A Dragon's Tail
Tail 5: Diego's Tail - Reprisal
Tail 5-2: Fireview Kingdom
Fireview Kingdom was one of seven nations on the continent of Symmetria and a home of Fire and Rock type Pokemon. Being located north of Dustorm Empire and west of Queendom of Riverbrine, this nation had the landscape of mountains and volcanoes, which half of them were still active. North of this nation was a sea that divided Fireview Kingdom from Shadowlost Territory, and west of this nation was a vast ocean that surrounded the continent of Symmetria. The east side of Fireview Kingdom was where the dormant volcanoes and mountain laid, making it a good home for rock type Pokemon. The west side of this nation, on the other nation, was where the active volcanoes laid, making it an ideal place for fire type Pokemon.
Fireview Kingdom had its appearance suggested that it was the oldest nation on the continent of Symmetria. (In the truth, all nations except the Shadowlost Territory were formed at the same time, which was after the Fallen Crisis.) At first glance, everyone would see that this kingdom was almost without any advanced technology, which was opposite of the Republic of Civilight. Everything in this kingdom seemed like as if it was as old as time itself. In its capital, the Fireview City, every house in this city was built in the old-fashioned way, even the castle itself was made of a Laterite. However, its appearance wasn't the only old-fashioned thing. There's yet one more old-fashioned thing…
Its cultures and traditions…
Fireview Kingdom was also known to have the strictest cultures and traditions among seven nations of Symmetria. Everyone who visited this place for the first time, even if they came from Theocracy of Venturnome, would find it very hard to adapt to the new culture of this nation of flame and stone. Unlike most citizens of Symmetria, the Pokemon of this nation worshipped the 'God of Volcano' instead of the Goddess Yggdrasil and the God Arceus. They even had someone who served as the 'Volcano Guardian' who communicated with the God of Volcano on the Fireview Volcano, the biggest volcano in the Fireview Kingdom. The Volcano Guardian was respected by everyone in the Fireview Kingdom, including the king and everyone in the Fireview Royal Family…
-At the Outskirt of Fireview City…
"…So, what will both of you do next?"
Diego asked a question to Rachael and Richard. Right now, Diego, Rachael, Richard and Zetarus were at the outskirt of Fireview City.
"… I think this is reaching the end of our agreement." Richard spoke up. "We agreed to travel together for a time being until we reached Fireview Kingdom. And now…"
"…You two have a goal, and Zetarus and I have another…" Diego said. "…And our goal is a dangerous one…"
"Dangerous?" Rachael spoke up. "What are both of you trying to do here?"
"…I want to kill everyone who possessed the blood of Fireview Royal Family, especially Prince Apollo and Regent Orion." Diego answered.
"What?!" Rachael seemed to be shocked when she heard the word 'kill'. "W…Why?"
"Come to think of it…" Zetarus joined the conversation. "You also have never told me the reason why you want to kill them…"
"…Fine." Diego said. "However, it's a quite long story…"
"Then, how about this…" Richard spoke up. "Let's stick together for another night, okay?"
"Fine with me." Zetarus said and turned his attention to Diego. "What about you, Diego?"
"Whatever." Diego said and looked at the other way. "But for now, I must be off."
"Where are you going, Diego?" Richard asked.
"I am a wanted criminal of Fireview Kingdom, and here I am, standing near the capital of the nation who branded my crime. That's why I must avoid going into the city for now."
"Heh… What a mess… But I guess it couldn't be helped…" Zetarus said and scratched his head and turned his attention to Rachael and Richard. "So, let's leave that Charizard here and go."
"…What about you, Zetarus?" Richard said. "Aren't you a wanted criminal too? Also, when we were at the Frostdrop Village, you also entered the village too…"
"It's because, despite I am a wanted criminal, and everyone knows that there was a prisoner who escaped from Desert Prison a few months ago, they do not know my face." Zetarus said. "Only the royal family of Dustorm Empire, Diego, and you two know who I am."
"How come?!" Rachael said.
"Whatever…" Zetarus said and headed into the Fireview City. "I will go now. Catch you later!"
"Aww…" Rachael looked at Zetarus, who was now walking up to the downtown of Fireview City, and then she realized that, like Zetarus, Diego wasn't here.
"Onii-chan…" Rachael looked around. "Where's Diego?"
