The Tvrđava was located on the outskirts of northern Avantura. It was isolated in the Avantura Mountain Range with no one daring to approach itThe black fortress was perfect for the base of operations for The Righteous. The group that opposed every single thing that The Institute stood for. In fact they hated everything Avantura had become. It had gone from a peaceful, prosperous nation that opposed greed to a country full of corruption. The a righteous blamed the university for infecting their beloved homeland with greed and foreigners. The a righteous wanted to tear down the walls of The Institute to do it. Sure their methods were extreme, but extreme times called for extreme measures such as kidnapping, poaching Pokémon, etc. Whatever it took to reach their end goal. They were extremely devoted to their cause. Some had called them terrorists, but who were the real terrorists? The Righteous or the people that had corrupted their beloved country? They knew the answer.
This was why people like Marcia Lovren had joined up with the Righteous. She had seen how her homeland had been ruined. Been destroyed by the corrupt forces of The Institute. That was why the 21 year old had joined up with the organization four years ago. She had worked her way up the ranks from a masked, faceless grunt to a General in the organization. She was as vicious and fiery as her red hair. She considered herself to be the top general in the Righteous. Sure, people like Kuroku, who was masquerading as a senior at that hellish university, thought he was stronger. She had proven him wrong time and time again. She had no blemishes on her record. That was until that night at Dexter's where she and her elite grunts had been defeated by Dexter and a group of university students. She felt humiliated and she wanted one chance at revenge. That is all she would need. There was only one complication to her quest.
Melody Monet, the freak as Marcia called her, was related to Dexter. This was a massive hitch in Marcia's plan. It was clear that their leader favored Melody and listened to her. It was her idea that they try and bring Dexter into the fold. That of course had failed and a few of the elite grunts had been arrested. Of course then Melody had exposed herself to her brother which made the situation even worse. Of course Dexter hadn't seen Melody because of her stupid mask. That was why Marcia always called Melody a freak because she never took that stupid mask off. It was bizarre. Marcia did not understand why the leader favored Melody. She had failed in her plans to convert her brother to The Righteous. The only thing Marcia could think of was the fact that Melody had a Darkrai. The leader had a hard on for legendary Pokémon lately so that probably explained why he had favored Melody over superstars like Marcia. If only she didn't have that Darkrai.Marcia had a plan to get rid of that Darkrai for once and for all. Marcia had been studying what could possibly take down that legendary and make it hers. In fighting between the Righteous was common, it was how Marcia had made her way up through the organization.
The Leader had called a special meeting amongst the three top generals, that was Kuroku, Marcia, and Melody. Kuroku, the black haired asshole who was a student at The Institute still wore that confident smirk of his. Afterall he had won the university's own competition last year. He was training a young freshman named Rex on the benefits of The Righteous. That had been his mission and he succeeded. Melody sat across from Marcia in the headquarters of The Righteous. 'She's still wearing that stupid mask', Marcia thought. A large big screen was pinned to the wall in front of the table they sat at. None of the, had actually seen The Leader in person. They didn't know what he looked like as he had always kept himself hidden in the shadows. They had become accustomed to this, meeting in this hall. It was fine. All three hated each other, but this was who the leader had wanted to meet with so they put their differences aside.
"Well that was a great mission you went on, Marcia.", Kuroku cackled. The cocky bastard slumped in his chair with that smirk. He thought he was the best. Marcia snarled at him which caused him to smile more. "I mean imagine losing to those students and then nearly getting arrested. Pathetic. But that is why I am the top general here. I haven't failed yet nor will I." Marcia wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. She kept her composure though. She just cracked her neck, "don't get to cocky Kuroku. Let us remember the last time you tried to battle me what happened. I believe I didn't lose a single Pokémon and wiped out your whole team. It was pretty bad.", Kuroku's smirk faded as Marcia smiled. She knew that she had outsmarted her little brat of a colleague. Marcia even thought she heard a laugh escape Melody's lips. Apparently she hated Kuroku as well.
"Ahem", the bickering between the three generals was interrupted when they heard that all too familiar voice. The Leader had come onto the camera. Of course they did not see the person, but they saw the familiar figure. The Corviknight that he had perched on his seat stared at them with its red eyes. There was something evil about that Pokémon and they all knew it. It even set shivers up Marcia's spine and she was a ghost type master. That Corviknight was not a normal Pokémon, it was corrupted and filled with hate. All three of the generals got up and saluted the figure of the leader. Whatever differences they all had with one another would be put aside. They had busines to attend to. Marcia knew that she was going to get chewed out. She was mentally prepared for it. The leader did not accept failure. So Marcia knew this was going to be bad. Of course it had not been her idea, but she knew better than to question Melody in front of the Leader.
