A Dragon's Tail
Tail 5: Diego's Tail - Reprisal
Tail 5-3: Proof
"Oh! Hey, Apollo! Over here!" Largo shouted and waved his paw as he saw the twin siblings of Fireview Kingdom walking into the Graveyard of Warriors.
"Largo, mind your manner." Terrus scolded. "Don't forget that you are speaking to the crown prince of Fireview Kingdom."
"No, that's fine, Prince Terrus." Prince Apollo said as he, along with his twin sister, Princess Artemis, walked up to join with Terrus, Natasha, Largo, Freya and Soryl. "Largo and I once studied under the same teacher, and we are not in the palace, so you can drop the formality off when speak to me."
"Then, I want you to call me 'Terrus' too, Apollo." Terrus said.
"As you will, Terrus." Apollo said.
"Well…" Natasha spoke up. "What are both of you doing here? Did you come here for a grave visiting, like us too?"
"No. It's just that we were passing by when we saw all of you here, so we decided to greet you." Princess Artemist answered.
"We have just come back from Fireview Volcano when we were passing by here." Prince Apollo answered.
"Fireview Volcano?" Largo said. It seemed like he had just realized something. "So, did both of you have just gone up to the Fireview Volcano to visit them, right?"
"Right." Prince Apollo said. "I also went there to give my invitation to our friends too."
"Why didn't you invite me to go with you?" Largo asked with a disappointing voice. "It has been several years since the last time I met our master, as well as Dinus and Chronos."
"I am sorry, but it's just that you have just arrived here today, so I think I should let you rest first." Prince Apollo answered.
"Well… I guess that I will go to visit them some other time." Largo said. "How's our master doing right now?"
"Despite his age, he's still as strong as ever." Prince Artemis answered. "Don't forget that he is one of 14 Hero/ine of Legend who saved our land from the Fallen Crisis 30 years ago, as well as the current Hero of Fire type!"
"And… How about Dinus and Chronos?" Largo continued his question.
"Dinus is a bit calmer than the last time we met." Prince Apollo answered. "And for Chronos… Well… Let's just say that the first thing he did when he saw me was challenging me in a one-on-one combat."
"Well… That's just like Chronos." Largo said. "Talking about this really brings back memories…"
"…Largo." Terrus called the name of his younger brother. "Will you leave all of us out of your conversation for the rest of the day?"
"Oh, I am sorry, brother." Largo said.
"Well then, Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya…" Prince Apollo spoke up again. "What would all of you like to do tomorrow? Do you want to go and visit our kingdom's finest hot spring?"
"…That would be the most appreciate…" Terrus said. "However, I didn't do any of my daily training today, so I will have to double my training schedule tomorrow… I afraid that I will not be able to accept your offer…"
"That's too bad…" Prince Apollo said before turning his attention to other three royal siblings. "What about all of you?"
"…I think it would be best if… all of us go together." Freya said.
"That's right." Natasha said. "We four Dustorm Royal Children don't have much time together, so I think we should use this opportunity…"
"But I—" Terrus was about to say something, but Largo spoke up first.
"Hey, Terrus, why don't you let all of us training with you? It has been a while since the last time all of us trained together!"
"Right…" Natasha said.
"Hm… Well… Fine." Terrus said before he turned his attention to his youngest sister. "What about you, Freya? I know that you don't like battle…"
"I…I will train with all of you too…" Freya spoke up. "At least… If any of you gets hurt, I can heal your wound with my power…"
"Okay, then…" Princess Artemis spoke up. "Why don't all of you, all royal children of Dustorm Empire, come and train with me tomorrow?"
"Are you sure about this, Artemis?" Terrus asked.
"Yes, of course." Princess Artemist said. "It would be nice if I have a chance to train with all royal children of Dustorm Empire, especially you, Terrus."
"…Very well." Terrus said. "All of us, the royal children of Dustorm Empire, accepted our invitation."
"Thank you, Terrus." Princess Artemis said.
"…What about me?" Soryl spoke up after he didn't say anything for a long time.
"Oh, you are Terrus' bodyguard, right?" Princess Artemis spoke up. "Then—"
"Eh… Don't worry about me…" Soryl said. "I am still tired, so I think I will rest a bit more tomorrow."
"As you wish." Prince Apollo said before he looked at the sky. "Oh, it's getting late! We should go back to the Palace of Flame by now."
"Agree." Terrus said. "I don't want to miss King Leonardo's banquet. It would be a great dishonor for him."
