Chapter 5 - Wolves dream of fire

* a few minutes after dragon announces the bands name, the rest proceed to take off their masks as well.

Dragon: I told you guys this would work.

Digit: You were right man, this is awesome.

M.L. Starr: This turned out really kool.

Phoenix: This was a great plan mate.

Z.N. : That's all well and good, but....

Green chaos: This crowd is amazing.

Bullet blood: So....what do we do now?

Dragon: Now?! Now.....we give them a show they'll never forget (he says with a smirk).

* Most of the crowd cheers for dragon and the midnight wolves. But a good portion also cheers for dreams on fire. A few minutes later, the announcer comes on.

Announcer: Okay everybody, you know the rules. Both bands will play music while simultaneously fighting each other. The match is over when you either kill all the members of the opposing band, destroy all of the opposing bands instruments, or if you can pull off the impossible and destroy the opposing bands fame point counter! However, this has only ever been pulled off once. So either way, I wouldn't recommend trying it.

Narrator 1: It's true, throughout the history of battle of the bands. A win by fame counter destruction has only been done once.

Narrator 2: And boy was it a doozy!

Narrator 1: Yea, during a battle a guitarist in the competition pulled a 360 no scope.

Narrator 2: And, by pure luck. Managed to destroy the opposing bands fame point counter!

Narrator 1: Anyway, that's all.

Narrator 1 + 2: And now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Announcer: The match will begin in two minutes! Both teams, please prepare for the battle.

* Dragon and his friends huddle together so that they can form a strategy.

Dragon: You guys ready?

Digit: Yup

M.L. Starr: Definitely

Z.N. : Sure thing

Phoenix: So.....what's our plan of attack? Are we gonna take a sneaky approach? Or do something with a little more class?

Dragon: Well, considering that there are five of them and seven of us. I think we need to hit them hard and fast. We don't need to pull anything fancy, we just need to make sure we advance. We'll save the theatrics for when we go up against steel skeleton in the final round.

Bullet blood: Yea, hopefully we'll make it that far.

Dragon: We will, we've come too far not to. Now, here's the plan. We're gonna destroy their instruments. Be careful, even though theres only five of them. They're really tough musicians, got it?

* They all agree in unison

Dragon: Now, Starr. I want you to go for their bassist crow.

M.L. Starr: Got it

Dragon: Green chaos, I want you to go for their drummer skull. She's well known for using pyrotechnics near her drums, so maybe you can use that to your advantage.

Green chaos: Okay

Dragon: Phoenix, I want you to see what you can do about their lead guitarist star dreamer. She uses a crossbow guitar, so you might not have to worry about her shooting down your ninja star records.

Phoenix: I'm on it!

Dragon: Bullet blood and Z.N., I want y'all to see what you guys can do about their rhythm guitarist charred ember. From what I've heard, her guitar packs some serious fire power. But no one knows what exactly since no one whose gone against her has lived to tell the tale.

Z.N. + Bullet blood: We'll do our best!

Dragon: Digit, since your our drummer. It's pretty obvious that you won't be able to move. But, I still want you to use your drum cannons to make them scatter. They usually stick close together, which is why they've survived so long. So we have to separate them all.

Digit: Gotcha, and what about you?

Dragon: Me? I'm going straight for their singer moon ash. It only makes sense. Singers never really use big weapons, because they count on speed and agility. So I'm the only one who can keep up with her.

Z.N. : Sounds good to us

M.L. Starr: Yea, we support you

Phoenix: We got your back mate

Dragon: Kool, let's do this

* The announcer comes back on again

Announcer: 30 seconds people! 30 seconds!

* The anticipation builds in the air as both bands give each other an epic stare down. All while the crowd joins the announcer in the final count down.

Announcer: 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2!....1! Begin!

* Both bands start playing their instruments so epically that the audience can't get enough. After a while however, both bands prepare for their attacks.

Dragon: Alright guys, let's do this! Digit, separate them!

Digit: I'm on it!

* Digit flips over two of his drums and bangs on them, sending a bombardment of cannon balls in the air. And causing "dreams on fire" to separate.

Star dreamer: Oh shit! Scatter!

* They scatter in order to avoid the cannon balls, during which dragons band closes in.

Dragon: Everyone, you know what to do. Attack!

* Dragon and his friends begin to charge at "dreams on fire".

Narrator 1: They have no idea what they're getting into.

Narrator 2: *Nods* Agreed.

* As dragon and his friends are running, "dreams on fire" notices and takes action.

Star dreamer: Alright, let's do this. Charred ember, you know what to do.

