculaura confirmed it. "Can we please?"
Ken nodded, stepping away. "Of course."
Frankie and her friends quickly approached Ken's locker, their eyes scanning the metal surface.
"Alright, let's see what we can find," Clawdeen said, opening the locker door. The inside was neatly organized, with textbooks, notes, and pens neatly arranged with more than enough free space. Simple and minimalistic, but that's more than enough for Ken.
"Seems normal, but what if..." Frankie's eyes widened as she reached until she felt something like a switch.
FWOOSH!*
The section split open.
"A secret compartment, ghouls!" Reaching her hand inside, she pulled out a key bearing the image of a skull. "Look at this!"
"No way!" Draculaura gasped in wonder.
"Ghooou!" Ghoulia uttered in awe.
"It's a skeleton key!" Clawdeen exclaimed, checking the item. "Those are special keys that open forbbiden doors and passages in the catacombs!"
"The catacombs?" Your father had such a room down there?" Ken questioned. The catacombs are as their name suggest, an underground maze-like section of rooms and passages that are said to even predate the school itself and that many of them contain treasures and many items of great knowledge and value, but at the same time, there are many dangers and even traps present. Not even Headmistress Bloodgood knows how deep they go, with Mr. Hackington being the only teacher daring enough to actually explore them and who occasionally plans expeditions for the classes.
"Then it seems our schedule for today must be changed!" Cleo pridefully declared. "We're going to find this so-called laboratory of your father, Frankie."
"W-We are!?" The aforementioned exclaimed. "But we don't even know were we are supposed to look for it."
"If your father had left this key in here, then there must be also a clue inside," Ken reached his hand in the hidden layer and pulled out an old piece of paper. Unfolding it, he gazed at various numbers who are written in an apparent jumble.
"Ghaah!" Ghoulia's eyes widened as she took the piece of paper from Ken's hand. Next, she took out her laptop and quickly tasted the numbers.
"You're right Ghoulia! It must be a code!" Frankie exclaimed.
"Great, now all we need is to decipher it!" Lagoona cheered.
"Ghou," the zombie girl suddenly sighed. This could mean one thing.
"Well, seems like it could take some time," Frankie added, turning to Ken. "A-And since you helped us so much and th-this is now your locker, maybe you... you know...?"
"Frankie I-"
Cleo rolled her eyes at this display from her friend. "Quite subtle, dear. You will come down with us after school, normie. Now let's go, ghouls!"
The others shrugging, they soon followed Cleo, heading down to their classes, leaving Ken with Frankie.
"I-I guess I'll be seeing you down?" she questioned herself rather than him and gently followed along, disappearing from his sight.
"Miss Frankie..." Ken let out a sigh. He actually wanted to refuse their offer, but seems like he will go to the catacombs today.
That is the right thing to do...
(*)
Monster High - Calcometry
"And this is how you apply the theorem for the reverse calculation above which is the first of 13 steps for the next equation class," Headmistress Bloodgood informed the students present in her class. Besides being the Headmistress of the school, she is also a teacher of Calcometry, the monster side term synonymous to mathematics. While many respect and fear the Headmistress as an authority figure, more also know of her infamous reputation as a teacher, just like is more than clear by the advanced equations present on the table along with the desperate expressions of the monster teens present that are either trying to comprehend what is taught or are struggling not to fall asleep or else they would end up with detention or worse... extra homework.
So imagine Blake's misfortune when he found out he's also having this kind of class at Monster High. Unlike his attitude, he wasn't that bad of a student and at the Academy he managed to get decent grades that kept him floating, but math wasn't one of his strong point, and in all honesty, he'd rather go back to those classes back there...
This one over here feels like a genuine torture...
"Pss! Normie boy,"Recognising that dumb nickname he got used to, he turned and saw Clawdeen in the back row. The werewolf girl shot him an angry glared and quickly tossed a small piece of paper which landed in his desk.
'Really. Is she a ten year old?' The gray-haired teen thought. Seeing the Headmistress is too busy, he nonetheless opened up the small paper.
'We need to talk!'
Were all that was written, which didn't make much sense for Blake. "You gotta be kidding." He uttered to himself.
Rolling his eyes, he decided to return to the lesson and after class is over he'll ask what made this monster girl who loves to drain his pocket money on meat smoothies has with him now.
(*)
Monster High - Halls
After the bell ringed, many soon began crowding the spooky halls of the school.
"Alright, what do you have with me this time?" Blake questioned Clawdeen. Not the most subtle or polite way to start a conversation, but one thing both him and the werewolf girl have in common is that they're both sarcastic and also the straight to the subject type.
"Hmm~ Let me see," she replied in an obviously sarcastic tone. "Because of your friend who is supposed to be the only normie that no monster can hate, Frankie has been acting weird!"
The human teen rolled his eyes. He knows too well this situation from back at the Academy. "How's my fault she has a crush on him? More than half of the girls in here are dealing with that. Not my-"
"It will be your problem! I'm tired of seeing her babble to herself all the time when the subject of that normie comes up! After classses come with us down to the catacombs and tell your friend to turn her down GENTLY!" The werewolf girl growled pointing her sharp nails at him before saying one last thing that perhaps she shouldn't say.
"I don't want this again..." she whispered more to herself before turning her way.
He watched Clawdeen storm off, her long curly hair swishing like a tail. He couldn't help but shake his head. Another crazy day in Monster High... Teen dramas were never far away in this place, but at the same time, in spite of this stupid threat, Clawdeen is right.
Frankie is the text book definition of a good girl and also knows how she feels about Ken like many others. It was an annoying situation, but not uncommon. Back at the Academy even when he was with that menace of Chloe, he kept receiving the crazy teenage love stares like he was the last guy on the damn planet. And in here, this thing is working even moreso considering the girls in here aren't human... Do monster chicks have more teenage hormones compared to regular girls anyway? Sometimes it feels like they do.
Blake groaned. "Meh. As long as she doesn't drain my money then fine."
(*)
"Hi Ken!" came the voice of Hoodude, running up in the halls towards the aforementioned human. Doing so, many who saw him, they all instantly stepped back and hit the walls as not to be the accidental victims of his ability
.
"Hello Hoodude..." Ken greeted back the sentient doll, watching with a grim look in his eyes the reactions of the others that suddenly got back to their ordinary pace as if Hoodude himself never was present.
"Do you need any help?"
"No? Or at least I don't think so," the monster teen responded in his oblivious tone. "Want to hang out at the Maul today? Toralei said that she couldn't because of allergies."
The noble teen felt bad, knowing this was an excuse from the werecat to avoid Hoodude. "I see... Thank you, but I promised Frankie and her friends to go to the catacombs after classes."