"And I can't wait to try Fireview's traditional dishes again!" Largo said.
"Largo…" Terrus was about to scold his younger brother again, but was stopped, again, by the prince of Fireview.
"Don't worry about this, Largo." Prince Apollo spoke up. "Even if you miss tonight's banquet, you will still have other changes when other royals from other four nations arrived here."
"Speak of the royals of other nations…" Natasha seemed to remember something. "I am sure that Daimyo Augustine of Leafburg and President Voltson will also come here… But… What about Venturnome and Riverbrine? I heard that there was a civil war in the Queendom of Riverbrine, and Queen Nyxier was found dead while Princess Misvale went missing… And for Venturnome… Pontifex Hawkins is still missing in the desert of Dustorm…"
"…The message from Queendom of Riverbrine had arrived the palace today…" Prince Apollo spoke up. "The message said that, because of the civil war, the Queendom of Riverbrine will not be able to come here to join my Coronation Ceremony…"
"That's too bad…" Natasha said.
"Well, at least we won't have to meet Que—Ouch!" Largo spoke, but his words were cut off by Terrus' elbow to his back.
"For the Theocracy of Venturnome…" Prince Apollo continued speaking. "Because Pontifex Hawkins is still missing, and Archsage Iris is absent as she is trying to find the pontifex, the representative of Theocracy of Venturnome would be the prince instead."
"WHAT?!" Largo suddenly spoke up after hearing Apollo's words. "Y…You didn't mean… that flamboyant prince, did you?"
"…Yes." Prince Apollo said. "There's only one prince of Venturnome anyway."
"I…I think I am going to faint…" Largo said.
"Come on, Largo." Natasha spoke up. "He is not really a bad guy."
"Well, I knew that…" Largo said. "But it's just his cloth, his manner of speech, his face, and anything else about him…"
"…Everyone, shouldn't we get going back to Palace of Flame?" Terrus spoke up.
"Oh, that's right." Largo said. "Let's go, everyone."
After finished speaking, everyone started walking toward the exit of the graveyard. However…
"…?" Freya suddenly stopped walking. She then turned her attention to a bush not too far from her…
"Freya?" Natasha spoke up. "What's wrong? Did you forget something?"
"I… feel…" Freya spoke up. "…It's nothing, sis. Let's go."
After she finished speaking, Freya continued flying up to join with the rest of the party as they left the Graveyard of Warriors together…
-A Few Minutes Later…
"…Are they gone yet?" Zetarus asked as he, along with Richard, Rachael and Diego, slowly got out of the bush.
"I think so." Richard said.
"Phew…" Zetarus said as he wiped his sweat from his forehead. "We were almost done… Freya almost noticed me…"
"Um… Zetarus…" Rachael spoke up. "They are… your brothers and sisters, right? Then… Why—"
"Leave the question for later, okay?" Zetarus said before he turned his attention to Diego. "Diego, did you find any place… Diego?"
"The blood must spill… The reprisal must be execute… They must pay their price with their blood… There's no forgiving… No atonement…" Diego mumbled.
"Diego, hey…" Zetarus said before he started licking his lip. "I think it's time for this little draggy's 'punishment'."
"My thirst of vengeance must be quenched my— YOUCH!"
Diego suddenly screamed out in pain as he felt a sharp pain running through everywhere in his body. The source of his sharp pain came from his tail, which was now being injected with sharp fangs of a Garchomp.
"YOUCH!" Diego roared before he turned his attention to the Garchomp who was now biting his tail. "YOU FXXXXXG BASTARD! I TOLD YOU NOT TO FXXXXXG DO THIS!"
"Nomnom…" Zetarus pretended to look at Diego with an innocent face, which made Diego uncomfortable.
"P…Please…" Diego started speaking with an uncomfortable voice. "N…Not the tail… Please… L… Let me go…"
"..." Zetarus didn't say anything. All he did was just staring at Diego's face, which was now as red as Tamato Berry.
"I say YOU MXXXXXXXXXXR LET ME GO!" Diego roared out again before exhaling a hot flame from his mouth at the Mach Pokemon, making Zetarus has to let go of Diego's tail immediately.
"Aww…" Zetarus said as he let go of Diego's tail. "Why did you have to ruin the fun, little draggy?"
"HM!" Diego crossed his arms and turned his face away from Zetarus, unaware that his face was still red. "Get your fxxxxxg fangs away from me, you bastard!"
