Yeesh, three months... All I can say is I am terribly sorry, and I hope the quality of this chapter will make up for the lack of activity. Anyways, I hope I got the sibling dynamic down well in this chapter, since being an only child it's a bit difficult to convey personal experience from that. And now for something completely different:
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, Koei or anything affiliated with them.
After the trio had returned to the castle and told Naoshige of their victory, he offered to take them out to lunch to celebrate. After having been on the road for so long the two new Warlords were all too eager for a bite to eat. So Naoshige led them down into the small hamlet to the local Ponigiri shop, only for the twins to discover the owner was the same shopkeeper from before.
The scene that followed was an awkward one. Tadashi just scoffed, closing his eyes and turning his head, Kazumi bit her bottom lip, unsure of what to say, and the shopkeeper suddenly became interested in the various knots in the wooden counter. While Oichi and her Jigglypuff were confused with the scene, Naoshige seemed blissfully ignorant and was glancing over the menu.
"Hmm... I'm not sure what to get. What would you recommend Rikyu?" The shopkeeper, presumably Rikyu, looked up from his inspection of the surface.
"I'd just made a fresh batch of Purple Ponigiri." Naoshige nodded in response.
"That sounds good. What about you three?"
"I haven't had a Purple Ponigiri in years! Why not? Oh, and two for the Eevee, please." Kazumi exclaimed, her mouth watering at the thought of the treat.
"What do you want, Jigglypuff?" Jigglypuff pointed a stubby arm at the menu item that it wanted, followed by a recitation of its name. "I suppose a Blue Ponigiri sounds good."
"Nothing for me." the male twin muttered.
"Really? You're not hungry in the slightest?" his counterpart asked cynically.
"Nope." Kazumi scowled in an almost motherly fashion.
"You have to eat something. I'm not going to have you start complaining you're hungry twenty minutes later because you didn't get anything to eat for one stupid reason or the other." Tadashi scowled back.
"I only did that once!" his sister's gaze got more intense, prompting him to back down.
"Okay... maybe more than once." the maedate-wearing warlord admitted sheepishly, followed with a sigh.
"Fine, if you insist, I'll just have some rice." Rikyu, who had been writing down the orders on a slip of paper, nodded, and disappeared into the stall. He came out moments later, carrying a tray of the ordered items out to the customers. Though Kazumi reached into a small pouch tied around the sash at her waist, reaching for a few gold coins, Naoshige objected to her paying and simply tossed a few coins of his own to Rikyu.
After finding a rather shady place to eat, considering the lack of clouds made the sun seem overbearing on such an otherwise mild day, the group of warlords went to talking about business while enjoying their meals. Despite his earlier objections, Tadashi scarfed down the small amount of food he had, which only prompted further teasing from his sister.
This in turn sparked an argument between the two, which somehow got on the topic of who had seniority. What followed was the two other warriors and the Pokémon eating their food uncomfortably while they watched a civil war unfold before them.
"Well, I was born a few minutes earlier than you! So naturally I have seniority." Kazumi stated proudly.
"And the humility to match..." Tadashi muttered.
"What was that?" It was clear that was not a question. Tadashi only scoffed and turned his head.
"It doesn't matter. Uncle did favor me to rule anyways." Before either brown haired twin could continue the squabble, Oichi decided it was time to interject with a reasonable solution.
"Why not battle for Aurora rather than just argue?" Both of the twins blinked blankly, only for Tadashi to whistle sharply. The two Eevees, who were perfectly content to watch their masters argue from the sidelines, immediately sprang from their location underneath the wooden table. The two foxlike Pokémon came to a grinding halt before their partners, who had gained some distance between each other in a few seconds.
"Start out with a Quick Attack, Eevee!" Tadashi's Eevee replied with an enthusiastic 'Bui', and then rocketed off from its spot.
"Stop Eevee with Sand Attack!" Kazumi's Eevee turned around and started to kick up a cloud of dust and sand, one that anyone could easily get lost in.
