So I was at a total loss when I published this story, and kinda just spat out a name for it so I could publish it. So, now that the story is taking a little more shape, I'll be renaming it! However, I'll put the old title, "Pokémon Tales," in the description, so you can still find it if you search for it with the old title. Also, my apologies for my inactivity on this story. I'm finding it hard to be inspired to finish it, even though I already have it all planned out! But, here is my author's sweare: I will never leave a story unfinished…even if it means it takes a while. Thanks for the patience!
"Thank you, Legion, for all that you have done, for both the forest, and us," Sergio nodded, a grim shimmer in his eyes.
"But now, we have another favor to ask of you," I continued, my face expressionless. "Tell all the Pokémon to meet at the Alpha's den tonight at sunset." Legion bowed silently, than took to the air quickly, stopping and spreading the Alpha's command. I sighed, made heavy with the news of my new enemy. This Team Origin stood against the very nature of the easy, controllable relationship that the Pokémon of the world had established with the humans. This new technology, these Collars, could collapse everything. If they weren't stopped, if they were allowed to grow in power, a war on the world would be raged, and I knew that in the face of such power, the Wild Pokémon, and those who supported our freedom, would lose.
Sergio licked my cheek supportively, and I purred appreciatively. We both knew what had to be done, but these things were dangerous. Battles, arguments, these were things we handled on a daily basis. A Pokémon war hadn't been waged in years. The pain and loss that follows after such things is so great that for years and decades thereafter, the idea of war is intolerable. But now the time has come for another, and the losses would be no less.
We slowly made our way to our den, listening to the buzz of activity in the forest. In such a place, where the warm sun dappled across my dear Sergio's muzzle and the young Skittys played with lots of laughter, it was so easy to forget what was happening, beyond the forests edge. As I watched, the three pink felines tumbled about, and with a yelp, the largest of the three began to wail in pain. A small Delcatty, who bowed quickly at seeing Sergio and I, began to tend her baby, whispering comforts and licking its ear.
"Come over here," Sergio nudged, pushing me into a bush gently. We lay down together, hidden from the rest of the world, in our small, green enclave of leaves. We sat quietly for a few moments, and I could tell that he was waiting for me to say something, but I had no idea what to say. We were about to march off to war; we were going to throw caution to the wind, and fight for something we might not be alive at the end to see.
"It's okay to be afraid," he muttered softly, rubbing against my neck.
"An Alpha is never scared," I said sternly, pulling away from him and holding my nose proudly. He licked my ear gently, and nuzzled my mane.
"I'm afraid," he admitted, his words warming my neck. I jerked away, glaring at him.
"An Alpha is never afraid," I hiss angrily, my emotions getting the better of me. As the heat of my feelings slowly seeped from my body, the leaves closest to me began to shrivel and dry, my heat slowly killing them, some of them slowly burning. Sergio eyed the leaves about me calmly, watching the edges peel back, glowing red.
"An Alpha is still a Pokémon."
"An Alpha is the leader! They don't feel pain or fear or weakness. They lead their people correctly and unwavering. To be uncertain is to stand still, and to stand still when the jaws of defeat are closing around you is death. I can't be afraid, I don't have the time. I can't worry about who will come back and who will be left on the battlefield. I can't think about who is a parent or a lover or a child. This is war, and there is no safety in conserving the mothers or babes! If we don't fight, with all we have, then we lose, and if we lose, they won't be stopped. And then they will come here, to our home, and take all of us! Even those who have done nothing wrong their whole lives!" I wasn't quite sure when the tears began to fall, but my voice cracked here, as I thought of the three Skitty babies out there, beyond the leaf curtain. The idea of sending their mother, that tiny Delcatty, to the warfront, and throwing her to the hounds, made me retch with disgust. But to not send her, to try and protect her here, in the false security of our forest, could mean enslavement of her whole family. War took away morals, it took away sympathy.
I leaned on Sergio for support, my tears racking my body as I lost control of myself, as I acknowledge I had no control of this situation. "You've served as a wonderful Alpha for several years now, my love," he whispered gently, nuzzling me. "You've protected all of us, you've nurtured us, and you've been a mother to all of this forest's inhabitants. Thinking of sending them to their deaths? I understand how hard it must be. I understand you must feel so scared and alone and small, that this is the final battle that you can't protect them against."
"And you know what?" he asked looking down at me. I shook my head, waiting for an answer. "You're absolutely right. You can't protect them this time. This time, they have to protect themselves as well. I know you feel that you are weak, because you have grown more attached to the lives here than any other before you, but just know that it is those connections, that bond you have with the Pokémon here, that will make them march willingly for you when we order the offensive. They will fight for their children, themselves, and for you. It's now your job to hide your emotions; they need a steadfast ruler to follow, Ember. If you seem unsure, or defeated, they will lose the will to fight. We must be strong." I dried my tears quickly, and calmed my breathing. There would be countless orphans and widows after this battle was over, but it was better than all of us being enslaved.
