Chapter 5:
Challenger Approaching!
"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman!" –The Giant
Far to the north, there lay a mountain known commonly as Mt. Freeze. It was a desolate, lonely place where winter never ended and cold reigned supreme on the slopes. The peak, however, was a different matter. A different master reigned there, though he never would have called it a kingdom nor himself its ruler. But from far and wide, kings, criminals, and commoners sought to brave the ice storms and blizzards, not to mention the feral residents of the slopes, in order to reach the summit and consult with him.
Or at least, that's how it had been. In recent times, the visitors had slackened off considerably. Not that he minded, really. He'd been alive for so very long, longer even then the eldest of his descendants, that he rarely bothered with the concerns of mortals anymore. Their lives were mere blinks compared to his. He heard there had been a war recently from one of his few servants. Or had it been her father? He honestly couldn't remember. He briefly paused to consider it before remember that it had been her father, who had been buried almost ten years previously. So yes, it had been a very recent war.
He looked up to the stars, pondering them. He probably had the best view of them there was to be had, unless he was to fly. But flight was not one of his many powers, so he was content for this view. He sighed, feeling mellow, and stretched out his nine tails for a nap.
As he reached the border of unconsciousness, though, he sensed something that struck him like a slap in the face and yelped, bolting upright. Immediately, one of his servants, a delibird, came running up with a worried expression on her face.
"Lord Ninetales?" she asked, "Are you alright?"
The large fox blinked once, his red eyes looking around sharply. "Yes, I'm fine," he said, "It's just…" He frowned. "I sensed something. Something I haven't encountered since humans walked this world."
The delibird looked at him questioningly. "What's that, sir?"
Ninetales' hackles rose. "Corruption…"
His servant was singularly unimpressed. "Um…corruption is not a new thing. Have you seen politics lately? Even Northmarch has its fair share of corrupt nobles to contend with."
Ninetales blinked. "Oh, that's not the same. No, not the same at all. This is different. A force that seeks to corrupt the world itself. A fragment of the past seeking to rule the present."
The delibird huffed, used to her lord's confusing speech. "And does this thing have a name?"
Ninetales frowned, perplexed by the question. "No. Not anymore. She had one a long time ago. Before the time of the humans. Before all recorded history, in fact. And so, quite a long time before even I was created." He cleared his throat. "This is most disturbing. Worse even than the Bittercold, and that almost destroyed the world. I must move quickly. There is much to do. If she has already begun sending servants over, then there is not much time left." He smiled wryly. "It's almost poetic. Two sets of seven, servants of two different powers, creation and perversion, are about to come into conflict. I wonder who they will be this time?" He rose, stretching his limbs. "I leave immediately. Lord Rayquaza has already fallen and there is precious little time. I must find the Seven Sealbearers and warn them. You should be safe here for now, but do not count on it for long."
"Wait!" the delibird called, waddling after him, "Will you…will you be back?"
The fox slowed and looked back at her with a sad smile. "Don't count on it." Then he was gone, racing down the mountain at break-neck speed and leaving only the cold wind behind.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!"
"Stay back? Don't you know who I am? Don't you know there is a war going on?!"
"I don't care about the war! I'm not a part of it anymore! Just leave! Go away and leave me alone!"
Cold, mocking laughter escaped Keski's mouth. "So you betrayed your own kind! I'm not surprised. I always knew you dark-types were cowards to the core!"
The mightyena in front of him growled, standing protectively in front of a cave. "I don't care what you think of me. Just leave. Please. What is one, insignificant life like mine worth to you?"
Keski smirked. "Sorry, but your kind is being purged from this land forever! My father will cleanse the whole world of your filth! Judgment has been passed already, I am just the executioner. So you see, I cannot let you live." He raised two golden-furred arms and brilliant blue energy formed between them, swirling into the shape of a sphere.
The mightyena tensed, growls fading as the blue energy reflected in his eyes. "Please…I'm begging you…don't do this. My mate is already dead! I'm sick of fighting!"
"Then fight no more," Keski answered coldly, firing. The dark-type tried to leap aside, but the sphere changed course slightly and struck him full in the chest. The explosion shattered his ribs and threw him backwards against the rocks. The rear half his body was instantly paralyzed on impact and he slid limply to the ground, whimpering in pain.
Keski sighed in annoyance and walked over, placing a palm on the mortally wounded Pokémon's head. Their eyes met. "I will grant you a merciful death, though you do not deserve it," Keski stated.
"Daddy!" a small voice called from in the cave. A small form came bounding toward them, tears in her eyes. "Get away from him!" She leapt at the lucario, teeth bared.
"Sweetheart! No!" the mightyena shouted. Without thinking, Keski's paw came up and caught the tiny poochyena. There was a small blast of blue fire and a high-pitched scream. The breath caught in the older dark-type's throat. "Oh…oh Arceus…why…?" Tears flooded his eyes, but not from physical pain.
Keski backed away shakily, staring at his red-stained paw like it was a foreign object. The small, crumpled form fallen next to her father horrified him. Small, frail, too young for the course of her life to be charted out yet. Only trying to defend her father, who was willing to die protecting her. "I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't think! I…"
"Monster…" the mightyena growled, snapping at his leg. Keski backpedaled quickly. "Monster! Giratina take you! Arceus throw you in the deepest pit of Hell!"
Keski's eyes widened. "I…I'm sorry!"
