Last time, on Explorers of Prehistory...
Blade, Iron and Shadow, along with the bounty hunter Sabre, managed to track down Lepyuf, a black market dealer, to her hideout in Warehouse 21. However, Sabre betrayed them, and used a sleep seed to knock Team Berserker out, so that he could take the bounty for himself. However, this plan swiftly backfired, as though he defeated Lepyuf's minions, he didn't expect the arrival of Sala of the Desert Empire, who defeated him soundly with her own henchmen!
What will happen next? Find out now!
"Come on, man, wake up."
Blade the Scyther groaned as he felt someone roughly shake him. His eyes slowly opened as awareness returned to him. His limbs felt heavy and useless. Slowly, he struggled to his feet, a strong hand steadying him as he rose off the ground clumsily.
"How ya doin', man?"
Blade slowly turned to face Breaker. The Tyranitar had a relieved look on his face, and, much to Blade's relief, he didn't look depressed or morose in the slightest. He wanted to tell Breaker that he was glad to see him, but all he could manage was "Breaker..." before stumbling forward, his limbs still heavy.
Breaker caught the Scyther. "Easy there, man," he said. "Smells like a sleep seed went off nearby," he added, sniffing the air. "What happened?"
Memories of Sabre's betrayal returned in a painful flash. Blade groaned. "We met with an old friend of mine... He isn't my friend anymore..."
"Ugh..."
Iron was the next to rise to his feet, groaning in exhaustion. Shadow managed to follow, groaning with equal discomfort. "What? What happened...? Breaker?" Iron moaned as best he could. "What're you doin' here?"
"You guys have been gone all evening," said Breaker. "Got worried about you, and decided to take a look. Met a guy who I convinced to lemme know where you were."
"Someone knew where we went?" Blade asked, confused.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiii," slurped a voice.
A purple, greasy form poked his eyes out from behind Breaker. "Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiend caaaaaaaaaaaame loooooooooooking," he said. "Maaaaaaaaade meeeeeeee teeeeeeeeeell."
"Well, I suppose we should be grateful," Shadow said.
"So," Breaker said. "You guys gonna let me know about what in the name of Palkia is goin' on here?"
Blade sighed. "It's a long story... In short, Laura is trapped inside that warehouse, and about to be sold into slavery by another Lopunny named Lepyuf."
Breaker stared for a second. "Jeez, what have you guys been doin' without me?!" he demanded.
"We didn't get into it intentionally," Shadow said.
"Ugh..." Breaker moaned. "Well, then how did you guys all get knocked out like that? It's not like you to fall asleep on the job!"
Iron's eyes widened as he remembered. "Why that slimy double-crosser!" he snapped, angrily.
"Who?" Breaker asked.
"Oooootheeeeeeeer Sccccccccccccyther I thiiiiiiiiiink," the Grimer said with a shrug.
"That old friend of mine..." Blade admitted. "Sabre. We used to train together before I left the Scyther Kingdom, and the Houndoom/Scyther War began, He goes by the name of Black Scyther, now."
Breaker's eyes widened. "The Black Scyther...?"
"You've heard of him, I take it?" Blade asked.
"Yeah... They say he's ruthless," Breaker said. "And reckless. He must be, to screw with us." He pounded his fist into his open hand. "Alright Berserkers... and guest," he said, with a nod in Shadow's direction. "We're takin' Laura back from this Lepyuf clown. Do we have a plan?"
"Uh... No..." Iron said.
"Perfect!" Breaker said. "I have one." He walked over to the door of the warehouse. "Knock-knock!" he shouted, slamming his fist into the door.
The door was made to be Pokemon proof, but it wasn't Breaker proof. It crumpled like tin foil, and Breaker burst in. The angered and terrified shrieks of Lepyuf's henchmen resounded from the room as Breaker began his rampage. Blade and Iron looked from one another.
"You feelin' it?" Iron asked.
Blade stretched his arms, feeling strength returning to them. "After you," he said.
Iron swiftly followed Breaker, grinning with his shark-like teeth, delighted that their leader was back."Come on, Blade! Payback time!"
Blade sighed. "He's back to his old self," he said.
"Thankfully," Shadow murmured.
Blade raised his claws, his limbs feeling tired, but ready for another battle. "Shall we?"
