I hear Lute and the others went off on a quest
to investigate the Black Blight.
This whole area is quicksand.
Which means...
It's just as Chief Omna suspected:
the changes in the desert are likely due to a nearby Kinship Ore.
Made it. At long last!
They're somewhere in this desert, all right.
You there! Start looking! Make it snappy!
Huh?
"Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON"
"Episode 23: The Horned Wyvern's Lament"
I knew it... I should have defeated that Barroth!
But that Barroth was just being controlled by that scientist guy!
That's why I should have defeated it!
Let's go, Rathi! Time to deal the final blow!
Stay back! I'll handle this!
Mmm. That monster's obeying his every command.
How marvelous!
Finish it, Rathi!
Cheval!
That's enough! That monster hasn't been Blighted!
You can't protect anyone thinking like that, Lute!
Let's go, Rathi!
Scorching Slice!
Oho! That Rider Cheval... He might just share our vision.
Oho!
As it was, it couldn't move anymore...
And if it were remechanized, it could hurt someone again.
He-ey!
Dan?!
And my brother!
Yep! Long time no see!
You in top form?
Oh, yeah. Sweltering as always.
You hush.
Dan, what brings you all the way out here?
Chief Omna sent us after hearing rumors of another monster
stricken with the Black Blight.
It's always been our custom for villages to help one another.
It's only natural that we'd hurry on over.
Once Gamigami does some Tropical Berry hunting, that is.
Oh, um, not "once," per se... they're two separate things.
We absolutely are doing the village thing, too, okay?
--But if I'm along for the ride... --Oh? What's wrong, Lute? Cheval?
Huh?
You've lost your usual spark!
Did something happen?
No, not really!
Nothing.
Lute and I are each doing what we have to do.
Looks like you took on a quest request.
Oh, uh... Uh-huh.
Have any more Monsties?
Er... No. Still just my Bulldrome.
Then I guess you still have a long way to go till you're an expert Rider.
Well, I still only have my Aptonoth.
"A long way to go"? Rude!
Harsh as always, I see.
No, I--
Come on, now! This is your big reunion!
That's right--we should celebrate!
We'll need some Tropical Berries for that.
What gives, Gamigami?
You keep going on about these Tropical Berries!
Yes, well, as it happens...
--So, um, yeah! --Eh?
Let's head back to camp, shall we?
The sand will have buried all of our stuff.
Ah! That's right! Navirou's donuts! In the sand!
Navirou's donuts!
Mmm. Controlling monsters and making them fight, eh?
Still, those Riders really are tremendous.
Taking down that Blighted Cephadrome?
And we couldn't do a thing.
Ha! We could have beaten it on our own just fine.
We let 'em have this one, that's all.
In any case, it's stopped the quicksand,
so we can cross that off our list!
Huh?
What in blazes?!
Why? Why is there still quicksand?
Hmm...
How can this be? They slayed the Blighted Cephadrome...
Why hasn't the quicksand stopped?
I think something else must be causing it.
Mmm... But what?
We can't say for certain yet, but...
Hmm?
Chief Nolma, might there be a glowing stone in the area?
Since you asked... There is.
A stone we have come to revere, and have hidden from outsiders.
Sir!
We are in a crisis.
Without support from other people, other villages,
we cannot overcome this menace!
Yes, sir...
Surely it's that kind of thinking
that brought these Riders all the way here
from their secluded home village.
It is, indeed.
We call that glowing stone "Kinship Ore."
We need to see if this one has been affected by the Black Blight.
Our village was able to stop the Black Blight
by purifying our Kinship Ore.
Purifying it?
Mmm. And does this purification require a Rider's powers?
Yes, it does.
Understood. If that's the case, I leave it to you.
Thank you, sir.
Well, that's that. Let's get going!
I will find them--no matter what!
Hello? Earth to Gamigami!
What's he going to find again?
Berries?
If--If--you find any Tropical Berries, tell me.
Huh?
I understand Tropical Berries are best when they're freshly picked!
You understand?
Have you never actually tried them, Gamigami?
That's right. I just saw some when I was a kid.
What?! Do they really taste any good?
Yes, they really do!
Now listen: Tropical Berries are a precious plant
found in the shadows of desert plants and rocks.
They grow on vines that cling to rocks and things,
and their round fruits are like glistening red jewels
with a scent so sweet, it makes people skip just to smell it!
And the taste?
As good as three donuts!
Three?!
No--more like five donuts' worth of delicious!
S-Say what?!
All right, understood! Navirou's got this!
Thataway!
If Navirou says they're thataway... they're totally not.
Ha! I just remembered how Navi's directions are exactly the opposite.
That takes me back!
Yeah, me, too!
Right, Cheval?
Hmm? Oh, yeah.
But hey, be sure not to let your guard down.
You never know when a Blighted monster will show up.
Whoa!
Jackpot!
Oho, well done!
Eh?
Make no mistake: that there...
...is a Mockberry Cactus.
They grow spines shortly after they're picked and are highly dangerous!
If you get pricked, you'll swell up like crazy and writhe in pain!
Me-yow!
Owie, owie, owie, ow!
--It's hard for amateurs to tell the difference. Caution is a must! --Ow! Owie ow! Ow! That hurts.
Er... Did we bring any medicine?
What is he even doing?
What a bore.
