As Taivas and Tarzan dived into the fray, Zen-Aku tried to center himself, think like an Elephant... As an Elephant... Twirling the flail. As he saw a couple of monkey Heartless charging at Turk, he jumped into action, swinging the flail around, he managed to smash one of them straight on the head, its whole body being folded into its feet, before its heart floated up. The other monkey Heartless looked at each other, before somersaulting around him. This time, they attacked a lot more cautiously, seeing that the warriors weapon was large and somewhat more clumsy than the others. Twirling it around, he brought it back and tried to flatten another, but it once again was able to jump out of the way. [color=bc8dbf]"SIT STILL AND LET ME HIT YOU!!!"[/color] He roared, before twirling it around for another attack. This time, the monkey jumped atop the flail ball and then turned around, baring it's backside and spanking it to provoke the warrior.

[color=82ca9d]"Remember, the elephants whole body is a weapon. Not just the trunk"[/color] the words came through to him. Dropping the flail, he lunged forward with a quick kick to the Monkey, sending it flying, before he dived back, grabbed the flail and then sent the ball flying at the airborn monkey-heartless. The Monkey hit a tree and shook itself off just in time for the flail head to smash its head to pieces. The small arms groped around for its head, before shrugging and exploding in a puff of smoke. As he landed, he flipped around and sent the flail at another one, who also eagerly dashed out of the way. He looked around at one of the big, fat ones coming at him, the flail bouncing harmlessly off of his fat belly. [color=82ca9d]"Your Allies are another weapon. The Elephant moves in a herd at all times."[/color] He looked around at Taivas, who was already pre-occupied. He then saw Tarzan, who had just dispatched another one. He pointed at the primitive man and then at the flail, before looking at the fat one. Swinging the flail around, he the sent the hammer head towards Tarzan, who jumped on it, before he twirled it around and sent Tarzan flying high into the air, before he came back down on the back of the fat one, stabbing it multiple times with his Spear. Zen-Aku then turned to Turk.

[color=bc8dbf]"The Gorilla is a mighty warrior. Join the battle!"[/color] He ordered.

[color=f6989d]"Hey, Elephant-Man, i'm a lover, not a fighter."[/color] Of course, the Animal within Zen-Aku allowed him to understand the ape as she spoke. She then ran off into the brush towards the base camp as Zen-Aku turned around to continue the fight.

****

Meanwhile, back at Camp, Dotty was exploring the different nicknacks and doodads that the expedition had brought with them. [color=6ecff6]"You got a TV around here?"[/color] She asked Jane. Jane simply looked confused at her. [color=6ecff6]"Internet?"[/color] Janes confusion didn't lift. [color=6ecff6]"At least a Comic?"[/color] Dotty's worry grew along with Jane's confusion. She then spotted a book. [color=6ecff6]"Oh cool!"[/color] She picked it up and opened it, before flicking through it. [color=6ecff6]"How's anyone supposed to read this? There's no pictures!"[/color] She groaned.

[color=fff200]"Now, look, young lady."[/color] Jane began. [color=fff200]"We are a scientific expedition, not a day care. We are here to find Gorilla's and document them."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Just google them!"[/color] Dotty rolled her head around.

[color=fff200]"What's google? Look, we have managed to befriend Tarzan, who's a lovely... Chap... But our mission is to catalogue and study Gorilla's. It's not like they'll come running into the camp.[/color] At which point, as if by magic, Turk ran into the camp and stopped as she realized where she was. Jane instantly dived for her notebook to begin writing about this. Dotty's canine instincts instantly kicking in as the strange animal ran in.

[color=6ecff6]"Uh oh... Better make myself look big..."[/color] She whispered, slowly reaching for the mask. [color=6ecff6]"HEROIC SPIRIT OF POODLEWOLF, FILL ME WITH ABSOLUTE POWER!!!"[/color] She smacked her face into the mask, but this time, nothing happened. She held it for a few seconds, before she looked up at Turk. [color=6ecff6]"Sorry, this is supposed to be a lot more intimidating."[/color] She smacked the mask onto her face again another twice, before slinging the mask back onto her back and simply standing up tall, arms raised to make herself look bigger. Turk ran over to Jane, smelling the distinct smell of Tarzan. Jane desperately scribbling as Turk seemed to attempt to communicate, but neither of them understood. [color=6ecff6]"Hey, i speak Horse, Dog, Squirrel, Fox and a little bit of Rabbit, Monkey i'm not good with."[/color] Turk scowled at Dotty, who simply continued to try to keep looking big.

[color=fff200]"You can speak to dogs?"[/color] Jane asked. Turk began franticly gesticulating at them.

[color=6ecff6]"Awww, i hate this game."[/color] She watched the ape trying to get their attention. [color=6ecff6]"Right..."[/color] She continued to watch Turk try to communicate. [color=6ecff6]"You think we've been mis-sold payment protection insurance?"[/color] Jane's confusion only deepened. [color=6ecff6]"You want us to donate £3 a month to save the whales?"[/color] She asked.

[color=fff200]"That's an awful lot of money!"[/color] Jane replied, continuing to draw and document Turk's body language.

