Chapter 1: Click Start
Chapter Text
It was a normal day in my life, filled with boredom and general disdain for the world. No matter what happened, I could never get the energy to really do… anything, only going to work so I could have money for food and my hobbies.
It didn't used to be like this. A few years ago I had at least one light in the darkness, one place to be where I was happy, bright, and free.
That changed when my light vanished. Disappearing one day without a word, with nobody knowing where she had gone. just… poof.
And now my days are dark, and dim. boring. I could do so much better, but instead I'm just here. wallowing, and fine with that.
Admittedly, I had fallen behind on the newest trends of my hobby, sticking to less known and expensive titles to play, gaming my free time away in the hopes that maybe I could find a new light, no matter how temporary. but nothing worked. there just wasn't a spark left to motivate me.
My hand drifted to my phone, my bored mind deciding to look back on a better time as I opened my email app. Looking through my old roleplays with Her never failed to get a smile on my face, the spark flickering back to life, even for those few seconds.
At least, that was the plan.
I frowned, looking at my email. The normal story updates from multiple sites were there, but… there was something new in my main inbox. That hadn't happened ever since I got my Business tab up and running.
Tapping on it, I noticed it had no title, and no sender. it only had a link. one that sat on a suddenly blank page as I frowned.
“... You’re definitely a virus aren't you.” I muttered, sighing as I casually clicked the link. This phone had served me well for over a decade now, and if it was it’s time, I would have made sure it had no current information months ago.
Instead of the wave of popup ads I expected, however, it was a simple page. It almost looked like a CYOA, though admittedly it was barebones. Not that i could say much, as even things i had made were less than this.
‘The Rescue ROB’
Choose your Power: note, it must be from a recently played game or watched anime.
Choose where you would like to go:
Advantages: To be chosen when power is chosen
Disadvantages: To be chosen when power is chosen. must eaquel Advantages.
START.
“... This is either a massive virus, or a trick. Either way, I'm bored enough to go with it.” I muttered, casually typing out my favorite game. the one i had played with her so often, and had laughed with every achievement gained.
‘Wings of Ruin’.
And then, the world. An anime we had watched together, planning out crossover after crossover in its massive depths, even if we were both only filthy anime watchers, according to a few friends.
‘One Piece.’
Instantly, the Advantages and Disadvantages area lit up with checkmark options, far too many for me to count as I frowned, looking through them, before nodding. I could see a few advantages I wanted.
Full Monstie Manual: Able to ride every monster in the manual big enough to support your weight.
Perfect Armor: Have a suit of every armor, upgraded to max.
Specialization: Pierce: Have 1 of each fully upgraded Pierce type weapon.
Resources Abound: Able to make gardens to grow most resources needed for crafting.
Gen Garden: able to farm Genomes to infuse into Monsties.
Each of these was clicked, adding a little counter next to the disadvantages tab that I watched grow and stopped at. I knew that with my monster’s builds, I didn't really need anything for them. I wasn't a meta slave, but I liked to think that any monster I built was worth its weight in zenny.
Next, I moved to the disadvantages, grimacing a bit as I looked them over, knowing I had to pick 5.
Finally, I started clicking.
Level Down: All monsties currently owned start at lv one, as does the main character. An easy choice. I had worked them up once, I could do it again. and as long as i wasn't in the New World, it wasn't that bad.
Patient Zero: As soon as you step foot on an island, monsters will begin to spawn. weak at first, if you stay for more than a year and a half, you will soon be spawning Elder Dragons. A blessing and a curse, as it meant I wouldn't be able to stay places long without disaster striking. Small things weren't bad, but I didn't want to destroy a city just because I slept in and a Ludroth spawned in my bathtub. I would constantly have to be moving from island to island.
Monster Magnet: Wild monsters that spawn on islands now target you, and will hone in on you from a mile away. A sort of counter to my last ability, at least I could mitigate some damage if they only targeted me. I could draw them out of cities and do what I could to kill them then.
