[Author's Note: This story is designed to be a sequel to two stories not already posted. This can still be read by itself, but when those stories are complete, I suggest you read those first.]
Act 1 - The Usurper
2000 AU (After the Usurper)
To the far east of the region of Equivos, across the vast ocean, the continent of Deitae remained at peace. A forest rose in the center of the numerous domains of the Legends: The Luminescent Woods. Golden lights emerged from the soil and floated into the sky, free of Pokémon to disturb them. Trees lay still, the oceans remained at rest, and the Legends slumbered. The miniature continent lay free of turmoil, and the blanket of stars shined down on the creators of Equivos and their home.
A jagged mountain crowned with snow suddenly lurched. The peak sent up a plume of snow, and the sky clouded over. The peak shook again, a large rupture cracking down the middle. A creature roared through the night-awakened by a silent call-and crashed through the inside of the Mountain of Rebirth. Two massive wings beat through the air, sending arcing bolts of lightning into the clouds. The storm broiled, and Yveltal, the Destruction Pokémon, careened upward to the heights of the world.
From the rubble that surrounded what remained of the mountain, a figure crawled out, looking up at the enormous Legend. A silent chuckle permeated through the air, and a materializing claw reached for the gathering storm. The owner solidified, his fangs glinting in the fading moonlight, and his mane taking on its natural crimson hue.
He opened his eyes, the ice-colored irises focusing on the blackening clouds. His claws remained as sharp as when he first entered the Cocoon of Destruction. His sturdy limbs were still strong, and his fur remained a luxurious gray, stricken with streaks of white throughout the coat. The bead that tied his mane together shined bright, swaying in the growing breeze.
The Zoroark took a deep breath, a sensation he hadn't experienced for millennia. He exhaled, relishing the rush of air out of his nose. He cherished the smell of the fresh air. He enjoyed the forces of nature heralding his return.
He chuckled, walking out from the rubble and onto the soft soil beyond. He came to a spot next to a tree, feeling the succulent presence of energy. He dug his claws into the ground, absorbing the Life that lay deep beneath the surface. The golden bracelet that hung from his wrist grazed against the soil.
As he siphoned the power, the Usurper looked up at the glowing tree that stood in the center of Deitae.
He grinned.
Arthus had returned.
[~~~]
The storm's intensity grew across Serenita, Deitae's neighboring continent. The rolling plains and forests blew back in the fierce winds as Pokémon, both wild and civilized, took shelter. Above a cluster of homes, near a secluded cave atop a hill, a cloaked figure trudged toward a flickering light.
It came to a door set in a cluster of rock and pounded it with a black fist. "Open up, please! I bear terrible news!"
A slit in the door slid open, revealing a glaring pair of ice-blue eyes. "What are you doing here? You should be inside!" The rain started to fall, pelting the cloaked figure.
"I've come to warn you about something!"
The eyes squinted, studying the figure with his hood drawn. They could make out a plume of red fur at the bottom, with a streak of white fur reaching up to the chest, and yellow surrounding it. Poking underneath the hood was more red fur, and they could see a small snout sticking out. The eyes remained unseen.
"Zaman Delphox? Why can't this wait?" the one behind the door said, his eyes weakening their resolve.
"It has to do with your ancestor."
The slit closed, and the door flew open. A young Zoroark stood behind it, wide-eyed with fear. "What about him?"
Zaman beckoned for him to come closer, his paw forming a crook. The Zoroark complied, moving toward him until their heads were nearly touching.
Zaman jabbed the Zoroark in the chest, driving it deep. The Zoroark gasped, falling to his knees. He looked up and stared in horror. Deep blue eyes shone from under the hood.
The Delphox yanked back his paw and stepped over the lifeless Zoroark. He sneered and tossed his head around. "Traitor…" He stopped, studying the humble abode his recent victim lived in.
A pair of chairs sat in the corner, warm and inviting next to the low-burning fireplace. In front of them was a small table, with a collection of berries set inside a basket in the center. A set of shelves between them held a collection of books. Moss covered the rock walls curving around the adjacent hallway. The wind rushed through a shuttered window to his right, the rushing air making a musty scent.
