Chapter 3 - Secrets, Stories, and Survivors

When Eli began to head back, he heard the small amount of chatter coming from the knights vanish. He looked to see what was happening, and saw the the knights preparing to mobilize.

Dammit. I need to warn Leon and Sara.

Meanwhile, in Shade...

"Sara wake up." Leon prodded Sara lightly. She groaned. Leon chuckled. "You know we have to get up. That Blaziken could order an attack at any minute."

With that, Sara sighed, sat up, and looked around. She stopped when she saw that Eli wasn't in the house.

"Where's Eli?"

Leon shrugged. "I heard him leave earlier. He's probably still getting some fresh air."

"Still? How long has he been out there?"

"Calm down, its only been a couple of minutes. I'm certain he'll be back shortly."

"That's putting a lot of faith in him."

"What? What does that mean?"

"Well I was just wondering... Do you trust Eli?"

Leon tilted his head. "What? Why?"

"Just answer the damn question."

"I guess kind of trust him. we know very little about him, but he doesn't seem like the sort of Pokémon to lie."

"Well, I-"

She was interrupted as Eli entered the house, breathing heavily.

Leon walked over to him. "Eli? What's the matter?"

He caught his breath, then said, "It's that Blaziken. He's coming."

Leon and Sara quickly exchanged looks, then the three of them ran outside.

They were met with the sight of the Blaziken's platoon marching towards Shade.

"Leon, go warn the villagers."

"But Sara-"

"No. Go warn them they need to know. I can defend the town."

Leon sighed. "Alright. Just be safe."

"We will."

Eli was shocked. We?

Leon then began running house to house.

"Are you ready Eli?"

"I-I'm... not sure. I'll try my best."

Sara nodded, then turned to face the incoming knights.

The platoon consisted only of fire types, and was headed by the Blaziken. They stopped at the edge of the village, face to face with Eli and Sara.

No words were said. The Blaziken the raised his hand and every knight began charging an attack. Eli and Sara braced themselves. He then dropped his hand and pointed forward.

"Fire!" Every knight launched their attack at once. They all sailed past Sara and Eli.

Eli looked around. "What-"

Boom!

Eli and Sara turned to see an entire house get engulfed in flames. Sara quickies turned to the Blaziken. "You bastard! What did they do to deserve that?!"

The Blaziken just laughed. "The local leader denied me and my men quarter within this village. This is just the Order's protocol. Something you should be very familiar with... Sara." He then raised his hand again. "Attack!" The knights charged.

Sara was immediately set upon by most of them. Suddenly, pointed rocks shot up around her, launching some knights, while the others were impaled by them. The Blaziken then charged her.

Eli was having a much more difficult time with his fight. He was able to keep the knights back with a volley of Shadow Balls, but he was tiring fast.

How do Pokémon keep this up?! I'm already at my limit, while they're just warming up...

Eli began to slow down, when a Houndour ran in. He took the chance to Bite Eli, catching him on the leg. The Houndour bit down hard, and Eli cried out in pain. He could feel blood running out of the wound.

"Dammit! Get off!" Eli kicked at the Houndour, and kept kicking until he caught him in the eye.

The Houndour grunted and let go. "You'll pay for that," he growled.

Suddenly, a blade made of green energy stabbed into the Houndour's side. He howled in pain, and fell on his side.

Eli looked up to see Leon standing over him, offering him his hand. Eli took it and tried to stand, but fell to one knee, grunting in pain. He looked down to see a deep gash on his ankle.

Eli shook his head. "Don't worry about me. Go help Sara."

Leon nodded and he ran over to where she was.

Sara was matching the Blaziken blow for blow, but her type disadvantage was beginning to show. She was slowing down, and both her and the Blaziken knew it.

"This was fun, Sara. Too bad I'll have to cut it short." His foot was then engulfed in flames, and he charged. Sara couldn't bring up her arms in time, and she took the full force of the kick to the face. She was sent flying backwards.

"Sara," Leon cried out. He then turned towards the Blaziken. "You're going to pay."

He chuckled. "Oh, am I? Which one of you could possibly do anything to me?"

Leon growled, created another blade of green energy, and charged the Blaziken.

The Blaziken shook his head. "Eager to die? Don't worry, I'll oblige."

