INT. CLASSROOM – CONTINUOUS

Students chat and walk out. Mrs. Kelinza stands between Leniel and Florencia’s seats.

MRS. KELINZA

Leniel?

MIDAS

He’s been asleep.

MRS. KELINZA

For how long?

MIDAS

Since morning, I guess.

MRS. KELINZA

Is that so… and you didn’t bother to say anything?

MIDAS

He wouldn’t listen.

Mrs. Kelinza leaves. Florencia shakes Leniel awake.

FLORENCIA

Wake up.

LENIEL (yawning, stretching)

Did I miss something?

FLORENCIA (V.O.)

(He really slept through the entire class…)

No, you didn’t. Can we talk somewhere?

LENIEL

Sure, after I take a quick nap.

FLORENCIA

No. We’re doing this now.

LENIEL

(resisting) Nooo…

FLORENCIA

I’ll buy you some chicken on the way.

LENIEL (immediately standing)

Let’s go.

EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS – UNDER TREE – DAY

Florencia and Leniel sit under a large tree. Leniel eats fried chicken from a paper bag, eyes lighting up with each bite.

LENIEL

This tastes different.

FLORENCIA

So you noticed?

LENIEL

It’s crunchy, has a well-fried color, smells great—and the taste… it’s addictive.

Only Mom can cook something close to this.

FLORENCIA

So you like it?

LENIEL

I do.

FLORENCIA (blushing)

LENIEL

I guess you’re the one who cooked it?

FLORENCIA

Yes. After the incident of us swapping our stuff, I thought I should try it.

LENIEL

You mean when you stole my chicken?

FLORENCIA

Don’t put it that way!

LENIEL

So did you just bring me here to enjoy your home cooking?

FLORENCIA

No. I wanted you to confirm something for me—and please be honest.

LENIEL

Sure.

FLORENCIA

Your dog, Tybeast… what is he?

LENIEL (pauses)

(She’s already figured that out?)

No, he’s just a sub-Hydrion project.

FLORENCIA

Is Nayoka… Hydrion?

LENIEL

I can’t say anything about that. But… (stands up) You’re very good.

FLORENCIA (smiling)

Thanks.

LENIEL

Is that all?

FLORENCIA

Can I tell you something?

LENIEL

Huh?

FLORENCIA

I was friends with Hydrion… but that was when I was little.

LENIEL

Really?

FLORENCIA

I don’t know why, but I used to call him “Lever.”

LENIEL (thinking)

Weird name…

FLORENCIA

Yeah. Um, Leniel… if I told you that something’s gonna happen tonight, and you might end up hating me…

LENIEL

I won’t hate you. I anticipated something like this would happen.

FLORENCIA

How?

LENIEL

Mom told me Rodan called. He said your boss found out Nayoka is Hydrion—so I should expect something bad to happen…

But I should stay out of it.

FLORENCIA

Huh… so you already knew?

LENIEL

Yep.

FLORENCIA

So what are you going to do?

LENIEL

I’m going to have a quiet, long sleep.

FLORENCIA

You’re not mad at all?

LENIEL

Nope. (leaving)

Hope I get to see you later.

FLORENCIA

You don’t get it, do you? After tonight… I might not see you again.

LENIEL

Then can you do me a favor?

FLORENCIA

What is it?

LENIEL

Can you fry some more of these for me?

FLORENCIA

You’ve got to be kidding me.

She grabs his hand and they both run off.

EXT. SCHOOL PERIMETER – MOMENTS LATER

Kotan watches them leave and snaps a picture.

KOTAN (texting)

They just left the school.

FIONA (texting)

Just like that?

MRS. KELINZA (texting)

Don’t lose them.

KOTAN

But Your Highness, it’s against school rules to leave without permission.

MRS. KELINZA

May I remind you who owns the school?

KOTAN (V.O.)

(I almost forgot that.)

Kotan runs after them but pauses at the crossroad.

KOTAN

Which way did they go!?

NAYOKA (offscreen)

You take left, I’ll take right.

KOTAN

Thank goodness you’re here.

NAYOKA

You owe me one.

KOTAN

Sure.

