Chapter 9

Once again he opened his eyes. He found himself laying in a bed, bandaged and cleaned. He looked around in a panic. How did I get here? He asked himself. Attempting to sit up, he leaned forward and felt a sharp pain stab into his chest and shoulder. Cringing, he took hold of his arm.

The wood door slowly creaked open; a small pair of eyes peered through. The door quickly shut again as little footsteps echoed through the room. A moment later, larger ones proceeded to approach. Opening, a man entered the room. Gabriel turned his head and attempted to sit up again.

"Hey now. Don't push yourself. You're still injured." He gently brought him back down onto the pillow. "Everything's better with some wine in the belly." The man held a cup to Gabriel's mouth and slowly poured the wine in. Coughing, Gabriel choked a little on the alcohol.

"Where am I? Who are you?" He coughed up. His voice was weak, fragile. He had given up his venture to sit up, but he continued to stare at the man.

"They call me Brandt. My daughter and I were passing through Elatia, or what's left of it. We're a part of a little…. mercenary troop. Lord Snow sent us here to help. It seems that we were too late." Brandt paused for a moment and looked out the window. "Arya, you can stop listening. I know you're there."

A young girl peered from behind the doorframe. A loud sigh escaped her breath and entered the room. She was a young girl, no older then twelve years old. Her bright blue eyes stared at him as he lay in the bed. She bore no air of innocence; her eyes told him so.

"This is Arya, my daughter. A quiet one she is." He took hold of the girl and lifted her up onto his shoulders.

"Lord Snow does not have enough men from his own armies? Instead he hires mercenaries?" He turned away in disgust.

"Hm. I suppose I'll leave you to your thoughts then. Come Arya." Carrying his daughter, Brandt stepped outside of the room and proceeded to close the door. "Our troop is leaving in a day or so, once we've found proper proof to show to Lord Snow. You're…welcome to join us." With that, the door creaked shut.

Am I the only survivor? What happened? Mother…Lanz…Larken…Evelynn. He found tears building up again. He had to see for himself. Ignoring the pain, he forced himself upwards. Turning, he stepped off the bed and lurched forward onto the door.

He walked out the building and realized it was a home just outside the city, not too far from his own home. He proceeded to walk to the remains of the city, staggering along the way. Behind him, footsteps pressed against the dirt pathway.

"You shouldn't be walking." Brandt said, catching up to the wounded soldier. Gabriel took hold of his side, the pain growing ever more excruciating.

"I have to see for myself what has become of the city." He continued to push one leg in front of the other. Arriving at the wall, he stepped through the torn hole. Many of the buildings closer to the wall had been destroyed completely but as they got deeper into the city, more and more of the buildings were generally intact. Finally finding where his Lord's estate should be, he found no wall and a scorched ground.

From the balcony hung a man as Ferrenese Banners flew in the wind. He had been severely beaten and his clothes were torn. Stepping closer, Gabriel looked in horror as he realized who it was, his Lord.

"Were there any civilian bodies?" Gabriel asked, turning away.

"None, only soldiers and your Lord."

"Then there's hope." Gabriel looked back at Brandt and the two walked back to the abandoned home.

Gabriel finished packing a duffel bag and stepped outside. The mercenary troop was beginning their return north to Krysha. He looked at the city walls in sadness. The Ferrenese army had swept through them and completely ravaged the city.

"So you'll be joining us then?" Brandt questioned, carrying Arya on his shoulders.

"I have no where else to go and no clues to search for any survivors. I might as well."

"No need to be so negative lad. Anyways, we're going to head north to a little town. From there, we cross the border into Krysha and head to another town. We take a ship across the river and head to the capital from there."

"That first town before we cross the border, how do we know it's even there?"

"We passed through on our way here. It's only been a fortnight, it should still be standing." Nodding in understanding, Gabriel began to walk up the dirt path northbound. He was surrounded by the entire mercenary troop, a group no larger then two dozen. There were men and women, each with their own weapons and Pokémon.

Behind him, Gabriel could barely hear the tiny whispers of the young girl. He realized something then, something off about the group. He began to slow down so Brandt and Arya could catch up to him.