Trust, but Verify: Monstie trust is variable. if you lead them well, they will listen, but fuck up too often and they wont listen to a word until you prove yourself again. Having my own monsters rebell would be bad, but I was confident I could at least make basic strategies to help keep us alive.
And finally, looking over the choices I had, I couldn't help but sigh. These were all bad options, and they were only getting worse the more I scrolled down. it really wanted me to choose the top option, even if i knew it would be a death sentence. but, as i saw the last option on the list, i flinched back, eyes narrowing as i could swear i heard something laughing. Stupid chessmaster ROBs.
I didn't know when I had started thinking it was all real, but as I selected my last option, I could feel the eyes of the world turning to look at me.
Garden World: Start your adventure in Little Garden, at least a year before the Straw Hats land.
With a sigh, I moved my mouse, clicking the Start button as I let my thoughts wander.
Well, at least I would have some good training. Dinosaurs are like monsters, right?
The portal opened right under me, leaving me to fall through from my bed as my eyes widened, my relaxation clothes and my phone being the only things that fell in with me as my phone slowly shifted, becoming a leatherbound book thicker than my arm, yet small enough to fit in my pocket. I felt a weight on my wrist, watching the Kinship Stone, or, well, Red’s Kinship Stone, fit itself to my wrist. A weight on my belt had me looking down, seeing a scout fly container on leather shorts, with a blue glowing crystal shaped like a Stable symbol next to it, a clunking on my other side revealing a red stone board, like the quest board. Great.
As I fell through the back void of the portal, a chill settling through my bones, I gazed out into the abyss, looking deep and hard as I saw tiny wining light appear, glimmering like multicolored stars. Soon, they became brighter, moving closer like a meteor shower before blasting through the void, streaking past me to land all over the world, to islands I knew would be further along the grand line the Little Garden. But some stuck by me. Bright lights, dancing around me like eager puppies on leashes, ready for a walk. I knew these lights, even if I didn't know their real life counterparts. My monsties, the ones I had raised up and trained through the game. Others, who I wished were rideable, choosing to stick by me instead of running off to unknown lands. They trusted me, even if I didn't know I could trust myself.
With a genuine smile at faces i had seen through a screen, but never expected to see in life, i continued falling, seeing them streak into the stable at my hip as i finally exited the dark space, streaking headlong down into a jungle as the world CRASHED around me, a damage notification over my head informing me that i was really, really hurt, but not dead.
Reaching up to rub my aching head, I tensed, feeling my hairline as I sighed, reaching back to feel the two bounding pom-pom like pigtails at the back of my wild head of hair.
“Of course.'' I muttered, my voice distinctly feminine, but more tomboy than most would think. “Of course they shift my body to my game character. What, was dropping me here at level one not enough for you?” I muttered, clambering to my feet as I looked down at myself, my irritation growing. “Could you at least have given me an undershirt!'' I roared, feeling the straps of my new rider’s pack dig a bit into my soft bare skin, only some positioning on my part keeping my new sensitive bits covered as I growled to myself.
Time for this later. I could keep myself from freaking out until I had at least a shelter.
With a grunt, I stood up, hand moving to caress my kinship stone as a smile flitted across my face, excitement running through me for the first time in a while.
I couldn't help but let out a laugh, knowing that if I survived? boredom would be the last thing i had for the rest of my life.
Chapter 2: First Base
Summary:
The jungle is dangerous. Especially to those who underestimate a little girl.
Notes:
dont expect double uploads often, i just had these stored up and wanted to fix the issues with only uploading one chapter as fast as possible.
Chapter Text
The sun beat down overhead above me, sweat starting to drip from my forehead as I carefully went through my backpack stores, pulling more and more things from its depths and assessing my numbers as I frowned. Bundles of preserved plants were good, but despite how hardy they were, I didn't think something could survive without roots, which meant herbs were right out. and these bugs would need hives to grow. and i couldn't do that here. it was too permanent a setup. it would need to be something I could leave behind.
“Basic garden it is then.'' I muttered, starting to shove things back into my bag as I heard something shift behind me, warm air rolling down my back as I froze. Had something snuck up on me? it would have had to be incredibly silent, if it did. Slowly, I turned my head, eyes locking onto a pair of amused golden orbs as it let out a sigh.