INT. FLORENCIA’S HOUSE – DINING ROOM – NIGHT

Florencia finishes setting the table. She takes off her apron and sits beside Leniel, who eyes the food eagerly.

LENIEL

Can I dig in?

FLORENCIA

No.

LENIEL

Then why is it in front of me?

FLORENCIA

I’m also in front of you.

LENIEL

I prefer the chicken.

FLORENCIA

What about me?

LENIEL

I would still take chicken.

FLORENCIA

Why?

LENIEL

I seriously don’t know.

Florencia puts a chicken nugget in front of him. Leniel reaches for it, but she blocks him.

FLORENCIA

Open your mouth.

LENIEL

I’m not a baby, you know.

FLORENCIA

Then I guess you don’t want this.

LENIEL (sighs, gives in)

Fine. (opens mouth)

She feeds him. They talk and laugh until there’s only one nugget left.

LENIEL

Can I have the last one already?

FLORENCIA

If you want it that bad…

She places a part of it in her mouth, holding the rest with her lips.

LENIEL

What are you doing?

FLORENCIA

If you want it that bad, then take it with your mouth.

LENIEL

I’m not doing this.

FLORENCIA

It’s the only one left.

Leniel closes his eyes and leans in. Just before he bites, Florencia pulls back the nugget—and kisses him.

LENIEL (eyes open in shock)

This taste…

They stare at each other. From outside the kitchen window:

EXT. KITCHEN WINDOW – NIGHT

Nayoka and Kotan are watching—and recording.

NAYOKA

What…

KOTAN

…the hell…

Meanwhile, Dinna watches from the stairs, taking a photo.

DINNA

(wow) Didn’t see this coming.

Back inside—

LENIEL (faints)

FLORENCIA

That was my first too, you know…

EXT. SHORELINE – NIGHT

Three massive ships land on the shore. Soldiers march off and form ranks. A tall woman (THE BOSS) steps down from one ship, chewing gum.

BOSS

(looks around, blows and pops bubble gum)

Let’s get this done with.

TO BE CONTINUED…

EXT. DARK FOREST – NIGHT

BOSS

Find him… and bring him to me.

Over 100 soldiers in bulletproof suits storm through the forest toward the city.

EXT. CITY – ROOFTOPS – NIGHT

KELTON (watching from a rooftop)

Guess it’s begun.

(He begins transforming.)

EXT. MRS. KELINZA’S HOUSE – ROOF – NIGHT

DINNA (crouched on the roof)

I’ll really miss this place.

(She transforms into a panther mutant.)

Florencia walks out, hops onto Dinna’s back.

FLORENCIA

Let’s go.

DINNA

Yeah.

EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE – NIGHT

MAXI (perched on a cliff)

It’s time already.

(She transforms into a falcon mutant.)

INT. HIDDEN ROOM – NIGHT

RODAN

Now things can go back to the way they were.

(He transforms.)

EXT. SHORELINE – NIGHT

Florencia arrives. Her boss, a tall woman in a cape, greets her.

BOSS (MRS. IVY GENKASA)

How are you, dear?

FLORENCIA

I’m fine.

MRS. IVY

Are you sure?

FLORENCIA

Yes.

SOLDIER

So… who are our targets, Boss?

MRS. IVY

Mrs. Kelinza, Nayoka… and their pet.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – NIGHT

TYBEAST

Miss Kelinza, they’re here.

MRS. KELINZA

I’m aware. Get Nayoka and protect him.

TYBEAST

What about you? I’m sure he can protect himself.

MRS. KELINZA

Stop being silly. Go.

KOTAN

Your Highness, the school’s surrounded.

MRS. KELINZA

As for the rest of you, you’re coming with me.

INT. PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE – NIGHT

MRS. KELINZA addresses the intercom.

MRS. KELINZA

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a holiday. Please go home at once.

EXT. SCHOOL GATE – MOMENTS LATER

Students pour out of the building, ignoring the soldiers. The soldiers try to stop them, but the crowd finds clever ways to slip through. The building is now empty.

INT. RADIO COMMS – SOLDIER POV

SOLDIER (V.O.)

She’s not in there, Boss.

MRS. IVY (V.O.)