Zaman spotted a picture above the fireplace, showing a pair of Zoroark with an elder Lucario in a desert scene. He padded silently into the next room, frowning. Within, another Zoroark sat on a chair, fondling her mane as she read from a book emblazoned with a flame surrounded by an arc. A pillow lay next to her, and on the other side was a length of rope, a ball, and a wooden doll in a rough, humanoid shape. A candle burned on the table next to her, illuminating the text within her book.
She looked up and cocked her head. "Zaman? What are you doing here?" She tried to look around him. "Where's Ryon?"
Zaman gestured to the room behind him, his brow furrowing. "I'm afraid he's no longer here."
She studied him suspiciously. "You don't…sound right." She looked outside, glancing at the beating rains. "You never go out in a storm. You told me yourself the last time we were in town. You even said you were going to close since one was coming soon."
She turned back around, and Zaman stood in front of her, his paws parted and his eyes visible. She gasped at the light-blue eyes that stared back at her, a mirror image of the eyes that belonged to her late husband—only cold, tortured…murderous.
She froze, shaking. "R-Ryon?"
The Delphox's eyes glinted. "No." His paws cut into her chest, causing her to rear back and struggle for breath.
In her final moments, the Delphox hovered over her. "Arthus has returned." The Delphox melted away, revealing a large Zoroark with white streaks in his fur, his limbs thick and strong.
He pulled away from his victim, allowing her to fall against the ground, still. He stared down at her, then took a cloth from the table, wiping his claws clean. "My lineage is now clean of—" He shuddered. "Lucario." He looked up and considered the ceiling. "A few too many friendships in my family tree leads to it needing to be chopped down." He tapped the side of his head, shifting his blue eyes. "All too easy when they all have my signature feature."
He dropped the cloth and moved into the other room-careful to step over Rhianna's body-and stopped next to the side-table. "What else did my descendants do wrong?" He picked up the decorated book, cracking it open and glossing over its contents. "Hmm…'The Arceist Tome: A History of Equivos and the Teachings of Arceus'."
The cushion next to the side table shifted slightly, and a black-and-grey ball of fur stepped out, sniffing. It drew near to the female Zoroark, nudging her face and whimpering.
Arthus raised his head, his eyes wide. He looked down at the Pokémon and gasped. "A Zorua!" he hoarsely whispered. He set the Tome back on the table, biting his lip.
The Zorua whimpered more, pushing against her back with her paws, her eyes staring blankly across the room. It finally fell on top of her, crying out for its mother.
Arthus looked left and right, biting the end of his claws. He studied the Zorua watching it weep into her mother's fur.
He reached down to it, then began to rub its back. "I'm…I'm sorry…that I made you suffer." He inched his fingers underneath the Zorua, eventually lifting it, much to its disdain.
It tried scrambling out of Arthus' grip to rejoin its mother, but Arthus' claws kept it locked. He put one hand over its head, and it briefly flashed crimson. The Zorua fell still, closing its eyes and breathing gently.
Arthus sighed, setting it back on its pillow, turning back to the Tome. He picked it up, then quaked with fury. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have to do this!" He took it by the spine and ripped it in half, the pages billowing behind him.
He heaved, forcing himself to calm. He looked down at his victim, then at the Zorua. "You're on your own now…without your parents…like I was." He rubbed his chin, his lips curling into a smile. "I won't let that happen." He picked up a page of the Tome, then snapped his fingers, creating a scarlet spark. He threw it to the other pages, and they quickly set light, a sizeable flame growing.
He scooped up the Zorua, cushion and all, then rushed out of the house, meeting with the torrential rains. He covered the Zorua with his cloak, stopping near a deadened tree and sinking into the ground, carrying with him the last of his kind.
[~~~]
In another part of Serenita, in the solitude of the Guild within the Iren Desert, the aged Guildmaster looked out the window of his domain, the Master's Tower. His Pokémon were in their homes, whether it be the Azure Inn or the Expedition Hall, safe from the weather.
The Lucario was dressed in a brown cloak, covering his shoulders, chest, and legs in leather folds. On his head was a brimmed hat, with his ears sticking out, and in his paw, a decorated staff, stiff and smooth with age. Around his neck was an intricate pendant, with the Arc of Arceus embroidered within. The cracked jewel in the center pulsed with a soft azure light, a remnant of its former power.
