The Animal Within: You can't cage the Beast

by Mad Ass Dragon

The Invincible Monster of the Forest. That's what they call him. The boy who was murdered, and then reborn from the depths as a Monster. Death. All it did was make him stronger. He is hunted day and night by his enemy, who seeks to finish what he started. It comes down to the age old question. How do you kill what's already dead? WARNING!: Dark story.

14. The Battle of LC - Part 5 Finale

Chapter 14: The Battle of Lumiose city – Part 5 Finale

Hey guys!

The Mad Dragon is back! And this time he's brought the final Chapter in this Arc with him! At long last, this Arc is done! HALLELUJAH!

Shoutout to Mr Awesome. Thanks for the review, and if you didn't block me, then I could have spoken to you about it like an adult. Your fault, not mine. Am I pissed? Yes. Yes I am. You can't run forever, you have to come back sometime and I'll be waiting. So you saw that part too eh? Fine. I accept your OC for the Ground Master. I'll fill in the blanks myself, you can expect to see Terra next chapter. You want him to shoot Drago in the face? I actually like that. A lot. Sure, that'll happen. Am I gonna hurt you? Maybe. Come back to town and find out. Every time you steal my laugh AND my outro, you make what is to come even worse.

Thanks to Wolf for being the best Beta Reader in the world! Without his help and guidance, this fic wouldn't be anywhere near as good as it is and will be!

This chapter and the last, haven't exactly been my best work, but I was under a heavy time restraint. I had to get them done as quickly as possible guys, so that's why they're not that good. Sorry about that.

Disclaimer: (Sharpens a meat cleaver against a grindstone) I don't own Pokémon, but I do own lots of sharp things. Hehehehehe.

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Previously

Eis met his humiliating defeat at the talons of the Invincible Monster of the Forest, but at the cost of what remained of Lumiose city. The Monster destroyed it all, sparing only those who knew to submit to him and his rule as Alpha.

Eis managed to survive, he was saved by the Dragon Fear Master, Neo, who couldn't resist the challenge the Monster presented. However, the Monster proved his legend to be based on truth, as no matter what Neo did, he recovered and hit back twice as hard. Another Knight joined the battle, one whose appearance resembles that of a Dragon.

Angered by the presence of another Dragon, Neo eliminated Primal Red, who fell one thousand feet through the air, onto solid concrete. Now the battle of Lumiose is in its final hours.

---

A figure stands amidst the rage of war, unaffected by the chaos and death that rages on around him in all directions. It's as though he is alone, separate from these acts of horror and pain and cannot be harmed by any of them. A black leather hood covers his head, casting a shadow down across his eyes, shielding them from sight, the bottom half of his face is covered by a matching black cloth, concealing his identity from prying eyes. Armor covers his torso and upper arms, the same as his hood, this too is black leather. Unlike his protective hood, this armor is covered with protective pads that also act as small, throwing knife holsters. Black leather gauntlets protect his arms, going up past his elbows, while plain black finger and thumbless gloves shield his hands, but also reveal his light skin. Shoulder pads, designed to both protect the joints they cover from harm, but also hold a small black cape in place, which doesn't go past the end of his spine. Not simply for show, this cape covers small packs attached to his belt, and gives him an insight as to the intentions of others. A quiver of black wooden arrows, fletched with Murkrow feathers, with a nasty stainless steel barbed head, lies over his cape, holding it down and stopping it from fluttering to greatly in the breeze. Finally, black leather boots that climb up to the knee, cover and protect his feet and shins, lacking any sort of sole, they make no sound as he treads the earth. Clearly these are designed for someone, who knows the value of stealth.

This man in black stands at the edge of a tomb like crater, filled with rubble, gravelised concrete and blood. Standing at his side, with steel plating covering his lightning bolt shaped tail, a Pikachu stares into the same pile of death and destruction. "I don't think he's in there. My eyes aren't burning and I can still smell. Usually his stench is so strong, it kills my nose and burns my eyes out when I get this close" Pikachu said, a mischievous smirk across his face.

His human partner ignores these comments about their brother's sense of hygiene, disregarding them as nonsense. Crouching down at the edge of crater, he slowly and carefully lifts away the chunks of shattered concrete, treating each and every one as though it's made of glass and worth his weight on gold.

"But then again, who is else is stupid enough to fall from the sky without a parachute? Red's the only…" Catching the sight of his brother's sharp glare, he falls silent, taking the advice of the less than subtle hint, before helping him dig through the gravesite.

But it's not a gravesite, because Red can't be dead, he must still be alive, this is only a setback for him. He's the toughest of a bitch there is, nothing can fucking kill him! He has survived far worse than this, not just on one occasion, and he's going to do it again! This is what he does, he fights and fucks himself over, but he always gets back on his feet, today will be no different.

The Electric mouse gasps in horror, at the sight they have unearthed, while his partner in black simply holds back for a moment, analysing what they have uncovered. Red's broken body is soaked to the bone in his own blood, the protective armor that shielded his body is gone, taken away by the transformation back to his base form. He has only his tattered robes to preserve his dignity, what's little's left of it. He's… In a phrase, a bloody mess. Bone protrudes from ragged flesh all across his body, spilling his blood across anything and everything near it. His limbs lie crushed against the ground, broken by the impact and flattened by the fallen concrete. Blood pours from his split flesh, but also flows out from his every orifice. Across his blood soaked face, determination has been written. Determination to stay alive. His right hand lies frozen in place, clawing into the gravel, despite being broken and bloody. It's truly a sight to behold; he must have awoken after falling and tried to pull himself out. His will to live so strong, that he was able to force his shattered body to move. Now that's determination, coaxing a body with a shattered skeleton and shredded muscles to move.

To anyone else, it would be an inspiration. But these two can only see the pain he's in, the suffering he has endured, and the long and painful road to recovery that lies before him. If such a road is even possible. "Holy shit… Is he alive?"

That's the question, is it not? Is Red still alive?

The figure holds his hand out against the fallen Knight's mouth and nose, hoping to feel the heat of his breath against his flesh. There is little-to-no chance that Red is still alive, the human body is not designed to survive such injuries, but he must be certain before he declares his old friend dead.

A faint waft of heat rolls past the fallen Knight's lips, warming the figure's fingers faintly. While this man is greatly surprised and shocked by this unexpected discovery, his shows no outer signs of emotion, remaining cool and calm. He must be mistaken, there's no way this man is still breathing, when blood falls out from his mouth… But if blood is still dripping out, maybe his heart is still pumping blood through his body? He must be certain.

Carefully, so as not to risk causing his friend even further harm, the man in black presses his fingers against the Warrior's exposed neck, searching for a pulse of life. He finds that which he hopes to detect fairy quickly, while it is weak, there can be no doubt that Red's heart continues to beat. He's still alive. Just how he survived such traumatic injuries this long, is a mystery, but the fact remains, he is alive and in desperate need of help.

With a swift and courteous nod of his head, the man answers his starter's question. The Electric rodent stares at his brother, unable to believe the fact that their friend is still alive, turning back to the bloody mess that is supposed to be Red, he speaks. "Holy crap… I know he's a tough son of a bitch, but… I don't even recognise him, he looks so different. But it's gotta be Red, Charizard and Blade are here, and no one else is that powerful when they go Super Saiyan. Hey look, I think his neck's broken. Mr Personality, would you be so kind as to heal it?"

The male says nothing, for these is no need for words. Retracting his fingers, he replaces them with his hand against the back of Red's neck. Midnight blue pulses of light run across the broken body and severed spine of Red Ketchum, somewhat healing the worst of his injuries. He is no healer, he lacks the skills, expertise and experience needed to completely repair this mess, but he knows enough to save Red's life. That's all he needs. The young Warrior groans out, as pain returns to his short list of sensations once again.

"IT'S ALIVE!" Pikachu cried out, raising his paws up high.

Having done all that can be done; the healing pulses fade from the Knight's form, leaving him to awaken on his own. The figure is not finished with him yet though, he gently and carefully lifts Red's head from the rubble and uses his thumb to pull his mouth open. His throat must be dry as a bone, if not from simply not drinking all day, then from the dust that he has breathed in since lying here. A trickle of crystal clear water pours into Red's open mouth, the man may not have much left, but it's his. "You're stronger than this, you're a fighter" He whispered, his voice commanding and strong. "So get up, get up and fight"

The sound of a familiar and trusted voice, coaxes a response from the fallen Warrior. His eyes open a crack, revealing the deep blue shine of his eyes, his vision may be blurred to the point where he cannot see the world, for the colours, but he knows exactly who has come to his side. "B-brother?" He croaked.

"HOLY MOTHER FUCKING SHIT!" Pikachu cried out, leaping back with his cheeks sparking. "THAT THING AIN'T HUMAN! IT FELL A THOUSAND FUCKING FEET AND IS ALIVE! KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE! QUICKLY! BEFORE IT EATS MY TAIL!" Unable to maintain the ruse of being scared any longer, the starter falls onto his back, kicking his paws out while laughing himself into an early grave. Believing his attempt at humour, hilarious.

"They don't call him invincible for nothing, Pikachu" The black wolf Pokémon growled, making his presence known. "If anyone can survive a one thousand foot drop onto solid concrete, it's Red"

Countless questions burn throughout the Warrior's mind, where is he? How did he end up down here? Why are they here? How did they know where he'd be? These and similar questions beg to be free from the prison of his mind, but are pushed aside by a far greater thought. Serena. He promised to protect her. He can't lie here, he can't rest, he has work to do. "If I can… Breathe, then… I can… F-fight" He croaked.

"Let's get you out of here" The man in black said, nodding his head.

---

"He'll come. I know he'll come for us. He promised me he'd always stay with me" Serena cried, gripping the sword entrusted to her tightly against her bosom. While the act of holding a weapon against her heart does little in the ways of protection, it does make her feel warm, strong, as though he's right here beside her, holding her tightly and protecting her from the Darkness that now threatens them all.

Blade stands before the survivors, panting like a Herdier that took an Overheat head on. He's beyond exhaustion, the sudden and abrupt increase, and then decrease, in power from his Master's transformation has left him practically unable to stand. Willpower and determination are all that keep him on his feet. What the Warrior Bug needs is time, time to rest and recover his strength, but now is not the time for rest, now is the time to fight and protect his Master's family.

"Master entrusted his loved ones to me, he trusts me to defend and protect them. So I cannot, and absolutely… WILL NOT FAIL HIM!" He called out, focusing his energy.

A battalion of Grunts enters the sanctuary, each armed to the teeth with weapons and a large, curved shield, baring the skull symbol of the Paladins across its surface. This small, but deadly, force of Darkness is led by a much larger hulk of a man, while he greatly resembles the Sentinel that entered this protected ground when the battle began, there some key differences. Unlike the Sentinel who came, this one bares armor resembling that of a Dragon, scaled and leathery, and armed with a sword so large any normal person would require two hands to wield it, but Paladins aren't normal people, and a Sentinel can wield almost any weapon in one hand.