Obviously. The students were a decoy. Find her!

EXT. BUSHES – NIGHT

Kotan and Mrs. Kelinza open a tunnel entrance.

KOTAN

Um, Your Highness. I have something to say.

MRS. KELINZA

She drugged him?

KOTAN

Didn’t seem like it…

MRS. KELINZA

If you’ve got something to say, make it fast.

KOTAN

Leniel… he passed out.

MRS. KELINZA

I don’t get what you’re trying to say.

KOTAN

She… cooked something for him. Then she kissed him… and he just passed out.

(Mrs. Kelinza’s eyes shadow ominously.)

MRS. KELINZA

Huh… I see. Well, change of plans.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS – NIGHT

Soldiers scatter through the area. Tybeast and Nayoka sneak through bushes but get spotted by Vatrion.

TYBEAST

Shit.

All the soldiers, Rodan, and the girls begin charging toward them.

NAYOKA

This is bad. What now?

TYBEAST (sighs, transforming)

Guess we’re left with no choice.

NAYOKA

You can’t possibly defeat them all.

TYBEAST

I’ve got Hydrion’s cells too. Now all I need is permission.

NAYOKA

To do what?

TYBEAST

I’m not to kill unless protecting Leniel. But if things get this bad, Mrs. Kelinza said to…

INT. PHONE CALL – CONTINUOUS

NAYOKA

Hello?

MRS. KELINZA (V.O.)

Is Tybeast around?

NAYOKA

…Yes.

MRS. KELINZA

Have you been spotted?

NAYOKA

…Yes.

MRS. KELINZA

Put the phone on loudspeaker.

NAYOKA

Okay. (Does so.)

MRS. KELINZA

Tybeast, you have my permission to kill anyone or anything in your way and…

(Tybeast finishes his transformation.)

MRS. KELINZA (CONT’D)

…protect Nayoka at all costs. But make sure you’re captured after a while… and avoid the mutants if you can.

TYBEAST (howls)

Kill them all!

EXT. CITY – NIGHT

A massive pack of wolves and dogs respond and storm into battle alongside Tybeast. Soldiers fall like insects, limbs torn, screams filling the air.

EXT. VALLEY – CONTINUOUS

Vatrion charges in, tries to land attacks, but Tybeast dodges them. Then…

ARKRION

There’s nowhere to run… whatever you are.

TYBEAST

Wait… where’s Nayoka?

ARKRION (holds Nayoka by his shirt)

Take him away.

NAYOKA

Sorry, dude…

(Maxi flies off with Nayoka.)

ARKRION

You’re next.

(They clash. Tybeast dodges, runs, gets thrown by Vatrion, but lands on his feet and escapes.)

EXT. RIVER – MOMENTS LATER

Vatrion searches a valley… pounced by Tybeast! Face-first into the water. Wings torn. Arm ripped. Blood floods.

TYBEAST

Stay put.

(He vanishes.)

EXT. RIVERBANK – MOMENTS LATER

Arkrion swims fast, jumps! Tybeast flips over him, kicks him back into water, runs away. Arkrion fires a laser—miss.

INT. SKY – CONTINUOUS

Vatrion and Arkrion fly overhead.

ARKRION

There he is.

They dive. Arkrion draws a laser circle around Tybeast.

TYBEAST

You’re starting to piss me off.

He bites Arkrion’s waist, spins, tosses him.

Vatrion grabs Tybeast’s spine, flies downward.

TYBEAST

No!

Tybeast twists Vatrion’s ankle and slams him into a mountain.

EXT. OBSERVATION HILL – SAME TIME

RODAN

He’s not that strong. He’s smaller than Hydrion. All he can do is…

MRS. KELINZA

…survive. That’s Tybeast’s special ability—pure defensive reflexes. He could even hold off the original Hydrion.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD – SAME TIME

Tybeast lands before Arkrion.

TYBEAST

I feel like I’m forgetting something Mrs. Kelinza said and—

(Both Vatrion and Arkrion leap at him.)

TYBEAST

Oh yeah, that’s right!

EXT. RIDGELINE – NIGHT

MRS. KELINZA sets up a missile launcher.

