Hello. It's been a long time for real.
Sorry for the wait, I had problems to deal with but this chapter is finally out. And I'm kinda proud of what it is ^^.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon
Chapter 4: Firstone
It's been 3 days the group began their travel to Firstone. Lurio discovered landscapes he never saw before. They travelled into different ones like the yellow plains. This one catched the Lucario's attention. Seen from far away, those plains really looked like completely yellow because of the many yellow flowers planted. There were some trees placed at random places with fruits growing on the branches. It was a really calm place. There was only the light breeze blowing across the flowers and leafs on the trees. Lurio stopped sometimes to listen the wind and the dancing leafs. The others called him each time his mind was somewhere else. Then they finally arrived at Firstone city. The buildings were as tall, maybe even taller than Shatmeen's buildings. Except they were made of red rocks and the roofs were tiled. The main building was at the center of the place, composed of three buildings, the center one was larger and taller. The city was connected to a red mountain, that's probably why the buildings were mostly made of red rocks. The streets were larger, making the Lucario feeling not as tall as he did in Shatmeen. There is many guards patrolling and the combat type did only see fire types. When they arrived at the front door of the main building, Gaby explained what to do:
"Well we're here. I'm going to try to talk to the city leader with Charles. You two wanna come?"
"I do." Gre answered.
"I won't, I want to explore the city for a bit and see what I can find." Lurio answered.
The Garchomp nodded: "Alright then. We'll wait you here when we're finished."
And they went in. The Lucario began to walk at random places, watching the different shops and the patrols. He wondered why so many patrols were in the city. Is the city leader scared of something or someone?
"Hey."
He turned around to see a Magmortar looking at him, closely, this voice was familiar.
"It's been a while then."
"Umm... Did we..."
"You tried to blow me up a while ago."
Lurio recalled. The Magmortar was Mack. He did a step bakwards.
"Do not be wary. I forgived you for that."
He took a normal position again, still wary. He decided to finally talk:
"Yeah. It's been a while..."
They both stayed silent, not knowing what to say. The Lucario noticed the Magmortar was trying to say something. The fire type decided to finally spit out:
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Lurio answered hurriedly before he could understand why.
"For hurting you. I was just a kid and uhh... making you fight me was stupid."
Mack seemed sincere. His face was clearly telling he was regretting his acts.
"Don't worry. I forgived you too. And I was feeling something was wrong."
"What?" Mack looked really surprised by this observation.
"Yeah you didn't seem to really want to do this."
"You must be wrong. I was secretly a bully and nobody knew."
"Really? Then why did you tell me you had to do this?"
The Magmortar stayed silent, searching an answer to this. He was clearly trying to hide something to me. But what? He finally answered:
"I did tell you that just to make an excuse. That's all..."
"Yeah..." the Lucario was sceptical to this answer.
A Typhlosion called Mack, ordering him to rejoin the group. He nodded and went off while waving at Lurio. This conversation was weird. Mack was still hiding something, even after such a long time. It must be something important in his life if he had to hide it for a long time. The blue furred Pokémon returned to the main building, with Gaby, Charles and Gre waiting.
"So how was it?"Lurio asked.
"They didn't want us to meet this guy." Gaby answered. "They said the rumors were only rumors and they don't have poofs to tell that the Lucarios are here."
"We'll probably stay awake in the night to see what would happen." the Charizard added.
Lurio nodded and suddenly he saw on his left a lopunny staring at them behind a wall. She noticed he spotted her and went away quickly. The Lucario sprinted towards her direction and when he reached the alley where she was. She was completely gone. The others joined him:
"What did you see?" Gre asked.
"A Lopunny. She was spying at us behind this wall..."
"You are sure?" Charles asked.
"Yeah, if you run away when we notice you, that's the case right?"
"Well it can be..." Gaby answered. "Anyway, we also decided to ask the citizens if they saw something. If you see that Lopunny again, just go ask her why she ran away."
"Alright." Lurio nodded.
The rest of the day was just about sicking informations in vain. People either say "no", either they say they thought seeing something strange the other day. But every time a guard who was passing by said there was nothing at this place. The Lucario was getting tired of all of this. The Lopunny was nowhere, he looked everywhere but no sign of them. The day was becoming more strange with Mack's secret and the Lopunny. He ended getting outside, to watch the sunset. Gre also joined him:
"Something on your side?" the Greninja asked.
