(((Don't steal my crap, Nintendo.)))

Chapter 7
The Master Plan

A sharp eye twitched beneath a maroon length of Tyfun's glamorously colored crest in agitation as the large brute before him extended a talon to seize yet another apple, his fourth one. Three days worth of rations…half of it gone in mere minutes. The scouts peered down from their roosts high above, gazing sadly at the dwindling supplies as they disappeared amidst the black, blue fire-lit jaws of Tyffany's new pet. They decided to use 'pet' in this instance, for it was plain to them how their pompous sub-leader treated the raven-black stranger; running about him like a giddy girl with a new pony.

That was only half of Tyfun's irritation. He really could not see why the high-classed Pelipper would fawn over this ragged mutt of a Pokemon, probably disease-ridden with that dark color, as opposed to his spotless, well groomed, sleek and flashy self. The thing couldn't even fly -she was grooming him no less!-, yet here was the beast, devouring mouthful after mouthful of the various assortment of fruits like a ravenous Mightyena at a feeding frenzy. His deliberate disrespect to the mistress angered Tyfun even more, when he started shifting around this way and that to allow Tyffany to groom those hard to reach places. Just watching her sift her beak delightedly into the dark feathers, with the dirty scoundrel himself paying no regard to the tedious work was putting him on the edge. His feathers flared as the black bird half-heartedly tossed an apple core to his feet and sighed. It took him three weeks to get the floor spotless to Tyfanny's liking.

" Awww…is Garudababy fully-wully? " she cooed, glancing lovingly at the satisfied avian, who gave a loud, fruity belch in reply. That was end of Tyfun's fuse.

"AWAY, MADAM!" he screamed, launching his marvelous form to the air marvelously with those marvelous wings of his. He marvelously tried to keep his voice marvelously mild as he added, quite marvelously, "Zis scoundrel 'as been a nooweesance tu yu, 'azen't 'e? I vwill zee tu it'z destruction at wunz!"

The presence of a screaming Pidgeotto hovering about him didn't seem to faze the Blaziken in the slightest. It really was no different from a Pidgeotto sitting there just boringly, although, even he had to admit, he did look more marvelous that way. He turned flat eyes to the crooning waterfowl beside him. " Who's the hothead with the dorky accent? " he asked in Poketalk.

"Aksent?" he screeched, trying to keep aloft. "Dorkee? I 'ave you know, délinquant, zat zis eez ze languwage zat unly ze chosen an mowst intelligent of ze Pukemon can lern, speek, an understand!"

Before he could tell the Pokemon off further, there he was, all six feet of him easily reaching level with the airborne bird, leering just inches from his face with a glare that promised sapphire death to all that dared to gaze back. Only Tyfun dared to, for he was as ignorant and indignant as the raven black Blaziken he so hated.

"I know. It's called English," he replied sardonically, reverting back in the sensible-sounding speech he was more comfortable with, though it sounded a bit odd with a Blaziken's screeching voice. "Though yours is far from what I'd call normal. You probably should think about relearning it…sound like you got a retard for a teacher." He tossed his head back and laughed loudly.

Tyfun couldn't help himself. Before he knew it, he had both talons raised, ready to rend that hidden smirk off the chicken's face, even though he was well aware Ra was watching him the whole time. Beak still opened, he could see a flash of blue swirling at the back of the black Blaziken's mouth, threatening to expel itself as soon as claws came down on him. He wasn't about to back down, and very nearly did so when Tyffany quickly launched her form in between the two males. She faced the Blaziken, a coy smile on her face.

" Oh, Garuda-baby, don't worry about Tyfun. He's a silly, silly boy who doesn't take to comments well. You shouldn't hurt his feelings like that. "

"What! I 'ave yu know madame my feeleengs wer-OOF!" the sentence was cut short by a powerful force somewhere in his gut. No wonder…Tyffany's foot was stuck up it.

The fire died down in his mouth, and Ra tossed a head to the side, studying the pelican with one blue eye and muttered, "Whatever…"

" Very good! " she gushed. "Now, you just make yourself cozy right there, okay, while Tyffy takes care of that mean ol' Tyfun, kay? Oh! And look out for junior, please?" She deposited the egg, which had been sitting inside her mouth pouch for quite a while now, into his claws, amid a puddle of stringy, salty saliva. A faint shrug, and she flew out the rock entrance, tailed close behind by Tyfun, leaving behind a slightly disgusted Ra in the dark, clinging to a wet egg that was probably just as disgusted after swimming in a pool of spit.

