(A/N) I don't own pokémon / kaijuu. But I DO own Kepa, Rowan, Koga, Damian, Loth, etc. So keep your hands off them and go think up your own characters. My opinions on how Kaijuu were used in the past are mine too.

The Adamant Key

By Trivnar Silversword

Chapter 6: Captured!

"Who is this Thavron?" Kepa finally asked, as they bounced around in the back of the wagon. He sat cross-legged, back against an empty space on the wall.

"I told you, a friend. I would trust him with my life." Rowan puzzled over his grim demeanor. If she didn't know better, she would have thought him jealous. She dragged her leather pack over and pulled out the bandages. Rowan cut the clean, white cloth into manageable strips then began to undo the ones already on her hands.

Kepa rose and helped her wrap them again. Once finished, he went back to his spot against the wall. "Where is he taking us?"

She shrugged, "Somewhere safe. Does it matter?"

"... I guess not. Listen, Rowan. There are some more things I should probably tell you." He lowered his gaze. "I wasn't completely honest with you."

Thavron entered the wagon, grinning ear to ear and shook his hair out of his face. "Made yourself some interesting friends, didya? That blaziken of yours has some pretty good reflexes. Where did you say you picked him up?"

"I didn't." She cast a sideways glance towards Kepa, "I found him wounded, patched him up and when no one came to claim him, kept him for myself."

"I see." His eyes hinted that he knew she wasn't being entirely truthful with him, but he let it slide. " Tell me where you want to go, girl, and I'll take you." He raised his hand to stall any arguments. "It would be my pleasure, so don't you argue with me."

Rowan eyed him critically. On the one hand, she didn't want her friend to get hurt. Those who chased them thought nothing of murder. On the other, Thavron was good in a fight and already knew the path to the Mountains of the Sun. Thavron had never actually told Rowan where he had found his entei, but she could guess.

Undecided, she glanced over at Kepa Nur. His eyes were closed, but he nodded slightly. She could guess what he was thinking; Damian wouldn't be looking for them in a trader's wagon.

Slowly, Rowan nodded. "I think I'll take you up on your offer, Thavron. We're going to the Mountains of the Sun. You can get us there, I think."

Thavron frowned, but offered no comment. He went back outside and a moment later Rowan detected the course change.

"Kepa? What were you going to say before Thavron came in?"

The blaziken didn't even open his eyes. "Not now."

Puzzled, Rowan shrugged and followed after Thavron, pushing aside a dark blue curtain and sitting down beside him on the bench seat. Thavron smiled and put an arm around her shoulders, drawing her against him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, content in the familiar embrace.

The wagon travelled west all day. As night fell, the tireless entei plowed on, oblivious to the snores of the wagon's occupants. He knew the way to the mountains as well as his own paws. Indeed, the entei also knew of the Temple of the Ancients, his birthplace.

He sniffed the night air, catching the scents of two other Kaijuu approaching him. Halfway through the night they joined him, a ponyta with a vaporeon on its back. The fire dog ignored them, knowing they would cause no harm to him or his passengers. In the same way, he ignored the fox-like eyes that watched their progress from afar.

Thirty grim-faced humans dressed in bandit garbs rode silently after the wagon, the hoof beats of their mounts muffled. Their scent was conveniently blown away from the entei, as were the muted sounds of weapons clinking together. If the humans had talked, their speech would have sounded just like that of the bandits they imitated. No part of the disguise that turned a highly trained fighting force into a band of misfits was out of place.

The last man in line was familiar. The leader of the group of the "bandits" which had captured Rowan glared furiously into the night. "You won't get away from me again, you wench!"

Unaware of pursuit, the wagon travelled on through the night, stopping at dawn. Rowan jumped down from the cart and looked around. She could see the mountains, reaching up like giant teeth about to take a bite out of the sky. Rowan sighed, thinking of the long way they still had to go.

The entei had skirted the edge of the forest, since the wagon wouldn't have been able to pass through the tightly grown trees. His path took them around smaller clusters of trees, staying clear of the open lands to their left. The clusters gave them a reasonable degree of protection against sightings from the sky.

"Vapo- vapor!"

Rowan spun around. Her eyes widened with surprise as she saw the ponyta walk around the wagon, with the vaporeon on his back. With a cry of delight, she ran to the Kaijuu and threw one arm around Coal's neck, reaching out to cuddle Mist with the other.

