Chapter 12-A Fated Meeting

My dreams were uneasy and plagued by the same nightmare…the horrible screech…the cold ripping through my body…and those eyes…what was that creature…it froze my very blood just thinking about it…I could feel the ice creeping up my body…I struggled to free myself…THUMP…I sat upright having fallen on the floor due to my thrashing about well sleeping…I had a near perfect recollection about what happened before I passed out…The Shadow Triads ambush…the girl who saved my life…but the question was were was I now. I rose shakily to my feet and turned to my right where I saw my reflection in a mirror…several strips of linen were tied over my wounds obscuring my left eye and part of the right side of my forehead at an angle…my armor had been removed except for my pants and boots…my just was bound with linen strips as well some of them had slight blood stains on them from the cracking of scabs when I fell out of bed and my right arm hung limply at my side…I noticed the cloth sling that had apparently been holding my injured limb while I slept was still there and used my free uninjured hand to lift it back into the sling. I heard rustling outside the door and turned to see the teenager from before come bursting through the door…she had black hair, fair skin, and ice blue eyes…all in all she was quite striking but it was not her physical traits that interested me…I could sense a power radiating off of her…I was intrigued by this power…throughout all of my adventures I always sought unique or strange people and artifacts…and she was an oddity that greatly intrigued me…the Shadow Triad were not easy opponents to beat on their own yet she had apparently beaten all three of them.

"You shouldn't be up," she scolded, "Your wounds are too severe."
"Don't worry I'll be fine, Miss…," I asked not knowing her name.

"Mira…Mira Vestige," she answered the scowl never leaving her face, "Now you should get back to bed."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," I chuckled to myself as I used my free hand to begin to undo the bandages around my chest to reveal a startling sight to her…my wounds were knitting themselves back together right before her eyes…at least the minor ones were.

"How is that possible?" she asked aghast.

"It's an experimental Ransei medical procedure," I explained wincing in discomfort as the wound started to burn and itch, "it involves injecting tiny machines known as nanomites into the body…they remain in hibernation until trauma is suffered by the body and then they activate and repair the damage to the best of their abilities through the creation of natural material found through out the body."

"So wait does that mean you can't be killed?" Mira inquired wonder gleaming in her eyes.

"No…getting my head removed or suffering a major blow to any vital origins will still kill me," I stated calmly, "All it really does is make me immune to some negative health affects such as heart attacks or cancers and increases my healing rate…but it is an extremely experimental procedure and as such 90% of all test subjects have had a negative reaction to it and either died or suffered severe trauma."

"How many people was this done to?" she inquired forgetting completely about her earlier wish for me to remain in bed.

"One hundred test subjects," I stated calmly the detachment in my voice clearly shocking her but before I could continue she cut in.

"How can you refer to these people as test subjects?" she asked shocked.

"If you are under the delusion that my procedure was any safer you're wrong…I very nearly died," I answered with a yawn as the burning faded leaving only the itch, "I and nine other subjects are the only survivors of the procedure…and we like the other ninety test subjects were warned that death or severe damage was the most likely outcome but we all agreed that the benefits outweighed the risk."

"How could this have possibly outweighed death?" She asked confused by our decision.

"We made this decision not for ourselves but for our empire," I stated a sense of pride welling up inside of me, "We are promised only one thing in life and that is death…the rest people must be willing to sacrifice themselves to achieve…that is what sets my people apart from other nations…we are more than willing to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good of our nation…it has been the way of my people since before the empire was ever founded."

She was stunned as I stood before her my chest wounds healed but I knew my arm and eye would take time to heal…but the wound I received from the Shadow Triad would never heal…I wouldn't allow it to…I would bear that scar as a sign of my hatred for the Shadow Triad…they had made an enemy of me today…and I wasn't someone you wanted to make an enemy of.

"Now where am I?" I asked smiling warmly.

"You're in the mines," She answered, "My father works as one of the foremen so we've a house here…he wanted to meet you when you woke up."

I nodded as she led me through the house…it was simple. It had three bedrooms, a single bathroom, and a room in the middle that acted as the kitchen, living room, and dining room…and sitting at a table eating a his dinner was a middle-aged man with short salt and pepper colored hair and a neatly trimmed beard. As I walked towards him he turned towards me and smiled.

