"How can you do this to her?" a woman's voice asked out of the darkness that surrounded me, suffocated me.

"It may be her only chance to be something other than a tool!" shouted the voice of a man. A bright flash of light accompanied his words. I flung away all that I had been and plunged into blackness.

I awoke from the dream, gasping for breath. My name is Thorn. I am traveling with Pixie and Big Blue. Not the nicest people around, but I feel…oh, I don't know. Something inside me just knew that I had to go with them. And I have some strange dreams, if tonight is any evidence. That's all I know for certain, now.

"Nightmare?" asked Pixie scornfully. I must've woken her up. As if she wasn't grumpy enough already…

She hates me. She hated me from the moment she saw me, and I'm still not sure why. Maybe it's because I act too cheerful, or smile too often. That's another thing about her and Big Blue: they never smile. I've only known them for a couple of days, but still, you'd think it would kill them to be something other than dead serious. Maybe Pixie hates me because no matter how mean she acts toward me, I just laugh. Well, whatever the reason is, she hates me. It doesn't matter. I'm still determined to go with her and Big Blue. I know there's good in her somewhere.

"No, not a nightmare," I replied. I smiled slightly. "Just very, very weird."

"Hmph," Pixie said. "So, what's your story?"

"My story?" I asked, confused.

"Your past. What happened before you met us?" she asked, rightfully annoyed that I didn't understand her question.

"I don't know."

"Hmm?"

"Ya heard me, I don't know," I sighed, frustrated at myself. "I can't remember anything farther back than the day I met ya. I woke up in the middle of the forest and had a run-in with those Red Eyes. After that I saw ya and Big Blue, and the rest, ya know."

"But why follow us?"

I shrugged. "Just a feeling. It's hard to explain."

"Hmph." She turned away.

I had a feeling that she didn't believe me. Well, even I had to admit it wasn't a very likely story. But, while we were on the subject of stories…

"What's your story?"

She didn't even turn to face me as she replied. "I was one of Moo's Big Bad Four." There was something unreadable in her voice. Pride? Shame? I couldn't be sure.

"Who's Moo?" I asked. Pixie turned this time, looking genuinely startled.

"Who's Moo?" she repeated, mocking me. "Humans," she said in disgust. "Too stupid to pay attention to who's been trying to conquer the world." She looked at me and, seeing my confused expression, asked, "You really don't know?"

I laughed. "C'mon, give me a break here. I just told ya that I don't remember anything that happened to me before two days ago. Or would it be three days, now?"

"What does it matter what day it is?" Pixie snapped.

I shrugged. "I guess it doesn't. I was just rambling. So, who's Moo?"

Pixie sighed, then began to explain the whole story of Moo, from the time he was created in the Ancient War to how he was trying to conquer the world today. She told me about Genki and his friends and their quest to find the legendary Phoenix. She had been one of Moo's top baddies…

"Until Genki managed to defeat me. Now Moo wants us dead."

"So, you're on Genki's side now?" I asked.

"Yeah…" she said, as if she didn't like to admit it. "Now get some sleep, or at least don't keep me awake."

With that, she lay back down and pulled her blanket back over her, facing away from me. One of Moo's Big Bad Four…what had I gotten myself into? Maybe I should try not to annoy her so much…nah; it wouldn't make any difference.

"Goodnight, Pixie," I said, laying down again myself.

"Hmph," was her only reply. I smiled. Pixie was just being Pixie.

Elsewhere, the next morning…

"YAHOO!" shouted Genki, leaping high into the air.

"CHI!" Mocchi shouted, following suit.

Suezo hopped along with the others, slightly behind the energetic pair.

"Don't those two ever get tired?" he grumbled.

"Apparently not," said Tiger. They all sighed, except for Genki and Mocchi, who were too busy racing ahead.

"Let's go let's go let's GO!" Genki shouted, strapping on his roller blades and pulling Mocchi onto his back. "Look out, Phoenix, cause here we come!" He skated off down the path.