He studied the room he stood in, still amazed by the fact that it was from the time of the founder of the guild. A staircase descended from the opposite wall, down to the base of the tower. To his right, an aged bed with the covers folded neatly over it, and to his left, a cabinet with artifacts from all the Guildmasters before him. A large table stood in the center, with a set of seven chairs surrounding it.
"I'm sure this place has gone through worse than this," he sighed, looking out the window once more. Rain beat upon the cracked glass, and wind rushed through the open corners, bringing in a slight draft.
The door below him creaked open, causing him to turn. With the padding of wet paws, a voice echoed, "Guildmaster Calem, I've heard from Elsa that this storm has a dark meaning behind it."
"Kaiser, aren't you being a little dramatic? We've seen worse storms, and none of them had any sort of special meaning," he argued, stamping his staff on the stone floor.
An Electivire pounded up the stairs, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's different this time." He leaned against the railing, the wood creaking under his weight. "The old bat went batty right when the storm hit, and she kept saying, 'the Usurper has returned', over and over again." He growled, pounding his fists together. "Honestly, it makes me want to punch something."
The Guildmaster sped toward his friend and pulled on his arm. "What did she mean when she said, 'the Usurper has returned'?"
"It means that I have, Guildmaster."
The two looked down the stairs as a Zoroark gradually ascended the steps, looking up at the leaders of Lucario Guild. "A marvelous place Laryon made, isn't it? A fancy restaurant, a little school…" He sighed, shaking his head. "I hate it all."
Kaiser clenched his teeth while Calem bared them. "Who are you?" they said simultaneously.
Arthus stopped, aghast. "Astonishing. You've forgotten about, after I spent two-thousand years of wasting away in that infernal cocoon." He added the last few words with a sneer, glowering.
Calem stepped back, flinching. "You're Arthus, aren't you? No wonder Elsa said, 'the Usurper has returned.'"
Arthus punched the wall, the stone cracking. "I don't deserve that title." He bared his teeth. "I merely tried to do what Arceus should have done himself!"
Kaiser slammed his fist, discharging several volts from his tails. "Well, aren't you a smug little punk? I'd love to knock your lights out."
Arthus made a mocking chuckle. "And I'd like to see a dolt like you land a punch on me."
"Graah!" Kaiser roared, bounding down the stairs and rearing back his fist. Arthus leapt over the Electivire, allowing him to burst through the door at the base of the tower.
Arthus padded closer, taking light, graceful steps. "It shouldn't be much trouble to reverse the damage my hated Riolu made."
Calem clapped his paws together, a blue aura beginning to surround them. "You can't tear down the legacy Laryon made. Not while there's a Lucario alive." He held up a paw and made a blue sphere of energy, throwing it at Arthus.
Arthus slid to the left and stepped toward Calem confidently. "That's precisely why I have to kill you. You and all the other Lucario in Equivos."
Kaiser burst through the ruined door and fired a bolt of lightning from his tails. Arthus looked back and ducked. Calem rolled away from impact, firing another Aura Sphere at Arthus.
Arthus held his claws together and gathered an erratic, crimson ball of light. He threw it at the Aura, causing an explosion of purple light when the two met. Calem was thrown back into the cabinet, causing the glass to shatter.
Kaiser bounded up the stairs and reared back his fist. Arthus wove around Kaiser and raked his claws across his back. The Electivire grunted, turning around and throwing another punch.
Arthus avoided all the blows Kaiser attempted to strike with, all the while clawing at his attacker. With each strike, a sliver of Kaiser's Life Energy drained into Arthus. His punching slowed, his breathing grew heavy, and soon, his body was crisscrossed with scarlet streaks, a thin mist trailing into Arthus' claws.
Kaiser glared at Arthus, covered with scratches and wobbling forward and back. "You're a coward…fight me…" He fell forward, at which Arthus stepped to the side. "Like a Pokémon." Kaiser slid down the stairs, stopping with a thud at the bottom.
Arthus looked back, sneered, then progressed to the top of the stairs. Calem was struggling to reach a crystal with a multi-colored leaf inside, unable to stand up.
Arthus grabbed his paw, then with his other claw held up the crystal. He studied it closer, then grinned. "You really think Arceus will save you now? That old fool stays holed up in a tree, oblivious to the world around him!" He crushed the crystal, then drove his claws into Calem's paw, causing him to cringe.