The mightyena growled. "Liar! You're a monster! You…you…killed…" He began weeping. "You killed my only daughter…right in front of me…"
"I…" No words would come. Keski felt fear well up inside him. He turned suddenly and ran. Ran away from the horrible scene. The dying, weeping father and the slain child lay behind him. But as he ran, the last words of the mightyena echoed after him.
"Arceus, hear me! If you still bear any love for my kind, I ask you to curse him! Make tragedy and pain follow him all the days of his life! This is my last plea! Curse the Golden Lucario! Forever!"
Keski awoke with a gasp. He sat bolt upright, fur sticking straight up and eyes wide. "It was only a dream…" he panted, calming down considerably, "It…was just a dream…that, at least, never happened. I never…never killed any chil-" He swallowed. "It was just a dream…"
Beside him, Bolt stirred. "What's wrong?"
Keski nearly jumped out of his fur. "Bolt! Why are you in my bed?!"
"This is my bed!" Bolt protested indignantly. Keski frowned in confusion, looking around.
"So it is…um…how did I get in your bed?" he asked.
Bolt blinked. "I have no idea. Now, what was your nightmare about?"
Keski chuckled wryly. "You ask that every time and I never have told you once." He paused. "Let's just say that it…was a reminder."
Bolt shifted, staring up at him inquisitively. "Like a memory."
"No! Thank Arceus for that…" Keski replied vehemently, "But…the scary thing is…it could have happened…" He lapsed into contemplative silence, shuddering occasionally.
"Well! The sun is up and I, for one, am curious about how we ended up in my bed," Bolt said, rolling over and onto the floor, "Plus, I'm hungry and I've got to practice several songs for today." He grinned. "Did I tell you? Yesterday, Cia said she really liked my singing! Even Blitz is starting to like it!"
Keski smiled. "Well, you certainly sing better than me by at least a mile. No wonder they enjoy it." He rose. "I'll come with you. I need to clear my head."
"Oh! Wait a sec!" Bolt said, "A little bit of gold is showing on your back."
Keski huffed in annoyance and reached for his bottle of dye. "Check the sheets. Don't want any stains on them."
Bolt nodded and complied. "Yeah, there is a smudged outline where you were sleeping."
"Crud…" Keski sighed. "Well, we'll have to wash that out…"
"Can we do that later?" Bolt pled, giving him a wide-eyed, cute look, "I'm really hungry…"
Keski nodded. "Sure, it's not like anyone is going to come in here anyway when we aren't around."
"Yay!" Bolt cheered, dashing for the door. Keski rolled his eyes and followed at a more sedate pace, his nightmare quickly forgotten in the hustle and bustle as they entered the main hall.
Breakfast was a lot calmer than that first fateful morning. Everyone went about in a more subdued manner, sobered by the events of four days ago. Guildmaster Majyk was nervous too, as if he expected something, but neither Bolt or Keski knew what. His demeanor, however, affected the entire guild, which made them all the more grateful for Bolt's performances. He always found a way to make them laugh, either at the stories and songs he recited or his own antics.
Keski remembered with a start that he hadn't meditated yet. It was the first time in forever that he had forgotten to, but considering the sort of things his subconscious seemed capable of conjuring up, he wasn't sure he wanted to be alone with his own thoughts right now.
He slumped into a cushioned chair by the fireplace. The harvest season was almost here. The past few days he had seen the townsfolk scurrying around in preparation for it. They'd better hurry, he thought to himself. Although it was still warm out now, he could tell it was going to be a cold winter. "Just like the ones where I was born…" he muttered. His grip tightened on the armrest as he gritted his teeth, unwelcome memories flooding to his brain.
"I hope you don't plan on crushing that."
Keski looked up sharply. "Good morning, Emerald." He released the armrest gingerly. "Sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention. I don't think it's damaged…"
"It's fine. We'll just add it to your bill," Emerald replied. Keski froze. "That was a joke."
"Oh, okay then," Keski said, sighing in relief.
Emerald sat down in the chair across from him, setting down her laden breakfast tray on the stool in front of her. "Would you like a scone?"
"Those bread-looking things?" Keski asked, pointing. Emerald rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yeah sure. Thanks. They look pretty good."
"Do you want any Razz Berry jam on it?" Emerald asked, picking one out and setting it aside for him.
"I'm not a big fan of Razz Berries…" Keski admitted, "They're a bit too fancy for my tastes."
"Really? Well, we have Cheri Jam as well."
"That sounds great. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Keski received the scone and took a large bite. "Mm, this is pretty good. I like scones."
"Yes, they are delicious," Emerald agreed, dipping a spoon in a bowl of oatmeal and eating it.
Keski cleared his throat. "So…I was wondering, is there anyone in the guild who would have moved me from my bed to Bolt's last night?"
Emerald blinked. "Well, the pranksters are Mendigo and Ryke, but Ryke probably couldn't lift you." She frowned. "One of our Shift Orbs was found missing this morning. This might have something to do with it…"
"What's a shift orb?" Keski asked.
"It's a relatively new orb that creates an illusion around the target of the users design," Emerald explained, "It's similar to a zoroark's power, but only works on one person. If Mendigo used it on you when you were tired last night, you wouldn't have even noticed the illusion taking effect." She smiled apologetically. "Mendigo likes pulling harmless stunts like that. He says it 'provides opportune moments for drama and humorous moments'. I hope it didn't cause any trouble…"
The lucario waved the question away. "No. It's fine. Just surprised me when I woke up."
