The Dragon Homeland

He drew his sword high above his head and brought it down with almost inhuman speed slaying yet another Warui. The disgusting creatures had surrounded him and his fleet as they had attempted to reach the Temple and Karada. The Warui had ambushed the remains of the Owari army with the intent to destroy all obstacles in their path to glory.

These wretched spawn of Ryuin were dark creatures born from sins and shadows, they fed of off all the negatives in the lands and fueled their twisted leader into crimes no one thought capable. Grey and mutated the simple-minded Pokemon attacked without conscious thought as they ripped through his men. Long decayed yet strong claws tore at his ride; the Rapidash threw him to the ground and blazed into spawned evil. He watched as his prized Pokemon fought valiantly, spitting searing fire and bucking wildly as the Warui brought its armored tail upon the vulnerable Rapidash. The blood stained horse stood no chance as it was trampled into the ground by any surrounding Warui.

It'd been like this for the past six months. He'd seen his friends, family, partners and Pokemon crushed as Ryuin tore forward with his armies and insane motives. The magnificent sword his held with a trembling grip bore the motto of his homeland; "Ride to Death". Ryuin was now trying to take his homeland of Owari, the last free region of Tatsu and he'd be damned if he'd let that happen!

"Rally to me! Rally to me!" He called of what remained of his fleet; the men and women quickly surrounded him panting with adrenaline as the battle raged on around them. "We attack the darkest spawn! The rest will fall!"

Without any hesitation the small group of Tatsuians positioned themselves in their usual battle stance. Swords drawn backs straight, flags flying. However this time, for the famed 'Blazing Dragons' the outcome looked bleak. Outnumbered by nearly ten-to-one they charged forward ready to give their lives to protect their home.

Arrows flying from both sides expertly picked off the strong and weak, as the Rapidash mounted warriors rained down upon the Warui. With ultimately trained speed the Blazing Dragons pounced form spawn to spawn skewering the abominations of nature with precise slashes and thrusts of the sword. The battle had to be won! If Owari fell then the entire Tatsu population would succumb to the intense power of this Legendary and the army it had created.

Master Kravos, their Leader, King and Dragon Master had to be kept safe. The Karada System must not fall into Ryuin's clutches! It Mustn't!

However all things seeming futile they had won. For now…

Banners flapped in the gentle breeze as several Pidgey fluttered past to land on the flagpoles supporting them. They peered down at the scene with mild curiosity, humans sure were strange.

The Indigo Plateau was alive with activity as trainers, contest-goers, office workers, breeders and other such people scurried around lost in their own little worlds. The Pidgey took flight once again; this time of the year was always the best for scavenging at leftovers. Not only were humans strange but they were also very wasteful, leaving perfectly good food just lying around untended or forgotten.

A single relatively small Pidgey was knocked off course by an unexpected updraft and carried from the group to a window situated well above the mess of people below. Smack! The poor bird crashed into the closed window and teetered dangerously at the edge of the ledge.

((Oh dear!)) the Pokemon jumped to it's senses. What was that voice just then? Was it Psychic? ((Poor thing, here let me help you.)) Just as the tiny bird was flitting around with worried 'coos' the window opened slightly.

A man in a crisp suit and tie reached out his hand to the Pokemon Who're you

The young man chuckled and his eyes glowed with a gentle purple hue as he spoke again ((I'm William Ira Morag. Are you hurt?))

The small bird ruffled his feathers No The man chuckled again.

((What ever were you up to, didn't you see the safety smudge?)) He turned back into the room as a small pink Pokemon came floated in. God! Mew! No that wasn't, can't be right! The Pidgey watched curiously as the Mew hovered near Will and gave him a black eye-mask. The purpled haired man accepted it gratefully and saunted towards the door, Mew in tow.

Without even touching it, the door handle turned, clicked and opened. He the tilted his head back toward the bird on the ledge and smiled again, ((You take care then.)) And he was gone, down the hall.

