Shadows in War, Segment One, Chapter 9 – The Iron Wall
A/N:
Disclaimer: I pretty clearly have nothing to do with Game Freak and other companies.
BANG!
The sound of the gunshot echoed into the nighttime swamp. Following that was the sound of a bullet clashing against steel.
A blade of bronze met a dagger. In the next second, another gunshot rang throughout the area, and a strike was blocked judging by the sound of steel against steel.
An arrow was shot from Nathan's hoodie, but the projectile was masterfully shot out of the air by the man fighting Angel.
"Never take your eyes off an opponent." Angel mumbled.
"I didn't."
The attacker swung his hatchet, and Angel blocked the strike with her sword. Like earlier, she backed away quickly before it went any further.
"You noticed the cut in my hatchet… Interesting." The main cast's assailant stated in a British accent. As the fire on the end of Samantha's stick burned brighter, the features of the figure and his companions were revealed to the group.
Their assailant was clad in a snow white long sleeved shirt underneath a light blue vest with a rhombus shape on the back. Strapped to his torso was a small pouch. A pair of trousers of the same blue as his vest were held up by a black leather belt, also carrying five more pouches- two of which carried flintlock pistols. A third rested on the right side of his torso. Dark blue shoes coated in grime didn't impede his movement in the thick swamp.
His hair was short and sideswept to the right, colored an icy blue. A horizontal scar was below his left eye, and a smaller scar to the left os his lips beneath the first scar. In his right hand was the hatchet he used to fight Angel. A cut on the bottom towards the middle of the blade was present, accompanying a dagger in his left hand.
"Hmph…"
While Angel and the mysterious character fought, the main cast turned their eyes to the back where another figure stood, observing the situation. She was a short girl with a white t-shirt underneath a jacket with shorter sleeves than the shirt. A skirt that went down to just above the Pokémon's knees, held up by a leather belt carrying two black pouches, two sheaths, and behind her, a pair of holsters, each with double barreled wheel lock pistols. Her apparel shared the same shade of yellow that Samantha's dress had. A pair of red ankle high socks were coupled with orange leather shoes drenched in mud and leaves. A fiery orange wavy bob cut was decorated with a pair of fiery red ember-shaped locks on either side. A small fox-like tail stuck out from her back, identical to Samantha's except without the stick, and green eyes surveyed the area, ready to attack wielding a dagger in her left hand and a foot long knife in her right hand.
Accompanying the duo was a Samurott gijinka wielding a spear, similar to those on the ships encountered by the group earlier. But what really made them stand out was the fact that the Glaceon and Fennekin were both under five feet- looking like they were only 11 years of age.
The Shiny Glaceon male pointed his dagger towards Angel, who in turn pointed her broadsword at the Ice-type.
"State your intentions. The townsfolk don't dare to enter this place at this hour." The Glaceon male started.
"I stand corrected." Nathan quietly said.
"Survival." Angel responded coldly, earning a gulp from Taryn.
"H-Hang on, that's not…"
Before any more words could be spoken, the Absol and Glaceon clashed blades once more. Each time, Angel would avoid the cut in the hatchet her opponent handled.
"Well, I know bullets can't stop this!" Oscar fired a Water Pulse aimed at the Ice-type fighting against Angel…
…Only for it to be stopped by a strange force that tore the projectile apart.
"What the…" Oscar took a step back in surprise. The Fennekin gijinka on the other side of the field curled her lips into a smile.
"What was that?" Taryn asked.
"No idea… But we need to be on guard!" Nathan responded.
"You're quite the fighter." The Shiny Glaceon gijinka stated as he and Angel backed off.
"I could say the same… You'll keep me entertained a while longer." Angel stated.
"Uh, Angel, I think we can still negotiate…" Samantha trailed off unsurely. The Dark-type in question kept her gaze focused on her opponent.
"I liked your response." The Ice-type Eeveelution stated. "But it doesn't answer my question. What business have you here?"
"I could ask the same of you." Angel responded.
"N-Now's our chance…" Samantha mused.
"We're looking for a sea captain!" Oscar exclaimed, keeping his spear at the ready. The Fennekin and Samurott on the opposite end blinked.
"A sea captain? You stand in his presence at this very moment." The Fennekin gijinka replied in a high pitched voice that would belong to a child- fitting her height.