Emerald nodded and returned to her breakfast and tea. Keski finished his scone, licking his paws afterwards, and began staring off into space. The gardevoir watched him for a minute, a question on her mind, but hesitating to ask it. Finally, curiosity overcame her. "Tell me," she said, "Why do you dye your fur?"
Keski nearly choked. "Um, what? I don't dye my…I mean, where did that question come from?"
"Well, the first night you came, the water that struck you came away black," Emerald said, "Plus, I'm not an idiot and I know that lucarios do not have black fur all over their bodies. So…the question persists. Why do you dye your fur?"
Keski scrambled for an answer that would, if not satisfy her, at least pacify her. To his relief, one appeared almost instantly. "Stealth," he answered, "Black is stealthier than blue and cream…blends in better to the surrounding area."
"But why wear it all the time then?" Emerald asked, taking a sip of tea.
"Um…" Keski thought quickly. "I like it?" It wasn't a total lie, though he still hoped she wasn't reading his mind.
"I see…" she said in an unconvinced tone, "Well, it might interest you to know that a government official arrived last night. He might want to review your case. It's a very small chance, but it could happen."
"Alright…" Keski sighed, "Well, if it will help…"
"Probably not," Emerald said, "If I were you, I'd avoid getting a representative of the central government involved. It will just slow things down."
"Ah…okay," Keski consented, "if you say so."
"I wonder though why he is here," Emerald pondered aloud, "It's not like we're the most interesting city…"
Roxy squeaked in alarm as she was nearly run down by a gastrodon. It wasn't that it was moving particularly fast, just with determination and blatant disregard for any who stood in its way. "Hey!" she snapped, "Watch where you're going!"
"You stay out of my way," the water type shot back, continuing on its way.
"Rude!" Roxy huffed, wiping her fur down. She wrinkled her nose. "And slimy! Ugh, I hate this town!" She squeaked when she realized how loud she had said that and that there were other Pokémon watching. She smiled sheepishly and quickly flew down the street away from them.
"Lord Sable wants wine in the morning. I'll get him wine," she muttered, "Where do they sell wine in this town?!" Her eyes fell on the tavern. She stared at it nervously, hesitant to enter such a plebian establishment. "Well…they'd have wine! And…other things." She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped bravely forward into the building.
Immediately she almost turned around and left. Several hung-over sailors and the innkeeper were the only ones present. She looked around in trepidation, wondering what in the world she was supposed to do now. She swallowed. Steeling her nerves, she approached the bar. The innkeeper glanced over at her, his hanging jowls and jutting fangs giving him a fierce expression no matter what emotion he was feeling at the time. "Hello," he said in a deep, rumbling voice, "What does a pretty little thing like you want here?"
Roxy squeaked again as he leaned over the bar toward her. "U-u-uh good morning…Sir! I…I just wanted to buy some wine, b-but I think I'll just be on my way…"
"Nonsense, little lady!" the big granbull laughed, coming around the bar remarkably quickly and blocking her escape, "Now what sort of wine will it be?"
"Oh…oh…oh anything, really!" Roxy replied shakily. Then she remembered herself and cleared her throat. "I-I mean, your finest of course!"
The granbull laughed loudly. "Of course! Stay right there, I'll bring some out for ya!" He lumbered back through the door to the storage room, leaving her standing stiffly in the middle of the room. She glanced around nervously, aware of the several eyes staring at her. Whispers went around the room, not all of them welcome to her ears. Her fur crackled with a combination of fear and indignation. Sailors were such a rowdy bunch, she thought to herself, but she'd sooner try to fly across the entire Great Sea than agree to some of the things they were whispering about.
One of them got up, a brawny poliwhirl. He approached her with a swagger. She backed up, squeaking again when her back hit the bar. The poliwhirl leaned up against it casually, boxing her in with this body. "Hoy there, how about you come with me and me mates back to the ole' Sea Maiden and we have some fun?"
"No thank you!" Roxy said emphatically, "And get away from me! You smell awful!"
The poliwhirl rumbled in displeasure. "I warn't exactly askin', if you catch me drift."
Roxy suddenly changed her attitude, talking in a sultry tone. "Well in that case…" Little pink hearts floated from her paw and struck the poliwhirl, "lead the way."
He did exactly that, she just didn't follow, staying right where she was and watching him run out the door. She heaved a relieved sigh and slumped against the bar. Shortly thereafter, the innkeeper returned with a bottle of wine. She bought it hurriedly and ran out the door.
"Peasants!" she muttered to herself, running down the street back to the governor's mansion, "So many peasants! Even the governor's house is smaller than my chambers back home, and I'm merely Lord Sable's secretary!"
She arrived at Lord Sable's guest quarters out of breath and panting hard. She knocked. "Yes?" the sableye called.
"Lord Sable! I have the drink you requested!" she replied.
"Ah, Roxy, come in. The door should be unlocked."
She pushed it open and carried her delivery inside. "You really should lock your door, my lord," she lightly scolded, "There's no telling what these backwater mongrels would do if they broke in here at night."
Lord Sable laughed and grinned widely, displaying his razor sharp teeth. "Oh trust me, if they broke in, they'd regret it. If they survived."
"That's nice, sir," Roxy said with a nervous giggle, "Wine?"
"Hit me."
The emolga dutifully poured him a glass. "So…the cacturne died."
"Yep." Lord Sable sipped the wine, reclining in his comfortably padded chair. "But he did what I intended, so there is really no harm done. We're still on schedule for the main event."
"The main event?" Roxy questioned, "I didn't know that was approved yet. What if the Management doesn't sign off on it?"