"Mira can you please leave us?" the man asked to which his daughter nodded and walked out of the room, "I've heard of you shogun…I also heard about your…modifications."

"How in the hell do you know about the nanomites?" I asked confused…it wasn't top secret but it was a little known fact to people outside of the government.

"My wife," the man stated his smile fading slightly, "She died five years ago…she was one of the scientists working on the project…she was also the only warrior who worked on the nanomites."

"Your wife was Kiyo?" I asked in shock and he nodded his affirmative…Kiyo had been the personal physician to the imperial royal family…she had been more than just that…she was considered family by most of us…she even allowed me to call her auntie, "So she is dead."

"She spoke fondly of you," the man said smiling, "She said that the same flames of ambition was in you as the were in your ancestors."

"Why didn't she ever tell my father she was married?" I sighed under my breath…but the man overheard me.

"She did tell your father but no one else," he stated chuckling quietly, "She was terrified at what others would think of her…she married me twenty years ago…so you must remember your uncle was the shogun and the empire was going through severe political upheaval…but where are my manners you don't even know my name…its Isaac by they way."

"It's just hard to hear that after all the time that I'd known her that she's been dead for five years,' I sighed, "She was a dear friend."

"From what I heard she was more," Isaac laughed merrily, "I know for a fact you called her auntie…you considered her family and she considered you, your brother, and father her family as well…the reason she told me she left is that she thought she had killed you when it was your turn for the experiment…she only heard a year afterwards that you had awaken from your coma with no damage whatsoever…it was shortly after this she passed."

"How…how did she die?" I inquired…I was always curious…but I was always more curious about the people around me.

"She fell ill…the disease eventually ran its course…she died peacefully knowing that those who she thought she wronged had long ago forgiven her or never blamed her," the man sighed getting up to put his dishes into the sink before he sat back down, "but I've a favor to ask you…my daughter has inherited her mother's talents…she is what you call a warrior."

"I take it that the Dratini is her partner,"

"You would be right…she's had it since she was five but its never evolved…I would like you to take her with you."

"You've known me only a short time and your willing to trust me with your daughter…why?"

"My wife trusted you and your father inexplicably…so I also will trust you…you can help my daughter reach her full potential which I believe that she will never reach just staying here,"

"Its not really my decision…have you asked her?"

"Yes…and she's agreed to go if you are willing…so are you?"

"I will take her on as my apprentice…after all even Nobunaga himself had an apprentice."

"Thank you,"

We stayed up all through the night swapping stories of our lives…this man may be a miner but he had amazing stories of the things he had seen throughout the world…he had seen entire rooms made of crystal, entire cities buried miles underground, and even pokemon that have never seen the light of day…I told him of the continents hidden in the Unknown region and how many nations sought to gain a foothold within this area but a far as many knew only Ransei held a colony under military rule…but I told him stories of the strange creatures I'd seen…savages that roamed the darkest forests, pokemon as tall as skyscrapers, and other such marvels. We talked into the late hours of the night before I excused myself back to the guest room. When I arrived I opened the trunk that he had told me contained the remnants of my armor. I took it our and sat it on the floor seeing the burn marks caused by the explosion but I still knew that it could be saved…for you see it was my evolution armor and as such would take on the traits I'd acquired throughout the years…I watched as the armor slowly began to reform itself mimicking the nanomites within my body…evolution armors aren't just fancy suits my people wear they are literally part of our body and a physical manifestation of our dreams and ambitions…in short when the nanomites were injected into my body they were also injected into my armor which was now beginning to heal itself. I stood up straight and walked towards the mirror undoing the bandages covering my eye to reveal that it had completely clouded over.

"Its gone blind," I muttered to myself, "I guess it will take longer for the nanomites to fix it…if they can fix it at all."

I walked over to my armor and reached into the hidden pouch where the prism remained stored and pulled out a black plain leather eye patch…and as I slipped it on hundreds of pirate jokes wormed their way through my mind.

"I've spent to much time with Johnathan," I sighed to myself shaking my head.