"How did you guys find me! I missed you so much!" Coal nickered and nuzzled her fondly, his fiery mane tickling her cheek. Stepping back, she looked them over. Coal's legs were covered in scratches and his white hide was grey with dust and dirt. None of the scratches were deep or infected, so she let them be and turned to her vaporeon.

Mist limped, favouring her front right paw. Frowning, Rowan peered among the plants on the ground until she found a small, three-leafed weed. She picked a dozen leaves and began crushing them between two rocks, to make a paste.

Thavron left the wagon and stood to Rowan's left, watching as she massaged the leaf paste into Mist's paw. "Amazing. I can't believe they found you."

"What's so surprising about that? Kaijuu are amazing creatures. You, of all people, should know that!" Her eyes flicked meaningfully at the entei.

He shrugged and turned away. After unhitching the entei and lighting a small, smokeless fire, he set a small pot of water on it and fished some tea leaves out of the wagon.

"No sense in being uncivilised, eh?"

Rowan smiled and sat down beside the fire. She had always enjoyed travelling with Thavron, seeing in him a kindred spirit. Coal lay behind her and she leaned back against his warm flanks. Mist curled up in her lap. Rowan stared blankly into the dancing flames, thinking of nothing in particular.

Kepa climbed down from the wagon and stretched, arching his back and throwing out his arms. Lifting his eyes to the sky, the blaziken searched for any sign of Loth's cohorts. He saw nothing, apart from an endless expanse of blue that promised a clear day. Feeling hungry, he jumped back into the cart and started rummaging around until he found some strips of dried meat.

Happily chewing on them, he left the wagon again. His eyes trailed over Rowan, sitting with her Kaijuu and he smiled. Kepa started towards her when he sighted Thavron, sitting next to her. He stopped dead in his tracks, scowling at the humans. Kepa felt a strange twinge as Rowan started to laugh at something Thavron said.

Turning around, he spotted the entei, lying down beside the wagon with his head between his paws. The Kaijuu's eyes were open and followed Kepa as he stalked over and sat cross-legged, beside him.

(A/N Kepa and entei are talking in their own language. What follows is an English translation.)

– Did you see anything last night?–

The entei looked up. –Nothing, apart from the ponyta and vaporeon.– He did not mention the eyes he had sensed. –Why? Expecting trouble?–

– ... I suppose I am... we must have been followed.–

– All right, I'll keep a sharp eye out. I am called Dace. This,– he nodded at the vulpix sleeping between his front paws, – is Rhynea–

– Kepa Nur.–

Rowan glanced over to where the blaziken and the entei were chatting. "Thavron, will you promise me something?"

He passed her a cup of tea. "Anything."

She sipped it slowly. "If... if anything happens to me, will you make sure Kepa reaches the Temple?"

"The... temple? Which temple?"

Rowan snorted. "Don't play dumb with me. You know which temple I'm talking about. There is only one in these mountains."

"I still don't know what you're talking about," Thavron frowned, "but I promise. Do you really think something will happen to you? With me here to protect you?"

She drained her tea and put down her cup. "You never know."

Dace suddenly rose to his feet. The wind had shifted, bringing with it a strange scent. –Time to go, I think.– He barked twice, deep booming barks that jolted Thavron to his feet.

Kepa dashed over to Rowan and whispered in her ear. "We're being followed... but it doesn't smell like Damian."

Tyuru, leader of the party following Thavron's wagon turned to his second in command, Scucca. " The wind has shifted; they can smell us now."

Scucca was in his early thirties, lithe and spindly, almost the opposite of his beefy commander. He had short hair in a startling shade of blue. A haunter hovered over his left shoulder.

"They aren't too far off. I think we should attack them. Our scouts report that Loth's troops are stationed closer to the mountains; we must attack before they do!"

Tyuru nodded, "My thoughts exactly. It's a shame we lost the element of surprise. That blaziken will be waiting for us." The leader glanced back at the last man in line. "Get someone you can trust to keep an eye on Lateef. After that mess up a few days ago..." he shook his head, "he has disgraced the Free Riders for the last time!"

Scucca grinned, "I'll tell my man that he will be forgiven if he, ah, slips in battle."