"No. What about you?"
"Nothing and the others neither. We should probably go tomorrow."
"No, not yet."
"Why? It's for that Lopunny?"
"There is someone else... Mack."
Gre's eyes widened, recalling immmediately who he was: "He's here?"
"Yeah, and he's still hiding something from me..."
"What do you mean?"
"When we were kids, he told me he had to bully that child. Now he told me it was just an excuse but I don't believe him."
"I see."
They stayed silent for a moment, contemplating the sun. They sat on the grass and was now waiting for Gaby and Charles. Lurio decided to meditate for a moment. He was feeling the soft breeze blowing on his body, hearing the different noises of the city, the grass, his own breathing. It was becoming lower, until the silence took place. He felt his own aura, visualizing it. It had the Lucario's shape, blue, burning. Suddenly he saw another one, it was bigger, agitated, more powerful, the blue was lighter, it was more powerful. Then it turned to the red. The aura was becoming hostile and began to invade his whole vision. He was only seeing red.
"Lurio."
The aura had the eyes opened, they were red, like blood. It was staring at him.
"Lurio?"
His head began to hurt. Suddenly a voice came out. A really deep one:
"We are... the Lucarios... we are..."
"Lurio!"
He woke up. He almost fell backwards, breathing loudly. It was almost the night. Gre was sitting in front of him, worried. With Mack behind him.
"Lurio, are you okay?" Gre asked.
"Uhh... yeah. Just... a nightmare."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, don't worry too much."
He wasn't sure at all. It was a strange dream. The red aura was powerful. It looked the same as the lucario they met a while ago. But the voice was completely unknown from him. He didn't hear the full sentence but... it seemed familiar...
"You were meditating for like one hour buddy." Mack added.
"Oh. But you're here?"
"My work is finished. I'm free for now."
"Mack came and told me how he got there." Gre said.
"My family moved here just after our little battle and I entered in the military academy of Firstone."
"That's why you disappeared." the Lucario commentated.
"Yeah kinda."
The Magmortar looked around and stepped backwards.
"Well I gotta go, bye guys."
Gre and Lurio waved at him. The Garchomp and the Charizard finally joined them, tired. Gaby decided to begin the complaints:
"Only rumors, rumors... I'm pissed off of this."
"Do not get angry, for now." Charles calmed him down, decided to control himself. "Well we didn't find something. We'll still stay awake during the night. In case something would happen."
The others nodded and returned inside of the city. Torches have been lighten up. The city had now a sinister aspect. Guards were still patrolling in the streets, less numerous than before. The group stayed near of the main building, trying to be discreet. Lurio began to want to sleep after a few hours. His eyes were almost closing but Gre helped him staying awake by slapping gently his face. Gre was used to stay awake in the night thanks to his experience as a bounty hunter. The Lucario was now watching the sky, full of little stars. Surprisingly, it helped him to stay awake. Suddenly he saw a figure on the roofs. It was moving. The Lucario stood up and told his mates:
"There's someone on the roofs!"
"What?" the others said together.
They all looked upwards and saw it. Garchomp looked bothered:
"Go on. I'll try to follow you down here."
"Why?" Gre asked.
"Gaby is heavier than you think." Charles explained with a smile.
Gre and Lurio climbed up a building and, arrived at the top, the mysterious Pokémon noticed them and ran away. The two followed it, trying to catch it up. The Charizard took off and flew towards the running figure. It was fast and were able to jump over the void between the buildings. Gre was catching up while Lurio was still behind, trying to be as fast as the Greninja was. Lurio began to recognize the figure thanks to its big ears. Her big ears. The Lopunny looked behind, panicked. She seemed to not want to fight. The guards who were down noticed them and yelled at them to immediately stop. They weren't listening so what they feared happened: two Chandelures were sent on the roofs and two Talonflames took off to stop them. A Talonflame took the Lopunny as a target. The others aimed for the group. The two Chandelures blocked the way of Gre and Lurio and were ready to fire. Charles seemed to know what to do:
"Lurio, continue to follow that Lopunny! Gre, help me to take care of these guys!"
"But Gre is the best for..." the Lucario protested.