"They will," Sable stated, unconcerned, "I'm one of the Seven, after all. They can't refuse me what I want."
Roxy nodded, but remained unconvinced. "My lord? May I ask you something?"
Sable took another sip of wine. "Sure thing, doll."
Roxy took a deep breath. "Who or what exactly are 'the Seven?"
"Ah." Sable hopped to his feet, a grin spreading across his face. "The direct representatives of the Queen of Air and Darkness. My mistress and yours now too. Though I, for one, am not content playing second fiddle. That's why I came first. I want this world for myself. I intend to take it, whether she likes it or not." He laughed. "But for now, I do her bidding. Taking over is more of a long term goal."
Roxy's eyes shone with admiration. "Wow…the whole world! And will you keep me by your side?"
Sable threw back his head and laughed. "Of course! I never let anything go. After all, avarice is in my nature. Heh, it is my nature!"
Roxy poured herself a glass of wine and sat down next to him. "So…what happens now?"
"Simple," Sable responded lightly, "We wait for the second attack and wait for the good guildmaster to give himself away."
"The second…? Oh, you mean he's attacking today?" Roxy asked, "But sir, what's the point? Why schedule these attacks at all if the guildmaster will just destroy the experiments in the end? The cacturne didn't even get to the guildmaster!"
"Ah, but he did leave over half the guild incapacitated," Sable said with a malicious grin, "And so, our dear friend Master Majyk will hesitate to commit his dear underlings to the fight. In fact, they will be afraid to face him at all."
Naila burst into the guildhall. "Master Majyk! Master Majyk! Come quickly!"
Instantly, the alakazam teleported to the sandslash's side. "What? What's wrong?"
She looked up at him, scared. "We…we have another one."
Majyk paled. "Another…another cacturne like the last one?"
"No," Naila said grimly, "A hariyama, standing outside of town, and challenging us to come out and fight."
"He will be wracked with indecision," Sable said, taking another sip, "and so, he'll first send Mendigo, who he'll assume is immune to our pawn's attacks."
"Let me go," Mendigo suggested, "I can take a fighting type. His fists will pass right through me."
"Yes…" Majyk replied, speaking as one in a daze, "We must meet his challenge before he starts attacking the town." His eyes focused on Mendigo. "Go. If…if things go poorly, I will send the others."
"Then I'll be off!" Mendigo said cheerily, "Be back in a flash." With that, the ghost-type went zipping straight through the wall in the direction of the main gate.
"But of course, we can't forget Chief Pyre, who despite his penchant for tail-chasing is remarkably free from other character defects, including cowardice. He will take it upon himself to challenge this new threat in order to protect the town and the Starchaser Guild."
"State your name and your business," Lt. Cascade demanded, standing beside Pyre and Kachi as they blocked the entrance to town. Across from them stood a hulking brute of a fighting-type with squinting, malicious eyes. He pounded its belly aggressively, glaring at the officers.
"I am Subject 66!" he bellowed, "And I am here to destroy the Starchaser Guild!"
"Then it might interest you to know that the previous Pokémon who attempted that is now dead," Pyre stated matter-of-factly, "Turns out, fighting them is hazardous to your health.
"I'm hazardous to your health!" the fighting-type roared, charging toward them.
"Chief! Look out!" Kachi shouted. Just before the quilava was turned into a pancake, a ball of black, crackling energy struck the hariyama and threw him backwards off his feet.
"Hi there!" Mendigo called, "Leave this guy to me! You all stay back and out of sight. He seems like one of those 'all brawn no brains' types, so he probably won't attack if he can't see you."
"And it would normally be a one-sided battle with Mendigo the winner," Sable admitted, "Were it not for the Reprogramming. All it will take is one good hit and…" He clicked his claws. "Scratch one shedinja."
The Hariyama rose to its feet with a grunt. "Ha!" he scoffed, pounding his belly again, "That was like the bite of a flea!"
"Flea, eh?" Mendigo chuckled darkly. "Well then! I suppose I will have to up the ante!" With that, he blurred, becoming as insubstantial as a shadow, and rushed the monstrous fighting type. He struck him in the shoulder, shooting by and leaving a small gash behind. "Heh, see that? All I have to do is go back and forth, slowly whittling you down until you collapse! I didn't get my Ultra Rank for nothing, you know. Oh, and don't think you can hit me. To you, my body is as insubstantial as a wraith."
The hariyama threw back his head and laughed. "Tiny bug! I'll squash you beneath my fist!"
"Oh really?" Mendigo drawled, unimpressed, "Wow, you are thick-headed. Maybe a little more pain will convince you otherwise…" A glowing point of energy appeared to the shedinja's right. He shot forward, spinning his body so that the energy moved like the tip of a blade and struck the hariyama right in the head. Undaunted, the fighting type reached for him. "Idiot," Mendigo said. But to his surprise, his opponent's hand, which was nearly as big as he was became wreathed in dark violet mist. It struck him like a brick, partially cracked his shell, and sent him flying backwards, over the wall and into the city.
"Hahahaha!" the hariyama laughed, "Who's next?"
"Ow…" Mendigo said, "That…really hurt."
"Will it kill him?" Roxy asked.
"Possibly, though our pawn is only ordered to incapacitate the Starchasers, not kill them," Sable answered, refilling his glass.
"My lord, I'm a bit confused about that aspect of your plan," Roxy said, "Although I don't particularly wish them dead, I'm at a loss about why you would permit very dangerous opponents like them to live."