His leader gave a curt nod and spun his mount around to face the Riders. "We will charge and attack the enemy. The blaziken and the trader girl are to be captured alive. My group will capture the blaziken while Scucca will get the girl. Also, I suggest you don't kill the entei... those who kill the Ancients are cursed."

Tyuru wheeled his mount and urged it forward, hearing his companions surge after him. The warrior glanced to his left and grinned at the ripple in the grass beside him, tracking back and forth yet still keeping up.

They would not fail. After all, no one had ever defeated Makani in battle.

If Kepa had thought riding in the back of the wagon was bouncy before, it was nothing compared by its wild movements when pulled by a running entei. He shot a jealous glance at Rowan, mounted on Coal and easily keeping up. Trying hard not to bite his tongue, Kepa looked around at Mist and Rhynea who were in the wagon with him. They both seemed to be enjoying it, squealing with excitement as a particular violent bump almost sent them flying out the back.

Rowan pulled even with Thavron and shouted across to him. "We're not going to make it! If we ditch the cart and you ride your entei we could outrun them!"

"I am not leaving my wagon behind," he said firmly.

Frowning, Rowan started looking for a place to make a stand, but the forest outskirts were all the same. She glanced back at the tauros, who were steadily gaining. She could now pick out each of the tauros's three tails.

"Kepaaaa! Now would be a good time to do something!"

"Working on it!" The blaziken jumped out of the wagon, Rhynea in his arms. On an unspoken command, Coal turned and shot a stream of fire at the enemy, Rowan was caught by surprise by the sudden movement and was almost flung off.

Coal's fire blended with Kepa's, Rhynea's and Dace's. The wall of fire swept across the ground towards the tauros. Rowan had to advert her eyes from the white hot heat.

Tyuru closed his eyes and shielded his face as his mount leapt through the flames. The tauros bellowed in pain as the flames licked across her rump but kept charging. Tyuru was vaguely aware of a dark shape rising from the grass and flying over the fire.

Raising his voice, Tyuru gave the order, "Makani, attack!"

Kepa Nur blinked in surprise as the scyther rose from the grass. Instead of being emerald green, the mantis Kaijuu was pitch black. A black scyther? Now where had he heard that before?

"Damn! Rowan, these guys aren't bandits; they are the Free Riders!"

Rowan shot a look of intense fear at Kepa. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking!"

The Free Riders were a travelling band of ex-mercenaries and a force to be reckoned with. Traders had long crossed blades with them over merchandise. Their mascot was rumoured to be a fire-proof, female black scyther.

"Sorry," was all Kepa had time to say before the black fury descended upon them.

Lightning fast, Makani dove at Kepa. The blaziken dropped the vulpix and threw a ball of fire at the scyther. Makani deflected the fireball with her blade and sent it ricocheting towards the wagon. Thavron managed to choke out "wha-" before his wagon erupted into flames.

Rowan screamed as Makani slashed Kepa across the chest. She charged towards them, drawing the two daggers. "Mist, put out the wagon!"

The vaporeon directed a jet of cold water at the flames as Thavron struggled free. He cut the entei free and mounted the fire dog's back. Dace charged towards the incoming tauros and their riders, sending wafts of fire at them.

Tyuru swore as the entei charged into their ranks, causing heavy casualties. "Scucca! Take care of the dog!"

Scucca's haunter flew at Dace and Thavron. The entei pulled up short, studying the ghost Kaijuu and trying to decide how to attack it. He hesitated too long. A purple haze oozed out of the haunter, which the fire dog inadvertently inhaled. Dace wobbled, falling to his knees. On his back, Thavron slumped against his neck, threatening to slide off.

Rhyena saw her friend in danger and leapt at the haunter, taking it by surprise. The ghost struggled to free itself from the vulpix, but she only dug her claws and teeth into him. As they struggled, the flow of purple ooze abated. Dace shook his head, trying to clear the muddled fog of his thoughts.

Three Riders dashed in between Rowan and Kepa; three more closed in behind her. They charged at her, their mounts's heads lowered. Coal jumped to avoid being skewered by the sharp horns. Rowan lost her grip on the ponyta's mane and fell to the ground. She expected to be trampled, but the Riders pulled short their charge. The six riders dismounted and circled the trader, pulling their weapons from their sheaths.