"Dig and avoid it!" the male's Eevee used the momentum of its charge to jump and burrow back into the ground, leaving behind only a hole as the only evidence it had fled underground.
"Stay alert, Eevee. We don't know where the attack will be coming from." Eevee obeyed its mistress' command, looking around for any indication of where the attack would come from: eroded soil, pebbles shaking, or any sort of vibration. But to the frustration of both Pokémon and Warlord, there was none to be found.
"Now, Quick Attack!" Tadashi shouted. His sister and her Eevee immediately scrambled about looking for the attack, only for them to ignore the giant cloud of dust that Kazumi's Eevee had kicked up minutes earlier, the same one that the opposing Eevee leapt out of in a streak of white.
"Thanks for giving us some cover." the white and black armored warlord taunted, as his Pokémon connected with its shocked opponent. Kazumi's Eevee reeled back from the attack, but quickly countered with a Quick Attack of its own, sending the other Pokémon back into the dust cloud.
As the twin's battle continued to rage on, they failed to notice that they had attracted a rather large crowd of observers. This obliviousness was also shared by three children, who were walking down the back alley of a few buildings that lead to the main road, too caught up in their arguing to notice the crowd.
"We've been here for a few days Mistunari, and still there's no treasure! I'm startin' to think it's just a myth." the scruffiest of the trio complained. The other kid he was complaining to suddenly spun around, the oversized, hairy headdress that was precariously perched on his head falling and covering his face. He immediately adjusted it, so that it no longer covered his face and some of his auburn hair, and growled at the raven haired companion.
"Oh can it, you idiot! I'm positive that Sorin hid that horde of gold somewhere in Aurora, and once we find it we'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams." The third member of the trio then stepped between the two, his tan arms reaching out to push the two apart.
"Calm down you two, arguing won't get us- what's going on over there?" The other two looked in the direction that the green wearing boy had suddenly gazed over at, and saw that the entryway to the road was filled with spectators.
"Whatever it is, it's probably more interesting than this conversation." Mitsunari quipped before turning in the direction of the crowd. Being as the crowd towered over the three children, Mitsunari decided to push his way through to get to the front. Unfortunately for him, a few people in the crowd had other ideas. And unfortunately for the crowd, Mitsunari's response was a metal boot to the shin and a sarcastic remark while the other two apologized in his stead. After having shoved and kicked his way to the front, with his to compatriots close behind him, the trio could finally get a good view of the Pokémon Battle between the two warlords in front of them.
"Oh cool! A Pokémon Battle!" the raven haired of the group exclaimed, throwing his fists into the air in a display of excitement. Mitsunari only rolled his eyes.
"It's just that Masanori. Come on, we have better things to do with our time."
"Like plotting to steal the fortune of a dead man?" the tan, grey haired member of the group commented.
"Don't tell me you're enjoying this frivolity too, Kiyomasa?"
"You need to learn to relax every once in a while Mitsunari." Mistunari groaned, but before he could complain a command rang out from the street.
"Use Dig once again, Eevee!" Mistunari only turned to face the battlefield in time to see the male Warlord's Eevee pop up from underneath his counterpart, sending it flying towards the boy. Mitsunari caught the brown Pokémon in his gauntleted hands, looking straight into its black eyes, only to toss it back onto the field.
The Eevee, or its partner for that matter, did not seem to mind the action and Kazumi ordered the small Pokémon to build off the momentum of the action with a Quick Attack.
Two robed warriors, each mounted on a Ponyta, were slowly descending the hills overlooking Aurora. As they neared the sleepy hamlet, the one is white was surprised to find most of the citizenry in the center of the village.
"Say Kanbei, what do you think is going on?" The strategist in white wondered.
"A power struggle." the strategist in black replied blandly, showing more interest in the proximity of his Lampent.
"Wouldn't it be a bit too early for that?"
"Emotions can easily ignite tension." Hanbei only sighed, but figured it would be better to not argue.
