Meal 14


	"Thomas!" cried Tagmer as he stared at his friend who seemed more and more like a stranger.  "What have you done?"

	"There is no Thomas," he spoke.  "There is only Cyrus and I will gain all the powers of the cosmos."

	"Is that what this stone is for?" he asked.

	"It is part of the answer, but I cannot earn it until you are defeated," he explained.  "As is the spell cast on them.  Now fight me."

	"This is too much!" shouted Sharkfang.  "Can't we just give up the rock and just get back down on the ground?"

	"Sounds like a good deal to me," Silvermane agreed.

	"You two are just a distraction," Cyrus stated.  Without even moving Sharkfang and Silvermane found their bodies gripped by a powerful force and flung through the air haphazardly.  The only relief they had was landing still in the energy field and not plummeting to their doom.  Rushing to their feet they tried to hurry back to the other two, but found their way back blocked.

	"Stop this," cried Sharkfang.  "This is nuts!"

	"You better stop complaining," remarked Cyrus.  "And get to fighting."  Without warning, a piece of the floor vanished beneath Sharkfang.  Quickly he managed to react and stand elsewhere, but more holes were appearing everywhere.  "The floor will vanish if you don't fight and before long you'll plummet to your death.  Only fighting will enable it to remain and don't even think about holding back.  Nothing less than your best will be enough to support you."  At first they were unsure how to react, but as more ground started to go it became obvious that there was no arguing with it.  Fighting was the only way to stay alive.

	Silvermane charged his claws with electricity and lashed out at Sharkfang who dodged surprised, but understanding to his reasons.  In returned, he fired a series of arrows back at his opponent that were dodged with equal dexterity.  They continued to fight nothing their footing never became lost again and confirmed fighting was their only means of survival for the moment.  Of course, this also kept them plenty distracted from Cyrus and Tagmer who were yet to engage in battle.

	"That will keep them from interfering," he started.  "Now draw your weapons and show me your fury dragotaur."

	"It's me, Thomas!" shouted Tagmer refusing to fight despite how deadly he knew his foe was.  "I don't want to fight you."

	"Thomas is gone back into me.  He was merely a fragment of my soul and now that my powers are returning so is his true self.  The kitsune you knew no longer exists so you have no need to feel sympathy for me."

	"I refuse to believe that.  If he is a part of you then he isn't gone.  I'll find a way to bring him back and that is why I can't fight you."

	"Then you'll be easier to defeat because of your misplaced emotions."  He held out his palm and a surging force of energy formed.  It grew fast almost instantly before it was launched effortlessly at its target, yet Tagmer couldn't move.  He wouldn't back down when his dear friend needed him the most.


	Diving into the Dark Chocolake was more terrifying than Yure could image.  It took all his strength to keep from wetting himself and the same was likely true for Wolfcub and Thomas as they continued to sink.  The creature vanished a bit ago as they remained stationary, but they didn't dare move a muscle or say a single word.  Even breathing was scarce as their lungs ached even with a supply of air being pumped down to them.  When something solid pressed against their feet they finally chose to move, needing to identify if they were on the ground or rather on something else.  Bending down and digging their fingers into the ground they ground they discovered it was substance, similar to sand, but even finger grains.  It was chocolate powder and it was proof enough they were on the bottom.

	"Phase one, accomplished," Thomas stated feeling quite winded already.  Now we just need to find the treasure."

	"But there's nothing in sight," said Wolfcub.  I thought we'd at least land near it and we can't even see too far.  How do you expect us to find it?"

	"The only way that would be effective," he explained.  "We'll have to split up to look."

	"Alone with that thing out there?" cried Yure, shaking with fright and feeling his diaper dampen.  "And even if we don't consider that we'd end up losing each other before long.  How would we even find each other down here?"

	"We'll only spend an hour down here," instructed Thomas.  "When time is up we all resurface and meet back up on the boat.  It might take multiple trips, but it will be our best chance of accomplishing this.  For now, everything picked a path and good luck."

