Chapter 10: Kurai Meets Arda
"Oh shit, they're after Rowtag and Hertha, Flint, and Carr. They ambushed them while we were here in Arda." Toski yelled from her side of the room. All the rest of the council could do was drink in what was happening. Whilst across Kurai three locations were under attack by these strangers. Why? Why was this happening, what was going on? The older members of the council and experienced knew a simply what was going on. War. War had been declared upon them. They had made themselves known and were now actively seeking the council out. All they could do now was hope that the other council members could hold out until help came.
The hospital room was quiet. No one really knew what to say in this situation. What do you really say after you discover your colleagues are being ambushed and attacked; and you can't make it to them in time. All anyone could do was stay silent for a bit. The silence was killing all of them, each one of them knew it. It wasn't until Seth spoke out that the hospital room began to stir again.
"Hey Alva." Seth called out, catching her attention quickly. She raised her head and their eyes made contact. "That Irving guy, he's still in the holding cell right?" Seth questioned. It was like a sudden realization hit Alva and the rest of the council members inside the hospital room. "If he's still there, and if its been a day or so, then you should be all clear then." Seth told her.
"You mean, we need to interrogate him?" Alva asked, she was glad they were going to get information out of Irving now that he was imprisoned. The idea of interrogation gave Alva a bad feeling.
"It's the only real lead we have right now, and thankfully he right here and Arda." Nelda stated. She marched towards the door, "Council of Kurai, we have a little rebel to garner information out of." Nelda commanded. She noticed however Seth trying to get out of his hospital bed. He was breathing hard and trying to somehow keep his arm stable. She was about to march over there and order him to stay put, but she was beat to the punch by a certain red haired girl.
"OW! What the hell Talia!? My ribs still hurt and thank Arceus my arm is being held in place and has this sweet medicine running through me!" Seth yelled at the red haired girl who was currently keeping him in the bed, pinning his right arm down and pushing down on his chest. He noticed her head was down, her crimson hair covering her eyes in the shadow. She was clearly upset. "Talia, I need to go help them." Seth stated, again she pushed him back down. All everyone could do was watch.
She eventually spoke up. "Everyone please leave, head to the prison cell he's held in and get anything out of him." She said. Her voice was unnaturally solemn. "That includes you five." She said referring to Seth's other Pokemon, Angel was about to hesitate, until the Absol caught a glimpse of the red haired beauties eye. The rest of the council eventually made their way out, sans Alva who waited for the other council members left the room.
"Well… get well Seth, stay safe Talulla." Alva said to Talulla and Seth. As soon as Alva left. Seth's other Pokemon followed suit closely behind her. Angel was the last one left at the door to leave, glancing back over her shoulders to look at Talulla and Seth. Talulla gave a simple nod to Angel, before the female Absol left with the rest of Seth's Pokemon, leaving the both of them alone in the hospital room. Talulla currently pinning Seth, and Seth trying to understand her emotions.
"Hey… Talulla, what's up?" Seth asked his long time friend. She didn't respond right away. What he noticed was the static that was appearing on her. In brief flashes, showing the Zoroark that had disguised herself. He was so focused on her failing illusion that he hadn't noticed the wet feeling form on his chest. She's crying, please don't Talulla. Seth thought worriedly. Talulla was always a hard one to get to crack, very rarely did she ever show weakness, but when she did it showed it greatly. He could hear the shortening of her breath and small sobs forming, it broke his damned heart. With his good arm he reached out to her, grabbing at her red locks. In a slow motion, he seemingly pulled away the illusion. No longer was her face concealed by the shadow casted by her illusion's hair. He saw plain as day her crying. Seth reached up with his right arm and wrapped it around her, pulling the crying Zoroark closer to him, until her face was buried in his chest. He didn't want to speak, he would wait for her.
"P-please, stay, here." Talulla said to him. Her sobbing growing harder as she spoke to him. It hurt him looking at her like this, it was never like his strong Talulla to cry. "D-don't run off, and play the hero." She cried again, all he could do was grip tighter, holding her closer. "I-I-I-I…." Her voice finally broke and any semblance of her holding back had disappeared and her tears fell freely and her sobs were loud. All Seth could do right now was hold her close, running his right hand across the back of her head, feeling the softness of her fur, the structure of her narrow skull, and the easily tangible ears.
