A Dragon's Tail
Tail 5: Diego's Tail - Reprisal
Tail 5-8: Lionheart Novaflare
A majestic and powerful voice echoed through the summit of Fireview Volcano, making Diego, Dinus, King Leonardo, Princess Olivia, Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis quickly turned their attention to the owner of the voice, who was a Pokemon who stood on the altar of the volcano. The one who spoke earlier was known by the Pokemon of Fireview Kingdom as the Volcano Guardian, Leonel Novaflare the Charizard.
"What are y—" Diego turned back to confront the Volcano Guardian, only to find that…
While his face couldn't be seen right now as he was lowering his head, his appearance was…unnatural First, his body was trembling, not from fear, but from something else… Second, it seemed like his body was covered in… some sort of…holy aura…
"Old man, what is this action?" Diego said. "Are you nut or something?"
"Father?" Dinus spoke up. "What do you mean by that of your words?"
"I commanded that both of you couldn't leave." Leonel said while still lowering his head. However, like before, the voice of the matured Charizard was majestic and powerful… as if it didn't belong to the Volcano Guardian himself.
"Heh… Fxxk off, old man." Diego said. "Your fxxxxxg words won't have any effect on me."
"Foolish mortal..." Leonel said before he slowly raised his head, revealing that…
"WTF?!" Diego said after he saw the Volcano Guardian's face. It wasn't his face that shocked him. It was his eyes. Leonel's eyes were glowing with a mysterious golden aura, and his pupils couldn't be seen anywhere in his eyes. It's as if…he was possessed by something!
"Father?! What's wrong with you?!" Dinus said. His expression after seeing the Volcano Guardian was not much different than the other young Charizard beside him.
"Halt your insolence, mortal." Leonel said. "I am not the one whom you call 'father'."
"WHAT?!" Dinus said. "T…Then, w…who are you?!"
Leonel looked at Dinus and Leonel, and then he gave this answer to them.
"I am known by the mortal flesh of burning flame and rigid stone as the almighty protector of their life. I am known as the patron of this sacred volcano of Fireview. I am the almighty being known by the name of the God of Volcano."
"The God… of Volcano?!" Everyone at the summit of the Fireview Volcano said with an unbelievable voice, as if because none of them hardly believe in the words they had just heard…
"The God… of Volcano?!" Prince Apollo spoke up.
"…Are you serious, old man?" Diego spoke with his arms crossed. "This isn't a time for your stupid joke."
"Insolence!" Leonel roared, making the pillars of magma suddenly erupted from the pit of Fireview Volcano below the crater, becoming visible for everyone at the summit!
"The volcano…" Prince Apollo said as he looked at the pillars of magma. "Is this… the true power of the God of Volcano?"
"This is just a fragment of my power, mortal." Leonel said.
"But…" Dinus said. "W…What about my fa—the Volcano Guardian? If you are the God of Volcano, then where is he?"
"His conscious is right here, within this body of mortal being…" Leonel said.
"But—" Before Dinus could say anything else, Leonel spoke up first.
"However, because I have to get myself into the mortal affair, I need to find the most suitable vessel for me, which is none other than the one who acted as my voice and my guardian, the dragon with the burning spirit of a lion, Leonel Novaflare the Charizard." Leonel, or in the other word, God of Volcano-possessed Leonel, said.
"Mortal… affair?" Diego said.
"And that affair is directly involved with you, Diego Novaflare the Charizard." The God of Volcano spoke through the voice of Leonel.
"I am not Diego Novaflare the Charizard!" Diego said. "My name is Diego Pyrotorch the Charizard!"
"That changes nothing, mortal." The God of Volcano said. "You are the one who carries the blood of the Volcano Guardian, as well as the blood of Fireview Sacred Royal Family, in your veins, thus your destiny was already predetermined since the day you were chosen to ascend from the Afterlife!"
"Predetermine? What the hell is that word?!" Diego said.
"It means that you have no choice in choosing your path of life." The God of Volcano said. "You were destined to be the king of the sacred realm of flame and stone, and you shall be one regardless of what happened in your past!"
