At dawn, Walter, an healer Kadabra and a defender Bronzong met Raven and his friends.
"And Sebastian told me to refer you that he found a little but faithful team to fight the king secretly."
Surprised by the short time span between leaving and coming back, Raven stared from the back of his horse at the three and asked, "How did you pass a three day trip within few hours?"
"Thanks to the healer Kalahari the Kadabra. His Teleport move helped us to travel with less time," Walter said with a smile, while Kalahari bowed. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you as well! Any downfall by our teleport?" asked Raven. "Because we might travel faster to the temples."
"I may not be able to teleport you all at once. But 3-4 I can I believe," Kalahari replied.
"Alright! Then the usual way... before we go. What can you tell me about this faithful team Sebastian found?"
"Ah Mr. Sebastian chose the strongest warriors of any type and size."
"Yep yep!" the Bronzong added. "My little brother is in the team! His Cannonflash is the most powerful I have ever seen!"
"Alright! And your name is?"
"I'm Louis. Thanks for asking," the Bronzong said.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kalahari interrupted.
"Get on a horse and we can go off," told Raven. "We reach our goal within a week."
"But why if we can arrive in a minute?" Kalahari said smiling.
"I thought your teleport skill had limits?" asked Raven.
"Yes, but I can effort a little. So, ready?"
"Alright!" told Raven. "Guess we can sell these horses off then after the jump."
"Yeah. And I know a perfect buyer," Louis said.
"Introduce us to him once we are here," told Raven.
"This way!" Louis said, heading towards the town.
Raven, Simon and Eve followed with their horses
"Oh, Ninjo is still sleeping. Oh well, I'll leave him a message, you can tie the horses at his shop, this way."
They followed him and tied the horses in. Then Raven saw a sign and... turned blue, "No... this... is impossible!"
"What is impossible Raven?" Walter asked turning, as his beck dropped.
"My sister... she... moved the family business... TO THIS PLACE!" he told and pointed to a building which says 'it is a puff'.
Simon looked and whistled, "Why did you never told that your family runs a business in the sex sector?"
"Because I am embarrassed of this! That's one of the reason why I became mercenary! To get away from this!"
"A sex shop?! Here?!" Walter said scratching his head.
"Eww. Such gross in a little town," Kalahari said.
"We have to hide... I don't want my sister finding me here!"
"Ok ok, err... this way!" Walter said as he rushed towards a corner and Raven followed very quickly.
"There should be a hotel around here... Ah!" Walter exclaimed running in another street.
The others followed him and Raven growled, "Why is she doing this?"
"No time for questions!" Kalahari said following.
Simon and Eve were following as well until they got to the hotel.
"Ok we're in!" Walter said rushing into a building. It looked old, but it was clean and tidy.
"Good morning, welcome to the hotel 'Cresselia's Heart'. Oh I see you're a good group," an Audino welcomed them with a smile.
"We need beds for six people," told Raven.
"Mhm. We have 3 double rooms free upstairs. 2 coins per Pokémon."
Raven put the coins on the table, "We take them!"
"Perfect. Please follow me. And be silent please, customers are sleeping still," the Audino said moving from the counter, revealing to have a fake leg, and limp a little.
They nodded and followed the normal type. Raven then asked, "What happened?"
"Oh? You mean this?" she asked pointing at her fake paw. "Pff I barely notice it anymore. I was still a kid. I was a young, promise of dance, as my parents told me. But while I was practicing in the garden, a mad Liepard tackled me and bit my leg off nearly, saying "So you won't steal my place." And here I am," the Audino told like it was something not important. She must have told her story a lot it seemed...
Raven narrowed his eyes. This is one of the kind of story that he hates. If her leg were like his arm she could still dance.
"But I don't have to complain, my daughter realized my dream. She's in another city right now, she's the best dancer of Hoennyal," the Audino said with a smile.
