Pokemon The Revolution

by LandofGaming

After years of evolution and drifts and new ages, the Pokemon world has advanced to a modern state where politics and ideals flourished and many Pokemon began searching and striving for the idea of a perfect world. However, due to the corrupted government, a single Pokemon stands up to fight for his freedom...and ends up starting more than even he had anticipated.

17. Rising Storms

Chapter Seventeen: Rising Storms

Ralph was not a happy Lucario.

He had been tossed around like a Pokèdoll for what seemed like eternity by a pop star Krookodile who apparently could do more than sing. The moment he landed a hit, the cowardly General Otri fled, and was replaced by Ralph's least favorite bat―General Hyper-Nova.

"Watch out!" Rachiel screamed as Nova shrieked and dove in, nearly decapitating Ralph. The Lucario hit the ground like a bag of wet cement and rolled for all he was worth. Even so, the Noivern's sharp claws snagged his fur and tore off a huge, weather-beaten chunk. Ralph yelped in pain. Nova spun around to attack, but Rachiel blew fire and Nova was forced to wheel away or be roasted into a crisp.

Rachiel limped over in her Mega Form, grimacing. She'd pulled a muscle earlier while fighting General Otri, and apparently hadn't seen to a medic yet. Nova screeched in rage overhead and dove down for another attack, but Penny the Pidgeot intercepted her in midair and the two went swirling away in a cloud of fur and feathers.

"Something seems different about Nova this time," Rachiel growled as she yanked Ralph to his feet. "Last time, she was all offense―no dodging or defense. Now it's as if she's changed her battle style."

"That's because last time, she was in her Berzerk Form." Charnette materialized, scowling darkly.

Ralph blinked. "Uh… what?"

Charnette paused, flicking her long, violet-colored tail. Her silver fangs snapped together, stained scarlet with blood. "There was this entire crate of information on a lot of the Shadow Force generals and such back at the Outpost we raided earlier. Darkrai recruited Nova for her Berzerk Gene―something that transformed her into the crazy demon we fought during the Accumula Revolution. She switches into it when she takes a super-effective attack or loses too much health."

"So… how do we fight her?" Rachiel's eyes narrowed. "The only solution I see is a one-hit critical attack… but who can do that?"

"If I remember correctly last time, she was hit by a Thunder attack," Charnette replied, encasing an enemy in a green bubble and setting it on fire, "which means anything stronger than a Thunder attack should be able to take her down."

"Charnaaaa!" A shout echoed from the other side of the battlefield. Amethyst was riding on the shoulders of a huge Conkeldurr and looking like she was regretting her choice. The huge Pokemon swung his pillar over his head again and again, nearly taking off Amethyst's head. "Over here!" The agile Braixen lept out of the way as the Conkeldurr flailed and bopped itself on the head with its own stone pillar. "Come and help with those flimsy barbarians!" she yelled.

Charnette cursed and darted away.

"What's the strongest electric attack?" Rachiel yelled as she slashed at a Glameow.

"I don't know… Thunder?" Ralph dodged a flying attack and punched a Linoone in the face. She screamed and darted away, an eye swollen shut. "Electro Ball?"

A scream sounded. Ralph jerked his head up to see Penny screeching in pain, fluttering away from Nova as scarlet drops of blood dripped down her body. Nova shrieked victoriously and fixed her lamplike gaze on Ralph.

"You're next!" she screamed, and dove down.

Ralph yelped and consecutively fired two Aura Spheres, both missing the general, and dove out of the way. Rachiel reared and snaked away as Nova swooped down, her great claws ripping up clods of dirt and cement.

"Fight me!" Nova snarled. "Cowards! You call yourself a general?" she taunted and took to the skies again. "Say goodbye!" The Flying and Dragon type's body began sparking with tendrils of electricity, wrapping her in a sparkling golden shroud.

"Wild Charge!" Rachiel yelped. "Run for it!"

Nova shrieked with laughter and swooped down, talons extended.

"I don't think so!" A husky voice exploded from behind Ralph. He spun around, tail slamming into Rachiel, to see Jebodiah and Billy standing together, wheezing and coughing.

"Out of my way, little rat!" Nova snarled.

"Want electricity?" the Raichu snapped. "I'll give you some!"

"With vegetables!" Billy added.

"Wait! Don't!" Rachiel yelled, but it was too late. A combination of Thunder and Leaf Storm swirled together and slammed into Nova, who, being too focused on shredding Ralph like a woodchipper, never saw it coming. The Noivern tipped out of the sky with a scream and smashed into the ground. A heavy silence followed as every Pokemon within a mile radius turned to stare at the fallen general.

"Mother of Arceus," Rachiel cursed, backing up. "Is she out? Tell me that knocked her out and didn't…"

BOOOOOOOM!

Bodies went flying as Nova floated into the air, her eyes glowing white.

"I CANNOT BE CONTAINED!" she shrieked. "HEAR ME, FOOLISH ONES! I AM―"

"We're screwed!" Rachiel yelped and blasted the Noivern with flames. "TAKE HER DOWN BEFORE SHE FINISHES HER SPEECH!" she screamed.

Immediately, all Revolutionists turned as one and started hurling everything they had at the crazy general. Ralph was pretty sure he saw some Shadow Force soldiers get into the act as well. Apparently, everyone had silently agreed to take down General Nova before blasting each other into ectoplasmic dust. Ralph didn't complain, though. He needed the help.

"―THE GREAT HYPER-NOVA!" Nova announced in a wildly insane voice, her aura turning red―the color of madness. "THOUSANDS OF POKEMON HAVE FALLEN BEFORE ME AS I WOKE―"

"'And thousands more shall fall before I am spent blah blah blah," Victor muttered as he bombarded the general with Magical Leaf. "Sheesh. How do we kill her?" He started to panic as Nova recited the last lines of her script. "She's literally regenerating health right now!"

"How is that even physically and magically possible?!" Lumiere shouted from the midst of attacking Pokemon. "This is not according to magic protocol!"

"Nothing is according to magic protocol!" Xeno yelled.

"Senpai, watch out!" May screamed as a huge Salamance lunged at the medics. "AHHHHH!"

"Glacialis corpus corporis!" Charnette casted. The Salamance froze, quite literally, as it was now encased in an ice sculpture that looked suspiciously like a Jigglypuff. "Get out of the way, May!"

"I can't!" May yelled. "I have to stay!"

"Why?" Amethyst shouted. "Just run away!"

"Can everybody just stop rhyming?!" Rachiel demanded.

"Um, guys!" Victor yelled. "She's regenerating health. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

Ralph cursed as he realized Victor's observation. Nova's body, which had been laced with pulsing scars, was now repairing itself. Soon, the general would be as good as new, and the Revolutionists would have a bloodthirsty, Pokemon-slaughtering machine at paw. He rapidly fired Aura Spheres at her, but they seemed to not do any damage―her fiery aura absorbing all of his attacks. "How do we defeat her?" He cried out in frustration.

"AND THOUSANDS MORE SHALL FALL BEFORE I AM SPENT! AND THUS, YOU CANNOT EVEN DARE TO HOPE TO DEFEAT ME! I AM THE ETERNAL―"

"Eternally bothersome bat lady!" Rachiel cursed and blasted the general with her flames.

"―FLAME OF DESTRUCTION! THE VOID OF DARKNESS!"

"How much longer do you think she'll go on?" Billy asked.

"The longer, the better," Jebodiah muttered.

"This is your fault!" Rachiel scolded in a not-so-friendly tone.

"Hey! It was a good idea!" Jebodiah complained. "I didn't know it'd turn out like this!"

"I personally told you not to fire on her!" Rachiel stormed.

"Yeah, sure. Next time, tell me before I fry the bat!"

"Can you guys STOP ARGUING?" Mark appeared, panting. "Just attack, you losers!"

"Did you just call me a LOSER?" Rachiel spun around. "You giant super-chicken! I'll―"

"Rachiel―focus on the battle, grill the chicken later!" Xeno hopped over, looking annoyed. "I think she's almost done with her speech―"

"AND NOW… I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Nova screamed and hurtled towards them like a comet of disaster.

"You jinxed it," Rachiel grumbled.

"Stop complaining. DUCK!" Xeno shoved her friend out of the way as Nova kamikazed into the dirt and cement.

"FREEZE AND STAND WHILE I ANNIHILATE YOU!" Nova yelled, spitting out clods of dirt and grit.

"That's not gonna happen," Ralph muttered.

"YOU WILL DIE NOW!" The bat howled as Jason hopped over, crammed waffles into her mouth, and pranced away.

Ralph stared hopelessly at the mad general. How were they suppose to destroy something like her?

---

From another point of view…

"Stupid rat!" Rob cursed as Nova flailed about in her Berzerk Form, annihilating pretty much everything in her path. "Now what do we do?"

"Uh…" Jazz cleared her throat. One eye was blackened where she'd been punched by the Lucario leader. "We'd better do something fast, 'cause some of our own folks are helping the rebels attack Nova." She touched her swollen eye tenderly. "Yowch."

"What?" Rob spun and swore as he saw several Banettes attacking Nova. "Stop!" he ordered, marching over. "Attack the rebels! Not her!"

"Um… pardon me, mister lieutenant," one said. "She's going to kill us all if we don't take her down!"

"Focus on the rebels, not your own general!" Rob growled menacingly, showing his sharp silver teeth. "Or would you rather be prosecuted for treason?"

The Banettes backed up nervously, eyes wide with fear.

"We'll do what you say," one said at last. "But what about General Nova? She's killing both sides!" The group trembled with fear.

Rob watched the small dot that was Nova in the sky as she exchanged blows with a Dragonite rebel. "I'll take care of her," he growled, digging his sharp claws into the dirt.

Jazz appeared next to him, rubbing her blackened eye. "What're you gonna do?" she asked. "Fly over and throw waffles at her?"

"What is up with waffles and war?" Annie complained, limping over with Demo and Shock flanking her.

"It's Arceus's gift to the world!" The Riolu rebel recognized for his waffles danced over. "Here―have a waffle!" he jammed a waffle in Annie's mouth before she could protest, and flailed away.

"MMMFFF!" Annie yelled and spat out the pastry. "What was that for?" she demanded.

"That was extremely weird," Gran muttered, appearing behind them.

"How come I didn't get a waffle?" Jazz complained. "I wanna waffle!"

"Uh… General Hyper-Nova is locked on us," Shock noted. "Is that bad?"

"YOU WILL ALL PERISH!" Nova screamed, diving down, spinning to avoid the rebels' cannon balls as they attempted to fire at her. "DIE!"

"Waa! Out of the way!" Annie hit the dirt as Nova flew overhead. "Next time, you big magnet, warn us before the bat lady attacks!" she screamed.

"Gran!" Rob barked, running after Nova. "Can you fly me over?! I need to get on Nova's back!"

"You'll die!" Gran shouted, just as Jazz asked, "Gran can fly? Aren't you like, a hundred and thirty pounds?"

Gran slapped her.

"I can fly you over!" Gran picked Rob up as easily as he would an Oran Berry and hurled himself into the air. "But what are you going to do?"

Good question, Rob thought, narrowing his eyes. He remembered how Nova had been taken out by one of the rebels' cannonballs during the Accumula Rebellion. That obviously wasn't going to work here, so what should he do?

"Don't be stupid!" Gran called as he dropped Rob onto Nova's back. "Ack!" he screamed as Nova blasted him out of the air. Rob flinched. He hope that Gran hadn't been too badly hurt.

"Nova!" Rob screamed into the Noivern's large, leaf-shaped air. "Stop, please!"

"WHO DARES TO SHOUT INTO THE EAR OF THE ETERNAL NIGHTMARE?" Nova screeched, spinning completely around, almost tossing Rob off. "FOOLISH MORTAL! YOU WILL DIE NOW!"

Rob hated doing it, but he dug his claws into Nova's back. She wailed with pain and flipped over again, leaving Rob hanging by his claws.

"Nova!" Rob yelled again. "You have to stop! Stop attacking us! We're your friends!"

"THE VOID OF DARKNESS DOES NOT HEED TO THE TERM OF FRIENDS!" Nova howled, her huge wings slicing smaller Flying types out of the air. "RELEASE YOUR PLEBEIAN HUSK OF A BODY OFF OF MY ROYAL SELF, YOU MISERABLE COMMONER!"

"What are you planning to do?!" Rob spun to see, surprisingly, Sandrain the Flygon.

"What are you doing here?!" Rob yowled, almost toppling off Nova's back. He jerked her head up just as she fired a Hyper Beam, causing the bat general to miss her targets below completely. "You rogue!"

"Don't you need help?" Sandrain shouted back. "I'm only here because―YIIIIII!" the Flygon shrieked and swerved away as Nova fired on him.

"I AM THE SUPERNOVA OF INFINITY!" Nova bellowed. "I WILL KILL YOU ALL, FOOLISH MORTALS!" She flipped over, and this time, Rob lost his grip and fell. Just before he plummeted to his death, Sandrain whipped below him and caught him, carrying him back to Nova.

"Why exactly are you helping me?" Rob asked, panting as the Flygon started a dangerous aerial fencing match with Nova. "Aren't you a rebel?"

