Long ago, in the years of legend, before Swarm took their stolen throne, and before most of Cyin was even founded. This legend goes back to the beginning of the ninth war, when Swarm was just a loyal general to Tyratus.
A lone Riolu was born, in the island south of Cyin. Obsidian Isle, called so for the massive volcano that coats 70% of the landscape. He lived a happy life, living with his parents and little sister on the island nation until he evolved into a strong, honorable Lucario.
However, this is one more story that doesn't have a happy ending.
On the eve of the Lucario's twentieth season, Swarm and their army attacked that island. Unbeknownst to everyone but Swarm, a military coup had just been put into effect and carried out. Swarm killed Tyratus, and established themselves as the leader on the stolen throne. Wanting more soldiers for their army, Swarm sent out their finest Pokémon, hunting for powerful Pokémon to capture and indoctrinate into their army.
They first attacked Obsidian Isle, in hopes of finding Pokémon that fit their needs. When they arrived, they found the Lucario warrior named Nekon. When he refused to serve, they stabbed him through the heart and head, and took his son. When the son struggled, they killed his mother and sister. He continued to struggle, momentarily breaking free from their grip and embraced his deceased family. One of the soldiers knocked him unconscious, and that was the end of Razfen the Lucario.
When Razfen regained conscious, he was no longer the same Lucario. They had indoctrinated him and had injected him with a serum, designed to enhance all of a Pokémon's abilities to near god levels of power. Razfen was the first success in training, so they sent him with 500 others to the nearby city of Oddep. Their mission was to eradicate all resistance, and they did just that.
After the brutal carnage, Razfen looked at the burning city, seeing some Pokémon still screaming from the burns and wounds he had inflicted. He watched a mother Zangoose plummet to her death as she fell out of a burning building holding her only surviving pup. He saw a Raichu burn to death as he tried to free a stuck child from a pile of wood. He witnessed a lone Charmander trying to pry his mother out of a building. He scoffed, seeing the Charizards tail flame had gone out, signaling its death. He walked up to the Charmander, seeing it still trying to save its dead mother.
"Child, why do you try when there is no better outcome? Your mother is dead, can you not see that?" he asked the Charmander. The Charmander shook its head, tears coming out.
"Mommy always said that she would protect me. Mommy always said that she would be with me. Mommy always told me that she wouldn't stop fighting for me." It cried as it tried to keep lifting up the wood. Razfen shook his head, and stood up. He felt something wet against his cheek, and wiped it away, surprised to see a tear.
'A tear? Am I… crying?' he thought to himself. He shook his head, brushing it off. He left the scene and the Charmander, taking the surviving troops with him back to the capital, Alconde.
Hours later, as Razfen sat in his chamber, awaiting his next mission he thought about what he saw earlier. Even though the Charmander knew that its efforts were fruitless, it continued to fight for its mother's safety. Even though it knew it could not win, still it fought.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Razfen looked up, wiping away the tears that had sprung up from his thoughts. He opened his chamber door, seeing one of the many Sableye butlers that roamed the city.
"Swarm requires your presence." It muttered, bowing so low that its forehead touched the ground. Razfen nodded, and then broke the Sableyes neck.
"Never interrupt my meditation." He growled, walking off towards the palace grounds. Once he arrive, he saw a tall, menacing cloaked figure standing in the middle of the grounds, dozens of Sableye circled around it.
"About time you showed, Razfen. I was about to engage in a bit of sport with my servants here. Let me tell you, have you ever played 'Catch the decapitated head' before?" Swarm asked in its raspy voice. Razfen shook his head.
"Can't say I have, master." He said, paws crossed behind his back. Swarm stopped, turning to Razfen. Shadows covered his face, so Razfen didn't know where its eyes were.
"One of my soldiers reported something strange about your attack on Oddep last afternoon. The soldier, a Scyther, reported that you took interest in a Charmander trying to save its dead mother. Is that right?" Razfen swallowed, staring his master as best his could in the eyes.
"Yes my master, I did."
"Then why, did the Scyther report that you left the child alive?"
