CHAPTER SEVEN
The Battle of Haven City
Sparks from Rista and the Flannel Ronin’s blades met in the sky, one minute before the sun rose. They had decided to wake early and shake off their hangover by sparring.
The Rangers granted Gumble all of the confiscated items from his car, he chose Lumber Jack’s axe to start the day swinging and slicing down trees in one swing to practice for the day ahead.
Sigg lay naked between two female citizens of haven City who loved the film and wanted to show their appreciation from the night before. He was grateful the Ronin’s and the Lawman were early risers.
The wind picked up as the sky grumbled and ground howled announcing the arrival of the forces from the west. The Flannel Ronin ran as swiftly as he could to the Rangers outpost.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Start the evacuation!
He announced to the hazy eyed ranger behind the desk, he snapped into motion ringing the alarm, soon every citizen of Haven City was awake and heading for the Eastern quarter out of the city.
In the Winnebago, the ground shaking woke Sigg who escorted his two guests back to their side of the camp before rushing back to the Winebago to secure the VHS tape of the film. Remembering the words of the Flannel Ronin the moment after the screening.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
You are not a warrior.
SIGG
Not by any means.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Yet I part with you the most important role in all of this.
He reached into his red and green plaid kimono extracting the last copy of the tape.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
See that you and this tape survive these events.
The memory faded as soon as the alarms were sounded. Sigg stuck to the plan taking the Winnebago to the Far East end of the camp away from the supposed action.
There were only one thousand rangers gathered outside the Town Hall, each lined up in three flanks, while Rista, Gumble and the Flannel Ronin commanded them.
RISTA
Fear is pointless!
GUMBLE
Do not get discouraged!
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Fight with purpose.
The Rangers armed up their multi-round hand cannons, others unsheathed their machetes and Bigg Hammers.
King Morten arrived in three Neo- Spruce Goose’s. His transport was the third in the back while the first was fuelled with every remaining Lawman and Bounty Hunter, while the second was packed with Dr. Belfry’s soldiers.
The second goose revved up, flying forward, then opening its back end hatch, allowing all five hundred Franken—Samurai to be unleashed upon Haven City. The undead warriors rained upon the city, a few were struck by arrows from the Arch-Rangers but kept going.
Their armies met in a whirl wind of bloodshed, Machete Rangers cut through the Franken-Hunters until A Behemoth leading the frontline evaded attacks strikes to pick a Ranger up by the skull with one hand and crush it like a water balloon. Other Franken-Hunters began dodging, grabbing and tearing apart Rangers.
The Flannel Ronin turned to Rista.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Take him one out.
Rista nodded, using his second sight infra red vision to pierce through a line of the King’s men, he ran, leaping into a corkscrew pose with his katana blade extended tearing through the line of hunters blocking the Behemoth.
Rista was face to face with the bulky nine-foot tall monstrosity who sported a machete in each hand. The Blind Ronin struck at the beasts chest but was blocked. Rista deflected, twirling around the Behemoth slicing at the stiches above its knees. The limbs fell off reducing the beast three feet. Rista forced his bladed into the creature’s chest then severed its head in a final blow. He called out to the Rangers nearest him.
RISTA
AIM FOR THE STICHES!
King Morten stood in the cockpit of the Neo- Spruce Goose, watching as the Rangers started to overwhelm his Franken-Samurai, sneering, he made the order to the pilot.
KING MORTEN
Launch Goose Two.
The remaining Lawmen launched out of the back of the plane wearing rocket packs and brandishing high caliber pistols in both hands. They attacked from above, picking off the Rangers one by one.
The Flannel Ronin and George perched a top a mountain side, he felt out with his mind grabbing an Air-Man and crashing him into one next to him, creating a domino effect that took out a whole line. George looked to The Flannel Ronin who nodded, they power leaped into the air charging forward they downed an Air-Man, then pounced on aone after the other to keep airborne.
Overseeing the battlefield from above, King Morten knew he had to contain the Rangers.
KING MORTEN
Launch firefly missiles.
All three Neo-Goose spread out from each other then rained smart missiles from underneath. The Missiles flew to their coordinates and EXPLODED, creating a ring of fire around the war.
The Crimson Dread Armor stood behind the glass plate at the end of the cockpit. The King disrobed then put on the pieces on the nth aluminum armor piece by piece.
The Neo-Spruce Goose flew into the center of the battle, where the King dropped from the belly like anew born demon wielding a large mace in one hand, his family sword in the other.
KING MORTEN
BRING ME FLANNEL RONIN!
He had barley made it on the far end of the battle field before the wall of fire erupted, he stood using his all sight to stare down King Morten as he yelled while approaching from twenty feet away.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
HER NAME WAS YAMILE!
His words were echoes on the wind. He was only twenty feet away.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
SHE KEPT ME SECRET FROM YOU!
Five feet away.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Told you I was still born!
They were face to face, staring each other down.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
I am your last son.
