Chapter 1-The Unova Crisis (Phase 1)
Anthony watched outside the window as the rain came down in waves listening as Lieutenant Gavorn droned on and on about the current situation in the region. They were located in the city of Nimbasa tracking down a criminal cartel for the Unovian government. He wasn't really paying attention to the lieutenant; he had heard the story a hundred times before. A group calling themselves Team Plasma was trying to free pokemon from the grasp of their trainers whether they liked it or not stating that to trainers pokemon were just fighting tools not friends or companions. He couldn't say they were wrong either; his people have used pokemon as tools of war to devastate their enemies for centuries. It was strange for Unova to have called them to help track down these criminals, they weren't on the greatest terms mainly due to their disagreements about which region could truly say that they possessed Zekrom and Reshiram.
"My lord, are you listening to me!?" Gavorn questioned angrily.
Anthony could understand his anger, he probably spent most of the day trying to perfect his speech to impress him and hopefully get a promotion for his supposed cleverness. A pity he was a pompous fool.
"No I'm not listening to your foolish babble, Gavorn" Anthony retorted.
"Foolish how ca…" Gavorn began to bluster before I cut him off.
"Because Gavorn you foolishly sent in frontline assault troopers," He stated calmly, "Instead of the assassin units placed under your command for this mission."
"How could you possibly know about them," accused Gavorn, "those forces were placed under my command by the Emperor himself."
"I am the Shogun you fool," He berated him, "nothing to do with the military ever reaches the Emperor without my knowledge." "When this mission fails Gavorn and it will, I will put you so far back in the ranks of the Imperial army you will never see the light of day again."
Gavorn was stunned. The look on his face was priceless; Anthony just smiled as he indulged himself in Gavorn's defeat. Not all fights were physical altercations. The Shogun knew Gavorn's pride would get the best of him and he would think that the enemy units were just disorganized rebels, but Anthony knew better than to underestimate a group like this. They were on a crusade and one of the most dangerous enemies he had ever found are people who call themselves crusaders, they would fight to the bitter end to see their dreams realized and they may have just missed the chance of not turning this operation into a massive blood bath due to one man's arrogance. Anthony would tear these little mice from their borrows even if it meant that he had to burn down this nation to do it, there is no cost to high for victory on the battlefield. These insurgents were a threat to every nation in the world and so he would not stop till their strongholds ran red with their blood.
"My lord surly you jest," Gavorn laughed like the high-born noble he was, "These people are just rats when compared to the might of the Imperial army, there is no chance that my soldiers have failed."
Anthony chuckled to himself softly at Gavorn's own stupidity, it was people like him that made him feel as if he should lead a rebellion to seize the throne early and eradicate the nobles. These people were not the warriors their nation was known for and many of today's nobles had not even seen combat and even fewer than that have the skill to lead a single squad of men in training maneuvers. As if destined by fate the intercom chimed signaling the return of the assault team. The doors to the conference room opened revealing four heavily armored soldiers that walked into the room and stood at attention, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Men tell the Shogun how you succeeded at your mission and that the enemy lies dead in a pool of blood," Gavorn ordered confident that his orders had been followed to the letter, and the cur was dead.
"We are sorry sir but the suspect escaped in the chaos of the park," The lead soldier stated, "We were unable to track him as there were too few spotters out in the field to keep track of him in the scramble."
The sight of Gavorn's face at this news will be one of the sweetest memories Anthony will probably ever have; Gavorn has been a thorn in his side since he took over as Shogun. To see him put in his place and shown that he is not as skilled a tactician as he thought, will forever be remembered by Anthony as turning point for this campaign.
"Well, Gavorn," Anthony chuckled, "looks like I'll be seeing you back in Ransei."
"What, you can't do this!" Shouted Gavorn, "I am the…"
Anthony struck Gavorn across the face for his insolence; he had no right to yell at the Shogun for it had been he that had failed his appointed task, even when everything was stacked in his favor.
"You are nothing Gavorn, nothing but trash," Anthony stated with forced calm "Guards get this scum out of my sight, and ship him back to the capital."
Anthony listened as Gavorn screamed about how they would all pay and that they would all be court-marshaled. A single man of the squad that had failed the mission still there apparently fearing the wrath that was sure to come, for some reason Anthony found this laughable.
Anthony turned towards the soldier and smiled a generally warm smile.
"Soldier, what is your name and rank?" questioned Anthony.
The soldier shifted nervously before answering "Conrad Vinson, Corporal, sir."
"You don't have to worry about punishment Corporal Vinson," Stated Anthony, "The failure is not yours but the lieutenant's."
The Corporal seemed to relax at this and be more at ease.
"I've new orders for you Corporal if you're up to them?" inquired Anthony.
"Ready and willing, sir," answered Conrad.