"Yeah but you can't do much things against them, especially against those Chandelures. And even if you know darkpulse they won't let you do it and they'll focus on you! So go now!"
Lurio nodded and jumped over the two specter types. When they were about to shoot a flamethrower, Gre threw into them a water shuriken, hurting one of them.
"Let him go! I'm yours now!"
The Lucario ran as fast as he can. The lopunny was far away but he faster. The Talonflame did a flare blitz towards her but she did an acrobatic jump high enough to dodge it. The Talonflame almost flought into a building. When he turned around, he noticed the Lucario and decided to ignore it. Lurio, seeing this, accelerated, his fear of the flying type to attack him disappeared. He was now closer of the Lopunny but they were close to the edge of the city. She was about to escape. He had to be faster! Fortunately, the Talonflame managed to block the way of the normal type. She fell backwards by surprise. He was getting closer but his eyes widened when the fire type was about to do a flare blitz towards his two targets. He jumped aside and the Talonflame did the attack. Lurio expected to see the Lopunny being thrown but what happened was the contrary: she did a backward roll and held to the edge of the building's roof. The Talonflame was this time surprised and flought into a building. He fell unconscious at the impact and fell on the ground. He was knocked out. Lurio came closer of the Lopunny, wanting to help her.
"Please don't be scared. I don't want to hurt you."
She stayed silent but nodded. He pulled her out and when she was standing on the roof, Lurio finally asked:
"So why did you run away?"
She stayed silent again. The Lucario felt that she was scared of something. She was scared of him but there was something else, which scared her more than him. She finally answered, with uneasiness:
"I... I can't tell you."
"What are you scared of? You can tell..."
But she ran away. She jumped over the high walls and disappeared. Gre and Charles catched him up. Seeing him alone, Charles asked:
"Where is she?"
"She ran away. She was scared of something though."
"That's maybe the reason why she was acting so."
"How can you tell that?"
"I have experience kid."
Suddenly several guards appeared on the roof where they were standing on. A Typhlosion was the officer and began to threat them:
"You're surrounded! Surrender or we'll open fire!"
Charles tried to resonate:
"Officer, let me explain you..."
"Don't bother me. You are with that Lopunny aren't you? Your friend the lucario helped her by knocking out our Talonflame adn let her go! So..."
"That talonflame just flought into the building right over there! I didn't do anything!" Lurio replied, pointing the damaged building.
"Yeah yeah and I'm..."
Charles tried to resonate again: "Officer let me talk please. We were pursuiting that lopunny because she was suspicious. We aren't with her or something like that. My mate here helped her so he would gain her confidence so he'd be able to have some answers. Unfortunately it didn't work."
"How can I tell you aren't lying?"
The Charizard opened his bag and pulled out a paper. It was his certificate of bounty hunter.
"I am a bounty hunter like the Greninja here. The Lucario is a close friend of him."
The Typhlosion seemed convinced. He did a sign to the other guards, telling them to not open fire.
"Okay. But the fact that four of my men are down because of you won't be forgotten. I authorize you to see our chief so you'll tell him why you're here and he'll tell you how to help us to get that Lopunny."
"What did she do officer?"
"He'll explain you."
They climbed down the building excorted by the guards. Gaby joined them, looking confused:
"What's going on?"
"We're going to see the city leader so come" Charles answered.
"Another friend?" The Typhlosion asked.
"Yes officer."
"Alright then."
When they reached the front doors of the main building, the doors opened, letting appear a big hall. There was a big round red and orange carpet and pillars were placed around it. The floor was wooden and stairs were leading to the next floor. The officer ordered his men to stay here and led the way to the group. They arrived at the last floor and there were a corridor leading to doors. The Typhlosion knocked them.
"Master I'm bringing some guys who were pursuiting the fugitive."
"Bring them." The master answered.
When the doors opened, an empty room appeared. There were a table with papers and a large window. An Arcanin were looking at the city, sitting down. He turned around and greeted to the group:
"Welcome."
The group thanked him and came closer. The Arcanine were staring at them, examining who were his guests. He then turned to the window again.
"So, why did you come to Firstone?"
Charles decided to talk to the city leader:
"We were supposed to see if the rumors were true."
"About the Lucarios? Well they're all false. No suspect pokemons or one looking like a weird Lucario were reported to me for now. Except that Lopunny."
"What did she do?"