Arthus came to Calem's ear and whispered, "Your Guild is now mine." He drew Calem's life from the paw, causing him to wither. Within moments, he lay lifeless on the floor.
After the deed was done, Arthus removed his claw, wiped it across his fur, then gingerly took the pendant from around Calem's neck. The crystal within glowed a dark crimson, its imperfect jewel leaking white light from the crack.
Muttering to himself, Arthus put the necklace over his neck. "It looks like my plans will have to wait. Curse Laryon and his kin." He looked out the window, considering what to do with his newfound responsibility.
He brushed his claws against the base of the window, creating a long gash. "Time to form a new Guild." He dashed down the tower and toward the houses of the Guild, screams filling the air as he culled the traitorous from the loyal.
[~~~]
The storms that heralded Arthus' arrival finally subsided, fading to a disastrous drone retreating to the horizon. Dead Pokémon littered the streets of Lucario Guild, hauled off by the few Pokémon that claimed allegiance to the Usurper. Far off, toward the south, the isles of Cretea lay deserted of life, flooded by the storm. All throughout the continent, no Lucario remained alive—as Arthus had sworn.
Within the Master's Tower—with Kaiser and Calem's bodies cleared away—Arthus took a deep breath in the center of the room. In his claws was a simple urn engraved with runes. His hand was clamped over the lid as he studied it with a smile.
He held it up to his face and said, "I think you've been in there for long enough." He pulled at the lid with all his might to no avail. He tried once more, then finally smashed the urn against the ground, shattering it and releasing a foul violet gas. It swirled and grew in front of Arthus, then condensed and darkened into a dark grey figure with a jagged maw and a single, crimson eye: a Dusknoir, laced with faint scars across its body.
The Dusknoir looked around briefly, taking in his environment. "The…the Master's Tower…where is Calem? How long have I been in there? How was I released?"
"It is me you should thank, Gardner," Arthus said, holding a hand to his chest.
Gardner noticed Arthus, then his eye widened. "You…you reek of death." He held up his fists and growled, "Who are you and why did you release me?"
Arthus waved a dismissive hand and paced around him, "Oh, don't bother with that; I have no interest in harming you—now, at least." Arthus came around Gardner's back and asked, "After my recent…purge, shall we say, I took the liberty of searching through the vault, and I found an urn with a certain Dusknoir trapped inside it. I was about to leave it there, but after reading your profile…well, I became interested."
Gardner lowered his arms but continued to glare at Arthus. "And what interested you so much, Zoroark?"
"Please, call me Arthus." He held up a claw to stop Gardner's inquiry, then added, "From what I read, you used to be the late Calem Lucario's assistant Guildmaster, but given your cruel tactics in capturing and disposing of outlaws—along with an incident with a team of cadets—you were incarcerated and replaced with Kaiser Electivire? Am I correct?"
Gardner crossed his arms and nodded his head slightly. "Yes. And why would you want me? If memory serves right, you founded the Guild, so obviously you have experience in running it—and I doubt you need an errand-mon."
Arthus wrapped an arm around Gardner, causing him to stiffen. "I'll fill you in on the details, but Calem is gone, and so are many others you likely knew." He sighed and shook his head. "As much as I'd like to manage this Guild and use it to fulfill my goals, I'd rather not have a repeat of my failures—in this case, allowing the world to know that I'm back." His eyes flashed, and he held a claw under Gardner's chin. "You know what I mean, don't you?"
Gardner gently pushed away the claw and replied, "Yes. It's basic history." He looked down and noticed the necklace around Arthus' neck. "Using the Seal again, I see? And how do you expect that to work with it broken?"
Arthus seethed and tapped against his head. "Exactly why I can't run the Guild! The Seal of Creation is the only way for me to take Arceus' place!" He grabbed a ruff along Gardner's neck and said, "I want you to become the new Guildmaster. Organize the Pokemon, handle the paperwork, all that; I simply don't have time for it."
Gardner yanked back and rubbed his neck. "And what makes you think I'll do that? You are one of the most dangerous Pokemon in Equivos; my life is at risk at every moment. What would I receive in exchange?"
Arthus considered for a moment, looking up. "Well, you'd have a place in my world free from evil."