The Glaceon's ear twitched for just a moment before he blocked another attack flung by Angel and parried. Following up, he lashed out with his dagger to stab Angel, but the Absol skillfully took a step to the side and used the momentum to bring her sword down against the Ice-type.
"It's been a while since I've had an opponent as good or fierce as yourself." The Ice-type remarked. Angel backed off and sheathed her broadsword after seeing the Glaceon change his stance.
At that gesture, the main cast all relaxed.
"Captain of which ship, exactly? Do you mean three ships gathered together by Runswick?" The Fresh Snow Pokémon queried.
"I think that's about right." Taryn replied.
The Fennekin and Glaceon both open their mouths to speak.
"Lay down your arms, and we'll chat."
"Uh, could we do this outside this dreadful place?" Samantha quizzed.
"Where to?" The Samurott gijinka asked the Glaceon.
"Le Paroi De Fer."
INSERT A LINE HERE
"What's Le Paroi De Fer?" Nathan queried as all the Pokémon strolled down a dirt path from Runswick headed to the docks. Meanwhile, Taryn and Samantha were busy trying to clean themselves off the mud and dirt that coated them during their little expedition. Psychokinesis made the process much easier, courtesy of the Braixen.
"It's the largest ship of the three- commandeered by yours truly." The Glaceon replied.
"Okay, umm..."
The Fire- and Ice-type duo accompanied by the Water-type starter both sized up the archer, lancer, mage, and hacker following them.
"Have you anything else to be saying?" The Shiny Glaceon queried.
"Spit it out already." The Fennekin said. Definitely eleven years old.
"Umm..."
"Just out of curiosity..." Samantha trailed off. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-two years of age." The lower-evolution Fire-type responded.
"Really? No offense, but..." Oscar mused.
"Not to worry." The Fresh Snow Pokemon stated. "We get that a lot."
"It does end up quite useful in battle." The Fennekin followed.
"Yeah, riiiiiiight..." The four thought with wry smiles.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Nathan broke the silence.
"What were you doing in that place during midnight?"
"Yeah, you were saying over and over that nobody goes in the swamp at night." Benjamin paused to think for a moment before casting a sideward glance to the main cast as they walked, and opened his mouth to speak.
"Recently, I've heard some relics of my ancestry were buried here. However, it appears the rumors were false."
"I see…" Nathan mused.
The three ships from earlier came into view due to the area being well lit by torches and lamps on the ships and on the docks. Half of the gijinkas previously there were gone, presumably resting, while the rest stood guard over the three ships.
Now that they were much closer, the group could see the badge adorned on the bow of the first ship. It was made of silver, with two golden wings on top. The badge represented a wall of iron bearing a design similar to the main mast's flag.
Thirty-eight broadside cannons adorned one side of the ship. The other side presumably had the same, making for a total of seventy-six steel cannons for each broadside. On the fore and the stern castle of the ship appeared to be four solid long guns each.
"Geez, don't you think that was terrible, having to go through that swamp for hours?" Samantha asked, keeping her gaze to her pre-evolutionary counterpart.
"We've been through much worse. But I can agree with you there, it was rather uncomfortable." The Fennekin replied.
"Finally, someone who really agrees with us." The Jolteon gijinka remarked.
"Hmph. It wasn't one bit bad." Angel remarked.
"Actually, at one point in the swamp, I decided to freeze the entire place…" The Glaceon gijinka mused. "…That was until I figured it only made the terrain worse."
"You froze the swamp? When?" Taryn asked, curiosity audible in her voice.
"That was in the afternoon, since having to trek through the mud got annoying." The Firefox responded for the Shiny Glaceon.
"But in that fight… You were moving like it was nothing." Nathan remarked.
"The ground there was a little more stable." Angel began.
"And given that we spent the entirety of our day there, I had grown accustomed to it." The Ice-type Eeveelution added.
A Buizel gijinka glanced at them and raised an arm.
"Ahoy, Captain!" The Water-type yelled as the group approached. "Would this group be the same that tried to look for you earlier?" He queried to the rest of the crew.
"Aye."
"Wait, are we getting on board? How do we get on?" Taryn questioned.
"Knowing the height of the main deck from the docks…" The Fennekin trailed off.