"Good to hear," told Raven. "Anything we should know about this place except of being quiet in your hotel?"
"Oh no, nothing special. Here, there are the rooms. And sorry if I annoyed you with my story," the Audine bowed.
"Worry not lady," Kalahari said.
"I can relate to a degree with your story," replied Raven, showing his arm "Lost my arm once..."
"I noticed. Well, I apologize but I have to go back at my place. Have a good rest," the Audino smiled as she left.
"What a nice lady," Walter said. "She lost a limb and her chance, and yet she's able to smile and be kind. I'm really surprised."
"She is strong," told Raven. "Not many are able to smile like that after losing a dream."
"Indeed," smiled Walter. "Well I guess we can rest for a while. Then we'll travel towards those temples."
Raven gasped and held his metal arm while it began to shake violently, " Though on the way we have to take a different route... my arm needs to be maintained and for that we need a blacksmith and an expert in alchemy... and the next one is around a day's worth of horse riding in the south."
"If you need it now, I can teleport you there," Kalahari said.
"Soon as possible," told Raven. "But it is expensive... do we have around 1000 gold? If not we need to get to earn the money first."
"Mh... I'm afraid we don't have all those money," Kalahari said.
"Then... we have to grab on my reserves!" told Raven. "In my blade... the hilt contains a hidden locker. It contains a diamond which is worth the 1000 gold."
Kalahari nodded and took the blade, after removing the hilt he found the diamond, "Always ready for anything Raven, huh?"
"This... was plan B if... I couldn't get the money in time... normally I had one more month before the maintenance were coming."
"Heh... sometimes things goes as you wouldn't want."
"Yeah..." groaned Raven, still in pain. "Get this thing sold and get me to the alchemist... this thing is killing me! Literally!"
"What?" asked Simon and Eve told. "His arm runs with magic... magic converted from his life force! However I don't know further details."
"In the arm... is a crystal which regulates the amount of life force that is taken from me. However... the procedure destroys it slowly and once a critical point is reached... the arm sucks my life off like the desert sucks the water," Raven explained panting loudly.
"Eve, use your magic to quell the pain, I'll try and be faster than I can," Kalahari ordered as he held the diamond in his paw and closed his eyes, purple smoke coming from them as he floated and a second after he disappeared.
"He's gone," Walter said.
"Not that I can do much" mumbled Eve and began to chant spells to slow the dry off down. It had some effect as Raven began to pant slower as the pain slowed down for a moment.
Simon looked at Raven, "Why did you never tell us?"
"Would have it changed anything? I was planning to tackle a few side jobs on the way to get the money for my arm."
"You feel better?" Walter asked.
"A little... but it isn't a permanent solution... a new crystal must be implanted," told Raven.
Walter nodded as he looked at that artifact, "I've never seen something so sophisticated before."
"Got that to save my life... I protected the daughter of the one who hired me as I was on my way back to deliver some secrets," explained Raven. "He ordered its construction so I would back fully operate able since... he wanted me also to wipe out the bandit gang which nearly killed the little girl."
"I understand, so this is a price for a mission in short?"
"Yeah," told Raven. "Since then I have to replace its core crystal once a year... at least I thought so, but since two years, the time for the crystal runs shorter. And the alchemists couldn't explain why."
"I hope this is just a rare emergency situation."
"Hope this as well!" told Raven. "Or else I have a big problem..."
"The crystal costs like a treasure. I bet if the queen would know it, she'd provide you a permanent doctor or alchemist who can follow your specific cures."
"I will tell her once we have finished the mission," told Raven and looked down. "But now the question comes up... what will happen once the mission is a success?"
"Most likely the king and his followers will die in the battle. Arceus will bless us and life will go back to normal, happy and calm."
"Well... I doubt a little about the Arceus' part" chuckled Raven. "After all... he and the great Legendaries left because they didn't want any more contact with us."
Then he sighed, "My worry is more about... my chances with... her..."