"The catacombs!" Hoodude exclaimed, looking overjoyed. "Can I come! Pretty please!"
Taken back by this sudden answer, he couldn't refuse. "I need to check with Frankie, but I'm sure she will agree."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He exclaimed, suddenly bringing Ken in a hug. This act alone was more than enough to earn a wide series of gasps from all present, including worried looks from the girls, afraid if something would happen to Ken.
.
.
.
Fortunately for all, nothing that could be called calamitous or misfortunate seemed to transpire.
"...You are a good person, Hoodude," Ken said in a low voice, tinged with a strange sense. Hoodude himself didn't hear this last part and released his hold.
"Don't worry! I'll prepare everything!" He bidded goodbye, going on his way. "See you soon!"
"Yes... Glad I could help."
(*)
Meanwhile...
"Oh my Kami... Young Blake is right!!! My coffee is horrible!!!" Seimei spat in disgust. In his hand is none other than a cup of the mentioned freshly brewed cafeine drink he decided to make out of a whim to take his mind off other businesses, more than some involving the belts. Just the mere thought was enough to ignore the bad taste in his mouth and let out a tired sigh.
"Mataku. Even with the recent data I collected, Faiz and Kaixa still aren't full hyaku percent, not to mention the third gear I somehow can't activate! Unmei can be so harsh sometimes!"
But suddenly, the fox-earred man got an idea. An idea that may be more on the dangerous side than his usual benevolent and michevious style, but!
"I have waited for quite a while, but I have reached the end of my patience! Kiichi!" He called his robotic pet which flew to his shoulder. "We're going to do a shoukan experiment! And I just know the place... The Catacombs!"
(*)
Monster High - Halls
The final bell ringed, signaling the end of classes of today. Many immediatly rushed out of the classses and outside.
Now that today is over, few decided to still remain from different reasons. Some have remained for club activities, while others like Frankie and her trusty group of friends have gathered at the usually barricaded entrance to the catacombs.
"Are you all set, dears?" Cleo asked in her usual prideful tone.
"Wait! We are still missing Ken and Lagoona!" Frankie exclaimed.
"Lagoona had an appointment with Gill and his parent, thus she can't join us," the mummy girl answered.
"They still don't think she's good for Gill?" Draculaura asked, but knew the asnwer. Lagoona and Gill are water monsters, but she is of the salt-water kind, while he is fresh-water, and those two kinds didn't have the best relationships in the past, sometimes being described as a feud just as worse like the one between the vampires and werewolves.
"Ghou," uttered Ghoulia.
"You're right. It is sad, but we can only cheer for her, ghoul," Clawdeen remarked, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Yeah... But I know one day she'll convince them!" Frankie declared.
"That's the attitude!" The werewolf girl grinned.
"Then, we just need to wait for Ken!" Frankie exclaimed with a too obvious blush on her cheecks.
Clawdeen almost growled. "Yeah."
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Frankie didn't need to look to know it was Ken, but what she didn't expect was that Hoodude accompanied him.
"Hello everyone," Ken said, giving a quick wave to the group.
Frankie's face lit up at the sight of Ken, and she rushed over to him, her pale-green cheeks turning a shade of pink. "Hi, Ken!"
The girls greeted him in their own ways, with only Clawdeen remaining silent.
"What are you doing here Hoodude?" The werewolf girl asks.
Ken responded. "Hoodude wanted to join us."
"He what!?" Cleo gasped. "Sorry but no!"
"S-Sorry Hoodude, but your powers may... you know," Draculaura tried saying, but she didn't know of a more polite way to saying that they could be all in more danger if he was with them to the catacombs.
The doll teen of course couldn't accept this."I promise I'll keep my distance and not touch anything! Pretty please!" He pleaded to her, which only made the girls feel pity for him.
At that moment, Ken stepped forward. "I promise I will watch over him as not to cause a disturbance, Miss Cleo."
"Hm! Fine!" The mummy girl gave in. She wasn't about to be persuaded by the words of a normie, but, if someone is about to be a victim of Hoodude's, then let it be a human, not her friends!
"So can we go down already?" A familiar voice asked, which made all turn to look at none other than Blake.
"Ghou!"
"Blake!" Frankie uttered. "H-How did-"
"I was here for five minutes, you just didn't notice me, Bolts," the gray-haired teen casually answered.
"And, pray tell, why are you here? I don't remember inviting an extra normie," The mummy girl demanded to know.
"I invited him, ghoul," Clawdeen replied.
"Aw!" Draculaura swooned, thinking that her best friend invited Blake here for a romantic expedition. She knew how great the two have been getting along and how he takes her to the Maul, meaning there is definetly something going on between them!
"He heard me talk about the laboratory and wanted to go! I felt pity for him!" Clawdeen lied but her beet red blush was more than enough to make Draculaura think otherwise but kept quiet.
Blake just sighed and decided to go along with her story. "Sure, whatever."
"Well one normie is already enough!" Cleo fumed. "For Ra! I'm the leader and I make the decisions!"
"And you so afraid to have one more human on, bandage-girl?" Blake asks with a smirk on his face, more than intent to ire her.
And it seems to be working well judging by the apparent scowl present on her features. "Of course not! I've changed my mind! You can go with us if you dare so much!" The mummy girl scoffed in her prideful tone. "But if you become the meal of the nightmarish creatures down there, let it be known that I'm not at fault!" She declared with a smile, entering ahead.
"Cleo, you didn't need to-" but Frankie next words were suddenly cut off when she heard... laughting? But not from her friends, but from... from Blake???
The teen himself letted out a long dry laugh, more ominous than sarcastic. "Let's see if I survive this as well." he declared, going inside.
"Alright...?" Draculaura questioned, soon following along with the others.
(*)
As the group descended into the catacombs, the temperature lowered and the shadows casted by light seemed to move of their own accord. The flickering torches cast on the walls weren't bright enough to fully cover the deep darkness that the teens found themselves in.
"Stay close, ghouls," Cleo warned, her eyes scanning the dimly lit passage. She was the leader and it was her job to stay ahead, even if she wasn't a fan of dark and cramped spaces for... reasons. "Oh, and you too, normies." she called to the human teens. While Blake was right behind her, soon followed by Ghoulia, Ken was with Hoodude way behind the others.
"Understood!" Hoodude saluted from the safe distance.
"Pss!" Clawdeen called out to him, approaching. "Did you do the job?" She whispered, making sure not to be heard.
Unbeknowst to them, the zombie girl, Ghoulia was also peering.
"No. Didn't get a chance to," He simply replied, not paying much attention to her.
The werewolf girl sighed. "Why am I not surprised? What's so difficult anyways?"
