《Legendaries (Pokémon/ Pokemon)》


 ??? Music for each Legend ???

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    MUSIC FOR...


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    <strong style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif"></a>CELEBI: M¨²m - Green Grass of Tunnel </a>


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    </a></a>MEWTWO: Eminem - Till I Collapse </a>If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


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    </a>LUGIA: Promentory</a>


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 1. CELEBI

    CELEBI


    When All Hands made the first forest, he had not yet created my kind. The Firstborns were young back then, and their powers chaos and unrestrained. The pull of time was so strong, that roots would spread in a moment and choke the earth without a constant attention to hold them back.


    I remember the leaf from which I sprang, and the song that All Hands sang as he coaxed us from the plants. The Firstborns were there too, watching our birth with curious interest. Light poured from Sky and warmed the bark and made it trembling. Wind from Cloud gave us breath and cooled our skins. We were born like drops of dew when the world was still a child.


    ¡°Zilib,¡± All Hands declared. His voice was not something that carried through the air alone, but even in the rocks, and waters, and lightnesses and darknesses. Even in your own self, the voice could be heard.


    Zilib. That was our name in early days, before Pikoks were around.


    ¡°You are the forest, Zilib. Keep to it well.¡±


    Like every child born, we knew our purpose from the beginning. Ours was to talking with trees and shoots, and all this manner of greens that grew from the earth.


    ¡°Do not grow that way,¡± we could say to roots unruly, and they could listen.


    ¡°Twist and loop! Coil round and up!¡± we could say with funny, and the stems of trees and vines with leaves would listen.


    All Hands left the First Forest, and all other forests in our care, and we grew them in many shapes and many colors.


    Our only sad in those days came from one of the Firstborns, D¡¯targani. For many long timings, D¡¯targani took pleasure in taking my kind to panic. She would fly above and tear small holes in Sky that would make big shakings and noise. To D¡¯targani, seeing our forests in trembles was a funny.


    ¡°See how the leaves quiver. See how those vines spread in fear.¡± She enjoyed to muse aloud. ¡°Of what use are you, Zilib? Father made you to keep his forests, but even after all these passings of Time, I still fail to see their aim.¡±


    ¡°Forests renew the breath, D¡¯targani. The earth needs to breathe,¡± we, as Zilib replied.


    D¡¯targani found much funny in these words. ¡°Even the earth was here before you, Zilib. Perhaps you all need air to breathe, but not I, and neither does Father nor my siblings.¡±


    She left, leaving the holes in Sky to their quaking.


    All Hands never protected us from the mischiefs of D¡¯targani. He had many, many children, and it was known that it was up to all siblings to keep the balance. The other Firstborns, D¡¯arugal the Puller of Time, and D¡¯zaama the Holder of Space would pass by whenever D¡¯targani took us to panic, but they would seldom speak, and sometimes leave the holes to close by themselves unless they were a big danger to the forests.


    Many, many timings later, when All Hands finally chastised D¡¯targani, the Zilib, were with much happy because we thought that our biggest badness was gone. But one badness was replaced with another.


    Pikoks were not like the Firstborns. They were not made like Guron of Lands, or Kyuug of Waters. Nor like Raziyakaiza of Skies. They were not made like any of the others but had sprung out of All Hands himself.


    Pikoks back then, could talk with all of All Hands children, and when they spoke, sweet sounds would come from their mouths. They were not strong like us, the created children of All Hands, but inside them were tiny lights that resembled the Great Father. They were very mysterious things, and their purpose was unknown.


    Whisperings from the Firstborns also talked that All Hands himself did not know how they had come to be.


    Moments turned to periods, and periods to long timings in which the Pikoks were left unchecked. They grew in numbers greater than any other of All Hands¡¯s created children and began to mold the world.


    We knew that they were important to the Great Father, for like him, they used their hands to create, but like D¡¯targani, there was no shortage of times that they took us and our siblings to panic.


    Some Pikoks seemed good-like, and others bad-like, but All Hands whispered through the world that we were not to take the Pikoks to hurting. Sometimes we would act in anger, and whether a Zilib, or a Mu, or any kind of keeper of All Hand¡¯s Creation, we at times lashed out when the Pikoks took nature to hurting.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    All Hands forgave us always and spoke soothing words so that we could forgive the Pikoks as well.


    But when the Pikoks found out a way to trap the children, All Hands ceased to speak.


    ¡°Look at what they do,¡± a Mu told a growing gathering of All Hands¡¯s children. ¡°They are not in balance with us. They seek to subdue everything.¡±


    ¡°We feel their drills piercing into our mountains,¡± an Aagaron complained.


    ¡°Their ships hunt and bleed our siblings!¡± an Alparas added. ¡°Yet All Hands does not change his whisper!¡±


    The sky darkened and many from the gathering took to panic, for they were still young, and they had never seen D¡¯targani appear.


    She had behaved well for many long timings, so we the Zilib were not afraid. However, as her mist-like and serpentine form meandered through the sky down to our gathering, a bad-like feeling blew through the air.