“Blake, don't do that.'' I whined, patting the grey and blue head good naturedly as the cat-dragon huffed, wandering over to the stable-stone, as I was now calling it, to go back to his own space.
In the week since I had landed here on Little garden, I had found out a lot of things about my new ornaments.
The Stable Stone was… odd. If buried underground, it would make a full sized door that could be used by anyone. if unburied, it was a simple pendant, only usable by my bonded monsties. The quest board was much the same, if buried a full fledged board would appear, paper and all, but otherwise it was a touchscreen menu I could access from the stone, which made my HUD all the more cluttered.
At the bottom right of my screen was my health, thankfully a number and not a bar.
Health: 135
Kinship: not in battle
I had been in Battles since i showed up, free for all survival matches against some small local predators, read ‘raptors’, where i had prevailed through use of my weapons, and the fact the monsters i had in my possession were impressive as hell. Just as I remembered them.
The Hearts helped.
Three hearts sat at the top of my HUD, stylized and tribal. As a player of both Stories games, I knew what that meant. But something told me it would be a lot more than a simple fade to black if I lost all of them…
Thankfully, they worked exactly like normal. A raptor had gotten a lucky hit on me, ripping out my throat as I went down. It had paid for it with its life, and I had popped right back up, fully healed, after it had been forced to let go. I had even gotten the heart back after laying in my bed for half an hour.
Admittedly, not a fun experience, but good to know!
“Also good to know that armor or not, fleshy bits don't count as armored here.” I muttered, finishing my loading as I looked around this little clearing.
My home was simple, if, like everything else I did, odd. Wooden logs made up the outside, with windows carved out of them. Thick leaves made up the roof, all held together by a thick webbing that kept the whole thing standing, acting as supports.
“Very, very flammable but a good home nonetheless.” I said, grinning as I walked for the door.
As I opened it wide, movement behind me made me freeze, slowly turning around to see what was making it.
Nothing I could see.
Blake had just pulled a trick like this, making it unlikely Kitten or Emmy would. That meant not something using a stealth skill.
No bulging earth, so not a digger.
Nothing in the treeline- wait! a side of dark scales, jungle printed. a camouflage predator.
A big camouflage predator.
“Ah, looks like someomnes coming to check out the competition.” I muttered, smirking as I felt my armor snap into place around me. One of my favorite designs, the Astalos armor, with the emerald green and black Zaram Chariot slamming into place in my hands as my Battle Menu lit up, showing my available shells, currently none, my hearts, kinship, health, and the fact that i didn't have a single monstie out.
“Most of my fighters are out training.” I muttered, scowling as I got into a stance. “My searchers are with them to help find prey, leaving the healers here on home base to keep them safe. Hopefully the nose will bring them running.’
Even as i muttered this, knowing how stupid it was to talk to myself instead of just thinking it, i could see my Kinship Stone light up.
Was one of my monstie’s nearby? Which one? It wasn't Blake, he was asleep in the stable by this point, his night watch having ended hours ago with him just now getting back to rest. He would be dead to the world till sundown..
Kat feel nerves feel bad call pack?
I almost kissed my stone as I felt the thoughts run through me. The bond it delivered would probably be saving my life today. Noisemaker, my Querepeco, sensed my distress from his lookout point nearby.
I hastily tried to put all my thoughts into feelings, sending bursts of worry, dread, and feeling small. That would be enough to say I felt the eyes of a large predator on me.
With a smirk, I settled into my stance, stepping away from my home as I stared dead at the shadowed predator, daring it to charge in and attack me.
It didn't disappoint.
With a boxy head, shorter arms, and a thick body, my inner 5 year old could already see it was a theropod, but the real kicker with the two small horns.
Carnotaurus.
With a smirk, I prepped my shield, the Meat Bull slamming headlong into me as I skidded back a hair, my bar dropping by 10 points as I heard Noisemaker in the distance, making a racket.
To most, it would sound like an injured animal, something that would catch the ear of every predator in the forest, along with my patrolling hunters, and bring them running.