"Talulla, I'm fine honestly." Seth told her, stroking her head still. "All I need is some rest, and I'll be back out there. I'm fine, hon-" She cut him off with a loud sob. He was instantly taken back.
"You're not fine Seth." She said weakly, tears still streaming. "Look at your arm." She told him, pointing at the left arm, encased in metal, tubes, and bandages. "You're not fine!" She said in a loud cry. "You can't feel in your left arm anymore!" She yelled again. Seth could only listen to her as she continued to let out her emotions.
"Talulla it's not your fault." Seth told her trying to console her.
"But it is! I could've moved faster, listened to Alva sooner, a-anything!" Talulla cried to her master. "A-anything… now you can't feel in your left arm anymore. I'm so sorry." She said weakly burying her face into his chest. He could only continue to try and comfort her.
"I promise, I'll be fine." Seth told her assuredly.
"But you won't, look at what they did to you Seth. Who knows how strong the rest of them are. If he was the weakest one, then there's no way in telling what the strongest can do to you." The saddened Zoroark, told her spiky haired master. She squeezed him tighter, hoping it'd make her feel more comfortable. All he could do was continue to comfort her, waiting for her to calm down.
It seemed as though an eternity passed between the two, when really it had only been a few minutes. Seth decided to finally speak up. "Hey Talulla." Seth called, he noticed her ear twitch in response to her name. She was listening. "Remember that promise I made to you, so long ago?" The dark gym leader asked.
"Yes." She replied weakly, she was still recovering, she wasn't crying anymore, but hiccups from crying had taken hold. "Seth what does that have to do with now though?" The Zoroark asked.
"It has to do with everything happening now. When I first met you, you were the cutest looking creature ever." Seth said simply to her. Thankfully for the female Zoroark laying on him, her head was on his chest. "I remember when I first gave you your name, Talulla, it meant 'princess'. It was appropriate as you were Queenie's daughter." He said smiling down at her. "When you first began speaking in short phrases I made a promise to you. 'A prince must always protect his princess'." Seth said still smiling down at her. Talulla finally rose her head, there was a tint of red on her face. "It doesn't matter if I was young when I made it, I still mean it to this day." Seth reassured her.
"Seth, I'm no princess, besides you know I hate when you call me that." The Zoroark told her master. She tried to make an angry face, but she couldn't. Her face was simply shy and nervous.
"Well, then I'll just have to change the phrasing a bit then." Seth told his most trusted Pokemon. "A king must protect his queen." Seth restated, placing his head on top of her raised one, before pulling her back down. He held a sincere smile, he meant every word. Talulla couldn't help but blush a bit, and be shy at his words. She placed her head into the crook of his neck, before falling asleep in his arm. Her arms still wrapped around him, just to insure he didn't run away. Seth found sleep shortly after.
Nelda led the rest of the Kurai's Council through the streets of Arda, marching to Arda' police station where one of the mysterious organizations members had been captured and brought in by Alva. As the group marched through Arda they made some of the same observations Alva made when she first arrived with Seth. The tallest building was no higher than five stories, all the roads and houses were built around the great trees, and it simply amazed them that just beyond the lights of the town they could see the various Pokemon wandering through the forest. For many like Sedgewick, Covey, and Toski it reminded them much like their small communities and towns back where their gyms were. They would've enjoyed it here more had it not been the creepy feeling the dark types emitted. They made note that the people here were so carefree and relaxed not even affected by the dark type influence. Nelda gave a questioning glance over to Gardi and Edric, but they couldn't respond.
When they entered the police station containing Irving, they noted how much more laid back and quaint it felt. Mainly those who lived in the larger cities that is. A man in his mid forties noticed the group at the entrance to the police station, immediately recognizing them. "Ah, Ms. Griffin," he called to Nelda, "I did not expect you to actually come here so soon. I heard you and the rest of Kurai's Leaders and Elite Four were coming to visit Seth on the account of what happened. Oh, by the way how is he?" The sheriff asked the Ice Queen of Kurai.
"From what the doctors have said Seth will keep his arm, his bones and muscles will recover, but he won't be able to feel anything in his left arm anymore." Nelda stated factually. She noticed the sheriff's expression fall from the news. "The Thunderbolt he knocked away had too much kick in it and basically fried his nervous system in his left arm." She stated. Again the sheriff looked solemn, hurt even.