"Never saw you having so much worry regarding a female," told Simon. "And we knew quite a few."
"Well, better to live for someone, than live for yourself, isn't so?" Eve stated.
"True," told Raven sighing deeply. "How long does it take for him to get back?"
"No idea," Louis said looking at the window. "Usually he doesn't take too much."
"He better hurry up," told Eve. "I don't know how long I can hold this spell."
"Hold on still a bit!"
"Easier said than done," she replied
"You must do it!"
She sighed and increased her efforts.
After more time, Kalahari still wasn't back...
"What is he doing?" asked Simon in frustration.
"I don't know…" Louis replied.
"Eve is alright there?" Walter asked worried.
"Slowly getting on my limit."
"Mhf..." the Wingull snorted as he looked around nervously. "Is there anything to quell the pain that's not magic?"
"Ripping the arm off and destroy the connection point," told Raven in pain.
"Eww, not a good choice," Walter replied scratching his head.
To make sure she could avoid the lethal state longer, Eve was forced to reduce the effect to prolong the spell. This of course caused Raven to groan more in pain.
Louis kept on watching out from the window, the town was awake and people in shops working and in streets, "Huh? I see him! I see him!"
Simon looked as well and told, "Finally! What took him so long?"
"We'll ask him when he's..." Louis got interrupted by a shirker sound, and Kalahari materialized in the room. "…Here."
"I apologize. I took a lot in finding an honest buyer who would give me the right money for the jewel," Kalahari justified.
" That explains it," told Simon. "But now we have to hurry a bit... Eve is on her limit."
"Ok. I got the money. I have to bring you to an alchemist. Where's the one you know?"
"In Kiel... in the east around a week of walking," told Raven.
"Mhm. Stand up and in an hour should be there."
He nodded and slowly rose, "The alchemist is named Kraden..."
"Kraden huh? Perfect," Kalahari said as he supported Raven.
Raven began to pant, "Let's go... as long we can."
Kalahari closed his eyes as he focused and teleported both of them in the town. The teleport felt like floating in the middle of nothing, watching every place you go over in a flash of second.
Raven began to get irritated by all the sudden changes of surroundings.
"Close your eyes," Kalahari advised.
Which Raven did.
After a while they finally arrived close to Kraden's place.
He happened to get out. The Ampharos gasped and asked, "Is it the crystal?"
"It is. Now hurry up!"
"Into my house and on the bed! Fast! I get the blacksmith!"
Kalahari nodded and carried Raven to the bedroom, "Hold on dude."
Kraden soon came back with a Darmanitan called Sam. Nodding in understanding he went to Raven with his equipment while the electric-type gave Raven something to drink.
Once Raven took it, his eye grew heavy and he was knocked out. The fire type on the other hand, removed Raven's arm, part by part until only the shoulder parts were still attached on his body.
Kraden took a small box out of the arm parts and washed it out, taking the used crystal away before going and producing a new one. The blacksmith cleaned and replaced smaller parts but told, "I told this years ago! With this material we had to include some materials which would better for transporting the orders from the brain AND wouldn't get so corrupted by the magic used on the metal."
"I know Sam! But the Lord insisted in building it as cheap as possible," told Kraden while working on the crystal.
Kalahari watched carefully to learn. Then Kraden turned to the Kadabra and asked, "How are you connected with Raven here?"
"We're traveling together."
"Then you should know this... the materials used for Raven's arm... they are not very well for magic manipulation like that. They need to be mixed with some rare and expensive minerals but the Lord which demanded it for Raven didn't pay them... either he gains a new one with the minerals or... it will be worse in the future. The crystal will try to counter the effects of corruption but will break in return faster."
"I see. But then what can we do?"
"I fear nothing, as long you cannot effort a new arm... the only thing is that I show you how to replace the crystal and I give you some spares... but this is more expensive than just replacing it."
