Dusk turned to night as the Project Pokémon locked down Fort Ervine, all of them ready to sleep in their Barracks. They ensured that all the cells were locked, all doors were sealed, and that the outside wall had a Phantom Patrol, the team of Ghosts that guarded the wall from Dragons in the night. Despite the peaceful glow of the full moon, the 'guests' of Fort Ervine slept uncomfortably, knowing within their hearts that there was some dark purpose for them being there.
Azure stood by as two Project Pokémon hefted a bed into Erik's room, Ferrick's thanks for her service. Due to Ferrick's situation of faking death, Arthus had to give the order for him.
"Remember, she's taking care of the heir of Ervine, so we need to give her the best accommodations possible." His disembodied voice echoed, coming from a mysterious place in the room. One of the Project Pokémon, a Pangoro, grunted with the effort.
"Who even took care of the kid before she came around? He's always running around, but no one seemed to be following him." He asked the voice.
"None of your business. Just do your job." The voice replied, a hint of irritation in it. The stuffed Pokémon from the night before had been moved aside to make room for the bed, which, while not too fancy, was comfortable.
In the kitchen, another two workers were working on bringing a bed into the room where Wenstrel slept, a tiny alcove next to the main galley.
"How do we fit this thing in?" One of them exclaimed. Gaska clouted him, spitting the floor.
"You just do ya job, as Arthus says!" He replied. Wenstrel stood aside, waiting for any orders. He felt the longing to simply wander the fort, but had to restrain it due to his current occupation of sous chef.
Azure also waited, but rather than waiting for orders, she wanted Ferrick to finally go to sleep. She hid part of her dinner underneath a pile of cushions, and she wanted to get it to Zacheus before much time passed.
The bed was finally in place, and the Project members left the premises. Ferrick returned to visibility, seeing Erik rub his eyes exhaustedly. He picked him up and set Erik in his bed, saying, "We best get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another day, doing this once more." From the window, the distant roar of dragons could be heard, signaling the dangerous time of night.
Ferrick positioned himself against the wall, and Azure got into the bed. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was certainly better than the bare floor. Erik began to snore lightly, a little black ball of fur on top of a large cushion.
After a moment, Azure thought that Ferrick had gone to sleep. She almost went out of the bed, before Ferrick suddenly said, "Do you care for your brother?"
Azure, surprised by the sudden question, tried to make it look like that she was asleep. Ferrick opened an eye, and sneered.
"I know that you're awake. Now please, answer me." Ferrick added. Azure stopped faking, and looked at Ferrick.
"Why do you want to know? Don't you hate him with a passion?" Azure asked. Ferrick nodded, only slightly.
"I do, but sometimes a different point of view on things is welcome. Everyone in this place has heard of him, and most dislike him for no reason, as they joined Project Empowerment after we formed. The only ones who really hate him are me, Maxim, Gregorius, Gaska, and, of course, Arthus." He sighed, adjusting his cloak.
"It gets rather boring hearing the same things all the time around the place. And also, hardly anyone talks to me. Gregorius and Maxim sometimes do, but they don't often talk about anything except their plans. Gaska just likes to irritate me, and Arthus is too busy with his grand ideas of empowerment." He continued. Before Azure could ask what he meant by that, he added, "I'm just tired of being a wall flower here in Ervine, and while I don't care about your well-being, I don't mind talking about some things." He looked hard at her and finished, "Don't think about getting close though."
Azure, wondering if she should trust him, thought about the situation. If she declined, then she could go to Zacheus and get him his meal after Ferrick was asleep…maybe. If she told him the story involving Theus, it would take time…but she could potentially make her life with Ferrick more manageable; most of the time he lay somewhere in the shadows, out of view, and it would be nice if he trusted her more.
She took a deep breath, and sat up on the bed. The night was still; the Project members were all asleep in their barracks, and the children were asleep in their cells. Gregorius, Maxim, and the other commanders of the Project lay asleep in their quarters, and Arthus stood in his Tower of Wisdom, gazing over the canyon as Dragons flew by.
Azure looked at Arthus and asked, "Could I call him Theus?" Ferrick shrugged, and waved for her to continue on. She nodded, and took another deep breath.
"Around 8 years ago, I and my brother, Derek, and his wife, Saphira, lived in our hometown, Quantus Village.; it was a wonderful place. Everyone knew each other, and we held no grudges against others. There were some arguments every so often, and sometimes they affected everyone else. Those didn't last long, and life was great.
"One day, Derek and Saphira had a son, that they named Laryon. They were so happy, and I was too; I was finally an Aunt! The news spread throughout Quantus, and everyone, who had been patiently waiting since they had their Egg, had a celebration with our family. It was one of the best days of our lives.
"That day, we had a surprise visit by my other brother, Theus. I can't remember where he was returning from, but he came the day after Laryon hatched; I have no idea how he learned about him. We always loved him, but he always seemed more distant from us, due to his adventurous nature; we were content with staying inside Quantus for the rest of our lives, but he wanted to go out and see other villages, and even meet a Legend! Can you imagine?
"Anyway, he came, and when Theus saw Laryon, he kneeled on the ground, as if in shock. 'I'm an uncle…' I remember him saying. I guess it put into perspective what stage he was in life, just as it did for me, and it was a lot for him to take in. He wanted to play with Laryon, but given how young he was, we figured that it would be better if Theus waited.
"He couldn't stay long, as there was something he had to take care of; my memory is just not so great when it comes to what Theus has done. Before he left, he gave Laryon his pendant, which he said he found in an ancient dungeon, and risked his life to retrieve. He wanted Laryon to have it as a sign of is love. I'm not sure how true that is, but Laryon has kept it ever since.
