Chapter 4-The Unova Crisis (Enroute to Driftveil City)
The hum of the engine was heard throughout the compartment of the IFV transport. The shogun and his soldiers were on their way to Driftveil city which was about twelve leagues away. They could have made it there during the night but the shogun would prefer to reach it during the day so he and his men could use a good night sleep before the conflict that the shogun was sure would happen. They had camped in a small glade just off of the road where fifty single man tents were pitched along with four parked Ransei IFV Transports. One of the transports was running the low hum coming from the engine signaling that it had not shifted to drive. Inside it was the shogun communicating with his father in Dragnor, since this was such a long distance communication he knew that he would have to boost the output with the equipment on the transport, and he also needed the scrambler so he could speak to his father in private. He was waiting for his father to clean up from the excavation of the ruins at Dragnor. Anthony sat there waiting for his father to reappear in the monitor.
"Well I'm back," The Emperor stated a broad smile on his face.
He had slicked back brown hair that was streaked with grey despite his young age. His face was angular with sharp grey eyes and a hooked nose. Anthony had more of his mother in his face but he had his father's eyes. His father was wearing simple work cloths not the extravagant robes he was often seen wearing in the imperial capital.
"Was there something you wished to talk about?" the Emperor questioned.
"Yes there is something I wish to talk about," the shogun answered, "I feel that our dear regent is reluctant to send me the reinforcements I've requested."
"Really and why is that?" Emperor David questioned the smile fading from his lips because it was a serious offense to accuse a member of the royal family of pretty much anything.
"I believe that my dear uncle is up to something," Anthony stated sadly, "Something that is more than likely illegal."
"Really something illegal," Anthony's father sighed, "Do you have any proof?"
"Not at the moment," Anthony sighed, "But my instincts tell me he's plotting something and my instincts are rarely wrong."
"Look if it bothers you that much I'll look into him," David stated with a sigh, "You're not the only person who's been complaining about him."
"Thank you Father," Anthony sighed with relief, "but enough about that how are things going with the excavation?"
"It's going good," Anthony's father laughed, "but it seems as if someone has already visited it and claimed some of artifacts already."
"Well what can I say I've always had a love of antiquities," Anthony sighed shrugging, "and besides you would have just put them into the vault."
"Oh and what have you done with them?" David questioned a small smile on his face.
"Well the tomes, I've set about translating them, the maps I've used to locate several of the regions in the Unknown Region that were once controlled by the empire during the time of Emperor Hiro and Nobunaga but contact was lost due to an uprising led by Kotaro, and I've located several documents that hint at the location of four pokemon of very historical significance to the Empire."
"Wait…you mean to say you've found their location?" David questioned his son with disbelief in his voice.
"I've found the location of three of the four but not where those locations are exactly,"
"Well where are they located?"
"Reshiram is located in a place called the Cave of Truth which is said to be located somewhere in Ignis but I've been there many times and never seen anything like what the texts describe."
"Well what do the texts describe."
"A cave with giant metal doors blocking the entrance, inscribed on the doors are the words the, truth of one's heart shall bring close to the long darkness."
"Wow not much detail who wrote this section?"
"Hideyoshi, who as it says in most of the other texts were more about action and less about writing things down."
"What about the other pokemon?"
"Well Arceus is said to be located in a place called the Infinity tower which is located in Dragnor."
"I'm guessing that it's not the Citadel tower."
"You'd be right, it's said that the Infinity tower reaches to the stars and only he who unites all seventeen regions will gain the chance to meet this pokemon."
"Wait… does that mean that the regions aren't united?"
"More than likely father…I'm sorry."
"It's ok… what's the last pokemon location you've discovered the location of?"
"The Rayquaza."
"You've discovered the Location of Nobunaga's Rayquaza!?"
"Yes, it's located somewhere in the Draken forest, and against all odds I can't find it."
"Well that's shocking you've been playing in that forest since you could out run guard."