The forces of Darkness laugh at Blade's declaration of courage and duty, believing him to be no threat whatsoever, at least not in his current condition. "I'll deal with this rabble personally" The Sentinel said, raising his sword and running his finger across its edge. "You can clean up, after I'm finished"

Blade, the Pincer Pokémon raises a Metal Claw in the name of his Master, failure is not an option. His Master trusted him and he will prove himself worthy of that trust!

The Draconic Paladin wastes not even a moment, going straight for the kill. With a mighty swing of his sword, he attempts to behead the Bug/Steel type, but the wise Pincer Pokémon has been trained too well for something like this to work. Reflexively using Iron Defence, he boosts his defences by turning his exoskeleton to solid steel. The colossal blade collides with the steel shield with a loud clang; unable to cut through the metal, all it does it knock the Warrior Bug into unconsciousness. Falling to the ground, Blade's shell returns to its true crimson colour, losing the strength it gained.

"Ah… What was the point of that? All it did was prolong the inevitable" The Sentinel scoffed, raising his blade high above his head, with the point aimed down between Blade's eyes. To execute the proud Warrior, on the spot. "Now you die, by my hand!"

A howl echoes throughout the battlefield, making its way to the park turned sanctuary, but rather than sounding menacing and foreboding, the sound is rather peaceful and calming. The forces of Darkness all turn their heads, searching for the source of sound that enthrals their feeble minds. "What're you idiots doing?! Focus!" Upon the command of their leader, every Grunt abandons their search and returns their focus to the cattle ready for slaughter. "Hello… What's this 'ere then?" The Sentinel said darkly, with keen interest.

Lily is once again standing, her staff held tightly between her trembling hands. Her breath is heavy and sweat rolls down her armorless form, her dampened robes hug her body so tightly, they leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. Confusion clouds her scrambled mind, a million questions float around her head, each and every one of them seeking an answer. But they must wait until this is over, for now her duty is clear; defend those who cannot defend themselves. Just as Blade protected her family and new found friends, she will now do the same for him.

Deming the unconscious Blade no longer a threat, the Sentinel steps over his body to turn on Lily. A devious grin plastered across his face.

"Please Lily, stand down! You don't need to die" Lucario pleaded, tears in his eyes.

"We're gonna die anyway Grampa, but I'm gonna at least die like a Knight" Lily panted, raising her staff and charging what little power she has left into it.

Those who cannot fight stand together, behind those willing to give their lives for theirs this night. "I know he's coming, Red's coming, I can feel it. He'll save us… He promised to protect me" Serena whispered, the glow of her sword shinning brighter with every word.

Rose pink light swells within the crystal atop Lily's weapon of choice, indicating her final attack is as strong as it's gonna get. With a rather embarrassing excuse of a swipe of her staff, an Aura Bolt is born and fired through the air. The Bolt crackles through the air, shinning half as bright as every other she has produced through the day.

Is that it? This is the best the Knight can do? How disappointing. With nothing but a swipe of his free hand, the Sentinel disperses the Bolt into harmless sparkling light, barely even noticing the burn of its touch against his flesh. That one attack took everything Lily had left in her, and it did nothing… Her eyes roll back into her head, as she collapses from exhaustion, unmoving and still. The muscle bound Paladin raises an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden surrender to fatigue. Using his sword, he rolls her onto her back. "Oooh, this one's got a pretty fit body. I'll be sure to have some fun with you, before you die"

The Aura canine steps forwards, his Bone Rush walking stick once again held out as a weapon, with tears shimmering in his crimson eyes. He is a Knight damn it! His days of glory may be behind him, but that doesn't change the oath he swore, just as every other. To protect those whose strength is not great enough to protect themselves, to use his powers for the good of man and Pokémon alike, to destroy Darkness wherever it can be found and to give his life for this cause! Age doesn't change this oath! Nothing will ever change that!

"I used to make sport out of killing your kind, Dracanoid, if you so much as think of touching my Granddaughter again. You won't live to regret it" He snarled, a blue hue surrounding his fur and now stiff head appendages.

The Dracanoid Sentinel smirks, amused by the elder's attempt to be both brave and strong. "So you know what I am, eh old man?" Stepping over the defeated Lily, paying her the same attention as he did Blade.

"You are a Dracanoid Paladin, human born but raised to be a Fear Master's slave since birth. Based on your typing, I'd say you serve a Dragon Fear Master. A strong element, but not that strong" Lucario snarled.

"Well well well… I found a clever dog. What's your name old man?" The Sentinel smirked, stopping his advance and crossing his arms. Making no attempt to attack.

"Former, Master Lucario. Partner to former Fire Master, Ignus"

"Ah, so you were once one of the strongest men in the world" The Sentinel replied, frowning and sarcastically nodding his head. "But not anymore. Now you're nothing but a pathetic has been, just like Eis" The blue hue of Aura surrounding the elder Aura canine begins to flicker, and his legs start to buckle. His body is far too old to sustain his powers for long; perhaps if he is kept talking for long enough, he'll keep over and die by himself. "For your information old man, my Master is the grand and glorious Dragon, Fear Master Neo. Address him as such… While he rapes the girl in front of you!"

"HOW DARE YOU!" Lucario screamed, focusing all his energy into a single swing of his club. His Ground attack barely connects with the Sentinel's cheek, grazing his flesh, but dealing no damage. The momentum of his strike pulling him forwards, he loses his footing and falls to the ground. Hard. In an instant the hue surrounding his form fades, taking with it his ability to breathe properly. He lies on the grass, struggling to breathe through the chronic fatigue that wracks his body.

"They're just lining up to die! But fall in their graves, before I can finish them off!" Both he and the Grunts that follow him erupt into a fit of maniacal laughter. Taking their focus off the battle and their immediate surroundings momentarily.

A moment is all that's needed, for a hard slap to connect with the Dragon armoured Sentinel's face and bring the laughter to an end. "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY DAUGHTER YOU ANIMAL! DON'T YOU HAVE ANY DECENCY?! SHE IS A WOMAN, NOT AN OBJECT FOR YOU TO LEER AND LUST OVER!" An angry auburn haired mother screamed.

The Sentinel looks above the screaming woman, without shifting his head an inch, hissing a single word. "Kill"

A mighty behemoth of a Pokémon lunges forwards, its jaws comprising the majority of its head, larger than the average man is tall and strong enough to tear through steel like paper. Crimson scales cover its body, with a large orange crest between its black and white eyes and a frill comprised of white feathers surrounds the back of its neck. It resembles a prehistoric Tyrannosaurus-Rex, but somehow more menacing and fearsome.

The dinosaur like monstrosity obeys its Master's command, snapping its powerful jaws down onto the mother, who dared to show the Dragon disrespect. In the blink of an eye, she is devoured whole.

Those who cannot defend themselves, but still retain their consciousness, scream as the Tyrantrum lifts its head and swallows the woman they all knew, and whom Serena almost thought of as a friend. There's nothing that can be done for her, she's already gone.

A toothy grin across his sick face, the Sentinel speaks. "Good boy. Mothers are such an irritating nuisance" Rubbing and patting his loyal Dragon's crest, who grumbles back in appreciation.

The honey haired woman remains frozen to the spot, staring at the earthly remains of Delia Ketchum… Her left arm lies amongst the grass, snapped off from the whole, just beneath the elbow. Ragged flesh hangs from the crushed bone. She's gone. Just like that. One bite and she was just… Gone. Dead. She didn't even have the chance to scream or feel fear. It was over in a flash… She was there one moment, and then gone.

"Serena! We gotta go! We can't stay here, we need to run! Come on let's go!" Clemont begged, clutching her arm and shaking her to attention. His younger sister clutches his leg, looking up at the same woman him, also pleading for her to go with them.

Run? Run away? It'd be so easy to go, to just turn around and run as far and fast as her legs will carry her, to keep going until they reach somewhere safe. There has to be somewhere safe within the ruins of the city, somewhere else they can call sanctuary… Delia's dead. And Blade, Lucario, Lily, they're all as good as dead too… What's the point of staying?

Staring into the crimson glow of the blade within her grasp, she finds an answer… "Never surrender" The words of her Master come to her, whispering in her ear and caressing her sensitive skin… Red would never surrender, if he was here, he'd stand and fight. Nothing would stop him from protecting his friends, Mew herself couldn't hold him back if a friend needed his help… Nothing stopped him, from rescuing her.

"Master… Please, help me. I need you here, beside me" She thought. A tear falls from her eye, falling to her hands and dripping onto the hilt of the weapon. While the one she seeks cannot answer her call, the blade in her hands can. The bond between man and weapon is far greater than mere sentimentality; the two are bound together both in life and in death, as one and the same. Just as Red could caress her flesh, whisper sweet words into her ear, touch her heart, so can this blade.

The glow surrounding the sword shines brighter upon the touch of her tear, focusing itself into a flow, a flow of light that spreads from the hilt and wraps around her hands. Heat warms her fingers, as though another set of hands lie atop hers, helping her to hold the blade and giving her the strength she needs.

"No. No I'm not going" She said to Clemont, staring him down with a pair of glowing blood red eyes. "I may just be an Apprentice, but I'm still an Aura Knight and I won't disgrace my brave Master, who gave everything to protect us, all of us, by running away from the first battle I've ever been in"

Feeling new courage burn within her beating heart, she turns her glare to the Sentinel and raises her weapon up high. The heat of a body presses into her from all angels at once, as though Red stands alongside her, helping her to find both her form and her true strength. "Master, I know you're alive… I'll make you proud. I promised to stab this sword into anything that gets close enough to hurt me, and I will" She whispered, somehow knowing Red can hear her.

"Stand down Tyrantrum" The Sentinel said, his curiosity peaked by the glow of the weapon. "Oi! Girl! Where'd you get that sword?"

"My Master gave it to me, so I can kill scum like you" Serena replied, a hint of bloodlust in both her voice and eyes.

Unfazed by her threat of death, the Dragon trained Paladin slumps his own blade over his shoulder and cocks his head at the teenage beauty. He may not know much about the Knights and their ways, but he knows that a weapon of Aura is linked to its creator, and if it is still physically present, able to be held in hand, then the one who forged it must still be alive. "So where is your Master hmm? Tell me now" He demanded.

On the surface, Serena may seem strong and feeling the desire to spill blood, but inside, she is screaming for Red to save her. To come to her side and rescue her. Petrified of the thought of having to fight and spill blood, or even worse, kill. But she has true courage within her heart now, she is strong enough to push her fear aside and maintain her tough façade. "He's on my ass, wanna kiss it?" She asked, sarcasm dripping from her tongue.