"Hm? You don't like being bitten?" Zetarus spoke with a crafty voice and started approaching Diego again. "Then, how about you being f—"
"Um… Guys?" Richard's voice interrupted Diego and Zetarus' conversation. Both of them then turned their attention to the Latios and saw that Richard was covering Rachael's ears and eyes.
"Onii-chan! I can't see or hear anything!" Rachael said innocently, unaware of what had just happened.
"Hm!" Diego said. "Whatever! I am getting out of here! Follow me unless you want to sleep here!"
Zetarus nodded and started following the Charizard, and then Richard released his sister from his grasp.
"Onii-chan, what happened?" Rachael said and looked at Zetarus and Diego. "Why did Diego's face is so red? And why did Zetarus' face is so… I don't know…"
"…It's nothing, Rachael." Richard said. "Come on, let's go."
"Okay!" Rachael said before she and Richard followed Zetarus and Diego to the exit of the graveyard.
-A Few Hours Later…
At a small cave near the Fireview City, a small group of four Pokemon was camping here. The group consisted of a Latios, a Latias, a Garchomp and a Charizard. Right no, dinner was already over, so everyone was sitting around the camp fire and exchanged their story with each others.
"…So, that's what happened before you and Diego came to Civilight…" Richard spoke up after Zetarus finished his story. "And… Your relation with those four princes and princesses…"
"…I am a prince of Dustorm in the name only…" Zetarus said. "And I am not their brother, no matter what happen."
"…Zetarus…" Rachael said. "Why don't you just get back and live with them?"
"You know that I couldn't do that." Zetarus said. "Despite without any reason, I chose to kill the emperor of Dustorm Empire, my own father. They all will not forgive me for their decision."
"Aren't you…lonely?" Rachael asked.
"…" Zetarus didn't answer the Latias' question.
"…Zetarus…" Richard spoke up. "…I am sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Zetarus asked. "Don't tell me that you feel… pity for me? Ha! Don't be so stupid!"
"Of course I am not! Don't forget that I am not an idiot." Richard spoke up. "I am just sorry for calling you a psychopathic criminal."
"…Dafuq?" Zetarus said. "I don't even understand those words."
"Psychopathic criminal means a criminal who suffered under a mental disorder, which made them unable to grasp the feeling of remorse and empathy."
"…" Zetarus didn't say anything after hearing the explanation from the Latios, which he didn't understand any of them, not even a bit.
"...I mean a criminal who didn't care for anyone." Richard interpreted his words again. "But now, I see it… Despite your action, you really care for your siblings, right?"
"Aww… Shapup!" Zetarus said.
"However…" Richard continued speaking. "I still don't understand. Zetarus, you are able to 'care' for others, and yet you chose to hide it and acted like you don't care for anyone at all. I don't understand why…"
"…Me either." Zetarus said. "But… While I was living in the Desert Prison, every day… They always told me that I am a heartless monster… That I have no single soul… For 21 years… Those words had dug into my mind, too far for me to remove them without any effort…"
"Zetarus…" Rachael said.
"…Enough of this." Zetarus said. "Geez… Again, why did I decide to tell you my story? You don't even deserve to know this!"
"…Maybe…" Rachael said. "Zetarus… Did you happen to start… trusting us?"
"Trust?" Zetarus looked at Rachael. "I don't understand this word."
"Trust is…a feeling…" Rachael tried to explain. "A feeling that you think that someone is… important to you… That you will believe in them… And want to help them… And ready to share your joy and pain with them."
"…" Zetarus said nothing.
"Well, Zetarus…" Rachael continued her question. "Zetarus, did you…"
"…In my life, 21 years after the day I was born…" Zetarus started speaking. "There're only four Pokemon whom I could 'Trust'."
"Four?" Rachael asked.
"The first one is you, Diego." Zetarus said and turned his attention to Diego, who was cleaning his Bronze Naginata.
"Me?" Diego spoke up after being silent for some time.
"Yes, this is also why I chose to travel with you." Zetarus said.
"…" Diego didn't say anything.
"…The second one is… Freya." Zetarus said.
"Freya? Wait…" Richard seemed to remember something. "Is she one of the Dustorm royal children?"
"Yes, she is." Zetarus said. "Since when I met her, I felt like I could share my joy and pain with her, which I don't know why until now… It was because I trust her… And… She… She also trusted me… even if I am the worst brother ever to her."
"…" Everyone said nothing.