"Hmm."
Shadow and Blade burst forward into the warehouse, leaving the Grimer alone.
"Uhhhhhhhhhh... I'lllllllllll juuuuuuuuuuuust waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait heeeeeeeeeeeeeereeeeee theeeeeeeeeeen..."
Blade and Shadow arrived late. Breaker and Iron had wiped out about a dozen Pokemon before they arrived. Umbreon, Machoke, Graveller, and Nidoking littered the ground, all out cold and badly beaten.
Breaker was cracking his knuckles, barely scathed from the fight. "What took you, man?" he asked.
"Nothing, really," Blade said. He looked around the entrance. It lead down to a long hallway with three different paths, and, upon further inspection from both Blade and Shadow, it was revealed that those led to yet more forks in the road.
"It's a maze," Blade announced.
"Great," Iron said. "How do we get through?"
"Why not ask for directions?" offered Shadow. His voice was emotionless, as always, and thus it was hard to tell if he was being sarcastic or not.
Breaker, however, agreed. "Why not?" he asked, walking over to the henchmen and grabbing an out-cold Nidoking and slapping him hard across the face. "Hey! Wake up!"
The beaten and bruised Poison-Type opened a blackened eye. "Wha...?" he groaned.
"Hello," Breaker said, as casually as if he was talking to a grocer. "Mind tellin' us how to get through that maze?" He forked a claw over in the direction of the maze.
The Nidoking glared. "Yeh'll neveh get through," he snarled. "Nobody knows how teh get through 'cept for the boss!"
"Lepyuf?" Blade asked.
"Thanks for the info," Breaker said, before smashing his head into the Nidoking's, knocking the henchman out in a painful blow.
"Clever..." Iron conceded. "She builds a maze inside her warehouse that only she can get through. Probably a whole lot of traps and dead ends in there."
Breaker cracked his knuckles. "No way we can take the time to navigate it. Looks like we're gonna have to take a short-cut! Iron, you with me?"
"Always!" the Garchomp said.
"Alright then... Focus Punch!" Breaker roared, smashing his fist into the first wall of the maze.
"Dragon Pulse!" snarled Iron, unleashing a blast of flames into the same wall.
The wall crumbled like a dry cracker, leading into yet another wall. Rinse and repeat, Breaker and Iron smashed wall after wall effortlessly.
Blade sighed. "Breaker is definitely back," he said, wishing they could've taken a more subtle approach.
Shadow simply shrugged.
Sabre's head was throbbing. He felt conciousness returning to him, but was really wishing that he wasn't. Everything hurt. Memories rushed back into his mind, about the fight he had just had - the fight he had lost. Ugh...
"Lady Sala," a gruff, but subservient voice growled, "the Scyther is waking up."
"Let him," a female voice said, devoid of emotion. "If he begins to struggle, you may remove his arms."
Sabre mentally groaned as he forced his eyes to open. Everything was a blur, a dizzying distortion of colors and shapes. Even the voices felt painful, and buzzed in his ears.
"You surprise me, Lepyuf... I had no idea you would ever deal with these... Imperial Insects..."
"Captain, please don't insult my clients... Especially the ones who just saved our necks."
Sabre's eyes began to adjust to his surroundings. He was still in Pepyuf's warehouse, being held by two massive Drapion, while another two guarded him from behind. Leypuf was there, and Captain Inque was too, her and her soldiers having recovered from the sleep seeds he had thrown. Inque was glaring daggers at a Kirlia, who had an expressionless face, and addressed Lepyuf and only Lepyuf, acting as if the Umbreon weren't there.
"You have the merchandise?" Sala was quick and to the point, as per usual.
"I do," Lepyuf said. "Do you have my money?" she asked, batting her eyelashes innocently.
Sala gave a nod to one of the Drapion. He pulled out a large, heavy looking sack and tossed it over to Sala, who caught it with her mental powers and placed it in front of Lepyuf. The Lopunny giggled as she opened the bag, a ludicrous amount of poke inside. "Oh, this should do it!" Lepyuf giggled. "Here - let me show you your merchandise~!" she practically sang.
Sabre rolled his eyes. How could someone so downright evil be so cheery?