Annoyed, but not angered, by her defiance, the Sentinel points his blade out to her heart. "If you don't tell me right now, I'll rip your heart out"

"You can take my heart, when you pry it from my cold. Dead. CHEST!" She spat bravely.

Annoyance turns to rage within the twisted heart of the Paladin. He knocks the glowing blade from her hands with a swipe of his sword, sending it across the battlefield. "Last chance. Tell. Me. Where. He. Is" He snarled, pointing his blade out at her throat, while slowly closing the distance between them.

The moment the sword is separated from her hands, both the glow of her eyes and the heat across her body fade, and the fire of courage within her heart burns out. Leaving nothing to hold her building tears back, they fall from her sapphire blue eyes without sign of stopping. "I-I-I don't, don't know w-where he is. H-h-he left to f-f-fight Eis and h-h-hasn't come back" She cried, unable to stop herself from spilling her secrets.

The eyes of the Sentinel dilate in fear. She's lying. She has to be. Eis may be the weakest Fear Master alive, but he's still a force to be feared by anyone less than a Master. No normal Knight or Paladin would dare challenge him, unless they've got a wish for a slow and painful demise. Hell, there's only one stupid mother fucker who ever challenged him… But, but that can't be this guy. Can it? No. There's no way this girl is Apprentice to the Invincible Monster of the Forest, he's not even real, just an urban legend, the ramblings of a failure to cover his tracks!… But what if he's not? What if he's real and here?

So deep within his thoughts is he, that Serena's pleas for hers and the other's lives all go unnoticed. "What's his name?" He said, momentarily silencing her. "WHAT'S HIS NAME?!" He roared, pressing his blade against her throat.

"RED! RED KETCHUM!"

No. No it can't be. She's lying! He's not real, he can't be. He can't have just killed the Invincible Monster's mother… "You're lying. You're lying!" He roared, his sense of logic and reason, paralysed by fear.

"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGG-AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" A bellowing blur of red bursts out through the trees, trying to roar like a pained animal, but instead screaming in agonising pain. Every step it takes, makes it slide across the blood saturated ground, occasionally it falls, as though its feet cannot support its weight, but it claws its way back to its feet and resumes its sprint across the park.

Hope lights up the sapphire jewels of Serena eyes. "Red" She whispered, recognising the blur of red to be her friend, using his Aura Sprint powers.

"SHUT UP YOU LYING BITCH!" The Sentinel screamed, thrusting his blade forward, towards her gut.

The passage of time seems to slow for her, as the overly large weapon splits the air in two and sails towards her flesh. The hope dies within her rapidly dilating eyes, drowned by petrifying fear. It's over. The end has come for her, despite her best efforts and the efforts of all those who have fallen, she's dead.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Red screeched, leaping out from the blur of red light. Taking his physical form once again. Hurling himself forwards, he slams his shoulder into hers, pushing her away from the deadly weapon and into safety. But not without a cost.

Serena may have been spared from death, but now Red must feel its sting. The sword glides through his robes and the soft, bruised and already bleeding flesh of his stomach. Through nothing short of miraculous luck, the steel narrowly misses his spine, but nothing can stop it from stabbing through his back and into the trunk of the tree behind him. He howls in searing, agonising pain, as the entire length of the blade is forced through his flesh and into the wood of the massive plant. Blood spills from the wound and onto the hilt that now stabs into his stomach, dripping onto the hand of the Dracanoid Sentinel.

The sweet hearted teenage beauty that is Serena, falls to the harsh thump of the earth's touch, barely noticing the impact, feeling only intense and unbelievable relief. He came back for her, Red kept his promise and came back to protect her. The tears that fall from her eyes turn from sorrow, to joy, once again her oldest friend has come to her rescue when she needed him the most… The moment of bliss filled ignorance is gone with a beat of her aching heart, replaced by a sickly moment of dark regret. She was blinded by the joy of his return, she didn't see him take the sword that was meant for her, but now there are no rose tinted glasses covering her eyes. She sees first hand, the sacrifice her friend made for her.

"RED NO!" She wailed, covering her mouth with a trembling hand. His body convulses violently, his head throwing itself forwards, only to be smashed back again by the involuntary spasms. Blood floods from his mouth, the way water spurts from a fountain. But no matter how hard he shakes, the blade that has made its home within his flesh holds strong, refusing to move.

The Sentinel relinquishes his hold over his weapon, stumbling back and staring into the electric blue eyes of the Invincible Monster of the Forest… He's real. He's actually real… And impaled like any other human, he bleeds like any other mortal. The tales that accompany his name tell lies, they say he cannot be harmed by any mortal blade, it begs the question, how many more details have been embellished? "I've done it. I've killed the Monster" He said, a sick smile crawling across his face.

The man, who was a Monster only a short while ago, struggles against the weapon buried within his flesh. Attempting to grip the blade's hilt, but his broken and bleeding hands have no strength to grip anything, let alone pull a sword of this size and weight from solid wood. "I'm not dead yet, you sick son of a bitch!" He snarled, after spitting a mouthful of blood into the Paladin's face.

"Let me fix that" The Sentinel hissed, drawing a curved dagger. "Say goodnigh-uuuugggghhhh!" His words are cut short, ending with a gurgle of blood.

A single arrow, black with Murkrow feather fletching, pierces his neck and out through his throat. The knife falls from his hand, without so much as a drop of blood across its surface, as dry as the day it was forged. Not even a moment after his dagger, he too falls to the ground, blood pouring out from his throat as he struggles to draw breath.

Without their leader to corral and command them, the mindless Paladin Grunts panic and disperse, running around randomly and without cause, screaming like a litter of Tepiglets separated from their mother. It's not long before the lumbering dinosaur follows their example, stamping his massive around randomly, crushing anything unlucky enough to be in his path.

A screaming Grunt makes a break for Serena, seeing her as easy prey, swinging his sword out wildly and without aim. She turns to him, too stunned and scared by Red's act of selflessness, to take in the danger she is now in. Suddenly, the mindless creature of Darkness comes to a stop, dropping his sword and his shield to the ground. His hand slowly reaches for his most vulnerable area, his throat, while his eyes turn glassy and unseeing. Blood trickles out from between his fingers, dripping down his armor. His throat's been slashed, but by what? The Paladin doesn't have time to comprehend what happened, within seconds he hits the floor. Dead.

Through the high pitched wails, a howling scream of pain demands the eye's attention. Another Paladins lies on the ground, clutching her knee, which has been penetrated by another black arrow. Three more drop dead within the space of three seconds, each one stabbed through the heart by seemingly nothing.

"St-stand tog-together" The Sentinel rasped, using his final ounce of strength. Before breathing out his final breath, and moving no more. Suddenly, the screaming abruptly ends, each and every Grunt that is able to stand falls silent. Having been given a command by a superior, they are once again able to function as a unit. They corral themselves into a battle formation, on the defensive.

For the briefest of moments, both the trained eye of Red and the inexperienced, but eager eye of Serena, see a racing blur of black with a gleam of silver, run across the battlefield and leap into the air.

A slash of silver, a burst of crimson, and the terrifying Tyrantrum falls dead. His throat sliced from ear to ear.

The eyes of Lucario open once again, just in time to see an arrow like quill burry itself into the forehead of the screaming Grunt with an arrow in her knee. A large owl like Pokémon appears silently beside the body, seemingly from thin air. "I cannot tolerate the presence of Darkness, away with you!" Decidueye called out, firing more arrow quills into the cluster of Paladins, reducing their numbers down to a single survivor.

The sole surviving Grunt trembles in his armor, knowing the end has come for him. "MERCY!" A blade is forced through the weakest point of his armor; the chainmail covering his throat, the tip of the weapon protrudes out from the nape of his neck. Whoever wields this dagger rips it free from the flesh of their prey, before vanishing into the shadows once again.

Blade rolls his head across the ground, as he too slowly regains consciousness, groaning from the fatigue and pain that grips him so tightly. "Master? Are you there?" But all Red can do is grunt in pain and struggle against the sword, barely even aware of the world around him, including the mystery fighting who has come to their aid.

Like her Master and close friend, Serena barely notices the events that unfold around them; her attention is fixed onto the source of her crush's pain. The same thoughts constantly run through her mind. He took a sword through the gut for her. He chose to die in her place. He gave up everything for her… Making the ultimate sacrifice, so she might have a chance to live.

Tremors run through the earth, as the great fat lump, known simply as Charizard, drops from the sky, exhausted beyond measure and covered in the blood of his latest victim. His eyes rakes across the battlefield, taking in the carnage of the death and destruction, as well as seeing his brother ironically impaled onto a tree, the same way he himself impaled a Paladin when this battle began. "I give ya a score of three for this mess. You get a five point deduction. You missed the Sentinel"

"Most of my fucking bones are gravel. Cut. Me. Some. Slack!" Red snarled, momentarily giving up his struggle with the sword.

Rolling his eye at his brother's foul attitude, Charizard slumps down onto the ground, taking a well-deserved rest. "Fuck no. Being half dead ain't an excuse for shitty killing"

"Who the fuck, are you?" Lily groaned, pulling herself onto her knees, using her staff as a means of support.

All eyes turn to the one standing opposite to Red, no more than ten feet away from him, with a black recurve bow in hand and a matching arrow notched to its string. Aimed squarely at Red's vulnerable head. The man in black, who dug Red out from the tomb like pile of rubble, now threatens to end his life, without so much as breathing a single word.

Despite the overwhelming fatigue and pain that wracks her body; Lily tries to stand again, using her staff as a walking stick. "Put that fucking bow down, now"

The man in black ignores her, maintaining his dark scowl and strong stare into Red's eyes. The shadow that covered his eyes no longer shields them, and their deep blue sheen can now be clearly seen. Rather than feel threatened by the weapon in his face, the teenager who has suffered far worse than most ever will, is relieved to see it again. "Some things never change" He murmured, spitting out more blood.

Although pinned against a tree and in agonising pain, Red smirks at his old friend. Ignoring his agony, he pulls his left hand across his chest and onto the back of his right collar. Pressing his finger into the beginnings of one of the deepest scars across his body, he slowly pulls it up and over the point between his neck and shoulder, tracing the deep and old battle wound. "Live free"

For a moment, the man dressed in nothing but black, simply stares into the eyes of Red, eventually lowering his bow and sheathing his arrow. Satisfied that this man is indeed the man he has been searching for. He places his right index finger onto his left shoulder, pulling it across an old and deep scar across his chest, running from his left shoulder down to the right pectoral muscle. "Die well, brother"

A Pikachu races across the grass, leaping over the bodies of the dead with his eyes set on a single target. He chants a single word, repeatedly. "Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine!" Pouncing onto the body of the fallen Sentinel, he swiftly liberates the arrow from the dead flesh. "Mine" Climbing up the black armor of his partner and onto his left shoulder, he offers the weapon to him. "Your arrow maestro" The man in black takes the arrow from his paws without a word, stowing it back in its quiver. The Electric starter steals a glance at the blood soaked face of Red, nodding his head slightly as he does. "Are you happy now Mr Personality? Charizard's here, Blade's here, there's a glowing red sword over there and now he's done that special greeting you guys do… Now do you believe me? That guy is Red, our Red"

The man who affectionately referred to as 'Mr Personality' by his starter, nods his head. Confirming what the Electric type already knew, that the man they have been seeking for so long, is indeed impaled onto a tree in front of them. "OK then… HOLY MOTHER FUCKING SHIT! Red, what the fuck happened to you man?!" Pikachu cried out, shocked by the changed he now sees in Red's form. "You don't look anything like… Well you. I couldn't smell you from a mile away, and you're actually clean! Well, clean for you anyway. What happened? Did Maw Maw finally give in and use Psychic to make you take a bath? Or was it Nibbler giving you the baby doll eyes?"