"Because I saw no need to kill it, master."
"FOOL!" Swarm smashed its gloved fist against Razfen's face, sending him flying into the pillar behind him and embedding him in it. He coughed, and fell out of the indent he left in the pillar. He fell to the floor, clutching the side of his face. "You know just as well as everyone that we must take no mercy." Swarm growled, facing Razfen as he deeply coughed. Razfen nodded weakly, bowing to his master.
"I apologize, master. It will never happen again." He spoke. Swarm nodded, and took his leave.
"You are lucky that you are my favorite general, Razfen. Any lower soldier would be dead before I would tell them why I would be killing them." Swarm growled, leaving with his butlers and leaving Razfen still bowing in the courtyard. While Razfen gave the appearance of loyalty, he burned with hate against Swarm. Berating him for leaving one, little Charmander alive, but ignoring that his first assignment was a complete and total success!? Swallowing his emotional rage, Razfen stood up, still clutching his gut in pain, and returned to his chambers.
He sat in there for many days as punishment for leaving the Charmander alive. On the eve of the second month of the year, Swarm paid him a visit.
"Hello, Razfen. Enjoying your time off?" Swarm asked menacingly, holding something behind its cloaked back. Razfen looked Swarm in its shadowed face, plain expression on his own.
"Yes. I needed it to contemplate."
"And?"
"I deeply regret my actions I took during the Oddep mission. I should have taken that Charmander and journeyed to the next town, killing him as a message to all those oppose us." Razfen stated plainly. Swarm nodded.
"Exactly what I wished to hear from you. You may do just that." Swarm tossed a burlap sack into Razfen's chamber, and motioned for him to open it. Razfen did, and was inwardly shocked to see the Charmander inside it, tail flame reduced to no more than a warm ember. Swarm left, tossing some cold words over his shoulder.
"Take your time with the Charmander, and make sure no one dares to threaten my kingdom." Swarm left, returning to its throne. Razfen stood completely still, until he heard the iron door shut. He sprung forward, pulling some medicine from his own private stores to heal the Charmander. The young lizard had taken several cuts around the face and chest, had claws marks around its legs, and its… gubbins… were swollen. Razfen inwardly shuddered, applying different creams on the Charmander, keeping a vigilant eye on the tail flame. After Razfen applied the medicine on the Charmander, he tightly bundled up the Charmander in the burlap sack and slugged it over his shoulder. He took more medicine, herbs, and food with him. He left the castle, journeying to the faraway city of Pyre Town, intent on not killing, but saving the Charmander.
… … …
Many days had passed before the Charmander woke from its painful sleep. Razfen noticed his cargo moving, and slowed his run. They were only sixty miles from Pyre Town, and he wanted it to make it quick. Spotting a tree giving a generous amount of berries and shade, and stopped and set the Charmander against the tree bark. He jumped up onto the branches above, grabbing several assorted berries and landing carefully next to the Charmander. He bit into one juice filled berry and saw the Charmander moving, weakly opening its eyes. With big, bright blue eyes it looked around, seeing the cold red eyes of Razfen staring at it. Instead of cowering in fear, it looked at Razfen quizzically, reaching out for a berry. Razfen handed him one, finishing his own. The Charmander took a large bite of its berry, squirting juice all over itself. Razfen held back a light chuckle, bagging up the rest of the freshly picked fruit.
"Are you feeling any better, Charmander?" Razfen asked, picking up the Charmander again, preparing to continue his journey. The Charmander nodded, swallowing the rest of the berry.
"A little. Thanks for helping me mister." The Charmander murmured, leaning his head against the back of Razfen's neck. Razfen nodded, running ahead.
"No problem kid. I'm taking you to Pyre Town, the residents will know how to better heal you than me." Razfen spoke, staring ahead. "My name is Razfen, by the way."
"I'm Ember. Thanks for the medicine." Ember closed his eyes, falling back asleep. "Thanks daddy."
