Chapter Six: Fighting for a lost cause
A Pokémon Fan-Fiction
By Hoenn Master
"Do you know what honor is? Honor is ability to walk away from power; the ability to give up everything for someone else, and the man you make yourself to be. Always do the best you can do, and never tarnish your good name; as it is the only thing you truly own in this life."- My Grandfather
"For Lord Innes! Charge!"
The frightening shriek of the ragged slaves roused us from our moment of peace, and again forced us into an unexpected fight.
"What? No! We are here to save you!" I shouted at the heedless mob before me, trying my utmost to reason with an unreasonable crowd.
"Blast! Those people aren't listening! But why?" I thought, instinct driving my voice as I thought out my strategy. "Cross formation!" I shouted suddenly, ordering my fellows into a diamond shaped formation around Sabrina's unconscious form, perfect for large fights and difficult situations like this one.
Lance, who had been resting on my shoulder and watching Sabrina closely, rose up and into the coming fray, and clawed at the eyes of both man and Pokémon alike, and battering their heads with his powerful wings. Duskull and Combusken were working systematically on their front of defense; Combusken clawing and bashing in the heads of the unarmored slaves, whilst Duskull fired his shadow blasts randomly into the midst of the tide. Ghetsis and I were protecting Sabrina as best we could; Ghetsis standing directly behind me, fighting furiously and watching over Duskull and Combusken, and I was watching over Lance whilst my own blade had cut down a legion of the slaves bent on revenge for reasons that I could not place.
"Why are they attacking us? I thought that they would be thankful that we delivered them from that insane woman!" Ghetsis shouted, voice ringing with indignation whilst he cut down two men at a blow, cleanly cleaving their heads.
My thoughts on the matter of why were interrupted by the emergence of a lance right beside me, and an arm grasping at my shoulder from behind, using it for leverage. It was in that moment that I was devoutly thankful that I had extraordinary resistance to my reflexes, or I would have cut off Sabrina's left arm in reaction!
"Sabrina! You're awake! Quickly, get behind me," I yelled, just as a slave met his end upon the haft of Sabrina's lance; gore spraying from the puncture wound in his gut. I swiftly ended his misery by decapitating the poor man.
"Thank you for protecting me, John. My head may feel like it's going to explode, but I'm glad that I could help all the same," Sabrina mumbled, teetering slightly, and looking like a drunkard who had gone too deep into his tankard.
I took another look at Sabrina then, as her reaction was out of her usual character. Sabrina's eyes were still very unhealthy looking, but at least she was awake and fighting her weaknesses; just like always. I then took more time to study my opponents, and I further realized that something was terribly wrong with the scene before me: These slaves were being controlled by something; by what, I couldn't be sure, but the fact remained that something must be controlling these poor souls, and forcing them to attack us without mercy. Though they we only wielding sticks and stones, their number is what made them dangerous; I estimated there to be approximately two-hundred slaves before me: All under some form of possession, and that they weren't under their own reason. Seeing that there was no other option, and spotting an opening in the lines, I swiftly broke formation, and charged headlong into the mindless slaves, cutting them down in droves, and attempted to silence their horrible moaning… Permanently. Though, how I would accomplish that, I had no idea. Flaring my much depleted Aura to ward off the hands of the slaves, I proceeded to cut down the numerically superior slaves, one by one, life by life.
"I'm sorry," I groaned after every death, losing myself in sorrow for these people.
After a span of time, all of the slaves had been killed; either by my blade, or by the weapons of my comrades. But… So much blood had been shed; it flowed like a river, and puddled up into mires of disgusting fluids.
We weren't without injury, however. Lance had broken his wing and two of his talons, Combusken had hurt his shoulder, and couldn't move his arm without excruciating pain, making me wince every time he tried; Ghetsis had burned his hand when Combusken had incinerated a slave who had attempted to lay hold of him from behind, Sabrina had fared the best of the fight; having only been grazed on the cheek by a large rock, and had a number of cuts and bruises on her face and upper arms from the sticks that the slaves had been wielding. I had fared the worst, however. My left arm was out of its usual alignment, my eyes were burning from the blood that had dripped into them from my bloody brow, my legs and groin felt like they were on fire, and my mind was fogged with exhaustion and misery. I knew in my heart, though, that this would only be the beginning of a much larger war, filled with more injuries, and more unnecessary conflict and more hatred.
We brought the bodies into a large pile, and used a faggot* of wood to light the gruesome pyre, and soon my comrades departed.
"I need some time alone…" I murmured shakily to Combusken, "Please, tell everyone that I shall return shortly,"
"But… Why?" Combusken asked, confused at my request.
"Because I need a few minutes to reorient my thoughts, and lay out my suspicions to myself, and I also need to reset my arm," I explained, turning back to the pyre, clutching my arm.
"Very well then, John. Just don't remain too long, or I shall come after you," Combusken said, leaving to inform the others of my decision, also cradling his own wounded limb.