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" You nearly blew it, you big oaf! "

"OW!" Tyfun raised his wings in defense as she struck out again with her wing for the third time. "But, madam, why wud yu want ze assistanse of f zat 'orrid creature? And your fez! 'E deed zat tu yu, deedn't 'e?"

Tyfanny ran a wing over the burnt feathers angrily, plucking one off and flinched in pain. " No, it was a horrid little demon with a human… "

"A 'uuman, yu sey?" he asked surprised. "But nut manee off ze 'uumans travel tu zis part off ze root."

She slapped him again over the head, causing him to squawk out again painfully. " Forget the human! I took us out of there so we can talk about Garuda Ra. "

"Hu!"

" The black flightless one down there. He is insanely powerful! You should have seen the way he toppled those trees earlier with such ease. He's exactly what we need to do Fefnir in! "

"B-b-but 'old on," he stumbled, rubbing his smarting head. "Du yu nut find zis a bit strange? I 'ave never seen a Pukemon like zat een ze forest before. Why eez zer now wun? An how are yu goweeng tu mek 'im agree tu 'elp us? Zat delinquent does nut look like 'ee weel bee takeeng orders frrum just anywun." A deep frown suddenly developed on the Pelipper's face, and he backed away cautiously. "I meen…off corse 'ee vwill leesten tu yu! I-I am just wondereeng 'ow yu managed tu tame such a wild creature! Ze madam eez az gret a fighter az Tyfun, no?"

An iniquitous smile spread from the corners of her mouth. " Not really. He came willingly on his own. I've been with him for just a little while, but I can see he's quite proud of his strength. I simply tell him there's someone else here who's stronger than him, and he'll no doubt take off after him. I believe he'll have little trouble with Fefnir. "

"But 'ee vwill just defeet 'im, no? Vwhat du we du if Fefneer reecoverz?"

" Simple. We make sure he doesn't. "

Tyfun scratched his head, giving Tyffany a rather dubious look. She seemed to be totally confident in this stranger…he was almost uncertain if this Pelipper was the same Tyffany. She shot him a glare, tapping a webbed foot impatiently for his answer. He decided to be tactful in his reply this time. "Yu… seem tu be veree confeedent een zis Ra person. I trust yu, madam, but I also worree about yur sefty. I du nut tink my group of soldiers weel be able to 'andle 'eem should aneeting go wrong..."

" You have no need to be worried," she assured him, glancing at the pale moon as it begun to peak out from the clouds, giving her a sinister edge to her face with its silver rays. "By the time he's done with Fefnir, he'll be as good as gone. "

Tyfun still felt wary, but nodded all the same. He had been following her for quite a while now, and she had yet to let him down. But there was always the chance of things to go wrong… "An Sappeeyus an Scruff?"

Tyffany continued to stare at the moon, sparing a short glance to a Pidgey that suddenly perched upon a jagged ledge a few feet away. One of Tyfun's lackies. " They can't do anything. You know as well as I do Sappius is as good as dead the second a Mithrin sees him- what do you want? "

The small bird bowed deeply, but turned to answer Tyfun instead. " Intruders sighted on the premises, sire! " The larger bird raised an eyebrow, as he often did. The scout went on. " A human, sire, with a fire Pokemon. Sappius is accompanying them. "

The marvelous leader narrowed his eyes and stroked a wingtip against his beak. "So zat scum Sappeeyus eez allying 'eemself wif ze 'uumans, eh?" He turned back to his cohort, wondering what she would make of this. "Madam?"

" …Fetch up Rababy, " she ordered after a brief pause. " Tell him his little task starts now. "

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The lapidarian mammoth that was Plymonth Rock sat peacefully calm amidst nature in the deepest part of the forest. About 10 meters tall, cavernous, and inaccessible to all but flying type Pokemon (and perhaps those that can jump really high or scale sheer rock surfaces), it was the perfect base for General Tyfun's Air Strike Brigade: his own personal army of fifty or so avians. But, as Sappius had explained, while so comfortably taking refuge in Jemilie's arms after a bout of intense screaming in the dark, Tyffany was so disgusted with all the birds and how filthy they made their quarters that she had Tyfun make every single one of them clean it out, and later dismissed all of them, except for a few choice servants.

