I Am Sin Chapter - 10
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of its affiliates, but I do own my characters and the story written.
A/N: Hey! Whats up… I know, I know… this chapter is kinda late, but I swear I am trying :( XD But it is done now, so you can finally read it; happy now?
I hope so, but enough of me talking, on with the chapter.
Edit: Just so people know... as of 5/6/17 the first chapter has gotten... quite a big overhaul XD In my opinion, it sounds much better, but feel free to let me know if you all thought the original sounded better.
For the longest time, I've always had this inkling of a question… Why did I change? And that's when I realized, it wasn't Nova who had changed me, she was merely the catalyst to the change. It was I, who changed me.
I was always told, through power comes war; and from war comes peace. But the moment I saw her, these questions barraged me, never ending, never faltering. Until I came up with an answer. When the power of love, overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace… And she made me come to the understanding, that nearly all men can stand adversities, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. It's what he does with the power, that matters.
Lura P.O.V.
Taking a low step back, the heat and power resonating from Kage intensified. The air became thick and heavy, but the male espeon didn't seem to care as his smile only grew broader. The pikachu taking a firm step back while raising his blade to ready himself. Looking back to Kage, it still baffles me on just how much power he could suppress without being overwhelmed, while Aurumn seemed to keep an air of caution around him.
Once he sat Nova down, I began licking her and shaking her to awake her up… It only took her a few seconds to jolt wake with heavy breaths. With my continued licks, she pushed my head away while standing. Her head snapped around to assess the situation, while stalling on the pikachu, but continued and stopped on Kage. Upon seeing him, she closed her eyes while sitting down and her face went blank. As if she was trying to control herself.
Snapping her eyes back open, "Kage… hun, just breathe… I'm okay now..." she said while looking to Kage, who flinched in response. "He's full of it," Nova said with confidence before walking up to Kage's side. "He isn't here to kill us, and he doesn't work for anyone," Nova continued only to get a grin from the espeon.
The espeon sat down with a chuckle before saying, "And you know this how?"
"Mannerisms, the way you talk and act. I can tell you don't work for anyone by your choice of words and inflection in volume. You talk with a certain confidence that a follower wouldn't have," Nova said, and when she finished she leaned her side into Kage's front leg. Only to flinch, but not enough to pull away.
With another chuckle, "You're as smart as the legends said Ms. Syth," he said while standing and pacing side to side.
"Don't call me that," Nova said defensively, while Kage took several deep breaths, and the heat and heaviness of the air seemed to vanish, as he once again suppressed his power.
"As you wish… but if you're so smart, why am I here then, Ms. Reign?" he asked while sitting back down while the pikachu stood behind him with his sword still out defensively.
Without even missing a beat, Nova replied. "My guess would be that you heard rumors that we had been seen. And you came to test us of our power, more then likely to help you with something." She finished while leaning closer to Kage.
With another chuckle, "You are pretty good, but you did get a few things wrong… I do work for someone, just not by choice. And I was actually looking for him," he said while pointing a paw at Aurumn. "But once I heard you two were spotted, I knew who to ask." He took a deep breath before taking a few steps forward, which made me take a step closer to Aurumn. He dropped to a very low bow, I gave a look of shock as well as Nova and his pikachu friend. "I come from a land beyond the desert, and my family is being held captive by the person I work for. And if I don't, he will have them all slaughtered. I don't have money to give, that is why I changed my target from Wolfe, to you. He works for money, you work for favors. So if you help me, I will pledge my services to you," he choked out, as small tears started to flow down from his closed eyes. To see someone of his power and personality, beg and grovel for help was almost heart breaking. "And I am sorry for they way I acted before… I needed to be sure that you could do, what the legends said that you could do." he pleaded.
Aurumn took a firm step forward, "What about your friend… he would have killed Lura, granted he wouldn't have, I had it cover before Kage interrupted me." Aurumn said while glancing at Kage.
"Sorry about that, I couldn't tell him what was going on. He isn't a very good actor," he said with his head still low, only to earn a scowl from his friend.