"He left not too long ago, to that way." Richard answered and pointed his paw at a path that led to outside the city. "Anyway, let's go, Rachael. I heard that Fireview Kingdom has many beautiful traditional costumes…"
"Wow! Really?!" Rachael said. "Let's go! I want to buy them!"
"Okay." Richard said before both Latios and Latias followed Zetarus into the downtown of Fireview City, the capital of flame and stone.
-A Few Minutes Later…
"Let's see…" Zetarus said as he looked around the Grocery Shop. It was because the group's supply, as well as the amount of his bullets, was quite low right now, so he decided to grab some of them for more.
"Hm?" Zetarus said and picked a can of something up. It seemed like it contained some kind of food inside, but Zetarus didn't know what it is because he couldn't read.
"Fxxk…" Zetarus cursed himself and put the can back onto the shelf. He was about to continue looking for the food when he heard a conversation from the entrance of the store. While it sounded like a normal conversation between the owner of the store and a customer, the content of their conversation wasn't.
"Greeting. How may I help you today?"
"Hm? You still work today? I think the king made this entire week a vacation week to celebrate Prince Apollo's Coronation Ceremony next week? Even the workers in the Underground Mine received a vacation too! No one is working this week!"
"Oh, but this week is actually a golden week for me! You know, so many Pokemon from other nations will come here to join Prince Apollo's Succession Ceremony. I can't miss this chance to make a lot of gold!"
"Oh, you are right! I even heard that some of the royal families will come here too!"
"Yes. I heard that the royal family of Dustorm Empire has already arrived here too!"
"Royal family of Dustorm Empire?! Then… Don't tell me that the Emperor himself…"
"No, the emperor of Dustorm didn't come. Instead, he sent his children here as a representative of Dustorm Empire."
"Oh! I really want to meet them!"
The conversation continued for a while about the normal stuff such as about today's weather, but Zetarus didn't listen to the conversation anymore because he already left the store… With a heavy heart.
'…All of 'them' are here…' Zetarus thought as he quietly left the store. 'I must make sure to avoid them at all cost, especially Freya…'
-Several Hours Later… At the Outskirt of Fireview City…
"Zetarus!"
A voice called the Garchomp from somewhere. Zetarus turned his attention to the owner of the voice and saw Rachael and Richard moving up to them. Right now, all of them were standing at the outskirt of Fireview City, and the sun was starting to descend from the sky.
"Oh, finish already?" Zetarus said as the siblings moving up to them.
"Yes!" Rachael said. "Tonight, I am going to make us big meal!"
"Great." Zetarus said.
"By the way, where's Diego?" Richard asked.
"Oh, I met him a few moments ago." Zetarus said. "He told me that he would go to Graveyard of Warriors."
"G….G…Graveyard?!" Rachael said.
"Well… He told me to wait for both of you here… And since both of you are here, let's go and rejoin him."
"W…W…Wait!" Rachael spoke up, but Zetarus pretended not to hear her voice and started walking toward the graveyard, making the Latios and Latias had to follow him.
-A Few Minutes Later...
Zetarus, Richard and Rachael walked into the Graveyard of Warriors, a big graveyard located at the outskirt of the Fireview City. This graveyard was homed to many tombs of fallen warriors, giving it an eerie atmosphere.
"I…I don't like this…" Rachael said as she looked around the graveyard.
"…" Richard didn't say anything. He just moved forward silently.
"Um, Zetarus… Is it a good idea… Zetarus?" Rachael turned her attention to the Garchomp who was walking in front of them, only to find that the Garchomp was nowhere to be found.
"Z…Zetarus?!" Rachael was shocked when she realized that Zetarus wasn't in front of her. "Z…Zetarus?! Where are you?!"
Rachael's voice echoed into the air, but there's yet no answer back to her.
"O…Onii-chan…" Rachael approached her brother. "D…Did you see Zetarus?"
"…" Richard didn't say anything. He just stayed still without moving any part of his body. In fact, it seemed like he was…paralyzed with fear.
And then…
"BOOOOO!"
"EAEAEAEE!" Rachael cried as she suddenly heard a loud noise from behind her. She then looked behind her and saw Zetarus there.
"Z…Zetarus?!" Rachael said.
"Gotcha!" Zetarus spoke with a crafty voice. "You should see how you act toward my voice."
"Hm! So it was you!" Rachael said after she realized that it was Zetarus who pulled a prank on her. "WAH! You big meanie!"
"Hey, calm down…" Zetarus said as Rachael pouted at him. "I saw you and Richard acted like a dead wood, so I just tried to ease up you a bit."
