《Paragon》 Origin Child [1] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [1] Chapter 1 : World Champion
¡°Pikachu, use Thunderbolt, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Charizard, Fire Blast now!¡± A torrent of golden electricity erupted around Pikachu¡¯s tiny form, and he shot forward towards his opponent, poised to deliver the final blow of their climactic battle. At the other end of the battlefield, Charizard roared, and a great column of fire geysered from its maw before splitting into five and falling back over its body like armor, and it too burst forward with a spin. Pikachu and Charizard smashed into each other and dust exploded outward. The elements encasing them mixed together, screeching as they fought for dominance. Lightning tore through flames, fire burned through electricity, and neither side seemed to be able to overcome the other. Pikachu grit his teeth and willed himself forward, but Charizard refused to brook even an inch of quarter, growling in defiance. In his mind¡¯s eye, Pikachu¡¯s journey replayed itself. From his initial meeting with Ash and their ensuing quarrels, to all of their friends that joined them on their adventures as they traveled across the various regions, to finally, Greninja¡¯s victory against Alain¡¯s Charizard in the Lumiose Conference finals a year ago. Come to think of it, it was a Charizard then that stood between Ash and his first conference victory, and it was a Charizard now that barred him from the title of World Champion. As if Pikachu would let himself get upstaged. As his determination swelled, visions of his friends crystallized in his mind, one by one, as if joining their wills to his own. They smiled at him and clenched their fists, urging him to carry their master¡¯s long held dream into reality. Then, the young man himself appeared. Ash smiled, extending a fist. Pikachu¡¯s eyes shot open, blazing with newfound resolve. Power began to surge in the depths of his core, and the crackling vortex of electricity around him throbbed as Pikachu siphoned more of his depthless energy into the assault. He¡¯d feel this later for sure, but a sore body was a minuscule price to pay for victory. Charizard snorted and the skin around its eyes tightened, sensing the balance of their clash beginning to tip. It roared, increasing the intensity of its fire. The waves of red and orange that crashed between them shuddered and spat, turning lighter and lighter as they got hotter. But impossibly, impossibly, Pikachu didn¡¯t falter in the slightest; a ferocious scowl that could put many a monster to shame was all that adorned the mouse¡¯s face. Charizard grit its fangs nearly to the point of shattering. The frustration of this insurmountable wall burned. But the fear that came next was cold. Its eyes widened. Pikachu¡¯s electricity engulfed Charizard, snuffing out its effulgent fire like storm clouds before a summer sun. It roared, trying to muster up another bout of power before it could be overwhelmed, but a veteran like Pikachu would never allow a recovery at this stage. Pikachu ripped through the last of its flames, slamming into its head before leaping back and extinguishing his attack, not wanting to exhaust himself a single second further. Charizard¡¯s eyes rolled in their sockets and it stumbled backward, groaning. Time stopped as every single soul in the stadium held their breath. Then Charizard pitched backward, falling to the ground unconscious. Black smoke trailed from its defeated snout. The referee, riding an Aegislash, glided over to inspect the outcome, but there was hardly anything to inspect. The outcome was clear. After a moment, he made his declaration. ¡°Charizard is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner of this battle is the challenger, Ash Ketchum! A grin broke across Ash¡¯s face and his eyes gleamed, but before he could react, the stadium exploded. The sudden roar from the crowd around him shook the entire arena, and Ash had to consciously stop himself from clamping his hands over his ears. They chanted his name and waved banners emblazoned with his face, the sea of people glittering with the flash of hundreds of cameras. High above him, he could even make out a row of fans with their shirts off, his name painted across their chests, all wearing what had become his signature blue and red trainer¡¯s cap. This was it. Everything he had fought for, the adventures, the friends, the good times and the bad, and even the danger¡ª all of it had led to this singular moment. Ash had never been the emotional type, but his eyes stung now as tears threatened to fall from them. Heat welled in his chest like fire as the adrenaline from his ultimate victory surged through his veins. Then, his gaze shifted from the cacophonous crowd back to the battlefield¡­ where Pikachu stood in a similar state of shock, unmoved from where he¡¯d landed after executing his final, perfect attack. Pikachu¡¯s ears suddenly perked up as he sensed someone behind him, but before he knew it, he was in the air. ¡°We did it, Pikachu! We finally did it!¡± Ash cried, tossing his longtime friend into the air in celebration. Pikachu beamed and stretched his arms out as his trainer caught him and spun him around before nuzzling him close. Static electricity still crackled faintly on Pikachu¡¯s fur, but Ash didn¡¯t care and he hugged him even tighter. ¡°That was a stellar battle. Ash. I couldn¡¯t have asked for anything better.¡± Ash turned to find Leon approaching him, clapping his gloved hands. Despite his defeat, the former World Champion wore a smile, and he extended a hand. Ash took it and shook it firmly, meeting his eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t make it easy. That was definitely the hardest battle of our entire lives.¡± Pikachu nodded in agreement on Ash¡¯s shoulder. Leon grinned, accepting the praise. ¡°The same for me. Charizard and I bet everything we had on that last attack.¡± His eyes trailed over to the mouse on Ash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But that Pikachu is something else!¡± Pikachu blushed and smiled awkwardly, and Ash laughed, stroking his partner¡¯s head. ¡°Now, let¡¯s give the people what they want, eh?¡± Leon said, slinging his arm around Ash¡¯s shoulder and pulling him closer. He waved up at the crowd, and by some miracle, they seemed to get even louder, the ground trembling beneath them. Ash mimicked him, and Pikachu attempted to do the same, but by now the fatigue from the battle was beginning to catch up to him, and he instead slumped on Ash¡¯s shoulder, just managing a tired, but thoroughly satisfied smile. After several minutes of fanservice, the two Champion-level trainers were approached by a handful of officials, with two of them carrying some massive object draped in white cloth. They directed the pair over to a small stage that had been arranged, and the officials carrying the object promptly set it down on a raised plinth before joining their fellows off the field. Leon stepped forward to a glass podium at the front of the stage and gripped the microphone between his fingers. ¡°It is my honor and pleasure to present to you all today, the victor of this year¡¯s Pok¨¦mon League World Championships, and our new reigning World Champion, please make some noise for the strongest trainer in the world, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!¡± The crowd erupted again and Ash¡¯s face flashed on the jumbotron screens lining the crown of the arena. Leon strode over to the object draped in white cloth and tore it off with a dramatic flourish. Beneath it sat a humongous silver trophy studded with jewels. Despite its size, Leon picked it up by himself and carried it over to Ash, lowering his head in respect. ¡°I believe this belongs to you now, World Champion.¡± Overflowing with emotions as he was, Ash laughed and took the trophy in both hands, heaving it above his shoulders. It was nearly half his size and weight, but the euphoria of the situation somehow gave him the strength he needed¡­ at least for a few seconds. As he began to wobble under the weight of the thing, five pok¨¦balls on his waist burst open, coalescing into the forms of his fallen partners, now rested just well enough to stand beside their master. Dragonite, Lucario, Sceptile, Greninja, and Charizard materialized around him, grabbing various parts of the massive trophy to keep it aloft. Ash grinned upon seeing his comrades; they were all battle-weary, no doubt exhausted, but this was a stage they¡¯d earned together. Cameras across the arena flashed, capturing images of a trainer, who, by this time tomorrow, would leave his throne empty and abandoned, with no comment as to why.
¡°Haaaaah,¡± Ash sighed, slumping into a chair in his locker room. His battle with Leon had started almost two hours ago, and this was his first moment of peace since it¡¯d ended. Now that he was finally out of the spotlight, he felt exhausted. Nevertheless, he looked back at the entrance to the room and the path beyond it that led back to the arena, and smiled. When I first walked through that tunnel, I was just one trainer among many. Now¡­ His grin widened, and he clutched his face. World Champion Ash Ketchum. His crown had been a long time coming. Ever since he was ten years old, he¡¯d been working towards this apex. Six years after the start of his journey, he won his first conference in Kalos, but even that was nothing more than a stepping stone on a journey yet unfinished, a dream yet unfulfilled. After bringing home that trophy, Ash knew it was time to get serious. He gathered every last one of his partners at Professor Oak¡¯s ranch, even catching a few more in the interim year to round out his roster. After intense and exhaustive back-and-forths with both his pok¨¦mon, his friends, and the power of his own peerless insight and instincts as a trainer, his perfect team was assembled. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Dragonite. Lucario. Sceptile. Greninja. Charizard. Pikachu. The six of them, together with Ash, then embarked on the most difficult and grueling training regiment they had ever before. Ash called in every favor he had, reunited with his many trainer friends across the various regions, and studied battle theory more than he ever had before. He watched every single one of Leon¡¯s televised battles. In that one year, he retraced his entire journey from Kanto to Kalos, nearly step for step, completing it again in a fraction of the time. From the chrysalis of his training, he emerged a new man. A new trainer, fit to claim the title of World Champion. By the time the World Championships rolled around and his invitation to join had been sent to his Trainer ID, he had just finished his blitz through Kalos and arrived back home at Pallet to unwind and relax before the main event. From there, it was off to Wyndon in the Galar Region, the home of the incumbent World Champion Leon. He¡¯d never been to Galar before, but Galar had certainly heard of him, and he almost ended up late to the stadium after getting swamped by a deluge of fans at the airport. The World Championships only came around once every five years, and as such, five years worth of conference winners, elite trainers, regional Champions, and other such aces from around the world were gathered. Participation was technically restricted to conference winners and League members, but other mini-celebrities and trainers of interest always seemed to finagle their way into the brackets. It was the League¡¯s flagship event after all. They¡¯d make any accommodation necessary to make it as exciting as possible. Luckily, that meant Ash had steamrolled most of his contemporaries in the lower division. He almost felt sorry for them, proud as they were of their sixteen gym badges or specially-bred pok¨¦mon. As expected, the Champions sailed through their competition with ease as well, most of them inevitably ending up in the quarterfinals, known as the Masters Eight. And that was exactly where Ash found himself, after several days of battle. Two battles later, and he was up against Leon. The rest was history. A knock at the door shook him from his reminiscing. ¡°Mr. Ketchum? I¡¯ve left your change of clothes on the door handle. Please freshen up and come outside as soon as you can. We have a car waiting for you to take you to the Champion¡¯s dinner when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks,¡± Ash called back, and he waited for the attendant to leave before standing up and pulling the door open. A pristine tuxedo with matching black slacks and a heavy coat hung from the opposite handle, and a pair of glossy leather shoes sat in front of him. He thanked his mother silently for sending the outfit over at the last minute. Though he¡¯d had every intention of winning the Championship, appropriate attire for what might come after hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind. Grabbing both, he shut the door and returned inside, stripping down and heading into the shower. As soon as I can. Yeah, right. Thirty minutes later, Ash emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam dressed in his tuxedo, his coat draped over his shoulders. Doing one last double take around the locker room, Ash exhaled and opened the door. Two League attendants were waiting for him down the hall, dressed in all black. Security detail for me now that I¡¯m a celebrity? They nodded upon seeing him, and one of them handed him a tray of pok¨¦balls. Almost immediately, one of them snapped open and Pikachu emptied out, materializing directly onto his trainer¡¯s shoulder and looking none too pleased about his forced confinement. ¡°Hey buddy, glad to have you back!¡± Clipping the rest of his partners to his belt, he followed his security through a series of hallways, no doubt off limits to the general public. Eventually they emerged in an underground parking garage where a number of similarly-clad personnel stood about around a black limousine. However, one figure stood out immediately, dressed in a stark white sable coat, her platinum blonde hair tumbling down her back. ¡°Cynthia!¡± Ash exclaimed, quickening his pace to meet her. Sinnoh¡¯s Champion turned at his arrival and uncrossed her arms, beaming. ¡°Ash!¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°Looking good!¡± ¡°What¡¯re you doing here? If I knew you¡¯d be waiting for me, I wouldn¡¯t have spent so long in the shower.¡± Cynthia stifled a snicker. ¡°I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your victory.¡± She bowed. ¡°So, congratulations.¡± Ash rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. ¡°Thanks. Though it hasn¡¯t really sunk in yet to be honest.¡± ¡°I figured that would be the case.¡± She motioned over to the limousine and one of the attendants pulled open the door to the back. ¡°Let¡¯s chat on the drive over.¡± She winked. Ash followed her into the limo, and a minute later they peeled out of the garage and out into an empty alley behind the colossal stadium. Eventually, they turned onto one of the main roads, where throngs of trainers milled about, still high off the exhilaration from an hour ago. They had all been there for Ash¡¯s battle, but behind the tinted windows of the limo, they had no way of knowing the subject of their adoration was so close. They zipped through the cobbled streets of Wyndon engrossed in conversation about their respective battles that day, never getting stopped at an intersection or congested traffic for too long. Ten minutes later, the limo crawled to a halt. They¡¯d entered the gates of one of the many mansions throughout the city. This one was built of sandstone, with gray bricks and a tiled roof. Ash moved to exit. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re not there yet, Ash,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°Sorry, I forgot to let you know. I offered to pick up a couple friends on our way there.¡± He turned, about to ask her who, when the door to the mansion burst open. ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯m going now! See, she¡¯s already here!¡± The newcomer stormed out of the mansion, holding up her voluminous cream dress lest it brush on the ground. Thankfully, she had courtesy enough to calm herself down before pulling the back door to the limo open and entering. First, she saw Cynthia, and upon noticing another passenger, turned to face Ash, whose eyes lit up at the sight of her. ¡°Iris!¡± ¡°Ash!¡± The two embraced as well as they could in the confines of the limo, and Pikachu squeaked excitedly at the reunion. Cynthia watched, a smile resting on her lips. After Iris got herself situated, the limo pulled away and they returned to the street. Brushing out the creases in her dress, Iris exhaled loudly. ¡°Sorry about that. My manager is so fussy about everything. Won¡¯t let me leave the house unless every hair is in its proper place.¡± She shook her head wearily. ¡°I know exactly what you mean,¡± Cynthia said. A light blush creeped up the young Dragon Master¡¯s cheeks, not used to sharing such close quarters with the fabled Champion of Sinnoh. Then, realization seemed to shock her, and she whipped toward Ash, grabbing his hands. ¡°Congratulations, Ash!¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, grinning. ¡°I saw your guys¡¯ battle too. That was a great performance from both of you!¡± Both women smiled, and they dived into conversation about the day¡¯s events. Eventually, the focus shifted back to Ash, and he told them all about his journey after he¡¯d left them in Unova, and the tortuous year of training he¡¯d undergone to prepare himself for today. ¡°Aww, it¡¯s too bad I missed you when you were in Unova,¡± Iris complained. ¡°I¡¯d heard from Cilan that you were back, but I was in the middle of my League challenge¡­¡± ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry about it. I was trying to go as fast as possible so we wouldn¡¯t have had much time to catch up anyway. I only stopped by Cilan¡¯s for the badge, and I was out of there almost the moment I got it¡­ I feel kind of bad for leaving him hanging like that.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve never been one to stay still for too long,¡± Iris said, rolling her eyes. ¡°He didn¡¯t sound disappointed about it at all on the phone, nor about his loss to you either. He actually said it was nice to be able to go all out and that he was proud at how far you¡¯d come since he¡¯d last seen you!¡± ¡°He must have been very proud of you then too, Iris,¡± Cynthia spoke up. ¡°You¡¯re one of the youngest Champions the League¡¯s ever had. I can¡¯t imagine your training route was much different. That fact that you both placed in the Masters Eight in your first year of participation is impressive, to say the least.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess that¡¯s true. After apprenticing under Clair in Johto for some time, she pointed me in the direction of some of the other dragon masters around the world, like a man named Hassel in Paldea, and the Draconids in Hoenn. That was when Axew finally evolved in Haxorus. After that, I knew it was time to gun for the Championship, so after doing a bit more training in the Giant Chasm, I started going after badges.¡± ¡°Paldea¡­¡± Ash repeated. ¡°Man, that¡¯s another place I want to go and check out. So many adventures still left to go on¡­¡± ¡°I doubt much of anything could give you much trouble anymore, Mr. World Champion,¡± Iris teased. Ash¡¯s eye twitched, and a second later, he laughed. They continued their conversation until the limo stopped again, this time outside of a towering skyscraper right in the middle of the city. A young man stood on the curb, flanked by the familiar League attendants, and upon seeing the limo pull up, he hurried over to join them in the back. He wore a black blazer and the white silk shirt beneath it was slightly unbuttoned, leaving his chest and a thin gold necklace exposed. ¡°Alain!¡± Ash greeted him as he entered. The Kalos native clambered next to Cynthia and shook hands with all of them, exchanging pleasantries. They set off again. ¡°Congratulations on your title, Ash,¡± he said. ¡°It almost makes me proud to say I once lost to you, now that you¡¯re the World Champion!¡± Ash smirked as Iris glanced between them. ¡°You two have fought each other before?¡± ¡°Yes, in the Kalos conference a couple years ago,¡± Alain answered. ¡°You could say that it¡¯s thanks to that battle that Ash was able to become the World Champion, since it was that victory that granted him an invitation to the World Championship.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s technically true,¡± Cynthia laughed. ¡°Though if Ash beat you in that conference, you must have won the subsequent year, since you also ended up getting an invitation.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. After I lost against Ash, I decided to try my luck against the Indigo League in Kanto. I ended up winning in the Veridian Conference last year. Honestly, I knew I was cutting it a bit close, which is why I ended up training in Galar until the tournament started, so I could use every single day available to me.¡± He rested his head back on his hands, looking very pleased with himself. ¡°Well, Masters Eight isn¡¯t so bad for a first attempt.¡± Iris grinned at his arrogance and turned to Ash. ¡°You¡¯d better be ready to defend that title of yours, because we¡¯re both coming for it!¡± As Ash joined the banter between his friends, Cynthia simply sat back and watched, her storm gray eyes studying the young World Champion intently. Next ¡ª Chapter 2 : Invitation
In the canon story, the strategies employed by almost every trainer are pretty basic, and even the ¡°legendaries¡± are only legendary because they can shoot bigger energy balls and beam attacks than everyone else. This fic is my reimagining of what it means to be a Pok¨¦mon Master, and the strength of the pok¨¦mon partners required to claim such a title. Origin Child [2] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [2] Chapter 2 : Invitation
By the time they arrived at the dinner party, the sun had long begun its descent, bathing the afternoon sky in scarlet and lavender. Beneath the ethereal vista sat another mansion, though it dwarfed Iris¡¯ rented abode. Rainbow-colored palm trees lined the concrete driveway that snaked up a gentle hill leading to the mansion proper. Crystal clear rivers lazed down the hill beside the driveway as they emptied from a fountain on the deck of the second floor. The mansion was white, its pristine edges uninterrupted except to make way for more mansion. It seemed to expand ever horizontally and vertically, like some great cubic cloud. A dozen cars and other luxury vehicles were already parked in front of the modern castle, but their limousine passed them all, coming to a stop in front of the main entrance. A red carpet led to the ebony front door. On either side, twin hordes of journalists and press people waited behind velvet ropes for a glimpse of the new World Champion. This would be their last chance to snap pictures or get an interview, for they were not permitted within. This party was invite only. ¡°Well then,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°Ready to face the music?¡± The four trainers exited the limo, and were immediately assaulted by an array of flashing cameras as the crowd undulated to face the new arrivals. Ash waved to either side of the red carpet politely, but entertained no questions. They¡¯d be stuck outside till midnight if he did, Cynthia had said. She and Iris strode up on his left, while Alain flanked his right, blowing kisses to the others. As they stalked down the red carpet toward the mansion, suited League attendants seemed to materialize out of nowhere, falling in lock step behind them. By the time they reached the shallow marble steps leading to the front door, a small village had accumulated around them. Ash stepped across the threshold and into the manor. At his appearance, the other guests already in attendance started cheering and applauding, the ones nearest clapping him on the back and pumping a fist. He smiled and raised a hand in thanks and in greeting. To his left and right, Iris and Alain looked starstruck, and if his attention hadn¡¯t been drawn to the sudden congratulation, Ash was sure he would have too. The interior of the mansion was cavernous, somehow still feeling sparsely populated despite the large gathering. Waiters slipped between the guests wielding trays of champagne and appetizers. Just beyond the far wall, which was made of nothing but glass from floor to ceiling, a cerulean pool glimmered beneath fluorescent spotlights. ¡°This is crazy¡­¡± Iris murmured, her eyes transfixed on the League banners that hung from the brutalist vaults above. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alain agreed. ¡°I¡¯ve been to several parties for Lysandre Labs before, but frankly, those can¡¯t even compare to this.¡± ¡°The League spares no expense for its Champions,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°Even more so for its World Champion.¡± She was the only one who didn¡¯t look shocked, wearing her usual cool visage. ¡°Before I forget Ash, there¡¯s something I want to talk to you about later, if you have the time.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a dark skinned man in a slate suit walked up to him. ¡°Ash Ketchum!¡± he bellowed. The smell of cologne wafted from his body. ¡°Welcome to Rose Manor! I am Rose, of Macro Cosmos! I trust you¡¯ve been enjoying your stay in Wyndon?¡± Ash glanced back to Cynthia, but saw that she had also been captured into conversation with some other guests. Same for Iris and Alain. Catching her eye, she nodded, indicating they¡¯d catch up later, and Ash turned back to Rose. ¡°Yes, Wyndon¡¯s been good to me, to say the least!¡± Rose guffawed. ¡°Ahhh, where are my manners? Congratulations on your victory! Please, join us in the lounge. Our gym leaders have been dying to meet you.¡± He led Ash over to a group of smartly dressed individuals of varying age and gender, pok¨¦balls clipped to all of their belts as they relaxed among the room¡¯s black leather furniture. Once together, they began to speak of battle, and a unique phenomenon called Dynamaxing, which could only be achieved in the Galar Region. The afternoon wore on and as the sun vanished behind the manicured hedges that encircled the property, Ash was beginning to reach his limits. Every time a conversation ended, another one invariably started with someone else. At this point, it seemed like every single person at the party had introduced themselves to him. Even the wide spread of food options had done little to recharge his battery. Most of it was too fancy for his tastes, and he¡¯d only ended up eating a few of the small sandwiches at the end of the table. In a rare moment of solitude, he found himself against the glass wall toward the back of the manor. Swallowing the last of his sandwich, he observed the crowd gathered before him. This was a party thrown in his honor, yet he recognized few faces, and those that he did, he recognized from their celebrity. Even just standing in this plastic palace felt off¡­ he felt like he¡¯d feel more at home on the moon. This is not my place, he thought. My place is on the battlefield, on the roads between cities, hell, even a pok¨¦mon center. What am I doing here? Pikachu noticed his discontent, and cooed softly on his shoulder. Ash turned and looked into his closest partner¡¯s eyes. They couldn¡¯t speak to each other, of course, but they¡¯d spent more than enough time together to communicate. ¡°Sorry, Pikachu. Guess I¡¯m just tired from everything that¡¯s happened today.¡± He stroked behind his ears. That was probably it. The day had been long and eventful, and a nice, long sleep would put this sulking to rest. At the very least, Pikachu had enjoyed the party, flexing his muscles every time someone showered him with praise. The least Ash could do was tolerate his own party for a few hours. Still¡­ ¡°Feeling lonely at the top, Master Ketchum?¡± He spun around. Leaning against the window beside him was a man Ash hadn¡¯t seen before. He wore a spotless white three-piece weaved of silk. A watch made of diamond clasped his wrist, and his pale dragon skin dress shoes curved perfectly over his feet. His hair was bone white to match his imperial attire and parted down the middle, its length no further than his ears, which were pierced by inconspicuous earrings laden with sapphirine gemstones. A thick cape topped with fur cascaded over his broad shoulders down to his knees, and the platinum chain that kept it fastened around his neck looked heavier than the man himself. His expression betrayed nothing, but his piercing silver eyes bolted Ash where he stood. How had a man like this snuck up on him? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t catch your name,¡± Ash finally said. The man smiled and extended a gloved hand. ¡°My name is Albrecht. I¡¯m no world-class trainer like you, but¡­ Well, I won¡¯t mince words.¡± The corners of his mouth twitched. ¡°I¡¯m here because I¡¯m rich, and I have many friends who are rich. It is an honor to finally meet you.¡± Ash frowned and took the man¡¯s hand cautiously. Pikachu¡¯s ears bent in confusion, unsure of what to make of him. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Albrecht?¡± Ash asked. This man did not seem like a fan, unlike the many others he¡¯d shook hands with earlier. Which begged the question of why he¡¯d approached him. ¡°I was going to ask you the same thing, Master Ketchum. You looked deep in thought, like something was troubling you. I figured I¡¯d take the opportunity to introduce myself, now that you aren¡¯t surrounded.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks,¡± he said quickly. ¡°Just getting a bite to eat.¡± ¡°Dreadful, isn¡¯t it. If they had served salted sand and mudwater, and least I may have considered going back for seconds,¡± he scoffed. That surprised Ash. Weren¡¯t the hosts friends of his? What a strange man. ¡°I¡¯ve had better,¡± Ash agreed, and he smiled slightly, unable to help himself. ¡°Best get used to it. Now that you¡¯re World Champion, you¡¯ll be attending a lot more of these parties. You can kiss the route-side picnics goodbye. Now you live in a realm of gods.¡± Ash didn¡¯t respond immediately. Is this truly my life now? All the blood, sweat, and tears we poured into training¡­ all for a security detail and parties at giant mansions? What¡­ what comes next? He couldn¡¯t just go back to challenging gyms as if he wasn¡¯t the World Champion. Was the World Championships every five years all he had left to look forward to? I¡¯ve reached the top. I¡¯ve beaten the strongest trainer in the world. My journey¡­ is over. No. No, this couldn¡¯t be the end. Could it? ¡°Have you spoken to Leon tonight yet?¡± Albrecht continued, ignoring Ash¡¯s inner strife. Ash shook his head, to clear his thoughts and to answer the question. ¡°No. I haven¡¯t actually seen him at all tonight, now that you mention it.¡± The man smirked, though in amusement or disdain, Ash couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°That¡¯s because he isn¡¯t here. He wasn¡¯t invited. No one has any use for a has-been World Champion. Because of his loss today, I¡¯m sure his many contracts and sponsorship deals have all gone up in smoke.¡± ¡°Just because of one loss?¡± Ash said, incredulous. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ he doesn¡¯t deserve that. He should be here.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure the man himself would have come even if he was invited. He may not seem it, but he was a proud trainer, a proud man. I don¡¯t think he would have wanted to attend a celebration in honor of his own defeat.¡± Albrecht shrugged. ¡°Perhaps if he wasn¡¯t World Champion, the League could have shuffled him back into the fold, horizontally integrating him in some other position. But¡­ there is no position horizontal to the World Champion. He was their face, and he was defeated. An unforgivable sin. No doubt many in this room lost a lot of money today because of him¡­¡± Ash looked around the room at the many partygoers. They had all been nice enough to him tonight, as they shook his hand and congratulated him and told him how proud of him they were. Could they all have been hiding their contempt behind smiling veneers? If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The weight of his accomplishment, his deed, was beginning to bear down on him fully. He had displaced Leon, who had been World Champion for over a decade, and Leon had only become World Champion after the previous World Champion retired. A World Champion hadn¡¯t been truly dethroned in generations¡­ Just how much had Ash upset the status quo? For now, it seemed like all his victory had brought him was the end of his adventure, and a feeling of foreignness. ¡°Why are you telling me all this? Is that why you came up to me? You want your money back or something?¡± Ash demanded. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize for achieving my dream!¡± ¡°As well you shouldn¡¯t,¡± Albrecht snorted. ¡°But you should know what exactly achieving that dream entails. You¡¯re, what? Seventeen? You may still be a child, but you¡¯ve taken your first step into a brand new world¡­ a world of monsters.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°And you¡¯re a monster too, in your own right.¡± He nodded at Pikachu, and the mouse¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°You¡¯ll have to tread carefully going forward, lest the same thing happen to you, as what happened to Leon. If you¡¯d like¡ª¡± ¡°Ash.¡± Cynthia stood in front of them, alone. Albrecht slowly turned to face her. ¡°Good evening, Champion.¡± ¡°Would you like to introduce me, Ash?¡± Cynthia said, never taking her eyes off of Albrecht. Ash glanced between the two of them. By all accounts, he should have been the biggest man between them. He was the World Champion! But the air seemed to get heavy as Cynthia and Albrecht stared each other down. It was an oppressive feeling. ¡°Yeah¡­ this is Albrecht. He¡­¡± He trailed off, not knowing exactly how to introduce the man. ¡°Just an old friend,¡± Albrecht spoke up. ¡°I had hoped to help young Ash navigate his new position, but I suppose I¡¯ll leave that to you. And after I went through all the trouble¡­¡± he murmured, before clapping his hands. ¡°That was quite the entourage you put together, and on such short notice too. Well done.¡± He smiled. Cynthia narrowed her eyes. She seemed to be debating saying something else, but ultimately decided against it. ¡°I was hoping to speak with Ash. Is now a good time?¡± Albrecht shrugged dismissively. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine,¡± Ash said. ¡°I was thinking of heading out soon anyway.¡± He held out a hand. ¡°It was nice to meet you, Mr. Albrecht.¡± ¡°It was nice to meet you as well, Master Ketchum. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll meet again.¡± He shook Ash¡¯s hand and nodded to Cynthia, before strolling off back into the party, ¡°Who was that?¡± Cynthia asked, once he was out of earshot. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Some rich guy.¡± ¡°He seems dangerous,¡± she said, folding her arms. ¡°He¡¯s powerful.¡± ¡°Yeah, he said he and friends were all filthy rich or something, that¡¯s how he got into the party without being a trainer.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± She continued to scowl, deep in thought for a few more moments, before turning back to Ash. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get on with it then. It¡¯s been a long day for both of us.¡± She motioned back toward the window. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside. I could use some fresh air.¡± ¡°You said it.¡± They walked outside into the backyard and around the pool. Luckily, everyone else had retreated inside at the onset of night, so they were able to slip out unmolested. Cynthia led him beyond the pool to a brick terrace that overlooked the entirety of Wyndon. Beyond a granite balcony, the whole city unfolded in a canvas of lights, bustling and busy even at this hour. The sky above glittered, thousands of diamond-like stars spread across a deep indigo abyss. Cynthia leaned against the banister and Ash mirrored her. Compared to the party inside, it was dark and quiet out here. With the moon behind them, their profiles turned black, nothing but silhouettes against the urban backdrop of Wyndon. ¡°So, how are you feeling, Ash?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a lot on your mind now.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a crazy last few hours. Every time I think I¡¯m starting to accept becoming the World Champion, something happens that reminds me how insane all of this is.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Plus, Albrecht gave me some stuff to think about too.¡± ¡°Oh? Like what.¡± Ash exhaled, debating where to start. ¡°He just¡­ reminded me of how fragile everything is. My position as World Champion, the dream I¡¯ve had since I was a child, my own confidence in deciding what to do next.¡± Cynthia nodded, absorbing everything he was saying. She hadn¡¯t expected this much introspection. ¡°You¡¯re worried about what to do next?¡± ¡°Not worried, per se. Just a little¡­ anxious, I guess. I¡¯ve gotten so used to there always being another gym to challenge that I guess I never gave it much thought,¡± He smiled and pet Pikachu¡¯s back, and the mouse purred. ¡°But I¡¯ll get through it as I always have. Together, with my pok¨¦mon.¡± He turned back to her. ¡°Sorry, for worrying you. I don''t think that¡¯s what you wanted to talk about.¡± Cynthia shook her head. ¡°Not at all. In fact, that¡¯s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.¡± She met his eyes, and he felt compelled not to look away. ¡°Have you heard of the Paragon Organization?¡± Ash knit his brows and pondered for a few seconds before answering. ¡°Never.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Cynthia smiled. ¡°That¡¯s exactly how it should be. Put simply, the Paragon Organization is an organization I started after I became Champion. We are a group of high caliber trainers that contains threats and prevents catastrophes that even the League doesn¡¯t stand a chance against. We work to protect the peace, and stop disasters before they can happen, so the public never needs to find out about them.¡± ¡°The Paragon Organization¡­?¡± Ash repeated, curious. She fixed him with an iron gaze. ¡°I want you to join us, Ash. You¡¯re one of the strongest trainers I¡¯ve ever met, even before today.¡± Ash could see how much this meant to Cynthia. No doubt it¡¯d been weighing on her all night. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but her eyes shone with determination. She was serious. ¡°With the Paragon Organization, I think I can give you what you want,¡± she continued. ¡°If you join us Ash, I will promise you the adventure of a lifetime, nothing like the sign-posted journeys and regulated gym battles you¡¯re used to. In Paragon, it will be dangerous. Your life will be in danger. But on the flipside, you¡¯ll be able to reach new heights, both you and your pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°New heights¡­ above World Champion?¡± Ash asked quizzically. ¡°Above even World Champion,¡± Cynthia confirmed. She rested a hand on the pok¨¦balls on her belt. ¡°You did well today¡­ against my TV team.¡± She smirked. ¡°What¡­? You mean that wasn¡¯t your strongest team?!¡± He had only barely scraped out a win against her! ¡°Of course not,¡± Cynthia said proudly. ¡°It¡¯s an unspoken rule, probably because so few actually reach this level, but it only makes sense that the League wouldn¡¯t want their combatants¡¯ pok¨¦mon to be too powerful, even in the World Championships. For one, it¡¯d cause a death spiral where if one trainer absolutely smoked the competition, they¡¯d never be able to generate comparable hype for the next event.¡± ¡°Is¡­ is that why Tobias never became Champion?¡± Ash asked. ¡°He should¡¯ve been plenty strong enough to do it.¡± ¡°Well, Tobias isn¡¯t Sinnoh¡¯s Champion because I defeated him, thank you very much,¡± Cynthia said haughtily. ¡°For him, I did use my strongest team, and that was the end of that. It¡¯s a shame League challenges aren¡¯t televised. I wish everyone could have seen his face after I put him in the dirt.¡± Her eyes narrowed in delight as she recalled the memory. Ash nodded slowly. So it took a team full of Legendaries for Cynthia to break out her ¡®strongest team?¡¯ And he still lost?! Just how much was she holding back against us? Does this mean¡­ ¡°The main reason they have an unofficial cap is so they can sell tickets,¡± Cynthia continued. ¡°No one would go to the battles in person if they knew they could get taken out by a stray pok¨¦mon attack.¡± ¡°I thought they had protective barriers to protect the crowd?¡± Cynthia smirked. ¡°As if that could stop us at our peak.¡± Ash¡¯s mind whirled. He¡¯d effectively been told that his win against Cynthia earlier today had been a farce! Which meant his win against Leon wasn¡¯t earned either. World Champion¡­? The title almost seemed to mock him now. It was a cold realization, but also¡­ within the hollowness he¡¯d been feeling came a faint trickle of hope. The end¡­? Maybe¡­ ¡°Let me ask you a question, Ash,¡± Cynthia said, breaking his train of thought. ¡°You once told me that you dreamed of becoming a Pok¨¦mon Master. Do you feel like you achieved that dream tonight?¡± The question echoed in his mind, continuously asking him. Every time it did, his subconscious burbled, and before long, a memory from the distant past bubbled to the surface. Ash and Gary ran through the Oaks¡¯ house, action figures in hand, sound effects and saliva shooting from their gap-toothed mouths. As they curved around the banister of the second floor balcony and raced down the stairs, Daisy Oak whipped to the side just in time to avoid them. ¡°Stop running in the house, you¡¯re going to hurt yourselves!¡± she cried, but they both pretended not to hear her. As they got to the bottom and rounded a corner out of sight, she sighed and smiled wistfully. ¡°Boom!¡± Gary shouted, slamming his Blastoise against Ash¡¯s Charizard and knocking it out of his hand. ¡°That¡¯s another win for Pok¨¦mon Master Gary and his invincible Blastoise! Try again next time, Ashy-boy!¡± Ash grumbled as he walked over to his Charizard and picked it up. ¡°No fair, Blastoise can¡¯t fly like Charizard can. There¡¯s no way you could catch up to us.¡± ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t be a sore loser! Blastoise can shoot water out of his cannons to fly! He¡¯s the pok¨¦mon of a World Champion, of course he can do something as easy as fly! Plus, his water is super effective against Charizard, so there!¡± Gary crossed his arms and turned his nose up, looking down on Ash as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Grrrr!¡± Ash grit his teeth. ¡°All you care about is hurting my pok¨¦mon! Pok¨¦mon Master Ash is so powerful, he can beat every pok¨¦mon in the world without even touching them! Yeah! Even the legendaries!¡± Gary scowled at Ash, processing this new development in their game, before grabbing his collar forcefully. ¡°Wha¡ª What¡¯d you say? O-Of course Pok¨¦mon Master Gary can do that too!¡± Ash grabbed his arm and the two began tustling around the living room. Professor Oak stepped into the room, newspaper in hand, and froze when he saw what the two were up to. ¡°Hey, stop fighting you two! Head outside and play until dinner¡¯s ready! C¡¯mon¡ª get¡ªout¡ª!¡± He batted his newspaper between them to break them up, and eventually they let each other go, though they both glared at each other, clothes wrinkled and hair messy. ¡°Last one out¡¯s a rotten egg!¡± Gary suddenly said, before dashing toward the front door. Ash quickly followed, the action figures forgotten already, as they raced toward another adventure. As the memory faded, the dream within settled like silt upon Ash¡¯s mind, clear as day. ¡°No,¡± he said resolutely. ¡°I finally understand what¡¯s been bothering me. I¡¯ve been challenging gyms and conferences for so long that I lost sight of my true goal. Today, I became the World Champion of the Pok¨¦mon League. But my goal was never to beat the strongest trainer in the Pok¨¦mon League. My dream is to become a Pok¨¦mon Master!¡± As he spoke, he seemed to get more and more excited. ¡°There¡¯s still so much of the world I haven¡¯t seen, so many pok¨¦mon I have yet to meet! There¡¯s still so much I don¡¯t know!¡± Cynthia grinned, ecstatic that the young man seemed to have broken out of his slump. ¡°Then that brings me back to my initial request. Will you forsake your title of World Champion, and let me show you a world beyond the constraints of the Pok¨¦mon League?¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I will. I don¡¯t yet know what it means to be a Pok¨¦mon Master, but I¡¯ll continue on my journey until I find the answer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little scary how fast you accepted,¡± Cynthia sweatdropped. ¡°You did hear the part where I said your life would be in danger, right?¡± Ash smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve always been ready to put my life on the line for the sake of my dream. Right, Pikachu?¡± Pikachu raised his hand, giving a thumbs up. It was true. Ash had almost died to protect him from a flock of Spearow on his very first day as a trainer. Their journey hadn¡¯t ended there, and it wouldn¡¯t end here either. He¡¯d stuck by his trainer this far. Why would this new chapter of theirs be any different? ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get out of here. We have a lot of work to do.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 3 : Homecoming Origin Child [3] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [3] Chapter 3 : Homecoming
They left the party immediately. Ash had fancied Cynthia a bit of a social butterfly, with how easily she seemed to converse with the blueblood in attendance, but maybe that was another aspect of her ¡®TV¡¯ persona. He was beginning to see a new side of her, as she snoozed away in the limo back to the airport without a care. No longer necessary to keep up the act, he supposed. They peeled onto the tarmac of Wyndon International an hour later. Clearly airport security knew who she was, because they didn¡¯t stop at all until they arrived at a yawning hangar beside the runway. Ash got out, duffel bag in hand. All it carried was his tuxedo, which he¡¯d changed out of when they stopped back at Wyndon Stadium to collect his belongings. Cynthia stepped out as well, her driver carrying her luggage, and they walked toward a private jet. On any other day, this would probably be very impressive, but Ash had been driving around in limousines all day, and had reporters practically on their knees just to talk to him. Have my tastes changed so fast? Gotta be careful about that¡­ he thought. Albrecht had said he¡¯d become a monster just like the others. Maybe he meant it in more ways than one. The plane door opened from the inside, dropping to reveal a set of stairs leading in. The pilot stood at the top of the stairs, and he frowned upon seeing Ash. He turned to Cynthia and thumbed the young man. ¡°Not a word,¡± she called up at him. ¡°Head inside, Ash. I¡¯ll be up in a minute after I explain what¡¯s going on to these guys.¡± Ash nodded and started up the steep steps. The pilot motioned for his bag and Ash handed it to him, before clambering up and into the jet. It was dark and moody, similar to the limousine. The seats were spaced out, unlike the commercial vessels he was used to. He found a seat next to one of the windows and slung his backpack down onto the seat next to it. Pikachu scampered off his shoulder, nose twitching, already exploring his new surroundings. Ash settled into his seat and pulled out his phone. His lock screen was covered in a wall of notifications, missed calls and messages of congratulation from his friends. He smiled. He definitely wouldn¡¯t have made it this far without all of them, coming and going as they did throughout his journey across the world. As he scrolled through them, unable to reply to all of them, he noticed a message from his mother at the very bottom. She had been the first to send him a message, but unlike the blocks of text he¡¯d received from the others, hers was short and sweet. Congratulations, honey! I¡¯m so proud of you!! Attached was a picture of her, Mimey, Professor Oak, and his many pok¨¦mon kept at Oak¡¯s ranch. Her eyes were clearly puffy and red from crying. He smiled. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re settled in,¡± Cynthia said, pulling herself into the jet. ¡°We¡¯re taking off now.¡± The pilot followed her in and hit a button to close the door, then headed into the cockpit. Cynthia strode over to the seat opposite to Ash. This placed her right up against the mahogany bar at the very back of the cabin. She eyed it for a few seconds, but seemed to decide against indulging. She sat down across from him. A moment later, the engines roared to life outside, and Ash felt them taxi onto the runway. A minute later, they began their takeoff, and he felt his stomach grow weightless as they left the ground behind. Outside the window, Wyndon gradually shrunk into nothing more than a kaleidoscope of lights, like sparkling pinpricks. ¡°So where are we going?¡± Ash asked once they seemed to reach altitude. ¡°I was going to ask you that,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°I know you said you were ready to leave Wyndon, but after abandoning your title, it will be¡­ difficult for you to just reappear in the public eye again. If you have anywhere else to visit, any goodbyes you want to say before you join Paragon, now is the time.¡± That was a good point. Goodbyes. Ash had many of them. It occurred to him now that he hadn¡¯t even said goodbye to Iris or Alain. Part of it was Cynthia¡¯s insistence on discretion, but admittedly, part of it was also his own tunnel vision after learning about the tantalizing possibility of another level to pok¨¦mon training she had dangled before him. He glanced back down at his phone. At his mother¡¯s awkward tear-stained smile, and his pok¨¦mon companions. ¡°Pallet Town,¡± he said. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go tell the pilot. Kanto is a long way from Wyndon. We¡¯ll be in the air all night and all day tomorrow.¡± She got up and walked back toward the front of the plane. As she did, he began to think about what would happen next. Presumably they¡¯d land in Viridian. By that time, surely the League would have realized he was gone. Would they start a manhunt? He hoped not. How long would they give him to return? Would Leon reclaim his crown? Would they hold the Championships again? Or would they leave the throne empty for the next five years? And what exactly did Cynthia have in mind for him? Of course he trusted her. But joining Paragon¡­ what exactly did that entail? She¡¯d said they ¡®contain threats and prevent catastrophes,¡¯ but he could tell she was being intentionally vague. Perhaps that was something he should¡¯ve clarified back at Rose Manor. Pikachu jumped into his lap, disrupting his thoughts. The mouse wore an annoyed frown. Jumping again, he somersaulted, smacking Ash in the face with his tail. A weak jolt of electricity ran through him. ¡°Ha ha, sorry Pikachu,¡± Ash said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m alright. Just doing some thinking.¡± Pikachu raised an unconvinced eyebrow, as if to say, Really? You? Thinking? Ash chuckled and flicked him in the forehead, and Pikachu yelped, clapping his stubby paws over the spot. ¡°I know it¡¯s a little out of character, but this time, it feels different from the start of our other adventures.¡± Before Pikachu could smack him again, held his hands up. ¡°I know, I know! Cynthia said I could die, but it¡¯s not like our adventures thus far have been so safe! I¡¯m just saying¡­ I really feel like this path will take us to the next level. I¡¯m just going with my gut, as usual.¡± Pikachu grinned and leapt onto the table in front of Ash¡¯s seat. He assumed an offensive stance, hunched over and ready to pounce at a nonexistent enemy. ¡°Get some rest, buddy. C¡¯mon, you¡¯ve been fighting all day. I promise we¡¯ll be back to training soon.¡± Pikachu snickered and jumped into the seat beside Ash, curling into a ball. Ash smiled and stroked his head. Behind him, Cynthia returned from the cockpit, but sat herself down in one of the seats closer to the front. She pulled out a laptop and began typing away, the blue glow of the screen shining on her face. The Pok¨¦mon League and the Paragon Organization¡­ Guess her work never ends. Ash turned back around and closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. Sleep took him quickly and easily.
Ash awoke the next morning to find Cynthia already up and typing away on that laptop again while snacking on a muffin. He joined her for breakfast, and while they did talk, Cynthia refused to divulge anything further about Paragon, or his role in it. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything once we get to headquarters,¡± she said, though where exactly that was, she didn¡¯t say either. Later, Ash brought the rest of his team up to speed. Or, at least the ones who could come out on the plane. Lucario, Sceptile, and Greninja listened carefully to their master¡¯s change of plans, and all accepted soberly. That was to be expected, though. They always were the mature ones of the group. Charizard and Dragonite would have to get briefed with the others once they got to Pallet. Since the jet had internet, the rest of the day was spent replying to and messaging with his friends on his phone. Several had wanted to call him, but he came up with various excuses for declining them. It¡¯s super loud at this party I¡¯m at or Gotta go, I just saw so-and-so walk by or The League needs to talk to me now. Nevertheless, he gave a heartfelt response to each and every one of them, though never revealing his true whereabouts or what he was up to. That rule had been made very clear by Cynthia. They arrived in Viridian around ten that evening and left their luggage on the plane. After Ash said his goodbyes, they¡¯d be heading back here and flying out again. ¡°So, do you think the League has noticed that we disappeared yet?¡± Ash asked as they walked through the hangar. ¡°Not likely. You just became the World Champion. I¡¯d say it¡¯d raise more alarms if you didn¡¯t disappear the night of your great victory. No, I expect they¡¯ll give you a few days of privacy before they realize something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°Right, I guess that makes sense.¡± Now that she¡¯d said it out loud, he felt a little embarrassed that he hadn¡¯t celebrated more than he did. Clearly, his doubts had taken root earlier than he¡¯d thought. They came out of the hangar onto the tarmac and Cynthia stopped. ¡°Here should be fine.¡± She pulled a pok¨¦ball off her belt and tossed it onto the ground. Garchomp materialized in front of them, and Cynthia climbed onto its back. ¡°Try and keep up, yeah?¡± ¡°I know these skies better than you do,¡± Ash retorted, releasing Charizard next to them and climbing onto his back. Cynthia smirked and clapped her dragon¡¯s neck, and they launched into the sky. Ash did the same and joined her, and the pair raced toward Pallet. The wind beat against them as they flew, but neither faltered. They¡¯d flown before, and their dragons were more than capable. As high as they were, only the city lights illuminated their way forward, and once they were beyond the city limits, it was up to Ash to guide them the rest of the way. Twenty minutes later, faint street lamps cruised into view in a wide clearing in the dark forest below. Ash urged Charizard down, and they began their descent. They touched down on the grass just outside of town, both offering thanks to and recalling their partners. ¡°No TV cameras around here, what¡¯s the excuse this time?¡± Ash teased. ¡°You knew where to go,¡± Cynthia countered, scrunching her lips up. Luckily, Pallet was asleep at this hour, and they walked through the slumbering town in silence. Here, without all the light pollution, the stars screamed their brilliance across the heavens. They passed closed up shops with creaking metal signs and quaint houses lined with flowerbeds, until eventually, Ash led them to a nondescript house beside the dirt path. His home. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you out here,¡± Cynthia said, and Ash nodded. He knocked on the door softly, twice. To make sure he was heard. Slowly, the doorknob turned and the door cracked open. Further into the house, a Mr. Mime stood on guard, hands outstretched. It¡¯d used its psychic powers to open the door from a distance. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mimey!¡± Ash whispered, waving. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Upon seeing him, Mimey shuddered in surprise and bounded up to the door, opening it the rest of the way. A huge smile plastered across his clownish face. He spread his arms open for a hug, beaming. Ash didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°Really? Nice try.¡± He knocked against the empty air beneath the door frame, but a dull, glasslike sound clocked from his knuckles. ¡°C¡¯mon, let me in.¡± Mimey sniggered silently, and the faint tinges of psychic energy around his fingertips that Ash had noticed faded. Now he was free to come inside, and that he did, embracing his old pok¨¦mon warmly. Pikachu cooed in delight, and Mimey lifted him off Ash¡¯s shoulder with his powers, spinning him in the air playfully. ¡°Sorry, Mimey, do you think you could go wake Mom up?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I know it¡¯s late, but I need to talk to her.¡± Mimey snapped a salute, unceremoniously dropping Pikachu, but the mouse landed deftly on his feet. As Mimey stomped upstairs, Ash came inside and shut the door behind him. Although his mother was as tidy as could be, he could tell she¡¯d held a party recently. One of their nice serving platters was drying on a rack beside the sink, and bags of half empty celebratory streamers sat atop a short bookshelf in the living room. Ash smiled to himself. Pikachu scampered over to the kitchen in search of food, but it seemed like Mrs. Ketchum was a little too thorough, because everything had already been put away. He circled around in place several times, trying to catch a scent of something, but to no avail. ¡°Goodness, what is it, Mimey? It¡¯s so late¡­,¡± a voice came from the stairs. Dressed in a lemon nightgown and reading glasses, Delia Ketchum appeared, being practically pulled down the steps by an eager Mimey. As her head passed beneath the ceiling, her eyes swept the first floor and immediately fell on her son. ¡°Oh! Ash¡ª I¡­ what¡­?¡± At the sight of him, she surged forward and wrapped him in a hug. ¡°I¡¯m home, Mom,¡± Ash said. ¡°I can see that! I¡ªoh, congratulations, dear!¡± she said, planting a kiss on his forehead. Pikachu bounded over and jumped into her arms, and she squeezed him in a tight hug too. Her face wavered between joy and confusion, and Ash had to stop himself from smirking in amusement. ¡°Sorry for waking you up,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, I was still up reading. But¡­what are you doing here? I thought you were in Galar. How in the world did you get here?¡± ¡°I took a plane. Perks of being the World Champion and all,¡± Technically, that was true. ¡°Right. Of course. You¡¯re the World Champion now.¡± She seemed to be trying to stifle her excitement since the hour was late. Her lips were pursed, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. She couldn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°I¡¯m the World Champion, for now,¡± Ash said, and he noticed his mother frown. Nothing got past her. ¡°What do you mean? The next tournament isn¡¯t for another five years, right?¡± Taking a deep breath, he looked her in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, Mom.¡± At first, she didn¡¯t seem to know what to say. She shook her head in disbelief. ¡°Why? What¡¯s the matter, honey?¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s the matter,¡± Ash reassured her, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m just continuing on my adventure, as I always have.¡± ¡°But your dream¡­¡± ¡°Hasn¡¯t changed,¡± he confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m still aiming to become a Pok¨¦mon Master. It¡¯s just¡­ I have to follow a different path to get there now that I¡¯m the World Champion.¡± Delia smiled in endearment at her son. ¡°Oh, Ash, you¡¯re living in a world I no longer understand. You¡¯ve become such a wonderful man!¡± ¡°C¡¯mon Mom, I¡¯m still only seventeen.¡± He rubbed the back of his head and blushed. Pikachu pulled his cheeks down, mimicking an old man, from his perch on Delia¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re already seventeen,¡± she corrected. ¡°You were only ten when you first set out to become a pok¨¦mon trainer. Now you¡¯re old enough to be sneaking in and out of the house!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon, let me have a little fun! Plus, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be leaving again just as soon, aren¡¯t I right?¡± Seriously. Nothing got past Delia Ketchum. Ash looked away. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Pikachu?¡± Delia said, lifting him off her head. Pikachu tried to squirm away, but he was always defenseless against her, and he nodded feebly. ¡°Where to next, then?¡± she asked. ¡°Alola? Back to Galar? Or maybe over to Paldea?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say,¡± Ash replied. At least that was the truth. He literally had no idea where Cynthia was planning on taking him. ¡°Hmph. That means you¡¯re going somewhere dangerous,¡± she pouted, hands on her hips. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I could ever stop you before, and I guess you are the World Champion now¡­ or are you? Though it¡¯s not like that makes me worry about you any less¡­¡± She murmured away, resigned to her fate as an anxious mother. ¡°Yeah, about that,¡± Ash said. ¡°After the League has realized I¡¯ve abandoned my position, I¡¯m sure some people may come by and ask you about me. Could you tell them I¡¯m just fine?¡± Delia nodded, always ready to acquiesce to whatever off the wall request he had for her. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with some of your ¡®followers¡¯ before. Luckily, Professor Oak always helps me drive them away.¡± ¡°Really? People have come here asking about me?¡± Ash had never heard that before. ¡°Oh yes, a few young fans have come by in conference seasons past as a sort of pilgrimage. They¡¯re just so adorable, but it can be a little overbearing,¡± she explained. She seemed to be amused by it more than bothered, which put Ash at ease. He exhaled, glad to have gotten that squared away. Though his mother had never been too inquisitive about his journeys before, he was still a little worried she might start prying for details this time. Maybe he was just extra conscious of it, given the secrecy Cynthia had sworn him to. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you have some packing to do, right?¡± Delia said. ¡°And you¡¯ll want to see your other pok¨¦mon too, though I don¡¯t think Professor Oak will be all too happy about being woken up.¡± ¡°Yeah, I was thinking maybe I shouldn¡¯t bother him. Can I ask you to let him know I came by? I don¡¯t want him waking up tomorrow and thinking someone stole all my pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Delia nodded along. ¡°Anything else for my World Champion?¡± Ash thought for a few moments, then lit up. ¡°How ¡®bout a midnight snack?¡± She smiled and pointed upstairs. ¡°Get going. I¡¯ll have it ready in fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Mom!¡± He kissed her on her cheek, then ran upstairs to his room, Pikachu in tow, while Mimey joined her in the kitchen. Once in his room, he wasted no time pulling another duffel bag from his closet and opening every drawer of his dresser. Cynthia hadn¡¯t been generous with the details, but she had told him that this would be nothing like traveling through the regions while challenging gyms, where packing light was the way to go. She made it sound more like he¡¯d be uprooting himself and staying somewhere a little more permanent, so more than two changes of clothes were expected. As he stuffed his bag full of his clothes, he ran through a mental list of anything else he might need. Once we¡¯ve arrived, there¡¯s no turning back. Bring everything you need to become a Pok¨¦mon Master. His toiletries were in his backpack, as were an assortment of potions, pok¨¦balls, and the like. What do I need to become a Pok¨¦mon Master? Yesterday, he may have said gym badges, and upon thinking so, he paused his packing and walked over to the shelf where he kept his collection. They were all still in their original badge cases, propped up and open so he could see them all. The Kanto, Orange Islands, and Johto ones which didn¡¯t have a case were organized carefully atop a cheap velvet mat. Ash hadn¡¯t wanted to display them like medals in some fancy glass case or anything. He preferred them as they were, as he¡¯d earned them. His mother came in and polished them from time to time, so there wasn¡¯t a speck of dust on a single one. He ran his gaze across them, starting from his most recent¡ª the Iceberg Badge from Wulfric in Kalos¡ª and traced all the way back to the start¡ª the Boulder Badge from Brock. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It was a different Ash that¡¯d earned those first eight badges. Steeling his gaze, he gathered all eight of his Kanto badges in a handful, and emptied them into one of the zippered side pockets on his duffel. So I never forget where I started. After that, he finished packing and headed downstairs to eat. As expected of Pikachu, he hadn¡¯t helped out even a little, dashing in and out of the room as he re-explored his old haunt. And as expected of his mother, a plate of fried rice was waiting for him on the dining room table when he got down. He talked with her in between gargantuan bites about the World Championships, and the Masters Eight, and the party that followed, but left out the details of his conversation with Cynthia. Delia seemed to think he kissed some girl or something since he was being more secretive than usual, which was simultaneously a relief and a headache. Eventually, he was all ready to go. He¡¯d felt a little bad about leaving Cynthia waiting outside for so long, so around one in the morning, he really started to urge his mother to let him go. ¡°And you packed several toothbrushes? You¡¯re only supposed to use them for three months.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom.¡± ¡°And you have your wallet? It wouldn¡¯t be the first time you¡¯ve had to turn back around for that.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom.¡± ¡°And you have some snacks for the road. I don''t know where you''re going but I know you¡¯ll get hungry.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom.¡± ¡°And you have a change of underwear?¡± He paused, thinking. ¡°Yes. Yes, I do,¡± he eventually said. Delia sighed. ¡°Oh dear. You didn¡¯t even snap at me for asking that. Now I¡¯m really going to start crying.¡± Ash smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mom. I¡¯ll be back again soon, like I always am.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She embraced him one last time before he opened the front door. Mimey waved from behind her with both hands. Ash separated from her and picked up his duffel. ¡°See you later, Mom.¡± Pikachu waved from his shoulder. ¡°Bye, bye, Ash. See you, Pikachu. Watch over him for me, ¡®kay?¡± Pikachu nodded, and they were off. Delia closed the door behind them, and they were once again plunged into the quiet night of Pallet. Ash had never left for one of his adventures at night, and though he¡¯d given his mother a bit of grief for it, he kind of did feel like he was sneaking out like some hormonal teenager. Cynthia seemed to peel away from the shadows of his house, reappearing beside him as he walked down the path. She was tapping away on her phone. ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting,¡± he said. ¡°Not at all. I didn¡¯t want to rush you. I was just getting some work done.¡± Ash nodded, and kept walking. They had one more stop. Around ten minutes later, they arrived at Oak¡¯s ranch. His lab was the only building in town that didn¡¯t appear to be made of wood, but in the dark, its metallic walls were just as black as the others. But they weren¡¯t here for the lab. Ash walked over the fence beside the gravel path that led up to it, and swung himself over. Then, he released his five pok¨¦mon. ¡°Gather the others for me. And do it quietly.¡± They all nodded, and raced off in different directions. Some were close and immediately ran toward him the moment they heard the slightest disturbance. Krookodile, Gible, and Infernape bounded over, alight with energy at the sudden and unexpected reappearance of their master. The nocturnal ones were already awake, and hadn¡¯t taken long to detect his presence. Noctowl and Noivern swooped down from above, and Gengar bubbled in from beneath him, cackling. Before long, Pikachu was dashing back across the grass, with Bulbasaur, Scraggy, Totodile, Snivy, and Oshawott. Charizard brought the flyers with him: Butterfree, Pidgeot, Swellow, Gliscor, Glalie, Unfezant, and Talonflame. Greninja was slick with moisture when he returned, having dived into the lake to wake up Corphish, Kingler, Palpitoad, and Lapras. Sceptile came from the mountains with Boldore, Torterra, Muk, Heracross, Quilava, and Pignite in tow. Lucario guided his comrades back patiently, Snorlax, Bayleef, Leavanny, Donphan, Torkoal, and Goodra trotting beside him slowly. Finally, it was up to Dragonite to herd all thirty Tauros quickly and quietly, alongside the help of Hawlucha, Staraptor, and Buizel, as well as Squirtle and Primeape, who¡¯d recently returned from training to watch Ash¡¯s battle against Leon with the rest. Cynthia¡¯s eyes were full moons at the sight of all of Ash¡¯s gathered pok¨¦mon. She¡¯d known he was well traveled, but not like this. She didn¡¯t own half as many pok¨¦mon as he did, even removing all the Tauros, and she¡¯d been a trainer for over twice as long! ¡°Uhhhh¡­¡± ¡°Impressed?¡± Ash smirked, and a number of his pok¨¦mon almost started to cheer, but he quickly shut them up with a wave of his hand. Gary had told him horror stories of what happened when he¡¯d woken his grandfather from his sleep by accident. Surely executing a quasi-heist in his literal backyard wouldn¡¯t do anything to improve his mood. ¡°I hope you have room in your duffel.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Ash grinned, ¡°I planned for this.¡± He turned back to his pok¨¦mon. ¡°Hey, everyone!¡± he said in a half whisper, half shout. ¡°It¡¯s good to see all of you again! Sorry for waking you up, but I¡¯m going on another adventure, right now!¡± A wave of confusion and excitement washed over the amassed crowd. Some pumped their fists, others seemed to think he was pulling a prank on them or something, and reacted more cautiously. ¡°I know you all just saw me become World Champion, but my journey isn¡¯t stopping here. Our journey isn''t stopping here! It¡¯s time for us to reach a whole new level, together! This time, I¡¯m taking all of you with me!¡± As they started to hoot and holler, Ash silenced them again, so instead, they turned to each other and jittered, giddy with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ll explain more later on, but for now¡­ Gengar, can you go and get everyone¡¯s pok¨¦balls, please?¡± Gengar grinned and disappeared into the ground. Two minutes later, he reappeared, a tray of pok¨¦balls in each hand, all neatly labeled. Then, with Cynthia¡¯s help, Ash recalled every single one of his pok¨¦mon partners, tossing them in his duffel as they did. Soon, only his World Championship team was left, and he returned all of them but Charizard, before zipping his duffel back up. ¡°I hope Professor Oak doesn¡¯t have a heart attack when he wakes up,¡± Ash said. ¡°That is a lot of research material you just swiped from him,¡± Cynthia agreed. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Ash took one last look around his home. Oak¡¯s lab was situated at the top of a hill, so he had a good vantage point from which to survey the entire town. Deep in his bones, he knew the journey he was about to embark on would be far different from the others. It would be awhile until he¡¯d be back. Burning the sight into his mind, he turned back to Cynthia. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m ready.¡± Cynthia smiled. ¡°Well then. Off to Sinnoh we go.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 4 : The Paragon Organization
In case it wasn¡¯t already clear, this story diverges from the canon toward the end of the Kalos storyline. That means Ash did not travel around Alola or Galar, or meet any of the people or pok¨¦mon in said regions. However, as I alluded to in Chapter 1, he did catch/evolve several more pok¨¦mon after defeating Alain, such as Lucario, Dragonite, and Gengar. It¡¯s safe to assume that all of the pok¨¦mon listed in this chapter are the ones he actually has, and anyone left out, he does not. Origin Child [4] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [4] Chapter 4 : The Paragon Organization
The jet touched down, and Ash squinted out the window as they sped down the runway. He couldn¡¯t see much now, just some thin steel fencing that wrapped around the airfield, but several minutes ago, they¡¯d been cruising over the sparkling, bright blue waters of the Sinnoh sea. They were on an island now, that much he could surmise, but beyond that, their proximity to it as they¡¯d started their descent made it difficult to see what else was on it. All he¡¯d seen was an ocean of trees pockmarked by small clearings, and a stout mountain on the island¡¯s northern beach. Soon, the plane taxied to a halt, and after the modest flight crew made their rounds inside and out, they were free to exit. Ash covered his eyes as he stepped out of the plane. Unlike the flight from Galar to Kanto, the flight from Kanto to Sinnoh had been a lot shorter, and they¡¯d slept through most of it, arriving early in the afternoon. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the island in an almost tropical radiance. Cynthia was waiting for him on the tarmac, and she¡¯d deployed her Lucario. ¡°Lucario, take Ash¡¯s luggage for him, would you please?¡± he heard her say as he walked over to her. Lucario nodded and walked past him to the pilot, taking both bags from him and slinging one over each shoulder. It was a comical sight, to see a pok¨¦mon like Lucario acting as a courier, but it hadn¡¯t escaped Ash¡¯s notice that it was several inches taller than his own, and the spikes on its hands were larger. Ash nodded his thanks to it, and received a humble bow in response, then joined Cynthia. ¡°Here we are,¡± she said, leading them across the airfield. ¡°This is the headquarters of the Paragon Organization, where all our operatives live and work. Welcome to Paragon Island.¡± Once they exited the airfield, which didn¡¯t take long since it was far smaller than any real airport¡¯s, they followed a dirt path through the island. Burly pine trees surrounded them, and they were packed together tightly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re getting tired of hearing me say this, but the Paragon Organization is technically a secret organization,¡± Cynthia said as they walked. ¡°The world at large does not know we exist. No one in the League is aware of us, and even most of the International Police have no idea either. Our communications with them are limited to the top brass, and even then, they¡¯re on a strict need-to-know basis.¡± Ash nodded in understanding. ¡°Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, running Paragon and doing your duties as Champion at the same time,¡± Ash replied. ¡°Especially while keeping them separate.¡± ¡°It can be exhausting,¡± she admitted. ¡°But luckily for me, my Elite Four is strong enough to repel most potential challengers, so I don¡¯t have much to attend to on that front. It¡¯s mostly just boring meetings several times a year over at the League HQ at Indigo Plateau.¡± She smiled back at him. ¡°Also, you forget I also have my own interests to pursue outside of work.¡± Cynthia was an archeologist. That, Ash knew. Thinking about it, it made sense then why she¡¯d become a Champion in the first place. Although the regions were ruled by their own independent governments, they largely deferred to the League when it came to matters of pok¨¦mon and trainer safety. There were a number of restricted zones, off limits areas, and uncharted lands that the League deemed too dangerous for the average trainer, or just too historically important to allow mass access. However, as Champion, nothing was off limits, and she was free to explore any corner of the globe she pleased. Though that didn¡¯t explain why her pok¨¦mon were so abnormally powerful. What did she want that required such strength? As they got closer and closer to the center of the island, the trees started to dwindle, and before long, a sprawling white structure crept into view. Situated in the center of such a dense forest, its modern architecture looked out of place. It looked like a traditional Kanto manor, with its low hooded roof and wooden engawa that circled the property, but with an urban twist. Sitting beside it, Ash noticed a small lake connected to a river which led further into the forest. Cynthia let him drink in his new surroundings, before leading them inside, and Ash was immediately impressed. He hadn¡¯t realized from the outside, but floor-to-ceiling windows spread out all across the walls, and sunlight streamed through them. They¡¯d stepped into a large atrium, and hallways webbed out in several directions. Unlike the exterior, the interior gave a more homely vibe, with the floors of polished maple, and an array of lounging furniture set up in front of a huge flatscreen. ¡°This will be your home for the foreseeable future,¡± Cynthia told him, breaking him from his rapture. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll show you to your room, then we can begin the tour.¡± They turned down one of the hallways, and eventually stopped beside one of several doors along this hallway. Cynthia pushed it open and let them in. Pikachu, already enamored with his new surroundings, scurried ahead inside. His bedroom was fully furnished, with a bed, dresser, closet, and television. Like the atrium outside, the far wall was made of glass, giving him a beautiful view of the ocean from here. A sliding door was left slightly ajar to keep the room aired out, and it led to a small deck. As Ash walked inside, he peeked past another door in his room which led to his own personal bathroom. ¡°It¡¯s no Champion¡¯s suite, but it¡¯ll work just fine for our purposes,¡± Cynthia said. Ash grinned. He could already envision the sort of training he¡¯d be able to do on this island. Training in the wild limited the intensity of their training, since it was unwise to accumulate too many injuries so far from civilization, but training in the city where a pok¨¦mon center was always close by restricted the scope of their training, since they needed to be careful around so many buildings. Here, they could go to their hearts¡¯ content. ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re pleased. Lucario, you can leave his stuff here. Ash, you can unpack a bit later. I¡¯ll show you around the rest of the island.¡± Ash nodded and Cynthia recalled her Lucario, and they both exited the room to continue exploring. She showed him to the kitchen, which was restocked with groceries once a week. Then she took him to the gym, where all manner of workout equipment was assembled, for both people and pok¨¦mon. As they walked, Ash began to realize how empty the place was. They hadn¡¯t run across anyone else the entire time they¡¯d been here. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± Ash asked. He¡¯d started to check behind every open doorway and corner, yet no one appeared to him. Now they stood in another atrium, this one ripe with greenery and potted plants and the same afternoon sunlight. ¡°Oh, I think you and I are the only ones here right now,¡± Cynthia said, her finger on the corner of her lips. ¡°Everyone else is out on a mission or something, I guess.¡± ¡°How many people are in Paragon anyway?¡± ¡°Hmmm. Five?¡± Ash¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Five?!¡± Pikachu¡¯s head cocked to the side in the middle of his search around the room. ¡°Or six, now that you¡¯re here,¡± she said nonchalantly, and kept walking. ¡°Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!¡± Ash scrambled in front of Cynthia. ¡°You¡¯re telling me the Paragon Organization only has five people in it? This whole island, for five people?!¡± ¡°Six,¡± she corrected. ¡°I did say we¡¯re a group of high caliber trainers. Just how many of those do you think there are, lying around?¡± ¡°Six trainers¡­,¡± Ash muttered, clearly mired in confusion. He¡¯d expected some sort of top secret black ops military force like in the spy movies. The secret base on a remote island had supported that image, but six trainers? ¡°What can six trainers do against all the disasters of the world?¡± ¡°More than you know.¡± She held his gaze for a moment, before turning away and continuing through the room. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Wordlessly, Ash and Pikachu followed. The rest of the tour proceeded without further incident. The remaining atriums that comprised Paragon headquarters were all connected by hallways, and the architecture and design was more or less the same in all of them. Cynthia pointed out the way to an underground training area that she said they¡¯d visit later, as well as a briefing room where she did most of her work while on the island. The bedrooms for the others were also the same as his: nondescript doors along a random hallway, but she didn¡¯t show him inside and protect their privacy. As they were walking back through one of the hallways they¡¯d passed through before, on their way back to the front, Ash froze, his gaze fixed on something outside. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± he gasped, pointing out the window. Just beyond the glass, a Cresselia sat on lush emerald grass, nibbling on tiny flowers that poked up from the soil. Upon noticing it was being stared at, it lifted its head and gazed back at Ash, its almond eyes penetrating his being. For a while, they just stared at each other, as if sizing each other up. ¡°That¡¯s Cresselia,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°She and I became friends after I discovered this island several years ago. It¡¯s just one of many among the Fullmoon Islands in northwest Sinnoh, and they will not appear to outsiders without Cresselia¡¯s consent. The perfect place to put our headquarters.¡± Ash never broke his stare with the mythical pok¨¦mon as Cynthia explained herself, but eventually, Cresselia did. Her eyes shifted to Cynthia upon noticing her, and she smiled unmistakably, flitting up and down in excitement. Cynthia waved back, smiling as well. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I phoned ahead that we¡¯d be arriving soon,¡± Cynthia said as they walked away from the window. ¡°Or else we might have flown straight into the sea.¡± Ash¡¯s face turned to horror, unable to tell if she was joking or not. Her smirk gave nothing away. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re just friends with a legendary pok¨¦mon?¡± Ash asked after finally recovering from the initial shock. ¡°Legendary pok¨¦mon¡­,¡± Cynthia repeated. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you of all people put much stock into labels like that.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Hmmm,¡± Cynthia tapped her cheek as if deciding how to word her explanation. ¡°I guess this will be one of the first lessons I¡¯m going to give you. Legendaries, as most know them, aren¡¯t substantially different from so-called ¡®non-legendaries.¡¯ Really, the only thing that sets them apart is how reclusive they are, which certainly makes their rarity legendary. Because of that, people often make the false assumption that there is only one ¡®legendary¡¯ of each species. But they are pok¨¦mon like any other, even if there are far fewer of them. Some are strong and some are weak. Some are ubiquitous, and others have only a handful of recorded sightings in all of human history. The term ¡®legendary¡¯ was popularized by the League awhile ago, and it¡¯s stuck ever since then. Now we have ridiculous terms like ¡®pseudo-legendary¡¯ and ¡®semi-pseudo-legendary¡¯ to further confine pok¨¦mon into completely arbitrary tiers. In truth, none of it is very consistent at all when placed under scrutiny.¡± ¡°But, legendary pok¨¦mon are abnormally powerful,¡± Ash argued. ¡°I mean¡­ sure some pok¨¦mon are strong, but the legendaries are in a whole different category. They have myths and stories told about them. Some rule over the elements, over time and space itself!¡± ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t discount their destructive potential. But rule over¡­ I¡¯d say that¡¯s a bit hyperbolic. Certainly some are able to tap into abilities not possessed by any other pok¨¦mon species, but just like a so-called ¡®average¡¯ pok¨¦mon, the ¡®legendaries¡¯ have varying power between them as well. At the end of the day, every pok¨¦mon¡¯s strength is dependent on its own innate power, as well as the ability of its trainer to bring out its greatest potential.¡± Ash drank up her information hungrily. Although he¡¯d been intrigued at the first mention of her ¡®TV team,¡¯ and had been dying to see what she was truly capable of, this explanation seemed to be a glimpse beyond into Cynthia¡¯s own philosophy as a pok¨¦mon trainer. A philosophy outside the dogma of the League. And as an archeologist, she, possibly more than anyone else, would know fact from fiction when it came to legendary pok¨¦mon. Ash wondered what other conventions she would shatter for him. What other mental barriers had his extended participation in the League built up? He was eager to break them all down one by one. ¡°Ah, there you are. I thought I heard you tromping around my island.¡± At the end of the hall stood a man who looked eerily similar to Cynthia. He had her sharp gray eyes and platinum blonde hair, though his was tucked beneath a white bandanna. He wore a beige apron and held a broom. Cynthia clicked her tongue. ¡°Nice of you to meet us when we landed,¡± she said sarcastically. ¡°Oh, wait¡­¡± ¡°This is a big island. So much to attend to, and so little time,¡± the man shrugged. Then his gaze shifted over to Ash. ¡°Welcome to Paragon Island, World Champion. What an honor it is to meet you in the flesh.¡± The two men approached each other and shook hands. ¡°This is Sylvester. He¡¯s the groundskeeper of Paragon Island,¡± Cynthia said, thumbing him lazily. ¡°Anything you need while you¡¯re here, he can take care of. He slinks around the island like a ghost, but if you can find him, he does make a passable strawberry shortcake.¡± ¡°You wound me, cousin,¡± Sylvester grinned, clutching his heart in dramatic fashion. ¡°Are you sure you even wanted to see me first thing off the jet?¡± Ash looked between them. ¡°You guys are cousins?¡± ¡°Yes, we are, though she¡¯s really much more like a little sister. I tell you, she tries to keep up this mysterious aura about her, but it¡¯s honestly so embarrassing. Very juvenile¡ª agh!¡± Sylvester stumbled back as Cynthia palmed him in the chin, and he barely caught himself on his broom before he could fall over. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ash. There are other parts of the island I have yet to show you, and you can always catch up with this nonce later.¡± Cynthia passed him without another thought, stomping further down the hallway. Ash followed her carefully as Sylvester waved them off, beaming like he¡¯d just won the lottery. What was the relationship between these two? Were they on good or bad terms? Difficult to say. After Cynthia showed him several more rooms in the facility, she and Ash headed back outside for a tour of the exterior. There were several clearings in the forest, which made for great training grounds. Quiet streams laced between the trees beside the path, and Ash saw a number of docile wild pok¨¦mon in the grass and trees who peered at them curiously as they passed by. Eventually, they made it to the beach, a swath of silky sand rimmed by gently lapping waves. If this island hadn¡¯t housed the headquarters of the Paragon Organization, it would have made an excellent resort. Finally, they hiked up the small mountain on the north side of the island. It didn¡¯t take long and it was an easy trek, but by the time they reached the top, the sun had begun to sink, turning the sky a breathless pink. They walked up to a cliff which overlooked the entire island, and from here, Ash could see the billowing sea of trees below, and bits and pieces of the base which snuck glances up at them from beneath the canopy. A soft wind kissed their skin and hair. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± Ash asked. Cynthia exhaled. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to take a vacation first, huh? After becoming World Champion, it¡¯s right back to work without even one day off?¡± ¡°I gave up that title. I want to know what it was for, now. The answer to that is worth more than any vacation to me and my pok¨¦mon.¡± Cynthia studied him. She recognized those eyes of his. Right before a tough gym battle, or a difficult challenge, those eyes came out. Tough and clear and ready to obliterate any obstacle in their way. She smiled. ¡°To take the next step toward Pok¨¦mon Master, you must forget everything you think you know about pok¨¦mon, how they are raised, and how they are trained. I alluded to this earlier when we talked about legendary pok¨¦mon, but the League unwittingly instills many biases within its trainers, as expected of an institution of its size. The way you communicate with your pok¨¦mon, the moves you use, the variables you must be aware of. All of this and more has been hammered into habit for you, but you¡¯ll need to discard it all if you wish to take your skills to the next level.¡± ¡°Your participation in the League made you one of the strongest trainers in the world, without a doubt. The top 1% of the top 1%. Your time inside has served you well, but now its purpose has expired. The formulas they prescribe for bettering oneself exist for the masses, the lowest common denominator. That¡¯s not what you are. You¡¯ll need to pursue your own path toward strength. I¡¯m sure you started realizing certain things about your own unique style when you began training for the World Championships. For perhaps the first time in your trainer career, you followed your own instincts for what you thought was best for you and your pok¨¦mon, instead of relying on the systems provided by the League. It may seem obvious to you, but not many trainers would have thought of using gym leaders as little more than glorified punching bags to prepare for a fight against Leon.¡± Ash¡¯s mind started to drift as he recalled the nuances of his training sessions last year¡­ Now that it¡¯d been said out loud, there were a few things he could think of that showed he¡¯d already begun thinking outside of the box as far as his trajectory as a trainer went, but he quickly earmarked those thoughts for later as Cynthia continued. ¡°There are two imperatives you must meet before I can send you on your first assignment under the Paragon Organization,¡± she said, holding up two fingers. ¡°The first is that you must defeat me again. No holds barred this time. Anything goes. This battle will not be for entertainment.¡± Ash grinned as he nodded. This is exactly what he wanted. ¡°And what¡¯s the other condition?¡± ¡°We arrived on this island together, but I don¡¯t actually spend that much time here. I have my duties to the League, after all. I¡¯ll be leaving shortly, and I¡¯m sure you will too. Peaceful as it is, there¡¯s nothing on this island that could push you to the next level. Of course, that presents a problem for how you will return.¡± Cynthia smiled, her eyes twinkling. ¡°The second imperative is that you must befriend Cresselia.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 5 : Metamorphosis
Origin Child [5] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [5] Chapter 5 : Metamorphosis
The morning sun warmed the beach as Ash and Cynthia prepared their pok¨¦mon. This was her proof, Cynthia had said, for everything she¡¯d been claiming up until this point. Words were one thing, and they had been plenty for Ash to follow her, but Cynthia insisted on a live demonstration of power. She looked very pleased with herself, in her black tank top and camo pants, as she rolled her shoulders and casually stretched. Ash pulled a pok¨¦ball from his belt and stared at it. He knew he¡¯d be facing Garchomp. Cynthia¡¯d said as much over dinner last night, and Sylvester had laughed at her arrogance as he plated their steaks. Ash hadn¡¯t laughed. That dragon was already renowned across the world for its unparalleled strength, but if Cynthia was to be believed, it¡¯d been granted all of that celebrity while only showing off half its power. Greninja would be the best choice for his speed and ice moves, but Ash gripped Sceptile¡¯s pok¨¦ball. The grass-type was an all-rounder. He didn¡¯t have a type advantage, and he wasn¡¯t the strongest, fastest, or toughest in Ash¡¯s arsenal, but he was damn close. Ash wanted to know just how far the distance was between the World Champion of the Pok¨¦mon League and the head of the Paragon Organization. He released his partner, who immediately hunkered down in battle position, having been briefed on the situation by his trainer earlier that morning. Cynthia pulled one pok¨¦ball and two ultra balls from her belt. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she called before he could protest, ¡°your only opponent is Garchomp,¡± and she released all three in different directions. A Lapras appeared by the coast, and it waded into the lapping shallows of the beach, while a Blissey materialized on the grass just before the forest, beside the de facto battlefield. Then Garchomp landed on the sand across from them, and Ash began to sweat involuntarily. During the World Championships, it had seemed like a towering wall that demanded he rework his entire strategy just to ensure he could bring it down. Now, power radiated from it with every breath, every twitch of its tightened muscles, every flick of its yellow eyes. It almost seemed taller than before, and Ash found himself breathing heavier, its mere presence suffocating. It was like¡­ He swallowed. Like a legendary¡­ ¡°So powerful,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Is this the same Garchomp we battled just a few days ago?¡± ¡°When I use my strongest partners in League battles, I use limiters on their pok¨¦balls to nerf their true strength. Some gym leaders use them as well, when they don¡¯t have lower leveled pok¨¦mon for lower level gym battles. They were initially created by the International Police to restrain out-of-control wilds, so they¡¯re not on the general market. I¡¯m sure this is the first you¡¯re hearing of them.¡± True. It was. Another item on a growing list of things Ash had not been privy to within the institution of the League. Sceptile seemed to be having a similar reaction to Garchomp, as his teeth were clenched hard and he hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off of it since it¡¯d appeared. ¡°Breathe, Sceptile. We beat it once and we¡¯ll do it again.¡± At his words, Sceptile grinned and screeched in challenge, his anxiety ebbing away. ¡°You may have the first move, Ash.¡± They had a plan. All that was left to do now was execute it. Ash exhaled. ¡°Leaf Storm!¡± Sceptile hissed, summoning a blizzard of razor sharp leaves around him before hurtling them toward Garchomp. The dragon didn¡¯t move a muscle, and Cynthia didn¡¯t utter a word. As if it had a mind of its own, a thick sheet of sand leapt up from the beach in front of it, and with a wave of its fin, he cast it forward. It barreled through the leaves, ripping them to shreds, and Ash covered his face as the sands assaulted him. His eyes watered and he grunted as he fought through the maelstrom, and eventually it died down. When he lowered his arms, he did a double take. Sceptile was already on his knees, blood leaking from his butchered hide, wheezing. What the hell was that? Ash¡¯s mind failed him. That Leaf Storm wasn¡¯t weak by any means, and Garchomp countered it like it was nothing! And without being commanded to either! What even was that? Sandstorm? What happened to Sceptile¡¯s resistance? The plan had been to gauge Garchomp¡¯s strength with a ranged attack, then use Sceptile¡¯s speed to pepper in melee attacks. Now his pok¨¦mon looked to already be on his last legs. He wouldn¡¯t even be able to stand, much less attack. ¡°Sceptile, are you¡ª¡± ¡°Dragon Nova,¡± Cynthia commanded. ¡°Be careful.¡± Garchomp teleported. Or so it seemed. Ash hadn¡¯t even had time to close his eyes to blink before Garchomp stood before him, purple draconic energy pouring off its fin in angry, rippling waves. Time seemed to slow as Ash processed what was happening. A belch of smoke from its serrated maw. An arc of pure violence. A blinding white light as the attack connected. Garchomp¡¯s roar, and the ensuing detonation of energy besieged every single one of Ash¡¯s senses. His skin dried, his eyes felt like they¡¯d been poked out, and his eardrums vibrated from his close proximity, but his concern was not on himself. ¡°Sceptile!¡± Luckily, his trajectory was not hard to follow. Garchomp¡¯s left fin was still curved in front of it from the punch, and Ash followed its tip out to the open ocean. He was still flying away. Ash could barely even see him at this point but he just kept going, rocketing through the air like he was flying. Finally, he dipped down and landed in the water, a tiny splash of white in the far off distance. Ash couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Go get him, Lapras.¡± The water-type flew away in an explosion of seafoam. What¡­? Not a minute later, it returned, clambering up onto the shore until it sat before Ash. On its back, Sceptile lay broken and burned. His right side was scorched, and his entire body was bent at an impossible angle, curved around the point of impact. Pikachu moaned and Ash almost choked as Sceptile coughed. It was a scratchy, painful breath, but relief washed over him. Ash could tell he was shaking, and he couldn¡¯t stop. Every thought in his head died on the vine. This shouldn¡¯t¡­ no, how is this¡­ is Sceptile¡­ what¡­ how¡­? Cynthia walked up from behind Lapras. ¡°This is what I¡¯m capable of.¡± Ash snapped up at her and glared, his hands still resting on Sceptile, but she put up her hand and turned. ¡°I know you¡¯re tired but Heal Pulse please, Blissey.¡± The egg pok¨¦mon¡¯s skin glistened with sweat as it waddled over and hovered its stubby hands over Sceptile¡¯s mangled form. A bright light began to emit from the ends, and Ash looked away. When the light died down, Sceptile¡¯s body was back in proper shape. The scorch marks had faded, replaced by sallow new skin, and the many lacerations across his body had scabbed over. ¡°He¡¯ll make a full recovery,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°Though he¡¯ll be out of action for a week or two.¡± Ash¡¯s breathing slowed as he collected his thoughts. Anger, grief, and gratitude all roiled within him. ¡°You almost killed him,¡± he said quietly. ¡°That was never a concern. Garchomp is well aware of his own strength.¡± ¡°You almost killed me. That attack¡­¡± ¡°You were never in danger. Blissey protected you the entire time.¡± She pointed behind him, and Ash finally lifted his head and turned around. Everything behind him had been utterly obliterated. Trees lay in embarrassing heaps as if they''d exploded from the inside. The ridge behind him was pockmarked with tiny, innumerable craters like it¡¯d been eaten by vermin, and the beach had ruptured, wet sand yanked from the earth and dropped back to the ground unceremoniously in uneven mounds. Only a small circle of sand around Ash still looked normal. Ash¡¯s eyes widened as he surveyed the damage, before slowly turning back to Cynthia, then Blissey. Now that he thought about it, Blissey had been panting before using Heal Pulse on Sceptile. No wonder. It must have been no small task to protect him from Garchomp¡¯s unfettered wrath. ¡°Thank you,¡± he croaked, and Blissey smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I thought my actions would speak louder than any words. The true purpose of this battle was to show you what is possible. You¡¯ve spent almost a decade being¡­ for lack of a better word, domesticated by the League. I wanted to shatter that glass ceiling in one fell swoop.¡± Ash nodded in understanding, his attention back on Sceptile, whose breathing had stabilized as he slumbered on Lapras¡¯ back. ¡°I also wanted to prepare you for the sort of work you¡¯ll be doing in Paragon. This is no children¡¯s game. There will be no League rules or regulations to protect your pok¨¦mon, or you, from excessive harm. Perhaps this is not what you signed up for. Just say the word and I¡¯ll understand. You still have time to return to the limelight and reassume your role as World Champion. Of course, you¡¯ll have to keep everything about Paragon a secret.¡± Ash stayed silent for a while. Then, he chuckled, and Cynthia frowned at his change in demeanor. ¡°Do you really think I could go back after seeing that?¡± He got to his feet and recalled Sceptile, before facing Cynthia. Gone was the conflict. In its place, his face reflected iron resolve and his auburn eyes shimmered with determination. ¡°I already made my choice. I¡¯m not going anywhere. Thanks to this battle, I finally see beyond the veil. Everything you said yesterday about the League, even about legendary pok¨¦mon¡­ it feels like it all makes sense now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it,¡± Cynthia smiled. ¡°Although I invited you to Paragon because I thought you could help us, I¡¯ve still been rooting for you to make your dream come true ever since we met. I¡¯m glad I could help you take another step toward Pok¨¦mon Master. It will be up to you to find the next one.¡± ¡°Of course. I already have some ideas.¡± He glanced up at her and smirked. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have shown us so much. I¡¯m a fast learner.¡± Cynthia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± ¡°I don''t think so. I still have to beat you, don¡¯t I? No reason to give anything away now.¡± ¡°Ha! Someone¡¯s feeling confident. I¡¯ll tell you now that the others took no less than three years after I invited them to Paragon before they were able to defeat me, and I believe any one of them could have become World Champion.¡± Ash¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do it in two.¡± ¡°Fighting words,¡± Cynthia said, but she was clearly impressed. ¡°You also have a veritable army of pok¨¦mon. I don¡¯t expect you to neglect a single one.¡± Ash could practically hear the gears in his brain spinning, the adrenaline from the battle immediately shifting into overdrive as he started to think about what came next. A thousand possibilities distilled down to one in a matter of moments, then that plan sprouted a hundred branches. His eyes darted back and forth, categorizing and cataloging every new idea that popped into his head. Eventually, he forced himself to stop, and he grinned. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Thank you, Cynthia. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Cynthia nodded and picked her pok¨¦balls off her belt, recalling her partners. ¡°If that maniac look you just had on is anything to go on, I¡¯d say it seems like you have a plan for what to do next.¡± When Ash nodded, she smiled. ¡°Good. Though I¡¯m not sure you¡¯d want me to, it¡¯s a shame I won¡¯t be able to stick around for your training. I got a call this morning and I¡¯ll have to head out sooner than expected.¡± ¡°League business?¡± ¡°Something like that. I¡¯ll be flying out of here this afternoon. I don''t know when the others are supposed to come back, but if any of them do, say hi for me. If I¡¯m not wrong, you should be familiar with a couple of them already.¡± ¡°Wait, what? Who?¡± ¡°Sorry, secret organization and all, figure it out yourself, Mr. Pok¨¦mon Master.¡± Is that that ¡®mysterious aura¡¯ Sylvester was teasing her about? He wailed in exasperation as they walked back to the complex together. Far above, invisible to the eye, Cresselia watched them go. Her eyes narrowed.
When they arrived back at headquarters, Cynthia split off to go pack up, and luckily, Sylvester was out trimming the hedges in front of the building. ¡°Hey, Sylvester! Think you could take a look at Sceptile? Cynthia beat him up pretty bad.¡± He put down his trimmers and pulled off his gloves. ¡°Absolutely. That cousin of mine is a veritable brute, though she doesn¡¯t get to go all out very often so I¡¯m not surprised. After he took Sceptile¡¯s pok¨¦ball, he released the grass-type for a second to look it over, then recalled it. ¡°Goodness,¡± he cursed and clicked his tongue, shaking his head. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get started on the treatment immediately.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Ash said, before racing inside. Once there, he took what could have been the fastest shower of his entire life, eager to get into training immediately. First, he dashed back to the medical room where Sylvester was working on Sceptile. It was large enough to service any size pok¨¦mon. ¡°Ash!¡± the man jumped when he saw him. ¡°Goodness you¡¯re quick. I¡¯m just about finished here.¡± Sceptile sat up on an exam table as Sylvester massaged a translucent substance into his injuries. ¡°This salve is made from sitrus berries that grow here on the islands. Cresselia tends to them, so they¡¯re more potent than usual.¡± Ash nodded. ¡°Thank you, Sylvester.¡± ¡°Still,¡± Sylvester said as he walked over to the sink. ¡°It¡¯s not like Cynthia to brutalize her opponents like she did. She must have been quite confident you and your pok¨¦mon could take it. I imagine she has high hopes for you.¡± ¡°No time like the present. I was going to begin training now. Are you done with Sceptile?¡± ¡°Yes. Sceptile is fine enough to move, but if you have him do anything too strenuous, his cuts will reopen and the new skin will sweat and break. Best to let him sit in the sun for the next few days.¡± Sceptile groaned as he slid off the table. After moving around a bit to test his body, he seemed satisfied and walked back over to Ash. Pikachu flashed him a thumbs up, and Sceptile gave one back in response. ¡°Well, good luck with your training. As always, I¡¯m around if you need me. And stop by my place before you decide to leave Paragon Island. I¡¯d love to show you my pok¨¦mon and get a World Champion¡¯s opinion on them.¡± He dried his hands on a towel and slung it over his shoulder. ¡°Of course! Cynthia pointed it out on the tour. South side of the island, right? I¡¯ll definitely check it out before we leave, though I still have to befriend Cresselia first, so not sure if I¡¯ll be heading out any time soon.¡± ¡°Befriend Cresselia? Oh, right. Yes, I guess that would be a problem if you couldn¡¯t make it back here.¡± Sylvester smirked. ¡°Must you be so difficult, Cynthia?¡± They went their separate ways, and after stopping by his room to gather all of his pok¨¦mon in his duffel bag, Ash headed back outside and followed a path to an open clearing. ¡°I really need to find a better way to carry these,¡± Ash huffed as he tossed the bag down and began expelling their contents. Each pok¨¦mon came out with varying levels of annoyance, unused as they were to staying in a pok¨¦ball after running around Oak¡¯s ranch freely for so long. Sceptile stepped over to his comrades, and those closest immediately began fussing over his injuries. Oshawott tried spraying his skin with water to soothe it, but Gengar popped up and caught it in his mouth before it could land. Sceptile thanked Gengar for making sure the salve didn¡¯t get washed off, and Gengar thanked Oshawott for the cool drink, licking its lips. Oshawott fumed as the ghost taunted him, but Goodra strode over to break them up before a fight could start. ¡°Alright, everyone, let¡¯s get started!¡± Ash called, and his pok¨¦mon broke off their conversations to line up before him. Maybe it was because he could see them better now that it was day time, but gathered all together like this, the sight of all of them together filled him with pride, and a bit of anxiety. He was just one man, after all. The thought of raising all of them to the next level in just two years was daunting, to say the least. ¡°Our battle with Cynthia earlier¡­ wasn¡¯t great, but she showed us a lot, maybe more than she realized. For starters, I think there are three things we need to focus on if we want to beat Cynthia in two years.¡± He took a deep breath, ready to share everything he¡¯d been thinking about since the end of their battle. ¡°First,¡± he held up a finger, ¡°is communication. Besides the fact that it takes way too long for me to issue a command to keep up with something like Cynthia¡¯s Garchomp, we¡¯re also revealing our hand if I call out every single move. We¡¯re practically telling our opponent what we''re about to do. Maybe that¡¯s not such a big deal against weaker trainers, but I could tell even against the others in the World Championships that a few of them were acting on my verbal commands, or at least trying to. Of course, I¡¯ll still be directing the battle since I have a wider view of things, but we¡¯ll need to develop each of your battle IQs so you can take the initiative in situations where you have literally less than a second to react.¡± His pok¨¦mon nodded in understanding. ¡°Second, is pure power. Theoretically, this one should be the easiest to train up. Up until now, we¡¯ve mostly been training against the wild pok¨¦mon we come across on routes, and against each other. It makes sense that we¡¯ve been struggling to get to the next level, since our opponents stopped getting substantially stronger awhile ago. Last year, I came up with the idea of challenging all the gym leaders again, and that worked for the World Championships, and I have another idea similar to that that I¡¯ll tell you all about later once I do a bit of research.¡± They pumped their fists, excited for what their master had in store for them, especially those who weren¡¯t fully evolved yet. ¡°Third, is cheating.¡± His pok¨¦mon squawked in surprise, angry that he¡¯d stoop so low, but he quieted them down. ¡°Third is cheating,¡± he repeated. ¡°This is what Cynthia was trying to impress upon me the most, I think. We¡¯re not in the League anymore, and this isn¡¯t a friendly competition anymore. Paragon is responsible for dealing with threats that even the League has difficulty with, like insanely powerful wild pok¨¦mon and even criminal groups. Every battle from now on, you need to assume your opponent is trying to kill you, or trying to kill me. We should expect to get ganged up on. Cynthia technically deployed three pok¨¦mon versus our one, and if she was an enemy, they all would¡¯ve attacked.¡± Pikachu pointed at himself, and Ash couldn¡¯t help but smile, but he didn¡¯t let himself get distracted. ¡°Of course, that also means we don''t have to play by the rules either, since there aren¡¯t any. I have no plans of killing any pok¨¦mon or human, but we need to be aware of what¡¯s coming our way. I doubt we¡¯ll ever find ourselves in a true 1v1 scenario ever again.¡± After hearing his explanation, his pok¨¦mon murmured in agreement between each other. Charizard and Scraggy snorted, eager to stop playing by the rules as soon as possible, and several others joined in their enthusiasm. ¡°Now as I said, that¡¯s just for starters,¡± Ash clarified. ¡°There¡¯re still other things I want to tackle, like custom moves and techniques, as well as a few other more advanced ideas I came up with, but we¡¯ll get into those on a case-by-case basis. Any questions?¡± No one replied, until Ash felt a jolt in his brain. I have a few concerns, Master. ¡°Ah, Lucario,¡± Ash said, picking him out of the crowd, and the iron jackal stepped forward. ¡°What is it?¡± I understand that before our great victory, human laws dictated you travel with no more than six partners at one time, but there are no less than seventy-five of us here. Will you be able to work with all of us? Not to mention the Tauros, who I suspect you¡¯ll need to spend more time with to discern their personalities and preferred fighting styles. I also believe it would be wise if you yourself trained alongside us so you could strengthen your body and learn the ways of battle. Additionally, this sounds like quite the undertaking, so we¡¯ll need to prepare enough rations and supplies to last this endeavor. And if I may add, I¡¯ve recently taken a liking to a nourishment known as ¡®potato chips,¡¯ so I¡¯d humbly request such accouterments to be included, though rest assured I understand that they are unhealthy and I¡ª Totodile squealed in impatience and headbutted Lucario¡¯s leg, and the steel-type frowned in indignity. ¡°Thank you for your concerns, Lucario, you¡¯ve given me a lot to think about.¡± Lucario was diligent to a fault, and had been back when he¡¯d visited his old friend Riley to pick him up. As the younger brother of Riley¡¯s own Lucario, he¡¯d grown up at Cameran Palace, and as Ash had soon learned, he¡¯d spent just as much time reading books in the library as he did training on the battlefield. He was a bit of a sheltered child who¡¯d only recently spread his wings. ¡°If that¡¯s all, then the next thing I want to knock out is finding Cresselia. She¡¯s hiding on this island somewhere. Let¡¯s split up and find her!¡± His pok¨¦mon roared, invigorated by their new way forward, and they took off in various directions, with the flyers taking flight. Pikachu rejoined Ash, leaping onto his shoulder, and they disappeared into the forest. One hour turned to two, then three, and by then, Ash¡¯s stomach was starting to gurgle. ¡°C¡¯mon, where are you?¡± he muttered. ¡°Cresselia! Please come out, I need to talk to you!¡± Pikachu shouted from atop his head as they stalked through the forest, but his back clearly wasn¡¯t in it anymore. He was just repeating his trainer at this point. ¡°Should be lunch time right around now,¡± Ash said, checking his watch. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the end of this path then head back to base. I think Sylvester¡¯s got pasta or something waiting for us.¡± The sunlight filtering through the canopy gradually became brighter and brighter as the trees grew more sparse, and eventually, they reached a small ridge which dropped off onto sand. They¡¯d made it to the end. Jumping off the ridge, Ash shielded his eyes from the sun, and its reflection off the ocean, as he looked left, then looked right. Pikachu squinted and mimicked him, holding his paw above his eyes. ¡°Oh¡­¡± This was where they¡¯d had their battle this morning. Ash had thought they were farther south, but the breadth of Garchomp¡¯s attack had just been that big. The wind had done little to smooth over the sand, and the trees obviously hadn¡¯t moved an inch. It looked like a hurricane had passed through. Ash jogged over and Pikachu jumped off his head to sniff around. ¡°We really did a number on this place,¡± Ash murmured. ¡°Well, I say ¡®we,¡¯ but it was all Garchomp.¡± A thought crossed his mind, and just as he was turning to Pikachu, someone else broke through the forest¡¯s edge. Torterra lumbered through the trees, pushing them aside with his giant shell. On his back rode Gible, who was gnawing on a rock, and Heracross, who seemed to be in the middle of a nap. Ash deadpanned. ¡°Busted. How¡¯s the search coming, Gible, Heracross!¡± The two pok¨¦mon immediately bolted up at the sound of their master¡¯s voice. Torterra smirked as they tripped over themselves, getting to their feet and making a dramatic show of looking all around for the elusive lunar pok¨¦mon. ¡°Save the theatrics and get over here guys,¡± he said, and they obliged, eager to nip any consequences for their behavior in the bud. ¡°This is where it happened.¡± Heracross clicked in surprise, and Gible¡¯s massive jaw dropped open. ¡°Think you¡¯ll be able to do that one day, Gible?¡± Gible didn¡¯t respond, still entranced by the carnage. ¡°I want your guys¡¯ help to clean this place up a little. Then we¡¯ll go have lunch, okay?¡± For the next hour, they labored on the beach. Eventually, Ash took off his shirt as the sun continued to beat down on them, but put it back on after realizing he¡¯d probably get sunburned. He and Heracross loaded destroyed branches and trunks onto Torterra¡¯s back so he could dump them over into a massive pile, where Gible proceeded to burn them to smithereens. Pikachu couldn¡¯t do much due to his size, but he did chop the larger tree trunks into smaller pieces with Iron Tail so the others had an easier time of carrying them. Once the remnants of the trees were gone, Gible and Torterra got to work shifting the sand and soil back into place and smoothing it over so it looked more or less like the rest of the island. Finally, all that was left to do was replace the trees they¡¯d destroyed. ¡°Alright, Torterra, use Synthesis.¡± Torterra grunted, and a green glow emanated across his back as the grass on it elongated. At several points, small oak saplings sprouted, and Ash smiled. ¡°Perfect.¡± After climbing onto Torterra¡¯s back, he carefully unearthed the saplings and brought them over to the barren forest, digging a hole for each of them. Before long, he¡¯d planted a small grove of twenty oak trees, barely enough to fill the empty space. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ash exhaled. ¡°Well, that took way longer than I expected. And they¡¯re not the same kind of tree but oh well. Thanks for your help, guys.¡± His pok¨¦mon cheered, all proud of their handiwork. In one sense, it almost felt like he was covering up his loss, but in another, it was like he was creating something entirely new, clearing away the damage to make way for new growth. He was satisfied. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go have lunch. I didn¡¯t think about it before, but there are other islands in the Fullmoon Islands, so Cresselia may not even be here right now. Let¡¯s pay a visit to Sylvester later and ask him for some pointers. He seems a lot more forthcoming with answers than Cynthia.¡± As they turned back toward the forest, Ash felt a shove from behind, and he stumbled as he caught himself. ¡°Hey! What gives Heracross¡ª¡± Cresselia stared back at him, chittering in delight. ¡°Cresselia!¡± Heracross tensed up and raised his fists at the lunar mythic, ready to protect his master. ¡°Calm down, Heracross. No need to overcompensate because I caught you napping earlier,¡± Ash said, and the bug-type blushed, slinking back. Ash rubbed his head. He was a warrior in mind, but a sloth at heart. ¡°Hey, Cresselia, we¡¯ve been looking for you all morning. We just wanna talk for a little while. Is that okay?¡± Cresselia seemed to mull it over, but she eventually turned away from him, instead floating over to the saplings he¡¯d planted. She chirped happily and flapped her gossamer wings. Soft pink dust wafted from them and blew over the saplings. Where they touched, the leaves took on a shiny hue, and they almost seemed to glow with how reflective their surfaces became. Torterra rumbled happily, pleased with her fertilization, and Cresselia bobbed back over, nuzzling his face before meandering back over to Ash. She smiled. ¡°O-Oh, you¡¯re welcome,¡± he chuckled as her moonlight caressed his arm. ¡°Sorry for ruining your island. It was my fault. It wouldn¡¯t have happened if I was stronger. So¡­do you want to be friends?¡± Cresselia chirped happily, spinning in the air. Pikachu sent a small introductory jolt at her, and she giggled, knocking Pikachu off Ash¡¯s shoulder with a psychic push. Gible started jumping up at her, wanting to join the fun, but she floated over to Torterra, placing herself in his tree and resting in his branches, completely out of reach. Ash smiled, and they all walked back to base together, gathering a few more on the way. Things just worked out for him every now and then, and this was clearly one of those times.
Cynthia climbed into the jet and lowered herself into her usual seat. It was still only the afternoon, but she was exhausted, as usual. Sleeping in four hour intervals would do that. Just as she was beginning to close her eyes, one of her flight crew approached, and she opened them again. ¡°To Lily of the Valley, ma¡¯am?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. To Alola.¡± ¡°Again? Already?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions. Just wake me up when we enter their airspace.¡± He bowed and left her alone. She closed her eyes again. Not like these men were untrustworthy, she¡¯d hand picked them after all. The League supplied all their top trainers with a retinue of attendants, but for anyone worth their salt as high up as she was, they were immediately replaced. The other Champions were no different. They all pursued their own pleasures and interests beyond the ken of the League, though running a paramilitary group in Sinnoh¡¯s backyard probably took the cake. But some things she wanted closer to her chest than others. She fell asleep after they took off. Next ¡ª Chapter 6 : The Paragons of Paragon
Origin Child [6] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [6] Chapter 6 : The Paragons of Paragon
Cynthia left that afternoon after joining Ash and Sylvester for lunch. She¡¯d said Sylvester¡¯s cooking was only mildly better than the airplane fare on her private jet, or else she¡¯d have left earlier, but Ash caught her packing several containers to go as he was heading outside to rejoin his other pok¨¦mon. Don¡¯t tell Sylvester, she¡¯d said. His ego is big enough as it is. Bit of tsundere when it came to her cousin, clearly. He took a plate outside to eat with the rest of his pok¨¦mon after they¡¯d gathered together again. There, they enjoyed a nice lunch, courtesy of Sylvester, though unfortunately Cresselia had flown off somewhere. It was nice to eat alongside all of them together, under the sun and out in nature. Luckily, they behaved themselves for the most part, but of course Gengar had to antagonize his usual prey. This time, Oshawott landed a few hits with Razor Shell and Gengar was beginning to counter with a cloud of poison, but Ash shut it down before anyone could get seriously hurt. Although he felt a bit bad for Oshawott, all the pranks were starting to make him a legitimately better fighter, even against Gengar¡¯s incorporeality. After lunch, he recalled them all and headed back to base to plan out his next journey. Now he found himself in one of several conference rooms throughout the facility. A map of the entire world lay on the table in front of him, and Pikachu padded across it, trying to find words he recognized. Kanto and Johto, or the Tohjo Supercontinent, lay to the west, Hoenn and Alola lay to the south, Sinnoh lay to the north, and Unova, Kalos, and Galar all lay to the east. Ash had set up another map for Paldea, even further to the east. He squeezed his chin as he thought. ¡°We¡¯ll have to split up,¡± he murmured, ¡°or we¡¯ll never cover enough ground in time.¡± Is this two-year time limit so important, Master? As expected, Lucario could not let his master bear the burden of planning their next move by himself, and he insisted on joining the meeting. ¡°It is important,¡± Ash replied. ¡°Now that we don''t have any conference deadlines to look forward to, we need to set our own or we¡¯ll get complacent. I told Cynthia we¡¯d be back in two years to defeat her and that¡¯s what I intend on doing.¡± What sort of ¡®ground¡¯ are you looking to cover? Not another round through the gyms, I presume? Perhaps the others would benefit, but us who took part in the World Championships have already done it. I¡¯d like to continue improving myself as well. ¡°And I expect you to. All of you. So no, no more gyms. I became World Champion. I don¡¯t know if they¡¯d even let me challenge them again. But even if I¡¯m not holding the throne, I can still take full advantage of the privileges that title grants.¡± He placed his finger on the map. ¡°Now we should be able to go here.¡± Lucario circled around the table to see what he was pointing at. Mount Silver¡­ if I remember, you need the eight badges of the Kanto or Johto Regions as well as a conference victory to be permitted entry. ¡°That¡¯s right. Though there are areas even deeper within the mountain that are still off-limits to trainers who meet that criteria. Certain unexplored or dangerous sections can only be accessed by Elite Four members and above. That¡¯s where I mean to go.¡± Lucario chewed on that notion for a bit. I¡¯m confident I am prepared for such an ordeal. But forgive me for saying, I¡¯m not sure most of the others are. ¡°That¡¯s another reason we¡¯re splitting up. When training to face Leon, we took on the League¡¯s ultimate gauntlet. Now, I want to create our own. We¡¯ll be heading to all the most dangerous places in the world.¡± He moved his finger across the map as he talked. ¡°Mirage Island in Hoenn, said to be the home of many rare and powerful pok¨¦mon. The Survival Zone in Sinnoh, where the wild pok¨¦mon are feral and they fight over every watering hole and berry bush. Area Zero in Paldea, where pok¨¦mon from the brutal age before the Great War live. And many others too. The depths of Mount Coronet, the Abyssal Ruins, the Terminus Caves, the Isle of Armor¡­ After becoming World Champion, all of these places and more are open to us!¡± He wheeled on Lucario with a giant grin on his face to get his reaction, but the jackal was a statue. Did¡­ did you just look at a list of all the League¡¯s restricted areas and plan our journey based on that? ¡°Yeah!¡± Pikachu pumped his fists as if to say, I was there when he did it! After a few more seconds, Lucario sighed and put his paw on his face. You should really think about your comrades before deciding something like this. At that, Ash turned serious. ¡°I did think about them. I love all my pok¨¦mon, but I¡¯m not so na?ve as to think that hard work alone will take us to the next level. We¡¯ll be splitting up across the entire world, so I expect the stronger pok¨¦mon to take care of the weaker ones. That being said though, don¡¯t underestimate them. There¡¯s more than meets the eye to a lot of them.¡± Lucario nodded, and his mouth curled into a smile. ¡®Pipe down, newbie.¡¯ Is that what you¡¯re saying? Ash grinned. ¡°Sort of. I know you¡¯re just worried about them, but I wouldn¡¯t have suggested it if I thought every one of them couldn¡¯t handle it. Thank you for caring so much.¡± I trust your judgment, Master. I will go along with this plan. Lucario said, but he still looked a little uneasy. They continued to pore over the map for the rest of the day, charting out a journey, outlining a timetable, organizing everyone into teams, and hammering down the logistics of food and medicine. Ash planned on hopping from one team to the next in two month intervals, and he decided to keep a core group that would travel with him at all times. Pikachu was a given, and Lucario refused to take no for an answer. Pidgeot was his strongest long distance flyer, and Lapras would work well for water travel. Infernape would be his spear, as a superb ranged and melee fighter, and Boldore would be his shield, with a potential for even greater durability after his evolution. After Lucario reminded him he could carry more than six pok¨¦mon, he added Gible and Gengar to the team, and Oshawott as well. He really wanted to patch up that relationship. It was well past midnight when they finally finished. Ash had wanted to brief everyone on the plan, but it could wait until tomorrow. For now, it was bedtime.
Ash woke up the next morning far earlier than he intended. He squinted at his watch on the bedside table, hoping maybe he was misreading it, but even once they came into focus, it read 6:08. He fell back under his sheets, but it was no use. He was awake. Sighing, he swung himself off his bed and went to the bathroom, leaving Pikachu nestled in the corner. It didn¡¯t take him long to freshen up and get dressed, and he went outside by himself. Beyond the windows that lined the hall, it was starting to look like a beautiful day. The swollen sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting golden beams over the blinded sea. He was going on a jog. It was a habit he¡¯d gotten into during his ¡®year of hell,¡¯ and though it¡¯d contributed to the name at first, he¡¯d soon learned to enjoy the solitude, and the punishment on his body. If his pok¨¦mon were working so hard, why shouldn¡¯t he? Come to think of it, once they set out from Paragon Island, he¡¯d probably have to start pushing himself even harder to match them. Lucario had proposed giving him martial arts lessons. How serious was that offer? Who am I kidding, he was dead serious. Amendment #1 to the plan. Martial arts training with Lucario. As Ash walked through the kitchen and a few other rooms to get to the front door, he abruptly stopped in the living room. It was sparsely furnished, just a few couches and plants atop a bamboo floor. There was a woman sitting right in front of the window, on the ground, legs crossed. She¡¯d been so quiet and still that Ash hadn¡¯t even noticed her. In fact, almost everything about her seemed nondescript. She had long, jet black hair and wore simple loungewear. But around both her wrists spun two black gauntlets, glittering with some sort of jade energy. And it was then that Ash noticed she was staring straight into the sun. He frowned, but after several seconds, she still hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°Good morning,¡± he said. She jumped. Like literally jumped off the ground and snapped to attention like she¡¯d just been caught napping in class. Now that she was facing him, Ash winced. Her eyes were amethyst, and indeed they looked just like the surface of a jagged crystal, with flecks of gold and silver. When she looked at him, it felt like she was staring into him, through him. He suppressed a shudder, which was made easier by the fact that her pale white skin was rapidly turning a deep pink in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry!¡± Ash said quickly, putting up his hands defensively. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to startle you. I guess it¡¯s still pretty early.¡± Her eyes were wide, but she placed a hand on her chest to calm herself, and after a few deep breaths, she seemed fine. She looked back up at him and bowed. ¡°Nice to meet you, my name is Sabrina.¡± Wait. ¡°Sabrina? Like¡­ gym leader of¡­ Saffron City, I think? Psychic specialist¡­¡± His eyes drifted to the gauntlets on her wrists, which were spinning faster than before. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s me. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± She put her hands behind her back. ¡°Yeah, hey, I¡¯m Ash,¡± he said, scratching the back of his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much Cynthia told you¡­ not much, I assume, if I¡¯ve learned anything about her these past couple days. Anyways, I¡¯ll be joining Paragon once I defeat her so¡­ let¡¯s get along!¡± He smiled, trying to alleviate her obvious nervousness. She did something between a smile and a cringe. ¡°O-Oh, yeah she said someone else would be joining but she didn¡¯t say who. I guess that¡¯s you¡­ nice to meet you¡­¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Ha ha! That¡¯s the third time you¡¯ve said that, but we¡¯ve actually met before. I challenged your gym seven years ago and you, uh¡­ kind of turned me and my friends into dolls¡­ I mean, not that it matters! All¡¯s well that ends well, and I did get my badge.¡± Sabrina turned away and clutched her head. ¡°Oh no,¡± she breathed. Her gauntlets spit sparks as they spun. ¡°H-Hey, really, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Ash urged. It¡¯s really¡ª¡± Ash woke up the next morning far later than he intended. He squinted at his watch on the bedside table, hoping maybe he was misreading it, but even once they came into focus, it read 11:22. He cursed and sat up. Pikachu was still snoring beside him beneath the covers, and he rolled his eyes. ¡°Wake up, buddy! Time to get going!¡± Pikachu croaked as his eyes blinked open. He looked around for a few seconds, then squinted at Ash. One of his ears drooped. ¡°What?¡± Pikachu rolled his eyes and jumped off the bed, already tapping toward the door. What¡¯s his problem? Ash thought as he opened the door to let him through. Sylvester was already making lunch when they got to the kitchen, and he nodded when he saw Ash. ¡°Late start today huh, Ash?. Stay up late last night?¡± ¡°Yea¡­ I guess.¡± He must have been poring over that map for much longer than he thought he did. It was quite uncharacteristic of him to be up this late. ¡°Well, just in time for lunch,¡± he winked as he sawed through a long loaf of bread. ¡°Chicken clubs today. One of Sabrina¡¯s favorites, I think.¡± ¡°Sabrina?¡± Sylvester paused, then smiled and pointed his knife at Ash. ¡°Right! Sorry to spoil Cynthia¡¯s fun, but yes, Sabrina Natsume, former gym leader of Saffron City, is a member of Paragon. She returned last night, though I¡¯m not surprised you missed her. She is light on her feet, and she¡¯s not exactly the extroverted type.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ash recalled his journey through Kanto. Sabrina was a human psychic, one of a precious few throughout all of human history, much less alive today. Apparently, her psychic abilities had caused a split personality, one of cold and ruthless pursuit of power, and one of childlike innocence. It was only thanks to the advice of her father and the whims of a Haunter Ash had caught to use in the gym battle, that he was able to pull out a win against her. That was seven years ago. Ash could only imagine how powerful she was now. Sylvester brought him a sandwich cut in half, one for himself, and a bowl of pok¨¦mon kibble for Pikachu, and they all sat at the table together. Ash thanked him and immediately dug in. ¡°You¡¯ll be pleased to know the other members of Paragon are due to arrive within the week as well,¡± Sylvester smiled. ¡°Though for how long they¡¯ll stay, I cannot say.¡± ¡°Is Paragon always pretty busy?¡± ¡°No, actually. Paragon¡¯s operatives are pledged to Cynthia¡¯s service, but they are free to pursue their own goals when they have down time in between assignments. Like yourself, they all harbor their own dreams, and are using Paragon as a means of furthering them. Cynthia is no different, and neither am I. It¡¯s basically one big quid-pro-quo.¡± Ash swallowed his bite. ¡°What¡¯re you using Paragon for? What¡¯s your dream?¡± Sylvester smiled as he nibbled on a piece of lettuce. ¡°My passion is for pok¨¦mon breeding. Attaching myself to my cousin allows me access to the best and rarest breeds in the world. Even after so long, pok¨¦mon remain such a mystery to us. Breeding is the avenue by which I try to unravel their secrets.¡± Ash nodded as he listened. His friend Brock was a breeder too, though at the time he¡¯d told him, Ash had just assumed it meant he was some sort of specialized pok¨¦mon doctor. Admittedly, Sylvester made it sound much more interesting. ¡°Oh¡­ so that¡¯s why you wanted me to see your pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Yes, your appraisal interests me greatly, especially since you¡¯ve been to so many regions and seen so many different species. I can¡¯t claim to be a great battler, but my pok¨¦mon are nothing like the mass produced starters handed out to aspiring trainers at the start of their journey. My pok¨¦mon are perfection!¡± He beamed, and his eyes shone with pride. ¡°I¡¯d love to see them!¡± ¡°Excellent! You know where my daycare is. I¡¯ll be there until dinner, so swing by when you have the time!¡± They continued to converse as they ate, and when they were done, they excused themselves to tackle the rest of the day. Sabrina did not show herself, and Sylvester left her sandwich covered on the counter. Ash spent the rest of the afternoon explaining his plan and finally resuming his pok¨¦mon¡¯s training. If they were shocked at how meticulous his plan was, those feelings were wholly overshadowed by their excitement at what was coming next. Many of them hadn¡¯t been in a serious battle in years, and were eager to flex their muscles. For the training, Ash matched them up unevenly on purpose. His slowest against his fastest. His heaviest against his flyers. His glass cannons against his strongest. The locations they¡¯d be going to were dangerous. He wanted them all to be prepared against each of their own individual worst case scenarios. And most importantly, they needed to be able to act independently. He observed the battles from a distance, picking out weaknesses and blind spots, and giving pointers. The goal was to force them out of their comfort zones. When they all seemed to be on the right track, he switched up the matchups again, and left without them even noticing. Giving one last glance back at Pikachu¡¯s battle with Gliscor, he headed south. Time to see the pok¨¦mon Sylvester was so proud of. Fifteen minutes later, after a relaxing walk through the forest, Ash arrived at Sylvester¡¯s ¡°daycare.¡± It kept the same outline of traditional Kantonian style as the headquarters proper, but leaned even more into the modern aesthetic. Panels of triangular glass curved over dark cherry walls. The building sat beside the beach, and from what Ash could see, it stretched over the ocean. Sylvester was without, speaking with someone else, and Ash lit up at the sight. ¡°¡­got back last night, so now we¡¯re just waiting on the other two,¡± he was saying. ¡°Well then, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what all the commotion on the other side of the island is, and meeting our new compatriot.¡± Ash broke through the trees, and both men turned toward him. The newcomer, or veteran, wore his long green hair in a ponytail, and he sported a simple collared white shirt and loose slacks. ¡°N?¡± The man smiled at Ash¡¯s appearance, his mouth dropping open. ¡°Ash, old friend! Is that really you?¡± The two trainers sped toward each other and grasped hands, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m at a loss for words¡­ you just became World Champion, did you not?¡± ¡°Yeah, but we¡¯re not stopping there! We can go even higher!¡± ¡°Cynthia pulled him away at an afterparty,¡± Sylvester drawled. ¡°Seems all she had to do was pour a bit of honey in his ear and his crown was as good as forfeit.¡± ¡°Hey, I gave it thought! I was already thinking about doing something else,¡± Ash retorted, and Sylvester raised an eyebrow and smirked. He led them inside as Ash and N caught up, talking about their various adventures since their time in Unova together. Within the daycare, sunlight poured through the transparent roof upon an artificial paradise. Rolling green hills, cragged stone ridges, and shimmering pools littered the environment. The far end was completely open to the elements. Ash broke off the conversation to gape at his surroundings. It was like they were inside a giant terrarium. Although it didn¡¯t look this large from outside, now that he was inside, it was clear that parts of the terrain had been dug out to make more room. Almost every habitat imaginable lie within the glass, and they weren¡¯t small either. ¡°It¡¯s still a work in progress,¡± Sylvester explained. ¡°I want to expand out another wing over there so I can create a cold habitat for ice-types. But I¡¯m quite pleased with how things have turned out.¡± ¡°I always stop here first when I return to Paragon Island,¡± N said. ¡°It fascinates me to no end the diversity of pok¨¦mon that live here. So many different types and yet their voices sing in harmony. And I never know what new pok¨¦mon may greet me.¡± ¡°So this is what Cynthia gave you in order to get you to join Paragon, huh?¡± Ash mused. ¡°Not exactly,¡± Sylvester said, with a glint in his eye. ¡°Most of the daycare I built myself. What she gave me was this.¡± He put his thumb and forefinger together and whistled. The sound echoed across the landscape, and before long, something was approaching them. A purple blob oozed across the grass wearing an excited smile. ¡°A Ditto,¡± Ash said. ¡°Not just any Ditto,¡± Sylvester said as N knelt down to play with it. ¡°This is a perfect Ditto.¡± ¡°A perfect Ditto?¡± ¡°A bit of a legend in the breeding community, but very much real, as you can see. The eggs that appear via a perfect Ditto contain all of the genetic information of their parent, and then some. Most Ditto only contain a fraction of the total genetic information for each pok¨¦mon, so when they breed with pok¨¦mon they don¡¯t contain very much genetic information for, the resulting child will be far weaker than the parent, or an egg may not ever appear to begin with. That¡¯s why most breeders don¡¯t rely on Ditto and instead try and pair up pok¨¦mon of the same species. But with a perfect Ditto, not only can a breeder breed any pok¨¦mon regardless of its gender without any drawbacks, but the resulting child will contain greater genetic information than its parent, therefore making it stronger.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know all this,¡± N said, looking up. ¡°How does one find such an anomaly?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just it. Ditto are rare enough as it is. There is no consistent pattern to their habitats, so the only way to find one is to catch every Ditto you find and breed it with all sorts of pok¨¦mon. The average Ditto favors certain types or egg groups, so any Ditto who shows favorability across multiple has a high chance of being ¡®perfect.¡¯¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine Cynthia was all too pleased with playing Ditto hunter,¡± Ash said, sticking out his finger for Ditto to latch onto. ¡°Oh she¡¯s quite resourceful, so she was able to find many Ditto quite easily, actually. I understand she called in some favors with the League to help her as well. She must have gone through several hundred Ditto before finding me this little guy.¡± Ditto smiled, nuzzling against Sylvester¡¯s leg. ¡°Where are all the rest, then?¡± N asked. ¡°And what about all the eggs you must have surely acquired to test each Ditto?¡± Sylvester smiled. ¡°They are doing just fine. I would¡¯ve liked nothing more than to keep them all here, but with the limited space I have, that would¡¯ve been inhumane. I donated the Ditto to various breeders and trainers who I trust, and the handful of eggs that appeared were given to professors and researchers. Rest assured, they are all in safe and loving hands.¡± N nodded as his worries were put to rest. Sylvester took them deeper into the facility, and pok¨¦mon seemed to appear from thin air, swimming up from the ponds, falling out of trees, or swooping down from above. Though he had no formal education on the matter, Ash could tell these pok¨¦mon were all a cut above average. They were all larger than their species should¡¯ve been, and their colors seemed more vibrant. A Charmeleon the size of a Rhyperior crawled across the stony ground on all fours and a Ribombee that came up to Ash¡¯s waist flitted over to investigate. A Togekiss floated down and nearly crushed them, if not for Sylvester¡¯s shrill whistle. After exploring the daycare for an hour, Ash and N headed back up north, Ash to check on his pok¨¦mon, and N to deposit his belongings in his room before coming over to watch their training session. For the rest of the day, the battles continued and Ash continued forcing new matchups on them. At times, he had several of his partners gang up on one, or he¡¯d take command on one side of the battle and leave the other to their own devices. N watched them the entire time, engrossed by the bonds that tied them together and allowed them to fight so ferociously against their own. When dinner rolled around, the three men ate together. Sabrina still had yet to show up, and N¡¯s attempts to greet her failed as well. Ash suggested she¡¯d left the island, but Sylvester and N both pointed out that she usually remained on the island in between missions. After dinner, Ash considered continuing their training to make up for lost time, but decided to head to bed early so he wouldn¡¯t get a repeat of this morning.
Three days of intensive training later, the final two members of Paragon arrived in a storm of fire and venom. ¡°I told you to go left! I had it all under control, but nooooo, you wanted to get all fancy!¡± ¡°Use your head, dumbass, what does ¡®left¡¯ mean when we¡¯re underwater?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me just because you¡¯re the support! Maybe if you were stronger, you could take the lead!¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then why have I completed way more missions than you even though we joined at the same time?¡± ¡°Scoreboard, woman, I¡¯ve beaten you more times than we can even count!¡± A Salamence touched down on the path outside the headquarters and two women slid off almost immediately, their argument not derailing for even a moment. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? We¡¯ve battled twice, and I won both times!¡± ¡°I meant in everything, not just battling, obviously! No shit your cheap ass will beat me when you stack your team with fairy-types!¡± ¡°Maybe don¡¯t be such a one trick pony?¡± Ash and N stood in the front door speechless at the new arrivals. One of them had short, choppy black hair and wore a black tank top beneath a roughspun shawl. The other had long lavender hair and wore a tight business suit with black gloves. ¡°Welcome back, you two,¡± N greeted. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d like to make a better first impression on our new comrade?¡± He motioned over to Ash, who smiled weakly. Both women glared at N, but they put their argument on hold. Then their gaze shifted to Ash. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± the short haired one said. ¡°This is a secret island, intruders cannot be allowed to live. Salamence, Dragon¡ª!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the new recruit, dumbass!¡± the other woman yanked her ear. The short haired one ground her teeth, as if pissed she wouldn¡¯t be able to turn the front of Paragon headquarters into a pile of blackened wood, but then she smiled and crossed her arms. ¡°I see! So you¡¯ve come to enlighten yourself beneath the tutelage of the great Zinnia! Pleased to meetcha!¡± ¡°Hey¡­ nice to meet you, I¡¯m¡ª¡° ¡°Now tell me! How much do you know about the Great Dragon? Do you too seek the ultimate being, the supreme existence, the source of all power in the universe? Do you dare challenge the ghosts of time and space? Desire the unshackling of the divine guardian? Lay bare the forefather of all forefathers before fore¡ª ah shit, I messed up.¡± The long haired one flicked her companion in the head and shooed her to the side. Ash grimaced in awkwardness and now turned to the more civil one of the two to try and introduce himself. ¡°Hey¡­ er, I don¡¯t know anything about all that but my name is Ash and¡­ I¡¯m pleased to be working with you all.¡± He tried to make that last part sound as convincing as possible. He wasn¡¯t sure if he succeeded. ¡°Ash¡­ It¡¯s me. Anabel.¡± Ash frowned and did a double take. He¡¯d met an Anabel at the Battle Frontier in Hoenn, but this woman hardly looked like her. The Anabel he knew was boyish and soft spoken. ¡°Anabel¡­¡± But the more he looked at her, the more he began to recognize his old friend in her. ¡°Anabel!¡± Anabel smiled. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again! I¡¯d say this is the last place I¡¯d expect to see you, but honestly this does seem like someplace you¡¯d show up at sooner or later!¡± ¡°It does fit me,¡± Ash agreed. ¡°Ah, so I¡¯m not the only one Ash knew,¡± N said. ¡°Small world. Though maybe Ash simply attracts powerful trainers to him,¡± he mused. ¡°Aha! That¡¯s right! You attracted me to you because I¡¯m powerful,¡± Zinnia grinned, then she frowned. ¡°No, wait! You were attracted to me!¡± Anabel rolled her eyes and dragged the other girl behind her as they walked inside. That night, they all ate together, and finally Sabrina came out of her room to join them. Her introduction with Ash was abrasively brief, but she seemed to get along a little better with the two girls, even if she said next to nothing. Zinnia regaled them with the tale of their latest mission: quelling a rampaging Lugia on the seafloor. Anabel kept interrupting to dispel the frequent embellishments on her story, but N cut them off by talking about his own mission of recovering a sacred artifact from a Steelix den in the depths of Mount Mortar. Eventually the attention fell on Sabrina, and from what little she said, it seemed like her assignment was related to a shiny pok¨¦mon trafficking ring in western Unova. The more they talked, the more excited Ash got. They spoke about their missions like nothing more than a job, like checking off a box. To him, they all sounded like adventures. Cynthia had known exactly what buttons to press to get him to join Paragon. It all sounded exhilarating. He could scarcely wait to defeat her.
Exactly one week later, it was time to go. He¡¯d triple counted his pok¨¦balls and checked his supply bags more times than he could count. Pikachu sat on his usual perch on his shoulder, raring to go. N and Anabel had convinced Zinnia to wait before leaving again to see him off, and even Sabrina joined them on the beach. Cresselia danced between them all, jubilant at having so many of her friends here at once. ¡°Good luck, Ash, though I know you won¡¯t need it,¡± N smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. ¡°I heard about your little bet with Cynthia. You really think it¡¯ll only take two years?¡± Anabel asked. ¡°Well, if we¡¯re not careful, it might only take one,¡± Ash smirked. ¡°Dream on, kiddo. Cynthia¡¯ll take you at least four years, if you¡¯re lucky,¡± Zinnia sneered. She was sitting on the sand with her legs outstretched, hands supporting her body behind her. ¡°I recall it took you about that long,¡± Sylvester commented, and he shielded his rear as a handful of sand came flying his way. Sabrina simply waved as Ash climbed onto Pidgeot¡¯s back. The bird¡¯s head twitched, and he gave a shrill caw. His massive wings began to pump, and the others stepped back as sand blew up from the beach. With one last flap, they shot into the air. First stop: Mount Coronet. Next ¡ª Chapter 7 : Two Years Later
Origin Child [7] Now that the main cast has been fully introduced and we¡¯ve gotten a time skip, here are the current ages for all the characters¡ª Ash : 19 Cynthia : 31 Sylvester : 34 Sabrina : 18 N : 25 Zinnia : 19 Anabel : 20
PARAGON Origin Child Arc [7] Chapter 7 : Two Years Later
Cynthia basked in the gentle sunlight that caressed Paragon Island, a mug of tea in hand. Warmth washed over the balcony she lay upon, and no thoughts occupied her mind while she relaxed. Taking one last breath of the crisp outside air, she brushed the crumbs off her lap and stepped back inside. She was a practical woman, and no ostentacity decorated her office, but she was thankful for what she had here. Her sanctum was hardly any different in appearance or size from the offices provided to her by the League, on both Lily of the Valley Island and Indigo Plateau, but here, at least she had somewhere she could steal simple moments of tranquility before the weight of her positions bore back down on her. She sat back in her leather chair and shook her mouse to wake her computer back up. The three screens arrayed in front of her brightened and she quickly scanned them to refamiliarize herself with what she¡¯d been doing before taking a break for breakfast. Right¡­ a pack of Azumarill running wild in the Great Marsh, a blackout in Sunyshore again, and more ownership disputes between Canalave City and the Iron Islands for control of the mines. She sighed and rubbed her face, though it did nothing to alleviate her stress. This is a job for the government. Why are they sending this shit to me? In recent years, the League had become more and more responsible for the general goings-on within their respective region¡¯s borders, which meant more work for Cynthia. She offloaded as much as she could on anyone who would shoulder it, be it the regional government or her Elite Four, but at least the latter were nice to enough dash the hopes and dreams of any conference winner who dared attempt to usurp her throne, so she tried to repay the favor by not distracting them with this nonsense. It was the Sinnohan government that was truly to blame, though even then, the world wasn¡¯t so simple that the blame fell on one, single institution Above the incessant messaging about how utopic the life of a trainer could be were the cold, iron hands and cogs that kept that whole system running smoothly enough that said trainers would never have to bother themselves with how the sausage was made. For one, the regional governments which most were so blissfully ignorant of anyway, were nearly toothless. At one point they may have acted like the sovereigns that they were, but now, they were little more than middle men between the powers that be and the League. A blessing and a curse to be fair. When things needed to change, they changed. But oftentimes, things changed so fast that the populace never got a word in edgewise one way or another, merely left to get used to the new normal after all was said and done. Not at all an ideal system. Unless you live in Galar, Cynthia mused. Unlike the other regions, they were still ruled by a monarchy, and two years ago, Leon had doubled as both World Champion of the Pok¨¦mon League and a prince of Galar. For its citizens, his double-edged crown meant the ascendancy of the Galar as a whole, and indeed, the region had improved exponentially under his reign. More than any other, the League had suffused itself into Galar¡¯s very culture, turning the once medieval region into an entertainment paradise, and they were now nearly a peer competitor with the likes of the naval titan Hoenn, or even the financial capital of the world, Unova. But Leon was no longer World Champion. And seemingly, he was no longer a prince either. The man had fallen off the face of the planet after his loss two years ago, and though Cynthia had tried to reach out at the time, her attempts had been quickly buried under an avalanche of greater priorities. Galar¡¯s meteoric rise had ended and they had returned to normalcy, once again mired in the usual political circus of any other region, and the League had moved on from him as well. As they did Ash. Cynthia was not afraid to say she was a smart woman. But she¡¯d predicted their response to Ash¡¯s abdication wrong. A week passed by, then two, then people started getting curious about where their new Champion had gone off to. Many World Champions of years past had enjoyed limited public lives in spite of their notoriety, but it wasn¡¯t until some self-important journalist spun up a narrative that Ash, the Pallet Town native, was trying to imitate the mythical trainer Red, that the missing World Champion story really took off. After his mother confirmed to the media that she¡¯d spoken to him and that he was doing fine, did the League make their decision. They would not be replacing him. For the next five years, the League would go without a World Champion. Cynthia had of course gotten the news before the rest of the world, but it had shocked her just as much as it had them. Understandably, many trainers were outraged, even if they never stood a chance at claiming the now empty throne, but the League was immovable. Conferences would continue as normal, and five years later, they''d hold another World Championship. Nevertheless, Ash had resurfaced in the coming months, popping up here and there in cities and in the wild, though he entertained nothing beyond the briefest and most casual conversations. And he revealed next to nothing about what he was up to or why he¡¯d left. Eventually, as expected, his popularity seemed to wane, as he became a sort of larger-than-life, but not that much larger-than-life figure. It was tough to worship him when one could randomly stumble upon him at the Battle Frontier or find him chilling in Undella Town, but he was also difficult to forget, charismatic and down-to-earth as he was when he did appear. Cynthia had mixed feelings. Thankfully, Ash hadn¡¯t pried too much into the nature of Paragon¡¯s secrecy. Even the most surface level inquiry about just how opaque the organization was would¡¯ve raised further questions, but the boy seemed to have been looking for an excuse to untie himself from his new throne, even if he hadn¡¯t realized it himself. Cynthia herself maintained an active public image despite her leadership of the organization, but she¡¯d insisted to Ash, and to the others, that their membership, and by extension, their celebrity, be kept as quiet as possible. She¡¯d learned much after becoming Champion of Sinnoh. Her decision had come to pass after seeing certain things that could only be seen after attaining the sort of vantage she did. Powerful forces rested beneath the surface, or rather, sat above all, which pulled the true levers of power in the world. A nebulous existence, that could not be simply summed up by ¡®the rich¡¯ or ¡®the League¡¯ or even ¡®the government.¡¯ Even Cynthia could not parse its true identity after all this time, but she¡¯d felt its tendrils more than once. The existence of the Paragon Organization may have escaped the attention of the League and the regional governments, but certainly the true string-pullers had noticed, and she suspected they weren¡¯t thrilled about another institution threatening to encroach on their domains. But Cynthia would not let Paragon sink before it realized its true purpose. Even if its members were not yet aware of what that was. For as long as she could, Cynthia would hide the strength of her pieces, keeping her cards close to her chest. That was the real reason for all their secrecy. In time, Paragon could become known to the world, but only after it had made itself a permanent fixture on the chessboard. Until then, she¡¯d bide her time. At this moment, that meant waiting for her newest pawn to return to the fray as a queen. Though Ash hadn¡¯t told her what his plans were, through his infrequent appearances across the world, Cynthia had begun to chart out a vague roadmap for the training gauntlet he¡¯d gotten up to. And now, two years later, just as he said he would, it seemed about time for him to return. Instinctively, her hand fell upon the six pok¨¦balls at her waist. They were warm to the touch. Itching for the battle they knew was on its way home. Soon. Before she could let herself get distracted any longer, she withdrew her hand and put it back on her mouse. She forwarded the Canalave and Sunyshore matters to their respective mayors and demanded they resolve the issues without bothering Volkner or Byron, then notified Pastoria¡¯s that she¡¯d be over in the coming week to look into the situation. Flicking her attention over to another monitor, she read through some updates from Anabel and N on their respective missions and sent back responses. Seemed like Anabel was cleaning things up on some spatial anomalies in Alola and would be back later in the month. N was tasked with preventing a giant asteroid from flattening Slateport, so he¡¯d be spending more time in the upper atmosphere tracking it. No word from Zinnia or Sabrina. No surprises there, but they always got the job done so Cynthia wasn¡¯t concerned. Turning her attention to her last monitor, she pulled up several pages of notes she¡¯d taken on some ruins in southeast Sinnoh. If her work ever let up, maybe she¡¯d be able to embark on a deeper expedition. Not likely though. After doing one last once over on everything still open on her end, she locked her computer back down and exited her office. Sylvester was still doing chores inside, and upon seeing her, he began working on an early lunch. Before long, both of them were seated and eating and conversing about this and that. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s going on?¡± Sylvester finally said. ¡°You¡¯ve been antsy ever since you sat down.¡± Cynthia frowned as she mentally surveyed her body language. I thought I was hiding it pretty well¡­ ¡°We¡¯ve known each other too long for you to hide anything from me,¡± Sylvester chided, as if reading her mind, and he wiped some sauce from his knife onto the bite of food speared on his fork, before sticking it in his mouth. ¡°You always start staring off into the distance like you have all the time in the world whenever something pressing is on your mind,¡± he said, pointing the fork at her. Cynthia digested his words before shrugging and sticking a bite in her mouth. At least around him, there was no need to pretend to be anything she wasn¡¯t. ¡°You think you¡¯re so smart. I¡¯m just waiting for Ash to return. It should be any day now if his word is to be trusted.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be coy. You trust his word completely, it¡¯s why you¡¯ve spent an extra week here, milling about the island. And I saw the way you treated his pok¨¦mon in your first battle on the island. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice you¡¯d used Blissey to heal Sceptile¡¯s wounds before Ash brought it to me. I don¡¯t recall such a display of barbarism against the others, at least until the rematch.¡± Cynthia pursed her lips and took a long sip from her mug. Sylvester watched her as she did, without uninterrupting. ¡°Unlike the others, Ash spent almost a decade in the League. But his potential is far greater than the others, far greater than even my own. I wanted to break him in as soon as possible, and for a man like him, battle is the language he understands best.¡± Sylvester shook his head. ¡°An excuse. Tell me what¡¯s so special about that boy.¡± ¡°When he returns, you¡¯ll see for yourself.¡± ¡°That much faith in him, huh? You sound uncharacteristically unconfident in your own abilities. It¡¯s almost as if¡­¡± He frowned and met her gaze. She betrayed nothing, taking a long sip from her mug. ¡°What sort of game are you playing?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you intend¡ª¡± A bang near the front door outside shook the entire building, and both of them shot to their feet. Silent words passed between them and as Sylvester slid behind her, unarmed as he was, Cynthia advanced toward the front door. A hand drifted down to her belt, and she pulled off a pok¨¦ball. Smoke wafted in down the hall, obscuring their view, and Cynthia stopped. A film of sweat gathered across her forehead. The building shook periodically, as if some great beast was now stomping through their sanctuary. Who the hell¡­? From within the smoke, a silhouette appeared. Ash Ketchum stepped inside. His auburn eyes cut through the chaos and glanced around the room. His dark hair was as untamed as ever beneath a stained red cap. His clothes were streaked with dirt and grime, but the man looked dauntless. Cynthia was no short woman, but he was now at least a head taller than her. Pikachu grinned upon his shoulder, despite several small cuts and smears of grease across his fur. ¡°Ash,¡± she breathed, lowering her guard. Dust drifted in around him. The compound shook as an indigo fin cut through the haze and walked up beside Ash. Garchomp towered over his master, and when its beady eyes found Cynthia, they narrowed. A bead of sweat slid past her ear. It¡¯s taller than mine. ¡°Sorry about the front door, it kind of has a bit of a hole in it now,¡± Ash said. ¡°This one evolved recently and he still needs to get used to his strength.¡± Ash kicked Garchomp lightly, and the dragon grunted. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Cynthia placed her pok¨¦ball back on her belt and glowered. Other figures began to emerge behind Ash. A furious Annihilape and a verdant Leavanny traipsed in and scolded Garchomp, while a Crawdaunt lumbered beside Ash to survey its surroundings. ¡°Enough,¡± Ash scowled, pulling out several pok¨¦balls. ¡°I told you guys to stay outside. Now you¡¯re going back in your balls.¡± They could hardly get a word of protest in before Garchomp, Crawdaunt, Annihilape, and Leavanny melted into red and were all returned. Now that they were gone, and the dust had settled, Cynthia could see a Gigalith standing motionless on the grass to their left, and an enormous Butterfree chewing on a flower to their right. ¡°Sorry,¡± Ash said again. Then he grinned. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you though! I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be here right now.¡± He frowned and tilted his head. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you were waiting for us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself, I had work to do,¡± Cynthia said, shutting that down immediately. ¡°And now I need to have my front door replaced.¡± She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°Ah, whatever. Sylvester will handle it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll add it to the neverending list of tasks you assign me,¡± Sylvester scoffed. ¡°Welcome back from the proverbial mountain, Ash! Your company has been sorely missed. I¡¯ve had naught but this witch¡¯s whinging to keep me company these past couple weeks.¡± ¡°Ha ha, hey Sylvester. Good to be back,¡± Ash grinned. Cynthia rolled her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you want to clean up and relax before our battle?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him. For as battered as he looked, he certainly looked ready for a fight. His eyes looked hungry, like they wanted to devour her, and as his fists clenched, the muscles beneath his jacket tightened. What have I gotten myself into? she muttered silently. ¡°Let us finish our lunch. Then we¡¯ll get started.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I totally forgot, I get to eat Sylvester¡¯s cooking again! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you a plate immediately!¡±
They stood on the beach again, just as they had two years ago. Unlike before, this was no lesson or simple showcase of power. Both combatants stood ready to win, to completely demolish the other. Sylvester was out of sight, but Cynthia was sure he¡¯d be watching from a distance. Upon her belt, Cynthia had one pok¨¦ball, two great balls, and three ultra balls, for a total of six. Ash had a whopping fifteen on his person, so he had the numerical advantage by far. Across the way, he looked relaxed, crouching down to talk to Pikachu, and the conversation didn¡¯t look too strategic in nature, as he flicked his comrade in the nose and laughed. Despite appearances, it was time to shift into work mode. She pulled two ultra balls and the one pok¨¦ball from her belt and deployed Blissey, Gastrodon, and Garchomp. Blissey would primarily be in charge of protecting Cynthia herself and healing her comrades. She wouldn¡¯t be playing an offensive role at all, yet the core of their team would revolve around her. Gastrodon was a good all-rounder with enough bulk to scout whatever Ash had planned, and maybe he¡¯d be caught off guard by its speed. Garchomp needed no introduction. Other trainers preferred to save their strongest pok¨¦mon for the end. Cynthia had never subscribed to that notion. Three pok¨¦mon were enough to start. Most trainers struggled to even command two pok¨¦mon at the same time while in a double battle, but through years of training, Cynthia had pushed that number up to a comfortable four. On the other side of the beach, Ash stretched his back and grinned. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started.¡± Goodra, Gigalith, Crawdaunt, Lucario, Leavanny, and Sceptile all materialized onto the beach. Gigalith and Lucario both stayed back, but the others advanced to the fore. Cynthia¡¯s eyes widened. Six pok¨¦mon! She expected three or four at most, but six? That was an entire team back in his League days. There was no way he¡¯d had enough time to figure out and learn how to command that many pok¨¦mon at once. Sabrina would be capable of it by way of her telepathy, but Ash¡­ It seems he¡¯d also learned to protect himself during the battle, Gigalith and Lucario both standing defensively at his sides. Blissey wouldn¡¯t be keeping him safe today. ¡°Since we have the numbers advantage, we¡¯d be fools not to use it,¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Ready to begin?¡± Cynthia kept up her fa?ade as best she could, though the numbers were worrying. ¡°Blissey, same as usual. Keep your shield up and heal the others. Gastrodon, keep them away from Garchomp while he picks them off.¡± Her pok¨¦mon nodded and prepared themselves. A shiver ran across her body, and she couldn¡¯t suppress a smile. By all accounts, this was nothing more than a test to see if Ash was strong enough to survive the perils of Paragon. But she¡¯d watched his journey from boy to man, and now he stood across her as a fellow in this world beyond the pinnacle, as an equal. And that was being charitable to herself. ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± she called. Ash¡¯s four fighters roared and surged toward her without a command, and Cynthia relayed a string of commands. ¡°Earthquake, Gastrodon! Mud Shot if they get close! Garchomp, Flamethrower on all of them, but focus down Sceptile and Leavanny.¡± Gastrodon gurgled, and shockwaves of energy coursed beneath the beach, flipping the ground inside out as they traveled. They crashed into Blissey¡¯s shield, and she winced, but she and Cynthia remained protected. Crawdaunt and Leavanny faltered when the attack reached them, but Goodra and Sceptile barreled through, jumping over the ruptured sands. Their fists glowed with elemental energy, and they struck Gastrodon, sending the slug careening into a tree behind them. A blistering column of hellfire that shot over Cynthia¡¯s head forced the two attackers back. Goodra crossed its arms before it, letting the fire roll over its skin and Sceptile leapt aside, but Garchomp swept the Flamethrower across the beach, pushing them even further back. Sweat dripped down Cynthia brow as Garchomp continued to spray his fire. Ash has come so far in just two years. His pok¨¦mon can match mine one to one. She cursed silently as Gastrodon slid back to her side. With Garchomp¡¯s fire obscuring her view of Ash, he shouldn¡¯t have noticed how quickly Gastrodon had recovered either. his slimy form glimmered as Blissey¡¯s nutrients fed him. We need to take down his pok¨¦mon one by one while preserving our strength. As her eyes scanned the battlefield, they settled on the frail looking Leavanny. ¡°Garchomp, Gastrodon, Dragon Claw and Ice Beam on Leavanny! Blissey, expand the shield to keep the others away from us!¡± Garchomp¡¯s fire petered out as he raced toward Leavanny, claws enlarged and glowing. A crackling ray of ice shot past him, but Leavanny twitched upon sensing it and scittered away at lightning speed. Upon noticing Garchomp was after it too, its scythe-like arms turned a harsh green, and it slashed at the dragon. Garchomp caught its blows, and swung back, roaring in anger that this bug would dare challenge it. His attacks became faster and more ferocious, and eventually, he knocked its arms aside, and slashed across its face, launching it backward. It didn¡¯t get back up. By this point, cracks had started to web across Blissey¡¯s shield as Crawdaunt and Goodra both hammered into it with abandon. Blissey cried out beside Cynthia as it exerted itself, but the shield soon shattered, and before Cynthia could issue a command, Crawdaunt was upon her Garchomp, and it swung an enlarged Crabhammer at him, bringing him to his knees with a grunt. Sceptile seemed to appear out of nowhere, firing a point blank Leaf Storm at Gastrodon, and the slug fainted almost immediately. ¡°No!¡± It seemed Ash had noticed his return after all. That would be a critical loss, and it was Cynthia¡¯s fault for underestimating him. If Leavanny hadn¡¯t tied up Garchomp for so long, maybe she would¡¯ve noticed sooner. Their response times are too quick, and their attack patterns are too complex, especially with this many pok¨¦mon out at once. As I thought, he¡¯s communicating with them telepathically. Cynthia glared at the Lucario who stood beside Ash, its eyes limned in blue. Fine, we¡¯ll deal with the source. Recalling Gastrodon, she deployed Togekiss, and immediately mounted its back. ¡°Fly me over to Ash! Garchomp, Dragon Nova on Crawdaunt and Goodra, then join us! Back him up, Blissey! And watch out for Sceptile!¡± As Togekiss flew into the sky, Garchomp¡¯s wing began to shine, and it almost seemed to suck away the light around it. Blissey waddled over and raised her arms. Golden stardust fell upon Garchomp, and the attack¡¯s power magnified, his fin turning nearly black with how much power it contained. Crawdaunt and Goodra both seemed to opt for defense, but Cynthia¡¯s ace would not be so easily defended from. From the skies, Cynthia watched as Garchomp outsped both of the others, striking Crawdaunt and continuing the arc into Goodra. Wind buffeted them from below as an explosion of indigo draconic energy blasted the beach apart. Crawdaunt¡¯s carapace cracked, and Goodra barely had time to croak in agony before flying down toward the beach, its skin burned and black where it¡¯d been hit. Garchomp spent no time admiring his handiwork, breaking into a sprint toward Ash, with Sceptile in pursuit. As they descended, Cynthia recalled Blissey from afar and released her remaining two pok¨¦mon down at Ash. ¡°Both on Gigalith! Roserade, Giga Drain and Milotic, Hydro Pump!¡± The two emptied out of their pok¨¦balls already firing off their attacks, and the rock-type rumbled in pain, but stood its ground. Finally, Ash was in view, and his face was matted with sweat as he clambered onto a Talonflame. Glad to know I¡¯m not the only one taking this seriously, Cynthia thought as she leaped off Togekiss¡¯ back. ¡°Get back in the air and Air Slash on Lucario. Roserade and Milotic, take Gigalith down!¡± She glanced back at Garchomp, and saw that Sceptile was readying an attack. Another Flamethrower or Dragon Nova would be the smart thing to do here, but even with the odds against her, her curiosity won out. ¡°Garchomp, Razor Sands on Sceptile.¡± As Ash¡¯s Gigalith beat back against its two assailants with a barrage of spiky Stone Edges, and Talonflame flapped into the air with its master on its back, a storm of sand rose from the beach and shot at Sceptile. This time, however, a blizzard of leaves swirled around the grass-type to protect it, and when the attack ended, it looked unscathed. Its yellow eyes bore into the dragon, salivating for revenge. Excellent. Yes, they¡¯d come far indeed. The two pok¨¦mon charged each other, beating against one another in a savage brawl. Cynthia began to feel hot, and looking up, she saw an unmistakable Heat Wave coming her way. ¡°Shit! Milotic!¡± The serpent looked back at her master, and immediately broke off the assault on Gigalith, slithering over in a flash and conjuring a wave of water to catch the incoming attack. Now that it only had one opponent to deal with, Gigalith switched on the offensive, and its granite hoof smashed into Roserade, sending her flying back in a storm of purple spores. Gigalith shuddered as the poison seeped into it, but Ash recalled it from above, sending out a Swellow in its place. Closer to the beach, Lucario continued to dance with Togekiss as they fired off orbs of varying elements against each other. Togekiss tried taking a swipe at it multiple times, but every time, she was repelled with the swing of its silver bone staff. She wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Cynthia grit her teeth, the full weight of their numerical difference bearing down on her now. She¡¯d hoped to incapacitate Ash himself to end the battle quickly, but he¡¯d slipped through her fingers, and now they were divided. Time to change that. Ash hadn¡¯t yet taken the initiative despite his numerical advantage, so deploying a fifth pok¨¦mon wouldn¡¯t be the end of the world. She ripped Blissey¡¯s ultra ball off her belt and sent her out again. ¡°Gravity!¡± The air hummed and grew heavy around them, and Talonflame squawked as an invisible force pulled it back to the ground. Lucario and Sceptile sunk to their knees in surprise, while Swellow was nearly flattened against the grass, screeching in pain. Roserade limped back out of the forest where it¡¯d flown and unleashed purple, yellow, and silver spores into the bird¡¯s face, completely neutralizing it. ¡°Sceptile, keep dodging Garchomp!¡± Ash called as he scrambled off of Talonflame¡¯s back before recalling it. ¡°Lucario, take Togekiss down with Bone Rush!¡± The jackal grunted in reply, but couldn¡¯t stand. Togekiss closed in, its wings glowing. Now¡¯s our chance! Cynthia tore into a sprint toward Ash. If she could knock him out, the battle would be over! Her fingers stiffened together, and her eyes found the back of his neck. At the sight of her attack, Lucario roared, and burst through Blissey¡¯s gravity. It swung an iron bone into Togekiss, batting her into the rocky ridge, before lunging at Cynthia. Milotic intercepted in the nick of time, blocking its swing with her hardened scales. Ash wheeled on Cynthia, not even realizing how close she¡¯d gotten, and he glared at her from behind the clash, but his eyes shifted to something behind her. An Infernape, no doubt released after Leavanny¡¯s defeat, burst from the treeline and tore into Roserade, ragdolling her and throwing her across the beach into a limp pile with an enraged scream. Its gaze turned on Cynthia, and it started toward her. Dammit, first Togekiss and now Roserade! ¡°Milotic, Blizzard on Sceptile! Blissey, defend us!¡± A shield warbled into view as Infernape flew toward them in a flying kick. Upon hitting it, Infernape somersaulted back. Fire licked across its fists and it began laying into the shield, with Lucario joining its efforts now that Milotic had slipped off. Milotic¡¯s blizzard came down, sweeping across the beach and freezing the sand, grass, and soil where it lay. Garchomp¡¯s hide ignited as it passed, covering his body in the flames of a Fire Blast to protect itself. Sceptile hissed as frost accumulated on its skin, but a newly deployed Butterfree forced Milotic to break off her attack. Not letting the fire go to waste, Garchomp hurled the Fire Blast at the half frozen Sceptile, burying it in the spiraling flames of the five-spoke pentacle. When the fire faded, Sceptile slumped to the ground. Not that that fixed the situation for Cynthia at all. She was down to only three pok¨¦mon against Ash¡¯s nine. ¡°Hydro Pump, Milotic. Get these two off of us.¡± A shaft of pressurized water forced Infernape and Lucario away and they regrouped with Butterfree at Ash¡¯s side. Three on three, for now. We need to press the advantage while we have it! ¡°Milotic, Atlantic Rend on Infernape, and try and stay out of the way. Garchomp, Draco Meteor on the other two.¡± A gleaming knife of water coalesced and solidified around Milotic as the serpent shot toward Infernape, curling around and whipping the lethal sword toward it. The flame on Infernape¡¯s head roared to life, and as if it¡¯d come alive, it snarled and curled, whipping toward the incoming strike. Fire and water met, and steam plumed around them. Milotic cried out, forcing more power into the attack, and Infernape screeched as it got closer and closer. With one last burst of energy, Milotic broke through and raked her tail down its body from skull to stomach. Blood spurted from the injury, but Infernape refused to go down alone. It thrust a flame-coated fist straight into Milotic¡¯s mouth. Milotic squealed in agony, and Infernape sank to the ground with a throaty wheeze. Garchomp¡¯s Draco Meteor had reached its apex, and now, the blazing orb in the sky erupted into smaller fragments, and those too ruptured again, all streaming jade dragon energy as they descended upon the beach with a infernal wail. Quickly, Cynthia recalled all her fallen pok¨¦mon scattered across the beach, as did Ash, and just as Blissey¡¯s shield began to stretch over them, she could barely make out Lucario and Butterfree¡¯s silhouettes before they were eclipsed by tempest. The attack impacted, and the world exploded into fire and brimstone beyond the shield. Blissey grunted every time a meteor impacted her shield, and the ground shook beneath them, as if they were standing directly over an active volcano. Great spouts of sand spat into the air and crystallized into glass, and despite the shield, the pungent smell of smoke assaulted Cynthia¡¯s nostrils. Eventually, the din of destruction died down, and Blissey weakened her shield, panting. Garchomp stood as the sole survivor among the ruined beach. The sand now looked like ash, burnt as it was, and smoldering craters littered the beach where the meteors had landed. Luckily, Ash was uninjured, though Lucario seemed utterly exhausted just like Blissey from protecting its master. However, to Cynthia¡¯s surprise, Butterfree flitted over and placed its enormous body atop his head. Somehow it had escaped defeat. But if Ash didn¡¯t summon another pok¨¦mon soon, Garchomp would take it out. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Ash said. ¡°Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on Garchomp.¡± What? From Ash¡¯s shoulder, Pikachu leaped into the air, electricity dancing across his fur. Garchomp sneered, not even bothering to defend as the humongous bolt came crashing down on him, engulfing his body. But he should have. Garchomp howled and fell to the ground, seizing in agony as the electricity tortured him from within. ¡°Garchomp!¡± Cynthia cried, in shock and horror. Pikachu didn¡¯t let up, screaming in fury as the jagged bolt lashed him over and over until Garchomp moved no longer. When the electricity faded, smoke rose from Garchomp¡¯s defeated form, and his limbs twitched involuntarily. Ash exhaled a shaky breath and wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve. He smiled. ¡°We won.¡± And Pikachu grinned. Next ¡ª Chapter 8 : First Assignment
Origin Child [8] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [8] Chapter 8 : First Assignment
Unova Region, one year ago Pine needles and cragged ice crunched beneath Ash¡¯s boot as he hiked through the forest atop the Twist Mountains. Here, there was nothing. Only a few pok¨¦mon made their home at such a high altitude, but none were strong enough to challenge Ash, and they knew it, so they stayed away. The sun cut through the hoarfrost-laden evergreens, moistening the ground throughout the day as the snow turned to slush. Lucario padded beside him like a silent sentinel, shooting glares at the Beartic and Cryogonal who peeked out at them from afar, asserting his dominance. The aura rippling off of him warmed Ash as they walked, and he sweated beneath his many layers. As usual, Lucario refused to leave Ash¡¯s side, even for the most menial of tasks. But despite his protectiveness, Ash¡¯s body ached from the rigorous combat training the jackal had been putting him through daily. He was making progress, but even after a year, they were still on the basics. A sturdy foundation is the basis for all martial arts, and indeed, all endeavors, he¡¯d said, and Ash was certain he was just repeating something he¡¯d heard back at Cameran Palace. Nevertheless, he could feel himself getting stronger, and as the weeks passed, his movements became faster and more polished. Samurott and Gengar were exactly where he¡¯d left them, guarding a simple blue tent and smoldering campfire. Gengar perked up at his arrival, but Samurott made no reaction, simply skulking back into the forest now that his protection was no longer needed. Samurott had changed after evolving. His formerly cream-colored shells were now an unnatural bruised shade of purple, close to black, and his horn was jagged, and tinted red. And he held none of the mirth he did when he was an Oshawott. He tolerated none of Gengar¡¯s pranks anymore, and the ghost seemed to be getting more and more stressed out the longer he went without new prey. Ash had spoken to a few of the professors he knew, but none of them could explain the cause, so as was his style anyway, he¡¯d decided to figure it out himself But that was an issue for another day. ¡°How is he, Gengar?¡± Ash said, kneeling down beside the campfire. Gengar let out a series of gurgling murmurs, slumping in dismay as much as a levitating ghost could. Upon a small blanket beside the embers of the campfire lay Pikachu. Twisted gashes crusted over with dark scabs covered his body, and he lay motionless, eyes closed, with naught but soft, barely audible breaths to indicate life. Ash cringed. It had happened almost a week ago, but the sight of his partner in such a state never got easier to look at. Gengar began babbling, his tongue flopping around his gigantic mouth, as he gesticulated. Noxious spittle flew from his mouth, but he made no attempt at stopping it from spraying his master. He was angry. ¡°I know, I know I¡¯m being reckless,¡± Ash said, wiping his face with his sleeve. ¡°But we said at the start, no pok¨¦mon centers. Pikachu would never forgive us if we broke our promise. And he knew something like this was inevitable before we set out. We all did. And we¡¯re getting close. Here¡¯re the oran berries from the bushes we saw the other day,¡± he said, emptying his palms onto the blanket beside Pikachu. ¡°They¡¯re frozen, but they should still hold some nutrients. While I mash them up, get the fire going again please, Gengar.¡± They¡¯d been trying to defeat the same pokemon for over a month: an Onix in the depths of the mountains who the miners of old dared not disturb. Of course, the accidentally-created entrance to its lair had long been sealed and restricted by the League, but it made the perfect training partner for Pikachu, so they¡¯d found another way in. It was nearly triple the size and length of any other of its kind, and it was so old and powerful, its skin was dark like obsidian, and smooth from years of burrowing through the Twist Mountains¡¯ hardened bedrock. The idea had come to Ash a year ago after getting decimated by Cynthia. After witnessing what he may have at one point described as ¡°unfathomable¡± levels of power coming from her Garchomp, he¡¯d decided to tackle an unfathomable goal of his own to surprise her with when he returned. Ash wanted to nullify type immunities. Of course, his team had laughed after hearing him spit out the usual ¡®We can do it if we put our minds to it together!¡¯ but they quickly realized how serious he was, and it was perhaps at that moment that the true gravity of their new undertaking sunk in. More than ever before, Ash was aiming for Pok¨¦mon Master. And that meant they had to bring him there. On top of all the other training Ash had to look after, he and Pikachu had rammed their heads together to crack open the intricacies of the electric/ground-type relationship. After many months of trial and error, Pikachu himself had found the solution. They knew that making a ground-type wet could allow electric currents to bypass its immunity, but without any water-type moves or the capacity to learn any (and they had tried), Pikachu needed to master his manipulation of electricity instead. Specifically, his manipulation of electrons around the target¡¯s body. By flooding the target with electrons, Pikachu could use them as a catalyst to discharge his electric attacks within the target¡¯s body, past their insulating defenses. That revelation had brought with it great excitement, and before they could consider how taxing it might be on Pikachu, or how long it¡¯d take to gather enough electrons for the stratagem to work, they¡¯d plunged into Twist Mountain with heads like balloons. Each bout against the Onix lasted mere minutes, and Pikachu spent days recovering, but every time, he lasted a little longer and dealt a bit more damage. By now, they¡¯d run out of medical supplies, but neither wanted to turn around and quit. Not this close to their goal. The look on Cynthia¡¯s face when they could use it against Garchomp would be worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.
Sinnoh Region, present day Finally, things were exactly where Ash wanted them. Though things had spiraled out of control a bit, finally, Garchomp stood alone. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Ash said, barely able to contain himself. ¡°Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on Garchomp!¡± He added that last part as a bit of psychological warfare. Pikachu¡¯s target was a given; although this was an unregulated battle, obviously Ash would never order a lethal attack against Cynthia herself. That Heat Wave from Talonflame would¡¯ve given her an instant sunburn, and maybe caused her to rock a bald look for awhile, at most. While Pikachu charged his attack, Ash¡¯s eyes were fixed on Cynthia, but now, he couldn¡¯t stop his mouth from stretching into a smile. She was frozen, frowning like she¡¯d misheard or something, and Garchomp wasn¡¯t even trying to dodge or defend. Just before Pikachu ignited, he saw Cynthia turn toward him, and upon seeing his glee, her eyes widened. Let¡¯s see how much the legendary Garchomp can take! Ash thought, as the bolt crashed down on it. Although Ash was confident in Pikachu¡¯s anti-ground technique, they¡¯d only used it against wilds up until this point. The fully trained ace of a world-class Champion-level trainer was a whole different kettle of fish. As the electricity continued to assault Garchomp, Ash grimaced ever so slightly. He¡¯s keeping this up for far too long. I know he¡¯s hurting himself to keep the attack going. He chuckled. What a glory hog. Ten seconds later, Garchomp groaned and collapsed into the sand face first, a paralyzed pile of smoking skin and claw. ¡°We won,¡± Ash grinned. Pikachu dropped to the ground with a grin, though not moments later, he also buckled under his own weight, falling onto his stomach while breathing heavily. ¡°Look at her,¡± Ash whispered, kneeling down beside his partner, and Pikachu craned his head up with a trying squeak. Across the beach, Cynthia still hadn¡¯t moved. Finally, she paced over to her Garchomp. After she gave it the once over, she recalled it and turned on Ash. Then she started walking over to him at a brisk pace. He was almost afraid she¡¯d hit him, even though the battle was over. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± she demanded. Ash smiled, glancing between her and Pikachu with thinly veiled superiority coloring his triumphant face. ¡°Hang on a minute, I won, didn¡¯t I? Now I¡¯m an official member of Paragon, right?¡± It was immature, Ash would never dispute that. But even if for only a few more minutes, he wanted to savor the sight of the unflappable Cynthia dancing in the palm of his hand. The same Cynthia that had destroyed him in a matter of minutes right after he became the World Champion. ¡°Fine, fine, yes, congratulations and welcome aboard, I guess,¡± she said dismissively. ¡°Now, explain. That¡¯s an order.¡± Clearly she wasn¡¯t used to losing battles she didn¡¯t nerf herself in. ¡°It¡¯s just a little something Pikachu and I worked on. I took to heart what you said about forgetting everything I thought I knew about pok¨¦mon. Damaging ground-types with electric moves was the first on our list of impossible tasks to accomplish.¡± Despite her defeat, Cynthia smiled. I knew he¡¯d understand. ¡°I can go over it in more detail later, if you want. It¡¯s kind of technical, but¡ª¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Cynthia put her hand up. ¡°No. I still have my pride as a trainer. It¡¯s been awhile since anything, or anyone, has truly challenged us, much less beaten us. Let¡¯s have another rematch some time. I¡¯ll uncover your secrets for myself.¡± Ash smiled and held out a hand. ¡°Sounds good.¡± Cynthia took it and shook it. After Ash scooped up Pikachu, and the remaining pok¨¦mon were recalled, they started back to base. But, something stood in their path. Cresselia chittered in dismay, flying between them and pushing them aside. After getting to the beach, she squawked and flitted about, inspecting the decimated beach. The damage was even worse than their brief battle from two years ago. The entire beach was lumpy and black, and the trees at the edge of the forest had all burned or broken down. She turned back and glared at both of them. Her midnight eyes bore into Ash, and he started to feel light-headed, like his stomach was suddenly unaffected by gravity. Black spots danced in his vision. Pikachu growled on his shoulder, electricity crackling on his cheeks, and Ash felt the feeling subside. Cresselia averted her gaze, turning back to Cynthia. ¡°Sorry, Cresselia, this one was my fault again,¡± Cynthia called nonchalantly. ¡°Garchomp, Roserade, and I will patch things up as usual, no need to worry.¡± That seemed to be enough for Cresselia and she beamed, gliding over to nuzzle Cynthia¡¯s face. Then she turned to Ash and bowed her head several times, seemingly in apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry too, Cresselia. I think we both got a little too excited back there. Cresselia joined them on their trek back, and as they walked, Ash stroked Pikachu¡¯s fur. He may have threatened Cresselia, but that attack against Garchomp had been crippling. There was no way he¡¯d be able to produce enough electricity for anything beyond a bluff for at least the rest of the day. As expected Sylvester was waiting for them, though this time, he was just climbing off his gigantic Togekiss when they arrived. ¡°A stellar battle, Ash, I watched the whole thing from above,¡± he congratulated. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, he wouldn¡¯t know a ¡®stellar battle¡¯ if it slapped him in the face,¡± Cynthia scoffed. Sylvester slipped his hand by his mouth and fell into step beside him. ¡°I do hope you¡¯ll forgive her, Ash. As you can see, she¡¯s a bit of a sore loser.¡± ¡°Well, I did have way more pok¨¦mon than her,¡± Ash said, trying to diffuse the situation. ¡°If I¡®d only brought six like she did, maybe¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Ash,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°The battle is over, and you won. I knew full well it was likely you¡¯d bring more than six pok¨¦mon to the battle, but I always only carry around six. It¡¯s what I¡¯m most comfortable with.¡± ¡°Where are the others, just out of curiosity?¡± Ash asked. Her Spiritomb was noticeably absent, and he was pretty sure she had at least a Lucario and a Glaceon, just based on videos of her past conference battles he¡¯d seen. And then there was her Lapras. ¡°Here and there. Some are here on the island, others I keep back home, and others I hold at Lily of the Valley. What about you? Where are the rest of your pok¨¦mon?¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re still out training,¡± Ash replied. ¡°No need to bring every single one of them back to the island if there¡¯s no need.¡± He frowned. ¡° I hope that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I was going to get into it a bit later, but I guess I can say a bit about it now. Now that you¡¯re a full-fledged member of Paragon, you will be expected to respond immediately to any missions that are assigned to you, but when you¡¯re unassigned, you''re free to do as you please and pursue your own goals. All I ask is that you¡¯re ready to go at any time.¡± Ash nodded. Yes, this was perfect. Even while learning more about the world and contending with its most dangerous elements, his pok¨¦mon could continue training, always inching closer to the true pinnacle of Pok¨¦mon Master. The plan was to continually switch out his roster, as he¡¯d done during the past two years, so he¡¯d have a chance to work one-on-one with all of his pok¨¦mon. Sylvester took their injured pok¨¦mon, and several hours later, when they were all healed up, Ash took them back out to the forest to find a quiet place to debrief. Eventually, he found the small grove he¡¯d planted two years ago. The twenty saplings had grown, and they were now around Ash¡¯s height. He wondered briefly how they could have grown so much in so little time, but the culprit lay before them. Literally. Cresselia napped on the grass in the middle of the grove, a small smile on her face. Silver moonlight drifted off her wings with every soft breath, and spiraled onto the young trees. Ash was about to turn around and find somewhere else since he didn¡¯t want to disturb her, but her eyes opened, and without a word, she flew away. Pikachu cooed as she melted into the clouds above, and Ash shrugged. ¡°Guess she likes it here.¡± After meandering over to the empty spot in the clearing that she¡¯d left behind, Ash released his partners that had participated in the battle. Leavanny, Goodra, Sceptile, Gigalith, Lucario, Talonflame, Swellow, Infernape, and Butterfree, all appeared with a flash of light. ¡°Hey guys! Good news, we won!¡± Cheers broke out across the gathered party, but Sceptile stayed quiet, which didn¡¯t escape Ash¡¯s notice. He snorted, and turned away, clearly disappointed at his performance. ¡°We won,¡± he repeated, ¡°but there was a lot that could¡¯ve gone better. First, I¡¯ll talk about the things we did well.¡± He turned to Infernape. ¡°Great job, Infernape. That ambush on Roserade was perfect, and you went above and beyond taking out Milotic.¡± The monkey clapped his hands together and bounced from one foot to the other in delight. ¡°Next, Leavanny. Great job stalling Garchomp at the beginning. Garchomp was Cynthia¡¯s strongest pok¨¦mon by far, and you kept her attention on you long enough for us to take down Gastrodon easily.¡± Leavanny smiled and bowed. ¡°Finally, Gigalith. You did an amazing job, buddy. You kept Milotic and Roserade tied down for far longer than I¡¯m sure Cynthia expected, and that let us start edging the battle in our favor.¡± Gigalith stomped his feet gently, but the ground still shook at his bulk. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll talk about what went wrong. Most of it was my fault. To begin with, it wasn¡¯t smart to have so many pok¨¦mon out at once. I know that¡¯s what we¡¯d gotten used to while fighting against feral wilds in training, but against a seasoned trainer, it was more of a liability than an asset. In the future, we¡¯ll trim the number down, but eventually, I do want to reach a point where I can command many of you at once, should the need ever arise.¡± His pok¨¦mon nodded in agreement. Lucario in particular looked pleased with the decision. He must have been a bit overwhelmed with all the frantic commands he had to relay to the others, especially while in the middle of combat himself. ¡°Next was our strategy. This is sort of related to the first point. We¡¯d planned on overwhelming her with numbers, and though I adapted later into the battle, I hadn¡¯t even considered that she would lead with Garchomp. That miscalculation let her pick us off far faster than we expected. And that assumption was a byproduct of all my experience with formal battles, so I still have more to work on as far as ¡®deprogramming¡¯ from the League, so to speak.¡± He turned to Sceptile. ¡°Sorry, buddy. I know you wanted to get revenge against her Garchomp, but you did a great job defending against that sand attack. I¡¯m so proud of how far you¡¯ve come in two years, all of you.¡± He eyed each and every one of them. Pikachu chirped upon his shoulder, and Sceptile smirked in response. Ash grinned. ¡°Yeah, Pikachu handled it for you. You should¡¯ve seen her face after her ace got one-shot by an electric-type move!¡± His pok¨¦mon laughed, and he released the rest of his team to join the others, and they trained for several more hours against one another throughout the forest. Eventually, when they returned to base, Cynthia pulled him into her office to officially induct him into Paragon ¡°Ash Ketchum,¡± she began. ¡°I¡¯d like to formally welcome you to the Paragon Organization.¡± Ash smiled and nodded. Pikachu put up his hand in acknowledgement as if he was the one being addressed. ¡°As you already know, the Paragon Organization is dedicated to combating any threat that endangers the lives of people or pok¨¦mon, especially on a massive scale. We work with the International Police and the World Pok¨¦mon League at our own discretion, but our activities are generally known only to us. The goal is to keep the peace and prevent a panic. Additionally, our work covers criminal syndicates and terrorist groups, which means a prominent presence on the world stage could invite retaliation.¡± ¡°It will be up to you how you complete each mission. After all, you know what works best for you and your team. Our battle earlier and your victory in it proves you have the necessary strength to fell any enemy that crosses your path. Of course, you must remain vigilant at all times. I will remind you again for the umpteenth time that these battles are no longer regulated, and there is no such thing as an unfair advantage. Your person will be in danger at all times out in the field. Know when to advance and know when to retreat.¡± ¡°Missions are typically assigned to pairs, depending on who we have available, though you may be sent on a mission by yourself if we¡¯re stretched thin. Remember that we¡¯re all in this together. Use the other members of Paragon as resources, and be ready to provide the same. As always, Paragon Island is open for you to stay at, but as I said earlier, there is nothing binding you here. This is a private organization at the end of the day, and the way I see it, we¡¯re all using each other to further our own ends.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°Any questions?¡± Ash mulled everything she¡¯d just said over as. Then, he grinned. ¡°When do I start?¡± Cynthia smiled coyly. ¡°Not today¡­ sorry. I don¡¯t have anything for you just yet. Continue working with your pok¨¦mon, and I¡¯ll notify you immediately when I have something.¡± Ash nodded. ¡°So that¡¯s it then? Now I¡¯m in Paragon?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re in Paragon,¡± she confirmed. Nothing had changed since the beginning or end of this conversation. He hadn¡¯t signed anything. He received no badge of any sort. He wasn¡¯t even being paid. Yet the journey had begun nonetheless. What had started as his ascendance to the highest throne in the world now culminated here and now on an innocuous Tuesday, on a hidden island in the middle of the ocean, with absolutely no pomp or circumstance. Yet his dream felt closer than ever. It was like he¡¯d just taken the final step on a gigantic staircase, and now, a great abyss yawned before him, a dark fog of uncharted waters. From here, he¡¯d pave his own path to the top. For nineteen years, he¡¯d walked. Now, he needed to fly.
Alola Region, one month later As dusk settled over the Vast Poni Canyon, Ash and his pok¨¦mon sat around a meager campfire as they finished their respective dinners. He was just spooning the last bite out of his tin when his phone rang. It hadn¡¯t even finished ringing once when Ash snatched it up and thumbed the ¡®receive call¡¯ button. ¡°Hello?¡± he breathed. Around him, Dragonite, Kingler, and Scrafty huddled closer to listen in. ¡°I have something for you. Get back to the island now.¡± They¡¯d been training all day, since daybreak, and night flights weren¡¯t exactly advisable, but Ash shot up immediately. ¡°Dragonite, it¡¯s time.¡± He turned to Scrafty. ¡°Update the others when they return. And keep up the circuit. You guys should be in Hoenn next month, Meteor Falls. Watch over Meganium. Make sure Floatzel keeps practicing his inflations. And I want to see a Draco Meteor that puts any dragon¡¯s to shame the next time we meet. You know Garchomp¡¯ll be on your case about it.¡± Scrafty nodded at every order, though he blushed at the mention of Meganium. Ash thought for a moment, before adding one more thing. ¡°And, sorry, please clean all this up. I would but we gotta go! Donate it to a pok¨¦mon center if you don¡¯t wanna carry it around! I promise¡ª hey!¡± Ash dodged Scrafty¡¯s headbutt and caught his punch. ¡°Dragonite!¡± Dragonite scooped Ash off his feet bridal style and leapt into the air, wings flapping. Ash waved down from above. ¡°See ya later guys! Thanks Scrafty, love you!! Whoa!¡± He rolled in Dragonite¡¯s clutches as a Focus Blast whizzed past his head. Scrafty glared at him from below, but after they were high enough, he saw Scrafty¡¯s head roll back in exasperation, and smiled. The flight to Sinnoh was long, but Dragonite¡¯s top speed was faster than an airplane, and almost as smooth. Periodic bursts of fire from his mouth kept Ash warm all night, and he easily drifted off, arriving at Paragon Island early the next morning well rested and ready to tackle his first assignment. He let Dragonite go off to rest after thanking him for his effort, and switched him out with Greninja, who¡¯d remained on the island. Cynthia met them outside. ¡°Morning, Ash,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you for getting here quickly.¡± She handed him a dossier. ¡°Everything you need to know is in here. This should be a simple retrieval mission. One of the Plates of Arceus has surfaced within Mount Coronet. Recover it, and bring it back here.¡± Ash flicked through the pages of the dossier, though there weren¡¯t many. ¡°I¡¯m sure you could handle this on your own, but he¡¯s free so you¡¯ll have a partner for your first mission.¡± Cynthia nodded in the direction of the path leading to the airstrip. Coming down the path was a familiar man dressed in a blazer and slacks, his pale green hair tied into a ponytail. ¡°Yo, Ash,¡± N smiled. Next ¡ª Chapter 9 : Encounter
Origin Child [9] PARAGON Origin Child Arc [9] Chapter 9 : Encounter
The flight to the Sinnoh mainland was not long at all, and about an hour after takeoff, the private jet touched down at Oreburgh Airport. Its only two passengers, Ash and N, exited the plane, and were immediately assailed by the pungent smell of coal, and a dusty haze that clung to their skin and clothes. Ash tugged on the brim of his cap, and N rested his hand on a satchel slung over his shoulders. Ash had flipped through the dossier on the flight over, but there wasn¡¯t much in it. The Plates of Arceus were among the most sought after artifacts in the world, by museums and miscreants alike. Shards of the Plates were common enough, if one knew where to look, and with large enough shards, one could elicit great power from them. But the true Plates of Arceus made only rare appearances in ancient records, popping up at seemingly random locations and times, with little detail as to what became of them afterward. This time was no different. A limousine awaited them, but they declined the ride, electing to make the trek to Mount Coronet on their own. Despite Ash¡¯s celebrity, a limousine driving through the sparse and rocky Route 207 that led to Mount Coronet would certainly draw even more attention. Luckily, it was the middle of the Conference season, and most trainers challenged Oreburgh¡¯s gym early in the circuit, so they wouldn¡¯t run into too many trainers on the way, theoretically. Indeed, Oreburgh wasn¡¯t nearly as bustling as usual, and they crossed to the north of the city unmolested. However, once they were a ways away from the city limits, they stopped. Ash pulled out a pok¨¦ball and released Garchomp beside the road. The dragon knelt down and allowed both men to climb onto his back, before he growled and shot into the sky. Although most trainers had dispersed throughout Sinnoh, Mount Coronet saw travelers within its labyrinthine caves year round, so they¡¯d be entering the mountain from one of the secret entrances that the rangers created and used to access certain parts of the mountain quicker. Mount Coronet loomed before them as Garchomp sliced through the sky. The primeval mountain stuck out among all the fantastical places Ash had visited throughout his travels. As they flew closer and closer, it seemed like it could pitch forward at any moment and devour them, the tiny specks that they were, next to such an imposing beast of rock. ¡°The Spine of Sinnoh,¡± as it was sometimes called, bisected the region almost perfectly, as if nature itself had conspired to make it the most dominating landmark on the continent. Although with the madness Team Galactic had unleashed on the summit several years ago, and the creatures beyond comprehension they¡¯d managed to summon there, it may have been more fitting to say it was the single most dominating landmark in the entire world. Just the thought of that ordeal made Ash shudder beneath the warm sun. Legend swirled at the summit like wind, and fell like snow upon the mountain, seeping its magic into the very stone. Perhaps the whole mountain was cursed with miracle. Luckily, they were headed down, not up, this time. The Plate they were looking for lay in some lower, untraveled vein of the mountain. As described in the dossier, a massive energy spike, unlike the usual anomalies that were customary within Mount Coronet¡¯s eldritch confines, had alerted Cynthia to the Plate¡¯s appearance. The dossier provided a general location, but it¡¯d be up to them to find it. Ten minutes later, Garchomp landed on a rocky outcropping, almost like a balcony, that jutted out from the mountain. A yawning entrance lay before them, and after Ash and N dismounted, Ash kept Garchomp out. Even with Pikachu on his shoulder, after he¡¯d started his new training regime two years ago, he never traveled without at least one more partner at his side. The two men ducked inside without another word. The mountain seemed to snuff out the sounds from outside, and they were plunged into silence almost immediately. Orange bulbs connected by tenuous wires lined the cave walls. Pikachu¡¯s ears stood straight up as they walked, and Garchomp¡¯s head dragged against the low ceiling, though he didn¡¯t seem to care. As they headed deeper and deeper into the cave, the tunnel eventually started to open up, and soon, they found themselves in an open chamber. Wooden tables and crates dotted the cragged floor of the chamber. ¡°This must be a staging area where the rangers coordinate rescue operations,¡± Ash commented. He walked over to a map smeared with dust that was posted up on a metal frame. ¡°This chamber leads to the north, east, and west entrances to the mountain, as well as a multitude of caverns between them.¡± N walked up beside him after looking around the place. ¡°We¡¯ll want to take the path that leads furthest down. The Plate is supposed to be beneath a large lake at the center of the mountain, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be a tunnel that leads there on the map. Eventually, we¡¯ll be in uncharted territory. We might even have to dig a new tunnel to get to it, though I¡¯d prefer not to.¡± ¡°I agree. The Plate is too far down to be at the bottom of the lake, so we¡¯ll need to get under it. But if we¡¯re too gungho about making a beeline there, we might flood the place by accident.¡± N smiled in the dim light. ¡°Not the gungho approach this time, huh, Ash?¡± ¡°Not this time,¡± Ash grinned. After charting a path, they selected one of the many hallways branching out from the chamber and continued deeper into the mountain. Now, there were no more lights lining the walls, so Ash released Typhlosion to illuminate the way. As the tunnel began to narrow again, it began sloping downward, until eventually, it was so steep that rough steps had been carved into the stone to allow for easy traversal. Luckily, they didn¡¯t run into any wild pok¨¦mon, but signs of their presence marked the cave. Shallow depressions where Onix had burrowed, off-white droppings where Zubat had roosted, and unnatural outlines where Bronzor had pressed themselves into the stone to rest. All of those and more colored the otherwise barren trek through the ranger¡¯s path. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. How did you join Paragon, Ash?¡± N asked after they¡¯d been walking for a while. The faint smell of mildew told them they were nearing the mountain¡¯s depths. ¡°Oh, yeah. I guess I never told you.¡± Though they¡¯d chatted here and there over the past two years when they happened to find themselves back at Paragon Island at the same time, they both inevitably had places to be, and couldn¡¯t talk for long. Ash had only been able to cultivate cursory friendships with the others before taking off back to his various training spots across the world. In hindsight, it was a pretty unremarkable tale, but N nodded along with rapt interest as he told it. ¡°So you abandoned your World Champion title to pursue even greater strength?¡± He rubbed his chin. ¡°Forgive me, I¡¯m not too familiar with the intricacies of the Pok¨¦mon League, but couldn¡¯t you have just continued your training while remaining the World Champion? If I recall correctly, the World Championships only happen every five years.¡± ¡°I guess I could¡¯ve, but it didn¡¯t really feel right to me. It was almost like I was accepting that I already reached the top by calling myself the World Champion. And that whole celebrity scene isn¡¯t really my thing to begin with. I prefer how it is now, where some people recognize me out in public, but I can mostly live my life as normal since I¡¯m not making headlines anymore. N ducked to the side as they passed a thick stalactite poking down from above. ¡°Then it sounds like things haven¡¯t changed all that much since you were traveling around Unova.¡± ¡°My dream hasn¡¯t changed,¡± Ash agreed. ¡°I¡¯m just on a different path to get there now.¡± ¡°Pok¨¦mon Master,¡± N mused. ¡°I can¡¯t say I understand what that is.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure it out myself. For the longest time, I thought it meant becoming the strongest trainer in the League. Only once I¡¯d achieved that, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to call myself a Pok¨¦mon Master. That¡¯s when I realized I was still missing something¡± ¡°So now you¡¯re on a journey to find that something, eh? Well, if that¡¯s the case, then I suppose our goals aren¡¯t so different.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! How did you join the Paragon Organization?¡± Ash asked. N laughed, though he did not sound entirely amused. ¡°I didn¡¯t have much of a choice.¡± Ash turned to face him. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± N rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. ¡°Well, the truth is, I¡¯m still a convicted criminal from my time spent in Team Plasma. A few years of prison time is not nearly enough to pay for the atrocities I played a hand in unleashing on Unova. I may be roaming about the world now, but my freedoms are more restricted than they may seem. For instance, even though I work for Paragon, I am only permitted to carry one pok¨¦mon at a time.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s¡­¡± Ash started. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything yourself. Ghetsis was the man behind everything. He just manipulated you into taking the fall for him!¡± N¡¯s face darkened as the shadows of Typhlosion''s flame flickered over his face. ¡°I told myself the same thing, at first. That none of it was my fault. That I¡¯d only ever had the best intentions, so I didn¡¯t deserve anything like a criminal record, much less a prison sentence. But the truth is, I wanted to believe that Team Plasma was right. I believed all pok¨¦mon should be set free from their human captors, and as their king, no one in Team Plasma ever questioned me, much less challenged me. I thought I was above such a human institution. I turned a blind eye to my father¡¯s schemes so that I could realize my own ideals. It was only after my actions caused both people and pok¨¦mon to get hurt that I realized the error of my ways. I won¡¯t run away from that fact, not anymore.¡± Ash frowned, unsure of what to say. The man Ash had met in Unova seemed like a beacon of light, always warm to those he met. It was sobering to think that same man had spent time in some prison because of crimes he fully admitted to committing. ¡°But back to your question. Whether it was her authority as a Champion, as the head of Paragon, or something else, I¡¯m not sure. But one day, Cynthia showed up and set me free, on the condition that I work for Paragon. That was several years ago, and I¡¯ve been in her employ ever since.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re not really a free man, then? You¡¯re really more just like a prisoner,¡± Ash said. He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not right. You don¡¯t deserve to be treated like some sort of common crook.¡± N smiled. He knew Ash was fiercely territorial about his friends. To have Ash on his side warmed him. ¡°On the contrary. I¡¯m grateful to Cynthia for giving me the opportunity to make amends for my deeds. The work I do in Paragon may not overwrite the wrongs committed by Team Plasma, but they can prevent similar disasters from coming to pass. For that, I have you to thank too.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°It was you who showed me how people can live and work in harmony with pok¨¦mon. Battling, which I once thought barbaric, is actually a sacred pact between people and pok¨¦mon for the betterment of both. You taught me that, Ash.¡± Ash rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. ¡°Ha ha, I don¡¯t know about all that. All I ever wanted to do was reach my own dream with my pok¨¦mon.¡± Pikachu squeaked in agreement on his shoulder, and N smiled. ¡°Still, I¡¯m surprised they let you have pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Just the one,¡± N said, patting his satchel. They fell back into silence as they continued to stalk through the cave. Once again, the cave started to widen, and before long, it opened into a gigantic cavern. They stood upon a cliff overlooking it. One more step, and they¡¯d fall to their deaths. Far beneath them, iron torches fluttered in the drafty air beside pitch black pools and minefields of stalagmites. Tunnels twisted to and fro, bending and coiling, unlike the straight and paved ranger caves they were now leaving behind. From above, they could see a group of trainers hiking along the path, small as insects. Ash recalled Typhlosion and mounted Garchomp again, and N followed. Then Garchomp leapt off the ledge and spread his wings. They soared through the open cavern, the wind whistling in their ears. Garchomp was careful not to disturb a hive of Golbat on the ceiling, or fly too close to a slumbering cadre of Boldore embedded on a ridge. Far below, the trainers hadn¡¯t even noticed them. ¡°Fly down to that pit over there,¡± Ash ordered. ¡°Do you see the shadow behind that rock?¡± Ash clapped his neck and pointed. Garchomp grunted and angled himself down, gliding between two roaring waterfalls. A Bronzong dislodged itself from a fissure in the mountain and began floating toward them curiously, but a growl and the glowing beginnings of a Fire Blast in Garchomp¡¯s gullet kept it at bay. They landed beside a large rock overlooking a yawning chasm. Garchomp¡¯s clawed feet dug into the ground as he knelt down to unload his passengers. Ash deployed Typhlosion once again and Ash ordered him to shoot several fireballs down into the chasm. The cave moss within caught fire and bathed the area in a somber light. Now that it was lit up, they could see that the chasm wasn¡¯t a straight drop down, but it was extremely steep. They¡¯d be able to climb down on foot, but only barely. Ash rubbed his hands together and started down the pit. N was already a veteran of Paragon and needed no words of caution, and he began his descent with a dexterity Ash hadn¡¯t expected from the urbanite. Garchomp scaled the wall with ease, scouting ahead, while Typlosion melted hand and footholds into the rock with his burning paws to make for an easier climb. Although this passage was technically on the map, it required eight of Sinnoh¡¯s badges to access. Even most ace trainers weren¡¯t skilled enough to train and then risk using their flying-types to fly through the rock-type infested caves, and the traditional path required a rock climber, a surfer, and a waterfall swimmer. After just a few minutes down the pit, it became clear that it hadn¡¯t been traveled through in quite some time. Cave moss grew in abundance on the ground, and there were no signs it¡¯d been tread upon recently. Eventually, the cave got too narrow, and Ash had to recall Garchomp. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The rangers¡¯ map had been detailed, but now they were close to its end. This chasm would lead them down past the bottom of the lake, but they¡¯d still need to find a way to cross under it. According to the map, this tunnel led to a den of Araquanid, but the rangers hadn¡¯t explored any further. As the tunnel started to level out, the hike became easier. Before long, the den stood before them. Milky cobwebs covered the floor and ceiling, and from the void before them, Ash could hear the scritching of a hundred scittering beasts, though none were in sight. N knelt down and Typhlosion offered some light. He scraped his fingers against the floor and rubbed them together. ¡°It¡¯s wet, but not sticky. This moisture is coming from the lake.¡± ¡°Which means this tunnel should lead beneath it. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s no coincidence that water-types like Araquanid decided to make their nest here.¡± N stood up and wiped his hand on his pants. ¡°So, how shall we proceed?¡± ¡°We could defeat them all, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯d approve.¡± ¡°You think too little of me, Ash,¡± N said. ¡°I already told you I¡¯ve changed. And my penance means nothing if I cannot complete the work assigned to me.¡± He turned to Ash. ¡°If defeating an entire nest of Araquanid is necessary to complete our mission, then so be it.¡± This truly wasn¡¯t the N that Ash had met back in Unova. Whether that was good or bad, Ash didn¡¯t know. ¡°No. We won¡¯t need to defeat all of them,¡± Ash said. ¡°Then what¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Araquanid can live on their own in the wild, but nests like this always have a matriarch. As long as we make it clear we don¡¯t mean any harm to their queen, they should let us pass. But I¡¯ll need your help. You can speak to pok¨¦mon, right?¡± N sighed and shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard their voices in years. Not since Team Plasma.¡± ¡°Then you need to open those ears up again,¡± Ash said. N may have been content with who he was now, but selfishly, Ash missed his old friend. He wanted him back. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± Ash rested his hand on N¡¯s shoulder. ¡°N. Please. This is my first assignment after joining Paragon. Can you imagine what Zinnia will say if we go back empty-handed?¡± N cracked a smile. ¡°I suppose I wouldn¡¯t want to embarrass you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Ash smacked his shoulder. ¡°Now, c¡¯mon!¡± Before N could respond, Ash started marching further into the tunnel. For a moment, N didn¡¯t move. The skin around his eyes crinkled. Oh, Ash. You¡¯ve become such a wonderful man. To think I used to believe I was the greatest friend of pok¨¦mon. But you, with your vast knowledge, figured out another way forward so quickly¡­ N smiled and followed him down the tunnel. Typhlosion lit the way as they walked, and as they headed deeper, the wet scuttling got louder and louder. Surely the Araquanid had sensed their presence by now, and were gathering their forces to pounce. Then, curiously, the sound of movement up ahead seemed to quiet. Ash and N stopped when they realized. ¡°Get ready. They¡¯re coming.¡± Not a second later, the tunnel exploded. A mass of spearlike legs and bulbous heads of water raced toward them in a maddened froth. N sneered and reached into his satchel, but Ash stood tall, and he thrust a hand forward. ¡°Typhlosion, use Hyperion!¡± Typhlosion snarled and the flames on his neck flared as they turned from red and white. He opened his mouth, and a keening ray of blinding fire shot out in a line. The Araquanid squealed as they were torn off the wall and burned nearly to a crisp. If they weren¡¯t water-types, they very well may have been. The attack was ruthless, but all of them would recover. ¡°I thought we weren¡¯t going to defeat them all?¡± N shouted. ¡°Not all. Just the ones in our way,¡± Ash smirked. ¡°Now c¡¯mon! Araquanid dens send all their numbers at intruders at once, so we should have a straight shot to the queen now!¡± N nodded and raced after Ash past the mounds of wriggling legs. The smell of sour smoke permeated the air, and N was eager to leave it behind as soon as possible. The matriarch¡¯s chamber was thankfully wider than the claustrophobic tunnel that comprised the entrance to the lair, though it was no less populated. Inside, Araquanid of various size roiled around a much larger specimen covered in soggy silk. Ash was no arachnophobe, but the sight of so many all in one compact place almost made him shudder, if not for a gentle shock from Pikachu on his shoulder to tighten him up. He wasted no further time, and vaulted over the first few rows of Araquanid. Though this chamber was certainly infested with them, most were simple drones. The few soldiers quickly made themselves apparent. Fury oozed off of them in waves as they leapt onto the ceiling to make a beeline for the intruders. ¡°Pikachu, paralyze them.¡± A network of precise thundershocks zapped out from Pikachu¡¯s cheeks and struck the soldiers. They fell to the ground, twitching and seething with rage. Typhlosion released a ring of fire around Ash, N, and the matriarch, keeping the drones at bay and giving them some space. The Araquanid matriarch screeched and spat out a glob of web, but Typhlosion caught it and incinerated it in his hand. ¡°Alright, now we just need to kidnap her for a little while and take her with us to the other end of the tunnel!¡± Ash said, and Typhlosion started nudging the spider toward an opening opposite from the way they¡¯d come in. The Araquanid hissed, but got to moving. Confrontation was not its forte. ¡°Please listen, friend! We mean you no harm! We just want passage to the other side of your home!¡± The queen hissed even louder, sticky spittle boiling off the water bubble around its head N grit his teeth. ¡°Please! We¡¯re in search of an artifact that lies beyond these grounds. If we could just get to it, we would disturb you no longer!¡± ¡°Typhlosion, Hyperion again!¡± Ash roared as another battalion of soldiers surged toward them. He shielded his eyes as it fired off down the tunnel, and continued wading through the sea of bodies. ¡°Ash!¡± N cried. ¡°I hear her! I hear her voice!¡± ¡°That¡¯s excellent! What is she saying?¡± ¡°They know about the Plate. It appeared in their home a little while ago, and they were forced to evacuate that section because of its errant energy.¡± Ash grinned. They were close. ¡°Araquanid will take us to the Plate and is begging for us to remove it!¡± Eventually, the cobwebs began to thin, and Araquanid screeched, stopping in its tracks. It nodded its head further down the tunnel. ¡°Thank you, my friend, and I apologize for our intrusion. We will take care of this danger for you, I promise.¡± Araquanid hissed and scuttled back into its den. Already, her soldiers were beginning to peel themselves off the ground to escort her back inside. Despite the ease with which they¡¯d broken in and out, these Araquanid were extremely high level, and they could have easily died at any moment. Ash guessed that even Champion-level trainers couldn¡¯t have replicated his results with as little damage as he¡¯d done, and as fast as they¡¯d gone. ¡°The Plate should be ahead,¡± N said. ¡°We¡¯re certainly under the lake now.¡± Water dripped down the cave walls beside them, and the stench of mold assaulted their nostrils. Moss squelched under their feet as they walked, and the cave seemed to undulate, narrowing and widening in rapidly shortening intervals. Eventually, even the ground started to heave and bend, and they were forced to climb over hills of sodden rock. Nearly half an hour later, Ash pulled himself out of a large depression matted with black lichen. Immediately, he realized they¡¯d arrived. Across the twisted tunnel, embedded in the ground of a large cavern, was a giant, glowing shard of otherworldly design. Golden embers drifted from its etched and shimmering surface in flurries, and the stones around it were jagged and spiked, like they¡¯d been forced apart. A low hum reverberated through the chamber, loud and oppressive. Somehow, they hadn¡¯t heard it until this very moment when the Plate was now in sight. ¡°That must be it,¡± N breathed, as he pulled himself up beside Ash. Ash recognized it as a Plate due to his experience with Team Galactic, but its ethereal majesty was plain for anyone to see. But unlike Team Galactic¡¯s shoddy recreations, this was a true Plate; even half buried in a cave, it screamed its effulgent brilliance throughout the cavern. Raw power seemed to throb from its surface, and it seemed to twist everything in the cavern around it, down to the last molecule of air. The two men walked up to it, and as they got closer, the Plate seemed to fill Ash with warmth. He squinted when they stopped, the brightness poking at his eyes. The inscriptions carved into the Plate¡¯s surface were foreign, but they apparently described how everything came to be. ¡°Now, how will we remove it?¡± N said, craning his head up at the top of the Plate. It was already taller than both of them, but there was no telling how much of it was submerged beneath the ground. ¡°And how will we transport it back to Paragon Island?¡± Ash didn¡¯t respond. He reached his hand out slowly. ¡°Ash¡ª¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡± Both men turned toward the sound of another voice, off to their side. In the shadows of the cave sat a man with spiky black hair that hung over his eyes. He wore a black tunic trimmed in gold, and a thick cloak to match. A stench of rot and death emanated from the man, and Ash wrinkled his nose and scowled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see visitors in a place like this,¡± he said, standing up. ¡°Who are you?¡± N said, taking a step toward the man. ¡°I would ask you the same thing.¡± ¡°How did you find the Plate?¡± Ash asked. The man frowned and rolled his neck to face Ash. ¡°You look familiar. Have we met?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the former World Champion, Ash Ketchum.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯ll be it. Well, I¡¯d advise against touching the Plate, Ash Ketchum,¡± he said, ignoring the question. ¡°This is what it did to me.¡± He raised his hand. It was black and burned down to his forearm. ¡°Are you alright?¡± N asked, scowling. ¡°That wound looks terrible.¡± ¡°Not to worry.¡± The man grunted and closed his blackened hand. His fist trembled for a moment from the strength of his grip, before suddenly, it became engulfed in blue fire. The flames burned away his decimated flesh, leaving bright and healed skin in its wake. When the flames faded, he wriggled his fingers, then clenched and unclenched his hand. ¡°You see?¡± he smiled, ¡°Good as new.¡± Ash¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You¡¯re¡ª¡° ¡°I am Zagreus,¡± he thundered. He glanced between them, but realizing they didn¡¯t recognize his name, he continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you found this place, but the Plate is rightfully mine. I will have it.¡± Clearly, he¡¯d taken another path to arrive at this chamber. But, Ash and N had taken what they thought was the quickest path. Which meant Zagreus hadn¡¯t followed the map. He¡¯d carved his own way through the mountain. ¡°It seems we¡¯re at an impasse then, Zagreus,¡± N said. ¡°You lay claim to the Plate, but it cannot be removed without injury. Let us¡ª¡° ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, young man,¡± Zagreus said, and all the mirth was gone from his voice now. ¡°I can remove the Plate, and I will. But there¡¯s no telling how long it will remain. Arceus is a fickle being. The Plate may lay down here for years, or it may disappear before we come to an arrangement. So I¡¯m afraid your being here presents a problem.¡± He unclipped a pok¨¦ball from his belt. ¡°Do you mean to attack us?¡± N said incredulously. ¡°We will use force if necessary to defend ourselves. Lethal force, if need be.¡± Zagreus licked his lips and grinned. ¡°Oh, I like the sound of that. I¡¯ve never had the honor of facing off against a World Champion! What do I get if I kill you?¡± ¡°Enough. Thunderbolt, Pikachu.¡± A thunderbolt ripped toward Zagreus faster than the eye could follow, but a screeching clang burst through the chamber, and smoke plumed outward on impact. The Plate, lodged in the ground, thrummed. A towering Kingambit stood before Zagreus, its arm outstretched. It¡¯d batted the Thunderbolt aside like it was nothing more than a nuisance. The wall was cracked and burnt where it¡¯d hit. ¡°Hmm, not very impressive for a World Champion. I¡¯m dismayed.¡± He thrust his arms forward, and an invisible force slammed against Ash, throwing him back toward the cave wall. ¡°Agh!¡± Typlosion leapt behind him and caught him, and they both crashed into the wall. Typhlosion moaned from the impact. ¡°Thanks, Typhlosion.¡± Though he¡¯d been spared from the worst, Ash¡¯s head rang, and his vision swam. The entire chamber shuddered, and instantly, the temperature skyrocketed. Billowing white fur emptied into the cavern, brushing against the cragged ceiling. Reshiram howled, and the Plate spat its energies. ¡°Only one pok¨¦mon, huh?¡± Ash groaned, but he smiled. ¡°Ah, now I know you! The young king of, what was it? Team Plasma? Perhaps I¡¯ll leave here with the shards of two legends!¡± Zagreus said with glee. ¡°Night Slash!¡± Kingamit leapt into the air, its three blades all brimming with dark energy, but a column of fire from Reshiram¡¯s maw forced it on the defensive. Ash staggered to his feet, and Pikachu looked at him, worried.. ¡°Thanks, Pikachu, I¡¯m okay. He limped across the ground and turned to Typhlosion. ¡°Help N. When you get a clear shot, use Hyperion on Kingambit.¡± Typhlosion nodded and dashed ahead, but their scheming did not escape Zagreus¡¯ notice. ¡°Oh no, what happened to sportsmanship, World Champion? I can¡¯t let you interfere.¡± He released a Poliwrath at his side. ¡°Echo Punch! Bring this cave down!¡± Poliwrath pulled its fist back, and a harsh light enveloped it. Grunting, he launched his fist toward the ceiling. Nothing happened for half a second, then a loud bang, blasted through the cavern, followed by another, and another. Wind whipped through the cave from the attack, and the ceiling above began to crack apart. ¡°No!¡± As Ash ran forward, rocks began to fall. Pikachu zapped one out of the air before it could hit his trainer, and when one fell upon the Plate, it shattered into a hundred pieces before even touching it. Now, the Plate was beginning to act erratically, as bolts of energy crackled around it, scraping against the ground and destroying everything in its vicinity. Despite the close quarters, Reshiram refused to let Kingambit take advantage of its smaller size. As it sprinted past Reshiram¡¯s tail, Reshiram seized around, and slammed its massive foot on top of it, pinning it. Reshiram glowered down at it, and its gullet burned. ¡°Tch!¡± Zagreus snarled. He raised his hand again, and crumpled it. Fissures opened above Reshiram, and through a shower of dust, an avalanche of rocks started falling. ¡°N!¡± Ash screamed. N¡¯s eyes met his, but the rain of boulders separated the two soon after. The entire mountain seemed to shake as each boulder crashed against the ground. But the cavern was now split in two, with N trapped on one side. Water began spraying from cracks in the ceiling. ¡°Now, that¡¯s better! Finish them off!¡± Zagreus roared. Pikachu and Typhlosion reacted a moment sooner. Pikachu blitzed into Poliwrath with a vicious Volt Tackle, and a blistering Flamethrower from Typhlosion caught Kingambit before it could stand after rolling away from the avalanche. Ash grit his teeth and moved toward the Plate. Electricity stormed around it, and it seemed to gleam brighter than ever. As Ash pushed himself forward, he saw Zagreus stumble before the Plate. Blue flames wreathed his hands, and he grabbed the Plate. With his attention focused on the Plate, he didn¡¯t notice Ash¡¯s approach until he was right beside him. ¡°Get away!¡± Zagreus spat, but before he could attack, Ash tackled him, and the two men tumbled away. A stray energy shock blasted next to Ash and he winced. ¡°Damn you,¡± Zagreus growled. He¡¯d crawled away, but now, he was clutching his face. Blood streamed between his fingers. When his hand fell, Ash saw a nasty rent carved across his face from eyebrow to jaw, the grisly work of the Plate¡¯s bolt. Bloodlust poured from Zagreus, a dark tempest of hatred like that of a wounded animal, and Ash shivered. He was about to die. That much was certain. He would die, here and now, before he could even reach his belt to release another pok¨¦mon. Zagreus pounced, water from above dampening his hair into streaks across his wrathful face. Blood stained his teeth, and blue fire licked across his hands. Ash grabbed the Plate. It was right there behind him, just an inch away. He didn¡¯t even have to turn around. His hand closed around a jagged corner of the Plate. The last of the ceiling burst apart and a deluge of water burst down from above. Electricity ignited on its ferocious surface, and a blinding light seared Ash¡¯s vision. A flood of cold engulfed him before the world went white. Origin Child Arc ¡ª [END]
This introductory arc was supposed to be three chapters long. Nonetheless, I¡¯m excited to get into the story proper! Thank you for reading! Remnants of the Great War [1] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [1] Chapter 10 : World Prison
Darkness, cold and quiet, cloaked the man in its motherly embrace. The chains that wrapped around him dug into his back and offered a nostalgic agony. Rank water dripped from the cobblestone void above, onto his cheek, and it itched so bad he could¡¯ve torn his face off, if only for a moment of relief. But he couldn¡¯t. So he remained still. Only his breathing broke the everlasting silence. How long had it been? What does it matter? When would it end? I don¡¯t care. Was he broken yet? ¡­ No. No. No. Maybe his body was beginning to decay, but his memories hadn¡¯t even begun to smell. He could still remember everything like it¡¯d just happened yesterday. The carnage. The rage. And the pain. The black blood of his long dead enemies lived on under his yellow fingernails, and beneath his rotten garb, staining his skin. So here he lay, decrepit and forgotten. Time carried no meaning in this eternal dungeon, and the days and years slicked together like tar. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t been here all that long. Or maybe this was all just a dream, and he¡¯d wake up on the battlefield again, as he had countless times before. No, the war was over. He had ended it. Distant sounds caught his attention, but he made no movement. The sounds became louder, boots on stone, as they approached. From beyond the thick, rusted iron bars that enclosed him, two figures stepped from the gloom, illuminated only by faint torchlight from the other side of this black expanse. They donned nondescript uniforms of black and wore hoods to hide their faces. The standard wear of this prison¡¯s guard. ¡°Hey, monster. You alive in there?¡± one of them jeered, banging on the bars and letting a deafening echo loose throughout the chamber. ¡°Hey, cut that out or we¡¯ll get found out!¡± the other said, snatching his partner¡¯s fist before it could hit the bars again. ¡°Tch. Pussy. You scared of a corpse?¡± ¡°No¡­ and they say it¡¯s still alive¡­¡± ¡°You dumbass. How can it be alive without food and water?¡± ¡°Still¡­ what if the warden catches us down ¡®ere?¡± ¡°Shut yer bitching. No one ever comes down here. Half the guards don¡¯t even know this floor exists.¡± ¡°What do you even want with it? We been down ¡®ere three times already and it hasn¡¯t moved a single time.¡± ¡°I got a little something for it this time.¡± The guard reached into his uniform and pulled out a bundle. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s my morning paper!¡± ¡°Fuck you mean, it¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°You ¡®on¡¯t have a subscription!¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t even read! I know you bought it just to look smart!¡± The guard shoved his friend aside and tore off the first page of the newspaper. He tossed the rest of the paper to his friend and crumpled his page into a ball. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± The guard tossed it between the bars, and it bounced off the enchained mass, tumbling back into the soiled darkness. ¡°Now you¡¯se done it¡­¡± ¡°Fuck you mean, pussy? No response!¡± The guard laughed and smacked his friend. ¡°C¡¯mon, gimme another. I wanna try and hit his head.¡± The game continued for another ten minutes. None of the projectiles hit the man¡¯s head, but they bounced over his body and ended up all around him. ¡°Damn. And now we¡¯re out.¡± The guard crossed his arms and exhaled, before turning back toward the bars. ¡°Well, you got off lucky this time, monster! Next time, we¡¯ll be back with a sack of rotten berries! Hahahahaha!¡± ¡°Why you talking to it if you think it¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± The two guards walked away, and that sweet silence soon returned. The ink from the newspapers was slowly seeping into the moistened stone. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they¡¯d be unreadable. News of the outside world rarely made its way down to the bottom of this pit, but when it did, he did not let it slip between his fingers. The man exhaled, and that ancient power awoke in him. Terrible and euphoric. Like gasoline in a vase. It coursed through him, awakening his senses like fire. He closed his eyes, and his other one opened. It required no light to see. The text from the crumpled up pages of the newspaper flooded into his mind, and he absorbed their meaning in an instant. Unfamiliar names and places dripped off his mind like oil on water, discarded. Words he didn¡¯t know¡ª no doubt names of innovations since his incarceration¡ª embedded themselves within his mind like seeds, waiting to be studied at a later date. Only the information he wanted remained with him, selected by a hand of cosmic objectivity. His eyes snapped open as a singular name fell upon his psyche. The veins in his eyes swelled, and his chains scraped against the floor as he clenched his fists. No. Of course he was still alive. Damn you! The man wasn¡¯t so na?ve that he thought he had died. That would¡¯ve been wishful thinking. But to think he was being this brazen¡­ after all this time¡­ I was content to lie here and await the end of the world. But an insult like this?! No! NO! ¡°NO!¡± he bellowed. His muscles filled with oxygen and rage, and the chains around him began to crack apart and shatter against the cobbled walls of his cell. He tore his legs off the ground and stood, ripping the last of the chains off his body. Eyes of hatred burned beneath his furred cowl. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The lights in the chamber flicked on immediately as an alarm started blaring, and he squinted in agony, having been bathed in darkness for so long. As his eyes adjusted, he heard the clambering of a hundred pairs of boots pouring out of the nigh defunct elevator on the far side of the chamber, and orders being shouted in fear and urgency. ¡°Don¡¯t move, prisoner!¡± a voice blared through a megaphone in front of him. Above him, there was a mechanical hiss, and a second later, the cell flooded with a searing, high-pitched keening. The sound waves blasted down from a series of nozzles lining the ceiling, warping the air as they crashed upon the man. ¡°Arghhh!¡± The man dropped to the floor and clutched his ears. Blood poured between his fingers, and dripped from both nostrils. Do they think something like this can stop me?! He grit his teeth, and his skin began to shine. With a deafening roar, he detonated, destroying the nozzles, the bars, and the antediluvian cobblestone around him. Dust and rock showered down over him as he took his first step past the twisted metal of the bars¡¯ remains, out of his cell. A throng of hooded guards surrounded his cell, their pok¨¦mon deployed at the ready. Tyranitar, Dragonite, Slaking, and a host of other titans prowled before him. An Entei and a Landorus stalked among their ranks as well. As he glanced between them all, he inhaled, and for the first time in forever, he smiled. Fear. A nectarine scent. A moment later, the chamber exploded as a deluge of attacks impacted against him. Blast Burns, Frenzy Plants, Hydro Cannons, Stone Edges, Discharges, and more buffeted his body, but he shrugged them all off. They were beneath him. Out of practice as he was, he would never fall to such a feeble onslaught. Again, he clenched his fists and released an effulgent shockwave, slamming everyone back into the walls around them, and they slumped to the floor, all knocked out. Or, almost all. The Entei got to its feet shakily and glared at the man. No doubt many of its ribs were broken, and a gash above its eye dripped steaming blood, but it bared its fangs nonetheless. The man disappeared and reappeared beside it, wrapping his arms around its neck. Entei snorted, and its massive paws clawed at the man, but the man¡¯s grip tightened, and he snarled in kind. A wet snap reverberated off the walls of the chamber. With its neck broken, the man let go of the Entei, and stood. He craned his neck up. It was impossible to tell how deep in the earth he was, but he tapped into the power within him, and a path to freedom revealed itself as ghostly ley lines that snaked through the air, visible only to him. Gripping the cobblestone wall, he started to climb. He was halfway up when an army started flooding down from on high, riding various flying-types and armed with weapons he could not identify. Bangs and screeches lit up around him, and he scowled. As a Salamence swooped down and tried to clip him from the wall, he flipped backward, across the pit, and seized the rock on the other side. He looked up and quickly scanned his new assailants. ¡°Monster!¡± ¡°What the hell is it?!¡± ¡°How is it alive?!¡± The guards squawked about, calling out moves, and the attacks that didn¡¯t land on him carved blackened rents into the stone around him. As a Crobat blitzed toward him, its wings imbued with a noxious poison, the man pounced off the wall and propelled himself skyward. The Crobat sneered at his approach, but the man sailed past and planted his foot on its head, before launching even higher. Its rider tumbled off with a scream, and Crobat smashed into the ground, far below. The next nearest guards rode a Dragapult and a Braviary. The man grabbed the Braviary¡¯s thin legs in one handful and yanked it out of air, flinging it into the wall with its rider. Dragapult fired a dozen Shadow Balls, but the man shielded himself with his arm. As he dropped, he located a Staraptor beneath him and fell onto it. It chirped in pain as he landed, and the man shoved its rider off. Staraptor did a barrel roll to get him off, and he let himself get thrown back onto the wall. Staraptor nosedived to go save its trainer, and the man began his climb again. Now, he wasted no time, bounding up the wall like a rabid animal. Elemental energy showered over him, but they all glanced off his skin. The guards yelled in horror as he approached the ceiling, the floor of the next floor. With one last leap, his fist hardened, and he smashed through it. An avalanche of granite boulders tumbled below, and the man landed on velvet carpet beside the hole of his own creation. A hundred, no¡­ two hundred men stood before him, filling the lofty atrium with their numbers. Gray brick pillars soared around him, the torches mounted on them casting their light over the assembled enemies. A figure clad in white pushed through the host. Unlike the others, he wore no hood. His alabaster pauldrons clanged together as he walked, and with a flutter of his pristine cape, he planted his steel boots onto the floor and crossed his burly arms. He had close-cropped gray hair, and countless milky scars covered the dark skin of his face. ¡°For three thousand years, this prison has held all manner of evil. And for three thousand years, we have put down every attempt at escape. Today will be no different!¡± He slammed his fist against his chest and roared, and the others bellowed alongside him beneath their hoods, their morale boosted. ¡°By the authority vested in me as chief warden of the World Prison, I sentence you to immediate execution.¡± The warden pointed at the man, and released his pok¨¦mon. An enormous Stoutland materialized beside him, already salivating. The man stared at his assailants, before a gravelly sound escaped his lips. He threw his head back. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± His eyes were wild and bloodshot. The sound assaulted the prison guards, and they cringed where they stood. It was an inhuman guffaw, the crazed howling of a beast torturing its prey before devouring it. Even the warden scowled, but he stood his ground. ¡°If you are a warrior, then you should know you stand no chance against me,¡± the prisoner intoned. His voice was deep and clear, despite how long it¡¯d been since he¡¯d used it. It seemed to echo across multiple layers of reality. The warden grit his teeth and glared. ¡°On me, men!¡± Without hesitation, he broke into a charge, and his Stoutland bounded off beside him. The guards and their pok¨¦mon screamed, and they all charged toward the lone escapee. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had fun. Maybe it¡¯d be better if I didn¡¯t finish this in an instant. The prisoner licked his lips and tore toward the horde, his long arms and hair billowing behind him as he dashed. Stoutland lunged toward him, a cyclone of energy wreathed around his hirsute form. Before the Giga Impact could hit him, the man sidestepped, and rounded on his heel, kicking outward and clipping the massive dog in the side. He swiveled, and with all his strength, he sent the Stoutland careening into its trainer, and they continued off into the far wall. Now he turned to the rest of his attackers. As they bared down on him, he clenched his fists into solid weapons and grinned. Ahhh, it¡¯s been so long¡­ The first row of guards didn¡¯t even have time to process what happened before their skulls exploded in a storm of blood and meat. The top hemisphere of one¡¯s skull was sliced clean off the bottom half, and another lost the center of his head, and his tongue lolled out of the gaping hole. A shower of blood erupted through the mass as man and monster alike were ripped apart, bones and all. The man hadn¡¯t stopped laughing, and he was now covered in red, head to toe, as he carried on his carnage. The remains of a Tyranitar¡¯s head disintegrated in his palm after his lightning-fast punch knocked it from its neck, and a swing of his arm melted the bodies of ten prison guards in a second. Their entrails and cloaks caught on his arm, but he shook them off and continued his rampage. With his eyes alight with glee, his laughter only became more and more high-pitched as he continued to smash, cut, and tear through the horde with his bare hands alone. How much time had passed, the man could not say. Only, when his fever finally subsided, silence reigned over the atrium. Blood covered every surface. The walls, the stone pillars, what was left of his clothes, his skin, his hair, the velvet floor. Laced with stringy gore as it was, the blood was too thick to even drip off of him. He breath wafted between his now moistened lips. That wasn¡¯t enough¡­ that was no battlefield¡­ that was no war¡­ He limped across the room toward the front door. Two oaken doors lie before him, and with a single tap of his hands, they burst off their hinges and scattered outside. Sunlight assaulted him, and he clutched his hands over his eyes. Cautiously, he took a step outside. The wind felt cold against his skin, but he let himself bask in its cool. A sensation he hadn¡¯t felt in years washed over him, almost as euphoric as the massacre from a moment ago. This was the outside world. This was freedom. He inhaled, and his nostrils gorged themselves on the non-tepid air. Perhaps if he¡¯d known how sweet freedom tasted, he would¡¯ve left sooner. Slowly, he opened his eyes and lowered his hands. The prison seemed to be on an island, as the ocean surrounded him on all sides. A smooth black trail led away from the tower, past a wall of straight, silver bars, down a sandstone cliff toward a port of steel far below. A rhythmic cacophony from above broke him from his reverie, and he saw two¡­ things curve around the prison and stop in the sky in front of him. With his enhanced sight, he noticed twin blades spinning atop the machines at an incomprehensible speed. Within their confines, more prison guards barked orders at each other and pointed at him. The man¡¯s smile faded. In his absence, the world had moved on. But his enemies hadn¡¯t. He grit his teeth, but suppressed his rage. For now, he¡¯d need to hide. Word of his escape would travel in an instant, and he knew that man would never let him live. First, he needed to learn about this new world. He opened his hand in front of him, and the sight showed him where to go. Crouching down, the veins in his legs bulged, and he launched into the sky. The flying machines swerved in the air, but he sailed over them, and dipped into a dive. Now over the open sea, he dived into the water and a plume of ocean exploded off the surface. Now underwater, he found a rocky outcropping with his foot, and backed himself up against it. His legs bunched again, and he rocketed forward. Away from the island. Away from his imprisonment. And toward the battlefield once more. As he cut across the ocean, its waters cleaning the blood from his body, AZ smiled. It¡¯s time to finish this, once and for all. Next ¡ª Chapter 11 : A Hollow History
Remnants of the Great War [2] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [2] Chapter 11 : A Hollow History
Anabel Lila was not extraordinary. She had no grand dreams, like Zinnia. She was not on a righteous path of repentance, like N. She did not have superhuman abilities, like Sabrina. She was a mere pawn in Cynthia¡¯s order of misfit toys. She was not the strongest among them, nor did she surmise herself to be the weakest. She spent equal time on and off Paragon Island in between missions. She had no hobbies and held no hatred. If she were a character in a novel or movie, she¡¯d undoubtedly be a side character. She was the type of character people would say is ¡°kind of bland.¡± Maybe future novels or movies would build on her character, or maybe they wouldn¡¯t. Maybe she¡¯d just be killed or written out in some other way because the audience didn¡¯t like her. And the story would progress without incident, because ultimately, her scenes were what the kids called ¡°filler.¡± These sorts of thoughts and more did not run through Anabel Lila¡¯s head on a regular or semi-regular basis ever since joining the Paragon Organization. Anabel Lila was a zero. Not positive and not negative. If she was the dramatic type, she¡¯d say she was a ¡°void.¡± If she was the pragmatic type, she¡¯d say she was a ¡°rock.¡± But Anabel Lila was neither of these things. She voiced her insecurities to those who¡¯d listen, but she didn¡¯t have many of them. She had parents who loved her, and friends to call friends. When she became a trainer, as all kids her age did, she had an instant knack for it. When she became a Frontier Brain in Hoenn at the age of twelve, people called her a child genius. As she got older, they dropped the ¡®child¡¯ but still called her a genius. And when she got older still, they seemed to forget that there was anything special about her to begin with, as shinier talent splashed onto the Frontier scene. Oh well. That was the entertainment industry. If the Pok¨¦mon League was the pinnacle of glory, then the Battle Frontier was the pinnacle of gluttony. The complete opposite, where corpulent wallets, friends in high places, and the rarest pok¨¦mon around were the tickets to the top. Which is why Anabel left the Frontier. And somehow she¡¯d ended up here. Most people probably followed a similar trajectory as her. They drifted through life from one thing to the next, anchoring themselves to whatever opportunities materialized from the aether. After leaving the Frontier, she found herself in the employ of the International Police. And it was from there that Cynthia poached her. Of course, even that had happened without any drama. Somehow, Cynthia got ahold of her contact info, scheduled a meeting, and laid out the terms. It took Anabel four years to beat her. And the rest was history. Oh, yeah. Then Ash joined. Ash. Ash Ketchum. Ash. She rolled his name around her mind like a morsel of food that was too hot. When he¡¯d appeared on Paragon Island, her heart flipped over in her chest. But then it stuck the landing. Hmmm, nope. Yeah, nope. Nothing. That flame had fizzled out long ago. Of course she¡¯d gotten a pang in her chest after seeing her old crush after so long. That was to be expected. But her feelings, at least those feelings, were long gone now. Ash was now just Ash. So her life wasn¡¯t about to turn into a riveting, heart-pounding romance between two old friends reunited after ten years while they took on a world of evil and enigmas either. In other words, Anabel Lila was not extraordinary. Even her propensity for self-evaluation rode a thin line between critical and aloof. She was humble enough to know that she wasn¡¯t some once-in-a-generation icon, but not so much so that she would devalue her own achievements in a vain attempt at modesty. They had earned her a spot in the Paragon Organization, after all. And as a result, she now found herself on a small island at the center of the world. Despite its size, the place bustled with activity. Armored vans cruised past her in a hurry, and massive tents had been erected across the smooth sandstone at the island¡¯s interior. A veritable hive of International agents swarmed around her, but they were far too busy to greet her, and she passed them all without interruption. As she rounded a tall cliff, her destination came into view. The World Prison loomed high into the perfect sky. It was a column of justice constructed of stone, iron, and more that housed criminals from throughout the lands and ages. It was brown and overgrown at its base, but as it stretched higher and higher, it turned to metal, and thin currents of energy pulsed across its surface at the highest levels. The World Prison had been built countless years ago, but to this day, it was still incomplete, always adding more floors to accommodate the ever-growing number of villains. She began her ascent up a flight of grand polished marble steps flanked by massive banners of all the regions of the world. They flapped their colors in the wind: violet for Paldea, added most recently at the bottom, black for Unova, gold for Sinnoh, and so on. Finally, she reached the top and passed between the crimson standards of Kanto. Sabrina was waiting for her at the top. If nothing else, the girl was punctual, though she¡¯d probably just had her Alakazam teleport her to the top. Or she¡¯d done it herself. Unlike Anabel, who tried to dress the part of a Paragon operative, Sabrina wore simple black tights and an oversized indigo sweater dress. She looked like she was out to get groceries. Sabrina put up a hand when Anabel arrived and hopped off the granite plinth she¡¯d been sitting on beneath one of Kanto¡¯s banners. Anabel smiled and waved back. Sabrina was a nice girl. She¡¯d been a total cold fish when they first met, but after some¡­ insistence on Anabel¡¯s part¡­ okay, it was really more like a total invasion of her privacy for the better part of a year, she¡¯d come out of her shell, at least when it was just the two of them. ¡°Hey,¡± Sabrina said quietly. ¡°Hey!¡± Anabel beamed. ¡°I thought for sure I¡¯d beat you this time.¡± ¡°Oh. Sorry. I sensed you coming so I told Minior to fly faster.¡± ¡°You little¡ª¡° Anabel grabbed her and locked her neck in her arm, and the girl giggled as she squirmed to escape. When she finally did, Anabel placed her gloved hands on her hips and looked up at the structure before them. Anabel scowled at its sight. She¡¯d only been here a few times, but it was an unsettling place. Legions of scum served their time here, and as the prison continued to graft greater defenses into and onto itself, it seemed to become more and more like an abomination. A cylindrical golem that had long outlived its expiration date, yet continued to persist, somehow. Its oaken doors rested on the wall beside the gaping entrance, separated from their hinges, and Anabel led the way inside. Hooded guards beside the entrance bowed at their approach. Immediately, once they passed through the arch, Anabel gagged and slammed her hand over her nose. A malodor of rancid iron clawed up her nostrils, and she almost threw up on the spot. Sabrina closed her eyes, and her gauntlets whirred. A gentle wind enveloped them, and the stench of death subsided, and Anabel nodded at her in thanks, wiping her eyes. They crossed a short hallway, and the source of the stench quickly made itself apparent. The atrium was covered in blood, from floor to ceiling. Anabel gasped as she stepped across the carpet, dried blood cracking under her feet. Beside her, Sabrina shielded her nose and mouth with a sleeve-covered hand. Despite the fact that she was keeping the stench at bay with her powers, moisture rimmed her eyes. They¡¯d both seen some things after joining Paragon, but a gruesome scene like this was new even for them. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°It¡¯s quite something, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seated on a broken piece of pillar in the center of the room sat a man whose stained armor crumpled around him in a twisted sculpture. He looked to be in his fifties, and a pad of gauze covered half of his scarred face, though blood was seeping through. He held an ice pack to his head, and a medic was stitching up a gash on his arm. Unlike his guards scattered throughout the room, he wore no mask, as if the smell didn¡¯t even faze him. Anabel composed herself and walked up to him. ¡°I wanted to believe the report I read was an exaggeration.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± he chuckled, though there was no mirth in it. ¡°Bastard got us good.¡± ¡°Seems he missed a spot.¡± ¡°Heh. Luck, and nothing more, sweetheart. If I hadn¡¯t been buried under my Stoutland during the massacre, and broke half his ribs in the process, I¡¯d be a pile of meat like the rest of my men.¡± Anabel pursed her lips. ¡°Do you want to talk now?¡± ¡°Day¡¯s not getting any younger. Get off of me,¡± he shooed the medic away and stood up. ¡°Everybody out!¡± he bellowed. Before he could get light headed, he sat back down and steadied himself for a moment. Then he smiled, his lips pressed together, and the many wrinkles on his face deepened. ¡°So. How can I help the Paragon Organization today?¡± Anabel ignored his glib attempt at sarcasm, and motioned to the psychic. ¡°I don¡¯t think you and Sabrina have met. Sabrina, this is General Nathaniel Barke, warden of the World Prison. General, maybe you¡¯ve heard of Sabrina¡ª¡° ¡°Yes, Saffron gym leader. Human psychic. Extremely dangerous. I would know, I was in the room when those were being made,¡± he pointed at her gauntlets with his pinky. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, princess.¡± Sabrina nodded, and rubbed her gauntlets absentmindedly. Then they started to spin slightly faster, and a breeze passed over Barke. He wrinkled his nose, and took a few sniffs, then glared at her. ¡°That¡¯s some trick. Cynthia found quite the catch to add to her menagerie with you, eh? No need to bother with me, though. I selfishly survived when all my men died, the least I could do is have the courtesy to smell their corpses.¡± Sabrina didn¡¯t react, but Anabel cut in before he could continue. ¡°What can you tell us about the escapee?¡± Barke raised his eyebrow as he turned back to her. ¡°Not much.¡± He laced his thick fingers together and sighed, now all business. ¡°He¡¯s known as AZ, though that¡¯s certainly a mistranslation from Old Kalosian. He was the World Prison¡¯s first prisoner, and it¡¯s said it was built to contain him.¡± Anabel shifted uneasily. The World Prison, despite its human construction and obvious purpose, was nearly as mysterious as any other inexplicable phenomenon across the world. She knew this tower had its secrets, but even its secrets had secrets, it seemed. ¡°And how long ago was that?¡± ¡°Three thousand years, give or take a few decades.¡± Anabel frowned. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Barke threw his arms out. ¡°We don¡¯t know. We haven¡¯t fed him anything in years, and he doesn¡¯t move. Every warden is briefed on the protocols regarding his treatment when they become warden, though most of it boils down to ¡®don¡¯t let him escape¡¯ and ¡®try and kill him, if you can.¡¯ All who came before me maintained the first directive just fine, but had no luck with the second.¡± ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s even human? It sounds more like you¡¯ve been looking over a statue this entire time.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s human alright. There are records of his crimes. Apparently he was a bit of a big deal back during the Great War. Some king or general from Kalos or something, the translations are a little unclear on that. Name a war crime and I¡¯m sure it¡¯s on his ledger.¡± Anabel bit her lip. There wasn¡¯t much known about the Great War. Three thousand years ago, humanity devolved into a bloody clash against one another on almost every continent, and it¡¯d taken a catastrophic event known as the Calamity to end the fighting. Supposedly, the population of both people and pok¨¦mon were cut in half in a single day, though the source of such destruction remained unknown to this day. If Cynthia were here, she¡¯d probably know more. ¡°It¡¯s funny,¡± Barke continued. ¡°The World Prison held a monster like AZ for millenia, yet we still know next to nothing about how, or what our predecessors intended for him. You¡¯d think they would¡¯ve been a little more detailed in writing that history down.¡± ¡°Are there other prisoners like him here?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°No. The next oldest prisoner here is ninety-three, and he¡¯s in for bestiality.¡± He shook his head in contempt. ¡°You see? I can tell you everything you¡¯d want to know about anyone else in this damned tower. But the one guy who puts all the others to shame¡­ nothing.¡± He spat on the ground. ¡°Gone, in just a few minutes. No outside help. After three thousand years.¡± ¡°What were the protocols in place to contain him?¡± Anabel asked. Barke glanced up at them, and his eyelid seemed to sag wearily over his eye. ¡°What I¡¯m about to tell you doesn¡¯t leave this room.¡± When the two nodded, he continued. ¡°Interpol knows a breeder, I think out in Hoenn, who creates metalworks from the steel of a Metagross. Every ten years or so, we commission a new set of chains from the guy and rebind the prisoner. As the old chains decayed, the new ones would keep him restrained, theoretically. We had psychics monitoring his emotional state at all times. Ghosts kept his thoughts in check, and disrupted them any time he got a little too active.¡± ¡°That¡¯s inhuman,¡± Sabrina murmured. Barke sneered at her. ¡°If only. And that¡¯s just for starters, you¡¯re gonna love what else we were cooking, sweetheart. Several years ago, a defense firm in Unova invented a weapon that was supposedly powerful enough to turn his bones to sand and boil his blood in an instant. We weren¡¯t able to test it out on him because it would¡¯ve destroyed his cell, but it¡¯s safe to say that¡¯s eighteen million dollars we won¡¯t be getting back.¡± He rubbed his face in annoyance. ¡°We had a damn armory¡¯s worth of similar such defenses, and there was supposed to be some sort of ancient magic imbued in the very stones of his cell from when the World Prison was first erected. But he tore through it all like it was made of paper.¡± Anabel stifled her rising fear. Who were they about to go after? This mission was supposed to be little more than intelligence gathering, but it¡¯d be up to Paragon to apprehend him once they had more information. Cynthia would need to mobilize far more than just her and Sabrina for that, Anabel could already tell. But before all that, was killing him even possible? ¡°Did it have any effect?¡± ¡°Gave him a little headache, if my men¡¯s words are to be trusted.¡± Oh. Great. ¡°What else have you tried? What have wardens in the past tried?¡± Barke shrugged, as if the question was completely pointless. ¡°His skin is completely impenetrable. He can¡¯t be poisoned, and is immune to fire and lava. He can¡¯t be drowned. He can¡¯t be crushed. He can¡¯t be buried. Anything more invasive than that we¡¯ve been hesitant to try for fear of incensing him.¡± ¡°Any idea where he is now?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°He was headed in the direction of Kalos last we saw him, though no further details beyond what was in the report.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t suppose you know why he decided to break out now, of all times?¡± ¡°My men are looking into it now. But no.¡± Anabel sighed and closed her eyes. ¡°Do you mind if we have a look around?¡± Barke shrugged. ¡°The cell¡¯s down below.¡± Anabel turned to Sabrina, and the psychic nodded. She released her Alakazam, and after a few moments, its spoons glowed, and Anabel felt her stomach turn weightless, before her feet fell back upon solid ground. They were now in front of the broken cell far beneath the atrium. Spotlights flooded the floor with light, but the empty cell held an eerie darkness unrelated to the light. There should have been something in there, amidst the ruin, but now there wasn¡¯t. And it was terrifying. Anabel selected a pok¨¦ball and released its contents. Decidueye emptied out onto the cobblestone, its dark eyes already studying its surroundings. ¡°See what you can find,¡± Anabel ordered, and Decidueye trotted off. Beside them, Alakazam hovered above the ground, its legs crossed, as it searched the chamber for clues. Although it was clearly making an effort, Anabel knew it wasn¡¯t necessary. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets spun about her wrists, alternating directions every so often. Her senses were even greater than her pok¨¦mon¡¯s, a fact she seemed eager to hide through ruses like this. AZ. It was a name that was simultaneously meaningless and infamous. To the world at large, it meant nothing, but to those in the International Police, it was like an urban legend. A completely inexplicable existence. A man out of time. A monster at the bottom of the world. An extraordinary man. Anabel frowned. No way. Am I¡­ jealous? She narrowed her eyes. Inquiry, begin. Am I jealous of AZ? she asked herself again. No. The answer came easily. No. And it wasn¡¯t just denial. It was like jealousy. But not exactly. It was fascination. Beneath her fear lay an inexplicable desire to find him. Like a moth to a flame. She knew she¡¯d be incinerated, but she wanted to find him anyway. But why? What would I do if I found him? Although she didn¡¯t have an answer, she savored this new development. A fleck upon her ordinariness. As she noticed Decidueye approaching her, Anabel decided to earmark her thoughts for later. ¡°What do you have for me, Sophia?¡± Sophia the Decidueye cooed and held up her wing. She saw with more than her two eyes, and nothing organic escaped her ghostly gaze. Upon one of her quills was a tiny speck of gray. Paper. Paper, which would never be found down here, damp as it was. Unless someone had brought it down recently. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Anabel called. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets slowed as her concentration was interrupted. She picked the piece of paper off Decidueye¡¯s wing with her powers and it floated through the air. After examining it for a few seconds, her gauntlets began to spin again, and more gray specks started flying out of the decimated cell and assembling in the air in front of her. When she was done, she placed the patchwork gently on the floor in the center of the room, right beneath the spotlight. Though there were holes in it, and they only had a single page, it was obvious what it was. ¡°A newspaper,¡± Anabel breathed. Though it didn¡¯t tell them anything yet, this was a first step. Something AZ had read in this newspaper had catalyzed his escape. For three thousand years, AZ had remained an enigma. A void. A nondescript rock at the bottom of a mountain. If Anabel could shed a light upon him, what would that make her? Next ¡ª Chapter 12 : Revival
Remnants of the Great War [3] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [3] Chapter 12 : Revival
When Ash opened his eyes, he thought he was burning. Pain, sharp and throbbing, lanced through his veins like magma, and he sucked in a breath to keep from screaming. As his eyes came into focus, he tried sitting up, but a deluge of vertigo dusted that idea instantly. A film of sweat covered his skin, and he resigned himself to taking deep breaths while his body recalibrated itself. Breathe in. Breathe out. As the world swam into view around him, he realized he was back at Paragon Island. This was the huge medical bay Sylvester had patched Sceptile up in, once upon a time. He was laying in bed, curtains strung up around him on all sides but in front of him. As his vision steadied and oxygen continued to filter through his body, the pain began to subside. This time, he didn¡¯t try his luck, and simply lay in place, arms splayed at his sides while the agony slowly bled away. The ceiling far above twisted and Ash felt his stomach turn weightless. He closed his eyes and prayed for sleep to take him again, but the pounding in his muscles refused to let him back under. Soon, the physical pain abated almost entirely, but he was left with tortuous nausea and a cold sweat that left him shivering in his hospital gown. After what felt like hours later, he heard someone enter the room, and the shot of adrenaline that coursed through his veins at their arrival gave him just enough strength to prop himself up against the bedrest to greet them. ¡°Ash!¡± Ash exhaled as his visitor strode past the curtains into view. Zinnia was breathless, and she wore an expression Ash had never seen on her before: worry. Without another word, she surged toward him and fell onto him. She smelled like soil and ember, and it was a welcome change from the invasive odor of chemicals that infused this room. Ash groaned and pushed her off, her weight threatening to force whatever was left in his stomach out, though he found himself far weaker than he initially thought. She quickly scrambled off of him and put herself in a swivel chair beside his bed. ¡°Sorry,¡± she mumbled. Ash took several more deep breaths. ¡°How¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, hang on a second,¡± Zinnia said, and she got up and walked away. A minute later she came back with a glass of water. Taking her seat again, she pulled herself closer and opened her other hand. ¡°Here, take these. Sylvester said to give them to you when you woke up.¡± Ash stared at the pills in Zinnia¡¯s palm before grabbing them carefully and shoving them in his mouth. He licked his lips and took a swig of water. Its coolness was refreshing, and he sighed in relief, before finishing the rest of the glass slowly. Zinnia watched him the whole time silently. This was quite the character change for her. During the times they¡¯d found themselves on Paragon Island at the same time during his two year training, Ash had grown accustomed to her wanton belligerence. She demanded battles from him ad nauseam, and though she was an excellent opponent, it¡¯d gotten so bad that Ash had to start calling Sylvester ahead of time to check if she was around, and if she was, he¡¯d go to great lengths to land on a part of the island where she wouldn¡¯t notice him. But she was wily, and eventually she¡¯d realized what he was up to. Then it was her turn to ambush him whenever he arrived. In other words, a silent Zinnia could hardly be called Zinnia at all. After Ash finished his water, and handed his glass back to Zinnia and she put it on the ground. Then she looked back at him meekly, burying her hands between her thighs. Despite his condition, Ash cracked a smile. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you?¡± Zinnia half-glared, half-frowned at him. ¡°Welcome back,¡± she murmured. Back. Right. He¡¯d been in Mount Coronet with N. They¡¯d found the Plate. Then they run into a man named Zagreus, who fought them for the Plate. And then¡­ ¡°What happened?¡± Ash asked, his brows furrowed as he continued to comb through his memories. ¡°You died, that¡¯s what happened,¡± Zinnia said in a hollow voice. ¡°When N came back and dumped your body on the floor, your heart wasn¡¯t beating. Sylvester tried everything he could, but you were gone. If it wasn¡¯t for¡­ if it wasn¡¯t for Sabrina, we¡¯d be burying you right now.¡± ¡°Sabrina¡­?¡± ¡°She did something. I don¡¯t know what. But she did something, and then your heart was beating again. Barely, but it was beating. Sylvester said it was so weak it could¡¯ve stopped again, and you would¡¯ve died again. Lucky for you, it got stronger. Every day, a little stronger. Until today.¡± Ash put his hand on his chest. His heartbeat felt no different than usual, but his throat ran dry at the thought that it had actually stopped, for an extended period of time. The life of a trainer was perilous to be sure, and even among trainers, the number of brushes Ash had had with death was downright embarrassing. But each and every one of those past times, his body had moved before he could even think about it. This time, though, he¡¯d stared death in the face as it bore down on him. There was a world of difference between Ash¡¯s own reckless actions getting himself into danger, and sitting passively as it came to devour him, unable to do anything about it. ¡°N¡­ how did he¡­? There was water¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Reshiram. A bit of water is nothing to a dragon,¡± she scoffed. ¡°You have a lot to thank him for. He saved all your pok¨¦mon too.¡± ¡°A-And the Plate?¡± Now Zinnia glared at him. ¡°Who cares about the Plate? You almost died.¡± ¡°And Zagreus¡ª¡± ¡°Who cares about that?! You almost died!¡± Zinnia gripped her knees in fury. Ash almost frowned at her outburst, but stopped himself. Anger carved lines into her face, and he looked away instinctively. ¡°You almost died,¡± Zinnia repeated. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Ah. That was wishful thinking. He¡¯d had no intentions of failing his first mission, but if he did, he¡¯d expected a storm of mockery from Zinnia. Not a scolding, like she was currently delivering. Despite appearances, and her juvenile personality, this was a veteran scolding a rookie, and Ash had nothing to say in his defense. ¡°Sorry. I messed up.¡± Zinnia sighed and crossed her legs, then her arms. Then she slumped forward into her lap. ¡°I guess it¡¯s not really your fault. There wasn¡¯t supposed to be anyone else there.¡± Her voice was muffled and quiet. ¡°There¡¯s gotta be other people who know about the Plates, no?¡± ¡°Of course. But knowledge of its location should¡¯ve been exclusive. I¡¯m guessing Cynthia got the intel from the highest levels of the International Police. Maybe even higher than the highest level.¡± She propped her head up on her hands. ¡°And you and N aren¡¯t weak. Something like this shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Ash stewed in his shame. Mockery would¡¯ve been preferable to this. All that grandstanding, from quitting the League, to his two year training, to his victory against Cynthia¡­ all of it should¡¯ve prepared him and then some for the world of Paragon, but on his very first assignment, he¡¯d fallen flat on his face. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Pok¨¦mon Master seemed just as far away as it¡¯d been when he was a child, watching League battles on their grainy TV back at Pallet. Of course, that was an illusion. But the road before him certainly seemed steeper than ever before. There were monsters in this world he still wasn¡¯t ready for. Ash frowned and perked up, finally finding a fleck of gold as he panned through his memories. ¡°What did N tell you about Zagreus?¡± Zinnia sat up, recognizing his sudden shift in demeanor. ¡°Everything he knew, which wasn¡¯t much. He has a Kingambit and a Poliwrath. And he was gone by the time N recovered you. Possibly with the Plate.¡± ¡°I doubt it. He was injured.¡± ¡°Then the Plate is gone. Consumed by the mountain.¡± Zinnia shrugged. ¡°That seems pretty normal as far as the Plates go, according to Cynthia. They appear and disappear at random.¡± Ash nodded, then shook his head. ¡°Anyway, he must¡¯ve told you that we were separated,¡± and Zinnia nodded. ¡°I saw something he didn¡¯t. Zagreus is a Guardian.¡± Zinnia frowned and tilted her head. ¡°Guardian?¡± ¡°An Aura Guardian. From Rota. They¡¯re humans blessed with the ability to manipulate Aura.¡± ¡°Wait, are those the guys with the Lucarios?¡± ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s them. A friend of mine is a Guardian. My Lucario is actually his Lucario¡¯s little brother.¡± ¡°So what does this mean? A Guardian attacked you and N for the Plate? I thought they were supposed to be all zen or something.¡± Ash smiled at her brusqueness, thankful that serious Zinnia seemed to be gone. That had been a little creepy, to be honest. ¡°I know what I saw. He coated his hands in Aura and tried to pull the Plate out of the ground, and when he¡­ anyway, he¡¯s a Guardian! He was clearly trained in how to use Aura. I spent a bit of time at Rota when I was on my journey and learned how to manipulate Aura too. I know what it looks like.¡± Zinnia pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°This is all really great information, but I don¡¯t know where Rota is, and it¡¯s Cynthia who should be hearing all this.¡± Right. Zinnia was relatively one note. Anything that didn¡¯t pertain to her quest for the ¡®Great Dragon¡¯, or whatever mission she¡¯d been assigned to at the moment found little room in her headspace. ¡°Oh yeah, I guess you don¡¯t know what¡¯s been going on since you left. A lot has happened this past month.¡± ¡°A month?! I was out for a month?!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zinnia blinked. ¡°Oh, yeah. Yeah, you¡¯ve been asleep in here for a month.¡± Ash slid back in his bed. A month¡­ No wonder Zinnia had been so distraught. Maybe open with that next time¡­ ¡°So what¡¯s been going on?¡± ¡°Huuuge breakout from the World Prison. Some guy who¡¯s like a billion years old or something. Anabel and Sabrina are there now, Cynthia¡¯s been at Indigo Plateau with the rest of the League ever since it happened, and even Sylvester went out with N to talk to some breeder in Hoenn who contracts with Interpol. Shit¡¯s been a mess, honestly. I don¡¯t know how Cynthia will take it if you tell her you want to go and investigate this Zagreus right now.¡± Damn. She noticed. ¡°I have to go to Rota. If there¡¯s a rogue Guardian out there, they need to know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere until Sylvester gets back and gives you the okay,¡± Zinnia snapped. ¡°The only reason I¡¯m here is because I happened to be busy when everything went down. But there¡¯s no way I¡¯m taking responsibility if you croak because you went off somewhere before your body was ready. You stay in bed!¡± Ash rolled his eyes but obliged. ¡°So where are you off to now? Going after the guy?¡± ¡°Nope. Back to Johto to follow up on a lead,¡± she grinned, standing up. ¡°Hey, did you know that the people of Blackthorn City used to worship a giant Kingdra like a god? Apparently it was so massive it could change the weather just by moving! Something like that¡¯s gotta be related to the Great Dragon!¡± ¡°I thought we were super busy right now,¡± Ash deadpanned. ¡°I¡¯m not. Not until Cynthia gives me a call.¡± She was nothing if not dedicated. Somehow, she eclipsed even his own depthless drive toward his dream. As she walked away, she stopped in front of his bed and turned back toward him. ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me again. Dingus.¡± She pulled down the skin under her eye and stuck her tongue out. Ash smirked and suppressed the urge to flip her off. Some ego she had, when his win/loss rate against her was nearly two to one. Then again, he was the one incapacitated in a hospital bed right now. Wait till Sylvester gets back. Yeah, right. At the very least, he¡¯d be getting up for some damn food and a shower. A month¡­ What the hell happened to me?