"What did you do in the other land?" Kage asked coldly, but there seemed to be an echo within his voice, which was much deeper than his normal voice. It made me want to take a step away, but I fought the feeling.
"I was a Field General, but was demoted to Castle Guard," he said with distaste.
"And your family? Where are they?" Nova asked with a much calmer voice than Kage.
"I think they are in the dungeon. At least to my knowledge."
"What would I need your services for?" Kage asked again, but the echo seemed to be lingering and more distant.
"You are going to fight him right? I want to help…" he said while looking up to Kage.
"Stand up," Kage said while looking away from the espeon, who stood up and began to wipe his eyes. Once he was sitting up, Kage looked back to him. "Of course I will help," he said while adding a rare smile as well as the echo faded away entirely.
The espeon was almost brought to tears again, but stopped himself."Thank you… sir." he said with another bow.
Kage glared at him, "Don't bow to me. I hate it," he said aggressively. The espeon nodded and went back into his sitting position.
"Sorry…"
"It's fine… are you able to talk about this leader if yours without consequence?" Kage asked with a slight cock of his head.
"Yes, yes I can… he wasn't able to manipulate me."
"Manipulate?" questioned Nova.
"Yes, manipulate… he can control someone to a degree. All he has to do is touch your head, and he can make you think whatever he wants. I was in a line of people he was brain washing, and when he got to me… nothing seemed to happened, so I just played along with what everyone else was doing." He explained, earning a small nod from Nova who seemed to go into deep thought.
"Who is he?" Aurumn asked earning the attention of the espeon and the pikachu.
There was a long pause as the two new comers looked to one another. "He deemed his name to be Legion, no one knows his real name," the pikachu said as he hung his head while finally dropping his blade to a relaxed manner. Another silence occurred as everyone racked their brains for the name.
Coming up with nothing, I looked to the pikachu. "How come you can talk about him? From what I understand, if you try, your heart goes explodey," I said while adding a gesture of explosions with my front paws.
"I wasn't apart of the military," he answered flatly. "I was a farmer," he finished with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Where did you learn to handle a blade like that then? I can guarantee it wasn't from using a sickle," Aurumn asked to the pikachu.
"My dad taught me," he said with a grin before sheathing his sword.
"So, are we good then?" asked the espeon while showing the motion to do a bow before stopping himself.
Shooting his head up, Kage looked from the darkening sky, and back to the espeon. "Yes we are good, you have a deal. But we should be getting back to the city, it's getting dark," Kage remarked before beginning to walk again with Nova following close after him.
The espeon looked around for a second before following the pair. Seeing his partner follow, the pikachu began walking to. Aurumn and I took up the back, and Aurumn didn't change back to his umbreon form.
'You alright hun?' I sent sweetly through Aurumn's and mine connection.
'I don't trust them yet, they did attack you you know?' he sent back.
I was about to reply, but I was cut off by another voice, "You don't have to trust me, what I said is the truth and if you choose not to believe me… then that is your right. But I am not here to cause trouble, only to ask for help," the voice said to the both of us. I showed a look of shock as our private connection was invaded by the espeon.
'Do you mind? This is a private conversation," Aurumn said with minor anger rising in his voice.
'Then think quieter,' he sent bluntly.
A long awkward pause emerged, as everyone went silent. We continued to walk, until finally the pikachu took a few fast strides up to where Nova was walking. Everyone was tense at his sudden movement. Nova looked up to him with a quizzical look.
"Yes?" She asked quizzically after he had said nothing.
"Ummm…" he began nervously, "Earlier you said, 'why do I look like him?' why is that? Who do I look like?" he asked earning a sigh from Nova, who just looked back forward to the path ahead.
"Never mind that, I made a mistake… you resemble someone I knew," she answered while not looking away from the path.
"Who?" he pushed.
With another heavy sigh, "You look like my brother, but he had lighter eyes than you do, and he walked differently than you as well," she said while taking a small step towards Kage.
"You had a brother?" I asked with bewilderment.