"She is spying us for a long time. We warned her a long time ago but she continued. So we tried to arrest her several times ago but she always escaped."
"She's probably doing this by threat. My mate the lucario told me she was scared of something else than us."
"Well we already suggested it. But all I want is to capture that pest. So I want you to help us trap her."
"How?"
"We'll do a false meeting. We'll tell our men there will be an urgent meeting tomorrow night. And when she comes, you catch her."
"You're sure she'll believe that?"
"She's fast, but from what I saw, she's naive. I assure you." the Arcanine said in a smile.
The next day Lurio was sitting on a bench. Gre wasn't here anymore because of the plan. This day was calm. Not much people were out to do something like shopping. It was peaceful. Gaby brought some stuffed mushrooms with cheese from a restaurant for lunch. They were tasty, he really liked the taste of the cheese mixed with the mushroom's one. He was surprised to see that Gaby had brought some expensive food, they aren't really common these days.
"It was the less expensive meal I found. Don't expect us to be that rich."
When he finished his last mushroom, he wondered about the dream he had the other day. He wanted to see it again so he closed his eyes and focused. The wind was blowing, the sun was glowing. His breathing was slow. His surroundings became quiet. He now saw his aura, it wasn't different of what he saw before. Then the red aura appeared again. Its eyes opened and invaded the Lucario's vision. A voice came, but it was different from last time:
"Don't..!"
"Lurio?"
He woke up. Charles and Gaby were standing in front of him. Charles continued:
"Sorry for interrupting your meditation but we have to go. Now."
Lurio glanced at the sky, it was already the sunset. He was actually meditating for so long. So he nodded and went out with his mates. They were expected to the North-West of Firstone, where the Typhlosion was doing a briefing to his men. When they finally arrived, the officer didn't really care and continued his briefing. The plan wasn't too complicated. Flying types had to hide themselves to take the Lopunny in surprise. Big ones will be used to block the path and bring support. The others had to run after the fugitive. The group was part of "the others", except that Gaby wanted to stay down because of his "weight".
"You are sure you're that heavy? You don't look to." The Typhlosion commentated.
"We told me that so many times you know."
"That doesn't surprise me."
It was now night time. Everyone was hidden. Waiting. Some guards began to become asleep after three hours. So they chatted quietly to help themselves staying awake. Lurio noticed that Mack wasn't here. He found it weird because Mack was used to be a strong fighter when they were kids. It would surprise him if he backslided after this whole time. Then they suddenly heard a sound coming from upwards. Everyone stopped their chat and stayed quiet, watching the sky. Another sound came from the same spot. The Typhlosion whispered to Charles:
"Go with the Lucario."
The Charizard and the Lucario nodded. Lurio got onto Charles and they took off. Everyone followed them. When they reached the roofs level, they spotted the Lopunny. She was standing up and seemed to know what was going to happen. The guards showed up and all the others everywhere in the city. She was surrounded. The Typhlosion shouted:
"It's over. You're surrounded and this time you won't get away from us!"
The Lopunny was observing the zone. She looked worried but not panicked. She glanced at Lurio and said:
"Try to catch me then."
She suddenly jumped really high and landed on a Camerupt's head and jumped higher. Everyone started to shoot. She managed to dodge all the shots by twisting her body. Then she landed on the ground. Less guards were down. She was running really fast, actually faster than before. Charles and Lurio were flying near of her but she was getting away. Charles had an idea:
"Do an aura sphere!"
"But It will..."
"In front of her! It will slow her down. I'll try to catch her after!"
Lurio stood up on the Charizard's back and made an aura sphere. He had to aim carefully this time. He waited until he was sure and he shot. The sphere touched the ground right in front of her. She jumped aside to dodge it.
"Jump!" Charles ordered.