"And the last two are both of you, Rachael and Richard." Zetarus said. "Let me say something… The first time I met you two in Civilight, I just thought that both of you were just annoying brats. And when we started travelling together, I just thought that both of you were just burden to Diego and me. However… Now… I see that, not only you are not burden to us, but you are also a great Pokemon who even… care someone like me."
"Zetarus…" Rachael said.
"…Well, then, let me say something too." Richard spoke up. "The first time we met in Civilight, I don't trust any of you, not even a bit. I thought that both of you were just heartless criminals desired only to do something bad, and the only reasons I decided to travel with you were because, not only I need to find the things I want, but also that I want to know more of your story. And now… I know… Both of you aren't really bad guys… It's just a twist of fate that turned both of you like this."
"Heh… So you two decided to 'trust' Diego and me?" Zetarus said.
"…Yes." Richard and Rachael answered.
"…Well then, let me speak too." Diego put down his Bronze Naginata and spoke up. "The first time I met either of you, be Zetarus or Rachael and Richard, I just thought that you were just losers who wanted to stick with someone stronger like me, and I decided to travel with all of you just because I need your help in my own mission. But now… After the time we spent together… We were mad at each others… But we also shared our joy with each others… And now… I… I think that I… 'trust' you, all of you."
"So, that does make all of us friends, right?" Rachael spoke up happily.
"… Very well…" Diego spoke up. "First, let me finish my story."
Diego then cleared his throat before he started telling the last part of his story.
After she died, my life had become empty…
It's as if… I have nothing left in my life…
After that day, I fought recklessly, as if I wanted to throw my life away…
However, there's one thing that prevented me from getting killed.
It was his smile…
A smile of a noble who rejoice over my lost of her…
A smile that I couldn't erase from my head…
I didn't know who that guy was… Until one day…
His name was Regent Orion Flararcane the Arcanine…
"Regent Orion?" Richard spoke up. He was sure that he heard Diego mentioned this name before.
"Yes." Diego said. "While Fireview Kingdom is now ruled by King Leonardo Inferoar the Pyroar, he is the king in the name only. Because he was too old, he leaves the task of ruling the nation to this guy."
"And why did he have to leave his task to him?" Zetarus asked.
"…Because King Leonardo only has one successor, which is Princess Olivia Inferoar the Pyroar." Diego said. "However, the royal rule of Fireview Kingdom states that 'Only the male Pokemon would able to become to king of Fireview', so, Princess Olivia is never named as the successor of Fireview's throne."
"But…" Rachael continued asking. "The king doesn't have any male successor, does he?"
"…According to the royal rule of Fireview, if the king doesn't have any male successor, then the next king would be the husband of king's eldest daughter." Diego explained.
"Wait…" Richard said. "Then…"
"…Regent Orion is Princess Olivia's husband." Diego said. "…And he would be the next king of Fireview if King Leonardo died."
"What?!" Rachael said. "B…But… I heard that… the next week would be the coronation of Prince Apollo, right? Then…"
"…That only applies if King Leonardo died before Prince Apollo turned 20." Diego said. "First, Prince Apollo and Princess Artemist are the children of Regent Orion and Princess Olivia, making them the grandchildren of King Leonardo. And according to the royal rule of Fireview, the husband of the king's eldest daughter will be the king until a son born from the king's daughter was born, and the eldest son born from the king's daughter will become the king of Fireview Kingdom when he reaches 20, regardless of if his father is still alive or not."
"So, then…" Richard started to understand everything.
"…Prince Apollo is the heir to the throne of Fireview." Diego said. "And because he will reach 20 next week, he will succeed King Leonardo soon. With this, Regent Apollo will never become the king of Fireview, but because King Leonardo is very old right now, he appointed his daughter's husband as a regent who works in the name of him instead until Prince Apollo reached 20 next week."
"Geez… This nation…" Zetarus said. "And I thought Dustom is bad… It couldn't even compare to this one!"
"Well… Let me continue my story…" Diego said before he continued his story.
It was that fateful day…
It was the day that Prince Apollo, the successor to Fireview's throne must prove his worth in a battle…
A battle between him… And a gladiator in the arena… The stronger the gladiator he defeats, the better reputation he will receive after the battle…
And the chose gladiator… was me…
At that time, I was still the strongest gladiator in that arena, so it was not surprised when I was chosen to fight the prince of Fireview…
However… It was not a fair fight…
Before I got into the battlefield, I was brought to a hidden chamber in the arena… By the order of Regent Orion…
And then… He told me something…
Something that I couldn't even believe in…
He told me that it was him…
It was he who branded my caretaker and me as traitors, and sent us into this pit of hell…
And he was also the one who had arranged a match between me and her… After he had discovered that I had bonded with her…
I was both shocked and angry after I heard a revelation from him. I demanded him the reason of his doing, but he wouldn't answer me. All he did answer me was;
'I am surprised to find that you are still alive. However, today will be the last day of your life. You shall die, by the hands of the prince of Fireview!"