"Simple," Sable chuckled, "What doesn't die is worth Reprogramming. So you see, this is a sort of test for the members of the guild as well. We can't have them in the way, messing up our plans, but I see no need to waste good material." He grinned. "I believe the guilds in general will be our main harvesting ground for new subjects, minus those acquired through the Incentives Program."
Roxy shivered, the mention of that particular angle of the organization they were a clandestine part of filling her with revulsion. "So after Mendigo falls, what next?"
"Well…" Sable folded his claws, musing over the question, "He won't risk Team Tails. They're too young. He will either send Emerald or Team Tremor, but the latter is more likely, despite the obvious disadvantage of one of its members."
"Because of her parents?" Roxy guessed, remembering what she had read in the extensive notes on the subject.
"Heh, precisely…He'd rather reveal himself than risk her. She's too precious to him."
"But guildmaster…" Ryke whined, "I don't want to be the errand boy! I want to help fight!"
"No!" Majyk snapped, "If this thing was able to take down Mendigo, then it is just as dangerous as the one from before!"
Emerald rose, determination in her eyes. "I will go."
Majyk looked stricken. "Emerald…please…"
"Master…" Emerald's tone was annoyed. "I appreciate your concern, but I won't allow more of our family to get hurt when either one of us could end this!"
"He won't dare risk his adopted daughter facing a monster. He'll take any other option. He'll delay, allowing the police to bear the brunt of the assault."
"Mendigo!" Kachi screeched to a halt beside the fallen bug. "Hey! You alright?"
"No…" Mendigo replied succinctly, his voice sounding even more distant and echoing than normal, "I'm going to need a bit to recouperate."
Kachi tentatively picked him up. "Pyre! Be right back! I'm taking Mendigo to safety!"
"Well hurry up!" the police chief snapped, fire flaring from the back of his head and tail.
"So, Majyk will hesitate, sending only a few at a time, because, at his core," Roxy said, projecting what her lord was going to say, "He is afraid of losing any of them."
Sable grinned wickedly. "Heh, you got it. After the first attack, he most likely knows that somewhere, someone is watching him. It's just too obvious. Someone of his intelligence could hardly miss the fact that these attacks are coordinated. Even if he is not a Sealbearer, he knows something is up. So he's torn. Torn between protecting the wounded and protecting those going into battle. Of course, if he is a Sealbearer, then he is even less likely to fight for fear that we might see and know. And once we know..." He held up the now-empty bottle and peered through it, grinning. "We can strike whenever is convenient. He, however, will have to constantly be on his guard, looking over his shoulder. Oh, he is afraid. So very afraid."
"We'll go," Naila offered in muted tones.
"No, Naila!" Majyk responded, "Stuffy would be vulnerable. I…I will not unnecessarily risk another injury."
"Well you need to make a decision soon," Emerald argued, "Otherwise that thing will come here to us!"
"So will he reveal himself, do you think?" Roxy asked.
"Oh, of course he will!" Sable said with a laugh, "If not now, then at the main event. After all, he genuinely loves his guild. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to them. All it will take is a large enough push."
"I'm ordering you to stand down!" Pyre shouted at the hariyama, who was looking past him in the direction where Kachi had disappeared with Mendigo.
"Bah! Take him! He was weak!" the fighting-type said. A cruel grin spread across his face. "Let's see how you fare, little rat!" With that, he charged, heading straight into a blazing flamethrower attack from the police chief.
"Get the townspeople to the station. It should offer some safety," Cascade ordered the two officers behind her as she drew he scallops, "The chief and I have a date with an ogre."
"So…you have it all planned out," Roxy said, very impressed.
"Down to the last variable," Sable said smugly, "I haven't overlooked anything."
"Well what about this mysterious Shadow, then?" Emerald glared at her guildmaster, voice dripping with sarcasm. "What about him? Don't you call upon him whenever the rest of us don't measure up?"
"He's recovering," Majyk replied stolidly, "And he is far from invincible."
"But you trust him more than me, apparently!" Emerald snapped.
"Excuse me, Master Majyk?"
Majyk and Emerald stopped the heated argument they were having and looked down at Bolt. "Yes?" the alakazam asked, a bit hostilely.
Bolt stood up straight, a hard look in his eyes. "I would like to go. I'll protect the others for you. I've seen what the cacturne did and I can only imagine what this other one is doing. I know that someone needs to stay and protect the guild, and since you two are the most powerful, that should be you. So I am offering to go in your place."
Majyk shook his head. "Out of the question. You are a prisoner here, albeit a welcome one. Your songs won't help here, I'm afraid."
"Sir, my I can do more than just sing songs," Bolt protested, "And besides, Keski will be there too."
Keski bowed. "Indeed. I'm kind of supposed to protect him, so…if he's going to be an idiot, I have to be one too."
Majyk smiled, though it was not particularly happy. "Brave souls, both of you. Go then."
Emerald sighed and slumped into a chair. Hesitatingly, Majyk put a hand on her shoulder. "I promise, if they do not succeed, I will go."
She looked him straight in the eye. "You had better pull through on that promise."
Sable rose. "Come, we must see the conclusion of the battle. Whether or not the guildmaster reveals himself here is of no matter. We still have the main event after all."