"It's strange though father even though I've been into that forest I've never reached its heart."
"Well the heart of the forest is a dangerous place."
"I know….Do you have any other questions father."
"Was there nothing about Zekrom?"
"There was but I haven't finished translating the documents completely yet."
"I see…I have an off topic question for you."
"What is it father?"
"Well lately you've been saying how there are too few trainers who put up enough of a fight for your taste so I was thinking about reinstating the Ransei Challenge."
"Well how would that affect me I'm not a warlord?"
"Well do you remember Lord Saiku?"
"The lord of Dragnor, yes I remember him why do you ask?"
"Well he is stepping down and as he has no heirs I asked him who he would recommend taking over… He picked you."
"Wait…he picked me as the heir to Dragnor?"
"Yes and if you should accept and the Ransei Challenge be reinstated you would only face the strongest trainers and warriors in the world."
"What kind of self-respecting warrior would turn down the chance to face the strongest people in world… I'll accept."
"I will inform Saiku that you've accepted…just think you'll have complete access to the ruins."
"Yeah I will."
They continued their conversation about how they would bring about the reemergence of the Ransei Challenge not realizing how late their conversation was taking them. A knock on the doors broke them out of their conversation.
"My lord, you must cut your conversation with your father short to conserve fuel," came a voice close to a growl from outside the transport.
"Thank you for reminding me," Anthony thanked the voice.
"I take it that was Masamune?" David asked.
"Yes," Anthony answered.
"Is your ability affecting your ability to cope with the stress?"
"It depends on the number and type of pokemon around but yes I'm coping."
"So certain types of pokemon cause more stress than others…could you tell me some?"
"Namely the rodents, there friggen chatterboxes, and there's normally more than one."
"I see your gift to understand all pokemon languages seems more of a curse sometimes my son."
"It is quite stressful at times but it gives me a near constant advantage in battle due to me not needing technology to get the same effect."
"I should let you go my boy…we'll talk later,"
"Bye father,"
With that the shogun disconnected from the monitor and turning off the transport and stepping out into the cool, crisp night air. He looked around and took in the sight of the heavily armored Ransei soldiers sitting around campfires, playing cards, or just simply talking to one another. He looked over and saw Masamune standing next to one of the transports starring at the starry night sky. Anthony approached his partner till he stood by him and looked skyward.
"How long has it been Masamune?" Anthony questioned.
"How long since what, sir?" Masamune asked confused.
"How long has it been since we've just gazed at the night sky?"
"I believe we haven't just looked at the stars for five years now,"
"It's sad…I've neglected everything I'm fighting for, my family, my friends, and my people."
"You've not neglected anyone sir,"
"I've not had a decent face to face conversation with my brother in five years, I've not helped Johnathan with his search, and I've ignored the people's cry of outrage over my uncles indiscreet power grabs,"
"My lord not many people will understand your motives or your methods but in the end they will have to accept it,"
"Hahahahahahahaha…Masamune where would I be without your support,"
"You'd probably be in the same position my lord but just not as stylish,"
"Masamune…your like family to me you know,"
"I know sir,"
"You're like a brother to me Masamune,"
"I know my lord,"
"Masamune you need to quit being so formal,"
"My lord I have to be so formal to make up for you being so informal,"
"Haha…It's good to have you around Masamune,"
"It's what I'm here for comic relief and to always watch your back…My lord I have a question if may?"
"Masamune we've known each other all of our lives so for the umpteenth just call me Anthony and you may ask your question."
"Why did you not bring the rest of your pokemon with you?"
