A little delayed since I intended to get this out before the holidays, but life and Covid have once again stood in the way, and this time in the worst way possible. To say that this last christmas has been… difficult would be an understatement, but I am sure there are others who have gone through far worse. My heart goes out to all of you, and consider this a late Christmas gift!
Chapter 17
Reunion
Brothers and sisters of blood and fate, destined to clash
"How many does this make now?"
"More than enough." The Lucario glared at the two figures behind him, sitting in a clearing: a male Mightyena with a blue diamond hanging from their neck and an abra with a pink pearl necklace.
"Is it finally? Is it enough that Mewtwo has been…" Ferrus could scarcely believe it when the news had reached him, even more so when he'd delivered them to the two pokémon before him. The now newly made psychic crater, among several strewn about the inland region of Unova, was host to a large party of investigators and forensics from the ETF, and in the middle of it all lay a white sheet, covering a bumpy shape. "Mew is missing… but it's very likely they too were a victim."
"Should she still be alive, she would've likely attempted to contact us. Her voice has been silenced." The disturbed look on their faces gave away what the Abra's words meant.
"Two whole years… and your pride has led to this. I would've made my move whether or not you'd sanctioned it. This is a matter of global safety, comparable to the time freeze, and because of your counsel I thought it wiser to hide it… But this? This we can no longer hide."
"Call upon your heroes then. To think we must once again rely on you mortals… Unprecedented."
"Swallow your pride and help us keep whatever order we can…" He sighed, looking around and bringing out his aura crystal. "It's time the world knows what's really been happening behind the scenes…"
The next day…
"I hate this." Serge keeled over on the dirt path as they finally arrived at Cunabula's main bridge, panting and huffing as Jake, Nox, Eric and Elly dismounted, having pushed the Pidgeot to his limits, whilst Lucy and Zed had already rushed ahead already and were waiting for them inside the city proper it seemed, and Cherry quite literally materialized besides them. "I hate you."
"I love you~!" Cherry hugged him, trying to appease the grumpiness with comfort and hugs, which had a very mild effect on the flying type's mood.
"Uuuugh… what the hell kind of gauntlet did I just endure…?" He himself was amazed at his own stamina, but he'd rather have never figured out he could do it. The others stretched and groaned, clearly in a great deal of discomfort due to having sailed, then flown for the past twelve or so hours.
"Well… nearly six hours of sailing on a regular civilian ship, and then another six of flying over lower and middle Kanto just to get here." Jake's summary was… accurate, to say the least, but he'd failed to mention the freezing temperatures they had to contend with at the moment, or at least freezing to those who were used to living by the coast every single day.
"Fucking hell, good thing you reminded us to pack some winter clothes Elly." He was wearing a blue woolen cap and a cloak, on top of his signature scarf, whilst the Eevee had her fur to protect her mostly, but she had her dark matter to further insulate her from the cold if need be. Serge had a scarf of his own, and Nox was wearing an… admittedly hilarious amount of clothing: scarf, hat, vest, and smaller leg warmers, as well as trying to radiate and produce as much heat as possible by moving and shuffling around. It wasn't even that cold either, but he clearly wasn't used to this kind of climate.
"Why is it getting so c-c-cold now?" He sneezed, on his way to catching something as they walked towards Cunabula in a hurry. The sooner they got to a hotel, inn or whatever, the better. On their way they ran into Lucy and Zed, both of them in matching striped scarves and hats: green and yellow for him and cyan and purple for her.
"Come on, don't stop moving, if you do it'll really settle into your bones!" The bridge was chock full of pokémon returning from overseas and other areas of the country to meet with family or friends for the upcoming holidays, even though there weren't many decorations that day, and there wouldn't be too many that year. There weren't many pokémon in a festive mood after such a year. As they slowly made their way through the bridge, and Cherry teleported in and out of view, they saw her glancing down as she floated over the abyss, something that made Elly quickly snap and drag her over to the bridge with her dark matter.
"Heyyy! Come on, what's the matter, it's really pretty down there, I wanted to go explore!"
"Exactly, and that's why I just dragged you over here!" She was panting nervously, and making a scene in the crowd, but many were well aware of why and were mostly relieved the Espurr hadn't followed through with her ideas. "You can't go down there, Cherry."
"Whyyyy?! It's so pretty, there's a forest, and a lake and-"
"That is the Cradle, Cherry. I realize now that since you are missing your memories you fail to understand the significance and weight of the area below us, so a brief history lesson will suffice: Cunabula is erected upon a large tower starting from the base of the valley below, known as the Cradle of Life, or Cradle. Legends say this very valley is where all life comes from, and where all life returns."
"Heaven on earth, in a way… but you can't go down there right?" Eric also lacked most of his memories and education from youth, but he'd heard about the valley below. "If you do, you're not likely to come back alive."
"Huh?! So there's like… poison down there or somet-" Her train of thought was interrupted as the queue sped up and they began to move along the bridge… mostly because some kind of blockade had been lifted… a blockade in the form of a massive Krokorok that most of them recognized on sight, and all of them remembered once they heard his voice boom across the bridge.
"The fuck you mean I can't go in cuz I got no credit?! Ya mean poor people can't go in here anymore you shithead?!"
"Sir, it's accreditation. To avoid the city becoming congested with new arrivals due to ongoing guard activities we have been stated to turn away any and all pokémon not on official business of any kind, or residents of the city. We are going to have to ask you to turn away and leave before…"
"Bullshit! Bull fucking shit! I have some fuckin' business right here, and I'll show yer teeth the bloody bissness end of me fuckin' fists if ya don't move to the side ya shitheaded wankstick!" Sam's colorful vocabulary clearly hadn't lost its edge if his current rampage was anything to go by, as everyone looked away from him awkwardly… all but Cherry, Jake and Serge, the former two since they'd never actually met him in person and the latter because he was so done with life he was considering jumping into the valley below.
"I wonder what'll kill me first, the poison or the fall."
"Oh shush. If he hears us and looks over this way we're toast." Nox muttered and kept looking down at the floor… but despite their best attempts, Sam's growing temper tantrum ended up with him glancing their way, and a single look at the semi-hidden Eevee and the group around her was all he needed to finally have his ticket through.
"Oi! Oi! Oi you lot, it's me, Sam!" They all immediately started to backpedal, something he noticed instantly by stomping and making the entire bridge tremble. "Oi don't you dare ignore me you bastards! Get your asses over here right n-" Cherry teleported in front of him, frowning, and the jig was absolutely up as the guards finally caught up with who the group was as Elly tried to rush over to get Cherry away from the Krokorok, lest he hurt her… or she hurt him, not sure who she was more worried about.
"Cherry, Cherry! Come on, don't!"
"But he's being so rude!"
"Oh so I'm the rude one when you lot are tryin' to get away and ignore me? The fuck!" He scoffed, and the guards didn't know whose side to take at this point, and the pokémon behind them were starting to get impatient… thus, when Team Star showed up and they were identified as such, the guards found their chance.
"Right, if you're associated with Team Star, then we find no reason to disallow you from entering the city… Please refrain from causing any more trouble or the guard will be forced to take action." Sam growled at them, before stomping their way, earning a jump from the poor suckers, laughing and walking off with the Team with a toothy grin on his face.