"Why the hell should I listen to your words?!" Diego said. It seemed like he was pissed by the God of Volcano's words.
"Because I am the God of Volcano. My words are absolute. Everyone who heeds my command shall do as I say. Both you and your twin brother are also not above my order." The God of Volcano said and looked at Diego and Dinus.
"M…Me too?!" Dinus said and looked at his possessed father.
"With your twin brother as the king, you shall serve as the guardian of this sacred volcano." God of Volcano said. "This is my order, as your fates are already predetermined!"
"Never!" Diego said. "I am not a puppet for you to control! I have my own life! I have my own destiny! I shall never listen to your command, and I will never become the KING!:
"…Although I already knew that I would end up as the next Volcano Guardian…" Dinus spoke up. "But your idea of predetermined fate is ABSOLUTELY BXXXXXXT! Everyone has their own choice to make in their life, not to let the tide of fate decide!"
"INSOLENCE!" The God of Volcano said and (Under the body of Leonel) pointed their paw at Dinus and Diego. "STOP YOUR ACTIO AND SURRENDER YOURSELF TO MY ORDER, AND I SHALL FORGIVE YOU FOR EVERYTHING SIN YOU HAVE COMMITED!"
"NEVER!" Diego and Dinus roared out at the same time.
"…It seems like I underestimate the one who possessed the heart of dragon and the heart of lion…" The God of Volcano said. "THEN, I SHALL SHOW YOU WHY EVERYONE RESPECTS ME AS THE ALMIGHTY GOD OF VOLCANO! RAWRRRRRRRR!"
As the God of Volcano spoke, the body of Leonel suddenly grabbed his weapon and got him into the battle stance! It seemed like he was prepared for a battle in the form of the Volcano Guardian!
"It seems like you really want to die." Diego said and equipped his Bronze Naginata. "Dinus, help me fighting this axxxxxe!"
"But he is our father!" Dinus said.
"Father or not, if we don't fight him, he will kill us!" Diego said. "It's killed or be killed!"
"But—" Dinus was about to continue saying something, but Diego got tired of his twin brother and scolded him instead.
"GET YOUR FXXXXXG MIND OF YOUR CONCERN!" Diego concerned. "IF WE DON'T DEFEAT HIM, THE ONE YOU CALLED FATHER WILL BE TRAPPED IN THE CONTROL OF THAT BASTARD FOREVER!"
"…I see…" Dinus said and picked up his spear. "Although I don't like fighting my own father, but if I didn't do it, I am sure that he would suffer more… So, in order to free him, I must turn my spear toward him… Diego, my brother, let's fight together."
"That's the spirit, Dinus." Diego said.
"RARAR!" Leonel roared and started charging at them!
"WATCH OUT!" Diego said. "HERE HE COMES!"
The Volcano Guardian
Leonel Novaflare the Charizard
Dinus and Diego quickly dodged Leonel's initiative, strike of charging straight at both of them by moving their body left and right respectively from their standing point. However, as both of them were about to move away from Leonel, a ring of fire suddenly appeared and trap both of them inside with Leonel by creating a dome of fire, preventing them from escaping!
"Damn it! They really don't want us to escape!" Dinus said.
"Well… As a gladiator, I wouldn't escape from the battle in the first place…" Diego said and looked at Leonel, who seemed to prepare for another attack!
"RAWRRRR!" Leonel swung his spear and created a ring of flame and launched it at Diego!
"Not a chance!" Diego slashed the ring of flame that Leonel sent at him to destroy it into several pieces of small ember!
"Hm! Not bad!" The God of Volcano, under the voice of Leonel, commented. "However, I expect both of you to do better than that if you want to win against my power and the power of the one who holds the Blood of Legend within their veins."
"Blood of Legend?" Diego mumbled.
"Right." Dinus nodded. "The Volcano Guardian, Leonel Novaflare the Charizard, is the current Hero of Fire type. And did you see the spear he was holding?"
Dinus and Diego turned their attention to a spear within Leonel's grasp. The long pole of this spear was made from a sturdy wood, and the blade of this spear was glowing red like it was cloaked with burning flame, and if someone touched or was attacked by it, they would get a severe burn as a result.
