Monster Rancher Episode 13: Moo Revealed

Last time on Monster Rancher, Moo was made aware of Holly and the Magic Stone, and set out in search of them! In this episode, we see Moo in action for the first time--and we learn something very, very, very important that will color the rest of the series (and previous episodes too.) It's THAT big.

Just like in episode 2, Genki and Mocchi jump up over the title card. "Hey, come on! Let's go and find a Mystery Disk, 'kay?" "Mocchi!" Golem pops up too with a "Yeah!"

"Cool it, hot shot," Suezo says. "Where are we supposed to look? You don't even know!"

This brings them down to earth, with scenery showing that they're near a cliffside.

Hare grins. "Face it, Genki! Some of us have it and some of us don't!" This prompts Tiger to snark at him. "You'd probably have us march off the cliff, Hare!"

As usual, it's Holly who settles the dispute. "You guys are so silly! Instead of arguing about it we can just call on the Magic Stone!"

So she does. "It points west!" Genki's excited. "Go west, young man! Yeah!"

But then Suezo raises his eye in confusion. "Uh oh..." Tiger asks him what's wrong, and he sees something in the path of the sun!

Golem thinks it might be eyestrain from the sun, but Suezo isn't convinced. "Don't you guys see it!? Look up there! A huge dark star in the sky!"

"Really," Genki asks. Suezo focuses more. "Yeah! Wait a sec... uhhh...."

"It's the baddies!"

Everyone gasps, but Tiger is ready to fight. "So, he's come..."

Genki asks someone to fill him in, and Tiger speaks. "It's Moo's floating castle. It was pretty much just a matter of time before Moo came looking for us."

Mocchi starts panicking. "Moo big trouble! Mocchi!"

The castle draws closer, blotting out the sun...

And Holly notices the Magic Stone is glowing red. "Huh? Why is the Magic Stone glowing like that?"

Genki's ready to fight. "I'm ready! Let's not back down!" Golem agrees. "This is my purpose... facing Moo."

Hare spots a bush they could use as cover to plan their attack. Suezo hops towards it...

And a gun on the floating castle readies and opens fire.

There's an explosion. A big one.

The bush and its surroundings are completely gone, with Suezo narrowly avoiding the same fate.

"Must be Moo's idea of a greeting," Tiger says.

Genki clenches his fists. "Well, don't just stand there, guys! Come on, fight!" The others, unsurprisingly, aren't as eager to face Moo as they were before.

But it doesn't matter, because he's here. The castle is so big it doesn't fit on the screen after three pans out! Everyone stares up at it...

And a port on the castle opens. blinding everyone with light.

Moo makes quite the entrance.

He lands, flanked by two Weeds. Everyone readies themselves, with Holly looking nervous.

"So, you've come to fight," Genki asks, pointing at the overlord. 'Well, you'll be sorry!"

Moo just laughs. "I want... the Stone."

Holly gasps and clutches it protectively, and Golem steps up. "You will have to get by me first. Understand?"

"Remember me, Moo," Tiger growls. "I still carry the scar from the last time we met!"

Hare points at the team, eager for a fight. "These guys are pretty annoyed, Moo! I'll do my best, but it's gonna be hard to hold 'em back!"

"You destroyed the village we used to live in, Moo! Holly and I don't like you very much," Suezo says. Mocchi adds a "Chi!"

"You've gotta stop using Mystery Disks to create baddies!"

"Yeah! Like, what seems to be your problem, bud? You know that violence and destruction is a real dead end!"

Moo laughs again. "You are so foolish!"

Tiger tells Genki to not try and reason with Moo. Moo asks if he knows Tiger, and in response, Tiger charges.

But in one swipe of his claw, Tiger is knocked into the sky.

He lands on his feet, telling Genki to stay back--and then Moo remembers him.

"Ah, yes, Tiger of the Wind, isn't it? You led a band of unsuccessful thieves."

"Where's my brother?"

Moo seems curious. "Brother?"

"Yeah, Gray Wolf," Genki says. "You took him!"

"Steady," Tiger growls. "This is my grudge, Genki!"

And then Moo chuckles. "Oh, Gray Wolf... I've turned him into a baddie. You're next."

"Oh, no you don't!" Genki charges and kicks at Moo, to no effect.

Moo charges the group, baring his claws. Golem steps up to hold him off.

Both combatants strain...

and Golem is forced to one knee.

