Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit Season 3 part 2

Episode 10: Festival of the Hodag

Featured Cryptid: Hodag

Our episode opens up in Rhinelander, Wyoming where we see a young Daniel being brought to the Hodag country festival by the Johnsons on their family road trip, little kid Daniel looking at the Hodag statue asking what they're doing here saying this is stupid celebrating some urban legend. James tells little Daniel that just because it's a legend doesn't mean it's not real. we then cut to present day where we see adult Daniel sitting aboard the X-copter reminiscing about his childhood, saying "If only I knew then what I knew now". Robert turns his head to his son and tells him "this year's Rhinelander Hodag country festival is today, maybe we should stop by and enjoy the festivities" followed by Rodney zipping around the interior of the X-copter getting all excited, Daniel saying "down boy". Daniel asks the members of the wildlife warriors if they're down with his dad's idea of going to the Hodag festival and Ivan, Delgado, Kira, Jack, Mindy, and Tanya talk amongst themselves, Delgado saying that it'd be nice to have some fun time away from running from certain death, Tanya agreeing saying it sounds romantic as she and Mindy hold hands while Jack tells the others that while they're there it'd be best that they keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, just in case the Black Dot or the Pack show up and threaten the local Hodag population while Anton cracks his knuckles itching for the chance to bash more bad guy heads. with them all in agreement, Marcus in the pilot's seat says "then it's official, Hodag festival here we come!" before we cut to the X-Van arriving in Rhinelander, Wisconsin with Natalie, the Johnson family, Helena, and Tony stepping out of the vehicle arriving just in time for the festival where they meet up with Bill and Dominic the two happy to see the group, James saying that he's surprised to see Bill here. Bill looks at the Hodag statue and smiles, saying "can't an old man take the time to attend the celebration of one of mother nature's cryptozoological wonders?" followed by Cindy asking Dominic what he's doing here, and Dominic tells her that he thought she'd be happy to see him after saving her life during the vampire beast case. Tony asks Cindy what he's talking about followed by Cindy telling Tony that it's a long story. Bill explains to the children that Dominic chose to accompany him to watch his back in case any black dot agents hiding in plain sight seeking to assassinate him, all the while our heroes are being watched by the Black Dot international leaders Ivan, Adewale, El Toro, and Mayu in disguise wearing fedoras and trenchcoats amongst the crowds of festival attendants. Dominic also pulls out a memory-wipe device, saying that he packed one just in case any bystanders spot any real Hodags in the surrounding wilderness during the festival. Natalie tells Dominic good thinking, showing that she packed one of her own as well. Helena then asks Bill if Daniel and the Wildlife Warriors are gonna show up, Bill tells her "I hope so, but they might be a little late given their continued search for the fabled cryptid guru and all". we then cut to the X-copter landing in the woods outside Rhinelander, Wisconsin where the Searles and Wildlife Warriors hop out of the vehicle with Daniel reading the Cryptozoologicon saying that the Hodag is a gargantuan member of the Phrynosomatidae family, or Horned Lizards and is a vicious predator all the while Robert rolls up his sleeve seeing black veins spreading up his arm and injects himself with the syringe last seen in "guardian of the caverns" to stop the spread. Robert tells his son that he hopes that none of them are too late for the Hodag festival, all the while little Rodney zips around the forest before bumping into a hungry Hodag who growls at Rodney forcing the little Skyfish who hides behind Marcus's back as our heroes hear a loud roar coming from the forest, Marcus and Kira both readying their swords as the Hodag comes charging out of the forest knocking poor Marcus into the air before he is caught by Anton who puts him back down. Kira tells the other Wildlife Warriors that the beast is heading toward where the festival is taking place, they must stop it before it wanders too close to human settlement. Delgado then whips out his macuahuitl that turns into a segmented energy whip that wraps around the Hodag's tail while Daniel whips out its grappling hook that wraps around the Hodag's horns Daniel saying "down boy" however the beast breaks free and escapes forcing our heroes to chase after it. we then cut back to Natalie, Bill, Helena, Tony, and the Johnson family celebrating the festivities in the town until the Hodag shows up and rampages through the streets of Rhinelander much to the shock of the townspeople, one rando shouting "THE HODAG IS REAL!" while Daniel, his dad, and the Wildlife Warriors arrive on the scene to try to tame the beast much to the surprise of the others, only for the Black Dot International members to drop their disguises and attack the Hodag, the four managing to successfully capture the beast and load it into their getaway truck to escape. Natalie and Dominic memory-wipe the townspeople while the rest of our heroes put on their shades to shield themselves from the effects, followed by Daniel