Chapter 4: The Trial of Conflicts

            When Ho-oh finally arrived, the trial began, the sentencing of Giovanni the current guardian of conflict.  Ho-oh spoke first saying, 'Giovanni Rocket, leader of Team Rocket, guardian of conflict, you have been found guilty of trying to steal pokemon and of allying yourself with the vampire Kain.  I vote to remove his powers and strip him of his title as conflict guardian.'  Then Gengar said, 'I agree with Ho-oh on this, however you have tried again and again to capture pokemon who have already been tamed, and you had voluntarily become a vampire for a temporary amount of time.  The prophecy grows closer by the day.  I suspect that there is only about one week left before it comes to pass, maybe sooner though.  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian.'  Then it was Mew/Two's turn to speak, 'We agree with the Gengar and Ho-oh that you should be removed of your powers.  But how we decide is what will decide how we hall remove your powers and title.  The day of the prophecy shall not come true if you help us and prove your worth to us.  We vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian.'  Then it was Celebi's turn to speak, 'I have seen the possible future and if you betray us the prophecy shall come to pass and all but three shall perish of the ten of us.  Though the Vampire Wraith is not a guardian, he is still an essential role in the prophecy.  The same as you once were until we decided to hold this meeting to remove you of your powers.  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian.'  Ash then stepped up and said, "I say we should remove him of his powers and title, not only because he doesn't deserve the right to them, but also because of all the harm he has done to others during his rein in Team Rocket.  He has sent his lackeys after us again and again, yet we still manage to beat them one way or another.  I say when this trial is over we remove all information about us from his mind, so he can't threaten our families or us.  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian."  Ash stepped down and Brock came up and said, "I agree with Ash and I say he is a coward, because he doesn't have any strong pokemon of his own and he rules be intimidation and fear.  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian."  Brock stepped down and Misty said, "You are such an imbecile!  You can't let anybody live a peaceful life, sure there's some problems along the way.  But you are the definition of a coward, imbecile, jerk, and an all out creep!  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian!"  Misty stepped down and she noticed that everyone was a little further away than they were before.  She then motioned for Duplica to take the stand and say something.  Mew/Two said, 'That girl is at out right dangerous, when she is mad, she would be the perfect candidate for conflict guardian if she were not already a guardian!  I say we let the imitator speak her mind about whether this going to be unanimous or not.'  Duplica then stepped up and said, "Your lackeys nearly destroy my home of imitation!  If it weren't for there help my home would probably be destroyed!  I vote to remove him of his powers and title as conflict guardian!"  Then Mew/Two said, 'It is the decision of this council that you have been stripped of your powers and title and they are to be placed onto Shadow the Light Pokemon.  You will also have all memory of this erased from your mind, as for your precious Team Rocket, you will be placed back among their ranks and you will do as your told by their new leader.  Now that this meeting is adjourned, we suggest that we follow through on our actions.'  They did just that as well, they each started chanting the removal incantation and the replacement incantation as well.  When it was done Giovanni's powers and title were taken and given to Shadow the Light Pokemon.  Then Mew/Two erased his memories and put him in a trance and teleported him to his base.  Then they began planning for the prophecy to make sure it would not come true, but if it did that they would be prepared for it.

            Elsewhere Kain was growing impatient for his ultimate takeover.  He then decided that perhaps he should start the prophecy early.  He ordered through what was called a vid-screen saying, "Our day of reckoning as come at last!  Go forth my minions and do my bidding!  Go to the homes of legendary creatures and attack them!  Destroy their homes; force them out into the opening!  My empire shall be rebuilt within this world!  Do not kill any of the guardians, legendaries, or a strange one bring them before my throne!  This world's apocalypse as begun, and when it is finished we shall rule the lands!"  With that final statement Kain unleashed his armies upon the world, to destroy everything and everyone who opposed his rule.  He gathered his most trusted Generals and said, "There are several large cities, leave them be for now.  I want you to attack only, towns, villages, and so forth.  Do not attack the cities or I will kill you myself.  General Zain, attack the town called Lavender.  General Giovanni, attack the town called Azalea.  General Garrack, attack the village called Eevee.  General Adrian attack the village called Fire.  General Garren, attack the village called Lavender.  These five villages are to be attacked and taken over not burned to the ground, remember this worlds apocalypse starts today."  Kain then dismissed his Generals with their orders as he sat back and thought of the events that could happen if he failed in conquering the world.  He also thought of the events that had brought him to where he currently was.  Then he felt the pain of evolution creeping up on him.  He sat back and let it take him over, as he activated the doors, windows and vents to be locked tight.  Where not even in the spectral realm anyone could get in.  He was evolving, into what he didn't know, but he was sure it was going to be powerful.