Mocchi then charges Moo! He leaps at him...

and is swatted away with one hand.

The Searchers retreat, and Hare speaks. "We can't fight him one by one! We're gonna have to charge him together!"

Genki agrees. "United we stand!" Only Suezo stays behind, so he can guard Holly.

"All attack formation," Genki orders. Moo starts laughing, and Genki tells him to can it. "Ah, but you give me so much to laugh about. Your move."

Everyone charges.

Everyone leaps at Moo.

And...

He dodges so quickly that I had to rewind and go frame by frame to realize he wasn't teleporting. Now that's fast.

The Searchers land without hitting their target.

"Behind you," Holly yells.

Genki turns, but it's too late--Moo unleashes a shockwave that knocks him, Mocchi, and Hare flat on the ground. Tiger is able to dodge and immediately uses his Blizzard move...

And Moo counters with some sort of blue fiery laser beam. (Unlike other Monsters, he doesn't call his attacks.)

The two beams collide and Moo quickly overpowers Tiger.

The laser knocks him back and electrocutes him, leaving him in pain even when he stands up.

"No more mister nice guy," Hare yells, charging Moo.

"Machine Gun Punch!" He pounds Moo with a flurry of punches....

And Moo just slaps him away.

Genki and Mocchi attack Moo to the same result.

Moo turns to Holly. "So, my dear..." She gasps.

He approaches her slowly, terrifying her. "Don't come any closer," she warns.

Suezo pounces at Moo--and is knocked away like the others.

Moo stands inches away from her. "Holly, is it..."

Holly clutches the Magic Stone. "Stay back!"

Moo chuckles and sends an orb of light at Holly, which instantly knocks her unconscious and reveals the Magic Stone around her neck.

Before she can fall, he grabs her.

But Mocchi and Genki aren't about to let him get away with it. "Holly! Ugh, my leg is stuck--Go, Mocchi!" Mocchi nods and walks forward.

"Stop! Chi!" Moo half-turns and watches his little opponent.

Mocchi starts to glow with a powerful aura. "Blossom Blizzard!"

A wind picks up, strengthening Mocchi's attack. Moo turns, seeming surprised.

Mocchi unleashes a powerful Cherry Blossom Blizzard, Moo shielding himself from the attack with one arm. Remmeber, it was this attack that defeated Pixie!

Mocchi spins and spins, hitting Moo with everything he has.

But he tires out. The blizzard dies down, and Mocchi doesn't have the strength to move.

"Was that it? The best you had? You weren't even close," Moo gloats.

He leaves, and the Weeds mockingly say bye. "Consider yourselves lucky," Moo laughs. "Oh, and... say goodbye to Holly."

Moo, the Weeds, and Holly are transported to the castle... which departs immediately and is soon gone form sight.

That night, it's pouring rain and the Searchers take shelter in a cave.

They sit around a campfire, demoralized.

Genki wakes up and asks what's going on.

"The good news is we lost," says Hare. "Holly is gone, Genki," Golem says.

"We haven't exactly come up with a plan," Hare admits. "And where's Moo?"

"Well, we're not exactly sure about that. What we do know is that he's in his floating castle, and that's up in the sky somewhere!"

"It's not much of a plan, is it," Suezo says, starting to cry.

Suezo turns to the cave entrance and screams Holly's name. There's no reply.

But Genki refuses to give up. "We aren't going to let Moo beat us, are we?"

Hare slumps, and Genki asks him what's wrong. "Well Genki, it's just that... I don't see any way of us getting Holly back!"

Genki and Mocchi are angered at this, but Hare continues. "I-it's just that--in my opinion--one hundred times out of one hundred, if we were to fight Moo, we'd lose the fight for sure! But hey, that's just my opinion."

Genki clenches a fist. "Then I guess we'll fight him one hundred times! And if that doesn't work, two hundred! Then three hundred! Whatever it takes to get Holly back!"

But Tiger says "Enough. I hate to say it but... we should probably cut our losses."

Genki is shocked at this. "What!? But Tiger, you're not a quitter! You're always the one I count on!"

"Forget it! How can we possibly hope to attack a castle in the sky?"

"There's a way! We just haven't thought of it yet! Am I right? ...I'm not giving up, no matter how hard it is! I'm going to rescue Holly, and if you're not with me, then too bad!" Mocchi raises an arm in support.

Suezo's the first to agree with Genki. "You're right! I'm with ya, Genki, and I'll use every dirty trick in the book to save Holly!"