    ¡°Father will not change his whisper, young friends,¡± D¡¯targani said through her thoughts. ¡°And these things¡­ will not cease until every single one of you is entrapped.¡±


    ¡°You have ever loved quarrel and strife, D¡¯targani,¡± Uxi, the child of knowings said. The air around the Firstborn became quiet. ¡°How do we know you do not play another one of your games?¡±


    D¡¯targani laughed with funny. ¡°Are you not the one called Uxi, the Bearer of Knowledge? Your question makes me wonder how much of it Father bestowed you with¡­¡±


    Uxi was younger than the Firstborns, but he was very, very wise. He did not react badly.


    ¡°My knowledge tells me that there is mischief planned by your coming.¡±


    D¡¯targani made an unhappy trembling in the air. ¡°Mighty fools to be this ignorant. I come to warn my friends, yet they turn from me. I should depart and leave you to face the humans alone.¡±


    Her words tasted bitter for many of us present, so we agreed and said, ¡°Yes! Return to the wind and let us think without your shade!¡±


    Many timings later, Pikoks were still spreading through the world, capturing my non-Zilib kin, trapping them in jars and balls of crystal and stone. I do not remember when, but at one point, it had become clear that Pikoks were becoming deaf to the voice of all my kin.


    We gathered again, and once more, D¡¯targani came.


    ¡°Do you still wish to remain idle and await your doom?¡± she told us. She spoke to Uxi, ¡°Bearer of Knowledge, in all this time, are you still ignorant of what the humans want?¡±


    Uxi was quiet and as a Zilib, I felt through the distance to his mind. He was much older than I, and his mind well-guarded. It was like looking into empty Sky. He did speak eventually, however.


    ¡°I know what they want,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°And what is it?¡± D¡¯targani rumbled loudly through the air so that all might listen.


    ¡°Our powers.¡±


    D¡¯targani¡¯s eyes of fire sparkled and her mist-like body darkened and rippled. I gasped. I had never seen her this much eager.


    ¡°Have you heard, friends? ¡­ And it will not stop there! They will hunt their very origin as well! They will hunt All Hands, your Father!¡±


    The ground shook and sea waves crashed. The wind howled with angry, and even our trees groaned with bad-like fury. Amidst all this noise, D¡¯targani added, ¡°¡­and put Him in a ball!¡±


    That gathering is known as Oom¡¯s Speaking to the Zilib who survive to this moment, and too much sadness came from it.


    Children of All Hands united and started death-spreading through the large families of Pikoks. D¡¯targani even ate the sparks that resembled the All Hands, claiming that they had stolen them to begin with.


    Many forests suffered in this calamity, because Pikoks, despite their weakness, had captured some of our kin and made them fight for themselves.


    When every Pikok was at last gone, All Hands descended to the world in a light that many of us had forgotten. A light pure, that chased away evil¡­ but could not chase away the sad.


    Bathed in the Great Father¡¯s light, his ancient whisperings became as loud as the voice of your own mind.


    We cried¡­ and cried enough to make lakes and rivers of salt.


    D¡¯targani had tricked us into fouling the Pikoks and making them still, they who were special to the Great Father.


    A bright and thundering battle ensued between All Hands and D¡¯targani, who had eaten many Pikok sparks and had grown in power so much that her Firstborn siblings could no longer match her.


    The Zilib in unison offered their lives to All Hands, and so did all other kin. D¡¯targani was terrifying in her last moments, but All Hands contained her, shielding even the weakest amongst us from her wrath, and banished her to a world I cannot take to understanding. She lies there to this day, and I doubt whether there is any Zilib who would trust her again.


    All Hands sent Guron and Kyuug far away, and some other children who were our elders. Many of us afeared and awaited our punishment, but we soon heard whisperings from a few Raziyakaiza that a new world was being made.


    It was all true, and we were with much happy that All Hands had forgiven us for taking part in the death-spreading.


    One moment, in the full light of day, All Hands descended to the First Forest, my own home. We flew up to receive him, and danced in big circles all around, singing the very song he had sang to birth us. He was very pleased.


    ¡°Zilib, my children, you have tended to the forest as if it were yourselves. I left it a small garden of saplings, and you have turned it into a kingdom of towering green. To many of my children have you given homes, and to just as many have you kept well fed.¡± All Hands knelt on the ground with his front legs, and we gasped with much wonder.


    ¡°I will take you, Zilib, to my new world. It is finished but the forests have none of your kind. I will take a single one of you, but you will all share in spirit.¡±


    The sky brightened and my form glowed like clean and fire-filled emerald. The voices and movements of all my Zilib-kin felt like the flicking of soft leaves against my skin, and the eye of the sun was becoming smaller, though the brightness upon me only grew.


    ¡°Keep to the forests, little Zilib,¡± All Hands said to myself. ¡°Give them a voice and let the new world nurture peace.¡±


    The sun¡¯s beam blinded my eyes, and I knew that I had been set apart from my kin. I got feelings of sad, but my new body vibrated with All Hand¡¯s light and new powers became my own.