            Meanwhile General Garren, aka Gary Oak, was leading his small army towards the village of Lavender.  He couldn't help but feel pity on those who would withstand his master's rule.  He was after all his first true vampiric lieutenant; his master had used his magic's to evolve him and a couple of others all the way to his last lieutenants.  All except him of course as he had gone all the way to his former first lieutenants evolution.  Except he didn't grow wings, he grew thick armored skin, with horns protruding from his head, arms, elbows, wrists, legs, knees, and tail.  He had grown a tail in the process of his evolution.  He was one of the most feared vampires in his master's entire army.  He even retained his human memories, as he marched towards the village of Lavender.  He then said, "Lieutenant, send a scout ahead and check for traps, villagers, and pokemon."  "Yes sir, you go up there and check the area out and remain there until we are finished!" said the Lieutenant.  Garren moved his troops closer to the town and then a vague memory came to him, the memory of how he became a vampire in the first place.  *Flashback* Gary was battling Team Rocket and won as agreed he got their money.  But then another Team Rocket member came up and said, "I challenge you to a battle boy!  Lets see how you do against an elite Rocket Member.  It will be a two on two battle, I choose Meganasaur!  Vine Whip now!"  Gary hadn't even had time to call out his pokemon when the pokemon's vines wrapped around him.  He was taken into their base and put in an odd shaped room.  He guessed that this is where the boss worked, when the chair turned around Gary was scared for his life.  Kain the vampire master was sitting in the boss's chair and he said, "So I understand you know an Ashura A. Ketchum.  Tell me what do you know about him and I might let you live or I might give you the option of joining my elite."  Gary told him everything he knew, plus the rumors about Ash and his friends as well.  Gary was not to be released and live at the same time, so he was taken to the dungeon and executed a day later.  Then he awoke to a cup being placed by his lips as he soon realized it was blood.  He drank the blood, as it seemed to restore his strength.  He learned to fight right away and was skilled to begin with.  Days later after he completed a day of training Kain used his magic's on him to evolve him.  It worked as his skin began to turn a dark grayish.  His hands turned into claws, as the same with his feet.  His fangs grew out a little, as his eyes seemed to pick up a bluish tint to them when they glowed.  His hair grew out, as he now held tight to his back in a ponytail.  During this process he grew a tail.  Then his height grew to that above Kain, by several feet.  His ears became pointed and he eventually grew immunity to sunlight again, then water he found out later when he was taking the plumbing out of his quarters.  Then he finally grew the horns, they sprouted out to the sides and then turned upward a bit, then forward.  The horns or rather spikes grew out of his shoulder blades, then his elbows, wrists, and finally a couple of semi-small ones on his arms.  They then grew out of his knees, legs, and a couple of small ones on his ankles.  When Kain finally saw him after he came out of his evolution he saw his master gasp, as he saw something closely resembling a Hylden.  But not quite, I hadn't the wings, or knowledge to be a Hylden.  He could certainly pass of as a normal looking demon.  He then had his name changed to Garren.  He later became known as Garren the tormentor.  He had spent days getting used to his new form.  Then Kain had called him to a meeting with the other generals, he then explained that it was time to take the world under his empire.  He had one law and that was not to evolve before him.  *End Flashback* Garren had finally arrived at the village of Lavender.  He saw a tower that would be perfect to use as his base of operations.  He told his lieutenant to take the army into the village and start the take over.  He went to the tower and saw a sign saying, the Tower of Spirits, stay out!  It was signed, The Spirits of the Tower.  He smirked and thought, `Spirits of the Tower…ah the ghost pokemon that provide haven for the wandering spirits.  I'll be sure to make more spirits welcome here. `  He entered the tower and saw that it was larger than it looked.  He then sensed strange powers coming from the top of the tower.  He smirked as he began to go up the stairs towards the strange energies he was sensing.