	At once they all turned and took a big leap forward and began searching.  That was an easy task, except for the fact none of them knew what they were looking for and there didn't seem to be anything to see at all.  A lot of time passed with no results and the panic they felt before was replaced with fatigue and boredom.  Poor Yure was quite discomforted by his wet diaper after the urine cooled.

	"I'll have to get a change when we get back up or I'll get a rash," he grumbled to himself hating just the thought of it and it did nothing to pick his spirit up for the search neither did the shooting pain his foot received when he stubbed his toe suddenly.  "Ouch!  This just isn't my day.  What was that anyway?"  He put his hand to the ground and felt around for something in the chocolate powder.  Suddenly, he felt something hard.  He assumed it was a rock he hit, but it appeared to be wooden.  The more he investigated he found it was a lot bigger than he thought, much, much bigger and he knew only one thing it could be and his heart raced.  "It's a boat!  This has to be the ship that was carrying it across the lake.  It is my day after all!"

	Shuffling onto the boat, Yure desperately attempted to find a way inside, but it didn't seem to have any holes he could slip into.  It confused Yure a great deal considering he expected it to have sunk from a hole in it, but there was nothing.  Instead, he attempted to climb into the boat and investigate from there.

	From what Yure could see it was what one could expect from a ghost ship, void of life, and still in one piece, though damaged all over and somewhat rotted from time.  There was an odd chill running up Yure's spine that made him feel like the place was haunted.  Cautiously, he made his way to some double doors so he could enter into the ship and explore the lower floors of the ship, but they seemed stuck.  The small kitten pulled with all his might feeling the door slowly give way becoming more and more open bit by bit.  It suddenly burst open when he managed to unstuck it and ended up knocking him back in surprise.  Only a moment was needed to help Yure straighten himself out and look at the opened doors, but what was inside was even more amazing.  The space inside the boat was voice of chocolate, the air inside having kept it from being forced in.  Seeing this excited Yure greatly.

	"This will make things a lot easier," he stated rushing towards it, but he was a claw's length away when he came to a stop despite his feet moving forward.  It was impossible to admit and he had to hold in an angry shout by this incredible annoyance.  Unable to admit defeat he pushed forward with all his might, grunting and groaning to get in.  He didn't even notice how his air hose was straining to stay on against his efforts till finally, it broke off and he flew into the ship's interior.  "Why does that keep happening?"  He looked back outside and saw his air hose drift away and vanish from sight leaving him trapped at the bottom of the lake in this creepy-looking ship.  Despite how bad a situation Yure found himself in he removed his diving suit and ventured into the ship to find whatever was on it.

	It was like the ship had been frozen in time, unchanged since it went under.  However, Yure wasn't interested in archeology, he just wanted to find the treasure and get out of here; how he was going to do the later he'd figure out when he crossed that bridge.  As he reached the lowest part of the hull he discovered a big room with a chest and a skeleton on top of it.

	"I guess he decided to go down with the treasure," Yure gulped as he approached.  "I wonder who would be so greedy to do that."  Upon close inspection of the skeleton he discovered it was adorned with a lot of ragged clothes, an eye patch, and even a hook hand.  Yure was now one to believe in stereotyping, but the "Argh!  I'm a Pirate" t-shirt he was wearing added to his suspicions.  "So I guess this was a pirate ship or something.  Well, nothing to fear from an old bag of bones.  The treasure is mine now."  Still, hesitant to touch the bony remains he approached cautiously and placed his hands on the chest.  Without warning the skeleton awoke and looked right at him with read glowing eyes.  Even more surprising, it spoke.

	"Who are ye calling an ole' bag o' bones?" he questioned angrily.  "And who do ye think ye be taking another man's booty while they be sleeping on it. Are ye another pirate?"

	"A ghost!" cried Yure as he quickly began to cry tons of tears.

	"Don't be dumb you scurvy dog, uh cat," he argued.  "I am a skeleton!"