"Try and do it yourself then," Blake countered with an eye-roll. "Not like I understand why. Either Frankie gets the boost to tell him she's got a crush or it passes away."
"That's not how it works!" She looked at him incredulously, not realizing she just shouted up high.
"Am I interrupting something?" Cleo asked with a raised frown.
"N-No, ghoul! Just telling him what I think about his plain clothes!" Clawdeen quickly replied.
"Sure," Blake rolled his eyes, getting a glare from her.
"Oh! You should totally have Clawdeen pick your clothes! She can make you look so fashionable and spooky-cool!" Draculaura praised her.
"Not interested," Blake stated.
"Grr! You're saying I ain't got the skill!" She snapped, taking this as an insult.
"Really?" The gray-haired teen simply asked. Just how much of an ego and short attention span can she have?
"Yes really! My fashion talents are among the best in school, so I will be able to make you fashionable like me, normie boy!" She declared but quickly began blushing.
"Ahh~ You two would make such a bats couple!" The vampire girl praised with a smile.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Clawdeen snapped.
"You two are together?" asked Hoodude.
"No!" Both human and werewolf shouted and at the same time, but also stopped and avoided eye contact with the werewolf girl sporting a blush.
"Ghou!" Ghoulia uttered, switching the attention to her.
"What is Miss Ghoulia saying?" asks Ken.
"She thinks we're getting close," Clawdeen answered.
"I-I still don't think we should be down here," uttered Frankie.
"Aren't you even curious to see your dad's old high school laboratory?" Cleo asked.
"How did you even find out about this place if it even exists?" Blake questioned.
"Girl secrets. Not telling a guy~!" Clawdeen replied in a teasing tone. "Plus, we have the skeleton key which will open the door when we find it."
(*)
Deep in the catacombs, a blue flames moved and surrounded the fox-earred man, Seimei himself.
"I am such a tensai!" Seimei exclaimed. Besides him, the roboticcrow flew nearby, programmed to watch and record it's master. "I have been saving most of my true chikara since the gakis arrived, meaning I am strong enough to make a small breach into what can be called presently, the Orphenoch sekai and pull out one of them in order to get battle data which in return will help me to complete the remaining belts to strengthen the gakis when the worst will come..." he paused, taking out from his pocket a paper charm and sticking it to a nearby wall. The blue orbs approached the paper charm, which in turn created a large shadow before the fox-earred man.
"Doing such a thing is reckless, I admit, because, ichi, I only used my chikara to re-open recently closed gates to push back the fist batch of Orphenochs, but this solution was ever temporary and couldn't work on the long term. Nii, because, even if I open up a gate, I must pull out a tsuioi Orphenoch, which means mondai two is about luck itself, but thankfully that's where my kitsune inheritance comes up. Making fortune and misfortune is in my blood, and this only leaves issue san. If a stronger or smarter than average Orphenoch could prove too much, which is why I decided to try this little experiment in the catacombs of Monster High. They are a large maze under the school itself which spans looong down. So, if something somehow goes out of control, there will be no one hurt in the process. After all, who would even explore the catacombs after school anyways!" He finished with a laugh, snapping his fingers.
The paper charm began glowing a bright blue, which soon turned into dim-green. The light covered the casted shadow, and became a portal to the other side beyond this world. "Let's try our luck!" Seimei declared, raising his hand and inserting it in the gateway, which soon began fluctuating with crimson energy. Then just as quicky, he took it out.
"Now, let's welcome our guest!" Seimei declared, as from the gateway itself a large figure emerged. Being covered in light-gray cracked armor with tufts of hair at ends and a helmet akin to an armadrillo, this Orphenoch was already armed with a broadsword which it easily carries on one hand, while in the other, it possesses a giant armadrillo scaled themed shield as large as it's body.
The creature initially gazed at the fox-earred man. It could sense the being before it was very powerful, at least more than itself, but it couldn't sense any intent to challenge in combat and most importantly, it couldn't hear the command to kill.
Thus, faster than the fox-earred man could react, the Orphenoch crouched down and shufted it's form, turning into a large ball and rolled out, getting as far away in the darkness of the catacombs.
"Ehtou... Well, that could've ended up much worse," Seimei sighed, taking out his ICoffin. "Let's see which of the gakis is closer and we have... Young Blake and Ken!... And they are down here!?!?"
(*)
As the teens ventured deeper into the catacombs, the eerie silence was broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps.
The walls were decorated with glowing skulls that replaced the torches at the entrance, meaning this was unexplored domain. The air thick with an almost tangible sense of foreboding.
Frankie occasionally took a longing peek at Ken which Clawdeen observed and couldn't help but scowl.
"Ghou!" uttered Ghoulia.
"She says we're getting close!" Draculaura exclaimed. "I bet it's crawling with mysteries!"
"And danger!" Frankie scarily added.
After a few more steps, the froup of monsters and humans arrived at a large door that was sealed shut with chains and a lock in the middle.
"Remember, don't touch anything," Frankie cautioned her friends.
"What's the worst that can happen?" Hoodude asks, getting wide-berth looks.
"Really?" Clawdeen asks. "Don't ever say that! It only invites more danger!"
"And we're not all pain numb like you," Blake added with a sigh. It feels like he's talking to a kid, kinda ironic since Hoodude is a sentient doll.
"Don't worry. I promise not to touch anything!" Hoodude declared, pointing to himself, but in the process, his finger got to close to a nearby torch and caught fire. "Whoah!" He quickly blew out the fire, thankfully and quickly hid his hand. "It's all good. I'm cool..."
Clawdeen sighed. "Fine. But remember! Don't-"
ROAR!*
"W-What was that!?" Frankie panicked.
"P-Probably the wind!" Draculaura tried helping, but couldn't hide her trembling.
FWOOSH!*
"Then what was that?" Clawdeen questioned. "It sounds like something is..."
"Rolling?" Blake finshed, and as heard, a strange 'boulder' began rolling towards them.
"Duck!" Blake screamed, quickly sticking to a wall, and in doing so, the others proceeded to follow him. The rolling 'boulder' passed by, sending dust and debris into the air. The teens coughed, their eyes adjusting to the swirling particles. As the 'boulder' continued down the corridor, the group cautiously unglued themselves, glancing around.
"Where did that come from?" Frankie asked, her voice shaky.
"It was most likely a trap," Ken theorized.
"Kinda cliche, don't you think?" Blake countered. He's in another world, not in a movie. "And I'm sure we didn't touch anything like a trigger or-" he glanced at Hoodude.
"I didn't do anything!" The doll teen raised his hands up.
"Are you sure?" Clawdeen questions, not believing it.
"Yes! Trust me!"