"Serves 'em fockin' right. Thanks for the save ya lot, but yer a bunch of shitheads, tryin' to ignore me after all the shit we did together. I took a fuckin' laser beam to the side, that shit still hurts by the way, and ya had the gal to fuckin' ignore me?!"
"You were making a scene, of course we were trying to slip by unannounced!" Elly sighed, rubbing the bridge of her muzzle. "I think after that everyone and anyone is aware we just arrived in the city." Indeed, some were looking over to the group as they walked around the plaza. There were some snow piles and the fountain had been shut down… or it had frozen, one or the other. "Anyways, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the Cradle… Cherry, are you listening?" The scatterbrained Espurr was looking at the fountain, more specifically, the statue in the middle, similar to the ones that beset the main entrances to the city: a humanoid figure with a large gaping hole in its chest, hands and more unsettlingly, head, lacking a real face. "Yeah, I don't fully agree with the architecture myself either." The Espurr however, just kept staring at them, as if she was in a trance, and clenching her fist.
"I've seen these before…" She blinked, and seemed to snap out of it. "Sorry, what? Oh! Yes yes! Poison?"
"Well, that is what most pokémon think: some kind of gas is potentially leaking out of the caves on the face of the cliffs and making the area downright deadly for pokémon."
"Well that's what fuckin' smartasses like ya think, but I've heard differently." Sam had already caught up to the conversation… who wouldn't, after all, the landmark was infamous. "I heard that you could hold yer fuckin' breath down there and ye'll still fuckin' drop. And I know from fuckin' experience, but there ain't no kind of gas or nuthin' that'll turn yer lights off that fast."
"...Your grammar is making my ears bleed, how in the world did you collaborate with him?"
"Look, things got messy and one thing led to another. He's reliable where it counts."
"Ya lot love talkin' about me like I ain't in front of ya'll huh? Well, whatevs, don't give a damn what ya'll think." He chuckled. "Fact still stands: I know my shit around mining and getting choked out down in the earth, and there ain't nothing out there that lasts that long, works in such an open space and fucking puts you out of your missery that fast."
"Then what do you wager it is?" Jake was curious to hear the Krokorok's input, as he was sitting down near the fountain with them, giving him his best toothy, creepy grin.
"'s the ghosts of the damned! What else, ya fucktwig?" He laughed. "They rip yer soul out and then ya become one of 'em, fishing for whatever scraps fall down there… if anythin', ya'll just kept them from having a nice snack by savin' yer friend over there."
"...I'm not a snack, I'm Cherry!"
"Whatever ya say ya gremling…" The Espurr pouted and tried to punch Sam repeatedly, to no avail of course, the mountain of a pokémon just easily ignoring her.
"Could you stop insulting our team? If anything you seem to only harbour animosity toward us." Eric cut in, the crocodile staring him down, smiling.
"Yeah? Well, I don't, lemme tell ya. Ya'll are pretty chill. Though you and I got a score to settle brother." He gave him a puzzled look. "Crimsand?"
"Oh yeah I know what you're talking about, but what do you mean score to settle? You want to fight and lose again?"
"Bitch, ya got fuckin' dragged off by your girlfriend before things got fun, whaddaya mean ya won?!" That definitely ticked him off, something that Eric seemed to take some slight pride in, but before things escalated, he extended his paw.
"How about this: once we're finished here, and on our way back, we can find somewhere nice to have that rematch. Consider it my way of repaying you for helping my mate and friends back in Unova." Sam weighed his options for a minute, but decided to go with it, grasping his paw and shaking it. "I won't go easy on you though!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way… Uuuh… Wot's your name again?"
As the rest of the team finally got to meet Sam, distracted by the Krokorok's boisterous and loud personality, they missed the Frosslass floating along the mob of pokémon, headed for an alleyway where two cloaked figures, a quadruped and a bipedal stood guard under the shade of a two story house. "They've finally arrived."
"As the boss predicted… good job. Still… the fact that we're still waiting on Max… where the hell is he?! The whole thing'll blow up in our faces if he takes any longer!"
"Plus, I want to get my paws on that little twerp finally." The bipedal smirked. "After so long… Can't wait to see his face."
"Patience. You've waited how long? Like, seven years or something like that? You're almost there, hun, so don't blow it right at the finish line." The quadruped's words did very little, especially when considering they too were eager to get this show on the road. He too had someone he wanted to meet again, glaring at the team as they walked further along the main avenue and heading towards the castle.
"Do ya'll ever like, catch a break, because I swear sounds like you've some hella misfortune coming after ya."
"Tell us about it." Serge muttered, as they were just dragging him across the city, barely half conscious about what was going on, and still cripplingly tired from all the flying and soaring he'd had to do to get there.
"To be fair, we at least get to enjoy two or three days of recuperation before our next assignment, but indeed, so far the whole of December has been quite difficult for us all."
"Plus, it's cold as balls." Nox found some common ground with the Krokorok, clad in a thick cloak. Even though it wasn't even noon, the streets were busy, and there were a lot of and the closer they came to the castle, the more blockades. "What the hell's going on today?"
"A parade?" Zed spoke up, trying to look ahead to see what was going on… of course, none of them bar Sam were tall enough to look over the crowd, and he was confused: there were fences and guards littered across the road, but there were some definite strangers and newcomers beyond it.
"Don't look like it, whole lotta guards, not a lot of peeps you'd see around… the fuck's goin' on?"
"I can think of one great way to find out." Eric made his way through the crowd with difficulty… until Sam just started to shove his way through and cleared it for them, eventually getting right up to the guards, pinpointing an Infernape in high ranking armour.
"Excuse me sir, this area is off limits."
"No it ain't, I can see 'em people walkin' right behind ya'll." The Krokorok was quick to point out the blatant hypocrisy, but he was still blown off, until Eric walked forward: a Riolu with a scarf like that and the explorer badge around it could only mean one thing, and he suddenly stood firm and saluted.
"Greetings! I assume you are Eric, leader of Team Star?" Elly fought the temptation to correct him and say co-leader, but the Riolu made the correction himself. "Apologise, sir and lady. I assume that all of these are your companions?" He pointed to everyone who was properly part of the team and then Sam himself, who invited himself alongside the others, much to their dismay. "If so, then you may pass. Sir Ferrus is expecting you by the entrance to the castle." As they passed through the barrier, they received glances from other residents who were currently in the process of identifying themselves in order to reach their own homes.
"Well that was fuckin' fast. Ya'll really are popular huh."
"I just want to sleep…" Serge couldn't care less about popularity right now, just wanting to drop down and sleep the exhaustion and headache away. And he thought he might be able to get a nap where they were headed, since the castle likely had plenty of rooms to rest in, or at least a chair or a sofa, either would work for the exhausted Pidgeot.
As they approached the entrance and circled around the fountain before the large doors that lead inside, however, they spotted two familiar figures: the first one they expected, the aged yet physically imposing Lucario was hard to miss, specially now that he wasn't sitting down or slumped on his bed, like the last few times they'd seen him… and in front of him a familiar Frogadier. Both noticed the group moving closer, and both were immediately weary of the Krokorok accompanying them, though Ferrus seemed to put two and two together once they were close and Elly waved a friendly paw to them. "Good morning!"