	"He's a mean undead skeleton and he's yelling at me," bawled Yure more, tears raining down his fur and snot dripping from his nose.  He even wet himself a little from how upset he was.  His crying was so loud it was giving the skeleton a migraine.

	"Would you please shiver ye timbers and all that pirate lingo!" he begged.  "I be no ghost and I be as lively as ye.  I was born this way."

	"Really?" sniffed Yure calming down.

	"Cross me heart that doesn't exist in my rib cage," he told him.

	"Good," replied Yure taking out his slingshot and fired at him.  He got him dead center in the skull and he burst into flames, rolling around in agony.  He desperately managed to put himself out.

	"What was that for?" he shouted when he managed to get to his feet.

	"I'm no pirate, but I came for the treasure," explained Yure.  "And now that I know you aren't some ghost then I can beat you."

	"Ye played me for a fool," he growled removing the hook from his hand and replacing it with a sword attachment.  "Ye won't be taking my treasure and ye won't be leaving either.  I won't go easy on ye just because you're a youngling."  Yure prepared the next shot on his slingshot at the skeleton pirate charged at him.


	Logan, Hector, and Zane were fitted into their battle gear preparing for their rescue of Queen Krystal.  They were all surprised when they were given armor that actually fit their large sizes and still allowed them to move with ease, but it was better not to question it.

	"Looks like we're all set," stated Logan.  "Now let's go save the day."

	"Not just yet," replied Zane.  "We are still missing one more member of our party."

	"We are?" asked Hector.  "How else is coming?"

	"What's a party of adventurers without a white mage?" he asked as Obamon entered the room in a large white and red hooded dress.  To see her in such an outfit was a bit unusual, especially with her breasts as large as they were.  She also carried a large wooden staff that looked like it was made from an entire tree.

	"Before we set out," Obamon told them.  "I am going to cast a magic protection spell on you all.  She picked up her staff and started shaking it about.  As she did she also causes her large belly to sway to and fro.  Her breasts were bouncing about not restrained by a bra at all.  All three of them could only stare in awe at this display and when she finished she looked at them seeing them all knocked out from it.  "I think I might have cast the wrong spell.  Perhaps I should try again."

	"That's alright," panted Hector at they started to get back up.  "I don't think it will be necessary.  Let's just make out way.  If we can do this fast enough we'll make it home in time for dinner."

	"I just hope there isn't going to be a lot of level grinding we have to do," commented Logan as he playfully swung his sword around."

	"Enough joking around you two," Zane stated.  "Krystal is in real fake danger and we have to perform a real fake rescue to save her.  So we'll all have to be real fake serious."  He put the finishing touche on his suit with a long cape flowing down his back and led them all forward with Obamon in the rear.  They made their way to their foes' mountain keep intent on defeating them and saving the day.


	"Care for another piece of cake?" asked Jerrett as his group feasted alongside Krystal.

	"Please," she answered dabbing her lip with a napkin.  "All this food is simply delicious."

	"Would you care for some meat too?" asked Emillian offering a large tray full of tasty, succulent meat dripping with juice and covered in thick gravy.

	"And some more lumps of mashed potatoes?" added Beejie holding the bowl of mashed spuds covered in gravy with melted cheese and butter mixed in to them.

	"That would all be delightful," she replied rubbing her rounded belly and then her utter.  All her eating had helped her to store up quite a lot in them, but she wasn't ready just yet to relieve herself of the creamy goodness just yet.

	"Hope we weren't too rough with you in bringing you here," Jerrett said.

	"Not at all," she stated.  "You were all perfect gentlemen.  In fact, I really want to thank Obamon for all that she has done for us."

	"I wouldn't want to thank her just yet," Emillian stated.

	"Why would you say that?" she asked curiously.

	"Because she's planning on eating us," explained Beejie.  "And not just us three, but you those other guys, everyone she's invited to her home and she probably already did that to a few."