Lepyuf's Golem henchmen opened up one of the numerous crates, revealing its precious cargo: small, crystalline blue orbs. Lepyuf picked on up and handed it to Sala. "Rainy orbs," she announced. "Like I promised."
Rainy orbs, huh... thought Sabre. Orbs were crystals that Pokemon could infuse moves into, allowing even Pokemon who couldn't learn that move to use them. Rainy orbs naturally caused rain storms. No wonder the Desert Empire was willing to buy them from Lepyuf: there was little water there, and they couldn't step a foot onto Dragonite soil.
Sadly, Moor was not Dragonite soil, and therefore Sala and her flunkies could come and go as they pleased, and now they had their rainy orbs - and Sabre too.
Sala wordlessly looked over the rainy orbs before raising her hand and making a gesture. The box sealed itself, and floated over to the Drapion who had given her the money. He grabbed it from the air and lifted it effortlessly.
"We're leaving," the Kirlia announced.
"Have a pleasant evening!" Lepyuf said, politely.
"Wait a minute," Inque said. "What about the Scyther?"
"What about him?" Lepyuf asked.
"I want him," the Umbreon growled. "He's a good fighter, and he'll be effective against those psychic runts - once we've broken him."
Lepyuf looked over to Sala. "Ahem... Eh, Sala?"
"...Lord Kramzak will decide his fate..." the Kirlia said.
"I want him..." growled Inque. "I... I suppose I could pay for him..." she offered, begrudgingly.
"I have no need for your money, nor does my lord," Sala answered.
Inque growled, getting fed up. "Do you take me for some sort of fool?! That Scyther attacked my men - I demand compensation!"
"I owe you nothing."
"Ladies, ladies!" Lepyuf said, getting in between the two. "Please, let's not argue! I'm sure we could work something out!"
Inque ignored the Lopunny. She hated the Desert Empire with a passion, her own father and mother having battled with the Dragonite Empire during the war, before the Umbreon separated themselves from the rest of the empire. Not to mention the heavy Umbreon Anti-Psychic-Type propaganda that they constantly endorsed, both in and out of the Umbreon territories, namely due to not only the Espeon, but also multiple Psychic-Tribes refusing to aid the Umbreon in their war. As such, the Umbreon Captain loathed Psyhic-Types, especially the empathic Gardevoir Tribe. The Umbreon were ruled by their logic, and the Gardevoir were ruled by their foolish emotions.
Sala, however, was nothing like any Kirlia Inque had ever seen. She was expressionless, and had expressed no emotion whatsoever. Even now, as Inque glared daggers at her, Sala barely seemed to care at all, type-advantage or not. It infuriated the Umbreon.
Finally, Sala spoke. "This is not a negotiation. You failed to stop him - I did not. He attacked my men as well. He has commited a crime against the Kramzak Empire. Lord Kramzak will give him his fate - which shall likely be death," she added, casting a ruby eye on the Scyther.
Sabre smiled grimly. "Lucky me."
"Your devotion to your lord is as pitiful as the rest of your kind, Kirlia," Inque said, stepping past Lepyuf. "You speak to me as if you were my equal - but you are nothing more than a slave to your master, and his hopeless ideals!"
Sala gave a faint smile. "It takes one to know one."
Control of emotions long forgotten, Inque lunged for Sala, her mouth wide open, and a charged Shadow Ball ready to fire. Her soldiers tensed, ready for a battle. Sala remained motionless, but her Drapion bodyguards, moving with surprising speed for beings that large, put themselves in between the Kirlia and the Umbreon.
"Protect!"
Lepyuf, moving with the speed one expects from a Lopunny, landed right between Sala and put up a protective field, stopping both the Drapion and the Umbreon in their tracks. "No fighting in my warehouse!" she announced. "If you really want to kill each other, do it outside!"
"I want that Scyther!" demanded Inque. "I will never submit myself to some... Kirlia who hails from some worthless desert."
Sala rolled her eyes. Inque was far too emotional to be an Umbreon. She had to be a Jigglypuff in disguise, or something.
"The choice is yours, Lepyuf," said Inque, her formally polite tone with the Lopunny long gone. "This is your warehouse, your business. Who does the Scyther go to?"