Huh?
Is that...
Quicksand!
Something's moving under the sand!
A monster... Right?
The question is: what monster?
What could it be?
A Daimyo Hermitaur? A Cephadrome?
After it!
No--wait. The sun'll be setting soon.
We can't be moving around after it's dark.
Let's set up camp out here tonight.
I spotted the perfect rock a little way back.
Great. We can camp there.
Got it!
Roger!
Ride On!
Rathian!
Bah. Never did find those Tropical Berries.
Now, now! Navirou'll sniff 'em out tomorrow!
I wonder what monster that was in the quicksand.
What do you think?
No matter what monster it is...
...I want to keep it safe!
...we need to defeat it!
Cheval!
If it's been taken over by the Black Blight...!
Well, yeah--I'm with you on that, but...
All right, then!
No, I mean--
Okay, I see how it is.
You two are hungry!
Sit tight!
Mmm, so tasty--and in top form, too!
Now eat up! One for the both of you!
Listen here, you two:
Quarrels are all part of being young.
But we're not...
We're not really quarreling...
See, becoming Riders together makes you the best of friends
and the greatest rivals.
You'll butt heads, that's for sure. But don't forget:
We're all Riders.
And we all share the same goal: stop the Black Blight!
We're friends, bound together by a special Kinship!
Got that?
Yeah.
Don't bottle up your feelings. Vent 'em!
Friends can do that, right?
Now eat while it's still hot!
Brrr... So cold!
Huh?
Phew--sure is cold! And it's so hot during the day.
The desert gets cold at night.
Huh...
The clear air makes the moon and stars look really close.
It really does. Like you could touch 'em!
You can't.
At all.
Aw, you don't know that.
I might just be able to touch the moon, at least!
Hi-yah!
That's so like you, Lute.
Whaddya mean? Heck, Cheval, you used to--
Huh?
The Black Blight!
Something's coming!
Ride On!
Qurupeco!
Ride On!
Yian Kut-Ku!
Ride On!
Popo!
We'll go out ahead. You stand by here.
Take care of Lilia!
Got it!
Let's go!
Roger!
How's this for starters?
"The Blighted Diablos"
A Diablos!
And it's been affected by the Black Blight!
Why did it have to be a Diablos?
Get its attention, then draw it away from the others!
Roger!
Damn!
Stone!
Quicksand!
You all right?
Looks like it.
Yian Kut-Ku!
Oh, no...
Ride On!
Basarios!
Laser Ambush!
Did it work?
Yesss!
Can you do it, Basarios?
Now, Lute!
Basarios, are you all right?
Rats!
Where'd it go?
Lute!
Lilia!
Are you okay?!
My leg...
Over here! Hurry!
I knew it... I...
Blighted Monsters should be...
Cheval.
Right now your job is to keep Lilia safe.
Got that?
Yeah.
Ha-a-ah!
Its guard is down--retreat!
Yes, sir!
Urgh! If it's come to this...
Use your call, Qurupeco!
A Barroth!
Okay, now's our chance!
Retreat!
Genie, Stone--take good care of her.
We will. We'll hurry to Gildegaran.
Good.
We'll be right behind you.
Understood.
All right, we're heading out, too!
Got it!
Huh?
Listen, you two: butt heads to your hearts' content.
No matter how much you fight, we're still friends.
But it's not like we're fighting...
What's wrong?
You okay?
Monsters kill people.
Killed my mom.
We have all these tragedies because Lute puts monsters before people.
Like Lilia getting hurt...
...and not being able to protect the village--or my mom!
What is it?!
Not the Diablos again!
They're here!
What!? What... is?
Tropical Berries!
So beautiful...
A freshly-picked Tropical Berry...
Down the hatch!
Mmm-mmm! So good!
Makes me glad I'm alive!
It's as good as five... no, a whole dozen!
Whoa!
What?!
Wow!
Yow!
These are delicious!
Aren't they, though?
They're at their best first thing in the morning!
C'mon, Cheval--get over here and try some.
No, I'm fine.
You don't know when your desert quest will end.
Before you turn on each other,
eat the same thing and move forward in the same direction--
or you'll never get the better of him.
What, you want more people to get hurt?
They really are delicious.
Right? Right? C'mon, have some more!
Okay.
Yum-my!
"Monstie Manual"
The Monstie Manual!
"Monstie Manual"
Navirou here will fill you in on some Monsties!
Get your Media Trigger smartphone app ready!
And you've got your egg with you, right?
Okay, time to form Kinship with your Monstie Egg!
And now, the moment of new life: awaken!
"Monstie:"
Our Monstie this time is Basarios!
"Basarios"
"Type: Technical"
This monster's got a craggy, super-tough body!
"Species: Flying Wyvern"
When it digs into the ground and stays still,
"Overall Length: 270.0 cm"
"Overall Height: 185.7 cm"
you can't tell it's not a rock!
"Leg Size: 60.0 cm"
The heat rays it shoots from its mouth
are powerful enough to send other monsters running!
What Monstie will hatch for us next time?
"Next Episode Preview"
Lute here!
We were having fun at a festival back in Gildegaran
when we ran into him again!
That's right: Rathalos--my Ratha!
"Sky Wyvern, Land Wyvern"
Next time: "Sky Wyvern, Land Wyvern"!
Ride On!