Knights of the Silver Mountain, 1st saga : Return of the Red Dragon
Disclaimer : I do not own any pokemon related material except this fanfic.
Authors note : before start, I should mention that this fiction is a pathetic concoction of Pokemon Special, Pokemon Games, and a bit of imaginaton of Author, so please generously assess it. Moreover, special thanks to StarShine65, who encouraged me by reviewing it. I will try my best to write another chapter better than previous.
Chapter 1 Start of the journey.
Pallet town, located in southern Kanto, usually find that winter was completely gone in early March. Same goes in this year as town itself and nearby mounds covered with flower and little buds were sprouted in the field. On one of the 'hills', where flowers dances in the wind, were a boy sitting under the tree with a girl who lay her head on his leg, using it as a pillow.
The boy's slender body leaned against tall tree, he was good looking guy, but his face reveals that he is reserved and he does not let many to be close with him. His green eyes, unfazed by girl on his leg, or beautiful flowers nearby, just focused on moldy and thick book he held in his hand. A crest of oak tree and white scroll was embroidered on his cloak indicating he was related with house of Oak.
While boy was like a statue, in his appearance and his heart, girl was filled with energy and emotions, even though she seemed like relaxed under the tree. Her blue eyes were busy on scanning over fields and hills, while she kept humming songs of cheerful tone. Her lean body was already ready to spring on interesting things, while her beautiful face was lit with some mischievous idea. But before she made a move for her idea, the boy opened his mouth.
"Weren't you dragged me in this place for you want to take some rare flower for salves? I did not know that you have some time to slack in here."
His voice was quite harsh, but she did not flinch, for she has grown used to such tone of voice. Instead of flinching, she answered with mischievous smile upon her face.
"It is not bad, isn't it? I am fairly certain that unless I brought you out, you just waste your time as reading some old book in library with Red, turn your morning into boring, unmotivated time. On the other hand, I made your morning as great one. Don't you think so, Green?"
Muttering 'pesky girl', Green caressed Blues hair, which was ruffled when she turned her head toward him. With a content sigh, Blue closed her eyes, still humming some song from faraway region. Suddenly, there was a crunching sound as foot run over dry twigs. Blue leapt from Greens knee, expecting some wild Pokemons.
"So, you two are having a rendezvous in this remote place. It took me some time to find you. Now, I will bring you to the lord."
The voice was low and smooth, yet it makes them feel chilling as if it was mid-December. As two slowly turn their face to the source of voice, there was a man, taller than Green even one counts Greens spiky hair as 'heights'. A black cloak wrapped around his body, with its hood lowered, concealing face of man, yet his blood red eyes glowing like fire underneath black hood.
"You should think about some friendly ways to approach to someone. Anyone mistake you as Grim reaper when hooded, red eyed guy soundlessly appeared from behind and says 'I will bring you to the lord.'"
Blue ruefully complained to Red as three of them passes the gate of the 'Castle Blanc' and go through the main street. Sunshine scattered over raven hair and cloak of Red, revealing his tall figure into light. His feature was great, but his red eyes and cold expression, along with his voice, made him majestic yet intimidating one, isolated from others. Hearing complaint of Blue, Red simply said 'I will consider it later.' and stride to the castle, following Green who was not far from gate of inner castle. Grumbling, Blue quickened her step, do not wish to hear another complain from Green.
Sunlight came through windows and brightened the office of Count Oak. Under sunlight, a silver haired gentleman sitting in front desk, reading some old book that letter of cover had been faded as times went on. A young lady was sitting in a rocker, reading a letter and blushing a bit. When door was knocked, lady carefully put the letter in a box, and then with the nod of elderly man, opened the door and let visitors in. As Green, Red, and Blue came in the room, Samuel Oak, Count of Pallet and Grand Master of Philosophy, Sorcery, Pokemonology, etc, greeted them and wave his hand summoning three chairs out of thin air and offer three to sit.
"What makes you to call us urgently, Gramp?"