However, he knew that I may be too strong for his son to defeat me, so he came here to 'manage' me.
He injected me with a poison into my veins. It will slowly drain my health away, making it's much easier for me to get killed in a battle…
"T…That's terrible!" Rachael said. "I…I have never thought that he would be so cruel to you, Diego!"
"…" Diego didn't say anything.
"…So…" Richard spoke up. "What happened next?"
"I was brought into the battlefield… to fight his son, Prince Apollo." Diego said.
"…And…" Zetarus said. "What happened during the battle?"
"As I thought, the poison gradually drained my health away, making me become weaker as the battle went on. However, in the end, I managed to defeat him."
"You defeated the prince of Fireview even when you were poisoned?!" Zetarus said. "Geez… Either that prince was very weak or you were so damn strong!"
"…But if I have to guess…" Richard spoke up. "It didn't even well, right?"
"Right." Diego said. "The moment after I was declared as a victor, Regent Orion stood up and immediately declared that I cheated."
"What?!" Rachael said.
"He said that I used some sort of energy boosting drink to become stronger. The guard even found an empty bottle of energy drink." Diego said. "What a load of bxxxxxxt. How the hell did I get myself an energy drink, let alone having gold to buy them. And guess what, everyone believed him."
"What?!" Rachael said. "That's terrible!"
"And then he ordered the guards to seize me for an immediate execution for the treason against the prince of Fireview." Diego said.
"That's… I can't even find a word to describe this situation…" Richard said. "No offend, but I couldn't even imagine how could you even survive this."
"…My thought exactly." Diego said. "I was alone in the middle of the battlefield… With ten…No, hundred guards surrounded me… And I was still poisoned… I thought that it was the end of me…"
"Why didn't you just fly out of that place?" Zetarus asked.
"I have never flown before in my life, so I was not very skilled in flying." Diego said. "Plus, several soldiers of Fireview Kingdom are the expert archers, so they would be able to shoot me down with ease."
"…If that's so…" Richard said. "How did you escape?"
"...It was…" Diego said before he continued his story.
"Sxxt…" Diego cursed as he was surrounded by a hundred soldiers of Fireview Kingdom, all armed with their weapons, and he was standing in the middle of the battlefield, with a naginata in his paw. However, he barely had enough strength to lift it as the poison had already taken its effect too far. Soon, his health will be fully depleted…
'Am I… going to die here?' Diego thought to himself as his legs started to lose its ability to support the weight of his body. 'Heh… I have never thought that my death would be this pathetic…'
'However…' Diego mumbled and slowly looked at Regent Orion, who was looking at him from the stand with a smug and satisfy look on his face. 'If I am going to die, I must drag that bastard to hell with me…'
Diego tried to walk, but his body didn't listen to his command. Instead, he slowly fell down onto the ground, no more able to stand up.
"DAMN!" Diego roared. "I…I will not die like this… My vengeance must be quenched… with his blood."
Diego said as the soldiers of Fireview were now not too far from him, but he still couldn't move any part of his body…
However…
'…Vengeance must be quenched? Interesting…'
A slow and creepy suddenly echoed through Diego's head, making the Charizard looked around.
"W…Who?!" Diego asked while looked around. "Who are you?!"
'Who I am is not important right now…' The same voice echoed into the Charizard's head. 'What's more important right now is… you.'
"Wait a minute…" Diego mumbled, as he started to recognize the voice in his head. "This voice… It was the same voice that suddenly appeared in my head when I tried to read her last note…"
'I see that you still remember… How considered…' The voice echoed in Diego's head again. 'It was just that you… have something that sparked the flame of interest in my mind'
"Me?" Dieg mumbled.
'Despite everything you have, and what you are in, you still have the flame of vengeance in your heart… However… The flame of vengeance you possess didn't originate from yourself… It originated from your feeling toward others…' The voice echoed in Diego's head once again.
"…" Diego said nothing.
'Someone who possesses the undying flame of vengeance doesn't deserve to die in a place like this. So… Let me offer you my little help…'
The voice echoed in Diego's head ended with the Charizard's body being suddenly surrounded by a blue flame. The flame then started burning the Charizard!