"Well that's a shame, but at least he's alright. Seth does so much for this town. He puts his heart and soul into this place, going as far as helping us out or the construction crews, plus that doesn't account for the sanctuary runs. Poor kid doesn't ask for anything in return." The sheriff said to the group. His expression immediately rose again. "I'm guessing you're here to see the prisoner though?" He asked Nelda.
It was all so strange to them, they perceived Seth as this crazy wild psycho, and just associated his actions to the rest of the town. Maybe they were wrong? But what about what they were taught in school, about the influence of dark types on one's mind and the severe effects? Were those wrong as well?
"Yes we're here to see this Irving fellow. Is there anything we should know before we see him?" The blonde older sister of the Griffins asked. The sheriff pondered for a bit before snapping his finger remembering something.
"There was, the poor boy was paralyzed by fear or something. He went rambling on about sharp claws, fire, ice, and sharp fangs in the darkness. Didn't make too much sense to me, but maybe it does to you." The sheriff said to the group. The Kurai Council began glancing at one another. Just one second they were considering they were wrong about Seth and the next thing they learn he scarred his assailant to near paralyzation. "Well I guess you better follow me then." The Sheriff said to the group.
Before he led them, Nelda signalled him to wait. She needed to reorganize the groups carefully in this situation. "So here's the plan, we're not sure or not if those assassins who attacked might return with backup. So some of us will need to patrol Arda just incase of anything else, the rest of us will get whatever information we can out of this Irving." Nelda told the group. "Keri I want you to be the head of the patrol group with Sedgewick, Covey, Toski, Petey, and Bricriu." Nelda commanded. Keri gave a simple smile and an over exaggerated salute before leading her group outside into Arda. Nelda looked back to see George, Faylinn, Edric, Gardi, Edlin, and Alva left in the group. "That leaves us to get whatever information we can out our esteemed guest of honor in his little cell." Nelda stated icily before following the sheriff, the rest of her group following closely behind her.
Keri led her group outside of the police station. She always wondered why Nelda would want her to lead these separate group tasks or be sent away while she talked with the same group of council members over and over again, but it could've all been in her mind she thought usually. Keri was never the one to try and let a negative thought get to her and simply smiled as she led the group a bit, before being stopped by Sedgewick.
"Ms. Weekes, wouldn't it be better if we were to split up, we could cover more ground that way and prevent any possible counter-attacks that way." Sedgewick suggested to Keri, besides Rowtag, Sedgewick was another one of the more military minded members of Kurai. Keri could only help but smile at his suggestion. He rose an obviously confused eyebrow in response to her smile.
"Well that does sound like a good idea, however you have to promise me you'll enjoy some of the sights here while in town." Keri said bringing out a closed fist and extended pinkie finger. Sedgewick couldn't help but raise his eyebrow further. How is this woman part of the Elite Four again? Sedgewick thought to himself. He could only go along with what Keri was doing, and extended his own pinkie finger and made a 'pinkie promise' with her. Before walking off to one of the entrances to the town. "That goes for the rest of you to." She told them, pointing at the rest of the group of people chosen to guard the town. "I want you to enjoy the town while we're here."
"Keri, I mean enjoying the town and all would be great, but what if you… we're actually attacked?" Bricriu asked her, rubbing one of his arms nervously.
"I highly doubt we will Bricriu, besides I heard this town has quite the collection of cute girls to pick up." Keri told the poison leader with a wink. His face immediately turned into a smile and ran in a nonchalant direction into the town. The Sky Princess could only giggle at his antics. Eventually the rest of the members of her little defense group split off into their own separate ways to defend the town and enjoy the sights at the same time.
Sedgewick found himself protecting one of the roads that led in the town, he inconspicuously took a seat on the bench and watched and waited. It still surprised him to see Pokemon so close to a human settlement, even seeing some wild Pokemon taking a few steps into the town before running back out into the forest. It was an interesting town to say the least, he never personally believed in the whole 'dark types are evil' nonsense that most of Kurai seemed to believe in, but maybe that was his knightly instincts telling him to protect the innocent.