"Well, why don't we get a closer look?" Kanbei remained silent, only lightly snapping the reins of his mount to go faster. Hanbei did likewise, though much more subtly to not wake his napping Pikachu.
"Quick Attack, Eevee!" both Warlords shouted simultaneously. The two Eevees, each beleaguered from the prolonged fight and the multiple blows they had traded, charged forward for one last attack. The two clashed headfirst, the collision sending both combatants backwards in a pained conclusion.
Both Eevees landed in front of their partners on the dirt road, unmoving and unconscious. Both twins were speechless at the development, and no one, crowd or combatant, save Oichi, noticed Naoshige stand up from the table the four had been sitting at.
"Well, this worked out quite well." that solitary sentence drew the attention of the warlords, two pairs of blue eyes intensely glaring at him with curiosity.
"What?"
"Ah, yes. You see; Lord Sorin stated in his will that he wanted the two of you to try to co-rule Aurora-" the white wearing man was immediately cut off by the duo.
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US SOONER!?" Naoshige blanched at the combined fury of Tadashi and Kazumi, but quickly recomposed himself.
"I figured this would happen eventually, so why not let it happen while relatively little damage could have been done rather than later?" Kazumi bit her bottom lip in a silent contemplation, lowering her head in a subtle shame, while her brother only scratched the back of his, the logic behind Naoshige's words starting to sink in.
"I guess we were acting pretty childish, huh?" he said.
"Yeah... and our Pokémon were the ones to pay the price." Kazumi continued. As the two turned to each other, a rather lax voice rang out from the crowd.
"Make way, please! Excuse us." the people in the south parted, letting two mounted warriors through to the Warlords, who immediately turned to face their visitors.
"I guess you were right, Kanbei." the frighteningly pale one on the left only nodded at his beret wearing partner's admission.
"Yes. Now for business. We are-" Hanbei's brown eyes darted from one warlord to the other, and then to the unconscious Pokémon they were holding, and intervened before Kanbei could continue.
"Emissaries from Ignis." both Kanbei and Naoshige raised an eyebrow at his declaration, each for their own reason.
"Odd that Emissaries would show up from the same Kingdom that had sent warriors to attack us only hours before." the white robed Auroran remarked suspiciously.
"Odd indeed..." Kanbei muttered, quiet enough to the point that Hanbei would be the only one to hear. Ignoring his friend's comment, Hanbei tried to respond as best he could
"Um, well... Lord Hideyoshi wanted to test their strength before battling your Warlords himself." Hanbei said with a disarming smile, the now awake Pikachu perched on his head doing the same.
"You may send him our thanks. I'm quite sure he will be able to experience it firsthand soon enough." Naoshige replied, disbelief plastered across his face. Hanbei only nodded and turned his mount away from Aurora, gesturing for an amused Kanbei to follow. As the two strategists took their leave, Tadashi asked the one question that had formed in everyone's mind.
"What was that about?"
The ride up the hills for the two warriors had been decidedly silent, only the sound of the horseshoes and the occasional Pokémon darting through the grass to keep the duo company. Hanbei was gazing up at the clear skies, his Pikachu napping contently in his lap. Kanbei's Lampent floated close behind, swing to and fro as a breeze picked up through the plain. Kanbei reached back and steadied the Pokémon, before turning to a droopy eyed Hanbei.
"Would you care to explain yourself?" Kanbei asked his mounted compatriot, an eyebrow raised in inquiry once more. Hanbei sighed heavily before giving a reply.
"I dunno, Kanbei; I just don't think it's right to take advantage of someone else's misfortune." Kanbei only shook his head disapprovingly.
"We fight for peace Hanbei, and that takes priority. Even if it means we have to fight dishonorably."
"Maybe showing some mercy is a sign of true strategy. And tact." Kanbei only chuckled lowly in response.
"Believe what you will, but this mishap was your doing regardless."
"I know..." the strategist muttered sullenly. "Hideyoshi won't be happy."
"Well, this has been an interesting day." Naoshige commented as he held open the door to the castle for the warlords, who were occupied holding their Eevees.