"R-Red, do you know these guys?" Serena asked.

He turns to her, choosing to answer her question before Pikachu's. "Yeah… You could say that. Pikachu… SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU LITTLE RAT!" Pointing his hand out at his Apprentice, he continues. "She happened to me! She made me take a fucking bath and tortured me with something she called, a makeover. And I didn't fucking stink that bad!"

Attempting to make use of his pang of anger, he tries to grip the sword again, but as before, his hands slide off the surface of the hilt. "For fucks sake! Mother fucking hands, work!" He complained, angered even further by this failure.

Finally able to pull herself back to her feet, Lily's eyes shift between the two men still standing, confused by the interactions between them. "Hey. The rest of us don't know who these guys are and we can't understand that Pikachu. If you know 'em, tell us who they are already"

Red momentarily abandons his frustrating attempts to remove that which slowly steals the life from him, to snarl at his sister by blood. "FINE! His name's Mason! He's a Knight like us, but he ain't a mother fucking Apprentice! He ain't no shittin' Mage or Warrior either, he's a Shadow! Probably the last one left! I met him fuck knows how long ago, tried to kill him, but got my ass handed to me! We've been friends ever since, Hell he might as well be my god damn brother! I haven't seen him for fuck knows how long, 'cause I told him to get the fuck out of the forest and never to come back! Pikachu's bitching and moaning 'cause I look and smell different! That big bird bastard's with 'em too! Now can I please get this mother fucking sword out of my gut before it kills me?!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs, giving no thought as to the secrets he has inadvertently blurted out.

The fully evolved Fire starter shakes his head, his palm colliding with his face as he groans. "Way ta keep the secret Boss"

Much like his brother of Fire, Blade sighs and shakes his head in disappointment. "Six winters Master, we met Mason six winters ago and we haven't seen him for two… You had to reveal his identity, didn't you? You know you are supposed to call him Shadow"

"YOU MORON!" Pikachu growled, leaping onto the hilt of the sword with his cheeks sparking. "YOU STUPID MOTHER FUCKER! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ANYONE HIS NAME OR THAT HE'S A SHADOW! YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR MEMORY WIPED?! 'CAUSE I WILL FRY YOUR TINY BRAIN UNTIL YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO TAKE A SHIT RIGHT!"

The man now known to be Mason, finally averts his gaze from Red and towards the others, as if only just noticing their existence. "You trust them?" He asked his brother.

"GET OUT OF MY FACE YOU LITTLE RAT!" The wounded Warrior spat, head-butting Pikachu out of his face, dealing more damage to himself than the Electric type. "UGH!… Little shit. Yeah, I trust 'em. Except those two" Gesturing towards the shell shocked Clemont and Bonnie. They lie on the ground, the older of the two trembling in fear, while the sweet little girl stares at them all with stars in her eyes. "Do whatever the fuck you want with 'em, I don't give a shit"

From the relative security of the ground, Pikachu rubs his sore nose and mutters a cure upon Red's immortal soul. "How'd you put up with this dipshit, Fat Ass?"

"Food helps" Grumbled the Fire starter, pulling himself back to his feet.

The deep blue eye of Mason turns from the busty blonde, who happens to be Red's twin sister, to the golden haired siblings. Their faces are foreign to him, neither Red nor his Pokémon have ever said anything about knowing anyone with golden hair. Honey blonde and light blonde yes, but not golden blonde. They're obviously not friends of theirs, if they were; Red'd have asked him to spare them both just as the he did the others. The question now is, what to do with them? The girl, she can't be any more than nine. Too young, far too young to be somewhere like this, but somehow she has survived and seems no worse for wear. A remarkable feat in itself. The other, the resemblance between the two is unmistakable, they must be direct siblings. His age is of no concern, he's clearly and adult and able to pay the price for his crimes. But none of this helps answer his question, what to do with them… They both heard his true name and know what he is, even if they're ignorant to the Knights and their ways, they still know he is a Shadow. This cannot be allowed.

Either their memories must be erased, or they must die.

Serena, the Knight Apprentice, manages to find her feet once again, while she is scared and confused about what's happening, she has faith in Red and his judgement. If he trusts this… Mason? Then she won't question him and will place her own trust in him as well. However, none of this changes the fact that Red has a sword stuck in his gut, and it is killing him. She has to do something to help him, just like he helped her. "Red… C-can I help? Please?" Her trembling hands timidly reach for the weapon that was meant for her flesh, not his. She truly has no desire to cause him further pain, all she wants is to take it from him, but she knows there's no way to prevent it. In order to take away his pain, she must first make it worse.

Red's lips part to speak, but his words are stolen by another, before he can finish. "Serena…"

"Serena?The Serena? The bitch you've been goin' on about?" Pikachu asked, staring at the teenagers. "God damn, she's hot. Bro, tell me you're tappin' that fine ass"

His question shocks the building blood within Red's mouth, back down his throat, making him choke. Spitting both the blood and the words he meant to say before out of his mouth, he regains the ability to speak. "Shut your furry mouth you little rat! Before I stick you up Charizard's ass!" He snarled, turning red in the face. While he isn't well versed in slang terms, he is well aware of Pikachu and the way he phrases certain things, to avoid being punished by some of the more prudent members of the Clan Red calls family.

"I'll take that as a no…" Pikachu said, rolling his head across his shoulder, looking away from them both.

"FUCK NO! YOU AIN'T DOIN' NOTHING LIKE THAT TO ME EVER AGAIN!" Charizard roared, petrified by his brother's threat.

Muttering a less than appreciate term, Red quietly flips his brother of Fire off and then attempts to remove the blade from his flesh, yet again. But the result is the same as before, his broken hands fail to get even the slightest of grips. Something like this can't, and won't, stop him from trying again. And again. And again… It's pitiful, for all his strength, all his power; he fails to do even the most basic of tasks. Muscles cannot do their job without sturdy, unbroken bones on which to pull against. Broken bones provide no strength or standing, they're virtually useless until they heal.

It's killing her. Watching him struggle with this, knowing she can do something to help him. "Red stop, you can't do it. Your hands are…" Shattered. Crushed. Flattened. Useless. What word best describes the effect the injury has left him with?

"Yes I can!" He countered, too proud to accept the limitations of pain and his damaged body. "I can do it! I can!" But no matter how hard he tries, the steel will not yield to him.

The Knight of Shadow glares at the golden haired siblings, silently deciding their fate. The girl, she's just a child, an innocent amidst this chaos, probably blissfully unaware of the true nature of the events that transpire all around her. At worst she may think this is a nightmare, a bad dream that'll soon come to an end and all will be well again. Or perhaps she believes this is all make-believe, that at any moment all the people and Pokémon who have died, will get back up again and laugh. How could she know the truth, or understand it? She probably has no idea what the Paladins are, the evil they spread or what this attack signifies.

It's been one hundred and ninety years since the Eternal Master of Darkness was last destroyed, but an immortal being such as him cannot be contained within his prison for too long. Soon he will be free and Darkness will befall the world. What's happened today, the death, the destruction, it's nothing. What Red did in his Burst form, is nothing. Compared to what comes next.

The child cannot possibly know that the end has now begun… If she's here without her parents, alive, then that can only mean one thing. They're dead. If her memory is taken from her, then she'll be lost and alone in this place, confused and frightened. That is not an option, leaving a child in such a state. In this case, neither is killing, Mason is by no means a saint, but he would never knowingly harm a child. But perhaps there is another way, children are easily persuaded and manipulated, if frightened enough she may keep the information, regarding his identity, to herself. But that still leaves the issue of her brother, he is no child and must be aware of the battle in a sense that only an adult can know. While he is likely as ignorant as his sister as to what it all means, he is still aware of the battle and the lives it claims. No pity stirs within Mason's heart for this bastard; he's no child in need of protection and is a great risk to his security. But like his little sister, his fate is one that cannot be decided as easily as any other.

He could easily be all that little girl has in the world now, without him she'll be alone. Fuck knows what'll happen to her without him… It would seem that death is not an option for him either. Erasing his memory is still a perfectly valid option though, although, she's a child and will likely need to talk about the events she has witnessed this night, one day, when she's old enough to understand it all. Her brother could be the only one she has left to talk to, but if his memories are taken, then she may have difficulty in moving on from the mental trauma that she has undoubtedly felt. So it would seem, that memory loss isn't an option either, that just leaves intimidation into submission and silence.

So be it.

The eyes of the Shadow Knight, known only as Mason, gain a midnight blue glow across their surface, making them visible through the shadow cast by his hood and casting an air of intimidation across himself. A small, but lethal, blade enters his left hand's grasp, while small in size, it is perhaps more deadly than the weapon of a Sentinel, as it moves twice as fast as a normal sword.

The soft blue eyes of Clemont and Bonnie fix onto the dagger in his grasp, staring at the razor sharp edge that would glide through their flesh effortlessly. While Mason says nothing to either of them, his actions send a very clear message.

I can, and will, kill you both.

Young Bonnie clings to her brother, trembling lightly as the awe and admiration in her eyes, turn to tears. In an effort to try and sooth his little sister, Clemont pulls her in close and hugs her tightly. "Sir, I-I must respectfully a-ask you t-to put that… Knife, away" As if the fear within his voice were not enough to show the effect the tiny blade has on him, the growing dampness and stench from his groin leave no room for doubt.

The stench of fresh urine quickly makes its way to Red's sensitive sense of smell, alerting him to Clemont's fear. "Hey! If I was you, I'd keep my mouth shut about 'im. You tell anyone his name or that he's a Shadow, you'll die a slow and horrifying death. That big thing got lucky; he killed 'im quickly, you won't be" Clemont quickly responds to this new, and even more terrifying, information, by frantically saying they won't tell anyone and begging for Bonnie's life. Mason's eyes narrow sharply, silencing this pitiful display without breathing a single word.