Kalos Region, Route 14 The wet sand between his toes. The seawater as it dripped off his body. The cold wind against his skin, and the earthy scent of bog and oak. AZ drank up everything and more like nectar. As he walked, he brushed his hand up against a seaweed-covered rock, and allowed its rough surface to scratch him. These tactile sensations offered an indescribable euphoria. It was almost like sensory overload. A smile cut across his rugged face and he fell back onto the beach. He was naked. What little had remained of his clothes had come off in the ocean, and the swim had cleaned millennia of grime from his body. Now he was free, in body and mind. As the moist sand sunk under his weight, he laughed. What cruel irony, that that man should spur him toward such bliss. When he¡¯d had his fill of the beach, he got up and lumbered over a ridge of bright gray basalt and into a valley of sprawling, windswept grass the color of emerald. The grass tickled him as he walked, and he ran his fingers through it like hair. Swampy soil squelched under his feet, and the sound was music. So long he¡¯d been bound in that dungeon. They¡¯d meant to kill him, but they couldn¡¯t, so he suffered an even worse fate. At first, it was stubbornness and pure pride that kept him there. He knew they couldn¡¯t hold him, even as they continued to add more and more defenses to his cell as the years went on. But they had killed him, in a certain sense. His life had become nothing more than breathing. Everything he ever had, everything he ever was, disintegrated in that cell. If they couldn¡¯t condemn him to hell, he would burn in this life. So be it. He deserved it. His crimes were incalculable. He doubted there was a worse man to ever live, even after all this time. But they hadn¡¯t killed him. Damn them. All this time later, and he was still alive. What weaklings. And for what? To be cursed with one last insult from the one man who deserved to burn more than he did? It was a joke. A divine joke. But the man had miscalculated. In his mercy, he¡¯d let AZ live. Or maybe he¡¯d just forgotten about him. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising. Either way, he would get what was coming for him. His world would burn. And from its ashes, AZ would rise even higher than before. Yes. You kept me alive, and the war with me. You didn¡¯t want to finish it, so I¡¯ll begin it anew. But I won¡¯t be as merciful as you. I will destroy everything you¡¯ve built. Everything you are. I¡¯ll take your treasures and make them my own. I¡¯ll steal your power and use it against you. I¡¯ll wrest your world from its foundations and shatter the peace you so carefully constructed over my living corpse. As the mountains around him leveled out, AZ stalked through a dark forest. The forest spoke to him in a thousand languages he had never learned. Yet he perceived them all, and they listened to him in turn. His rage kept all away. He was the only source of sound in the forest. Even the shallow brook that ran beside him seemed to stifle its babbling. He had nothing now, not even garb to clothe himself. But he knew how to be patient. Power would come, in time. He would make it so. And soon, he would be king once again. A stirring in the forest far ahead piqued his attention. Have they found me already? Are they so desperate to spill more blood? AZ grit his teeth and grinned. His hands curled into fists. War! Beautiful war! Come to me! Let me bathe in your fear! He flattened himself against a tree and let his presence melt into the forest. Once upon a time, he had dignity enough to face his foes like a man. His tenure in the World Prison had turned him into a beast. Now, he reveled in the hunt, hiding from his prey and tearing apart their bodies with tooth and nail alike. Come. Come! He couldn¡¯t have contained his bloodlust even if he tried. ¡°Hello there?¡± AZ froze. ¡°Is someone there?¡± A woman. ¡°If you¡¯re hurt, please call out so I know where you are.¡± How was this possible? The only thing this woman should have sensed was bloodlust. His physical body was undetectable! As confusion washed over him, his bloodlust ebbed away. He demanded answers from the forest, and it provided. He scowled and slid down the tree silently. As he stretched his legs out before him, he felt around the mossen floor until his fingers closed around a rock. He closed his eyes and dragged the rock across his thigh. Blood blossomed on his skin and slithered down his leg. For good measure, he grabbed an armful of dead leaves and tossed them over his nethers. ¡°Over here. Please help me,¡± he called. A tiny woman rounded the tree, her arms crossed behind her like she was on a casual stroll. Dark crevices sliced down her face, and her white hair was tied in a tight bun. ¡°Is your leg hurt, dear?¡± the wrinkled woman asked without turning to face him. ¡°Can you walk?¡± AZ squinted at the woman. Her eyes were glassy, her pupils, milky gray. ¡°I can walk,¡± he responded. ¡°Good. My house is close by. I can guide you there.¡± AZ stood, blood dripping down his leg, and he towered over her, nearly three times her height. ¡°My name is Flora,¡± the blind woman said, and AZ followed her wordlessly. Next ¡ª Chapter 13 : New Game
Remnants of the Great War [4] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [4] Chapter 13 : New Game
The Hano Grand Resort was a golden castle by the sea. Silken beaches and tropical coves drenched the property in luxurious prestige, and the sun above bathed the whole city in a perfect heat, never too hot or too humid, all year round. Golf courses, volcanic hot springs, and furnished bars littered the resort, and its guests were never left wanting for greater services or accommodations. Despite the astronomical price tag on even their smallest suites, the resort remained fully booked year-round, though the property was so vast that it never felt cramped or crowded. It was unusual to not see at least several world-renowned celebrities enjoying one of the crystal pools or relaxing on one of the many private beaches. Cynthia took a sip of her cocktail, a lemon-colored nectar flavored with the purified enzymes of a Toxapex cultivated specifically for that one ingredient. It was refreshing beyond all belief, like drinking sunlight with accents of wood and spice. An array of small plates covered the circular table she sat at, holding powdered cakes and frosted cookies and fluffy meringue and other pastries and sweets she couldn¡¯t even name. It was a bit past noon and the sun still hung overhead, but she was inside. A day like today would¡¯ve been best spent outside, but this penthouse suite at the top of the resort offered a different strain of comfort. The walls were lined with doors, and all of them were open to let in the fresh air and island breeze. Artificial streams trickled throughout the room, adding to the ambience. The ceiling above was painted with an oceanic mural with beautiful renditions of the local pok¨¦mon wildlife. Across from Cynthia sat a woman she¡¯d known since she was a child. She had long black hair that cascaded over her shoulders like water and pooled on the floor around her. She wore a simple white sundress that swept over her tenuous form down to her ankles, and silver ringlets banded her fingers. Even though they were indoors, a wide-brimmed white hat sat on her head. Cynthia had learned how to be a woman from her, and she was the obvious inspiration for her own meticulous public image. Her face was spotless, without a single wrinkle or mole marring her porcelain skin. Her long eyelashes flitted like the wings of a butterfly with every blink, and her eyes were a cold pearl. Zelda Leora was perfection incarnate. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for calling you away during such a busy time. I would have understood if you declined.¡± Funny. ¡°Of course not!¡± Cynthia waved her hand. ¡°Not even the end of the world could stop me from coming to tea time.¡± Zelda beamed. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet, Cynthia. And speaking of, try one of these honey tarts. A cafe nearby just opened several months ago and these sell out an hour after they open every morning.¡± She pushed one of the plates in Cynthia¡¯s direction. Cynthia picked one up, then looked back at Zelda. The woman laced her fingers together and stared at her expectantly, like a child, her face alight with pride. Cynthia smiled and bit into it. Sugary goodness blossomed across her taste buds, and her eyes widened. She brought a hand to her lips. ¡°Oh my goodness.¡± ¡°Right!¡± The lavender eyeshadow around Zelda¡¯s eyes shimmered as she smiled. ¡°Here, have another! Oh, and then you have to try some liechi pudding next! And the sugarberry eclairs after that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to watch my weight¡­¡± ¡°Oh, enough, you¡¯re still young,¡± Zelda scolded. ¡°Life is all about mundane pleasures like this. You need to enjoy them while they¡¯re still in front of you!¡± She pushed another plate forward with her glossy fingernails. Cynthia smiled and helped herself to a bit of each, putting the various pastries on her plate but not moving to eat any of them yet. ¡°I must say, I¡¯m enjoying this cocktail much more than I should at this time of day.¡± She swirled her glass around. ¡°Oh, I knew you would. I had to get my personal staff to mix it for us. Each individual ingredient is so rare, even the resort doesn¡¯t dare put it on their public menu. I heard a man was killed once over a tiny bottle of the liqueur alone.¡± She winked and smiled mischievously. ¡°I¡¯d only partake on a special occasion.¡± ¡°And what occasion is that?¡± Zelda¡¯s eyes narrowed, and her winged eyeliner looked ready to take flight. ¡°Time with my darling Cynthia, of course,¡± she said, and she shook her head alluringly. ¡°I look forward to these quite a bit, you know?¡± Cynthia was a resolute woman, but even she felt her cheeks heat up. She balled up her napkin and threw it across the table. ¡°Stop that.¡± Zelda laughed and shielded herself. This was how these meetings always went. They always tried to maintain an air of dignity as expected of their statuses for as long as they could, but it always inevitably devolved into banter between schoolgirls. ¡°Still, this does feel different from our usual tea parties,¡± Cynthia said soberly. ¡°It almost feels like the world is starting to spin faster than usual.¡± Zelda took a long sip from her glass. ¡°The World Prison incident was certainly unexpected. Another monster set loose in the world, as if there aren¡¯t enough already.¡± She shook her head in disdain. AZ¡¯s escape wasn¡¯t public knowledge, but it came as no surprise to Cynthia that Zelda knew about it. The woman sat at the pinnacle of society. She was the sort of person people were talking about when they complained about the rich. She was a serial investor, at least for right now. She never seemed to stay in one sector for long, always dabbling here and there in the various enterprises that underpinned society. But to Cynthia, she¡¯d always just been Miss Leora, and Zelda once she¡¯d gotten older. ¡°It¡¯s not just that,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°More and more rogue groups are cropping up in the east, pok¨¦mon are getting restless across the world, and then there¡¯s the new World Champion.¡± Zelda nodded and smiled. ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°The League¡¯s been scrambling to align themselves under his new leadership, but honestly, the World Prison situation couldn¡¯t have come at a better time. The transition has been uncharacteristically smooth. Nothing like a good crisis to get everyone pointed in the same direction.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve met the man. What do you think of him?¡± World Champion Albrecht¡­ She¡¯d only met him once, by chance, two years ago at Ash¡¯s victory party, and her first impressions weren¡¯t kind. He immediately realized the lengths I¡¯d gone to capture Ash, and he was interested in him too. She hadn¡¯t heard from him since, until the League called her out to Indigo Plateau for an impromptu internal meeting. That was when she learned they¡¯d changed their minds, and were electing a new World Champion, effective immediately. I never expected them to keep that throne empty for five whole years. But for them to announce it, then renege¡­ There¡¯s always been factionalism within the League, but this can¡¯t be described as anything other than a hostile takeover. And for it to happen all without my notice¡­ ¡°He¡¯s an interesting man,¡± Cynthia replied. ¡°If nothing else, his pok¨¦mon are certainly of the proper caliber. And he stabilized the League during a period of uncertainty. His political acumen is sharper than most.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hiding something from me, Cynthia.¡± Cynthia bit her lip. She glanced down at her mental cards. ¡°He¡¯s dangerous,¡± she finally said. ¡°He¡¯s using the League for something, but I¡¯m not sure what. And the fact that I can¡¯t tell if his intentions are good or bad worries me even more.¡± ¡°Could you beat him?¡± Cynthia ran her hand through her hair, letting the breeze cool her sweat. ¡°The Board elected him, so he never had to go through the tournament, and he hasn¡¯t done any public battles throughout his career that I¡¯m aware of. Normally, I¡¯d say yes, but¡­¡± She frowned and bit into a tart involuntarily. ¡°Something else is going on, I can feel it.¡± Zelda nodded. ¡°Your instincts are spot on, as usual. I¡¯ve heard of the man called Albrecht through the grapevine for some years. He¡¯s always been an enigma.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll just sit and watch, for now.¡± ¡°For now?¡± ¡°Try some of these diamond pies, Cynthia, or I¡¯ll end up eating them all.¡± Oh, well. It was worth a shot. ¡°I also noticed a number of Alolan firms suddenly buying back a lot of their shares. Know anything about that?¡± Zelda blushed and smiled cheekily. ¡°Guilty.¡±
Zinnia stormed down the empty halls of Paragon¡¯s headquarters. The sunlight that sheared through the windows cast shadows over her face as she walked. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Stupid! He was so, so stupid! Zinnia herself was basically a genius, but there was a limit to how distant he could be in the intelligence department, especially for a fellow member of Paragon. His first assignment, no less! World Champion, my ass! When Zinnia received the message about Ash¡¯s condition while out in Johto, she¡¯d quickly put a cauldron of insults and expletives on the fire to boil. When he woke up, oh, there¡¯d be hell and more to pay. At least, that had been the plan. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. She exhaled loudly in frustration and slapped a curtain beside her for no reason. Stupid me. For all her pomp and pride, Zinnia Higana did not do well with death. How many times had she said goodbye at this point? First, her grandfather, of old age, then her grandmother, of cancer. Her father died while on the quest, and her mother followed him in anguish. Her sister and her few childhood friends met their end when a wave of sickness passed through the village. By a stroke of sheer luck, she hadn¡¯t been in the village when it had, and she returned to the stench of corpse piles burning in the square. That had all happened before she turned ten. And it was why she¡¯d sworn to follow a solitary path as she pursued the mythical Great Dragon. Well, Cynthia had a funny way of shuffling one¡¯s life plan around like a deck of cards and always drawing the card that said, ¡°Join Paragon.¡± Zinnia herself had been on the verge of death when Cynthia found her. Breaking into the island chamber at the center of Lake Acuity to pursue a lead on a possible connection between the Spacetime Dragons of Sinnoh and the Heroes¡¯ Dragons of Unova may not have been the wisest decision in hindsight, especially at age twelve. Azelf had left her bleeding from every orifice in her body, but she¡¯d gotten what she came for either way. The cosmic coordinates to the ancient temple at the beginning of everything were a prize she¡¯d do it all over again for, and luckily she finished copying the last inscription just before Azelf appeared. As it turned out, her bombastic way of doing things had alerted the League of an imminent intrusion, and Cynthia arrived just in time to quell Azelf¡¯s wrath. She managed to get her to a hospital just fine, but seemed to have trouble getting her out of a ten-year sentence in the World Prison for her trespassing¡­ unless she joined Paragon. So here she was. And here she¡¯d been, for three years now. And damn it, these people were cool. Zinnia would never admit that aloud. She barely admitted it to herself. But after years of encounters with weaklings and oafs and fools who knew nothing about the Great Dragon, it was nice to finally find herself in the company of people who could, at the very least, appreciate her path for what it was. They were all eccentric like her, and had their own lofty dreams they wanted to realize. If any of them died, she wasn¡¯t sure how she¡¯d react. Danger was plentiful in the world of Paragon, but none of them had come as close to death as Ash just had. Not yet, anyway. Get a grip, stupid. She cursed, though whether it was addressed to Ash or herself, she couldn¡¯t immediately say. Her room was sparsely furnished, with the door in one corner, and nothing else but a bed, a dresser, and a desk pushed into the remaining three. Unlike Sabrina, who treated this place as a second home, Zinnia spent almost no time here. The walls were bare and the room was tidy, though only for lack of belongings to mess it up with. She strode over to her desk and sat down, flicking on the desk lamp. She pulled a pair of glasses out of their case (glasses were completely unbefitting of a Dragon Master, but she was farsighted¡­ she never wore them in the presence of others), sighed, and opened her journal. Inside lay the fruits of her life¡¯s work up until now. Inscriptions, sketches, scribbled notes, and esoteric codes covered the pages of her book. No one but her could glean anything from this disorganized chicken scratch, but it served its purpose. She flipped to the latest page she¡¯d begun working on. The histories of various dragon legends in Johto were scrawled across the paper in clumps, with no regard to the printed lines on the page. She glazed through them to re-familiarize herself with where she left off, then flipped back several hundred pages to a master sheet on the Legendary Dragons, then to another page to cross-reference them with a sketch of a mural she¡¯d found in Hoenn. That Kingdra in Blackthorn could be a descendant of Rayquaza, who¡¯s said to control the wind and weather, but I won¡¯t know until I look into it a bit more. And I still don¡¯t know how Rayquaza fits into the hierarchy of dragons¡­ Is it part of the greater pantheon, or is it one of the lesser vassals? For the longest time, the Draconid people thought Rayquaza was the Great Dragon. But Zinnia herself had debunked that theory several years ago, after paying a visit to Sky Pillar in southern Hoenn. She¡¯d burned up the validity of decades of Draconid literature in an instant, and the village elders were none too pleased at that fact. Those old coots can rot away for all I care. I¡¯m the one who actually cares about finding the Great Dragon. They gave up a long time ago and are content to gorge on the wisdom of false idols just to maintain their pride. After spending an hour planning her trip back to Johto, she put her glasses away and stood up. Should I leave now? She glanced at her bed. Ah, well, a nap can¡¯t hurt. As busy as we are, I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t get assigned anything in just the next few hours. She smiled and jumped into bed, wrapping the covers around her until she looked like a Swadloon. She woke up that evening to the sound of Cynthia pounding on her door. ¡°Get up, Zinnia, we need to talk, now.¡± Everyone was back.
¡°How are you feeling?¡± N asked, leveling a concerned look at him. ¡°Just fine,¡± Ash responded, rolling his arm around in its socket. ¡°Those painkillers worked wonders. Now that I know I¡¯ve been out for a month, my body doesn¡¯t seem to want to stay asleep. I basically spent the afternoon cleaning out the fridge, and now I feel good as new.¡± N didn¡¯t look too convinced, but he clapped his friend on the shoulder. ¡°If you say so. Just, take it easy for a while.¡± ¡°Thanks. And thank you. For saving me, and everything. I should¡¯ve been more careful.¡± N shook his head. ¡°No, he caught me by surprise too. It had nothing to do with you.¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it some more once everyone is gathered, okay?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Ash replied. Even N seemed shaken by what had happened. Just how lucky had he gotten? By all accounts, it seemed like he and N both should be dead right now. When they arrived in the situation room, Cynthia was already seated at the head of the table. Sabrina and Anabel sat beside each other, and Ash and N seated themselves opposite them. Sylvester sat at the end of the table, and he stood to do a quick inspection of Ash, but the younger man waved him off. He left and came back with a couple bottles of water and another dosage of medications. Zinnia arrived fifteen minutes later with a blanket over her head. All eyes turned on her when she pushed the door open and yawned obnoxiously. After wiping her eyes and realizing everyone was staring at her, she blushed and hurried over to an empty seat between Ash and Sylvester. ¡°Good, now that we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s get started,¡± Cynthia said, and the lights dimmed as the screen on the wall flicked on. ¡°For the first time since Paragon¡¯s inception, we¡¯re faced with a threat that far outclasses any individual in this room.¡± The screen clicked, and a black and white photograph of AZ¡¯s mugshot appeared. His hair was long and tangled, but dark eyes peeked out from behind his mane. Ash nearly shivered at the sight of him. This was a man who existed beyond comprehension. He belonged to a time and place that no longer existed, yet he persisted all the same. His eyes bore holes in Ash¡¯s chest, and he suddenly found himself conscious of every breath he took. ¡°AZ is over three thousand years old, and was a former king of the region now known as Kalos,¡± Cynthia continued. ¡°How he¡¯s still alive, we don¡¯t know for sure, but it¡¯s safe to assume that it¡¯s the work of a pok¨¦mon. He¡¯s been buried beneath the World Prison all this time, and never once has he caused a disturbance.¡± She flicked to the next slide, a picture of his decimated cell. ¡°Until he escaped earlier this month and vanished without a trace.¡± ¡°How did he do that?¡± Sylvester asked. ¡°Also a mystery. From the sparse report Interpol got from Warden Barke, his attack seemed spontaneous and was executed sloppily, so he does not suspect outside help.¡± Cynthia clicked her remote, and an image of the world map appeared, with gradients of red and blue across the different regions. ¡°This map represents the concentration of Interpol¡¯s forces across the world. Word of AZ¡¯s escape has yet to reach the media, but a full-scale manhunt is already underway to find him. Interpol is relying on the Paragon Organization and the Pok¨¦mon League to back them up. The other Champions and Elite Four have already been deployed to densely populated areas, as well as various Interpol black sites. It¡¯ll be up to us to pick up his trail and apprehend him.¡± Cynthia stepped aside, and Anabel stood. ¡°Sabrina and I spoke with Warden Barke and saw the scene of the escape ourselves.¡± She shuddered, as if recalling something horrible. ¡°He killed everything in this way. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say he alone is far more dangerous than any legendary pok¨¦mon or crime ring any of us has ever encountered. We received a file from Barke detailing his alleged crimes during the Great War, but a brief summary includes mass murder, mass torture, attempted genocide, corruption, and many other violations of sovereignty at the time. I¡¯ve already sent the file to you all.¡± Silence fell across the table. It sounded too ridiculous to be real. Even Sabrina, who was normally stoic, was scowling and seemed detached from the meeting. ¡°We don¡¯t have anything concrete yet,¡± Anabel continued, ¡°but Sabrina and I found shreds of newspaper in his cell. The ink totally bled off, but I think I may be able to figure out what was on it, I just need a bit more time. Something in it must have caused him to break out now.¡± ¡°I can shed further light on the breakout itself,¡± Sylvester said as Anabel sat down. ¡°I spoke with the breeder responsible for creating AZ¡¯s shackles. They were forged from the iron cross on Metagross¡¯ face, the source of its power. The Metagross were raised in the depths of Meteor Falls, where that line originates. The psychic power that courses through that metal should be enough to give a migraine to anyone who walks in their vicinity without the proper protection and can wipe the memory of anyone who touches it, rendering them permanently amnesiac instantaneously. AZ was covered in the stuff for years, but I doubt they were simply ineffective. More than likely, he was actively protecting himself from their power that entire time.¡± Ash raised his hand. ¡°Sorry for bringing this up now, but I remembered something about Zagreus.¡± After Cynthia motioned for him to continue, he did. ¡°He used the power of the Aura Guardians.¡± N frowned at the new revelation, as did Anabel. ¡°Aura Guardians?¡± Cynthia repeated. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Cynthia closed her eyes to think. After a few moments, she opened them again. ¡°That certainly explains how he was able to keep up with you and N at the same time. But a Guardian who would try to murder¡­¡± She closed her eyes again. ¡°That man is certainly dangerous,¡± N said. ¡°Guardian or not, we would be unwise to let Zagreus abscond into the aether without facing justice.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Cynthia said, opening her eyes. ¡°This changes things. I¡¯ll have to reorganize my initial plans. Our priority is still the AZ incident. Anabel, please continue working on your lead so we can figure out why AZ broke out. I¡¯ll send you intel from Interpol as I get it. N and Zinnia, you¡¯ll be on the dark spots,¡± she motioned back to the map. ¡°Interpol can only cover so much ground. I want you two to fill in the gaps. If you should locate him, you are not to engage him under any circumstances. Do I make myself clear?¡± N nodded, and Zinnia bobbed her head up and down lazily. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not going to Johto,¡± she muttered. ¡°Sabrina, you¡¯ll head to Rota and investigate this rogue Aura Guardian called Zagreus. Speak with the Guardians there and see what you can learn.¡± Sabrina nodded, though she cringed noticeably at the thought of having to interface with strangers. ¡°Wait, what about me?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I can go to Rota and speak with them.¡± ¡°Not this time, Ash. You¡¯ll be coming with me.¡± Ash frowned. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m just fine. I can¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Cynthia cut him off. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me to an audience with the new World Champion.¡± ¡°Wait, what?! New World Champion?¡± Zinnia snapped her fingers. ¡°Oh, yeahhhhh.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 14 : Fairy Forest
To be clear, Zelda Leora is a completely original character and not connected to The Legend of Zelda or the Princess Zelda character in any way. Maybe I¡¯ll explain how I came up with that name at some point later in the story. Remnants of the Great War [5] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [5] Chapter 14 : Fairy Forest
Flora¡¯s cottage was built of the same wood that comprised the trees around it, and its roof was thatched with woven wheat grass that AZ recognized from the valley. The windows were crusted with dirt and age, yet vibrant flowers colored the forest floor around the house. A dark pond sat nestled behind a copse of reeds, and the whole scenery looked like something out of a storybook. AZ followed the woman down the path, the tall grass tickling his naked body. Despite her blindness, she seemed to need no help finding her way, not even needing to feel at the splintered fence that lined the path to guide her around the bends. She found the doorknob immediately, and pushed the dry door open. ¡°I don¡¯t have much, but let¡¯s get that leg patched up,¡± she said. AZ had already forgotten about the shallow self-inflicted injury, and looked down at the blood congealed on his leg, then back at his companion. She was tiny, even compared to him, and he had to crouch to get through the door frame. The interior was just as idyllic. A fire crackled in the cobblestone fireplace, an iron cauldron hanging from a spit above it. Potted plants adorned every window sill, and hung from the ceiling in baskets. The entire cottage was just one room, and a bed covered in a voluminous patchwork quilt sat in the corner. Flora hurried over to a chest and started rummaging through it, and she returned with a cloth and a jar of salve. After fetching a basin of water, she set it down on the dining room table in the middle of the room. ¡°Have a seat, dear, and I¡¯ll get to work on your leg. I promise I¡¯ll have you feeling better in no time.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± AZ said, but he did sit down cautiously after testing the chair¡¯s strength. ¡°I can clean myself up.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I really don¡¯t mind.¡± AZ said nothing and grabbed the cloth. He dunked it on the water basin and slathered it over his leg carelessly, not caring that he was dripping all over the floor. His leg didn¡¯t hurt at all, and he didn¡¯t care much to keep this performance up any longer. What was he even doing here? What did he hope to gain from this? The world was hunting him at this very moment, and here he was wasting time with some woman for no reason. No, it was worse. He¡¯d gotten her involved. Now she was in harm¡¯s way just for housing him. He stood up to leave. ¡°Oh, careful, dear. You shouldn¡¯t be walking around on an injured leg.¡± She wrung her hands in worry. ¡°Have a seat, and stay awhile. I¡¯ll lend you my bed so you can rest and recover.¡± ¡°I need to go.¡± ¡°Please, at least eat something. You¡¯re so weak.¡± AZ¡¯s head cocked in her direction. She wasn¡¯t looking at him, but he felt her gaze nonetheless. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Here.¡± She paced over to her cupboards and pulled out another jar, this one full of berries. ¡°Have some cheris. I have bread and honey too.¡± Before AZ could protest, she was back in her kitchen sawing into a loaf of brown bread. She returned with a platter full of food, an empty cup, and a pitcher of water. She smiled at him. AZ let himself lower back into his chair, and before he knew it, he was tearing into the bread with abandon and shoveling handfuls of berries into his mouth. Flavors exploded in his mouth like cannonfire, and he washed it all down with a river of water, straight from the pitcher. ¡°Do try spreading some honey on the bread, the sweetness goes perfectly with the oats.¡± Flora said, having joined him at the table, though she did not partake and simply watched him eat. AZ spared a glance in her direction, and he shook some honey onto the heel of the loaf, before throwing the rest of the bread into his mouth in a single bite. She was right. The amalgam of flavors that assaulted him was heavenly, and for the first time, here at the end of the meal, he slowed his chewing and savored his meal. When he finally swallowed, Flora smiled. ¡°There, there. Look how quickly you gobbled that up. I knew you weren¡¯t quite ready to leave. You need your energy back before you venture back out into the forest.¡± AZ licked the crumbs off his teeth. That¡¯d been his first meal since the end of the war. It was shoddy and meager, and he¡¯d had grand feasts daily as king. But just like the feeling of the air outside and the smell of the trees and wind, it sated him in a way he couldn¡¯t even describe. It was like he was slowly remembering what it felt like to be human. Again, he stood. This time Flora didn¡¯t say a word to stop him. As if she already knew he would, AZ crossed the room and lay down across Flora¡¯s bed. His legs hung over the bedrest, and his arms dragged against the floor, but its iron frame held his weight. As if the sensation of the soft bed alone was enough to induce exhaustion, a sudden wave of tiredness passed through AZ¡¯s body. He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. Then, for the first time in three thousand years, he fell asleep.
AZ¡¯s eyes opened the next morning. He¡¯d slept for nearly an entire day. Sunlight poured through the gaps in the curtains drawn across the windows, illuminating the dust in the air. It was quiet in the cottage. Still, eh? He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and it creaked as he moved. Flora was sitting in the corner on a rocking chair, a furry blanket over her lap. She opened her eyes immediately after his attention turned to her. Her glassy gaze remained fixed on the floor, but she smiled, and the loose skin on her face curled along their creases. ¡°Good morning.¡± AZ turned away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to take your bed.¡± ¡°Oh, not at all. I offered it to you, after all. I thought you might sleep through the day. You looked so exhausted yesterday.¡± She grasped her blanket and held it up. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to presume, but I assume you¡¯ll want some clothes for your journey ahead. I hope these fit you.¡± It wasn¡¯t a blanket in her lap. It was a giant black coat made of wool. And now that she mentioned it, AZ noticed a burned out candle on the small table beside her, and a basket full of thread, yarn, wool, and other sewing materials. She must¡¯ve worked on it all day, and continued into the night after it got dark. AZ remained still as he processed her words, but he soon closed his eyes. ¡°Where do you bathe?¡± ¡°In the pond outside. The buds of the blue flowers growing on the bank will create a lathering foam if you wet them and rub them together.¡± AZ said nothing and exited the house. The morning sun filtered through the trees, and a soft wind blew at him as he circled around the cottage to the dark pond. He brushed aside the reeds and stepped into the murky waters. He bristled at the cold, but only for a moment, and he soon lowered his entire body beneath the surface. This respite could not last forever. His enemies were coming for him. But for now, he would enjoy this peace while it lasted. He found the flowers Flora had mentioned and waded over to them. After stripping the blossoms from their stem in one motion, he crushed them in his dampened hand. Sure enough, a soapy residue was left behind. As he cleaned himself, he started to think. Rage had pulled him from his ancient cell, but it would not be enough to stave off the forces that were coming for him. Now, he was back in the world. He was back in the war. And to proceed in war without a strategy was suicide. Three thousand years had passed. Obviously, his armies and allies were all dead. He had no idea what had become of his pok¨¦mon. And there was no telling how powerful his enemies were now, even if he¡¯d razed them nearly to extinction once before. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Knowledge was his first priority. His power could only do so much, especially with how much he¡¯d demanded from it all this time. It¡¯d kept him alive, awake, and lucid, but would do little else after so much time. No doubt it¡¯d been eager to unbury itself from that prison and return to reality, and had gladly aided his escape to that end. But now that he was free, he could feel it going dormant within him. He was a relic and could serve its purpose no longer. Unless he could prove himself once again. At the very least, he knew this was Kalos. His land. A continent he¡¯d cultivated and tamed himself. His enemies had surely painted over his legacy after they imprisoned him, but his legacy could not be erased so easily. There was one place that may have been left undisturbed, and could provide the knowledge he sought. As he ran his fingers through his tangled hair, he sank back into the pond. The black abyss was a welcome comfort. Death had been elusive to AZ, but perhaps this is what it was like. Eventually he ran out of breath, but his power kept him alive. Anger simmered within him. Flora came out some time later with a towel draped over her arms. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared breakfast. Please join me when you¡¯re ready.¡± AZ rose at her arrival and took the towel from her, though he realized it was a blanket after grabbing it. If the clothes weren¡¯t enough of a hint, she clearly knew how large he was. ¡°I have your clothes inside.¡± He grunted and walked past her. The garb waited for him folded up on the bed and he was fully dressed before she returned. It fit perfectly, the coat¡¯s furry interior soft against his gnarled skin. Flora had even prepared a set of undergarments, and a pair of socks and boots. It shouldn¡¯t have been possible to create all in a single night, but AZ suspected he knew what was going on. The food was the exact same as the day before¡ªbread, honey, berries¡ªthough this time, AZ ate with some class. ¡°How is your leg?¡± Flora asked. He¡¯d forgotten about it again. ¡°All healed.¡± He tore off a hunk of bread and hollowed out the middle, before putting a few berries in it and eating it altogether after seeing Flora do it. ¡°This forest can be dangerous, but it¡¯s mostly trainers coming through so normally the pok¨¦mon are docile.¡± ¡°Trainers?¡± ¡°Yes, though most of them are more interested in catching a Goomy in the swamp nearby. They love their dragons.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Humanity has come a long way. But what about the pok¨¦mon? ¡°These Goomy, are they very dangerous? I¡¯m not familiar.¡± ¡°Not terribly so,¡± she said, after taking a sip of water. ¡°They appear in droves after it rains, but the Goodra who protect them aren¡¯t keen on trainers capturing their young.¡± Just how docile are these pok¨¦mon? My Goodra would have melted the skin off a man for breathing in my direction. And these are the wilds of today? ¡°These trainers¡­ are they raised from birth to tame pok¨¦mon?¡± Flora beamed. ¡°You must live very far away. I¡¯ve lived in this forest my entire life, yet even I know about trainers. They¡¯re children who receive a pok¨¦mon on their tenth birthday and set off on a grand adventure, capturing pok¨¦mon as they go.¡± Ten¡­ adventure¡­ receive¡­ It took all AZ had not to sneer. ¡°Surely there must be pok¨¦mon where you come from¡­ oh, I¡¯m sorry, I just realized I never asked for your name.¡± Flora actually did look worried for the first time since he¡¯d met her. ¡°I don¡¯t have a name,¡± he quickly said. ¡°Tell me. What are pok¨¦mon to you?¡± Flora took a second to absorb AZ¡¯s response, but brushed ahead smoothly. She smiled as she said her answer. ¡°Pok¨¦mon are my friends, of course. What about you?¡± AZ put his bread down. Friends. Fuel. Tools. Titans. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he finally said. She was getting too close to him, and that needed to change. ¡°Were you born blind?¡± Flora seemed taken aback by the question at first, but she nodded warmly, seemingly pleased he was showing interest in her. ¡°Yes, I was. My friends help me see and keep me safe.¡± That¡¯s what I thought. He¡¯d sensed their presence all around ever since arriving at the cottage, despite their attempts at remaining hidden behind invisible veils. They guided Flora and whispered in her ears about him, and while he¡¯d slept, they¡¯d come out to help her weave his clothing. ¡°I grew up with my parents in this house, and they¡¯ve kept me company my entire life. I¡¯d do anything for them.¡± She paused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to hear an old woman rambling on.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not so old.¡± Flora shook her head and smiled. ¡°Everyone is young to me.¡± Not everyone. They finished breakfast and AZ helped her around the house for the rest of the day. For a woman living on her own, she had quite a number of chores to do. AZ helped wash the bedding he¡¯d slept on, and in the afternoon, Flora¡¯s friends appeared to him. He didn¡¯t recognize most of them, but they yipped and purred around him like pets. This is madness. I don¡¯t sense even an ounce of aggression from them. Madness it may have been, but he was not so wishful that he would assume his enemies¡¯ pok¨¦mon were the same. Flab¨¦b¨¦ clung to the groves of flowers that surrounded the cottage, Morelull peeked out from the mossy shadows of the underbrush, and Cottonee floated through the air on streams of wind, giggling softly as they bounced off the various surfaces, spreading wispy spores everywhere. Flora had set AZ to work chopping firewood, and a giant pile of logs nearly as tall as the house sat outside next to a stump. His new coat was thrown over a rock, and he split each log with a one-handed swing of the cragged ax she¡¯d gotten for him. It was twisted and dark, like the remnants of a failed smithing, but it was good at what it did. A small pink creature with a pale mauve ponytail watched AZ as he worked, its stubby arms crossed as it slouched against the house. It seemed to be judging him, perhaps because he¡¯d taken its job. The sun warmed and cooled the little clearing as the hours passed by. Surprisingly, AZ didn¡¯t find the monotony of such a menial task boring in the slightest. He¡¯d never once done manual labor like this in his life, and despite its simplicity, it was a nice change of pace. He cut each log slowly and deliberately, taking his time with the work as he enjoyed the outdoors. Around an hour before dinner, a faint presence made itself known at the edge of AZ¡¯s periphery and he straightened instantly. It was miles away, but he sensed its intentions. It was coming for him. There were only a few logs left in the pile, and it took him ten more minutes to chop the rest of them. Then, he struck his hatchet into the stump and put his coat back on. Flora came out in an apron, the open door spilling warm light into the dark evening beneath the trees. ¡°Dinner is ready. I figured you wouldn¡¯t want the same thing again, so I made a stew for tonight. My friends take care of the wild vegetables in the valley, so these are a special treat!¡± ¡°I have to go,¡± he said bluntly. Flora frowned, and her friends looked between the two curiously. ¡°But¡­what about dinner?¡± ¡°I have to go,¡± he said again, and turned away from the cottage. ¡°But¡­it¡¯s so dark. And you haven¡¯t any pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°No matter.¡± He started to walk away. ¡°Please, wait!¡± She hurried back inside and came back out a minute later. ¡°The forest gets cold at night. At least take these with you.¡± She held out her hands. Within them was a green scarf and a red knit cap. AZ glanced down at her, but of course, she was just staring aimlessly at his stomach. He grabbed them and put them on hastily, throwing the scarf around his neck, and pulling the knit cap low over his head. ¡°Goodbye,¡± he said. He did not think he¡¯d remember this day for very long. Nevertheless, he could feel Flora¡¯s blind gaze boring into his back as he walked away, and long after he¡¯d left the cottage in the far distance. Once again, his inner power guided him, and when he came upon a sheer cliff face, he climbed it. When he reached the top of the cliff, he walked some more. From here, he could see the moon as it began its ascent into the indigo sky. After several hours, the forest petered out, and he was left on a barren plateau, illuminated by silver moonlight. There, he sat down right in its center. And there, he waited. The presence got ever closer. An hour later, he could hear a faint humming, like a giant bug approaching him from the horizon. As it got closer, it got louder. Before long, it passed in front of him. It was another one of those metal monstrosities that could fly through the sky. It kept its distance for a time, then started to approach him. He didn¡¯t move even as it passed over his head, whipping the dirt and gravel on the mountaintop up in a frenzy. It landed behind him, and finally, the roar of the spinning twinblade stopped. Finally, AZ stood and turned to greet the new arrivals. A man with smooth black hair walked out of the flying machine. Within, AZ could see others, but they made no move to get out and simply peered at him from afar. The man wore an elegantly tailored gray uniform, but AZ could not place where it was from. Modern fashion, perhaps. When he was ten feet away, the man stopped, and knelt. ¡°Your Grace. It is an honor to meet you on this day.¡± AZ¡¯s brows furrowed ever so slightly. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man looked up, and wore an expression of pure loyalty. ¡°I am Lord Brian Vandrick, and I have been waiting for you for three thousand years.¡± The moon hung above them like a ripened fruit.
Flora rinsed her bowl and set it on a towel beside the sink. Having finished the dishes, she dried her hands and walked back over to the dining room table. Her fingers found the other bowl on the table, still heavy with stew, but after a moment, she withdrew her hand. Perhaps one day he would return. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t serve him old stew. But she wouldn¡¯t clear his bowl tonight. Not yet. A flowery scent filled her nostrils, and something brushed against her cheek. She smiled and cupped her hands, and her friend landed in them gently. ¡°There you are, Floette. Where have you been? You just missed our guest.¡± When Flora woke up the next morning, the bowl was empty. Next ¡ª Chapter 15 : Rota, Land of the Guardians
Remnants of the Great War [6] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [6] Chapter 15 : Rota, Land of the Guardians
Ash woke up early the next morning. He and Cynthia would be flying out to Kanto later to meet with Albrecht at some function. Pikachu woke up when he did, and a soft jolt passed through Ash¡¯s body as his tail brushed against his face. Pikachu cooed and smiled, and Ash scratched him behind his ears. He knew Pikachu wasn¡¯t an early riser like he was, but the mouse made the effort anyway for his sake. As Ash brushed his teeth, his mind wandered back to his meeting with Albrecht two years ago. With everything that¡¯d happened in the interim, he¡¯d sort of forgotten about the man. The memory was easy enough to recall, he¡¯d just had no reason to until now. Albrecht hadn¡¯t struck him as a trainer, but clearly the man was adept if he could be elected World Champion just like that. Of course, because of the election, Ash had no idea what pok¨¦mon he had or what his battling style was, but he was eager to find out. According to Cynthia, he was coming along so she could try and ¡°suss him out,¡± since he seemed to be interested in Ash two years ago. But to Ash, that just sounded like an excuse to get him away from the danger of an actual assignment, like going after AZ with N and Zinnia. That decision stung him, but it was warranted, so for now, he¡¯d go along with this benching. He¡¯d proved himself to Cynthia already, and he didn¡¯t expect her to keep him away from the action for long. Either way, his encounter with Zagreus had been sobering, once again. Similar to his decimation by Cynthia, he was once again reminded of how far he still had to go. Oddly, it wasn¡¯t the worst feeling in the world. If anything, it only kindled the fire in his chest even further. Against Zagreus specifically, Ash knew he could beat him. Their battle hadn¡¯t lasted long, but Ash knew his pok¨¦mon were stronger. Even without N there, he knew he would have defeated him. That was the frustrating part. Two years later, and he was still trapped in the mindset of a traditional pok¨¦mon trainer. Zagreus hadn¡¯t hesitated to target him, but Ash had treated the battle like any other, for the most part. Unwittingly, he¡¯d fallen into another set of habits while training against wilds. Today, Ash swore, would be the last day he would let himself burden Paragon with his carelessness. And he would get to work on it immediately. Pikachu scampered up onto his shoulder after he changed and they headed out to get some breakfast. Sabrina was awake in the living room, and sitting cross-legged on the floor, facing the window. Her eyes were transfixed on the sun outside, but her eyelids didn¡¯t move in the slightest, much less blink. ¡°Good morning, Sabrina!¡± Ash said with a smile, and Pikachu chirped and waved. Sabrina didn¡¯t move, and at first he thought she hadn¡¯t heard him. But as he approached her, she tilted her head ever so slightly in his direction. ¡°Good morning,¡± she said. After greeting him, she immediately shifted back into place as if nothing had happened. Ash stood in the middle of the room looking like a bit of a doofus, and he glanced around to see if anyone else was seeing this. ¡°Uhhh, so what¡¯re you doing?¡± Silence passed between them. Pikachu¡¯s ears twitched, and he sent a jolt into Ash¡¯s body for no reason. Just as he thought he was being ignored, she spoke up. ¡°Training.¡± ¡°Training?¡± Ash muttered, and he and Pikachu exchanged a look. He walked around her to see if he was seeing things right, but sure enough, it was just the sun outside, and she was staring right at it. He needed to squint because of how bright it was, especially reflecting off the surface of the ocean. ¡°Do you do this every day?¡± Again, after another awkward silence, she answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And¡­ what is it for?¡± Ash asked, after it was clear she wouldn¡¯t be offering up the details on her own. He wasn¡¯t the prying type, but ultimately, his ballooning curiosity won out against his social sensibilities. After several seconds, she stood up and turned around to face him. She was a head shorter than him, and her crystalline gaze bore into him as she looked up at him. ¡°Using my psychic powers strains my eyes, so I watch the sunrise every morning to strengthen them.¡± Ash nodded slowly. ¡°Right¡­yeah, that makes sense. I think?¡± She continued to stare at him. As the seconds passed by, her gauntlets began to whir and spin ever so slightly faster. ¡°Hey, do you want to have breakfast with us?¡± Ash asked, if only to break the awkward silence. He chuckled nervously. ¡°Actually, I saw Sylvester left us some jelly doughnuts. Wanna dig in?¡± Okay, had that done more harm than good? Sabrina simply kept staring at him, but her white skin was rapidly turning pink. Pikachu saved the day by jumping onto her shoulder. She yelped when he landed and looked at him in horror as he found his footing. Ash laughed when he nuzzled against her cheek, and he could¡¯ve sworn her mouth warble into a slight smile. Before she could turn him down, he went over to the fridge and pulled out the box of doughnuts. ¡°Sweet, four left! That means two for each of us!¡± He pulled a couple plates from the cabinets and a bowl of pok¨¦mon kibble for Pikachu. Sabrina joined them at the table, and she started picking it apart before Ash could get another word in. Pikachu sat between them on the table with his bowl, and Ash smiled in satisfaction before digging in himself. He finished his second doughnut right as Sabrina was licking the last bit of jelly off her finger from her first. They both looked up at each other simultaneously. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry any more,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°You can have the last one.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ash studied her for a few more seconds, but as expected of a psychic, she gave nothing away. He shrugged and helped himself to it. ¡°Thanks, Sabrina!¡± After taking a bite, he groaned in bliss. ¡°Sho goood¡­¡± Sabrina seemed glued to her seat and didn¡¯t get up. Pikachu polished off his bowl of kibble a minute later and sighed, patting his belly. Ash was almost halfway through the doughnut when he noticed Sabrina was staring at him. He glanced at her, then down at the doughnut, then back up at her. She blushed. ¡°If you wanted it, you should¡¯ve just said so. Now I feel bad,¡± he chuckled. He cut off the rest of his half and lifted the other half onto Sabrina¡¯s plate with his fork and knife. She stared down at it. ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured, but before she started eating, she cut it in half again and placed one of the halves into Pikachu¡¯s bowl. Pikachu looked over at her and grinned, before bowing politely several times in her direction. She smiled back, and Pikachu turned to Ash and scowled at him. ¡°Oh, right. Yeah, sorry, buddy. I totally forgot about you. They were just too good.¡± Pikachu started shouting obscenities at him, and as Ash defended himself, Sabrina stifled her giggles with her sleeve. After Ash finished his meal, he stretched and yawned. ¡°Oh yeah, sorry for disturbing your training. I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your focus or anything,¡± he apologized. Sabrina shook her head and covered her mouth, full as it was of doughnut. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she said once she¡¯d swallowed. ¡°I was finished anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, great!¡± Ash said, breathing a sigh of relief, and he saw Pikachu smirking out of the corner of his eye. From there, they started talking about this and that, like what they¡¯d been up to recently as far as Paragon was concerned. Sabrina actually seemed very interested in his encounter with Zagreus, which made Ash happy, as she always seemed to hide her emotions behind a mask of stoicism. They hadn¡¯t seen each other much over the past two years, much less talked, and it was good to get to know her a bit better. He consciously steered clear of certain topics, like her wrist gauntlets and her past as a gym leader, but eventually, they found themselves talking about Ash¡¯s battle with her all those years ago, and the Haunter he¡¯d left in her care. ¡°Oh, yeah! That reminds me!¡± Ash suddenly said, and he pulled a pok¨¦ball from his belt. His own Gengar emptied out, and quickly surveyed the situation as if looking for more prey to torture with his teasing. His eyes found Sabrina, but the girl didn¡¯t seem fazed. ¡°Hey, Gengar!¡± Ash said before he could go on the offensive. ¡°I have a favor to ask. You know how you leave a piece of yourself within all of my pok¨¦mon so we can communicate with each other on a moment¡¯s notice? Well, I was thinking maybe we could do something similar with me too.¡± Gengar frowned, and his head curled over one hundred eighty degrees in confusion. Gengar, unlike Dragonite and Lucario, had been the only pok¨¦mon Ash¡¯d caught during his ¡°year of hell¡± who hadn¡¯t made the cut for his fight against Leon. But his talents lay elsewhere other than battling. Even before their two year training, Gengar had possessed the unique skill of splitting his body into smaller forms and infusing them within other pok¨¦mon. It¡¯d been a priceless asset for their brutal training regiments in between gym battles, as Gengar could help animate his pok¨¦mon¡¯s bodies past the point of exhaustion so they could continue training far longer than they should¡¯ve been able to. Once Ash had had his match with Cynthia, and the gears had started spinning for how he could push his pok¨¦mon even further beyond their limits, Gengar¡¯s ability came to mind once again, and he¡¯d thought up of a new application for it that, unbeknownst to him at the time, would become the critical foundation upon which the entire two year training would rest. Gengar infused a tiny piece of himself into every single one of Ash¡¯s pok¨¦mon. It wasn¡¯t enough that he could boost their stamina like he¡¯d done before, but it was just enough to allow him to communicate with them all, across any distance, with his main body as the nexus. It was thanks to him that they could train all across the world, and always know how each other were doing. And the pieces of his body still rested within them all, to this day. A pair of disembodied eyes rose from Pikachu¡¯s body, then a mouth, like a Gastly without its poison cloud. It blew raspberries at Sabrina, then disappeared back into Pikachu¡¯s body. Pikachu shuddered and sneezed, but otherwise seemed unfazed. ¡°Yeah, that,¡± Ash said. ¡°Do you think you could maybe put your entire body into me, and I can carry you around like that, instead of in your pok¨¦ball? That way, if I ever run into trouble again, I¡¯ll have you as an extra layer of defense!¡± Gengar grinned at the idea, but his expression quickly switched to dismay. He started gesticulating wildly, and belched out a thin cloud of poison. ¡°I see. So you¡¯d be able to if you were a pure ghost, but since you¡¯re a poison type too, it would kill me.¡± Gengar nodded glumly. Ash wrinkled his nose. Well, it was a good idea. But things couldn¡¯t be that easy. Then, another idea popped into his head. ¡°I have a new goal for you, Gengar.¡± Gengar twisted in the air in curiosity, glancing between the others in an exaggerated frenzy. ¡°Suppress your poison typing,¡± Ash grinned. ¡°I want you to protect me.¡± Gengar¡¯s eyes bulged out of their sockets, but he coiled into a sitting position as he floated through the air. He tried stroking his chin in thought, but his arms were too stubby, so he pulled it off his body, and set his finger to work brushing his chin. After a few seconds, he lit up and nodded furiously. ¡°Think you can do it?¡± Gengar gave a thumbs up. Then he grabbed his disembodied arm as it started wafting away and stuck it back on his body. Finally, he gave a double thumbs up and grinned proudly. ¡°Alright, now get to work. Meet us at the plane when we¡¯re leaving.¡± Gengar nodded one more time and disappeared through the ceiling. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Ash said, turning back to Sabrina. ¡°Anyway, where were we?¡± Sabrina was staring at the ceiling where Gengar had phased through, but she looked back at Ash after he asked his question. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I do something similar with my Gengar, but it took us years to think of it. And you just came up with that idea on the spot?¡± ¡°Well, I thought of it yesterday, actually.¡± ¡°When you were in agony after waking up from a month-long coma?¡± ¡°Oh, ha ha, yeah, I guess so.¡± He rubbed the back of his head in slight embarrassment. ¡°Wait, you said you do the same thing with your Gengar? And is it the same one as¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Sabrina beamed. ¡°It¡¯s the Haunter you battled me with! He¡¯s been with me this whole time!¡± ¡°Let me see him!¡± Ash said, and Pikachu stretched his face out to mimic the ghost. ¡°Oh, you can¡¯t,¡± Sabrina said sadly. ¡°Sorry, but it¡¯s kind of complicated. It has to do with my psychic powers. So I don¡¯t think I can help you with your own Gengar either. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ash¡¯s smile faded, but he quickly revved it up again. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about it! It¡¯s no problem, really! We¡¯ll figure it out, no problem, like we always do. Right, Pikachu?¡± Pikachu nodded and saluted his trainer, and that seemed to restore Sabrina¡¯s spirits. It didn¡¯t take them long to finish their breakfast, and they parted amicably, with Ash going to shower, and Sabrina heading back to her room to prepare for her assignment in Rota. Ash had gotten her all up to speed about everything he knew about Zagreus, and after their breakfast this morning, he felt even better about leaving it in her hands. Cynthia came outside several hours later, to no one¡¯s surprise. Even a three thousand year old criminal on the loose or an audience with the World Champion could not disturb her sacred six hours of sleep, when she could get them. Nevertheless, she came out washed and dressed and ready to leave, so after a quick lunch prepared by Sylvester, they went out to the airfield and left for the Indigo Plateau. At the same time, Sabrina took flight for Rota on the back of a pok¨¦mon no one in Paragon knew she had.
Sabrina arrived in Rota later that day. She touched down on a hill that overlooked the region, and recalled her pok¨¦mon, placing it back on her belt in the very back. The wind blew her hair across her face, and she walked forward to view the land of Rota from above. A sea of billowing trees shuddered in the wind below, and at the center of the forest lay a pristine lake, whose surface reflected the sky and cumulus clouds above perfectly. At the lake¡¯s center, nestled between a pair of long viaducts, sat Cameran Palace, the home of the Aura Guardians. It was built of polished limestone, and roofed in bright red tile, like a castle pulled straight from a hero¡¯s tale. Beyond the palace, towering above the treeline and nearby mountains, sat an indescribable formation of rock. It looked like a giant mountain, but rested on a thinner shaft of rock, almost like a tree trunk. Clouds drifted across its face, and the sun shined off the emerald grass on its surface like glass. Sabrina looked on the scenery in awe. Her entire childhood, she¡¯d never left Saffron City. It was only after joining Paragon that she started to see the world, and there were few places in the world as breathtaking as the land of Rota. Though for Sabrina, almost everything was a breathtaking sight, sheltered as she¡¯d been. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. She let herself absorb the view for several more minutes, enhancing her vision to watch a group of Pidgey and Petilil and other critters playing around in the forest, before turning away to focus on the job at hand. She wasn¡¯t here to sight see, after all. She jumped off the cliff, and the wind roared as it raced up around her. When she was seconds away from impacting the forest¡¯s canopy, her eyes and gauntlets ignited, and a harsh light enveloped her body. She twisted through the air, between the trees, and landed on the shaded grass far below. Exhaling, the glow in her eyes faded, and her gauntlets slowed, and she started toward the lake. Of course, she could¡¯ve simply landed closer, or used her power to fly to the palace much faster, but she always made a conscious effort not to rely too much on her powers. She lived a sedentary enough lifestyle, and needed to take advantage of any opportunity for exercise she could get. Because she knew for an absolute certainty that she wouldn¡¯t be exercising on her own time. As was typical when she was left to her thoughts for a while, her mind wandered back to her last extended social interaction: breakfast with Ash and Pikachu. Immediately, she cringed. What the hell were those response times when he first said ¡°good morning¡± to her? He definitely thought she was being rude. She hadn¡¯t meant to make things so awkward, but she was trying to recall what his current impression of her must¡¯ve been, so she could be sure to match whatever he was expecting. It was definitely not a normal way to interact with people, but Sabrina saw so little of the other members of Paragon that she literally didn¡¯t know what they thought of her. Priority one was making sure they didn¡¯t hate her. And at that, she seemed to have failed. She definitely pissed Ash off this morning. Well, first she¡¯d convinced him that she was a total weirdo, staring at the sun like a lunatic. Then, she¡¯d pissed him off by freaking out at his Pikachu. Or for intruding on his breakfast. Or for lying about wanting the last doughnut. Or for all of the above. The doughnut fiasco. It almost hurt to think about. Why? Why had she offered it to him even though she wanted it? He looked so annoyed at having to fork over half of a doughnut he¡¯d already started eating. Not normal. Again, not normal. That was not a normal human interaction. And then there was the Gengar conversation. Really? Oh, I can do that too, but actually I can¡¯t tell you how so good luck figuring it out on your own! What was wrong with her? Somehow he¡¯d slipped past her guard, and before she knew it, she was rattling off about things he definitely didn¡¯t care about. He had a lot of patience, listening to her go on and on about her latest missions. It was a wonder he didn¡¯t tell her to shut up, or at least excuse himself discreetly. Hopefully her giving his Pikachu some of her doughnut would make up for her poor performance as a conversationalist. That was pretty normal, right? At the very least, it¡¯d gotten them arguing amongst themselves, which meant the attention was off her for a time. Ugh. What an exhausting affair. Another bulleted list of blunders to file away after she foolishly ventured outside the security of her bedroom. Okay, enough. Now she was getting self-deprecating. She quickly replayed the morning one more time in her head and noted where she¡¯d have to modify her behavior for the next time they interacted. Keep what worked, and toss what didn¡¯t. With her mind cleared, she tried to enjoy the rest of the walk toward the palace. Eventually she found the main path, and the walk became easier. Wild pok¨¦mon scampered across the path in front of her, and she tried smiling at the ones who stopped to study her. Soon, she cleared the forest and arrived at the lake. The bridge was still a ways away though, so she continued on her trek. She¡¯d never been to Rota before today, but she had heard of the territory before. Apparently, it wasn¡¯t technically a part of Kanto, and the royal family had some sort of agreement with the region or something. Either way, it meant her status as a former gym leader, or even a representative of Cynthia meant little here. The Guardians were known to be selfless and kind hearted, but Sabrina wasn¡¯t sure how they¡¯d react to an outsider meddling in their affairs. Ash had given her a contact in the palace, a friend of his named Riley, so that was where she planned on starting her investigation. Hopefully he was here, and had all the answers they needed. There was no one at or on the bridge when she arrived, so after an anxious breath, she started on the last leg of her journey. The lake below was like a mirror, and it only made Sabrina even more self-conscious. Hopefully this didn¡¯t count as trespassing. As she neared the palace, its fa?ade loomed over her. Cameran Palace was thousands of years old, yet it looked pristine enough to have been built earlier this decade. It felt like there was a certain magic suffused in the castle¡¯s masonry, and Sabrina swallowed after stepping foot onto the island the palace was built on. It was an unsettling reality that she could atomize the entire thing, history and all, with a thought. The path took her through a grove of golden maple trees, and the scent of them calmed her nerves just a little. Eventually, she came upon a curved flight of marble steps, which she ascended slowly, and she finally arrived at the gigantic front doors, twin slabs of oak carved with intricate mosaics. Luckily, there were smaller, human-sized doors built next to the main doors, and she tried one of them. It was unlocked. She sighed in defeat. Seemed she¡¯d have to go inside after all. After taking a few deep breaths, she pushed the door open and went inside. It was quiet. Oppressively so. Sabrina found herself in a large atrium with a vaulted ceiling. Other doors lined the walls, leading to other parts of the palace, and a grand staircase curled up on the far wall. Huge paintings and stained glass windows told tales of the heroes of old, and the characters featured in them all seemed to wear the traditional blue uniform of the Guardians. The light that passed through the windows danced on the carpeted floor in a waltz of color. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Sabrina turned, and saw she¡¯d walked in right next to what appeared to be a receptionist¡¯s desk. A woman sat behind it, dressed in the same blue, but she lacked the pointed hat the others wore. ¡°Did you lose your tour group?¡± the lady asked with concern. ¡°O-Oh, no,¡± Sabrina sputtered. ¡°I¡¯m here to speak with someone. Someone named Riley.¡± ¡°Riley,¡± she repeated, raising an eyebrow. ¡°If I recall, he¡¯s out training in the Tree of Beginning right now. Does he know you¡¯re here?¡± Sabrina blushed. Uhhhhhhh. ¡°I-I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°I see. Hmmm, well, I¡¯d send you his way, but the Tree of Beginning is a dangerous place for non-Guardians. There¡¯s no telling when he¡¯ll be back¡­ Is it urgent?¡± ¡°It is¡­pretty urgent.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The receptionist pulled a pok¨¦ball from her belt. She released its contents, and a Lucario appeared beside Sabrina. ¡°Lucario will lead you to the Tree and protect you whilst you¡¯re there. I wouldn¡¯t dally long there, however.¡± Sabrina bowed. ¡°Thank you.¡± The woman nodded, and Lucario set off across the hall. They ventured through several rooms, and Sabrina had to force herself to keep up with Lucario, lest her attention be captured by the majesty of the palace¡¯s statues, murals, and architecture. They left out another door and headed across the opposite bridge over the lake. Lucario said nothing as it guided her through the forest, taking each step with soldier-like precision. The few times she did fall a bit behind, it waited for her patiently, then turned back to the path. Sabrina didn¡¯t even notice how close they¡¯d gotten to the Tree of Beginning until they passed through the forest and suddenly found themselves at its foot. Now that she was closer, she could see that it was actually made of shimmering crystals, and the grass she thought covered its surface was actually the hue of refracted sunlight. Lucario didn¡¯t stop to let her marvel, continuing over a small hill. From the top of the hill, Sabrina could see the entrance to the Tree. It was gigantic and yawning, like the entrance to a cave, and time-worn steps had been built down the other side of the hill, leading inside. Lucario held out its paw toward Sabrina, and she suddenly felt a warm veil envelop her. This must be the protection the lady was talking about. Lucario nodded, and started down the hill and into the Tree. The inside was an enchanting place. Sabrina wasn¡¯t sure what she¡¯d expected, but this certainly wasn¡¯t it. The ground was rock, like a cave, but sharpened crystals jutted out all around her, casting their mystical light across the cavern. Some were so huge they had to walk around them. Pok¨¦mon that were normally pretty hostile walked past calmly without paying them a second glance. A Graveler meandered by with a throng of Geodude, and an Annihilape stared at them from its rocky seat as they walked past. Soon, they came out into an enormous cavern. Here, the crystals grew plentifully, but they weren¡¯t all. Normal trees and grass littered the landscape, and waterfalls emptied off glowing cliffs into basins in thin air. Sabrina audibly gasped at the sight, the whole thing looking straight out of a dream. The pok¨¦mon lived here in greater numbers too, and flying-types soared through the air. If not for the cave ceiling far above, and the humongous stone pillars that kept it aloft, this place would have looked like the outside world. Lucario motioned to a scene below, on one of the rolling hills of the cavern. There, Sabrina saw a bare-chested man with spiky black hair tussling it out with an Ursaluna. The bear charged at him, but there was a flash of light, and somehow, it was redirected into a nearby boulder. Lucario barked, and the sound echoed through the cavern. Though they were quite far away, Sabrina could see both the man and the Ursaluna look over at them. Then, they glanced back at each other, and the man climbed onto Ursaluna¡¯s back. Then, it took off toward them. It only took a minute for Ursaluna to run over and clamber up the crystal formation that grew between the grassy hills below, and the rocky plateau Sabrina and Lucario found themselves on, and it came to a stop on front of them, snorting. The man was matted in sweat, and Sabrina looked away politely. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here, Lucario? Where¡¯s Sarah?¡± he asked, after climbing off his pok¨¦mon¡¯s back. Lucario did not respond audibly, only slightly gesturing with his paw. Must be telepathy, Sabrina thought. She could speak with her own pok¨¦mon nonverbally too. The man glanced over at her, then back at Lucario as he got caught up to speed. When Lucario seemed to finish its explanation, the man nodded. ¡°It isn¡¯t every day I get visitors. I¡¯m sorry you caught me right in the middle of a training session, I¡¯m sure I must stink right now.¡± He held out a hand. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, my name is Riley.¡± ¡°Sabrina,¡± she responded, shaking his hand bashfully. ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Ash Ketchum¡¯s.¡± Riley raised his brow. ¡°You know Ash, huh? Well, any friend of his is a friend of mine. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to help you.¡± He turned back to Lucario. ¡°You can head back now, Lucario, I¡¯ll take it from here. Don¡¯t worry about me, it¡¯ll help my training anyway.¡± He held out his hand, and the veil around Sabrina seemed to ripple. Lucario bowed at her, then took off in the opposite direction before she could get another word in. ¡°It¡¯s always business with that one,¡± Riley muttered. ¡°Though I suppose my Lucario is no different.¡± He wiped his forehead with a towel slung around his neck. ¡°I imagine this is your first time at the Tree of Beginning, Sabrina?¡± She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a sacred place, especially for us Guardians. The Tree is one of the oldest places in the world, hence its name. Apparently, this is where the Hero of Kanto once saved the entire world by stopping the rampage of a whole host of legendary pok¨¦mon.¡± Sabrina had heard of the Hero of Kanto, but like most Kantonians, she hadn¡¯t known where his title had come from. ¡°It¡¯s said one can find any species of pok¨¦mon here, since all pok¨¦mon have origins in this tree. But as Sarah eluded to, this place isn¡¯t fit for humans. The Tree rejects all non-Pok¨¦mon lifeforms. The only reason we stand here without being set upon by all the pok¨¦mon within is because of Aura.¡± Sabrina suddenly became aware of just how many pok¨¦mon surrounded them. An Aerodactyl clung to one of the cliffs nearby, and if it wanted to, it could probably attack them before she even had a chance to release one of her pok¨¦mon. She shuddered. Riley held up his palm, and an orb of azure energy roiled into existence above it. ¡°Aura is the life energy of all pok¨¦mon, and Guardians are humans with a gift to harness said energy. By masking ourselves in Aura, the Tree does not perceive us as threats. Only the strongest Guardians are permitted to train within the Tree, due to the sustained output of Aura necessary to protect oneself.¡± He paused. ¡°Sorry, that sounded like a brag. Well, I have been here for several hours already and I¡¯m starting to feel the strain.¡± He extinguished his Aura Sphere and recalled his Ursaluna. ¡°Shall we head back?¡± ¡°I can take us back quicker, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± she said, and released her Alakazam. Riley nodded. ¡°Very well.¡± Alakazam¡¯s spoons glowed, and the three of them disappeared in a flash of light, reappearing in the atrium with Sarah. She jumped when they appeared, clutching her chest in surprise. ¡°Hey, Sarah,¡± Riley waved, and the woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Please give me a bit to freshen up, and I¡¯ll meet you in the library, okay?¡± Sabrina nodded, and Riley took off. Yes, awkward conversation on the walk back to the palace, averted!
The library was about what one could expect from an ancient palace built to house an order of mystical Aura Guardians. Dark bookcases towered high, with ladders to reach the top shelves. There was a second floor with balconies that overlooked the room, and a few other Guardians sat within at tables or on plush chairs reading. The whole room smelled of paper and incense, and it put Sabrina at ease. Though that didn¡¯t stop her from stressing out over the fact that she was just suspiciously sitting at one of the tables doing nothing. She could¡¯ve sworn she saw a couple people glance over at her curiously, but it could¡¯ve been her imagination. She would¡¯ve taken a book off the shelf to do some reading while she waited, but wasn¡¯t sure if she was allowed to, so ultimately, she decided against it. Luckily, Riley didn¡¯t take long, and he strode into the library about ten minutes later dressed in the usual Guardian¡¯s uniform, with his own Lucario pacing in beside him. ¡°Thanks for waiting,¡± he said, sitting across from her. Lucario walked off deeper into the library, leaving them alone. ¡°So, what can I do for you?¡± Sabrina had rehearsed in her head how she¡¯d start this conversation, but it was still an awkward thing to bring up, especially while keeping the existence of Paragon a secret. ¡°Does the name ¡®Zagreus¡¯ mean anything to you?¡± she began. Riley mulled it over for a few seconds. ¡°Zagreus? Hmm, I can¡¯t say it does. Why?¡± Sabrina deflated slightly, but pushed on. ¡°The International Police is looking into a man called Zagreus who seemed to be an Aura Guardian.¡± While technically a lie, Paragon was close enough to Interpol that she could pass it off as the truth. ¡°He was last seen pursuing one of the Plates of Arceus, and was willing to kill to get to it first.¡± ¡°The Plates of Arceus,¡± Riley frowned. ¡°If he¡¯s a Guardian, then it would make sense for him to go after them. Part of our charge as Guardians is to protect the legendary artifacts. But to kill¡­ That certainly goes against our code. Beyond that, it is not within us to pursue any artifacts out of greed, which it sounds like this man was doing.¡± He nodded and chewed on his thumb. ¡°I see. Yes, a rogue Aura Guardian is a serious matter indeed. You¡¯ve come to the right place.¡± ¡°Have you heard of any Guardians going rogue recently? Or any time in the past decade or so?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°The Guardians do see defections from time to time. The power of Aura is intoxicating, to say the least, and some let it get to their head. This Zagreus wouldn¡¯t be the first to use his gift for evil purposes. But Cameran Palace is good about hunting down traitors and prosecuting them on our own, or handing them over to the proper authorities if necessary.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t recall anyone named Zagreus defecting from the Guardians recently, then?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry. Though there is a small chance he wasn¡¯t a Guardian, even if he had the ability to wield Aura. Guardians pursue those who have a latent gift and bring them back to Rota to cultivate their abilities if they so choose. But we don¡¯t catch all of them. If this Zagreus was talented enough, he may have taught himself to control and harness his gift all on his own.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°But the man was dressed like a Guardian, only his uniform was black instead of blue.¡± ¡°Well, then he was certainly dressed the part of a rogue Guardian,¡± Riley agreed. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know if I can help you any further. But this matter should certainly be brought to the attention of the royal guard. They¡¯re the ones responsible for tracking down those of us who betray our kin. You should tell your story to them. Who knows, they may know more than me.¡± He stood up, and Sabrina followed suit. Riley led them toward the entrance. ¡°What about your Lucario?¡± Riley smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He¡¯s a total bookworm. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s fully absorbed in some tome about the history of this or that. I let him know we¡¯re leaving.¡± Right, telepathy. With that, they left the library and passed through several other chambers. Riley seemed to be very popular, as almost every Guardian they came across greeted him by name. As they were walking through a hallway adorned with suits of armor and more paintings of ancient Aura Guardians, they came upon a larger group. A whole squad of Guardians marched down the hall, though unlike Riley, thick capes tumbled down their resolute backs. ¡°Riley!¡± the Guardian at the front boomed. He was a stout man, but tall, with graying straw-colored hair that may have once been golden. ¡°My boy, I thought you were training at the Tree! You slacking off again?¡± ¡°Captain Magnus,¡± Riley said with an embarrassed chuckle. ¡°Of course not, I was just there earlier. But this is fortuitous timing. I was just on my way to the guards¡¯ quarters to report an incident.¡± ¡°An incident? Oh no, what trouble have you gotten into now?¡± He seemed to notice Sabrina and looked her up and down. ¡°And who¡¯s this? I hope you¡¯re not getting any funny ideas, I see the way that Sarah looks at you.¡± He smacked Riley¡¯s shoulder, and the younger Guardian wore his smile like a mask. ¡°This is Sabrina, Captain,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s her report I wanted to bring to your attention. From the International Police.¡± ¡°International Police,¡± Magnus said, looking a bit more serious. ¡°Well, come with us. The Queen just finished a tour and we¡¯re on our way back to the throne room.¡± As Sabrina fell into lockstep beside them, she noticed a beautiful woman with blonde hair within the throng of guards. The queen smiled at her, and she blushed, suddenly aware of how out of place she was. Riley and Magnus continued to talk on their way to the throne room, and after several more minutes, they arrived. After everything she¡¯d already seen, the throne room was rather modest by comparison. It was smaller than Sabrina expected, and it was made of simple white bricks, with the deep blue standard of the Guardians flanking two thrones along the far wall, one grand and ostentatious, the other, simple and practical. The queen took her seat in the smaller throne, and Riley leaned closer to Sabrina as everyone filed in. ¡°The bigger throne belongs to the king of the Guardians, but royal tradition states a new king cannot be crowned except by the current king, since the gift of Aura is not always inherited by a Guardian¡¯s children. Our last king never crowned a successor, so the throne has remained empty for over three thousand years, awaiting his return, so it¡¯s said.¡± ¡°What about the queen?¡± she whispered back. ¡°Ordinarily the queen would simply be the king¡¯s wife, Aura or not. But we¡¯ve had to bend the rules a bit because we don¡¯t have a king, so Queen Ilene is the daughter of the previous queen, and she was the daughter of the queen before that, and so on. The husband of the current queen is called the regent, and he acts as the governor of Rota, but never sits on the throne.¡± The queen¡¯s guard took their positions at her side, and Riley leaned away. ¡°My queen,¡± he said, kneeling before her, and Sabrina quickly did the same out of respect. ¡°Rise, my Guardian,¡± the queen said. ¡°And you, young one.¡± ¡°Sabrina, this is the Queen Ilene of Rota,¡± Riley said, motioning to her. ¡°My queen, this is Sabrina. I¡¯m sorry for bringing such troubling news to you, but she claims to have encountered a murderous Aura Guardian.¡± Magnus frowned, and the guards turned to each other and spoke in hushed voices. Riley nodded to Sabrina to step up, and she tried to ignore the hammering in her chest. ¡°Y-Your Majesty,¡± she said, not sure how she should address the queen. ¡°And honored Guardians,¡± she added. ¡°Please, just call me Ilene,¡± the queen said, smiling warmly. Inexplicably, Sabrina felt some of her anxiety ebb away, and she continued with a renewed confidence. ¡°Ilene. I came to Rota today in search of information. Are any of you familiar with a man named Zagreus?¡± Sabrina saw a wave of confusion wash over the guards, and her heart almost sank. Until she saw Ilene¡¯s face. The queen hadn¡¯t moved, but Sabrina could immediately tell she recognized the name. Soon, the guards noticed their queen¡¯s expression, and they tried and failed to hide their sudden curiosity. ¡°Zagreus, you say?¡± Ilene said quietly. ¡°Yes.¡± Ilene looked to the side, as if considering something, then looked back at Sabrina. ¡°I have heard of Zagreus. But I¡¯m not surprised Sir Riley hasn¡¯t. Or any of my guards.¡± She pursed her lips, her eyebrows knit in a concerned frown. ¡°Zagreus is a forbidden name. A name wiped from all Guardian texts long ago. It is the name of a Guardian who committed a terrible sin during the Great War three thousand years ago.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 16 : Platebearer
Remnants of the Great War [7] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [7] Chapter 16 : Platebearer
AZ could feel their stares on him from behind. Anticipation and anxiety leaked from them like gas. They were beginning to disturb his reading. Books surrounded him in haphazard piles on the floor of the mansion. In front of him, a machine called a television displayed moving images of the ancient past, while a disembodied voice described what was happening. ¡°What is it?¡± AZ rumbled, flipping through another page without moving to turn around. Lord Vandrick had been patient, eager as he must have been to finally meet his master after so long. He¡¯d let AZ sleep undisturbed on the flying machine called a helicopter, and when they¡¯d arrived at Vandrick¡¯s house, he explained everything. AZ still had allies. After the Great War, many of his vassals and retainers were imprisoned, exiled, or executed, but not all of them. The survivors hid themselves, changed their names, and swore fealty to their enemies. But they never forgot who they truly served. They knew AZ was alive and knew he¡¯d return one day. House Vandrick had been the most powerful of the remaining houses, and over the years, they had consolidated AZ¡¯s remaining forces. Through their leverage in business, finance, and government, House Vandrick never let control of Kalos fall into the hands of outsiders. Each new head of the family was raised from birth to understand their true purpose, and it just so happened that AZ returned to the world while Lord Brian Vandrick was head. ¡°Apologies, your Grace. The others were wondering when they might meet you. They want to see the man their families have dedicated their lives to for the past three thousand years.¡± AZ flipped through another page. His power could¡¯ve siphoned all the knowledge in this book, all the knowledge in this room, straight into his head in an instant, but he hadn¡¯t read a book in three thousand years. It was another experience to savor, and he was in no hurry. ¡°I am still learning,¡± he said. ¡°Tell them to wait.¡± ¡°At once, your Grace.¡± He heard Vandrick walk away with his guards and servants. AZ couldn¡¯t have asked for a better lieutenant. Vandrick was courteous and wise, beyond his paltry thirty years. The man had immediately surrendered his own master bedroom to AZ, and had met any and every accommodation AZ requested. He did not speak out of turn, and offered his wisdom only when it was asked for. Most likely, he¡¯d never answered to anyone but his parents in his entire life, yet the man knew his role and played it beautifully. They were in a city called Anistar. It hadn¡¯t even existed three thousand years ago. Eastern Kalos was little more than farmland in AZ¡¯s day, but now, great towers of iron lined the smooth black paths of the city, and there wasn¡¯t a single acre of pumpkins or cabbage or winterpeas in sight. Before it could fester, AZ dashed the nostalgia from his mind. He knew if he dwelled for too long on how much he¡¯d missed, he¡¯d really start to go insane. He was not so proud he thought himself infallible. He was still a human, albeit barely, with human emotions. And an emotion like nostalgia at a time like this was lethal. AZ glanced up from his book, an atlas with maps of the entire world and all the states, or regions, that comprised it. The man on the television was talking about the history of Kanto. At least that was a name he recognized. Kanto and Kalos. The west and east, they¡¯d been. Now, it seemed a land called Unova was the most powerful state in the world, and Kanto and Kalos were little more than accessories to greater powers. He was hungry again. Three thousand years he¡¯d gone without so much as a drop of water, but after just a few meals, he already couldn¡¯t imagine going back to such a destitute existence. Vandrick returned, with a soft knock on the door before he entered and a tray of food in his hand. ¡°I thought you might want lunch, your Grace, it is noontime now. This is roasted venison with red cran garlic mashed potatoes, and a summer salad with tangerines on the side. The beverage recommended by the chef is fresh blackberry cider.¡± He placed the tray on the table behind AZ and folded his arms behind him. ¡°I hope this is to your Grace¡¯s liking. Anything else you desire I can provide.¡± AZ stood with his book and lumbered over. Vandrick dipped his head as AZ sat, and he grabbed his cutlery. It was normal-sized, like the chair and table, but AZ specifically requested that Vandrick not go overboard with replacing everything in his house to accommodate him. This would suffice. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, and started eating. Vandrick bowed and turned to leave. ¡°Sit with me,¡± AZ said. ¡°We have spoken enough about the past. Let us talk about the future.¡± Even Vandrick, with all his decorum, could not completely hide his interest, and he spun on his foot a little too quickly. ¡°Of course, your Grace.¡± He sat across the width of the table from AZ. ¡°I don¡¯t want you bringing me my meals from now on. Let your servants do it. I¡¯ll not have you doing servant¡¯s work in your own house.¡± ¡°I am grateful to serve your Grace,¡± Vandrick said, but nodded in acceptance. ¡°Had I not returned, what would you have done with all the wealth and power you¡¯ve built?¡± AZ asked. ¡°We would continue to administer the Kalos Region in your stead, and ensure it continued to prosper.¡± Az sawed through his meat and stuck a large bite in his mouth. ¡°And if I had different plans for Kalos? If the path I led you on would force Kalos to give up its prosperity? Say, to engage in war? What would you do then?¡± Vandrick¡¯s gaze met AZ¡¯s. ¡°Then we would follow your Grace dutifully. Your wish is our command.¡± AZ nodded. Truly, he did not deserve them. ¡°Good. Then we will begin immediately.¡± He opened his atlas to a map of Kalos and set it in the center of the table. ¡°There is a place we will need to visit. It was known only to my closest generals, and they¡¯re all dead, so it should not have been found. It¡¯s here,¡± he placed his finger on the map, ¡°at this place called Geosenge. Buried within is a weapon that will win us the war.¡± Vandrick frowned. ¡°Geosenge? I see. We will have to be discreet. Geosenge is not well populated, but modern communications would put us in danger of alerting our enemies nonetheless.¡± ¡°I trust it won¡¯t be an issue?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll disburse the order immediately.¡± ¡°Tell only those you trust. We will need smiths and engineers to repair the weapon when we arrive as well.¡± ¡°I can assemble a team by day¡¯s end.¡± ¡°Good. And get the word out to all of our allies that I have returned. We will need to raise an army to fight this war. ¡± ¡°It will be done. We have secret channels that we have maintained for centuries to hide our activities. We also already have a number of trainers loyal to us. They will be alerted that their skills will be needed shortly.¡± Right. Trainers were ubiquitous now. ¡°Excellent. Before we depart, I will meet with the other retainers. Arrange a council before week¡¯s end.¡± ¡°At once, your Grace.¡± There was a soft knock at the door, and Vandrick stood. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± He walked over to the door and pushed it open slightly. A servant on the other side handed him something, and walked away with a bow. Vandrick returned to the table with a small wooden box in hand, black and lacquered in lavender. ¡°What is this, Lord Vandrick?¡± ¡°Apologies, your Grace. I figured now would be as good a time as any to give you this. Or rather, return it to you.¡± He pushed the box across the table gently. AZ stared at it, then slowly lifted the lid off. His breath caught in his throat. ¡°Where are the others?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your Grace. This is all House Vandrick recovered after your imprisonment, and we have passed it down across generations as our most precious heirloom. Unfortunately, the others are lost to us.¡± AZ¡¯s mouth stretched into a white line. ¡°Leave me.¡± Vandrick bowed, and left. AZ¡¯s elbow hit the table as he clutched his face, and his other hand fell upon the content of the box. He closed his fingers around six faded pok¨¦balls, and tears began to fall on the table beneath him. A different agony lanced through his entire body, and his throat tightened and stiffened. Six would do. Six was more than he deserved. But the one he missed the most had never lived in a pok¨¦ball. And she was gone forever.
¡°So why am I here again?¡± Ash asked as he and Cynthia ascended one of the many skyscrapers in Saffron City in an elevator. ¡°I need your person,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I¡¯ve only spoken to him a couple times since he became World Champion, but the man is like a steel trap. He¡¯s divulged nothing about his motivations or intentions to the media, and he¡¯s given little more than that to the League. I want to dangle you above him so I can see exactly where he stands. The last thing we need now is the World Champion becoming a liability while AZ is on the loose.¡± ¡°What does that even mean? You think they¡¯re working together or something?¡± Cynthia glanced over at him. ¡°No, not necessarily. But the world is changing now more than it ever has in recent memory. AZ¡¯s escape is just the beginning. There was the appearance of one of Arceus¡¯ Plates, a rogue Aura Guardian, and now this. Everything that¡¯s been going on lately¡­ it feels like it¡¯s all connected, I just don¡¯t know how. At the very least, I¡¯d like to be able to put Albrecht out of my mind as soon as possible, and the fastest way to do that is to get him to talk to you. He wanted something from you that night two years ago. I¡¯d like you to entertain him for now.¡± ¡°Does he know I¡¯m coming?¡± ¡°He will soon. Watch his reaction for me. Watch everything he does, and listen to what he says. You don¡¯t need to worry about any of the other politics at play. I know you left the Championship behind to get away from all this, so I¡¯ll deal with the rest. That would just be rude of me to expect you to play the main attraction at another one of these parties.¡± Ash grumbled to himself, but he wasn¡¯t entirely displeased with this assignment. Ever since hearing Albrecht had become the World Champion, he¡¯d been eager for another chance to talk to him. Cynthia seemed totally paranoid about him, but this was her scene after all, so he trusted her instincts. Even for a simpleton like Ash, the peculiarities of Albrecht¡¯s crowning, and even the man himself, were not lost on him. He wanted answers too. Hopefully Albrecht would have them, and be willing to offer them. The elevator pinged, and they walked out into a lofty ballroom. This was one of many luxurious apartment buildings in Saffron City, but this penthouse at the very top was on another level. Various men and women dressed in various degrees of attire milled about, speaking and laughing with each other, while waiters attended to the food and drink tables scattered throughout the room. One of the walls was open to the outside, and Ash could see a steaming pool of cerulean water sloshing by the edge of a large balcony, with some partygoers within. Clearly, Albrecht enjoyed a different level of extravagance. Ash turned to Cynthia and saw that she¡¯d already donned her public persona. An enigmatic smile rested on her face, and she was already addressing a few people with her gaze who¡¯d noticed her arrival. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Ash asked. ¡°No plan,¡± Cynthia responded without taking her eyes off the crowd. ¡°I¡¯ll enjoy the party. You find Albrecht and let him talk. Whatever happens, happens. Very casual. If he offers you something, tell him you¡¯ll consider. I¡¯ll take care of your fans.¡± A trio of young people who seemed to be around Ash¡¯s age had spotted him and were already approaching him, but Cynthia quickly cut in front of him. ¡°Roger, Brandon, is that you? How have you been since the Solaceon Conference? Have the Contests been going well for you, Amber?¡± Ash smirked and made his getaway further into the party. He could feel them watching him leave, but they were no match against the full force of Cynthia¡¯s wiles and were swiftly enraptured by her instead. Luckily, it seemed like no one else had noticed him yet, though with his usual cap and Pikachu on his shoulder, he was sure it wouldn¡¯t last long. He picked a small slider off a food table as he passed it and gave it a bite. Maybe a full mouth would act as a line of defense against any potential fawning, however paper-thin. As expected, it didn¡¯t. He felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around. Before him stood a man of equal height and similar age to himself. He looked like a stereotypical engineering student at some college, with his slightly oily hair and wiry build. ¡°Ash Ketchum, I thought that was you. I guess it makes sense you¡¯d be here.¡± Ash grinned and fake chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I had to stop by and check it out. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Rosen,¡± the man said, taking his hand and giving it a light squeeze. ¡°Saffron¡¯s gym leader.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± he said, his interest piqued. ¡°So you¡¯re Sabrina¡¯s replacement?¡± ¡°Yes, I took over shortly after she abdicated her position. Similar to you in that way.¡± He laughed nervously and didn¡¯t make eye contact. Ash chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Yeah, I guess so. So is it still a psychic gym?¡± ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve no proficiency with psychic-types. We¡¯re a steel gym now. I worked with a lot of electric-types in university but Surge already has that, so this was my second choice.¡± Ash nodded. He didn¡¯t know the gyms worked like that, and it was interesting to get a peek behind the curtain of challenging so many of them. ¡°Of course, there was already a psychic gym in Celadon when Sabrina became gym leader, so maybe the rules can be bent a little? Though I did hear there were some extenuating circumstances in her case.¡± He laughed nervously again. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know that. So Kanto had two psychic gyms at one point, huh?¡± Maybe he¡¯d ask Sabrina about it. Though he had a feeling the answer would have to do with her tumultuous childhood. ¡°Say, Rosen, do you think you could point me in Albrecht¡¯s direction? I don¡¯t want to be accused of avoiding him at his own party.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! Uhhh, I think I saw him, yeah. Right over there,¡± he said, pointing further into the ballroom. Albrecht seemed to be talking with a couple others, though he looked exactly as he did at Ash¡¯s party two years ago, with his silver hair and spotless white suit. ¡°Great, thanks! It was nice to meet you, Rosen! Let¡¯s chat again some time!¡± ¡°O-Oh, yeah. It was an honor to talk with you, Mr. Ketchum.¡± He smiled and waved. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Now that Albrecht was in sight, Ash made a beeline for him before he could get roped into another conversation. Some he passed clearly recognized him, but after seeing who he was walking toward, they seemed to decide against impeding him. Albrecht¡¯s eyes flicked over to him as he neared, and he immediately put his hand up to kill whatever conversation he¡¯d been in. A curious smile curled onto his face as he looked Ash up and down. ¡°Ash Ketchum,¡± he said once Ash was close enough. ¡°To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll say congratulations to you, first and foremost.¡± He held out his hand and Albrecht shook it. The World Champion narrowed his eyes and pointed at Ash. ¡°You look like a different man from when I last saw you. These past two years seem to have changed you immensely.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Ash chuckled. ¡°Sorry for inviting myself. I came here with Cynthia.¡± A puzzled look flashed across his face, but it was gone as quick as it¡¯d come, and he nodded. ¡°Our old friend Cynthia, eh? Well, this is embarrassing. I was actually going to give her an invitation for you to my next get together.¡± ¡°Sorry, should I not be at this one?¡± ¡°No, no, not at all. I would¡¯ve invited you to this one, if only I¡¯d known how to reach you. You are a difficult man to track down after all, and seeing as she was the last person I saw you with, I figured she might be able to get it to you.¡± He pulled an envelope from his suit vest and handed it to Ash, who looked it over before pocketing it. Albrecht drained the rest of his glass of champagne and handed it to a passing waiter. ¡°So, what brings you here anyway? I thought you hated gatherings like this.¡± ¡°Er, well, I wouldn¡¯t miss an opportunity to meet the new World Champion.¡± Can¡¯t exactly say I¡¯m here to suss you out on behalf of the Paragon Organization. ¡°Hmm, I thought you abdicated your position precisely because of parties like this. It almost makes one wonder if there¡¯s an ulterior motive.¡± He winked. Ash¡¯s chest tightened and a film of sweat appeared over his forehead. Shit! Does he know about Paragon? No, wait. Calm down, Ash. ¡°I apologize, I¡¯m being rude,¡± Albrecht said. ¡°I¡¯m honored you came, really.¡± It¡¯s now or never. ¡°Actually, you¡¯re right. I was wondering if we could talk. Privately, if possible.¡± For such a suave man, Albrecht did not hide his excitement at Ash¡¯s request very well at all. The smile dropped off his face while he processed what Ash said, then reappeared once he had, brighter than ever. ¡°Of course! Absolutely! Shall I put something on the calendar? I don¡¯t know when you¡¯re free. Perhaps we can get lunch together¡­whenever? My schedule is clear.¡± Is it really? Why does he want to talk to me so badly? ¡°ASAP, if at all possible.¡± Albrecht shook his head in acknowledgement. ¡°Say no more.¡± As a waiter walked past him, Albrecht put his hand on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear. The waiter frowned, but nodded, and hurried off. ¡°Party¡¯s over,¡± Albrecht said. ¡°Let¡¯s talk now.¡± Ash just stared at him. ¡°Huh?¡± Around him, the other waiters were cutting into ongoing conversations to deliver the news and ushering confused partygoers toward the elevators. Those in the pool got out and started drying themselves without really even knowing why yet. ¡°Wait¡­what¡¯re you¡­?¡± ¡°Not to worry,¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°The party¡¯s already been going for several hours, I think it¡¯s fine to pull the plug here.¡± Ash stayed speechless as the many guests slowly filtered out of the massive ballroom. In the sea of people, Ash caught Cynthia¡¯s eye, but after seeing him with Albrecht, the only two not moving to leave, she seemed to understand the situation and filed out with everyone else. After several more minutes, the entire room was empty, save for the wait staff. ¡°What¡­what did you just do?¡± Ash breathed. ¡°Made things private,¡± Albrecht said, sounding very pleased with himself. ¡°With your help. Not even the most pompous dignitary would protest an order from two World Champions. I¡¯m sure the sight of us alone made them understand the urgency of the request.¡± Right, I guess that makes sense. Ash gulped. Now it¡¯s all up to me. ¡°So,¡± Albrecht began, ¡°have you come to give your dear successor a bit of wisdom?¡± ¡°You¡¯re funny.¡± Albrecht chuckled and walked over to an empty table, bussed and cleaned by the wait staff already, and sat down, and motioned for Ash to join him. ¡°Sorry again for showing up unannounced,¡± Ash said, taking his seat. ¡°Oh, not to worry. Most of the people here came unannounced, that¡¯s just the nature of these sorts of gatherings. Your appearance was a surprise to be sure, but very welcome.¡± He crossed his legs and raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, what can I do for you, Ash Ketchum?¡± Here we go. ¡°Well, I just wanted to get to know you a little better is all. I don¡¯t know if ending the whole party was necessary.¡± He rubbed the back of his head involuntarily, as he always did when he was nervous. Albrecht shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m always looking for new friends. Though I have some questions for you as well, if you don¡¯t mind. How about I give you an answer for each question of mine you answer.¡± A waiter delivered a couple glasses of water and Ash took a sip. ¡°Fine by me.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I start?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± He turned away. ¡°What is your relationship with Cynthia? If it¡¯s the sort that desires discretion, rest assured I can keep a secret,¡± he quickly added. ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that,¡± Ash smiled, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡± ¡°Are you very close with her?¡± Ash shrugged. ¡°Close enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I only ask because we¡¯ve met only twice, and both times she¡¯s walked you in.¡± Damn. He¡¯s good. He shook his head. Luckily, he¡¯d already thought of a cover story. ¡°I work for her on one of her projects,¡± he said, which was technically true. Albrecht nodded. ¡°No need to say more, I understand. All these Champions are secretive in their own ways. I asked Lance where he got all his Dragonite from and he looked at me like a Stunky just stepped on him.¡± He smiled. ¡°All business, that one. Anyway, go ahead.¡± Ash stirred his questions around in his mind, and picked one out to ask first. ¡°Why did you become the World Champion?¡± Albrecht pursed his lips, then grinned. ¡°Can we come back to that one?¡± ¡°Er, okay. Where are you from?¡± Guess I¡¯ll start small and work my way up. ¡°Kanto. Like yourself.¡± ¡°Alright, your turn,¡± Ash said. Albrecht seemed like he¡¯d be willing to talk about what he was really after, but Ash didn¡¯t want to provoke him too much. ¡°Ask another, that one was too simple,¡± Albrecht said. Ash shuffled through his questions again. ¡°Tell me about how you became a trainer. You didn¡¯t strike me as the type when we first met.¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been around pok¨¦mon for as long as I can remember. Where I came from, pok¨¦mon were more used to battle, which made me used to battle. In my boyhood, I loved the art of battle, but as I grew older, I suppose that side of me grew up. Perhaps in a way, me becoming the World Champion was a nice reminder of my origins. As I¡¯m getting older, now is as good a time as any to fulfill that dream.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t battle to get this position, right? You were elected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But I assure you I am fully capable of defending the title if necessary.¡± Ash took a few moments to study the man. It was true he hadn¡¯t pegged Albrecht as a trainer, but now that they were speaking more closely, he was starting to see it. Albrecht¡¯s eyes held the same sharp light that all trainers possessed, always studying what was before them. Without his gloves, Ash noticed his hands weren¡¯t entirely princely, and they were slightly toned, likely from years of use. And in his last answer, Ash had sensed the passion he held for pok¨¦mon. He almost reminded him of himself, with his talk of dreams. But there was a strange wistfulness in his voice that Ash couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn, though this is really more of a statement than a question. And more of a confession than a statement.¡± Ash raised a brow. ¡°The truth is, I¡¯ve been watching you for quite a long time. Longer than most, I suspect. In a way, you could say I¡¯m a ¡®superfan¡¯ of yours. I¡¯ve no doubt one of your questions for me was why I came up and talked to you two years ago. I wasn¡¯t being very subtle, cool as I tried to make myself sound. I hope I wasn¡¯t too offputting.¡± Ash didn¡¯t react at first, then broke into a grin. ¡°Ha ha ha, not at all! I just hope I¡¯m everything you¡¯d hoped for.¡± ¡°Well, that remains to be seen, I suppose. Now, your turn.¡± They seemed to be having a good rapport. Ash figured it was time to get serious. ¡°What do you make of this AZ situation?¡± As expected, Albrecht¡¯s expression darkened, and this time, it took longer for his smile to return. ¡°AZ¡­ yes, that monster.¡± He chuckled once. ¡°I¡¯d planned to talk to you about him when we met again, but I suppose that time is now.¡± Ash stared at him, absorbing his every word. He could tell he was about to get what he came for. ¡°The League and the International Police both seem to be focused on what he plans to do now that he¡¯s escaped. It¡¯s not lost on me that they¡¯ve breezed right past the mystery of his character and are focused entirely on stopping him. Killing him.¡± ¡°As part of my answer to your question, I¡¯ll ask another. How familiar are you with the Plates of Arceus?¡± The Plates! ¡°Not very,¡± Ash said, trying to keep a poker face. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them, but that¡¯s about it. Like all legendary artifacts, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re powerful. And dangerous.¡± He couldn¡¯t mention Zagreus or that he¡¯d just been on a mission to retrieve one. Albrecht narrowed his eyes, and he paused just long enough to make Ash uncomfortable. ¡°Is that right?¡± He shrugged. ¡°I see. Well, in that case, what I¡¯m about to tell you now is extremely important, so please listen carefully.¡± When he saw Ash fully focused on him, he continued. ¡°The Plates of Arceus are, without a doubt, the most powerful legendary artifacts in the entire world. They are so powerful, in fact, that in every era, the powers that be have conspired to hide their true potential from the common man, and suppress the legend of Arceus himself, lest their study into the God Pok¨¦mon lead them to learning more than they should about the Plates.¡± ¡°In truth, the Plates are pieces of Arceus¡¯ own divine power. Arceus, who created the universe and everything in it. It is no exaggeration to say that even a single Plate holds enough power to destroy this entire world.¡± Ash couldn¡¯t stop himself from swallowing. Had he really gotten so close to something like that? He¡¯d touched it, and lived. ¡°Now, as you might expect, the Plates are sought after by those who know of their true power. Some have good intentions and some have evil, but all who seek the Plates do so with a respect for their inconceivable power. Of course, in a competition with such high stakes, it only makes sense that those with the greatest resources would be fortunate enough to acquire the Plates.¡± ¡°So¡­that would mean the International Police and the League have some of the Plates? And maybe the regional governments?¡± Ash asked. ¡°A logical conclusion. Indeed, the Plates have found themselves in the possession of many authoritative entities across the world, across history. The Great Founders and old families alike both enjoyed possession of the Plates at various points in time.¡± ¡°But Arceus is a sentient being, and this world is his creation. As such, the Plates move according to his design. That is why they appear and disappear across the world, seemingly at random. Even if one were to acquire a Plate, one may wake up the next morning to find it gone, without any trace it was ever there at all. There is only one way to truly gain the power of one of the Plates.¡± Albrecht fixed Ash with a silver gaze. ¡°The true secret of the Plates is that they can be assimilated, to grant one certain abilities, such as inhuman durability and longevity.¡± ¡°AZ,¡± Ash said. ¡°AZ has one of the Plates.¡± Albrecht nodded. ¡°Most likely. We call men like him ¡®Platebearers.¡¯ It would explain his invulnerability to time, and the futility of all attempts at his execution. Once a Plate has been assimilated, the Platebearer commands its power indefinitely.¡± Ash shuddered, and even Pikachu seemed to be engrossed in Albrecht¡¯s explanation, as he stood unblinking on Ash¡¯s shoulder. Everything was starting to come together. ¡°So AZ has the power to destroy the entire world¡­¡± ¡°Not necessarily. As I said, the Plates are extensions of Arceus¡¯ very being, so the power granted to the Platebearers is based on Arceus¡¯ own whims, impossible to predict. But just because he lived for three thousand years without destroying the world doesn¡¯t necessarily mean he isn¡¯t capable of it either.¡± ¡°How do you even stop someone like that?¡± Ash said incredulously. ¡°Someone who¡¯s immortal and indestructible? Is it even possible to kill them?¡± ¡°Ordinarily, no,¡± Albrecht said. ¡°But by other Platebearers, certainly. Although when a Platebearer dies, the Plate disappears along with them, to reincarnate at some later point in time and space. So a Platebearer cannot simply kill other Platebearers to acquire more Plates.¡± Ash¡¯s head was spinning. This was way more information than he expected. At most, he¡¯d expected a possible lead on AZ¡¯s location via Albrecht¡¯s personal investigations or something. This¡­this was something else completely, and Ash was struggling to keep everything in his mind as Albrecht pushed on relentlessly. ¡°So this is the true nature of power in this world. For centuries, humanity has fought over the Plates, in the shadows of history. This ongoing conflict has never been written about in the history books, for its mere mention invites more contenders to the contest. For the same reason, those who are party to the game exercise extreme caution when it comes to sharing their knowledge with outsiders.¡± Albrecht glanced up at Ash. Ash met his gaze as the realization dawned on him. ¡°But you¡¯re telling me¡­ And you¡¯re one of them. You¡¯re searching for the Plates too.¡± Ash frowned and shook his head in disbelief. ¡°But why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because I want your help. I¡¯ve been in this game for some time, and things are beginning to swell. Perhaps you¡¯ve felt it, even if you haven¡¯t been privy to the existence of the game until now. The Plates have been appearing more and more often, and the conflict is beginning to spill into the public eye in subtle ways. AZ¡¯s escape, though confidential for now, is a part of this. You are one of the greatest talents of your generation, and from what I know of you, you have an impeccable character. I want to stop this foolish conflict from destroying everything, and the only way to win the game is to play.¡± ¡°So you want¡­?¡± His voice trailed off, then he whipped his head back in Albrecht¡¯s direction. ¡°Wait, are you a Platebearer too?¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Ash fell silent, and Albrecht seemed to expect it because he didn¡¯t interrupt the silence. Ash had come here today to get a handle on what Albrecht¡¯s endgame was, to figure out if he could be trusted while Paragon focused its attention on AZ. But now the two situations were tied together, in a certain sense, along with the Zagreus incident now as well. And at the end of it all, Albrecht only became even more mysterious. This is not my wheelhouse, Ash cursed. He hated when his friends called him a dumbass, but he really wasn¡¯t suited to these types of cerebral workouts. Either way, he¡¯d gotten what they came for, and then some. And as expected, Albrecht had made him an offer. And a tempting one, at that. He seemed destined to encounter the Platebearers whether he joined Albrecht or not. And here was someone who seemed to know all about them. ¡°If I were to help you, what would that entail, exactly?¡± Ash asked. ¡°That would depend on you. If you do decide to accept my offer, then there¡¯s something I need to show you first. But I¡¯m confident this path would help you to become a true Pok¨¦mon Master. That is what you desire, is it not?¡± True. I can¡¯t exactly call myself a Master with these de-facto demigods running around who could pulverize me in an instant. But is it really possible to stand up to the power of Arceus? He grinned. I¡¯ll do it, no matter what! Together, with my pok¨¦mon, I¡¯ll become a Pok¨¦mon Master that can defeat the Platebearers! With his thoughts as streamlined as they could be as of now, Ash decided to end their conversation with one last question. ¡°Can I see your pok¨¦mon?¡± Albrecht cocked a smile. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll take you to the park downstairs. They got up and took an elevator down. True to Albrecht¡¯s word, he did take Ash to a park, though they didn¡¯t even have to leave the building. The elevator stopped at floor twenty, and when the doors slid open, Ash was immediately assailed by the scent of fresh grass and flowers. Floor to ceiling windows lined the walls, letting the sunlight pour in, and lush grass and bushes covered the floor as far as the eye could see. A pebbled path curved through the grass, and iron benches lined the path just as they would for a traditional park. Pikachu jumped off Ash¡¯s shoulder and scampered over to a nearby flowerbed, and began sniffing around. ¡°This entire floor makes up the park,¡± Albrecht explained. ¡°Very relaxing to visit during the day, and sometimes, wealthy trainers will even battle here if they¡¯re staying in one of the apartments.¡± He pulled a pok¨¦ball off his belt and released its contents onto the grass. A dark Corviknight unfurled its metallic wings and cocked its head curiously at Ash. Ash brought his hand up slowly and caressed its bearded chest. Despite being made of metal, it was warm, and its feathers felt malleable. ¡°Oh yeah, you¡¯re definitely powerful, I can tell. A World Champion¡¯s pok¨¦mon for sure.¡± ¡°Impressed?¡± Albrecht asked, and Ash nodded. ¡°Fly about fifty meters away, Corviknight. I want to show Ash something.¡± The bird screeched and took flight. The ceiling was just as high as Albrecht¡¯s penthouse, and it easily soared through the air. ¡°Watch this, I think you¡¯ll be surprised, based on our conversation earlier.¡± He walked backwards a short distance. ¡°Corviknight, use Hyper Beam on Ash.¡± Ash didn¡¯t even have time to blink before a shaft of light tore toward him. His eyes seared from the blinding attack, and he screamed as he fell to the ground. A deafening roar accompanied the beam, and smoke burned his nostrils. He trembled as all five of his senses were completely overloaded, but soon, the beam stopped. It had missed. Ash slowly opened his eyes and clutched at the ground, his ears still ringing from the assault. He grabbed his head, but didn¡¯t feel anything unusual. Good. He moved his arm before him. White strands of electricity crackled on his skin, and he yanked it back involuntarily. ¡°So there you have it, Ash.¡± The sound of Albrecht¡¯s voice brought him back to reality. Ash stood and turned, glaring at him, but his attention was swiftly captured by his surroundings. He was standing in the dead center of a blackened circle. All the grass around him had burned away, and a path of death followed a straight line back to where Corviknight stood. It didn¡¯t miss at all! But then¡ª ¡°This looks like the work of a Plate to me. The Electric Plate, I reckon. So tell me again, Platebearer Ash. How familiar did you say you were with the Plates of Arceus?¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 17 : Ancient Weapon
Remnants of the Great War [8] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [8] Chapter 17 : Ancient Weapon
Kanto Region - Saffron City Ash stood motionless, not even registering the few thin bolts of electricity zapping between different parts of his body. Pikachu was glaring at Corviknight and seemed to be using every ounce of willpower in his tiny body to keep himself from attacking. Only the sight of his trainer alive and well despite such a monstrous attack kept him at bay. Platebearer. The word whistled through Ash¡¯s mind like the wind. The Plate didn¡¯t disappear in the cave in¡­ I have it¡­within me. He clutched at his shirt, but his body felt perfectly normal. ¡°Based on your reaction, it seems clear you had no idea you were a Platebearer,¡± Albrecht continued after giving Ash a minute to process what had happened. ¡°I apologize for using such an uncouth method, but seeing is believing. But before we continue, if you would please call off your Pikachu, he looks like he wants to fry Corviknight.¡± Ash glanced over at his partner, then at the Corviknight that¡¯d done the damage. ¡°Stand down, Pikachu,¡± he muttered. Albrecht walked up to Ash until he was right in front of him. He was a little less than a head taller. ¡°Come with me, Ash,¡± he said, and Ash could hear the pleading in his voice. ¡°I have extensive knowledge of the Plates and resources to help you learn about your power. There is still more I have to tell you, but I cannot do it here. Not unless you accept my offer.¡± He held out his hand. Despite the whirlwind in his brain, Ash somehow put his thoughts to the side to focus on what Albrecht was saying. His breathing was slow and deliberate, and he barely noticed Pikachu climb back onto his head, putting himself between Ash and Albrecht in his own sort of way. ¡°How did you know I was a Platebearer?¡± Ash asked in a low voice. Albrecht raised his hand slowly. The air beside Albrecht warbled, and a blue sheen flashed over a formerly concealed form. Lucario¡¯s eyes swiveled in their sockets before landing on Ash. ¡°Lucario sensed your power the moment you landed in Saffron. I almost ended the party there and then, unsure of who had just descended upon the city, until I realized it was you.¡± The jackal crossed its arms, and the appendages on its head wafted behind it. Power radiated off its skin like heat, and Ash sized it up as its oppressive warmth passed over his body. ¡°He¡¯s been with us the whole time?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I am the World Champion. I can¡¯t walk around defenselessly. Unlike you, I don¡¯t have any pok¨¦mon like Pikachu who are small enough to remain on my person at all times.¡± He smiled, but that only seemed to make Pikachu even more wary of him. Ash remained deep in thought, glancing over at the others in the room, the decimation at his feet, and his own hands periodically. ¡°My clothes¡­are fine?¡± ¡°The Plate rests within you, and it protects all that you consider, well, you. I suppose Arceus¡¯ pride wouldn¡¯t allow the bearers of his soul to be stripped naked in the course of battle so easily.¡± He smirked, his silver hair casting an amused shadow over his face. With the tension slightly eased, Ash gave his response. ¡°Thank you for the offer, Albrecht, but I have somewhere else to be. Thank you for everything, truly. I¡¯m not sure when I would have discovered this power within me if not for you, and I know you took a risk telling me all of this. I promise I¡¯ll keep this information to myself.¡± Albrecht nodded slowly and crossed his arms behind his back. ¡°Even from Cynthia?¡± he asked, glancing away. Ash grit his teeth and clenched his fist. It was as Albrecht said. Knowledge of the Plates¡¯ true power needed to be carefully protected. Though he didn¡¯t like keeping secrets, this one he would, for now. He decided he wouldn¡¯t tell anyone about this power until he learned to control it. ¡°Even from Cynthia,¡± he affirmed. If Albrecht didn¡¯t believe him, he didn¡¯t say. Instead, he simply smiled and shrugged, as Ash had become accustomed for him to do. ¡°Ah, rejected again. Very well, I expected this outcome to begin with. I¡¯m sure this is all very strange to you, so perhaps it was too much to ask for you to so easily abandon the life you¡¯ve made for yourself after giving up your World Champion title. And I commend your caution. Like it or not, you¡¯re a part of this grand game now. Distrusting me is the wisest course of action.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°I do hope you won¡¯t be a stranger, though. You have an invitation to my next party, and any others. And my contact details are in the letter I gave you.¡± Ash patted his pocket where the invitation rested, then took Albrecht¡¯s hand and shook it. ¡°It was nice to catch up with you again, Albrecht. I¡¯ll consider your offer, I promise. I just need time to think things through.¡± Albrecht nodded. ¡°And I understand completely. Though one last thing before you go, if I may.¡± He fixed Ash with an icy gaze, and Ash nearly shivered. The mirth seemed to have evaporated from his silver eyes. ¡°Be wary of your friend Cynthia. She¡¯s a reticent woman, even as Champions go. If you feel like doing yourself a favor, get to know her a little better, like you did for me. Just some advice.¡± If ever there was a time to maintain a poker face, it was now, and to his own credit, Ash thought he did a pretty good job. He simply nodded, determined to keep Cynthia¡¯s secret from him. Albrecht pulled out a pok¨¦ball and recalled Corviknight from across the grass. Lucario nodded and disappeared in a haze of Aura as well. Pikachu hissed, and Albrecht waved a cheeky goodbye at him. Ash left the building feeling like his brain had just been put through a car wash. He found Cynthia leaning on a pillar outside the lobby, carefully placed to avoid any potential attention from passersby. ¡°So, mission success?¡± she asked after he walked up to her. ¡°¡­Yeah, something like that.¡±
Kalos Region - Geosenge Town The cavern was dark and smelled of mildew and moss, and it reminded AZ of the time he spent in that forsaken dungeon. Luckily, his men soon found sconces on the wall still drenched in grease and got to work lighting them. The torchlight illuminated the chamber and their shadows danced over the walls as they scurried about the room. ¡°I¡¯ve left some of the men at the entrance, but it seems we¡¯ve arrived undetected,¡± Vandrick said as he walked up beside AZ. ¡°I¡¯ve been to Geosenge countless times but I never suspected something like this rested beneath it.¡± AZ grunted as his eyes traveled up the structure at the center of the room. It was jagged and crystalline, and it towered over them, disappearing into the unlit gloom above. Like the petals of a flower, stalks of crystal stood folded against a central pillar ¡°What is it, your Grace?¡± Vandrick asked, but AZ ignored him and slowly lumbered over to it. He placed his hand on its surface and closed his eyes. ¡°There is a pok¨¦mon you may have heard of called Diancie. Its crystals contain a powerful energy which made the construction of this weapon possible.¡± ¡°Diancie¡­yes, I¡¯ve heard of it. I believe it¡¯s a rare form of Carbink that can create pure diamonds from nothing but air. It¡¯s been sought after by many who hope to make an easy fortune.¡± AZ was continually impressed at how far humanity had come with their knowledge of pok¨¦mon. In his age, he could¡¯ve counted on one hand the number of people who knew about Diancie¡¯s existence in the entire world. Even the existence of Carbink, rare as it was, was known only to the most skilled of trainers in his royal army. ¡°It was a Diancie that created the sundial in the place called Anistar City. It was from that arcane structure that we learned of the crystal¡¯s true power.¡± ¡°Forgive any impudence, your Grace, but if you possessed a weapon such as this, how in the world were you ever imprisoned?¡± AZ¡¯s hand fell off the crystal. ¡°I was betrayed. By a man I thought was my closest friend.¡± He turned back towards Vandrick, and a haunted visage of rage and grief shadowed his face. ¡°He spat upon my sacrifices, slaughtered my men, and when that wasn¡¯t enough, he stabbed me in the back and handed what was left to my enemies.¡± His fist closed around a stalagmite and he tore it from the ground. ¡°And if all those transgressions weren¡¯t enough, he has the gall to shamelessly continue on the same path to this day!¡± He roared and slammed the rock into the ground. ¡°His death will sate only the shallowest depths of my rage! I will have everything that was stolen from me and more! My retribution has been paid! It¡¯s his turn, now!¡± Every deep breath and exhale caused a stream of mist to waft from his mouth. In his outburst, he hadn¡¯t even realized that every single person in the room had knelt. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We shall serve you until your revenge is complete,¡± Vandrick said solemnly. ¡°And then, we will rebuild your empire and usher in an age even greater than before.¡± He looked up. ¡°And of course, your Grace shall be king of it all.¡± AZ nodded. Yes. The Great War was just the beginning. It was naught more than a setback on my path. This era still belongs to me! Vandrick stood and joined AZ once again. ¡°The engineers will begin work on the weapon immediately, at your instruction.¡± AZ raised his hand, and trails of pink mist began to snake through the air. They cast an unseen light throughout the cavern, illuminating it even more, and Vandrick¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of them. ¡°Your Grace¡­? What is¡­?¡± ¡°A great power was bestowed on me long ago, and it was through its magic that I was able to design this weapon. My power will guide you, and grant you the knowledge to complete the weapon.¡± He lowered his arm, but the mist remained, and began solidifying, tracing through the air and flickering across the surface of the weapon. They illuminated certain components and carved their mystical instructions onto the floor and wall. The technically minded thralls seemed confused at first, but the ancient wisdom was soon communicated to them through the runes in a syntax they could understand, and their mouths dropped open in sheer awe. ¡°Even once completed, the weapon will not be ready to use. There is a reason it has not been used in all this time. It requires a key that was confiscated from my person long ago. Even a child would know that the wisest course of action would be to destroy the key to a weapon like this. But I¡¯m certain it¡¯s been protected instead. They would rather see the world burned by the weapon just for the smallest hint at where it was hiding all this time,¡± he sneered. ¡°Their hubris will be their undoing.¡± Vandrick bowed. ¡°I will scramble a strike force immediately.¡± ¡°Do as you will. But I will be the one to claim what is rightfully mine. I will lead the host personally.¡± He closed his eyes, and the location of the key became known to him instantly. ¡°Our next target is¡­¡±
Sinnoh Region - Paragon Island ¡°So do you recognize it?¡± Sylvester asked. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen it before¡­but no,¡± Anabel murmured. They were both crouched down within Sylvester¡¯s daycare, hunched over a small black creature hanging from a thin branch. Its skin was wrinkled and nearly translucent, almost like some sort of frostbitten fetus. It could¡¯ve easily fit in Anabel¡¯s palm, and it swayed gently from the branch, staring at them with glassy yellow eyes. Sylvester smiled. ¡°This is a cloakless Burmy.¡± Anabel¡¯s lips puckered. ¡°I knew it looked familiar.¡± She moved her finger to poke at it, but Sylvester gently stopped her with his palm. ¡°Burmy create their cloaks shortly after they¡¯re born, and little can stop them from doing so. Were you to hatch a Burmy in an empty room, Burmy would tear up the floorboards to cloak itself. Burmy are one of the weakest species around without a cloak, but ironically, they¡¯re at their most powerful for the few minutes it takes to create their cloak.¡± Anabel withdrew her hand. ¡°But this one¡­?¡± ¡°An experiment of mine,¡± Sylvester said, a hint of pride leaking into his voice. ¡°Some may say it was cruel, but luckily for me, Burmy seems to enjoy her nudist life quite a bit. I had Togekiss suspend her egg in midair while she hatched, and kept her there until the standard cloaking period passed. Normally, a cloakless Burmy would shrivel up and die very quickly, but I¡¯ve gone to great lengths to keep her alive.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why she¡¯s in this special room?¡± ¡°Yes, but I let the others in quite often. She¡¯s quite social,¡± he smiled. ¡°Charmeleon especially, surprisingly. He¡¯s extremely careful around her. He spends quite a bit of time lowering his body temperature and diminishing his tail flame before even entering. Anomalous behavior for such a proud species, to say the least.¡± I want her, Anabel thought, but instinctively dashed the thought from her mind. One of the bad habits she¡¯d picked up after spending so long at the Battle Frontier was coveting the rarest and most unique-looking pok¨¦mon. Those were what sold at the Frontier, after all, and despite the fact that she¡¯d left the Frontier years ago, she still had a bit of a Brain¡¯s brain. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan for her?¡± Anabel asked. ¡°Up to her,¡± Sylvester said, lifting a handful of ground-up pok¨¦mon kibble up to her to allow her to feed. ¡°Though having my other pok¨¦mon interact with her isn¡¯t just an exercise of socialization. I¡¯m curious about other cloaks besides the usual plant, sand, and steel ones. ¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the cloaking period already passed?¡± ¡°Yes, but who knows? Perhaps she¡¯ll take a liking to something she sees.¡± He stood up and stretched his legs. ¡°Thanks for coming by, as always.¡± ¡°Of course! I always learn something new here,¡± Anabel grinned. ¡°So, any progress on your assignment?¡± Sylvester asked, picking up his bucket and heading out of the small forest-themed room they were in. Anabel followed, and as they passed back into the main room, the temperature dropped slightly, and the wind from the exposed outside caressed her face. She hadn¡¯t realized it before, but now it was clear by comparison just how regulated the climate of Burmy¡¯s little room was. A glass door hissed shut behind them. ¡°Unfortunately, nothing concrete yet,¡± Anabel sighed. ¡°A lot of the newspaper was burned in the escape, so there¡¯s soot all over the remnants we were able to recover. It¡¯s been slow work removing it all without taking off the ink that¡¯s left with it.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like an enviable task. Do let me know if there''s anything I can help with.¡± ¡°Thanks for the offer. But for now it¡¯s just a matter of patience.¡± They headed to the front of the daycare, and Sylvester unlaced his apron and tossed it on a shelf beside the door before walking outside. ¡°Well, I think I¡¯m going to get started on lunch now.¡± ¡°Sandwiches with that aioli again?¡± Anabel asked, clapping her hands together. Sylvester smiled. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want. I suppose there¡¯s nothing wrong with eating the same thing three times a day, for a whole week.¡± ¡°Thanks, Syllvy!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s either that or Sylly!¡± He sighed. ¡°Whatever you say, madam.¡± After they got back to base, Anabel split off to one of the padded holding cells that had yet to ever be used to hold a prisoner, where her pok¨¦mon were hard at work on the mission assigned to them. It was the most sterile environment on the island and made a excellent workspace for the task at hand. She walked downstairs to the basement floor and passed several training rooms and battle arenas before arriving at the row of cells. Her pok¨¦mon perked up at her arrival, but did not let her appearance disrupt their work. In the corner of the room stood Sophia the Decidueye, keeping a watchful eye on the other two. Sophia was Anabel¡¯s newest partner, captured a few years ago in Alola. As her only pok¨¦mon who had never known the Battle Frontier life, Sophia was calm and reserved, as she¡¯d never needed to develop a taste for the theatrics. But she did get fidgety when she wanted attention. At Anabel¡¯s feet sat Magic, the red gem on her forehead shining with a light that bathed the whole room in scarlet. At her trainer¡¯s arrival, Espeon¡¯s power died down, and she turned and purred happily, nuzzling against Anabel¡¯s leg. Anabel leaned down and scratched behind her ears, and Magic purred in bliss. In the center of the cell, barely able to fit, hovered the hard worker of the group, which wasn¡¯t saying much considering how little the other two were doing. Sakura¡¯s eyes glowed, and she didn¡¯t look up at all even as Anabel stepped carefully around the newspaper fragments to stroke her wing. Psychic power poured from her eyes, painstakingly pulling individual atoms of ash from between the fragile fibers of the newspaper and placing them in a small pile beside it. Once Sakura the Latias had a goal within her sights, there was little that could stop her from achieving it, besides her own sloth. Anabel watched her work silently for several minutes. She couldn¡¯t even see the soot coming off the fragments, but it certainly looked a bit cleaner than it had before they started. All of a sudden, Espeon yipped, and Latias¡¯ eyes flickered to correct the mistake. Anabel smiled. They made a great team. Sakura had the power to perform such meticulous work, but Magic¡¯s perception was unparalleled. As a master of the elements, she could tell what was soot and what was paper, and was preventing them from accidentally destroying what little evidence they had by verifying every single atom Latias touched before she moved it. ¡°Lunch time, Sakura,¡± Anabel said softly. ¡°C¡¯mon, you deserve a break, babe.¡± Another minute passed before the glow in her eyes faded and she turned to face her trainer. She beamed and flew closer, and Anabel brushed her nose against Sakura¡¯s. Anabel had had apprehensions about nicknaming a legendary pok¨¦mon, but in the end, it didn¡¯t feel right to treat her differently just because she was considered ¡°legendary¡± by human standards. Plus, she didn¡¯t want to create any sort of artificial isolation from the rest of her team. And, at the end of the day, she loved her nicknames. She was the only one in Paragon, somehow, who named her pok¨¦mon, but she wore her affection for them on her sleeve. Sophia gurgled as she stalked out of the cell behind them. She had a habit of making sounds like that, lest anyone forget she was a scary ghost-type. Anabel turned around and smiled, ruffling the feathers on her head, and Decidueye fixed her with a satisfied glare. Latias ambled through the halls excitedly, while Espeon and Decidueye followed at a slower pace. When they arrived back at the dining hall, Sylvester was just finishing putting the finishing touches on their sandwiches, and before long, he brought them over, along with a couple bowls of pok¨¦mon kibble. Anabel may not have made a distinction between legendary and not, but Sakura¡¯s appetite certainly did. She refused to eat pok¨¦mon kibble, and instead, placed herself at the head of the table where Sylvester had prepared a third sandwich for her. She picked it up gently and bit into it. Surprisingly, Sylvester wasn¡¯t all that impressed with Latias when he¡¯d first met her. Anabel¡¯s reputation as Hoenn¡¯s Salon Maiden had preceded her, even to a man like Sylvester who lived in Sinnoh and wasn¡¯t interested in competitive battling, and he¡¯d already seen her in numerous battle clips posted online. Though he did marvel at her initially, he seemed to decide that he wasn''t missing much beyond what he¡¯d already seen of her in her many recorded matches at the Frontier. He seemed to only be interested in pok¨¦mon that could breed. Although Anabel was never the glamorous type, the fervor of the Frontier was a difficult feeling to forget so soon, and she¡¯d grown accustomed to being showered with praise because of her teammates. It¡¯d taken a few long years for her to deflate her ego and adjust back to a normal life. Or whatever this was, at least. When they finished lunch, Anabel sent her pok¨¦mon back to their work, but as they were heading back, Latias caught sight of Cresselia and flew off to her. Best friends, they¡¯d become, after meeting, and no less than an hour had passed before Sakura left the moon pok¨¦mon and finally got back to work. Meanwhile, Anabel headed to her room to update the others on her progress, but after arriving there, she found updates from the others instead. Sabrina had learned some more about Zagreus, and N and Zinnia were still sweeping through rural Kalos. But it was Cynthia¡¯s message that caught Anabel¡¯s eye. ¡°The World Champion met with Ash alone? Why?¡± Anabel murmured as she read the message. She frowned, and as her mind started working, she left her room to inform her companions of the new developments. It wouldn¡¯t be long until all of AZ¡¯s secrets were in the light. Anabel smiled. Things were going well. Next ¡ª Chapter 18 : Warpath
Anabel¡¯s Nicknames Sophia - Decidueye Magic - Espeon Sakura - Latias I hope you don¡¯t mind a few nicknames. It¡¯ll be an interesting challenge for me as well, but I¡¯ll be sure to repeat the names alongside the species often so we don¡¯t forget. And as stated in the chapter, Anabel will be the only character nicknaming her pok¨¦mon.
Remnants of the Great War [9] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [9] Chapter 18 : Warpath
Northeast Sinnoh - International Police Black Site Steven Stone exhaled into his palms and shivered. Despite being so close to an active volcano, the nights outside Stark Mountain were freezing. The black basalt that made up the mountain¡¯s exterior was thick, and insulated the volcano¡¯s heat within itself. However, that didn¡¯t stop the unceasing drizzle of ash that blanketed the entire area in a dull gray mist. Away from the light pollution of the cities and towns on mainland Sinnoh, a mirage of stars glistened in the heavens above, and Steven took a moment to appreciate the sight. Of course, he was here on business, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t enjoy this assignment for what it was. Unlike most of the others here, he knew about AZ¡¯s breakout from the World Prison. He¡¯d gotten briefed along with all the other Champions, and they¡¯d since been dispersed across the world to oversee the protection of various places of interest, until the monster could be contained. Of course, first, he¡¯d have to be located. Something Cynthia was apparently working on. He shook his head and breathed into his hands again. Really, this should¡¯ve been her out here in the cold, this was her region after all. The new World Champion had just held a celebration for himself, and to Steven¡¯s chagrin, he had to decline the invitation in order to be here. Yet somehow Cynthia had found the time to have a drink in Saffron. AZ is supposed to be in Kalos somewhere, did you forget? Unfortunately, Cynthia seemed to be like all the rest. She used her Championship title to pursue her own lavish lifestyle. Steven was no different, but at least he had the courtesy to make appearances where he was expected to. More the fool he was, perhaps, for stubbornly sticking to his inflated sense of responsibility. He knew for a fact Lance probably just sent a few of his elite trainers to deal with his assignment. Same for Diantha. Unova and Galar¡¯s Champions were so young he wasn¡¯t even sure they¡¯d been given assignments. Steven turned away from his cliff of observation and buried his hands in his coat¡¯s pockets. Ah, well. Complaining never does anyone any good. This world has never been fair. Steven knew that more than anyone. He¡¯d been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, as the heir to the Devon Corporation. For years, he¡¯d been groomed for his pok¨¦mon journey, and when he finally set out, the media watched his every move as if they were making a reality show. Later, he found out that¡¯s exactly what his family had paid them to do. By the time he earned his eighth badge, his Championship was practically a given. It was only thanks to his depthless charisma and handsome visage that every trainer in Hoenn didn¡¯t take up arms against what was, in essence, a completely rigged conference season for the year. As he paced along the cold grass back toward the mountainside facility, his mind emptied of all his many worries. He¡¯d been patrolling this base for nearly a month, and the monster had never once shown himself. Once this week was over, he¡¯d be free of this wretched duty to return to Hoenn and continue his equally mundane duties over there. Champion life wasn¡¯t all it was cracked up to be, but Steven was an adult. Life wasn¡¯t all it was cracked up to be, but he enjoyed it for what it was, mundane or otherwise. Perhaps that was the Stone in him. A boring world meant a peaceful world, and that was what the Devon Corporation strived for every day. As he approached the facility, a pair of International agents nodded at them, and quietly radioed their fellows to let him back in. The structure was built into the side of the mountain, and smooth walls of nondescript concrete were the only evidence it was there. It was just one of many secret facilities, built by Interpol to hold dangerous artifacts and pok¨¦mon. Apparently, the Heatran in the nearby Stark Mountain acted as a warden against any trainers who got a little too curious about what may be over here. Steven entered the facility and finally removed his hands from his pockets. Luckily, the interior was temperature controlled, and come morning, the air conditioning would be on to counteract Heatran¡¯s awakening. As he walked, he passed numerous heavy vault doors, all containing things even he knew nothing about. There weren¡¯t many people here, and at this hour, Steven ran into no one. The halls were dark, illuminated only by a band of dim orange lights that ran across the ceiling. Though Steven knew not to mistake the silence for weakness. Beneath the facility rested a battalion of Solrock and Lunatone, who powered a constant shield over the structure and tracked the movements of everyone in or near it. And they never slept. ¡°Quiet again, Mr. Champion?¡± came a gruff voice from the lounge. A portly man dressed in Interpol¡¯s standard uniform sat in the shadows sipping on a glass of cheap whiskey. ¡°Captain. Yes, nothing to report.¡± ¡°Heh heh. I told you. Nothing happens out here.¡± ¡°Tell the Board,¡± he sighed. ¡°Drinking alone this late? Shall I pour myself a glass and keep you company?¡± The captain snorted. ¡°Just finishing what I have left. You can take your pretty arse to bed. I can hold down the fort for the rest of the hour.¡± ¡°Suit yourself. I¡¯ll leave it to you, Captain.¡± The captain raised his glass and Steven walked away to the quarters he¡¯d been provided. Just a few more days, he thought as he climbed into bed and flipped off the lights. He awoke just two hours later to a piercing alarm blaring throughout the entire facility. The sound of heavy footsteps running through the hallway outside told him this was no false alarm. After dressing himself quickly, he grabbed his belt of pok¨¦mon and threw open his door. Steven seized an agent running past by the collar and slammed him against the wall. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he growled. ¡°P-Perimeter breach, sir. The southern entrance is under attack.¡± ¡°By who?!¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± the man stammered. ¡°The only orders we¡¯ve been given is to reinforce the entrance.¡± Steven let the man go, and he raced away with a fearful look in his eyes. Steven would never say it aloud, but most of Interpol¡¯s agents were complete imbeciles, good for little more than pencil-pushing. The League cultivated far better trainers. Steven pushed through the current of bodies racing down the hall, opting instead to head toward the main control center. Hopefully he¡¯d find more answers there. When he arrived, surprisingly, he found the captain leaning on a pair of seats in front of surveillance terminals. An array of monitors and screen flashed in front of them, and he seemed to be studying them all at once. Other agents tapped away at other terminals, speaking in hushed but frenetic voices. ¡°Captain,¡± Steven said, walking up beside him.¡± The captain turned, and Steven noticed black bags under his eyes. The man looked exhausted. ¡°Ah, Mr. Champion. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.¡± ¡°Perhaps I should¡¯ve joined you for a drink after all.¡± ¡°Not unless you wanted to look as shit as me,¡± he drawled. ¡°They¡¯ve been hammering against the shield for several minutes now. It¡¯s holding, for now. Not sure for how much longer.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve contacted World Command already, I assume?¡± ¡°I may be shit-faced but even I can manage that much. They¡¯re talking to the League, trying to scramble a team to get over here. Elite Four Lucian is briefing the eastern gym leaders, but they won¡¯t arrive until morning. They already tried teleportation, but the enemy covered their bases and has some sort of ward against it.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Something that sophisticated already goes beyond any defense we can muster here.¡± Steven scowled. ¡°So we¡¯re on our own then.¡± ¡°Heatran¡¯s on its way,¡± the captain shrugged. ¡°We should be able to hold the place once it arrives.¡± I wish I was that optimistic. ¡°Is it him?¡± ¡°No visual on the prisoner yet, but it¡¯s a likely bet. The attackers are all masked, so not sure on their identities.¡± Steven pursed his lips. So we¡¯re the lucky ones, then. What did we do to deserve the honor? And more importantly, what exactly is he here for? ¡°I¡¯ll head out to the southern entrance. No telling when the shield will come down.¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll come with you. Keep an eye on those cameras! Watch the other entrances! Any word from the League or Interpol, I wanna know about it!¡± he barked at his subordinates. Then, turning back to Steven, he said, ¡°alright, let¡¯s go.¡± The halls were empty now, and the two men made for the entrance hall quickly. When they got there, a horde of other agents were already stationed at their side, their pok¨¦mon deployed and ready for battle. A screen on the wall showed the onslaught from outside; a battalion of pok¨¦mon and masked trainers stood in a semicircle around the entrance, firing attacks at it with abandon. Each one that landed shook the facility and sent gravel falling from the ceiling. Ten minutes later, a seismic shattering blasted through the entrance hall, and the assembled agents cried out as a flood of smoke suddenly poured into the hall. ¡°That¡¯s the shield!¡± the captain growled. He pulled out a pok¨¦ball and released a Houndoom. Steven released his Claydol, whose otherworldly eyes pulsed as it absorbed the situation around it with mechanical accuracy. ¡°Clear this smoke.¡± As if grabbed by some invisible hand, the smoke in the hallway parted around them, and slowly disappeared, filtering away into thin air. ¡°Captain, pay no heed to this Champion¡¯s words if you wish, but in all my years of battle, I¡¯ve learned that one of the greatest defenses is a strong offense.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The captain grinned. ¡°Heh. Aye, we¡¯ll follow your lead. Men! Prepare to attack!¡± His Houndoom¡¯s tongue rolled over its hellish lips as steaming saliva dripped to the floor. Steven glanced at the monitor and saw the attackers slowly advancing toward the now unprotected entrance. He clenched his fist. ¡°Claydol, Psyshock now!¡± Claydol shuddered as it charged its power, then a constellation of glowing orbs appeared around it, before shooting forward into the door. It blasted through, and on the screen, Steven could see them hit several of the pok¨¦mon and their trainers. But the surprise wouldn¡¯t keep them down for long. ¡°Charge, men!¡± the captain roared, and he and his agents tore through the now open entrance. The black night came alive with the flash of elemental attacks and the din of furious commands. Steven strode through the wreckage slowly, his gaze sweeping over the scene of battle. Where are you, AZ? Claydol floated ahead and began fighting on its own. A trio of sharpened Stone Edges shot from the ground and tossed a Pyroar into the sky, and a stray Shadow Ball sent a Meowstic barreling over the edge of the cliff, leaving its trainer in a daze of rage and confusion. As it worked, Steven¡¯s eyes fell upon one of the attackers who, like him, did not partake in the melee. Instantly clocking them as the leader, Steven moved forward to engage, and the figure seemed to do the same, pulling a pok¨¦ball from their cloak. The figure released an imposing Golurk, who towered above the others, and Steven quickly ordered Claydol back to his side. ¡°Who are you?¡± Steven demanded. ¡°Where is your leader?¡± ¡°Champion Steven,¡± a man¡¯s voice said. ¡°Don¡¯t make the mistake of thinking you¡¯re the only one who was raised from birth for battle. Golurk, Shadow Ball!¡± Fine, don¡¯t answer my question! ¡°Psybeam! Aim for its center seal!¡± Four rippling orbs of darkness hovered into existence around Golurk and shot toward Claydol, but it swiveled out of the way like a mad marionette, and fired off a crackling ray of energy. Golurk crossed its arms in front of it, but the beam tore through his arms and hit its chest. Golurk groaned and pitched backward. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let up! ¡°Psychic, Claydol! Toss it over the edge!¡± As it fell, an indigo sheen engulfed Golurk, and despite its massive frame, its heels began dragging against the grass as it skidded backward towards the cliff¡¯s edge. ¡°Into the air, Golurk, then Shadow Punch!¡± Golurk¡¯s feet ignited, and it shot into the sky on two blazing rockets. Claydol¡¯s control shattered around it, and the ghostly automaton turned in the air, then plunged down toward Claydol. Steven¡¯s eyes widened. It¡¯s fast! ¡°Iron Def¡ª!¡± Before Steven could finish his order, Golurk¡¯s fist, wreathed in darkness, smashed into Claydol, sending up a spray of grass and soil. The hole in its wrist did nothing to mitigate the damage, and Steven scowled. Claydol picked itself up from the crater, but its eyes flickered weakly. Damn it! I need to take it down before it starts getting in everyone else¡¯s way. All around him, the attackers were beginning to press forward towards the entrance. Their pok¨¦mon were on another level compared to Interpol¡¯s agents. ¡°Grass Knot! Destroy it from the inside!¡± Thick vines burst from the ground and wrapped around Golurk¡¯s legs and arms, and it groaned. More stalks grew from the earth and snaked their way up into its torso and inside its feet. Several vines lashed across its shoulders and reburied themselves in the ground, and Golurk¡¯s legs trembled as it tried to keep itself on its feet. ¡°Hyper Beam!¡± Steven¡¯s eyes widened, and even Claydol turned back, fearing for its trainer¡¯s safety. Golurk struggled to raise its arms, as more vines pulled them to the ground, but it ripped them free, and a searing power began burning in its palms. Faced with no other option, Claydol diverted its attention from the attack and weaved a barrier of energy between Golurk and Steven. Without missing a step, another vine, thicker than all the rest, skewered Golurk through its midsection, and it let loose an ethereal roar. The basins of energy in its palms wheezed, and Golurk launched them forward. A black shaft of blinding darkness screamed through the air and engulfed Claydol, and Steven ducked behind the Protect just in time. Steven could feel the heat from the attack, just inches away from him, but the shield held. When the smoke cleared, Claydol lay in a blackened heap on the ground, and Golurk stood on its knees unmoving, its lights now darkened. ¡°Hmph,¡± was all the man said as he recalled his pok¨¦mon. Without hesitation, he threw out another one, and a brilliant Talonflame appeared in a flash. Steven recalled Claydol as well and whispered words of thanks before replacing its ball on his belt. To his left, the captain¡¯s Houndoom was battling two attackers at once, but he didn¡¯t look like he¡¯d last much longer. On his right, their perimeter had nearly been pushed back to the entrance, and it was only a matter of minutes before they broke through. I can¡¯t let him keep me stalled here. We still don¡¯t know where AZ is. Steven reached around and pulled a chrome red pok¨¦ball from his belt and tossed it forward. Jirachi materialized into the air, flitting around without a care. ¡°A mythical pok¨¦mon,¡± the leader said. ¡°How typical. But steel is weak to fire. Even children know that.¡± The flames of battle cast a shadow over Steven¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°Prayer of Armageddon.¡± Jirachi froze, and its glassy eyes slid over to Talonflame, its entire attention suddenly focused on it. The grand bird shivered in fear, and took an involuntary step back. A wish, written on one of Jirachi¡¯s tags long ago, suddenly glowed a fierce orange, and the tag burned away. Jirachi¡¯s eyes turned into pits of darkness so black it hurt to look at them. Without a word, it raised its arms. The night sky, dark and silent, began to stir, like the ocean before a great tsunami. Lightning lanced across its roiling surface, and a dull glow slowly started to spread beyond the gray clouds. As the seconds passed, it became brighter and brighter, and several of the attackers and Interpol agents paused their fighting to witness the anomaly. Then, something breached the clouds. A meteor streaming white fire tore across the sky with a keening song, and the song soon became a duo, then a trio, then a quartet. The entire mountain seemed to shake as it traveled, falling ever closer to earth with each passing second. ¡°Take your men back inside, Captain,¡± Steven said. The captain stared at the sky in awe, before nodding. ¡°Aye. Fall back, men!¡± he roared, casting one last glance at Steven before disappearing inside. The attackers cried out in a maddened frenzy and mounted their pok¨¦mon, bolting off the cliff as fast as they could. To his credit, the leader stood firm, as did his Talonflame. Steven¡¯s eyes seared from the barrage of hellfire, but he did not avert his gaze. When the meteorites impacted, the sky turned white, and Steven¡¯s clothes billowed outward. Now, he shielded his eyes. Wind gusted around him, and the meteors seemed to melt through reality, releasing a hissing suction as they pumped their endless power into their one singular target. But when the light finally faded and Steven¡¯s eyes adjusted back to the darkness, Talonflame¡¯s master still stood, as did it. ¡°What?!¡± Steven stammered. ¡°How¡ª!¡± Standing before him was the tallest man Steven had ever seen. His long white hair blew in royal braids around him, but his attire was simple and beaten. His arm was stretched above his head, and a moment later, the shield he¡¯d conjured over his subordinate faded into the darkness. He was able to stop Jirachi¡¯s strongest attack?! And so easily?! ¡°Flare Blitz.¡± Before Steven was finished processing what had happened, Talonflame streaked through the air and slammed into Jirachi, fire licking across its body. ¡°No!¡± Jirachi cried out as it was suddenly catapulted backward into the mountainside, cratering it where it landed. Shockingly, it didn¡¯t move. Talonflame landed back beside its trainer, and seemed to smirk So powerful! But he¡¯s still just a follower! The real threat is¡­ After confirming Jirachi¡¯s instantaneous defeat, Steven recalled it and slowly turned back to AZ. ¡°The reports don¡¯t do you justice, sir,¡± he breathed, and a nervous smile cracked across his face. ¡°You are enormous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Steven Stone, the Champion of Hoenn,¡± AZ intoned. ¡°What master do you serve?¡± Damn you. ¡°I serve no master.¡± ¡°Playing guarddog of your own volition, then? Very well. Come and fall, Champion.¡± Steven sneered, and his fingers closed around the pok¨¦ball containing his strongest partner. This was the time. He disabled its limiter and brushed his finger against a mega ring on his finger, then hurled his pok¨¦mon forward. A silver Mega Metagross whirled into being, as tall as AZ. Despite weighing over a ton, it floated above the ground with ease, but its mere presence crushed the blades of grass beneath it against the dirt. ¡°You¡¯re a monster,¡± Steven whispered. ¡°I won¡¯t let you butcher anyone else! Meteor Mash on the giant, Metagross!¡± Metagross hummed, and golden light churned across its four hooves. Slamming them together, Metagross shot forward faster than the eye could follow, spinning as it did. You can¡¯t protect yourself from this! Not even the legendary Rayquaza could stand up to Metagross¡¯ full power Meteor Mash! Purple light bled out from Metagross¡¯ core, and the living comet smashed into AZ. Blinding light erupted from the impact, and Steven shielded his eyes from the fallout. It took several seconds for the light to fade, and when it did, Steven squinted at the results. The man hadn¡¯t budged an inch. With a single outstretched hand, he¡¯d stopped Metagross in its path. Metagross continued to exert itself against the man, and his arms trembled, but to no avail. ¡°Im¡­ possible,¡± Steven muttered. ¡°Just what the hell¡­?¡± He shook his head and his face contorted into a glare. ¡°Get out of there, Metagross!¡± Metagross screeched, but it didn¡¯t dislodge itself from its position either. Steven almost yelled again, but then he realized. The man hadn¡¯t just stopped his pok¨¦mon, he¡¯d caught it; his hand gripped the steel plates on Metagross¡¯ head. AZ¡¯s eyes blazed with fury, and he tightened his grip. Metagross screamed in agony, but he wasn¡¯t finished. Twisting his humongous frame, he swung Metagross around his body, and, with a colossal roar, slammed it into the ground. Dirt and rock alike plumed up from the impact, and Steven clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his face. Something like a cough escaped Metagross¡¯ form, but after a few seconds, it made no further movements. What just happened¡­? My strongest pok¨¦mon¡­ Seemingly satisfied with his handiwork, AZ trudged around Metagross¡¯ prone form and toward the Hoenn Champion. Steven could do nothing but stare up at him wordlessly, terror pouring from his eyes. The giant stopped in front of him. Not a single hint of emotion colored his grizzled face. Steven looked down, still in disbelief at what had happened. His hands shook and his mouth opened. A single sound, a laugh if it had to be named, emptied out.
¡°Good work, Lord Vandrick,¡± AZ said, stepping over the Champion¡¯s unconscious body. ¡°I trust you can deal with the rest of the rats inside?¡± ¡°Take as much time as you need, your Grace.¡± At an unspoken cue, the strike team returned from their flight and surged forward through the cragged metal of the broken door into the base. AZ lumbered forward after them. Bangs and yells echoed through the halls as his men continued to fight off its protectors. He¡¯d already seen how they performed outside, and it was clear his men were superior. Only that ¡®Champion¡¯ had posed a noteworthy challenge, but even he was an insignificant obstacle. And he didn¡¯t even know who he served or why he was here. Trash. The lamps on the ceiling flickered at the base strained against the carnage playing out within it, and, guided by his inner power, AZ made his way through the halls until he came upon one of many heavy vault doors lining a certain hallway. He placed his hand on the iron handle and tore it from its hinges, tossing it behind him with a deafening crash. The room beyond was dark and metal shelves containing a myriad of synthetic crates sat in rows, no doubt holding artifacts of untold power or rarity, but AZ passed them all without a care. Beyond a laser-protected pane of glass lay a black container, and AZ did not hesitate to smash through it. The lasers smoked harmlessly against his skin, but he destroyed them with a couple more punches nonetheless. Now, he could withdraw the container safely. Snapping off the locks, he lifted the lid. On a bed of some soft material lay the key, just as polished and pristine as he¡¯d left it. AZ couldn¡¯t help but smile as he lifted it from its nest, before discarding the container unceremoniously. It was a large key, bronze with a dark ruby embedded in it, and a heavy chain attached to its head. It was the literal key to his three thousand year old vengeance. AZ heard footsteps behind him. ¡°Your Grace. The facility has been cleared.¡± He ignored Vandrick and lifted the key, and the chain it was attached to over his head and gently placed it around his neck. Its weight was a welcome comfort. It was proof of his victory here, however meager. But more would come. Many more. ¡°Yes,¡± AZ said, turning. ¡°Let us go. There is still much work to be done.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 19 : Closing In
Remnants of the Great War [10] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [10] Chapter 19 : Closing In
12 hours before AZ¡¯s raid ¡°Here you go,¡± Cynthia said, placing a cup of coffee down in front of Ash and sliding into the seat across from him. They were in a cafe in some hotel in Saffron¡¯s downtown, and had a private room all to themselves, away from prying eyes. Cynthia kept track of all such places in every major city, in case she ever needed a quick pick-me-up and a quiet place to think. Ash hadn¡¯t asked for a coffee, yet she¡¯d brought him one out of courtesy anyway. He was a lot more interested in the danishes on a plate between them. ¡°Thanks,¡± Ash said, pulling one onto his plate. He broke off a piece for Pikachu with his fingers and fed it to him, then helped himself to a bite. Cynthia took a sip of coffee and pulled out her laptop, already typing and clicking away. After finishing whatever she was doing, she pushed it aside and pulled off a piece of her own danish. Ash eyed her as he chewed on his pastry. Be wary of your friend Cynthia, Albrecht had said. In the moment, Ash had thought he was alluding to the Paragon Organization, but on the way here, his mind had wandered through a more suspect forest of thinking. Albrecht¡¯s tone betrayed concern. He¡¯d mentioned the other Champions and the sorts of ventures they pursued on the side, yet he¡¯d singled out Cynthia as unique. If nothing else, he clearly knew that her ¡®venture¡¯ was a slightly bigger deal than the others¡¯. And he¡¯d told Ash to be careful of her because of that fact. To be fair, Cynthia herself had said the same thing to him when she¡¯d invited him to join Paragon. She¡¯d told him his life would be in danger, and it only took his first mission for that promise to pan out. But was Albrecht¡¯s warning as simple as that? Ash¡¯s instincts told him no. Albrecht distrusted Cynthia herself. But as for whether or not that meant he thought she was wholly dishonest, or simply engaged in secretive work, Ash couldn¡¯t say. For now, he¡¯d table his suspicions. One conversation, even with a man like Albrecht, wasn¡¯t nearly enough to get him to turn on Cynthia. Albrecht was far more suspicious, all things considered, and Ash had a feeling it wouldn¡¯t be long until he found himself in the World Champion¡¯s presence again, whether he wanted to be or not. ¡°So, what do you think of him?¡± Cynthia asked, covering her mouth as she chewed. How to answer that? Ash thought. Of course he¡¯d been thinking about that too ever since he¡¯d parted ways with the World Champion, but keeping secrets wasn¡¯t his forte, especially from his friends. ¡°He seems alright,¡± Ash eventually said, trying to keep his tone and mannerisms as tame as possible. The fact that he had food and drink at his disposal to keep himself active, and Cynthia distracted, made the job less nerve-wracking. Ash glanced back up at Cynthia and breathed a small sigh of relief when he saw she wasn¡¯t even looking at him, instead checking her laptop screen while she enjoyed on her pastry. ¡°¡®Alright?¡¯ What¡¯s that mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ash said, with a mouthful of danish. ¡°He seems like a good man.¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes flicked over at him. ¡°Did you figure out what he wants? Why he became World Champion?¡± ¡°Er, well, he said it¡¯s been a dream of his. Actually, he said he was a pretty big fan of mine. Maybe he decided to take the plunge after I left?¡± he offered. ¡°You don¡¯t sound very convinced,¡± Cynthia said, looking at her laptop again. Ash quickly swiped his cup and took a long swig of coffee, using the cup to hide his face. He hated the taste, but loved the protection it gave him. ¡°I mean, he¡¯s still super mysterious to me. If anything, I feel like I know even less about him than before.¡± From behind his cup, he saw Cynthia sneak another glance at him. ¡°I got a similar feeling. Though for me, it¡¯s more like I didn¡¯t learn anything about him, even after talking to him. Almost like he was making an active effort to keep his true self hidden.¡± She took another sip of coffee. ¡°What¡¯d you guys talk about?¡± ¡°Nothing much. We talked a bit about AZ.¡± ¡°And?¡± Albrecht had said AZ was a Platebearer, which meant he held enough power to destroy the entire world. Under any other circumstances, Ash would¡¯ve been spilling that info to anyone and everyone who¡¯d listen to make absolutely sure he¡¯d be stopped. Except that he was also a Platebearer, and according to Albrecht, one of the few who could actually do something against him. That had cultivated a burning sense of responsibility in Ash¡¯s gut, but he didn¡¯t even know how to call upon his power yet. That was what stopped him from telling Cynthia the truth about the true danger of AZ, despite the steel fingers of guilt digging into his stomach. ¡°He called him a monster,¡± Ash finally said. ¡°And he thinks the League and Interpol are getting ahead of themselves trying to kill him before they even understand where his inhuman powers come from.¡± ¡°Did he offer any solutions?¡± ¡°Er¡­no.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Cynthia let a silence fall between them as she continued munching through her danish. When she was almost finished, she turned back to Ash. ¡°So after everything, you think he¡¯ll be cooperative for whatever we need him to do once this AZ thing kicks off?¡± Maybe, if I agree to go with him. ¡°Yes.¡± Cynthia frowned and leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs. Then she nodded slowly. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll trust your judgment.¡± Then she quickly leaned forward again to type something out with her clean hand. ¡°What¡¯ve you been working on, by the way?¡± ¡°Sorry, I know it¡¯s rude. Interpol¡¯s filling me in on what the other Champions are up to. And Sabrina¡¯s been messaging me about Zagreus. She doesn¡¯t like to talk on the phone,¡± Cynthia smiled. ¡°Seems like the Guardians are being a little stubborn with the details, but this Zagreus you encountered may be like AZ. Another remnant of the Great War.¡± ¡°He¡¯s thousands of years old too?!¡± Ash grit his teeth. Is he a Platebearer too? That would explain why he was going after the one in Mount Coronet. No, wait. He was injured when we first saw him. Albrecht said Platebearers could injure each other, but I doubt he would¡¯ve taken that much damage from merely touching it if he really was a Platebearer. But then, what does he want? ¡°I just said it¡¯s a possibility. Most likely it¡¯s someone else adopting the name. It is slightly concerning, but his crimes are nothing next to AZ¡¯s. No offense, since he attacked you, but attempted murder and excessive destruction of the natural world are kind of below Paragon¡¯s scope. For now, I think I¡¯ll have Sabrina finish up with them, then hand the Zagreus situation over to Interpol. Seems like the Guardians will be launching their own investigation too.¡± Ash frowned and took a slow bite of his danish. He would¡¯ve liked to learn more about Zagreus, but AZ certainly did take precedence. Still, the fact that Zagreus was a name from the Great War¡­after learning about the Plates, it was impossible to write off the possibility that he wasn¡¯t an imposter at all, but the real deal. Why would the Guardians not want to talk about him? Maybe he¡¯d give Riley a call¡­ No. It wasn¡¯t like Riley to hide something like that. Which meant he probably didn¡¯t know. He breathed an exasperated sigh. Oh well. He¡¯d hear about it all when Sabrina returned anyway. ¡°Anything from the others?¡± ¡°Nothing from Anabel. N and Zinnia started in southern Kalos and are sweeping their way up the region. But nothing from them yet either.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s our next move then?¡± Cynthia sighed and closed her laptop. ¡°Nothing much we can do for now until AZ makes a move. I have a few assignments on the back burner, but I¡¯d rather keep you free for whenever AZ shows up.¡± Ash smiled and nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Cynthia seemed to catch his drift and she smiled back. ¡°I already told you, I have full faith in your abilities. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be benched when the monster finally does rear his head. We¡¯ll need all hands on deck if we want to defeat the undefeatable. And I¡¯ll need you to work one of your usual Ash miracles.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Ash grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve got it! We¡¯ll be ready! Right, Pikachu?¡± Pikachu pumped his fists, ignorant of the sugar all over his mouth. Oh, I¡¯ll be ready. I promise.
Reshiram and Salamence cruised through the sky, tearing through fluffy clouds in silence as their adept eyes scanned the surface below. After cutting through a field of clouds and coming out into the open air, an ocean of autumn-hued trees and rolling verdant hills stretched out beneath them. Salamence dipped downward at the directive of its trainer, and Reshiram followed. They plunged down through the sea of trees and planted themselves back on the ground, away from any prying eyes or curious gazes. Zinnia climbed off her Salamence and stroked its neck as she circled around in front of it, while N slid off of Reshiram¡¯s back. The great white dragon flexed its wings, and its turbo-tail began to glow a harsh orange. The moment N was out of its way, it bulleted back into the sky, bursting through the treeline and showering the pair in deep green leaves. ¡°Wait, wait, wait, no!¡± Zinnia wailed, running over, arms flailing in vain. ¡°I wanted to check him out some more!¡± ¡°Reshiram¡¯s senses are stronger in the air without so many disruptions. You¡¯re a dragon master, you should know that too.¡± ¡°Not a dragon master,¡± Zinnia grumbled as she recalled Salamence. ¡°You refuse to call yourself one until you¡¯ve found the Great Dragon?¡± N said. ¡°Stubborn. Why did we land here?¡± ¡°Aster found something,¡± Zinnia replied, already pushing her way through the underbrush, leaving N to catch up behind her. A small Whismur sat on Zinnia¡¯s shoulder, much like Pikachu on Ash¡¯s, though unlike her bombastic trainer, Aster seemed to be pretty shy, and stayed in her pok¨¦ball most of the time. ¡°Found what?¡± N asked, jogging up next to them. ¡°If I¡¯d known you¡¯d found something, I¡¯d have kept Reshiram with us.¡± Zinnia scowled, and N could virtually hear the dammit echoing out of her mind, but her pride kept her from admitting her defeat out loud. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just something weird. Here,¡± she spat, tossing him a pok¨¦ball, and he caught it. ¡°That¡¯s Altaria. If you¡¯re worried about being defenseless.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried,¡± N deadpanned. ¡°If we¡¯re in danger, Reshiram will return in a flash. But thank you.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? I thought he wasn¡¯t talking to you or something? Ever since you found him again after all that Team Plasma shit.¡± ¡°Yes, it was that way until recently. But I had a change of heart, or a change in mindset, really, after that assignment in Mount Coronet a month ago.¡± ¡°That one with Ash? I guess running into a guy like that Guardian would make you rethink some things.¡± ¡°No, actually, it was before we battled Zagreus. We had to cross a nest of wild Araquanid, and even after I told Ash I couldn¡¯t speak to them, he never doubted me, not even for a moment. And for just a moment, I was able to hear their voices. After that, I spent some time with Reshiram, until I could hear its voice again too. It turned out Reshiram had speaking to me the whole time, but my guilt dampened my senses and left me deaf to its voice.¡± Surprisingly, Zinnia didn¡¯t interrupt with anything sarcastic or snide. Though she did tend to respect talk about dragons enough to quiet her usual fervor. ¡°Sounds like Ash is important to you,¡± she eventually said. ¡°I was pretty surprised to see you refuse a mission from Cynthia while he was asleep. I¡¯ve never seen you stand up for yourself like that.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not sure what came over me,¡± N said, turning away in embarrassment. ¡°Oh, though I guess Cynthia reacted pretty weirdly about it too. That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen her get so angry. I almost turned right around and bolted off the island right then and there. Maybe she just wasn¡¯t used to having her orders refused. No way a trip to Hoenn to talk with some breeder should¡¯ve gotten her that worked up.¡± ¡°I was out of line,¡± N muttered. ¡°But I was just so worried about Ash.¡± His demeanor shifted and he suddenly turned back to Zinnia. ¡°You were the only one there when he woke up, right? I hope you didn¡¯t curse him out too badly.¡± ¡°Tch!¡± Zinnia scoffed. ¡°Of course I cursed him out! You should¡¯ve seen him at the end of it! The guy was damn near crying and begging for forgiveness from the great Zinnia! Lucky for him, I¡¯m a merciful woman!¡± N sighed. ¡°Ah well, I suppose that was too much to hope for. He was worried that might happen.¡± Zinnia exhaled loudly and slouched. ¡°Just kidding.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± N stepped around a bush with leaves tipped in some sticky white sap. ¡°So what did Aster find?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some ruins outside the town that Aster got some bad vibes from.¡± ¡°Hmm. I wonder why Reshiram didn¡¯t pick up on it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Aster! She specializes in good and bad vibes! Apparently the energy around the ruins are oddly muted. Normally, ruins like that should have some crazy old energy floating all around it, but Aster says there¡¯s something weird about it. Almost like there¡¯s something there that¡¯s messing up the natural flow.¡± ¡°Maybe just a wild pok¨¦mon? Or a powerful trainer passing through?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that she senses something unusual. It¡¯s like she doesn¡¯t sense the usual unusual energy you¡¯d expect to be there. Almost like the ruins are fake or something.¡± They emerged from the forest, and the wind brushed their hair over their faces as they gazed at the scenery before them. Aster¡¯s lips puckered and she pushed herself against Zinnia¡¯s neck. Geosenge Town lay before them, bordered by imposing boulders that snaked beyond the town limits and curled atop a hill to the north. ¡°Or,¡± N said. ¡°The ruins are real. And the energy is there. But it¡¯s hidden.¡± ¡°And why would it be hidden?¡± Aster tittered nervously on Zinnia¡¯s shoulder, like she had made a mistake and missed something she should¡¯ve caught. Zinnia calmed her by stroking her cheek, and she glared at N. ¡°Perhaps an unintended consequence,¡± N said, and his eyes sharpened as they always did when he began to speak of human evil. ¡°Of deliberately hiding something of far greater energy within the ruins. Like an immortal man, perhaps?¡±
Reshiram continued to patrol the skies for the rest of the day, staying beyond the clouds to hide itself from prying eyes. Meanwhile, N and Zinnia ventured over to Geosenge, and after getting some direction from the locals, headed up to the nearby ruins they¡¯d glimpsed from afar. Aster stayed on Zinnia¡¯s shoulder the whole time, much to Aster¡¯s chagrin, but she was their guide to a certain extent. Zinnia peppered her with incessant positive affirmations the entire journey, to the point where even N started to wonder if it was doing more harm than good. Nevertheless, they made it to the ruins without incident. There were only a few other people with them, a pair of elderly locals, and a couple of young trainers scattered throughout the tall grass in the middle of training. Dark boulders with simple chiseled lines stood like trees on the lush hill, and Whismur¡¯s ears actually perked up once they got closer. ¡°Take your time, Aster,¡± Zinnia coaxed, gently lowering her to the ground. Aster padded over the ground slowly, stopping and turning every so often as its ears reacted to minuscule changes in the flow of energy throughout the ruins. ¡°Hmm, never seen her this turned around,¡± Zinnia murmured. ¡°These ruins don¡¯t seem to be particularly special,¡± N said. ¡°According to the locals, these stones were likely used as primitive sites of worship for local human and pok¨¦mon tribes long ago. The energy imbued here shouldn¡¯t be substantially different from others like it.¡± ¡°Aster¡¯s never been wrong.¡± But even after searching around until sundown, they found nothing out of the ordinary, beyond the mysteriously missing energy. Zinnia and N themselves didn¡¯t poke around too much, as there was nothing they would find that Aster couldn¡¯t detect, so they played the role of tourists, gleaning what they could from the stones and local chatter. Which wasn¡¯t anything that even hinted at AZ¡¯s location. Initially, this seemed like a likely hideout, given how rural it was, but ultimately, they had to return to town empty-handed. Aster was uncharacteristically animated about wanting to continue her search, but Zinnia¡¯s patience had run thin. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on the ruins. Reshiram is keeping watch as well,¡± N said. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me,¡± Zinnia grumbled. ¡°Something is weird about those ruins, and I don¡¯t want to move on until we figure out why either.¡± They returned to the forest across the valley and ate fruit from the supermarket in town as they watched. Aster ate an oran berry as she gazed across the valley, but her eyes never left the horizon, and N found the scene quite comical and cute. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t start a fire,¡± N said as it started to get cold. Zinnia glared at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping outside since I was a kid. Call Reshiram back if you want some body heat.¡± N smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Three hours later, Aster chirped, but there was no need for it. N saw it too. ¡°There.¡± He paused. ¡°There,¡± he poked Zinnia. ¡°I¡¯m awake!¡± she croaked. ¡°Oh¡­!¡± Dark silhouettes milled about the ruins, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. And one towered over the rest. ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± Zinnia breathed. ¡°But where¡ªah!¡± A sudden flash lit up the valley for half a second, but it vanished as soon as it appeared. And once it did, the ghosts were gone. ¡°Where did they go?!¡± Zinnia demanded, sitting up. ¡°Wait,¡± N said, throwing his hand out to stop her from storming off. ¡°This confirms that AZ was the cause of the strange disturbance in the ruins after all. If he¡¯s gone, then¡­¡± Aster shivered and shook her head furiously. ¡°She says nothing¡¯s changed. The energy is still displaced!¡± ¡°Then whatever or whoever is causing it is still there. And whatever it is, they¡¯re in league with AZ.¡± Zinnia clenched her fist, and even Aster seemed motivated to return to the ruins. ¡°Cynthia said not to engage.¡± ¡°Not like that¡¯s stopped you before,¡± N smirked, but he knew Zinnia was feeling a little more cautious after what happened to Ash. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s let her know what we¡¯ve found.¡± N tapped out a message on his phone and sent it off. Zinnia stared at the screen, waiting for it to light up with a response. AZ has allies, despite Interpol concluding that he received no help in breaking out of the World Prison. But if he¡¯s leaving his hideout, where could he be going, and why? A bad feeling, like molasses, slid through N¡¯s veins. We should ambush them while we can. Zinnia almost jumped as Reshiram¡¯s face peeked between them. ¡°Holy shit!¡± she whisper-yelled. ¡°Sorry, I called Reshiram back. And he knows how to keep a low profile,¡± N whispered back. As if to confirm his words, Reshiram raised the temperature several degrees, then lowered it back to normal, completely masking his fiery presence. Zinnia¡¯s jaw dropped, and N was sure she¡¯d start fawning, but his phone screen lit up. Despite it being midnight in Kanto where she supposedly was, it didn¡¯t take long for them to receive a reply from Cynthia. Do not engage. Chapter 20 : Secret Training
Merry Christmas! Thank you to everyone who gave this story a chance and read this far! Remnants of the Great War [11] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [11] Chapter 20 : Secret Training
Kanto Region - Route 6 A flock of Pidgey chittered overhead and a pair of Goldeen splashed in the crystalline shallows of a nearby river. Ash walked up a grassy hill until he arrived within a large open field with a giant waterfall crashing down before him and flowing down the sides of the hill. Pikachu squealed and jumped off his shoulder to go and explore while Ash put down his belongings. There¡¯s a hill to the south of the city. The forest grows in such a way that the path to the top cannot be found except by those who already know it¡¯s there. I¡¯ve never been disturbed whilst training there, and even though we can be quite loud, no one has ever even noticed us up there either. I think it will suit your needs quite well, Mr. Ketchum. Now, once you reach the tall grass, you¡¯ll want to head southwest through the trees¡­ That was what Saffron Gym Leader Rosen had told him after Ash had asked about a quiet place to train his pok¨¦mon. After arriving here, it certainly lived up to Rosen¡¯s description, and Ash could see numerous crevices in the grass and burns across the rocks as evidence of Rosen¡¯s own training. Although Ash was here for training, the part about training his pok¨¦mon was a white lie. ¡°This is crazy,¡± he muttered after walking to the center of the field, away from his stuff. He held up his hand and spread his fingers, then turned it over to look at his palm. He certainly still looked human. And he still felt human too. ¡°Platebearers are supposed to be invincible,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± He knelt down and felt around until he found what he was looking for. He stood up with a small, sharp rock. Sticking out his pointer finger, he dragged the rock across his skin. ¡°Ah.¡± Blood beaded up from a glistening cut, and he dropped the rock and sucked on his finger. ¡°What the hell? So I can still damage myself?¡± Maybe this has to do with what Albrecht was saying about why my clothes weren¡¯t destroyed. I guess it depends on what I want. He was a little peeved he wouldn¡¯t be able to reliably test the extent of his durability, since dealing excessive damage to himself would be going a bit too far. Perhaps the Ash of the past may have done something as reckless as that, but Ash had promised to be more careful, and he intended to keep that promise. But, that wasn¡¯t the only thing he¡¯d come up here to do. ¡°So, how does this work?¡± He stretched out his arm and closed it into a fist. He said I had the Electric Plate, right? Might as well try this. ¡°Ash, use Thunderbolt!¡± Pikachu stopped his playing and perked up instinctively at hearing his command, but frowned after noticing he wasn¡¯t the one being addressed. An amused grin danced on his face. The wind whistled through the silent field. ¡°Of course it wouldn¡¯t be that easy,¡± Ash sighed. He closed his eyes and tried to feel the power within him, like he imagined some wizened master might tell him to do, but after a few moments, he still didn¡¯t feel anything strange at all. He sat down on the grass and rested his arms on his knees. ¡°Pikachu, c¡¯mere for a sec.¡± Pikachu bounded over and jumped into his lap, fixing his trainer with a confident smile. Ash smiled back and rubbed his head, then moved his fingers down to his cheek, and pinched it. Pikachu giggled and released a jolt of electricity. ¡°All your electricity is in here, supposedly,¡± Ash said. ¡°The question is, where¡¯s mine?¡± Pikachu nodded and scurried into a seated position as he rubbed his chin in deep thought. After a few seconds, he jumped up as if getting an idea, and slammed a fist on his chest. ¡°My heart?¡± Ash stood up and thrust his hand out again, this time, trying to draw his power out from his heart. ¡°Thunderbolt!¡± ¡­ Nothing. Pikachu shook his head furiously and scampered up Ash¡¯s body up onto his head. He leaned forward and put his paws on Ash¡¯s eyelids, pulling them open and peering down into them. ¡°Agh, what¡¯re you doing, Pikachu?¡± Ash winced and brushed Pikachu¡¯s hands out of his eyes. ¡°You mean my eyes? I¡¯ll try it.¡± He scrunched his eyes up tight, then opened them wide. ¡°Thunderbolt!¡± ¡­ Still nothing. Pikachu squeaked in annoyance and jumped back down to the ground. He started babbling, pointing at his chest, then Ash¡¯s, then his eyes and Ash¡¯s. Then he pointed at Ash¡¯s body. Ash frowned. ¡°Wait¡­are you saying the power of the Plate¡­is in my soul?¡± Pikachu nodded so hard Ash was afraid his head would snap off. Hmm, the Plates are supposed to be pieces of Arceus¡¯ soul. I don¡¯t really understand it, but let¡¯s give it a try. Ash closed his eyes again and raised both his arms. I am Ash Ketchum, he reminded himself. My best friend is Pikachu. And I want to be a Pok¨¦mon Master. He took a deep breath. And right now, I want a Thunderbolt to come out of my hands and strike that tree over there! Behind his closed eyes, Ash could hear Pikachu¡¯s cries of encouragement. The smell of ozone suddenly assaulted Ash¡¯s nostrils, and a great pain burned his palms. Then, a harsh flash forced his eyes open and a heavy weight seemed to burst from his hands like a copse of violent snakes wriggling to get free. Two golden columns of electricity spasmed out of Ash¡¯s palms and tore through the air, crackling and thundering. They lashed the ground, but as soon they¡¯d appeared, they were gone. The tree sat undamaged across the field. ¡°No, wait!¡± Ash exclaimed. ¡°Wait¡­wait!¡± He turned to Pikachu. ¡°Wait!¡± A smile broke across his face. ¡°I did it, Pikachu!¡± Pikachu jumped into his arms and squeaked in delight. With his stubby arms and patted his trainer¡¯s shoulder in congratulation. ¡°I mean, my aim could use some work, and before that, I didn¡¯t even come close to reaching the tree, but still! So it¡¯s true! I actually am a Platebearer!¡± Taking Corviknight¡¯s Hyper Beam point blank should¡¯ve put all his doubts to rest, but this was the nail in the coffin. He had seen lightning come out of his hands. Pikachu dropped out of his arms as Ash turned back toward his palms. They still looked completely normal, even though Ash was sure they¡¯d be blackened. What he thought was pain was actually just the electricity bursting out of his hands. It was like the electricity overstimulated his nerves, and now they were left feeling slightly tingly. He rubbed them with his fingers to soothe some sensation back into them. ¡°Well, this is a start,¡± Ash said. ¡°But I¡¯m sure something like this wouldn¡¯t even tickle AZ. I still need to become much stronger. Though now that I think about it, we might as well turn this into a training session for everyone else.¡± He reached down to his belt and pulled off nine pok¨¦balls. Ten pok¨¦mon was the number he felt comfortable carrying around, and he released them all. ¡°Time for some training, guys. But I¡¯ll be training with you this time!¡± Emboar and Feraligatr cocked their heads sideways, Crawdaunt clacked its claws, Noivern hissed, Venusaur sighed, Glalie grinned, a pair of Tauros snorted, and Gengar cackled with delight. ¡°Watch this,¡± Ash said, reaching toward the sky. ¡°Thunderbolt!¡± A bolt of lightning shot from his palm and cracked the air, before dissipating almost immediately. His pok¨¦mon fell over themselves in surprise, and Ash and Pikachu laughed. ¡°Believe me, I¡¯m still just as shocked as you all are! But as much as I¡¯d like to everyone personally about this new development, Gengar, I¡¯d like you to let everyone know what¡¯s up so they¡¯ll all be ready the next time we go to battle.¡± Gengar swirled back together and gave him a thumbs up. ¡°By the way, let¡¯s keep working on your special technique some time today. I know it may seem redundant now that I¡¯m a Platebearer, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise to rely too heavily on this power, and I¡¯m sure keeping you with me at all times will come in handy in the future.¡± Gengar snapped a salute before floating off the ground, his hand still poised on his forehead. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Great. Now, free-for-all, all of you! Last one standing gets the usual Poffin Pudding!¡± Free-for-alls were one of the training exercises they¡¯d developed to practice their decision-making abilities and battle sense against multiple enemies. It also helped develop their skills at taking advantage of the environment and leveraging their individual strengths. And the Poffin Pudding was a delicacy every single one of his pok¨¦mon had taken a liking to after Ash bought some on a whim after passing through Hearthome City in Sinnoh. He¡¯d needed to have a chat with the patissiere after that to ensure he always had some stock on hand whenever the ex-World Champion needed some more. His pok¨¦mon raced off in different directions, already firing off attacks and turning the peaceful hilltop into a war zone. After seeing them get back to it, Ash turned back to his tree and exhaled. He raised his arms again.
Hoenn Region - Mauville City Just a few short years ago, Mauville was a city like any other, with a downtown, a suburb, and everything in between. But after the mayoral election of Gym Leader Wattson five years ago, Mauville had been transformed into a fortress. Wattson¡¯s plans for the city were extensive, to say the least, and with multiple decades to think them up, he¡¯d gotten to work right away. As expected, investment had flooded the city, with Wattson¡¯s renowned genius being enough of a guarantor for a fortune-making opportunity, but Wattson¡¯s limitless imagination somehow threatened to eclipse the constant flood of funds more than once. For now, construction had slowed due only to the stalwart refusal of Evergrande to grant even one single acre of land more to Wattson¡¯s grand schemes. Nevertheless, Wattson seemed to spend more time in the neighboring cities petitioning for greater expansion rights than accepting gym challenges. Rumor now was that he was lobbying the League to allow his pok¨¦mon to run his gym and issue badges without him present. Stubborn as he was, he refused to surrender his gym leader title even while juggling his many responsibilities as mayor and countless project proposals for Greater Mauville. One of the early investors in Wattson¡¯s madness was the International Police. They¡¯d carved out a slice of prime real estate in the center of the city for their new headquarters. World Command was an iron fortress within the fortress. With its endless supply of energy, technological futurism, and army of satellites, Wattson¡¯s Mauville made the perfect location for Interpol¡¯s new headquarters. Willium Rhys, director of the International Police, walked through the pristine halls of World Command flanked by a pair of guards. He was a shorter man, though he¡¯d been taller in his younger days. He was almost sixty now, and it¡¯d taken about that long for his age to finally begin showing. His face was sharp, but his thinning hair only had a few streaks of gray. He wore a gray suit, but that was the style in Hoenn, thanks to the Stones, and his loafers clocked loudly upon the marble floor. After making his way through the labyrinth that was World Command, he finally found himself within eyesight of his office. One of Interpol¡¯s captains stood outside waiting for him, and he snapped a salute upon seeing his superior. ¡°Sir, urgent report.¡± ¡°At ease. I¡¯ll hear it inside,¡± Rhys said, opening the door to his office and motioning the captain in before him. Despite being the director, Rhys¡¯ office looked like any other in World Command. Mahogany bookshelves lined the walls, a mahogany desk held his computer and assorted other items, and a mahogany floor rested beneath a patterned carpet, the only color in the room. Rhys took his seat behind his desk as the captain closed the door behind them. ¡°Something new, I hope,¡± Rhys said. ¡°I just got out of a briefing with our forces in Kalos and they have yet to find anyone over seven feet, much less our man.¡± ¡°We have a sighting, sir,¡± the captain nodded. ¡°At a warehouse in Sinnoh.¡± He stepped forward with a dossier in hand. Rhys frowned and took it, and pulled a pair of glasses from his suit pocket. He flicked through the pages and raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head. ¡°So our greatest fears have been realized then.¡± ¡°Are you referring to the raids on our other facilities?¡± Rhys nodded. ¡°Minor incursions from a nondescript enemy. It¡¯s been a low priority till now. But if AZ is the one who¡¯s been behind them all, it changes everything. The question is what made him show up now?¡± ¡°Still unclear, sir. This raid seems no different from the others. A small strike force. Minimal damage. Only a few injuries and no deaths. And they only made off with a handful of low star assets.¡± ¡°What¡¯d they take this time?¡± ¡°A crate of gold from the Undella Sea. A bronze key from ancient Kalos. And a pair of Tyranitar set aside for the Uva Project.¡± ¡°Do we know what the key was for?¡± ¡°No, sir. Nothing of import, most likely.¡± Rhys sighed, flipping another page. ¡°And the Tyranitar were¡­?¡± ¡°Not even approved yet, sir.¡± Rhys flicked the page, finding the answer to his question right as it was told to him. ¡°And I¡¯m sure we weren¡¯t able to track them, were we?¡± ¡°No, unfortunately not. Even Champion Steven was incapacitated.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Rhys said, lowering his glasses. ¡°Champion Steven was incapacitated, sir. Apparently he engaged AZ directly at one point, but¡ª¡° ¡°What the hell was Steven doing in Sinnoh?¡± Rhys snapped. ¡°At our base, no less. Who authorized that, because it certainly wasn¡¯t me?¡± The captain gulped. ¡°Apologies, sir, I assumed you were in the know. It was the World Champion.¡± Rhys held up a hand as he flipped furiously through the dossier. The office fell silent as he read. ¡°AZ defeated the Champion¡¯s Metagross with his bare hands¡­,¡± he muttered. ¡°What else did the World Champion authorize?¡± ¡°Er, I believe Master Albrecht ordered all of the Champions to various Interpol facilities to protect them while AZ is still at large. Though Steven¡¯s was the only one of the Champions¡¯ that was hit.¡± ¡°All of the Champions?¡± ¡°I believe the young Champions of Unova and Galar were briefed but not deployed. And Sinnoh Champion Cynthia also did not receive the order.¡± ¡°I should hope so.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Rhys said quickly. He pulled off his glasses and pinched his nose in thought. ¡°Leave me. I have some calls to make. And thank you,¡± he quickly added. The captain snapped one last salute before exiting. When he was gone, Rhys exhaled loudly, then picked up his phone and dialed Cynthia. ¡°Director,¡± she greeted him after the phone rang several times. ¡°Cynthia. Have you heard the news?¡± ¡°And what, pray tell, are you referring to?¡± ¡°One of my captains just swung by to drop a dossier on my desk. AZ was spotted in Sinnoh last night.¡± There was silence on the other end for several seconds. ¡°Of course I¡¯ve heard. Is that all?¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Rhys repeated. ¡°I also just found out the World Champion sent Steven to the base AZ just hit. Apparently all the Champions got marching orders from him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not unusual. We are his Champions.¡± ¡°Are you playing daft on purpose? It¡¯d be one thing if he was collaborating with us. It¡¯s another thing entirely that he¡¯s going behind my back and sending the Champions to facilities he shouldn¡¯t even know exist!¡± ¡°I understand your frustrations, Director. But it seems the World Champion is only trying to help. He understands better than most how dangerous AZ is.¡± ¡°Level with me, Cynthia. Do you trust this man? I¡¯ve been trying to get an audience with him for a month but it seems he¡¯s too damn important to spare me any time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust him. But I have it on good authority that he can be trusted.¡± ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± ¡°It means you should be focusing more on finding AZ than worrying about what the World Champion is up to. Leave him to me.¡± ¡°And how are you doing? It seems like Paragon is making as much progress as we are.¡± ¡°As usual, your eyes are too close to the ground to see the big picture. Paragon is closer to finding AZ than you realize, Director. Please show some respect.¡± ¡°Whatever. The sooner this mess is behind us, the better. Then I¡¯ll need to have a stern talk with Warden Barke about any other thousand year old prisoners we happen to be storing at the World Prison. This whole situation is a farce to begin with. It should never have happened.¡± ¡°He¡¯s three thousand years old, Director. But don¡¯t get too excited. You¡¯re mistaken if you think AZ is the only monster on the loose in this world.¡± ¡°Well then, for now, I¡¯ll be thankful the Paragon Organization stands between the monsters and us simpletons at Interpol.¡± ¡°Thank you, Director, I¡¯ll pass your sentiments along. Now if that¡¯s all, I should go. I¡¯m running late for teatime.¡± ¡°Very well. But do feel free to call me when you have a lead. I feel like I¡¯m always the one pawing in the dark for information.¡± ¡°Oh, Director, if I called you every time I had a new lead, I¡¯d never get any work done. My friends are very good.¡± And with that, Rhys heard the line go dead, so he hung up. After putting the phone back in the receiver, he sighed and pinched his nose. The Paragon Organization was an invaluable asset to the International Police, and they accomplished nearly as much with a minuscule fraction of the manpower, but dealing with their leader was a headache in and of itself. Talking with Cynthia made him forget who was actually in charge between them two. At times, it seemed like she called more of the shots than him. Well, she¡¯d never let him down before. And when Paragon mobilized, problems disappeared. Rhys woke his computer back up and keyed in his password. Checking his email, he saw he had another slew of meetings to attend this afternoon. But a certain message in his inbox caught his attention. Or rather, the sender of said message. He frowned. What would you want with me at a time like this?
Cynthia hung up and stuffed her phone back in her pocket. Her calls with Interpol¡¯s director were always a game of cat-and-mouse, a game she, admittedly, always won. On the path to learn who really ran the world, Cynthia had become one of the shadowy stringpullers herself. Not that she felt guilty about it. There were things the director didn¡¯t need to know. And Willium Rhys was a practical man anyways. He knew she was hiding things from him, for a certainty, but he knew his role and played it well. On the other hand, his trust in her made it far easier to pull off a bluff. Paragon was moving slowly on the AZ situation, despite everyone¡¯s involvement, and now they¡¯d been taken off guard with this raid in Sinnoh. Their own backyard, no less. But her decision to keep N and Zinnia grounded in Kalos was part of a much larger gambit, one they did not even know they were a part of. Cynthia suspected Albrecht was playing his own game too. That was why he¡¯d moved the Champions. AZ¡¯s escape had switched all the ¡°string-pullers¡± into battle mode. Here was a new contender gobbling up real estate on the power market unchecked. Everyone wanted him off the board expeditiously. But they also seemed to realize his appearance would change the game forever. Cynthia herself didn¡¯t have anything concrete. But between Zagreus, Albrecht, and AZ, she could smell the way the winds were blowing, and was now acting accordingly. One wrong move, and she¡¯d lose everything. And not just Paragon. Cynthia¡¯s game was even more delicate. She knew Ash had lied to her, or at least omitted some parts, about what he¡¯d talked about with Albrecht. But somehow, she knew that what Albrecht had told him was the answer to everything she¡¯d been searching for for her entire adult life. The truth about this world. The truth about everything. Even if she needed to gorge on blood to taste the truth, she would. Next ¡ª Chapter 21 : Royal Edict
Happy New Year! The past couple chapters have been a little late because of the holidays, but we should be good going forward. I have big plans for 2024 as far as this story goes, so I hope you stick around for the chaos! Remnants of the Great War [12] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [12] Chapter 21 : Royal Edict
¡°Everything has gone according to plan, your Grace. We¡¯re on track to carry out your revenge exactly as your Grace has envisioned it.¡± AZ nodded slowly. Before him, men in metal masks operated on the mechanical power vessels that powered the ultimate weapon as outlined by his designs. The sparks that flew from their tools lit up the chamber in flashes of blue and orange. ¡°Good. When the weapon is finished, we will march on our target with all our forces in tow.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, your Grace, is there a reason we attacked so many bases? Everything we stole is little more than clutter here. I could have provided your Grace with anything we need, and at a much higher quality.¡± He glanced over at the stacks of crates that lined the sides of the room. AZ crossed his arms. ¡°Do you think so little of me, Lord Vandrick? I did not send your men to attack those vaults because I desire treasure or rare gems or pok¨¦mon. The other raids were nothing more than a ruse. The true prize was the one we stole.¡± His hand reached up and closed around the key on his chest. ¡°None of our enemies know of this key¡¯s importance. Continue the raids as planned. The more time they spend chasing ghosts, the more time we have to plan our war.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Vandrick fingered his cape. ¡°And yet I sense you have more to say, Lord Vandrick.¡± ¡°Forgive my impertinence, your Grace. But I do believe our enemies will have noted your Grace¡¯s appearance during the attack in Sinnoh. Surely this ruse will confuse them no longer?¡± ¡°Confusion is not the goal. Chaos is. So long as we continue to make inexplicable moves, our enemies will have no time to deal with us personally. We¡¯re in the eye of the storm now.¡± Vandrick nodded, his concerns assuaged. ¡°I understand now. That makes perfect sense, your Grace.¡± ¡°More importantly, do you have the man I requested ready, Lord Vandrick?¡± ¡°I do, your Grace. Among all the trainers I and my men have cultivated over the years, he is by far the most promising. A fitting choice for the duty your Grace described.¡± He beckoned with his gloved hand. ¡°Come here, Caleb,¡± he called. A young man near the weapon with sandy brown hair stood from the crouch he was in and sauntered over to the two esteemed men. A jilted grin sat on his face. ¡°Yo, Master, kept me waiting long enough.¡± His gaze traveled up AZ¡¯s towering form. ¡°Holy shit, who¡¯s this tall fuck? If he¡¯s giving you any trouble Master, just say the word and I¡¯ll take care of his old ass real quick.¡± His hand brushed the many pok¨¦balls on his belt. Lord Vandrick shivered, a shadow blanketed over his eyes. AZ cast a glance in his direction. ¡°Caleb, I believe I once told you that I was waiting for a certain man,¡± Vandrick said in a low voice. ¡°This is my master, and he is that man. Please treat him with as much respect as you show me, if not more.¡± Caleb¡¯s mouth opened and the color seemed to drain from his face. ¡°O-Oh. My mistake, sir. So sorry. I-I just never expected you of all people to¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite enough. Perhaps a proper introduction to salvage what¡¯s left of this impression.¡± Caleb opened his mouth and closed it several times, before quickly turning to AZ and bowing. ¡°Please forget everything you just heard, sir! My name is Caleb, as my esteemed Master said! Anything you need, I¡¯m your guy!¡± After a few seconds, he peeked up from his bow to check their reactions. Vandrick sighed and massaged his temples. ¡°Go away for now, Caleb. We¡¯ll talk later. Back the way you came, and of course, not a word about any of this. I don¡¯t think I need to say what the consequences will be.¡± Caleb bowed once more, sweat glistening on his skin. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± After exchanging one last nervous glance between the two men, he padded away and disappeared down one of the tunnels that branched off from the main chamber. Once he was gone, Vandrick straightened himself. ¡°My deepest apologies for his disrespectful disposition. The fault lies entirely with me. If only I¡¯d spent more time teaching him manners.¡± AZ¡¯s lips curled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so cross, Lord Vandrick. I didn¡¯t think you possessed such an emotion.¡± For half a second, Vandrick seemed flustered as he glanced over at his master, but he quickly cleared his throat. ¡°Ah, of course I am capable of anger, your Grace. I do try to temper my visage in your Grace¡¯s presence, however.¡± ¡°Hm. But this boy? This is who you bring before me? I asked for a man who could be trusted to protect this place when we set out to the war. This boy is full of pride.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Vandrick agreed. ¡°More than he knows what to do with. But I assure you, your Grace, I have full confidence that you will not find his abilities lacking. And as for his reliability, coarse as he is, he has never once failed any of my assignments.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± AZ rumbled. ¡°You sound quite proud of him yourself. Who is he?¡± ¡°He is no one. When I found him, he was naught more than a bag of skin and bones on the streets of Lumiose. But he took to pok¨¦mon battling more than any other. His prowess is unrivaled among all of our forces. Two years ago, he nearly broke into the Masters Eight at the World Championships. He placed ninth.¡± ¡°Hmm. At your command, I presume.¡± Vandrick nodded, and his eyes flashed with confidence. ¡°Of course. He could have won the entire tournament, but becoming World Champion was not in our interest, so he threw his match as I instructed.¡± ¡°Even with all that pride? Vandrick met his king¡¯s gaze. ¡°He accepted immediately when I gave the order.¡± AZ stared down at his retainer, then nodded, satisfied. ¡°Very well. He shall be given reign over the defense force. When the weapon begins charging, it will become impossible to hide this place. This place will swarm with enemies.¡± ¡°I understand. I will brief Caleb on his assignment personally.¡± ¡°Good.¡± AZ uncrossed his arms and turned back toward the weapon. ¡°World Champion,¡± he spat. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a bigger farce.¡± He frowned, remembering something from one of his knowledge absorption sessions. ¡°Before the current World Champion, there was another boy, around your ward¡¯s age, who abandoned his title the day he earned it.¡± ¡°Ah, your Grace is referring to Ash Ketchum?¡± ¡°Yes, that was the one. Ash Ketchum¡­¡± ¡°The common belief is that he abdicated his position because he had no desire to hold such an important office, young as he was.¡± ¡°Smart boy, if true.¡± ¡°Indeed. Or perhaps he had smart people whispering in his ear.¡± AZ nodded and continued to watch the work being done on the weapon. After several minutes, Vandrick turned to him. ¡°Your Grace, I believe I¡¯ve asked before so please forgive my persistence, but is your Grace sure he doesn¡¯t want a change of clothes? It would be a simple task to procure the finest silks for your Grace.¡± AZ touched his sleeve and rubbed the dirty fabric between his fingers. ¡°My answer is the same. This is fine.¡± Vandrick bowed. ¡°As your Grace wishes. I¡¯ll speak no more of this.¡± ¡°But, now that you bring it up again, it occurs to me that a warrior does not plunge into battle in his common garb. At your pleasure, Lord Vandrick. Please procure me your greatest finery before the war.¡± ¡°At once, your Grace.¡±
Ash lowered his hands as cracks webbed out across the cliff face before him. Shards of granite slipped off and tumbled to the ground with cacophonous crashes, and he shielded his face with his arm as dust blew past him. As the dust settled and the last bits of rock settled in place, he exhaled and studied the sight before him. The entire cliff face was blackened aside from cragged craters where the damaged rock had fallen away. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Ash rubbed his arms and sank to his knees, sweat dripping down his temples. ¡°Hooh, not bad,¡± he panted. They¡¯d been training all day and now, the sun above was just about to disappear behind the cliff. Ash turned to return to his pok¨¦mon. Their brawl was also finally beginning to die down. Glalie, one of the Tauros, and Crawdaunt lay slumped exhausted on the ground. Emboar and the remaining Tauros were locked in combat, and after the battering they¡¯d gotten over the past several hours, it looked like it could go in anyone¡¯s favor. Part of Venusaur¡¯s back was iced over, but he¡¯d finally caught Feraligatr in his vines, and with the last of his strength, he slammed him into the ground, knocking him out. Pikachu and Noivern weren¡¯t in the clearing anymore, but Ash had seen Pikachu latch onto Noivern¡¯s wing about an hour ago and they¡¯d both flown off somewhere. ¡°And how are you doing?¡± Ash said, walking over to the forest¡¯s edge where Gengar was practicing. His form was nearly pitch black and his arms and legs had seemed to disappear entirely. Not only that but the consistency of his body seemed to have changed. Instead of having a clearly outlined form, Gengar shimmered in the air almost like fire, like a smear of ink across the open air. For once, he wasn¡¯t smiling. He was so concentrated he didn¡¯t notice his trainer¡¯s approach until Ash was right beside him. When he saw him, his concentration broke, and his body suddenly bloomed purple again and his limbs filled out. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t mean to distract you. Looks like you¡¯re almost there though!¡± Gengar grinned and swiped at Ash with his tongue but Ash ducked to the side and smirked. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve got,¡± Ash said. Gengar nodded and scrunched his eyes closed. Within his body, the purple began to recede towards the center, bubbling furiously in resistance as it went. Gengar shuddered as the poison became little more than a pinprick within his disembodied mouth before disappearing entirely. Ash smiled and waved his hand through Gengar¡¯s forehead. ¡°Incredible work! Looks like you¡¯re taking some of your body with it though. You¡¯ll have to work on your control, but I¡¯m glad my idea was actually possible.¡± He rubbed his chin and cocked his head. ¡°I guess now all that¡¯s left to do is to practice so that you can keep it up unconsciously.¡± Gengar grinned and nodded, his body squashing and stretching comically. Then, he flew straight through Ash¡¯s body and back around to his front. Ash grasped his chest in awe. ¡°Whoa, I didn¡¯t even feel that. Normally you get nauseous when a ghost flies through you, or at least cold. It¡¯s like you¡¯re completely hiding your presence.¡± Gengar grinned proudly and he released the technique. Purple poison once again flooded his body, and his arms and legs plumed into being. ¡°Now what do you say to some dinner? The others are wrapping up too.¡± Together, they watched the rest of the free-for-all while Ash prepared dinner to the side. Emboar ended up taking out Tauros but with most of his energy spent, couldn¡¯t take out Venusaur without also going down himself. Ash was quite proud of the tenacious fire-type. He¡¯d been a Pignite when they began their training two years ago but he barreled his way up the rankings with sheer hard work and was now one of Ash¡¯s most solid fighters. Several minutes later, Pikachu shot unceremoniously to the ground, cratering it, and Noivern plunged down half a second later, but the mouse was already up and dashing around his flank, cloaked in electricity. Noivern unleashed a Flamethrower, scalding his path, but when the flames cleared, Pikachu was left nearly unharmed, his skin glinting a dark silver. After using Iron Tail for so many years, it hadn¡¯t been such a tall task to apply the same principle to his whole body to create a pseudo-Iron Defense. ¡°Alright, enough, guys!¡± Ash called. Pikachu either didn¡¯t hear him or ignored him, continuing around Noivern¡¯s body, once again wreathed in electricity. Noivern screeched and jumped into the air. Ash knew for a fact Noivern, with his stellar hearing, had heard him, and he seemed to be fleeing skyward in surrender rather than trying to keep up the fight like Pikachu was. But Pikachu would not be quelled so easily, and he shot out a bolt that narrowly missed Noivern¡¯s wing, and the dragon screeched again. ¡°I said, enough!¡± Ash roared, and a lance of golden electricity shot from his palm and impaled itself in the dirt between the two pok¨¦mon. Pikachu seized back at the sight of it and rounded on the new attacker, but upon seeing Ash, and more importantly, Ash¡¯s glaring face, the aggression melted from his body, and he grinned guiltily. After seeing Pikachu finally relent, Noivern let himself back down to earth and shook his head, slowly treading over to the ring of food bowls Ash had assembled. Pikachu scampered up Ash¡¯s body and down his arm to check out his hands. He nuzzled against them and purred, then turned to look up at his trainer and smiled. ¡°Ha ha, thanks buddy. Yeah, I made some progress too,¡± Ash said, scratching behind Pikachu¡¯s ears. ¡°I think I feel comfortable telling Cynthia about the Plates now. Now that I can control this power somewhat, I need to tell her that Albrecht thinks AZ has it too.¡± The last thing he wanted was to become a liability, especially after Zagreus, and that¡¯s exactly what he¡¯d be if he crossed AZ without at least familiarizing himself with what he could do. ¡°Go ahead and eat, buddy. I¡¯m gonna go heal up the others so they can join us.¡± Pikachu agreed and dug into his food beside Noivern, now best of friends once again. Both sported only minor injuries, and they¡¯d learned to tough it out. As long as they could eat, they were fine. Ash went to wake up his pok¨¦mon one by one, though they were actually all already awake, just exhausted and resting in place. With a bit of hyper potion for them all, they were well enough to join their comrades for dinner, and they all ate together in the clearing under the night sky. Emboar¡¯s flames illuminated their camp once it got dark and Ash noticed Gengar continuing to maintain his mono-ghost form even as they ate, and he smiled proudly as it rippled in the darkness. As he ate, Ash went through his phone for messages from Cynthia. As he read, his frown deepened. ¡°N and Zinnia saw AZ in Kalos, but then he was sighted in Sinnoh just a few hours later¡­ Sabrina¡¯s about to leave Rota¡­ Anabel¡¯s close to a breakthrough¡­¡± There were no explicit directions for him, but Ash chalked it up to one of the last lines in the message. Interpol warehouses have been getting raided all week and AZ¡¯s appearance in Sinnoh confirms he¡¯s behind all of them. That was concerning, to say the least, but clearly Cynthia wanted to be able to deploy him in the most effective way. Though N and Zinnia had apparently found him, and Cynthia had told them to standby and just continue running reconnaissance. Be wary of your friend Cynthia. Ash shook Albrecht¡¯s words from his mind. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Cynthia is obviously just playing the long game. Nevertheless, not having something to do was starting to make Ash antsy, and he hoped something would change soon, be it on Anabel¡¯s end, or N and Zinnia¡¯s. But, no use worrying about it now. After finishing several protein bars, Ash patted his stomach, satisfied. He checked the time on his phone. ¡°Hmmm, it¡¯s about that time. The others should be here soon.¡± As if on cue, they heard a rustling in the forest on the blackened cliff, and several forms emerged from the darkness. Upon seeing the meager camp below, they jumped off the cliff and hurried over. ¡°Hey! Lucario! Annihilape! Dragonite!¡± Ash greeted them. Annihilape bounded over and pulled back his fist to launch a punch. Ash quickly put up his hand to catch it, and he grinned as the fist impacted. Annihilape snorted, but before he could throw another, Dragonite bopped him on the head. As Annihilape¡¯s target changed and they began to tussle in the background, Lucario strode passed them and bowed at Ash. We have returned as instructed, Master. ¡°Thanks, Lucario. No problems on the trip over?¡± None, unless you include the tremendous effort it took to tear Annihilape away from our quarrel with the Articuno we were training with. Ultimately that led to him challenging every Pidgey and Rattata we encountered on the way. I must say his astonishing lack of intellect confounds the mind. I confess I did not even know it was within the realm of possibility for¡ª ¡°Glad to hear it. Mount Silver can be tough to navigate this time of year but it sounds like there wasn¡¯t any trouble.¡± Johto was relatively close and the Tohjo Supercontinent was the only land mass to hold two regions, so the trek to Kanto would¡¯ve been easiest for these three. Through orders from Gengar at Ash¡¯s behest, they¡¯d started their journey this morning, but after a full day of travel, none of them even seemed close to tired. Such was the strength of some of his strongest partners. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re switching out again as planned. Feraligatr, Noivern, and Tauros, your turn for Mount Silver. See how far you can get against that pod of Lapras in the underdepths.¡± The gator, dragon, and pair of bulls nodded in affirmation. ¡°Feel free to leave tomorrow morning if you want, but we¡¯re probably gonna head out tonight. I want to get back to Paragon Island as soon as possible.¡± After socializing a bit longer, Ash packed up camp and recalled his pok¨¦mon. The four pok¨¦mon he was leaving behind bid their farewells and trekked off into the forest in the direction of Mount Silver. The Tauros were unruly and Feraligatr was no navigator, but Noivern would be able to scope things out from above, so Ash had no worries about them getting lost. With the moon high in the sky, Ash clambered into Dragonite¡¯s arms. ¡°We really need to find a more flattering way for me to travel,¡± he sighed as he settled into a comfortable position.¡± For all the pok¨¦mon he had, he didn¡¯t have a single psychic type, much less anyone that could teleport. He¡¯d maintained a strict ¡®no new pok¨¦mon¡¯ rule for the two year training in order to focus on his existing partners, so flying was still his fastest mode of travel. He¡¯d brainstormed several funky ideas like more ghost-type shenanigans with Gengar, or Terastallizing all of his Tauros into psychic-types and somehow turning them into a network of teleporters, but ultimately, none of them had panned out. Maybe now that he knew he was a Platebearer, he could turn to the Electric Plate for a solution. Those thoughts and more swam around Ash¡¯s mind as Dragonite tore through the skies over Kanto.