The room were those gathered together, Pokemon and Humans alike, sat in a respectful silence as the man stood up to address the council. This young man, who had the most respected trainers of the world waiting patiently on his words, had chin length white bangs and hair swept back into a

loose ponytail almost touching the circular platform he stood upon. His confident posture suggested he was at ease with the multiple eyes of people who could easily snap him like a twig in battle watching him with interest, however his green eyes gave away his calm composure. Dilated and shaking. He was sure he would stutter or scratch at his scar and he certainly didn't want to offend the others in the room if he wanted to get away with his mind still intact.

He bowed slightly. "On my honour as a Bonded, I will lay down my," he then gestured to the Pichu, Bulbasaur and Vulpix at his feet with his hand "and my Pokemon's lives, for the League and the greater good…" With his head still bowed he began to sweat. What was the next line again? The blue freckled egg he held to his side wiggled in his grip.

((Whether my own judgements favor or rival what is ordered of me.)) A tiny Psychic voice ringed in his head.

Relieved, he continued his oath "Whether my own judgements favor or rival what is ordered of me." Rising to his full height one again he sent his helper this thanks through his mind.

Resisting the nearly over powering urge to scratch at the scar on his face he watched as the man with purple hair, crisp suit and small black eye mask rises from his seat at the head table.

The Head Table itself was situated high above the lonely podium were countless trainers knowing far too much for their own good had pleaded for their sanity to the exact same people now holding this initiation process. The five people sat in shadows, even though everyone who hadn't been living under a rock knew these remarkable people. The Elite Four and Supreme Fifth. But only the handful of people in the room at the present knew them for who they really were. And what they were capable of.

To be fair the rumours were running a little wild, but celebrities and rumours walk hand in hand. You either believed the stories flying around or didn't. It was that simple.

Rumours aside the general public knew their fair share about each Master. The young man with the mask that had just stood was the first Elite. William Ira Morag. At the age of nineteen he had blown up to the rank he now, four years later, still resided in. Specialising in the Psychic Pokemon he wielded, mysterious stories were told of him controlling people through hypnotism. He seems harmless enough at first glance though. 'Believe or don't believe' as it goes.

Next along in Rank was Tea Stoma Flank. A stern man ripe out of the army and like all would have you believe he did use Electric Pokemon. Most arguably among the other Masters he was also the most sinfully boring person in the world. Silent, strong, smart, an amazing strategist yet a complete bore when in company. Being the newest member or the Order and constantly under the eye of others, he is the most talked about among trainers around the Pokemon world. His age of thirty-four has raised eyebrows of why he suddenly decided to pull his talent from the military to be accepted within the Master Order.

The white-headed teen tuned his thoughts to the next Elite. A sporty blonde girl mastering the Water type. A young girl with only eight years of training under her belt had risen to seat as Elite third. People couldn't stomach it. Many older and more experienced trainers had fallen at the mind crushing power of Morag and his talent. How could a girl with such little experience do it? Well as Abby Vikki Aquan would tell them: "It's not about how long you have been training. But how much you trust and give your heart to your friends that fight for you." Fair? Maybe. True? Not always.

Now, the second in command should something, God forbid, happen to incapacitate the Supreme Fifth, is twenty-nine year-old Karen Kurai Blake. An absolute nightmare to face on the field. Should any trainer reach her challenge an unbearably long battle will be pulled on. Up to record the longest battle Miss Blake staged with a challenger was twenty-one hours in length. The paparazzi loved it; it was the most exhilarating battle in recent years, short of a record by a mere six minutes made by Master Kravos himself. Now Blake and her Dark Pokemon loved to see the panic in the opposing trainer's eyes and therefore her strategy consists of a wide variety of status affecting attacks. Apparently she is not as sadistic when off the field, but a pleasure to be around.

The Supreme Fifth seated at the far right side of the table, as the Pokemon Champion, is Lance Shinu Anson. The Dragon Master. At the age of twenty-six, married to Lorelei Mist Anson with the couple expecting a baby in the up-coming month. According to an ever-popular rumour he is foreign to Kanto, Johto, the Orange Islands, Hoenn and Orre but comes from a Country laden with Dragons called Tatsu. Of course the man has never once commented on it or his peculiar accent. Anson and his twin brother Vance were some of the rare trainers to actually meet The Great Kravos in person, when they were very little children. A trademark of the younger Anson is his prized White-eyed Dragonite, a blind Dragoniteas matter of fact.