KING MORTEN
That won’t stop me from killing you.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Nor I you.
He slid back taking out his katana in one gesture.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
You should be given the honor of knowing that you will be slain by the last of your blood.
KING MORTEN
While you have been talking, boy, you should know that my armor has been absorbing the rays of the sun.
The Death Crimson armor glowed a radiant yellow then bright red. King Morten extended his right hand channeling a fireball that shot out at the Flannel Ronin, who blocked it with his katana but was still sweaty and burned as he contained the blast.
The Flannel Ronin stood, concentrating as much will as he could around him to lift three boulders, he threw them one by one at King Morten, who blocked the first two with his solar beams and was pelted by the third. The Flannel Ronin took the opportunity to charge headfirst at King Morten striking at the armor, his sword lasting the heat but not making a dent until the King rebounded grabbing the Flannel Ronin by his sword arm.
KING MORTEN
What a silly child you are, attacking me with your stick.
He squeezed the Flannel Ronin’s arm burning through his flesh. The pain was unbearable but in his ming he heard a furious roar. George leapt at King Morten’s back, digging his fangs into the armor, tearing it off along with powerful teeth. The King was powerless, the Flannel Ronin acted quickly and through his pain stabbed King Morten through his throat out the back of his neck. Blood splattered as soon as the blade exited flesh, the Flannel Ronin dropped to his knees next to his best friend.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
George! Can you hear me?
GEORGE
Yes…but…fading….
The Flannel Ronin could not hold back his tears. Pictures in his mind went from the frail kitten he rescued to this beaten, bloodied and burned gargantuan in front of him. Blood flowed out George’s mouth, his mid-section was intensely burned, his front paws skinned with bone and muscle showing.
GEORGE
Are…you…okay?
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Yes, but it doesn’t matter.
GEORGE
Matters…to…me…keep…fighting
THE FLANNEL RONIN
George? GEORGE!
For the first time since they met, he did not hear him. Embracing the giant cat, the Flannel Ronin expected to mourn for a moment but he could feel strong lungs breathing and hear the slow pace of his heart. He might not be able to hear George but he was still alive. Before he could think of what to do the pilot of the King’s Neo-Spruce Goose spoke over a megaphone.
PILOT
The King may be dead, but under royal orders you were all sentenced to death before his passing. Under his last decree we will be dropping a megaton payload to demolish Haven City. In one, two…. WHAT THE-
An enormous ball of garbage flew out of a cloud directly into the Royal Neo-Spruce Goose, the plane immediately exploded. Two more garbage cannonballs slammed into the remaining two airships, moments later the entire island of New York City emerged from the clods hovering above the battlefield.
Brooklyn watched from the top of the Empire state building, commanding her students with her mind.
BROOKLYN
Windmakers , I need you to focus on the wall of fire.
The three Windmakers, Noel, a pre-teen boy, Aika, a teenage girl and Orin a teenage boy flew into the air, down to the ring of fire using their minds to summon winds that created a funnel to smother the flames, clouds steam were now in their place.
Brooklyn left with Samantha and Arturo, another Neo-Samurai, in a pod-helicopter with double rotators on its sides. Flying over the chaos, neither the Airborne Hunters or Franken-Samurai had eased up; the Rangers were now retreating through the wall of smoke, or getting picked off one by one.
Rista lead the Rangers away while defending off attacks. He managed to get three away only to be confronted by four of the Franken-Samurai. Rista held his sword curved with his right hand, giving a two-fingered taunt with his left. The four closed in on him, he parried to his right slicing upward, cutting down two Franken-Samurai. Sliding into a swift half circle the blind Ronin was in between his remaining combatants. The one directly in front of him went to grab him, Rista ducked, taking four limbs before mercifully severing their heads.
He was unable to catch his breath when first he felt an earth quake below his feet, only turning to see through his infrared vision that a horde of Franken-Samurai and Air-Men were charging at him. He flung his sword furiously to get the blood off, then extended it ready to go down fighting.
The Pod-Copter flew in back of the horde, lowered its blades so they faced outward then glided straight, low to the ground, shredding through the army of undead. Those in front of Rista dispersed, no longer concerned with him. The Pod-Copter flew above him; Samantha fell through the hatch in the belly of the copter landing in front of her father. They nodded at each other.
RISTA
Mother?
Biting her lower lip in solemn anger, she swayed her head from left to right. Rista lowered his head for a moment, then raised his sword, looking at Samantha nodded to the remaining horde. She unsheathed her own katana and the two ran of, he went low, she went high.
The Flannel Ronin had gotten George to the side of the battlefield and covered him with a blanket, then found Gumble, the two also made it their mission to protect the fleeing Rangers, but most of the threat moved to the horde. They took down the last remaining Franken-Samurai in their sector. Gumble rested his back against a stack of bodies. The Flannel Ronin stood with his eyes closed, two fingers against his right temple..
