A Dragon's Tail
Tail 5: Diego's Tail - Reprisal
Tail 5-1: A Fuel of Vengeance
"…For a flame to keep burning, it needs something to be their fuel."
A Charizard in crimson armor who sat next to the campfire spoke quietly as he stared blankly into the burning flame above the woods that served as its fuel.
"I am a burning flame. A burning flame that exists only for one purpose… To destroy everything in my path… And in order to continue living in this world, I need something as my fuel, and that fuel is no more than vengeance."
The Charizard started removing his armor one by one; starting from a pair of gauntlets, a pair of boots, a set of greaves, and a cuirass, and ending with a dragonhead-shaped helmet.
"…" The Charizard started cleaning his armor using a fabric, and used the flame he breathed from his throat to polish it and prevent it from being rusty.
"Hey… You have got such a nice body, Diego Pyrotorch the Charizard…"
A voice came from one of the Pokemon who were sleeping beside this campfire. This Pokemon was a Garchomp.
"Zetarus?" The Charizard named Diego sighed and looked at the Garchomp, who seemed to have just woken up. "Wake up already?"
"No, I am still sleeping." The Garchomp named Zetarus said with a crafty voice as he sat down next to Diego.
"You fxxxxxg axxxxxe…" Diego mumbled and glared at Zetarus.
"Come on! I was just kidding!" Zetarus said. "But what I said earlier wasn't a lie…"
"…That I have a nice body?" Diego said.
"Right." Zetarus said and approached the Charizard. "Hm… Such great muscles you have here… If I knew this earlier back when I helped you change into your armor suit…"
"H…H…HEY!" Diego said and tried to get away as the Garchomp touched his arm. "F…Fxxk off, you stupid fxxxxxg bastard!"
"Hm?" Zetarus seemed to notice something as the Charizard tried to get away from him. "Hey, Diego, what's that white mark on your back?"
Zetarus pointed his paw at a white mark on Diego's back. This white mark was quite faint, making it very hard to be seen, especially during the night.
"…So, you saw it…" Diego mumbled. "It's a mark… No, it's a brand of someone who's a gladiator, whether they were slaves who were thrown into the pit, criminals who were sentenced in the combat, or, though very rare, someone who enters the battle on their own will."
"Brand?" Zetarus said. "Did you mean that you were…"
"Yes." Diego said. "After my… caretaker and I were thrown into the pit of the arena, they branded us with a hot iron to give us this mark. Didn't you have one too, Zetarus?"
"Nope." Zetarus said. "Every prisoner at the Desert Prison got one too, but not for me… That's another proof that I didn't commit any crime, and yet they still made my life a living hell.."
"Oh, that's right." Diego said. "I forgot that you are actually the prince of Dustorm Empire…"
"…It would be better if you keep it that way." Zetarus said and touched his right eye, which was now covered in the black eyepatch since when he had arrived at Civilight. "I am the prince in name only."
"Indeed." Diego said.
"…Hey, Diego." Zetarus seemed to remember something. "I have never asked this before, but how did you escape from the arena?"
"…It started after my father died in that pit of hell." Diego continued his story. "Without my father, I was forced to survive alone. I was just a Charmeleon at that time… Without anyone to rely on, I have to become stronger in order to survive… Which I thought that it was useless as back then, I didn't have any more will to live. I just really wanted to get killed one day so I could escape from the endless cycle of hell…"
"Eh…" Zeturus mumbled as he tried to keep up with the Charizard's story.
"Well, let me ask you first…" Instead of continuing his story, Diego asked a question to the Garchomp. "You told me that you stayed at Desert Prison since the day you were born, right? So… How could you keep living in that place for 21 years? Didn't you have any thought of committing suicide?"
"I thought of that a lot, Diego." Zetarus answered. "However, every time I thought of committing suicide, something in my heart told me that I couldn't die yet. I didn't know what it was until the day I was about to be executed. That moment… I finally realized the reason why I couldn't die yet… It was because I need to kill Emperor Garland… To kill my father first… It's as if I was born for this thing, and this thing only…"
"Well… I've never known this…" Diego said. "Killing your father is the fuel that keeps your flame of life from being extinguished… And yet you don't have any clue why did you have to accomplish this…"
"Hey!" Zetarus seemed to be confused by Diego's words. "Just when did you get so… smart? I don't understand anything you just said, not even a bit!"