Cascade ducked under another clumsy attempt at smashing her face in, responding with two slashes directed at her opponent's arm. They barely scratched its skin, which was thick and tough like the rest of the skin on the hariyama's body. Cascade let out a barely audible sigh. Kachi had taken a glancing blow and would probably have his ribs bruised for the next two weeks. He and Pyre had fallen back, preferring to engage the target from afar. Her natural agility and daily training had allowed her to remain in close quarters combat, though fatigue was taking a toll on her limbs. It was only a matter of time before…
A strong blow caught her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her and throwing her back a few meters. She rolled as she landed, coming up in a crouched stance. Almost immediately, though, she felt an odd burning where the blow had struck and gave a small cry, falling to her knees.
"Cascade!" Pyre called in alarm.
"So you do care about me…" Cascade muttered, "That's nice…" She gritted her teeth and collapsed entirely, the burning spreading quickly to her entire body. "This is not exactly pleasant, sir."
"Weak! Weak! Weak!" the hariyama bellowed, "I am beginning to get angry! I was promised strong opponents! I will tear this town apart if I do not find them!"
"Then look no farther!" Bolt's jaunty voice called, "For I present to you Keski the Bone-Crusher! Terror of the Great Sea! Thief of Hearts and Diamonds! Most dread pirate in all the land!"
Kachi and Pyre turned, blinking in surprise as the duo emerged from the gates. Bolt had a huge grin on his face while Keski just walked with a confident air. "Say what now?" the electric mouse said, scratching his head.
The hariyama looked doubtful. "I've never heard of him…" he muttered, "Is he strong?"
"Oh yes!" Bolt said, nodding, "The strongest!"
Kachi leaned over and whispered in Pyre's ear. "He's bluffing, right?"
"I think so…" Pyre whispered back, "I've never heard of a pirate named Keski. Now quick, let's grab Cascade while he's distracted." The two officers surreptitiously edged around the hariyama to recover their fallen comrade.
"This plan had better work…" Keski murmured out of the corner of his mouth, "Are you sure you know how to boost my power enough?"
Bolt nodded and grinned. "Yep! Go get him!"
Keski rolled his eyes and stepped forward, assuming a crouched position. "Are you just going to stand there all day or are we going to fight?" he growled, glaring at the hariyama. The fighting-type laughed.
"You, you are more like it!" he shouted with a grin, "I like you! I think I'll mount your skull on my wall, just to remind me of you!"
"Well then!" Keski said, raising an eyebrow, "I guess that rules out having my head bashed in, right?"
"True! Instead…" The Hariyama's eyes lit up with cruelty and bloodlust. "I'll crush your ribs!"
Keski faltered slightly. He'd fought plenty of opponents in his previous travels, but none with the same outright, open viciousness that this one possessed. His heart was already pounding and the fight hadn't even started yet. He swallowed, regaining his composure. "Well, you'll have to beat me first."
The hariyama pounded his monstrous fists together and grinned. His skin momentarily flashed dark violet and his form swelled slightly, making him even taller and more imposing. "Come then!"
And then the fight began. Keski leapt forward, ramming into the monster's stomach with his shoulder. It was a light blow and did nothing except force the Hariyama to take a step back. Steel-types are heavier than their size would suggest.
The hariyama chuckled and raised a tremendous palm, bringing it down with the force of a pile-driver. Keski leapt aside, avoiding the crushing blow, while simultaneously ramming his elbow into his opponent's stomach. Subject 66 grunted and stepped back, rubbing his stomach.
"Impressive! Mildly," he exclaimed, "You hit hard! Much harder than the others!" The violet aura flashed again and he grew even more, but this time it stayed around both his hands. "Which will make my victory over you all the more satisfying!" He charged. Keski scrambled back to avoid being trampled by his all-out furious assault. He was unrelenting, never giving the lucario a moment to regain his balance and counter-attack. Each blow had the potential to be fatal, or at least crippling, if it struck. Fortunately for Keski, the hariyama wasn't so much concerned with strategy as he was aiming his thrusts at the nearest part of the lucario's body.
"Little help would be…" Keski ducked, feeling the swoosh of wind passing over his head, "Appreciated, Bolt!"
"Okay! One second then, let me get ready." Bolt cleared his throat and, in a loud, clear voice, sang, "Fight, fight, fight real well! So you don't get creamed!"
Slowly, both the fighting types stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at him, dumb-founded. "Bolt!" Keski snapped, "What the heck are you doing?!"
Bolt grinned. "Inspiring competence and increasing your abilities with my Helping Hand technique!"
Keski's glare was murderous. Bolt cringed, grinning sheepishly. "THAT WAS YOUR STRATEGY?!"
"Well, yeah…"
Keski stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Suddenly, the hariyama's giant hand wrapped around Keski's torso and arms, pinning them to his sides, and lifted him in the air. "Bolt! If I survive this, I swear I am going to get you for this!"
"Your friend is and idiot, but you're an idiot for fighting me!" the Hariyama boomed right in Keski's ear. The lucario struggled in his grip, glaring at both the hariyama and Bolt with a murderous growl in his throat. "Crushing time!" the hariyama declared as his form swelled yet a third time so he was now three times Keski's height.
Keski flexed all the muscles in his upper body as an immense amount of pressure suddenly fell upon his ribs. His legs and hips were free, so he kicked at the Hariyama's face. His opponent laughed and squeezed harder. "Bolt…" he gasped, "Help me…for real this time…"
Bolt gulped, wracking his brain for ideas. "Um…hey! Put him down now! You'll impale your hand on the spike on his chest!"