When he heard his grandson's question, the old man slowly left his book on the desk and opened his mouth.
"Well, this old man has some request for you. Would you bring them for me, Daisy?"
Greens elder sister, lady Daisy Oak, went over one of the shelves and brought a box with delicate ornament as Count unlocked a shelf of his desk and extracted ten scrolls from it, every scroll was sealed with crest of Oak family, and name of seven lords, two republican doges, and the king was inscribed upon it.
"These letters are one thing that I want to be delivered to his majesty, and other lords and doges in a year, for there is an important matter I want to inform them. Now, I wish you three to take these letters, deliver them directly to one whose name inscribed upon them, within a year. Will you do it for me?"
As soon as count asked a favor to three, Blue asked a reasonable question.
"Milord, don't you think it is dangerous and irrational to request such an important mission to some juvenile? Moreover, if we calculate danger and other option, I believe we need some insurance and rewards to accomplish such a mission."
Count nodded as he heard Blue's question, and spoke with calm and soft tone, giving the answer to her question.
"Yes, it is irrational as you see. However, I wish you to forgive this poor old man's stupid decision and play with his tune for only this time, since grown, self styled wise man can easily fall into trap of arrogance. On the other hand, I prepared something that will help you if you take on this journey. First, I wrote a paper that will guarantee you as messenger from pallet, so that you can expect a bit of help from and lords who respect me. Second, I prepared 3000 Argeno silver coins, which will more than enough for journey of one year. Third, I will give a pokemon to each of you, with 5 red balls to each of you to catch some more. Lastly, I will give you pokedexes, and reward you handsomely if you contribute to expand the content of it."
After several minutes thinking and calculating, Blue agreed on journey while Green and Red simply nodded and approved on it. Then, Count Oak distributed money and balls to three, and then opened the box, revealing three pokemons in balls.
There were three pokemons. First one looks like green toad with big dark green bulb upon its back, which repeating expanding and shrinking as if it was breathing by itself, regardless of toad which breathing slowly as it dozing under sunlight. Second one looks like an orange lizard working on two feet, with a small fire burning on the tip of its tail, jumping in the ball and look humans with curiosity in its eyes. Last one, a blue turtle with sturdy looking brown shell, cast wary glance to humans outside his ball. Three reacted with interest as they see pokemons. Even Red
"Now, which of them will you choose as partner of long journey?"
"Before choosing, I guess we need explanation about them, my lord."
Red's request made count to lecture about pokemons name, type, and many other things for an hour or more. After many suppressions of yawn and crisis of dozing off in front of fervent master, three finally reach on verge of choice.
"Well, lady first, isn't it? Then I will go first."
"Suit yourself."
"Pesky girl."
Ignoring Greens remark, Blue chose the green toad, whose name is 'Bulbasaur', which, as soon as freed from pokeball, it shot its vine unto Blues shoulder, climbing on it, sprawled upon her shoulder then yawned. Then, both boys reach their hands to pokeballs. One chosen by Red was orange lizard called 'Charmander', which wagged its tail to Red. The other one, chosen by Green was 'Squirtle', was busy on staring Green, who responded with glare.
"Well, then. We will start to prepare and leave as soon as possible. I guess we can arrive Viridian if we leave now. Goodbye, gramp."
"Good. Have a safe trip, you three."
After bade adieu, Green was caught by Daisy, Blue went her house to pack her own things, but Red did not leave the room, instead, he opened his mouth after two left.
"Can I ask you a question in private, my lord?"
Count Oak kept thin smile upon his face, as expected the question. Then his smile faded as he answered it.
"I can guess what you want to say and I will give you the answer. What I fear is that one of the lords, doges, and the king, especially duke Viridian, makes wrong decision and tear this kingdom into death and destruction. My wish is prevent it and keep people from harm and danger. Are you satisfied, or shall I give you more explanation?"
"No thanks. Then, I will leave. Farewell, my lord."