"Good morning. It is good to see you all." Eric shook paws with the Lucario, and the others did the same, even Serge, who was barely conscious at this point, being dragged along and all over the place. "I see that the voyage here has left some of you quite affected."
"You can say that again. You did tell us to get here as quickly as we could."
"That you did, and you're just on time. Maria arrived not too long ago, once again in her father's st-"
"Maria's here?" Serge instantly perked up, a recovery that surprised even Ferrus, who nodded. "Where is she? It's been a while."
"Like… a week? You alright bro?" Nox really didn't know what the flying type's deal was, though Ayame, sharp as always, had some ideas.
"If you've desires to chase tail, I'd suggest you do so otherwise, featherbrain." Her insult got his attention. "She's within the castle, but only those with authorization can enter today. A meeting between leaders of all the nations of the world is taking place." That explained a lot of what they'd seen up to this point, and made Sam's presence here even more confusing: he didn't look or belong to any particularly important group, and it was painfully obvious.
"...Well shite then. Sounds important."
"Important enough that I am apparently not allowed within the building, despite being a representative of my village. I suppose it is because we do not hold sufficient political power?"
"King Harseus didn't mention you specifically within his… extensive list of guests and advisors, and I've already had to move enough strings to invite Eric and Elly inside… so I'm afraid I can't make an exception for you today." He glanced at Sam. "I'm going to have my paws full when I have to explain him being this far into the city and essentially skipping checkpoints."
"Oi. I fought with these assholes, I deserve some fuckin' recognition!"
"I'd guessed as much. Elly wrote about you in her report. Sam, correct?" He extended a paw to him, which at first he thought was a punch, and was about ready to deck him… which was Ferrus laughed. "Careful there, don't get yourself hurt." He shook his hand, the Krokorok nervous… and he had every right to given what the larger fighting type followed up with. "As gratitude for helping Elly and the others, I will make sure that on the off-chance you are arrested your sentence will be lightened." Sam just chuckled nervously, sweating bullets, because he had a feeling he was only walking out of his field of view a free 'mon because he was in a good mood.
"So wait a minute, they're the only ones allowed inside? Why the fuck'd why even come here then?!" Serge didn't have the energy left to go ballistic, so it fell on Nox to get angry for the two of them, though the Lucario quickly shook his head.
"I'm afraid it is not so simple. Even though it wasn't mandatory, your presence here is appreciated… And will likely be necessary should anything go wrong." Ominous as his sentence was, it at least justified them sticking around, as he brought out a paper from his satchel, and handed it to Jake, whom he trusted. "If you require rest, head to this address. You'll find a friend who, after you mention I sent you, will not hesitate to offer you some shelter. And food, should you need it." This invitation was of course, also extended to Ayame and Sam, whose previous exploits with the group had earned a pseudo reward in the form of this strange invitation.
"Still, would've been better if you'd mentioned you only needed Eric and Elly here, y'know how hard it was to get here overnight?" Lucy was pretty exhausted as well, but running at her speeds and only carrying Zed was much easier than carrying nearly everyone in the team.
"Yes, I realize this, but believe me when I say that I will be far more relaxed knowing you are all a stone's throw away. Now go, and get as much rest as you can." Once again, ominous, but no one complained, and after wishing their leaders good luck, and to try and not fall asleep, as Nox put it, off they were through the very much deserted residential districts. As they walked however, they came across some strange pokémon: A shiny Swampert, wearing a vest adorned with several badges, and a cohort of pokémon of various types, but mostly shiny, as they walked by them, Nox stopped for just a second, glaring at them.
"That guy… That's Kakolo, isn't it?" The rest of the pack stopped and stared at the well dressed pokémon as he headed towards the castle, head raised and looking down at anyone in his path.
"That it would. I didn't take you for the kind of pokémon interested in politics, least of all Hoennian." Ayame chimed in with a backhanded compliment, but it seemed to go over Nox's head, who shook his head.
"It's… a passing interest." He caught up to the pack and walked beside Ayame. "Anyways, how are you?"
"Well enough. It has been a scarce three days… Nox, was it?"
"Ye-yeah! Nox! Umm… well, just wanted to check that's all, uh… I thought not many pokémon y'know, asked you how you are doing." She raised an eyebrow at his observation. "Sorry I uh…"
"I'm constantly travelling so I rarely get to visit my village. Anything else you wanted to discuss?"
"Uuuh… did I ever uh… thank you for helping us?"
"You did." He looked surprised for a second, and she insisted he had again, at which point Sam, who was on the other side of the group, groaned in exasperation.
"God will you two fuckin' kiss already 'n shut up, because you suck at flirting Nox."
"Oi, fuck off will ya?! Who asked you?!"
"You… I've seen your face on some wanted posters." Ayame stepped in, glaring at Sam.
"Yea? Well ya better remember my face and my name, you oversized tadpole. Name's Sam, shortened for Samuel."
"...Samuel? That is a strange name for…" The Krokorok suddenly glared at her and nearly stomped over Cherry, opting to walk after exhausting herself teleporting randomly.
"Strange name for what eh?! 's a pretty common boys' name, ya bimbo! Ayame's a shit name compared to it!" The Frogadier was more annoyed and confused than angered by the ground type's sudden outburst, opting instead to go quiet, and subsequently ruining Nox's admittedly poor attempt at getting a conversation going.
It didn't take long for them to reach the aforementioned address, a three story building with a double floor attic at the top, and whoever their benefactor lived at the very top. "Fancy place. Smack dab in the middle of the city too… But how do we like, get in?"
"There's got to be a doorbell or a string, pull it or…" As Jake walked over and fumbled around with whatever system was in place to call for this benefactor, Sam determined that this was already taking two seconds longer than it should, and so he took a few steps back, and took in deep breath. The resulting hollering brought everyone out of their sleep deprivation stupors and looking at the Krokorok like he was insane. Despite that shouting though, there was no response from on high.
"Don't think he's home."
"Don't think he can hear anymore after that shouting, holy shit…" He had some serious lung power, stronger than the Pidgeot's, who was rubbing his ears. Before they could chastise him though, they saw someone approaching from the road further ahead…
"And here I thought that I'd seen the last of you lot, yet here you are, banging and howling at my door. Fancy new speaker by the way, I definitely wouldn't have acknowledged your existence if he hadn't just woken up half the neighbourhood." From the road they saw a familiar Roselia, shoulders now fully withered and brushed down against his arms, telling of the bitter winter they were going through in this part of the world. And whilst everyone but Sam recognized him, they all looked at him in a mixture of confusion and horror, and in the case of Ayame, sheer anger and shock, as she stomped towards him, brandishing a blade.
"You?! How did y-" Her violent reaction was met with Vincent pulling away, carrying two heavy looking bags which spilled out their contents, revealing the vegetables he'd bought that morning, spilled over the pavement, much to his dismay.
"Hey woah! Look what you've done now! Here I thought this lot were rude before but you take the cake m-" She didn't stop moving and even swung her sword at him, a move that he parried with a flick of his wrist, the a bouquet of blue flowers surging out from his wrists to cover his hand, and blocking it with the rapier like protrusion made out of dried up roots that came out of it. "Now now… There's certainly better ways to greet someone for the first time than attacking them for no reason!"