She looked back to me with a small nod, "I did, yes, he died when I was very young. People in town said it was suicide… but I never saw a report or anything, so all I have is a hateful towns word to go on. And can we stop talking about this, I don't like to talk about it." With a firm nod the pikachu took a few short steps to fall back in line next to the espeon.
We walked for the next half hour, and just as night took the sky; the smoking city came into view. Piles of trash and debris had been thrown out of the city walls, and many townsfolk were picking through the trash; more than likely trying to find family items that had been lost from the blast or the attack.
We walked past many crying people, crying over their fallen loved ones or from their own injuries. Upon passing the fallen gate, the guards didn't even cast an eye in our direction; as many of them were busy carrying or helping the injured. As we walked closer to one another, as to not get separated in the messy streets; I turned to the espeon and the pikachu.
"What was your name again?" I asked while cocking my head to the side. Both looked to me before glancing at each other briefly.
"My name is Reshrium, and this is Acho," said the espeon while gesturing to the pikachu, who nodded at hearing his name.
"Nice to meet you!" I began cheerfully earning a chuckle from the pair. "So, you are going to be following Kage and Nova around now huh?" I asked while giving a sideways look.
"I suppose we are, If everything goes to plan; I will owe him not only my life, but the life of my family as well," he answered while looking to the ground.
"Well, fair warning then… He can be quite the handful sometimes," I said quietly while gesturing to Kage.
"I kinda figured that one," he remarked while looking back to me with a grin.
"She can be nice at times though," I said while glancing to Nova, who seemed to tense at my remark.
We finally stopped walking on the thrashed and painful road, and in-front of us was one of the few undamaged buildings in the city. Walking through the door as Kage held it open for all of us, I stepped into a basic looking Inn. Round tables with lit candles and of course, it was packed. Being one of the few undestroyed buildings, that could have been expected.
And instead of walking to the tendie of the building, Kage who was followed by Nova, just walked past us and to the stairs. Looking to Aurumn as he to walked past me.
'Don't we need to buy a room?' I sent to Aurumn.
'I'm sure Kage has it covered somehow. He isn't the type to just waltz in and take a room," he sent back. With a sigh I took a few hastened steps to catch up to him. Walking up the stairs, Kage gestured lazily to our rooms. Aurumn jumped onto the bed while he changed into his umbreon form mid-air.
"So, we sticking with them? Or are we going home?" I asked sweetly while jumping up to join him on the bed.
"We… still have stuff to do. We didn't get the chance to ask the leader of Nor for the trade agreement, so before we leave, we still need to do that. Let alone go back and report, and see how the others did," he responded while looking to the ceiling.
"I take that as a no then… We are going to help fight in the east right?" I asked as I place my head on his chest.
"Of course, he is NOT going to disappear for the third time. I'm kind of tired of it," he said adding emphasis on his displeasure of Kage's frequent disappearances.
"So am I, 700 years you would think the guy would want to settle down."
"Meh, not his style. Even when I was training so very long ago, we never stayed in a town or village longer than two days at a time," he reminisced with a soft sigh.
"That sounds, kinda cool. Always on the move, always seeing new things. But anyway, we will see them off tomorrow then?" I asked while giving him a soft lick on his chin.
"Yep, then we go home."
Codename: Legion P.O.V.
To watch the dying light of the sun, fade into nothingness beyond the horizon, only to give way to nautical twilight. Sometimes I wish moments like this, could be everlasting. The feeling of my white rings blinking to life, is almost euphoric. This moment was only brightened by the voice of my beloved.
"Relaxing, are we?" She asked with love stitched in her voice. Her voice so soft and quiet, but yet held a tone that gave and demanded respect.
"I am, Talia, care to join me?" I asked while gesturing to my left.
"Of course," she said sweetly while sitting next to me. With a contempt sigh, she placed her head on my shoulder as we watched the moon breach the horizon.
"I love you Talia," I said while placing a kiss on top of her orange head, only to earn a giggle from her.
"And I Love you, my Soul," she said while returning a kiss to my cheek before leaning more into me.