"CHARRRR!" Diego roared as his body was burned by the blue flame.
"W…What's that?!" Regent Orion said.
"S…Sir!" One of Fireview soldiers spoke up. "W…What should we do with him?!"
"Do not mind the flame! Kill him!" Regent Orion ordered.
"But—" The Fireview soldier said.
"Just do it!" Regent Orion said.
"Y…Yes, sir!" The Fireview soldiers said, and then all of them started charging at the flame-cloaked Charizard.
"CHAR!" Diego roared, and the blue flame that was surrounding him suddenly spread out, burning everyone who dared to approach him!
"ARRRRR!" Several soldiers of Fireview Kingdom roared in pain as they were frozen to death by the blue flame.
'W…What?' Diego mumbled and looked around as he saw the blue flame freezing everyone, however, the blue flame that surrounded his body didn't hurt him, not even a bit. Instead, not only it gave him more strength, but it also expelled the poison out of his body!
'Well… What a glorious sight we have here…' The creepy voice echoed in Diego's head again.
"W…What are you doing?!" Diego asked.
'It's just a bit of power I have…' The creepy voice said. 'It's just a natural of me… The master over the tri-element of Fire, Electric and Ice…"
"Power…" Diego mumbled. "…Over the element of Fire, Electric and Ice…"
'And now… It's time for me to end this… Once and for all…' The creepy voice echoed again, and then…
Diego could feel his body start to become lighter as the blue flame gradually moved higher into the sky, taking his body with it too.
"W…What's this?!" Diego said as the blue flame brought him into the sky above the arena!
'I am taking you out of here.' The creepy voice said. 'And thus, this is the end of our meeting…'
"W..Wait!" Diego said. "Y…You still haven't told me who you are!"
'Well… If you really want to know who I am, come and meet me at the peak of Fireview Volcano.' The voice said.
"The top… of Fireview Volnano…" Diego mumbled.
'Farewell for now, young flame.' The voice echoed again for the last time. 'I hope that the flame in your heart won't die out by the next time we met.'
"The…voice… Again?" Richard said. "And also the same voice that read the Quilava's last note for you?"
"I know that it sounds suspicious, but what I told you was not a lie." Diego said and started at the camp fire.
"…What happened after that?" Zetarus asked.
"I fell unconscious." Diego answered. "The next thing I knew was that I was lying in the middle of the desert of Dustorm south of Fireview Kingdom. I assumed that I was taken there by that blue flame."
"…" Richard, Rachael and Zetarus didn't say anything. However, deep in their hearts, they all had the same thing in their mind…
"So, I started travelling around the desert in hope of finding a way back to Fireview. But… You know… After the incident at the arena, I was branded as a criminal for killing countless soldiers of Fireview as well as trying to kill Prince Apollo and Regent Orion, so I have to live a life of an outcast. I roamed the scorching desert as an outlaw, killing everyone who knows my face. And then… At last, I was happen to stop at a small village in the desert… When I met you, Zetarus." Diego said.
Everyone nodded to respond in Diego's words.
"And this is the end of my story… At least for now." Diego said. "Whew! It feels so refreshing when I finally able to speak it out!"
"Diego…" Zetarus said.
"I knew this part of my story is kind of bxxxxxxt, but as I said, it's the truth." Diego said. "That voice was real.
"…" Zetarus turned his attention to Rachael and Richard. Although he didn't say anything, Zetarus made a gesture to the siblings by touching the Ring of Balance on his claw.
"…Got it." Richard nodded before he, along with Zetarus and Rachael, turned their attention to Diego.
"Diego." Richard spoke up. "… Since you already told us your story, let's tell ours too."
"Well… I doubt that someone like you or your sister would have anything to tell me…" Diego said.
Rachael, Zetarus and Richard looked at each others, and then they grabbed their respective Dragon Relic (Mist Pendant, Ring of Balance and Luster Pendant), and then they showed it to the Charizard.
"What are— WHAT?!" Diego said when the Dragon Relics started glowing a mysterious aura, and then three figures appeared from the Dragon Relics and each stood beside the owner of the Dragon Relics.
'Calm down, young Charizard.' Ilia spoke up. 'We aren't bad Pokemon.'
"W…Who are you?!" Diego asked.
'We are the Dragon Legends.' Ilia answered.
"Dragon…Legends?" Diego repeated the words he had just heard.
'In other words, we are Legendary Pokemon.' Ilia said.
"Legendary Pokemon…" Diego said. "And what the fxxk is this Dragon Legend thing?'