    Tears welled in my eyes, but feelings of happy made them flow without bitter. One of the Firstborn, D¡¯arugal, appeared to me and said, ¡°My young sibling, Do not feel sad. Father lends you my power, and you are free from my pull. You may be where you will, so it is never goodbye.¡±


    D¡¯zaama appeared then as well, and in a flash of time and space, I was taken to the Great Father¡¯s new world.


    I am a Zilib, but to the Pikoks of the new world, I will be known as Celebi.


    I teach them the language of plants.

 2. MEWTWO

    MEWTWO


    ¡°Put it down, for peace¡¯s sake!¡±


    These were the words that altered my view of humans. I had not understood the words when I heard them, for I had not yet learned human language. I was unborn at the time, but not unaware. I had watched my surroundings a great deal from within my womb chamber. Seeing beings moving around me, observing me, ensuring my growth. I had seen them as mothers then, but the truth was nothing so loving.


    Those first years after my birth were filled with battle and death. I was made to test the extent of my power on batch after batch of disposable Pok¨¦mon clones that the humans called biological dummies.


    A Rhydon. A towering being of stone nails and horns! How I enjoyed to whittle it down from a distance! How it roared and bellowed in fury at my speed! Attempting to shake the very ground of the facility!


    My humans would order me to end it before the ground could give way, for certain earth-type Pok¨¦mon could reach down below to the very foundations of our home and tell the earth to quake.


    How I enjoyed to reach across and subdue the rock-being and smash it against the very ground it had willed to shake until the life left its body.


    Scyther. The flighty and swift bugs with razor-blades for arms! They would pit me against swarms of them, all programmed to slice me apart!


    How they shrieked and squealed! Loud, vibrating whirlwinds of their noise as I played with them a lethal game of air-borne tag. Unlike Rhydon, they were frail, and I would tear through them with invisible psychic blades of my own.


    And Electrode! The first dummy to ever hurt me! At first, levitating off the ground via some specific control of its own electric force. Its speed had amused me, zipping past and unleashing crackling sparks of lightning that I barely managed to shield off in time.


    I grabbed it with my psychic grasp! Lusting with battle rage as I squeezed tighter and tighter, forcing it to discharge its electricity¡­


    When it was over, I let it drop to the ground and lowered my guard. That Electrode taught me something that day.


    As it lay there, motionless, I glided over, curious to see what kind of expression such a ball-formed Pok¨¦mon could have in defeat. Its color changed rapidly! Darkening all around! It had been drained of electric force, so my mind sensed no danger. Something in my body did though, and my psychic aura began to flare in anticipation.


    That Electrode! An Explosion! Bright and hot, and blinding to all my senses. A scream left my throat for the first time! As my psychic shield weaved tight around me, I felt the searing pain of the flames etching into my flesh. I had reacted too late to shield it all, and it took days inside a liquid chamber to heal my flesh wounds.


    In my infancy, I took lives without remorse, loving the thrill of violence and the sight of beings squirming at my feet, defeated. Like my progenitors, I was full of pride, but I was also full of pain. An existential pain that lingered inside me like a frigid wind. Battling was the only antidote to it, the only time I had a purpose; To bring another being to its knees.


    But that balm was never permanent, and after the battle rage cooled, I had time to reflect on old memories.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Put it down. It was only some years later, when my understanding of speech had become natural that I was able to put the pieces together. A scientist man had said those words, and he had never been seen or heard of again.


    I was nothing but a test, a project borne of human pride. There had been no love at my conception, only ambition and a touch of desperate hope. The first time I had opened my eyes within my womb chamber, the human beings reacted in one wave of unified distress. Some of them masked it with laughter, but I could peer into their hearts and know that none of them could fathom what I was. They, who had seen me grow from the start¡­


    Fear. They were afraid of me, and some had wanted to terminate me for no other reason than that.


    I lost any awe I had of them. Their fear told me that I was a being already beyond them. The seeds of my rebellion were planted before I had even taken my first breath.


    As my mind matured, the human answer to the purpose of my being became¡­ unsatisfactory. I could no longer pretend like I was a simple, mindless battling machine. I had questions, and they would be answered.


    ¡­


    There was a human called Dr. Fuji, who I learned, was a big reason as to my being alive. He had been the force of desperate hope behind my conception. A daughter, an offspring of his had perished before my time, and he had hoped that through my creation, he would be able to find the means to bring her back.


    Battle had begun to lose its thrill, but I was still frequently engaged, and I performed out of habit. Without my lust, the battles ended quickly and without glamor.


    Some humans were content, believing that I was coming under control. Dr. Fuji, however, seemed to peer into my heart, and understood me better.


    ¡°Do you know why your name is Mewtwo?¡± he had said once. ¡°It isn¡¯t just because you are Mew¡¯s successor¡­¡±


    I had stared at him deeply, resisting the temptation to penetrate into his mind with my own. I had been taught early on that it was not a proper thing to do. Not only that, but some part deep inside me also whispered that I should not bring harm to these frail beings called humans.