¡°I expect you not to embarrass me any further.¡± ¡°Of course, Master! Best behavior only! I¡¯m telling you, I swear I had no idea that guy was so important.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call his Grace, ¡®that guy.¡¯¡± ¡°Sorry, Master! Man, this is exciting though! To think your master would personally request me to go with him on his important journey!¡± ¡°I do not question his Grace¡¯s judgment. If he deems you ready, then you shall go. Though I believe this is nothing more than an observatory trip. His Grace wants to study the battlefield before the war breaks out, but there will be no fighting yet.¡± ¡°Hey, no way. Don¡¯t tell me you''re jealous, Master.¡± ¡°Enough, Caleb. His Grace is coming. Remember.¡± ¡°I know, I know, sheesh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you, Caleb.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 22 : Ash Ketchum vs Founder AZ
Remnants of the Great War [13] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [13] Chapter 22 : Ash Ketchum vs Founder AZ
Kalos Region - East of Geosenge Town Zinnia whistled as she walked, Aster perched on her head, the sunlight cutting through the canopy to cast a jade glow over her. Spring in Kalos was quite pleasant, and a refreshing change of pace from the always windy Draconid Village hidden beyond Meteor Falls. Of course, her journey as a Lorekeeper and her quest for the Great Dragon had taken her all across the world, but she never stayed in one place for too long. She and N hadn¡¯t taken their eyes off the ruins ever since they¡¯d spotted AZ. They¡¯d moved from their initial spot and were now looking down on the town from atop a cliff. But so far, the reconnaissance had yielded no further results, despite them taking turns sleeping to keep up the watch. When Zinnia returned to their makeshift camp, her Altaria, left to guard the camp, fluttered over to her and sniffed at the basket of berries in her hand, and she grabbed a handful to feed the majestic bird. Two camouflage tents sat facing each other, and N sat between them facing Geosenge. ¡°Yes. Nothing to report. We haven¡¯t seen AZ at all since last night.¡± N was on the phone and Zinnia furrowed her brows upon hearing him. They locked eyes, and N thumbed the screen to turn on speakerphone. ¡°Hmm, interesting. Well, there¡¯s been yet another raid on an Interpol facility but no sighting of him there,¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice came through. ¡°So far, you two have found our biggest lead.¡± She sighed. ¡°He¡¯s moving far quicker than Interpol expected. Far quicker than I expected.¡± ¡°Cynthia,¡± Zinnia scowled. There was a pause. ¡°Is that Zinnia I hear?¡± ¡°Damn right.¡± She stomped over to N and crouched down so her face was right next to his phone, and he grimaced. ¡°Why the hell won¡¯t you let us get closer? There¡¯s only so much we can do just staring at the place. Obviously AZ has a base there so we should break in and see what¡¯s going on!¡± She¡¯d had her reservations initially, but after hearing that AZ had personally attacked a facility in Sinnoh, Zinnia wanted nothing more than to break in as soon as possible. They were right here! Cynthia¡¯s sigh crackled through the phone. ¡°Negative. Keep your distance. The last thing we need is you two walking straight into a death trap.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t even know we¡¯re here!¡± ¡°They will if you start snooping around the ruins again. You don¡¯t even know where or how to get in, if they do have a base there. And we still don¡¯t know what his ultimate goal is or even why he broke out of prison in the first place. Until we know at least that, I will not even consider an attack on one of Kalos¡¯ oldest historical sites.¡± ¡°Historical sites?! He killed a hundred Interpol agents with his bare hands!¡± ¡°And what makes you think he can¡¯t do the same to you?¡± Cynthia snapped, but Zinnia turned away and crossed her arms, and did not offer another response. ¡°Anyways, back to what we were talking about,¡± Cynthia said after a few seconds. ¡°The raids on Interpol¡¯s bases have been minor but persistent. As of now, we can¡¯t find anything that makes the one AZ showed up to any different from the others. If AZ truly does have a hideout beneath Geosenge Town, then it¡¯s absolutely imperative that you two stay hidden and continue observing from afar. That¡¯s the only way we may be able to catch him off guard.¡± ¡°I understand, Cynthia,¡± N said. ¡°But if I may, I do agree with Zinnia, to a certain extent. We saw AZ leave the ruins with a number of others through some sort of teleportation. But they appeared again in Sinnoh far too quickly. I don¡¯t know of any pok¨¦mon capable of teleporting such a distance. And then there¡¯s the fact that he and his cohorts never returned, or at least, we never saw them return. But Aster still senses a suspicious lack of ancient energy in the ruins, suggesting that this hideout is still in use. I believe it would be in our best interest to begin a search for other entrances to the base. Whatever is going on within the ruins is still happening, and at the speed AZ is moving, it may be unwise to allow this to continue.¡± Cynthia stayed silent on the other end for nearly a minute, clearly in thought. ¡°Fine,¡± she finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll allow it. But you two are to remain hidden. I¡¯ll say it again. Our top priority is gathering intelligence. Is that understood?¡± N nodded. ¡°We understand.¡± There was a pause. ¡°Zinnia?¡± ¡°Whatever, sure, yeah, fine,¡± she mumbled. ¡°We¡¯ll update you with intel as we get it,¡± N said. ¡°Likewise. The situation is fluid at Interpol though so don¡¯t expect¡ª. Ah, sorry, I¡¯m getting a call from Ash. I have to go, I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± Before they could get in goodbyes, she hung up. Once she did, a silence fell over their camp. Zinnia fell backwards onto her Altaria¡¯s back and sighed loudly. ¡°About time. What the hell¡¯s her problem? It¡¯s like she doesn¡¯t think we¡¯re capable or something.¡± ¡°I do wish you¡¯d treat Cynthia with a little more respect.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zinnia sat up and glared at N. ¡°What¡¯s this now? You¡¯re taking her side? I know she gave you a second lease on life or whatever, but that¡¯s not gonna stop me from stating the obvious.¡± As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she seemed to regret them, and she blushed and turned away. ¡°Actually, never mind. Sorry.¡± N looked away in embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I agree with you that Cynthia¡¯s being uncharacteristically apprehensive. Everything about this AZ situation is strange. For one, it¡¯s the first time so many of us have all been assigned to the same issue. And for another, it almost feels like Cynthia is waiting for AZ to act instead of wanting us to stop him before he can do whatever it is he wants to do.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯s helping AZ?¡± ¡°Of course not. I fully trust her. Which is why I believe all this caution is the hardest on Cynthia. Something is compelling her to keep us grounded. Whether she¡¯s worried about our safety or juggling concerns we aren¡¯t aware of, I¡¯m not sure. For now, I think we should do what she says.¡± Zinnia nodded glumly. She hadn¡¯t picked up any of that herself, but then again, she¡¯d never exactly been the most perceptive when it came to other people. ¡°But,¡± N said. ¡°If this keeps up for too long, I wouldn¡¯t be opposed to breaking ranks and seeing what¡¯s in those ruins for ourselves once and for all.¡± Zinnia grinned and jumped up. ¡°Ha, that¡¯s more like it! Now, c¡¯mon! Let¡¯s split up and start looking for those other entrances. I¡¯ll go north, you go south!¡± ¡°Slow down, Zinnia, let¡¯s work out a more detailed plan¡­¡±
Alola Region ¡ª Heahea City Cynthia hung up and quickly answered Ash¡¯s call. ¡°What is it, Ash?¡± ¡°I found AZ!¡± Cynthia stopped in her tracks. At this hour, the streets of Heahea were barren, and Cynthia nearly shouted. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡­found AZ!¡± he panted. ¡°Where are you?¡± Cynthia demanded, ducking into a nearby alley. ¡°Still in Kanto! Outside Saffron! He¡¯s heading north through Mt. Moon!¡± ¡°You have a visual?¡± ¡°Not now! I can¡¯t talk for too long! MIght lose him!¡± ¡°Wait, Ash! Don¡¯t engage! It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I already called Sabrina and she¡¯s on her way over from Rota!¡± ¡°Hold on, Ash! You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re getting into! Has he seen you yet?¡± ¡°No! At least, I don¡¯t think so!¡± He paused, and Cynthia heard nothing but breathing for several seconds. ¡°I gotta go, we¡¯re about to enter the mountain!¡± ¡°Wait, Ash, don¡¯t¡ª¡° She heard a click and the line went dead. ¡°Damn!¡± she cursed as she squeezed her phone and reared back against the side of the alley. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind, each one more morbid than the last, but she dashed them away with a jerk of her head. He¡¯s already been humbled once. I just hope that was enough for him to exercise more caution this time. Cynthia took several deep breaths and stood up straight again. She needed to update the rest of Paragon immediately. As she tapped out her message, a thought passed through her mind that made her blood run cold. If Albrecht had put Ash up to this, or if he¡¯d said something during their conversation that pushed Ash to pursue AZ, then maybe caution wouldn¡¯t be the first thing on his mind. In which case, he was heading into extreme danger. She prayed Sabrina would make it to his side in time.
Kanto Region - Mount Moon Mount Moon was dark, but the white granite of its walls looked silver in the torchlight. Ash cruised through the cave on Dragonite¡¯s back and they raced forward without any regard for the wild pok¨¦mon giving them stares from the darkness. It happened while they were flying east. A sudden jolt, like magnetism, and Ash had been alerted to AZ¡¯s presence instantly. It was like he¡¯d been jumpscared, and he nearly fell out of Dragonite¡¯s arms. It was a strange feeling to know exactly where he was, and even stranger that he knew it was AZ, despite not having actually seen him. Unfortunately, it was a lie he¡¯d told that he¡¯d actually found AZ. He actually didn¡¯t have a problem telling her about the Plate now that he¡¯d gotten a handle on it, but it was much too long a story to tell over the phone while they were in pursuit of AZ. Nevertheless, he was certain AZ was here. But the part about calling Sabrina hadn¡¯t been a lie. She sounded groggy when she answered, so she must have already gotten into bed for the night, though luckily, she¡¯d decided to spend the night at Cameran Palace. She was even less responsive than usual on the call, but Ash¡¯d heard her say she was on her way, so that was the best he could hope for. AZ¡¯s presence gleamed like a light in Ash¡¯s consciousness. It reminded him of the time he¡¯d worn Sir Aaron¡¯s gloves at Cameran Palace and he¡¯d started to see the Aura within people and pok¨¦mon. Now, it felt like AZ¡¯s Aura was a comet, streaking through a field of lights that were far dimmer by comparison. Or maybe a black hole was more apt. His presence was so great, he engulfed the others around him. Ash urged Dragonite to move faster through the caves, and his partner complied. As they flew, Ash started to think strategy. At the moment, the nine pok¨¦mon he had seemed like far too few to challenge AZ. Even if Sabrina arrived in time, this was a man who¡¯d survived the Great War. Ash wasn¡¯t so dense as to think he¡¯d be able to bring a man like that down after a mere afternoon of training with the Electric Plate. But it would be on Ash to deal the damage. All of his pok¨¦mon would need to play support roles, and Sabrina¡¯s too, he reckoned. He wasn¡¯t sure if AZ was susceptible to her psychic attacks, but after three thousand years in the World Prison, surely it¡¯d already been tried. Lucario and Dragonite would be his heavy hitters, which in this case meant distracting AZ enough so that Ash could get close. Glalie and Venusaur would be responsible for immobilizing him. With any luck, he¡¯d still be susceptible to the cold or paralyzing spores. Pikachu would be helping him. He was the electric expert after all, and in the heat of battle, there was no telling what Ash would or wouldn¡¯t be able to pull off. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. When the mountain¡¯s exit came into sight, Dragonite didn¡¯t slow down at all and burst through back into the cold night air. The stars danced above the dark forest and Ash raced between the trees. They moved in near silence despite their speed, with Dragonite long having mastered the wind and storm. In a violet flash, Sabrina appeared beside them, hovering through the air to keep their pace, her wrist gauntlets spinning. Ash nearly yelped in surprise, and seized closer to Dragonite to stabilize himself. ¡°AZ¡¯s ahead?¡± Sabrina asked as she floated alongside him. ¡°Yeah. Not sure what he¡¯s doing here but he¡¯s up ahead. How did you find me anyway? Lucky you didn¡¯t teleport right on top of AZ.¡± ¡°I sensed you,¡± she said quickly. ¡°How did you find AZ?¡± ¡°Long story. Tell you later.¡± Sabrina looked over at him but said nothing. After several more minutes of flying, Ash slowed Dragonite down until they stopped, and he gently disembarked and recalled the dragon. Sabrina let herself fall too, and her gauntlets slowed and dimmed. He crouched down behind a bush and Sabrina did the same. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sabrina whispered. ¡°We¡¯re close.¡± They crept behind a line of bushes, the trees above sheltering them from the illuminating moonlight. They were far from any civilization this far north, but that only made their stealth all the more imperative. In the dead of night, even the smallest sound would give them away. After five painstaking minutes, they reached a small hill that led to a cliff. Ash laid down and peered over the edge. Far below, beneath the rippling sea of black leaves, he saw movement. ¡°There,¡± he whispered, pointing, and Sabrina craned her neck beside him. ¡°Let¡¯s split up. I¡¯ll head down here. You head around. We¡¯ll strike at the same time and pincer him.¡± Sabrina nodded and crept back the way they came, disappearing into the darkness. Just before he started his descent, Ash noticed a flash deep in the forest behind him where Sabrina had teleported. Smart on her to keep her distance before teleporting so the flash wouldn¡¯t give them away. Once she was gone, he released Glalie and grabbed its horns. It floated over the edge of the cliff and dropped down without a sound. Ash recalled Glalie and crept through the underbrush. The people he¡¯d seen were just up ahead, beyond the ever-thinning line of trees. His heart hammered in his chest. AZ was here, right in front of him, amidst the darkness. The images of his massacre at the World Prison flashed across Ash¡¯s vision. I won¡¯t let him kill anyone else, he vowed. As the grass began to shorten and thin, Ash slowly lifted himself from the ground and snuck behind a tree. Just ahead lay an open clearing, and the figures had stopped on the other side of it. They spoke in normal voices that sliced through the silence of the forest. ¡°Just a few more crates and we¡¯ll be done,¡± a man¡¯s voice said. ¡°Keep it moving. His Grace won¡¯t be pleased if we keep him waiting.¡± ¡°Hey, where¡¯s that new guy anyway? I haven¡¯t seen him at all tonight.¡± ¡°You mean that kid? Who knows? Somewhere around us, I¡¯m sure. Not much except Caterpie in this forest, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s bored.¡± ¡°I just hope¡ª oh, your Grace!¡± Ash peeked out from behind the tree ever so slightly, and his eyes widened. A man of breathtaking height with long, tangled white hair stood between the two men, who were both kneeling. Several large crates sat next to them, but they looked small next to AZ. A wrinkled cap shadowed his eyes, making his gaze impossible to discern in the dark. Ash shuddered and he began to sweat involuntarily. ¡°These are the last ones, your Grace,¡± one of the men said. ¡°Excellent.¡± His voice sounded like the crash of waves during a furious storm, and Ash clenched his fists. ¡°Have you received word from Lord Vandrick, your Grace? The hour is almost upon us.¡± ¡°He has been in contact. Be ready to depart when the time comes. In the meantime, ensure all preparations are complete.¡± ¡°At once, your Grace!¡± AZ remained standing between them, and the men seemed unsure if they had permission to rise. But after a few moments, they did, and began lifting one of the crates together. AZ didn¡¯t move. ¡°Your Grace?¡± one of them said in confusion. The wind swept AZ¡¯s locks across his face and he stood with the resoluteness of a tree. ¡°Go on ahead. We¡¯re being followed. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Ash¡¯s blood froze in his veins and black spots blossomed across his vision. He suddenly became hyperconscious of how loud he was breathing. Pikachu stiffened on his shoulder, and he clutched at the tree for support. Damn it! Of course! If I can sense him because he¡¯s a Platebearer, then that means he should be able to sense me too! ¡°Your Grace, please allow us! Do not¡ª¡° ¡°Enough. Leave us.¡± The men nodded and scurried away as fast as they could, carrying a crate together. AZ made no move, simply crossing his arms behind his back ¡°Please come out. Let me see you with my eyes.¡± Ash grit his teeth. No choice now. I¡¯ll have to do this alone. He peeled himself off the tree and stepped forward beneath the moonlight. Beneath the cowl of darkness, Ash saw AZ frown. ¡°A Platebearer?¡± he rumbled. He chuckled and shook his head. ¡°So you truly have betrayed me, then.¡± His eyes flicked up and snared Ash¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re AZ,¡± Ash said. AZ rolled his head on his neck. ¡°I¡¯ve been told that¡¯s what I¡¯m called now. So be it. I am AZ. Have you come to kill me, Platebearer?¡± Without realizing it, Ash had moved his hand to his belt. AZ stood across the clearing, quite far from him, yet the danger that radiated off of him felt so hot it nearly burned him. ¡°I¡¯m here to stop you,¡± Ash said. ¡°Oh?¡± AZ raised a brow. ¡°State your name, then. I¡¯ll know who you are before I send you back to the cosmos.¡± Ash glared at him and gripped his pok¨¦ball so hard his knuckles turned white. ¡°Ash Ketchum.¡± AZ raised a brow. ¡°Ash Ketchum,¡± he repeated. ¡°The former World Champion.¡± That surprised Ash. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me?¡± ¡°Only recently.¡± AZ stretched his arms out from behind him and flexed his fingers. ¡°Who sent you here, Ash Ketchum?¡± ¡°No one!¡± Ash yelled. A mocking laugh escaped AZ¡¯s lips. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. If you¡¯re here to stop me, now is the time.¡± He crouched down and raised his hands, and his tongue fell across his lips. ¡°You don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been keeping myself tame. It¡¯s been so hard to keep from killing. And it¡¯s been even longer since I¡¯ve seen a Platebearer!¡± Ash exhaled shakily, his body overflowing with adrenaline. His eyes scittered across AZ¡¯s body, looking for a weakness. You¡¯ve got this, Ash! he thought. Without another word, Ash hurled two pok¨¦balls forward and Lucario and Dragonite burst out, elemental attacks already glowing on their speeding forms. ¡°Force Palm and Breaking Swipe!¡± Ash roared. They struck simultaneously and AZ didn¡¯t even have a chance to defend himself. The air appeared to crack as Lucario¡¯s palm slammed into AZ¡¯s shoulder, and Dragonite¡¯s tail burned with black energy as he connected with AZ¡¯s torso. AZ bulleted backward into the forest, snapping trees with the sheer velocity of his body. Aura wafted off Lucario¡¯s outstretched hand and red electricity snapped off Dragonite¡¯s tail. Half a minute later, AZ returned, stalking through the forest with a grin on his face. He appeared undamaged. As expected. But I need to get him used to my pok¨¦mon¡¯s attacks before I make a move. Ash pulled two more pok¨¦balls off his belt and released Venusaur and Glalie at his sides. ¡°So this is a ¡®trainer,¡¯¡± AZ mused. ¡°Very well. Show me more, former World Champion!¡± ¡°Extreme Speed, both of you!¡± His pok¨¦mon disappeared and reappeared at AZ¡¯s sides, before slamming against him in a blaze of slashes. Lucario and Dragonite were so adept they could attack the same opponent with Extreme Speed without hitting each other. That was just one thing they¡¯d worked on during the training. AZ grunted as his body was forced in opposite directions. His legs buckled and he collapsed to the ground once the assault finally let up. ¡°Now!¡± Ash yelled. Countless vines snaked out from Venusaur¡¯s back and a jagged line of ice cut across the clearing and devoured AZ¡¯s torso. The vines curled around AZ¡¯s body and tightened until he looked like a cocoon, with only his head still exposed. Glalie¡¯s ice seeped between the many layers of vine, cold enough to cause frostbite, but Ash was sure he¡¯d be just fine under there. Dealing damage wasn¡¯t the point, though. ¡°Impressive,¡± AZ smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t think there was a man alive in the war powerful enough to command two pok¨¦mon at once, let alone four. Perhaps you are worthy of being called the World Champion.¡± Venusaur screeched as his vines began to snap, and AZ started to rise. Suddenly, an effulgent light blasted out from his body and lit up the clearing, and Ash shielded his eyes. When the light faded, AZ was free, and the remnants of Venusaur¡¯s vines lay in burnt cinders on the ground. ¡°I think I¡¯ve given you long enough.¡± He turned to Dragonite. ¡°I¡¯ll start with you.¡± Dragonite snorted, but before he knew it, AZ was upon him. His fist cracked against Dragonite¡¯s torso, but despite being the same height, Dragonite flew backwards with an agonizing roar. He disappeared past the trees into the forest, but after a few moments, he made no indication he¡¯d be returning. Ash grit his teeth, sweat trailing down his face. Dammit! With just one punch, he¡­ AZ¡¯s baleful glare glowed black in the moonlight, a bloodthirsty grin on his lips. ¡°I bear the Fairy Plate. For a trainer like you, surely that should be enough for you to understand.¡± The Fairy Plate! So he is a Platebearer! Of course he targeted Dragonite! Ash¡¯s eyes swept over to Venusaur and Lucario. Does that mean he¡¯s weaker to poison and steel? His eyes narrowed. Either way, I have to strike soon. ¡°Pikachu, I have a plan, but I need your help.¡± As he relayed his instructions, Pikachu nodded and jumped off of his shoulder, ready for battle. ¡°Alright! Sludge Bomb, Venusaur! Drench the whole clearing! Lucario, hold him! Give it everything you¡¯ve got!¡± The massive flower on Venusaur¡¯s back opened and the air above it shimmered as if it was on fire. A purple mist began to drift out of it, before a deluge of thick poison shot skyward and arched back down toward AZ. The giant grit his teeth and moved to dodge, but Lucario leapt behind him and wrapped his iron arms under AZ¡¯s, locking him in place. AZ snarled as he lurched back, but he slipped on the newly frozen soil beneath his feet, courtesy of Glalie. AZ fought to free himself, but against Lucario¡¯s martial arts, he could not break free, and his struggling almost seemed to solidify Lucario¡¯s hold. Just before the poison impacted, Lucario released him and rolled away, then somersaulted over him back to Ash¡¯s side. A gleaming shield of Aura opened around them, and the poison rushed past them in a wave. Within a mass of poison, AZ groaned and stumbled. The poison was thick and stuck to him like honey, and he clawed at his eyes in order to wipe it away. Soon however, he simply clenched his fists, and another blinding explosion engulfed his body. When the dust settled, he stood in a blackened circle, the poison at the edges burned and congealed. But Ash was no longer in front of him. ¡°Thunder Wave!¡± he heard behind him, but before he could turn, electricity flooded his body, and suddenly, his body was unresponsive. I can¡¯t move?! What is this? AZ could barely muster enough strength to turn his head, and he narrowed his eyes. Electricity swirled around Ash¡¯s fist as he flew toward AZ. An azure glow outlined his figure, and AZ looked past him to see Lucario siphoning his Aura into his master¡¯s body. Ash¡¯s Thunder Punch connected with AZ¡¯s jaw, and both of them fell to the ground. ¡°Now, Thunderbolt!¡± Ash roared, and AZ¡¯s eyes widened as bolts of electricity began to dance on Ash¡¯s form. The clearing erupted in a brilliant flash and bolts of lightning cracked the heavens and sizzled outward from the epicenter. A titanic thundering rolled through the forest as Ash expelled everything he had into the assault. AZ trembled beneath him, and he screamed in fury. Only when his bones began to hurt and his eyes began to dry did Ash abate, and when he did, a pair of vines wrapped around him and quickly pulled him away from the monster. Venusaur placed him and Pikachu back onto a frozen platform Glalie had created, since the poison still soaked the clearing. Ash fell to his knees, breathing heavily. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± he wheezed. Pikachu squeaked in concern beside him, but Ash brushed him off, craning to see the results of his attack. AZ heaved himself off the ground and steadied himself with his hands. He rose slowly. Ash squinted. His eyes were still adjusting back to the darkness so he couldn¡¯t see too well, but AZ was clearly still conscious. Across the clearing, AZ raised his head. A trickle of blood was dripping from his nose, but before Ash could take any satisfaction in that, their eyes locked. AZ¡¯s murderous gaze seared through him and Ash swore they looked red from how much hatred they contained. He shivered, as did Pikachu beside him. ¡°I was going to wait until the war to destroy my enemies. But I think I¡¯ll have you die now.¡±
Sinnoh Region - Paragon Island ¡°Finally,¡± Anabel said as she stared down at the completed newspaper before her. Sakura was dozing in the corner, but Magic still had enough energy to nuzzle her leg. She crouched down to get a closer look and rubbed Espeon¡¯s head. Each sheet lay side by side, stitched together with Latias¡¯ psychic power. When Anabel reached forward to lift the first page, her fingers felt a warmness imbued. Luckily, they¡¯d been able to restore some of the ink enough to make the text barely legible, and the pictures barely viewable. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see,¡± she murmured. ¡°What was such a big deal that you¡¯d throw away three thousand years of free sleep?¡± She scanned the first page, then the second, then the third. But all of it contained nothing but mundane articles. The next page she looked at was actually the front page, and large letters sat across the top, nearly faded, but still readable. A picture lay beneath the title of the article, and she started reading. After coming across a certain sentence, Anabel frowned. Then her eyes widened as she remembered the last message she¡¯d received from Cynthia. Ash had found AZ and was meeting up with Sabrina to engage him, against Cynthia¡¯s orders. ¡°Oh no¡­,¡± she breathed. Anabel shot to her feet and recalled Magic. Latias woke up at the sound of her alarm and she chirped in concern. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sakura!¡± Anabel shouted and she raced out of the room. Upstairs, she ran into Sylvester, who smiled initially, but upon seeing her urgency, his smile faded. ¡°Anabel? What¡¯s wrong?¡± She ignored him and ran past, racing through the halls until she made it to the dining room, where she threw open the patio door and ran outside. Latias followed her out and Anabel quickly mounted her. ¡°To Kanto, Sakura, as fast as you can!¡± Latias yipped and shot into the air, leaving a bewildered Sylvester behind. Please let me make it in time! she prayed. You¡¯re in terrible danger, Ash! Next ¡ª Chapter 23 : Old King
Remnants of the Great War [14] Sorry I¡¯m a week late! Busy week at work last week and I didn¡¯t want to rush out a subpar chapter.
PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [14] Chapter 23 : Old King
Sabrina rolled to the side as a blistering Flamethrower swept across the ground she was standing on moments ago. The opponent¡¯s Delphox was relentless in its assault, but it seemed to inherit that trait from its master. ¡°C¡¯mon hit her once, I thought Flamethrower had a hundred accuracy!¡± the young man yelled. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you have to burn this whole forest down, just kill the trainer!¡± He attacked with a ferocity that took even her psychic wherewithal by surprise. Sabrina had watched AZ appear in the clearing from a distance, but before she could reveal herself, she¡¯d found herself in the crosshairs of this boy and his Delphox. Even after deploying Minior, every attack it fired off had still been aimed at her. Ancient Power. Minior shuddered and spun through the air, and the ground rumbled as it pulled several boulders up from beneath the soil. Another gout of fire shot from Delphox¡¯s wand, but Minior shifted a boulder in front of it to protect its master. Delphox growled and conjured a glimmering shield before itself, and the boulders cracked harmlessly against it. Who is this kid? Sabrina thought as Minior tried to slip around Delphox to attack it from its side. Is someone this young really working for AZ? As it happened, she had the faculties to find the answer herself. She closed her eyes. It¡¯s for the greater good, she thought, but the justification fell like sand over her conscience, worth nothing. Nevertheless, her gauntlets began to glow and spin. Across the way, through the trees, the young trainer frowned, noticing her gauntlets for the first time through the nighttime darkness and the chaos of battle. I¡¯m sorry, Minior, but I need you to draw its attention while I do this. Meteor Beam. Minior quivered in the air, and a bright light began to escape from the cracks in its rocky shell. ¡°Yeah, right! Like we¡¯re just gonna stand here and let you charge that! Psychic, Delphox! Throw it away!¡± Delphox¡¯s eyes glowed blue, and a light of the same color engulfed Minior. It raised its wand to cast Minior away, but suddenly its eyes flashed and its full attention turned to Sabrina. Without warning, it scrawled a flaming kanji into the air and flung it at her. It spun through the air, trailing black smoke. Sabrina recoiled, but Minior was faster, and it abandoned its attack and flew straight into the inferno. ¡°No!¡± Sabrina breathed. When the flames cleared, Minior hung in the air weakly, its carapace blackened by the attack. Despite its resistances, Sabrina could immediately tell its true form within the meteor was burnt. ¡°I see what¡¯s going on,¡± their opponent sneered. ¡°You¡¯re a psychic. Your pok¨¦mon seemed like they were acting independently, but really you¡¯ve been talking to them telepathically this whole time, right? And just now, you tried to read my mind, didn¡¯t you?¡± His glare pierced the darkness and rooted Sabrina in place. ¡°Well, nice try you piece of shit. Don¡¯t you know Delphox can sense a psychic attack as obvious as that?¡± Sabrina pursed her lips. There was nothing obvious about that! Who is this boy? Her gaze shifted to her pok¨¦mon, who was steadily dropping closer to the ground and seemed to be struggling to lift itself again. We need to take Delphox down, Minior. Can you do it? They needed to end this quickly. She could hear Ash facing AZ alone in the clearing a short ways away and every second she remained stalled here was one second closer to more blood on AZ¡¯s hands. Ash¡¯s blood. Sabrina heard agony from her pok¨¦mon, but beneath it, resolve. Thank you. Use Earth Power. I¡¯ll keep it in place. She raised her arms and her gauntlets began to spin again, faster this time. Minior took a second to gather its strength, then shot into the sky above Delphox. Delphox raised her wand, but its body suddenly stiffened, and it hissed, whipping its gaze at Sabrina. A pulsating emerald light shimmered on Sabrina¡¯s outstretched hands. Minior¡¯s burned shell cracked apart and its fragments fell to the ground, revealing a pale violet body underneath. The tips of its spikes glowed, and the ground beneath Delphox gurgled. Delphox squealed as the ground beneath it started to heat up and crack apart, and it struggled furiously, but couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Stay calm, Delphox!¡± the boy spat. ¡°Use Psychic.¡± At its trainer¡¯s words, Delphox calmed its struggle, and forced its power into the tip of its wand. Minior¡¯s Earth Power reached full charge, and a moment later, the ground erupted. A shaft of orange lava burst from below, but to Sabrina¡¯s shock, Delphox flew skyward with it, flipping its legs into the air until its wand was pointed directly down at the attack that should¡¯ve defeated it instantly. It used the momentum of the Earth Power to shoot itself into the sky?! And used Psychic to protect itself¡­wait! Delphox flung its arm outward in an arc, and the lava from the Earth Power came with it. The oozing mass of lava stayed suspended in the air for half a second until Delphox locked eyes with Minior and hurled it straight at its unprotected form. It hit the meteorite point blank, and both attack and attacker hurled to the ground. The hot slag of the Earth Power hardened on the ground and Minior¡¯s body fell onto it, then rolled off of it, unconscious and smoking. ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with me, bitch!¡± the trainer screamed. ¡°I¡¯m basically a Champion! Who the fuck are you?¡± Sabrina grit her teeth as she recalled Minior. Arrogant as he was, Sabrina could tell he wasn¡¯t lying. Their battle was evidence enough. Once, she¡¯d been hailed as an unbeatable gym leader. But she¡¯d never taken much of an interest in battling, relying mainly on her psychic powers to repulse trainer after trainer from the Saffron City Gym. But after retiring from her post and joining Paragon, it wasn¡¯t like she was suddenly interested in battling. Her skill level was basically still at the level of a standard gym leader, if not lower. If anyone else in Paragon were here, they¡¯d have beaten Delphox. She was sure they¡¯d come up with some stratagem that she could never hope to see. She simply didn¡¯t have the aptitude for it, or interest in it. A colossal bang and an inhuman roar shook Sabrina from her thoughts. It came from the clearing. Ash¡­! Her eyebrows furrowed and she clenched her fists. Her eyes flicked over at her opponent and she started walking forward. ¡°The fuck? Okay,¡± he scoffed. ¡°Flamethrower, Delphox.¡± ¡°Dark Pulse.¡± An oozing darkness burst out from Sabrina¡¯s body and mauled Delphox. The fox didn¡¯t even have a chance to react before the darkness swallowed it whole, inking out its silhouette against the backdrop. It quickly succumbed to the attack and fell to the ground. ¡°What?!¡± Sabrina walked right up to the boy, who stood before her, frozen in shock and horror. ¡°Hypnosis.¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes turned black, pupils and sclera all, and Gengar wafted out from her head, his arms outstretched. The boy could only gasp as Gengar leaned forward, cackling silently, and devoured him. His ghostly body passed through the boy, but when he withdrew, the boy¡¯s eyes rolled back in their sockets and he collapsed to the ground. With a satisfied grin, Gengar shrunk back into Sabrina¡¯s head, and her eyes returned to normal. She shuddered and rubbed her temple. Another boom drew her back toward the clearing, a worried expression on her face. ¡°Ash!¡± Taking one last look at the defeated trainer, she took off into the forest, heading toward Ash''s aid.
¡°Arghhh!¡± Ash yelled, as another he crossed his arms in front of him and caught another of AZ¡¯s blows. The giant bore down on him, hammering punch after punch onto him, and it took all he had just to keep track of AZ¡¯s fists so he could defend himself. Venusaur and Glalie were both unconscious, and Lucario was slumped against a tree wheezing, expending all of his remaining energy on forcing oxygen into his battered lungs beneath his shattered rib cage. All of Ash¡¯s pok¨¦mon were effectively defeated, but he didn¡¯t even have a moment to recall them or summon new ones. Though even if he did, he figured they¡¯d likely end up the same way. AZ roared and his fist glowed white for a moment before it connected. The punch hit Ash like a truck, and heat began to blossom against his chest. His eyes widened as AZ launched him back, and he flew through the air, slamming against the ground multiple times as he bounced away. He eventually came to a stop at the forest¡¯s edge and groaned in pain. AZ exhaled and cold vapor passed between his lips. He slowly lowered his fist, but it remained clenched. He¡¯s so strong, Ash thought as he staggered to his feet. That last hit had sent his head spinning, and he struggled to get his eyes to focus on the man in front of him. His fingers dug into the soil as he heaved himself up. His arms were numb from all the hits, but he moved them to his belt on autopilot and pulled off another pok¨¦ball. Keeping his gaze forward, he thumbed the release, and Emboar emptied out beside him. His beady eyes quickly scanned the situation, and upon seeing AZ, he snorted, sending a flurry of embers into the air. ¡°We¡¯ll¡­attack him together,¡± Ash panted. ¡°Stay strong¡­as long as you can.¡± Emboar bellowed, and Ash smiled weakly. You know what to do, too. Together, they bolted toward AZ, Ash going left, and Emboar tromping right. AZ grinned and lowered himself to welcome the assault. Just as Ash entered striking distance, he slid down. ¡°Now!¡± Gengar emerged from Ash¡¯s shadow with a grin and disappeared into AZ¡¯s body. When he did, AZ¡¯s entire body went rigid, and he spasmed uncontrollably, unable to protect himself from what came next. Emboar jumped into the air, his hands clasped together. AZ¡¯s eyes locked onto the fire-type just as it brought the hammer down right on his head. AZ snarled in defiance, but his resistance broke and his legs buckled. From below, Ash¡¯s eyes sizzled as he cloaked his fist in electricity. As AZ¡¯s head sunk under the weight of Emboar¡¯s hit, Ash struck his chin with an ferocious uppercut, sending him skyward. His back arched, and against the white moon, Ash saw black blood fly from mouth. But suddenly, AZ twisted in the air, and his gaze burned down at Ash. At some unseen change, Gengar forced himself out of AZ¡¯s body, clearly smaller and damaged in some way. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful moon tonight!¡± he hissed. A curtain of bright light opened between his fingers, and before Ash could react, he hurled two blinding columns of energy from his hands. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Moonblast! Ash glared up at the fearsome attack, but it was coming far too quickly to dodge. Suddenly, his body was jerked to the side and dragged across the grass. The Moonblasts hit the ground with a grand release of energy, sending dirt flying in all directions on currents of howling wind, and AZ dropped back to earth, landing on his feet. He raised his head slowly. ¡°What¡¯s this now?¡± Sabrina stood behind Ash, her eyes glowing jade. Without taking her eyes off AZ, she released her Alakazam. Ash once again pulled himself off the ground. ¡°He has the power of Arceus¡¯ Fairy Plate within him. He¡¯ll take no damage,¡± he said, gathering his resolve once more, ¡°except from me.¡± Sabrina frowned in confusion as Emboar and Gengar rejoined Ash at his sides. He was breathing heavily, but he wasn¡¯t finished yet. Even if he couldn¡¯t defeat AZ here, he refused to let AZ escape without exacting a price first. ¡°Same plan as before,¡± Ash continued. ¡°We¡¯ll flank him. I¡¯ll take front, you attack his back. Try and keep him still if you can.¡± Sabrina nodded and Alakazam raised its spoons. ¡°Another trainer, then,¡± AZ commented, rolling his shoulders in their sockets. ¡°This night becomes more and more entertaining. Perhaps I underestimated the warriors of this age. Either way, this has been an enlightening experience.¡± His hair blew in the wind, and against the dark backdrop of the forest behind him, he appeared like some sort of mythical monster out of a fantasy. He raised his arms. Ash sprinted forward once more, his pok¨¦mon in tow. Sabrina faltered for a moment, seeing Ash join the charge with his pok¨¦mon, but her gauntlets whirred and her expression tightened, and she and Alakazam both disappeared, reappearing a second later behind AZ. AZ swiveled on his feet to take them both on at once. His hand shot out to catch Alakazam by the neck, but it teleported out of his grasp. From above, Gengar¡¯s mouth opened impossibly wide and he shot down to consume AZ, but the giant snarled and sidestepped, unwilling to get caught in his Imprison again. A gleaming shock of moonlight burst from his open palm and consumed Gengar. Despite his resistance, battle was not his specialty, and his body vanished in a smoky haze, burned away by the scalding moonlight. A fiery punch from Emboar roared in from AZ¡¯s left, but he caught it in his outstretched hand and flung him away like a ragdoll. But through the embers he left in his wake, Ash charged forward, electricity coursing across his hands. Pikachu jumped into the air, and his entire form turned a blinding white. AZ grunted and closed his eyes instinctively, but opened them a moment later after realizing the attack had meant to blind him. He glared ahead to take Ash on, but suddenly found himself unable to bring his arms forward. His head snapped around and he saw Sabrina floating in the air behind him, her gauntlets spinning about her outstretched hands. His wrists were cuffed in fractals of emerald light, and he frowned, trying to yank them free. Not a Platebearer, but this is clearly her doing. What is she? He pooled his monstrous strength in one arm and pulled with all his might, trying to break free before Ash reached him. Sabrina¡¯s eyes widened as she was suddenly pulled forward, and AZ¡¯s uneasiness melted away. Upon realizing she wasn¡¯t strong enough to hold him, he smirked. But she¡¯d done her part. AZ¡¯s face was illuminated gold before he even had a chance to finish turning around. Ash smashed him straight in the chest. He groaned as thousands of volts flooded his body, before shooting backward past Sabrina, tearing up dirt as he went. He stopped on his back, his body smoking, and across the clearing, Ash heard him cough. Immediately, Sabrina and Alakazam appeared at AZ¡¯s side, and the air seemed to sag as they dumped wave after wave of psychic energy upon him. ¡°Now, again,¡± Ash breathed. As he limped forward, Gengar reformed at his side and promptly disappeared back into his shadow. ¡°We¡­just¡­need¡­to¡­¡± With one more step, he doubled over and collapsed. Pikachu squeaked in concern at his side, his tiny eyes darting back and forth between his trainer and AZ, who was slowly getting to his feet. Sabrina and Alakazam were both clearly exerting themselves, but AZ¡¯s raw physical strength appeared to be prevailing. ¡°No,¡± Ash groaned, forcing himself up, but his vision swam, and he clutched his face. It was wet. He pulled his hand away. Even with black spots dancing at the edges of his sight and in the darkness, he could see the dark smear of blood in his palm. His was bleeding from both his nostrils. A guttural scream escaped AZ¡¯s mouth, and he shattered through the psychics¡¯ hold. Fast as lightning, a thin beam of light shot from AZ¡¯s finger and hit Alakazam, sending it shooting back into the forest with a painful wail. Sabrina¡¯s eyes widened, but AZ rounded on her, his dark visage smoldering, eyes blazing with bloodlust. A high pitched keening suddenly rang across the sky and AZ looked up. Indigo meteorites were raining down from above. He blasted one of them apart with a Moonblast, but the rest slammed against the ground between all three combatants, blazing with dragonfire. Streaking between the falling meteors, was a Latias. Ash craned his head up, but the Draco Meteor burned his vision. None of the meteors fell on Ash or Sabrina, but they all seemed to curve toward AZ like gravity was pulling them, and he was soon buried beneath an avalanche of flaming rock. Latias whipped through the inferno and found Ash. Anabel disembarked and ran toward him. ¡°Ash!¡± She knelt down next to him, and upon seeing his bloodied face, horror flashed across hers. ¡°Oh my goodness, what happened?¡± Sabrina teleported beside them, Alakazam¡¯s pok¨¦ball in her hand, having just recalled him. Sweat beaded her forehead and matted her hair against her neck. Fear dripped from her every move and twitch, undeterred by Anabel¡¯s arrival, and she took short, quick breaths, her whole body shaking. ¡°Help me up,¡± Ash coughed. ¡°We need to leave now,¡± Anabel said, lacing her arm under his. ¡°Do you even realize where we are right now, Ash?¡± ¡°He has the Fairy Plate,¡± he said, ignoring her. ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s so powerful.¡± A flaming boulder launched toward them and AZ¡¯s arm clawed its way out from beneath the burning rubble, but Latias shattered it with a Dragon Pulse. He knocked the remnants of the Draco Meteors aside, emerging completely unharmed. ¡°Another one,¡± he hissed. Anabel stood, and Sakura spiraled to her side. Ash got to his feet and glared at AZ, Pikachu at the ready at his feet, ears perked up and ready to fight. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets spun erratically, but they were dark now. She trembled as she reached around to pull a pok¨¦ball off her belt. ¡°Three against one,¡± AZ said, and his voice cut through the din of the conflagration. ¡°Delicious.¡± ¡°Ash and Sabrina, on my mark, split for the forest. I¡¯ll draw his attention¡ª¡° Az raised his hand, and with that one small movement, he ended everything. A tremendous bang, like the birth of a star, suddenly lit up the entire forest. The hair on Ash¡¯s skin burned off as he was cast backward. Pikachu fainted instantly, and Sabrina didn¡¯t even have time to deploy her next partner before a gale of searing wind voided her senses. Sakura surged in front of Anabel, but the dragon¡¯s eyes rolled back in her head, and Anabel was quickly buried under the slacken body of her own pok¨¦mon. When the light finally faded, AZ sighed and lowered his hand. The bodies of his opponents lay on the ravaged ground, the flames and rocks of the Draco Meteor completely gone. The entire clearing was now blackened and burned, and the trees at the edges were singed. Amidst the fiery decimation, AZ stood tall, utterly unfazed by the licking flames and roar of destruction. How disappointing, he thought. Even the Platebearer lay unmoving, blood trickling down his face. You are nothing like the Platebearers I faced in the Great War. Arceus would weep if it could see what¡¯s become of its soul. He lumbered over to their fallen bodies and shook his head. Then, a sneer curled onto his face. ¡°You really thought you could fell me, who survived the Calamity, with that?¡± He raised his arm over the body of the Platebearer. ¡°Die.¡± A dark blur streaked across his periphery, but before he could turn his head, it dropped below his line of sight and he felt his legs get swept out from under him. The air around his enemies warbled, and an invisible veil appeared to dissipate. The visage of his defeated enemies melted away, and in its place, a different reality played out. Ash was hunched over Sabrina¡¯s prone form, a handful of pok¨¦balls in his hand after recalling his fallen partners. Anabel stood tall, but Latias was already back in her ball. ¡°Take Sabrina and run, Ash!¡± Anabel barked. ¡°Hydro Pump, Magic!¡± As AZ got back on his feet, his eyes found the Umbreon that had knocked him over. Cloaked in darkness, it¡¯d been able to evade his senses until it was right next to him. But as it primed its attack, something peculiar happened. Its black fur bristled and began to recede into his skin. At the same time, its body began to turn a vibrant turquoise, and aquatic fins stretched out across its limbs and head. Vaporeon? He threw up his massive hand and the water blasted against it. For the first time since the battle had begun, he demanded an answer from the Fairy Plate. His eyes snapped open wildly, like a beast gifted intellect, It can change forms! It used its powers as an Espeon to create an illusion around them, then shifted into Umbreon to attack me! ¡°C¡¯mon, Anabel!¡± Ash screamed. Dragonite shimmered into being at his side and he gently lifted Sabrina into his arms. ¡°Get out of here, I¡¯ll be right behind you! Spirit Shackle, Sophia!¡± Decidueye swooped down from above, an arrow smoking with ghostly energy already nocked in her arm. ¡°No, it won¡¯t work, get back, Anabel!¡± AZ blitzed forward and the arrow snapped and broke against his body. Decidueye¡¯s eyes widened, but it was too far away from its trainer to stop what came next. AZ¡¯s arm came down in a vicious arc just as Anabel turned to dodge. His sharpened hand caught her right arm and cleaved it from her body like a hot knife through butter. Anabel tripped back, blood dumping from the wound, and she fell to the ground, eyes wide. Decidueye and Vaporeon both shot toward AZ, but he grabbed them both and slammed their heads together, then tossed them aside. ¡°No!¡± Ash roared, and a blazing thunderbolt as tall as his body tore toward AZ. AZ crossed his arms, and the gargantuan bolt shattered against him. ¡°You¡¯re next!¡± he snarled. A Dragon Pulse from Dragonite washed over him harmlessly, and he bunched his legs up and bulleted toward Ash, his arm pulled back, ready to impale him. A deafening screech, like grinding metal, stopped him in his tracks, and just as a storm of curved steel blades flurried toward him, he leapt back, landing all the way at the other side of the clearing. A hulking Corviknight landed between Ash and AZ, digging its talons into the black soil, and it spread its wings protectively. A man in a white suit climbed off its back. ¡°Albrecht!¡± Ash exclaimed. ¡°Please get back, he¡¯s extremely dangerous!¡± Albrecht ignored him and pulled another pok¨¦ball off his belt, tossing it out. A Nidoking, oozing just as much threat as the Corviknight, emptied out. ¡°Fissure.¡± Nidoking released a low bellow and slammed its fists together, before leaping into the air and smashing the ground with its herculean strength. Ash almost fell over, if not for Dragonite steadying him, as the ground began to shake furiously. It felt like an earthquake, and his bones rattled painfully within him. Dragonite hovered into the air, glancing nervously between his trainer and the newcomer. Between Albrecht and AZ, the ground tore apart, and a yawning chasm opened, before spreading outward in both directions. It cut through the forest, swallowing trees, rocks, and entire hillsides. Even after it¡¯d sheared through the clearing, completely out of sight, the seismic shaking never ceased or diminished in intensity. Ash fell back against the ground, and the shaking caused his body to bang against the turbulent ground repeatedly, but it was better than trying to stand. He simply closed his eyes and prayed for it to stop soon, before a tree could topple on top of him or Dragonite. The earthquake continued for nearly a minute until the ground finally stopped moving. Ash¡¯s whole body was numb, and he opened his eyes slowly. The ground now curved upward into a hill, as if pried apart forcefully, and Albrecht stood at its top. Dragonite cautiously lowered himself, and Ash got up and limped over to the World Champion. ¡°What¡­,¡± he breathed. A giant canyon had opened before them, so deep and wide he couldn¡¯t even see the bottom. On the other side, AZ stood unfazed, directly opposite Albrecht. His gaze was smoking, and it never left the World Champion. ¡°Do you think a measly crack in the road can stop me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive me. Violence was never my forte like it was yours.¡± Ash glanced back at Albrecht. His visage was resolute, but his eyes held a sadness that shook Ash to his core. As unpredictable as Albrecht was, he never expected to see this, not from a man like him. ¡°Three thousand years, and still, all you have for me is scolding,¡± AZ scoffed. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve changed,¡± Albrecht countered. His fists tightened. ¡°Against my wishes, everything has changed.¡± ¡°Oh? Do tell. How are the others doing anyway?¡± ¡°Most of them are dead. Only the strongest remain.¡± ¡°Ha ha,¡± AZ laughed dryly. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re supposed to be?¡± After seeing Albrecht¡¯s expression remain unchanged, he continued. ¡°So, are you here to kill me then, old king? Those three who came before you didn¡¯t offer much of a challenge.¡± Corviknight and Nidoking hissed at either side of him, but Albrecht put up a hand. ¡°And yet I see you¡¯re bleeding.¡± Behind AZ, a cowled figure emerged from the forest on shaky legs. ¡°Your Grace!¡± Upon seeing the canyon, he stopped and fell to his knees. ¡°Ahhh, t-the World Champion. How¡­?¡± He shook his head and bowed toward AZ. ¡°Y-You¡¯re Grace, with all due respect, we¡¯re out of time. We must leave now!¡± AZ didn¡¯t move, and neither did Albrecht, both sizing each other up. Finally, he grinned, his face twisting into a hellish tapestry of rage, bloodlust, and amusement. ¡°Let¡¯s postpone our battle. I suspect the both of us still need time to properly gather our forces. I¡¯ve waited three thousand years to kill you. Another month or so is nothing.¡± Without a second glance, he turned and lumbered back into the forest, disappearing into the dark. Ash watched him go, and extended a groggy hand forward. ¡°No¡­ wait¡­¡± But dark spots danced in his vision, and a wave of nausea bubbling up from his chest was the last sensation he felt before blacking out. Next ¡ª Chapter 24 : Mankind¡¯s Greatest Desires
I am aware that I did a lot of head-hopping this chapter, but I hope it wasn¡¯t too immersion-breaking. I wanted to get into the heads of a lot of characters, and a pseudo-omniscient POV seemed like the only way to do that. I will try not to do this in the future, though. Remnants of the Great War [15] 100k words!
PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [15] Chapter 24 : Mankind¡¯s Greatest Desires
Ash opened his eyes to the sound of silence assaulting his beleaguered senses. He was lying down indoors, and as his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, he saw high walls of mahogany draped in noisy tapestries closing in around him. A trail of dust shimmered in the sunlight that beamed through the vaunted windows, and he squinted at its brightness. Where¡­? He pawed at his face and his line of sight gradually shifted down to his torso, where he was buried beneath several layers of thick blankets. He kicked them off and sat up. A dull pain ached throughout his entire body, like he¡¯d fallen asleep on a bed of cragged rocks, and he winced. His eyes drifted around the room. Then his heart dropped and his eyes shot open. ¡°Pikachu!¡± As he moved to jump out of bed, movement to his left stopped him. ¡°He¡¯s safe, Ash, as are all your other pok¨¦mon.¡± Albrecht was sitting by his bedside table, a book in hand, though he promptly closed it. ¡°Albrecht!¡± Ash exclaimed, and took several seconds to process what was going on. ¡°You were¡­¡± He looked around again. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°This is my estate. I assure you, you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°Where¡¯re my pok¨¦mon?¡± ¡°I have my people taking care of them. You¡¯ve raised some excellent partners. Despite the beating they took, it seems they¡¯ll all be fully recovered in just one more day.¡± Ash took several deep breaths to try to calm himself down and process what was going on. ¡°I¡­thank you.¡± ¡°You went well beyond your own limits as well,¡± Albrecht continued. ¡°I¡¯ll have a meal brought to you, but after, it¡¯d be best if you let your body rest so you can regain your full strength.¡± Almost as if Albrecht¡¯s words had manifested into reality, Ash¡¯s stomach gurgled and he was suddenly hit by a wave of fatigue. The room began to spin and he closed his eyes, refusing to fall asleep. Once it passed, he opened them again. ¡°Where are Sabrina and Anabel?¡± Albrecht stood, leaving his book on the bedside table. ¡°They¡¯re here as well. Not to worry, they¡¯re being taken good care of.¡± Noticing Albrecht¡¯s reserved tone, his eyes flicked over nervously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Albrecht hesitated, looking away. ¡°Sabrina is still asleep last I checked, sporting only minor injuries. But your friend Anabel¡­ How much do you remember¡ª? No, it can¡¯t be. Ash nearly tripped over himself clambering out of bed. His stomach protested, but he didn¡¯t care. Please tell me I imagined that. Please don¡¯t be real. ¡°Ash, wait. Please, wait! Just¡ªI¡¯ll take you to her, just please slow down!¡± Albrecht rushed ahead and opened the door for Ash, and Ash stormed through. The hall outside had a similarly high ceiling and medieval adornments on its walls. Albrecht waited a moment for Ash to catch his breath before heading down the hall. They didn¡¯t have to travel far before they came upon an open set of twin doors. Beyond lie an array of pristine white beds, and one of them was occupied. Several nurses looked up at Ash¡¯s arrival in confusion. ¡°Anabel!¡± Ash yelled, surging toward her. The girl was wrapped in bandages, but the skin on her face that was exposed was raw with burns. Ash¡¯s stomach dropped upon seeing her right side. In the sea of white, he¡¯d seen a dark spot of red from the door. Where her right arm should have been laying on the bed next to her, there was nothing. Her bandaged right shoulder ended in a bloody stump. ¡°Not good, huh?¡± she breathed. Her eyes were glassy and out of focus. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to bring myself to turn my head and look at it.¡± ¡°Anabel¡­¡± ¡°Ash, I think we should let her rest,¡± Albrecht said, slowly walking up beside him. ¡°She¡¯ll need time to recover and heal.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Anabel croaked. ¡°I need to¡­talk to you.¡± Her every word sounded like they scraped painfully against her throat before coming out. ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± she began, but she was interrupted by a fit of coughing. ¡°Can she get some water?¡± Ash cried, but a nurse was already lifting a glass to her chapped lips before he could finish. After she finished drinking, she took several breaths. ¡°This place¡­we¡¯re in Rota, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Rota?¡± Ash exclaimed, taking another glance around the room. Though now that she¡¯d mentioned it, it certainly did look eerily similar to the interior of Cameran Palace. ¡°AZ was coming here,¡± Anabel said quietly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he?¡± Albrecht¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t much else this far north¡­but it sounds like you knew that already.¡± She took several more breaths, as if preparing herself for a long winded explanation. ¡°There were newspaper particles¡­left in AZ¡¯s cell after he escaped. I¡­put them back together. The headline was about you¡­becoming the World Champion.¡± She closed her eyes. ¡°At the Frontier, I used to meet all kinds of people. And because¡­of the¡­nature of the Frontier, I came to learn about various important people behind the scenes. That¡¯s when I first heard¡­your name. I should¡¯ve forgotten it immediately. But¡­there was a man drinking at the party that night. He was so loud, but he started to say¡­some strange things about you. That you were connected to the Guardians. That you were someone important in Rota. I didn¡¯t remember¡­until I saw the headline. Once I realized¡­where Ash was¡­that he was chasing AZ into northern Kanto, everything¡­fell into place.¡± Ash listened to Anabel, transfixed by her every word, and when she was finished, he looked over at Albrecht. The World Champion¡¯s brows were knit together tightly. ¡°I see,¡± he murmured. ¡°Well, my connection to the Guardians isn¡¯t entirely unknown. To those who know me, at the very least. I try to cover my tracks as much as possible¡­but I suppose a leak like that was inevitable sooner or later.¡± He sighed wearily. ¡°These games of the elite are not my forte.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Ash said, turning back to Anabel. ¡°Even if you knew Albrecht was involved with the Guardians, what does that have to do with AZ? You¡¯re saying AZ broke out of prison because Albrecht became the World Champion?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s let your friend rest,¡± Albrecht said before Anabel could respond. ¡°I believe I can answer any further questions you have. As far as this one is concerned, I¡¯m assuming your friend knows about the final battle of the Great War, which took place here in Rota, between the Guardians and the forces of the Kalosian Empire.¡± He glanced at Anabel, and the girl nodded slowly, before wincing in pain. She moaned, flexing the remaining muscles in her ruined arm. Her bandages darkened. ¡°Anabel¡­,¡± Ash knelt closer to her, wanting to do something, anything, to abate her pain, but couldn¡¯t. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine¡­Ash,¡± she bit out. ¡°Go¡­ Learn all you can¡­on my behalf¡­ Please.¡± Her breathing was short and quick and Ash could see sweat begin to bead on her forehead. ¡°Her fever¡¯s flaring up again,¡± Albrecht said, and he motioned to some nurses to attend to her. ¡°Let¡¯s return to your room, Ash, and there, I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know.¡± Ash cast one last pained look at Anabel before a nurse strode between them and began administering aid. Involuntarily, his hand balled into a fist, but he didn¡¯t even feel strong enough to punch anything. He was just so frustrated. Angry at AZ. Angry at himself. And guilty that he alone came out scot free while Anabel and Sabrina were confined to their beds. They didn¡¯t have impenetrable skin like he did. Yet he was the one AZ was trying to kill, and they¡¯d suffered far worse than he did. Ash stood and ambled out of the hospital ward. He felt lightheaded as he walked through the vaunted halls of Albrecht¡¯s manor. He heard Albrecht walking up behind him, but even he sounded so far away. I called Sabrina to help me. And Anabel lost her¡­ His tongue heated up and warm saliva flooded his mouth. Before he knew it, he was on his knees, vomiting onto the velvet carpet. Albrecht came up behind him and rubbed his back, but he could barely register him as the contents of his stomach forced their way out of his mouth. After several minutes, when he finally finished, he simply knelt there, hanging over his mess, focusing on each and every breath he took. His vision was blurry, and cold sweat coated his skin. She doesn¡¯t have her right arm anymore. Anabel wasn¡¯t weak by any means. And she was a cautious trainer. In battle, she always tended toward defense over offense. She¡¯d tried to get them to escape the moment she¡¯d arrived. So why did things turn out this way? ¡°Ash,¡± Albrecht said softly, resting his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to your room.¡± Ash let Albrecht lend him his arm. He mumbled a ¡°sorry,¡± but didn¡¯t catch Albrecht¡¯s reply, if there was one. Guided by the World Champion, he put one foot in front of the other until he found himself back at his bed. At that point, he needed no more direction, collapsing onto his bed where he swiftly fell asleep. When he woke up, the windows were black, and his room was dark, save for several candles that fluttered on his bedside table. To his surprise, he felt rejuvenated and strong. The thought of Anabel¡¯s arm brought him a thick sense of malaise, but he found he could ponder it without being blinded by his own thoughts. Hunger and thirst evaded him, but his wits were returning to him. He needed to contact Cynthia immediately. He swung his leg onto the floor, and after realizing he was good to stand, slowly walked over to his backpack on a chair along the wall. Before he could grab it, he heard the doorknob to his room turn, and he turned. A thin smile wrinkled his cheeks. ¡°Sabrina.¡± The girl¡¯s skin was bright red in patches on her neck and face, and several scratches adorned her face. Her gauntlets were dark and barely moved. She was looking down, and she almost seemed to be sleepwalking, but she slowly padded inside and closed the door behind her. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Ash hurried toward her and wrapped her in a hug. She bristled but didn¡¯t move, and let her head sink into the crook of Ash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m so, so, sorry,¡± he whispered. Sabrina didn¡¯t respond, but after a few moments, Ash felt his clothes warm with her tears, and he held her tighter. ¡°Have you seen her?¡± She shook her head. Ash¡¯s face crinkled in agony. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± As they pulled apart, Ash saw her puffy red eyes and looked away. But another knock at the door interrupted their emotions, and Sabrina turned at the sound, wiping her eyes. ¡°Ash,¡± Albrecht said. Upon seeing Sabrina, he stopped himself. ¡°Miss Sabrina. I was just looking for you. I¡¯m glad you found your way here, I wanted to update both of you on Miss Anabel¡¯s condition. May I?¡± After Ash nodded, he stepped inside. ¡°At the outset, I¡¯ll say it¡¯s good news. She has stabilized, and the treatment appears to be working well. Her arm isn¡¯t bleeding anymore, and with enough time, it should heal without any complications.¡± He let them absorb the info. They both looked down in shame, but Ash looked dejected while Sabrina looked despondent. ¡°All of this is to say, you shouldn¡¯t keep blaming yourselves for it. Miss Anabel herself seems to be in higher spirits than either of you. The best you can do for her now is to eat and rest, and recover your own strength. Once you are ready, let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°No,¡± Ash said, remembering what Anabel told him. ¡°I¡¯ve done enough resting. I¡¯d like to hear what you have to say now.¡± He looked over at Sabrina, and she nodded in agreement. Albrecht glanced between them, but nodded. ¡°Very well. Let me have some dinner brought here, and we¡¯ll get started.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Albrecht left and returned a couple minutes later with a pair of maids who carried their dinner and a pitcher of water. Sabrina stood awkwardly beside Ash¡¯s bed until he nudged her over to it and insisted she sit. He pulled over another chair from the wall and set it up next to her, but he sat sideways and his legs lay between her and Albrecht¡¯s seat, who faced the two of them. After pouring them both a glass of water, Albrecht put the pitcher down and crossed his legs. ¡°Now, where to get started?¡± he said after taking a deep breath. ¡°Ah, where are my manners? It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sabrina.¡± He extended a gloved hand. Ash caught it. ¡°Sorry, but can we just cut to the chase? You¡¯re like AZ too, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re over three thousand years old. And you¡¯re from the age of the Great War.¡± Ash let Albrecht¡¯s hand go and he withdrew it. His expression darkened ever so slightly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So you lied?¡± Ash said. ¡°You are a Platebearer.¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes darted between them in confusion and Albrecht noticed. ¡°Forgive me, Miss Sabrina. Ash and I spoke prior as you may be aware, and I told him about certain things that he may or may not have relayed to you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Ash confirmed. ¡°I see. Well, then first, I must thank you for trusting me and keeping what I told you a secret. But those secrets are moot now that AZ is on the move.¡± He locked eyes with Ash. ¡°What I told you before was true. I am not a Platebearer. But before we continue, let¡¯s catch Miss Sabrina up to speed.¡± Over the next half hour, Albrecht once again explained everything he¡¯d told Ash about Arceus¡¯ Plates, the Platebearers, and his suspicions about AZ. Sabrina didn¡¯t interrupt once to ask questions, simply nodding along as she nibbled at her food. When Ash told her he was a Platebearer himself, her eyes went wide and she almost choked on the food in her mouth. For the remainder of the explanation, she just stared at Ash in awe, like she couldn¡¯t even believe what he¡¯d told her. ¡°I know it was a lot, but does that all make sense, Miss Sabrina?¡± Albrecht asked, and she quickly faced him again and nodded. ¡°Please forgive Ash from keeping this from you, it was something I asked of him for obvious reasons. But now that AZ is aware of you all, it is imperative that you have the full story of what you¡¯re dealing with.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°First, I¡¯ll ask you two how much you know about the Great War.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know anything about it, except that it happened three thousand years ago and AZ was a part of it,¡± Ash said with slight embarrassment. ¡°Same,¡± Sabrina said quietly. Albrecht nodded. ¡°No worries. The Great War is such ancient history, you¡¯d be hard pressed to find anyone in this day and age who knows anything more about it beyond its name, aside from scholars of that time period. Well, then I suppose we have a lot to go over. But the truth about the Great War is quite different from most of the information about it out there today. In textbooks and museums, you will be told the Great War began over practical things like land or resources. And while this may have been a contributing factor for the lesser factions, the truth is that it was Arceus¡¯ Plates that started the war, and Arceus¡¯ Plates that ended it. In fact, most, if not all, major conflicts since the Great War have had something to do with the Plates. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say this world has lived in the shadow of the Plates for over three thousand years.¡± ¡°But I thought there haven¡¯t been any wars ever since the Great War?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Haven¡¯t we had peace for the past three thousand years?¡± ¡°On the surface, yes. But no, the conflicts never abated completely. They simply moved underground, behind closed doors, where the powers that be could conduct their warfare away from the prying eyes of the masses. Make no mistake. The struggle for the Plates hasn¡¯t ceased at all. Instead of trading blows on the field of battle, men shake hands behind the curtain to gain incremental advances in their own myriad agendas.¡± ¡°But back to the Great War. As you may know, the Age of Carnage, where pok¨¦mon behaved like beasts and attacked humanity indiscriminately, was just coming to an end shortly before the war began. People and pok¨¦mon were only just starting to get along, and the concept of a ¡®trainer¡¯ was still unbelievable to most. After all, how could one befriend, much less tame, the very monsters that devoured their kin and destroyed their meager homes just several generations ago? Human settlements were little more than villages, or small towns in certain areas. There were only two places in the entire world that could be called civilizations at that time. The Land of Rota in the west, and the State of Kalos in the east.¡± ¡°The Guardians, gifted with their ability to control Aura, had an easier time taming the wild pok¨¦mon of the age, and thus, were able to carve out a sizable country where peace and harmony reigned. On the other hand, the land of Kalos held many natural resources in far greater abundance than anywhere else in the world, so the kings of Kalos slowly pushed their borders further and further out with each successive generation, until they conquered the entire continent. They developed technology, paved roads, and raised armies to protect their citizens.¡± ¡°Despite their infantile societies, Rota and Kalos both recognized the fortune they¡¯d been blessed with, and saw the squalor that the rest of the world lived in. They sought to spread their wealth to neighboring lands. For Rota, this meant sending out envoys to what we now know as Johto and Hoenn to spread the knowledge and wisdom of pok¨¦mon training. The Guardians taught those less fortunate than them how to work together with pok¨¦mon to cultivate their lands and build up their communities. In the east, Kalos set up colonies on the Unovan and Galarian continents, and their immense wealth transformed those untamed frontiers into a bedrock strong enough to support the superpowers that we recognize them as today.¡± His eyes sank and he laced his fingers together. ¡°I was around your age when I first met AZ. At that time, Kalos had slipped ahead of Rota in their rivalry through sheer size and numbers. Their lands eclipsed all others in scope and strength, and people flocked east in droves, hoping to finally find safety from the untamed wilderness. AZ had come of age and been crowned just several months earlier, and he¡¯d set out on a tour of his domain, and somewhere along the journey, he¡¯d decided to sail west and see not just his own lands, but the entire world. It was toward the end of his voyage that he finally arrived at Rota. Unlike his predecessors, who saw the Guardians as rivals on the world stage, AZ sought to join hands with Rota.¡± ¡°He wanted an alliance?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I thought Rota and Kalos were enemies? They fought each other in the Great War after all.¡± ¡°Yes, but it all began with a proposal for an alliance. AZ had witnessed much death and misfortune on his journey across the world. Most of the world was nothing like Kalos, with its abundance of food, legions of trainers to protect the weak, and expansive social programs to maintain an elevated standard of living. And Rota offered a similar respite. AZ wanted everyone to share in the sanctuary that Rota and Kalos enjoyed, and believed an alliance would hasten the world to that end.¡± Albrecht glanced back up at Ash and Sabrina, and met both of their enraptured gazes. ¡°But the Guardians rejected his alliance.¡± ¡°You see, to understand the Guardians¡¯ decision, you must first understand the balance of power between east and west. Kalos was a sprawling empire, with vassal states to the north and south which expanded its sphere of influence across nearly half of the world. Meanwhile, Rota commanded a comparatively minuscule slice of land in northern Kanto. They had a presence in neighboring lands, but it amounted to little more than garrisons. What you might call embassies in this day and age. But what they lacked in numbers, they made up for in raw strength and talent. As I said earlier, the Guardians had the gift of Aura on their side, and a detailed chronicle of history and legends penned by their predecessors that gave them a leg up against Kalos. Any single Guardian was worth ten Kalosian wielders, at a minimum. All of this is to say, the Guardians believed that, despite the vast difference in the size of their domains, they were roughly equivalent in power to their great Kalosian counterpart in the east.¡± ¡°But AZ possessed something else his predecessors didn¡¯t. While the Kalosian kings of the past were content to release their generals and dignitaries out into the world like birds, and wait for the news of their expanded borders to trickle in, AZ took an active interest in¡­everything. He wanted to learn about people, and pok¨¦mon, and above all else, the reason for why there had to be so much suffering in the world. It was said he spent more time abroad, searching for answers to his many questions, than in his own vast empire.¡± ¡°As you can imagine, his depthless curiosity led him to discovering the Plates of Arceus. In truth, the Guardians had known about the Plates for some time, and tried to keep knowledge of their true power hidden, for reasons which would soon become obvious.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°But for a man like AZ, he was bound to learn about them eventually. And once he did, he began to seek them out. He saw them as the solution to the world¡¯s prolonged suffering.¡± ¡°But his voracious pursuit was a double-edged blade. While he was able to push technology and medicine further than any of his predecessors, he also stumbled across things that transformed him in a darker way. You see, the terror of the Age of Carnage was still quite fresh in everyone¡¯s mind. And none more so than AZ, who wished to stamp out all human suffering. But¡­that righteous heart in his chest began to pump a poisonous fear into him.¡± ¡°In short, AZ believed the Age of Carnage would someday return, even worse than before. He recognized the power of Arceus¡¯ Plates, and came to the conclusion that pok¨¦mon, not just humans, would seek them out as well. He believed the power in those Plates would drive them to madness, and they would fight over them viciously, causing the end of humanity in the process.¡± Albrecht closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. ¡°In truth, he was right. Ancient Guardian texts tell of a war between pok¨¦mon that predates all life on this planet. It was said the pok¨¦mon defeated in that war fell to Earth, continuing to enact pointless violence against one another. That was the beginning of the Age of Carnage. But it¡¯s said the war between the pok¨¦mon was indeed fought over custody of the Plates. The strongest pok¨¦mon, who were able to taste the power of the Plates, became the legendary and mythical pok¨¦mon of today.¡± ¡°But the outcome of that war was never written. Which has led some Guardians to believe it continues to this day. The last words about it in the Guardians¡¯ archives speak of a quarrel between only two remaining pok¨¦mon. Two pok¨¦mon, one of infinite light, and the other, of infinite darkness. For eons, they¡¯ve fought, surviving all others, never tasting defeat.¡± Albrecht sighed. ¡°In any case, AZ eventually did acquire one of Arceus¡¯ Plates. In spite of the Guardians¡¯ efforts, a man like him was never going to be barred from the truth forever. I¡¯m not sure what it did to him, but he suddenly became certain of humanity¡¯s grisly future. He believed humanity was destined to wage insignificant wars against one another until one day, we were unceremoniously wiped off the map by those two creatures, so powerful they wouldn¡¯t even register our existence.¡± ¡°And AZ, in all his righteousness, took up arms against that fate. He began construction on a weapon that would be able to kill such godlike beings. But the price for such power¡­was unspeakable. All pok¨¦mon are imbued with a certain energy. They are imbued with Aura. To power his weapon, AZ slaughtered countless pok¨¦mon. His entire empire became drenched in blood. Can you imagine just how many lives it would take to amass enough power to destroy a god?¡± ¡°It was Rota who eventually declared war, though tensions between the east and west had already been rising. His massacre violated every tenant in the Guardians¡¯ code. Because of the vast expanse of the two forces, fighting broke out on nearly every continent.¡± Albrecht smiled grimly, his eyes pale with sadness. ¡°It¡¯s ironic. AZ feared the madness of the Plates, but that¡¯s exactly what consumed him.¡± Albrecht let out a hollow laugh, devoid of amusement. ¡°He wanted to join the war between the pok¨¦mon and win, on behalf of humanity.¡± Ash swallowed, shell-shocked by Albrecht¡¯s story. At first, AZ seemed like little more than a crazed monster. To think he did it all for the sake of humanity¡­ Ash frowned as he processed everything he¡¯d just heard. ¡°But with a weapon like that, how in the world did AZ lose and end up getting locked in the World Prison?¡± ¡°As one might expect, AZ¡¯s hubris at meddling with powers he didn¡¯t fully understand ended up being his downfall. In the end, the weapon was fired. From where, we still don¡¯t know to this day. But¡­it did not hit its intended target. In a stroke of divine justice, it fell upon Kalos itself, as well as Unova and Galar. The Kalosian Empire was utterly annihilated. Suffice to say, it ended the war immediately. What was left of AZ¡¯s forces turned against him. The survivors apprehended him, he was put on trial before a coalition of representatives from Kalos and Rota, and all the regions in between, and was sentenced to death. Of course, how was one meant to kill a Platebearer?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t there other Platebearers at the time?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Oh, there were. But none who dared to prod at AZ after he¡¯d already resigned himself to defeat. The wardens of the World Prison carried out meaningless execution attempts, but eventually, the memories of his crimes, like most of the Great War, were lost to time.¡± Albrecht sighed. ¡°AZ¡¯s lust for power poisoned his righteousness and turned it to ruthlessness. In hindsight, it¡¯s not so surprising. The power granted by the Plates is intoxicating. They can elevate even a king like AZ to heights he could never reach on his own. But from so high up, he lost sight of what was most important.¡± Ash looked down at his hands. If he wanted to, he could destroy this entire room. He could destroy this entire building. He knew he could. It¡¯d be over in an instant. And what could stop him? His skin was like iron. And this was the power granted by just a single Plate? He nearly shivered at the thought. ¡°And so, ultimately, the Guardians rejected AZ¡¯s offer of an alliance because they foresaw the darkness in his future, and did not want it to corrupt them too. AZ was not the first king to seek out the Plates, and of course, he wasn¡¯t the last. At the end of the day, Arceus¡¯ Plates will always be sought out by those who learn of them. Since time immemorial, man has yearned for two things. Do you know what they are?¡± Ash shook his head, as did Sabrina. Albrecht put up two fingers. ¡°Immortality and world domination. These are mankind¡¯s greatest desires. And with the power of the Plates, one can achieve both.¡± ¡°Immortality and world domination¡­,¡± Ash repeated. ¡°I don¡¯t want either of those, yet I have the power of a Plate all the same.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s precisely why I sought you out,¡± Albrecht said, pointing at him. ¡°When I told you I was a fan of yours, that was no exaggeration. If anything, it was an understatement. The truth is, I¡¯ve been watching your pok¨¦mon journey for some time, from afar. You came here, to Cameran Palace, several years into your journey, and helped save the Tree of Beginning. It was then that I became invested in you. After you became the World Champion, I believed it was time to finally approach you, and tell you about the Plates. But, wily as you are, you slipped between my fingers. So I had to wrack my brain and think of a new plan. It took some time to get enough of the League on my side, but eventually, things panned out.¡± He seemed to hesitate for a moment. ¡°I believe you asked me why I became the World Champion the last time we spoke.¡± Ash¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You became the World Champion¡­just to talk to me?!¡± Albrecht looked away in embarrassment. ¡°Well, it sounds a certain way when you put it like that¡­but yes, I suppose that¡¯s not entirely inaccurate.¡± He straightened himself and faced Ash again. ¡°Ash, I believe you will be the hero that AZ failed to be. With the power of the Plates, you will end the incessant conflict between humans, and between pok¨¦mon.¡± Adrenaline surged through Ash¡¯s veins. Everything Albrecht was saying sounded insane, too insane to be real. Somehow, the shock of finding out that everything Albrecht had done over the past two years was just to meet him was even greater than when he¡¯d found out he was a Platebearer. And then his grandiose statement just now. It was like a dream within a dream, but the dream wasn¡¯t his. Become some grand hero? How? ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Ash stammered. ¡°This is all so much.¡± The World Champion sighed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m truly sorry things turned out this way. I had hoped to ease you into this more slowly, but evidently, things are moving beyond either of our control. AZ¡¯s plans are almost complete. I suspect it won¡¯t be long until he rains hellfire back down upon the world again.¡± ¡°Mister Albrecht, sir,¡± Sabrina said, speaking up for the first time. Her plate was clean and she¡¯d set it gently on the bed beside her, but she wore a determined look on her face with her hands crossed in her lap. ¡°You keep referring to the Guardians as if they¡¯re a third party, but you are a Guardian, aren¡¯t you? I mean, you have this mansion here, and that¡¯s how you know so much about them, right? Ash frowned, but his mind drifted back to the conversation he¡¯d heard between Albrecht and AZ just before he passed out. His eyes widened. ¡°Wait¡­AZ called you ¡®old king¡¯¡­¡± His head suddenly jerked up. ¡°You¡¯re¡­?¡± ¡°That empty throne in Cameran Palace,¡± Albrecht nodded. ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± His eyes flared blue with the radiance of Aura. Next ¡ª Chapter 25 : Aura
Remnants of the Great War [16] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [16] Chapter 25 : Aura
¡°Oh, you look dreadful, my dear.¡± Zelda Leora fingered her rings as Cynthia settled into the seat across from her. True to Zelda¡¯s observation, even the ever-present radiance of the Hano Grand Resort could not hide Cynthia¡¯s weariness. She fell back into her chair with a slump, and sighed. ¡°Yeah,¡± she agreed. ¡°Well, no better time for this, then.¡± Zelda lifted a bottle of dark silver liquid off the table and pulled off the crystal stopper, before carefully pouring some into the empty glass in front of Cynthia. Cynthia watched her pour, the alcohol swirling like storm clouds within the glass. ¡°I like this one quite a bit,¡± Zelda said, replacing the stopper. ¡°Take a sip before I tell you what it is.¡± Usually Cynthia would be cautious, but she was so exhausted she couldn¡¯t even bother feigning concern. She lifted the glass to her lips and emptied a bit into her mouth. Immediately, her face wrinkled and she put her glass down a but harder than she intended to. She swallowed and rubbed her throat. ¡°It¡¯s spicy!¡± she said, cringing with one eye closed. ¡°Is that whiskey?¡± ¡°Very good, Cynthia! You¡¯re exactly right. Aged in cask made from the spectral wood of a former Phantump, then finished with 0.02 milliliters of Salazzle poison. The poison is scraped directly from the tongue of an adolescent, when it¡¯s at its sweetest, and that takes with it a bit of its fiery mucus. Before it can congeal, it¡¯s blended with the whiskey in a centrifuge so its flavor gets distributed evenly. It¡¯s said that a single sip can add a whole year to one¡¯s life. What do you think?¡± Cynthia opened and closed her mouth a few times, letting the taste work its way around her mouth. Since it was so spicy, she couldn¡¯t taste the whiskey at all before,but now she could, and it actually soothed her inflamed tongue. A smoky aftertaste wafted throughout her mouth, and she stifled the urge to cough. ¡°It has an interesting flavor,¡± she eventually said. ¡°I can¡¯t get enough of it,¡± Zelda smiled. ¡°But enough of that. Have some of these ocean cakes. And have a sugar stick with it.¡± Cynthia did as instructed and loaded up her plate. She took her bites slowly, and chewed even slower. Today¡¯s sweets were quite exotic, and she found herself disliking more items than she liked. Zelda let her take a few bites before speaking again. ¡°So. You must tell me what ails you, my dear. Miss Leora is here to lend you her ear.¡± ¡°AZ,¡± Cynthia said, dabbing at the corners of her mouth. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°¡®What else,¡¯ indeed. These attacks on Interpol¡¯s bases have yet to abate. It¡¯s quite concerning that his cohorts seem to know exactly where they are. It¡¯s almost worse that they never take anything of much value. At least then, we¡¯d have a lead on what it is they¡¯re after.¡± Zelda wasn¡¯t a part of the International Police, but Cynthia knew they were connected in some way. Maybe she worked for them in the past, but Cynthia had never asked. After knowing Zelda for so long, she¡¯d come to expect that Zelda had eyes on everything. ¡°Actually about that,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking. If they¡¯re not stealing anything of value, then maybe the purpose of the raids isn¡¯t to procure anything in particular. Maybe the purpose of the raids is simply to whittle down Interpol¡¯s resources.¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t whittled down anything,¡± Zelda scoffed. ¡°The total value of everything stolen doesn¡¯t even come up to a tenth of my personal wealth, much less Interpol¡¯s.¡± Cynthia almost replied that Zelda¡¯s personal wealth wasn¡¯t even that much smaller than Interpol¡¯s entire budget, but she held her tongue. ¡°I was talking about time. I think they¡¯re trying to waste our time.¡± ¡°A red herring, huh?¡± Zelda seemed to mull it over and shrugged. ¡°I suppose. But then why would AZ himself take part in one of the raids? He hasn¡¯t been a part of any of the others.¡± ¡°More misdirection, maybe? Who knows?¡± ¡°Well, clearly the World Champion knows something we don¡¯t. He moved the Champions before the raids even began. And even got Steven to cover Sinnoh.¡± Zelda narrowed her eyes. ¡°Why would he omit you?¡± Cynthia felt her face heat up, and she took another sip of her whiskey, despite not particularly liking it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Though it¡¯s not like I would¡¯ve gone anyway.¡± Zelda smiled, popping some violet pastry into her mouth. ¡°Of course not. You have more important things to do than play security guard for Interpol¡¯s lost and found.¡± She swallowed. ¡°How is your Paragon Organization doing?¡± ¡°Ah, right. Apparently they¡¯ve found AZ, and potentially one of his hideouts.¡± ¡°Begin with that next time, please.¡± Cynthia grimaced. ¡°Sorry. But I haven¡¯t heard back from them in a couple days. Ash apparently found AZ in northern Kanto, and the Kalos team is looking into some ruins.¡± ¡°Ash¡­he¡¯s the new one, right?¡± ¡°Newest. I first scouted him over two years ago.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± Zelda nodded. ¡°He¡¯s the one the World Champion was interested in. Anything cause for concern?¡± ¡°Not that I know of.¡± Zelda laced her fingers together. Her sweeping black bangs fell over her eyes. ¡°I wonder. AZ was spotted in northern Kanto. That means near Rota.¡± ¡°Rota?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. Our World Champion is a Guardian, did you know that?¡± Cynthia frowned. ¡°No. Not at all.¡± She waited for Zelda to continue, but the woman was still deep in thought. Eventually, she shook her head and faced Cynthia again. ¡°Do try to contact Ash again. He¡¯s in danger.¡± ¡°I told him as much.¡± Zelda sighed and took a sip of her own drink. She didn¡¯t recoil at all. ¡°Things are unraveling faster than I expected. Interpol and the League are being forced together, yet AZ still remains two steps ahead. His cohorts are quite formidable.¡± Her silver eyes met Cynthia¡¯s grays, and she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s times like these that I am truly thankful for the Paragon Organization.¡± Cynthia blushed and she averted her eyes. ¡°Please.¡± Zelda grinned, and her glossy black lipstick sparkled. ¡°There¡¯s the Cynthia I know. No more moping about. You have a good head on your shoulders, Cynthia, and you know how to use it. Stay strong, and listen to your old friend Zelda from time to time. She wants to help, you know?¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Ahh, back to one sentence responses already! You need to relax more! Any men in your life yet?¡± Finally, Cynthia laughed, out of the sheer ludicrousness of the question. ¡°Of course not. You think I have time for that?¡± ¡°Oh, come on, Cynthia! I can hear your grandmother crowing about it from here! She wants great-grandchildren, and you¡¯re the only one who can give them to her! You¡¯re the only family she has left, right?¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes glimmered. ¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°You¡¯re¡­you mean, you¡¯re the missing king of the Aura Guardians?!¡± Ash stammered. On the bed, Sabrina¡¯s eyes also went wide, so she¡¯d clearly gotten a history lesson on the Guardians. Albrecht closed his eyes, sealing off their azure glow, and slumped in his chair, looking smaller than he ever had. He rubbed his hands and rested his head on them. ¡°The throne is mine, but I am no king,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Not anymore.¡± Ash and Sabrina both faltered at asking him more questions. A wave of sadness drifted off his body, and Ash found himself unable to open his mouth, much less utter a single word. Albrecht had always been mysterious, cloaked in a coat of peerless confidence that shielded all from getting close to him. But he¡¯d opened himself up to Ash, and then he seemed dauntless. The man before him now was neither. He looked and sounded exhausted. ¡°None of the Guardians know who I truly am, even the good Queen,¡± Albrecht continued. ¡°I haven¡¯t even set foot in Cameran Palace since the war. So even with whispers of my connection to the Guardians floating around, I¡¯m sure none of them would ever go as far as to suspect that I am who I am.¡± He lowered his hands and sat up, a ghost of a smile on his face. ¡°In that regard, your friend Anabel is truly monstrous to have realized so quickly.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Sabrina said softly, speaking up for the first time. ¡°Your people have been waiting for you all this time.¡± Albrecht closed his eyes again, and his head bobbed as he tapped his foot, as if considering how best to answer. ¡°I made a promise, at the end of the Great War, to my best friend,¡± he eventually said. ¡°That I would never again involve myself in the affairs of the world, or the Platebearers, or the shadow war between them. But the truth is, I¡¯m running out of time.¡± He met both Ash and Sabrina¡¯s gaze, a glimmer of resolve shining in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m over three thousand years old, and as I said, I don¡¯t carry a shard of the God Pok¨¦mon¡¯s soul within me. My longevity is due only to my feeble strength as a Guardian.¡± He held out his palm, and a small Aura Sphere flickered into being within. It spat azure energy, warbling chaotically in the air. ¡°Once upon a time, I wielded Aura as easily as I drew breath. I devoured the wisdom and teachings of Guardians past, and in my youthful folly, sought and attained so-called immortality.¡± He said the word mockingly. ¡°But look¡­ This is all I can manage now.¡± He extinguished his Aura and sighed. ¡°When I speak of mankind¡¯s greatest desires, I speak from foolish experience.¡± He turned to Ash. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll forgive me for expecting so much of you. It¡¯s a brambled path I¡¯ve set you on.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t set me on anything,¡± Ash said, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m following my own path, as I always have.¡± Ash clenched his fist. ¡°And this time, I almost led myself and my friends straight to our deaths. But you saved us. So¡­thank you.¡± Albrecht smiled warmly. ¡°It was the least I could do as the World Champion. I¡¯m glad I was in the area.¡± He sat up straighter and uncrossed his legs. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I know you two just woke up, but I would try and get to sleep again before you ruin your sleep schedule. It will only make your bodies recover even slower.¡± He started to get up, gathering their dishes. ¡°Wait, sorry, I have another question,¡± Sabrina said, and Albrecht turned. ¡°Can you tell us about Zagreus?¡± Albrecht paused as he was picking up the pitcher of water. ¡°Zagreus? Who¡¯s that?¡± Genuine confusion colored his face. ¡°Uhhh, he¡­was a Guardian from the Great War¡­who committed some sin and had his name erased from the history of the Guardians. That¡¯s what Queen Ilene said, but I guess she didn¡¯t know anything more than that. But he reappeared just a month ago¡­and we were wondering who he was¡­¡± Albrecht stood up straight and furrowed his brows. ¡°Zagreus, hm? I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t recognize the name.¡± He turned, truly appearing to dig deep into his memory. ¡°Zagreus¡­ No, I don¡¯t recall a Guardian by that name. But if the Queen knows of him and I don¡¯t, it¡¯s possible his crimes came to light after I¡¯d already recused myself from Cameran Palace.¡± He exhaled sharply. ¡°Well, I was planning on paying the Queen a visit tomorrow anyway. I¡¯ll inquire when I¡¯m there. Perhaps I can fill in the blanks. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be of more help.¡± ¡°O-Oh, not at all,¡± Sabrina said, blushing nervously. Her gauntlets pulsed. Her social battery seemed to be out after being so assertive. ¡°Zagreus¡­¡± Albrecht murmured one more time. He turned to face them one last time and nodded. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll have breakfast ready in the morning. After that, Ash, I was thinking we¡¯d spend a bit of time going over the basics of being a Platebearer, if that¡¯s alright with you? Nothing too strenuous, of course.¡± ¡°Right! Sounds good!¡± ¡°Excellent. Well then, good night, you two.¡± He smiled one last time before he left, seemingly back to his usual self. After he closed the door behind him, a silence fell over Ash¡¯s bedroom. They¡¯d been talking for so long it was almost midnight, and even though all they¡¯d done was listen, Ash felt ready to curl back up into bed all the same. The information they¡¯d just received was so dense it made his head feel heavy. ¡°You going to bed?¡± Ash asked after several seconds. Sabrina bolted up from his bed and took a few robotic steps away from it. ¡°I-I guess.¡± She grabbed her hair and pulled it in front of her face. ¡°I¡¯ll go see Anabel first.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s pretty late. You think she¡¯s still up?¡± Sabrina froze. ¡°Ah¡­oh¡­uh.¡± ¡°I¡­I got it,¡± Ash said quickly, snapping his fingers.. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, like I said. C¡¯mon!¡± ¡°O-Ok.¡± The hall outside was dark, but small orange candles fluttered in golden candlesticks lining the wall. Their shadows slid large along the far wall, but beyond the windows outside, the night sky was starry and bright. Ash felt a twinge of nostalgia, as he remembered sneaking around the Oaks¡¯ house with Gary after they¡¯d already been sent to bed. ¡°Where¡¯s your room?¡± Ash asked quietly as they walked. ¡°At the end of this hall,¡± Sabrina whispered back. Her gauntlets cast a soft jade glow on the manor¡¯s antique furniture as they passed it. As they neared the medical room, Ash saw a darker spot on the carpet, and the sharp scent of cleaning chemicals filled his nostrils. Ash cringed. ¡°Yeesh, I think that was me. I¡­sort of¡­threw up.¡± After not hearing anything at his side for a few seconds, Ash turned. Sabrina was looking up at him, clearly wanting to say something, but seemingly not knowing what. Ash chuckled, flashing a smile she definitely couldn¡¯t see in the dark. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine now. Thanks.¡± Sabrina buried her hands in the pockets of her sweater and nodded. They arrived at the medical room, and Ash glanced over at Sabrina. Unlike her usual slouch, she seemed determined to keep on a happy face, standing tall. Ash smiled, and since the door to the medical room was closed, she knocked gently before opening it. Within, it was dark, save for the area around Anabel¡¯s bed. A lamp beside her was on, and she was sitting up. As they got closer, Ash saw a plate of food on the bed in front of her, and she was stabbing at her food with a fork. Upon seeing them, she brightened. ¡°Anabel,¡± Ash said quietly. ¡°How¡¯re you doing?¡± He and Sabrina both took seats next to her bed. ¡°Better, now that you two are here.¡± She turned to Sabrina, and frowned upon seeing her reddened neck and face. She reached out and grabbed her hand. ¡°You¡¯re hurt.¡± Sabrina clasped her hand. ¡°W-What about you?¡± Her eyes were glued to Anabel¡¯s right side. Anabel withdrew her hand and slowly lifted it to her severed arm. She spread her fingers and her hand hovered over the bandaged stump, trembling. Her hand moved closer and closer, until she stopped, and let her hand fall back onto the bed. She sighed, slumping back against her bedrest. ¡°Yeah, I messed up.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Anabel, I¡¯m so sorry. I should¡¯ve¡ª¡° Ash began. ¡°What¡¯re you apologizing for, Ash?¡± she said, cutting him off. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault at all. It was all my decision.¡± ¡°But you said you rushed over here after hearing that I was¡ª¡° ¡°Please, Ash. Do you think I think so little of you? I didn¡¯t fly from Sinnoh to Kanto in the dead of night just to rescue you or something.¡± Her eyes flicked down at her bed. ¡°I wanted to confront AZ. I wanted to see how I¡¯d do. I guess I haven¡¯t fully left the Frontier behind even now.¡± She looked back up at Ash. ¡°You understand, right, Ash? I¡¯m sure you felt something similar. That¡¯s why you disobeyed Cynthia.¡± Ash opened his mouth to rebut her, but she was exactly right. He hadn¡¯t gone after AZ merely to test his prowess with the Electric Plate, or in the interest of apprehending him on behalf of Paragon. No, he¡¯d gone after AZ as a pok¨¦mon trainer. He saw an insurmountable challenge, and wanted to defeat it. Anabel poked at her dinner and stuffed a bean in her mouth. After chewing and swallowing, she said, ¡°And now I have to eat with my left hand, which is great.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there anyone here to help you?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°Oh, there is, alright. They just wouldn¡¯t stop fussing over me. I lost my arm, I didn¡¯t forget how to eat. But keep your voices down, she¡¯s sleeping on the other side of that curtain.¡± Ash and Sabrina both looked over at a curtain that had been drawn between Anabel¡¯s bed and the one next to her. After a few seconds, they heard the soft sound of someone sleeping next to them. ¡°So annoying. First, she wanted to only give me food I wouldn¡¯t need a knife for, then she wanted to cut up my food and feed me like a baby. No thanks.¡± Ash watched Anabel struggle with her meal, but eventually she got another bite off. Albrecht wasn¡¯t kidding. She certainly seemed to be in an okay mood. Though that made Ash uneasy. He could tell she was putting on a brave front. Midway through chewing, she suddenly winced, and dropped her fork. She clenched her right shoulder, and grimaced again after touching it. ¡°Aah!¡± ¡°Anabel!¡± Ash stood up to help, but realized he had no clue what to do. He started moving toward the sleeping nurse. ¡°Don¡¯t wake her up!¡± Anabel bit out. ¡°Just¡­give me a few of those tablets on the table.¡± Sabrina unscrewed her bottle of pills and shook out a few. She lifted Anabel¡¯s glass as Anabel scooped the pills out of her hand and tossed them into her mouth. After a swig of water, she handed the glass back and took several deep breaths. ¡°Are you really okay?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Anabel said curtly. ¡°Really, I am. But I just got my arm cut off so it hurts a bit.¡± She smiled weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. But enough about that, what did the World Champion tell you?¡± Ash and Sabrina exchanged a look. ¡°Uhhh, it¡¯s kind of a lot,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her everything,¡± Sabrina said, standing up. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sabrina nodded, then turned to Anabel. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here with you tonight.¡± ¡°Sabrina¡­¡± Anabel started. ¡°I am,¡± Sabrina repeated. To hammer her point home, she sat back down and crossed her arms. ¡°You can get to bed, Ash.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay here too.¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not even tired anyway.¡± Ash glanced between the two girls, but both seemed resolved about the situation. On the other hand, he actually was tired, and knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to contribute much to Sabrina¡¯s explanation. Finally, he nodded and stood up. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll see you two in the morning, then.¡± ¡°Good night, Ash. And thank you,¡± Anabel waved. Sabrina just stared at him, which Ash took to mean something similar. After one last look at them, he left the medical room and made his way back down the hall. Once again, he collapsed onto his bed when he arrived, and it didn¡¯t take long for sleep to come to him.
He woke up with the sun in his eyes, which he was thankful for. It meant he hadn¡¯t slept through another day. Feeling refreshed, and ready to get started with Albrecht, he threw off his sheets. Luckily, he had a change of clothes in his backpack, so he promptly went over to it. But on the very top was the invitation he¡¯d gotten from Albrecht a few days ago. Filled with curiosity, he ripped it open and pulled out the letter. Dear Ash Ketchum, The World Champion would be honored by your presence at his celebratory banquet in Celadon City. Please bring up to three guests to enjoy a serene night out in the gardens of the jewel of Kanto. See details below for the date and exact location. A. Albrecht Ash frowned and turned the letter over. For how much Albrecht had wanted to meet him, the invitation was surprisingly barren. Then again, anything more would¡¯ve probably scared Ash off. Not that an invitation to a party like this was that appealing to begin with. But Ash had a feeling Albrecht would¡¯ve found a way to meet him regardless. Clearly, it was just that important. He walked back across his room as he reread the letter, and sat back down on his bed. A familiar squeak cried out as his ass came into contact with some sort of warm mass beneath him Pikachu squirmed out from under him, looking none too pleased that he was getting woken up by getting sat on. But once he was free, a smile spread across his face. ¡°Pikachu!¡± Ash cried, and Pikachu jumped into his arms, sending those familiar jolts of electricity throughout his body. ¡°When did you get in here?¡± Pikachu chittered excitedly, pantomiming the actions he took, from sneaking out of the recovery center undetected, creeping through the darkened halls of the manor, and sniffing out his master¡¯s scent, until finally snuggling up beside him. ¡°Sounds like quite the adventure,¡± Ash laughed. ¡°And I was not snoring that loud!¡± Pikachu stood on his hind legs and roared like a beast, insisting, and Ash rolled his eyes and nudged him over. Pikachu watched Ash get ready, and started scurrying around the room impatiently when he was taking too long. As he changed, Ash relayed the gist of what had happened, including Anabel¡¯s arm. At that news, Pikachu moaned sadly, his ears flat against his head. ¡°I know, but she¡¯s hanging in there. We¡¯ll stop by and see her on our way to breakfast. Try and keep a smile on your face, ¡®kay, bud? I know she likes you, so I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll feel better if you¡¯re your usual self.¡± Pikachu nodded furiously, and they left the room together. As expected, when they arrived, Pikachu bounded straight into her lap, and she pet him happily. Ash could tell he faltered for a split second after seeing the missing arm, and the bits of dried dried blood left on her jawline, but he did his job splendidly. Sabrina was already gone, and Anabel confessed she¡¯d forgotten she was even there, since she slept so silently. Though it could also be all these drugs they¡¯re giving me, she¡¯d added. After chatting for a little while, they parted ways so her nurses could administer another round of tests. Albrecht hadn¡¯t told him where to go last night, so they wandered around the manor aimlessly. Though they ran into several servants on their quest, they were far too professional to even notice Ash and Pikachu¡¯s existence as they carried out their duties. But eventually, they found the dining hall. It was a large room, clearly well-suited for hosting a formal dinner, with its cobblestone fireplace and coat of arms along the walls. But on the grand table in the room¡¯s center, several dishes piled high with Ash¡¯s breakfast favorites sat haphazardly, with a short stack of plates and utensils beside it. Sabrina sat alone at the far end of the table nibbling on a muffin, and she locked eyes with Ash from across the room when he arrived. Breakfast was a quiet affair as expected, but Sabrina did make a point to say she would take care of relaying everything they¡¯d learned to Cynthia so Ash could focus on his time with Albrecht. ¡°But could you leave out that I¡¯m a Platebearer?¡± Ash asked tepidly. ¡°I feel kind of bad about lying to her, so I want to tell her in person.¡± Sabrina assented to his request without question, and she left soon after to return to Anabel¡¯s side. Though she was doing her best to hide it, she was clearly extremely worried about her. And Ash wasn¡¯t surprised. Out of everyone in Paragon, Sabrina was closest to Anabel. At times, they even resembled sisters to Ash, and he had little doubt that Sabrina felt as if her sister had just been maimed. Nevertheless, Albrecht, or anyone else, never entered the dining hall throughout the entirety of breakfast. Once they finished, Ash asked Pikachu to lead him to the recovery center so he could see the rest of his pok¨¦mon. Once there, according to the nurses, only Lucario was well enough to be discharged, but the others still needed the rest of the day. On their way out, they ran into Albrecht. ¡°Ahh, there you are, Ash,¡± Albrecht sang. ¡°It occurred to me just now that I hadn¡¯t given you a map to this ridiculous mansion. But rather than something tedious like that, I figured I¡¯d come and get you directly. I trust breakfast was to your liking?¡± ¡°Yes, it was very delicious, thank you.¡± ¡°Excellent, that makes me so happy to hear. And of course, this one seems to be doing fine,¡± he said, winking at Pikachu, but Pikachu didn¡¯t react, simply staring at the World Champion blankly from atop Ash¡¯s shoulder. Seems he still didn¡¯t trust him. ¡°Let¡¯s head outside, and we can begin,¡± Albrecht suggested. ¡°Lead the way.¡± As Albrecht led Ash through the manor, he began to notice just how similar it was to Cameran Palace. The portraits of heroes along the walls were all garbed in deep blue Guardian cloaks, and the entire building exuded age, despite modern conveniences like a small router or outlet appearing occasionally to break the medieval veneer. However, in spite of everything Albrecht had told him, Ash still couldn¡¯t quite see him as the relic that he supposedly was. He looked modern enough, in that expensive white suit, and with those sapphire earrings, he looked a bit like a pop star that any girl his age would drool over. Unlike AZ¡¯s tangled gray hair, wrinkled face, and yellowing eyes, Albrecht¡¯s visage seemed to be perfect in every way, like he¡¯d just stopped aging. After passing through several halls and doors, Albrecht led Ash out a back door. The weather always seemed perfect in Rota, and today was no different. The sky was a captivating blue and fluffy white clouds lazed across it like ripened fruit swaying in the wind. Verdant hills of emerald grass rustled toward the forested horizon before them, dotted with boulders that jutted from the ground like fingers. ¡°Where is this in Rota?¡± Ash breathed as he drank in his surroundings. ¡°We¡¯re west of the town. This is all my property, so we should have plenty of room.¡± ¡°Room for what?¡± Albrecht crossed his arms. ¡°Ash, I understand that you have your own path to follow, but if you¡¯d permit me, I¡¯d like to once again extend an offer for you to join me here. I¡¯d like to develop your abilities as a Platebearer and prepare you for AZ¡¯s inevitable assault.¡± Ash frowned. ¡°Assault? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ah, right, I forgot to tell you,¡± Albrecht said, tapping his forehead. ¡°I sent some of my household guard to investigate the forest where you found AZ and his men. To the naked eye, nothing was amiss, but they did find something most harrowing indeed. A psychic dyad conjured just outside Rota¡¯s southern border.¡± ¡°A psychic dyad?¡± ¡°Yes. In essence, a matrix of latent psychic energy. I think your friend Sabrina would know more about them, being a psychic specialist, but they have many potential uses. Most likely, this is the opposite end of a long-distance teleportation tunnel, which would allow AZ and his men to appear just outside Rota in an instant. After observing it up close, I suspect this may be how AZ¡¯s allies have been able to conduct their discreet activities without detection all these years.¡± ¡°Well, can¡¯t you get rid of it?¡± Ash asked, and Pikachu chirped in alarmed agreement. ¡°Unfortunately not,¡± Albrecht sighed. ¡°This dyad was well-conjured. Until it is used once, it has so little form that we can do little more than observe it. It would be like trying to use your finger to pop a bubble the size of the tip of a thumbtack.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sure we could destroy it with enough time, but AZ created it knowing he¡¯d attack before we could. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Ash¡¯s face wrinkled in dismay. ¡°So he really intends to finish what he started during the Great War, huh?¡± ¡°To AZ, the Guardians represent the greatest impediment on his path toward the defense of humanity, ironically. Although there aren¡¯t nearly as many Guardians now, in proportion to all of mankind, it seems he still views us as the biggest thorn in his side.¡± Albrecht raised his gloved hand and clenched it into a fist. ¡°He¡¯s become so consumed by darkness that I¡¯m not even sure he¡¯s capable of rational thought anymore. The war is all that exists to him anymore.¡± Albrecht dropped his hand and turned to Ash. ¡°In any case, there¡¯s no use in worrying about this now. It¡¯s just one more thing I¡¯ll have to bring up when I have dinner with the Queen tonight.¡± Ash¡¯s gaze dropped. He knew it wasn¡¯t his fault AZ was targeting Rota, but it was still a difficult reality to swallow. As a Platebearer, he was supposed to be one of the very few who could stop him. But he couldn¡¯t. Although¡­ ¡°Albrecht, about what you were saying earlier,¡± Ash said. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here forever, but I¡¯d like to take you up on your offer for the time being since I¡¯m here. Please teach me how to be a Platebearer!¡± He clapped his hands together and bowed. Albrecht put up his hands. ¡°Please, there¡¯s no need for that. As I said, this was all my desire to begin with.¡± He smiled. ¡°Very well, though. I accept.¡± Pikachu cooed and bristled on Ash¡¯s shoulder, ready to get to work even though he wasn¡¯t the one training today. ¡°To begin, I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯re capable of now. After our chat, I imagine you must have done a bit of practice on your own time? Surely something gave you the ludicrous impression that you¡¯d be able to take on AZ.¡± Ash blushed and smiled. ¡°Yeah, you got me.¡± He took a few steps forward and Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to give him some space. Albrecht also stepped back, and with a flash of azure light, his Lucario appeared next to him protectively. Ash raised his hands and concentrated. Like the opening of a dam, his chest seemed to roar as power flooded his body. His skin began to tingle as white electricity crackled over it, but he continued building the energy. The smell of ozone leaked into the air as the bolts became larger and larger, eventually zapping down onto the ground and blasting through the grass to the soil below. Just as Ash felt like he was beginning to lose control of his power, he flung his arms skyward. The electricity around his body disappeared, and a moment later, a blinding blade of lightning lacerated the air in front of them, crashing down upon a boulder several meters away and blasting it to pieces. Pikachu shielded his face with one paw and this wind pressed his ears back against his head. Lucario raised a hand across Albrecht¡¯s body, but the man himself looked unfazed, his eyes narrowed as his snow-white hair blew wildly. Ash lowered his hands and grinned slightly. That was good! That¡¯s the strongest attack I¡¯ve been able to use yet. And I feel like my aim has gotten better too! He turned back to Albrecht. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Albrecht¡¯s brows were furrowed, and he seemed to be in thought. ¡°Hmmm. That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The World Champion smiled and waved his hand reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that was mean. I forget you only just found out you had this power. But I see. So this is how you choose to use it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ask asked, sweating. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Well, as I said, the Plates are shards of Arceus¡¯ soul. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say that the power that rests within you is among those that shaped the universe itself. In theory, you should be capable of far more. But actually, considering you¡¯ve only practiced for, what? A few hours at most? I¡¯d say that was pretty impressive.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Ash said, slightly peeved. Pikachu backed him up and blew raspberries at Albrecht. ¡°In addition, it¡¯s said that Platebearers of the same Plate wield its power in different ways, depending on the circumstances of the wielder. I see that you seem to model your use of the Plate after pok¨¦mon. Perhaps your own Pikachu?¡± he said, eyeing the mouse. ¡°That was Thunder, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ash looked at his hands. He hadn¡¯t even realized it himself, but now that it¡¯d been said aloud, he had been imitating pok¨¦mon attacks. Thunderbolt and Thunder Punch, and now Thunder. ¡°My first thought is that it¡¯d be wise to exercise caution if that¡¯s how you plan to use the Electric Plate,¡± Albrecht continued. ¡°When we spoke the other day, I believe I told you that Platebearers can only be hurt by other Platebearers. In truth, that¡¯s not strictly true. Trip and fall, and you¡¯ll skin your knee. Fall down the stairs, and you may very well break your arm. All the Plate does is protect itself from being ejected from its host. In other words, it merely prevents death.¡± ¡°But if that were true, some of those execution attempts should have injured AZ, right? He just wouldn¡¯t be able to die.¡± ¡°AZ survived because he is adept at using his Plate. He actively protected himself using its power. Don''t make the same mistake in thinking you¡¯ll reap the same benefits, at least for now¡± Albrecht frowned. ¡°Come to think of it, AZ wouldn¡¯t happen to have said which Plate he has, did he?¡± ¡°He did, actually. He said he has the Fairy Plate.¡± Albrecht rubbed his chin. ¡°The Fairy Plate, huh. Hm, I don¡¯t know anything about that one. I¡¯ll check the archives later and see if there¡¯s anything about it. Anyways, back to my explanation. If you want to command even greater power from the Plate, I believe it¡¯s essential that you know what the nature of this power actually is.¡± He held up his hand and summoned an Aura Sphere. ¡°As I said before, Aura is what gives pok¨¦mon their power. In the scientific community, I believe it¡¯s known as Infinity Energy, but they are one and the same. All pok¨¦mon employ Aura to conjure their elemental attacks, and the proficiency of an attack directly correlates with the volume of Aura in the attack. I believe a live demonstration would be best here¡± He scanned the field before them and pointed. ¡°Look over there.¡± Ash followed Albrecht¡¯s finger and found two pok¨¦mon, a Pidgey and a Bulbasaur quarreling atop the grass. The Pidgey was nipping at Bulbasaur¡¯s bud, but the grass-type was fighting back. ¡°Look at that Bulbasaur¡¯s attack. It¡¯s using Razor Leaf, you see?¡± A handful of leaves levitated off the ground and peppered Pidgey¡¯s side, and the bird flapped into the air. ¡°See how it lifted those leaves, which were already in existence? As it grows stronger, and evolves, it will be able to synthesize leaves just like that within its body and use Razor Leaf even when there aren¡¯t leaves around for it to use. But once it gets even stronger, it will be able to summon a storm of leaves out of nothing. That¡¯s because those leaves will be made of Aura. Do you understand? As pok¨¦mon become more and more powerful, they can rely less on their physical environment or bodies, and rely on their command over Aura to supplement their attacks. In a word, the strongest pok¨¦mon are masters of Aura¡± ¡°I see,¡± Ash murmured. ¡°So because the leaves are made of Aura, it¡¯d be able to create much larger attacks that it otherwise wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. Can you think of a time on your journey where you witnessed this sort of disparity?¡± Ash thought for a moment, tracing back through his memories to his many gym battles, as well as the battles his friends partook in. Then, his eyes widened. ¡°I can! The move Stone Edge. My friend Serena has a Pancham that can use Stone Edge. It summoned stone pillars from the ground. But my Krookodile¡¯s Stone Edge looks different. He can summon a hail of sharpened rocks out of thin air.¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. Pancham relies on his environment to use his Stone Edge, but your Krookodile can use Stone Edge regardless of the terrain it finds itself in. If that Pancham were ever caught in midair, or perhaps on a beach where the ground is made of sand, I imagine it¡¯d find it very difficult, if not impossible, to use Stone Edge. That is why a pok¨¦mon¡¯s command over Aura is so important.¡± ¡°As pok¨¦mon get stronger, their application of Aura also gets more complex, and they find themselves able to use techniques that their former selves simply couldn¡¯t perform. For example, it is through the use of Aura that pok¨¦mon that know the move Dive can use it even when not in a body of water, or pok¨¦mon that know Dig can use it even when burrowing should be impossible. Aura, as the versatile force that it is, can be used for far more than just energy spheres.¡± ¡°Now, as for what this means for you as a Platebearer. By developing and honing your own use of Aura, you will be able to tap into greater volumes of power, and therefore, more complex techniques with your own Plate.¡± ¡°So¡­I¡¯ll be training to be a Guardian?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Not exactly. To set you on the path of Guardian now when you¡¯re already a Platebearer would be akin to sharpening a kitchen knife when you already have a broadsword in your scabbard. It should not be done. But the fundamentals are the same. AZ had years to cultivate his knowledge and skill with his Plate. Plus, there¡¯s no telling what other secrets the Fairy Plate itself holds. But if you want to match him, then you need a solid foundation upon which to construct your power. Imitations of pok¨¦mon moves will only take you so far.¡± Ash clenched his fist and felt the power of the Electric Plate course through him. Aura, huh? Not like this will be my first time, he thought, recalling the time he¡¯d tapped into his Aura to save the Tree of Beginnings. But just like two years ago, ideas began to flood his mind, and he grinned. ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s get started!¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 26 : Cloak and Dagger
Lot of yapping the past couple chapters, sorry about that. Remnants of the Great War [17] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [17] Chapter 26 : Cloak and Dagger
Caleb watched as men moved around him, but he was beginning to tune them out, sight and sound, like frost creeping across a window in winter. He was back in Kalos. This was Shalour, he was pretty sure? He¡¯d never been here, but the looming tower of white granite and red tile outside certainly looked like the Tower of Mastery he¡¯d heard about. It was night, but away from the oppressive lights of Lumiose, stars glittered in the sky like gems on a bed of soft black velvet. He¡¯d woken up in a plastic chair up against the wall in some sort of office space. The desks and cubicles looked barren, but men were carrying boxes and talking in hushed voices when he¡¯d come to. They ignored him, and it was clear he¡¯d been put where he was so he wouldn¡¯t get in the way. Instinctively, his hand drifted to his belt. Thankfully, all six of his pok¨¦mon were still there, and he breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what happened, as long as he had his pok¨¦mon, he could do anything. Without them, he was nothing. His oldest memory worth remembering was of Lord Vandrick. For years, he¡¯d survived in the allies of Lumiose, eating trash, which itself had been hard won due to the legion of Rattata who were in competition with him for it. But one day, in the dumping rain, on a day when his stomach was even more barren than usual, Lord Vandrick appeared. At first, he thought he was hallucinating. After all, why would anyone ever lower themselves into his domain of garbage, much less a man dressed as extravagantly he was? Then Caleb thought it must''ve been a mistake. This rich fellow just took a wrong turn, but when he saw Caleb, he¡¯d pinch his nose and turn right around. Surely. But Lord Vandrick walked toward him, without an umbrella. Then Caleb thought he must¡¯ve been invisible. He doesn¡¯t see me. He¡¯s just walking in my direction. He¡¯ll walk past me without a second glance. But Lord Vandrick strode right up to him, and stopped, then knelt down and looked him in his eyes. For the very first time in his life, someone saw him. These were not the beady eyes of some feral rat, or the empty gaze of some other abandoned child who¡¯d peered down his alley, only to see that this one was already taken. This man, this real person from the real world, had recognized his existence. All Lord Vandrick did was extend his hand. No, first, he pulled off his glove. Words were not needed, though Caleb couldn¡¯t speak anyway. And overnight, Caleb had become Caleb. Lord Vandrick clothed him, fed him, and educated him, and when he was ten, he presented him with three pok¨¦balls, and a choice. Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie. It¡¯d been years since he¡¯d lived on the streets, but a fire-type would ensure he¡¯d never go to sleep shivering for the rest of his life. And so he set out as any other ten year old would. But Lord Vandrick expected much. And after coming under his wing, Caleb had seen other children fail to meet Lord Vandrick¡¯s expectations. He never saw them again. So Caleb made sure he¡¯d be so good Lord Vandrick would never even consider getting rid of him. A miracle had already happened. He would guard it with his life. The life he¡¯d been given. No matter what was asked of him. He would not let Lord Vandrick down. ¡°Caleb.¡± The young man raised his head and saw his master standing before him. Their eyes met, and Caleb knew that Lord Vandrick knew he¡¯d lost. His gaze felt like a slash across the face. Caleb jumped out of his chair and bowed down to a ninety degree angle. ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°Tell me what happened. I¡¯ll hear it straight from you,¡± he said quietly. Caleb grit his teeth. He¡¯d never suffered a loss so humiliating. Against an opponent with such weak pok¨¦mon too! ¡°Master¡­ I¡ª¡° ¡°Ah, Lord Vandrick.¡± A shadow fell over Caleb, and he looked up to find AZ towering over the both of them, his thick gray locks hanging down like the side of a cragged mountain. ¡°Your Grace,¡± Lord Vandrick said, shifting tones immediately and dipping into a kneel. Caleb joined him. ¡°My apologies, I thought you were still in the tunnel below. I was planning on meeting you down there.¡± ¡°At ease. I wanted you to know that everything went according to plan. We can attack Rota at any time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s excellent news, your Grace,¡± Lord Vandrick said, standing. ¡°There were some unexpected elements, but that is the nature of war, of course.¡± His palm slammed down on Caleb¡¯s shoulder, and the boy winced. ¡°I must say, this young man is exactly as you described, Lord Vandrick. I should have trusted your word. He is indeed a reliable man.¡± Caleb¡¯s mouth quivered as Lord Vandrick¡¯s attention shifted back to him. His master frowned ever so slightly. ¡°Is that right? Well, that makes me very pleased to hear.¡± He smiled. ¡°Well done, Caleb.¡± ¡°A-Ah, thank you, Master.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s alright, I¡¯d like to have a word with the young man, in private,¡± AZ continued. ¡°Can you attend to matters down below, Lord Vandrick?¡± Lord Vandrick bowed. ¡°At once, your Grace.¡± As he walked away, he caught Caleb¡¯s eye, and the message was clear. Do not embarrass me. Too late. Caleb¡¯s face heated up and his heart hammered in his chest. His master¡¯s employees milling around, who he normally thought nothing of, were welcome company. AZ didn¡¯t terrify him like he seemed to with the others, but he still didn¡¯t want to spend any time alone with the giant. Lord Vandrick passed through a set of frosted doors, and then he was gone. Caleb swallowed, resting his hand on his pok¨¦balls for comfort. ¡°Let¡¯s get some privacy,¡± AZ said, moving toward one of the empty conference rooms that lined the office space. Caleb¡¯s heart sank and he followed tepidly. Once inside the conference room, he could clearly make out the Tower of Mastery, and the dark ocean beyond. The city was still and quiet, unlike his own emotions right now. AZ sat down on top of the table in the center, too large for any of the leather swivel chairs that surrounded it, and he motioned for Caleb to take a seat, which he did. In his tattered clothes, it was a strange sight to see him surrounded by such modernity, but sitting there, backlit by the night sky and sleeping city, AZ looked like a king. Luckily, the door was still open, which eased Caleb¡¯s mind ever so slightly. Caleb wasn¡¯t privy to the details of his master¡¯s master¡¯s escape from the World Prison, nor the circumstances that¡¯d gotten him in there, but his encounter with that psychic outside Rota had made it pretty clear the authorities weren¡¯t messing around with him. Clearly she was a part of some sort of black ops unit, likely secret, since there still wasn¡¯t a single word of AZ¡¯s escape on the local news. But if anything, that only made Caleb even more nervous. What sort of monster did his master serve? And what would become of him now that they were alone together? ¡°Are you alright?¡± AZ asked. Caleb quickly made eye contact, but the sight of AZ¡¯s weathered eyes made him avert almost immediately. ¡°Yeah¡ªyes! Of course, Master¡­sir.¡± ¡°Be honest.¡± Caleb hesitated. Really, he felt fine. He¡¯d expected headaches or something, but the psychic girl clearly knew what she was doing. There were no after effects. His eyes narrowed. Something else bubbled beneath his trepidation, steaming and condensing on his consciousness. ¡°That girl¡­ That psychic¡­¡± A baleful smile split his face. ¡°Do you know how long it¡¯s been since I¡¯ve been beaten? And I mean really beaten?¡± His question hung in the air for a moment, before remembering who he was talking to. He quickly moved to correct himself, but AZ already had a quieting hand up. ¡°It¡¯s frustrating, isn¡¯t it?,¡± AZ said. ¡°We sweat and bleed for the things we want, but then something comes along and breaks all the rules.¡± He met Caleb¡¯s gaze again, and this time, the boy didn¡¯t look away. ¡°That girl is a formidable one. Not to tarnish your pride as a warrior, or a trainer, rather, but she was far beyond your level. She was the biggest threat there. Aside from me, of course.¡± ¡°Wait, what about that other guy?¡± Caleb asked, his confidence slowly returning. ¡°I got a few looks, but it looked like he was trying to fight you directly!¡± ¡°Ah, the Platebearer. Yes, his potential is great. Far greater than the girl, no doubt. But he does not know the fury of war yet. He wasn¡¯t fighting to hurt me, not truly. But¡­the girl has a latent darkness. I would prefer not to encounter her again. Caleb drank in his words. ¡°You mean¡­you¡¯re afraid of her too?¡± ¡°Now, I didn¡¯t say that,¡± AZ said, continuing before Caleb could cut in with an apology. ¡°Those machines on her arms have reduced her to a fraction of her true destructive potential, for her own sake, I presume. Nevertheless, you were lucky to escape with your life.¡± Caleb turned away, shame burning on his face despite AZ¡¯s words. AZ seemed to notice this and averted his own gaze, to relieve the pressure on the boy. ¡°I witnessed your battle from a distance. Lord Vandrick¡¯s assessment of you was accurate. Perhaps it¡¯s just the passage of the times, but your skills as a trainer are above anything I saw in the Great War. You may be more advanced than even I.¡± ¡°S-Sir! No way! Not a chance!¡± Caleb waved his hands furiously. AZ smiled. ¡°Perhaps I exaggerated a little. But I believe you are well-suited to the task I have in mind for you. Lord Vandrick told you of this, no?¡± ¡°Oh! Yeah! I¡¯ll be defending that underground machine, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It is an assignment of utmost importance. Lord Vandrick and I will be in Rota. It will fall to you alone to protect it.¡± Caleb clutched his pok¨¦balls tightly. ¡°But¡­if that psychic is there¡­I¡¯ll do my best, but¡ª¡° ¡°The girl is in Rota now, as is the Platebearer. The king of the Guardians won¡¯t let her leave, of that, I¡¯m certain.¡± AZ raised an eyebrow. ¡°But I¡¯m surprised you¡¯d admit your weakness so easily. Are you so candid with your master?¡± ¡°I just¡­¡± ¡°Hah hah, I¡¯m teasing,¡± AZ rumbled. ¡°Forgive this old man. You¡¯re the only one of my men with any personality. Even Lord Vandrick¡­he¡¯s quite rigid, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a great man, even if he is a little strict,¡± Caleb said, the words spilling out. AZ smiled. ¡°Your loyalty is commendable. I shouldn¡¯t have asked you to speak ill of your master.¡± He clutched Caleb¡¯s shoulders, and a kingly warmth spread through him. ¡°Since before we set out, I sense you¡¯ve been wanting to ask me something,¡± AZ said. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Caleb flushed red in embarrassment. He wasn¡¯t used to being treated like a child by anyone except Lord Vandrick. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really.¡± ¡°Ask.¡± Caleb¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I¡­I guess I was just curious why we needed to set up the teleportation spot if we could already teleport so close to begin with.¡± He rubbed his arms nervously. AZ looked down at him, amused, not offended at all. ¡°A good observation. But despite how it looks, Rota is quite heavily defended, by much more than meets the eye. There are enchantments carved into the land itself that would make a standard approach¡­ not feasible. By establishing a psychic node just beyond the border, we can bypass most of their spells.¡± Caleb nodded slowly. ¡°I see. That¡­makes sense. Thank you,¡± he quickly added. ¡°Any more questions?¡± AZ asked. ¡°Lord Vandrick is loyal, but he has never once questioned me. I get the impression he¡¯s not even interested in what I want to do or why I¡¯m doing it.¡± Caleb racked his brain. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t all that interested either. Anything his master asked of him, he would do, no questions asked. It must¡¯ve been the same way between his master and AZ. But after a minute, he thought of something. ¡°A-Are you alright, sir? Same question you asked me, I guess.¡± AZ pondered the question, before turning to Caleb. His eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of his cap. ¡°I will be.¡±
The flight from Alola to Kanto was relaxing enough, but having to ride on Garchomp¡¯s rough hide the whole way over the forests beyond Cerulean City was more than Cynthia wanted to deal with right now. Mount Moon stood tall against the blue sky, flanked by sharpened spires of stone that made flight difficult. But time was of the essence. She began receiving a string of texts of Sabrina earlier this morning while her plane cruised over the ocean. Things had played out exactly as Cynthia had expected. Ash and Sabrina were defeated, and AZ escaped. What she didn¡¯t expect was the sudden arrival of Anabel, or what had happened to her. Anabel lost her right arm to AZ. The Guardians are taking care of her and she¡¯s in stable condition and conscious. Cynthia had reread the message several times, chewing on her nail, something she never did. ¡­lost her right arm¡­ Of course, she had told them not to confront him. As far as fault and blame were concerned, Cynthia was objectively quite low on the list. Nevertheless, her heart burned in her chest, like heated lead. She was the head of Paragon, after all. At the end of the day, they were all her responsibility. Not to mention, there was a glaring absence in Sabrina¡¯s report about how Anabel herself was holding up. Cynthia could¡¯ve simply asked, but that wouldn¡¯t be proper. She¡¯d talk to Anabel in person and see for herself. Rota came into view later that afternoon, just as the sun was beginning its descent. Cameran Palace sat nestled atop a glasslike lake, but Sabrina had given her a different location. After passing over the town south of the palace, Cynthia found her destination: a grand manor at the end of a long road. She landed on the road and recalled Garchomp, and started toward the manor. From what she could piece together from Sabrina¡¯s messages, the World Champion had swooped in and saved them in the nick of time, and this manor belonged to him. She¡¯d said they¡¯d had a lengthy conversation with him that would be far easier to explain in person, but the most important revelation was that Albrecht was also over three thousand years old, just like AZ. Considering she¡¯d only just found out Albrecht was a Guardian yesterday, his age was an even bigger shock. For all his mysteries, Cynthia had never considered this possibility. It all seemed too absurd to be real, each new piece of information she learned about him more unbelievable than the last. But if he was telling the truth, and he really was from the time of the Great War, then it was as Cynthia suspected. He knew. He knew about everything she wanted to know. The answers she¡¯d been looking for, about who was really at the top. It wasn¡¯t the Champions, she¡¯d learned. And it wasn¡¯t the World Champion either. But it was this World Champion. Here was a man who¡¯d survived the Great War and persisted for over three thousand years to the current day. If anyone knew where the real power in the world rested, it would be him. She was walking into the dragon¡¯s den now, but dragons had gold, and if she played her cards right, she suspected she¡¯d find even more treasure deep in the annals of this hallowed land. Sabrina met her outside, just beyond an iron fence that circled the manor. A maid stood slightly behind her, probably to screen her before she entered. The World Champion didn¡¯t take unsolicited visitors. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Cynthia said after getting close enough. ¡°Thank you for the report.¡± The girl nodded glumly. She was normally fairly stoic, but she looked even more muted than usual. She immediately began padding away slowly, back toward the manor, as if on auto pilot. ¡°Lady Cynthia, Master Albrecht is honored by your visit,¡± the maid bowed. ¡°Please, allow me to take you to the patio for some tea. I understand Master Albrecht has much to discuss with you.¡± Is that right? I would¡¯ve liked to have seen Anabel first, but I suppose she¡¯ll have to wait. ¡°I¡¯d love to take you up on that, thank you.¡± Cynthia followed her into the house, and quickly recognized the colors and style of the Guardians everywhere. She¡¯d only been to Cameran Palace a couple times before, but it stood out as distinctly medieval in such a modern world, and this mansion was no different. It smelled of wood and stone, and history. The patio in back overlooked an open field pocked with boulders. Based on scorch marks across the grass and several shattered rocks, it looked like a battle had taken place. A different maid arrived to pour her some tea, and she left behind another cup for Albrecht for when he arrived. But after she left, Cynthia didn¡¯t move to drink it. Albrecht arrived several minutes later in his usual spotless suit and mischievous glint in his eyes. He took the seat opposite her and took a sip of tea, then smiled. ¡°Welcome to Albrecht Manor, Champion Cynthia. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be here so soon or I would¡¯ve prepared a banquet that befits your station.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Ash?¡± she asked immediately. Albrecht carefully placed his cup back down onto its dish. ¡°Not to worry, he¡¯s just inside resting. He¡¯s been working quite hard this morning.¡± ¡°Doing what, exactly?¡± The World Champion folded his hands together and leaned back in his chair. ¡°My turn.¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes narrowed, but she acquiesced. ¡°I serve at your pleasure, World Champion.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± he asked, meeting her gaze. Cynthia¡¯s heart shivered. Here we go. ¡°When I spoke with Ash in Saffron, he told me he was working for you. Those two young ladies with him appear to be doing the same. A former World Champion, gym leader, and Frontier Brain, no less. You¡¯ll have to forgive my curiosity.¡± If I don¡¯t tell him, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll find out eventually. Better that it comes from me. ¡°I work for an off-the-books sect of the International Police,¡± Cynthia said cooly. ¡°Ash and the others are assets of mine.¡± Albrecht nodded slowly, absorbing her response. ¡°I see. The International Police.¡± He seemed to be thinking about something. ¡°What about you?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°I heard you ordered all the Champions to protect certain Interpol black sites. You¡¯re not a part of Interpol. And you ordered all of them except me. Why?¡± Albrecht met her gaze again, but he didn¡¯t seem bothered in the slightest but the question, or her slightly accusatory tone. ¡°If you want to keep your clothes dry, go around a storm instead of through it. In short, I wasn¡¯t sure of your intentions, so I decided to leave you be. The other Champions don¡¯t have anything as exciting as you going on, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Albrecht scooted back closer to the table and crossed his arms on it. ¡°My dear. Let¡¯s speak candidly, or at least as much as we can. I respect the position you¡¯re in, after all. I¡¯m not sure how much you¡¯ve heard from Ash or the others, but the more you give, the more I can give.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve told me little,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°Only that you¡¯re a bit older than you look.¡± Albrecht smiled and ran his fingers through his snow white hair. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been around awhile. Too long, I would say. But they told it true. I am the last king of the Guardians, from the age of the Great War.¡± Cynthia pursed her lips and tried to keep a poker face, but it was tough to do when the man in front of her had basically just confessed to being immortal. The only thing that kept her from immediately blurting out a string of questions was the knowledge that he was also a Guardian. To the Aura wielders of Rota, even something like a human¡¯s natural lifespan was a rule to be bent. She¡¯d met a few Guardians who looked younger than they actually were before, but only by a decade or two at most. Albrecht¡¯s feat was legendary. ¡°What do you want?¡± she eventually asked, reaching for her tea. At this point, it¡¯d be rude to continue refusing. Albrecht let her question hang for almost a minute. He clearly wanted to give her a satisfactory answer. ¡°I want peace. That¡¯s one of the reasons I sent the Champions where I did.¡± Before Cynthia could ask a follow up, or even process his answer, he rounded on her. ¡°What do you want, Lady Champion?¡± What do I want? Cynthia repeated in her mind. Can I tell him? The more she talked with him, the more trustworthy and good he seemed. It almost made her wonder why she¡¯d been so wary about him in the first place. No, she knew why she didn¡¯t trust him initially. She didn¡¯t trust him because she was led to believe he was untrustworthy. He said he wants peace. What does that even mean? Peace between who? But the moment she thought about it, she knew. It was the same conflict she herself was so interested in. The shadow war between the string-pullers. The war she¡¯d joined, that she¡¯d been desperately trying to gain an upper hand in. Till now, she¡¯d been waging her war off instinct alone, based on the movements of the other players. Reactively. When the sharks moved, she responded to the currents that rippled out. This strategy had forced her to play a role she didn¡¯t necessarily want to play. But here was a chance to take a leap of faith. Do you? Albrecht had asked. Do you serve me? The answer was no. She served herself. No one else. She pursued her own goal. And that goal was¡­ ¡°I want to win the war,¡± she finally said. ¡°Oh?¡± Albrecht said, a glint in his eyes. ¡°And what war would that be?¡± ¡°The Great War, of course,¡± she said. ¡°It never ended, did it?¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°Very good. Yes, you¡¯re right. AZ and I should be proof enough. The Calamity put things on ice for a time, but humans are feckless creatures. Once we learned about true power, nothing could stop us. The proverbial fire could not be extinguished.¡± Cynthia frowned, raising a finger to her lip in thought. Then she glanced back up at Albrecht. ¡°The Plates of Arceus?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± His confirmation dropped several more puzzle pieces into place in her mind. ¡°There¡¯s something more to them¡­ The Great War was fought over them?¡± She glanced up again at Albrecht for his response. ¡°Right again,¡± he smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re so knowledgeable about the Great War so I don¡¯t have to relitigate the entire thing again.¡± He must¡¯ve explained the whole thing from start to finish from Ash and the others. ¡°So you and AZ were fighting over the Plates. And then AZ used one of them to enact the Calamity?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the idea,¡± Albrecht sighed. ¡°But we weren¡¯t exactly fighting over the Plates. It was more like the Guardians were trying to protect them from him.¡± Protecting them? He said the Great War hasn¡¯t ended. Which means there are still people out there vying for the Plates. But AZ¡¯s been in prison all this time, and Albrecht only recently became a big deal. Which means he¡¯s been in hiding, or at least not acting on the world stage. So neither of them are still going after them. But who¡­? Cynthia¡¯s eyes widened. She couldn¡¯t help it. But she quickly recomposed herself, pushing her initial thought to the back of her mind. ¡°AZ¡¯s reappearance. And your ascension to World Champion. Neither of them have anything to do with the Great War, do they? It revolved around Rota and Kalos three thousand years ago, but your participation ended. It moved on without you.¡± Albrecht clapped his gloved hands together. ¡°You are a menace of brilliance. You¡¯re right again. Rota and Kalos are insignificant actors now. What exists between AZ and me now is purely personal. A three thousand year old revenge that has little, if anything, to do with the Plates.¡± He turned to face the grassy expanse of Rota stretching out beside them. ¡°I understand it¡¯s your job to report your findings to the International Police, and then some, but if this old man could make one request, I¡¯d ask you to allow me to end this on my own terms.¡± ¡°What does that entail?¡± ¡°AZ will be coming here soon,¡± Alrebcht said very matter-of-factly. ¡°And when he does, I think it¡¯d be best if Interpol doesn¡¯t get involved. You¡¯ll have my word that the Champions will stay away too. I¡¯ll even give you the order this time.¡± ¡°No deal, to that last part. I will be here. As will the Paragon Organization. You may want to settle things with AZ yourself, but he isn¡¯t coming alone. And if it¡¯s like you say, then all of Kanto is in grave danger.¡± Cynthia shook her head. ¡°No, the whole world, perhaps.¡± Albrecht frowned. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said we¡¯re staying here,¡± she said firmly. ¡°No, before that. The name of your group. The Paragon Organization?¡± ¡°Yes. Have you heard of us?¡± Albrecht turned away again, in thought. ¡°No,¡± he eventually said, without looking back. After another lengthy pause, he continued. ¡°Very well. Do what you will. I¡¯ll maintain the same policy as before. You can act as you see fit. I¡¯ll not interfere. But until AZ arrives, Ash will continue working with me.¡± ¡°And why would I allow that? What is it you¡¯re doing with him? You still haven¡¯t told me.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s best if he told you himself,¡± Albrecht said, flicking his head behind Cynthia. She turned. Ash was standing behind her, Pikachu on his shoulder, and his Lucario at his side. Dirt and sweat matted his face, but he seemed well enough. ¡°Yo, Cynthia,¡± he said, throwing up a hand. Next ¡ª Chapter 27 : Calm Before The Storm
A plot hole has been sitting in the story for some time now, which I just corrected. It¡¯s nothing too major, but if there¡¯s any confusion, feel free to PM me. Remnants of the Great War [18] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [18] Chapter 27 : Calm Before The Storm
¡°I see,¡± Cynthia said coolly. ¡°So the Electric Plate has been within you this whole time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for keeping it from you,¡± Ash said, clapping his hands together. ¡°And for disobeying orders.¡± Over the past hour, Ash had explained everything about the Plates and Platebearers he¡¯d learned from Albrecht. The World Champion himself had left to give them some privacy, though Cynthia wished he would¡¯ve stuck around so she could ask him follow up questions. Nevertheless, this conversation had been most illuminating. She wasn¡¯t particularly upset that Ash had hidden this from her, despite the fact that this was essentially the missing link between all the conflicts at the top of the world that she¡¯d witnessed ever since becoming Sinnoh¡¯s Champion. After all, she still had her own secret too. Though it would have to come out sooner or later. ¡°Well, even if you¡¯d told me a few days ago, there isn¡¯t much I would¡¯ve done differently. But since things did turn out this way, I will chastise you a little. I know I said you¡¯d be in danger if you joined Paragon, but I didn¡¯t expect you to throw yourself headfirst into it.¡± Ash looked down in his chair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he repeated quietly. ¡°It¡¯s a delicate balance,¡± Cynthia said, tapping her teacup. ¡°Believe me when I say I understand the draw toward the unknown. At the level we¡¯re at, there are things only we can see, and we are inexorably drawn to them. As a trainer myself, I understand why you¡¯d chase down AZ so fervently. But our strength also comes with a responsibility. Not only to others, but to ourselves. We possess a great gift, and we should feel compelled to protect that gift. If you had died, Ash, then all the good you may have done in the future would¡¯ve been snuffed out before it could happen. Not to mention, the suffering that would befall your friends and family if you were to die. Your pok¨¦mon, too.¡± Pikachu was elsewhere right now, but Ash instinctively reached at his shoulder. ¡°I understand.¡± Cynthia sighed and wiped her fingers on her napkin. ¡°Now, that¡¯s enough of that. I sound like my grandmother.¡± She shuddered, and Ash smiled slightly. ¡°So, after encountering AZ and now Albrecht, and experiencing the power of the Plates firsthand, do you think you¡¯re beginning to figure out how to use it?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah!¡± Ash exclaimed, grinning. He clenched his fist. ¡°I had it all wrong when I first went up against AZ. I mean, I figured out how to create electricity and stuff, but that¡¯s like the bare minimum for the bearer of the Electric Plate, right?¡± ¡°I suppose I would expect more than just you turning yourself into Pikachu 2.0.¡± ¡°Not even that, but a worse one! Pikachu can do way more damage than I can manage now when he gets serious! I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d ever be able to use a Thunderbolt or Volt Tackle as well as him no matter how much I train. But that¡¯s just it.¡± He turned over his palm and conjured several strands of electricity that snapped between his fingers. ¡°I need to use this power as a human, not as a pok¨¦mon.¡± Cynthia frowned. ¡°You mean like the Guardians?¡± ¡°Sort of. Albrecht said he¡¯d be training me similar to how a Guardian would. But the analogy he used was that the power of the Plates is like a broadsword, but the power of the Guardians is like a kitchen knife. Basically, the Guardians can manipulate Aura, but only in basic ways. The Guardians can¡¯t mold Aura into elemental attacks, which is something even the weakest pok¨¦mon can do effortlessly. That¡¯s why we usually just see them using Aura Spheres or conjuring shields.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying the Plate allows you to mold Aura into electric-type attacks?¡± ¡°For starters. But right now, I¡¯m focusing on just building the energy from the Plate and containing it within my body. That¡¯s how AZ has kept himself from getting killed all this time. Once I¡¯m able to build and maintain power without it weakening me too much, then I¡¯ll move on to applying it.¡± Ash tapped his head. ¡°The important thing, though, is still using my head. I am still a human after all, a trainer.¡± ¡°What has our blessed World Champion unleashed upon the world?¡± Cynthia smirked. ¡°An Ash that uses his head?¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Very funny. Once I¡¯m controlling entire storms and changing the weather with my mind, I bet I won¡¯t see you laughing then!¡± ¡°Lofty ambitions, as always,¡± Cynthia said, standing. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, then. I should really go see Anabel now.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, right,¡± Ash said, his mood dampened. Just one look at his face and it was clear he bore guilt for what had happened. Remember this feeling, Ash. That acid in your stomach that makes you forget why you ever decided to walk this path in the first place. That makes you want to leave everything behind. Remember it. If you stay this course, it won¡¯t be the last time you see a loved one get hurt. Before he could apologize again, Cynthia got up and strode back inside, and pulled a maid aside to ask about Anabel¡¯s whereabouts. She figured he¡¯d be back in the spirit of things soon, but to have something so bloody happen right in front of him¡­it was jarring to say the least. Even Cynthia felt a twinge of nervousness as she ascended the stairs toward the medical room. Sabrina hadn¡¯t sent any pictures, so she had no idea what to expect. She could only expect the worst. After counting the doors down the hall and finding the right one, she took a deep breath and knocked. Several seconds passed by before the door cracked open, and Sabrina¡¯s face popped through. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Cynthia greeted. ¡°May I see her?¡± The psychic pulled the door open some more and let her in. Inside, it looked like a typical, if not slightly old-fashioned, hospital room. Between the medieval aesthetic and the fact that they were in Rota, Cynthia had honestly expected something a little more fantastical. But the women hunched over Anabel were in stark white nurse¡¯s uniforms, and they were checking on various monitors surrounding Anabel, without a dash of Aura in sight. I guess even in Rota, you stop bleeding with bandages. True to what she¡¯d been told, Anabel¡¯s right arm was gone. Her shoulder was wrapped in bandages and she was asleep, breathing softly as her nurses worked around her. Cynthia almost shuddered, but walked across the room to her side confidently. Right now, she was in public, in front of one of her subordinates, no less. She had an image to maintain. Sabrina took her seat again beside Anabel, and grabbed the prone girl''s hand. The skin was red, and Cynthia figured she must have been holding it all morning. ¡°The painkillers put her to sleep¡­ She¡¯s barely eaten anything¡­,¡± Sabrina murmured. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, she¡¯s getting all the nutrients she needs and then some via intravenous,¡± one of the nurses said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady Sabrina. On my loyalty to Master Albrecht, your friend will be just fine.¡± The nurse met Cynthia¡¯s gaze and nodded, and Cynthia gave her a reassuring smile. She nodded down at the young psychic, and the nurse seemed to understand. She whispered to her peer and they both left quietly, leaving Sabrina and Cynthia alone. ¡°When did you last sleep, Sabrina?¡± Cynthia asked once they were gone. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her response was immediate and dismissive. Cynthia pursed her lips. Normally, Sabrina did whatever was asked of her without argument. To be honest, Cynthia had never seen, much less had to deal with this side of her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some rest? I¡¯ll watch over her for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll stay.¡± She was being unexpectedly obstinate. But her disheveled hair and dark circles around her eyes were clear physical indicators that she was anything but fine. And her gauntlets betrayed her mental state as well. Initially, Cynthia had tried to ignore Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets, knowing how insecure they made her feel since they reacted to every slight change in her emotions. But after spending so much time around her, she¡¯d begun to pick up on what their movements meant involuntarily. Right now, they were spinning slowly, but trembling frenetically. She was almost at her breaking point. Cynthia paced around Sabrina¡¯s chair and knelt down beside her. Sabrina glanced her way, but didn¡¯t let go of Anabel¡¯s hand. Surprisingly, Sabrina spoke up on her own. ¡°I could¡¯ve stopped it, you know?¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°And how do you figure that?¡± Cynthia said, cutting in before she could continue. She didn¡¯t want to grant the girl even a moment to wallow in regret. Nothing good would come of it. ¡°I heard you were knocked unconscious before it even happened.¡± ¡°I could¡¯ve¡­I could¡¯ve¡­¡± Sabrina¡¯s breaths came quick and short, and her gauntlets began to whir and they spun. ¡°I saw the attack coming¡­I felt his intentions. But to stop it, I knew¡­¡± She trailed off, clutching Anabel¡¯s hand even tighter. I need to end this line of thinking now. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you something for a little while now, Sabrina,¡± Cynthia said. She stood and walked behind Sabrina¡¯s chair, forcing the girl to turn her attention away from Anabel. But she still didn¡¯t let go. ¡°My Spiritomb brought something to my attention a couple months ago. It noticed a small needle embedded in my mind, made of psychic energy. Nearly imperceptible, but completely benign. Would you happen to know anything about that?¡± Almost immediately, the color drained from Sabrina¡¯s face, and her gauntlets jerked suddenly, spinning much faster. ¡°Oh no¡­,¡± she breathed. Her eyes slowly traveled up Cynthia¡¯s body until she met her gaze. Cynthia put up a hand. ¡°Please don¡¯t try anything. I¡¯m not angry. I just want the truth.¡± To prove her point, a murky haze of ghostly energy outlined her body for just a moment, but Cynthia knew Sabrina would catch it and understand. Spiritomb was protecting her now. ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± Sabrina stuttered. Cynthia reached out and rested her hand on Sabrina¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Please¡­you don¡¯t need to be afraid of me. I¡¯m not your mother.¡± The moment those words left her lips, Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets froze, then calmed, noticeably. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes. After a minute, she opened them again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. It just tells me where you are,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cynthia rubbed the back of her head. ¡°How long has it been there?¡± ¡°Since we met.¡± Cynthia counted down the years mentally, and all the places she¡¯d been since. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ll remove it right now.¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia said, putting up her hand. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. I trust you have your reasons for doing it.¡± She dropped her hand and turned away. ¡°But, if the others have something similar, you might consider removing theirs. They may not be okay with it like I am.¡± ¡°Ah¡ªah! Okay!¡± she said, a little louder than she probably wanted to. Cynthia began walking away. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Anabel to you. But please get some rest. If not for your sake, then for hers. I¡¯m sure she¡¯d be very angry with you if she found out you¡¯d hurt yourself looking over her.¡± She opened the door and shut it quietly behind her, then exhaled. Well, that was that figured out at least. In truth, she''d basically deduced what the needle¡¯s purpose was two months ago. Sabrina Natsume was a girl starved for something she¡¯d been deprived of nearly her entire childhood. She was broken, and it was obvious. And that disrepair manifested in twisted ways like this. With Paragon, Cynthia had hoped to help her, and offer a new sense of normalcy for her, separate from the pain of her past. But it seemed she still had a ways to go. Paragon did provide a new normal for her, but she seemed to want to bury her blemishes and hide them from her new friends, rather than confront them directly. But Cynthia couldn¡¯t blame her. It was a terrible existence she¡¯d been living when Cynthia first met her. And she could guess what the young psychic was going to say before she cut her off. To stop AZ, she would¡¯ve had to become what her mother accused her of. A monster. Now that she¡¯d checked up on Anabel, Cynthia was content, for the time being. Of course, having Anabel down an arm and bedridden was an awful situation, especially with AZ on the move, but at least it felt like they were making progress. As she¡¯d suspected, Albrecht did have a lot to hide, and she was glad she¡¯d invested the time in him. Her and Ash seemed to be back on the same page as well, and she¡¯d just gotten word from N earlier this morning that he and Zinnia had narrowed down their search for the secret entrances to AZ¡¯s hideout to two main locations: Shalour City to the north and Cyllage City to the south. For the time being, she decided she¡¯d remain here. He clearly knew she had alternative motives, but seemed willing to accommodate them, as long as they didn¡¯t jeopardize Rota in any way. And in that sense, he actually seemed grateful that Paragon would be sticking around. Obviously, he was invested in Ash, and according to Ash, he¡¯d become the World Champion solely to get him here and set him on the path of a Platebearer. Cynthia had noticed his interest in Ash two years ago, and made it clear to him that he was hers, but frankly, the lengths he was willing to go far exceeded her expectations. And in the end, it was he who had provided Ash with answers to his many questions, not her. In fact, he¡¯d even answered some of her own questions. Including the nature of the war at the top. And she had a pretty good idea who, of those she knew, was an active participant in it. But there was one thing that had taken her off guard. During their conversation, unexpectedly, he¡¯d reacted to the name of the Paragon Organization. He¡¯d said he didn¡¯t recognize the name, but he clearly knew something. Cynthia¡¯s instincts told her he was telling the truth, but if he was, then she had no clue why he would¡¯ve reacted that way. And she doubted he¡¯d tell her if she asked. At the end of the day, he was clearly still wary of her, just like she was of him. For the time being, it seemed they both considered it wise to keep their enemies close. Especially enemies of enemies.
An hour after Cynthia left, Anabel woke up. Sabrina¡¯s eyelids had drooped shut, when she was suddenly jerked awake at Anabel¡¯s hand crushing her hand in its grip. Anabel¡¯s eyes were squeezed shut and her teeth were clenched in agony as she stifled a cry. Sabrina stood to get the nurse, but Anabel yanked her back. ¡°No!¡± she bit out. She took several labored but deep breaths. ¡°I-I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, sweat glistening on her skin. ¡°Please, let them help you,¡± Sabrina pleaded, her eyes shimmering. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Anabel repeated, with a soft smile. ¡°Thank you for staying with me.¡± Sabrina wiped her eyes with her sleeve. ¡°Of course,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Anabel breathed. Sabrina noticed her body trembling. She was still in pain. ¡°Can you do something for me?¡± ¡°Anything,¡± Sabrina said, clasping her other hand on Anabel¡¯s. Anabel took a few more unsteady breaths. ¡°Can you check something in your room for me real quick? This bed is so uncomfortable¡­it¡¯s so thin. Can you tell me what yours feels like? If it¡¯s better than mine¡­I¡¯m gonna tear into those nurses¡­I don¡¯t want you to see that.¡± She rolled her head over to face Sabrina. ¡°Will you do that for me?¡± Sabrina''s lip quivered, but after a few seconds, she nodded. She gave Anabel¡¯s hand one last squeeze before standing up and slowly walking to the door. She spun around to get one last look, and Anabel was smiling weakly back at her. She offered a weak smile of her own and slipped out, closing the door gently behind her. She took a step to the side and waited. After a few seconds, it started again. A miasma of despair emanated from the room behind Sabrina and sunk into her bones. This happened every time she left. Without her there, Anabel was free to let the dam break. Sabrina pressed her ear against the wall. Sure enough, about a minute later, she began to hear a faint whimpering, along with coughs and sniffles into a pillow. Tears welled up in Sabrina¡¯s eyes and she clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from making any noise herself. Oh, Anabel. You can¡¯t get rid of me that easily! I¡¯ll be back with you in just a moment! She raced down the hall to get an answer to Anabel¡¯s stupid request.
Later that night, after dinner, Albrecht¡¯s staff prepared a room for Cynthia as well, a room, she noticed, was on the opposite side of the manor from Ash, Anabel, and Sabrina¡¯s. She¡¯d walked around the manor earlier in the day to get a lay of the land and it seemed like Albrecht¡¯s master bedroom was about the same distance away, so maybe she¡¯d be able to rest easy. Though that didn¡¯t stop her from almost ordering Spiritomb to keep watch on them. But, Albrecht had opened his home to her and been forthright about everything she¡¯d asked him, so she stayed her hand. Plus, he was a Guardian, and clearly in another class of trainer in his own right. It was dubious to begin with whether or not she¡¯d be able to get away with something like that without him noticing. As always, much to her chagrin, she had to play along. After a long, steamy shower in the adjacent bathroom, she returned to her room in a bathrobe and found that Spiritomb had returned with a suitcase of her belongings. She hadn¡¯t expected to stay here for an extended period of time, but since Albrecht had offered, who was she to refuse? It was lucky her ghost could travel to and from Paragon Island at any distance. Ghosts-types were different from most other pok¨¦mon, and they could sink into and travel through a realm of their own, with different physical laws than the material world. And the more evil a ghost, the more powerful it was. For a monster with as many malicious souls within it as Spiritomb, instant travel across an entire ocean was a simple task. As she changed into her nightwear, she saw an ultra ball resting on the bedside table, and walked over to it. It was hers, of course. But it had only just become occupied earlier today. While Ash was training in Albrecht¡¯s backyard, and the World Champion had gone off to speak with the queen of Rota, Cynthia had taken the opportunity to venture through the woods of Rota. It was an aimless journey, really. She really just wanted some fresh air and some time to think. And on her way, she¡¯d decided to catch a new pok¨¦mon, something she hadn¡¯t done in years. The Guardians were strong, but the wilds in Rota were pretty low-level. The ones in the Tree of Beginnings were stronger, but entrance into that sacred place was barred to outsiders, and Cynthia wasn¡¯t looking for anything in particular anyway. She picked it up and released her new companion onto her bed. Her Spearow appeared in a flash and cocked its head at her, before taking a look around the room. Cynthia smiled and brushed its head with her finger. Since she¡¯d used an ultra ball, she hadn¡¯t needed to injure it at all before it caught, and in the brief time they¡¯d spent together, Spearow had already warmed up to her. Then her phone buzzed, and she picked it up. The screen awoke, a single notification displayed. A text message. One Cynthia had been expecting all day. Dreading all day. Upon seeing it, her chest turned to stone. Spearow flapped up from the bed and landed on her shoulder, peering down at her phone alongside her. The Great War never ended, she recited in her head. But Albrecht and AZ both backed out. Which means others have carried it on in their stead, continuing to vie for Arceus¡¯ Plates. From Zelda Leora: Pull out of Rota now. Cynthia closed her eyes, as if that would make the message go away. She slept her phone and put it facedown on the bedside table. After that, she turned off the lights and climbed into bed. It was dark, but she felt Spearow cozy up beside her. I¡¯m sorry, Miss Leora. It seems this is where we part ways. Next ¡ª Chapter 28 : Storm Before The Storm
Remnants of the Great War [19] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [19] Chapter 28 : Storm Before The Storm
It was a bright day out in Rota again. Ash had gotten an early start, beginning with his usual jog around the World Champion¡¯s property. He returned to find breakfast ready for him in the dining hall, but again, there was no one to join him, and he ate alone. As expected, Cynthia slept nearly till noon. Taking advantage of the lull in her busy schedule, Ash supposed. And as he¡¯d learned at dinner last night, Sabrina had crashed earlier yesterday afternoon after watching over Anabel for so long, and Ash still hadn¡¯t seen her at all today. All and all, it meant a quiet morning for Ash and Albrecht to dedicate to their Platebearer training. With the threat of AZ on the horizon, Ash had once again switched around his roster. Although type matchups had largely become irrelevant at his level of trainer, since he could comfortably engage with any pok¨¦mon with any of his own regardless of type, he still thought it¡¯d be wise to use a different flyer than Dragonite for now. He¡¯d gotten one-shot by AZ, even through his Multiscale, so clearly types still mattered. In place of Dragonite¡¯s powerhouse offense, Charizard was on his way. Venusaur and Lucario were still onboard as checks, and they were both training their poison and steel moves respectively in a different part of the valley. Though thinking about them made Ash remember a certain request from his Lucario. ¡°Hey, Albrecht, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, d¡¯you think I can head over to Cameran Palace later today?¡± Ash asked. ¡°My Lucario is actually the younger brother of a Guardian friend of mine and he wanted to say hi while we were in the area.¡± The World Champion crossed his arms. ¡°Hmmm, I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s wise.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I spoke with Queen Ilene yesterday and told her everything I told you. As you can imagine, she was quite shell-shocked to learn who I truly am, and she demanded a royal banquet be organized immediately. I talked her out of that, but she did insist I stay for dinner with her at the Palace, which is why I was absent last night, and I apologize for that. But ultimately we decided it would be the wisest course of action if my presence and identity remain hidden from the rest of the Guardians, for the time being. As I understand, she¡¯s actually calling a meeting of all her top advisors and captains later today to discuss AZ¡¯s imminent attack, and she plans to summon all the Guardians from around the world back here to defend their home. The time will eventually come for all to be revealed, but there¡¯s no sense in causing a panic before we¡¯re ready. For the time being, I¡¯d prefer you and your friends to remain here, so as not to cause undue excitement.¡± Ash nodded. ¡°I guess that makes sense. But couldn¡¯t AZ attack any time? He could attack today, or tomorrow for all we know, before the Guardians even get here.¡± ¡°That is true, but I don¡¯t think he will. Like us, he still needs time to gather his forces. Taking into account the secrecy of his journey here, and how quickly he left, I suspect it¡¯ll be at least two or three months until he¡¯d even consider launching a full-scale attack on Rota.¡± ¡°Which means I have two months to get ready to face him again,¡± Ash said, clenching his fist. Albrecht turned to Ash. ¡°Your gusto is admirable, and appreciated. But Rota is my home. And the home of the Guardians. It is our duty to defend it.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you thought I was the one who¡¯d use the Plates to end the conflicts of the world?¡± Ash asked. ¡°That I did,¡± Albrecht smiled. ¡°But this quarrel with AZ is a fight that should have ended three thousand years ago. AZ is a sad old man coming back to haunt the present. If I can help it, you won¡¯t need to concern yourself with him.¡± He rubbed his fingers. ¡°Allow me to finish what I started long ago.¡± As much as Ash wanted another shot at AZ, especially as revenge for Anabel, there was a certain poignance in Albrecht¡¯s tone that made him relent. It was clearly a personal matter for Albrecht. ¡°By the way, I did end up asking Queen Ilene about Zagreus,¡± Albrecht continued. ¡°First, she asked me to apologize to Sabrina on her behalf. I imagine your friend may have been a bit frustrated after hearing the Queen¡¯s paltry explanation, but the truth of Zagreus¡¯ crime is strictly confidential for a good reason.¡± Ash frowned, listening intently. ¡°Zagreus was the name of a Guardian who was obsessed with power. It seems he was quite the knave back in the day, but his antics weren¡¯t yet malicious in nature. However, he apparently disappeared from Rota shortly after the Great War began.¡± He walked over and sat on a rock, facing away from Ash. ¡°The truth is, I¡¯ve wondered for quite some time what exactly caused AZ to change so abruptly. What would compel him to create a weapon powered by the lifeforce of pok¨¦mon? After speaking with Queen Ilene, I may finally have an answer. You see, the Great War began for the Guardians after we received word that AZ had massacred a countless number of pok¨¦mon. At the time, we thought he¡¯d gone mad. After all, it was an unprecedented act, and entirely uncharacteristic of the benevolent Kalosian Empire. However, after the war ended, the Guardians began an exhaustive investigation into AZ and the remains of his empire, as part of their search for his ultimate weapon. At this time, I had already recused myself from the Guardians so I was not privy to their findings. But the investigation concluded, among other things, that Zagreus was the one who¡¯d told AZ how to harvest Aura from pok¨¦mon. That is his crime.¡± Ash was speechless. ¡°Why in the world would he do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know. I never knew the man personally, but from what little records remain of him, it remains unclear how he benefited from allying with AZ. If he desired power, he didn¡¯t get it by spilling secrets about Aura. And if he hated the Guardians for some reason, I imagine he would¡¯ve made a move against Rota some time in the past three thousand years.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going after the Plates, we know that much,¡± Ash said. ¡°And it doesn¡¯t seem like he has any yet.¡± ¡°If he desires power, the Plates are an excellent place to find it,¡± Albrecht agreed. ¡°But I sense there¡¯s more at play than just that. We¡¯re missing a piece.¡± Albrecht turned and smiled. ¡°All this scheming and plotting has never been my strong suit.¡± ¡°Ha ha, me neither,¡± Ash grinned. He stretched his arms and hunkered down. ¡°Now, let¡¯s continue!¡± In front of Ash, Emboar smashed his fists together and grinned. ¡°You still want to go with what you told me earlier, eh?¡± Albrecht mused. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to do, I¡¯d be very careful about how you do it. If you don¡¯t have adept control over your power, you could end up causing far more harm than good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly the type of strategies we love!¡± Ash said, electricity crackling between his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s our style!¡± Over the next several hours, Ash continued to work with his pok¨¦mon as he trained his abilities as a Platebearer. Albrecht watched intently and offered pointers every now and then, but remained passive for the most part. Eventually, Ash¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, and when they broke for lunch, he decided to ask Albrecht about it. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be more hands on if I¡¯m being honest,¡± Ash chuckled as he munched on a sandwich. It was good, but it tasted a little too gourmet for such a casual meal. He preferred Sylvester¡¯s. His pok¨¦mon ate from bowls on the grass. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯d not dare interfere,¡± Albrecht said, waving his hand. ¡°The power you have¡­it¡¯s not so dissimilar to training pok¨¦mon. I could tell you how I might use it, but just as a trainer asserts his own style of battle for his team, you must also develop your own path for how you wish to use your Plate. You have a font of power at your fingertips, but you will only reach your own fullest potential if you wield it in the way that best suits your style, as you said.¡± ¡°I guess that makes sense. Though I guess I am curious about how you used your Plate. Especially during something like the Great War.¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t bear any Plate by the time the war began,¡± Albrecht chuckled. ¡°My stint with the Plates was a youthful folly. I expelled its power shortly after I first touched it.¡± Ash frowned. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could do that.¡± ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Albrecht nodded. ¡°That is how the Plates can pass from one to another. A Platebearer can surrender it willingly.¡± ¡°So what happened to yours, then?¡± Albrecht smiled, a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Oh, I still have them. All three.¡± Ash¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You had three Plates at once?!¡± With just one, he already felt so powerful. He couldn¡¯t even imagine carrying a second, much less three. ¡°I still have them, but they¡¯re hidden away where no one could ever find them. With the Great War on the horizon and AZ on the hunt for the Plates, you can imagine how imperative it was that I make them disappear.¡± Ash gulped and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. I guess it makes sense why he¡¯d attack Cameran Palace directly.¡± ¡°The fighting here was brutal,¡± Albrecht agreed. Then he frowned. ¡°When you were here with your friends, you glimpsed that battle through the Time Flowers, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ash¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I did! But I had no idea that that was from the Great War!¡± ¡°Yes, the Time Flowers that grow around Cameran Palace chronicle many significant events in Guardian history. And few are more consequential than that battle.¡± ¡°I remember hearing the story of Sir Aaron,¡± Ash said. ¡°How he and his Lucario sacrificed themselves to save Rota.¡± Albrecht¡¯s eyes glazed over and he gazed at the blue sky wistfully. ¡°Yes¡­ Sir Aaron. The incessant fighting had begun to affect the health of the nearby Tree of Beginning, which the Guardians are charged to protect. It was an unacceptable fate to allow the Tree to fall. Sir Aaron¡¯s deed allowed the Guardians to gain the upper hand and rout the attacking Kalosian army. They surely would¡¯ve returned with an even greater force¡­ But then AZ¡¯s weapon fell upon the east, and that was the end of that.¡± Ash swallowed. Even just seeing the battle through the Time Flower, he remembered how visceral the fighting was on both sides. And through the magic of the Flower, it felt like he was actually there. He still remembered the heat of war, the cries of fury, and the stench of blood and dust. ¡°Why is the Tree of Beginning so important to the Guardians anyway?¡± Ash eventually asked. ¡°I know a Mew lives in it, and it has a ton of pok¨¦mon living there, but it sounds like it¡¯s important to the Guardians for other reasons.¡± Albrecht nodded. ¡°You¡¯re exactly right. The Tree holds an elevated significance to the Guardians. It is where all the pok¨¦mon in our world originate. Arceus was the first pok¨¦mon, of course, but apparently, pok¨¦mon did not begin to inhabit this world until Arceus descended from the heavens and incarnated here. The Tree of Beginning marks the spot where Arceus first stepped, and thus, pok¨¦mon came to be. The Tree has a storied history from then on, but that is where it gets its name.¡± ¡°I see. So I guess the reason the Guardians are called the Guardians is because you¡¯re literally guarding the Tree of Beginning?¡± ¡°Yes, I suppose so,¡± Albrecht laughed. ¡°Though the Guardians protect many things, be it the natural world, our fellow man, and the bond between people and pok¨¦mon. But yes, protecting the Tree is quite high on the list. After all, it isn¡¯t just that pok¨¦mon originated from the tree. Many energies flow throughout the Tree even now. For example, did you know that Mega Evolution stones also first appeared within the Tree? And relatively recently too, I might add.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Ash exclaimed. ¡°Before the stones, people achieved Mega Evolution by forging an unbreakable bond with their pok¨¦mon, so tight that their very souls seemed to meld together. But that meant the fate of one decided the fate of the other. One could not live without the other, and in an age of such rampant violence, many pok¨¦mon lost their lives due to the deaths of their trainers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Ash said. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to imagine my death causing the death of any of my pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°However, some time ago, the Mega Evolution stones started to appear, first in the Tree of Beginning, and then in secluded places across the world. By using the stones, the former penalties of Mega Evolution have are passed off, so to speak, and one can wield Mega Evolution safely without compromising the safety of trainer or pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Hmm, I wonder if there¡¯s any difference between the two different kinds of Mega Evolution,¡± Ash wondered aloud. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°There are old clans who mislike the use of Mega Stones, calling them blasphemy. The Draconids in Hoenn are one such group. But if anything, I¡¯d say it shows the fortitude of the bond between people and pok¨¦mon, that trainers continued to pursue Mega Evolution in spite of the heavy consequences. Perhaps Arceus above gifted us with the stones after persevering for so long. That¡¯s my theory, at least.¡± Ash smiled. ¡°I like that.¡± As always, talking with Albrecht filled Ash¡¯s head to the brim, and Albrecht seemed to understand that, as he didn¡¯t say another word for the rest of lunch. After they were done, Ash excused himself to go check on his friends, and Albrecht politely bid him farewell. ¡°Do try and return quickly,¡± he called as Ash was heading back toward the house. ¡°Your stratagem won¡¯t be mastered overnight!¡± ¡°I will!¡± Ash replied. But he was worried. It was now afternoon and he still hadn¡¯t seen Sabrina. At least Cynthia had popped outside earlier, watched him train for a bit, then head off into the forest. Although it wasn¡¯t exactly unusual for Sabrina to hole up in her room, Ash still thought he should check on her. She¡¯d clearly taken Anabel¡¯s injury hard, and it¡¯d affected her enough to break her normally rock-solid stoicism. But after ascending the stairwell to the second floor and walking down the hallway that contained both of their bedrooms and Anabel¡¯s room, he ran right into her. Or more accurately, she¡¯d run right into him. ¡°Oof!¡± Sabrina said, clutching her head. ¡°Whoa, there you are!¡± Ash said. ¡°Where are you going in such a hurry?¡± Sabrina looked up at him, then looked away. ¡°Anabel.¡± She moved to get around him. ¡°Wait,¡± Ash said, grabbing her wrist gently. She stopped and turned, but he noticed her gauntlets flare, and he quickly let go. She stared up at him blankly, and he realized he didn¡¯t really know what to say. ¡°Where have you been all day?¡± he eventually asked. ¡°Sleeping,¡± she grumbled. ¡°She tricked me.¡± ¡°I guess you needed it,¡± Ash said, cracking a small smile to try and lighten her mood. ¡°It¡¯s past lunch time, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± she said, and she started walking away again. ¡°Wait!¡± Ash said, running to catch up to her. She jerked away from him, before he could touch her, but stopped all the same. ¡°Just wait for a second, please.¡± He took a few moments to catch his breath. ¡°What¡¯re going to do?¡± ¡°I need to watch over her.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Ash said. ¡°You don¡¯t. Sabrina, Anabel will be just fine. I¡¯m more worried about you right now. You missed dinner last night, and now breakfast and lunch today. That¡¯s basically a whole day without food.¡± As he said it, he noticed how pale and skinny she looked, even more so than usual. ¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Sabrina said curtly. ¡°Anabel is the one who¡¯s hurt! I¡¯m just¡ª¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ash said, frowning. He grabbed her wrist again. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s not important?¡± Sabrina looked away, her cheeks hot, though she looked more annoyed than embarrassed. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Ash said. ¡°You¡¯re important too, you know that, right?¡± Sabrina grit her teeth. She seemed upset, though at Ash or herself, Ash couldn¡¯t quite tell. Her eyes twitched and she yanked her hand out of Ash¡¯s grip. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± ¡°What?¡± Ash said, confused. ¡°But I just said it so clearly! You haven¡¯t eaten anything since yesterday so obviously you need to go and eat¡ª¡± ¡°Is food all you think about?¡± ¡°No, I was just thinking about you!¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes flicked over at him, burning with irritation. ¡°And why would you be doing that?¡± Ash¡¯s arm dropped as he processed what she¡¯d asked. He was speechless! ¡°Because we¡¯re friends,¡± he said softly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re going to Anabel now? How can you say you don¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about?¡± Sabrina dropped her arm too and she looked away again, taking deep breaths. Once she calmed down, she turned back to Ash and bowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This was all my fault.¡± ¡°Sabrina¡­ That¡¯s not what I¡ª¡° ¡°I think I understand what you mean, though, now,¡± she said, fidgeting with her hair. ¡°Just a little bit.¡± Her blush now was clearly from embarrassment. A smile dawned on Ash¡¯s face like the sun peeking through a cloud. ¡°Oh¡­oh, good! So that means you¡¯ll come and eat now, right?¡± ¡°I guess.¡± ¡°Great! I think they still have the ingredients out and stuff,¡± he said, walking back downstairs, Sabrina in tow. ¡°Sandwiches, but not as good as Sylvester¡¯s, of course. Oh, yeah, I gotta tell you about everything I¡¯ve been working on!¡± On the other side of the door, Anabel smiled. Thank you, Ash.
Back downstairs, the cooks had luckily still been at their stations as Ash had said, and at his request, they whipped up a meal for Sabrina and presented it to her in the dining room. Despite the fact that they¡¯d already been here for several days, Ash was still reminded at how surreal their situation was as he watched Sabrina casually eating a sandwich at the end of the table in the World Champion¡¯s grand dining hall. It actually made him a little self conscious, since he didn¡¯t have anything to eat, and had to sit there with the queen of introverts herself. Pikachu had returned from his own training, but was resting on the table, exhausted. But, Ash still wanted to stay here for her. No offense to her, but Anabel was hardly in any shape to support Sabrina after everything that had happened. If anything, spending so much time next to that severed arm probably only exacerbated Sabrina¡¯s feelings of guilt. Though, now that he thought about it, Ash realized that was probably the case for him. He¡¯d been subliminally avoiding spending too much time with Anabel. Every visit, he spent no longer than fifteen minutes with her. The sight of her arm simply tore Ash¡¯s insides to shreds. If Sabrina was spending too much time with Anabel, then Ash was the opposite. He was avoiding her. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t escaped from his encounter with AZ as unscathed as he initially thought. So really, talking with Sabrina here now, about little things, trivial things, meaningless things, was good for the both of them. Of course, Ash still did the vast majority of the talking. Just as she was finishing, Cynthia strolled in, and they both looked up. ¡°Oh, good, you¡¯re both here. We need to talk.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Nothing happened,¡± Cynthia said, sitting in one of the chairs next to them. ¡°I just got off the phone with N and Zinnia. They¡¯re making good progress in Kalos. They¡¯re both closing in on the entrance ways to AZ¡¯s hideout, it¡¯s just taking awhile since his men are so meticulous. It¡¯s no wonder they haven¡¯t been caught all this time.¡± ¡°Do they think they¡¯ll have found it in less than two months?¡± Ash asked. ¡°That was Albrecht¡¯s estimate for when AZ would be ready to attack.¡± Cynthia nodded, processing his statement. ¡°Yes, assuming nothing else comes up.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Two months, huh? That¡¯s very soon, all things considered.¡± ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s still enough time to get ready,¡± Ash protested. ¡°Is the International Police or the League sending anyone out here to help?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I came looking for you two for,¡± Cynthia said. She locked eyes with both of them. ¡°We¡¯re pulling out of Rota for now.¡± Ash glanced over at Sabrina, then back at Cynthia. ¡°What? Why?¡± Cynthia pursed her lips, seemingly considering how to phrase her response. ¡°As I understand it, the Guardians are taking point on the defense of Rota. Interpol has no jurisdiction here, and neither does the League.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re just abandoning them?¡± Ash asked incredulously. ¡°We¡¯re not abandoning them,¡± Cynthia said firmly. ¡°We¡¯re going to be keeping an eye on Rota from afar. Maintaining a bird¡¯s eye view of the situation, so to speak. Then, we will act accordingly.¡± Ash shook his head in disbelief. ¡°You still don¡¯t trust Albrecht. After everything? He saved our lives.¡± Cynthia glanced at Sabrina, but she was stoic, and her hands were beneath the table. ¡°Ash, I don¡¯t trust anyone right now. Except Paragon. You¡¯re the only ones I can trust.¡± Ash continued shaking his head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m hearing. You¡¯re going to let AZ attack Rota without even putting up a fight?¡± ¡°Ash, you heard what I said. If Rota needs our help, then we¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving because Interpol doesn¡¯t have jurisdiction here?! I¡¯ve never heard you say something so ridiculous!¡± ¡°Calm down. Haven¡¯t you disobeyed me enough already?¡± Cynthia snapped. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you all,¡± Ash said, standing up. Pikachu¡¯s ear perked up and he opened his eyes lazily. ¡°You¡¯ve lost your way.¡± At that, Cynthia cracked a tepid smile. ¡°Lost my way, huh? It¡¯s the opposite. Paragon is doing what it always should¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°Leaving Rota to fend for itself?¡± Ash demanded. ¡°Paragon was created to help people!¡± ¡°Wrong.¡± Cynthia stood up as well. Her smoky gaze seemed to cause the air in the room to thicken, and Ash found himself taking deeper breaths. ¡°Paragon was created by me, for me.¡± Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Even Sabrina couldn¡¯t hide her confusion, and her eye twitched. Cynthia sighed, and her gaze dropped. ¡°Paragon was born of my own selfishness. I had dreams and desires that I couldn¡¯t reach on my own. So I gathered talent to help me.¡± ¡°Help you do what?¡± Pikachu padded across the table and jumped up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder, sensing danger. Cynthia crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯ve known me a long time, Ash, surely you should know.¡± Ash thought for a moment, but it sounded absurd in his head. She was abandoning Rota for that? What did one have to do with the other? ¡°You want to discover the history of our world. But why do we have to leave Rota because of that?¡± ¡°You just learned yourself that the Great War, one of the most significant events to ever happen on this planet, began not because of border disputes or resource scarcity, but because of the Plates of Arceus. And yet every article and textbook on the subject reports the former. I would know, I¡¯ve read them all. Which means the history is a lie.¡± ¡°The Guardians didn¡¯t lie, they kept the truth about the Plates hidden to protect them from falling into the wrong hands!¡± Ash countered. ¡°This is bigger than the Guardians, Ash. For now, we need to pull back and assess the situation at large!¡± Ash sat back down. ¡°No. I won¡¯t leave.¡± Cynthia closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d say that.¡± A sheet of darkness burst out from behind Cynthia and engulfed the entire room. The table and chairs vanished, and the floor beneath them disappeared. The inky void surrounded them, churning and roaring all around them as they stood suspended in midair. Ash winced as the darkness raced around him. It was so cold he thought he¡¯d get frostbitten, but his body seemed fine. He grit his teeth and faced forward. Across an indescribable distance, Cynthia stood before them unmoving, her platinum blonde hair whipping around her, the only color in this deafening miasma. ¡°What is this¡­?!¡± he bit out. Beneath him, Pikachu had fallen off his shoulder, but was clinging to an unseen floor, trying to maintain his footing, one of his eyes clamped shut from the effort. Sabrina was behind them, and though he couldn¡¯t see her, Ash could hear her straining against the storm of darkness. ¡°Sabrina!¡± he yelled. Neon green pustules erupted from Cynthia¡¯s form, staining the void, and an otherworldly cackle echoed as they passed. Just as Ash felt like he was going to be ripped off the ¡°ground¡± and sent hurling away, the darkness began to recede back toward Cynthia. The howls of laughter quieted, and light once again flooded his vision as the floor once again materialized beneath him. He fell to his knees, panting. Beside him, Sabrina was crouching down, shivering. Pikachu took a step forward and snarled, electricity sparking on his fur. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for that,¡± Cynthia said. She was still standing, and was exactly as far away from them now as she was before. ¡°But my decision is final.¡± Beside her, Spiritomb shuddered and grinned. Ash glared up at her and stood. Then he frowned as he noticed where he was. Sunlight beamed through the windows around them, bathing them in a familiar warmth. ¡°This is Paragon Island. How¡­?¡± ¡°Spiritomb can teleport over long distances. I didn¡¯t want to have to do this, but it was the fastest way.¡± A million thoughts raced through Ash¡¯s head, bouncing off emotions of anger, confusion, and disbelief. ¡°What did you think would happen? Did you think we would abandon Rota without protest?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve become quite fond of the World Champion,¡± Cynthia noted. ¡°As expected, your emotions are clouding your judgment, Ash. Once you¡¯ve calmed down, I¡¯m going to summon N and Zinnia back, and then we¡¯ll talk about how to proceed. You said two months, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s plenty of time for us to clear things up, once and for all.¡± Ash was enraged. How dare she bring up Albrecht as an excuse to leave Rota behind! Riley was his friend too, and he¡¯d surely be partaking in the battle against AZ. But above all that, protecting Rota was the right thing to do. How didn¡¯t Cynthia see that? ¡°Cynthia? Ash? Sabrina?¡± Sylvester walked into the room, drying his hands on a towel tied around his waist. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± he asked, looking between them all, bewildered. Cynthia glanced over at him, but her attention quickly shifted back to Ash. ¡°Stay out of this,¡± she said curtly. ¡°She¡¯s ordered us out of Rota, leaving the Guardians to AZ,¡± Ash answered. Sylvester frowned. ¡°Is this true, Cynthia?¡± Cynthia bit her lip, scowling. ¡°Get back in the kitchen.¡± ¡°You are going to return, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sylvester asked, ignoring her. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Sylvester glanced at Ash, then Sabrina, then back at his cousin. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like you.¡± He tapped his chin. ¡°In fact, you¡¯ve been acting strangely for some time now, Cynthia.¡± He glanced over at Ash and Sabrina, as if considering what he was about to say in front of them. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking more and more flights to Alola, but the League HQ isn¡¯t there. The League hardly even has a presence there.¡± His expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to respect your privacy, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s all become far too unusual. What¡¯s in Alola, Cynthia?¡± Cynthia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything when everyone¡¯s here.¡± ¡°You¡­,¡± Ash murmured. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking orders from someone else this whole time?¡± Cynthia sighed, glancing between all of them. ¡°Ash, I¡¯m the same person you¡¯ve always known. You can trust me.¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t. The Cynthia I know would never abandon people in need like this. She wouldn¡¯t leave something as dangerous as AZ for others to deal with. She¡¯d face it head on.¡± He glanced down at Pikachu, then back up at her. ¡°I¡¯m returning to Rota. Whether you approve or not. But you¡¯re staying here.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Cynthia said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re calling the shots now?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± ¡°It sounds like you want a fight.¡± Ash met her gaze. ¡°Only if I have to.¡± Pikachu¡¯s cheeks crackled, and Spiritomb roared with silent laughter, those neon green souls roiling within him. Before Cynthia could respond, Sylvester took a step forward. ¡°Sorry, cousin, but I¡¯m with Ash. I trust you have a good reason for everything you¡¯re doing. But I can tell you¡¯ve thrown caution to the wind. You''re acting recklessly now. So forgive me, but I can¡¯t let you continue.¡± ¡°¡®Can¡¯t let me?¡¯¡± Cynthia repeated. She took a step toward him. ¡°And who are you to tell me what to do?¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯re you doing, Sylvester?¡± Ash said. Sylvester reached around and pulled something from his belt. ¡°Not to worry, Ash,¡± he said, his eyes never leaving Cynthia. ¡°In all the battles Cynthia and I have had over the years, she¡¯s never beaten me.¡± He enlarged his pok¨¦ball. ¡°Not even once.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 29 : The Board Before The Battle
Remnants of the Great War [20] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [20] Chapter 29 : The Board Before The Battle
Sinnoh Region - Paragon Island ¡°In all the battles Cynthia and I have had over the years, she¡¯s never beaten me. Not even once.¡± Sylvester grinned as he enlarged his pok¨¦ball. Despite the tension between him and Cynthia, Ash was momentarily distracted by Sylvester¡¯s proclamation. Not even once¡­? I hadn¡¯t even realized he was a trainer¡­ I thought he was just a breeder¡­ He glanced back at Sabrina, but the girl was stoic, and hadn¡¯t moved an inch after standing up. In front of them, a shadow hung over Cynthia¡¯s face, and she stood motionless, expressionless. Then the vein on her temple bulged and she smacked the pok¨¦ball out of Sylvester¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯ve been breeding pok¨¦mon to hard counter every single one of my pok¨¦mon ever since I left Celestic! Six Togekiss just to handle Garchomp, barely! You¡¯re raising a Charizard for Roserade right now, aren¡¯t you? After the Skarmory didn¡¯t work!¡± Her eyes were white with rage, and Ash sweatdropped. He¡¯d never seen her lose her cool like this. And so easily too. ¡°Hey!¡± Sylvester whined, scurrying over to pick up his pok¨¦ball. After scooping it up, he rounded back on his cousin. His cheeks were tinted pink. ¡°Heh. Heh heh! Well, a win is a win, is it not? And you¡¯ve never procured one from me!¡± The corners of his mouth twitched up. ¡°Want to have another go right now, then?¡± Cynthia growled. Sylvester cleared his throat and dusted himself off. ¡°Dear cousin, I think we were talking about something rather important before that outburst of yours.¡± He lowered his pok¨¦ball, but his storm gray eyes locked with hers, deadly serious. ¡°You¡¯ve made the bizarre decision to withdraw from Rota after learning it is AZ¡¯s true target and left us all quite befuddled. And to think you¡¯d break out Spiritomb to whisk them back here forcefully¡­ Not that it¡¯s my place to say, but a bit of transparency on the matter would likely go a long way¡­¡± Cynthia shook her head dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s not your place to say. I am the head of Paragon. I¡¯ve given an order. I expect it to be followed.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not soldiers, Cynthia!¡± Ash said. ¡°We¡¯re trainers!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°If you recall, I told you something when you first joined Paragon, Ash. I told you, and the others, that to join Paragon would mean a life of unprecedented danger, and unprecedented strength. Descending on Rota right now is a force of nature who possesses both.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re afraid of AZ? If we withdraw now, then what¡¯s even the point of Paragon?!¡± Ash demanded. Then he frowned. ¡°You said Paragon wasn¡¯t created to help people, but to help yourself and your own ambitions! So that¡¯s it, then? This ¡®assignment¡¯ isn¡¯t worth the trouble?¡± Cynthia closed her eyes, but her eyes shivered beneath her eyelids. Spiritomb swiveled to glance over at its trainer. ¡°Cynthia¡­,¡± Sylvester began. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± she said, opening her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but if you can¡¯t trust me, then I only have one choice left.¡± She thrust her arm forward. ¡°Silent Domain!¡± Inky darkness exploded out from Spiritomb¡¯s ghastly form, and a low chortle escaped its simpering mouth. Before Ash could even react, the darkness had closed in all around them, thick and suffocating. Pitch black shadow sealed away all light and they were instantly plunged into darkness. Pikachu¡¯s cheeks sparked in alarm, illuminating their surroundings. Unlike Spiritomb¡¯s technique that had brought them here, the darkness around them was calm, wispy, and devoid of Spiritomb¡¯s tormented souls. But the cold that seemed to penetrate Ash¡¯s clothes like a sheet of ice beneath his skin still remained. The ghost itself was nowhere to be seen, nor could its mocking laughter be heard. However, Cynthia stood upon the empty darkness, her arms crossed. ¡°In here, it¡¯s impossible for you to reach Spiritomb,¡± she declared. ¡°You can¡¯t pass through the barrier, and you can¡¯t break it either. Until the others arrive, we¡¯ll wait here.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ash demanded. ¡°Let us out!¡± Sylvester ambled over to the apparent edge of the domain and reached out tenderly with a gloved hand. The light from Pikachu¡¯s sputtering electricity flashed across his body, and a smoky blackness curled around his hand when he made contact with the barrier. ¡°Hmm, interesting,¡± he muttered. ¡°Let us out, Cynthia!¡± Ash yelled. ¡°You¡¯re not making any sense!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you!¡± she snarled back. ¡°To protect Paragon!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking out of both sides of your mouth! You say you¡¯re doing this to protect us, but you also said Paragon was nothing more than your own personal unit to help you achieve your dreams! Which is it?¡± ¡°Cynthia,¡± Sylvester stepped forward. ¡°Tell us what you¡¯ve been doing in Alola.¡± A solid stone of darkness swirled into reality behind Cynthia, and she took a seat upon it. She laced her fingers together and sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why not?!¡± Ash roared. His fists were clenched so tight even Pikachu spared a glance back at him in concern. In response to Ash¡¯s outburst, Cynthia said nothing. Ash grit his teeth, his mind spinning for a solution. ¡°Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the barrier!¡± Cynthia didn¡¯t move at all as Pikachu wreathed himself in electricity and fired the blinding bolt straight into the murky darkness. But it was swallowed up harmlessly, just as Cynthia had said. He dropped back to the ground and growled in frustration. ¡°Try Electric Terrain!¡± Ash commanded, hoping to overwrite Spiritomb¡¯s ¡°domain.¡± Pikachu hissed, trying to suffuse the area with electricity, but it refused to take hold. His electricity sparked and crackled against the pitch black floor, but disappeared after just a few moments. He moaned in sorrow. ¡°Tch!¡± Ash spat. He started to advance on Cynthia himself. But after reaching the halfway point between them, he suddenly hit an invisible wall and stumbled back. Cynthia looked up at him, emotionless, and he glared back, slamming his fist against the barrier in frustration. ¡°Well,¡± Sylvester said after an awkward pause, ¡°it seems she has well and truly defeated us.¡± Ash was about to retort when he suddenly felt a dark presence behind him, simultaneously hot with anger and cold with ruthlessness. But before he could turn, Sabrina swept past him, her gauntlets spitting mechanical groans as they fought to contain her power. Pikachu stared up at her as she walked, and she came to a stop before the invisible wall separating them from Cynthia. ¡°Sabrina¡­?¡± Ash said. Cynthia¡¯s eyes narrowed, clearly not expecting a challenge from the normally placid psychic. Sabrina raised her arm, and the gauntlet around her wrist began to spin faster. Cynthia started to get up, sensing danger, but before she could, her body was suddenly seized by an invisible force, and she cried out in pain. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Sylvester roared, and he advanced on her from behind. But upon getting within a couple meters of her, he was unceremoniously shoved backward onto the voided ground, unable to approach. Sabrina hadn¡¯t even turned around. Cynthia¡¯s arms and legs snapped together, as if forced, and she nearly fell over, but Sabrina caught her and suspended her where she was. ¡°Sa¡­brina!¡± she bit out. Pikachu whined at his trainer, begging for orders, but Ash was transfixed by the scene playing out in front of him. His fists were balled and sweat dripped down his temple, but he made no move to help or stop Sabrina. The domain around them suddenly thickened, and despite the fact that none of them could quite make out its edges, they could feel its oppressive walls closing in around them. Red malevolence dripped from the smoky haze that curled off their pitch black surroundings, and a baleful screech thundered through the cavern of darkness. The shadows began to move beneath their feet, and Ash quickly caught himself before he tripped. Pikachu winced, instinctively priming electricity on his cheeks, and Sylvester scowled, clamping his hands over his ears. But Sabrina wasn¡¯t fazed in the slightest. From Ash¡¯s vantage, she still had hold of Cynthia, and hadn¡¯t even stumbled at the shifting domain around them. ¡°Let us go, Spiritomb,¡± Sabrina commanded, her voice echoing loud throughout the domain, just like Spiritomb. Pure, unbridled rage coursed through the entire domain and seemed to infiltrate everyone within. Ash clutched his chest, as a sudden heaviness lanced through him. He smelled the iron stench of blood, and though he tried to blink it away, a crimson tinge filtered his vision. He felt Spiritomb¡¯s hatred as if it were his own. Sabrina tightened her hand, and Cynthia responded accordingly, her body twisting painfully. Tears ebbed down her cheeks involuntarily, but Sabrina must¡¯ve been choking her, because she couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°Mmmmm!¡± Cynthia wailed, and Sabrina loosened her grip slightly. ¡°Re¡ªlease t-them!¡± she choked out. Several seconds later, the beating anger of the domain subsided. After a few more seconds, Ash began to feel the domain dissolving. The darkness around them thinned and receded, and Spiritomb¡¯s body appeared once more before them. Slowly, the darkness slid over the walls and floor until it was guzzled entirely back into the crack in Spiritomb¡¯s Odd Keystone. They were back inside Paragon HQ, none of them a step from where they¡¯d started. Ash turned around and saw Sabrina¡¯s arm still raised, holding the Sinnoh Champion, whose face was matted in sweat. But there was no fear in her tearstained eyes. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets began to slow, and she slowly lowered her hand. Cynthia¡¯s eyelids fluttered, and she slumped to the ground. Spiritomb hissed, priming an attack, but Ash had seen it coming a mile away, as had Pikachu. With a single leap, Pikachu landed next to Cynthia''s fallen form and clicked the button on the ghost¡¯s pok¨¦ball, recalling it. Once it vanished, an uncomfortable silence descended upon the gathered. Ash walked over and checked Cynthia¡¯s pulse, confirming she was fine, then stood and turned around. Sylvester was staring, unblinking, at Sabrina, but the psychic was ignoring him, her eyes glazed over. Her unfocused gaze was directed down at the floor. ¡°You,¡± Sylvester whispered, his eyes burning with fury. He took a step toward Sabrina. ¡°Wait!¡± Ash said, jumping between them. ¡°Cynthia¡¯s fine, she¡¯s just¡ª¡° Before he could finish, Sabrina bolted out of the room. Ash looked back at Sylvester, but the man was moving to chase after her. ¡°Wait, Sylvester!¡± Ash said, grabbing his shoulders. He thought Sylvester would try to push past him, but after a few moments of tense resistance, Ash felt the aggression leave his body, and Sylvester leaned back. Ash released him, and he walked over to his cousin¡¯s side, no doubt to confirm her health himself. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry, Sylvester,¡± Ash said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how things turned out this way.¡± The last thing he wanted was for Sylvester to inflame the conflict between them even more. At the moment, it felt like everything was falling apart. Cynthia and Sabrina had both acted in ways he hadn¡¯t expected. Actually, Sabrina¡¯s actions weren¡¯t so unexpected. That was why he hadn¡¯t intervened. But it was a dark realization, that he¡¯d essentially allowed Sabrina to hurt Cynthia so that he wouldn¡¯t have to act on his own feelings. His own frustration had nearly reached a boiling point, so when Sabrina stepped forward to act, he was not compelled to stop her. Although Sabrina had gone about it in a forceful and violent way, Ash still believed this was the correct course. Cynthia made a completely irrational decision. At someone else¡¯s behest, according to Sylvester. We¡¯re in the right¡­right? As logical as it seemed, Ash still couldn¡¯t shake a nagging feeling of doubt. ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring Sabrina back, Ash?¡± Sylvester said, his voice back to its usual calm. ¡°Let¡¯s quash this internal discord properly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible now,¡± Ash responded. ¡°I¡¯m sure Sabrina¡¯s heading straight back to Cameran Palace now as we speak.¡± Sylvester sighed and stood. ¡°I see. I suppose she¡¯s still worried about Anabel, then. Truthfully, I wish I could¡¯ve attended to her here. But it sounds like she¡¯s safe under the World Champion¡¯s care.¡± ¡°Yeah. Anabel¡¯s fine, but her injury has really been bothering Sabrina. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s why she did what she did.¡± Sylvester glanced back down at Cynthia. ¡°I understand. I should¡¯ve realized as much after knowing Sabrina for so long. But I¡¯m afraid my emotions nearly got the better of me.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°No, I understand. Cynthia¡¯s your cousin after all,¡± Ash said. ¡°When she comes to, I promise I¡¯ll keep my emotions in check too and we can talk about everything like she wanted to. Then we can decide what¡¯s best to do.¡± Sylvester smiled grimly. ¡°You¡¯re an optimistic man, Ash. But I disagree with that course of action. As I understand, AZ will be launching an attack on Rota within the year. Cynthia also told me you¡¯ve only just begun practicing with your newfound abilities granted by the Plate. With all that in mind, I believe it¡¯d be best if you return to Rota as well, and continue your training with the World Champion.¡± ¡°But what about Cynthia?¡± ¡°I will watch over Cynthia here. I¡¯ll keep her in one of the cells down below,¡± Sylvester said coldly. Ash frowned. ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Cynthia has become a danger to you all, as well as to herself,¡± Sylvester stated. ¡°Forgive me for saying this, but I strive to be as honest as possible. The truth is, I care more for Cynthia¡¯s safety than all of yours. She is, as you said, my precious cousin. But the last thing Paragon needs before facing its greatest challenge yet is an erratic leader, and that¡¯s exactly what she¡¯s been for the past several months.¡± He paused and frowned. ¡°No, perhaps even longer. In any case, I can¡¯t allow her autonomy any longer. She¡¯ll be safest if I imprison her.¡± As barbaric as it sounded, Sylvester didn¡¯t waver in the slightest at his decision. ¡°Imprison¡­are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the way it sounds, but I have absolutely no reservations when it comes to the protection of my family. Even if she hates me for it, curses me for it, I won¡¯t let her continue to act recklessly.¡± Ash¡¯s brows were knitted, and though he tried to think of a counter, he was drawing a blank. The last thing he wanted now was to get into another altercation with yet another member of Paragon. Plus, Sylvester¡¯s decision technically did work in Ash¡¯s favor. He¡¯d told Cynthia he¡¯d return to Rota, and not to come after him, yet it would have been na?ve to believe she¡¯d simply capitulate to that demand. If Sylvester kept her here¡­well, that solved that problem. ¡°So¡­you¡¯ll ask her about everything then, right? Why she did what she did, and who she¡¯s been meeting with.¡± ¡°I will try,¡± Sylvester scoffed. ¡°But she¡¯s as stubborn as a mule. If she¡¯s decided not to tell us something, I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s little I can do. But what I can do is keep her safe until this business with AZ comes to a close. Then, I suspect we¡¯ll get some answers.¡± It felt like a bridge too far, but then again, Cynthia had just spirited them across the world and trapped them in a similarly forceful manner. This resolution satisfied no one, though that also meant that no one was getting their way completely. For now, with the threat of AZ on the horizon, it would have to do. Paragon could not fracture before he fell. ¡°Fine,¡± Ash said, though he wasn¡¯t pleased. ¡°I¡¯ll return to Rota. And I¡¯ll talk to Sabrina.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Sylvester said. ¡°Though I doubt they would have abandoned their posts on such short notice, I¡¯ll inform Zinnia and N that they should remain in Kalos. I¡¯m hesitant to tell them about everything that just happened, lest it distract from their assignment. But with Cynthia put away, I will need to keep them in the loop in her stead.¡± Ash nodded. It wasn¡¯t the first time Sylvester had taken point on one of Paragon¡¯s missions, for when Cynthia was busy. He was a capable leader when necessary. ¡°Thank you, Sylvester.¡± ¡°Of course. I want this conflict to end just as much as you. Just as much as Cynthia too, I¡¯ve no doubt. I¡¯ll keep you updated on her cooperation.¡± As much as Ash wanted to stay on Paragon Island for a bit longer, he didn¡¯t want to be around when Cynthia woke up. So after bidding his farewell, as Sylvester carried his cousin down into the prison cells beneath the base, Ash departed on Dragonite¡¯s back. As he soared through the cloudless sky, Albrecht¡¯s words once again echoed through his mind, unbidden. Be wary of your friend Cynthia.
Kalos Region - Cyllage City ¡°What the fuck is going?!¡± Despite not being on speakerphone, N winced and pulled the phone away from his ear. ¡°Please lower your voice, Zinnia, I¡¯m trying to perform reconnaissance here.¡± He leaned forward slightly and peeked out a window frosted with hardened dirt and grime. Still nothing. ¡°Reconnaissance? For what? Cynthia wants us to pull out!¡± she screeched. ¡°Do you know how long it took to find the fucking tunnel? Now I have to comb through the whole damn city to find where it comes out. You cannot tell me to just give up now! I mean, shit!¡± ¡°Settle down,¡± N groaned. ¡°All your cursing is giving me a headache.¡± N had tried, really tried, to start liking humanity after everything that¡¯d happened with Team Plasma. He¡¯d been raised to see humans as little more than bothers to the divine existence of pok¨¦mon, but his perspective had slowly begun to change over the years, after formally joining their ranks as a member of Paragon. Four phone calls a day for the past three days from one Zinnia Higana was single-handedly undermining his efforts. Zinnia seemed to sense his distaste through the phone. ¡°Sorry, okay? But seriously. Did she hit her head or something?¡± Her? ¡°Who knows? I haven¡¯t made a habit of questioning the whims of my benefactor.¡± ¡°Uggggggh,¡± Zinnia groaned. ¡°Now Ash and Sabrina have gone rogue and Sylvester¡¯s running the op? And they locked Cynthia in the basement?!¡± ¡°That is what the text said, I got it too.¡± ¡°Whose side are we even supposed to be on?¡± N sighed. ¡°Well, given that we both haven¡¯t left Kalos, I guess we¡¯ve already made our decision.¡± ¡°Tch. I guess now we know why Cynthia wasn¡¯t sending us in. She never intended to in the first place.¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°Wait, why are you staying here? I thought you were like super loyal to Cynthia or whatever.¡± ¡°Well, her command was fairly strange, wasn¡¯t it? ¡± N murmured. ¡°Not to mention, out of the blue. Who¡¯s to say it wasn¡¯t an accident?¡± ¡°You know, you can just admit you think staying is a better idea.¡± N paused, needled by her remark. But for all her bluster, she said some surprisingly on-the-mark things from time to time. ¡°If you say so. How are you holding up?¡± Zinnia went quiet on the other end for a second. ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡± ¡°Anabel.¡± The prolonged silence on the other end was simultaneously pleasant and painful. ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on what we¡¯re doing now,¡± Zinnia eventually said, quietly. N pursed his lips. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna go. Sorry for bothering you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not a bother. I just¡ª¡° He heard the line click on the other end and pulled his phone away from his ear. She probably hadn¡¯t meant to hang up on him. The conversation was over. N sighed and put his phone away. Dealing with people was not his forte, and Zinnia seemed like an unbeatable final boss as far as people went. He just couldn¡¯t deal with her as hard as he tried. In truth, asking her about Anabel was nothing more than imitation. He thought it was what he should¡¯ve done. It¡¯s what a normal human would do. But if she¡¯d actually given an answer, he would have had absolutely no idea what to say next. If Ash were here, he¡¯d know exactly what to say. He and Zinnia got along like siblings. Which is to say, they were like oil and water, yet somehow, they seemed closer than anyone else in Paragon. N didn¡¯t understand it. Friends and family. He simply couldn¡¯t wrap his head around the concept. But ¡®friendship,¡¯ if it had to be called something, had certainly wrapped itself around him. Something was different about him ever since learning of Anabel¡¯s fate. He didn¡¯t quite understand it, but a certain feeling had begun to squat in his psyche. And it wasn¡¯t a good feeling. He was far more irritable than usual. There was a poisonous burning sensation in his stomach, even now. And he was finding it difficult to keep focused on his assignment. Without him noticing, it seemed the unthinkable had happened. Somewhere along the way, N had begun to care for his human friends. Yes, his friends. As dense as he knew he was, even he could recognize that these feelings were caused by his friendship with them. Really, he¡¯d had no right to ask Zinnia how she was holding up, since he was also wounded by the same dagger of helplessness. Here they both were, on the other side of the world, while their friend was suffering after losing an arm in battle. Perhaps if he¡¯d had a bit more empathy, he would¡¯ve realized how Zinnia felt before asking such a question. If she¡¯d asked him¡­he probably would¡¯ve answered in the exact same way. Focus on what we¡¯re doing now. In other words, keep his feelings to himself and not answer the question. N took a deep breath and cleared his mind. Cyllage City was smaller than Shalour, but the mountains to its east were ripe for a network of secret tunnels. Unlike Zinnia, N had located the deep underground tunnel leading away from the ruins in Geosenge Town quite quickly. With Reshiram¡¯s sensitivity to heat, it didn¡¯t take long to find the two tunnels branching out from beneath the ruins. From there, it was just a matter of following it from above, until they reached Cyllage. Zinnia¡¯s methods, which she did not disclose to N, took longer, but she eventually reported that her tunnel led to Shalour. Unfortunately, however, after arriving in the Cyllage, the bustling heat of the city ended Reshiram¡¯s usefulness. And it seemed Zinnia had hit a similar roadblock after reaching Shalour, and they were now both forced to begin a manual search. N was stationed in a cheap motel, and today he was following up on a sighting of one of the hooded figures they¡¯d seen with AZ outside the ruins just before they teleported away to Sinnoh. Reshiram had spotted the figure last night, but they¡¯d slipped through his fingers. But at least now, he¡¯d narrowed the entrance down this quadrant of the city. He was on the outskirts, adjacent to what appeared to be a warehouse district. His plan was to remain vigilant about any other hooded figures, but to begin searching the warehouses under the cover of nightfall for the entrance to the tunnel. As he peered back out across the street at the cargo workers and sandstone warehouses, N felt that frustration that¡¯d been plaguing him for the last three days return again. Humbly speaking, it was a feeling he hadn¡¯t experienced often, if ever. Rage.
Sinnoh Region - Paragon Island It was dusk when Cynthia came to. Sylvester had come down with her dinner nearly half an hour ago, yet she was still asleep when he arrived. Then he¡¯d gone up to get a folding chair for the wait. And when he returned, she still hadn¡¯t awoken. So there he sat for the next half hour, keeping his blossoming anxiety at her prolonged sleep at bay, in silence. Just when he was beginning to consider calling Ash to get an answer from Sabrina about when exactly he should expect to see her wake, she groaned and stirred beyond the plexiglass door. ¡°Cynthia,¡± Sylvester said, once she¡¯d sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her attention suddenly shifted to him, and upon seeing him, she seemed to realize where she was, and looked all around her cell. It was padded, clean, and larger than the cells in a typical prison. A white cot was bolted to the wall, and opposite the cell door was an open passage that led to the bathrooms. After getting her bearings, she faced her cousin again. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for your cramped quarters, you designed this place,¡± Sylvester said, putting his hands up defensively. Then his eyes narrowed. ¡°You did, didn¡¯t you?¡± Cynthia snorted and shook her head in disbelief. She checked her belt, but as expected, her pok¨¦balls had been stripped from her. She also found her pockets emptied. ¡°I have been curious for some time now,¡± Sylvester continued, ¡°where you procured the funds for a facility like this. I didn¡¯t think a Champion¡¯s salary was that high.¡± He met Cynthia¡¯s gaze for an answer. But she looked away defiantly. ¡°Still won¡¯t answer, hm? Perhaps I¡¯ll pay a visit to Alola myself and see what I find.¡± He looked over to catch her reaction, but she didn¡¯t react. She simply stared down at the floor, arms resting on her bent legs as she leaned against her bed. Sylvester cursed her stubbornness silently. ¡°Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t figure out the passcode to your phone or computer so I suppose that will remain a mystery for now.¡± ¡°Where are Ash and Sabrina?¡± Cynthia asked. Won¡¯t answer my questions but you¡¯ll ask some of your own? ¡°They¡¯re gone. Back to Rota, of course.¡± Albrecht shook his head in disbelief. ¡°What did you think was going to happen?¡± he snorted. ¡°Did you truly believe you could simply whisk them back here and they¡¯d take it lying down? Their friend is wounded in Rota, with her assailant closing in. That they¡¯d abandon her alone is unthinkable, much less the rest of the Guardians.¡± ¡°Ash I could¡¯ve reasoned with,¡± Cynthia said. Her quick reply and the fact that she¡¯d replied at all surprised Sylvester, and he stayed quiet to let her finish. ¡°But Sabrina¡­was a miscalculation.¡± ¡°That girl certainly showed some initiative this afternoon,¡± Sylvester agreed. ¡°And to think she¡¯d attack you directly¡­ That¡¯s quite the creature you brought into your employ.¡± Cynthia''s eyes flashed with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t call her that.¡± Sylvester whistled, and an amused smile flickered on his face. ¡°She wrung you out like a dishrag and you still defend her?¡± When Cynthia¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, Sylvester broke eye contact and let his smile fade. ¡°Of course, she¡¯s your one of your beloved underlings, I understand. But you know I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I¡¯ve known her just as long as you. But I never would¡¯ve guessed she¡¯d oppose you like she did.¡± ¡°She¡¯s changed. It¡¯s not grief from Anabel¡¯s injury. When N brought Ash back from Mount Coronet, she didn¡¯t become like this. This is something more fundamental.¡± She brought her hand up to her mouth, but just before she covered it, Sylvester caught a small smile. ¡°It seems our young psychic is finally beginning to evolve. Not bad at all.¡± Sylvester looked at her quizzically. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at how she treated you?¡± ¡°Nor really. It didn¡¯t hurt¡­that much. You¡¯re the one I¡¯m mad at,¡± Cynthia said, glancing over at him again. ¡°It was your idea to put me in here, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Sylvester shrugged. ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°And when can I expect to be let out?¡± Sylvester locked eyes with her. ¡°Once you explain everything. The others will return after this business with AZ concludes. Then we can have that chat you wanted.¡± Cynthia scoffed and bit her lip. ¡°It¡¯ll be too late,¡± she murmured. ¡°Too late for what?!¡± Sylvester suddenly shouted, his fa?ade breaking. ¡°If you can¡¯t tell the others, at least tell me! What is it you¡¯re after? What burden do you carry that is so heavy it would compel you to turn on your own friends?! You can trust me, damn it! How long have we known each other?¡± Sylvester¡¯s outburst hung in the air as Cynthia remained silent. ¡°You of all people I can¡¯t tell,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Especially you.¡± Sylvester¡¯s eyes narrowed, but upon seeing that Cynthia had no intentions of speaking, he buried another outburst and regained his composure. ¡°Your behavior has been nagging at me for a while now, actually,¡± he said. ¡°For two years. It was something I noticed when Ash joined.¡± At the mention of his name, Cynthia looked up, and Sylvester savored her interest. ¡°It was the way you were acting the day he returned from his training. The day he battled you and defeated you. You trounced him two years prior, flaying his Sceptile nearly to the point of permanent scarring. And when he was expected to return, you were on edge like I¡¯ve never seen you before. Not for any of the other members of Paragon were you ever so¡­fidgety. And then I thought of something ridiculous. Something that couldn¡¯t possibly be true. And yet your actions ever since have suggested that it is.¡± Cynthia¡¯s resolute eyes met his, as if challenging him to deliver his conclusion. ¡°You expect Ash to lead Paragon one day, don¡¯t you?¡± Sylvester accused. Cynthia didn¡¯t move, but he¡¯d known her since they were children. And that slight glimmer in her eyes told him he¡¯d hit the nail on the head. Sylvester shook his head incredulously. ¡°Do you expect something to happen to you or something?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t start crying,¡± Cynthia said flatly. ¡°I¡¯m not suicidal.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± Sylvester breathed. Cynthia closed her eyes and turned away. They sat together in silence for a minute. ¡°I suppose my decision was absolutely correct, then,¡± Sylvester eventually said. ¡°You¡¯ll remain here for the duration of this campaign. Ash, Sabrina, and Anabel will protect Rota alongside the World Champion. N and Zinnia will storm AZ¡¯s Kalosian hideout once the giant appears in Rota. And I will remain here to ensure you don¡¯t step one foot off this island.¡± Without another word, he stood up and lifted Cynthia¡¯s meal tray through a slat in her cell¡¯s door. ¡°Here¡¯s your dinner. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s cold. You¡¯re lucky you built a connecting hall to the showers because this door won¡¯t be opening until the others return. Good night.¡± As he walked away, he heard Cynthia knock on the glass. ¡°Keep me updated,¡± she called. ¡°Damn you, Cynthia,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°Damn you.¡± As he ascended the stairs, he could faintly hear her thanking him for another delicious meal. Next ¡ª Chapter 30 : Beach Episode
Sorry I¡¯m late, I found the first half of this chapter difficult to write. As always, thank you to everyone who shares their thoughts, as it motivates me through the difficult sections :] I don¡¯t plan on making delays like this a habit. Next chapter should come out this weekend as usual. Remnants of the Great War [21] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [21] Chapter 30 : Beach Episode
By the time Ash touched down again in Rota, the sky was black, and the hill upon which Albrecht¡¯s manor sat had gone silent and dark. However, that did not mean he made a quiet return. Almost immediately after he¡¯d landed and recalled Dragonite, several suited Guardians surrounded him, materializing from the shadows. They were Albrecht¡¯s household guard, of course, but upon seeing who had just trespassed on their master¡¯s property, they relaxed and led Ash back inside. On the way, he¡¯d learned Sabrina had gotten back several hours earlier, but that she refused to disclose where she, or he and Cynthia, had gone. She¡¯d simply swept upstairs to check on Anabel, then disappeared into her room, skipping dinner once again. Ash thanked them as they parted from him, and headed upstairs himself. He considered going to talk to Sabrina now, but ultimately decided against it. She would still be here in the morning, and if she was anything like him, then she was exhausted from the day¡¯s events as well. He returned to his own room, and he and Pikachu quickly fell asleep together. The next day, Ash got up later than usual. He¡¯d actually woken up early enough to go for his usual jog, and though it probably would¡¯ve cleared his head some, he¡¯d just gone back to sleep instead. Waking up meant possibly running into Albrecht, and he wanted to talk with Sabrina first. She was an early riser as well, but based on how she¡¯d acted yesterday, he suspected she also would¡¯ve foregone her usual sun-staring training today. So around nine, he finally rolled out of bed and cleaned up for the day. There was a brief message from Sylvester saying Cynthia still refused to talk, so no updates on that front. He noticed he¡¯d neglected to mention her reaction to being put away like she was, but no news hopefully meant good news. Surely she understood, he hoped. Either way, Ash sent Pikachu on his way to go get breakfast, and he trodded across the hall toward Sabrina¡¯s room. He¡¯d check there first, but if she wasn¡¯t in, then he¡¯d check the hospital room. But after knocking on her door gently, after a few seconds, he heard movement on the other side, and the door opened, surprisingly. Sabrina was dressed and showered for the day, but she did not make eye contact. ¡°Can I come in?¡± Ash asked. She nodded and paced back over to her bed, which was neatly made. She sat on the edge, facing a small couch, like she¡¯d been expecting this conversation. Ash obliged and closed the door behind him before seating himself on the couch. ¡°How is Cynthia?¡± Sabrina asked. Caught off guard at the fact that she¡¯d initiated the conversation, Ash hesitated for a moment. ¡°She seems fine. Sylvester didn¡¯t say much. He¡¯s watching over her in the cells under the island. He¡¯ll be taking point for the rest of this mission.¡± Sabrina nodded slowly, no doubt processing his surprising decision. Ash caressed his hands. ¡°I was wondering how you were, though. You kinda ran out of there before we could get a handle on everything.¡± Ash inhaled. ¡°Honestly¡­¡± Sabrina closed her eyes and her gauntlets flickered. The next day, Ash got up far later than usual. Pikachu wasn¡¯t nuzzled beside him, so Ash figured he must¡¯ve gone ahead to get breakfast. Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected to sleep this late, so he quickly cleaned up and headed over to Sabrina¡¯s room to talk with her. However, she wasn¡¯t there. Next, he checked the hospital room, and though she wasn¡¯t there either, he did find Anabel awake. ¡°Oh, good morning, Ash,¡± she smiled. She looked like she was getting better, and Ash breathed an internal sigh of relief. But honestly, he really thought Sabrina would be here, as she had been the past several days. ¡°Hey, Anabel¡­ Sorry, have you seen Sabrina at all today?¡± ¡°Mm, no, not yet.¡± She smiled softly and averted her gaze. ¡°Sorry, I actually overheard your conversation yesterday, when you said she was important.¡± She looked up at him. ¡°Thank you for telling her that. I tried to make the same point, but she just wouldn¡¯t listen to me. It¡¯s like all she saw was this,¡± she said, shrugging her right shoulder. ¡°O-Oh, yeah. No problem.¡± He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d said anything that impressive. Really he was just speaking his mind. Anabel frowned. ¡°Is everything alright, Ash? You look worried.¡± Ash refocused his attention on her and smacked his cheeks. ¡°Sorry! Nah, it¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to talk to Sabrina is all.¡± He faltered, and his gaze dipped. ¡°No, actually, a lot happened yesterday. Let me tell you everything.¡± He pulled over a chair and started to explain from the beginning. Anabel listened attentively without interrupting, and when he was finished, she exhaled. ¡°Wow, I see. That¡¯s¡­I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡± ¡°Believe me, I¡¯m just as confused as you,¡± Ash said. ¡°Why Cynthia would do what she did, or what¡¯s in Sabrina¡¯s head right now.¡± Anabel stayed quiet in thought for a moment. ¡°Sabrina¡¯s always had trouble expressing herself. And she doesn¡¯t take resistance to her desires well. I suppose the question now is what exactly she wants. Not to sound overly humble, but I don¡¯t think she would¡¯ve done that to Cynthia just for my sake. She returned here for another reason.¡± She tapped her lips, and a smile perked up on them. ¡°Think she fell in love with a Guardian after being sent here on her last assignment?¡± Her eyes flitted over at Ash mischievously. ¡°I doubt it,¡± he sighed. ¡°Why not? You don¡¯t think she¡¯s capable of that?¡± ¡°What? Are you being serious right now?¡± Anabel waved her hand. ¡°Never mind, never mind. I was just kidding. In all seriousness, I think what you said to her sunk in. About friends and all that.¡± Ash frowned, trying to remember exactly what he¡¯d said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean about taking care of herself for the sake of her friends,¡± Anabel explained. ¡°Maybe she thought she was doing you a favor by standing up for herself and incapacitating Cynthia for you.¡± ¡°You really think so?¡± Anabel just looked at him, staying silent. Eventually, Ash nodded. ¡°Yeah, I guess that does sort of sound like something she¡¯d do,¡± he said. ¡°Well, I¡¯d better find her, then. Gotta catch her up to speed since she flew off before everything was resolved.¡± He stood up. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Anabel shook her head. ¡°No, thanks. Before you ask, it¡¯s not as painful as before. I just want it to heal as fast as possible so I can hurry up and take a shower.¡± ¡°Do you want me to tell Sabrina not to worry about you?¡± ¡°If you would, please, thanks. I think I¡¯m just gonna sleep all day today.¡± Anabel slid back down under her covers and nestled under the blankets. ¡°Thank you, Ash. Talking to you has made me feel better.¡± Ash flashed a peace sign. ¡°No prob! You took a weight off of me too, so thanks.¡± Anabel smiled and nodded, then closed her eyes. As Ash shut the door behind him, Anabel was already drifting back to sleep. And when she did go under, she dreamt of a day from the past, one of her treasured memories.