He jumped and Charles accelerated and came closer to the ground. He was about to grab the Lopunny. She noticed what he was going to do and did an acrobatic jump. The Charizard expected this to happen so he flought higher and was about to grab her again. She tried to dodge it but he was too fast. He did grab her. She tried for a moment to escape but it was in vain. So she did a charm attack. The Charizard was looking at her eyes but when he understood what was happening, he closed his eyes and at this moment the Lopunny did a strong kick at the Charizard's head, who almost dropped his prey. So she bit his hand strongly. This time he dropped her. Lucario seeing this, ran towards the Lopunny to grab her. But he noticed she was about to attack. With high jump kick. He stopped his run and leapt backwards. But just after he dodged, she stopped the move and landed safely. Lurio understood it was just a trick so she would be able to continue running. And she ran. Charizard followed her, his mouth bleeding, with Lurio. She was about to exit the city by the main door which was well guarded. A Talonflame was ready to stop the Lopunny if she wanted to jump. When she was getting closer, a sudden earthquake happened in her position, her leg was hit and it seemed to hurt pretty much. Lurio looked at the left and saw Gaby, coming closer of the Lopunny. Other guards came surrounding the fugitive.
"Gotcha." the Garchomp taunted.
But suddenly she leapt on his head and used it as a springboard and jumped higher. Gaby, in rage, stomped up the ground. A rock blade got out from the ground and hit one of the lopunny ears. She bounced on wall and jumped high enough to land the highwalls. When the Talonflame was about to do a brave bird move, she fell backwards and held on the wall, doing the same trick as before. But the flying type stopped in time and turned around to grab her. But the Lopunny leapt and prepared a real high jump kick this time. The Talonflame was too slow and received the kick on the back. He crashed into the ground due to the impact. He was stunned, so the Lopunny climbed the high walls while the guards were shooting at her. When she was out of the city, every guards were about to follow her but Charles stopped them:
"No! Let her go for now."
"Can I ask why?" the typhlosion asked, looking impatient.
"Someone is already following her."
"Who?"
Lurio looked at the Lopunny getting away, thinking:
"Now, it's your time."
And he turned back towards the guards, to explain what was happening.
Gre was right behind the Lopunny, well hidden. All his training was to make him one of the strongest bounty hunters in the country. And he had to prove it. During the whole day he analyzed the zone. Seeing the best hides to a certain situation. The main difficulty was his target's speed. He had to be quiet and fast. And the Lopunny was prudent. She often looked behind to see if someone was following her. He knew she didn't know he was there, because if she did, she would begin to run as fast as possible. From what he saw and heard, she is smart, but not an excellent fighter. She is able to take someone by surprise and she is fast but except that, in a duel she is weak. But it's only what he heard. Maybe she does know he's here and wants to take him by surprise, but that wouldn't be a good idea because of her injuries. So he was sure he wasn't being tricked for now. But he didn't expect the Lopunny to go that far. They were going really deep in the forest and now he had to improvise. Fortunaly he tought to plant painted rocks on his way so his mates would be able to follow them by far. Then a big problem arrived: they reached some plains. No hiding place were there. He decided to hide for a moment in a bush near of the forest and wait until it would be difficult to notice him. When the Lopunny was really far, he ran towards some hills really fast. He crouched at the top and looked towards the Lopunny's last position: she wasn't here anymore. Nobody. He immediately ran towards her last position. Still nobody. She literally disappeared. He had to keep his calm and not panic. The Lopunny was maybe hiding somewhere. So he checked the whole area, running in the plains, looking everywhere. But still no sign of the Lopunny.
"Keep your calm. If you panic, it'll be worse." he said to himself.
But Gre really didn't know where his target was. He was really confused and had to act quicky. Then he noticed a pile of rock at the bottom of a hill. She was maybe hiding after all. Or even living here. If he was right, he should be quiet while removing the rocks. So he analysed his approach, which rock to remove first. After a moment, he finally began. He removed each carefully and quietly. After he removed some rocks, he saw some light. That was probably his target's hideout. When he was able to enter in the little cave, he walked near of a wall and looked at the next room discreetly. She was there on a bed, treating her injuries with some herbs and bandage. The room was atually big, with a bed at the right wall, a table with many papers on it at the opposite wall. Many shelves with a closet were at the bottom of the room. She didn't know he was there. He wondered if he should wait the others. But he decided to act now. He had the advantage and he should make the lopunny unable to flee. So that was it then. He showed up in an offensive position. The lopunny immediately stopped what she was doing and jumped of surprise. She stared at the greninja, scared and searched a way to escape. Gre started to warn her:
"Don't try to escape, I just want to..."