Lepyuf nervously looked from client to client. Inque was an Umbreon Captain, representing their entire Empire - if she refused her, she refused Ebon himself. The Umbreon Empire had a massive network of assassins and spies, and Lepyuf knew that her refusal could very well make her a target. On the other hand, Sala was representing a notorious conquerer and warrior, Kramzak of the Desert. Despite the general belief that he was simply a bloodthirsty brute, Kramzak was smart - and his tendrils reached far and wide. If Lepyuf refused him, the results would not be pretty. Moor was not in the Dragonite Empire's power, so Kramzak could come and go as he pleased - and he could invade if he wished, though it might take him time to get some ships together. Either way, Lepyuf was in danger. She considered her options carefully: if she joined with the Umbreon, she would be safe. Kramzak would have to march an army through Dragonite Territory to get to her. If she went with Sala, though, she could hide in the desert, where the Umbreon would never dare to go - Kramzak's army was several times larger than the Umbreon army, and most of the members were experienced veterans. However, that would mean hiding in the desert. Lepyuf had sensitive skin, far too soft for such harsh sunlight...
As the Lopunny mused over her own fate, Sabre mused over his. Here he was, captured and about to be sold and/or executed by some distant king in the desert. He didn't know who he hated more. The Empire or the Umbreon. At least Kramzak wanted to kill him, probably - the Umbreon wanted to enslave him. Sabre gritted his teeth - he was prepared to slay himself rather than serve those fools. Any Scyther worth his swords was.
"Make a choice, Lopunny," ordered Inque. "Who will get the Scyther?"
Sala gave Lepyuf a stare that dared her to speak her mind.
The Lopunny was still in the thrall of trying to chose who the best choice would be. She was just about to say that Inque could have Sabre, before leaping behind the Umbreon and letting them handle (or attempt to handle) Sala and her minions. However, the decision was made for her.
The Lopunny's fluffy ears perked up. "Did you hear that?" she asked.
"Hear what?" Inque growled.
Sala looked around. "I sense something..."
There another deep, rumbling sound, like thunder in the distance. Even Inque heard it this time. "What the devil...?" the Umbreon murmured.
Then, the wall exploded.
There was a tremendous explosion as dust and rubble flew everywhere, blinding the rooms occupants and knocking Lepyuf off her feet.
A huge Tyranitar stomped into the room, followed by a Scyther, a Garchomp, and an Umbreon.
Lepyuf gave a pout as she stood up, wiping dust off of herself. She cast a glare at her Golem henchmen, who were staring in shock. "This is why I can't have nice things!" she wailed.
The Tyranitar cracked his knuckles. "Alright, hand over the slaves!" he ordered.
The Scyther elbowed him.
The Tyranitar sighed. "Oh, all right, hand over that Scyther over there, too."
"Soliders!" Inque snarled. "Attack!"
"Drapion," Sala said, her voice echoing throughout the room. "Deal with these pests." There was a violet flash, and the Kirlia faded from existence.
Sabre watched as the two free Drapion and the Umbreon shoot towards Team Berserker. Seven vs four...
Sabre managed to crack a grin. Five minutes, tops... he thought.
The two Drapion who were holding Sabre decided to join the fight. They slammed Sabre on the ground, knocking the Scyther out. That done, they shot for their foes, roaring in anger.
Team Berserker stood at the ready. With a combined yell, they charged.
As the chaos of a huge battle erupted inside the warehouse, two figures silently slipped by, passing by the fighters silently. They creeped around the wayward boxes, melding into every shadow, and ducking underneath the occasional attack. Finally, they made their way to the door on the other side of the room, and slowly opened it.
"Well," Celeste murmured. "That turned out better than I expected."
Tracen slowly creeped into the dark room, his eyes well-suited to the darkness. "Yeah, we get to take advantage of people once again! Yay."
"Would you stop complaining?!" Celeste hissed. "We need to save those slaves."
Tracen sighed. "Right. Let's go."
They slowly creeped down the hall, quickly catching sight of the large cell up ahead, filled with Pokemon. Some were crying, while others had their heads bowed in despair. Most of them were Eevee, but some were different species, such as Machoke, Poliwhirl, and other bulky Pokemon that would be good on the battlefield. The cell itself was covered in bars of steel, too hard to break, and the floor was made of solid bricks, too hard to dig through.