"First time?! You are th-"
"Hold on, Ayame!" Nox charged in and pushed her blade away, despite knowing that the Frogadier could wreck his day if she wanted. "This… he isn't Indomatia, that's a friend of ours, Vincent." A pregnant silence hovered over the trio as they looked at each other, then back and forth, before Ayame dismissed her blade finally, allowing Vincent to breathe a sigh of relief, standing up and picking up his vegetables.
"Goodness gracious, that's a fine way to start the morning. You somehow mixed up your old pal Vincent with… Indomatia, was it?" He chuckled. "Her? Seriously? I'll have you know I'm far more handsome than that wretch could ever be. And I bet that statement's made you even more confused, and all you have plenty of questions s-" He was rudely interrupted by Sam, who was tapping his foot on the floor, and just like Ayame, Vincent stared at the Krokorok long and hard, and guessed quite a few things from his posture. "And how may I help you misster?"
"Same way ya could 'elp these assholes. Some Lucario called Ferrus pointed us here to get some rest 'n food, and I'm fuckin' starvin'. So you gonna let us in or what?"
"Ferrus sent you? I imagined as much… I suppose even I can't turn him down, especially when someone asks for food in such a… peculiar way. You do seem like you'd need more than your regular share of food to keep that body, hm?" Despite the fact that Krokorok was chubbier than average, no one could tell if he was praising or insulting him… until Sam posed and flexed his muscles, at which point everyone acknowledged it was an insult that flew right over the large pokémon's head. "Well, if that's the case let's not keep you all waiting. Before that though…" He leaned over and handed a bag to Ayame, before wrapping the other to Nox. "Here we go. Carry my bags would you? Only fair after you assaulted me in the middle of the street yeah~?"
Vincent then proceeded to walk over to the door and open it, allowing everyone else inside, and forcing Nox and Ayame to carry the admittedly heavy bags of groceries, looking quite miffed and muttering under their breaths.
"Asshole."
As the rest of the team walked away, Eric and Elly were led to the castle gates by Ferrus, whom the guards saluted and then allowed him past the large open wooden doors. Within, they were greeted by the sight of several high ranking officials, politicians or nobles from the various nations of the world. Whilst Eric was irremediably lost among all of these high profile characters, Elly gave him a brief rundown of who was who before they came over to greet them. Turned out that despite their two year long hiatus, and falling out with the general populace, those in higher circles knew very well of them and their exploits.
"...I cannot emphasize how grateful we are for what you did." A pair of Johtonian novels were shaking and speaking with them at the moment, a Larvitar and a Gardevoir, though most of their praise seemed directed at Elly, he insisted that his mate played an even greater role. "Then… how come most newspapers speak only of Team Star's leader, Eric?"
Elly had an inkling of suspicion why Johto's and Kanto's newspapers were focusing more on Eric than her, but she decided to bite her tongue and keep it simple. "Well I suppose because back when we saved the world, I wasn't exactly… sociable? I was very shy and a bit of a shutaway. I only became much more open and braver as time went on and participated more in the team."
"Nowadays she's more of the team's leader than I am. At the very least she's better actually managing it…"
"That's because you like to spend all your day training and getting ready for the next mission." She teased him, poking his side and earning a chuckle from their conversation partners, who took their leave after a proper goodbye and another bout of gratitude, before they were swiftly replaced by a familiar Absol.
"There you are!" Maria greeted them with a hug, with both Eric and Elly, though the latter with a delayed reaction, returned. "I heard from Ferrus that you'd been called here, and have been looking for you two for so long. How are you? Where's everyone else?"
"We're doing alright… A bit sleepy, truth be told, kind of got rushed over here. As for the others, apparently they weren't allowed inside with us, and from what Ferrus said, they were better off not being here."
"A certain Pidgeot was complaining non-stop about not getting enough sleep, and last thing we need is him just flopping head first onto the table and snoring away, declaring war between nations in the process." Elly's ramble got Maria to giggle heartily, something she didn't get to do often it seemed, because her fit lasted for such a long time she was blushing and becoming uncomfortable. "You alright?"
"Yes yes, sorry… I just pictured him doing that and… Well, let's just say it really puts it all into perspective." Her words confused the couple, and she quickly clarified. "I just don't get to see many pokémon that are so… colloquial? Most pokémon are very uptight and formal with me, or… overly nice."
"Oh yeah, I think I know the feeling." Growing up technically an orphan and trying to run and help around a shop in a small village gave Elly some insight on who was being genuine about their niceness and who was trying to get a price slash. "I'm guessing you're here today in your father's stead? Being the Interpreter and all that."
"Yup. His illness is keeping him bedridden still, though he has made a speedy recovery, the voyage here would've been horrible on his already declining health."
"How old is he?"
"About as old as Ferrus and I are, I'd wager." Yet again, a familiar voice rang out from the side, but this time it was very much unwelcome, as Tharmius walked into the corners of their vision, putting the three smaller pokémon on edge. Dressed impeccably in his high judge robes, he looked down at them, physically at least. "I expected you two to come here today, but I didn't know you were already acquainted with the Seer." The Absol gave him a deadly glare, and he maintained it.
"You know, I was already having a terrible day, but you just had to come and ruin it didn't you? Come to rub what happened last time in our faces?"
"Your aggressiveness is unnecessary today, Elizabeth… Besides, I am here to congratulate Eric on his unnaturally swift recovery. Last I heard of him he had sustained wounds and injuries the likes of which a normal pokémon wouldn't be able to to merely shrug off after a week of rest."
"...Thanks for the concern?"
"Ignore him, he's trying to get into your head. Look Tharmius, is there any reason why you are here? Besides being a pain in the ass?" Her coarse language was ignored by the Kommo-O, who returned to holding a staring contest with the Absol, who seemed even more tense than she had before.
"...does your father know then? About them?"
"What do you care?" She spat back almost.
"I am merely concerned that a dear friend's daughter is seemingly acting and making friends with others without doing so much as telling her family." At the mention of the word dear friend her eyes flared up and the neck of his coat was tugged down, forcing him to kneel and face her at eye level.
"You and him are not friends. Not after what you did, you maniac." She almost spat in his face, and the image was even more striking because Eric and Elly knew the Kommo-O was physically stronger than Elly's psychic, and Maria's wasn't near hers… so the dragon type had allowed himself to be dragged down to their eye level. Before things could escalate further however, the sound of a staff slamming the ground was heard from behind them, as a massive Rhyhorn in a regal coat, crown, and followed by a veritable ensemble of servants and government officials.
"What is the meaning of this? High Judge, must you and the Orator be at odds on these holy grounds?" The two broke it up, then bowed before the ground type.
"Forgive us, King Harseus. The Seer and I were merely…"
"Orator." She corrected him, the Kommo-O stopping and coughing.
"The… Orator and I were merely catching up, as I asked her about her father's condition."
