Chapter 20: Under Siege
Only a few more chapters to go! (throws even more confetti...then picks up the litter...) Celebrate!
Stephan yawned mightily as he slouched against the outer wall of the castle, the heavy chain links of the hauberk he was wearing pinching uncomfortably into his skin. "I've never should have drunk that much," he bemoaned to himself. Guard duty, on an evening like this, was simply torture. It was one of the punishments given to miscreants, guard duty for the castle. It was a ceremonial duty, for the castle had no need to worry about becoming under attack, but the duty was still there. He fingered the wooden shaft of the halberd. Everything was cursedly heavy, with the chain hauberk weighing at least fifteen pounds. A heavy linen tunic went over the knee length chain mail shirt, all belted together with a thick leather belt with a bronze buckle. The halberd weighed nearly another ten pounds, with a length of eight feet from the butt of the shaft to the sharp metal head mounted at the top. The halberd head glowed dimly with the waning moon, as he pushed hack his helm, wiping away some sweat with the corner of his cream hued tunic, wondering if the night would ever end.
His eyes caught something in the distance, faint yellow lights that seemed to be coming closer. "Maybe they're Illumise," he thought. "It is summertime." His hand went to an empty pokeball. "Maybe I'll catch one." But as he studied the lights, he realized that they were coming closer.
And they weren't any pokemon at all.
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Archer watched with barely contained smugness as the army progressed towards Cameran Palace. He and Stella stepped aside to let the army start to cross the bridge the spanned the Naiad River; the bridge was about thirty feet wide and nearly a quarter mile long, from the land to the Palace. The infantry went first, backed by pokemon like Rhyorn and Rhydon, to provide 'anchors' for certain formations that Archer himself designed. Next went the artillery, mainly of trainers who owned Rhyperiors, who acted as living cannons. They had nearly a dozen rhyperiors, enough to obliterate a castle wall within hours. Rhyperiors were always prized within armies, no matter what the size of the force. Even possessing one would mean an advantage over nearly any foe. With their accuracy and quick reload and firing time, a single rhyperior could turn the tide of battle, as long as the enemy didn't break through the lines to the cannon pokemon; Ryhperiors were known for going berserk whenever they were injured.
Archer waved over a sub-commander, a brawny man named Alexander. "Alexander, I need the layered formation with the rhyperiors, with the pikemen in front. If they do retaliate,—which I highly doubt—they'll more than likely use a cavalry charge, to sweep us off the bridge." Alexander saluted and started to head back to the artillery, until Archer stopped him with a hand. "Get rid of the guards for me. The last thing I want is some greenhorn soldier alarming the rest of them." He chuckled maliciously. "It'll be like shooting Magikarp in a barrel." the sub-commander ran off, bellowing orders to the trainers and their pokemon. The half dozen pokemon arranged themselves into three rows of two. The first row placed themselves onto the cobblestone bridge, the second row knelt, while the third row stood.
The guard, Stephan, watched this unfold with unbelieving eyes. At first, when he saw the army, he thought it as a part of the festival, something new to commemorate the bygone event, but as they prepared for a siege, he found that his assumption was very wrong. He stood upright with a start, and started to yell for the guards perched on the parapet of the outer wall, but he was stopped by a iron ball to his chest. He felt the hauberk crumple under the force of the ten pound projectile and he sank to his knees, coughing blood. He toppled over the bridge, into the water below. The second guard, who was sleeping off a half bottle of port, jerked up and began to shout, this time, actually getting the attention of the guards above before a second iron ball turned his skull into a gelatinous mess.
The guards above heard the cry and peeked their heads over the parapet, their game of poker interrupted by the commotion below. They barely had any time to duck back under before a rain of arrows arced gracefully over the high walls. All but one were either injured or dying. One guard, a gangly teenager, started to run towards a tower, which held a massive horn; constructed of metal and wood, the fifteen foot long instrument served as an alarm system for the Palace, the deep rumbling of the horn warning the presence of enemies. He bolted for the housing, stumbling and tripping over the bodies of his compatriots, his breath heaving as he fought the urge to become violently ill.
Archer snarled as he watched a faint shadow run across the parapet of the wall, racing for a tower that jutted from the structure. If the sentry managed to make it there, his plans would be ruined. He yanked off a pokeball from his belt and he flung upwards. "Staraptor, finish off the sentry!" The vicious bird screeched and flew up high, then dive bombed. The fleeing sentry heard the Staraptor's cry and was just barely able to fling a shield up in time, deflecting the hooked talons of the bird pokemon. The teenager reached for a spear that was lying nearby, propped against the stone parapet, while using the shield to block the pokemon's attack. His hands clenching around the wooden haft of the weapon, he jabbed it at the pokemon, the spear head sinking into the side of the staraptor. Feathers exploded everywhere as the bird tried to fly away from the spear. Blood dribbled onto the walkway, the staraptor cooing in pain. The few moments gave the teenager time to escape, backing way on his back, shield and spear in hand. He was only a few meters away when Staraptor dived at him again. The guard put all of his strength behind the shield, dropping the bloodied spear. He thrust the shield forward and Staraptor's talons got caught in the thin layers of metal,tangling the bird up. The bird hissed angrily, shaking furiously to get the shield off his talons. The sentry ducked into the tower, slamming the door behind him.
He leaned against the door, free from the ferocious pokemon and he inhaled deeply, taking in as much air as he could, preparing himself for the horn. He set his mouth on the wide mouthpiece and blew into it as hard as he could. He felt the sound vibrate in his chest as the low sound bounced off the walls, until the blended into one giant rumble. He blew once more, panting when he pulled away. He went in for a third time, but was silenced as an iron ball from a Rhyperior's rock wrecker attack ripped through the tower, taking the teen and the horn with it.