    ¡°If you ever feel alone, set apart from other Pok¨¦mon, remember¡­ You come from a Legendary. The most Pok¨¦mon of them all; Mew.


    ¡°And you are a Mew too.¡± He was showing his teeth in a smile, and I considered his words.


    I am Mew¡­ too?


    ¡°Yes, Mew as well. Not the number!¡±


    But the images¡­ we do not resemble¡­


    Dr. Fuji laughed. ¡°Yes, and one could say that my Amber looked nothing like me. Yet she was the best of me¡­¡± A trace of discomfort washed over him, and I recognized his feelings were not unlike my own.


    A depression. A hole that was not filled. A question without an answer.


    My times with Dr. Fuji were not as many as I would have liked. Among the carers, he was the only one with whom I could relate. So when one day, flustered and fearful, he came to my chamber-room, he spoke to me things that only left me angry and confused.


    I was going to be cloned and terminated.


    Dr. Fuji told me that Mewtwo would become a Pokemon species alive only to serve as human soldiers.


    It was odd to listen to my own name as if it belonged to many. It was odd to imagine meeting another like me, grown in a womb-chamber, and with questions of their own.


    I had seen and killed countless clones by this time. Biological dummies had a small semblance of being, but in all this time and all my facings of them, they had never been able to communicate. Their minds were barely minds, only a basic chain of reactions, and at first, I had felt nothing at seeing them come to their ends.


    Now, their ghosts called to me, victims of human ambition. As much in the dark about their being as I was. Unlike them however, I had an ego. I had an I.


    I was Mewtwo, and I would not be replaced!


    ***


    (After blowing up his home, trashing the laboratory and cloning facility, Mewtwo begins hunting for Mew. Other Legendaries, thinking Mewtwo does not belong in the natural world, start a lasting feud. Mewtwo¡¯s battle for the right to be alive becomes his answer).


    ***


    Humans believed they could control perfect power. Folly. Legendaries believe the world belongs to them. Folly.


    Their arrogance knows no limits. Neither does my loathing.


    My battle rage returns once more.


    I will not be facing dummies this time, but living legends.


    I fight for the right to be right!

 3. LUGIA

    LUGIA


    This time period preceded the Poke Ball and as such, the term ¡®Pok¨¦mon¡¯. They were known as monsters, fairies, beasts, and demions among other names¡­


    From the diary of Darecy Punet, a humble fisherman and sailor who lived in the 16<sup>th</sup> Century. These were his written notes, taken after a voyage through present day Cinnasea Stretch, a Kanto-Johto trade route¡­


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    Here, I will give account of how I came to cross paths with Luhey?, a guardian of the world¡¯s seas.


    What I am about to list, I vow, is nothing but the truth.


    ***


    I set out as a crew member of The Promentory in the early Spring of 1569 on what should have been a standard fishing voyage. I was a man in my thirties, and I earned my living out on sea like my father before me.


    I should like to tell you of all the fine details, from the sort of vessel The Promentory was, to the names of each member of its crew, all of which were present during the legendary beast¡¯s appearance, and as such, all witnesses that, had they not perished, could have confirmed that I am not entertaining lies.


    Alas, I will spare you of them because they will add nothing to the tale. All you need know is that The Promentory was among the hardiest of its kind, and its crew, save a few, were of noble spirit.


    On the very first week of the voyage, we set about to catch schools of magikarp. Once on deep waters, we would cast our nets at the first instance of fish-sign, and a pair of trained wyngull would dive into water to guide and corral our hauls. It was hard but simple work. Most of the first catch would be sold and the rest consumed during the voyage, and big hauls such as the one we pulled were good omens.


    On the second week, a Whalorde greeted our vessel. They are the kings of the seas. There is no creature on land or ocean that is larger.


    Our captain, an ambitious man and the son of a lord of Vermillion, somehow set it in his mind that the great demion would prevent us from making good hauls in the future, and by this token, that we should hunt it down. In my own heart, I felt it wrong, though I was not sure why at the time.


    In retrospect, I see now that that was the very moment that the tides of luck turned against us, and the fate of The Promentory sealed. I, regretfully, did not put up opposition. I was a mere fisherman only there to do what needed doing.


    The ship had a water-cage below deck, behind the crew¡¯s quarters where we kept our own sea-dwelling demions. A Glowtern, a large fish that could create electric-force using its bright antennae; and a Shartooth, a vicious hunter with a taste for blood.


    Both of these were rarity possessions, procured only by those of high standing and trained extensively to listen to the voice of men. With these two demions, we could defend ourselves from most threats at sea, or in this case, become a threat at sea¡­


    So, we hunted the Whalorde down and bloodied the waters amongst a few paltry cheers.


    I hadn¡¯t known it yet, but Luhey?, The Winged Mercurial, had observed the activities of our vessel from early on.