"Hm! You big meanie!" Rachael said. "No dinner for you tonight!"
"WHAT?!" Zetarus said. "Come on! I was just kidding!"
"Whatever!" Rachael said. She still pouted at the Garchomp.
"Geeez… Fine, I am sorry, Rachael." Zetarus said. "Tomorrow, I will buy something for you to eat, okay?"
"Hm! I won't fall into that trick easily!" Rachael said, but she seemed to be delighted when she heard that Zetarus will buy her a pastry. "…It has to be sweet and tasty, okay?"
"Yes, yes… I promise…" Zetarus said.
"Hm! Fine!" Rachael said. "Onii-chan, let's go… Onii-chan?"
Rachael and Zetarus turned their attention to the Latios, only to find that Richard's body was fully paralyzed with fear since when Zetarus pulled a prank at them!
"Onii-chan!" Rachael said and started using the move Aromatherapy to heal Richard's body, making him able to move again.
"T…Thanks, Rachael…" Richard spoke with a shaking voice before he turned his attention to Zetarus and spoke with a serious voice. "Do not do anything like that again, you psychopathic!"
"Well… It seems like my prank work better with you than your sister, Richard." Zetarus spoke with a crafty voice.
"S…S…Shut up!" Richard said. "N…Now, where's Diego?!"
"He's right there."
Zetarus pointed his claw at a tomb not too far from them. In front of it was Diego who was kneeling in front of the tomb.
"…" Diego didn't move or say anything. It seemed like he was praying in front of the tomb.
Zetarus, Rachael and Richard slowly walked up to the Charizard. As they got close to the tomb, they could see the letters written on the tomb.
Blazus Flamestrike the Blaziken
Birth: xx/xx/xx
Death: xx/xx/xx
"Blazus Flamestrike the Blaziken?" Rachael read the letters on the tomb before turning her attention to Diego. "Diego, who is he?"
"…He was my caretaker… who died in the arena." Diego answered before he stood up. "This place is the Graveyard of Warrior, a place where the fallen warriors, be the gladiators from the arena or the soldiers who perished in the war, repose for eternity."
"Da fuq?!" Zetarus spoke up. "What have gotten into you, Diego? Why did you start using those words? I don't understand what you said, not even a bit!"
"…This is the place where they bury the bodies of dead gladiators and soldiers." Diego said. "…And my caretaker was among them…"
"…" Everyone said nothing and looked at the tomb of Blazus, who was Diego's caretaker.
"…He did nothing wrong, yet he was branded as a traitor and was sent into the pit of hell until the last moment of his breath…" Diego said. "I can't forgive the one who did this. That guy… He will pay for this… For what he did to my caretaker… and to her…"
"Her?" Everyone turned their attention to Diego.
Diego said nothing and started walking toward another tomb not too far from Blazus' tomb. The Charizard then kneeled down and started praying again. Richard, Rachael and Zetarus slowly followed the Charizard, and then they saw the letters on the second tomb.
- the Quilava
Birth: xx/xx/xx
Death: xx/xx/xx
Although the name of the dead warrior of this tomb had faded away, making it impossible to read, the word 'Quilava' stirred the memory of Rachael and Richard up.
"Quilava…" Rachael spoke up and looked at Diego. "Diego… Don't tell me that…"
"…Your presumption is right, Rachael." Diego said. "The gladiator who reposed beneath this tomb is her… The Quilava… from the arena."
"What?!" Rachael said. "She's already dead?!"
"Right." Diego said and closed his eyes. "She was slashed and pierced to death… by the one whom she befriended and cared for during her time as a gladiator."
"W…What?!" Everyone was shocked after they heard Diego's words. "D…Don't tell me that…"
"…It was me…" Diego said. "It was I who killed her."
Several days… Several weeks… Several months had passed since I met her… She always took care of me… And I have always protected her… In order to protect her, I had to become stronger… So I trained harder... Until I finally became the strongest gladiator in the arena… Everyone feared me as an incarnation of a demon in the form of Charizard. However, I did not need any money or fame. All I need was freedom… For me and her… So we would be able to leave that pit of hell… And started a new life together…
But my dream was crushed... In that day…
That day… The thing I feared most had finally come…
It was that moment… When I stepped into the arena… And saw a Pokemon who stood on the opposite side of the battlefield…
It was a Quilava…
It was her…
That moment was short, but I felt like it was forever… She and I… We stood on the opposite side of each other… Ready for a battle… To the death…
Only one of us will survive…
"Diego…" Rachael said while Diego was telling his story.