turning his head to run up to Natalie with the two hugging each other happy to be re-united while Rodney nuzzles against Tony and Cindy happy to see them again, Dominic looking in confusion asking Natalie who the heck this person is. Natalie then introduces Dominic to Daniel, her old partner along with introducing Daniel to Dominic her new partner. Daniel cocks his head, exclaiming "you replaced me?" with Natalie assuring Daniel that it's nothing like that. Bill tells Daniel that he'll fill both of them in later, saying that the Black Dot have to be stopped before they harm another innocent cryptid. Daniel looks at Natalie and asks her "just like old times?" giving her a fist bump with Marcus telling Daniel "Can't be like old times with your ESPer powers gone" with Daniel saying "rub it in, Marcus!" all the while Dominic broods in the corner with Anton asking if they're seriously going to work with this guy (referring to Dominic) saying that he doesn't trust him, which intrigues Helena. James Johnson interrupts their conversation with James telling everybody to get in the van saying that they've got a cryptid to save. after our heroes all board the X-van and it drives off, we cut to the Black Dot international leaders arriving at their secret base located in the woods of Rhinelander, Wisconsin heavily guarded by Silencers. there they meet up with Domina who asks the four why they bothered to come crawling back to her after their attempted mutiny. Ivan kneels before her and explains the whole situation, saying "Agent N abandoned us, and Dagger is gone. we have nowhere else to go but back to you, Lady Domina" followed by El Toro, Mayu, and Adewale all kneeling before her. Domina grins, saying "that's what I'd like to hear" followed by El Toro telling her that they brought her a gift, followed by the silencers carrying the caged Hodag out of the getaway truck and presenting it to Domina. we then cut to the X-van ramming through the wall of the secret base only for it to be surrounded by Silencers followed by James switching the doors opening with Daniel, Natalie, Dominic, Marcus, Anton, Delgado, Tanya, Kira, Jack, and Mindy charging at the waves of silencers taking out multiple robots with their individual weapons while Tony and Cindy both cheer them on. several silencers start crawling on the X-Van scaring James and Sharon only for Helena to take the wheel and activate the X-van's weapons systems opening a barrage of missiles at the attacking robots forcing our heroes to duck for cover as the run through the hallways until they confront the Black Dot members, Daniel telling them to let the Hodag go as the beast struggles to free itself from its restraints. Domina tells him "not until I relieve the beast of its head" before turning her head to Dominic asking him "have we met before? you look familiar" with Dominic saying "Yeah, I get that a lot" Daniel kneels down and tells the creature that he wishes he still had his ESPer powers so he can help it, all the while Domina whips out her electric bo-staff and says "time to die, Animal X!" while the other Black Dot international agents ready their weapons only for Natalie, Tanya, Anton, Delgado, and Kira to block their attacks with their own weapons followed by the X-Van arriving on the scene allowing Daniel, Marcus, Dominic, and the Wallaby twins to carry the Hodag into the X-van. Cindy uses her ESPer powers to calm the creature down while Daniel frees the Hodag of its restraints, Daniel admiring Cindy for how much stronger her ESPer powers have become. Cindy tells Daniel that her Atlantean crystal helped her master her powers faster, much to the curiosity of both Daniel and his father Robert while Tony sits there and wonders what his crystal does. Helena tells him now's not the time to worry about that, saying that they need to get out of here only for Marcus to butt in saying that they need to go back and pick up his sisters and the others, the wallaby twins both nodding in agreement. we then cut back to Natalie and the wildlife warriors fighting the Black Dot leaders: Natalie fights Domina, Delgado fights El Toro, Kira fights Mayu, and Tanya fights Adewale. our heroes are easily overpowered however help is on the way when Daniel, Marcus, and the Wallaby twins arrive on the scene along with Tony and Cindy riding on the Hodag's back. Domina attacks the Hodag with her electric bo-staff only for the Hodag under Cindy's influence to bite her weapon in half forcing the Black Dot to retreat. after that, we cut to our heroes letting the Hodag back into the Wisconsin wilderness, followed by Daniel and Natalie saying their goodbyes with Daniel saying that he and the others need to get back to their search for the cryptid guru. Robert then tells Daniel "come on son, It's about time we get going before the Black Dot decide to come back" while Rodney nuzzles Natalie to say goodbye. Daniel then delivers a goodbye kiss to Natalie and says "see ya later!" before boarding the X-copter with Rodney, his dad, and Marcus's team while Natalie, Bill, Helena, Dominic, Tony, and Cindy watch on. after that, we cut to Domina and the Black Dot International leaders returning to the airship only for a black dot grunt to present Domina with a box containing an artifact he found in Kenya. Domina opens the box and inside is none other than Nile's cybernetic hand which twitches its fingers ending our episode on a cliffhanger.