"…We climb the vessel." The Glaceon replied.
"What about that door over there?" Nathan asked.
"That is out of order, due to the locks having problems." The Glaceon responded. At that, Samantha gulped while Taryn deadpanned.
"So wait, we're supposed to do parkour to get up there?" Oscar asked.
"Hmph." Angel stepped forward and jumped to grab a rope, before climbing it along with wooden planks to the deck of the ship.
The Dark-type glanced back at them and closed her eyes as well as crossed her arms.
"Showoff."
"She's a hasty one." The Glaceon commented.
"Oh, I forgot. Apologies for the rudeness. My name is Sarah Emily Rose." The Fennekin stated with a small bow.
"And I am Benjamin. Benjamin Rayan Varim. Pleased to make your acquaintance." The Shiny Ice-type said with a small bow of his own.
"You literally tried to kill us earlier." Oscar remarked.
"Well, that's how we've met a number of our allies." Sarah, the Fire-type replied. The four gijinkas with the Resistance all exchanged looks for a moment, while Angel didn't seem the least bit interested.
"I'm Nathan. Nathan Shaw." The Decidueye introduced. "My companions are Oscar Trevin, the Floatzel, Taryn Bailey, the Jolteon, Samantha Autumn, the Braixen."
"And who would the hasty, yet intelligent Absol be?"
"Angel." Samantha replied. "We really don't know much about her… She's just a mercenary working with us as part of her contract." The Braixen replied.
"Oh, that's right. I almost forgot why we're looking for this guy in the first place." Oscar remarked.
"Well, there certainly won't be a good conversation down here. We'll board my ship, and we'll chat in the captain's quarters." Benjamin stated.
"Alright, but what about me…?" Samantha asked. "I can't exactly climb something like that…" She trailed off.
True to her word, Samantha was the only member of the group who didn't stand a chance at climbing that ship. Nathan was suited for things like this due to his role as a scout and archer, while Oscar and Taryn learned from combat training and other circumstances. A ranged attacker like Samantha, whose species isn't suited for physical combat, however, didn't go through much training to be able to run and instead focused on being more useful on the battlefield and working with items.
"Can't you use a move to hoist yourself on deck?" The Shiny Glaceon asked.
"Uh… Not THAT high." The Braixen replied. "A-And besides…" She trailed off as she put her hands to the bottom of her dress. "I wouldn't exactly be comfortable with that."
"Uhh…"
"Alright, then just hold on to me. This'll only take a second." Sarah stated.
"Uh, why?" Samantha quizzed.
"The three of you, go board now. We'll deal with Samantha here."
"Uh… Alright?" Nathan replied as he, along with Taryn and Oscar, began climbing up the ship.
Suddenly, as Samantha takes Sarah's hand, a white flash appears where the duo were once standing. The next thing they knew, the two firefoxes were on board, and Oscar and Taryn just boarded themselves. Nathan stood there in disbelief.
"You have a Teleport Gem with you?" The owl archer asked.
Benjamin appears right behind the two Fire-types.
"It's a magic we learned back in our homeland."
"Wait, you can learn to use magic without the use of items?" Nathan asked back as Samantha wobbly walked over to him.
"Ugh… Warn me the next time you're going to do that…" The Braixen mused.
"Gems or artifacts?" Sarah questions.
"There were never any use of artifacts, gems, or other items where we came from." Benjamin replied.
"So wait, you aren't from around these parts?" Oscar asks.
"Yes. We come from Lausia…" The Fennekin gijinka trailed off.
"…A land several hundred leagues to the east of this continent by my estimate." The Glaceon replied.
"Huh. Figured as much." Oscar remarked.
"Really, now…" Taryn trailed off exasperatedly. The Water-type chuckled in response.
"Hey, I'm serious! Some ships would pass by my hometown every so often, so I knew a few foreigners."
"Alright then, around here, we use items for magic things like that. Say for example, Samantha can't use moves like Hydro Pump or Thunderbolt, right? With a gem of the right element and power, she can." Taryn explained.
"It's complicated." Nathan added.
"For us, you can't exactly use conventional moves alongside these magics." Benjamin starts.
"Magic in our land is more focused for public convenience as well as healing." Sarah finished.