He couldn't see Sandrain's face, so he had no idea what expression the Flygon made, but it was obviously a grimace.

"I have my reasons for doing things my way, Robert Shaw," Sandrain growled in a not-so-friendly voice as he darted around Nova with surprising speed and agility. "But I am not your enemy. As for why I'm here…" He ducked under Nova and slammed her with a Dragon Tail. "Well, you know. Just an innocent Flygon taking a well-deserved break amongst the ruins of Striaton City and then BOOM! Battle! You know how hard it is to escape when both sides think you're the enemy?!"

"Why were you here in the first place?" Rob rolled his eyes.

"Hey, even a dragon needs to stretch his wings. Plus, I was scouting. Turns out I forgot to bring my invisibility pendant."

"What a genius," Rob grumbled, lashing out at Nova as she spun by.

"I know, right?" the Flygon sighed. "Anyways, as you're here and all―I might as well pass on a message. Rob, it's not too late. You can still change your mind."

"Too late for what?" Rob asked.

"Hold on! This is going to get rough!" Sandrain suddenly dipped under Nova, narrowly avoiding Nova's claws. "First of all―how do you plan to stop Nova?" he asked. "I can help with that."

"Tell me why you want to change my mind first!" Rob demanded.

"Do we look like we're going to survive that long with this crazy bat?" Sandrain snapped.

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I can survive longer than you," Rob challenged. "Spill the beans―what are you talking about?"

Sandrain sighed, dodging another attack. "We found out about one of Darkrai's most current plans. Have you heard of the Shadowia Bomb?"

Rob frowned. The Shadowia Bomb? "Um… no?"

"Ever heard of Dark Stardust?" Sandrain raised his wings, enveloping Nova in a swirl of sand. "You were in charge of one of the shipments during which one of your teammates―the Linoone―was stabbed and diagnosed with Dark Taint, I believe."

"Oh, that." Rob felt a growl rise in his throat. "What's that got to do with anything?" he snapped. He would've taken Sandrain down right then and there, but them being about a hundred feet off the ground, he decided not to risk it.

"That has to do with everything, you anemic creep," Sandrain grumbled, spiking Nova with a Dragon Tail and sending her wailing away. "Anyways, I'll make it short―Darkrai is planning to bomb… AHHHHH!"

Nova, who'd recovered faster than Sandrain had apparently expected, spun and lashed out with her own tail, sending Sandrain spinning away. Rob hurtled through the air and managed to snag onto one of Nova's wings.

Darkrai is going to bomb… what? The thought swirled through Rob's mind. What did he mean?

But there was no time to ponder what Sandrain had tried to say. Nova wailed and flapped her wings wildly, sending Rob shooting through the air and leaving his internal organs behind. He managed to flip in midair and by sheer luck, land back on Nova's back.

First things first―deal with the bat.

Rob didn't believe that force was the only way to stop Nova. He knew that she was kind and gentle deep in her heart. He knew that she wouldn't be doing this if she didn't have the Berzerk Gene―whatever that was. He believed she had the power to change herself back to normal. She just needed encouragement.

"This isn't you, Nova!" Rob hissed into the Noivern's ear. "Remember our good times, fighting together? You loved your own soldiers and hated those rebels! Fight the rebels, not your own friends!"

"HYPER NOVA DOES NOT REQUIRE FRIENDS!" Nova screamed. "I AM FEAR! I AM TERROR! ALL THOSE WHO APPROACH ME SHALL TREMBLE!"

Rob snapped. "NOVA!" he yelled, almost as loudly as she did. Nova flinched. For a second, the white gleam in her eyes dimmed. Rob lunged at his chances. "This isn't what you'd want! That creature… whatever that thing inside you is… it cannot control you! You can do this! You can control your Berzerk Gene! Please, Nova! I believe in you!"

Nova shuddered as if she were being electrocuted with a thousand volts. Her pupils widened. "Wh-wha…" Then her eyes rolled up and the two fell through the air.

Oh, great.

---

From the Revolutionists' side…

Ralph felt like fate was slapping him around.

After Nova, who'd apparently gotten out of her Berzerk form and suffered a brain crash, toppled out of the air towards the ground, Ralph made the mistake of cheering.

Naturally, that's when General Otri decided to come back.

"You will suffer, you pathetic rebel!" the Krookodile screeched. "You will pay for your untimely crimes against me, the Hip Hop King!"

"Beat it!" Rachiel snapped, and sent him howling back with a swipe. "Ralph!" she yelled. "Help me take down this upstart!"

"I don't think so!" Otri sprang to his feet, and a veil of sand erupted around him, throwing Rachiel back like a rag doll. Ralph bellowed in anger and charged in.

The two generals glared at each other―Ralph surrounded in a glowing blue aura, and Otri in a miniature sandstorm.

Otri punched the ground like a sumo wrestler and charged. Ralph pranced out of the way with as much speed as he could muster. Even so, Otri's blow glanced off his rib cage in a painful swipe. Ralph howled and whirled around with Metal Claw, but the long silver contraption was deflected off the swirling sand that cloaked the general.

"Coward!" Mark yelled from behind Otri. "Get out of that pathetic funnel of sand, you nasty punk!"

Apparently, nothing insulted Otri as much as being called a "punk" when he was clearly labeled as "hip hop star".

"You… you...!" Otri sputtered, trying to lock onto the correct insult to fire at Mark. His sandstorm churned sluggishly. Ralph snatched the chance and vaulted forward, bopping Otri over the head with a Bone Rush. Mark darted in, fired several punches into Otri's gut, and danced away as Otri screamed and blasted sand and mud everywhere.

"You will pay for this!" Otri screamed! "I am not a pun―"

"Eat fire!" Amethyst appeared and jammed her fire stick into Otri's mouth. The general wailed, clawing at his throat as the flaring brand seared his mouth. "Lemme see if you'll sing anymore after this, you ol' croc!" she yelled. "Punk star!"

Otri spat out the stick with an angry roar and slammed Amethyst away with a Dragon Tail. Mark moved in to land a blow, but Otri spun, backflipped over Mark, and smacked the Blaziken down with a vicious blow. Ralph charged in, and Otri backflipped again, slamming into the Lucario and sending them both sprawling into a Rhyperior revolutionist, topping the rocky dino over.

"You will feel my rage!" Otri screamed, smoke curling from his mouth. His voice cracked like splintering branches. "Ah! My v-voice!"

Ralph headbutted the Krookodile with everything he had, breaking off some of Otri's teeth in the assault. The general screamed again, more smoke curling from his mouth.

"I can control any piece of my fire stick, even a splinter, stupid croc!" Amethyst spat, struggling to her feet as a mob of Banettes surrounded her. "Don't think you're getting that splinter out of your mouth anytime soon!" Otri wailed as Amethyst concentrated fiercely, setting the splinter of her stick contained in Otri's throat on fire. "I'll sear you alive!"

"Gah!" Otri stumbled away, clutching his throat. Ralph raised his glowing bone-stick and charged, determined to end the general's miserable career.

SLAM!

A blur of black and gray crashed into Ralph with the force of a sandblaster, knocking him off his feet. When his eyes cleared, a Mightyena was standing on his chest, jaws snapping at his throat. Ralph blocked the death bites with his bone stick, but the bone started to flicker under the force of the attack.

"Die already!" Xeno materialized next to the Mightyena―strangely―with a laundry pole she'd picked up somewhere. "RAHHHH!" She howled as she promptly slammed the pole into the Mightyena's head. The wolf collapsed.

"A laundry pole?" Ralph asked. "Seriously?"

"Hey! It was just lying there!"

"No!" A Mawile darted forward, flanked by an Exploud and Shiftry. "You'll pay for this!" she shouted.

"Hey, it's the escapee!" Mark noted. "ARREST HER!" he yelled.

"Excuse me," the Shiftry said drily. "As officers, I think that's our job." He beckoned to a squad of Sableyes. "ARREST THEM!" he shouted. "I'll get you your own name cards!"

"Darn it." Mark muttered. "We're screwed."

Surprisingly, the Sableyes didn't move.

"We're soldiers, not officers," one noted. "What are you going to give us?"

The Shiftry blinked. "Your own name cards?" he suggested lamely.

Mark jumped in. "Don't arrest me and I'll make you collectible trading cards!"

"I'll make you action figures!" the Shiftry challenged.

"Hey! No merchandising rights!" Mark complained, then was drowned in a wave of excited Sableyes. "WAAA! Not cool!"

"Get them!" the Mawile shouted, and charged in.

"Back at you!" Rachiel lunged at the Metal type from behind and blasted her with a red-hot Flamethrower, knocking her out.

"Hey!" the Shiftry yelled, charging forward. Rachiel slipped aside neatly, pivoted, and sank a Fire Fang into his back, roasting the critter.

The Exploud blinked. "Rawhr?" Ralph charged with an Aura Sphere and sent him flying.

"Where's Otri?" Ralph demanded, glaring around with another Aura Sphere.

"He's retreating!" Xeno called. "I think we might just have won this!"

Naturally, she spoke too early.

From the other side of the battle field, Charnette's scream could be heard.

---

On the other side of the battle field…

Charnette was stumbling backwards blindly, hissing and shrieking as a curse ate away at her left eye. The stench of acid and rotting flesh filled her nostrils and she yowled in pain.

She had stepped in the way of her own wayward curse. If she hadn't been fast enough, it would've had taken her out clean. However, she still hadn't been quick enough to avoid the effects of the curse. Regardless of what was happening around her, she collapsed to the ground, writhing in panicked pain. The eye was now completely dissolved but the decaying socket was equally as painful.

Regaining her sanity, Charnette waved a paw over her injury. A patch of black fur grew over her eye socket. There was only one problem that this troublesome cat had conjured. Anyone who touched her face would be cursed to rot, just like her. She needed a better protection spell around it so the wrong Pokemon wouldn't be unfortunately cursed.

Suddenly, her good eye narrowed. Why had her curse been in her own way? Another spell? Now, who had the guts and power to deflect a curse back at its caster?

"Long time no see, witch," a snarky voice growled behind her. Charnette staggered to her paws to see Circe floating weightlessly in the air, her velvety purple body glowing. "Hit with your own spell, heh? How does it feel? Being backstabbed by yourself?"

"Idiot." Charnette gritted her teeth, her face nearly shredded with pain. She stabbed her claws into the muck underpaw to keep her balance as she wobbled unsteadily around to face Circe. The Mismagius sneered at her, her red pupils like flecks of dried blood in her yellow eyes. "I'll have your head!" she snarled.

Circle snickered. "How? Your eye's beyond healing, we're winning… isn't time you admit you sided with the wrong side?"

"I never make wrong decisions, darling." Charnette managed to return a hearty, insane laugh. She pulled all of her strength into one, glowing orb inside her chest. She must stand strong. She would not fall to such a pathetic punching bag like Circe.

"Darling?" Circe retorted. "Still with that sarcasm, I see." Her eyes flashed red. "I'll make sure you die painfully for this!" She started chanting a torture spell Charnette knew very well. She'd used it herself on several unpleasant occasions, and she also knew how there was no escape once the spell was fully cast.

But seriously, did Circe just expect Charnette to stand there while she delivered her death spell? A smirk drew itself across the Liepard's lips as she pulled herself together.

"Your little torture spell takes a full minute to cast, darling," she purred, her voice shaking slightly. "I know a much better spell. Care to listen, dearest?" Summoning the last of her strength, she yowled, "Animae ultio ultionis, cruentamque cruciamen! Extremus recusatio, animula disicco!"

Green mist lunged out of the ground, and Circe hastily casted a protection spell. "Navitas tuitio!" she cried out desperately.

Circe might as well have been trying to block a tsunami with a tissue paper. Charnette's soul draining spell lashed through her defenses like a freshly-sharpened blade and engulfed the enchantress who let out a bloodcurdling shriek.

As the emerald tendrils curled away, one could glimpse at the twitching body of a Mismagius doomed to suffer the pain of her soul shattering until she finally died. This was the ultimate death spell Charnette could conjure, and she felt a dark twinge of satisfaction as she slumped to her paws, her head spinning.

"Charna!" Amethyst stumbled over. Her amber eyes opened wide as she took in Charnette's ruined eye. "Wh―"

"Don't touch me!" Charnette warned, then quietly chanted, "Pareses tuitio." A dark seam of emerald light wrapped around her left eye. "I'll find a better spell. What's wrong?" she panted.

Amethyst looked liked she wanted to say something, but stopped herself, understanding Charnette wouldn't appreciate any pity. "We need ta finish this," she proclaimed. "Now." Her eyes shone with worry. "But… do ye have the strength?" she asked.

Charnette growled, almost toppling over from exhaustion. "I'm fine, Ame―"

"You're not, Charna!" Amethyst hissed. "Stop actin' the maggot―"

"I―" Charnette hissed in annoyance. "Tornado of Death."

Amethyst tried to argue. She protested with all her will, but Charnette wouldn't listen to her. The sorceress, after all, understood her own strength. She'd taken in the battle quickly and knew that even though the Revolutionists were holding their ground and had driven off Otri, they wouldn't last.