"Wow…and after doing all that work. Some person this Tyfun guy chose to follow," Jemilie commented dryly, gazing at the black shadow against the ground. Against the moonlight, it had a sort of romantic peace to it, almost pretty…for a rock. But still, it was dark and deathly quiet. At times she thought she could hear a fluttering of wings, but it ended quickly before she could really listen. Hwajeh and Scruff's undisturbed gazes told her that they hadn't heard it either. She kept her gaze on Scruff, studying the way his gold fur shimmered in the silver moonlight and Hwajeh's flickering flame. It looked so ruffled and dirty like a wild dog's fur would, but still it reflected light as if it were just washed and given an extra dose of shine to it. She was beginning to wonder if this Poochyena was actually one of them rare shining types…

"Looks pretty quiet. You sure they live here?"

"Absolootlee!" the Spinda declared proudly.

She glanced up the jagged slopes of Plymonth, noticing a wide gaping hole at the top. Possibly the entrance, which they couldn't possibly climb into. Perhaps Aura can, but then remembered that the bird was still lost. If Tyffany, the one they called that Pelipper, was in there, then she wondered what happened to Aura. Captured maybe? Or lost in the forest? She felt her heart jump a little in concern, but decided not to deal with it now. "The entrance is out of our reach…and its kinda too dark to deal with whatever is inside." She glanced at Hwajeh for a moment, considering.

"Awww…too dark, eh? Allow me to brighten the place for ya."

No sooner than that was said, a brilliant blaze of fire erupted overhead, catching the grass before them, a wall of blue flame quickly forming to block off any means off escape. As if she intended to…she stood her ground, cautiously glancing around as Hwajeh and Scruff backed up to her in surprise. Slowly, the azure fire faded to the usual, hellish red orange and rose higher, like the towering spires of hell's gates, wherein a shadowed figure was slowly emerging like a demon amid the flame. Sappius couldn't help but start screaming, "Eet eez a deemon! Teeffanee 'as called a deemon!"

The less frantic trainer, who knew more than most, narrowed her eyes, meeting with the demon's own sapphire ones. "Demon, my ass…" she growled. An invisible current of energy seemed to sizzle between them, causing the demon's feathers to plume -his usual sign of anger-, and Jemilie to retort, somewhat calmly, "Showing off again, Ra?"

The firebird stepped out of the searing flames, casually brushing away a few embers. His eyes surveyed the small party before him before replying, clearly disappointed, "Oh. It's just you. What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that," Jemilie countered, crossing her arms, giving the bird a studious look. She suspected him to be cross-country by now. What was he doing there?

"I asked you first."

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What's it to you what I'm doing here?"

He seemed to be thoughtful for a second, and sneered. "…Oh, right. I don't care. Thanks for reminding me."

Do we have to go through this routine every time?, she sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well, what are you doing here, then?"

"…Geez, don't pop a nerve, Jem," he muttered. "Playing bodyguard for a certain 'mon. You're in her turf. Sent me to kill whatever it was there." He said it so casually. For most, it would've been just so-so information; a joke even. For others, like themselves, who were actually tresspassing in said turf, it would've been a warning to hightail it out of there as swiftly as possible. Instead, it surprised Jemilie so much that she burst out laughing, to the great surprise of her cohorts, and to the greater annoyance of her former ally. "What's so funny? I'm really pretty serious with my work." His fists started to spark.

She calmed down abruptly, a look of anger crossing her features. "Oh, don't kid me, you hypocritical bastard!" was what she planned to say. But she foresaw a long and lengthy argument to be born from those choice words, and possibly some physical contact thrown in. Instead, she held back, glancing at Sappius and Scruff momentarily, and figured out a way to get to their target without going through the strain of conjuring an intricate plan to nab them at their stronghold. "Boss, huh?" she stated curiously. "I'd really like to meet this boss of yours. This…boss that can get even the Great Garuda Ra to do her favors."

The bird returned the look of anger, beak firmly clasped with intent not to abide to her wish. "Weak. If you're trying to spite me, it isn't working." Nevertheless, he turned his head towards the darkened plains, releasing a loud crow into the night, forcing it sailing beyond the fiery barrier to the awaiting ears beyond. They listened to it echo out into oblivion, before being replaced by an answering screech, and the heavy beating of wings. Many wings, by the sound of it. Shadows flashed against the bright orb in the sky, features illuminated briefly in the flickering firelight as they came and passed in an instant. Two of the largest hovered overhead, and slowly touched down in the spacious circle.