"…Back to my story…" Diego continued his story. "Unlike you, I don't have any will to live on… Until one day… When 'she' appeared."
"She?" Zetarus looked at the Charizard's face.
"She was a female Quilava…" Diego said. "I knew nothing of her origin, but that day… She, like me, was branded and thrown into the pit of the arena, forcing her to become a gladiator, just like everyone there…"
"…" Zetarus said nothing as he tried to keep up with the Charizard's story.
"…You know… In the arena, you never know who's your friend and who's your enemy…" Diego said. "Someone whom you befriend today may end up as your enemy the next day… So that's why everyone there prefers to keep distant from everyone else… This included me too…"
"I…see…" Zetarus mumbled.
"However…" Diego closed his eyes. "One day, I came back from a battle with heavy injuries. Normally, if anyone was injured, they must tend their wounds by their own. And if the wounds aren't healed by the time of our next battle… You will most likely die."
"…" Zetarus said nothing.
"That day, I came back to the resting place for gladiators to tend my wounds. However, I don't have any potion… You know, in that place, things like healing potion and medicine are very limited…"
"And..." Zetarus said.
"So, I had no choice but to wrap my wounds with bandages." Diego said. "However, she came…"
"She?" Zetarus said. "Did you mean that… Quilava?"
"Yes." Diego said. "She came and shared her healing potion with me. I was very surprised when someone shared their kindness with me."
"I see…" Zetarus said.
"At first, I just turned my cold shoulder toward her." Diego said. "But she still kept helping me. Sometimes, she even tended my wounds for me! So, one day, I decided to ask her why did she keep helping me."
"And what was…her answer?" Zetarus asked.
"She told me that I had something in my eyes that caught her attention…" Diego said. "She told me that I am different from anyone here. She said that I had gentle and innocent eyes, unlike other gladiators who had eyes that resembled beasts."
"Gentle and innocent, eh?" Zetarus looked at Diego's eyes with a crafty face. "Really?"
"S…Shut up!" Diego said. His face was as red as a Tamato Berry. "A…And don't look at me like that!"
"Okay!" Zetarus said with a crafty voice.
"A…Anyway!" Diego continued his story. "She also said that she felt that I am sad and lonely inside. That's why she wanted to become my friend."
Zetarus said nothing, but nodded to his friend's story.
"After that day, we gradually became closer to each other. She tended my wounds after a battle, and I repaid her by protecting her from other gladiators who tried to…You know…her."
"I see…" Zetarus said.
"… Come to think of it, it was quite strange…" Diego said. "Before I met her, I didn't have any will to live in that world. But after I met her, I felt that… For the first time in many years, I had a will to live there. I started to feel better after my heart grew cold from any kindness, and… I started to think that… I was… in love."
"WHAT?!" Zetarus said in a surprised voice. "A…Are you serious?!"
"Hey! What's that reaction?!" Diego said. Again, his face turned red. "I… I don't know if that's love or not… But at least, she made my life meaningful once again…"
"…" Zetarus said nothing and crossed his arms.
"So…" Diego was about to continue his story, but was interrupted by the Garchomp.
"Hey, Diego…" Zetarus spoke up. "Aren't you feeling tired of telling me such a long story?"
"Come to think of it, I think I am." Diego said. "Are you suggesting that we should take a break and do something else?"
"Yes." Zetarus said. "I will let you handle this as you see fit."
"Okay." Diego said. "You two, you have three seconds to show up or—"
"EH?!"
A cute voice of female Pokemon came from behind Zetarus and Diego. It came from the spot where two other Pokemon in this cave were sleeping. However, right now, they weren't sleeping, they were…
"…And once again…" Richard spoke up and showed up with his younger sister, Rachael. "You two notice that we eavesdrop your conversation."
"I don't need any word like that." Zetarus said. "I need you to tell us how long since you started listening to our words."
"… Since when Diego told you about his brand." Richard answered. "And I still couldn't believe that you are actually the prince of Dustorm Empire, and you plan to assassinate the emperor of Dustorm Empire, who's your own father, Zetarus."