"We'll find the money don't worry. If you can teach me is already much."
"Then watch!" told Kraden "And I give you the blueprints but... his current arm needs materials in the cost of 80 000 gold... if you put the materials into the mix than you have to earn 1 000 000 gold alone for a plumb basic model... for something that Raven could use, the double is clearly possible."
"Heh... That's pretty bad. But we'll find a solution for sure. Now, is he fine?"
"For now... but if there is no change... then he has either to get rid of his arm or he will be dead on the long run."
"Damn. He has to be in perfect shape, we have to travel a lot, and there'll be a fight."
"I said long run! As long you manage to keep his crystals switched out on regular basis, he will be fine. It is just the time period for the crystals to use which will decrease. The one I am making now would only hold for 10 months at best... but I guess it would be rather 5 given the rate of their downfall."
"It'll be enough."
"Alright!" told Kraden and continued to make the crystal while Sam repaired the arm as good as possible. Kalahari kept on watching, to catch any information and technique so that he could do the same in need.
Although the crystal was made of materials which could be hard to find... it took Kraden a few hours but he finished creating the new crystal and placing it where the old one was. Then he and Sam took the arm back together. Once the work was done, Kraden told, "Now we ask for the payment, please."
"It's okay. For the payment we'll send you an allowance from the royal castle."
"From the Palace?" asked Kraden in surprise and Sam asked. " Do we have more than your word about being paid by the royal family?"
"You'll be paid for the materials you created. But for the job you did..." from his cloak he took a sack full of coins.
"That's more like it!" grinned Sam while Kraden got some papers. "Give the money to Sam. We will split it once you leave... and here are the plans for Raven's arm... and which materials should be used in each part."
Kalahari snorted as Sam took the sack, then he took the paper, "Perfect. Thank you."
"Come back if you need further services," told Kraden. "And About Raven... give him one or two days rest before you keep traveling. Then he should be back in shape."
"Alright. Thank you," Kalahari smiled.
"But now I have to ask you to leave."
"But I have to wait for Rav... Ok, but tomorrow I'll be back."
"I thought of you leaving with Raven."
"In how much time he'll wake up? I can wait until tomorrow if there's need."
"In a few hours but... the amazons are around and collect everybody who seems to be a warrior to run their tournament deep in their territory."
"Mmmh... this could be interesting.."
"Only one will survive and have the honor to be with one of the high ranking members for a night," warned Kraden. "Do you want to risk his live because it could be interesting?"
"No. I want them to join in our mission," Kalahari said. "We need their strength."
"They would only consider this mission if the queen herself dared to talk with them. They don't take orders from males."
"Oh it wouldn't be a problem. I know how and what to do. Once Raven is awake I'll talk with him."
"Your word in Arceus' ear" told Kraden and went back to his own business as well as Sam.
Kalahari smirked as he rubbed his hands, proud of his own plan, "It'll be successful for sure," he commented as he created a chair with his psychic powers and sat next to Raven's bed.
It took a few hours when Raven began to stir, "Where... am I?"
"Ah good, awake Raven. How are you feeling?"
"Terrible... but I guess the crystal is replaced..."
"Yeah. Maybe this will help you feel better," he said placing a hand on his forehead, and releasing psychic energy that moved towards the still sore zones of his brain and replacing them with good feelings, spreading then in his whole body.
"No many are better. The alchemist told me soon amazons will be here. They're perfect for our mission. But they only will obey to a female. And you know where the queen is!"
"Yeah... but if they collect for tournaments, they are not open for visitors until the victor is chosen and... used him for their needs," told Raven. "And I am not in a big mood to fight for my life for having sex with an amazon."
"We can ask Walter if his friend Sebastian could send a warrior for the amazons."
"He must be a good one to survive the tournament... and a good fuck in bed to survive that... males don't survive a disappointment of amazons."
"Hahahaha! With a little trick of mine, we already have victory in sack," Kalahari reassured snapping his fingers.