* Charred ember nods at Star dreamer and positions herself at the center of where their band is. She presses a button on her guitar and it starts shifting. Eventually, the neck of the guitar turns into a black metal barrel and she begins to fire. Revealing the reason why no one has ever survived against her, is because she blows them away with explosive projectiles. Dragon realizes what's headed for him and reacts quickly.

Dragon: Oh shit! Retreat! Retreat!

* Dragon and his friends run back to their side of the stage and take cover behind some amps. While they take cover, charred ember keeps up a seemingly endless wave of explosives.

Dragon: Damn it! I definitely wasn't expecting this.

Bullet blood: What do we do now!? We can't do anything as long as she has us pinned by those flying explosives!

* Dragon grunts in frustration

Dragon: Fuck it! New plan! Digit! I need you to distract charred ember while we go for it.

Digit: Got it dude!

Dragon: Phoenix, I need you to distract star dreamer. She's probably gonna try to protect charred ember so we need to separate them.

Phoenix: Gotcha mate!

Dragon: Z.N. , I'm gonna need you to cover us in case they try to fire at us.

Z.N. : Right!

Dragon: Everybody else, let's give this another shot!

* Dragon and his friends mount up to attack again

Dragon: Alright, fire away digit!

* Digit flips his drums and begins firing at charred ember. She then stops shooting so that she can dodge the wave of cannon balls.

Charred ember: Crap! I can't keep this up forever!

Star dreamer: I got you! Don't worry!

* Star dreamer attempts to shoot the cannon balls in the air with her arrows

Phoenix: Oh no no no, not today!

* Phoenix throws his ninja star records at star dreamers arrows. Knocking them out of the air and breaking them.

Star dreamer: What the heck!

* Star dreamer gets distracted and attempts to shoot phoenixes ninja star records, but continues to miss each time. While star dreamer and charred ember are distracted, dragon, star, and bullet move in. Dragon runs straight for moon ash. She notices and starts running toward him too. As they run towards each other, they draw their weapons. Soon, they clash and they're stuck at a stale mate. Each trying to over power the other, but both are unsuccessful.

Moon ash: You know you can't win right?

Dragon: Sorry, but losing isn't an option.

* Dragon and moon ash jump back from each other. Then moon ash leaps forward and attempts to cut dragon with her microphone knife. Dragon catches her wrist with his left hand and knees her arm. She jumps back in pain and he kicks her microphone out of her hand. It goes flying up in the air. Then dragon slaps it out of the air and it goes flying into the ground and breaks. Moon ash grips her arm in pain and looks at dragon with a shocked look on her face.

Dragon: I told you...losing isn't an option.

* Dragon heads back to his bands side of the stage so that he can resume singing.

Green chaos: What do we do now? Their drummer is surrounded by a wall of pyrotechnics.

Dragon: Try to see if you can snipe one of the machines near her drum set. We might get the results we're looking for.

Green chaos: I'm on it!

* Green chaos shoots one of the machines that are the ground near skulls drum set. This causes a massive explosion that sends skull flying into a bunch of amps. While simultaneously destroying the once flame guarded drum set. The shock wave of the explosion causes star dreamer, crow, and charred ember to stumble. Starr and bullet use the opportunity to shoot their weapons out of their hands and send all of them flying with round house kicks. This causes both of them to fall unconscious and they take the opportunity to break their instruments.

Announcer: And with that, the match is over! With a win by instrument destruction, the winners of the match are..... The midnight wolves!!!

* The crowd cheers at the sight of the amazing win

Mel: Come on, let's go.

Crusher: Right.

* Mel and crusher proceed to leave the stadium. While doing so, they run into the rest of the "steal skeleton" crew. They all go back to Mel's office, so that they can discuss the situation at hand.

Skarr: So..... does anybody want to explain what we just witnessed?!

Demon: I think that's the problem. The whole event was so shocking no one wants to talk about it.

Snake: I can honestly say that I have no words.

Brass rocket: Ditto.

Crusher: Well I definitely got something to say, what the hell happened Mel!? You said that everything was taken care of! You said that there was no need to worry! But clearly, all of that has been thrown out the fucking window!!!

* Mel sits in his chair in silence for a few seconds and then spins around eerily

Mel: One, don't curse at me. And two, I understand what the situation has become. However, at the moment. I am unsure of the coarse of action we need to take.

Crusher: Well we need to do something. Otherwise I'm toast, and all of our careers are over!

Demon: Toast actually sounds good right now.

Brass rocket: Yea, we didn't even get breakfast this morning. What's up with that?

