July 11, 2032

It's an interesting predicament, love is. Really, if you think about it, love is like a duel between combatants. Especially in the case of two or more sparring partners who have experienced nearly every combination of their opponents' moves, and through persistence they might surprise each other with something new here and there. Of course there are madmen who, through some internal conflict, fight with themselves. However, this elicits only the appropriate reaction of disgust or occasional laughter.

They, and by comparable nature, those who love only themselves can drink poison for all I care. The world has no room for self absorbed imbeciles who don't see that they, in fact, aren't above their fellow pokemon. Love is, to put it generously simple, a tool. Not as a weapon is a tool that can be used for good or evil, but rather a tool to be used as a gift that benefits not only you, but the creatures around you.

So as sparring partners must know one another, so do two or more pokemon who wish to have a healthy relationship. Of course I don't just mean romantically, but in friendships as well. Currently, this is the predicament I find myself in; I follow desperately after one of the aforementioned 'madman'. Yet, I suppose that makes me a different kind of madman for trying to see something descent in a good for nothing imbecile.

The imbecile in question is a claydol who was once known by his given name, Sepullen, but through his acquired arrogance introduces himself as the 'Relic Master', or 'Master Sepullen' by his followers. Sure, I'm not downgrading his ability to control the magic elements found in artifacts, but he wouldn't have gotten any of those artifacts if I hadn't, say, found all of them.

Though it's true that I would like a little bit of recognition, all I really want is for Sepullen to act like he used to. As hard as it might be to believe, he and I were once the best of friends. However, it's been around fifteen or sixteen years since he's acknowledged me as anything other than, well, a sparring partner.

Even now, as we strike at each other in perfect rhythm, I know he isn't seeing me. Likely, he's visualizing an enemy, or maybe even himself. I recognize him for who is, or maybe as I remember he was at one point. Nonetheless, if love is a duel then he is my opponent in both the literal and metaphorical sense.

Though in this particular match, I find myself in a bind. In fifteen minutes my claws have only struck his blades forty-seven times. With Sepullen's quick fighting style, all I can do is evade constantly and block from time to time. If only I could hit him at least once…

"Terminate, Venomitus!" he says abruptly.

I stop in mid swing of my claws and grimace when I realize his right blade was already raised to block. His eyes glow a brash orange as he forces my hand down, lowering his appendage with it. With a brief glance at me, he floats backward toward the opposite side of the room. I ignore the pin-needle pain as his static voice reverberates in my head.

"I could care less about how nimble you are if you don't use the mind you were given. As a sableye, that is your one utility. Everyone else here has nothing less then maximum performance. It's only you I find that is… lacking."

The corner of my mouth curls into a nearly unnoticeable smirk. "Oh Sepullen, you give me too little credit. Though… I'm not the least bit surprised. After all, you do rely too heavily on others to accomplish your goals. If I was a fool I might say you don't have any skills of your own."

"So, that's what you think," he says. "All this time, I've been wondering what's been holding you back only to find it's because you don't share my goals."

"Don't act like you don't know why that is."

"Of course, of course. Your morals won't let you," he spits. "Do you know what self-restraints like that can do to you?"

Off to the side of the room, an elegant stone door opens up with a loud crash. With rhythmic footsteps, a bisharp marches into the room. He stops in front of Sepullen and bows, his red scarf hanging down as he does so.

"Master Sepullen, another relic has been found," he says solemnly. I almost spit acid at the amount of misplaced devotion in his voice.

"Then we will depart immediately. Come, Venomitus. You don't have any choice on this one."

Oh I'll come, but just to make sure you don't kill again.

Hello, after a couple months thinking it over, I decided to restart this story. It just had to many plot holes and wasn't the best quality. I can't promise this version will be much better, but I hope at least fix a few issues here and there. Other then that, I accept OC's that are relevant to the story. EonTheZoarark's Roselyn will be staying, as well as all of RodiumTech's characters.

I'm not going to make this to long so, on a final note, leave constructive criticism of what I can improve. Also, I don't own pokemon, though I wish I did.

-Vein Locke