	"That's crazy talk," replied Krystal in total disbelief.  "She's so nice why would she do that?"

	"Well why would she invite us all to her home and feed us into getting this big just to make us so fat without some sort of ulterior motive?" asked Jerrett.

	"Well where's your proof," she pointed out.

	"We took a stop at a nearby village on the way to the Renaissance Festival and heard the tale of a cruel beast that lives in the forest and fattens up all who enter to eat and grow in power.  It was thought she was defeated by a Guilmon and Renamon long ago, but now she's apparently back and causing problems again."

	"And you think sweet and loving Obamon is this beast?" she asked.  "She doesn't seem the type."

	"Believe what you want, but do you know what happened to all the other visitors who aren't there anymore?" asked Jerrett.  "Do you think they just left?"

	"There where are they?" asked Emillian.

	"I don't know," she admitted.  "But for the sake of arguing if you are right what are we going to do about it?"

	"The only thing we can do," Beejie explained.  "Stop her before she eats us all and the attack on us will be our best chance.  She's coming over too and we have to defeat her before she can get us.  So are you in or are you out?"

	"I refuse to be a part," she stated defiantly.  "You hear a rumor and then instantly turn of sweet old Obamon.  Do what you want, but I won't be a part."

	"Be that as it may," Jerrett stated.  "We cannot let you do anything that could jeopardize our mission.  Beejie, Emillian restrain her."  On his commend they put down the food they were eating and grabbed her.

	"What are you doing?" she cried.  "Let go of me."  Krystal struggled with all her might to get free, but couldn't overpower them as she was placed into a cage a locked inside.  "Let me out or at least bring my plate over.  I'm not done eating yet."  They gave her plate and let her resume eating, though a lot less enthusiastically.  "I thought this was all supposed to be a lot of fake fun."

	"Well this stuff just got real," Beejie explained.


	Silvermane sliced at Sharkfang's arrows as they flew at him and lashed out with attacks that were almost too close for comfort as they brawled.  They were hardly attempted to hurt one another, but so long as it was the only thing keeping them from plummeting to their doom they had no choice but to fight on.  Tagmer, on the other hand was facing a much tougher time as Cyrus showed no mercy.  His last attack hit him quite hard and would have torn a hole through his stomach if his armor didn't intercept the brunt of the damage.  It dented and cracked the metal, but it was still usable.  The amount that managed pierce through hurt quite bit and would have been worse without so much fat to absorb it.

	"Are you still going to hold back as you have after seeing my power?" he asked.  "Or will you allow foolish delusions to do you in."

	"Allowing myself to die wouldn't help anyone out," he stated as he took out his dual axes and connected them together.  A few twists and adjustments and he fixed it into a magic staff.  "And since you are using magic then I'll do the same."  He swung the staff around swirling up a flame.  As it built up he tossed the fire ball at Cyrus who caught it with ease.

	"If that is the extent of your magic," asked Cyrus.  "It is an insult that you think such a thing could work on me."

	"Sorry," apologized Tagmer.  "I forgot to turn it on."  He twisted the staff making it glow and in response the fire ball grew immense fast.  It became too much for him to hold back and erupted in his hand blasting him back and burning him a bit.  "Was that any better?"

	"I was a bit surprised," Cyrus admitted.  "But just a bit."  Using his powers he lifted himself off the ground and created a new chain scythe flowing with his magic.  "But now I have a weapon to even the playing field."

	"True," chuckled Tagmer.  "But mine is bigger than yours."  Cyrus showed no emotion to Tagmer's humor and charged at him while Tagmer did the same.