Crusher: Ugghh, you guys aren't helping!

Snake: So what are we suppose to do about this? Because their band is bigger so we might actually lose to them.

Demon: True, they don't out number us too bad. However, we still need to deal with this somehow.

Brass rocket: Yea, but we can beat them in a straight up fight! They're not skilled at this!

Snake: True, they're just a bunch of no name noobs! We are professionals, I'm pretty sure we can handle what they got.

Skarr: Yea, but look at what just happened! " Dreams on fire" was rumored to win this year because of their mysterious fire power. But the wolves found a way around it and destroyed them!

Crusher: What are we gonna do!? If we lose to them, I lose everything I spent so long building!!!

Demon: None of this would've happened if you hadn't done what you did crusher!

Crusher: Oh yea! Blame me! But don't forget, I'm the one who brought us together! I'm the one who got us to the top! You guys would be out of jobs if it wasn't for me!

Skarr: Yea, but your also the one who caused all of these complications!

Brass rocket: What did you expect? He never was good at thinking things through.

Crusher: Hey! You trying to start something!?

Brass rocket: So what if I am!? It's not like your gonna do anything about it! Unlike when you dumped me!

Crusher: Oh just get over it already!

* Soon after, the band breaks into a giant heated argument that is later interrupted by Mel slamming his fist on his desk.

Mel: Enough!!!

* After his short burst of anger, Mel fixes his composure

Mel: Now then, all of this arguing is meaningless. Your not the only ones with a lot to lose. I've spent a long time building my music empire. If you guys lose, it'll get the attention of the music council. And I'll lose everything I've worked for.

Crusher: Got it.

Skarr: We understand.

Crusher: So, what do we do?

Mel: Well, it's clear to me that traditional methods won't work. I'll definitely have to pull out all of the stops on this one.

* Mel pulls a cell phone out of his left back pocket and dials a number. Soon after he begins to talk to someone.

Mel: It's me, I'm calling in an old special favor. Yes, I need someone to.....know their place.

* Mel hangs up the phone and we switch over to dragon and his friends. It's mid after noon and they're hanging out downtown, relaxing after a well deserved victory. They're all walking with instruments in their cases ( or in digits case all he has is his drumsticks).

M.L. Starr: Man, that was a tough fight.

Green chaos: For sure, we definitely deserve this break.

Phoenix: No doubt mate, I need me some snacks right now!

Z.N. : Some nachos do sound good right about now.

M.L. Starr: Can we get some pickles? Or maybe some muffins?

Bullet blood: Some ramen would be good.

Dragon: Well, you guys can get whatever you want. Today's lunch is on me today.

* Everyone cheers with glee after this announcement

Dragon: You guys deserve it, y'all worked really hard today and we got ourselves a victory because of it.

Phoenix: Thanks bro.

Digit: Your great dude.

Dragon: No problem, we can relax for now. Just be careful guys, we still gotta be on guard no matter what.

Phoenix: Don't worry bro, we got this.

M.L. Starr: Yea, we'll be careful.

Bullet blood: We'll be sure to stay alert.

Dragon: Kool

* All of a sudden, while everyone decide to discuss what they want to eat. A black limo pulls up next to dragon and his friends. A window from the back of the limo opens and a guitar neck slowly peaks out of the window.

Dragon: Oh crap! Get down everyone!

* Suddenly the guitar begins to fire an onslaught of bullets. Dragon is right between bullet and Starr, so he manages to save them. Phoenix uses one of his ninja star records to send the guitar flying back through the window. Before he does, digit manages to duck behind a fruit cart to avoid getting hit. However the same is not said for Z.N. and green chaos. Once they are hit and Phoenix destroys the guitar, the limo takes off at almost super sonic speed. Z.N. and green chaos lay on the side walk littered with bullet wounds.

Dragon: No......NOOOO!!! DAMN IT!!!

* After some time, the scene changes to a hospital room. Z.N. and green chaos both lay on beds with their eyes closed, on the verge of death.

Dragon: Damn it! I can't believe this!

M.L. Starr: Hey, try to keep your voice down. We're in a hospital, remember?

Dragon: I know, I'm just upset about all of this. I just can't believe.....that he would stoop this low.....

* The scene changes to a cemetery, where dragon and the remaining midnight wolves have gathered for Z.N. and greens funeral.

Pastor: And so is a day of mourning, but not for forgetfulness. We must always remember that today will hence forth honor our fallen musicians. They will always live on in memory. Now, the leader of the band has decided to say a few words.