"It would have been difficult to transport them along with the forty soldiers in the transports,"
"You could've just put them into a pokeball,"
"Masamune unlike other people to the people of Ransei you are not pets but equals,"
"But still it would make us easier to transport,"
"It doesn't matter about simplicity Masamune your citizens of Ransei with all the rights and privileges that everyone else has Masamune,"
"My lord not everyone in Ransei agrees with this,"
"Well who cares what my uncle and his followers think Masamune,"
"I'm sorry my lord I know you value the well-being of pokemon as much as that of humans but your people are one of the few to take the step to extend citizenship to the pokemon of your nation,"
"Well ignorance and stupidity will never go out of fashion Masamune,"
"Your uncle and his children are sure signs of this fashion,"
"Well that's the only fashion they have,"
"I know have you seen how they've dressed lately,"
"Yes I have, I've seen runaway criminals with a better fashion sense,"
Anthony sighed feeling the sense of brotherhood he had with few others, to him Masamune more like family to him than some of his actual family. He was also more at home on a battlefield or on his way to one but there was one thing that always made him return home every year, the Hero's Festival and this would be the first year he wouldn't be able to attend it personally.
"Masamune can you believe that this'll be the first year we'll miss the festival,"
"Well it wasn't even worth it for the competition,"
"I guess you're right, the only people who can put up a real fight at the festival we've known for years, and the fact that foreign fighters are rarely allowed to attend really didn't help things. Well I plan on holding a celebration after we're done in Driftveil and hey I can play my sitar for the anthem," Anthony stated a small smile on his lips.
"Wait you mean you play sitar I always thought you were killing a Persian," Masamune joked.
"Oho aren't you funny and what instrument do you play,"
"Well I play the harp,"
"Wait…you actually play the harp?"
"What you didn't know, I've had to find some way to spend my time since their haven't been any opponents of note to fight,"
"Tell me about it I've spent my days playing Go,"
"Wow you play games while everyone else is doing something constructive,"
"Hey it helps keep my mind sharp and focused,"
"Well mister sharp and focused how do you suppose you're going to feed all these soldiers for your little celebration,"
"Well we'll just have purchase to purchase food in Driftveil,"
"Oh really and where will set up a celebration for fifty plus people,"
"Don't know…anywhere we haven't turned into rubble trying to tear apart Team Plasma,"
"Really and how do you plan on cooking said food or entertaining said fifty plus soldiers,"
"Well nothing beats the fire pit for cooking and I was thinking of having a tournament,"
"How do you plan on doing that you're the only warrior here,"
"They won't do it with pokemon they'll do it the old fashion way man versus man,"
"What hand to hand?"
"That along with sword fighting… their armor should hold up no problem,"
"Sounds interesting… hope we don't need a permit,"
"We'd better not I'm planning on using fireworks to keep them entertained,"
"Ah good old fireworks but it might just be cheaper to buy the materials and construct them ourselves I mean how different are fireworks from explosives,"
"I suppose Goto could build something but he has a knack for making things more dangerous than they need to,"
"Well your right about that sir he can't make a sandwich without at least one thing blowing up,"
"I keep forgetting to ask him if his eyebrows have grown back yet,"
"I don't think they have,"
"If we do have him make the fireworks I'll have to remind him we don't want to maim anyone…we can't risk being sued again,"
"I still don't know how he packed that much C4 into that damned pokeball,"
"It was still pretty cool though,"
"It was the other guys fault too, he should have listened,"
"We told him he shouldn't touch it but nooooo he had to touch…idiot,"
"People are stupid…What it's true,"
"I know my friend I just can't wait for the battle and the party afterwards,"
They went back and forth like this for hours laughing and having a good time as they always did before battle for if all went according to plan they would enter Driftveil silently to catch their quarry by surprise and with only a minimal amount of bloodshed. The insurgents of Team Plasma that were trying to destabilize the Unovian government would soon find out what it meant to face an elite Ransei assault ops unit. Anthony just hoped he and his men survived if something went wrong he had so much to look forward to, so many more adventures to yet experience, and so much to give to his people.
Here ends Chapter 4-The Unova Crisis (Enroute to Driftveil City). Thank you to those who've read this far into my story. I'm going to postponing this story indefinitely to do research on this game so I can attempt to add more details. Pokemon is owned by Nintendo.