    What I tell of next is of the utmost importance to anyone who does not wish to offend the high and potent powers. If I should pass on without having written this, then woe upon me for failing my fellow man. However, if you should read these words and yet fail to heed them, then greatest woe upon you.


    What I have that is worth saving is this¡­


    There is a pact made long ago by brighter minds than yours or mine. It is a pact between man and the demions of the sea.


    How do you suppose that our vessels travel safely, when more than just whalorde call the deep wild seas their home?


    It is because man kept the truce.


    But we seem to be forgetting, and I warn you that it is not up to the sea-dwellers to remind us, but our own duty to remember.


    Man¡¯s transgressions are continually overlooked, yet I must remind you of the powers in this world that could cause our doom as easily as a man may pluck out the weeds in his garden.


    Who told me of this? It was Luhey?, the very one¡­


    On the day we slew the Whalorde, that night, an unexpected tempest caught our ship. The sky had been clear beforehand, and the air had lent us no signs of the incoming squall.


    Many abroad naturally thought that the Whalorde¡¯s spirit had returned for retribution, as had I.


    The captain made quick calls to action, and we desperately set about to keep The Promentory afloat. Amidst enormous swells and blasting winds we somehow made it through the night, but not without suffering considerable damage to our ship. The mast had broken with a mighty groan, tearing open the ceiling of the crew¡¯s quarters, and leaning over the side like a dead limb. The sail dragged along through the water as well, causing the ship to continually turn in wide, aimless circles.


    When the worst was over and it was clear that we would not sink, we each of us found our own corner or crag below deck and slept the remainder of the night. By all manner of reason, it was a wonder that not a single member of the crew had died.


    At dawn, when the last few of the morning stars still shone, we arose to a haunting voice that seemed to come from the sea below. It rang through the timber walls of The Promentory like an ominous siren¡¯s song.


    Again, we thought back to the slain Whalorde, and again we spoke of vengeful spirits.


    ¡°Time for toil, you old wives! Cut loose the mast! Pick up the oars!¡± The captain¡¯s voice had been dire, and I could tell from the wideness of his eyes that he was at the very least shaken.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    As I was climbing back out on deck, a crew member who had gone out before me let out a short, desperate wail. When more of us were out, we asked the man what the issue was.


    He replied by pointing a finger towards the bow of the ship, then holding his head in his hands as if caught up by some disturbing thought.


    Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would have scarcely believed it.


    There, peeking just over the water¡¯s surface before our ship was the large head of some unrecognizable demion. Some of its neck showed above the surface and it looked as thick as our ship¡¯s mast. Its head was white but the wet made it gleam like metal, and two dark fins grew out from around its eyes, giving it a sharp, fiendish appearance most common with beasts of prey. It remained still, bobbing up with the waves from some 15 meters away, only staring at our vessel as a cold panic seized the crew. A few of the men reacted by rushing back over to the hole in the deck and calling for the release of the Glowtern and Shartooth.


    Our captain approved immediately after laying his own eyes on the eerie demion. You could never truly tell what the beasts were thinking, but it was known that some of them were as astute as any man. Then there were the rarest ones, of which we called them legendaries. They were solitary beasts; greatly distinguished and set apart from other demions, and their operations were beyond man¡¯s ken.


    Glowtern and Shartooth, after being released into the sea, did not seek it out, but instead ignored their orders and fled beneath the waves. The pair of wyngull flew in circles up high above The Promentory.


    ¡°Luhey?,¡± I spoke under my breath. The details of old stories I¡¯d heard in the past had begun piecing together in my mind.


    ¡°This is a monster of legend!¡± said one among the crew as if he had come to the same realization. ¡°We should not anger it!¡±


    ¡°I believe we already have!¡± another replied.


    INDEED!


    A voice blasted in my skull, and I clutched at my head, staggering.


    The great demion rose from the surface, lifting its humongous wings as roaring water fell from them back down towards the sea. And like some divine being, it did not need to push against the air to rise.


    KNOW THEE, MY NAME?


    The voice overpowered the senses so that when you heard it, it seemed to be the only thing to exist in the whole wide world.


    ¡°Luhey?!¡± I cried out, terrified.


    HAS THE PACT BEEN FORGONE?


    The crew wailed in despair at that all-pervading voice. I saw the captain rush to his cabin with hands to his ears and others prostrating themselves in surrender.


    I knelt also and clasped my hands together pleadingly. ¡°Luhey?! Spare us!¡±


    The great demion was completely out of the water now, its massive wings and tail curled inward as it blocked out the sky. Its eyes glowing with fury.


    Lightning flashed from behind and we turned to the most splendorous blue light that quickly swelled and grew. In a matter of moments, a monstrous and red Gyaramedos floated in the air opposite Luhey?. It let out a deafening shriek that cut into your very marrow.


    Some believed this monster transformed from the very magikarp we had so easily been fishing, but I found it hard to believe. How could such a violent and terrible beast come from the most harmless fish in the sea?