Back down on the platform unaware of what the Pokemon residing in the egg was doing the young man continued to listen as the Elite First continued the initiation. "You understand that being Bonded with a Legendary is no meager thin? Of course there are other non-trainers like you who have Bonded, but we all agree a Master is more capable when facing other Legendaries in battle…" He trailed off waiting for a response.

"Oh no, I'd like to be Bonded. I may have only known IceMist a short while, but we have a connection. I can tell." He could always act confident, but he really wanted to hide in a dark corner somewhere far away.

Will sighed, "Fine. Now since we have your spoken word we'll now need your written word." He levitated the necessary papers to the boy on the platform. "Sign next to the 'x' please." He began the long task of reading and signing his pledge to both the Indigo and Hoenn League.

The Pokemon egg in the boys tight grip, being an extremely powerful and incredibly rare Pokemon, or it's Master wouldn't be here, could sense every little thing surrounding it and create a mental vision of where it was. Using its already powerful Psychic abilities the little white winged creature began scanning the Masters minds.

((Mummy? Where are you)) The Psychic voice squeaked. ((Now, if I were Mummy I'd be with, this William fella here…)) She broke off to peer into the Elite's mind.

The Elite jumped slightly at the invasion to his mind. Must be a strong Psychic that little Lugia he thought Abby gave him a worried look, he shook his head as Karen and Lance leaned forward slightly to peer at him. With that small gesture the three turned back. The Psychic continued his speech out loud to his fellow trainers while his inner eye searched the baby Lugia out. ((Hello little one.)) He smiled mentally, ((What can I do for you?))

The Pokemon stirred a bit within its confines, ((I was looking for Mummy, do you know whom Mummy is with? Mummy said she was with one of you humans.))

Will mentally smiled again. ((She is with Lance ))He flicked his eyes over to the man with red spiky hair. ((Ask him. He's used to Psychics; well I'm always reading his mind anyway. You'll have to read his mind too.))

((Thank you!)) The Lugia clapped her wings slightly. She cut the connection and left him to his job and connected to this other mans mind frequency.

Lance sighed silently, Mew this is borin'. I'm sure these things get longer each time. He sighed again. I jus' wanna go home groom Dragonite, watch football and eat crisps. I wonder 'ow Blackthorn city are doin'… losin' again I bet. Sigh. He winced when he felt the connection. WILL!

The Pokemon giggled as his train of thought continued of what would happen if this Will read his mind again. ((Sorry mister. This is IceMist.)) She said when he was done, ((But I was looking for Mummy. Mister Will said Mummy was with you, and that I should contact you. Can I talk to her? Please?))

The redhead tilted his head to one side slightly. IceMist eh? Yeah, you'd be Aura's hatchling then? IceMist nodded. Ok, I'll get 'er, 'old on a sec.

As Mother and Daughter talked, without a Dragon Master eavesdropping, the meeting went on. "So you accept all responsibilities tha' come with bein' aligned with a Legendary then?" Lance was saying.

Yet again the soon-to-be new recruit was nervous. The ceremony was next, and he'd heard things…

"Well, if no one 'ere 'as any objections." The Dragon Master waited. "We will begin the ceremony."

The young man twisted his body around to see the Masters leaving their seats, those no longer needed left the complex, while the Elite Four, Champion and higher Gym-Leaders remained. A Woman adorned in the League symbol, a viciously angled green 'L', led him over to another podium, his Pokemon trailing him closely. Now he could see the Masters more closely.

Nearest to him was Abby. Thin lass, blonde hair trailing to her lower back and thanks to his Lugias abilities he could plainly see her sparkling blue eyes. True to herself she was wearing a sky blue tank top and baggy combat trousers. In short she was kinda pretty he guessed.

Across from her was the former Ghost Elite and her student, Agatha and Morty. The elderly woman was still held as an authority figure, for good reason. She still had it in battle. The Gym Leader by her side, well since he wasn't saying it out loud, he could tell why girls fawned over him. Blond hair blue eyes, typical. But he had shook his hand as he passed.

