The Passage of Time
Disclaimer: See Chapter One or Eight.
Chapter Nine: Thunder Army
As we left the battlefield, Lucario said, "Now what do we do?"
"We ask the villagers where Thunder Army resides."
"What on Earth for?" Infernape asked.
"Well, we were told to eliminate the two armies, and that was just a battalion of a much larger army," I replied.
As we entered the village, a little kid shouted out, "He's back! The man who saved us is back!"
The villagers slowly came out of their houses as the same kid ran up to me and hugged my leg. "Thank you mister, we were being bullied by those mean men for so long until you showed up!"
"Well," I replied, "If it wasn't for my Pokemon friends here, a battalion would've destroyed your town with a cannon."
"Wow! Thank you Pokemon!" the little kid said as they started to blush.
"Now, on to more serious business. Where does Thunder Army reside?"
The air suddenly turned so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.
"No one challenges Thunder Army and survives," said a villager.
"Or they just get pulled into their ranks," said another.
"Well, I'm not about to do either. I plan to defeat them all."
"You are either very brave, or very stupid," said a heavyset man.
"Really? I thought that I just saved your skins from being raped and pillaged every other day," I retorted. "Look, I just want to know where they are, and I'll be out of here."
"Head due South, you will find their encampment," said an old woman.
"Thank you," I said, and left.
The next day…
We were almost to the encampment and we could already see several smoke pillars, telling us that it was from keeping themselves warm, or they were having breakfast.
"How are we going to defeat them all?" Luxray asked.
"I'll go in first, introduce myself and then give a signal to attack."
"What's the signal?" Golduck asked.
"You'll know it when you hear it," I replied. "Make sure you go in with your most powerful attacks. There will be carnage."
"Be careful Scott," Gardevoir said.
"Aren't I always?"
"No," everyone said.
"Oh. Well, I'll try being careful this time, but I can't guarantee it."
As I entered the encampment, I heard a voice.
"You there, stop. Identify yourself."
"I would like to see your commandant," I replied.
"Are you here to give us your services?" the guard asked.
"Something like that."
"Follow me then."
As we entered a large tent, I saw a heavily armoured person sitting behind a desk.
"Commandant Andrew, I have brought a willing recruit for your inspection."
"Very good, now leave." He said.
As he left, the Commandant said, "So, you wish to join our Army?"
"No, I wish to destroy it."
"Guards! Kill this intruder!"
As the men entered, I took hold of my Desert Eagles, still in their holsters, and fired. As they dropped dead, I said, "Time to die, Commander."
As he flipped his desk, I took out my Uzi's, flicked the safeties off, and fired at the overturned desk.
"Surrender Commandant, for my friends are now storming your encampment!" 'Or, I hope they are,' I thought.
"Who are you working for?! Flame Army?"
"Why, have they been attacking you?"
"Yes, but that just answers my question."
"Perfect. Now I know who else to eliminate."
Outside, the sounds of chaos erupted.
"Looks like my Pokemon have caused quite a disturbance, Andrew. It is such a shame that you took a different path than your ancestor, Sir Andrew of Stronghold Kingdom," I said.
"How do you know about him?" he said, peeking over the desk.
I sent him back behind the desk with a burst from an Uzi. "I fought alongside him."
"WHAT?!"
Up until this point, I had been firing around his body on purpose. Now, I aimed at the middle of the desk and fired. When no sounds issued from behind there, I went around to take a look. Andrew's dead body was slumped against the desk.
"I'm afraid that the secret of my knowledge will never be revealed to you."
Outside the tent, I saw Golduck and Lucario fighting back to back against swarms of Pokemon and their handlers. As I closed in, I opened fire on the handlers, taking care to not hit any Pokemon.
"Where is everyone else?" I asked them when I reached them.
"Infernape and Luxray went around to the back," Golduck said.
"I saw Gardevoir and Staraptor looking for you," Lucario said.
"Crap! I have to find them! Follow me!"
We went through the entire encampment, linking up with Infernape and Luxray, but we couldn't find sign of either Gardevoir or Staraptor.
"Scott!" a voice cried.
I looked up, and saw Staraptor heading towards us. "Where were you? Me and Gardevoir were searching for you!"
"I was introducing the commander to my Uzi's," I replied. "But where's Gardevoir? I thought she was with you?"
"She's this way, fighting off several men and their Pokemon. I think she's injured as well," Staraptor answered.
'Probably as injured as we are,' I thought.
As we rounded the bend, I saw several Pokemon fighting Gardevoir, but I also noticed that it was the handlers that were actually trying to get to her.
"Get away from me!"
'Wait, telepathy? Oh, that's right, those men would only hear her name if she actually spoke,' I thought.
"Hang on Gardevoir, I'm coming!" I shouted.
"Scott!" she projected towards me. "I can't hold them off with my Psychic powers for much longer, hurry!"
"Okay guys, get those Pokemon off her back, I'll get rid of the handlers."
As Thunder Army's Pokemon turned towards mine, the handlers decided to not go up against five of my Pokemon, and headed straight for Gardevoir.
'Shit, I don't think she can hold off those men, I'd better hurry!' I thought desperately.
It was too late, however, as the men reached her and grabbed her.
"NO!"
As they started hitting her, I noticed one of them undoing his zipper behind her.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" I roared as I raised an Uzi.
As they looked towards me, I shot them. One by one, they fell, until only two were left, still holding onto Gardevoir.
"I suggest you let her go. NOW!"
As they let go and ran, I shot them in the back, and didn't stop until I heard a metallic clicking, letting me know I was out of ammo.
I reloaded and headed back towards Gardevoir. "Why did you come looking for me? You should know that I can take care of myself," I whispered to her as she got up.
"I worry too much about you," she said, trembling. Then she fell to her knees.
"Gardevoir!"
"I-I'm alright," she said.
"No, you're not. You're hurt."
"What about you?"
I chuckled. "You do worry too much about me. I don't have a scratch on me. On the other hand, I need to give you a Potion or something; you're really hurt."
As I helped her to her feet, she looked unsteady. "Are you sure you can walk?" I asked.
"I think I can."
"Well, until you're sure, I'm carrying you."
"What?! You can't possibly carry me, I'm too…" she trailed off.
"What, you think you're too heavy for me to carry? There's no way I'd let someone as hurt as you walk by themselves."
"At least get someone to help you," a different voice said.
"Are you asking to help Lucario?"
"I'm suggesting. If you want to carry her, go ahead."
I smirked. "Okay then, off we go," I said, lifting Gardevoir bridal-style. "Let's get you fixed up."
Continued in Chapter Ten…
A/N: The destruction of Thunder Army and another one to take care of. After this, what next? Time shall tell…
- UBE Chief