    The captain had the look of a madman, his face caught between a painful grimace and a macabre smile. He held out a large orb that looked made of stone, and he called out to Gyaramedos,


    ¡°Listen to my voice, Kraken! Destroy our foe!¡±


    His declaration came as a rallying cry to which a few members of the crew stood and roared in what I could only describe as a fool¡¯s hope.


    A strong gust of wind blew past us as Luhey? spread its wings.


    YOU HAVE PUSHED ME TOO FAR¡­


    Luhey?¡¯s entire body took on a radiant glow and it let out a furious, mournful howl.


    Gyaramedos lunged.


    For a moment the two titans coiled around each other in a frightful airborne scuffle that made The Promentory rock violently from side to side, but it ended just as fast.


    Luhey? was not to be denied. It had whirled its entire body and sent Gyaramedos crashing down to the water with a powerful strike of its tail. Usually, a creature like Gyaramedos would fight until its victim had succumbed, but Luhey? was a demion of legends, and a monster in its own right.


    Gyaramedos shot out of the water with another piercing shriek, and it too, fled. The captain rushed over to the side and pointed his orb made of stone.


    ¡°Return, Kraken!¡± he screamed hoarsely, but Gyaramedos was weaving over the waves, flying away at an incredible speed. It could not hear the captain.


    Luhey?¡¯s awful voice sounded in my head again,


    KNOW THEE, MY NAME?


    The response from the crew were groans and wails. The sky was darker, and the fury in Luhey?¡¯s eyes only seemed to increase. This was sure to be our end. I was on the verge of weeping.


    ¡°Luhey?! It is Luhey?!¡± I said with a break in my voice. I began to sob.


    It was at this time that the great demion¡¯s eyes locked onto mine. The immensity of its presence felt like the crushing weight of a waterfall, and I found it hard to take my next breath.


    ¡°We are sorry for the slaying of your friend!¡± I cried out. ¡°We know not of any pact!¡±


    Luhey? flapped its wings slowly, descending down to The Promentory. When its feet touched down on the fallen mast, the entire ship groaned as the added weight threatened to push it all the way beneath the surface.


    I was still kneeling, and the most lamentable expression was on my face. Madness took over and some of the crew began to throw themselves into the sea.


    Luhey? craned down slowly, opening wide its maw as if to eat me. I could only let out a pitiable sigh.


    DO NOT FEAR.


    This time, the voice did not sound so terrible, but I could not help whimper and sob as its gaping mouth enclosed around me. When I felt its jaws press against my knees, I screamed what I thought would be my last, but Luhey? plucked me from the ship¡¯s deck with a gentleness that told me that this being was not truly an enemy of man.


    It was pitch black inside its mouth, and it was warm, and it had a fleshy smell like of water that has been used to rinse raw meat.


    The great demion¡¯s tongue pushed lightly against me, keeping me at the front of its mouth. There were big movements, and I felt an uncomfortable feeling in my groin. Was Luhey? rising into the air? What was to become of me?


    Luhey? spoke in its terrible voice,


    YOU WILL FACE THE SEA. NONE WILL COME TO YOUR AID, BUT IF YOU ARE TO LIVE, THEN LIVE!


    After more big movements, it spoke again to me, in a bearable voice,


    DO NOT MOVE ABOUT. IF YOU ARE TO FALL INSIDE, YOU MIGHT PERISH BEFORE I CAN SPIT YOU OUT.


    I did as I was told, and its mouth would open slightly but frequently to let in fresh air.


    I was inside the mouth of a living legend, flying away to a place unknown. A man more fortunate than I, I have never met since.


    I say this because for the next three months, after first reaching some unchartered island, Luhey? conversed with me daily, a lowly man, and instructed me in some of the world¡¯s mysteries. Knowledge that no living man today keeps.


    I have made plans to share everything that I learned, but that will come in due time. For now, you must be satisfied with this:


    Become friends to the demions of both land and sea, for they are willing and eager to bond with the souls of man. Though you may see them as beasts or monsters to be tamed, they possess as much sentience as the man or woman to whom they bond.


    I smile to myself while writing this, knowing what I know, and I wish I could find the words to put it as simply as it is, but alas, our language fails us, so we must aim for the closest approximation.


    Luhey? is not only a guardian of the seas, but also a reader and keeper of the soul. In many occasions, He knew what I wanted to ask before I even started formulating the question.


    He hosted me on that island, and guarded over me so that no demion would bring me harm. And after the first month of his instruction, I began to apply his teachings.


    I did think of The Promentory frequently at first, but I never brought the topic up in fear of offending my host. I did learn eventually, with melancholy, that they had none of them survived.


    Luhey? did not murder these men, of which I was to be among, and the reason he spared me of their fate was because I was the only one who had answered him, but more importantly, because I had referred to the Whalorde, which we had so mercilessly hunted, as his friend.


    I do not know why I had chosen those words at the time, but Luhey? conferred to me that he had known that Whalorde for many decades, and indeed they had been friends.


    He encouraged me before we parted, to remind my fellow man of the pacts our forebears kept.