Lily leans on her staff, turning it into a walking stick the same way as her Grampa uses a Bone Rush club, as a means to stand. Never in all her short life has she felt fatigue as powerfully as she does now, her powers over Aura seem to be weakened to the point that they seem to have forsaken her, leaving her unable to use even the most basic of her abilities. In time her powers will return, but for now she is alone. "Are you gonna pull that out, or do you wanna die?" She asked her brother, only now seeing that which the others have all noticed.

Abandoning the weapon yet again, the Warrior snarls angrily at his twin sister for her sarcastic comment. Unlike most who become the victim of his aggression, Lily is unfazed and not frightened in the slightest. She knows her brother would never deliberately harm her, so why would she ever be afraid of him? She was taken out of the battle before the Monster, that her brother truly is, was brought to the surface, consequently she has no idea of the damage he has caused or the true power that flows through his veins even now. Ignorance is bliss so they say, and in this case, it truly is.

"SHUT UP! I'd like to see you pull something this big out of yourself!" He snarled.

"Yeah well, I'm not stupid enough to get stabbed like that" She replied with raised eyebrows, ignoring the unintended sexual innuendo that her perverted mind heard. "Come on, pull it out and I'll see if I can heal it for you. I can't do anything while it's still in there" While her point may be valid and her case persuasive, it serves no purpose when used against a grouchy man, with a sword stuck in his gut and an ego even bigger than that of an Empoleon.

Reaching out for the blade that has been out of his hand for far too long, Red calls back the sword to his side, where it belongs. The Aura forged steel trembles against the earth and grass, responding to its wielder's calls but not returning to his hand. "Come on" He grumbled to himself, as sweat poured down his face. "Come on you son of a bitch! MOVE!" Anger is stronger than any pain and coaxes a far greater response from the sword; it returns his shattered right hand without even the slightest delay.

His crushed and bloodied fingers coil around the black hilt, while they lack their normal strength and resolve, they're still able to grasp the weapon that is part of them, as if they've taken no damage whatsoever. Heat surges through his hand as man and weapon are reunited once more. Sensing the damage within his hand, the ghost like flames that burn across the weapon filter from their source, to coil around Red's hand and arm. The sound of cracking bone breaks the partial silence that fills the area, while it churns weak stomachs; it brings a smirk to the Warrior's bloodied face. Each and every bone within his hand and arm reset back into place with a loud crunch, reforming into their original form and regaining their true strength. It's duty done, the flame like light returns to the blade and burns across its surface once again.

"Fuck… That's cool" Lily murmured, impressed by the power within her twin's sword.

"Hey Boss! I found your other sword!" Charizard growled, holding up the respective weapon up high. The fall has damaged it, just as it did its master. The blade is cracked and chunks of it are missing, while the hilt is missing half its guard and the ghost like flames burn only half as brightly as before. "Don't ask where I was hidin' it. Just don't"

Red does as his partner asks and asks no question, he just reaches out for the weapon with his still broke left hand. Just like the right before it, this one responds to his call and returns to his hand, before restoring his limb to its former glory.

Heat surges through the Warrior's broken body, as though he has been submerged in an icy lake for hours and immediately tossed into a hot spring. Bringing a strange sense of relief and revulsion to him all at once, only now does he realise just how cold he really was, without his weapons by his side. But he cannot relish in this delightful feeling, not while there is still work to be done, not while war still rages. Returning his swords to the depths of his Aura, he is surprised to find the sense of warmth and completion remains, while weakened, it is still there.

Determination burning in his eyes, he clamps his hands down onto the blood soaked sword in his gut, the weapon that cuts his flesh and spills his blood. This will undoubtedly hurt. A lot. "I fucking hate Paladins" He grumbled.

Summoning what little strength remains within his body, he pulls against the Paladin blade with everything he has, spilling his blood even further and shifting his rupturing organs within his belly. Screams of agonising pain burst from his lips, but his hands do not slow in the slightest. Pain won't beat him, not now, not ever. His efforts are not without reward, the blade slowly ekes out from the wood of the tree as well as his flesh, bringing out with it a tiny glimpse of the flesh that comprises his organs.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! COME ON YOU MOTHER FUCKER!" He cried out, voicing the white hot pain that grips him. Unfortunately, even the freshly restored strength of his arms cannot prevail over the fresh blood that covers the hilt. His hands slide off, leaving him with even more pain than before. "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!" He screeched in great frustration, and even greater pain.

The Knight of stealth and shadows appears before him, without anyone seeing him move so much as an inch. For a moment silence falls across the sanctuary, as the pseudo brothers stare at one another, communicating without the use of words.

"You wouldn't…" Red whimpered with terror in his eyes.

Grasping the hilt of the weapon firmly in his grasp, Mason utters four simple words. "Don't be a baby" With a single clean yank, Mason frees the weapon of Darkness from the confines of flesh and bone and tosses it aside, without so much as batting an eyelid.

The Warrior's legs are far too damaged to support his heavy weight, while it slowly stole the life from him; the sword was all that was keeping him off the ground. Now it is gone, nothing can stop him from falling to the cold, hard ground. Bleeding out like a stuck Tepig. "S-stay in there… Organs. D-daddy needs… Needs you" He whispered.

The lone Shadow is on him the second he collides with solid earth, pressing down on the large wound and beginning the healing process. Determined to save his brother's life, no matter the cost. Joined by both Serena and Lily, they each do their part in helping to save the man who holds a special place in their hearts. Charizard does nothing, besides rest his aching body. Somehow certain his brother will survive, just as he has survived countless other wounds of all shapes and sizes. Blade pulls himself back to his feet again, panting heavily. The muscles beneath his protective exoskeleton throb and scream for him to be like his younger, and far lazier, brother, to lie down and rest. But his mind refuses these base desires, the orders he was given still stand; he must defend and protect all who remain in this sanctuary.

"Delia…" Whispered Lucario. An arm. No, not even that much of her remains, as a whole arm goes beyond the elbow. Half an arm, that's all that's left of her. The woman who gave him a home and treated him with not just kindness, but respect, even when he tricked her into doing what he wanted, is dead. Barely leaving enough of her earthly body to burry.

"Master Lucario" Blade said, offering his pincer to his elder as well as his aid.

The aged Aura Canine accepts this offer of help without hesitation, rising to his feet once again. "Delia… I'm so sorry you had to die" A tear falls from his eye, born from the memories of the woman, who was like the daughter he never had. Blade says nothing, for he did not know the fallen, to speak of her would undoubtedly cause unnecessary pain to those who did. However, he does bow his head in respect for the dead, silently praying that her soul be carried onto the other side safely and swiftly.

---

"COME ON IN BOYS! THE PARTY'S JUST STARTING!" Hydreigon roared, having just blown a hole in the Barrier above the dead city.

Flames hotter than the surface of molten rock, burn their way through the Barrier's defences at ground level effortlessly, like it's nothing but a paper cup. A large brute of a man lowers his hand and enters the battlefield, his entire body covered by a rose red robe that conceals his face, baring the symbol of the Aura Knights across its back. A battalion of Warriors and Mages surrounds this man, each and every one of them armed with flaming weapons and marching with a Fire Pokémon by their side. Standing by his side as an equal, is a Zoroark, a large black and crimson fox like Pokémon, with armor covering his legs and stomach. A black Mega Stone sits within the belt line of this armor, granting its wearer the ability to Mega Evolve.

One of the Knights comes to him, bowing his head respectfully, before speaking. "Master Blaze, sir! Orders?!"

The Knight known as Blaze ponders the situation for moment, before answering his Knight. In normal circumstances the first priority should be, and always is, the civilian people and Pokémon, their safety. But Lumiose City is already dead, as are her people. There are none left to evacuate or protect. Good. They won't get in the way or impede his work.

Zoroark scratches at the earth, his long hair like fur brushing away the rubble. He is eager to join the fight and rip flesh from bone; it's been too long since he was able to feast upon Paladin flesh. "I wanna maul somethin', anything" He impatiently growled, licking his fangs.

Having decided on the best course of action, Blaze addresses the Knights that follow him. "Disperse and destroy all Paladins, Pokémon, human and Drones alike. Leave no survivors" His voice cold and unfeeling; despite the fire that warms his soul.

"Sir yes sir!" The Knight responded. "Sir, what do we do in cases of possession, sir?!"

"Kill them"

The response he is given unsettles the Knight, he looks up at his Master uneasily, not entirely comfortable with the order he has been given. "Am I to understand sir, that we are to put the blade to our possessed brothers and sisters? Should we not try to set them free?"

"No" Blaze responded firmly. "I don't waste time on the weak, if they can't stave off possession, they're useless to me. Kill them. Even if they're your own mother. That's an order, Knight"

"Sir yes sir! You heard the Master men, we have our orders! Charge!" Each Knight raises their weapons high and charges off into battle, dispersing and shouting out their battle cry.

"Hallelujah!" Zoroark shouted, eager to satisfy his unquenchable blood lust.

The man known simply as Blaze turns his attention to the tower top, his senses tell him that is where the greatest powers can be found. "Hmm… Neo, Drago, Eis and… Another? Mmm… That's interesting"

A pair of Knights approaches their Master, holding something small in their grasp. "Master Blaze! We found something you might be interested in" Said the first Knight. The second holds up a Spirit Shard, its crimson glow almost burning his hand.

Blaze quickly takes the Shard of Aura from his Servants, recognising it for what it is within seconds. "Good work Ernie, Bernie" He said, holding the glowing crystal to his eye. "Come with me, I might need your help with something"

Ernie quickly bows respectfully to his Master. "We live to serve you, Master"

Bernie bows too, but not as lowly as his brother. "What him said Master"

---

"Are you fucking serious? Mom's dead. Eis almost killed Lily, made me transform and then I wiped out this shithole?" Red grumbled venomously, leaning his forehead against the trunk of the tree he was previously impaled against. Mason says nothing, but nods his head, confirming their previous discussion to be true.

"FUCK! NOT AGAIN!" He growled, slamming his forehead against the bark in frustration. His memories of this night are spotty at best; the uncontrolled power of the transformation has stripped his mind of everything past the point where his heart came to a stop. The last thing he remembers, is hearing the voices of his family calling out to him, pleading with him to get up and fight.

"Be careful Red, don't hurt yourself again" Serena said compassionately, concerned for his safety.

"I'm fine. I've been healed" He growled back, resentful of the fact he had to be healed by another. While what he says is true and the worst of his injuries have in fact been healed, the rest of his body is still in a very serious condition. By all medical science, he should already be dead. The fact that he is not only alive, but standing without the aid of another is nothing short of a miracle.

"But… They couldn't heal all of your wounds. You're still badly hurt Red" She timidly replied, afraid his anger will make him hurt himself again. Her hand reaches out and lightly takes his. "Please… Be careful" Tears shimmer in her swollen eyes, turning them to sparkling gemstones in the low light. The mere sight of them captivates the Warrior and calms the rage within his heart.