This battle needed to end. Now.

The two, like before, held paws. A multicolor gale swirled around them, laced through with black and red. The scarlet lightning streaked through the tornado like claws made of blood, and spiraled into a wide funnel that whisked around the two daughters of life and death as they stood together.

The mystical storm containing the powers of life and death ripped through the ranks of the Shadow Force as if it were paper, shredding the Pokemon who dared to defy its power. In disarray, the Shadow Force broke ranks and scampered off, leaving their dead and wounded comrades behind like scattered pieces of prey. And as the Revolutionists gathered together, Amethyst caught Charnette as she fell.

---

In a secret network of caverns…

The stone hallway was cold, as always, and cool beads of dampness dripped down its walls, which were lit with bright torches and runes invoking the power of light. A shiny Umbreon walked dejectedly down the hallway, the blue rings on his body flashing like a signal.

Xiawa…

Lunis closed his eyes as he slumped against the wall, his normally well-groomed fur uncharacteristically crumpled. He'd offered to go on that mission because he thought that his friendship with the deserter would've been enough to turn Xiawa's mind. Instead, it had ended as the oracle Pearl had predicted: Xiawa dead and Lunis the killer.

I guess no one can thwart fate, he thought sullenly, his ears drooping like the dying leaves in the harsh winter. It's not fair, though… Xiawa… he was a good Pokemon. He didn't deserve to suffer so much. Why, of all Pokemon, would all of these things happen to him?

He opened his citrine eyes bleakly, which looked like pale, sickened versions of the sun. "It's not fair," he whispered quietly.

"Nothing ever is," a quiet voice spoke from behind him.

Lunis jolted to his feet, glittering claws unsheathing from his soft black paws. He whirled, agitated, and nearly decapitated his own leader.

"W-What are you doing here?" he spluttered, shocked and unnerved. He took a step backwards, slipped in a puddle, and crashed unceremoniously into the jagged ground. With a soft laugh, his leader padded over and gently helped him back onto his paws.

Lunis shrugged off her touch, his fur prickling. "What are you doing here?" he repeated, more forcefully this time.

The Espeon in the shadows flicked her long tail, with a degree of sadness. "I came to grieve, as you did," she said softly. Drawing a sharp claw around one of the arcane runes on the walls, she sighed tiredly. "I'm sorry, Lunis. For everything. I wish I was a better leader. I should've seen another way." Her lavender fur glittered like moonbeams in the dim light.

Lunis, stunned by the apology, shook his head angrily. It was so like his leader to blame everything on herself. Despite the fact that she'd ordered the mission to retrieve the two spacetime orbs, he couldn't bring himself to get mad at her. After all, she had never wanted to get into the whole rebelling business. She was only the leader because every other Pokemon trusted her to make the right decisions. She was not leader because she wanted to be, but because she had to be. And like always―she'd done her job selflessly, without any concern for herself or her feelings.

"It's not your fault," he said firmly. "It's mine. I killed our best friend. His blood is on my paws, not yours."

"But I ordered the attack―"

"You're the leader. It's your job," Lunis retorted. "You had no other choice."

She laughed bitterly. "Of course there was another choice. Or many choices that wouldn't have ended up this way," she hissed, but not at Lunis. Criticizing herself, she went on. "I should've found another way. Another path. Like a good friend, I should've devised a plan that wouldn't have… have… done this." She gestured wildly at nothing. "Why?" she whispered somberly. "Why did I have to be so narrow-minded? He was my friend!"

"It's not your fault!" Lunis unsheathed his claws. "None of this is!"

"Of course it is!" The leader spun around, her own claws glinting like moonlight in the hall. "All of the deaths are! I am the leader. I'm responsible for everything! All the deaths, the carnage… the… the losses! Even when I foresaw the bombing of Striaton City, I did nothing. An entire city would've been annihilated if Zamza's group hadn't jumped in! And guess what I did, after they saved the citizens? I criticized them for defying my orders! I can't believe I'm such a… such a… a…"

"Stop it!" Lunis nearly lunged at her. "Just stop hating yourself!" he snarled. "You're the best leader there ever is! More than that―leaders aren't perfect, and most are usually selfish and greedy. You… you're not selfish! Or greedy, when it comes to that! You're not meant to be perfect! Everybody makes mistakes! So just stop hurting yourself like that!" he shrieked. The leader, momentarily stunned by Lunis's sharp words, took a step back. Her eyes glazed over with sorrow as she tried to calm herself down.

Lunis lowered his gaze. "We can't change the past," he said in a steely voice. "Xiawa is dead, and the past is the past. We just have to make the future better―that's all we can do. Learn from the past, pray for the future. Isn't that what you used to say?"

"Y… yes…"

"So just get over beating yourself up, and focus. Xiawa's already dead. We need to stop thinking about his death and focus on the future. There's nothing we can do for him now, anyways," Lunis growled.

The leader paused, reasserting herself. Then her eyes glittered. "There is something we can do for our friend, Lunis," she said softly. "Follow me."

Together, the two walked solemnly down the lit hallways. Being the afternoon, most of the occupants of the caverns were outside, doing their work. Others were inside, probably sleeping. Nothing bothered the pair as they made their way down to a black door with glowing gold runes depicting life, death, and bravery.

Without a single word, the leader opened the door with Psychic. Inside was a breathlessly beautiful cave, with natural chunks of twisted crystals, polished to the brink of perfection. Multicolored runes were inscribed on the ceiling, casting rays of spectacular lights that shone through the crystals and fractured into a million sparks of wondrous, shimmering flecks of light.

From the ceiling hung strands and strands of metallic links of silver, each pinching a single, glimmering metal tag whose color differentiated from the others. Some were plainly colored, while others were decorated with glitter and sparkling pictures. Along the metal links were tied small pieces of paper―the living's last letters to the deceased.

This was the Hall of Legends―the resting place for all of the brave ones who'd lost their lives in the numerous rebellions that had been happening even before the Unovian Revolution took place. The crystals glowed with the life essence of the dead ones―the souls who'd given their lives for the greater good and still watched over this particular group of revolutionists.

The two Pokemon walked quietly along the crystal grounds, sometimes stopping at a metal tag to look back at the good times they'd had with the Pokemon the tag stood for. The leader paused especially long under a glimmering green tag decorated with bright red spirals. Eventually, they reached the western part of the huge cavern, to a metal tag that glittered black and red. A single name had been inscribed on one side of the delicate tag.

SHUREI KEHIL

On the other side, Shurei's agent name had been carved in gold.

AGENT ARCHITECT

"I miss Shurei," the leader spoke, her quiet voice breaking the harmonious silence of the crystal cavern. "She was always so optimistic. So selfless. She was my best advisor, and one of the first to die in combat. She was truly the architect of life and struggle."

"She's in a better place now," Lunis acknowledged, with a tentativeness that asked the leader what she was doing.

The leader, understanding Lunis's tone, closed her eyes and concentrated. As Lunis watched in reverence, a new silver chain wove itself down from the glimmering ceiling. A single metal tag―black, with two red slash marks on its side―formed itself from the shimmering air. Lunis let out a soft breath of both sorrow and gratitude as a name was etched into the strip of fragile metal.

XIAWA KEHIL

And on the other side:

AGENT DEVISER

"He is with his sister now," the leader confirmed. "In life, and in death. Xiawa was a good friend and a brilliant inventor―one of the most diligent agents we've ever had. Rest in peace with your sister now, dear friend. Your soul may not be in the world of living anymore, but I know it is in a better place now. Rest forever in happiness, our Deviser. We will remember you and your sister forever."

Lunis stepped forward. "Xiawa…" His voice broke when he spoke his friend's name, but he caught himself quickly. "You were the best childhood friend I could've ever hoped to have. You taught me so much about life as well as mechanics. I'm sorry it had to come down to… what happened…" He swallowed a sob. "I hope that you'd forgive me, Xiawa. I wish we could go back to what it had been before. Sleep quietly now, and go on in happiness. I will never forget you."

There was a quiet moment of silence as the two bowed their heads solemnly. The crystals around them seemed to glow much brighter, although the two seemed not to notice it.

Finally, the leader opened her pale eyes.

"It is finished," she whispered quietly.

Lunis licked a clump of matted fur on his chest. "What is?" he asked, sounding tired and sad.

"The prophecy of doom," the leader spoke quietly. From the air, she drew a shimmering blade. "The ancient blade. I understand it all now."

Lunis blinked. "What do you mean?" he asked. "And… why do you have Shurei's dagger?"

The leader stood on her tiptoes, touching the tip of her nose to Xiawa's tag. Closing her eyes, she recited softly.

"The road before the chosen ones is unpaved and filled with stones,

Among them, a knight will go off alone,

His heart filled with regret of a past mistake made,

Carved in the metals of an ancient blade.

Upon the chosen ones, a great battle shall befall,

But will it be that in their hearts, courage is installed?

Or shall it be impudence that destroys them all?"

Lunis blinked. "I thought that was for the other revolutionists?" he said weakly.

The leader shook her head. "They are not the center of the universe," she said quietly. "The prophecy of doom cuts three ways―the Unovian Revolutionists, us, and the Shadow Force. For the Unovian Revolutionists, Agent Singing Serpent has reported that those lines seemed to represent that Leafeon deserter and the Striaton City Bombing. For us, however…"

"It's about Xiawa," Lunis finished. "I get it now. Xiawa was the knight on our side. The past mistake was when he abandoned us in that mission that led to Shurei's death. The ancient blade… that's Shurei's dagger, isn't it? When we first started rebelling, didn't Shurei and Xiawa promise each other upon the dagger that they'd stay loyal to us?"

"And Xiawa broke the promise by deserting us," the leader continued. "As for those last three lines… I believe we've finished them, with the entire Kalos region. The first part of the prophecy of doom on our side is fulfilled, then." Her careful eyes narrowed. "Now on to the second."

"What about the Shadow Force?" Lunis asked. "If the prophecy has finished on both our side and the other Revolutionists' side, shouldn't the Shadow Force…"

It already has…

A telepathic message whisked through the air. Both the leader and Lunis jumped as they spun around to see Monnie, brilliant golden eyes blank, as she nosed her way around a crystal pillar.

There's something you need to see, she said.

---

On an island, somewhere….

"You three were very lucky we were there."

Mesprit blinked open her narrow, golden eyes to see herself lying in a bed made of light petals and feathers, surrounded by a lush green forest with brilliant rays of soft sun beams lying strikingly against the dappled forest floor. A soft, ancient melody rippled gently through the warm, gentle air, carried by the pleasant breeze.

"W-What happened?" she asked, trying to get up. A silky white blanket was wrapped around the lower half of her body, and she twisted around to see her sisters―Azelf and Uxie―both awake and staring around―figuratively, for Uxie―dumbfounded.

Then she looked up.

A huge, goat-like Pokemon rose up in front of the Lake Guardians, its yellow horns like jagged bolts of thunder. A white tuft of velvety fur ran down its chest, and small gray spots decorated its aqua blue fur. Beside him laid, with hooves folded neatly against her green body, was a antelope-like Pokemon with horns that ended in blunt, curled points and pink-tipped leaves sprouting from her neck. The one who'd spoken―a rough-looking bovine Pokemon with beige and gray skin. Sharp, angled brown horns hung down the side of his head, and his amber eyes glowered at them.

"The Swords of Justice," Uxie whispered, using her aura-sensing skills to identify the Pokemon.

Azelf blinked. "Where's Keldeo?" she asked meekly.

Virizon and Cobalion glanced at each other gravely, with a small degree of sadness.

"You three have been gone for a long time," Virizon said gently. "Keldeo is now ruling one of the provinces in the Sea Empire. He's happy there."

Mespite struggled to levitate. "Wait," she said. "First of all… what happened?" Shattered pieces of memories floated before her eyes as she attempted to remember what had happened after she woke. The swirling silt and mud. The sudden, aggressive ripple through the water. A dark, hideous tendril of darkness reaching for her soul...what had that been about?

Cobalion lowered his majestic head. "I'm afraid that is why we have gathered here," he said quietly. "Darkrai has done something no legendary has ever done before―he has, by political means―claimed the rank of the Supreme Leader."

Azelf rose into the air, fury snapping in her eyes. "How dare he!" she snarled.

"We didn't make an ancient law stating that legendaries couldn't become the Supreme Leader," Uxie murmured. "A bit of an oversight on our part."

The Lake Guardians listened in stunned silence as the Swords of Justice shortly summarized what'd happened so far: Darkrai's rise to being leader, the revolutions―first in Hoenn, then Kalos, and then Unova―the deaths, and finally, Darkrai's malicious plan to rid the world of the "minor" legendaries who posed a threat to him… and Dialga and Palkia's disappearance, causing Sinnoh to be fully under Darkrai's control.

"Minor legendaries?" Azelf huffed. "We're the keys to Dialga and Palkia!"

"That's not relevant," Uxie said. "You mentioned… Dialga and Palkia are missing? How? Why?"

"I believe that would be Xerneas' and Yvetal's faults," Cobalion replied quietly. "Although I do not blame them for doing what they're doing. With Giratina in league with Darkrai, they planned to exterminate Dialga and Palkia first. Xerneas and Yvetal wielded their mystical powers and placed the two in a hidden place where not even Giratina could reach them. They should be safe… but that also means the rest of us are left to fend for themselves."