'Daddy?' Razfen slowed, but didn't stop when Ember called him that. A memory surfaced, Razfen calling someone else daddy. He continued running, jumping over a fallen tree. He shook his head, remembering that he needed to do this quickly, lest Swarm realizes what he's doing. His ears perked up, and his aura readers started reading something strange. Razfen recognized it immediately; he was in the middle of a Mystery Dungeon.
… … …
Razfen bolted over a hilltop, finally leaving the Mystery Dungeon. He looked over the top, seeing the smokestacks of Pyre Town in the distance. He stopped, catching his breath.
'Nearly there.' He thought to himself, making sure Ember was still secure and sleeping. He straightened up, cracking his back as he did so, and went off towards the smoke filled city.
Once he entered, he noticed the amount of Pokémon around him and the Charmander. He saw a young Cyndaquil helping an Emboar with its shop. A Rapidash sauntered by, bags draped around him as he went by. In short, Razfen was stunned by the amount of pokemon not living in fear from Swarm. He went by, seeing a few dirty and grungy pokemon trailing him and Ember. He turned around, seeing three small Fennekins trailing behind him, sniffing in his wake. Razfen dug into his back, pulling out three berries and tossing it to them. Yelping in surprise and happiness, they took the fruit and ran off. He smiled, and continued forward.
He stopped at the building he was looking for, knocking twice before entering. Razfen looked inside, noting the Blissey behind the counter working on some paperwork.
"Welcome to the Pyre Town orphanage, drop off or pick up?" she asked, depression clear in her voice. Razfen took off the burlap sack.
"Drop off. Ember here is an orphan after his mother was killed. I don't want him to share the same fate, so I brought him here." Razfen told, cold stare still in his eyes. The Blissey nodded, taking Ember to a room. Ember woke up, and started crying when he noticed that he was being taken away from Razfen.
"No! Daddy, don't leave me!" he cried, holding out his arms and clutching the air. Razfen stared at Ember, before shouting.
"One day, I will return Ember. You must wait until I do." He said, turning away and leaving.
"Daddy! Don't leave me like mommy, please!" Ember cried, tears going down his scaly flesh. Razfen grabbed his pack, exiting out the door. He ran from the building, and didn't stop until he was deep in Swarm's territory.
Not for one second did the tears cease falling down his fur.
… … …
"So, I trust that the Charmander is dead?" Swarm asked once Razfen returned a week later after initialing leaving. Razfen nodded, putting on a façade.
"Yes, the Charmander is deceased. I split its spine and pulled its organs out in front of the biggest crowd I could find. No one in Pyre Town will ever fight against us ever." He assured Swarm, bowing once he began to respond.
"Good, good. Then perhaps you can explain this." Swarm snapped its fingers, and a Sableye butler came forward, dragging Ember along with him.
"As punishment for disobeying a direct order, you will slay the Charmander. If you refuse, I shall have your head on a pike and Soulless will take your place as a general." Swarm threatened, pulling out a wicked looking blade and gave it to Razfen. Razfen took it, his eyes softening. He took a step towards Ember, raising the sword above him.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Ember asked, shaking in fear from Razfen's actions. Razfen swallowed, and as a tear fell, he swung the sword and one body fell down, severed in two. Razfen hurled the blade at Swarm, surprising him and cutting a small amount of his cloak. Razfen grabbed Ember, and focused his psychic energy and teleported out of the throne room. All this happened before the Sableyes dead corpse hit the floor. Swarm kicked the Sableyes head around, sighing.
"Bring me the head of Razfen, the Head General!" he cried, sending dozens of his elite guards after them.
"And make sure you kill the Charmander first!"
Razfen was sprinting as fast as he could, heading west and away from Alconde. He clutched Ember tightly, and was going as fast as he could. Tears trickled down his fur as he held him, and he jumped over a gorge.
"There! Over the pass!" Razfen's eyes widened in shock, and he poured on the speed, running from the guards.
"Quickly, before they get away!" Razfen continued to ran, serpentine around the fallen logs and activating Extreme Speed, leaving the lands behind him.