"Brandt, if this is a mercenary troop, why is a little girl like Arya traveling with you?" He began to interrogate him. No one in their right minds would take a young girl to an expected battlefield.

"Ah yes. I forget sometimes that it's a bit strange to take her with us. Despite her age, she's quite a capable healer. Her Happiny is our resident medic and would only listen to her." Brandt smiled casually.

"I suppose that's reason enough to have her with you." No longer worrying about the child, Gabriel continued to make idle chatter with the brawly man. "How long would it be till we reach the first town?"

"We should be there in less then a week, shorter if we walk through some of the night." Again, Arya whispered into her father's ears. "Now?" She nodded quickly. "Alright then. If you'll excuse us, she has to take care of some…business."

He rushed forward off the path and behind the trees, his daughter in tow. Not to far behind them the pink Happiny bounded forward after them. "I can do it myself!" Came a small cry from the shrubbery.

"Alright alright. Hurry up now." Brandt stepped out from the brush and waved at Gabe.

The Sun had descended into the west hours ago and the group was finally coming to a halt. They had come slightly off the road and had begun to make a fire. The tall grass was cut and used as makeshift beds.

"Get some sleep everyone, we're getting up at first light."

Northbound… He thought. Please be alright. He tossed and turned on his mat, crunching the dry grass as he tried to sleep. Giving up, he turned onto his back and stared up into the night sky.

Days and nights went on as such. The group traveled and paused for the young girl. They walked the path most traveled and saw no signs of survivors or people. Soon enough, they arrived at the first town.

"Ah, you're little group has returned. Please come in." The innkeeper led the party into a building and called the barmaid for some wine. "So, are the rumors true?" He whispered. It had spread like wildfire that Elatia's capital city had been burned to the ground, ravaged of all life and valuables.

"Unfortunately yes. Ferren will have the force of the entire federation on their neck soon enough. If you don't mind, my little group is weary from travel. We'd like to see our rooms." Brandt said, Arya hiding behind him.

"Yes of course. Down the corridor this way. There should be enough rooms to accommodate you and your companions." The innkeeper gestured to his right, bowing slightly.

Sleep escaped him again. Gabriel lay in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He found himself doing this often now, laying there staring. Even the comfort of a warm bed and meal did him no good. It had been days since he left the capital, since he left his home. He hadn't taken the time to introduce himself to the group yet. Other then Brandt and Arya, he knew none of their names or how the group functioned. If he were going to travel with them a bit longer, it would be best to be become friendly. So be it.

He got up off the bed and left the room. Heading down the hallway, he saw a a few members of the troop sitting around the table, laughing loudly and drowning themselves in wine.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Gabriel asked, approaching them.

"Not at all lad. Barmaid, some more wine for the boy!" One burly man yelled, gesturing the woman to them. "I don't believe any of us have really spoken with you yet. My name is Sinead."

"I'm Glenn. The silent one over here is Joran." A blonde haired man slapped the dark haired man on the back. "This lovely lass here is Wren." He leaned in closer and began to whisper. "She may dress like it, but don't mistake her for the town bicycle. I'm pretty sure no one's gotten a ride in-" His face soon met the ground as the short haired woman punched him in the back of the head.

"Hi there. I'm Wren. Glenn thinks women adore him. Don't take any advice from him. He's nothing but a filthy slob." Pushing her back, Glenn braced himself against the table and stood up.

"That's not what you said befo-" His face crashed into the ground once more.

"Don't, ever mention that." They all exploded in laughter and Gabriel laughed with them. It had been awhile since he'd really laughed so hard. It was strange; the group accepted him so easily.

"She's finally asleep." Brandt sighed as he entered the main room. Taking a seat next to Gabe, he sighed in exhaustion. "Everyday I wish her mother was still alive."

"Here we go again-" Glenn said as Wren punched him in the face.

"Be nice!"

"You were married?" Gabe asked, handing him a cup of wine.

"Before, yes. She was a part of our mercenary band too. Little Arya takes after her in abilities and intelligence."