Further down the line was Clair, Blackthorn Gym Leader, and by the looks of it a Blackthorn city fan. She was proudly wearing their football shirt, probably called here from holiday. Well she seemed nice enough, shook his hand but didn't do much else. Opposite Lance's cousin was Will and Tea. The Psychic boy in his 'spiffy' came to mind, suit. That mask really did make him seem the mysterious stranger. The Military foot soldier had a Raichu under his feet and kept nudging it behind him when they shook hands. Will wouldn't touch him though. Why?

Maybe he didn't trust him, or it could be that he was Psychic. It didn't really matter anyway…

Karen was smiling at him; she shook his hand gently. Actually she did seem completely different off the battle arena. Nice. The young woman had long silver hair she was constantly, he noticed, brushing back over her shoulders but it wouldn't do as it was told.

When he reached Lance the Dragon Master turned and stepped unto another platform, gesturing with his hand that the other should follow. When the platform lit up with hundreds of tiny white lights the Champion began to explain.

Lance whirled round his cape flowing at his movements, "This is the Karada system," he explained as the group walked over to small circular machine in the centre of the platform. He looked down at it. It had a small seat suitable for a single person, a head set. "The body system." The Champion commented and looked at the teenager at his side. The poor boy was so nervous and his face lost all colour as he the noticed shackles for ones wrists and ankles. Lance laughed, " Don't worry. We only use em in an extreme situation."

"Yup!" Abby came up behind him, "Like when we know someone is hiding something and won't tell us" she said with a smile.

"Of course we don't start a vendetta against just anybody," Will added. "They have a fair trial, but sometimes there just isn't time."

"What does this…thing do?" The trainer asked.

Agatha trudged over to lean on the machine. "My Great Great Grandmother salvaged it for the remains of an ancient civilisation. Surly you have heard of the rumours that Lance and Clair coming from a country far away." She glanced at the two Dragon trainers, Clair had turned to brush invisible dust of her cape and Lance was fiddling with the Karada Machine. Agatha continued "Well the people of that land lived with many Dragons. They built a wall to surround their land, the Takai Kabe. They did it because they could see what our ancestors would do in the near future. And well … well that's enough chit-chat. Lance, Clair get this thing running."

The white-haired trainer stooped down to his Pokemon's level to pet them, holding the egg tightly to his chest. The creatures mewled as he ran his hand through their fur. He didn't notice Morty approach from behind.

"Do you want to know what this does?" He questioned.

The other trainer started. He flipped around nearly throwing his egg to one side and sighed. "Yeah, and what are all these lights for?"

The blonde sat next to him on the floor and waved his hand forward toward the hundreds of little white light under their feet. "These little lights represent all the trainers that have passed through the Karada Machine and Bonded with a Legendary. As you can see there's a lot, some even Bond with two or three. You'd be surprised just how many Legendary Pokemon there really are. You see this small clump here?" He gestured. "That's us. Look if you count the lights here there's one, two…five…eight. Eight and eight of us have been through the machine. When you go through it you'll show up too." Morty hopped up to his feet. " This whole platform is a map of the world"

Karen slid over from the K.M and joined the explanation. "Look, if you gently touch the light" she did so "the name of the trainers name appears." As she was wondering around a light suddenly jumped from a blinding white to a violent red.

"Oh! That light! It turned red. What does that mean?"

Karen and Morty whipped round to him then the light. The light itself was relatively in a bald patch, only one other light was with this red one. And if they were any closer they'd be on top of one another. Morty sighed as Karen hurried over to it. Morty and he followed. She knelt down and ran her hand over it.

"That is Wesley Grammar, from Orre. He's always getting hurt. See here." She hovered her hand over it again and the cause of the incident lit up in pleasant blue writing.

The trainer leaned forward. "It says here he got 'physical bodily harm.'"

"Meaning 'e got into a fistfight again" Clair translated from were she stood at the KM.

"We had to have Clair, Vance and Lance translate it for us. It was originally in a whole other language" Morty said.