"Now that the formalities are over, let us get onto our business. Marcia, give us a status report on your mission.", his voice was filled of menace. Marcia gulped internally as she stood up. The red head could feel Kuroku with that smirk back on his face. Melody stared at her with the coldness of her mask. This was why she was the freak. There was a coldness in her gaze, it freaked Marcia out. She hated being the one to give bad news now. "We made contact with Dexter Monet, as you suggested. He was extremely hostile. We went to neutralize him, but there was a complication.", she gulped. It wasn't often that she got nervous, but delivering this news was not good for the red head. "He was not alone. There were students from The Institute there. I managed to defeat one of them, but my grunts failed to capture them. We did manage to destroy the bar as a warning to Dexter.", Melody made a noise that sounded like she snarl at that remark. Marcia waited to be reamed out by her superior.
"Was there a Mega. A Mega Noivern?", all three of the generals looked at the screen. They were surprised that The Leader had not yelled at Marcia for her failures. He was quick to anger and had destroyed those that had failed him before. But Marcia had not been yelled at. This was bizarre, even the red head was shocked by his reaction. She was also shocked that he knew about the mega noivern. She knew that the Leader was smart, but this went beyond all of that. Marcia nodded, "yes, sir. There was a girl there with pink hair who had a mega Noivern. She couldn't really control it by all reports, but it was still extremely strong. That was why we had to retreat. That mega Noivern was super strong and super aggressive. I apologize for my failure, but that was why we were not successful." Marcia prepared for the worst. She wasn't one to make excuses, but that Noivern was a beast of a different nature.
Melody tilted her head. She liked a challenge and she had never fought a mega before. The nightmare girl would have loved to have fought the Mega Noivern. Kuroku knew exactly who was behind the Noivern. She was a freshman who seemed to be more interested in flirting with Davis Walkmen's niece than fighting. How she had a Noivern and a mega blew his mind. Nikki something was her name. She was annoying and Kuroku would shut her up and end up taking her Mega Noivern. "Leader, I know this girl. She is in one of my classes. Rex, my protege, is in her grade. Please allow me to take out this girl out as a reminder what happens when you mess with the Righteous.", both Melody and Marcia wanted to kill him. This was supposed to be Marcia's revenge yet here was Kuroku trying to steal it from her. Melody wanted to test her Darkrai against the Noivern. They both stared at Kuroku.
"An interesting proposal. But this girl is very special. She is the key to unlocking the legendary trio. No harm can fall on her. I do not want her harmed. Her friends I do not care about. Do not harm her. Now speaking about the legendaries I have some new information that I wish to discuss.", the generals nodded. They knew that they had to up their efforts to find the clues to the legendary trio. The trio was the key to restoring the glory of Avantura. Back when the trio roamed the land, Avantura disappeared once the institute arose. Many in the Righteous felt that it was the Babic family that had caused their disappearance. They had to be restored in order to bring the glory of their home land. They looked at the screen , "I have heard that there will be a group of students going to different areas of Avantura looking for clues to the trio. I want the grunts and you three to deal with them personally. Stop the, from getting clues.", he delivered the news.
Marcia's eyes lit up. Now she really could get her revenge on the students. This was what she wanted. She licked her lips. "Marcia, I want you to go to the Gold Coast. Send your grunts into the city and villages there. You I want you on the coast itself. There have been reports about a possible clue there. That is where a group of females will go apparently. I want you to deal with them.", Leader instructed. Marcia nidded though she was disappointed. She had been sent to the coast before and had found no trace of any clues there. But apparently there would be some students there. She wanted to have her revenge. Especially if it was on the mouthy brunette she had met at Dexter's. According to Kuroku, the girl had somehow survived the injuries and poison. She wouldn't survive the next time. Marcia would make sure of that this time. The thought caused a twisted smile to appear on her face.
The leader would then focus on Kuroku. "Kuroku, I want you to go to the historic city. The last person I sent there failed me spectacularly. They were abysmal. That is why you have taken their place. I want you to bring some grunts there. I have been 8nformed that their are multiple clues hidden within the grounds there. I want you to bring them all to me. Do not fail.", Kuroku smirked and gave a side eye to Marcia. He was being sent to the more exciting and adventurous Povijesni. Povijesni was located in the middle of Avantura and was home to tourists that wanted to come to see the old ruins of the country. Marcia had been punished for her horrific failure. Kuroku would bring Rex along in order to fully indoctorate him into the Righteous. And if he so happened to see an old rival there then so be it. He would stop her. He suspected that her group of friends was behind this little expedition. This was the perfect assignment for the vicious 21 year old.