We spent the next few hours, just sitting in each other's embrace. Until Talia pushed off of me, only to stand and stretch. Looking over to the small flareon, who appeared normal in every way other than her size.
"I must ask, as to why you are marching now? We don't even have all the Orbs yet," she asked while adding more dominance to her voice to sound more serious.
"Because they are unneeded for this step," I said while looking back in the direction of Tidal Mountain.
"You know as well as I do, it would take days, if not weeks for an army of this size to funnel through the mountain. Its impassable, there is only one way through. And without the Orbs, we cannot let our actions be discovered, or risk failure," she said while adding even more dominance to her voice as well as volume.
"I must establish a forward operating base, as the rest of the Orbs are to the west… on the other side of the mountains."
"Do you know their locations?" She asked while dropping the dominance and looking to the mountain.
"Not all of them, though I do know where the red Orb is, so that will be the first target."
With a sigh she looked away and towards the army, "Why did you bring him?" She asked while looking to the army. Turning my head to look at what she was referring to, only to see a massive cage with a black cover, on top of multiple carts.
"He will be of use… hopefully," I answered while looking back to the moon.
"He won't fit through the mountain," she remarked.
"That is why I have plans for him. He doesn't need to go through the mountain," I stated before giving her a lick on her cheek.
With another small sigh, "Fine, you have my trust. Do as you need," she said before placing a light kiss on the back of my neck as her presence faded.
Looking back up to the moon, which had now been covered by a cloud, I couldn't help the feeling of betrayal from seeping into my bones. Snapping my head back to the army, I tried to think.
'Who could have betrayed me…'
"MASK!" I yelled down the small hill and into the valley. A few seconds past as a zoroark ran his way up the hill. Reaching the top, he dropped to a knee. Not daring to look up to me.
"Yes sir?" he asked while maintaining his kneed bow.
"Where is the red Orb at now Mask?" I questioned as I looked back to the snowy peaks of Tidal Mountain.
"She is being stubborn, but we have her on the run. We should have the Orb in no time sir," he declared.
"That is not what I asked…" I expressed as he gave a sigh.
"A good ways east of Meldine sir. I swear I have it covered, there is no need to waste your time on doing it yourself," he insisted flatly.
"I choose what I do and don't do Mask, but you are right. I trust you can handle one bitch."
With another sigh, "That I can sir, I will handle it."
"Good, you are free to go," I stated while turning back to him. With another small bow in his kneeled position, he got up and walked away.
Two weeks later (Memoria)
As first snowfall came, so too did the trial of the Lord of Meldine. The streets were packed with fresh snow, as well as most lights have been extinguished. Yet, quiet were the streets, as no adults nor children played or worked. Fore all were at the trial of their monarch, to watch as the wretched dark type fell, or even worse… stayed in power.
Shoulder to shoulder, the courthouse was packed. There was one judge, an alakazam that stood on the highest podium above their so called lord. Ready, and ever so hopeful to drop the hammer of guilt upon their lord.
"Lord Clarif, you stand accused of high treason, from soliciting with the enemy, to giving them our supplies. How do you plea?" boomed the judge loudly for the whole expansive court to hear. The room went silent, as they awaited his answer.
"I plea, not guilty," said the Lord with an air of depression resonating from him. Fore deep in his mind, he knew, he had been set up. The room let out a plethora of gasps, as they seemed surprised at his response to the judge.
"Then bring forth evidence to counter his claim of innocence," said the judge blankly while looking out to the crowd. Only to have one person stand, a female espeon in the front row. She wore many golden rings in her right ear, all five of which held the same shape and size, but all held a different colored gemstone.
"I have evidence your honor," she spoke with an air of dominance and confidence. The Lord looked back at her with a look of minor shock.
"State your claims Ms. Zavala," said the alakazam while he fiddled with his spoon.