Bowed once, Red left the room without look his back. Count slumped to his armchair, then his glance met a portrait of young couple, a tall man wearing green cloak of University of Celadon and a young woman holding a black staff. While man's face was filled with happiness and proud, woman was frowning as if she does not like to be standing there.
"I wonder what you will say to me, a fragile old man full of plot and conspiracy, Agatha."
Sighed, count diverted his gaze outside of window. Sun was over the Mt. Silver, its light comes through windows to be scattered upon stone floor.
"If you have something to say, be hurry, sis. I do not have much time."
Blushing slightly, daisy draw a cylinder of paper from a box and handed it to Green. Stuttering, she asked him a favor.
"If you go to cerulean city, can you give this letter to master Bill? It has been a week since I send him a letter last time, so…."
Green slightly mumbled as the mention of Bill. He was a pupil of the count and one who had developed limited teleportation system. Moreover, he and daisy fall in love when he was studying under Oak, therefore make themselves to be engaged and if nothing happens, hold the ceremony in next summer, as Azure Hall will open in next spring. Since he could not approve their marriage wholeheartedly, Green would have not accepted to do her a favor unless he should be separated from her sister for almost a year. Therefore, he reluctantly agreed on passing the love letter to his 'would-be-brother-in-law'. When he grabs letter, he was surprised for it was heavier than he expected, then, his glance meet a letter and a scroll of map, and a pendant, carved with runes and glowing faintly with green light. As he open his mouth, daisy hugged him tightly, with a drop of tear running down on her cheek.
"Please come back as safe and sound, little brother."
Green did not speak anything, just nodded in his sister's arm.
When Red step in the 'Galloping Ponyta', his mother was eating late meal consisted of cold soup and black bread, then Delia hurried into kitchen and brought white bread with ham and a jug of milk to Red.
"So, have you spent a good time with old count, my son?"
Red opened his lips, said about request of Count and his acceptance with mingled feeling of pain and sorry for he should put his mother to worry about him for long, let alone her hard life without him in the inn. However, his mother did not show any emotion like sadness in front of him. Instead, she disappeared into a room, and brought out a sword and a set of armor, both of them was polished and shines as if they were freshly made. Slowly, Delia opened her mouth and spoke to her son.
"These are your father's last gift to this old mother. He said to me that one day you become a grown man you will use this sword and protected by this armor, become the greatest knight. Now, I believe this is the time for you to bring these with you. After you finish eating, I will help you to pack up."
Rest of their meal was filled with silence, and their mouth was filled with bread soaked with tear of mother and son.
For Sauri, the young bulbasaur who loves to sunbath, humans are seemed like quiet strange when it comes to their emotion. For instance, her human girl was quiet cheerful until she came out from the big stonehouse, goes to small house, put things into a sack, bring her and sack to a backyard lies in the back of house human called church. Then in there, her mood changes as she kneeled before a white stone and put a flower she had brought in front it.
"Hey, father. I can't come to meet you for long time from now on. For I go far away as Count wants me to do so."
Trying to suppress her feeling, Blue kept talking in front of her father's grave. Her mother was died of disease when it swept into Pallet, bring William Oak, Teresa Oak and many other good people, including Paula Spearow, wife of Matt Spearow and mother of 5 years old Blue, whose body was burned with many others to prevent spreading illness. Later, her father, the best hunter of Pallet was killed by bandits named 'team Rocket' when they tried to pillage a small village near border between Pallet and Viridian in 195 D.C., left a bow and a quiver of arrows to his daughters hand just before he closed his eyes last time. She repressed her memory and kept talking, not knowing her eyes are filled with tear.
"Don't worry, Red, the boy I said to you, and Green, a arrogant yet kind and smart jerk will go with me, and I bring your bow with me, and a pokemon too. Isn't that great? So, don't worry about me and say hello to mom if you meet her in the heaven."