The trainer scrunched up his nose "Who's Vance?"

Lance huffed "My brother."

"Twins they are. Vance is older by 'bout two minuets." Clair commented then laughed. "Vance and Lance. Parents can be cruel." She continued to snigger to herself.

Morty leaned in "Vance ain't all there though. Got a nervous twitch and burns things if he doesn't get his medication" He whispered. "Lance doesn't like him here much."

"OK that's enough 'bout my family. This machine is workin' now"

Agatha motioned for the new comer to step over. "Now all this is going to do is bond you to your little Lugia ok darling? You might feel a little discomfort at first but it'll leave you eventually." When he walked towards it he could feel it drawing him in and he frowned, pulling against it. "Sit dear. It only pulls because it can feel a Dragon nearby. That's why Lance and Clair had to leave their Pokemon behind."

Slightly comforted with the explanation he sat. As soon as he planted himself on the seat the force of the pressure slammed his head against the railing. He soon found that no matter how hard he tried to move nothing happened. It was like someone else had control of his body. The voices of the Elite faded slowly away as his mind fogged over. Oh what had he gotten himself into now?

He could vaguely sense when someone turned the power up and the pressure hammered at his skull and he clenched his eyes tightly until he could see blood. The ringing in his ears, the hammering of his skull, the millions of tiny needles piercing his skin. Unbearable. Most likely he screamed. A little discomfort my arse!

This hurt like hell!

When he was sure he was going to pass out a wave of refreshing cool washed over him. He opened his eyes to see writing. Writing? Nothing else but a dim white light and writing scrawled across his vision. It wasn't even in a language he could understand. English and Orrent where all he cold read, this certainly wasn't either. Well, he thought it must be that Tatsu language then. How am I supposed to read that then?

However surrounding the script against the light he could see Pokemon and People everywhere. No matter what direction he looked in either a person of Legendary was seen, a Mew here, Articuno there, a couple Celebis zipping around. Everywhere. It was like a market day of some sort. Each person had a name floating along with him or her; Ashley Kelps, Zoë Butler, Brendan Birch, Sarah Barnes, Ash Ketchum, Maple Pats the names went on…

((I can Master)) a tiny voice sounded around him.

IceMist, that you? He thought to the voice. Where are you?

((Yes Master. You and I are on the Fringe.)) She could hear his confused face. ((Every human and Pokemon to be aligned together travels to the Fringe. We only have to answer the questions you see here. The Affinity has to know if we are compatible. So no lying Master, it can tell.))

Questions eh? Well bring em on!

The baby Lugia giggled. ((The first question is ' What is you name?' Well Affinity, my name is IceMist Clouds.))

Um, Isaac Gio Nicks. He could see the writing rearrange itself against the light.

((The writing says 'Hello, my name is Affinity'))

Really? Heh. The writing altered again.

((Next question is ' Do you know where you are?))

Yes, the Fringe right?

((Affinity says yes… Now it says to brace yourself'))

What? AHHH! Damn.

((Affinity says sorry.)) IceMist watched as the Tatsuian letters sprouted others and formed something new for her to read. ((It says that we are compatible. Yay! Now we can stay together!)) She felt him smile and again the letters moved. ((Isaac? Master? Affinity wants to know if you will remain with the League no matter how desperate matters become? Will you remain by IceMist's side?))

He pondered a while 'Will I remain by IceMist's side?' Well of course! The League though, he wasn't one to put blind faith into things he didn't really know about. But it meant that if he didn't stick by the League he'd lose IceMist before he even got to see her. Well.. yes I will. I will stay with both the League and IceMist.

No sooner had he finished his sentence had the Tatsuian words melted down the light to a horrid red stain. No sooner had he breathed in a sharp gasp he was hit full force by an invisible hand and thrown forward into the blood. Everything around him dissolved into a red hued blur. He vaguely heard IceMist screech in pain before a scream pierced from his own throat.

The next thing he knew he was on the floor. On the floor clutching his neck with his hands and curled up into a ball around IceMist's egg, his trusty Pichu, Vulpix and Bulbasaur fawning over him.