Three guards were on the watch, standing in front of the cell. A Kadabra, a Tangela and a Rhydon stood in front of the cell. The Rhydon was twirling a ring of keys around his claw. The three were talking and gossiping, completely oblivious to the battle outside the dungeon.
"I've got them," Celeste murmured. "Get the key and open the cell."
Tracen nodded. "Right... Let's... Do you hear that?"
Inside the cell, a faint, mature sounding voice was singing gently. Tracen could make out the form of a tall Lopunny in the cell, with a very young Eevee on her lap, singing quietly to cheer the poor child up, despite the bleak situation.
"I think that's the Lopunny that those guys were looking for," Celeste whispered.
"Then let's do 'em a favor and let her out," Tracen said, walking forward with his eyes blazing. "Let's do this."
Celeste nodded. As quick as a bullet, she launched herself forward, shouting "Ice Beam!" and unleashing a powerful ray of pure cold, striking the Tangela and freezing him solid.
"Intruder!" the Rhydon roared, as he charged at the Glaceon. Everyone in the cell looked up hopefully.
"Go!" hissed Celeste as she dodged an attack from the Roch-type.
Tracen shot forwards, swiftly shooting past the Rhydon, whilst grabbing the keys with his mouth. He landed in front of the cell and placed the key he deduced was the right one into the lock and turned it. Fate smiled upon him tonight, as it was the correct key. The lock opened with a CLICK and the door swung open.
"We're hear to-!" Tracen began, but was cut off by a ferocious Focus Blast slamming into him knocking him aside and badly hurting him. His wounds from earlier this evening were burning in pain.
The Kadabra floated evilly over the Umbreon, with another charged up Focus Blast in his palms. The ice that had frozen the Tangela shattered, releasing the Grass-type who growled as he made his way towards the downed Umbreon.
Before the Kadabra could hurl the Focus Blast, however, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to see Laura Lopunny, her eyes practically glowing as she glared at him.
THUNDER PUNCH!"
Laura's fist smashed into the Kadabra's face, blood spurting from his tiny mouth as he was flung against the bars of the cell with a metallic CLANG. Before he could do anything, Laura, still infuriated, seized him by the back of his neck and slammed him face first into the bars, knocking him out.
"Vine Whip!" the Tangela shouted, shooting his vines for the Lopunny. However, last time he had caught her by surprise. This time, Laura was ready, and she was mad.
"Bounce!" she shouted, shooting into the air. The attack missed her by a mile, and then she came down, feet first, stomping on the Tangela. The Grass-type screamed in pain as the attack struck him full force. Laura then grabbed the Tangela's vines and tied them in a thick knot to the bars of the cell. She then sized the struggling Grass-Type and pulled him back as far his vines would let him, before releasing him and letting him slam face first into the steel bar, knocking him out brutally.
"...Wow..." Tracen said, surprised.
Laura managed a small smile. "Hmph... And mother said I wouldn't need those self-defense classes."
"Little help here!" Celeste shouted, still struggling with the Rhydon. The Rock-type was faster than he looked, and dodged most of the Glaceon's attacks, whilst trying to strike her with a vicious looking Stone Edge.
Tracen rolled his eyes. "Coming..." he murmured, leaping onto the Rhydon's back and wrapping his tail around the Rock-type's eyes, blinding him long enough for Celeste to freeze his legs in place. With the beast immobilized and blinded, Celeste was free to leap up at the Rhydon and fired away with one last Ice Beam, Tracen leaping aside for his sister's attack. The Rhydon groaned in pain as he fell down, out cold.
"Hurry!" Celeste hissed to the prisoners. "We're with the resistance! We're hear to rescue you!"
The Eevee looked up with awe, cheering at the sight of two legendary heroes, and even the non-Eevee were impressed and grateful.
"Heya," Tracen said two Celeste. "We're not out of the woods yet - we need to take out Lepyuf's goons and all those other guys."
"Why not let the bounty hunters handle it?" Celeste suggested.
"Oh, grow a heart, sis..."
"Excuse me."
Laura stepped over to the Eeveelutions. "Which bounty hunters?" she demanded.
A Drapion roared in fury as he crashed into a pile of wooden crates, the boxes shattering into splinters under the scorpion's weight. However, the beast swiftly picked himself up and charged back at his target.
Iron roared in fury as the scorpion stung at him again, swiftly stepping to the side and trashing the Drapion aside with another swipe of his tail, all whilst he snarled and bit at the one in front.