FWOOSH!*
"You gotta be-"
"It's coming back!" Frankie screamed, seeing the 'boulder' return to them. But just as misteriously it apperead, the 'object' suddenly stopped when it faced the teens.
"Why did it stop?" Asked Hoodude.
The others just as stunned couldn't even answer.
"Grr!"
"Oh no..." uttered Blake, recognizing that brand of mindless roar and where it originated... That was no freakin boulder!
As he feared, the 'rock' unveiled itself, revealing to be an Orphenoch bearing the traits of an armadrillo.
The creature gazed with it's cold lifeless eyes at the ones standing in front of it. It couldn't make sense of the monster teens, thus deeming them as mere obstacles in face of the true targets that fueled it's gaze and body with madness... Humans!!!
"No way..." Clawdeen gasped. It was different but she couldn't help but notice the similarities of this creature to the one which attacked and chased Blake when they first met!
"W-Wha-What is..." Draculaura struggled saying, her entire body being overwhelemd by fear.
"WHAT is that..." gasped Cleo, never seeing such a creature. It was no monster she ever saw! That was definetly not a were-creature, and not a being brought back from the dead like her or Ghoulia or even an artificially monster created monster like Frankie or Hoodude. The creature standing before them was something entirely out of this world!
"Scram!" Blake yelled, awaking the others from their fear-induced state.
The group didn't need any further encouragement. They sprinted down, each one splitting and going into random directions.
The only ones who didn't run being Blake and Ken themselves. Thankfully, they were in the catacombs and all possible witnesses have left, but there was one problem... Both don't have enough time to call their host and even if they did, none have charged bangles!
The Orphenoch let out a deafening roar, causing the very ground to tremble beneath their feet!
"You're not scaring us that easily, giant rat!" Blake feigned courage, knowing that without one of those weird futuristic armor they're both goners.
"Aah!" Suddenly, Ken began charging at the Orphenoch with his body! The creature unmoving let itself be hitten!
Unfortunately, the attack from the noble teen wasn't even capable to budge the behemoth. In that moment, the armadrillo-like creature grabbed Ken by his shoulders and easily raised him high in the air.
Blake's heart sank as he watched Ken dangling in the creature's grip. "You ducking idiot!" he shouted, scrambling to think of a plan. Quickly he noticed a few rocks and began picking and tossing them at the Orphenoch.
ROAR!*
The armadrillo Orphenoch, while it's defenses couldn't be penetrated by mere pebbles, this very act of defiance coming from a human, it's prey, was vexing. Unceremoniously tossing the human in it's hands, the creature began charging at Blake.
'Fuck this life,' The gray-haired teen thought, thinking that he's signed his fate, but suddenly pink lights swirled around him and he vanished from sight.
(*)
After encountering that strange and vile looking creature that put even the most hideous-looking trolls to shame, she and the others split up. She took a nearby corridor and after a lot of running and panting in exhaustion, she suddenly bumped into someone. Thinking it was that creature, she did the only thing she could think of in her current state.
"Please don't eat me! I'm a vegetarian!" The vampire girl begged, not not noticing it wasn't who she thought.
"Draculaura!" It was none other than Frankie along with the others.
"Frankie!" The vampire girl immediatly brought her friend in a hug. "You're alright!"
"Yeah! I am!" The reanimated girl replied. "Seems we've all hit a common point. What luck."
"That's far from luck, ghoul," Clawdeen remarked. "Thankfully that... whatever it was didn't follows us."
"Indeed. What even was that monster... if it even was one to begin," Cleo theorized. "Just to be sure, we are all here?" She began counting. "Hmm, seems we're all here minus the-"
"Ken and Blake are missing!" Hoodude screamed.
"Ken!" Frankie exclaimed, rushing back with no warning at fast speed.
"Dang it!" Clawdeen growled, soon rushing after her friend.
(*)
In a swirl of light, the gray-haired teen appeared a few feet behind the confused Orphenoch.
"Gaki!" exclaimed the voice of none other than Seimei. The fox earred-man snapped his fingers, producing two familiar silver briefcases then pulled put of his pocket two bracelets, one silver with red gem and the other dark alloy with yellow gem. He quickly tossed one briefcase to Blake along with the silver bracelet who catched them. "You know what to do!"
"Do you want another try at Kaixa, shounen?" He asked the downed teen. Knowing that the first time Ken transformed wasn't the best of experiences, but in spite of that, the noble teen rose from the ground and extended his hands. Seimei just smiled and handed to him the other set.
Both teens slid the bangles on their left wrists, then opened the briefcases. They quickly took out the silver belts and connected them to their waists. Blake took out the silver cellphone, opening it while Ken took out the dark cellphone flipping it.
(9-1-3)
(5-5-5)
Next, they pressed ENTER.
[Standing By!]
The devices announce in a robotic and rasping male voice as they began beeping.
"Henshin!" Blake and Ken called, raising the devices above their heads, connecting them to each belt blank space, sliding it.
[Complete!]
A surge of energy pulses through the red bars, releasing laser-like projections around Blake's body. With another glow, the gray-haired teen was clad in the futuristic armor, becoming Faiz.
[Complete!]
Yellow energy pulses through the bars as four laser-like projections surround Ken's body. With another glow, the noble teen was now clad in the futuristic armor, becoming Kaixa.
"Let's do this," Faiz declared, cracking his fist.
Kaixa nodded, proceeding to take out his main weapon to support Faiz, but what he heard next made him reconsider.
"Keeen!" Echoed the familiar voice that belonged to none other than Frankie.
"You gotta be-" Faiz groaned, letting down his defense for a moment. In that brief moment, the Orphenoch charged at him. "Damn it! Send me and this thing to another place!" He called to the fox-earred man.
"Iokaishta!" Seimei snapped his fingers as pink lights began gathering and twisting around Faiz and the Orphenoch. In a big glow of light, the two have left as if they were never here.
"That's one mondai out, but now another one is coming too fast," Seimei stated, seeing what are definetly multiple shapes approaching.
"Let me handle this, Mr. Seimei," Kaixa replied. They must've become worried since neither he or Blake actually run, meaning they were worried for the worst that could happen. As a response, he should face them.
Seimei thought for a moment, but shrugged. He knows Ken is more responsible than Blake and wouldn't risk his identity being found out. "I'll leave this to you, gaki!" He said, snapping his fingers and vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
As for Kaixa, he steadied himself, ready to face the ones that were approaching. As the shapes became clearer, he recognized them - Frankie, Clawdeen, Draculaura, Ghoulia, Cleo, and Hoodude, all panting and disheveled from running.
"Ha... Where's Ken?!" Frankie called out, her words laced with worry.