Tears were trickling down her face, fall into the ground under her knee. Suddenly, a piece of cloth made contact with her face, wipe tears from it. Blue turned to find Green there, with frown upon his face, say nothing. She got the cloth out of Greens hand, wipe tear off her face and give cloth back to Green, saying 'thank you'. Green put the tear-stained cloth in his bag, simply said. "Come on. Red is waiting us at the gate." When they were walking to the gate, suddenly Blue asked a question to Green.
"Hey Greenie?"
"What is it?"
"When something happens to me, can you protect me?"
"I will do my best, but do not let your hope run too far."
"Yeah, I expected such answers."
Blue shut her mouth abruptly. Green did not know why she asked such question to him, but he would never desert Blue unless there has no means but it. There was Red just near the gate, with big sack over his shoulder, and playing with the charmander, who was named 'Char'.
"Have you waited for us?"
"Nope, I arrived just now. Now, shall we depart?"
Three friends take the road toward north, to the great Viridian. Not knowing great destiny waiting them over the horizon. The sun, tilted a bit toward west of Indigo Plateau and Mt. Silver, throwing a red lays of light to them.
The great castle of viridian has almost everything but one, its master. It has been almost 10 years since Duke Giovanni was not appeared in front of people of viridian. Yet, they believe their lord was still alive as neither young master Silver did not claimed as the duke, nor royalty of Archer, Petrel, and Proton, so called three pillars of viridian did not wavered from the house of Viridian, nor king did not acknowledged about death of the Duke. However, that does not put out strange rumors related to Dukes whereabouts. Some said they saw the lord in the Saffron or Celadon, while other said that he was performing necromancy in the basement of castle, and the other said that he was keep looking for his mistress and bastard son, who was disappeared in the great fire 10 years ago, None of these rumors were neither confirmed nor denied.
In the large basement of the Viridian castle, six people was sitting around a long table. In the head of the table, a middle aged man was sitting. His left and right seat was filled with young masters of Viridian, Silver and Arianna. Next of silver was Archer and Proton, while right of Arianna was Petrel. The man of throne spoke.
"So, how are your jobs going? Report to me, Archer first."
Archer, the right hand man of Duke, spoke with cold, unemotional tone of voice.
"We have secured more than a third of nobles of Saffron, and most of city's bureaucrats. It is up to us to conquer the city as soon as you order us to do so."
Petrel the goaty bearded, followed archer and reported with his typical quivering voices.
"Those game center, or casino project in Celadon is never better, my lord. Those full from all four corner of kingdom waste hundreds and thousands gold in there, not knowing they are deceived by us and we are raking their gold from them. Ha ha!"
Then, Proton reported his success as if he should earn the man's favor.
"Our hunts in the Lavender town and Fuchsia safari zone are quite profitable. That also contributes for your highness's grand scheme with considerable amounts of gold."
"You three has done well. Now, what about your job, does it goes well Arianna?"
Arianna opened her mouth while cold sweat dropped from her brows.
"We are keeping secret, as those of Pewters do not know anything. However, such secrecy and small size of crew make our progress sluggish."
"If you finish it soon, you do not have to strain yourself to keep secret. You can use 40 more man if you wish so."
"As you wish."
"Now everyone except silver, go back to your post. I will be expect some good news next time."
3 men and a woman rose from their chair and leaved the room. When the door closed, the man spoke with softer tone to silver.
"Had you find any information about the 'Child of the Forest'?"
Young lord had bowed to the man and answered.
"Unfortunately, search had not draw desired results. Despite the belief was died away, many still respect the 'Child of the Forest' as a guardian of forest. Moreover, we cannot use torture or put bounty for that thing, we should rely on the rumor of 'fisherman near the lake'."
"Search carefully in the forest. No one can hide such a thing with great, spiritual power. Now you can go to your room and take rest."
Silver bowed to the man, turned to retire into his room, but stopped when his hand reaches to the doorknob.
"Something troubles your mind, my son?"
"If we do this, will the new kingdom you promised become true, father?"
The man, Giovanni Viridian, answer with utmost confidence in his voice.