"Don't forget looks." Wren said smiling. "Elaine was a gorgeous woman. Not like you, you old goat."

"Haha yes. She really is her mother's daughter."

"How exactly did she look?" Gabriel asked.

"She had long brown hair and beautiful auburn eyes." His eyes began to glaze over as he stared off into the wall.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such a sensitive topic. I merely wanted to know."

"It's ok. I see her every time I look at Arya. It…" He quickly chugged his wine and looked to the barmaid for another drink.

His head was aching. He could feel the back of his head pulsating with every passing second. He turned onto his back and cringed as the light entered the window. He wiped the drool off his face and sat up off the ground. He stumbled out of the room and towards the bar.

"Gabriel! Have you seen Arya?" Brandt came rushing towards him with sweat dripping down his face. He took hold of Gabe's shoulders and stared.

"No I haven't. What's happened?"

"She's gone! I woke up this morning and no one has seen her." His face was grief stricken; a sense of panic had descended on the group.

They bolted out the door and split up, searching for the young brunette girl. It was a small town and it shouldn't be hard to find her. They were wrong. The two searched all day, questioning every man and woman about her, but no one had seen her.

Upon returning to the inn, Gabriel found Brandt sitting in complete agony. His eyes were red and his face was soaked in sweat. Sighing, Gabe entered the inn and asked the barmaid for a cup of wine. Taking the glass, he turned and saw Arya sitting at a table.

"Arya?" She looked at him and stared. "Your father was looking all over for you. Where did you go?"

"I've been here the whole time. I woke up this morning and he wasn't there. I waited for him to come back but he never showed up. I thought he left without me…" She whispered as her eyes began to tear up. Picking her up, he brought her outside to her father. Taking hold of her, they all smiled in relief.

"I think you slept in the wrong room Brandt."

By noon the next day, the group had packed up their supplies and was heading off North to the border of Elatia and Krysha. There were fewer and fewer trees as they walked. A lush field of grass surrounded them. Pokémon scurried along the ground, hidden among the tall grass.

Gabriel carried Arya on his shoulders as they ventured northward. Flocks of birds flew through the air, Arya's laughter echoed as she played with his hair.

"Keep working!" Came the order, followed by a cracking whip. The mercenary band stopped in their tracks. Listening closely, they could hear the whip again. Putting her down, Gabriel dashed into the tall grass, his hand gripping his blade. Running to the sound, he entered a clearing and discovered a man whipping a young Scyther.

Running again, Gabe tackled the man into the ground, beating him in the face. The others in the group ran to the clearing and encountered others as they gathered to fight the young man. Wren quickly kicked a man in the back while Brandt pummeled another. Tying them up, the mercenary band didn't know what to do with them.

"Kill them." Joran said as he sharpened his knife.

"Untie them. We're not killers." Gabriel said looking at them.

"What exactly were they doing?" Wren asked, dusting herself off.

"By the look of their equipment and this paper I found in their shirt, they seem to be slave drivers. For some reason they were commissioned to clear out this area." Brandt said reading.

"Pokémon aren't slaves…" Gabe whispered, looking down. "You're free to go now. Go on." He attempted to usher out the Scyther and many fled into the tall grass once they were told to do so. One stayed and stared.

"Look, it's bleeding." Wren pointed to the Scyther's leg. "Arya!" Arya and her Happiny came running to the clearing. Pointing to the Scyther, Arya approached cautiously. Using Healing Wish, the wound healed.

"Alright, go on now." Gabriel said, waving it off. But still, it stayed. Stepping closer, it approached him cautiously. Hesitating for a moment, Gabriel stepped back. It continued to step forward and soon Gabriel walked to it. "Do you want to come with me?" It nodded. Petting it's head he whispered. "I'm Gabriel."

Author's Note

My longest chapter by FAR. I had alot of time jumps merely so I could just cut to the chase and progress the story. Plus, i don't know WHEN the next update will be. So until then, I hope this long chapter satisfied you. That and this little MAP I made of the region of Luthenia.

I forgot. Can't post the link. Soooo...message me if you want it.