"He's nowhere to be seen," Cleo remarked, then gazed at the figure before them. It wasn't that strange creature, but looked more like... a 'robot'? "And may I know who are you?"
"That form," Clawdeen was stunned at the one standing before them. There are differences, but there's no denying the resemblance to that 'robot' which saved her!
"Have you seen Ken!?" The reanimated girl asked in a desperate voice.
Kaixa for his part couldn't speak. He and the others have been called in this world, in New Salem, to fight the Orphenochs while hidden from the eyes of monster and human society. It was a great and dangerous commitment, which means he can't reveal his identity to her and the others.
"Maybe he can't speak?" Draculaura theorized. Thankfully, by this chance, Kaixa decided to go along. He quickly nodded. "Oh! I was right!"
"Have you seen two humans around these parts?!" Frankie asked again, this time more urgently.
The armored teen shook his head in denial.
"Then have you seen a strange monster? Big and scary?" The stitched girl asks.
"It looked huge and had some kind of strange marks on it's body," Clawdeen added.
In response, the armored teen nodded. Denying would be too obvious and they may begin to suspect him, if they didn't already.
"The where's that strange creature?" Cleo asked, but didn't receive an answer. Instead, Kaixa pointed in a faraway corridor from which the so-thought 'boulder' came.
"Are you saying it returned back?" Clawdeen asked, approaching him. This is just too strange. She first met that silver and red 'robot' when a fish-like creature appeared at the border of the town, and when another one appeared here in the catacombs. Another 'robot' that is similar but with dark armor and yellow lines across it's body. By instinct, she took a peek with her nose. "Ew!" She quickly stepped back.
"What happened?" asked Hoodude.
"And I thought my family old van was stinky, but this guy smells way worse!" The werewolf girl groaned. "Have you heard of a shower!?"
In spite of the mean comment, the armored teen remained silent.
"Then Ken maybe returned back up?" The doll teen theorized.
"If that creature only wanted to frighten us from entering it's territory then likely so," Cleo concluded.
"Then we must go up!" Frankie exclaimed.
"Chill ghoul!" The werewolf girl stepped up. "Look, I get you are crushing on that normie and are worried, but you must calm!"
Unknown to the others, beneath his helmet, the armored teen's eyes widened at the revelation.
Frankie blushed. "C-Clawdeen! I-It's not-"
"Sorry, but it's obvious, dear," Cleo huffed. "I don't even get on why you and many others found youselves fascinated by these exchange normie students, Clawdeen even more so with that Blake."
"Me!?" The aforementioned gaped with a clear blush on her cheeks. "Why would I have a crush on that guy!?"
"Ghou!"
"Indeed, it's obvious you two are spending time together at the Maul and I even heard he gave you a gift and keeps buying those horrendous meat drinks for you!" Cleo stated the facts. It was no doubt the truth!
"T-That's for so many other reasons!" Clawdeen snapped but was out of any comeback lines. "And we're talking about Frankie over here! What does she even find in that normie?"
Hoodude raised his hand. "Oh oh! Ken's always helping others!"
"W-Well that as well, but he's just so~" the stiched girl dremily sighed. There are many words to define Ken, but for her, this human who suddenly came to their school along with his friends have made a change. 'Always lending a hand with a happy smile to Monster High and-'
"Let's just go up already!" Clawdeen yelled, stopping Frankie from her inner monologue. "You are coming with us too, weird ro... Where'd he's gone!?"
"Uh, Clawdeen, he kinda left," Draculaura sheeply answered.
"I can see that. Dang it!" she cursed under her breath.
"So, we won't enter your father's lab today? A pity," the mummy girl let out a deep sigh.
(*)
After sneaking out so that the others wouldn't be able to see him, the armored teen back suddenly hit the wall.
"Frankie likes me..." he uttered, his confused expression being hidden away by the helmet. He can't undertsand it. "Why would she-"
"Gaki!" Suddenly exclaimed the voice that made Kaixa look up. It was the robotic bird, flying in a panic. "How's it go? Good? Bad? We can hear about it later! Gomen! But we must hurry!"
"What ha-"
"Young Blake is in deep mondai!" The robotic bird shouted, forgetting about consent and spinning around the armored teen. Soon, pink light begin manifesting and swirling around him. With another glow, both both human and machine vanished from the catacombs.
(*)
???
In a spectacle of lights, the armoured teen found himself in quite a peculiar location. Unlike the barren dessert he was previously transported, he now stands in a forest. A rainforest judging by the very large trees and wild fauna, including vines and an occasional exotic flower that he spotted.
Teleporting was the perfect measure to quickly move them and the incoming Orphenochs in another place, making sure that there will be no one to witness their fights in New Salem.
"Blake... I mean Faiz! Where are you?" The armored teen shouted, trying to spot his fellow classmate.
"Over here!"
Came the familiar voice to which Kaixa followed. Making sure not to harm the vegetation as he moved a few vines out of the way, he was greeted with quite the unusual sight.
The very form of Faiz half-sinking in what can only be recognised as quicksands.
"Quicksands?" uttered Kaixa in a stupefied tone.
"Not. Another. Word," Faiz growled in anger. All seemed to be going in his favour when he got teleported along with that armadrillo Orphenoch and he was winning the fight and prepearing to finish it, but much to his annoyance, his bad luck streak since arriving in this world caught up to him. He lost the creature before he could deliver the finishing blow and decided to chase after it and just like that, he's now stuck in a damn quicksand! How come those things are even real to begin with!? He always thought they were just a movie thing, not something real!
Kaixa simply nodded and searched nearby for a long vine. He quickly found one and tossed the other end to his trapped schoolmate.
"Please grab it," Kaixa requested.
Faiz, gritting his teeth in frustration, reached out with one hand, the other still trying to push against the sinking ground. The quicksand was sucking him in at an alarming rate, but he managed to clutch onto the vine.
"Got it," Faiz said, though his tone was more of a strained growl. He yanked on the vine, hoping that Mr. Compassion would have the strength to pull him out.
Kaixa pulled with all his might, making sure not to exort too much power. Slowly, Faiz began to rise, his body creaking with the effort of freeing himself. It wasn't easy—the quicksand clung to him like a second skin, making every movement a battle—but eventually, Kaixa's relentless pulling gave way to success.
With a final, desperate grunt, Faiz was pulled out of the mire, landing flat on his back on solid ground.
All suddenly got quiet, until the armoured teen he let out a frustrated sigh.
"You know," Faiz muttered, sitting up and wiping the muck from his suit. "if I survive this mess as well, I'm going to have some serious words with that sketchy fox and his stupid teleportation system."
"That's hidoi, gaki!"