It was then a curious event happened, when eye met eye of different parties. Gasps where made, eyes widened; paws, fingers, feathers, claws raised in astonishment at each other offending member, and a cry burned out in unison: "IT'S YOU!"

Jemilie had her eyes locked onto the beady black ones of the thieving bird. Hwajeh growled menacingly at her foot, not as pleased to see the bird again as his trainer. "Well, well. We meet again. I'm sure you remember Hwajeh," she greeted haughtily, patting the fire lizard. Tyfanny hissed a reply, relinquishing a short stream of water aimed at the Charmander's tail flame just as he lashed it sideways out of anger and missed.

Sappius and the Pidgeotto seemed to have known one another as well, both exchanging glares and heated words.

"So…vwe meet again, yu scum," the bird growled in the air above the Spinda, in that strange, oddly English accented voice, the same as Sappius', only more screechy and deeper.

Sappius folded his front paws, anger and disgust mashed together in a stuck-out frown. Even his mustache seemed to coil tighter with his anger, but apart from that, it had not accomplished twisting the Spinda's fine features from its usual calm. Fascinating, Jemilie thought while watching, how he can make himself look both angry and easy at the same time. "Yu are wun tu tuk, Tyfun!" he was saying. "Allyeeng wit a deemon! Yu shame ze name off Von Deu!"

"Eez eet reelee I, Sappeeyus, zat 'as shamed ze name?" Tyfun scoffed. "I wuz nut ze wun hu ran wen ze Mithiran 'ere comeeng. I wuz nut ze wun hu beetrayed our teem an run away wif ze Scruff! Eet wuz yu, yu coward!" He flew in closer and practically spat out the word. "SCUM!"

That was probably a bad move on Tyfun's part, for Sappius looked angrier now than ever. His growled loudly, lips raised to show off his impressive set of dentures, pearly white and razor sharp. Wiping off the spittle left behind by the bird's insult, he struck back with his own, screaming loudly now. "ESTOP CALLEENG MEE SCUM! I am no worse zan u, hu wud keel ze week an eenosent az soon az yu get ze chanse!" His chest was heaving heavily in the effort he put into screaming. Tyfun only gave an innocent look.

"I du nut know wut yu are talking about!"

"Du nut play dum!" Sappius yelled again, pointing a claw accusingly at him. . "I 'eared yu an Teefanee! Yu nut onlee wanted tu keel Fefnir, but Scruff az well!" He took another deep breath. . "Yu wud betray yur ally az sun az yu got wat yu wanted! ZAT EEZ WUT A SCUM EEZ!"

A powerful silence overcame the group, save the crackling of the burning grass as it rose to ashes and Sappius' hard breathing. Tyfun did not give a reply this time; only a sharp-eyed look and what seemed to be a malicious smirk. No one made any attempt to reply as well. It was the puppy Scruff who finally broke the spellbinding with a loud gasp of shock, staring wide-eyed at his protector. Every word said, he understood it, and yet he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Mystified, he trotted slowly toward him with uneasy steps, growling with short, low barks and the occasional whimper. Sappius' earlier indignation quickly faded in the puppy's presence, replaced with a guilty look as he listened to the dog. The human, not understanding a word of the situation, turned to the Blaziken for enlightenment. She could see his gaze already set on her, looking just as puzzled as she was.

"Vweelll…" Sappius started his explanation. "I du nut know how tu tell yuu zis, Scuff. But I suppose yu need tu know-"

" That the world'll be better without you, " interjected the water foul, suddenly cutting across the Pokemon towards the dog. She was at least twice as big as the pup, and even more imposing as her shadows wavered about him, casting him in darkness. He scampered back fearfully, fur ruffling, looking obviously terrified yet still trying to keep a brave front. He sunk low and released warning growls to stop the Pelipper's advance, to no avail. The bird continued to strut calmly forward, bumping the Poochyena back with her beak as she did, sending him rolling back. Another bump, and Scruff was rolling straight into the flames.

"Monsieur Scruff!" He cried out horrified, and would've moves after him if Jemilie hadn't suddenly stepped into the way. He looked up at her in surprise, preparing to fight his way through her if he had to. Friend or foe, he wasn't going to allow the puppy to get hurt.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," she stated calmly without looking, without moving. "You should be more worried about them instead."