"And I... I will fight."

Genki turns to Tiger and prompts a response. Tiger stares... and grins. "You know, you never cease to amaze me, Genki. Falcon can help." (He pronounces it with more of a U sound, like with the Millennium Falcon.)

"Are you serious," Hare asks. "Falcon? The leader of that pirate Dragon group?" Tiger nods. "He's an old friend, and he doesn't like Moo."

Tiger straightens. "We'll never win if we don't try, right?" Genki and Mocchi are so happy about this show of support that they hug him.

That night, the Searchers make fast tracks to Falcon's hideout.

Really heroic music plays here, too, enhancing the scene! :)

Tiger points out Falcon's hideout, which is a rock formation shaped like wings. It doubles as a landing and takeoff pad.

Inside, they are flanked by dragons as they speak with Falcon.

"Moo, you say?" "That's right."

"Tiger, are you asking me to put my fellow dragons in jeopardy?" (CHECK OUT THAT GORGEOUS ANIMATION! <3)

Hare waves him off. "Hey hey hey, take it easy! All we need is a ride to the floating castle, that's all! No more!"

"No one is talking to you!" Hare lets out an "Eep" and shuts up.

Tiger continues. "Hare is right, Falcon. All we need is the use of your wings for a little while."

"You ask a lot." "I know--but you have suffered at the hands of Moo yourself. Maybe together, we can defeat him! It's an opportunity, Falcon... for us to do something good with our lives!"

That makes him angry. "Get out of here." The others turn to Tiger, and he tells them to go.

Saddened, the group turns to leave... until they notice Genki isn't moving.

Are you guys ready for the awesome?

He stares at Falcon.

"Is there something else? Who do you think you are," Falcon asks.

Genki keeps staring.

"...You have clear eyes."

Genki introduces himself. "Hi there. My name's Genki. We need your help."

"Genki, it is my responsibility to protect my troops," Falcon argues.

"You won't have any troops if you don't stand up and fight Moo."

"Do I look like the type to ask a ten-year-old kid for advice!?"

"We can win against Moo if we all work together!"

And then the others step in. "The kid is right," shouts Suezo.

"He has given you good advice," Golem says. "Yeah, we'll make a foolproof plan," says Hare.

"Come on! My friend Holly is in grave danger!"

Genki kneels before Falcon and waits, tears coming to his eyes...

And Falcon smiles. "Who'd have thought a human being could stir my heart?" He turns to his men. "What do you say we take these vagabonds for a ride?"

He turns to the Searchers and grins. "I'm glad I'm not fighting against you." Everyone cheers!

Suezo asks how they're going to find the castle, but Falcon remind him that they have wings. "We fly these skies all the time!" They prepare for takeoff.

Meanwhile, on the floating castle...

Holly awakens.

She thinks she sees her father. "Daddy? ...Can't be..."

But he turns, and it's Moo. "So, you're awake..."

"W-where am I?" "Why, in my floating castle, of course."

She straightens up and yells at him. "How dare you kidnap me, Moo!" Then she notices the Magic Stone is gone from her neck!

"Are you looking for... this," he asks, holding it up.

"But that's mine! You stole that!" Holly charges Moo and leaps for the Stone (he's that big), but he easily dodges.

"You've been using this Magic Stone to look for Mystery Disks. We can't have that."

"Do you... know about the Magic Stone," she asks.

"I know a lot more than you do, young lady..."

"That's impossible! Only the people in my village know its secrets!"

Moo laughs. "You disappoint me. So you haven't figured it out yet? You have the power to use the Magic Stone. You should be able to see...Take a good look..."

"The face under this mask..."

Under Moo's mask, Holly sees her father's face.

"It... can't be...Father..."

"Now do you see?" "It's a trick! I know it's not real!"

"Join us, Holly. We can be a family again... and beyond that..."

"...No...Moo, please... my father... let him go..."

"Think what I'm offering you, Holly. We can rule the world... father and daughter!"

Holly stares. "Can rule... the world..."

She screams. "No!"

The camera pans out as Holly screams incoherently and starts to cry, while Moo laughs.

But all isn't lost. "All right! Monsters rule!"

The dragons take off, Searchers in tow...

And on the way, they pass Big Blue and Pixie! She has wings, too...

They continue flying, and Genki stares up at the moon.

"Hang on, Holly... we're coming!"