Someone he remembered knelt down beside him and rubbed his back in soothing circles. Eventually he found the strength and courage to unfurl himself and found his feet. When he was vertical he tightened his grip on the egg and hid behind his bangs. Had he failed?

"Wow! You did it!" Now that was Mortys voice. Isaac inclined his head in the direction of the voice and found the Masters smiling at him. "You did it!" he repeated for lack of a better phrase.

"Did it?" he croaked as he turned to them, still hiding behind his hair. Abby bounded forward to him.

"Yup! Did it!" She hugged him tightly bouncing as she did so. "How does it feel to be aligned?"

Shocked by this turn of events and the sudden hug he stumbled to his knees. The Water Master eyed him carefully, worried. He lifted IceMist to eye level and stared. " But, everything went red. Bloody red! Reds not good I'm sure." He said quietly as he lifted his head to meet the others.

Morty volunteered "Yeah that was Lance and Clair. They did that" He pointed at the two Dragon trainers with a smile on his face.

Isaac looked to the two and inhaled suddenly. Both them had their backs to the rest of the crowd around him and were working with the Karada Machine. It kept pulsing and all the bright lights on the floor flashed from white, to red to blue, green and back to white again. It wasn't the machine he was gaping at but them. Both of them had a pair of Dragon wings protruding from their back. Clair's were long and almost had a feathery touch them, whereas Lance's were sharp with a black tint to them. Whenever either of them moved little sprinkles of Dragondust would rain to the floor and slowly dissolve.

"They had to stop Affinity from consuming you" Morty continued.

"Body and soul" Agatha added as an after thought. She shuffled over to him and leaned down as far as her posture would allow. "Does your neck hurt dear?" She asked kindly.

The trainer at his knees tore his eyes away from the obvious Tatsuian relatives still working to calm Affinity. He looked the Ghost Master in the eyes and nodded slightly, silently asking her why.

"You have been marked. You along with us belong to Affinity now. Karen?"

The silver-haired woman stepped forward and handed Isaac her pocket mirror. He took it with a shaky hand and examined the left side of his neck, sure enough there was a mark. A midnight black circle with the Indigo League logo overlapping the black ring. He touched it, and winced. Well it stung so it must have been burned on.

A soft click brought him back to reality and Lance and Clair wondered over, wings and all. Clair knelt by him and smiled. He gasped, she had fangs and yellow eyes, like a cat. He looked up at Lance and saw the same. She sighed.

"Affinity accepted you alright. How do you feel?" She asked. He did a pretty good impression of a Magikarp but nothing else came to him. When he tried to stand again a sharp pain stabbed him in his side and he yelped.

"Hurt?" Isaac looked over to Lance again, "No wonder. Affinity threw you half way across the room when we stepped in" He tilted his head to one side. Morty crouched and pulled Isaac's arm around his shoulder to support him.

Abby bounced up "Yeah, you went flying" She made a waving pattern with her hand, palms down, through the air. "You woulda flown further if Tea hadn't caught ya."

As Morty began to lead him out the room he mouthed thanks to the still silent Elite second. The other man remained silent but nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Lets get you a room then, you'll have to stay in the Plateau and away from the public till that mark dies down" Morty said. Abby and Karen followed the two out chatting about the recent events. Agatha trailed after Morty.

"So did you learn anything child?" She inquired of her student. He nodded and continued his work on keeping Isaac awake.

Lance and Clair left slowly. Clair saying she was going back on her break and Lance to see Lorelei and see how Blackthorn city did in their match.

" Not well is my guess."

" Porobably not."

The Electric Master and his Raichu left last leaving the Karada Machine and the blinking lights in the dark as he closed and locked the door behind him.

Notes

"Talking"
((Psychic communication))
Thinking
Pokemon speech

Warui >Bad
Shinu >Die
Kurai >Dark
Karada > Body
Takai Kabe >Tallest Wall

Ryuin: An ancient Legendary Pokemon. Both Dragon and Psychic.

Warui: Insults to nature. Created with no independent mind and born from evils. Often referred to as 'Spawns' and 'Ice shatters'. Both Dragon and Ice.

Re-written.