Thankfully he had a guard, and was damn high up a tree, but that was neither here nor there.
“it's funny where a mind goes when you're facing a big predator.” i muttered, lashing out with my lance as i backed away, the barrel-tip slashing across the carnator’s side as i sidestepped, dodging a follow up bite as i saw the blood dripping from its side, a wild grin slowly growing on my face as i hunkered down.
With a snort, it roared, obviously trying to make me run away as it swung its head, trying to impale me on one of those little spikes it called horns. As it skidded off my admittedly bladelike shield, I used its momentul, letting it slide over, its teeth inches from my back as I ducked down, as its sharpened end slashed across the predator’s throat.
Not deep enough to kill, but it was definitely nervous now, pulling back as it eyes me like only a creature used to fighting its meals could do.
A threat assessment. I was smaller, and weaker, but my defences had already repelled it twice. not to mention i had injured it. Was I really worth it as a meal, as small as I was.
I could see the moment it chose no, growling as it started backing towards the treeline, the rumble deep in its throat.
I just grinned, standing up straighter as I casually put my weapons on my back, feeling them vanish as my armored frame locked ‘eyes’ with the beast, keeping its attention entirely on me.
And not on the earth beneath it as it shifted.
With a roar, a monster burst from the earth, single horn driving through the carnotaur’s belly and gutting it, making it scream as my wonderful Monoblus fully extracted himself from the dirt, face now spattered with core as the poor dinosaur’s intestines spilled on the ground, its moan of pain stopped as a wack from my monstie’s tail to the head crushed its skull, killing it instantly.
With a snort, the massive styracha faced monster turned towards me, lumbering over as I laughed, batting at him as he came lumbering over for snuggles. “no, no! go wash in the river stinky boy. Don't get close covered in that!'' I laughed, swatting his horn as he grunted, settling in the clearing next to me as I laughed, rubbing his clean side even as I rubbed my now blood covered palm into the dirt.
Clicking my Stone open, I connected with Noisemaker again, sending the all clear as he stopped his racket, a low croon echoing through the forest instead as he settled down, leaving me to take out a carving knife as I went to work on the dinosaur.
I would need a lot of meat to feed my carnivores tonight, and this was a good start for the smaller ones.
Humming as I worked, I once again wondered at the game, noting the yellow glow around the carvable parts that it classified as loot. I carefully removed the horns, the teeth, and a few of the stronger looking bones from the gaping wound in its stomach, my blood covered hands not really bothering me as I dug into it. I guess… my Rider’s instincts were at work here? I couldn't remember the last time I had seen blood and not been disgusted at home…
My thoughts were interrupted as a massive shadow was cast over me, its apelike appearance making me leap away like i had just planted a bomb.
Instantly, i began assessing my opponent. Long arms, good for reach, incredibly tall, but unarmored ankles. a good way to bring it down. armored shoulders, would need a hammer or horn for that, and its head-
That was a human head.
That was a massive humanoid.
A Giant.
And then my memories of the early seasons of One Piece crashed into me as I slowly sheathed my sword and shield, retrieved while I had been eying his ankles, as he held up his hands in a gesture of peace.
Dorry the Blue Ogre stood in front of me, his eyes locking onto mine as he looked between me and the rising monster, a whistle from my lips bringing Mono to heel as I slowly started letting the tension out of my body.
And then he opened his mouth.
“Worr jed, di idniz zint eep jowoch kuoch weurd whaxavo sust bilo! haxat dis yieep naxamo, rittro waxalliel?”
At my blank look, he raised an eyebrow, crouching down as itf to make himself seem less threatening to a wild animal, possibly Mono, as he looked at me.
“Weurd zis vaxako ug velo cembeltaxafro? Pum weurdnk waxank te whaxavo te girr vupp jod joighfel lidd axabtol vootick whol. GEGYAGYAGYAGYA!”
Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me.