Then the normal type's eyes became shiny and stared at the water type. Gre tried to close his eyes with difficulty. His vision began to become pink, focusing on the Lopunny. He began to like the Lopunny. He was still trying to close his eyes. He was trained against the charm attack. He had to resist. He began to walk towards the Lopunny. He had to control himself again. But how? Then he finally remembered. He slapped himself very strongly. He stopped walking and his vision returned to normal. He wasn't charmed anymore but the Lopunny wasn't here anymore. She was right behind him, about to flee. When she noticed he wasn't charmed anymore, she ran towards the exit but Gre immediately grabed her arm. She was trying to free her arm but Gre pulled her closer and placed his other arm below the normal type's grabbed arm, lifted her and knocked her down on the ground. The Lopunny was stunned enough to let the Greninja create a water suriken and threat her:
"Now, tell me what I want to know."
"What?" She answered rudely.
"Why are you doing all of this?"
Then he heard some steps coming towards them. He turned round, ready to attack. Then he saw Gaby. He dropped his guard and the Garchomp talked the first:
"Good job Gre. Did she say something?"
"Not yet. I didn't begin the interrogatory."
"Then let's start now shall we."
"But where are the others ?"
"They're coming."
Other steps were coming. He looked outside and saw Charles flying and Lurio running.
Lurio noticed Gre and guessed he did his job. When he reached the hideout he noticed the lopunny laying down who noticed him too. Then he asked to Gre:
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I just knocked her down, except that she isn't too injured."
Lurio turned to the Lopunny and asked the same question:
"What about you?"
"Do I really need to tell you?"
"Well okay."
They brought the Lopunny at the bottom of the cave, the back next to the wall. The Charizard spoke to the Lopunny:
"We've been told that you were spying Shatmeen fro a long while. Tell us why and for who. We'll let you go after this."
"Why would you do that?"
"The Lucario here told me you were scared of something. You know that Lucarios are able to guess the others feelings right? So all I want to know is what does scare you."
The Lopunny stayed silent, looking upset. Lurio knew they touched something right into her. Charles continued:
"Look, we'll let you go and no guards are behind us to arrest you I promise. I'm Charles, the Greninja is Gre, the Lucario Lurio and my friend the Garchomp is Gaby. Now you know our names. Now what's your name?"
Lurio didn't know if it was going to work. The Lopunny was still sitting there, quiet. Charles was patient. It was visible that the Charizard had experience and knew what to do to gain someone's trust. Then the Lopunny finally answered:
"Lola."
"Right so can you explain to us why you're acting so Lola?"
Lola stayed silent again. She hesitated for a moment but she decided to answer:
"I can't. It's personal."
"Probably but we need this to get you out of this mess. We'll help if you want."
Lola's eyes widened.
"Really? Why?"
"Because it's kinda my job. Helping people for money. Except that I won't ask money this time because it's always a pleasure to help someone."
She stayed silent. All they had to do was to see if they gained her trust. Charles seemed to already know the answer. But then she said with a scared tone:
« If I talk, I'm dead"
"Then we'll protect you."
The Lopunny was surprised by the offer.
"But why?"
"As I said: it's always a pleasure to help someone."
The lopunny seemed to hesitate. She seemed to be worried, but it seemed they gained her trust.
« I... they... You can't. They will...»
"What makes you say that? Who are they?"
"They... They didn't tell me their name or what they are. But I saw them in action, they're too many, you can't..."
"What did they do?"
"I was in a archaeological site with other archaeologists at the north. Suddenly they came, killed everyone and jailed me. Then they told me to spy this city. I don't even know why..."
"But where are they?"
"They're always moving."
"How many are they?"
"Hundreds of..."
Suddenly a shot came behind them. A fire ball traversed the room quickly and hit Lola's head. There was an explosion at the impact, making Charles hit too. The room was invaded by the smoke which went outside. When they were able to see again, the Lopunny was laying down. She was burning, the eyes were widened and the mouth opened. The head was the most burned part of the body. Lola was killed. Charles wasn't too injured but when he saw this he roared loudly with rage and looked behind to see the fire blast's author. When Lurio turned around he was shocked: Mack was standing there, his cannon, ready to fire, had smoke going out of it.
"Mack! Why?!" Lurio shouted.
Mack answered in a dark tone:
"Sorry Lurio, but I had a job. And orders are orders."
Lurio didn't understand. The Firstone guard did send him to kill Lola? But weren't the group supposed to take care of this all alone?