… … …
Razfen collapsed, expending all of his energy trying to get away from the elite guards. He journeyed half way across the country, finally leaving them behind him and Ember.
"Were okay Ember, they won't find us out here." He hugged Ember tightly, but when he stood up, he noticed that his entire front was covered in blood. He looked down at Ember, seeing a long gash across his chest, leaking blood at an alarming rate.
"No, no! I made sure that it would miss you!" Razfen cried, pulling up grass, spare cloth, whatever he could find to try and stop the bleeding. Ember pushed his claw against Razfen's paw, stopping him.
"Ember, I need to stop the bleeding."
"No, I'll be fine daddy."
"Ember, please let me heal you." He cried, tears surging down his face. "I won't leave."
"Daddy, let me go see mommy. I want to see mommy again." Razfen looked up, seeing the blue in Ember's eyes leaving, his tail flame slowly extinguishing.
"I'm home mommy. Daddy helped me get home." Ember murmured as the last light left his eyes, and his tail flame stopped.
"Ember? Ember wake up. Ember! EMBER!" Razfen shouted, tears hitting the cold, scaly flesh. He sat there for hours; crying as his memories came surging back into his mind. Wiping his tears, he charged the power of earth into his paw and punched the ground, creating a crater the size of Ember. Carefully, he placed Ember in it, and closed his eyes. He placed the dirt back in the hole, placing a large rock where Ember's head rested. He unsheathed one of his claws, and engraved a final farewell in the tombstone. When he turned around, he saw sixteen of Swarm's elite guards standing behind me.
"Now, that was very touching. Now, on accordance with Master Swarm's wishes, we will kill you and deliver him your head on a pike." The lead pokemon, a Scizor spoke. Razfen stood still, his bright red eyes glaring into the Scizors.
"Thousand Fist Rage. Blood Bath." Razfen muttered, his eyes shining a brilliant red, startling the guards. He lunged forward, attacking the group.
… … …
Razfen limped away from the bodies, trailing his broken leg behind him. His own blood stained his fur as he walked back to Ember's grave, sitting down in front of it.
"I'm sorry I couldn't keep you alive, Ember. I barely knew you, but you helped me more than anyone else could." He clenched his fists.
"I only wish I could have done the same for you." He turned to leave, but taking one final look at the tombstone.
A fire that burns too bright…
Burns out first
… … …
19 years later…
… … …
As long as the fire burns…
We shall serve as a beacon of hope.
To all those who cannot stand any longer
We will stand with them
And to all those who cannot continue the fight
We will fight with and for them
We are the PRF, and we never sleep
Lest we fail, and the world is covered in darkness and death
Razfen looked on at the marble slab embedded in the wall, next to the stone sculpture of Ember. A single tear fell, and he turned away to greet a fighter.
"Hey Razfen, I've been meaning to ask…" a Sandslash inquired.
"Yes?"
"Who is that Charmander you asked for a statue of?" Razfen turned to look at the statue, shaking his head and walking away.
"No one of importance." Razfen returned to his room, sitting down at his desk. He opened a book, and picked up a quill. He dipped it in ink and started to write the first sentence.
A legend has its ends, so in time, a new legend must arise.
The lone eevee raced through the dotted forest, jumping around patches of poisonous fauna and fallen logs, desperate for escape. She risked a look over her shoulder, spotting the purple and blue toad racing after her, intent on his mission. The eevee burrowed into an underground den, wriggling though and temporarily escaping her would be kidnapper. Knowing there was no time to lose; she ran through the underground tunnels and raced through to the other side, welcoming the sunlight on her fur. She paused, took a look around, and didn't see her follower. She sighed in relief, taking a brisk jog to her favorite spot in the Pecha Forest. Arriving at a steep cliff face, she found a rock roughly her size and pushed it to the side. When it had been moved, a hole in the wall was visible, a few items inside it. She stepped inside, pushing the rock forward and covering the entrance.