Rowan didn't bother to wait for the Riders to attack her; she charged at the nearest one, daggers drawn. Her opponent was surprised by the sudden attack and barely blocked her first blow to his chest. Rowan's second dagger plunged in between his ribs. She jerked it out and aimed a high kick at a female Rider, knocking her out cold.

Another warrior grabbed Rowan's foot and twisted it, sending the trader falling onto her back. He leaned over her, grinning nastily, as she howled in pain and surprise. Rowan lashed out from the ground and he fell back, clutching his hands to his torn face.

"Enough! She's mine!" Rowan looked up into a familiar face; Lateef, her "bandit" captor, was leering at her. "Get up and fight me, wench! Let's see how tough you are without your friend to help you! It's your fault I'm out of favour with Tyuru, so come and fight me!"

Kepa was already cut in several areas whereas the black scyther didn't have a mark on her. She was oblivious to his fire attacks, diverting them easily with her blades. Kepa took a step back, trying to get a quick breather. Makani sensed his weariness and ran at him, one blade raised high and the other low.

Kepa threw himself out of her path. With one hand braced against the ground his left leg shot out, snaking around her feet. With a sharp jerk he knocked her off her feet. Makani's scythes shot out to brake her fall, but unfortunately they sank into the ground. The scyther began thrashing frantically, trying to free herself.

Kepa delivered a punishing kick to the prone scyther, knocking her blades free and sending her flying into a group of riderless tauros. Makani pushed her way out, hissing, then stopped in puzzlement; there was no sign of her prey.

Kepa dashed through the Free Riders, randomly throwing balls of fire at them and adding to the confusion. Where was Rowan? He peered through the heaving bodies and spotted the struggle between the haunter and Rhynea. As he watched, the haunter abandoned his corporeal body, so that the vulpix fell like a stone to the ground. She did not rise.

Most of the Riders were struggling to contain Dace. Metal cables were wrapped around the entei's paws and secured to a dozen tauros, each pulling in a different direction. Dace didn't dare use his fire, for fear of burning Thavron. Instead he lashed out with his paws, trying to reach the enemies who were just out of his reach.

Rowan rose to her feet and faced Lateef. The Rider carried a long sword, with twice the reach of her daggers. He charged at her, and she was sure she was going to die when Lateef suddenly crumpled to the ground, a small knife in his throat.

Scucca bent and retrieved his knife from Lateef's throat, wiping it clean on the former Free Rider's clothes. Slowly he turned and faced the girl. She was brave, he gave her that, facing him with a bloody daggers in each hand.

Scucca gave a barely perceptible nod and the Rider behind her delivered a sharp blow to the back of her neck. Scucca caught her before she could crumple on the ground and slung her over his back.

"We've got what we came for... let's go." Scucca and ten warriors melted into the forest.

Kepa dashed forward to help Dace when he felt a sharp burning pain down his back. The blaziken fell to his knees and twisted his head around. Makani grinned triumphantly, red blood running down her scythe and dripping onto the ground.

Kepa groaned as his vision fogged. There was something... something he must do... Everything was slipping away, his world blurred in and out of focus. The blaziken tried to catch the elusive thought... There it was! The secret of adamant must be kept safe, no matter what the cost.

Suddenly, everything was back into focus. Kepa Nur lunged to his feet and spun, driving his claws across Makani's chest. She fell back in surprise, not expecting so fierce an attack from a so badly wounded prey. Kepa knocked her to the ground with a well aimed kick, then turned and ran.

Tyuru finally managed to tame the entei. He had dragged the unconscious trader from the fire dog's back and threatened to cut his throat open if the dog didn't desist. While the Riders tied the entei down, Tyuru had turned to see the blaziken knock down Makani and flee. The blacksmith was gone before he could blink. Swearing angrily, he looked around for Scucca. His second in command was nowhere to be seen.

Well at least something had gone right. They had the girl at least. Tyuru mounted his tauros and gestured. The remaining Free Riders and Makani melted into the forest.

(A/N)

Kaijuu

-Haunter: A ghost kaijuu. Ghost kaijuu are the hardest to fight, as most attacks pass right through them. Element - poison

-Scyther: a large kaijuu, similar to a praying mantis. Stands on two, clawed legs, has an insect-like body. Two split wings sprout from the back, the front legs are curved blades. Skin is emerald green. Element - air