The Kramzak Empire. It had to be them. Iron had never battled them before, but his father and mother had. Now, it was time to fulfil a family tradition. He bit into the claw of one of the Drapion and roughly hurled him into his friend behind him, dazing them both.
They were all busy with the battle. Breaker had three Umbreon and two Golem struggling to hold him down, but failing utterly as he thrashed and stomped about, crushing anything in his path. Shadow was having a one on one with the Umbreon Captain. Inque snarled and spat as she and Shadow battled, angered that another Umbreon would dare attack her. Blade was battling with the last two Drapion, using his speed and agility to dodge the larger foes. Lepyuf was keeping her distance from the battle, looking nervously at the battle.
Blade grunted as he leaped to the side, the Drapion's clawed hands smashing into the stone ground. He could recognize this style of combat - he remembered a long time ago, when Team Berserker had lost their sail while in a storm and were forced to land on a small island. They had just been starting out as bounty hunters, and they had little to no funds at the time, so Blade had to enroll in a fighting tournament to earn money to pay for the sail. He had faced a Drapion in the tournament, and he quickly learned about their vicious fighting style. An all out offensive, and vicious assault. Blade had ended up winning that tournament, but just barely. And this time, it was life or death...
"Ugh..."
Out of the corner of his eye, Blade caught sight of Sabre slowly rising off the ground, groaning in pain. Blade sighed, still feeling angry with his friend for double-crossing him. He gritted his teeth as he parried another blow from the Drapion, and then struck him with a vicious X-Scissor, knocking him back, before turning in the blink of any eye and striking the second one in the same way. Both scorpions fell, groaning in pain, before slipping into unconsciousness.
Blade slowly walked over to the wounded Sabre. The Scyther looked up at his former friend. "Hey..." he began.
Blade didn't let him finish. His cool composure gone for a brief second, he struck Sabre across the face with the flat of his claw.
Sabre glared for a second, and then murmured something unintelligible, acknowledging that he had deserved that.
Blade turned away. "Let's get this over with," he said, looking over to the battle that was unfolding.
Sabre grunted. "Fine," he said. "Let's... Look out!"
Sabre shoved his body into Blade's, knocking the Scyther aside just in time to avoid a Shockwave attack as it exploded, hitting Sabre and sending him to the ground, sparking with lightning.
Blade leaped to his feet. A Kirlia stood not ten feet away, crackling electricity still on her finger tips. "Sala, I presume," Blade growled, knowing the Kirlia through reputation only.
Sala gave a brief nod before tossing a second Shockwave attack at him. Blade scowled as he leaped to the side, the attack following him and exploding, lightning crawling through his body. He felt his limbs freeze up, but only briefly. He ignored the pain and shot at the Kirlia.
"X-Scissor!" he shouted, swinging his arms at Sala.
Sala vanished in a purple flash, and Blade's attack tore through thin air. There was a purple flash just behind him, and another Shockwave struck him and sent him to the ground.
Sabre grunted as he pulled himself off the ground. Sala was standing over the badly wounded Blade, and slowly raised her hand, powerful psycho-kinetic energy forming on her palm. Sabre rolled his eyes. Looks like he had to save Blade, once again...
Blade was lifted off the ground by Sala's Psychic, unable to escape from the Kirlia's mental grasp. Sabre shot forward and swiped at Sala. She vanished before the attack hit, but she lost her grip on Blade, who collapsed to the ground.
"We take her together," said Sabre.
Blade gave a nod, rising off the ground. "Right then," he muttered. "Together."
Sala materialized behind them, her eyes glowing bright violet as the two Scyther faced her down.
"It's over, Sala..." muttered Blade.
"Insects may swarm, but they remain insects nonetheless," Sala retorted calmly.
Sabre gritted his teeth. "How about you just turn yourself in and make it easy on yourself?" he demanded.
Sala cocked her head to one side, curiously. "Oh? Turn myself in? What would happen if I did?" She answered her own question. "You see, bounty hunter, taking a citizen of the Kramzak Empire into the Dragonite Empire violates the treaty that ended the war, seven years ago. if you arrest me..." She actually smirked. "...You commit an act of war. But we all know what your Emperor will do, don't we? He won't risk a war - he'll return me, and my soldiers, back home, won't he?"