"Hmm, we have some gems crafted by the rare Comfey around here which allow for the use of Floral Healing, Heal Pulse, Aromatherapy, but… I think I get the picture." Nathan replies.
The clearing of one's throat caught the group's attention. They all turned to face the Absol leaning on the railing, her red-eyed gaze staring out into the black waters illuminated only by the light of the moon.
"We have a mission." Angel stated.
"Well, we can't exactly set sail now. There's a gate leading out to the open sea, but it's closed by these hours." Benjamin stated.
"That, and the crew is exhausted from their efforts today." Sarah added.
"We won't need to sail into the sea." The Disaster Pokémon replied. "We came to ask for your assistance." The mercenary's freezing gaze slowly turned to her allies.
"Alright, alright." Oscar said.
"Okay, so… Do you guys know about the status of the country?" Taryn asks.
"Aye." Benjamin replied. "I'm aware of it. Reminds me of some points in Lausian history." The Glaceon remarked.
"Okay. Well… You've noticed the one thing we carry in common, right?" Samantha asked.
The four members each revealed a part of their clothing- a piece of cloth sewn into the right sleeve on Nathan's cloak, onto Taryn's windbreaker jacket, Oscar's left coat sleeve, and the same for the upper back of Samantha's dress. The cloth was of the same make as their clothing, but what stuck out was an emblem of a sword and assault rifle behind a shield, with an explosion in the background.
"Allow us take a wild guess." Benjamin stated.
"You're with the Resistance, aren't you?" Sarah asked.
"Bingo." Oscar and Taryn replied in unison.
"You said you would invite us to the Captain's cabin?" Nathan asked.
"Aye. We were just about to get to that." The Shiny gijinka replied.
Sturdy-looking glass windows lined with steel plating and wood adorned the wall opposite the side of the room. A table in the middle of the room was covered in several maps, scrolls and books, all lit by candles. On the far right corner of the quarters lay a large bed bearing a white blanket. Nearby were several flags with similar design to that of the flag flown on the ship's main mast.
On the left side of the room was a model of the ship they currently stood on, seated on a small rounded table. Alongside it was a cabinet containing an axe, a bayoneted flintlock pistol, and a knife as well as articles of clothing inside its opened doors.
"Are those Lausia's flags?" Samantha asked.
"No, those are flags of the trading company of which my ship represents." Benajmin responded.
Each of the flags' designs were different from one another, but they all bore the same colors.
"So what's with them being a little different from each other?" Oscar asked.
"From my great grandfather to my grandfather, then from him to my father, and from my father to me." Benjamin started. "This trading company has been passed down from generation to generation." The first four members of the Resistance team all made an amazed "ooh."
"And what of the ship?" Nathan asked as he closed the door behind him.
"Acquired from the hands of filthy pirates." Sarah replied.
"Pirates?" Taryn asked. "Don't get the wrong idea, I know what pirates are, but…"
"In the seas of Lausia, pirates run rampant." Benjamin replied. "Believe it or not, there is no such thing as an iron hulled vessel there."
"Heh, same thing around here." Oscar remarked.
"Most of the ships around here are like that too, but they're starting to mess with engines and steel ships now." The Braixen began. "They're mostly Periculum's prototypes, which they won't give to anyone outside themselves."
"Ah, yes. So, you came here to ask of my assistance, or did you not?"
"Right. This river opens out into the Great Lake nearby." Taryn started. Before the Electric-type can continue, she is interrupted by Benjamin.
"Wait. The Great Lake…" Benjamin quietly speaks to himself for a moment, disregarding the Jolteon's surprise. Before anyone else can speak, the Glaceon opened his mouth. "You're asking for me to take all of you to one of three main bases belonging to Periculum!?"
Sarah spits out some milk quickly, much to the surprise (and mild amusement from the team except Angel) of the Resistance Pokémon.
"You what now!?" Sarah exclaims.
"Well… That's the summary of it." Taryn replied awkwardly.
"It's more than that, though. If it would be alright with you, may we discuss this in full detail tomorrow morning alongside our General?" Nathan queried.
"In the morning it is then." The Shiny Fresh Snow Pokémon said.
"It would be a pleasure to speak with your General at the same time." Sarah commented, after having calmed down from accidentally spitting out a drink.
"Alright, thank you."