Eli was kneeling nearby, unable to stand due the wound on his leg. "What can I do...? I can't stand, and I'm exhausted, but I can't just sit here and let them die." Suddenly, he thought of something. "I hope this works."

Leon couldn't keep up with the Blaziken's speed, and he took blow after blow. "You made a massive mistake when you challenged me." His foot caught fire again. "Now die!" He then charged Leon, but before he could land the kick, his body was surrounded in a blue aura and he couldn't move.

"Wh-What?! What's going on?!"

Leon stopped and looked around quickly. He then saw Eli kneeling, his eyes glowing a bright blue.

Focusing on the Blaziken, Eli used Psychic lift him into the air. "I'm not going to let them die. They saved my life. I owe them." The Blaziken rose even higher.

"Take this!" Eli then sent the Blaziken pummeling towards the ground. When he hit the ground, there was a sickening crunch and the Blaziken cried out in pain.

Eli was exhausted. He stood up and limped over to the Blaziken. He was shocked to see that his attack had broken both of the Blaziken's legs and that he was bleeding badly.

"Y-You... bastard... how dare you?" He was struggling to speak through the pain.

"You were going to kill them... I couldn't let that happen."

He then limped over to Leon, and offered him his hand. Leon looked up, took Eli's hand, and stood up. He was bleeding and bruised all over.

"Is he dead?"

Eli shook his head. "Both of his legs are broken."

Leon chuckled. "Damn. That's impressive." A worried expression then crossed his face. "Sara!" He ran to where she had landed.

Eli had to look away when he first saw her. Her face was bleeding excessively. Leon didn't seem to notice, and was hurriedly digging in his bag.

"Where are they, where are they?" Quickly, he pulled an Oran berry out and fed it to Sara. "Please... Please be okay..."

Suddenly, Sara began coughing, and her eyes opened slowly. "Leon...?"

"Sara..."

"I'm not dead yet..."

"Dammit Sara. Don't do that to me again..."

Sara could barely force out a chuckle.

Eli fell to the ground. "It's over."

Leon shook his head. "Not yet. That bastard's still alive. I'm going to finish this."

"He doesn't need to die."

Leon shook his head again. "This is war. Someone always dies. You just have to make sure it isn't someone you care about."

"But-"

Leon ignored Eli and walked over to the Blaziken.

"No more to say?" Leon created another blade of green energy and held it up to the Blaziken's chest. The Blaziken said nothing. "Fine." He then drove the blade through the Blaziken's chest. "Good riddance." Leon then turned to Sara and Eli.

"Eli, you stay with her. I'm going to go get the villagers and see if there's a doctor with them." Eli nodded, and Leon ran into the forest.

Eli was stunned. L-Leon just... killed him. He stared at the corpse of the Blaziken. He didn't deserve this. Eli then remembered where the first attack struck.

His eyes found the ruins of a home, still burning to the ground. They attacked with the intention to kill innocent Pokémon. He had to be stopped. Eli sighed. The Order has to be stopped, there's no way around that. I just- His thoughts were then interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the distance.

Leon finally returned with the villagers, and quickly ran over to the duo, accompanied by a Grovyle.

"I brought a doctor. She said she could at least stop the bleeding for now."

The Grovyle nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry I can't do more right now."

She then began wrapping their wounds in crude bandages; just enough to stem the bleeding and dull the pain.

As soon as the two had been bandaged, the Meganium they met the morning before approached them. "I can't thank you enough for protecting our village."

"No problem, ma'am," Leon responded, with a smile. "It's what we do."

"You can call me Sol. Is there anything we can do to repay you?"

"Food and a place to stay for the night, if possible."

"We can give you food, and we have space in the infirmary. However, it isn't a very large place."

"What about the house we were using," Sara asked.

"Well, one of the houses was destroyed by those knights, so we need that home now. I'm sorry."

Leon nodded. "That's fine. They can stay at the infirmary. I'll find somewhere to stay."

"Leon, are you sure?" Sara's voice was filled with worry.

"How many times have I slept outside? I'm sure. You two need to recover more than I do."

"Is that all you need," Sol asked.

Leon nodded. "Yes. Thank you for your hospitality."