"That's the Ruby Spear, the personal weapon of the Hero of Fire type." Dinus explained. "Do not get yourself attacked by it or you will be severely burn."
"Are you serious?!" Diego said and looked at the other young Charizard. Dinus, however, didn't have a chance to answer Diego's question as Leonel had started another attack by flying up and created several blades of gust!
"Air Slash!" Leonel roared and sent several blades of gusts at Dinus and Diego, which both of them didn't have enough time to evade this attack!
"URGH!" Dinus roared as he tried to shield Leonel's Air Slash with his arms, but it proved to be ineffective. "What a power!"
"So, this is the power of the Hero of Legend…" Diego mumbled while using his Naginata to block Leonel's attack. "No wonder why Zetarus lost to his father…"
"TAKE THIS! FIRE SPIN!" Leonel roared before summoning two spiral rings of fire from under Dinus and Diego's feet!
"What the— URRGGGG!" Dinus and Diego roared as they were trapped in the vortex of fire that Leonel summoned!
"Damn it… Air Slash!" Dinus roared before creating several blades of gust and launched it at Leonel!
"FLAMETHROWER!" Leonel blocked Dinus' Air Slash by expelling a hot flame from his mouth to create a barrier of fire that effectively blocked the Air Slash attack!
"Damn… He blocked my attack…" Dinus mumbled.
"DRAGON CLAW!" Diego roared as he jumped at Leonel and slashed him with his claws! This attack made Leonel fell down onto the floor again!
"You… YOU! RARWWRRRR!" Leonel roared. Suddenly, a ray of sunlight that was shining onto Diego's body earlier appeared again. However, this time, it shined onto Leonel's body!
"What's he doing?!" Diego said.
"…Sunlight will boost the fire type attack…" Dinus said. "We will need to be more careful from now on!"
"TAKE THIS!" Leonel roared and prepared to summon other rings of fire from below where Dinus and Diego were standing again!
"Oh, great…" Diego mumbled.
"Diego, fly now!" Dinus said.
"FIRE SPIN!" Leonel roared at the same time that two spiral rings of fire erupting from where Dinus and Diego were standing. Luckily, this time, both Charizard managed to avoid this attack by flying up!
"Geez… Why did he keep using this attack?" Diego mumbled as he and Dinus landed onto the ground again. "I fxxxxxg hate that move…"
"Me too, Diego." Dinus agreed to Diego's opinion. "Fire Spin is a quite annoying move, but at least, it's quite beautiful when the vortex of spiral flame—"
Dinus's words suddenly stopped as a flash of thought suddenly appeared in Dinus' head. The very same thing could be applied to Diego as it seemed like he had just realized something while listening to Dinus' word. After this short moment, a crafty smile appeared on both young Charizards' face.
"Diego…" Dinus turned his attention to Diego. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"
"How the hell should I know what you are thinking?!" Diego said. "But well… The answer is yes."
Dinus and Diego turned their attention to Leonel, who seemed to prepare his next attack.
"Well, then, let me take care of him." Diego said. "And you do what you must."
"Fine with me." Dinus said.
"RAWR!" Leonel roared out and started another attack by charging at Diego!
"The hell with you!" Diego said and used his Bronze Naginata to block Leonel's attack!
"Don't be such a fool, mortal!" Leonel roared as he tried to thrust his spear forward. "No matter how hard you try, you will never defeat me! My victory is already predetermined!"
"Well, then…. LET ME PROVE YOU WRONG!" Diego roared and suddenly jumped backward! With a sudden retreat, Leonel almost lost his balance!
"NOW, DINUS!" Diego roared as he saw the other young Charizard, who stood behind Leonel!
"NOW , ONCE AND FOR ALL!" Dinus roared.
"DIE, YOU BASTARD!" Diego roared.
"FLAMETHROWER!" Dinus and Diego both expelled a hot flame from their mouth at the same time at the matured Charizard. However, like what happened yesterday, as the flame generated from Dinus and Diego clashed with each other at Leonel's body, it turned into a spiral vortex of burning flame, trapping Leonel inside!