"Sounds too easy."
"I don't plan to defeat the amazons with magic, but the victim fighter will have a special spell on his armor that won't get him tired. "
"And if they find out, we are dead."
"They won't, don't worry."
"Then good luck on it," sighed Raven and laid back down. "Just bring me off... don't want to fight the champion you are getting."
"Alright," Kalahari nodded as he offered his hand to Raven to stand.
He took the hand and raised up, "Beam me up Scotty," chuckled Raven, wondering where he got that.
Kalahari raised an eyebrow puzzled, but then shrugged and prepared for a new teleport.
At the same time a servant brought a tablet with tea and cookies to Queen Palette and her daughter Soraya, as they were in a discussion with the queen's sister
"Thank you," Palette thanked and the servant bowed and began to leave.
The queen's sister, Amanda, drank some tea and asked, "May I ask you something sister?"
"Of course, what's it Amanda?" queen Palette asked sipping more tea.
"What's the real reason of your visit?" Amanda asked, a serious look in her eyes.
"Mhf... Amanda, you have to promise me no one will ever know about this. Not even the most faithful servant you have," Palette continued, a hint of panic in her voice.
Amanda nodded and called a Gardevoir servant, "Please Rosalie, close all the doors and make sure no servant or guardian comes in this room, until my next order."
"Yes, my Queen," the Gardevoir bowed as she checked on all the doors of the living room and disappeared behind the last one closing.
"Now this room is deaf, my dear sister," Amanda said with a smile.
"Thank you Amanda... my secret is... that, I've mated with a guardian. A very special guardian. I'm in love with him," Palette said with a breathe in shame.
"In the bliss of Arceus! Sister!" Amanda gasped in shock. "And you're carrying the child of this guardian!? What Pokémon is this man!?"
"A Zangoose. His name is Raven. And yes, I'm expecting his child."
"Oh sister... I know your husband is a mad man, but now you got yourself into worse troubles! Surely he's gonna send me a letter, asking me the truth behind your visit, and shall I answer him?"
"You don't have to worry about this; you can write him the truth that I'm expecting," Palette replied with a smirk. She knew exactly what to do.
"But this way he will want to see the newborn! What if it'll look like the father?!" Amanda asked in panic.
"It'll be hidden safely from his eyes, and it'll be disguised in an abort."
"Mhf, but what when you'll have to take the baby back to the castle?"
"My husband trusts me enough; I'll tell him I've adopted a child who was abandoned in the streets. He won't create problems, he has eyes and heart only for Ramon, he barely cares for Soraya also, and surely he won't care about this baby."
"Alright sister. As you think it's better," Amanda replied, not completely sure about her older sister plan. Palette in fact hid the fact of Amadeus' research of the Crown of Arceus and the seeking for his death in the battle organized by Raven and his friends.
After their chat, the two queens ended their tea, as Amanda opened the doors and let the servants go back at their normal duties.
In the time, when her mother and aunt were chatting, the little Princess Soraya was entertained by a jester Mr. Mime and his fellows Mime Jrs. The little kid laughed and had so much fun that she completely forgot she was guest of her aunt. She only remembered it when Amanda and Palette came in the hall.
"Are my jesters fun enough little princess?" Amanda asked with a smile.
"The funniest of the world!" Soraya chirped happily as a Mime Jr. invited her to dance.
Palette couldn't help but smile at the scene, imagining her dancing and laughing like this every day, under hers and Raven's eyes, their eyes of a honest and kind king, and she maybe, having a little bundle in her arms, a bundle of joy and hope..
Then Rosalie came and asked, "Should I call for the music for our little guest?"
"Only if she wants so," Amanda replied.
The Psycho/Fairy Type nodded and knelt down, "Princess... do you wish music to your dance?"
"Please," Soraya replied with a shy smile.
Rosalie bowed and moved to call the musicians.