Dragon: Thank you pastor, as you all know. Today is a tragic day, we have lost two very important people today. And even though this day is tragic, to me. This will always be a day that we all learned an important lesson. It is, that no matter what happens. We all have to stick together.

* At this point, people in the crowd begin nodding at dragons words with their tear filled eyes.

Dragon: Because it's always important to stick together in times like these. We have to be able to all come together and pull our power together, so that we can over come any challenges that we face.

* The crowd gives a roaring applause to dragons words. After the tombstones are in place, dragon leave Z.N. and greens instruments by their graves. And says one final goodbye.

Dragon:....Goodbye....friends...

* As he turns to leave the graves, we can see one single tear escape dragons eyes as it flies in the wind. After that, the scene changes to Mel's office two days later. Someone knocks at his office door.

* Knock knock

Mel: Come in.

Crusher: You wanted to see us?

Skarr: Yea, what's up? Good news I hope.

Brass rocket: Is this gonna take long? I need to get my hair done for our next show.

Snake: Pffft, you would.

Brass rocket: Screw you

Demon: Knock it off guys, anyway. So what's this about Mel?

Mel: Right, I just wanted to inform you all that everything as been taken care of.

Crusher: Really!? Awesome, now I can rest easy.

Brass rocket: Yea, now we can keep our rock star status.

Demon: Maybe so, but we still need to be careful.

Snake: What for? All the other bands in the competition are a bunch of no talent noobs. We got nothing to worry about.

Demon: I guess.

Skarr: Let's just remain vigilant for now, and we'll leave the rest to fate.

Mel: Skarr is right, we don't know what's gonna happen next. Just be on your toes for now.

Crusher: Yes sir.

* Crusher and the rest of the band exit the office. And the scene changes back to dragon and the midnight wolves

Phoenix: What are we gonna do mate!? The battle of the bands officials are only giving us one week to find two replacements! No ones gonna wanna join the band after hearing about this!

* Dragon slaps Phoenix

Dragon: Get a hold of yourself Phoenix! I know what they said, I don't know what to do at this point. This isn't an easy situation to deal with.

Digit: So what are we gonna do then bro? The times gonna fly.

M.L. Starr: Yea, but it's not like we have a lot of options either.

Bullet blood: We definitely don't have a lot of luxuries at the moment.

M.L. Starr: Maybe we should just give up on the contest?

* Everyone suddenly turns and looks at Starr

M.L. Starr: I know I sound like a quitter, but think about this for a second. The contest was already dangerous enough just fighting other bands. But now they're willing to go to the trouble of shooting at us on the street, just so we are not in the contest!? We might as well back out now before we all die.

* For a moment everyone is silent until dragon says something

Dragon: Yea....maybe your right.....

Narrator 2: Hold on a minute! So dragons just gonna give up like that? He's not gonna even try?

Narrator 1: Just give it a moment you idiot, the big monologue is coming up. You just have to be patient.

Narrator 2: Oooh, okay.

Narrator 1 + 2: And we are back in action!

Dragon: You know what Starr? Your right, but guess what?

M.L. Starr: What?

Dragon: We can't give up so easily.

Phoenix: Well, all we have to do is tell the judges that we're pulling out of the contest. It's as simple as that.

* Dragon smacks Phoenix on the head

Phoenix: Ow!

Dragon: You know what I mean! Anyway, we can't give up. This isn't what Z.N. or green chaos would've wanted. They would've wanted us to see this through to the end. No matter what the risks are! We have to do it for there sake, and for our own sake! Steel skeletons reign has gone on for far too long, and it's about time that they get some justice served to them! Because now, it's our time. It's time for us to show them what we are made of, and it's time for us to show the world....what real music is!

* The band cheers and applauds dragons speech

Narrator 1: See, I told you.

Narrator 2: Wow, that was worth the wait. That speech was pretty good.

Narrator 1: Yup, only time will tell what the results will be.

Bullet blood: So, what do we do now?

Dragon: Now? Now we find us some new recruits and start training.

Bullet blood: Right.

Dragon: Everything from now on will mean life or death, will you guys follow me?

Phoenix: Of course mate!

Bullet blood: Definitely.

M.L. Starr: We got your back.

Digit: For sure bro!

* They all arrange themselves in a circle and one by one they put their hands in the middle

Dragon: I know this won't be easy, but I just want to say. That I'm proud to call you guys my friends.

M.L. Starr: Awww

Dragon: I care about you guys, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store. On the count of three we yell midnight wolves. 1...2...3!

All: Midnight wolves!