            Raziel was going over the plan in his mind when he sensed a presence similar to his brother Dumah.  It was huge, fierce, and powerful in physical strength and magic's.  He had abilities he had not yet sensed.  When he learned the presence was in the tower he said, "Quickly spirit, tell me are there any creatures in this tower that might harm the living in the spectral realm?  If not then gather around me humans and I will take you to safety, in the spectral realm."  Then the Gengar disappeared and reappeared and said, 'There is nothing harmful in the spectral realm; the ghost pokemon there will protect them from harm.  Quickly the presence is coming to the top of the tower quickly.'  Raziel had the humans and legendary pokemon that could not disappear at will take hold of him and he disappeared into the spectral realm.  The humans and pokemon who went with him let go and moved aside so Raziel could reappear in the material realm.  When he did reappear the beast was just making his way up to that floor.  When the creature entered a huge room he said, "Ah so you are the one the master wants.  Well I am Garren, first true born of Master Kain's generals and his first true born son in this world."  Raziel replied, "Ah so that murderer created more vampire lieutenants, which he calls in this realm generals.  I see you resemble a cross between a demon and a Hylden.  Interesting, what other hidden powers do you posses?  All of my brothers except for one were slain by my hand.  I reaved their vampiric souls and took their power and abilities.  One place there is that you cannot harm me.  You would be a welcome edition to Nosgoth's vampire collection.  Remember as soon as I get a hold of Kain, I will return to every world he has created vampires and wipe them out.  Now shall we get this battle started or will I just slay you now?"  With that comment Garren attacked Raziel, and shot acid from his mouth.  It hi Raziel's clan clothe and dissolved it into nothing but particles of dust.  Raziel was now furious, as he was now fully exposed as to what he really looked like.  Raziel summoned forth the Soul Reaver, while in his disguise.  He immediately switched to his Reaver of Souls form.  Then Raziel sneered at Garren, "Now you will know the wraith that my brethren felt when I slew them!  You will join the rest of Kain's scourge in the abyss!"  With that said, Garren released another spray of acid, which only fazed Raziel, but did no serious damage.  Raziel shot a force projectile at Garren and hit him head on, as he laughed at Raziel's pitiful attempt to harm him.  Then he grabbed a torch and threw it onto the floor in front of Raziel, and prepared to blow his acid into the fire, thus landing on Raziel.  But Raziel stuck the Soul Reaver into the flames and drained the fire into the Soul Reaver, thus creating the Fire Reaver.  Raziel mentally smiled as he sent another force projectile at Garren, this time it had the affect of the Fire Reaver in it.  The blast hit Garren and left a scorch mark on his chest.  He sneered at Raziel and threw his claw at him smacking Raziel in the chest.  Thus deactivating the reaver in his Reaver of Souls form, so he switched into the Guardian of Souls form and slashed Garren in the face.  He then started sucking in his energy as it replenished his strength.  But Garren quickly took a swing at Raziel causing him to stop.  Raziel then called forth the Reaver on this form and he immediately felt it draining him, so he let his other half take over.  Under the control of his other half Raziel did a series of strikes and shots on Garren and would absorb his energy in between hits.  Then he had enough energy to go back to his Reaver of Souls form and take him out for good.  Garren was obviously exhausted, but then he shot up and roared so loud that it paralyzed Raziel where he stood.  Then Garren smiled and said, "Do you like that technique Raziel?  It is my paralyzing scream, that will paralyze anything that hears it."  Then he trudged forward and then a blast came from Raziel as he switched back into his Guardian of Souls form.  He summoned every last batch of his Guardian of Souls power and forced it into a force projectile.  He then launched it right into Garren's face.  He howled in pain and turned around and there was Ash Ketchum.  "Ketchum!  You will be my prisoner Ketchum!" roared Garren.  Then as he launched himself at Ash, he disappeared and reappeared behind Raziel and helped him up and gave him enough energy to switch forms.  "How did you do that, boy?" asked Raziel.  Ash replied, "It's the same thing you do when you go into the spectral realm.  I saw you do it a few times and mastered the technique, by watching you carefully and listening carefully."  Then a roar of anger went up and shook the towers very foundation.  Garren turned around and there was Ketchum and Raziel.  He charged them and ash disappeared again, but he still kept charging at Raziel.  Who grabbed a torch and charged Garren as well.  When they were right on top of each other Raziel struck, but was also struck.  When they reached they each reached the other side of the room they started at, Raziel fell down to one knee.  While Garren smiled and said, "Well it seems I was defeated by you after all.  Being stabbed through the heart by a wooden stake, while it was lit…" That's when Garren's body hit the floor and burned to the core.  Even if the stake was removed the body wouldn't reanimate.  His soul sprung free of his body and hovered there until it shot straight into Raziel.  Then the Eldress' voice echoed through the room, 'By devouring Garren's soul you have been given the ability to paralyze your enemies when you let loose a loud howl.  A gift for trying to protect his soul, your lower jaw will be brought back, as will your shroud.  Be warned though, Kain's armies have begun their conquest of this world.  To find his next general go to the town of Lavender and his intensions will become clear, until then protect the souls of innocents in the village of Lavender by getting rid of the vampire scourge there.'