"Have any of the other major legendaries woken up?" Mesprit asked.

Terrakion shook his great heads. "Since Hoenn's almost free… Kyogre and Groudon haven't been disturbed. Rayquaza's still flying about in the ozone layer."

"We tried talking to him," Virizon sniffed. "He wouldn't listen. Rude."

"Technically speaking, his domain hasn't been disturbed yet… so I understand why he wants no part in this," Cobalion contradicted. "And Zekrom and Reshiram… well, we left the Dark Stone and Light Stone in Rayquaza's care. They should be safe."

"What about Zygarde?" Azelf questioned.

"Him?" Virizon stood, stretching her back. "He's off plotting in Kalos with Xerneas and Yvetal. So far, they've decided to not join the battle. That's the Mortality Trio, I suppose." She lifted her delicate muzzle towards the sun, absorbing its warmth with a satisfied smile.

"It's a wise decision," Uxie murmured. "Major legendaries tend to cause a lot of damage every time they wake up."

"What about the other minor legendaries and mythical beings?" Mesprit inquired. "They're not the ones to go into a slumber. Where are they?"

Virizon paused, mid-stretch. "Like Keldeo, Suicune's in the Sea Empire. So is Lugia. Entei and Raikou are somewhere in Kalos, patrolling the borders in case Darkrai attempts to attack." She paused, her pale face glowing in the soft rays of the sun. "Hoopa, Volcanion and Diancie are protecting the Weather Orbs…"

"An odd trio, aren't they?" Azelf remarked. "I'd never expect them to work together." The narrow red jewel on her forehead flashed in the sunlight.

"Well, the legendaries of Kalos are the most expendable ones at this point," Cobalion said, a sternness in his dark eyes. "The Kalos region is secured, after all."

"What of Kyurem?" Mesprit asked. "Is he alright?"

Terrakion shrugged. "Unova's a hotspot for war at the mo'. He's gone off to Kalos to continue his sleep."

Virizon curled her lips in disgust. "An act of weakness," she observed quietly. "Darkrai will think that Kyurem is afraid to battle him."

"Kyurem's not one to meddle in political affairs," Cobalion contradicted. "It's expected of him."

"To flee? I think not." Virizon shook her head. "And the only major legendary awake―the moon goddess―Cresselia, won't fight. I don't know what's up with her."

"Cressalia made a pact with Darkai a while back, did she not?" Uxie informed, a hint of grudging admiration in her voice. "She is not one to break such promises."

"Promises or not―she's being selfish," Terrakion growled. "Hiding on her little island 'protecting dreams' while the Pokemon's living nightmares run rampant."

"We cannot judge others on their decisions," Cobalion warned Terrakion with a hard glare. "It is their opinions and personalities that make them who they are."

Terrakion huffed angrily, like a volcano about to erupt, but kept his silence.

Mesprit counted the legendaries carefully. "Then what about the other mythical and legendary Pokemon? What of Ho-oh and the Legendary Birds? And what of the Eon Duo? Or Meloetta? Or Mew? And Celebi?"

"And Victini!" Azelf joined in. "And the Sea Guardians! Heatran! And the Legendary Golems and Regigigas?! And the Forces of Nature? What about Shaymin and Jirachi?"

Uxie replied quietly. "Azelf, sister, you know the Legendary Golems, Regigigas, and Jirachi would not be expected to wake at this point. Jirachi only wakes once in a thousand years, have you forgotten?"

"Party poopers," Azelf grumbled.

Virizon cleared her throat. "Ho-Oh is on our side, more or less. He's off flying with Rayquaza, trying to persuade him to help. As for the Legendary Birds, some time after you guys went back to sleep, they became the guardians of Our God, Arceus. As for the Sea Guardians―they're in the Sea Empire as well. Several Heatrans are making their way to Mt. Pyre with the help of a pack Shaymin in their Sky Forme…"

Mesprit blinked. "How, exactly?" For a moment, she had an absolutely absurd image of a bunch of Heatrans riding on the backs of a Shaymin-shaped pack of Shaymin as they flew over the Sinnoh Sea.

"The Forces of Nature are with them, shielding them from attacks from Darkrai," Terrakion explained. "The Heatrans are a bit beat up, after Darkrai gave them a right rumble in Sinnoh."

Uxie scowled. "Did we not agree to prevent legendary battles?" she asked.

The Swords of Justice looked awkwardly at each other. "Um…" Cobalion stayed silent, while Virizon and Terrakion shuffled uneasily.

Mesprit sensed acute embarrassment flowing off their fine, silky fur. "Don't tell me you guys scraped that rule after we went to sleep," she accused angrily.

"This is awkward," Virizon muttered.

"You did, didn't you?" Uxie sighed, sounding exhausted. "Why?"

Terrakion chewed dejectedly on an apple. "Well, maybe… uh… perhaps after you guys went to sleep… like, Kyorge and Groudon decided something like, 'Oh hey, let's just wake up and have a right rumble here and now!'" He swallowed the apple whole and went on. "And then some political stuff happened, things got blown up, and we decided to just ignore the rule and all. Believe me, I protested the destroying-the-rule part from the start."

Virizon snorted. "As if. You should've seen him." She lifted her muzzle and did a pretty good imitation of Terrakion's voice. "'Why do we have this stupid rule? Why can't I just get a good smackdown whenever I want, wherever I want?!'"

"I did not!" Terrakion exclaimed indignantly. Virizon hissed darkly at him, her tone indicating that she was not pleased with her bovine friend's lies.

Cobalion coughed politely, clopping his great hooves. "Enough, you two," he said wearily, his shoulders sagging. "Right now, Mew is off trying to convince Cresselia to side with us. I've sent Victini to reach Keldeo and the Sea Guardians, to warn them of our situation and invite them to come to a meeting with us minor legendaries, so we may discuss our actions."

"Minor legendaries," Azelf emphasized with a disgusted snort.

"The other ancient rule," Uxie demanded purposefully, anger boiling in her timbre. "Did you also destroy that one?" The red jewel adorning her forehead glowed brighter, as if ready to implode.

Cobalion shook his gargantuan azure head, his horns nearly decapitating Azelf. "If by the other one, you mean the one about legendaries not being allowed to fight mortals unless provoked―meaning attacked―then, no. That is the only thing keeping Darkrai from taking over the mortals' world."

"Speaking of which, it's a good idea we destroyed the no-legendary-fighting-legendary thing," Terrakion announced smugly, a satisfied glint in his eyes. "'Cause if we hadn't back then, we wouldn't be able to fight each other now."

"Let's not get into the fighting business now, Terrakion," Virizon warned, the pink-tipped leaves on her neck fluttering gracefully in the breeze. "Our primary goal is the get the awakened legendaries together for a meeting… at least the ones who aren't on missions." Her tone was grave, and the sun seemed to dim at its sound.

Mesprit nodded vigorously. "Yes. Where are Melo―" she started, then stopped abruptly, her eyes wide.

Out of the woods, as graceful as her melody, Meloetta sparkled into view in her Aria Form, her teal eyes sparkling like the calm seas, and her gray skirt swirling out behind her like a breeze. Behind her rose two majestic dragons―seemingly twins―but one being mainly blue, and the other primarily red.

"Meloetta and the Eon Duo," Virizon muttered. "You took your time coming here." Her hooves made soft indents against the grass as she strode over to the three newcomers, her head held high and her eyes sparkling.

"Hey, hey, chill," Latios said cheerfully, a gleam in his sharp eyes. "We're fast remember? Well, at least Latias and I are. Meloetta, however…"

"Hush, now," Latias scolded him. "Don't taunt the slow Pokemon, brother. You know they're never going to be as awesome as we are."

"My friends," Meloetta spoke, her voice gentle as a sweet lullaby. "I'm glad you're all alright." She dipped her head delicately as she hovered effortlessly in the air. "It has been a long time."

"What now?" Uxie inquired, after a moment of awkward silence. "What should we do?"

There was a silent moment as the primordial Pokemon in the forest pondered that thought.

"We could find Darkrai and bash his brains to the ground," Terrakion suggested fiercely at last, breaking the ice with a sledgehammer. "That'd be ace."

Meloetta looked queasy at the vicious suggestion. "I'd prefer to settle this without violence between the legendaries. We have power greater than the mortals. It would not be wise to fight." Her azure eyes seemed to impersonate a sorrowful tide of musical notes as she surveyed the assembled legendaries quietly.

"That sucks," Terrakion grumbled, stomping the ground and sending a tremor through the grass and trees.

"Besides," Meloetta continued softly. "I believe that Giratina is siding with Darkrai. We will not be able to get close."

"Because someone helped destroyed the no-legendary-fighting-legendary rule," Virizon muttered, with a glare at Terrakion.

Uxie shook her head. "You guys are horrible with rules," she murmured. "I made those rules and made you agree to them for a reason. I am the Being of Knowledge, you disgraces. I did it so something like this wouldn't happen!"

"What has that rule got to do with anything?" Terrakion protested. "Whether we're allowed to fight each other or not has nothing to do with this!"

Cobalion coughed. "Technically speaking, if the rule still existed, we could've gone over, threw Darkrai in a net without harming him, and banish him. Giratina would've had no say in the matter, bounded by the ancient rule. That being so, yes, this situation would not have been this bad."

"Thanks a lot, party pooper," Terrakion grumbled darkly.

"What do we do now, then?" Meloetta asked hopelessly. "We could fight Darkrai, but Giratina… he's using his antimatter power to attack any legendary that gets close to Darkrai." She stared at the ground, her azure eyes the definition of sorrow. "What do we do?" she whispered.

"Remind me to bring up a rule about Giratina not being allowed to do that next time we have a full-membered-legendary meeting," Cobalion grunted. "As for now… I believe we should visit the Legendary Birds," he announced solemnly.

The others digested that in silence. Uxie spoke up first.

"You mean…" she said quietly. "Awaken Arceus?"

---

In Anville Town…

"Is he here yet?" Stary asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. "I'd never thought he'd be so late. He's not one to miss his appointments."

"Nor one to break his promises," Darkrai spoke, almost wistfully, as he floated weightlessly above the stone archway that stood towering over the main railway that led to the trains' final stops.

On the stone archway that leaned over the rails, Doomsday, Ranark, Stary, and Darkrai had been assembled. Otri, having had his throat nearly burned through and out, was resting in the infirmary along with Nova, who was recuperating after being blasted out of her Berzerk Form. The generals present stood silently as they watched the Dark Lord survey the rails.

Doomsday huffed, her new cloak sweeping out before her. "I do not see what is up with all of this waiting," she declared, her dark eyes gleaming like that of an adder's―right before it sinks its fangs into your neck. "Another general is another general. I do not see why all of us that are able-bodied needed to assemble for his sake. I have training to do, my lord."

"Why do you sound so formal all of a sudden?" Ranark observed, a dark, humorous tone in his voice. "If I remember correctly, only yesterday you were all happy and bouncing off the walls."

Doomsday whirled around. "Because, you pallid fool, if you haven't noticed yet because you were too busy plotting to take over the universe, yesterday was Christmas, for Arceus' sake! And Christmas is an exception for my seriousness."

Ranark snarled, ready to retort, but Darkrai appeared between them like a shadow barrier. "I'll have none of this now, you two!" he warned, glowing with anger. "Mind yourselves!"

Doomsday hissed and retreated away from Ranark, her distrustful gaze burning into him like flint. Ranark returned a glare of his own, an icy cold one that warned her he was not one to be outmatched.

Stary cleared her throat, her metal-tipped wings making shink-shink sounds as she unfolded them. "I'd love to join in your entire macho-ing square-off, but, um, the train's coming, and I'm a hundred percent sure you don't want to act like fools in front of about, oh, I don't know, an entire regiment?"

The two generals reasserted themselves quickly and neatly, though hostile glares could still be caught. Stary didn't know what was wrong with those two―she was very sure they'd been overly friendly with each other in the past, but she didn't know what'd happened to that friendliness.

The train came roaring in like a hungry dragon, smoke trailing above it like a glimmering silk scarf. Inside, faces of countless Pokemon could be seen―excited, perhaps even a bit fearful―as they saw the Dark Lord.

With a wheezing grunt, the train squealed sharply to a stop, momentum almost pitching it off the rails from its sheer weight. Pokemon began filing out of it, but not one of them bore the mark of a general. The generals on the archway watched with concern as the Pokemon marched in an orderly fashion towards Darkrai's new Shadow Palace. Troop after troop, unit after unit―the footsteps of the wary soldiers of Sinnoh stamped steadily on the well-oiled platform that edged the railways. Soon, the soldiers thinned out, and then the commanders―twenty of them―marched out in single file, double-time. Then they too, disappeared into the horizon.

Ranark and Doomsday exchanged unimpressed glances.

"Late for his own homecoming," Doomsday remarked, snorting in disgust. Darkrai shot her an angry glare, and she backed away, lowering her head in apology.

"Look!" Stary suddenly shrieked, excited. "Plasma!" she darted off the archway and spiraled down towards the platform.