The group then bid farewell to Benjamin and Sarah, as well as the crew who stayed up and left the ship. Angel and Taryn climbed down, Oscar simply jumped into the water, while Nathan had to glide Samantha down all while the Braixen did her best to keep herself at an angle to keep sights from the crewmen below.
"Ah, I need to go for a long swim soon." Oscar comments as he exits the water.
"Wait, we didn't think about where we're going to sleep…" Taryn mumbles.
Angel sighs as the group begins panicking and arguing. However, before she can speak, a familiar Shiny's voice rains from above.
"Allo down there." Benjamin calls. "Are you arguing about something? Could it be that none of you considered where you'll bunk down for the night?"
"Wait, he's not even a Psychic-type… And Fennekin can only use Psyshock and Magic Coat…" Samantha mumbled.
"If you want somewhere to sleep for the night, there are guest quarters down below decks. This is an offer though, and you could reject this and sleep in a Runswick inn." The Glaceon stated.
The Resistance team weighed their options. Runswick was already asleep' and there were no 24/7 places there, and the if they went for the base, they'd miss out on an hour of sleep from traveling there.
"Uh… Given that the town is asleep… I think we'll gladly take you up on that."
After another teleport to make things quicker, the team found themselves in a room that appeared rather ornate with comfortable canopy beds. A beautiful blue carpet adorned the center of the floor, and a few mirrors decorated the walls along with side tables with drawers for each bed.
All in all, it looked like a royal family room from the 19th century.
"Here, you may rest up. In the morning, I suppose you shall summon your 'General' here?" Benjamin quizzed.
"Yep. Thanks again, Captain Benjamin." Samantha replied.
"Oh please, m' lady. Just Benjamin." The Shiny Glaceon replied.
Benjamin left the room, leaving the group to explore their gift.
"Can't sleep?"
Angel turned to face Samantha approaching her.
"…"
"You don't need to reply." The Braixen said as she joined the Dark-type's side at the railing. A few crew members of the ship were still up and about, keeping their watchful eyes on the surrounding for anything that may come their way. "Nervous?" She asked the mercenary.
"Why would I be?"
"Because our next mission is going to be really dangerous."
"Hm?"
"We're going to delve into one of the three main Periculum bases… What they hold in there gives me the chills." The Fox Pokémon stated.
"Hm."
"We've been through some crazy things like an outpost and a bunch of battles before we met you, but… A facility that potentially contains an army of Shadow Pokémon and those things that can change their type… It's kinda scary when you think about it." Samantha explained. "Doesn't it make you feel a little nervous?"
"No." The white gijinka replied. "I wouldn't worry about it… I'm confident that we'll be able to accomplish our goals and leave that place alive."
"For you, I guess it just sounds like another challenge, huh?"
"…"
"Hey, Angel?"
"What?"
"When we get in there, do you have anything you'd probably do aside from the objectives?" Samantha queried. The Absol paused for a moment before shifting her gaze to the Braixen next to her.
"Yes… But they're low-priority." She replied. "It isn't necessary. So my focus will be to keep you alive and perform whatever objective your leaders have in mind."
"Okay. Mind if I ask another question?"
"…Go on."
"Thanks." The Fox Pokémon smiled. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Hm?"
"You fight so professionally, and nobody can even come close to beating you. You even gave Edmund, leader of the Solar Division a run for his money back when we got to Center HQ."
"That's… It's a skill I picked up from my work."
"I don't think that most mercenaries are like you. Audrey mentioned your contract showed a near perfect success rate, which nobody ever sees on even the best mercenaries out there. Plus, you're a Top Mercenary, right?"
"Hmph. They're probably just lacking in knowledge and experience in fights."
"I think I get that… So you studied about fighting?"
"Not exactly…" Angel trailed off, wondering how exactly to answer that question. She knew there were two things that made her this powerful in combat, but… "It's difficult to explain…"
"OK, I'll drop that for now." Both girls looked out into the moonlit ocean. A faint breeze drifted, making their clothes and furry tail sway slightly in the air. "I'll uh… Go to sleep now." The Braixen stretched. "The others are probably waiting for us or something… But do what you want, I guess."
Angel blinked once before nodding at the Fire-type. Samantha yawned and walked away.
Once the Dark-type mercenary was sure she was gone, she leapt off the ship and told the crew she would return soon.
