Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. I only own the characters and story, unless otherwise stated. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Side Chapter Edit: Well, what a fun thing. Let's go off the rails and into the past, huh? Let's go... to before this became a reality.
Reminder: This is well before execution was really outlawed in the land. It is also when Kings had full control of whatever they wanted. So, that was fun.
Leaf snarled lightly as she raised a hand, flames slamming into it from an unseen attacker. As soon as the flames stopped, she turned, raising her second hand and trapping a red-haired male in a bunch of roots. She laughed lightly before she turned, throwing him in front of her with enough force to break his bones. At least, if he had been human. But neither of them were humans. At least, they didn't have the same rules as them.
"You're getting better at your style, but you're too predictable when you attack," Leaf said, her voice thick with an Irish accent. Moving some of her hair from her eyes, she reached out a hand to the male. "Stand up, Ragnarök. The war is soon and we don't have a moment to waste. Mr. Kyofu said he needed training done by midnight, and it's almost such a time." She laughed lightly as she grabbed him and pulled him up. "And we still need to find Ari too. The others should already be at the castle."
Ragnarök nodded and pulled away, rubbing his pale wrist as his eyes flared with what appeared to be fire. "You know we can't just trust the king, right?" His British accent was thick, almost like it was all he had heard and spoken his entire life. "King Kyofu may have saved ya, but he can't be trusted. He isn't like us, Leaf. He is human, not a Flame Guard. And what about Kira? She's been missing for months now! He's gonna be quite ticked!"
"And so we won't tell him anything about her disappearance," Leaf told him, putting her hands behind her head. "You know she hasn't been seen for years in that stupid chamber, so we can just try and pretend that she wasn't going to come and we could relay the message to her. He'll believe us; he has in the past."
"Well, that was back when Kira was suffering from that curse from... I think it was Arceus," Ragnarök responded. "She should be fine by now, right? I mean, I know she has a weak system and all, but we can't just use that as cover for her all the ti-"
"Shut your pretty mouth," Leaf hurriedly hushed, then stepping away and towards the castle. "If you keep talking, it will be you who ends up not being here for a very obvious health reason. Now, let us go and talk to the king before we get our asses kicked out of the village."
Ragnarök was silent before he sighed and nodded, walking after her as he shoved his hands in his pockets. Sure, everything had been going downhill for the past three or so years, but they were just as strong and respected as before. Well, they were, but Kira had been missing for a bit too long. They were sure she was fine, but she was always a bit reckless when it came to these kinds of things. Hopefully she would be back soon. Ragnarök was actually starting to miss her.
Shaking his head quickly, Ragnarök fell in line behind Leaf. It wasn't long before they had entered a rather large room, lavish paintings and pictures hanging upon the great walls of stone and gold. Ragnarök had to admit he was jealous, but this room had always unnerved him for some reason. He wasn't sure why, but it just did. He knew it happened to Leaf and Ari as well, but he wasn't sure who else suffered the odd feelings.
After quite a long moment of silence, the doors behind them opened once more. He turned and faced the two newcomers, the "twins" Duke and Ari. They had been part of the Flame Guard for quite a while now, but they were still a bit new to the rules, hence how they still wore the armor of Knights instead of a royal-man. Well, at least they even had clothes to begin with. Ragnarök still wore clothes like he had when he had been a scout for the old king, which was to say nothing but what was considered poor in this country.
"So, you have finally come," a dark shadow whispered from upon a large chair near the windows of the room. "Well, I won't say that I was surprised you four would be here, but Kira hasn't arrived yet. I am disappointed in her and that Pokémon she found. They have never appeared at a meeting before now, have they? Not since the old king died, right? Why is that? Does she not enjoy the missions I give you?"
"Sir, she just has a few very important things going on is all," Duke said, stepping forward with a bright smile. "Ever since her mother died and her father disappeared, she's been struggling to find a proper foothold, and she's only been alive so far because she's been taking missions from other kings and villagers around the country. Sir, she's completing your missions because she needs the money, not because she has to. Her family is dying. She is the last of her bloodline. She can't risk her life like she used to anymore."
"I don't care," the man told him, standing and moving closer. Even with the light filtering in, his robe hid his body from head to toe. "She is a Flame Guard member, not some sort of assailant or whatever. She can't just do what she wants, even for herself. If she's the last of her kind, I'll find her a suitable husband. What else would she want that I can't provide? She is a member of our group - to our people as a protector! Why can't she see that?"
"I do, but I don't care for the people as much as you do." Kira sighed as she fell from the roof, landing with a light thud. "Sorry about being late, but I still had to pay my respects to the... final member of our group." Kira raised her head, her eyes bloodshot and cheeks stained with old tears.
"What... What happened to Duality?" Leaf whispered to her, fear gripping her at how Kira spoke. "You said she was fine last time we called for you. Did something happen that you didn't alert us about? Why didn't you tell us?"
