Mau'Cha'Kai's Shellsaurian is trying to win gold for Wintertime's Ranch. Will she hold up under the stress of battle, or will her age compromise her ability?

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Dying Days

By Justice

Disclaimer: Monster Rancher is ) to whoever owns it. I didn't make it up. Don't sue me, all I hope to gain from this is a few compliments or criticizm.

2nd Disclaimer: If you recognise some of the names from such books as Tailchaser's Song and from the 6 part animated series Bastard, that is because I couldn't come up with any good names myself so I ripped these. Thus, most of the names herein are not mine, they are ) to someone else.

Characters: The monster design is ) Monster Rancher. However, character design is ) Justice, 2000.

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Chapter 4: Meta-Rikana

For the first time in a long time, a smile crept across Wintertime's face. Finally, thought the crippled Tiger, a monster who doesn't argue.

At Wintertime's command, Meta-Rikana threw her considerable bulk against the harness around her chest. The heavy sled she was tied to was unceremoniously hauled up a steep upgrade, to Mau'Cha'Kai's satisfaction. "That should do it after a week's rest, she'll be ready for a battle of some kind, eh, Meta?"

The old Shellsaurian rumbled in answer to her name.

[One Week Later]

"and in the NEXT round, we will have ERDUS the Jilt versus META-RIKANA the Shellsaurian!!!" The announcer's voice was loud enough that, even from all the way across the arena, Mau'Cha'Kai flinched.

"Damn, that's a good set of lungs on that man" Turning his attention back to his monster, Mau'Cha'Kai tried to prepare her for her next battle. Already she had won three fights; if the old Shellsaurian could win this one, then the 3,000 gold for first prize would be theirs.

Meta-Rikana was panting with exertion, but her heart was in the fights and she was eagerly awaiting her oponent. To the huge brown Zuum-creature, the tiny woman with silly clothes that stood in front of her was no challenge. She happily looked past the small Jilt, waiting to see where the monster she was to fight really was.

A second too late she realised her mistake. Erdus wasted no time in launching a full out attack on the poor Meta-Rikana, sending her crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. While she was struggling to regain her feet, the smirking Jilt kicked her as hard as she could- and for a tiny pixie-type monster, she was very strong.

Wintertime had to hold down the furious Mau'Cha'Kai to keep him from intervening on behalf of his weakening monster. Unable to help his friend since childhood, he viciously cursed the laughing Jilt as Erdus pounded Meta-Rikana with yet another barrage of attacks. Only once did the aging Shellsaurian have a chance to make any sort of attack, a swiftly and acurately aimed fireball. Still, it wasn't enough to defeat Erdus.

Finally, after what seemed like hours to Mau'Cha'Kai, the announcer called for the end of the battle due to time running out, and Erdus the Jilt sadly halted her attacks. Wintertime and Mau'Cha'Kai hurried to the fallen Shellsaurian's side, dimly aware of the cheering crowd chanting Erdus's name.

Wintertime touched Mau'Cha'Kai's arm gently with her paw. He turned to her, and his empty eyes were completely hollow, devoid of emotion. However, the tension in his shoulders and twitching jaw told the truth. The sight of Meta-Rikana in such pain was hurting him more than if it had been himself being beaten nearly to death.

"She die now. Nothing you do change that." Wintertime watched Mau'Cha'Kai's jaws set, and added softly, "I sorry for you loss."

Mau'Cha'Kai shook his head, stood, and met Wintertime's gaze. "No. She won't die. She won't live, but I won't let her die. Not like this. Never like this."

[That Afternoon, in a Local Laboratory]

Mau'Cha'Kai silently apologised to the frozen body of the only friend he'd ever had. He couldn't seem to tear himself away from the glass window of her cryo-cell, couldn't seem to take his eyes off her reptilian face. He continued to stare at her untill his own breath fogged the little window over and he could see her no more.

Wintertime had seen his reaction to her freezing and had understood, so some degree, how much Meta-Rikana had meant to the Dead Eyed One. She kept a respectful distance, giving her strange companion time to cope with the loss of what was obviously someone very important to him. After some time, he slowly joined his monstrous partner. She was ready to talk to him; most humans, Wintertime had learned, wanted to discuss sad things to make it seem less sad. His first words to her, however, surprised her immensly.

"Now we have no monster, at least not a well-trained one. And we're broke at that." He paused to sigh before folding his arm across his chest. "Furthermore, we don't have the funds to support another creature anyways. We can barely feed ourselves," he concluded with a contemptous snort.

"Yes," Wintertime agreed, "We have almost not enough money to feed both. One monster, one human." Mau'Cha'Kai's eyebrows went up. "Say that again."

"One monster, one human. Why you ask repeat?" Wintertime peered up at Mau'Cha'Kai closely. His eyes gave nothing away, as usual. The ear to ear grin on his face, though, was a little more than disturbing to her. "Why you look at me like that?" she asked warily.

"I am legally a fourth rank trainer, though I'm not very good, and you got to, what, D class before you were hurt? Why, I'd bet twenty gold you know every attack in the book, exept I don't have twenty gold to bet with. But, Wintertime, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"No," the lame Tiger replied confidently. "No I do not."

"Don't you see, Winter? You. You will win our gold. You will fight in battles and win them, and you'll get to keep your ranch. You," he concluded proudly, "will be Martingale's champion."

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Next chapter SPOILER: Wintertime engaged in battle? Can she really pull off a victory after a lifetime of lameness?

-- Justice (DemonCougar@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000

Answers

Great once again. One little thing however, if Meta indeed won the first three matches, shouldn't they have gotten about three hundred dollars? It's not much but they wouldn't be totally broke. Also, have you read chapters 3 and 4 of my story yet?

-- Black Razor (Allanmontalvo@mindspring.com), May 15, 2000.

Yeah, they got some cash, but almost all the gold is being poured into keeping their ranch open, and what with the prices of stuff, they are just hovering above total brokedom.

I did read the next two chapters of your story, and wow did I feel bad for that poor little Daina! I liked it very, very much... keep up the good work!

-- Justice (DemonCougar@hotmail.com), May 15, 2000.

Cool, nice, can't wait for the next chapter.

-- RaPtOr2157 (raptor2157@aol.com), May 15, 2000.

Nice job Justice, I log on to the computer every day to see if you wrote another story.

-- Aaron Guest a.k.a. Magma Bird (frogmike@excite.com), May 15, 2000.