[color=6ecff6]"OH I GET IT! THERE'S A BALD OLD GUY WHO'S SECRETLY TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WITH HIS ARMY OF BRAINWASHED, BADLY WRITTEN GOONS!"[/color] She shouted. Everyone stopped to stare directly at her, immensely confused. [color=6ecff6]"No, that's a terrible idea, who'd ever think of that?"[/color] At which point, a single lone Heartless walked through the treeline. [color=6ecff6]"Ooooh, one of them followed you and now it's gonna try and eat our brains."[/color] Dotty laughed, finally understanding it. She then looked at the imp-heartless. [color=6ecff6]"Oh poop..."[/color] She whispered as she then tried, once again to make herself look big. As the Imp slowly advanced on them, Jane flicking over a few pages to begin documenting this as well. Dotty once again reached for the Wolf Mask. [color=6ecff6]"Come on, Poodlewolf..."[/color] She smacked her face with the mask again.

[color=fff200]"Why do you keep doing that with that mask?"[/color] She asked.

[color=6ecff6]"I summon Poodlewolf, i told you before."[/color] Dotty replied. As the Imp finally stood in front of her, she simply smacked the mask against her face as hard as she could [color=6ecff6]"POODLEWOLF GET YOUR BIG, BROODY BUTT IN HERE!!!"[/color] She screamed. As the Imp reached for her, a gust of wind blew through the camp. The Imp looked up at Dotty, then above her to see [url=https://www.rangercentral.com/database/2002_wildforce/images/prwf-zd-16wolf.jpg]A giant, metal, silver wolf stood above her, staring down.[/url] Turk and Dotties eyes were entirely focused on the imp, whereas Jane's eyes simply kept darting between Turk, the Imp and her book as she continued to write. The wolf's eyes glowed red and the imp took off at a run into the jungle. The Wolf then took off with a gust of wind again. Dotty looked around, Zen-Aku's mask still on her face. [color=6ecff6]"See, i told you Poodlewolf would save us... Never seen him do Wind magic before..."[/color] She gave the thumbs up to Jane. None of them had any idea of what had just saved them. Jane simply looked confused about this entire exchange, but then continued to draw and document Turk.

****

Back at the fight, a loud wolf howl would be heard over the din of combat. Several of the Heartless looked up, then waved goodbye and ran for it. Zen-Aku walked over to Taivas. [color=bc8dbf]"Was... That you?"[/color] He asked. As the pair stood there, an Ape seemed to climb down from the tree and begin talking to Tarzan about something. It then handed Tarzan something. Zen-Aku walked over and looked at the thing in Tarzan's hand. It seemed to be a ship part for the Gummi-Ship. Zen-Aku cocked his head to the side, confused. [color=bc8dbf]"Why would an Ape have one of those?"[/color] He asked. He looked around. [color=bc8dbf]"We should head back to camp, meet up with Dotty."[/color]

[color=a0410d]"Meet Jane..."[/color] Tarzan nodded. A second later, the Elephant Ranger disappeared.

****

Zen-Aku breathed in a deep inhale as he suddenly found himself back in his own spirit. Master Phant letting go of his head. He doubled over for a second, completely disoriented. [color=82ca9d]"Don't worry, the disorientation is normal."[/color] Phant said. [color=82ca9d]"But i feel that it is time for you to return to your host."[/color] Zen-Aku let out a cough.

[color=bc8dbf]"But... Our training has only just began..."[/color] Zen-Aku coughed, climbing to his feet. Phant shook his head.

[color=82ca9d]"No, Duke Org, you were able to learn the Elephant Form quickly. It is up to you to master what i have taught you."[/color] He said. [color=82ca9d]"As for the howl... That is an old friend of yours."[/color] Zen-Aku immediately turned his head around. [color=82ca9d]"Don't ask, he will make himself known to you when he is ready and when you are as well."[/color] Zen-Aku's mind swam with questions.

[color=bc8dbf]"What..."[/color] He began but quickly realized that Phant wouldn't answer the obvious question. [color=bc8dbf]"What if i am unable to master the Elephant form?"[/color] He asked. Phant turned to him and smiled, before approaching him.

[color=82ca9d]"It's your destiny."[/color] He said, putting something in his hand. Zen-Aku looked down and saw a [url=https://morphinlegacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elephant-Animal-Crystal.png]marbel with an Elephant in the middle[/url] Zen-Aku looked at the size of the crystal, then quickly pulled out his flute-knife. The crystal fit perfectly into one of the holes on it. As he dropped it in, the knife morphed into the Elephant Flail. [color=82ca9d]"Go to your host, she will need you for what comes next. And when you reach the next world in your quest. Look for my fellow Pai-Zhuq masters. Rilla, Lope, Finn, Guin, Swoop and the others."[/color] Phant said. Zen-Aku looked down at the flail, before retreiving the crystal and put them both into his pockets, before jogging away a few paces. He then turned to Master Phant.

[color=bc8dbf]"Thank you, master..."[/color] He said, before bowing respectfully. Phant bowed back. As Zen-Aku disappeared into the brush, the spectral silver wolf appeared and growled next to Phant.

[color=82ca9d]"If he is to be a seeker of Light, then he will need what i have taught him. And if he is to be a seeker of darkness, then he will not care about it."[/color] The wolf howled, before the pair of them disappeared.