Chapter 1
Keldeo
Treasure City was the center of trade and commerce of the Southern Federation and it's de facto capital. Bustling with several thousand different Pokemon, it spanned the entire cliff side, reaching downwards towards the beach and Laparus Port. The tallest buildings, about six stories at most, seemed to stretch and touch the sky as their white stone structures gleamed in the early afternoon sun. The city itself was filled with the noise and commotion of a busy day, making it increasingly hard for Keldeo to navigate the busy streets.
The quadrupedal horse Pokemon huffed in frustration as he yet again had to squeeze past a throng of Pokemon clogging up the street huddled around some vender. He took a breath of relief as he broke through the crowd, finally able to breathe freely again as he made it past the last market stall and now had a clear shot to the Federation Center located on the bluff. The imposing spire was the tallest building in the city and served as the hub for all official Federation business on the continent. Taking a moment to compose himself, Keldeo trotted toward the building.
As he drew closer, he spotted several Expedition and Explorer teams mulling about a large fountain with a statue of a Swampert and Meganium posed in dramatic fashion in the center of the water, the Swampert appearing to be summoning the water from the fountain while the Meganium appeared to be charging an attack. The teams around the fountain were identifiable by their prominent badges and gears. Though Keldeo wasn't interested in those types of teams, he couldn't help but marvel at some of the high ranks the teams he passed held. He passed them and the fountain and on through the rather impressive set of doors.
Inside the building was well lit, illuminating the somewhat simple decor. The floor was stone, but covered in some places with soft blue carpet and blue and green banners hung on the walls next to large windows that let plenty of light in. The main atrium was filled with more Pokemon, most either at the rewards desk or the job boards. In the center of the atrium was the central spiral staircase that led to the upper floor, and towards the entrance where Keldeo had just come through was a Kadabra who smiled as he approached.
"Welcome to Treasure Spire," The Kadabra greeted him, "May I help you?"
"Err, yes," Keldeo said, taking a moment to fetch a piece of paper out of his bag with his teeth. He passed it to the Kadabra who took using her psychic powers, levitating it in front of her without actually grasping the paper.
"Hmm, you came a long way for a Rescue team," The Kadabra said as she looked over the paper, "But everything appears to be in order, Team Knightfall is on floor three, room 330. Best of luck to ya'."
The Keldeo nodded in thanks, grabbing the paper with his mouth and moving to the spiral staircase. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he began to trott up the stairs. It took a few minutes to scale the many steps to the third floor, but for a warrior of justice, it was an easy task. Nevertheless, Keldeo did take a moment to catch his breath as he arrived on the third floor.
"Ya'h okay there?" Keldeo looked up, following the sound of the voice to see a Stoutland standing not too far away from him, a thoughtful look on the dog Pokemon's muzzle, "I take it ya'h ain't used to stairs." The Stoutland said, his voice deep and gruff, but not unkind.
"Nor rilly," Keldeo said through the paper still in his mouth, nearly losing it in the process.
The Stoutland gave a hearty chuckle, "Well, young'n, I suppose I ought not to hol' ya' up. Where ya' head'n to anywho?"
"Rmm thr-thir'y," Keldeo said, again almost losing his paper.
The Stoutland raised an eyebrow and frowned, "Team Knightfall eh. Well, I'm glad they'll finally be out of m' tower an' off on the hunt ag'n. Best o' luck to ya'." The Stoutland, turning his frown into a grin, walked past the Keldeo, heading down the stairs.
Keldeo, half wanting to follow the older Pokemon and inquire more about his chosen team, turned and began to look for his room. He passed several rooms, most closed but a few open, showing off a variety of interiors. Most rooms were lavishly decorated with different tapestries, artifacts, and ornate maps, while a few even had gold and silver ornaments. He passed them all, until he arrived at room 330.
The door was simple, a heavy wooden slab with a handle positioned low on the door and the numbers 330 carved into it near the top. From inside the room, Keldeo could hear voices, but they were too muffled to make out properly. Taking a deep breath, he lifted a hoof and gave a series of good, hardy knocks. At first the voices stopped talking all together and Keldeo thought that meant someone was coming to open the door, but the voice began again, louder and with more anger than before. Keldeo, ever curious, leaned an ear to the door.
"I can't believe you went behind my back!" A distinctly male voice shouted from behind the door.
"We need to move on," a distinctly female voice responded, calmer than the male but still shouting, "I know how much Cobra and Sandwistle's decision to-"
"Don't speak their names!" The male voice demanded, "Those, those traitors left us! Don't you understand, Sparks? They betrayed us to that wiesel and his sorry excuse of an explore team. How can you be okay with that?"
"I'm not, but we can't just sulk in our room forever you know. And a mission is just what we need to get going again. Whether you like it or not, we are accepting this mission!"
Keldeo leaned backwards just in time for the door to open. Inside was a room less opulent than the others he had passed, though the team's Master rank insignia was prominently displayed on the mantle of the main desk. Behind the desk was a window, shining light in to illuminate the room and the skulking Sylveon wearing a white bandana, none too pleased to see him enter the room. Looking to his side, Keldeo spotted an Emolga, wearing a pink bandana, flying from the door to land on the desk, beckoning him further in.
Hesitant, Keldeo took a few steps inside the room. To his left was a long tapestry, and on it a Sylveon, an Emolga, an Arbok, and a Flygon, all decked out in rescue team regalia, seemingly on some dangerous mission. To his right was a series of framed letters, and with a quick glance over them Keldeo was able to conclude that they were all letters of thanks. Walking past all of this, he took a seat on a large padded blue chair in front of the desk. Shifting a bit, Keldeo set the piece of paper on the desk and waited, trying to still his doubts.