Keri on her end had found a nice little market the 'defend and protect' from any types of attacks, examining the unique trinkets and designs that could be found here in Arda. She herself never really believed in the whole 'dark type influence' thing, she found it hard to believe that these people were 'savages' and 'monsters'. Maybe it was her carefree and loving spirit that aided her on that end.
Bricriu was currently stationed around what could be considered the town square. He had less than stellar luck trying to pick up the girls of Arda, unlike most girls he tried smooth talking, these girls were pretty intimidating. The look in their eyes was something else to Bricriu, though he was still trying to get over the fact he had gotten rejected by girls all the way out in what was considered the 'boonies' of Kurai.
Petey and Covey had found a nice little pastry shop in town as well, the atmosphere only helped ease the two's minds as they ate. Covey always enjoyed the company of Kurai's Council, he was the oldest of the council. He was old enough to remember Corey, Seth's grandfather, and Faylinn's mother holding their positions in the council. Though he was much younger back then. Many in Kurai sought him out for advice and guidance due to his age and experience in his position.
Toski was busy humming to herself and wondering the streets of Arda. She was a little uneasy wondering the streets for a bit, but later found herself getting over it. She put her hands in her pockets and noticed her phone was missing. She began searching the streets for where she may have left it. It then dawned on it, that maybe it fell out of her pocket back at the hospital in Seth's room, she began racing off towards the hospital.
On the other side of town in the police station Nelda's group was currently busy with getting information out of Seth's would be killer, Irving. Alva however was left to wait outside in a waiting room, and not in the actual interrogation room itself. She was even wondering why she was brought with this group in the first place. Nelda walked out of the interrogation room and out into the waiting room, taking a seat next to Nelda.
"So Alva," Nelda said catching the young gym leader's attention, "did you ever notice anything off about Seth while you were delivering the violent Pokemon?" Nelda asked the tanned gym leader.
"Uh, no. No, not really. He seemed pretty jokey and happy, and normal when I was dropping off the Pokemon a couple days ago." Alva told the Ice Queen of Kurai. "Why?" The Sparky gym leader asked the older champion.
"No reason, just making sure you were okay." Nelda told her while patting her shoulder. She took a few more seconds to sit on the chair next to Alva, before getting up and heading back into the interrogation room. The Irving fellow's brown hair was out of place, bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, he had bandages over his body. To put it blunt he looked like shit. Nelda sat down at the table across from Irving, Edlin, Edric, Gardi, and George in corners around the world.
"I'll ask you again Irving what did you want with Seth and what was your connection to those violent Pokemon?" Nelda asked the hurt man sternly.
"I have no idea what was with those violent Pokemon, that wasn't my doing. I was surprised to see them there." Irving told the champion, he couldn't help but glance around the room, looking at the other council members in the room. "As for your crazy psycho friend, we were just told to eliminate him. I was doing what I was ordered to do. That's all." Irving said tiredly. He was getting bored of these questions being asked.
"When you referred to Seth, you said he was a 'crazy psycho', why is that?" The purple haired Gardi asked, her charms and tokens hanging from her body. She was still on the case about the influence of the dark type Pokemon on Seth's mind. This could help lead her onto something more.
"You heard me, that psycho left me to be attacked by his Pokemon." Irving said angrily. "All these Arceus damned cuts, burns, and frost marks are his doing." Irving told the Ghost type gym leader. "Please don't bring him back here! Please!" Irving stated nervously now, he was having flashbacks to the experience he had. All the attacks, the cuts, the burns, the biting, it was all so vivid.
The rest of Kurai's council in the room couldn't help but glance at one another at this revelation. They had been wondering why he was so hurt, and he just flat out told them. "We won't bring him in as long as you answer our questions." The gentlemanly voice of Edric said from his corner of the interrogation room. Irving could only nod his head shakily.
"Now then, who exactly do you work for? Name? Place? The meaning of those tattoos on your body?" Nelda asked leaning forward a bit.
"I worked for a group of people, I didn't know their names or did I really know their faces. I was a new guy. All I knew them by was their tattoos. I don't know exactly where they are, they came to me, I never went to them. They only gave me their name one time. Legion Twenty Six. That's all I know. There were only two people in the organization I knew, it was the 'J' and the 'Y'." Irving informed the group. "So can I head home now?" Irving asked hoping to get out here.
"If by home, you mean by jail cell then yes." Edlin said from his corner, the Water type gym leader was busy putting his hand through his long brown hair.