"Yes, it shall be done. Kingdom of viridian will be different with incompetent houses such as Ecrutus or Noirdrake. It will regain honors of the Red Dragon, after thousand years passed."
"I understood it now, father."
After his son left the cellar, Duke of Viridian was deep in thought, with various scheme and conspiracy within his heart.
Setting sun was gone over the city of Blackthorn when a little girl was playing tag with her friend, pikachu and a caterpie. Suddenly, she heard some ominous growl over hedge.
"What could be that noise, Chuchu?"
Pikachu has no way of knowing, therefore it just shake its head. Then, a bird pokemon leapt out of hedge, flapping its wing, yet could not fly, since its wing was soaked with blood. Crying out incomprehensible cry, it tried to eat little caterpie, but it was paralyzed by quick thunder wave from pikachu and knocked unto ground. It glared unto pikachu and waited blow to fall. However, what has com was warm and soft hand of human, which glowed in golden light and healing its wounded wing. Then the girl said to the pidgey with gentle voice.
"Now, go and find some other food, and be careful not to get hurt again."
The pidgey nodded, and fled into deeper area of forest. After it leaves, girl took off her straw hat and pull her red silk tie down, let her blond hair slide down to her waist, and lied down under a tree nearby, looking caterpie for checking whether it had wound. Then, she put her hand into her shirt, and took out a necklace, made by leather and a little silver dagger attached where a jewel should be placed normally. Slowly, the girl took the dagger out of its sheath, let sunlight flashed upon the blade, where crude scrawl of letters consist following sentence.
'From Ross to Amarillo, our love never wavers, death cannot part me from you, I solemnly swear to return to your side as long as I still alive.'
Her golden eyes, following letters on the dagger, were clouded with memories. She put the dagger into its sheath and looked upon sky with nostalgia in her eyes.
"Please, come back to me Ross. I believe you to return in this forest for me."
Nothing made noise except wind hurrying to east as her yearning grows deeper in her heart. Stars shining silently on the sky, unfolding innumerable stories to a girl waiting in forest, to masterminds manipulating strings of fate, controlling cities, town, and humans lives in there, to a young lady and two gentlemen who prepare to sleep in the vast field near border between Pallet and Viridian.
"It is already nightfall. I think we should camp out in here tonight and head to Viridian tomorrow morning. If we will not be slowed down like today, we will be able to arrive at Viridian castle tomorrow midday."
Red finished talking, and he pulled out blankets from his luggage while Blue was grumbling to Green about sluggishness of their movement.
"Camping out in first day? I thought we can sleep in bed every day before go to ."
"If we did not lingered in that town for 'helping farmers to harvest' as you insisted, we might arrived in the city and slept on the bed as you wish. Moreover, I warned you not to meddle, but you ignored as you were blinded by some payment that was uncertain."
Green said with cold glare to Blue, but she just stuck her tongue at him, pull out several loaves of fresh bread from her sack.
"We got some payment in the end, so it is not 'uncertain', right? If I had not got these, you guys might skip your dinner in this field, sleeping with hunger and coldness."
Green repressed his urge to retort, just grab a piece of bread Blue handed to him. Red gathered some dry stems and twig, soon ignited a small campfire made by Char. Soon wind brought songs to the east, and when song was blown over Cinnabar Island, it was only Red who was not sleeping. While look up showering starlight and moonlight, Reds hand moved along a delicate silver chain, most of which was hidden under shirt of chain mail. Finally, his hand pulled out a leaf shaped piece of gold which was shine under the sky, scribed words upon it.
'I will be waiting in this forest for more than hundred years, my heart will be warm with love toward you after thousand years, so please come back to me. From Amarillo to Ross.'
Turning his gaze toward sky, Red murmured quietly.
"I promised to you to return soon, but it took 10 years to go back to you. Please wait for me for one more day, My love."
The moon was already in the middle of the sky, nothing disturbed Green and Blues sleep except sounds of rattatas looking for food. It was one silent night of spring.