"Hm…" Zetarus seemed to be relived after hearing the answer from the Latios. "Believe it or not, I don't care. But now… Diego, what should we do with these two this time?"
"…" Diego said nothing before he turned his attention to the Latios and Latias. "If both of you want to listen to my story, then suit yourself."
"Hm?! We can?!" Rachael said. "A…Are you sure it's fine for us to listen to your story?!"
"You two already know so many things about me… Maybe too much, but whatever." Diego said.
"Then…" Rachael and Richard decided to sit down next to the campfire in order to join the conversation.
"Let me continue my story…" Diego said. "Several days had passed… Several weeks had passed… And several months had passed… I finally became the strongest gladiator in the arena. Everyone there feared even my shadow, and none of them even dared to piss me off."
"Um…" Rachael spoke up. "Why did… you have to become so cruel, Diego?"
"Because it's kill or be killed." Diego answered. "If I don't kill someone, I will get killed by others. It's simple."
"Oh…" Rachael almost fainted after hearing the answer from the Charizard.
"However…" Diego was about to continue the story, but was interrupted by the Latios.
"Look." Richard pointed his paw to the east. "It's already daybreak of the new day."
"Hm? Morning already?" Zetarus said.
"I guess that we were lost in my story…" Diego said. "Well then, I will continue this later. For now, let's be prepared for our journey. Richard, you told me that we will reach Fireview Kingdom today, right?"
"What?!" Zetarus looked at Diego, and then looked at Richard. "R…Really?!"
"Most likely." Richard answered. "The weather and the road seem to be clear, so we will reach it soon."
"YES!" Zetarus suddenly spoke out. "Finally! It's time to say goodbye to this terrible 'Zno' thing!"
"Oh, fxxk…" Diego mumbled.
-A Few Hours Later…
After having breakfast and continued walking for some time, Diego, Zetarus, Rachael and Richard reached a large cave at the border to Queendom of Riverbrine and Fireview Kingdom. This cave seemed to be an old mine.
"Here we are." Richard said.
"This cave?" Rachael looked at the cave. "Why bring us here, Onii-chan? Why aren't you leading us to Riverbrine-Fireview Checkpoint?"
"…And what would happen if we go to the Riverbrine-Fireview Checkpoint?" Richard said and looked at Diego and Zetarus, which made Rachael finally understand.
"Oh, I see…" Rachael said.
"So, we will have to use this path instead." Richard said. "This is the entrance of the Underground Mine, a mine that operated under the land of Fireview Kingdom."
"A mine?" Rachael repeated the word.
"Yes." Richard nodded. "This mine has many entrances around the Fireview Kingdom, including the entrances that are located out of Fireview Kingdom…"
"Just like this one?" Rachael asked.
"Correct." Richard said. "There is an entrance that led to Queendom of Riverbrine to the west of Fireview, and several entrances that led to Dustorm Empire to the south of Fireview. However, only the entrances to Dustorm are still open. The entrance to Riverbrine was closed since the time of Bloodmoon War 17 years ago."
"Bloodmoon War?" Rachael said as she remembered hearing about this from somewhere. "Did you mean one of five great wars that occurred on the continent of Symmetria, other than the War of Snowlost Peninsula, War of Jasmine, Civilusion War and War over the Windsky Plateau?"
"Yes." Richard answered.
"Why?" Rachael asked. "Why did they have to close this entrance? Is there something happening during the Bloodmoon War?"
Richard was about to answer his sister's question, but was interrupted by the voice of the Garchomp.
"Hey, spare those words for later, wouldn't ya?" Zetarus said.
"…Fine." Richard said. "Anyway, because this entrance was closed, it's safe for us to use this entrance to get into Fireview Kingdom without being noticed."
"Okay." Diego said. "Let's go, everyone."
Everyone nodded, and then four Pokemon walked together into the Underground Mine.
The Underground Mine was, as expected from a mine, dark. Moreover, because this part of the mine was abandoned since 17 years ago, the path became very rough for everyone to proceed. But Richard summoned a ball of light from his Chronicle of Daybreak to light up the area, the journey into the mine became a lot easier and safer.
"EAHAEEA!" Rachael cried as something suddenly attacked her.
"Dragon Breath!" Richard exhaled a mighty gust from his mouth to attack the wild Pokemon that attacked his younger sister, making it quickly ran away from the group.