"Speak of the devil, or should it be monster in this case?" Faiz commented sarcastically, gazing up to see the mechanic bird circling around them.
"Forget about your crude remarks, shounen! We must hurry!" The bird yelled in an urgent tone.
"And why that? At worst, we just lost that thing in a rainforest and I'm sure there's no such thing as a tribe or a city nearby then we don't have any big problems," the armoured teen explained in a tired tone.
The crow quickly landed next to them. "If by that you mean it's actualy close to an ancient city which is also a research site full of ningen or humans in plain english, then... choto matte... yes!!!"
Both teens looked at each other upon hearing of this. This day is getting unlucky by the minute.
"We must hurry," Kaixa steadly declared. "Please, guide us, Mr. Seimei."
"I will, but first, to have better chances, you need some wheels!"
(*)
VROOM!*
The sound of engine roared through the dense rainforest. A dark painted motorcycle with gold lines was tearing through the jungle, on it's left side, a side car attached bearing similar colours. The one who drove the motorcycle was Kaixa, while Faiz was seated on the companion seat.
Besides them, the mechanical bird led the way, darting through the trees with a speed that greater than what it's counterpart was capable of.
"Can you slow down!?" Faiz asked. "I feel like in a damn rollercoaster!"
Kaixa didn't say anything, just kept driving. He must defeat the Orphenoch. Defeat it at all cost!
Thankfully, the two armored teens manged to keep up and soon managed to spot the ball form of the Orphenoch rolling ahead.
"There he is!" Faiz pointed out.
"We must stop it!" Kaixa shouted.
"Just drive, Mr. Compassion. I know what to do!" Faiz declared, taking the phone from the belt.
(1-0-3)
Then he pressed ENTER.
[Single Mode!]
The device announced, switching it's handle as Faiz alligned it in position to the creature.
"Eat some lasers!" The armoured teen screamed, pressing the trigger countless times. Each time he did, a shot of red energy was released, aimed at the Orphenoch, but the rolling creature, aware of it's chasers, changed its trajectory, rolling faster and weaving erratically, resulting in each beam only hitting trees or the sky.
"Ducking damn it!" The teen cursed under his breath. He had a few practice shots and he wasn't a bad marksmanship, but a moving target is harder to hit, especially since it has a tough armour.
Kaixa, still driving, tried to keep up with the creature while also avoiding the obstacles in the jungle.
"We need to stop that thing!" Faiz shouted over the roar of the engine. The creature is sneaky and can't hit it like this!
Hearing this, Kaixa quickly pressed a button. The sidecar's compartment slid open, and to the armored teen's shock, a rocket shot out, slamming into the rolling Orphenoch in a massive explosion!
BOOM!*
The explosion tore through the rainforest, sending up a massive plume of smoke and debris.
Kaixa stopped the vehicle as the dust began to settle, peering through it to see the damage.
"No way..." uttered Blake, not believing what he saw. "Are you an idiot!?" He screamed to his fellow Rider.
Kaixa was mute and not surprisingly, the creature, while looking burned by the desctructive projectile, it was still standing and more raging than ever. Its hands glowed and manifested a long sword and giant shield. It wants a fight more than ever now.
In response, Kaixa took out his signature weapon and inserted the mission memory in the hidden slot.
[Ready!]
The x-shaped ruler announced, as it's opposite side glowed and extended, ending in a blade of silver and yellow.
For a moment, there was silence and next, Kaixa charged with the sword positioned at the creature.
The Orphenoch, fueled by its rage and new-found power, swung its massive shield to block the advance. Unlike Faiz, the creature bulged from the attack even if it blocked it.
Kaixa still wasn't done, his blade kept clashing against the shield, each strike becoming more powerful than ever. Enraged by the relentless assault, it let out a deafening roar. Its shield began to crack under the onslaught of Kaixa's strikes. With a final, mighty blow, the shield shattered, sending shards flying in all directions.
Seizing the opportunity, Kaixa lunged forward, his blade poised to strike at the creature's core. But the Orphenoch was not so easily defeated, as it rose it's blade and clashed with the armored teen's own.
Without hesitation, Kaixa pressed the attack. He kept slashing and slashing, aiming for the creature's chest! The Orphenoch kept swinging it's weapon in defiance, but Kaixa was too superior.
With a quick motion, the armoured teen drove the blade forward, piercing the creature's armor with a sickening crack.
For a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the two combatants. The Orphenoch's monstrous form faltered, its body twitching as its once-imposing strength began to wane and blue flames began bursting from it. Soon, nothing but ashes remained.
As for Blake watched the whole thing, he was speechless. That wasn't the usual Mr. Compassion... heck, he was not much of a fighter but a pacifist, but it takes no genius to see that what fueled him was a similar anger like the creature he battled.
"T-That was a bit overkill, gaki..." came the worried voice of Seimei as the mechanic bird flew down from a tree.
"I did it, Mr. Seimei," he said.
"I know and you did great but..."
"I did it," he repeated.
"B-But the damage and the way you handled it-"
"I had to do it," that was all he could say.
"Gaki..." uttered Seimei. "This is a way but-"
"You're an idiot! That's what that fox wants to say!" Faiz shouted, removing the belt from his waist. The lines forming his body began glowing and with another large glow that surrounded his body, he returned to normal as Blake Wolfson.
He approached him. "You are not like that! I'm the one that does dumb choices that could endanger others! Not you!" he shouted.
"I had to-"
"No, you could've dealt with that thing more easily and without having to blast a part of this place with a damn missile! You are just upset and didn't think it! Just acted! And we can't do that! And that's something coming from me!"
"I..."
He sighed. "Breaking up with that crazy girl did mess you up, but you're surrounded by dozens of others that fully trust you and would go to great lenghts to help you, even without going overboard in paying them back. Heck, half of the girls in the Academy and even those in here have fallen head over heels for you, for crying out loud, Frankie was about to confess to you today!"
"Young Frankie!?" Seimei exclaimed. "Oh! I knew it!"
"Zip it!" Blake glared at the bird, then turned back. "Point is, just stop blaming yourself."
Kaixa was silent and took out the phone from the belt and pressed call end. The lines forming his suit began glowing as they retracted back into the belt, dissolving the armor in the process.
"I could have helped her see the error of her ways..." Ken said. More of a statement to himself than anyone. He could have helped Chloe...
"Maybe or maybe not. That's an Academy problem. We're now at Monster High and we deal with Monster High problems, okay?" He extended his fist to him. "I don't look like it, but I give a damn about you. You're the only one that I can tolerate other than Scrawny after all."
Ken gazed at it for a moment. In spite of his demeanour, Blake considers him a friend... He returned the fistbump.
"Are you cool now that you got the chance to fight and let out some steam?"