Darkrai floated down to the wooden platform with an excitement Doomsday and Ranark had not seen before, his arctic eyes glittering like a supernova as they fixed on a majestic Pokemon slinking forward from the abandoned train, his eyes narrowed as though expecting a vicious fight.

Doomsday and Ranark glanced at each other, reluctant to follow Darkrai and Stary's route.

"What do you think?" Ranark's voice was a soft whisper, filled with suspicious. "They're too close to this Plasma for my liking. Too close. You get what I mean?"

Doomsday nodded faintly, as though disgusted with the idea of agreeing with Ranark. "I know what you mean," she acknowledged, her cold blue eyes slits like blades of knives. "They seem to have a link to this new general, Stary and Darkrai. Something tells me this isn't their first time meeting. It's almost as if they're…" Her lips curled into a snarl, her expression disdainful as she spoke the venomous word. "... family."

Ranark's eyes tapered into tiny fissures. "What do your oracle senses tell you?" he muttered under his breath as he watched the new general approach Stary and Darkrai, his head low.

Doomsday bared her gleaming fangs―each one of them like glinting sickles. "I can't see that much of the future, with so many crossways these days," she said with a disgusted grunt. "What I do know is… this Plasma will not turn out to be what Stary and Darkrai have anticipated him to be." Her eyes widened thoughtfully. "Perhaps we can use that to our advantage… our alliance…" A smirk slid across her silent face. "... our mission."

"Otri isn't going to die from that burning splinter, is he?" Ranark sighed. "Which means our alliance will have to last longer. Do you see Plasma with us in your visions?"

Doomsday shrugged, though a glint in her eyes indicated she knew more than she was letting on. "Perhaps," she said mysteriously. "But I do know that his loyalties… they lie not with Darkrai, but to himself. I believe he has some other… reasons for becoming a general." She smiled smugly.

Ranark watched Plasma as he stopped within meters of Darkrai and Stary. "Shall we go, then?" he asked emotionlessly. "He may become a strong ally in our quest to rid ourselves of Otri."

"Yes." Doomsday perched on the brink of the stone archway, her sharp claws digging into the cement as if it were made of butter. "I am very interesting in him… and what he will bring to… the Shadow Force." Her grin resembled that of a serial killer. She bunched up her leg muscles, and leapt down from the archway. Ranark followed swiftly, landing gracefully and easily next to Doomsday as they approached the newcomer.

Stary fluttered her wings excitedly as she stared at her long-lost friend, who was warily eyeing her and Darkrai from far away, making no attempt to advance. She couldn't believe that she'd seen him again, after their prolonged years of separation.

Plasma was a Luxray with a sleek, black pelt; cold, calculating red eyes embedded with golden pupils that glimmered like coins in the sunset. His long tail, tipped with a four-pointed star, made his appearance even more regal. A belt with silver chain links was strapped around his body, and a sheathed flamberge was hanging off a side of it, not quite touching the floor.

Stary heard a muffled thump as Ranark and Doomsday landed simultaneously next to her, their eyes careful and not betraying anything. She wondered what they'd been talking about on the stone archway and why they hadn't joined the welcoming party earlier.

Ranark and Doomsday studied Plasma vigilantly, narrowed eyes analyzing the new general. Plasma lifted his head, tension clear in his body, as he returned their gazes with a sharp, diamond-like stare. Stary didn't know what happened during the exchange of glares, but Ranark stepped backwards, and Doomsday actually hissed, with a hint to her voice that suggested a laughter.

Darkrai broke the tension. He spread his arms and floated towards Plasma. "My friend," he said softly, his voice filled with thick emotions. "It's been a long time."

Stary checked to see if Ranark and Doomsday were shocked at all by Darkrai's lines, but both looked as if he'd confirmed something they'd had in mind. The two put their heads together and began whispering again, more urgently. She leaned in to listen, but they fixed their eyes on her with an evident message: Go away.

"Do not come near me," Plasma said coldly, when Darkrai had reached within a foot of him. Stary was shocked by the iciness in her friend's voice. She couldn't understand why he'd treat Darkrai, their best friend, that way. Plasma's hackles were high, every muscle in his body tense and taut like a bowstring. His thick fur stuck up like metal spikes, every single strand of fur screaming, Danger!

"What are you talking about, even?!" Stary snapped out, before Darkrai had the chance to look surprised. "We're best friends? Don't you like being close to us, to Darkrai?"

Plasma eyed her with a frosty glare, his voice quiet and controlled. Doomsday and Ranark watched the scene unfold with great interest. "The past is the past. And I do not need friends in this war, or right now, or in the future," he spoke emotionlessly, the words flowing out like frigid water as he stepped around Darkrai and headed up the path towards the castle. His hackles lowered a fraction of a bit, and his fur flattened down.

"How can you even say that?" Stary cried out, enraged. She dove into his path with her wings outstretched. "Have you forgotten our promise to stay together?"

Plasma's eyes looked like a dark void, empty of emotions or empathy. "I sure didn't," he said quietly. "But someone did."

Stary folded her wings, more puzzled now than angry. "What does that even mean?"

Plasma's eyes glowed gold, something Stary had never before seen him do. The flamberge at his side was immediately enveloped in the same golden light and pulled itself out of its sheath. Stary gasped. She recognized the blade.

The flamberge had a translucent, wine-colored blade that glowed darkly in the light. The spiral designs along the middle of the blade were as clear as they'd been the day Darkrai had made them, a decade or so ago. The hilt was silver, with runes of gold and blue that were as regal as their master.

"The Bond of Friendship?" Stary stammered. "It's still here? You still have it?"

"It is bound to me now," Plasma growled with a dark hatred Stary couldn't quite figure out in his voice. "Forever. Eternally."

Stary blinked her beady eyes. "How is that even possible?" she asked, confusion clear in her trilling voice. "The three of us created the blade. Why is it bounded to you, alone?" she demanded, her wind-chime-like voice the slightest bit angry. "And why in the heavens is it floating?"

Plasma didn't answer, while Darkrai still looked stunned. Stary whipped her head between her two old friends. What had happened, that she wasn't aware of?

Doomsday's claws clicking across the wooden floorboards shattered the tense silence. "Perhaps I should explain," she said in a voice as smooth as honey, dripping with a false sympathy that made Stary wince. "I believe Plasma means that the, err, Bond of Friendship, is a mind-blade now, bound to his mind, so he can order it around mentally. Is that not right?" she purred, her icy eyes glittering.

Plasma gave her a stiff nod, looking reluctant to answer at all.

"I don't get it," Stary said, inclining her head to one side. "What are mind blades?"

Doomsday laughed, her voice twisting hideously and flawlessly into a meticulously soft laughter. "They're weapons, of course," she crooned on superlatively. "Weapons that had been bound with promises and oaths. Weapons that connect to their… host… depending on whether those promises and oaths are held or broken. To have a mind blade, the blade must be in one of the creator's possession when either the oath is strengthened…" Her eyes glittered darkly, filled with a kind of excitement Stary did not understand. "Or broken."

Stary glanced at Plasma unsteadily. "The oath was strengthened, wasn't it?" she asked weakly. "And you had possession of it at that time. It must've turned into a mind blade when you joined the Shadow Force… isn't that right?" Because our friendship is still as strong as ever, isn't it?

Plasma made no confirmation, his golden eyes purposely fixed on the horizon.

Darkrai finally broke out of statue mode. He spun around and flew towards Plasma again, but a bit more warily this time. "My friend," he said carefully. "Are you alright?"

Plasma lifted his nose. "Of course," he said in a cool, precise tone. "Just tired. I'll be going to rest now, if you're done with the orders." He turned halfway around, then jerked his head to stare at Darkrai. "Permission to leave, milord?"

Darkrai nearly choked, his artic blue eyes flooded with pain. "Don't call me that, Plasmie," he said in a strangled voice.

Plasma whirled around, hissing angrily. Then he seemed to catch himself. "Then respect me and do not, ever call me that again. Ever," he growled threateningly, his voice still somehow a quiet, feathery sound. "Don't treat me like what I was before you―" He bit back something that was probably the key term to how he felt towards Darkrai. "Please finish with your orders, milord." He dipped his head mockingly, his eyes fixed on Darkrai with a degree of pure hatred.

Darkrai winced, and Stary stepped forward, her wings spread, ready to break up a fight if it came to that.

"Now, now." Doomsday slid gracefully between Darkrai and Plasma as the two glowered at each other―Plasma's gaze full of hate, and Darkrai's eyes full of pain. "The Luxray's right. The day's not getting any younger with all this useless arguing. My lord―what are your next orders?"

"That's right," Ranark added. "Otri's down, Nova's injured, the rebels have retaken Striaton, and the Nimbasa rebels have won against us as well. All that stands between the two groups of rebels is Castelia City, which is also on the verge of rebelling. We need a plan, not a debate on the past." He gave Stary a glare that said, I got this.

Stary folded her wings with a metallic click. Plasma's eyes had turned back into its emotionless state as he sheathed his mind blade. Darkrai hovered several steps back, as if unsure of what to say.

"Well?" Stary forced herself to speak. "We can catch up together later, I'm sure." But even as she said those words, she knew that it'd never happen, the way Plasma was now. "What's the plan, leader?"

Darkrai paused, reasserting himself to look like the noble he was supposed to be in front of his generals. "We're going to take Castelia City off the map," he stated stoutly, his voice as emotionless as Plasma's gaze. "Plasma, remember the bombs I showed you―err, the Weavile inventor showed you―in Sinnoh?"

Plasma nodded curtly, his eyes dark and forbidding.

"I want you to use that bomb on Castelia," Darkrai continued. "After you're done, set your forces in the city, because the rebels will attack after the bombing. I will send Doomsday and Ranark to aid you. There's no way the rebels can win a fight with all three of your armies, if they're even still alive after the bombing."

"Finally," Doomsday hissed excitedly. "I have been waiting for so long."

"I get paired up with an amateur and Doomsday?" Ranark screeched. "That is so not fair! How come I have to fight with Doomsday?!" he complained.

Doomsday smiled, showing her glinting fangs. "Face it, dear," she crooned. "Our fates are tied together."

"Please don't tell me that's a real thing," Ranark muttered under his breath. Doomsday snickered darkly.

"Stary." Darkrai turned his gaze on the Staraptor, and she shifted unsteadily. "I want you to go with your forces and obliterate Nuvema and Accumula Town. Even Striaton City if you get close enough."

Stary dipped her head. "As you say," she replied stoutly.

"Is that all?" Plasma asked. "When do we leave?"

Darkrai's eyes glinted. "Soon," he said in a menacing tone. "In a month's time. Those pesky rebels will be too oblivious while celebrating their victory at Striaton City to even think of helping Castelia City."

"What about Nimbasa City?" Ranark inquired. "Shall we destroy it too?"

Darkrai thought about it. "No―not yet," he decided. "Those lazy rebels are just a bunch of pathetic Pokemon playing war. I'll show them the full horror of our power. They'll give up after Castelia City utterly demolished, I'm sure," he finalized.

Doomsday shrugged excitedly. "You're the boss," she spoke confidently. "When do Ranark and I leave?"

Darkrai considered the thought. "I don't want your ranks to be accidentally intercepted in the bombing," he decided. "You two can leave a day after Plasma."

Doomsday nodded, and teleported away with her new Reaper's Cloak. Ranark slipped into the shadows and disappeared using his ninja-like stealth, leaving Darkrai, Plasma, and Stary alone. The three glanced uncomfortably at each other.

Darkrai cleared his throat after a moment's silence. "Plasma―"

"I don't want your apology," Plasma muttered quietly. "You don't know what you're apologizing for, anyways. Just… leave me be."

Darkrai lowered his head in defeat and vanished into the shadows. Plasma started walking towards the palace, every step heavy as if filled with pain. Stary hurried to catch up with him, her sharp talons digging into the dirt.

"What's…" She stopped herself before she could bring up Darkrai. She was pretty sure Plasma was going to slice her in half for that. She decided to focus on another topic. "It's awesome you got a mind blade now," she offered weakly. "I remember using the Bond of Friendship, you know, with my talons back then. It's the sharpest sword I've ever used and probably will ever use."

"You rely more on your sharp wings now, don't you?" Plasma spoke, with less venom in his voice than before. "I'd always pictured you like that, really, even when we were small." There was a hint of humor in his voice. "You were always into knives."

Stary laughed, feeling a spark of hope. Maybe the old Plasma wasn't gone, after all. "Well, I'd never expect you to wield a sword, really. I remember you holding the sword with your teeth. There was that one time you almost impaled yourself, remember?"

Plasma's lips twitched, as if trying to suppress a smile. There was an old glint of humor in his eyes. "That was stupid of me, wasn't it? Slobbering all over the hilt while trying to get a grip on it. Not the smartest idea ever, huh?"