The next morning, the team found themselves covered by curtains and sheets fit for kings and queens. They all groggily rose to their senses and remembered where they were before getting up slowly and greeting one another a good morning.
"Hey, where's Angel?" Oscar asked.
"Uh… I don't know."
"Maybe outside?"
As the two boys slowly approached the door with the girls checking themselves in the mirrors, the door suddenly busted open as a familiar tall man with two large, thick blades on his back busted in.
"Yo! Morning, all you!" Ethan yelled out loud, causing Oscar to flinch while Nathan squawked and panicked before falling to the floor. Samantha and Taryn stopped in the middle of brushing their hair to turn wide-eyed at the Golisopod standing at the door, the Jolteon breathing deeply all the while.
"D-Dammit… General, please don't do that again…" Oscar mumbled as he stood straight.
"Oh, woops. Sorry about that." Ethan walked over to the twitching Decidueye on the floor and picked him up before sighing and placing the owl archer on a bed. "I forgot Decidueye completely lose it when seized by panic."
"Wait, how did you get here again?" Taryn asked as she stood up from a chair in front of the mirror.
"Oh, Angel showed me here and explained the situation to me." Ethan started. "I've gotten friendly with the captain, his lass, and crew around here! I must say this ship is indeed a work of art." The Water- and Bug-type remarked. "I held off the plan until all of you were awake. You'll be happy to know everyone in the base is prepping up for the big op."
"Urgh… Alright… We'll be up on the deck in a bit, General Ethan." Samantha said.
"OK then. I'll leave you to your devices while I go chat away with that Benjamin character. I must say, looks deceive." With that, Ethan left the room, leaving a shivering Decidueye, an annoyed pair of girls and a deadpanning Floatzel.
"He sure has a way of doing things." Taryn remarked as she shook her body to wake herself up.
"Yeah… Let's all wake up quick."
After a while passed, the four Resistance Pokémon walked up to the deck to find Angel leaning against a wall, while Ethan was chatting with Benjamin and Sarah.
"Ah, there they are." Ethan stated as he looked to the group. "Everyone up this time?"
"Sir, yes, sir." Oscar replied casually. The Bug-type chuckled and apologized once more for his earlier actions.
"So now, Mister Varim… I suppose we should discuss our plan relating to the large facility not very far off from here."
"Lay down the most important things first, General."
"As you wish. So, where was I… Ah, right. My soldiers here have already told you that we intend to ask for your help in breaking into one of the three main Periculum bases in this nation, right?"
"Aye. They did inform me of that, technically." The Glaceon replied. Sarah comes up from below the deck and yawns as she approaches them.
"Now, we do not exactly need you to be aiding us in the breaching of the facility itself." Ethan started. Here, rather than the affable elder he usually was, he was more like a professional General, deserving of the title he gained with his experience and abilities. "We intend for you to open the path there. Past the Great Lake nearby is another large waterway that leads to waters controlled by Periculum. We need you to defeat their forces in naval combat."
"A few naval ships aren't much difficulty, unless there's a Man O' War there." The Shiny replied.
"We can assist inside the facility." Sarah stated. "It has been dull recently, not counting the few pirate attacks on our way to Driasia."
"Ah, thank you. You need not trouble yourself with the facility. Our intent is to make it look like an anonymous group conquered those waters for themselves, blind to the fact that it's the way to their main base here." Ethan explained. "If they knew it was the Resistance attacking there, they would send countermeasures immediately. But if an unknown group marauds the place and seems content with just taking it, then they won't suspect a thing, and it'll give me and my army the path we need to their main base."
"After recent events, we've got the data we need to get into the base and find an exit. To put it simply, we've got a full detailed layout of the first three levels of the base, plus the first basement level." Taryn added.
"Exactly why we're doing this. Taking down one of their main bases and collecting up-to-date information on their plans will help us a ton." Oscar said.
"Your payment will be thirty-eight-thousand Pokédollars." Ethan replied, gaining surprised looks from the Resistance crew except Angel.
"I didn't know the Resistance had that much money…" Nathan mused.
"Oh, we robbed Periculum controlled banks for that." Ethan replied with a proud look on his face. "The stealthier teams who were former criminals really know how to get us funds to hire Pokémon like Angel here."