Ken couldn't help but chuckle at his schoolmate, his friend, humour. "It did." He admitted, avoiding gaze.
"*SNIFF!* That was the most beautiful speech of friendship, young Blake!" Exclaimed the mechanic crow, who rasied it's wings at it's head, fenting the motion of crying. "I love and forgive you from destroying my trumpet!"
The gray-haired teen scoffed. "I don't need your 'forgiveness' sketchy... Wait how'd you know about the Orphenoch down there when me and Mr. Compassion didn't call?
The mechanic bird took a step back. Seems like it's time for some explications and apology. "Ehto... Well, you see..."
Knowing what is about to happen next, Blake let out an exhausted sigh. "Why me?"
(*)
Monster High - Entrance to the catacombs
"Ken! Where are you!?" Frankie called out, bursting out from the underground maze and into the school's eerie hallways. "Ghouls! I can't find him!"
"Please! Chill out!!" Clawdeen groaned, panting for breath. "You sprinted us through there like it was the Spook-Olympics!"
The others, trailing behind her, were in much the same state—exhausted and dripping with sweat. The only exception was Hoodude, who seemed oddly unaffected by the chaos and sporting his ever-present smile.
"I... ran that much?" Frankie asked, her wide eyes taking in the sorry state of her friends.
"GHOU!/YES!" they all shouted in unison, glaring at her.
"Oh... I'm sorry," Frankie mumbled, looking genuinely remorseful.
"A simple sorry isn't gonna fix this!" Cleo snapped, brushing a few stray locks of hair out of her face. "I ruined my makeup and my bandages are soaked in sweat! All for a normie who isn't even—"
"Are you all right, Miss Cleo, everyone?" a smooth voice interrupted, and the figure of the noble teen appeared almost out of thin air, his calm presence immediatly cutting through the tension like a blade.
Cleo rolled her eyes. "Oh great! He couldn't have stayed down?" she muttered under her breath, arms crossed in annoyance as she glared at the human.
"KEN!" Frankie exclaimed with teary eyes and without any more doubting herself, she ran up to him and embraced the human teen. "I was so worried that... that whatever it was got to you and and-" she tried saying, but only tears came out, that and small sparks of electricity from her bolts, which in the next second zapped the normie. "Gah! I'm so sorry!" She pulled back, looking mortified.
Ken, for his part, seemed genuinely surprised by the sudden embrace and electrical zap, but quickly recovered, a warm smile spreading across his face. "It's okay, Frankie. I'm fine, really. I just... needed some time to process everything."
Frankie's face flushed a vibrant pink, her hands quivering slightly as she tried to calm herself down. "Oh, I... I didn't mean to... B-But I actually..."
"Take a deep breath and say it Bolts! Just pretend we aren't here!" Blake encouraged her, who just like Ken appeared out of nowhere.
"B-Blake!"
"We all know this and waited all day," the normie teen stated.
"You can do it!" Draculaura cheered for her.
"She wants to say something?" asked Hoodude, oblivious of what's about to happen.
The werewolf girl glared at Blake, before returning her gaze to her friend. "Ghoul, you don't need to-"
"He's right, Clawdeen. I wanted to wait for the right time anyway," The stiched girl admitted. She took out a deep breath and straightened up, facing the noble teen. She's not really ready, but it's now or never. "Ken, since you appeared at Monster High with your friends, you always lend a hand. F-Figuratively speaking, of course! You always help the others even when most of us regarded you with caution at first because you're a normie, but always seem so happy when assisting with their tasks, and... what I'm trying to say is that I really like that about you... and a lot of other girl admire and like you, like, really really like you..." she blushed deeply. "I know I'm not really a human and not considered much of a normal ghoul even by monster standards, but I truly do like you in spite of that... Like a lot. S-So! Will you be my boyfriend?"
As the stiched girl finished her confession, all in the room have gone quiet. The girls awaiting with anticipation for the noble teen's answer.
"...I'm sorry Frankie, but I can't," Ken responded, his tone filled with guilt.
"BUT WHY!?" that question didn't come from Frankie, but from Draculaura herself. "You two are so bats compatible! I've checked over a hundred magazine tests and they said so!!!"
"Those things are fake," Blake commented.
The vampire girl gasped. "Take back your words!"
"Draculaura, please!" Frankie interrupted her. She then turned to Ken. "Is it because I'm not-"
"No, Frankie," Ken quickly interjected, shaking his head. He could see the hurt in her eyes and wanted to make sure she understood. "It's not because of you, at all. I'm very honoured that such a kind person like you feels this way about me." He looked down, his fingers fidgeting slightly, as if trying to find the right words. "It's just... I don't want to hurt you. There are things I can't fully reveal about myself. You deserve someone who can fully be honest with you, and right now, I don't think I can be that person."
The silence that followed was thick, everyone feeling the weight of Ken's words. Frankie swallowed, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, but her voice was calm when she spoke again. "So, it's about you not being ready?"
Ken nodded, his gaze flicking between Frankie and the others in the room. "Yes. I care about you, Frankie, but I'm just not ready yet. And I don't want to string you along, giving you hope that I'm someone I'm not ready to be."
"I understand..." Frankie said, holding back her tears.
Clawdeen, usually quick to defend her friends, took a step forward, her eyes softening. "Normie, I mean Ken... it's hard, yeah, but we all understand what you're saying. Being honest was the best thing to do," She gave Frankie a reassuring pat on the back. "And you've got a lot of support from us, ghoul." she gazed at him with her yellow eyes. She didn't detect any response of fear, but that of guilt. It's better this way for both.
Draculaura, though still disappointed, nodded in agreement. "I guess couple tests can be wrong sometimes."
"I dare say it's better!" Cleo exclaimed. "Don't worry, dear. After this unsuccesful day, a slumber party is the best thing to help you get back on your feet along with more than enough ice cream!"
Frankie took a deep breath, visibly processing the truth. She gave a small, wobbly smile. "Thanks, guys. I guess I just got ahead of myself. I'll be okay... I always zap back. And Ken... we are still friends?"
Ken smiled slightly, relieved. "Of course. You are still my friend, Frankie."
"I see," she responded. "Thanks."
"Guess all's well when it ends up well," Blake quoted, then got closer to Clawdeen with a grin. "Now, you are the one that owes me a smoothie, Wolfie."
Clawdeen blushed in embarrassment. She already hates this nickname! "And where were you all this time, normie boy?"
The gray-haired teen shrugged his shoulders. "I was the first out along with Mr. Compassion and gone out for a soda."
"A soda?" Clawdeen retorted, her voice dripping with disbelief. "You left us to fend for ourselves down there while you were out getting a soda?!"