"Oh, I heard that Sirius' health had vastly improved, and had intended to speak with him in private, so that I might confide in him again… I suppose you have come in his stead then, Orator, to this hastily called Reunion… would it have hurt that blue oaf to give us a few days of notice in advance? It's so inc-"
"You wouldn't be referring to Ferrus, leader of the ETF with that would you?" Eric took offense to that line, having quite a deal of respect for the Lucario, but him speaking back to the king got him looks of befuddlement from his consort, and a panicked one from Elly, as Harseus seemed to short circuit at the idea of someone cutting him off like that.
"...That I would? Excuse me but who are you and how dare you speak to… Oh. That mark on your arm and an Eevee… Oh you are Eric and Elizabeth Star, are you not?" They both nodded. "A pleasure to meet you then, first and foremost. I am King Harseus the IVth, king of Johto. It is unfortunate that we should meet finally today, for I did not come prepared to greet warriors of such… high caliber. I am told you are almost as strong as the High Judge, correct?"
"...No, we're even stronger than he is, especially with the rest of our team at our back." Elly took the chance to further discredit Tharmius, a fact that the king found amusing, with his consort behind him laughing in unison, which was… awkward, to say the least.
"Good! It is that vaunted strength that saved this world, and will surely save it again in its time of need! If only your… administration wasn't so lacking."
"Ferrus is only a pokémon, but he does his job admirably and well."
"Why are you even defending him boy? I doubt he even cares what I would say behind his back, he never has…" He chuckled, clutching his staff and looking at the Riolu more closely. "That being said, you do remind me of him…" He looked at Maria. "Doesn't he, Orator?"
"Remind me of whom, your majesty?"
"Why, of your father. Those intense, fiery eyes, and that defying attitude... Neither he, nor Ferrus ever listen to anything I say, and it seems this one also wishes to swim against the current!" He sighed. "I suppose all Riolus and Lucarios are that way. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall be making my way to the meeting room. The sooner we begin, the sooner we'll be allowed to return to our domestic affairs." He merely walked away after that, which left the Riolu rather miffed.
"Bit of a pompous racist ass no? Of course Riolus and Lucarios look alike, we're all part of the same evolutionary line!"
"I can't believe you just spoke back to a king like that… We could've gotten into some real problems if he'd taken offense to that, you know?" Elly's reprimand went ignored by her mate, who merely shrugged at the idea of pissing off one of the most politically powerful pokémon in the world. Whilst they worked out whether or not he'd done something that could land them in hot water later, Tharmius muttered something that only Maria heard given how shocked she looked after the fact, then left to join the other politicians in the main meeting room. "Everything alright Maria?"
"...Sorry he is… how did he know that we are…?" She shook her head, and apologized to her friends. "Sorry sorry, Tharmius just gets under my skin something fierce."
"Make that two of us sister." The Absol nodded with the Eevee, followed by some giggles from both. "But seriously, what is wrong with him?"
"When I said that he is a psychopath, and the source of many of my personal griefs, as well as the world's… I meant it. Why he is here, I don't know, but he clearly knows why we've come here, and knows more than he lets on. Don't drop your guard in there." With that, she proposed they walk into the room together, which they did, as it quickly filled up, they found Ferrus sitting near the middle of the table, and three empty chairs, which they took quickly, with Eric being nearest, then Elly and Maria furthest away from the Lucario, who looked at the trio.
"I see you truly were acquainted. When she asked if I knew anything of you, I was weary at first, but she later explained some of the events that happened in Yanicelum."
"We didn't have much time to get to know each other, but it was nice to have finally met them regardless… If time allows, would you all like to go for lunch after this?" Whilst Eric and Elly happily accepted, Ferrus could only chuckle bitterly. "I'm afraid we'll be skipping lunch, these meetings tend to last many hours, and with so many representatives from all the nations here… it's likely going to last longer still, beyond what I intend to say and bring forth today. In fact, I suspect it will last even longer because of it."
"...Dinner it is then!" She solved the problem quite swiftly, which robbed a smile from Ferrus lips.
"Then perhaps I shall join you, should I be allowed some rest."
"Speaking of all that though… Ferrus, what is it that was so urgent that you needed us to come flying and sailing across the ocean in half a day? You even said that it was truly a matter upon which the survival of this world hinged, but you've been… awfully lax about it."
"...I will be honest, I've been quite stressed out as of late, and I believe I've just looped back around from being too stressed out to think straight, and now trying to stop myself from suffering a mental breakdown by affording myself some much needed rest, at least before it all comes back again after this meeting. Or during it. That, and your presence here is reassuring and soothing." That got a smile from Eric and Elly, and a chuckle from Maria. "That being said, this matter we'll be discussing today is extremely important and sensitive, so I beg that you'll be willing to support it all."
They answered with nods, and it seemed like the flow of pokémon into the room was finally slowing down, and everyone took their seats. As far as representatives were concerned, because of Sinnoh's lack of political presence, there were none from their own region… except themselves, who had some good insight of the problems that plagued it, so in a way, they were the representatives. To their right and left, Kanto and Johto, separated likely to avoid further conflicts, king Harseus glaring at them and the Kantonian rulers, a large group of elected politicians and presidents that easily took up half of the table. "Wait, are all of those ministers really necessary?" Eric's question seemed to strike a chord with the others, because no one explained or corrected him.
The biggest issues however, laid on the other side of the table: opposite of them was an unfamiliar gruff looking Swampert, who was glaring at everyone else sitting at that table, including them, smoking a cigar and fiddling around with the badges and medals on his coat, likely in an attempt to show off military prowess and dissuade others from conversing. "I think I saw him entering the building before we did. Kakolo, I'm guessing? Looks like a piece of work…"
"Oh he's a character alright." Ferrus essentially confirmed the rumours Elly had heard about him. "Not only was he opposed to any kind of explorer activity in large regions of the Hoennian Archipelago, he's been extremely vocal about you lot after that last mission you performed in Hoenn."
"That was literally ages ago… What's up this guy's ass then? They were literally slavers and cub traffickers."
"Who knows. Nothing can be proven, but you can likely put two and two together." Eric'd learned enough from those comments, glaring back, but getting completely outdone in the glaring department by an Infernape staring them down. She was extremely well dressed, already a rare occurrence wherever you went, but her dress was black with white strips below her waist, a foot on the table and smoking from a fancy pipe, slipping an angry glare at Kakolo, who seemed just about ready to lunge at her. "And that is Yulia. She and her entourage make up the leadership of the Unovan Confederacy."
"Yulia? I've heard about her… I thought she was the head of a massive silk trading empire?" Elly of course knew some stuff about fashion, having seen some dresses and clothing articles for even quadrupeds in shops. Affordable quality was her motto.
"Indeed, but as far as I understand it, in Unovan society, your success and monetary value of your business is key in order to get a footing in the political world. So of course, the richest pokémon are also the ones that hold the most weight politically… and if one of them wants to outright become a leader, then all they've to do is wave their clout in the face of their opponents." Jake had been quite ambiguous about his trip to Unova, but he'd been absolutely clear about their… questionable employment policies. There was a reason Elly hadn't bought a single of those dresses, but the way their business boomed, she had reason to believe very few pokémon cared about how these products were made.
With the stage set and everyone present, including Tharmius, who stood behind the ministers, leaning against the wall, and a Mightyena and an Abra that merely sat at the back near the entrance to the room, the murmuring died down as the session proper began. "Very well then, let the Reunion begin… Before we reach the main topic today and subsequent necessary topics of discussion, if there are any who would raise any griev-" Kakolo's shift of his arm quickly got the minister to correct himself. "...relevant grievances, then we invite you to speak up."