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Blaidd's ears picked up as he heard the deep rumble of Cameran Palace's horn. He ran into the great hall, where the denizens inside were panicking. The vast majority had never heard the sound before; many thought it was an earthquake, but Blaidd knew better:
They were under siege.
He forced his way through the crowd and he somehow ended up leaving the great hall for the main lawn, many of the visiting trainers following behind him, as goslings follow their mother, with Ash and his friends at the head of the group. Upon seeing the wreckage, Blaidd rushed towards the scene, his human feet slapping on the grass. It was times like this when he wished he had the agility of a Lucario again.
"What's going on Blaidd?" Ash asked, watching Blaidd as he knelt by the rubble, his hands moving and pulling away the broken stones and debris. The sounds of the Rhyperior's siege echoed and ricocheted off the high walls of the palace, sounding like numerous guns firing at once. Many of the trainers who heard Ash's questions echoed their sentiments. Blaidd let out a gasp as he found the teenager who had blown the horn. The lower half of his torso and legs had been crushed by the debris. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled for his breath. Blaidd took the teen's hand.
"Who did this to you?" Blaidd asked, his voice tender and soft.
The teen struggled to gain a voice, until he finally rasped, "An army." He took on final breath as the wounds took their toll. Blaidd fought to keep his human emotions in check, yet the part of him that he considered his "Lucario" part of him, yearned to break free. Anger, sadness and a desire for vengeance swirled in him like a potion brewing to an unwanted conclusion. Meanwhile, Ash and the others watched the scene. May had turned her head into Drew's shoulder, sobbing imperceptibly, while shielding Max's eyes from the ugly scene. Misty had turned an unpleasant shade of green and Ash swayed slightly on his feet, sickened by the destruction before him. Only Brock appeared to be immune, but there was a pale cast to his normally darkened skin.
Blaidd stood up at last, his hands clenching at his sides. He knew why the army was there at the doorsteps of Cameran Palace. The army outside the gates wanted Ash; they knew, somehow, of the prophecy of Sir Aaron's tomb and they knew that Ash was the center of it all. How, he wasn't sure, but he had to protect the boy at all costs, even his own life. He turned to the awaiting crowd. He scanned their faces, saw the fear buried under the facade of confidence, and he finally spoke:
"These people want inside at all costs. They desire control of Cameran Palace and the riches it brings." He paused for the sudden din. "They are willing to kill all those inside in their quest for total control. We mustn't let that happen. I am willing to stand and fight, and I hope you are too."
One of the man, a large man with a bear like build, spoke up. "Well, what would you like for us to do?"
"Use your pokemon. They are better adapted for war than we humans are." Blaidd looked down at his hands. "Oh, the irony. You, you and you." he pointed to those that appeared to be natives of Rota. "There is an armory fifty yards that a way. In the storeroom, there are many weapons, including spears, axes and swords. Get those and the shields. Distribute them and...wait." He exhaled the last part, guilt eating away at him. How could he lead these trainers, these innocent trainers, to a slaughter, against those with years of killing and experience on their side? He wanted to hand his head in defeat. How could he do this to them? And why were they so willing to follow him? A hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality.
It was Ash. "What about us?"
Blaidd inwardly sighed; he couldn't lie to Ash, nor could he let him and his friends fight alongside the other trainers. "Ash, I want you to listen to me, and listen well. This army is after you. They want you and they don't care how many they have to kill in order to get to you." He watched Ash's face fall. "I want you to follow Lady Rin away from here."
"And you?"
"I'm here to protect you. I will give you all the time you need." Looking over Ash's shoulder, he saw lady Rin standing there, holding herself, anxiety apparent on her fair features. He mouthed the her, "The tower." she nodded and gestured for Ash and his friends to follow her. Before he left to follow Lady Rin, Ash turned back to Blaidd, who flashed him a thumbs up. "As long as you need."
Ash nodded and he left, albeit reluctantly, Blaidd behind. Blaidd stationed himself at the front of the phalanx of trainers and their pokemon, hands glowing strongly with Aura. A snarl escaped his lips and his heart cried out to the sky "May the All Maker take my sacrifice not in vain, but in victory. For every time I bleed, let my enemies bleed even more. For every injury these trainers receive, may the enemy die for each one. And may my sacrifice be deemed worthy in your eyes, O Arceus." Maybe he was suicidal for thinking these thoughts, or willing to die on the edge of a spear or blade, but it was the least he could do for his charge, and maybe, he could finally join Sir Aaron.
And in the edges of his mind, he swore he heard Arceus reply, "You are not needed in this battle, not quite yet my child. Go, protect your charge. I promise he'll need you more than the trainers do. I am watching over them. Blaidd blinked, unsure he heard the voice right, but he nodded anyway, more to himself than to anyone else. He turned away, to run after Lady Rin, Ash and the others, but a mighty thud reverberated through the courtyard and splinters flew outward. Some of the trainers shielded themselves from the splinters of wood; the occasional psychic pokemon suspending them in the air, each piece of wood coated in violet flames, trying to protect their triainers. A second thud was heard and the doors started to cave in. A few panicked whimpers were heard and Blaidd winced; he could have convinced them to leave, but they didn't and in a way, he was grateful. Without them, the palace would be overrun and where would they have been?
The doors finally fell off the hinges, wood and stone flying in a shower of dust. The invading army surged forward like a mighty beast roaring to life. Blaidd roared to the starry sky and the defenders charged forward, heedless of their inexperience, but made up for it in enthusiasm and determination. Having numerous battle hardened pokemon on their side didn't hurt much either.
And in a clash of metal upon metal and the screams and cries of the warriors, the battle was joined.