	They met in the middle swinging their weapons with all their might and managing to force both of them back a couple feet from the sheer force of the impact.  It only caused them a moment of pause before they were bashing and slashing at one another.  Tagmer's weapon imbued with dragon flame magic was powerful, but slow.  It kept Cyrus pinned down, unable to land a critical hit without being crushed and using plenty of magic to keep his weapon from shattering under the force of it.  Opposite him, Cyrus was fast with his weapon, but there were few spots he could attack with Tagmer's armor in the way.  The best he could hope for was to strike a point several times with the scythe in hand and then use the chain to defend against the staff.  It took a lot of effort to move his concentration from one part of his weapon to another and while his power was great, it was incomplete with only a few stone fragments at his disposal.  Still, Tagmer was flushing as much magic on his end, knowing full well that if his magic stopped flowing Cyrus wouldn't waste the change to land a lethal strike on him.

	Entirely aware of the desperation of their fight, neither one was willing to remove their focus on the other or make a single false move.  Even Silvermane and Sharkfang were stopping their own fight at moments to look over as their strikes raged like thunder.  Their clashing attacks spread their magic into the atmosphere mixing with the clouds and causing them to transform into violent storm clouds spew lightning and fire on the world below and causing those below the flee in terror.  It spread over a large area like Armageddon had come.

	"Had enough yet?" panted Tagmer feeling exhausted after an extensive battle of magic.  Channeling his dragon fire magic frequently made his already high body temperature rise to volcanic proportions.  It made his heavy armor like an oven magnifying the heat he was giving off and cooking him alive.  His scales were able to handle it, but his flesh underneath was much less durable as it got burnt by the heat that managed to get through his wall of defense.  He wanted to allow himself to cool down, but he knew the consequences of turning off his magic at a time like this.  However, his magic was already waning and it didn't look like he could hold on much longer.

	"Don't act like you are winning," stated Cyrus showing no signs of fatigue emotionally, but physically he appeared just as tired and his magic was showing signs of flickering on and off too.  His fur was scorched all over and his muscles were screaming and sore from being forced to match Tagmer's might.  It was clear from his wobbling legs they felt like jello and he was barely able to stand.  His arms shook, numb from all their clashing and he doubted his arms were capable of holding anything much longer.  In truth, Cyrus never felt this exhausted in his life.  "We're both at the last ounce of strength and if we continue like this neither of us will win.  So why not finish this in one final attack?"

	"Isn't that how it always ends?" asked Tagmer with a grin.  With the momentary pause of combat he undid the straps on his armor and let it fall to the ground around him leaving him bare, but allowing the cool air to reach him now and give him relief.  "A cliche, but I like it.  Let's do it."  He focused his remaining magical force into his staff making it radiate magic like never before.  It swirled with intense flames of pure magical energy as Tagmer filled it with every last big he could muster into it.

	"I can see why Thomas would like you," admitted Cyrus.  "But your power is not enough to defeat me and rescue him.  Now not, not ever."  He made his chain scythe vanish in favor for focusing all his magic into his palms.  The magic surged as he prepared for his own attack.

	"I don't care if I'm strong enough or not!" roared Tagmer fiercely.  "I couldn't care less if you were a million times stronger than me.  To live knowing I didn't do everything I could do to save Thomas is not worth living.  So I'll bet my life on one last attack and show you the power of our bond."  His words seemed to add power to his attack as it flared brighter, but Cyrus appeared to build up his magic to match.

	Everything went silent as they both struck simultaneously.  Silvermane and Sharkfang who were in the midst of fighting stopped when they sensed the swell of magic around Tagmer and Cyrus.  It was truly the calm before the storm, a bubble on the verge of popping as two powerful sources of magic were in imminent contact.  As they collided they gave off a blinding light that was followed fast by and destructive wave shattering the barrier around them and the blowing the sky clear of the storm they just created save for the mist of expelling for their overabundance of magic.  Anybody who was around had no idea what had befallen all four of them as the light hid them from sight.  The only thing that was visible was Tagmer's hat wafting in the breeze, slowly descending to the ground.


	"What's with those things ye be firing?" cried the skeleton pirate falling to pieces from Yure's attacks while the blue kitten didn't have a scratch or even look fatigued.