"What, is the fact that I can smell the blood of my countrymen on that monkey's dress not relevant enough of a grievance for you? Or do you insist on remaining oblivious to the truth."
"See, we just started and this simpleton is trying to start another war. Forgotten what happened a few years ago, haven't you?" Things were about to take a turn for the worse before the sound of Harseus' staff striking the ground cut it all short.
"Now now, let's not jump straight at each other's throats, we are here to discuss topics concerning the safety of our world, or so we've been lead to bel-"
"You act as if there was still something worthwhile saving in your rancid country! You, buy and trade with the blood of my citizens, would dare try and quieten me, when nary a week ago pirate ships with Hoennian slaves were spotted near Marisumi's docks?!"
"We do not trade with pirates, we have been very open about these matters before Kakolo, and have kept our agreement on such matters… unless you have reason to believe, and evidence of course, of the contrary? In which case I sincerely hope you procured such evidence legally and are willing to denounce us and prepare for the consequences."
"Pay no mind to him, the savage within yearns to spill blood, as it always has." Her gaggle of followers giggled and chuckled after her comment, and a wry smile on Harseus' face was enough to get the Swampert to stand up, though he was quickly shut down by Ferrus standing up and slamming his paws.
"Frankly, and you will permit me to make this observation, but I find it shameful than on a day such as this you are unable to put your differences aside for the better of our world, and listen to what we have recently uncovered."
"Put our differences aside?" Kakolo laughed, leaning back on his chair. "As if I'd ever get along with these butchers… least of all you. How many times are you going to send your lapdogs into my lands to poke around where they shouldn't?" He glanced at Eric and Elly. "Especially those two over there, I've a bit of a grudge."
"We've never even met though." Eric simply stated, and got a laugh out of both him and Yulia, who seemed to have a bone to pick with them.
"That you do, doing your business and otherwise prancing about within our borders without so much as us agreeing to it… We don't need the help of strangers and the outside world to deal with our own affairs!"
"Furthermore, they're borderline useless when they're on an officially endorsed job… like that excuse of a Sneasel. So much for defending his client, the moment he left the assassin came in to finish the job and disappeared into the night." Jake had told them that personal assignment hadn't gone stellarly a few months back… but he definitely hadn't mentioned outright failure, and thus her statement caught them off-guard. Before they could come up with a rebuttal however, Maria intervened.
"You'll have to forgive my impetuousness, but last I read that 'assassin' was an unrelated third party to the case." She surprised them by knowing more than even they did. "The real threat, Indomatia, as it was discovered, was hired by a high ranking Hoennian politician… so I am afraid if there is anyone here you should be questioning it's…"
"You self aggrandizing bitch!" Kakolo suddenly snapped and slammed his fist on the door. "You dare bring up that snake once again!? Have we not enough to deal with that our own countrymen would resort to such stratagems in order to get back at you butcherers?! And still you must drag our names through the mud by making these self-proclaimed 'truths' of yours known! You, Orator, of all pokémon should know very well the value of lies after all, for your father and the Readers are the greatest perpetrators of them all!"
"Oh give me a break, you're just mad your little scheme got found out… and yes, despite the true assassin being stopped, my dear friend wound up dead in her bed a day after this investigator left."
"I fail to see what a crime committed months ago would have to do with what we are to discuss today." Ferrus attempted to regain control of the situation… but it was in this moment of weakness that Tharmius saw his opportunity, chuckling.
"They provide you funding, do they not? It's plain to see for everyone in this room in which ways the ETF has failed to uphold the peace and tranquility you yourself promised them. But you've the right to say these matters aren't of importance… not when legendary affairs are involved, correct?" Ferrus' puzzled and shocked look made his smirk grow wider. "You thought you were the only one with their eyes and ears to the horizon? We've known for just as long as you did, but we opted to remain quiet… likely for the same reasons you have."
"Now now, it isn't exactly… polite to keep secrets involving legendary affairs." Harseus spoke up as order was restored somewhat to the room, and Ferrus sighed, then stood up, before presenting an aura crystal to the table.
"Correct… so if there are no more matters to discuss today, then let us discuss the matter for which we've been all been called here today: the systematic elimination and murder of legendaries across the world." And with a flash of the crystal, an image was reconstructed for all to see: that of a mangled, battered and ruined corpse, which those knowledgeable enough recognized as Mewtwo's.
The entire room fell deadly silent, and even Tharmius seemed appalled at the damage the mighty psychic legendary had sustained before meeting his demise. "We found his body twenty hours ago, near the west coast of Kanto, amidst various unnaturally formed ravines and craters. Pokémon in the area reported earthquakes and unusual seismic activity, an exploration team was dispatched, and found what you now see. The image has been reconstructed through the use of the aura crystal I am holding in my hand, and is to be preserved in this state, in the event you wanted to see it for yourselves."
"...You're lying, that can't be, Mewtwo's psychic might is unrivaled, and has been for as long as there exist records of his existence. Not a single pokémon has ever been able to defeat, much less kill him." Kakolo found his footing first. "And even then, they are immortal, you cannot kill legendaries, gods!"
"That's what the public believes, and what the common public understands as the nature of legendaries… but the truth is far more complicated. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, as the death, or apparent death of a legendary, whilst tragic, is not a completely uncommon occurrence in history. No… the reason is, as I stated before, that this is not an isolated incident."
"...You mean that there are still more?" Dread quickly spread across the faces of all those present, specially Eric and Elly, who were now starting to realize why they'd been called there that morning.
"Yes, many more." He pulled out a report, and began to read. "Over the last two years, approximately around the time the time freeze began to envelop the world, several legendaries went missing or otherwise vanished with any explanation. Recent interrogations and discoveries however, have led us to believe these legendaries were hunted down and assassinated without the general public's knowledge. Whilst some bodies are yet to be recovered, the following legendaries are confirmed to be deceased, or missing." Thus, he began to read out name after name.
Every single name read out further opened a pit in their stomachs, especially Eric and Elly when they heard names like Groudon, Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf, explaining their silence for the past few years, despite being good friends or acquaintances with them. More names, such as Entei, Raikou, Articuno, Moltres, Heatran, Lugia and Ho-Oh caused a stir. Those unnamed included Zapdos, Suicune, Rayquaza, Dialga and Palkia, Reshiram, Zekrom, and minor legendaries such as Celebi or the mythical Regis. "The latter of course, have never been confirmed to exist, but there is no evidence to believe that this perpetrator has located them eith-"
"Wait… Perpetrator? You mean that all them were…"
"Killed by the same individual, yes. Survivor reports from Suicune and Zapdos provided similar descriptions of the individual in question, which was rarely spotted in the areas surrounding the areas where the aforementioned legendaries dwelled before their demise. While they haven't attempted to cover their tracks and their presence, their method of transportation is currently unknown, nor is there a pattern to their action besides all of their targets being legendaries." He put his paw on the table. "Needless to say, these reports are extremely concerning on their own but t-"
"That they are! You said this has been going on for two years, and yet you sound like you've known about this for just as long!" Yulia's accusation caused Ferrus to fall silent… but then nodded. "You imbecile, how could you deny this information to the rest of the world whilst legendaries were being killed?! Do you not care about the fate of this world?!"