"More worried about that brave fool, huh?" Kira smiled and wiped away her tears, letting her arms rest under her cloak. "We were ambushed by a bunch of crooks. Because of her, I managed to escape; I found her dead three days later. I'm sorry to say, but the Flame Guard is back down to five, and it's about to be four." She sighed and looked at the dark man. "King Kyofu, I wish to leave the Flame Guard as it's Counter stylist. This life is not mine to live."
The man was silent before he sighed and crossed his arms. "I know you are struggling, Kira, but I cannot allow you to leave this clan of ours," he told her, his voice stern and determined. "You are the one who holds us together, and you are the reason they were even brought together. If you quit, then the team falls apart. What then, Kira? Who will protect the land?"
"Mercenaries like us," Kira responded, looking at him with bold eyes. "W-we are not a family because of blood, but because of who we are separately. Even if I left, they would still be their own Flame Guard. I am sorry, sir, but I can't stay here."
Kyofu didn't respond, and instead walked closer to her. His eyes glowed red, showing his anger. "You can't leave," he told her, his hands behind his back. "If you leave, I will have the men you have trained so diligently hunt you down and kill you, Kira. You know the laws of this land. You know that you can't just leave."
Kira was silent for a moment before she sighed and looked at him. "Then you'll have to kill me where I stand, Kyofu," she snarled, her fists clenched. "I'm going to leave, whether you like it or not. I'll kill my own students, if it means I live the life I want. My bloodline is dead, Kyofu. I'm the only Counter left, and you'll have to kill me if you want to take away my freedom."
"I understand," Kyofu said, his eyes taking on a golden tint as he smirked. 'Arceus." Kyofu suddenly raised his hand, smirking darkly as he then lowered it and looked at Kira. "You wanted death, and Arceus has granted you such a bliss," he whispered. "I hope you get what you deserve, Kira. A traitor's honorable death. What a fun sight."
Kira was silent for a moment before she smiled. "And what a funny way to die it was," she responded. "Maybe one day, my blood will come back, Kyofu, and it'll get the revenge we all want. I hated you from the beginning, Kyofu. I hated your God. Long live Mother Mew." Kira smiled fainly before she fell back, hitting the ground with a thud that no one had expected.
"You... You..." Leaf grit her teeth before she glared at Kyofu. "YOU JUST KILLED KIRA, YOU BASTARD! What the hell do you think you're doing, Kyofu?! She needed to put on trial, not killed! We aren't like the others! We are a nation of trust and justice, and you just broke it..."
"I don't care," Kyofu responded, red flames surrounding his fist. "You never understood the pain of being a man who has to protect his home. I never went to war because of you. I never killed because of you. I now see that war is the only answer to this world. I will kill every man, child, and wife in this world. And I will do it, with or without you."
Ragnarök was the first to step forward, his fist clenched as Flame erupted around him. "Sir, I recommend you surrender before I have to use even half of my strength. You know you can't beat the Beast of Destruction in the state you're in. You'll get yourself killed."
"Said the petty little beast you can't see." Kyofu smirked and opened his hand, suddenly flipping it over and raising his palm. His laugh rang out as what seemed to be nothing shot from the ground, Ragnarök freezing and his Flame dying out after only seconds. "You'll fall, just like Kira and Duality did. My plan is coming along just great because of you. And now, it is time to get rid of simple hurdles in the plan."
Leaf was silent for a moment before she raised an arm, a sword appearing in her hand. "Well, fine then," she told him as she lowered her arm, turning the blade and showing him the sharp edge. "Don't think you can kill me like you killed Ragnarök or Kira. You know I'm the Balance specialist, so try me."
Kyofu smirked and repeated what she had done, his own sword forming in his own hand. He sighed lightly before he shot forward. As expected, Leaf countered him, using her own blade to push his down and slash. Her own attack had missed him, but he hadn't hit her at least.
"You know, you're a lot faster than I remember," Leaf said, turning and holding her blade and making him strike it instead of her. "I guess that's what happens when you're possessed. Your body is being pushed beyond its old age, isn't it? I can't tell who, but your golden eyes are giving it away." She smirked before she disappeared, slashing as she appeared behind him and landing a clear hit on his calf. "Next time, try harder, fool."
Kyofu growled and pulled away from her, standing even as his leg bled and his muscles tore themselves apart. He seemed to be struggling to stand now, but he was still managing to fight even after her hit. Then again, why was she able to counter and fight so well? She may have been the Balanced style, but she was fighting as though both Kira and Ragnarök were fighting along with her. How was that?
He didn't let it bother him as the wound healed rapidly, giving him his full strength in mere moments. Upon healing, he dashed at Leaf. As expected, she countered, but she failed to move as he stopped his blade and the momentum in his body carried him. Her sword tore through his chest as his sword shattered her own, allowing him to swing and tear through her as she had done to him.
"Wh-what?" she gasped, her head pounding as she looked down at the blade running through her gut. She froze, fear filling her very being as Kyofu chuckled. "You... You managed to break my sword? But... that's not possible. You... You cheated... somehow."
"Well, you did find out that your precious king was possessed," he whispered, licking his lips as he pulled away, and insane smile and look on his face. "Tell me, Leaf. How does it feel to know that you being correct ended with your death? How does it feel to know you just killed your best friends?"
