Monster Legends - Volume 1: A World Of Monsters

2. Goodbye mom

I wake up, the sun shining through the window. I smile as I remember the events of yesterday. I look to the left of my bed. Pressing down the right button on my Monstagram, the My Monsters screen opens. I click on Gigram. "Come out Gigram, let's have something to eat." I say. There's a white flash and it forms into the child form of my beautiful new Monster.

"Hi! I missed you so much!" I say, stroking the fur on Gigram's side. It purrs happily under my touch. "Are you ready to get something to eat?" Gigram barks. "Are you hungry, little fella?" He barks again. I laugh and Gigram wags its blue bushy tail. "So you understand me then?" I ask, and I'm surprised when Gigram barks again and nods its head. It was supposed to be just a silly question. But I had no idea that Monsters understood human speech.

I pick Gigram up, its belly soft and warm, and I carry it down the stairs. "Morning Shay!" Mum shouted from the kitchen. I start to say morning back, but Gigram beats me. It lets out a loud, welcoming bark. Mum turns around and smiles sweetly. "Morning Gigram. Nice to see you too." Another bark.

When I finish eating, I feel a soft tug on my trousers. I look down to see Gigram, his teeth clasped around the end of my jeans, tugging them. "Hey, Bolt, what are you doing?" Mum looks at me from across the table. "Bolt? Is that his name?" She asks. It takes time to register what she says. "Why did I say Bolt? I didn't give Gigram a name yet. Hey, Bolt isn't actually a bad name. You're fast, yellow and I'm sure you have some powerful lightning attacks up your sleeve. Gigram, would you like me to call you Bolt from now on?" I ask. Gigram looks at me. I can see its thinking. And then it nods, squealing happily. Mum laughs. "I think he loves that name!"

After my breakfast, Bolt makes it very clear that he's hungry too, by patting its belly which makes low gurgling noises. Mum and I laugh at this. "Okay, Bolt. Now let's get you something to eat too."

We walk down the city, everyone we meet taking glances at little Bolt hopping by my side. I smile as I hear their oohs and aahs, and I think Bolt hears them too, as he stands even higher and prouder, showing his sparkling golden fur in its best light.

We stop at the local supermarket. "Okay, Bolt. Here we are. Unfortunately, Monsters aren't allowed into the supermarket. You will have to stay in the Monstagram, all right?" I ask. Bolt seemed a little cross, but then he nodded. "Sorry. As soon as we get out, I'll set you out again. I know how much you love exploring." Bolt yips happily at that comment, and seems a lot happier. In fact, I didn't know if Bolt liked exploring. But the Monstagram said that Gigrams are great adventurers, so I knew Bolt would be the same.

I come to the alley I have visited many times before when I was younger. It was the Monster alley of course. I looked around and found what I was looking for. Monster food. I pick a bag from the shelf, not too small but not too heavy at the same time and small enough to fit into my backpack. I look around more, just to see if there was anything else useful out here. I find a small health potion. It only costs five gold coins. I shrug, figuring it might come in useful, and take it to the paying counters.

When I buy all the things I needed, only using thirteen gold coins from the two hundred my mum gave to me, I walk out of the shop and set Bolt out of the Monstagram again. "Bought you food, so I hope you like it!" I say. Bolt looks at me, wagging its tail.

"What do you mean you don't want to eat it?!" I say, angrily. I stare at Bolt, and Bolt stares right back. "It cost me three coins, it did." I say. Bolt makes a small shrug, signalling that it doesn't care. I groan at my picky Monster. "Don't worry, Shay. Looks like Bolt doesn't like Monster food, but plenty of other Monsters you'll catch will." I smile at her. "Yeah, but I thought Monsters were supposed to eat, y'know, Monster food."

"Well, Monster food is quite nutritious and it does help them grow and get more powerful, however it's not essential for them to eat it. They can eat plenty of other things like apples, oranges, pizza!" Mum smiles. "Yeah, but how will Bolt grow and get more powerful and learn more attacks if it doesn't want to eat?" I ask. "Monsters don't just grow because of Monster food. They can also grow from winning battles. The more battles Bolt will win, the more powerful it will become. Of course, once it reaches its final level, it cannot grow any stronger. "Level? You are all talking as if all this was some kind of game." "Oh sweetie." Mum smiles, stroking my cheek with her finger. "Guess you didn't learn much in school. Levels are like years for Monsters. You are fifteen years old, Shay, so your Monster level would be fifteen. But levels aren't exactly years. A Monster can gain a new level every four years, or it can go up by three levels in two days. The more you train it and battle with it, the faster it levels up." "Oh. I see!" I smile. "Thanks mum. Now everything is just a little clearer." "Glad I could help."