----------
Dorry was half amused, half concerned at the reactions to his innocent questions. He had heard the commotion of something that sounded like a whole herd of parasaurs dying, and wanted to see what was making the racket. When it had stopped, he had kept coming, only to smell blood from a different direction. Following his nose, he had found a small girl with a massive bloodstained creature sleeping nearby, cheerily going through the corpse of an ankle biter, his ‘affectionate’ name for a carnotaurus.
His curiosity only grew as she had lept back upon sight of his shadow, a survival instinct trained in hunters around the world when surprised by wild game. And the way her eyes assessed him, a predator looking for weaknesses in its prey. Amusing to see such a small warrior. this one had fire.
And was currently spewing that fire in an unintelligible language, obviously ranting and raving in something other than the common tongue, making his brows bounce a bit.
How interesting.
His eyes drifted from her, to the bloodstained creature beside her, a winged dinosaur that was giving him the mother of all stink eyes, with the blood of the slain ankle biter on its face, half dried in the heat of the sun. He could tell it wanted nothing more than to try and put him in the ground, yet was held back by the words of the girl in front of him.
Then, she stopped, turning to look at him with a sigh clear on her face, gesturing to her mouth, and then her ears. They couldn't speak. Then, she found a stick, and started drawing in the dirt, going back and forth over the earth to form line after line of… letters? 26 in all, just like the common tongue. but not symbols he had seen before.
Then, she looked at him, proffering the stick.
What?
Her eyes narrowed, sighing, before she started to sing. a familiar tune, though how he didnt know. lilting up and down, like trying to catch the attention of a small child. why wo- AH!
Realization struck, and he just had to laugh again. the alphabet! she was singing her version of the alphabet! which meant the symbols were probably drawn the same way!
As she stopped and smiled, he gingerly took the stick, starting to make his own markings as she took out a book, starting to write it all down as he did so.
Perhaps, it would be easier then he thought to ask if she wanted to share that catch of hers.
Chapter 3: The Daily Life of a Monster Rider
Summary:
As time passes, we learn more and more. And sometimes, cracks begin to show.
Notes:
For you few readers, thank you for reading this, and im sorry it took so long to get out. It's been stuck in Beta and Writers he'll for a bit. My general work day disnt let me write much, and i always try to keep two chapters in reserve for if I'm having a long, open week where I can work. Add in its the first time I've been sharing with a Beta reader, and the process gets long...
Chapter Text
It had been a while since my first meeting with Dorry, but gods if I knew how long. You tend to lose track of days when your best guess at keeping time is how much more dangerous the island is. The giants weren't any help. Dorry and Broggy both kept time by the volcano that ran their duels, and by travelers who came to the island. And promptly died. But they were still travelers!
“And I suppose no news is good news. Elder Dragons aren't popping up, so I'm sure it's less time than my limit.” I mused, finishing my foot trap as I grinned. The raptors were smart, but other small creatures weren't. I had caught protoceratops, small avian raptors, and even some small mammals before.
This was mostly to gather rations. I got plenty of fresh food from my hunting teams, but I preferred to have small meals for me, and snacks for my carnivores. My small garden was working…. better than i thought it would. Herbs, apparently, grew like grass. Everywhere, and in quick succession. It had gotten to the point where they had gotten out of their planter, and were now covering my entire clearing with their small, crunchy leaves. They actually tasted pretty good, like fresh lettuce. My herbivores loved it, even the grumpy old married couples in my Diabolos and Monoblos pairs. They ate… much more than my small herbivores, but the herb carpet just kept going. To the point it was starting to spread further into the island.
I had seen a raptor crushing a herb in its jaws and dribbling it on a bad leg wound once, watching it heal from what looked like a triceratops missed killshot. And I'm fairly sure the giants were using it as seasoning.
With a smile, I turned, starting to head back to my home as I heard a familiar explosion. Turning on my heel, I made my way to the battleground. Watching the two fight was always interesting, and helped with my own training. It let me see how people moved on a macro scale, letting me study their fighting style and putting it on my own scale as I shadow-boxed… shadow-sparred? with an invisible opponent.
The fight was, as always, brutal and short. They were already done by the time I got there, making me tisk under my breath as I clambered up a tree and into a branch, looking down on them from a distance to see their wounds.
nothing fatal. another draw.