	"It's my special ammo," he bragging grinning impishly.  "They're called cogs.  They are made up of a base and three types of gears.  The base holds the gears in place and there's a gear for trajectory, impact, and special.  For instance, the one I've been using on you is a made with neutral trajectory a burning impact, and a neutral special.  A common setup, but I can make dozens of combinations."

	"Sounds like some cheap fad to get younglings hooked on something and get at their parents' booty," he commented.

	"It is a lot more than that," explained Yure.  He reached in and took out a different cog.  Putting it in the sling he aimed away from the skeleton pirate and fired.  It flew a distanced and suddenly changed direction and flew right at Yure's opponent and hit him dead center again, this time freezing him on impact.  "That was a homing, ice, reversal cog."

	"Th- that's cold," mumbled the skeleton pirate as his teeth chattered.  He struggled to break free of the ice and Yure allowed him to.  "Wait a minute, what be that last thing?  Reversal?  What's that mean?"

	Yure didn't answer and simply walked up to the chest.  "Mr. Pirate guy, can I have the treasure?"

	"We be over this squabble already, kid," he began acting quite aggravated, but he suddenly became quite friendly, polite and grammatically correct.  "Why certainly.  In fact, here have my wallet, and the shirt off my back."

	"Why thank you," replied Yure accepting it all with a satisfied smirk on his face.  "But there's one more thing you could give me."

	"A kidney?" he asked.  "I'd love to, but I don't have any."

	"No," replied Yure feeling it might have worked a bit too well.  "I just need some help.  Put me in the chest and push me out so the chest and I float to the surface."

	"I'd be glad to," he agreed opening the chest.  Yure hopped in and waited as he was pushed up to the entrance he used to enter the ship.

	Yure checked his watch and figured it was about time for them all to be headed back to the surface.  Without the air hose he had no way of getting to the surface without air, but Yure figured if he could rise with the chest to the surface.  It was the only thing he could try in this situation and he had confidence that it would work.  He felt as the chest reached the melted chocolate and started to rise up.  It became vital that Yure remain calm as it rose to preserve his oxygen for as long as possible, but this was by far the scariest thing he even head to do.

	Suddenly, he felt something place its hands on the chest and attempt to open it.  Nervously, Yure waited, wondering what it was.  He doubted it was that creature that had come so close to eating him and his friends before, but what was able to see the chest in the middle of this thick chocolate?  The trembling kitten didn't think too hard as his life was hanging on by that closed chest cover.

	The next thing Yure realized the figure left filling Yure with relief, but it was only temporary.  He found out why the chest was abandoned, the creature from before was stalking the chest now.  He peeked out the keyhole and only saw fast-growing teeth.  Yure didn't have time to do much else by cry out in fright.  The figure that had fled suddenly stopped swimming and swam back to the chest, but it was too late as the creature already swallowed it whole.  It didn't give up as it swam right into its mouth after the chest.

	Yure bashed against the chest when he found the chest reach deep into the creature's belly where it was safe to open the chest.  Once he was free he looked around to see what his new home was like.  It didn't do anything to help ease his worries.  Instead it just made him sadder to the point he was crying unable to find any comfort.  His sobs of sadness echoed throughout the creature's stomach.

	"This is the end," he sniffed.  "There is no way I'm going to make it out of here alive."

	"I never thought I'd see you in a place like this," said a voice Yure recognized right away and instantly stopped crying.  "Though I didn't think I'd end up in a place like this either.  I guess you're still as prone to danger as ever."

	Yure looked and saw an aqua blue-scaled dragon approach him, a couple heads higher than him.  His body was quite fat, but firm making him plump, but not saggy.  He appeared more like an anthromophic lizard, but his muzzle and orange horns on his head was proof he was a full fledged dragon.  His bright red eyes and the shape of white hair on his head made it unmistakable to Yure who it was.

	"Big Drag is that you?" he asked hoping greatly.

	"You know I'm always there for you, little Yure," Drag answered as he approached Yure and gave him a hug.  "Now don't get use to this place because I'm going to get us out of here."