Stary grinned. "Yeah," she said quietly, with a grin. "But you get all the good ideas all the time. You're our best tactician, literally. I mean―Doomsday's an oracle, so she pretty much relies on seeing the future to coordinate her attacks. Ranark's better at ambushes, I think; he doesn't really like open-space fighting. And Otri―the other general―he's better at charging at the enemy and getting us supporters. Nova's smart and strong, but uncontrollable. Me―well, I'm just a directionless wind, I guess. I just swoop in, nab whatever I can, then fly off." She flapped her wings. "Not much of a good strategist, really," she confessed.

"You'll get a hang of it," Plasma said, with a shred of warmth in his voice. "You're always quick to learn."

Stary smiled at the praise and walked on, her head held high. They strolled towards the palace gates. Then, when they were almost passing through the gates when Stary finally blurted out her big question.

"What's wrong between you and Darkrai?" she demanded, a bit hastily. "You two used to be fine before… but now…" She lowered her head. A gleam of tears shone like liquid diamond on her cheeks. "You two are so far apart. What went wrong?"

Plasma drew his sword and studied it. A ray of sunshine lashed through the blade, making it glow scarlet. He stayed silent, staring at the blade.

Stary pressed on carefully. "Plasma… really. You can trust me. Tell me what happened. I can help. I can fix this."

Plasma laughed a short, bitter laugh. "It's too late, Stary," he said in a low tone. "It's too late," he hissed.

Stary shifted uneasily. The sun was hot on her feathers, and she fluffed them out. The iron spikes of the gate gleamed undaunted at her, their sharp tips perfect for impaling. "Does it…" she said softly. "Does it have to do with Bond of Friendship?" she asked quietly.

Plasma studied the wine-red sword. The sunlight shone brightly on his pelt, making his gold markings glow like fire. "That's not its name now," he said at last. "I renamed it, because it no longer represents a link between friendship."

Stary blinked. "What? Why?"

"The one you call Doomsday didn't say this part," Plasma replied quietly. "But mind blades are mind blades because of either a blessing…" His eyes darkened. "Or a curse," he said the last word heavily, as if emphasizing its importance.

Stary shook her head. "Bond of Friendship is not, never was, and never will be a curse," she growled. "It's a blessing. A sign that Darkrai―a mythical Pokemon, an immortal―can keep his promises with us mortals."

"I bet so," Plasma muttered.

Stary sighed. She felt as if there was more that Plasma wanted to tell her, but didn't dare to.

"What did you rename it to?" she asked finally, her voice a timid whisper.

Plasma raised the sword so the sun shone fully through it, casting a faint red shadow against the sandy ground below. The gold and blue runes glinted in the sun, almost looking like they were burning, casting ghostly images of fire across Plasma's fur.

"The Price of Betrayal," he said finally, the sharp edge of the blade glinting as it caught the rays of the sun.

---

In Striaton City…

"Why do I feel like we're always in charge of helping rebuild stuff?!" Xeno grumbled as she shoved a long plank of wood into the skeleton of the house she was helping to build. "We're soldiers, not builders! This wasn't in my contract!"

"We didn't get contracts!" Rachiel reminded her with a friendly sparkle in her eyes.

Xeno huffed angrily, with an irritation Rachiel didn't understand.

"What's wrong?" the Houndoom asked her friend.

Xeno kicked the table she was using to saw planks in half. She must've been horribly angry, because she wasn't able to control herself and snapped the leg right off the table. "I'm all out for fighting, Rachie," the Breloom growled, anger kindling in her once-friendly eyes. "Recruiting. Leading armies. Magic stuff. Baking. Cooking. But this!" She gestured wildly at the half-finished house. "I didn't sign up to help those pathetic citizens build houses. Who exactly issued this order?!" she demanded.

Rachiel raised her tail in apology. "Hey, Xeno. I'm seriously sorry about this, okay? But as a soldier―we destroy stuff. As a Pokemon―we should rebuild stuff. That's what makes us fairer than those Shadow Force scum. They only destroy, but we do our best to fix what we've done. Imagine if you're one of the Striaton City citizens… how bitter would you be if your house got knocked down on the behalf of some patriots and they never came back to help you rebuild or say sorry?"

Xeno stayed silent, contemplating the words. Then her face wrinkled up―she knew Rachiel was right. "I don't like what you're saying―but it's true." She let out a disgusted snort. "But I'm the lieutenant. And I'm here doing this rubbish?" she snapped. "Okay, I can handle building things before, in Nuvema and Accumula. I can handle the sawdust and drilling machines and whatever because I knew that our numbers weren't great enough to only have part of the army build. But now… I'm of this high rank, and we have so many soldiers… remind me why the generals get to sit around playing chit-chat while the lieutenants work like they don't deserve their ranks!" she spat out the last words, venom clear in every pronunciation.

Rachiel winced apologetically. "I'll talk to Ralph about it," she promised, then turn around just as Jason jammed a syrupy waffle in her jaws.

Rachiel howled in rage. "What is up with you and waffles and war?!" she shrieked, irritated, through the mouthful of waffle.

Jason hopped up and down enthusiastically. "Ralph's called a meeting with all the lieutenants and generals and head medics!" he reported cheerfully. "They're planning the next step quickly 'cause they're sure Darkrai isn't going to let us retake Striaton. So―off you guys go! I gotta go get Lumiere and May!"

"The next step―already?" Xeno moaned, her mushroom-shaped head morphing into a frown.

"Stop complaining." Rachiel gave her a friendly nudge. "At least this means no building!"

Xeno, still grumbling, muttered long stanzas of different curses as she trailed behind the Houndoom, headed for the newly rebuilt Striaton City Hall.

"Is everyone here?" Ralph looked around, his sharp eyes securing on every detail in the room. The original Revolutionists minus a few, Akhelios the Striaton City mayor, and the mayor's attendants―his siblings and advisors―were seated around a round, polished table. Plates of chocolate, iced tea, crackers, and waffles (which made Rachiel groan) were being passed around.

"Yeah, I've finished calling role," Lumiere replied, the ghostly fires around him burning brighter as he looked up. "What's the plan, leader?"

Ralph shuffled uncomfortably in his seat at the mention, but didn't protest. "We need to plan our next step," he announced. "Darkrai's not going to take it kindly when he finds out―which he probably already did―that Striaton City is back under our control."

Mark tossed several dozen crackers into his beak and quaffed a tall glass of tea. "So what's going to be our next target? Nacrene City or Castelia City?"

Ralph hesitated. Nacrene or Castelia? "Nacrene's made it clear that it's staying neutral… but can we really take on Castelia City? It's one of the biggest cities in the world!"

Mark shrugged. "I dunno, bro, but one thing's clear, we're gonna have to take over Castelia one day or the other… 'sides, I heard they were planning on rebelling over there too. And I'm sure ya'll heard… Nimbasa started a big battle some days back. Would be good if we could connect with them and figure out a game plan together."

Ralph nodded warily. "But are we absolutely sure that Nacrene's staying neutral?"

The others looked doubtfully at each other. Akhelios spoke up, raising a cream-colored paw. "I tried communicating with Aronel―the mayor of Nacrene City―through video chat, but… there wasn't any answer. Aronel's not a coward, from what I know, but he's not a fighter either. I think he'd rather wait out this battle, no matter who's right or wrong."

"Jerk," Amethyst muttered, brandishing her new fire-stick.

Charnette, who'd recovered but had indefinitely lost her left eye and was still quite weak, snorted. "I doubt the Nacrene citizens are as cowardly as their pathetic little mayor doll. Maybe if you get over there in person, they'll change their mind. I can even do a soul scan if you―"

"Charnette, we've talked about this," May interrupted. "You're still weak from using so much magic. It wouldn't be wise for you to do anything else but rest as of now."

Charnette's perfectly angled eyes narrowed. "Are you defying my magic?" she asked deliberately, toxic in her every word.

May shook her head, surprisingly standing her ground. "I'm a medic, Charnette. You've lost a lot of energy by casting so many spells―not to mention the one you're using to cover you face. It's sapping your strength daily. I am not going to stand by and watch you go on a suicide quest where you'd die―or at least come pretty close to it―by casting a soul-scan spell."

Lumiere sliced in before Charnette could protest. "May's right, Charnette. You need rest. I don't care how badly Ralph needs you, you're not doing any magic unless we say you're better."

A half-snarl ripped from Charnette's throat. "How dare you―"

"Charna," Amethyst interrupted. "Enough, please. They're gonna be fine without ya. I don't think Ralph's that stupid to get his neck sawed off without us for a while."

"But―"

"No."

The attendants of the meeting glanced warily between the two daughters of life and death. There was a tense, angry glare from Charnette, countered by a calm but firm stare from Amethyst. Then Charnette sighed and stretched out of her chair leisurely.

"Fine, Ame. Whatever you want. But next time there's a magical mission, I want in and I don't care who I kill to get in, alright?" she barked, her warning clear as day in her voice.

"Sure," Ralph answered. "But what exactly are we… um… what is the mission we're going on but you're banned from?"

"To ask the Nacrene City mayor for help, of course." Rachiel sniffed. "I can't believe those book worms have no fight in them. At least a fraction of them should have fighting spirit."

"They would be a great addition to our army," Charnette added. "Nacrene City has the best arcane defenders and necromancers. Imagine what we can do with that much magic."

"But they're not machines made to work for us," May pointed out timidly. "Maybe we should talk to them, but not force them to do anything."

"Let them have free reign and their own decisions?" Xeno grunted.

"No threats. Just remember that," Lumiere said with a thoughtful look. "Say nothing about us using them, but needing them. The play of words will be an important factor in your conversation with Aronel. I've met him on several occasions. He's no fool, that Stoutland is. Even the tiniest mistake in grammar and wording will set him off."

"Like I said," Charnette grumbled. "Book worms."

"There's another reason we're not sending you, Charnette," Lumiere added. "Your play of words will surely insult him."

"What? There's another synonym for 'nerds'?" the Liepard protested.

Charlez rolled her eyes. "Um, yes, there's something called scholars, Charnette."

"What are scholars?"

Charlez hesitated. "Um… nerds?"

"There you go." Charnette twitched her velvet whiskers, apparently satisfied.

Rachiel made a gagging motion.

"So that's all set," Ralph confirmed. "Mayor Akhelios… please try to communicate with the Castelian and Nimbasan mayors for us to establish an alliance. Meanwhile…" His eyes scanned over the Pokemon seated around the table. "Lumiere, Rachiel, and Xeno… you guys come with me to Nacrene City to try and become… friends with them."

"Are you positively sure you don't want me along?" Charnette offered. "I could brainwash them!"

"Charnette," May grumbled. "If you use any more magic, I'm 98% sure you're going to morph into something unpleasant."

"And a 2% chance I won't," Charnette countered.

"Charnaaa," Amethyst warned.

"Ah, fine." Charnette didn't look pleased, but she let the matter drop.

"Even if you were strong enough to go and use that spell," Lumiere informed. "Like I said―Nacrene City has the best necromancers and such in the world. There's no way you can brainwash them, and if you even attempted to, they'd see you as an enemy and morph you into a puddle of slime."

"Which is why I'm bringing Xeno and Rachiel," Ralph summed up.

Rachiel wrinkled her nose. "Because we're not magic?" she asked.

"Yes, and because you guys hate magic."

"I don't hate magic," Xeno reminded him. "I just don't like it when they use magic…" She frowned. "Oh. I guess I hate magic then."

"So you two would be more cautious around magic as well," Lumiere said. "Good strategy."

Mark nodded."Well… good luck and don't get morphed into anything."

Rachiel glared back. "Maybe I'll learn some magic and morph you into something."

Mark chuckled. "Like that'll happen."

"Don't convince her," Xeno whispered. "She'll morph you into fried chicken!"

Ralph laughed. "We'll continue the meeting later," he decided. "Time to pay a surprise visit to Aronel!"

"I respectfully decline your proposal," the huge, silky-furred Stoutland spoke out clearly and emotionlessly as he confronted Ralph at the city limits. "Now please remove yourselves from my view while we continue to possess the dignity to remain courteous and polite to you and your respective grandiloquences," Mayor Aronel growled with clear authority and mind.

"Do you understand what he's talking about?" Rachiel whispered to Xeno.

"I dunno… could you get me a dictionary?" Xeno hissed back. "What's a grandil-whatever?"

"Grandiloquence," Lumiere answered. "A type of talk that is pompous and bombastic, full of pretty-sounding words and elegant turns of phrase that add up to nothing. Like how Aronel's using his words."

"Grandiloquence also means annoying," said a Glaceon on the mayor's right side. She had a strange, thick accent that was clearly not Unovian. "As in talkative, empty promises, and such."

"Snowflake," Aronel warned. "You do not speak without my permission."

Snowflake the Glaceon stepped back timidly. "Sorry," she whispered.

Lumiere frowned. "That accent… was that Kalosian I hear?"

"Yes." Snowflake dipped her head rapidly, with a quick glance at Aronel. "I came to Unova to learn more about 3-D modeling in order to 'elp with my own research. Nacrene City was ze best choice, being ze center of learning." She stepped back, her speech finished.

Lumiere frowned. "Funny. I haven't heard from the Kalos region in quite a long time…" he murmured to himself. Snowflake flicked an ear uncomfortably, but resigned to staying silent.

"Ze," Rachiel snickered.

"Shhhh…" Lumiere scolded.