“You guys never did explain to me why you're fighting!” I called out, earning their attention as they groaned and sat up, both of the two dunderheads, and I said that word fondly, looking at me from their position.
“ You're speaking in that weird language again, pup!” Dorry said, a laugh in his voice as my cheeks colored with shame, a scowl crossing my features as I looked at him.
“ because your language full of painful words! how supposed speak when can't speak less than syllables!`` I growled back, holding up two fingers with a shamed blush on my face, and a pout on my lips as the two giants began laughing.
“ fair enough! I guess from what you were saying, you wanted to know why we did something?”
I nodded, looking him dead in the eye as I spoke. “ Good friends fight. explain.”
At that, the pair looked at eachother, blinking, before Broggy turned to look at me. “ It's an honor duel. To settle an argument.”
At my motion to continue, they looked at me confused as I sighed. “ explain reason conflict.'' I muttered, rubbing my face with my hands as I sighed theatrically. These two are like fun uncles, but i swear their dumb as bricks when it comes to answering questions. Their captains, they just run the ship.
That thought made me twitch, as i drifted to how unkempt their holds probably were. I was much less of a neat freak in my old life, but here, seeing a bundle of herbs out of place ment something had gone through my bag. Everything needed to be absolutely perfect.
“ I… don't really remember.” Broggy said, looking at Dorry and getting a similar shrug as I all but yanked out my pigtails. Something about this was tickling my mind, trying to force me to look deeper into it. Maybe memories of the stories I've read over the years? I think at least one of them went over this, but the more I tried to remember, the harder it was for me to focus.
It would come to me, I knew it, and I would smack myself when it happened. But it was frustrating.
“ fine. both idiots. going.” I grumbled, hopping off the branch and starting to make my way back to the hut, my frustration was mounting, and I would need a good hunt soon to refill my meat stores. Two birds with one stone, as it were.
-------------------
“What an odd girl.” Broggy said, watching Katsuragi saunter off with a raised eyebrow. “How did you meet her again?”
“She had a hut in the Ankle Biter’s territory. I heard a roar and decided I wouldn't mind some for lunch. Got there to find it dead on the ground, and a dinosaur I had never seen glaring at me with a blood covered face, and her cleaning the corpse.” Dorry siad, shrugging. “If looks could kill, I would be dead from the protective glare that thing gave me. We spoke, and she offered me food in exchange for lessons. Some of the things she finds and hunts are pretty tasty, but I can never do it because I don't know where to cut to get the good stuff, and if I hunt one of her creature’s she’s going to give me a black eye.”
“Is that why you came to duels for a week with a shiner?”
“Shut up.”
“Hey, i'm just curious.” Broggy said, getting to his feet as he stretched. “I don't want to find out i can go to Elibaf again because my opponent died to a little girl.”
“Don't underestimate her.” Dorry shot back. “Remember that woman from Sabaody? The one you flirted with?” Dorry shot back, reveling in the wince he saw cross his friend’s features. “The one who kicked you square in the-”
“Shut your mouth before I forgo the next volcano.” Broggy huffed, smirking at his friend as the two burst out into laughter. “Fine, I get it,I won't underestimate her. She’s survived this long anyways. I think tomorrow is the year anniversary, right?”
“Yup. If she had gotten here on a ship, the log pose would send her on her way. You know, I asked her why she was here a while back, and it confused me. After all, she doesn't have a ship.”
“Oh? and why is she here then?”
“That's the oddest thing.” Dorry muttered, holding his chin. “Said she was waiting on her crew.”
Chapter 4: Calm before the Storm
Summary:
A glance into the minds of the wild, and the monstrous, before the true show begins.
Notes:
Sorry for the wait, everyone. Got so into being perfect, that by the time it was ready, I didnt have the energy from my daily life. But that's neither here, nor there. Enjoy!
Chapter Text
The hunt was going well. He may have been a youngling, but it was still an achievement to follow his prey for so long, and not be seen.
It was simple prey, a greyhorn, but it was still food. Meat. Something to keep his stomach from rumbling again.