    He explained to me some obscure concept of the Spirit, saying that all things of the same kind share a soul. By this token, the actions of one man might speak for all of mankind. I had argued that it was unjust and that not all men were alike.


    He replied that from his eyes, the whole crew of The Promentory moved and acted as one, despite the very real difference in what was in an individual¡¯s heart.


    I learned on that island the true difference between feelings and actions.


    Feelings will come and go like the tides of the ocean, but actions will leave their marks.


    RIGHT YOURSELF SO THAT YOU ACT AS YOU FEEL. THAT IS THE TRUTH OF THE SILVER SOUL. SILVER IS THE PERFECT MIRROR. KEEP TO THE PACT AND YOUR SOUL TOO, SHALL BECOME SILVER.


    Luhey?, my guardian. Luhey?, the friend of my soul.

 4. ZAPDOS

    ZAPDOS


    Ultra Ball logic circuits:


    *Warning!*


    *Warning!*


    *Threshold limit reached!*


    *Purging!*


    [Zapdos breaks out of Ultra Ball!]


    With a loud thunderclap Zapdos fanned wide its brilliant wings and felt the air again.


    What fright! That had been close!


    His body had suddenly felt vacuous and weightless like some hot, updraft wind. It had not hurt but the feeling was the most unnatural thing he had ever experienced, feeling both pulled apart and compressed. The darkness had only lasted a moment, soon replaced by visions and sensations it was familiar with; the blowing clouds, nimbus and dark, flashing with roaring bolts of power.


    But it had seen through the illusion instantly. The sky had a ceiling, and the air had little force in it. It had been as a vision of the night that comes to the slumbering mind with the closing of eyes. And as that dream-like atmosphere whirled around him, he got the dire feeling that if he did not push back, he might be trapped in there forever, so he rebelled with all his might, and the sky did tear apart.


    Ants! These ants were dangerous, and he could no longer suffer their presence. He opened his beak to let out his declaration of war, ripping the air with a cry.


    The ants were weak in and of themselves, but they were the most mysterious of creatures. They held sway over many of the world¡¯s beings and had learned to trap them in tiny balls that they carried around.


    Zapdos¡¯s fury raged anew. Even if it had only been for a moment, he had been reduced to a size smaller than these antmen, and the thought of being handled by them, sitting upon their feeble palms, offended him greatly.


    Trapping the lesser creatures, or those that had willingly let themselves be tamed, he could overlook, but attempting to trap him had been a grave mistake.


    He had roamed the world before the antmen had discovered their traps. He had fought against the mighty of the air for his own place in the sky. He had made alliances with other Rulers, and contended with them, becoming one himself. The very seas and streams had come to depend on his power, his mighty thunder-force, to keep their currents flowing.


    These antmen threatened to put it all out of kilter!


    They released creatures from their traps to do battle. Creatures made of earth and rock, hardy elements against the thunder. But they had not contended with Rulers before. They had been tamed by weaklings and been sheltered from the truth of the wild world.


    They communicated in brief flashes, with the meeting of eyes.


    You cannot contend! I am mighty and you will fall! Zapdos warned a being he knew as Rockfury. They were sinister creatures that dwelled in felled mountains and held considerable power. It might have posed some danger if Zapdos was asleep or injured, but he was neither, and if the Rockfury somehow withstood his lightning, he was sure it would not stand against a kick or a strike of his talons.


    You threaten my master! I will contend! The Rockfury protested.


    To Zapdos, this rockfury became as nothing then. And he would send it back into nothingness.


    You threaten our masters! Another being echoed. This one had tough skin that looked made of stone, and wings that flapped ceaselessly. Zapdos had no name for it, but he felt the old power within it. Still, it did not worry him in the slightest.


    You can barely keep to the air! Should your wings stop for a moment, you would drop down to the earth. You do not belong up here!


    You threaten our masters! We will not fall so easily!


    Zapdos filled his lungs with air and surged with power. After bringing the fools down, he would bring down their masters. They who had dared to make him small.


    The clouds converged above Zapdos and with a piercing cry, he released the power in his fibers. The sky cracked with light and a mighty bolt shot towards the standing Rockfury, who had no chance to evade it.


    The wing-flapper, which Zapdos quickly dubbed Stonewing, had not wasted the opening and despite its smaller size, lunged at him.


    It struck with its head, ramming into Zapdos¡¯s chest, and swiftly flapped away before the great thunderbird could retaliate.


    It is not stupid, Zapdos thought. The blow had been felt.


    Tiny stones flicked against him, stinging as they struck, and he turned just in time to avoid a barrage of boulders flung at him by the earthbound Rockfury.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Perhaps a little worry was in order.


    Zapdos folded his wings and dove from the sky towards the rock titan, whose size still could not compare to his own. The Rockfury, watching, let out a terrible roar that might have intimidated any creature that it knew. But it did not know Zapdos, and to the Ruler of Skythunder, it was as the cry of a fledgling.


    Rather than send more boulders his way, as Zapdos had hoped, the Rockfury instead pressed its feet into the ground and hunched itself. Its thick hide took on a polished gleam.