Ralph raised his paws in exasperation. "But Mayor Aronel… you do understand Darkrai plans to obliterate all of us? Without Nuvema, Accumula, and Striaton to help maintain the bulk of the SF army, surely the taxes on your city must be―"

Aronel stiffened just the slightest inch. "Do not speak another word," he said coldly. "Nacrene City will decide her own fate. We do not need meddlers in the way of our learning." Next to him, Snowflake twitched her tail for permission to speak.

"Indeed," Snowflake spoke, as soon as she was granted her right. "I do not zink zose of you 'ere understand, but for zose of us who 'ave read ze 'istory of our world and studied ze wars, we know zat wars 'ave always destroyed much of ze learning progresses. We of Nacrene City refuse to let 'istory repeat itself. We will protect our ability to progress beyond others from zis cruelty you declare yourself innocent of." She flicked her ears, indicating she was done.

"Zink," Xeno wrapped her paws around her muzzle, attempting not to laugh. Nobody took notice of her.

"But―" Ralph tried to talk, but Snowflake snapped at him with a soft, barely controlled snarl.

"We do not want any part of zis in your war, General Ralph," Snowflake said frostily, her eyes so full of anger Ralph figured she'd be able to melt herself with a glare. "We know what you want from us. You want our magic. Our arcane runes. I say you want to use us!" she declared angrily, cold fury glowing in her flinty eyes.

"Busted," Xeno mumbled.

Rachiel punched her.

"Snowflake," Aronel growled. "You are pushing the limits of my equanimity."

Snowflake muttered a curse, but backed away..

"Leave," Aronel said in a barely restrained voice as he turned to the Revolutionists. "And stay away from Nacrene City. We will be strengthening our arcane barriers. The next time you come, uninvited, we will not be as friendly as we have been."

"But…" Ralph started, but Lumiere shot him a warning glare.

"Don't," the Chandelure warned. "Let's go."

"Oh, come on," Rachiel grumbled. "If it ain't for that Kalosian lady, I'm sure Aro-what's-his-face would've given in."

"He wasn't going to give in, whether Snowflake was there or now," Lumiere determined. "I could tell."

Xeno snorted. "Yeah, whateves. But what's a Kalosian doing on Unovian turf? Ever since the Shadow Force crawled up from the nether, all of the regions have been pretty separate. I can't remember the last time I got a good Lava Cookie from Hoenn! I hate to say it―but the idiots here only know how to make ice cream."

Lumiere frowned. "As far as I know, Snowflake's a pretty talented and international researcher. She's over the head in learning. I doubt even the Shadow Force's rules would've stopped her from going region to region."

"No wonder she lashed out so heavily," Ralph remarked. "If she's a law-breaker, she'd want to avoid conflict with the Shadow Force."

Lumiere sighed. He was about to say something, but a glint of color shrouded the edge of his vision. "Who's there?" he asked sharply, spinning around to glare at the forest that spread out along both sides of the road.

Monnie, in her brown cloak, stepped into their paths, wearing a bored look on her face. Her gold eyes glittered strangely as they stared, unfocused, at the group.

"It's you," Ralph accused. "So what's up with the prophecy? And your little group? Why are you here?"

"Ralph," Lumiere said. "She's been pretty neutral so far. I think you should lower the aggression a bit."

Ralph sucked in a sharp breath. "Fine," he grumbled. Then his eyes lit up and he stepped closer to Monnie. "If you're here, do you have a message for me?"

Monnie shrugged, then shook her head.

Ralph frowned. "Then can you send a letter to your leader?" he asked hopefully. "Can your leader help us in the upcoming war? You guys are rebels against the Shadow Force, aren't you? Why won't you―" he stopped.

Monnie had pulled out a magic quill from her cloak and produced a notebook. Taking the quill in her mouth, she started scribbling words, then handed the notebook to Ralph. On a blank page, the words were clearly carved in gold.

We do not serve you. We do not owe loyalty to anyone but ourselves. Most of all, we will not help those who help themselves. As Snowflake had said, we do not take kindly to being used.

"We're not going to use you!" Ralph protested.

Monnie raised an eyebrow and scribbled swiftly on her notepad. Oh, really? Give me a convincing reason.

Ralph tried to think. "We're united by the same cause―to destroy the Shadow Force. We want you to fight with us, so we can become stronger."

Like an upgrade, Monnie mused, engrossed in her writing. Or do you mean more to the lines of fighting for you, not with you?

Ralph sighed. "Can you please take a message to your leader then?" he pleaded. He saw no reason in arguing any further with Monnie―she obviously wasn't interested in an alliance.

Monnie raised an eyebrow. No, she wrote.

"Hold it right there!" Xeno demanded. "What makes you think you can just answer 'no' for your leader? And what's the problem with you taking Ralph's note to him?"

"I think the leader's a female, from what Lunis mentioned," Rachiel murmured.

"Whatever!" Xeno gave Monnie a sullen, flaring glare. "It's not going to kill you by taking a message to her!"

Monnie's strange eyes still wandered blankly around, though her actions were focused and composed. I know what my leader will say. What I've written is simply and exactly her reply, do you not see? She may not be here, but she is listening.

Rachiel blinked. "Please don't tell me it's accursed communication magic," she grumbled.

Monnie lifted one of her pendants. The communication pendant, she wrote. It links us all to her.

"It's accursed communication magic." Xeno grumbled.

Lumiere floated forward. "But if you're not here to talk to us, then why are you here?" he inquired. "As far as I know, you guys only pop up to deliver doomsday messages."

Monnie flicked her tail. Then she nudged around in her cloak and brought out a ragged poster.

The poster was plain white, with the clear picture of a sharp-looking Flygon, holding a basket of berries. Below the picture were the words: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS POKEMON?

"One of your comrades went missing?" Lumiere asked.

Monnie nodded and wrote. He went out for his daily flight earlier. Then he disappeared. We think he may have been kidnapped or attacked.

Lumiere studied the picture. "I don't think I've seen this guy around," he admitted reluctantly. "Sorry."

Monnie shrugged. Then, in a blur of brown and gold, she vanished into thin air.

"The darn magic and the godforsaken teleportation," Rachiel groused. "Why can't we have a proper war without the darn magic?!"

"Did you look at Monnie's eyes?" Xeno wondered aloud, completely ignoring Rachiel. "They looked weird. Almost like she…"

"Couldn't see?" Lumiere guessed. "I think she may be blind."

"How can a blind Pokemon act like that?" Rachiel demanded. "She can't see, for heaven's sake. How in the world is she able to move around and―"

Lumiere fixed her with a glare. "She has a strong aura-sensing ability, I think," he said cautiously. "I was analyzing her. It seemed to me that she has a small degree of magical ability. Not enough for her to cast spells like Charnette or Circe, but enough for her to be able to sense her surroundings. That's my hypothesis."

Ralph sighed. "I don't think it matters what Monnie's like," he murmured. "Here we are, ready to attack Castelia, and Nacrene City and Monnie's group refuses to help."

"All doom and gloom, huh?" Rachiel snorted. "You should get together with Xeno. You two have been so stormy today, you might as well turn into Electric types."

Xeno rolled her eyes. "Let's just get back to Striaton," she grumbled.

---

In the White Forest…

Marcus never thought he'd see the White Forest in his lifetime.

But now it glimmered out before him, washed in the bright, soft rays of the sun shining overhead. The huge silver trees twisted out above him, their branches and trunks flawlessly knotted into exotic, alien pictures that seemed to come straight out of a fairytale. Tall, flowery grass wreathed the braided roots of the trees as they intertwined with the satiny, velvety brown earth. Dark green vines curled around the tree trunks like emerald silk, cloaking the silver-gray bark in decorations of tiny ivy leaves and purples flowers.

"It's beautiful," Melodia whispered in awe. "This… this is truly spatial." Her wide, scarlet-colored eyes glittering like rubies, the Milotic floated forward, letting the long, silky grass brush against her smooth body.

Marcus inhaled a mouthful of fresh air, untainted by blood or civilization. He felt a strange quintessence in the place, as if everything he'd ever dreamed about had gathered in the few acres that was named the White Forest.

"It is beautiful," Marcus agreed, his teak eyes glowing, reflecting the sun like topaz. "I never thought the White Forest would look so… natural."

Melodia smiled gently. "Yes… it's perfect." she said simply. "Such a rare place―unblemished by conflict." She stared around in reverence, trying to take in everything at once.

There was a quiet silence between the two as they strolled through the beautiful forest, occasionally stopping to gawk at the amazing scenery―and there were dozens of them―as they slipped around the gargantuan trees. Finally, they stopped in a clearing that had been centered around the spiraled stump of what must've once been a huge tree―perhaps even the king of trees. The stump laid there in perfect condition, untarnished nor rotted by the weather. It was roundish with a few squiggly bumps here and there, and as large as a table, maybe even bigger. It was here that the two stared at each other with a knowing look as they peered over the tall trees, finally seeing the way through. The path, though well-worn, was hidden by the flowing grass. From the ground, it was almost invisible, but from a higher perspective, it was very much in existence. The pair let their gazes fix on the path―both knowing that it led to a crossroad beyond.

"It's been a long journey, hasn't it?" Marcus admitted finally, with a small laughter. "We've endured so many things―blowing up outposts, me going psycho…"

Are you calling me PSYCHO, I am SIR CRESSRAI… address me as I am! Psycho Eevee demanded. Marcus snorted and blocked the creature from his thoughts. He slipped his sword off his back and sat it down on the stump, placing a protective paw over it. "And we've seen so many different towns in Northern Unova." He let out a quivering sigh. His almond eyes fixed on the barely visible road again. "This path leads to Nimbasa City," he said, with a quieter voice.

Melodia let out a tinkling laugh. "Yes, it does," she agreed, then narrowed her eyes as she saw Marcus's expression. "What's all the fuss?"

"Beyond Nimbasa is Castelia… then…" He hesitated. "... the Revolutionists will probably be there. I heard they retook Striaton. They'll probably avoid Nacrene, since it's staying neutral. That means they'll be heading to Castelia City to secure it." He locked his gaze on the Milotic. "I would've asked this long ago, if I hadn't been so annoyed with your presence," he said, with a snort.

"Annoyed?" Melodia asked, with a level of sarcasm in her voice.

"Yeah." Marcus touched his sword with his soft, chesnut-colored paws. "You freeloaded on my ship, taught me terrible magic, and kept going on with those awful rhymes…"

"My rhymes are not horrible, you―" Marcus grinned as Melodia searched for a proper insult.

"My point is,"―Marcus took a deep breath as Melodia muttered to herself―"would you like to join the Revolutionists?" he asked formally.

"Oh." Melodia frowned, biting her lip. "Oh," she emphasized quietly.

"Well?" Marcus pressed. "You're rebelling against the Shadow Force, aren't you? You hate them too, don't you? They took everything from you―your…" He caught Melodia's pained glance and decided against going on. "The fact remains that joining the Revolutionists is the only sensible choice for you. As magical and strong as you are, I don't think you can take on the entire Shadow Force on your own… so…" He stared directly at her. "You'll join the Revolutionists, won't you?" he asked, almost pleading. "There's no one else who dares to rebel against them."

Melodia's eyes glinted strangely, an emerald hue suddenly encircling her dark red pupils. She gaze across the tips of the swaying grass, her face as emotionless as a blank slate.

"Well?" Marcus prompted. "You will, won't you?"

Melodia turned around to face him with a sad look. "I'm not joining the Revolutionists," she said softly. "For one, I'm useless…."

"Since when!?" Marcus protested, but Melodia simply stared straight through him.

Then she took a long, heaving breath.

"It has been a long journey―one I greatly enjoyed," she intoned. "We've met so many interesting things and have become great friends along the way," she went on, her words lyrically immaculate. "But it is my sadness to tell you I cannot stay―I do not wish to follow your path, or the Revolutionists' way." She smiled mildly at him.

"But… why?" Marcus demanded. "You said you hated the Shadow Force yourself. You fought against them. You fought alongside me. Why wouldn't you want to join the Revolutionists?" He glared hotly at her, anger burning in his ears.

Melodia returned his gaze steadily. "I have no wish to become a soldier-puppet or oracle for the ones who would treat me like a machine," she rebuked blandly. "I do not like to be so mean, but you have not seen the things I've seen. The Revolutionists―I do not think they are fighting for true justice, I believe. What happens to their dead―does your Lucario leader grieve? What about the aftermaths of the captured SF soldiers―does your leader reprieve? Is this war truly in black or white? Is what you and your leader believe in truly right?" she emphasized the last word.

"What are you?" Marcus spat out, disgusted. "You fight against the Shadow Force, and then you say we're the same. Whose side are you on, anyways? Why did you even help me if you're not going to join the Revolutionists? Don't you want to fight alongside me? Aren't we friends?" he snarled.