"Hey Tarzan, I got present for ya" Pikachu said, sounding playful and mischievous. "Stop staring at her big ass titties and look at me"

Red's face lives up to his name, turning a bright shade of beetroot red. He turns to the Electric type, to deny that his eyes were lingering in places they shouldn't be, at least not when someone can see, but his tongue falls silent before it can push words from his mouth. He is not the only one to see the 'present' Pikachu has for him, Serena too sees the tiny Dragon held in Mason's hand.

"Awww" She squeaked, covering her mouth with her hands. At the sight of the tiny, defenceless and innocent little baby Gible, reaching out for the man he recognises as his friend and squeaking cutely. "He's so cute. Where'd you find this little sweet pea?"

The sight of the little one draws a genuine smile across Red's face, for a brief moment, the memory of the pain and hardship of this battle is lost. "Hey there little guy, I thought I lost you back there" He said, taking baby Chomp from Mason's grasp to cradle him in his arms. The baby Dragonling clings to the tattered crimson robes across Red's body tightly, desperate for the comfort of body heat to warm his cold blood, as well as the joy the comes from loving affection.

"Awww, he loves you. That's so cute" She cooed.

The man who seems to be unkillable tenderly pets the baby in his arms, making him squeak in joy. "I found him out there, all alone. We tried to… Find his Mama" Lifting his gaze to meet Mason's, his smile falls from his face. "She's dead. Isn't she?"

The Shadow Knight nods his head once, informing them both of the grim news. "Yeah, Fat Ass lost his shit when you went Super Saiyan, and killed her. It wasn't pretty. But Robin Hoot over there managed to save 'im, we checked his memories and found a couple things. We saw he's attached to you, he's bonded with you, and that Garchomp named him Chomp" Pikachu said, in place of his trainer.

Petting Chomp a little more tenderly, Red sighs, he hadn't expected this turn of events. He hadn't expected Garchomp to be killed. He specifically told Charizard to not kill her, for exactly this reason. Now an innocent child has to pay the price of their actions, he has to grow up without a mother, but not without a family to love and protect him. "Chomp… It's OK now, Big Brother's here for you" He said surprisingly gently, attempting to comfort the youngling.

"Chomp? You named him Chomp? Awww" Serena cooed again, itching to hold the little one herself, but not wanting to separate the two of them.

"No" Red said, shaking his head. "His Mama named him… Before she was killed. I'm all he's got left now, and I'm gonna take care of him, because he's my little brother now"

Cupping her hands across her mouth, Serena silently gasps, horrified that such a little baby could already have gone through that which most adults fear. "Oh my god. You poor little thing"

"Tarzan, take good care of that little guy, and keep him away from Fat Ass. He's not gonna be happy about this" Pikachu said, concerned for the kid. His duty done, Mason turns away from the three of them, to retrieve his arrows from the fallen Paladins.

"Brother… Tell Decidueye I said thanks, you know he only listens to you"

---

"Mom?" Lily cried, her tears falling silently down her cheeks. She kneels before the earthly remains of her mother, her Grampa standing beside her, crying without impairment or hindrance. No. No this can't be her, it's can't be Delia Ketchum, she's here in the park. Safe and alive. She saw her just a little while ago.

"Lily…" Lucario gently said, placing his paw on his Granddaughter's shoulder. "I know this is hard, but we must be strong. We're not safe yet" Tears continue to fall from his eyes, dampening his fur. "The battle isn't over yet, we need to get somewhere safe… We'll come back for her, and give her the proper burial she deserves"

She looks away from the crimson eyes of her Grampa, back to the lifeless limb in front of her. Bury her? But she's not dead… Is she?

One of her closest friends watches from afar, as Lucario attempts to comfort her in her grief. Serena cannot even begin to imagine the pain she must be feeling. First she lost her friends Willey and Greninja, then she almost lost her brother and now she's lost her mother. This has been a horrific day for them all, but none have lost more than Lily and no one deserves a gesture of unconditional love like she does. "Red… I think Lily needs you"

No tears fall from his eyes, but there can be no arguing the pain written across his face. Silently he nods his head, clearly struggling not to let his grief overcome him as it has his sister. "Chomp, this is my friend Serena. She's going to take care of you for a little bit, OK? Big Brother has to… Help his sister" A series of cute squeaks from the baby are his response, coaxing a faint smile from his brother.

Carefully he passes on the precious bundle that is his new baby brother, to Serena, who's gentle and nurturing touch rivals his own. "Hell Chomp, I'm Serena" Her voice aches with grief, but she holds as strong as she can, knowing her friends are suffering far worse than she is. Chomp quickly grabs her blouse tightly, both for security and the precious body heat he craves so dearly. Her arms cradle him tenderly and lovingly, the way a mother would with her own child. "Let's go see Lily; I'm sure she'll want to see you. You little cutie pie"

Without even the slightest thought to how they will do it, the two teenagers go to Lily's side, before what remains of Delia. "Lily?" Red said, placing his hand on her shoulder and drawing her focus to him.

"Red… Where's Mom?" Her voice trembling and almost childlike. "Is… Is she really dead?"

Swallowing the pain that builds in his throat, he speaks very painful words. "Yeah… She's gone Lily"

Pain drills its way into Lilian Ketchum's gut, leaving a sickening feeling of cold emptiness in its wake. The pain of loss is no stranger to her, it has been within her heart for most of her short life, but it never been stronger than it is today. Because this time, those she has lost can't come back to her, they're gone for good. She'll never be able to lay eyes on them, never talk to them and never tell them she loves them. Her orbs of sight burst open like flood gates, soaking her soot covered skin in unspeakable pain.

Without even a second's hesitation, Red pulls his twin sister in for a tight and loving embrace. "Let it out Lily, let it out" Giving no mind to the part of him that despises displays of affection, he gently rocks her back and forth, to try and offer her some small comfort. Lily clings to her twin as tightly as she possibly can, as if scared he'll leave if she relinquishes her grip in the slightest.

Those who bear witness to this display of grief and pain say nothing, knowing it is not their place to offer comfort to their grieving hearts. No. What they need is time, time to come to terms with their loss and find a way to keep going. But now is not the time to grieve, now is the time to survive, later, when they are safe, they can mourn their losses.

"Look at me Lily" Red said, pulling away from his sister but placing both his hands on her shoulders and looking her dead in the eye. "We have to be strong. I know it hurts, it hurts so bad and it feels like it's never gonna end. But you have to be strong, we have to be strong, if we die tonight, then her sacrifice was for nothing. You hear me?" Gripping her shoulders tightly. "Mom's dead. There's nothing we can do to change that, but we're alive, and there's people who need us. Don't let her sacrifice be for nothing. Be strong, be brave and live. Because she's not gone, not really, she's in our hearts. They all are, everyone we've ever lost, and while we live, so do they"

Pressing his hand against her chest, over her heart, he speaks again. "They're all in here Lily. Keep them safe and close to you"

"OK" She said, her voice trembling beneath her grieving heart. "We'll take her with us though"

"Damn right" He said, nodding his head. "No one gets lets behind"

"MICKEY MOUSE! I FOUND YOU!" Drago cried out, flying through the sky.

All eyes turn to the source of the sound, seeing the man who is both Dragon and human flying though the sky, but still far from them and their position. "What the fuck is that?" Lily asked, not believing her eyes are telling her the truth. Both Pikachu and Decidueye voice their dread, why did the Knights send Drago? Why not someone else? Why not someone who can actually do his job without blowing everything up?!

"Is that a person?" Serena asked, trying to determine the creature's origin.

"Is it like you guys? Does it have some kind of supernatural abilities? It looks like… A hybrid between Pokémon and human" Clemont asked.

"It looks like drunken mistake between a Dragon and it's trainer, that's what it looks like" Lily said, finally believing her eyes, since others now see it too.

"I know who that guy is" Red said, certain of the strange creature's identity. "Master taught me about him and the others. She said I'd need to know. That's Drago, the Dragon Knight Master"

"THAT THING'S A MASTER?! YOU GOTTA BE SHITTIN' ME!" Lily screeched, unable to believe what her ears are telling her.

With a shake of his head, Red answers her. "No, that's the Dragon Master. His official title's, Knight Master Drago, the Mad Ass Dragon… He's completely fucked in the head, if you ever have to talk to him; ignore the shit he comes up with. It's nothing but the ramblings of an idiot, who lost what little sanity he had long ago"

"Duh!" Pikachu sassed from atop Mason's shoulder. "We fucking know what Drago is, moron"

"True, my Electric friend, but the others haven't had the… Experience, of meeting him. They don't know him or his antics, let Red speak, for their sakes" The Alolan Grass starter commented.

"What's a Master?" Bonnie asked, her innocence and naivety present in her voice, unaffected by the horrors she has witnessed this day.

Red's answer comes without thought, the pain the wracks his body affecting his resolve and ability to keep secrets. "The Masters are the closest thing the order has to living leaders; they guide us and interpret the will of the gods. There's eighteen of 'em, one for every element, Drago may be an insane mother fucker, but he's still the Dragon Knight Master"

"Holy shit… I heard he once tried to blow up the tower, Master told me a little about him then, but I never thought he'd look that ugly" Lily said, disgusted by the sight of Drago.

A sudden and abrupt change in temperature makes the air grows heavy within their lungs, and sweat roll down their skin. Heat seems to fill the sanctuary, spilling in from an unknown source, within seconds the once cool park becomes comparable to the inside of an oven.

Charizard turns to his brother, looking confused by the unexpected warmth. "Boss, why's it gettin' hot here?"

"DDDDRRRRRAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEEE!" An unknown voice screeched, answering the Fire Dragon's question and snatching the attention of every living thing in the area.

A great hulking figure, draped in a rose red robe, sprints through the field of fallen, and burning, trees, stepping on and over and the bodies of the dead, as though they're nothing but garbage and worthy of no respect. His robes flutter in the heat of the flames, coming loose and falling to the ground. A stream of grey hair reflects the glow of the fire, long enough to hang across his broad shoulders, yet his face is not that of a man old enough to go grey. Eyes as grey as a wolf's fur reveal the burning hatred and bitterness within his soul. Packing a very muscular build, his Caucasian skin is stretched tightly across the freakishly large mass of flesh beneath it. Rather strange and certainly unique 'armor' partially covers his form, starting at his shoulders; a pair of massive terracotta pot shaped sheets of steel provides protection. Crimson in colour, with the symbol of the Knights in their centre, white, surrounded by a backdrop of fire. His torso is mostly exposed to the elements, revealing a large black tattoo of the Knight's crest, or symbol depending on how you want to phrase it, across his chest and abdomen, like his shoulder pads, more tattoos of fire fill in the gaps of flesh. A pair of leather straps is all that covers his muscular chest, crossing across his pectoral muscles to hold his shoulder pads in place and connect them to his belt. Hanging around his neck, lays a large steel chain, not the chain of jewellery, a true chain meant to bind someone or something. Bands of steel run around his upper arms, one on each, beneath the plates of steel across his shoulders, while offering no protection, he feels they add to his style of strength. Leather gauntlets cover his hands and exposed arms, just past his elbows, while they offer little to no protection, they allow crimson steel plates a means to shield and guard his arms. Finally, leather hangs from his waist with more sheets of steel embedded onto it, with a red cloth used as a belt, which hangs down the front opening of his armor.