"Hmph."
"Wait, so how expensive exactly was Angel to hire?" Samantha asked.
"Four hundred thousand Pokédollars." Ethan replied blankly. The Resistance team slowly turned to the mercenary quietly leaning against the wall.
"I had no idea…"
"So, do you accept?" Ethan asked.
"Save your money to yourself- we don't require it."
"Besides, our trading company earns more in a month. That, and Lausia was in war like this the previous year."
"So, you're not going to do this?" The owl archer quizzed carefully.
"No. We're going to do it." Both the Glaceon and Fennekin replied.
"We're happy to help." Sarah stated with a smile.
"Oh, thank Arceus…" Oscar mumbled.
"Thank you, truly." Ethan says. "One cannot have too many friends in war like this!" The Golisopod declared.
"Well, we've got that step done." Taryn said.
"Would you be able to come to the Great Lake in a few hours' time?" The Hard Scale Pokémon gijinka quizzed.
"Aye, we'll set sail for there then. The Le Paroi De Fer can travel at twenty and a half knots."
"You still impress me, Captain Benjamin!" Ethan said with a hearty laugh.
"Uh, why is that good again? Isn't that kinda slow?" The Electric-type asked.
"Most sail ships such as this one only travel at ten or eleven knots." Sarah answered.
"Yes, since Driasia doesn't focus at all on the ships." Nathan added.
"Wow, so this ship basically travels at twice the speed of a normal one." Samantha remarked.
"That's what happens when you get the most advanced sail plan belonging to a country that prizes itself in naval warfare." The Fennekin gijinka stated.
The Resistance's General laughed heartily and bid farewell to the ship. He took the main cast with him and headed back to the hidden base on the outskirts of the swamp.
Once they got there, the place was the complete opposite of what it had been. Instead of a nearly empty base, it was chock full of Pokémon gijinkas sporting the Resistance emblem on their clothing, and most of the empty rooms were being used as training rooms where some would fight against each other in hand-to-hand combat without the use of moves.
It was much more lively due to this and eventually, a crowd had formed in the main hall after lunchtime.
Ethan briefed everyone again on the plan. A fifth of the current audience was to head out to the great lake, removing their Resistance patches on their clothing and then stain their apparel with a little mud around themselves to keep their identities as Resistance troops hidden. Their objective was to support the crews using ships.
Once that was done, the chosen Pokémon marched out towards the Great Lake.
"You're going to be on the schooner." The General stated.
"Schooner?"
"The ship that's commandeered by Benjamin. Le Paroi De Fer." Ethan stated.
"I figured as much… But it had quite an odd feel to it." Nathan stated.
"Well, off you go. I'll spectate from a camera in the air and direct you through radio."
"You're not going to call them—wait, not walkie talkies?"
"I was going to call them that, but it looked like a certain someone remembered that they're actually called something else." Ethan stated with a deadpan. "And besides- calling them something either than the two would be futuristic and euphemistic."
The General stood proud as he held one of the devices in his hand while a Fearow gijinka gave the team one each and strapped it to their jackets, coat, cloak, and dress.
"Alright. Let's give it our all, everyone!"
Two days passed since the team were on Benjamin's ship. It was now noon time, giving everyone two and a half hours to prepare for the big operation. Resistance teams were scattered about the ships, some manning their own while others on the three ships owned by Benjamin.
"All Resistance teams, there are armories below decks. Just turn around after going down the hatch at the main mast." The Shiny Glaceon began. "I've informed the guards there of your coming."
As told, each and every Resistance team sent at least two Pokémon to the armories of the ships to see what they held. Mostly, bows, spears, and pistols were taken for longer range fighting.
"Thanks, but we're good." Taryn said.
"I've taken enough elemental gems from the base." Samantha said. In a bag slung to her waist were a collection of large and small gems of varying color.
"All set." Oscar remarked as took a glance at the spear her carried.
"Hmph." Angel stood as nonchalant as ever, her sword's sheath hanging off of her waist.
Benjamin called out to the main cast and approached them.
"Oi. Before we leave, there's something I should point out to all of you." The Shiny Ice-type stated. "Follow me back into the armory. I need to show you something."
"We're already all good with our weapons." Nathan said. "So why are we here again?"