"The fate of this world rests solely on our shoulders and hands." The Mightyena suddenly spoke up with a commanding, booming voice.
"You are living alongside us in harmony, but when matters concerning legendaries arise, they are best left out of sight of mortals." The Abra stood up besides him. " For reasons that are becoming clear to us."
"Who the hell do you think you are, talking down to us like this?!" Their condescending tone didn't go well with the audience, cries of indignation and fury being flung at the duo, only to be swiftly silenced by the Mightyena stomping far harder than he should've physically been able to.
"Fools! Is your vision truly so limited?! Has your greed and pride consumed you so thoroughly you fail to see us for what we truly are?!" The room fell silent, and a silent chuckle from Tharmius was heard.
"I was wondering why you two were standing there, so quiet and reserved, when you are likely the ones to have instigated this madness in the first place." Eric and Elly, being the closest to the duo, turned around to face them, glancing specifically at their jewels: a blue diamond hanging from the Mightyena's neck, and a pink pearl from the Abras. It didn't take long for Elly to put two and two together.
"You're… Dialga?" The context and Tharmius' statement were enough to complete her guess, and the quadruped pokémon glanced at her, and bowed. Eric quickly used his aura vision, and not only did he recognize the ever familiar time legendary, but also the bright pink hue coming from his sister. "Then that Abra's…"
"I see that there are some in this room capable enough of seeing the truth still. And while I definitely expected to see the heroes of time in this room…" He glanced at Tharmius. "Your reputation precedes you, Warrior. We have never met before, nor have you ever peeked at our auras, and yet you knew our identities before we raised our voices."
"Wait, so you're telling me you're the legendary Dialga and Palkia?" Harseus stood at attention, whilst Kakolo laughed.
"I'll believe that when I see it. I am not willing to submit to an insane mongrel w-" He suddenly felt the Mightyena's paw pulling his cigar away, before instantaneously returning to his position behind Eric and Elly, and the Abra flicking her wrist and having it fly upwards and crush against the ceiling without so much as the use of psychic. "...I see the gods have their favourites then."
"Next time stay your tongue and you won't be ridiculed further than you already have." The Abra drily stated, the showcase of their powers beginning a murmur among the pokémon seated. Meanwhile however, Eric and Elly turned around to greet the time legendary properly.
"It's been a long time. How are things at the tower?"
"It has been almost completely reconstructed, though you saying that it has been a long time is… odd, considering I perceive it as if it'd happened not too long ago." The Mightyena smirked. "But I will admit that it is nice to see you two again, for I know you are reliable enough to confront whatever may lay ahead… furthermore, I do believe my sister owes you and your companions an apology. Her assumptions gave you no small amount of grief, or so I've been led to believe."
The Abra scoffed and looked away from the duo, her brother insisting she apologized, much to her chagrin, before she finally gave in. "Very well then, if it'll cease your yapping brother. I apologize for teleporting you and your companions in a fit of rage. I truly believed you to be at fault behind those tears."
"Apology accepted. Honestly, the adventure was overall positive. Being gone for nearly two years though, wasn't, but there's nothing we can do about that at this point." Eric extended a paw to shake with the Abra, and then Elly repeated the gesture, which the legendary returned. "How come you two look like normal pokémon though?"
"It is… complicated to say, but on the rare occasion a legendary must blend themselves with mortals, we may take on mortal forms. Our powers are far more limited in these shapes too, but it prevents panic and minimizes risk." Their conversation was cut short as the murmuring died down and the meeting was allowed to proceed, with Dialga clearing his throat. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, the fate of this world rests squarely on our shoulders: our presence stabilizes reality itself, and our brethren make sure that the planet's natural activities are nowhere near as destructive and dangerous as they would be otherwise. Their absence however, spells the coming of greater and more dangerous catastrophes, and could likely explain many of the issues that ail you all: famines, fertility, earthquakes, torrential storms and draughts, and harsher winters, to name a few."
"That is the way in which this world has operated for eons, and the death of a legendary always marked the coming of a great calamity with a great cost to you mortals. Thus, you have…"
"Hold on, hold on." Yulia had to interrupt. "Slow down, if you will, lady Palkia. But you said that the deaths of legendaries herald calamities? You are saying this as if legendaries aren't immortal beings!"
"We are, in a biological sense. We do not age, our vast energy reserves and power keep us moving and living far beyond the average mortal's lifespan. However, we are not invincible, and in rare cases, mortals have been known to hunt and kill legendaries in often unjustified murder."
"There have been some rare occasions when a legendary has overstepped its boundaries and enforced too much of its will on you mortals. In these cases, other legendaries are expected to step in and stop them, even if it means using lethal force."
"And in many cultures, there are stories of mere mortals, as you call us, standing to the occasion, overcoming the odds and defeating one of your kin in combat, even claiming their lives." Tharmius' statement went unanswered by either of the legendaries, though the glare that they shot his way showed that he wasn't lying. "And yet, in spite of it all, you do not die."
"We do. At the very least, the pokémon we are, but our essence lives on, indestructible and uncontainable, we seek new hosts to inhabit: mortals whom we deem worthy to be our successors. They rarely turn us down, and thus we continue to exist, eventually evolving and assuming our original forms. This is the Cycle of Inheritance, through which we perpetuate our existence and care after this world, no matter the circumstances." The revelation came as a shock to most pokémon at that table, including Eric, Elly and Maria, though the Absol had a slightly delayed reaction…
"This is the reason why this information was kept from the public, along with their insistence that these were legendary matters, and should be kept out of the minds and concerns of mortals. No matter how many legendaries are slain, they will return sooner or later, reincarnating themselves within other mortal pokémon and resuming their activities, inheriting their old memories as well as the new host's." A million questions were racing through their minds, though the one that Eric and Elly shared was whether or not this process was consensual. Perhaps they were better off not knowing, and instead focusing on what Ferrus said next. "Which, finally, brings us to the reason why we are all here today. Understanding now, what the Cycle of Inheritance is and how it dictates and maintains the longevity of our world, perhaps now you will understand the significance of what has been happening over the past two years: legendaries have been slain and slaughtered over this period of time… but to this very day, not a single one of them has returned."
It took a while for the information to settle on their minds, but soon, dread filled their hearts, and Eric looked at Ferrus nervously. "So you're saying that whoever is killing them is keeping their powers?!"
"There is a possibility, or they are being permanently destroyed in some way. Whatever the reason, the only thing we are sure of is that legendaries like Groudon and Kyogre have not reappeared or taken new hosts. Dialga and Palkia confirmed so numerous times with other legendaries, despite waiting for extended periods of time, thinking that they were simply waiting for worthy hosts to be reborn… But after the last few deaths, and still no signs of rebirth, there is no longer any room for doubt: the Cycle of Inheritance has been broken, and with it, the future of our world has become all the bleaker."