"He is!" Keski snapped, "It's just not affecting him!" He kicked the hariyama right in the eye, causing him to grunt. In a flash, Bolt was right underneath him, biting the ogre's ankle with electrified fangs. The sharp points pierced the skin, channeling the electricity right into the more sensitive flesh below. His grip weakened. With one, desperate effort, Keski drove the spikes on his wrists right into the joint of the hariyama's hands, weakening his grip enough for the lucario to wriggle out of it. Keski scrambled backwards, nearly tripping over himself in his haste to put distance between him and the monstrous fighting-type.
A moment later, he heard Bolt yelp in surprise and then something slammed right into his back, knocking him down. "Wow," Bolt said from on top of him, slightly dazed, "He throws pretty well…Oh, and your shoulders don't make that good of a landing spot."
"Gee, I'll work on that," Keski drawled sarcastically, "Now get off me!"
"Okay, okay. Sheesh…" Bolt stepped off quickly, unfortunately placing one paw directly on Keski's tail. The lucario growled and leapt to his feet only to see the hariyama laughing at them.
"Pathetic!" he proclaimed, "But I'm still going to mount your skull on my wall!"
Keski growled, crouching low to the ground. As the hariyama approached, he lunged forward, tripping him with a low blow to the ankles. The monstrous fighting-type collapsed, slamming into the ground and leaving a nice impression in the soft earth. He groaned, hoisting his great bulk upright with some difficulty.
"Great! Now do that about twenty more times or so and we'll win!" Bolt said cheerfully.
"You! You tick me off!" the hariyama bellowed angrily, "Die! You should die! Die now!"
"Well that's rude!" Bolt huffed indignantly, "I personally like being alive! It's fun! You can see all the flowers! Walk on the beach! Ooh! Keski! We should build a sandcastle after this!"
"Bolt! Stay focused!" the lucario snapped.
"I WILL CRUSH THE STUPID FLOWERS!" the hariyama shouted. Bolt and Keski winced, covering their ears.
"Didn't know that he knew Uproar…" Bolt muttered, "And for your information, my sister happens to love flowers!"
"Good! I'll crush her too! Make an eevee pancake!"
Bolt's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What was that?" he asked, angry sparks flying across his fur.
"I'll crush your sister, her stupid flowers, and your sandcastle!" the hariyama said smugly. Bolt gasped in horror, but then more and more sparks flew over his body in an uncontrolled manner.
"Not happening," he growled.
"But first, I'll crush you!" The monstrous Pokémon dashed forward, violet mist erupting from him as his form swelled to tremendous dimensions, leaving his hands shrouded in purple. "This time for good!"
The electricity in Bolt's fur crackled and faded for a second as Keski took a step back. The jolteon took a deep breath. "Thunder's…" The hariyama pulled back both hands in preparation for a strike. "…ROAR!" A tremendous wave of force mixed with sparks shot out from the young jolteon, picking the hariyama up and throwing him back fifty feet. He did several unwilling backwards somersaults when he landed, going head over heels backwards. When he finally came to a stop, sparks crackled across his body, making him jerk randomly. He was completely paralyzed.
"How do you like that?!" Bolt cheered, "Thunder wave/Roar combo! I call it, Thunder's Roar! And, since it's such a cool name, I have to shout it every time I use it!" He grinned. "That will teach you to talk about crushing my sister!"
"What about me, your best friend?" Keski crossed his arms. "You didn't seem too torn up when he was actually crushing me!"
"Oh, I knew you'd survive," Bolt said dismissively.
"Your faith in me is so flattering and infuriating at the same time…" Keski growled.
"We can talk about that later! Let's beat him up while he's still paralyzed!" Bolt suggested. Keski rolled his eyes and nodded.
"His hide is pretty hard to penetrate, so go for the knees and elbows," he ordered. Bolt grinned, baring his pointy teeth. "Yes, those will work well."
They leapt on top of their opponent. Bolt's teeth penetrated the skin near the elbow, sending electricity coursing into his body. Keski formed small pockets of blue aura, slamming them into the Pokémon's knees in an attempt to bruise or even break the bones. However, if this perturbed the hariyama, it gave no sign. It glared and shouted out garbled insults and threats, but there were no cries of pain. And the paralysis was quickly wearing off.
Keski suddenly received a kick to the face, knocking him flat on his back and giving him a bloody nose. An instant later, Bolt was thrown high into the air, flailing wildly in alarm. He landed on his feet, stumbled a bit, and established his balance.
"Well that didn't work," Bolt muttered.
"Mo kibbing!" Keski said, speech slurred by his bleeding nose and the paw he had placed over it.
The hariyama rose slowly, anger stamped on his features, but no sign of weakness. For the fifth time, he erupted in mist and grew to almost twice his original height. "I am practically unstoppable! Beat me up! Paralyze me! Poison me! Blast me with aura! Burn me with fire! I will not tire! I will not stop! And when you are tired, I will crush you! Fool!"
"Fool! Yes!" Bolt said, grinning, "A foolish fool! Foolishly fooling around with foolishly foolish fool ideas of tomfoolery!"
"You talk too much!" the hariyama snapped.
"Foolish ideas, like fighting something that can't be defeated!" Bolt continued, "Now, I'm thinking, if we can't defeat it, is it possible to contain it? But then I realized you'd probably break out of a normal prison. So, here I am running my mouth and have almost no idea what I am supposed to do!"
"He wa' bight," Keski muttered, "You bo dalk doo much 'omedimes."
"Hold on a minute, I'm not done yet!" Bolt stated.
"Shut up!" the monstrous fighting-type roared, charging toward them. For the sixth time, he swelled, now towering over them like a colossus.