The team found themselves in the armory of the ship. Shelves lined with various swords, spears, axes, blades, bows, quivers, arrows, flintlock and wheel lock pistols were inspected by the Resistance team pairs sent to check out what the ship and its captain had in store for them.
"Do you see those books over there?" The Fresh Snow Pokémon pointed at a shelf in the very Back of the room littered with weapons and Pokémon. "There are scripts, scrolls, and spells. You can learn quite a few in under an hour. I'm sure they'll prove useful to you."
"We'll see about that." Samantha said excitedly as she hurried to she shelves and picked up a couple of books. She read through both at once, flipping pages while holding them up with telekinesis.
"Well… I suppose it would be nice to be able to do things no one else in this country can do." Nathan mused as he walked over to Samantha, followed by Oscar and Taryn.
"Maybe I can finally learn to use a Grass- or Ice-type move for those nasty Ground-types…" Taryn mumbled.
"Hmph…"
"Oh, spells." Sarah's voice remarked. The Fennekin gijinka in question strolled over to the group of six. "It's about time Periculum got a taste of Lausian might."
"You can say that again." The Ice-type commented.
"Uh… Right… This is weird." Samantha remarked as she read further.
Later on, the hour to strike came. Everyone was out and about on their ships, making final preparations for the coming battle. The Fearow gijinka from earlier put on a camera around her neck and wished everyone luck before taking off into the air, soaring higher and higher until the clouds covered her.
"Here we go." Oscar did a knuckle crunch, standing at the bow of
"All hands on deck!" Benjamin yelled. "You lot, weigh anchor!" With that command, a pair of Buizel gijinka began pulling up the anchors. The other ships in the surrounding area all began drawing their anchors back on as well, following the first example.
"This will be one hell of a fight…"
"Everetts, Sveet, check the cargo lockers down below!" A pair of Oshawott gijinka hurried down the ship at the Shiny Pokémon's command.
"This is it, everybody!"
"I need twenty-one men and women on the main mast! Eighteen on the fore, and twelve on the mizzen mast! We need all of our sail!" Benjamin shouted. "I need six of you on the bowsprit preparing our jib sails and staysails. Two men between the main and the fore, I need you to get out our stun sails! Check for any loose ropes!"
The crew obeyed each command with the Resistance members helping out in any way they could.
"Connors, Edwards, Williams, I need you to get high up on the masts, serve as scouts!"
"Aye, Cap'n!" Three Furret instantly begin climbing the masts up to the scout posts.
"Where are the winds blowing, Quartermaster?" Benjamin turned to an Aurorus gijinka standing firm on the deck.
"Winds are blowing eastward, Captain." The Aurorus replied in a British accent much like Benjamin's.
"That's good- exactly where we're headed." Sarah commented.
"Are we all set?" Taryn queried as she approached the Shiny eeveelution.
"Aye, we bloody are!" The captain of Le Paroi De Fer replied. "Let us set sail!"
The crew cheered and slowly, the ship began moving. Followed by that were the other two ships under the shiny Ice-type's care, then the Resistance's disguise ships.
The fleet would travel one kilometer eastwards to the waters defended by Driasia's boogeyman, then confront the fleet there. After that, they would celebrate and hold the position for a few days. Once that was done, the remaining forces in the base as well as half the forces of the fleet were to head into the Periculum base entrance past the waterway
"This is it, people…"
"In a matter of minutes, we're going to be face to face with Periculum's best ships." Nathan remarked.
"But we're going to power right through 'em, just like always!" Taryn stated.
"I'm a little anxious too… Anxious for a fight!"
"Hell yeah!"
After about six and a half minutes of traveling, the fog thickened very very slightly, and a fleet could be seen up ahead.
"And so it begins…"
Well, this was rather late. I'm almost done with school for this year, so I'll HOPEFULLY have more time to write.
So there wasn't too much to be editing in the other half of the chapter. But now I have to go update the spells things that the main cast learned.
Oh, and statistically, Le Paroi De Fer has 4x the amount of bulk as a Man O' War would. This is due to the heavy iron plating plus the stronger than hell live oak wood and diagonal beams of wood.
And yes, I forgot to add before that the two look and sound like children... I guess I figured it wasn't too important a detail back then, but I decided to add it in the end. Give them a little more life, you know?