He strides across the earth as swiftly as a Spearow, his incredible size and stature having no effect on his agility whatsoever. So fast is he, that none of the survivors have the chance to formulate thought, before his colossal hands tightly clamp down onto Red's throat and lift him clean off the ground. "DRAKE MOTHER-FUCKING KETCHUM!" He hissed venomously. "SO YOU'VE FINALLY COME OUT OF HIDING, TIRED OF LIVING OFF THE GRID?! OR JUST TIRED OF LIVING?! WHAT'S THIS STUPID FUCKING DISGUISE EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE?! YOU ONLY CHANGED YOUR HAIR AND MADE YOURSELF LOOK YOUNGER! BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ME DRAKE! YOU FORGOT TO CHANGE YOUR EYES, THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME! TAKE OFF THE MOTHER FUCKING ILLUSION YOU TRAITORUS CUNT! I WANT EVERYONE TO SEE YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE!"

This stranger's venomous tongue lashes like a whip against their ears, but does little to harm to one it is meant for. Lily, Serena, Blade and Charizard all issue threats and demand he release Red, but the assumed Knight ignores them all, content with choking the life from the young Warrior. "TAKE IT OFF NOW! SHOW THEM ALL WHAT YOU REALLY ARE!" He screamed, drunk with bloodlust.

The Knight named for a colour claws at the hands that crush his throat and cut off his air, struggling to break free and breathe again. No matter what he does though, nothing loosens his hold. Whoever this guy is, he's strong. Very strong. He'll have to hit him hard to break free. Summoning what little power remains within his half dead body, Red kicks his legs out and into his captor's exposed abdomen, knocking the wind from his lungs and forcing him stumbling back. The stranger loses his grip across his intended prey.

"You bastard!" He grumbled. Opening his eyes, he sees his prey crouching on the ground, a damaged glowing, yet clear blade in his left hand and his eyes, burning blood red. Confusion writes itself across the face of the stranger, this is an unexpected turn of events.

A sword? Drake is not a Warrior, he is a Mage, or he was before he betrayed the order, so why is he wielding a blade? And his eyes, they're blood red. They should be tainted by Darkness, or at least the natural blue of his Aura. An object, carrying an Illusion enchantment, can alter someone's appearance, the same way a Zorua or Zoroark's Illusion ability does, it can change anything about their appearance and even their voice, but nothing can alter the true appearance of Aura… So why is his red, when it should be another colour?

"Get the fuck away from my brother! He's my brother, and I won't let anyone take him away from me!" Lily spat. Armed with her trusty staff, she comes to her twin's side, ready and willing to defend and protect him from anything. One by one the others join her, coming to Red's defence against this unknown man.

Blade is the first to come, bearing a Hyper Beam, he too is ready to fight for his Master and brother. "I will stand and defend my Master until the very end. Do what you will, I know we will"

Stomping his way to the man who both keeps him fed and serves as his worthy foe, Charizard viciously snarls at the grey haired one, armed with a double Dragon Claw. "No one fucks with the Boss, but me! I've earned it!"

Crouching on the ground before the man he calls, Tarzan, Pikachu's cheeks crackle with building electricity. "Back off, before I fry ya tough guy"

A black and grey wolf like Pokémon silently appears between the twins of the Ketchum blood, his fangs bared in a vicious, blood thirsty snarl. "Even try to hurt him, and I'll rip you to shreds"

Decidueye stands from afar, an arrow like quill notched within his feathers. "Attacking the young and weak are we? You should be ashamed of yourself"

In a flash of white light, Blaziken and Chatot both escape the comforting confines of their Pokéballs and stand ready to defend their brother, just as their sister does. Their bodies may be tired and wounded, but still they stand, ready to fight. "Yawl sure ya wanna go down this 'ere path?" Blaziken asked coldly, his fists ignited into a Fire Punch.

"Look buddy, I don't know who the fuck you are or what you want, but you're pissin' off the bitch, and that's my job!" Chatot squawked, his wings coated in steel.

The unknown stranger takes a few steps back, not afraid of this squad, who have gathered to defend the Warrior, but desiring to see them all at once and assess their combined strength. Barking with laughter, he dismisses them all at once, deeming them no threat whatsoever. "The fuck's this supposed to be? None of you can stand properly, let alone fight me!"

"Fuck you!" Lily sassed. "We're family! We stand together and protect each other! That's what family does. You don't like it? Line up with the other dicks and kiss my ass!"

No sooner than the words pass through Lily's lips, than the very fabric of reality bends and warps before the one she and the others intend to protect with their lives. A pair of electric blue eyes appears before Red, quickly joined by the rest of Mason's body, becoming completely visible once again. In his left hand lies a dagger, but in his right he holds a sword backwards, with the blade pointed out like his bent elbow. Holding both these weapons out before his form, Mason glares daggers at the one who threatens Red. "You fuck with my brother, you fuck with me"

"Shadow? You're back?" The man thought, confused by the presence of the Knight in black. "Well this is an unexpected surprise"

"Fuck off, all of you. This mother fucker wants a fight, I'll give 'im one" Red snarled, angered by the presence of others, when combat will soon begin again.

Fear runs through Serena, drawing her arms in tighter against her chest, she accidentally squishes the baby Dragon in her grasp. "Red no! You're still hurt, let them help you!" She called out without thought.

Red? That's an unusual name, it must be an abbreviation or nickname, no parent would name their child for a colour, neither would anyone attempting to avoid suspicion. If they were using a fake name, they'd make it something short and easy to learn, something that wouldn't stand out from the norm like this name does. Perhaps this isn't the man he thought he was, no, he definitely isn't. The Aura doesn't match and the name is wrong, but the resemblance is undisputable, he's far too young to be a sibling to Drake, so that can only mean one thing… This 'Red' is Drake Ketchum's son, and that must mean the girl there is his daughter.

Despite this less than ideal realisation, he feels no disappointment, he may not be able to exact vengeance against Drake, but his son has fallen right into his hands. "I can't punish the father, but I can kill the son" The thought draws a dark grin to his face.

Crossing his arms across his chest, he relaxes his form and tries to make himself seem less intimidating. "I think I've made a mistake, you're not Drake. I can see that now. My apologies, but you know how family resemblance is an all, it was an honest mistake" He said rather calmly. His mouth may claim this to be the truth, but the increased beating of his heart reveals his deceit. Or rather, the lies that are surely to come. "I think I know you now, you're Red, aren't you? The so called Invincible Monster of the Forest… The stories say that you're brave, but you're really a coward, aren't you? That's why you're hiding behind your friends. Sure you tell them to fuck off, but you're still hiding behind them. Like a coward"

Talons grow from the fingers of the man who transformed into a Monster, cutting through the earth and gripping his sword tighter. "I'm not a fucking coward" He snarled, his blood heated by the flames of furry within his heart.

Mason presses his dagger against his brother's chest, careful not to touch him and trigger one of his panic attacks. Staring at him through his right eye, Mason silently tells him to calm down and not to do something stupid.

"You're not just a coward, you're a weakling That's why you let people fight and die to protect you, isn't it? Because you're too much of a coward to fight your own battles. Like a man" The man added, pleased with the reaction he's already gained.

Blood boils within the Warrior's veins, every breath he takes is snorted out through his nostrils. His snarl deepens, revealing his grown out fangs. "No one's ever gonna die for me. Not again" He snarled, gripping his sword tighter.

Knowing the source of this welcome heat has struck a nerve, Blade quickly attempts to calm his Master's anger. "Master, do not listen to him. He is trying to provoke you, do not give him what he wants"

"Blade's right Red, this guy's a manipulative bastard. He wants you to lose your shit and attack him, don't give it to him" Mightyena growled, like Blade attempting to calm the furry within his heart.

A grin falls across the stranger's face, sensing that his words have not only struck a raw nerve, but have both stabbed and spat on it. "Go in for the kill" He thought. Pointing to the severed arm of the mother, who was murdered not even an hour ago, he makes good on his thoughts. "You let your own mother die rather than fight. You call yourself a Warrior, but you're nothing but a crime against nature. An animal that slaughters innocent people for sick kicks… You're no different to your traitor father, Drake"

"YOU BASTARD!" Red screeched at the top of his lungs, fuelled by an internal explosion of white hot rage. "I'M NOTHING LIKE THAT MOTHER FUCKER!" Summoning his pristine right handed blade, screeching like a wild animal and ignoring every plea the others make, he Aura Sprints past those who sought to defend him and raises his weapons high to strike the impudent asshole, who dares compare him to the man who made both him and his sister. And then abandoned them both.

The unknown Knight grins in satisfaction, as Red closes the distance between them and returns to his normal, solid form. "Gotcha" He whispered, certain that he has succeeded.

A steel headed black arrow bursts through the flesh of Red's right knee, crippling him and taking away his ability to run. Without the use of his right leg, Red trips and falls face first into the blood saturated dirt, skidding across its surface to stop before the boots of his target. Grumbling and grunting in pain, but not stirring from the earth, too tired to get back up again. The arrow entered from behind and now protrudes out from the shattered joint, leaving the limb all but useless.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHY'D YOU SHOOT MY BROTHER?!" Lily screamed at the Shadow, who has exchanged his blades for his black recurve bow. Mason offers no response to her questions; he only notches a second arrow, the one meant for a different target.

"Lily! Don't speak to Shadow like that! He just saved Red's life" Lucario quickly scolded, putting emphasis onto Mason's code name, having heard Pikachu's angry words, when Red revealed his true name.

The stranger's grin falls from his face as Red skids along the earth; his head drops down as his eye follows his path. "Clever, Shadow" Lifting his eyes back up, he leaves his head behind. "Very clever. You just saved your friend's life"

Following his scolding, Lily asks her Grampa what he means. "Red almost committed an act of High Treason. Shadow stopped him, the only way he could" Glaring at the outsider to their little group, he addresses him now. "And you, Blaze, I expected better from the Fire Knight Master. You weren't trained to trick Apprentices into committing suicide; you were trained to fight with honour"

The man know revealed to be none other than the Knight Master of Fire, Blaze, ignores his elder and instead raises his right hand, holding it over the grumbling man at his feet. Summoning the crimson blade from its true Master's hand and into his own, to examine it more closely. "Hmm… Aura forged steel, the weapon of an Apprentice. A basic, but useful weapon, but it has a major weakness. Anyone who's the same type as you can steal it, and make it their own" Now finished with it; he tosses it aside, like he would something he scrapped from the sole of his boot.