"I have a few eye witness reports," she began. Turning around to face the crowd of people, she took a large intake of breath and spoke with a louder volume. "How many of you, have witnessed the Lord leave city limits at the midnights of most days? How many of you have witnessed the Lord talk to uninvited guests, only to show no report of them talking at all? And how many of you have witnessed the Lord walk around the stores of the city, only to take random inventory checks?" She asked out loud. At the first question, three quarters of the room had raised their hands/paws to agree, but by the last question, all hands were still raised high. With an audible chuckle she sighed in contempt before sitting back down.
The judge was about to speak before being interrupted by the Lord, "They are all lies, I have never done those things!" he spoke fastly. The judge gave him a look of annoyance at his interruption.
"It is not you turn to speak. And are you saying, that well over half of your people are to be liars?" he asked the Lord while standing.
"Well… no, I just…" he began before being cut off.
"That is what you just said… that they are full of lies," remarked the judge. With a shake of his head, he stood tall. "Do to outstanding evidence, I hereby sentence Lord Clarif to exile, never to return." Almost immediately, guards surrounded the ex-lord as he stood sharply to spout obscenity while the crowd cheered. Grabbing firm to him, they began to drag him along the red carpet of the courts center walkway before being thrust out of the building; leaving the crowd to die down to give way to silence. As it filled the room, everyone looked to the judge awaiting his instruction.
Clearing his throat, "Now it is time for a new matter," he began. "Ms. Zavala, please stand," he stated, who in turn stood, with a look of minor confusion. "I hereby invoke, that she will be the next Lord of Meldine. Any complaints among the people of Meldine?" he asked while gesturing to the crowd of people. Upon hearing nothing, "Then it is settled, from here forth you are Madam Zavala, the new Lord of Meldine," he spoke proudly as the crowd erupted into cheers.
As everyone said their congratulations to their new Madam, the judge spoke loud to get everyone's attention. "What shall your first actions be Madam?" he asked with a low bow, while standing aside from the podium. She gave a large smile before charging up the stairs happily, taking her place behind the podium, she looked to the large awaiting crowd.
"Firstly, my vault will now be apart of the city Treasury. So henceforth, no more tax anywhere in the city," she began as the whole crowd erupted into more cheers. She laughed, and raised her paw to address the crowd, who soon lowered their volume. "And secondly… I demand us fight these people who took advantage of us. Those who forced a hated Lord into power. There is a reason he made us isolationists, whoever he works for… is afraid of us. So let's destroy them," she said with an intense tone to show her confidence. A few seconds of silence followed her request, but soon the whole crowd agreed and moved with the air to fight.
"So, let's go to war!" she yelled out, earning cheers as the crowd quickly funneled out of the courthouse and into the frozen streets.
Once everyone had left the courthouse, she looked to the judge with a sideways grin. "Thanks for the help, you will see a gift for you when you get home," she said while stepping from the podium.
"Thank you Madam, enjoy your new position," he said as he walked through a door near the back.
With a happy squeal, she leapt from the stairs top to bolt out the front entry. As she ran through the frozen streets, dodging left and right to not run into any rallying soldier's, she felt this overwhelming joy rush her forward. Skidding to a halt just inside of the Lord's Hall, she just looked in 'awh' at what she had strived so long to acquire. The red carpet that led to the Lord's chair, the marble pillars that lined the walls, and the grand staircase behind the throne.
But she jumped at the sound of a voice, "Hello Madam," said a leafeon behind her, which caused her to jump in fright.
"DON'T EVER DO THAT!" she yelled in his face. Realizing he wasn't a threat, she dropped her angered expression and began to look him up and down. He was a normal leafeon, but he wore a blue jeweled necklace.
"Oh, you are going to fit right in," he remarked with a roll of his eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean? And who the hell are you?" she asked.
With a chuckle, "Don't worry about it. And I am the central Tribute of Meldine. Guardian of this city," he answered blankly, only to chuckle again as her jaw dropped.
"Well, my apologies then…" she said while taking a step back. Taking another moment to look around, she still couldn't help but admire the decor, from pictures of war, to pelts on the walls. "So, what is it that you do around here? I thought your job would be more of an outside job," she asked as she looked back to the leafeon.