"…So…" Richard spoke up. "…What happened?"
"…We battled." Diego answered. "However, she didn't seem to be sad, not even a bit. Instead, it seemed like she was… happy."
"Happy?!" Rachael said. "She was happy to fight you?!"
"…During the battle, she whispered to me that she longed to duel with the strongest gladiator in the arena…" Diego said. "…And she wouldn't go easy on me."
"…Why?" Rachael said. It seemed like she was about to cry. "Why… Why did she say something like that?!"
"…And she wasn't kidding." Diego said. "She battled fiercely against me. At that moment, I didn't even know what to do… I didn't want to kill her… But…I also didn't want to die…"
"…" Everyone looked at Diego.
"However, a fierce battle she gave me finally awoke the feral beast within my body…" Diego said. "Within the moment of battle, the bloodlust in my body had been awake… And the next thing I know was… I was standing in front of her… I was no more a Charmeleon… I had evolved into a Charizard during that battle… And… My paws were holding my weapon… that pierced through her chest."
"Oh! No!" Rachael said. She couldn't hold back her tear anymore.
"The battle had already ended, with me as a victor." Diego said. "I couldn't even forget that moment… The cheer of the crown for my victory… The blood that spilled from her body… The announcement of my victory… However, there's something that I couldn't forget, and never will."
"What?" Everyone looked at Zetarus again.
"It's his smile." Diego said. "Among the nobles that came to watch the battle… There was him… His attention was focused at me… He had a sinister smile on his face… I couldn't forget that smile… Because I knew that he, unlike others, enjoyed my suffering."
"He?" Rachael asked. "Who was that guy?"
"…After the battle, I walked back to my barrack." Instead of answering the Latias' question, Diego continued telling his story. "And then… I found a note… with her handwriting."
"A note?" Zetarus spoke up. "But, Diego, I thought that you, just like me, couldn't read, right?"
"Yes, I couldn't read it." Diego said. "However, while I couldn't read it, the words written on that note suddenly echoed in my mind, as if someone was reading it for me."
"What?!" Everyone looked at Diego.
"I knew it sounds strange, but I was sure that the words that suddenly echoed in my mind were the words written on that note." Diego said.
"…And what did that note say?" Richard said.
"…It said that she was very happy in our time together…" Diego said. "However, she feared that our moment may end soon when she died in a battle. She knew that she wasn't strong enough to survive much longer… However, she wished that the last battle she had would be a battle against me… So that… At least… She would die in my grasp…"
"Oh!" Rachael started crying again. "It's… It's so sad…"
"…So, that may be the reason why she seemed… happy when she fought you, Diego." Richard said. "She was happy because… her wish came true."
"…And… After that day… My life returned into my normal schedule… However, without her…" Diego said. "I felt that my life had become so… empty…"
"Empty?" Everyone said.
"Yes. I felt like I have nothing left in the world, like a flame without any fuel." Diego said.
"…So…" Zetarus said. "…What happened after... that?"
Diego was about to continue his story, however, all four Pokemon heard a voice come from the entrance of the graveyard.
"Here we are, at the Graveyard of Warriors."
While the words within that voice seemed normal, the voice itself made Zetarus suddenly become anxious.
"C…Crap…" Zetarus spoke up. "Everyone, we must hide!"
"Why?" Rachael asked.
"Don't ask now! Just do it!" Zetarus said restlessly.
Four Pokemon quickly hopped into a bush not too far from them. At this point, no one would be able to see them, but all of them can still see and hear anyone.
"Zetarus, what's the meaning of this?" Richard asked.
"…They come…" Zetarus mumbled. "I have never thought that I will run into ALL of them so soon…"
"They?" Rachael and Richard said and turned their attention to the entrance of the graveyard. At that place, they saw five Pokemon there. They were a Dragalge, an Alolan Marowak, a Flygon, an Aerodactyl and…a Garchomp.
"Zetarus, who're they?" Rachael asked.
"…The Dustorm Royal Family." Zetarus answered.
-Meanwhile…
"So, this is the place where they buried the gladiators and soldiers who died in the battle…" Soryl the Aerodactyl said as he flew into the graveyard, along with other four Pokemon. "Eh… This place seemed…creepy."