Melodia once again returned his gaze calmly. "I help for the sake of helping, my friend. And I choose my actions based on what I know will happen in the end. Some deaths cannot be prevented, and some deaths should not be prevented. The ways of oracles are always jagged―we belong to only our side. We protect those who don't deserve to die. The dead, the punished, the wicked, the living. To those ambitious leaders―what do they even mean? Just soldiers to do their bidding? To those who died, what are they to your leader? Lives that should be sacrificed because they were supporters?" Her fiery eyes, now glowing green, burned into Marcus's fur, turning his bones into jelly. "Neither side is right, but neither is wrong. That's how it's always been, all along. I prefer to see, to think, to be sure. In this war, I have my own demurs. I will do what's is best for justice, and never more. And I will not and shall not do anything cruel, unless of the outcome I am sure.

"So to you, my friend, I believe our companionship here will come to an end. You must go your way; I must go mine. But when we meet again, I hope it's still a strong friendship I find," Melodia said this melodramatically, with a fluid, absolute will.

Marcus choked. He wasn't sure if he wanted to obliterate the snake or cry or throw something. Maybe all three. "You're leaving me? Just like this? Just because of this one argument?"

Melodia shook her head impatiently. "I am not joining the Revolutionists, but joining them is on the path you lead. I shall go elsewhere―to see what my talents can exceed. Therefore we must part, with longing hearts, and go our separate ways after we depart."

Marcus was filled with a hopelessness. "But we can use you in the Revolutionists! You can be helpful there! Everybody would welcome you?"

Melodia's tail twitched. "I'd rather not be welcomed because of my future-telling gifts. And like I may have mentioned―I despise the Revolutionists."

"Why?" Marcus asked weakly. "Why is that?!"

Melodia laughed quietly. "Does a wind need reason for blowing, or nature to be growing? Does the sun need a reason to shine? Or the oceans waves to touch the shorelines?" she asked.

"Well… no… but…" Marcus tried protesting, but Melodia cut him off with a firm glare.

"My answer is no, and it will always be so. It's what my mind says, and my heart has told," Melodia spoke fluently. "It has been a great partnership, through many hardships we've endured. But I will not travel with you to meet the Revolutionists, as you'd preferred. Our companionship and alliances end here now, but never will I hurt you unless necessary―that is my vow."

Marcus hung his ears. "So you're leaving me," he said quietly. "Right now?"

"Yes." Melodia didn't need to go on another rhyming stanza to tell Marcus that she was sure. "I… I will stay here… this forest of which I am obsessed." She smiled. "But you must be going home to your other friends. I'm sure… very sure, that here our travels will end."

Marcus wanted to stay. He wanted to wander around with Melodia longer. He didn't understand why she was so eager to leave him. Did he do something wrong? Or was it something else?

But Melodia was right; he belonged with the Revolutionists. She didn't. So their journey had to end, no matter how heartbreaking. Marcus knew he'd never leave Melodia if he stayed any longer. So he, with reluctance in his eyes, dipped his head deeply before Melodia―a sign of great respect.

"Thank you for accompanying me for so long, and protecting and fighting alongside me," he said formally. "I… I hope we can stay friends, and still be friends next time we meet… whenever that is. I guess this is goodbye, then." He lowered his head, his tail drooping like withered leaves, and walked away, his sword re-strapped onto his back.

"Farewell!" Melodia called out after him, contently curled up on the giant tree stump. If Marcus had heard her, he gave no indication. But Melodia smiled. She was an oracle, after all. She knew she would see him again.

---

In a dark cavern…

"So you got knocked out of the sky, bashed your head head on some Rhyperior, and crawled into the forest to fall unconscious," Lunis spoke in a sarcastic voice as he nodded at a Flygon―Sandrain. "I have nothing to say, bro. Literally―nothing," he said with a disgusted snort. "And you're one of the elite agents... you're tainting our rep, kid."

"We sent literally all the free agents to look for you," the leader added quietly, seriousness in her calm voice. "Monnie, Team Relic, Zamza… even Gala. And yet, in the end, the Pokemon who found you was―"

"The Singing Serpent―Melodia, yeah, it's embarrassing," the Flygon grumbled as he threw a fleeting glance at the smiling Milotic beside him. "Long time no see, long-gone agent. How'd your mission go?"

"Perfectly," Melodia sang, her voice clear. "If it ended just in time for me to teleport and find you, I mean."

Sandrain huffed, rubbing his sore noggin. "Thanks for saving me, Melodia," he said with gratitude. "Even if you only did because you didn't know how to use the teleportation pendant." Melodia opened her mouth to protest, but Sandrain hurried on. "I guess I'll remember to bring my pendants next time," he added with a sheepish glance at the leader. "Sorry about that."

The leader nodded, forgiving him. Then she turned to Melodia. "What did you find out?" she asked, her voice controlled but urgent.

Melodia smiled. "Everything," she said as she handed over a large document.

The leader read the documents rapidly, as she always did. No emotion showed on her face, but her silence was enough to tell the ones present that she was surprised. Shocked, even.

"I would've never believed it," she murmured, half to herself. "This must be solved as soon as possible." Her gaze fixed on the ones in the cavern―Pearl the Vaporeon, Lunis, Melodia, Sandrain, Gala, Zamza… and the one they called Agent Frost - the assassin. Those were the elite agents, or at least most of them were. "Zamza, go to the command center and send a message through Team Relic, Monnie, and all of the search parties' communication pendants and tell them to return to their positions immediately. Gala, Sandrain, and Zamza… the three of you are to return to your posts." The darkly-cloaked figures darted off with quick nods.

"What's wrong?" Pearl asked quietly. "W… What's happened?"

The leader silenced her with a gentle but firm look. Then her gaze landed on Agent Frost, who had been regulating an aura of cold ever since the meeting in the cavern had started. "Icicle," she spoke Agent Frost's true name carefully, but without hesitation. "I would never do this… but I'm sending you and Lunis on a joint mission to Nacrene."

"Um… why?" Lunis gave Icicle a doubtful glance. "We're not… compatible. Surely you remember the last time…"

"You looked beau as an ice block," Icicle supplied, snickering.

"Yeah," Lunis returned the snide comment, glaring. "And I'm sure you had a wonderful time yanking all those daggers out of your hide."

"This is vital, because Darkrai is after it, and Darkrai will obliterate an entire city to get this relic," the leader returned. "Lunis, you have cunning and great magic… but even you cannot steal this relic and survive the attempt―no, it cannot and will not happen. This mission must be carefully planned, and I am convinced that only the two strongest agents in the stronghold may be able steal it under the most complicated arcane defense in all of Unova. We need a distraction. A foul play. And then the relic will be opened to us. I do not like stealing, but we may as well take all the relics that we need, including the one Darkrai is after, during this mission. Understand?" Her gaze burned into Icicle and Lunis.

Icicle shrugged. The assassin couldn't really care about who the partner for the mission was. With a smile, the dark agent approached Lunis. "We will 'ave a wonderful time working together, no?"

Lunis sighed, annoyance clear as crystal in his voice, then accepted the ice-cold paw. "Fine," he grumbled.

---

In Accumula Town Hall…

Name: Vindictus

Species: Noctowl

Gender: Male

Skill: Potioneer

Notes:

Recruited in order to assist in magical research in the Shadow Force. Proved to be quite useless unless there is some good in the research for him. A brainwashing spell was cast on him. Under the spell, he proved to be a skilled potioneer. Condition: Incredibly unstable and insane. Assumed dead.

Lumiere cleared his throat uncomfortably as May read the document aloud. The others who'd gathered for the meeting shuffled uneasily. They were examining the crate of documents Charnette had brought back from the Outpost she'd raided earlier. "So that's what happened to Vindictus. No wonder he's so…"

"Insane?" Rachiel suggested. "Crazy?"

"Abstract," Lumiere decided. "Anything else in the crate?"

Charnette poked her muzzle around the files. "Yeah, there's Nova… but there's not much on her. Then there's Plasma, whose document is like, blank except for his name and species. Oh, and there's Scarlet." She yanked out the document and handed it to May. "Read, darling."

May shrugged and cleared her throat.

Name: Scarlet

Species: Absol (shiny)

Gender: Female

Skill: Oracle

Notes:

Tracked for many years. Holds great predicting skills. With her in the Shadow Force ranks, the Shadow Force would be able to progress even further with far more speed as of now. Presumed to reside in Nuvema Town. Move will be made soon.

Across the document, red words were stamped diagonally across the page in an official, uniform style: CASE SETTLED.

"Well, I don't like the sound of that," Charnette cackled with glee. "What else in here? Hmm… well, there's not much." She looked around the meeting table, then fixed her emerald gaze on Akhelios. "Well, my little primate friend. Do you have news for us?"

The Panpour coughed self-consciously and nodded. "I got in touch with Rayla, the mayor of Nimbasa City, and Static, the Nimbasan Revolutionist leader."

"And?" Ralph asked.

Akhelios shrugged helplessly. "Nimbasa's been cut off from resources ever since they rebelled. They're running low on supplies and morale. Rayla and Static plan to solve the siege problem before fighting again. The Nimbasans aren't exactly the fighting type either, Nimbasa being the center of entertainment and all. They're backing out of the Castelian battle."

"Wimps," Charnette commented casually.

"What about Castelia City's mayor?" Mark asked.

Akhelios's eyes brightened. "Good news," he announced. "Twilight―the Levanny that's the mayor―agreed to help us. They're planning on rebelling in a month's time. Most of the citizens are in with the plan―they're going to use the switcheroo plan you used for Nuvema Town. Twilight says we can start sending in fighters to replace the citizens tomorrow."

Ralph beamed. "Great!" he exclaimed.

"We should stay cautious, though," Charlez warned. "We don't know if the Shadow Force knows Castelia City's rebelling or not, but seeing that it's in our path to Darkrai, I'm sure they'll send more forces to Castelia City as well. We can't be too careful about this."

Lumiere nodded. "I'd feel a lot better if we have Monnie and Lunis' group to help us, though," he grumbled. "They ought to know more about the Shadow Force's movements."

"Monnie and Lunis's group," Charnette echoed, a dark laughter in her voice. "Oh, seriously? Dear Lightbulb Head, those two don't own the group."

"Will you stop with that nickname?" Lumiere complained.

"Well, Mark knows what the group's name is, but he refuses to tell us," Victor pointed out.

"Do you blame me?" Mark grumbled. "I owe them my loyalty, at the very least."

"Does it matter whether you expose your former group's name that much?" Rachiel asked sarcastically.

The Blaziken wore a mask that clearly said, Yes, it does.

"If I remember right," Amethyst spoke up, her rough accent jarring her words. "There be a group of rebels we thinking were you folks. But now it lookie like they ain't. What did we call those rebels back then? Outcasts?" She looked at Charnette for confirmation.

"Rogues," Charnette remembered correctly. "The Shadow Force called them 'the rogues'. So I suppose we should use that term to define them." Her eyes narrowed at Mark as he shuffled tensely. "Problem, love?" she crooned.

Mark stiffened visibly. "No," he muttered. "I remember being called rogues by the Shadow Force while I was still in the… the group." He caught himself.

"I don't suppose you could get a message to their leader?" Ralph asked hopefully. "I think Monnie was being biased, acting on her own intentions when we met her. Could you―"

"No." Mark shook his head. "Only an elite could do that. Maybe some others could, but no. To them, I'm a deserter. I don't even have the communication pendant anymore―it disintegrated when I left."

"An elite?" Lumiere frowned. "Please, explain."

Mark frowned at his talons. "The… rogues have several rankings. There's the beginner's rank―the rank where we complete tasks and aren't trusted with vital information or the movements of our comrades and ourselves. That's the rank Marcus, Harmony, and I were in. We… well, Marcus and I became deserters after… the incident. We never had the chance to be promoted." He paused. "Then there's the vigilants' rank―the agents that are well-trusted and known, even control some of our movements and actions. And then there are the elites." He shuddered slightly at the words. "They're the ones with codes, and the ones who cooperate closely with the leader, and are able to go on secret missions ordered directly by the leader. Lunis is one. I think Monnie may be one as well, though I'm not sure."

"What do you mean by codes?" May asked, apparently interested.

Mark shifted uncomfortably. "In the groups, we all get agent code names. Mine was Agent Blazing Hood. Marcus's was Agent Masked Blade. Harmony's was Agent Halcyon. But codes are a different matter altogether. The elites have their agent code names, yes, but they also have codes, usually consisting of one name instead of two. For instance, Lunis' agent name is Agent Azure Moon, but his code was Code Lunar. Stuff like that. They're the main ones that are called to finish off attacks if there's ever a breach. I don't know anymore."

"He's telling the truth," Charnette reported loftily. "But most of this is useless. I don't like the idea of allying ourselves with a bunch of stuck-ups." She sniffed.

"Me neither," Amethyst agreed.

Ralph sighed deeply. He knew that he should forget the idea, but he did wish the rogues―whoever they were―would come out of the shadows and help. But his choices were limited. He was going to have to make do.

"With that settled,"―the Lucario met their gazes―"it's time that we rest and train. We have one month, and we'd better make the best of it. Meeting dismissed."

With a soft sigh that echoed across the room, the members of the meeting stood grimly and went their separate ways to prepare for the upcoming battle.

---

Credits:

alpha2275: LoG Representative on Fanfiction and Fanfiction Manager

Esther Hung: Chief Writer, Chief Editor, and Character Creator

Anisa Krieg: Chief Artist