"Life continued on in Quantus, and for a few months, there was peace. Laryon grew, and began to walk around. Life couldn't get better.
"That's when tragedy happened. It was a normal summer day, and I was out with Derek and Saphira, helping them with Laryon. Suddenly, a huge Pokémon came from over the mountains, and it stormed down to Quantus. Following it was a swarm of various other Pokemon, all wearing the same silver armband on their left limb. I looked up at the massive Pokemon, and was horrified by what I saw.
"There on top was Theus, just standing on the beast, and watching as Quantus was brought down in flames. He jumped off its head, and began to run towards us. We ran, but Theus was faster. We were afraid for our lives, and it was my own brother threatening them."
She began to cry after saying this, and she turned away from Ferrick for a few moments. She forced herself to calm down, and wiped away her tears. She sniffed, and continued:
"But one Pokemon came from the same mountain, and fought off the assault. Before Theus could strike, the Pokemon came in and parried the blow. The two fought, and I and Derek and Sapphira ran, with each of us protecting Laryon.
"Other Pokemon began to pursue us, all the other villagers dead or dying. The Pokémon ran away from Theus and began to fight off the other Pokémon, saying 'Protect Laryon!', and we continued to run for the Forsaken Falls dungeon.
"The beast came towards us, and with a swipe of it's claw, it blocked the entrance. The evil Pokemon surrounded us, and soon we would have died. I was holding Laryon at the time, while Derek and Saphira fought alongside the mysterious Pokemon. Theus came again, and ordered the Pokemon to restrain the mysterious one. It took dozens of them, but they tied him to the ground, and kept him still.
"He challenged Derek to a duel. He didn't want to fight Theus directly, but he was forced to. They fought each other, with Derek using his aura, while Theus strangely didn't use it, and instead used some sort of red energy. Derek was forced to the ground, and then Theus asked him to look him in the eye..."
Azure was beginning to choke up, and she finally finished it, "He never got a chance to say anything before he was finished. Saphira was challenged next, and she was dealt with the same way. I was next, and poor Laryon had to stand aside.
"Before he challenged us, he fingered Laryon's pendant, and smiled viciously, unlike I've ever seen him. He said, in a dark voice, 'I've finally found it...the Seal of Creation...'. Right after he said that, the Pokemon broke free, and punched him right into the eye of the beast above. It fell to the ground, and while he fought the rest of the Pokemon, he blasted a hole with his energy, ordering us to leave. I fled with Laryon, and the entrance was sealed behind us."
She weeped for Derek and Sapphira, and had to stop for a time. Ferrick had turned away, his eyes closed, and his face full of discomfort. Erik sat still, his chest moving up and down rhythmically.
Azure wiped the tears away, determined to finish her story. "The Forsaken Forest hadn't had wild Pokemon in it for ages, and so it was peaceful the entire way to the path to a village known as Respit. I went there, and told everyone that Quantus was gone. I never told them about Theus, the Pokemon, or the beast." She looked to Ferrick, who was still turned away, and simply stared at him.
After a minute or so, Azure asked, "So tell me, what do you think I think of Theus?" Ferrick turned around, and sighed.
"There's something amiss in your story." He said. Azure, wondering what he meant stood up.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you said that Theus gave Laryon the pendant, or the Seal of Creation, himself, right?"
"Yes, so?"
"The Theus that attacked you said he finally found the Seal, yet he was the one who found it and gave it to Laryon." Ferrick explained. He stood upright now, his face full of concern.
Azure thought of what he said, and came to a realization. "You mean...that Theus who attacked...wasn't Theus at all!" Ferrick nodded.
"I loathe him, but even if I now can't remember much of him, I remember how he was. He never said anything in such a way, and he never used red energy. There is only one Pokemon I know that has used red energy like that." Ferrick said. Azure came out of the bed, inwardly cursing herself for treating Theus like she did.
"Who uses this red energy?" She asked. Ferrick looked up, and then looked side-to-side. He motioned for Azure to come closer, and when she did, he said one thing:
"Arthus."
Aram stood on top of the plateau that made his home, and next to him hovered a Bronzong, awaiting instruction. The light of the Rhyperior ad disappeared into the dungeon, and all the Guild was asleep. Far above him, clouds rumbled with energy.
Aram turned to the Bronzong, and in his hand was a carved mmallet, engraved with a variety of symbols, the one in the center of the being the Arc of Arceus. He banged the Bronzong with the mallet, and a wave of energy reverberated from the Bronzong, emanating and expanding outward.
"Where could she be? She was with us a second ago!" Theus exclaimed, searching frantically through the dying crowds of Karyon village for Arianne. Laryon ran alongside him, the Seal clinking across his chest, the slip of paper secured in its weave.
"Maybe she got lost?" Laryon suggested. Theus sighed, and readjusted the pack across him.
"Well, we are too, if that's anything to say for it." Theus replied. He turned to the Tree of Slumber, and gazed distantly at it.
Just then, a wave of energy passed throug them, sending a dim light on the ground around Theus' feet. He looked to the direction it came from, and heard these words:
"I call all Guildmasters under the name of Arceus, for a Council of Guilds to determine the fate of the Equivos region on the Deity Continent, home of the Legends, or my name isn't Guildmaster Aram Electivire."
The message ended, and the light around his feet faded. Theus quickly looked to Laryon, to see if he had noticed. Laryon was looking at the Tree, and failed to notice the wave or the light.
Theus sighed, and looked back to the Tree. He then thought to himself, "Change of plans. We have to go to Deity."