"Chi!" Mocchi laughed happily.

"Genki, wait up!" Holly called.

Genki looked over his shoulder at her and waved. "Catchya later, Holly!" he shouted.

Mocchi turned and waved also. "Later, chi!"

Suddenly, Genki tripped, and both he and Mocchi went flying through the air, crashing into a nearby tree.

"Genki!" Holly shouted in alarm and went running over to him. Both Genki and Mocchi were sprawled on the ground, spirals in their eyes. "Genki, are you two all right?"

Genki recovered, then sat up and rubbed his head. "Yeah, I'm okay. But what did I trip over?"

Mocchi sat up, also rubbing his head. "Chiiii…"

Meanwhile, the others reached the spot where Genki had tripped. "Well, whaddyaknow, a Mystery Disk!" Hare exclaimed.

Genki leapt to his feet. "A Mystery Disk? ALRIGHT! Let's get to a shrine!" he shouted.

"But, the nearest shrine is miles from here," Holly protested.

"Ahem," Suezo cleared his throat, hopping forward. "I, Suezo, Teleportation Master, will Teleport us to the shrine." Everyone groaned and began walking away. Suezo hopped in front of them. "I can Teleport! Just watch me!" He squeezed his eye shut tight in concentration. "C'mon Teleport, c'mon Teleport, c'mon…TELEPORT!" he glowed yellow, then disappeared. There was a collective gasp of disbelief from the six remaining humans and monsters.

"Where'd he go?" asked Genki, looking all around.

"I did it! I did it! I finally Teleported!" Suezo shouted happily. Then, he looked down. "Uh-oh." There was no ground beneath him. "GOLEM!" he shouted as he began to fall, tears streaming from his single eye.

Golem was busy looking all around to see where Suezo had gone when there was a huge crash behind him.

"Oh, great catch, Golem," came the familiar voice from the small crater the impact had created. "Great catch."

Holly rushed over and kneeled down by the hole. "Suezo? Are you okay?"

Suezo lay on his back with several teeth missing, a huge spiral in his eye.

"Oh, sure, Holly," he replied. "Just peachy."

"Suezo!" Golem said. "I am so sorry!"

"Yeah, sure, Golem," Suezo said.

"Well," said Tiger. "Looks like we're walking."

"And it's a good thing, too, Tiger," Hare said slyly. "You need the exercise! AHAHA!"

"What did you say?!" Tiger snarled, getting right in his face.

"You heard!"

"Why you little-!" Tiger was cut off as Golem promptly squished them both with one large hand.

"No…fighting," Golem said slowly.

"C'mon, you guys, let's get to the shrine!" Genki shouted, grabbing the Mystery Disk and racing ahead on his roller blades.

"Genki!" Holly shouted as the others ran after him, trying to keep up.

Later, at the shrine…

"Ready?" Genki asked, standing at the unlock button.

Mocchi placed the Mystery Disk carefully, then said, "Ready, chi!"

"Alright," Genki said, beginning to concentrate. A pillar of light surrounded the Mystery Disk and got brighter and brighter. "UNLOCK!" Genki shouted, and pushed the button. There was a bright flash of light, and a young Mustardy (Zuum/Suezo) was sitting in the center of the shrine.

"Gots to go," it said. "Busy busy busy!" Before anyone could stop it, it dashed off out of the shrine.

"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Suezo shouted after it, but it was too late.

The Mustardy was long gone.

"Well," said Tiger. "That was pointless."

Elsewhere…

We continued walking on the path through the forest. At least, Big Blue and I continued walking, while Pixie rode on the Big Blue's shoulder. They didn't seem to care if I kept up or not. They hardly even acknowledged my existence. Maybe they thought if they ignored me, I'd just go away. Oh, well. So much for hoping they'd be a little friendlier after a good night's sleep.

Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath us, and we fell into a pit! Well, me and Big Blue fell into a pit. Pixie flew off of his shoulder in the nick of time.