His dark fur was whisper silent as he brushed against a tree branch, the sound barely carrying through the air as he froze, eyes locked on his prey. If he had just wasted his hours of careful stalking with that sound…
But no, it was still there, grazing, as most plant eaters did. His eyes narrowed as he prepared to pounce, his tail thrashing this way and that as he prepared to let out a volley if it escaped.
And then, with a growl, he lunged.
A massive form of black feathery fur, with a spiked tail behind him, and bladed wings on his arms hurtled from the treeline at the unsuspecting herbivore before him, jaws open wide in a savage roar of glee at a hunt well stalked.
Until the massive form barreled into his side, the glitter of metal drawing his eyes moments before it had as he saw a monster he had never seen before, at least not in any territory he had visited, crashed into him. Its yellowed head and whitish coat were odd, and it reminded the now flying and heavily injured nargacuga of the creatures of his home. the Bone Noses.
Then, it slammed into a tree, and the animalistic thoughts it held in its mind scattered in light of the pain as the branches rustled above it, one eye cracking open to reveal a pale skin, covered in blue strips of flesh, pointing a stick thrower at his head.
He barely had time to process that, before he felt something impact him, his eyes going dark.
And he knew no more.
------------
I smiled, stretching myself out as I hopped down the tree, already eying my quarry as I nodded.
“A good sized one! My curse must be working overtime to make a Nargacuga appear. They're not exactly low level.” I muttered, grin widening as I tucked my Zephra Gust away, pulling out a skinning knife as I got to work. Scales, the Blackfur and Pelt, and even a Cutwing. No Razor, so it wasn't old enough to be a true Elite of its species, but it was getting there. “I seriously need to get off this island if this is what I'm finding.” I muttered, putting the parts into my bag as I looked at the corpse, grimacing slightly as I gave it a bow, before starting to hack away at the muscle and tendon.
Monster meat, unsurprisingly, was tough, and gamey. But it was better than starving. And if I only hunted Herbivore species, they would die out, and then the entire food chain would be fucked. Which wouldn’t be good. And dinosaurs were just as bad, now that their numbers were clashing with Monster numbers. I will never forget the day that I stumbled across a Raptor Pack having it out with a fucking Great Jaggi and its kin.
So many claws.
“now… to add to my notes.” I mutter, finishing the stripping with as much meat as I could store, leaving the rest to Condor and anything that got to it after him. As the Fulgur Anjanath stepped in and started munching, I opened my logbook, starting to write my findings about Nargacuga Meat, even as I looked over my other findings.
Despite having one or two species that I wanted, namely the Seltas and its Queen, when I first arrived, I'm still able to find Dens. They tend to have new monsters that I couldn't get before.
These are not limited to the ones from Wings of Ruin. Have found dead Wroggi. May find a Great Wroggi if I stay.
Monsters are not just Normal and High Rank. They slowly age from one to the other. The longer a monster is alive, the more dangerous it is.
Weapons need Upkeep. I can substitute parts here and there, but I do need to hunt specific monsters now and then. Hope to find them naturally in the wild, now that they have spread beyond this point.
THEY CAN SPREAD WITHOUT ME. Reports from passing sailors about something in Alabastia, leaving half eaten corpses behind. Big bites taken out. Nibelsnarf?
Does my presence only speed up the process?
That ROB screwed me and the world.
Should find Straw Hats soon. Can at least bum it on the ship, hopefully. Hope I can stay.
With a sigh, I closed the book, adding Nargacuga to the edible monsters list as I looked at my menu, checking on everyone as I eyed the symbols.
Everyone looked good, no damage, in their normal areas.
Including Ratha.
“Haaaah… problem child.'' I muttered, looking to Condor as he finished his meal, leaving thoroughly crunched and broken bones, along with a few scraps of meat. “Come on you, we need to go pick up Ratha.” I sighed, hopping on the big carnivore’s back as he grunted, starting to stride towards the biggest source of fresh water on the island, and the only Neutral Ground not occupied by giants.
The Watering Hole.
