I felt the monster just sit and wait to pounce if needed. I felt him holding me up as my strength slowly returned. Everyone stared and waited in terrible anticipation of what could happen. I could feel fear and excitement swirl through the air. I didn't want to move until I saw it. I saw a flash of nervous aura shoot out from General Hawl.

He bolted forward, but his nervous aura gave away his position faster than his movements. I was able to avoid his attacks just barely. Each attack skimmed my fur, but he couldn't land a hit anymore. His feelings were making him slower. I could see the surprised looks grow larger on the faces of the other Pokémon. I felt my muscles tense a little and heard a growl echo in my ears.

I felt the monster try and turn my attention back to the felt a punch land and sent me spinning to the floor. I slowly looked up and saw his looming over me. His fear and nervous aura were gone. Only rage and anger seeped from him, but it was all gone as he stuck out a hand. I grabbed it and before I knew it, I was on my feet and the general was patting me on the back.

"It's been too long since someone has stood up against me. You held out longer than I thought my boy. You may not have the strength to fight the darkness alone, but you do have the courage to fight it and I can get behind that. Let me add my strength to yours." The general said with a smile on his face.

I looked at the council who barely moved from their chairs, but they slowly looked at each other. With no objection, the legendries came forward with joy spilling from them. Tarik's team followed and patted me on the back. They laughed and congratulated me for what they called stupidity for standing up to the general.

"Well, it looks like we have the support of the guild. We suggest that you prepare yourself for the time being. It looks like some of the council members are not on the same side." Latias whispered to me.

I felt relief fill my heart and turned to see that my team was already leaving the council room. I took the opportunity and left the council room just as some of the members gained the courage to speak up to General Hawl.

As my mind calmed and my boiling blood rested, I could feel the adrenaline leave my muscles. It became hard for me to stand and stay focused as the others spoke around me. Latias slowly appeared behind me and took over the conversations that I was being pulled into. She slowly pushed me out of the council room and saved me. I leaned against the hallway wall. I felt my stomachache and growl at me. I felt woozy and sluggish. I felt someone grab me before I stumbled to the ground. I looked up and saw Katrina holding me with a smile on her face.

"Come on. Let's get you something to eat. We need to regain our strength." She half-carried me and walked next to me to the cafeteria.

I felt something heavy land on me and heard laughter. "You did awesome in there dude! I don't think anyone has ever stood up to the general like you did!"

"Get off him, you idiot! You are gonna make them fall over." I heard Zeina say as she grabbed Carter by his collar and throw him off me. It made me chuckle and smile. Zeina hobbled ahead to lead us to the cafeteria.

"Oh, come on Zeina. You gotta be happy too that Koro isn't dead right?" he yelled as he hopped to catch up with Zeina. Katrina gave a small giggle. I saw a little red sneak through the fur on her cheeks as I watched her giggle.

We entered the cafeteria to hear the clammer of the other squads. As we walked to an open table, the other squads noticed our entry. As we sat down the clammer slowly dissipated. They all watched our squad carefully as we situated ourselves. Carter and Zeina both offered to grab us food, but that didn't cause the rest of the cafeteria to return to normal. They all continued to stare and wait for us to move. Only when Carter returned with food and laughter did the rest of the cafeteria disregard us.

Zeina appeared with bandages around her arm and frustration in her eyes. "I saved a seat for us somewhere else, but I guess we will sit here."

I didn't understand why she was accusing us of leaving her behind, but I didn't really want to focus on her, the food was too enthralling for me. My body was regaining its strength and waking up again. Katrina watching the other pokemon. Her original stare from when we first met returned. Her stare that could kill, her wall of protection. A wall that she had let down for me. Because she trusts me. I will not let that trust go to waste.

I began thinking about the purpose given to me by Latios and Latias. The purpose of a human. A fighter for this world. To save it. I bet there will be a fight against the darkness itself. Memories of my fight with Elizabeth. I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't finish the fight. I need to get stronger.

I quickly finished my food and stood to leave. Katrina looked at me and everyone else had a questioning face. "I will see you guys later. I will be in the training grounds when you guys are done."

Carter tried to protest but choked on his food, Zeina nodded in approval, and Katrina looked at me with concern in her eyes. I could see that she wanted to go with me, but I needed to be alone for this.

A lot of pokemon froze I walked to the door and left the cafeteria. I felt a sigh of relief in the aura as I left the room. I made my way to the training area and went over to the hanging logs and began setting the logs.

I closed my eyes and waited for the logs to fall just as before. They swung and I easily moved out of the way of the logs. I did this exercise until the sun was almost going down. Sweat was running down my brows, but it didn't feel like enough. I need to do more than just dodge the logs.

I set the logs again and let them lose. As the logs were rushing toward me. I stood instead of an evasion stance, but an attack stance. I felt an aura build up in the palms of my paws. I swung my fist at the first approaching log and felt the compressed aura burst forward and explode the log. I quickly repeated the feeling of aura in my paws and destroyed the rest of the logs. By the end, all the logs were destroyed, and wood splinters littered the floor. My arms were weak and buzzing from the energy that was flooding through them. I smiled a little at my own destruction, but it still felt like enough.

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