"Vwa…vwah du yu meen?" he asked, confused. A small claw tugged at his arm before he got a chance to think. Turning to Hwajeh, he followed the Charmander's other arm as it pointed upwards at the overhanging branches above them, and the many small figures lying in wait in the shadows.

Pidgeys, Sappius realized. Tyfun's army. A great deal more than what he had earlier believed. And Tyfun himself among them, sitting like a king within his flock, all their pointy eyes locked upon the small group. There was no escaping here. The color seemed to drain from the Spinda's fur, and he turned alarmed back at Scruff's situation. Tyffany had just given him another whack of her large beak and he went headlong into the wall of fire. "Nuuu, Scruff!"

"Don't worry," Jemilie repeated, her eyes remained fixated at something ahead of them. She watched the dark shadow move swiftly across the circle from its place, quick to stand between the small body and the fire. Scruff ran into it and stopped just short of the licking tongues of flame. Tyffany halted as well, staring upward in surprise of the new presence, but relaxed when she realized it was only her hired help. But still, the glare of a frowning Blaziken was not something to be taken lightly, and she spoke lightly.

" Rababy…what are you doing? " Her eyes studied him with mild interest, as he made no attempt to move.

He glowered back, lifting a talon slightly and nudging the puppy forward, sending him speeding off past the waterfowl. She did not make an attempt to stop him, here eyes still locked with the larger avian's. "I agreed to be your bodyguard to protect you," he muttered. "I didn't agree to help you murder kids, babe."

Jemilie didn't need to hear that statement. She knew Ra well enough to know that he did not tolerate any sort of killing if he could help it. And he wasn't complacent enough to agree to offer help to just anyone, leading her to believe that there was something in this particular Pelipper that was strong enough to rouse his interests. She wasn't thinking it would be –those- interests until she heard 'Babe', and started to wonder. Then she began to wonder if this bird was a bit smarter than what she was giving her credit for, or simply just a marvelous actor. Most any Pokemon would've been terrified the way Ra was looking at her now, Jemilie included, for perfectly reasonable reasons. He has a tendency to be vicious when he could; he'd lash out if you so much as irk him. Very short-tempered, and it didn't matter whom he hurt…to a degree. And yet, the bird was situated so calmly in the shadow of the beast, like she truly believed he wouldn't dare do anything against her. Maybe…who knows?

Well, she must really be confident, then, shaking her head and sighing lightly, looking exasperated, as if the Blaziken did something foolish. Garuda Ra hated being made a fool.

" My dear, you don't understand, " she said calmly. " I do need you as a bodyguard, and it -will- require you to kill something. Something far more vicious and deadlier than this mere puppy. " She turned, pointing a wingtip at the quivering bundle of fur within Sappiues' arms. " But this one will soon grow up to be the terror I speak of. It has to die...

The Spinda was glaring back at her, gathering his pup closer against him as he growled, through clenched teeth, "Nu, he vwill nut. 'e doez nut need tu die."

" Sappius…it was your idea to kidnap the mutt in the first place! " Tyffany clamped her beak firm in the bird sign of impatience.

"Yez…but nut ze way u planned eet! I…I waz planneeng tu train Scruff…so zat 'e might be able to defeet ze Fefnir someday…"

A round of robust laughter exploded amongst Tyfun's flock hanging above, Tyfun's the loudest, followed by several jeers and offending taunts that Jemilie could only hear as bird hoots and squawks, sarcastic sounding and somehow insulting in their tone. Tyfun more or less made it clearer when he added his own stinging comment: "Yu fool! Yu cannot even sleep at night wizout ze cryeeng and ze wetteeng off ze bed! An yu eentend tu train zis leetle maggot!" He hooted again, while Sappius turned away, hugging the dog tighter.

He looked positively forlorn and piteous…it was hard for Jemilie not to feel a little sorry for him. But she really didn't have the slightest idea on what was going about. Though she can vaguely discern Sappius' and Tyfun's words, everyone else was speaking in gibberish she had no way of understanding. But lucky for her, she had a trusty translator conveniently nearby. She walked over to the black bird, watching the fray silently from his spot. Though he didn't turn his head, his eyes lowered with her approach, locking on to her form until she stood just inches from him. She leaned up close and whispered, "Care to enlighten me on their little situation?"

He closed his eyes, shaking his head with a shrug. "I don't understand stupid."

--To be continued--

((Again with the two-chapter lengthiness))