Paragon Island, one year ago ¡°Ah.¡± It was quiet on Paragon Island and Anabel found herself alone in the kitchen. It was a bit past ten and she¡¯d been on her way to get breakfast, but something on the counter had caught her eye as she was walking past. A deep blue box, about the size of a birthday cake. Golden embossed lettering adorned the top, the name of a place she didn¡¯t recognize. She glanced around the empty room warily. I mean¡­.my birthday is today. Slowly, she reached to lift the lid of the box open. But a muffled shout from down the hall tore her attention away, and she instinctively slunk back. She slipped out of the kitchen and pressed herself against the wall, listening for further noise. Sure enough, she heard footsteps coming from the opposite hall just a few seconds later, coming closer. ¡°You¡¯re just not serious about this,¡± came Ash¡¯s voice, and Anabel heard the sound of thumps on the counter. ¡°It¡¯s one day in the whole year, it¡¯s not that hard.¡± ¡°There¡¯s seven of us, that¡¯s seven days, dumbass,¡± Zinnia said in response. ¡°Okay, seven days. You¡¯re telling me you can¡¯t lay off for just seven days out of the whole year?¡± Anabel began to hear the crinkling of cellophane, the ruffling of a plastic bag, and more plops on the counter. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s just how serious I am about becoming a Dragon Master. You don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± ¡°Former World Champion, by the way. Dropped out voluntarily.¡± ¡°Okay? And actually it¡¯d only be six days because we¡¯d definitely be battling on my birthday. You¡¯d definitely have to do what I say!¡± Anabel heard Ash sigh. ¡°You can challenge me on my birthday too for all I care. That makes only five birthdays. Just five days for you to put the challenges on pause so we can¡ª¡° Ash went silent, and Anabel¡¯s heart began thundering in her chest, wondering if she¡¯d been spotted. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Ash said after a few seconds. ¡°What?¡± There was a one second silence. Ash must¡¯ve gestured. ¡°Oh, whoops,¡± Zinnia said. ¡°Has that been sitting here this whole time?¡± ¡°¡­Uh, yeah, probably.¡± Anabel heard Ash sweep around the counter, and she was afraid he¡¯d pop out of the kitchen right next to her. But he didn¡¯t, and she heard him slide something off the counter. Probably the box she¡¯d seen. ¡°The frosting¡¯s probably all melted by now,¡± Ash said, clearly annoyed. ¡°Relax! It¡¯s only been like an hour!¡± ¡°Well, where were you gonna put it?¡± ¡°Cynthia has a minifridge in her office!¡± Zinnia shouted. ¡°Shhhhh!¡± Ash hissed. ¡°Are you sure she¡¯s still in the shower?¡± ¡°Yes! She works out every morning, then takes a longass shower after!¡± Anabel blushed outside in the hall. She¡¯d cut her workout short today, because it was her birthday. ¡°Can you even get into Cynthia¡¯s office? Doesn¡¯t she keep it locked all the time?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Ash, get serious. This is Anabel¡¯s birthday we¡¯re talking about here. Are you gonna let something like that ruin it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from you,¡± Ash said in a low voice. ¡°Help me put the rest of this stuff away before she gets out here. Once she does, I¡¯ll distract her, then you can get the cake to Cynthia¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t the cake melt even more though?¡± Another pause. ¡°Can you please, please, please just cooperate with me here?¡± Ash pleaded. Anabel clutched her face to stifle a laugh. Working with Zinnia to plan Ash¡¯s eighteenth birthday several months ago had been a similarly hair-graying exercise. But it seemed like they¡¯d be busy for a few minutes, which gave her the perfect window to sneak away back to her room before they realized she¡¯d left it. And as much as she wanted to continue eavesdropping, she¡¯d already spoiled their surprise for her enough, so quietly, she slipped away. Once back at her room, she carefully shut the door behind her, then flung herself onto her bed and smiled giddily. The surprise party for Ash had been her idea originally, and she¡¯d hatched her plan along with Zinnia and Sabrina, who¡¯d happened to be unassigned at the time, and Sylvester, of course. Ash himself hadn¡¯t had anything planned for his big day, as expected, so after battling Zinnia all day, he was pleasantly surprised to find a celebratory feast fit for a king waiting for him inside. To be fair, Sylvester had done most of the cooking, but at least she and Sabrina had enough brain cells between them to whip up a shitty vanilla cake from one of those store-bought boxes. For her birthday, they seemed to have foregone the hassle in favor of something professionally made. Not to knock them, but the idea of Ash and Zinnia working together to make her a birthday cake¡­hmm, inconceivable. Ash + Zinnia = cake was an equation just as false as 1 + 1 = 3. However, all of Paragon, save for Cynthia, was unassigned. They¡¯d hit a lull in their work, and over the past few days, they¡¯d all trickled back onto the island. Honestly, she¡¯d expected Zinnia to take off immediately like she usually did, but Ash or Sylvester must¡¯ve pulled her aside. Or, hey, c¡¯mon. Maybe she¡¯d remembered herself. Sometimes Anabel wondered if she was too harsh on Zinnia. The girl was an excellent trainer, and you¡¯d never know it by looking at her, but her quest for the Great Dragon required a lot more brains than anyone gave her credit for possessing. Either way, that meant everyone was here. So did that mean all of them were in on the surprise? She hadn¡¯t seen Sabrina, N, or Sylvester this morning, but that wasn¡¯t entirely suspicious. Sabrina usually stayed in her room. N could¡¯ve been outside, chilling with Reshiram. And Sylvester may have been over at his daycare, since he usually headed over there before lunch if there were no other chores to do. So maybe the surprise wasn¡¯t completely spoiled after all. A few minutes later, she heard footsteps approaching her room from the hall outside, and she quickly jumped off her bed to flip the fan on in her bathroom so it sounded like she¡¯d just finished showering. But after ducking in, she glanced in the mirror and realized her hair was way too dry for that to be plausible. She froze in the middle of her bedroom, frantically trying to think of a solution. ¡°Magic!¡± she exclaimed, tearing her pok¨¦ball off her belt. She released her, and Espeon immediately began yipping at her ankles. ¡°Thank you, thank you for the happy birthday, but hurry! Mist me!¡± Magic shuddered, and her skin shimmered, turning turquoise. Before her fins had even finished growing, she sprayed a cloud of watery mist at Anabel¡¯s hair. The girl ran her fingers through it in a hurry, trying to get it to soak in as much as possible and look damp. Luckily she¡¯d done this before to get rid of her bedhead, so Magic knew what ¡®Mist me¡¯ meant. But she offered a perplexed expression as she looked up at her trainer, unable to comprehend the urgency of the situation. Not a moment later, there was a knock at Anabel¡¯s door, and she quickly recalled Magic. She peeked into the bathroom one more time to make sure she looked fine, and that¡¯s when she noticed the top of her tank top was a little damp from the mist. ¡°Whatever,¡± she muttered. She quickly reset her face, putting on a smile, and opened the door. ¡°Morning, Anabel! Happy birthday!¡± Ash waved, Pikachu mimicking him. ¡°Heyyy, yeah, thanks!¡± Anabel beamed. ¡°How was the workout?¡± ¡°Oh¡­yeah, same old, I guess,¡± Anabel chuckled. ¡°So, anything special planned for today?¡± he asked. You tell me. ¡°No, nothing, really. I was just about to go get some breakfast, though.¡± Ash noticeably tensed up, and Pikachu grinned at her like a psychopath, seemingly determined to keep facing forward and not look suspicious. She noticed his paws clench on Ash¡¯s shoulder, and she had to swallow a laugh. ¡°Uhhh, actually I was wondering if you could help me out with something real quick. Just for a few minutes!¡± Ash clapped his hands together and bowed. ¡°Hmmm, I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m kind of hungry. Can it wait till later?¡± Anabel asked innocently. As curious as she was about what excuse Ash had come up with, toying with him like this was just too fun. ¡°Uhhhhh, I mean, not reall¡ª¡° Zinnia came up from behind Ash and joined him at Anabel¡¯s door, slinging an arm around his shoulder. ¡°Yo, happy birthday, Anabel!¡± She seemed out of breath. ¡°Oh, morning, Zinnia, thanks!¡± Anabel said. Dang it! ¡°Ah, yeah! You know what, actually it can wait till later, let¡¯s go eat!¡± Ash suddenly said, nodding and smacking Zinnia on the back. Pikachu deflated on Ash¡¯s shoulder, like a weight had just evaporated off his back. ¡°Great idea, buddy!¡± Zinnia nudged him back, and they shared a laugh. Anabel deadpanned in the door frame. Even if she hadn¡¯t caught them earlier, this performance was embarrassingly transparent. She smiled weakly and shut her door behind her, and joined them on the trek to the kitchen. ¡°You guys haven¡¯t eaten yet?¡± Anabel asked as they walked. ¡°Nah, way too busy,¡± Zinnia said. She had her hands behind her head like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. ¡°What were you doing up so early anyway?¡± Anabel asked, eyeing Zinnia. ¡°What do you mean, I¡¯m always up this early,¡± Zinnia yawned. ¡°Wait, actually?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said seriously. ¡°Journey won¡¯t plan itself.¡± Anabel nodded. Impressive. She hadn¡¯t known that. Though to be fair, Zinnia didn¡¯t spend very much time on the island, and the path she walked as a Draconid seemed a solitary endeavor. Sylvester was still absent when they got to the kitchen, though Anabel usually didn¡¯t catch him in the mornings. He always prepared breakfast a few hours before she woke up, for Sabrina and Ash, the early risers. There was a serving plate full of eggs and a tray of sausage and bacon sitting covered on the stove, out of the way. Ash and Zinnia insisted they be allowed to serve her, so she seated herself at the table while they readied the plates. The sun outside sat high in the sky, warming the dining room beautifully while she waited, and she half-regretted not getting in a workout earlier. Once they joined her at the table, they all dug into breakfast, talking about what they¡¯d been up to as of late. Anabel noticed they kept steering the conversation away from any talk about Sabrina and N any time it started to head in that direction, so she graciously decided to stop bringing them up after getting her fill of nervous twitches from them. ¡°What do you have planned for today?¡± Anabel asked, placing her dishes in the dishwasher after Ash rinsed them off. ¡°Another battle with Zinnia?¡± The Dragon Master herself had already run off, leaving her dishes behind. ¡°Eh, I don''t know,¡± Ash said, drying his hands. ¡°I figure you probably want to have a quiet day to yourself, so I was thinking we¡¯d hold off for today.¡± Anabel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all. Actually, I wouldn¡¯t mind watching. I¡¯m always hearing about your matches from Zinnia but I¡¯ve only seen a couple of them.¡± ¡°Let me guess, she wipes the floor with me everytime and it¡¯s not even close?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°And leaves you in tears, begging for mercy,¡± Anabel grinned. While Ash dipped back to his room to get ready, Anabel headed outside to wait for them. The temperature really was perfect outside, and the cool breeze blew across the island every now and then felt blissful on her skin. She¡¯d actually planned on tanning at the beach all day, so she¡¯d already put on sunscreen. Ash and Zinnia always started their matches at a clearing in the forest so that¡¯s where she waited. But before they arrived, she released all five of her pok¨¦mon. Magic the Espeon curled her tail around her leg as she lay down on the grass. As her first pok¨¦mon, Magic was the most affectionate with her by far, and she gently stroked her behind the ears. Like many a young trainer, she¡¯d received her as a gift at age ten, but shortly after setting out on her journey, her Eevee had begun to show signs that it wasn¡¯t quite like others of its kind. Her fur began to change colors sporadically, and at first, her mood changed along with it. Abrasive and standoffish when it turned bronze, quiet and stoic when it turned silver, and mischievous and unruly when it turned gold. Anabel and Eevee hadn¡¯t even decided what they wanted her to evolve into when she suddenly woke up one morning to find an Espeon curled against her chest. It took some time for them to get the hang of Espeon¡¯s quirky new ability, but it soon became one of their trump cards. It was then that Anabel decided she wanted an entire team full of ¡®weird¡¯ or unusual pok¨¦mon, like her Espeon which changed form like Magic. The next pok¨¦mon she¡¯d caught she hadn¡¯t even recognized when she first saw it, and that¡¯s how she knew she wanted it. Soon after coalescing onto the grass, Juggernaut the Snorlax stretched his arms, and promptly wandered off into the forest. He ambled away on his long legs, and his long arms swayed at his side. There was no delicate way to put it. Juggernaut was a skinny Snorlax. Most people looked at him with horror, wondering what sort of abuse Anabel must¡¯ve put him through to get him looking so emaciated. But the truth is that Anabel had found him just as thin when he was only a Munchlax. In fact, she¡¯d caught him while he was sleeping, thinking he was actually dead, or close to it. Only after she¡¯d hauled ass back to the nearest pok¨¦mon center did she realize Munchlax had slimmed down of its own accord. He was a lover of battle through and through, and his many quarrels with the denizens of his local forest had somehow burned his fat faster than he could accumulate it, a complete anomaly for his species. Although he still maintained a blas¨¦ attitude about everything, he actually didn¡¯t sleep all that much, and even now, he was no doubt heading off to go punch some trees or something. Her next two pok¨¦mon were a little embarrassing. She¡¯d gotten addicted to the Battle Frontier after arriving there on her journey, and midway through her gym circuit, her pursuit shifted toward wanting to become a Frontier Brain. All the Brains had one or two legendary or mythical pok¨¦mon. So that led Anabel to seek out her own. Sakura the Latias and Royal the Suicune were the powerhouses of her arsenal. Initially, they¡¯d both been quite proud, as expected, but they¡¯d been together for years now, and all their pompousness had since ebbed away. Sakura especially had gotten jealous of her other pok¨¦mon shortly after Anabel had caught her, and she soon began acting like a baby to get some of her trainer¡¯s mothering too. Royal had a bit more dignity. Anabel supposed she could only put on airs for so long after Sakura had already tarnished the title of ¡®legendary.¡¯ Immediately after spilling from her pok¨¦ball, Latias soared into the sky, chittering with delight beneath the warm sun, and Royal simply laid down beside Magic, ignoring her antics. Sophia the Decidueye was the newest member of her team, but at first glance, there wasn¡¯t anything too special about her. Anabel had learned her lesson after the last two catches and decided to lighten up a little on the team restrictions. She¡¯d picked up Sophia in Alola while she was with the International Police on a whim. She hadn¡¯t raised a new pok¨¦mon in awhile, and she didn¡¯t see too many Alolan pok¨¦mon in Hoenn, so she figured, why not? But despite being the newest, Sophia watched over her comrades like a hawk, and she did not tolerate horseplay in her presence. Even Royal respected Sophia¡¯s gaze, though Anabel had a feeling there was a bit of a rivalry there. They¡¯d been fighting over the position of matriarch to the rest ever since Dartrix had evolved, and it had led to many a long and silent brooding sessions between the two. Luckily, that was all it ever amounted to, and Anabel was glad they both cared for their comrades so much. Sophia took flight into a tree to oversee everyone at once. Ash and Zinnia came out several minutes later, taking their places on opposite ends of the clearing. As they got situated, Anabel scooted further back, as did her pok¨¦mon. ¡°Ready to lose again?¡± Zinnia challenged, tossing her pok¨¦ball in the air casually. ¡°We¡¯ve been training hard since the last time we battled! You won¡¯t know what hit you!¡± Ash barked, unclipping his own pok¨¦ball. ¡°Oh?¡± Zinnia¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s see it then!¡± She hurled her pok¨¦ball forward, and it snapped open in midair. Tyrantrum crashed down onto the grass and roared, glaring at Ash. ¡°Same as usual, huh?¡± Ash sighed, and he tossed his pok¨¦mon out as well. Floatzel coalesced onto the ground, its tail spinning, and it hunched down, ready for battle. ¡°A counter, of course. Can¡¯t win without a type advantage?¡± Zinnia taunted. ¡°That¡¯s not even a type advantage,¡± Ash muttered. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll start things off if you¡¯re just gonna complain. Wave Crash!¡± A torrent of water spun into existence around Floatzel¡¯s, and it bulleted forward, its tail spinning like a motor to propel itself. ¡°Head Smash!¡± Zinnia commanded. Tyrantrum snorted, and charged, the crest on its head hardening beyond belief. At their collision, water sprayed out in all directions, and fragments of rock shattered off of Tyrantrum¡¯s skull. Royal conjured a shield lazily to protect her master, but otherwise took no interest in the battle. Anabel sweatdropped. Ash was normally a pretty creative trainer, but against a meathead like Zinnia, he seemed to always prefer meeting her with brute force head on. Though knowing him, this was probably just another vector by which he could train his more frail pok¨¦mon¡¯s toughness. After a few seconds of clashing, Tyrantrum dug under Floatzel¡¯s body and tossed it back with a roar. However, Floatzel landed deftly back on the ground, not looking overly worse for wear. On the other hand, Tyrantrum shook its head with discomfort, blinking its beady eyes. ¡°Follow up! Dragon Crunch!¡± Zinnia hollered. Tyrantrum¡¯s cragged maw burned with violet flames, its teeth turned an unholy black, and it once again charged toward Floatzel. Its feet cratered the ground where it stepped, and it was on top of Floatzel faster than one would expect for a creature of its size and bulk. Its jaw opened, a hellish chasm ready to devour its prey. ¡°Counter Shield!¡± Ash commanded. Floatzel spun on its tail, conjuring a cable of water all around it. The rope caught Tyrantrum on its side and knocked it off kilter. Its jaw smashed closed around open air, but before it could recover, another rope lashed its body, forcing it back. A spiral of water tornadoed around Floatzel, and try as it might, Tyrantrum couldn¡¯t penetrate it without sustaining heavy damage. It¡¯s flecked with shards of ice too, Anabel noticed, squinting. Those will cut up Tyrantrum bad if it continues. Nice one, Ash. Suddenly, Pikachu cried out beside Ash, and before he even had time to turn, the mouse had wreathed himself in electricity and shot into the air with a Volt Tackle. An Altaria tore through the forest, its fluffy wings angled straight at Ash. Pikachu careened into its before it could hit, and Ash reared back in surprise. ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± he roared. ¡°Ha ha! Outrage, Tyrantrum!¡± Zinnia smirked. Anabel¡¯s jaw dropped, stunned, as Pikachu derailed Altaria¡¯s sneak attack. Really, Zinnia¡­ With its concentration momentarily broken, Tyrantrum surged through Floatzel¡¯s cage of water and smacked it with its giant head, then continued to pummel it with skull, jaw, and claw alike. Ash grit his teeth and ripped another pok¨¦ball from his belt. ¡°Throw her into the sea! Aqua Ring, and Whirlpool, Floatzel!¡± Altaria rolled back into the sky, its attack having failed, but Staraptor was speed incarnate. Its unmaterialized form streaked across the sky, and by the time it finished coalescing out of its pok¨¦ball, it was already directly above Zinnia. ¡°What?!¡± Zinnia squawked. Staraptor snatched her up in its talons and took to the skies, then changed its trajectory and bulleted toward the beach. Zinnia wailed, but Staraptor was so fast, her cries were quickly muted. Meanwhile, a storm of water erupted from Floatzel¡¯s battered form, flinging Tyrantrum skyward. It landed back on the ground with a giant crash, and groaned from the impact. Floatzel slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Neither of them were knocked out, but they were both spent. After seeing the battle here had ended, Ash took off toward the beach, and Anabel leapt up after him, laughing. Magic and Sophia came with, and Sakura cooed excitedly above them. Over at the beach Staraptor and Altaria were locked in a death stare, both suspended above the ocean, waiting for the other to make a move. A second later, Zinnia¡¯s head popped up out of the water, gasping for air. Staraptor broke eye contact, a sign of ceasing hostilities, and Altaria took it up on its offer, fluttering down to check on her trainer. Zinnia swam closer to the shore, then waded back the rest of the way. She saw Ash¡¯s grinning face and glared. ¡°Fuck!¡± she screamed, shaking the loose water off her hands and hair. ¡°Nice try, loser!¡± Ash taunted. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± ¡°Urggggh,¡± Zinnia groaned. She rounded on Altaria. ¡°You¡¯re too damn nice, you know that?! You could¡¯ve gotten him if you really wanted it! You need more bloodlust!¡± Altaria chuckled weakly, trying to put on a mean face, though it couldn¡¯t keep it up. ¡°Don¡¯t blame Altaria,¡± Ash scolded. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for trying out something you¡¯ve never done before. So tired of losing you¡¯re trying to sneak me now?¡± Zinnia closed her eyes and raised her finger. ¡°One must always be ready for the unexpected. I¡¯m glad you took my lesson to heart. Her lecture could not have looked more unconvincing, sopping wet as she was. ¡°Lesson, huh?¡± Ash said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Well, that was short.¡± Anabel clapped beside them. ¡°Congratulations. Great battle.¡± Ash nodded in thanks while Zinnia continued to wring out her shirt. ¡°Whatever, I was getting hot anyway,¡± Zinnia said. ¡°I¡¯m going to change.¡± She recalled Altaria and headed back toward the forest to get Tyrantrum. ¡°Not a bad idea actually,¡± Anabel said once she was gone. ¡°It¡¯s a nice day for a swim.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ash agreed. ¡°Though one time I decided to go for a swim and swam so far out the island disappeared. Need to be careful of that.¡± Anabel laughed and began walking back beside Ash. ¡°Should¡¯ve told Cresselia what you were up to first!¡± She slung her arm around his neck and pulled him closer. ¡°Any chance N and Sabrina will be joining us?¡± she asked quietly Ash chuckled nervously. ¡°They are kind of taking longer than expected. But trust me, it¡¯ll be worth it.¡± Anabel smirked and let him go. Finally, she was getting answers. She let all her pok¨¦mon stay outside while they headed back inside to change. Once inside, Anabel peeled out of her tank top and shorts and changed into a white two-piece with a shawl wrapped around her waist. She grabbed her shades and flip-flops, then headed back outside. To her surprise, Sylvester was waiting for her just outside the door. ¡°Ah, Anabel. Happy birthday. I apologize I didn¡¯t catch you sooner.¡± He bowed. ¡°No problem, thanks!¡± ¡°I trust you¡¯ve had a pleasant day thus far?¡± ¡°Yep! Probably just gonna chill on the beach now.¡± ¡°That sounds wonderful. I¡¯ll bring a towel and other amenities out to you shortly. Lunch in a few hours sound good?¡± ¡°Yes! And thanks!¡± As she walked away she quickly called back, ¡°Oh, yeah, please get towels for the others too!¡± and Sylvester nodded. Once she got back to the beach, Magic seemed to materialize out of nowhere as a Vaporeon, and she quickly curled up around Anabel. Several minutes later, Sylvester returned with a bundle of towels and a picnic basket in his other hand. ¡°Please help yourself to anything inside,¡± he said as he placed it down next to her. ¡°And do let me know if you¡¯re feeling peckish and I¡¯ll get started on lunch immediately.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sylvester!¡± Anabel said, unfolding her towel and whipping it out over the soft sand. As Sylvester departed, she untied her shawl and took a peek in the basket. It had several water bottles and soda cans, some sliced fruit, and a small bottle of rum, all chilled. She helped herself to a water and a few berries, then laid down on her stomach, allowing the sun and sand to bake her right into a state of pure relaxation. She was half asleep already when she heard Ash and Zinnia come tearing down the beach, but the constant rumble of the sea soon drowned out their yelling. Even they could not disturb her now. Never did the sun ever feel too hot, or the breeze too blustery. In her state of half-consciousness, she heard Ash and Zinnia running in and out of the water, and across the beach alongside their pok¨¦mon, though they seemed to be paying careful attention to never get too close to her spot, and she was thankful. Eventually, she heard a couple more voices join them, and after recognizing N¡¯s, she stirred in her sleep. She raised her head and turned over, sitting up. The bright sunlight assaulted her dilated eyes, and she squinted, reaching over for her sunglasses to put them back on. ¡°Yo, hey, she¡¯s awake!¡± she heard Zinnia say. As her eyes adjusted, she suddenly found all four of them staring down at her. ¡°Happy birthday, Anabel,¡± N smiled. He was in a pair of black trunks and an unbuttoned Alolan t-shirt, and his long green hair hung untied. Sabrina waved timidly. She appeared to be in a bathing suit, but she was also wearing a thick hoodie that made Anabel wonder how she wasn¡¯t overheating. Her jet black hair was tied in a ponytail, and Anabel resisted the urge to call her cute in front of everyone. ¡°Hey guys, thanks,¡± Anabel said, rubbing sand off her arms. ¡°Can you ask Sylvester to start making lunch? I¡¯m kind of hungry.¡± ¡°I believe he¡¯s already gotten started. He was just finishing feeding the pok¨¦mon when we returned,¡± N said, shielding his eyes from the sun. ¡°Something on the grill, it looked like.¡± ¡°Ooh, let¡¯s go see, Pikachu!¡± Ash exclaimed, racing off back towards the base. He was in a pair of navy trunks, but he must¡¯ve just been in the water because he was dripping wet. Anabel averted her gaze from his toned back. ¡°Hey!¡± Zinnia yelled, and she tore after him. Zinnia looked pretty nice herself. She was in a black two piece that showed off her form quite nicely. And she was also wet from head to toe. Once they were gone, Sabrina padded over and sat herself down next to Anabel. ¡°Happy birthday,¡± she murmured. Anabel glimmered with glee and pulled her closer. ¡°Thank you!¡± She frowned. Ah.¡± Something soft hit her side, and she whipped around to face her friend. ¡°What¡¯re you hiding under there?!¡± She looked down at her own boyish body, defeated. ¡°Stooop,¡± Sabrina wailed, curling into a ball defensively, as Anabel jabbed at her. N, by courtesy or coincidence, was facing the ocean. ¡°Ahhh, what a brilliant day to enjoy the sea,¡± he declared. ¡°There¡¯s nothing quite like the sight of a clear blue sky above the cerulean ocean to truly make one¡¯s day!¡± ¡°Lunch!¡± Anabel heard Zinnia call, and as if on cue, her stomach rumbled quietly. ¡°Ah, perfect! I wonder what our friend has prepared for your special day!¡± N sang, starting back. Anabel grabbed Sabrina¡¯s hand before she could escape, and she swung it as they walked back. ¡°So, are you gonna tell me where you¡¯ve been all day?¡± she asked, glancing over, trying to meet her gaze. ¡°No,¡± Sabrina said flatly. Anabel puffed out her cheeks in a pout. ¡°Hmph!¡± Her eyes landed back on that heavy hoodie. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hot in that?¡± Sabrina pointed at her gauntlet. ¡°Ah.¡± Right. Of course. Not even the sun could force Sabrina Natsume to bear herself to the world. Sylvester was just peeling the last burger off the grill when they arrived, and Ash and Zinnia were already seated at the patio table, nearly salivating as they dampened their surroundings with their wet bodies. Anabel was surprised they weren¡¯t chanting and pounding their utensils like middle schoolers. ¡°Here we have some smashburgers with a special aioli of my own creation. I have some fries that I¡¯ll bring out in a moment, as well as a refreshing spring coleslaw,¡± he reported, placing the platter in the middle of the table. Usually she watched her weight carefully, but her birthday was enough of an occasion for Anabel to push all caloric considerations from her mind, and she dug in before Sylvester had even finished setting up the rest of the food. And good thing too, because Ash and Zinnia had waited for her to take her first bite before starting themselves, and they were looking impatient. ¡°Mm!¡± Anabel moaned, lifting a hand to her mouth. ¡°That is so good!¡± ¡°You like it?¡± Sylvester said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Please can I just get this sauce for my birthday?¡± Sylvester grinned with pride and amusement. ¡°I¡¯m very pleased it¡¯s to your liking. I can certainly start making it more regularly. Excellent on sandwiches too, I should add.¡± Anabel thanked him profusely, and helped herself to the rest of the food. He seemed to have factored in her consciousness over her health into the meal, because despite how casual it looked, everything she ate felt light, and not too greasy at all. And her sentiment seemed to be shared by the rest of the table, because there was hardly any talking throughout all of lunch. After lunch, while Sylvester tidied everything up, the members of Paragon returned to the beach to enjoy the remaining hours of sunlight they had left. It took some prodding, but eventually Sabrina joined them for a game of volleyball without a net. Zinnia and N waded out into the ocean and the rest of them stayed on land, and they all batted the ball between each other. Soon, their pok¨¦mon returned and the whole beach became busy. Ash¡¯s Greninja dodged splash after splash of ocean water from Juggernaut, Sabrina¡¯s Alakazam levitated into the air to play with Sakura, and Anabel even caught Royal the Suicune, Reshiram, and Cresselia having some sort of talk. By the time the sun was beginning to hug the horizon, and the sky had melted into orange, Anabel was starting to feel tuckered out. Sabrina had long retired and was snoozing on a towel beneath a beach umbrella, and Anabel collapsed beside her, resting her head on her stomach. The girl didn¡¯t even stir. Somehow, Ash and Zinnia were still messing around, and surprisingly, N was keeping up with them. But when the dinner call came from Sylvester, Anabel gently shook Sabrina awake, and they all slowly trudged back to base. As always, Sylvester seemed to know exactly what they wanted, for instead of preparing some extravagant feast for their tired selves, he¡¯d whipped up a simple meal of sushi. With a more casual affair, they ate their food slower, and the conversation flowed like a quiet river. Sylvester and Zinnia helped themselves to a beer, and Anabel sipped on a margarita, but no one else partook. By the time they finished dinner, the sun had disappeared entirely beneath the waves. ¡°That hit the stop,¡± Zinnia burped out, crumpling onto one of the sofas in the living room. ¡°I agree, that was delicious, Sylvester, thank you,¡± N said, taking a seat in one of the plush chairs. Ash took the seat next to him and exhaled loudly. Anabel pulled Sabrina onto another couch and laid back against her. So comfortable. After a few moments, the lights dimmed, and N cleared his throat. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Anabel! Happy birthday to you! they all sang, in various volumes and pitches. Sylvester approached with a cake in hand, and he carefully placed it on the coffee table in front of Anabel. That¡¯s what I saw this morning! she thought. It was simple, but it looked majestic. It was completely white all over, with only the candles breaking the field of sugary monotony. Anabel giggled at their singing and blew out the candles. ¡°Wonderful!¡± N chirped, and Zinnia pumped her fist lazily. Sylvester returned again with plates and forks, and a pie server, which he handed to Anabel. ¡°Cut yourself as large a slice as you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, as she pushed the server down through the cake. ¡°Ash? Zinnia?¡± Sylvester offered, glancing at them. ¡°Uhhh,¡± Ash said, turning to Zinnia. ¡°It¡¯s a vanilla lemon angel fruit cake,¡± Zinnia said confidently. ¡°From the finest and most legendary¡­cake store in Jubilife.¡± Anabel glanced back down at the cake, not seeing a single piece of fruit on it. Sylvester sighed. ¡°Small correction. This is a white lotus buttercream cake from Opaline Patisserie in Jubilife. It received rave reviews from critics in a Jubilife Times article a couple months back, and now you must call ahead a month in advance in order to procure one.¡± He glanced back at Zinnia and Ash. ¡°You have these two to thank for picking it up this morning.¡± ¡°Thanks guys,¡± Anabel murmured, though her attention was mainly on the sizable slice she¡¯d just cut for herself. Just cutting through it, she could tell it was of extremely high quality, and seeing its cross-section now, it looked like something out of a magazine. She took a bite tenderly, and was immediately assaulted by a cascade of flavors, each seemingly more blissful than the last. The cream melted on her tongue, and the cake felt like gold in food form. She shook her head and took another bite. ¡°She¡¯s speechless,¡± Ash said. ¡°I guess it really is that good.¡± ¡°Better be,¡± Zinnia scoffed. ¡°Some dingus almost knocked me over it was so crowded in there. I swear he was thinking about stealing it when I was walking out.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll cut for the rest of us,¡± Sylvester said, seeing Anabel make no move to finish her job. Sabrina, Ash, and N all received a piece, but then Anabel finished hers and asked for a second before Zinnia even got her first. Of course, Sylvester accomodated the birthday girl, and Zinnia had to visibly restrain herself from exploding, but after receiving her piece, she was quickly placated. When they finished, N suddenly stood. ¡°And now, for presents.¡± He pulled a gift bag out from behind his seat that Anabel genuinely hadn¡¯t seen him get earlier. ¡°For you,¡± he said, handing it to her. ¡°This is from the four of us.¡± Ash, Sabrina, and Zinnia all stared at her expectantly as she took the bag into her lap. Sylvester sat on the edge of the couch, watching with great interest at what the others had gotten her. Anabel nodded in thanks and slowly pulled sheet after sheet of tissue paper out of the bag. Then, her hands hit something solid, and she pulled it out of the bag. It was like a pok¨¦ball, but significantly heavier, bulkier, and black on both hemispheres. The button was outlined by a raised hexagon. She frowned, recognizing it from somewhere, then her eyes widened. ¡°Is this a Tera Orb?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Ash said. ¡°What do you think?¡± Anabel turned it around in her hand, then frowned. ¡°Wait, I thought these could only be used in Paldea? Because of some special crystals or something there, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very special prototype model from Blueberry Academy,¡± N explained. ¡°Tera Crystals are embedded within the orb, allowing one to Terastallize anywhere in the world. This is very new technology, and this particular model finished going through quality control just a few days ago. I apologize, but that¡¯s why Sabrina and I were so late today. The flight from Unova is quite long.¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± Anabel said. ¡°You two have been flying all day, but you still made it back in time to celebrate with me.¡± She clutched the Tera Orb tightly. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± She met N¡¯s gaze, then turned over to Sabrina. ¡°Uh, yeah, we had to fly to Jubilife and back this morning too,¡± Zinnia commented, raising her hand. Anabel smiled and leapt up off the couch, then wrapped Zinnia in a big hug. ¡°Thank you, Zinnia!¡± ¡°Agh!¡± Zinnia squirmed, trying to break free. While she did, Anabel mouthed a thanks to Ash, and he and Pikachu both gave a thumbs up. ¡°Well, it seems we had similar ideas,¡± Sylvester said, withdrawing his own gift bag from who-knows-where. ¡°Paldea is a land of mystery, distant as it is from the rest of the world.¡± He handed Anabel his gift. ¡°I recall you saying in passing some time ago that you were interested in rounding out your roster with a sixth team member.¡± Anabel¡¯s eyes widened, and she pulled the bag open. A blinding smile gleamed onto her face upon seeing its contents: a pok¨¦ball. She pulled it out gently and held it in her hand. ¡°I remember you telling me the story of your first pok¨¦mon, and how it¡¯d sparked in you an interest in unusual and unique pok¨¦mon. Not to toot my own horn, but frankly, I¡¯m brilliant at what I do. I think you¡¯ll be very pleased with this one.¡± Anabel brushed her thumb against the release, feeling the stares of anticipation from everyone in the room. Then, she pressed it. A small red pok¨¦mon with a black face burst out onto the coffee table. It looked around the room, but its flaming eyes hung on Anabel, sizing up its new trainer. Anabel frowned. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a Charcadet,¡± Ash said, transfixed by the pok¨¦mon.. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one before, they¡¯re super rare.¡± Charcadet glanced over at the mention of its name, but its attention quickly turned back to Anabel. ¡°Charcadet¡­,¡± Anabel repeated. ¡°You can consider Charcadet a gift from Cynthia and me,¡± Sylvester said. ¡°This is my half of the gift. Cynthia¡¯s half would be impractical to lug around, so they¡¯re put away for now, but it¡¯s two sets of armor which are necessary to trigger Charcadet¡¯s evolution. Normally, Charcadet evolve into one of two possible pok¨¦mon: Armarouge or Ceruledge.¡± He stroked his chin. ¡°But¡­you are a member of Paragon after all, so I don¡¯t suspect convention will hinder you in any way.¡± Anabel stared at her new pok¨¦mon, and Charcadet stared back. She could feel its strength and potential radiating off of it like heat. Sylvester wasn¡¯t kidding. He knew what he was doing. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± she said. ¡°You, and everyone else.¡± She met all of their gazes individually. She felt a nudge beneath her, and turned to Sabrina. ¡°Do you have a name for him?¡± the psychic asked. Anabel smiled. The name had come to her the moment she¡¯d laid eyes on him. A being packed with mystery and strength. He respected power, and possessed much more of it than met the eye. And he evolved into a sort of knight? Anabel reached out and laid her hand on his head, and Charcadet extinguished his flame to allow her to touch him. ¡°Arcane,¡± she said.
Land of Rota, present day The throne room within Cameran Palace milled with activity, all of Queen Ilene¡¯s captains and advisors assembled before her. At the very back of the room, Albrecht leaned against the wall, observing the meeting from behind. ¡°Hear me, Guardians,¡± the Queen said, and all fell silent immediately. Toward the front of the pack, Riley listened with rapt attention, a bead of sweat trickling down his cheek. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he could tell it was big. He¡¯d never seen Captain Magnus so serious after returning from a meeting with the rest of Queen Ilene¡¯s closest retainers a few days ago. Since then, he¡¯d heard rumors that the World Champion was in Rota, and actually owned a house somewhere in the kingdom. And though he didn¡¯t think the others had noticed, he could sense the World Champion¡¯s presence behind him right now, seemingly confirming the rumors. ¡°Some of you already know this, but I will state this plainly for those who do not,¡± Ilene continued. ¡°Rota is in danger. At this very moment, a great evil conspires to bring destruction to our peaceful lands.¡± A wave of discontent passed through the crowd, and Riley furrowed his brows. ¡°Captain Magnus,¡± the Queen addressed, and the old Guardian knelt. ¡°My Queen,¡± he intoned. ¡°Summon the Guardians. For all our brethren across the world, the time has come for us to defend our home.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 31 : Ambush
Anabel¡¯s Nicknames Magic - Espeon Juggernaut - Snorlax Sakura - Latias Royal - Suicune Sophia - Decidueye Arcane - Charcadet, who has since evolved Remnants of the Great War [22] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [22] Chapter 31 : Ambush
Land of Rota - Albrecht Manor ¡°Steady your breathing, and slow your heart rate.¡± Ash took a deep breath and closed his eyes, slowly raising his hands. He felt his fingertips tingle as his power began to build. In front of him, he could sense Pikachu¡¯s form, small, but powerful. It gleamed like the sun in his mind¡¯s eye, and as he sharpened his focus, his temples began to pound. But he grit his teeth and ignored the pain, forcing himself to see the details of Pikachu¡¯s body. As the seconds passed, that amorphous blob of power before him shrunk slightly, coming into focus, and Ash could begin to make out his limbs and ears. Then he saw his cheeks and tail, and the ventricles of power within. After a few more seconds, he could make out his blood vessels and bones and brain, all tinged with the sapphire of Aura. ¡°Agh!¡± Ash cried, suddenly clutching his head. His focus snapped as a lancing pain bloomed within his skull. He opened his eyes to see Pikachu approaching him, eyes brimming with concern. ¡°Sorry buddy, I¡¯m fine,¡± he said, taking deep breaths to banish the pain. He sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Albrecht said beside him. ¡°This is to be expected. What you¡¯re trying to do requires an extraordinary amount of precision. Precision that your body as it is now cannot hope to achieve. Just as you work out to build your muscles, so too must you exercise your mind to push the boundaries of what is possible with the Plate.¡± Ash nodded and took another deep breath, then raised his arms again. ¡°How about we take a break?¡± Albrecht cut in before he could begin. ¡°You¡¯ve been at this for a couple hours now and you won¡¯t do yourself any favors by overexerting yourself.¡± Ash sighed and lowered his arms. ¡°We¡¯ve been training since this morning and this is still all I can manage,¡± he grumbled. Albrecht crossed his arms. ¡°You¡¯ve come further than you realize. When we first began, you could not even gaze upon Pikachu¡¯s raw Aura. ¡®Twas like looking straight into the sun. That you are not only able to do that after just a few hours of practice, but distinguish the organs and power centers in his body as well, is quite an impressive feat.¡± Pikachu squeaked in agreement, scampering up Ash¡¯s body to give him a few pats of encouragement on his neck. ¡°I guess,¡± Ash said. ¡°I just want to be ready for when AZ arrives.¡± Albrecht smiled, his face etched with empathy. ¡°AZ has possessed his Plate for millennia. Ready is all you can hope to be in the face of his overwhelming advantage in experience. And as I said before, his assault won¡¯t come for another couple months at least.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ash said, walking over to a nearby rock where he¡¯d left his water bottle, and taking a swig. Albrecht crossed his hands behind his back, and his gaze dropped. ¡°Of course, I understand. You don¡¯t want a repeat of the situation with your friend Anabel. I understand your impatience.¡± Ash cracked a smile. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s not about that. Not really anyway.¡± Albrecht nodded respectfully. ¡°Very well. I must say, though, I was quite surprised when you first told me how you plan to use the Plate. Of all the Platebearers I¡¯ve ever encountered, none have used them like this.¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯ll be the first.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Albrecht agreed. ¡°Perhaps it would be judicious to speak with your friend Sabrina. As a human psychic, she may be able to offer some additional insight into channeling the depthless power that resides within you.¡± Ash¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t seen her in some time. Not since yesterday morning with Miss Anabel, I believe,¡± Albrecht said. He frowned. ¡°When none of you made it to dinner last night, I assumed you¡¯d gone into town on business. But Miss Cynthia has also been absent¡­¡± Ash¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°Cynthia left.¡± Albrecht frowned and turned to him. ¡°Left? So suddenly?¡± He looked away, perplexed. ¡°She only just arrived, and seemed like she planned on staying, at least as long as you were here.¡± He stroked his chin in confusion. ¡°Something came up. Sorry,¡± Ash said curtly. Albrecht stared at him for a moment, as if studying him, but he soon looked away. ¡°I see. Well, I won¡¯t pry further, as promised. Her business is her business.¡± An awkward silence hung in the air between them, but soon, Ash placed his water bottle back on the rock. ¡°Sorry, I think I will go talk to Sabrina right now, actually. Do you mind?¡± Albrecht spread his hands in resignation. ¡°Not at all. We¡¯ll pick up when you return.¡± Ash stamped out his guilt as he walked away, both for lying to him, and for complying with Cynthia¡¯s disappearance. Although he¡¯d initially just been worried about getting back to Rota as soon as possible in the wake of Cynthia¡¯s sudden turn, now that he¡¯d calmed down and had some time to think about it, Sylvester¡¯s concerns about her recklessness were now beginning to sink in. Ash wasn¡¯t privy to whatever Sylvester had been seeing in her, but her order yesterday was jarring enough that he felt more comfortable with her behind bars. It was simply irrational. But that only made him more anxious about why she¡¯d done it. Although he hadn¡¯t seen Sabrina since yesterday on Paragon Island, Ash had a pretty good idea of where she was now. While eating breakfast, he¡¯d asked one of the maids if she¡¯d eaten yet, and she¡¯d said she had. And since Sabrina hadn¡¯t gone to see Anabel yet, and he hadn¡¯t passed her coming downstairs, that meant she was likely outside of the manor somewhere. Knowing Sabrina, she wouldn¡¯t have gone totally off somewhere. She¡¯d returned to Rota, after all, and surely she knew Ash would follow. Which meant she knew they¡¯d cross paths again after what she¡¯d done to Cynthia. But she wasn¡¯t entirely aloof. At the end of the day, she was still a member of Paragon, and she had a job to do. Ash hiked along the path, beyond Albrecht¡¯s property, through the chittering forest and past glassy brooks. While he walked, he practiced with the Plate, tickling the pok¨¦mon who were nosy enough to get close to him with an electric jolt. He soon crested a hill, and as expected Sabrina was standing at the top of it, her dark hair blowing in the wind. She didn¡¯t turn as he walked up beside her, but the sight before him distracted Ash from her momentarily, and his jaw dropped. A chasm, long and deep, yawned before him. Tenuous roots stuck out from the loosened ground, and a patch of dirt fell over to edge and dropped into the void as he approached the cliff. The bottom was pitch black. He winced and moved his foot back, while Pikachu peeked over the edge curiously. ¡°This is Albrecht¡¯s Nidoking¡¯s Fissure, huh?¡± Ash murmured. ¡°Just how powerful is he?¡± ¡°This chasm encircles all of Rota,¡± Sabrina said. All of Rota?! Ash leaned forward carefully and stared back down into the chasm. The fact that a single pok¨¦mon could deform the landscape so severely with just a single attack was a sobering realization. Till now, Ash had only seen this magnitude of destruction attributed to legendary pok¨¦mon. ¡°He cut the entire country off from the rest of the world,¡± Sabrina continued. ¡°Not that it matters.¡± Ash furrowed his brows and leaned back. ¡°Because of the psychic dyad, right? I thought you might be here to take a look at it.¡± Sabrina nodded, but she looked just as stumped as Albrecht did when he¡¯d first told Ash about it. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Psychic pok¨¦mon use dyads like this one in most of their attacks, to help with targeting. One half of the dyad rests within the pok¨¦mon¡¯s mind, and the other, on the target. But this one¡­it¡¯s like it¡¯s submerged between multiple dimensions. I tried to destroy it, but it¡¯s like trying to blow out a candle through a window. It looks so weak¡­but nothing I did worked.¡± Ash nodded. It was worth a shot, but even Sabrina hadn¡¯t had any luck with it. He wished he could help, but he couldn¡¯t even see the thing. He¡¯d come here to see what her mental was like, but he hadn¡¯t expected such a detailed report of her efforts. ¡°The pok¨¦mon that created this must be extremely powerful,¡± she continued. ¡°It¡¯d take years¡­centuries, of honing its power to create a dyad this complex.¡± ¡°Are we sure it wasn¡¯t created by a human psychic?¡± Ash asked. Sabrina bristled, but shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ash noted her reaction, and nodded. He didn¡¯t think it was likely either, given how rare human psychics were, but he¡¯d been curious. Sabrina glanced down at Pikachu and turned to walk away. About half way down the hill, she stopped. ¡°Please forget about what you saw yesterday.¡± ¡°Yesterday¡­ Wait, Sabrina¡­¡± Ash reached his hand out to stop her, but she was already walking again and he found he didn¡¯t have anything to say. She¡¯d been more composed than he expected, and it seemed now she was fully focused on the mission at hand. No point in dredging up the past if Sabrina was content to let it slumber, at least for now. The wind whistled softly against the grass as it drafted up from the chasm, and then Ash and Pikachu were alone. ¡°Good talk, eh?¡± he muttered, and Pikachu giggled beneath him. ¡°Well, might as well get back to work. Why don¡¯t you go train with the others now?¡± he said to Pikachu. ¡°I think I basically have the hang of it now. I¡¯ll call you all back when I¡¯m ready.¡± Pikachu snapped a salute, then scampered off back into the forest to where the others were training. Ash took one last look out at the chasm, then waved his hand through the air in front of where Sabrina had been standing. He couldn¡¯t see anything, and he didn¡¯t feel anything, but that was where the psychic dyad supposedly was. He took one last breath of the crisp air, which smelled of freshly overturned soil and ancient mildew, then turned and headed back toward the manor, his hands buried in his pockets. Quiet and serene as it was now, the whole valley would soon be consumed by war, for the first time in three thousand years. And it would all start here.
Kalos Region, one month later ¡°Anything to report?¡± N asked, his feet kicked up on the desk. He¡¯d never been the cleanest person, even as a kid, but empty food trays, bottles, and cans, littered his motel room. As a kid, he¡¯d had servants to clean up after his every mess, and Ghetsis had obviously never impressed upon him the importance of personal responsibility. ¡°Yes, actually,¡± Zinnia responded. ¡°So no need to keep gloating.¡± ¡°That¡­wasn¡¯t my intention,¡± N said, quashing a more argumentative tone after deciding it¡¯d be more prudent to keep their conversation as professional as possible. He¡¯d found the entrance to his tunnel several days ago, and was now waiting on for Zinnia to find her entrance, before proceeding. ¡°So?¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°I found it,¡± Zinnia said curtly. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the details. Now we just have to wait till Sylvester gives an update. See ya.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± N said, swinging his feet off the desk and lurching forward. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°...Yeah?¡± There was a pause. ¡°I get the feeling you don¡¯t really like talking to me. I don¡¯t think we need a daily update. Let¡¯s just talk again when Sylvester gives an update.¡± ¡°Please, wait!¡± N demanded, getting up. ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what he wanted to say, but he didn¡¯t want her hanging up with that impression. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant to convey,¡± he started, trying not to stumble over his words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it came across that way, but I¡¯m just as frustrated as you, believe it or not.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Zinnia said, but N could hear her sarcastic smirk through the phone. ¡°The truth is, what happened to Anabel affected me more than I realized.¡± N glanced around his room. Even for him, this was a little pathetic. ¡°Something about the visceral nature of it, or¡­the permanence, I suppose. When Ash fell unconscious for a month, at least I could see his body still intact, and feel his breath on my hand. With her, she just seems so out of reach¡­and the damage is visible.¡± A sudden curiosity overtook him. ¡°Is that normal?¡± There was a silence on the other end, and at first, N thought Zinnia hadn¡¯t been listening. ¡°Who knows?¡± she eventually said, nonchalantly. ¡°You give her a call?¡± N¡¯s insides turned to meal. ¡°Oh¡­no, I haven¡¯t.¡± He¡¯d completely forgotten that was an option available to him. He felt like a moron. ¡°Have you?¡± ¡°¡®Course. She¡¯s been in bed for weeks so I¡¯ve just been texting her every now and then about whatever.¡± N squirmed in his chair. It was becoming painfully obvious to him how inhuman he was. Things that were obvious even to a headstrong woman like Zinnia had never even occurred to him. After the fall of Team Plasma, he¡¯d had a vague idea about starting anew and connecting himself to humanity, not as a king, but as their equal. As a fellow. But it wasn¡¯t as easy as he¡¯d thought. After the hell he¡¯d nearly unleashed on Unova, by what right could he suddenly join hands with them? And what did it even mean to be human to begin with? Ghetsis had raised N to see humans as beneath him. But in truth, it was the opposite. He was beneath them. He possessed so little of the dreams and emotions that filled each and every person he met, and had only just begun to see that after Ash pulled the metaphorical veil from his eyes. Since then, he¡¯d been strung along by Paragon, content to simply exist alongside Reshiram and his few friends. Yet fundamentally, he still remained the same. He did not deserve to be called human yet. ¡°I-I see,¡± N said. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll give her a call and see how she¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t bother. I was just texting her a little while ago and she¡¯s outside. Getting some fresh air and some exercise after spending so much time cooped up in bed.¡± N frowned, allowing a thin smile to grace his lips. ¡°So she¡¯s moving around again, then?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­That¡¯s wonderful,¡± he breathed. He only wished he¡¯d heard it from her. ¡°Yep. Ash is doing well, apparently, too. Seems like he¡¯s figured out something pretty major about using the Plate. And the Guardians have slowly been trickling back in to protect the place. All and all, Rota seems pretty well-guarded.¡± N nodded. ¡°That¡¯s excellent.¡± He stood and stretched, readying himself to ask a question he¡¯d asked before. ¡°So¡­how are you holding up?¡± This was probably safe to ask now, now that he¡¯d poured his own heart out. Plus, he was genuinely interested, as he¡¯d been before, especially now, since she sounded so chipper compared to the last time he¡¯d asked. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Zinnia said casually. ¡°Uhhh, actually, to be honest, I didn¡¯t give Anabel a call until about a week after we got the news. For some reason, I was afraid she¡¯d blame me. Stupid, right?¡± she chuckled. ¡°She does blame you for quite a bit,¡± N smiled. But it quickly faded when he realized she was being serious. ¡°Er, I suppose¡­well, it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know,¡± Zinnia snapped playfully. ¡°No,¡± N said. ¡°Actually, I¡­want to understand why you feel that way. I don¡¯t understand, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s stupid at all.¡± Zinnia sighed loudly into the phone, and N was afraid he¡¯d pissed her off. ¡°Hmmm¡­don¡¯t tell the others about this, but basically¡­I realized some time ago¡­that basically¡­I have a massive ego.¡± N stifled a laugh. You? No¡­ ¡°So it¡¯s like, when things happen, I kinda just assume it¡¯s my fault, good or bad.¡± There was a pause. ¡°But, hey! A lot of things are my fault! Or like, I cause a lot of things to happen because I¡¯m just that kind of woman!¡± N smiled. ¡°I see. That does make sense¡­at a certain angle. Thank you.¡± He noticed he was pacing around the room, starting to enjoy the conversation more and more. ¡°So what changed after a week that you finally decided to give her a call?¡± ¡°I was just talking it out with my pok¨¦mon,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh!¡± she snapped, before he had a chance to say anything. ¡°That¡¯s perfectly normal!¡± N was laughing, but he was covering his mouth with the back of his hand, hoping Zinnia couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Of course! I would be the last person to judge you for something like that.¡± The skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just, you reminded me of my own stupidity.¡± ¡°Huh?! You calling me stupid?!¡± Of course it was funny. In all thinking and overthinking about how best to connect with humanity, he¡¯d forgotten the most important thing. In times of duress, he could turn to his own pok¨¦mon to lean on. Perhaps it was the nature of the mission they were on, or his anguish at Anabel¡¯s pain, but he¡¯d neglected to speak with Reshiram even once since arriving in Cyllage City. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± N said, wiping his eyes. ¡°I should go now. Let¡¯s talk again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not calling me stupid, are you?! Or are you? Wait, what is going on?¡± she wailed. Taking a page from Anabel, or Ash¡¯s playbook, N hung up, leaving Zinnia to stew in her confusion. He had no right to treat her this way, really. Especially after she¡¯d graciously continued the conversation. And he was the most foolish of them all. But he was learning. Slowly, but surely. From his friends. With his head clear, and a goal on his mind, N grabbed his bag and slipped out of the motel, careful about any prying eyes. He¡¯d remained vigilant over the past month, and had no reason to suspect he¡¯d been made, but there was no such thing as being too cautious. AZ had already long proven his formidability, and there was no reason to believe that those who worked under him would be any less adept. The reality that a man who was three thousand years old somehow still had men loyal to him was chilling enough already. However, N encountered no one suspicious on his walk to the beach. The vast expanse of ocean before him reminded him of Paragon Island, only, this was no private beach. Small families and young trainers dotted the supple sands, playing with their pok¨¦mon and splashing in the shallows. N smiled as he walked along the retaining wall that held the city above. People weren¡¯t so bad. Seeing them enjoy their time together in such a mundane way, he was surprised at how easily he¡¯d once looked down on them. After pacing down the wall for nearly a half hour, away from the other beachgoers, toward the edge of the city, he crossed behind a wall of cragged rock, beneath a shadowy cliff where the sun didn¡¯t reach. The waves crashed against the sand in a way that made it extremely unlikely for anyone to intrude on him here. And the cliffs leaned forward enough to hide them from above. With their own swath of sand to themselves, N reached into his bag. ¡°Oh, wow, it¡¯s like you read my mind.¡± N whipped around. Standing in the shadows of the cragged rock was a young man with coarse brown hair. He looked to be around Ash¡¯s age. And with the pok¨¦balls strapped to his belt and his black windbreaker that zipped up to his mouth, he looked like a typical trainer. Of course, the fact that he¡¯d evaded N meant he was anything but ordinary. He¡¯d been followed. For how long, N couldn¡¯t say, and that made his skin pale and sweaty. He hadn¡¯t detected him at all. He swallowed, and turned to fully face the boy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can I help you?¡± The boy flashed a grin and sauntered toward him. ¡°You already have. You know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for you to go somewhere secluded? All that snooping around...I thought, ¡®surely this guy¡¯s gotta go somewhere quiet eventually.¡¯ And sure enough, you did.¡± N forced himself to keep his breathing steady. Just how long has he been watching me? ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked. ¡°Name¡¯s Caleb,¡± the boy said without hesitation. ¡°I was planning on introducing myself when you eventually decided to take the plunge into our little tunnel, but honestly you¡¯re taking a little too long. So I decided to come to you myself.¡± N frowned. ¡°Our tunnel?¡± It can¡¯t be¡­ He¡¯s so young¡­ ¡°Ya know? The tunnel you¡¯ve been looking for this past week,¡± Caleb said, nodding like an idiot. ¡°My master wasn¡¯t pleased when you found it, I¡¯ll have you know. You could¡¯ve ruined everything. Lucky for us, you stayed put.¡± ¡°Your master?¡± N repeated. His hand was still in his bag, and he brushed the Light Stone gently, feeling its burning warmth in his palm. ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± Caleb seemed to consider saying, but a smirk slid onto his lips instead. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know? I¡¯d ask who you are but you¡¯re already a little famous. Or should I say infamous, N Harmonia?¡± He sniggered. N bit his lip. ¡°I am N Harmonia, that¡¯s right.¡± I need to contact Zinnia¡­no, I need to tell Sylvester. ¡°I gotta say,¡± Caleb said, popping down onto a nearby rock, ¡°I expected someone to start looking for us, but I didn¡¯t expect to find a guy like you.¡± He raised his eyebrows mockingly. ¡°What¡¯re you, a fed or something now? Cut a deal to get out of jail?¡± ¡°Caleb, if there¡¯s something you want from me, I¡¯d be happy to provide it,¡± N said. ¡°But I was in the middle of something before you spoke to me, actually.¡± Caleb clutched his chest sarcastically. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m so sorry, sir! Please carry on, don¡¯t mind me!¡± He dropped his hands, then stood up, and glowered at N. ¡°Have you been listening to me? We know you¡¯re here. You and your bitch girlfriend in Shalour. The guys over there aren¡¯t as talkative as me so she¡¯s probably already fucked.¡± A bead of sweat dropped down N¡¯s face. Zinnia¡­ He exhaled slowly. The boy was young, but his allegiance was clear. ¡°Extrasensory,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°Just knock him out.¡± ¡°Huh? What was that? Speak up, bro!¡± Caleb tilted his head. A scalding heat erupted around N, and without moving, the flap on his bag sprung open. Orange magma geysered around him, shooting out of the bag and crashing back down onto the sand. His hair blustered around him, and the magma at his side faded into the protective white wing of Reshiram. Above him, Reshiram howled to herald his arrival, and behind him, N could feel Reshiram¡¯s tail begin to hum and spin, generating fire with every turn. Reshiram¡¯s eyes gleamed, turning a harsh blue, and suddenly, the beach around Caleb ruptured, spewing sand and crushed rock into the sky. N shielded his face as a gale of wind blew back from the attack, and he squinted to see the outcome. Once he did, his eyes narrowed. Caleb stood unscathed, with a Delphox at his side. Its wand was already drawn, and a shimmering Protect shined around them. ¡°Hooooh,¡± Caleb whistled, brushing the sand off his clothes. ¡°That¡¯s Reshiram alright. Which means you¡¯re definitely N Harmonia.¡± He met N¡¯s eyes, and smirked. ¡°Maybe Master won¡¯t be having all the fun over at Rota after all.¡±
Land of Rota - Albrecht Manor ¡°Young master! Young master!¡± Ash turned to find one of Albrecht¡¯s butler¡¯s barreling toward him across the grass. He frowned in confusion, but immediately realized something was wrong. ¡°What is it?¡± Upon reaching him, the butler stopped to catch his breath, panting with his hands on his knees. He swallowed and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at his forehead with it. ¡°What is it?!¡± Ash demanded, grabbing his shoulders. The butler looked up at him, fear in his eyes. ¡°The attack is here,¡± he said in a feeble tone. ¡°AZ has launched his attack against Rota!¡± ¡°What?! It wasn¡¯t supposed to happen for at least another month!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. But you need to gather your pok¨¦mon and find Miss Sabrina, and¡ª¡± Ash ignored him and began recalling his pok¨¦mon in their places as they lounged on the field. ¡°Anabel!¡± He started back toward the manor. The butler grabbed his collar. ¡°Wait, please, Master Ketchum!¡± Ash glared at him, but let him continue. ¡°Master Albrecht is at Cameran Palace right now. He¡¯s about to address the Guardians! Please, make your way there at once!¡± Ash cursed, glancing between the manor, and the palace beyond the forest. A sudden bang in the distance snatched his attention. The battle had already begun.
AZ stepped through the portal, now expanded and enlarged and swirling around him. He planted his foot onto the grass and pulled himself through. Before him, his followers engaged the Guardians¡¯ border defense, but they were nothing more than light skirmishes. Their defense would soon fall as more and more of their forces continued to pour from the portal. AZ was draped in finery that befit his royal station. A deep crimson cloaked sat draped over his shoulders, clasped over a tunic laced with milky opals and shimmering pearls. His storm gray hair cascaded down his regal chest in intricate braids, and atop his head sat a golden crown crusted with treasure. As he strode past, his men knelt in reverence. As the last Guardian fell before him, he sucked in a breath. ¡°Time to end this war once and for all, old friend.¡± At his proclamation, the white clouds above began to drift across the sun, obscuring its light ever so slightly. Next ¡ª Chapter 32 : The Vault of Secrets
Remnants of the Great War [23] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [23] Chapter 32 : The Vault of Secrets
Kalos Region - Shalour City Zinnia grit her teeth as she slid back, clutching her arm. She pulled her hand away, revealing her palm to be sticky and red with blood. Blood oozed from the gash on her arm, and she glared at her assailants, who stood before her in an intimidating crescent, encircling her. There were five of them, slowly advancing toward her in their hooded cloaks. She felt her hand brush against the cold metal of the warehouse wall behind her and cursed internally. She was outside, but the warehouses on Shalour¡¯s coastline were packed together, and the rusted roofs above blotted out the sunlight. The enemy¡¯s Weavile licked her blood off its claws as it prowled around her. To her left stood a Thievul and a Magcargo, and to her right, an Audino and a Manectric. Zinnia slowed her breathing and carefully assessed the situation. This outcome wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected. After N had told her where the Cyllage entrance was located, Zinnia had narrowed her search down to Shalour¡¯s own warehouse district. Sure enough, Aster had sensed a peculiar concentration of anxiety coming from an administrative building at the district¡¯s edge. After a night of reconnaissance, she¡¯d spotted a pair of hooded figures slinking around and tailed them there. It only took a couple more nights of poking around to find the secret entrance to the tunnel, hidden in the lobby of the building beneath a supply closet. Aster hadn¡¯t sensed any shadows, yet shortly after getting off the phone with N, they had appeared. She¡¯d thought camping out near the entrance right under their noses would¡¯ve provided a certain level of protection, but it seemed even playing the part of some homeless vagrant hadn¡¯t shielded her from their notice. Somehow, they¡¯d identified her as a threat. ¡°Not even gonna give me time to think, huh?¡± she grinned, wiping her mouth, and the Weavile grinned back, frost crackling across its forearm threateningly. Zinnia¡¯s hand drifted down to her belt and she pulled a pok¨¦ball off. Cocky bastards, she thought, realizing they¡¯d made no move to stop her. Think you can kill the Almighty Zinnia with a mere five man advantage? She thumbed the release on her pok¨¦ball. ¡°Dragon Darts!¡± she roared. Dragapult poured out of his pok¨¦ball with a sinister smirk, jade Dreepy peeking out of the holes on its horns. Faster than the eye could see, the Dreepy shot out in volleys of four, jade dragon energy streaking through the air with a harsh screech. The concrete floor splintered and blew apart as volley after volley fired indiscriminately at all five opponents before them. A dusty haze rose up from the carnage, obscuring Zinnia¡¯s view, but when it faded, she saw the Audino on her right with its arms raised, eyes glowing to power a wide Protect. Dragapult didn¡¯t seem at all bothered by the fact that his attack hadn¡¯t done anything, and similarly, the grin hadn¡¯t left Zinnia¡¯s face either. ¡°Drakloak Cannon,¡± she commanded. A pair of Dreepy slithered out of Dragapult¡¯s horn and mashed themselves together in a haze of ghostly mist. More Dreepy emptied out, adding themselves to the pulsating cloud above Dragapult¡¯s head, and as they cast themselves into the infernal mix, the cloud began to stretch into a larger form, darkening into a black-horned Drakloak. Its body was still unformed and incorporeal, but like its master, it smirked, then split apart and squirreled away into all four of the holes on Dragapult¡¯s horns. Within each hole, a yellow eye opened, glittering with malice. Beneath their hoods, Zinnia could see her assailants frown, and Weavile and Manectric narrowed their eyes behind the shield, their instincts aroused. Dragapult let out a high-pitched chortle, then released the attack. Four golden beams of hellish energy blasted forward in an instant like a laser with a tremendous crack. The cannon barrage splashed against the Protect and tore through it instantly, piercing straight through, and carving across Audino¡¯s body in a savage blitz. Audino cried out in pain, but its voice was quickly cut off as the beam slashed across its face, silencing it, and it warbled back in defeat. Yellow flames erupted across the ground around the hooded figures and they stumbled back, unnerved. One of them recalled the defeated Audino and glared at Zinnia, squeezing the pok¨¦ball of his defeated partner so hard its hinges creaked. ¡°Hah hah!¡± Zinnia laughed. ¡°Serves you right! What kind of assassination is this?!¡± Dragapult¡¯s eternal smirk mimicked his master¡¯s mockings, the holes on its horns smoking fumes the color of golden oil and black death. ¡°Be careful,¡± one of them said. The one with the Weavile, it looked like. ¡°The boy said she¡¯d be strong.¡± ¡°She would have to be, to be targeting his Grace,¡± the one with the Magcargo growled. ¡°Reggie, Claire, keep us protected. We¡¯ll kill her,¡± said the one with the Manectric. You know I can hear you, right?! Zinnia screamed in her head, yet the casual way they talked about murdering her still unnerved her, and a nervous bead of sweat fell down her temple. That Weavile was supposed to end it instantly, but I dodged in time¡­ I should create some distance while I still have them awestruck! She ripped another pok¨¦ball from her belt and released a second pok¨¦mon. Cyclizar reared onto concrete, and Zinnia leapt onto his back immediately. ¡°Get us out of here!¡± she commanded. Cyclizar tore through the hooded figures, leaping through the golden flames of Dragapult¡¯s assault, and bounding through the narrow alleys between the warehouses, Dragapult floating behind. Right before they could round the corner, the ground in front of them ruptured, fierce flames gurgling beneath the cracked stone, threatening to erupt. Zinnia grit her teeth as Cyclizar jumped, but her eyes widened in horror, realizing the attack was spreading faster and further than he had jumped. They would come down right on top of it as it erupted. ¡°Shed Tail!¡± she hollered. Cyclizar shuddered beneath her, and a glittering substitute made of energy peeled away from him. As it dropped toward the boiling ground, Cyclizar bunched his legs up, and pushed himself off of his clone, sailing higher into the air. Not a moment later, founts of lava belched up from the ground, consuming the air they¡¯d been just a second ago. Cyclizar whined in pain as the lava grazed his underbelly on their descent, and Zinnia pulled her feet higher to avoid getting hit. However, this destabilized her balance, and as Cyclizar landed on the other side of the attack, she rolled off of his back across the concrete, groaning in pain as her injured arm slammed against it. Without an order, Dragapult fired a barrage of Dragon Darts back the way they came, and jade energy streamed across the alley with an infernal wail. However, a Protect opened before they could find their target, and they exploded harmlessly against it in multi-colored bursts of smoke. As Zinnia rolled back over and stood up, she saw two hooded figures approaching slowly behind the Protect, flanked by Magcargo and Thievul. A thin fissure of cooling flame trailed out from Magcargo¡¯s body to the decimated ground where it¡¯d used Earth Power, and Thievul¡¯s eyes gleamed as it powered the Protect. The warehouses around them had charred walls, and they groaned, threatening to collapse. Before Zinnia could mount Cyclizar again, she saw the others walking toward her down the alleys in the other four cardinal directions. They¡¯d circled around her and now had her completely boxed in. Weavile and Manectric approached from the sides, and a newly deployed Sawk walked beside his trainer at the front. Zinnia¡¯s eyes narrowed. Who are these people anyway? I know they work for AZ, but their pok¨¦mon are way stronger than your average grunt. If their other pok¨¦mon are just as strong, I might not last¡­ They closed in slowly, clearly confident in their trap, and to be honest, Zinnia couldn¡¯t blame them. She closed her eyes, pondering for a way out. I¡¯ve been in Shalour for about a month¡­ They seem pretty well off¡­ I mean, that giant tower looks pretty expensive¡­ Yeah¡­they¡¯ll be fine. She opened her eyes and pulled Salamence¡¯s pok¨¦ball from her belt, her decision made. She turned around to face the Sawk, but her attention locked on behind her to the Magcargo and Thievul. Because that Earth Power messed up the ground, those two will have a bit more trouble getting close to me. We¡¯ll start with the others. Zinnia slammed the pok¨¦ball against the ground and it snapped open. Salamence materialized beside her, his eyes already absorbing the entire situation. ¡°Hyper Beam!¡± she roared, jumping onto his back. Once on, she recalled Cyclizar and Dragapult. A screaming column of death poured from Salamence¡¯s maw, and he sweeped it across his enemies, tearing through the warehouses like butter. Manectric launched a Thunderbolt to counter, and Sawk bore the attack in front of its trainer protectively, while Weavile snatched its trainer up and deftly leapt back as the horrific beam carved through the ground in front of it. ¡°Into the air!¡± Zinnia said, before the last two could attack them from behind. Sorry, Shalour! I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll recover from this! But it had to happen! Salamence jerked to the side to avoid a searing Flamethrower and tangled Dark Pulse from Magcargo and Thievul, and as they ascended, Zinnia could already see her assailants rummaging on their belts so they could pursue. She faced forward as Salamence soared ahead. The administrative building towered in the distance, and Zinnia nudged him toward it. We¡¯ve made enough noise already as it is¡­ Might as well go through the front door, guns blazing! Salamence angled down toward the building, and he started to speed up, bulleting toward the front doors.
Land of Rota - Cameran Palace Ash and Sabrina appeared in a flash in front of the massive entrance to Cameran Palace. Having run into her on the way, Sabrina had teleported them straight here. The doors were open wide, and throngs of Guardians hurried through them, with some descending the marble steps down to the maple grove below, and the viaduct further on, and some ascending the steps to rush inside, not paying the newcomers any mind. ¡°We need to find where Albrecht is, fast,¡± Ash said, brushing to the side as some Guardians pushed past him. ¡°Let¡¯s follow some of these Guardians heading inside!¡± Sabrina nodded and followed Ash inside. The interior was even more packed, and Ash recognized Sarah the receptionist from when he¡¯d been here before, barking instructions to her fellows. He started moving toward her, and when she saw him, he noticed her mouth open in shock, losing interest in whoever she''d been talking to. ¡°Ash? What in the world are you doing here?!¡± Her eyes found Sabrina. ¡°Miss Sabrina, you too!¡± ¡°We¡¯re here to help,¡± Ash stated. ¡°Can you tell us where Albrecht is?¡± Sarah frowned in utter confusion. ¡°Albrecht? Who do you mean?¡± Ash facepalmed mentally. They still don¡¯t know he¡¯s here! That¡¯s probably what this meeting is for! ¡°Where is Queen Ilene? She¡¯s about to address the Guardians, isn¡¯t she?¡± Sarah nodded slowly, still confused, and a bit rattled at all the commotion around them. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. She should be at the great hall. All the Guardians who just arrived are heading there now.¡± She peered behind them, then refocused back on them. ¡°Does Riley know you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Ash said. ¡°He should be there as well. Last I heard, he was with Captain Magnus when everything began.¡± Ash nodded and clutched her hand. ¡°Thank you for your help, Sarah.¡± She nodded, still entranced by the whirlwind, and Sabrina bowed as they turned away. Ash hoped she¡¯d be fine. She was a strong woman, but a surprise attack like this was unprecedented. Ash and Sabrina raced through the halls of the palace together. Pikachu scurried beside them, weaving through the forest of legs before him with finesse. As they got closer to the great hall, the crowd seemed to get denser, and by the time they reached the doors leading inside, they¡¯d slowed to a crawl. Once inside, Ash tried to push himself through the crowd to the front. He felt Pikachu scurry back up onto his shoulder before he could get lost in the crowd. The great hall was lined with hearths and statues and paintings, but none could be seen through the massive crowd. Up ahead, a large balcony overlooked the entire hall, and Ash suspected that was where Ilene would come out from. Once Ash could go no further, he stopped, and a few moments later, he felt Sabrina brush up beside him. ¡°Sorry for leaving you behind back there,¡± he apologized. ¡°You okay?¡± Sabrina nodded, and Ash believed her. Her eyes reflected a stalwart determination. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Several minutes later, Ilene emerged out onto the balcony, flanked by a pair of cloaked royal guards. However, gone was her usual flowing lavender dress and many hair ornaments. Now, she was dressed in a simple azure Guardian¡¯s tunic and black leggings, and her curly platinum blonde hair was drawn into a long ponytail. One of her guards whispered something to her, and she nodded subtly. At the Queen¡¯s arrival, the Guardians swiftly fell silent and knelt, their full attention captured by their liege. Seeing her of all people dressed for war seemed to be just as shocking to them as the sudden chaos that had engulfed their lands, and a wave of unease passed over the crowd. Ash and Sabrina lowered themselves with the other Guardians, ready to listen to what she had to say. ¡°My Guardians,¡± she addressed. ¡°Please rise. We haven¡¯t any time for formalities.¡± As they did, Ash saw the burly Captain Magnus join the Queen on the balcony, and he crossed his arms, a look of fierce concern etched on his face. Riley joined him right after, dressed in his usual Guardian¡¯s attire, and then came Albrecht, in his silver suit, and Ash and Sabrina looked at each other, before facing the Queen again. ¡°As we speak, our home is under attack,¡± Ilene continued. ¡°A fearsome enemy has returned from beyond the grave to haunt us once more. Most of you will not be familiar with his name, but I suspect some will. He is called AZ. He is the monarch who once headed the great Kalos Empire, and clashed with us, the Guardians, during the Great War, centuries ago.¡± The Guardians turned to each other, speaking in tones laced with confusion, with the older and wiser ones unable to keep the stunned horror off their faces. But Queen Ilene did not give them time to process it, and she continued. ¡°Right now, AZ and his army march on the palace to destroy us once and for all. I summoned you back here to defend your home, but in truth, AZ launched his attack before we were ready, and only half the Guardians have returned.¡± Unsettling whispers flit throughout the gathered, and Ash saw Captain Magnus furrow his brows uneasily. Riley was gripping the balcony banister so tightly his knuckles were white. It was clear they¡¯d been agonizing over this. Ash steeled his own nerves. If only half the Guardians they expected have returned, that means we¡¯ll need to pull double the weight. He glanced over at Sabrina, but she still looked resolute, her attention trained on the Queen, ready to hear what she had to say next, and he smiled grimly. Her bravery was a welcome comfort. ¡°As such, the town has not fully evacuated. I have dispatched the Guardians who were already here to facilitate the completion of the evacuation, and to fortify our border defense, who have already engaged the enemy. Due to the nature of this surprise attack, I did not have time to tell them what I must tell you all now.¡± She stepped aside and allowed Albrecht to step forward. ¡°Greetings, Guardians,¡± he said. ¡°Some of you may recognize me, but for those who do not, allow me a moment to introduce myself. You will know me as the current World Champion of the Pok¨¦mon League, Albrecht.¡± He raised a hand to his chest and bowed. ¡°However, there is no longer any need to hide my true identity, and as perceptive as you are, perhaps some of you have already figured out who I am.¡± A Guardian near the front of the pack suddenly fell to his knees, and everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the sound of his knees hitting the wooden floor. He had graying hair, clearly one of the oldest of the gathered Guardians, and he clutched his wrinkled face, sobbing. ¡°Sir Amos,¡± a younger Guardian beside him said in a concerned tone, and she knelt to check on him. ¡°I-Impossible¡­,¡± Sir Amos breathed, the tears running between his fingers. ¡°I never imagined I would live to see the day¡­¡± Albrecht eyebrows crinkled empathetically. ¡°I have been with you always, young one,¡± he said softly. ¡°Your sight does not fail you.¡± At the word sight, several other Guardians seemed to catch on, and across the chamber, their eyes flared blue with the power of Aura. Some of them recoiled instinctively, some dropped just like the wizened Sir Amos, and some simply froze in pure shock, their jaws dropping. The younger and more inexperienced Guardians left looked around in confusion, wondering what everyone else was seeing that they had missed. ¡°Perhaps a more familiar visage will instill recognition,¡± Albrecht said, and suddenly, his entire body began to glow blue with Aura, and the shape of his form shifted. Several seconds passed, and then, the glow faded, and the man standing above them looked completely different. A shot of adrenaline instantly pierced throughout Ash¡¯s body, and he couldn¡¯t stop the smile from opening on his face. ¡°I knew it! I¡¯d felt his Aura once before¡­¡± Sabrina frowned next to him, but she quickly looked back toward the balcony. Spiky black hair and a pointed Guardian¡¯s cap shadowed his enigmatic face, and instead of a silver suit, he now wore the gray and blue garb of the old Guardians. A dark cape tumbled down his back, raw power emanating from his body like heat, easily evident even to non-Guardians. He tapped the balcony floor with a regal staff he now held in his right hand, and it echoed throughout the chamber. ¡°I am Sir Aaron Albrecht, the last king of the Guardians.¡± Ash had expected a dramatic reaction to the sudden reveal, but everyone in the run suddenly knelt, and despite their attempts at keeping a reverent silence, he could hear thankful crying all around him. He and Sabrina were the only ones in the room still standing, and they glanced at each other awkwardly. Although they caught a few dirty looks from strict looking Guardians, Ash used the suppressed crowd to take the opportunity and move closer to the front, skirting around the side, Sabrina following. ¡°Doubtless many of you have questions about my survival, and my prolonged absence, but due to the unfortunate situation we now find ourselves in, we no longer have the time for such an explanation. We must deploy immediately. I beg of you to forgive my selfishness.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t beg, my King!¡± a bearded Guardian shouted through his tears. ¡°We are blessed that you have finally returned!¡± another shouted, her eyes clamped shut. Sir Aaron smiled, the corners of his eyes twinkling. ¡°Truly, I do not deserve your loyalty. Yet, I will wield it all the same.¡± He turned to Captain Magnus, who was not crying, but seemed to be fighting hard to maintain his soldierly demeanor. ¡°Captain Magnus, I entrust you with the safety of the Queen. Maintain the forces you believe you need to protect her, and release the rest to fight in the south.¡± Magnus slammed his fist on his chest and nodded, grunting. ¡°To the rest of you, we will bisect your numbers. Half of you shall join the royal guards in the field. The rest will establish a perimeter around the palace once the town has finished evacuating. These will be our two lines of defense.¡± As the Guardians rose again, they whispered to each other, clearly worried that it wouldn¡¯t be enough. ¡°I know you are scared,¡± Sir Aaron said softly. ¡°I know these lands have only known peace since the Great War. And I know that when you first joined this order, you did so without ever intending on becoming a warrior.¡± He closed his eyes and raised his fist to his chest. ¡°However, the bonds you have cultivated with your pok¨¦mon will not fail you. I sense strength in every single one of you. Strength borne from the love you bear for your fellows, and for this place you call home. He opened his eyes, and seemed to meet the gaze of every single person in the room in an instant. He raised his staff. ¡°Guardians, let us protect our home!¡± The gathered Guardians trembled, then let out a cacophonous roar, and Ash felt like his bones were shaking. Cries and cheers of encouragement were shouted out, and even the younger Guardians, some younger than Ash, blazed with a newfound vigor. Several royal guards among the crowd began barking orders, the veterans among them beginning to gather teams together, and gradually, the crowd started to thin as the teams made their way outside. Once the last of the Guardians left, Sir Aaron leapt over the banister and floated down to the floor below, landing gently in front of Ash. Queen Ilene and Riley both followed suit, their bodies tinged with Aura. Now that he was this close, Ash almost felt like he¡¯d get burned up from how much power he seemed to radiate, though strangely, it was invigorating. ¡°I apologize for the deception,¡± Sir Aaron said, spreading his arms, ¡°but I suspect you¡¯ve had an inkling for a little while now, Ash.¡± Ash nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah¡­I started to think your Aura felt familiar once I got deeper into my training and started being able to sense that kind of thing. It¡¯s the same Aura I felt several years ago when I met you in the Tree of Beginnings.¡± Sir Aaron nodded. ¡°My true body slumbers within the Tree, but my spirit has since detached. This vessel is of my own creation, and it allows me to change my visage at will.¡± He turned to Sabrina and smiled. ¡°If you tried to read my mind at all, you¡¯d have seen nothing more than a roiling mass of Aura.¡± He tapped his temple. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t,¡± Sabrina sputtered, clutching the hem of her shirt. ¡°I would never try that against a man as powerful as you.¡± ¡°Oh, I appreciate the compliment!¡± Sir Aaron grinned. ¡°I had no idea either of you were in Rota this whole time,¡± Riley said, stepping forward. ¡°Or that you were an acquaintance of the World Champion.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry about that,¡± Ash said. ¡°But it¡¯s good to see you again, ignoring the circumstances!¡± Sabrina waved shyly as well, and Riley smiled at them both. ¡°That was my decision, not there''s,¡± Sir Aaron cut in. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to cause a panic. But to think AZ would mount an attack so soon after coming here¡­ I underestimated him too much. That miscalculation was my fault. I can only hope it won¡¯t cost us the whole of Rota.¡± He frowned in dismay. ¡°Er, Albrecht¡­or Sir Aaron, you said you¡¯ll be fighting AZ, right?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Sir Aaron stated. ¡°But there is something I must do first.¡± He turned to Queen Ilene. ¡°My lady, if you please. Take me to the Vault of Secrets.¡± Ilene nodded and started moving toward the door, Sir Aaron following. Riley tailed them, and just outside the door, Magnus was waiting for them. ¡°Wait!¡± Ash cried, running after them. ¡°What¡¯s the Vault of Secrets?¡± Ilene and Aaron were clearly in a hurry, and Ash had to jog to keep up with them as they swept through the palace. ¡°The Vault of Secrets is something I created during my tenure as king,¡± Sir Aaron explained. ¡°It contains all of the most precious and powerful Guardian artifacts, tomes, and, as its namesake suggests, secrets. It is constructed into the palace itself, and to keep itself hidden, its location changes constantly. Even I no longer know where it lies today.¡± ¡°The existence of the Vault is known only to the highest echelon of Guardian,¡± Ilene said, and Ash saw Riley listening with rapt attention, so clearly he hadn¡¯t been privy. ¡°Its exact location, however, is known only to the royalty.¡± They crossed beneath a stone arch into a room with a staircase leading to some higher floor. However, Ilene ignored the stairs and instead headed over to a bookcase along the wall, no doubt for decorative purposes only. ¡°Here it is,¡± Ilene said, stepping back. Sir Aaron walked in front of it and placed his gloved hand on the shelf, closing his eyes. Then he opened them. ¡°Excellent.¡± His hand glowed blue, and suddenly, the bookcase shattered forward. However, instead of splintering against the stone wall behind it, a blinding hallway of pure white light stretched out before them, and the fragments of wood disappeared within, as if sucked into a vortex. Sir Aaron turned back to face them. ¡°Sir Riley, I¡¯ll defer your assignment to Captain Magnus. He knows your skills best and will place you better than I could.¡± Riley bowed. ¡°Captain Magnus, as I said, you are not leave the Queen¡¯s side. I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s non-negotiable. The Guardians do not need a king, as has been evident, but we will perish if the Queen dies.¡± Captain Magnus nodded, taking a step closer to the Queen. ¡°Lady Sabrina,¡± Sir Aaron said, turning to her. ¡°I understand you have no cause to obey me, but if I could make a request. You¡¯re more fit than any else to destroy that portal allowing the enemy entrance into our lands. Cut that off, and we will only need to defeat those who remain. Now that it is open, I imagine you¡¯ll find it easier to destroy.¡± Sabrina nodded, and her gauntlets jerked, and Ash could tell she was preparing for battle. ¡°And Ash,¡± Sir Aaron finally said. ¡°I have no right to ask this of you, but I will all the same. AZ has come to kill me for good and annihilate everything I¡¯ve ever loved.¡± His eyes met his. ¡°Please, stop him until I arrive.¡± Ash¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯ve been training for all this time! You can count on us, I promise!¡± Pikachu cooed in agreement, his cheeks sparking. Sir Aaron took one step into the hallway of light, and his leg vanished from view. ¡°I will return as quickly as I can. I wish you all good fortune in battle.¡± Without another word, he vanished completely into the hallway with an effulgent flash, and after a few seconds, the shards of the bookcase returned, repairing itself around the hallway until the light faded, and it once again looked like nothing more than an innocuous bookcase. ¡°Um!¡± Sabrina chirped, raising her hand. Magnus raised his hand to cut her off. ¡°No need to worry your pretty little head, young Sabrina, I know exactly what you¡¯re going to say.¡± He smacked Riley on the shoulder. ¡°Their friend is incapacitated at the manor overlooking the town. Lost her arm about a month ago to AZ, the bastard. Get over there as fast as you can and keep her safe.¡± Riley nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, Captain. Leave it to me, Ash, Sabrina.¡± ¡°Thank you, Riley,¡± Ash said. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get going!¡±
Land of Rota - Tree of Beginnings The ground trembled, and Anabel spun around. Pidgey and Spearow burst out from the forest in alarm. Something was clearly wrong. Her hand drifted to her belt of pok¨¦mon and she unclipped one. As if to confirm her suspicions, a cloud of dust rose in the distance, followed by the faint cry of some pok¨¦mon. Either Ash¡¯s training has gotten way out of hand, or Rota is under attack. The Tree of Beginnings loomed behind her, ancient and powerful, glittering beneath the sun. She¡¯d come here out of curiosity, having grown tired of walking around Albrecht¡¯s estate. Of course, she¡¯d obeyed the Guardians¡¯ rule of not entering, and simply standing outside of it told her why. The Tree of Beginnings was alive, and she could tell it would not take kindly to trespassers. A shadow seemed to pass over the Tree, because it dimmed ever so slightly all of a sudden for just a moment, before returning to its usual crystalline hue. Anabel frowned in confusion. What was that? ¡°The Tree is weakening,¡± a voice behind her said. ¡°It does not enjoy war.¡± Anabel spun around to find a man with smooth black hair in front of her. He didn¡¯t look especially like a trainer in his tailored suit, but he held a pok¨¦ball in his hand. ¡°Who are you?¡± Anabel demanded. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Her finger brushed the release on her pok¨¦ball.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to run into anyone this far from the palace. This may complicate things.¡± The man glanced at Anabel¡¯s missing arm, at her empty sleeve, swaying in the wind. ¡°I know who you are, at the very least. You assailed my master when he was here last.¡± ¡°Your Master?¡± Anabel frowned. She released her pok¨¦mon. An indigo Ceruledge materialized on the grass, grinding its swords together menacingly. ¡°You¡¯re with AZ. So he¡¯s begun his attack already¡­¡± ¡°For what¡¯s worth, I¡¯m sorry for what happened to you. I doubt my master intended to maim you as he did. Likely, he meant to kill you.¡± He tossed his pok¨¦ball forward, and it snapped open to reveal a gigantic, silent Golurk. ¡°Stand by for battle, Arcane,¡± Anabel whispered. She clutched the stump of her right arm, gently feeling it to see how sensitive it was right now. There wasn¡¯t pain now, but the painkillers she¡¯d taken this morning would only last a little longer. Already, she felt her arm throb beneath her fingertips. I need to end this quickly. ¡°Lucky for you, you face King AZ¡¯s most loyal servant, the honorable Lord Brian Vandrick,¡± the man said, bowing. ¡°On my master¡¯s behalf, allow me to finish what he started.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 33 : The Second Battle of Cameran Palace
N¡¯s Pok¨¦mon Zinnia¡¯s Pok¨¦mon Anabel¡¯s Pok¨¦mon I¡¯ll start adding the lineups for everyone in Paragon to my profile on FFN/AO3 for easy reference. Happy Easter! Remnants of the Great War [24] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [24] Chapter 33 : The Second Battle of Cameran Palace
Ash, Sabrina, and Riley raced across the stone viaduct, the lake below still and calm¡ª a mirror, in more ways than one, for the chaos unfolding above. Not much time had passed between their arrival at the palace and now, their departure, yet already, it seemed like the war had begun in earnest. Smoke billowed up from multiple spots amidst the forest, and Ash could smell the pungent stench of violence permeating the air. Upon stepping off the bridge, Ash saw a perimeter of Guardians surrounding the palace, their pok¨¦mon deployed and ready to fight at a moment¡¯s notice. There were Guardians in the air as well on the backs of their pok¨¦mon, keeping a lookout for any approaching enemies, either from land or sky. Riley nodded a thanks to them quickly as they rushed past, pushing into the forest toward the town of Rota. Within the forest, they enjoyed a brief respite from the roar of battle, shielded by the battalions of trees that stood tall between the town and the palace. Ash¡¯s heart hammered in his chest as he ran. Just like before, he could sense AZ nearby. Somehow, he could pinpoint his exact location as a fellow Platebearer, and each step along the shaded path brought them closer. He closed his eyes, dispelling his anxiety, then opened them again. AZ would not best him this time. He and his pok¨¦mon had worked themselves nearly to the bone this past month, and finally, it was time to put that effort to the test. ¡°So, Ash. I know you were once the World Champion and all, but is there a reason King Aaron believes you¡¯d stand a chance against AZ?¡± Riley asked as they ran. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to doubt you, but this AZ is supposed to be like a force of nature. Even King Aaron didn¡¯t sound like he wanted to face him.¡± Right, he doesn¡¯t know about the Plate. ¡°I guess he didn¡¯t tell you,¡± Ash said. ¡°Tell me what?¡± Ash tried organizing a cohesive explanation in his head, but gave up after only a second. ¡°Uh, basically I have these powers now, kind of like a Guardian, actually. I¡¯ve been working with Albr¡ªer, Sir Aaron this past month, so theoretically, I should at least be able to hold AZ off until he arrives. I can explain the rest when this is all over.¡± Riley stared at him for a moment, then faced forward again. ¡°Right. I¡¯ll hold you to that. So don¡¯t go dying on me!¡± ¡°Same to you!¡± After another minute, Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets glowed, and she floated into the air just above the ground. Her stamina left much to be desired and clearly she¡¯d run out of it. As they ran over the shallow rivers and gentle hills of the forest, she cruised along beside them all the way to the town. As they broke out of the forest and the town came into view, Ash¡¯s eyes widened. The whole town had already become a warzone, and even from above, he could make out civilians among the Guardian fighters and AZ¡¯s hooded acolytes, hiding behind smoking buildings or other similarly damaged architecture. ¡°Arceus above,¡± Riley breathed. He glared at the decimation below, then swiftly turned to Sabrina. ¡°Sabrina, if you please.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Her gauntlets glowed, and suddenly, all three of them were in the town. The sound of angered shouts and savage roars filled the air as the two sides clashed against each other. The Guardians down the street ahead hurled azure Aura Spheres at their enemies, but their enemies had come prepared, knowing full well who they were assaulting, and they reacted calmly, ordering their pok¨¦mon with quiet precision. They¡¯d teleported down into a plaza, with a burning tree in the center spewing embers and soot across the cobbled ground. Immediately, Riley approached a family of three, huddling behind a cracked fountain, the two parents wrapping their arms protectively around their child. ¡°Get up, you must get away from this place!¡± Riley urged, tugging on the father¡¯s arm. He unburied his face from his child¡¯s head and stared at Riley, eyes wide with fear. Dirt and tears smeared across his face, but he smiled ever so slightly upon recognizing his family¡¯s savior. ¡°S-Sir Riley¡­¡± ¡°My comrades will lead you to a safe place,¡± Riley said, and he stood, peering down another street. This street was lined with black ash, the scars of a battle, but after a few seconds, a pair of Guardians appeared at the next intersection, leading a middle-aged couple away from the battle. ¡°Hey!¡± Riley shouted, catching their attention. They both looked over, and one jogged over, his Mightyena running beside him. ¡°Boris!¡± Riley said, recognizing the Guardian. ¡°I have three more over here!¡± He pointed over at the family. ¡°Shit, I¡¯m sorry!¡± He ran over to the family, coaxing them out of their huddle. ¡°Come, you¡¯re safe now.¡± As he led them down the street to join his comrade, Riley grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, you¡¯re doing well. Just make sure to keep your wits about you! You can only keep others safe if you keep yourself safe!¡± ¡°Right, thank you, sir!¡± Boris nodded, before racing off back down the burned street. Ash and Sabrina joined Riley, ready to move on. Riley pulled out a pok¨¦ball and released his Lucario. ¡°I wish I could stay here and help, but we have our jobs to do. You two know where you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Yup, I can sense AZ now,¡± Ash said. ¡°He¡¯s slowly moving toward Cameran Palace, through the forest.¡± Sabrina nodded. ¡°The psychic dyad is at Rota¡¯s southern edge. I can teleport nearby.¡± ¡°Good. Be careful,¡± Riley said, meeting both of their gazes. ¡°As for me, King Aaron¡¯s manor lies to the west of town.¡± He chuckled grimly. ¡°All those years I¡¯d been told to stay away, I never would¡¯ve guessed that house belonged to the World Champion, much less King Aaron himself.¡± He clapped both of them on the shoulder. ¡°Good luck to both of you. I promise you I¡¯ll keep Anabel safe.¡± Ash and Sabrina nodded, and without another word, they disappeared, Ash down a street to the southeast, and Sabrina, into thin air. Riley gave one last look at the scenery around him, before sprinting off toward Albrecht¡¯s manor, Lucario running beside him.
Arcane jumped back as Golurk¡¯s massive fist came crashing down on the ground where she¡¯d been standing a moment ago. Dirt and grass erupted around it in chunks, spraying outward. ¡°Confuse Ray!¡± Anabel commanded. Two wisps of blue flame wafted off of Ceruledge¡¯s blades, and floated up toward Golurk¡¯s face. However, despite the fact that one of its fists were lodged in the ground, Golurk raised its other fist, a purple Shadow Ball roiling in its palm. The massive golem pushed the Shadow Ball against the wisps, snuffing them out, before casting it down at Arcane. Ceruledge raised its arm, then sliced them down in a screaming arc, bisecting the Shadow Ball perfectly. The two halves fell past her, and collapsed in on themselves, exploding behind Anabel. The explosion sent a gale of wind buffeting around her, blowing her hair around her. ¡°Did you think a trick like that would work against me?¡± Vandrick drawled. ¡°Made you look.¡± Ten blue wisps suddenly spun into existence around Golurk¡¯s head, and it barely had time to raise its head in surprise before all ten wisps plunged into its body. Immediately, the lights on its ancient body began to flicker spastically, and it jerked awkwardly, ripping its arm free from the ground and sending a spray of dirt in its master¡¯s direction. Vandrick frowned and shook his head, brushing the dirt from his pants. He pulled out a pok¨¦ball and recalled Golurk before it could do any further damage. ¡°No matter. I¡¯ll simply crush you with another. He switched pok¨¦balls and tossed out another one. A Talonflame, as tall as the man himself, landed deftly on the ground before him, before spreading its brilliant wings menacingly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Talonflame is unmatched in the sky. I doubt you¡¯ll be able to stop what happens next.¡± He thrust his arm forward. ¡°Brave Bird.¡± Talonflame vanished, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust where it¡¯d only just been standing. Anabel squinted up at the sky, and was chilled at what she saw. Talonflame had flown so far it was nothing more than a black speck. So fast! I need to¡ª Right in front of her, right where Arcane was standing, a massive crash exploded outward, sending dirt, grass, and dust into the air. Talonflame flew back and landed next to its trainer again, and Anabel looked down in horror at the crater that had suddenly appeared before her. Arcane staggered back on her feet, her swords dragging against the ground. She was clearly massively injured. Anabel wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if she had a concussion from that blow. Vandrick flicked his hand lazily. ¡°Finish it.¡± Again, Talonflame slammed into Arcane, though because it was so close, Anabel could just make out Arcane¡¯s crossed swords blocking the blow before Talonflame disengaged and pelted her from the side. Each time, Arcane blocked it at the last second, twisting her body and sliding on her feet to get the best footing she could. But Talonflame was relentless, and its attacks started to come faster and faster. That was when Anabel realized Talonflame was targeting her. But every time Talonflame tried to come at her at an open angle, Arcane leapt in between them. Anabel could see Arcane¡¯s shadow oozing behind her as she moved. She was using Shadow Sneak to keep up. But every attack was landing, and she wouldn¡¯t last much longer on the defensive. ¡°I¡¯m going to move to the left, Arcane! Take the next hit and use Night Slash, then Shadow Claw!¡± Arcane made no acknowledgement that she¡¯d heard, but as Anabel moved herself to lure Talonflame into an opening, she saw Arcane lower its swords, and one ignited in rippling black darkness, while the other became soaked in ghostly purple energy. Talonflame tore toward Anabel, but just before it could slice her in two, Arcane tackled it out of the air, then slammed her Night Slash into the bird¡¯s exposed back. Talonflame squawked in surprise and tried to put some distance between the two, but the darkness sizzled within the slash on its back, and it shuddered in pain. Arcane¡¯s Shadow Claw caught it in the neck, and she swung so hard she launched the bird all the way back over to its master¡¯s side. With the relentless assault finally over, Arcane exhaled with a metallic groan, and she panted in place. Anabel¡¯s eyes narrowed. That was way too much damage. Arcane will go down with the next attack. She clutched her injured stump, and grit her teeth in pain. Damn it! She took deep breaths, trying to stave off and ignore the pain. We still have our trump card. She pulled out Arcane¡¯s pok¨¦ball and recalled her. Vandrick raised an eyebrow. ¡°You actually stopped Talonflame¡¯s Brave Bird. Color me impressed. I can understand why you¡¯d save your Ceruledge for later. One as tenacious as that is surely destined to punch a hole in my team before it falls for good. But, very well. Release your next pok¨¦mon.¡± What is this? Some kind of honor? Anabel thought, grabbing a different pok¨¦ball. From what he said before, he probably doesn¡¯t want to bring shame on AZ by attacking me without one of my pok¨¦mon out. She released Snorlax, and she saw Vandrick¡¯s eyes narrow in confusion at the sight of his wiry body. ¡°What are you doing here at the Tree of Beginnings anyway?¡± Anabel asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to destroy the Guardians?¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Vandrick said. ¡°We¡¯re here to destroy the Guardians. But there is one Guardian who stands head and shoulders above the rest. And his body rests within the Tree.¡± Anabel frowned. Even she had heard of that man. ¡°Sir Aaron?¡± ¡°The very same. Though I believe he¡¯s been gallivanting around under the name¡®Albrecht.¡¯ Facing down the World Champion in battle is a tall enough order as is, but add to that his tremendous power as a Guardian, and he lands in an entirely different tier of strength.¡± Vandrick¡¯s gaze darkened and he rubbed his knuckles. ¡°Much better to discard a man like that off the board as soon as humanly possible, however underhanded the method.¡± Anabel¡¯s eyes widened. Albrecht is Sir Aaron! Sir Aaron was the king of the Guardians? I always thought he was just a hero! Then she remembered what he¡¯d told Ash and Sabrina about his departure from the Guardians. Did he purge the history of his rule along with his association with the Guardians? Why would he do such a thing to begin with? ¡°It seems you weren¡¯t aware of this fact, but while I understand your shock, you¡¯re still in my way. Heat Wave, Talonflame.¡± Talonflame streamed up into the sky, trailing embers, and Anabel dashed thoughts of Albrecht from her mind, once again focused on the foe in front of her. Talonflame was taking full advantage of its flight, and while it was up there, Juggernaut would be forced on the defensive just like Arcane. However, after Arcane¡¯s unexpected resilience, and because of Juggernaut¡¯s peculiar appearance, Vandrick seemed to be taking a more defensive posture now, opting to attack from a distance. Likely, he intended to whittle Snorlax down from afar, then close in more aggressively once he¡¯d chipped away at him enough. Unfortunately for him, Juggernaut was no ordinary Snorlax. ¡°Hammer Arm!¡± Anabel commanded. Juggernaut crouched down, bunching up the muscles in his legs, then rocketed into the sky. A storm of scorching embers rained down on and around him. The grass around Anabel caught fire, and though she tried to angle herself behind Juggernaut, a flurry of embers caught her in the side, and she winced in pain. ¡°Arghhh!¡± she cried, falling to her knees and clutching her severed arm. Just a few hot embers had touched down on her right shoulder, but with how sensitive her arm still was, it sent a searing agony across her entire injury. She squeezed the stump, trying to stifle the pain, but when she withdrew her hand, it was sticky with blood. Her shirt was also now soaked in bright red blood and she cursed silently, feeling her body begin to sweat. Up above, Juggernaut sailed above the Heat Wave and brought his two fists together, before raising them over his head. Talonflame barely had time to register the fact that its target was now above it before Juggernaut brought the hammer down right on top of its head. Talonflame shot downward, but just before it impacted the ground, its wings spread outward, and it caught itself, flying upside down parallel to the ground, before righting itself again. ¡°Brave Bird!¡± Vandrick snarled. ¡°Get the girl, now!¡± Anabel grit her teeth and looked skyward. Juggernaut¡¯s silhouette looked black against the sun, but he seemed close enough. ¡°Giga Impact!¡± she screamed. A blaze of purple and white energy filtered into existence around Juggernaut, and the air shimmered around him, as if he¡¯d suddenly gotten too heavy for reality to contain him. As Talonflame streaked across the burned grass toward Anabel, Juggernaut bulleted downward like a living comet. The two intercepted each other just in front of Anabel, and they smashed into each other, raw energy booming outward and knocking Anabel to the ground once again. Snorlax and Talonflame both spun off in opposite directions, rolling over in heaps on the ground, their bodies smoking. After several seconds, neither of them moved. Anabel watched the aftermath from the ground, her sense of pain dulled by the shock of the outcome. Admittedly, Juggernaut wasn¡¯t as tanky as he probably could¡¯ve been if he¡¯d kept the fat, but that he¡¯d gone down so easily was like a slap to the face. Anabel could¡¯ve run through a list of excuses for why things had happened the way they did, but ultimately, none of that mattered now. This man was on his way to kill the Sir Aaron, if his words were to be trusted. Anabel needed to stop him at any cost. She recalled Juggernaut and Vandrick did the same for his Talonflame, then released Arcane again. She was slouching where she stood, still unrecovered from the Talonflame¡¯s assault, but her eyes burned with resolve. Talonflame took far more punishment than I expected it would have, especially for such a frail species,¡± Anabel thought. If his other pok¨¦mon are anything like it, then I need raw power to cut them down¡­ Across the field, Vandrick released an imposing Goodra, dripping with rancid slime. The tails on its head curled, acquainting themselves with their surroundings. Upon seeing Arcane before it, its eyes narrowed, and Anabel could sense the threat exuding from it, and she shivered. She rolled her shoulder, trying to ignore the burning pain that was rapidly getting worse on her right side, and pulled out her Tera Orb. She clutched it in her hand for a moment, savoring its weight, and the power that came with it, before recalling Arcane into it. She pressed the center button, and it thrummed in her hand, before releasing Arcane once again. Vandrick¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight of Ceruledge¡¯s Terastallized form. ¡°What is this now?¡± he murmured. Arcane¡¯s armor was now pitch black, as was the ghastly flame on her head. However, as the sunlight moved across her body, there were faint glints of refracted light, evidence of the Terastallization, though her body was far too dark now for their color to be made out. As she raised her swords, her crystalline body clinked softly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to weld an Auspicious Armor piece and a Malicious Armor piece together,¡± Anabel said. ¡°But the end result ended up even greater than I expected. Turns out when you combine the two, you get more the sum of its two parts.¡± She pointed at Arcane¡¯s jet black armor. ¡°It takes Tera Crystals to keep this armor together, which means its true form only manifests during Terastallization.¡± ¡°How fascinating,¡± Vandrick said. ¡°In another life, you would have been worthy to serve my master. It¡¯s a shame such talent must be culled.¡± Anabel smirked slightly. ¡°Is that supposed to be a compliment?¡± she muttered. ¡°Whatever. Seraphim Saber.¡± ¡°Power Whip to restrain it, then Hydro Cannon,¡± Vandrick commanded. Arcane¡¯s power was obvious to see, and he clearly wanted to end it as quickly as possible, knowing she only needed one more attack to fall for good. Goodra¡¯s head-tails stretched out in an instant, closing across the battered field and wrapping around Arcane¡¯s arms. Arcane made no move to defend herself, and a moment later, the dragon moaned in pain and let go, its appendages smoking as they shrunk back to size. Vandrick frowned. ¡°How hot is its body?! No matter, use Hydro Cannon!¡± Goodra sucked in a gigantic breath, flooding its bowels with water, then bellowed it out in a pressurized, white column of fury. Arcane¡¯s arms both elongated, and the tips of her swords began to glow white. The glow traveled down the length of her swords to the hilt, until both were brimming with a harsh light. She swung one, slashing the Hydro Cannon apart, sending the water sizzling upward in a billow of steam, then blitzed toward Goodra. Goodra glared at its opponent and crossed its arms and head-tails both in front of its body protectively. Arcane did the same, crossing her swords before her, before cleaving them across Goodra¡¯s chest. A blinding light seared outward from the impact, and Arcane came to a stop behind the dragon, the glow on her swords fading. Goodra pitched to the side, then collapsed. A gleaming white X remained carved into its body, and Vandrick looked upon his pok¨¦mon in shock, before shifting his gaze to the hateful Ceruledge. I¡¯m sure he thought I went with an offensive Terastallization to maximize Arcane¡¯s damage before she fell,¡± Anabel thought. That made him think Hydro Cannon was a safe bet. But unbeknownst to him, because of Arcane¡¯s special armor, she can only Tera into one type¡ª typeless. She has no advantages, but also no weaknesses, perfect for either a hyper-offensive or defensive role, whichever we need. Anabel wasn¡¯t clear on the specifics, but based on their work together, melding the auspice and malice in Arcane¡¯s armor had produced a sort of void, an emotion so strong it killed itself, leaving something else in its wake. Practically speaking, they¡¯d grafted plates from the Auspicious Armor onto the Malicious Armor, which is why Charcadet ultimately evolved into Ceruledge, but their trump card turned her into something that could hardly still be called Ceruledge. The heat within her also grew stronger, despite losing her typing. Anabel surmised it was similar to the move Burn Up, except Ceruledge¡¯s fire redirected inward instead of exploding outward, causing her body temperature to skyrocket. All and all, she was quite proud of her final team member. As Arcane stepped back to Anabel¡¯s side protectively, her swords shrunk back down to size. Vandrick recalled Goodra and pondered for a moment before selecting his next pok¨¦mon. Ultimately, he decided on Sigilyph, and the massive bird fluttered into the air, its multicolored stone pieces tinkling against each other. ¡°Yes, truly it is a shame you transgressed against my master as you did,¡± Vandrick lamented. ¡°I would¡¯ve liked for us to work together.¡± ¡°Why do you think I would ever work with you?¡± Anabel said in disgust. Vandrick shrugged, like he really hadn¡¯t given it much thought. ¡°I¡¯ve met many young trainers in my time, all pursuing power for various reasons. Within you, I sense a lust for glory. On another timeline, I think you would work for me, if only to get closer to my legendary master.¡± His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and they mocked her, as if daring her to deny it. ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Anabel roared. ¡°Seraphim Saber, again!¡± Vandrick raised his arm. ¡°Psychic Ruin!¡± As Arcane¡¯s blades extended once more, Sigilyph floated into the air, and shards of psychic energy began to curl into existence around its wings, shimmering like snowflakes around it. As more and more flecks filtered into being, the air seemed to get heavy around the cursed bird, and its whole body began to leak a noxious power that twisted reality and forced Anabel to look away. It won¡¯t take the entire attack to defeat Arcane, which means the rest of it will turn on me, Anabel realized. The way that spectral sheen seemed to engulf Sigilyph made Anabel think it had a mind of its own, and she shuddered. She plucked another pok¨¦ball off her belt in preparation for the worst. Arcane leapt straight into the blizzard, her swords gleaming against the spectral silica, steeped in evil. Sigilyph trembled, and suddenly, all its gathered power shrunk down and absorbed itself back into its body. Then, a moment of silence later, it blasted outward in a hellish nova, releasing a scream of death that filled the air with violet malice. Rays of light sliced through the explosion in sporadic cuts, leaking through the shadowy discharge. In front of Anabel, the newly deployed Royal batted away stray bits of psychic energy that snaked their way toward her master with her ribbons. Her eyes were narrowed, studying the pungent violet hue across the sky. After almost a minute, the light finally began to fade, and daylight once again cut through the darkness, revealing the outcome. Arcane and Sigilyph both lay unmoving on the ground, and Arcane¡¯s armor was back to its usual indigo. Anabel closed her eyes and recalled her fallen partner, thanking her silently. Vandrick hesitated a moment before doing the same, and he replaced Sigilyph¡¯s pok¨¦ball on his belt seemingly still in disbelief that it was already defeated. However, he soon shrugged and eyed his new opponent across the field. ¡°A Suicune. Most impressive,¡± he said, nodding. ¡°As if it wasn¡¯t already clear that you¡¯re no ordinary trainer. No ordinary Interpol asset either, I imagine.¡± He looked past Royal to meet Anabel¡¯s gaze. ¡°The other two my master encountered are like you, aren¡¯t they?¡± He scowled. ¡°This may throw a wrench in our plan.¡± As he reached around to grab another pok¨¦ball, he brushed his suit coat aside, and Anabel saw at least twenty pok¨¦balls attached to his belt, and her blood ran cold. She wouldn¡¯t last if they continued to exchange evenly like this. Her mind began to race, thinking desperately of what she could do to stop him. ¡°It is absolutely imperative that you fall here,¡± Vandrick said, and he released his next pok¨¦mon. A towering Trevenant materialized onto the grass and immediately sunk its ghostly roots into the ground. ¡°Stay on guard,¡± Anabel said to Royal, though maybe she¡¯d meant it more to herself. The pain in her arm was beginning to blossom into full-blown agony, but she took deep breaths to keep herself focused forward. It was getting so bad her eyes started to water, but she grit her teeth and clenched her fist. ¡°Sheer Cold!¡±
Atop a tall hill that overlooked all of Rota, one man watched the unfolding chaos below. He sat on the edge of the cliff, his leg swinging lazily over the open air. From such a height, the Guardians and AZ¡¯s force both looked like little more than ants, crawling about in a depraved scrum. Dark clouds crawled across the sky above him, slowly closing in on Rota. Yet for now, the sun still shined through. ¡°Good thing we got here in time, eh Kingambit?¡± Zagreus said. ¡°The storm arrived quicker than expected. Perhaps even we underestimated him as well.¡± Beside him, a Kingambit stood still, its arms crossed, observing the war with as much interest as its master. ¡°Fate is such a cruel jester. To think we¡¯d find the Plate here of all places. Though I suppose that is by Sir Aaron¡¯s design.¡± He sighed. ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to kill the boy, I suppose that will have to wait. We have a far more important role to play here.¡± As they watched the war play out, after some time, the mountain beneath them started to rumble, shaking the sea of trees below. A demonic grin split Zagreus¡¯ face, a horrific scar nearly bisecting it from brow to jaw. ¡°They¡¯re here. And with that, what little hope the Guardians had will now be unceremoniously snuffed out,¡± he snickered. Next ¡ª Chapter 34 : AZ¡¯s Titans
Remnants of the Great War [25] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [25] Chapter 34 : AZ¡¯s Titans
Trees, shrubs, and stones all whipped past Sabrina in a blur as she glided over the forest floor. The foliage above blotted out the sunlight, and the copses of leaves all around her dampened the sound of the war as it raged on all around her. She¡¯d selected a route she sensed wouldn¡¯t contain any enemies, wanting no delay on her way to the portal. Last she¡¯d seen, AZ¡¯s hooded acolytes were still surging out of the forest boundaries into an open field, where the Guardians were engaging with them directly. Past the field lie the burning town where she¡¯d broken off from Ash and Riley, and beyond that sat Cameran Palace itself. Although it looked like the Guardians were holding their own, AZ¡¯s forces seemed endless, so sealing off their way in was top priority. She wondered briefly about how and where AZ had recruited such a massive army after spending so long in prison, but she quickly dashed the thought. That was the sort of question she could find the answer to later. For now, she needed to focus on her main objective. Once she was deep into the forest, she slowed her pace, eventually coming to a stop. There was silence all around her, save for the river that trickled past beside her. She closed her eyes and extended her awareness beyond her immediate periphery. Up ahead lie the portal she¡¯d been visiting every now and then for the past month. And as expected, as her field of consciousness got closer to where it was, she began to sense other people. Enemies. And lots of them. Some stood guard near the portal, while others moved swiftly away from it, no doubt off to engage the Guardians. And as the seconds passed, more presences made themselves known, emerging from the portal at a consistent interval. Her eyes snapped open, the jade glow of her psychic power fading in her eyes. She knew what she had to do. Her gauntlets whirred, and she disappeared in an emerald flash. She reappeared in the darkened forest in an area not dissimilar from the one she¡¯d just left. She crouched down and started moving forward. As she moved, the forest thinned around her. After a minute of creeping, only a line of bushes barred her exit from the cover of the trees. Sensing no one looking in her direction, she brushed the bushes aside and peered past them. In front of her lay that massive canyon created by Albrecht¡¯s, no, Sir Aaron¡¯s Nidoking. On the other side, she could see the psychic dyad, now fully expanded into a swirling gateway of magenta psychic energy. A few moments later, another hooded figure emerged from the portal in a flash, stepping out onto the grass, nodding at their comrades, and racing off down the hill toward the battle. Sabrina raised her hands, and her gauntlet¡¯s twitched, lighting up. Her fingertips and eyes both became limned in a jade light. From here on the other side of the earthen rift, she could collapse the portal without ever having to engage a single enemy. With any luck, she¡¯d be gone before they even had a chance to realize what had happened. As she worked, the portal seemed to flicker and dilate ever so slightly, though none of the gathered seemed to notice, minute as the decay was, and hooded figures continued to empty from the portal without delay. One by one, she shattered the nodes of psychic power that kept the portal anchored to reality. However, now that the portal was fully realized, and Sabrina could view its elaborate construction, a pervasive sense of unease coursed through her. This portal was far more complex than any she¡¯d seen before. If AZ¡¯s base was in Kalos as N and Zinnia thought, then creating a long-distance portal all the way to Kanto like this was already extremely advanced to begin with. But this portal was stable, and showed no signs of weakness at all. Unlike most long-distance portals, which were created only to remain open for a few seconds, this one had been active for nearly an hour already. Whatever had created this portal was extremely powerful. As she was peeling away the layers of outer energy which kept the portal in shape, a dreadful aura suddenly flared up from deep within the chasm before her, and a moment later, a deep black entity came slithering out, tentacles flying wildly as it pulled itself up over the top. Sabrina¡¯s eyes widened, and she disbanded her hold on the portal, her full attention switching to the monster in front of her. She flung herself backward with her own psychic power, narrowly avoiding a sharpened chop from the creature¡¯s fin. The swipe cleaved all the trees before her from their stumps, sending them crashing to the ground, and fully exposing her. She landed on her feet in a crouch, and she tore a pok¨¦ball from her belt, releasing Alakazam. It looked like a giant upside squid, over five times Sabrina¡¯s height, and more if one counted the wrigging mass of tentacles on its head. Two pitch black eyes were sunk into its oily flesh, and the yellow lights on its smooth body shimmered with an eerie glow. On the other side of the chasm, AZ¡¯s men had taken notice of her after the sudden commotion, and were pointing at her, though they appeared to be deliberating between attacking her, or leaving her to the giant squid. The monster released a repulsive aura that chilled Sabrina to her core. The sunlight seemed to dampen around it, and it literally looked darker around its writhing form. Although she didn¡¯t know what it was, she could immediately tell that this was this creature that had created the portal. She could sense the fellow psychic in it, and this one was terribly old, and terribly powerful. So powerful that it was unthinkable that she hadn¡¯t detected its presence immediately upon getting so close to it. Clearly, it¡¯d been hiding deep in the chasm, keeping a watchful mind¡¯s eye on its portal to ensure it remained intact, but even if it had been suppressing its presence, there was no way it could¡¯ve hid this much power from someone like Sabrina. Which meant it was probably a dark-type as well, hidden to her psychic radar. Sabrina swallowed, dread coursing through her veins. She felt bad for Alakazam, as she was surely transmitting her anxiety to him, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. Even the squid seemed to notice her anxiety, and its eyes narrowed in malicious amusement. The spots on its body pulsed, and she felt her body turn weightless as she was lifted into the air. Then, her arms and legs snapped outward, and she felt a burning agony in her shoulders and thighs. It was about to rip her in half. Alakazam! she pleaded. Beneath her, Alakazam raised his spoons, levitating off the ground. A barrage of blinding stars shimmered into existence around him, and he cast them forward with a flick of his prone arm. As the attack closed in, Sabrina felt the squid¡¯s hold on her loosen as it allocated some of its attention toward defending itself. She flared her psychic power, her eyes searing, and a moment later, she shattered its hold on her. Sabrina dropped to the ground beside Alakazam, but quickly zeroed back in on the fearsome creature. Alakazam¡¯s Swift impacted against the squid¡¯s skin, each one exploding in a brilliant flash, but behind the newly created smoke, Sabrina heard a low chortle. She couldn¡¯t tell if she was hearing it through her ears or her head, but either way, the monster was unfazed. Her mind reacted before her body did, spawning a barrier of crystalline energy at her side just as an inky tentacle shot at her. The tentacle glanced off, but before it could curl around and wrap around her, she lifted herself high into the air, and Alakazam followed her up. With a brief respite from the creature¡¯s assault, Sabrina looked down across the fissure. Hooded figures were still flooding out of the portal, but there was no way she could shut it down now. Not until the creature was defeated. It burst into the air as well, wriggling and trembling with power. Before Sabrina could begin to formulate an idea of what to do, she once again felt herself engulfed in its invisible embrace, cold and slimy. And beside her, she saw Alakazam wince as he suffered the same. The monster laughed silently, filling her consciousness with its noxious evil as it crushed them both. In gym battles of the past, Sabrina usually just decimated her challengers with Alakazam or Gengar alone. Apparently, gym leaders were supposed to have a diversity of pok¨¦mon to choose from to accommodate a range of badge counts, but Sabrina only ever used the two. They were also supposed to center around one type. If Sabrina herself wasn¡¯t a psychic, that rule probably would¡¯ve been completely broken, rather than just horribly bent. However, the League left her alone, and her gym soon gained the reputation of being one of the strongest in Kanto. They did require her to put limiters on her pok¨¦balls, however, and she obliged. So, some were able to earn a badge from her. But, the ones that did were usually trainers with powerful dark-types. And she¡¯d never cared enough to develop a countermeasure to them. At least until she was forced to come up with something to take down Cynthia¡¯s Spiritomb before joining Paragon. The strategy was simple, if not psychopathically demented. Sabrina grit her teeth, straining against the squid¡¯s psychic hold. She forced her head to turn, bringing the creature fully into her sights. Its cruel mirth slithered inside her senses like poison, as if its very existence sought to deny her of any hope. Her eyes flashed as a fierce emerald light ringed her pupils. Slowly, the light morphed into a darkened purple, and her gauntlets creaked as they whirled ferociously around her wrists, sparks pouring off. ¡°Cerebral¡­Maze!¡± she bit out. In an instant, the world began to crumble around her, fragmenting and falling, all its color draining away like rain down a storm drain. First it turned gray, then it turned black, and all its definition faded away. Before long, she found herself drowning breathlessly in an endless void. Blackness, pure and flat, stretched out all around her, without a single pinprick of light. This was the darkness within dark-types. The unreachable, untouchable nothingness that no psychic could ever hope to snare. The darkness swallowed up psychic power like birds into a plane engine; the only thing that awaited it here was annihilation. But, rather than try to grab hold of Spiritomb or inflict psychic attacks on Spiritomb, Sabrina had a different idea. An idea most psychics would find downright appalling, if not suicidal. Sabrina immersed herself in the darkness. But this was no neutral darkness, which would have incinerated her consciousness on its own. This was the monster¡¯s darkness. She¡¯d submerged her consciousness within its own. Through conversations with Alakazam, Sabrina had learned that experiencing a sensation like this for even a moment was an entirely unbearable prospect for any psychic. The empty darkness was the very antithesis to the active mind. It would drive a psychic mad if it didn¡¯t kill them first. It was as illogical as sunbathing at midnight, with a full set of clothes on, a hundred feet beneath the ground, on a bed of broken glass. Useless. Self-destructive. And excruciatingly painful. But not for Sabrina. Within the void of this creature¡¯s mind, like it¡¯d been with Spiritomb, she felt liberated, like she was naked. She didn¡¯t feel any pain. In fact, she felt nothing. Her whole body was numb. Not that she was even sure she had a body here. She couldn¡¯t see it, at the very least. And it wasn¡¯t useless either. Not to her. Within the dark, she could sense something. And she pushed herself toward that something. How she was able to move, she could not say. She couldn¡¯t even tell if she was moving on instinct, or if there was some rhyme or reason to her path across the void. That was the ¡®maze.¡¯ Every now and then, she¡¯d change directions, though which direction she¡¯d been going and which direction she was now going were impossible to differentiate. All she knew was that as she moved, that something got closer. In a purely one-dimensional sense. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Oh, and this thing was called Malamar. There were things she learned while in the dark. Names, hopes, dreams. Likes and dislikes. Love, hatred, and indifference. The emotions fleeted by her like sand, falling through her porous consciousness, but at least the name she could remember. Maybe because it existed beyond this place. This place, she surmised, was a dark-type¡¯s soul. And she was frolicking through it as if it were her own. Alakazam had frowned at her for coming up with such an invasive strategy, merely for conquering dark-types. Yet he offered no criticism. He never did. Bathed in darkness, she swam, enjoying this blissful soul for the time she spent here. She¡¯d spend forever here if she could, but she always needed to keep moving. Stop, and she really would be consumed by the void like any other psychic attack. That something¡­that soul within a soul, shined like a pitch black orb against the pitch black in her mind. It made no sense. But she had no interest in learning about it. All she knew was that upon touching that soul, she would be removed from this place. And her opponent would be defeated. No dark-type ever had reason to protect themselves from a psychic. Which meant they were vulnerable to a mere touch from a psychic upon their most sacred spot. There it was before her. She couldn¡¯t see it. Couldn¡¯t feel it. Couldn¡¯t hear, smell, or taste it, but she knew it was there. Slowly, she extended herself. The soul suddenly lit up in all white, and Sabrina realized she could see it. Because she went blind instantly. She didn¡¯t even have time to wonder what had happened before her consciousness was suddenly assaulted by a deluge of old memories, and more. She felt herself dissolving, disintegrating, dying, and the creature¡¯s soul fell further and further away from her with each passing second. Feelings she had once felt and pain she had endured flooded back like a waterfall, beating down on her relentlessly. ¡°That is not my daughter, that is a monster!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to her like that, you¡¯ll make her think she¡¯s like us.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a freak! Did you hear what she said?!¡± As her head smashed against the beer-stained floorboards of her house, sticky black tears bled down her face, and Sabrina cried out silently, but there was no one here. Consumed in this monster¡¯s void, she was like an infant dying in the womb, with its mother none the wiser. Her childhood rushed back to her in a nauseous storm, and she was suddenly returned to a place and time she¡¯d thought she¡¯d never have to experience again. Perhaps this time, her mother would finish the job.
Lucario¡¯s Force Palm sent a hooded grunt hurling backward, slamming into a rock and slumping to the ground. Riley confirmed the defeat of his Furfrou, then moved on, leaving trainer and pok¨¦mon unconscious on the grass. War raged on all around him. In the open field surrounding the town of Rota, Guardians fought back against the invaders in chaotic patches. The air stunk of smoke, upturned dirt, and fading elemental attacks. He nearly fell as he stumbled over a crater in the ground, hollowed out by some stray attack, but Lucario caught his arm, and they kept moving together. Up in the sky, the enemy rode atop Talonflame, Skarmory, Braviary, Honchkrow, Dragonite, and other assorted flying-types as they swarmed the Guardians, pelting them with rays of scorching energy and sharpened gusts of wind. Riley ducked and spun on his feet to avoid fighting as best he could as he ran toward Albrecht Manor. He just needed to cross this field. Once he entered the forest on the other side, it would just be a short, likely peaceful run the rest of the way there. It felt like a needle pricking his heart every time he saw one of his brethren fall, but he¡¯d made a promise to protect Anabel, and he intended to keep that promise. At the very least, he did not envy Ash¡¯s job of engaging AZ. Riley wasn¡¯t sure how or why Ash and his friends had gotten mixed up with AZ, but clearly it had something to do with the World Champion, who he¡¯d only recently found out was actually Sir Aaron himself. As one of Rota¡¯s senior Guardians, he was among a select few called to an emergency meeting a couple weeks ago, and it was there that Queen Ilene revealed the World Champion¡¯s secret. Even after seeing Albrecht physically transform into Sir Aaron, it was still difficult to believe that their king truly had returned. However, his depthless Aura brooked no doubt. He was the real deal. As for why AZ was attacking them, Queen Ilene¡¯s explanation had been brief. The Guardians were AZ¡¯s sworn enemy during the Great War, and it seemed even the expanse of three thousand years had not quelled his hatred for them. In between training sessions and war councils, Riley tried to slip into the library to learn more about the Great War, though he¡¯d only had time to gain a surface understanding of the conflict. When this ended, he hoped to return to the library to devour as much knowledge as he could about this three millennia-old foe that dared to disturb their peace. Lucario knocked Riley aside and caught the jaws of a Druddigon in his spiked paws, barking to wake Riley from his thoughts. ¡°Sorry, Lucario!¡± Riley grunted, hauling himself to his feet. Close Combat! I¡¯ll back you up. Lucario nodded and lay into the Druddigon, punching and kicking with a savage fury as blue Aura wafted off his limbs. Behind him, Riley summoned an Aura Sphere in his hand, then hurled it forward with a snap of his wrist. It arced around the Druddigon and landed on its hooded trainer behind it, throwing them to the ground. They did not get up. Druddigon snorted in anger at being unable to defend its trainer through Lucario¡¯s onslaught, and in a fit of rage, it knocked Lucario off of it. Ice Punch! Frost swirled on Lucario¡¯s fist and he launched forward, closing the distance in an instant. Shockingly, Druddigon¡¯s fist ignited in a Fire Punch, and their punches collided, releasing a plume of steam. Riley grit his teeth and waved the steam out of his face. When he could see once again, he was surprised again to see Druddigon¡¯s maw burning, rearing its head back to sink a Fire Fang into Lucario¡¯s neck. The dragon had his pok¨¦mon by the wrist, and Lucario wouldn¡¯t be able to escape in time. Ice Punch on its neck! Riley commanded. If he¡¯d had to deliver the command verbally, he never would¡¯ve made it in time. With his free hand, Lucario jabbed Druddigon in the throat, and the dragon stumbled back, releasing its grip. Lucario surged forward again and slammed a full powered Ice Punch into its chest, sending it flying across the field and landing a ways away, ice coating its skin. It did not get up. Riley and Lucario both admired their handiwork for a moment, before Riley took off again, Lucario in tow. That Druddigon wasn¡¯t nearly as weak as I¡¯d expect for a force this large. It was well-trained. It continued to attack smartly even without orders from its trainer. Riley took another cursory glance at the battle around them. It appeared to be a stalemate for now, but he could see hooded figures continue to pour from the tree line in the south, with no end to them in sight. Sabrina, please tell me you¡¯ll have that portal down soon. If this keeps up for much longer, they¡¯ll be overrun¡­ Riley suddenly clapped his hand over his nose as a rancid stench filled the air. His eyes started to water, and he felt hot bile well at the bottom of his throat. Around him, his fellow Guardians had similar reactions, coughing and sneezing. However, their hooded enemies seemed unfazed, and continued to press the attack in the Guardians¡¯ moment of weakness. Several more Guardians and their pok¨¦mon fell, but Riley¡¯s vision was blurry, and he couldn¡¯t even spare a pang of regret beneath the sudden assault of this odor of death. Riley spit on the ground, hoping he wouldn¡¯t throw up, as he forced some semblance of clarity back on his body. He heard several of the invaders snickering as he rose shakily, and Lucario glanced around in concern at the uniform shift in momentum toward the enemy¡¯s side. ¡°His Grace¡¯s pok¨¦mon are here,¡± one said. Riley¡¯s blood ran cold, but before he could fully process what¡¯d been said, his attention snapped toward the sky as a shadow passed overhead. Emerging from the southern forest, floating high into the sky, was the largest pok¨¦mon Riley had ever seen. It was wispy and dark, with tangled knots like rotten roots, hanging from its tenuous limbs. It floated silently, looking like an emaciated angel straight out of a nightmare. As it got closer, the stench got worse. Two thin winglike fronds wavered at its sides, and the locks of black rot hanging from its body blew in the wind, worsening the smell. Rather than seeing its tiny eyes, Riley could feel them sweep over the field, judging everyone in its line of sight. A low croak escaped the putrid nozzle that seemed to be a mouth hanging off its putrid head. Disgust turned to disbelief, and Riley¡¯s hand dropped back to his side of his own accord. He wasn¡¯t the most knowledgeable when it came to pok¨¦mon species, especially the Paldean ones, but this one he did recognize¡­he thought. ¡°Impossible,¡± he breathed. ¡°How could it be this large?¡± What is it, Master? Lucario asked. Riley swallowed as the creature¡¯s head sunk downward. Its entire decrepit form hung, limned in a cold malevolence. ¡°That¡¯s a Dragalge.¡± The question of protecting Anabel was now officially a tertiary concern. He wasn¡¯t even sure he¡¯d be able to protect himself if he continued advancing. He wasn¡¯t even sure he could make it out of this field alive. Internally, Riley could only apologize. Anabel would have to wait. Abandon Dragalge, and it would murder every last Guardian here in an instant. Albrecht Manor wasn¡¯t far, and from its vantage in the sky, it would be a simple task for this dread dragon to simply float over there, over the forest, and obliterate it, if it caught wind of where he was headed. And he could tell it was acutely aware of everything in this field. Escape was impossible. As Riley unclipped Aerodactyl¡¯s pok¨¦ball from his belt, he prayed none of the hooded invaders had found Albrecht Manor, and if they had, that they hadn¡¯t found Anabel. Because if they had, he could never face Ash again. And from what he¡¯d seen of Sabrina¡¯s Aura, she might be the last person he ever faced, should anything happen to Anabel.
Ash¡¯s legs were on autopilot as he raced through the forest. He could sense AZ¡¯s presence ahead, just like before. All he needed to do was will himself forward. Pikachu scampered at his side, sporting his usual determination, and Ash was glad for it. Over the past month, Pikachu had undertaken perhaps the biggest burden between him and all of his pok¨¦mon. As the sole electric-type on the team, Ash had turned to him for counsel, if you could call it that, more times than he could count. Oftentimes, that meant acting as a guinea pig for all of Ash¡¯s off-the-wall ideas for how to use the Electric Plate. There¡¯d been many nights where Pikachu collapsed from sheer exhaustion after being assaulted by Ash¡¯s untamed electricity all day. Not only did he never complain, though, but he continued to keep up his training regiment as best he could alongside the others. All of them had evolved over the course of these past thirty or so days, Ash most of all. Now, they all felt ready to defeat the monster who¡¯d once stood in their way. And now, he was just beyond this thicket of trees. Sunlight glinted off metal, and that was the only warning Ash had before his body was suddenly jerked to the side, his face inches away from a spinning slab of steel that hurled down from on high, slicing clean through the trees and carving a deep rent into the earth before his feet. Pikachu screeched beside him, leaping back as the upturned dirt showered back down to the ground. Now on the ground against a newly created tree stump, Ash felt himself regain full control over his body again. He exhaled, keeping his nerves in check as he processed the situation before him. Thanks, Gengar, he thought, and he heard Gengar¡¯s giggling acknowledgement within him. Gengar had finally figured out how to insert himself into Ash without harming him due his poison, though with his body already fragmented among all of Ash¡¯s other pok¨¦mon, he could do little more than nudge Ash¡¯s body in the right direction when an attack came their way. But since Gengar¡¯s senses and reaction time far outstripped Ash¡¯s, a single extra moment of awareness was all he needed to be able to dodge a surprise attack like this with ease. He rose back to his feet, and Pikachu joined him, cheeks crackling dangerously. They both looked up, sizing up the opponent that stood before them. An Aegislash, as tall as the trees that surrounded it, floated motionlessly before them, its brass shield hanging in front of it. Black runes were etched upon the silver edges of its golden blade, and the shadowy arms that extended from its hilt thrummed in tune with its solitary eye. It was an unmoving wall, and its message was clear. None would pass to approach its master. A grim smile slid onto Ash¡¯s face, and he pulled a pok¨¦ball off his belt and enlarged it. ¡°Looks like we have a warm up round first. Let¡¯s deal with this quickly before AZ reaches the palace!¡± He released Annihilape, and a moment later, Ash, Annihilape, and Pikachu¡¯s skin all started to spark with electricity. Aegislash unsheathed its ghostly blade from behind its shield, metal grinding against metal with a wailing keen. As much as a sentient sword could, it bowed in respect, before angling itself straight at its three enemies. A second later, they all charged. Next ¡ª Chapter 35 : Blood of the Slumbering Storm
Riley¡¯s Pok¨¦mon This is Riley¡¯s in-game team from Platinum, but I exchanged Salamence for Aerodactyl since Zinnia already has a Salamence. Also, I replaced Ursaring with Ursaluna because why not. Remnants of the Great War [26] You may have missed it, but I added in a highly detailed map of where everyone currently is in the war at the end of the last chapter. Please check it out!
PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [26] Chapter 35 : Blood of the Slumbering Storm
Land of Rota - West of the Town of Rota A shrill shriek swept through the valley like a hurricane, burning the ears of everyone within, friend and foe. All at once, everyone participating in the chaotic battle suddenly clapped their hands over their ears and sunk to the ground in pain. Pok¨¦mon on both sides shuddered and tipped over, unconscious, but those who could weather the hellish onslaught trembled where they stood, as Dragalge¡¯s demented roar assaulted their bodies from within and without. Riley was willing to try anything to shield himself from Dragalge, from both its overpowering stench and its incessant scream. Through the horrific vibrations that rumbled up from the shaking ground, Riley forced himself to focus as he conjured up small gouts of Aura, which he forced into his ear canals and up his nostrils. Lucario grit his teeth beside his master, but upon seeing what he was doing, started to do the same. Dragalge¡¯s roar continued, but even with his senses dulled, the sound still made Riley feel like his head was being split in two. This wasn¡¯t even an attack. This was simply a warcry to herald its arrival, and all who could not withstand it had no business remaining conscious in its royal presence. Clearly, AZ had passed on the pride of his regal station to his beloved pok¨¦mon. But that lofty arrogance also afforded Riley an opening, however small. Dragalge sat high in the sky, above the treeline of the forest surrounding them, and Riley was right below it, in its blind spot. Breathing through his mouth, he swallowed, and began creeping past it to attack from behind. Lucario hesitated, uncertain, but followed after his master a moment later. Dragalge¡¯s shadow rippled on the grass beneath then, a lattice of darkness that seemed to block out far more sunlight than its sinewy body suggested it could. Just as they reached the edge of said shadow, another shadow passed over them. A Conkeldurr bore down on them, its concrete slab raised high above its head, ready to smash down on top of them. Riley¡¯s arm ignited with Aura and he reinforced his legs as well. He caught the concrete slab on his arm, and the ground cratered beneath his feet under its weight. He spun and let the slab roll off his arm onto the ground, before summoning an Aura Sphere in his other hand and launching it straight into Conkeldurr¡¯s face. The brute stumbled back with a groan, and before it could recover, Lucario dashed out from behind Riley and shoved it backward with a solid thrust on his iron paws. Its trainer, a hooded grunt, whistled. ¡°You Guardians are no joke, eh?¡± After hearing his voice, Riley realized Dragalge¡¯s scream had stopped. He looked around the battlefield, but what he saw shocked him. Almost all of AZ¡¯s men, and their pok¨¦mon, had gotten back up, but nearly half the Guardians remained defeated on the ground. Impossible! That scream was indiscriminate! AZ¡¯s forces weren¡¯t spared, so how?! ¡°Surprised?¡± His opponent mocked. Riley turned back around to face the man, glaring. As much as he hated to admit it, clearly, his arrogance was warranted. ¡°You should know who you¡¯re dealing with,¡± the man continued. ¡°Faith in his Grace has gifted us all with purpose once again.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Riley demanded. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man laughed, before slowly raising his hands and pulling off his hood. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a balding head of dirt-colored hair and lines across his forehead and around his mouth. ¡°Do you recognize me?¡± he asked. Riley¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. The man chuckled. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re the forgotten. The defeated. The ones that fell short.¡± Riley glanced over at his Conkeldurr, at its bulging muscles and grim stare that showed no hint of fear. ¡°You¡¯ve been a trainer for a long time. Since you were a child, by the looks of your pok¨¦mon.¡± He glanced back over at the man. ¡°You challenged the League circuit, but failed.¡± The man grinned. ¡°Only just. I earned the badges I needed and participated in the conference. It¡¯s the same for all of us.¡± He raised his arms. ¡°Every single one of us was a semifinalist or finalist of a League conference in the past! Do you know what that means, Guardian?¡± Riley scowled, and Lucario shifted beside him, growling. ¡°It means we¡¯re all Champion-level trainers! Or even greater, since we¡¯ve all continued to hone our skills after meeting Lord Vandrick! He gifted us a new purpose, breathed life back into our defeated husks. And this purpose is far greater than any meaningless competition!¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard enough from you,¡± Riley said sharply. Lucario blitzed forward, faster than the eye could follow, and landed a Force Palm in the center of the man¡¯s chest. He didn¡¯t even have time to react before flying backward and tumbling over himself, coming to a stop facedown on the ground, unmoving. Conkeldurr turned, but Lucario¡¯s fist jetted out with a lightning-fast Brick Break to the throat, followed up by a furious Close Combat, then a Low Kick, and finally, an Aura Sphere at point-blank range. Conkeldurr fell back, arms and concrete slabs splayed out, its tongue lolling out of its mouth. ¡°Champion-level my ass,¡± Riley murmured. But that certainly did explain these grunts¡¯ unusual fortitude and the disturbingly high average power level of their pok¨¦mon. Riley was one of the strongest Guardians in Rota and was confident he was competitive with a Champion, at least. But many were not, and with Dragalge¡¯s scream, their numbers had already been culled in half. And who was that ¡®Lord Vandrick?¡¯ One of AZ¡¯s lieutenants, by the sound of it. Surely he was here now alongside his ancient master. Riley could only hope he wasn¡¯t causing too many problems. He wrinkled his nose and unclipped Aerodactyl¡¯s pok¨¦ball once again. Once deployed, they would need to attack swiftly before Dragalge could respond. ¡°Listen, Lucario. Here¡¯s our plan,¡± he said.
Kalos Region - Shalour City Salamence crashed through the front of the administrative building in a shower of plaster and glass, his tail raking across the walls, and he bellowed to herald his arrival. The lights above flickered as their wiring tumbled down from the ceiling, and Salamence spread his wings to declare his supremacy. This was his territory now, and any who approached would taste his fury. Zinnia ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out stray bits of white plaster, and she clambered off of Salamence. Her eyes quickly took in her surroundings. The lobby of this place was empty, and she swiftly moved across the floor toward the supply cabinet that housed the secret entrance to the underground tunnel. Salamence stomped after her, but he remained wary of his rear. Their assailants would be right behind them in no time. Zinnia ripped the closet door open. As expected, it looked like an ordinary supply closet, with boxes stacked up on shelves along the walls, and a faint scent of cleaning chemicals lingering in the air. She scanned the whole tiny room, but nothing leapt out to her as unusual. Surely there had to be a switch or some secret door that led down to the tunnel, but she really didn¡¯t have time to be searching for it. ¡°Fuck it,¡± she said. ¡°Bust through the floor, Salamence.¡± As Zinnia slid out of the way, Salamence bashed through the door frame with a similar disregard for decorum as his trainer. Rearing his head back, he released a stream of smoking fire from his maw, burning straight through the linoleum floor. The fire alarms and sprinklers both started to go off outside, but Salamence didn¡¯t let up. ¡°Alright, alright, that¡¯s good!¡± Zinnia coughed, waving her hand in front of her face to dispel the smoke. She withdrew Salamence¡¯s pok¨¦ball and recalled him. Once the smoke had cleared enough, Zinnia stepped forward back into the room. Past the blackened hole, Zinnia could see faint service lights blinking along the walls of what appeared to be an elevator shaft right beneath her. She could also see hydraulic machinery lining the edges of the shaft just beneath the floor. It seemed the floor itself was the elevator. But there was no time, and now, no reason to go looking for a way to activate it. Taking a breath in, Zinnia leapt down into the hole. The lights along the wall flashed against her face as she fell, and she hurled a pok¨¦ball down beneath her. It snapped open and materialized into Altaria¡¯s pillowy form, and she landed safely on her dragon¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯m awesome,¡± she muttered. ¡°Take us down there, Altaria.¡± Altaria obliged with a shrill coo that echoed off the walls of the elevator shaft, descending rapidly with gentle flaps of her cloudlike wings. The elevator shaft stretched down deeper than Zinnia expected, but before long, the ground emerged up from the darkness, and Altaria landed upon it softly. Zinnia climbed off, and they slowly stepped up out of the elevator shaft. A breeze blew Zinnia¡¯s hair across her face and she shivered. The tunnel was huge, and stretched left and right. Save for a line of dim service lights strung along the far wall, the entire tunnel was bathed in darkness. She glanced in both directions. ¡°I need a fucking compass.¡± Altaria trotted over to the left and nodded her head down the tunnel. ¡°That way? Southwest?¡± Altaria nodded, but her head suddenly whipped around. From the pitch black right side of the tunnel, figures crept toward them. At first it was just a few, more more continued to emerge from the darkness. A second later, Zinnia heard footsteps to her left, and figures began approaching from the left side as well. They were boxed in, with the elevator shaft behind them. Zinnia moved back slowly, keeping her distance as they surrounded them silently. ¡°Creepy as shit,¡± she muttered, pulling out another pok¨¦ball. ¡°But this is more like it.¡± There had to be at least a hundred enemies gathered now, barring her from going down either side of the tunnel. Zinnia released Tyrantrum beside her, and both he and Altaria narrowed their eyes at their enemies, sizing them up. Slowly, the figures began to deploy their own pok¨¦mon, and the cavern seemed to breathe with all the gathered power. Zinnia spared a glance at the elevator shaft behind her. If those grunts from before were anywhere close to as competent as her, then they should be arriving down here any minute now too. ¡°Stone Edge, Tyrantrum,¡± she commanded. ¡°Seal up that hole.¡± Tyrantrum snorted and stomped his clawed foot onto the ground. Three pillars of rock materialized behind him, smashing together and completely blocking out the elevator shaft. None of the hundred grunts moved to stop them, and Zinnia smirked. Think I just cut off my own escape path? Well, I don¡¯t expect that to hold anyway when the others finally catch up. Good thing this won¡¯t take us long. She sucked in a breath, and a frenetic grin split across her face. She slumped forward, arms hanging limp before her. ¡°Yo! How about we make this a contest? Something like, ¡®last woman standing is the winner?¡¯¡± None of the grunts moved, but their pok¨¦mon growled and gnashed their teeth, barely containing their adrenaline. The sight of them only aroused Zinnia¡¯s battlelust even more. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you guys had something like that in mind already anyways,¡± Zinnia continued. ¡°A hundred versus one is a bit unfair¡­ When you¡¯re up against the Almighty Zinnia, even a thousand wouldn¡¯t be enough! The time starts now! Perish Song, Altaria! HAHAHAHAHA!¡± Altaria¡¯s eyes turned blood red, and she screamed, scarlet lightning cracking against the stony walls and floor of the tunnel. Everyone, including Zinnia and her pok¨¦mon, shuddered upon hearing Altaria¡¯s song. In three minutes, all who heard it would pass out. All Zinnia had to do was survive until then. But merely surviving wasn¡¯t her style. ¡°Kill her!¡± one of the grunts roared, and a moment later, the tunnel devolved into pandemonium. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Tyrantrum roared, and a fling of its tail sent a horde of hooded grunts flying back into the rocky wall of the tunnel. Azure Dragon Claws extended from his hands, and he swiped at a Rillaboom and an Arcanine. Meanwhile, Altaria plumed up to three times her normal size with a Cotton Guard, burying a throng of grunts and their pok¨¦mon beneath her, before unleashing a crackling Dragon Breath that swept a line of them off their feet. Zinnia herself bounded forward, her eyes wild as she chose her target. A hooded acolyte close to her recoiled on instinct as she neared him, and he ordered his Sirfetch¡¯d forward. But Zinnia didn¡¯t slow in the slightest, pulling back her foot and punting the bird square in the face, launching it over the crowd. ¡°Bye bye!¡± she squealed. Its trainer didn¡¯t even have time to turn back around after following its trajectory before Zinnia grasped the back of his head and, using her full body weight and momentum, slammed it down onto the ground. She landed in the center of a crowd of them, hunched over the fallen acolyte. They hesitated for a moment, perturbed at their target¡¯s decision to charge straight into them when she was so grossly outnumbered. But a second later, fierce glares erupted across their hooded faces. ¡°Get her, Parasect!¡± ¡°Mach Punch, Infernape!¡± ¡°Break her neck!¡± ¡°Ambipom, grab her legs!¡± Zinnia cackled as they closed in on her. As Infernape raced toward her, she slid between his legs, then vaulted over Parasect¡¯s shell, narrowly avoiding its snapping pincers. Ambipom¡¯s hand-tails swept over her head just as she ducked down into a crouch, and she laughed uncontrollably. So much adrenaline was coursing through her that her body didn¡¯t even feel solid anymore. She was like a fire that coiled and stretched between her enemies, unable to be touched. But though she couldn¡¯t be touched, she could burn. ¡°How is she so fast?!¡± ¡°Just get her!¡± The throng of grunts screamed as Tyrantrum burst through their lines, tossing them into the air with his mottled head, and shielding Zinnia from any further assault. He stood over her protectively, eyeing down each and every one of the remaining pok¨¦mon who dared to keep their sights on his master. Zinnia clenched her fist and grit her teeth, turning up at him. ¡°These guys were mine! Go back over there, this is my area!¡± Tyrantrum grunted and took a step back apologetically. As a Medicham tore toward them, he quickly whipped his head around and caught it in his jaws. His teeth blazed black with a Crunch, and he crushed it. Before he could finish it, however, its trainer recalled it. Tyrantrum turned back toward Zinnia and fixed her with a look that said, you sure you¡¯re okay? ¡°Don¡¯t insult me,¡± Zinnia growled. Tyrantrum nodded, then tramped off toward the trainer with the Medicham. A Fire Blast from Altaria on the other side of the tunnel lit up the side of Zinnia¡¯s face as she stood up. The pok¨¦mon that¡¯d been prowling around her but kept their distance because of Tyrantrum now started moving toward her again, their trainers already defeated. The Infernape and Ambipom circled her sides, and the Parasect slowly crept up from behind. The Sirfetch¡¯d waddled forward with a ruined spot on its head where Zinnia had kicked it, glaring her down and gripping its sword with obvious hatred. Zinnia reached into her cloak and withdrew a thin black rod, amethyst grains twinkling on its smooth surface. She squeezed the rod, and it suddenly extended down to the floor and above her head. She inhaled and crouched low, twirling it to her side. ¡°Aghhh!¡± she wailed as she was once again batted to the ground. Zinnia, aged eight, clutched her bruised forehead as a tear began to well in the corner of her eye. The cool grass and coarse wind of the Draconid Village should¡¯ve, and would¡¯ve been a comfort for young Zinnia. But today was training day. Which meant she had absolutely no time to enjoy even that. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Zinnia. Get up. Let¡¯s go again.¡± Her instructor walked toward her, the wooden staff that had bruised her countless times still gripped in his practiced hand. She hated him. She hated that sleeveless uniform that he forced her to wear too. He hated his stupid monkish hairstyle that made him look like a Dipplin. And she hated those thin eyes of his that seemed to judge and disparage her every action. And even more infuriatingly, he¡¯d just told her not to cry, but she hadn¡¯t been planning on crying in front of him anyway! She stood back up, smoothly wiping her tear away with her arm as she snatched her own staff back up from the ground. As she shifted back into ready position, as she had done so many times now, she glared at him, determined to knock him down this time. For once. Not that it was likely, though, since he was ten years her senior. He smiled and readied himself as well. ¡°You know, this wouldn¡¯t last so long if only you arrived on time. You could be out playing with Aster by now.¡± Zinnia didn¡¯t respond. She was busy looking for a weakness, and his drivel wasn¡¯t helping her find one. Her eyes narrowed as she found his knee. It was pointed outward at her. It would probably hurt a lot if she smacked it really hard. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± she hollered, charging at him. He spun his staff and his smile vanished instantly, back in battle mode. As Zinnia raised the staff over her head, ready to slam its haft into his kneecap with both hands, he jabbed her in the shoulder at lightning speed, then swept her off her feet. She crashed to the ground on her side, and her staff clattered on top of her. He sighed and sat down on the grass, placing his staff in his lap. ¡°I don¡¯t think I ever taught you to do that.¡± The wind whistled through the bamboo forest around them as they both remained unmoving where they were. ¡°I know you¡¯re impatient, Zinnia, but you must learn the basics. Without them, how do you ever hope to forge, much less wield a true Draconid staff of your own? You want to become a Dragon Master, right? Zinnia didn¡¯t respond. Instead, her hand found the end of her staff, and, still lying on her back, she jammed it toward her instructor. Its other end found its way between his legs, and his scream summoned nearly the entire village to the hillside where they¡¯d been training. She was banned from entering Meteor Falls for a month. In the end, Zinnia hadn¡¯t even remembered her instructor¡¯s name. But, the lessons he¡¯d imparted had stuck around. Some longer than others, but eventually, all the bruises across her body had faded. The Draconids followed the old ways, from before the Great War. From the age when men and pok¨¦mon fought against each other for scarce resources and land. Nowadays, it was a taboo for people to attack pok¨¦mon. But the Draconids held no such belief. Pok¨¦mon were beasts with power, and it was out of respect for that wild power that they met them with force. That meant learning to spar with them personally. For when the Draconids did battle, they battled beside their pok¨¦mon, not behind them. As the enemy Infernape, Ambipom, Parasect, and Sirfetch¡¯d circled Zinnia, several nearby grunts who¡¯d been focusing on her rampaging pok¨¦mon turned toward her, deathly curious of how the girl planned to get herself out of this one. She didn¡¯t look scared in the slightest. If anything, her stillness, the way she held her staff as if it were an extension of her own body, and the analytical gaze she swept over her attackers suggested the exact opposite. She was determined to defeat them all. By herself. The Infernape started the brawl, seemingly unable to contain its rage for a moment longer. It beat its fists against the ground, before lunging forward with an enraged screech. Zinnia¡¯s eyes flicked over in an instant, and her staff shot toward the ape. As Infernape roared, the staff caught it in the throat, and before it could even choke out a cough, Zinnia had swung the staff around and bashed it across the face, sending it flying back into a throng of grunts. A storm of bright yellow spores sputtered toward Zinnia, but she rolled, and dived into the crowd. AZ¡¯s acolytes shrieked as she ran through their lines, using them as a barrier wall between herself and Parasect. The Stun Spore settled on the ground harmlessly in front of them, but Zinnia shoved herself into them, knocking them straight into the substance. A few twitched and screamed, but did not get back up. Parasect tried to scuttle back as Zinnia closed in on it, but she loosened her grip on her staff and let it sail between her fingertips, before tightly locking her fingers back around the staff just before it left her hand. With her extended grip, she slammed it down on Parasect from a distance, and the crab collapsed down on its own fragile legs, a deep crack in its shell where the staff had landed. Since Zinnia now only gripped the staff at its end, leaving her control over it inhibited, Ambipom found its moment to strike, hurling a volley of five-pointed stars down at Zinnia. Zinnia sensed the Swift from behind and reacted immediately, diving behind Parasect¡¯s defeated body, leaving her staff on the ground. The Swift impacted against the crab¡¯s body, releasing flashes of light, and Zinnia whipped her head away so she wouldn¡¯t be blinded. Your staff is a symbol, her instructor had told her once. Think of it as a part of you just as much as your pok¨¦mon are. It is the sole distinction between a Draconid, and any other ordinary trainer. Is that what you are, Zinnia? An ordinary trainer? She glanced out from behind Parasect at her staff on the ground. Ambipom wasted no time scurrying over, and a second later, it seized the staff in one of its tail-hands. You fucking monkey! Zinnia cursed. She leaped out from behind Parasect. Ambipom scampered back, deftly twirling the staff in its hands to keep it as far from Zinnia as possible. With it secured, Ambipom slung its other tail forward, its fist hardened for a Double Hit. Zinnia blitzed forward, closing the distance between them in a matter of moments, but even she wasn¡¯t faster than the tenacious monkey. The attack caught her in her side when she was mere inches from it. Agony blossomed on her side like ink in water, and she immediately felt a couple of her ribs break beneath the pressure. Ambipom smirked, waving Zinnia¡¯s staff behind itself mockingly. Zinnia grit her teeth and lunged forward, over Ambipom¡¯s shoulder. Her fingers grazed her staff, then both her hands closed around it. With all her might, she hurled the staff over her head, taking Ambipom with it. The accumulated momentum was just enough to fling it off, and it released its grip, rolling in the air and landing several meters away. Zinnia planted her staff into the ground and spun around it, landing into a crouch beside it, holding it like it was her child. Her breathing was heavy, and she glared at Ambipom as it turned back toward her. She slowly rose, then ripped her staff out of the ground and leveled it at the monkey. The glittering twinkles on the surface of the staff, that looked like stars in a pitch black ocean, began to glow brighter. ¡°Dragon Pulse!¡± Zinnia roared. Azure light burst from the tip of the staff, crackling and roaring through the air and hitting Ambipom square in that chest. It squealed as it flew back, and it landed unconscious, a scorch mark smoking on its chest. The grunts who had stopped to watch glanced between themselves nervously. What was going on? What should they do? This woman was completely beyond their expectation. They did not even want to release anymore of their pok¨¦mon. Should they charge her themselves? Fools, Zinnia thought. You guys obviously don¡¯t know the first damn thing about each other or each other¡¯s pok¨¦mon. How the hell did you think you¡¯d be able to beat me with a gank as disjointed as this? The final pok¨¦mon, the Sirfetch¡¯d stepped forward stoically. Out of some sense of misplaced honor, it seemed to dislike the idea of ganging up on her, and it raised its sword in challenge, requesting something like a duel instead. Zinnia scoffed. Did this stupid bird even see what was going on around it? Nonetheless, a grin stretched across her face as she lowered herself for another charge. ¡°Fine.¡± Sirfetch¡¯d shield cracked and its sword snapped in two with a single swing of Zinnia¡¯s staff, and she once again threw herself into the frenzy of battle. The grunts shook themselves from their stupor and they deployed more of their pok¨¦mon. A Kommo-o, a Charizard, a Dragonite. They had lots of dragon-types. Or maybe those were the only ones Zinnia bothered to take note of as she flit through their ranks. Her Dragon Pulses cleaved rays of ice and columns of fire in twain, and those unfortunate enough to be introduced to her staff physically were all taken out in a single hit. The dance of a Draconid was as graceful to the dancer as it was ruthless to the audience. Zinnia felt no pain as she weaved and rolled and slid between her attackers. Contrary to the chaos boiling around her, her mind seemed to turn off as she let herself be puppeted by her years of training, her body moving off of nothing more than pure instinct. She couldn¡¯t say exactly how much time went by¡­okay, no actually, she pretty much could. It was nearly three minutes later when Zinnia realized there were no more enemies standing around her. And since she was still conscious, it meant Altaria¡¯s Perish Song hadn¡¯t yet descended. The silence and darkness of the tunnel once again closed around her, and she slowly turned to face Altaria and Tyrantrum, who both stood triumphant atop the defeated horde. With her sweat-soaked hair matted to her face and neck, she smiled at them. Just before the Perish Song took her, she released one more pok¨¦mon.
Zinnia¡¯s eyes flickered open. Luckily, there was no need for them to adjust, since the tunnel was already so dark. Before she saw him, she heard Tyrantrum¡¯s breathing as he stood watch over her. She was laying down, and upon realizing so, sat up. Pain burned her side, and she cried out involuntarily. Now that the battle had ended and her adrenaline had calmed, her broken ribs were all too apparent. Altaria¡¯s soft wing cushioned her from behind, and she leaned forward to alleviate the pressure on her damaged ribs. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Guess that Johto trip isn¡¯t happening any time soon, she thought glumly. She looked to her side and saw her staff lying on the ground parallel to her, and breathed a sigh of relief. She collapsed it and put it back in her cloak. Next, she looked right in front of her, and saw Aster, standing motionlessly on the cold, rock floor, her gaze aimless. Zinnia smiled and brushed the top of her head with her knuckle. ¡°Thanks as always, Aster.¡± Although Aster never partook in the violent ceremony, her role¡¯s importance in the dance was paramount. When Altaria initiated her Perish Song, it was up to little Aster to wake them all when the clock struck zero. And she always handled her duty perfectly. Zinnia stood and recalled Aster once more. Across the dimly lit ground were scores of fallen acolytes and their pok¨¦mon alike. Now that she had calmed, Zinnia was honestly a little unnerved at the sight of it. It looked like the scene of a massacre. Zinnia had encountered severe numbers disadvantages before, but this had to have been the largest by far. There were at least a hundred acolytes on the ground, and even more pok¨¦mon, leaving the ground riddled with hundreds of fallen foes. They weren¡¯t dead, of course, but their current condition couldn¡¯t exactly be described as ¡®asleep.¡¯ Once again, Aster¡¯s role, her power, was of paramount importance. Only she could reverse the perishing. But, despite the gruesome scene, Zinnia didn¡¯t regret it in the slightest. Each grunt and their pok¨¦mon had been strong. Zinnia hadn¡¯t pulled any punches, and she¡¯d still ended up injured. They were no pushovers. Zinnia glanced over at the elevator shaft and saw that the Stone Edge barrier had been breached, but the bodies of a Manectric and Weavile were slumped atop the broken rock. Tyrantrum rumbled beside Zinnia, and the girl smiled. Their pursuers must have arrived while she was down, but her pok¨¦mon had handled them easily as they came through the bottleneck. With that, they were free to advance without needing to look over their shoulders. ¡°Thanks, guys, get some rest now, ¡®kay?¡± she said as she pulled out their pok¨¦balls. After returning them, she once again deployed Salamence. The dragon tried his best to avoid stomping on anyone, and nudged the body of a grunt aside with his foot to gain some solid footing. He swiveled his head around to face his master, and Zinnia saw his sharpened eyes narrow when he saw her clutching her side. But he made no further acknowledgement of it, facing forward again and lowering himself so she could mount. Carefully, Zinnia pulled herself onto his back and turned around so she could lean back against his neck. She exhaled and patted his warm hide. ¡°Southwest, Salamence. Toward Geosenge.¡± Salamence snorted and turned, rising into the air with a few flaps of his wings. For a formerly subterranean species, this place was just like his home in the depths of Meteor Falls. Without delay, he shot down the tunnel, into the oppressive gloom. Next ¡ª Chapter 36 : King and Servant
Not sure if I got the pacing right for this chapter but we move. Remnants of the Great War [27] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [27] Chapter 36 : King and Servant
Kalos Region - Cyllage City ¡°Fusion Flare!¡± N said, thrusting his hand forward. In the skies above, Reshiram shot out from beneath the shadows of the cliffside, his scalding white fur billowing against the cerulean sky. His tail roared to life, embers gusting out in a blizzard. An orange orb of fire spittled into existence between Reshiram¡¯s hands, growing larger and brighter with each passing second. When it was so bright it hurt to look upon, Reshiram flung it down, and it trembled as it moved, a vortex of wind roiling around it. ¡°Stone Edge! Block it!¡± Caleb hissed. His Barbaracle, a hulking golem with twisting limbs of sentient coral, buried its hands in the ground, and the earth rumbled. A second later, ten pillars of granite shot from the ground, before crumbling and shifting in the air to form a barrier that was several meters thick. The Fusion Flare impacted, and the world went silent for half a second, before the barrier burst apart and the Fusion Flare detonated in a gurgling explosion of amber fire. N shielded himself from the rocks flying in his direction, but his arms did little to protect himself from the searing heat of Reshiram¡¯s fire. The worst of the debris halted in midair and dropped to the ground just before hitting him. ¡°Argh!¡± Caleb snarled. ¡°Psychic on N first! We¡¯ll deal with Reshiram after!¡± Beside Caleb, his Delphox turned toward its enemy and aimed its wand. Above, Reshiram snorted angrily and summoned four javelins of rock out of thin air. They sharpened in the air beside him, then Reshiram hurled them downward. His own Stone Edge sank itself into the sand between N and Delphox, cutting off the fox¡¯s line of sight. No matter how harsh a battle they found themselves in, Reshiram always protected his master without fail, and with minimal effort too. Such was the power of a legend. N silently thanked his partner as he ran across the beach, circling around the rock to try to get his opponents back in his sights. This was no easy enemy. His Barbaracle¡¯s control over its moves was impressive, and neither it, nor the Delphox, seemed fazed at all that they were up against a legendary. It was a good thing N had started studying the national pok¨¦dex several years ago, or he might¡¯ve actually been at a disadvantage against these unfamiliar Kalosian pok¨¦mon. ¡°Levitate Barbaracle, Delphox, and Barbaracle, use Ancient Power!¡± Barbaracle bulleted into the air above Reshiram, its body outlined in psychic power. A network of indigo portals opened behind Barbaracle, and a moment later, cosmic energy shot out in an indiscriminate volley. Reshiram roared as the attacks struck his skin. Every time a laser hit him, it hardened into rock and shattered against his body. ¡°Solar Beam!¡± N ordered. Light gathered in Reshiram¡¯s maw and he shot it out in a blinding ray. Down below, Delphox flicked its wand, and the Solar Beam changed course in midair, shooting upward away from Barbaracle, then blitzing around in ten different directions, before shooting back straight at Reshiram. The beam hit his neck and he coughed up a storm of embers. But with his focus momentarily broken, a larger laser shot out from behind Barbaracle and hit him right in the head. Reshiram stumbled in the air, then allowed himself to fall, smashing down onto the remnants of his Stone Edge. He roared in anger, and Delphox glared back. N grit his teeth as Barbaracle floated back down and landed on the beach in front of its trainer. ¡°Reshiram must hate having you as a trainer,¡± Caleb smirked. ¡°You¡¯re not very good at this, are you?¡± To that, N had no reply. It was true that he wasn¡¯t the greatest trainer or strategist. To be honest, even though he now accepted the institution of pok¨¦mon battling, he still did not like it. He employed Reshiram¡¯s power only when absolutely necessary, which meant they spent no time training like Ash and Zinnia did. Of course, for a pok¨¦mon like Reshiram, something like that was hardly necessary. Despite the potency of that Ancient Power, it had done little more than annoy Reshiram. ¡°You¡¯re very good at this,¡± N said, seizing on the opportunity to talk instead of fight. ¡°You must have been with your pok¨¦mon for a long time.¡± ¡°Damn right. Don¡¯t even come at me with that liberation bullshit.¡± ¡°Oh no, that wasn¡¯t my intention at all. I was just wondering how a promising young man like yourself got mixed in with someone like AZ. Did that Lord Vandrick you mentioned introduce you to him?¡± Caleb¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡®Mixed in?¡¯ You think I''m troubled youth or something? Why don¡¯t you keep your royal nose out of my business, terrorist. You¡¯re no better than me.¡± N¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Well, I am trying to be,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Reshiram growled, but N calmed him with a raise of his hand. ¡°Have you killed before, Caleb?¡± ¡°Enough questions,¡± the boy sneered. ¡°Dragon Claw, Barbaracle.¡± The rock pok¨¦mon barreled forward, its claws laced in jade dragon energy. N sighed. ¡°End this, Reshiram.¡± Barbaracle leaped into the air, poised to slash Reshiram¡¯s neck. But the white dragon reared back and punched it out of the sky faster than his size suggested he could. As it tumbled back across the sand, Reshiram stomped over and slammed his foot down on Barbaracle¡¯s body. He opened his maw, and fire emptied out. First orange, then red, then blue, as it got hotter and hotter. When he was finished, he stepped off and released a satisfied snort. Despite his resistances, Barbaracle lay unmoving, its stone burned black with ash. N grimaced, looking away. As much as he loved Reshiram, Reshiram was a dragon. And dragons were unshakably ruthless. Caleb recalled his fallen pok¨¦mon with a sneer. ¡°Whatever. You only have Reshiram, don¡¯t you? You don¡¯t have any pok¨¦balls on your belt, and you threw away that bag of yours. Unless you¡¯re into some freak shit and you have some up your ass, it¡¯s still five against one.¡± ¡°Yes, but the one just defeated one of yours without even breaking a sweat,¡± N said flatly. ¡°Heh.¡± Caleb pulled another pok¨¦ball off his belt and tossed it in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you rely on Reshiram too much? You think you¡¯re unbeatable just ¡®cause it¡¯s a legendary?¡± ¡°No, but like you, I¡¯ve spent quite a bit of time with Reshiram too. I trust in my partner completely.¡± ¡°That makes it even worse,¡± Caleb said, narrowing his eyes in judgment. N frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°No shit. Clearly the transition from pok¨¦mon liberation activist to trainer hasn¡¯t been very smooth. I¡¯m guessing you haven¡¯t caught any more pok¨¦mon because you¡¯re still a liberationist at heart? But if that were the case, then why do you keep Reshiram of all pok¨¦mon in your bag like you do, huh?¡± He smirked. ¡°It seems to me like you¡¯re trying to do both, and failing at both.¡± N glanced up at Reshiram, unable to help himself. The white dragon felt his gaze and turned. Their eyes met, but N could discern nothing from them. Caleb wasn¡¯t wrong. He was like a walking paradox, and even he didn¡¯t understand himself. Worse than that, he couldn¡¯t understand what it was that existed between him and Reshiram. As Plasma¡¯s king, they always seemed to be on the same page, pursuing their ideals together. But now that N was trying to turn over a new leaf, he wasn¡¯t sure where he was with Reshiram. At the very least, he didn¡¯t know why the legendary dragon had partnered with him again after he was released from prison. ¡°Someone showed me the beauty of the bonds between man and pok¨¦mon that can be cultivated¡­that can only be cultivated through battle,¡± N said. ¡°Right now, I am walking a path away from my old self and toward a new one. Whilst I¡¯m between them, it may appear to you that I¡¯m failing at one thing or another, but it¡¯s a path that Reshiram has graciously elected to accompany me on. For now, I need to live up to his expectations.¡± Caleb shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not what a trainer does. A trainer is the master of their pok¨¦mon. Reshiram is your pok¨¦mon, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s Reshiram who needs to live up to your expectations.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite strict,¡± N said grimly. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. You just don¡¯t understand what it means to be a trainer. And it¡¯s why you¡¯ll end up losing here today. For my pok¨¦mon, my expectation is that they¡¯ll defeat you.¡± He leveled his gaze at N. ¡°As long as you keep Reshiram on some lofty pedestal, you¡¯ll be destined to sail straight off a cliff if he should up and vanish one day.¡± Caleb sniggered. ¡°Legendaries have a habit of that, from what I hear.¡± Reshiram snorted, embers flaring from his nostrils. He¡¯d had enough of this conversation. ¡°I agree, Reshiram,¡± N said firmly. ¡°This boy doesn¡¯t know the first thing about us. So let¡¯s show him! Use Outrage on Delphox!¡± If they could take out Delphox, it would be easy to incapacitate Caleb himself. As Reshiram roared, and flung himself toward the fire-type, Caleb shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± He unhooked and flung a pok¨¦ball forward. The energy that burst out resized into a massive Gourgeist nearly as tall as the dragon. The ghostly pumpkin¡¯s ¡®arms¡¯ shot forward and slammed against Reshiram¡¯s arms, wrapping around them and pulling him back to stop him in his tracks. ¡°Toxic, then move!¡± Caleb yelled. As Reshiram grappled against Gourgeist, the mouth of the pumpkin gurgled, and a deep purple liquid sprayed out all over Reshiram¡¯s chest. The dragon hissed, swiping his wing across Gourgeist¡¯s face, but it floated back, narrowly dodging. Now that it was airborne, it shot another gout of poison straight at Reshiram¡¯s face before disappearing with a ghostly swirl. Reshiram coughed and smeared the poison from his face, eyes burning with rage and agony. ¡°Calm yourself, Reshiram! Find and immobilize it with Extrasensory, then Flamethrower,¡± N commanded. As Reshiram¡¯s eyes gleamed and he started searching for his incorporeal opponent, N couldn¡¯t help but recall Caleb¡¯s words. Keep Reshiram on a pedestal? What does that even mean? If anything, N believed he didn¡¯t show enough respect for his beloved pok¨¦mon. From his point of view, he was reaping all the benefits of their relationship, while the upsides for Reshiram remained unclear. He couldn¡¯t imagine treating him any more casually than he did now. Reshiram¡¯s eyes seared blue, and Gourgeist warbled back into existence above him, ringed in a psychic light, one of its eyes clamped shut as it screeched. ¡°Hex!¡± Caleb roared. ¡°Please defeat it now, Reshiram!¡± N could feel Gourgeist¡¯s fear even as it fired off a bolt of shadowy energy at Reshiram that pulsed through his body in an instant. Reshiram¡¯s maw glowed, and a column of fire burst forth, engulfing Gourgeist. Beyond the flames, it squealed, and N closed his eyes until he could hear Gourgeist¡¯s voice no longer. He wasn¡¯t sure he would ever get used to the pained voices of pok¨¦mon in battle, especially when they were in pain at his command. Caleb recalled his partner with a stoic look. ¡°Well done,¡± he murmured, before replacing its ball on his waist and exchanging it for another. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Reshiram groaned, panting. The poison was in his system now, and that Hex had done damage. They were on a timer now. Caleb tossed out his next pok¨¦mon, and a jingling Klefki appeared in the air beneath Reshiram. The dragon glowered down at it, but Klefki didn¡¯t seem to mind as it flit around carelessly, waiting for an order. Caleb leaned closer to Delphox and whispered something, and N narrowed his eyes. ¡°Stay alert, Reshiram. We¡¯ll deal with this quickly as always,¡± N said. ¡°Flamethrower on Klefki, and counteract anything Delphox tries to do to help.¡± Reshiram rumbled and stomped forward. His eyes flared with psychic power, alert to Delphox¡¯s every move, and he began building fire deep in his gullet. ¡°Smart Spikes, Klefki!¡± Caleb commanded. Klefki rocketed into the air with a high-pitched wail, keys jangling. Reshiram roared, and a tower of fire coiled skyward, engulfing the steel-type. Within the flames, its silhouette wavered, but a moment later, it burst out, smoking. Golden light wreathed its form, and Reshiram¡¯s beady eyes flickered down at Delphox, and he snarled. That¡¯s Light Screen, N thought. Why didn¡¯t you stop it, Reshiram? N looked back up at his pok¨¦mon. His chest heaved every time he took a breath, and with each exhale, a wheeze escaped his throat. Is it the poison? Was it too much to ask to deal with them both at the same time? N grit his teeth and made a decision. ¡°Forget Delphox and finish off, Klefki, Reshiram!¡± Silver spears curled into existence around Reshiram, glinting in the sunlight. As Reshiram turned to fire off another Flamethrower, a battalion of spears shot toward him and buried themselves in his hide. Reshiram grunted, but ignored them, rounding on Klefki and unleashing another smoking column of fire. Klefki once again disappeared beneath the flames, and N watched as Reshiram swept the fire through the air, following Klefki as it tried to escape. Getting impatient, Reshiram¡¯s eyes seared, and a geyser of sand erupted in front of Delphox, blocking its view of the battle for a moment. With its concentration broken, Reshiram roared, raising the temperature of his heat so much it turned white. Behind the blinding column, Delphox¡¯s Light Screen shattered with a fantastical crack, and Klefki¡¯s body bulleted into the cliff face, before falling to the ground, burned and blackened. Caleb recalled it with a sneer. Delphox glared at Reshiram, and the dragon met its challenge with a menacing growl. Using his wing, Reshiram brushed the spikes out of his body, and they fell upon the sand below. Now that they were closer, N saw that they glittered with a mysterious energy. Normally, Spikes are inserted into the ground and are made of rock, but these are metal, and float in the air to attack autonomously¡­ Smart Spikes, huh? ¡°Burn those Spikes, Reshiram!¡± Reshiram lunged forward, poised the whack a group of them out of the sky, but they responded accordingly and rose even higher, out of his reach. As he primed a Flamethrower, a flock of them whipped around and struck his face. The Flamethrower caught them as they tried to escape, and they melted into nothing. Then, the ones on the ground began to rise, and Reshiram wheeled around. Just before they could impale N, Reshiram snatched them with Extrasensory, and crushed them down into a crumpled ball. The glow faded. Then a fist struck Reshiram in the face, knocking spittle from his mouth. ¡°Reshiram!¡± N shouted. The Pangoro grinned, its biceps bulging as it released all its pent up power, launching Reshiram¡¯s face into the beach. But before he could recover, the sands beneath him churned apart, and a Diggersby drilled out, slicing up into his chin, knocking his head back into the air. Caleb smirked, his last two pok¨¦balls, newly emptied, in his hands, and he admired his handiwork. ¡°Keep it busy.¡± ¡°No! Get into the air, Reshiram, then Dragon Pulse on Pangoro!¡± Reshiram leapt, crashing through a hail of Spikes. As his tail ignited, a group of them blew back, melting and splattering against the cliff. ¡°You think Diggersby can¡¯t reach you up there? Bounce, then Mud Shot!¡± Caleb roared. Diggersby laid the palms of its ears against the ground, lowering itself. Then, it pushed off, launching into the sky with a flip. As Reshiram fired off a ray of draconic energy, several Spikes slashed across his neck, and the attack jerked away, giving Pangoro just enough time to roll out of the way. Beside Reshiram, Diggersby reared back and unleashed a torrent of mud. It splashed against Reshiram¡¯s body and hardened, and the dragon fought to stay airborne. No! Reshiram is slowing down! He should¡¯ve been able to redirect that with Extrasensory! N¡¯s mind raced as he clawed for a solution. Caleb¡¯s pok¨¦mon were doing far more damage than N would¡¯ve expected, and he was clearly banking on winning a battle of attrition. He¡¯d sacrificed both Gourgeist and Klefki to encumber Reshiram. Now, all Pangoro and Diggersby had to do was outlast him. And then there was still Delphox, which by the look of it, appeared to be Caleb¡¯s ace. They needed to end Pangoro and Diggersby in one fell swoop. What would Ash do? N demanded of himself. Of course, Ash probably never would¡¯ve found himself in a situation as dire as this, but if he had, what would he do? He¡¯d probably come up with some technique that I could¡¯ve never dreamed of. But N banished that line of thought immediately. Excuses wouldn¡¯t save Reshiram from defeat. Think, N! Reshiram continued to fire off Dragon Pulses at both of his opponents, trying to keep them at bay. But every time he did, more Spikes would circle around and stab him in his blind spots. Pangoro and Diggersby weren¡¯t even attacking. They were simply letting Reshiram tire himself out, dodging as best they could, and tanking what they couldn¡¯t to the best of their abilities. But both were built to endure punishment, and Reshiram didn¡¯t have time to focus down on either one. Every time he tried, the other would simply harass him from elsewhere. All the while, the poison dulled his cognition and the spikes were just enough of a nuisance to hinder his focus. If Reshiram used Draco Meteor, Delphox would probably be too busy protecting Caleb to worry about defending the other two. But Reshiram wouldn¡¯t want to use it and try and protect me at the same time either, especially with how exhausted he is¡­ Isn¡¯t that right, Reshiram? But the dragon¡¯s voice was silent to him, and he bit his lip in dismay. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t hear him over the din of battle, or he was too preoccupied to worry about responding. I¡¯m sorry, Reshiram. If only I were a better trainer, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten this hurt. At times like these, I wonder why you¡­ He stopped himself. No, he would not follow that thought. Reshiram was fighting for the both of them at this very moment, and N would dare question him? That would¡¯ve been the height of self-pity. Reshiram was fighting for his sake. He was fighting on his orders. Which meant, really, it was Reshiram who trusted N completely. I love you, Reshiram, truly, N said, for himself, and for Reshiram, if he was listening. ¡°It¡¯s Reshiram who needs to live up to your expectations,¡± Caleb had said. That¡¯s a conversation we can have later, N thought. Once we get through this! Forgive me, Reshiram, but I¡¯m going to demand more of you! ¡°Draco Meteor, now!¡± N roared. Reshiram whizzed to the side, dodging a Mud Shot from Diggersby, and he glared down at his trainer. It bordered on a sneer. It was an abject refusal. Reshiram knew he could not use it without being able to guarantee his master¡¯s safety. N¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°That¡¯s an order, Reshiram. Draco Meteor, now!¡± Reshiram glowered down at his master. Pangoro sprinted around him and leaped to land a punch on his side, but Reshiram kicked him away without breaking eye contact. N swallowed, but he too kept his eyes on Reshiram. The air began to heat up and Reshiram¡¯s tail started to churn. Fire roared to life within, but his tail spun faster and faster until the flames melted into a deep blue. With a deafening roar, Reshiram bulleted further up into the sky. His body eclipsed the sun, an indigo spiral rimmed in white sunlight. ¡°Shit, get away from it!¡± Caleb screeched. The sky seemed to darken, and N glanced around to find a hiding spot. The cliff behind him didn¡¯t even have any crevices, much less a cave or something for him to duck into. The rocks that littered the beach would get obliterated by the meteors. And the ocean itself was behind Caleb, out of his reach. Though it wasn¡¯t like that could save him either. N looked across the beach, and as expected, Delphox was priming a shield over itself and its master. Diggersby jumped and burrowed into the sand, disappearing. Meanwhile, Pangoro barreled across the beach, away from the battlefield. N cursed silently for not thinking this through, but he made a decision, running back toward the cliff and pressing himself against it. All he could do now was trust in Reshiram. The skies above flashed and thundered, blue lightning striking the beach and galvanizing the sand into twisted branches of glass. Reshiram¡¯s roar echoed, an omen of destruction. Then, the heavens belched, and hellfire came screaming down, bleeding azure power across the tortured sky. The first meteor shattered against Delphox¡¯s shield, and N had to close his eyes at the blinding release of energy. With each impact, the earth seemed to shake, and N was sure he was about to die. His legs trembled, the muscles within tight and screaming in agony as he forced them not to buckle. He heard a loud cracking above, and a second later, there was a barrage of crashes right in front of him, closer than all the others. He could feel sand spraying his legs as each one hit. The cliff was collapsing. Through the cacophony, N heard a low roar, though even he could not make out if it was Reshiram, Pangoro, or something else. His ears rang and sweat poured down his face, but he forced himself to remain as still as he could, not wanting to get in Reshiram¡¯s way even by an inch. When the ground stopped shaking and N could hear himself breathe again, he opened his eyes, and his feet immediately started to tingle. The beach was obliterated. Less than a yard away from his feet lay a smoking sinkhole, with flames still flickering at parts. The entire beach was covered with them, and there wasn¡¯t a single grain of unscorched sand to be seen. In one of the sinkholes, Diggersby lay unmoving, unable to escape Reshiram¡¯s wrath even underground. Away from the battlefield, Pangoro lay beneath a small mountain of cooling meteors, though its scorched fists suggested it¡¯d tried to defend itself. N clambered over the hot sands, careful not to fall down any of the sinkholes, and Reshiram touched back down next to him, breathing heavily. On the other side of the battlefield, Delphox¡¯s shield wavered, then faded. Both master and pok¨¦mon were fine. Caleb surveyed the damage, spotting his two fallen partners. He sucked on his lips. ¡°Figures,¡± he muttered, recalling them. Then he grinned. ¡°But they did their job. I have you right where I want you.¡± N ran his hands through his hair, wiping the sweat from his forehead. ¡°If you think that will be enough to take down Reshiram, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re sorely mistaken.¡± Caleb withdrew some sort of white watch and clasped its around his wrist, and N frowned. ¡°I know,¡± Caleb said. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m adding some extra punch.¡± He opened his palm. Several crystals lie within, but N could not identify them. Caleb pushed them around a bit, then seemed to find the one he was looking for and picked it out, stuffing the rest back in his pocket. The crystal he¡¯d selected was a dark hazel. He placed it on the watch¡¯s face and clicked its sides, locking it in place. Reshiram released a low growl, stomping the ground. This is it, N thought as Caleb raised his arm. ¡°I told you,¡± the boy said, ¡°I expect my pok¨¦mon to win.¡± He slammed his palm down against the crystal, and a bright light erupted from its surface. ¡°Delphox, Tectonic Rage!¡± If this was Delphox¡¯s finishing blow, then N intended to finish Delphox in one hit as well. ¡°Reshiram, use Blue Flare!¡± Delphox whipped its wand, and the sands around Reshiram responded accordingly, swirling and churning like a tornado. Reshiram reared back, opening his maw. Blue light shined from the depths of his throat, and even Caleb took a nervous step back as it got brighter and brighter. The sand around Reshiram continued to thicken and spin faster, until it roiled around him so fast that N could hardly see him. All he could see were flickering glimpses of white fur illuminated by Reshiram¡¯s mouth. Delphox hissed, and all of a sudden, the sand ignited and bloomed in size. Coarse magma surged around Reshiram, before imploding, then exploding in a hail of earthen fury. It was like a volcano had erupted all around Reshiram. The heat from the firestorm singed N¡¯s arm hairs, and he grit his teeth, but he trusted Reshiram. He¡¯d ignored the attack building around him, so he seemed to think he could take it. A ray of blue fire sliced through the maelstrom, glassing the fiery sand in an instant, before carving across the beach and hitting Delphox square in the face. The Tectonic Rage shuddered, and slowly fell back to the ground, revealing Reshiram¡¯s battered body. Angry burns and slashes covered his body, but it hadn¡¯t stopped him from unleashing the dancing beam of blue fire. He roared as he pumped more power and fury into the attack, and Delphox vanished beneath the splattering flames. With one final guttural bark, Reshiram cut off the attack, panting. Delphox took several shaky steps, then collapsed to the decimated ground, its fur burned. Reshiram roared in victory, spreading his wings. Finally N¡¯s legs gave out and he collapsed onto his knees. Reshiram noticed and stomped over, lowering his head. N reached out and caressed his face. ¡°Thank you, Reshiram,¡± he wheezed, though he felt silly at his exhaustion since he hadn¡¯t really done anything. Reshiram nudged his hand with his nose and growled softly. I haven¡¯t seen you in such high spirits since the days of Team Plasma. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve finally begun to exert yourself on the world once more. N whipped toward Reshiram. The dragon met his eye, but soon stood and lumbered toward Delphox¡¯s fallen body. N smiled. So Reshiram had been worried about him. It seemed they¡¯d both been slightly anxious about how the other felt about them. But their affection for each other was clear. From here, their bond would only deepen. Reshiram growled and N glanced over, soon realizing what the dragon was getting at. He jogged over and frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s the boy?¡± N and Reshiram looked at each other. ¡°He must¡¯ve escaped to the tunnel!¡± N said. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Reshiram growled in agreement, but after taking one step, his entire body melted into orange and collapsed in on itself. ¡°Reshiram?¡± N stopped and turned back to his pok¨¦mon. A glowing orange orb fell to the ground, and a moment later, the glow faded. The Light Stone rested quietly on the sand. N walked over and knelt down. He rested his hand on its surface. It¡¯s been some time since you¡¯ve gotten this cold, Reshiram. He glanced at Delphox, abandoned by its master. But it was our victory. Get some rest, and leave the rest to me. Lifting his pok¨¦mon, N started running toward the entrance to the tunnel. While he did, he withdrew his phone to call Sylvester. Next ¡ª Chapter 37 : The Electric Plate
Remnants of the Great War [28] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [28] Chapter 37 : The Electric Plate
Land of Rota - East of the Town of Rota Ash leaped back as Aegislash¡¯s blade cut through the air where he¡¯d been standing half a second ago. Even though it hadn¡¯t hit him, he heard a high-pitched ring as it swept beneath his chin. Even with Gengar¡¯s assistance, it felt like every attack the sword leveled at him could be his last, and the feeling of relief that washed over him every time he realized he was somehow still alive could not be savored. Ash ducked and jumped to avoid every thrust and slash, employing acrobatics he didn¡¯t even know he possessed till now. Clearly training with Lucario, and all the time he¡¯d spent monkeying around as a kid, had paid off, if only just. Unfortunately, Pikachu and Annihilape weren¡¯t faring much better. While their trainer soaked up the brunt of Aegislash¡¯s attention, they still could not land a single counterattack of their own. Every time they fired one off, or approached for a melee hit, a purple shield of hexagonal tiles glimmered into existence between them, and a wanton strike from Annihilape had told them that contact with the shield would sap their strength. Shit, I need to get it off me, or this thing will eventually kill me! Ash thought as he dived behind a fallen tree trunk, cleaved from its stump by Aegislash. Its single eye burned with a stalwart fury, and Ash grit his teeth as he rolled to dodge another slice, before getting back on his feet. He saw Pikachu and Annihilape both charge the sword from behind, but a twin set of King¡¯s Shields kept them at bay. Gengar, tell them to attack from above! When it defends, I¡¯ll hit it from below! Gengar hissed in his mind. This was a form of nonverbal communication, but it was slower than genuine telepathy like Sabrina had with her pok¨¦mon, or like he and Riley had with their respective Lucarios. But against such an aggressive menace, Ash would use any slim advantage he could get. A moment later, Pikachu and Annihilape both leaped. An Electro Ball sizzled into existence on Pikachu¡¯s tail, and shadows rippled across Annihilape¡¯s fist for a Rage Fist. Without even giving them a glance, two shields, meshed together to perfectly counter the exact angles its two assailants were coming from, appeared above Aegislash, leaving its blade body wide open. As Aegislash thrust forward, Ash sidestepped, electricity dancing in his palm. Got you! The ions under Ash¡¯s control flooded Aegislash, and it suddenly jerked toward him, as if pulled by an invisible force. For the first time since the battle had begun, Aegislash released a confused rumble, and a half second later, the shields above its head vanished, before rebuilding around its entire form, encasing it in a perfect sphere. It finally broke off its assault and leapt back away from Ash and his pok¨¦mon. Now still again, the shield glittered away. Ash wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned, panting. He¡¯d used Aegislash¡¯s steel against itself to pull it toward himself and knock it off balance. That last technique was something like a hostile version of Magnet Rise, and aside from their main technique, it was what Ash had devoted much of the past month toward perfecting. Honestly, although it was intended for steel-types, it was actually a two-part technique. The magnetic attraction was only half of it. In theory, Ash was supposed to follow it up with a proper electric attack, but against Aegislash, he hadn¡¯t even bothered attempting it. This time, the goal was just to surprise it. Luckily, it¡¯d opted for defense, ceasing its assault and retreating, even though Ash had barely managed to yank it an inch. It was risky, but Ash had counted on Aegislash freaking out at suddenly getting pulled by a force that didn¡¯t come from Pikachu or Annihilape. Pikachu and Annihilape landed on either side of Ash, poised to continue to fight. Aegislash watched them all silently, seemingly now wary of Ash. As Ash watched the sword in turn, it definitely seemed to be confused at Ash¡¯s ability, as if it hadn¡¯t expected them. A pok¨¦mon this old and strong could only belong to AZ, but it seemed like the giant hadn¡¯t availed his partner to Ash¡¯s powers. At that realization, Ash raised his fists defensively . That means he has so much faith in Aegislash¡¯s strength that he didn¡¯t even feel the need to bother telling it. Nevertheless, Ash grinned. ¡°Underestimate me at your own peril,¡± he muttered, and his pok¨¦mon nodded in agreement beside him. Aegislash tilted, and a moment later, Ash could see why. Or rather, he heard them first. Between the fallen trees, mossy stumps, and leafy foliage, hooded figures began to approach the scene of their battle, alongside their pok¨¦mon. They came from all directions, peeling out of the shaded gloom of the forest. At first, Ash counted ten, but the closer they got, the number seemed to increase to twenty, at least. Soon after, they were surrounded. Ash glanced around him warily, but none of the enemies seemed to want to attack just yet. At first, he¡¯d thought it was a fool¡¯s idea to intrude on Aegislash¡¯s battle, but the sword itself had stood down, crossing its shield in front of itself once again. Though I know it can go on the attack again in an instant. It would be idiotic to think Aegislash was seriously leaving Ash to the others, especially after it had just seen what he could do. The moment their attention shifted to the surrounding acolytes, Aegislash likely intended to swoop in and take one of them out right there and then. Even if Pikachu hit them all at once with a Thunder, there¡¯re a few ground-types that would remain standing since Pikachu can only use the anti-ground technique on individual opponents. And if I tried something, Gengar wouldn¡¯t be able to protect me while I¡¯m using the Electric Plate¡­ That was something they¡¯d found out shortly after Gengar had solved his poison problem. It¡¯d take just enough of our power and attention that Aegislash could pick one of us off. Now that that option had been sealed off, Ash rose and stood straighter. ¡°Annihilape. Pikachu. Let¡¯s use that.¡± Pikachu chirped in excitement, and Annihilape smashed his fists together, shaking the already tilted cap on his wavering head. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Albrecht said incredulously. ¡°I know you¡¯re a gutsy trainer, but something like this, and right off the bat too¡­¡± Ash didn¡¯t even bother turning around to meet the World Champion¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know it could be dangerous for my pok¨¦mon, but this power shouldn¡¯t just belong to me. If Arceus¡¯ power is as infinite as you say, then there should be plenty to go around.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not the issue. The Plates are divided between types for a reason. I¡¯m sure you must¡¯ve seen Riley using Aura in a similar way, but that¡¯s completely different. Aura is the raw power of pok¨¦mon, the basic building block of all their attacks. The electric power from the Electric Plate, however¡ª¡° ¡°That¡¯s why I explained to you how I was going to use it,¡± Ash said. Now, he turned to face Albrecht. The World Champion looked cautious, but willing to listen. ¡°Think about it. Almost every pok¨¦mon has a brain. And even the ones that don¡¯t have some sort of organ that acts as one. The same is true of muscles.¡± He held up a finger and allowed a spark to dance on its tip. ¡°Aura may power a pok¨¦mon¡¯s moves, but this is what powers their bodies.¡± Albrecht still looked concerned, if not even moreso now. ¡°Electricity¡­ You¡¯re referring to brain waves¡­and muscle contractions.¡± Ash slammed a fist on his palm. ¡°Exactly! If I can accelerate, or enhance those brain waves and muscle contractions, I should be able to boost my pok¨¦mon¡¯s cognitive ability and physical power! I could increase their reaction time and strength tenfold, or even more!¡± ¡°Beyond the obvious ramifications such a precise technique would have on your own body, you¡¯re talking about interfering with your pok¨¦mon¡¯s most intimate biological processes. Screw up, and who knows what would happen to them? Even I couldn¡¯t say how a misplaced electric charge on the brain, or a muscle, would affect your pok¨¦mon, but I can¡¯t imagine it would be good. Or temporary, either.¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± Ash said. He rubbed his hair. ¡°I know it sounds like I¡¯m ignoring your warnings, but believe me, no one cares more about my own pok¨¦mon¡¯s safety than me. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He sighed, searching for the words. ¡°I know we can do this. I¡¯ve thought a lot about why someone like me would come to have this power¡­and I just feel like this is how it¡¯s meant to be used¡­or something like this, anyway. Shared with my pok¨¦mon.¡± Albrecht frowned and caressed his chin, but a smile began to peek up from the corners of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve met several Platebearers over the years. Without a doubt, they are some of the greediest, most conceited people I have ever met in my entire life. I suppose wielding the power of Arceus would do that to someone, but at the very least, I have never heard one suggest that their power should be shared.¡± He locked eyes with Ash. ¡°In that regard, you would be the first.¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon¡­¡± Ash said, embarrassed. ¡°Arceus¡¯ power¡­kept by a man, but shared with pok¨¦mon¡­¡± Albrecht thought for a moment. ¡°Respectively, you¡¯re insane, Ash Ketchum. But I suppose one would have to be. Odd as it may be, after hearing your words just now, I feel even more confident in my decision to bet on you.¡± ¡°Ha ha, thanks!¡± ¡°Now, that being said, I absolutely forbid you from tampering with any of the electricity in any of your pok¨¦mon, even Pikachu, before you master your control over the Plate. Violate that, and I swear on Arceus¡¯ name, I will peel that Plate off of you faster than you could blink.¡± ¡°I thought you said you couldn¡¯t kill Platebearers to get their Plate, since the Plates disappear?¡± Ash smirked. ¡°You got some special Guardian King ability or something like that?¡± Albrecht¡¯s eyes glimmered. ¡°Something like that.¡± For a moment, the World Champion¡¯s wistful look reminded Ash of Sir Aaron. But it wasn¡¯t until several weeks later that Ash¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. Electricity crackled in Ash¡¯s palm, snapping and lacing around his fingers. Beside him Pikachu and Annihilape both shuddered, and they hunkered down, poised to charge. The nearest grunts to them took a wary step back, and Ash grinned. Behind the throng of grunts in front of them, Aegislash tilted toward him. Even without a face, concern, clear as day, rose up upon it, as it sensed the tremendous power now emanating from Ash. Then, fast as lightning, it withdrew itself out from behind its shield and roared, a metallic screech echoing through the forest. Purple light wreathed its blade and it lunged forward, pointed directly at Ash. Annihilape vanished, and reappeared a moment later directly in front of Aegislash. The sword reared back in surprise, but it didn¡¯t even have time to summon a shield before Annihilape¡¯s burly fist slammed into its eye. Immediately, it reversed velocity, careening back and plowing through AZ¡¯s men, and smashing through a line of trees, before hitting a rocky cliff, cracking it, and falling to the ground. Annihilape snorted, dark violet flames wafting around his fist. AZ¡¯s men stared in disbelief. Surely they¡¯d believed their master¡¯s pok¨¦mon to be absolutely insurmountable, no pok¨¦mon of this age able to challenge its experience of three-thousand years. Their pok¨¦mon seemed nearly as shocked, but their sights were trained solely on Annihilape, the progenitor of such unfathomable power. To them, he was now the biggest threat. Across the way, Aegislash rose slowly, shaking gravel and splinters off of itself. One of its shadowy arms snaked out and lifted its shield, bringing it back in front of itself. Its singular eye locked onto Annihilape, and it trembled with rage, the ground and cliff cratering around it, decimated by its anger. Sweat dripped from Ash¡¯s brow, but he wiped it away. ¡°I¡¯ll leave Aegislash to you, Annihilape.¡± The ghost-type grunted, and its fur began to flicker like fire as it summoned its wrathful power. ¡°Kill Ash Ketchum!¡± one of the grunts roared, breaking the others out of their trance. The surrounded grunts and their pok¨¦mon let out a cry, and, determined to avenge their master¡¯s pok¨¦mon, they all charged at once toward Ash, priming elemental attacks. Pikachu climbed up Ash¡¯s body and leaped off of his head with a shout. Electricity thundered through the air, and faster than the eye could follow, Pikachu blitzed through them all, zapping through the air so fast it was like his body was glitching. An entire line of grunts and their pok¨¦mon collapsed onto the forest floor as the rogue electric shocks defeated them instantly. But Pikachu never even dropped to the ground. He simply ¡°glitched¡± over to another group and felled them all, then teleported behind Ash and slept them too. The remaining grunts could only watch in horror as nearly their entire group was defeated in a matter of seconds. As Pikachu swiveled to take on the last group, his cheeks sparking with white electricity, the grunts turned to run, abandoning the fight altogether. But Pikachu blitzed forward one last time and ran them down, and they fell to the ground with muffled screams. Pikachu landed atop one of their backs, panting from exertion. Only the ground-types remained standing, a Golem, Swampert, and Sandslash utterly petrified in the face of such an overwhelming onslaught. Their eyes were bloodshot and wide with fear. Ash dropped to his knee, breathing heavily. ¡°Switch¡­Switch out with Annihilape, Pikachu. Defeat Aegislash.¡± The flat of Aegislash¡¯s blade arced around to slam into Annihilape¡¯s midsection, but at the last second, he braced the attack with his arm, and vanished into the ground, slithering through the shadows. Jumping up behind Aegislash, he pulled back to deliver the Phantom Force, but Aegislash spun in the air, nearly slashing him from forehead to jaw. Pikachu squeaked and leaped into the quarrel, his tail hardened and black for an Iron Tail. Annihilape seemed to catch on, and he snorted angrily at having to give up on his prey. Nevertheless, his beady eyes saw his trainer kneeling on the ground, and he quickly identified the remaining threats. As Pikachu engaged Aegislash, Annihilape somersaulted over them, landing between the three remaining pok¨¦mon. With an enemy now right in front of them, they seemed to regain some vigor, and snarled in defiance of their inevitable defeat. But before they could attack, Annihilape unleashed an all-out pummeling, jabbing each one multiple times in a single second. His arms became black blurs, and he roared as he increased the speed of his punches. Each hit released a harsh thump, but Annihilape was relentless, and the three pok¨¦mon¡¯s bodies convulsed beneath the unceasing assault. Finally, with one final punch, he ended his Close Combat, steam rising from his tightened fists. Golem, Swampert, and Sandslash all tipped backward, bruised, bloody, and beaten. He turned back toward the fight with Aegislash, but growled dismissively upon seeing it, shaking his head. Aegislash flung its shield, and it arced around to hit Pikachu, but the mouse blocked with his Iron Tail, then danced into the air. Pikachu screamed, and the heavens darkened. An effulgent knife of white lightning plunged down from the heavens and crashed upon Aegislash, coursing across its body and superheating the metal in an instant. The sword wailed, unleashing a hellish screech of pain, but Pikachu¡¯s Thunder continued its assault until smoke rose from Aegislash¡¯s form. Its shadowy arms went limp and recoiled into its body, and, with an otherworldly groan, it fell to the ground, sinking its blade into the earth and tilting forward slightly. It did not move again. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Aghhh,¡± Ash moaned, collapsing onto his ass, panting. Sweat stained his shirt and he sucked each breath in greedy mouthfuls. ¡°That¡­was¡­hah¡­hah¡­awesome.¡± Annihilape grunted in agreement, waddling back over to his trainer while stepping on top of the bodies of the defeated without a care. Pikachu took one last look at Aegislash to make sure it was down, then scampered over, a concerned look on his face. ¡°That was great, you guys. Exactly what I had in mind.¡± He paused to take in more air. ¡°Now I just need to keep building my stamina up. Because that¡­really¡­takes a lot of energy.¡± He groaned and stood up, then clutched his head painfully. ¡°Damn. Stood up too quickly.¡± After taking several more breaths, he closed his eyes, but they snapped open a moment later. ¡°Shit! We need to go, now. AZ is already almost at the palace!¡± Testing his strength, Ash took a shaky step forward, then another. Feeling good to go, he broke into a run, Annihilape and Pikachu following.
Land of Rota - South of the Town of Rota Three thousand years. Three thousand years He had not faced an opponent of a worthy caliber in over three thousand years. It wasn¡¯t for lack of trying either. When the war ended, and his master was shackled and buried to be forgotten, with the fate of the defeated destined to befall him, he fled the battlefield. Back then, three thousand years ago, he had only an inkling of the power he now possessed. He¡¯d been a force on the battlefield, but the fighting had been fierce and long, and in the end, they¡¯d lost. So rather than suffer the same disgrace as his master, he fled. Corrupt, treacherous, evil. As the humans advanced and learned more about the world, they came to ascribe said labels, and more, to his species. But it was a simple calculus. There was nothing to be gained from sticking around to get imprisoned, domesticated, or slaughtered like the others. So he fled to lick his wounds and fight another day. And in those intervening three millennia, he trained. Eventually, even those the humans called ¡°legendary¡± and ¡°mythical¡± became easy foes. He got good enough to battle them into submission, rather than unleash his full power to completely decimate them, and risk ensnaring the attention of the humans. Life became boring. His master was still alive like he was, but why didn¡¯t he make a move? He kept anticipating it and anticipating it, always expecting a grand breakout just around the corner, and before he knew it, a thousand years had passed. Eventually he met a man called Vandrick who claimed to serve his master, and a peek into his mind confirmed it to be true. So he allowed himself to be captured. What did it matter? His master¡¯s spirit appeared to be broken, and the war had ended years ago. Why not stick with those who still served him? It¡¯s not like he remained confined all the time. He explored the world, but three thousand years was a long time, and the world was not large enough to entertain him for so long. As his master¡¯s servants died, he was passed along to their descendants, again and again, though it made no difference to him. Several others were recovered over the years, but they were in a similar state as him. Bored, and waiting for their master to return. So he found no comfort in their company either. It wasn¡¯t like they¡¯d gotten along all that well before either. But eventually, he did return. And when he did, they all fell back to his side, as if no time at all had passed. After waiting and waiting and waiting for so long, he had expected a worthy opponent when his master finally went to war again. In hindsight, he shouldn¡¯t have. He¡¯d been training for three thousand years. Who or what could possibly oppose him now? Malamar¡¯s black eyes narrowed at the sight of that girl, laying on the ground motionless, like a twig. Her Alakazam crouched next to her, and Malamar couldn¡¯t even bring himself to finish it off immediately. The sight of them together was just so pitiful. The girl was psychic, obviously. Stronger than most. She¡¯d infiltrated his soul and navigated her way to its core. Credit where it was due, that was impressive. But she couldn¡¯t follow through. All it¡¯d taken was a Mirror Coat over his own soul to incapacitate her instantly. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t known he could do that. But again, how could she? She was, what? A decade or two old? Malamar was hundreds. This outcome was only natural. Perhaps if Malamar wasn¡¯t so devoid of emotions now, he would¡¯ve felt more than a numb disgust as he primed a Dark Pulse to obliterate his enemies. Remorse was out of the question, but he would¡¯ve at least liked to have been able to respect them. It¡¯s good this won¡¯t do any lasting damage. If it had, I¡¯d have to make your defeat rather excruciating. Malamar frowned, and as he did, the Alakazam stood and turned to look up at him. Psychic energy burned like fire in his eyes. Malamar cocked his squirming head in curiosity, and stalled the charging of his Dark Pulse. You can speak to me telepathically, despite my darkness. I hadn¡¯t thought you capable of that. Till now, only the so-called ¡°Legendaries¡± have been able to achieve such a feat. I don¡¯t make a habit of communicating with those I intend to destroy. But for one as powerful as you, I thought I¡¯d make an exception, since I think I¡¯ll have to let loose a little more than usual. Malamar extinguished his Dark Pulse, the churning vortex spinning into a tiny speck, then vanishing from between his fins. He smirked. You¡¯re quite arrogant. What an unexpected, but supremely welcome surprise. If nothing else, perhaps your overwhelmingly conceited attitude will remain with me, after I turn your body and soul into smithereens on that grass. You, and your pathetic master, of course. Alakazam glanced down at Sabrina, then back up at Malamar. Hmmm. I¡¯ve already decided to destroy you, so your threats mean little to me now. But since we¡¯re already communicating, I suppose I¡¯ll say one more thing before we begin. One of his spoons became tinged in psychic power, and a pok¨¦ball carefully unhooked itself from Sabrina¡¯s belt, before floating over to Alakazam and stopping above his head. The silver lining of this situation is that since my master is asleep right now, she won¡¯t be able to witness what I¡¯m about to do to you. I would hate it if she learned how truly monstrous I am. For the first time in centuries, a chill ran down Malamar¡¯s back. There was something unnerving about the stoic way this one discussed his defeat, as if it were an obvious fact. The energy around Alakazan¡¯s spoon flared, and the pok¨¦ball above him clicked, absorbing him back into it. Malamar frowned, but a moment later, the pok¨¦ball clicked again, and Alakazam emptied out once more. His eyes widened. Suddenly, Alakazam was so much more powerful. Before, its strength seemed minuscule compared to his own. But now, raw power emanated from its prone form, its whiskers fluttering in the windless air. Even though Alakazam was physically beneath him, he felt as if he was staring at it on even footing. My master doesn¡¯t like conflict and tries to avoid it as much as possible,¡± Alakazam said. As such, it only makes sense that she carelessly left my limiter on when you appeared. Not that it matters now. Malamar glared at his opponent, but he couldn¡¯t stifle a mirthful cackle. A worthy opponent¡­ Finally! Let us battle until¡ª The air in front of Alakazam shimmered, before bursting into a million pieces, and blinding Malamar with its scalding light. It burned, it burned away at his body, and he could smell his own flesh roasting beneath the inferno. He screamed, and tried to escape, but every direction he flew, the Dazzling Gleam followed him. Bracing against the agony, he summoned a Light Screen all around his body. He could feel the attack pressing against it, but it dulled the pain enough for him to come up with a counter. Just before the shield shattered, Malamar tore through it himself, plummeting down to the ground as he wreathed himself in dark energy. The light burned against it, but it held. His mind¡¯s eye found Alakazam instantly, since the creature could not hope to hide his unbelievable power. He slithered across the grass in half a second as the light seared his every sense, and his fin sharpened and darkened, poised to deliver a Night Slash that would cleave Alakazam in half. The light suddenly faded as Alakazam called off the attack, and Malamar forced his vision to readjust in an instant. There it was before him, floating above the ground cross-legged. Malamar saw an invisible psychic dyad slip into the sky a moment before Alakazam teleported, and he immediately changed trajectory, bulleting into the sky before Alakazam had even finished reforming. The spoon-wielder¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing him, and he salivated at the sight of it. His eyes brimmed, restraining Alakazam in place, and he brought his fin down. A network of light blitzed between the two combatants just before Malamar¡¯s fin raked across Alakazam¡¯s chest. Scarlet blood seeped from the wound, and Alakazam shot toward the ground, but Malamar frowned. That should have cur through it completely! My power¡­! A moment later, Malamar realized what had happened. Alakazam caught itself before hitting the ground, swooping around until it was back in a sitting position hovering just above the grass. It touched its chest, and when it pulled away, its fingertips were stained red. But it didn¡¯t wince in the slightest. You¡¯re quite the trickster, Malamar said, floating back down to it. But using Power Swap has only prolonged the inevitable. See? As he said it, he felt his own power flood back into his body. For one as powerful as I am, you could only swap our powers for a few seconds at most. It served only to protect you from a single attack. Alakazam glanced at Malamar, betraying nothing. It¡¯s true, my power is nothing compared to yours. I¡¯m sure suffering a single attack from you would mean the end of my life. By comparison, it would take many attacks from me to finally defeat you, and most of them, you could weather quite handily. But¡­I have no intention of dying here today. Then come and defeat me! Malamar roared. The air around him twisted and snapped, five dark vortexes spiraling into form. Then, from the maw of each shot a barrage of Shadow Balls, all homing in on Alakazam. Alakazam raised its spoons and summoned a rain of sharpened arcs of energy. Each one met a Shadow Ball in midair and sliced through it, expelling its power harmlessly. The Psycho Cuts and Shadow Balls clashed between them, bursting with explosions of purple-tinged smoke. The forest trembled around them, and once they realized they were at an impasse, they both increased the volume of their attacks, determined to break through to reach the other. Light and darkness flashed on both of their faces, and their eyes never left each other, as they each sought out the tiniest lapse in each other¡¯s defenses, be it mental or physical. Malamar found it first. As one of his Shadow Balls was bisected in midair, one of the dissipating halves fell between them, obscuring their lines of sight for a moment. It only lasted a fraction of a second, but Malamar had caught it. Summoning several more Shadow Balls to keep up the barrage, Malamar surged forward through the onslaught, twisting and weaving between the explosions, and under their cover, he once again coated his fin in a Night Slash. Just as he tore through the smoke, Alakazam vanished from right in front of him, and a moment later, he felt a spasming agony crash down upon his back. Then another, and another. Then, they came so fast he couldn¡¯t even count the individual impacts. It teleported right behind me! Because the distance was so close, I couldn¡¯t follow the dyad! He rocketed away, turning in the air to see his assailant, and his eyes widened. Lightning covered one of Alakazam¡¯s fists, and fire covered the other. Instinctively, Malamar cast a gale of darkness outward to keep Alakazam¡¯s pummeling at bay, and surprisingly, it relented, lowering its fists and allowing him to regain his footing some distance away. Malamar burned with contempt. Showing mercy¡­to me? I doubt you¡¯ve come across very many, if any, Alakazam like me, Alakazam said. Doubtless, you thought I was a purely ranged attacker like all the rest. The thought of a melee encounter must have been unthinkable. He extinguished the Thunder Punch and Fire Punch in each hand. Unfortunately for you, I am adept at both. Alakazam¡¯s stoic eyes flashed with a carnal violence. So that I can pull apart my master¡¯s enemies however I need to. Malamar glared at Alakazam, trying his best to ignore the pain on his back. The sight of Alakazam, who looked entirely unbothered by the gash across its chest, only enraged Malamar even more. I sensed no physical strength from it at all even after it disabled its limiter. It must have enhanced those punches with psychic power¡­ To speed up its limbs and create more weight¡­it turned its own body into a puppet, with itself as puppeteer. Malamar would¡¯ve chortled if it hadn¡¯t worked so well. Such an impractical skill, and for what? The ground cracked beneath Malamar as he released a miasma of darkness. The grass grayed and shriveled, and the decay spread to nearby trees, crawling up their trunks in a carnivorous rot. Without warning, he launched forward in a crimson and gold nova of darkness. Again, Malamar locked Alakazam in place, and crushed its body too for good measure. It buckled under the strain and tried to fire off a Focus Blast or a Swift or some such similar move, but it didn¡¯t matter. Whatever it was got snuffed out upon hitting his cloak of darkness. When he was mere inches from Alakazam, Malamar summoned the largest Dark Pulse he could, and a giant pitch-black ball roiled into existence above his head, crackling with malice. It fed off his cloak of darkness, and even if Alakazam tried to dodge it, he was close enough now that the attack had caught its scent, and would chase him down till it devoured him. Alakazam didn¡¯t have time to dodge, though. The orb consumed him, and detonated. As Malamar flipped away, a low-pitched scream blasted through the forest, spewing noxious darkness in all directions. The forest melted away where the black fumes touched it, reduced to organic slag in a matter of seconds. Malamar simpered as he watched it. He could sense Alakazam¡¯s body within the dark inferno, and did not detect even a hint of energy that could have protected it. Across the chasm, his master¡¯s man watched in horror and awe, and Malamar flushed with a sick pride. As the scream died down to a whistle, the darkness slowly began to fade. Through the smoke, Malamar could see Alakazam¡¯s silhouette, curled on the ground like a pathetic infant. Once the darkness dissipated, the outcome was clear. Alakazam, or what was left of it, lay motionless on the ground. Parts of its limbs and torso had been completely disintegrated, with nothing but ash resting between the grisly remains of the rest of its corpse. Malamar smiled. Arrogant little worm. It was fun while it lasted, but this was always the inevitable result. No pok¨¦mon of this age could ever hope to face me, much less, a psychic. As thanks for entertaining me, I¡¯ll send your master along right after you. The girl still lay on the grass back where they¡¯d begun the battle, and Malamar began floating toward her. Now that we¡¯ve both had our fun, I think it¡¯s time I end this. Malamar froze. That voice was coming from Alakazam. He whipped around just in time to see the gruesome pile of burned skin and cinder disappearing in a haze of energy. Just behind the corpse, a magenta sheen slipped over the open air, revealing a perfectly undamaged Alakazam, looking rather disappointed. What? Alakazam walked around his remains, even though there wasn¡¯t a single atom of them left there. You¡¯re not weak by any stretch. I meant every word I said. And because of that, I ended up having to stall you for much longer than I usually have to, so I could have time to build the necessary power to end you. Malamar¡¯s eye twitched, and his mind raced at a million miles a minute trying to process what was happening before him. I¡­I was fighting a Substitute this entire time? But its power¡­and even its corpse! It was like a perfect clone¡­ Wait, ¡®build the necessary power?¡¯ Malamar¡¯s eyes shined as he assessed Alakazam¡¯s form. Immediately, his stomach dropped and he shuddered. No¡­ How could I have been so foolish¡­? Just how many Calm Minds did I let it use¡­? Alakazam brimmed with a potency that could have put every single other pok¨¦mon Malamar had ever fought to shame. With every step, it rearranged the atoms beneath its feet, and the molecules of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the air. They transformed according to its will, reality itself shifting to accommodate it. Malamar swallowed. Alakazam fixed him with a wizened gaze, like a serial killer who¡¯d been murdering his entire life and never got caught. Malamar didn¡¯t even react upon feeling the Miracle Eye hit him, rendering his immunity nonexistent. Forgive me, Master. You waited so long, and I failed you.
Sabrina opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that she was drenched in sweat. A chill ran across her body, but she was thankful for it, because it meant the nightmare was over. The second thing she noticed was Alakazam staring down at her. The sight of him reminded her of where she was, before the nightmare had begun, and she bolted up, her dread momentarily forgotten. Around her, the forest was blackened, though not from fire, by the looks of it. The path of carnage snaked further into the forest, away from the chasm. But Alakazam appeared unharmed. And it was quiet. ¡°Where¡¯s the enemy?¡± she asked. Alakazam pointed with his spoon over to the chasm. ¡°You dumped it back down the chasm? Did you¡­defeat it?¡± Alakazam stared into her eyes, then pointed at her belt. At her third pok¨¦ball, which she rarely opened. ¡°I¡­I see,¡± she said, standing up. The memories of her past were still as fresh as blood in her mind, and as always, she searched frantically for a distraction. Luckily, there were many here. She looked across the chasm and saw that the portal had vanished, and several of AZ¡¯s acolytes lay unconscious on the grass. ¡°Did you do that?¡± she asked. Alakazam nodded. Ever the stoic. She talked with him normally and telepathically, but he rarely responded back. If gestures would suffice, he always used them. It made her feel a bit guilty. She¡¯d heard that pok¨¦mon take after their trainers, which meant his behavior was likely caused by her own detached personality. She leapt over the chasm and touched down on the other side, determined not to look down. She didn¡¯t even want to look at that horrible creature, even defeated. Alakazam followed her, and she recalled him, silently thanking him. If not for him, who knows what would have happened to her? But if the worst had happened, would it even¡­? No, no, no, no. Ash. Anabel. Cynthia. Zinnia. N. Sylvester. Ash. Anabel. Cynthia. Zinnia. N. Sylvester. Ash. Anabel. Cynthia. Zinnia. N. Sylvester. She took a breath and extended her psychic sight across the lands. Ash was running back toward Cameran Palace, and¡ª ¡°Anabel!¡± she said. The girl wasn¡¯t at Albrecht Manor where she expected. She was at the Tree of Beginning! Where should she go now? Should she try and find Riley and let him know he was on a pointless errand to the manor, or should she go over there herself? Surely Anabel must have realized what was happening, but if she was still there after so much time had already passed since the attack began, it could only mean something was keeping her there. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets flared, but just before she could teleport, a voice entered her mind, and issued a command. And she obeyed, immediately giving up on Anabel, and teleporting back toward Cameran Palace.
Land of Rota - Near Cameran Palace AZ exhaled as he walked up to the cliff¡¯s edge. There it was in all its glory. Cameran Palace looked exactly the same as he remembered it. That white granite and those red roofs. Those golden maples and that pristine lake. You¡¯re welcome to stay as long as you¡¯d like. As long as I¡¯m king, you can always call Cameran Palace home. AZ sneered at the memory that came unbidden to his mind. He crushed it into dust and cast it away. Once upon a time, he¡¯d spent quite a bit of time here. Now, it would all crumble beneath him. As he leapt off the cliff down to the forest below, he gripped his sixth pok¨¦ball, one of three that hadn¡¯t yet been vacated. This one would bring the Palace down. Next ¡ª Chapter 38 : Jackaline Avatar
Remnants of the Great War [29] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [29] Chapter 38 : Jackaline Avatar
Land of Rota - West of the Town of Rota ¡°Please run with us, Sir Riley!¡± The young Guardian ignored his comrade as he mounted Aerodactyl, heaving himself onto his hardened skin with a grunt. Although he was fast, Aerodactyl¡¯s stone body did not make a very comfortable cushion. ¡°I can¡¯t do that,¡± he said curtly. ¡°But that¡­thing has already destroyed our ranks! This battle is unsalvageable!¡± As the Guardian spoke, he trembled where he stood, clearly eager to get away as soon as possible. The only thing that kept him was his respect for Riley. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s even more important that I take it on here. If left unchecked, that Dragalge could tip the scales on every one of our fronts, until only the Palace remained.¡± He looked over at his fellow, meeting his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re going to run, take as many as you can with you. I fear this entire battlefield may not be spared.¡± The Guardian gulped and nodded. ¡°Best of luck to you, Sir,¡± he said, before turning and running toward a pair of fallen Guardians. He checked them, and at his arrival, the pair tried to lift themselves. As the Guardian lifted one¡¯s arm over his shoulder, another Guardian ran over to help, and together, they all limped away slowly. Riley refocused his attention on the rest of the valley. Dragalge¡¯s Dragon Pulse had melted their defense, carving lines of destruction across the grass and sending the Guardians scattered. There was little they could do as AZ¡¯s acolytes ran them down from behind while they carried their wounded away from the battlefield. So much death¡­ So much blood spilled¡­ Riley closed his eyes. May you all find rest in the roots of the Tree of Beginning. He looked back up at Dragalge, rotten and terrible, hanging where it was in the sky. When this is over, let us speak again in the aether of Aura. As he kicked Aerodactyl¡¯s sides, he recalled Lucario. ¡°Hyeah! Take to the skies, Aerodactyl!¡± The megalithic dinosaur rumbled, stony breath scraping against a stony throat, and he tromped forward before flinging himself into the air with a flap of his wings. Immediately, the black seaweed hanging from Dragalge wavered as its attention shifted to its assailant. Behind that mask of rot, Riley saw its putrid bloodshot eyes tremble with fury, and he couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Well, at least we got its attention. Now, we just have to pray that this works. He unclipped another pok¨¦ball from his belt and gripped it tightly as Aerodactyl soared around the creature. ¡°Rock Slide, Aerodactyl! Batter its head!¡± Aerodactyl grunted and summoned a volley of boulders around him, then launched them at Dragalge with a flap of his colossal wings. Dragalge glared at the incoming attack, and its rotten mouth twitched, before bursting out a gleaming ray of draconic energy, shattering the boulders in midair. Aerodactyl rocketed out of the way, but Dragalge swept its head, zeroing in on him. Riley¡¯s eyes widened as his face became basked in an azure glow, and the Dragon Pulse streaked past him, missing him by mere inches. Despite the attack not hitting though, it still felt like the side of his face had been thrust into fire for half a second, and he grimaced. As Aerodactyl flew away from the dread dragon, Riley clapped him on the neck. ¡°No, get closer! Rock Slide, again!¡± Aerodactyl roared and changed trajectory, slicing across the sky beside the Dragon Pulse. Riley grit his teeth and hung on for dear life as Aerodactyl swung beneath it before it could hit them, then flipped back over, and darted toward its face again. Without slowing down, Aerodacyl flung another cragged avalanche at Dragalge. As they got closer, the air seemed to thicken, and Dragalge¡¯s stench began to penetrate Riley¡¯s Aura defenses. His eyes started to water again, and he started breathing through his mouth. But he didn¡¯t waste time to see the result of Aerodactyl¡¯s attack. Once they were close enough, he hurled the pok¨¦ball in his hand into the air, above Dragalge¡¯s head. ¡°Now, get behind it!¡± Riley commanded. Aerodactyl¡¯s zipped past Dragalge just as its Dragon Pulse cleaved the air where he¡¯d been a second ago. Flying so close to Dragalge, Riley could make out the individual rotten fronds of black seaweed that hung over its dark, sallow body. The smell was overwhelming here, and Riley was grateful when Aerodactyl curved around and put some distance between them. As Dragalge swiveled in the air, sending a drizzle of black acid raining down below, Riley¡¯s pok¨¦ball snapped open above it. A Metagross, already wreathed in a burning nova of energy, crashed down Dragalge¡¯s head. The dragon¡¯s tenuous body snapped downward, but it caught itself, releasing a guttural, gurgling roar. But Metagross wasn¡¯t done. Instead of falling all the way to the ground, Metagross¡¯ arms shot through Dragalge¡¯s poisonous vines and it dug its iron claws into Dragalge¡¯s body, latching on and hanging onto its torso. Dragalge writhed in the air, and Riley shuddered at the sight of it. It looked like a demon, the way its wings rippled across the sky in a maddened frenzy. Its howling scream was unceasing, filled with rage that something had deigned to touch it. As it squirmed, psychic blasts scorched Dragalge¡¯s skin as Metagross unleashed a torrent of Psychics and Psyshocks. However, the attacks didn¡¯t seem to do much besides incense Dragalge even further. Riley forced himself to focus through the cacophony, and kicked Aerodactyl to ascend. As he circled around Dragalge¡¯s back, he lost sight of Metagross on its front, and prayed it¡¯d be okay. Beneath them, he saw AZ¡¯s acolytes pause their pursuit of the Guardians in order to look skyward. Take this opportunity and run! Fall back to the palace! Riley thought. Aerodactyl snorted once they were at the proper height, and Riley swallowed, letting go of his grip on Aerodactyl¡¯s back and raising both hands. Founts of Aura swirled into view upon his palms, and a moment later, Aerodactyl¡¯s entire body tensed beneath him as Riley shared his power. An utterly disgusting sound drew Riley¡¯s attention back to Dragalge. Black tar, thick and smoking, poured from Dragalge¡¯s shriveled up mouth in a repulsive vomit. It poured like a faucet down in front of it, with rivers of oily drool dribbling down his body. ¡°Metagross!¡± Riley yelled. He could see Dragalge¡¯s poison crashing and breaking around Metagross¡¯ body, but he couldn¡¯t see even an inch of his pok¨¦mon beneath the black deluge. The poison dripped off its body down to the ground below, leaving puddles of smoking acid on the grass. A few seconds later, Metagross detached and fell back to earth, landing beneath a shower of poison in a plume of dirt and dust. Metagross is a steel-type! Poison shouldn¡¯t be effective! Riley cursed, upon realizing his pok¨¦mon wasn''t getting back up. He grit his teeth and turned back to Aerodactyl, flaring his Aura again. ¡°While it¡¯s still distracted, use Rock Slide from above, full power!¡± Rocks and boulders materialized above Dragalge, but this time, they were far larger and plentiful, thanks to Riley¡¯s added strength. In fact, for the second that the boulders hung above Dragalge, they cast a shadow over the dragon, and it looked up. It looked as if an entire mountain had been shattered, with its remains now suspended over Dragalge. Aerodactyl growled, releasing his hold on all the rocks. Riley¡¯s azure eyes shined brighter, and he pumped his Aura into as many of the rocks as he could, increasing their velocity. Dragalge screeched, and the air and ground both began to tremble. The skies darkened as storm clouds rolled into existence, and several thin bolts of lightning cracked down below, setting the forest ablaze. A gale of wind nearly knocked Riley off of Aerodactyl, but he grabbed on again, gritting his teeth and clamping an eye closed. Three churning Twisters opened around Dragalge, shredding the first volley of rocks that came shooting down toward Dragalge. But Aerodactyl roared, and Riley assisted him, forcing the Rock Slide through the slashing winds. The sheer volume of rock made it so the boulders that didn¡¯t make it through became shielding shards for the others, slightly diminishing the strength of the Twister for just a moment. But a moment¡¯s opening was all they needed. The first boulder, three times larger than Dragalge¡¯s head, shattered against its head, and it flinched. Then came another, and another, pounding against its back and one of its wings. Each boulder looks like a comet, ringed in blue Aura as they broke and exploded on Dragalge¡¯s skin. The dragon howled, but the bombardment only increased, raining down upon it an unrelenting assault. Then, slowly, Dragalge began to fall, screeching and screaming as the rocks shredded between its gaunt wings and filthy ropes of seaweed. In spite of its size, when Dragalge fell upon the ground on its side, it sounded like a tree hitting the ground after getting cut down. Its branchlike limbs splayed out across the grass, disintegrating it instantly, and it hissed in rage. Boulders continued to crash down on its wiry body, sinking into the decimated earth and burying its limbs beneath them. Aerodactyl whipped around and sailed back to the ground, weaving through the wild Twisters, which continued to exert their annihilation on the surrounding environment. The moment Aerodactyl touched back down, Riley leapt off and started sprinting across the swampish ground. Moistened soil and rotten grass clung to his feet, but he forced himself forward, away from the dragon, who still lay unmoving before him. Metagross lay in a puddle of black acid, half its body sunk into the ground. Unfortunately, it was as Riley had seen. The poison was somehow eating through Metagross¡¯ steel, smoking as it corroded its limbs and head. Riley could see it trying to lift itself, but to no avail. He could hear faint murmurings upon his mind as it moaned in pain telepathically. Metagross¡­ A scalding azure blinded the side of Riley¡¯s face, and a moment later, Aerodactyl blitzed between him and Dragalge, taking the full brunt of a Dragon Pulse on his stone wings. ¡°Aerodactyl!¡± The dinosaur groaned as he strained against the beam, its energies splashing over his body, slowly overwhelming him. But before Riley could reinforce his partner with Aura, Aerodactyl buckled, and Riley had to jump back as he went flying away, a crackling shaft of draconic power barreling between him and Metagross. Aerodactyl smashed into a hill, but did not rise. I didn¡¯t even hear it get up, Riley cursed, his attention turning back to the giant seahorse. Its mouth gurgled, and its eyes were a murderous red. Slowly, it heaved itself back up, ripping itself out from beneath the boulders, its mangled seaweed blowing in the gales of wind cast by its Twisters. It stared down at Riley, pure hatred emanating from its entire form, though the bottom third of its body still brushed against the ground. It seemed unable to fly fully. Then it screamed, and a great rumble swept across the valley, blowing the trees and grass wildly. The clouds above darkened, and thunder boomed. Drops of water began to fall from the heavens, slowly at first, but they quickened. Before long, the entire valley was soaked in an incessant downpour. Riley swallowed and recalled Metagross and Aerodactyl, before withdrawing another pok¨¦ball. The rain fell upon his face as he thumbed the release. Absol materialized into existence, and growled, completely unfazed by the behemoth that hung in front of them like a demonic angel of judgment. Lightning flashed behind it, turning its silhouette black, enhancing the hellish image. With the Twisters raging behind it, the entire sight of Dragalge looked like something out of a nightmare, but Riley stood his ground. The vista before him would¡¯ve been completely inconceivable to Riley a month ago, but even now, it was hard to believe the circumstances he now found himself in. This poisonous dragon the size of a building was one of the personal partners of AZ, the corrupt king from the Great War of three thousand years ago. And as he fought as hard as he could against this force of nature, AZ himself advanced on Cameran Palace, for the purpose of slaying Sir Aaron himself, who had made a miraculous return, also from three thousand years ago. All these relics of the past seemed to press down on him like a weight, threatening to crush him beneath their ancient grandeur. Not just King Aaron and AZ, but even this Dragalge, which Riley could sense nothing but bestial hatred from, brought a conviction to this war that dwarfed his own many times over. These were forces that were colliding over a vengeance three thousand years in the making. How could the feelings of Riley, a man of a mere twenty-three years, ever hope to stand up to that? These titans, and their games¡­ Frankly, it pissed Riley off. As Dragalge glowered down at him, he met the giant seahorse with a stalwart glare of his own, and Absol mimicked him. Riley had spent nearly his entire life at Cameran Palace. He¡¯d been discovered on the Iron Islands by a Guardian as a young boy and taken to Rota, where he learned to harness and command Aura. And when he came of age, he set off across Sinnoh to spread the Guardians¡¯ teachings, as his predecessors had done before him, since even before the Great War. But Rota was his home. And the Guardians were his brothers. By what right did AZ and his three thousand year old grudge march on his home, with the intention of razing it to the ground? And for what? To bury one, single man. A man who, according to the Guardians¡¯ archives, had sacrificed his body and soul to bring an end to the war? That was the man AZ sought to kill? Riley clenched his fist, Aura burning on his hand, blazing bright against the furious storm falling around him. ¡°It¡¯s time to unleash our power, Absol,¡± he declared. ¡°Let us show this one the strength of our unshatterable bond!¡± The Aura flared around Riley¡¯s outstretched fist, and soon, a torrent of Aura blazed to life around Absol. The azure flames flickered across her body until they became so dense, all Riley could see was her silhouette behind them. Absol¡¯s maw opened within the inferno, and she roared, dispelling the blaze. A pair of wings unfurled, and Absol¡¯s elongated horn shined jet black even in the rainy gloom. Immediately, Riley felt their hearts, no, their souls, connect. Their lives were shared now, and any damage inflicted upon Mega Absol would be felt by him. He could feel Absol¡¯s fury coursing through his own veins, and tasted her unbridled power upon his own tongue. Get ready, Absol. I¡¯ll back you up, Riley said. Absol nodded, pawing the muddy ground. With a baleful screech, Dragalge hurled all three Twisters at Absol. They tore across the ground, ripping up dirt and grass, and crushing stones along their path. A bolt of lightning cracked down upon one of them, illuminating its terrible power from within for just a moment. Blue and violet dragon energy spiraled in a dark nova of destruction, and it nearly looked alive the way it roared as it lurched toward Absol. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Riley issued a command wordlessly, and Absol bounded forward, her horn sharpening. As all three Twisters closed in on her, she leapt, facing their fury head on. Just before they engulfed her, Riley wreathed his entire body in Aura. As Absol disappeared into the middle Twister, the other two collapsed in on it, and they spasmed wildly as their powers churned together to inflict maximum damage on their foe. Though Riley couldn¡¯t see Absol anymore, he could certainly feel her. The wind and fire of the Twisters burned against his own body, but his Aura protected him, albeit barely. Despite coating himself in more Aura than he¡¯d ever had to before, it felt like his body could shred apart at any minute. He grit his teeth and dropped to a knee, sinking his fingers into the ground to stabilize himself. It felt like his body was being sent through a washing machine. He knew that if he faltered for even a moment, Absol would be consumed by the attack, and he would go with her. But, of course, Absol had no intentions of remaining within the maelstrom for long. A pitch black slash cleaved the air in front of Riley, carving straight through the hyperventilating cyclone in a thick and jagged line. The Twister dispersed in an instant, and within, Absol¡¯s form burned, her eyes glowing a fearsome crimson. Jet black energy wafted from her horn like smoke, and periodic flaps of her wings kept her aloft. She would¡¯ve looked like a demon straight out of hell, if not for the azure radiance of Aura surrounding her body. Riley grinned. Excellent work. Now, let¡¯s do something with this Night Slash. The arc of pulsating energy still hung in the air where it had sliced the Twister apart, and as Absol reared her head, the arc responded accordingly, twisting through the air. It released a harsh screeching as it moved, like barbed wire dragged across ice. As Absol spun in the air, the Night Slash curled further into a discus, and with each revolution, its surface seemed to become smoother, and sharper. Soon, the screeching disappeared entirely, spinning silently around Absol, now nearly paper-thin. As much as it could, Dragalge sneered. The crown of rot on its head throbbed and glowed. Now! Absol screamed, and hurled the discus forward. It whizzed through the air, gyrating on its horizontal axis until it looked like a giant atom, with jet black electrons spinning furiously around a nucleus of pure malevolence. A shaft of lighting blitzed down from the heavens to intercept it, and struck the discus despite its terrifying velocity. But instead of disappearing, the Night Slash cut through Dragalge¡¯s Thunder just like it had the Twister, shredding it in an instant until nothing but dancing static and the stench of ozone remained in the air. Without even slowing, it continued toward its target. Dragalge¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. But before it could summon another attack, the Night Slash slashed into it with a burst of crimson energy. It scraped up its body relentlessly, and Dragalge howled as rotten seaweed and putrid scales were ripped off of it forcefully in a violent display of carnage. Riley allowed himself a smile, but the dragon was still active. Psycho Cut! he ordered. Aim for its head! While Dragalge was still in the throes of agony, Absol surged forward, before leaping into the air and ascending toward the dragon¡¯s mottled head. Upon sensing her, Dragalge ceased its thrashing, and its bloodshot eyes instantly locked onto the wolf. Faster than what should¡¯ve been possible, especially since it¡¯d been in such pain mere moments ago, Dragalge weaved further up into the sky, its poisonous fronds flowing in the storm. Lightning flashed above it, and before Absol could react, its bloody tail whipped around slammed into her, knocking the wind out of her. Riley grimaced as Absol shot back to the ground, smashing into it in a spray of mud. She grunted as she pulled herself back to her feet, then shook the mud from her furry hide. She didn¡¯t even have time to scream before a column of water came crashing down on her like a waterfall. ¡°Absol!¡± Riley roared, watching as the merciless torrent pushed his partner further and further away. Despite its width, Dragalge¡¯s Hydro Pump was unbelievably pressurized. It cut across the ground like a laser, carving a fissure into the grass and burying Absol beneath a froth of wrathful white foam. Looking back up at the seahorse, Riley could see its nozzle-like mouth throbbing as it pumped out a seemingly depthless volume of water onto his pok¨¦mon. Despite his Aura protections, Riley¡¯s head felt like it was splitting in two, the water crashing down on Absol affecting him just the same. The seconds went by, and pain turned to horror as Riley realized Dragalge had no intentions of halting this attack until Absol was defeated. It isn¡¯t tiring in the slightest¡­ The rain is making this attack even stronger! Shit! He turned back to Absol, or where he assumed Absol was, beneath the Hydro Pump¡¯s assault. Zen Headbutt, Absol! Protect yourself, and get closer! Riley¡¯s searing headache fading told him that Absol had heard him. Before him, Absol had stopped being pushed back, and the ground ruptured beneath her as she stood her ground against the watery onslaught. Then, slowly, she started trudging forward against the current, soldiering on one step at a time. Riley¡¯s heart became inflamed in pride at the sight of her. You think we need to be three thousand years old to stand up to you? We are Guardians of Rota! So long as evil exists in this world, we will stand against it and rebuke it with all our strength! Although Absol tried to breach the water and escape the Hydro Pump, Dragalge simply angled the attack slightly in either direction to ensure Absol remained in the center. Don¡¯t bother trying to escape. Use the water as cover. It knows you¡¯re approaching it so it¡¯ll be wary. Once you get close enough, I¡¯ll lend you my Aura, and we¡¯ll strike at its heart before it has a chance to react. Just like before! He felt Absol acknowledge him, and he turned back to the dragon. If anything, it seemed more amused than worried at Absol¡¯s resistance, and Riley scowled. He raised his hand and summoned forth his Aura. Dragalge¡¯s tangled shadow stretched across the ground, and once Absol passed beneath it, Riley unleashed his power, sending it to aid his partner. Psycho Cut! he commanded. We need to end this. Imbue not just your horn, but your claws and fangs with it as well. Riley felt his own defenses lessen as his Aura flooded Absol, and all of a sudden, Absol ripped through the Hydro Pump, jumping skyward. Her eyes glowed a fierce purple, a blend of her crimson fury and his azure determination. Dragalge tried to catch Absol in the Hydro Pump again, but she blitzed to the side, dodging. She zigzagged up the dragon¡¯s body, refusing to let it land a hit. As she ascended, white light began to stream off of her, and her horn, claws, and fangs elongated. In one last blitz, Absol appeared right in front of Dragalge¡¯s head. Psychic power poured off of her in waves, tinged with the glitter of Aura. Dragalge cut off the Hydro Pump, and its beady eyes locked onto Absol. Those malicious eyes flashed with a darkness that somehow outstripped Absol¡¯s own, and Riley frowned just before Absol struck. A brilliant nova erupted upon Dragalge¡¯s head, but a moment later, the entire sky turned a filthy purple, drenching everything in a thick and cloying film of poison. It bubbled out of Dragalge¡¯s crown, but with the blinding explosion Absol had set off, it was impossible for Riley to discern who had been damaged by what. The Psycho Cut¡¯s energy hissed against Dragalge¡¯s skin, but the poison enacted a silent toll. Soon after the clash, Riley started to feel the effects of the poison himself, even from all the way down on the ground. Clearly Absol was taking damage, but a moment later, he stopped feeling it. Dragalge, despite unleashing its poison, tipped backward with a cacophonous croak, its head steaming. It looked like its eyes were rolled back into its head, for all Riley could see were its red sclera. Soon after, something penetrated the poisonous fog, and Absol fell back to earth, landing in a heap beside Riley. Riley was speechless at the sight of his pok¨¦mon. She was horribly mangled, as if her body had been possessed, and she¡¯d gotten her limbs stretched beyond the limits of her joints. Riley realized with horror and anguish that this was the result of his own pok¨¦mon, twisting and seizing in terrible agony. As for the cause of such agony, Riley noted another symptom: a line of poisoned black blood trickled from Absol¡¯s nose. Seconds passed, but she made no sign of getting back up. ¡°You silly girl,¡± he said softly. ¡°You severed our bond of Mega Evolution on your own so I would be spared from the poison¡­¡± He knelt and stroked her damp fur, though he was careful to protect himself with Aura. Droplets of purple poison covered his pok¨¦mon like morning dew. ¡°Thank you. You did well.¡± He pulled out her pok¨¦ball and recalled her. He hesitated before bringing forward his next pok¨¦ball. Glancing around, he realized how quiet the valley had become. The Guardians seemed to have finished evacuating, taking AZ¡¯s acolytes with them. But more importantly, it seemed like the portal had finally shut down, as more enemies did not emerge from the surrounding forest. Riley closed his eyes, brushing his fingers over the rest of his pok¨¦balls, and settling on Lucario¡¯s. It seems Sabrina held up her end of the deal. I need to end this now, and hold up my end. He released Lucario once more in a waft of misty Aura. At his arrival, Dragalge groaned, and shifted forward, sensing the presence of a new enemy already. Though its head was still smoking, enough so that Riley couldn¡¯t even see half of it, it angled itself toward Lucario, ready to enact more pain and destruction. Riley exhaled, and lowered himself to the ground. It was muddy and disgusting, but he didn¡¯t care. He sat down and crossed his legs before him, then closed his eyes. He established a mental link with Lucario immediately. Absol and the others softened it up for you. All you need to do is deliver the finishing blow. Without waiting for Lucario¡¯s reply, Riley began to amass his remaining Aura within himself. Blue light began to leak from his eyelids, and upon seeing the volume of Aura his master was summoning, Lucario immediately understood and clenched both his fists. Of course, he wasn¡¯t the only one. Across the battlefield, Dragalge reared back, and its entire body shuddered as it primed another attack, this one clearly stronger than all the rest. The decayed roots hanging from it and the purple scales on its chest began to turn translucent, and red poison could be seen rushing through it. It was as if the poison coursing just beneath the surface was so potent it was affecting its own master¡¯s body too. Riley began to shake as his own Aura threatened to break free from its vessel. The veins on his temple bulged and his eyes trembled beneath their lids. ¡°Now!¡± he said. ¡°Jackaline Avatar!¡± Lucario roared, and a geyser of Aura sprang up around himself, engulfing his entire body. It was like a blinding beacon, pumping its seemingly endless power skyward. It sizzled and snapped as it grew, spitting embers of Aura into the air. But as more and more power siphoned into Lucario¡¯s body, the geyser stabilized, and soon it began to stretch and contort. It split into an arch, and gushed even higher. Two appendages bunched together and curled into existence at its sides, before finally reaching its apex, molding into a spherical shape at the very top, smaller than the mass beneath it. Two peaks jutted out from the top, and the front stretched and elongated. It was a giant automaton made of pure Aura, as tall as Dragalge. Azure light coursed across its surface, and its whole body seemed to ripple with power. Lucario rested unseen within its chest, and the Aura was brightest there, nearly white in color. Without waiting for an order, the giant jackal started running forward, each massive footstep shaking the earth and sending a spray of mud splashing out from beneath its foot. As it got closer, it pulled back one of its fists. Dragalge¡¯s entire body was now coursing with poison. Just before Lucario reached it, it unleashed a horrifying torrent. The liquid burst out thick and steaming, and blood-red. Some of it fell in drops to the ground, where it instantly melted through grass, mud, and stone alike like acid. Lucario raised his other hand to block the oncoming poison, but after splashing against it for only a second, the poison burst through, dissolving his arm in a matter of moments, the Aura fizzling into nothingness. With nothing in its way, Dragalge raked its poison across the avatar¡¯s entire left side, destroying it wherever it touched. However, even missing the left side of its torso and its entire left arm, the avatar spun on the ball of its foot, pivoting around the column of poison, and continued on its charge. As it ran, the frayed ends of its body gleamed, and another burst of Aura restored its missing body parts. Upon reaching Dragalge, Lucario jumped, and before Dragalge could react, his foot swung out and careened into the dragon¡¯s midsection. Its body bulleted backward, crimson poison splattering all over the avatar. But though it burned through, the holes were quickly filled with more Aura, and Lucario continued its onslaught. The avatar surged forward and stomped down on Dragalge¡¯s body, sending another punch crashing atop its chest. Spittle flew from the dragon¡¯s mouth and eyes rolled back as its stomach caved in. It tried to rise, but twin fists smashed down on it to keep it grounded. It roared in frustration and anger, but the avatar was relentless, laying into it with countless punches, each one shaking the ground, and the trees in the forest around them. Riley watched from over the hills as his partner brutalized Dragalge. As one of the strongest Guardian techniques, they¡¯d been practicing it for a long time. But this was the first time they¡¯d ever used it in a real battle against a real opponent. It took the combined Aura of both Riley and Lucario to create the avatar, but even then, they could only sustain it for so long, and it would exhaust both of them. Although Lucario was getting all the glory, it was no stretch to say that this wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the efforts of the others, whittling Dragalge down enough so that Lucario could make full use of this trump card. After what seemed like ages, the pummeling finally stopped, and the valley fell quiet once again, save for the rain. Lucario¡¯s avatar rose from Dragalge¡¯s fallen body, its fists clenched. Then, the avatar wavered, and disappeared in a flash of Aura. Lucario dropped to the ground, landing on a knee, but promptly collapsed onto his side, into the mud. Riley jogged over, trying to ignore the dull pain coursing through his veins that made his whole body ache. Lucario had it far worse, for sure. As he got closer, the giant dragon¡¯s stench penetrated his Aura and made his eyes water. Even defeated, it still held an eerie horror to it, with its twisted seaweed and otherworldly coloration. Looking away, Riley suppressed a shudder. Lucario was breathing softly, his eyes closed, and Riley knelt down next to him. ¡°Lucario?¡± Riley said. The jackal didn¡¯t stir, but a few seconds later, Riley heard a faint mumbling at the back of his mind, and he smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t speak. Get some rest, my friend. You did wonderfully. Thank you.¡± He pressed his pok¨¦ball against Lucario, recalling his first partner. The rain was slowly lightening to a drizzle, but the sky above wasn¡¯t brightening. The dark clouds remained over the valley, allowing little sunlight to penetrate through. As much as he didn¡¯t want to leave Dragalge here, there was nothing Riley could do about it now. War still raged on in Rota, and despite defeating Dragalge, ultimately, it¡¯d done its job. Their lines had been pushed all the way back to the Palace. Pulling out his last pok¨¦mon, Riley deployed Ursaluna. The bear snorted in disgust at Dragalge, and Riley mounted his back. ¡°Forward, Ursaluna, as fast as you can!¡± As they raced toward Albrecht Manor, he prayed Anabel was still alright.