"Whew!" Rachael said. "Thank you, Onii-chan!"
"Don't sweat it." Richard said and was about to head deeper into the mine when a Garchomp called him out.
"Richard, do you know what this thing is?" Zetarus pointed his claw at something next to him. It seemed like an empty big wooden box without its lid, but it had two wheels, and it seemed like this 'box' was placed at the end of a railroad that led further into the mine.
"It's just a minecart." Richard answered.
"My card?" Zetarus tried to repeat the word that the Latios told him. "I don't remember having one of these 'card' things… And this is just a big 'card'…"
"Good grief…" Richard facepalmed himself.
"Let's just say that it's like a small train used to move around here in the mine." Diego gave Zetarus a brief explanation about the minecart.
"Okay…" Zetarus said, despite he still didn't understand very much about the 'My card''. And then. "Wait a minute, did you say that we can use this 'my card' to move around the mine, just like a train?"
"Zetarus…" Diego seemed to know what the Garchomp's thinking. "Don't tell me…"
"Come on!" Zetarus said. "It's much better than walking randomly in the dark!"
"Hm… You are right about this…" Diego said and approached the minecart. "This cart is big enough for all of us, and we wouldn't get lost if we always stay on the railroad too,"
"A…A…Are you serious?!" Richard said after he realized what were the Garchomp and Charizard thinking. He seemed to be panicking after he realized their idea. "T… That's…"
"Yay! Yay!" Unlike her brother, Rachael didn't seem to be panicking after she realized what's going on. "Yay! Yay! Minecart Riding! Yay! Yay!"
"Diego, how does this thing work?" Zetarus said and looked around the 'my card'.
"Let me take a look…" Diego said and approached the minecart. "Ugh! This old thing won't budge! Hey! Richard!" Diego turned his attention to the Latios. "Have any idea getting this thing moving?"
"…I don't think it would be a good idea for us to use it…" Richard said and looked at the railroad, which led into the deeper part of the mine.
"Onii-chan, please…" Rachael said and looked at Richard with her cute, innocent pairs of eyes. Her action, again, made it impossible for the Latios to refuse her request.
"Sigh… Fine…" Richard said and approached the minecart before he picked something out. It seemed like a bottle that contained a strange-colored liquid.
"What's that thing?" Zetarus asked.
"Rust Remover." Richard answered and poured it onto the wheels of the minecart, making the rust dissolve after being exposed to the liquid.
"Great!" Diego said and started working on the minecart. "Now we would be able to use this thing! Zetarus, help me."
"Yeah!" Zetarus said and approached the 'my card'. "That thing you poured on 'my card'….er… What was it called again? Lus—"
"Never mind." Richard said.
"But, Onii-chan…" Rachael said and looked at the bottle of rust remover. "Why do you have something like this with you?"
Richard seemed to be distracted for a bit as he answered the Latias. "…Those idiots from Civilight often need this, but they ALWAYS forgot to have it with themselves. That's why I always have one with me in the case they need one."
"Ewww… Onii-chan!" Rachael seemed to appreciate the answer from her brother. "You are so caring! This is why I love you so much, Onii-chan!"
"S…Shut up…" Richard said and hid his face from everyone.
"Hey, you two!" Diego called the Latios and Latias. Right now, both him and Zetarus had already gotten into the minecart already. "Come on, hop aboard!"
"Yay! Yay!" Rachael said and was about to get into the minecart when she saw that her brother didn't do the same thing.
"Onii-chan?" Rachael turned her attention to the Latios and realized that he was still staying at the point he was talking to her. "What's wrong, come on!"
"A…Are you sure that… it will be safe?" Richard asked with a shaking voice.
"Of course!" Rachael said and approached her brother. "Now come on or you will be left behind!"
"W…Wait!" Richard said as Rachael dragged him to the minecart and pushed him into it before she got into it too.
"Finally…" Diego said after everyone had gotten into the minecart already. "Zetarus, could you pull off the switch over there? I think it will give us a smooth ride."
"This one?" Zetarus said and pointed his claw at a switch next to him. "Okay."
"Wait, that's—" Diego was about to warn the Garchomp that it was a wrong switch, but it was too late.