'It's the way to call the Legendary Pokemon, specifically Dragon type, who had formed a pact with mortals.' This time, it was Zygarde who answered.
"Form a pact?!" Diego said. "What the heck is that?"
"It's some sort of ritual that an ordinary Pokemon and a Legendary Pokemon are bound by a pact." Richard explained. "The benefit we get from forming a pact with Legendary Pokemon is more power and an ability to 'borrow' the power of the Legendary Pokemon whom we have formed a pact with."
"And as the price…" Rachael said. "The Pokemon who formed a pact with the Legendary Pokemon will be cursed to lost something in their life."
"…So, let me get this straight…" Diego said. "All of you… had made a deal with Legendary Pokemon for power at the cost of something in your life?!"
Rachael, Richard and Zetarus just nodded in response.
"We are sorry for keeping this as a secret from you, Diego." Zetarus said. "The reason why we kept this as a secret from everyone was that, if other Pokemon found out that we have formed pacts with Legendary Pokemon, they may think of us as some kind of fanatics who trade their soul with demons."
"…So, Zetarus…" Diego looked at the Garchomp. "In the sewer of Civilight, the reason why you told me that we mustn't kill Rachael and Richard…"
"Yes." Zetarus said. "I knew that both of them also had formed pacts with Legendary Pokemon, just like me, so I didn't want to kill them."
"…And how long did you…keep this thing as a secret?" Diego asked again.
"Since when I escaped from Desert Prison." Zetarus answered. "If it wasn't for my Dragon Legend, I would be dead by now."
"…" Diego didn't say anything. All he did was just staring at the Latios, Latias and Garchomp.
'See? This is what I was telling you.' Holmer spoke up.
"Diego…" Richard, Zetarus and Rachael said and looked at the Charizard.
"…I… see…" Diego said. "This… is the proof of everything."
"…" Richard, Rachael and Zetarus frown. They all knew what would Diego would say…
And they were not ready to accept this…
However…
"… It's the proof that you all have truly trusted me." Diego said.
Rachael, Richard and Zetarus were shocked after they heard Diego's words. They were the words they didn't expect from their friends.
"W…What?!" Richard said.
"Aren't you… angry at us?" Zetarus asked. "That we… didn't tell you this thing?"
"Don't be silly." Diego said. "Everyone has their own secret, not only you, but also me. However, when you all decide to reveal your secret to me, it meant that you all truly trust me to reveal this secret that may caused you a lot of trouble. That's enough for me."
"Diego…" Rachael said.
"Plus, only those fxxxxxs would hate all of you just because you formed pact with Legendary Pokemon." Diego said. "For me, this thing is just a method of obtaining something you want, which is more power. I don't care what others think, but for me, all of you aren't fanatics or anything."
"Really?!" Zetarus asked.
"Really and truly." Diego said.
"Whew…" Rachael said. "I was so scared that you would hate just after we reveal this!"
'Then, let's introduce ourselves to your friend here.' Ilia spoke up. 'My name is Ilia the Mega Latias. I am Rachael's Dragon Legend.'
'I am Zygarde, the ruler of the Afterlife.' Zygarde spoke up. 'I am Zetarus' Dragon Legend.'
'And my name is Holmer the Mega Latios. I am Richard's Dragon Legend.' Holmer spoke up. 'Like Richard and Rachael, I am the elder brother of Ilia here.'
"Diego Pyrotorch the Charizard." Diego said and bowed his head a bit to three Dragon Legends. "Nice to meet you… At last, great Legendary Pokemon."
'Nice to meet you too.' Ilia, Zygarde and Holmer said, and then Holmer continued speaking.
'Diego, isn't it?' Holmer said. 'Did you say that there was someone who helped you escaping from the arena, as well as telling you to meet them at the peak of Fireview Volcano?'
"Yes." Diego said before he realized something. "Wait… Could it…"
'…It's most likely that the mysterious being who spoke to you was, like us, a Legendary Pokemon too.' Holmer said.
"And…" Diego continued speaking. "Don't tell me that…"
'That Legendary Pokemon who talked to you may wish to form a pact with you.' Zygarde said. 'Normally, most Legendary Pokemon wouldn't involve themselves in the mortal affair, but if the something like this happens, it's most likely that the Legendary Pokemon wish to form a pact with an ordinary Pokemon.'
'We are some sort of picky creature.' Ilia said. 'We wouldn't offer to form a pact easily. We carefully chose the ordinary Pokemon that would forms a pact with us. So it would be very hard for an ordinary Pokemon to form a pact with one.'