Land of Rota - Tree of Beginning ¡°This is such a shame. If only you¡¯d died properly against my master¡­¡± Lord Vandrick shook his head. Before him, Anabel lay collapsed on the grass, clutching her bloody stump, her hand sticky and red. Tears stained the corners of her eyes as pain wracked her body. Latias lay beside her, bruised and exhausted nearly to the point of defeat, but she seemed to be refusing to allow herself to fall, determined to protect her master. Her opaline eyes glared at Vandrick, and his Noivern that gnashed its teeth beside him. ¡°If nothing else, you went through far more of my roster than expected, even with your injury. I can¡¯t imagine it¡¯d be possible, even for you, to formulate a proper battle strategy against a foe like me under such debilitating duress. In recognition of your skills, I¡¯ll make it quick.¡± He raised his hand, and Noivern tromped beside him, angling itself to deliver the final blow. ¡°Boomburst,¡± Vandrick said, bringing his hand down. Anabel cursed silently at her weakness, at her arm, at the pain. If only she¡¯d never lost her arm. If only she could¡¯ve bore the pain just a little while longer. If only she¡¯d preserved the health of this one or that one just a little bit more. As much as she hated excuses like that, they were impossible to stifle. They flooded her mind unbidden. In the face of certain death, it was surprising how analytical she could be, even through the agony. Of course, the outcome was still the same. Vandrick had defeated her, and with half his pok¨¦mon still remaining too. Her heart broke for Sabrina. How would that girl respond if she died? Not to be conceited, but she was certain it¡¯d be awful. But it wasn¡¯t an if. It was a when. And it was now. The air around Noivern¡¯s ears warbled as it charged its attack. ¡°Nightmare Crucible.¡± Darkness, pure and black, burbled on the ground beneath Noivern. it barely had time to screech in confusion, before the darkness swirled up around it, completely encasing it in a roiling sphere of black mist. Vandrick recoiled, but no words came out of his mouth. It seemed even he had no idea how to respond to such an incomprehensible attack. Noivern¡¯s screeching could be heard within, but they were muffled. The sphere churned and seethed, and before long, it faded, dropping its prey back to the ground. Noivern released an ear-splitting scream, but its eyes were clamped shut, and it spasmed wildly, thrashing about on the ground, and tearing up grass and soil in the process. ¡°Dreamscape Splinter.¡± Fractals of amethyst light cracked into view around Noivern, clinking and echoing as they shattered the very air around it. The cracks became denser and denser, obscuring Noivern¡¯s body like frosted glass. Then, they all shattered, forcing a gale of wind out in all directions. Anabel¡¯s eyes narrowed as her hair and clothes were blown about. When the wind faded, the air around Noivern looked decimated, like reality itself had been destroyed around it. The dragon itself lay unmoving, but bloody lacerations covered its body. Vandrick stood speechless to the side, still as a statue, as if afraid that if he moved, he would be targeted next. As Anabel stared in awe at the sight before her, she felt a slender but strong arm drape itself beneath her and lift her off the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve done more than enough, Anabel. Now, leave the rest to me,¡± Cynthia said. On her left, a billowing Darkrai glowered at Vandrick, his crimson crest pulsating, and on her right, the ever-ethereal Cresselia hovered motionlessly, all the mirth gone from her eyes. Next ¡ª Chapter 39 : Eye of the Storm
Sorry for the delay, was very busy this past week, and will be very busy this week as well, so there will be no chapter this upcoming weekend. Next chapter should be 5/26. Side note: I¡¯ve been keeping the names ¡°Dreamscape Splinter¡± and ¡°Nightmare Crucible¡± in my back pocket for no less than eight years, so I¡¯m glad I was finally able to write this scene. I plan to include a sort of reflection at the end of the arc, looking back on what I think I did well and what I think could¡¯ve been better, so I¡¯ll probably talk about this and more there. Thank you for reading!
Remnants of the Great War [30] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [30] Chapter 39 : Eye of the Storm
Land of Rota - Southeast of Cameran Palace Ash¡¯s chest burned as he ran through the forest beside Pikachu and Annihilape, and he exhaled loudly as he stuffed his hand in his pocket. Trying not to slow down, he pulled out his ringing phone and answered it, pressing it against his sweaty face. ¡°Ash,¡± Sylvester said sternly on the other end. ¡°Sylvester! Sorry¡­I didn¡¯t have time to call you¡± Ash panted. ¡°No matter. I saw the news that Rota is under attack. I presume you haven¡¯t found AZ yet since you were able to answer this call?¡± ¡°Not¡­yet. He¡¯s close to the Palace now and I¡¯m on my way there.¡± ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll make it quick. I¡¯m on my way to Rota now, but expect to see Cynthia there shortly.¡± Ash frowned in surprise, and his pok¨¦mon glanced over at him. ¡°Cynthia?¡± ¡°Yes. Immediately after I told her about the attack, I passed out and woke up several minutes later, and she was gone from the island. Darkrai¡¯s work, I assume, blasted thing. With Spiritomb¡¯s help, she may already be there.¡± ¡°Why would she come here if she wanted us out in the first place?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you. She¡¯s said nothing this past month, but I¡¯m certain she wouldn¡¯t return to Rota just to try and pull Paragon out again. It¡¯s too late for that. I assume she teleported to Sabrina or Anabel if you haven¡¯t seen her, Anabel if I had to guess. In any case, I was just on the phone with N, but he cut out before we could finish our conversation. He and Zinnia were ambushed by AZ¡¯s forces in Kalos as well, but he was able to break through and was heading underground when he cut off. I tried calling Zinnia, but no response, so I can only hope she¡¯s also underground en route to AZ¡¯s hideout.¡± ¡°Anything else you can tell me?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Is the International Police on their way?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re not. I confess I don¡¯t really know who wears the pants in the relationship between Cynthia and Interpol, but at the very least, it seems they¡¯re following through with her hands-off directive. Why, what¡¯s the situation looking like over there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know. The town south of the Palace was already overrun with AZ¡¯s men when we joined the battle, and Sabrina split off to take care of the psychic portal we told you about. My Guardian friend Riley went to go protect Anabel, and I just took out a whole group of AZ¡¯s men along with his Aegislash.¡± ¡°His Aegislash?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m not sure how many pok¨¦mon AZ has personally, but if they¡¯re all about the same level, then we could be in trouble. And that¡¯s not even the worst of it. I¡¯m pretty sure Sabrina, Anabel, and Riley could handle AZ¡¯s pok¨¦mon if they came across them, but it¡¯s AZ¡¯s men that are the real problem. They¡¯re veterans of battle, way stronger than the grunts of any other evil organization I encountered in the past. I handled them just fine, but I think even the Guardians may struggle against them if they don¡¯t have much experience in battle. Plus, they somehow have the numbers advantage. I can¡¯t believe AZ was able to amass such a powerful army so quickly.¡± ¡°Hmm, we¡¯d assumed the Guardians could easily handle whatever the basic unit of AZ¡¯s force ended up being, but if they¡¯re matching the Guardians man to man, or beating them outright in some cases, that will greatly shift the tide of the attack. It seems Paragon and the World Champion both underestimated the speed at which AZ would be ready for war.¡± ¡°Yeah. I wish I could help them, but AZ has done a good job keeping us all tied up. Oh yeah, Albrecht is actually Sir Aaron, but he¡¯s¡­I mean, it¡¯s a long story, but he hasn¡¯t joined the battle yet.¡± There was a pause on the other end. ¡°Sir Aaron¡­I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know who that is.¡± ¡°He was one of the greatest heroes in Guardian history. I met him once, kind of, when I was still on my journey,¡± Ash said awkwardly. ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯m sure he has a good reason for not showing himself just yet. I¡¯d ask but I don¡¯t want to keep you any longer. Since Cynthia has taken to the field, I¡¯ll remain the nexus between us all. For you guys at Rota, use Sabrina to communicate with each other. Against an enemy like AZ, we must be as unified as possible.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Best of luck, Ash. And please, don¡¯t be too reckless.¡± ¡°I never am,¡± he smiled, and peeled the phone off his face, stuffing it back in his pocket. Annihilape grunted at his side and Ash nudged him. ¡°Sarcasm, buddy. Loosen up. The real fight is still ahead of us...¡± As Annihilape pumped his fists and Pikachu squeaked with determination, Ash focused back on the path ahead, taking in deep breaths and trying to stretch his muscles and much as he could as he ran. His body was still a bit sore from the fight with Aegislash, and he wanted to be in the best condition possible before they made it to the Palace. Because unfortunately, it seemed like that¡¯s where they¡¯d be reuniting. Please hurry, Sir Aaron!
Land of Rota - Tree of Beginning Cynthia stood up slowly, and gently handed Anabel off to her Lucario, who stood resolutely at her side. ¡°Cynthia¡­? How did you¡­? I thought¡­¡± the girl sputtered. ¡°Don¡¯t speak,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°It¡¯ll only make your injury worse. I¡¯ll explain everything when this is over. Lucario, take her to the Palace, please.¡± Lucario grunted, and before Anabel could get out another word, he lifted her carefully into his arms, and began sprinting south. Lord Vandrick made no move to intercept them as they ran past, and they soon disappeared into the forest. Darkrai and Cresselia both had their gazes trained on Vandrick, as did Cynthia, but the man seemed to have recovered from his initial surprise, and now stood before them, seemingly unbothered. ¡°Six pok¨¦balls, minus one, makes five. Three more beyond the two in front of me,¡± he murmured, eyeing Cresselia and Darkrai as he drummed the many pok¨¦balls on his own belt. ¡°Compared to my ten, the odds are still in my favor.¡± He looked up and smiled. ¡°Champion Cynthia. You¡¯re a long way from Sinnoh.¡± ¡°Not as far as you. What could possibly bring a Kalosian business mogul like you to the foot of the Tree of Beginning in northern Kanto?¡± Vandrick smirked and rubbed his hands. ¡°I could ask the same of Sinnoh¡¯s Champion. This place falls well outside your jurisdiction. Then again, our World Champion is a tad peculiar, isn¡¯t he? This wouldn¡¯t be the first time the Champions have been shuffled into foreign territory.¡± ¡°I am here of my own volition, not at the behest of Aaron Albrecht.¡± ¡°Then the plot thickens.¡± Vandrick raised an amused eyebrow. ¡°No need to stand on ceremony, Lord Vandrick, we¡¯ve known each other for quite some time, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Vandrick drawled. ¡°When was the last time we saw each other? One of World Champion Leon¡¯s get-togethers?¡± ¡°Get-togethers you started to attend less and less in recent years, I noticed.¡± ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m a busy man.¡± ¡°Busy building an army for a three thousand year old sovereign whose domain doesn¡¯t even exist anymore? I¡¯m honestly surprised a man like you was able to find the time to amass and train so many of the League¡¯s failures.¡± ¡°Oh, dear, I¡¯ve been found out. I thought I¡¯d covered my tracks fairly well. Well, to be fair, that wasn¡¯t all I was doing. I was also locating and consolidating the former wealth of his Grace¡¯s late empire, and it was far more imperative that those activities remained untraceable. But I suppose the International Police is more competent than I gave them credit for.¡± He glanced over at Cynthia to gauge her reaction, but the Champion smirked. ¡°You really don¡¯t know why I¡¯m here, do you? Well, that¡¯s good. At the very least, it seems I¡¯ve been playing my cards right. For the most part.¡± ¡°Cards, hm? Is that what you call the girl just now, and the others before her?¡± Vandrick scratched his head. ¡°You are right that I don¡¯t know what your game is, but even if you somehow manage to best me, your chances of victory are still zero percent. The power of his Grace cannot be stopped, or even comprehended, by the likes of you. Not even Sir Aaron could stop him now.¡± Sir Aaron¡­ So it¡¯s true¡­he was a king of the Guardians, Cynthia thought. Surely, together, he and Ash should be able to¡­ No, I¡¯d rather assume the worst and prepare accordingly. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I never dug into your background a little more,¡± Cynthia said, earmarking her thoughts for later. ¡°Maybe I could¡¯ve uncovered your little conspiracy.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have made a difference. You could never defeat me in Kalos, and you won¡¯t defeat me here.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± ¡°You think a peasant from a backwater in Sinnoh could ever hope to threaten me?¡± he said, withdrawing two pok¨¦balls from his belt. ¡°I was raised from birth to destroy all of my king¡¯s enemies.¡± He hurled his pok¨¦balls to the ground, and they spun, before snapping open and expelling their contents. Two Diancie materialized over the grass, one, its crystals a shining amethyst, and the other, a cool turquoise. They smiled mischievously upon seeing Cresselia and Darkrai. ¡°You tried to harm one of my precious subordinates,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°And that will not be forgiven. Shadow Moon, Cresselia. Darkrai, Dark Void.¡± Vandrick relayed a string of orders, and a storm of multicolored diamonds clashed against waves of dark and psychic energy, the clearing once again became engulfed in the fury of battle. Towering above them all, the Tree of Beginning groaned silently. With the war reaching a fevered frenzy, the legions within were starting to take action. Throughout the veins and caverns within the Tree, its many pok¨¦mon inhabitants began to receive a single directive, and they acted on it immediately, compelled by pure instinct. Flee.
Land of Rota - Cameran Palace The well-furnished hospital wing of Cameran Palace was a veritable sanctum of health, offering the most advanced of medicines, and manned by the most skilled doctors and nurses. On top of their peerless infrastructure, they also employed ancient and powerful techniques known and practiced only by Guardians of Rota, for they made use of Aura in their treatments. A slice of this royal institution existed in only one other place in the entire world: Albrecht Manor, and it was thanks to the perfect union of manmade prowess and the power of pok¨¦mon which had allowed Anabel Lila to heal her severed arm in a fraction of the normal time. Unfortunately, Rota was a land of peace. As such, the hospital wing was quite small, built mainly to treat Guardians who hurt themselves during the course of their training, especially those who ventured into the great Tree of Beginning. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. In other words, it was wholly unequipped to handle a constant stream of patients with various levels of injury caused by a war within Rota¡¯s own borders. The throne room of Cameran Palace burned bright with the shouts and screams of men and pok¨¦mon alike, orders and directives firing across the room in unrelenting bombards as the wounds of the injured were treated with the power of raw Aura. A Guardian limped across the stony floor, nearly tripping on the dirt-stained, once-grandiose carpet atop it, but the ones helping him hauled him up and continued forward as he whimpered in pain. A throng of nurses huddled over a group of wounded Guardians, wrapping bandages around their injuries and calling for this medicine or that salve. A middle-aged Guardian cried out as her master tied a tourniquet around her broken leg. The stench of blood and battle filled the air, and their pok¨¦mon scratched at themselves restlessly, with concern for their partners, and in pain. A bath of blinding Aura shimmered over the bloodied face of a young Guardian no older than twelve. The gash on his face, crusted black, tightened together, until little more than an angry scratch remained. His eyes were watery, but his tears didn¡¯t fall, and he smiled weakly. ¡°Thank you so much, Queen Ilene.¡± The Queen of the Guardians knelt over him, and as the Aura below her hands faded, she crossed them back in her lap. ¡°Thank you, young Liam. But how many times have I told you just to call me Ilene?¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Ilene smiled. ¡°Get some rest now. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me for leaving you so quickly, but I must attend to the others.¡± Liam gave a thumbs up as Ilene stood, and she brushed her legs off, before scanning the room to see who else needed her help. ¡°Any word from King Aaron yet, my Queen?¡± Sir Magnus asked, stepping back next to her. Unlike the other Guardians, he wore a dark set of shiny mail, and the cape that tumbled down his back was white instead of blue. His armored hand gripped the pommel of his sword impatiently. ¡°No,¡± Ilene responded, moving to another downed Guardian. The nurse treating him bowed and thanked Ilene as she lowered herself once more. The light of her Aura shone on her face as she spoke. ¡°Even when he does return, he will be engaging AZ. He won¡¯t have the time to spare any attention to the rest of the war. And the current state of things is a result of AZ¡¯s army, not even the man himself, if our reports are to be believed.¡± ¡°So he really does have more firepower than us, huh?¡± Magnus said gruffly. ¡°If this continues, there may not be a Rota left to save even if King Aaron does manage to defeat AZ.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t speak like that, Captain. You¡¯re forgetting one important thing.¡± She gently let go of the Guardian¡¯s hand that she¡¯d just treated, turned to face Magnus. ¡°Ash and his friends.¡± ¡°You really think they alone can swing things back in our favor?¡± Ilene giggled softly. ¡°You forget Ash was the World Champion at one time. And you¡¯ve seen the Aura of the others. They burn as bright as the most powerful of our Guardians.¡± Magnus nodded, but trepidation still etched their lines on his grizzled face. ¡°As you say, my Queen.¡± Ilene¡¯s brows were furrowed, and she hesitated on moving to help another Guardian. Instead, her eyes simply washed over the terrible scene around them. ¡°But, this number of casualties is too much,¡± she admitted quietly, before moving toward the door. Magnus briskly caught up to her, surprised that she was actually leaving. ¡°I¡¯ve done all I can here. King Aaron¡¯s decree was absolute that you not leave my side, but you must return to the entrance hall and coordinate with the royal guard. If the worst should happen, then we must be ready to evacuate Cameran Palace¡­no, all of Rota. And since I have no intention of making you disobey our King, I¡¯ll return with you.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Magnus asked, stepping back to her side. ¡°If Rota falls, where would we go? Where could we go?¡± ¡°A worry for another day. For now, we must devote our full focus to repelling this evil. A few minutes later, they crossed the threshold into the cavernous entrance hall of Cameran Palace. Unlike before, the chamber was now empty, save for a pair of royal guards flanking the massive doors. ¡°My Queen, Captain Magnus,¡± one of the guards addressed, joining their liege and her knight in the center of the room. ¡°We have a new report from our scouts. The parties on either side of the battle in front of the Tree of Beginning are none other than Ash Ketchum¡¯s friend, the wounded Anabel, and Lord Brian Vandrick from the Kalos Region.¡± ¡°Lord Brian Vandrick?¡± Ilene said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not familiar with the name.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no surprise, given how we stay out of international affairs. But after a bit of digging, we learned that he¡¯s a high profile investor in Kalos and beyond. He owns a significant stake in many of the world¡¯s largest companies, and he¡¯s also a board member of multiple banks. He¡¯s listed in many business magazines and publications as one of the most influential men in the world.¡± ¡°What in the world is someone like that doing here?¡± Magnus asked. ¡°Personally taking to the battlefield, no less.¡± ¡°Still unclear, but his loyalties certainly lie with AZ. It seems he was trying to breach the Tree of Beginning and gain access to King Aaron¡¯s body!¡± Magnus sneered and his fist clenched around his sword. ¡°How dare he.¡± ¡°And what of Anabel?¡± Ilene asked. ¡°Surely she¡¯s in no condition to battle.¡± Magnus buried his head in his hand. ¡°Shit. I went and sent Riley to Albrecht Manor,¡± he cursed. ¡°Who can we spare to send to Anabel¡¯s aid? Of course I¡¯m worried about the girl herself, but if this Vandrick intends to defile King Aaron¡¯s body in any way, then that is all the more reason that we must send a force to the Tree!¡± ¡°Not to worry Captain Magnus, help has already arrived.¡± The towering doors of Cameran Palace creaked open slowly, allowing a strip of light to slide across the shadowed floor. The blackened silhouette of a man three meters tall stood before the break, his arms still outstretched in front of him from pushing them open. As the doors opened further, sunlight spilled across his form, revealing a velvet cloak spilling over his mountainous shoulders, and a jeweled crown circling his head of long, braided white hair. Ilene and Magnus¡¯ eyes both widened. ¡°You bastard!¡± the royal guards roared. Aura blazed to life on their arms, and they charged him. ¡°Wait!¡± Ilene shouted. AZ grinned and flicked his wrists. Before they could even touch him, light flashed through the hall, and both guards flew backward, shattering through the stained glass windows at the opposite end of the room. AZ breathed in through his nose slowly, then took a step inside the Palace. ¡°Ah,¡± he rumbled. ¡°After three thousand years, I have finally returned to this place.¡± ¡°AZ,¡± Magnus spat, placing himself protectively between the giant and Queen Ilene. How is he here?! I never even sensed him! And I doubt the Queen did either! What happened to Ash?! ¡°As I said, you needn¡¯t worry about young Anabel. Cynthia Shirona has returned and has already engaged Lord Vandrick. Anabel is on her way here at Cynthia¡¯s behest, but I¡¯m afraid Sir Riley is still heading to the World Champion¡¯s residence.¡± Magnus glared at the ancient king. How does he know all that? ¡°The Platebearer is on his way. He has grown strong in the past month, but my pok¨¦mon held him up long enough that I could make my way here unimpeded.¡± As he took a step forward, Magnus and Ilene both took a step back. It was only then that he seemed to notice the Queen. ¡°You must be Queen Ilene,¡± he said softly. ¡°I must say I¡¯m a bit speechless at your appearance. You are the spitting image of your ancestor, Queen Rin.¡± ¡°Do not sully her name with your foul mouth, monster,¡± Ilene said sternly. ¡°I must say, her tongue was far smoother than yours,¡± AZ shrugged. ¡°No matter. I¡¯ll be sending you both to see her soon enough. But first¡­¡± The amusement vanished from his face and he glared down at the both of them. ¡°Where is Aaron?¡± he growled. ¡°Gone from this place. Where you could never reach him,¡± Ilene responded, her voice unwavering. ¡°What a disloyal lie, your Majesty. Aaron would never abandon this place. But pitiful attempts to protect him aside, deception won¡¯t work. I know he¡¯s here, but for some reason, I cannot pinpoint exactly where.¡± He raised his head and glanced around the hall. ¡°Shall I begin with the injured, then?¡± ¡°Get down, my Queen! Magnus roared, hurling a pok¨¦ball forward. It burst open, and an imposing, scarred Lucario emptied out, landing deftly on its knee, with its arms splayed out. ¡°Jackaline Avatar!¡± A nova of Aura burst up around Lucario, and AZ only had time to frown before he was buried beneath an avalanche of azure energy. The ground ruptured as a giant fist of Aura smashed down on where AZ had been standing, splinters of wood and pellets of shattered stone flying in all directions. Magnus stood resolute against the gales of wind, his cape billowing behind him. Blue light shined on his face, as the avatar shifted its weight, pressing down even harder on top of AZ. It howled, the sound reverberating throughout the chamber. ¡°Quiet, mutt.¡± The avatar flinched. Then, astoundingly, its arm began to rise. As the dust cleared, AZ came back into view, but he hadn¡¯t been pulverized at all. He held his arm above his head, and he trembled as he bore the full impact of Lucario¡¯s fist on his body. He pushed its fist up slowly, exerting himself against its tremendous weight. ¡°I¡¯m here for Aaron. The rest of you brats don¡¯t matter at all!¡± he bellowed, flinging Lucario¡¯s fist aside. Before it could react, he jumped up and sunk his arm into the avatar¡¯s chest. With a herculean pull, he yanked Lucario¡¯s body straight out of the avatar in a blinding burst, gripping the jackal by its throat. As the avatar flickered in front of him, he spun in the air and launched Lucario back out the front doors. ¡°Captain Magnus!¡± Ilene yelled in warning, standing a distance away from the combatants. But the grizzled captain was speechless at the violent display of AZ¡¯s power, and he barely had time to conjure a thin shield of Aura around himself before AZ lunged through the dissipating mass of Aura that comprised Lucario¡¯s avatar with a snarl, and grabbed him. Gripping a part of his armor that jutted out, AZ flung him into the wall with an inhuman roar, and Magnus¡¯ body smashed through the wood, staying embedded there. But the captain of the royal guards made no further movements as a trickle of blood dripped from his nostrils. Ilene watched the scene of carnage play out in horror, but when it was clear her captain would not be getting up, she turned back toward AZ, a bead of sweat on her forehead. ¡°Now, Queen Ilene, if you please,¡± AZ panted, licking his lips. ¡°Where is Aaron?¡± ¡°You should not have set foot here, old king,¡± Ilene said, raising her arms. ¡°It will be the last mistake you ever make!¡± A shaft of pure white Aura burst forth from Ilene¡¯s outstretched hands and engulfed AZ, completely obscuring him from view. ¡°Queen¡¯s Order!¡± Ilene said in a shrill voice. Her pupils were the same color as her Aura, shining a brilliant white, and her blonde hair whipped behind her in a grand display of power. Within the column of Aura, AZ hunkered down, trying to force himself forward. But shockingly, his torso was pushed back by the rushing current, and he grunted in surprise. After several more seconds, he was blown back, but he flipped over and landed back on the ground, still within the attack. But there was nothing to grab onto on the floor, and before long, he was blown back again. His eyes swiveled in their sockets, before finding the front doors, and as he sailed past, one of his arms shot out and grabbed it. The door creaked and whined from strain, flapping wildly despite its size. AZ growled, trying to haul himself back inside, but Queen Ilene was relentless. Her eyes shined even brighter, and with another burst of power, he was thrown from the door, back outside the Palace. Ilene extinguished her attack and sank to the ground, breathing heavily. The glow faded from her eyes, and sweat matted her skin. A minute later, AZ paced back up the stairs and reentered Cameran Palace. His crown was gone, but he wore a look of neutral satisfaction on his face. ¡°Most impressive, your Majesty. You certainly live up to your royal station. But I don¡¯t know what you hoped to accomplish with that. Surely you know that you could never breach my defenses.¡± He raised his hand, and his whole body seemed to sparkle for a moment, as if his entire body was a mirror. ¡°I¡¯ll repulse you as many times as I must,¡± Ilene breathed. ¡°You will never defeat the Guardians.¡± He raised her arms into a combat stance, and Aura glimmered to life between her fingers. ¡°A noble proclamation. But one not founded in reality, I¡¯m afraid. I wanted to wait until Aaron arrived so I could tear his world down right in front of him, but if he wants to cower away and hide, then I suppose I¡¯ll begin a bit early. Starting with you.¡± His entire body began to flicker and shine, white light dancing off his skin and clothes in spasmodic convulsions, as if they could barely contain themselves within his vessel. ¡°Good bye, Queen Ilene.¡± A blue comet streaked through the chamber, past Ilene, and slammed into AZ, before continuing on its trajectory straight out the doors of Cameran Palace. The two supernovas crashed through the granite walls of the bridge and shot over the crystalline lake. They smashed into the forest beyond, barreling through countless trees, crushing them into splinters. Upon reaching a clearing, AZ dislodged himself, hitting the ground and sending a plume of soil rushing past him in a wave as he rolled to a stop. He coughed, then grunted. With a labored breath, he clambered onto his hands and knees, before rising to his full height shakily. ¡°You wanted me. Here I am.¡± At the sound of that voice, liquid rage flooded AZ involuntarily, but he tempered his emotions and kept it at bay, albeit barely. Blood seemed to seep into his eyes, tinging his whole field of vision red, and his bones actually hurt from restraining himself. Standing across the field from him, the Aura fading from around his form, was Sir Aaron, looking none too amused beneath his spiky black hair. ¡°Finally,¡± AZ sneered. ¡°You show your true face. It¡¯s time for you to face justice.¡± Sir Aaron looked at him sadly, yet anger, and righteousness also colored his face. ¡°Let¡¯s end this once and for all, old friend.¡± Wordlessly, both men withdrew a pok¨¦ball. Next ¡ª Chapter 40 : Sir Aaron vs AZ
Oh¡­ did I say 5/26¡­ I meant 5/27¡­ Was a lot busier than I thought I¡¯d be this week. Also, I was straight up procrastinating, but I¡¯d never let a good excuse go to waste so we¡¯ll just say it was the former. It¡¯s surprisingly difficult to get back in the swing of things after taking almost a week off from writing, something I¡¯ve haven¡¯t done since I first started this fic about eight months ago. Unfortunately, there also won¡¯t be a chapter next weekend since I¡¯ll be busy with something else. Next chapter should be published on 6/9 at the latest, though possibly/probably sooner, whenever I finish it. Finally, I¡¯m going to add a list of all the custom moves in this fic to my profile on FFN and AO3, which I¡¯ll update as they appear in the story. Not sure how others feel about custom moves but I really like them so I tend to add a lot of them. And in case you couldn¡¯t already tell, I like lists. They¡¯re very satisfying.
Remnants of the Great War [31] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [31] Chapter 40 : Sir Aaron vs AZ
In spite of the war raging around them, just beyond the dark oaks that surrounded them, Sir Aaron and AZ both stood still, with naught but the wind and rustling leaves as accessories to their showdown. They both held a pok¨¦ball in their hand, but neither moved to release their companions. Instead, their eyes remained locked, unblinking, Aaron¡¯s blues on AZ¡¯s blacks. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you can restrain yourself. The scene at the World Prison was a painting of rage and blood. Didn¡¯t you leave that masterpiece because you were on your way to kill me?¡± Aaron asked, his face as flat as his gaze. ¡°To tear me apart with those same hands?¡± Several seconds passed before AZ responded. ¡°That is what you¡¯d like, isn¡¯t it? If I come at you like a beast, I will confirm everything you¡¯ve thought about me since the start of the war.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you cared about something like that. At the very least, it didn¡¯t stop you from enacting this violence today.¡± A laugh escaped AZ¡¯s lips. ¡°Oh, this? This was nothing more than a provocation. Isn¡¯t that what you did too?¡± Aaron¡¯s eye twitched, and his jaw tensed up. ¡°Nothing to say? So you know you¡¯re scum.¡± AZ¡¯s face twisted into a malevolent grin. ¡°Surely you were wondering why I waited so long to escape. I bet it¡¯s kept you up every night since the end of the war. One hundred years¡­five hundred years¡­a thousand years. You must have thought I¡¯d forgotten about you. Perhaps you thought I¡¯d forgiven you, when even after three thousand years, I had yet to resist my incarceration! So you decided to test me.¡± He locked eyes with Aaron again, but the Guardian looked away, and he sneered. ¡°You broke your promise.¡± Aaron shook his head ever so slightly and exhaled. ¡°It had nothing to do with you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°And I didn¡¯t do it for my own sake either.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had three thousand years to think of an excuse, and that¡¯s what you give me?¡± AZ said in disbelief. ¡°You promised you would never show your face again. That you would divest yourself from this world. That you would abandon everything precious to you, just like I had to! But what did you do, hm? What did you do?!¡± AZ roared, his outburst blowing gales across the clearing. Aaron didn¡¯t reply, but his spiky hair fluttered from AZ¡¯s shout. ¡°World Champion,¡± AZ spat, in a mocking tone. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out?¡± AZ¡¯s breaths came in incensed heaves, but Aaron remained calm. ¡°Now that it¡¯s come to this, I wish you hadn¡¯t,¡± Aaron finally said. ¡°So that¡¯s it, then? I pay for my crimes, but you get to be remembered as the spotless ¡®hero of Rota?¡¯¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re standing before me once again, it seems my sins have finally caught up to me,¡± Aaron said, speaking louder. ¡°Out of everything I bear on my shoulders, all the things that I did and didn¡¯t do that I regret, my greatest sin will always be you, Azett.¡± ¡°Damn you,¡± AZ growled, his pok¨¦ball creaking in his hand. ¡°I have atoned for three thousand years. It¡¯s time for someone else to pay the price!¡± Without warning, he launched his pok¨¦ball forward, and it curved through the air before snapping open. Aaron took a step back, and then another, as AZ¡¯s partner coalesced into the world. The temperature flared, and the trees closest to it immediately caught fire, flames engulfing their leaves completely. The grass at its feet disintegrated, and a shadow fell over the entire clearing. Wild pok¨¦mon squawked and fled, taking to the skies and scurrying away as fast as their legs could carry them. As its massive arms raked the air, Groudon leaned back and unleashed a deafening roar. A bead of sweat hung above Aaron¡¯s brow, and he smiled nervously. ¡°Of course you still have that monster.¡± He hurled his own pok¨¦ball forward, and when it opened, the air suddenly became humid, and heavier. As Groudon sized up its opponent, it snorted hot smoke, and stamped at the ground, causing the whole clearing to shake. Kyogre floated just above the ground, massive and powerful, like the entire volume of the ocean itself had been compressed into one singular entity. With every breath that escaped its serrated mouth, a plume of mist floated skyward. The sky above churned and thundered at the arrival of the two titans. The sunlight scorched through rapidly forming storm clouds, but it didn¡¯t burn them all away, and a hot rain began to fall over all of Rota, creating even more foggy mist. Aaron ignored the rain, his focus having never left the former sovereign of the east. Across the way, he saw AZ grin. ¡°Precipice Blades!¡± he roared. ¡°Origin Pulse!¡± Aaron countered. The ground ruptured, and jagged pillars of magma-stained rock burst forth, pushing the grass and soil apart with no abandon. They began in front of Groudon and stabbed their way forward, completely destroying everything in their murderous path. Before Kyogre could react, three sharpened spears exploded from beneath it and skewered it from below, two of them stabbing through either wing, and the other burying itself in the oceanic legendary¡¯s underbelly. Kyogre¡¯s eyes gleamed with hatred, and it opened its depthless maw. Sparkling energy gathered between its army of teeth, forming into a blinding orb. With a colossal roar, Kyogre fired its attack. The entire clearing turned white, the remnants of Groudon¡¯s destruction disintegrating in its wrathful light. The Precipice Blades shattered and crumbled into nothing and slammed into Groudon¡¯s chest. The titan braced itself against the onslaught, but it shrieked in pain, hot blood cascading down its mottled chest. As the light faded, Kyogre wretched itself from the impaling pillars of rock, cerulean blood dumping from the wounds, but it simply snorted in indignation, breaking the spears with a prideful bash of its body. Across the clearing, Groudon looked up at its enemy, then brushed his chest with a clawed hand. It was scorched black, and there was a depression where Kyogre¡¯s Origin Pulse had burned its impenetrable flesh away. Groudon stood on a stone plinth, the ground having completely vanished around it, and an orange glow wafted up from the depths. Kyogre floated above the void, and the rain sizzled as it poured down onto the lava below. AZ stepped out from behind his monster, his boots cresting just over the edge of the chasm. He crossed his arms. ¡°It seems the passage of time has made us weak!¡± he called over the cacophony of the newly formed storm. ¡°Those children you sent after me weren¡¯t even strong enough to get my blood flowing! Surely you can provide a better challenge!¡± Like his pok¨¦mon, Sir Aaron floated above the ground beside Kyogre. ¡°You seem to be mistaken. The Platebearer and his friends have nothing to do with me.¡± Surprisingly, AZ¡¯s brow raised, and his eyes flashed. Then, he nodded. ¡°You tell the truth. No matter. I can deal with them and whoever sent them after I destroy Rota.¡± Aaron¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You possess the Fairy Plate, I was told. Is it through its power that you judge the truth of my words?¡± AZ smiled and spread his arms. ¡°Indeed! Unlike you, the truth is all I know! The Fairy Plate grants me omniscience over the entire natural world!¡± Aaron swallowed. ¡°I see,¡± he said quietly. ¡°So the truths revealed to you by this Plate are the source of your delusions of apocalypse.¡± He glanced up. ¡°How pitiable that a Plate of Arceus would corrupt you so.¡± ¡°Does it disappoint you to learn that you serve a creature of such depravity?¡± AZ mocked. ¡°You Guardians defend Arceus¡¯ will without ever knowing anything about it. But I do. I touched his soul and saw within. And now, his power is mine!¡± He clenched his fist closed. Aaron sighed. ¡°No. This war is not Arceus¡¯ will. If it is as you say, and the Fairy Plate allows you to know all the truths of this world, then you should know that I am being honest about bearing the Plates of Arceus once myself. And his will revealed to me at that time is nothing like this bloodshed you so savor.¡± AZ¡¯s eyes flashed once more, and he glowered at Aaron. ¡°You surrendered your Plates¡­? But to think you would leave them there¡­¡± He smirked. ¡°Now you certainly must die today. You and your entire pitiful clan.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°I will do my duty as a Guardian. No more, no less.¡± AZ¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Try and protect this place if you can, King.¡± This time, Aaron seized the initiative. ¡°Alpha Sapphire!¡± he commanded. ¡°Omega Ruby!¡± AZ bellowed. As the two legendary titans charged their next attacks, Aaron and AZ¡¯s eyes remained locked through the storm and mist, both shining with a new determination to crush the opponent that stood before them.
Ash suddenly froze in place, sweat flying from his face, and his eyes widened. Pikachu and Annihilape both stopped in their tracks, wheeling around toward their trainer. The wind whistled around them like a pack of bloodthirsty hyenas. Slowly, Ash stood up straighter. AZ had moved. He¡¯d made it to the palace. Aegislash and the others had stalled Ash just long enough to allow him time to slip past. But after remaining there for only several minutes, he¡¯d suddenly flown back the way he came, back into the forest, away from Sir Aaron. The dark leaves beckoned him toward the gloomy beyond with their curled, chlorophyllic fingers. ¡°He¡¯s there,¡± Ash muttered. ¡°Right there.¡± He raised his arm and pointed directly past the bunch of trees before them. Annihilape snarled, beginning to stomp over in AZ¡¯s direction. Pikachu whined cautiously, glancing between his two friends. ¡°Wait,¡± Ash said. If AZ was back here, it surely wasn¡¯t of his own volition. Which meant Aaron Albrecht had finally taken to the field. If that¡¯s the case, do I even need to get involved? I mean, this is Sir Aaron we¡¯re talking about¡­ By all rights, he had failed in his task of keeping AZ away whilst Sir Aaron was in the Vault of Secrets. But it was almost as if AZ had gone out of his way to avoid him, taking a longer route to Cameran Palace that would allow him to bypass any fighting. If AZ could sense his presence as a Platebearer, like Ash could for him, then it was possible. But¡­ When I first encountered AZ outside of Rota, he somehow knew he was being followed, but he didn¡¯t know I was a Platebearer until I stepped out in front of him¡­ Can he sense my presence or not? ¡°Gah!¡± Ash shook and head and hit his temple with the heel of his palm. What did it matter now? Right now, he needed to figure out where he was needed most, and fast. Unlike the others, he¡¯d literally gotten lost in the weeds, finding himself separated from any divisions of AZ¡¯s main attacking force. And although AZ had only spent mere minutes at the Palace, there was no telling how much damage he may have already done. Ash closed his eyes. Use Sabrina to communicate with each other, he¡¯d said. Sabrina! he shouted in his head. Not a moment later, the quiet psychic teleported next to him. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked out of breath. ¡°Sabrina!¡± he said breathlessly, surprised that that¡¯d actually worked. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Sabrina sucked in several breaths. ¡°It¡¯s not good. AZ¡¯s army has almost made it to the palace. They¡¯re fighting through the last line of defense, the Guardians in front of the bridge. You should go there as quickly as possible¡ª actually I can take you there.¡± Her words came out in a jumbled mess, tripping over themselves as they spilled from her mouth. ¡°We need to move quickly. The Guardians are still evacuating civilians from the town. And there¡¯re so many injured. They need¡ª¡± ¡°Slow down, Sabrina,¡± Ash said, putting a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. ¡°Take a deep breath. You¡¯ve been using your power nonstop, haven¡¯t you?¡± Sabrina nodded unconsciously. ¡°I have to. If I don¡¯t, then¡ª¡° ¡°One thing at a time,¡± Ash interrupted. ¡°Did you disable the portal that AZ¡¯s men were coming through?¡± Sabrina paused for a few seconds, then nodded. ¡°It was Alakazam.¡± ¡°Okay, great. Did you get a call from Sylvester?¡± Sabrina shook her head, then she perked up. ¡°Cynthia¡¯s here! She spoke to me. She told me she¡¯d protect Anabel, and to hurry back to the palace. But Riley needs to know, so I had to¡ª¡° Ash frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t Anabel at the manor?¡± ¡°She was at the Tree of Beginning!¡± Sabrina wailed. The dam holding back her emotions was beginning to crack. ¡°She¡­she was fighting someone. And her wound reopened, so I couldn¡¯t teleport her to safety without hurting her. So Lucario is carrying her back¡ª¡° ¡°Sabrina,¡± Ash said, clutching her shoulders gently. He looked at her until she met his gaze. Tears hung unfallen in her eyes, and she blinked them away. ¡°You¡¯ve done wonderfully. Really.¡± Sabrina¡¯s lips quivered and her nose twitched. With his hands still on her shoulders, Ash could feel her body loosen up slightly, and she slumped as she exhaled. She nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Were you able to tell Riley that Anabel is being taken care of?¡± Sabrina nodded. ¡°So he¡¯s on his way back to the Palace too?¡± Sabrina nodded. ¡°Okay,¡± Ash breathed. ¡°That¡¯s good. That¡¯s good. And it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± Sabrina nodded, wiping her face with her sleeve. Then she frowned, hardening herself. ¡°Just over there,¡± Ash pointed, ¡°is AZ.¡± Sabrina followed his finger, and her eyes glimmered. ¡°Albrecht is there too.¡± Suddenly, a deafening roar blasted through the forest, nearly knocking them both off their feet. Annihilape snorted in shock, and Pikachu grit his teeth. The earth shook as something massive crashed down upon it. At the same time, Ash winced as the temperature noticeably increased. He squinted up at the bright sky, and the rapidly fading clouds upon it. However, raising his head up brought the creature responsible directly into his line of sight, as it towered above the treeline. ¡°Holy,¡± Ash breathed. He flicked his head in its direction, the same direction where AZ was. ¡°It¡¯s Groudon.¡± But before Sabrina could find the great red beast, the temperature spasmed again, plummeting, and clouds once again rolled across the sky at an otherworldly speed, though these were dark. Lightning cracked down from above and rain began to fall, dripping through the roof of leaves overhead. Pikachu squealed in alarm, jumping away from a draft of white mist that had begun snaking out from between the trees. Beside Ash, Sabrina coughed, and she covered her mouth. ¡°What is this?¡± she choked. ¡°It¡¯s hot!¡± Ash opened his palm. ¡°So is the rain.¡± He closed his fist and looked back in the direction of Groudon and AZ. ¡°So this is a battle between legends.¡± He turned back to Sabrina and his pok¨¦mon. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the palace. There¡¯s nothing we can do here, not like this. And I¡¯m afraid Sir Aaron and AZ¡¯s battle may extend back there if things get out of hand. Rota needs another line of defense. Let¡¯s go give them one.¡± Sabrina nodded, and his pok¨¦mon agreed. ¡°I can take us,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Not a chance,¡± Ash said. ¡°You¡¯ve done plenty already. The palace is just beyond these trees. We¡¯ll be there in two minutes. Annihilape, carry her.¡± Sabrina opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Annihilape had already slung her over his shoulder with a brusque grin. ¡°Be gentle!¡± Ash scolded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± As he ran, Ash glanced back at Sabrina. Truthfully, he was pretty sure she could¡¯ve teleported them there. She didn¡¯t seem like she was at her limit, not even close. But something had happened to her that had reduced her to this stuttering mess. Finding out Anabel had been in danger would¡¯ve upset her, but not like this. After all, she¡¯d been with Anabel the entire time this past month, and she¡¯d slowly grown accustomed to her friend¡¯s new reality. There was something she hadn¡¯t told him. Whatever she¡¯d encountered after they¡¯d parted must have done a number on her mentally. Ash felt bad for even thinking it, but he almost wished she¡¯d been taxed physically instead. He still didn¡¯t know much about her past, or about her in general, but the one thing he did know was that it was extremely painful for her. There were few things that could shake Sabrina Natsume, and beyond seeing her friends hurt, her past was certainly one of them. Ash resolved to ask her about it once and for all once this war was over.
Groudon slashed downward, raking its claws over Kyogre, and the oceanic mythic bellowed. A shaft of lightning twisted off of Groudon¡¯s head, blasting his scales apart and leaving a scorch mark. Kyogre leapt into the air, casting a shadow over the forest around it, and unleashed a steaming column of water. It splashed over the earth mythic, and doused the entire clearing, and beneath the deluge, Groudon sank to its knees with a thunderous crash. Aaron watched the carnage play out with narrowed eyes. They had mutilated the entire clearing. Countless trees had fallen under their legendary feet, reduced to nothing more than piles of ash. The sinkhole created by Groudon had been filled in with freshly cooled slate and obsidian, that had then been cracked and decimated further by the ongoing battle. Black soot covered the abused ground, leaving not a speck of color, and the haze of white mist had risen, leaving the entire clearing slightly obscured in a mirage that further accentuated the spectacle of this legendary battle. The rain was as blinding as it was unceasing as it pounded down, and the low growl of thunder had yet to abate from the tortured sky. The air stunk of hot smoke, and if a normal human had come near, their nose would probably start bleeding immediately. As Kyogre glided over Groudon¡¯s head, the red titan hand shot out and grabbed its fin. With a herculean roar, it slammed Kyogre against the ground. As it stomped over, it leaned down and sunk its claws into the ground, before withdrawing with a spear of jagged obsidian. It clutched the spear in both hands, raising it above Kyogre¡¯s head. The runes on Kyogre¡¯s body illuminated, and its eyes glittered with fury. As Groudon brought the spear down on its chest, Kyogre¡¯s gullet flashed, and a spear of ice pierced Groudon¡¯s midsection, its eyes widening. At the same time, the spear of obsidian plunged through Kyogre, and it released a pained screech. The lights in both of their eyes flickered. Groudon pitched backward, before slamming down to the ground. Likewise, a terrible wheeze escaped Kyogre¡¯s mouth, and it collapsed, its wings splaying out across the ground. Even after a few seconds, neither moved again. AZ was the first to recall his companion. As his pok¨¦ball sucked Groudon back inside, Aaron assessed the man himself. He stood confidently across the clearing, having moved not even a single inch from where he was when their battle resumed. Aaron¡¯s brows furrowed, and he returned his own partner, thanking it silently. ¡°That was closer to the battles I remember,¡± AZ said, pleased. ¡°You did well protecting this place as much as you did. Such a shame, though. Surely you¡¯d be even stronger if you didn¡¯t have to worry about keeping the damage to a minimum. That is no way to wage war.¡± ¡°By your design,¡± Aaron lamented. AZ smirked. ¡°This battle is the least of your problems. Very soon, you¡¯ll count yourself lucky that I am the only one you have to deal with.¡± He reached into his coat. ¡°It was wishful thinking on your part to think you could actually contain me.¡± He pulled his hand out, holding something between his fingers. Aaron frowned. Only when AZ enlarged his pok¨¦ball did it become clear what he was planning. But before Aaron could stop him, he reared back and threw the pok¨¦ball with a strained grunt, over the trees and into the darkness beyond. Straight toward Cameran Palace. Next ¡ª Chapter 41 : Fated Failure
Remnants of the Great War [32] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [32] Chapter 41 : Fated Failure
Land of Rota - South of Cameran Palace ¡°Get back, Sarah!¡± A burly Guardian wrapped in a tight-fitting indigo tunic and bandages lunged forward, Aura blazing in his palm, which he thrust into the face of an approaching acolyte. The acolyte yelped and recoiled, but the Guardian didn¡¯t stop to admire his handiwork. His cloak swished behind him as he wheeled back on his young compatriot. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be assisting with the injured! What¡¯re you doing here?¡± ¡°The Queen is evacuating the Palace!¡± Sarah bit out, her Lucario standing beside her protectively. Rain fell in sheets from the darkened sky, a cloying mist bathing all the combatants in its humid oppression. Despite being right next to each other, the two Guardians could scarcely hear each other over the din of the war and the storm. ¡°What?! Why? We haven¡¯t fallen yet!¡± His Machamp caught up a Golem barreling toward them in its arms with a grunt, and its feet sunk into the ground as it held the massive boulder back. Its master took a quick glance at the situation, but turned back to Sarah. ¡°AZ made it to the palace, but King Aaron stopped him and has engaged him to the east!¡± ¡°Then the battle is as good as won!¡± the Guardian growled. ¡°No, it¡¯s the opposite! It means he won¡¯t be able to help us repel their army!¡± The older Guardian stopped to think for a moment, frowning. He glanced back up at the quarrel between Machamp and Golem, and the Aura on his hand flared. An azure shroud fell over Machamp, and it began to push the fearsome rock-type back. The Guardian surveyed the chaos around them. AZ¡¯s men outnumbered them two to one right now, but more kept pouring from the forest and soon it would be three to one. Slowly but surely, they were being pushed back onto the bridge connecting Cameran Palace to the mainland. Suddenly, electricity crackled to life around the Golem¡¯s fists, and it shoved Machamp back with a baleful screech. The fighting-type buckled as the rock-type slammed its Thunder Punch into its chin, sending it flying across the grass. Poised to deliver another blow, the Golem hunkered down and charged. Sarah¡¯s Lucario leapt forward and kicked the rock-type back, wincing slightly as Golem tried to claw at her foot. It flew back, and though its trainer tried to dodge, its rotund body clipped him, sending him flying to the ground in an awkward heap. ¡°Thanks,¡± the Guardian grunted. ¡°Alright, I gotcha. I¡¯ll tell the others. Just promise me you¡¯ll stick more to the evacuation than the fighting! Your mother¡­no, Sir Riley will kill me if anything happens to you!¡± Sarah bowed curtly. ¡°I¡¯ll try! Thank you, Master!¡± she called, zipping back toward the bridge to assist with the injured. Cameran Palace¡¯s twin bridges were an invaluable defensive feature, but it also increased the difficulty of the evacuation tenfold. There were only two ways in and out of the palace. They were sending as many as they could out of the northern entrance, but that meant having to circle back south around the perimeter of the lake to get to the evacuation point in the west. It¡¯d be much faster if they could secure a route out of this entrance too¡­ Her master was a strong Guardian, but even he had sustained injuries against this force, though, refusing to stay down, he¡¯d taken back to the battlefield. Your boyfriend is taking on that Dragalge all by himself! Like hell I¡¯m gonna stay here just to bleed! he¡¯d said. He wasn¡¯t her boyfriend, but if Sir Riley had decided to embrace an enemy like that all by himself, then it was something her master and the others stood absolutely no chance against. Please be safe, Riley, she prayed as she ran back toward the bridge, her Lucario in tow. As she cleared through the last line of Guardians and emerged onto the cobblestone viaduct, her Aura-enhanced eyes caught something in the far distance. In front of the thunder-laced storm clouds and through the pelting rain, a tiny object sailed out from above the trees to the right of the palace. At first she thought it was a pok¨¦mon, but it was clearly inanimate as it arced downward and disappeared into the lake below. What was that? She was halfway across the bridge when the water beside the palace suddenly gurgled and belched. That¡¯s where that thing dropped¡­ An icy chill ran through Sarah and she shuddered. Maybe it was just the battle raging around her keeping her on edge, but a terrible feeling suddenly flooded her stomach. A massive white and black column burst from the surface of the lake, three smaller columns extending from a yellow rim around the very top. It stretched nearly as high as the palace¡¯s highest tower. Sarah¡¯s jaw dropped. The lake trembled, spitting foam, as the column bent back to land, slamming down on the edge of the island, crushing a copse of golden maples beneath it in an instant. An otherworldly groan echoed through the valley as the rest of the creature¡¯s body rose from the lake. Its other hand gripped a tower on the palace as it hauled itself out of the water. Red, blue, and silver light cascaded from the six eyes on its chest, slicing through the stormy darkness, scanning the palace with its invasive sight. ¡°Regi¡­gigas,¡± Sarah mumbled, to the sound of terrified screaming behind her. ¡°¡­How?¡± A tear fell from her eye, but it instantly washed away by the rain. A traumatized chuckle escaped her horrified lips. ¡°This is the end of Rota.¡± Regigigas bellowed its cries to the heavens as it climbed. It was the same size as the entirety of Cameran Palace, far larger than the venerated automaton at the Snowpoint Temple in Sinnoh. Now that she thought about it, the old kings of Kalos had been said to have vaults upon vaults of pok¨¦mon, including those of mythological power and scale. Such was the vastness of their wealth and influence before the Great War. But those stories had always been exaggerations, right? Something like this, right before her, couldn''t possibly be real. Right?! Snapped from her stupor by her own disbelief, she smacked her cheeks, and started to run again, toward the giant. Cameran Palace had protections imbued in its foundations, so Sarah hoped that there wasn¡¯t too much internal damage. But this thing was just so big, and it had already defied logic once just by being this size. Either way, Queen Ilene was right to have issued the evacuation order. She must have sensed something dangerous approaching. Or perhaps she was one of the few left in Rota with a sober head, and had assessed that the Guardians were going to lose. As Sarah crossed onto the island, she shuddered as she ran into Regigigas¡¯ shadow, the behemoth towering over her. She wanted nothing more to do now than to run and hide under her covers like she¡¯d done when she was a kid, but the Queen needed her. Her people needed her. Please, save us, Riley, she thought as she ran, but it was a childish wish. This was war, and Riley wasn¡¯t even close. Perhaps the Guardians had grown too used to peace. In their quest for harmony, they¡¯d unwittingly forgotten about their blood-drenched legacy accrued during the Great War. As she ascended the marble steps, she took note of the massive oaken doors, blasted open by some overwhelming force, and her heartbeat quickened. What happened here?! A throng of Guardians were gathered in the entrance hall, with some injured, and others helping the injured evacuate. But they had all paused in place to look up. The lights flickered overhead, and Regigigas¡¯ massive body blotted out any light from the windows on one side. ¡°What is that?¡± one of them murmured. ¡°Why is it so dark outside all of a sudden?¡± another asked. ¡°It started raining out of nowhere!¡± Sarah cleared her throat and inhaled. ¡°Everyone, please listen!¡± Luckily, her shrill voice cut through the fog of everyone¡¯s worry, and she quickly got everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°We need to evacuate the palace as fast as possible! Everyone who is able, please head to the northern entrance as soon as possible, and follow the border Guardians to the safe point!¡± ¡°But what about the southern way?¡± a younger Guardian asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­are they coming across the bridge already!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± his master snapped, yanking his ear. ¡°Of course that¡¯s not the case,¡± though he did sneak Sarah an inquisitive glance, which she answered with a discreet shake of her head. ¡°Please, hurry to the north,¡± Sarah pleaded, cutting in before they could interject again. ¡°We haven¡¯t fallen, but the fighting is still ongoing, so this exit isn¡¯t safe yet!¡± The Guardians murmured in worry, but they trusted her, and started to exit the room. Sarah watched as they helped each other out, but her attention never left the behemoth climbing up the palace outside. Luckily, most of the gathered had forgotten about the monster outside once Sarah had given them something else to focus on, but she noticed the young Guardian¡¯s master had stayed behind. ¡°Tell it to me true, Sarah,¡± he said grimly. ¡°What is that thing atop the palace now? Surely that is the true reason you won¡¯t let us leave from the south.¡± Sarah hesitated, but nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a giant Regigigas out there, as big as the palace itself.¡± The Guardian cursed. ¡°This will be the end of Cameran Palace.¡± Sarah furrowed her brows and looked up. ¡°Where¡¯s the Queen?¡± The older Guardian frowned. ¡°Did you not hear? The Queen and Captain Magnus engaged AZ personally.¡± He flicked his head at the ruined door. ¡°The worst surely would have happened if King Aaron had not arrived in time. Last I heard, the Queen was tending to Captain Magnus¡¯ wounds personally.¡± ¡°What?! She needs to leave!¡± The Guardian closed his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve tried to impress that upon her, but she refuses to leave while even a single Guardian still remains in the palace!¡± He clenched his fist, and it was clear he was just as frustrated as she was. Sarah cursed in her head, her mind racing. She knew how stubborn the Queen could be when she wanted to be, so there was no point in continuing to try and convince her. ¡°How many are still here?¡± ¡°When I was last in the throne room, the floor was still half covered in wounded. That was around twenty minutes ago. I suspect less than ten percent now? Though perhaps that is an optimistic guess.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. So it¡¯s not empty yet¡­which means we need time. She glanced back over at a window, covered by Regigigas. The palace shook and dust fell from the ceiling as it took another step up, and she prayed the others wouldn¡¯t stop to let their curiosity run wild. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of fighting that thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Sarah said, and she was being honest. She knew there was no way she could take it down, or even harass it, for that matter. But there may be someone who can. Ash Ketchum, the former World Champion was here, as was his friend Sabrina, a legendary psychic. If anyone could defeat that titan, it¡¯d be them. ¡°Please evacuate now, Sir!¡± she said, withdrawing a pok¨¦ball. ¡°Wait, where are you going?!¡± Sarah thumbed the release on her pok¨¦ball, and a brilliant Pidgeot materialized onto the royal floor, her plume fluttering from in the wind passing through the doors. ¡°Pursuing hope,¡± she said, climbing onto her bird¡¯s back. With a clap to the neck, Pidgeot rocketed out of the palace, back outside beneath the stormy skies. Warm rain blurred her vision, and she rubbed her eyes furiously. Pidgeot angled around, giving Sarah a vantage to observe the Regigigas. It was halfway up one of the towers, and despite the fact that the giant dwarfed it, it did not collapse beneath its weight. Surely this had to be one of AZ¡¯s personal pok¨¦mon, old and powerful as it was. Likely, it was meant as a distraction just as much as a genuine destructive force. The number of Guardians remaining in the palace hardly necessitated the use of such a monstrosity, but AZ¡¯s hatred for Sir Aaron and the Guardians was also incalculable. Even if it didn¡¯t end up killing a soul, bringing down Cameran Palace, which had stood as a sanctuary for the Guardians for many years even before the Great War, represented a symbolic victory in and of itself. Sarah urged Pidgeot back down toward the southern defense line. King Aaron had begun his fight with AZ, which meant Ash was presumably free to return to the palace. And their defense hadn¡¯t broken yet, which meant Sabrina had likely destroyed the portal as well. Sarah just hoped she¡¯d be able to find them in this mess. A colossal flap of Pidgeot¡¯s wings knocked over a group of AZ¡¯s men and their pok¨¦mon as she landed, and Sarah fired a few quick Aura Spheres herself to keep them down for good. Now, where could you be? Luckily, she didn¡¯t have to wonder for long. She caught notice of a particularly violent part of the clash, and after heading over, she found an Annihilape kicking his way through AZ¡¯s fighters from behind, carrying Sabrina in its arms bridal style. The sight was absolutely ridiculous, and it was the best thing Sarah could¡¯ve asked for. ¡°Sabrina!¡± she called, pushing her way through the chaos, Pidgeot stomping after her. The psychic noticed her, and forced herself out of Annihilape¡¯s arms, covering her face in embarrassment. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Sarah said once she¡¯d caught up to them. ¡°Thank Arceus you¡¯re here.¡± She frowned and glanced around. ¡°Is Ash with you?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sabrina said, turning around. ¡°He¡¯s right behind¡­¡± She trailed off. Suddenly, her eyes seared and she whipped toward the east. ¡°No! He¡¯s¡ª¡° He¡¯s gone off to fight AZ, I¡¯m sorry to say, a telepathic voice cut through the din. A foul Slurpuff was launched back, and a Lucario pushed his way into the conversation. Hello, I am Lucario. Ash Ketchum¡¯s Lucario, that is. I understand there are many here, but¡ª ¡°He¡¯s the one who said we should come here!¡± Sabrina shouted. ¡°So why is he¡ª¡° I¡¯m sorry, Miss Sabrina. He said that only to assuage you. He released me and told me to guide you back to the palace. He trusted you alone would be enough to handle things here. Annihilape roared and snorted, stomping the ground furiously as steam shot from his nostrils. He glared at Lucario, then at the forest to the east, then back at Lucario. Yes, he told me to pass along a sorry to you too, Annihilape, for leaving you behind. He also wanted to extend a thank you to you for getting Sabrina here safely, and focusing so much on the task that you didn¡¯t even notice him separating from you. That only seemed to enrage Annihilape further, and for a moment, it looked like he was about to charge off after his trainer. ¡°Please, Sabrina!¡± Sarah clapped her hands together and bowed. ¡°Please help us defeat Regigigas!¡± For the first time, Sabrina seemed to notice the giant golem, ascending the palace walls through the pouring rain. She swallowed, and her eyes gleamed, seemingly studying the creature from afar. Sarah watched her expectantly, and when Sabrina glanced over at her, she bowed her head again. ¡°Yeah, I can take care of it,¡± Sabrina said flatly.
Land of Rota - Southeast of Cameran Palace Steam billowed from Mega Lucario¡¯s outstretched Force Palm. Teetering on its frost-blue feet, Aurorus tipped back and fell to the ground, shaking the earth with its tremendous weight. Now that his enemy was defeated, Lucario swung his arm around, shattering the ice that had frozen on his shoulder. Normally, he was immune to trivialities like this, especially in this state. But this was no ordinary Aurorus. AZ recalled his pok¨¦mon, though he wore a satisfied smile. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s my last pok¨¦mon. How unfortunate.¡± Sir Aaron took a step forward, the obsidian crumbling beneath his boot. ¡°Enough of this! Call off your forces and stop this madness!¡± he pleaded. ¡°If it¡¯s me you want, then I¡¯ll gladly go with you! But leave the Guardians out of this.¡± ¡°How can I? You were supposed to have abandoned them, yet you wear their colors all the same,¡± AZ snarled. ¡°No matter. We¡¯ve done things your way up till now. Now, it¡¯s time to do this my way.¡± He stepped forward and shrugged out of his silken shirt. The muscles on his chest throbbed, rain dripping down his tightened skin. Lightning flashed above, illuminating his battle-lusted visage for a moment, twisted in hatred and pleasure. He raised his hands, then beckoned with his fingers. Sir Aaron shook his head slowly. ¡°Please, don¡¯t.¡± Lucario growled, standing between AZ and his master. ¡°Impotent,¡± AZ spat. ¡°If you will not fight, then you leave me no choice but to attack first!¡± With an expression of gleeful mania, he launched forward with a leap, his arms trailing behind him. ¡°Step aside, Lucario,¡± Aaron commanded, his voice echoing. Aura bled into his eyes and across his arms, and his entire body seemed to shimmer, excising itself from the stormy reality around it. His entire form became limned in a vibrant blue. AZ planted his feet in the ground and his arm shot out, but a blinding flash erupted out from the point of impact. When it faded, he frowned. Aaron¡¯s arm, pulsing with Aura, had blocked his strike. As Aaron¡¯s leg swept out, AZ leaped back and conjured a roiling sphere of pure white energy in his palm, nearly half the size of his body. At the same time, Aaron summoned an Aura Sphere of a similar size, and a moment later, they both thrust them forward. The twin spheres slammed into each other with a violent shriek, and sparks flew as they battled for dominance. Stray shocks of energy blasted the ground apart, crackling and barking their errant power across the clearing in indiscriminate bolts. However, eventually, they both collapsed at the same time, exploding in a searing wave of heat and blasting glittering smoke outward. As the smoke faded, Aaron frowned. AZ was gone. Not a moment later, his body jerked as he was tackled from the side. They rolled over the ruined ground, but AZ ended up on top, clutching Aaron¡¯s neck in his massive hands. His eyes burned with rage as he tightened his grip. Lucario roared, but his voice was swiftly cut off as AZ choked Aaron out even further. He gasped and fell to the ground, grabbing at the phantom hands around his iron neck. Mega Evolution had led to a swift victory against AZ¡¯s Aurorus, but now it was a liability, as AZ did the unthinkable: besting his fabled master. Aaron grunted beneath the giant, his face contorted. AZ pressed his hands into the ground, burying Aaron¡¯s neck, and Lucario twisted in agony behind them. A long knife of Aura blazed to life between the two men, and Aaron swiped it across AZ¡¯s bare chest. He finally released his grip and stumbled back. Aaron rubbed his neck as he rose, but seeing as his body was made purely of Aura, it¡¯s not like he needed to breathe. Lucario, on the other hand, coughed and wheezed, sucking in air greedily as he rubbed his abused throat. However, Aaron¡¯s body flickered ever so slightly as he sent a pulse of stabilizing Aura throughout himself. AZ had just come dangerously close to destroying this vessel. AZ touched his chest, then rubbed his fingers together. The rain quickly washed it away, but even in the darkness, the red was unmistakable. ¡°Impressive,¡± he intoned. ¡°So you can harm me even without a Plate. As expected of Rota¡¯s king.¡± ¡°Stand by for battle, Lucario,¡± Aaron ordered. ¡°Not enough blood yet.¡± AZ licked his lips and hunkered down once again. ¡°There¡¯s still plenty more to spill.¡± However, instead of charging, he hesitated and glanced up at the sky. ¡°Hmm. It should be time.¡± His eyes flashed as the Fairy Plate fed him intelligence, and he grinned. ¡°Ha ha ha. You truly have a wonderful eye for talent, Lord Vandrick,¡± he said.
Kalos Region - Beneath Geosenge Town Finally, finally, N emerged from the seemingly never ending hallway of stone into a wider chamber. It was quiet and empty, the stacks of crates lining the dimly lit room abandoned by their possessors. However, it wasn¡¯t completely empty. ¡°Shit, you almost gave me a heart attack!¡± Zinnia cursed. She was sitting on the ground, leaning back against her Salamence. ¡°Sorry,¡± N said, gasping for breath. His face and neck shined with sweat. Zinnia smirked. ¡°Did you seriously run all the way here? How many miles is it between Cyllage and Geosenge?¡± Then she frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Reshiram?¡± After taking a few more breaths, N patted his bag. ¡°Resting.¡± Zinnia¡¯s eyes remained thin as she stared at N¡¯s bag, seemingly unable to believe the legendary dragon had been bested. ¡°So you got attacked too then, huh?¡± she eventually murmured. ¡°I wonder how they¡¯re doing in Rota.¡± N straightened himself and glanced around the chamber. Strange machinery and piping scaled up the ancient walls, layering old and new together. The air stunk of mildew and sour smoke. ¡°I talked to Sylvester a bit before our call cut out. Rota has been attacked as well, and AZ is there, as is Cynthia.¡± Surprisingly, Zinnia didn¡¯t overreact. She simply raised an eyebrow and scoffed. ¡°Lucky them.¡± N frowned. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Never better,¡± Zinnia said dismissively, crawling toward the wall. An ornate stone pillar sat basked in the shadows just beside her, and she moved toward it. ¡°When did you get here?¡± N asked. ¡°¡®Bout ten minutes ago.¡± ¡°Has anyone entered this room since you arrived?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± N scowled and glanced around again. Where did he go? ¡°Why, what¡¯s up?¡± Zinnia asked, noticing his discontent. ¡°I fought a young trainer around your age working for AZ,¡± he explained, beginning to pace around the chamber, checking nooks and crannies and scanning the shadowed darkness. ¡°We defeated him, but he slipped through our fingers. He was heading back here as fast as he could. He even left his pok¨¦mon behind.¡± Zinnia clicked her tongue. ¡°How did someone so young get mixed up with AZ? No good.¡± ¡°No good indeed,¡± N agreed, his search becoming more frantic. ¡°There must have been another path he went down¡­a hidden side path I didn¡¯t notice in my haste to get here. As one of AZ¡¯s loyalists, he would know this place far better.¡± Zinnia nodded, standing up slowly. She clutched her side and grunted quietly as she rose. ¡°You¡¯re hurt¡­¡± N said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± she said curtly. ¡°We need to find this lost man of yours. I¡¯ve been looking at this thing for the past ten minutes but I still have no idea what it is.¡± She thumbed the stone pillar next to her, and N approached it. He hadn¡¯t noticed before, but it was no pillar, nor was it made of stone. It was made of some sort of crystal, thick layers of the jagged stuff compressed and curled into an eerie spire whose peak was obscured in darkness at the top of the chamber. ¡°Aster got bad vibes from it,¡± Zinnia continued. ¡°If your guy ran off like a coward to get here, then I¡¯m guessing he was after this.¡± N placed his hand on it, but the crystal was cold. It felt just like a normal rock. ¡°Perhaps I can wake Reshiram to have a look.¡± Salamence suddenly grunted, and a noise escaped his mouth that sounded like choking. Both N and Zinnia¡¯s heads whipped in his direction. A ring of metal was lodged in his mouth awkwardly, and he stumbled back, crashing into the crates behind him. For a split second, the dragon¡¯s head passed beneath a dim shaft of sunlight that sheared between a crack in the ceiling above, and N¡¯s eyes widened at what he saw. It was a Klefki in Salamence¡¯s mouth. ¡°Zinnia!¡± he roared, but he was half a second too late. Caleb emerged from the shadows and slammed his fist into Zinnia¡¯s injured midsection, and she cried out, crumpling to the ground. N surged forward, but Caleb tossed two pok¨¦balls in his direction. Before he could react, they opened, emptying out the defeated bodies of Pangoro and Barbaracle. They collapsed in front of him, still unconscious, but their large forms impeded his path all the same. From behind their slacken arms, N could see Caleb sprint over to the crystal spire. He scowled and clambered over the defeated pok¨¦mon. The youth glared at him as he approached, but he barely had time to turn before N tackled him to the ground and planted his arm across his neck. Caleb coughed and squirmed beneath him, but when it was clear he couldn¡¯t get away, he smirked, drool leaking from the corner of his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± The spire lurched, shaking the chamber, and it began to rise. It burst through the ceiling, showering them in dirt and shattered stone, and N squinted at the sudden flood of sunlight. Some sort of metal contraption pushed the spire higher and higher with cacophonous clanks and whirs until it had fully unburied itself. N couldn¡¯t see it too well now, but he could hear it. It released an otherworldly hiss, a deep suction sound, and the wires lining the mechanical plinth it rested on began to glow a harsh azure. The entire structure began to tremble, before a lancing light exploded skyward, blinding everyone within. Though he couldn¡¯t see, N made sure to keep Caleb in place beneath him. He cracked open an eye after a few seconds and saw Zinnia shifting in place, dirt falling from her hair. Seeing her okay, N refocused on Caleb. ¡°What did you just do?!¡± he shouted over the keening roar of the spire. Caleb grinned, his breathing unsteady. ¡°For¡­my¡­master,¡± he bit out. Next ¡ª Chapter 42 : Fury
Remnants of the Great War [33] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [33] Chapter 42 : Fury
Kalos Region - Beneath Geosenge Town The heat from the crystal spire was scorching, and Zinnia felt like she could barely breathe without burning her throat. Her broken side throbbed in agony where that kid had punched her, and she sucked in air through gritted teeth. Just in front of her, N had the bastard held down, and she pulled herself toward him, through the maelstrom of winds that gusted out from the gaping hole in the ceiling. At first, she¡¯d thought her vision was poor because of the sudden flood of daylight, but as the seconds passed, it became clear that the blinding light from above was not simply due to the sun. The spire was pumping power into the sky, each burst releasing an eerie whine as it shook the earth around them. Gravel and dirt alike fell from above, and white smoke began to curl around them, drifting from the spire. After what seemed like ages, the light above finally started to fade, and the machinery beneath the spire began to stop, its glow fading. Zinnia panted on the ground, her knuckles red from pressing against the stone floor so hard. She hadn¡¯t realized before, but she was covered in a sheen of sweat, and a draft of wind from above almost made her shiver. Behind her, Salamence spit the Klefki out of his mouth, and it hit the ground with a metallic thud. He snorted furiously, unable to believe he¡¯d been subjected to such humiliation. Ever diligent, N had kept the boy firmly beneath him the entire him, but he looked nearly as out of it as she did. As N lifted himself off of him, his eyes seemed glazed over as he stared vacantly at the sky, and his lips quivered as he took quick breaths. Seeing her having trouble, N walked over and offered a hand, which Zinnia gladly took, hiding her wince as best she could. Then, together, the two of them stared down at the boy. His eyes slid between them, but he didn¡¯t react. ¡°What did you just do?¡± N said in a low voice. It was rare¡­well, actually, Zinnia had never heard N use a tone this threatening. She didn¡¯t even know he was capable of such a thing, compassionate and aloof as he usually was. It gave her pause, and she glanced between the two reservedly. The boy coughed, and moved a dirtied hand up to his neck. Sweat matted his brown hair to his dirt-stained face, messy and disheveled now. He swallowed, and fixed N with a flat gaze. He said nothing. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna talk, right?¡± Zinnia asked. The boy smirked, though laying on the ground, with dirty sweat glistening on his face, it looked a little pathetic. He shook his head. Zinnia¡¯s foot slammed down on his skull, and almost immediately afterward, she cried out and fell to her knees, clutching at her injured side. ¡°Zinnia!¡± N knelt beside her and grabbed her shoulders before she could tip over. He glanced at the boy, then back at her. ¡°Broken ribs. And that¡¯s exactly where he got me,¡± Zinnia bit out, motioning as best she could with her hand on the same side. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad, he had it coming.¡± N looked down at her injured torso with furrowed brows. ¡°I won¡¯t get mad. It¡¯s my fault. I pointed it out to him.¡± He glanced over at the boy, and the gray and red footprint on his forehead where Zinnia had kicked him. ¡°But please don¡¯t exert yourself in this state.¡± He helped her up again, though this time, she stayed slightly hunched over in pain. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be dismissive, but we need to figure out what he did, and fast.¡± ¡°I told you not to worry about me.¡± Zinnia supported herself on N¡¯s arm, but she let go as she hobbled over to the spire. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve seen it in action, it seems pretty clear that its some sort of energy conduit.¡± ¡°I saw similar phenomena during my time in Team Plasma. A doctor there was very interested in the sort of energy that could be derived from structures like this,¡± N agreed. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s my bias speaking, but I fear that this crystal, like the others, has a violent purpose.¡± ¡°I¡¯d assume so. If that kid rushed back here for that, then I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing good. But we¡¯re all the way in Kalos¡­ That energy he fired¡­if its target is in Rota¡­¡± ¡°Let''s get back to the surface,¡± N said curtly. ¡°We can¡¯t do much from down here, and if all that energy is truly set to land in Rota, then we must do everything in our power to stop it.¡± ¡°What about him?¡± Zinnia asked, pointing at the boy. N paused for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s just bring him to the surface for now.¡± He quickly recalled the boy¡¯s defeated pok¨¦mon and attached the pok¨¦balls back to his waist, then helped Zinnia climb onto Salamence¡¯s back. Salamence stomped over and took the boy in his mouth, but it looked like the dragon was exerting a tremendous amount of willpower to keep from crunching him in his jaws. As they crested the lip of the hole, Geosenge came into view. Several ancient stones, which had stood in the center of town for generations, had been crushed or knocked over. Civilians stood in a pack around the hole, though luckily they were a distance away, behind a perimeter set by the local police. Upon seeing Salamence rise out, the officers barked orders at their pok¨¦mon, immediately rounding on the dragon. ¡°Stand down! Dismount from the Salamence, immediately!¡± one of them roared through a megaphone. A wave of concern passed through the gathered civilians as they exchanged words, and some closest to Salamence took a few steps back. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Zinnia mumbled as she leaned against Salamence¡¯s neck. Her sight was pointed down; she was in so much pain she didn¡¯t even want to move her neck. ¡°I agree,¡± N muttered back. ¡°No need to look, but I can see the energy high in the sky, and getting higher.¡± ¡°Get off the Salamence, now!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s already that high up, I doubt Salamence can catch up.¡± The dragon snorted in indignation beneath her, but she was in too much pain to retort. ¡°Reshiram can fly us,¡± N said. ¡°He¡¯s rested enough for that.¡± ¡°And the guy?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave him here. The police will want something to chew on after we head out.¡± ¡°Are you listening to me?! Get off the damn Salamence or we will attack!¡± ¡°Ahhh, shut up,¡± Zinnia moaned. ¡°On your move, then.¡± N nodded and reached into his bag. He leaned down ever so slightly and whispered something unintelligible. ¡°Hey, keep your hands where we can see them!¡± Salamence opened his jaw and dumped the boy¡¯s body carelessly on the ground. The Light Stone rolled out of N¡¯s bag and hit the ground below with the thump. The police officers barely had time to register it before its surface melted into orange, and it expanded outward, sweeping beneath Salamence in a storm of blazing embers. The police screeched in alarm, and several ordered their pok¨¦mon to attack, but a billowing white wing swept in front of N and Zinnia, shielding them from all harm. Salamence clung to Reshiram¡¯s back in confusion, flapping his wings to keep himself upright, for fear of hurting his trainer. Reshiram glanced back and snorted. N rested his hand on Zinnia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You can recall Salamence now. I¡¯ve got you.¡± Zinnia nodded and braced herself. As she pulled out Salamence¡¯s pok¨¦ball, she felt N¡¯s hand grip her back. She activated the pok¨¦ball, and Salamence disappeared beneath them. She hissed in pain as she dropped, but surprisingly, Reshiram¡¯s body rose to meet her, and the impact was soft and bearable. In front of her, Reshiram roared, and the air began to get even hotter as his tail flared, and he began to flap his wings. This was Zinnia¡¯s first time riding Reshiram. She¡¯d been far too proud to ever ask N before, but even then, it was her personal philosophy that legendary dragons should be afforded a certain level of reverence that did not permit her to make such a recreational request in the first place. But since the opportunity had presented itself, she gladly drank it in. The first thing she noticed was how hurt he was. Congealed blood ran from cuts across his body, and Zinnia nearly yelled at N out of reflex. How could you let this happen?! she wanted to say. But even before that, she had to wonder, how could this even have happened? She glanced up at N¡¯s back, her lips pouty. She¡¯d stomped him out, but clearly that kid had been strong, to be able to injure Reshiram so. She wondered what would¡¯ve happened if she and N had found themselves reversed, with her challenging the boy, and N and Reshiram plowing through that horde of acolytes. Perhaps they¡¯d gotten bad matchups. But maybe that was by design. Either way, they¡¯d both come out victorious, though neither unscathed. Reshiram¡¯s blood gave off a bronze smell, and Zinnia found herself ignoring his wounds out of respect. Instead, she observed the rest of his body. His fur, if it could be called that, was hot and soft, but it felt more like resting on thick smoke than actual hair. The way it billowed in the wind, it felt like she was resting on a bed of fire, but instead of burning her, it made her feel invigorated. Reshiram smelled of smoke and power. Despite the agony in her side, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. This is a dragon. Reshiram rose into the sky, leaving the shouts of the police and the chaotic Geosenge Town behind. Their heading was clear. For above them, a bright star shined above despite it being the middle of the day, white light trailing behind it like a comet. ¡°We¡¯re going to speed up!¡± N shouted over the roar of the wind. ¡°Hang on!¡± Despite it feeling slightly inappropriate to do so, Zinnia grabbed on to Reshiram¡¯s fur and clutched him even tighter, pressing her body against him. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore everything else going on around her, focusing exclusively on the warmth beneath her. A moment later, Reshiram zipped skyward, and though it somehow didn¡¯t exacerbate her broken ribs, Zinnia felt her stomach turn at the sudden change in velocity. Salamence was fast, but not this fast. A new respect for N birthed in her. As the sky whipped past them, Zinnia refocused on the catastrophe at hand. The energy fired from the spire gleamed above them, burning through the fluffy clouds above Geosenge as it ascended. It was climbing far faster than Reshiram was flying, but Zinnia could tell the dragon was trying to catch it ahead of where it was now. It was curving slightly, and Reshiram was rocketing toward the sky in front of it. Despite how fast they were flying, the buildings and ruins of Geosenge now little more than pebbles in the distance, the ride didn¡¯t feel perilous at all, nor was the wind freezing them as they flew. Such was the majesty of a legendary dragon. Zinnia squinted as they neared the streaking mass of energy. She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but now that they were closer, she could tell it was huge. It must have been the size of a skyscraper, like the ones in Lilycove and Mossdeep. The spire in that underground chamber was minuscule by comparison, and it made Zinnia wonder how such a thing had fired off something this large and powerful. It seemed to burn as bright and white as the sun as it roared across the sky. ¡°Reshiram!¡± N yelled. ¡°Blue Flare!¡± ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t we too close?!¡± Zinnia screeched. Reshiram and N both ignored her as Reshiram opened his jaw, summoning a glowing power with a sapphire hue from deep within itself. The mass of energy was above them, but in just a few seconds, it was going to roar past them. Clearly, N intended to destroy it as it crossed their path. Even as he charged his attack, Reshiram kept soaring through the sky at a breathtaking clip. Closer, closer, and closer it got, and brighter, brighter, brighter, did Reshiram¡¯s maw get. ¡°Now!¡± N roared. A snort oozed from Reshiram¡¯s smoking nostrils, and he reared back, before blasting the attack forward. A gleaming ray of sapphire fire shot from Reshiram¡¯s mouth in a concentrated line. At the same time, the mass of energy rushed past in a blinding blur. The Blue Flare crashed into its side, ripping through its surface like a frozen lake. Reshiram roared even louder, unleashing even more power, and his body shuddered beneath them. N gripped Reshiram¡¯s side, sweat dripping down his temple. Zinnia glanced between him, and the awesome display of power with worry. The mass of energy wasn¡¯t collapsing. It was like it was regenerating itself as Reshiram¡¯s Blue Flare tore across it. ¡°Enough, Reshiram!¡± N said, clapping his neck, and the dragon extinguished his attack. Just a moment later, the last of the energy streaked past them, leaving them in the dust as it continued to rocket out of their reach. Zinnia swallowed. It was strangely quiet now, the only sound in the air coming from the beat of Reshiram¡¯s wings as he kept them aloft. ¡°What now?¡± she said. N exhaled and leaned back against Reshiram¡¯s neck. ¡°Reshiram isn¡¯t strong enough to destroy it.¡± He glanced back at Zinnia. ¡°It¡¯s not because he¡¯s worn out from the battle earlier either. Even at full strength¡­I¡¯m still not sure we¡¯d even be able to dent it.¡± Zinnia hadn¡¯t wanted to say it aloud, especially since she was riding atop the dragon himself, but she had been thinking it. She already knew it¡¯d be futile to send her own dragons at it. She¡¯d clung to the hope that Reshiram would be able to destroy it, but if N had assessed that he couldn¡¯t, then that was that. A dragon¡¯s strengths, and limits, were best known by its master, after all. ¡°What even is it?¡± she said. ¡°Something terrible, says Reshiram. Aster was right to be worried.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°We need to let Sylvester know,¡± Zinnia said, trying to hide the panic in her voice. ¡°If we can¡¯t stop it¡­ Look.¡± She pointed at it. ¡°The way it¡¯s curving¡­it¡¯s heading west.¡± ¡°Toward Rota,¡± N said in a low voice. ¡°And it¡¯s getting faster.¡± Now that he said it, Zinnia could see that it certainly was. It was so far above them now, it seemed almost inconceivable that they¡¯d been so close to it just a short while ago. ¡°That much energy is enough¡­¡± Her voice caught in her throat. ¡°Enough to level a city,¡± N finished. ¡°Perhaps we should just call one of our friends in Rota directly. If Sir Aaron could be notified, maybe he¡ª¡° ¡°Let¡¯s keep after it,¡± Zinnia said. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t catch up, we can still track its movement. Aster can. If it keeps getting faster, who knows how much time they¡¯ll have in Rota to react. We¡¯ll be able to give them the most accurate intel.¡± N paused to think it over, then nodded. ¡°I agree. I¡¯ll still call Sylvester, though.¡± Zinnia nodded, and pulled out Aster¡¯s pok¨¦ball. She tried to keep her mind off her friends in Rota. But she couldn¡¯t.
Land of Rota - South of Cameran Palace ¡°Riley!¡± Sabrina watched as Sarah surged forward through the fray and embraced the spiky-haired Guardian. He looked tired, but determination gleamed in his eyes. He gave the girl a tender squeeze before gently pushing her away, and he fixed her with a worried gaze. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here? You told me you were assigned to the medical team.¡± Wordlessly, Sarah pointed back at Regigigas, its eyes shining through the storm. Riley¡¯s eyes widened as the unbelievable sight sank in, and he swallowed, clenching his fist. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Noticing Sabrina, he turned. ¡°Sabrina. Thank you for notifying me about Anabel, and for closing that portal.¡± He glanced around. ¡°We¡¯re barely holding our own now. I can¡¯t imagine having even more of them to contend with.¡± Sarah grabbed at his sleeve. ¡°Riley, please help us evacuate the palace! There¡¯re still Guardians inside, and soon, it will collapse beneath Regigigas! Sabrina¡­Sabrina said she would handle it, so you don¡¯t need to fight any more!¡± Riley scowled at the gargantuan golem, his lips pursed. He turned to Sabrina, searching for the truth of Sarah¡¯s words, but Sabrina was resolute. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked. ¡°It does me no favors to say this, but this isn¡¯t your fight. Why would you go so far for us?¡± Sabrina opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Good question. Though really, that question could be applied to everything and anything she did. Why? Why did she join Paragon? Why did she come here to Rota? Why had she just zipped all across Rota like a maniac? Why did she even wake up this morning? Riley and Sarah had their reasons. Ash and Anabel had theres. Hell, even AZ had his. But for Sabrina, life was a numbed affair. Usually, it was easy enough to ignore that reality and simply live day to day. But today, she¡¯d undergone far more suffering than usual. Why did she subject herself to that? She glanced back at Regigigas. As its fingers curled around the edge of the roof of one of the buildings, crumbled rubble dropped down the side, crashing through the forest below. With every move, it groaned, echoing its mechanical malevolence across the lake. Riley hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off of her. It seemed he actually wanted an answer. Unlike matters of her heart and mind, dispatching an ancient golem the size of a castle would be a simple task. ¡°Because it¡¯s easy,¡± she finally said. And it was true. Riley frowned incredulously. ¡°Easy? That thing? Are you sure you don¡¯t want¡ª¡° He spun as one of AZ¡¯s men charged him, and he palmed him in the chin, before kicking him back. His Lucario swiftly launched an Aura Sphere at the man¡¯s Manectric, and both combatants went tumbling away back into the chaos. Once that was taken care of, he locked eyes with Sabrina once again, concern coloring his expression. But she was stoic. ¡°You should get back to the palace now. The Queen is still inside.¡± Riley hesitated, but eventually nodded. ¡°Very well. Thank you, Sabrina. Let¡¯s reconvene when this is over so I can thank you properly.¡± Sarah shot him a look, but Riley grabbed her hand, and she jumped. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me.¡± ¡°O-Okay!¡± ¡°I know how stubborn the Queen can be. Only a spiel from you could hope to get her out of the palace.¡± Sarah scowled in embarrassment, but Riley was already pulling her along toward the palace, their Lucarios in tow behind them. With that handled, Sabrina exhaled and spread her consciousness across Rota. Anabel and Cynthia¡¯s Lucario were almost here, and he already knew to take her straight to the evacuation point. Ash was now dangerously close to AZ and Sir Aaron¡¯s fight. In fact, he may have already joined. It was difficult to tell, but that only heightened Sabrina¡¯s anxiety. And Cynthia was still in front of the Tree of Beginning. She retracted her perception and took several deep breaths. She needed her mind cleared for the foe ahead. For now, she needed to trust that everyone would keep themselves safe while pursuing their various goals. Not everything was in her control. But this Regigigas was. Her gauntlets whirred, and she vanished in a flash of emerald, reappearing in the air above the titan. The rain dumped on her, the wind casting her hair this way and that. Her eyes glowed dimly in the storm as she kept herself aloft, and a crack of lightning lanced down behind her, illuminating the valley. Regigigas hadn¡¯t seemed to notice her yet, so she began to extend her power forward, jade light curling around her arms like snakes. All of a sudden, Regigigas froze in place, its massive arm hovering in midair just before grabbing the tiled roof of the building it was nearly at the top of. A deep groan reverberated from the golem¡¯s form, and despite its inorganic nature, its feelings were clear: anger. Anger that something had dared deign to challenge its ascent up the palace. She couldn¡¯t physically see it from this distance, but Sabrina¡¯s jade psychic energy had found its way to Regigigas and latched on. Its entire body brimmed with a furious potency, as if exerting itself against the invisible power. Then, Regigigas released another booming roar, and her hold over it shattered, dissipating into emerald sparks that quickly disappeared in the rain. I thought so. AZ had also broken free from her, but that was AZ, so she¡¯d thought maybe it¡¯d work against Regigigas, but it seemed his pok¨¦mon were at least as tenacious as he was. I didn¡¯t want to have to do this. Sabrina raised her left wrist to her face. Her gauntlet glowed in the darkness, casting a green glow on her face as it rotated about her wrist with mechanical precision. ¡°Disable left arm restraint.¡± The gauntlet¡¯s light faded and gradually began to stop spinning. Sabrina shuddered, clutching her head as her mind reacclimated to their new power level. The energy flickering across her body flared, and the air around her hissed in protest. Slowly, the light around her shifted from a vibrant jade, and a deep violet. Purple cracks webbed out across her skin, and when she opened her eyes, they were nothing more than depthless bits of light. Her hair blew around her in gales, and when she exhaled, her breath condensed in a white haze. She suddenly became aware of everyone and everything in Rota. She knew exactly how many Guardians there were below, and how many of AZ¡¯s acolytes. She could see Cynthia¡¯s Glaceon dueling with her opponent¡¯s Sylveon by the Tree of Beginning. She could see Sir Aaron and AZ, Ash and Anabel, Queen Ilene and Captain Magnus. She could feel the thundering of the hills in the north as countless pok¨¦mon fled from the annals of the Tree of Beginning, obeying a command Sabrina could now hear. It is absolutely imperative that these restraints are never damaged or removed. If they are, it would be lethal for Sabrina. And not just her¡­everyone around her as well. Even if only one is removed¡­well, I¡¯ll just say it would be difficult to call her human at that point. Sabrina hadn¡¯t been trying to eavesdrop on the doctor, but her parents hadn¡¯t spared much of a thought to her or what she¡¯d be up to. She was far enough from anyone else that at least that wasn¡¯t a concern. If I combust, maybe the Guardians will get a nice light show out of it. Regigigas roared and screeched, sounding like an angry dog barking its fury at Sabrina as it clung to the palace¡¯s side. Sabrina raised her hand once more, the tips of her fingers limned in a dark energy, and she flicked her wrist. Regigigas was suddenly ripped from the palace¡¯s side. It screamed in a deep voice of pure hatred, echoing throughout all of Rota. Sabrina spun her wrist, and Regigigas responded accordingly, curling in midair like some demonic puppet, until it was upside down. Its legs and arms flailed as it grunted in anger and confusion. As its body turned, all six of its beacon-like eyes found Sabrina and swiveled on to her, bathing her in a multicolored spotlight. She narrowed her eyes. Regigigas strained against her hold, fighting to raise its arms in her direction. Sabrina didn¡¯t react as each arm locked on to her, like the barrels of two enormous cannons. A searing light began to gather in front of both, and with a baleful screech, Regigigas fired twin Hyper Beams. Sabrina raised two fingers on her other hand and drew them through the air almost lazily. Just before the Hyper Beams engulfed her, two perfect circles opened in front of her, holes in the fabric of space. The Hyper Beams disappeared into them, and two more opened above Regigigas, the Hyper Beams firing out not a moment later. Regigigas roared in agony as they splashed down on its head, and ceased its attack immediately. But she wasn¡¯t done. Sabrina opened her palm, and a constellation of rifts opened all around Regigigas. A second later, a Hyper Beam blasted out of each one, scorching Regigigas all across its body with its own attack. The cloned portals had duplicated their contents too, and Regigigas screamed. Now, show me your memory. Sabrina¡¯s blazing eyes seared violet as she peered through reality, piercing Regigigas¡¯ soul and reading its divine language in an instant. Despite the fact that it was an automaton and had no real brain, its soul had accumulated memories all the same, and visions of them flashed in Sabrina¡¯s mind, years passing in a single instant. Her heart palpitated as she experienced a hundred emotions at once, but she willed a psychic slice through her mind, severing them before they could take hold. AZ had met Regigigas early in his tenure as king. He¡¯d found the ancient golem in the far north, in a land called Hisui. While touring the world, he¡¯d found himself in a blizzard, lost from his men, and the guides that had taken him there. He¡¯d found solace in a nondescript temple of some ancient tribe. A Regigigas slumbered within, and it had slipped into one of his pok¨¦balls without him even knowing, as he lay shivering, frostbitten, and dehydrated on the cold stone floor. It wasn¡¯t until later in his journey that he discovered his new companion, a stalwart but brooding guardian who allowed no harm to befall his master, but also did not participate in any conflicts personally. Apparently, it had sensed a coming catastrophe, and AZ¡¯s importance therewith in the tapestries of fate. But was that affection it felt toward its master? And anguish at his eventual defeat? It enjoyed war just as much as AZ, but actively refrained from battle so its master could enjoy the full spoils of violence¡­? Tears pooled and dripped from Sabrina¡¯s eyes unbidden, but the emotions that had caused them had already come and gone, and they too lost themselves in the rain. Time to finish this. Sabrina rose higher into the sky, breaching the ocean of storm clouds above. Lightning flashed around her as she swam up through the darkness, but she soon emerged above them. In complete contrast, here, it was silent and serene, but also bright and scorching. Almost immediately, Sabrina¡¯s hair caught fire, burned by the sunlight that AZ¡¯s Groudon had amplified over Rota. Only Kyogre¡¯s storm protected the Guardians from a similar, albeit less extreme, fate. The sunlight meant nothing to Sabrina now. She opened her hands and devoured as much of it as she could, gathering its flames around her in a fearsome corona. As her blaze expanded, she locked eyes with the sun as she did every morning, and squinted wistfully. Regigigas spent most of its life in the cold. It dislikes warmth. With her fire anchored to her, Sabrina plunged back into the storm. The fire attracted lightning, and electricity surged across its roiling surface, imbuing the ring with even greater destruction. As she breached the cloud line below, she could sense the attention of those gathered below suddenly turn on her. It wasn¡¯t a surprise. Surely, she looked like an otherworldly sun right now. At the very least, she must¡¯ve looked as bright as one. Regigigas hadn¡¯t moved from the spot where Sabrina had suspended it, still squirming in midair. It glanced up at her too as she approached, and through the maelstrom of emotions it was emitting, another suddenly became clear. Fear. Sabrina closed her eyes and willed the storm above her to move. Dark clouds whipped into a cyclone and began to spin around Regigigas and Sabrina. As the twister descended, the gray winds got faster and thicker, racing around in a spiral that cloaked the both of them from the rest of Rota. Lightning arced from the raging walls of the cloudy prison to the crackling surface of Sabrina¡¯s fiery ring, and the thunder that followed boomed throughout the stormy chamber in an echo. In the ravenous winds of the twister, flecks of Sabrina¡¯s skin flecked off from her body as glowing violet embers, and they swirled around in an arcane storm. However, she paid it no mind as she raised her arm. I can¡¯t let you see this. Regigigas roared in challenge, as if daring Sabrina to launch the spinning disc of fire. Please forgive me. Though to whom exactly that request was addressed to, Sabrina couldn¡¯t say for certain. She brought her hand down. The ring of fire blitzed downward in a furious frenzy. Regigigas grunted, trying to move its arms to block, but the attack was far too quick, and Sabrina had strengthened her hold over it too. There was no escape. The ring burst into a blinding, searing light as it reached Regigigas. Without hesitation, it cleaved the ancient golem in half, separated diagonally from head to hip. Three of its eyes ended up on each half, but their lights were silenced instantly, and the pieces of its body went slack. The half with its legs and left arm crashed down on top of the one with its head and right arm as both tumbled down to the lake far, far below. They disappeared in a plume of white foam, sinking down to the pitch black lakebed. Once the foam had dissipated, and the surface of the lake was calm again, or as calm as the roiling tempest allowed, Sabrina willed her restraint back on, and her eyes melted back from violet to jade. The fissures across her body sealed up, the light seeping from within fading. The cyclone around her began to calm, and before she could draw any more attention to herself, she teleported away. She reappeared on the center island, within the grove of golden maple trees before the palace. In the darkness of the storm, their leaves were damp and dull, and Sabrina collapsed into their shadows against the trunk of one of the trees. Her left gauntlet was once again glowing emerald and spinning, and after confirming it, she closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths. No light show today. There were very few things Sabrina was confident about, especially regarding herself. Her ability to destroy was one of them.
Land of Rota - East of Cameran Palace Aaron stared up at the sky, the rain falling through his Aura body. ¡°No¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°Hah hah,¡± AZ taunted. ¡°Something the matter, hero?¡± All around them lay unmoving pok¨¦mon. Corviknight and Nidoking. Tyranitar and Ampharos. Gallade and Dragonite. Escavalier and Magmortar. All defeated by AZ. Only Lucario still remained conscious, but wounds peppered his body, and he panted with exertion, leaning against a ruined tree to stabilize himself. The rain ran down AZ¡¯s bare chest, and he grinned. ¡°Give me more! You can¡¯t end this just yet! Stay and entertain me longer!¡± Aaron trembled, his face shadowed by his hair. He clenched his fist. ¡°You fool.¡± AZ raised an eyebrow. ¡°You blasted fool, how could you?!¡± Aaron shouted. ¡°You fired the weapon!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± AZ said triumphantly. ¡°Struggle all you want, but my victory is assured. So what will it be? Will you stay and fight me, or will you abandon your people like a coward again?¡± Aaron closed his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think for a moment that you¡¯ve won. You underestimate the Guardians far too much.¡± As he spoke, he clapped his hands together, then pulled them apart. Grasped in his right hand was a sword of pure Aura that shined so brilliantly it was almost white. As Aaron arced it around and brought it to his side, it left a mystical trail of azure mist in the air, power radiating from its every move. ¡°Hmph.¡± AZ rested his hand on his chest, and his body lurched. A bright light gleamed at the center of his chest, and he slowly pulled his hand away. He too held a blade in his right hand, but while Aaron¡¯s was elegant and sleek, this one was jagged and misshapen, far larger, and somehow gleaming even brighter. As AZ drew it to his side, it released a keening wheeze as it throbbed and pulsed. ¡°The Fairy Plate made manifest,¡± Aaron breathed. ¡°You¡¯ve turned it into a weapon.¡± ¡°An unbeatable weapon,¡± AZ said. Aaron glared at AZ, and a moment later, he vanished. AZ frowned, but Aaron reappeared right in front of him, raking his sword across his chest at lightning speed. AZ grunted, and his fist shot out instinctively, but Aaron dodged. AZ¡¯s eyes burned, and a moment later, a white blur slashed across the air where Aaron had been planted not a second ago. The path of his Fairy Plate blade shimmered, but Aaron had already jumped back. AZ smirked, unperturbed by his injury, or his failed counterattack. ¡°Yes. This is more like it,¡± he hissed. Angling his sword around, he licked his lips. ¡°Let us clothe ourselves in the crimson garb of this violent world!¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 43 : Aaron and Azett
It is nothing short of a miracle that this chapter came out on time considering the Elden Ring DLC just dropped. Honestly, I¡¯ll just say that future chapters may be late until I beat it :P Okay, proofreading done¡ª time to fight Messmer. Wish me luck :D Remnants of the Great War [34] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [34] Chapter 43 : Aaron and Azett
Land of Rota - East of Cameran Palace Ash watched from the shadows of the forest as the two legends clashed. Sir Aaron wielded a sword of pure Aura, and alongside his own Mega Lucario, they danced against AZ and his jagged slab-like Plate-blade. Ash recognized it immediately, similar in appearance as it was to the Electric Plate when he¡¯d first found it, yet AZ swung it as easily as he would a baseball bat. He cleaved through the air, leaving blinding sparks in his wake, snarling like an animal as he advanced on his opponents. Lucario jumped and caught the blade between his iron paws, and Aaron ducked beneath him to deliver a strike on AZ¡¯s thigh. But the giant didn¡¯t falter in the slightest, leaping and pressing his forearm against the edge of the blade, before bringing his full weight down it, crushing Lucario into the ground. The jackal¡¯s eyes went white as he vomited spittle. But Aaron swiftly followed up with a flurry of gleaming thrusts, forcing AZ back. Sir Aaron¡¯s pok¨¦mon littered the battlefield, unconscious, and Ash could only think of one reason why. Sir Aaron hasn¡¯t even had time to recall them. The battle playing out before him was unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen, barring literal fantasy. This clash existed so far outside the realm of traditional pok¨¦mon battles that Ash wasn¡¯t even sure how to intrude upon it. Every time their swords met, a furious clang like a gong from an enormous bell echoed outward. As Sir Aaron sidestepped a downward slash, dodging only by a hair, he peppered AZ¡¯s side with a storm of cuts, his arm moving so fast his sword was nothing but an azure blur in Ash¡¯s eyes. AZ tried to beat him back with the flat of his sword, but Aaron simply dodged again, seemingly floating out of the way to deliver another series of attacks to his other side. Sir Aaron is too fast for him. His attacks aren¡¯t doing as much damage, but if he keeps this up¡­ AZ roared, and as Aaron rounded into his blind spot, AZ¡¯s fist shot out and grabbed Aaron by the neck without him even needing to look. The Guardian King grimaced, and AZ eyes shined with homicidal intent as he hefted his blade high above his head. The rain glinted against its surface, refracting its crystalline light across Aaron¡¯s face. The Guardian King grit his teeth and moved his sword in front of him just as the Plate-blade came screaming down. A vicious trail of white light followed, and Ash saw Aaron crumple beneath the effulgent arc. His sword shattered and detonated, and a massive explosion blasted the two men apart. AZ remained rooted in place, but Aaron went tumbling back across the grass in a column of wind. He rolled to a stop and grunted. Sweat dripped down Ash¡¯s face and a lance of anxiety bled through his heart. His attacks are faster, but AZ¡¯s are stronger¡­ As Aaron got to his feet, he clutched his head with his hand. When he pulled it away, Ash¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± he said aloud. Sir Aaron¡¯s hand was red, and blood dripped from a gash on his forehead. He too stared at it for a few moments, before glancing back up at AZ. AZ buried his sword in the ground and grinned. ¡°Did you think that just because your body is made of Aura that you could not bleed?¡± He laughed mockingly. ¡°I¡¯ll make you remember you¡¯re still mortal!¡± He picked up his sword again and began sauntering toward Aaron. Lucario peeled himself from the ground, shaking off dirt and soil, but AZ paid him no mind. Now is the time, young one. Ash¡¯s eyes widened and he almost made a sound, but he quickly stifled himself. Lucario! On my master¡¯s sign, we will strike together. Ash¡¯s heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline flooding his system. It was happening now. It was time to face AZ again. He swallowed and steeled himself, nodding. He couldn¡¯t hide in the bushes forever. He began to call upon the power of the Plate that coursed like lightning through his veins. Aaron¡¯s hand dropped and he conjured another sword. Clutching the handle in one hand and guiding the pommel with the other, he slowly angled it toward AZ. A moment before he moved, Sir Aaron¡¯s Aura flared. Ash¡¯s body moved before his mind. Electricity blazed to life in a torrent around him, and he leaped toward AZ, tangled bolts trailing behind him. At the same time, Sir Aaron blitzed forward in a blue blur, and Lucario leapt into the air with a roar, his crimson fists and forearms shining silver. Ash had his target in his sights. With Aaron coming at him from the front and Lucario coming from above, Ash¡¯s target was AZ¡¯s side, already bloody and wounded from Sir Aaron¡¯s prior attacks. From all three angles, AZ could only see one attacker at once. Even if he tries that Misty Explosion technique he used before, I can protect myself from it, and if I can, then the other two can too! ¡°Hello again,¡± AZ snarled, and Ash suddenly felt a giant hand close and tighten around his outstretched wrist. Before he could process what was happening, he felt his body jerk in another direction, and he slammed into what felt like a brick wall. His vision seized, but just barely not enough for him to miss AZ¡¯s fist catching Sir Aaron square in the face, and pummeling him to the ground. When Ash¡¯s ears stopped ringing, he tried pushing himself to his feet, but found not the ground beneath his weight, but Lucario. The jackal groaned as Ash shifted his weight atop him, and Ash quickly leapt off. ¡°Lucario! Sorry, I¡­¡± It isn¡¯t your fault. He saw us coming, and threw you into me. Lucario took Ash¡¯s helping hand and stood, glaring at AZ across the way. Lucario¡¯s skin burned with power and Ash nearly winced just at the touch of it. This was Sir Aaron¡¯s strongest partner¡­ You¡¯ve grown powerful since we last met, Ash Ketchum, he said. Your body and spirit both possess a heat that nearly eclipses my own. Were we enemies, I would take no pleasure in having to face you. Ash stared in awe. Lucario had felt the same way about him. Sir Aaron rubbed his jaw as he stood, and his entire body flickered. He fixed AZ with a stalwart gaze, but the giant seemed even angrier than he did. ¡°This fight has nothing to do with you,¡± AZ rumbled, turning toward Ash. ¡°You know naught of its significance. Stay out of this.¡± Ash glared at AZ in turn, ignoring the pain in his body. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t think that would work. Didn¡¯t expect Sir Aaron and Lucario to go along with it, but clearly you did. Good thing I had a backup plan.¡± AZ sneered, crossing his burly arms. ¡°I stopped your ambush with ease. Do you think I don¡¯t know about your pok¨¦mon, hiding in the forest?¡± Ash chewed the inside of his mouth, but then, he grinned. ¡°Even if you do, can you do anything to stop them?¡± AZ frowned, but a moment later, the forest burst apart on either side of the clearing, a red and blue blur each streaking out at lightning speed. Golden electricity danced in Ash¡¯s palms, and crackled upon the forms of his two partners. AZ moved to halt them just the same, but they were far too quick. They struck simultaneously, each one striking AZ¡¯s side in a grand release of strength. Charizard¡¯s Flare Blitz and Blastoise¡¯s Wave Crash twisted AZ¡¯s body in opposite directions, and he bellowed in pain. As Ash¡¯s pokemon expended their full strength into AZ¡¯s body, the giant soon buckled under the onslaught, and he collapsed to his knees with a pained grunt. Before he could recover, Ash surged forward and landed a blinding Thunder Punch to his chest, sending him flying back across the clearing. Electricity crackled on the surface of his outstretched fist, and as he slowly lowered it, Pikachu leapt out and landed on his shoulder. ¡°Good work, guys.¡± Charizard growled, flexing his augmented muscles, and Blastoise shivered from the electricity, nodding. ¡°Are you alright, Sir Aaron?¡± Ash asked, approaching him. Lucario followed, the appendages on his head billowing behind him. Sir Aaron¡¯s hand trembled for a moment, but his Aura sword soon flashed back into his grip. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± He fixed Ash with a gaze. ¡°I apologize for springing that surprise attack on you. Him noticing was my error, but I¡¯m glad you were able to take advantage of the opening. I see your battle prowess hasn¡¯t waned in the slightest.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Ash said defensively, slightly embarrassed from the praise. But his attention quickly turned at the sound of AZ stalking back toward them across the clearing, clapping his massive hands together. Charizard and Blastoise both rounded on him, sneering as they stood in front of their trainer protectively. ¡°Impressive,¡± he said. ¡°Very impressive. That¡¯s some trick you came up with. You didn¡¯t snare my attention before, but now, I can see why Aaron had his eye on you.¡± Sir Aaron stepped to Ash¡¯s side. ¡°You said it yourself, the boy has nothing to do with this. This is a fight between you and I. Three thousand years in the making, isn¡¯t that right?¡± AZ scowled, his face dripping with disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, he struck me first. And if he is here defending you, that makes him my enemy all the same.¡± His lips curled into a bitter grin. ¡°If only he knew the height of your treachery, perhaps he would not have jumped up to fight for you so quickly.¡± Ash frowned, glancing at Sir Aaron, but he gave nothing away. ¡°It was your own actions that placed you in that prison for three thousand years, not the Paragons. I¡¯ll make sure you understand that, if nothing else.¡± Sir Aaron brandished his sword. The Paragons? Ash wondered. ¡°The Paragons¡­,¡± AZ repeated. His body began to shake with rage. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take you all on at once! Come at me!¡± He rubbed his hands over his bloody torso, smearing his blood on his fingers, and he wiped his nose. Then, he roared to the stormy heavens. As Ash prepared to defend himself, he could almost see the legacy of carnage burning on AZ¡¯s back as the giant charged toward him, demonic flames smoldering in his war-soaked eyes.
Land of Rota, over three thousand years ago I was twenty-one when I first met Azett, and I had expected someone of far greater menace. As a child, I¡¯d read stories about the cold, unflinching kings of the east, who expanded their borders relentlessly against the ravages of nature. Kalos was a land where humans dominated, so it was said. The only place like it in the world, and for many, a promise like that was plenty for them to pursue such a utopia. Beyond Rota, pok¨¦mon were thought of as monsters to fear, not companions to fight alongside. For an Aura Guardian like myself, such a place did not sound like a utopia. It did not even sound possible. He came across the bridge with a flower in his hand, and he spoke to it as tenderly as a mother would her child. This I saw from a balcony on the palace. His soldiers marched alongside him, but he walked at a leisurely pace, stopping and starting again, seemingly at the whims of his little flower. Perhaps it was at that time that he had already piqued my interest. The easterners were said to hate pok¨¦mon, yet here was their king, frolicking with one beneath the sun in the sight of all his men. ¡°Your Majesty. Welcome to Rota,¡± King Jurock said, a thin man whose best days were behind him. The simple iron crown of the Guardians sat unevenly on his head of long, gray hair. He opened his mouth to continue, but had to stifle a cough with his handkerchief. ¡°Please excuse me. We are honored by your presence here.¡± Azett bowed, his regal cape flourishing over the floor of the throne room, and his men knelt in respect. ¡°The honor is mine, fabled Guardian king. I must extend my thanks to you for accepting my proposal. I know tensions between east and west have been taut for quite some time, but it is a testament to your courage and goodwill that you would permit my visit.¡± His regal voice echoed throughout the throne room. He stood and motioned with a gloved hand, and a pair of his soldiers stepped forward, each carrying one side of a gilded chest. They placed it down before the king, and bowed before retreating. ¡°A gift for you,¡± Azett announced. ¡°Seeds from fruits and flowers of the east. Cloth and jewelry from the greatest artisans in our lands. And of course, treasure borne from the depths of our kingdom.¡± It wasn¡¯t often Rota received visitors from abroad, especially as far east as Kalos, and never kings or anything of the sort, but despite its novelty, the introduction ceremony was a rather tedious affair. I had to make a conscious effort to keep my eyes open as King Jurock and King Azett exchanged words and pleasantries and carried on with their royal ceremony. However, eventually the Guardians escorted Azett and his retinue away to their quarters elsewhere in the palace. ¡°Did you fall asleep with your eyes open?¡± a voice came from behind me as I was leaving the throne room after the Kalosians. Immediately, my chest tightened, and I turned around. The eighteen year old Princess Rin was King Jurock¡¯s daughter, and she certainly looked like one with her long golden hair and angular face. She was smiling at me, and though it looked polite enough, I¡¯d known her long enough to know that she was making fun of me. ¡°I saw your eyelids fluttering,¡± she giggled, and I felt my face heat up. ¡°We¡¯re hosting the king of Kalos, I expected a bit more pomp and circumstance if I¡¯m being honest,¡± I said. ¡°And isn¡¯t he a bit young? He scarcely looks older than me.¡± ¡°Oh, you know us. The Guardians are creatures of tradition and simplicity.¡± Rin watched as King Azett walked away with his men. ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s one of the youngest kings Kalos has ever had.¡± I shrugged. At least talking to her had woken me back up again. ¡°So, what were you planning to do now?¡± she asked, flitting to my side as if she¡¯d find the answer hidden behind me. ¡°Off to train?¡± ¡°Actually, I was planning on taking a nap. I¡¯m sure dinner will be another draining affair.¡± ¡°Not as draining for you,¡± Rin pouted, puffing up her cheeks like Qwilfish, but I dashed the idea of teasing her for it. She and I were friendly enough in private that she wouldn¡¯t care, but we were still in public, and had appearances to upkeep. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°True enough,¡± I agreed. ¡°But you¡¯re more suited to politics than I am.¡± Rin placed a finger on her cheek and looked away in thought. ¡°Hm, I hear he¡¯s quite eccentric. Apparently, his age is the least significant thing that separates him from his predecessors. He does seem different from the other Kalos kings that have visited Rota in the past.¡± ¡°And how would you know that?¡± ¡°Father said so,¡± she said matter-of-factly. Well, I had gotten the same impression after seeing him with that flower pok¨¦mon of his. Maybe tomorrow I¡¯d ask Rin what he was like. As a member of the royal guard, I wouldn¡¯t get a chance to speak with him, but Rin would. And even though she¡¯d sounded apprehensive about dinner, she was an absolute natural at diplomatic affairs. She would make an excellent Queen. I bid my farewell to her and did precisely what I¡¯d told her I¡¯d do, and come dinner, we¡¯d convened again in the grand hall. As expected, Azett and several of his closest advisors sat with King Jurock, Princess Rin, and the rest of the royal court at the king¡¯s table, while the rest of us ate at communal tables. I glanced over at Rin a few times, and sure enough, she eventually did find herself in conversation with the king of Kalos. It seemed lively enough. Azett and his men had no itinerary. Rota was a long way from the sea, and the journey inland had been long enough that none of them were eager to pack up and leave any time soon. King Jurock organized tours of the palace and surrounding lands for them, and I saw little of Azett or Rin over the next week. One afternoon, I found myself in the gardens picking a bouquet of Rin¡¯s favorite blue roses. The sunlight splashed upon the northern courtyard with a brilliance that made me a bit drowsy, but I hadn¡¯t had any responsibilities to attend to today, so I was lazing around a bit. It had occurred to me that Rin had been quite a bit busier than usual hosting the Kalosians, so I thought I¡¯d use my time to do something nice for her. ¡°Do you mind if I join you?¡± I turned and saw King Azett standing in the doorway. He wore a simple white tunic with a red headband around his unkempt, long black hair. Far more casual than I¡¯d ever seen him dressed since he¡¯d arrived. His appearance shocked me for a moment. I¡¯d thought he was with King Jurock. ¡°Of course not,¡± I eventually said. ¡°Actually, I was just on my way out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Sir Aaron, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rin, probably. I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Azett smiled and started to walk closer. Then he paused and frowned. ¡°Do you mind if I release my pok¨¦mon?¡± I shook my head. He pulled a pok¨¦ball off his belt and released that little flower pok¨¦mon from before onto his shoulder. Now that I could see it more closely, it looked like a little pixie, hanging on to a crimson flower. ¡°Rota has been quite kind to Floette. She can¡¯t ordinarily spend this much time outside.¡± I frowned. ¡°Why is that?¡± Azett glanced at me in confusion. ¡°Have you been outside Rota before, Sir Aaron?¡± I shook my head. I¡¯d been born in Rota, and joining the royal guard had restricted my freedom quite a bit. ¡°Most people don¡¯t hold such liberal views on pok¨¦mon,¡± Azett said. ¡°Especially in Kalos. Where I¡¯m from, pok¨¦mon are creatures to be feared, and hated. They are beasts who deserve respect for little more than their violence.¡± Ah, that¡¯s right. Yes, the Guardians were the strange ones. In most of the world, camaraderie between people and pok¨¦mon was a completely foreign notion. It was only courteous to ask before releasing one into the world. Yet, the sight of that flower frolicking about the garden without a care, sniffing on this carnation or that poppy, made me smile. ¡°Are there very many people who fear your Floette, your Majesty?¡± Azett smirked and waved his hand. ¡°Please, just call me Azett. But I suppose you¡¯re right. Floette looks quite harmless compared to all these Lucario you have walking about. Nearly every one of my men has reported back to me saying they almost had a heart attack after turning a corner and being faced with one.¡± ¡°Lucario have been partners of the Guardians since time immemorial,¡± I smiled. ¡°But I can see why your men would be afraid.¡± ¡°The legend of the Guardians, and their pok¨¦mon partners was a big reason for why I wanted to make the journey here to begin with. I had to see it with my own eyes, this reality of yours which is unthinkable to us in Kalos.¡± As unfathomable as it was to me that people abroad could live without pok¨¦mon, so too was living alongside pok¨¦mon a fantasy to them. Or perhaps, a nightmare. ¡°And so?¡± I asked, suddenly deathly curious. ¡°What do you think so far?¡± The eastern king pondered for a moment, pacing toward me slowly. When his Floette landed on his shoulder once again, he glanced up, and offered his finger to it. ¡°I suppose I stand somewhere in the middle. Pok¨¦mon are beasts of carnage, utterly incompatible with humanity¡­ But, perhaps not all of them,¡± he smiled, stroking Floette. A strange answer. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine your subjects appreciate such a middling position on the matter, respectfully.¡± ¡°No offense taken, and you¡¯re exactly right,¡± Azett laughed. ¡°But my countrymen already see me as strange to begin with.¡± His smile faded and he let Floette get back to its flowers. ¡°But, if I have to pick one side or the other, I would side against pok¨¦mon.¡± I glanced at Floette, but perhaps she hadn''t heard or understood him, because she didn¡¯t even flinch. She simply continued to flit amidst the flowers. ¡°The Guardians wield a special power that separates you from the rest of humanity. Your king demonstrated for me. It seems to me that your relationship with pok¨¦mon is heavily influenced by your possession of that power. In the end, perhaps only the Guardians could ever hope to befriend pok¨¦mon as you have.¡± He said it as a matter of fact, but his words were tinged with a resigned sadness. Azett, the king of the east, had come all this way on a whim. If he left Rota still believing that, to call it a missed opportunity would be an understatement. It would be one of the biggest blunders in Guardian history. Is this not why we existed? To preach the message of coexistence and camaraderie with pok¨¦mon? And what better audience to impart such a message to, other than the sovereign of a land full of people who despise pok¨¦mon? ¡°Are you open to having your mind changed?¡± I asked before giving a second to consider how rude that may have sounded. Azett smiled, a glint in his eye. ¡°In his graciousness, King Jurock has agreed to host me for at least another month. I look forward to more conversations with you, Sir Aaron.¡± I smiled, my heart alight. ¡°It would be my honor.¡± I thought for a moment. ¡°Would you like to meet my Lucario?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°And please, just call me Aaron. It wouldn¡¯t feel right for me to address you so casually without you doing the same,¡± I said as we began walking deeper into the garden.
True to his word, Azett remained in Rota, and I found myself spending more and more time with him. He sought me out at nearly every break in his schedule, and we talked wherever we happened to be at the time¡ªin the library, the gardens, the lake. I soon learned that Azett was actively canceling appointments with his officers, and even with King Jurock, to continue our conversations. Rin spared no expense in teasing me for it, but she seemed to be a tad jealous. ¡°After spending so much time with your king and his court, I get the impression that the Guardians are a rather secretive bunch,¡± Azett told me one balmy afternoon. We were resting by a pond in the shadow of the Tree of Beginning. Floette and Lucario had grown quite close and were playing in a copse of reeds nearby. ¡°Oh, even the secrets have secrets,¡± I said. ¡°There are things about Aura, about the Tree of Beginning, about the world, that are known only to the royalty. Secrets the Guardians have safeguarded for many generations.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Azett said, sitting down on a log. ¡°Truthfully, the east is just the same.¡± He paused, as if considering if he should say what he was about to say. ¡°There are archives beneath the royal keep. Documents, artifacts, even pok¨¦mon, abound. Gathered and protected by the Kalos kings of the past. Much of it is worthless, nothing more than meaningless trophies, but there are some things of note down there.¡± He caught my eye, and his serious gaze demanded my full attention. ¡°The Age of Carnage that preceded this era¡­not much is known about it. But my ancestors penned something rather peculiar about it.¡± He hesitated, as if personally doubting the veracity of what he was about to say. ¡°They said that the Age of Carnage would not end until the very strongest pok¨¦mon were killed.¡± I absorbed his words. ¡°I suppose that makes sense, from a certain standpoint.¡± ¡°Yes, but they weren¡¯t referring to just any creatures¡­ They spoke of something higher. They called them Paragons. And they spoke as if the Paragons did not even live on this planet with us¡­ Separate from us, like gods¡­ Or demons.¡± My eyes narrowed, but Azett wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Most disturbingly, they wrote that sometimes, those demon gods would descend to our world and do battle just as any other pok¨¦mon would. But with their unrivaled power, these pok¨¦mon had the power to destroy the world, and already had before, in the distant past.¡± I frowned. ¡°That can¡¯t be possible. We¡¯re here, now.¡± Azett nodded, looking nearly as unconvinced as me. ¡°That¡¯s why I said it was peculiar. Apparently, it hasn¡¯t only happened once. It¡¯s happened many times, for as long as this world has existed.¡± He looked up at me, a puzzled look on his face. I could tell he¡¯d wanted to confide in someone about this for a while. Perhaps he thought his advisors would laugh at him if he brought it up to them. ¡°Do the Guardians have a record similar to anything like this?¡± Azett asked. I shook my head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say. The records in our library are quite extensive, but I¡¯ve never read anything like that. Unless those are the secrets kept to the royalty.¡± Azett nodded in resignation. ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯m not so uncouth that I would ask your king to divulge the secrets of the Guardians. But, if it is related to what I described, I have to wonder why your ancestors believed it was something that should be kept to the royalty.¡± ¡°One could ask the same of your Kalosian kings,¡± I said, and Azett nodded in agreement. ¡°Strange,¡± he murmured. He glanced over at me and smirked. ¡°Though I wouldn¡¯t mind imposing on you once you become King.¡± ¡°Me become King?¡± I snorted. ¡°And what makes you think that would ever happen?¡± ¡°Oh, King Jurock speaks very highly of you. One of the most talented Guardians of your generation, and the decision is up to him. As I understand, the Guardians do not have a heritable royal line. It is the strongest Guardian who becomes king, no?¡± I opened my mouth to rebut, but he was right. King Jurock showered me with more praise than I would like, but the thought of me becoming King of the Guardians was simply too crazy to entertain. ¡°Plus,¡± Azett said, his eyes shimmering mischievously. ¡°You and Princess Rin are a bit more than friendly. Your kingship is practically set in stone already!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I spat, turning away. Azett laughed at me, so I kicked some water at him, and he fell back off his log. He pulled himself to his feet, laughing even harder, his face as red as a tamato berry. Unfortunately, since he was our guest, and a king in his own right, there was little else I could do in retaliation. Eventually, he calmed himself down, but Lucario and Floette had already returned after hearing his booming laugh. ¡°When you become king, please do share with me the secrets of the Guardians. Let us unravel the mysteries of the world together.¡± An enticing proposition, but it was never going to happen. I would never be king.
¡°How is he?¡± Rin asked with bated breath. The room was dark, save for a shaft of sunlight that shined through a window above the king¡¯s bed. The nurses surrounding him fiddled with their bottles and bowls, but the princess only had eyes for her father, kneeling at his side, as close to him as the nurses would permit. She clutched his veiny hand tightly, refusing to let go. I stood in the corner watching, but it took all l had not to join Rin at her side. The anguish of seeing my king in such a state nearly eclipsed the heart-rending pain of seeing Rin have to persevere on her own. Yet, I remained at my station, eyes bolted to the king and his daughter. ¡°He does not have long¡­¡± one of the nurses said softly. ¡°The king¡¯s health has been worsening for some time¡­ He is quite old¡­¡± I saw Rin¡¯s head sink. She always knew how to keep a queenly front, but inside, I knew she was rotting. ¡°Father¡­¡± she whispered, embracing him. Now that she had moved, I caught a glimpse of the king. He was gaunt and pale. I had just seen him at dinner yesterday. How could he look so thin? He swallowed, the skin on his neck trembling, and he wrapped his arm around his daughter as best he could. ¡°Rin¡­,¡± he rasped. ¡°Where¡­Where is Sir Aaron?¡± I perked up at the sound of my name, and Rin turned back toward me. Her eyes were glassy, yet saturated with emotion. I clenched my teeth to maintain a stoic visage, but my lip twitched. ¡°He¡¯s here, Father,¡± Rin said, raising her hand. I approached, and before I could withdraw, Rin had grabbed my hand, lacing her fingers into mine and pulling me closer. I cleared my throat. ¡°I am here, my King.¡± King Jurock¡¯s yellowing eyes crawled over me, and he looked me over for a while. Just before I thought he might have lost his wits, he began to shift in his bed. ¡°My King.¡± The nurses hurried over to placate him, but surprisingly, he batted them away. ¡°Help me up,¡± he said. They glanced between each other, but ultimately decided to oblige, and they gathered several pillows to support him, helping him sit up. Even in his bedclothes and at his lofty age, King Jurock was a tall man. He towered over his kneeling daughter, and was far closer to my eye level than I thought he¡¯d be. The sunlight glinted off his hair, giving it a golden luster akin to its former blond. He studied all gathered before him¡ªhis daughter, his nurses, his advisors, and his other royal guards who remained at the sides of the room. And finally, me. Everyone gathered watched him with silent eyes, waiting to hear what he had to say. ¡°Sir Aaron Albrecht,¡± he said. ¡°I hereby proclaim you, on this day, my successor as Sovereign of Rota, Keeper of the Tree of Beginning, and King of the Aura Guardians. Let all gathered here stand as witness to my unailed proclamation,¡± he said, his voice clear. Though he¡¯d caused nearly everyone¡¯s jaw in the room to drop, he pressed on. ¡°You are the strongest Guardian to appear in generations, and will be still for generations to come. This I¡¯ve seen with my kingly eyes.¡± His gaze pierced through me, and he nodded. Beside me, Rin clapped her hands over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Around me, the others looked at me as if considering whether or not it would be appropriate to kneel. Eventually, one of the king¡¯s advisors did, and the others followed. I saw King Jurock smile. ¡°My King, I couldn¡¯t possibly¡ª¡° ¡°I will brook no disagreement, King Aaron,¡± Jurock said. ¡°I also give you my blessing for my daughter¡¯s hand. Do with said blessing what you two may.¡± He began to lean back in his bed, and the nurses stood and hurried over to help him. At some point, Rin had hugged me, but I could barely register what was going on around me. My life from five minutes ago was completely unrecognizable from my current reality now. As if Jurock had shed a physical mantle, a tremendous weight seemed to begin pressing down on me as I stood there beside the king¡¯s bed. The weight of a king. As I brought my hand down on Rin¡¯s head, I began to hear her sobbing into my chest.
As it turned out, King Jurock was a sturdy man. He did not die that day, or that week, or that month. In fact, he recovered enough to leave his bed again and continue with his royal duties, the latter much to his daughter¡¯s chagrin. ¡°You mean, the Queen¡¯s chagrin.¡± I rolled my eyes. A month had passed, and for some reason, Azett was still here. ¡°I could not abandon Rota while its former king was in poor health,¡± Azett said with a noble air. ¡°He is still the king,¡± I said with annoyance. ¡°And I fail to see how the health of our king affects you. Were you planning to steal off with our country while it¡¯s in a vulnerable state?¡± ¡°Oh, I would never,¡± Azett grinned. ¡°Challenging the mighty King Aaron and his Guardians would be a death wish.¡± ¡°A wiser man would consider that angering him might incur a death wish all the same.¡± Azett grunted in amusement. ¡°Oh, Aaron, you¡¯re new to your crown, so I¡¯ll counsel you to be more frugal with your threats. One day, you might have to cash them all in.¡± He smiled, a glint in his eyes. ¡°Well, you and I are on the same level now, so I suppose I won¡¯t condescend to you too much. We¡¯re both kings now.¡± ¡°Something you have yet to cease reminding me about,¡± I drawled, though I was thankful for his playful teasing. The days past had suddenly gotten a lot busier for me as the king and his court prepared me to take the crown. ¡°King Aaron and King Azett. Perhaps they should write a song,¡± I muttered. ¡°¡®King Azett and King Aaron¡¯ sounds much better, but I agree. They should write a song.¡± Those days of sometimes-meaningless-sometimes- meaningful conversation continued for another month or so, during which time we began to plan the wedding. Yes, I properly proposed. But the ceremony was to happen soon after. I think Rin wanted to have it as soon as possible so her father could attend. In any case, we decided to do a much smaller affair down in the town of Rota instead of some extravagant ball within the palace. Far less to prepare, and Rin was never the type to place much value in such fanfare to begin with. I preferred the minimalistic approach as well, so in the end, it worked out. It was done outside in the town square. Streamers hung between the buildings, and though we¡¯d only sent out a few dozen invites, the citizens of the town turned out in droves, watching our vows from the streets, and hanging out of the windows surrounding the plaza. Rose and sakura petals danced through the air, and the king¡¯s orchestra illuminated the entire town with their songs. Of course, Azett and his men were invited and were in attendance. I don¡¯t know how, but he somehow managed to procure a magnificent wedding gift for us despite having never left Rota the entire time. We received gold, clothes, ceremonial swords, and even some pok¨¦mon native to Kalos. Rin was absolutely overjoyed, and simply seeing her smile made whatever lengths Azett had gone to worth it. ¡°This is quite the happy, little festival,¡± Azett said, coming up to stand beside me while the other wedding goers danced about the plaza. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t opt for something more grand.¡± ¡°This is plenty for us. Rin and I aren¡¯t that pretentious.¡± Azett smirked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many of the Queen¡¯s friends handing her bouquets and celebrating her marriage with her all day, yet I haven¡¯t seen very many people come up to you. Could it be that our poor husband doesn''t have any friends to fill a larger ceremony with?¡± I smiled, and glanced over at him. ¡°I have one.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 44 : Return to Kalos
The first person stuff I did completely on a whim. No idea if it works. I feel like I probably didn¡¯t take advantage of the POV aspect enough, but again, more on that at the end of the arc. Remnants of the Great War [35] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [35] Chapter 44 : Return to Kalos
Princess Rin¡ªno¡­she was officially Queen Rin now¡ªbowed delicately, her black veil covering her no doubt tear-stained face. ¡°Thank you for coming, your Majesty,¡± she said flatly. I bowed my head in turn. ¡°Of course. I only wish there was something I could have done.¡± A faint chuckle escaped from behind her veil. ¡°Please King Azett. No one lives forever, but my father certainly seemed to be getting close. He was proud to have hosted you this past month. The ties between east and west have never been stronger because of your visit.¡± In truth, I was worried that my extended visit had put undue stress on the late king and perhaps contributed to his failing health, but I decided against speaking it aloud. There was no sense in dampening Queen Rin¡¯s already somber mood. ¡°I¡¯m glad he felt that way. That was my hope for this trip. With so much strife across the world, the petty rivalry between our lands must be extinguished, for the sake of all those living today, and those yet unborn.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± King Aaron said, wrapping his arm around his wife and pulling her closer. She leaned closer to him and allowed herself to let her husband take the spotlight. It made me glad to know that she felt comfortable staying a bit unguarded when it was just the three of us. ¡°I will not let the groundwork laid by King Jurock go to waste,¡± Aaron continued. ¡°Together, Azett, let us bring peace to this world in our lifetime.¡± I nodded solemnly and extended a thumb between the three of us. ¡°For King Jurock.¡± Aaron paused, before adding his thumb. ¡°For King Jurock.¡± We both glanced at Queen Rin, and after a moment, she raised a dainty hand and added her own thumb. ¡°For King Jurock,¡± she croaked. My attendance at the wake did not last much longer. Aaron and Queen Rin remained to mingle with the many townsfolk in the chapel, but I slipped out earlier to head back to my quarters. Two of my guards peeled away from outside of the chapel once I appeared, folding in beside me. ¡°Your Grace,¡± one of them began as we walked through the halls of Cameran Palace. ¡°The men are beginning to get restless. I¡¯m not sure they want to stay another month. And with the king passing while we¡¯re here¡­we¡¯ve already heard whispers from some of the Guardians...¡± ¡°Let them whisper,¡± I growled. ¡°It is only their grief talking. King Aaron will not let baseless slander fester for long,¡± I said. For as much time as I spent with Aaron, I could only change the Guardians¡¯ perception of the east so much in so little time. It was natural that they mistrusted me. ¡°But I do intend to leave soon. Tell the others to begin packing up. I want to reach Vermillion Town before the weather changes.¡± ¡°At once, you Grace!¡± I could tell my men hadn¡¯t even wanted to stay for one month, yet they had kept quiet and persevered for my sake. Even I had seen more Lucario this past month than I ever wanted to. They all had a certain glare that made them look like they would pounce at any moment, which was made all the more unsettling at the fact that they possessed near-human intelligence and could communicate with their Guardian partners silently. And with Aaron now ascending to the throne, I doubted our conversations could continue as before. He now had a country to run. And I also had my own country to run, and no offense to Aaron, but far more of it. Just recently, we¡¯d taken the Galar Kingdom and Unovan Empire under our wing, and every day I spent in Rota only soured our relations with those two. They¡¯d get tired of talking to my proxies eventually and wonder where the actual king was. For one of the last times, Aaron and I, joined by Queen Rin, enjoyed a conversation over dinner that night, but as I was gathering my belongings later that night, I began to feel a wistful malaise. Rota was so far, and back home, I had no friends. Only subjects and allies. This trip had given me far more than I¡¯d expected. Of course, it hadn¡¯t given everything. At the end of it all, I still knew nothing more about the Age of Carnage, or the Paragons who cast their shadows over it. Aaron was now king, but I could hardly bother him at a time like this to badger him about divulging the Guardians¡¯ secrets, despite what I¡¯d said. It would have to wait. But perhaps that wasn¡¯t the worst thing. It¡¯d mean I was leaving behind a reason to return.
¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t stay any longer?¡± Aaron asked. Aaron stood dressed as he always had in the entrance hall of Cameran Palace, flanked by a pair of his royal guards, and Queen Rin. Dust swam in the rivers of sunlight that streamed through the mosaic windows, brightening the velvet floor into a field of ruby fire. He wore a resolute look, but his brows were knit tighter than I¡¯d ever seen them before. I tried not to take pride in it. ¡°Unfortunately so. I must thank you for extending your hospitality for so long, especially under such turbulent circumstances. My condolences again.¡± I bowed, and nodded at Queen Rin, who bowed sadly in turn. Aaron drank in my reply, before nodding in resignation. ¡°I understand.¡± He extended his hand. I met his eyes and grasped his hand. A curious warmth spread from his to mine. Power coursed through him¡ªthe power of Aura, the life energy of pok¨¦mon. It was as if in donning the crown of the Guardians, he had also taken one step away from the rest of humanity. From me. I tightened my grip on his hand. ¡°Perhaps again someday, I¡¯ll invite myself back.¡± Aaron gave my hand a firm shake. A kingly shake. ¡°You''re welcome to stay as long as you''d like. As long as I''m king, you can always call Cameran Palace home.¡± He smiled. ¡°My friend.¡± I smiled, and took a deep breath. It must be now. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a roll of parchment, sealed with the crimson seal of Kalos. Aaron glanced at it curiously as I offered it to him. ¡°For you, your Majesty,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have no shortage of duties to attend to, but, eccentric as I may be, I have my own duties as king I must carry out as well. I¡¯m afraid I must insist you consider this, as a matter of state between our two lands.¡± Aaron rubbed the paper between his fingers before passing it to his wife. He fixed me with a thin smirk. ¡°I have some ideas about what this may be. Very well. I¡¯ll speak with my court.¡± I smiled, then turned to Queen Rin and kissed her hand. ¡°My lady.¡± Taking one last glance around the royal palace, I exhaled and turned away, joining my men near the enormous wooden entrance doors. This journey had been a blissful reverie, but temporary. Here, it¡¯d been easy to forget about my own crown and throne, and act as a guest in this faraway place. Perhaps I¡¯d been even a little too casual with Aaron, especially now that he was king. Though, I was also a king, and he japed at me all the same. Ah. It dawned on me as we were crossing the stone viaduct. Floette was dancing on my shoulder and the sun had never felt better on my skin. So this is friendship. I¡¯d teased Aaron for his quaint wedding, but he¡¯d looked happy, as did Rin. I was unmarried, but I¡¯d been to a few weddings already. The ones back home had been cold and uniform, meant only to tie together houses for political purposes. Those I spoke with there only had an interest in the crown on my head, and the myriad ways that it could benefit them. In that sense, I felt a bit guilty about handing that offer of an alliance to Aaron. In a way, Rota seemed untainted by the incessant machinations of the east, and here I was trying to rope him in. But what I¡¯d said was still true. As the king of Kalos, it was my duty to make our empire stronger, and safer. An alliance with Rota would undoubtedly be a step in that direction. It just so happened to align with my personal desire, was all. A couple weeks of southern travel later, we departed from Vermillion Town, our ship hauling into the black abyss of night. I watched as the light of civilization dimmed from the deck the further we got, until we found ourselves alone in the darkness. It would take even longer to return home than the time we¡¯d spent at Rota. Lucky for us, we were not assailed by any pok¨¦mon on the journey, save for a Tentacruel that had latched itself to our hull, and may have climbed up the sides of the ship if not for a trainer we¡¯d hired in town. His Golduck jumped into the sea and harrassed it until it let go. Still, it¡¯d taken a couple days for my men to fully calm down. Kanto was a rather undeveloped land, nothing like Rota or Kalos. But it did hold a few towns and villages. Kanto was the Land of the Hero, after all. It was from its fertile soil that the First Trainer had been born. I didn¡¯t put much stock in myths and legends, especially those concerning humans, but it was easy to tell that said myths and legends had seeped into the very ground of Kanto. There were more trainers here than anywhere else, and unlike most of the world, many of them did not fear pok¨¦mon. Perhaps it was the influence of the nearby Rota. One day on the voyage, I decided to try my hand at pok¨¦mon battling like I¡¯d seen that trainer do. He was respectful enough of us that he kept his Golduck and his other pok¨¦mon sequestered away in their pok¨¦balls most of the time, but he did release them at night to feed, after many of my men had already gone to sleep. It was just after lunch, and my men were attending to their duties across the ship, so I had some time alone in my cabin. I sat on the floor, leaning against my bed. ¡°Knock over that stack of books, Floette,¡± I urged, pointing to a stack five high on the desk. She twirled through the air and sat herself down on them. As expected, they moved not an inch. She turned around and smiled, flitting back toward me. I smiled and stuck my finger out for her to land on. ¡°Of course not,¡± I muttered. I¡¯d received Floette as a gift from my mother. She¡¯d died when I was young, but from what I¡¯d heard, she had also been strange, like me. Apparently, she hadn¡¯t been well liked by many in my father¡¯s court. Chief among the reasons why was her love of pok¨¦mon. I believe Floette was a dream of hers, foisted upon me, knowing I¡¯d one day be king. Receive this flower, and keep it. And maybe then, if people see you with her, they will begin to see her as we do. ¡°We,¡± she¡¯d said. My mother loved pok¨¦mon even more than the Guardians did, to the point of obsession, from what I¡¯d heard. Though I enjoyed Floette, I could never bring myself to see pok¨¦mon as she had. After spending so much time in the castle, it seemed she¡¯d forgotten what pok¨¦mon really were. She saw them as little more harmless than pets or companions. The meek creatures, like Floette, who lived in and around the castle¡¯s gardens likely only reinforced that notion. But it was a false notion. It would have been irresponsible, as king, to think otherwise. Nevertheless, I¡¯d honored my mother¡¯s wishes. But she underestimated our people¡¯s hatred of pok¨¦mon. And Floette, dainty as she was, was hardly analogous to the monsters they so detested. But, I¡¯d honored her wish. And in the time we¡¯d spent together, I¡¯d grown to care for Floette quite deeply. Perhaps that had been my mother¡¯s real wish, all along. A tall wave passed beneath us and jerked the ship, sending the stack of books sliding off the desk. Floette looked back as they hit the floor. Then, she turned back to me, and grinned proudly. ¡°What¡¯re you smiling at?¡± I smirked, and got up, picking up the books and stacking them back on the desk. ¡°Let¡¯s see you try it again, then.¡± This time, Floette seemed less interested in obeying. She moved a bit closer to the books, but something else in the air seemed to catch her attention, and she drifted off course. However, a moment later, she shook her head and refocused, before turning back to the books. She trembled in the air, and I was afraid she was in pain. ¡°Floette,¡± I warned, standing. But suddenly, a sharp gust of pink wind peeled off from her tiny body and hit the stack of books, sending them thumping into the wall, before scattering to the ground. Now, Floette turned and flew back over, placing herself in the palm of my hand before I could protest. ¡°Are you alright, your Grace?¡± one of my guards asked me from without. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said absentmindedly. I cupped Floette in my hand and tried moving her to my shoulder, but she refused to leave, curling up and pressing herself against my skin. She was quite warm to the touch. Warmer than usual. I walked over and picked up one of the books. As I turned it over, Floette chirped with pride. She¡¯d burned off the edges of several pages. When I brushed my fingers against their blackened end, they felt even hotter than Floette. I glanced down at her face and her tiny little body. Even her flower smelled sweeter now. So even you are capable¡­, I thought. I brushed her face gently before heading back over to my bed and laying down. Time for a nap. Floette rested on my chest, and I watched her as she drifted off to sleep. Despite what she¡¯d shown me, I felt no fear at all toward this creature. On the contrary, my affection for her had only grown. I was proud of her. Proud of her ability to cause danger¡­? No, it was something else. But I couldn¡¯t put it into words. Is this what the Guardians feel for their Lucario? For the umpteenth time since I¡¯d left, I began to think about Aaron again, and the answers he might have. I wanted to return. Even if for no other reason than to tell him that I understood, however little, why they partnered with pok¨¦mon. I couldn¡¯t explain it, but I could feel the embers of what must have been burning within the Guardians, smoldering within my chest now. Hopefully, their response to my proposal would not take long.
A shroud of fog clung to Kalos¡¯ coast the morning we arrived within eyesight of home. However, the gleaming lighthouse of Shalour cut through the haze, allowing us to moor safely. A woody scent filled the air, the smell of dew and moist dirt. I was wrapped in a warm wool coat, but my breath curled visibly in front of me. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As my men uploaded the ship, I released Floette. She would disappear for now, off on her own adventures, but I knew she would return. The wilds never messed with fairies, no matter how small, so she was safe on that front. It took yet another month until we reached the capital. Though we¡¯d sent a missive ahead to inform them of our return, we passed through the intervening towns and villages without delay. Ordinarily, I¡¯d have liked to visit with the local lords and survey the lands, but we simply didn¡¯t have the time. The townsfolk knew I was someone important because of the size of our host, and they gathered in droves around us at every stop, yet my men ensured we were not stopped for long. Just a cursory word to the local lord, and we were on our way with a replenishment of provisions. The capital was called Kalos City, and my home was called Kalos Keep. We passed through the stone walls of the city to much fanfare, the torchlight of civilization basking us in a warmth that, to this day, still filled me with a certain pride. With their own hands, my ancestors had carved their place into this verdant valley. Crystalline rivers ambled through rolling hills, beneath wooden bridges, and through mushy fields of ripened fruits and vegetables. Thatched cottages and cobblestone apartments stretched as far as the eye could see, and already, the smell of smoke and whatever it was cooking filled my nostrils and made my mouth water. My court seemed to have cracked open our coffers for the occasion, with dyed banners and flags fluttering in the hubbub to welcome us. I waved to my people as we passed through, and they shouted back. As we passed through a market full of stalls peddling all manner of wares, from garish, woven textiles, to clay pottery that still stunk of earth and dye, to mouth-watering meats and pastries oozing with sugar, a band of children ran in front of our path. As my men shooed them out of the way, one of them caught my eye. It was a little boy, no older than ten. And yet, where his right ear should¡¯ve been, there was, instead, a scarred patch of milky white scratches. His hair was short, but it was nonexistent on the right side of his head. He smiled and laughed, chasing after his friends, and his scars crinkled as he ran. I watched him go, and my mind seemed to whistle as the wind passed through it. I¡¯d been away far too long. None of the Guardians I¡¯d seen bore scars like that. They had the power of Aura. The power to defend themselves. Yet my people did not. It fell upon me, as their king, to protect them. And yet, a child like this had paid the price for my failure. This. This is what I wanted to end. Black fire burned in my very core. This. I needed to eradicate it. ¡°Your Grace?¡± One of my men turned to me curiously. I glanced at him, and began walking again soon after. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± But even as we began to walk again, I still couldn¡¯t get the sight of the boy¡¯s mangled head out of my mind. Without a doubt, it had been caused by a pok¨¦mon. I had to make a conscious effort not to slow my gait as guilt crept forth within me. How would this boy take to an alliance with the Guardians, who let their pok¨¦mon walk out in the open with impunity? How would his parents? How would the rest of my people, for that matter? I was suddenly overcome with an awful sense of dread. I had offered the alliance to Aaron personally precisely because the idea was mine and mine alone. Another of my whims. But was this a step too far? Was Kalos ready to embrace pok¨¦mon? Before long, mired in my thoughts, we passed within the walls of the royal keep. The majestic fortress scratched the heavens with its imperial turrets and towering belfry. Huge stone arches curved over the manicured front lawn and an elaborate fountain spewed crystal water into the pond surrounding it. It was midday when we finally stepped foot back within the Kalos Keep. Officials, officers, and dignitaries swarmed us instantly, alongside chefs. Yes, chefs. A grand feast had been prepared as well. I muscled through the crowd, asserting as much authority as I could. My vacation had lasted plenty long enough. I had a mind for duty now. ¡°Send the feast down to town, I have no time right now!¡± I roared. ¡°Summon the court, and have them meet in my chambers! We¡¯ll take our lunch there, and our supper, I imagine.¡± As they scrambled to take care of my orders, I hurried ahead to change and prepare for the meeting. At this point, I¡¯d been gone for nearly a year. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything overly harrowing to attend to, but a year was a long time, and I needed an update immediately. After changing into a velvet shirt and leather greaves, I headed to my chambers. About twenty minutes later, I found myself gathered at a round wooden table at the top of one of the towers, a map of Kalos already laid out before me. The twenty or so men seated with me stayed silent as I flicked through the many reports stacked before me, sipping a goblet of dark wine as I did. ¡°Well then, gentlemen. What should I know first?¡± I finally said. The captain of the border defense raised his hand. ¡°Your Grace. There was an incursion three months ago. Five Pyroar breached the southern wall near Santalune.¡± His mouth became a thin line. ¡°Twenty-five dead. Eighteen soldiers and seven civilians. Fifty-nine more injured. We routed them and repaired the breach, but not before they torched half of our fields in the city.¡± I closed my eyes and cursed silently. We had a surplus of grain for now, and Santalune wasn¡¯t one of our big producers, yet we¡¯d surely feel the true sting of this attack come winter. But more importantly, the families of those lost must have wondered where I¡¯d been during such a tragedy. ¡°I¡¯ll visit the families before week¡¯s end.¡± ¡°No need to trouble yourself, your Grace, we compensated them handsomely and they were quite thankful, so¡ª¡° ¡°Quiet. Open my schedule and organize a trip.¡± I nodded at the minister across from me, and he penned it. ¡°What else?¡± The finance minister raised his hand. ¡°Your Grace. Our mining operation beneath the capital continues to grow, and the harvest this past spring was larger than expected. Our presence on the southern continent is expanding, so much so that the colonies have begun requesting increased investment. Their request is well within our budget, but I elected to defer their request until your return.¡± ¡°Excellent news. Have them draft a proposal and I¡¯ll review it the moment it reaches my desk.¡± The finance minister nodded and took his notes. Finally, the prime minister raised his hand. As expected, he looked the most exhausted of the lot, and I felt a twinge of guilt. I could imagine what he was about to speak about. ¡°Your Grace. An envoy from Galar is currently staying in the city, but they are¡­displeased with your extended absence. They have politely threatened on multiple occasions to withdraw from our arrangement.¡± ¡°Politely threatened,¡± I muttered. ¡°Is it the king?¡± ¡°At one point in time,¡± he nodded. ¡°But his Majesty has since returned home. Only his diplomats remain now.¡± I shook my head. I only had myself to blame. ¡°He was always a testy man. Very well. I¡¯ll have dinner with his men tomorrow evening. Hopefully it¡¯s not too late to salvage this relationship. What about Unova?¡± ¡°We receive letters from Lord Harmonia often. He waxes on about the stresses of government and assures us endlessly that he¡¯ll wait as long as he needs to for your return.¡± I nodded, lacing my fingers together and resting my head on my hands. ¡°Let''s send him a gift as thanks for his patience.¡± Lord Harmonia was limitlessly accommodating and very easy to work with. Almost too easy. As the prime minister jotted down my instructions, I bit my lip and glanced around the table. ¡°I apologize in advance for assigning even more to you all, but while I was in Rota, I elected to extend an invitation for an alliance to the Guardians as well.¡± My court knew better than to make a scene, but I could feel the heat from their unease emanating across the table as they glanced between each other. ¡°We heard of King Jurock¡¯s death,¡± one of my generals said. ¡°Surely not the work of our¡­?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± I snapped. ¡°Do you think I would stoop as low as assassination?¡± He recoiled respectfully, but I understood his concern. Rota and Kalos were not friends, and never had been. In the realm of statecraft, that meant we were enemies. And regicide was common enough in these trying times. ¡°I spoke with his successor King Aaron quite a bit. He seems a good man. I¡¯d like to bring him into the fold.¡± A frosty silence settled over the table. No words were spoken, but I could tell what they were thinking. Ah, here he goes again. Another one of his ridiculous ideas. It wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d introduced an unorthodox proposal, and, truth be told, it probably wouldn¡¯t be the last. ¡°Well, if you gave them an invitation, then I suppose all we can do now is wait for their reply,¡± my prime minister eventually said. Very diplomatic, as usual. I decided not to press the issue further because, at the end of the day, it was out of our hands now. I¡¯d already issued the invitation. The rest of the day was spent in exactly the same way. My men continued to inform me of the goings on within and without Kalos, and I issued directives as needed. Much time was also devoted to an account of my entire journey, culminating in my trip to Rota. I left out the details of my many conversations with Aaron, but tried to impress upon them the nobility of his character. Whether or not my words resonated, unfortunately, I could not say. Far past midnight, I finally retired to my room, and collapsed into my own bed. When I woke up, Floette was there to greet me.
Several months later, a strange man arrived at the keep hoping to speak with me. I¡¯d been taking care of menial tasks in my chambers, and, looking to distract myself from the monotonous work, I allowed him an audience. When my guards opened the door and let him in, I immediately recognized his attire. He wore the navy coat and pointed cap of the Guardians. He swept inside and knelt before me, splaying his coat across the floor with a dramatic flair. ¡°A Guardian,¡± I said. ¡°Rise.¡± He stood and locked eyes with me. His black eyes seemed to lack light. ¡°Thank you for permitting me, your Grace. I am Zagreus, and I come with some rather troubling news about Sir Aaron.¡± My eyes narrowed. ¡°Surely you mean King Aaron, Sir Zagreus?¡± Realizing his misstep, he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°Ah, Sir Aaron rather mislikes his crown. He prefers a more casual address.¡± My eyes narrowed. Though I can empathize with the sentiment, no Guardian I met within that palace would ever grant that request. They respect him far too much. Who is this man who speaks of Aaron so callously? I stood from my desk and began walking around it. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be a messenger sent on Aaron¡¯s behalf, so what brings you this far east, Guardian?¡± Zagreus didn¡¯t flinch at my approach. He simply rolled his head on his neck as I approached, his eyes never leaving mine. ¡°You¡¯re right that I don¡¯t represent him. But as I said, troubling news from the good king.¡± He licked his lips in thought. ¡°Sir Aaron, even more than his predecessors, adores pok¨¦mon. With the death of King Jurock, he has begun to change the Guardians. He wishes us not just to coexist with pok¨¦mon, but to love them. And this he wishes not just for the Guardians, but for all of mankind.¡± ¡°Is this the troubling news you came all this way to report?¡± I said, barely keeping a sneer off my face. ¡°Aaron is a Guardian. That falls well within his creed. Not to mention, he¡¯d told me as much, and more, whilst I was there.¡± I could sense that this man did not like Aaron. Something about his presence was rather slimy. Zagreus stepped away from me and walked toward my chamber¡¯s balcony overlooking the city below. One did not usually walk away from me without license, but my curiosity outweighed my distaste for his rudeness, and I let it slide. ¡°The troubling news is that Sir Aaron has begun to act on his archaic dream. In the month following his coronation, he¡¯d been mired in procedural work related to his unexpected crowning. But he has since begun to make substantive decrees as king.¡± He turned toward me. ¡°First among them was the rejection of your offer for an alliance.¡± I smiled, unamused. ¡°If you do not represent Aaron, then why should I believe a word of what you say concerning the decisions of Rota¡¯s government?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not a matter of belief, your Grace,¡± Zagreus said, clutching his chest. ¡°Of course, officially, Rota has yet to reply to your offer. But I¡¯ve overheard their council meetings. They don''t believe they could ever align with Kalos, a land they believe to be steeped in hatred toward pok¨¦mon.¡± He frowned and rubbed his fingers. ¡°The truth is, they intend to destroy Kalos.¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± I spat. ¡°And I¡¯ll hear no more slander about Aaron or his adminis¡ª¡° ¡°Have you ever heard of the Plates of Arceus, your Grace?¡± Zagreus suddenly asked, his gaze so sharp he was nearly glaring at me. I was certainly glaring at him, however. I¡¯d been seconds away from tossing him out. ¡°No,¡± I said curtly. ¡°Of course not,¡± Zagreus said, glancing away. ¡°The existence of the Plates is a secret the Guardians have kept for many years. Even I just learned of them recently.¡± He paced back inside. ¡°As you may know, Arceus is a deity venerated in the north. But, it has another name, another epithet. It is also the so-called king of the Paragons.¡± I frowned. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Zagreus nodded. ¡°Yes, the king of the Paragons. The strongest pok¨¦mon of them all. And its Plates are said to be the shards of its very soul, each one containing a facet of its depthless power.¡± Aaron never mentioned the Plates in our conversations. Perhaps he didn¡¯t know about them. ¡°And what does this have to do with your obscene claim that Sir Aaron intends to destroy Rota?¡± I growled. ¡°Choose your next words very carefully, Sir Zagreus.¡± The man dipped his head and held his palms up respectfully. ¡°Your Grace. The Plates of Arceus have the power to do exactly what I described. And as it happens, one of them has appeared in Kalos. The Guardians desire the Plates for themselves, and they fear you possessing it. That is why I hurried here as fast as I could. Forgive my impertinence, but it is imperative that your Grace obtains this Plate before the Guardians. If you do not, it could very well spell the end of Kalos.¡± I shook my head, anger smoldering in my chest. ¡°You expect me to listen to your fairy tales? Run back to your king, Guardian. I¡¯ll not have you sully my halls with your drivel any longer.¡± Any more, and I fully intended on imprisoning him for the Guardians to come collect. The only thing that stopped me was the knowledge that he was a Guardian. With his Aura, there wasn¡¯t a prison cell on this continent that could hold him. Zagreus bowed in resignation. ¡°I understand how ridiculous it sounds. But if I could say one last thing, your Grace. The Guardians fear the Plates not just because of their power, but because in the proper hands, they can be used to do anything.¡± He glanced up at me one last time. ¡°Anything. Including defeating the Paragons.¡± He strode over to the door and pulled it open. ¡°I apologize for any disrespect I may have caused. I felt it was only right that I pass this warning to you. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll leave further details here.¡± He reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope, before placing it softly on the floor just beside the door. After bowing one more time, he left. After he closed the door behind him, I stayed standing in place for a while. I regretted allowing such a man to speak to me. His claims about Aaron and the Guardians were patently absurd. But about the Plates¡­ Even if they are real, and Aaron knew about them, I¡¯m sure he has a good reason for not telling me about them. At the very least, these Plates sound far too good to be true. Artifacts that can do anything? Ridiculous. Nevertheless, I walked over, picked up the envelope, and ripped it open. Inside was a crude map of Kalos, with a marker in the forests of northern Kalos. I scowled. I was going up there just tomorrow to sup with the mayors of all the northern villages. They can be used to do anything, he¡¯d said. Well, it can¡¯t hurt to take a look.
A few weeks later, I arrived in northern Kalos. The weather was temperate, and the air smelled of ice. Here, just beyond the border wall, pok¨¦mon lived in droves. I¡¯d been here once before, and it was here that I¡¯d caught my Goodra. It was a fearsome beast now, but it¡¯d only been a sluggish Goomy back then. Left behind by its pod, only a sudden sense of moral responsibility had led me to capturing the dopey creature. My men disapproved, knowing what it would one day grow up into, but Floette¡¯s mere presence instilled the fear of death in the thing, so I hadn¡¯t ever been too worried. The meeting with the northern lords went off without a hitch, and on the night just before we were due to depart back south, I remembered Zagreus, and the map he¡¯d left me. Taking a pair of guards with me, we entered the forest after dark. This far north, the stars above illuminated our path even through the trees, whose leaves seemed to glisten silver in the moonlight. The map wasn¡¯t detailed at all, so my expectations weren¡¯t high. Perhaps if I¡¯d let Zagreus speak longer, he could¡¯ve given me more information. But the fact that he¡¯d already had this map prepared suggested the contrary. If nothing else, this night was pleasant, and this walk would allow me to burn off a bit of that feast I¡¯d stuffed myself with. We walked in silence. But after some time, I found myself in front of a certain tree, and I stopped. I glanced back down at the map, but of course, I had no idea how close to the marker we were or not. Nonetheless, I¡¯d stopped before this tree, with its gnarled branches and lichen-laden trunk, which looked no different from any of the others around it. ¡°Your Grace?¡± one of my guards said. I reached my hand out. My eyes saw nothing out of the ordinary, but I saw that tree limned in light. A heavy light that pierced the ethereal darkness. When my fingertips touched the surface of the bark, the entire world seared white, and I could no longer tell if I was alive or dead.
I woke up on the forest floor, my eyes drinking in the glistening mosaic of stars and leaves above. A breeze caressed my face, and the ground felt cold beneath me. I could feel my chest rise and fall as I inhaled each breath, and exhaled. It was quiet here. Peaceful. Sitting up, I noticed my guards had collapsed as well, though I could see them breathing. I slowly stood and glanced around. All the trees around me looked the same again. None of them looked like that one I¡¯d seen, ringed in destiny. Thinking back now, had it even looked different from the others? Something else had drawn my attention to it. Something beyond my human ken. Holding up my hand, I studied the fingers that had rested upon that tree, but they seemed no different. I clenched and unclenched my fist. ¡°Sir Zagreus,¡± I murmured. Next ¡ª Chapter 45 : Decaying Peace
I actually had this chapter completely finished last weekend, I just had no time to revise it. Also, I finished the ER DLC, so I can¡¯t use that as an excuse going forward. Remnants of the Great War [36] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [36] Chapter 45 : Decaying Peace
Kalos Region - Laverre Forest The moonlight wafted and curled around King Azett in a somber froth. Within the shadows of the darkened forest, amidst the tangled web of wooden branches, he alone stood illuminated. The grass at his feet looked teal in the liquid moonlight, and he rose to his full height, wearing the white majesty of the night like a cloak. Glancing down at his fallen men, he stalked over to them slowly. His entire form brimmed with power, yet he didn¡¯t notice it. Not yet. He knelt and checked their pulses. They were alive, and by all appearances, they seemed unharmed. But what about me? The overwhelming stimulation from before had already subsided, and now, he didn¡¯t feel even a bit of pain anywhere in his body. Clearly, something had happened here. Sir Zagreus said there was a Plate of Arceus. Azett hadn¡¯t expected to find anything, but now, his men were asleep on the ground, and he had found something. ¡°Your Grace!¡± A throng of men forced their way through the trees, pok¨¦balls in hand, spreading out protectively around their king. ¡°Are you alright, your Grace?¡± one of them said. ¡°We saw a flash, like lightning!¡± Azett glanced around at them. Looks of alarm adorned every one of their faces, which only confirmed to him the reality of what had just happened. ¡°At ease. I¡¯m fine. Get these two back to town so they can be looked at.¡± As some of his men obliged his order, another stepped closer to him. ¡°Your Grace¡­what happened?¡± Azett exhaled and started back to town himself. ¡°Your Grace?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to know that myself. Find the man called Zagreus immediately. And bring him to the capital.¡±
The journey home was quiet and uneventful. The two guards who¡¯d been knocked unconscious woke without injury, and although they apologized profusely for failing to protect their king, King Azett cast no blame on them. However, he also refused to speak of what had happened. If that truly was a Plate of Arceus, then I, like the Guardians, will keep its existence a secret until I speak with Sir Zagreus. Shifty he may be, but he is the only one I can confide in on this matter. At the very least, he was right about this. Luckily, due to missives they¡¯d sent ahead, Zagreus was already waiting for them back at the capital when they arrived. Apparently, he¡¯d never even left, having anticipated he¡¯d be summoned. Upon arriving home, Azett ordered a private meeting with him immediately, which they took in his solar over an afternoon feast. ¡°I apologize again for any disrespect caused before,¡± Zagreus said as he sucked on a bone noisily. ¡°But, now you see the truth of my words.¡± Azett leaned back in his seat and glanced outside as he licked the food from his teeth. ¡°Kalos¡¯ destruction, eh?¡± he muttered. He shook his head. ¡°No, I still don¡¯t believe that at all. Treacherous you may be, but a Guardian all the same. And I know you Guardians know things that only you know. So tell me more about these Plates.¡± Zagreus nodded in submission. ¡°Of course.¡± He pointed his knife at the king. ¡°You are now what we refer to as a ¡®Platebearer.¡¯ One of Arceus¡¯ chosen. The Plate you found rests within you.¡± Azett lifted a hand to his chest. ¡°Within me¡­?¡± ¡°Throughout history, certain figures, often those of great import like kings and heroes, have borne the Plates of Arceus. As of now, your destiny has become intertwined with that of the god Arceus.¡± ¡°The king of the Paragons, you called it,¡± Azett frowned. ¡°The truth is, my own royal predecessors wrote of the Paragons. For now, your words align. Tell me, what is the nature of these divine beasts? Is it true that the Age of Carnage will not truly end until those creatures are destroyed?¡± Zagreus shifted in his seat. ¡°Your Grace. For me to answer that question, I would have to betray my King Aaron. Your question touches on the secrets kept within Guardian royalty. Although I would not deny you the knowledge necessary to save your kingdom, I do not mean to offend you further by disgracing your friendship with my king.¡± Azett pondered his words, tapping the table absentmindedly. The destruction of Kalos¡­ The destruction of the entire world¡­ Eventually, he swept his hand aside in resignation. ¡°You have already betrayed your king by sharing this knowledge with me. Tell me.¡± The Guardian nodded respectfully. ¡°Your Grace, the Paragons are pok¨¦mon not entirely dissimilar from those told of in legends across this land of Kalos. The stag of life, Xerneas, and the crow of death, Yveltal. Legendary pok¨¦mon. They are creatures of unparalleled power, incomparable to the multitudes that prowl the world now. However, the Paragons are in a completely separate category of their own. The Paragons, in turn, are incomparable even to the legendaries. If Xerneas and Yveltal are strong enough to be venerated as deities, then the Paragons are creatures of such limitless power, that it is no exaggeration to say that the very flow and fabric of reality is written by their every movement and breath.¡± Azett¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And with such power, their battles result in the decimation of our world.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Zagreus nodded. ¡°Like the Plates, it is, perhaps, understandable why the Guardians would keep this information to themselves. Most people can barely tolerate living alongside even the weakest of pok¨¦mon. Spilling these secrets about the Paragons would extinguish any chance of the Guardians¡¯ dream of coexistence coming true. If they knew just how far out of their hands their own lives are¡­¡± Azett scowled, placing his utensils down. ¡°Are you saying that everything I¡¯ve built, everything my ancestors have built¡­this kingdom to protect humanity from the dangers of this world¡­all of it will vanish if the Paragons descend?¡± Zagreus exhaled and nodded. ¡°According to the royal chronicles, that is what has happened before. I confess my crimes only because, like you, I could not fathom such an unacceptable future. I cannot forgive my fellow Guardians for keeping these secrets, despite the effect they might have on the human consciousness.¡± He rubbed his hands. ¡°Most egregious, however, is that they know of a way to stop the Paragons.¡± Azett looked up. ¡°What is it?¡± Zagreus pointed at him. ¡°The Plates, your Grace. Little is known about the rises and falls of our civilizations across time, but we do know one thing. Shortly before certain annihilation, the Plates begin to populate this world in greater numbers, as if seeking bearers.¡± Azett sat motionless in his seat, his head spinning. ¡°And yet annihilation arrived all the same, Plates or otherwise. Are you saying the Guardians simply stood by and let humanity perish again and again despite knowing a way to prevent it?¡± ¡°The Guardians believe that they alone possess the responsibility to bear the Plates. They don¡¯t trust the rest of humanity with such powers, so much so that they could sooner raze a country like Kalos to the ground before letting a Plate fall into the hands of non-Guardians. Like Aura, they desire to keep the power of the Plates to themselves,¡± he spat. ¡°Is it any wonder that they have never been capable of stopping the Paragons? As if one single order could ever hope to challenge the gods.¡± Azett sat in silence. This doesn¡¯t sound like the Guardians I met at all. And yet the Plates are real. ¡°Aaron would never,¡± he said firmly. ¡°Rin would never.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t they? What if I told you that right now, King Aaron is not in Rota? That he has left his country behind in search of the Plates, knowing that the arrival of the Paragons is near at hand?¡± Zagreus tapped his temple. ¡°No matter what fa?ade he and Jurock showed you, the Guardian royalty has always been the same. Do they wish to save humanity? I do not doubt that they do. But the preservation of their order from the Paragons¡¯ destruction has always taken priority.¡± The Paragons¡¯ destruction, Azett repeated in his mind. That part agreed with the texts he¡¯d read in Kalos Keep¡¯s vaults too. A dark silt was settling over his heart as his head was forcibly turned toward the world¡¯s black reality. ¡°Just how many lives and civilizations do we sit atop now, after they were burned to ash by the Paragons?¡± he murmured. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve worked toward¡­ I¡¯ve tried to turn my lands into a utopia my ancestors¡­no, all of humanity, could be proud of.¡± He clenched his fist. ¡°Are humans truly so weak that even now, we must rely on the shards of some god pok¨¦mon just to stand a fighting chance?¡± ¡°The weight of such a burden is not easy to bear, even with the power of a Plate,¡± Zagreus said, his voice dark. ¡°You may be a Platebearer, but unfortunately, I cannot tell you much beyond that. Each of Arceus¡¯ eighteen Plates grants a different gift, and only you can probe your own body and soul to learn which it is.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Azett opened and closed his fist, but he felt nothing extraordinary. He shook his head in frustration. ¡°So, what about the other Plates? And how did you locate this one?¡± He frowned, then glared at Zagreus. ¡°Why not claim its power for yourself?¡± Zagreus pursed his lips and pulled off his glove. Azett grimaced. His hand was charred black, mottled and rough. ¡°I have no shame in admitting I tried. Alongside the ancient wisdom kept by the royalty of Rota was also a certain Guardian technique to heighten one¡¯s awareness to the Plates. That is how I found it. As I approached Kalos City, I felt its power and rerouted north. But¡­this was the result. In the end, I was not strong enough to bear Arceus¡¯ soul.¡± Azett almost lashed out at him for not telling him about this potential outcome, but he no longer had the energy to devote to something so petty. Not after learning about what was coming. And, in the end, the Plate hadn¡¯t rejected him. What was done was done. ¡°I¡¯ve no doubt there are other Plates that have already begun to appear in other parts of the world,¡± Zagreus continued. ¡°Likely, some will be discovered, and others shall become Platebearers like you. The Guardians will not seize them all.¡± ¡°What does it matter?¡± Azett spat. ¡°Even with your knowledge, I alone don¡¯t know where to start. How does one even begin to combat the destruction of the Paragons?¡± He sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°This is a conversation I should be having with your king.¡± ¡°I will not pretend to understand what you¡¯re experiencing now. But I have no doubt the Platebearers of times past were faced with the exact same dilemma.¡± Azett closed his eyes and tried to zoom out to view the whole thing objectively. He considered Aaron and Rota, Kalos and his own people, as well as those across the world in foreign lands. He thought about the dormant power within him, the ancient scrawlings of his predecessors, and the grand archives of the Guardians. Lastly, he thought of pok¨¦mon. From his beloved Floette, to the bloodthirsty monsters that plagued his kingdom, and then to the deities called Paragons. And at the end of it all, he came back to a single conclusion. ¡°Aaron¡­ I must speak to Aaron¡­¡± Zagreus shifted in his seat. ¡°If you doubt the veracity of anything I¡¯ve said, watch closely for letters from Rota. I think you¡¯ll find that, in King Aaron¡¯s absence, your correspondence with them will quickly dry up. And with it, your offer of an alliance as well.¡± Candles flickered on the table between them, flames danced within sconces along the walls of his office, and sunlight poured in from the open balcony, and yet, King Azett felt a smothering darkness closing in around him. To bear a Plate also meant bearing the responsibility of saving humanity. That burden was heavy enough, and it was one he¡¯d saddled himself with years ago when he donned the crown of his forefathers. The far heavier weight, the unbearable weight, was that of the futility of his struggle. Everything¡­everything¡­ Was it all for nothing? When the Paragons arrive, everything will return to zero? And the Guardians are somehow complicit? There must be some mistake¡­ But even as he thought it, he knew it wasn¡¯t true. He¡¯d been a king plenty long enough to determine what hopes were worth clinging to, and what was simply wishful thinking. Perhaps I¡¯ve known of this world¡¯s destiny from the start. From the very first time I laid eyes upon those ancient notes. I simply averted my gaze from reality. Pouring myself into hollow salvations. A utopia? Did I ever truly think such a thing was possible, or was I just distracting myself from facing the inevitable future? ¡°Thank you, Sir, you may leave now,¡± he said quietly. Azett felt his stomach contract and expand with every breath, his tired ribs creaking, his exhausted muscles aching. The sound of Zagreus¡¯ farewell and the door closing behind him fell on deaf ears. For a while, he remained motionless. Dread snaked its way down his throat, suffocating him, and before he knew it, his cheeks were hot with tears. Please, God. Arceus. Aaron. Anyone. Show me what lies ahead. In an instant, color, light, and sound whipped past King Azett until nothing but void remained. And the vision that assaulted him next was one of death and decimation. And dragons.
Land of Rota, one year later ¡°Welcome home, my King.¡± ¡°Have you all forgotten? I told you to address me as usual,¡± Sir Aaron said as he swept through the entrance hall, surrounded by his many advisors. Nearly a year had passed since he set out on his journey, and in that time, he had truly come to know the world. Beyond the stifling borders of Rota, Sir Aaron had borne witness to sights and sensations he¡¯d never experienced before. From the icy highlands of the north, to the tropical swamps of the south, and the regal plains of the east, he had learned and learned again just how wondrous this world was. With the lens of fear that clouded the sight of so many lowered from his eyes, he had truly come to appreciate the love-filled ideals set forth by his ancestors. Above all else, he held one certain feeling deep within his heart. This world is worth fighting for. Ah, and the pok¨¦mon, too! So many species he¡¯d seen, many of them never even described in the Guardians¡¯ archives. Every new encounter brought a different emotion out of him, from joy and endearment, to disgust, and indeed, fear. They were awesome creatures, after all, and no two were alike. He¡¯d caught all that had caught his eye. Although he traveled anonymously, with Lucario at his side, those who knew of the Guardians identified him as one immediately, and more often than not, they came to him humbly with requests for help, usually repelling some wild pok¨¦mon or another. But in turn, they gifted him with stories about their lives and lands, more valuable to him than any sum of money. Aaron took a certain pride in following in Azett¡¯s footsteps. Like the eastern king, he too would use his journey to become an even better leader for the Guardians. But perhaps the most intriguing part of his journey was his discovery of certain artifacts. One of the secrets of the Guardian royalty he¡¯d learned after donning the crown was the existence of the Plates of Arceus. Three of them, he¡¯d found, scattered across the world. He¡¯d been drawn to them, by some inexplicable force. But after finding them, they had bonded themselves to him, burying themselves within him alongside his very soul. He was a Platebearer now. One of the chosen few graced with a shard of Arceus¡¯ divine power. Luckily, the Guardian kings of the past had written to him about exactly this. A message from across the millennia. ¡°Have you sent a reply back to Kalos about their offer for an alliance,¡± Aaron asked as they walked through the halls of the palace. His advisors shifted uncomfortably. ¡°We have not yet,¡± one of them spoke up. ¡°We elected to wait for your return so that you could have the final say. Perhaps you¡¯ve heard of the troubling news coming from the east?¡± Aaron frowned. ¡°No. What¡¯s going on?¡± His journey had left him sorely out of the loop on current events, and even though he¡¯d visited Kalos, he¡¯d made a point not to head too far inland, lest he attract the attention of the capital. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a diplomatic mess for Azett. ¡°Kalos has increased the pace of their industrialization, and the size of their armies have swelled. Our scouts say they appear to have shifted to a wartime economy, though no such conflict seems to exist. They¡¯re building up their military and navy, and they¡¯ve become far more aggressive about securing their borders from wild pok¨¦mon. The latest report cited a number of no fewer than a hundred pok¨¦mon killed in a single month.¡± ¡°A hundred¡­,¡± Aaron repeated, in disbelief. ¡°How is that possible? Their bodies are so tough¡­ It¡¯s hard enough just to kill one, even with the power of Aura.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve developed new weapons, it seems. Or somehow learned of a weakness, we¡¯re not sure. Many Guardians are appalled by their actions, but we¡¯ve been able to keep them in line, for now.¡± Aaron shook his head. ¡°This is violent, even for them. But beyond that, they¡¯re advancing abnormally quickly. I¡¯ve never heard of anything like it.¡± Suddenly, his eyes widened. Could it be? He looked down and opened his hand. Has someone in Kalos discovered a Plate? ¡°The speed at which they¡¯re developing is truly extraordinary,¡± his advisor agreed. ¡°Their alliances with Unova and Galar appear to be finalized now as well, and both lands have undertaken similar agendas. Additionally, the latest reports say that the pok¨¦mon that aren¡¯t killed are captured instead. It seems King Azett means to well and truly end his pok¨¦mon problem, both at home, and in the lands of his allies. By now, he must have amassed hundreds of pok¨¦mon.¡± As their group rounded a corner, they came to a stop in front of a set of tall oak doors that served as the entrance to King Aaron¡¯s chambers. Two royal Guardians stood without. ¡°We will discuss this further later,¡± Aaron said curtly. ¡°For now, I must greet my wife. In the meantime, please prepare a ship for me. I intend to sail east as soon as possible.¡± His many advisors nodded respectfully and shuffled away. Once they were gone, he nodded to the guards and pushed open the doors to his room. Within, beyond the heavy drapes over his royal bed, sat the silhouette of Queen Rin, nestled in the darkness by the window. At the sound of the door opening, she immediately turned and stood. Her golden hair fluttered as she raced over and embraced her husband. ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± Aaron said wistfully. ¡°After too long,¡± Rin said, her face buried in the crook of his shoulder. Withdrawing, she took a step back and glanced him up and down. ¡°You¡¯ve done it. You achieved the true purpose of your journey.¡± Aaron shook his head. ¡°Hardly. I only found three. Not even close to all of them.¡± ¡°Oh, Aaron, you demand too much of yourself¡­ Three of Arceus¡¯ Plates¡­no Guardian has borne so many in all of our history.¡± ¡°But it still isn¡¯t enough,¡± Aaron sighed, pacing over and sitting on the edge of his bed. ¡°I cannot stop the Paragons with so few¡­¡± He looked up at his wife. ¡°And I cannot go to Azett with any false hope. He, who desires peace more than anyone.¡± At the mention of the eastern king¡¯s name, Rin¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You should have seen him whilst you were there.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t,¡± Aaron said after a long silence. ¡°How could I face him after learning about this world¡¯s destiny? The Paragons? The cycle of war and peace? It is far worse than he ever thought. The utopia he desires will never be eternal, so long as that ancient war persists.¡± ¡°His actions suggest he¡¯s somehow learned of our fate all the same,¡± Rin said quietly. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s found a Plate?¡± So she suspects the same. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rin. I have to leave again. I must go to Kalos.¡± The Queen paced over and sat down beside him. She grasped his hands and squeezed them tightly, locking eyes with him. ¡°Go. Help your friend. Only together¡­.only together could you hope to save this world.¡± Aaron smiled and stroked her hand with his thumb. The next day, Sir Aaron received word that the Kalosian Empire, at the behest of King Azett, had murdered one hundred thousand pok¨¦mon. Next ¡ª Chapter 46 : The Great War
Apologies for the delay. On top of being extremely busy this past month, I found this chapter very difficult to write. I had to ponder on it quite a bit. Lots of rewriting and rereading to make sure I was catching everything. Also, structuring dialogue is hard for me, and there¡¯s a lot of that in this chapter. Honestly, for this exact reason, I probably should¡¯ve gotten a beta reader a long time ago. I don¡¯t know if getting one is even feasible now that we¡¯re over 200,000 words :/ Remnants of the Great War [37] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [37] Chapter 46 : The Great War
¡°Your Grace, our men are working as fast as they can, but it simply isn¡¯t possible to¡ª¡° ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± King Azett snarled, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°The army¡¯s size has doubled, and every soldier needs a set of armor and weapons! Do not fail me, minister. Think of your children, no, think of your children¡¯s children. If you do not want their future to be swallowed in unparalleled desolation, you will carry out your orders as instructed.¡± His minister wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and nodded weakly, before scurrying away. Azett slumped back in his throne. The iron crown on his head sat heavy, the weight of his duties threatening to crush him, yet he kept his head aloft. Failure was unacceptable. This effort had started around six months ago, when Azett glimpsed a vision of the future. The arrival of the so-called ¡®Paragons, and what came after. The return of the Age of Carnage¡­ Whilst I draw breath, that reality will never again defile this world with its depravity. Toward that end, Azett had turned Kalos into a true empire, expanding its armies, doubling the production of grain, and forging weapons to crush any hint of pok¨¦mon activity within his territory. But most importantly, he¡¯d begun work on a secret weapon. An ultimate weapon, the designs of which had been enlightened upon him by Arceus¡¯ Plate. In the intervening time since he¡¯d become a Platebearer, he¡¯d learned much about what it could offer him. When he demanded an answer from it, it provided. And when he¡¯d demanded a weapon that could fell the Paragons, the blueprints of that machine had been etched upon his mind dutifully. His hands had moved across the parchment nearly autonomously, as he sketched out the design revealed to him. When he handed them to his engineers and ordered them to build it, they looked at him in abject confusion, not even knowing what it was they were looking at. But how could they? This was wisdom imparted to him directly from the creature that had designed the very universe, according to Zagreus. And that wasn¡¯t the only knowledge that man had enlightened him to¡­ When the Paragons came, he would be ready. The air in the throne room seemed dark and crimson, as did the rest of Kalos. Where once, laughter and mirth had filled its cobbled halls, now, only the iron conviction held by its king remained. The half-assed ¡®utopia¡¯ from before did not exist anymore. Now, all citizens of Kalos were expected to contribute to Azett¡¯s grand mission. He was well aware of the cost, but it was a trifling concern compared to the threat of the Paragons. Even Floette had vanished about a week ago, shortly after Azett had issued the order to cull the many pok¨¦mon gathered to fuel his ultimate weapon. She normally came and went as she pleased, but her absence this time was noticeably longer. For some reason, even the Fairy Plate, as he¡¯d learned it was, did not reveal her whereabouts to him. But, her disappearance was an easily forgettable matter with everything else at hand. Surely she¡¯d reappear soon. The doors to the esteemed throne room burst open. Everyone gathered turned toward the sound of the doors slamming against the stone walls, and one of his messengers pushed his way between them impatiently, before kneeling before Azett. Azett frowned upon noticing the urgency of his messenger. His skin was slick with sweat and he was visibly shaking. His guards moved to intercept the man, but Azett put his hand up. ¡°Fetch him a flask of water.¡± Once it was brought, the man drank it down greedily, emptying the flask in mere seconds. After catching his breath he turned to his king once more. ¡°Speak,¡± Azett ordered. The man swallowed. ¡°W-War, your Grace. T-The Guardians of Rota¡­have declared war!¡± ¡°What?!¡± one of the ministers shouted. ¡°So they finally show their hand!¡± ¡°Those despicable Guardians! After his Grace visited them personally!¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Azett boomed. ¡°What is the rest of the report?¡± ¡°Guardians in the southern lands launched an attack on our outposts! They set the pok¨¦mon free and burned our ships! As I speak, a host of mounted flyers are on their way to Kalos now from across the sea!¡± Disturbed murmurings erupted through the throne room. Notably, the military generals seemed to steel themselves, preparing for conflict. ¡°It is as I said,¡± a voice came from behind Azett. ¡°They mean to destroy you.¡± Azett turned just as Sir Zagreus stepped out from the shadows. ¡°They fear Kalos¡¯ strength!¡± Zagreus proclaimed to the whole room. ¡°If they cannot possess supremacy in this world, then no one shall!¡± The gathered officials paused their panic to listen to the Guardian. They glared at him. They never did trust him, and disliked how close he¡¯d gotten to their king. Yet he was proving his loyalty now. Their eyes shifted to their king, awaiting orders. Rage burned in the Kalosian king¡¯s eyes. Aaron¡­ Do you truly mean to force your wretched dream on the entire world? On me? He rose to his feet and stepped down the steps to his throne slowly. ¡°Rota flies toward us, intent on killing us. They have betrayed me, and allowed themselves to be led astray by illusions of power and dreams of unity.¡± He clenched his fist before him. ¡°Kalosians! We have prepared for this day! Our army is larger than any other, and our fleet is unparalleled! Deploy the armada to intercept these Guardians who would sooner defend monsters over their fellow man! Send word to Unova and Galar to muster themselves for war!¡± A cacophonous battlecry rang throughout the throne room, before generals and ministers both began rushing this way and that to carry out their new orders. At the same time, Zagreus slid in beside Azett. ¡°Surely you can feel it too, your Grace. The Guardians will not be the only enemy. Others will take advantage of the coming chaos. Other Platebearers, and those seeking the Plates.¡± Azett¡¯s glare never wavered. ¡°Of course I know that. But thanks to your knowledge, I have borne my Plate longer than any of them. If they come, they will die by my hands personally, Platebearer or not.¡± Zagreus smiled and nodded. ¡°Then the only thing I have left to impart to you are my well wishes. For good fortune in battle.¡± He bowed dramatically. Azett crossed his arms. ¡°Pok¨¦mon¡­ The Paragons are the true enemy. I will end this farce of a war quickly. It must end before the Paragons arrive. And then, I will fulfill my divine purpose and defend this world from them once and for all. That is my decree. And let any who stand against us be branded as enemies of humanity!¡± In his valiance, King Azett did not notice Zagreus¡¯ deathly smirk, or the dark glint in his messenger¡¯s eyes that betrayed the evil Guardian¡¯s control over him.
¡°My King!¡± An Aura Guardian ran down the wooden pier and quickly clutched a fist and bowed. Sir Aaron frowned at his haste and stopped, one foot away from stepping onto his Kalos-bound galleon. Rota had no navy, landlocked as they were, so they¡¯d hired a captain in Vermillion for the journey east. ¡°What is it?¡± he said, concern already lacing his tone. ¡°The Kalosian Armada has set sail and is heading west! Our scouts say they¡¯ve assembled for war! Their men are armed and armored, and they have an army of trainers aboard!¡± Sir Aaron¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°War?¡± He glanced away. Is this related to our presence in the Hoenn Region? I¡¯d increased our presence there after learning that many of the pok¨¦mon from their massacre were captured there. But would Azett really escalate to war over something so trivial? He turned around and looked out over the ship, across its width, at the open ocean to the east. His messenger was still babbling on but honestly, his voice had faded into the background. You shredded the chance of an alliance with your wanton bloodshed, Azett, but I intended to find the truth of this darkness by going to Kalos myself. Are you telling me you won¡¯t even allow that anymore? Your pure heart, which wished so deeply for the abolition of fear¡­could it have been blackened so much by fear, in turn, of the Paragons¡­? Or was it the seduction of the Plates? Or was your true desire all along to claim limitless power so you could shed yourself of such fear? ¡°My King!¡± the messenger squawked, breaking him from his thoughts. ¡°What?!¡± Aaron growled, wheeling on him. The messenger raised his arm and pointed at the eastern sky. ¡°There, my King! We¡¯re under attack!¡± All around him, Guardians were beginning to point and shout, with some withdrawing their pok¨¦balls. Sir Aaron grit his teeth. No time to think! Ripping a pok¨¦ball from his own belt, he expelled its contents onto the pier beside him, and the energy within quickly coalesced into a regal Dragonite. It snorted, sensing the incoming threat immediately, and its head jerked to the east, glaring. ¡°Defensive formation, Guardians!¡± Aaron roared. ¡°On me! Do not engage until I give the order!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on out here?¡± a gruff voice demanded. A man with a dark gray beard and sea-crusted coat stomped across the wooden deck of the ship, coming to a stop next to Aaron. He eyed the Dragonite warily, fear evident in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯d get below deck, captain,¡± the Guardian King warned, mounting Dragonite. ¡°Seems King Azett has gotten impatient and is coming out to greet us instead.¡± Without another word, Sir Aaron kicked Dragonite into the skies, and a moment later, his Guardians joined him, circling around him atop their own flyers. In the far distance, a horde of black dots danced above the horizon, growing larger with each passing moment. As they neared, their edges became more defined, taking the shape of avian pok¨¦mon, with riders on their backs. There must be fifty¡­no, closer to seventy of them. With their numbers, and at the speed they¡¯re going, they clearly intend to attack us. Sir Aaron¡¯s eyes narrowed as the wind cut past him. Since when did Kalos become so familiar with pok¨¦mon? The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When they were nearly a minute away, their forms became clear. However, it was difficult to identify the pok¨¦mon due to steel plate armor that covered most of their bodies. Most looked like Talonflame, though Aaron couldn¡¯t be certain. Was it when they decided to start using them as weapons of war? he thought grimly. With one hand clutching Dragonite, he clenched his fist, igniting a surge of Aura within him. Suddenly, a high pitched keening screeched across the sky, and Aaron nearly let go over Dragonite to clamp his hands over his ears. Through gritted teeth, he saw the unmistakable ears of an armored Noivern glide up from behind its comrades, the air shimmering in front of it from the attack. ¡°Take evasive action!¡± Aaron commanded his Guardians, banking down to escape the cacophony. ¡°Twister, Dragonite!¡± Dragonite roared, unleashing a storm of crackling energy into the seas below. A moment later, a giant tornado of seafoam ripped into the skies, shooting up from beneath the attackers. Over half of them were swallowed up by the maelstrom or cast off target by its violent winds. At the same time, the Guardians crashed into the attacking force in midair, the screeching and screaming of pok¨¦mon and man alike filling the air. Bursts of Aura and elemental attacks flew through the air, both whizzing past the attackers and slamming into them, sending them plummeting down to the ocean below. As Aaron swept beside the massive shadow cast by Dragonite¡¯s Twister, he urged his mount up, aiming to come up behind the host. Just before he crested over the top, Aura roared to life on his arms, and his eyes were already flooded in azure. In an instant, he identified friend from foe in the chaotic battle raging before him. As Dragonite leaned forward, allowing him a stable mount, Aaron threw his arms outward. A wave of Aura, like shimmering mist, bloomed out from him, engulfing the entire midair battle. It passed harmlessly over the Guardians, but the enemy Talonflames squawked and reared back, tossing their riders, who themselves had already been knocked unconscious, before passing out instantly, falling from the sky in a storm of wings and clanking armor. The armored bodies of the Kalosian knights fell like ragdolls, peppering the sea in blooms of seafoam/ The Guardians around him calmed as they saw their foes falling in defeat. The first battle had ended in their unequivocal victory. ¡°Retrieve them,¡± Aaron said, already urging Dragonite back to land. When he landed on the pier again, the captain was waiting for him stone-faced. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to renege on our arrangement, your Majesty. You can¡¯t possibly expect me to sail straight into a war.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Aaron said. ¡°I doubt we¡¯d be received warmly after what just transpired.¡± The captain took off his cap and rubbed his bald head. ¡°Agh. War. Terrible for business. I think I¡¯ll head south and wait it out.¡± Even that may not be far enough, Aaron thought, though he didn¡¯t say it. ¡°No matter what you decide to do, I imagine you¡¯ll want to decide quickly. That was just an advance force. Kalos¡¯ pok¨¦mon aren¡¯t strong enough to migrate all the way from east to west. They will have dismounted from warships several miles out. And those warships are still on their way.¡± The captain scoffed in disbelief. ¡°That many? Just an advance force? What did you do to piss ¡®em off so much?¡± Aaron sighed. Even if tensions have been rising, that could never explain such a forceful attempted ambush like this. ¡°I wish I knew.¡± His Guardian brethren started landing around him, carrying the soaked bodies of the Kalosians and their pok¨¦mon with them. Because of the modest size of the port, they were able to spread out across the grassy hills around the port, dumping their payloads onto the ground unceremoniously. Aaron nodded in farewell to the captain, and walked briskly toward his men. A senior Guardian stepped down from his Fearow and bowed curtly. ¡°The result?¡± Aaron asked. The Guardian¡¯s eyes scrunched in dismay. ¡°They killed one of ours and injured two. We took one of theirs.¡± Dark storm clouds hummed in Aaron¡¯s mind, and he closed his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no turning back now,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We should return to Rota with haste, my King,¡± the Guardian said. ¡°We must prepare ourselves for a ground invasion from Kalos¡¯ navy.¡± Aaron nodded. ¡°Their warships off the coast are less of a concern to me right now. What we must truly grasp are the intentions of our foe. What is their goal, and how far are they willing to go to reach it? Learn that, and it will become clear how expansive and protracted they intend this conflict to be.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say they intend on a war that is quite expansive and protracted. Based on what they¡¯ve already done.¡± ¡°I fear that what they¡¯ve done so far isn¡¯t the worst of what they¡¯re capable of. Our scouts report rumors of a top-secret project ongoing in the bowels of Kalos, and the massacre of the hundred thousand pok¨¦mon seems likely to be related to it. If Azett has somehow learned how to harness the power of Aura from the corpses of all those pok¨¦mon, then it is absolutely imperative that we find and shut down said project immediately, whatever it is.¡± The Guardian nodded grimly. ¡°These words should be heard by all your captains.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Aaron agreed. ¡°I will go on ahead to Rota. I entrust you with handling our enemies here. Transport them back and we¡¯ll confine them to the lower keep for now.¡± ¡°Yes, my King.¡± As he moved toward Dragonite, Sir Aaron could almost hear his blood pumping itself sluggishly through his veins, as if resisting their current reality. Azett¡­how did it come to this? He could already tell the coming years would not be kind to him.
Six years later, Land of Rota ¡°Advance, you bastards! Strike down every Guardian you see!¡± King Azett roared, stepping forward with a dark iron broadsword in hand. Kalosian wielders raced forward around them alongside their pok¨¦mon, swiftly disappearing into the dark forest before the Palace under the cloak of night. Finally, they had cracked into the heartland of the Guardians. After the Guardians had repelled their initial attack six years ago, an impenetrable defense had been established around Rota, with all roads and ports locked down. But Aaron was even more thorough, defending the skies from attack as well, and his own formidable command of Aura had proved to be a match against the might of his Fairy Plate. War had broken out across the world as those who flew their respective flags seized the opportunity to claw their way up from the dregs. With their protection from Rota and Kalos now in jeopardy, villages and towns had risen up against their neighbors, determined to carve out their own place in the world. And due to the imperial nature of Kalos and Rota, those local conflicts had become proxy wars as the two superstates fought for supremacy across the world. Aaron and Azett were both well aware that striking the opposing capital city would bring the swiftest end to the war, and allowing the other to take control of even small towns only inched the dagger closer to their throats. And throughout it all, the other Platebearers whispered their influence across the myriad battlefields, channeling the flow of the war around them. But the omniscience granted to Azett by the Fairy Plate granted him, and him alone, an absolute advantage against the rival Platebearers. How many had already fallen to him? He always offered to spare them in exchange for their Plate, but stubbornly, they always refused. They would rather die than surrender Arceus¡¯ divine power. Nevertheless, Azett¡¯s ruthlessness had finally borne fruit. While the Guardians had already cut through Unova and Galar from behind, and had gained a beachhead on Kalosian shores, he had reached Rota first. After six long years, the race against time had ended in Kalos¡¯ victory. And not soon enough. According to the wisdom of the Fairy Plate, the Paragons were set to arrive later this year. Azett didn¡¯t know precisely when or where, but he was certain it would be this year. His men had readied the ultimate weapon, and when they arrived, he would be ready. He would not let the vision he saw six years ago play out. But first, Aaron and the Guardians needed to be ground down to dust for their despicable betrayal. Red lightning lanced across the black sky with a thunderous crack, illuminating the regal Cameran Palace for a moment. Up ahead, Groudon stomped over the forest, magma leaking from the gleaming runes on its crimson skin, and it roared its fury to all within a ten-mile radius. Three jets of Aura shot out from the forest and impacted against Groudon¡¯s chest, but the behemoth simply snarled and roared even louder, swinging its gargantuan arm and releasing a tidal wave of lava over its assailants. The night became a frenzied blaze of war and fire and the roars of man and monster alike. Azett didn¡¯t slow his pace at all upon entering the forest, now an inferno of cinders with chaos all around him. He grinned, saliva leaking from the corners of his mouth, as he saw a Guardian running toward him, his hands alight with Aura. The Guardian¡¯s Electrode rolled beside him, tumbling over burned roots with gusto. The Guardian shot an Aura Sphere at him, but Azett easily dodged, then sank his armored fist into the young man¡¯s face, pulping it to blood and bone in an instant. Then, without losing a step, he spun on the ball of his foot and swung his sword in a wide horizontal arc, cleaving the Electrode in half just as it sailed into the air in front of him. The two hemispheres ignited, combusting with an ear-shattering bang and blinding nova. Azett stepped through the explosion, soot covering his face, smoke trailing from his grinning mouth. ¡°Kill them all!¡± he spat. ¡°Bury every wretched Guardian you see!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d once entertained the idea of allying with these craven freaks. Coexistence with pok¨¦mon? A pipe dream. No, a nightmare. The war raged on and blood and smoke continued to fall upon his body, but several hours later, they finally emerged from the forest. Cameran Palace stood tall, though its regal silhouette looked tiny against the towering Tree of Beginning, which glimmered beneath the pregnant moon. Where are you, Aaron? Though he wasn¡¯t overly curious, the wisdom of the Fairy Plate granted him an answer anyway, and he frowned. The Tree of Beginning? Is that why it still shines so brightly despite the conflagration raging around it? He sneered. I knew you¡¯d never abandon Rota with us so close, but to think you do not deign to even greet me on the field of battle¡­ Your arrogance will be your undoing. The Guardians were a slippery bunch. He¡¯d learned that many times over the past six years. Despite his nigh omniscience, he was still only one man, and the Plate only responded to specific queries. They¡¯d been surprise-attacked more times than he could count, and even when the Guardians appeared to have their backs against the wall, their power of Aura could turn any situation around in an instant. Even now, with victory literally in sight, defeat was not out of the question either. ¡°Your Grace,¡± one of his generals strode up next to him. ¡°We¡¯ve received word from the capital. They¡¯ve nearly reached the southern gates. Our Galarian allies are harassing them, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be enough to stop their advance.¡± Azett closed his eyes, and cosmic intelligence filtered into his mind at will. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± he said, opening them again. ¡°They¡¯ve already breached the southern gates and are on their way to the keep now. The next few hours will decide the fate of this entire war.¡± His general shifted uneasily. ¡°To think it¡¯s gotten this close. This is an unforgivable blunder.¡± ¡°Not so. On the contrary, you¡¯ve performed admirably against an opponent with such a formidable advantage. And you continue to do so to this day, to this hour. For that, I thank you, General.¡± ¡°I am unworthy,¡± he bowed. ¡°But if the capital should fall¡­¡± ¡°I have a contingency, of course. Our minister of finance has been instructed to flee the keep with as many allies as he can in the event of a total defeat. He alone knows the location of all our treasuries, and will have the resources to reform our forces.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Lord Errol Vandrick has always served my family faithfully.¡± His general nodded. ¡°And¡­the weapon?¡± he asked in a lower voice. ¡°Will be utilized when the Paragons arrive. Not a moment before or after. I entrusted the custody of that task with your men alone. For only a warrior would have the strength to see it through.¡± His general slammed his fists together. ¡°And we will not fail you.¡± As his general bowed, then left to rejoin their forces, Azett glanced back over at the Tree of Beginning. What is this feeling of unease? As the hour of the Paragons¡¯ arrival inched closer, Azett¡¯s anxiety rose, and he felt himself becoming more and more paranoid by the day, always thinking it was just seconds away. The feeling had nearly torn him apart, yet, ironically, with so much of his attention focused on the war, his sanity remained intact. Yes¡­the war. Fate was a curious creature. Perhaps nothing happened by accident. It seemed, at times, that this war, a mere prologue to the arrival of the Paragons, was exactly what Azett the hero required. One final trial on the mortal plane before the advent of the divine. In the distance, the Tree of Beginning suddenly grew brighter. The sky overhead rumbled and gurgled as if choking. Dark lines began to spread across the black expanse, somehow even darker than the night itself. Amidst the abyss, the Tree of Beginning shined like a beacon, casting its light over all of Rota, along with a keening, otherworldly hum. His body moving on its own, Azett began sprinting toward the Tree, down the grassy hill, through his soldiers¡¯ lines, ignoring the Guardians completely. No¡­ Thunder screamed across the sky, high-pitched and bloodcurdling as if something alive had made the sound instead. It can¡¯t be¡­ The power of the Fairy Plate flared, and Azett rocketed through the air, moving on instinct alone. The air suddenly became humid, moisture coalescing on his blood-stained skin and clothes like breath on a cold day, but if anything, the temperature seemed to have just risen. It¡¯s too soon¡­ As the sky burst apart, sound and sight both rupturing into blindness and silence, Azett saw the Tree of Beginning ignite, casting a rippling nova of azure light outward. His body jerked in midair, though he could not say what caused it. For the first time in years, cold, clawing terror engulfed Azett, and along with it, the Tree¡¯s light, and the sky¡¯s night. Next ¡ª Chapter 47 : Remnants of the Great War
Remnants of the Great War [38] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [38] Chapter 47 : Remnants of the Great War
How much time had passed, Azett could not say. The unceasing ringing in his ears and skull-splitting agony in his head prevented him from even using the Plate to find out. All he could do was inhale and exhale, each breath confirming that he was still alive. The fact that he couldn¡¯t even tell what orientation his body was currently in was probably cause for concern, but anytime he thought of anything besides breathing, a wave of nausea would well up within him. What eventually broke him from his hellish reverie was a new scent. Along with his sense of sight, hearing, and touch, Azett had thought he¡¯d lost his sense of smell too. But a metallic, smoky smell began to waft into his nostrils, filling him with something other than ruin. It tickled the insides of his nose, and he crinkled it involuntarily. With his sense of smell, his other senses swiftly returned as well. He felt sharp gravel pressing into his face, and he realized he was lying on the ground, of course. His limbs were sprawled out, and he began to feel a faint heat against the backs of his hands like a fire was nearby. That was enough for him to act. Testing himself by moving his leg a bit, he eventually rolled over. Another wave of nausea assaulted him, but while he waited for it to pass, he kept his eyes open. Everything was still blurry, but he could make out general splotches of gray and brown around him. After several more minutes, he sat up in one swift motion, then stood up, before his body could protest. His hair fell in a tangled mess around him, and his clothes were in tatters. He stood shakily, like a newborn, as he took in his surroundings. The sky rumbled as if threatening to fall. As far as Azett could see, over hills and within valleys, all he saw was desolation. Lonely flames burned between a seemingly endless expanse of fallen human bodies and spiky tree stumps. Dust coated everything and wafted down in flurries like snow. Yes, he remembered now. He was in Rota. For right ahead, at the center of a lake, which now reflected an utterly gray sky, stood Cameran Palace. Dust covered the entire castle, yet it appeared undamaged among the silent battlefield. Azett turned his head. North of the palace, the Tree of Beginning still stood, and unlike everything else across the monochrome vista, it was still limned in emerald and aqua, the only entity of color in sight. What did this? He asked immediately. And a moment later, he knew. A twister of anguish spiraled to life within him, but somehow, he forced out another question. ¡°What did they do?¡± he croaked aloud, fear and despair alight in his bloodshot eyes. ¡­ He sank to his knees, quivering. ¡°No,¡± he moaned. ¡°No¡­no, no, no¡­ He looked back up at the glimmering Tree. Tears fell from his eyes, and he remained paralyzed. Unable to move. Unable to accept. Rota was not the only land swallowed in desolation. A similar view graced the face of continents across the world. No, those views were far, far worse. Kalos was gone. His entire kingdom. Everyone in it, dead. Everything, returned to zero. The Paragons had already come and gone. He had failed. Hours later, even when he was hauled up by some others, a hood thrown over his head, Azett made no move to resist. There was not a single aspect of his being that was not irreparably shattered.