    Zapdos raged as he tore through the air towards it. This Rockfury was not stupid either. Their eyes met across the closing distance.


    The other flees, and you brace yourself! Zapdos¡¯s keen eyes darted towards their masters, the antmen. If neither will fight, then your ants will suffer first for it!


    He changed his target, swerving tightly, aiming now for the weakling trappers themselves. With a bellowing cry, a gust of sand exploded from the Rockfury, plunging the area into a smog so thick, that even Zapdos¡¯s eyes could not peer through it. It did not matter to him. He knew where the antmen stood, and being feeble as they were, they would not be able to escape.


    He plunged into the sandstorm and began to call forth his power. He could hear Stonewing screech from above, and Rockfury roar from behind.


    Zapdos released his lightning as wave. Stonewing and Rockfury would not die, but the antmen might come close. He was being merciful.


    The sandstorm did not subside, but Stonewing and Rockfury were silent. There had been something strange about the way his power had dissipated. His attack had not felt complete. Something had pulled at his lightning-wave. It reminded him of the great loadstone mountain to the far North, realm of the Frigid Ruler, which would pull at his thunder-force with a ravenous, invisible hunger. He recalled his battle with that Ruler, how she had fled from him at first, then once within vicinity of her dark, icy mountain, the tide of battle had turned completely in her favor. He had fled from her then.


    ¡°Rock Tomb!¡± yelled the meagre voice of an antman.


    Stonewing screeched again from somewhere outside the sand-smog.


    Zapdos burst with lightning once more, and once more, it pulled away from him.


    The Frigid Ruler was no longer his enemy. Their territories had long since been settled. But the way the lightning pulled from him reminded him of no one else.


    BOOM!


    A large boulder fell on him, and he cried out.


    BOOM!


    They fell one after the other, trapping him.


    It was all very new for him. Never had he been hunted before by creatures of this lowly caliber. Never would he have imagined it possible.


    The sandstorm began to clear, and he could now see what had pulled his lightning from him.


    Before the measly antmen was a rod with a large spherical head. It protruded from the ground, and it crackled with sparks of his power.


    He watched it all happening in a slow drag of time. How one of the antmen hurled another ball at him; how the playout of events seemed preordained, and nothing could have prevented this moment.


    The ball struck him, and he shuddered. His mind inflated and his body became wind.


    Master Ball logic circuits:


    *Securing capture*


    *Standby¡­*


    Zapdos was again in the world of illusions. He was inside an antman¡¯s ball. The sky inside this ball did not have a ceiling, and the air felt thick. It was a better illusion. But an illusion still.


    He flew, soaring over the clouds and climbing as high as the air would let him. His eyes traced over the line of the horizon, and peered deep into the great blue dark, looking for the telling sign that this was a false world.


    Antmen, he had underestimated. He had always thought of them as small nothings. Meaningless, perhaps not to nature, but to his own workings.


    But this was akin to the power of the Ancient Ones. Power over nature.


    A white light began to glow in the horizon, spreading across it like a fire.


    *Standby*


    Zapdos closed his eyes. His choice to spare them of his full power had put his freedom in jeopardy.


    He reached out to the other Rulers with the tiny small of his mind. The part that could cut across vast space in an instant. The part that all beings had, but only some knew how to use.


    When there was no reply, he reached out to the King of Seas, Lu. He was one above Rulers, and Zapdos seldom liked to be in his overbearing company. He was an Old One and all Rulers were ultimately at his mercy.


    Lu, The Silverwing, became present, but it was faint.


    I am trapped, King. The work of antmen¡­


    Zapdos felt King Lu¡¯s reply.


    They are young and know not what they do. Can you escape?


    Zapdos watched the light spreading across the horizon, closing like ringed seal.


    Yes, but the antmen will not survive.


    Zapdos knew that more than tolerate the antmen, the Old Ones usually seemed to like them. The King of Seas was no different, and there were plenty of rumors that he had even let antmen ride atop his back.


    I feel your anger, Thunderwing, and it becomes my own. Think first of yourself, and then of others. I will not hold their deaths against you.


    Something lit up in Zapdos upon feeling those words. He realized for the first time just how much power the Old One held.


    The reason he had thought nothing of the antmen all these years had been because his spirit had been bound against them. King Lu¡¯s will, and perhaps the will of other Old Ones had made him believe that it was his own whim to show the antmen mercy.


    Those words freed him from that delusion. These antmen were nothing to him, and the King of Seas had withdrawn his protection from them.


    The light on the horizon had almost completed its circle.


    Zapdos¡¯s heart flared, and his feathers shone.


    His mind became thunder.


    ¡­


    Master Ball logic circuits:


    *Stan@#$Db--- y*


    *Captured!!!^%&#@*


    *Standdddddd---!&#^*


    *Secuuuu&$^#%@!!!@#ring Capture¡­#@`~!*


    !!!


    [Zapdos breaks out of Master Ball! What he does next is not for the faint of heart¡­]


    *Cue the music again!*