Melody would be next. She hated the leader. Hated everything he stood for. That was why she wanted to reconnect with Dexter. So much had been done to her here. She was battered physically and emotionally. That was why she had found her Darkrai because of her pain. She needed to find Dexter again. When Melody had heard that this bastard called leader had found another girl that he was interested in. She had scowled under her mask at that. 'Hopefully not special like how I was.', if she was ever going to meet the leader in person then she would torture him like she had been. Her Darkeai would send him into his worst nightmares. Same for the two idiots that sat before her. But Melody would save them for later. Right now she had to warn whatever students were going into the woods about what this sick bastard had planned. Perhaps they knew where her brother was. Dexter would know how to handle all of this. She needed to find him and meeting with the students could lead her to him. She would do it in quiet without the grunts especially if she was being sent where she hoped she would be.
"Ms. Monet, will your brother be a problem? I know that you saw him at the destruction you all left in Zlato. I hope that this is not the case. Because if it is.", the other two stared at her. They wanted to see if the stone wall that was Melody Monet would crack. They actually wanted her to crack as she never did. They never could seem to see her weakness. Even when they "inducted" her into the Righteous she never cracked. But now perhaps she would with mention of her brother. Both Marcia and Kuroku stared at her hoping that the masked girl would crack. Of course they couldn't see anything on her face, but they would read her body language. But she still remained steadfast and unshaken. "If I see my brother again, I will be sure to give him a reminder about how he crushed me. How he left me for dead with our shitty parents. Oh how I want to take him out", the masked blonde lied and hoped they wouldn't notice.
"Excellent. You will be going to the Dark Woods. Now, I know that one of these students had a run in with one of our grunts here last year. If he is there again, I want you to take him out.", the masked female nodded. Of course she wouldn't, but she just wanted to pretend that she would. "You have all been tasked with important roles and missions. I want this to be a success. If you all fail me then do not bother contacting me again. This is important for our cause. If you fail then not even the safe havens of Avantura will be able to hide you from my wrath. I hope you all understand that. Do not fail.", with that the Leader of the Righteous had shut off his screen. The other three looked at one another. They all had their missions that they had to accomplish. In Melody Monet's case, hers was the most important of all.
His father was weak. Franz Babic had watched his father wither and die from the criticism that he faced. He allowed the outsiders to dictate to him. To allow the plebs control what happened at The Institute. He watched his weak father die under pressure to change. Luka Babic allowed them to put holes in the Institute's armor. Franz Babic did not have that issue. He had decided to crush the opposition in the way he knew how. That was to destroy them from the inside. That was why he had created The Righteous. It was his way of making those that critiqued his beloved university seem crazy. What was better than making the staunchest critics look like terrorists. They would not have standing in the rest of Avantura because of their actions. They would be called kooks and conspiracy theorists. It was a brilliant idea. He had brought the government and public closer to The Institute because they were scared of The Righteous. No one would hear their arguments even if they had merit. Franz had done what Luka was too scared to do.
The cherry on top was that no one questioned why Franz Babic and some professors at the university were so adamant to find The legendary trio. With The Righteous running around causing chaos and destruction no one was looking at the fact the university was conducting experiments to find the there legendaries. Fire, water, and wind had unlimited power. The power to make Franz Babic and the Institute the most powerful organization in the world. 'The Endless War', was not just a myth that was told to children. The three beings were real, they had existed long ago. Franz wanted to bring them back in order to reestablish Avantura as the greatest Pokémon region. Avantura had fallen on hard times outside of The Institute. Their rivals Galar and Kalos had surpassed them in standing. If Franz and the Institute could unleash these three beasts and bring back prosperity to Avantura, they would be national heroes. Of course Nikki was the key to this.
Franz Babic sat, after his faux meeting with the idiots in The Righteous. He stroked his beloved Corviknight, Wrath, as he took a sip of his champagne. He looked in the doorway where his Alakazaam, Felix, floated. Speaking of Nikki, there had been a problem when she had visited a week ago. Felix had read her mind and found out that she and her idiot friends had decided to get had put a kink in Franz's plans initially. Students getting hurt would be poor public relations and that was what Franz was concerned about. But then he thought about it, if these students could find the clues to the legendaries then Felix could read Nikki's mind. Or she would just blurt it out to her beloved godfather. If one of her friends got hurt in the meantime that was fine. He could then use it to help turn the authorities on the loose ends. If a student got hurt or killed then The Righteous would lose any of the little standing they had left. The Institute would be the winners either way. Just as long as Nikki wasn't hurt. His goddaughter needed to be protected. She would be the one that could unlock the legendary trio.
Ooc: Ok this is a shorter chapter, but I wanted to get it up. Was the big bad who you thought it would be? Introduced some new characters and areas. I don't usually do two chapters a day, but I wanted to get this one out today. Are your minds blown? Next chapter we go back and check in on some fan favorites not named Kat.