Gardner crossed his arms and huffed. "As tempting as it is, that's not very assuring."
"I released you from the urn."
"A welcome act but releasing a criminal doesn't cut it."
Arthus smirked and rubbed his fingers together. "I also read that you loathe Arceists and all they do. Is that correct?"
Gardner hovered away and shuddered. "…Yes. What of it?"
"Under my command, I would order you to exterminate all the Arceists and burn all of their 'Arceist Tomes'; can't have anyone believing in Arceus' false teachings. I would ask for one or two be saved for research but do whatever you please in killing that religion."
Gardner paused, then turned around. "And I'd be free to manage the Guild as I see fit?"
"Provided that they don't go against my directives—which will be few and far between."
Gardner stood for a moment longer, then turned back around. The maw on his chest tilted in a slight grin. "When do I begin?"
Arthus grinned, holding out his hand. "Immediately."
Gardner accepted the hand and shook it once. Arthus broke from the shake and wagged a finger at Gardner. "I have the feeling we will get along very well."
[~~~]
2003 AU
In a brightly lit room, covered with stuffed Pokémon and toys of all sorts, Arthus curled on the floor next to a Zorua. He held a book out in front of it and pointed at the pictures, laughing. "And the Psyduck still couldn't get rid of his headache, so then he—"
The door creaked. Arthus snapped the book shut, then snapped his fingers. A rush of wind flapped the curtains, and the cheery playroom turned into a forbidding stone mausoleum, desks covered in the artifacts at the sides and a flickering crimson flame hovering in the air.
Gardner entered the room, pressing his hand against his chest in salute. "Lord Arthus—"
Arthus stepped closer with a dour expression. "I thought I told you not to interrupt me at this time." He passed through Gardner and held open the door. "Can't this wait until later?"
Gardner exited, giving the illusionary room a studious look. "I only wanted to inform you about your last order."
Arthus waved inside the room with a smile, then shut the door with a frown. "What of it?"
"The Arceists have been 'managed', and as far as I know, only two copies of the Arceist Tome exist; all the others were burned."
Arthus smiled, giving Gardner's hand a vigorous shake. "Well done, well done! Now all you have to do is keep the population in check while we search for a way to repair the Seal."
Gardner yanked his hand away and scowled. "You mean you haven't done it yet? I thought you said—"
"I know what I said!" Arthus shouted. His claws emanated red mist, causing Gardner to back away. The Zoroark closed his eyes and made a shuddering breath. "It is simply taking longer than I thought. That's why I need you to search through the library to find something, anything, that could repair the Seal, while I search abroad. Does that sound reasonable?"
Gardner held his chin, looking down, then nodded. "Indeed." He looked up and crossed his arms. "I hope that your little…project won't take too much time. I would rather not delay your perfect world for too long."
Arthus pushed Gardner away from the house, rolling his eyes. "I am just as devoted to fixing the world as I am to my child—you have no need to worry!" He waved him off and said, "Now go; I have important things to finish."
Gardner narrowed his eye as he floated back into the Master's Tower while Arthus returned to the hut, restoring the previous, lighter atmosphere and continuing to read the story to the Zorua.
[~~~]
Darkness set over the Guild. The buildings lay just as they had before, but the brightness that surrounded them previously had faded to a dullness. The Pokémon in the houses no longer looked to the Master's Tower as a place of strength and protection; fear and oppression whirled in the minds of the Pokémon forced to comply with Arthus' dictated rule, all for a belief that would supposedly end with them living alongside the Usurper.
Arthus sat atop the spire of the Master's Tower, balancing perfectly on its tip. He did not care about their views toward him; he no longer cared about respect or prestige. As long as they obeyed his command, he was content.
He held the Seal aloft, and gasped. Reflected in the imperfect stone at the center was a silver Lucario, staring back at him with a vengeance. "You may hold Equivos in your grip, Arthus, but mark my words: you will never set foot in the Tree of Life while the Seal remains broken," he said in echoed tones.
Arthus took a glance behind him, eyes wide. He sneered, covering the gem with his claws. "Your ghost continues to haunt me, Matheus, even outside of that wretched Cocoon."
The thought of Matheus caused more memories to be remembered. He saw two Lucario and a Riolu, just before his imprisonment, with a Zorua in their arms. He saw the fear in the Zorua's eyes and remembered how much he longed to be with him.