"Now follow me, I advice you to do what I say."
Lurio was about to refuse but Charles did the sign to obey for now, even if he also wanted to refuse. So they followed Mack outside and saw many guards with the typhlosion. The Charizard wanted explanations:
"Why did you come?! We told you we were going to take care of this all alone!"
"Because we had orders." the Typhlosion answered simply.
"From who?! Your chief told us to just capture..."
"To kill her just after."
The Charizard was shocked by that:
"But... why?"
"So it would be easier to you to accept helping us."
"You know that it's illegal right? I'm not going to let you in peace after that."
« Then we'll simply kill you."
Lurio was shocked. The guards were now ready to kill them any time soon. The Lucario never experienced this, he didn't know how to react. But Charles didn't seem surprised:
"I expected you would say that."
And he did a dragon pulse on the Typhlosion who was sent right into a hill. Gre immedately did a waterfall attack right into a Camerupt who was knocked down right after. The Greninja then jumped high and threw several water shurikens at the enemies. Garchomp prompted an earthquake, hitting a Torkoal and a Heatmor. Lurio attacked a Chandelure with dark pulse right before he was able to shoot a fire blast, surprisingly it resisted to the attack and shot his fire blast. The Lucario rolled aside in time and ended the Chandelure with another dark pulse. Despite the many down guards, there were still many of them. The Typhlosion was still conscious and shouted:
"You are maybe stronger than each of us but you can't beat all of us at the same time! Let me introduce you one of the most dangerous beast in this world!"
Suddenly a loud and long roar came. Everyone stopped moving. The guards were now smiling, they seemed to know what was going to happen. Flames spouted behind a hill. A scary figure appeared, something that Lurio never saw before. It had four legs and his body was brown spotted of grey and orange. His feet and his horned head were in steel. His wild eyes were orange. When it appeared, it roared again to announce his presence. Lurio was intimidated by the creature, he felt a dangerous power coming from it. Charles immediately warned him:
"Don't stay near! It's an Heatran!"
The Heatran spitted giant flames from his mouth towards the Lucario. Lurio dodged it too late and his leg has been hit. He yelled of suffer because of the intense pain. Never a flamethrower was that powerful before. He rolled on the ground. The other guards were coming back to the fight. Lurio did an aurasphere towards a Heatmor to prevent him to not approach more but it dodged it. Gre ran into the Lucario to carry him to keep him away from them. Then he made some appearing on his hand and gripped hardly the burned leg to try to heal it.
"Is it better?" Gre asked quickly.
"Better than just before." Lurio answered.
The Heatran went down and joined the guards. Gaby and Charles joined the two and Charles told them:
"I fear we have to go."
"Why?" Gre asked. "We are able to beat them I'm sure."
"We were until that Heatran came. Don't underestimate it. There are two Infernapes who have ice punch and they're focusing on Gaby and a Magcargo almost touched me with a stone edge and his well protected. I can't do anything against the Heatran."
"But it seems to.."
"Yeah to be a steel type. But that's all the trick. He actually is but he is invulnerable to fire."
"Then I can take him down."
"As I said, don't underestimate his power."
The Heatran suddenly planted his front feet strongly and the ground began to crack towards the group.
"Earthpower!" Gaby shouted.
The group scattered and lava spoutted from the ground. The Heatran roared again. All the guards were now about to attack. An Infernape went for the Garchomp and was about to deal him an ice punch. Gaby moved aside to dodge it and grabbed the Infernape and knocked him into the ground. The enemy tried to get out but Gaby did an earthquake and he was borrowed in the rocks, unconscious, really injured. Stone blades were appearing on the battlefield, aiming the Charizard. When Charles saw an opportunity he immediately peaked towards the Magcargo. But suddenly He stopped his move and a stone edge appeared right in front of him and injured his arm. He had to retreat while other guards were shooting at him. Lurio was now against the Typhlosion:
"Do you really think being able to beat me?" The officer taunted.
"We don't know if I'm stronger than you yet." Lurio replied.
"I'll give an answer. And quickly."