The hood was ripped off his head violently, and light flooded his eyes, causing him to squint painfully. Even before his vision had fully adjusted, he heard the low rumbling of speaking all around him, and he knew he was not alone. He tried to shift into a more comfortable position, but he found himself unable to, barricaded on all sides. That was when he felt a weight on his wrists. Iron shackles clanked noisily with his every move, and he glanced up again. Through a greasy curtain of hair, he could see he was in some sort of chamber, and most of it was basked in shadows, save for where he was, due to a window on the opposite end of the room. A short ways away, people had gathered, arranged in some sort of audience, all dressed the same, and they murmured to themselves as they observed him. Their eyes cast a myriad of emotions at him: disgust, anger, interest, arrogance. After he¡¯d been dragged off the battlefield at Rota, he¡¯d been thrown in some dark, dank place to rot. Again, for how long, he couldn¡¯t say, and he¡¯d had no interest in finding out either. But just earlier, after having a hood thrown over him again, he was collected from that place and brought here. ¡°You stand before the gathered to face judgment for your crimes,¡± a voice rang out in front of him. Azett followed the sound of the voice, and his line of sight disappeared into a raised dais that towered above the rest of the audience, darkened by the shadows near the top of the room. A trial! ¡°King Azett, the crimes with which you are charged are far too numerous to list, and given the present state of the world, our time would be much better spent beyond this chamber, so I¡¯ll make this as brief as possible.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Azett demanded, lurching forward. But before he could even finish taking a step, nearly tripped over himself. He hadn¡¯t even noticed, but his ankles had been shackled as well. It was only now that he noticed he¡¯d been placed in a narrow iron cage, barely big enough to contain his upright form, with only the space in front of him open to address the gathered. ¡°Is it true?¡± he said, his voice hoarse. ¡°About Kalos¡­ About the world?¡± ¡°So, word has reached you, then. Yes, everything you¡¯ve heard is true. Kalos is gone. Galar is still in flames. Unova has been reduced to rubble, save for the capital. The Hoenn continent has been razed, and even Tohjo did not escape unscathed.¡± Azett''s throat ran dry, and he coughed. After his coughing spell ended, he looked frantically around the room, at all the gathered, but they simply gazed back, not a hint of amusement on any of their faces. Furiously, he turned back to the one who seemed to be the judge. ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is true, then the death toll must be in the millions! No, hundreds of millions!¡± There was a silence. But it was soon filled. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Though the number of dead continues to rise even now.¡± Horror filled Azett from his skin down to his organs. Even though the Fairy Plate had never failed him, he still clung to the hope that it was wrong. Perhaps he was misinterpreting it. Maybe he¡¯d hit his head during the war. But now, someone else was confirming it. And the expressions of everyone else in the chamber proved it was no lie or jest. ¡°But that¡¯s¡­¡± he breathed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you thought would happen when you built that weapon of yours. Don¡¯t look so sullen now, your Grace. This is the future you desired, is it not?¡± Azett jerked up. ¡°What?! My weapon! My weapon did not cause this! It was the¡ª¡° ¡°Let us return to the matter of your judgment,¡± the voice boomed. ¡°As it happens, that weapon of yours still has yet to be found. Though reducing the severity of your punishment is utterly out of the question, it may behoove your damned soul to reveal its location all the same, should you desire any restoration of your karma. If that look on your face is genuine, then surely you¡¯d surrender its location, so that that foul thing can be purged from this world.¡± ¡°Wait! Just stop!¡± Azett demanded, his shackles clanking. ¡°The weapon was never used! This¡­this apocalypse¡­it could never be caused by my weapon!¡± He frowned. ¡°Who are you?¡± This trial is a sham! The Guardians are pinning the destruction of the Paragons on me! Azett heard the creaking of wood up on the dais, and a shadowy figure stood, each step echoing through the chamber as he moved into the light. Azett¡¯s eyes widened, and he could not stifle a gasp. ¡°You¡­!¡± ¡°This trial is proceeding under my jurisdiction. Surely you have no complaints, O King of Kalos. As you can plainly see, I am no Guardian.¡± Though Azett had never seen this man before, much less met him, he knew him all the same. Everyone did. And even though he hadn¡¯t asked it, the Fairy Plate whispered his identity into Azett¡¯s consciousness as loud as a firecracker. This was the Hero of Kanto. His face was bereft of any defining features, and as such, Azett couldn¡¯t immediately tell how old he was. From so far away, he could''ve been younger, the same age, or even a decade older than him, and Azett wouldn''t have been surprised either way. He wore a simple tunic and nondescript cape, yet his presence commanded authority, even from the likes of a king and Platebearer like Azett. Azett swallowed. ¡°You should consider yourself lucky, your Grace,¡± the Hero continued, in that regal timbre. ¡°When the Guardians found you, most of them wanted you executed immediately. It is only by the grace and mercy of Rota¡¯s crown that you still draw breath.¡± Azett¡¯s face seized. ¡°Aaron,¡± he spat. The Hero¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°No. It was Queen Rin¡¯s decision. King Aaron is dead.¡± ¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°King Aaron is dead,¡± the Hero repeated, his voice reverberating through the chamber. ¡°Did you not hear about that part? He sacrificed his life to the Tree of Beginning to protect our world from the annihilation that nearly engulfed it in its entirety.¡± Azett was stunned speechless. ¡°¡­Dead¡­?¡± he repeated after a sustained silence. Not only have I lost my kingdom and my people, but even my archenemy¡­and best friend¡­ The chains clasped around Azett¡¯s limbs clinked as he slumped in place. The world was saved¡­ Part of it, at least. Anger curled onto his face. Rota didn¡¯t suffer any damage! His teeth grinded together and he clenched his fists, but a moment later, his body loosened and went slack. What does it matter? The Paragons were repelled. Yet they took everything from me all the same. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Deliberations concluded before you even step foot in this hall, and we are not as merciful as the good Queen Rin¡± the Hero said, invading Azett¡¯s poisonous depression. ¡°King Azett, you are sentenced to death by order of this court, effective immediately. We¡¯ve already culled a number of your cohorts and collaborators. Now, all that¡¯s left is to remove the head of your blood-soaked regime.¡± The crack of the gavel echoed throughout the chamber, and when his shackles were unlocked, Azett collapsed to the floor. ¡°Get up!¡± he heard someone say, but he didn¡¯t, so they dragged him on his knees out of the courtroom, back into the dusty miasma outside. With each passing second, Azett fell further and further into empty agony. Tears fell from his eyes like icy snowflakes, and the lump in his throat felt like hot lead, threatening to burn through his neck and spill his blood on the ground below. His entire body felt numb. Pain, or even torture, would¡¯ve been preferable to the nothing he felt now. It didn¡¯t even bother him that they were pinning responsibility for the war on him. Aaron would be venerated as a hero for certain. But only by those that were left. And he would be remembered as the villain who caused such annihilation. Or maybe he wouldn¡¯t be remembered at all. They¡¯d burn his name from their histories and forbid anyone from speaking a single positive word about him. With the Hero in charge, which it appeared he was, that was certainly possible. He welcomed this execution. He¡¯d had enough. His fight to protect the world from the Paragons, and the war that had proceeded. He¡¯d lost them both, and losers only deserved ignominious deaths. Before he knew it, they¡¯d gone back inside somewhere. It was different from where he¡¯d been held before, but he was back in a cell. It stunk of mold, and his carriers dumped him on the damp floor before closing the rusty door behind them with a harsh screech. And then, after they¡¯d gone, it was silent once more, leaving only that noxious odor to keep Azett company. You said effective immediately, Hero. Must you make me wait for my peace? Hours passed. ¡°Azett.¡± He jerked up. He knew that voice. Even though he hadn¡¯t heard it in six years. Azett stood, the heaviness weighing upon him clattering aside like boulders. He glanced feverishly around his tiny cell, bathed in darkness, throwing himself against the bars in an attempt to see further down the hall he¡¯d been taken down. ¡°Aaron! Where are you?¡± ¡°I am not here. I¡¯ve been reduced to nothing more than a voice.¡± ¡°They¡­They told me you were dead!¡± ¡°Effectively, I am. It will take centuries for my body to recover, even slumbering within the Tree.¡± A relieved smile almost danced upon Azett¡¯s face, but his face froze before it could, and it quickly twisted into a sneer. ¡°Why did you come here?¡± ¡°Obviously, I came to talk to you.¡± ¡°If you expect me to apologize for anything I did, I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t come here for that. The war is over, and both of us are dead to the world. And I have no interest in discussing the reasons behind this or that action with an enemy.¡± An enemy. Yes, that was what they were to each other. ¡°I can¡¯t hold this form for much longer. Even this preamble will have added years to my recovery, I suspect. But I had to speak to you one last time, before your execution.¡± ¡°Out with it, then,¡± Azett growled. There was a pause before Aaron spoke again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Now Azett truly wanted to laugh, but he swallowed it, letting it boil within him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t show you another path. I¡¯m sorry I let you face the Paragons alone.¡± Another pause. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t save Kalos. I¡¯m sure you have it in your head that I let it be destroyed on purpose, but I truly¡ª¡° ¡°You have nothing to apologize for,¡± Azett spat. ¡°I am¡ªI was the king of Kalos. Its safety and prosperity was my responsibility. The same for the Paragons. Everything I did, I did of my own volition. Do not think so highly of yourself, Hero.¡± After a prolonged silence, Aaron spoke again, though his voice was markedly quieter. ¡°Fine. Goodbye, Azett.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Azett stalked over to the corner of his cell and sank down. Black anger burned in his eyes. ¡°Promise me one thing. These laurels you¡¯ve obtained for yourself. Your heroic title. Your precious Guardians. If you want to do just one thing for me, you will leave them all behind. Left with nothing. Just like me. Do you hear me? You saved nothing. You didn¡¯t stop the Paragons. Nor did you win the war. This world still tasted annihilation, even with your paltry interference. Promise me you¡¯ll divest yourself of this world. This grateful world, or the remnants of it, will never impose a punishment on you, so I will. Never show your face again. Disappear into the annals of history and let the next generation shoulder our mistakes. We¡¯ve tried to correct fate more than enough. Promise me all this. It will take you centuries to return? So be it. I¡¯ll be watching you. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t be.¡± There was no immediate response. At first, Azett thought he¡¯d already left, but there was a response, even weaker than the last. ¡°I promise.¡±
Land of Rota, present day ¡°Argh!¡± AZ roared, and a shockwave of gale winds burst out from around him, forcing both Ash and Aaron back. Blood ran from cuts across his whole body, yet his agile movements did not suggest he¡¯d been damaged in the slightest. Ash landed on knees, and a moment later, Pikachu flew back and landed on his shoulder deftly, quickly turning to face the raging giant. ¡°You betrayed me!¡± AZ screamed, jabbing his finger at Aaron with every enraged word. ¡°When I was on the cusp of battle against the Paragons, you declared war on me! The world fell to ruin because of you! How dare you play the hero!¡± He stomped toward Aaron, flipping his massive Fairy Plate sword in his hand, jagged and terrible. ¡°You were supposed to suffer, like I suffered! Did you forget your sins, that you would so quickly condemn me for mine?¡± It felt like hot lead was running through Ash¡¯s veins, now that he¡¯d been using the power of the Electric Plate for so long. Yet he forced himself to his feet all the same. It seemed that the more damage AZ took, he only grew angrier and more unhinged. More dangerous. Conversely, Sir Aaron appeared to be weakening. He hadn¡¯t yet stood after being pushed back, and his Mega Lucario eyed him in concern, flicking his attention between his master and his enemy. ¡°Ha.¡± AZ¡¯s face twisted into a confused snarl. ¡°Ha ha. Hahahahaha!¡± Sir Aaron stood, the falling rain casting a shadow over his face. Then he looked up, and a flash of lightning above illuminated his face for a moment, showing a wide grin, his teeth clenched nearly to the point of breaking. ¡°I betrayed you? Is that right?¡± A lance of Aura flickered to life in his palm, before flaring to life and solidifying into a gleaming sword, brighter and bigger than all the others he¡¯d made throughout the fight. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of something so funny in my life.¡± With each step he took, puddles of water and mud splashed and sizzled against his ankles. ¡°Oh, there was a betrayal alright. I¡¯m not denying that.¡± Aura exploded into life around him in a nova, blowing his spiky hair around wildly, his entire form eclipsed in a blinding light. Ash covered his eyes instinctively, but just before he did, he saw Aaron blitz forward, cratering the ground beneath him. ¡°IT WAS YOU WHO BETRAYED ME!¡± Aaron roared, slamming his sword down on AZ. AZ crumpled beneath Sir Aaron¡¯s attack, grunting as he barely caught the weight of the slice on his sword. His knees hit the ground, and an effulgent light burst forth from the impact, a glassy cacophony reverberating out from the clearing. Swiftly, AZ moved his other hand to brace the blade of his sword and Aaron bared down on him, fury smoking on his face. ¡°I wanted to save the world together with you!¡± Aaron yelled. ¡°I could never do it myself, and I never did! You don¡¯t think I feel the weight of all that blood on my shoulders every day?! It cost me my body and soul just to use the Tree of Beginning to scare them off early before they could destroy everything!¡± Aaron swung his sword with all his strength, and the ethereal material of their two blades grinded against each other painfully, before Aaron launched AZ back, sending him flying into a stout tree. But he didn¡¯t let up, leaping forward again to catch him before he could stand. ¡°For all your talk of such a noble purpose, you never ended up using all that power and strength for anyone but yourself!¡± ¡°What did you say,¡± AZ growled, his face inches from Aaron¡¯s as he exerted himself against the Guardian King¡¯s merciless assault. ¡°You knew of the Guardians¡¯ dream! Of my dream! And you spit on it all! One hundred thousand pok¨¦mon, dead!¡± ¡°I did what I had to do to protect this world!¡± AZ snarled, forcing Aaron back just enough that he could regain his composure. ¡°Your filthy dream is what nearly brought about the end of the world!¡± ¡°Oh, you do enjoy deluding yourself, don¡¯t you?¡± Aaron spat. ¡°How else could you have convinced yourself that you¡¯re actually the hero?¡± ¡°I wear no such mantle! One hundred thousand was a paltry sum for salvation. I¡¯d do it all again!¡± Aaron¡¯s glare deepened, and he surged forward, thrusting his sword into AZ¡¯s shoulder, and the giant howled, retching himself free in an instant before he could be impaled. Pure hatred blackened his eyes, and, hunched over as he was with all the blood dripping off his skin, he no longer even looked human. ¡°If you truly wanted to defeat the Paragons, you should have slaughtered a million pok¨¦mon!¡± Aaron roared. Ash¡¯s mouth stood agape as he watched the two men fight. Obviously, he couldn¡¯t intervene, but had he just heard Sir Aaron correctly? ¡°No, even that would be too paltry as well!¡± Aaron said, circling toward AZ. ¡°You should have killed a billion. No, perhaps even a trillion.¡± AZ¡¯s eyebrows twitched, as if unsure he was hearing Aaron right. ¡°Did you truly think the Aura of one hundred thousand pok¨¦mon would be enough to leave even a scratch on one of the Paragons? If so, you¡¯re even more foolish than I thought.¡± Before AZ could interject, Aaron continued. ¡°But no. I think you knew. I think you knew very well that your weapon had no chance against the Paragons. The only reason you created that ghastly thing was to assuage your own fear.¡± AZ roared and charged Aaron, swinging his blade in a wide arc, but Aaron easily sidestepped. ¡°Poisoned by fear, you used the Plate to create that weapon just so it¡¯d be strong enough to destroy a coountry! Say, Rota! And you convinced yourself you did it for the greater good! Isn¡¯t that right? You said you never used the weapon during the Great War, right? But according to you, the war never ended. And now, that weapon has been pointed at Rota instead!¡± AZ swung his sword wildly, but Aaron dodged or deflected each one with ease, zipping into AZ¡¯s blind spots as he continued his spiel. ¡°Why else would you create such a thing, if not to destroy your rivals on the world stage? Do you think anyone ever truly bought your heroic justification? You¡¯re nothing but a butcher! And a maniac, who¡¯d use Arceus¡¯ divine power to bring an abomination like that into this world just to satiate your own fears! By busying yourself in a war with the Guardians, you spared yourself of any thought about the imminent arrival of the Paragons!¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± AZ bellowed, slamming his sword down with horrid speed. But Aaron simply sidestepped, and the blade punctured the ground, rupturing earth and soil beneath them in a dark spray of debris. However, in an instant, AZ tore his sword back into the air and leveled it at Aaron. Six orbs of light flashed into existence around the hilt in the shape of a crescent moon, and with a squeeze of his fist, they fired a barrage of light forward. Aaron flipped and rolled between them, somehow dodging every single ray of lethal light that streaked toward him in a grinding burst. AZ¡¯s barrage was relentless, but Aaron narrowed the gap all the same, leaping forward to close the last bit of difference. ¡°Now, the war is all that exists for you, isn¡¯t it?¡± His blade crashed against AZ¡¯s once more with a thunderous bang. ¡°The very moment you broke free from your tomb of stagnation, you descended back into wretched bloodshed! You¡¯ve carved all but one option from your soul! Everything that made you human, until now, only a monster remains! And now, whether it¡¯s salvation or damnation, you can only find either on the field of battle! Isn¡¯t that right? Huh?!¡± Aaron¡¯s blade caught one of the jagged grooves on the edge of AZ¡¯s sword, and he twisted his wrist. Despite its size, AZ¡¯s massive sword spun from his gnarled hands, whipping through the air and burying itself in the ground behind him. He grunted in surprise, and his yellow eyes widened as they found his nemesis. ¡°The war ends now! You will not shed one more drop of blood!¡± Aaron roared, blitzing toward him. AZ whipped his arms in front of himself protectively. ¡°Oh, dear.¡± Aaron halted in his tracks, a plume of dust billowing forward at his sudden inertia. His eyes went wide and a trail of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. Beside Ash, Lucario seized up in exactly the same way. Ash looked over in horror. A stream of blood ran from a dark slit in his chest, just above his iron spike. Directly over his heart. The shadows thickened in front of Sir Aaron, and a black fog soon gurgled into existence. They solidified, wafting and molding into the shape of a human arm and hand, clutching a pitch-black dagger buried in Aaron¡¯s chest. As the shadows continued to fall away, the rest of his form was revealed. ¡°Not that I ever doubted your strength, but challenging the King of the Aura Guardians and a fully-fledged Platebearer at the same time may have been a tad foolish, your Grace.¡± Zagreus pulled his shadow knife from Sir Aaron¡¯s body, and the Guardian King coughed, before stumbling forward. Zagreus then turned to face his old master and bowed. ¡°It¡¯s been three thousand years, your Grace. It¡¯s good to finally see you again.¡± The smirk he wore looked straight out of hell. Next ¡ª Chapter 48 : Hero on Strings
Remnants of the Great War [39] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [39] Chapter 48 : Hero on Strings
Aaron pitched forward, blood gushing from the hole in his chest. He coughed, and a spat of blood splattered onto the ground in front of them. His form flickered, azure Aura spasming on the outline of his body. ¡°Sir Aaron!¡± Ash leaped forward and caught him before he hit the ground. At the same time, Pikachu leaped into the air and wreathed himself in electricity. Thunder boomed and snapped, and a jagged bolt zapped toward Zagreus. But the rogue Guardian simply raised his hand. A vortex of darkness whirled within his palm, swallowing the Thunderbolt whole, leaving him completely unharmed. Pikachu landed back on the ground and growled, his ears and tail twitching in anger. ¡°There won¡¯t be any of that this time,¡± he said, with a voice like slime. ¡°Admittedly, I underestimated you, Ash. I¡¯ll wear this wound forever thanks to that.¡± He tugged at the grisly white scar that cut across his face diagonally, where the Electric Plate had maimed him. Ash simply glared back at him, holding Sir Aaron¡¯s body protectively. Lucario lay behind them, unmoving, but groaning. ¡°You,¡± AZ rumbled. Zagreus turned to face him again and bowed. ¡°I apologize for my extended absence, your Grace. Truthfully, I wasn¡¯t sure of your intentions, wasting away in that jail for so long. When you finally returned to the world, I figured it¡¯d be wiser not to interfere in your plans until you made a decisive move.¡± Aaron shifted in Ash¡¯s grip as if trying to stand. ¡°Please don¡¯t move, Sir Aaron! You¡¯ll make it worse.¡± Ash tightened his grip on the Aura Master as he stared down at the wound on his chest, still bleeding profusely. Aaron coughed, but he seemed to force his breathing to steady. He leaned up slightly so that he could face the others. ¡°Azett,¡± he wheezed. ¡°Do you know this man?¡± Zagreus looked back with a smirk, reveling in his former king¡¯s agony. AZ glanced at Zagreus, then down at Aaron. Then, he started walking toward him. ¡°Stay back!¡± Ash yelled. Electricity flashed to life on his hand, and though Zagreus looked amused, AZ didn¡¯t react. He came to a stop far enough away so as not to provoke Ash. His eyes hadn¡¯t left Aaron. ¡°How pitiful. Can you even stand?¡± Sir Aaron¡¯s form flickered again, and he clutched Ash¡¯s knee for support as he lifted himself. Ash tried to stop him, but Aaron brushed him off. With some effort, finally, the Guardian King stood again, albeit hunched over. His body also seemed slightly translucent, as if it was beginning to fade. Ash frowned and Pikachu watched on curiously. ¡°Of course I can,¡± Aaron said with difficulty. AZ¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Good,¡± he said. Then, he turned back to face Zagreus. ¡°Hold his limbs, I¡¯m going to crush his skull.¡± Alarm saturated Zagreus¡¯ face in a heartbeat as he glanced between the two men. ¡°Very well,¡± Aaron said. A second later, both kings blitzed forward, nothing more than blurs of blinding light. The ground ruptured exactly where Zagreus had been standing, soil and rock blooming skyward. The air beside it wavered, then expelled a shower of shadows into existence, Zagreus wafting out from the darkness. ¡°What are you doing, your Grace?!¡± Zagreus shrieked, dodging as Aaron¡¯s arm cut toward his ankles. ¡°I serve you!¡± ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find out?!¡± AZ roared, launching a punch that would have taken off Zagreus¡¯ head if he hadn¡¯t ducked a moment sooner. Instead, it felled a line of trees behind him, their trunks snapping as they fell aside. ¡°I am the bearer of the Fairy Plate! I know everything about the natural world, including the truths written upon your soul! All those years ago, you lied to me about a Guardian attack! You never once served me! Your loyalties have only ever rested solely with yourself!¡± Zagreus screamed as he ran from the two legends. Ash could only watch in disbelief as the two men who¡¯d been fighting to kill each other just moments ago were fighting side by side. All he could do was try and stay out of the way and keep Lucario safe. To that end, he¡¯d pulled its body to the edge of the clearing, away from AZ and Aaron¡¯s ruthless pursuit, with the help of Blastoise and Charizard, who watched the battle carefully, making sure their master wasn¡¯t in danger. As Zagreus streaked away from AZ, Aaron curved around and fired a lightning-quick Aura Sphere that hit his leg before he had a chance to defend. Even before he had a chance to fall, AZ was on him, and he grabbed Zagreus by the neck and hoisted him into the air, then slammed him against a tree. ¡°Despicable little rat,¡± AZ snarled as he tightened his grip. Zagreus¡¯ face was nearly purple, and his eyes bulged in their sockets. The scar across his face turned crimson and began to bleed. ¡°Bas¡­tard¡­!¡± he choked out. Shadows weaved together in his seizing hand, and his fist closed around another knife. With a spasm of his arm, he thrust it into AZ¡¯s side. AZ grunted and released his grip, stumbling back, and Zagreus fell to the ground and vomited. But before he could recover, Aaron was on him, mere inches away. However, alone and injured, he could do little as Zagreus leaped back and roundhouse kicked him away. He glared at the two fallen kings. ¡°You bastards will pay for this!¡± he screeched, his voice hoarse. Then, he seemed to notice Ash. His bloody face scrunched into a maniacal snarl. ¡°And you!¡± he spat, stomping toward Ash. ¡°Thief! That Plate was mine!¡± Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed, and as he raised his arms, electricity began to crackle upon them. Pikachu glared at Zagreus from atop his head, and Charizard and Blastoise both began priming attacks. However, Zagreus was not deterred. Instead, a pitch-black miasma began to curl around him as he approached, shining with a darkness of pure power. Ash grit his teeth. What is that? Is that some sort of Aura? Or is he actually a Platebearer? Whatever it is, it was able to hurt Sir Aaron and AZ. He spared a glance at the two men, but both still seemed incapacitated. Refocusing on Zagreus, he tried to calm his nerves. Plus, the way he took Sir Aaron by surprise¡­ I need to be careful! Not a moment after he thought it, Zagreus vanished in a thickened haze of smoke. No choice! Arceus, please let this work! Time to use that. A technique Ash had only practiced a few times, if it could be called that. Even more risky than deploying his electricity surgically to augment his pok¨¦mon¡¯s senses. He would use his electricity to augment his own senses. His vision vanished for half a second and he physically felt the sensation of a wisp of electricity passing across his brain. He almost passed out right there and then, but he quickly located Zagreus before he could. The rogue Aura Guardian was behind him; he¡¯d slithered right between Charizard and Blastoise. Now, Gengar! The dark steel of Zagreus¡¯ knife flashed in Ash¡¯s eyesight, but a moment later, it vanished as Gengar yawned up from Ash¡¯s shadow and closed his stubby fist around it, blade and all. As the rest of Zagreus¡¯ body reformed, he grunted in surprise, trying to pull his arm free. Gengar¡¯s grin stretched so wide it nearly touched his eyes. He cackled, and yanked the dagger from Zagreus¡¯ hand. And before he even realized what had happened, Gengar flipped it around and released a low chortle, before sticking it straight in Zagreus¡¯ left eye. ¡°AGGGHHHHH!¡± Zagreus screamed, the shadowy mist dissipating from his face as he fell back, clutching his wounded eye, which was now dumping blood. Blastoise and Charizard both spun around in anger, and before Ash could command them, a column of water and a column of fire roared down at Zagreus. Steam burst skyward in a blazing blossom, but a single flap of Charizard¡¯s wings dispelled it. There would be no cover for the Guardian traitor to escape. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Zagreus¡¯ clothes clung to his body, mangled and burned, as he crawled away pitifully. Somehow, he¡¯d protected himself. He whimpered in agony as he rolled onto his back, trying to stagger to his feet. Yet, he collapsed again. This time, coming face to face with a growling AZ, who had just managed to sit up. The color drained from Zagreus¡¯ face as AZ¡¯s fist began to shine, his face steeped in pure hatred. ¡°Fuck!¡± Zagreus wailed. Shadows boiled beneath him and swallowed him whole just as AZ''s fist came crashing down. The ground exploded beside him with a blinding boom, and Ash shielded his eyes, his mind still a bit numb from his use of the Plate. When the dust cleared, Zagreus was gone. AZ leapt up and glanced around wildly, almost like he was trying to sniff him out. Then he closed his eyes, and opened them a second later. ¡°Run while you still can, you miserable wretch!¡± he roared, his voice echoing through the ruined forest. The clearing fell quiet, save for the downpour of rain that soothed the wounded battlefield. Ash got back on his feet and his pok¨¦mon looked at him with worry. But his attention was squarely on AZ, who hadn¡¯t yet moved. Then he began walking. Toward Aaron once again. Sir Aaron was only just getting back to his feet. He hadn¡¯t gotten hit again, but clearly, Zagreus¡¯ knife had done far more to him than to AZ. Besides his body flickering in and out of existence, his hair had gone almost entirely gray, and he looked gaunt and weak. ¡°Wait!¡± Ash yelled, stepping toward them. They were just working together! Why were they fighting again?! ¡°I¡¯ve had that man in my sights for some time,¡± AZ said to Aaron. ¡°I thought you might want to mete out some justice. But, another failure.¡± ¡°Oh, are you suddenly thinking of me?¡± Aaron croaked. Ash winced at the sound of his voice. He sounded like an old man. Like he belonged anywhere except right here. ¡°I¡¯ve never stopped thinking of you,¡± AZ said. ¡°The attack fired by my ultimate weapon. The one on its way here as we speak. Aren¡¯t you curious how I was able to use it now, after all this time.¡± Ultimate weapon? Ash¡¯s stomach dropped. What is he talking about? Is that what N and Zinnia were after in Kalos? Yet he¡¯d said it¡¯d been fired. Gooseflesh broke out across Ash¡¯s skin, fearing the worst. Aaron was hunched over, and he tried straightening himself out. His eyes widened, the skin on his face crinkling. ¡°You preserved it¡­ The Aura of the hundred thousand¡­ After all this time¡­¡± His eyes turned to sorrow. ¡°For use against me.¡± ¡°Now do you understand the depths of my hatred for you?¡± AZ growled. He began stepping forward again, and Aaron could only watch feebly as he approached. Light flashed in front of AZ, but he jerked his head back at the last second, narrowly avoiding a shaft of lightning thrown by Ash from across the clearing. AZ glanced over at him. ¡°Get away from him,¡± Ash said. Charizard and Blastoise were circling around toward AZ, while Pikachu aimed to cut between him and Sir Aaron. ¡°You¡¯re on my list as well,¡± AZ said, stretching his body to alleviate the stress coming from his punctured torso. ¡°Are you so eager to die?¡± ¡°No. But I do have a few questions for you. What are the Paragons?¡± AZ grinned, though Ash couldn¡¯t tell if it was devoid of anger and amusement, or contained both. ¡°Hm? You don''t even know about the Paragons?¡± He bared his bloodstained teeth, and laughed. He looked back at Ash, and laughed again. ¡°Oh, you poor soul,¡± he said through his hollow mirth. ¡°Aaron¡¯s wretchedness knows no limits. He¡¯s set you on a path that will lead you to an early and terrible death.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ash demanded. He glanced over at Sir Aaron, but the man didn¡¯t seem to be listening. His eyes were glazed over and the only sign of life remaining was the soft crackle of azure energy across his weakening form. ¡°You¡¯re a Platebearer! Now, your destiny has become intertwined with that of the God Pok¨¦mon. The trajectory of your souls is utterly inseparable. Even if you were to discard your Plate, as Aaron did his, you have already been submerged in a current that you are powerless to resist! Look at him! He hasn¡¯t been a Platebearer for three thousand years, and still, his fate will be decided by my ultimate weapon, borne of the Fairy Plate! Such is the nature of Arceus¡¯ champions. You will live and die by the Plates, for a certainty.¡± Ash glared at AZ, at his monstrous visage, dripping with blood and dirt and hatred. Just the fact that those words were coming out of his mouth made Ash want to deny them. And that self-important grin, saturated in malice and righteousness. Frankly, it made him sick. He raised his hand, electricity ringing his fingers. ¡°Withdraw and Protect, Blastoise!¡± he roared. ¡°Charizard, Flamethrower on Blastoise!¡± Immediately understanding, Blastoise leapt and spun in the air, retracting himself into his shell, and as it hit the ground, a harsh glow began to seep out from the holes. At the same time, Charizard reared back and unleashed a torrent of fire straight at his water-type partner, completely undeterred by the falling rain. The fire disappeared into Blastoise¡¯s neck hole, and spat out his four limb holes. Then, Blastoise spun into the air, spitting flames as he barreled toward AZ. AZ¡¯s eyes widened, before scrunching his face into a fierce growl. He brought his arm in front of him and knocked Blastoise away, a tidal wave of fire falling atop him. ¡°Blizzard!¡± While still in midair, Blastoise¡¯s body popped out, smoke streaming from his limb holes, and after angling his cannons at the giant, he fired two rays of ice straight through the veil of fire, before landing solidly on his feet. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± AZ howled as ice crystallized on his burned skin. ¡°What is this?! This shouldn¡¯t hurt me!¡± Ash gritted his teeth as he felt pain course through him. He was beginning to reach his limits with his use of the Plate. Even imbuing his power in his pok¨¦mon¡¯s attacks so they could hurt AZ was beginning to become too taxing. But if AZ¡¯s weapon, whatever it was, had been fired, then he needed to defeat him now. AZ ripped through the ice, yet patches of his skin tore off with it, and he grimaced. Before they could recover, he fired a point-blank Moonblast that sent Blastoise barreling back through the trees, then ran straight at Charizard. The dragon caught his grapples and snorted angrily, at eye level with AZ. As they fought for dominance, Ash ripped out Blastoise¡¯s pok¨¦ball and recalled him before he could get too far. Charizard began to bear down on AZ, forcing him back. Yet AZ¡¯s hands began to glow, and before Charizard could react, they exploded, and he roared in pain as he collapsed to the ground, smoke billowing up around him. He wasn¡¯t defeated, but Ash recalled him as well. AZ smiled, though he clutched his arm where the skin had peeled off. ¡°Don¡¯t take out your rage against me. You should savor the opportunity for bloodshed. Aaron was right. Fear is still omnipresent, even if the masses don¡¯t know about the Paragons. I confess even I could not escape its tempest, but what of it?¡± He licked his lips. ¡°As a fellow Platebearer and as a man who knows everything, take it from me. You might as well enjoy Arceus¡¯ depravity, like I have.¡± ¡°I don''t fear Arceus or whatever the Paragons are! And the only depraved one I see here is you!¡± ¡°Hahaha. You will, Ash Ketchum.¡± He tightened his fists as he circled toward Ash, blood dripping down his arms. ¡°As of now, you are nothing more than a hero on strings. Strut and dance however you like! In the end, it makes no difference. For we are mere humans. And they are monsters!¡± ¡°I¡¯m nothing like you,¡± Ash growled. By now, the stench of blood was beginning to make his eyes water. He was reminded of the carnage left behind at the World Prison, yet this was almost worse because the source of said carnage was right in front of him. ¡°Perhaps not. But you, like me, are now enslaved to a destiny already written. Flail about impotently. But you will never rise above the ceaseless war. Believe me. I tried.¡± ¡°Get ready, Pikachu,¡± Ash said. As Pikachu leaped off his shoulder, cheeks crackling, Ash saw Lucario moving his master away from the battle and thanked him silently. This is everything I¡¯ve got! Ash opened his hand, and pure white power spasmed into being around him, gusting about in a cyclone. Stray electricity caught the falling raindrops and illuminated the entire clearing in a throbbing cage of lightning. The grass disintegrated at his feet, and the soil beneath hardened, then cracked in an instant. Pikachu shuddered as his body absorbed the sudden flood of power, and soon, he became so saturated with it that he began floating off the ground. AZ glanced around warily and raised his arms. For the first time since Ash arrived, AZ made a defensive move. A gleaming shield burst into view around him, and he smirked from behind it. Pikachu rolled in the air, rising higher and higher, static fluttering around him like a maddened hive. His cheeks had now turned white and sagged on his face. Black spots wavered in Ash¡¯s field of vision, but he forced himself to remain conscious as he summoned every last bit of power within him. His training this past month in building up his Aura, just like Sir Aaron had instructed, was now coming to a head. As he transferred the last of it to Pikachu, he forced himself to look upon AZ¡¯s foul visage. This is for Anabel. ¡°Three Heavenly Bolts!¡± Ash roared, his own eyes blazing with blinding power. In a millisecond, the electric discord vanished, and the clearing went dark. Then, in the air, Pikachu lit up like the sun. His eyes, cheeks, and stripes upon his back all shined like spotlights. His tiny hand closed around the air, and Ash and AZ both shielded their eyes as a towering lightning lance thundered into existence within. He did the same for the other hand, and a second lightning bolt conjured into his grasp. With a vengeful screech, he opened his mouth, and his entire body went rigid. His zigzagged tail jerked into a straight line, and his entire body became engulfed in a rippling shaft of unbroken electricity: the third bolt. Now, he began falling straight toward AZ, as a stark white, three-pronged trident. As he neared AZ, he let loose a battle cry, before slamming both effulgent bolts in his hand down, and not a moment later, flipping in the air to release the last one. A sonic boom burst through the clearing, knocking Ash off his feet, but he didn¡¯t have a chance to get up before the bolts crashed down on AZ. A thunderous bang exploded in every direction, blasting through the ground, trees, and sky alike. AZ¡¯s silhouette disappeared under the hood of the blinding power, and the three spears of electricity spasmed wildly as they remained lodged in the ground right where he¡¯d been standing. Then they collapsed, and what little remained of the clearing now vanished as a white nova blossomed, razing everything in its vicinity and beyond. Next ¡ª Chapter 49 : Sir Aaron Albrecht, King of the Aura Guardians
Remnants of the Great War [40] The 1 year anniversary for this fic totally crept up on me, honestly thought I¡¯d have finished the first major arc by now! Thank you to all who have read this far!
PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [40] Chapter 49 : Sir Aaron Albrecht, King of the Aura Guardians
Land of Rota - Tree of Beginning Greninja¡¯s prone body smashed into the ground and rolled to a stop beside Lord Vandrick¡¯s feet, its tongue splayed across the grass unmoving. ¡°Tch,¡± he said, before recalling it. Blood dripped down his arm from an Ice Shard from Glaceon that his Sylveon hadn¡¯t managed to fully protect him from, and the moment he replaced Greninja¡¯s pok¨¦ball back on his belt, he clutched his arm painfully. Garchomp¡¯s fin was still outstretched in front of him from delivering the final blow, and he growled with resolute satisfaction. Cynthia stood behind him, sporting only a shallow red scratch on her forehead from one of Chesnaught¡¯s rogue thorns. Lapras had managed to almost completely block the attack, but minor injuries were inevitable against such a ruthless and powerful opponent. Though powerful as he may have been, being AZ¡¯s right hand, Greninja was now the fourth pok¨¦mon of his to fall to Garchomp. They¡¯d been trading relatively evenly, but once Cynthia released Garchomp, it was like he¡¯d hit a brick wall. ¡°I¡¯d thought myself at least competitive with the Champions¡­ This has been a sobering experience,¡± Vandrick said grimly. ¡°Then again, you aren¡¯t quite like the others, are you?¡± ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± Cynthia said coldly. Vandrick sighed and rested his hand on another one of his pok¨¦balls, though he did not pull it from his belt. ¡°Either way, I¡¯ve failed in my mission. I¡¯ve been stalled here for far too long. And given this sudden downpour and the chaos unfolding to the south, it seems my master has long since engaged Sir Aaron.¡± Garchomp took a threatening step forward. If the battle was over, then he intended to act on their victory. Vandrick eyed him, and his grip tightened around his pok¨¦ball. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to let you get away after everything you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°Ah, but that¡¯s precisely what I¡¯m lamenting. I haven¡¯t actually done anything.¡± ¡°Hurting one of my precious subordinates is more than enough to incur my wrath.¡± Cynthia¡¯s gaze was ice-cold, without a hint of amusement. Vandrick nodded, as if accepting his fate. Over the course of the battle, his suit had become wrinkled and dirty, and his formerly pristine black hair was unkempt on his head. He looked defeated. ¡°That would spare me from having to face my master, dishonored,¡± he mused. ¡°If you¡¯re done fighting, then there is one thing I¡¯d like to ask,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I¡¯ve been told the weapon your master used during the Great War has been fired again and is on its way here. How long do you think it will be until it arrives?¡± The corners of Vandrick¡¯s mouth twitched, and for a moment it looked like he¡¯d smiled, though his face conveyed no mirth. ¡°Ah, so you already know about that. Well, pardon me, Lady Champion, but I must correct you. That weapon was never used during the Great War. It was fired for the first time today.¡± Cynthia¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°But the Calamity¡ª¡° ¡°Not my master¡¯s doing. History is written by the victors, as it were. With a world torn asunder after the Calamity, humanity needed a villain to despise.¡± He hesitated. ¡°Personally, I¡¯m not surprised the Guardians pinned such a disaster on my master. He certainly desired their annihilation either way, and still does. But to answer your question, I couldn¡¯t say how long it will take for that weapon¡¯s payload to reach Rota. It¡¯s never been tested, after all.¡± Despite the circumstances, Cynthia¡¯s mind raced. Her Pok¨¦tch had been blowing up during her battle with Vandrick. Interpol¡¯s satellites had caught the mass of energy moving west and predicted it¡¯d reach Rota within the hour. But N and Zinnia had reported a far more accurate and chilling time limit. Ten minutes. In ten minutes, Rota would be razed from the surface of the earth. Yet despite that, her current focus was on Vandrick¡¯s answer to her question. Specifically, on the party responsible for the Calamity. If it wasn¡¯t AZ, then it must be what Albrecht had told Ash and Sabrina¡­ He¡¯d said a pok¨¦mon of infinite light and a pok¨¦mon of infinite darkness, seeking the Plates, would destroy the world. But Sir Aaron was called a hero for sacrificing himself to end the war¡­ Everything she¡¯d learned over the past month¡­no, everything she¡¯d learned since she¡¯d first started studying the secrets of this world that those in power seemed so desperate to cover up, came to the fore in her mind. The Paragon Organization¡­ he reacted when he heard me say that name, but not because he¡¯d known of us. Could it be¡­? Cynthia¡¯s eyes flicked back at Vandrick to make sure he was still there, and luckily he was. If I want answers, then at the very least I need to survive this battle! According to Sabrina, Cameran Palace had been fully evacuated, but the fighting in front of the Palace still persisted, seemingly with neither side knowing that it¡¯d been. Ten minutes to get them all away! Her entire body suddenly spasmed as the ground beneath her feet trembled, sending vibrations up through her feet. A colossal bang ripped through her ears behind her, and she wheeled around. Garchomp had already leaped over her protectively, but even he was speechless at the sight before them. A blazing nova of white energy had erupted within the forest, blooming skyward, directly where Sir Aaron and AZ had been fighting. That¡¯s electricity¡­ That couldn¡¯t possibly be Ash, right? Garchomp growled, snatching her attention. Though he was still protecting her, he was looking back at where Vandrick was. The man was gone. Clearly, he knew how to use a distraction when one presented itself. ¡°Shit!¡± Cynthia cursed. She almost considered going after him, but the ten-minute time limit remained at the forefront of her priorities. She gritted her teeth. Saves me the trouble of having to watch him. He¡¯s a known entity in Kalos so the only place he can go now is underground. She mounted Garchomp¡¯s back before he¡¯d even finished crouching down. ¡°Get back to the palace! All of Rota is in danger!¡± Garchomp obliged, bulleting into the sky. The blaze of electricity was beginning to die down, and as much as she wanted to make sure Ash was alright, Cynthia pressed onward toward the palace. The imminent apocalypse was more than enough to make her forget that this was her first time outside in a whole month.
Land of Rota - Cameran Palace Sabrina¡¯s eyes snapped open, her pupils quickly dilating to accommodate the stormy darkness Rota was steeped in. Though the Guardians had been able to hold the bridge, Guardians still raced to and fro in front of her. None paid her any mind, basked as she was in the shadows of a large oak. She stood up. She hadn¡¯t been sleeping or anything and she wasn¡¯t particularly fatigued. But it was easier to perform her job without distractions. Through her telepathy, she had found Anabel and Cynthia¡¯s Lucario and routed them toward the evacuation point along with the rest of the citizens of Rota. Due to Albrecht, or rather, Sir Aaron¡¯s fissure that encircled all of Rota, the evacuation was moving slower than it otherwise should have, since the Guardians needed to help everyone across. She had to wonder why Sir Aaron had created such a thing since it was clearly intentional. Was it really just a massive strategic blunder on his part? In any case, now that Anabel had already moved beyond Rota¡¯s borders, she could breathe a bit easier. However, that feeling of relief was easily eclipsed by a report she¡¯d gotten from Sylvester. A mass of energy, the size of a skyscraper at least, was currently heading west, and each minute that passed by only lent more credence to the theory that its target was Rota. And the most recent message from N gave a far more harrowing assessment. They only had ten minutes to evacuate all of Rota before it hit. By the sounds of it, the weapon had fired enough energy to vaporize a city. Yet Rota was far smaller than the average city. What could thousands of people possibly do in ten minutes to save themselves from such a sweeping fate? Most didn¡¯t even know what was coming. There were still one or two hundred Guardians engaged with the enemy in front of the palace! And Ash was still with Sir Aaron and AZ. With each passing minute, the battle only seemed to worsen. The explosions only got brighter and louder. The latest one seemed to decimate an entire section of the forest. Luckily, she could tell he was still okay. Or, at least, alive. Her needle hadn¡¯t vanished yet. Now, she needed to decide what to do next. Cynthia was on her way here, but it would take her several minutes to get here. And with less than ten minutes to spare, she couldn¡¯t simply stand back and wait for orders. She needed to make her own move, now. Now! Right now! Just do something! Sabrina clenched her teeth, yet she didn¡¯t take one step forward. Decisive action had never been her forte. And when she did take decisive action, the decisions she made tended to be wrong. Like a month ago, when Cynthia had whisked her and Ash back to Paragon Island. What had she done in response? Oh yeah. Almost killed her. Now she stood here pitifully waiting to receive a command from that same woman. Her usual What would Ash or Anabel or Zinnia or N do exercise seemed hopeless too. Right now, she was far too shaken, or rather, far too paralyzed to come up with anything. Even giving up wouldn¡¯t work. She could sit back down and accept her death, but that would mean hundreds dead along with her. But even that was nonsensical, since she could easily teleport herself to safety. It occurred to her now that she was extremely good at coming up with excuses. How long had she just spent indulging in self-criticism and wallowing in despair? At the very least, she knew her fellows in Paragon would never be doing what she was doing now in a situation like this. They¡¯d be trying to do something, no matter how fruitless it may have seemed. This was even more self-criticism. Wasn¡¯t it about time she turned her mental knives on someone, or something, other than herself? As it happened, there was a massive problem approaching Rota right now that could use another knife or two sunk into it. At times like these, it was easy to assume she was alone. Despite her existence as a psychic, she was still surprisingly blind and dumb. She only ever saw what was right in front of her. Reaching around to the back of her belt, she unclipped her third pok¨¦ball. Though strictly speaking, this wasn¡¯t a Pok¨¦ Ball. It was a Master Ball. She released its inhabitant into the world, and the creature swooped through the air in front of her. No matter how many times she shared its presence, she could never not feel overwhelmed by its power. Every time she saw it, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of fear, knowing she could not best it. But she was its trainer. And that came with it a host of responsibilities. One of the most important of all was gathering the necessary information needed to issue a judicious command. Sabrina¡¯s psychic awareness spread across all of Rota. She suddenly became conscious of each and every soul that still resided here, be they Guardian, enemy, or pok¨¦mon. She couldn¡¯t differentiate one from another, but she could pinpoint their rough locations. It was accurate enough for what she wanted to do. There were three hundred and sixty-two people or pok¨¦mon still in Rota right now. Most were concentrated in front of the bridge to Cameran Palace, still battling it out. Though the existences of AZ, Ash, Sir Aaron¡­and Sir Aaron¡¯s Lucario?¡ªburned like fire in her mind. She spread to consciousness even further out to encapsulate the evacuation point, and thousands more instantly populated her mind. They were still too close to Rota. They needed to move too. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. A sharp pain throbbed throughout her head, but she ignored it. This was certainly stretching the limits of her capabilities, especially with both gauntlets still activated. If she survived this, she¡¯d probably be knocked out for a day or two. At the very least, she¡¯d probably lose her vision for the better part of a day once she awoke. Oh well. It was the duty of a trainer to make their pok¨¦mon¡¯s job as easy as possible, right? While a pok¨¦mon fights against the opponent before them, its trainer has a scope of the entire battle and can use their superior sight to issue the most intelligent commands. Even though her pok¨¦mon was more than capable of doing what she just did, and better too, probably, Sabrina still felt like this was her task to complete. It was the least she could do. She transferred the psychic map over. Then¡­ ¡°Use Teleport, please.¡±
Land of Rota - East of Cameran Palace ¡°Ash! Ash! Get up!¡± Ash felt his body jostle as a firm hand shook him from his stupor. He was on the ground, but he pushed himself over. Riley¡¯s face stared back down at him, knit in concern. ¡°Ash!¡± he said with relief once he realized the younger man was alright. ¡°We need to get out of here now!¡± ¡°Riley,¡± Ash mumbled, standing. Immediately, he realized that the clearing they¡¯d been fighting in had been completely decimated. Not a single blade of grass or shard of wood could be found across its entire expanse; all that stretched out before him was scorched dirt. Luckily, that made finding Pikachu easy, and Ash ran over to his fallen friend, lying on the ground in front of him. ¡°Pikachu!¡± The mouse was still breathing, but he was completely spent, unconscious as if he was the one that¡¯d been defeated. Ash grimaced and pulled out his pok¨¦ball, recalling him. It wasn¡¯t something he had to do often, and he always felt a bit naked without Pikachu on his shoulder. Riley glanced around the clearing warily as he moved toward Ash. ¡°Something terrible is headed for Rota right now, Ash. Sabrina told me about it. After I helped Queen Ilene escape the palace, she instructed me to come here and extract you. If we stay any longer, we¡¯ll be destroyed by AZ¡¯s weapon!¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Ash said. As he did, two more bodies began to stir. Beside them, Sir Aaron¡¯s body flickered, and he raised himself. Across the clearing, in a crater of blackened stone, AZ¡¯s gnarled hand dragged across the ground. Of course that didn¡¯t finish him¡­ Riley just now seemed to notice his liege, and he ran over and knelt by his side. ¡°My King!¡± His hands stretched out to support him, but horror seeped upon his face. Sir Aaron looked like an old man. Despite his form being made entirely of Aura, age saturated his every feature. His hair was long, gray, and tangled. Wrinkles covered his face, and his limbs were thin and weak. With weathered eyes, he looked up at Riley as the young man cradled him. ¡°Sir Riley,¡± he wheezed, his voice barely perceptible. ¡°I¡¯m here, my King. We must leave this place immediately.¡± An animalistic grunt echoed across the clearing from the other side. ¡°And what makes you think I¡¯ll allow that?¡± AZ snarled, limping toward them. His chest was covered in black soot and his hair hung wildly around him, yet rage still burned in his eyes. ¡°You haven¡¯t killed me yet. I still have enough strength to put you down.¡± Ash jumped to protect them, but his stomach turned at the sudden movement, and he almost pitched forward. He was in no condition to fight anymore. Before he could pull another pok¨¦ball from his belt, Sir Aaron locked eyes with AZ. He raised his hand, and a gleaming chain of Aura suddenly shot from his middle finger and wrapped itself around AZ. AZ growled and tried to break free, but before he could, more chains lashed themselves around him. They snaked and tightened around him, forcing him to his knees, burying themselves into the ground to lock him in place. He roared, and the chains trembled against his strength. Azure light glowed in Sir Aaron¡¯s eyes and his hand remained outstretched to keep AZ restrained. He glanced over at Ash. ¡°Come here, Ash.¡± ¡°Sir Aaron,¡± Ash breathed. ¡°We do not have much time. I, even less so. This is as far as I go.¡± ¡°My King!¡± Riley cried, anguish burning on his face. ¡°Listen to me, Ash. There is so much more I haven¡¯t yet told you, but there¡¯s no time to convey it all. Here, at the end, I¡¯ll tell you this.¡± He locked eyes with Ash, forcing his attention away from the seething beast AZ across the clearing. ¡°I told you I¡¯d been watching you for a long time. That I was a fan of yours. The truth is, I¡¯ve been watching you ever since you set out on your pok¨¦mon journey at age ten. Always from afar, but I watched you closely to see if you were the one I¡¯ve been looking for.¡± Ash frowned and glanced over at Riley, but the Guardian was listening just as closely. ¡°Hope turned to conviction after I met you at Cameran Palace all those years ago. That you are the man I¡¯ve been looking for.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ash couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°The war I told you about. The mad scramble for the Plates. The Great War was just one aspect of that eternal struggle. After meeting you personally, I have come to believe that you will be the one to end this war.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Aaron stared up at him, resolve blazing in his azure eyes. ¡°You have one Plate now, but you must seek out the others. Across the world in the wild, and from other Platebearers. Only when the Plates are united will this conflict finally end.¡± ¡°My King,¡± Riley said. ¡°The unity of Arceus¡¯ Plates¡­ Do you speak of the incarnation of Arceus himself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Only Arceus can end the war. But he cannot do it alone. To that end, he must have a champion.¡± Sir Aaron locked eyes with Ash again. ¡°That champion is called the Origin Child.¡± Ash could only stare back at Sir Aaron in disbelief. Harnessing the power of one Plate was hard enough. But he was to bear all of them? ¡°I know it sounds like I¡¯m forcing this fate on you. And in a sense, I am. It is my own personal desire that you rise to this destiny. For three thousand years, I sought the Origin Child, yet no others snatched my attention like you did. Your heart, your talent, and indeed your ambition, shine with a fury unlike any other. For now, all I will give you is the goal, the endpoint. But it will be up to you to decide what to do next.¡± Sir Aaron shifted to face Riley. ¡°You¡¯ll help him, won¡¯t you?¡± Riley wiped tears from his eyes. ¡°Of course, my King,¡± he choked out. ¡°The road ahead is surely perilous, and the Origin Child will need all the help he can get. This is a duty of the Aura Guardians. The legacy of our order is inextricably tied to the path of the Origin Child. Sir Riley.¡± Riley nodded. ¡°It is most fortuitous that you are the Guardian to witness my end. What I am about to do may seem unthinkable, or even blasphemous to the rest. But I am entrusting you with my memory. At the very least, I want the Guardians to understand why I will do this.¡± Confusion leaked through Riley¡¯s anguished expression, yet he stayed quiet and kept listening. ¡°If the path I¡¯ve foreseen is true, then one day, you will be faced with a choice. I only ask that when you make your choice, you do so on your own terms. Now¡­¡± Sir Aaron pushed himself from Riley¡¯s hold and stood up. Standing up, he somehow appeared even older. It seemed like he¡¯d continued to deteriorate while he was talking. His long gray hair pooled on the ground, but he stood tall. ¡°Ash. The path ahead is yours to choose, but I can give you a headstart.¡± With his other hand, he summoned a small sphere of Aura. When the glow of the sphere faded, a crystalline flower of azure rested in his palm. ¡°As I told you before, I once bore three of Arceus¡¯ Plates. But I cast them aside shortly before the Great War and hid them in a place no one could ever reach. At least, not without this Time Flower.¡± It seemed to glow even brighter in his hand. ¡°This is what I retrieved from my Vault of Secrets. This flower will reveal my Plates to you.¡± He held it toward Ash. ¡°Use it only within the company of those you trust absolutely.¡± Ash took the flower carefully and held it close. ¡°Now for one final order. You and I have known each other for a long time, and we¡¯ve spent many years at each other''s sides. I don¡¯t think there are any words needed between us. Take these two to safety. I will hear no protest¡­Lucario.¡± Ash frowned, then his eyes widened, and before he could say anything, he felt a strong arm, like iron, wrap itself around his torso. Lucario grasped him tight in one arm, and Riley in the other. ¡°No, wait!¡± Ash screamed. ¡°My King!¡± Lucario soared into the stormy skies with a single leap, without one glance back at his master. Lightning flashed above, but Lucario was gone before its thunder had even rolled across the valley. AZ roared, tearing the last of the chains from his body and crushing it into an azure mist in his palm. He glared at Aaron as he shrugged them off and stalked toward him through the mud. Aaron made no move, and AZ came to stop an inch in front of him, towering over him. ¡°Summon your blade,¡± AZ spat. ¡°I¡¯ll not have it said that I killed a hapless old man. Die with your sword in hand.¡± Aaron panted, with even the weight of the rain falling on him seeming to be too much to bear. With his hair now long and gray, he did not look so different from AZ. ¡°My years have finally caught up to me,¡± he whispered. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough. I¡¯m tired of fighting you¡­ I¡¯m tired¡­of the war.¡± AZ¡¯s eyes twitched, and he lunged, before catching himself and recoiling back. ¡°Arghhh! Gutless bastard!¡± He circled around Aaron incessantly, barely able to contain his rage. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll spare you? As you are now, you can¡¯t stop what¡¯s coming! Yet even still, you would deny me my dignity!¡± Aaron looked up at him with sorrow. AZ stared down at him, looking for a reply. But when it was clear he wouldn¡¯t be getting one, he turned away angrily. ¡°I ended the Great War by accepting my imprisonment. Not once in those three thousand years did I attempt an escape. Yet in breaking your promise, so too did you shatter my acquiescence. And for what? For that boy?!¡± Aaron stood firmly despite AZ¡¯s prowling, and now he fixed the giant with a stern gaze. ¡°He is the Origin Child.¡± ¡°How can you be sure?¡± Aaron closed his eyes and glanced away. ¡°I¡¯m not certain. But just like when I sacrificed my body to the Tree of Beginning, this too is a gamble of mine. But this time, I¡¯ve wagered far more than just my body.¡± ¡°So you unleashed my wrath on a mere chance?¡± AZ snarled. ¡°Many Platebearers have come and gone throughout the ages. What makes him so special?¡± ¡°Many things¡­and nothing. In time, perhaps you¡¯d come to see him as radiantly as I do¡­but then again, it isn¡¯t all him. The timing is also right.¡± AZ frowned, pausing in his tracks. ¡°Did you know? The Mew, who lives within the Tree, has disappeared? She¡¯s been missing for some time now.¡± ¡°So what?¡± AZ spat. ¡°The Tree is of no interest to me. It is the Tree that repelled the Paragons. Even I am not foolish enough to impede its continued existence. It is the rest of Rota that will be swallowed by my weapon.¡± ¡°You should care. The meaning of Mew¡¯s disappearance should be obvious to you, even if you never intended on hurting the Tree.¡± ¡°The end of an era,¡± AZ growled. ¡°And the beginning of another.¡± Aaron met AZ¡¯s gaze. ¡°What will you do once I¡¯m dead, and your revenge is complete?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish what I started. The Paragons are still out there. And the Platebearers. The war continues. Until the day peace reigns, the war continues. I¡¯ll kill anyone who gets in my way.¡± He licked the blood off his hand. ¡°After you die, I will truly be alone in this world. There are no others with which I ever shared a connection. Though perhaps even that never truly existed to begin with.¡± Aaron opened his mouth, then closed it. But a second later, he seemed to decide to speak. ¡°That¡¯s¡­not exactly true, is it? If I recall, there was another. With whom you shared a connection.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± AZ¡¯s eyes flashed dangerously. ¡°Someone who loved you even more than I did.¡± His eyes narrowed as he forced AZ to meet his gaze. ¡°Floette.¡± AZ¡¯s body trembled, and he spun away. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. That creature disappeared before the war even began.¡± ¡°Only because she could not bear to witness what you had become, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Then she hates me too!¡± ¡°She could never. From what I saw, there¡¯s no doubt in my mind that she¡¯s been praying for your redemption every single day since that slaughter.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°She loved Azett, not the monster that twisted itself out of his body.¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± ¡°Certainly, even now, she is watching you.¡± AZ sank to his knees, his hands balled into tight fists. He slammed against the ground. ¡°Damn it! Damn it! Enough! Not another word! Arrrghhhh!¡± As he roared, the skies above brightened, searing away the storm clouds, and lightning cracked furiously overhead. Aaron glanced up and took a wary step back. ¡°Floette!¡± AZ howled to the hellish sky. A small light, somehow more blinding than the bleached sky, burst through the forest, crying out in a high pitched scream. As the light receded, a crimson flower peeked out of the fading gleam. Sparkling tears fluttered in the air. AZ choked, and his hands trembled as he raised them in front of him. ¡°H-How is this possible¡­?¡± Floette chittered before him, swiveling in the blustering air. ¡°Floette,¡± AZ sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I¡­I abandoned you¡­all this time¡­ I¡¯ve disgraced your love.¡± He lowered his hands before Floette could nestle within them, burying them in the ground out of reach. His body heaved as he cried. ¡°Why did you come here, you silly girl? You¡¯ll die¡­My weapon will kill you¡­ By my hands, you¡¯ll¡­¡± He jerked around, locking eyes with Aaron. ¡°Aaron¡­ Aaron, please! Please help me! Somehow¡­somehow¡­¡± Aaron looked at them both with pity. ¡°Your weapon cannot be stopped. It¡¯s too late.¡± As if to prove his point, the sky hissed and rumbled, and brightened even further. The clearing became basked in a blinding light, and an otherworldly roar thundered ever closer. ¡°No¡­ No, no, no, no! Floette¡­ I¡¯ll¡ªI¡¯ll protect you! Hurry! Come here!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Azett,¡± Aaron said, stepping forward. ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave this place.¡± AZ whirled around and Floette floated beside him curiously. ¡°What? Aaron¡­there¡¯s no time.¡± ¡°Now is the time for redemption.¡± Aaron raised his hands skyward for the final time, and Aura blazed to life around him. His gray hair whipped behind him as his wiry arms became wreathed in azure light. AZ¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait¡­what are you doing? You couldn¡¯t possibly¡ª¡° A cacophonous crack blasted across all of Rota, shaking the forest to its very roots. The light above spasmed and spat, morphing into a gleaming sapphire blue, and the ground shook with an intensity that eclipsed that of any earthquake. The mountains across Rota spilled avalanches to the ground below, and the ancient protections carved into the land¡¯s foundations glittered azure in the sky as they fought to protect Rota. Yet, it wasn¡¯t long before one shattered, bursting into azure sparks. ¡°No!¡± AZ roared once he realized what Aaron was doing. ¡°Stop!¡± He picked himself off the shaking ground, and raced toward Rota¡¯s king as fast as he could. A whirlwind of Aura churned around Aaron, so thick it was like water. Aaron spared him a glance through the storm as he approached, though unlike him, his feet were rooted firmly to the shuddering ground. Just as his eyes met AZ¡¯s, his whole body trembled, and he grit his teeth as he shoved his arms forward. As the power of AZ¡¯s weapon came crashing down upon Rota, impossibly, limned in the azure of the Guardian King¡¯s Aura, the mass of energy changed course in midair. It churned and roiled as it slid across the tortured sky. It groaned as it moved, flashing its depthless power across the land. But, by Sir Aaron¡¯s legendary power, its trajectory changed. Now, it shot northward. Directly toward the towering Tree of Beginning. ¡°No!¡± AZ howled, lunging at Aaron. Aaron raised his hand and Aura flashed on his fingertip. AZ froze as Aaron¡¯s Aura punctured his chest, directly over his heart. He stumbled back. ¡°What¡­is¡­this?¡± AZ coughed, clawing at his chest. He glanced over at Floette, who surged toward him. ¡°I told you I can¡¯t let you leave this place,¡± Aaron responded, his voice hoarse, yet somehow carrying over the deafening roar of the heavens. ¡°Goodbye, Azett.¡± A single tear fell from his eyes. As the power of AZ¡¯s weapon impacted against the Tree of Beginning, the entire world ruptured and went white. Next ¡ª Chapter 50 : Aftermath
Remnants of the Great War [41] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [41] Chapter 50 : Aftermath
Kanto Region - Mount Moon As Ash peeled himself off the ground, the first thing he realized was that he was still alive. This is getting way too common for comfort, even for me, he thought, though a dull ache rippled through his body as he moved, cutting off any further thoughts. Finding the Electric Plate seemed to have granted him a certain level of confidence in his survivability in life-threatening situations, but the past few hours had thoroughly humbled him. In the end, someone else had needed to save him. A wave of nausea filtered through his body as he stood up. Right in front of him, Sir Aaron¡¯s Mega Lucario groaned softly, padding away from him. Ash took a step closer, but Lucario¡¯s body soon began to glow. Azure mist wafted off his body like ash, and he turned his head to Ash, meeting his gaze. ¡°No,¡± Ash breathed, stepping forward again. Right before his eyes, Lucario¡¯s body began to dissolve, flaking into glowing azure wisps that quickly dissipated in the wind. Before long, Lucario was gone. Ash stood stunned, his hand still outstretched. Before the stones, people achieved Mega Evolution by forging an unbreakable bond with their pok¨¦mon, so tight that their very souls seemed to meld together, Sir Aaron had said. But that meant the fate of one decided the fate of the other. One could not live without the other. ¡°Sir Aaron¡­¡± Ash said aloud. His eyes widened and ran forward toward the edge of the cliff he found himself on. When he arrived and gazed out at the expanse before him, his stomach dropped in utter shock and horror. Rota, or what was left of it, lie before him as a desolate wasteland. Far below, not a single tree still stood. There wasn¡¯t even a speck of color; stretched out before him was simply a vast plane of rock, burned white. Cameran Palace was nowhere in sight. The lake it¡¯d sat within was now just a depression in the earth, utterly devoid of water. There was no fire, no smoke, and no ash. There was nothing. The entire country had simply been reset. Even more numbing was the complete disappearance of the Tree of Beginning. It had once towered over mountains and clouds alike. Yet there was absolutely no trace it had ever existed at all. Not even a stump remained. Ash couldn¡¯t even tell where he should¡¯ve been looking. That¡¯s how utterly empty the entire landscape was. He opened his mouth and his limbs twitched, subconsciously urging him to move, but what was there to do? The damage had been done. He could feel his blood run through him like molasses. Rota was gone. He turned around, clinging to the hope that maybe he was just terribly turned around, and that Rota and the Tree of Beginning were actually behind him, but he gasped at the sight he saw. Currently, he was on a giant stone plateau that overlooked Rota. But, littering the rocky floor as far as he could see, were the unmoving bodies of Guardians and AZ¡¯s acolytes alike, all mixed together with no rhyme or reason as to their layout. His body started to move on its own as he surged toward them. It was only now that he noticed Riley slumbering on the ground, slightly separated from the rest near the edge, like he¡¯d been. Lucario must have taken them here, but how did everyone else get here? His stomach started to turn at the thought, until he realized with great relief that many, if not all of the gathered bodies were still alive. Upon closer inspection, he could see them breathing, Guardians and acolytes both. A horrific buzzing roared in Ash¡¯s ears and black spots began to waver in his eyes. Feeling another wave of nausea, he sat down, then laid back onto the stone floor, arms and legs spread apart. His eyes stared aimlessly at the sky above, now clear and sunny as it¡¯d been when the battle first began, yet for some reason, it looked dark. With no other purpose to devote itself to, he could feel his body turning numb as the reality of what had happened sunk in. He wanted nothing more than to release Pikachu right now, so that he wouldn¡¯t be so alone in the horror, but remembering how injured his friend was, he decided against it. Instead, his hand snaked its way into his pocket and somehow pulled out his phone. But before he could lift it and make a call, his arm simply collapsed onto his chest. Who would he call right now that could fix this? There was no one. The time would eventually come when he¡¯d need to pick himself up and readdress the world. Eventually, the others would begin to wake, and the world would begin to move again. Surely, pandemonium would break out across this plateau as the others witnessed what had happened to Rota. He also had his duty as a Paragon member to carry out. But, with the world seemingly stopped at this moment, Ash decided he¡¯d stop with it. He simply stared up at the sky. With each breath he took, he felt his chest rise and fall. Before he knew it, he¡¯d passed out again from complete physical and mental exhaustion.
One day later Riley slumped in his chair as the drone of human voices buzzed around him. He sat at a long wooden table and was flanked on both sides by other Guardians, but he didn¡¯t even feel like he was present. Compared to the rest, he alone had witnessed King Aaron¡¯s final moments. So while the others prattled on about what the Guardians should do next, he simply stewed in his own fate, as personally dictated by his king. You¡¯ll help him, won¡¯t you? It may have been a question, but Riley clung to it like it¡¯d been a command. After all, it was all King Aaron had left behind. ¡°We need to find the others who escaped and hunt them down before they can rebuild their forces!¡± one Guardian shouted. ¡°No, the safety of the Queen is our highest priority!¡± ¡°First, we should talk with the Kanto government and reestablish a new home for the Guardians!¡± These words and more darted across the table in a frenzy. They were gathered within a large tent erected late yesterday as a makeshift command center for the Guardian leadership, but decisions about their next step were delayed due to Queen Ilene spending all night assisting the medical personnel that had arrived from the International Police. Interpol assets had arrived shortly after Rota¡¯s decimation. They came with food and humanitarian supplies, and trainers to secure the area and distribute aid. Yet despite their immense help, it was difficult for Riley not to feel at least a twinge of spite. If they¡¯d arrived sooner, things may have turned out differently. In any case, AZ¡¯s fallen acolytes had already been rounded up and shipped off, and Interpol agents had descended into Rota¡¯s remains to survey the damage. But up here on Mount Moon, just outside the tent, doctors and nurses continued to administer treatment to the injured, sprawled across the stone floor. The worst cases had already been flown out to the nearby Pewter and Cerulean Cities, but with the sheer volume of the injured, those that could remain here did. And since Queen Ilene had absolutely refused to abandon her people in favor of more comfortable or dignified accommodations, here they were, chattering about within a tent amidst the chaos. ¡°Enough,¡± Ilene¡¯s tired voice cut through the din and immediately silenced all of them. No one knew how long she¡¯d slept, or if she had at all, as she¡¯d flat out denied any suggestion of rest. She sat at the head of the table, and though dark circles shadowed her eyes, she still brimmed with royal determination. ¡°Before we spare one thought about the future, we must first contend with the present. Many of our brothers and sisters are still hurt from the battle. With Rota and Cameran Palace gone, now is the time when we must look out for one another the most.¡± The other Guardians nodded in agreement. Clearly, they¡¯d all been affected by what happened to Rota, and with emotions running high, logic found little refuge here. But, Ilene¡¯s presence and wisdom were as luminous as always, and her words calmed them for the moment. ¡°My Queen, if I may,¡± Captain Magnus said, raising his hand. He sat toward the head of the table, closest to Ilene. His head was wrapped in bandages stained with blood, and though he¡¯d missed yesterday¡¯s affairs, he¡¯d refused to allow his absence to persist another day. ¡°I was speaking to an Interpol representative just earlier. They want to set up a meeting with you to decide how best to proceed. We¡¯ve also received a notice of intention to help from the Pok¨¦mon League as well.¡± Queen Ilene closed her eyes. After some thought, she opened them again. ¡°I¡¯ll meet with both. I¡¯d like your counsel in deciding what would be best for the Guardians. All of you.¡± She glanced around the table. ¡°As far as retaliation is concerned, the Guardians are not a punitive force. Just as in the Great War, we will delegate the administration of justice to the appropriate authority.¡± Though there seemed to be a bit of discontent about her decision, ultimately, the gathered Guardians nodded solemnly. They were in no position now to continue fighting, and vengeance would set them down an even darker path. ¡°Forgive me, my Queen,¡± one Guardian said, breaking the silence, ¡°but I believe the destruction of the Tree of Beginning is of paramount importance.¡± The other Guardians glanced his way. ¡°The Tree was like the heart of our order. Now that it has been destroyed, can we truly even call ourselves Guardians anymore?¡± Uneasy murmurings rippled across the table. ¡°Damned AZ,¡± another Guardian cursed, and some others shook their heads in anger. The Tree¡¯s destruction was even more disgraceful than Rota¡¯s. Clearly, the others had tried to mask their shame by taking on the present, but it was undeniable. The destruction of the Tree of Beginning was an abject failure of the Guardians in their holy duty. ¡°It wasn¡¯t AZ.¡± All heads turned down the table. Riley didn¡¯t meet anyone¡¯s gaze, still slouched in his chair. ¡°What did you say, Sir Riley?¡± the Guardian asked, disbelief wrinkling his face. ¡°It wasn¡¯t AZ,¡± he said, not a decibel louder. ¡°It was King Aaron who destroyed the Tree of Beginning.¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± The Guardian next to him seized his collar, though he still didn¡¯t move. ¡°You will recall those blasphemous words right now!¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Similar demands echoed across the table in tones laced with fury. But Riley remained unfazed through the uproar. ¡°King Aaron destroyed the Tree of Beginning. I saw it with my own eyes,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Riley! You bastard!¡± The Guardian tightened his grip on Riley¡¯s collar. ¡°Unhand him,¡± Ilene said. ¡°And please explain, Sir Riley.¡± As the Guardian sat back down, still glaring at him, Riley smoothed his clothes and sat up to address the gathered. ¡°I was there at Sir Aaron¡¯s side, shortly before Rota was destroyed. It was his own Lucario who saved my life. But before it did, he imparted some final words. From what he said, it¡¯s clear he fully intended on doing what he did, in hindsight.¡± ¡°Why would he do such a thing?¡± one Guardian spat. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Riley quickly said. ¡°He didn¡¯t have the time to say. But, at the very least, he wanted us to trust his reasons for doing what he did.¡± Before anyone could interrupt again, he stood up abruptly and faced Queen Ilene. ¡°My Queen. And distinguished Sirs. I was joined in those final moments by the former World Champion Ash Ketchum. And it was King Aaron¡¯s belief¡­no, his conviction, that Ash Ketchum is the Origin Child.¡± Shocked murmurs spread across the table, and even Ilene¡¯s brows were knit in a frown. ¡°He charged me personally with aiding the Origin Child on his quest to unite Arceus¡¯ Plates, and extended that duty to the Guardians as a collective.¡± He bowed. ¡°Queen Ilene. By your blessing, please allow me to join Ash on his journey. I cannot ask that the Guardians devote themselves to a stranger merely off of my word, especially in such a devastating time for us, but if you permit me, I swear I will help Ash show you the proof of his potential.¡± He raised his head. ¡°I know Ash personally, and if my word means anything, then I will say I also possess the same unwavering faith in him as King Aaron did. I too believe he is the destined one.¡± The Guardians stayed silent, speechless and stunned. Ilene herself seemed to be weighing his words carefully as if assessing their believability. ¡°I trust you, Sir Riley,¡± she eventually said. ¡°If that is the path you believe to be right, then you have my blessing to walk it. In return, this should come as no surprise but I and the others will be scrutinizing your claim about the Tree¡¯s destruction. I cannot see why King Aaron would do such a thing, but rest assured, we will have our answers as he intended.¡± Riley closed his eyes and dipped his head once more. ¡°Thank you, my Queen.¡±
Kanto Region - Saffron City Ash leaned against the brick wall of the Saffron City Gym. Bunches of flowers sprouted from a flowerbed placed atop the wall about a foot above him. His hat was pulled low over his face, and even with Pikachu on his shoulder, no one paid him any mind. This city was bustling as it was, but add to that the news about Rota, and it was certain he would not be recognized. Pikachu¡¯s nose twitched at the flowers, but otherwise, he seemed nearly as dejected as his trainer. Now that it was late afternoon, the city seemed bathed in fire as the setting sun cast an orange glow over them, despite their attempts to keep in the shadows. ¡°World Champion Aaron Albrecht was among those who perished in the horrific attack on Rota yesterday. Initial reports say he directly engaged the man who escaped from the World Prison over a month ago, but the exact details are still unclear. The World Pok¨¦mon League has not yet issued a statement.¡± Zinnia stood beside him, similarly silent, but she held her phone up next to her face, listening to the news. With her other hand, she held an ice pack to her stomach. She¡¯d broken a few ribs during her battle in Kalos, and though she¡¯d accepted some painkillers, she¡¯d refused any further treatment. Waiting out here with him was an escape from the others¡¯ worrying, Ash surmised. Before long, a car rolled up in front of them, and after it parked, the driver¡¯s seat swung open and Sylvester got out, dressed as usual, sans his apron. Upon seeing Ash and Zinnia, he gave a curt nod. ¡°Finally,¡± Zinnia mumbled, stepping off the wall. ¡°Unlike you all, I¡¯m not crazy enough to fly across the ocean,¡± he said as he joined them. ¡°I take a plane and then a car like a normal person.¡± All three walked toward the entrance and the doors slid open for them. Their pass through the reception area was slowed by Zinnia¡¯s gait, but a minute later, they arrived on the gym¡¯s battlefield. ¡°Thanks again,¡± Ash said as they passed Gym Leader Rosen, who stood nervously by the stands. The young man smiled awkwardly and shuffled past them. It seemed he¡¯d just delivered some refreshments, but wasn¡¯t eager to stay any longer than he had to. After reuniting with Cynthia, Anabel, and Sabrina yesterday, Ash had posited the Saffron Gym as a place where they could lay low and reconvene, away from the chaos on Mount Moon. Sabrina had contacted Rosen, and he¡¯d graciously accommodated them after hearing Ash¡¯s name in the mix. Then, it was as easy as Cynthia¡¯s Spiritomb whisking them away. And despite both Sabrina and Cynthia¡¯s needling, Anabel had assured them a visit to the hospital was unnecessary. She¡¯d only requested some help taking her first real shower after her injury, a fresh set of bandages, and some assistance in wrapping her arm back up. Ash had sent his pok¨¦mon to the store to pick up a few things, and by the time they¡¯d returned, she was already dressed in a standard-issue black tank top, from the lockers of one of Rosen¡¯s gym trainers most likely. And later that night, N and Zinnia had arrived. Ash saw Zinnia bristle as she caught sight of Anabel, sitting with her back to them on a chair in the center of the arena. N was sitting across from her, talking in a low voice, but he broke off the conversation when he saw the others arrive. Sabrina was sitting next to Anabel, though she seemed to be munching on one of the sandwiches Ash had picked up, not contributing to the conversation at all. And at the head of the small circle of chairs sat Cynthia, her Spiritomb swirling behind her. Though it was quiet and peaceful enough in here right now, the intent was clear. She knew what was about to happen. And she had no intentions of backing down. Sylvester settled into the seat across from her and gave her a curt smile, Ash settled in next to him, and Zinnia eased herself into the final chair. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to say how glad I am that you¡¯re all okay,¡± Cynthia began. ¡°Though not unscathed, this was the most dangerous force we¡¯ve ever tackled.¡± ¡°Can say that again,¡± Zinnia muttered. Ash had half expected her to explode at Cynthia, but it seemed she had no fight left for that. ¡°But now that that¡¯s out of the way,¡± she met all of their gazes, ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be said, but this was not the ideal outcome.¡± All of the gathered members shifted uncomfortably, save for Sylvester. They all each felt a certain responsibility for what had happened. ¡°It was my fault,¡± N said flatly. ¡°I let the boy who activated the weapon get away.¡± ¡°No,¡± Cynthia cut in. ¡°This was a failure in leadership on my part.¡± She met Sylvester¡¯s eyes and didn¡¯t look away. ¡°I know you all have had concerns about my judgment. And the truth is that I have been playing multiple angles at once, or at least trying to.¡± She took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat. ¡°As I told Ash and Sabrina, the Paragon Organization, at its inception, was intended to be a group composed of trainers who could help me achieve my own dream. Of learning about the secrets of this world, its true history. Over the span of this AZ ordeal, that dream has effectively been realized. At the very least, it is undeniable at this point that Arceus¡¯ Plates have been inextricably tied to the ebb and flow of both the history of humans and of pok¨¦mon. How the Platebearers have shaped said history is still an open-ended question, but their influence cannot be overstated. This most recent battle has made that clear. However, this is the first time since the Great War that their influence penetrated into the public eye. That is the true significance of Rota¡¯s destruction.¡± ¡°Is that why you wanted us out?¡± Anabel asked. ¡°So we wouldn¡¯t get mixed up in that?¡± ¡°Partly. I had an inkling that the clash between AZ and the Guardians would be far beyond anything we¡¯ve handled thus far. And I didn¡¯t think Paragon was ready for such a force of nature. But, you all proved me wrong.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Ash said quietly. ¡°Rota is gone, and Sir Aaron is dead.¡± A silence settled over the group. ¡°The Guardians survived,¡± Cynthia eventually said. ¡°AZ wanted to end them. He failed. Only four Guardians lost their lives. With the force he sent in, that number is astronomically low. And because of N and Zinnia¡¯s warning, Sabrina was able to move everyone out of Rota before it was too late.¡± She folded her hands together and looked down. ¡°But, here¡¯s where I get to say I told you so.¡± Spiritomb cackled silently behind her. ¡°I wanted to have this discussion a month ago. I think, with a little more¡­unity, we may have been able to save Rota. But, I understand why things turned out the way they did. As I said, it was a failure in leadership on my part.¡± She sighed and sat up. ¡°Sylvester accused me of working for someone else. That my actions and decisions were at the behest of a third party.¡± She glanced between them all. ¡°That was true to a certain extent, up until a month ago.¡± Sylvester¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t speak up. Ash, Zinnia, and Anabel glanced between each other and Sabrina took a noticeable increased interest, leaning away from her sandwich. N¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°The night before I requested your return to Paragon Island, I received a message from that person, asking me to do just that. I decided, at that moment, to begin running Paragon on my own terms.¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Sylvester asked. ¡°Her name isn¡¯t important. You wouldn¡¯t recognize it anyway. It¡¯s the same reason that I didn¡¯t tell you about her to begin with. All you need to know now is that she¡¯s someone I¡¯ve known since I first began my journey as a pok¨¦mon trainer, many years ago.¡± ¡°What has she been making you do?¡± N asked. Even more than the others, he seemed to be most concerned at what Cynthia may have done per another¡¯s direction. ¡°She hasn¡¯t been making me do anything. I receive intelligence from the International Police and direct our missions accordingly. But, every so often, I go to Alola to meet with that person. And sometimes, we discuss whatever Paragon is up to. It only makes sense. It was with her help that I was able to create the Paragon Organization to begin with. Last month was the first time I¡¯d ever received an explicit command from her.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a benefactor, or some secret member of Paragon, shouldn¡¯t we know about them?¡± Anabel asked. Cynthia closed her eyes. ¡°No,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°Because as of a month ago, that person no longer has anything to do with the Paragon Organization.¡± ¡°You said they commanded you to pull Paragon out of Rota. But that¡¯s exactly what you did¡± Sylvester said. ¡°Or, at least tried to.¡± ¡°Yes. But not at her behest. I returned to Rota like I promised, after all. But, I wanted us to have this conversation back then so we could pivot in a new direction, free of oversight.¡± ¡°But you said your dream was basically fulfilled. So what would that new direction have been?¡± Ash asked. A thin smile crossed Cynthia¡¯s mouth. ¡°I said at Paragon¡¯s inception, its purpose was based on my own dreams. However, it didn¡¯t stay that way for long. As I met you all, and grew closer to you¡­as each one of you beat me down in battle, it became clear to me that Paragon was not just a vehicle through which I could achieve my own dreams. I realized I wanted us to help each other achieve all our dreams, together. By severing ties with my old friend, I intended to fully prepare Paragon for the battles ahead. And after learning so much about the Plates, it seems that, in the end, they will be unavoidable entities on our paths toward that end. ¡± For Ash, that was obvious enough. His pursuit in becoming a pok¨¦mon master would inevitably put him against the Platebearers. It was probably the same for Zinnia and her quest for the Great Dragon. N and Anabel were both seeking a dream, but it was clear that neither would be satisfied by anything too basic, after everything they¡¯d experienced. And Sabrina¡­what was her dream? ¡°That sounds quite nice and all, but I can¡¯t imagine this friend of yours will be pleased about this,¡± Sylvester said, still looking slightly unconvinced. ¡°Are they the type who would help you create something like the Paragon Organization without expecting anything in return?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Cynthia said. ¡°I have you all to think about as well. I can¡¯t simply prioritize her wants over yours. I¡¯ll talk to her soon enough.¡± She looked down at her phone and frowned. ¡°Though it may have to wait. Interpol and the League both want to see me. So I¡¯ll be heading out shortly.¡± She glanced around the circle. ¡°I hope you all can trust me from now on. Please believe me when I say I want what¡¯s best for the world, and for you all.¡± A silence settled over them. Beyond their lingering exhaustion from yesterday, they had nothing more to say. ¡°Sorry about before,¡± Sabrina blurted out. Cynthia smiled and leaned over to look her in the eyes. Then, she extended a hand and rested it on her head. ¡°No need.¡± With that, she stood. ¡°Leader Rosen has prepared rooms for us on the second floor, so I¡¯d get to bed soon. Especially you, Anabel and Zinnia. I¡¯ll be in touch.¡± She pulled out a pok¨¦ball and recalled Spiritomb. As she went on ahead, Sylvester got up and hurried after her. She turned to him, but as he started yapping at her, she simply gazed back at Paragon wistfully with a proud smile. He seemed to get even more incensed after realizing she was ignoring him. Ash got up, ready to oblige and crash immediately, but after checking his phone, he saw a message. ¡°Hey, Cynthia,¡± he called. ¡°Riley wants to know where we are. Is it okay if I let him know?¡± Cynthia paused, then smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll defer that to you. I trust your judgment.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 51 : Aaron¡¯s Gift
Remnants of the Great War [42] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [42] Chapter 51 : Aaron¡¯s Gift
Kalos Region - Beneath Geosenge Town ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± the man with carmine hair said. ¡°Sorry, I had other work to take care of. I¡¯m sure you can understand,¡± came the smooth voice of a woman who didn¡¯t sound apologetic in the slightest. ¡°You¡¯re the Champion of this region. There should be no reason why I arrived before you did.¡± Diantha Carnet smiled, her lavender eyeshadow glittering even in the darkness. ¡°I already apologized. Plus, I doubt even the distance from Kanto would slow a man like you.¡± ¡°I just know how to be punctual,¡± Dragon Master Lance said, crossing his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you were doing that you thought was more important than getting here in a timely manner.¡± ¡°Kalos is in chaos right now,¡± Diantha shrugged. ¡°I have appearances to make. Rota is barely outside your jurisdiction. I¡¯m surprised you have the time to slip away.¡± Lance ignored her and took a step forward, his cape brushing over the ground. ¡°Enough. You know why we¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Hmmm, I do. Rather, I know the what. The why, I¡¯m still a little hazy on.¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± ¡°Sort of. Isn¡¯t it the International Police¡¯s job to handle things like this?¡± Lance turned and glared at her, though if it bothered Diantha in the slightest, she didn¡¯t show it. Her white coat and slacks gleamed even in the gloom, and she wore her face like a radiant mask. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, of course,¡± Diantha eventually said, slicing through the tension, and she stepped up beside Lance. ¡°Though I do feel a bit sorry for them. There¡¯ll be an uproar when they realize this thing has slipped between their fingers.¡± ¡°Has anyone ever told you you talk too much?¡± ¡°No. I usually don¡¯t. I¡¯m only doing so now because it seems to displease you.¡± Lance narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°You¡¯re an unpleasant woman.¡± ¡°Such a shame you¡¯re stuck with me,¡± she said. Then, the mirth vanished from her face. ¡°On a serious note though, I have to wonder why someone like you was chosen for this task. I mean, my inclusion is obvious, but why you?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m loyal,¡± Lance answered immediately. Diantha¡¯s eyes tightened like a cat¡¯s. ¡°You truly have the pride of a dragon.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°That¡­wasn¡¯t supposed to be a compliment.¡± A silence dawned between them and neither moved for nearly a minute. ¡°I sense I didn¡¯t steer the conversation in the direction you wanted me to,¡± Lance drawled. ¡°Out with it then. What other inane blather do you have for me before we begin?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re talking about who¡¯s qualified for this task, I have to wonder why Cynthia wasn¡¯t chosen,¡± Diantha said, not rising to the insult. ¡°She¡¯s more than capable¡­ More so even than you, one could argue.¡± She glanced over to gauge Lance¡¯s reaction. But the dragon master was similarly unflappable. ¡°I doubt it. But then again, we¡¯ve never had a serious bout.¡± ¡°There are forms of strength that manifest in places other than the battlefield. For one, she sank her claws into the former World Champion quite swiftly, didn¡¯t she? Or, I suppose, former, former World Champion now.¡± ¡°You truly are unpleasant.¡± ¡°Ash Ketchum and Cynthia were both there at Rota during the attack. It¡¯s almost like she knew what was going to happen.¡± She turned to Lance. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Did you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lance said truthfully. ¡°But if she¡¯s beginning to keep secrets, then I can¡¯t imagine she¡¯ll keep her title for very much longer.¡± ¡°She certainly doesn¡¯t possess a shred of that loyalty you¡¯re so proud of.¡± ¡°It makes no difference to me.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, I know, you¡¯re such a good boy.¡± Diantha¡¯s heels echoed throughout the chamber as she paced across its stone floor. ¡°She¡¯s always played her cards close to her chest, but these past couple of months, she¡¯s been acting even more strangely than usual.¡± ¡°That makes two of you.¡± Diantha¡¯s eyes narrowed, but before annoyance could manifest on her face, her lips stretched into a callous line. ¡°Any idea what¡¯s going on with her?¡± Lance sighed. ¡°It sounds like you want me to suggest a conclusion you¡¯ve already come to. In which case, I¡¯m not exactly sure why you asked the question if you already know the answer.¡± ¡°Oh, come on. I¡¯d think a loyal pup like you would be interested in snakes among our ranks.¡± ¡°I do what I¡¯m told. No more, no less.¡± ¡°I was surprised to find out you did what Aaron Albrecht told you to do after AZ escaped from prison. You were assigned to protect Interpol safehouses in¡­Galar, right?¡± Lance fixed her with an iron stare. ¡°Aaron Albrecht threatened to unseat the Champion of every single region if we did not obey him. What other choice did we have?¡± He raised one of his thin brows ever so slightly. ¡°You obeyed too if I recall.¡± ¡°Of course. He was the World Champion, and we, his Champions,¡± Diantha said in a mocking tone. ¡°Why wouldn''t I?¡± Lance shook his head, fed up with her antics. ¡°I got Hoenn, in case you were wondering. Not that it matters since neither of our bases were ever hit.¡± She tilted her head, remembering something. ¡°Steven obeyed as well. And he spent a week in the ICU for his troubles. It¡¯s difficult to ignore that, barring the younger Champions, Aaron Albrecht only spared Cynthia from an assignment.¡± ¡°I heard Cynthia already works for Interpol.¡± ¡°That only makes it more confusing, since Aaron Albrecht certainly didn¡¯t. His being the hero Sir Aaron, while surprising, is easy enough to swallow given the nature of the Guardians. What I can¡¯t wrap my head around is why he would exclude Cynthia from his orders. It¡¯s as if even he was worried about ruffling her feathers.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the obvious answer that they¡¯re all a part of the same faction? Her, Aaron Albrecht, and the former, former World Champion Ash Ketchum? That¡¯s why they were all in Rota for the attack.¡± ¡°No, that can¡¯t be. A little bird told me that Aaron and Cynthia nearly looked ready to kill each other at Ash Ketchum¡¯s celebration party two years ago.¡± ¡°Then a deal was struck, obviously. Clearly, they decided to share custody of Ketchum or something.¡± Diantha smirked. ¡°You make it sound so unsavory. But I suppose you actually have a bit more going on in that head than I initially thought.¡± Lance scowled. ¡°These sorts of games are nothing more than a headache. Far above my station. Cynthia must be mad to dip her toes into such nonsense.¡± He shook his head. ¡°And for what? Why would she challenge Aaron Albrecht for one teenager?¡± ¡°Once again, it seems she knows something we don¡¯t.¡± Diantha shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s been friends with the boy for years. Maybe she was simply trying to claim him before anyone nasty could.¡± ¡°Like Aaron Albrecht?¡± Lance scoffed. ¡°Seems like he ended up sinking his claws into the both of them in the end. They were the ones fighting to protect his home after all.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°She should have known her place. In the end, it was Aaron who stood on top.¡± ¡°You seem to have quite a lofty opinion of the former World Champion.¡± ¡°The position of World Champion is all but ceremonial. A World Champion only boasts the power he brings with him to the throne. Ash Ketchum, and even that weakling Leon could never have blackmailed the League like he did. Aaron Albrecht, or rather, Sir Aaron, was an anomaly. Those above us won¡¯t let it happen again.¡± ¡°But Aaron is now dead, and Cynthia¡¯s still alive,¡± Diantha said. ¡°Surely she can¡¯t have predicted that¡­or could she have? If she works for Interpol then she¡¯d know, even more so than us, just how dangerous AZ was. Could she have been banking on Aaron¡¯s defeat?¡± ¡°Only a nitwit would entertain such a convoluted conspiracy. Cynthia fought to protect Rota while also praying for Aaron''s downfall? Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°You keep letting me get under your skin,¡± Diantha smiled. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t believe she masterminded Aaron Albrecht¡¯s death. But I also can¡¯t help but think she¡¯s pleased at the fact that Ash Ketchum has once again found his way back into her lap.¡± ¡°You make it sound like she values young Ketchum as an ally over Sir Aaron.¡± Diantha¡¯s marble face glimmered with enigma. ¡°It does seem that way, doesn¡¯t it? It almost makes me want to take a pass at him,¡± she said, licking her lips. ¡°It¡¯s always the young ones that cause the most trouble.¡± Lance¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°They¡¯re the ones who never seem to know their place,¡± he agreed. Diantha rolled her eyes. ¡°Right, right. A man like you would never go the way of little Leon. You¡¯re so obedient it makes my eyes water.¡± Lance stepped forward again and pulled out an ultra ball from within his cape. ¡°Is that all? If so, then let¡¯s get started. We¡¯ve wasted enough time.¡± Kanto Region - Saffron City Leader Rosen smiled awkwardly as the doors to his gym slid open and Riley stepped through with a polite nod. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± the young Guardian said. Rosen nodded and scurried away. Riley watched as he went, an uncertain expression on his face. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t upset him.¡± ¡°Nah, you¡¯re fine,¡± Ash said. ¡°But I did kind of spring this all on him yesterday so he might be a bit overwhelmed. I was thinking we head out for the time being.¡± Pikachu chirped in agreement on his shoulder. Luckily, the gym had a pok¨¦mon healing machine that was normally reserved for gym personnel only, but Rosen had made an exception, so after several hours, all of Paragon¡¯s pok¨¦mon were back at full health. Ash and Sabrina stood across from Riley in the gym¡¯s lobby dressed in freshly washed clothes. They¡¯d slept in gym wear last night, courtesy of Rosen, and Sabrina had taken the liberty of offering to wash all their clothes this morning. Since she spent the most time at Paragon Island compared to the rest of them, laundry duty had fallen to her naturally. Riley glanced between them with concern. ¡°Is Anabel alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s fine,¡± Ash said. ¡°Still resting up though. Her arm got a bit worse battling against AZ¡¯s lieutenant. A guy called Vandrick.¡± Riley grimaced. ¡°I see. I wish I could have prevented that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she doesn¡¯t blame you at all. She told me to pass that on to you for her.¡± Ash glanced over at the stairs leading up to the second floor, where the rest of Paragon was still resting. ¡°I¡¯d like to introduce you to the others, but I guess we can do that later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I wouldn¡¯t want to disturb their rest.¡± Riley turned to Sabrina and smiled. ¡°Good morning, Sabrina.¡± The young psychic dipped her head in greeting. ¡°So¡­are we doing it here? Riley asked. ¡°I was thinking we head a bit out of town,¡± Ash replied, starting toward the doors. ¡°We haven¡¯t eaten anything this morning yet so I was thinking we pick something up, then find somewhere quiet. That alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine by me,¡± Riley nodded. ¡°I could use some breakfast as well.¡± After they nodded, the trio departed the gym. Saffron still seemed to be alarmed over the attack on Rota, as the streets were nearly barren, especially for this time of day. Most companies had taken the day off in the wake of the tragedy, and very few businesses were open. Unfortunately, that made procuring a meal a tad difficult. Not wanting to walk around too much, they stopped a block out from a convenience store in a thin alleyway and sent Gengar off to take a few breakfast boxes off the shelf. It took him longer than they wanted to find yesterday¡¯s leftovers stored in the back since no one was around to make them fresh this morning, and he¡¯d almost come back without leaving some cash on the counter because of it. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t in too feisty a mood today, so they were able to fill their stomachs without committing a crime. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Gengar had lost them enough time so they ate while they walked. In between passing torn-off pieces of his bread up to Pikachu, Ash began thinking about their current circumstances. Anabel and Zinnia were both still recovering, and after Cynthia and Sylvester¡¯s departure last night, N had volunteered to keep watch over them. Sir Aaron¡¯s Time Flower was tucked carefully in his pocket, and his hand rested over it protectively as they walked. ¡°So, how are you doing?¡± Ash asked once they were close to the city¡¯s edge. Riley took off his hat and ran his hands through his spiky hair. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even say. I still can¡¯t quite believe it happened. Rota was where I spent most of my childhood. And now¡­it¡¯s just¡­gone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ash said glumly, looking down. ¡°You have nothing to apologize for, of course,¡± Riley said. ¡°I¡¯m thankful you and your friends happened to be there. We would¡¯ve lost many more without you all, I¡¯m certain.¡± Even if that were true, the feeling of failure still clung to Ash¡¯s stomach like cement. ¡°What will happen to the Guardians now?¡± Sabrina asked. Riley sighed. ¡°It¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess at this point, truth be told. The Queen is set to meet with some representatives of the Kanto government later today to decide our order¡¯s fate.¡± His expression darkened. ¡°To be perfectly honest, I¡¯m not too optimistic. I can¡¯t imagine Kanto would simply hand over part of its land and grant it to the Guardians. Most likely, the Guardians will have to decentralize for the time being, until we can establish a new home elsewhere.¡± ¡°Where would that even be?¡± Ash asked. ¡°The Land of Rota was significant because the Tree of Beginning was there, right? But now that the Tree is gone¡­¡± ¡°A heart-rending loss,¡± Riley said, his eyes thin. ¡°For this world to lose the Tree¡­ The fount where all pok¨¦mon originate from has vanished. In a sense, every pok¨¦mon in the world just lost its home.¡± Pikachu¡¯s nose twitched atop Ash¡¯s shoulder, and he frowned, deflating slightly. Ash noticed and scratched behind his ears gently. ¡°But, that brings me to what I intend to do going forward,¡± Riley continued. ¡°Ash, did you tell Sabrina and the others about what King Aaron said to us in his final moments?¡± Ash¡¯s face hardened. ¡°I did.¡± Everyone in Paragon had exchanged their turn of events last night before Sylvester arrived, and Ash seemed to have the most interesting story by far. His clash with AZ, the appearance of Zagreus, and Sir Aaron¡¯s parting words were shocking enough, but it was what he¡¯d heard from Aaron and AZ both about the ¡°Paragons¡± that cast a prolonged silence over the group. ¡°Cynthia¡­do you know anything about the Paragons?¡± he¡¯d asked. All eyes were on her, but she looked as deep in thought as the rest of them, if not more so. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t,¡± she eventually said. ¡°When I spoke with Albrecht before the attack, he reacted strangely to the name ¡®Paragon¡¯¡­ I suppose this was why.¡± N¡¯s brows furrowed as he stroked his mouth. ¡°Is it just a coincidence then?¡± ¡°Did you come up with the name for ¡®the Paragon Organization?¡¯¡± Anabel asked. Cynthia shook her head slowly. ¡°Not really. It was named after Paragon Island¡­¡± Cynthia responded, and her voice trailed off. She seemed just as perplexed as the rest of them. Zinnia winced in her seat, failing to stifle a flare-up of pain. Her eyes swiveled around the circle to see who¡¯d noticed, but to her chagrin, they all had. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s best if you rest, Zinnia,¡± N eventually said, reaching toward her. ¡°I¡¯m going to get an ice pack,¡± Zinnia grumbled, clutching her side as she stood. N reached out his hand but didn¡¯t pursue. The others watched her go, knowing any further protest would be pointless, hardheaded as she was. She didn¡¯t return even after several minutes. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on her,¡± Ash offered, standing. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this conversation later when Sylvester gets here.¡± Cynthia nodded in thanks, but sat back in her seat, continuing to think, even as Sabrina began recounting her version of the day¡¯s events. ¡°That¡¯s good. That will make things easier,¡± Riley said. ¡°Simply put, I¡¯d like to help you, Ash. Just as King Aaron commanded. I already spoke about it with Queen Ilene and she¡¯s given her blessing.¡± They crested beneath the rustling branches of a forest and continued their trek forward. Normally, there¡¯d be trainers and such on the trail, but after the news about Rota, everyone was spending a bit more time in front of the TV, so they didn¡¯t encounter anyone else on their way. ¡°Thank you, Riley,¡± Ash said. ¡°To be honest, I was going to hit you up anyway since I don¡¯t exactly know how to use a Time Flower. I was able to use them once before when I was in Rota as a kid, but back then, I was wearing these special gloves that channeled my Aura or something. I figured using my Platebearer abilities might work since I guess it¡¯s technically Aura, but I didn¡¯t want to mess anything up¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Riley said. ¡°I imagine your power would work, but I too would feel most comfortable using traditional Aura to catalyze activation. I can help you access the memories within.¡± Around ten minutes later, they passed an open clearing, and Ash steered them off the path over to it. Settling in its center, he withdrew the Time Flower from his pocket, wrapped in a bundle of cloth. He crouched down and unwrapped it carefully, revealing its vibrant petals. Sabrina and Riley crouched down beside him, with Sabrina taking an extended interest in the flower. She peeked around it, as if trying to ascertain how such a strange-looking flower existed. Its petals seemed to be curled around a central bulb, yet the whole thing appeared to made of glass. As sunlight filtered onto its surface, its stem erected, and it swayed gently. ¡°Before we begin, I¡¯d like to make one thing clear,¡± Riley said. ¡°This Time Flower should show us exactly where King Aaron hid his Plates. But once we know their location, are you and your friends prepared to pursue them? And are you, Ash, prepared to bear them?¡± The simple answer was no. Although other institutions were handling humanitarian relief for Rota, Paragon¡¯s role in that conflict wasn''t quite finished, despite AZ¡¯s defeat. Lord Vandrick and Zagreus had both escaped. As of now, Cynthia had yet to state who she intended them to go after first. I realized I wanted us to help each other achieve all our dreams, together. That was what she¡¯d said last night. After learning so much about the Plates, it seems that, in the end, they will be unavoidable entities on our paths toward that end. Ash and Sabrina glanced at each other. I trust your judgment. Sabrina nodded slightly, immediately understanding Ash¡¯s inquiry as they stared into each others¡¯ eyes. ¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± Ash said. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re not. These Plates have been hidden for a long time, and I trust King Aaron has countermeasures in place to prevent anyone else from finding them, so it¡¯s not necessarily urgent.¡± ¡°There are other Platebearers out there,¡± Ash said. ¡°Ones with far more knowledge about the Plates than you or I, I¡¯m sure. I bet some of them will have suspected that Sir Aaron had a Plate or two, and might seize the opportunity to go after them now that he¡¯s gone. In that case, I¡¯d like to claim Sir Aaron¡¯s sooner rather than later.¡± Pikachu chittered in agreement on his shoulder. ¡°Sound reasoning,¡± Riley nodded. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s begin.¡± The palms of his hands began to glow a harsh sapphire, engulfing the Time Flower in its luminescence. The petals of the flower began to separate, pulling apart with a soft clinking, like a chandelier. The stigma within curled into a tall line and began to glow azure, and blue sparks wafted up from the wispy styles. A deep cerulean light blasted out of the flower in a grand flourish, and Aura began to swirl around the gathered three. Sabrina glanced back in concern, but Ash stayed concentrated on the flower between them. Riley¡¯s eyes had glassed over, now just pits of glowing azure, yet his hands remained steady over the flower. The Aura around them churned like a cyclone, thickening and brightening until it became difficult to see the forest beyond. A bead of sweat dripped down Ash¡¯s temple. This was nothing like the Time Flower he¡¯d used way back when to glimpse a scene from the first Battle of Cameran Palace. But then again, this was a Time Flower personally created by Sir Aaron. As the Aura continued to get brighter and brighter, Ash began to squint. Instead of focusing on the flower, he glanced between his two friends. However, the Aura was so bright he couldn¡¯t even see them anymore, despite being right next to them. Instinctively, he grabbed his shoulder where Pikachu was, and breathed a sigh of relief upon feeling the friend¡¯s staticky fur. Pikachu clung to him fiercely, his nails digging into his skin, and Ash could hear him grunting as he held on. Then, Ash¡¯s stomach turned as he felt the ground disappear out from under him. He felt his body jerk in one way, then the next, Aura roaring in all directions around him. His senses were completely overloaded, but he forced his eyes to remain open. Azure energy hissed and whizzed past him in a blur as if he was in the middle of a rushing river current. His only solace was that he could still breathe perfectly fine, and he gulped down air in a greedy panic. Aside from the discomfort in his stomach, there was no pain as the Time Flower continued to work its magic, which Ash was grateful for, but it felt like he was rocketing in one direction at a million miles an hour, and he was worried he¡¯d splatter against a wall or something once this process ended. Luckily, he didn¡¯t have to wait much longer. The blinding light around him suddenly went dark and Ash blinked furiously to get his eyes to adjust. Color began to bleed back into his eyes and tactile sensation once again surged through his body. A cosmic rumble echoed across his consciousness as he was suddenly thrown back into the familiar world. Now, his stomach turned again. Wind raced up around him, roaring in his ears, and with it came a freezing cold. A textured gray vista was all that lay before him, but one thing was extremely obvious. He was falling. Ash jerked his head around to study his surroundings, and he saw Sabrina and Riley both in a similar state as him. Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets spun furiously about her wrists and her eyes were as wide as saucers. On the flip side, Riley¡¯s eyes were narrowed and his arms were spread out beside him, and he seemed relatively relaxed. Ash heard Pikachu cry out above him, but a moment later, felt his paws latch back onto his clothes for dear life. ¡°I got you!¡± he said. Then, he turned to face the others. ¡°Guys!¡± he shrieked. Riley noticed him and glided closer. ¡°Calm down, Ash!¡± he yelled back. ¡°This is just a vision! The Time Flower is taking us to the sight of King Aaron¡¯s memory! Our bodies don¡¯t actually exist in this realm!¡± Sabrina¡¯s teeth were clenched harder than Ash had ever seen as she dropped, and she seemed to be trying to angle her body to get closer to them. Ash could feel gooseflesh rippling across his skin beneath his clothes, and he looked back at their surroundings. The gray plain below them seemed to be the ocean, for to its right was a huge mass of land that stretched as far as Ash could see, covered in dark trees and grass. A thin strip of beach lined the edge of the land, and Ash made a mental note of it. He turned back to his friends, then back at the fast-approaching surface. As they got closer and closer, the wind continued to slice against Ash¡¯s face. Though he was squinting, Ash could make out the roiling whitecaps and waves below, and soon, he began to smell the salt of the sea. His eyes widened and he nearly choked. ¡°This isn¡¯t a vision, this is real!¡± Ash shrieked. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Emerald light streamed from Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets. A warm shield billowed to life beneath them, and Ash felt his body¡¯s velocity slow. Nonetheless, three seconds later, they impacted against the ocean. Darkness and silence flooded Ash¡¯s senses as he felt himself sink beneath the very real waves. Pikachu! His chest burned with every movement, and he curled around in the water, looking for the surface. Upon seeing brighter waters above, Ash forced himself toward them, kicking and swimming as hard as he could. Just as he breached the surface, he inhaled a massive lungful of air before the waves could swallow him up again. His heart thundered as he searched the surface for Riley, Sabrina, or Pikachu, but none had appeared yet. The sea pushed him around relentlessly as he tread water, and panic began to set in. But then, he spotted the beach. A line of trees stood sentinel beyond the dark sand, and he started swimming toward it. Luckily, it wasn¡¯t too far, and Ash was a strong swimmer. Once I get to land, I¡¯ll send out Blastoise to find the others! Ash paddled furiously until he felt the ground beneath his feet, and he stomped as fast as he could out of the water. Water poured off of him, but he whirled around and grabbed his belt. His empty belt. ¡°No!¡± Ash cursed, running back toward the water. Suddenly, the surface of the water burst apart around where he¡¯d initially surfaced, and a second later, three forms sailed through the air, arcing toward the beach. The first, Riley, landed in an unceremonious heap a ways away from Ash, rolling across the wet sand. The second, Pikachu, landed deftly on his feet, before leaping out of the way to make way for the third. Sabrina landed softly on her feet, emerald light leaking from her eyes, and it was only then that Ash noticed the fading emerald glow around the other two. Sabrina coughed, then collapsed onto her side, breathing heavily. Ash ran over to them, and upon seeing his trainer, Pikachu squeaked and bounded back up onto his shoulder. Though Ash paid him no mind for the moment. ¡°Our pok¨¦mon!¡± he bit out as he approached them. ¡°I lost mine in the ocean!¡± He glanced at Sabrina¡¯s belt and noticed her pok¨¦balls missing too. Sabrina seemed to notice him and immediately jerked up, then got to her feet. Her dark hair clung to the white skin of her face. ¡°We need to find them before¡ª!¡± Sabrina held out her hand and closed her eyes. Ash watched as her gauntlets spun, first one way, then the other. Several seconds later, her eyes snapped open, and she looked over at Ash, hope drained from her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re not there!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ash demanded. ¡°They can¡¯t be that far!¡± ¡°They¡¯re not there!¡± Sabrina said again, firmly. Her bloodshot eyes made it clear she took no pleasure in being right. Behind them, Riley coughed, and water emptied from his mouth. Slowly, he rolled onto his knees and stood. Upon standing, he realized the other two were staring at him, water dripping off their soaked bodies. He glanced between them as he wiped the water from his face. ¡°I apologize. I didn¡¯t expect this.¡± ¡°Never mind that. Our pok¨¦mon are gone,¡± Ash said. Riley''s hands clutched his belt and he too realized that all of his pok¨¦balls were missing. ¡°Sabrina already checked the sea. They¡¯re not there.¡± Pikachu squeaked sadly on Ash¡¯s shoulder, and Riley looked at him curiously, no doubt wondering how he¡¯d been spared disappearance. Sabrina looked up, then around. ¡°What is this place?¡± Ash and Riley both glanced around. Aside from the beach they were on now and the forest that stood beyond, the only other points of note were the vast sea behind them, and the gray sky above, cloaked in dark clouds. At sea level, there wasn¡¯t much they could see, and the entire land seemed steeped in a dull fog, which only obscured their sight even more. Riley knelt down and sunk his fingers into the wet sand. He rubbed the grains between his fingers, then stood again. ¡°This place feels so real¡­ It¡¯s as if we¡¯ve been personally transported back into King Aaron¡¯s memories.¡± ¡°Then where is he?¡± Ash asked, stepping up onto a stout hill to get a better vantage point. ¡°And where are the Plates?¡± Riley looked around, uncertainty etched on his face. ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ I¡¯ve never encountered a Time Flower like this¡­ But if I had to take a guess, I¡¯d say that this place is a pocket dimension created from King Aaron¡¯s Aura. Something like this would certainly keep the Plates safe, even if the Time Flower was to somehow fall into the wrong hands. It also explains our missing pok¨¦mon¡­¡± He glanced over at Pikachu. ¡°For the most part.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s somewhere here then, huh?¡± As Ash meandered away from the beach, Pikachu scampered up onto his head to survey the area. It seemed he wanted to explore, but didn¡¯t want to leave his trainer behind in this unfamiliar place. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯d be able to leave this pocket dimension after we find the Plates?¡± ¡°That is the hope,¡± Riley said. ¡°Hopefully we find them before we freeze.¡± Ash shivered as he clutched his arms. Sabrina¡¯s body went rigid and her eyes flared, before swiftly going dark again. ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± she whispered. Ash and Riley both whipped around, but the sound of a snapping twig in front of them snatched their attention again. A stocky man with tanned skin approached them cautiously, but froze upon seeing their leery eyes, and he raised his hands defensively. ¡°Ah, hello there.¡± Ash¡¯s hand instinctively drifted to his belt, but of course there was nothing there. The man glanced warily at him, nearly ignoring Riley and Sabrina both. ¡°Who are you?¡± Riley asked flatly. ¡°Where is King Aaron?¡± The man glanced nervously at Riley. ¡°I¡­was going to ask you all the same thing. You don¡¯t seem to be from here.¡± His gaze seemed to stretch past them to the ocean beyond. ¡°But I see no ship. Nor boat.¡± He locked eyes with Riley. ¡°But if you¡¯re asking about ¡®King Aaron¡¯ you must be a Guardian.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Riley said, his eyes narrowing. ¡°But we were just trying to figure out how we got here ourselves, wherever ¡®here¡¯ is.¡± The man opened his mouth to answer the question, but glanced nervously at Ash again. ¡°Are you alright, young man?¡± He raised a finger slowly, pointing at him. ¡°On your head¡­there¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Ash glanced up. ¡°Oh, him? That¡¯s just my Pikachu. No need to worry.¡± Pikachu flashed a smile. The man¡¯s arm dropped and he nodded. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± He rubbed his hands and a film of sweat covered his face like dew as he glanced between them. ¡° Riley frowned and stepped forward, raising his hands to his sides. ¡°We mean you no harm, sir. We¡¯d just like to know where we are, if you can.¡± The man looked over at Riley, but after studying him again, he nodded quickly and cleared his throat. ¡°Ah, I apologize. I¡¯ve been quite rude. You seem to have had quite the journey. It¡¯s just, you all took me rather by surprise. No matter. Yes, I can tell you exactly where you are.¡± Riley¡¯s eyes narrowed, and Ash and Sabrina both had the man locked in an iron gaze. He smiled awkwardly and crossed his arms. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived in the far north. This is the land of Hisui.¡± Riley wheeled around, facing Ash and Sabrina, and all three wore a look of pure shock. ¡°What?!¡± they all said at once. Next ¡ª Chapter 52 : The Head of Paragon
Only one more chapter till the end of the arc¡­ Remnants of the Great War [43] PARAGON Remnants of the Great War Arc [43] Chapter 52 : The Head of Paragon
Sinnoh Region, twenty-two years ago The tall grass brushed against her face as she ran, but her platinum blonde hair was nearly as long, so she was used to it. She spared a glance back but kept running as fast as her short legs could carry her. Sweat matted her hair to her temples and she was getting mud all over her clothes, but neither discomfort impeded her in the slightest. ¡°Gotcha!¡± Her older cousin tackling her from the side certainly did, however. Cynthia Shirona, aged nine, fell onto her side into a muddy puddle, and though she braced herself with her arm, dirt water splashed up into her mouth, and she recoiled. ¡°Eggghhhh!¡± she whined, sticking her tongue out and trying to drool the stuff back out. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for running away.¡± Sylvester Shirona, aged twelve, stood over her, his arms crossed, wearing a proud grin. Somehow, he¡¯d run through this marsh and caught up to her while somehow keeping his white clothes mostly clean¡ªa sharp contrast to Cynthia¡¯s disheveled appearance. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna!¡± Cynthia pouted, slamming her tiny fist down into the puddle. Sylvester moved his leg out of the way before it could splash him, then knelt. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said with authority. ¡°Grandmother will get upset.¡± ¡°Why do I haftaaaa?¡± she complained. ¡°I don¡¯t care about pok¨¦mon breeding at all. I want to be a trainer!¡± ¡°Oh, did you? I¡¯d almost forgotten.¡± Sylvester stood back up and offered his hand. ¡°Come on. We may be close to home, but there are still wild pok¨¦mon around.¡± He looked away and his eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose you too.¡± Cynthia noticed her cousin¡¯s seriousness and took his hand, standing back up. She was over a head shorter. His head poked out above the tall grass. No wonder he¡¯d found her so quickly. Hand in hand, they walked back through the grass back to town, Cynthia grumbling every step of the way. As the density of the grass started to thin, Cynthia could smell the pungent scent of incense burning ahead. As they emerged from the swamp, the quaint Celestic Town came into view, nestled among rock and fog in the shadows of Mount Coronet. Her home. Sylvester didn¡¯t let go of her even once they¡¯d arrived. If anything, he¡¯d tightened his grip as they walked down the beaten paths toward their house. Elderly folk smiled at and greeted him along the way, and though they tried to extend the courtesy to Cynthia, she trained her eyes on the ground, determined to ignore them. Eventually, they made it back to their small cottage. A pen of thin wire fence sat beside the house, and within, a pair of Eevee ran around, chasing each other''s tails. Cynthia scowled when she saw it, but Sylvester led her past them inside. The smell of incense burned even stronger once he opened the door, and Cynthia wrinkled her nose. Her grandmother sat at the kitchen table, waiting for them, and Cynthia pursed her lips. ¡°Thank you, Sylvester,¡± she said. Sylvester nodded and finally let go, then swiftly exited to another room. Cynthia scowled at his back. Clearly, he didn¡¯t want to stick around to watch her get chewed out. ¡°Cynthia¡­¡± her grandmother began. ¡°I don¡¯t! Wanna!¡± Cynthia stomped her foot. Her grandmother sighed. ¡°When are you going to stop this nonsense? Pok¨¦mon breeding is your family¡¯s trade. Even if Sylvester enjoys it more, it was your parents'' business. It¡¯s only right that their daughter takes over. It¡¯s what they wanted for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Cynthia pouted. ¡°Back in the old days, girls weren¡¯t even allowed to run stuff! Why can¡¯t we just go back to that!¡± ¡°Oh, come on Cynthia.¡± Her grandmother stifled an amused smile. ¡°Your parents were trainers too, alongside being breeders. Don¡¯t you think learning about breeding would help you become a better trainer?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s soooooo boring!¡± Her grandmother shook her head. ¡°Cynthia¡­I don¡¯t disapprove of you becoming a trainer. But¡­I just don¡¯t want the same thing to happen to you as what happened to your parents. I¡¯d like you to know as much as you can about pok¨¦mon before you leave this town if that¡¯s what you truly want.¡± Cynthia glared at the floor, refusing to make eye contact. Well, when she put it like that. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what, Cynthia. Go and study with your cousin until dinner. I¡¯m going to ask him to give me a report later. If he says you were good, you can take the day off tomorrow.¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes sparkled and she perked up. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Only if he gives me a good report. If I hear you snuck out again, I¡¯ll make you study three days in a row.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Cynthia exclaimed. Before she had a chance to change her mind, Cynthia rushed out of the main room after Sylvester. Her grandmother shook her head as she went, a smile curling on her lips. Cynthia burst into Sylvester¡¯s bedroom, startling him from where he lay on the ground. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get studying!¡± she said, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°Watch out!¡± Sylvester yelled angrily, wrapping his arms protectively around something in front of him. A Togepi sat before him, staring at Cynthia curiously. ¡°You could¡¯ve broken his shell,¡± Sylvester murmured. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Cynthia closed the door gently and sat down beside them. ¡°I want a pok¨¦mon,¡± she said glumly. ¡°Any pok¨¦mon of yours would probably die in a week, let¡¯s be honest.¡± ¡°Would not!¡± Sylvester sat up and recalled his pok¨¦mon. ¡°So? What¡¯re you doing in here?¡± ¡°Grandma said if I study with you till dinner I get tomorrow off.¡± Sylvester smirked. ¡°Of course. I knew you¡¯d never ask to study with me without some strings attached.¡± ¡°Hey! You better watch out! I¡¯m gonna run the family business when I get older! I¡¯ll know way more than you!¡± Sylvester snorted. ¡°No way. I¡¯m taking over your family¡¯s business no matter what you want.¡± ¡°Wait, really?¡± Cynthia¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Then why does Grandma keep saying I have to.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be better if you ran it,¡± he said. ¡°But if you took over, it wouldn¡¯t exist in a week. I won¡¯t let your parents¡¯ hard work disappear just like that.¡± He¡¯d just insulted her, basically, but Cynthia didn¡¯t care. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head on them. ¡°Breeding is so boring though. I can¡¯t believe you have a pok¨¦mon and you didn¡¯t become a trainer.¡± Sylvester eyed her and smiled. ¡°Even if you could get a pok¨¦mon right now, do you know which one you¡¯d pick yet?¡± Sinnoh¡¯s starter program was run by a man called Professor Rowan, and though his laboratory was way down south in a town called Sandgem, representatives of his spread out across the region just before the start of every conference season to every city and town to distribute pok¨¦mon. The names Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup were known to every young boy and girl in Sinnoh who dreamed of being a trainer, and it would be unthinkable that anyone Cynthia¡¯s age hadn¡¯t given the question any thought, or even decided on their pick already. ¡°Hmmmmmmm, I still don¡¯t know,¡± Cynthia said, sticking her lower lip out. ¡°I hafta meet them first.¡± ¡°Sounds like a recipe for disaster. If you knew who you were going to pick, I could at least help you prepare the proper food for them.¡± ¡°All pok¨¦mon eat pok¨¦mon food.¡± ¡°Ahhh.¡± Sylvester¡¯s head fell into his palm. ¡°I feel bad for your future pok¨¦mon.¡± He glanced up at her. ¡°And by the way, there¡¯s nothing boring about breeding. It¡¯s interesting. Like, did you know that a pok¨¦mon egg has a small chance of appearing if you breed a Skitty and a Wailord? Crazy, right?¡± His eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°No way that¡¯s true,¡± Cynthia muttered. ¡°It is. You see, they¡¯re in the same, what¡¯s called an egg group, so despite their massive difference in size¡ª¡° ¡°Uuuuugh,¡± Cynthia collapsed back onto the floor, defeated by utter disinterest. ¡°The lesson has already begun,¡± Sylvester said, sounding like a teacher. Cynthia pulled herself up and slouched over. Determined to earn a good report, and she forced herself to keep her eyes open as he continued. ¡°For a simple example, Pidgey are docile. Starly are very collectivist. Spearow are fierce but can¡¯t fly long distances. All of these pok¨¦mon are slightly different, but they all belong to the Flying egg group. That means¡­¡± Although they were cousins, they really got along more like brother and sister. Cynthia had lived together with him under this roof for almost as long as she could remember. All four of their parents had been trainers, and when she was little, they¡¯d gone together with some others on a research expedition into Mount Coronet. None had returned. Soon after, their grandparents took both of them in. The lessons continued for several hours. At one point, they¡¯d gone outside to work with the Eevee that Sylvester was currently trying to breed. That at least was a bit more stimulating, and Cynthia couldn¡¯t help but enjoy feeding them, brushing their fur, and running around with them. Before she knew it, dinnertime had come, and she almost felt bad about leaving them behind to go inside. She insisted on helping Sylvester pour out their food before heading inside to wash her hands. It was definitely just because she wanted him to give as good of a report as possible to her grandmother. Definitely. Luckily, her efforts paid off, and Sylvester delivered a stellar report, making their grandmother very happy. Sylvester excused himself early to go tend to something else, and thankfully, her grandmother didn¡¯t quiz her on anything she¡¯d learned, because honestly, most of it had gone in one ear and out the other. Nevertheless, one year later, at age ten, Cynthia stood outside their house proudly, dressed in loose trainer gear, standard attire, her hands on her hips proudly. Empty pok¨¦balls lined her trainer belt, and the smile she wore was nearly as radiant as the sun above. ¡°Is there any chance I can get you to change your mind?¡± her grandmother said, standing behind her just outside the house. ¡°Nope!¡± The old woman smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡± Cynthia¡¯s whole body trembled where she stood, but she seemed to be adamant about not moving from where she was. ¡°The Professor¡¯s trainer will be here soon, calm down, Cynthia,¡± her grandmother drawled. ¡°If you need to use the ladies¡¯ room, you can.¡± ¡°I might miss them!¡± ¡°I highly doubt that.¡± She glanced around. ¡°I¡¯m surprised your cousin isn¡¯t here to see you off.¡± ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world,¡± a voice came from down the path. Sylvester walked up to Cynthia and put his hand on her head to still her, but she didn¡¯t. ¡°So, the day¡¯s finally come, then.¡± ¡°Mm-hm!¡± Cynthia said, her eyes never leaving the path back toward the town center where she expected Rowan¡¯s representative to come from. ¡°Ahem,¡± Sylvester cleared his throat. Taking the hint, Cynthia glanced his way. ¡°I wanted to give you something before you left. But, if you don¡¯t want it, that¡¯s fine I guess.¡± ¡°What what what what what what what?¡± Cynthia chittered, bouncing up and down like she was on a sugar high. Sylvester reached around and unhooked a pok¨¦ball from his belt. ¡°More than anyone else, I know just how unreliable you can be when it comes to caring for pok¨¦mon. I happen to have a pok¨¦mon here that eats dirt and rocks. I think it¡¯d be the perfect starter pok¨¦mon for you.¡± Cynthia scowled at him. ¡°Who would want a lame pok¨¦mon like that?¡± But when Sylvester tossed the pok¨¦ball at her, she snatched it out of the air and stared at it like it was gold. She glanced back up at him, and he nodded. Taking a deep breath, she thumbed the release and expelled the pok¨¦mon onto the ground between them. The energy warbled on the ground before coalescing into a creature nearly half Cynthia¡¯s size, with deep grayish-blue skin and a mouth lined with fangs that could easily take a bite out of a car. Cynthia¡¯s jaw dropped and their grandmother¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Like I said. It eats dirt and rocks. Surely even you can¡¯t find a way to mess that up.¡± Sylvester swiped a finger across his nose. ¡°A Gible!¡± Cynthia exclaimed, instantly crouching down. ¡°Sylvester! How in the world did you¡­?¡± Their grandmother ambled closer, clearly torn between getting her grandchildren away from the creature and not wanting to get any closer herself. ¡°Gible live in Mount Coronet, and we happen to live right next to Mount Coronet,¡± Sylvester said nonchalantly. ¡°I can¡¯t have my little cousin thinking I¡¯m not using my trainer license for anything just because I didn¡¯t challenge the gym circuit.¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes beamed with excitement and disbelief. ¡°I-Is he really for me?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s a dragon, so really it¡¯s up to him.¡± Cynthia looked back down at Gible, and the land shark¡¯s beady eyes stared back up at her. Saliva dripped from its mouth and a low growl rumbled out from its throat. But Cynthia wasn¡¯t intimidated in the slightest. She never broke eye contact. She was far too dazzled at the prospect of finally getting her first pok¨¦mon to feel any such nonsense as fear. Finally, Gible barked in approval and padded closer to her on its stubby legs. Cynthia giggled and wrapped her arms around it. ¡°Thank you so much, Sylvester! I¡¯ll never forget about this!¡± Bolting to her feet, she dashed forward and spun around. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s go!¡± Gible growled and stomped after her. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t even want to see the other starters?¡± Sylvester asked. Once Gible caught up, Cynthia continued to bound ahead. ¡°No need!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to visit home, even if there isn¡¯t a gym here!¡± Her grandmother called after her. However this time, Cynthia didn¡¯t respond. It wasn¡¯t long before she and Gible had run completely out of sight. ¡°Do you think she heard me?¡± their grandmother sighed. ¡°Probably not,¡± Sylvester replied. She shook her head and turned back to the house. ¡°Does that girl even know where she¡¯s going first?¡± ¡°Well, the closest gym is in Oreburgh. But knowing her, she probably wouldn¡¯t want to dip into a cave first thing on her journey, so she¡¯ll probably head east toward Veilstone or Solaceon.¡± As his grandmother opened the door, she turned back to eye Sylvester. ¡°That¡¯s some pok¨¦mon you¡¯ve started her off with.¡± Faith glimmered in Sylvester¡¯s eyes. ¡°She can handle it.¡± His grandmother¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she rapped him softly on the stomach. ¡°I was talking about you. I know breeders double your age who still aren¡¯t comfortable breeding dragons. And to think you did it all behind my back too.¡± Sylvester smirked and shrugged, following her inside. ¡°I guess I have you to thank for the great genes, then.¡± She grunted in deadpan amusement.
Sometime later ¡°Congratulations on your victory! You¡¯ve earned this¡ªthe Cobble Badge!¡± The male gym leader, a tall and rugged man named Tyson, handed her a velvet tray with a small piece of metal on top, which looked tiny in his giant hand. Cynthia¡¯s eyes glimmered as she accepted the badge, a metallic diamond etched in the shape of a cobblestone tile. ¡°That was a very impressive match,¡± Tyson said. ¡°No doubt some will say your dragon-type easily carried you to an inevitable victory, but it¡¯s clear just how strong the bond is between you. Even if they had your Gabite, I doubt there are very many trainers out there who could¡¯ve replicated your results.¡± Gabite stomped up behind her and growled. Bruises covered his skin and he was breathing heavily, but he hadn¡¯t fallen. Cynthia glanced back at him and smiled proudly. She hadn¡¯t exactly intended on earning her first gym badge today, since she still only had one pok¨¦mon against the gym leader¡¯s three, but Gible had evolved recently, so she figured she¡¯d try him out. Although Tyson¡¯s Machop and Meditite had proved worthy opponents, Gabite eventually overcame both of them. It was against Tyson¡¯s ace, his Riolu, that Gabite spent the most time. Already damaged and winded from his previous two fights, he¡¯d been forced to play more defensively and take a more cerebral approach. And in the end, he¡¯d defeated the deceptively strong Aura pok¨¦mon. But seeing Riolu dance and weave through Gabite¡¯s many harrowing attacks¡­ Cynthia was beginning to think she knew who she wanted to add to her roster next. ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Cynthia bowed. She herself was covered in sweat and she could feel her hair clinging to her temples. Adrenaline still coursed through her veins, and she found herself shaking even though the battle had concluded several minutes prior. Despite all the mischief she¡¯d gotten into back home, her journey was giving her a new appreciation for showers and a warm bed. She hadn¡¯t even realized how dirty she felt after finally arriving at Veilstone until she¡¯d cleaned herself for the first time in weeks. She was eager to get back to the pok¨¦mon center. It was the perfect time-killer while Gabite healed back to full health. Recalling Gabite, she waved goodbye to the gym leader and departed the gym. Even though she¡¯d already spent several days here, the towering sight of all the buildings in Veilstone still made her stomach turn. Before this, Celestic was all she¡¯d known, with its stout houses and huts. Veilstone was an obtrusive reminder that she had seen next to nothing of the world yet. ¡°Hello, Cynthia.¡± Cynthia stopped in her tracks and turned around. A woman who seemed nearly as tall as the skyscrapers around her paced toward Cynthia slowly. She wore a stark white sundress and a wide-brimmed hat, and her face looked like it was carved from marble. Pitch-black hair tumbled down her back like a silent waterfall. Cynthia simply stared up in disbelief as she approached. Obviously, she wasn¡¯t as tall as the buildings, but she was certainly tall. She was the tallest woman Cynthia had ever seen. And her eyes seemed to catch and hold Cynthia in place. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± Cynthia eventually asked. The woman¡¯s thin smile lengthened. ¡°I was watching your battle against the gym leader. That was very impressive.¡± Cynthia felt her face heating up and she looked away. ¡°Thanks,¡± she mumbled. ¡°My name is Zelda Leora. I¡¯d like us to become friends. What do you think of that, Cynthia?¡± ¡°Umm, I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Zelda smiled and raised her arm. She held a small handled box between her fingers. ¡°I have some sweets here that I couldn¡¯t possibly finish myself. Do you think you could help me, Cynthia?¡± ¡°O-Ok!¡±
Alola Region, present day Spearow chirped, then flew away, up into the blazing blue skies. Cynthia¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she turned on her heel, before stepping forward through a pair of glass doors that slid open for her. Immediately, the air conditioning blew the fatigue from her body, and the temperature plummeted to comfortable levels as she walked inside. The sandstone fountains and emerald lily pads adorned with pink lotuses that filled the lofty lobby relaxed her instantly, and her heartbeat was surprisingly slow. Nevertheless, she moved briskly through the open chamber to the halls beyond. ¡°Lady Cynthia! Lady Leora has been expecting you. She awaits¡ª¡° ¡°I know,¡± Cynthia growled, sweeping past the uniformed attendant. Her heels clicked against the marble floor of the Hano Grand Resort. Ignoring Zelda¡¯s servants, she stalked through the grandiose halls of the resort¡¯s most private residence until she arrived at the elevator that would take her up to the penthouse. One minute later, the doors to the elevator slid open, and Cynthia stepped onto the top floor of the resort. As expected, Zelda was waiting for her at their usual table in the very center of the room. She was staring out at the beach beyond nursing some dark drink. With her profile facing Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how beautiful she was. Zelda turned at Cynthia¡¯s arrival and smiled. ¡°My, dear.¡± She put her glass down. ¡°It¡¯s been too long.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Cynthia muttered, pulling her chair out and taking her seat. The table was barren save for Zelda¡¯s drink. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d even see you again. It isn¡¯t like you to ignore my messages.¡± Her bottom lip stuck out in a slight pout, though on Zelda¡¯s face, it made her look endearing. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± She had yet to meet Zelda¡¯s gaze. ¡°Well, tell Miss Leora about it all, then. You know I¡¯m all ears. I¡¯m not surprised this fiasco with AZ and Guardians had you so¡­preoccupied. There were a number of elements that shocked even me.¡± Now Cynthia glanced up to meet Zelda¡¯s gaze. Her eyes looked just as they always did, and she seemed genuinely interested in sharing Cynthia¡¯s mental burden. ¡°Is that why you asked me to pull Paragon out of Rota?¡± Zelda nodded innocently. ¡°Oh, yes. That battle between Aaron Albrecht and AZ should have stayed between them. I could tell that Paragon wouldn¡¯t be ready to contend with that level of power.¡± Cynthia studied her face, but she wore her perfection like a mask. ¡°I tried to impress that upon them.¡± Zelda nodded sympathetically. ¡°I knew you would. Though truthfully, I expected you to be able to rein them in. You put them all in terrible danger by allowing them to mutiny.¡± Cynthia bit her lip. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°And then when the attack began, you joined them¡­ That was an interesting choice.¡± Cynthia inhaled slowly, then exhaled. ¡°There was no pulling out at that point. The best I could do was help the Guardians against AZ and his forces.¡± ¡°Do you think that was the right decision?¡± Cynthia¡¯s eyes met Zelda¡¯s. ¡°We saved countless Guardian lives. If we hadn¡¯t been there, it wouldn¡¯t have just been Rota that was destroyed. Hundreds of Guardians would be dead along with it.¡± Zelda glanced away. ¡°I see.¡± She nodded and smiled. ¡°As always, your intentions are pure and heroic. I¡¯ve always loved that about you, Cynthia.¡± Cynthia¡¯s heart throbbed, and her fingers tightened around the armrests on her chair. ¡°Since we¡¯re on the topic, I¡¯d like to ask something of you.¡± Zelda¡¯s eyes heightened and she drummed her fingertips together, smiling. ¡°Ooh, I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ve ever asked me for anything. I¡¯m intrigued!¡± Despite how cool it was inside, Cynthia could feel a film of sweat coalescing on her forehead. ¡°I¡¯d like to take Paragon in my own direction, henceforth.¡± Zelda frowned but let her continue. ¡°Up until now, you¡¯ve steered Paragon by providing the intelligence for certain assignments. This experience with Sir Aaron and AZ has been¡­rather eye-opening. I¡¯ve come to see just how dangerous the true powers in this world are¡­¡± Cynthia exhaled and locked eyes with Zelda, who appeared to be listening attentively. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you learned the location of the Electric Plate a few months ago¡­but after what just happened, I can¡¯t, in good faith, continue to operate with your guidance. I think you can understand.¡± Zelda didn¡¯t move for a while. Then, she tilted her head. ¡°Hm. This is¡­no, I suppose this isn¡¯t unexpected at all.¡± She tipped her head back and drained the rest of her drink down her throat, then placed her glass back on the table. ¡°To think you don¡¯t trust me, after all this time¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°That island was worth a small fortune, and I gifted it to you for free.¡± ¡°Golden handcuffs, if its key is my unquestioning obedience. You can have it back if you want.¡± Zelda smiled and shook her head. ¡°Oh, no, I wouldn¡¯t do that. It was a gift.¡± Cynthia rubbed her fingers. ¡°You told Director Rhys not to interfere in Rota either, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s why Interpol wasn¡¯t there to help until after the dust cleared.¡± Zelda turned her body toward Cynthia. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m your enemy, Cynthia? Why do you think I told you to pull out of Rota? ¡°Actually, I was wondering why you didn¡¯t tell me why?¡± Cynthia said. ¡°All of Paragon was working on the AZ assignment. Don¡¯t you think it would¡¯ve been prudent to tell us about the true power of the Plates beforehand? Or even back when you first provided the intel for the Electric Plate? Clearly, you know how important they are.¡± Cynthia raised her brows. ¡°You¡¯ve known.¡± Zelda sighed, a wistful smile gracing her doll-like face. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other a long time, Cynthia. So I¡¯m sure you have more to say. Come, then. What else is there?¡± ¡°Have we known each other a long time?¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°How old are you, Zelda?¡± Zelda grinned and laughed. She fanned herself with her hand. ¡°Whew! Come now, Cynthia, that¡¯s no question to ask a woman.¡± She met Cynthia¡¯s gaze, and her eyes gleamed like jagged jewels. ¡°After I learned a bit more about the Plates, it didn¡¯t take me long to connect the dots,¡± Cynthia continued. Her gaze bore into Zelda. ¡°The Five Founders. The Paragon War. Queenpin. I never heard about any of that from you. Taking everything together, I think I have more than enough reasons to distance myself now.¡± Amusement curled into amazement on Zelda¡¯s face. ¡°Impressive,¡± she muttered. Cynthia raised three fingers. ¡°The Fighting Plate¡­the Bug Plate¡­the Ice Plate. Those are the ones I¡¯ve figured out for now. But I assume you bear more.¡± The grin slowly melted off Zelda¡¯s face. ¡°How did you learn that?¡± she said icily. Cynthia shrugged, never breaking eye contact. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But that¡¯s all I came here to say. From now on, Paragon will be led by us, and us alone.¡± Zelda¡¯s face was stoic. Cynthia hadn¡¯t stood yet, and a silence descended between them. Eventually, Zelda spoke. ¡°All these years, I¡¯ve considered you a friend, Cynthia. A true friend. Did you ever see me the same way?¡± The question took Cynthia slightly by surprise. Have I ever thought of her as a friend? Is she really asking that after all this time? Miss Leora, who she¡¯d known since she was ten years old. Who showered her with sweets every time they met. Who lent an ear to all her troubles. Who laid the groundwork for her dream. Isn¡¯t the answer obvious? Cynthia pursed her lips. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°Since the very first day we met, I¡¯ve always feared you.¡± Again, Zelda didn¡¯t react. She looked on Cynthia sympathetically, her eyebrows raised. Eventually, she raised a hand to her mouth. ¡°Goodness. I had no idea. You should have told me, Cynthia. That was never my intention.¡± Cynthia looked at her flatly. ¡°That¡¯s difficult to believe coming from a Platebearer.¡± Zelda¡¯s eyes glazed over, her substitute for an eye roll. She drummed her fingers on the table, and her nails clattered noisily. ¡°It sounds like this tea party is over. Anything else to say to Miss Leora?¡± Cynthia inhaled slowly. Well, I think I know what comes next. The rest is up to you all. She sat up in her chair and exhaled. ¡°When they come for you, and they will, can you tell them ¡®thank you¡¯ on my behalf?¡± Blood flooded the vessels in Zelda¡¯s eyes and her face twisted into a grotesque sneer. Something impossibly heavy hit Cynthia, and the next thing she knew, she found herself against the wall. Darkness limned her vision, and a trail of red led from what must have been her chair to where she now sat. Her eyes flickered involuntarily and she coughed, liquid spraying out. What hit me? Through the muted veil of her sight, Cynthia could see Zelda pacing around the table toward her. Bright red blood soaked her white dress and had splashed up across her face. Her long black hair dragged behind her as she walked along the red carpet. Cynthia pawed at her own body. What hit me? She coughed again, but something didn¡¯t feel right. She urged her neck down so she could see her torso. It was getting so dark. But, she was able to move enough to see the gaping hole in her stomach. Her guts were a grisly mess, burst apart like water balloons and spilling into her lap. That explained why she hadn¡¯t taken a breath yet. She no longer had lungs to fill. What hit me? ¡°Show some gratitude. It¡¯s not often I dispose of nuisances personally.¡± Zelda¡¯s voice echoed into her consciousness, but she could no longer perceive it. Her eyes glazed over. Twenty-one long years it¡¯d been. But now, she was finally out of that woman¡¯s clutches. In the end, it was her own blood she¡¯d needed to taste in order to finally arrive at the truth. It was so laughable she wanted to cry. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right! Your family was into breeding, weren¡¯t they? How fitting! You¡¯ve bred me a pen full of little piggies!¡± She clapped her hands gleefully. What hit me? The question echoed in Cynthia¡¯s mind but remained unanswered. As of now, its only purpose was to keep her tethered to her rapidly fading life. Zelda knelt in front of her, but she could no longer see. I¡¯m sorry, Sylvester.
Zelda¡¯s eyes narrowed, blood dripping from her chin. She stood and glanced around at the mess around her. ¡°Ahh, how did I let her get me worked up like that?¡± Wrinkling her nose, she shook her hands off and wiped them on the clean parts of her dress. She raised her hand, and two neon blue pok¨¦balls trimmed in gold warbled into existence within. She tossed them both onto the ground. A plump Musharna coalesced into the air. Noxious black smoke pumped into the room from the hole on its head, and its skin was gray and withered, like rotten fruit. Beside it, a Porygon-Z flashed into existence. Only the dull outline of its body could be seen, though even that sparked and flickered violently. It glitched throughout the room as if fighting to stay in existence. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time since she¡¯s already dead. Get to work. I want to know everything.¡± Remnants of the Great War Arc ¡ª [END]
First, I wanted to quickly note that it¡¯s a shame Legends: Z-A didn¡¯t come out in time for this arc. I look forward to when that game comes out and it ends up making the lore of this arc obsolete in new and exciting ways. Of course, I¡¯m half kidding since most of AZ¡¯s backstory was totally rewritten. And that being said, I hope no one thinks I think my version is better than the original or anything. I¡¯m really just using his character for my own purposes since he was always fascinating to me. Though it is too bad I won¡¯t get to include anything cool they might introduce in that game in this AZ-centric arc. So I should say at the outset that basically none of this arc was planned or outlined in any way. I had a short list of certain plot points I knew I wanted to include in this arc, but everything else was made up as I went along. Unfortunately, I think that may have been obvious at certain points throughout the arc. In my head, this arc was going to be 20-25 chapters long, with 30 at the most. The fact that it reached 43 isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing, I think. About half of that is just the events of a single day: the big battle against AZ¡¯s forces. That part I don¡¯t think is necessarily longer than it needed to be. Perhaps there was a bit I could¡¯ve shaved, but I¡¯m mostly satisfied with how it turned out, again, especially because none of it was really mapped out beforehand. I do think, however, I could¡¯ve trimmed down the first half of the arc. Two chapters that stick out are Chapter 14: Fairy Forest and Chapter 18: Warpath. Those two almost certainly didn¡¯t need to take up a whole chapter, but I got a bit self-indulgent. That being said, I don¡¯t think self-indulgence is necessarily a bad thing. It¡¯s probably a big reason why I was able to update weekly on a pretty consistent basis. However, that is something I¡¯d like to rein in a bit for the future. Aside from the biggest issue with the story so far, which I¡¯ll address later, I have a few other points to hit, in no particular order. First, I think the conflict between AZ and Aaron could have been fleshed out more clearly. I think the catalyst for the breakdown in their relationship was rather weak, and though I tried to patch it up as I went along, I do think it was sloppy overall. That was one of those things that I knew I wanted to have happen, but didn¡¯t plan in advance, so I definitely should¡¯ve pondered on that a bit more, to say the least. Anabel losing her arm was another scenario that could have been done better. You may be catching onto a theme here¡ª that was something I knew I wanted to have happen, but her sudden arrival during that battle was pretty awkward, and I think it may have made her injury a bit comical. Also, her mending the newspaper left behind in AZ¡¯s cell in order to deduce that Albrecht aka Sir Aaron was the motive behind AZ¡¯s escape was also done poorly, in my opinion. It¡¯s kind of a convoluted series of deductions from start to finish when you really think about it and certainly should have been tidied up. The third issue is sort of a general point about what I said earlier about just having a list of plot points that I wanted to have happen. Because that list was my starting point, the connective tissue between said plot points was rather flimsy, and events sort of just tumbled into each other with little rhyme or reason. The most egregious example I can think of is Ash just happening to discover AZ after meeting Albrecht. I knew I wanted Ash and AZ to have a sort of ¡°first encounter¡± that Ash would lose, and I knew I wanted Ash to attend some sort of high-end party (kind of already crossed that off the list with Chapter 2 though lol). Beginning there, I decided to have Ash and Cynthia meet with Albrecht and intentionally located the party in Saffron City so it would place Ash close(ish) to Rota. Given the other plot points I had in my head, I figured his encounter with AZ would have to happen soon after the party, but I never ended up coming up with a better way for them to meet, so Ash just sort of awkwardly ended up ¡°sensing¡± him in the end, and then that led into that. For the next arc, I would like to tighten things up a little more so that all the plot points logically flow into one another. Oh yeah. I¡¯m not thrilled with the nicknames for Anabel¡¯s Espeon or Latias. I like the other ones, but ¡°Magic¡± and ¡°Sakura¡± are very uncreative, I feel lol. So the elephant in the room is that I have unintentionally made Cynthia pretty unlikeable. From the start, it was probably a bad idea to have her basically tell the main character that his big win wasn¡¯t really a win and that actually she herself had gone humiliatingly easy on him. There was a better way, I¡¯m sure, to let Ash know that the peak he¡¯d just reached wasn¡¯t actually the top, without destroying her image in the eyes of the readers. Compounded on that were her actions throughout the arc, which I really should have realized could only have frustrated the reader, and they kept on happening again and again :( Most egregious has to be her out-of-nowhere command that Paragon return to Paragon Island without actually explaining why. That was another thing that I knew I wanted to have happen but did not come up with a good enough reason for why it should have. Her reasons for withholding certain information seemed comically nonexistent at times, up until the end, and even if she had her ¡°reasons,¡± in the end, I should have considered the readers¡¯ perspective more when it came to her. At this point, what¡¯s done is done, but I may try to salvage and sanitize her image as best I can. You have been warned :P And so, that¡¯s that! This retrospective was mainly for my sake so I don¡¯t really expect that anyone read all that. Either way, thanks for the continued support, and I¡¯ll see you next week for the first chapter of the Hisui Incursion Arc! One of the reasons I¡¯m writing this fic is so that I could mix together all the coolest (in my opinion) aspects of Pok¨¦mon, and the Legends: Arceus game certainly introduced several things that I¡¯m excited to explore in this fic!
Hisui Incursion [1] Just a refresher on the ages. Also, even though Riley isn¡¯t currently in possession of any of his pok¨¦mon, his lineup has been added to my profile on FFN. Ash : 19 Sabrina : 18 Riley : 23
PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [1] Chapter 53 : Journey to the Past
Hisui Region - Prelude Beach This is Hisui¡­? Although he didn¡¯t know much about it, it was a name Ash had heard before. But¡­Hisui doesn¡¯t exist anymore. At least, it hasn¡¯t for centuries¡­ He didn¡¯t know when exactly Hisui became Sinnoh, but it wasn¡¯t recently. And the man¡¯s reaction to seeing Pikachu all but confirmed it. They were in the past. Hundreds of years before the present, where the violence of the Age of Carnage still lingered and the scars of the Great War were still fresh and raw. Ash looked up. The mountain that towered above them, with its peak cloaked in dark clouds, was Mount Coronet. Given the snow he¡¯d seen on the other side of the mountain while he was falling, this seemed to be what would later become southern Sinnoh. Ash, Sabrina, and Riley¡¯s eyes all flicked between each other, none of them able to formulate a verbal reaction. Ash opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He swallowed, his throat dry. What were they supposed to do? Tell him they were from the future? The man had smiled at his declaration, but upon seeing their reaction, it began ebbing away. ¡°I suppose this was not your intended destination, then. I see.¡± He shifted awkwardly, glancing out at the beach behind them. ¡°The stories I¡¯ve heard of the Guardians of Rota make you all out to be seasoned heroes, unfettered by the ails of the common man. Forgive me for saying so, but seeing you all disoriented is a first for me.¡± He smiled sympathetically. It took Ash a second to understand. Ah. He thinks all three of us are Guardians. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we couldn¡¯t live up to your expectations,¡± Riley said, cracking a stoic smile. He looked back at Ash and Sabrina, and his eyes alone communicated his message. Let¡¯s go along with it for now. ¡°Ah, of course, I¡¯m only joking. You seem to be in quite the conundrum, good Sirs.¡± He glanced at Sabrina, unsure if the address applied to her, but when she didn¡¯t react, he continued. ¡°This Laventon will help you in any way that he can,¡± he declared, placing a proud hand on his chest. ¡°Laventon,¡± Riley said. ¡°Thank you for your offer. I am Riley. This is Ash and Sabrina.¡± He motioned to them. ¡°Though it¡¯s a shame it happened under such unfortunate circumstances, I¡¯ll say it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all the same!¡± Laventon said. ¡°Now, we were just on our way back home. Why don¡¯t you come with us and we can get you into some dry clothes, to begin with?¡± Just as he said it, Riley shivered where he stood, water dripping from his spiky hair, and Sabrina turned her head and sneezed. ¡°Did you say ¡®we¡¯?¡± Ash asked. ¡°There you are, Professor!¡± a voice came from behind him. ¡°Please don¡¯t run off by yourself!¡± Two figures wrapped in clothes of thick dark fabric jogged up from behind him. They were short and young, likely not much older than Ash when he first began his journey at age ten, by the look of it. One was a boy with a red cap and a resolute expression. The other was a girl with a white bandanna, whose black hair swung in a ponytail behind her as she ran. Both wore crimson scarves. Immediately, they noticed Ash and the others, and Pikachu peeking his nose out from atop Ash¡¯s shoulder. Their eyes instantly flared aggressively. ¡°Get away from the professor!¡± the boy shouted, tearing a pok¨¦ball off his belt. ¡°Wait, Rei!¡± Laventon cried. Riley took a step back, clearly not wanting to unleash his Aura against children. Sabrina didn¡¯t even bother with the courtesy, simply staring at them nonchalantly and remaining motionless as they charged her. The boy¡ªRei¡¯s¡ªpok¨¦ball snapped open and a quadruped red ok¨¦mon tumbled out, already bounding across the grass toward them the moment it appeared. It was canine in appearance and the white mane around its head looked stiff, almost stony. Ash frowned. He recognized the pok¨¦mon, but also didn¡¯t. ¡°Growlithe?¡± he said incredulously. As the Growlithe neared, it opened its mouth, and fire burned within. Pikachu leaped from Ash¡¯s shoulder, and his tail stiffened behind him. Without waiting for a command, he swung his tail around, batting the Growlithe across its face and sending it flying back. It landed in front of Rei with a pained yip, and the young boy recoiled at how easily it¡¯d been dealt with. He frowned painfully, seemingly torn between worrying about his partner or the creature that had beaten it. He crouched down and laid on hand on his partner¡¯s forehead, then glared over at Pikachu. Pikachu prowled between him and Ash, electricity sparking dangerously on his cheeks. ¡°Stop this right now!¡± Laventon shouted, running in front of Rei. ¡°Who are these people, Professor?¡± the girl asked, walking up beside him as she eyed the newcomers suspiciously. She clutched a pok¨¦ball in her hand as well, yet it seemed she had a bit more restraint than her friend, albeit barely. As Laventon caught his breath, he glanced warily behind him at Pikachu. Ash noticed his concern and motioned for Pikachu to stand down. The mouse obliged, scurrying back up Ash¡¯s shoulder, though his eyes never left Laventon or the two children. ¡°Put away your pok¨¦mon, boy,¡± Laventon said. ¡°These folk are in enough trouble without you attacking them out of the blue.¡± ¡°But that pok¨¦mon¡ª!¡± Rei started. ¡°Is far stronger than ours, as I¡¯m sure you can plainly see,¡± Laventon finished. ¡°If they wanted me dead, I¡¯d already be.¡± Pikachu¡¯s nose flared with pride and Ash had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He was such a sucker for praise. Rei scowled but recalled the Growlithe-looking creature. As he stood up, Ash could see the girl gripping her pok¨¦ball tightly, as if resisting the urge to release whatever was inside. Riley relaxed and Laventon turned back around. ¡°I apologize for that. I have some¡­precocious assistants.¡± He smiled softly as he glanced over at Rei. With the conflict defused, Ash cracked his own smile. ¡°Nah, no worries about that. I think we¡¯re all just a little on edge. Let¡¯s start over. My name¡¯s Ash, that¡¯s Sabrina, and this is Pikachu. He¡¯s a total softie once you get to know him!¡± Pikachu protested, but Ash twitched his shoulder, telling him to knock it off. Rei and the girl both seemed unconvinced, but they seemed to lower their guard ever so slightly. ¡°I¡¯m Akari,¡± the girl said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened to you all, but I¡¯m sorry if we made things worse.¡± She bowed apologetically. ¡°Not at all,¡± Riley said. ¡°My name is Riley. And¡­we¡¯re Guardians. We truly mean you no harm.¡± ¡°Guardians?¡± Rei perked up. He glanced at Riley, then at Ash and Sabrina. Shame seemed to bubble up on his face as he turned an embarrassed red. ¡°Sorry about that. It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°These two are quite overprotective of me,¡± Laventon explained. ¡°So much so that it can impede my work at times. But, they both have good hearts. I do hope we can all get along.¡± Akari padded closer to the professor. ¡°So what happened?¡± she asked, eyeing their soaked bodies with concern. ¡°Actually, we¡¯re trying to figure that out ourselves,¡± Riley said, shaking some water off of his clothes. He glanced back at his two companions, wondering what, or how much he should say. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Ash stepped forward. ¡°Did Sir Aaron ever come here to Hisui?¡± It was probably safe to ask about that. But mentioning the Plates¡­ He wanted to be cautious about that. Back when he¡¯d spoken to World Champion Albrecht in Saffron City, before meeting AZ, he¡¯d impressed upon Ash the risk of sharing the existence of the Plates with others. These three seemed harmless enough, but this was an unfamiliar land, and an unfamiliar time. He didn¡¯t intend to stay here, or now, for long, but until they could figure out what went wrong, he¡¯d play it safe. Rei and Akari looked at each other in confusion. ¡°Sir Aaron?¡± Akari said. ¡°They came here looking for Sir Aaron?¡± Rei said. Riley¡¯s brows furrowed involuntarily as he awaited their answer, clearly interested. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I think I¡¯m a bit confused now,¡± Laventon said. ¡°The ¡®King Aaron¡¯ you asked about earlier¡­ I hadn¡¯t realized you were asking about the great hero. After all, he¡¯s been dead for nearly five hundred years now, has he not? Unless you Guardians know something we don¡¯t?¡± Ash couldn¡¯t stop his eyes from widening. ¡°Five hundred years,¡± he breathed. He glanced over at Riley, whose eyes had frozen. It looked like he was reliving the pain of Sir Aaron¡¯s death all over again, though trying to hide it as best as possible. But five hundred years¡­ That meant they¡¯d gone back about two thousand five hundred years¡­ Ash couldn¡¯t help but swallow. He¡¯d thought retrieving Sir Aaron¡¯s Plates would¡¯ve been a relatively simple endeavor. This morning, he¡¯d fully expected they¡¯d be back at Rosen¡¯s gym for dinner later tonight. But now¡­ If Sir Aaron was already dead, then how in the world were they supposed to find his Plates? And how in the world were they supposed to return home? ¡°R-Right,¡± Sabrina stammered, realizing that Riley and Ash were both paralyzed by shock. ¡°Of course we know that. We were just¡­¡± She glanced at the other two and Ash met her gaze. Can we tell them? she asked telepathically. Ash shivered upon hearing her unexpected voice in his head, but luckily he could play it off as being soaked from head to toe. It¡¯s fine if we keep it vague, I think, Ash thought back. They don¡¯t seem to know much about the Guardians anyway. Sabrina swallowed. ¡°We¡¯re actually looking for¡­something. Something Sir Aaron may have left behind.¡± She looked back at Ash, and he gave an inconspicuous but approving nod. ¡°What?! That¡¯s so cool!¡± Rei exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ll help you guys look!¡± ¡°Rei,¡± Akari scolded. ¡°What about the professor?¡± Rei wheeled around. ¡°Oh, ha ha. Uh¡­right.¡± He blushed and cleared his throat. ¡°Not to worry, Professor Laventon. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Laventon chuckled sarcastically. ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± He eyed the other three. ¡°So, if you¡¯re Guardians, did you fly here on pok¨¦mon, then?¡± His eyes trailed down to their waists, where not a single pok¨¦ball was clipped. Ash could feel himself begin to sweat. They hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, yet for some reason he felt horribly guilty about the circumstances of their arrival. They were from twenty five hundred years in the future! They were not supposed to be here! ¡°Or not,¡± Laventon murmured, casting a suspicious look at them. Akari and Rei both seemed to catch his concern, because they seemed to steel themselves and move protectively toward the professor. Sabrina and Ash locked eyes but neither could conjure up a convincing explanation. The story that they were Guardians who came to Hisui intentionally in search of Sir Aaron¡¯s relics didn¡¯t mesh well with an amnesia explanation. Ash¡¯s heart hammered in his chest, but just as he thought he¡¯d have to give in and tell the truth, Laventon frowned and crossed his arms. ¡°I see¡­ Then perhaps I wasn¡¯t seeing things.¡± ¡°Professor?¡± Akari said. Sabrina looked over at him hopefully. Laventon turned slowly. ¡°Apologies for running off like that, children. But it was because I saw something that can only be described of as extraordinary.¡± He pointed up at the dark Mount Coronet. ¡°I saw those three fall from that.¡± Ash squinted up at the stormy clouds obscuring the peak. They were drifting across the sky slowly, but now, there was a break in the fog. Ash¡¯s eyes widened. The skies above the peak appeared shattered, and in the void, a blinding light glimmered down from on high, burning through the darkness of the clouds. The rift in reality seemed to flicker, casting ethereal light on the summit below it, and with the clouds no longer hiding it, a low thundering seemed to rumble out from on high. ¡°What in the world is that?¡± Riley breathed. He¡¯d been despondent just a moment ago, but now, that spatial rift appeared to have him in a trance. ¡°We¡¯ve been asking ourselves the same question ever since it appeared,¡± Laventon responded. ¡°And when was that?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Several months ago,¡± Rei replied. ¡°But the freaking Survey Corps won¡¯t let us go anywhere near it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like they ever let us near the Coronet Highlands before, though,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°I thought I was seeing things when I looked up and saw three tiny forms tumbling out of that rift,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Surely my eyes are playing tricks on me, and those are just meteorites, I thought. But no matter how many times I blinked, you were still there, and after a short while, I could make out your limbs! And then, just before you hit the sea, a mysterious green light surrounded you! I¡¯ve never seen anything like it! Before I knew it, my legs had carried me to this beach in a desperate attempt to witness the anomaly.¡± Ash, Sabrina, and Riley all listened intently. ¡°This is why we stick to you like honey, Professor,¡± Akari said, shaking her head. The three ¡®Guardians¡¯ all looked at each other. Did that rift somehow cause them to end up in Hisui? And more importantly, was that their ticket out? ¡°Do you know anything about that rift?¡± Laventon asked. ¡°Perhaps the Guardians cast some sort of spell, or¡­?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t,¡± Ash said flatly. ¡°We¡¯re just as in the dark as you, unfortunately.¡± Laventon frowned. ¡°Hm. I figured that to be the case given how lost you all seemed. Well, it was worth asking.¡± He shook his head and clapped. ¡°Now! Let¡¯s return home. We can continue to chat on the way, but I¡¯m getting cold just looking at you.¡± He turned his back on them all too quickly and started his stroll away from the beach from whence he came, earning a pair of scowls from Rei and Akari at his back because of it. They eyed the others with suspicion, but soon dropped their guard. Since the professor had decided to take them in, they knew there was little they could do to change his mind. Akari sighed. ¡°C¡¯mon. She motioned them to follow. ¡°It¡¯s not too far.¡± Though the walk back was cold as they trudged across hills of dark grass, made even colder by the callous coastal winds, it was nice to have an objective to put their minds to. In this unfamiliar place, in this unfamiliar time, they were able to turn their anxious minds off and bask in the woody scents that drifted from the trees beside them. Frost seemed to waft down from the towering Mount Coronet, instilling the air with an icy tinge, yet it was somehow relaxing, soothing their inflamed psyches. ¡°So? What is it you guys are looking for?¡± Rei asked excitedly, trotting up beside them like he was one of them. ¡°How¡¯d you end up falling out of that hole in the sky?¡± ¡°Er, it¡¯s difficult to explain to a non-Guardian,¡± Ash said. Pikachu snickered on his shoulder and Rei glanced up at him curiously. Despite the fact that he¡¯d considered Pikachu an enemy just a short while ago, he didn¡¯t shy away from the chance to study the golden mouse up close. ¡°Oh, yeah, I bet,¡± he said. ¡°So how¡¯d you tame this little guy so well anyway? He kinda acts like a pet, but he¡¯s so strong! What was it called again?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Pikachu,¡± Ash explained. ¡°Me and him have known each other since I was ten. That¡¯s my best buddy right there.¡± Pikachu grinned and nuzzled Ash¡¯s neck. ¡°Aw, yeah! Spoken like a true Guardian! Man, this is awesome!¡± Unlike Ash, Sabrina, Riley, and even Akari and Laventon, Rei was full of energy, and all of his prior trepidation seemed to have evaporated. ¡°Why don¡¯t you leave them alone, Rei,¡± Akari said, walking behind them. ¡°They just fell out of the sky into a place they¡¯ve never been before. I don¡¯t think Mr. Ash wants you talking his ear off right now¡­¡± A Staravia paced beside her, its beady eyes never leaving the backs of the three unfamiliars. Rei had recalled his pok¨¦mon and, engrossed in conversation like he was, it seemed Akari had taken it upon herself to protect the group. From the back, she could see them all. ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t mind at all. And just Ash is fine. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m that much older than you guys.¡± ¡°We¡¯re twelve,¡± Rei said. ¡°Okay, yeah. I¡¯m nineteen.¡± Or should I say, negative two thousand four hundred and eighty-one. ¡°By the way Rei, what¡¯s that pok¨¦mon of yours? I¡¯ve never seen a pok¨¦mon like that.¡± ¡°Oh, this?¡± Rei unclipped his pok¨¦ball from his belt and smiled at it. ¡°This is Growlithe. He¡¯s a mean one! He¡¯ll burn up any enemy that crosses our path faster than they can blink!¡± He glanced at Pikachu. ¡°Er, at least most enemies.¡± So it is a Growlithe. I guess it¡¯s a regional form that¡¯s extinct in the present. I know Hisui was said to have some regional variants, like Alola, Galar, and Paldea, but this is the first time I¡¯ve actually seen one in person. Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed curiously at Rei¡¯s pok¨¦ball. It looked slightly different from the modern kind he was used to. Its colors were far less vibrant, its sides weren¡¯t glossy and smooth, and metalwork lined its edges, making it look like some sort of steampunk contraption. He wanted to ask Rei if he could see it, but that was probably crossing a line. Maybe once they got to know each other better. Plus, if they were going to continue this charade that they were Guardians of this age, then taking an interest in pok¨¦balls of all things was probably too suspicious. Ash didn¡¯t know much about Guardian history, but he was pretty sure that they, like the rest of the world, were using pok¨¦balls by now. The wind thinned the further they got from the coast, and ten minutes later, when they reached the flat apex of a short hill, the air was still and smelled of flowers and smoke. ¡°There we are,¡± Laventon declared proudly. ¡°Our sanctuary.¡± A short ways away down the hill, nestled in a valley of cold grass sat what appeared to be a small town. A border wall of thick logs lashed together and sharpened at the top encircled the town, but from this vantage point, small huts and houses, as well as people, could be seen within. Torches dotted the entire wooden fortress, burning away the mountain fog. Ash hadn¡¯t noticed but at some point, the ground beneath them had turned to road, or something close to it. The dirt they stood on was flattened and smooth, likely from years of use. It led down the other side of the hill right up to a large gate. However, flanking the sides of the gate atop the walls were two watchtowers, and from here, he could see guards posted within. Riley seemed to be shaken from his malaise for a moment as he gazed down at the settlement. Sabrina too watched curiously, no doubt wondering how they¡¯d be received. ¡°Now then,¡± Laventon said. ¡°I¡¯ve smuggled a number of pok¨¦mon inside without detection, but three humans will be a first. Let¡¯s see what we can do.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 54 : The Sanctuary
I feel like the pacing could¡¯ve been better¡­ Hisui Incursion [2] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [2] Chapter 54 : The Sanctuary
¡°Smuggle?¡± Ash asked, his gaze still fixed on the settlement below. ¡°Can¡¯t we just walk in through the front door?¡± Laventon chuckled nervously. ¡°We could, in theory. But¡­outsiders aren¡¯t exactly welcome. It¡¯d be far easier to sneak you all inside and spare you the misfortune that usually befalls those who arrive here seeking refuge.¡± ¡°Five hundred years have passed and they still haven¡¯t let it go,¡± Akari grumbled, and her Staravia squawked noisily. Laventon sighed. ¡°After the end of the Great War, a number of survivors displaced by the destruction sailed north seeking refuge in Hisui,¡± he explained. ¡°Our home was almost overrun many times. Our predecessors tried to take in as many as they could, but there were simply too many, and eventually, they had to be repelled by force, lest the entire settlement collapse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Riley said flatly. ¡°For both sides.¡± Akari¡¯s face hardened. ¡°We did what had to be done then. But even now, they won¡¯t accept outsiders.¡± ¡°Our ancestors carved this place out of nothing,¡± Rei said, sounding serious. ¡°If we let it fall to the horde, all their effort will have been for nothing.¡± ¡°The horde doesn¡¯t exist anymore,¡± Akari countered. ¡°Everyone still just lives in fear of the Great War.¡± Laventon nodded. ¡°Sound arguments from the both of you. But I think you all dropped in at a particularly unfortunate time,¡± he said, turning to face Ash, Sabrina, and Riley. ¡°The rift above Mount Coronet has had everyone more on edge as of late, and winter is almost upon us. Food will be scarcer than ever, and I doubt they¡¯d be keen on having to feed not just one, but three more mouths.¡± Ash¡¯s brows furrowed. This truly was a completely different time. The shadow of the Great War still hung over a land as remote as Hisui, which was separate from the rest of the world. And this post-apocalyptic reality was hitting him far faster than he¡¯d expected it to. Under other circumstances, he might have found this whole ordeal fascinating, but now that he was living in it, he was finding it difficult to appreciate the novelty. ¡°Now then, I will have to request you hide your Pikachu,¡± Laventon said, eyeing the electric mouse warily. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s non-negotiable. People are one thing, but pok¨¦mon¡­¡± Pikachu cooed in dismay and Ash nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll keep him hidden.¡± Since he didn¡¯t have Pikachu¡¯s pok¨¦ball, he unzipped his jacket and nudged his partner inside. Luckily, Pikachu didn¡¯t protest, and he zipped his jacket back up, savoring the warmth the mouse provided. Laventon didn¡¯t look terribly satisfied, but he nodded all the same. ¡°Now, then. I think we¡¯ll have Rei and I distract the gate guards while Akari leads our new friends to my abode,¡± Laventon said. ¡°The fog is thick enough that they won¡¯t have spotted us yet, so head back down the other side of the hill and sneak through the tall grass as we usually do.¡± Akari frowned, hesitant. ¡°Are you sure about this, Professor? Our way in is¡­¡± ¡°I know, I know. They¡¯ll learn of our secret entrance. But what other choice do we have?¡± Laventon¡¯s dark eyes glimmered mischievously. ¡°Plus, this puts them in our debt, does it not?¡± He glanced at Ash and smiled. Akari tilted her head, but the professor didn¡¯t budge. Sighing, she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, Professor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl! Now, hurry along. Spry as these young ones appear to be, catching cold will mean death all the same in this Hisuian winter.¡± Ash bowed. ¡°Thank you, Professor. Akari, Rei. We¡¯ll repay this debt for sure.¡± Rei grinned and cracked his knuckles as if preparing for an actual fight. Laventon nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll see you in just a bit!¡± As Rei marched up beside Laventon and the two of them started back toward the settlement, Akari led them back down the hill into a field of wispy tall grass. It was sparse enough that no pok¨¦mon would live here, but dense enough that it would hide them from the guards atop the walls, whose sight was already hindered by the frosty fog. As they crept along, Ash glanced up at the sky. Because of how foggy it¡¯d been back at the beach, it¡¯d been difficult to tell what time it was, but now that the clouds were a bit thinner, it seemed to be around late afternoon. They¡¯d lost almost half their day. ¡°We go this way whenever the Professor wants to sneak a pok¨¦mon inside to study,¡± Akari said quietly and they crept through the grass. ¡°But we have to be quick about it. The gate guards are strict about who comes and goes. So after I drop you guys off, I¡¯ll have to hurry back to the front gate.¡± ¡°What does he do with the pok¨¦mon after getting them inside?¡± Ash asked. ¡°If they¡¯re that strict about pok¨¦mon getting inside, do they really not know about his studies?¡± ¡°The professor has a workshop near his home, and luckily, the townspeople already think of him as a bit of a quack so they don¡¯t poke around too much. Plus, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re bringing back anything all that dangerous. The last one we captured was a baby Buizel, and after the professor finished studying it, we released it back into the wild without any problems.¡± Ash smiled at that. It reminded him of Professor Oak. It was comforting to know that even back then¡­or back now, there were those who sought to learn about and understand pok¨¦mon. After creeping into the shadows beneath the walls of the town, Akari stood and sprinted up to the wall, pressing herself against it. Ash, Sabrina, and Riley followed without a sound, and she knelt. Sliding her fingers beneath one of the thick logs, she pulled upward, and part of the log came loose. Pulling outward, she caught the wood with her fingertips and gently rolled it aside, revealing a narrow hole cut between the top of this log, and the rest of it buried in the ground. ¡°Nifty,¡± Ash muttered. ¡°It¡¯s small, but you should fit. Follow me.¡± After Akari slipped through the hole, Ash glanced back at the other two, then knelt down and crawled through. It stunk of moss and sap, though it didn¡¯t last long, and when he stood again, he was on the other side. There wasn¡¯t much space here, though, as Ash found himself face to face with what appeared to be the back wall of a stout cottage. A sizable boulder covered in lichen also sat buried in the ground, making the space even smaller. Riley came up behind him with Sabrina bringing up the rear. She brushed some dirt out of her hair and looked back over at the hole. ¡°I¡¯ll close it when I head back out,¡± Akari whispered. ¡°Now follow me.¡± Not giving them time to study their surroundings, she snuck past the boulder and started racing away, staying beside the wall. It seemed they were running through the narrow space behind all the houses closest to the wall, so Ash made sure to stay as quiet as possible. Voices leaked out between the gaps in the houses, and his heart hammered in his chest, wondering just how far the professor¡¯s abode was. Soon enough, Akari stopped in front of a certain house, which looked just the same as the others. They were faced with a sliding wooden door. ¡°Here,¡± she said, pulling open the door. ¡°I think there should still be a bit of a fire from this morning, so that should keep you warm, at least. We¡¯ll get you some fresh clothes soon, I promise!¡± Just before she snuck back the way they came, Ash whispered, ¡°Thank you, Akari. We really appreciate it.¡± Sabrina nodded in agreement, and Akari smiled, before turning and disappearing again behind the house beside Laventon¡¯s. The wooden steps creaked as Ash stepped inside and he hoped no one else had heard. Once inside, however, his anxiety ebbed away involuntarily as the warmth of a smoldering fire in an iron pot hanging from the ceiling permeated him to the bone. Inhaling, he smelled fragrant herbs and spices, cold stone, and thin smoke, and it reminded him of the scents that emanated from some of his neighbors¡¯ houses during Pallet¡¯s winters. He felt Pikachu turning around in his jacket, so he unzipped it to let him out. Sabrina and Riley walked in behind him and he heard the door close behind them. They glanced around as well, taking in the small but quaint abode. It appeared to have several rooms separated by sliding wooden doors, though all were open now. Tatami mats covered the floor neatly, but there were none beneath the fire pit, with only sand to serve as flooring. The furniture was sparse, with only several dressers and cabinets pressed against the walls. Pikachu scampered throughout, sniffing this and that, lingering next to an iron chest, which probably meant it contained food. Sabrina raised her hand and her gauntlets glowed. A moment later, Ash felt a weight evaporate off of him as his clothes suddenly dried in an instant. Likewise, Riley felt himself as the water disappeared off of him too, and he looked up at Sabrina. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said. ¡°I would¡¯ve done that earlier, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Riley removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°No, thank you.¡± Sabrina knelt and took off her shoes, and Ash and Riley followed. Huddled around the fire, a silence settled over them. Eventually, Ash leaned back. ¡°What the hell,¡± he said. Riley¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this. I didn¡¯t expect this at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Sir Aaron gave the Flower to me. I would¡¯ve gone in anyway.¡± ¡°What do you think happened to our pok¨¦mon?¡± Sabrina said quietly. She glanced up and met Ash¡¯s gaze. ¡°What about your Gengar?¡± Ash raised a hand to his chest and shook his head. ¡°Nah, he¡¯s gone too.¡± ¡°Same for me,¡± Sabrina said, rubbing her head. Riley listened to the exchange but didn¡¯t inquire further. He was messing with the sand beneath the fire pot, clearly distracted. Every now and then, he¡¯d shake his head in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m guessing our pok¨¦mon are right where we left them,¡± Ash said. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then our Gengars should be able to get everyone back to the gym, and my Lucario can tell everyone what happened.¡± ¡°But they don¡¯t even know what happened,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°We don¡¯t even know what happened. I mean¡­this wasn¡¯t supposed to happen right?¡± Ash glanced at Riley, but quickly looked away. The young man had been despondent since hearing about Sir Aaron¡¯s death. Although Sir Aaron wasn¡¯t yet dead at this point in the past, he had just died for real in the present, and Riley hadn¡¯t even had time to mourn before getting whisked off to ancient Hisui. The last thing Ash wanted to do was burden him even more. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Ash said cautiously, trying to word it in a way that wouldn¡¯t make Riley feel guilty. ¡°My guess is that rift above Mount Coronet has something to do with it. I don¡¯t know Hisui¡¯s history well enough to say if that rift is known about in the present, but it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve seen time and space tampered with at Mount Coronet.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Sabrina frowned. ¡°I wonder if we could return to the present through that rift.¡± Suddenly, she jerked up. ¡°Wait. The Flower.¡± The realization hit Ash like a rock, and he was digging through his pockets before getting a chance to doubt this hope. Even Riley had looked over curiously. Unfortunately, they were empty, and he looked up at the other two sadly. ¡°I don¡¯t have it anymore.¡± Sabrina nodded glumly. ¡°I just hope it isn¡¯t sitting there in that forest waiting for someone else to find it,¡± Ash said ¡°And I really hope our pok¨¦mon don¡¯t somehow gain access to it.¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t,¡± Riley said. ¡°I¡¯m sure King Aaron¡¯s Time Flower was created so that it could only be opened by certain people. Likely, it vanished right after we used it.¡± Whether or not that was wishful thinking, Ash didn¡¯t want to say. ¡°This might sound stupid, but do you think us being here will cause any time paradoxes or anything like that? Like, what if even if we do get back home, we find out the world is completely different because of us being here?¡± Sabrina immediately looked to Riley for an answer. The Guardian furrowed his brows. ¡°It¡¯s not stupid at all. I was thinking the same thing after Professor Laventon mentioned Hisui. For now, it¡¯s probably best that we impose as little as possible on this reality, though with the way the butterfly effect is described, I can¡¯t say confidently that our efforts will mean much in the grand scheme of things.¡± That answer¡­didn¡¯t make Ash feel better. But basically, it seemed like it was out of their hands. They just had to hope for the best on that front. ¡°So, I guess we¡¯re not telling them that we¡¯re from the future then?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯d be best if we didn¡¯t,¡± Riley said. ¡°Putting the difficulty of explaining such a case aside, until we can figure out what exactly happened, I want to disturb the past as little as possible.¡± He scratched the back of his head. ¡°Honestly speaking, I don¡¯t even want to stay here for too long.¡± ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not like we can hike up Mount Coronet by ourselves,¡± Ash said. ¡°Right?¡± He glanced at Sabrina. ¡°You couldn¡¯t teleport us there, could you?¡± Sabrina hugged her knees, blushing slightly, and shook her head. ¡°I can only take us places I¡¯ve been before. Plus¡­¡± She rubbed her gauntlets and shook her head again. ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ash frowned and straightened. ¡°Please stop apologizing, guys. It¡¯s not your guys¡¯ fault we¡¯re in this situation. If there¡¯s anyone to blame, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I agreed¡ª¡° Riley started to say, but Ash cut him off. ¡°I made the call to go after Sir Aaron¡¯s Plates now. I¡¯m thankful that you guys decided to come with, but really, this is something I should¡¯ve done by myself.¡± His shoulders sagged and Pikachu pawed over to him, nuzzling his knee. Riley swallowed and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no point in wallowing in despair. Really, we should be grateful that we¡¯re all here together and not alone. And Ash, I¡¯d never let you return to the distant past all by yourself.¡± ¡°S-Same!¡± Sabrina added. Riley smiled. ¡°For now, let¡¯s wait for Professor Laventon and the others to return. After we get our bearings from them, we can figure out what to do next.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Ash, you can¡¯t sense the Plates or anything, can you?¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°I wish.¡± ¡°Figures,¡± Riley muttered. ¡°King Aaron would never make it that easy. Well, now I¡¯m questioning if it¡¯s still worth pursuing those Plates. He¡¯s already gone at this point in time so it¡¯s not like we can go and seek him out. I think our priority now should be getting home.¡± Sabrina shifted. ¡°Um, actually I was wondering¡­¡± Riley and Ash glanced at her. ¡°It¡¯s been five hundred years since the Great War ended, right? I don¡¯t know when Sir Aaron came back, but five hundred years is a pretty long time. Maybe he¡¯s already finished recreating his body?¡± Riley stared at Sabrina, before slowly turning away back to the glowing fire. A crack appeared in his depressed demeanor as he frowned, considering the possibility. ¡°I¡­ That¡¯s possible,¡± he said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s probable!¡± Ash said, latching on. ¡°If Sir Aaron was trying to keep his Plates safe, hiding them in the past would be one of the best ways to do it. It only makes sense that he would create a special Time Flower that would take its users directly back to that time period to obtain them from him!¡± Riley glanced up and smiled slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s not get our hopes up too high. If that were so, I¡¯d expect him to be waiting for us. And if that rift over Mount Coronet is his doing, why there of all places? I shudder to think what may have happened if Sabrina hadn¡¯t broken our fall¡­¡± Ash deflated and nodded soberly, and Pikachu followed suit, sighing and collapsing onto the floor. ¡°I wonder what would happen if we die here,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Would we just wake up back in the present?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an untestable theory,¡± Ash said, looking up. ¡°Indeed,¡± Riley said immediately after. ¡°Let¡¯s assume for now that death here would mean death for good and act accordingly.¡± Ash scooted closer to the fire pit to warm himself and luckily they didn¡¯t have to wait much longer for the Professor. Several minutes later, they heard his booming voice outside talking to someone else. It got louder as he neared his house, and his three guests stood quietly, moving closer to the walls so they¡¯d be out of the line of sight of the front door when he opened it. ¡°Sooner or later we¡¯ll get one!¡± they heard him say just outside. ¡°Alright! Thank you, Mr. Yamada! Alright, I¡¯ll talk to you later! Keep your foot dry! I¡¯ll bring some more salve tomorrow!¡± With that, the front door slid open and Professor Laventon stepped inside. He eyed his guests immediately and smiled mischievously. Right after, Akari and Rei ran up to his left and right and pressed themselves between the gaps, swiftly blocking anyone¡¯s view from outside. ¡°Be careful, Professor!¡± Akari scolded. ¡°Ah, right,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Sorry.¡± The three of them slipped inside and Rei slammed the door shut behind them, then breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Ah, Mr. Yamada,¡± Laventon mused. ¡°Cut his foot open on a rock while fishing. Heals mind-numbingly slow at his age. Need to be careful of infection.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they care,¡± Akari muttered, wrapping around the fire pot and pulling off her scarf. She stuck out her tongue in disgust as if imagining what it¡¯d look like. As Ash, Sabrina, and Riley moved back to the center of the room, Rei took off his cap and tossed it to the corner before seating himself right in front of the fire pit and warming his hands. Laventon peeled out of his white coat and draped it over one of the dressers before joining them. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality,¡± Ash immediately said. ¡°I know you¡¯re taking a big risk in sheltering us.¡± ¡°Oh, not at all! I could never leave the three of you stranded out in the cold.¡± For some reason, Rei and Akari both smiled wistfully, the glow of the fire tinging their cheeks red. ¡°The cold is the least of my worries, truth be told,¡± Riley said. ¡°Oh, yeah, you guys are, like, in a completely foreign place!¡± Rei said, grinning. ¡°Man, on one hand, that¡¯s so sick, but on the other hand, I feel so bad for you guys.¡± ¡°We are a little lost,¡± Riley agreed, smiling. Akari had disappeared into one of the other rooms, but she returned now with an iron kettle held in both hands, which she promptly sat atop the smoldering coals and seated herself beside Rei. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to stay here for as long as you¡¯d like,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Now that you¡¯re inside, all we need to do is get some local attire for you, you¡¯ll blend right in with none but us the wiser! That way, you don¡¯t have to stay cooped up in here all day.¡± Akari¡¯s eyes narrowed at that invitation, but she held her tongue. ¡°Where is here, exactly?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re not too familiar with Hisui.¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°Ah, not to worry! I doubt this cold north has made it even onto your maps. This here is one of the few human settlements across Hisui, and the largest. This place is called Jubilife Village or Jubilife Sanctuary, though most just call it the Sanctuary.¡± Ash, Sabrina, and Riley exchanged a look. Jubilife, Ash thought. ¡°As we talked a bit about before, the Sanctuary was established shortly after the end of the Great War. Prior to the war, the village was actually closer to the coast, but in the wake of so many attacks, it was moved further inland where it would be easier to defend.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t always have that wall around us,¡± Rei explained. ¡°Before the Great War, the Sanctuary had so many powerful trainers that wild pok¨¦mon didn¡¯t dare mess with us. But after the war ended and the village moved inland, the wall went up and we didn¡¯t have to fight pok¨¦mon nearly as often. Because of that, a lot of talent disappeared over time¡­¡± He clenched his fist, the embers of the fire glimmering in his eyes. ¡°Right now, the Sanctuary would totally collapse if some violent pok¨¦mon decided to bust the wall down.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say stuff like that,¡± Akari murmured. ¡°I¡¯m going to protect this place,¡± Rei declared. ¡°No matter what.¡± Ash could tell there was a reason for his conviction, but decided not to ask about it now. It sounded like he, and possibly Akari too, had rather tragic origins. ¡°The Church is doing the best they can, but young Rei is right,¡± Laventon said. ¡°There simply aren¡¯t enough people willing to enter the field and gain experience training and battling with pok¨¦mon. And even the ones that do¡­¡± He trailed off, as if unsure if he should continue. ¡°...are weaklings,¡± Akari finished. ¡°We''re only twelve, yet we¡¯re some of the strongest trainers in the village.¡± Laventon nodded. ¡°Unfortunately, she¡¯s right. Blessed with talent and bravery as these two are, this place would be safer if there were more adults who could measure up to them.¡± Akari stood and lifted the kettle from the stove. Steam billowed from the spout, and she produced a tray with six empty mugs from beside her. After filling each one, she passed one to each of the gathered. Ash accepted his graciously with a ¡°thanks,¡± and as the steam wafted up his nostrils, he could smell woody herbs and sweet honey. Taking a sip, the tea electrified him, spreading warmth throughout his body. It was delicious. ¡°Did you say ¡®the Church?¡¯¡± Riley asked after taking a long sip from his mug. ¡°Mm, yes,¡± Laventon said, putting his mug down. ¡°The Jubilife Church founded the Sanctuary many years ago. A band of rogues and explorers who came to Hisui¡­ They were searching for the great Father Sinnoh. Yet, though they never did, they established an order that would one day come to govern this little village.¡± ¡°Father Sinnoh?¡± Ash asked. Is that Arceus? ¡°The founders of the Church believed Father Sinnoh was the pok¨¦mon Arceus,¡± Laventon said as if he¡¯d read Ash¡¯s mind. ¡°But the Church is a secular institution these days. It¡¯s just, the name stuck so that¡¯s still how we refer to the Sanctuary¡¯s leadership.¡± ¡°Hmm, I wonder if the founders of the Church were Guardians,¡± Riley said. ¡°That¡¯s what I think,¡± Rei said, thumbing himself. ¡°Sailing across the ocean to a dangerous new land in search of Arceus? That¡¯s gotta be you guys!¡± ¡°It certainly is possible,¡± Laventon agreed. ¡°Though I¡¯m afraid there are no Guardians here today anymore if they were. Nowadays, the Church is divided into six different corps, each presiding over a different aspect of life within the Sanctuary. The Construction Corps, Agriculture Corps, and Medical Corps are self-explanatory, I believe. The Security Corps patrols and maintains order within the walls. They¡¯re the ones we deceived just earlier. The Supply Corps deals with the merchants and ensures that resources are being allocated efficiently. They¡¯ll be the first to notice three extra mouths to feed, so we¡¯ll have to figure something out there. And the Survey Corps¡ª¡° ¡°That¡¯s us!¡± Rei grinned. ¡°We go outside the walls on expeditions to fight and train pok¨¦mon!¡± Akari sighed. ¡°The Survey Corps is the smallest of the six Corps. We¡¯re supposed to be exploring the rest of Hisui for the sake of the Sanctuary¡¯s future, but now, we¡¯re basically just a glorified Security Corps.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like they forget how much we do for the Sanctuary,¡± Rei said, scowling. ¡°We¡¯re the ones catching and training all the pok¨¦mon that all the other Corps use! Without us, the Sanctuary could never function like it does now.¡± Surprisingly, Akari nodded in agreement. ¡°You said this was one of the few human settlements in Hisui,¡± Ash said. ¡°Are there others?¡± ¡°Two notable others,¡± Laventon said. ¡°The Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan are schimatic sects from the Church. While our predecessors believed Father Sinnoh to be Arceus, the other two believed him to be Dialga and Palkia, respectively, ancient dragons said to command time and space. Nowadays, no one here thinks all that much about who Father Sinnoh is or isn¡¯t, and I suspect the two Clans are the same. But, that is their origin. They maintain villages elsewhere in Hisui.¡± Rei had thrown in some more kindling for the fire, and it now snapped every so often, sending a flurry of small glowing embers into the air. Ash sipped on his tea as he digested all this information. This was all new to him, and from how attentive the other two looked throughout, it seemed to be for them too. The Jubilifers¡¯ insistence on the danger posed by wild pok¨¦mon disturbed Ash, even knowing that all three of them were more than capable of fighting without pok¨¦mon. They described wilds like they were bloodthirsty beasts, and, after encountering pok¨¦mon said to be from the Age of Carnage down in Paldea¡¯s Area Zero during his two-year training gauntlet, Ash was beginning to think getting to the summit of Mount Coronet alone was going to be even more difficult than they initially thought. ¡°Professor Laventon, the last thing we want to be is a burden on your society,¡± Riley said. ¡°We appreciate your gracious hospitality, but, if we¡¯re to stay here any longer, I¡¯d like to do things the proper way. Is there someone we can speak to, say, the head of the Sanctuary, who we can introduce ourselves to and formally ask for haven?¡± Laventon smiled and nodded. ¡°Of course, Sir Riley. The one you¡¯ll want is the current head of the entire Jubilife Church, who oversees all six Corps. That¡¯ll be¡ª¡° The front doors slammed open and Rei and Akari immediately bolted to their feet, pok¨¦balls withdrawn in an instant. A cold frost wafted in from inside, and the tatami mat crumpled beneath the sandaled footsteps of the new arrival. ¡°I could overlook it when it was measly Bidoof and Starly you were sneaking inside, Laventon, but this is a bridge too far,¡± came a deep, gravelly voice. A man with charcoal-gray hair and a bushy mustache of the same shade stepped inside. He wore a dark kimono patterned with the raging sea, and a wool coat sat draped over his hardened shoulders. A violet katana was sheathed beneath his waist wrap, and a burly hand rested on its handle. Professor Laventon turned slowly and smiled nervously. ¡°L-Leader Kamado. Can I offer you a cup of tea?¡± A woman with slate-blue hair leaned against the door, scowling at the residents inside, and even Akari and Rei seemed to hesitate at the sight of her. She did not look pleased at all. Next ¡ª Chapter 55 : Jubilife Church
Like before with AZ, I¡¯m going to be bending the canon to fit the story, though this time, there are some practical reasons why. Keeping the ¡®Galaxy Team¡¯ name kind of shatters suspension of disbelief when ¡®Team Galactic¡¯ exists in the present. I recently got into Bloodborne and I came up with the idea for the ¡®Jubilife Church¡¯ just a couple chapters ago, inspired by it. I think it¡¯ll be cool. Hisui Incursion [3] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [3] Chapter 55 : Jubilife Church
The man called Kamado swept inside like he owned the place. As Ash, Sabrina, and Riley stood up defensively, he sauntered through the front room until he was as close to the fire as the rest of them. His hand rested lazily on his sword¡¯s grip, and he eyed each of the gathered in turn. ¡°I-I can explain,¡± Laventon stammered. ¡°These three are friendly. They came from¡ª¡° ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide, Professor,¡± Kamado intoned. ¡°And what is that?¡± He flicked his head at Pikachu, prowling beside Ash¡¯s leg. ¡°Stand down, Pikachu,¡± Ash said, trying to defuse the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t attack under any circumstances.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Kamado grunted. ¡°If only it were so easy. If pok¨¦mon obeyed commands as simply as that, Hisui would be a paradise.¡± His gaze swept between Akari and Rei, who¡¯d both frozen the moment he¡¯d stepped inside. ¡°Cyllene, take these two and the professor back to the church,¡± he said in a louder voice. ¡°I¡¯ll handle these three.¡± The woman by the door straightened and uncrossed her arms. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Take them now.¡± Her eyes narrowed, but she stepped inside as well. She trained her sharpened gaze on her three targets. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, motioning with a thin finger. ¡°Without delay, please.¡± Without warning, she stalked forward and yanked Laventon¡¯s arm toward the door. ¡°Please! Just take me! The children had nothing to do with this! I coerced them!¡± Laventon struggled against the woman¡¯s hold, but her wiry build masked her iron strength, and he could not break free. ¡°Tch,¡± the woman called Cyllene spat. ¡°I said without delay,¡± she muttered, her voice like an icy knife. ¡°We¡¯ll go, Professor!¡± Akari spoke up. She glanced at Rei, but even he nodded in assent. ¡°Just please don¡¯t hurt him!¡± Cyllene rolled her eyes and held out her other hand. ¡°Your pok¨¦mon. Now.¡± Rei and Akari hurried to unclip the pok¨¦balls from their belts, three each, and swiftly handed them to Cyllene. She clipped them all to her own belt, and her eyes narrowed. ¡°Thank you.¡± She pulled on Laventon¡¯s arm and started back toward the door. Just before stepping out, she turned back. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be fine, Leader?¡± Kamado didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Go.¡± Cyllene scowled but obliged, and the two kids followed her out. Kamado¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t left the three newcomers, and they all awaited his judgment with bated breath. They¡¯d wanted to disturb the past as little as possible, but their mere presence seemed to be unacceptable. The question now was how to get out of this situation as peacefully as possible. Kamado¡¯s gaze settled on Riley, but he soon turned back to study all three of them. The room held silence, save for the frosty winds slipping through the still-open front door. A mug rested overturned next to Kamado¡¯s foot, and tea dribbled into the sand beneath the fire pit. He nodded at them, at no one in particular. ¡°Could you kill me?¡± On his right, Ash felt Sabrina¡¯s attention turn on him. No time to communicate telepathically. That would only make them more suspicious. But on his right, Riley¡¯s gaze had also turned to him. They were deferring to him to answer. Pikachu had stopped prowling, but his ears were sticking straight up, ready for anything. Ash inhaled, then exhaled. ¡°Yes,¡± he said flatly. Kamado had no reaction. ¡°All three of you?¡± he asked. Honesty flashed across Ash¡¯s eyes like steel. ¡°Yes.¡± An amused sound escaped Kamado¡¯s mouth. The entire house burst apart with a violent boom as wood splintered and glass shattered. Dust blasted into existence everywhere, and Ash felt himself thrown to the ground before quickly getting seized by something; he couldn¡¯t tell what. He caught a mouthful of dirt and coughed. Jerking his head around, he saw Sabrina in a similar predicament, then felt a familiar thrum of power emanating from her form. A ghastly emerald light permeated through the cloud of dust. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± he roared. Sabrina frowned, but the light faded from her eyes and she allowed herself to be defeated. Ash struggled against the invisible hold, blinking dust from his eyes. As it cleared, the remnants of Laventon¡¯s abode became clear. It was now nothing more than piles of smashed wood that surrounded them. His furniture was overturned and broken and the remnants of the fire pit sat bent on the grass a ways away. On his right, a giant Heracross had jammed its horn into the ground, pinning Sabrina¡¯s thin neck between its prongs. Her eyes were locked on the creature, but defiance burned in them. In front of him, a Golem stood atop Pikachu, its clawed foot pressing him into the ground. Pikachu¡¯s teeth were grit as the weight of the monster bore down on his back, but he wasn¡¯t trying in earnest to escape. That was a sight he saw just beyond the pok¨¦mon that had taken him on, though this one, Ash didn¡¯t recognize. It was a bird of some sort, large and grand, with feathers of white and gray. But the thing that surprised Ash the most was the ghostly violet eyes that sizzled over its head, seemingly in place of real eyes. This pok¨¦mon didn¡¯t even need to touch him. As it flapped its wings to stay just airborne, Ash could feel it exert its power against him, presumably, a psychic hold. Kamado himself had incapacitated Riley personally. On Ash¡¯s left, the man¡¯s katana was withdrawn and planted into the ground just beside his neck. Riley¡¯s hat had been knocked off and his limbs were splayed out, and he glared up at Kamado, who crouched over him like a predator. But Kamado glared back. Then he turned to see the others. Ash wasn¡¯t resisting. Sabrina made no further move on her captor. And despite Pikachu grunting beneath Golem¡¯s weight, he appeared to have accepted his fate as well. Kamado sneered and slowly lifted himself off of Riley. He sheathed his sword with a practiced flourish and crossed his arms. Then, he shook his head. ¡°Heh. Damn you, Laventon. Who are these monsters you¡¯ve brought into our sanctuary?¡± At some silent cue, Ash felt the bird pok¨¦mon¡¯s invisible hold on him dissipate, and it touched down on the ground. At the same time, the Golem lifted its foot off Pikachu and the Heracross unburied its horn and took a step back from Sabrina. The psychic scowled as she got up. As Ash lifted himself to his feet, Pikachu peeled himself from the ground, and after shaking himself off, scampered back up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder with an irritated growl. The sight around them gave Ash pause. This was his first time finally seeing the Sanctuary. Now standing in the ruined remains of Laventon¡¯s house, a crowd of people all donning similarly primitive clothing as Rei and Akari watched from a distance, fear and shock shining in their eyes. Houses built of rugged wood and mismatched tile sat packed together tightly within the confines of the border wall, though luckily, it seemed Laventon¡¯s home was placed at the edge of a small plaza, just far enough from his neighbors¡¯ that Kamado¡¯s carnage hadn¡¯t damaged them. Nevertheless, the man stood resolute at the center of the circle of chaos, uncaring of the many eyes on him and their trepidation at his abrupt violence within the walls of their home. The quilt of clouds over the sky had all but vanished in the time they¡¯d spent indoors, for now, a gleaming indigo vista stretched out above them, speckled with glimmering stars that shined like sea glass in the sand. The sun had already set and the moon blazed white just above the horizon, bathing the Sanctuary in a soft nocturnal light. ¡°Clear out.¡± Kamado¡¯s voice boomed through the barren plaza down the narrow streets that branched off from it. ¡°Nothing to see here.¡± To assuage the concerns of the gathered townspeople, he recalled all of his pok¨¦mon and turned a scowl on them. Slowly, the crowd began to disperse, faster as the seconds went by, since no one seemed to want to be left alone with Kamado or the subjects of his ire. Before long, only Kamado and the three remained. The man¡¯s back was to the three he¡¯d just attacked, but he turned around nonchalantly to face them once again. ¡°It seems I could not remove you three by force even if I wanted to.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not here to cause trouble,¡± Ash insisted. ¡°We¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Kamado smirked. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know about that. Don¡¯t you have a debt to repay to the good Professor?¡± Eyeing them all, he turned again and started toward one of the streets leading away from Laventon¡¯s home. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll take you to the Church.¡± Ash glanced back at Laventon¡¯s ruins, guilt pooling in his stomach, but he soon followed after Kamado, not wanting to incense him any further. After a moment of similar hesitation, Sabrina and Riley came after. Kamado didn¡¯t talk to them the entire walk there. Townspeople glanced at them suspiciously as they passed, hunched over cauldrons and market stalls set up outside their houses. Pikachu had slithered back into Ash¡¯s jacket, wise enough to know that his presence would¡¯ve only complicated their predicament. The further they got from Laventon¡¯s house, the gazes of the locals gradually shifted from distrust to curiosity. But upon seeing Kamado with them, none bothered them. By the looks on their faces, it wasn¡¯t that they feared him. They respected him. As they emerged from the last street, through a haze of chimney smoke and winter fog, the Jubilife Church lay before them. It was the largest and most elaborately constructed building in the entire Sanctuary, but also clearly the oldest. It stood on a foundation of dark cobblestone, and its walls were scaled in rust-red brick and dusty stained glass windows. It towered above the border wall behind it, containing two floors by the looks of it, with dark iron bars trimming its august convex edges. It looked more like an old-fashioned library than a church, by modern standards, but in comparison to the rest of the village, it certainly deserved to be called a place of worship. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Kamado¡¯s cloak fluttered behind him as he ascended the short flight of stone steps to the front doors. With both hands, he pushed them open, a set of twin dark oak doors, and stepped inside without stopping. Ash, Sabrina, and Riley glanced between each other just before following him inside. They still hadn¡¯t ironed out their story. Laventon, Rei, and Akari luckily hadn¡¯t asked, but they still had no explanation for what exactly they¡¯d been doing right before falling out of that rift in the sky. Stepping into the Church, all the sound from outside seemed to go quiet. Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor and the front doors creaked as they closed behind them. Mahogany pillars held the vaulted ceiling aloft, and directly across from them, a grand kaleidoscopic stained glass window cast a rainbow of shimmering moonlight on the center of the sanctum¡¯s entrance hall. But despite being a church, there were no pews. Instead, the chamber was completely empty, save for an array of doorways lining the side walls, and a twin staircase that curved around the room¡¯s edges, leading both up and down. ¡°I can¡¯t allow you to walk about our sanctuary freely yet.¡± Although Kamado spoke quietly, his voice echoed all the same. ¡°I trust Laventon¡¯s judgment, but I have a duty as this sanctuary¡¯s protector.¡± He turned and crossed his arms. ¡°I know I can¡¯t beat you in a fight. So, strictly on the basis of protecting the Sanctuary, I¡¯ll say this.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Defy me, and I¡¯ll kill Laventon and the children. I know you just met, but you seem to have connected well enough. My assumption is that you wouldn¡¯t want their deaths on your conscience. I hope this threat is reason enough to obey me.¡± Ash frowned and he felt Pikachu¡¯s static tickling his chest as the mouse¡¯s anger flared. ¡°We have no intention of defying you,¡± he said, his fists balled. Kamado nodded. ¡°I¡¯m glad. I did not want to dirty my hands with that either.¡± ¡°But,¡± Ash said before the man could turn away. ¡°For the sake of transparency, I¡¯ll just say you¡¯d never be able to follow through on that threat even if you did want to.¡± He glanced over at Sabrina. ¡°It would be impossible.¡± The psychic''s face remained stoic, but in the somber darkness of the church, her eyes appeared limned in a dull emerald light, her gauntlets glowing the same color. Kamado frowned and raised a brow, then nodded once. ¡°I appreciate your candor. All the same, you three will be given separate rooms throughout the church for tonight. Then, come morning, I¡¯ll speak with you all individually. If we determine your presence here to be beneficial or benign, then Laventon and the children will be released and we can determine your place here then.¡± Obviously, Ash didn¡¯t like that they were being held hostage. If they wanted, Sabrina could locate and rescue them easily he was sure, but that would only antagonize Kamado. For now, they¡¯d play along. ¡°Agreed,¡± Ash said. Neither Sabrina nor Riley protested and that seemed to satisfy Kamado. His mouth beneath his bushy mustache stretched into a line, a smile if it could be called that. Wordlessly, he led them down one of the stairwells leading to the basement. Waxy candles glimmered within shallow depressions in the walls, illuminating the way ahead, albeit barely. The hallway they came out in was narrow and lined with doors, and Kamado selected one out of the multitude and led them down yet another shadowed stairwell. The next floor looked identical to the last, and as they passed down creaky hallways and through darkened rooms, Ash became convinced he was leading them through this maze on purpose to confuse them. Nevertheless, after descending down far more floors than Ash had ever expected to, Kamado stopped in front of a door just like all the rest. ¡°You,¡± he said, nodding at Sabrina. ¡°This is your room.¡± Sabrina glanced at the other two before gingerly opening the door. The inside was scarcely larger than a closet. One singular candle pressed into the far wall illuminated the interior. A bed with surprisingly clean sheets was pressed against the wooden wall, but the room was barely longer than it. ¡°It¡¯s like a prison cell,¡± Ash said, glaring at Kamado. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what you are. For now.¡± As Ash gritted his teeth, he felt Sabrina¡¯s hand touch his arm. Her gaze was cast aside. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ash. It¡¯s just for tonight.¡± Ash could see Kamado gripping his sword tightly. His other hand was hidden beneath his voluminous sleeve. In the grim darkness, their eyes met. ¡°Not to worry, we have similar accommodations for you two as well,¡± Kamado said coldly. Ash inhaled and exhaled slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Sabrina stepped inside her room and gave her friends one last look before Kamado pulled the door shut with a noisy creak. His hand moved over the keyhole and the lock clicked. Ash eyed his sleeve. Keys. After sweeping through the underground citadel for another several minutes, this time ascending and descending, Kamado stopped outside another identical door. ¡°Yours,¡± he said, motioning to Ash. The interior was just the same as well. Ash glanced back at Riley as he stepped inside but the man was sullen. Before he could get out another word though, Kamado pulled his door shut and he heard the lock click. Their footsteps quieted as they walked away until silence roared throughout Ash¡¯s tiny cell. Pikachu leaped down onto the ground and after sniffing around a bit, wrinkled his nose. Ash sighed and sat down on his bed. Despite appearances, the mattress underneath felt comfortable enough and his pillow was clean and fluffed. Without reservation, he kicked his shoes off and swung his legs onto the bed, then lay back. Already, he felt himself getting tired. To the sound of Pikachu¡¯s piddling around the room, Ash thought back to the start of the day, the Time Flower, their unexpected arrival at Hisui, to their meeting with Laventon and his assistants. This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d gotten mixed into some inexplicable anomaly, but this was probably the most severe case. ¡°Lost in time with no way back,¡± he muttered aloud. Pikachu glanced at him but ignored his rambling. At least he seemed to be just fine with their situation. Sabrina was as stoic as ever, but Riley¡­ Oh, right. Sir Aaron was dead. For real, this time. As was AZ. That giant battle had been all too easy to forget over the course of the day. But in the present, the world was still reeling. Rota was wiped off the map over the span of a few hours using a mythical weapon from the Great War. And now, half of Paragon was either bedridden or stuck in the past. As Ash¡¯s mind descended into a nebula of anxiety, he didn¡¯t even feel his eyelids flutter shut, nor did he notice Pikachu blowing out the candle and curling up into bed beside him.
He awoke to the sound of rapping on his door. It was still pitch black in his room since there were no windows to the outside, and the candle had long since been extinguished. As Ash was rubbing his eyes, he heard a key stuck in the door, and a moment later, it swung open. Light poured in from outside and he squinted. ¡°Good morning,¡± Kamado said, dressed just the same as last night. ¡°Freshen up. Then, let¡¯s talk.¡± He was still dressed in his clothes from last night, so after rolling out of bed and stepping back into his shoes, he followed Kamado outside and back up the many flights of stairs they¡¯d come down last night. Pikachu continued to rest on his shoulder as they walked, but the ascent woke him up. By the time they¡¯d returned to the ground floor, Ash was fully awake and his thighs ached. The main chamber was empty yet again, but sunlight poured in through the stained glass windows, basking them in multicolored light. Wordlessly, Kamado steered him down a side hall and motioned to yet another room, its door ajar. It was a bathroom. Old-fashioned looking, but it seemed to have a sink and shower. ¡°Where¡¯re the others?¡± Ash asked before heading in. Kamado simply scowled before turning on his heel and walking away. ¡°I await you upstairs.¡± Ash watched him go and Pikachu glared at his back, but after a sigh, Ash headed inside. After shutting the door behind him, he noticed a towel and a change of clothes hung on the far wall. The clothes looked just like Rei and Akari¡¯s, and upon touching it, the material felt thick and soft between his fingers, perfect for winter. Beside the sink, there were other essentials. Despite how archaic the church looked and felt, it seemed they were developed enough for wooden toothbrushes and mint leaves for freshening breath. Fifteen minutes later, Ash emerged clean and clothed, his old garb left in an empty basket in the corner that he assumed served that purpose. His woolen coat didn¡¯t come with pockets, so he kept his phone tucked beneath his belt, though he doubted he¡¯d get very much use of it. To his credit, Pikachu had settled in amicably atop Ash¡¯s shoulder and seemed to be enjoying his plushier throne. That would hopefully go over well in trying to convince Kamado that he was docile enough to keep within the Sanctuary. As instructed, he headed back out into the main chamber and ascended one of the curved staircases, each step echoing throughout the room. At the top of the stairs, leaning against the banister, stood the woman who had taken Laventon and the two children away. Her eyes were just as piercing as they¡¯d been last night, and once they found Ash, they narrowed. She glanced at Pikachu, and Ash saw her fingers twitch, reflexively moving toward her belt, but she stayed her hand. Without addressing him, she turned on her heel and began down one of the second-floor hallways. Ash followed, and eventually, they came to a stop in front of a set of double oak doors. It was lacquered in an oily finish and gold trim lined its edges. This was the first and only of many doors Ash had seen in this place that looked any different from the rest. The woman rapped her knuckles against it, and a moment later, they opened. Kamado stood on the other side, and his expression hardened. ¡°Mister Ketchum. Welcome.¡± He stepped aside and allowed Ash inside. The interior was organized and ornate and Kamado seated himself behind a large desk. Old paintings of faded faces covered the dark walls and a window behind Kamado allowed the misty morning light to brighten the room. In front of the desk sat a smaller, shorter table with two chairs set up on either end. An array of food, what appeared to be some brown stew, a plate of bread, and a pitcher and glass of water rested in front of one of the settings. ¡°You may eat as we talk, Mister Ketchum,¡± Kamado said, raising his hand in invitation. ¡°Please, sit.¡± Almost on cue, Ash¡¯s stomach grumbled, and he realized it¡¯d been nearly twenty-four hours¡­maybe? Since he¡¯d eaten? It was difficult to tell due to the whole time travel thing, but one thing was for certain. He was starving. As he sat, the woman took her place across from him. Her cold eyes never left him even as he moved to start eating. He took a self-conscious first bite and savored the sustenance. ¡°Your¡­pokemon can eat over there,¡± the woman said, pointing behind Ash. A shallow bowl sat in the very corner of the room, filled with what appeared to be an assortment of dried berries. Pikachu eagerly leapt off Ash¡¯s shoulder and sniffed at his meal before eagerly indulging, completely forgetting everything and everyone else in the room. ¡°Ash Ketchum, this is Cyllene,¡± Kamado said. ¡°She is the head of our Survey Corps.¡± ¡°Laventon and the children are also members of my Survey Corps,¡± Cyllene said. ¡°Their transgressions are my responsibility.¡± Her mouth stretched into a smile completely devoid of mirth. Ash swallowed his bite of bread and tried to gauge the situation. Cyllene looked pissed, but then again, Ash had yet to see her not looking pissed, so he couldn¡¯t exactly tell how much hot water they were in with her. On the other hand, Kamado was a statue. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± he eventually settled on. ¡°Cyllene spoke with them last night and got their side of the story,¡± Kamado said, tearing Ash¡¯s attention away before he could see Cyllene¡¯s reaction. ¡°And I¡¯ve spoken to your friends Riley and Sabrina this morning already. They each provided their accounts separately.¡± He stood up and paced around in front of his desk, then sat back on it and crossed his arms. Ash looked up at him warily. Pikachu hadn¡¯t even noticed, devouring his food. ¡°We already know that Miss Natsume is psychic. She can transmit her thoughts silently and relay yours and Riley¡¯s to each other. We also know that she has done no such thing since I met you all yesterday. Given the time between your arrival in Hisui through the rift, your meeting with the members of the Survey Corps, and your infiltration into our Sanctuary, I find it unlikely that you would have had enough time to formulate a convincing fib for what exactly you¡¯re here to accomplish. In other words, I¡¯d like to hear the truth from you.¡± Cyllene leaned forward, glaring. ¡°Who are you, what is the rift, where did it come from, and why have you come here?¡± Ash eyed her, not buckling under her challenge. Kamado is right. We didn¡¯t come up with a cover story last night via Sabrina¡¯s telepathy. But how do they know that? And what did Sabrina and Riley tell them? Kamado¡¯s eyes narrowed as Ash¡¯s silence prolonged. Pikachu licked his bowl and released a satisfied burp. Cyllene¡¯s face twisted into a sneer. Ash leaned back in his seat and grabbed his glass before taking a swig of water. After placing it down again, he sighed and glanced between the two Church leaders. ¡°We¡¯re from the future.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 56 : Alpha Pok¨¦mon
Hisui Incursion [4] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [4] Chapter 56 : Alpha Pok¨¦mon
To his credit, Kamado didn¡¯t flinch. However, a look of utter disbelief overtook Cyllene¡¯s face, and she recoiled. Ash had to stop himself from looking amused. He may have reacted the same way if he¡¯d been in her shoes. ¡°The future¡­¡± Kamado rumbled. Cyllene glanced over at him with a look of half incredulity, half scorn, as if bothered that Kamado seemed to be seriously considering the possibility. Nonetheless, she stayed quiet, deferring to her leader in this situation. However, her reaction was telling. Her surprise meant this was her first time hearing it. Which meant Riley and Sabrina had both lied. Ash¡¯s blood ran slightly cold, but he kept his composure. ¡°Riley told me that you three had attempted a Guardian ritual gone wrong,¡± Kamado said. ¡°Sabrina said she couldn¡¯t remember anything just before falling from that hole.¡± He grunted and shook his head. ¡°And you say you¡¯re from the future. Three different stories. And yet, I sense that you are the one being truthful.¡± ¡°Leader!¡± Cyllene said. ¡°This is ridiculous! That couldn¡¯t possibly¡ª¡° ¡°Couldn¡¯t it?¡± Kamado interrupted. ¡°We know next to nothing about that rift. Who¡¯s to say it is not a gateway to other times? Think of their clothes. They looked like foreign nobility in that garb. Not to mention those metal rings around Miss Natsume¡¯s wrists.¡± Cyllene scowled but held her tongue. ¡°I¡¯m the one telling the truth,¡± Ash said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The other two must have said those things because they didn¡¯t want to rock the boat. It¡¯s like you said. We had no time to come up with a cover story. But we¡¯re not here to deceive you or hurt you in any way.¡± ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Cyllene snapped. ¡°Out with the truth. What reason would Guardians from the future have for meddling in our primitive affairs?¡± She crossed her leg. Ash pursed his lips. Although Kamado looked on the confrontation neutrally, Cyllene leaned forward in challenge.¡± ¡°One thing first,¡± Ash said. ¡°We¡¯re not all Guardians. Just Riley is a Guardian. Sabrina and I are just trainers.¡± Cyllene¡¯s eyes twitched but she let him continue. ¡°As for why we came to the past¡­I wish I knew. I don¡¯t know exactly what Riley said, but part of that is true. We didn¡¯t mean to come to the past.¡± ¡°What was the ritual you attempted?¡± Kamado asked, his voice like iron dragged across stone. It was impossible to discern where he stood on the matter. ¡°There was no ritual. We used a Guardian artifact called a Time Flower which allows one to see into a memory of the past. We didn¡¯t know what memory the Time Flower contained, but before we knew it, we were falling out of the sky.¡± Despite his candor, Ash had no intention of mentioning Sir Aaron or the Plates. Sir Aaron was supposed to already be dead, so dropping his name would only cause confusion. Also Ash wasn¡¯t sure what his involvement in the recent Great War would mean for the Hisuians¡¯ attitude toward them. And then there was the concern about creating a potential time paradox if these people were to somehow learn that Sir Aaron was still alive. Ash wasn¡¯t sure on the specifics, but he¡¯d seen enough movies as a kid to know the basics, and as fantastical as it sounded, he certainly wanted to touch base again with Riley before divulging too much about the future, even if they asked. Kamado stayed silent, absorbing his explanation. He and Cyllene glanced between each other. ¡°Leader?¡± Cyllene asked cautiously. ¡°Hmmm,¡± Kamado rumbled. He furrowed his bushy brows. ¡°I believe him.¡± He turned to Ash. ¡°Tell me. What is the future like?¡± Ash hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can say too much.¡± Kamado nodded. ¡°Understandable. But, at least tell me if it¡¯s good or bad.¡± His dark eyes gleamed, hungry for knowledge. Ash took a deep breath as he arranged his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s good, but it could be better. Instead of pok¨¦mon being the biggest danger, power is held in the hands of a secretive few, and there¡¯s no telling what they¡¯ll decide to do with it.¡± There are Platebearers like Sir Aaron, who sought a path toward peace and unity, and then there were Platebearers like AZ¡­who wiped an entire kingdom off the map in a single day¡­ Kamado smirked. ¡°It sounds like you have it even rougher than we do.¡± Ash cracked a wan smile. ¡°I guess, in a certain sense.¡± ¡°Well, that clears that up then.¡± Kamado straightened and began walking toward the door. ¡°I appreciate your honesty, Ash. I¡¯ll release Laventon and the children, as well as your friends. But¡­¡± He turned around. ¡°I can¡¯t feed and house you in our Sanctuary for free. Since you arrived in our time by mistake, I can¡¯t imagine you¡¯ll leave so easily, so I suspect you¡¯ll be needing our continued hospitality. And if you stay, you¡¯ll have to work.¡± His eyes glimmered mischievously. ¡°Cyllene. I leave them in your care.¡± Cyllene bolted up and raised her arm after him. ¡°Leader! What do you mean?¡± Kamado smiled. ¡°Welcome to the Survey Corps, Mister Ketchum. I look forward to seeing your contributions.¡± ¡°Please wait, Leader! We can¡¯t possibly trust these people! Even if everything he said it true, to so quickly incorporate them into¡ª¡° ¡°You¡¯re always lobbying me for more recruits to the Survey Corps, yet when three stellar candidates fall into our lap, you balk?¡± Kamado raised a brow. ¡°Think of it, Cyllene. This is the opportunity you¡¯ve been waiting for.¡± He glanced Ash over, then down at Pikachu. Ash frowned. Cyllene relented, lowering her arm. Her eyes flicked around, deep in thought. As Kamado moved toward the door, her head jerked up. ¡°Where are you going, sir?¡± ¡°I have to speak with Sanqua,¡± he said nonchalantly. ¡°Professor Laventon needs a new house.¡±
Riley looked the least out of place in his Hisuian clothes. Like Ash, he was bundled in thick dark cloth, but instead of his Guardian¡¯s cap, he¡¯d tied his hair into a spiky ponytail with string. Sabrina, on the other hand, if it was even possible, looked even more meek. She had the same clothes as them, but her feet were pointed awkwardly as she stood in her winter sandals. Her gauntlets jittered erratically, and like Riley, she also wore her jet black hair in a ponytail, exposing her pale neck. Ash thought she looked cute. ¡°Haaaaah, well¡­¡± Laventon sighed as he stared at the ruins of his house. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Professor,¡± Ash said, and Pikachu cooed in remorse on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be, young lad. ¡®Twas just a house, and houses can be rebuilt. Plus, we all know how Leader Kamado is. I¡¯d do it all again if I knew you three would be joining the Survey Corps in return.¡± ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Rei pumped his fist. ¡°Welcome to the team, guys! We¡¯re totally unstoppable now!¡± Akari opened her mouth, presumably to scold him, but even she couldn¡¯t stop the smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Have you heard from Miss Cyllene about your first assignment?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Riley said. ¡°I believe she¡¯s redrawing some of her previous plans to incorporate us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gotta be that!¡± Rei said excitedly. He spun around and pointed up at Mount Coronet, which towered above the walls of the Sanctuary in the far distance. ¡°Miss Cyllene hasn¡¯t let us get anywhere near it, but with you guys¡­¡± The rift looked dull some afar and easily could have been mistaken for dark clouds if one didn¡¯t already know about it. Yet staring at it long enough, every now and then, it seemed to flash, glinting through the frosty haze above the mountain¡¯s peak. ¡°Now, now, we¡¯re not going to send them on a suicide mission,¡± Laventon chided. Akari tugged at Rei¡¯s ear, and the boy wailed mockingly. ¡°A-Are you guys alright?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°Last night¡­¡± The three Hisuians looked over at her in sync, and she shrunk slightly. ¡°Oh, yes, not a problem,¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°They just stuck us in our usual¡­room,¡± Akari said, blushing slightly. ¡°Not the first time we¡¯ve gotten in trouble!¡± Rei grinned. ¡°Probably won¡¯t be the last either.¡± ¡°But to think they knew the whole time about our secret entrance¡­¡± Laventon moaned. ¡°I was quite proud of it¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause the pok¨¦mon we brought in were always so weak,¡± Rei smirked. ¡°They knew we could handle it! And they¡¯d never admit it, but we¡¯re doing valuable research for them!¡± Akari nodded in agreement, smiling. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the end of that, I suppose,¡± Laventon said. ¡°But, a new opportunity has presented itself. For now, let¡¯s get away from this place while the Construction Corps does their job. I say we go get some potato mochi to celebrate our new friends, and after, we can show you around the Sanctuary!¡± The two kids cheered and ran ahead, and with no other choice, Ash, Riley, and Sabrina followed. Per Kamado¡¯s instruction, they were not to mention a word about the future to any others besides Cyllene and himself, or even that they¡¯d fallen from the rift. For now, the story they¡¯d told Laventon would remain. All three of them were Guardians from Rota, practiced in the powers of Aura. They¡¯d been searching for a Guardian relic left behind by their hero Sir Aaron, and had accidentally botched a Guardian spell, causing them to teleport all the way from Rota, into the rift above Mount Coronet, leaving the rest of their pok¨¦mon, and their ¡®homeland¡¯ behind. Kamado said he didn¡¯t want to cause panic within the Sanctuary, though he hadn¡¯t expanded on why it would have. To that end, he¡¯d also given Ash an empty pok¨¦ball. ¡°Your pok¨¦mon cannot walk within the Sanctuary.¡± He¡¯d seen that coming a mile away, and Pikachu must¡¯ve too because he hadn¡¯t even protested. Surprisingly, it worked, despite Pikachu already technically having a pok¨¦ball, though it wasn¡¯t really that surprising since this pok¨¦ball was a different kind entirely. Like he¡¯d seen on Rei¡¯s, this one was lined in steel and made of a different material Ash couldn¡¯t immediately place. It was also notably heavier. For now, they¡¯d have to make do here. They had no leads on where Sir Aaron¡¯s Plates could be, and even assuming going to Rota would help them, they had no way to get there. And if the rift above Mount Coronet was their ticket out of here, leaving Hisui behind to brave a voyage across the ocean on a wisp of hope didn¡¯t sound like a wise idea. Ash hoped that everyone in Paragon was doing fine and wouldn¡¯t twist themselves into knots over his and Sabrina¡¯s disappearance. Ironically, they¡¯d just been sworn to a similar such team. Despite himself, he was getting flashbacks back to his first assignment for Paragon, when he was tasked to retrieve the Electric Plate. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Twenty five hundred years in the past and we¡¯re going after Plates again¡­ Maybe they really do run the world. After walking through the wide streets of the Sanctuary, stopping seemingly every few houses so Laventon could exchange pleasantries with the residents, they arrived at their destination: a quaint shop with an outdoor eating area beneath a deep jade awning. ¡°That was gross, Professor! Did we really have to see that old guy¡¯s nasty foot just before eating?¡± Rei wrinkled his nose. ¡°I promised Mister Yamada I¡¯d bring him more salve,¡± Laventon shrugged. ¡°Beni! The same as usual, but double it this time!¡± He turned back at the others and grinned. A short middle-aged man pushed his way through the curtains over the doorway wiping his hands on a cloth. ¡°Professor. I heard the news and thought you might want a pick-me-up.¡± His eyes narrowed upon noticing the newcomers. ¡°Oh, this isn¡¯t that kind of affair, Beni. This is a celebration!¡± Laventon cheered. Rei and Akari had already rushed over and seated themselves at a table that would fit all of them. ¡°Friends, this is Beni, the genius behind the Sanctuary most delectable consumable,¡± Laventon introduced. ¡°Beni, this is Ash, Sabrina, and Riley. Guardians.¡± He raised his brow proudly. Beni nodded. ¡°Yes, word has already spread of our new neighbors. Welcome, Guardians. Any friend of Laventon is a friend of time. Please, make yourselves comfortable. I¡¯ll bring some tea out in a moment.¡± Ash and the others nodded their thanks and sat down with the rest, three per side. Soon after sitting down, Ash caught sight of something on the outside wall of the restaurant and flicked his head at it, frowning. ¡°Where did you get those?¡± The three natives turned around. ¡°Ah, the masks,¡± Laventon said. There were four of them, one green, one red, one blue, and one gray. All bore a twisted face, carved from wood and painted in vibrant colors. ¡°Beautiful, and frightening, aren¡¯t they? Mementos from Beni¡¯s hometown, an island village near Hisui.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t mine,¡± Beni grunted, wielding a tray of teacups. ¡°I¡¯m not so sentimental. Those belong to Leader Kamado,¡± he said as he distributed the tea. ¡°He and I come from the same place. Those are replicas of a mask worn by a local oni. The reason why he selected those of all things to bring here eludes me, as does why he chose to hang them on my shop. But, admittedly, the man is an enigma.¡± He smiled curtly then headed back inside. ¡°I¡¯d assumed Leader Kamado was born here,¡± Riley said. ¡°He came here with Beni when he was about our age,¡± Akari explained. ¡°I think his village was running out of food or something¡­?¡± She frowned, as if trying to remember. ¡°I thought it was because it burned down,¡± Rei said. ¡°An enigma,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Beni told it true. Yet, Leader Kamado keeps us safe. That, for a certain, is no mystery.¡± ¡°Yeah, ever since he became Leader, not one pok¨¦mon has breached the walls of the Sanctuary,¡± Rei said. ¡°Not counting the ones we brought in,¡± Akari muttered with a guilty smile. Ash took a sip of the tea, a warm comfort for this chilly noon. ¡°Are pok¨¦mon attacks a very big problem?¡± Laventon and Akari¡¯s expression dampened, and surprisingly, Rei¡¯s did too. ¡°Not for the Sanctuary¡­¡± Laventon said grimly. ¡°But venture too far¡­ The untamed frontier is unforgiving.¡± ¡°Every survey we go on lately, we have multiple casualties,¡± Akari said flatly. ¡°The Fieldlands used to be relatively safe for us, at least for us who are used to wild pok¨¦mon. But now, we have to treat even the Fieldlands like some of the more dangerous inland regions¡­¡± ¡°The Fieldlands are the region south of the Sanctuary,¡± Laventon clarified. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be the tamest region in Hisui, but ever since that rift appeared, it¡¯s like the pok¨¦mon have become more wild than usual.¡± ¡°After the rift opened, that¡¯s when the Alpha Pok¨¦mon started to appear,¡± Rei said. Riley frowned. ¡°Alpha Pok¨¦mon?¡± ¡°A title we¡¯ve bestowed to pok¨¦mon of great strength encountered in the wild,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Utterly unchallengeable. They may as well be deities to us. We¡¯ve found several in the Fieldlands, and avoiding their respective territories is absolutely essential.¡± ¡°It makes the surveys a lot more difficult,¡± Akari said. ¡°Lots more time to go around them.¡± ¡°There was a giant Rapidash¡­a crazy Snorlax¡­and then a purple Gyarados in Lake Verity,¡± Rei murmured. Laventon¡¯s skin crinkled as he smiled sadly. ¡°Those three alone have cut the Survey Corps¡¯ numbers nearly in half over the past few months. Captain Cyllene has been hesitant to authorize any more surveys beyond the Fieldlands for fear we¡¯ll find even stronger Alpha Pok¨¦mon than the ones we already have.¡± Ash gripped his cup, though his fingers felt cold. ¡°That must be why she doesn¡¯t seem to like us. We came from that same rift that¡¯s caused so much death.¡± That must be why Kamado doesn¡¯t want us connected to the rift. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t think that way,¡± Laventon said. ¡°It is true that the rift is a symbol of fear for many in the Sanctuary. But for us in the Survey Corps, it is yet another mystery to illuminate on this vast continent. Those who fell¡­I¡¯ve no doubt every one of them did not regret their choice. Unlike all the other Corps, the Survey Corps is dedicated to a purpose beyond the cramped borders of the Sanctuary.¡± Rei smiled proudly. ¡°And I don¡¯t think Miss Cyllene doesn¡¯t like you guys,¡± Akari said. ¡°She fights more fiercely against this ruthless world harder than any of us, and she¡¯ll do whatever¡¯s necessary to increase her odds. I bet she¡¯s actually ecstatic that you three arrived. Honestly, I think she was getting close to her wits¡¯ end with all the casualties lately¡­¡± Ash smiled. ¡°Battling super powerful pok¨¦mon happens to be our specialty.¡± As promised, Beni¡¯s potato mochi was delicious. Over their meal, Laventon and the others told them more about Hisui, a land divided into subregions. The Obsidian Fieldlands where they¡¯d first discovered the Alpha Pok¨¦mon were comprised of sweeping plains and crystal rivers and lakes. The Crimson Mirelands to the east were a land of thick bogs and weedy knolls. The Cobalt Coastland was a haunted stretch of beach infested with water and ghost-types, while the cold Alabaster Icelands to the north served as a home to some of the most powerful pok¨¦mon on the continent. And in the center of Hisui, surrounding Mount Coronet, were the rugged Coronet Highlands, rife with its own enchanted caves and mystic ponds. Ash had a basic sense of Hisui¡¯s layout since he¡¯d journeyed all throughout Sinnoh already, but Hisui was a different place than the region he knew, and he reminded himself to remember that fact. They were far closer in time to the Age of Carnage, and the pok¨¦mon of this era reflected it in their beastly behavior. Just at a glance, he could tell that there was something off about Akari¡¯s Staravia and Rei¡¯s Hisuian Growlithe. Or, not off, but different. They held none of the mirth that animated Pikachu or most other pok¨¦mon from modern times. After lunch, Laventon, Rei, and Akari walked them around the Sanctuary for a couple of hours, introducing them to the market district and the many vendors that lined each street. There, they saw plump fruits, dried meats, bolts of thick cloth, and much more all up for barter. After a while, they excused themselves to go shopping for items to replenish what they¡¯d lost in Kamado¡¯s attack, and although Ash tried to go with them to help, his offer was flatly denied. They refused to bring him along on such menial errands. ¡°Go on, explore our Sanctuary! No one here¡¯s ever seen a Guardian, and many could do well to have their eyes opened ever so slightly more to the outside world!¡± Laventon sang as they walked away. Left in the shadow of the Church, Ash, Sabrina, and Riley watched as they walked away. Others milled about around them attending to their daily duties, not paying them any mind. It seemed that they blended right in now that they had the local clothes on. Not even Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets earned a second glance. Clearly, living a life of survival was different from their comparably comfortable existence in the present. It was like the villagers couldn¡¯t afford to distract themselves with passing curiosities. ¡°We¡¯re being watched,¡± Sabrina murmured. As Ash and Riley looked over, she nodded back at the Church. ¡°Leader Kamado, I think.¡± ¡°Figures,¡± Riley sighed. ¡°Well, let¡¯s put on a nice performance.¡± He began walking toward one of the streets heading away from the Church. Ash and Sabrina glanced at each other before following. Torches and small bonfires danced periodically, providing light and warmth in the sullen winter and infusing the air with the scent of smoke. The street they¡¯d selected was a bit narrow, with various signs and cauldrons and shelves full of wares set up just in front of the buildings. Most of the buildings looked to be two stories, and every now and then, they saw someone peeking their head out a window to observe the chaos below. Ash rubbed Pikachu¡¯s pok¨¦ball as they walked, wishing he could release him. ¡°So, should we try to go back up through the rift?¡± Sabrina asked as they turned a corner down into a quieter, more residential part of the Sanctuary. ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to, we have no idea if it¡¯d take us back where we want to go. We used a Time Flower to get here¡­¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s something we¡¯re missing. Why would we fall out of that rift?¡± ¡°Plunging into that rift, assuming we survive, may just spit us out at a different point in time and space,¡± Riley added. ¡°A rift above the Spear Pillar¡­ One would think it¡¯d have something to do with Arceus, but there are so many legends tied to those ruins, I couldn¡¯t say with confidence what could be responsible.¡± ¡°Back when I was on my journey through Sinnoh, a group called Team Galactic summoned Dialga and Palkia to the mountain¡¯s peak, and inadvertently called in Giratina as well. My guess is Dialga or Palkia, or both.¡± ¡°The Spacetime Dragons, right?¡± Sabrina said. ¡°I think Zinnia talked about them some time¡­¡± Ash nodded. ¡°From what little I know about them, though, I don¡¯t think they¡¯d be responsible for those Alpha Pok¨¦mon they were talking about. And I¡¯m not sure what Arceus would have to do with them either.¡± ¡°With luck, Captain Cyllene will send us after one of them and we can investigate ourselves,¡± Riley said. They weren¡¯t heading anywhere in particular, but the quiet from the houses around them made the conversation easier. ¡°I really hope the time we spend here isn¡¯t passing in the present,¡± Ash said. ¡°If we end up spending weeks or months here¡­ I can¡¯t even imagine what Paragon¡¯ll do.¡± Sabrina grimaced, her gauntlet¡¯s flickering. ¡°What if the time we spend here translates to even greater time in the present¡­? What if a few weeks or even minutes here means years in the present?¡± The houses opened up into an area of open fields where several people worked diligently without even looking up at them. Presumably, this was the domain of the Agriculture Corps. ¡°No sense in worrying about that,¡± Riley said. ¡°If we begin stressing over every little second, we won¡¯t have the headspace to use to find our way home. For now, let¡¯s trust that King Aaron created his Time Flower while accounting for possible mishaps like the one we find ourselves in now.¡± ¡°Riley, what do you think of Sabrina¡¯s idea that Sir Aaron may have already revived?¡± Riley chewed his lip, his brows knit tightly. ¡°I thought about it some more last night. The assumption is that the King Aaron of roughly this time period created the Time Flower. Considering we ended up here in Hisui with King Aaron nowhere in sight, I have to think that he doesn¡¯t know about the rift. If he is alive, he may be just as confused as we are.¡± Ash frowned. That did make sense. If Sir Aaron created his special Time Flower with the intention of pulling its future users to his location in time and space, then by now, he must have assumed the Flower had failed. He may not even be looking for them. ¡°But, if he is around, word of the rift will eventually reach him for a certainty,¡± Riley said. ¡°It¡¯s anomalies precisely like this one that the Guardians are tasked with investigating. So for now, let¡¯s assist our new friends with a helping hand from the future.¡± He smiled, sun and shadow shining on his face. Optimism was their only hope now.