"How'd this get here?" I wondered aloud. The pit was as wide as the road, and the top of it was about level with Big Blue's chest. It was over my head, but it didn't look like it would be too hard to climb out.

Big Blue and I began hauling ourselves out while above us an angry Pixie shouted, "All right! Who-"

She was cut off by laughter from the side of the road. "Gots yas!"

"I'm the one who's going to get you!" Pixie shouted, flying off in the direction of the voice.

"Oops! Gots to go!" the voice said. A few twigs snapped as its owner dashed off with Pixie in hot pursuit.

"Master Pixie!" Big Blue shouted and dashed off after her. Oh, great…

I finally pulled myself out of the pit and sighed. "Wait up!" I shouted, and ran after them.

Chasing some kind of demented hooligan through the forest is not exactly my idea of fun. I hate running. Besides, what kind of weirdo digs holes in the road, anyway? I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to find out. So I was rather relieved when I saw Pixie and Big Blue standing in the middle of the forest.

"Where'd he go?" I asked when I had reached them.

"I lost him," Pixie growled.

"Should we search for him?" asked Big Blue.

Pixie looked as though she would like to, then thought the better of it. "Nah, he isn't worth it," she said. "C'mon, Blue, let's keep going."

Nearby, a little later…

"WAAH!" yelled Genki and his friends as they plummeted through the ground.

"Haha, gots yas!" laughed a voice.

Tiger leaped up out of the pit, enraged. "Take this! TORPEDO!" he shouted, blasting away several of the trees to reveal a very frightened-looking yellow Zuum. "It's that Mustardy!"

"Oopsies, gots to go!" the Mustardy yelped, then dashed off into the trees at breakneck speed.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Tiger growled, then took off after it.

"ALLY-OOP!" Genki shouted, leaping out of the pit with his roller blades on his feet and Mocchi on his back.

"CHI!" shouted Mocchi as Genki skated off after them.

Golem helped the others out, then climbed out himself. Suezo hopped madly after the distant forms of Genki and Mocchi. "GENKI! WAIT UP!"

"Yeah, Tiger, leave some fun for the rest of us, willya?" Hare shouted, also running.

"GOL!" shouted Golem as he and Holly rushed off after their friends.

"Huh? Where is he?" Tiger said as he came to a halt.

Genki and Mocchi skated up behind him. "Tiger, what's wrong?" Genki asked.

"I don't how, Genki, but I've lost his scent!" said Tiger. Suezo, Hare, Golem, and Holly all ran up in time to hear him say this.

"So," Hare said. "Looks like the great Tiger of the Wind isn't all that great after all."

"Well," Tiger growled. "At least I'm not a money-grubbing fur ball like you, Hare!"

"Is that so?!" Hare yelled, getting in Tiger's face.

"Yeah!" Tiger snarled.

"Stop fighting, chi!" Mocchi said, separating them.

"Yeah, c'mon you guys, we have to find the Phoenix," Genki said. "Holly, what's the stone say?"

Holly checked the Magic Stone. "It points straight ahead," she announced.

"Then let's go!" Genki shouted, rushing ahead as always.

"Oh, shoot," I said as we fell through another pit.

Pixie flew off of Big Blue's shoulder in a rage. "Where are you?" she shouted. "Show yourself!" Uh-oh, now she looked really mad, as in I'm-gonna-blast-whoever-did-this-with-Lightning mad. Fortunately for the culprit, he had enough sense to keep quiet this time.

"Pixie!" shouted a voice from behind us.

"Hmm?" Pixie turned.

I hoisted myself out of the pit and saw a boy, a girl, and several monsters heading toward us.

"Genki?" Pixie's voice held a note of surprise.

This was Genki? I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was definitely something grander than this rag-tag group.

"WAAH!" My opinion of them didn't improve as they plummeted into yet another pit. But, I reminded myself, looks can be deceiving, and I'd already fallen twice.

Tiger was the first to leap out. "All right, where's that Mustardy?!" he demanded, baring his teeth.