She reached forward and drew a small piece of iron from her mane, and a sharp stone next to the entrance. She struck them against each other, creating a shower of sparks that hit a small patch of wood. After a few more strikes, the wood burst into flames, and she placed a few more logs on the fire. The eevee walked over to a pile of fabric and cotton on the ground nearby, and curled up on it. She stared into the fire, having it lull her to sleep.
… … …
A rumbling close by quickly woke her from her sleep, and she quickly looked around in fear and without abandon to see what was making the sound. She looked over to the rock barricading the entrance, and saw it start to move. Eyes widening, she quickly buried herself underneath the covers, making sure she wasn't entirely visible to the intruders.
"Skye… are you in here?" a familiar voice beckoned. Skye looked up from her hiding spot, peeking through the covers and saw her best friend in the entire world. A Riolu named Ricardo, but insists that people call him Ricky.
"Damn it Ricky, you scared my fur off!" Skye scolded, holding herself back from tackling him. Ricky smiled, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"Well, I had to see if you were in here one way or another. I had to make sure that Toxicroak didn't get to you." He replied, stepping inside and covering the entrance once again with the rock. He relit the fire and sat down across from Skye cross-legged.
"Thanks for checking up on me, but you really didn't need to do that Ricky. You know that I can keep myself out of trouble." Skye told him confidently. Ricky just shook his head, laughing to himself.
"Really? I thought I was the one who got you out of trouble, and you were the one to always get us into messes like that."
"Name one time."
"When you got into an argument with that Zangoose. Or when you decided to play 'Punching Bags' with a Teddiursa. Oh, oh, oh! Or when you tried to steal honey from that same Teddiursa?" he told her.
Skye blushed, looking away. "I said name one time, not three." She grumbled. Ricky smiled, pulling a berry out of his bag and taking a bite out of it.
"I did name one time. I just added a few for good measure." He smugly replied. Skye crossed her eyes, staring at Ricky.
"Can you not be such a smartass all the time?"
"I'd rather be a smartass than a dumbass."
"Oh shut up!"
"I am not a clam!"
"Where did you get clam from?"
"It's a joke!"
"Well it's a pretty shitty joke."
"I learned from you."
"Arceus, you are such an asshole!"
"What did Arceus do to you?" Ricky smiled wider than ever, swallowing the rest of the berry whole after the argument. He wiped his paws on a spare piece of cloth, standing up and placing the bag over his shoulder again. He pulled out a wrapped package from the bag and tossed it over to Skye, surprising her.
"I saw you eyeing it up at the shop yesterday, so I bought it for you." Skye unwrapped the item, seeing it was the red scarf she wanted so badly. Blushing, she wrapped it around her neck and sat up. She opened her mouth to thank him, but was surprised when he pressed his ear against the rock wall.
"What are you…" Ricky turned around and did the 'quiet' gesture and continued listening against the wall. Skye stood still for a second, waiting for Ricky to finish what he was doing. His eyes shot open, and he backed up in panic.
"Shit. Quick, run to the back of the cave!" he cried, grabbing his back. Skye ran after him once she heard voices coming from outside, getting louder and louder
"I'm telling you, I heard voices inside the wall!"
"Bullshit. Unless…" The rock started moving, and Skye quickly kicked out the fire and pedaled after Ricky.
Stonewall Caverns F1
"Ricky! Where are you!" Skye shouted, running through the back of the caves.
"Skye!" Ricky whispered, pulling her next to him as he bolted down a hallway. "I forgot this was a dungeon, but we should be able to sneak out." He said, Skye trying to keep up. "I think that Toxicroak from before went back and got some help to track you down, so we need to hurry." He tossed over his shoulder. Skye nodded, pouring on the speed. They passed by an Oran berry on the ground, and Ricky grabbed it before continuing to run forward.
"How long is this- LOOK OUT!" Ricky shouted, backpedaling into Skye and knocking them both down. Skye looked up, seeing an iron incrusted boulder fire over their heads. She looked forward, seeing a Geodude floating nearby, holding another boulder and ready to throw. Ricky bolted up, grabbing a hunk of stone out of the ground himself and pelting it at the Geodude.
And that's another installment of Disturbing Little Tales!