"Very well. I will arrange for some food be set aside for you three. It won't be much, but its all we can offer. I hope you all recover quickly." With that she departed and began helping the villagers.

"I take it the two of you will be joining me in the infirmary tonight," the Grovyle asked Eli and Sara. They nodded. "Alright. I'll go prepare the beds then."

"Thank you again," Leon called out.

The Grovyle just turned back and smiled, then continued on her way.

"I hope you two are feeling a little better now, knowing you guys get beds and I don't." Leon cracked a smile.

Sara sighed. "Not the time for sarcasm, Leon."

"Where's the joy and excitement? We just saved this village."

"I'm just more tired and hurting than anything right now."

"Well I guess it a good time for you to head to the infirmary then." Leon then helped Sara up. "Do you need help walking?"

Sara shook her head. "Not as much as Eli does."

Leon nodded, helped Eli up, and then they all made their way to the infirmary.

Th infirmary itself was simple in design. It looked like a standard log cabin, but it also had what appeared to be some sort of medicine on a sign hanging over the door. Without it, the building would look like every other one in the village.

When they arrived, the Grovyle was waiting in the main room of the building. "I have a room ready for the two of you. Follow me."

They were led through the back of the building to a small room. Inside were two beds on opposite ends of the room. Yet, they were almost touching. There was also a small table next to both beds.

"I'm sorry for the lack of space," The Grovyle said, "but I also live here."

"It's okay," Sara responded. "We'll be fine."

The Grovyle nodded. "I'll be back. I need to go get proper bandages and medicine to help with those injuries." She then left the room

"Well, goodnight you two. I'll see you both in the morning." Leon then left the infirmary, leaving Eli and Sara alone in the room.

After a few moments of silence, Sara spoke. "Hey, Eli?"

"Hmm?"

Sara sighed. "I just wanted to say thanks for saving Leon and I. We couldn't have won without your help."

Eli was shocked. "Oh... I, uh... You're welcome. I'm just sorry I couldn't help before you got hurt."

"It's fine. I'm just happy Leon's alright."

"You really care about Leon, don't you?"

She blushed. "I-It's just... I made a promise to someone that I'd keep him safe. I'll make sure to honor that promise until I die."

Eli nodded. "Also, that Blaziken knew you. How?"

Sara froze. "I-I... It's not important."

Eli nodded again. I can't press her further. Not yet.

Soon, the Grovyle came back, her arms full of various medical supplies.

"I'm sorry. It took longer than I thought it would to find everything."

She walked over to Sara and set her supplies down on the table next to Sara's bed. The Grovyle then took off Sara's bandages.

"You got lucky. Whatever did this to your head could've done much worse."

"I certainly don't feel lucky."

"Well you're about feel a lot worse for a few minutes." She grabbed some new bandages and rubbed a light blue mixture on them.

"When I apply this medicine, it will hurt at first. Are you ready?"

Sara nodded reluctantly and braced herself.

The Grovyle then began wrapping Sara's wounds. Sara's face contorted with pain, but she remained silent. Soon, the Grovyle had finished treating Sara, and had turned her attention on Eli.

"The same warning goes for you," she said as she undid Eli's bandages and prepared more. "Ready?"

Eli nodded. The second the bandage touched his wound, he felt like his leg was engulfed by a raging inferno. He was struggling not move his leg away from the Grovyle. Quickly, she finished and began gathering the medicine.

"Thanks," Sara said. Exhaustion and pain were evident in her voice.

The Grovyle turned and smiled. "No problem. If you two need anything just call for me. My name is Bloom."

Sara nodded. "Well, l'm Sara and that's Eli. The other Pokémon who was with us is Leon."

Bloom nodded, then left the room.

In order to distract himself from the pain, Eli began studying the room they were in. There was a small shelf on the wall that Eli had missed before. It was lined with books, but the shelf was high enough that Eli couldn't read most of the names of the books. Of the ones he could read, he could see the beginning them. One book that caught his eye was one that seemed to about herbs and medicines.

Leon seems to have basic medical knowledge. Eli thought. Also, Oran berries seem to have some healing properties. However, it wouldn't hurt to do a little more research on the medicine here.

Finally, the pain stopped and was replaced by a soothing numbness that washed over Eli's body, allowing him to drift off to sleep.