Bolt spread his legs, took a deep breath, gathered some electricity, and shouted, "Thunder's…ROAR!" Like before, the hariyama was tossed backwards, towards the cliffs that overlooked the sea. "If you would be so kind as to let me finish, I said almost no idea! See, it occurred to me that we are near a cliff and even a fall from that height might cause some damage to you, so…" He took another breath. "Thunder's…ROAR!" Another wave of force swept out of the jolteon's mouth, sending the enemy Pokémon over the edge with a bellow of rage.
Keski stared at Bolt in a mixture of amazement and incredulity at his seeming stupidity. " 'ou realize thab he is p'obably s'ill conscious, righ'?"
"Yep!" Bolt said, not perturbed at all, "That's why we are going to drop the cliff on him!"
Keski blinked. "Say wha' now?"
Bolt pouted. "Use earthquake on the cliff's edge and bury him with it!"
Keski sighed. "Well, stanb back t'en…" Bolt nodded and sat down while he approached the edge. He clapped his tow paws together, wreathing them both in blue aura. With a sudden movement, he slammed both down onto the ground. A pulse of aura radiated out from him, traveling through the ground and cracking it. Keski leapt to his feet, turned, and ran like the Yveltal himself was chasing him as the cliff's edge cracked and crumbled. With one, thunderous noise, a twenty foot deep by fifty foot wide span of it snapped off from the rest and tumbled down, crashing on top of the hariyama below, burying him in a slide of stone, gravel, and dirt. Keski peeked over the newly-formed cliff-edge. There was no sign of movement.
"…" Keski shook his head in disbelief. "I…wow."
Bolt grinned proudly. "All the strength in the world won't help him if he can't move! Now we just have to get Chief Pyre to set guard to it and make sure he doesn't escape!"
At that very moment, the police chief himself came back with the entire complement of police officers at his command. After securing Cascade, he had briefly weighed his options and decided it would work better if he were to gather the entire force, eight Pokémon in all but reduced to six with Astro and Cascade wounded, to combat the threat. This would leave the town undefended, but it was a risk he felt was necessary.
He pulled up short when he reached the gate and saw no sign of the hariyama. Bolt waved cheerfully to him. "Hi there chief! Hi Kachi! We were just talking about you!" He pointed to the cliff's edge. "I knocked him off and Keski dropped the cliff-side on him! He should be trapped, but I would set guard to the place anyway. Just in case, you know?"
Pyre scrutinized him warily, unsure of what to make of this new development. "You defeated him?"
Bolt nodded. "Yep! I used a combination of Roar and Thunder Wave to knock him off the cliff and then Keski used Earthquake to bring it down on top of him!"
Pyre turned to his subordinates. "Officer Tyne! Officer Marshwalker! Go down and secure the area immediately!" Two of them saluted and darted off to the nearest path down the cliff. Pyre turned back and beckoned both Bolt and Keski over, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "If this is some sort of trick…" Keski and Bolt both assured him it was not. Pyre sighed and turned to Kachi. "You want to tell them or should I?"
Kachi slumped dejectedly. "I'll tell them…"
Keski crossed his arms, sniffing as the bleeding in his nose stopped. "Tell us what?"
The pikachu grinned nervously. "Now, don't take this too hard, okay? We are very grateful that you defeated the hariyama and all, but…for destroying the cliff, there is a thousand gold fine."
Keski frowned. "What's one gold worth compared to one copper?"
"Ah, that's the thing…" Kachi said apologetically, "One gold is worth a hundred coppers…"
Bolt's expression fell. "But…we…saved the town…"
"And you will be rewarded!" Chief Pyre proclaimed, "With ten gold pieces…well, a hundred silver ones, really, but it adds up to ten gold pieces."
"So, you see…" Kachi said, "You can pay off your original fine, but this one is going to take a bit of work…"
Keski growled. "I think I want to have a talk with the governor of this town." He cracked his knuckles. "If you know what I mean."
Pyre and Kachi glared at him. "Yes, we know what you mean. But we are the police," Pyre said, "And we can't let you do that."
"He is the legal authority of this town," Kachi said, "So you are not to threaten or attack him. Clear?"
Keski sighed. "Yeah, clear. We won't do anything. More, that is."
"Good," Pyre growled, "Now, we had better return you to the guild and begin cleaning up this whole mess. I know I will be having a rather pointed chat with the guildmaster concerning this and…other things he has told us. Why don't you take them, Kachi? And check on Astro while you're at it."
Kachi saluted smartly. "Yes sir. Come with me, you two."
Roxy stood next to Lord Sable, watching the lucario and jolteon that had defeated the hariyama in wide-eyed astonishment. Of course, 66 hadn't been exactly intelligent. The Reprogramming had increased his strength and endurance, making him nearly impossible for anyone except a psychic or flying type to defeat him. Even a flying type should have had difficulty once he had begun using his reprogrammed Bulk Up. Since flying-types were scarce around Seaside Crest, the assumption had been that either Emerald or Majyk would be the ones to face and defeat the hariyama, but that had turned out to be incorrect. It appeared that there was one thing Sable's plan had not accounted for: outside interference.
"Lord Sable…?" Roxy asked, turning to him.
"…" Sable's face was expressionless. "Find out everything about them. I want to know who they are and where they came from. I want their date of birth. I want their mothers' maiden names. I want everything, got it?"
Roxy nodded. "Yes, Lord Sable, I'll get on it right away!"