"Mustardy?" Pixie asked. "That's what's causing all this?"

The rest of Genki's little group quickly climbed out of the pit.

Genki nodded. "We unlocked it at the shrine a little while ago."

"And it's been nothing but trouble since," Tiger added.

I laughed. "So a little baby monster has been running around, digging all these holes?"

Genki and co. looked at me, and Holly opened her mouth to ask who I was. She didn't get a chance.

"Thinks me funny?" came the familiar voice. "Nots funny! Yous funny!"

"That does it! TORPEDO!" Tiger shouted.

"LIGHTNING!" Pixie used her favorite attack.

A large section of the forest was blasted clean away, to reveal a wide-eyed, soot-covered, Mustardy. "Gots to go!" it squealed, taking off.

"Not this time!" Pixie shouted, swiftly flying after it. Tiger was right behind her. The rest of us took off after them. Well, at least I wasn't the only one getting dragged along on this.

Pixie was hovering near Tiger when we finally caught up to them. The Mustardy was nowhere in sight.

"Lost him again?" I asked.

Pixie only glared at me, then flew back onto Big Blue's shoulder. It was Tiger who replied, "It's like he just disappeared!"

"But how could he do that?" asked Genki.

"Maybe he buried himself in one of his own pits," I suggested. Everyone stared at me. I just shrugged. "Then again, maybe not."

"Who are you?" Holly asked.

"The name's Thorn," I replied.

Suddenly, from deeper in the forest, we heard the Mustardy. "ACK! Gots to go!"

A deeper voice growled, "That's what you think! No one makes a fool out of Captain Tasman (Zuum/Kato)!" Now this was starting to get interesting…

"Don'ts understand! Gots to go!" shouted the Mustardy.

The ten of us were already running (or flying, in Pixie's case) toward the sound. When we reached it we saw a bunch of enraged Tasmans standing on the sides of a pit. They all wore Moo's symbol, and they're captain was clutching a struggling Mustardy.

"YAAA!" Genki shouted, leaping out of the trees and kicking Captain Tasman in the face. The surprised baddie dropped the Mustardy, who immediately tried to scramble off. Between us and the Tasmans, though, we had it completely surrounded.

"It's the rebels!" the captain shouted. "Get them!"

"BLIZZARD!" roared Tiger.

"LIGHTNING ATTACK!" shouted Pixie.

"CHERRY BLOSSOM BLIZZARD!" Mocchi yelled.

Those were only the more intelligible sounds I could make out as all the monsters began to attack. Golem stood protecting Holly, and Genki and I did our best to contribute to the battle, even though we weren't monsters. I hate to admit it, but Genki was a lot better than I was. Watching him and his friends battle, I began to see how they had made it this far against Moo.

I knew they would make it a lot farther, too. Even the Mustardy helped out a bit, slapping several baddies in the face with a Tail Slash.

Finally, the captain bellowed, "Retreat!" and the remaining Tasmans dashed off. The Mustardy tried to do the same, but Tiger pounced on it, pinning it down.

"Gots to go!" it shrieked, struggling to get away from Tiger.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Tiger growled. "I'm gonna teach you a lesson for digging all those holes!"

"Nevers do it again! Promises!" the Mustardy yelped.

"Tiger, let it go. It's just a baby, it didn't mean any harm," Holly said.

Tiger growled, but released the Mustardy. It immediately ran off as fast as it could.

"Hmph," said Pixie. "Glad that's over with. C'mon, Blue, let's go." She alighted on Big Blue's shoulder, and he began walking off. I followed.

"Goodbye! See you later!" Genki called, waving.

"Bye-bye, chi!" Mocchi waved also.

I turned and waved quickly. "Later, Genki!"

Later, as we were walking along, I turned to Pixie. "Ya know, you're such a snob-bucket, Pixie. Ya didn't even say goodbye," I teased.

"Be quiet!" she snapped.

I laughed. Pixie was just being Pixie. Sure, she was rude and just plain mean at times, but I wouldn't change her for the world.