I sat on the bed I was occupying and thought about what I had just agreed too. I had agreed to take the teenager that had saved my life on as my apprentice and teach her the way of the warrior but what troubled me was the failure of her Dratini to evolve…the only reason that would happen would. I laid down hoping to at least get a couple hour of sleep…that is if the nightmare didn't plague me again…

-A burning Forest (Dream)-

I stood in the center of the inferno choking on the fumes and drowning in the panicked screams of pokemon as they burned alive or were suffocated by the flames…I felt a hatred well up inside of me…a fire as all consuming as the one around me except the fire inside of me was controlled…and yet I felt so cold…I felt my aura warp from the malice around me…I was drowning in my dark emotions…but then like a warm blanket I felt a light envelope me…and one word left my lips…Retribution…

-Guest Room of the Vestige household-

I rose to my feet to see the clock said 10:00am and the sun was just peeking over the rim of the mountain…I'd gotten a decent nights sleep but the nightmare I had just had was different…for one it wasn't in an artic like environment but a blazing forest fire…I pushed these thoughts from my mind as I rose to my feet and packed my armor away into a back pack they had loaned me but before I did I removed the undershirt from my armor which was thankfully still intact…mostly…the sleeves had been cut off to hide remedy the fact that they had been sheered off in the explosion at different lengths and now resembled a short sleeve shirt. I slung the backpack over my still working arm as my right arm had not yet fully healed and left the guest room to see Mira standing by the door with a backpack and duffle bag and her Dratini sitting on her shoulder staring at me.

"Where's your father?" I inquired curious.

"He had to leave early to deal with a problem in the mines," Mira stated her eyes moving up slightly which tipped me off to the fact that he was clearing the blocked passages.

I nodded as we passed through the door but as we approached the mine entrance that would lead to the exit I saw a flicker of movement and pulled Mira behind me as ten Team Plasma grunts exited through the cave each armed in some form or another…I made to turn and run for the house with Mira still in my grasp but cursed to myself when I found myself face to face about two dozen more grunts with the Shadow Triad standing at the head of them.

"We knew all we had to do was wait," the first stated.
"After all you warriors are so predictable," the second snickered.

"So why don't you just hurry up and surrender," the third hissed feeling triumphant.

Silence was the only thing heard…until laughter broke it and soon I realized it was my laughter.

"After the treachery you used against me," I laughed reaching up to my wounded eye, "You don't really know the strength of a warrior do you…Death before Dishonor…it is more than just a catch slogan…it defines us…to flee a battle and abandon our comrades is foolish and dishonorable…and as long as this girl is here I will fight to the end."

"Your traditions hold you back," the third snarled, "and as such they will be your end fir-,"

He was cut off from finishing this command as lightning streaked down from the sky and as I looked up I saw the Pitch Black pokemon Zekrom flying through the sky before it landed in front with a ear shattering roar.

"None shall harm the heir apparent while I remain standing!" my ability translated Zekrom's roars…but it was the man standing on the pokemon's shoulder.

"Uncle Liro," I whispered in disbelief…he was one of the four guardians of Ransei…people who had given up their material wealth to defend Ransei with all of their strength, "Is that really you uncle?"

"Yes nephew," the man chuckled…he was dressed similar to a veteran trainer except that he had no hat and his hair was longer and tied back in a tail, "I see you're having trouble so allow me to deal with this rabble."

I felt the fabric of the very world begin twisting around us as he prepared to unleash his warrior ability…I gazed in awe at the power being marshaled by the only man I considered to truly be my uncle.

"It's time let our roar be heard throughout the world…Guardian's Defiance!" he roared as I felt his Zekrom's attack rocket past even that of Masamune's attack when I use my ability Heroic Stand, "Now it is time…Lightning Vortex!"

As Zekrom unleashed his warrior ability attack I saw a twister made up of nothing but pure electricity pull the stunned Plasma grunts and either electrocuted them or hurled them into the walls of the pit…I was in such utter awe of this power that I like an idiot had let them get away…but I did not mind…there would be other times to hunt them down like the dogs they were.

"So nephew what are you doing here?" Liro asked me a grin on his face.

"I could ask you the same thing," I barked gruffly trying to hold onto my cold exterior…but failing horribly.

"Your father sent me to keep an eye on you," He chuckled, "After all we both know that my dear brother in-law has been less than adamant about sending you the reinforcements you requested."

"I know…he's up to something," I sighed as Mira appeared from behind me in utter awe.

"Who's the girl?" Zekrom inquired his deep voice reverberated through the stone.