"So what now?" Oichi wondered.
"What do you mean?" Tadashi replied.
"Well... we can't remain passive forever. If we don't do something then Ignis might be able overpower us one day." Oich extrapolated, hesitation evident on her porcelain features. "Or something far worse..."
"So we take the battle to them?"
"We'd be at a disadvantage; there are only four of us and we would have to get through any defenses they set up as well." Kazumi pointed out.
"Three, actually. Someone has to look after the castle." the female twin only sighed at Naoshige's observation.
"I agree with Oichi; we have to do something. We should move out tomorrow."
"I'm not so sure brother, the least we can do is wait a few days and train some more."
"Respectfully, my Lady," Oichi started "the longer we wait, the stronger they will get." Kazumi reluctantly nodded in agreement, though took note that she, even if only for a second, seemed to put a barely noticeable emphasis on they.
"I suppose that true."
"Well then, why don't we try to enjoy the rest of the day in peace? I believe I have a deck of cards that haven't been used in a while." everyone's faces brightened at the sound of a card game; something that would get their minds off the rather eventful day.
Hanbei, now in his room and seated at his cluttered desk, sighed heavily. His report to Hideyoshi had gone better than expected, mainly because he convinced them that his actions would lure Aurora into a trap where they could be swiftly and effortlessly defeated, but the Monferno of a man still put him on cleaning duty for a week.
"Oh well, I can always just trick Koroku into doing it." Hanbei thought while absentmindedly scribbling something down on a piece of paper. He then heard a subtle snap and looked down to see that the pencil he was using had snapped in two from his sloppy handling. He then spun around in his chair, grabbed a replacement from the other side of his desk, and rolled back to where he previously was.
"And Kanbei said making a chair with wheels would be pointless."
And, as if on cue, said strategist entered the room that they shared.
"Hideyoshi requests your presence." was all the dark haired strategist said before leaving the room, Hanbei in tow. The walk to the Throne Room from their room only required one to walk down a few stone hallways and turn the occasional corner, and within a minute or two they were standing in front of the massive jade doors. Kanbei knocked on them a few times, the metal of his gauntlets creating a distinctive sound.
"It's unlocked." a cheery voice sounded from the other side. Kanbei pushed the door open and the duo entered. The flames from torches between the marble pillars were the only light in the vast room, illuminating the pathway up to the throne as they danced off the amber walls, creating an eerie and somber atmosphere that belied its occupant.
Said occupant was currently lounging casually on the jade throne, using one armrest as a headrest and hanging his legs over the other, inspecting a gold coin for any blemishes.
"Lord Hideyoshi." Hideyoshi's attention snapped to the two strategists. Tossing aside the coin as if it was worthless, he hopped down from the throne, and faced his right hand men with a cheerful smile.
"Ya know, Hanbei, I've been doin' some thinking; and I think your intellect would be better used in organizing the defense than cleaning." Hanbei's completion considerably brightened at that.
"So does this mean I'm off the hook?"
"Well, I figured you'd just trick Koroku into doing it again, so I cut out the middleman and just gave the chore list to him." Hanbei jokingly pouted, crossing his sleeve covered arms and puffing up his cheeks in a comical manner.
"But that's half the fun..." Hideyoshi only laughed heartily, one hand clutching the cream colored material of his shirt and the other his golden helmet.
"Lord Hideyoshi." Hideyoshi stopped laughing at Kanbei's two word statement.
"Huh? Oh, right. Well, I think there's been enough slacking off today. So get to work you two; I'm trustin' ya." The two strategists bowed and quickly made for the exit to the room.
Well, that finishes this chapter, and I can promise the next one will come out much sooner with Arceus the Critic finished. Though I'm even more angry at myself for taking so long to get this chapter out considering it only took me a week to finish this once I finally buckled down.
So anyways, I hoped this chapter was up to stuff and feel free to tell me what I did wrong or right.
Fun Fact: The Pencil as we know it (minus the eraser) was invented in Italy during the 1560's.