The Typhlosion formed a ball with his hands and threw it towards the lucario. It was faster than expected but Lurio jumped aside in time and threw an aurasphere at his adversary. But the Typhlosion rolled aside and began to run around the Lucario, surprisngly really fast. Lurio was prepared to dodge any attack. Then the officer was glowing. Lurio felt a big danger coming from him. Then he exploded. The Lucario was surprised and jumped backwards but it wasn't enough. He was touched by the eruption but not too much. If he didn't jump it would have been the end. The pain was horrible and he had to sit to rest a bit. When the smoke almost disappeared, a figure was approaching fast. He had to move. The Typhlosion was running right into the Lucario with a threatening smile. Lurio ran with the pain but was caught up. So, with the intense pain, he jumped backwards really high. The Typhlosion stopped his running, surprised and Lurio prepared an aurasphere and threw it. The Typhlosion din't react in time and was't able to dodge it. There was an explosion at the impact and the Typhlosion yelled in pain. After a moment, Lurio sat, exhausted. The Typhlosion was finally down, but Lurio was almost. He was really weak against fire so winning this fight surprised him, and surving in this battlefield too. Suddenly a figure jumped from the smoke was about to land on the Lucario. He wanted to dodge but it was too late. The Typhlosion landed on Lurio and grabbed his neck.
"You're weak. And now I'll murder you for injuring me you little metal rat!" He said in a threatening and dark tone.
And he was glowing again. Lurio began to panick but quickly regained his calm but he had to be quick. He wanted to do an aurasphere but the officer took one his arm and held it strongly. But Lurio immedately recovered his free punch with ice and hit the typhlosion's head. He let the Lucario free and moaned. He was still able to stand but he wasn't glowing anymore. So he was about to attack again but Lurio already prepared an aurasphere to end him, teeth grasped. The aura sphere was bigger and was thrown towards the Typhlosion. His eyes widened and jumped really high to dodge the aurashpere. It exploded at the impact against a hill. Lurio looked at the Typhlosion, staring at him. Lurio noticed he had more auras on his hands, he didn't do any boost attack though. Maybe some last chance energy or something similar. He read in the typhlosion some surprise and fear.
"Next time, I'll send you in hell." The tTphlosion said before he went out
Lurio almost fell. He was exhausted and really weak. This combat was definitely too much to him. Gaby joined him:
"Are you okay buddy?"
"Really... weak." the Lucario answered.
Gre and Charles joined them, he seemed tired.
"We have to retreat there's too many of them." Charles said, exhausted.
He was right. Even if Gre and Garchomp were able to take more Pokémons than Charles and Lurio, they're getting tired and them not. Gre was the most tough but he began to have difficulties to dodge all the attack he had to deal with. Lurio was the most tired of the group after his fight.
"Gaby try to follow me, I'll carry the two." Charles told.
The Garchomp nodded. Charles took Gre and Lurio despite his injured arm, bleeding not too much. And he took off under the enemy's fire. He flew really quickly followed by Gaby doing earthquakes to keep the guards away. After a while, they landed in a forest near of Firstone. It was the sunset. Guards were guarding the entrance. They were sure they would kill them if they see them. Gaby used some medics to heal the injuries of everyone thanks to his bag. Gre asked:
"What is happening?"
"I don't know." Charles answered.
Then a silence took place. But Charles broke it with a gasp:
"What is it?" Gaby asked.
"I'm thinking about their badges. If what I'm thinking is true, we have to stop them immediately."
"Why?..."
Sounds were coming from the city, they decided to approach carefully to unerstand what was happening. A voice talked:
"My dear citizens..."
It was the Arcanine.
"I called you this early because today is a special day. Today is the beginning of a new era, a day when we'll be able to reverse the rules. To show what we're able to do. To show that the Steel Federation isn't alone and can be beaten. Finished the tyranny of this empire. Finished those rules restraining our liberties. Finished those mandatory works. My comrades and I will show you we can form the strongest empire in this world if we work hard. But what empire you may ask? An empire where liberty is the main word, where you are able to go everywhere and where help is everywhere. A world where liberty and the population are like a blaze in a forest: Invincible! So join us. We will take back what is ours! One of the strongest empire awaits you, everyone can join us, just try to be useful in your manner. With your help, we can burn the Steel Federation, make them know hell. We are..."
"Oh no..." Charles said.
"The Hell Army!"
End of Chapter 4
If you want to react, please do. The next chapter will appear probably in May. But I'm not sure.
Thanks for the wait.