Sanqua, a tall, gray-haired woman, and her Construction Corps had completed Laventon¡¯s house before the sun went down. When Ash, Sabrina, and Riley returned, Laventon, Rei, and Akari had also just arrived back with clothes, furniture, supplies, and a host of instruments needed for the Professor¡¯s research. This time, Ash didn¡¯t bother asking for their opinion, and for the rest of the day, they helped them move and clean everything inside. Laventon¡¯s neighbors offered their help as well and introduced themselves to the newcomers. Some seemed more wary than others. Also, apparently Kamado had agreed to allow Laventon to open his doors to them once again, so tonight and all nights going forward, they would all be together under the same roof. Akari and Rei didn¡¯t seem to mind at all, and Laventon was acting like he¡¯d just won the lottery. He seemed to think having ¡°three¡± Guardians stay with him was more than worth his extra room and three additional mouths to feed. By the time the moon had fully risen over the horizon, the house once again looked livable, nearly as cozy as it had the first night, minus the clutter. That was a plus of the Sanctuary¡¯s minimalism. Afterward, they¡¯d returned to Beni¡¯s for dinner. ¡°Ahhhh, that hit the spot as always,¡± Lavention said with a smile, rubbing his substantial belly. ¡°You said it,¡± Rei groaned, hanging his tongue out. ¡°Hey, Ash,¡± Akari said, glancing left and right before continuing. ¡°Will Pikachu be alright? He hasn¡¯t eaten anything since this morning, right?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, he¡¯ll be fine. Maybe a bit grouchy but tomorrow, I was thinking I¡¯d let him out somewhere out of the way or something, if that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Our pok¨¦mon are kept in the pastures near the eastern wall,¡± she explained. ¡°I think Leader Kamado is slipping you guys into the register, so you should be able to get some space from the Security Corps if we ask.¡± ¡°Hmmm. I don¡¯t think Pikachu would like a pen very much, plus I like to keep him with me at all times, if possible. Maybe I can head back to the beach where we met and let him stretch his legs a bit.¡± Laventon pointed at him. ¡°Ah, that reminds me, Ash. Cyllene gave me a message earlier. She wants you, her, and me to return to the beach and tell our stories again on-site, so she can add a visual reference to her report.¡± ¡°Just me?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Any one of you is fine. She¡¯s been rigorous in her documentation on anything even remotely related to that rift. I assume this exercise is a part of that. Most likely, once she squares that away, she¡¯ll be ready to begin our next survey.¡± Thoughtful as ever, Laventon had gotten them each several changes of clothes and toiletries, and once they returned, they changed into yukata with simple patterns. Though Rei had wanted to stay up and keep talking, once Akari reminded him of how tired Laventon must be after walking and shopping all day, he agreed to an earlier turn-in. He and Laventon each had a futon in the main room, Ash and Riley were in one of the side rooms, and Sabrina and Akari were in the other. After bidding each other good night, the wooden doors slid closed between them. At this time tomorrow night, the walls of Jubilife Sanctuary would already be breached. Next ¡ª Chapter 57 : Yura
Hisui Incursion [5] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [5] Chapter 57 : Yura
Sabrina¡¯s eyes opened the next morning of their own accord. Her room was windowless, but she could more or less tell how bright it was outside due to the light that filtered through the paper screens of the wooden door. She listened for a moment and soon heard Akari¡¯s steady breathing beside her. She was still asleep. Should she get up now? She¡¯d already missed a day of training yesterday, buried beneath Jubilife Church. Missing another day would only make her more anxious. And in this situation that they found themselves in, curbing her anxiety was even more important than usual. Silently, she peeled out of her futon. It only took a minute to change out of her yukata, and then she was faced with how to freshen up. Laventon and Rei were likely still asleep in the main room with the sink, and unlike modern versions, it was squeaky and loud. Closing her eyes, her gauntlets whirred momentarily and she flicked her wrist. Immediately, her hair straightened and fell back on her shoulders. Her face instantly felt lighter, and the taste of morning breath in her mouth vanished. She tried not to do this. Brushing her hair, washing her face, and brushing her teeth were all tasks she could accomplish with a literal flick of her wrist, but she really tried not to. She was human. The only way that claim held water was if she acted like one. She slid open the door to the main room and as expected, Laventon and Rei were both still asleep. She stepped around them and slipped outside. It was about six in the morning. She didn¡¯t know that because she was some survivalist who could tell time based on the position of the sun; she just knew because she woke up at the same time every day, and had for years. It was the same last night, waking up in that pitch-black little room. She¡¯d simply waited for Kamado to come and collect her. Light had just started to descend on the Sanctuary and it was silent out. A soft wind caressed her face, reminding her of the season since it had an icy bite to it. No matter. She¡¯d done her training in the cold before. Luckily, the sun was just beginning to peek over the mountains in the distance, so she could still do her training. And as it happened, there was a small hill a short walk away from Laventon¡¯s house. But it seemed she wasn¡¯t the only early riser. Someone was already up on that hill. Sabrina swallowed and started toward the hill. The grass felt moist beneath her sandals as she walked. Riley turned upon hearing her approach. ¡°Ah, Sabrina. Good morning.¡± He smiled politely. She put up a hand. From this slight loft, they could overlook the small plaza of houses where Laventon lived, and the more cramped central part of the Sanctuary where most of the market lay. Now that she was up here, Sabrina could see a few people off in the distance, over in the fields, and in front of a few shops, setting up for the day. ¡°It¡¯s oddly tranquil here,¡± Riley said. ¡°You¡¯d never know people and pok¨¦mon are at such odds seeing this.¡± So he said, but the pastures Akari had mentioned lined the wall further away, and though she couldn¡¯t make out any individual species from here, Sabrina could tell they were tightly caged and separated cleanly from the rest of society. It looked like there were several guards standing watch over those sectioned pens¡ªmembers of the Security Corps, probably. Sabrina glanced over at him, and her gauntlets began to spin faster as she prepared to speak. ¡°Are you alright, Riley?¡± The Guardian looked over at her. ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡± She didn¡¯t think this was overstepping, but even if it was, it was too late to back out now. ¡°What happened to Rota¡­and Sir Aaron¡­ It¡¯s only been a few days.¡± Riley¡¯s expression noticeably darkened and he turned away. ¡°Ah, of course. I appreciate your concern,¡± he said flatly. At first, Sabrina thought that was all he was going to say, but eventually, he continued. ¡°Any time I dwell on it for too long, despair claws at me. The feeling of loss is¡­unexpectedly heavy.¡± He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. ¡°I should be grateful. Rota may be gone, but for what it was, there were surprisingly few casualties¡± He turned to her and smiled. ¡°I have you and your friends to thank for that.¡± Sabrina wrinkled her brows and she felt her face heat up. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works though¡­¡± Riley raised an eyebrow. ¡°Even if we were able to save so many¡­it doesn¡¯t make the ones we lost any less painful,¡± she said quietly. Then she froze and whipped toward him. ¡°Sorry! I¡ª¡° Riley smiled. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re right.¡± He nodded and straightened. ¡°King Aaron¡¯s death weighs especially heavy on me. Perhaps it is the burden of expectation he left behind or the fact that I have already faltered on the road he set me on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Sabrina said firmly, her brows tightening. ¡°It¡¯s like Ash said. And no one could have predicted what would happen. Not even Sir Aaron.¡± Riley met her gaze, but she was stalwart. Eventually, he leaned back and stretched, pushing his arms out. He smiled. ¡°If it were you or Ash in my position, I think I¡¯d say the same to you. But it¡¯s as you say. I cannot deny the feelings I¡¯m left with. All the same, I feel like a weight has been lifted talking to you.¡± Sabrina¡¯s face burned, though in embarrassment or pride, she couldn¡¯t say. ¡°I promise, I won¡¯t burden you or Ash anymore,¡± Riley said. ¡°For now, my heart is dedicated to the task at hand.¡± Before Sabrina could tell him he wasn¡¯t being a burden, Riley grinned. ¡°That Leader Kamado is rather shrewd, isn¡¯t he? When he attacked us, he targeted me specifically. He immediately identified me as the weakest among us and took me hostage accordingly. He¡¯s a very talented man.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not¡­¡± Sabrina began, but a smirk from Riley shut her down. He didn¡¯t look hurt about it at all. If anything, he looked amused. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s no match for me or any of us. But, I must say I¡¯m rather impressed with these trainers of the past. I¡¯d very much like to see how they battle first-hand.¡± Ultimately, Sabrina did not get around to training her eyes that morning. Yet curiously, she was never visited by a bout of anxiety because of it. And unbeknownst to her, Ash was also already awake, and he jogged up behind them a bit later, having completed his usual morning run. He greeted them both with a ¡®good morning,¡¯ and a suggestive smile. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Sabrina turned beet-red at the insinuation. There was nothing to be done. Her gauntlets were going a mile a minute too. ¡°Just a conversation between friends,¡± Riley said matter-of-factly. ¡°Is that alright with you?¡± Friends¡­ Sabrina¡¯s heart warmed. ¡°You don¡¯t need my permission,¡± Ash said, kicking a tiny rock down the other side of the hill. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t know when the others will be up but I¡¯m kinda starving. You guys down for breakfast?¡± ¡°I did see a couple of inns on our stroll yesterday,¡± Riley said. ¡°We could look into those.¡± ¡°Way ahead of you, man. I saw a breakfast place near the fields on my run. Berry pancakes and fresh milk, it looked like.¡± Sabrina¡¯s stomach growled involuntarily.
They¡¯d forgotten they had no money, but for establishments like this, all they had to do was mention that they were in the Survey Corps and that was good enough, apparently. Seemed Cyllene or the Church would be picking up their tab. Ash got a stack of the pancakes he¡¯d been raving about, as did Sabrina but hers was half as tall. Riley opted for a tea and some sort of sugary pastry which seemed to be Hisui¡¯s equivalent of a donut. ¡°Ash, do you mind if I go with Cyllene today?¡± Riley asked as they were finishing up. ¡°I know you wanted to let Pikachu stretch his legs but I wanted to perform a certain Guardian spell back where we landed.¡± Ash swallowed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine. I think Cyllene is almost ready to head out on a proper survey again anyway. At least that¡¯s what Rei was thinking.¡± ¡°Great, thank you. It may be a long shot, but given how powerful the three of us are, I believe there should be some residual Aura left where we landed, and possibly a trail leading back up from where we fell. If said trail reaches into the rift, it may be possible for us to navigate our way back home by following it. But I¡¯ll have to do it before the trail dissipates.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Ash grinned, unclipping his pokeball and tossing it in the air. ¡°Pikachu can handle his pok¨¦ball a bit longer. Who knows, maybe the old design is more comfortable.¡± Somehow, Cyllene found them just as they were getting up. Seems they were still being spied on. ¡°You. Let¡¯s go now,¡± she said, nodding at Ash. ¡°Actually Miss Cyllene, do you mind if I come instead?¡± Riley stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯d like to perform¡ª¡° ¡°I don¡¯t care. One of you, let¡¯s just go.¡± She spun on her heel and started walking away. Riley glanced at them and shrugged, then waved his goodbye. ¡°Hopefully I¡¯ll have some good news to report later.¡± Ash and Sabrina watched them go. ¡°So rude,¡± Ash muttered. ¡°And we¡¯ve been nothing but polite too.¡± He shook his head. Sabrina stared at his breath condensing in the air in front of him. His hair was unkempt from his morning run but he¡¯d been given a cap similar to Rei¡¯s to cover it. As he stretched, Sabrina became slightly jealous at how carefree he seemed to be. She wished she was the same. ¡°By the way, how was Riley this morning?¡± he asked. He rubbed the back of his head. ¡°I know he¡¯s been down the past couple days and I¡¯ve been meaning to talk to him, it¡¯s just¡­I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Sabrina¡¯s cheeks heated up. ¡°¡­We talked a bit about it.¡± Ash looked over and raised a brow. ¡°I think he just needs time to process it,¡± she continued. ¡°Actually¡­I think he wanted to go with Cyllene just to get some space¡­¡± She trailed off and whipped toward Ash. ¡°Not that I think he¡¯s lying about the Guardian spell, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Ash smiled. ¡°Gotcha. Thanks for doing that. I¡¯m just¡­not good at that stuff.¡± But¡­ Sabrina wanted to say. How many times had the thought of him given her confidence? How many times had she asked herself what he and their friends would do in order to help her through a situation? But, of course, she couldn¡¯t say anything. That was way too embarrassing. All she had for him was a pink face staring up at him. ¡°I guess you¡¯re pretty good at reading people,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you said, but I noticed immediately that he seemed brighter this morning.¡± ¡°No way¡­¡± Sabrina pulled her scarf up and buried her face in it. He didn¡¯t even say anything about my psychic powers¡­ But it was true. It¡¯s not like she¡¯d read Riley¡¯s mind. She spent a lot of time observing people. Maybe because she was so familiar with it herself, she was acutely aware when people put on a mask to hide their feelings. ¡°Since we don¡¯t have anything to do today, I was gonna head back to that pok¨¦mon supply shop to pick up a few more things. Wanna come?¡± Ash asked, thumbing down the street. Sabrina pursed her lips, then shook her head. ¡°Sorry. I saw something earlier that I want to check out.¡± Ash stared at her, probably in surprise, but nodded. ¡°Okay. Guess I¡¯ll see you back later at Laventon¡¯s place.¡± He started walking away, then turned around and tapped his head with a grin. ¡°Feel free to¡­you know, if you need anything.¡± She felt her face heat up as she nodded, though luckily he¡¯d already turned away again so he didn¡¯t see her blush for the umpteenth time. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Honestly, this much socializing deserved a nap. But, she had seen something while they were eating breakfast. And she did want to take a look. Honestly, Sabrina was a little surprised at herself at how sure she was of such a decisive decision. Then again, given what it was, she kind of wasn¡¯t surprised at all. And she was actually glad Ash hadn¡¯t asked to come with her. She¡¯d seen other villagers walk onto and through the fields so she was pretty sure she wasn¡¯t breaking any rules as she stepped between a short cobblestone wall from the dirt street to the soil path between two tilled plots. She kept her head low as she walked, not wanting to attract the attention of the few farmers scattered throughout. ¡°Good morning!¡± Instinctively, she looked up. A man was smiling at her from across another field. She gave an awkward wave back and luckily, that seemed to satisfy him, as he went back to what he was doing. Now that she thought of it, they were on the cusp of winter, and there¡¯d likely have been way more people out here if it were any other time of the year. But, she¡¯d lucked out, and no one else stopped her as she crossed the fields, which rolled up a shallow hill the further she got from the rest of the village. Maybe it was an unconscious habit of hers to suppress her presence or maybe it was just because the soil beneath her was so soft that she didn¡¯t make any sound, but either way, the tiny girl hunched over what appeared to be a barren field seemed to have a heart attack as she turned around and saw Sabrina crouched down behind her. ¡°AHHHHHH!¡± The girl screamed, falling back onto her field, her eyes wide as saucers. As she crawled back, away from Sabrina, she glanced around the fields to see if anyone else had heard her. Seems they hadn¡¯t, or they didn¡¯t care. ¡°Sorry!¡± Sabrina said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take anything! I didn¡¯t!¡± She rolled and stood. ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t say you were!¡± Sabrina raised a hand to stop her, and the girl actually stopped and turned around. Upon closer inspection, the girl kind of looked like Sabrina. She had tangled black hair and she wore the same thick dark clothes as everyone else. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes were wild, ready to defend herself. However, all she had were two tiny balled hands covered by mittens to defend herself with. ¡°W-What¡¯s your name?¡± Sabrina decided to start with that. The girl frowned, her thin eyebrows curling. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard of me?¡± Sabrina shook her head. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m a visitor.¡± Immediately, the girl¡¯s eyes widened and all aggression vanished. ¡°A visitor? From where? Somewhere in Hisui?¡± She pumped her fists excitedly. ¡°No, it¡¯s not in Hisui¡­ It¡¯s pretty far away.¡± ¡°Huh? What? Where? Where is it? How¡¯d you get here? Why¡¯d you come?¡± With each question, she got closer and closer to Sabrina until she was right on top of her, and since Sabrina was crouching, she fell back onto her behind. ¡°Ah! Sorry!¡± The girl took a step back and twiddled her fingers in embarrassment. Sabrina shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± She met the girl¡¯s dark eyes and offered a smile. ¡°Uhh, I¡¯m Yura,¡± the girl said, looking away. She bounced between her feet awkwardly. ¡°Hey, why are you talking to me anyway?¡± Sabrina¡¯s smile faded. She really hoped she wasn¡¯t coming across as creepy. ¡°Sorry, I just saw you earlier and was wondering what you were doing¡­ How old are you, Yura?¡± ¡°Nine.¡± Yura turned her head up proudly, then glanced back at Sabrina. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Oh, right. Sabrina internally cringed. She¡¯d forgotten the proper order of things. ¡°My name is Sabrina. Nice to meet you, Yura.¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± Suddenly, Yura seemed disinterested. Did kids really change on a dime so quickly? ¡°So how old are you, miss?¡± she asked. ¡°Um, e-eighteen.¡± Yura stuck her finger out. ¡°And what¡¯re those?¡± she asked, pointing at her gauntlets. Immediately, they started to spin faster. ¡°O-Oh, t-these. T-These¡­are from where I come from.¡± Again, Yura lit up. ¡°Oh, yeah! Wait, where are you from again? Unova? Rota? Or¡­what¡¯s that other place called¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from a place called Kanto,¡± Sabrina said, trying to calm herself. ¡°It¡¯s near Rota¡­¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Yura seemed to falter a bit after hearing the answer but quickly regained her toothy grin. ¡°You sure know a lot about places, Yura,¡± Sabrina said, mustering a smile as best she could. Ugh, terrible line. ¡°Hmph. I¡¯m the only one who knows anything about other places,¡± Yura scoffed. ¡°Anyway, why¡¯d you talk to me, miss? I have important things to do right now.¡± Sabrina shuffled, half to get better footing on the soft ground while crouching, and half because she was about to breach this girl¡¯s privacy in exactly the sort of way she would¡¯ve hated someone doing to her. She took a deep breath. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± It was a simple question, but Sabrina already knew the answer. One look at the girl, even from all the way across the fields as she¡¯d been eating her breakfast, and she could see it. The cloud of isolation. The loneliness. The determination of someone who had only themselves. Yura bristled and looked away. ¡°Don¡¯t have any.¡± I knew that. ¡°S¡­¡± Sabrina started to say. No, don¡¯t say sorry. ¡°D-Do you live by yourself?¡± she said, quickly recovering. Yura¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t try and find it. I won¡¯t give anything back.¡± Give anything back¡­ Of course. There was only one thing a girl like this could do to survive on her own: steal. That¡¯s why she was surprised I hadn¡¯t heard of her¡­ She must be a menace to all the shopkeepers. But still¡­ ¡°Have you met Professor Laventon? He¡¯s a nice man. I think he¡¯d¡ª¡° Yura snorted. ¡°That old fart? He¡¯s just like the rest of them. No one believes me.¡± ¡°Believes you about what?¡± The little girl stood, clutching the thick folds of her clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, miss! Hope you like your visit here!¡± Before Sabrina could get in another word, she spun on her heel and started running away as fast as her stubby legs could carry her. As she crested the hill, she tripped and fell. A handful of berries spilled out from within her clothes and rolled down the hill to Sabrina¡¯s feet. Didn¡¯t take anything, huh? Yura turned back and glared, but decided against recovering them and continued over the hill. Sabrina stood and watched her go, and when the girl left her sights, she continued to watch her presence weave its way through the outskirts of the village with her psychic sense. But, she turned that off too eventually, and let Yura disappear. She looked down at the berries at her feet. Scooping a few of them up, she tucked them in her own clothes. As she sighed, her breath wafted in front of her. Suddenly, she felt far colder than the weather would suggest. Of course the girl wasn¡¯t just going to accept Sabrina just like that. She wouldn¡¯t have either. But¡­still¡­she wished there was more she could¡¯ve done. She knew, more than most, what it was like to feel utterly alone, thinking no one in the world could possibly understand her. She only wished she could impart the same warmth others had imparted to her. Sabrina pulled her scarf up as she walked back toward the village. For now, she¡¯d go and seek out a quiet place to collect herself again. But, she had questions for Laventon. Again. Quite uncharacteristic.
Sabrina reunited with Ash and Laventon back at Beni¡¯s for lunch. Rei and Akari were elsewhere this time, so perhaps that meant they trusted Ash and Sabrina with the Professor. ¡°I wanted to ask about something if you don¡¯t mind, Professor,¡± Sabrina said after watching him all lunch and waiting until an opportune moment arrived. Ash glanced over curiously. ¡°Of course,¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°Who is Yura?¡± Immediately, Laventon grimaced and his smile faded. ¡°So, you met her.¡± His eyes drooped in sadness. Ash looked between him and Sabrina. ¡°The Survey Corps found her outside the Sanctuary in the Crimson Mirelands several years ago. Close to death, riddled with sickness, and protected by a strange pok¨¦mon. We brought her in and nursed her back to health. None of the villagers reported any connection to her, but when we asked her where she¡¯d come from¡­¡± He bowed his head, then met Sabrina¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. How could we possibly let that girl live as she does? But¡­she refuses to accept our help. Believe me, I¡¯ve tried¡­ But¡­she¡¯s so stubborn.¡± He said it firmly, as if angry at himself. ¡°Where did she say she was from?¡± Sabrina asked. Laventon looked up. ¡°She said she was from a village outside, near Mount Coronet. She couldn¡¯t tell us its name since she didn¡¯t know it, being so young. But she said she returned one day to find it completely destroyed and her people, gone¡­ She took her pok¨¦mon and traveled south as far as she could.¡± Laventon shook his head, and his eyes suddenly looked hollow, steeped in tragedy. ¡°But¡­no such village exists or has ever existed. We¡¯d know of it too. Our maps of Hisui are quite detailed. We spoke with the Diamond and Pearl Clans too and they¡¯d never heard of such a place either.¡± ¡°Did you go over and look?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Laventon said, a defeated laugh escaping his mouth. ¡°Yes, we went. Exactly to where the girl told us to. Yet there was nothing there. Not even the remnants of a village.¡± He shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s so adamant about it, but she must be mistaken. Hallucinations induced by her grave health. Our theory is that a merchant vessel shipwrecked off Hisui¡¯s eastern coast and she was its sole survivor. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time those haunted shores have claimed a wooden life. I mean, how else could she have gotten as far as the Mirelands from all the way in the northeast?¡± ¡°You said she had a pok¨¦mon with her. Where is it now?¡± Ash asked. ¡°It¡¯s still with her. It¡¯s just as precocious as her. It protects her from the many shopkeepers she earns the wrath of, and prevents us from offering any further help.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t Miss Cyllene or Leader Kamado handle it?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°Or is it that strong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strong enough. But a tiny thing, like her, and just as wily. Any time someone goes after it, it burrows into the ground and threatens to attack buildings in the village from below.¡± Sabrina frowned. What was this pok¨¦mon? She doubted she¡¯d recognize it, but surely Ash would if he saw it. Laventon clenched his fist. ¡°I would too, you know I would. Just like I took Akari and Rei in, just like I took you all in¡­ I would take her in a heartbeat if only she¡¯d let me. But¡­until we believe her story about the village¡­she refuses.¡± ¡°It sounds like a tough situation you¡¯re in,¡± Ash said. Laventon nodded. ¡°At least she gets what she needs. We don¡¯t know where she stays in the village but every now and then she emerges to swipe food, clothes, and other such things. The Church repays the shops and everyone turns a blind eye to her deeds¡­ But this sort of cold treatment just isn¡¯t proper for a child, especially as young as she is¡­¡± Ash leaned back. ¡°Hmmm. I wonder if there¡¯s anything we can do to help.¡± As always, it was just like him to insert himself into others¡¯ problems even when they had their own problems to contend with. But this time, Sabrina was on the same page. It¡¯s just one girl. It should be so easy! It was so easy they didn¡¯t even realize they saved me¡­ I just have to do the same¡­somehow!
After lunch, Laventon had more shopping to do to finish getting his house back in order, and since Akari and Rei weren¡¯t around, Ash and Sabrina stayed to help. According to Laventon, the two young members of the Survey Corps often trained their pok¨¦mon against each other at the Security Corps barracks where they had small practice battlefields. Though lately, their pok¨¦mon were getting so powerful that they sometimes had to take it outside the village. Sabrina could tell Ash wanted to pop over and watch and maybe if she was more assertive, she would¡¯ve told him it was alright for him to go and she¡¯d stay and help Laventon. But, she wasn¡¯t. So they walked around together until night fell. ¡°Hm, I wonder what¡¯s taking Cyllene so long,¡± Laventon wondered as they ate dinner at home: a delicious rice porridge filled with winter root vegetables. ¡°I would think they¡¯d be back by now.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, Riley said he wanted to try out a Guardian spell to look into that rift,¡± Ash said. ¡°That¡¯s probably it.¡± ¡°What?! He¡¯s using a Guardian spell?! Aw, I totally woulda wanted to see that!¡± Rei whined. ¡°Sorry.¡± Ash chuckled nervously. Rei frowned and then whipped toward them. ¡°Wait, you guys are Guardians too. Can you show us anything?¡± Ash and Sabrina glanced at each other. ¡°Uhhh,¡± Ash said. ¡°Sssssure.¡± Even Akari¡¯s eyes lit up and they leaned closer into the circle they¡¯d been sitting in. Laventon paused from stirring the pot in the middle of the room to watch. Ash opened his hand and summoned a few thin bolts of electricity between his fingers. As they zapped between his fingers, the light flickered off the walls of the house, and Rei and Akari¡¯s jaws both dropped. Ash extinguished the bolts and smiled, then turned to Sabrina. ¡°Alright, your turn.¡± Sabrina blushed and her gauntlets glowed brighter as they started to spin faster. Glancing around the room, she found one of the bags of stuff they¡¯d gotten today sitting on a dresser. She raised her hand, and an emerald light outlined its form. It hovered off the dresser and Rei couldn¡¯t stop himself from running over and waving his hands above and below it as if to confirm it wasn¡¯t on string or anything. Then, Sabrina sat it back down. ¡°No¡­freaking¡­way! That was awesome!¡± Rei hollered. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Guardians since I was a kid, but you guys are actually real!¡± Uhhh, yeah, totally¡­ ¡°Yep,¡± Ash smirked, leaning back proudly. Sabrina had to stop herself from smiling. ¡°So, how powerful are you guys anyway?¡± Akari asked, her eyes alight with interest. ¡°I¡¯d say pretty powerful,¡± Ash said slowly, checking with Sabrina through eye contact, though she wasn¡¯t really sure what he wanted her to say. ¡°Who¡¯s the most powerful between you guys?¡± Rei asked. Sabrina recalled what Riley had said this morning. The weakest among us. She caught Ash¡¯s eye. He was positively brimming with competition. ¡°I think I might¡ª¡° ¡°I think I¡¯m the strongest,¡± Sabrina said, raising her hand. Ash balked, but a smirk soon overtook his face. ¡°How do you figure that?¡± ¡°Just a feeling.¡± Ash looked over at Rei and Akari, then back at Sabrina, speechless. Sabrina felt her chest burn with pride and she couldn¡¯t stop a small smile from sneaking onto her face. ¡°I have seventy-five pok¨¦mon, you know?¡± he said loudly. ¡°I won¡­that. I have¡­that.¡± Sabrina covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. ¡°Seventy-five?!¡± Rei hollered. ¡°You what?¡± Laventon gasped, unable to stay silent. ¡°I only have four, but mine are way stronger. Plus, I¡¯m just stronger in general,¡± Sabrina said calmly. Ash frowned. ¡°Four? I thought you only had three.¡± Whoops. ¡°Wait! Do you actually have seventy-five pok¨¦mon?¡± Rei demanded, jabbing his finger at Ash. Ash stared at him, before sighing and smiling. ¡°Nah, sorry. I was just kidding. I don¡¯t have that many.¡± ¡°What? C¡¯mon, man.¡± Rei plopped back down, disappointed. ¡°Haha. Of course not,¡± Laventon said with a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I fell for that.¡± ¡°So, I guess that means Sabrina is stronger,¡± Akari said. Ash turned and met the psychic¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, I guess we¡¯ll say that,¡± he said with a smile. Sabrina blushed suddenly. Why had she challenged him again? Now all eyes were on her. She shifted awkwardly in place, her gauntlets whirring faster accordingly. ¡°So what pok¨¦mon do you have back home?¡± Rei asked excitedly. ¡°What¡¯re the four?¡± Sabrina glanced at Ash for support, but he¡¯d turned back to his bowl to take a bite. ¡°Um,¡± she said. ¡°Well, I have an Alakazam.¡± Rei and Akari whipped toward each other, both frowning. ¡°Alakazam¡­¡± ¡°Have we heard of that one?¡± ¡°I feel like one of Volo¡¯s guys may have had one¡­?¡± ¡°Hmmm,¡± Laventon said, stroking his chin. ¡°It¡¯s a psychic-type, correct?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sabrina nodded. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve heard of Abra? It evolves from Abra.¡± Rei snapped his fingers. ¡°Oh, yeah! One of the guys in the Church has one, I think. Little yellow thing that sleeps all the time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Sabrina said as she covered her mouth with her sleeve. She wondered what Alakazam would think of Rei¡¯s description. ¡°I also have a Gengar.¡± Akari¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You actually have a Gengar? And it obeys you?¡± Sabrina smiled in embarrassment. ¡°Yeah, basically.¡± ¡°Incredible,¡± Laventon said. ¡°The Guardians were always said to be adept at handling pok¨¦mon, but to think you tamed such a fearsome ghost¡­¡± ¡°Man, Sabrina really is the strongest¡­¡± Rei muttered. ¡°Now hang on just a sec, I have a Gengar too!¡± Ash interjected, setting his bowl aside as if fully devoting himself to the argument once again. ¡°I also have Dragonite, I bet you¡¯ve heard of that one!¡± He grinned proudly. ¡°You don¡¯t have a Dragonite!¡± Rei said. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Ash could not look more pompous if he tried. ¡°And a Charizard. And a Snorlax!¡± Some indescribable sound escaped Rei¡¯s mouth and Akari swiftly chopped him in the neck and pushed him aside. ¡°Wait, so if you don¡¯t have seventy-five pok¨¦mon, how many do you actually have again?¡± she asked while leaning over Rei¡¯s prone body. As Akari and Rei fawned over him, Sabrina leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief now that the attention was off of her. She doubted they¡¯d have known who Minior was, but there was no way she could¡¯ve mentioned her fourth and final pok¨¦mon. Even Ash didn¡¯t know about that one. ¡°Can you bring out Pikachu?¡± Akari suddenly asked. ¡°That¡¯s okay, right?¡± she said, turning to Laventon with a pleading look. The professor frowned nervously, glancing between her and Ash. ¡°Oh, alright. We walked the whole way back to the Sanctuary without issue. But please Ash, if it starts to run wild¡ª¡° ¡°Don¡¯t even worry about it, Professor. Pikachu¡¯s a total softie.¡± Ash pulled out Pikachu¡¯s pok¨¦ball and weighed it in his hand for a moment before thumbing the release. The moment Pikachu coalesced onto the floor, he lunged at Ash. ¡°Oh, no!¡± Laventon yelped, jumping back. ¡°Recall him, recall him!¡± ¡°Settle down, Pikachu!¡± Ash said as the mouse clawed at his face. He managed to push Pikachu off, and for a moment, trainer and pok¨¦mon glared at each other. That was the longest he¡¯d spent in a pok¨¦ball in a long time, and on an empty stomach too. Then Pikachu glanced aside and noticed Rei and Akari. Before either could react, he grinned and jumped toward them. ¡°Whoa!¡± Rei shoved Akari out of the way as Pikachu buried himself in his lap. The mouse looked up and smiled, nuzzling Rei¡¯s belly. ¡°See?¡± Ash sighed, his face slightly red. ¡°A total softie.¡± Rei was frozen, his jaw agape, seemingly from shock and excitement both. And behind him, Akari wore a similar expression, peering over his shoulder cautiously with a look of unfettered interest. Laventon swallowed then plopped down. ¡°Ahh, so this is how Cyllene feels when she sees what we¡¯re up to¡­ I¡¯ll have to apologize when I see her next.¡± As Pikachu scampered into Akari¡¯s lap, the girl leaned back to give him room but didn¡¯t recoil. Carefully, she reached a finger down to stroke his fur. ¡°Ah.¡± She pulled her finger back. ¡°I got zapped.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just static,¡± Ash smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯d never hurt you guys. As long as he¡¯s here, you¡¯re totally safe. Don¡¯t even worry¡ª¡° Sabrina¡¯s eyes suddenly flared, sizzling to emerald life, and her gauntlets whirred noisily, cascading around her wrists. ¡°Ash!¡± she yelled, standing in an instant. Pikachu¡¯s ears rocketed up and he leaped out of Akari¡¯s grip, growling. ¡°I gotcha,¡± Ash growled, moving toward the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Laventon said, his eyes alight with concern. ¡°Stay here. We¡¯ll make sure this house lasts longer than twenty-four hours.¡± Ash placed his hand on the front door and threw it open. Immediately, the sound of screams erupted from without, and the interior of their abode became bathed in orange light. In the distance, fires roared atop buildings, and people were running from its direction. ¡°What in the world¡­?¡± Akari mumbled, shaking. Rei glared at the carnage outside. He started to get up. ¡°Stay here,¡± Ash repeated firmly. ¡°You don¡¯t have your pok¨¦mon!¡± ¡°I have to do something!¡± ¡°Rei!¡± Laventon barked, grabbing his shoulder. Ash met the Professor¡¯s eye and nodded, then he turned. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sabrina.¡± She nodded, and with an emerald flash, she, Ash, and Pikachu all disappeared at once, before teleporting right into the fiery cold. They were now at an intersection between the structures of the inner village. Flames roared around them, the air filled with smoke and ash. Wood splintered and cracked as the fire burned, each burst of destruction sending another plume of embers into the black sky. ¡°Anyone in the area?¡± Ash yelled over the raging fire. Sabrina¡¯s eyes were already closed, searching the area for survivors. ¡°No!¡± she yelled back. ¡°I put us near the fire but whatever started it is down there!¡± She pointed down one of the streets filled with even brighter flames. On the ground, Pikachu screeched and started running. Ash and Sabrina glanced at each other before following. As they ran, Sabrina waved her hand, and the fire within her line of sight sputtered out, plunging them into a darker scene and leaving nothing but scorched wood and stone behind. As they emerged into an open plaza, wreathed in flames, the source of the conflagration soon became apparent. And they weren¡¯t the only ones that¡¯d appeared to help. Captain Kamado¡¯s unmistakable cloak billowed behind him, his hand gripping his sword as he stared up at the beast. Golem and Heracross were both deployed beside him. Aside from him, a dozen other people surrounded the monster with their pok¨¦mon scattered throughout the ring. The monster in the middle of it all made Sabrina think of one pok¨¦mon. It bore a striking resemblance to Anabel¡¯s Sophia. Like Decidueye, it wore a cloak of leaves, but these were autumn brown and red, made even redder by the licking flames around it. And instead of a leafy hood, this one wore what appeared to be a brilliant crimson-brimmed hat. Ash skidded to a stop upon seeing it and Pikachu¡¯s cheeks crackled dangerously. They were ready to fight, but it¡¯d be difficult with so many people around already engaged. The towering visage of Jubilife Church shimmered over the fiery scene and just beside it, a grisly hole lay within the thick wooden wall of the Sanctuary. The logs were splintered and crushed like they¡¯d been forcefully hacked through. Overturned torches scorched what was left of the breach. The Decidueye¡¯s head rolled on its neck, locking toward Ash and Sabrina the moment they arrived. Beneath its hat, its beady eyes narrowed. ¡°If you can hold it in place, I can¡ª¡° Ash began. The monstrous bird stepped forward, sending its assailants into a raucous panic. ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°Orders, sir!¡± At its feet came a higher-pitched scream. ¡°Get away!¡± Sabrina¡¯s blood ran cold. As the monster slowly stalked forward, a tiny form on the ground in front of it, within the circle of trainers and pok¨¦mon, scooted away on shaking legs. ¡°Yura!¡± Sabrina screamed, darting forward. The trainers nearest her turned in surprise at the sudden arrival but Sabrina ignored them as her power ignited, curling up her arms. She reached out, ready to grasp Decidueye in her psychic hold. Faster than lightning, Decidueye blitzed into the air. Then, as Sabrina had seen Sophia do countless times, it nocked a volley of arrows in its arm and pulled back on the bowstring. It¡¯s so fast! Just as fast as Sophia! They¡¯ll be too fast for me to stop! The words were coming out of her mouth before she realized it. She raised her left wrist. ¡°Disable left arm restraint!¡± Her left gauntlet went dark and clicked, then fell off her arm into the mud below. The jade light coursing across her body turned a deep purple, and violet cracks webbed out across her entire body, fracturing her face in an instant. Her eyes glowed with a harsh darkness, and as she ran, violet embers flecked off of her body, revealing a roiling mass of power barely contained just beneath her skin. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Ash roared. She identified Decidueye¡¯s individual arrows in a millisecond, and the moment it loosed them, she snatched them out of the air with a violent twang and hurled them away uselessly. As she did, a burst of psychic energy threw all the people and pok¨¦mon around her to the ground, and Decidueye was also buffeted out of the sky. It landed unceremoniously on its back a distance away from Yura and hissed in anger. ¡°Now!¡± Kamado barked. ¡°Heracross, Agile Megahorn! Golem, Strong Heavy Slam!¡± Heracross beat its wings and launched forward, its horn glowing, and an iron sheen overtook Golem before it burst into a roll. Decidueye flailed on the ground, turning over in a moment and its beady eyes found Kamado. Its black talons dug into the earth and it launched forward, between and past his charging pok¨¦mon. The old man¡¯s eyes scarcely had time to widen before Decidueye planted its foot into his chest, sending him flying into the scorched ruins of a building across the plaza. ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Attack it from behind!¡± The Sanctuary¡¯s trainers ran forward toward the monstrous bird issuing commands. A golden lance of lightning lit up the plaza and carved across their path, cleaving a blackened rent into the earth between them and Decidueye. Pikachu landed, snarling furiously, and the trainers recoiled in fear, as did their pok¨¦mon. ¡°Get back!¡± Ash snarled, joining his pok¨¦mon in the circle. ¡°Recall your pok¨¦mon and get out of here!¡± Confusing murmurings and dawning realization spread across the gathered trainers and they pointed, recognizing Ash as one of the new arrivals. Surprisingly, they actually obeyed. Decidueye stomped across the burned ground hunched over, sizing Ash up. As it circled him, its eyes narrowed. ¡°Handle it, Pikachu.¡± Ash turned away as Decidueye lunged, but an Iron Tail sliced across its chest, forcing it back. With his back turned, Ash knelt next to Sabrina. The psychic held Yura in her glowing arms. The little girl was shaking, eyes wide with fear. ¡°P-Please h-help¡­¡± Yura tried to get up but she was shaking so badly she could barely lift her arm. Ash glanced at Sabrina. She looked like a demon, with the purple glow seeping out from between the cracks across her body, and those lightless eyes. Her hair floated behind her as if suspended in water. A Thunderbolt from Pikachu lit up the plaza, and the trainers who¡¯d remained to watch the battle scurried back at the sudden boom of thunder. Decidueye roared and crumpled to the ground as the bolt crashed down on him, seething with hatred as it squawked in pain. Suddenly, a heaviness wafted over Ash as if his heart had just been submerged in tar. He shivered and stepped back. Sabrina trembled beneath him, glaring across the way at Decidueye. Her hatred far outstripped its. Her hand shot out and snatched an empty pok¨¦ball from Ash¡¯s waist and she hurled it at Decidueye¡¯s seizing form. The pok¨¦ball snapped open and Decidueye screeched before melting inside. Sabrina¡¯s glare deepened as she felt Decidueye struggle within the pok¨¦ball. But instead of letting it escape, she grasped the pok¨¦ball with her psychic hold, forcing it closed and keeping it from opening. The metalwork of the device creaked and its sides bent against her brutality. But before long, it pinged, and she let it drop to the ground where it sat motionless and smoking. Next ¡ª Chapter 58 : The Paragon of Infinite Darkness
I just realized I¡¯d forgotten to add Minior to Sabrina¡¯s roster on my FFN profile till now. Whoops.
Hisui Incursion [6] Apologies for the delay, busy week last week so even though most of the chapter was written, I had no time to polish it.
PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [6] Chapter 58 : The Paragon of Infinite Darkness
¡°Help Leader Kamado!¡± The Sanctuary¡¯s trainers who¡¯d backed off while Decidueye and Pikachu clashed now reemerged, and they raced across the smoky clearing toward their fallen leader, not paying Ash, Sabrina, or Pikachu any mind. Pikachu padded over to Ash, holding Decidueye¡¯s pok¨¦ball in his tiny paws. He looked at it grimly, turning it over in his hands to show Ash the dents on its surface where Sabrina had crushed it. The psychic¡¯s hair hung across her face like the black branches of a haunted forest, and her eyes gleamed with violet fury behind them. Her arm was still outstretched from her throw, her gaze still trained on the spot where Decidueye had been caught. ¡°Sabrina,¡± Ash said, putting a hand on her glowing shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± As he touched her, he winced at the sudden miasma that overtook him. He¡¯d felt it a bit before, just before she¡¯d snatched one of his empty pok¨¦balls, but now that he was in direct contact with her, it was like her emotions were flooding into him. A dark tempest of rage swept across him, permeating his skin, and he found it difficult to breathe. ¡°Sabrina! It¡¯s over!¡± he yelled, not letting go and tightening his grip on her. In her lap, the young girl named Yura shivered, and her dark eyes stared up at Sabrina, motionless. Her forehead had been scraped up, but she otherwise seemed alright. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Ash yelled. Sabrina shuddered, and Ash felt her emotions recede. She pulled back her arm and glanced around, first at Yura, then at Ash, as if regaining her bearings. Then she looked down at her left wrist, now devoid of its gauntlet. A deluge of ice-cold fear physically pushed Ash back as Sabrina¡¯s body spasmed and began to flake off more violet embers. The cracks on her face deepened and a shadowy nova overtook her, blustering about in a cyclone. Her head turned toward Ash, and her eyes were wide, steeped in terror. ¡°Ash!¡± she screamed, her voice echoing through the plaza. Ash leaped forward and snatched Yura from Sabrina¡¯s lap. Sabrina seized again and collapsed onto her side with a reverberating cough. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Ash screamed. He looked over at her gauntlet lying motionless and dull in the mud. What¡¯s happening? Why isn¡¯t it going back on?! Purple lightning crackled out from Sabrina¡¯s body in a psychic storm, and her shriek of pain chilled Ash to his core. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± one of the Security Corps demanded, fighting through the psychic gales. Pikachu jumped out, his cheeks crackling as he hissed at them¡ªa clear signal to stay back. But he glanced back at Sabrina in worry. I have to do something! Ash ran forward into the tempest, and as he did, Sabrina¡¯s emotions assaulted him. Rage, fear, and agony buffeted him like boulders, but he didn¡¯t slow his advance. He continued to push through until he was once again able to grab Sabrina. Her body was shaking on the ground and her teeth were gritted, and upon feeling his fingertips touch her arm, she looked over at him, her infernal eyes full of pleading. Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed. This storm is Sabrina¡¯s overflowing emotion¡­! If I can put her to sleep, then maybe¡­! Electricity crackled between his fingertips and he raised his hand to her head. Violet tears dripped from Sabrina¡¯s eyes and the swirling emotions around them were all the assent Ash needed. He closed his eyes and willed the Electric Plate to bring forth his desired outcome. He heard an electric snap and saw a bright flash behind his eyelids. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the strength leave Sabrina¡¯s body and her body went limp on the ground. Violet embers still raged around him and Ash took a step back, standing. As the seconds went by, the psychic storm showed no signs of retreating. It wasn¡¯t gaining in intensity anymore, but it hadn¡¯t receded at all. Pikachu squeaked behind him and Ash felt his stomach drop. No! Why isn¡¯t it going away? He took a step forward, piercing the storm once again. His eyes widened and he felt his chest hurt, like it was decaying. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ She can¡¯t escape these feelings even when she¡¯s unconscious¡­? Ash felt his body go numb at the realization. What should he do? What could he do? If this was something Sabrina carried with her all the time, then how could he hope to bottle it back up now that it¡¯d been unleashed? I¡­can¡¯t¡­do¡­anything¡­for¡­her? Azure light shined on his face, and a blue comet landed beside him a moment later, burning the ground and releasing a flurry of mystical embers. Riley looked up and raised his hands over Sabrina¡¯s body. Two reservoirs of Aura pooled into existence within them and dark shadowy matter began to waft off Sabrina¡¯s body and get sucked into them. ¡°Riley¡­,¡± Ash breathed. Upon seeing the Guardian¡¯s face, he frowned. Riley had blood running down his cheeks like tears. It¡¯s dried, Ash thought. But why? As Riley worked his magic, Sabrina¡¯s storm began to diminish until eventually, the plaza turned back to black and orange. The Aura in Riley¡¯s hands dissipated and he sat back, breathing heavily. ¡°We saw the fire and hurried back as quickly as possible,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Ash said. ¡°There was a pok¨¦mon attack and we defeated it. This happened right after.¡± Riley nodded, then glanced over at Yura, who simply stared at them, her eyes wide in shock. He noticed the scrape on her head. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I simply soothed her consciousness by drawing out the dark emotions plaguing her. A number of Guardian spells can be taxing on the mind, so this is one by which we counter any possible negative side effects. It¡¯s lucky that she was asleep. Were she still awake, her emotions would continue to pour out even as I pulled them out so it would¡¯ve had no effect.¡± Ash unclenched his fist slowly as he stared down at her motionless body. ¡°Thank you. I¡­couldn¡¯t.¡± Riley stood. ¡°You can¡¯t do everything by yourself, Ash. King Aaron tasked me with helping you for a reason.¡± He looked up and met Ash¡¯s gaze, and the dried blood on his face stared back at Ash. ¡°We need to talk. I don¡¯t mean to be callous about what happened here, but our situation may be worse than we realized.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re bleeding?¡± Riley touched his face and brushed off some of the blood. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But what about Sabrina?¡± Ash said, turning back toward her. Riley walked over and picked up her gauntlet, still unmoving and dark. ¡°I wonder if this has something to do with¡­what happened. I understand she¡¯s a psychic so I assume this device tempers her power in some way?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. It must have gotten damaged on our trip here,¡± Ash said. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that¡¯s not the case.¡± Riley turned it over in his hands. ¡°Has this happened before?¡± ¡°Not that I know of.¡± Ash rubbed the back of his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯ll happen when she wakes up without that on either.¡± ¡°U-Um!¡± Ash and Riley both turned. Beside them, Yura stood clutching her clothes, seemingly unbothered by her injury. ¡°P-Please help¡­¡± She pointed across the plaza. ¡°He got hurt fighting that pok¨¦mon¡­ You¡¯re friends with that miss, right? Please!¡± Ash followed her finger to a small lump atop the ground on the other side of the plaza. Amidst the smoke and fire, he could see a small form. Clearly a pok¨¦mon, but he couldn¡¯t yet tell which. Jogging over, he pushed a few charred scraps of wood out of the way and unburied the thing. He frowned. ¡°A Shieldon¡­¡± he murmured. This one was covered in soot and its eyes were closed. ¡°Riley! Please!¡± Ash hollered. Despite its size, its iron head would be far too heavy for him to lift on his own, especially with any kind of delicacy. Riley quickened his pace upon seeing the thing and knelt down to help him. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a bunch of these on Iron Island.¡± As they prepared to lift it, Yura joined them, dragging a blackened wooden plank. Her eyes looked on hopefully. Riley nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ash and Riley carefully moved Shieldon onto the plank, then each lifted a side. ¡°Where to?¡± Riley asked. ¡°The Church?¡± Yura shivered next to them but she kept her mouth shut. However, one glance at her face was all it took to realize she didn¡¯t like that idea at all. ¡°Let¡¯s get it in the open for now,¡± Ash grunted, moving back toward Sabrina. They set Shieldon down next to her. Pikachu had been keeping watch over Sabrina, but he now scampered over to investigate Shieldon. Behind them, the members of the Security Corps carried Kamado out from the rubble. As they got closer, Ash could see him bleeding from several gashes on his face. Without waiting for approval, they set him down next to Shieldon and Sabrina. ¡°Where¡¯s the Medical Corps?¡± one growled. ¡°Two injured and a pok¨¦mon and one of them is Leader Kamado!¡± Another snapped a salute and hurried off. At the same time, others began to enter the plaza alongside certain contraptions, and before long, hoses began to spray the conflagration around them, gradually dousing the fire. ¡°Is your friend alright?¡± one of the Security Corps asked. ¡°She should be for now, thank you,¡± Riley said. ¡°Ughhhhhh.¡± Beside them, Yura wavered on her feet, then pitched forward, falling into Ash¡¯s outstretched arm. He frowned before laying her down too. ¡°She¡¯s exhausted.¡± ¡°Poor girl,¡± the Security Corps member shook his head. ¡°Damned wild pok¨¦mon.¡± Most of the other gathered members had already split off to protect the breach, their pok¨¦mon deployed beside them. ¡°I¡¯ll help them watch the breach tonight,¡± Riley said. ¡°What about what you wanted to talk about?¡± Ash asked. ¡°It can wait. Sabrina should hear it too and protecting the Sanctuary¡­is more important right now.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± the Security Corps member grunted. ¡°You all are Guardians I hear. We¡¯ll be glad to have your help.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Ash trailed off. Riley had already turned away to join the rest of the Security Corps at the smoldering breach. ¡°Riley!¡± he called. The Guardian turned around. ¡°Be careful,¡± Ash said, holding out a fist. Riley smiled. ¡°You won¡¯t be rid of me that easily. I leave Sabrina and the young one to you.¡± Ash glanced down at Sabrina. Oddly, despite the chaos around them and the part she¡¯d played in it, she looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling slowly as she slept. The gauntlet on her right wrist swiveled around slowly in tune with her breathing. He knelt down and ran his fingers over the left gauntlet where Riley had left it beside her. Despite the fact that it was totally dark, it was still warm to the touch. Pikachu cooed sadly, nuzzling Sabrina¡¯s face, but of course, she didn¡¯t react. ¡°Oh no!¡± came a voice from across the plaza. Rei came running out of the gloom, his stone Growlithe tromping beside him. ¡°Rei!¡± Ash jumped up. ¡°What happened? Is she okay?¡± Rei asked, kneeling down beside Sabrina. ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Ash said quickly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here, there may be more¡ª!¡± ¡°Rei!¡± Akari shrieked, emerging from whence he¡¯d come. Her Staravia streaked over the burning buildings and skidded to a stop just beside Rei, chirping menacingly. ¡°It¡¯s Sabrina,¡± Rei said, ignoring Akari¡¯s ire. At the sight of the prone girl, Akari¡¯s anger seemed to dissipate into concern as she joined Rei at her side. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯re you two doing here? If you¡¯d come a minute earlier, that pok¨¦mon would have torn you apart,¡± Ash said seriously. ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s my fault.¡± Laventon jogged up behind him, breathing heavily and sweating. He stopped to catch his breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ash, I couldn¡¯t stop them. But¡­¡± He walked over to Sabrina, worry etched into his face. He swallowed and knelt down to check her pulse. ¡°W-Was the pok¨¦mon that powerful? Where did it go?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the pok¨¦mon,¡± Ash said grimly. ¡°Since you all are here, why don¡¯t we bring them back home? The battle is over.¡± ¡°Them¡­?¡± Akari murmured. She followed Ash¡¯s line of sight to Yura lying on the ground, and her Shieldon beside her. She winced at the sight of it. ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Laventon said, his voice hardening as his resolve heightened. ¡°Akari and Rei, please carry Yura. Ash, if you please. Let¡¯s get Sabrina.¡± As the other two shifted Yura¡¯s body between them, Rei glanced at Shieldon. ¡°What about her pok¨¦mon?¡± Ash walked around and knelt down next to her. Slowly, he pulled another empty pok¨¦ball off his belt and placed it into Yura¡¯s dirty hand. Rei and Akari watched him curiously as he urged Yura¡¯s finger atop the pok¨¦ball¡¯s central button. The pok¨¦ball popped upon and swallowed Shieldon whole before clamping shut with a small release of steam. It didn¡¯t even shudder once before clicking. Ash¡¯s brows tightened as he lifted the pok¨¦ball out of her hand and clipped it to Yura¡¯s belt. It looked too big on her waist but Ash stood. ¡°Ash¡­? Shouldn¡¯t you¡­or someone else hold it?¡± Akari asked. Ash shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± He walked back over to Sabrina. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We don''t know if there¡¯ll be more coming.¡± A couple of Medical Corps members who¡¯d been attending Kamado ran over with a spare stretcher made of wooden poles and ashy cloth to help them carry Sabrina, which Ash was thankful for. Pikachu kept guard as they walked carefully through the Sanctuary¡¯s streets back home. The citizens had emerged to investigate the commotion, but Security Corps members had already been deployed to keep them away from the scene of the battle. Luckily, people moved out of the way upon seeing the stretcher and the esteemed Laventon carrying it so it didn¡¯t take too long to return. Upon laying Sabrina and Yura both down in the main room, Yura rolled over and started snoring. Akari nodded at her. She¡¯d buried her face in Sabrina¡¯s side and was clutching at her clothes like a stuffed animal. ¡°Guess she likes her,¡± Rei said in a quiet voice. Laventon sighed and sat down, leaning against a dresser behind him. ¡°Hand me her pok¨¦ball. I¡¯ll get to work treating it.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ash asked though he was already handing the pok¨¦ball over to him. ¡°That creature has enough of a reputation around town that I believe I know what to do. Plus, it¡¯s all tuckered out from battling¡­¡± He nodded at the dented pok¨¦ball on Ash¡¯s belt. ¡°¡­whatever¡¯s in there.¡± Ash¡¯s hand brushed the pok¨¦ball. ¡°I think it was a Decidueye.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Laventon said as he pulled several glass bottles out of the dresser behind him. ¡°Yes, a Decidueye could certainly kick our wall down with ease if it was an Alpha variant.¡± Must be a regional form, then, Ash surmised based on how familiar he seemed to be with Decidueye¡¯s battle style. Akari¡¯s hand was clasped in Sabrina¡¯s as the psychic lay atop her futon. ¡°Will Sabrina be okay? You said it wasn¡¯t Decidueye, right? So how¡­?¡± Subtly, Ash tucked Sabrina¡¯s gauntlet behind him. The others hadn¡¯t seemed to notice it had a purpose beyond cosmetics or that its absence on her left wrist may have caused her current predicament. And Ash didn¡¯t think it was his story to tell. ¡°Sabrina will be fine,¡± he said. ¡°She just needs some rest.¡± As he said it, he realized he may have been trying to convince himself of the same. Truthfully, he wasn¡¯t sure what it meant that Sabrina¡¯s gauntlet had come off, but if her form from earlier was any hint, maybe it wasn¡¯t such a good idea to bring her back here. If she went back to that form the moment she awoke, the others would be in danger. Nevertheless, Ash had a feeling. A feeling. That quarantining her away would be one of the worst things to do. Despite the danger, he¡¯d decided to take a risk. No, impose a risk on Laventon, Rei, and Akari. When he¡¯d touched Sabrina¡¯s storm earlier, her feelings had flooded into him. Most of it washed over him in a tidal wave so fast he could hardly perceive its specifics before it was past him. But he¡¯d sensed enough. Yes. To treat Sabrina like a pariah now would be the absolute worst decision. On that, Ash was firm. Whatever happened, he would handle it. But he needed their help ¡°Professor, I¡¯m heading back out to watch the wall,¡± Rei said, getting up. ¡°No, you certainly are not!¡± Laventon leaped up in front of the door. ¡°The Security Corps is already keeping watch, they¡ª¡° ¡°They¡¯re not strong enough! How are we in this situation in the first place?¡± ¡°Wait, Rei,¡± Ash said. ¡°Riley got back and is there now. He said he¡¯d stay all night to make sure nothing else gets through. I¡¯ll switch with him in the morning. No matter how long it takes until the wall is repaired.¡± Rei frowned, his fists clenched. ¡°Rei¡­¡± Akari said softly, tugging on his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s stay here tonight. We have to protect the Professor.¡± ¡°And these two,¡± Laventon added, pointing at the two girls. Though he clearly didn¡¯t like it, Rei relaxed and nodded. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Feel free to use our room, Professor, Rei,¡± Ash said. ¡°I¡¯ll find somewhere outside to sleep.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Laventon said. Ash smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m actually pretty used to sleeping outside. Plus, I¡¯ll be closer to the action if something should happen again.¡± ¡°Knock on wood,¡± Akari muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll see you all in the morning,¡± Ash said, moving to the door. He could see in their faces how rattled they were. Despite how strong Akari and Rei were as trainers, an unprecedented breach like this was surely enough to put them on edge. He hoped they¡¯d crash soon. Laventon too, once he finished his work. As Ash walked beneath the moonlight, a haze of fading smoke dampening its radiance slightly, he saw the hill he¡¯d met Sabrina and Riley on this morning and turned toward it. It was close enough to Laventon¡¯s house that he could be there in a flash if something started happening with Sabrina, but far enough that she wouldn¡¯t immediately sense him when she awoke. The issue of floor space aside, that was the main reason Ash had decided to vacate. He had witnessed Sabrina¡¯s¡­episode firsthand. He doubted she¡¯d want to see him first thing when she awoke. Better to be surrounded by those who knew nothing of her dark side. As self-conscious as she was, his being there could be a catalyst for another deterioration. As Ash settled against a tree atop the hill, Pikachu wormed his way into his lap and Ash began stroking his head absentmindedly. It was easy to forget after spending a couple of years in Paragon and the past month living alongside Sir Aaron that most of the world was far more fragile than he was. And in this ancient place, peace was a status to be constantly maintained, not permanently attained. Despite his power, there was only so much he could protect. I need to get stronger, he thought. That, if nothing else, should¡¯ve been plenty enough reason to continue their search here in this time to find Sir Aaron¡¯s Plates. What caused that Decidueye to breach the Sanctuary? Does it have anything to do with what Riley discovered? Right now, he was simultaneously torn between wanting to scour this entire region for answers and wanting to get back home as fast as possible. We could really use the rest of Paragon¡¯s help right now. Hopefully, Zinnia and Anabel were recovering well. And Cynthia and Sylvester were staying out of each other¡¯s hair. As Ash¡¯s eyelids got heavier, his mind couldn¡¯t help but drift back to the battle earlier¡­and the deluge of emotions he¡¯d felt from Sabrina. So dark they were that they still stuck with him even now. Sabrina¡­
When the sun crested above the mountains over yonder and blinded him from behind his eyelids, that was when Ash knew to get up. Upon feeling Pikachu¡¯s warmth in his lap, his attention immediately went to Laventon¡¯s house just down the hill. It was quiet and still. In fact, the Sanctuary itself seemed quiet and still despite the chaos from last night. The morning seemed to be just as it¡¯d been twenty-four hours ago. As Ash stood, Pikachu¡¯s eyes fluttered open and as if sleepwalking, he climbed up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder where he promptly went slack again to continue his rest. His claws were dug into Ash¡¯s clothes, and this was rather typical. When he believed he could get away with it, Pikachu would postpone his awakening as much as possible. Of course, he was basically awake now since he needed to be conscious to remain on his perch, but he wouldn¡¯t open his eyes until a good enough reason presented itself, such as the scent of food. None such scent existed now though so it was a solitary trek through town back toward the site of the breach. Ash passed between burned buildings as he went, and with the light of day and a calmer head to evaluate the situation, it seemed the fire had started due to torches and cookfires violently thrown onto the buildings. Decidueye weren¡¯t known users of fire, and though this one had been red in color, it hadn¡¯t summoned any fire against Ash, which is what made him conclude that the conflagration came from an existing source. It was then that Ash realized he¡¯d had his hand closed around Decidueye¡¯s pok¨¦ball the entire time, and as he did, his fingers tightened around it. Why? The plaza looked surprisingly different during the day. Smoke lingered in the air but the ghastly blaze was gone. In its wake, charred ruins remained, though the damage wasn¡¯t as severe as it¡¯d appeared last night. That roaring fire in the pitch black of night had looked like an inferno, but it seemed that only the buildings closest to the plaza had been damaged. The face of the Church also looked blackened in one part, but it otherwise stood firmly. A group of Security Corps members milled around the wall beside the Church where the breach was. They stilled as they noticed Ash approach and their hands drifted to their belts. ¡°Civilians are to stay inside right now. Please return home,¡± one of them said once he was within earshot. ¡°Wait, it¡¯s one of the Guardians,¡± another said. One man stepped forward. ¡°You! Where¡¯s the wild pok¨¦mon that did this?¡± Ash plucked its pok¨¦ball off his belt and shook it for all to see. ¡°Right here. No need to worry.¡± ¡°Hand it over,¡± the man said, holding out his hand. ¡°It¡¯s not yours,¡± Ash said flatly. The man frowned, his face twisting into a snarl. ¡°Are you¡ª?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had a long night, Ash, please don¡¯t antagonize them.¡± Riley stepped forward, a grave look on his face. ¡°Stand down,¡± another one of the Security Corps pulled the aggressive guy away. ¡°Without that man, the entire Sanctuary could have been destroyed. Captain Cyllene said he could keep custody of the pok¨¦mon.¡± The man shrugged out of his cohort¡¯s grip and walked away. Ash watched him go. ¡°Any action last night?¡± ¡°None, surprisingly,¡± Riley said. ¡°It was a long but peaceful night. Though expecting an attack for hours on end has put a few of them on edge.¡± He yawned. ¡°Is Sabrina alright?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± Riley frowned. ¡°I wonder if that¡¯s a good or a bad thing.¡± ¡°Good, I think. Those gauntlets restrain her power, but with one of them off¡­¡± The Security Corps had left the two ¡®Guardians¡¯ alone to chat and the two men took them up on their offer, moving in front of the Church away from prying ears. ¡°I thought that might have been the case. But to think her power is so potent that such devices would be necessary¡­ Are we sure she won¡¯t lose control like last night once she awakens?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ash sighed. ¡°But¡­I think her emotions went off the rails after seeing Yura last night. I could be wrong, but I think seeing her safe will help Sabrina keep her power in check, even without the gauntlet.¡± ¡°And then the question is why she couldn¡¯t put it back on. If it was damaged somehow, I wonder if it will be a problem if it can¡¯t be fixed.¡± To that, Ash had no answer. And though he knew it wasn¡¯t smart, he didn¡¯t want to think about it any further. ¡°Any idea why that pok¨¦mon attacked? They said the Sanctuary hasn¡¯t been breached in years.¡± Riley took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve given it some thought. And though I have no evidence, I can¡¯t help but wonder if we are to blame somehow.¡± That¡¯s why he suddenly decided to take night watch instead of continuing our conversation. Ash glanced back at the throng of Security Corps members. ¡°Did they say anything like that?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t have to. It didn¡¯t take long for their distrust of outsiders to rear its head once again. Though I can¡¯t say I blame them. We show up from that rift in the sky, and not two days later, their walls are breached. By an Alpha Pok¨¦mon, by the sounds of it. Did you recognize that pok¨¦mon?¡± ¡°I did, sort of. It looks like a Decidueye. The final evolution of one of the Alolan starters. Anabel has one. But normally they''re green, not red and brown.¡± ¡°Laventon did mention the Alpha Pok¨¦mon can be miscolored.¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°I think this is different. This one¡¯s body looked different too. It looks more like a regional form. Not sure on its typing though.¡± ¡°For an Alpha Pok¨¦mon to breach the Sanctuary now¡­¡± Riley trailed off. Ash felt a lump in his throat. ¡°It must have been me. It was after this.¡± He raised a hand to his chest. Riley frowned. ¡°The Plate?¡± he said quietly. ¡°Sir Aaron said people and pok¨¦mon are drawn to them. Or rather, that we can both make use of its power. It¡¯s not out of the question.¡± Riley straightened and stroked his chin. ¡°That would mean our continued residence here could invite more attacks.¡± Ash looked over at him. ¡°Now¡¯s as good a time as any to tell me what you learned yesterday. What happened with that rift yesterday?¡± Riley darkened. ¡°Yes. Well.¡± He shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Truthfully, the safety of this Sanctuary and its citizens is not foremost in my mind at the moment. I¡¯m far more concerned about the fate of this entire region. Or perhaps, the world.¡± ¡°The world?¡± Ash could see how unnerved Riley was. As if sensing his agitation, Pikachu¡¯s eyes opened. ¡°Yesterday, we theorized that the creator of that rift may have been one of the time-space pok¨¦mon, Dialga or Palkia. We also considered Giratina of the Distortion World, as well as Arceus himself. If only it were one of those, perhaps barring Arceus, I would feel a lot better about our situation.¡± Riley met Ash¡¯s gaze. ¡°I believe the cause of that rift is none other than one of the two Paragons.¡± ¡°Paragons¡­?¡± Ash repeated. His brows furrowed. ¡°The existence of the Paragons is known only to the seniormost Guardians of Rota. But by your reaction, it seems you already know of them?¡± ¡°Not really. But I heard AZ mention them, and I think Sir Aaron told me about them. They¡¯re some of the oldest pok¨¦mon around, almost as old as Arceus. And they¡¯ve been fighting for centuries over Arceus¡¯ Plates. One of infinite light, and the other of infinite darkness.¡± Riley nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Nameless, even in the Guardian histories, for they have never fallen to earth. The only time they visit us is when we get in the crosshairs of their divine battle. And the outcome is always¡­¡± ¡°Extinction,¡± Ash said. ¡°Or, something close to it. That¡¯s how the Great War ended. The true cause of the Calamity.¡± Riley nodded solemnly. ¡°Why such a creature would tear a hole open above Hisui I could not say. But when I attempted to perform my spell, I encountered¡­it. It spoke to me in a language I could not even comprehend¡­ But I knew I could not continue to disturb it, lest I lose my life.¡± He brought his hand up to his face. ¡°I was lucky to get away with the injuries I did.¡± ¡°Why would the Guardians keep something like that a secret from the world?¡± Ash asked. ¡°At the very least, why did they blame the Calamity on AZ?¡± ¡°The Guardians were left kingless at the end of the war. We had no control over the narrative. And those that remained had plenty of antipathy for the defeated AZ. The story spun into existence without any prodding. By the time the Guardians had recovered enough to set the record straight, they realized there was no point in enlightening humanity to its inevitable demise. That was the last thing the world needed at the time. Or rather, at this time.¡± ¡°But later¡­¡± Riley nodded and his eyes tightened. ¡°I once asked the Queen the same thing. But she told me that such a truth was out of our hands. That revealing it to the world was no longer our role to play.¡± He exhaled. ¡°In hindsight, I wonder if King Aaron had a part in that answer. It seems like something he¡¯d say.¡± ¡°Not the Guardians¡¯ role to play¡­¡± Ash repeated. If it wasn¡¯t theirs, then whose is it? Surely Sir Aaron would have told the world if he could. But does that mean he couldn¡¯t? Was something stopping him? Ash shook his head. It was pointless to think about that now. They weren¡¯t even in the present right now, the future which still hadn¡¯t witnessed another Calamity since the end of the Great War. They had more pressing issues. ¡°By the way,¡± he muttered, trying to crest the hill of curiosity Riley had left him on. ¡°I¡¯m not technically supposed to say anything about this but I don¡¯t think it matters too much now.¡± Riley looked over attentively. ¡°Sabrina and I, and Anabel, are members of a group called the Paragon Organization, run by Cynthia. I guess we¡¯re like a sort of black ops group that handles extremely dangerous situations before the world hears about them, as best we can anyway. But the name¡­¡± His brows crinkled. ¡°Paragon Organization¡­ I can¡¯t help but wonder if the two are connected¡­¡± ¡°I see,¡± Riley said. ¡°Normally I¡¯d chalk something like that up to a coincidence, but considering the sort of trouble you seem to involve yourselves in¡­ I suppose that will be a question for Cynthia when we return.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ash trailed off, wishing he could add more context, but he also didn¡¯t know if there was a connection. She¡¯d said it was named after Paragon Island, but in hindsight, where did the island¡¯s name come from? He ran his fingers through his hair, clearing his mind. ¡°So could you tell which Paragon it was?¡± he asked. ¡°The light one or the dark one?¡± ¡°Oh, certainly the dark one,¡± Riley responded immediately. Ash frowned. ¡°Is the light one Arceus?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem to be the case. Guardian texts are saturated with instances of Arceus¡¯ name. Not so for the Paragons.¡± ¡°And why would it pull us back here to the past?¡± Ash murmured. ¡°No way that was part of Sir Aaron¡¯s plan.¡± ¡°Indeed. The magic of the Time Flower certainly has nothing to do with the Paragons.¡± His expression darkened. ¡°This is something King Aaron could not have foreseen.¡± ¡°If the Darkness Paragon drew us into the past intentionally through that rift¡­then should we even be going back there to try and get home?¡± Riley rubbed his face, pulling his skin down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t say. The Paragons desire Arceus¡¯ Plates so my assumption is that it pulled us here to acquire yours. Yet it hasn¡¯t pursued us at all. If I hadn¡¯t returned to the rift, we¡¯d never have even known about it.¡± Ash looked up at the sky toward Mount Coronet¡¯s peak. The rift looked the same as it always did, crackling with dark energy silently off in the far distance. He couldn¡¯t sense any primordial presence from here, but he hadn¡¯t when they¡¯d first arrived either. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s trying to hide its presence or something.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t say. As for how to get home¡­our best bet is probably still through the rift. That is the way we came, after all.¡± Riley fixed Ash with a serious gaze. ¡°And if we need to go through the Paragon of Darkness to do so, then so be it.¡± Ash frowned. He felt his stomach turn weightless. ¡°And how do we do that?¡± Sympathy glittered on Riley¡¯s face, and alongside it, ruthless resolve. ¡°Not ¡®we.¡¯ You must hone your powers and build up enough strength such that you can take on a Paragon and survive.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 59 : The Volo Company
This is now the third time I¡¯m previewing the next chapter title as ¡°The Volo Company.¡± Will the big man himself actually get to finally make his debut or will my plans change again? I guess we¡¯ll find out together :P Hisui Incursion [7] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [7] Chapter 59 : The Volo Company
This time, she awoke to the sound of clattering wood. When Sabrina¡¯s eyes opened this time, she noticed her surroundings were slightly different. She was clearly still in Kamado¡¯s house¡ªthe walls still smelled like fresh-cut wood¡ªbut instead of waking up in Akari¡¯s room, she realized quickly that she was in the main room where Laventon and Rei had slept. It didn¡¯t take long for her eyes to sweep across the darkened room, and upon landing in the corner, she saw Yura, frozen in place, her arm elbow-deep in one of Laventon¡¯s dressers. They locked eyes. One foot in the air, Yura slowly pulled her arm out, her eyes never leaving Sabrina, and gently pushed the drawer closed. Then, she buried her fist in her pocket and scurried over to Sabrina. ¡°Good morning!¡± she whisper-yelled. Sabrina sat up, letting the futon fall off her. She glanced around, noticing the doors to the other rooms were open and empty. It seemed the two of them were alone. She rubbed her eyes and tousled her hair. ¡°Good morning,¡± she croaked. ¡°Let¡¯s go get breakfast, miss, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Yura began pulling more of the futon away, urging her out of bed. Sabrina decided to ignore her thievery. ¡°Were you¡­waiting for me?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Yura tugged on her arm. ¡°C¡¯mon, c¡¯mon, c¡¯mon!¡± As the girl stuck her head in Sabrina¡¯s face, she saw thin scratches across her forehead. They weren¡¯t deep at all and had already begun to scab over, but they were definitely from last night. Last night. A plume of anxiety welled in Sabrina and she stiffened. Then, she noticed something behind Yura, tucked in the corner of the room. Her gauntlet. She ripped the rest of the futon off and her worst fears were confirmed. A glowing gauntlet spun around her right wrist, but her left was completely bare. Her breath caught in her throat and she stumbled back. Yura whipped around in surprise, and as Sabrina fell, she brought Yura with her, and the little girl ended up on her stomach. ¡°Ha ha! What¡¯re you doing, miss?¡± she giggled. ¡°G-Get¡­¡± Sabrina panted, her breath coming out in short bursts. Her eyes flicked around wildly, settling back on her gauntlet across the room. ¡°Hm?¡± Yura frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She turned around and noticed what Sabrina was staring at. ¡°Oh, that! That man with the mouse pok¨¦mon brought it back for you.¡± She bounced off Sabrina and went over and picked it up, then brought it back in both hands. ¡°Here you go! This is pretty fancy, miss!¡± Sabrina stared in horror down at the gauntlet, devoid of power. She reached her hand out to try to reactivate it, but quickly yanked it back. No, she could not use her power now. She would not. If she used her power now, it could go wild again. And without her gauntlet¡­ She glanced over at Yura. ¡°Y-Yura,¡± she stammered. ¡°P-Please go to breakfast without me. A-As soon as poss¡ª¡° ¡°No way!¡± Yura grabbed her arm and hugged it tight. ¡°I don¡¯t like those other guys,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Please come with me, miss.¡± Yura stared up at her innocently, her dark eyes full of pleading. Despite her size, her grip around Sabrina¡¯s arm felt surprisingly strong, though maybe that was just because Sabrina herself was on the weaker side, physically. Sabrina stared back, no doubt in her mind that she must have looked like a wreck right now. Surely her eyes were bloodshot and full of fear. Her heart was thundering so loud in her chest she wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if Yura could hear it. And she could feel herself sweating beneath her hair and clothes. And yet this girl clung to her. Why? The question, and this stillness that allowed her to ask it, made her realize something, and she frowned, looking back at the gauntlet. The gauntlet is off¡­but my power isn¡¯t out of control¡­? The hue of her power always shifted from emerald to purple when she removed a gauntlet, but since she didn¡¯t want to use it, there was no way to tell what state her power was currently in. But, at the very least, the telltale cracks in her body and explosion of psychic energy were both entirely absent. She picked up her gauntlet and turned it over in her hand. As her fingers traced over its arcane grooves, she found what she was looking for. A small part of the device had chipped off. These gauntlets were supposed to be nigh indestructible. They were water, fire, and bulletproof. The only thing that could have damaged them was¡­ The Time Flower¡­ Somehow, it¡¯d gotten damaged as they careened through time and space. Not that that was surprising. The engineers involved in its construction surely hadn¡¯t considered that they¡¯d have to withstand abuse like that. ¡°Those must be pretty important to you, huh, miss?¡± Yura said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take it.¡± The sound of her voice pulled Sabrina from her thoughts and she glanced up. Yura looked almost apologetic about it, looking around the room awkwardly as she shifted her weight between her two legs. She had no proof but there was no doubt in Sabrina¡¯s mind that this girl¡¯s presence was soothing her errant powers. An overriding duty beat out like a drum from the depths of her subconscious. I cannot lose myself now or I will hurt this girl. Sabrina smiled softly. ¡°T-Thanks.¡± Yura beamed. ¡°Yeah! Now, c¡¯mon! After we eat, we can check on Shieldon too!¡± ¡°Shieldon?¡± Sabrina asked as Yura grabbed her left hand. ¡°Is that the name of your pok¨¦mon?¡± ¡°Yeah! He¡¯s super powerful! Hey, do you have any pok¨¦mon, miss?¡± Sabrina leaned forward as Yura dragged her across the room. ¡°Yeah, I have a few back home.¡± ¡°Say, you¡¯re kind of like a pok¨¦mon too, miss! Like when your eyes turned purple and you were like wham!¡± Yura put a hand in front of her eyes and mimed throwing a pok¨¦ball, then grinned. Sabrina stiffened. ¡°Aha¡­you think so?¡± A pok¨¦mon¡­ That was new. ¡°How did you do it, miss?¡± ¡°Ah¡­erm¡­well, I¡¯m¡­a psychic.¡± ¡°Hm? A sidekick? Whose sidekick?¡± Sabrina smiled. ¡°A psychic. It means I¡­I can do certain things that other people can¡¯t. I¡­¡± A jolt of realization hit Sabrina a second later. Did she just smile while saying that? As they departed Laventon¡¯s house and walked hand in hand through the Sanctuary, Yura chattering all the while, Sabrina couldn¡¯t help but linger on thoughts of herself. There was the curious absence of consequences from losing a gauntlet, but even more curious was the way she seemed to now view herself. It was like in thinking of her current self, she was thinking about some stranger. Who was this woman who now walked in her skin, smiling as she delivered a description of her powers she had once found abhorrent and unnatural? What had changed her? Was it one big thing or an innumerable number of small things? There were two catalysts that came to mind. One was this girl Yura, who looked at her and touched her as if there was nothing different or strange about her at all. She actually wanted to be with her. And even if Sabrina was projecting onto her, she felt a kinship with the child nonetheless. And the other was certainly¡­yes, the Paragon Organization. Without her realizing it, each one of them had changed her too. Every day, they¡¯d confronted her with eccentricity, until now, she could not truly view herself as such an anomaly either. If she was, then they all were. Her cheek warmed as a tear dropped down it. Yura stopped and looked up at her. ¡°Miss?¡± Sabrina wiped her face with her sleeve. ¡°Sorry¡­ Sorry.¡± Yura wrapped her tiny arms around Sabrina¡¯s waist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, miss?¡± Sabrina sniffed, her nose bright red now. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Despite herself, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I just miss home right now.¡± If, no, when they returned, Sabrina wanted to apologize to Cynthia again. She wanted to hug Anabel. She wanted to hear Zinnia¡¯s boasts again, and see N and Sylvester convey their feelings awkwardly to those they cared about. Standing here now in this wintery village filled with warmth, she could not even express her gratitude for the astronomical fortune she believed had befallen her. She¡¯d come to this unfamiliar time and place not alone but with Ash and Riley, and despite losing her gauntlet, by some miracle, she was okay. And even this girl who rejected everyone around her had embraced her, literally. This was her chance. Here in Hisui, Sabrina decided she would bury her haunted past for good, so when they returned, she could move forward alongside everyone else.
¡°Plans for the expedition to Mount Coronet have been finalized, but with Leader Kamado injured, I will not be going with.¡± ¡°Argh, damned beast.¡± Cyllene, Kamado, Laventon, Ash, Riley, and the other leaders of the Sanctuary sat around a round table in one of the Church¡¯s meeting rooms on the upper levels. Cyllene stood as she addressed the table, and she glanced over at Kamado. The man¡¯s chest and head were wrapped in bandages and he¡¯d shed his regal cloak. Despite his age, his body brimmed with strength beneath his bloody wraps and his muscles rippled with each painful breath. ¡°If you¡¯re not coming then who will lead the expedition?¡± Riley asked. ¡°Surely not one of us two.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Cyllene snorted. ¡°Professor Laventon will lead the expedition. I will remain here as interim leader of the Sanctuary while Leader Kamado recovers. In my stead, Laventon¡¯s word is absolute beyond the walls. I don¡¯t care how experienced you Guardians are at facing pok¨¦mon. The safety of our members takes the highest priority, and in the field, if everyone acts on their own, death is assured.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine by me,¡± Ash said. ¡°Will it be fine by Sabrina as well?¡± Cyllene¡¯s gaze bore into Ash. The members of the Security Corps seemed to have reported that Sabrina had gotten hit by some sort of attack during Decidueye¡¯s raid which had caused the furious storm around her that they¡¯d witnessed. Ash had assured them that she was fine, so her absence from this meeting had been permitted. ¡°It will,¡± Ash said. ¡°We¡¯re just as interested in that rift as you.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Ash and Riley had no intentions of talking about the Paragon. The Sanctuary¡¯s leadership was rattled enough by Decidueye. They would find the truth of it all themselves. Cyllene held his gaze for several more moments before finally glancing away to address the table as a whole. ¡°In preparing this expedition, we devised three separate routes to the summit. One of them we do not recommend, but for the other two, I¡¯d like to hear opinions.¡± Cyllene stepped forward and motioned to a map of Hisui laid out on the table before them. ¡°The route we do not recommend is the straight shot. Down Aspiration Hill, across Horseshoe Plains, and through Grueling Grove until you arrive at the mountain. There is no known entrance to the mountain in the Fieldlands, but even if there were, I¡¯d prefer you spend as little time in the mountain as possible. Entering at its base is not conducive to that goal.¡± She moved her finger across the map. ¡°I believe it¡¯d be far safer to enter the mountain in the Highlands. Which means taking a slight detour, either north to the Alabaster Icelands or east to the Crimson Mirelands. Each route has its own challenges, but both, I believe, would be safer than the alternative.¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± A wizened old man named Tao Hua, the leader of the Supply Corps, pored over the map. ¡°If you take the Crimson Mireland route, it will be far easier to maintain a supply line.¡± ¡°But if they go north, that¡¯ll put them at a higher altitude,¡± Zisu, the fiery-haired woman who led the Security Corps countered. ¡°Then they¡¯ll have to spend even less time in the mountain.¡± ¡°Those aren¡¯t the only variables to consider,¡± Kamado rumbled. ¡°The Diamond Clan makes their home in the Mirelands, and the Pearl Clan, in the Icelands. Should things go awry, they could fall back to those settlements.¡± The leaders murmured amongst each other. As Ash listened, it seemed some leaders favored one or the other, but there didn¡¯t seem to be a consensus.¡± ¡°Regardless, this expedition will require a surplus of food,¡± Colza, the stoic head of the Agriculture Corps said. ¡°With winter upon us, we can only spare so much, and the route taken will affect the amount. My vote is for the easier Mirelands route.¡± Pesselle, the head of the Medical Corps, frowned. ¡°The Mirelands are wrought with poisonous pok¨¦mon, many of which we have not developed antidotes for. With the safety of the Survey Corps in mind, I prefer the Icelands route.¡± A silence settled over the table as its various occupants considered the wisest course of action. ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully quiet, Professor,¡± Cyllene said. ¡°What is your opinion?¡± Laventon¡¯s brows were knit as he studied the map, and the colored routes Cyllene had outlined, each leading to the peak. ¡°I¡¯d like to hear what the Guardians think,¡± he finally said. Cyllene once again trained her eyes on the two young men across the table. She and Kamado were the only ones who knew they were from the future, and her hawkish glare was evidence enough that she wanted to know if they had anything useful. ¡°Forgive me for my presumption, but would it not be wiser to decide on a route once we¡¯ve set out?¡± Riley asked. ¡°There¡¯s no telling what we¡¯ll encounter once we¡¯re beyond the walls. The appearance of one Alpha Pok¨¦mon or another would greatly influence the safety or danger of one path over another.¡± Cyllene nodded. ¡°A fair point. But as Colza and Pesselle noted, provisions will have to be arranged depending on the route. You can only carry so much.¡± Ash squinted as he read the names of the subareas in each region. ¡°Thanks for asking our opinion. But I¡¯ll need to know more about each subregion before I could say.¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time Ash had planned an expedition like this. But before, it¡¯d been easy enough to rely on his own experiences and fill in the gaps with the internet. Here in Hisui, he could rely on neither. ¡°That can be arranged,¡± Cyllene said. ¡°We have records of everything we know about Hisui stored here in the Church. Pok¨¦mon migration patterns, burrows, territories, sources of freshwater, safe berry groves. We drew up these plans with all that in mind but you may indulge in our resources as you see fit.¡± Kamado shifted his weight in his chair. ¡°Due to the nature of this expedition and¡­¡± he eyed Ash and Riley, ¡°¡­unforeseen help, this expedition party will be far smaller than usual. This expedition will be carried out by Professor Laventon and the Guardians alone.¡± Concerned chatter flit across the table but Kamado quieted them with a hand. ¡°The Survey Corps has been cut down to size enough as is and since we now have Guardians in our ranks, I¡¯d like to use them fully. This smaller team should quicken their pace, and if, heavens forbid, they should fall¡­ Well, it¡¯s only four of them.¡± The Sanctuary¡¯s leaders looked perturbed at Kamado¡¯s callousness, yet none raised their voice in defiance of him. ¡°They¡¯ve gladly accepted this risk,¡± Kamado smirked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, gentlemen?¡± Ash grinned. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Laventon¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Absolutely. I am determined to end the scourge of Alpha Pok¨¦mon plaguing our lands.¡± ¡°As a Guardian, it is my duty to seal anomalies exactly like the one hanging over Hisui,¡± Riley said. ¡°We will do what we can.¡± ¡°Good. Then this meeting is adjourned.¡± Kamado leaned back in his chair and exhaled, easing off his injured body. ¡°Ash, Riley. A quick word with the two of you,¡± Cyllene said as the other leaders of the Sanctuary departed. Laventon looked back at them, but followed the others out. Ash and Riley stood across the table from her and she waited for the door to close behind them before she started speaking. ¡°Two things. First, anything you can tell us about the future that would aid this expedition?¡± Ash and Riley glanced at each other, but it was Ash who spoke up. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. This place is completely different in our time. Hisui is like a whole different animal.¡± As Cyllene pursed her lips in disappointment, Kamado raised his hand. ¡°Come to think of it, you never did tell us how far into the future you¡¯re from. If Hisui is as different as you say, you must be from quite far into the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ash said. ¡°Hisui isn¡¯t even called Hisui anymore.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ll tell us what it is?¡± Kamado said. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯d be wise,¡± Riley said flatly. Kamado nodded dismissively and motioned back to Cyllene for her to continue. ¡°The other point of note is on the pok¨¦mon that attacked the Sanctuary last night.¡± ¡°Decidueye is safe with Sabrina,¡± Ash said immediately. ¡°Oh, I have no intention of wresting that beast back from you. In fact, I¡¯d like you to take it with you on your journey. The farther you take it from this place, the better.¡± Riley shrugged. ¡°How else is Sabrina to get to know her new pok¨¦mon?¡± Cyllene¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You people¡­are insane.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Kamado grunted. ¡°She¡¯s taken a liking to you all. There¡¯s nothing Cyllene despises more than weakness, and none more so than our own. Perhaps it is wrong to place so much faith in you three, but your strength clearly far outstrips us. Though it wounds my pride to say so, we will be praying for your good fortune.¡± Cyllene¡¯s stalwart fa?ade betrayed nothing and she merely gave a curt nod in agreement. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ash said. ¡°I promise we won¡¯t let you down.¡± ¡°We have personal reasons for wanting to see this journey through,¡± Riley said. ¡°I hope you can at least trust our desire to return to our own time.¡± ¡°Return to the Church tonight, Ash Ketchum, and I will have everything you need gathered,¡± Cyllene said as they headed toward the door. ¡°Oh, one last thing,¡± Kamado said. Ash and Riley turned, the door already open. ¡°If Laventon dies, I¡¯ll kill you both.¡± On that happy note, Ash and Riley departed the meeting room and walked through the Church¡¯s oaken halls, eventually finding their way back to the main staircase. ¡°That guy loves to threaten us, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Ash said as they descended. ¡°His intensity is warranted, in my opinion,¡± Riley replied. ¡°The Professor is an invaluable figure in this community. I believe Leader Kamado only wanted to communicate the importance of his safety.¡± ¡°Strange way to do it,¡± Ash muttered. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, he withdrew Pikachu¡¯s pok¨¦ball and released him. The mouse immediately materialized onto his shoulder and let out a yawn. Given how dark it was inside the Church, the sun blinded them as they stepped outside, and they heard the gathering outside before they saw them. ¡°That¡¯s them!¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s that pok¨¦mon!¡± ¡°Are they really Guardians?¡± ¡°And so easily too!¡± A small crowd of people had amassed around the Church¡¯s entrance wearing excited smiles. One woman, older and shorter than them, crept forward and bowed. ¡°Thank you so much, you saved my family,¡± she wept. Ash and Riley exchanged a look. ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am. It¡¯s the least we could do to repay your hospitality,¡± Riley said. ¡°You saved my little sister too!¡± A man shouted in back. ¡°And my dad¡¯s shop!¡± Despite Pikachu, the citizens surrounded the two men and showered them with gratitude. Perhaps because of his size and appearance, and his valorous reputation, they didn¡¯t seem to mind Pikachu at all, and several children reached out to touch them before getting their arms yanked back by their parents. Ash and Riley shook hands and exchanged bows outside the Church for over ten minutes, but gradually the crowd began to thin as the others headed back to work for the day. It was only then that they noticed Sabrina and Yura standing in the back, hand in hand as they waited to address the two men. ¡°Morning, Sabrina,¡± Ash said, walking up to them. As he did, Yura shrunk behind her. ¡°Er¡­how are you feeling?¡± Sabrina lowered her head. ¡°I think I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m sorry about last night. Thank you for taking care of me.¡± ¡°Riley came back in the nick of time to do his thing,¡± Ash said. ¡°He¡¯s the one who deserves the thanks.¡± ¡°Not so. My contribution was minimal.¡± Riley smiled. ¡°But I am glad to see you well.¡± He peeked around Sabrina¡¯s leg at Yura. ¡°I¡¯m not sure we¡¯ve properly met. My name is Riley. It¡¯s nice to meet you, young lady.¡± Yura shrunk even further back. ¡°Mm. Thank you for helping Shieldon yesterday¡­¡± ¡°And I¡¯m Ash! This is Pikachu!¡± The mouse jumped onto the ground and Yura instantly recoiled. Ash¡¯s grin faltered. ¡°Wait, Pikachu.¡± Pikachu¡¯s ears drooped and he stopped his advance. However, Sabrina nudged Yura out from behind her leg. ¡°He¡¯s really nice,¡± she said gently. ¡°I promise.¡± Slowly, Yura tread toward Pikachu, who tried to hold still while flashing a friendly smile. When she was only a step away, she stopped and looked up at Ash. ¡°How was he able to fight that pok¨¦mon?¡± she asked, her curiosity seemingly blowing away her trepidation in the wind. ¡°He¡¯s so tiny and cute.¡± Ash chuckled as Pikachu sweatdropped. ¡°He may be small but he has a lot of experience under his belt. Sounds like your Shieldon is similar.¡± Yura balled her fist and looked down. ¡°He is strong. But not strong enough for that.¡± ¡°That pok¨¦mon was special, I hear,¡± Riley said gravely. ¡°I think your Shieldon put up as good a fight as any of the Church¡¯s other pok¨¦mon could. We were lucky we had Pikachu with us.¡± ¡°And Miss!¡± Yura pouted, hugging Sabrina¡¯s leg, and the psychic turned a deep shade of red. ¡°Yes, her too of course,¡± Riley said. Giving up on Yura for now, Pikachu scampered back up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder, and Ash adjusted his body to accommodate him. ¡°I gotta say though, the others made it sound like the people didn¡¯t like outsiders,¡± he said. ¡°But we got a pretty warm reception just now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you guys are heroes!¡± Yura said, pointing at his chest. ¡°Heroes, huh?¡± Ash grinned. He glanced at Sabrina. ¡°You hear that, Sabrina.¡± Sabrina buried her face in her scarf and nodded. They found Akari and Rei at the practice fields later that day. Laventon met up with them a bit later though neither he nor Ash and Riley could share the details of their meeting. They did, however, catch Sabrina up to speed. While they talked, Yura¡¯s attention had been ensnared by Rei and Akari¡¯s battles, and she went from cheering for one side or the other, to peppering them with questions about their pok¨¦mon. Laventon had returned Shieldon to Yura, now fully healed, but curiously, Yura never once released it. At nightfall, they went for dinner at Beni¡¯s, now a bloated party of seven. Once they were done, Ash took off back to the Church before Cyllene had a chance to summon him. The rest decided to help the Security and Constructions Corps over at the breach, and surprisingly, the wall appeared to be nearly fixed. That night, Yura moved in with Sabrina and Akari, and the others were back in their proper rooms. For a week after that, nothing of note happened. But after seven days, the gates of the Sanctuary opened on a bright, blustery morning to allow the entry of a line of wooden wagons that creaked as they moved, each one stacked heavy with crates. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Riley asked as the group overlooked the train of wagons from atop a hill. ¡°The Volo Company,¡± Laventon said. ¡°They come through every several months with supplies and information. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say the Sanctuary couldn¡¯t continue as it does without the resources they provide.¡± ¡°The leader Volo has a fleet of ships and wagons and he sails all across the world,¡± Rei said. ¡°I wonder what he¡¯ll think of the pok¨¦mon attack,¡± Akari said. Ash glanced over at Yura, whose eyes seemed to hold a dark glitter in them. When the Volo Company came through, she probably had a field day taking this and that from such a grand procession. It¡¯d probably be smart to keep an eye on her now that she was with them. ¡°Does Volo know anything about the rift?¡± Riley asked. ¡°Good question, but I believe it appeared after he was here last so I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve no doubt Cyllene will inquire.¡± Laventon turned to them. ¡°Would you like to meet him?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Ash said. By the time they reached the bottom of the hill, a crowd had already formed around the wagons with raucous chatter filling the air of the Sanctuary. Volo¡¯s workers already seemed to be engaged in business with several villagers, as a few crates had already been cracked open. It was tough pushing their way through but eventually they emerged on the other side after making their way around the busiest wagons. In the center of the circle of wagons, Cyllene was speaking with a tall man in blue and yellow. Ash¡¯s eyes widened and he surged forward ahead of the others. He put his hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sylvester?!¡± The man turned and Ash¡¯s stomach flipped as he got a clear look at the man¡¯s face. Platinum blonde hair, storm gray eyes, and an air of mischief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I believe you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡± His brows furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve met. I remember the faces of everyone I meet.¡± Ash simply stared in shock at the man. He looked nearly identical to Sylvester. But that was impossible. Sylvester was back in the present. This man was¡­ ¡°The name¡¯s Volo.¡± He extended a hand and a courteous smile. ¡°You are?¡± Ash looked at his hand, then back at his face. He shook Volo¡¯s hand gingerly. ¡°I¡¯m Ash¡­ Ash Ketchum.¡± Volo smiled. ¡°Well, Ash Ketchum, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. As it happens, I became familiar with your name just a moment ago. Cyllene here was telling me all about your heroics against that fearsome pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± It was like Ash was hearing Volo¡¯s voice underwater. He could barely process what the man was saying, still in shock at his appearance. ¡°Guardians this far north¡­ I must say, it sounds like you and your friends are on quite the adventure. I¡¯d very much like to hear all about it, if you would?¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 60 : Galaxy Expedition
Hisui Incursion [8] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [8] Chapter 60 : Galaxy Expedition
As the seconds passed by, Ash began to notice slight differences between this man and Sylvester. Volo was slightly taller and his grin was far sharper. He also looked a bit younger, though Ash couldn¡¯t tell by how much. And unlike Sylvester, who seemed to melt into Paragon Island''s background, Volo seemed to draw attention just by standing there. Villagers clamored for a word with him from behind the wagons and even Cyllene seemed less formidable. Sabrina gasped in turn as she made her way up beside Ash and whipped toward him. Volo¡¯s brow raised at her reaction. ¡°A friend of yours, I presume? Sorry to disappoint you, madam, but I am Volo of the Volo Company.¡± He bowed. ¡°Nice to meet you¡­,¡± she breathed. ¡°I¡¯m Sabrina.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Sabrina,¡± Volo said, straightening. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± He flicked his head. Riley strode up behind them. ¡°Riley, sir.¡± ¡°Well, then!¡± Volo clapped his gloved hands. ¡°Three new friends already. This day has already more than paid for itself. Ah, and there¡¯s the good Professor and his faithful honor guard!¡± ¡°Well met, Volo,¡± Laventon said, shaking the man¡¯s hand. ¡°I trust your travels were safe?¡± ¡°Nothing we couldn¡¯t handle. Though¡­¡± He leaned closer and covered his mouth. ¡°That certainly has my men a bit spooked.¡± He nodded at the rift over Mount Coronet. ¡°Hah! Wimps!¡± Rei smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t let them hear that, young Rei,¡± Volo grinned. Akari tugged him away by the ear. ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass the Guardians!¡± ¡°Not to worry, Miss Akari, their first impressions were flawless. You needn¡¯t have any concern there.¡± Volo narrowed his eyes and turned back to them. ¡°So you all are Guardians, huh? I¡¯ve been to Rota a number of times. After hearing about your exploits, I¡¯d very much like to keep a Guardian or two in my employ¡­¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Cyllene snapped. ¡°These three are already members of the Survey Corps.¡± Volo put his hands up defensively. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re as decisive as ever, Cyllene. Well, if that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t try and poach them.¡± He peered down at Yura, who squeezed Sabrina¡¯s hand even tighter as she looked away shyly. ¡°And I see the little mouse is still in good health!¡± A furious shout rose from one of the wagons across the way and everyone¡¯s attention turned in that direction. From here, it looked like an argument had broken out between one of the villagers and one of Volo¡¯s men. Volo himself frowned and strode over, pushing through the crowd with ease. ¡°What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?¡± he asked cooly. ¡°The price of meat has nearly doubled since the last time you came and your man refuses to go any lower!¡± The villager, who wore a stained apron, yelled. ¡°I¡¯ve never dealt with this louse before! Where¡¯s the usual one?¡± ¡°Listen to him, boss!¡± the trader growled. ¡°Tell him the price is true!¡± Volo placed a hand on his man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Now, now, calm down. You must consider the customer¡¯s position or a dialogue cannot be had.¡± Volo turned to the villager. ¡°I apologize, sir. We¡¯ve seen much turnover in the past couple of months due to conditions in the field so this man is new to the meat trade. I¡¯m afraid the increase is no fluke. Considering your circumstances, I¡¯ll make an exception this time and lower the price to the usual, but please be aware that the price may remain this high if the situation in Hisui continues as is.¡± The customer frowned and looked away. ¡°I see. I apologize, then. I didn¡¯t mean to call your honor into question, Volo. How about I pay one and a half times this time? We¡¯ll make due until your next arrival.¡± Volo smiled. ¡°You¡¯re too charitable, sir. A rarity these days. Thank you.¡± Volo clapped his man on the back and rejoined Cyllene and company, who¡¯d watched the exchange from a distance. He raised a brow and shrugged. ¡°Such is business.¡± Cyllene¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°As expected. I don¡¯t imagine meat is all that has become more valuable.¡± ¡°Right indeed. Come, let us speak about it further within the Church. The list of impacted goods is quite long and I must see Leader Kamado.¡± He turned to the others. ¡°Please, come with us. I must hear about your journey.¡± Before anyone could protest, he had sauntered off in the direction of the Church, leaving his men and wagons behind to continue their business with the villagers. Cyllene¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed yet Ash was well enough acquainted with her at this point that he could tell she was a bit miffed. Though then again, when wasn¡¯t she? ¡°Is that alright?¡± he asked. She pursed her lips. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You may tell him what you told the others.¡± So not a word about the future. As Cyllene followed after him, Laventon, Rei, Akari, and Yura glanced between each other but ultimately decided to tag along. Yura wasn¡¯t letting go of Sabrina and the rest seemed to take Cyllene¡¯s assent for themselves as well.
¡°Kamado¡­,¡± Volo murmured, gazing across the table with concerned eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t pity me, boy, I don¡¯t need it,¡± Kamado growled. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± Everyone was seated back in one of the Church¡¯s meeting rooms, and though everyone else sat quietly and respectfully, Volo had his feet kicked up on the chair beside him and he helped himself to a bowl of berries that¡¯d been furnished for him. ¡°I was hoping I¡¯d get to see the great Wyrdeer while I was here. I wonder if it still doesn¡¯t like me¡­¡± Ash frowned. Wyrdeer? Kamado glanced at the confused faces of Ash, Sabrina, and Riley. ¡°Wyrdeer is the protector of the Church. It lives within and watches over us.¡± To Volo, he said, ¡°Wyrdeer shows itself when it wants to. I couldn¡¯t say how it feels about you.¡± That must be how they knew we hadn¡¯t communicated telepathically when we first got here, Ash thought. Wyrdeer¡­a pok¨¦mon I haven¡¯t heard of before¡­ Is it a psychic-type? As much as he wanted to find out, Ash forced himself to focus on the conversation before him. Volo was a veritable treasure trove of information and he¡¯d be a fool to miss a single word. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Volo shrugged ¡°Now, where to start?¡± he said, swallowing. ¡°I wanted to ask you about that rift first. I wasn¡¯t in Hisui when it first appeared, but I heard about it quickly enough. I understand it¡¯s been causing pok¨¦mon to run wild across the region.¡± ¡°Yes. Though we¡¯ve been lucky that the Alpha Pok¨¦mon have stayed away from the Sanctuary, at least until last week.¡± Volo glanced at Ash and the others but turned back to Kamado. ¡°So you¡¯re in the dark too, then.¡± He frowned. ¡°My men are wary of it. They don¡¯t want to get close to Mount Coronet anymore. And we¡¯ve tripled our security forces.¡± ¡°Have you encountered any Alpha Pok¨¦mon out there?¡± Kamado asked. ¡°Luckily, we have yet to do battle with one, but my men have observed them from a distance. We¡¯ve seen all the ones you¡¯ve noted in the Fieldlands, but there are more across Hisui. A Hippowdon in the Mirelands. A Lumineon at the Coast. And a Froslass in the north.¡± Kamado shook his head. ¡°Hisui has become infested.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it always?¡± Volo smirked. ¡°I wish I could say that was all but my men did stumble across a few more. I¡¯ll provide the details later.¡± Cyllene crossed her hands. ¡°So, what does that mean for the company?¡± Volo sighed. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Metal,¡± Kamado answered immediately. ¡°As much as you have. I¡¯d like Sanqua to reinforce our walls even further before the snow starts falling in earnest.¡± Volo shook his head sympathetically. ¡°Wood we have in surplus¡­ But iron comes from the mountains. None of my men want to get near. Everything else we have comes from overseas. It¡¯ll be expensive.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll pay it,¡± Kamado said. ¡°It isn¡¯t just iron. Most of the bounty from Hisui has become more difficult to procure. Even the trainers I hire from Kanto take one look at the Alpha Pok¨¦mon and decide it¡¯s not worth the trouble. That¡¯s made most everything here more expensive.¡± Laventon closed his eyes before opening them again. ¡°How much tumblestone do you have?¡± The merchant frowned. ¡°For pok¨¦balls? Don¡¯t tell me you plan to venture beyond the walls now. You can¡¯t possibly be trying to catch one of those monsters.¡± ¡°We already have.¡± Kamado motioned across the table. ¡°Miss Sabrina?¡± Slowly, Sabrina unclipped the dented pok¨¦ball and raised it above the table to show them. Volo leaned closer and squinted. ¡°Fascinating¡­¡± he muttered. He flicked a glance at Cyllene. ¡°And you¡¯re sure you won¡¯t part with one of them?¡± ¡°No.¡± Volo shrugged and leaned back. ¡°I suppose I don¡¯t personally have a use for creatures like that, though I¡¯m sure someone would be willing to buy them. Some of the village chiefs down in Hoenn have¡­exotic proclivities.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Kamado drawled. In the modern age, that would be considered poaching, but Ash had already gotten used to Hisuian customs. What was of far more interest to him was the tumblestones Laventon had mentioned. He hadn¡¯t considered asking how pok¨¦balls of this era were made, but here was a resource he hadn¡¯t heard of before. Apricorns were prevalent enough in modern-day pop culture, but these tumblestones were new to him. He¡¯d ask the professor later. ¡°The fish is still dirt cheap,¡± Volo offered. ¡°Our southron fishmonger friends seem to have tamed the seas. Two of our brigs stink of Magikarp.¡± ¡°Hmmm, those we can catch easily enough from our own rivers and lakes.¡± Kamado raised a brow. ¡°Though, we have been going out less because of the Alpha Pok¨¦mon so maybe we¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± Eating pok¨¦mon, too, was taboo in the modern day. However, even back in this time, Ash knew Magikarp was the only pok¨¦mon getting eaten. Pok¨¦mon skin was notoriously difficult to penetrate, and even if one could kill a pok¨¦mon, most species offered little to no nutritional value. In the present, pok¨¦mon were sold on the black market to wealthy eccentrics, but the overall populace had no use for them. Magikarp were the sole exception. Weak as they were, they were easy enough to kill with some effort and their meat was remarkably similar to ordinary fish. Since Magikarp were far larger than ordinary fish, they made an excellent food source here in the past when resources were more scarce. Ash had never partaken of pok¨¦mon flesh and he had no intentions to, but he couldn¡¯t judge this society by modern standards. Curious, he glanced over at Sabrina and Riley but they were both flat-faced as well. ¡°Anything of note going on in the other regions?¡± Cyllene asked. Volo pondered for a few seconds. ¡°Not that I can think of. Nothing major since I was last here. Your rift is the most exciting thing I¡¯ve seen this year.¡± ¡°Remind me of the state of the world,¡± Cyllene said. ¡°I¡¯ve been so swamped in Hisuian affairs that I¡¯ve forgotten most of it.¡± Like a laser, she locked eyes with Ash across the table, and Ash understood. Ah, she¡¯s doing this for us. He smiled. So she can be considerate. ¡°Oh, dear, you can¡¯t be losing your memory at your age. This sanctuary will gain another Kamado,¡± Volo grinned, as Kamado looked on unamused. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s see¡­last I was here¡­ah, yes. Kantonian settlers are continuing inland to the lands west of Kanto. It was just villages out there before the Calamity but they¡¯re making a serious effort to develop the land in its wake. Rota¡¯s influence continues to decrease. The Guardians can¡¯t seem to replenish their numbers.¡± He glanced at the three ¡®Guardians.¡¯ Riley nodded slowly. ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°Hoenn is still recovering well from the damage inflicted by the Calamity. Its people have leaned into their marine lifestyle. Last I was there, they were constructing a village on the sea off their southern coast. There were also some islands nearby that I visited and several of them were inhabited by humans. Their villages worshipped pok¨¦mon and held strange rituals to honor their beastly kin.¡± Ash saw Rei and Akari and even Yura staring with eyes wide as saucers as they listened. Honestly, he was the same. Hearing about the world firsthand thousands of years before the present should have been impossible, and yet here he was, getting that exact experience. ¡°Kalos is still in ruins. Unova is doing what it can but they were also devastated by the Calamity. Truthfully, I¡¯m not sure Kalos will ever recover.¡± It will. Volo frowned as he picked around his memory for anything else. ¡°Ah, right. We headed even further east on one particular voyage and arrived at a great continent. Surely you remember me telling you about this, Cyllene. It was a land even more dangerous than Hisui. We kept to the coast and didn¡¯t stay long. Shockingly, there were people there, but¡­ I don¡¯t plan to return if I don¡¯t have to.¡± He chuckled. Must be Paldea, Ash thought. Even in the present, Area Zero contained pok¨¦mon as feral as those from the Age of Carnage. This far back in time, perhaps the whole region was still teeming with them. ¡°Hm, it rings a bell,¡± Cyllene drawled. She glanced at Ash, and Ash nodded. ¡°Thank you. That will be all from me.¡± Kamado cleared his throat. ¡°Volo, the Survey Corps is planning another expedition beyond the walls to depart shortly.¡± ¡°Ooh, exciting. Did you want to tag along when we leave?¡± ¡°No, this expedition is for the rift. They¡¯re heading to Mount Coronet.¡± Volo raised a brow. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem wise.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Ordinarily, it wouldn¡¯t be. But now we have these three. They arrived on Guardians¡¯ business but I intend to squeeze them for as much value as I can while they¡¯re here.¡± Guess we¡¯re not telling him we fell out of the rift. Ash smirked. Kamado really didn¡¯t mince words. He didn¡¯t care at all that they were sitting right there. ¡°And how do they feel about that?¡± Volo asked, turning toward them. ¡°Fine by us,¡± Ash said. ¡°We were heading in that direction anyway.¡± Volo¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Fascinating. What is it you¡¯re here in Hisui to find? Perhaps I can help.¡± ¡°Guardian relics. Artifacts of immense power hidden by the late King Aaron,¡± Riley said. ¡°I see,¡± Volo nodded. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t heard of anything like that, and I certainly would have.¡± He frowned as he recalled something. ¡°Although¡­that reminds me. I do remember hearing from a Pearl Clan member just a short while ago that another man had come to Hisui from abroad and was seeking something similar. Some such relics or ruins.¡± Riley furrowed his brows and his face stiffened. ¡°Where is this man now?¡± ¡°Still in the Icelands, most likely. He was a capable trainer from what I heard and didn¡¯t seem to be in any rush to move on before he¡¯d finished poking around the north.¡± Ash, Sabrina, and Riley all glanced between each other. Could it be? ¡°His name?¡± Ash asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t get it, unfortunately,¡± Volo said. ¡°What pok¨¦mon did he have?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t get that either.¡± Volo grinned. ¡°Much of my information comes from hearsay, rumors in the wind. Such is the way of merchants like myself. I apologize I couldn¡¯t be of more help.¡± Ash said. ¡°I wonder if we¡¯ll meet him on our travels¡­¡± Ash said, glancing at Cyllene. ¡°The plans have already been finalized,¡± she said. ¡°Taking into consideration the objective for this expedition and the provisions necessary to get you to the peak as soon as possible, the path you take will run through the Crimson Mirelands.¡± Riley leaned forward and opened his mouth to interject but Kamado put up a hand. ¡°Not in front of our guest, please. Professor Laventon will have the final say once you¡¯ve set off.¡± Laventon nodded solemnly. Volo glanced between them. ¡°Oh, dear. I hope I didn¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± Kamado said brusquely. ¡°Let us continue.¡± The conversation went on into the evening, with Volo asking for details about their life in Rota and their journey to Hisui. Riley took over for much of it, and luckily they were able to dodge around most of the questions related to their actual arrival. Rei, Akari, and Yura all listened quietly, especially Yura who was hearing it for the first time. Around dinner time, Laventon and the rest excused themselves since the conversation had switched back to trade discussions. Kamado excused himself at the same time to go lie down. Over dinner at home, since the town¡¯s center was roiling with activity now that the Volo Company was here, they discussed the particulars of the expedition and Laventon upheld Cyllene¡¯s decision, though he didn¡¯t sound as adamant about it as her. Rei and Akari begged to be allowed to go, as did Yura, but they were quickly and flatly denied. ¡°Are you planning on bringing your other gauntlet, Sabrina?¡± Ash asked after swallowing a bite of rice. Sabrina reddened and cast her gaze down. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to fix it¡­but I will.¡± ¡°Do you really need it?¡± Rei asked, his mouth full of food. ¡°I mean, nothing¡¯s gone wrong this past week.¡± ¡°I know¡­but just to be safe. I¡¯m not even sure what¡¯s going on with my powers now, but I haven¡¯t used them at all since then.¡± ¡°How come Ash and Riley don¡¯t also have those gauntlets?¡± Akari asked. ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s a sidekick!¡± Yura chirped with a toothy grin. Laventon raised a brow. ¡°A psychic! I¡¯ve heard of some humans possessing such an ability, but I¡¯ve never met one. Are psychics like a variant of Guardians?¡± ¡°Mm¡­yeah,¡± Sabrina said quietly, and Riley smirked beside her. That night, Ash, Sabrina, and Riley convened to discuss everything they¡¯d learned from Volo. And another week later, the day of departure arrived.
Ash, Sabrina, Riley, and Professor Laventon stood in front of the Sanctuary¡¯s eastern gate, with a crowd of the Sanctuary¡¯s citizens gathered behind them. Bulbous rucksacks were slung across all of their backs, and Pikachu sat upon Ash¡¯s head, though no one feared him anymore. Sabrina¡¯s single gauntlet whizzed around her wrist in an anxious frenzy, but the girl herself stood straight and stoic. Beside them, Kamado stood with his burly arms crossed, and Cyllene flanked him, looking as unamused as ever. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want an escort out?¡± Volo asked, sauntering up from behind them. ¡°I can spare some of my men.¡± ¡°Thanks, but we¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ash said. ¡°Speed is of the essence,¡± Laventon chimed in. ¡°We¡¯re plunging headfirst into danger. Not somewhere we¡¯d want to take your men.¡± Volo shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± ¡°Open the gate!¡± Cyllene called to the Security Corps members atop the wall. The door began to creak open, raising a haze of dust as the heavy wood scraped against the ground. Beyond the open door lay a rolling sea of cold grass, dark trees, glassy ponds, and Mount Coronet in the far distance, adorned with the rift as its crown. Thick fog clung to the base of the mountain, a sign of the approaching winter. Glancing at his comrades, Ash took a step forward. ¡°Please keep the Professor safe, Guardians!¡± Behind them, one of the villagers had yelled out. And after him came a few more. ¡°And please stay safe yourselves!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting for your return!¡± Ash smiled and waved, and Pikachu mimicked him, earning a few heart-throbbing squeals. Before they could advance any further though, Cyllene stepped in front of them. ¡°You¡¯re crossing the Obsidian Fieldlands and Coronet¡¯s lowlands into the Crimson Mirelands and entering the mountain from the southeast. The Diamond Clan¡¯s village is nearby so you can use them to resupply and acquire a guide if they have one. Ascend the mountain to the summit, find out what that rift is, and if you can, close it.¡± Riley nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Laventon is taking point,¡± Cyllene said, meeting all of their gazes individually. ¡°He is the leader of this expedition.¡± ¡°We got it,¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Hisui is your territory. You know it best.¡± Seemingly satisfied, Cyllene nodded and took a step back. ¡°I suppose this is it, then,¡± Kamado said. He extended his hand. ¡°If I don¡¯t see you again, it¡¯s been a pleasure.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t say that, sir!¡± Laventon wailed. ¡°We have every intention of returning safe and sound!¡± Kamado didn¡¯t flinch, maintaining eye contact with Ash. Of course. He knows we¡¯re from the future. Before we close that rift, we might hop into it¡­which means we really won¡¯t see them again. Ash took his hand and shook it firmly. ¡°Thanks for everything. We¡¯ll get to the bottom of that rift, don¡¯t you worry.¡± After shaking Sabrina and Riley¡¯s hands, the four Survey Corps members faced the gates to the outside. ¡°And now, the Galaxy Expedition, headed by I, Laventon, sets off!¡± The citizens of the Sanctuary waved and cheered as they departed. Laventon wore a proud smile as they left. It seemed they didn¡¯t usually get this kind of fanfare. Especially lately, most likely, because of all the casualties. And word of the other three¡¯s exploits against the fearsome Decidueye had long since spread through town. All and all, it was a hero¡¯s departure. The doors rumbled as they closed behind them, and once they did, a quiet settled over the party. They were now outside, and it already felt colder. Wordlessly, they settled into formation. Ash and Pikachu stood at the front while Sabrina and Riley triangulated in the back, leaving Professor Laventon protected in the middle. Then, they broke into a brisk jog. Speed was key. With such a small party, threading through the wild pok¨¦mon would be safer than facing them head-on, and the faster they got to the Diamond Clan¡¯s village in the east, the less they¡¯d have to rely on the Supply Corps. Ideally, they wouldn¡¯t need a resupply at all. Since their objective was so focused, their necessities were limited to food and water, which could easily be harvested from the land. Particles of snow swirled in the wind as they ran. Hisui stretched out before them like a grand painting come to life. Dark sentinels covered the grassy hills of the Fieldlands and indigo ponds and rivers speckled the landscape. Ash looked back. ¡°Hand me your bag, Sabrina.¡± Sabrina did look a bit buried beneath her backpack but she was keeping pace. Her cheeks were red with exertion and from the cold. ¡°Huh?¡± she panted. ¡°You¡¯re not as used to stuff like this, right? I¡¯ll carry your bag until we reach our first rest stop.¡± ¡°I can handle this,¡± she replied, her eyes downcast. ¡°C¡¯mon, just hand it over.¡± After a few seconds of hesitation, she slung it off and handed it over. Ash adjusted his own and slung one bag on each arm. ¡°Just watch my back for me!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not keen on physical exertion, we could have accommodated that in our plans,¡± Laventon said, his voice surprisingly clear for a man of his size. ¡°Hey, Ash, I¡¯m not too great with this stuff either, can you carry my bag too?¡± Riley asked. Ash grinned and faced forward. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Since the Sanctuary was built on a hill, most of this initial stretch was slightly downhill. They were running alongside a shallow river that would take them to the Horseshoe Plains. That was where they¡¯d have to dodge their first Alpha Pok¨¦mon: a giant Rapidash. Once past it, they¡¯d continue on to the lowlands of Mount Coronet to a tunnel that¡¯d lead them into the Crimson Mirelands. The full route had been hammered into everyone¡¯s heads and Laventon had been on so many expeditions, he knew Hisui like his own backyard. The most uncertain part of the journey would come once they entered the mountain proper, something no one in the Survey Corps had ever done. The first attack came almost an hour after their departure. Pikachu¡¯s presence was supposed to deter any curious pok¨¦mon, but it hadn¡¯t stopped these. As they reached the foot of a hill, a Luxray across the river had glanced over at them, and after a few seconds of consideration, seemed to decide they¡¯d be fitting prey. As it bounded across the ridge, it brought its whole clan of Luxio and Shinx with it, twelve in total. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it!¡± Ash growled, stopping in his tracks. ¡°Do you want help?¡± Riley asked. ¡°It¡¯s a bad matchup.¡± ¡°Nah, we got it. Protect the Professor! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt! Try and scare off the little ones!¡± Pikachu sailed into the air and ignited, before letting loose a jagged blade of electricity that carved its path through the lions¡¯ numbers. Three Shinx and a Luxio yelped and reared back, but the others dodged or powered through. The eyes of the ones that got hit gleamed blood red with hatred. ¡°Tougher than I thought,¡± Ash muttered. He¡¯d expected Hisui¡¯s wilds to be a cut above usual but he¡¯d been hoping to thin the pack out a bit more. After checking behind him to make sure the others were far enough away, Ash grinned. Thunder rolled through the valley and white electricity began to drip from his forearms. As he pushed his hands forward, his palms turned a blinding white and wind gusted around him in a cyclone. As Luxray leaped over the river, its salivating maw opened and its body rippled with power. ¡°Zap Cannon!¡± Ash roared. A crackling sphere of blinding electricity burst out from his hands and slammed into Luxray, knocking it out of the air and back onto the opposite riverbank. Its body smoked where the attack landed and the other Luxio and Shinx stopped in their tracks to check on their leader. Pikachu began priming another attack but Ash raised his hand. ¡°Hold, Pikachu,¡± he said, his eyes trained on the Luxray. The Luxray staggered to its feet. It glared at Ash and snorted angrily, but after a few seconds of eye contact, it turned around and stalked away, limping slightly. Once they were gone, Ash exhaled, satisfied. ¡°The Shinx line is pretty prideful. If you can best the leader of their prides, they¡¯ll usually leave you alone.¡± Laventon crept over to his side cautiously. ¡°Impressive¡­ Even with ten Survey Corps members with us, I¡¯m not sure we¡¯d be able to defeat that Luxray so quickly.¡± ¡°The Survey Corps usually surrounds wild pok¨¦mon to defeat them, right?¡± Riley said. ¡°I imagine you have greater difficulty against numbers.¡± ¡°Yes, though it¡¯s not often we face singular pok¨¦mon, save for the Alpha Pok¨¦mon. Usually, they come in numbers just like that and we batter them with attacks indiscriminately.¡± ¡°Disorients them, right?¡± Ash said as Pikachu jumped back on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯d probably work too but I didn¡¯t want to hurt them too badly if I didn¡¯t have to.¡± Laventon sighed. ¡°I wish we had that luxury.¡± Once they started moving again, they didn¡¯t face any more attacks for the next hour. Staraptor, Staravia, and Starly watched them from the skies, Bidoof looked on from bushes and shrubs, and Budew observed as they chewed on the winter flowers that grew up from the hard ground, but none tried approaching. About a half hour after the Luxray incident, they entered a sparse forest. Various pok¨¦mon dashed out of their way as they entered, clearly not used to visitors such as these. Ash got a bit anxious as they jogged under the cover of the trees. The thin canopy blocked their view of the sky and the shadows of the trees held far better hiding spots than the plains behind them. ¡°Left here. We¡¯ll stop at that boulder,¡± Laventon wheezed and Ash changed direction accordingly. Ash slowed to a stop beside a large rock pressed against an unfortunate family of trees and leaned over, panting. He threw his backpacks to the ground and exhaled loudly. Riley handed a skin of water to each of them from his bag and they all drank in silence. Only Pikachu stood unexhausted, his ears up to detect anything interested in them while the rest were recovering. ¡°I¡¯ve never come so far in such little time,¡± Laventon groaned. ¡°You three are something else.¡± Ash met Riley¡¯s eyes and the Guardian glanced over at Sabrina, who then looked back at Ash. Unfortunately, Laventon caught on and he lowered his water. ¡°What?¡± Riley cleared his throat and took several breaths. ¡°There¡¯s something we should tell you, Professor.¡± Immediately, Laventon¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Oh, dear. Why do you look like Rei and Akari just before they¡¯re about to tell me they snuck a second pok¨¦mon into the Sanctuary beyond the one we agreed to study?¡± Riley cracked a smile. ¡°We have no intentions of mutiny, nothing of the sort, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. But¡­well, the thing is¡­¡± He glanced at the others once more before continuing. ¡°The truth is, I am the only Guardian among us three. But more importantly¡­Ash, Sabrina, and I are from two thousand five hundred years in the future.¡± Laventon blinked. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Kamado and Cyllene are the only others who know, but we discussed it and figured it¡¯d be smart to tell you as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, just a minute,¡± Laventon said, waving his hand. ¡°The future? What in the world are you talking about?¡± ¡°The rift over Mount Coronet,¡± Ash said. ¡°The truth is, we weren¡¯t in Rota before falling out of that rift. We were, er, in Kanto, in a place that doesn¡¯t exist yet.¡± Saffron City wasn¡¯t built until centuries later. Laventon simply stared at him as if what he was saying wasn¡¯t registering. He looked away. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d believe you if I hadn¡¯t met you all when I did. But¡­I¡¯m recalling our meeting at Prelude Beach. Your confusion¡­your mentioning King Aaron¡­your surprise at hearing where you were. I¡¯d always thought your story was a tad strange, but I suppose¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry we lied to you,¡± Ash said. ¡°But honestly we were pretty confused ourselves and we weren¡¯t sure if you¡¯d believe us even if we did tell you.¡± Laventon scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m still having trouble believing you, but¡­¡± His head whipped in their direction. ¡°Wait, you three are on this expedition to return home, aren¡¯t you?¡± Riley nodded. ¡°The part about a Guardian ritual gone wrong is basically true. We shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Laventon continued to gaze listlessly at the grass. ¡°The future¡­,¡± he murmured. ¡°That place you said you came from. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ll tell me the name?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯d be wise,¡± Riley said. Laventon frowned, but nodded. ¡°Well, first of all, I¡¯m sorry this happened to you. I can¡¯t even imagine how strange these past couple of weeks have felt for you all.¡± ¡°Made easier by your hospitality,¡± Riley said. Ash took a step forward. ¡°Professor, the truth is, we¡¯d like to request a change to the plan. If you say no, we won¡¯t ask again, but¡­¡± He steeled his gaze and met Laventon¡¯s eyes. ¡°The truth is, that man Volo mentioned¡­we think he may be able to help us get home.¡± It lined up too perfectly. A man from abroad seeking ancient relics. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t looking for them, but hiding them. If Sir Aaron was here, then this was their best shot by far of getting home. Though Ash had tried persuading Cyllene of the merits of following the northern route into the Icelands, ultimately, she¡¯d maintained her decision on the Mirelands route. Which meant Laventon¡¯s assent was the only way they¡¯d have any chance to meet him. Laventon¡¯s brows hadn¡¯t untightened since the moment they¡¯d revealed the truth to him. ¡°Who is he, do you think?¡± ¡°A Guardian,¡± Riley said. ¡°A Guardian relic called a Time Flower brought us here. It may be through a Guardian that we can return.¡± ¡°But like we said, we won¡¯t just abandon you out here,¡± Ash said. ¡°And we have every intention of helping you guys close out that rift. But¡­we¡¯d like to talk to that guy as soon as possible.¡± Laventon crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Where they were now, they¡¯d essentially progressed the same distance for both routes. But once they started moving again, they¡¯d have to pick a direction. ¡°Fine,¡± Laventon said quietly. Ash brightened. ¡°Are you sure, Professor?¡± Laventon nodded. ¡°It makes no difference to me. I was of the belief that each of the two routes were roughly equivalent in danger. And at the rate we were just at, our provisions should last us until we reach the Pearl Clan.¡± Riley smiled. ¡°I¡¯m almost perturbed at how quickly you agreed.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve never gone against Miss Cyllene¡¯s carefully laid plans,¡± Laventon laughed. ¡°And I want to help you three return home too. If you believe the man in the north to be of importance toward that goal, I have no reason to deny it.¡± Sabrina bowed. ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡± ¡°Of course! We¡¯re all friends now, right? Plus, if it¡¯s a Guardian like you say, I¡¯d very much like to meet another as well.¡± Laventon raised a finger. ¡°But no more plan changes after this. Miss Cyllene may boot me from the Survey Corps if I stray any further.¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want that,¡± Riley smiled. ¡°Ha ha, of course,¡± Laventon laughed. ¡°But now, the Galaxy Expedition turns north, without delay!¡± Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled and a small sinkhole opened between them. All four jumped back and Pikachu¡¯s cheeks crackled dangerously. A Shieldon burst up from the hole, quickly followed by two tiny hands. Yura¡¯s head popped out a moment later, face and hair matted with dirt and sweat. ¡°Hah¡­hah¡­hah¡­finally¡­fresh air.¡± She looked up and saw four speechless faces staring back at her. Next ¡ª Chapter 61 : Adventure in the Land of Legend
I hope this chapter didn¡¯t feel too rushed, but I wanted to get Ash and co out of the Sanctuary before year¡¯s end. This will be the final chapter of 2024! Thank you so much to everyone who¡¯s read this far, especially those who started reading this year! It was a big year for the fic, with the climax and conclusion of the Remnants arc and the completion of the first act of the Hisui arc! Since I¡¯ll be out of town for Christmas, I anticipate the next chapter will come out around January 12th! Until then, Merry Christmas, and don¡¯t forget to come back!!
Hisui Incursion [9] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [9] Chapter 61 : Adventure in the Land of Legend
Hisui Region - Obsidian Fieldlands Laventon¡¯s bottom lip quivered as he raised a shaky finger in Yura¡¯s direction. ¡°Y¡­Y¡­Y-Yura¡­?!¡± Beside the hole it¡¯d popped out of, Shieldon groaned, a low, metallic grinding emanating from its stony throat, ready to defend its young master. The shock of seeing Yura aside, this was also Ash¡¯s first time seeing Shieldon in the daylight, and now that it was well-illuminated, he noticed something strange about this one. Unlike the Shieldon of the modern age, this one¡¯s metal skull was a far darker shade, nearly black. He hadn¡¯t noticed before in the darkness of night, but this one¡¯s head almost appeared to be made of obsidian rather than iron. Its eyes held the same wild look as the other pok¨¦mon of this time and its body was covered in dirt and gravel. ¡°W-What are you¡­?¡± Sabrina stammered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are they there?¡± another voice echoed from within the hole. Ash, Sabrina, and Riley all exchanged a look. Yura looked down the hole, then back up. Scarlet bloomed across her cheeks and she clambered out. Shieldon stalked toward her protectively. Rei¡¯s head popped up next and he took one look at the others before all the color drained from his face. After an awkward pause, Riley extended a hand, and as if on autopilot, Rei accepted it, and the Guardian hauled him out. Akari was last and it took less than a second for her to realize what was going on. ¡°Oh¡­,¡± she breathed. Her face and clothes were smeared in dirt as well but Riley wasted no time in offering his hand. Laventon¡¯s eyes were closed, yet his whole body trembled as he stood in place. Ash glanced between their now bloated party, but all eyes were trained on the Professor, awaiting his judgment with trepidation. Wind whistled through the trees like roaring laughter, but no one was smiling. Finally, the Professor stopped shaking and he unballed his fists. Rei swallowed, and Akari and Yura clutched each others¡¯ hands so tightly it looked painful. ¡°We¡¯re turning back,¡± Laventon said in a low voice. ¡°Wait, Professor, please just let us explain, we¡ª¡° Rei sputtered. ¡°We¡¯re turning back!¡± Laventon roared in a voice completely different from how Ash had ever heard before. And given Rei and Akari¡¯s wincing reactions, it wasn¡¯t something they¡¯d ever heard either. ¡°You two, I understand!¡± he said, jabbing a finger at his disciples. ¡°You could say I expected it! But what on earth possessed you to bring Yura all this way?!¡± ¡°Please, Professor!¡± Akari wailed. ¡°We¡¯ve been talking! She just wants to find her home¡ª¡° ¡°So you took her beyond the safety of the walls?! This is a child!¡± ¡°She has a pok¨¦mon!¡± Rei offered. ¡°Don¡¯t try to justify your reckless foolishness!¡± Laventon snarled. ¡°Not only have you put her in mortal peril, but you¡¯ve endangered yourselves and us as well! The journey simply cannot continue! It¡¯s done! It¡¯s¡ª¡° A hand came down on the Professor¡¯s shoulder and he whipped around. Ash smiled sympathetically. ¡°We don¡¯t want to invite any wild pok¨¦mon over,¡± he said. Laventon opened his mouth, then nodded, and nodded again to keep himself quiet. ¡°Sabrina, Riley, can you watch our front and back while we chat?¡± Ash said. After a moment, Sabrina and Riley both nodded and moved around the group to their respective sides. Laventon¡¯s legs buckled under him and he plopped down on the ground. ¡°What were you three thinking?¡± he hissed. Rei knelt down slowly next to Laventon, his eyes locked on the Professor¡¯s downcast gaze. ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad at them, Professor. It was all my idea. I forced Akari and Yura to come along with me¡­ I just couldn¡¯t stand the thought that you all were going to explore the rift without me. I¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Laventon grunted. ¡°Noble, Rei. But I¡¯ve known you long enough to know that this nonsense was concocted by the both of you. No, all three of you. I¡¯ll have the truth, and I¡¯ll have it now.¡± Without delay, Yura squatted down in front of Laventon, her brows furrowed into a tight knit. ¡°It was me, sir. I¡­forced them to take me. I¡­just thought¡­¡± Her eyes shimmered, but she glared at the ground and wiped them furiously. ¡°I thought this would be the best chance for me to find my home!¡± Even Shieldon groaned sadly and mimicked its master in lowering its head. Laventon reached out a hand and placed it on Yura¡¯s head. ¡°How old are you again?¡± ¡°Nine, sir.¡± ¡°And you say you forced those two to do your bidding?¡± Yura pursed her lips. ¡°Shieldon helped.¡± Laventon raised a brow and glanced at the other two. ¡°It seems you two need better training, hm?¡± Rei and Akari nodded furiously as the Professor stood up and dusted himself off. ¡°My decision remains the same. We¡¯re turning back.¡± Yura looked up, agony in her eyes as the two older ones surged forward. ¡°Professor, please!¡± Rei begged. ¡°We¡¯re strong enough, I promise!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about that, we don¡¯t have the means! And we¡¯re meant to be moving quickly! That¡¯s impossible with a group this size!¡± ¡°Professor.¡± Ash raised his hand. ¡°We¡¯d like to continue, if possible. Because of what we just told you.¡± Laventon looked over and his movements slowed as he glanced between Ash, and Sabrina and Riley, as if realizing just how much firepower he¡¯d be losing without them on his side. ¡°I¡¯ll go with them!¡± Yura said, clamping her arms around Sabrina¡¯s leg and burying her face in it before anyone had a chance to deny her. Laventon looked at Rei and Akari. He sighed and held his head in his hand. ¡°What is the point if only we return?¡± he bit out. Rei looked up hopefully as Akari held her breath. ¡°You can trust us to look after the others, I promise,¡± Ash said cautiously. Laventon didn¡¯t move. ¡°Each of us will take personal responsibility for one of them,¡± Riley offered. ¡°To the extent of sacrificing our lives, if necessary.¡± Sabrina didn¡¯t even blink at the declaration and Ash¡¯s gaze was still trained on Laventon. After what seemed like an hour, the Professor sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°Cyllene¡¯s going to bury us all,¡± he muttered. A grin broke across Rei and Akari¡¯s faces and they exchanged an elated look. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Laventon barked before they could celebrate. ¡°We¡¯ve lost enough time already and we won¡¯t be able to maintain the same pace either.¡± He picked up his backpack and slung it back over his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Professor, we brought our own supplies too,¡± Rei said. He ducked his head back down the hole they came from and heaved out a backpack of similar size as the other three. ¡°You have no idea how heavy¡­¡± He glanced around. ¡°¡­Er, never mind.¡± ¡°Pilfered from the Church¡¯s storerooms, I¡¯m sure,¡± Laventon sighed. ¡°Most of it came from Volo¡¯s carts,¡± Akari murmured, but it didn¡¯t seem like Laventon had heard. ¡°I¡¯ll watch over Yura,¡± Sabrina said as Ash was picking up their bags. ¡°Ash, I can protect Akari and Rei both,¡± Riley said as he watched Ash sling both backpacks back over his shoulders. Pikachu scampered up onto his head and crossed his stubby arms. ¡°Awesome, thanks,¡± Ash grunted. ¡°¡­If you carry my bag as well.¡± ¡°Rei, you¡¯re with me,¡± Ash said as he started forward again. ¡°Pikachu.¡± The mouse jumped and landed on Rei¡¯s shoulder as Riley smirked, and the younger boy recoiled, but didn¡¯t shoo him off. After Pikachu seemed to settle in, Rei eased up and straightened, though he stared at his new protector warily. He lifted his own bag over his other shoulder and glanced back at Akari, who stifled a giggle next to Riley. ¡°Now!¡± Yura shouted. ¡°Let the Galaxy Expebitio¡­ M-Mission¡­set off, again!¡±
Laventon led the way at the front trekking ahead in silence, and no one uttered a word for the next hour for fear of him changing his mind. Emerald light filtered through the gaps in the leaves above and this forest was clean, for lack of a better word. The grass at their feet was just as bright and no branches or twigs cracked beneath them either. They did not encounter any pok¨¦mon either, the size of their group likely making any potential onlookers second guess getting a closer look. Every so often, Laventon glanced down at his map but his pace never slowed. That said, their overall speed compared to before the others had joined them had plummeted, and the Professor didn¡¯t seem to be making an effort at getting it back up. They were now walking through the forest at a gait that reminded Ash of his many miles of journey with his friends across the various regions before he¡¯d become World Champion. As he¡¯d kind of expected, Rei was the first to break the silence, though he was wise enough to keep it down. ¡°So you guys are from the future, huh?¡± he said, walking next to Ash. ¡°That¡¯s pretty cool.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ash frowned. ¡°You guys heard that?¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. Didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop or anything, but we realized you guys had stopped and we weren¡¯t sure when to pop up.¡± ¡°Well, guess the secret¡¯s out then,¡± Ash smiled, scratching the back of his head. ¡°By the way, how in the world did you guys follow us so far anyway? I didn¡¯t notice we were being followed at all.¡± ¡°Oh, it was all Shieldon,¡± Rei grinned. ¡°That thing¡¯s a total beast. We slipped out of the Sanctuary and it started digging almost right away. Somehow, it always knew where you guys were, all we had to do was keep up.¡± ¡°The tunnel was big enough for you to stand in?¡± ¡°Yeah, but barely! Still impressive for how much smaller it is than us. He didn¡¯t even slow down at all either. And I gotta hand it to Yura. She kept up the whole way too.¡± Ash glanced back at Sabrina and Yura as subtly as he could. The two were walking hand in hand and Shieldon had been recalled. Sabrina didn¡¯t seem to mind how filthy the little girl was after running underground all morning, and he looked away before she could meet her eye. Indeed, Yura didn¡¯t even look tired. ¡°That one¡¯s a trooper,¡± Ash muttered. Though since it concerned her supposed home, maybe that was to be expected. ¡°Thanks for taking our side, by the way,¡± Rei said. ¡°I guess we didn¡¯t really realize it¡¯d put you guys in an awkward spot if we suddenly showed up.¡± He looked down in shame. Ash smiled. ¡°Of course. Really, I should be thanking you for thinking of Yura. I¡­wanted to do something to help her, but I wasn¡¯t sure what. I hope we can help her find her home.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, ¡®course!¡± Rei chuckled nervously. ¡°But to be perfectly honest, we didn¡¯t just do it ¡®cause of her. Me and Akari wanted to tag along no matter what.¡± Ash looked over at him. ¡°How did you two meet the Professor? It seems like you both care about him a lot. If you don¡¯t mind me asking,¡± he added quickly. Rei shook his head and shrugged. ¡°Nah, not at all. Me and Akari¡¯s parents died when we were super young and he took us in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be. It¡¯s pretty common for people to pass away like that here. Though that winter was particularly hard on the Sanctuary so it means a lot that he took us both in when he did. Neither of us remember it, but Cyllene let us know, er¡­when we were getting chewed out by her one time. So¡­I guess we¡¯re both still trying to pay it forward to him.¡± ¡°Does tagging along on an expedition you weren¡¯t assigned to help with that?¡± Ash teased. ¡°Definitely, man!¡± Rei exclaimed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°You know what kind of trouble the Professor gets himself into! I mean, he scooped you guys up!¡± Pikachu sent a jolt of electricity into Rei and the boy yelped loud enough for Laventon to turn around and shoot him an evil eye. Rei whipped toward Ash but he shrugged innocently. Surprisingly, as their conversation continued, Rei never ended up asking him anything about the future. Maybe it was his way of being considerate or something, or maybe he¡¯d simply heard Laventon get shut down by Riley earlier, but the boy never said a word about it. When they emerged from the forest, the sun shined white against a sprawling blue vista cut with milky clouds. The snow-tipped mountaintops that stood before the horizon glimmered a soft amethyst in the winter sunlight. Rivers and streams trickled like silver veins across the plains below and pok¨¦mon sipped from ponds and lakes whose edges glowed blue with frost. Yura let go of Sabrina¡¯s hand for the first time since they¡¯d set off and ran up beside Laventon. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡­,¡± she breathed. ¡°Indeed,¡± Laventon agreed, his voice wistful. Yura dug around in her pocket and released Shieldon. ¡°Look, Shieldon! It¡¯s¡ª¡° But the shield pok¨¦mon remained fast asleep as it coalesced onto the ground at her side, and even her call didn¡¯t wake it. She frowned in dismay and recalled him. ¡°I guess Shieldon¡¯s still tired,¡± Akari said, resting her hand on the young girl¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We put him through a lot of work.¡± Laventon didn¡¯t react. His eyes were transfixed on the eerie storm above Mount Coronet. The dark fracture crackled and rumbled in the far distance, almost as if it were alive, and hungry. Riley stepped up beside Ash. ¡°What¡¯s your read, Ash?¡± he asked quietly. Ash¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°It looks similar to what Team Galactic did, but somehow different. More powerful. Whatever caused that rift¡­ It¡¯s far more dangerous than Team Galactic ever was.¡± He turned to Riley. ¡°Are the Paragons really that much stronger than the pok¨¦mon of time and space?¡± ¡°For a certainty,¡± Riley nodded. ¡°Dialga and Palkia are like ministers of said aspects. For the Paragons, they rewrite the laws of nature and existence with their every breath¡­ Reality bends to their will. It¡¯s why this world is so badly maimed by their mere approach.¡± ¡°Why would the rift appear here though? And why now?¡± Riley¡¯s eyes darkened like jade. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I hope we can find King Aaron in the north and get some answers.¡± Ash¡¯s gaze remained on the rift. But try as he might, he could not pierce its murky identity. The Electric Plate didn¡¯t react to it at all the way it had with AZ. With how strong the Paragon within supposedly was, he thought for sure he could at least confirm it, but alas¡­ He shivered, but immediately clutched his arms to get himself to stop. ¡°Are you cold, Ash?¡± Sabrina walked up to his other side. She looked at him with concern. ¡°You said I have to become strong enough to take on something as powerful as that?¡± Ash asked, his grip tightening on his arms. He seemed not to hear Sabrina. Riley hesitated, but nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Sabrina glanced between them, having only heard of their conversation about the Paragon of Darkness in summary form later the next day. Ash looked over at Pikachu, still relaxing on Rei¡¯s shoulder. Then, he pulled his hands off his arms and looked down at them. ¡­Me? I¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s continue,¡± Laventon called. ¡°We¡¯ll hike to that lake down there and camp there for the night,¡± he said, pointing. Rei, Akari, and Yura looked back curiously, but having all three of them staring at him snapped Ash out of his trance. ¡°Sounds good, Professor!¡± He pushed ahead, his two bags bouncing against his back with each step. Sabrina and Riley glanced between each other before silently following after. They¡¯d come out of the forest atop a rather steep hill so descending it took longer than it initially seemed like it would. Rock jutted out from its gravelly face in gray-speckled patches, creating a quasi-path down. This time, Ash and Rei led the way, with Rei¡¯s stony Growlithe smoothing their path as best it could with head bashes and streams of hot fire that sliced through cragged bushes now bare of their leaves. The sky was beginning to change color as they finally reached the mountain¡¯s foot, but now, it was flat as far as the horizon. Pok¨¦mon grazed in the balding fields, but there appeared to be less now than there¡¯d been earlier when they were looking down from above. Perhaps they were returning home to their hill holes and forest dwellings before night fell. Luckily, that meant an easier journey across the land for them. ¡°Ah, a herd of Stantler, look,¡± Laventon said as they crossed a grassy glen covered in small flowers. A pack of thirty or forty tread across their path up ahead, and though a few of them glanced their way, the herd didn¡¯t break formation. Yura bounced up to the front beside Ash and Rei and put her hand over her eyes. ¡°Ooooooohhhhh!¡± she cooed. ¡°So many!¡± Ash smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t usually see that many together like that. I bet they¡¯re coming down from the north for winter.¡± ¡°You know so much about pok¨¦mon!¡± Akari chirped. ¡°It seems like you know something about every pok¨¦mon we come across!¡± ¡°Ha ha, I¡¯ve just traveled around a lot,¡± Ash said, slightly embarrassed. ¡°I don¡¯t know about every pok¨¦mon.¡± His brows furrowed. ¡°Like Rei¡¯s Growlithe. The Growlithe I¡¯ve seen don¡¯t look like yours.¡± ¡°Yes, Hisui¡¯s Growlithe and Arcanine are a local variant,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Trainers from Kanto and beyond have come to Hisui before and expressed similar confusion. Our Growlithe and Arcanine are far sturdier. They sport the rock-type alongside their fire.¡± ¡°Rock-type¡­¡± Ash repeated. That lined up with his initial observations. ¡°What about Hisui¡¯s Decidueye? Like the one that attacked the Sanctuary?¡± ¡°Grass and Fighting,¡± Laventon answered. ¡°Is there another Decidueye variant elsewhere? I haven¡¯t heard of any others besides this one.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a Grass and Ghost one,¡± Sabrina said, joining them at the front next to Yura. ¡°It¡¯s¡­actually, never mind. Sorry¡­¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°Wisdom from the future, hm? Ah, no need to apologize. I don¡¯t want to meddle in anything I shouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Could at least give us a hint where it lives,¡± Rei muttered under his breath. ¡°Actually, seeing those Stantler reminds me of something I completely forgot to ask,¡± Riley said. ¡°That pok¨¦mon Leader Kamado mentioned¡­Wyrdeer, I believe it was called. I¡¯ve never heard of a pok¨¦mon like that, but if it has ¡®deer¡¯ in its name, is it perhaps related to Stantler?¡± Laventon nodded. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s exactly right. Stantler evolves into Wyrdeer, though we¡¯re not sure how. The Wyrdeer that lives within the Church has protected it for several generations now. It¡¯s far older than any of us, but it treats the Church like its own child. No harm has ever befallen the Church under its mystical watch.¡± ¡°Hah! So there are some pok¨¦mon you guys haven¡¯t heard of, huh?¡± Rei grinned. ¡°Such is the vastness of the mysteries of this world,¡± Laventon mused. ¡°Though maybe that¡¯s not such a good thing,¡± Akari said. ¡°It means some knowledge was lost between now and then.¡± ¡°The ebb and flow of time is unceasing,¡± Riley said. ¡°Not everything survives to the future, no matter how calm the current.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Yura said. ¡°It means you better eat your veggies if you want to grow up big and strong,¡± Ash grinned, but he saw Sabrina shoot him a dirty look out of the corner of his eye and quickly wiped it off. ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about the future,¡± Rei said. ¡°That¡¯s for these guys to handle.¡± Yura¡¯s cheeks puffed up as she pouted and she stared at Riley as they continued their lively trek. The surface of the lake shimmered silently when they arrived at dusk. The sun was beginning to pass behind the mountains, darkening the Fieldlands so it looked later than it actually was. Yura started running off toward it but Sabrina pulled her back. ¡°We¡¯ll set up camp here for tonight,¡± Laventon declared, throwing his backpack down and sitting on a rock. ¡°Rei, if you please.¡± ¡°On it!¡± Before Ash could ask what, he ran off, with Akari trailing behind. ¡°Those two will take care of firewood. In the meantime, let¡¯s get dinner started.¡± Within their bags, they all carried an assortment of food. Laventon unclipped the iron pot attached to his pack and Riley offered to fill it with water. In the mean time, Sabrina dug out a handful of root vegetables and started chopping them up on a small chopping board, while Ash tore up strips of dried fish. ¡°It¡¯s our first night beyond the walls. I say we indulge a bit,¡± Laventon proclaimed. ¡°Tonight, we feast like kings!¡± The fire glowed and crackled, illuminating their small camp as they all sat around it. Akari took charge in stirring everything together, and tasting and spicing as needed. Before long, their stew was done, and luckily, Rei, Akari, and Yura had packed bowls for themselves. Pikachu, Growlithe, and Akari¡¯s Staravia patrolled the camp as they ate, weaving in and out of the light cast by the fire in accordance with sounds they heard in the shadowy distance. The stars lit up their lakeside camp, but it was still plenty dark away from the fire. ¡°So,¡± Laventon said as they ate. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about our change of plans.¡± Akari and Rei glanced between each other, knowing this conversation had to happen at some point. But they weren¡¯t the only ones that¡¯d catalyzed the change. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the Alabaster Icelands now, with a planned stop at the Pearl Settlement. Right now, we¡¯re on the edge of a place called the Horseshoe Plains. From here, we turn north.¡± ¡°Over the Coronet foothills?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Indeed. That will take us into the Icelands. We¡¯ll resupply at the Pearl Settlement and gather information on our man in the north. Then, whether we find him or not, we¡¯ll make the final journey up Mount Coronet to the summit.¡± Laventon turned. ¡°On our way back, we¡¯ll sweep the northern Highlands once again for Yura¡¯s village.¡± The little girl had been slouching against Sabrina, but she now stood up and put her bowl down carefully, then bowed. ¡°Thank you, sir! Really, thank you so much!¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°Just Professor is fine.¡± Rei put his empty bowl to the side. ¡°Professor¡­not to be nitpicky, especially since we¡¯ve already caused so many problems, but is there a reason you waited so long to tell us the plan? How come you didn¡¯t lay all this out earlier?¡± The fire flickered as Rei¡¯s question hung in the air for a moment. ¡°Perhaps I wanted you to stew in your guilt a bit longer,¡± the Professor said. But he smiled. ¡°No, I waited on purpose. For my own sake. I wanted us to be far enough along the northern route that I¡¯d have no choice but to follow through with this plan.¡± ¡°Scared?¡± Rei asked, but his tone only sounded half teasing. ¡°For my own safety? No. But for all of you¡­¡± ¡°Not to worry, Professor,¡± Ash said. ¡°That¡¯s a burden we¡¯ll share with you. Please don¡¯t think you have to shoulder it alone.¡± Laventon smiled. ¡°I¡¯m grateful. But, our journey will be fraught with danger all the same. The Fieldlands are nothing compared to where we¡¯re going. We¡¯re going to the Icelands, in the winter, no less. The pok¨¦mon there are far less docile than they are here. And Mount Coronet is in a league of its own altogether.¡± He laced his fingers together. ¡°If there is anything about the future that would increase the safety of this expedition, I must demand to hear it now.¡± Ash met his eye. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything helpful I know already. I¡¯ve been to Mount Coronet before, and the area called the Icelands, but Hisui is a completely different place two thousand years from now. I¡¯d rather heed your warnings than trust my experience, in this case.¡± Laventon nodded slowly. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll continue with the northern plan you and Miss Cyllene drew up. We have an interesting road ahead of us.¡± He stroked his chin, a small smile ghosting his lips. ¡°Especially in three days time, at our pace.¡± ¡°What happens in three days?¡± Yura asked. Laventon¡¯s eye gleamed. ¡°We encounter our first Alpha Pok¨¦mon.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 62 : Incarnation of Violence
Apologies for the delay. I had the chapter finished on time but I was busy playing games, ha ha. Hisui Incursion [10] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [10] Chapter 62 : Incarnation of Violence
The stars above glittered like sparkling sand on an endless expanse of black velvet. Sabrina let herself become entranced by them as she lay within her bedroll. The coals of their cookfire smoldered within their circle, its heat and light slowly ebbing away. ¡°So pretty,¡± Yura murmured next to her. She was still sitting up, her neck completely slack as she stared up at the sky. ¡°Can¡¯t you see the stars from the Sanctuary?¡± Sabrina whispered. ¡°Not like this.¡± She turned to face Sabrina, and the stars reflected in her dark eyes. ¡°They¡¯re even prettier in my hometown. I promise.¡± Sabrina smiled, though in the darkness, she was sure Yura couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°I believe you.¡± Yura pulled back her blanket and slipped into her bedroll. ¡°I¡¯ll show them to you! Do you like the stars, miss?¡± Sabrina looked back up at the sky. The stars clustered in parts, creating a sweeping gradient of purple and blue. But not all stars were the same. Some shined brighter than the others and sat alone, alexandrites and diamonds embedded in the blackness. She¡¯d never seen anything like this in Saffron City, and the sky above Paragon Island simply couldn¡¯t compare. Her own amethyst eyes, flecked with gold and silver, shimmered. ¡°The stars are beautiful¡­but I prefer the sun.¡± ¡°The sun?¡± Yura whispered. ¡°How come?¡± Sabrina opened her mouth and she felt her cheeks heat up. ¡°Ah¡­i-it¡¯s sort of silly. I¡­just like it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re weird, miss!¡± Yura rolled around in her bedroll until the blanket was wrapped tightly around her, and she faced Sabrina again. ¡°I like the stars because it reminds me of my home!¡± Home¡­ Even in the darkness, Sabrina could see Yura¡¯s eyes glitter with longing and love. She glanced away, and her hand instinctively drifted to her gauntlets, like they always did when she got anxious. Though now, she only had one. ¡°Let¡¯s go to sleep now, Yura. We have to be up early tomorrow.¡± ¡°Good night, miss!¡± After a moment, Sabrina replied. ¡°Good night.¡±
¡°Hold your power within. Summon as much of it as you can, but don¡¯t let it leak out.¡± Ash trembled, and his entire body tensed up. Static electricity dripped from his outstretched arms and ran off his body like mist. ¡°You¡¯re leaking, Ash.¡± Riley sat atop a boulder observing Ash as he trained by the lakeside. ¡°I¡¯m¡­not¡­trying¡­to!¡± Ash bit out. His muscles throbbed as he tried to tighten his control over his power and sweat dripped down his temples. He grit his teeth and grunted, yet the tremendous strain didn¡¯t abate in the slightest. ¡°As of now, your mind hasn¡¯t yet realized what you¡¯re truly capable of. You¡¯re still subconsciously trying to protect your body by limiting your output. The fastest way to shatter that barrier is by forcing your body to contend with greater power.¡± Ash¡¯s every bone felt like they were a tap away from cracking so Riley¡¯s lecture only grated on him as he strained to contain the electricity within. Not to mention, it sounded eerily similar to what Cynthia had told him before he joined Paragon. He felt like he was being electrocuted, with only the pain missing. Every cell in his body seemed to cry out for it to stop, but according to Riley, this was necessary to take him to the next step. Or rather, to get him off the step he was currently on. Actually attaining the next level of power would require even more training. He could feel blood dripping from his nose but since he didn¡¯t hear Riley voice any concern, he continued to exert himself. He could hear his heartbeat thundering in his ears and the electricity around him was blinding. With each passing second, he tried to claw his power back into his body. Ash, that¡¯s enough! Riley¡¯s voice shouted in his head. Ash¡¯s head jerked up. He noticed the Guardian waving at him and motioning to cut it off. Uhhh, how was he supposed to do that again? Power continued to well up from within him and fear began to seep in as he realized he couldn¡¯t simply extinguish the built-up energy, not all of it. It was going to be discharged outward. He met Riley¡¯s eyes and the Guardian immediately seemed to understand. Aura wreathed into existence around his hands. ¡°Arghhhhh!¡± Ash yelled, clamping his eyes shut as he felt electricity flood out of his body. Relief coated him as his body finally relaxed, but the roar and boom of his released power shocked him back to reality. He whipped away, shielding himself from the strongest bolts. When everything quieted, Ash straightened and looked around, just in time to see the azure shield conjured over him dissipate into thin air. ¡°Sorry about that, carry on.¡± Atop his boulder, Riley waved and smiled politely in the direction of their camp, where Laventon and the others were preparing breakfast. Ash saw all of them staring at him, mouths agape, and he smiled nervously. Without a care, Pikachu leaped back onto his shoulder, and Ash felt some of the residual electricity left in his body siphon away into his partner¡¯s form. That was something he¡¯d taken to recently. Ash didn¡¯t think he was necessarily doing it to help; he was simply ¡°feeding¡± on the excess electricity, but it did end up taking a weight off Ash and helped him be able to get back to training again sooner. Riley jumped down off his boulder and walked over. ¡°All and all, not bad.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Ash asked, unconfident. ¡°Yes. Outcomes like that are expected with this sort of brute-force process. The theory is that if you keep at it, eventually, one day you¡¯ll find yourself able to contain your power completely, and it will be a far larger volume than when you initially started the training.¡± He hesitated. ¡°At least, that¡¯s how it is for us Guardians. When the source of your power is as limitless as one of Arceus¡¯ Plates¡­well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Riley broke eye contact and strode ahead, leaving Ash wondering just how serious he was being. As they arrived back at camp, they found Sabrina sitting on her bedroll, having watched the whole thing from afar. Upon seeing Ash, she clapped her hands together softly. Ash smiled in embarrassment. ¡°Breakfast is ready!¡± Akari called. Rei went around the circle with their meal: sausage links of some sort, rice, and a bowl of hot miso. Akari eyed him as he served the food she made, perhaps a bit peeved he hadn¡¯t helped. Riley lifted a sausage with his chopsticks and frowned. ¡°Did we pack these?¡± ¡°No,¡± Laventon answered, locking eyes with Rei. ¡°Sausages are perishable. We don¡¯t take them on long journeys.¡± Rei blushed as he sat down, looking away. ¡°Oh.¡± Laventon took a bite of his, meat juice spurting out. He stayed staring at Rei as he chewed, but eventually looked back at the group in general. ¡°No issues if we eat them now, I suppose. And on that note¡­¡± He swallowed. ¡°¡­I¡¯d like to discuss a small change in our plans.¡± Ash frowned as he chewed. Pikachu pawed at his rice and Ash let him take a tiny handful. ¡°Because of the size of our current party, our original pace is no longer feasible. With this in mind, I¡¯d like to propose a slower, more defensive journey. Everything else remaining the same, I¡¯d expect to reach the Alabaster Icelands in a month''s time.¡± ¡°A month!¡± Rei said. ¡°How slow are we going?!¡± ¡°Initially, we¡¯d planned on avoiding any potential wilds with speed and only taking part in battles that were absolutely necessary, or wouldn¡¯t take long. But since that¡¯s no longer an option, there¡¯s no point in trying to do things halfway. From now on, we¡¯ll need to address each and every threat that comes our way. That, I believe, will be the safest course of action.¡± Pikachu grinned and his cheeks crackled, welcoming his larger role to play. ¡°But our food and supplies,¡± Akari said. ¡°We won¡¯t have enough for a month-long journey¡­ Plus, winter is almost here.¡± Laventon raised a finger. ¡°We are members of the Survey Corps, Miss Akari. There is a wealth of food to be reaped from the land and resources aplenty. Even in winter, if you¡¯re savvy enough, and there¡¯s no avoiding the cold now. Don¡¯t tell me you and Rei have lost all your precociousness.¡± His eyes glimmered in slight challenge. Rei pounded his knee. ¡°Of course not!¡± ¡°Good.¡± Laventon stretched, then glanced between the two young Survey Corps members. ¡°You two are here with us now, whether I like it or not. Keep those chins high. We¡¯ll need your wits about you if we all want to make it there and back in one piece. Rei and Akari both nodded furiously. ¡°Obviously, this means we¡¯ll be encountering many more wild pok¨¦mon,¡± Laventon continued. ¡°To be frank, my decision was largely influenced by what we saw this morning.¡± ¡°What¡¯d you see?¡± Ash asked. Had something happened while he was training? Laventon stared at him blankly. ¡°You, Mister Ketchum. The lightning you summoned¡­it was enough to destroy the entire Sanctuary by the looks of it. And Riley¡¯s shield that contained it¡­ Between all three of you, I daresay we have plenty of firepower to deal with anything that comes our way¡­ Ay, even an Alpha Pok¨¦mon.¡± Ash saw Sabrina¡¯s hand drift toward her pok¨¦ball. Decidueye had yet to leave its ball since the attack and Ash was deathly curious when Sabrina planned to let it out. They washed their dishes in the lake as they had last night and it was easy enough to dismantle their meager camp. Surprisingly, Riley offered to carry Sabrina¡¯s bag today but Ash declined. After seeing their exchange, Rei offered to carry Akari¡¯s bag, but she also declined. ¡°We¡¯re entering the Horseshoe Plains today,¡± Laventon announced as they set off. ¡°It will be a five day journey to the other side, then we¡¯ll turn north.¡± North, into the Coronet foothills. Ash had planned this route with Cyllene even though she¡¯d ultimately decided on the route through the Crimson Mirelands. It was nice that they were getting use out of it, but they¡¯d originally planned on crossing the Horseshoe Plains in only two days, despite having to take a longer route around the Alpha Rapidash that patrolled its center. Ash had noticed Professor Laventon seemed to be drip-feeding them information about the journey ahead, only bringing up relevant info right before it was necessary. He¡¯d initially wanted to ask why, but the reason became obvious after watching him yesterday and this morning. Yura was with them now. Ash knew, since he¡¯d helped in the planning, that there was far more danger ahead than the Professor was letting on. After Rapidash, there were three, maybe even four known Alpha Pok¨¦mon that stood between them and the summit of Mount Coronet. And once they arrived in the Icelands, the blizzards there would be hell to traverse, even for an adult. Once they got to the Pearl Settlement, it¡¯d probably be tough to convince her, and likely Akari and Rei, to leave again. Ash had supported Yura coming with, though, along with the other two, and he did not regret that choice, despite what lay ahead. On his own journey, he¡¯d encountered more than a fair share of mysteries and oddities. A disappearing village sounded just like the rest, likely the work of some pok¨¦mon. If the people of this era couldn¡¯t find it, he¡¯d try his hand at uncovering the truth as he always did. To find her home¡­that was a plenty good enough reason for Yura to risk her life, and for Ash to risk his to protect her. At their slower speed, Rei, Akari, and Yura were allowed to frolic ahead, and that they did, running across the glistening grass of the plains chasing each other, while Growlithe and Staravia kept pace. Last night, Riley had applied some of his Aura rejuvenation to Shieldon, so he also tromped alongside the others, though Ash noticed he kept his distance from Rei and Akari, and seemed especially wary of Growlithe and Staravia. ¡°Is this alright, Professor?¡± Sabrina asked, watching the children with concern. ¡°I don¡¯t expect much of this journey will be as relaxing as this so I¡¯d prefer to let them run around now before they lose the chance. Once we reach the Rapidash, there will be no time for games anymore.¡± ¡°What¡¯s our plan for it?¡± Riley asked, his eyes never leaving the kids. Laventon turned to him. ¡°I was going to defer to you three on that. Going around will take time, but I¡¯ve seen the power you wield. If you believe you can defeat it like you did the other, I will allow it. Honestly, I¡¯d feel better if we didn¡¯t have it lurking behind us.¡± He glanced at Sabrina and raised an eyebrow. Sabrina blushed and opened her mouth. Her singular gauntlet jerked and began to spin faster. ¡°I¡­¡± She blinked rapidly. ¡°I can¡¯t anymore.¡± Laventon looked at her curiously. ¡°I read in the report of the attack on the Sanctuary that you were injured by the invading pok¨¦mon. But I recall, Ash, you said it wasn¡¯t the pok¨¦mon that¡¯d hurt her¡­¡± His eyes drifted to her gauntlet, and her barren left wrist. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I shouldn¡¯t use my power,¡± Sabrina said shakily. ¡°Not until I can repair my other¡­¡± She hesitated. ¡°Accessory,¡± Riley offered. Sabrina nodded, looking down at the ground. Her gauntlet whirled around her wrist, far faster than Ash had expected it to. Was it under more strain because it now had to do twice the work? ¡°Does this mean you will be defenseless against any wild pok¨¦mon that come our way?¡± Laventon asked cautiously. Though he tried to hide it, Ash could hear the same trepidation he¡¯d had when Rei, Akari, and Yura appeared coloring his words now. ¡°No.¡± Ash stepped forward and slid himself between Yura and Laventon. ¡°Did you forget, Professor? Sabrina has one pok¨¦mon with her.¡± Laventon looked aghast. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly mean¡­ That beast? You may be a psychic, but without your power, even you¡ª¡° ¡°Where we come from, Sabrina is an experienced trainer, recognized by a large and prestigious organization designed to test a trainer¡¯s prowess,¡± Ash said. ¡°Even without her power, she¡¯s strong.¡± ¡°But this is an Alpha Pok¨¦mon.¡± Laventon shook his head. ¡°These creatures are a phenomenon unique to Hisui that even you all haven¡¯t encountered. I¡¯d like to minimize risks as much as possible, and setting that thing loose would be a recipe for disaster...¡± ¡°We understand, Professor,¡± Riley said. ¡°All of that aside, Ash and I are plenty strong enough to subdue Rapidash, Decidueye, or any other Alpha Pok¨¦mon. What you saw from Ash this morning was but a taste of his true power.¡± So he said, but Ash knew that even this morning¡¯s light show was the most he could do right now, and if he found himself in a real battle, he could not replicate that volume of power without jeopardizing his safety. ¡°Once we get closer to the Rapidash, we can decide what to do,¡± Ash said. ¡°That will give us the chance to gauge its power and¡ª¡° ¡°Let¡¯s defeat it,¡± Sabrina said. All three heads turned in her direction. ¡°I¡¯ll defeat it with Decidueye.¡± She was facing forward now. ¡°I promise, we won¡¯t be a burden to you, Professor.¡± Laventon cocked his head, pondering the idea. Sabrina suddenly blushed and bowed. ¡°But¡­please help me, Ash and Riley.¡± A grin broke across Ash¡¯s face. ¡°You don¡¯t even have to ask!¡± Pikachu chirped in agreement on his shoulder. ¡°Well then, it sounds like we have a plan,¡± Riley smiled. ¡°This Rapidash is as good as defeated already.¡± Laventon sighed and nodded. ¡°Very well. You all haven¡¯t let me down yet. But please, do exercise caution. If not for our sake, at least for your own. I¡¯d hate to see you torn apart by your own pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Thank you for trusting me, Professor.¡± Her eyes shined with determination and her gauntlet spun about her wrist smoothly. ¡°Professor!¡± Rei called from up ahead. He was pointing at something even further ahead. ¡°Two Ponyta coming this way!¡± Akari already had Yura behind her protectively, and Shieldon growled at his master¡¯s side.¡± ¡°A battle,¡± Laventon cursed, breaking into a jog. ¡°I¡¯ll let you guys handle this.¡± Ash squinted. He could see the flaming Ponyta galloping toward them, but they weren¡¯t very fast and looked rather young. ¡°Actually, Professor, do you mind? I¡¯d like to see Akari and Rei battle them.¡± Laventon looked at Ash in exasperation, then back at the Ponyta. He grit his teeth. ¡°Ah, fine! Maybe I¡¯ve been relying on you three too much. Very well, this is well within their power to handle. Akari! Rei!¡± he shouted. ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Rei looked back and nodded. Ash jogged ahead and Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to run alongside him. As they raced up a short hill, the battle came into view. Yura stood a ways back and Ash stopped just behind her. Staravia soared overhead, circling the pair of Ponyta like a vulture. Growlithe had hunkered down and was staring both of them down. ¡°I¡¯ll get the one on the right, yeah?¡± Rei called. ¡°Sure,¡± Akari responded. The Ponyta had stopped once they¡¯d gotten close enough, but now, the one on the left started to trot forward, its head angled forward aggressively. Staravia released a shrill cry, a show of intimidation, as the battle began. ¡°Agile Wing Attack, Staravia!¡± Akari commanded, thrusting her arm forward. Ash frowned. Agile? During Decidueye¡¯s attack, Kamado had said something similar. Sabrina, Riley, and Laventon walked up beside him and peered at the battle ahead. Laventon looked on anxiously, but the other two watched with interest. Faster than Ash would¡¯ve thought possible, Staravia zipped downward and slammed into its opponent¡¯s midsection, knocking it off kilter. A storm of embers flew from Ponyta¡¯s mouth as it stumbled, but Akari deftly rolled to the side, and the embers landed harmlessly beside her, blackening the grass. ¡°Again!¡± Akari shouted. Before Ponyta could recover, Staravia swooped around to its other side and struck it again, this time sending it flying off its hooves with a painful neigh. Ash smiled. That was well handled. Ponyta would struggle to get back on its feet and they¡¯d done just enough damage that it¡¯d be discouraged to continue the fight once it did. ¡°Go, go!¡± Yura cried, pumping her fist in the air. On the other side, Growlithe and the other Ponyta circled each other, neither¡¯s eyes leaving the other. Rei grinned. ¡°Strong Take Down, Growlithe! Get ready!¡± Fire flared up around Ponyta and it suddenly charged forward. Growlithe grunted as it braced the hit but its paws sunk into the ground. ¡°¡®Strong,¡¯¡± Ash said. ¡°And ¡®Agile.¡¯ What does that mean, Professor?¡± Laventon looked over. ¡°Ah, Agile Style and Strong Style. They are practiced by trainers of Hisui. Are you not familiar?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ash said, keeping watch over the battle. Growlithe began to press Ponyta back faster, but it dislodged itself and galloped away, putting some distance between them. ¡°Due to the somewhat feral nature of the pok¨¦mon that live here, it¡¯s important to remain flexible in battle. Your pok¨¦mon¡¯s moves alone may not provide enough variety to address the wiles and whims of certain wilds, so Hisuian trainers of times past developed a method to augment their attacks. Agile Style increases the speed of an attack at the cost of power. Strong Style is the opposite, taking longer to build power to unleash a stronger attack.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Now, Growlithe!¡± As Ponyta circled around, Growlithe hurled itself into its path with a savage roar. But instead of simply falling to the ground, Ponyta went skidding across the grass, tearing up soil as it went, until it finally came to a stop. It released an unsteady cough and slumped to the ground. The other Ponyta, the one Staravia had defeated, staggered to its feet just in time to see its friend¡¯s fate. It snorted angrily and broke into a charge. ¡°Watch out!¡± Sabrina called. Rei whipped around just as Ponyta slammed into him. ¡°Arggghhhh!¡± the boy yelled as Ponyta flung him aside onto the grass. ¡°Rei!¡± Ash growled, starting down the hill. ¡°Wait,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Leave him be. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Staravia squawked as it slammed its glowing talons into Ponyta, forcing it away from Rei. The Quick Attack didn¡¯t do much, but Ponyta had to jump to dodge an angry Crunch from Growlithe, and from there, it relented, galloping back toward its fallen friend. After a few moments, the other Ponyta got up, and shakily, they both limped away. Laventon sighed and shook his head, starting toward Rei. ¡°Sorry, Rei,¡± Akari said, kneeling beside him. Rei turned over and winced. He rubbed his head. ¡°Ahhh,¡± he groaned. ¡°Done showing off?¡± Laventon asked, wearing a stern expression. ¡°Professor¡­¡± Rei said. ¡°We¡¯re still in the Fieldlands. There was no need to use Strong Style. All you did was incense its partner.¡± Rei nodded, standing up. There was a scrape on his temple, but otherwise, he seemed unhurt. ¡°It was my fault too, Professor,¡± Akari said. ¡°I should¡¯ve been watching my opponent more closely.¡± She bowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Laventon knocked her on the head gently. ¡°Stay vigilant. We¡¯re traveling with a far larger party than usual. You two need to rein in your usual antics. You two getting hurt is one thing, but I would hate for your mistake to cause someone else to get hurt.¡± Just as she walked up, Laventon placed a hand on Yura¡¯s shoulder. Akari nodded, her eyelids wrinkling with guilt. Riley smiled and put his hands on his hips. ¡°All that being said, that was still an impressive battle. Two wilds easily routed, and with little communication needed. I can tell you two, or really all three of you, are used to this.¡± Ash nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, I suppose,¡± Laventon said gruffly. ¡°But it¡¯s only going to get harder from here on.¡± He readjusted his backpack. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s continue.¡±
One day later Sabrina held the damaged pok¨¦ball in her hand. It felt heavier now than it usually did when it was just clipped to her belt. Her gauntlet twitched on her wrist but she ignored it. Instead, she brushed her thumb over the grooves and dents on the pok¨¦ball¡¯s top hemisphere. These were products of her hatred. No, her cruelty. The question now was what exactly it was that resided in her palm. Was it a slave, a creature to be bent to her will? Was a companion, someone she could add to her roster alongside Alakazam and the others? Or was it a storm, simply biding its time until it could enact its revenge on her? Either way, this time, she did not have access to her psychic powers. She refused to let herself lose control again, and certainly not here. Understandably, Yura was as far away as possible from her, peeking out from behind Riley¡¯s leg. Shieldon was safely away in its pok¨¦ball, an executive decision from his master. Ash had his arms crossed beside the field Sabrina planned to release Decidueye on. The scenery of today looked nearly identical to yesterday¡¯s, but the mountains were noticeably closer now. And tomorrow, they¡¯d have to cross Rapidash¡¯s territory. She had one day to get Decidueye ready for battle. Laventon, Rei, and Akari also stood by Riley, and despite stalwart facades, Sabrina could see fear between the cracks. Her job now was to reduce that fear, not increase it. ¡°Ready, Sabrina?¡± Ash asked. Pikachu¡¯s cheeks crackled warily at his side. Sabrina closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them. She nodded. Before she could overthink herself into paralysis, she pressed the pok¨¦ball¡¯s center button and released the beast. Decidueye appeared in a flash, its crimson colors even more vibrant in the daylight. It found Sabrina immediately, and its beady eyes narrowed. It glanced around, calmly taking account of the others in the area. Upon seeing Ash, its gaze lingered, and Sabrina saw Ash uncross his arms in preparation for a possible attack. With a calmer head, it was now clear to Sabrina why this thing was an ¡°Alpha¡± Pok¨¦mon. It was almost double the size of Anabel¡¯s Sophia, and it towered over all of them. She forced herself not to take a step back. To ensnare its attention again, Sabrina raised her fist. Slimy water dripped from her fingers, a dead Magikarp clutched within. She¡¯d caught and killed the thing this morning with Akari and Rei¡¯s help in preparation for this moment. Though she despised every second the fish remained in contact with her skin, she didn¡¯t fling it away or drop it. Decidueye hadn¡¯t eaten in a week. Surely it was hungry, and Ash had said Alolan Decidueye would eat Magikarp. Decidueye tilted its head, a sneer burning on its face. Last time it¡¯d seen Sabrina, she had clearly hated it. And now she was offering it food? Its confusion was as clear as day. It pawed the ground, a low coo escaping its beak. Sabrina swallowed. If Decidueye didn¡¯t take this, it wouldn¡¯t just be a failure on her part. Ash had also stuck his neck out for her. She¡¯d be making him look like an idiot too. Decidueye let its gaze hang on Sabrina. Its eyes narrowed into a smirk and its foot turned. ¡°Ash!¡± Sabrina shouted. The ground cratered at Decidueye¡¯s feet as it bulleted forward¡­up toward Ash. Pikachu leapt into the air and fired a jagged thunderbolt at the ground before them. It twisted off the rocky face of their hill, and Decidueye swerved in midair, narrowly dodging it. Its wings plumed out and Sabrina was sure it was about to loose a volley of quills. She could see Riley preparing a shield. ¡°Decidueye!¡± Sabrina roared, flinging the Magikarp aside and breaking into a run. If the carrot wouldn¡¯t work, the stick would do. Decidueye paid her a baleful glance from beneath its brimmed hat. ¡°Decidueye,¡± she said again, a glare deepening on her face. Decidueye dropped back to the ground, sending up a plume of dust. As Sabrina continued to walk toward it, it also stalked toward her. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Riley yelled. ¡°Look out!¡± She paid him no mind. Instead, she focused on steeling herself. It¡¯s just for a few seconds. Don¡¯t let it out. He just needs to see it. ¡°Decidueye!¡± Sabrina growled. Her gauntlet roared to life, violet light seeping out from the lines across its surface. Beneath the gauntlet, glowing cracks webbed out from her wrist across her skin in an instant, snaking up her neck onto her face. Her pupils vanished, a harsh purple flaring across her sclera. Decidueye halted and recoiled. It raised its arms in front of its face, defensively. Hold it in! Sabrina urged. Just¡­a bit¡­longer! A banging headache assaulted her skull and she felt like she was second away from passing out. But she forced her gaze to remain on Decidueye, on its own eyes. Decidueye hissed, then released a sound like a bark. Please¡­! Without warning, it rocketed into the sky. Its crimson wings elongated and, without hesitation, it flew away, back the way they¡¯d come. Whether it was because her target was now gone or because she physically couldn¡¯t hold it anymore, the light across Sabrina¡¯s body sealed up and she sank to her knees, a film of sweat over her body. Panting, she saw her gauntlet slow, and breathed a sigh of relief. She closed her eyes, her head still throbbing. ¡°Sabrina!¡± She heard Ash jogging toward her and wiped her forehead with her sleeve. Slowly, she got to her feet. ¡°Here.¡± Ash held out a towel and smiled. For a moment, she didn¡¯t know what it was for, but she quickly realized. A fishy stench curled into her nose. She raised the hand that¡¯d held the Magikarp but recoiled instantly. ¡°Ugh,¡± she moaned, snatching the towel from Ash and furiously wiping herself off. ¡°It flew away,¡± Yura said, walking up beside Riley. She looked disappointed for some reason, even though it¡¯d almost killed her. ¡°Back toward the Sanctuary,¡± Laventon said. He glanced at Sabrina. Akari and Rei exchanged a look. ¡°Look,¡± Sabrina said, pointing up at the sky. In the far distance, a crimson speck streaked across the sky. ¡°It¡¯s not flying away. It¡¯s circling us.¡± Laventon squinted. He followed it for several seconds, as if to confirm its path. When it turned away from the direction of the Sanctuary, he relaxed. ¡°Is this what you wanted? Did it work, whatever you were trying to do?¡± Sabrina nodded. ¡°Decidueye definitely wants to kill me. His pride won¡¯t let him run away in defeat. He will come back.¡± Laventon and Akari gawked at how nonchalant she was. ¡°Then what was the fish for?¡± Rei asked. ¡°Just¡­an offering. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll find its own food now, but now it knows I¡¯m open to a partnership.¡± She blushed. ¡°At least, I hope it knows that.¡± Sabrina thanked the heavens for aligning. If Anabel didn¡¯t have a Decidueye herself and they hadn¡¯t gotten so close, she wouldn¡¯t have known the first thing about the species. Luckily, Anabel was proud of her pok¨¦mon and talked about them as often as she could. Similar to Ash in that respect, though she¡¯d never say it to Anabel¡¯s face. Apparently she¡¯d had a thing for Ash at one point in their past. Which was something Sabrina had learned after Anabel beat Zinnia in a drinking contest one night! She hadn¡¯t read her mind! ¡°This is madness¡­¡± Laventon muttered. ¡°That you would actually attempt to tame such a beast. Even normal pok¨¦mon are one thing, but this¡­¡± Yura inched toward Sabrina, still a bit shaken from seeing Decidueye again, but thankful it was gone now. She reached for Sabrina¡¯s sleeve but abruptly winced away. ¡°Agh! Stinky!¡± She clamped her tiny hands over her nose. Sabrina turned a deep crimson and hurried over to a nearby river.
The embers of their fading campfire crackled quietly beneath the starry sky. Ash breathed into his hands then stuffed them under his armpits. It got surprisingly cold at night when he wasn¡¯t in his woolen bedroll, though he only had another hour or so before he was switching off with Riley. For what must have been the thousandth time, he glanced up at the sky to distract himself from the cold. Although the stars illuminated the sky, there was nothing else up there. Decidueye had circled them all afternoon, but once the sun set, it¡¯d flown off somewhere else, out of sight. It was probably off hunting, but Decidueye were nocturnal, so there was no guarantee it wouldn¡¯t try to sneak Sabrina in her sleep. Sabrina had been surprisingly resolute about managing the Alpha Pok¨¦mon, almost uncharacteristically so. Although Ash had dumped support for her onto Laventon, he¡¯d kind of just been talking when he said all that. That was typical for him; when someone doubted his friends, he defended them. Yet he actually wasn¡¯t sure how Sabrina planned to deal with her new companion. As far as he knew, she only had three pok¨¦mon, and Alakazam and Gengar she¡¯d had since she was a kid. That meant she¡¯d only picked up Minior between then and now. Though she¡¯d said four back at the Sanctuary for some reason. He wasn¡¯t sure what that was about. But she rose to the challenge. It seemed like ever since her gauntlet broke, she actually seemed more at peace and not as shy. Maybe it just coincided with her spending more time with the Hisuians and getting more comfortable around them, but¡­well, who knew? Not him. Though she¡¯d just used her powers for the first time since it happened today, and on that end, she was clearly far more unstable than before. Laventon wasn¡¯t wrong to question her safety in the field, with her power effectively out of commission and only Decidueye on her belt. Ash had his own worries too; he¡¯d found himself keeping an eye on her far more than usual since they¡¯d set off. But¡­maybe he hadn¡¯t been giving her enough credit. She seemed to have had no trouble going to sleep tonight despite Decidueye being out and about. Ash recalled that miasma of emotion he¡¯d waded into after she lost control of her power during Decidueye¡¯s attack. Despite how fragile she appeared on the surface, those feelings lived inside her at all times. She¡¯d have to be strong to contain them. He didn¡¯t know what had happened in her past, but he knew it had something to do with her powers. She wasn¡¯t on speaking terms with either of her parents, though her relationship with her mother seemed to be substantially worse. He¡¯d tried before to recall as much as he could about his gym battle against her, the circumstances leading up to it, and what transpired after, but he remembered very little. Too much had happened on his long journey for that specific memory to remain vivid. Well, she hadn¡¯t remembered him at all when they first met again on Paragon Island. He¡¯d accidentally run into her on his way to the bathroom and though he tried to reintroduce himself, she¡¯d kept the conversation exceedingly short. Almost like she¡¯d been trying to avoid him. Well, that was just the way she was. But she¡¯d come a long way since then. He had too. ¡°Ah!¡± Ash¡¯s heart almost jumped from his chest as Sabrina bolted up in her bedroll with a sharp gasp. No, wait. That wasn¡¯t Sabrina. It was Yura. She turned her head, her hair unkempt and afloof. Though he couldn¡¯t see her face in the darkness, he could tell he¡¯d met her eyes. ¡°Yura?¡± he said quietly. Yura didn¡¯t move, but after a bit, she rubbed her eyes. ¡°Yura,¡± he said again, motioning for her to come over. After a bit longer, she peeled out of bed and padded over to him, not bothering to put her sandals on. Ash had been sitting on a fallen log and he scooted aside to give her some room. She plopped down next to him, her eyes still half closed. ¡°Nightmare?¡± he asked. She nodded. Ash opened his mouth to ask about it but he decided to stay silent. It was always possible she¡¯d just had a normal nightmare as anyone would, but her dramatic awakening suggested otherwise. And she hadn¡¯t lived the prettiest life thus far, so it wasn¡¯t something he wanted to pressure her into talking about. But, she started talking on her own. ¡°It was the same one as always.¡± She clamped her hands together to shield them from the cold, and though Ash wished he could do something to warm her up, they couldn¡¯t start another fire now. ¡°I saw my home burning. Everything was on fire¡­everything. I don¡¯t know why¡­ Everything was orange¡­ It¡¯s not supposed to be that color.¡± Her voice was monotone. It was as if she¡¯d relived the memory so many times that it no longer bothered her. ¡°I ran away¡­ I just wanted to get as far away as possible. So I ran and ran and ran, away from that place that wasn¡¯t my home anymore.¡± Ash watched her as she spoke. Although she showed no outward signs of grief, this was also a completely different side to her than the rambunctious kid she was during the day. ¡°Is that what you see in your dream?¡± he asked. Yura nodded. ¡°I see the fire and I start running. I run until I realize I¡¯m completely lost. Then I get scared and wake up.¡± She looked over at him. ¡°You guys are lost too, right Mister Ash?¡± Ash chuckled. ¡°You can just call me Ash. But yeah, I guess.¡± He met her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m glad we have a local like you to show us around.¡± She smiled, but her expression quivered, fragile on her face. ¡°¡­You believe me, right Mister Ash? About my home? You don¡¯t think I¡¯m crazy, right?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± But if her village completely burned down, it would make sense that the Survey Corps couldn¡¯t find it again¡­ The wind and weather could¡¯ve washed away the remnants. Though I guess that doesn¡¯t explain why everyone in Hisui is adamant that nothing ever existed there. Ash ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°We said we¡¯re from the future. You don¡¯t think we¡¯re crazy, do you?¡± Yura shook her head furiously. Ash raised his hand toward the moon. ¡°See? There¡¯s nothing wrong with an unbelievable story. This world is so big, anything is possible.¡± He turned to her again. ¡°I promise, Yura. Before we leave, we¡¯ll find out what happened to your home.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°Deal?¡± Yura scrunched up her face and took his hand. ¡°Deal.¡± Ash nodded back at Sabrina. ¡°You should get back to bed now. I think Sabrina will get cold without you.¡± Yura grinned. ¡°What about you, Mister Ash? You keep looking at her!¡± Ash had to stop himself from laughing out loud. What the hell is she saying? He motioned her off the log. ¡°C¡¯mon now.¡± After Yura snuggled back into bed, Ash started to think about the promise he¡¯d made. The location where Yura¡¯s village had supposedly been seemed to be where the modern Celestic Town sat. A fire that burned the whole thing down seemed unlikely, given how foggy and bare of flammable forest it was up there. And in the present day, no fire-types lived there either. Could it have been an Alpha Pok¨¦mon? Or just some arsonist? Ash frowned. But that still doesn¡¯t explain why no one¡¯s heard of it. With how easy Yura¡¯s escape sounded, I doubt it was some sort of hidden village. Plus, a village that far up in the mountains couldn¡¯t survive without trade with Volo, or even just the Diamond and Pearl Clans. A tear in spacetime. A phantom village. A mystery man in the north. Hisui was shaping up to be quite the enigma. Ash let his mind wander on that and more until it was time to switch out with Riley. After waking the man, he took one last glance around for Decidueye, then tucked himself into his bedroll with Pikachu.
The next day ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Yura whispered. ¡°Indeed,¡± Laventon said grimly. Sweat beaded his forehead. The Galaxy Expedition crouched behind a ridge of rocks upon a hill that overlooked the center of Horseshoe Plains. Just below, their target prowled. The Rapidash was colossal; the normal Rapidash around it appeared like mere Ponyta next to it. The flames on its back blazed like an inferno, cinders swirling around it, and its muscles rippled beneath its skin with every step. It seemed it and its herd were simply grazing now and hadn¡¯t yet noticed their onlookers. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± Laventon asked. ¡°Decidueye isn¡¯t coming down.¡± He craned his neck up, careful not to reveal himself to the Rapidash below. Like yesterday, Decidueye circled them far above, and as much as they¡¯d tried to call him back down this morning, he refused. ¡°If we¡¯re changing our plans and going around, we should get away from here as soon as possible,¡± Laventon said, worry leaking into his voice. ¡°I¡¯ll fight it,¡± Sabrina said, her eyes on the prize below. ¡°Sabrina, you can¡¯t,¡± Riley said. ¡°If things go awry, we won¡¯t be able to help you and quell it at the same time.¡± ¡°Me and Akari can give it a go,¡± Rei whispered loudly. ¡°Our pok¨¦mon are strong, and¡ª¡° ¡°Not that strong!¡± Akari said, whipping around. ¡°Do you see the size of that thing? Staravia¡¯s feathers would singe just getting close!¡± A low snort from down below silenced their conversation and everyone held still as Rapidash padded around. After it lowered its head to graze again, they breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Hey, Yura, you and Shieldon wanna give it a go?¡± Ash asked with a grin. Yura shook her head politely. Laventon, Sabrina, and Akari stared at him, aghast. ¡°Just checking.¡± ¡°Ash, do you think you and Pikachu could take it on?¡± Riley asked. ¡°How does it compare to Decidueye?¡± Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed as he watched the beast. ¡°Hard to say. I don¡¯t even know how strong Decidueye is since we just ended up catching it. I¡¯m not sure how things would¡¯ve gone if the battle lasted longer.¡± Riley turned toward Rapidash. ¡°I see. So we¡¯re in the dark.¡± Rapidash raised its head but didn¡¯t move or lower it again after a few seconds. Sabrina frowned. Fire licked across its oily back, dancing furiously even in the windless plain. ¡°Did it hear us?¡± Rei asked. ¡°More likely it smelled us,¡± Ash murmured. Rapidash whinnied and angled itself toward their hill. The other Rapidash immediately ceased their grazing and surrounded their alpha. ¡°Does it know we¡¯re here?!¡± Yura demanded, her voice laced in fear. Sabrina didn¡¯t answer, keeping her eyes on the ferocious horse. The Alpha Rapidash¡¯s eyes melted into crimson and it reared back with a furious neigh. Fire roared into existence around its entire body and it burst forward, leaving burned grass in its wake. ¡°Get back!¡± Ash roared, seizing Yura¡¯s wrist as he dived away from the edge of the hill. Sabrina tackled Akari and Rei back as Laventon rolled back. Riley¡¯s eyes glowed a harsh azure, Aura flooding his senses. The cacophonous explosion cracked out from beneath them, shuddering the entire hill and throwing everyone into the air. Pushing herself off Akari and Rei, Sabrina looked toward the sky. It took her a second to find Decidueye, but she did. Her pok¨¦mon did not appear to be any closer. ¡°Decidueye!¡± she yelled for the umpteenth time today. ¡°Riley, keep the others safe, we¡¯ll go engage!¡± Ash barked, running down the back side of the hill. ¡°Pikachu, take out the smaller ones!¡± Pikachu leapt into the air and the smell of ozone filled the air. Eight Electro Balls appeared around him in a flash and he fired them below at once, each one going a different direction. Without bothering to see the results, he took off again after his trainer. Sabrina glanced at the others. As Ash circled around the right side of the hill¡¯s base, Riley led the others around the left, Aura blazing in his eyes and around his hands. He looked up at Sabrina, motioning for her to follow. Sabrina glanced back at Ash, then back at Riley. The Guardian motioned again, pleading in his glowing eyes. What am I doing? Sabrina squeezed her eyes closed and ran after Ash, away from Riley. ¡°Sabrina!¡± she heard him shout. I said I¡¯d do it! We¡¯d do it! Come on, Decidueye!¡± Emerging onto the plain, Sabrina saw the results of Pikachu¡¯s attack. Eight Rapidash lay in unconscious heaps on the ground, the trainer and pok¨¦mon responsible standing ready just ahead. Sabrina¡¯s skin bristled as if she¡¯d gotten too close to a campfire. Heat washed over her in a wave, and with it, the stench of smoke. Rapidash stalked out from behind the hill, glaring at Ash. Each step shook the earth. Rock tumbled from its body, the remains of its charge into the hill. Its crimson eyes widened with rage and it blitzed forward in an instant, its leg knocking Ash across the field. ¡°Ash!¡± Sabrina screamed. Pikachu squealed in surprise, running after his trainer. He lay on the ground unmoving. Sabrina¡¯s mind raced as Rapidash¡¯s attention now turned to her. The flames around it screamed hellishly as it identified the new enemy. Just like Decidueye, it¡¯s so fast! She spared a glance back at Ash. Pikachu squeaked angrily at him, which suggested that he was fine, just knocked out. Turning back to Rapidash, the solution seemed to present itself on a silver platter in her mind. How to keep her promise. She closed her eyes and lowered her hands to her sides. She heard Riley holler her name, and Rapidash¡¯s hoof scraping through the ground as it prepared to charge again. She heard Pikachu screech in alarm behind her. Come on. I know you won¡¯t let me die. The temperature skyrocketed in an instant as Rapidash charged. But it never reached its target. Rapidash let loose a squeal of agony as it crumpled to the ground in front of her Sabrina opened her eyes slowly. Not before you can kill me yourself. Decidueye stood in front of her in a crater of his own making, his fist still outstretched from the punch he¡¯d landed on Rapidash¡¯s side. The fiery Alpha Pok¨¦mon lay in a massive heap, dazed, but not defeated. Decidueye turned back, hatred steaming on his face. Sabrina glared back. Do you think I¡¯ve forgiven you for what you did to Yura? Don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one who can hold a grudge. Rapidash began clambering to its feet and Decidueye broke their staredown, refocusing on the enemy at hand. Sabrina took a moment to check on Ash again, but surprisingly, he was already sitting up and rubbing his head. Rapidash howled, a sound completely unbecoming of its species, and unleashed an unholy torrent of fire from its mouth. Decidueye darted into the sky, and as Rapidash swept its column of fire around, he streaked through the air, mere inches in front of its burning path. Before long, Rapidash extinguished its fire and leaped into the air after Decidueye. An infernal light glittered around its body as it laid into Decidueye with a ferocious onslaught of kicks, headbutts, and fiery bites. Decidueye countered with a volley of punches and kicks of his own, throwing up screens of leaves that burned to ash in an instant. As Rapidash began to fall, it caught Decidueye under one of its hooves and snarled. Decidueye sneered at Rapidash, grasping its neck in his burly fist. Rapidash screeched as Decidueye pulled it down, shoving the horse beneath him now. Spinning in midair, he launched his leg into Rapidash¡¯s head, sending the colossal beast plummeting to the ground in a comet of fire. The impact of its landing nearly knocked Sabrina off her feet, but she kept her balance as Decidueye touched back down next to the thing. Rapidash lay unmoving, bruises covering its hide, two of its legs bent at an unnatural angle. Its body swelled and contracted with each breath. Flapping his wings, Decidueye lifted himself just above Rapidash and grasped its body within his talons. No¡­ He couldn¡¯t be¡­ With a determined grunt, Decidueye lifted Rapidash off the ground. The horse¡¯s body went slack in his grip and Sabrina clapped her hands over her mouth. He¡¯s¡­merciless¡­ As Decidueye climbed higher and higher, Sabrina followed his path with her eyes. Her brows furrowed in horror. Decidueye released a triumphant bellow and flung Rapidash. Its massive body spun in the air before landing in a nearby river. Water sprayed into the sky. Before long, the surface of the water calmed and was not broached. Next ¡ª Chapter 63 : Foothills of Peril
Hisui Incursion [11] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [11] Chapter 63 : Foothills of Peril
Decidueye touched back down and released a throaty growl. He hunched over as he stalked across the grass and he stared down Sabrina, standing isolated now. A chill ran through Sabrina¡¯s body. As Decidueye glared at her, it became painfully obvious how he viewed their dynamic. Predator and prey. When she¡¯d first caught him, he was the prey. Now, defenseless and awestruck at his violence, she was the prey. Maybe she¡¯d be joining Rapidash in the river shortly. Decidueye coughed and stumbled. He tried to catch himself, his wings spraying out, but he collapsed onto the ground with a pained snarl. ¡°Decidueye!¡± Sabrina yelled, jogging toward him. The owl tore its head around and fixed Sabrina with a death stare. With a baleful squawk, he slammed his fist into the ground between them. Sabrina slowed, then stopped just out of his reach. Now that she was closer, the source of his fatigue was clear. His torso and legs were peppered in blackened burn marks. His breath came in quick bursts, each one saturated in pain and hate. ¡°I think that was Play Rough Rapidash used on him when they were up in the air. And Fire Fang.¡± Sabrina jerked around just as Ash limped up beside her. ¡°Ash!¡± She looked him up and down, but nothing seemed wrong, which itself was wrong since he¡¯d taken such a big hit. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He rubbed his head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Sorry. I got careless. Without the Plate, I¡¯d be dead.¡± Since it looked like he¡¯d sustained no damage, that meant Rapidash¡¯s attack should¡¯ve been fatal. She remembered Ash telling them once while they were at Cameran Palace that Sir Aaron¡¯s Corviknight unleashed a full power Hyper Beam at him, but he came out unscathed because of the Plate. Apparently, he could suffer non-lethal injuries, but only a Platebearer could kill another Platebearer. Of course, somehow, Sir Aaron and Zagreus had both been able to damage AZ without Plates, so that didn¡¯t seem to be an absolute rule. And given that these Alpha Pok¨¦mon were imbued with some sort of power, Ash was extra lucky he hadn¡¯t perished. As Ash walked up, Decidueye¡¯s attention shifted and he let loose a fearsome screech, as if challenging him. Pikachu hissed back, electricity crackling across his body, but Ash calmed him with a pat. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that taken care of,¡± Ash said grimly. ¡°At least now we don¡¯t have to worry about it attacking us from behind.¡± Ash¡¯s words passed through Sabrina¡¯s head like wind. She was still focused on Decidueye¡¯s wounds and the pathetic state he was now in. Predator and prey, huh? Says who? Decidueye whipped around again as Riley approached, with Laventon, Rei, Akari, and Yura in tow. They steered well clear of him, but Decidueye glared at them as they walked nonetheless. ¡°Riley, can you get me the sitrus potion and some rawst salve please?¡± Sabrina asked before any of them could comment on what¡¯d just happened. He eyed her warily but eventually nodded. ¡°Of course,¡± he said, slinging off his backpack and rummaging around a bit before pulling out a small glass bottle, thankfully undamaged in the chaos, and a sealed abalone shell. Taking the medicine, she approached Decidueye. Understanding what she wanted, he hissed and tried to get up, but he buckled and collapsed again. He bent his arm to loose a volley of arrows at her, but in his current position, he couldn¡¯t get his other arm over to nock them. Spittle flew from his enraged beak as he screeched. Sabrina stopped, and her eyes drooped sadly. She knelt to place the medicine on the ground beside her. Then, she took out his pok¨¦ball. Decidueye¡¯s enraged scream filled the plain for half a moment before she clicked the release and recalled him. She closed her eyes, the sounds of his hatred echoing in her head. ¡°I think that was for the best,¡± Laventon eventually said. ¡°It will be less dangerous to us if it¡¯s injured like that.¡± Riley glanced at him but said nothing. ¡°What about you, Ash?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Are you okay? I¡­I thought for sure¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Ash raised a brow. ¡°Oh, yeah! Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m not hurt at all.¡± Laventon stared at him in disbelief. ¡°That¡­reminds me. You said earlier that only Riley here is a Guardian¡­ And Sabrina is a human psychic¡­ But we never did ask what you are¡­¡± He looked Ash up and down, looking for any sort of injury. ¡°How in the world did you survive that? And that lightning you can produce¡­?¡± Sabrina saw Ash¡¯s face redden and he looked away. Across from them, Riley had his arms crossed, seemingly curious at what he¡¯d say. ¡°Oh, right.¡± He chuckled, and Pikachu looked over at him, slightly amused. ¡°Yeah¡­it¡¯s¡­kind of a long story. Basically, I got this power from a super rare, legendary artifact. I can¡¯t say what it is¡­but even if I could, I only just got this power recently so even I don¡¯t know that much about it.¡± He looked up to check their reactions. ¡°The future¡­¡± Rei breathed, ¡°is freaking awesome.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know if the future has too much to do with this,¡± Ash smiled. Laventon stroked his chin. ¡°Initially, you¡¯d said you came to Hisui in search of something Sir Aaron may have left here. Are they perhaps one and the same?¡± Ash hesitated, but eventually nodded. ¡°Yeah, actually.¡± Riley shook his head in exasperation. ¡°Ash, let¡¯s be frank. We¡¯ve been cautious enough so far, but I don¡¯t see any reason to continue playing by our enemy¡¯s rules.¡± Our enemy¡­ Sabrina swallowed. The Paragon of Darkness¡­ Instinctively, she glanced up at the dark rift over Mount Coronet. ¡°Laventon, Rei, Akari, Yura. Please don¡¯t repeat what I¡¯m about to tell you,¡± Riley said. ¡°In short, Ash possesses the power of one of Arceus¡¯ mythical Plates, said to be shards of his very soul. Sir Aaron¡¯s Time Flower was supposed to show us the location of those that belonged to him.¡± ¡°Arceus¡­¡± Laventon repeated. ¡°And his Plates¡­¡± He frowned. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard of them¡­ The are ruins in the Mirelands that speak of such things. The temple at Mount Coronet¡¯s summit too, supposedly.¡± ¡°Each of Arceus¡¯ Plates are supposed to represent one of the elemental types of pok¨¦mon, right?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Right,¡± Ash said. ¡°So I¡ª¡° ¡°The electric one!¡± Rei snapped his fingers. ¡°That makes total sense!¡± Ash nodded. ¡°Arceus¡¯ Plates¡­ But why would you be looking for things like that?¡± Laventon asked. Riley¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°There are others who seek the Plates for malicious use.¡± He glanced over at Sabrina. ¡°And it isn¡¯t just people.¡± Yes. Sabrina had realized it too at the end of this battle with Rapidash. Or rather, their theory had been confirmed. ¡°It seems the Alpha Pok¨¦mon are targeting Ash because he is a Platebearer. Decidueye attacked him when Sabrina released him yesterday, and just earlier, Rapidash singled him out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nuts,¡± Rei said. ¡°Could a fire pok¨¦mon like Rapidash even use the Electric Plate?¡± Riley sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But I don¡¯t want to find out.¡± Ash frowned and Pikachu looked at him with concern. ¡°Decidueye also attacked me at the Sanctuary¡­ We think he attacked because I was there¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Yura ran over and kicked him in the shin. Laventon, Rei, and Akari¡¯s jaws dropped. ¡°Don¡¯t say sorry for that! You can¡¯t say sorry for that!¡± Yura shouted. ¡°What were you supposed to do? You can¡¯t sleep outside by yourself just for that!¡± She punched his thigh with one hand, then the other. ¡°Please don¡¯t say sorry for that, Mister Ash.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Laventon said. ¡°You clearly had no idea. And the Alpha Pok¨¦mon are a complete mystery to us. But if this is true, we will have learned something vital about their behavior.¡± Ash smiled and patted Yura¡¯s head. ¡°Thanks.¡± Sabrina smiled, but it faded quickly. The appearance of the Alpha Pok¨¦mon coincided with the opening of the rift. That meant their appearance was likely caused by the Paragon of Darkness in some way. If it was as powerful as Riley said, then surely it knew Ash, a Platebearer, was walking around Hisui right now. Had it dispatched the Alpha Pok¨¦mon to look for Plates, or Platebearers? If it had, then Rapidash surely wouldn¡¯t be the last one they encountered. And they¡¯d probably encounter more than just the ones the Survey Corps and the Volo Company had identified. Sabrina looked at Yura, her gaze steeped in worry. Why now?! When my gauntlet is broken and I can¡¯t use my power?! Yura took a step back. ¡°So, um, are we eating lunch soon? I¡¯m kinda hungry.¡±
They did eat lunch soon after, after leaving the Alpha Rapidash¡¯s dominion behind. As expected, a stampede of Ponyta and Rapidash arrived soon after they left to investigate the action, but with the Alpha nowhere to be seen, it wasn¡¯t long before chaos took hold. ¡°The mares are probably fighting to see who gets to take over the herd,¡± Ash had said as they watched from a distance behind a family of bushes. For lunch, they ended up finishing Rei¡¯s sausages in a small glade, but Laventon sealed off the remaining food for later, instructing them to fill the rest of their stomachs with berries they¡¯d scavenged the day prior. Pikachu led the others¡¯ pok¨¦mon on a hunt for food, but none were as friendly with him as he seemed to wish, returning his smiles and chatter with stony faces. Their trainers were similarly quiet, seemingly lost in thought over the Rapidash, making lunch a quick affair. As they were packing up, Riley pulled Ash aside. ¡°Ash, I have an idea for you. More training.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ash said, clipping his bag closed. ¡°I¡¯d like you to begin using your power at all times.¡± Riley held up his hand and flexed his muscles. Beneath his skin, his veins roared to life, glowing azure as Aura pulsated through his body. ¡°This is an intermediate exercise the Guardians perform to increase our body¡¯s tolerance to the power of Aura. Ordinarily, this training doesn¡¯t begin until a Guardian has mastered the basics of conjuring, as it can be quite taxing and potentially dangerous for the uninitiated, but I figure we don¡¯t have the time to wait that long. Plus, you¡¯re already quite used to your power.¡± Ash raised his own hand and ignited his power. Sharp white light gleamed out from beneath his own skin, but unlike Riley, who held his hand still, Ash¡¯s trembled and he grit his teeth. ¡°Not really,¡± he bit out. ¡°This training is separate from our other training. The goal here is not volume but consistency. If you can¡¯t maintain this level of power, lower your output until you¡¯re comfortable.¡± The light within Ash¡¯s body faded until it was hardly noticeable, and he relaxed. ¡°Like that?¡± he asked sarcastically. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Riley said, his face serious. ¡°Now, see if you can keep it that way as we walk. It¡¯ll be several hours until we stop again. I¡¯ll handle any wild pok¨¦mon that come our way so you won¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t using my power so much gonna attract more Alpha Pok¨¦mon?¡± Ash asked. ¡°At that output? I doubt it. Though from what we know about them, it doesn¡¯t seem to matter. Decidueye and Rapidash both identified you even when you weren¡¯t using your power at all. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no way out of this.¡± He smiled. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Sabrina, who¡¯d been listening to their conversation from afar, trotted over. ¡°I can take my bag now, Ash. I¡¯ll be fine, I¡ª¡° ¡°That¡¯s alright, Sabrina,¡± Riley said, putting his hand up. ¡°Ash can still carry your bag no problem. You don¡¯t need to spare a fleeting thought on his welfare.¡± He smirked in Ash¡¯s direction. Ash sighed, bending down to pick up both of their bags, though his movements looked slightly stiffer than usual. ¡°Yo, Ash, you need a hand?¡± Rei asked, sauntering over. He reached over to take one of the bags, but suddenly recoiled upon touching it. ¡°Ah! I got shocked!¡± ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Ash chuckled, slinging his bags on. ¡°Thanks, Rei, but I got it.¡± All of a sudden, Akari started laughing, but she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle it, but to no avail. Rei glanced at her and was about to ask her why, but he too broke into a wide grin and started guffawing. ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± he laughed. Sabrina looked over, and immediately her lips curled in to keep her mouth closed, but her cheeks inflated in turn. Standing next to Ash, her hands on her hips proudly as she waited to depart, Yura¡¯s hair levitated in the air around her, the individual strands sticking out in all directions. Upon noticing everyone¡¯s attention on her, she frowned. ¡°Hm?¡± she demanded. ¡°Your hair, Yura,¡± Riley smiled, covering his mouth. She glanced around her and noticed her hair floating by. A toothy grin broke across her face and she waved her hands through her floating hair. ¡°I¡¯m an alien! Look, Shieldon!¡± Shieldon didn¡¯t so much as grunt as he stared up at his trainer. ¡°Hey, stop laughing!¡± Yura laughed. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Ash grinned, his face red. He ducked around her and swiftly escaped the group before he could cause any more problems. Laventon looked over at him curiously as he cleared up the last of their camp, having completely missed everything that¡¯d just transpired. As promised, Riley stood at the helm of the pack beside the Professor once they set off. Ash and Sabrina walked in the middle, and though Sabrina seemed a bit guilty at burdening Ash while he was training, Ash was fully focused on retaining all the energy he had, so he didn¡¯t so much as glance in her direction as they walked, much less talk to her. Yura walked on Sabrina¡¯s other side, with Shieldon flanking her, and unlike the two to her left, she couldn¡¯t stop engaging in a one-sided dialogue with Shieldon. Finally, Rei and Akari brought up the rear, their pok¨¦mon keeping a far more vigilant lookout than them. Unfortunately, the Horseshoe Plains were a rather uninteresting biome. Ponds, hills, and woody thickets dotted the relatively flat expanse, but everything looked the same as it had when they¡¯d first entered its borders. Mount Coronet loomed ever closer, but after all this time, even the rift at its peak didn¡¯t inspire much interest. A pair of bushy-tailed Flareon attempted to get the jump on them, but a few well-placed Aura Spheres from Riley scared them off before they even had a chance to spit an ember. As the sun started its descent toward the horizon, Rei let loose a loud sigh. ¡°What?¡± Akari asked. ¡°This sucks,¡± he groaned. ¡°What sucks?¡± ¡°We suck!¡± He slammed his hand on his chest. ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Akari said haughtily. ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Rei said, his expression tightening. ¡°We seriously suck. Like, it¡¯s not even funny.¡± Akari sighed. ¡°You¡¯re comparing us to them? Besides them, we¡¯re still the strongest trainers in the Survey Corps.¡± The ¡°them¡± she was referring to was obvious. ¡°We came on this expedition to protect the Professor and investigate the rift with him. But all we¡¯ve done is get protected one time after another. If anything, we¡¯re putting him in more danger!¡± ¡°Rei¡­¡± Akari murmured. She clenched her fists. ¡°I guess you''re right.¡± She looked at him. He seemed unusually calm. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± ¡°Of course. Obviously, we have to ask them to train us.¡± ¡°Ask Ash? Neither of us have electric-types, but even if we did, that Pikachu is so far out of our league it wouldn¡¯t even be helpful.¡± ¡°Nah, not Ash. He¡¯s too busy training with Riley anyway.¡± Rei nodded at the one right in front of them. ¡°Sabrina?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Remember what Ash said? She¡¯s some sort of trainer specialist or something recognized by the Trainer¡¯s Corp or whatever.¡± Akari stared at her back. ¡°I guess¡­ But we don¡¯t want to cause any trouble for her either¡­ And I really don¡¯t want to train against that Decidueye.¡± Rei crinkled his face in impatience. ¡°Me neither! But, c¡¯mon! Let¡¯s just ask her. I mean, this is a woman who actually trained a Gengar!¡± ¡°Ash did too¡­¡± ¡°Nah, he was kidding, no way he did.¡± Akari smiled. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it!¡± She cocked her head to the side. ¡°By the way, how come you haven¡¯t asked them anything about the future? That totally seems like something you¡¯d ask about.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Rei smiled wistfully. ¡°Oh, yeah, it does sound like me¡­ I guess¡­¡± He looked up at the sky, stark white clouds stretched across its surface like furious rivers. ¡°I guess¡­I don¡¯t wanna end up wishing I wasn¡¯t here. If I hear too much about the future, I feel like I might end up feeling bad about where I am now.¡± He looked over at Akari, meeting her eyes. ¡°Yeah, it may be tough here, but this is still our home. Not just this place, but this time too. I don¡¯t want that to change.¡± Akari stared at him until he whipped his head away, his cheeks reddening. Then, she whapped him lightly on the shoulder. ¡°You can say some smart things every now and then, you know that?¡± Rei looked back at her, grinning. ¡°You think so?¡± They laughed. At the front, Laventon leaned over to scoop something up off the ground before continuing his walk forward. ¡°How¡¯s our pace, Professor?¡± Riley asked. ¡°If Ash is slowing us down, I can tell him to stop his training.¡± Laventon glanced back. Ash, Sabrina, and Yura were a fair bit behind them, with Akari and Rei even further back, but it was Ash whose gait was slower than usual. Even Pikachu didn¡¯t seem to get much of a thrill from being on his shoulder, so instead, he ran this way and that, sniffing flowers and sticking his ears up in alert every now and then. ¡°Our pace is fine,¡± Laventon smiled, turning back around. Something I forgot to account for was that defeating that Alpha Rapidash seems to have affected the concentration of wild pok¨¦mon in the Plains. Obviously, we¡¯ve never defeated an Alpha before, but it appears that all the pok¨¦mon in this area have up and left to investigate that missing titan. We¡¯re encountering far less resistance than I thought we would, so even at a slower pace, we should still make it to the foothills in two more days.¡± Riley nodded. ¡°The foothills¡­ How does the danger within compare to the Fieldlands?¡± Laventon cocked his head and shrugged. ¡°That depends. Although the foothills are connected to Mount Coronet, they aren¡¯t strictly part of the mountain proper. The cave systems within are winding and numerous, but they have been well-documented. So long as we stick to our maps, the journey through the foothills should take about a week. In terms of pok¨¦mon¡­it¡¯s complicated. Chaotic, I should say. Sometimes, the caves seem utterly devoid of life, and other times, they¡¯re absolutely infested with the most aggressive species. The unpredictability makes correspondence with the Pearl Clan rather difficult.¡± ¡°Does that mean the Sanctuary is closer with the Diamond Clan?¡± ¡°Ha ha, not exactly. Though the Pearl Clan is harder to reach, they are a rather warm bunch, and their leader, a young woman called Irida, is quite charming. On the other hand, though the Diamond Clan¡¯s leader, a man named Adaman, is friendly enough, most of the clans members are as hospitable as the swamp they live in. They¡¯re good people, just¡­erm, quirky!¡± ¡°I see.¡± Riley smiled. ¡°Now I know why the Corps leaders were so divided on which path to take.¡± ¡°Indeed! Our cast of characters may be more colorful than both of theirs! But like the Diamond and Pearl Clans, they too are good people. They put their all into ensuring our expedition would be a success. We must be determined not to waste their efforts!¡± Riley squinted across the plains at a copse of Roselia and Budew. Though they seemed to notice the group, they didn¡¯t approach. ¡°So, just follow the map? Seems simple enough. If navigation isn¡¯t a problem and we can dispatch the pok¨¦mon within the foothills with ease, perhaps it won¡¯t take as long.¡± ¡°That is the hope,¡± Laventon nodded. He leaned down to scoop up some more stuff off the ground.
¡°Miss Sabrina, I have something for you,¡± Laventon said that night during dinner. Tonight, they camped beside a grassy ridge where a battalion of trees stood sentinel. The hope was that curious pok¨¦mon would mistake their campfire for a Ponyta and stay away, but Rei, and Akari remained vigilant all the same. Yura tried to get her hair to stand up again by being close to Ash, but Riley had already let him off the hook for the rest of the day, so it wasn¡¯t working. Sabrina worked by the light of their campfire, fiddling with her damaged gauntlet in between bites of hot stew. She looked up from her work. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Here.¡± He handed her a wooden bowl, and at first she thought it was another bowl of stew. But the contents of the bowl were light and pasty, and did not smell of food. ¡°I found what¡¯s called a vivichoke back at the lake from a few days ago. It has superb healing properties, so I ground it together with a few other ingredients for a makeshift medicinal salve.¡± Sabrina stared at the stuff. It smelled a bit sickly, like vegetables that¡¯d just begun to mold, but the color almost seemed to sparkle in the bowl. Laventon shifted his weight and scratched his head. ¡°I feel I may have been a bit callous in talking about Decidueye earlier. Standing up to it defenseless, and then taking on that Rapidash¡­ That was exceptionally brave of both you and him. Please use this salve to tend to his wounds. I think it will take about a day for him to recover fully if you do.¡± He¡¯d left a piece of tree bark in the bowl, presumably to help apply it to Decidueye, and Sabrina pushed it around. She bowed her head. ¡°Thank you, Professor. And¡­thank you for trusting me. I promise I won¡¯t let it go to waste.¡± Laventon grinned. ¡°Trust is essential for a team out in the field. It¡¯s high time I grant it to you, and the pok¨¦mon you¡¯re set on taming. If there¡¯s anything else I can assist with¡­¡± He flicked his head at the gauntlet in her lap, ¡°please do let me know.¡± After he walked away, Sabrina set the salve aside and carefully slipped her gauntlet back in her bag. Though part of the gauntlet had chipped off, only the outer casing had been hit. It was the wiring beneath the casing that seemed to have gotten jostled around on their journey through the rift, which is why it hadn¡¯t reattached to her the night of Decidueye¡¯s attack. This gauntlet was far more than a simple electronic, which made things easier for her. If only she could realign the exposed wires, the psychic energy within might repair the wiring on its own. Then, all she¡¯d have to worry about would be that it was exposed to the elements. Kind of a big deal, but if she could get it back on, she¡¯d be far more useful to the team than she was now. Of course, that meant she¡¯d also have to seriously activate her power in order to prompt it back on. After dinner, while Riley and Ash trained and the others watched, she walked away from camp, salve in hand. Anxiety bloomed unbidden in her chest and she released a sigh. I have to do it. I have to take a leap of faith¡­ Between herself and Decidueye, she was far more afraid of herself. Decidueye was a beast, but she was a monster. Though she¡¯d never admit it to them, she was far more dangerous to her friends than he was. She found a spot away from camp, nestled in the nighttime shadows cast by a lonely tree beneath the starry sky. Withdrawing Decidueye¡¯s pok¨¦ball, she stared at it for a moment. Unlike pok¨¦balls of the modern age, which held pok¨¦mon in a sort of stasis that froze the progression of non-mortal wounds, these pok¨¦balls of the past merely collapsed a pok¨¦mon down into its Aura form through some mechanism of which Sabrina was unaware. That meant Decidueye¡¯s injuries had certainly worsened over the course of the day. He¡¯d known that when he resisted her treatment. She¡¯d known that when she recalled him. And yet they¡¯d both tacitly agreed to this course of action all the same. Even without Ash¡¯s knowledge, Sabrina could tell Decidueye valued his pride above all else. If she ever wanted to turn him into a true partner of hers, its maintenance nearly took precedence over his physical health. She¡¯d already marred it enough. Slowly, she would need to repair it. Exhaling slowly, she deployed Decidueye. In the dark, Decidueye unfurled himself upon the grass. The brilliant red of his leaves were a shaded brown at this hour, yet his eyes glimmered like a carefully-tended fire. He lay on the ground at an angle and did not even attempt movement, nor did he make a sound. He simply stared at Sabrina. His gaze felt like a spotlight. Sabrina swallowed and took a step forward, careful to keep the salve steady. Decidueye spared the bowl a glance, but switched back to Sabrina swiftly. As she approached, he still didn¡¯t move. Luckily for her, Decidueye¡¯s worst wound was on his right leg, so she came to a stop next to it and was granted a reprieve from his death stare as she faced his burned coat. At any moment, his leg could shoot out and she¡¯d be dead in an instant. But Sabrina rooted her feet where she was. Beneath the burned coat of leaves, Decidueye¡¯s body was raw and inflamed. Wordlessly, she dragged the piece of bark across the salve, gathering a helping of the substance, and slowly moved it toward Decidueye. Still, he didn¡¯t move. Are we still predator and prey? Sabrina asked herself as she touched the salve to Decidueye. He didn¡¯t so much as wince, and she began to spread it, slowly, carefully. Are you just swallowing this offense so you can hunt me later at full strength? Since you didn¡¯t let Rapidash kill me, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re the type that would want an honorable battle, right? You want to prove you''re stronger than me. That means we both have to be at full strength. In between helpings of salve, her eyes darted to his face, but he caught her, and they locked eyes. I know you want Ash¡¯s Plate¡­Ash¡¯s power. But I have power too. Decidueye didn¡¯t break eye contact, so Sabrina set back to work on the healing. My limiter will be usable in a couple days, you know? I didn¡¯t even bother trying to fix it before Rapidash. But having to rely on you so much made me realize I had to stop being so afraid of myself. Sorry, but I can¡¯t let you get the better of me. I want to win too, you know? After finishing with his leg, and then his body, she found himself at his face. He glowered at her from mere inches away. He smelled good up close, like autumn. Like leaves and wood saturated with the summer sunlight. There was a pungent scent of smoke from his wounds, but it was masked by the mossy-smelling salve. I don¡¯t want to hurt you anymore, she thought. Do you feel the same? Decidueye could not hear her thoughts and he did not give her any indication of an answer even if he could. He maintained eye contact as he got to his feet, and Sabrina craned her neck up as he rose to his full height. He pawed the ground with his injured leg, as if testing it. The ground sank as he brooked his full weight upon it. Sabrina¡¯s hair blew back as Decidueye rocketed into the sky, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to disappear into the starry gloom. She sighed. An adept trainer she may have been, but she did not know how to communicate with these animalistic Hisuian pok¨¦mon. Communication had never been her strong suit, but now, the future of her relationship with Decidueye demanded it. Battle. The idea came to her unbidden. That is a language Decidueye understands. Anabel¡¯s Decidueye knew, among other moves, Leaf Blade, Brave Bird, and Shadow Sneak. Sabrina could only assume her Decidueye did too, even if he didn¡¯t recognize the names. But the rest, she¡¯d have to figure out for herself. Laventon had seemed familiar enough with the species when she¡¯d asked him about it a bit before they left the Sanctuary. She could ask him for help. The sound of a twig snapping behind her tore her from her thoughts and made her realize just how distracted she¡¯d been. ¡°Hey, Sabrina, we have a small favor to ask, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Akari said, her hands clasped together. Shockingly, Rei stood similarly deferential next to her. Next ¡ª Chapter 64 : Fear of the Unown
Hisui Incursion [12] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [12] Chapter 64 : Fear of the Unown
¡°Huh¡­? Me¡­?¡± Rei clapped his hands together and bowed. ¡°Please, Sabrina! No, Miss Sabrina!¡± ¡°Master Sabrina!¡± Akari begged, bowing in turn. ¡°Please help us become stronger trainers.¡± Sabrina simply stared at them, speechless. ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this! If we encounter another Alpha Pok¨¦mon, we¡¯ll just be useless again!¡± Rei¡¯s eyes were squeezed shut. ¡°If the Alpha Pok¨¦mon follow the same pattern as the rest of Hisui, that means the ones here are the weakest ones! They¡¯ll only be more dangerous from here on out!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re actually taming one! You¡¯re not afraid of them at all! It¡¯s just¡­incredible!¡± Akari gushed. Sabrina felt her cheeks heat up and she fingered her hair unconsciously. Not afraid at all¡­? Rei looked up but his hands were still together. ¡°We¡¯ll do anything! Any time we¡¯re on dinner, you get extra portions! And you get first dibs on any rare items we find out here! Hell, we¡¯ll carry your bag instead of Ash!¡± Akari nodded. ¡°We just¡­it¡¯s to protect the Professor, of course. But also¡­we want to get stronger too! Like you guys from the future!¡± She clenched her fist, eyes blazing with determination. ¡°Even if we don¡¯t have any special powers, our pok¨¦mon are strong! And they can become even stronger, I know it!¡± Sabrina felt herself deflate a little. They seemed to have so much faith in her, yet she¡¯d never trained anyone before. She opened her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t really¡­ I think A¡ª¡° His name stopped in her throat. No. No, I can¡¯t say that. Ash is training to take on one of the two Paragons. He won¡¯t have time for this. It¡­It has to be me. She swallowed, trying to down as much trepidation as she could. ¡°A-Alright,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Rei sank to the ground and prostrated himself. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that!¡± Sabrina wailed. Akari kicked him with the side of her foot and he bolted up, standing straight. ¡°So,¡± he said resolutely. ¡°What should we do first?¡± Uhhh. ¡°Y-You want to start now? Like right now?¡± ¡°No time like the present!¡± Akari said, a hand already on one of her pok¨¦balls. They had three pok¨¦mon each. Sabrina¡¯s eyes flit between them. She¡¯d known them long enough to get an idea of their personalities, and though she hadn¡¯t witnessed much of their battling, she believed she understood their preferred styles. Rei was bombastic. His strongest pok¨¦mon was his Growlithe and he used it as often as he could. He took pride and pleasure in using flashy moves with lots of power. And though he didn¡¯t send them out as often, he didn¡¯t neglect his other two pok¨¦mon at all. Akari was reserved. The pok¨¦mon of hers that Sabrina had seen the most of, Staravia, was not her strongest. She preferred its mobility and the distance it could create between itself and its opponents. She was the type to save her trump card for later. ¡°I don¡¯t have any pok¨¦mon right now, so I can¡¯t train you how you two are used to training¡­¡± It was a bit intimidating the way they stared at her, seemingly clinging to her every word. Plus, if she was to go through with this, she¡¯d have to talk about each of them in a rather intimate way. But this was the least she could do. For them and the others. To be honest, she¡¯d overheard their conversation earlier today. She¡¯d always been more aware of her surroundings, especially when it came to what others around her were talking about; when she was younger, she had often been the subject. That wasn¡¯t really the case anymore, but her heightened senses remained as an artifact of her childhood. And because of them, she¡¯d already given some thought to what they should each do next. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll just tell you how my pok¨¦mon became stronger,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Maybe Ash would disagree¡­but I think evolving your pok¨¦mon would be the quickest way to make them stronger.¡± Her Alakazam and Gengar had been Kadabra and Haunter when she first met Ash. Though she wasn¡¯t all that interested in pok¨¦mon in general, she recalled being quite motivated to make them stronger as a child, which led to her looking up how to evolve her two pok¨¦mon. As it turned out, Kadabra and Haunter both belonged to a special group of pok¨¦mon with nontraditional evolution methods. Pok¨¦mon in this group, such as Machamp and Golem, seemed to evolve at the discretion of the pok¨¦mon itself. There were cases where rigorous training never resulted in an evolution and cases where the pok¨¦mon evolved again immediately after their first evolution. One day while lazing around in her gym, Kadabra had evolved right in front of her without any sort of prompting. Then he¡¯d gone right back to lazing around with her. Haunter evolved the moment he saw Alakazam. Aside from Abra¡¯s evolution into Kadabra when she was young, those were the only evolutions she¡¯d ever witnessed, and she hadn¡¯t even had to raise a finger. Which is to say, she had no idea how to trigger evolutions in Akari or Rei¡¯s pok¨¦mon. Akari and Rei glanced at each other. ¡°How do we do that?¡± Rei eventually asked. ¡°I mean, we would¡¯ve done it already if we could.¡± Of course. Sabrina closed her eyes, cringing at herself. ¡°Well,¡± she said, opening her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve spent a bit of time outside the walls and run into a few pok¨¦mon. I think the pok¨¦mon we¡¯ve come across so far should be a good challenge for your pok¨¦mon. Since we left the Sanctuary, safety has been our number one priority. You two always battle together and overwhelm your opponents with superior tactics. But¡­¡± She hesitated and glanced away. ¡°I-I feel like you might be in trouble if you ever got separated, or you encountered a pok¨¦mon that was just as strong as your own pok¨¦mon.¡± She looked up, praying she hadn¡¯t offended them. Akari had her hand on her chin. ¡°Hmm. You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Back to basics, huh?¡± Rei nodded. ¡°Maybe we have been playing it a bit too safe.¡± Hearing them agree with her gave Sabrina the confidence to continue. ¡°Most pok¨¦mon get closer to evolution by accumulating experience¡­ Using the same tactics again and again won¡¯t exactly let your pok¨¦mon keep growing if they¡¯ve already mastered it. I think you have to put yourselves in situations where you and your pok¨¦mon are forced to react differently. Even if it¡¯s more dangerous, even if you get hurt¡­¡± She trailed off, realizing she was starting to press her own methods a bit too far. ¡°A-Anyway, after we set out tomorrow, I think you should try and find as many wild pok¨¦mon as you can and battle them by yourselves. I¡¯ll¡­I¡¯ll¡­¡± She blushed and pulled her hair in front of her face. ¡°I-I¡¯ll ask Riley to keep an eye out for you so you don¡¯t have to worry about anything else.¡± As much as she wanted to shoulder the burden of watching over them herself, she could not bring herself to say so. Even if she could get her limiter working again tomorrow, she did not want to thrust herself into using her powers so soon, if she could help it. Akari already had a pok¨¦ball in each hand, grinning. ¡°C¡¯mon, Rei, let¡¯s start now! I swear I saw a group of Scyther a bit earlier.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Rei scolded. ¡°It¡¯s pitch black out now, we¡¯d just get ourselves killed! Right, Master?¡± He looked over at Sabrina. ¡°U-Uh, yeah!¡± Akari blushed and bowed. ¡°Right. Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Anyway, thanks Sabrina!¡± Rei said, leaning on Akari¡¯s back. ¡°Honestly, don¡¯t think the Professor would even let us do this if it was just us out here.¡± Akari shoved him off. ¡°Yes, thank you! We¡¯re fast learners so I¡¯m sure we won¡¯t cause you too much trouble!¡± As they walked away, Akari shoved Rei and he pushed her back, but it seemed like they were both just bursting with energy at wanting to start their training and needed an outlet of sorts. Sabrina couldn¡¯t help but smile. She hoped they¡¯d be able to sleep tonight.