He clenched his fist. "Erik…stolen from me all those years ago…by Matheus and his kind." He looked down at the Seal once more. "And then he imprisoned me—for two thousand years." He leapt down from the spire and toward a shimmering box near the wall of the Guild. "They all deserved to die."
He entered the invisible door and held his hands out. "Come to father!" A Zorua appeared from behind the couch and yipped, running toward Arthus.
He shut the door and took the Zorua in his arms, ruffling its fur and playing with its ear. He flopped onto the couch and sighed, taking a book from a nearby stack. He stared at its cover and laughed. "Well, well, the Arceist Tome. Let's see what Arceus has to offer, hmm?" The Zorua yipped in reply, nestling into Arthus' lap as he cracked open the ancient covers.
Arthus cleared his throat, then began to read:
Origin 1—
Before the Arms of the Creator spread across his creation, Equivos, there was an Egg. From this Egg came forth the Creator, Arceus. From his birth, Arceus created the Legends.
First came the Order: Palkia, Space; Dialga, Time; and Giratina, Distortion. They stabilized the raging emptiness, so that the first worlds may come to pass.
Next came the Lightbringers: Solgaleo, the Sun, and Lunala, the Moon. The light they shed would illuminate His great creations.
Then came the Makers: Kyogre, the Seas; Groudon, the Land; and Rayquaza, the Skies. They created the World, Equivos, and with their might, protect the Followers of Arceus—Pokémon.
Then, the Lifebringers: Xerneas, Life; Yveltal, Death; and Zygarde, Safety. The Followers of Arceus were born, and as with all of Arceus' creations, will end. Whether it be by Time or Destruction, all will be Judged at the Day of Destruction, and only those who prove worthy will follow Arceus to the Realm of The Keeper.
Arthus cackled. "The origin of the world! What nonsensical drabble!" He looked down at the Zorua and grinned. "A wonderful read isn't it, my dear?"
The Zorua said nothing. It stared at the vast illustration set on the page, depicting Arceus in the center of all the Legends of Equivos. Their eyes seemed to stare back, beckoning to the Zorua.
Arthus closed the book, and the Zorua looked up at him and whimpered. Arthus put a claw over his heart, closing his eyes. "Oh, I know you want to hear more stories, but it's time for sleep." He set the Tome on the stack, then picked up the Zorua.
He set it on a puffy cushion, then snapped his fingers. The fire above them dimmed to a low glow, and Arthus opened the exit. "Good night…my little Zorua." He left the room and shut the door behind him.
The Zorua continued to stare at the book, and finally, leapt off the cushion, then knocked over the pile of books. The book flipped to the page depicting Arceus and the Legends, toppling from the pile and landing open.
The Zorua continued to gaze at the picture and saw them move. Arceus seemed to draw closer; a wisp of light glowed from his arc and hovered in front of the Zorua's nose.
It played with the wisp of light, giggling. The light wrapped gently around its paw, then suddenly picture stopped moving.
The Zorua yawned and fell asleep on the open pages. Images of Arceus and a silver Lucario danced through its dreams, bringing hope and kindness outside of what it knew.
[~~~]
2018 AU
Scraps of paper floated in the air, alongside rusted ashes and bits of flame. Giant gashes swept through the walls and splintered remnants of furniture lay scattered across the floor. In the center of the darkness, Arthus huddled on the ground, his chest heaving.
The charred door cracked open. Arthus glared at it and threw a ball of crimson flame, shutting it immediately.
"Leave me be!" He pressed his hand on his forehead and grunted. He pulled a golden thread from his head, and a faint image appeared in the air surrounding it. Two Zoroark hugged each other with smiles on their faces, holding a young Zorua in between them.
He bit his lip, then turned away. He held a shaking hand over the image, around the left Zoroark; she wore a golden necklace. "Every time…every time I trust someone…" The image faded.
Arthus closed his claws. "They…betray me." He stood up, holding the Seal of Creation in front of him, the flawed gem taunting him still.
He jabbed a claw at it and roared, "I will not let her die in vain! I will rid evil from this world!" He stomped the ground and held out his arms. "I have suffered too much by your hand to fail now!" The entire room was enveloped in a harsh red light, incinerating everything within.