"But for me… I feel so… calm…" Natasha the Dragalge said. "A place where the brave warriors reposed for eternity… It feels so… serene…"
"...Largo, where's our uncle's tomb again?" Terrus the Garchomp asked.
"Not too far." Largo the Alolan Marowak said. "Follow me."
Largo then led other four Pokemon to a tomb not too far from the entrance of the graveyard. The letters on the tomb could be read as;
Skelethal Boneskull the Marowak
Birth: xx/xx/xx
Death: xx/xx/xx
"Here we are, the tomb of our uncle, Terrus." Largo said.
"So, this is the place where they buried the elder brother of Empress Lylalia Boneskull the Marowak?" Soryl said and looked around. "Eh… I think the elder brother of Dustorm's Empress deserved a better place to rest than this…"
"But I think this place really suit him…" Terrus spoke up. "He fought valiantly in the Bloodmoon War, so he deserved to rest here, in the Graveyard of Warriors, a place reserved for only the bravest warriors."
Terrus, Natasha, Soryl, Largo, and the last Pokemon, who was Freya the Flygon, kneeled down in front of the tomb and started praying for a few minutes. And then both of them stood up.
"Well… That's the end of our grave visiting." Largo said.
"So, what should we do next?" Soryl asked.
"We should return to the Palace of Flame." Terrus spoke up. "King Leonardo said that he will hold a banquet as a welcoming ceremony for us."
"…By the way…" Soryl said and looked around. "Where's that Zoroark? You know, the Prince of Shadowlost…"
"Fenrir Jr.?" Natasha said. "He didn't tell me where he went, but he told me that he would be back by the time of the banquet."
"Hm… That's just like him…" Largo said. "Too bad, I really want him to come with us… You know, it's rare that all of us could hang out together…"
"Yes." Terrus said. "Being like this… once in a while… is not so bad…"
"…" Unlike other four Pokemon, Freya didn't say anything during their conversation. It seemed like she was thinking of something.
"Freya?" Terrus noticed his sister and spoke up. "Did you have something on your mind?"
"W…Well…" Freya reluctantly spoke up. "I was just thinking of… What if… Zetarus is with us too…"
A moment of silence followed the Flygon's words. Everyone seemed to be troubled by Freya's words.
"…I wonder too…" Terrus said and looked at the crimson sky above him. "What if fate didn't play a trick on him… What if he is still with us…instead of becoming an outlaw… I am sure that we would be a big and happy family."
"With HIM?! No!" Largo spoke up. "He is an outlaw! He is not my brother, and he will never be one!"
"…I don't know…" Natasha said and looked away from anyone. "I don't know if he's my brother… or not."
"What, why?!" Freya said. "Zetarus is a member of Quakersand Family, and he is OUR brother! Largo, Natasha, why did both of you have to say something like that?!"
"…" Natasha and Largo didn't answer Freya's question. All they did was just closed their eyes and shook their head.
"Why…?" Freya mumbled.
-Meanwhile... In a bush not too far from them…
"Hey, Zetarus, they mentioned your name!" Rachael said.
"…" Zetarus said nothing.
"…And last night, I heard that you are actually the prince of Dustorm Empire…" Richard said. "So… Those guys over there…"
"…They are the princes and princesses of Dustorm Empire." Zetarus said.
"So, they must be—" Richard continued speaking, but his words were interrupted by Zetarus' voice.
"No, I am not their brother." Zetarus said. "And I am the prince of Dustorm in the name only."
"What?" Rachael said. She then was about to ask more she heard a noise from Diego.
"Grrr…." Diego suddenly growled angrily. His attention was on something near the entrance of the graveyard. "They… They come…"
"They?" Rachael, Richard and Zetarus turned their attention to the entrance of the graveyard and saw two Pokemon walking into the Graveyard of Warriors. They were both Pyroar, one male and one female, in royal garbs.
"They…" Diego mumbled. "Blood must spill… I must have my revenge…"
"What's wrong, Diego?!" Rachael said as she saw Diego's strange action. "What have gotten into you?!"
"And those guys…" Richard looked at both Pyroar, who were walking up to join with the group of Dustorm Royals. "Are they…"
"Yes, I remember them…" Zetarus spoke up. "They are Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis of Fireview Kingdom, and they were the one that Diego wishes to kill."
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: And here… The introduction of the nation of flame and stone, Fireview Kingdom. We have a little look around the city, and… We have run into some of our old friends, haven't we?