Smiling Anthony said "Good, I would like you to accompany your fellows and bring back Najil Burken,"
The soldier saluted, turned and walked out the door. Anthony stood their smiling relishing the thought that he was now fully in control of this mission. He would command from the battlefield personally, not from the safety of the command center like other commanders. He trusted only two people on the battlefield his partner Masamune and his second Najil Burken. He was the pride of Ransei, the Crown Prince, the Shogun, the future emperor, and the Wild Knight; he would back down from no enemy no matter how great he would see to it that these fools would pay for their insolence. The storm outside was beginning to abate so he walked outside to enjoy the lessening shower. The water was cool on his skin after the heat of the conference room. The rain splashed off of his steel plated armor. His armor was medieval with an oriental flare. It was made of plated steel, with shoulder pauldrons that the tips extended to about the elbows, the chest guard is made of two interlocking plates one on the chest the other on the abdomen, the upper piece extends into a steel neck guard which comes to a point at his chin, the lower plate was segmented into disks to allow for more flexibility, his arms were armored in several plates held together with leather straps, His gauntlets extended to just below his elbows, the hand part of his gauntlets were clawed, his legs were armored in a medieval plate style, his boots were plated leather, under all of this he had chainmail to add another lair of protection, and the final piece he had on was a strip of cloth that extended from his belt to about six inches of the ground this cloth adorned with symbols of the Ransei region. His hair was a dark brown and extended down his shoulders to a point, framing each side of his forehead are several strands of hair. He has striking gray eyes and wears spectacles. His face is often considered gentle, but those who know him personally know he is anything but. As he stood there feeling the rain run down his face wiping away the sweat that still clung to him from the stuffy conference room. He looked around and saw that there was no one else around and he grinned. He put his middle finger and his thumb into his mouth and whistled calling to his partner and oldest friend. He stood there waiting in the rain feeling how pleasant it was on his skin, he didn't turn when he heard the soft splash behind him.
"You called your lordship" a voice spoke from behind Anthony.
Anthony turned to see a white and black Lucario standing behind him.
"Welcome Masamune," Greeted Anthony, "What is the status report on your mission?"
The mission in question had been the one the soldiers had been on, Anthony had wanted his own eyes on the mission to see what was going on, so he sent his most trusted pokemon to oversee the mission.
"They could have completed the objective if they had had more support," Stated Masamune calmly "but even as undermanned as they were they put up a chase that any soldier could be proud of."
Anthony smiled at his partner and cherished friend, Masamune, who would never lie to him, not even to spare his feelings.
"Why do you choose to meet in these deserted locations?" questioned Masamune.
"I don't need everyone thinking I'm insane or something," laughed Anthony.
"Why would someone think you're mad?" questioned Masamune, "Your one of the brightest minds in the world."
"Madness and genius are two sides of the same coin," answered Anthony, "and besides how many people do you see having a conversation with their pokemon."
Masamune shrugged his shoulders with a sigh.
"You work too hard to have people respect your image" sneered Masamune.
"You're ruining the beautiful weather Masamune," Anthony stated smiling, "What people think of me is useful."
"How is this going to be useful?" questioned Masamune.
"If I can hid my true disposition from other people I've a chance to turn the tables and seize victory from the jaws of defeat,"
"If that is what you think, then I will respect it," Masamune stated.
"Masamune, I'm not doing this for myself," Anthony began.
"Then who are you doing this for?" questioned Masamune.
"I'm doing this for the one life that could be saved," answered Anthony looking skyward, "If I can be seen as a good person Unova may be willing to allow us to transport more of our forces here to engage the enemy or at the very least give me command of some of their forces."
"You were always a dreamer," retorted Masamune grinning.
"Well there is no reason to be a pessimist like you," Anthony teased.
"So where are we heading after this debacle?" Masamune asked quickly changing the subject.
"A place called Driftveil City; they've apparently been having trouble with a much more aggressive cell of this terrorist group," Anthony stated with a loud yawn.
"You don't sound too worried about it," Masamune committed.
"Why should I be bothered by something currently out of my control," Anthony retorted.
They went back and forth like this till the rain stopped and the sun came out from behind the clouds. Anthony looked up and did something he rarely did; he smiled for no real reason.
"Masamune, the dawn is still far off but it will come, and when it does the dark dragon will again ride the sky into the flames of war.," Anthony whispered to his oldest and most trusted friend as he turned and strode back into the complex.
Masamune stood their looking at his commander trying to understand what he meant by the dark dragon, and what was this dawn he spoke of. It was at this moment that Anthony's words broke Masamune out of his thoughts.
"I wonder how my little brother is doing." Anthony wondered out loud, "the Orre region is not one of the safest regions after all."
"He's more than likely all right," Masamune assured Anthony, "After all he's your brother."
"I hope your right Masamune," Anthony whispered looking towards the setting sun.
Here ends Chapter 1-Unova Crisis (Phase 1) I would appreciate feedback on this if you find you have the time because the feedback will affect how fast I write this. This story will take place from different perspectives and will tell a couple stories that will eventually find themselves woven into one final plotline. For those of you who have not noticed by now I'm extremely biased in my views. In my eyes I see the Ransei region as the best region in this world and will often depict them as the heroes of a story.