"So, it was all of you who chose to form a pact with Rachael, Richard and Zetarus, not them, right?" Diego asked again.
'No.' Holmer said. 'In order to form a pact, there must be an agreement from both sides. Regardless of how mighty the Legendary Pokemon is, if the ordinary Pokemon didn't agree with them, the pact will never be formed. In other words, it was the decision of both sides that this pact would be able to be formed.'
"…I see…" Diego said.
'Diego, we still don't know the identity of the Legendary Pokemon who wished to form a pact with you.' Ilia said. 'However, it's your choice to choose whether you want to be bound by a contract or not.'
"…Let me ask Rachael, Richard and Zetarus some questions." Diego said. "First, why did all of you want to form a pact with Legendary Pokemon? No, Zetarus, I already know your answer, so this question belongs to Rachael and Richard. Both of you didn't look like any kind of Pokemon who need more power…"
"…Before I formed a pact with Ilia, I was very weak and frail." Rachael said. "So, I decided to form a pact with her so I will become stronger and will not become a burden to anyone…"
"For me, it's only because I need to discover all knowledge that I can possess in this world." Richard answered. "And Rachael and I have decided that our decisions will be a right choice."
"…Last question." Diego said. "You said that, after forming a pact, you will be cursed to lost something. So, what are the things all of you lost?"
"We wish we could tell you." Zetarus answered.
"What's with that answer?" Diego asked.
"We all don't know what we lost." Zetarus said. "All of us knew that we already lost something, but we really didn't know what it was."
"…I see." Diego said.
'So, what would you do, young Charizard?' Zygarde asked. 'Will you form a pact with that Legendary Pokemon?'
"…First, I need to meet them." Diego said. "Tomorrow, I will go to Fireview Volcano and meet that Legendary Pokemon."
"So, that's your decision for now." Zetarus said. "Okay, we will go with you."
"No." Diego said. "I will go alone."
"What?!" Everyone was shocked by the Charizard's declaration. "Why?!"
"Don't think less of me." Diego said. "It's because… This is my trial… And I need to do it by myself… I need to accomplish it with my own power… So that I will worth getting the reward of my trial."
"…Well, if you say so…" Richard said. "Then, tomorrow, Rachael and I will follow our original objective; to find Blancer and Noiria—"
"—Which you can bring it to me and I will upgrade our weapon again." Diego said before he turned his attention to Zetarus. "What about you, Zetarus? What would you do?"
"You kinda ruin my plan, Diego." Zetarus said. "I was about to invite all of you to the hot spring tomorrow so we can relax together."
"We don't have any time for relaxation." Diego said. "All of us have plenty to do."
"Geeze… Fine…" Zetarus mumbled. "Oh, well, then I guess I will accept Princess Artemis' invitation anyway…"
"Princess Artemis' invitation?" Everyone said.
"Don't you remember the conversation we heard at the Graveyard of Warriors?" Zetarus said. "Princess Artemist invited ALLL Dustorm Royal Children to train with her tomorrow. Well, as the third children of Dustorm Royal Family, I am to accept her invitation too."
"Are you serious?!" Diego said. "You will as well step into the lair of our enemy!"
"Don't forget that I once sneaked around the Desert Palace too." Zetarus said. "Trust me. I will come back here alive."
"Whatever!" Diego said. "I am going to bed now! We all have many things to do tomorrow!"
After Diego finished speaking, Ilia, Zygarde and Holmer disappeared into Mist Pendant, Ring of Balance and Luster Pendant respectively, and Diego walked up to his sleeping back.
"I will keep watching here." Richard said. "Rachael, go to bed."
"Okay….Yawn…" Rachael said as she approached her sleeping bag and got into it to catch a nice sleep.
"Then, see you tomorrow." Diego was about to get into his sleeping bag, but Zetarus spoke up first.
"…Diego." Zetarus said. "Don't forget that we are all with you all the way to the end, whether you choose the same choice as us or not. We are friends, remember this."
"I don't need you to tell me twice, Zetarus." Diego said.
"Heh…" Zetarus mumbled as he and Diego got into their sleeping bag, and then they soon joined Rachael in a deep slumber…
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: At first, I plan that this chapter wouldn't be very long, but it turns out to be the longest chapter so far, with most part of this chapter is just conversations. Well, actually, there is something that I really want to put into this chapter too… I guess that I will have to shift it to the next chapter…