"Gotcha!" Zetarus said and pulled off the switch next to him.
After that, the minecart that wasn't being used for several years suddenly moved along the railroad at a very fast speed into the deeper part of the Underground Mine, leaving nothing behind except the voice of someone who boarded it.
"YOU IDIOT!"
-Several minutes later…
"BANG!"
The minecart stopped moving as it reached the end of the line. However, because it was running at a very fast pace, the sudden stop made four Pokemon who were on the minecart being thrown out from the minecart onto the ground.
"UGH!" The Charizard, Garchomp, Latios and Latias groaned in pain as they were suddenly thrown out of the minecart.
"Awww… My head…" Rachael said as she moved up and helped her brother, who didn't seem very well after a ride.
"Fxxk you, Zetarus…" Diego said and slowly stood up.
"Come on!" Unlike others, Zetarus didn't seem to be upset after a minecart ride. "That was fun! Who want another round?"
"Fxxk off." Diego said.
"Onii-chan…" Rachael said and looked at her brother. "Are you alright?"
"I…I… am fine…" Richard said despite he didn't seem to be fine, not even a bit.
"Here, take this." Rachael said and gave her brother the refreshing potion. "It will make you feel better."
"T…Thank you…" Richard said and took a refreshing potion from his sister before he started drinking it, which made him feel a lot better.
"Thanks, Rachael." Richard said and handed over an empty bottle back to the Latias before he turned his attention to Zetarus. "What were you thinking, Zetarus?! That wasn't fun at all!"
"Come on!" Zetarus said. "Don't be such a whim!"
"Oh, great…" Richard said and looked around. "And the minecart was moving so fast and randomly around the mine. We didn't even know which direction it was heading and where are we right now!"
"Geez… Don't say something like that…" Zetarus said. "If we end up at a wrong place, we could just take another ride…"
"…No, thanks." Richard answered with a sarcastic voice before he looked around, and then he looked at the exit of the mine, which was not too far from them. "However, most tools around here seems to be recently used… Well, at least we don't end up at some abandoned entrance… I guess…"
"There's only one way to find out." Diego said and was about to walk up to the exit of the mine when Rachael spoke up.
"But… This is quite strange…" Rachael said and looked around. "If this isn't an abandoned entrance, why there's no one around here? I think it's still the hour of work…"
"You have a point, Rachael." Richard said. "However, I don't have any clue about this…"
"Eww… Just shut up and go…" Zetarus said and, along with Diego, walked up to the exit of the Underground Mine. Rachael and Richard then decided to follow both Garchomp and Charizard too.
-Outside the Underground Mine…
"Woah!"
Rachael said as she and everyone stepped out of the Underground Mine. What laid beyond their eyes were several grand mountains as far as their eyes could see. However, the most standout one was a big volcano in front of them.
"That's such a big volcano!" Rachael said.
"…That's Fireview Volcano…" Diego said with a cold voice and his arm crossed. "It's the biggest mountain in the Fireview Kingdom."
"And… Look!" Rachael pointed her paw at something a bit far from them. It seemed like…a settlement.
"A town?" Zetarus said.
"Well… At least we didn't end up at an abandoned entrance…" Richard sighed.
"…That's not just a town…" Diego spoke up, surprising everyone.
"What?" Everyone turned their attention to the town in front of them… It was a big old-fashioned town… Actually, it wasn't a town. It was a city… And this city was bigger than Leafburg City of Principality of Leafburg. And it also had an old castle in the middle of the city…
"Wait…" Richard seemed to realize something, and then he turned his attention to Diego. "Diego, isn't this…"
"Yes." Diego said. "This is none other than Fireview City, the capital of Fireview Kingdom."
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: And… We are here, in the first chapter of the fifth tail. Its name is Reprisal… Did you see something bad coming from it?
And… Finally, Rachael, Richard, Zetarus and Diego have finally arrived at the Fireview Kingdom, a kingdom of vast mountains and fiery volcanoes. Also… Diego finally got his own 'tail'! (No pun intended.)
As Diego is (Finally…) the main protagonist of the fifth tail… The story of this tail would be similar to that of the second tail (Zetarus' tail)… Just wait a see…
A special thanks to Ridin Valon, as well as everybody else, for helping me with the error correction.