The next morning Ash frowned as he looked across the plains, already bright with sunlight so early in the morning. Most of the others were still asleep in the shadows of their grove of trees, but that was not a luxury he could afford. Starly chittered overhead and already, a pack of Ponyta seemed to be eating a breakfast of grass quite far from where they were. Pikachu yawned on his shoulder. Ash walked across the grass, making sure to step on a few twigs so he didn¡¯t scare her. Sabrina sat cross-legged on the grass, her neck bent slightly upward. The soft wind hurled her hair into a dancing black fire on her head. ¡°Good morning,¡± Ash said. ¡°Good morning,¡± Sabrina said back, unmoving. The sun blazed hot and white just above the spiked mountains against the horizon. Sabrina stared right at it. ¡°Still training even though you don¡¯t want to use your powers, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Or are you just doing it because it¡¯s routine?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Wait, which is it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Even though he stood behind her, Ash could see her cheeks widen in a small smile. ¡°By the way, I heard you have a couple students now.¡± Her cheeks immediately returned to normal. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Did any trainers ever come to your gym back in the day to ask for training?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°These are your first students then, huh? Good luck!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°See Decidueye at all this morning?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hey, I was wondering. Are you gonna nickname him like Anabel? Just think, it¡¯d be Sophia and¡­?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t think of a good name.¡± ¡°Oh¡­right. Guess that makes sense. By the way, can you just sense where he¡ª? Ah, wait, never mind.¡± Well, that seemed to be the end of the conversation. Whoops, Ash thought. Sabrina raised her left hand, and Ash¡¯s eyes widened. Her left gauntlet spun, albeit slowly, around her wrist. ¡°You fixed it¡­¡± he breathed. ¡°Barely. If it gets damaged again, it¡¯ll definitely break for good. Even though it¡¯s supposed to be indestructible.¡± As it spun, Ash could see where the outside plating had chipped off. Just beneath, emerald wiring coursed with energy, almost like they were veins. He grinned. ¡°That¡¯s awesome, Sabrina!¡± ¡°T-Thank¡ª¡° She coughed. ¡°U-Um, don¡¯t you need to start training with Riley? I don¡¯t want to keep you¡­¡± Ash¡¯s face heated up. ¡°Oh, yeah! Sorry for bothering you. Just waiting for him to wake up.¡± He spun around to find the Guardian standing a short ways away, arms crossed. ¡°Oh¡­hey.¡± Sabrina whipped around, face burning a bright pink. With her eyes off the sun, it seemed her training was over. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Good morning,¡± Riley said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt. But if you¡¯re done, Ash¡ª¡° ¡°Yup, let¡¯s go!¡± he said, yanking Riley by his shoulder away from camp. He held up his hand, white electricity sparkling on his skin. ¡°Got a lot to learn today!¡± They went far enough away that they wouldn¡¯t disturb the others¡¯ rest, though that didn¡¯t stop Rei and Akari from waking up soon after to go chase after wild pok¨¦mon. Ash wasn¡¯t sure on the specifics of what Sabrina had tasked them with but they seemed extra determined this morning. Maybe they were competing or something, since they weren¡¯t sticking together like they usually did. As for Ash, today was yet another grueling day of trying to summon as much power as he could without releasing it. Despite the horrible tax on his body that left him feeling numb all throughout breakfast, he actually did feel like he was pushing his limits, slowly but surely. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. But either way, the greater volume of power he believed he was getting closer to was beginning to spawn ideas in his head about potential techniques even stronger than the ones he¡¯d developed with Sir Aaron. But for now, it was as Riley said. He needed more strength. Immediately after breakfast, Rei and Akari bolted off again. ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Laventon hollered. ¡°Where are you two going?¡± ¡°Training!¡± Rei called. ¡°Sorry, my fault!¡± Sabrina, surging between the Professor and the runaways. ¡°They asked me to help them get stronger last night.¡± Laventon looked past her, watching the two race across the plains. ¡°They should be fine,¡± Ash offered. ¡°The Alpha Pok¨¦mon are after me. You¡¯re probably in more danger than they are staying here with us.¡± The Professor opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out. He simply sighed and sat back down. ¡°Ah, I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Go after them, would you, Pikachu?¡± Ash said, raising his shoulder. Pikachu snapped a salute and scampered off after them. Ash glanced back at Sabrina and she mouthed a ¡°thanks.¡± ¡°All three of you seem very protective of each other,¡± Riley chimed in. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a bad thing at all.¡± Laventon nodded wearily. ¡°They are my responsibility.¡± Yura eventually rolled out of bed shortly after and while Sabrina served her breakfast, Riley and Ash went back to their training. Lightning flashed and thunder echoed across the plains and regular intervals as Ash summoned and released wave after wave of electricity, and he hoped he wasn¡¯t scaring off all the wild pok¨¦mon and ruining Rei and Akari¡¯s training, though with the Alpha Pok¨¦mon prowling around, maybe they¡¯d already gotten used to powerhouses throwing their weight around on the Horseshoe Plains. Once Sabrina and Laventon finished cleaning up breakfast and breaking down the rest of their camp (for which Ash was extra grateful), Riley cut their training off and once again commanded Ash to keep his power going throughout the day. Since Rei and Akari had both run off in the direction they were already headed, they decided to meet back up with them on the way. Sabrina and Yura walked hand in hand and Sabrina seemed notably less tense now that her gauntlet was back on, though Ash did notice that the damaged left gauntlet spun slower than the other one. They found Rei first on the banks of a shallow pond. At least, that¡¯s what Ash had assumed it was when he¡¯d seen it yesterday from afar. However, now a Gyarados towered out of the water, glowering down at its opponent. Bruises and cuts littered its bright underbelly. ¡°Oh, hey!¡± Rei bit out, crouching behind a short wall of hardened mud, but he quickly turned his attention back to the azure serpent. ¡°Razor Leaf, again!¡± A large Turtwig, nearly half Rei¡¯s size, huddled next to him, but it ambled out into Gyarados¡¯ blind spot. ¡°Oh, goodness!¡± Laventon wailed, covering his eyes. Gyarados¡¯ head jerked toward Turtwig and its maw dropped open. ¡°Shellos, now!¡± Rei shouted. Another wall of mud sprouted up in front of Turtwig just as Gyardos wheezed and released a burning Dragon Rage. The mud wall burst apart, but its remnants splattered harmlessly atop Turtwig, who raised a cyclone of Razor Leaves and fired them forward. Gyarados howled as the leaves raked its skin and its body pitched back before falling upon the water¡¯s surface and sending a plume of white water skyward before sinking beneath. As the surface of the pond leveled out, Rei crept out from behind his shoddy defenses. He grinned at the results. ¡°Alright, we did it!¡± Laventon groaned and released a loud sigh. Turtwig grunted and Shellos slithered across the ground, bored. Ash clapped. ¡°Nice job!¡± ¡°Pretty good!¡± Yura judged, nodding her approval. ¡°Ha, thanks! So, what do you think?¡± Rei¡¯s eyes flit between Ash, Sabrina, and Riley. Riley turned to Sabrina and Ash did the same. ¡°Sensei?¡± Ash teased. Sabrina reddened but didn¡¯t turn away. ¡°W-well¡­that was great. You commanded both your pok¨¦mon at the same time without confusion, from what I saw.¡± She fingered her clothes. ¡°Just¡­remember that some pok¨¦mon like Gyarados may get angrier as the battle goes on and it keeps taking damage. That basically makes it stronger than it was when you first encountered it. The longer a battle goes on, the more danger you¡¯re in, so if you can¡¯t finish¡­I mean, defeat an aggressive pok¨¦mon quickly, a defensive battle may put you in more danger than actually going all out. Don''t be afraid to lean into your preferences if that¡¯s what will work best.¡± Rei nodded and bowed comically. ¡°Got it, master!¡± With a satisfied smile, he recalled Turtwig and Shellos ¡°The power of emotions¡­¡± Riley mused. ¡°Not something I¡¯ve necessarily factored into my thinking. I¡¯ll have to keep that in mind as well.¡± Ash rapped her on the shoulder gently and smiled. Her face was tamato-red but she smiled in embarrassment back. ¡°How¡¯d I do?¡± she flushed once they started walking again. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Like¡­anything else you would¡¯ve added?¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°Nah, you got it covered. Although¡­¡± He leaned closer to her. ¡°That Gyarados was definitely on the smaller side,¡± he whispered. Sabrina jumped and nodded furiously. ¡°Yeah! I thought so too¡­¡± She edged away from him closer to Yura. Laventon dragged his feet as they moved toward Akari, clearly dreading seeing whatever predicament she¡¯d gotten herself into. It didn¡¯t take long for them to find her. Pikachu stood in before the ensuing battle on a short hill, watching carefully. Upon hearing their approach, he turned and clambered back up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder. Three Scyther, similarly beaten like Rei¡¯s Gyarados, surrounded Akari and her Cranidos, their backs to each other defensively. But despite having two more pok¨¦mon on her belt, Akari hadn¡¯t appeared to have released either. And like Yura¡¯s Shieldon, Cranidos¡¯ skin was far darker than the Cranidos Ash recognized from the modern day. It almost looked like a miniature Rampardos off its colors alone. The Scyther sharpened their claws, releasing a menacing grinding sound as they stalked closer to Akari. ¡°Akari!¡± Rei yelled, but Akari didn¡¯t turn. Her eyes narrowed and her arm brushed Cranidos¡¯ back. ¡°Agile Take Down! Hit all three!¡± The Scyther right in front of him went flying as Cranidos plowed into it. Wheeling on his stubby leg, Cranidos careened into the remaining two, flattening them beneath him. Dust and soil stormed into the air, and Akari shielded herself with her arms as Cranidos tumbled past them, before getting back to its feet. The two Scyther hissed in anger as they tried to get off of each other, but Akari wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Agile Rock Tomb!¡± she commanded, thrusting her arm toward them. The ground around Cranidos rumbled and ruptured, boulders the size of Cranidos itself pulling themselves free from the earth. Without wasting a moment, Cranidos hurled them toward the Scyther with a furious roar. The one on top tried to slice at the incoming boulders but its blade wasn¡¯t sharp enough and both were soon buried beneath the avalanche. ¡°Whoa!¡± Yura chirped. Not wasting a step, Akari hurled one of her remaining two pok¨¦balls toward the final Scyther, who¡¯d just gotten up and beat its wings into the air. ¡°Agile Metal Claw!¡± A short, purple feline pok¨¦mon coalesced onto the grass already sprinting forward. Its already lengthy claws elongated even further and glowed with a metallic sheen. Before Scyther even had time to move forward, Akari¡¯s strongest pok¨¦mon, Sneasel, raked her claws across the bug¡¯s chest in a ruthless flurry. Dropping to the ground, Sneasel¡¯s claws retracted, but its murderous glare didn¡¯t. Scyther moaned and its wings slowed, and it too dropped to the ground, but pitched over a second later, unconscious. Only then did Sneasel turn to glare at her audience. Laventon let loose an exasperated sigh. ¡°Goodness gracious.¡± He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. ¡°Nice one, Akari!¡± Rei cheered. ¡°Yeah!¡± Yura agreed. Akari bowed timidly as Ash and Riley offered applause. She recalled her two pok¨¦mon and approached Sabrina. ¡°So, how was that?¡± She glanced up hopefully. Sabrina closed her eyes and stroked her chin. ¡°Hmmm. It definitely seems like you prefer the element of surprise. That¡¯s why you rely heavily on the Agile Style and hold off on releasing your other pok¨¦mon until it¡¯s absolutely necessary. The Agile Take Down was good¡­but I feel like Agile Style wasn¡¯t necessary for the Rock Tomb or Metal Claw. It¡¯s important to think about your individual pok¨¦mon¡¯s strengths. Like in Cranidos¡¯ case, it¡¯s pretty slow but very powerful, so just keep in mind how you can bring out your pok¨¦mon¡¯s full potential at all times.¡± She shrunk back. ¡°Or something like that.¡± Akari nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, I guess I do lean on Agile Style a lot¡­ I¡¯ll try Strong Style more with Cranidos! Thanks, Sabrina!¡± ¡°O-Of course¡­¡± Riley clapped his hands. ¡°Now, then! As promised, I¡¯ll be responsible for keeping watch until we reach the foothills so feel free to continue your training, you two. The Aura of your pok¨¦mon are all burning quite bright and it seems some may be ready to evolve soon. As long as we keep a steady pace, we should reach the foothills as scheduled tomorrow!¡± Ash smiled, glancing back at Laventon, who looked drained despite it still being morning. Riley was always adaptable, slipping into a leadership role when he needed to be. ¡°So¡­how was that?¡± Sabrina asked, skirting back next to him. Ahead, Riley distributed medicinal berries from his pack to Rei and Akari for their pok¨¦mon¡¯s fatigue. Ash chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re making me feel like a teacher now. Same as before. Nothing to add.¡± ¡°Well, you were a World Champion. That¡¯s better than a gym leader¡± Nonetheless, Sabrina exhaled in relief. Ash cocked his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nervous about teaching them. You¡¯re a powerful trainer. You know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°H-Hmmm.¡± Ash swore he could see steam rising from her overheated head. That kind of made him embarrassed too. He elected to ignore noticing even Sabrina¡¯s sluggish gauntlet spinning quite rapidly now. ¡°Electricity on, Ash?¡± Riley called. ¡°Huh? O-Oh, yeah!¡± Honestly he¡¯d forgotten he¡¯d had his powers on this whole time but the moment Riley mentioned it, he was once again conscious of that electrifying heaviness that surged through his veins. ¡°Now, onward!¡± Yura declared, pumping her fist into the air.
The next day Mount Coronet loomed in front of them, casting a shadow of the thinning grass and stony ground of the foothills ahead. Dark sentinels sprouted from the sides of the mountain, surging skyward in search of the sun, and the wind shook their leaves like rattles. With the Horseshoe Plains behind them, the ground gradually began to slope up as they approached the entrance to the foothills. ¡°Brrrr, it¡¯s cold,¡± Yura said, rubbing her arms. ¡°The sun should peek out from the mountain again any second now,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon.¡± Riley walked ahead of them flanked by Akari and Rei, who¡¯d just recently returned from their training and were grilling him on their pok¨¦mon¡¯s power. After training all day yesterday and today as they moved toward the foothills, they were eager to hear the Guardian¡¯s assessment after he¡¯d (foolishly) let slip that he could see and evaluate their pok¨¦mon¡¯s Aura. By Ash¡¯s evaluation, they had grown exceptionally quickly in such a short time, likely because of the sudden shock of Sabrina¡¯s suggested training regiment. By disrupting the status quo of them always battling together, their pok¨¦mon and the trainers themselves were being forced to develop in real time. Bringing up the rear of the party, Laventon leaned over and swiped something off the ground, then continued walking. ¡°What do you keep picking up, Professor?¡± Ash finally asked as he walked next to him. He¡¯d been seeing the Professor do this since they¡¯d set off and initially assumed he was just doing his due diligence as a scientist, but curiosity finally got the better of Ash. ¡°Oh, this?¡± Laventon handed Ash what he¡¯d just picked up. It was a smooth, brown rock, flat with a glossy finish. In his palm, it felt far lighter than Ash expected from a rock of its size. ¡°That¡¯s called a tumblestone,¡± Laventon explained. ¡°Alongside apricorns, they¡¯re one of the main components of a pok¨¦ball. Did you know about tumblestones already?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Ash said. He wasn¡¯t sure how modern pok¨¦balls were made, or if this stone was still part of them. ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°Well, the apricorn creates the structure of the pok¨¦ball, of course, but the tumblestone is responsible for shrinking a pok¨¦mon down into the ball. We¡¯re not really sure how it works, but there is a certain latent energy in tumblestones that reacts with the bodies of all pok¨¦mon.¡± Ash turned it over in his hand. It felt just like a normal rock. From what he did know about modern pok¨¦balls, the laser reduced a pok¨¦mon down into a mass of Aura before sucking it into the ball. Mechanisms built into the pok¨¦ball allowed the pok¨¦mon¡¯s biological data to be digitized and processed by electronics like healing stations or transfer machines. ¡°I create pok¨¦balls as a hobby. The six pok¨¦balls carried by Rei and Akari are my creations.¡± Ash raised a brow. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Laventon smiled proudly. ¡°Well, the craftsmen of the Supply Corps are the experts but I do a passing job! I could show you the basics if you want.¡± Ash brightened. ¡°That¡¯d be awesome! To be honest, I¡¯ve been wondering about how those pok¨¦balls are made since we got here.¡± Every time Ash meant to ask him, something else pulled his attention and he¡¯d never gotten around to it. But he was sure this knowledge would come in handy in the future, somehow. ¡°Ahh!¡± Rei¡¯s shout up ahead tore Ash from his coversation. Looking ahead at the young trainer, he couldn¡¯t immediately tell what was wrong. They didn¡¯t seem to be under attack. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Laventon said, jogging up to the front. ¡°Thing scared the hell out of me,¡± Rei said, stepping aside. Floating in front of him, a curious creature with a singular eyeball within a black ring blinked emotionlessly. Ash frowned. ¡°That¡¯s an Unown.¡± An ¡°O¡± by the looks of it. ¡°Yeah it¡¯s an unknown, I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± Rei murmured. ¡°No, it¡¯s a pok¨¦mon called Unown. They¡¯re usually only found in very specific locations¡­¡± As Ash moved closer, he felt Pikachu¡¯s power flare to life on his shoulder as he readied himself for a possible battle. ¡°Unown¡­¡± Laventon murmured. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve seen one once before, at some ruins in the Mirelands. But it didn¡¯t quite look like this.¡± ¡°It has twenty-eight different forms,¡± Ash explained. ¡°But it¡¯s as you said, Professor. They usually only appear in old ruins, and even then, they¡¯re rare.¡± ¡°Guess we got pretty lucky!¡± Rei grinned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem very dangerous,¡± Akari said, sticking her finger toward it. In response, the Unown shuddered and released a pale wisp of energy at Akari. It hit her shoulder and dissipated. ¡°Ah! That was kinda cold,¡± she said, rubbing her shoulder. Cold¡­ Is that an ice-type Hidden Power? Ash thought. ¡°They¡¯re not all that powerful by themselves, but usually they show up in groups. They¡¯re supposed to represent a forgotten language that many old myths and temple texts are written in.¡± ¡°Hey, look,¡± Yura said, pointing in another direction. Another Unown, this one, an exclamation point, slowly fluttered down from on high like a snowflake. ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± Laventon murmured. ¡°There are two more,¡± Sabrina said, pointing in yet another direction. ¡°Where are they coming from?¡± Riley asked, Aura dancing on his fingertips. The Unown closest to him blew an orb at him and he shrugged it away. ¡°More over there!¡± Akari said, pointing. Four more ambled, seemingly out of thin air, toward them. Pikachu growled on Ash¡¯s shoulder, cheeks crackling dangerously. ¡°Argh, every time I look away, there¡¯s more of them!¡± Rei said, punching his temple. Multicolored orbs of light passed into them harmlessly, but all members of the party simply stared around in confusion, unbothered. Ash¡¯s eyes flit around. It was as Rei said. He didn¡¯t recall seeing even a single one appear, yet somehow there appeared to be around twenty, or maybe thirty of them now after just a few seconds. Sensing his intention, Pikachu leaped from his shoulder and hissed. ¡°Everyone, release your pok¨¦mon,¡± Ash said. ¡°We¡¯re under attack.¡± Next ¡ª Chapter 65 : Power of a Legendary
I thought I was going to end the last chapter with this scene. I guess not. Rei¡¯s Pok¨¦mon: Growlithe-Hisui, Turtwig, Shellos Akari¡¯s Pok¨¦mon: Sneasel-Hisui, Cranidos, Staravia
Hisui Incursion [13] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [13] Chapter 65 : Power of a Legendary
Growlithe and Cranidos coalesced onto the ground and immediately looked around at the approaching Unown. A ball of energy impacted on Cranidos¡¯ skull and he reared toward the attacker with a furious roar. ¡°Wait, Cranidos!¡± Akari commanded. Yura glanced nervously at Ash. ¡°Are you sure they don¡¯t just want to play?¡± Ash kept his eyes on the Unown and swatted away another Hidden Power. ¡°Release Shieldon, Yura,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°And stay close to Sabrina.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll protect the Professor!¡± Rei called, jogging back toward him, Growlithe in tow. Laventon looked like he wanted to say something but quietly accepted the protection. He did not possess any pok¨¦mon of his own, so as much as he complained about Rei and Akari¡¯s overprotectiveness, it was certainly warranted in cases like this. ¡°Should we attack, Ash?¡± Riley asked, Aura dancing on his fingers and blazing in his eyes. Ash looked around them. There were at least fifty now and they were slowly getting closer. Their Hidden Powers were harmless for now, but if they continued to appear at this rate¡­ ¡°Thunderbolt, Pikachu. Take out as many as you can.¡± Pikachu nodded and leapt straight into the air. Electricity ignited around his tiny body and he threw his limbs out, casting jagged bolts all around them. He twisted in the air, dragging the bolts across the ground and through the lines of Unown. Where they came into contact, the thunderbolts flashed cobalt and the Unown disappeared in a puff of darkness. Pikachu dropped back onto Ash¡¯s head and gave an indignant squeak. Only a few Unown remained floating around them, and upon realizing so, they froze in midair. No more Unown appeared. Silence roared through the valley as the Unown hung motionless in the air. A bead of sweat dropped down Ash¡¯s temple and he almost flinched as he brushed up against Sabrina behind him. He figured attacking them might incite further aggression, but they couldn¡¯t just stand there and let the Unown further accumulate. One of the Unown¡¯s eyes twitched. An infernal echoed off the rocky surface of Mount Coronet as the remaining Unown suddenly blasted apart, countless clones flooding off their forms and whipping into a vicious cyclone that encircled that entire group. A wall of darkness covered in glowering eyes spiraled around them in an enraged frenzy. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Rei shrieked. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Yura buried her face in Sabrina''s leg. Her Shieldon snarled and a metallic sheen flashed across his obsidian face. He bulleted forward straight into the mass of Unown, the impact spraying stray Unown into the eye of the storm where they spasmed and vanished. ¡°We have to get out of here!¡± Ash shouted over the roar of the cyclone. ¡°Riley, cover us!¡± The Guardian nodded and an azure shield opened overhead. As the storm of darkness beat against it, individual Unown went flying off in a frenetic rampage. ¡°Follow Shieldon!¡± Laventon bellowed, pointing. From where he¡¯d begun, Shieldon beat, bit, and tore his way through the slicing darkness with reckless abandon. However slight, he¡¯d begun to force his way out. Ash raised his hand, prepared to fire a lance of electricity straight above Shieldon and carve straight through the storm, but a Hidden Power slammed into his side. ¡°Argh!¡± he grunted, recoiling. Was that a fighting-type one? No, it doesn¡¯t matter! He glanced wildly around them. Their Hidden Powers are stronger now! Riley held his hands above his head as he maintained the shield and he seemed to notice the same thing as Ash right as they locked eyes. ¡°Akari, counter their attacks on this side! Rei, cover your side!¡± The two younger trainers nodded immediately and took their positions just as a volley of Hidden Powers lit up the shadowed eye of the storm in a multitude of violent colors. ¡°Flamethrower, Growlithe!¡± ¡°Rock Blast, Cranidos!¡± A stream of fire from Growlithe¡¯s maw extinguished half of the incoming Hidden Powers, while a bullet spray of rocks from Cranidos¡¯ shattered the rest. Their attacks continued into the wall of Unown beyond and an otherworldly wail echoed within the storm. Pikachu cooed urgently on his head, wondering what he should do. ¡°Once we get out and the others are safe, use Electric Terrain! I have an idea!¡± He raised his hand again to attack. Finding his target, he mustered up his strength. Electricity sizzled to life on his hand and he concentrated it down to a single point, suppressing its wild energy and increasing the pressure tenfold. A sheer white laser shot from his palm and crashed against the wall of Unown, blasting them apart in an instant and creating a tunnel out. Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed. The wall of Unown was far thicker than he¡¯d thought, but he could see the sky and grass on the other side. A furious hum roared around them and the tunnel spiraled closed, once again plunging them into darkness. The assault of Hidden Powers increased in number, and Growlithe and Cranidos both screeched at the sudden uptick in aggression. ¡°Damn!¡± Ash cursed. If I up my firepower, I¡¯ll hit the others! ¡°I¡¯ll do it, Ash!¡± Sabrina looked back at him, her eyes and gauntlets already glowing emerald. Ash nodded. ¡°Do it!¡± ¡°I have Yura!¡± Laventon said. ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± The air around Sabrina warbled and her hair whipped around her wildly. An invisible shock wave tore the Unown apart once again, revealing the outside. But this time, an emerald light danced around the squirming mass of Unown, keeping them from filling the gap. ¡°Akari, Rei, go!¡± Riley roared. ¡°Go!¡± Rei commanded, and Growlithe raced alongside him. Riley¡¯s eyes flared and he released a volley of Aura Spheres from his hand to deflect the incessant battering of Hidden Powers. In front of the inhuman tunnel, Rei froze. It was easy to see why. The Unown howled like rabid demons trying to escape the pit, the tunnel of eyes burning with rage. ¡°C¡¯mon!¡± Akari screamed, grabbing his hand and running into the tunnel without a second thought, Cranidos tromping behind her. ¡°I¡¯ll follow after you, Professor!¡± Riley said. ¡°Go!¡± Laventon closed his hand around Yura¡¯s. ¡°Come now! Let¡¯s leave this place!¡± Yura quickly detached herself from Sabrina¡¯s leg and latched onto Laventon, who lifted her into his arms and ran into the tunnel, Shieldon following behind. Right after, Riley disengaged his shield and fired off a few more waves of Aura Spheres before disappearing into the tunnel. Sabrina whipped around. ¡°Ash¡ª!¡± ¡°Just go!¡± Ash yelled. ¡°We¡¯ll get out on our own!¡± She nodded and raced after Riley, her gauntlets surging with power and whirling around her wrists. Almost immediately after she left, the tunnel closed behind her, leaving Ash and Pikachu alone within. ¡°Keep up, yeah?¡± Ash bit out as he charged his power. Jumping onto the ground, Pikachu smirked, electricity licking across his body. White-hot lightning thundered beneath Ash¡¯s skin and his eyes became spotlights. He leaned over and bent his arms, prepared to sprint. ¡°Now!¡± Ash blitzed forward straight into the wall of Unown. They screamed and wailed as he tore through them, Hidden Powers bursting harmlessly against his supercharged body. He could feel their thin forms race past him as he powered through them, but as quickly as the feeling came, it was gone. Sunlight burned his senses as he careened out into the open air. Falling onto the grass, he tumbled a short ways away. His body smoked and he could feel the residual electricity within him crackle and snap as it dissipated. Beside him, Pikachu skidded to a stop, standing over his master protectively. Ah, so that¡¯s what a Volt Tackle feels like, Ash thought, wincing as he stood. The sun¡¯s light, which, as Sabrina had promised, now peeked out from behind Mount Coronet, flashed erratically as the mass of Unown undulated in front of it. It looked like a twisted collection of black bones come to life the way it seized and stretched over the ground, towering over them like some salivating beast, though this one was covered in furious eyes. ¡°There¡¯s gotta be thousands of them¡­¡± Rei breathed. ¡°Get back, Rei!¡± Akari said, yanking him backward. ¡°Now, Pikachu!¡± Ash commanded. Pikachu snarled and hunkered down. Golden electricity ripped across the ground as Pikachu suffused the entire valley with his power. Static crackled off the bodies of everyone gathered and tickled the base of the Unown horde. ¡°What is¡­?¡± Laventon said, looking around at the electrified terrain. ¡°Thunder!¡± Ash roared, casting his arm forward. Pikachu blitzed into the sky and black clouds roiled into existence overhead, bathing the valley in a terrifying darkness. The mass of Unown hissed and screeched, and a sort of appendage began to stretch its way toward him. With a furious screech, Pikachu unleashed his devastating attack. A pillar of lightning smashed down from above, blasting the Unown apart and sending their black forms flying in all directions. The Electric Terrain around them surged up, incinerating stray Unown with erratic fractals of electricity. Smoke blew about in a maddened froth and the remaining Unown squealed as the sudden hurricane whipped them around. Fire and rock poured from Growlithe and Cranidos as Rei and Akari commanded them to defeat the Unown closest to them, but Ash couldn¡¯t even hear them; his ears still rang from the deafening crack of Pikachu¡¯s Thunder. The Electric Terrain seemed to snatch their attacks out of midair and infuse them with electricity before sending them back on their way with added speed, power, and precision. Boulders bulleted and shattered against the foolish enough to try attacking with Hidden Power, and electrified streams of fire absolutely disintegrated any Unown they came into contact with. A twisted sculpture of dirt and rock stood where the Unown once had, galvanized by Pikachu¡¯s electricity. Countless Unown lay motionless at its base, their eyes closed. ¡°I-Is it gone?¡± Yura cried, her voice thick with pleading as she clung to Laventon. Ash studied the golden landscape as fast as he could. Rei and Akari were cleaning up the remnants fast and he wasn¡¯t detecting movement anywhere else. But then again, the Unown had appeared out of nowhere to begin with. ¡°Ash, is this normal behavior for Unown?¡± Riley asked, his arms still up and ready to continue the fight. Sweat dripped down Ash¡¯s face as he gritted his teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t know! I don¡¯t even know where they came from! But with that many gathered, they could¡¯ve easily¡ª¡° The ground trembled beneath them and rocks cracked and fell from Mount Coronet, tumbling down the mountain¡¯s face. Sabrina grabbed Yura as Laventon stumbled and Akari yelped as she fell. ¡°Akari!¡± Rei shouted. ¡°Watch¡ª¡° ¡°Riley!¡± Ash screamed. The azure shield was over Sabrina and the Hisuians before Ash had even closed his mouth. ¡°Volt Tackle, Pikachu! Get¡ª¡° The rocky sculpture crumbled as a black flare burst into existence, bleeding eyes. Thousands of Unown flooded onto the ground, into the sky, coiling and twisting like some demonic serpent. A moment later, the ocean of darkness raced toward them. Just before it buried Ash beneath its titanic weight, he saw Riley¡¯s shield crack and shatter, and the Guardian crumpled as a tendril of Unown struck his stomach. ¡°No!¡± Ash bellowed. He tried to reach toward them but it felt like he¡¯d been buried alive. The Unown continued to race over him, drowning him in a pitch-black sea. Pikachu was gone and his friends were suffering the same fate. No! Summoning as much electricity as he could, Ash willed himself to detonate like a bomb. There can¡¯t be an infinite number of them! We just have to beat them until they stop reappearing! A golden nova blossomed around Ash, thunder booming, vaporizing the crushing weight of the Unown and he sutmbled to his feet before it could bury him again. Similarly, an emerald explosion expanded around Sabrina, silently burning away the Unown, and a roiling storm of Aura spiraled around Riley, though he held his side tenderly with one hand. At a glance, Laventon and the others appeared safe. However, Pikachu¡¯s Electric Terrain had entirely disappeared, a fact which made Ash shiver. Pikachu¡¯s not weak by any means¡­ It shouldn¡¯t have been able to smother it that quickly! This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Pikachu squeaked as he bounded toward Ash, electricity dancing on his fur. ¡°Pikachu!¡± Thank goodness he was able to protect himself with Volt Tackle¡¯s electrical aura in time! The mass of Unown roared as it recoiled, eyes flashing furiously across its ghoulish form. Tendrils and tentacles of Unown wriggled around the overall mass. As it dragged one of its inky tentacles across the sky, a wave of Hidden Powers in all colors bubbled skyward, falling toward the group. ¡°Akari!¡± Rei yelled, pointing. ¡°Flamethrower, Growlithe!¡± Akari, though shielding herself with her arms, peeked up and saw the incoming volley of Hidden Powers. Her eyes widened. ¡°Rock Blast, Cranidos!¡± As their pok¨¦mon both fired their attacks, popping the Hidden Powers out of the sky, Riley let loose with rapid fire Aura Spheres, spraying his Aura across the rainbow-colored tidal wave. ¡°Where¡¯s Yura?!¡± Laventon yelled, searching the area frantically. ¡°She¡¯s safe!¡± Sabrina yelled. Her eyes blazed with emerald power as she crumpled her hand at the falling Hidden Powers. Hundreds of orbs burst apart in midair in an instant, crushed by Sabrina¡¯s psychic squeeze. Seeing they were handling it, Ash turned his attention back to the main Unown body. It writhed where it was, appendages flailing in a malevolent froth. He¡¯d never seen, or even heard of Unown behaving like this. But one thing was certain. ¡°This is an Alpha Pok¨¦mon!¡± Ash said to the others. ¡°An Alpha Unown.¡± Laventon looked at him fearfully. ¡°An Alpha Pok¨¦mon¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. Way stronger than the Rapidash, or any of the others we¡¯ve noted.¡± Ash said grimly. ¡°Unown are weak on their own, but with this many gathered¡­they can rival the power of a legendary pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Can we even beat it?¡± Akari wailed. Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed. I¡¯d count us lucky if we could just escape unharmed¡­ The Unown howled and various elemental attacks flared to life across its body. Streams of fire, glassy beams of ice, coils of darkness, metallic columns of plasma, bolts of electricity, and more shot out in all directions like the spotlights of some twisted performance. And this demon was the star. ¡°Ash, can you destroy it?¡± Riley asked. ¡°If it was all one body, maybe! But it seems like it can regenerate as long as even one is left intact!¡± Sabrina forced a lilac-colored laser out of the way with a flick of her wrist. ¡°I can identify each one! If we can just¡ª¡° ¡°There¡¯s no time!¡± Ash barked, breaking into a run. ¡°Pikachu and I will stall it for as long as we can! The rest of you, run to the foothills! We may be able to escape it inside the caves!¡± Riley glared at him, clearly hating his plan, and he glanced over at the rest. ¡°Sabrina, take the others! I¡¯ll stay here with Ash.¡± ¡°Just go!¡± Ash yelled. ¡°Go!¡± Sabrina shouted, urging Akari and Rei northward. ¡°But Yura¡ª¡° Laventon said. ¡°She¡¯s fine!¡± Sabrina said. ¡°We need to get away so Ash can let loose!¡± Thank you! Ash thought. Electricity burned to life in Ash¡¯s palms and wreathed itself around Pikachu as he ran. Unown screamed, ceasing its display of power, and several of its tentacles suddenly lunged in multiple directions, one slamming down right in front of Ash. Unown danced wildly across the surface of the tentacle in front of Ash, and he nearly fired an attack to get it out of his way, but saw something that gave him pause. The Unown began melding together, fusing into one, contiguous mass. Their eyes closed as they joined, their jet black forms stretching and dripping into a more defined shape. Ash¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Watch out, Pikach¡ª!¡± A jet black fin swung toward the mouse at an impossible speed and caught him mid sprint. Pikachu smashed into it with a pained cry, but the clawed punch sent him flying backward. ¡°Pikachu!¡± Ash screamed. His blood ran cold as he turned back around. Now detached from the rest of the roiling mass, an oily black form stepped forward, dripping with violence. Tar dribbled from its salivating maw and its jet black eyes spasmed as they found their next prey. ¡°What is this?¡± Ash breathed. The all-black Garchomp towered over him, and when it roared, the pungent stench of its putrid body invaded his nostrils. ¡°Ash!¡± Sabrina called from across the field. Backing away from the soulless Garchomp, Ash spared her a glance. ¡°I¡¯ve got Pikachu!¡± Her gauntlets spun furiously as she covered the others¡¯ retreat. Ash nodded quickly and refocused on Garchomp. He had no idea how that was possible, considering Garchomp had sent Pikachu flying in a completely different direction, but he trusted her. Garchomp lunged, smashing his fin onto the ground where Ash had been standing half a second ago, sending up chunks of rock and soil. A wild Garchomp¡­ And not just that, but it¡¯s way more aggressive than usual. It¡¯s a wild pok¨¦mon from this time period¡­. As Garchomp bellowed out what appeared to be a Dragon Pulse, Ash countered with a Thunderbolt of his own. The two energies met in midair and swirled together, a colorless nova blasting outward as they nullified each other. Suddenly, Garchomp jerked its arm in front of its face, and an Aura Sphere exploded harmlessly against its fin. Riley smirked, his palm outstretched. ¡°Nice reaction time¡­¡± He turned to Ash. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this one. You take care of its parent.¡± He smiled. Training even in a situation like this?! Ash had to chuckle. As he ran past Garchomp, the dragon tried to lunge at him, but Riley intercepted with a wall of Aura. ¡°Good luck!¡± the Guardian offered. Ash sprinted toward the Unown¡¯s midsection. Its entire form seemed to vibrate as the countless creatures that comprised its body trembled like bugs as they clung to each other. Electricity sizzled on his palms as he summoned his power. It came to him quickly, like it¡¯d just been uncorked, gurgling up from the depths. There can¡¯t be an infinite number of them, he repeated in his head. If I could just blow them all away¡­ He clenched his teeth. Even if I did, I¡¯d have no strength left. If I miss even one, it¡¯d be over for me! A scream to his left tore Ash¡¯s attention away. Sabrina lay sprawled on the ground, her head bleeding. Akari lay collapsed nearby, and given the position of Sabrina¡¯s arms, it seemed she¡¯d shoved Akari out of the way. A pitch-black Gallade stalked toward them. Cranidos and Growlithe both lay unconscious at its feet. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Ash roared, his body twisting and his legs moving before he¡¯d even had a chance to think. A blistering agony bloomed in his side as a thick tentacle slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs. A low chortle echoed through the valley as Unown flung Ash into the air. He slammed onto the ground and tumbled over before stopping. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± he groaned. His vision blurry, Ash watched as Rei jumped in front of Akari and threw out his Turtwig, who charged straight into the shadow Gallade. The psychic warrior stumbled but gave no further indication of damage. Its head dipped down to stare at its new opponent. Rei shouted something but Ash was too groggy to hear it. A blizzard of razor-sharp leaves flew up into Gallade¡¯s body and Turtwig glared at it. The leaves ripped through its oily form, but the wounds quickly closed. Turtwig roared again, and its body suddenly melted into an effulgent blue. Rei recoiled as Turtwig¡¯s body grew and reshaped. Gallade stared, expressionless. Blue stardust wafted around Grotle as he completed his evolution and he lunged forward, clamping Gallade¡¯s shoulder in his maw. They were now the same height. Ash shook his head and brushed the dirt off his face, clambering to his feet. ¡°Go, Laventon! Get out of here!¡± As the professor helped Akari to her feet, she recalled her Cranidos. Gallade suddenly leapt into the air, instantly dislodging itself from Grotle¡¯s jaws. Its blade twinkled, and it rocketed back to earth, smashing into Grotle. Or it would have. When the dust cleared, emerald light burned between Grotle and Gallade¡¯s outstretched blade, the two mere inches apart. Emerald light burned against Gallade¡¯s blade, refusing to allow it to fall. ¡°Run!¡± Sabrina shrieked, her eyes crackling. Rei nodded and Grotle tramped after him as he sprinted after Laventon and Akari. Unown roared and another barrage of Hidden Powers homed in on the fleeing group. Grotle stopped and released a volley of Razor Leaves to counter them, but two more inky tentacles shot toward them. ¡°No you don¡¯t!¡± Ash growled. A tenuous thunderbolt shocked to life in each of his hands, crackling white and ripping with energy. Taking a fraction of a second to aim, he hurled one thunderbolt at each tentacle. The lightning lances sliced through the tentacles, cleaving their writhing ends from the rest of the body. The severed pieces disintegrated into an inky cloud of dissipating Unown. Gallade hummed as it used its other arm to force its full weight atop Sabrina, crushing her beneath its blade. She craned her head away as the blade inched toward her neck. Shit, I won¡¯t make it in time! Ash cursed, the electricity for another attack still building in his hands. A crimson blur slammed into Gallade, knocking it off its feet. It rolled into a crouch and its soulless eyes narrowed. His coat of red leaves billowed in the wind as Decidueye glared at Gallade from beneath his brim, his burly fist still outstretched. ¡°Decidueye!¡± Sabrina gasped. Gallade¡¯s pitch-black blade flashed as it swung in a large arc but Decidueye sidestepped, only losing a few leaves off his chest. He tried sucker punching Gallade in the face but Gallade ducked and swept its blades beneath Decidueye¡¯s arms. Decidueye caught its arms in a lock before Gallade could decapitate him and the two strained against each other. His crimson eyes burned with hatred at the faceless Gallade, his body trembling as he forced Gallade back. ¡°C¡¯mon!¡± Ash said, finally reaching Sabrina and hauling her off the ground. ¡°Protect the others! We¡¯ll be right behind you!¡± ¡°Yura is underground,¡± Sabrina said as she got up. ¡°I told her to get Pikachu¡­¡± Of course, Shieldon¡¯s number one priority is Yura! Ash thanked the heavens that the young girl¡¯s pok¨¦mon was smart enough to make that executive call. ¡°Can Shieldon get the others underground too?¡± Sabrina clutched his sleeve and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯ll go after her!¡± Ash glanced back at Unown quickly. Damn! She¡¯s right. If it can create a Garchomp and Gallade, who knows what it could send underground after Yura! He nodded. ¡°Thank you, Sabrina,¡± he said, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were wide in fear and her gauntlets spun wildly and spat sparks, but she was present. ¡°Let me take care of Decidueye now. We¡¯ll draw its attention until you get to the caves!¡± Sabrina nodded and raced away. Turning his attention back toward the hellish conglomeration of Unown, Ash once again called upon his power. In his periphery, he could see Riley battling Garchomp, though the latter didn¡¯t seem to have sustained any damage. Decidueye and Gallade fought evenly, though with how mechanical Gallade¡¯s movements were, it seemed like Decidueye would tire out first if the fight continued. Electricity blistered around him, blowing his hair about wildly. Ash could feel his body turning numb, but he didn¡¯t abate the gathering of his power. As more and more lightning swirled around him, stray bolts began to snap at the ground, carving burned rents across the grass. Unown snickered, a low, infernal sound. A gout of fire shot into the sky from a point on its undulating body, then a jet of water, a beam of multicolored energy, a spire of rock, a bolt of lightning, a stalk of tangled foliage. Each pillar shined with an uncanny, garish brilliance, and they continued to open across its body, every attack screaming with fantasy. Golden electricity blustered around Ash and he could feel his bones creaking. What even is that? It¡¯s like they¡¯re lasers made of Hidden Powers. One of them was going to attack first, and Ash knew it had to be him. As the inferno of power danced across the Alpha Unown, its body suddenly rippled, and all of the elemental pillars began to angle themselves forward, directly toward Ash. They¡¯re fusing together! Shit, if that hits me¡­! The Electric Plate was supposed to shield him from lethal damage but frankly, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever get comfortable allowing himself to just tank such attacks unbothered. And after seeing Sir Aaron damage AZ firsthand, he knew for a fact that his invulnerability wasn¡¯t guaranteed. It wasn¡¯t like he wanted to compare the legendary Sir Aaron to this, but Unown was a strange pok¨¦mon. Ash was not about to risk himself here. Gritting his teeth and summoning a final bout of power, Ash grunted as he released his devastation. This was essentially what he¡¯d been doing with Riley the past few mornings, but at least now, he could say it was intentional. A humongous golden Electro Ball hurled forward, its surface crackling angrily. As the myriad of elemental pillars touched together, they turned an effulgent white, like some sort of Giga Hyper Beam. Unown cackled and unleashed the full force of its gathered power, a shaft of pure annihilation ripping through the air with a tortured scream. Ash¡¯s Electro Ball collided with Unown¡¯s attack halfway between them and a blinding light blazed across the valley, and half a second later, a deafening boom blasted outward. The energy of Unown¡¯s beam splattered against the golden orb like lava, but Ash forced his Electro Ball onward. Static flickered in the air behind his attack, the Electro Ball dragging itself across reality as it homed in on Unown¡¯s body. Tearing through Unown¡¯s beam, the Electro Ball dislodged itself and slammed into the roiling mass of ink and eyes. Ash shielded his eyes as the golden orb ruptured and discharged its full power. Unown¡¯s unholy scream echoed through the valley, rattling his eardrums. As the glare died down, Ash peeked behind his arm. Over half of Unown¡¯s body was straight up missing. The Electro Ball had completely disintegrated the entire right side and most of the middle of its form, leaving a grisly rounded edge in its wake. Black dust frayed from the remnants of its body, and it squirmed about pitifully, thin tentacles pawing at the gaping hole. Both Garchomp and Gallade had frozen mid-strike, the Electro Ball seemingly destroying whatever consciousness had been controlling them. Yet they hadn¡¯t disappeared. ¡°Riley!¡± Ash called, stepping toward the foothills. ¡°Decidueye! Let¡¯s go!¡± Both turned and realized it was time to go. Riley gave one last look at Garchomp before breaking into a sprint and Decidueye glared up at the Unown¡¯s main body. As Ash ran toward the entrance to the foothills, a yawning cave entrance embedded with the rocky base of Mount Coronet, Riley joined him at his side, as did Decidueye, though he looked none too pleased. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll stay injured for long!¡± Ash panted. ¡°It¡¯ll regenerate any second now!¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± Riley asked. ¡°That attack¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Ash grunted. ¡°Just need to¡ª¡° A raucous bellow behind them made Ash¡¯s stomach drop. Though he didn¡¯t want to, he turned to see the remains of his enemy. But exactly as predicted, Unown¡¯s body lurched, and countless tiny Unown began to eat their way across the gaping hole, stitching themselves back together. Its countless eyes turned on its fleeing opponents, and it started to move toward them. At the same time, Garchomp and Gallade both reawakened and began their pursuit. ¡°Just run!¡± Riley bit out. ¡°There¡¯s no point in stopping to fight it again!¡± The entrance to the foothills seemed miles away as Ash forced himself forward, but he could feel himself moving sluggishly. Decidueye whipped around and fired a volley of crimson arrows. Garchomp and Gallade both shielded themselves, but their gait slowed. Unown roared, and Hidden Powers poured off its body like rain, soaring through the sky and dipping down toward them in a ruthless arc. Each silent orb shined with a dispassionate light, blotting out the light of the sun. Riley spun and clapped his hands together before pulling them apart. Aura burned in his palms and spilled from between his fingers, cascading around him in roiling waves. Sweeping his arms forward, a great tidal wave of pure Aura splashed into existence and tore down the hill in a towering flood. Azure sparks flashed as the wave of Aura swallowed the approaching Hidden Powers. Garchomp and Gallade weathered the deluge of power, holding firm to the ground as it swept past their legs, and they glowered at the fleeing Guardian. Ash could see the entrance to the caves inching closer and closer as he charged up the hill, but his anxiety remained. Despite Riley¡¯s defense, he could hear Garchomp and Gallade still racing after them. As Ash crossed into the tunnel, the sudden darkness and hardness of the cave¡¯s floor didn¡¯t slow him at all, his footsteps echoing off the stony walls. Riley and Decidueye were right behind him, and the sound of their combined running sounded like a stampede. A ghastly howl rang out behind them and Garchomp forced its way inside, smashing through the entrance, and Ash turned. Their eyes met for only a moment. As Garchomp took its next step, its pitch-black body suddenly shattered into a horrific swarm of Unown. Gallade burst apart too as it leapt into the cave, and the sheer volume of Unown now screaming toward them fired another dose of adrenaline throughout Ash¡¯s body. ¡°Run!¡± Ash yelled, his voice echoing off the wall. He could see Unown zipping into his periphery, but he urged himself onward in spite of his protesting body, determined to keep them behind him. The ground and walls alike exploded behind them as the Unown fired off rogue Hidden Powers, and all Ash could do was pray they didn¡¯t hit him. He could see a dim light ahead where he suspected the others had stopped. ¡°Run!¡± Ash yelled again. By the time they caught up, Sabrina, Rei, and Akari were already barreling down the rocky tunnel, with Yura on Laventon¡¯s back. ¡°Argh!¡± Riley grunted, stumbling as he ran. Decidueye looked back with a sneer but Ash caught Riley before he could fall and they kept running. An angry, red burn adorned his calf where a fire-type Hidden Power had landed. ¡°Shit!¡± Riley cursed, limping as fast as he could, his arm slung around Ash. Shards of rock blasted off the cave wall inches from Ash¡¯s face and he ducked to avoid the sharp debris. Rei and Akari led the pack, with Sabrina and Laventon lagging behind. The sound of panting and stomping thundered around them, and Ash allowed all other thoughts besides flight to leave his mind. Just one foot in front of the other. Eventually, the pursuit had to end. Riley¡¯s weight bore down on him, but he refused to let it bother him. Every second that weight burdened his shoulders was another second the Guardian was still beside him. A minute later, Ash frowned. ¡°Wait¡­stop!¡± Ash panted, slowing to a stop. His legs throbbed and his arm was numb from carrying Riley. The others continued on for several more seconds until they realized Ash had stopped. They turned around and fixed him with bloodshot stares. They waited. And listened. But all they could hear was their own labored breathing. Next ¡ª Chapter 66 : Enchanted Labyrinth
Hisui Incursion [14] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [14] Chapter 66 : Enchanted Labyrinth
Hisui Region - Coronet Lowlands Ash swallowed. He swore he could hear his blood racing through his veins with each throb of his chest and he sucked in breaths to placate his overworked lungs. Black spots danced in his vision as his body adapted to his sudden inertia. ¡°Pikachu¡­light¡­please,¡± he eventually whispered. The stripes on Pikachu¡¯s back lit up, illuminating everyone¡¯s stressed faces. Dust wafted through the air and swirled every time someone breathed. ¡°A-Are they gone?¡± Yura whispered, sliding off Laventon¡¯s back. Shieldon drifted closer to her, but his face betrayed no emotion. Ash glanced at Sabrina. The psychic closed her eyes and her gauntlets glowed slightly brighter. ¡°I don¡¯t sense them anywhere near us,¡± she said, opening her eyes. Ash let himself relax, the tension breaking across his body. After he did, the others seemed to take it as a sign that they were safe. Rei sat down on the cave floor and Akari leaned over, coughing. Laventon threw his bags down from where they¡¯d been slung over his chest and sank to the ground as well. ¡°I think¡­the Unown can probably only get so far away from the main body,¡± Ash panted. ¡°We should be safe now.¡± Towering over them, Decidueye released a low coo. The ground cracked as he crunched his talons into the rock. Electricity sparked across Pikachu¡¯s body and he growled. ¡°Thank you¡­Decidueye,¡± Sabrina said softly, but her voice echoed. ¡°You saved me¡­again.¡± Decidueye fixed Sabrina with a disgusted stare. He pushed through the crowd, ignoring Pikachu, until he stood right in front of her. His glare met her tired eyes. ¡°I¡­got it. There won¡¯t be a third time.¡± She unclipped his pok¨¦ball and held it out. ¡°Get some rest now. It¡¯ll be awhile until we¡¯re back outside¡­ Thank you, again.¡± She thumbed the release and recalled him. ¡°Back outside¡­¡± Laventon repeated. His head sank into his hands. ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ash said, a bit more forcefully than intended, but he was still full of adrenaline and on edge. Laventon looked up. ¡°These caves. We were supposed to follow the map to find our way to the other side. In our haste¡­I was not able to¡­¡± Akari covered her mouth. ¡°You mean¡­?¡± A pained moan echoed through the cavern as Riley slumped to the ground. ¡°Riley!¡± Ash said sharply, kneeling down. The Guardian¡¯s breathing was heavy and his head hung weakly from his neck, his eyes glassy and unfocused. ¡°If you would¡­¡± he breathed. ¡°He got hit!¡± Ash said, standing up. ¡°Where¡¯s our burn salve?¡± ¡°Wait, Ash,¡± Laventon said, standing up. ¡°It needs to cool first. We need water, and towels¡­¡± As they got to work rummaging through their various bags, Pikachu scampered back and forth between them all, shining his light where it was needed. Laventon dug the medical supplies out from his bag while Rei uncorked his water skin. ¡°This may sting a bit,¡± Laventon said as he brought a soaked cloth to the back of Riley¡¯s calf. Akari knelt beside him to help and Pikachu shined his light directly on the injury. His pants had burned away where the attack hit, and beneath, his skin was bright red and white along the dried and peeling edges. Riley didn¡¯t even flinch as the towel touched his leg. ¡°Let¡¯s set up camp in the meantime,¡± Ash said. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be traveling any more today.¡± He, Yura, Sabrina, and Rei got to work pulling out everything they needed. Ash and Sabrina both used their powers to illuminate the campsite, bathing the cave in a somber light. Eventually, Rei pulled out a stick dipped in oil and they were able to get a torch going. Yura moved robotically as she worked, and eventually, Sabrina pulled her aside. ¡°We¡¯re going to look for a water source,¡± Sabrina declared, their cauldron in hand. ¡°We won¡¯t go far.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Ash said, kicking his bedroll out. He watched as two girls walked away, hand in hand, Shieldon pawing after them. Obviously, Yura was still frazzled from the attack, and Sabrina was the first to act on ripping her thoughts from such a traumatic experience. Yura was a strong girl for her age, but a near-death experience like that would worm its way into anyone¡¯s heart. Even Ash himself still got the chills when he thought about the terrifying Unown. He glanced at Rei and Akari. Luckily, they both seemed to be distracted well enough for right now. Akari was handing Laventon a roll of bandages, and Rei was taking stock of the food they had on hand. For now, it was of paramount importance to figure out what to do next. As long as their future remained uncertain, anxiety and fear would fester in all of them. ¡°Easy,¡± Laventon whispered, easing Riley against the rocky cave wall, the shell of burn salve in hand. ¡°Drink.¡± He lifted Rei¡¯s skin of water to Riley¡¯s lips. ¡°I can drink just fine,¡± Riley said, taking the skin and downing a swig. ¡°Thank you.¡± No longer needed, Akari turned and sighed. The cave wasn¡¯t all that cold, yet she shivered. Pikachu glanced in her direction, then scampered over and climbed up onto her shoulder, fixing her with a concerned stare. ¡°How¡¯s Cranidos?¡± Ash asked, drawing her attention. She blinked several times, taking a bit to register the question. ¡°Oh¡­right. Not good.¡± She pulled its pok¨¦ball from her belt and stared at it. ¡°We should treat them as soon as possible too,¡± Ash said, and he could see Laventon already moving to prep their pok¨¦mon medicinals. ¡°Rei, your Growlithe too.¡± Rei grumbled quietly as he stalked toward them with his pok¨¦ball. The two young trainers both deployed their defeated and their bodies materialized motionless on the cave floor. Ash breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t seen them get taken out but there didn¡¯t seem to have taken any serious damage, especially given how powerful that Gallade had been. ¡°Those pok¨¦mon Unown spawned,¡± Riley said, his arm hanging off his propped up good leg. ¡°No matter how much I attacked Garchomp, it didn¡¯t sustain any lasting damage. I may as well have been attacking a brick wall.¡± His voice was monotone, but Ash could sense his simmering frustration underneath. ¡°My attacks didn¡¯t do anything either. It rebuilt itself in an instant.¡± ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re safe here?¡± Rei asked, trying and failing to hold the fear from his voice. ¡°No, he¡¯s not,¡± Laventon said as he sprayed Growlithe down with potion. ¡°Did you forget where we are? Danger is the only certainty beyond the safety of the Sanctuary.¡± There was no arrogance in his voice, no I told you so. It was simply a statement of cold, hard truth. Sabrina and Yura returned as Laventon was finishing Cranidos¡¯ treatment. Ash moved quickly to take the cauldron from her, now full of water. ¡°There¡¯s a shallow river just up ahead. We couldn¡¯t tell where its source is though.¡± Growlithe had recovered just enough to spit some embers down and get a campfire going and Ash placed the cauldron of water over it to boil. When they¡¯d first set off and set up camp for the first time, he¡¯d been reminded of the two years he¡¯d spent training to defeat Cynthia, traveling across the world and living off the wilderness, for the most part. This practice wasn¡¯t exactly foreign to him. With the fire illuminating their camp, more of their surroundings could now be seen. It turned out the cavern they¡¯d stopped in was quite large. Although they¡¯d set up camp in the wide path that ran through the center of the cavern, tall stalagmites poked up from the ground around them, and stalactites hung from the ceiling far above. Dark tunnel entrances dotted the walls around them. From this cavern alone, there were at least ten different directions to choose from. ¡°Help yourselves to some of the berries in my bag,¡± Laventon offered, addressing the whole group. Rei dug them out emotionlessly and untied the pouch Laventon had kept them in, then went around the circle. Ash declined and Sabrina took some extra for Yura, who didn¡¯t seem to have an appetite. Riley smiled in thanks as he accepted some, and he threw them all back in a single handful. ¡°So,¡± Ash eventually said, slicing through the deafening silence. ¡°We¡¯re lost.¡± Sabrina shot him a narrow glare and he had to stop himself from wincing. She wrapped her arm around Yura and rubbed her shoulder gently. ¡°The question is whether we should go on, or try and find our way back out,¡± Ash continued. ¡°Professor, is there any way you¡¯d be able to find where we are on the map right now?¡± Laventon shook his head. ¡°This place is a maze, and I¡¯m sure you saw as we were running. We passed through numerous forks in the road, identical tunnels. Navigation is only possible if we stick to the map from the start.¡± ¡°But, if we just go back the way we came¡­¡± Akari said. ¡°Unfortunately, these caves aren¡¯t so simple. Even if we took every southern tunnel, the path twists and turns on itself. And compasses do not work in this mountain, even at its base.¡± Laventon looked up. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose any of you have any sort of ability that could steer us out of this predicament?¡± Ash shook his head. ¡°I could tell you the shape of every pok¨¦mon around us in a fifty meter radius. I could tear through the rock wall as if it were made of paper. And I could fill your souls with enough Aura to allow you to survive without food or water for six months in here. But no, I have nothing in my arsenal for a labyrinth,¡± Riley said flatly. Sabrina¡¯s eyelids crinked as she stared at the floor. ¡°I could try and teleport us out. But¡­I don¡¯t trust myself to do that safely right now.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Well, that makes for an easy decision, then,¡± Ash said, and everyone turned to stare at him. ¡°I guess we¡¯re going forward.¡± ¡°How do you figure that?¡± Rei questioned. ¡°We¡¯re way closer to the entrance than the exit. Even if it¡¯s slim, we have a way higher chance of finding that again than making it all the way to the other side out of sheer luck.¡± Ash thumbed behind him. ¡°Unown is back there. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m not keen on having to face it again.¡± Yura scrunched up her nose and shook her head. ¡°Either way, I¡¯m going on ahead. If you guys want to turn around, that¡¯s fine. But Unown is after me. I¡¯ll only put you in danger if I go back.¡± Pikachu moaned in his lap, but Ash didn¡¯t back down. A resounding clap echoed through the cavern and Ash almost jumped. Yura¡¯s eyes were squeezed shut and her cheeks were pink where she¡¯d just slapped them. ¡°I¡¯m going ahead too!¡± she declared, opening her eyes. ¡°I left to find my hometown and I¡¯m not going back until I do!¡± She snorted authoritatively and crossed her arms. Eventually, Laventon chucked, and a smile drifted onto his voice. ¡°Outclassed by Yura again. What has become of the Survey Corps? Miss Cyllene would not be pleased if she could see us now.¡± Akari knit her brows tight with uncertainty. ¡°But what¡¯re we going to do? We can¡¯t just wish ourselves to the other side of these caves.¡± ¡°Or wander around aimlessly,¡± Rei added. Riley shifted where he was. ¡°Optimism is obligatory, but do you have a plan, Ash?¡± Ash grinned. ¡°Not in the slightest.¡± He pointed dead ahead, at the tiny nine-year-old Yura. ¡°But she does.¡± Yura¡¯s mouth dropped open and she glanced around the circle in confusion. ¡°We happen to have an expert on underground navigation and travel with us right here.¡± Ash flicked his head in the creature¡¯s direction. ¡°Ahh!¡± Yura exclaimed. Rei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Ha ha ha! Of course!¡± At Yura¡¯s feet, Shieldon stared up at the gathered. He let loose a dull grunt. ¡°Shieldon!¡± Akari breathed. ¡°That¡¯s right! We were able to follow you guys all the way from the Sanctuary without having to pop up once all because of Shieldon!¡± Shieldon groaned and ambled behind Yura¡¯s leg, clearly realizing everyone¡¯s attention had landed on him and getting shy. Yura crouched down and petted his iron head. ¡°Think you can do it, Shieldon?¡± ¡°Hold on just a minute, Miss Yura,¡± Laventon said, holding up his hand. ¡°What? You don¡¯t think Shieldon can do it?¡± Yura demanded. ¡°Just so you know, Shieldon¡ª¡° ¡°That¡¯s not it at all. There¡¯s a proper order to these things, you see. Here in the Survey Corps, we rely on each other, and when that¡¯s not enough, we accept help from our allies across Hisui.¡± Yura¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m an ally, huh? Sounds pretty cool!¡± ¡°No,¡± Laventon said bluntly. ¡°You¡¯re not our ally.¡± He turned his body as he met the gaze of everyone in the party. ¡°Akari. Rei. Ash. Sabrina. Riley. Please join me in welcoming the newest, and quite possibly the youngest member of the Survey Corps in our history, Yura.¡± He smiled. Yura froze, and her eyes shimmered. ¡°Huh?¡± Sabrina smiled, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Welcome to the Survey Corps, Miss Yura. We look forward to seeing your contributions,¡± Laventon said with a grin. Yura¡¯s cries echoed off the walls of the cavern but Sabrina wrapped her in a tight hug and Rei and Akari both offered their congratulations. Eventually, Shieldon began barking at everyone in the group, ready to defend against whatever had made his master cry. Although Yura was pumped to move on deeper into the caves, the others were spent and eager to use this lapse in apparent danger to rest for the rest of the day. Surprisingly, Rei and Akari both passed out atop their bedrolls, likely more from the stress of such an ordeal than actual overexertion. Riley also drifted off, and after noticing Laventon¡¯s eyelids fluttering, Ash nearly ordered him to sleep as well, which the Professor reluctantly took him up on. He¡¯d carried Yura and two of their backpacks as they fled from Unown, he actually was physically exhausted. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Sabrina stayed awake to keep Yura occupied so Ash took charge of watch duty, though no pok¨¦mon disturbed them. That was to be expected within the foothills, since most of the species that made their homes here were reclusive to begin with. Of course, that information had only been verified for the path they were supposed to take. Wherever they were now, anything was possible. Ash kept his electricity up as he leaned against the cave wall atop a rocky mound that overlooked the whole camp. Since he wasn¡¯t even walking now, he tried increasing his power a bit more than usual. The training seemed to be going well, but he noticed he was rather fatigued when the others started to wake again. Over a dinner of berries and strips of dried meat, an azure glow suddenly lit up their camp. Riley held his hands over his injured leg, now unwrapped, Aura pooling in his palms. As the light of his power took hold around his leg, the angry scarring began to ebb away and his skin slowly stitched itself back together at the molecular level. When the glow of Aura faded, his leg was perfectly healed, not a blemish left to indicate he¡¯d ever been hurt. He glanced up and smiled. ¡°Thank you for your treatment, Professor, Akari, Rei.¡± ¡°Whaaat¡­?¡± Rei said, stumbling closer to him. Yura¡¯s mouth hung agape. Rei moved to touch Riley¡¯s leg, but Akari yanked him back, though her gaze was still transfixed on the pale patch of skin that¡¯d been gnarled and red just seconds ago. ¡°Aura healing,¡± Riley explained. ¡°It¡¯s an advanced technique of the Guardians that expends lots of Aura, though for something this minor, I should be fine. Your cleaning and dressing earlier certainly helped. If you¡¯d like, I could treat your pok¨¦mon to a bath of Aura later¡ª¡° ¡°Please!¡± Yura exclaimed, clapping her hands together. ¡°Shieldon will need a lot of energy for our mission! And also I want to see that again!¡± ¡°Yeah, tell us first next time you¡¯re about to do something like that!¡± Rei scolded. Riley chuckled. ¡°Will do.¡± Laventon chewed his berries slowly, seemingly weary of how many times he¡¯d been awestruck since meeting the three denizens of the future. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you two can get careless,¡± he said slowly, glancing at Rei and Akari. ¡°Don¡¯t be thinking of the Guardian¡¯s power as an excuse to be reckless.¡± His warning almost sounded hollow with how enamored he still was with what he¡¯d just witnessed. ¡°Of course!¡± Akari said quickly. Ash could only smile at their reaction. He¡¯d had a similar one to be fair when Riley first showed him the ability. Sabrina didn¡¯t look that impressed, and Ash had to suppress a smirk. Pikachu, however, padded over to Riley and nudged his knee, requesting some treatment for himself. After dinner, and after Shieldon and the others enjoyed Riley¡¯s Aura bath, Sabrina continued to train with Rei and Akari at the other end of the cavern. They appeared to be battling each other as normal, but every now and then, Sabrina¡¯s eyes would flash, and Grotle would lose his footing, or Sneasel would crash into an invisible barrier. Yura and Shieldon tried their best to keep up with Sabrina¡¯s lessons on the sidelines, though it was difficult for them to apply them since she had no opponent. Pikachu just ended up playing, or trying to play around with them. Since it was inadvisable to disturb the no doubt countless wild pok¨¦mon around them, hidden just out of sight, Ash practiced manipulating his electricity instead, seeing if he could create more than just lightning bolts and balls. He tried conjuring something similar to an Aura Sphere and molded the energy in his hands, compressing it down into a sheet, then stretching it into a rod. As he changed its shape, he noticed its consistency changing as well. It went from an errant, crackling energy, to a subdued, almost physical substance, now white in color, like sunlight turned solid. Riley offered to take the first watch once they began turning in, but Ash said he¡¯d do it. As the others curled into their bedrolls, Ash was still messing around with his powers, though he made sure not to flash it in their faces. Their trek into the unknown would begin tomorrow.
This is as far as I go. You¡¯ll help him, won¡¯t you? This is a duty of the Aura Guardians. I am entrusting you with my memory. One day¡­ You will be forced to make a choice¡­ I only ask¡­ That when you make your choice¡­ You do so¡­ On your own terms¡­ ¡­ Riley¡¯s eyes snapped open in his bedroll, waking up just in time to hear himself gasp. He exhaled slowly, his heart thundering in his chest. Rolling over, he sat up and lifted a hand to his face. Within this cave, it was impossible to tell what time it was, but since everyone else, even Sabrina, appeared to still be asleep, he surmised it was still quite early. Rei sat atop the rocky perch but his head hung limp on his neck. He was on the last watch of the night but it seemed like he¡¯d drifted off at the very end. Drool slid from the corner of his mouth. Luckily, Growlithe stood at attention beside him. Riley met Growlithe¡¯s gaze but soon turned away and tried laying back down and closing his eyes. Yet even after five minutes, he still didn¡¯t feel tired at all. Sighing, he sat up again and slowly peeled his bedroll away, trying to be as quiet as possible. Slipping out of bed, he walked through their meager camp, Growlithe watching silently as he went. They were arrayed in a misshapen circle around the smoldering pile of embers, now cold and dark. As he walked away from the others, he expanded a thin field of Aura outward, enveloping them. Since they hadn¡¯t gotten attacked at all last night, they¡¯d probably be fine, but at least now Riley could say he did his due diligence. Again¡­ he thought to himself as he stalked through the caves. It was that same dream again. Though it wasn¡¯t really a dream, per se. It was simply a repetition of King Aaron¡¯s final words to him. When he was free to let his mind wander, or when he was asleep, those words came to him unbidden, echoing through him like bells, drowning everything else out. As frenetic as the conclusion of that terrible day was, Riley remembered King Aaron¡¯s words perfectly, and not a day had passed since that they hadn¡¯t plagued him. After countless years, the Sir Aaron had finally appeared once again, but before Riley had had nary a chance to meet him, he was gone again. This time, permanently. Or so it should have been. Until Riley¡¯s blunder had led Ash, Sabrina, and him back to a time when he was still alive. He cursed his weakness. They were stuck in the past with no guarantee that they could ever return, yet even still, a small part of him was grateful for the chance to speak with King Aaron one last time. But even if Riley could see him, what would he say? Surely this Aaron was completely different from the one he¡¯d met. Would he even know of the duty he¡¯d assigned Riley just before facing his death? The Origin Child was supposed to be a myth. A figure that only existed in fairy tales and old prophecies. Yet the moment King Aaron had said the name, it was as if that concept of fantasy had suddenly supplanted itself in reality. He¡¯d spoken something impossible into existence. That was how Riley felt upon hearing King Aaron¡¯s final request. But lifting the Origin Child from fantasy to reality didn¡¯t make it any less impossible. Uniting the Plates in one body, one man? The incarnation of Arceus himself? And the end to a celestial conflict that began at the advent of existence itself? You¡¯ll help him, won¡¯t you? If anyone else had said that, Riley would¡¯ve laughed aloud. If it wasn¡¯t King Aaron who¡¯d said it. And it wasn¡¯t Ash Ketchum who he was talking about. What could foolish Riley do to help the Origin Child? Even now as he attempted to train Ash, he could already tell Ash would be surpassing the limits of what he could teach him soon. The power of a singular Plate, which Ash had only borne for a relatively short time, already eclipsed the full strength Riley could muster using every ounce of his Aura. How could Riley possibly hope to help him still? But if not him, who? King Aaron had asked him. It is most fortuitous, he¡¯d said, that you are the Guardian to witness my end. ¡°Think, Riley!¡± he murmured to himself, clenching his fist. King Aaron was dead. Rota was destroyed. They were stuck in the past. A Paragon hung over Hisui. And now they were stuck in a cave, and by a stroke of sheer luck, had a child accompanying them with a pok¨¦mon who could maybe get them out. ¡°Not about that!¡± Riley growled. How to help Ash! How to get us out of this mess! Riley was introspective enough to know that this was a simple case of anxiety. Uncertainty coursed through his veins like poison, and reared its foul head when his mind was distracted. Is that what he wanted from King Aaron? A simple confirmation that he was the man for the job? Riley kicked a pebble further down the cavern. What does it matter now? We¡¯re still weeks from the far north, even if we do make it out of this cave. There¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯ll still be there either. He began to hear the trickling of a shallow stream ahead, the one Sabrina found yesterday, and angled toward it. Might as well get some water going. It was only when he arrived that he realized he¡¯d forgotten their cauldron back at camp, and he cursed silently. Sighing, he leaned over to wash his face. The water was ice-cold run-off from above, but it finished waking Riley up. What to do, what to do, he thought, letting the water drip down his face. His eyes opened a moment later, but not because he¡¯d thought of something. He sensed¡­something. Frowning, he walked away from the river into the center of this part of the cavern. Aura bled into his eyes and he turned slowly, searching for the source of his unease. What is that I feel? It¡¯s not a pok¨¦mon¡­it¡¯s not even dangerous, necessarily. But there¡¯s¡­something¡­somewhere. He couldn¡¯t even tell how far away whatever he sensed was. It felt all-encompassing, yet impossibly distant at the same time. He took a step back and looked up. Only the sound of the river answered him. Is it another Plate? Mount Coronet is supposed to be where Ash found the Electric Plate. No. He dashed the thought from his mind. If it was a Plate, he¡¯d know it. Kneeling down, his fingertips grazed the rough ground. The skin around his eyes twitched. It¡¯s the whole mountain¡­ he realized. There is a certain energy that imbues the entire mountain, even this far from the summit and Spear Pillar. He stood up and frowned. How could I not have noticed this before? Perhaps he was more worn out yesterday than he thought. This omnipresent energy¡­ It¡¯s something ancient. There¡¯s a reason I never noticed when I spent time in Mount Coronet before, in the present day. This energy, as vast as it is, lies deep within the mountain¡­unmoving. Imperceptible to most, but there all the same. I must not have been strong enough back then to sense it¡­ Riley disabled his enhanced senses, letting his power filter away. It was a nice to see that he¡¯d grown since traveling Sinnoh in the present day, but the presence of this energy could affect their journey through the mountain. Using his senses to check back at their camp, it seemed nothing had changed since he left and no trouble had befallen them in his absence. He started back. But what is it? Riley couldn¡¯t help but ask himself. It was totally benign, yet all-powerful. It wasn¡¯t alive, like some slumbering legendary pok¨¦mon, and it had no defining characteristics either. It was just¡­there. And because of it, this mountain was more than just a pile of rock. Is Mount Coronet considered mystical because of this energy, or is this mystical energy here because it¡¯s Mount Coronet, Riley mused. In the end, he hadn¡¯t figured out an answer to his dilemma on how to proceed with King Aaron¡¯s final request, but if Riley had learned anything from him, then that request likely didn¡¯t have just one, clean answer. Training Ash¡¯s abilities wasn''t the only way he could help the Origin Child. His perception and his knowledge as a Guardian would also be crucial. When he returned to camp, Akari was dressed and up, and shaking Rei awake. The younger boy sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes, his hair a mess. Riley made sure to make louder footsteps upon seeing them so he wouldn¡¯t scare them, and when she heard him, Akari turned around. Riley smiled and offered a wave. Then he had an idea. He held out his hand and summoned an Aura Sphere. Akari frowned in confusion, her hand drifting to her belt, but before she had a chance to react, Riley launched it forward. Growlithe leaped forward and chomped down on the Aura Sphere, crushing into azure mist. Landing on the cave ground, he glared at Riley. Rei blinked and jolted awake, staring first at Growlithe, then at Riley and Akari. Riley gave a thumbs up. The Aura Sphere had been hollow in the middle so even if Growlithe hadn¡¯t reacted, it would¡¯ve felt like little more than a hard slap in the face. Akari exhaled and looked away shamefully. She¡¯d realized just a moment too late what Riley was doing. If that hadn¡¯t been training, Rei could¡¯ve lost his life. Luckily, she didn¡¯t stew in it long, turning back to Rei and shaking him to get their training started. While they resumed their training on the other side of the cavern away from the sleeping others, Riley went and got a pot of water heating up. Sabrina woke up shortly after, followed by Ash and Laventon. Once Yura woke up, they downed a breakfast of blistered berries and bread. ¡°Now, it¡¯s our time to shine!¡± Yura declared proudly once they¡¯d packed up camp. Shieldon stood stoically at her feet. ¡°Indeed,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Now then, let us¡ª¡° ¡°Wait! I get to say it!¡± Yura pouted. ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Laventon smiled and motioned to her. ¡°Galaxy Team, let¡¯s get out of this cave!¡± Yura pumped her fist. Somehow, this mission to investigate the spacial rift over Mount Coronet aptly called the Galaxy Expedition had morphed into their party now being called the Galaxy Team. Its origins seemed to lie in Yura¡¯s inability to pronounce ¡®expedition¡¯, but the name had somehow stuck. Of course, when the Galaxy Expedition had first set off, they hadn¡¯t really had enough members to be called a team. Shieldon grunted and burrowed into the ground. Riley could sense his Aura moving further and further away, deeper into the earth. Next to the hole, Pikachu stood, ears sticking straight up, but Shieldon moved extremely quickly. He was already so deep they couldn¡¯t even hear him digging anymore. ¡°Hope he didn¡¯t ditch us,¡± Rei murmured, and he got a Yura Punch in the side for that comment. ¡°He¡¯s still right beneath us,¡± Sabrina said, her eyes limned in emerald light. Riley could sense Shieldon had stopped and seemed to just be waiting down below, perhaps studying his surroundings, but he was so far down now that Riley could barely sense him. If he hadn¡¯t known that was Shieldon, Riley could¡¯ve easily mistaken that faded presence of Aura for a mere Geodude or Nosepass. Yura tried to peer down the hole but of course it was pitch black. Laventon held her collar protectively. ¡°He¡¯s coming back up,¡± Sabrina said. So he is, Riley thought a moment later after sensing Shieldon¡¯s Aura coming closer again. Once Shieldon unburied himself again, he started down the cavern, Yura beside him, toward one of the many tunnels that led deeper into the mountain. Laventon frowned. ¡°Are we sure that¡¯s the right way? That direction doesn¡¯t look like it leads north.¡± Shieldon continued to trudge forward, ignoring him. ¡°I¡¯m trusting the expert,¡± Rei grinned, tramping after them. ¡°I think I¡¯ll do the same,¡± Ash said. Electricity coursed beneath his skin and his Aura thrummed with power. Laventon sighed, but steeled himself and followed after them. The tunnel Shieldon had selected widened and narrowed at various points throughout the next hour. Every now and then, they came across a fork in the road, but Shieldon would disappear underground again and pick a new direction once he emerged. Today, Sabrina expressly forbade Akari from continuing her training and did not even permit her to keep any of her pok¨¦mon out. Today, she said, it would be Rei¡¯s turn to protect their group completely alone, and Akari¡¯s turn tomorrow. She went as far as banning Akari from giving advice or even words of encouragement. Quite a strict regimen, in Riley¡¯s opinion. She was clearly trying to sever their reliance on each other, yet the fact that the other had to be present right behind them and not contribute in the slightest was almost cruel, especially for how much the two enjoyed their training. But, Riley had noticed their improvement in just the past few days. They were calmer under pressure, their commands were more precise and confident, and their pok¨¦mon were already acting with more independence. The latter would certainly lead them to faster evolutions, as Sabrina intended. Rei¡¯s Grotle was his selected partner for today and he seemed to be adapting to his new body well. It¡¯d fended off a trio of Graveler quite handily on its own, though a flock of Golbat had gotten a few hits off on his back before he¡¯d been able to down them as well. Akari had to clamp her hands over her mouth to stop herself from alerting him to the sneak attack. It was a few hours later that they found themselves in a huge grotto. Pools of dark water filled the cragged stone around them and a smooth stream trickled down the rock wall beside them into a river that snaked through the cave from one side to the other. Glowing crystals illuminated the cavern in a quiet light, creating a serene setting for their ongoing hike. Once it became clear they probably wouldn¡¯t be attacked in here, peaceful as it was, Riley walked up beside Ash and Sabrina. ¡°Hey,¡± he said. ¡°I discovered¡­something this morning.¡± ¡°What?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Something bad?¡± ¡°No, not bad. It¡¯s¡­ Well, the truth is, I¡¯m not sure what it is. In short, there is a certain energy that permeates every inch of this mountain. Something old and powerful built into the very rock.¡± ¡°Sounds like Mount Coronet alright,¡± Ash said nonchalantly. ¡°I thought so too, but this is far more than what I¡¯d expect from Spear Pillar, or even the Paragon above. The mountain itself is brimming with a certain¡­presence. I¡¯m not sure how to describe it. It¡¯s like¡­there¡¯s some sort of entity within the mountain itself.¡± ¡°A pok¨¦mon?¡± Ash asked. Riley shook his head. ¡°No, I know the Aura of pok¨¦mon. This is something different. Do either of you feel anything?¡± Ash looked around and Sabrina¡¯s eyes brightened. A moment later, both shook their heads. Riley frowned. ¡°Hm. I didn¡¯t think you would but I had to be sure.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, it¡¯s not alive,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°If it was, I¡¯d sense it.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a Plate or anything either,¡± Ash added. Same conclusions as me, Riley thought. I suppose it will be up to me to figure this out. Preferably before we get to the peak. ¡°It¡¯s not something we have to worry about, is it?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°It seems harmless enough. It¡¯s just, I never noticed it before so I was a bit taken aback. It¡¯s as you said, Ash. Perhaps this is just the nature of Mount Coronet. Serving as the dais for Spear Pillar could be enough for the entire mountain to become infused with a certain mystic energy, given enough time. Let¡¯s remember to ask about this with King¡­the man in the north.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Ash said, and Pikachu flashed a thumbs up as bonus reassurance. Curiosity gnawed at Riley nonetheless as they continued on. However, he had to force himself to shut those thoughts off in lieu of others. Now, he pondered how to become stronger. Next ¡ª Chapter 67 : Source
Hisui Incursion [15] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [15] Chapter 67 : Source
There was no way to tell how close or far they were to their goal, or if their endless trekking was actually getting them closer to it. Shieldon led them through spiky caverns, claustrophobic tunnels, and caves filled with turbid water, and they had no choice but to follow him without argument. They only had so much food on hand, about a month¡¯s worth if they started rationing, but Laventon hadn¡¯t made that call yet. For now, it seemed, his priority was to keep any seeds of anxiety unsown, especially in the younger members of their party. The original journey through these caves was set to last a week but there was no telling how far along that timeline they were now. Nonetheless, Ash had noticed the Professor continuing his practice of harvesting resources from the ground as they walked, though this time, his pick-ups included a certain cave moss that grew in tangled bunches near water and tan mushrooms that seemed to grow in the recesses between cracks in the rock. Now that their way forward was set in stone and Unown was well and truly behind them, on their third day within the foothills, Ash approached Laventon during one of their rest stops. As it happened, the Professor was working on the exact topic of discussion Ash had in mind. Laventon saw him approaching and smiled, immediately shifting over so Ash could sit beside him. ¡°Right, I did offer,¡± he said. He clutched an apricorn in one hand and a thin chisel in another. ¡°The first step to creating a pok¨¦ball is to split the apricorn into two symmetrical halves. This is deceptively difficult. The outer shell is so hard most pok¨¦mon don¡¯t even bother trying to reach the sweet innards until they¡¯re slightly spoiled and the shell is softer.¡± He rotated the apricorn in his hand, trying to get the best grip. Then he held up his chisel so Ash could see. ¡°This chisel is made of black tumblestone, a harder variant of the typical tumblestone. Sharpened well and in the hands of a dexterous craftsman, this chisel can crack an apricorn¡¯s outer layer.¡± Ash leaned over, trying to get the best view. ¡°Hey, Pikachu,¡± he eventually said, and the mouse scampered over. ¡°Can we get some light?¡± The stripes on Pikachu¡¯s back glowed and he crept closer to Laventon, angling himself to illuminate the Professor¡¯s workspace. ¡°Thank you. Now, then¡­¡± Laventon pressed his chisel into the apricorn¡¯s surface. Ash squinted to get a closer look. ¡°The craftsmen of the Supply Corps can split an apricorn perfectly with a well-placed whack from a small mallet on the chisel¡¯s top, but unfortunately, I¡¯m not that good. Instead, I have to painstakingly trace around the apricorn¡¯s center and carefully carve them apart¡­ A single mistake could ruin the entire thing¡­¡± His eyebrows and cheeks twitched as he worked but his hands were perfectly steady. ¡°How long does it take you to make one of these?¡± Ash asked, eyes still glued to the apricorn. Laventon rotated the apricorn. ¡°If I work on it everyday¡­a week or two, depending on the type. But the experts can finish several in a day.¡± ¡°The type?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. We have several different types of pok¨¦balls which each specialize in catching different kinds of pok¨¦mon. Beyond the standard pok¨¦ball, there are Feather Balls which are good at catching fast pok¨¦mon and Heavy Balls which are good at catching bigger ones. Depending on what materials one has on hand, those pok¨¦balls can be modified further to make them more resistant to catch failure.¡± ¡°Amazing,¡± Ash muttered. Besides the craftsmanship required to create a single pok¨¦ball, Ash was impressed at just how much the Hisuians had managed to innovate the process as well. For a land with inhabitants that had such friction with pok¨¦mon, they were surprisingly good at coming up with ways of capturing them. As Laventon¡¯s chisel reached its starting point again, Laventon relaxed and set the apricorn and chisel aside. ¡°I¡¯ve traced out the split in the center so now I can finish the rest later. But in the meantime, check this out.¡± He dug around in his bag for a bit before producing several items. First, he held up a thin ring of metal with a button embedded in one side and a hinge directly opposite it. ¡°This piece is just made of iron. It holds the two halves together. And of course, you need this,¡± he said, clicking the button a few times.¡± ¡°That looks pretty fragile,¡± Ash said. He didn¡¯t even want to ask to get a closer look at it, for fear of accidentally breaking it. Especially with how complex the metalwork looked, there was no way they could replace it in the wild. ¡°It¡¯s fairly sturdy, but they are in high demand since every pok¨¦ball requires one, no matter the type.¡± Surprisingly, he handed the ring to Pikachu for him to get a closer look, and Pikachu turned it in his paws. He glanced up at Ash, and upon seeing how badly his master wanted to see it, he tossed it back into Laventon¡¯s bag. Ash rolled his eyes. ¡°Here¡¯re one of the tumblestones I scavenged earlier,¡± Laventon said, offering Ash the smooth brown stone. ¡°These require a bit of processing before they are added to the pok¨¦ball. By grounding them to dust, we can access the energy stored within, which makes reducing a pok¨¦mon¡¯s size possible. That energy interacts with the button on the ring, which has a flint attached to it.¡± ¡°Flint? Like for a fire?¡± ¡°Exactly. The spark created by the flint ignites the tumblestone¡¯s energy.¡± Ash frowned. ¡°I wonder if it has anything to do with Aura.¡± Laventon looked over at Riley, who was sitting close enough to overhear their conversation. The Guardian looked up from his meal and smiled, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± ¡°And unfortunately, we don¡¯t know either,¡± Laventon said. ¡°All we know is that it works. The pok¨¦ball originates in Kanto so I imagine you may find an answer there. But honestly, I¡¯d think you¡¯d have the answer, being from so far in the future.¡± ¡°Oh, the people of our time certainly know the answer. It¡¯s just, we don¡¯t,¡± Riley grinned. Pikachu chuckled in embarrassment, his ears flattening against his head. ¡°Here, you can have one of my extra chisels,¡± Laventon told Ash after lunch. ¡°Take an apricorn too. Keep a steady hand and work slowly. This first step is the hardest part of pok¨¦ball creation.¡± Ash took each of the items and packed them for later, being careful to situate them so they wouldn¡¯t get damaged as he walked. ¡°Anything on that weird energy you¡¯re feeling?¡± Ash asked Riley once they¡¯d begun walking again. The cave they were walking through now was littered with boulders, sunk into the ground. The flatness of the cavern and the quiet in the air almost made it seem like some sort of Onix graveyard or something, but Riley and Sabrina had both assured them that it was safe to cross. Every now and then, they had to slide between the narrow gaps between two boulders, or climb over if no such gap existed. The floor sloped upward, an encouraging sign that they seemed to be getting closer to their goal. ¡°Nothing concrete,¡± Riley answered. ¡°I¡¯ve done a bit of preliminary probing and nothing stands out yet. Mount Coronet is supposed to be one of the oldest places in the world so lingering energy isn¡¯t all that surprising. That¡¯s my running theory on what it is for now, but even still, it feels a bit too potent for that to be the case.¡± ¡°The structure at the top of the mountain,¡± Ash said. ¡°The one we call Spear Pillar in the present day. It¡¯s called the Temple of Sinnoh in this time period, right? Do you know when exactly the Temple was built? Maybe the Temple¡¯s construction has something to do with it.¡± ¡°The origins of Spear Pillar are still hotly contested to the present day. Some believe it was created by Arceus at the beginning of everything, some believe humans worked together with pok¨¦mon to build it several thousand years ago from today. And some still believe it has little significance at all, being merely a simple site of worship for some ancient people.¡± ¡°And what do you believe?¡± Ash climbed up onto a short boulder and offered a hand to Riley. The Guardian took it and heaved himself up. ¡°Well, I am a Guardian so I do believe that the Temple of Sinnoh and Arceus are inextricably tied,¡± Riley said, jumping down the other side of the boulder. ¡°I¡¯d go further than my peers, though. I believe Spear Pillar has even greater significance than we give it credit for. The consensus among the Guardians is that Spear Pillar contains an interdimensional path that leads to the Hall of Origin, Arceus¡¯ personal domain. After what happened with Team Galactic, I¡¯d say that point is practically proven. However, walking through these caves over the past few days has made me skeptical that the peak is all we should be concerned with.¡± Pikachu cocked his head on Ash¡¯s shoulder, and his master mimicked him a moment later. ¡°Are you saying all of Mount Coronet is part of Spear Pillar?¡± Riley narrowed his eyes. ¡°I wonder if that¡¯s the proper way to say it. Should it be the other way around? That Spear Pillar is actually part of Mount Coronet? Ultimately, I think what¡¯s important is that we don¡¯t limit our focus to the Temple alone. Even if it leads to the Hall of Origin, the mountain beneath it holds significance as well. Later, I¡¯d like to perform a few other, more in-depth spells to try and decipher the true nature of this anomaly.¡± ¡°Could just do it now,¡± Ash said, peeking ahead. Yura and Shieldon marched proudly at the front as always, with Sabrina close behind as she watched over Rei and Akari. ¡°Seems like we¡¯ll be in this cavern for a while. Or do you need to really concentrate?¡± ¡°There¡¯s that, but also I¡¯m busy right now.¡± Ash looked over and frowned. ¡°Busy?¡± Riley held out his hand and azure azure brightened beneath his skin and bled from his eyes. ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m doing a bit of training myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want me to overtake you, huh?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve long since overtaken me. No, it¡¯s a similar sort of training but qualitatively different.¡± Riley let his Aura fade and lowered his arm. ¡°Remind me how much you know about Aura.¡± Ash scratched the back of his head. ¡°Um, well, Sir Aaron told me a bit more about it while I was training with him. Before, I thought it was just a special energy used by the Guardians and certain pok¨¦mon like Lucario, but he told me that every pok¨¦mon has the potential to change the quality of their attacks by using Aura. With Aura, they can increase the size of their attacks, or make using certain attacks easier or even just possible, depending on the environment.¡± Riley nodded. ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. Aura is essentially the lifeforce of all pok¨¦mon. Some humans are blessed with it as well, but Aura is an energy that descends from Arceus, and makes its way into every pok¨¦mon, big or small. It is said that Aura is what separates pok¨¦mon from animals.¡± That was probably why pok¨¦mon were so much tougher than animals, Ash surmised. It was almost as if the power of Aura made pok¨¦mon designed specifically for battle. War, Ash thought, remembering what Sir Aaron had said about the war that began even before the Age of Carnage. Ancient Guardian texts tell of a war between pok¨¦mon that predates all life on this planet. It was said the pok¨¦mon defeated in that war fell to Earth, continuing to enact pointless violence against one another. Is Aura what remains in pok¨¦mon after they ¡®fall to Earth?¡¯ Ash wondered. ¡°Put another way,¡± Riley continued, ¡°Aura is the source of all pok¨¦mon attacks. Every pok¨¦mon wields Aura, whether it¡¯s to conjure some great blast, or just to spit out a Water Gun or an Ember.¡± Riley held up his hand again and summoned a small Aura Sphere. ¡°And yet, even though the weakest of pok¨¦mon can effortlessly transmute their Aura into elemental attacks of their type, even the strongest Guardians are only capable of wielding Aura in its raw form.¡± That was strange, now that Ash thought of it. If Aura was the basis for all pok¨¦mon attacks, then once they reached a certain level, even the Guardians should¡¯ve been able to use specific elemental attacks. Yet, he¡¯d never seen one do that. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°So to get back to my training, I am analyzing my own Aura in the hopes that one day, I¡¯ll be able to transmute it into a specific type, just like a pok¨¦mon can.¡± Ash raised a brow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say even the strongest Guardians can¡¯t do that?¡± ¡°I certainly did.¡± ¡°Even Sir Aaron only used Aura in its basic form, from what I saw.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Ash gawked at him, and the Guardian slowly met his gaze. ¡°So, you mean¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A resolute look hardened on Riley¡¯s face. ¡°I intend to be the first Guardian to transmute my Aura into one of the eighteen elemental types.¡± Ash was speechless. ¡°But¡­why?¡± Their footsteps echoed through the cavern as they walked, and Riley stayed silent for a bit. ¡°The journey I¡¯m on¡­ The journey we¡¯re on¡­ It¡¯s a path no one has ever walked before. Or rather, it¡¯s a path many have walked, but none have reached the end in all of human history.¡± He turned to Ash. ¡°The unity of Arceus¡¯ Plates within the Origin Child¡­ It should be impossible. Yet that is the task that lies before us. So, I figure, if we¡¯re aiming for one impossible task, what¡¯s one more on the list?¡± He said it so nonchalantly, but Ash began to feel his own determination burning within him. He¡¯d never paid much mind to whether something was possible or impossible, but hearing someone else verbalizing it certainly put things into perspective, especially since Riley intended to join him on the journey. ¡°Riley¡­¡± ¡°Really, I just want to get stronger, like you. Like anyone. And this is the method I¡¯ve selected to achieve that goal. I¡¯ve no doubt we¡¯ll be running into more fearsome opponents as we continue forth. I can¡¯t be slacking on my training either.¡± Ash grinned and held a fist out toward Riley. ¡°Glad to hear it! Let me know if there¡¯s anything we can help with!¡± Pikachu cheered, offering his support as well. Riley bumped his fist. ¡°The less guidance you need from me, the more time I can put toward my own training. That said¡­¡± He grabbed Ash¡¯s neck and his fingertips shined azure. ¡°Let¡¯s up the output a little, it feels like you¡¯re getting too comfortable at this level.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Ash groaned, allowing more electricity to enter his system. Pikachu shuddered on his shoulder and grinned, his cheeks crackling as he felt his master¡¯s power increase. The rest of the day was uneventful. Now that Rei and Akari had both spent a day protecting the group by themselves, Sabrina had commanded both of them to limit themselves to using a singular pok¨¦mon of her choosing, Shellos for Rei and Staravia for Akari. It wasn¡¯t lost on Ash that those were their team members who¡¯d perform the worst in an underground setting, and there had been a few close calls that Sabrina had ultimately had to handle herself. A group of Bronzor seemed to believe they¡¯d be able to get the upper hand with their superior numbers, and they were right, until Sabrina buried them all with a flick of her wrist. Then, just before they stopped for dinner, Shieldon stepped on a hulking Machamp who¡¯d been napping under a blanket of gravel, and though Rei and Akari tried to fight it off, it was simply too bulky. Just before it could slam Rei¡¯s head into the cave wall, Sabrina snatched its body in a psychic hold and proceeded to void the contents of its stomach with an invisible punch that sent it into a different sort of sleep. Although he felt a bit embarrassed to admit it, Ash was surprised at how well the training was coming along. He¡¯d assumed Sabrina would¡¯ve been too shy to take it as seriously as Rei and Akari were, and at the beginning that was kind of true. But she was being surprisingly assertive as their master, and her methods were yielding results. It was different from what he may have come up with if they had asked him instead, but Sabrina seemed particularly attuned to the unique circumstances of battling in Hisui, and had digested the personalities of each of their pok¨¦mon remarkably quickly. Even during dinner, Ash watched from the other side of the campfire as she reviewed their performances for the day, giving each of them specific pointers on where to improve. But on Ash¡¯s end, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder where all the Alpha Pok¨¦mon were. They¡¯d been in these caves for half a week, but they still had yet to encounter one. Surely they weren¡¯t so lucky that there weren¡¯t any nearby. All day as they walked, Ash had expected a giant rock-type to smash through the wall and attack him, but none had. Now that three days had elapsed and they still hadn¡¯t reared their heads, Ash found himself quite anxious in the quiet dark once it was his turn for watch duty. The quiet roared in his ears as he wondered which second that passed by would have its silence broken. Yet, the silence remained intact. And once his shift was over, he shook Sabrina awake. The psychic met his gaze once she was up, and immediately he could tell that she realized something was bothering him. But before she could ask about it, he swept past her and buried himself in his bedroll.
In the dead of night, Sabrina released Decidueye. The monstrous bird materialized into the darkness and froze. Sabrina could immediately feel his confusion. Ash and the others lay asleep at his feet, while Sabrina sat behind him, leaned against the cave wall wrapped in a blanket. The leaves of his coat shook softly as he slowly turned to study his surroundings. Eventually, he¡¯d turned enough to notice Sabrina, and his temper flared. Can you hear me? Sabrina asked silently, her eyes boring into Decidueye. Decidueye didn¡¯t react, instead turning back toward Ash. Since Sabrina was sitting behind him, there was nothing between him and the Platebearer. He peeked over his shoulder back at Sabrina, his eyes gleaming with homicidal intent. ¡°If you try it, I¡¯ll hurt you,¡± Sabrina said aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. In the silence, it sounded like a shout, but there was no malice in her words. It wasn¡¯t even a warning. It was just a statement of fact. ¡°You¡¯re not strong enough to beat him,¡± she continued. It seemed she couldn''t speak to him telepathically yet. It was a given with psychic-types, but for non-psychic-types, it took time to attune them to her telepathy. It¡¯d been some time after Haunter joined her before she could speak to him silently. ¡°If you can¡¯t beat me, you definitely can¡¯t beat him.¡± Surprisingly, Decidueye seemed to hesitate, and his eyes narrowed. Threat wafted off of him in a hot wave, his anger transmitting straight into Sabrina¡¯s consciousness, but she ignored it. His attempts at intimidating her were as toothless as any potential attack on Ash. ¡°Why do you want his power?¡± Sabrina asked. ¡°What would you do with it?¡± With some finesse, Decidueye spun on his foot and turned to fully face Sabrina. Stepping carefully through the slumbering others, he approached Sabrina, his towering shadow darkening the already dim cave. Her eyes hadn¡¯t moved since he did, and she continued to stare ahead even as Decidueye planted himself right in front of her. Her breathing remained calm. Her skin didn¡¯t turn clammy. And even as Decidueye leaned over and brought his beaked face right in front of hers, Sabrina didn¡¯t recoil even an inch. She was in mortal danger. Decidueye¡¯s fist was as big as her entire torso, and he rested it against her stomach. Even though he¡¯d barely touched it, it felt like an iron boulder being pressed against her. His muscles were taut and burning. If she was going to protect herself, she should¡¯ve done it before he¡¯d gotten so close. Now, he could easily kill her before she even had a chance to do anything. But¡­ Decidueye had already sacrificed his pride to help her against Unown. It was time for her to do the same. His fist opened and he pressed his hand against her, trapping her up against the wall. The cragged wall dug into her back painfully, and this time, her face did wrinkle as he increased his force. Her breathing came in quick bursts. All it would take was a flex of his muscles, and she¡¯d splat against the wall. ¡°What¡­do you want?¡± Sabrina bit out, forcing herself to meet his gaze. As expected, he was glaring at her. But at least the question had halted him from pushing any further. The rage within Decidueye felt contained, like a cup of water filled to the brim. He would not get any angrier than he was now. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t get more angry. He was simply satisfied now. He had the source of his wounded pride in the literal palm of his hand. ¡°You¡¯re drawn to the Plate without even knowing why,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°That¡¯s how it is, right? It¡¯s as natural as eating or breathing.¡± Decidueye¡¯s muscles tightened and the message was clear. Stop acting like you know me and get to the point. ¡°If you killed Ash, I¡¯d have to kill you. I¡¯d have to,¡± Sabrina said flatly. ¡°Give up on killing him. You can¡¯t, but even if you could, you can¡¯t.¡± Decidueye snorted in indignation. ¡°You want power, but you don¡¯t know why.¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes began to glow, shining emerald light on Decidueye¡¯s face. ¡°I have power, and I don¡¯t know why.¡± Since his demeanor didn¡¯t change, Sabrina took it as a sign to continue. ¡°Ash isn¡¯t the only one with power. You should know that. It¡¯s how we met.¡± Before Decidueye could react to that statement, Sabrina raised her arm and touched his face. His leaves were rough and hard, like she was grasping a handful of dragon scales, but she could feel the heat from his body on her fingertips. ¡°You don¡¯t know this, but we¡¯re from the future. Ash, Riley, and me.¡± Decidueye¡¯s eyes narrowed, and Sabrina could tell he needed to process that information. ¡°You¡¯re my pok¨¦mon, but I won¡¯t force you to return to the future with me. When this is all over, we will be going home. We¡¯ll never see Hisui again, and if you stay with me, neither will you. It¡¯s up to you if you want to let me¡­let us slip through your fingers.¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes flared. ¡°You¡¯ll never see power like this again.¡± In his moment of hesitation, Sabrina seized Decidueye in her psychic grip and forced him back in a flurry and flash of emerald leaves. He skidded to a halt, catching himself before he could fall over. Hunkering down, he glared at Sabrina. ¡°Good night, Decidueye.¡± She¡¯d said what she needed to say. Before he could wake the others, Sabrina recalled him, his form shrinking into nothing as the pok¨¦ball swallowed him once more. The cavern fell silent again. He could ponder her words within his pok¨¦ball. Now, Sabrina¡¯s biggest worry was falling asleep on watch duty. Her eyelids felt heavy. It was really too bad Decidueye wasn¡¯t more friendly with her. She would¡¯ve liked his company. She stared across the darkness at Ash¡¯s slumbering form, wondering what would¡¯ve happened if Decidueye had actually attacked him. He looked so peaceful now as his body rose and fell with each breath. She¡¯d sensed something off from him as they¡¯d switched off, but Ash, more than most, was an enigma to her. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around his depthless love for pok¨¦mon, his everlasting drive toward the pinnacle of being a pok¨¦mon trainer, or his insane quest for the legendary Plates of Arceus. She could not relate to any of it. Not even a little. Her face scrunched up and she was chewing on her fingernail before she realized it. So, why? Why, then¡­? Why can I not stop thinking about him??
As it happened, Ash¡¯s anxieties were finally assuaged two days later when they spotted a gigantic Golem the size of a house stomping around a large cavern whose walls and floor were crusted in a thin, dirty layer of ice. As they crossed the cavern on a narrow passage above the Golem, it¡¯d been Shieldon who¡¯d frozen in his tracks and nodded toward the humongous boulder sitting in the corner of the cave, frost accumulated on its surface. But it wasn¡¯t until the thing started moving that they realized why Shieldon wasn¡¯t letting them go any further. It shattered the ice at its feet with every hulking step and it tore handfuls of rock from the wall as if it was made of wet paper, throwing the rock back into its mouth before crunching it into nothing. However, it hadn¡¯t seemed to notice it had company. ¡°What do you think, Pikachu?¡± Ash whispered, crouching down. ¡°Wanna give it a go?¡± Pikachu shook his head, his ears flopping about comically. ¡°C¡¯mon. A little Three Heavenly Bolts action? I¡¯m sure that¡¯d be plenty¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯d advise against it, Ash,¡± Riley said. ¡°Even if you can bypass its ground-type, it¡¯s not a risk we need to take if it hasn¡¯t noticed us. Look.¡± He pointed down at the other end of the passage where another cave entrance led away to a different part of the mountain. ¡°All we have to do is pass through.¡± ¡°I agree with Riley,¡± Laventon said in a hushed shout. Ash deflated, glancing to Rei and Akari for support. ¡°Guys?¡± ¡°Uhhhhhhh,¡± Rei said, his eyes wide. Akari shook her head so fast it looked like she was vibrating. ¡°That¡¯s already more than half of us!¡± Yura whisper-yelled from the front. ¡°Sabrina?¡± Ash asked, turning to her. Her brows were knit and she glanced down at the Golem several times, as if actually considering it. But, eventually she fixed Ash with an apologetic stare. ¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± With Ash out-ruled six to one, they continued on their way through the cavern as quietly as they could, eventually passing into another tunnel and leaving the Golem far behind. Once they were plenty far enough away from Golem¡¯s cavern, Laventon spoke. ¡°I wonder why that Golem didn¡¯t realize you were there, despite being so close,¡± he mused, glancing at Ash. ¡°If the Alpha Pok¨¦mon are attracted to the Plates of Arceus, then surely it should have realized one was right above its head.¡± Ash frowned, scratching his head. ¡°Hmmm, I¡¯m not sure. That is a bit strange.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because Golem¡¯s a ground-type, so he doesn¡¯t care about the Electric Plate,¡± Rei suggested. ¡°But if that were true, shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?¡± Akari said. ¡°It¡¯d make more sense if it was an electric-type ignoring the Ground Plate.¡± Ash shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know either way.¡± ¡°It does make one wonder how Decidueye knew to attack the Sanctuary when he did,¡± Riley said, stroking his chin. ¡°Was it just coincidence, and he only realized Ash had a Plate once he saw him?¡± ¡°Even if Decidueye only happened to come across Ash and his Electric Plate by coincidence, it seems clear that the Unown, at the very least, directly targeted Ash,¡± Laventon said. ¡°It¡¯s not like Unown saw him from a distance. It appeared right next to us.¡± It was easy to chalk Golem¡¯s indifference up to good luck, but Ash had to admit it was strange. Rapidash also hadn¡¯t sensed him until they attacked. Was it just a difference in power level? Between the four Alpha Pok¨¦mon, Decidueye and Unown were unquestionably the stronger two; if Decidueye could defeat the fire-type Rapidash with relative ease, Golem would¡¯ve likely been a cinch. Ash felt his anxiety creeping back due to the uncertainty. ¡°Hey!¡± Yura shouted, whipping around to face the group. A shining smile stretched across her face. ¡°Look!¡± As Ash rounded the slight bend in the tunnel, a freezing draft blew against his face, followed by a dusting of cold. He narrowed his eyes instinctively. Ice crunched under his feet and he stopped in place. Snow blew across a stark white vista of hills and burly evergreens dead ahead. The wind of the outside brushed Ash¡¯s face and he could feel like cheeks reddening from the temperature. He smiled, his breath condensing in front of him. They¡¯d found their way out. And it¡¯d taken less time than they initially estimated, five days compared to seven. Shieldon grunted, completely unamused that his life-saving efforts had led him into subzero temperatures. Next ¡ª Chapter 68 : Expedition¡¯s End
Hisui Incursion [16] Apologies for the delay, this is a longer chapter! The longest in the fic so far actually! So please enjoy!!
PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [16] Chapter 68 : Expedition¡¯s End
Hisui Region - Alabaster Icelands Snow whipped across Ash¡¯s face like grains of glass, the cold stinging, yet feeling refreshing against his skin. The scent of woody bark and winter slush filled his nostrils, cragged pines standing watch over the rocky exit from Mount Coronet. The sun glinted off the white snow, making the landscape nearly blinding, yet granting little warmth. ¡°Well, first I think a thank you is in order for the hero who got us out of that mess,¡± Laventon declared, crouching down. ¡°Thank you, Shieldon.¡± He tried to pet Shieldon, but Shieldon reared away and snorted. Yura giggled, scooting away so he couldn¡¯t hide behind her. ¡°And thank you too, Yura,¡± Laventon continued. ¡°We couldn¡¯t have done it without you.¡± Yura turned even redder, her cheeks already rosy from the cold. ¡°O-Oh, yeah.¡± She glanced at Sabrina for a reprieve from her embarrassment, but Sabrina beamed at her too. The psychic raised her hand to caress her cheeks, and Yura recoiled the moment they touched her. ¡°Cold!¡± Sabrina blushed and yanked her hand away. ¡°Sorry!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get bundled up, yeah, Professor?¡± Akari said, slinging down her backpack. ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Laventon said, mimicking her. ¡°Time for our winter clothes. I¡¯d have had us change sooner if I¡¯d known we¡¯d be reaching the outside so soon. Let¡¯s make sure we stay warm.¡± The woolen coats and gloves certainly warmed Ash up and putting them on was a welcome lightening of his load, heavy as they were within the packs. Pikachu¡¯s breath condensed in front of him and he shivered on Ash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sorry, buddy. You can tuck inside if you want.¡± Pikachu shook his head and flexed his arms, electricity crackling on his cheeks. Ash grinned. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± A pair of boots trudged up beside him. ¡°Ash, I can carry my bag now. Really, it¡¯s fine.¡± With a woolen cap on and her hood on on top of that, lined with fur as it was, Sabrina¡¯s face looked tiny in comparison with the rest of her burly form. Ash had to stop himself from grinning too much at the sight of her. ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry about it, I got it,¡± he said. ¡°But thanks.¡± Honestly, with how many layers she had on, it¡¯d probably be even more difficult than before for her to carry her own pack. ¡°Thank you,¡± she mumbled. ¡°So, do you think you can get us back on track?¡± Riley asked Laventon as he laced up his boots. ¡°Oh, yes. The foothills were the hard part. Now that we¡¯re outside again, we should be able to find our way much easier. The Icelands have a number of defining landmarks that make navigation quite simple.¡± ¡°Unless there¡¯s a blizzard,¡± Rei chimed in, and Laventon grimaced. ¡°Yes, unless there¡¯s a blizzard. But the skies look clear enough. With any luck, our biggest worry will be the pok¨¦mon that prowl this land.¡± As Akari helped Yura get her clothes on, Ash straightened and looked around to study their surroundings. The snow banks stood tall on either side of them, but beyond them, Ash could see signs of frozen vegetation, which meant iced-over rivers nearby. The abundance of snow meant an unlimited supply of freshwater, but they didn¡¯t have a surplus of food. Even though they¡¯d emerged from the mountain earlier than intended, they¡¯d need to start rationing soon. There would be little to scavenge from here to the Pearl Settlement. Turning toward the mountain, Ash¡¯s gaze drifted up at the rift over the peak. They were far closer to it now, and at this distance, the violet clouds and shining cracks in the air almost looked angry, and Ash narrowed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t see the Temple of Sinnoh from here, but he could imagine it, just beyond the dark rock that encircled the summit. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Laventon asked, his backpack back on his back. He held his map in hand. ¡°Yeah!¡± Yura cheered, Shieldon once again clipped to her belt. Ash nodded. ¡°Pearl Settlement or bust!¡± ¡°Electricity on, Ash,¡± Riley said, saddling up next to him. ¡°You too,¡± Ash smirked, igniting his power once more, and Riley¡¯s eyes flashed blue to let him know he was already on it. ¡°Akari, Rei, let¡¯s have Growlithe and Sneasel out, please,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°Please work together to counter any attacks on our group this afternoon.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Rei said, snapping a salute. Maybe Ash was reading into it too much, but after having them restrain themselves so much in the foothills, to suddenly have Rei and Akari working with their strongest pok¨¦mon, and arguably the best suited for this terrain, and letting them work together again, it seemed like Sabrina wanted to give them a solid foundation from which they could continue their training here in the Icelands. The Icelands¡¯ pok¨¦mon were more dangerous than the inhabitants of the Obsidian Fieldlands, but by letting then go all out from the start, it was like she was psychologically manipulating them into thinking they were more ready for the Icelands¡¯ threats than they maybe were, quashing any sort of doubts before they could even form. If that actually was her goal, then her prowess as a teacher was almost¡­no, it was straight up terrifying. But, maybe he was just reading into it too much. Though, he liked to think he knew Sabrina well enough at this point to see through her intentions. Growlithe jumped through the snow, giving the appearance that he was far more jubilant than he likely was. He didn¡¯t seem to like the feeling of snow, but the way his body teetered with each step made him look like a frolicking animal straight out of a fairy tale, which Ash found comical. Sneasel, on the other hand, strode through it completely unfazed. Although she wasn¡¯t an ice-type, the snow didn¡¯t impede her in the slightest, and her eyes never stopped darting around, always searching for a foe she could sink her claws into. As the sun moved across the sky, the shadow of Mount Coronet loomed across their path, providing a welcome reprieve from the glaring snow. Pine needles and brown boulders littered the ground between the trees, and gray mountains stretched up around them in the distance. ¡°I believe I know where we are,¡± Laventon said as they crossed into a grove of barren trees with sapphire icicles hanging from their branches. He pointed over at the giant frozen waterfall that emptied into a basin, and then a river that snaked its way in front of them. ¡°It seems we¡¯re in the eastern part of the Icebound Falls. We¡¯d planned to come out in Whiteout Valley, but this¡¯ll only add about half a day to our journey. From here, we¡¯ll move northeast to Avalugg¡¯s Legacy, the large expanse of flatland in the center of the Icelands. From there, all we have to do is continue northeast until we see the smoke from the Pearl Settlement.¡± ¡°And how long will that take us?¡± Akari asked. ¡°Barring any extraordinary circumstances, I predict it¡¯ll be a week and half long journey, two weeks at the most.¡± Two weeks¡­ Ash¡¯s belly gurgled at the thought. This was about to be a long trek on a not-full stomach. ¡°Once we resupply at the Pearl Settlement, we¡¯ll ask around about the man Volo mentioned, and depending on what we hear, we¡¯ll either speak to him, or make the final journey to Mount Coronet¡¯s summit.¡± ¡°Thank you, again, Professor,¡± Riley said, bowing. ¡°I know this is a bit out of the way.¡± Laventon waved his hand. ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯ve saved our lives plenty enough times, it¡¯s the least we could do. And you¡¯re trying to get back to your own time period for goodness sake. We don¡¯t intend to consign you here forever.¡± Riley smiled in thanks, and the group continued onward, down the snowy slopes and through a stone arch bearded in glasslike icicles. Laventon had floated the idea of stopping to rest, but everyone was eager to press onward across the icy frontier, away from the claustrophobic caves they¡¯d spent the past week in. ¡°So, figure anything out?¡± Ash asked as they trudged through ankle deep snow. Riley walked alongside him, his breathing heavier, each breath condensing in front of him. He glanced Ash¡¯s way, but quickly refocused on each step at hand. ¡°You¡¯re not tired at all, eh?¡± he panted. ¡°Nah, not really,¡± Laventon, Rei, and Akari also didn¡¯t seem winded, but Sabrina lagged behind with Yura. The young girl surely had to be tired hiking through such deep snow, relative to her size, yet she hadn¡¯t voiced a peep of complaint. ¡°What did I figure out?¡± Riley repeated. ¡°I think I can say with some confidence that Mount Coronet and Spear Pillar, or the Temple of Sinnoh, should all be considered one entity. The name hardly matters, but for simplicity¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll just call it Spear Pillar. The truth is, Spear Pillar actually extends far deeper than we thought.¡± ¡°Deeper?¡± Ash questioned. ¡°You mean it extends underground too.¡± ¡°Yes, but even deeper than that. The strange energy I felt within the mountain¡­ It doesn¡¯t just permeate the mountain. I¡¯m saying it crosses dimensions.¡± Ash¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Crosses dimensions¡­? Like Spear Pillar exists in multiple planes of reality?¡± ¡°Exactly. Spear Pillar is far larger, far, far, larger than I initially thought.¡± ¡°I mean, if it connects to the Hall of Origin then that makes sense, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. The Hall of Origin should be considered an entity of its own, separate from Spear Pillar. What I¡¯m referring to is just Spear Pillar itself. The Temple of Sinnoh. Mount Coronet. Whichever name suits your fancy.¡± Ash stroked his chin. ¡°So the rift at the summit, then¡­ How do the two connect?¡± Riley¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If we assume that the Paragon of Darkness opened that rift, then it suddenly becomes a lot clearer why it happened there of all places. Spear Pillar clearly holds far more importance than simply being a gateway to the Hall of Origin. An importance, I suspect, the Paragons are aware of. Though what that could be, I¡¯m not yet sure.¡± ¡°How do we know the Paragon isn¡¯t sitting up there because it¡¯s trying to access the Hall of Origin?¡± Riley furrowed his brows. ¡°I think there¡¯s more to it than that. If an assault on Arceus¡¯ personal domain was its end goal, I think we¡¯d see it. Not just here, but we would¡¯ve seen it at the present-day Mount Coronet. There must be something special about this time period in particular. That rift acts as a spacetime distortion, don¡¯t forget. We wouldn¡¯t be here without it. The question is why. What purpose does opening a spacetime distortion, one that leads here and now, serve?¡± Ash kept his face scrunched in thought, hoping that was enough to cover for his bewilderment. He had absolutely no idea. Interdimensional Spear Pillar? Spacetime distortion? Mount Coronet and the Temple of Sinnoh were the same thing?? He felt like steam would start leaking from his ears if he tried to ponder it any harder. Riley grinned and slung his arm around Ash¡¯s shoulder. ¡°No need to worry that sweaty head of yours over this. Later on, I plan to do a bit more probing in that interdimensional energy I felt. I¡¯d like to see just how deep Spear Pillar goes. I¡¯ll handle this. You just worry about getting yourself ready to face that Paragon.¡± Ash reddened and cracked a smile. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll leave the complicated stuff to you.¡± He frowned, realizing something. ¡°Will you be able to continue looking into that even though we¡¯re out of the mountain now?¡± ¡°A bit. But I can do the bulk of the work on our way to the summit.¡± Ash nodded. ¡°Sounds like a plan. I guess¡ª¡° His eyes narrowed as a plume of snow curled over the edge of a hill in front of them. ¡°Hmm,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re under attack.¡± Through a spray of snow, a hulking Abomasnow charged over the hilltop, eyes alight with fury as it barreled toward them. It roared, ice elongating across its arms. With a furious bellow, the icicles shot out and homed in on the group like a volley of missiles. Rei, Akari, and their pok¨¦mon leapt into action without delay. ¡°Flamethrower, Growlithe! Incinerate those icicles¡± Rei roared, racing along Abomasnow¡¯s flank. A torrent of fire blasted from Growlithe¡¯s maw, engulfing the attack completely and melting each spear to steam in an instant. ¡°Agile Poison Jab,¡± Akari commanded in a shrill voice, darting in the opposite direction as Rei. Sneasel blitzed forward, her claws dripping in purple poison, and jammed them into Abomasnow¡¯s waist. The winter behemoth bellowed in pain and slammed its fist down, but Sneasel floated out of the way with a beady smirk. Snow and frozen soil ruptured where Abomasnow¡¯s fist landed, but Sneasel was already in its blind spot. Angrily, Abomasnow spun to find its mischievous assailant. ¡°Strong Flame Charge!¡± Rei commanded, thrusting his arm out. Fire roared to life around Growlithe and he bulleted forward, straight into Abomasnow¡¯s unprotected back. Abomasnow screamed, its body jerking awkwardly, and a cyclone of hail blasted out from its body, forcing the two attackers back. ¡°Thanks for the opening!¡± Rei grinned. ¡°You wanna give me one now?¡± Akari retorted. ¡°Sure! Rock Smash, Growlithe! Aim for its legs!¡± The granite on Growlithe¡¯s body darkened as he raced forward, slamming into Abomasnow¡¯s legs from the side. Abomasnow groaned, still recovering from the agony of the last attack, as its legs buckled out from under it, and its massive weight sent it crashing to the ground in a plume of snow. ¡°Now, Strong Close Combat, Sneasel!¡± Akari commanded. Sneasel lumbered forward and leaped up onto Abomasnow¡¯s chest. The fearsome ice-type¡¯s eyes barely had time to widen before a sadistic grin gleamed on Sneasel¡¯s face, and she laid into it. Punch after poison-stained punch smashed into Abomasnow¡¯s defenseless head, each impact echoing across the hills. When Sneasel finally relented, Abomasnow¡¯s head was an immobile, swollen wreck, stained purple. With a satisfied smirk, she somersaulted off its body, casting a quick grin at Growlithe. ¡°Alright!¡± Rei cheered. ¡°No damage!¡± Akari exhaled and wiped her forehead. ¡°I was expecting that to be harder given we¡¯re in the Icelands now, but that went surprisingly smoothly.¡± Laventon clapped, striding forward, unperturbed at Abomasnow¡¯s massive body just beside him. ¡°Excellent job, you two. That was wonderful teamwork! You set up openings for each other and took advantage of them perfectly!¡± ¡°Thanks, Professor!¡± Rei exclaimed. ¡°I mean¡­it was thanks to Sabrina¡¯s training, really,¡± Akari said, shuffling in embarrassment. ¡°Oh, yeah!¡± Rei said, rounding toward the psychic. ¡°What¡¯d you think of that?¡± Sabrina walked toward them slowly from the back of the group, Yura following warily behind as she eyed the fallen giant. Coming to a stop, Sabrina closed her eyes and nodded, mentally assessing the battle. ¡°Hmmm,¡± she said. Yura glanced up at her curiously, and Riley and Laventon both waited patiently for her verdict. ¡°Hmmmmmm.¡± Ash raised a brow, and Pikachu cocked his head to the side. Sabrina nodded and opened her eyes. ¡°Do it quicker next time.¡± Rei deflated, falling into the snow, and Akari blushed. Ash grinned. ¡°Tough teacher,¡± and Pikachu muttered in agreement. With a verdict like that, it seemed Sabrina had nothing further to add, meaning their performance was nigh perfection. But it also served as a warning. There¡¯d only been one enemy this time, but if multiple came at them at once, then swiftness was key. And Ash had a feeling this wouldn¡¯t be the last monster they encountered on their way to the Pearl Settlement. As they set off again, Rei and Akari found themselves on either side of Riley. ¡°So, is Growlithe getting close to evolving?¡± Rei demanded. Growlithe padded next to them, completely uninterested. ¡°And what about Sneasel?¡± Akari asked. Sneasel flicked from dirt out from under one of its nails and exhaled, bored. Riley chuckled sympathetically. ¡°Ehhh¡­well¡­good question.¡± His eyes flared azure and he studied each of their pok¨¦mon individually while Rei and Akari fought to keep their patience. Just when it seemed they couldn¡¯t stomach the wait any longer, Riley cleared his throat. ¡°Hmmm. I have good and bad news.¡± Rei and Akari stared at him with bated breath. ¡°The good news is that both Growlithe and Sneasel appear to be ready to evolve. Their Aura is practically bursting at the seams, barely contained within their bodies. However, as you can clearly see, they haven¡¯t yet evolved. Which means another catalyst is required.¡± Rei and Akari deflated, both failing to hide their disappointment. Growlithe and Sneasel continued to walk forward, unbothered. Riley smiled nervously. ¡°You see this with certain pok¨¦mon every now and then. For example, my Ursaluna back home required exposure to a very specific composition of peat before he evolved.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what peat is,¡± Rei sighed. ¡°How are we supposed to figure out how to evolve our pok¨¦mon now?¡± Akari conked him on the head. ¡°Gee, if only there were some sort pok¨¦mon experts from the future we could ask.¡± Before Rei could retaliate against her, she whipped toward Riley, but the Guardian raised an apologetic hand. ¡°Sorry, but that was the bad news. I¡¯m not sure what your pok¨¦mon need to evolve. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not terribly well-versed on the details of every single pok¨¦mon species¡­¡± Ash, who¡¯d been watching and listening from behind them, amused, raised his hand. ¡°I can help there. Rei, your Growlithe needs a Fire Stone to evolve. Akari, if your Sneasel is anything like the regional variants I¡¯m familiar with, it¡¯ll need a Razor Claw to evolve.¡± Rei¡¯s face froze in confusion. ¡°Fire Stone¡­?¡± he muttered. ¡°Ah!¡± Laventon said. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve heard of those items before. I believe the Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan both have vendors that deal in such oddities. We can look into that when we arrive!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Rei hollered, slinging his arm around Akari and jumping into the air. Up ahead, having listened to the entire conversation and Riley¡¯s assessment, Sabrina trudged ahead deep in thought about how best to continue their training. A little over an hour later, Laventon ordered a stop. Gray mountains towered behind them, capped in snow, and ahead lay a frozen plain of ice and sparse trees. ¡°Are you sure, Professor?¡± Akari asked. ¡°It¡¯s still pretty early in the day.¡± Laventon slung his bag down and rolled his shoulders. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re stopping here for today. We spent most of the morning hiking uphill in the mountain, and the rest of the day walking through snow. Our bodies are more taxed than we think. And¡­¡± He turned toward Yura. The young girl collapsed onto her knees, tongue hanging out of her mouth as she sucked in air, her tiny body rising and falling rapidly. Upon realizing she was being stared at, she tried scrambling to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± she declared. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going!¡± ¡°Now, now, it¡¯s not because of you,¡± Laventon said, plopping onto the ground. ¡°The air is thinner at this altitude. We¡¯ll only hurt ourselves if we push ourselves too much. Rei, if you would.¡± As Rei ordered Growlithe to spit some fire down, Akari, Riley, and Ash to work gathering twigs and pine needles from around the area to make it more permanent. Laventon got started on cooking while Sabrina watched over Yura and the rest of the camp. This division of duties had become common for the group after spending so much time together. ¡°Rei,¡± Sabrina said just as he was about to run off and join the others. Rei turned back and raised an inquisitive brow. ¡°Please leave Growlithe here and take Shellos with you. And please tell Akari to release Staravia.¡± Rei hesitated for a moment but faced Growlithe and snapped his fingers. ¡°Stay.¡± Clutching another of his pok¨¦balls in hand, he ran off. Growlithe stared at Sabrina for a while but soon ambled closer. Sabrina nudged him in Yura¡¯s direction, hoping his heat would warm her as she napped on her bedroll, having passed out almost immediately after they¡¯d stopped. Shellos and Staravia were the least suited to the cold among Akari and Rei¡¯s pok¨¦mon, but they¡¯d both undergone harsh training within the mountain, especially the avian Staravia. Sabrina was hoping the shift from inside to outside would give them a good opportunity to flex their new muscles. Staravia¡¯s freedom of movement was obvious, but Shellos was leaning nicely into his roll as a nigh-stationary defensive unit, protecting Rei and firing attacks at the same time. Initially, Sabrina had thought Shellos¡¯ sluggish speed would¡¯ve clashed with Rei¡¯s aggressive battling style, yet Shellos seemed to rise to the challenge of living up to his trainer¡¯s boisterous methods. Both seemed ready to evolve soon, and from talking to Ash several days ago, both evolved traditionally, upon reaching a certain level of power. Grotle and Cranidos were the furthest from evolution, though not for lack of effort or strength. Grotle had already evolved recently, so was quite far from his next one, and Cranidos¡¯ ceiling in terms of power was comparatively higher than the rest, so he would take some more work as well. As for their aces, it was only a matter of time. Although Sabrina hadn¡¯t heard of a Razor Claw before, she had heard of a Fire Stone. She wasn¡¯t totally clueless. All they could do now was cross their fingers and hope the Pearl Settlement had what they needed. At the very least, Sabrina could breathe a sigh of relief that it did appear like her training was working. ¡°Professor, do you mind if I release Decidueye?¡± Sabrina asked before she could overthink herself into convincing herself not to. Laventon looked up from the pot he was stirring. ¡°Ah, sure. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s eager to stretch his legs, though I wonder how he¡¯ll fare in the cold.¡± Those were precisely the two thoughts Sabrina had had as well, and she promptly released Decidueye, making sure he wasn¡¯t too close to the fire. Ice crunched beneath his clawed talons, and he bristled once he finished materializing. Laventon stared up at him in awe, still entranced by his size, but Decidueye ignored him, already swiveling around to get a lay of the land. Flying off? Sabrina asked. Decidueye still didn¡¯t react to her attempt at telepathy. But as she suspected, he soon spread his wings and launched into the air, ice and rock crunching to rubble in his wake. At the sound of his departure, Yura sat up and rubbed her eyes. ¡°Dinner yet?¡± she mumbled. It got dark surprisingly fast. Ash and the others soon returned, but by the time their stew was ready, the sky was indigo blue with stars already peeking out from its fading brightness. The fire flickered across their faces as they ate, and as they talked, their voices filled the desolate air instead of echoing off cave walls. ¡°When were you planning on telling me you had an Ursaluna?¡± Ash said, jabbing his spoon at Riley. ¡°You never asked,¡± Riley smiled. ¡°The peat for Ursaring¡¯s evolution I found within the Tree of Beginning.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Guess that makes sense if it¡¯s the origin of all pok¨¦mon or whatever,¡± Ash muttered. Laventon frowned upon hearing his words and he glanced at Riley inquisitively. From the way they were talking, Sabrina could tell Ursaluna was another Hisuian pok¨¦mon, one that shouldn¡¯t have existed in the present day any more. For once, Ash sounded like he didn¡¯t know everything about this one pok¨¦mon. ¡°What¡¯s the Tree of Beginning?¡± Yura asked. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a tree, for starters,¡± Riley answered. ¡°What?¡± Rei demanded. ¡°It¡¯s a massive crystalline structure, sacred to the Guardians, where all species of pok¨¦mon are said to originate. It¡¯s where the Hero of Kanto got his title, by quelling the fury of many legendary pok¨¦mon.¡± Riley stroked his chin. ¡°Hmmm, how would you say its size compares to Mount Coronet?¡± he asked, his eyes flicking between Sabrina and Ash. ¡°I mean it¡¯s shorter, but not by much,¡± Ash said. ¡°The Tree of Beginning was¡ªis huge.¡± ¡°It¡¯s smaller than Mount Coronet, but it¡¯s an isolated structure,¡± Sabrina said, trying to quickly brush past Ash¡¯s misspeak. ¡°Unlike Mount Coronet which is part of a huge mountain range.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Laventon muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get out to Rota some time. Even we¡¯ve heard of the Hero of Kanto.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also called the First Trainer, right?¡± Akari asked. ¡°He must¡¯ve been pretty crazy to be the first one to try and tame a pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°Yup, that¡¯s right,¡± Ash nodded. ¡°Honestly, there are so many legends about him that it¡¯s hard to remember all of his titles. Who knows how many of those legends are even true too.¡± ¡°The Hero of Kanto is like ancient history even to us, who are thousands of years before your time,¡± Laventon said ¡°But I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised his legend has persisted as long as it has.¡± ¡°What was the first pok¨¦mon he trained?¡± Yura asked. Riley glanced at Ash, then at Sabrina, yet neither supplied an answer. ¡°Hmmm. A good question. I¡¯m not sure.¡± Laventon shrugged as well. Shockingly, as they finished setting out their tents and were preparing to turn in for the night, Decidueye swept down from the starry gloom and crept up next to the fire. Everyone stared at him and he laid down onto the snow and turned motionless, the wind whistling through his leaves. ¡°Uhhhhh,¡± Rei said. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s lonely?¡± Akari posited. ¡°Or cold,¡± Ash smirked. Decidueye shot them a look, but soon closed his eyes again. It seemed Ash was right. And there were hardly any better places to roost in such a frigid wasteland. ¡°Well, good night!¡± Yura said, still bundled up in her wools as she waved from the entrance to their tent. A chorus of ¡®good nights¡¯ met her and she grinned before popping back inside. There were only three of them in the girls¡¯ tent, compared to four in the boys¡¯, and though that meant more elbow room, it also meant less body heat. ¡°Okay, snuggle up everyone,¡± Akari commanded, burrowing into her woolen bedroll, and Yura gladly obliged. ¡°Closer, Master!¡± Akari said after Sabrina got into her bedroll. ¡°Closer!¡± Luckily, Riley was first on watch duty tonight, so they¡¯d have some time to build up some heat in here before Sabrina had to take her turn. Though with Decidueye outside, she was hoping his presence would deter anything that wanted a closer look at their campfire. For their first day in the Icelands, the night was surprisingly toasty.
¡°Good morning,¡± Ash said. Sabrina turned back toward him, the sunlight still glittering in her metallic eyes. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Back at it, huh?¡± Sabrina turned away, back toward the sun. ¡°I can¡¯t let you get ahead of me.¡± Ash raised a brow and smirked. ¡°Oh, yeah? Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Just because.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± The snow was stark white beneath the morning sun, and the icy plains were already alight with quiet activity. A troop of Snover stomped in single-file along the banks of a frozen river and a group of Piloswine chewed on grass that grew at the roots of a copse of sentinels. As expected, Decidueye was already gone when Ash woke up, but throughout the morning, as they ate and packed up camp, Ash could see him patrolling the skies above. ¡°Fine on food¡­the tents¡­medicine¡­,¡± Laventon muttered, doing a final sweep around their camp. ¡°Good to go?¡± Ash asked, pulling on his and Sabrina¡¯s packs. Laventon looked up and smiled. ¡°Yes, I believe so! And I have your pok¨¦ball tucked away safely,¡± he said, patting his pack. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a pok¨¦ball yet¡­¡± And with that, they set off once more across the tundra. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next Alpha Pok¨¦mon to look out for?¡± Akari asked once they¡¯d been hiking for nearly an hour. Her hair was matted to her forehead from already having to defend against multiple pok¨¦mon attacks already. ¡°It¡¯ll be an Avalugg this time,¡± Laventon said. ¡°Though not to worry. This one is so large we¡¯ll see it from miles away. It¡¯s supposedly almost half the size of the entire Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± Rei cursed. ¡°A walking island, was how the Pearl Clan described it. Luckily for us, given its massive size, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to avoid. From Pearl¡¯s reports, it isn¡¯t all that aggressive, but it does tend to wander all across Avalugg¡¯s Legacy. So I will insist we go around whenever we happen upon it.¡± ¡°Fine by me,¡± Ash said, though he saw Pikachu¡¯s ears droop. After what¡¯d happened with Unown, he wasn¡¯t planning on pressing them to engage any more Alpha Pok¨¦mon unless absolutely necessary, even though he wanted to. He was eager to see if his training was bearing fruit. Today¡¯s travels were far easier than yesterday¡¯s with how flat the terrain was, and instead of the snow being deep and difficult to traverse, it was packed down, likely from all the pok¨¦mon running around atop it all day. They were walking down a knoll of frozen grass when Sabrina stopped and pointed. ¡°There¡¯s someone ahead.¡± Ash squinted from atop the hill, and after a few seconds, he could see the faint flicker of orange fire against the field of white and wood. ¡°A campsite this far north?¡± Riley said. ¡°Members of the Pearl Clan, perhaps?¡± ¡°Or it could be your Guardian guy,¡± Rei said, nudging him. That¡¯d been Ash¡¯s first thought, but he didn¡¯t want to get his hopes up. Plus, if it really was Sir Aaron, he suspected Riley would¡¯ve sensed his vast Aura far earlier. ¡°Well, let¡¯s have a look, shall we?¡± Laventon said. The snow at the bottom of the hill was deep once again, and the land ahead was pocked by large boulders and balding evergreens. The camp of their fellow traveler sat beside one such evergreen, and as they got closer, its single inhabitant looked up from the fire they¡¯d been tending and waved. And it soon became clear who it was. Rei rushed ahead, stomping through the snow as fast as his legs could carry him. ¡°Volo!¡± he yelled. The head of the Volo Company sat upon a short log and grinned upon seeing the approaching party. ¡°My friends!¡± he called. Like them, he was dressed in a thick winter coat lined with fur, yet he retained his signature blue and yellow cap. The camp was sparse, just a small campfire, a tent, and a few boxes. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d see you out in the wild!¡± Laventon said once they were close enough. ¡°The sight of an old friend is always a welcome warmth in these frigid lands,¡± Volo responded, shaking Laventon¡¯s hand. ¡°Or should I say, friends? I was under the impression your expedition was meant only to contain four members.¡± Laventon chuckled. ¡°Yes, well, plans changed.¡± Rei, Akari, and Yura all looked away and Volo glanced between them, concerned. ¡°How in the world did you get in front of us?¡± Rei asked. ¡°You left the Sanctuary after us, right?¡± ¡°Never underestimate the prowess of a well-traveled merchant,¡± Volo declared, holding up a finger. ¡°I know Hisui like the back of my hand.¡± He frowned. ¡°I also recall your expedition was headed toward the Diamond Clan in the east.¡± ¡°Plans changed quite a bit,¡± Laventon said, his voice deadpan. ¡°What are you doing this far north? Business with the Pearl Clan?¡± Volo circled his camp. ¡°Not exactly.¡± Riley stepped forward. ¡°Where are the rest of your men? It¡¯s quite bold to travel Hisui alone, especially with the Alpha Pok¨¦mon around.¡± Volo glanced up. ¡°Oh, I sent my men on ahead, they¡¯re nearby. As for the Alpha Pok¨¦mon, they pose no threat if you don¡¯t try and fight them,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Did you happen to come across an Alpha Unown on your way here?¡± Ash asked. ¡°Just before the entrance to Mount Coronet?¡± Volo paused and shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t say I did.¡± He shivered, rubbing his arms. ¡°Alpha Unown¡­ I shudder at the thought.¡± The merchant trudged through the snow, his back to the rest, and he sucked in a large breath. Ash and Riley glanced at each other warily. ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you doing out here by yourself anyway?¡± Yura blurted out. Volo smiled and chuckled. ¡°Direct as always, little one.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Ironic, coming from you.¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes narrowed in disgust. Volo straightened and dusted off his gloved hands. He turned around with a grin and spread his arms. ¡°I was waiting for you all.¡± Laventon frowned. ¡°Waiting for us¡­? Ah! Do you have more information on the foreigner in the north?¡± He smiled hopefully. Volo gave a curt shake of his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I don¡¯t suppose you all found the relics you were looking for either?¡± he asked, eyeing the three ¡®Guardians.¡¯ ¡°No,¡± Ash said. ¡°Not yet.¡± A silence settled over the gathered. Laventon, Rei, Akari, and Yura glanced between each other in confusion. Sabrina stared daggers at Volo. ¡°So¡­why were you waiting for us?¡± Akari eventually asked. Volo¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t left Ash. He sighed and kicked some snow over his campfire, extinguishing it instantly. ¡°I do wish you hadn¡¯t brought the children along.¡± Sabrina glared at the merchant. ¡°Ash, is he¡ª?¡° ¡°Here¡¯s how it¡¯s going to work,¡± Volo said. His voice hadn¡¯t gotten any louder. ¡°Sabrina, you¡¯re going to stand down or I¡¯ll kill Riley. Riley, you¡¯re going to stand down or I¡¯ll kill Ash. And Ash, you¡¯re going to come to me, alone, or I¡¯ll kill Sabrina. I think that covers everyone.¡± Their breath wafted in front of them, and the quiet wind hissed with threat. ¡°K-Kill¡­?¡± Laventon said, cracking an awkward smile. ¡°What are you saying, Volo? This isn¡¯t funny¡­¡± ¡°Come now, Ash,¡± Volo whispered, his eyes gleaming with a serpentine determination. ¡°You know what I want from you.¡± Ash could only look on him with revolt. Somehow, he knew. No, it wasn¡¯t that strange, given all the circumstances. ¡°You¡¯re a Platebearer,¡± he spat. Volo¡¯s eyebrows twitched and his lips curled into a smirk. Riley raised his arm in front of Ash, barring his path. His expression smoldered. ¡°I¡¯m sure you knew Ash was a Platebearer the moment you met him at the Sanctuary. Why did you let us leave?¡± Volo¡¯s eyes flicked over to him. ¡°When Ash fell out of that hole in the sky, I wasn¡¯t expecting him to bring an elder Guardian and a human psychic with him. I had to see your strength first. Now I know.¡± Rei¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°The Unown! Are you¡ª¡° Akari clutched his hand, her body trembling. Her gaze was still training on Volo, but her eyes were bloodshot with fear. ¡°Is it safe to assume that ¡®hole in the sky¡¯ is your doing, then?¡± Riley continued. Volo grinned, slowly closing his hand into a fist. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how many Platebearers have used their power to cross the boundaries of time and space. Unlike the future you all are from, most of human history is filled with terrible strife, and even Platebearers desire an escape from that reality. That ¡®hole¡¯ has made harvesting them an easy task.¡± Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed. He knows we¡¯re from the future¡­ He¡¯s the reason we¡¯re here! Just who is Volo! ¡°Harvesting them?¡± Riley spat. ¡°Harvesting Plates? That¡¯s not possible, even for a Platebearer.¡± Volo shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough, Guardian. Step forward, Ash, and surrender your Plate. This doesn¡¯t have to be an ugly affair.¡± ¡°If I do, then what?¡± Ash growled. Pikachu snarled on his shoulder, electricity sparking on his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll let you live, of course. All of you. All of you can return to your lives as usual. It¡¯s just the Plate I want.¡± Volo sighed. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t let you return home, unfortunately. But you¡¯ve spent some time here in Hisui and made some good friends. I¡¯m sure it wouldn¡¯t be the worst thing for you three to spend your remaining time here.¡± Volo¡¯s smile was colder than the Icelands around them. Ash¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Volo¡¯s face was a statue, bereft of doubt. ¡°I think you¡¯d swiftly come to regret that decision.¡± Their breaths came in quick puffs in front of them, but Volo¡¯s were long and slow. He¡¯s been waiting for us here! The thought burned in Ash¡¯s mind. Everything¡­ It was all by design! How long did he spend laying this trap? He let his gaze fall to those around him. Yura stood motionless and her bottom lip quivered. Rei was holding Akari¡¯s hand so tight it looked painful. And Laventon¡­was at a loss. He was blinking rapidly, as if still unable to comprehend what was playing out before him. And Ash couldn¡¯t blame him. But even his current paralysis was surely by design. Volo wasn¡¯t giving him time to think. Ash gritted his teeth. Why couldn¡¯t I sense his power when we first met? Even now, why don¡¯t I feel his presence like I did with AZ? ¡°Don¡¯t try it, Sabrina,¡± Volo suddenly said sharply. The psychic¡¯s eyes bore into Volo, yet her gauntlets spun slowly, not yet bright with power. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t hear your telepathy either. Utter one silent word, and I¡¯ll end her life. You don¡¯t want that, do you?¡± he whispered. He didn¡¯t even have to say her name, yet the mere threat sent Sabrina¡¯s gauntlets spiraling about her wrists, enraged. Her emotions spilled from her body in an invisible wave, cloying and hateful, and wrapping protectively around Yura. Ash saw Volo smirk, and he sneered, Sabrina¡¯s rage seeping into him. ¡°It¡¯s a bad match up for you, Sabrina¡­¡± Volo chided. ¡°You could learn from the Guardian. He knows when to give up.¡± ¡°Give up?¡± Riley snarled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll let you harm a single hair on Ash¡¯s¡ª¡° ¡°Stop, Riley.¡± Ash took a step forward. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them, Volo. It¡¯s me you want, right?¡± He shook his shoulder and Pikachu fell to the ground, landing in disbelief. Grinning, Volo raised his hand and beckoned Ash forward. The snow crunched beneath Ash¡¯s boot, and with every step, Volo¡¯s smile elongated. ¡°Ash, don¡¯t!¡± Riley said, but Ash put up his hand, quieting him. ¡°Ash!¡± Yura wailed. Ash tuned them out as he walked forward. As long as they were safe, that was all that mattered. ¡°Wait, Volo! This is madness!¡± Laventon shrieked. ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯m sure we can figure something else out! Let¡¯s come to an accord!¡± ¡°We already have,¡± Volo grinned. As Ash placed his foot into the snow, mere feet away from Volo, he found himself unable to take another single step forward. Frowning, he strained forward, but his body was frozen. Volo¡¯s smile faded and he lowered his hand. A dull green glow outlined Ash¡¯s form, and behind him, Sabrina eyes gleamed in a jade desperation, her arm outstretched. ¡°Sabrina¡­¡± Ash breathed. ¡°I told you not to interfere,¡± Volo sneered. Clenching his fingers in a vicious claw, a pitch-black void surged into being around him. An aura of utter blackness shimmered around his form and his pupils vanished, his sclera utterly devoid of color. ¡°Disable both arm restr¡ª!¡± Volo ripped his arm back and a hellish scream echoed across the plains. A foul blackness coiled around Sabrina and her body suddenly flung itself into the air like a rag doll. Her left gauntlet released a sickening creak as a deep crack suddenly broke across its surface. Whipping Sabrina through the air, Volo spun on his foot and hurled her into a boulder with a roar. A dull smack rang out as her prone body slammed into the boulder and she slumped into the snow where it remained motionless. A smear of blood oozed down the rock¡¯s side. ¡°No!¡± Ash roared, and a blistering shaft of blinding electricity tore toward Volo, burning his gloves and sleeves off as he fired the indiscriminate beam. Volo smirked and raised his hand. A shield, if it could be called that, billowed before him and swallowed the attack without a sound. The shield wasn¡¯t so much composed of darkness as it was completely and utterly lacking in form. It wasn¡¯t its existence that made Ash pause, but rather, its nonexistence. He squinted to try and see it. But he couldn¡¯t. It was as if the air before Volo suddenly became impossible to view, and his eyes could only produce nothingness. Yet, as soon as it¡¯d appeared, it was gone again, leaving Volo unharmed behind it. Darkness clung to Volo¡¯s hands and saturated his forearms, and he knelt down and sank them into the ground. The ground began to steam and shake and Ash whipped around to tell Riley to protect the others, but he didn¡¯t need to, as the Guardian had already encased them in an azure shield. The earth trembled and Ash almost his footing as the snow in front of him caved in. Frozen earth and rock tumbled down as Volo began to raise into the sky, standing atop a rising plateau of ice. Sabrina! Ash stumbled as he raced through the crumbling carnage. Snow soaked into his pants and the cold burned his hands as he clambered toward Sabrina, unable to take his eyes off her blood as it dripped down the boulder. Please! Please tell me¡­! The ground and sky alike screamed in a low fury but Ash ignored it as he clawed toward Sabrina. Upon reaching her, his hand closed around her shoulder and he pulled her toward him. Her eyes were closed and snow and ice covered her face, yet Ash¡¯s gaze immediately drifted up. A thick gash ran from her temple to her forehead, several trails of blood dripping down her face and neck. Ash¡¯s face tightened into a baleful glare and his grip on her hardened. An ear-shattering roar bellowed across the icy plains, and Ash¡¯s hair and clothes blew wildly. Loosening his grip, he lay Sabrina back down onto the snow and slowly rose to his feet. His hands fell to his sides, both hands stained with Sabrina¡¯s blood. He turned to face his enemy. A gigantic Avalugg, just as large as described, if not larger, loomed over him, now unburied from the snow where it¡¯d been lurking. Volo stood atop its head, which sported two sharpened blades on either side of its maw. Its blades separated as it opened its mouth, revealing rows upon rows of serrated teeth, and it roared again, shaking the trees around them and blowing the snow from the tops of boulders. ¡°You should have come with me when I asked!¡± Volo¡¯s voice echoed as he taunted Ash from above. ¡°It didn¡¯t have to be this way!¡± Now that the ground seemed stable enough again, Ash stalked back toward Riley, who looked like he¡¯d just traversed a blizzard with how much snow covered him. ¡°We¡¯ll attack him together, Ash. He may be a Platebearer, but you¡ª¡° ¡°Volo¡¯s mine,¡± Ash growled. ¡°You handle the Alpha Pok¨¦mon. Let¡¯s go, Pikachu.¡± The mouse hopped dutifully up on his master¡¯s shoulder, his ears and tail stiff, ready for a fight. As Ash stomped through the snow, Riley pursued. ¡°Wait, Ash! If he truly is responsible for us being here, then we could use him to take us back! Just make sure to¡ª¡° The snow cratered around Ash and he leaped into the air, his body trailing lightning as he sailed into the sky. Sunlight glinted around his ferocious form. ¡°Ash!¡± Riley called. Avalugg roared as Ash soared above him, but Riley lost sight of him as he landed on the gargantuan¡¯s back. With Ash gone, Avalugg¡¯s attention turned toward Riley, its head making a horrific grinding sound as it moved, like glaciers collapsing. The blades on its maw separated as it opened its mouth, and an icy glow began to shine in its gullet. Riley¡¯s eyes widened and he enveloped his body in Aura. A column of snow, ice, and hail blew from Avalugg¡¯s mouth, swiftly followed by a jagged ray of crystalline energy. Summoning a roiling Aura Sphere the size of his torso between his palms, Riley launched it forward into the massive Ice Beam. The two collided in midair and shards of ice blasted outward, peppering the ruined ground and blooming into cragged crystals. The Aura Sphere hissed as it forced its way up, but Avalugg¡¯s Ice Beam was relentless, and it soon began to shrink. Riley shivered, and it was only now that he noticed the frost and sleet accumulating across his body in an icy layer. The cold began to seep beneath his clothes and he found it difficult to move. Damn it! It¡¯s like an Ice Beam and a Blizzard at once! This is the power of an Alpha Pok¨¦mon! Gritting his teeth, he summoned a bout of Aura from within and shattered the ice encasing him. But his Aura Sphere had nearly collapsed and Avalugg still hadn¡¯t let up. Just as he was priming a shield, a black blur streaked across the wintry sky straight toward Avalugg¡¯s head. Wings opened and a resounding squawk screeched across the plain as Avalugg¡¯s assailant dug its claws into the monster¡¯s left eye. Avalugg screamed and reared back, all four of its feet slamming against the ground and shaking the earth as it shuddered in pain. Riley turned and saw Akari and Rei behind him, glaring at the beast ahead. Staravia soared through the sky, talons still bloody from the attack, keeping in Avalugg¡¯s now-blind spot. ¡°Don¡¯t try that again!¡± Riley barked. ¡°It¡¯s just as strong as the Unown! Don¡¯t underestimate it!¡± Akari nodded fiercely. Meanwhile, Rei¡¯s Growlithe snorted beside him, ready to fight. Laventon clambered up behind them, shielding Yura. ¡°Professor, Sabrina, if you please!¡± Riley said, pointing over where Ash had left her. Laventon swallowed and nodded. ¡°Come, now, Yura! Sabrina needs our help!¡± Lugging his bag, they took off across the snow. ¡°Akari, you keep it distracted,¡± Rei said, studying the behemoth. ¡°Growlithe and I will create an opening so you can take it out, Riley. Avalugg is weakest beneath its jaw.¡± Riley paused for a moment before nodding. ¡°Right! But be careful!¡± As all three raced forward, Avalugg shook its head and groaned, homing in on its next target. Laventon knelt next to Sabrina, grimacing at the sight of the grisly gash on her forehead. ¡°Yura, get some cloth please!¡± Yura broke into his bag without hesitation, rummaging through its many compartments. She¡¯d witnessed the routine treatments he¡¯d given to Rei and Akari¡¯s pok¨¦mon enough throughout the course of their journey at this point to know exactly what he needed. Grabbing a handful of snow, Laventon brushed it across Sabrina¡¯s gash as gently as he could, cleaning the blood off, some of it already dried, as well as he could. Bright crimson liquid oozed up from the wound the moment he brushed it across. ¡°Here!¡± Yura breathed, holding out a cloth. Laventon pressed it against the gash firmly and Yura held her breath next to him. Blood stained the cloth as he pulled it away, but the blood ebbed up from the wound slower now. He turned to Yura but she thrust another bundle toward him. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, smiling grimly. Within were his needles and thread for stitching up serious wounds. Slipping out of his gloves, Laventon took a needle in one hand and the tip of the thread in another. His vision seemed to blur as he tried to thread the needle. His hands trembled. Despite his steady hand while working on his pok¨¦balls, now of all times¡­! ¡°Professor,¡± Yura said, touching his knee. She winced as the roar of battle boomed behind them, but she kept herself from turning around. Closing his eyes, Laventon took a deep breath and steadied himself. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered. Exhaling, he slipped the thread through the needle. Yura glimmered beside him as he tied it off, after which he lifted Sabrina¡¯s head closer. Trying his best to ignore the horrid cacophony of violence behind him, he punctured one side of the gash. Atop Avalugg¡¯s back, a cold wind blew from behind Ash as Avalugg fired off some ice attack. As the battle raged, Avalugg lurched beneath him but he didn¡¯t falter. On the other side of Avalugg¡¯s back, Volo stood unperturbed and smirking. ¡°So, what will it be, Ash? Shall we do battle with our pok¨¦mon as you do in your time? Or shall we fight as the demigods we are, with the power of Arceus¡¯ Plates instead?¡± ¡°Three Heavenly Bolts!¡± Ash spat. Pikachu blitzed off his shoulder as a blinding golden light overtook his entire form. Electricity crackled around Ash in a spiraling storm as he directed his power into his first partner. ¡°Both, then!¡± Volo cackled. ¡°Fascinating!¡± Tearing a pok¨¦ball from his belt and hurling it forward where it snapped open to reveal an imposing Garchomp. For a species already famed for its strength, this one looked downright violent. A bestial hatred dripped from its beady eyes as it glared between Pikachu and Ash. Thunder boomed across the plain as Pikachu¡¯s first spearlike thunderbolt surged into being in his paw, quickly followed by a second in his other. Volo shielded his eyes from the blinding glare but grinned up at Pikachu nonetheless. Lightning spasmed from Ash¡¯s palm and siphoned into Pikachu, filling him with the strength of the third bolt. His eyes blazing a furious white, Pikachu thundered toward Garchomp and Volo, wreathed in black storm clouds. The third bolt dragged into being as Pikachu bulleted toward them, his entire body becoming a divine trident of electricity. Volo faltered and stepped back, raising his hand in defense. The same void shield billowed out in front of him in a static haze, but Pikachu crashed into it. A demonic boom shook the very air and a thunderous keening screeched through the air and before long, the shield shattered into shards of deep gray nothingness. Volo¡¯s eyes widened as he vanished beneath the effulgent brilliance of Pikachu¡¯s lightning. A white nova blasted into existence in a cragged, misshapen mushroom cloud, crackling electricity sizzling outward like a nest of angry snakes. Ash shielded his eyes from view as the glow of Pikachu¡¯s attack faded, and the mouse leaped back in front of him, glaring ahead, trying to pierce the blinding blaze. Volo hobbled forward out of the gloom, his platinum blond hair falling in a tangled mess around his shoulders. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth and his storm-gray eyes were wild with wrath. His clothes had burned away, leaving his pale torso bleeding and exposed to the frosty north. . ¡°I¡­s-should have¡­e-expected as much!¡± Volo rasped, licking the blood from his lips. ¡°Forgive¡­m-my inexperience! You¡­y-you are the first Platebearer I¡¯ve¡­e-ever fought!¡± As he stumbled forward, eyes glowing a harsh crimson, his mouth frozen in a psychopathic grin, a bout of blood-red power crackled in his palm, seizing to life out of nothingness. Ash glared at him and readied his own attack. Lightning crackled across his body and engulfed his form, golden energy building between his palms. Beneath them, Avalugg roared and suddenly lurched. Ash and Volo both went skidding to the side, thrown off their feet, as Avalugg buckled. Avalugg¡¯s screams of agony echoed through the north, smoke belching from its gaping maw. Right in front of it, atop a pillar of stone, Growlithe stood, glaring at the beast, embers still swirling around him from the Flamethrower he¡¯d fired straight down Avalugg¡¯s throat. ¡°Excellent work, Rei!¡± Riley called, leaping into the air behind Growlithe, his entire body sizzling with Aura. His fist was already pulled back and glowing a deep azure. Growlithe immediately realized he was in the way and leapt from his pillar into the pillowy snow below. Riley grinned as the Aura around him shattered Growlithe¡¯s pillar by his mere proximity. Avalugg barely had time to fix his last good eye on Riley as the Guardian swung his punch forward. A nova of Aura ripped toward the beast from Riley¡¯s outstretched fist, the air warbling as it tore through the air and crashed into Avalugg, engulfing its entire head. The ice around Avalugg¡¯s head shattered and it reared back. A cloud of snow burst up from below as the ice-type behemoth crumpled. Atop Avalugg¡¯s back, Ash felt himself fall into the freezing haze, the ground disappearing out from beneath his feet. Riley flipped back, landing in the storm of snow, using Aura to cushion his fall. He could sense Rei and Akari¡¯s Aura safely behind him, but Ash and Volo were both in front of him, buried beneath the avalanche. Ash¡¯s Aura he could sense, but for some reason, he could not detect Volo¡¯s. His eyes narrowed as he enhanced his sight. ¡°Is Ash okay?¡± Akari said, running up behind him. Her Staravia still circled the skies above the fallen Alpha. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Riley said. ¡°I hope we didn¡¯t do more harm than good,¡± Rei murmured. ¡°No, defeating Avalugg was the right move.¡± Volo waited here in ambush, Riley thought. He buried Avalugg here toward that end. The more we destabilize him, the greater our chances of escaping from him! After everything AZ had done in Rota, Riley wasn¡¯t taking any chances with enemy Platebearers, especially since Volo seemed to be personally responsible for their presence here. Riley didn¡¯t know how that was possible, but it meant he¡¯d been able to interfere in the plans of King Aaron himself. He was not to be taken lightly. Across the snow, Sabrina¡¯s eyes fluttered open. As she tried to move her head, a wave of nausea passed through her and she coughed. ¡°Please don¡¯t try and move, Sabrina!¡± Was that the Professor¡¯s voice? As sensation returned to her body, she started to feel cold against her face, and a painful pounding in her skull. ¡°What do we do?!¡± That¡­was Yura. Sabrina turned and saw the young girl. Tears streamed down Yura¡¯s face, eyes alight with fear, and she trembled in place. Sabrina¡¯s eyes widened and she lurched forward. She felt her legs give out beneath her, but a strong hand caught her before she could. Dry leaves brushed against her. Decidueye stood before her, one hand holding her, the other curved protectively over her, Yura, and Laventon. He turned back to face her. His beady eyes burned with anger, though this time, it didn¡¯t seem directed at her. As Sabrina¡¯s vision came into focus, she peered beyond Decidueye at a hazy mass of glacier-like ice. Two silhouettes stood amidst the chalk-white fog of snow. A flash of golden electricity burned the haze away revealing Ash standing strong atop the mound of ice. Across from him, a bloody Volo staggered toward him, his hair blowing wildly in the blizzard of battle. ¡°No¡­ No, no, no,¡± Volo mumbled to himself, the blood dripping from his body staining the ice at his feet. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this¡­ I can¡¯t fail here¡­ Not after everything¡­¡± Sabrina¡¯s stomach wilted and she surged forward. ¡°Ash¡­!¡± she screamed. Red darkness sparked to life in Volo¡¯s hand, gusting about in a miniature tornado. His eyes blazed an infernal golden. ¡°Sanguinesilica!¡± Throwing the storm forward, the dark cyclone spiraled skyward, multiplying in size and tearing toward Ash. The sky turned dark and crimson lightning flashed across the roiling surface of the gusting darkness. The ice and rock at their feet crunched into rubble, spraying blood outward in gruesome geysers. Electricity billowed around Ash, rising to meet the colossal cyclone, but he suddenly paused and turned back toward Sabrina. Their eyes met for only a moment. ¡°No!¡± Sabrina cried. Her eyes melted into jade, and her limiters creaked as they raced around his wrists. Stumbling through the snow as fast as she could, she tore toward Ash. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Ash closed his eyes and turned away. The electricity around him blew away in the wind. ¡°N-NO!¡± His power deactivated, the cone of violence bore down on him, its surface seething and crackling. The seething surface engulfed Ash, lashing him with tendrils of crimson darkness. Blood sprayed from his chest and limbs as the cyclone threw him into the air, butchering him like a chainsaw. Horror streamed down Sabrina¡¯s cheeks as tears. The cyclone of darkness wailed and screamed as if it were alive, eating Ash¡¯s flesh like a pack of rabid dogs. It loomed over her as she approached, and she saw Riley coming from the opposite direction, both surging toward their friend. Volo cackled as the cyclone whipped across Ash¡¯s body, Ash¡¯s blood splattering back on Volo¡¯s face. ¡°Finally! Another one!¡± His eyes glinted with a malignant darkness as he lowered his head. ¡°Oh, Twisting Oblivion! I beseech thee! Lend me thy fabled strength, and I will cleave this fragment of Arceus¡¯ blasphemous soul from his failed champion!¡± The rift over Mount Coronet gleamed and the earth shook with a calamitous rumbling. An impossible darkness overtook Volo and the sky turned black. Everything turned black. Sabrina could not even see her hands in front of her as she reached forward. Sound vanished and touch disappeared as a concept. Only Volo and the desiccated remains of Ash¡¯s limp body remained within the void. The cold that overtook Sabrina was not of freezing temperature. It was of existential dread. Her entire being seemed to go numb and her consciousness faltered, slinking away from its very purpose. Ash was about to die. They were all about to die. Everything. Was about to end. Volo knelt down toward Ash. A pitch black pit roiled within his palm and he moved it to Ash¡¯s chest. Release both arm restraints. ¡­ Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Teleport. Anywhere else but here. Just before she passed out, Sabrina saw a luminous darkness engulf Ash, and he disappeared, Volo¡¯s hand mere inches away from touching him. Volo looked up at her, his eyes burning an inhuman red Teleport. Though she couldn¡¯t see it, she felt her left arm restraint shatter into a thousand pieces. A second later, she vanished. Next ¡ª Chapter 69 : Hell
Hisui Incursion [17] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [17] Chapter 69 : Hell
When Akari opened her eyes, all she could see was gray and white. A flurry of snow blew across her vision, burning her eyes, and she clamped them closed on instinct. But a second later, as ice water ran down her neck beneath her clothes, her eyes snapped open again and she bolted up, sucking in an invigorating breath. Her body felt stiff and she noticed her coat was crusted in a thin layer of ice. As she sucked in oxygen greedily, she blinked rapidly, trying to restore her biological faculties. With the amount of ice on her, she must have been out for a decent length of time. Luckily, her gloves and boots were still on so frostbite didn¡¯t seem likely, but her face felt cold and she covered it with her hands as she thought. What happened? How long was I out? Where are¡­? Her stomach turned and she shifted onto her feet. Snow streamed across her as far as she could see, with only the vague outline of hills and the silhouettes of lonely evergreens in the distance. She was alone. She took one step forward, then another, then stopped. Turning, she looked around the spot where she¡¯d just been laying, but only the depression in the snow she¡¯d left broke the snowy monotony. She spun back around, hoping she¡¯d see someone, anyone, but there was still no one. Surely she was just missing them. She was groggy still, after all. But no matter which direction she looked and how meticulous her search was, none of her friends availed themselves to her. Her bag was also missing. Panic began to rise and her breath came out in cloudy puffs. ¡°Rei¡­,¡± she mumbled. ¡°R-Rei!¡± she screamed, her voice breaking. If he were near, he¡¯d hear her and come. But he did not appear either. Akari sniffled, but who knew whether that was to stop tears from falling or because of the frigid landscape. She almost yelled again, but caught herself just before the sound left her throat. These were the Alabaster Icelands. Yelling and screaming would invite a predator soon enough. Upon that realization, Akari felt up her belt. Horror billowed up from within her. She only had two of her pok¨¦balls: Cranidos and Staravia¡¯s. Her breathing now closer to panting, she fumbled Cranidos¡¯ off her belt and clicked the release, and he appeared in a muted flash. ¡°C-Cranidos¡­,¡± she stammered. ¡°Help me find Sneasel.¡± She knelt down and started pawing at the snow. ¡°H-Help¡­ She has to be here somewhere.¡± Cranidos simply stared at her, then looked around. As Akari frantically dug through the snow around her depression, Cranidos trod around the area, never straying too far from her. No, no, no, no¡­ Akari crawled across the ground, shoveling aside as much snow as she could. Yet like her friends, the missing pok¨¦ball remained elusive. Please¡­ Please¡­! Please! Why was this happening? Last she recalled, they were all in high spirits after getting through Mount Coronet and were on track to reach the Pearl Settlement within the week. Her and Rei¡¯s pok¨¦mon had both become loads stronger after Sabrina¡¯s training began, and according to Riley and Ash, they both had evolutions to look forward to in the near future. So why? It¡¯d all happened so fast. For some reason, they found Volo, and then¡­ Akari had never known her parents, yet Volo¡¯s betrayal felt like she¡¯d been stabbed in the back by one of them. For as long as she¡¯d known him, he¡¯d just been the friendly merchant of Hisui, always ready to flick her a berry or two when no one was looking. But all of that had been a lie. He was evil. He didn¡¯t care one bit about Hisui¡¯s wellbeing. In fact, he seemed like he may have been personally responsible for unleashing the scourge of Alpha Pok¨¦mon that plagued Hisui right now. The emotions in Akari were so overwhelming she didn¡¯t even know how to describe them. Anger? Despair? Pain? Betrayal? It didn¡¯t even feel real. Not Volo¡¯s true character and not her current predicament either. With the formerly pristine ground now ruined from her frantic searching, Akari stopped and slumped back, staring at the pockmarked snow in defeat. Sneasel was gone. She started to shake and her breathing came out in uncontrollable bursts. Before a tear could fall, Cranidos¡¯ head brushed hers and he released a low grunt. Akari turned and met his stoic gaze. His stone skin provided no warmth yet his presence soothed her inflamed emotions, and she rubbed her eyes furiously with her sleeve. She would not let this predicament defeat her. She could not. If she was alone, perhaps that meant the others were too, but they couldn¡¯t be too far, right? She needed to find them before hunger took her, or worse, the hunger of the Icelands¡¯ wilds took her. And looking at things optimistically, at least she had pok¨¦mon to protect her, ill-suited as they were for a blizzard like this. Yura. And the Professor. She needed to find them as soon as possible. With a clearer head, she elected to move on. There were three possible fates for Sneasel. If she¡¯d been released in the chaos, then she was strong enough to survive on her own in this climate. She could defend herself, and even she¡¯d know to flee from any wilds she couldn¡¯t defeat on her own. If she was still confined in her pok¨¦ball but had ended up near one of the others, then Akari trusted whoever it was to find her and pick her up. And the worst possibility: if she was still confined to her pok¨¦ball and said pok¨¦ball was missing amidst the snow on its own, then she should be safe for now, and Akari could return with the others to look for her once she found them. Surely Sabrina, Riley, or Ash had some mystical trick up their sleeves to ease the search. Pulling out Cranidos¡¯ pok¨¦ball, Akari recalled her partner and replaced him on her belt. Although she would¡¯ve liked to keep him out if for no other reason than staving off her loneliness, he¡¯d only tire himself out needlessly. She had no idea how long she¡¯d remain separated from the others, or how long it¡¯d be still until she found some source of food, and maintaining Cranidos¡¯ health was her only ward against any potential wild pok¨¦mon. Staravia would not fare well in this blizzard. Wait¡­ Blizzard¡­? Akari stared up at the blustering snow and frowned. It wasn¡¯t snowing when we faced Volo¡­ There wasn¡¯t a cloud in the sky¡­ It certainly didn¡¯t look like it was about to snow¡­ The skies above were a frosty white, so flat that it was impossible for her to tell what time of day it was. We encountered Volo in mid-morning. Assuming I wasn¡¯t out that long, it¡¯s probably about noon now. Which means I should have plenty of time to find shelter before it starts to get dark, maybe six or seven hours. Akari¡¯s frown deepened as the snow continued to whip over her face. This blizzard looks natural enough¡­ It doesn¡¯t look like the result of a pok¨¦mon attack or ability. Though with the Alpha Pok¨¦mon walking around, she could¡¯ve been dead wrong. However, she elected to trust her instincts and determined that this was a natural blizzard. That means¡­ Akari felt her stomach turn weightless at the realization. It meant she was in a completely different part of the Icelands now. This time, her confusion outweighed her fear. She replayed everything she could remember up until she passed out. Staravia had distracted Avalugg long enough for Growlithe to fire a Flamethrower into its mouth. Riley felled it with a single punch after that. And after it fell over¡­Ash and Volo looked like they were about to clash¡­ Then there was¡­that. Akari shivered upon remembering it. A giant tornado of darkness¡­ Here was where her memory started to taper off. The last thing she could remember was the abject fear she¡¯d felt upon seeing it. She¡¯d run toward Rei¡­ She was pretty sure of that. It sounded like her too. But then¡­? Since she was alive and uninjured, surely that meant Volo hadn¡¯t won, right? He¡¯d talked callously enough about murdering them all; since he hadn¡¯t, did that mean Ash won? Akari furrowed her brows and shook her head. Those were details for later. For now, she needed to find out where the hell in the Icelands she was. At the very least, she could say something had gone awry and their group had been completely scattered. Maybe she should count herself lucky that she¡¯d escaped Volo¡¯s clutches, however it¡¯d happened. But it was as Rei had bluntly said a couple days ago. Navigation was easy in the Icelands, unless there was a blizzard. The Professor took charge of navigation, but Akari had studied the map of Hisui enough to know about the main landmarks of the Alabaster Icelands: Icepeak Arena, the Icebound Falls, Lake Acuity, and of course, Avalugg¡¯s Legacy. Given the total lack of identifiable landmarks through the blizzard, Akari had no choice but to continue in one direction until it let up and she got a better sense of the surrounding area. She had time at least, and confidence in her pok¨¦mon, that she could defeat or escape from any wilds that took interest in scrawny little her. For now, she¡¯d keep her eyes peeled for her friends and reassess once she was out of the blizzard or the sun started to go down, whichever came first. With a plan in place to straighten her mind, Akari set off, the wind and snow buffeting against her as she hiked. The cold was harsh and she could feel it seeping beneath her clothes but it was the least of her worries. This wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d braved winter in the Icelands, and hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t be the last. She fully intended on surviving this and continuing her tenure in the Survey Corps. But Volo¡­ What in the world did he want, and how far would he be willing to go to get it? For a certainty, he coveted the Ash¡¯s Plate of Arceus, but to what end? If he¡¯d somehow snatched them from out of the future in order to get it, what else would he be willing to do to wrest it from Ash? At this point, it felt like all of Hisui was in danger. The Alpha Pok¨¦mon were just the beginning, a mere byproduct of Volo¡¯s machinations. Tools for him to use, if he actually was responsible for sending that Unown after them. Would the Survey Corps even exist when Volo was finished? Would Hisui? I mean¡­Ash and the others are from a future where it doesn¡¯t seem like anything terrible happened to Hisui, so maybe? But with time travel involved, Akari really had no idea, and she wasn¡¯t nearly optimistic enough to assume that everything would turn out fine just because Ash and the others came from a future where it seemed like they did. At the very least, Volo was a rogue element. They¡¯d been completely caught off guard by him. The Plates of Arceus¡­ Akari hadn¡¯t thought too much of it when Riley had first explained it. She¡¯d just considered the Plates to be in the same category as the Aura Guardians: mysterious existences that she didn¡¯t have to concern herself with. Yet clearly these Plates demanded her attention. If they¡¯re called the Plates of Arceus, does that mean Arceus is actually real? No, surely they¡¯re just named after him. But then again, given what Volo can do, and Ash himself¡­ Somehow, she just revived the long-dead debate of Father Sinnoh¡¯s true identity in her head. The Diamond Clan thought it was a pok¨¦mon called Dialga and the Pearl Clan thought it was a pok¨¦mon called Palkia. But it was the Jubilife Church who said it was Arceus¡­ So they were right, then? Yay¡­ Akari wiped the snow from her face and forced herself onward. Who cares anyway?! All she knew was that the Plates were extremely dangerous, and in the wrong hands, it could spell the end of Hisui. Volo¡¯s calculated malice was far more terrifying than the bestial carnage of the Alpha Pok¨¦mon. As she continued forward, the blizzard only seemed to worsen and the snow became deeper, making her trek increasingly difficult. She began to become conscious of the burn of exertion in her legs, not for the discomfort it caused, but because she was starting to worry about how much further she could realistically go before she had to stop. And she¡¯d need her strength if she encountered a wild and had to run away. However, her mounting fatigue did not deter her relentless search for her friends and she swept her gaze over the stormy landscape, looking for anything that looked out of the ordinary, any slight disturbance in the snow. Since she was up and moving, the others may have had the same thoughts as her and set off. If that was the case, she prayed she¡¯d find their tracks before the snow filled them in. As she walked, Akari periodically bent down and scooped up a handful of snow and tossed it back into her mouth. The cold was surprisingly invigorating but the thought that she was keeping herself hydrated was a meager solace. If she could find a river, she might be able to whip up a shoddy fishing rod and catch some Magikarp to solve her food problem. She wasn¡¯t even going to bother hoping she¡¯d find a frozen berry bush in this wasteland; that¡¯d just be greedy. However, she was hoping she¡¯d find a cave or something to shelter in. Even a boulder would be nice so she could chip off some flint to start a fire later. Though she¡¯d tried to keep her thoughts from wandering to anything too morbid, Akari couldn¡¯t help but pray for Yura¡¯s safety. If that girl was stranded like she¡¯d been¡­ No, no, no. She¡¯d be fine. Yura should have had Shieldon with her, at the very least. And she was nothing if not a survivor; her long journey to the Sanctuary and then the life she¡¯d maintained after had proven that. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Rei would be fine no matter what. Somehow Akari just knew that. If she was trudging along without incident, then he definitely was as well. Most likely, he¡¯d reach the Pearl Settlement before her and have something snarky to say once she rolled in after. Akari couldn¡¯t wait. She could feel her entire body getting heavier, from her limbs to her eyelids, as she trudged across the snowy plain. She never stopped scanning the snow¡¯s surface for her friends, but it was becoming painfully obvious that she would not be able to keep this up until sundown. She didn¡¯t even know where she was going. The terrain had changed little since she set off. The trees peppering the flatland before her had gotten slightly less sparse, and she found herself pushing toward them unconsciously. Though determining anything for certain was impossible through the blizzard, she seemed to still be on Avalugg¡¯s Legacy somewhere. She wasn¡¯t aware of any other region of the Alabaster Icelands that had such sprawling flatland. However, wherever she was now lacked the Legacy¡¯s characteristic scattering of boulders and glacial towers. It also wasn¡¯t known for its trees, so heading toward a possible woodland area would provide a greater chance of shelter and food, and an escape from the blizzard. Priority one was figuring out where she was. As long as she could do that, she was confident she could reorient herself back toward the Pearl Settlement. The next hour, or at least it felt like it to her, sent Akari over a series of hills of increasing steepness. Despite the fact that each one devoured a sizable portion of her precious stamina, she was thankful for the change in terrain. If all her walking had only resulted in more of the same, that would¡¯ve been far more demoralizing. However, the snow was getting deeper and harder to traverse due to the unrelenting blizzard. With how much snow had fallen since Akari awoke, she wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if it had already covered any potential clues for her friends¡¯ whereabouts. Nonetheless, she kept her reddening eyes peeled as best she could. She realized what was happening half a second before it happened. The moment her right foot came down, the ground beneath her cracked and shattered, and then her foot kept going, plunging down into ice-cold water. Akari cursed as her entire body buckled. She caught herself and tore her leg out of the frozen river as fast as she could, swinging back onto what she believed was solid ground. The entire ordeal happened in a second and she was left panting, adrenaline firing through her system from the sudden shock. As she calmed down, Akari stared at the nearly perfect hole in the ice her leg had created. Dark water sloshed just below and she cursed herself for not noticing it. Perhaps if she weren¡¯t so exhausted or she¡¯d been paying more attention to what was right in front of her, she¡¯d have noticed she was stepping atop a frozen river whose surface had long been covered by a layer of snow thick enough to hide itself yet not thick enough to support her weight. Akari wiggled the toes on her right foot but she could not feel them. She squeezed her soaked thigh, but her leg had no feeling either. The cold had caused it to go numb. Actually, there was a feeling there: a lancing pain that felt like her blood had turned to ice in her veins and had expanded as water does when frozen. Her face wrinkled as she tried to alleviate it by repeatedly flexing the muscles in her leg, but it didn¡¯t help. So now, over the course of one second, she¡¯d ruined everything. Why. Why did this have to happen. Akari slumped back, laying in the snow, the blizzard kissing her freezing face. How was she to warm her soaked leg in a place like this? How long until she¡¯d start losing toes to frostbite? Or her entire leg? She stared across the frozen river and hated herself for not seeing it. It was so small too. She could¡¯ve easily jumped across to the other side if she¡¯d seen it. In another world, she was still trudging along through the blizzard, this damned river far behind her. But this was reality. She was stopped, with an ice-cold leg, her clothes soaked, and no bearing on how to continue. Were her tear ducts frozen? She wanted to cry but she couldn¡¯t even do that, it seemed. Her whole body began to shiver as she lay in the snow. If only she¡¯d stayed in the Sanctuary, none of this would have happened. Not the Unown, not Volo, and not this. She would¡¯ve been training with Rei as usual right around now. If she¡¯d stayed behind, would Rei have stayed with her? After a moment of pondering, Akari didn¡¯t have an answer. Really, there was no chance that either of them would have stayed behind so it was a moot question to begin with. But even after they¡¯d come, what had they accomplished? Strongest members of the Survey Corps? That title sounded insulting after what Volo had just done to them. What he¡¯d just done to them all. He was after Ash, she thought. Ash has one of Arceus¡¯ Plates. Because of that, Volo and the Alpha Pok¨¦mon both are trying to kill him. Her breath condensed above her as she thought. Soon, her brows curled into a glare and she slammed a fist against the snow. And I¡¯m complaining about a wet leg? Dragging her numb leg up, she hauled herself to her feet, careful to settle on her leg properly. She couldn¡¯t feel it now, but hopefully as she walked, the feeling would return. She¡¯d check for frostbite later, if given the luxury. But she needed to keep moving. She¡¯d never forgive herself if she froze to death in a place like this. And she couldn¡¯t imagine Rei forgiving her either. She bent her legs and launched herself to the other side of the river, landing in a mound of snow. She swallowed a handful before standing up, then continued her endless journey forward with a renewed determination. She placed each step on her right leg carefully, and she did fall a few times, but continued her match onward. The snow clung to her leg and before long it felt like she was lugging a block of ice through the snow. And unfortunately, feeling eventually did return to her leg, albeit barely, but all it granted was a gnawing cold that just felt like straight up pain. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to ignore the growing agony but eventually, she had to stop. Clenching her teeth, she knelt down, trying to ease the pressure on her leg. It was still soaking wet but her pant leg was becoming stiff as it gradually froze. The ice crackled as she moved and she raised a shaky hand to brush it away. However, she lost her balance and tipped over into the snow. Her entire body shook. It was so cold. It permeated her winter clothes effortlessly and it felt like not just her leg, but her entire body was soaked in ice water. It probably was, given how long she¡¯d been beneath the blizzard. Snow and wind whistled indifferently as she lay motionless in the snow. Snow clung to her chapped lips and both her nostrils dripped. In this moment of defeat, Akari realized just how much she¡¯d been deluding herself up to this point. She¡¯d been walking for hours through this blizzard. Did she really think willpower alone would carry her across the frozen tundra? There was a reason the Professor hadn¡¯t wanted them to come along. Beyond the danger of the pok¨¦mon they¡¯d inevitably cross along their journey, the very journey itself was fraught with danger. They¡¯d nearly met their end in the Coronet foothills. But survival in the Icelands was a far simpler calculation. A colder one. Warmth and shelter were a necessity, or death was guaranteed. As Akari shivered in the snow, oddly, she didn¡¯t feel despair. She¡¯d done nothing wrong. This was simply the inevitable outcome. It was an inexplicable situation she¡¯d been thrust into, but at least the end made sense. The ground rumbled beneath her, accompanied by a rhythmic pounding which got louder by the second. Great. Wild pok¨¦mon¡­ About time¡­ A low snort blared out from somewhere nearby and Akari closed her eyes. Is that a Mamoswine? Or an Abomasnow? Ah, it doesn¡¯t matter¡­ Just as long as it wasn¡¯t Volo, she could accept an end like this. Even with how much praise the people of the Sanctuary had showered over her and Rei for their prowess as members of the Survey Corps, never once did Akari ever grow arrogant enough to think she¡¯d truly triumphed over this untamed land. Nor did she ever labor under the delusion that she ever would. Every time she ventured beyond the Sanctuary¡¯s walls, she was prepared for death. Whatever monster was on its way unleashed a horrid screeching and Akari cringed. The footsteps became chaotic and she thought she heard another roar, but she really couldn¡¯t tell. It almost sounded like two monsters fighting each other over her, and all she could do was keep her eyes clamped shut and wait for it to end. Eventually it did after something heavy crashed to the ground, and the sounds of chaos stopped. Akari¡¯s heart hammered in her chest, waiting for the silence to be broken again. Her hand curled around Cranidos¡¯ pok¨¦ball and the adrenaline shooting through her now actually abated the pain in her leg a bit. She barely had the strength to move but she could at least thumb her pok¨¦ball¡¯s release. Even if she couldn¡¯t move any further, she could at least set her pok¨¦mon free so they didn¡¯t have to share her fate. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Akari yelped, recoiling back. She¡¯d turned ever so slightly and out of the corner of her eye, she¡¯d seen him, his face inches from hers. Snow crusted his stony face, but his deep orange fur shined like the sun in her periphery. ¡°Growlithe!¡± Akari exclaimed, a smile breaking across her frozen face. Rei¡¯s Growlithe stared back blankly, snow covering his body. He nearly looked as exhausted as her, and for a fire-type, the amount of snow on him was concerning. He was panting and Akari savored each hot breath on her skin. Her lips quivered. ¡°R-Rei¡­¡± she groaned, shifting her body and trying to stand again. Growlithe snorted and circled her. Even after a minute, Rei did not appear. So Growlithe was alone. But not anymore. That meant the others were out here somewhere. They¡¯d been scattered, just like her. She just had to find them. She winced as she pressed herself off the ground. Growlithe turned her way after hearing her grunt in pain but he didn¡¯t offer her any assistance. Fire¡­, was all Akari could think of. ¡°Fire,¡± Akari said, hoping he understood her. ¡°Fire¡­please, Growlithe.¡± Growlithe reared his head away as Akari crawled toward him, and her heart sank. She wasn¡¯t his trainer, after all. Unlike Ash¡¯s Pikachu, Hisuian pok¨¦mon were cold and stalwart, only showing fealty to their trainers who¡¯d conquered them. However, by a stroke of sheer luck, Growlithe suddenly sneezed and a flurry of embers settled over Akari. Akari almost moaned in bliss, feeling warmth for the first time since she¡¯d awoken. Not letting the momentary chance pass her by, she straightened her frozen leg and clambered to her feet. Behind her, the body of a huge Manoswine lay in the snow, already falling beneath the blizzard¡¯s incessant storm. Her jaw dropped and she looked down at Growlithe, but the tiger didn¡¯t even show her the courtesy of arrogance at having felled such a beast on his own. Not wasting a moment, she limped over to it and threw herself against its smelly body. ¡°Ahhhhhhhh¡­ Warm¡­¡± She circled around to its exposed stomach and pressed her leg against it. The searing warmth was heavenly and she could feel its organs pulsing beneath its thick skin. If only pok¨¦mon skin weren¡¯t so tough, she could kill it and have food for weeks Growlithe watched her as she warmed herself, though he did not approach. Vapor drifted from Mamoswine¡¯s wet nostrils and Akari figured she probably shouldn¡¯t be prodding its stomach unless she wanted to wake it from its defeat. Savoring one last minute of warmth, she pulled away and sighed. Time to keep moving. Death averted, again. Through the haze of snow, over a series of rolling white hills, she could see the trees thicken into a forest proper up ahead. As long as nothing else impeded her, she believed she could reach it in the next hour or two. As she began her hike onward, Growlithe joined her at her side, and the two faced the wild together. Luckily, the remaining journey seemed to slowly slope downhill which made the hike easier. Also, as they neared the forest, the blizzard calmed to a soft flurry. Although Akari felt a renewed sense of determination to get to the forest, Growlithe¡¯s pace was actually slowing her down. He loped through the snow as well as he could but it almost covered his entire body so each step was more like a jump for him. Akari thought he could¡¯ve just burned his way through the snow¡ªshe¡¯d actually been hoping for it¡ªbut he seemed to be too exhausted to muster up his fire. But he hadn¡¯t stopped or complained yet, so they pressed on. However, soon Akari¡¯s heart did sink. As they neared the forest, now a blurry sea of soft green through the mirage of snow, Akari saw another river between them and their destination, and this one wasn¡¯t frozen. Dark water rushed through a deep channel and it was wide enough that this one couldn¡¯t be jumped over. They arrived at its banks several minutes later. The roar of the river was a welcome break from the monotony of their trudge through the snow but other than that, it only spurred despair. Just beyond lay the forest, and their chance at shelter and food. Chunks of ice floated by, almost seeming to mock Akari with their buoyancy. If only they were large enough for her to jump across. She was bold enough to do it, if they had been. Growlithe panted next to her and lay down to catch his breath. Well, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make the jumps even if they were. However, with the calmer weather, she could finally release Staravia, and that¡¯s exactly what Akari did. The bird arced through the sky, immediately scanning the area. His hawkish eyes found Akari and Growlithe below and he cooed in confusion, surely wondering where Rei and the others were. ¡°Follow the river, Staravia!¡± Akari called. ¡°Look for a spot where it isn¡¯t as wide, or isn¡¯t as deep!¡± With a squawk, Staravia flew away. It was certainly afternoon now and hunger gnawed at Akari. She stuffed some more snow in her mouth to placate it but she was starting to get tired of it. She needed something to munch on. Even after they crossed the river, they¡¯d still have to find what they were looking for. But at least then Akari could climb a tree and find out where they were. Staravia returned several minutes later and screeched, urging them north. Growlithe growled and stood, following after Akari at a slow gait. In preparation for the execution of her plan and because Growlithe was so exhausted, Akari released Cranidos as well. The snow was packed down here so he could walk easily enough on his stubby legs. Eventually, Staravia descended and touched down on a ridge that hung out over the river. Akari frowned as she leaned over the ridge¡¯s edge. This was a spot that was both shallower and thinner across. ¡°Well done, Staravia,¡± she murmured, and the bird gave a chirp in response. The water here was a bit foamier which suggested the bottom wasn¡¯t as far. This would work, but they¡¯d have to be quick, and careful. ¡°Get ready, Growlithe. We¡¯re crossing here.¡± Growlithe groaned but she could see his muscles and concentration tighten. Akari thrust her hand forward. ¡°Rock Tomb, Cranidos! Create a bridge to the other side!¡± The snow around them burst apart as Cranidos ripped a volley of boulders from the ground and launched them forward into the river. Each one created a massive splash and Akari winced at the cold mist that blew back at her. As Cranidos dumped rock after rock into the river, he began to materialize smaller rocks out of thin air and dropped them in too. Soon, the tops of the boulders peeked out above the water¡¯s surface and Cranidos summoned a few more rocks to fill in the gaps. ¡°Alright, go!¡± Akari shouted, recalling Cranidos. Growlithe bounded ahead, leaping onto the rocky bridge and Akari jumped after him, several not to slip into the river. The bridge was misshapen and uneven and Akari had to place each step with surgical precision. The river crashed up against the wall of rock, its level slowly rising, but Akari tried to ignore the vibrating beneath her feet as she ran. Staravia swept past them, offering a coo of support. Growlithe made it to the other side and jumped off, and Akari dived after him into the soft cushion of a snow bank. Just a few moments later, the bridge burst apart and the river raced onward, utterly destroying the makeshift dam. The rocks sunk beneath the surface, and soon, there was no evidence a bridge had ever existed there at all. Akari swallowed and breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to face the forest triumphantly. Ice clung to the trees¡¯ bare branches like beads and those that had leaves glistened, coated in a layer of frost. The snow ahead was utterly undisturbed and there was a cold peace that seemed to live within the forest. Akari couldn¡¯t see any pok¨¦mon, but she could hear them. Every now and then, she¡¯d hear a tree rustle and drop snow as some avian pok¨¦mon took flight, but she could not see above the thick canopy. And so, Akari¡¯s journey continued, finally bereft of storm and solitude. The canopy above shielded them from the snowfall as they made their way through. Akari turned often, glancing around for a possible cave or abandoned hidey-hole where they could take refuge, but really she was entranced by the mystique of this forest. It reminded her of the winter festival they held in the Sanctuary every year to celebrate the new year. It saddened her slightly to know she¡¯d be missing it this year, especially after making so many new friends. Eventually, Growlithe¡¯s nose twitched and he raced ahead, hurtling through the snow faster than Akari thought was possible for him right now. He smells food! Akari thought, brightening. Berries! They must be pretty fresh if he smells them from so far away! Immediately, her stomach started gurgling. Oh, what kind will they be? Oran? Sitrus? Aspears? Even frozen, shriveled Oran Berries sounded heavenly right now. Growlithe barked, his tongue hanging out and saliva pouring from his mouth and Akari grinned as she chased after him. As they rounded around a thick tree into a clearing, Akari¡¯s heart nearly stopped in her chest. Her breath caught in her throat and she froze. Her eyes stung and her cheeks turned hot as tears dripped down them. She clapped her hands over her mouth. In the remains of a tree that looked like it¡¯d exploded from the inside, within a nest of twigs, sticks, ice, and pine needles, lay Sabrina, a layer of snow coating her body and hair. Cradled in her arms as tightly as a mother holding her child was Yura. Next ¡ª Chapter 70 : Mortal Danger
I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re at 70 entire chapters. That number just looks gigantic to me. That¡¯s postgame legendary pok¨¦mon level. Thanks to everyone who¡¯s read this far and especially those who share their thoughts in the comments!!
Hisui Incursion [18] PARAGON Hisui Incursion Arc [18] Chapter 70 : Mortal Danger
Sabrina awoke to the snapping of fire and its warmth on her frozen fingertips. As her eyelids fluttered open, she tried to unblur her vision. All she saw now was an indistinct wash of white and gray, with orange in the middle. She moved her arms to stabilize herself and stand. That was when she realized something was missing. A weight in her lap that should have been there. ¡°Yura!¡± Sabrina choked out, seizing forward. ¡°Whoa!¡± Something strong caught her arms and forced her back down. The sudden shock of realizing Yura was missing seemed to have sped up the restoration of her sight and she blinked rapidly as she tried to focus on who had grabbed her. Soon, Akari¡¯s dark clothes and hair came into view, her eyes wide with concern. ¡°Just calm down, Yura¡¯s right here.¡± Akari stepped aside. Yura lay beside the fire asleep. Some sort of blanket covered her and Sabrina could only barely see her face peeking out of one side. She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed seeing the little girl¡¯s chest rise and fall with each breath. ¡°She has a fever,¡± Akari said plainly. ¡°She should be fine, she just needs rest.¡± Sabrina started to get up again, but Akari pushed her back. ¡°You had a fever too when I found you. You¡¯re doing better than her but you¡¯re still not one hundred percent. Please, just rest for now.¡± Sabrina kept her gaze trained at Yura, but she let Akari coax her back. ¡°We found some berries you can have. And there¡¯s snow if you¡¯re thirsty.¡± Akari pittered around the fire and Sabrina felt a bit nauseous as she watched her move. She held out a gloved hand and Sabrina saw a few shriveled berries in her palm. But now that Akari was right in front of her, Sabrina could see her well for the first time since she awoke. She raised her hand to the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Your face¡­,¡± Sabrina croaked. Akari¡¯s cheeks, rosy from the cold, also sported a discolored splotch of bruises. A host of scratches also adorned her forehead, the deepest ones crusted in dried black blood. ¡°O-Oh, this.¡± Akari looked away in embarrassment and touched her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this. There were a couple pok¨¦mon attacks last night. Some Sneasel and then a Dusclops. But don¡¯t worry, we were able to fight them off! And without waking you up too!¡± Akari pumped a proud fist. Sabrina was about to ask who the we she kept referring to was, but it soon became obvious as Cranidos meandered back into their camp clutching a bunch of sticks and twigs in his mouth. He emptied them out into the campfire, the flame flared, devouring their new fuel hungrily. ¡°Ooh, thanks Cranidos!¡± Akari said, jogging over to pat his head. As Sabrina watched Akari dote on her pok¨¦mon, her gaze drifted down to her hands. They were still gloved, but now she realized something else was missing. A spurt of anxiety lanced through her system as she saw her left wrist, once again bare of its limiter. Not again. ¡°Where¡­?¡± Sabrina said, fumbling around. Akari glanced at her curiously. ¡°Where¡¯s¡­?¡± Sabrina¡¯s heart hammered in her chest, every second that ticked by only increasing her agitation. Black spots danced in her vision as she pawed around the snow. ¡°Careful!¡± Akari said, racing forward to catch her as she lost her balance and tipped over. ¡°I think you have a concussion¡­ You¡¯ll have to be careful for the next few weeks¡­¡± Akari¡¯s voice sounded so far away as Sabrina panted, staring down at the empty snow. Her limiter¡­ She hadn¡¯t taken it off herself¡­nor did she remember it getting forcibly removed. No, she did remember what happened to it. It was the last thing she remembered. Just before she teleported everyone and she lost consciousness, she remembered seeing it. It¡¯s gone. Gone, meaning permanently destroyed and lying in pieces in the snow somewhere very far away from here. Sabrina¡¯s face wrinkled in fear and she could feel her chest tightening. Her breaths came faster, unbidden, and panic started to swell within her. Suddenly, something cold touched her forehead, yanking her from her thoughts. ¡°Come on, Master, just rest for now,¡± Akari said gently, easing her down. ¡°I¡¯ll handle everything here. Just get some more sleep¡­¡± Sabrina stared up at her longingly and she cradled her head delicately in one hand and pressed snow upon her forehead with the other. As Sabrina¡¯s breath condensed above her, her sporadic breathing calmed, and her vision wavered. Ice water dripped down her face but its coolness was soothing. She didn¡¯t remember drifting off to sleep. When she woke again, she heard Akari speaking in a hushed tone. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and felt something fall off of her. Staring into her lap, she saw a voluminous pile of black and white feathers. ¡°Those are from Staravia¡¯s Feather Dance,¡± Akari said, walking over. ¡°It¡¯s not an actual blanket but it¡¯s the best we have now.¡± ¡°Miss!¡± Sabrina almost fell over as Yura barreled into her, burying her face in Sabrina¡¯s stomach. ¡°No, Yura! You need to rest!¡± Akari scolded, trying to pull her away, but her grip was like iron around Sabrina¡¯s waist. Sabrina¡¯s heart fluttered upon seeing Yura with so much energy and a fragile smile graced her face. She brushed the girl¡¯s hair aside and stroked her forehead. Her skin was damp with sweat and still felt a bit warmer than it should have. ¡°Come on, Yura,¡± Sabrina said gently. ¡°Let¡¯s get closer to the fire.¡± Even if she refused to go back to sleep, Sabrina at least wanted to keep her warm. Yura repositioned herself in Sabrina¡¯s lap and Akari served them both a handful of wrinkled berries. They tasted like nothing but Sabrina wolfed them down, and swallowed several handfuls of snow to wash it down. ¡°Are you sick too, Miss?¡± Yura asked, turning around. Her teeth were stained purple from the berries. ¡°Hm? Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± Yura frowned and pointed at Sabrina¡¯s forehead. Confused, Sabrina raised a hand to her own forehead. Her fingertips brushed something rough and an aching pain suddenly zapped over her brain. She winced. ¡°Oh, sorry, do you not remember?¡± Akari said. Sabrina tried to recall how she¡¯d gotten this injury but she couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°Before the battle with Volo, he somehow grabbed you and threw you into a rock. You hit your head, but the Professor was able to stitch you up before¡­¡± Akari¡¯s voice trailed off and she looked down, sullen. Sabrina did remember facing off against Volo, and now that Akari mentioned it, she did vaguely remember flying through the air, but nothing after that until¡ª ¡°Ash!¡± Sabrina suddenly said. White-hot pain shot through her skull and she clutched her head. ¡°Calm down,¡± Akari said, offering a steadying hand. She glanced away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ We haven¡¯t been able to find anyone else. Staravia¡¯s been looking, but¡ª¡° ¡°No,¡± Sabrina moaned. ¡°He¡¯s hurt. He¡¯s hurt very badly! We need to¡ªahh!¡± She gritted her teeth as a searing headache assaulted her. ¡°Please, just calm down!¡± Akari urged. ¡°You¡¯ll hurt yourself like this!¡± Yura¡¯s cold and sticky fingers brushed Sabrina¡¯s neck and she shivered. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Miss. He¡¯ll be fine. Just like us, right?¡± Horror bloomed in Sabrina. No! He got butchered! There was so much blood! ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know how the battle ended,¡± Akari said. ¡°The last thing I remember is seeing a giant tornado of darkness. The next thing I knew, I was in a snowy plain all by myself with Sneasel¡¯s pok¨¦ball missing. I don¡¯t even know how I got there¡­¡± Sabrina took a moment to process her words. ¡°That was me,¡± she muttered, still out of it. ¡°I teleported us away.¡± I didn¡¯t have a destination in mind¡­and yet I still¡­ There was a reason she could only teleport to places she¡¯d been before. Without prior knowledge of the destination, it was like flinging herself into complete darkness. But that¡¯s exactly what she¡¯d done. To herself and to all the others¡­ Akari suddenly grabbed Sabrina¡¯s hand. Sabrina looked up at her and saw pleading in her eyes. ¡°So you know where Rei is? And the Professor? Please!¡± ¡°I¡­don¡¯t,¡± Sabrina said. The words felt like broken glass as they left her throat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ It all happened so fast, so I didn¡¯t know where to send us¡­¡± Akari¡¯s grip loosened on her and she sat back down, eyeing Sabrina with a look of defeat. ¡°Wait!¡± Yura said, climbing out of Sabrina¡¯s lap. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what you guys are talking about! All I remember is seeing some black and then when I woke up, I saw you!¡± She pointed at Akari. ¡°R-Right! Let¡¯s put together everything we know first.¡± Akari started, telling the story of her journey through the Icelands until she arrived at the forest and found Sabrina and Yura. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize at the time, but earlier I climbed a tree and I figured out where we are,¡± she said. ¡°This should be the Heart¡¯s Crag in the northeast Alabaster Icelands. We should be pretty close to the Pearl Settlement!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Yura cheered. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we can get moving again once you two heal up a bit more,¡± Akari said. ¡°Then, with the Pearl Clan¡¯s help, we can go out and look for the others!¡± She hesitated, glancing at Sabrina. ¡°I-If that¡¯s okay.¡± Sabrina shook her head. ¡°You know more than I do about¡­all of this. If that¡¯s what you think is best, I¡¯ll go along with it.¡± Akari blushed and nodded. ¡°For me, I must¡¯ve teleported us straight here together with Yura,¡± Sabrina said. ¡°That explains that.¡± She pointed at the splintered remains of the tree Akari had first woken her up in. ¡°As for why Yura and I were together but you were by yourself, Akari¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± Akari smiled warmly and rested her head in her hands. ¡°I think I know why! Isn¡¯t that because you love her so much so you wouldn¡¯t ever let anything bad ever happen to her?¡± Yura looked over at Sabrina, her face beet red, and Sabrina¡¯s own cheeks flashed a dark crimson. ¡°M-Maybe¡­¡± she said. ¡°But where¡¯s everyone else?¡± Yura asked, getting back on topic. ¡°And where¡¯s Volo?¡± Sabrina grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The last thing I saw was Ash about to battle Volo. He was about to do something to get rid of that tornado of darkness, I think, but for some reason, he deactivated his powers. Then it hit him¡­ That¡¯s when Volo looked like he was about to kill Ash¡­ So I teleported everyone away¡­¡± She raised her left wrist. ¡°That¡¯s when I lost my limiter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s still alive,¡± Akari offered. ¡°It sounds like Volo wasn¡¯t able to finish the job. And I¡¯m sure he didn¡¯t expect you to teleport everyone either. However confused we are, he¡¯s probably even more confused.¡± That was an optimistic line of thinking. But the blood¡­ There was so much blood¡­ Sabrina couldn¡¯t get the image of Volo¡¯s cyclone butchering Ash out of her head. ¡°Wherever he is, I just hope the others are with him,¡± Sabrina said grimly. The snow fell silently upon their meager camp.
¡°Just take him and run!¡± ¡°What about¡ª?¡± ¡°Just go!¡± Rei roared, clutching his face as blood streamed between his fingers. ¡°Shellos, pulp the ground when it charges again! A colossal Drapion clacked its pincers in front of them and snarled, poison spittle flying from its mouth. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Rei whipped around, and luckily Riley had listened to him. The Guardian heaved Ash¡¯s limp body off the ground, his blood soaking into Riley¡¯s clothes and he began to drag Ash away. Rei suppressed a shudder at Ash¡¯s wounds, but grimaced upon seeing Riley¡¯s complexion. The man¡¯s skin was pale and he was sweating profusely, yet determination burned in his eyes as he limped away. That was how Rei had found him. The Drapion had sunk its claws into Riley¡¯s arm and lifted his unconscious form off of Ash¡¯s bloodied body, seemingly ready to devour them both, but Rei had arrived in just the nick of time. It¡¯d spun around far faster than Rei expected and he¡¯d gotten knocked in the head for it, but now Drapion¡¯s attention seemed squarely on him. The megalithic poison-type eyed the retreating Riley and hissed. Or not! ¡°Agile Water Gun, Shellos!¡± Rei commanded. A pressurized jet of water shot from Shellos¡¯ mouth and splattered against Drapion¡¯s face, and Drapion roared in anger, refocusing on Rei. Its legs clattered against the ground as it turned. ¡°Now, Shellos!¡± As Drapion charged, the ground beneath it suddenly belched and turned to liquid mud, and Drapion collapsed within. Poison sprayed from its mouth as it screeched and its arms flailed wildly, splashing mud everywhere. ¡°Now, Bulldoze, Grotle!¡± Rei recalled Shellos and just beside where he¡¯d just been, Grotle stamped his feet and an earthen shockwave blasted outward, tearing through the ruined ground. As the shockwaves pumped into Drapion¡¯s flailing body, it screamed in pain, lashing out as it tried to free itself from its muddy prison. As the attack ended, Rei released Shellos once again. His eyes flicked wildly as he scanned the landscape around him. He¡¯d awoken several hours ago yet he still couldn¡¯t believe where he was. Wet earth shined and dry reeds rustled over rocky hills and ridges. Dark oaks stood like soldiers across the swampish wilderness, filling the air with the scent of moldy wood. Moisture clung to Rei¡¯s skin, and though he¡¯d already peeled off his extra layers, the humidity made him sweat. These were the Crimson Mirelands. It shouldn¡¯t have been possible. But there was no mistaking the Scarlet Bog. Pools of mud littered the landscape, steam and dust rising from their depths, Hippopotas and Hippowdon no doubt lurking within many of them. ¡°Growlithe!¡± Rei bellowed. His gaze whipped over the swamp, yet he still saw no signs of his strongest partner. Drapion roared, charging out of Shellos¡¯ trap, dripping mud, and it lunged toward Grotle. Rei clenched his teeth. Damnit! The Bulldoze dislodged it! ¡°Water Pulse, Shellos!¡± he shrieked. ¡°Dodge, Grotle!¡± Drapion screamed as it tore toward Grotle, but a blast of water from Shellos threw it off kilter, allowing Grotle to lumber to the side. However, Drapion¡¯s eyes trembled with rage and as it tumbled, its arm whipped around and it bashed Grotle in the face, its claws stained purple with poison. ¡°No!¡± Rei screamed as Grotle flipped over. Tearing out his pok¨¦ball, Rei recalled Grotle. I need Grotle to stay healthy! It¡¯s over if he gets poisoned! ¡°Strong Muddy Water!¡± Rei said, recognizing a tiny opening as Drapion struggled back on its feet. The mud around them surged up and barreled toward Drapion in a brown froth. Drapion screeched just before Shellos buried it under the deluge. As the thickened water sloshed away, Drapion stumbled, trying to find its footing again, foul water dripping from its body. Its eyes burned with hatred as it turned toward Rei. Rei felt his stomach drop. Shit. Drapion screamed, barreling toward them, splashing up mud as it went. ¡°Agile Mud Bomb!¡± Rei yelled, but even he knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough to stop Drapion¡¯s rampage. Agile Style wouldn¡¯t have enough power to impede it, but it was far too fast for Shellos to hit it with anything else before it reached them. Rei shielded himself as Drapion bared down on him. Its breath reeked of sickness and death. Rei heard a high-pitched clang and Drapion howled, rearing back. Claws slashed across Drapion¡¯s hardened exoskeleton and across his face. Rei¡¯s eyes widened. A purple feline stood protectively between him and Drapion, whose carapace was now cracked in parts across its body. ¡°Sneasel!¡± Sneasel hissed and grinded her claws together. Rei glared at Drapion, determined to finish it for good. He threw out Grotle¡¯s pok¨¦ball. ¡°Strong Bulldoze! Get out of there, Sneasel!¡± Sneasel snorted and ignored him, but as Grotle slammed his legs into the ground once more, the purple feline scowled and leaped backward. The shockwaves obliterated the remaining ground and surged into Drapion, and the scorpion simply seized in place as its body was assaulted from within. Its eyes rolling back, it finally groaned and tipped backward, falling into a motionless heap. Rei panted and doubled over, resting his weight on his knees. As his adrenaline petered out, the scrape on his head began to throb, and he grimaced. As Sneasel sauntered past him, he turned his attention back to the scene in front of him. He watched as she walked over to a small boulder and began sharpening her claws on it. ¡°Where¡¯s Akari?¡± Rei mumbled. ¡°Sneasel?¡± Sneasel narrowed her eyes and looked at him in apparent disgust. ¡°Growlithe?¡± he asked. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Sneasel smirked and turned back to sharpening her claws. No one¡­? Rei¡¯s face wrinkled into a glare. What the hell happened? He recalled both of his pok¨¦mon and started jogging after Riley, careful to make sure he wasn¡¯t about to get ambushed by any other wild pok¨¦mon. Sneasel watched as he left and decided to pursue a few seconds later. What happened to Ash? What happened to us?! Riley had collapsed up ahead and was struggling to get up again. Rei increased his gait upon seeing him and quickly knelt to offer his support. ¡°Rei¡­¡± Riley murmured. ¡°I gotcha,¡± Rei said, helping him up. ¡°Drapion poison is no joke. We need to get that cleaned fast.¡± Shellos could create water, but it wasn''t exactly sanitary. They¡¯d need to stop and boil it first, somehow, before it could be used. Which would be much easier if I had Growlithe. Pecha berries were probably their best bet at this point, but even then, they¡¯d have to be ground down into a paste, and they¡¯d need a lot of it. Medicinal berries didn¡¯t work the same way for humans as they did for pok¨¦mon. And that was just for Riley. Rei had his own injury to worry about getting infected. But of course, that was nothing compared to Ash, who looked like he¡¯d fallen prey to a nest of feral Scyther. Blood seemed to soak every inch of his clothes and it ran down his face in a congealed mess. ¡°Is Ash¡­?¡± Rei asked cautiously. ¡°He¡¯s alive¡­,¡± Riley said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Need to¡­treat him. Get somewhere¡­safe.¡± Safe. In the Crimson Bog? There was nowhere safe in the Crimson Bog, but Rei didn¡¯t even know where they were in the bog for sure, so he couldn¡¯t exactly navigate them to safety either. The Mirelands weren¡¯t like the Icelands. Everything here looked pretty similar. Going off the sun¡¯s position, it seemed to be a bit past noon now. That seemed to suggest he hadn¡¯t been out for too long, but time was still of the essence. Ash would not last much longer with how much blood he¡¯d lost, and Riley would expire soon enough too if the poison wasn¡¯t removed from his system. ¡°This way,¡± Rei said, pointing. ¡°North.¡± North would lead them closer to the Diamond Settlement. That was their best hope now. Depending on how close they got, once night fell, they might be able to see smoke rising from the settlement and orient themselves that way. Whatever the case, they could not stay here. ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Rei said, pulling Riley¡¯s body up. ¡°We need to move!¡± Sneasel seemed to snicker at his troubles and Rei glared at her. Then he frowned. Wait, if Sneasel¡¯s here, then¡­ Rei pulled out Grotle¡¯s pok¨¦ball and released him once again. ¡°Grotle, help us carry Ash, please.¡± Grotle was just large enough to support Ash on his back, and though Rei had been reserving him for attacking and defending, something Shellos could not possibly do alone, if Sneasel could fulfill that role, that would take a literal weight off his and Riley¡¯s shoulders. He didn¡¯t even bother asking Sneasel. But if they came under threat again, he knew Sneasel would protect them, as she already had versus Drapion. But Sneasel had other plans. She leaped up and tackled Riley to the ground, licking her lips. ¡°Sneasel, no!¡± Rei yelled, running toward her, but Sneasel flashed her claws and he stopped in his tracks. Grotle released a low rumble and he angled his head toward Sneasel in challenge. Sneasel smirked, as if daring him to attack. Her gaze flashed toward Rei and she moved her mouth toward Riley. Rei frowned. Sneasel sank her fangs around the wound on Riley¡¯s arm, now oozing pus and blood. Her throat pulsated as she sucked the poisoned blood from his body. Riley groaned but could do nothing else in protest. Once she was finished, Sneasel unhooked herself from him and licked her teeth, grinning. Rei just stared at her for a few moments before kneeling down to Riley. ¡°Riley? Riley!¡± He put his hand on the older man¡¯s neck. His skin was pale and clammy. I don¡¯t know how much blood Sneasel just drank but it¡¯ll take time for his body to replace what he just lost. Each pulse of Riley¡¯s neck gave Rei hope. But he is replacing it. Better a bit of blood loss than being poisoned and dead. Rei furrowed his brows and heaved Riley off the ground. Despite the blank look in his eyes and his groggy complexion, Riley stood up again without collapsing, though it felt like he was resting all of his weight on Rei. Riley mumbled something as Grotle shifted Ash atop his back but Rei ignored him and slipped his arm under Riley¡¯s. ¡°Alright, we can do this! Let¡¯s go!¡± Akari would have to wait. Growlithe would have to wait. The others would have to wait. Two men were dying right in front of Rei. He¡¯d be damned if they kicked the bucket under his watch. They¡¯re still alive, Rei told himself. If Ash somehow is, then they definitely are. He elected to ignore the possibility that Akari was similarly maimed. The sun beat down on them with each heavy step. Sweat began to drip onto the ground in front of Rei and his head pounded. Soon, his vision was so blurry he couldn¡¯t even tell if the drops from his head were sweat or blood from his wound. The feet dragged across the cracked ground like iron and his arm had long gone numb from supporting Riley¡¯s weight. Need¡­to stay¡­alert¡­ Rei¡¯s eyelids fluttered as he fought to keep them open. The landscape seemed to blur in front of him but as long as he could still see something, at least he could confirm he was still conscious. But as the day lurched on and the sun blazed down from above, Rei began to see color ebbing away. Sweat pooled on his eyelashes and he blinked it away. ¡°Rei¡­¡± Riley moaned. Rei felt the Guardian¡¯s weight lessen as he straightened himself. Riley raised a finger, pointing toward a small grove of trees that rested in the shadows of a rocky hill. If Rei squinted, he could just barely make out the details, but by now, his head was throbbing so badly it felt like his forehead was about to burst like a bubble. ¡°There¡­¡± Riley said, his voice hoarse. ¡°Let¡¯s stop there¡­¡± Rei felt a wave of relief wash over him as they passed into the shade, finally out of the burning sun. Even in winter, the Mirelands remained hot and muggy thanks to the foul breath of the many hulking ground types and the noxious fumes of the many morose poison-types that lived here. He dropped Riley unceremoniously before collapsing to the ground himself, panting vigorously. The Guardian, however, didn¡¯t fall, but he did rest himself up against a tree. ¡°Thank¡­you,¡± he breathed. ¡°And¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rei didn¡¯t even have the strength to respond. Instead he reached down and pulled Shellos¡¯ pok¨¦ball off his belt and released him. The slug stared at him blankly. ¡°Water¡­¡± Rei moaned. Shellos spat out a stream of water all over him and Rei opened his mouth and gulped down as much as he could. It tasted like mud, but he didn¡¯t care. He was dehydrated and he knew it. Between himself, Riley, and Ash, he was the least injured, meaning it was up to him to keep the others alive. That meant he needed to be in the best shape possible. Once he¡¯d had his fill and his stomach felt bulbous, he rolled over, satisfied, drenched from head to toe. ¡°How¡¯re you feeling?¡± Rei asked after replenishing his lungs with a spell of deep breaths. Riley opened his mouth to answer but a coughing spell overtook him. He turned and spat out a glob of blood. ¡°Better, thanks to Sneasel. Thank you, Sneasel.¡± Sneasel sneered cruelly and licked her lips, as if to say, No, thank you for the delicious meal. ¡°Gimme a bit and I¡¯ll start looking around for some pecha berries for you,¡± Rei said. ¡°No,¡± Riley said, and he started limping toward Ash. Grotle cast him a curious look as he approached. ¡°I need to treat Ash first.¡± Rei sat up. ¡°Treat Ash? What about you? You¡¯ll die too, you know? Drapion poison is even worse than blood loss or infection! You need to let yourself rest!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll rest after I treat Ash.¡± Riley raised his hands over Ash¡¯s bloody body. ¡°He is in mortal danger right now. If he dies, there wouldn¡¯t be a point in keeping my life.¡± Rei frowned in horror. ¡°The Aura treatment? Do you even have the energy for that?¡± Riley¡¯s brows tightened and his palms began to glow azure. The light of Aura was faint and Riley clenched his teeth, his body going rigid as he tried to force out more power. Rei stood up and walked closer. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Riley¡¯s head shook once. ¡°You¡¯ve done plenty already.¡± His Aura brightened and showered Ash in its healing light. Riley¡¯s eyes trembled behind his closed eyelids, but before long, the light of his Aura faded, and he slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Rei looked at Ash. He didn¡¯t look any better, but then again, he was covered in so much dried blood, it was impossible to tell if any of his wounds had closed. ¡°That¡¯s all I can muster for now,¡± Riley panted. ¡°He¡¯ll need more¡­ Far more.¡± ¡°What even happened to him?¡± Rei asked, just now absorbing how grisly he looked. Now that he had a moment to relax, he realized he didn¡¯t even know how Ash had gotten like that. ¡°It was Volo. He also wields the power of one of Arceus¡¯ Plates.¡± Rei swallowed. Did he really create that giant tornado of darkness? Even Ash didn¡¯t make anything that big during his training¡­ The thought that Ash¡¯s current state had been directly caused by the power within him, that someone had rendered this sort of butchery on him in order to claim it from him¡­ Suddenly, Rei wasn¡¯t so jealous of that power. ¡°Why¡­how are we here?¡± he asked, turning away from Ash, as the sight of him was starting to become nauseating. Riley closed his eyes. ¡°It was Sabrina.¡± Rei¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Sabrina? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Just before I lost consciousness, I saw her. I felt her power envelope me. I don¡¯t claim to understand her power, but it seems she teleported all of us as far away from Volo as she could.¡± Rei took a few seconds to process that information. ¡°Well, what about her? And what about the others?¡± The skin around Riley¡¯s eyes crinkled grimly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Once I regain a bit more of my strength, I can extend my Aura to cover as much area as I can and search for them.¡± Rei slumped back. ¡°How are we supposed to get to the Pearl Settlement now?¡± He glanced at Riley. ¡°And I guess there¡¯s no chance of you seeing that traveler in the north either.¡± Riley looked deep in thought. ¡°I wonder if the others are still in the Icelands somewhere.¡± ¡°What makes you think that?¡± ¡°Again, I don¡¯t know much about Sabrina¡¯s powers. But she did say once that she couldn¡¯t teleport anywhere she hadn¡¯t been to before. Since she hasn¡¯t been to the Mirelands before, perhaps our being here is a mistake. Or perhaps she meant to take us all here, but could only manage the three of us.¡± Sneasel growled and Riley raised a placating hand. ¡°Four of us.¡± ¡°Are you saying Akari and the others are still there in the Icelands with that monster?¡± Rei said in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But I do know Volo was injured. Ash was able to damage him severely. Though it may not seem like it, Volo¡¯s ambush failed. And since he revealed his true intentions to us, it won¡¯t work again. The smartest move for him to make next would be to retreat to the Temple of Sinnoh, to Mount Coronet¡¯s peak where the temporal rift is. That way, he¡¯d guarantee we¡¯d have to cross him again before leaving this time and returning to our own.¡± Rei nodded. ¡°That makes sense. But if he created that rift, wouldn¡¯t he just be able to close it? Then you guys would be stuck here forever.¡± ¡°Possibly. However, if he keeps it open, he can use it to lure us to him.¡± Rei¡¯s expression darkened and his grip tightened around his legs as he glared at nothing in particular. ¡°Good.¡± Riley frowned. ¡°Good?¡± Volo¡¯s treachery, Rei¡¯s separation from Akari, the psychopathic violence he¡¯d inflicted on Ash¡­ All of it burned like an inferno in Rei¡¯s stomach. When he thought of Volo¡¯s face, it made him want to puke. ¡°I have a few words for that guy,¡± Rei said, his voice steeped in a barely-contained rage. Next ¡ª Chapter 71 : Diamond in the Rough