"Just fine with me," Duke spoke out, his voice calm and collected. He stepped forward as Kyofu stepped back. "Listen, sir. I know you're upset and all, and that you're more of an Arceus person that the others, but you don't have to kill them. We follow the same rules the lowest people do, and we'll happily follow them for longer. But I see that you don't care for them, so I won't care either. You just messed up, sir. You just messed everything up."
Duke sighed and unclipped his robe, letting it fall to the ground as Ari stood beside him, doing the same as his friend. As much as they disliked each other in public, they were brothers in battle, and they were a lot stronger than the others he had faced, although only when they had worked together. Kyofu seemed to realize this and stepped back before letting his own robe fall to the ground.
Duke and Ari glared at Kyofu for a moment before their own Flames erupted around them. Duke became encased in a bright white while Ari was surrounded by black. Kyofu soon followed, now being surrounded by a scarlet aura. They were silent until Kyofu rocketed forward.
He went for Duke first, only phase through the male and land on the ground. He growled and stood, turning as both of them swung, their fists meeting his gut at the exact same time. He was sent flying backwards and through a wall, blood coming from his mouth as he landed on the ground. The attack had been rough, but he was quick to stand once more, something healing him once more.
His golden eyes watched the duo for a moment before blades formed in his hands. He dashed forward, slashing from the sides of both at a breakneck pace. Ari had been fast enough to dodge, and Duke wasn't hit as the blade went straight through him, as though unaffected unless Ari had also been hit - that was likely only if they could be hit at the same time.
Kyofu reacted calmly as they swung at him once more. This time, though, he was ready for them. He strafed to the right, ending up with only Duke making contact. because Ari hadn't at the same time, the attack went straight through, leaving a smirking Kyofu.
"Both of you can burn in Hell." With a single swift movement, the rocks from below their feet suddenly shot up. No sound followed as every bit of Flame died down in the room, even Kyofu's. "Heh. Heh." His breathing was heavy as the castle slowly began to fall apart. "The first ever Flame Guard, dead," he whispered. "They were never meant to be born, and I will make every reincarnation pay for their treachery against me. I will kill every single one, even if I must make my children tear through their worlds."
For years to come, the people were ruled by a dictator, a king without anything to hold him back. The Flame Guard became nothing but a legend only years later, and along with it, Kyofu's true self. The people of the country and the many people around him had become terrified of his massive power, trying whatever they could to make him happy, only to die in the end.
One thing that remained, though, was the fact that the Flame Guard's blood could never die. They had never been someone of blood, but of choice. And with each reincarnation came another challenge that forced the next to become even stronger than the last. But even strength can't compare to someone with powers like a God. But they would always become stronger and try to find a weakness.
Even then, every reincarnation of them was hunted down by someone named Kyofu, and his eyes were always that cold golden glare. Why they were always the same, not even a God could tell them, but it became clear this circle would never stop. That was until the fourteenth Flame Guard finally received a prophecy. It was written upon a cave wall, although it was only hope that the future would be able to some day change.
"A human will be summoned to our world, and with her will come the gift of Flame. Her life will keep those who hold the Flame alive, but even she won't survive the slaughter against their kind. She must find the cause behind our greatest enemy and take it out, but many things will try and stop her. These Infected beasts followed us from our own dimension to this one. I think someone might be assisting Kyofu, if not still possessing the thing meant to kill us. For now, we can rest, but not long. Kyofu was taken out by some sort of Pokémon, an angel from our sources. But he'll be back soon enough. He can't die like we can. Only the beginner of the Flame Guard can kill him. Only she can take away the Fear that drives Kyofu and his name. I don't know how much longer I have here, but I can only say that I beg she takes him out before he becomes immortal. For now, I just hope to survive. This is goodbye, my friends."
The note had been written in books, sent across the world by an unknown publisher, but no one had ever found it. But fifteen years later, many years after their death, a human found the book in her backyard. She was an orphan, one only known because she was capable of fighting back against those who had bullied her. But by then, it was much too late for her to need it. She already knew the truth, and had burned the book without a second thought. Her memories had remained in tact, although for only a few weeks.
For a long time, it was thought that the Flame Guard had died, but now it was back. With three knowing members together, the Flame Guard's power had once against become what it had once been. There was a member there who didn't know, and one was already dead. Even then, the darkness was only growing. Unlike the first, they had more enemies than ever before. If they were to take out the beast that had harmed the past and would haunt the future, they would need to be stronger than ever, even if it meant having to tear apart those they loved.
Side note: Well, for once, I think I might as well make this chapter a thing. I've been debating it for a long time now, and it's a really great outcome. In my eyes, that is. Anyways, I'm back in school, so story might be a bit slow. Well, at least I've been/will be working on it whenever I can. Anyways, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, as well as a look into the first ever Flame Guard and into... other things. And remember: if you have any questions or see anything wrong, don't forget to speak up! For now, this is Moonstruck-Mist signing off. Peace!