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Blake sighed back, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"Ghou?" uttered Ghoulia.
"Me too, Ghoulia. I honestly don't know what sort of weird relationship you two have when one moment are both friendly and the next one aggresive towards the other like strangers," Cleo thought out loud.
"THERE'S NOTHING BETWEEN US!" both human and werewolf yelled simulanously.
The mummy girl, of course didn't buy it, but decided to leave it. This day felt too long for her liking. "Sure, whatever."
The mummy girl, of course didn't buy it, but decided to leave it. This day felt too long for her liking. "Sure, whatever."
(*)
Fox Flare Cafe
After this very long day, the two friends and secret defenders of New Salem have returned to the cafe/their temporary home, managed by their host.
"GOMEN!!!" Seimei yelled, bowing as his head loudly hit the floor. Back in the rainforest, he revealead that the Orphenoch of today wasn't one who somehow manifested in the catacombs without their knowledge, but he was the one that actually brought it there.
"What's he doing?" Blake asked.
"Our host is performing a Dogeza, Blake Wolfson," Michael began explaining. "The very posture is a traditional Japanese gesture of deep apology or respect, where a person kneels and lowers their body to the floor, with their forehead touching the ground. It's a very formal and intense act of humility or submission, often used to express profound regret or to seek forgiveness in situations of great importance or emotional weight."
"Those things are done in dramas, righ dude?" Leon questions, taking a photo with his phone.
"The are a tradition, nowadays, thus, very uncommon, and are indeed more present through performances or historical dramas, old friend," The blue-blooded teen clarified.
"After what he's done, he should be sorry!" Blake approached him. "I'm sure by now you all seen the recording of the trouble he's dragged me and Mr. Compassion!"
"Indeed we have," Michael confirmed it. "Our host indeed has put the two of you through an unecessary amount of troubles, but what is unclear lies in the question of why."
"It's quite a silly story, you know, hehe..." the fox-earred man tried to stray of the subject. "But, to be clear, I wanted to accelerate the progress of data I've collected until now to complete the other Rider Systems and I was very sure no monster would be down in the catacombs at this hour."
"For that!?" Blake screamed, wanting to punch that crazy fox in the face more than ever!
Michael nodded. "I understand the motive, but this does not excuse your actions, Mr. Seimei."
"I know that, shounen," the fox-earred man replied. "The decision for my unmei is not mine to make anyways, but to young Ken and Blake."
Blake just sighed. "Stop it with the sketchy nonsense, you damn fox. My life has alreasy turned so much it gave 'upside-down' a new meaning."
"Mr. Seimei did make a mistake, but he thought it was our best course of action in our fight against the Orphenochs." Ken explained.
Blake let out an exasperated sigh. No matter how much he wants to be angry and seriously punch that sketchy fox, he has a point. "Did you at least get what you wanted?"
"As a matter of fact, I 'm sure I have enough data collected to restart the third gear!" The fox-earred man pridefully declared.
"Awesome!" Leon exclaimed, but a nasty look from Blake shut him up. "I mean, we still don't forgive you, fox dude!"
"I'm with you on that and how's that saying go? 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'?"
"...I'm not sure I understand," asked Seimei with a slight palpitation in his voice. "This means I'm forgiven?"
"Not at all," Blake clarified. "Just stay like that and don't spill a word until this day is over."
"Nani!? If you think-" At this, Seimei raised his head to meet the sadistic grin of Blake. "Ehto... I mean sure!" he straightened his neck before diving his head once again on the floor.
"Fox Fatality, dude!" Leon suddenly exclaimed. "Blake, my buddy! You are one wicked son of a gun with a heart of gold!"
"Tch! Whatever," Blake shot him a glance before brushing past the others and heading toward their shared room. There was no way the mountain of math homework from Headmistress Bloodgood was going to finish itself.
"I'm serious. Thanks for snapping Ken back to his senses." The adventurous teen whispered as he moved past. "I owe you one... for life."
Blake paused, a bit taken back by this kind of response for the carefree Leon. "Huh? So you can talk without throwing in 'man' or 'dude' in every other sentence."
"I can be a very deep guy, sometimes!" The aforementioned pridefully declared with a hand on his chest.
Blake snorted, shaking his head as he continued walking. "Right. Well, don't expect me to get all sentimental over it."
The adventurus teen chuckled, but there was a hint of sincerity in his voice. "Nah, you're not the sentimental type, dude. But you're still a good guy even if you don't show it that much."
Blake paused again at the door, glancing back over his shoulder with a smirk. "Yeah, well, don't go telling anyone in here. My reputation's hard enough to maintain as it is. Not like I had much other than being hated by 'Mickey' back at the Academy and even here as a 'zombie magnet'."
"No promises, but I'll keep it in mind!"
Blake just closed the door behind him, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. Maybe, just maybe, this day wasn't so bad after all?
(*)
(Later)
???
"Hmm… just what are you?" Clawdeen muttered to herself, her eyes fixed on her latest drawings. Unlike her usual fashion sketches for her monster friends, these were of two strange 'robots' she had met. One had sleek silver armor with red lines, while the other was almost identical, but with yellow lines instead and dark, almost black armour. "Other than Robecca, I haven't seen any monsters like this... Are they even 'robots, though?"
She stared harder at another set of sketches pinned to the wall. These featured two unusual figures—one resembling a fish and the other an armadillo. Despite their different motifs, the similarities were unmistakable: matching armor, an eerie lack of color, and those eyes... They reminded her of the gazes of zombies—lifeless, yet purposeful, as though driven by some force. And the fact that the two 'robots' appeared soon after can't be a mere coincidence. "Dang it… What kind of conspiracy have I stumbled into?"
"Clawdeen, sweetie, are you talking to your sketches again? Your friends are here!" her mom's voice called from the doorway.
Clawdeen jumped, quickly brushing her hand over the sketches as if to hide them, though she knew her mom wouldn't understand. "Uh, yeah, Mom, just... talking to my drawings... again," she replied, trying to sound casual, but the tension in her voice was hard to miss. She turned toward the door. "Tell them I'm coming!"
(*)
After this long day, I can certainly say that some time with your friends can help, dear audience.
Today monogatari was quite the long one, but I'm sure it was far from boring... althogh I still wished not be stuck in a Dogeza for countless hours, but I sorta more than deserved my batsu.
Anywho, after I'm up and pray to still be able to move my feet, I'll continue my work on the third belt! Soon, with the firepower of Delta, dealing with Orphenochs would be a piece of cake!
A/N: For those that don't know, I had a problem with my device which resulted in me losing this very chapter. I struggled to rewrite it and while it turned out slightly different than the lost version, I'm still proud of it. Thank you all for sticking around!