GUMBLE
Are you taking a nap?
THE FLANNEL RONIN
I’m bringer her here.
GUMBLE
Her who?
The wind picked up announcing the arrival of the Pod-Copter. The Belly hatch opened above the Flannel Ronin, who used his abilities to leap into the Pod-Copter. Brooklyn was in front of him looking better than she did in their minds. They waisted no time coming together in an embrace and passionate kiss to rival any that came before.
After the smoke cleared, the last of the King’s men were killed and the Rangers and citizens of Haven City safe, sifting through the remains of their scorched hamlet, Brooklyn took the Flannel Ronin, Gumble, Rista and George to Neo-York City.
George was taken to Shawna the Healer & The Albino Triplets, an ex-royal doctor and, three of Brooklyn’s students who went by Aye, Bea and Zee. The Triplets and the Doctor dressed George’s wounds and used their healing abilities as well as Mechkinesis, they crafted new platinum Sabre teeth, a lower jaw and chest plate of steel, as well as two mechanical front paws with razor sharp claws. His life signs improved but he still had to be sedated and hooked into a life support system until he fully recuperated.
The Flannel Ronin was given care and his burns were taken care of, he was offered a new hand but declined.
That night, the Flannel Ronin went into the mind world but instead of trying to communicate with Brooklyn, he was searching for George. He did not feel or see him for hours and had giving up hope when he arrived, looking as he did before the battle. He yawned.
GEORGE
Where are we?
THE FLANNEL RONIN
I call it the mind world.
GEORGE
It pretty.
The cherry blossoms blew in front of an orange sunset, George was not wrong.
GEORGE
We dead?
THE FLANNEL RONIN
No, but you are going to have to sleep for a while.
GEORGE
Fine with me.
George curled up next to the Flannel Ronin who put his arm around him and for the first time in a long time, he smiled.
An alarm went off jarring the Flannel Ronin awake, Brooklyn was by his side; the two went to the meeting hall where Polar Vortex was grabbing any Neo-Samurai she could find and draining their essence.
Rista and Samantha were doing their best to cut away at the creature. Rista went for her knees when she grabbed him by the skull, picked hip up then threw him across the room.
The Flannel Ronin attempted to use his mind to control Polar Vortex but his thoughts were blasted with an unbearable screeching.
Brooklyn did her best to pick up objects hurl at Polar Vortex but she was too fast eventually getting to her and squeezing Brooklyn’s neck.
POLAR VORTEX
Now, where, were, weeeee!????
Gumble crashed through the glass front doors of the Meeting Hall with a crazed glare in his eye.
GUMBLE
Your highness!
Polar Vortex dropped Brooklyn, more interested in this fool with his bravado. She pounced at him ready to drain his soul, Gumble opened his mouth, sucking Polar Vortex inside of him.
Inside Gumble, Polar Vortex was face to face with a pitch black, oily version of herself.
POLAR VORTEX
What are you?
THE CREATURE
I am the true rage inside this man, I have been with him since he saw his father beheaded and after all these years I only grow stronger by the moment.
POLAR VORTEX
You seek to destroy me?
THE CREATURE
Indeed.
In the Meeting Hall, The Flannel Ronin helped Brooklyn to her feet and Samantha did the same for Rista as all four of them watched the insanity that was Gumble levitating three feet in the air, vibrating, turning bright red with his mouth a gape. He slammed on to the ground, hunching over as Polar Vortex tore herself from his mouth. She was terrified, in tears; she shoved both the Flannel Ronin and Brooklyn aside running through the broken doors.
POLAR VORTEX
That thing in there is the ultimate evil! I barley made it out with my-
Her outrage was cut off by a digital growl in back of her. Polar Vortex twisted around slowly, face to face with George. No words George leapt on Polar Vortex tearing her apart with his new fangs. Fighting the Creature drained Polar Vortex of her immortality, she bled black blood for the first and only time in her life.
GEORGE
Tastes bad.
GUMBLE
She’s wrong you know.
The group turned to Gumble who was now vibrant red with white eyes.
GUMBLE
Being the ultimate evil would require an amount of work that I am just not committed to. Although, I do feel an overwhelming sense of power and malevolence.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Gumble….
GUMBLE
Fear not, I only want one thing.
They had made it back to the West; Gumble went to the vault, gathered all of his films and all of Finch De’Moan’s music then walked into the sunset.
Brooklyn and The Flannel Ronin united the East and the West into one kingdom, and they all lived…
The Winnebago drove erratically through the battlefield, avoiding all of the dead bodies. It had been four hours since the floating city appeared, he could not find anyone, A red biplane landed in front of Sigg, he swerved to not to hit it, the pilot exited, short with a handle bar mustache. Sigg rolled down his window.
PILOT
Ou vouia I am looking for a messeuir Bushy, is a director, with a filme?
SIGG
HAH!
THE END
The Drewniverse 44 
Nice story!
LikeLike