"Well, it varies… my main job is to protect you. You are my number one priority," he said with a wink.
"Good, keep it that way," she remarked with a smirk before standing and walking around the room. As she walked along the wall, all she could really do was admire the gruesome paintings of war that adorned the stone wall. "What are all these paintings of?" She asked while running a paw over one of the paintings that held a human in a black coat and armor.
"Most are depictions of the Memory War Madam. The one you see there," he started while pointing a paw at the human. "That is Wolfe, aka Demon. He is an alright guy. But he brought all Mercenaries together for the other side of the war, even some that were long since retired. There were other big players on his side, but his name stood out the most. So most people clung to it as something to strive to destroy," he said as he continued the walk down the wall. "You know, my great grandfather once told me stories of a man, that was maybe even stronger than Wolfe on that field, but those could just be stories of a senile old man."
"To be fair, no one is ever the strongest, or the fastest. There is always someone stronger and faster then you are. So, he could have been right. But if someone that powerful was on the field, why wasn't it more known?" She ranted while following.
"Because according to the stories, my great grandfather ran into him on the battlefield. But this other guy, he didn't kill everyone because he could, he showed a restraint that was lacking in most of the enemy. He was there for every major event in the war, but no one can remember seeing him. He was like a stranger among warriors, if you fought him he wouldn't let you live so you could tell others, and he was always near the outsides of the main battle," he retold.
"But people who do that, are like the strategist of the battle right?" She asked.
"I asked the same thing, but it was what my grandfather compared him to, that broke any thought that he was a strategist."
"What did he compare him to?" She asked while speeding up to his side in wonder.
"He said, it was like looking at the devil that was trapped in a pokemon, or even facing the grim Reaper himself. And it reminded him of the tales of old from his time... once walked a Reaper among men, to follow and to reap… but not to kill… but to only kill those of righteous blood."
"But doesn't that kinda contradict itself?" She asked with a quizzical look.
"That it does, that is why it is said the Reaper is always confused and conflicted," he told. A long silence clung to the air as they walked in quiet.
"Wait… if he never left anyone alive to tell their story, how does your grandfather know he is so powerful?" She asked as she broke the silence.
With a large intake of breath, "Well, he was reinforcements for a battle a little west of the main fight, but when he got there, the entire army on that flank had been killed; and only one man sat in the center. He also said there was no bodies of the enemy, so this one guy, was alone. But he was a scout for the reinforcements, and he was the first on scene. Once he was spotted, he disappeared in a bubble."
"So your grandfather was the only one to see him?" She asked as she was entranced in the story.
"Yup, and he was just a kid then, so when he gave the report, no one believed him. Fore they thought the only man capable of such a feat, was on the other side of the mountains," he said before turning to her with a small bow. "But it is about time I got back to work Madam, please, enjoy your new home," he finished as he walked away through a side door.
She stood for a moment, allowing herself to think and collect everything he had said. Before sighing and turning, only to be scared again as a meloetta stood directly behind her. After calming from the near heart attack, she looked back to the meloetta, who held papers and pencils.
"Madam Zavala, I am Siania, treasurer of Meldine. It is time to talk funds, mainly the debt issue this city currently has," she declared with a small bow.
With a sigh, "Fiiiine~… How much is the debt?" she asked tiredly.
"Currently it is 2,187,576,621 poke, mostly due to military funds," she divulged, while a coughing sound could be heard.
A/N: And FIN, welcome to the end of the chapter. Not really much to say here… Are you all enjoying the story so far? I don't get a lot of feedback… So I haven't really changed anything XD So, if you see something that I could improve on, please do feel free to tell me, or yell… depends on how you feel lol.
And also, don't forget… (Not sure how you can, I think I say this like every chapter XD) go and read the other stories that also take place in the same world as this one. Such as A legends Beginning, That Sylveon's cruel beginnings, and Temna, by Aurumn48, TOXICMACHAMP, and cadenceheart117 respectively.
-WolvenRepublic