After a moment, the Sylveon sighed, "What, Persian got your tongue?"
Keldeo blinked, "I-, what?"
The Emolga rolled her eyes as the Sylveon snickered, "Don't mind him," the Sky Squirrel Pokémon chided, "He seems to relish in others discomfort."
"Now don't be that way," the Sylveon stated, picking up the paper with one of his ribbons, "Besides, it's your fault he's here."
"My fault, are we not still a rescue team," the Emolga responded, "We have a duty to uphold, do we not?"
"If anyone still believes in that duty," the Sylveon muttered. He turned again to Keldeo, "Alright kid, what's the job?"
Keldeo sighed in relief, "Listen," he began, "I don't quite know what that was all about," this statement earned a huff from the Sylveon, who in turn earned a glare from the Emolga, "But I was informed team Knightfall is the best rescue team in the Southern Federation, and I have job that would be a challenge for even them."
The Sylveon raised a brow and leaned forward, "And what is this mission?"
Keldeo puffed out his chest and did his best to look serious, "To rescue the Swords of Justice."
"Eh, that is a tough mission," the Sylveon said as he leaned back, "Tell me, have you located the gates to Hell yet?"
"Peter!" the Emolga shouted, "That is no way to-"
"What, tell the truth," the Sylveon said as he rolled his eyes at the Emolga, "Listen, kid, there ain't no way the Swords of Justice are alive. The Wyvern Empire wouldn't risk keeping them."
"But they are alive!" Keldeo retorted, raising his voice, "I would know otherwise!"
"And how would you know that?" the Sylveon asked dismissively.
"Because I am a Sword of Justice!" Keldeo declared, his horn briefly lighting up. The other two Pokemon were briefly stunned, and he wasn't quite done, "I would have felt my fellow Swords' deaths, and I haven't."
"Okay, okay," the Sylveon said, quickly regaining his composure, "Sure kid, maybe they're still alive. Any idea on where they are?"
"Well, no," Keldeo admitted, "but I know someone who might know. We just have to go see her first."
The Sylveon raised a brow, "Really, who?"
Keldeo took a deep breath, "Xatu, more specifically the Xatu that is the current oracle of the Xatu clan."
"The Xatu clan is notoriously stingy with any future premonitions," the Emolga warned, looking concerned.
"Not to mention isolated and hard to find," the Sylveon added, "What makes you think they'll help you?"
"They owe us a favor," Keldeo said with confidence, "Besides, they have no love for the Wyvern Empire."
The Emolga and Sylveon shared a look between themselves, "Okay, so," the Sylveon began, "Let me get this right, you want us to travel to the Air continent, find the Xatu tribe, hope they honor whatever favor you say you have with them, hope they can tell us where the Swords of Justice are being held assuming they're still alive, and then somehow rescue them from what will most likely be a heavily fortified castle deep within the Wyvern Empire."
Keldeo shifted a bit, "Well, yes, I guess." He looked at each, the Sylveon giving a slight grin despite himself while the Emolga suddenly looked a little worried.
"Hmm," the Sylveon said as he tapped one of his ribbons to his chin, pondering on the proposed plan, "Going deep into a hostile nation to spring some legendary Pokes from captivity, that is the stuff legends are made of."
"Now, let's think about this plan," the Emolga said, "The Wyvern Empire is...not the best place to be-"
"That's exactly what we need," a glint of excitement sparking in the Sylveon's eyes, "That'd show them. Sparks, we'd be heroes, famed and respected. We'd be sung about for generations. This would make that sort of impact."
A look of concern flashed across the Emolga's face, "Peter, didn't you yourself say seeking those types of accolades are self-serving and defeat the point of being a Rescue team? To be there to help?"
"And that's exactly what we're going to do!" The Sylveon exclaimed, leaning forward in his chair, "Alright kid, Team Knightfall formally accepts your rescue request."
Keldeo breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you."
"Heh, thank us when the job is done," the Sylveon said with a wink.
Keldeo leaned back in his chair and relaxed, "So, when do we leave?"
There was a pause, "I'm, what do you mean when do we leave?" the Sylveon asked.
"Surely you do not intend to come with us." the Emolga said, alarmed, "You're far too young to go on a dangerous mission like this."
"Plus we don't do escorts." the Sylveon grumbled.
Keldeo huffed, "I'll have you know I'm sixteen," it was a lie, but a small one. What difference did a few months make anyway, "and, lest you forget, I was trained to be a Sword of Justice. If anything, I'd be escorting you."
The Sylveon gave a dismissive laugh, "Listen kid, I'm sure the Swords taught you well, but this mission will involve not only fighting, but espionage. We'll be doing a lot of sneaking around, being undercover, and not sticking out like a sore thumb."
"Plus I doubt the Swords would want us to put their pupil in undue danger," the Emolga said, "Really, just leave it to us."
"No," Keldeo insisted, shaking his head, "I have to come. How else will the Xatu clan help you?"
Both Rescuers paused, considering his statement. Eventually, the Sylveon seemed to settle on something, "Alright, change in plans then. You'll accompany us to the Xatu clan, but you're going to stay there. Then we'll go on and rescue the Swords. Deal?"
Keldeo furrowed his brows in thought. This seemed like the only way to get them to agree to take him on the job, and he needed the help. He still didn't like that they planned to ditch him later, but that could be dealt with when it came up. After all, it would be a long journey with plenty of opportunities to prove his worth. "Alright then," he said with a nod, "Deal."