"There is one more thing though. Seth and Alva both mentioned you had a Bibarel and you were able to give it non verbal commands, how?" It was Faylinn's time to speak. Irving looked at her like she was insane.
"Give commands to a Pokemon without speaking to it? What do you think I'm crazy or something, I know you have to give it a verbal command, I'm no psychic. Plus I vaguely even remember having a Bibarel. Why was I given a Bibarel?" Irving said rambling off to the council members in the room. Clearly seeing they were not going to get anymore information out of Irving the group in the room left the interrogation room, informing the guard they were done. Irving was still pondering why he was given a Bibarel.
"Well at least we got something out of him." Nelda stated matter of factly. They had made progress, but it was very little progress.
"Indeed we did, I will use what he said about Seth to continue my research on his mental health." Gardi said out loud. The group who was currently outside of the interrogation room looked at her incredulously.
"Gardi, I think we have more things to worry about right now then Seth possibly being insane. We are dealing with a group of rogues trying to murder us if you haven't noticed." George told her. Many of them agreed, that Seth's status was to be put on the back burner whilst they were busy with this Legion Twenty Six organization.
"But Nelda, ordered me to follow up on this. She told me that this was the top case and he still could very well be a threat to us." Gardi insisted to the group.
"I don't think you remember him being hospitalized and bound to stay in a bed until he recovers." Faylinn said to the Spectral Envoy, not even looking at the older girl.
"He still could be a threat, you don't understand dark type influence is a dangerous thing. He could be a threat to all of us." Gardi persisted in trying to convince the group that Seth was still the biggest threat.
"Gardi, enough. As Champion of Kurai I order you to end your pursuits. Besides if he hasn't gone insane by this point in his life then I highly doubt he will. You are tasked with the defense of Kurai, just as the rest of us are." Nelda commanded to the ghostly girl, she was about to argue again. "End of discussion. Now come along, we have fellow council members under attack and they need our assistance." Nelda told her group as she began walking out of the police station. They grabbed Alva along the way as she had wandered off to find food in the police station, a young girl can work up an appetite.
Toski was currently running up the stairs of the Arda hospital towards Seth's room. She eventually made it to the room he was currently placed in. As she reached for the doorknob all she could think was, Please be asleep, Please be asleep, Please be asleep. She didn't want to have to deal with Seth being awake. When she opened the door she noticed the lights were off in his room, the nurses must have found him passed out and shut them off. Toski began to tiptoe her way into the room, towards where she was sitting. She immediately froze when she the door closed behind her and heard the sound of ruffling sheets. After what seemed like waiting for an eternity she finally began to sneak her way across the room. She picked up her phone which was in the chair she was sat in when the meeting in Seth's hospital room took place. When she began to make her way out, she noticed something odd about his bed. She could see a long red ponytail sticking out of the sheets. She immediately began blushing. Well, I guess Seth and Talia are more than just 'friends'. Toski thought nervously as she slowly made her way out of the hospital room. When she opened the door, she immediately began to book it out down the hall and out of the hospital. Arceus that was the most intense moment of my life. The Hive Mother thought.
Back in Seth's bed he was laying there, he had seen Toski 'sneak' in and watched her cautiously through the slit of one eye. He noticed she glanced at the bed and knew something was off, before he noticed her blushing and leaving much faster than before hand. Seth saw that a red ponytail was sticking out, Well hopefully she just assumes it was Talia. He thought, as if on cue a narrow dark grey head with long red hair, sharp pointy ears, and a flushed face poked out from under the sheets. Seth was getting a bit embarrassed as well. "Too close." He stated simply with a bit of a laugh, before stroking Talulla's head. Arceus today was weird.
A/N: Lookie, lookie here. Another chapter done. A long one too. I surprised myself I was able to actually write all of this. I was going to originally have it switch between the events of Arda and the rest of Kurai, but just seeing the length of the events of Arda alone. It's something else.
Shout out to Zero Lunar, that homie is keeping really real. Thanks for the reviews man.
Also shout out to the people reading in Barbados, really surprised me that people in Barbados are reading this.
Don't forget to you know make fun of me, insult me, or you know give me some criticism as well.
Also Favorite, Follow, Review, and all of that other good shit. Thanks again for reading my story.