-------------
The waters were, as always, crystal clear, their depths cool, and full of fish large enough to fill even the biggest pterosaur stomachs. Around the edge dinosaurs of all shape and size drank their fill, relaxing at the water’s edge as others came and went, slowly cycling through their days as the well trodden earth crunched under their feet.
And all the while, one creature was constantly patrolling a portion of the land, huffing flames at anything that got too close as he protected his flock’s drinking spot.
Even now, he could see one of the big lumberer’s approaching, like a Larinoth but dumber. Grunting, he rushed forwards, screeching his lungs out as fire filled his fangs, a fireball seconds away from leaving his maw as it reared back, bellowing.
But he wouldn't back down. He was the baddest thing here. He would protect his flock’s source of water.
Seeing his unwillingness to relent, the lumberer simply bellowed again, before moving alongside him towards the water, unwilling to risk his flames.
Good. It should know better.
“Still being an unholy terror?” His wingleader asked, earning a surprised squawk as he looked up, seeing her ride in on the Thunder Brute, Condor as Wingleader called him. A good flockmate, even if he was bound to the ground.
He felt his bond snap firmly into place with the wingleader, his joy and victory transmitting clearly to her as she just shook her head with a smile. “Of course you are. You're my Ratha, after all, and you wouldnt be mine if you didn't cause me trouble.” she said, clambering from Condor’s back as he went lumbering to the water, giving a slight nod to me as our eyes met. A gesture we had learned from the wise wingleader, of course.
“You guys are starting to get too smart. I thought only Elders were supposed to be humanlike.” Wingleader muttered, earning a snort from me as she walked over, rubbing my head. “So, tell me. Why is this so important? If we truly need water, we can just run the others off for a time. you don't need to do this.” She said, voice serious, yet kind.
That was our wingleader, always caring about every member of the flock.
If he could scout, he would gladly do so, or defend the herds as they grazed and hunted. But… ever since they had arrived on this strange island, in this strange world, his wings had reverted. His control shot, and his membranes undeveloped. He was grounded. The best way he could help was by guarding the water.
“Oh my boy…” Wingleader muttered, her hands moving to my cheeks as she rubbed comfortingly. “Your wings didn't make you strong. In fact, I'm glad they're sealed. You were draining yourself, hunting Oltura like that. I would have lost you if it had gone on much longer. Even if… Even if I'm not the Wingleader you know, I would have been devastated.” she sighed, earning a huff from the dragon in her grip.
She may not have been the wingleader’s old self, but they had recognized her. Through her actions, and her hunting, and her strategy. She may not have been the first, but she had always been there with them.
She had always been their rider.
“... That means more than you could know.” She muttered, smiling as she nuzzled his face, earning a squak of protest as she laughed. “But just like I will always be your rider, you will always be that little rathalos I trained from an egg, who I watched grow, and grow into your true potential. One day, I may call upon those wings again. But until that time, I'm glad you get to live your life as a normal Rathalos. at least, as normal as I can get it.” she said, earning a chuff from Ratha. as he accepted her pets and cuddles, before pulling away and continuing to patrol.
But even as he strode, he could feel something… off. The air had changed, somehow. Something was wrong.
Something was here that shouldn't be.
And as he felt the wingleader’s fear and anger suddenly spike, he knew something had happened.
Something had just attacked one of the Flock.
Something had just signed its own death warrant.
The_Keeper_of_Worlds on Chapter 2 Sun 29 Aug 2021 05:08PM UTC
Comment Actions
GrimoireWeissDHades on Chapter 2 Fri 10 Sep 2021 05:20AM UTC
Comment Actions
Annie (Guest) on Chapter 3 Mon 13 Sep 2021 11:47AM UTC
Comment Actions
Pretty Little Liars (Guest) on Chapter 3 Fri 21 Jan 2022 02:36AM UTC
Comment Actions
Espresso_Wisp on Chapter 3 Mon 07 Mar 2022 03:44AM UTC
Comment Actions
Backround_Character on Chapter 4 Fri 07 Oct 2022 04:51PM UTC
Comment Actions