"I was about to ask the same thing," Liro smiled, "Don't tell me you've given up on Najil?"

"I've no idea what you're talking about," I lied my blushing clearly evident on my face…of all the people in this world only Najil could truly cause me to shake in my boots because of fear and if it got out I was in love with her I was a dead man, "This is Mira…she is Kiyo's daughter."

"Wait you mean the royal physician who resigned?" asked Liro intrigued to which I nodded, "Well that explains it…I'm guessing you're taking her on as your apprentice."

"Yes," I stated glad that the conversation was now off of Najil, "and she's a dragon type adept as well."

"Things are all coming up roses for your aren't they," Liro burst out laughing as Mira approached Zekrom and began scratching him just behind his cheek ridge causing him to purr contently, "Wait when did you start wearing an eye patch."

"Since my eye went blind yesterday," I stated calmly, "Don't worry my healing abilities should take care of it within a week or so…my arm comes first."

"Look its not my place to decide how you fight or move but let me take you over the mountain…Zekrom wouldn't mind," Liro stated kicking the pokemon and causing him to break out of his content stupor, "Would you?"

"No I'm fine with it," the pitch black pokemon yawned, "as long as we don't have Unovians swarming me again…can't they tell the difference between me and theirs?"

I looked at Liro who shook his head warning me to not get into it…to us humans most pokemon looked the same and warriors could only tell them apart through the mental link or through behavior patterns…to just judge by vision would make it impossible to distinguish one pokemon of the same species from another.

"When do we leave?" Mira asked smiling.

"Right now," Liro stated jumping onto Zekrom's left shoulder and I jumped onto the right and pulled Mira up after me, "Hold on."

"No not this we should have just walk-," what I was going to say was lost to the wind as Zekrom used his electricity launching himself into the air at blinding speeds.

Mira was laughing merrily, Liro was grinning with glee, and I felt like I was going to upchuck on some poor unsuspecting person below us…I did manage to get one thing out before I felt my nausea well up again.

"When we arrive at the camp I'll make you both some tea," I shouted over the wind.

"Like hell you will," Liro yelled back, "Your last tea nearly put me into the hospital!"

"Was it that bad?" Mira asked concerned.

"No it was just really sour," Liro shouted back, "My nephew has a taste for either really sour or really sweet flavors and often brews teas with these flavors…problem is he never tells you which one it is…says life is a gamble and if you don't play you've already lost."

As they continued to talk I attempted to focus on what was ahead of me…more than likely these first couple of attempts on my life wouldn't be the last…and more than likely I wouldn't have the fortune of someone riding to my rescue…I would have to face these dangers alone…and there were very few things I hated in this world more than assassins…I wondered how much sleep I'd be getting due to my now prevalent sense of paranoia.

Chapter 12 ends here and we've learned a couple of things and new characters have been added…the shogun has discovered a warrior in Unova and has taken her on as his apprentice and we've now met his favorite uncle Liro as well as learning that this man is partnered with the legendary pokemon Zekrom. Other than the fact that the Shadow Triad seems hell bent on killing him I'd say this has been a good day for the shogun…stay tuned for the next chapter…

New Characters

Liro Sanderson-

Warrior-3/3

Warrior Ability-Guardian's Defiance (Quadruples Pokemon's attack while cutting defense in half)

Unique Ability-Wanderer's Soul A (Speed is doubled)

Partner-Zekrom

Known moves-Thunder, Lightning Vortex

Bio-The uncle of Anthony and Colton on their father's side he is a brave man with strong beliefs who has taken the path of the wanderer along with three others who have become known as the Four Guardians of Ransei.

Kiyo Vestige-(Deceased)

Bio-The mother of Mira and the wife of Isaac she was the royal families physician until she thought she killed the heir apparent in a medical test and resigned…she was considered family by the emperor and his children and was even called auntie by Anthony.

Mira Vestige-

Warrior-1/2

Warrior Ability-Crack Shot (Next move is guaranteed to hit)

Unique Ability-None known

Partner-Dratini

Known Moves-Dragon Rage

Bio-the daughter of Kiyo and Isaac Vestige she is a warrior and has been taken on as an apprentice to the Shogun Anthony Doede. Not much else is known at the moment.

Isaac Vestige-

Bio-A miner and father of Mira Vestige…what else is there to say?