MRS. KELINZA

There she is…

KOTAN

Your Highness, this isn’t part of the plan!

MRS. KELINZA

We made changes.

KOTAN

No—guys! Help me!

Kaya knocks her out with a karate chop.

FIONA (shivering)

What did you just do?

KAYA

Only option.

MIDAS

No it wasn’t.

KOTAN

Statistically, 97% chance she’d ruin everything… so, yeah, it kinda was.

EXT. SHORE – NIGHT

Dinna lands with Nayoka. The BOSS approaches.

MRS. IVY

You must be Nayoka. Not what I expected.

NAYOKA

Uh… who are you?

MRS. IVY

I’m Mrs. Ivy Genkasa, boss of…

NAYOKA

GKI?

MRS. IVY

Yes. Heard of us?

NAYOKA

Only in stories.

MRS. IVY

Good. Take him aboard.

Two soldiers drag him to a ship.

EXT. BUSHES – SAME TIME

MAXI

I should check on Rodan and Kelton.

RODAN (drops Tybeast’s limp body)

No need.

MAXI

You beat him?

RODAN

Yeah.

DINNA

But last time—

RODAN

That was last time.

MAXI

Is it just me, or does he look like Mrs. Kelinza’s dog?

DINNA

What do you want him to look like, a cat?

FLORENCIA

That’s because he is hers.

EXT. BUSHES – CONTINUOUS

A soldier approaches their location.

KAYA

This is bad. What do we do?

MIDAS

You’re asking me?

SOLDIER

Who’s there?

KOTAN

This is why you don’t knock her out.

KAYA

Look who’s talking!

SOLDIER

Come out!

Fiona leans to Mrs. Kelinza’s ear.

FIONA (whispers)

Florencia is making out with Leniel… hardcore.

MRS. KELINZA jolts awake. Missile launcher in hand.

SOLDIER

Found them—!

MRS. KELINZA

Die.

(BOOM. Explosion.)

EXT. RIDGE – NIGHT

KELTON

What was that?

MRS. IVY

She’s here.

MRS. KELINZA reloads.

MRS. KELINZA

Where is she?

MIDAS (points)

Down there.

MRS. K fires. Rodan sees it.

MRS. KELINZA

That’s for stealing my son’s first kiss—without my blessing!

GROUP

…Huh?

Only Florencia hears.

RODAN

Florencia!!

Rodan jumps in, takes the missile. Smoke clears—Florencia safe.

FLORENCIA (coughing)

EXT. CLEARING – NIGHT

MRS. KELINZA and team are captured before Ivy.

MRS. IVY

Hello, Mrs. Kelinza.

MRS. KELINZA

I’ll tear you apart.

MRS. IVY

Since when did you hold such a grudge?

TEAM (V.O.)

I don’t think she’s talking about you…

MRS. KELINZA

You thief.

MRS. IVY

What did I steal?

FLORENCIA (thinking)

How does she know…?

MRS. KELINZA

You’ll live to regret it.

MRS. IVY

Heard you’ve got a son. Maybe I’ll marry him. We’d be family.

MRS. KELINZA

Guess there’s a first time for everything… even murder.

MRS. IVY

What was his name again… Leniel?

TYBEAST

The one and only.

MRS. IVY

Not bad. Where is he now?

FLORENCIA

Probably asleep by now.

MRS. KELINZA

You leave him out of this!

MRS. IVY

And if I don’t?

MRS. KELINZA

You know me, Ivy.

MRS. IVY

Fine. Where’s Hydrion? Better yet—who is Hydrion?

MRS. KELINZA

Huh?

MRS. IVY

Nayoka doesn’t look the part. That over there is just a dog.

MRS. KELINZA

He doesn’t look the part, huh? Tybeast… call him.

TYBEAST (smirks, howls)

Suddenly—

One of the ships explodes. Screams, blood, gunfire. Chaos erupts.

MRS. KELINZA

What did they say about judging a book by its cover?

From the flames…

HYDRION (emerges from the burning ship)

(Roars)

ARKRION / VATRION / MAXI / DINNA (ready for battle)

HYDRION (cracking his neck)

Finally… I’m out.

TO BE CONTINUED…