Sabre lowered his blade by a inch, but Sala caught it. She knew her words were taking their toll. "The Scyther Kingdom had nothing to do with that war, did it?" she asked, casually, as if a battle wasn't raging about them. "But now - it's just another territory among many. Look at you two: you were warriors once, and skilled ones. I'd imagine from the upper class families, by the fighting style." Blade flinched. Sala had him figured out, and Sabre was looking less confident. "You two were probably quite unhappy with the end of your kingdom - and the forced submission the Dragonite brought with them."
"We weren't forced..." began Blade.
Sala cut him off. "The matter of the fact is, my dear Scyther, you cannot do anything to me, legally. Moor is out of the Dragonite's authority, and they'll never send me to Lava Ridge. It is a weak empire, with a weak emperor."
Sabre's blade fell even further. "Well, we agree on something..."
"Here's something else we might agree on,then," Sala said, "the fact that this battle is pointless. Even if we lose, and you take Lepyuf in, another dealer will rise to the top in a matter of days, and we'll simply deal with him or her."
"So heartless, Sala!" whined Lepyuf.
"We merely want our rainy orbs," Sala said, her voice sounding very tired. "We don't live in your lush, precious little empire. Your treaty condemned us to an eternity in the desert. We need the water. But which of your empire's traders would deal with us? None of them. We had to find Lepyuf. What else could we do?"
Blade's mouth had gone dry. He didn't have an answer. The Kirlia didn't have her position as second in command for no reason - her words were almost as deadly as she was. He struggled to push them out of his mind, but Sabre was looking very doubtful, old grudges against the Dragonite Empire resurfacing in his mind. That is the deadly effect the words of a Psychic-type can have on the mind of the unprepared. Doubt, anger, confusion and worry filled the two Scyther, and they were unsure on how to act.
"I'm willing to fight - and to die - for Lord Kramzak," Sala said, honestly. "I should destroy the two of you, and your friends, right now..." She raised her hands, two more Shockwaves appearing. Both Blade and Sabre gritted their teeth, knowing they couldn't take anymore of that. "But..." Sala lowered her hands. "I've had a change of heart."
Sabre's blades fell even more. "Pardon?"
Sala held out a hand. "Why suffer underneath the rule of incompetence and bureaucracy when you could join with us?" she asked. "Kramzak is a stronger leader than Comet will ever be, and despite his kingdom being a barren wasteland, he has managed to secure water and food for his people. He rewards loyalty well, to those who have it. You two have skill. You're reckless, and not very bright, I'm afraid, but you have skill. Skill that is always needed. Why suffer as bounty hunters, doomed to forever be at the empire's whim, doomed merely to hunt criminals as a mere mercenary when you were once a proud warrior of a proud kingdom that was wrongfully bound to some weak empire, made a single little territory as opposed to the great kingdom it was, its size shrunk and given to other species who had given themselves to the empire long ago?" Sala's eyes narrowed. "Why put up with the Dragonite Empire... when I can feel the hate in your hearts for it?"
Everything seemed to go silent, even as the battle raged around them. It was as if the Kirlia had dragged them into a void, completely empty and silent except for them. The offer before them... could it be real? Even Blade's mind was swimming in doubt. He hated the Scyther Kingdom becoming another nameless territory as well, but he was loyal to the Gardevoir Guild... loyal to Sylvia...
But could he honestly say that the Emperor Comet was a good leader?
And was Sala truly wrong? The war was over, but the Kramzak Empire was forced into the desert, never allowed to step foot on Dragonite Land less they start a war. The desert had a large population, and few oasisis to go around. They needed these orbs to survive. If Lepyuf was the only one they could deal with, could they really say it was wrong? Was the empire right to demand that Kramzak and his minions stay in the desert for the rest of their lives?
The silence lasted for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Sabre was the one to open his mouth.
"I'm... I'm..."
Author's Note:
CLIFFHANGER! HANGING FROM A CLIFF~!
Sorry folks, but that's all you get this time. Fills you with suspense, don't it?
Tune in next week to see Sabre's answer? What will it be? Will they join Sala and the Kramzak Empire, or will they remain loyal to the Dragonite Empire? What do you think will happen?
Find out next time!