"Let's go," I said, my cold voice returning. We began to head to our den as the sun was setting, both of us walking in time with proud, slow steps, our noses held high and our gazes cold and emotionless. As we got closer to our home, more and more Pokémon came across us, on their own pilgrimage to our den as well. They bowed low to us, and fell in behind us, allowing us to lead the way silently. As we came into the small clearing about our den, a sudden hush replaced the confused buzz of conversation. Wordlessly, a path was carved for us through the crowd of bodies, and we walked leisurely to the mouth of our hole. The both of us then scaled the side of the entrance, standing now above the entrance to our den, taller than the majority of the crowd. As the sun finally set, casting a cool twilight on my people, I saw that hundreds upon hundreds of Pokémon had gathered tonight, every single resident of the forest present, continuing far back into the tree line and out of my sight, save for the Water types who were amphibious. Their brethren would have to fill them in. Sergio stepped forward with a heavy sigh.
"Brothers, sisters," he began, "we are sorry to have called upon all of you, regardless of your plans or preference. However, a most dire situation has descended upon us, and it now has become not only the responsibility of us, but of all of you." His address, which was intended for the entire audience, rang out in the ears of the Pokémon within hearing range, and within the minds of those who were too far away. After tonight, everything would change for everyone. " A new human development has posed a new threat to us. One that, before, was inconceivable, and is now a reality."
"A new army, a Pokémon army, is massing to the south, and with them is a band of humans that are coming to enslave us." A dull roar of whispers broke out, as the adults whimpered in disbelief, and the children pestered them curiously, asking what was going on. "Silence," Sergio said quietly; the entire forest fell silent at the same moment, words being cut off mid-syllable. "There is no way to fight this new power, and there is nowhere to hide from it. They are coming for us. And it is time that we rose to defend our home. "His eyes scanned the crowd, taking in their desperate, silent pleas. "We must march, together, on this new Team Origin, lest they grow so powerful we cannot stand against them. We must strike the offensive, while we have the element of surprise on our side, and while they are still weak enough to topple." I took a step forward, holding in my sadness and pain, and glazing it over with ice.
"The following orders are absolute and complete. To disobey by trying to find a way out of these orders will result in permanent removal of the forest," I said confidently. I saw the eyes of those in front of me widen in horror; never before had Sergio or I ever made such commands. "Those who are too old and are ill in body, or those that are too young and lack experience, return home now." The very young, the fresh hatchlings, and those who had but a few months to live, left silently; with a inward sigh of relief, I saw the three Skitty kittens I had observed earlier prance away wordlessly, oblivious to what was happening. Their mother watched them wildly, terrified at being torn from them. Only those who truly had no battle experience and those so weak they could barely walk were allowed to stay; the children who were only a few months old, but had sparred with their parents jokingly or wrestled with their siblings with negligent skill, were part of the forest's army. "Those who are parents to the young will join the army. Those six months and older will join the army. Those who are mated and are expecting will join the army." I saw silent tears begin to flow, as young, naïve lovers and young children heard their sentence. Diamond, the Geodude I had talked to the day before, held her twin boys to her comfortingly; her children would also be marching to war. I steeled myself, and continued. "All of you will be examined and tested by Sergio. Those he deems too weak, unskilled, or lame, will stay behind in the forest. Those who are fit: we march in two days on the south. All of you are to stay here this evening. You may not return to your homes. Sergio will conduct his tests through the evening. Once he calls on you, you shall fight him. You will fight him to the best of your ability."
With that, Sergio and I stepped off of the raised section of land, and the Pokémon, released from our command, began to settle for the evening, their tears no longer silent. I gave Sergio a sweet kiss on his nose, before staring into his eyes.
"I must leave now. I have to go find a human we can trust to help us. Train our people; I will be back as soon as I can." With a final lick, Sergio nuzzled against me.
"Be safe, I love you," he whispered. Then erasing his emotion, he whirled around and stalked to the nearest Pokémon to him; a young, Stantler, his antlers barely poking through his fur. "Prepare yourself for battle," Sergio commanded. The Stantler rose shakily, trying not to whimper in fear. There was no way to fake his skills; he had to fight the male Alpha the best he could. He couldn't pretend to be less skilled than he was, and hope to be left behind. My orders had ensured that.
I whirled around and flew away before the first blow was landed. I tore through the uninhabited forest, cold without anyone. I ran as quickly as my nimble legs allowed, racing over tree roots and bushes, intent on finding someone, anyone that could break the Wristbands. After what felt like much too long, I broke through the tree line, and found myself on the path that Trainer's passing through took. I sniffed the dirt impatiently, and began to head east, where the most recent human had headed. I zoomed along the trodden path in the moonlight, my breath loud and heavy, my feet pounding into the soil and tearing pock marks in the route, as I hunted the closest human to the forest.
Well, here begins the final battle! If you are confused about anything in the story thus far, better PM me and ask what's going on, because now the story is about to pick up its pace! Ember will find a Trainer that I am quite fond of, one that we never really got to see grow up. Anyone remember Max, May's little brother, from the Hoenn region? Well, him and that telepathic Ralts of his are certainly quite grown up now, and I think it's time they had their own adventure!