I got down upon my knees, heedless of the blood-soaked ground, and the fact that my leggings would be tarnished, and I began to pray that God help those poor souls who fought and died this day; I prayed that the war that I had foreseen would be averted, and I prayed just for the sake of praying, taking the comfort that only God could provide for me, and all men.
After some minutes in prayer, I finally stood up, set my arm with and audible 'pop' eyes streaming tears, and made my preparations to leave, "Innes, I will hold you accountable for every precious life lost in this meaningless conflict you have brought to our fair home," I thought bitterly, turning my head from the flaming pile, and left to return home with my comrades.
When we returned to the fortress, we were welcomed uproariously; congratulations and thank you's were prevalent among the villagers, as well as the other Knights. Capitan Smith was waiting for us, along with Joseph, who had been promoted to the rank of second in command for an act of great valor during a survey to the southern isles of Hoenn, and his Larion partner, whom Joseph had met and bonded with on that same expedition.
Joseph was still clad lightly due to the surprise attack; however, he now had a proper forest green tunic* over his lithe frame, and his Great-Sword was slung over his shoulders in a battle ready position. Larion, too, though visibly marked, seemed to be ready for battle, as his eyes were darting about suspiciously, no doubt looking for enemies.
"John! Sabrina! Ghetsis! Welcome back!" Joseph exclaimed, striding over, and encasing the three of us in a friendly embrace, while Larion shared a word or two with our partners through their natural tongue.
"Good to see you as well, Joseph. I trust that the battle here fared well?" I returned, grasping Joseph's upper arm in friendship with my right arm.
"The battle went very well, and I must thank you and Sabrina for protecting me earlier, I would have had quite some trouble with four enemies against me. Also, what did you do to cause such a large cloud of smoke to fly into the air?" Joseph asked me, realizing I had aches, and stepping back slightly to give me room.
"Well, not long after Sabrina and I depleted our stock of arrows, Ghetsis came running through the north-west gates, and gave me a report that was very disturbing to say the least…" I said, beginning my report on the matter of the tower.
When I had completed my recounting of the recent events, Joseph looked very troubled, and finally broke the silence that he had maintained throughout the tale.
"But why though? Why would Lord Innes attack us? I think that there is something far more sinister at work here than meets the eye, John. I want you to depart with Sabrina and Ghetsis to King William's court as soon as Sabrina's health permits, and inform him of these events," Joseph ordered, and, turning to Sabrina, he added, "I see you were injured, Sabrina; I hope you recover swiftly, as you will be needed on this quest," Joseph then turned to Ghetsis, and said, "Ghetsis, I want to thank you for all that you've done; without you, we might not be standing here now… I pray that God will bless you, and I shall keep you in my prayers; Good night."
"Good night, Joseph, Larion," we all said simultaneously, saluting Joseph, and walking back to our barracks, I supported Sabrina as far as the entrance to the women's chambers, and no farther, letting her go into the haven of her bed, and I, going to do the same.
After we had closed the door to our room, Combusken and I began to care for our effects, and then proceeded to have a short conversation, as we were drained, both mentally and physically.
"So, John, how are you holding up after that woman… Injured, you?" Combusken asked, laying down upon his straw bed, and peering at me through half-lidded eyes.
"It hurts terribly, Combusken. I'm just thankful that my armor had sufficient padding, or I might never have recovered from that underhanded blow properly. Though, I fear that I will have to be more careful now, as we may encounter that woman again," I responded, laying down, and closing my eyes, releasing the tension that had built up in my legs, and letting my mind free to wander down the dark and dangerous events of the day.
"Hn, I certainly doubt that woman will give us any more trouble; she blew herself up, remember?" Combusken pursued, following my lead, and reclining his head.
"I saw no body, Combusken. That is all the grounds I need to doubt her death."
"Hn, I still believe her to be dead," Combusken muttered sleepily, turning onto his good side, and falling asleep almost immediately.
"I just hope that Lord Innes will come to his senses before it is too late…" I thought absently, before finally giving in to the welcome embrace of sleep.
A.N.
I realize that the modern meaning of the word 'faggot' is something that is insulting to some people, but the original meaning was this (taken from the Webster Desk Dictionary); (n. Old Greek) 'A bundle of sticks or twigs, often used for fuel, esp. for pyres.'
Also, the Aura knights wear garments colored according to their tastes, and their Aura; for example, John's Aura is cobalt blue, and his favorite color also happens to be cobalt blue, so he wears armor with blue markings to signify what his Aura is, and John also wears cobalt tunics because they are his preferred color.
I would again like to point out that I do enjoy reviews, and any comment on the story is greatly appreciated.
Also, a large thank you must go to Kira for her help betaing for me, and a thank you to any reviewer from my nonexistent fanbase who comes through here.
Signed: Hoenn Master, forever a patriot.