"Don't forget Blaze, you once used a sword just like that one. Have you already forgotten that a Knight's weapon is sacred to them? None more so their first, weapons like those are more than just an object. To you that blade is nothing, but to my Grandson, it is an extension of his body, as much a limb as his arms. You'd do well to remember the days when you used Aura forged steel, when you cried when it was taken away from you" Lucario spat, with more venom than a Toxapex.

Resentment fills the grey eyes of Blaze, how many years ago was it, since Lucario and Master Ignus trained him and Zoroark? Ten? Twenty? And still he treats the forty four year old man, like a child. "Master Lucario, still alive I see. I thought you'd have dropped dead years ago. I'm not sure whether to shake your paw, or put out of your misery. You'd do well to shut your mouth and show some respect"

"Blaze, do us all a favour and shut the fuck up" Pikachu sassed, knowing exactly who the Master is, but neither fearing nor respecting him in the slightest.

The Fire Master turns back to the Electric starter, irritated by his lack of respect for his position. To his surprise, he sees the code named Knight has not only moved from his spot amidst the others, he has dragged Red away from his feet and now stands before him, protectively, with his bow aimed into the Master's face.

Both the Electric mouse and the Dark wolf stand at his sides, like their trainer, they too are ready and willing to fight and defend the fallen Warrior. "You've had your fun, now back off. He's coming with us" Mightyena growled lowly.

Crossing his arms again, Blaze glares at the three of them. "Shadow. You have one chance. Back away from my prisoner, now, or be tried for treason alongside him. The same goes for the both of you too"

"Treason? On what grounds? My Grandson hasn't committed treason; he'd sooner rip his own arm off than join the Paladins" Lucario growled, angered by the false accusation. "You have no proof that he was attempting to strike you, he may very well have been trying to re-join the battle"

"Grampa's right! Red hates those bastards more than anyone! There's no way he'd join them!" Lily added, feeling powerless against the force of nature, that Blaze undoubtedly is, but still brave enough to stand against him.

Despite the firm warning, Mason stands his ground, refusing to abandon his brother. No matter the punishment. "Yeah… That's not gonna happen Blaze. Ya see, we've got this strange thing called 'loyalty' and we're not gonna abandon Red, just 'cause you said so" Pikachu said patronisingly.

The smirk that previously lodged across Blaze's face returns, stronger than before. "What grounds? He killed the survivors. They were innocent civilians, and he murdered them all in cold blood. Killing our wards is the same as killing our brothers and sisters in arms. Bitch and moan all you want, but you know as well as I do, that he's guilty. And Shadow, unless you want to share his fate, step away. Now. First or no First, you will be executed alongside him"

Still they refuse to move, refuse to let their fallen brother face this unjust fate. Yes he killed those people, but his actions weren't his to control. He became a Monster, against his own will, and followed his instincts. He is not to blame for what the deaths tonight; Eis is, for forcing the Monster within him to the surface in the first place. None of them will back down from this, from protecting their brother when he needs their help. No matter what.

Stirring from the earth, Red lifts his head to look at his protectors. "Brother" He grumbled. Mason turns his head to face on eye at him, while keeping the other, firmly fixed on Blaze. "Just back off. Don't get yourself killed, not for me. Take Blade and Charizard's Pokéballs, take care of them until I get back" A subtle wink of his eye speaks more than he can, at least in his current, compromising position.

Trust me.

After a moment of silent contemplation, the Knight known to many as Shadow, lowers his weapon, deciding to do as his brother asks and trust him. Crouching down before him, he stares into his eyes and breathes three words. "Stay safe brother" And does as requested, taking the Pokéballs, but leaving a tiny lock pick in their place. Without uttering another word, the Shadow Knight rises from the ground and stands aside, just as ordered.

"You better fucking come back from this, Tarzan. We're not finished with you yet!" Pikachu growled, before he and Mightyena join their trainer.

"Good choice Shadow" Blaze commented, a smug grin across his face. "You get to live a little longer"

"Stick your bullshit up your ass Blaze, jam it up there good with your dildo" Pikachu growled, in place of his trainer.

The mouse's venomous comments are ignored by the Master of Fire; he looks over his shoulder, searching for his servants. "ERNIE! BERNIE! Take the prisoner to the Barracks, to await trial for treason"

A couple of Knights wielding flaming weapons respond to his call, running through the same runway he himself used. "Yeah sure man, we take this sorry bastard away for you"

"Shut up Bernie. Just take him away. Now" Blaze growled, glaring at his subordinates. Bowing respectfully to their Master, Ernie and Bernie remove the blade from Red's grasp and bind his arms and legs together, stopping him from moving. He offers no resistance, not that he could, being so weak and injured.

Taking a last look at his friends and family, Red sees Serena and Lily clinging to each other, tears streaming down their faces, and his new little brother, Chomp, reaching out for him, crying out cutely. "Don't start crying, I'll be back. Just take care of Chomp for me, until I get back" He said rather gently, attempting to calm them. "I'll be back as soon as I can, OK? Be strong"

A swift kick into his ribs both cracks his ribs and silences his tongue. "Shut up!" Ernie barked, delivering a second kick, before he and his brother drag Red away from the family that loves him. To face trial for treason, a crime he did not commit.

Fighting back tears in his eyes, Charizard stomps his foot down and snarls viciously at his crippled brother. "Boss if you don't get back in one piece, I'm gonna kill you! You can't just leave me with that little shit! Mama'll kill me if I tell 'er you're dead!"

Fire ignites across the body of Blaze, the flames neither bleed nor burn his flesh, they are a part of him and cannot do him harm. An arrogant smirk across his face speaks volumes for him, as the flames engulf his entire body, before he vanishes from sight. Leaving only scorched earth and bitter memories behind.

Serena clings to baby Chomp tightly, Red asked her to take care of him and that's exactly what she's going to do. "I promise Red, I'll take care of him. I promise" She whimpered, planting a kiss atop the baby's head fin.

The battle of Lumiose City is done. Eis was ultimately defeated by his own creation, but the city the Knights were meant to protect was destroyed… The Invincible Monster of the Forest is an incredible, deadly force of nature. One that is, perhaps, better off locked away from the light of day. Lest his furry be awakened again and the world burn for it.

---

Hello everyone! Dragon's gone. My name's Drago, (holds up left foot) and this is Dr Foot! What's that Dr Foot? They saw us last time? Oh yeah, I remember now! Yeah guys, Dragon had to go to work, so I broke out of my cage and finished this off! There's gonna be some changes here, from now on I'M the star of this fic! Screw everyone else! AH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

BLAZE! MY FRIEND! How could you come in and not say hello?! I gave you Irish pudding!… Wait, what's Irish? YOU LIED TO ME DR FOOT!

(The sound of the door lock opening) What was that?! SHIT! Dragon's pooping in the chimney! WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHIMNEY!

(Dragon yawns and slumps his crap down) Thanks fuck I'm home. OK finish off the outro and post, this time, don't forget to put in the line breaks. Every fucking time I forget… Wait, why's my laptop on? Who's been touching my crap?! Mr Awesome I swear to Christ if you've touched anything again!… Wait a minute, scales? DRAGO! WHO LET YOU OUT OF YOUR CAGE?! GET BACK IN THE ATTIC AND I'LL BRING YOU YOUR FISH HEADS LATER!

But I don't like the attic! It's anime elf eared Pepsi!

… (Sigh) I gotta deal with him before he gets us arrested again. Oh, but before I go, there is something I'd like to ask of you guys.

As you may be aware, because of Mr Awesome, I'm looking for some OCs for this fic. I'm looking for characters to be the Knight Masters, they're not main characters, only side characters, but they each play a vital role in the fic. My creative juices are running low for them, and I think it'd be fun to get you guys involved with it. I've already gotten quite a few from you guys that I've asked for via PM, but now I'm asking all of you, if possible, could help me out with this?

If you remember, there's one Master for every element and some of them have been filled in. I made some up for specific roles, and other just because I felt like it. Lol.

Here's the list of elements that are taken: Fire, Dragon, Dark, Psychic, Poison, Ground, Electric, Fighting, Ice and Water. The rest of 'em are up for grabs and available for OCs! An updated list'll be kept on my profile page.

If you wanna submit and OC, then here's what you need to include. You can either PM me or leave it in a review, I don't mind which.

Name: Their name should be something to do with their element, this isn't their ACTUAL name, it's just what they're known as to the Knights. Only those close to them know their real name.

Element: What element are they a Master of?

Age: So long as they're over 20, anything can go.

Appearance: A brief description of their appearance will be needed, you can go into details if you want, I'll do everything I can to include it all.

Personality: A description of their personality and an example of how they'd implement it. They DON'T have to be good people guys, in case it's not already obvious, Blaze is an asshole and is not a nice guy.

Knight Class: They can be either a Warrior or Mage, sorry, no Shadows. Mason's the only Shadow in this fic, and for good reason. SLIGHT spoiler warning for chapter nine's eventual rewrite, SOME Knights are a mixture between the two classes; they're primarily one class but take on elements of the other. Drago for instance, is trained as a Mage, but fights like a Warrior, getting up close and personal in battle. I'll accept things like this as their class.

Colour of their Aura: Just tell me what the colour is, this DOESN'T affect their typing though, it can be anything you want it to be.

Their Master weapon: Being a Master, they're entitled to any kind of weapon they desire, it's one that best fits their personality and fighting style. Mage's weapons needs to be something that increases the strength of their Aura, while Warriors can have whatever you guys want. No restrictions.

Drawbacks of being a Master: A short, or long if you want, list of negative things that come from being a Master. They don't get their power and title without a price. E.g. Blaze's body temperature is VERY high, so high he has to be careful what he touches, because he could easily melt it or set it on fire. Drago looks like… Well as Lily put it, a drunken mistake between a Dragon and its trainer. That's part of the price he pays for being a Master.

Partner Pokémon: Who's their partner Pokémon? It can be any Pokémon you want, however, there are some exceptions. Legendary Pokémon are restricted, some are OK, but others aren't available. For details PM me. If the Pokémon isn't capable of Mega Evolution normally, then either let me know what you want their Mega Form to look like, or I'll come up with one myself.

(Optional) Origin story: If you want to give me a better understanding of their personality and why they're like that, you can give me a brief origin story, but you don't need to. It's up to you guys.

I think that's everything, if not I'll update this list to include it all.

Until next time guys, throw a review at my face and let me know what you thought about this crap or gimme a Knight Master. Tell me to stop being so slow with updates, or just be… Whatever you feel like being! Do whatever you want guys!

But as always… HIT THAT FOLLOW FAVOURITE BUTTON WITH YOUR FOOT!

Dragon out!