The silence that befell the room as the gravity of the situation was finally understood was terrifying; Harseus gripping his staff with both claws uncomfortable, grip trembling, Kakolo failing to light a new cigar, flame flickering in his fingers and almost burning the patch to his digits, and Yulia's pipe trembling and giving out shaky puffs of smoke, amongst a sea of confused, distressed and otherwise grim faces. Tharmius was looking to the ground, eyes closed and deep in thought, whilst Maria was looking to Ferrus, same as Eric and Elly did, the Lucario letting out a sigh of relief as he sat down a little to finally rest. "I am sorry that I kept this all from you… I attempted to guide you to areas close to where some legendaries had been reportedly missing, but instead you only found other kinds of trouble."
"So all of those special missions were really just recon?" It explained their frequency and why he hadn't trusted those kinds of tasks to any other explorers: they knew they were the best of what the ETF had to offer, and if their enemy was powerful enough to subjugate and slay legendaries, and take or destroy their powers… "We understand." Eric finally reasoned, with Elly nodding alongside him, the larger jackal giving them an exhausted, yet relieved look, like he'd finally gotten a weight off his chest.
"It sounds like you had your paws tied during all of this and couldn't relay any of this information to anyone. Still, all of this… it's quite a lot to take in."
"No kidding, my head's spinning." Eric sighed: resurrections, legendaries, the fate of the world… It brought back unpleasant memories of those stressful weeks where they'd had to rush to save the world from the time freeze, and those nightmarish moments before the end. "So I suppose we can't really hang our coats at the end of the day, even after all of that?"
"Make no mistake." Dialga suddenly stepped in. "What you two and your companions accomplished nearly three years ago was nothing short of a miracle, and saved the world as we know it. You yourselves saw what the world looked like, frozen in time. Had you not intervened, your companion gave up his essence, and then finally stopped Blake, there is no telling what might've happened to this world next. And yet it seems your services are needed once again, and this time your opponent is mightier still."
"On that note actually… Ferrus, you mentioned that there were reports and sightings of the culprit: who was it? You've neglected to tell us." Elly's question was shared by many of those present, and Ferrus nodded, hanging out a document compiling the description of the attacker, as well as a rough sketch.
"Needless to say, I would expect all politicians and members of regional and national law enforcement to cooperate in apprehending this criminal. Whilst there is no telling what kind of powers or abilities they may have, we have a rough idea of their weaponry of choice, as well as…"
"Eric! It's…" Elly's gasp caught Ferrus' attention, and the Riolu's face drained of colour. Whilst there wasn't much to go off of in terms of their actual, physical appearance, their clothing showed much more than it intended: the ever familiar black cloak, hooded figure and hidden features, bipedal, and weaponry that emitted light of various colours. All of it was undoubtedly similar to the same figure that had attacked them before being transported away by Palkia, had chased them to that other world, and they'd once again encountered at the bottom of the Crimsand Ruins. Slowly but surely, it all connected.
"Do you know this figure?" Even Tharmius was looking at the leaders of Team Star, as Eric nodded slowly.
"He's the reason we were attacked by Palkia in the first place, and the supposed leader of those terrorists that hired Indomatia, that used the Parasite… The description matches him and when we fought him he used techniques and abilities unlike anything we'd seen, on top of teleporting and moving in unnatural ways."
"Abilities that only legendary pokémon have, similar to my own?" Palkia was referring to the evident space warping and teleportation they'd seen, and of course, they nodded.
"If that's the case… then we have even more reasons to find and hunt them down." The Riolu looked around and stood up. "Whilst many of you here doubt and question us and our abilities, let me tell you this: we have fought this individual multiple times in the past, and him and his lackeys are behind many of the attacks and other similar catastrophes of the past few months."
"A few days ago however, we were able to eliminate one of them: the assassin, Indomatia, who attacked us in retribution to destroying a large Rebscura in the region of Sinnoh. We have foiled their plans time and time again, and we will continue to do so. We won't stop, and we won't fall, and we'll stop them and undo all the damage they have caused, like we did with the time freeze. This, we promise!" Elly's words and Eric's confidence stirred some of those president to clap and cheer, a small, yet shining glimmer of hope in the dark future that had been outlined by Ferrus. The Lucario nodded and a smile betrayed his lips, whilst Maria was outright clapping for them.
"See sister? I believe I told you that asking for their assistance would be beneficial." Dialga had the biggest shit eating grin on his face, whilst the Abra rolled her eyes, elbowing his side, and thanking the leaders of Team Star for taking this assignment… but amongst all of this excitement, they heard someone's laughter, louder than anyone's clapping or cheering. It was Kakolo, sitting opposite of them, and whose roaring laughter eventually faded into chuckling, smoking from his new cigar.
"Oh you are simply too much, I'm telling you too much. Yes yes, the little kids believe they can save the world once again, of that I am not uncertain… But a better question is if there'll be a world left to save then." He took a long huff from his cigar, blowing it their way. "Let me ask you this: how long do you believe it will take you to bring this elusive criminal to justice? Where is he? His motivation, his method, anything? Do you truly know anything about him, or are you simply riding on the fact that you had a few lucky scraps with him where you escaped with your lives due to technicality?"
"However long it will take we will make sure there's no more like him." Elly fired back, but the Swampert shook his head.
"Again, that depends. And I'm not talking about the end of the world, which will be brought about if, indeed, the legendaries do not return… But ask yourselves this: while you are having your own adventure, hunting down the most terrible of monsters and doing these legendaries' busywork… Who's going to feed our children? Who will protect our families? Who will grow our crops, when our farmers are starving, dead, or attempting to earn coin in whatever way possible as they are worked to the bone, working soil that grows less than a tenth of what it did twenty years ago? Can you do that? In all your might and glory, can you stop the people from eating each other for survival? And even more importantly… as tensions mount, foodstuffs become more scarce, and certain regions suffer, whilst others may prosper by comparison…"
"Even in these dire circumstances you still won't be willing to come together against a common enemy?!" Maria's indignation was palpable.
"Shut up, bitch. You, who lives at the top of that white tower, looking down at the rest of us down here has no right to tell us to get together, play nice and with each other and share our toys with the rest. I've no obligation to share my food or people, at least willingly, with these butchers and nobles. Just as much as they have to spare and send provisions to aid my countrymen in our time of need. They never did so when the circumstances were just as dire, if not worse, and they certainly won't now… No, our nations' weaknesses will only community one thing and one thing only: not the spirit to help your fellow pokémon, not pity, nor sadness, but instead flagging us for conquest. To perpetuate your own nation, your own people, your own existence and position as the head of a country, I've no doubt that any of us in this room will even hesitate about going to war to claim what they wish."
He glanced at Harseus. "What they believe is rightfully theirs." He looked at Yulia. "Or what they believe will be more profitable." He then turned his gaze to Ferrus, Eric and Elly. "We can only wait. Bide our time, pick our allies carefully, and plan out for the long, cold, harsh winter ahead of us, alone, swords at the ready. Hungry and malnourished, waiting for the cracks in the walls to show. And in that moment, there will be blood spilled, and our world will know a war the likes of which you have never seen." He directed one final glance at the legendaries, before sitting back on his chair.
"The only thing remaining to be asked is… who will draw their blade first?"
Coming up on the end of this first part of the story! I'm sure some of you can already see where this is headed… but I still certainly hope you'll be surprised!