"ARRRRGGGGG!" Leonel roared as he was trapped inside a flaming vortex.
"AND… NOW!"
Diego and Dinus raised their polearm and charged at Leonel at the same time, attacking the Volcano Guardian as they ran passed through him!"
"ARGGGRR! WHY! YOU!" Leonel roared as he had taken too much damage from Dinus and Diego's attack! He couldn't take this anymore!
"HOW COULD YOU DEFEAT ME, MORTALS?! DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOUR WILL TO WALK ON YOUR PATH THAT STRONG?!" The God of Volcano said through Leonel's body.
"…" Diego and Dinus didn't say anything. All they did were just staring at Leonel's body being burned in their vortex of flame.
"URGH! FINE! I GAVE UP!" The God of Volcano said. "HOWEVER, BECAUSE BOTH OF YOU DEFY ME, THE ALMIGHTY GOD OF VOLCANO, I SHALL PUNISH BOTH OF YOU! BOTH OF YOU WILL BE CURSED TO LIVE IN THE LIFE OF ATONEMENT AND HAVE TO FIGHT EACH OTHER UNTIL ONE OF YOU REACH THE END OF THEIR ATONEMENT WITH THEIR DEATH! CHARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
After finished speaking, Leonel's body was cloaked with a golden aura before the aura itself suddenly scattered away from Leonel's body and disappeared into the air, leaving only Leonel's unconscious body behind…
"Father!" Dinus quickly approached Leonel's body, while Diego was just standing at the point he was standing before….
And then…
"…Diego…"
Two voices, one male and one female, called the name of the young Charizard. Diego turned his attention back to the owners of the voice and saw Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis walking up to him.
"You…" Diego mumbled. By his instinct, his paw suddenly tightened his grip on his Naginata. However…
"!" Diego was shocked as he saw Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis suddenly kneeled down in front of him!
"Diego, we are truly sorry." Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis said.
"Sorry… For what?!" Diego said. He still couldn't believe the words he had just heard.
"I must be sorry for all of my action earlier." Princess Artemis said. "I have no idea of what you have gotten into."
"Me as well." Prince Apollo said. "I really have no idea about everything my father had done to you. On the behalf of my father, I truly regret everything I had done to you."
"…" Diego didn't say anything.
"And now, you, the true heir to the throne of the Fireview Kingdom, have returned…" Prince Apollo said. "If you want to kill us, please do it."
"However, I beg you. Please leave your majesty and our mother alone. They didn't deserve to die…" Princess Artemis said.
"…I afraid that I couldn't do that." Diego answered. His answer shocked both Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis!
"W…What?!" Princess Artemis said. "Why?! Why did you have to kill our mother and your majesty too?! They didn't do anything wrong!"
"Fxxk off." Diego said. "I have never said that I will kill those two."
"What?!" Prince Apollo said. "But you said—"
"What I meant earlier was that I afraid that I won't grant you a wish of slaying both of you." Diego said.
"You meant… that you won't kill any of us?!" Princess Artemis said. "But… Why?!"
"First, because I have already forgiven all of you." Diego said. "My hunger for revenge had already been quenched when I killed your father, so I have no need to kill any more of you."
"Well…" Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis said.
"More importantly…" Diego continued speaking. "If I killed both of you, this would mean that I MUST become the king of Fireview Kingdom, which I don't want to. Also, I am tired of this bxxxxxxt revenge. In the end, I have no choice."
"You would really give up on this?"
Another voice came from another Pokemon who slowly walked up to Diego, Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis. It was none other than King Leonardo, accompanied by Princess Olivia.
"Your majesty?" Princess Artemis said.
"Well… Diego, right?" King Leonardo said. "Are you sure that you would give up on being the king of the realm of flame and stone?"
"Absolutely yes." Diego said. "I hate being the royal blood, and I am not suited for being a king. I am sure that I will bring this kingdom to ruins if I have ever become its king."
"…Very well…" King Leonardo said. "If you insist, then I won't pressure you in doing so anymore. However, I—"
"Everyone!"
King Leonardo's words were interrupted by Dinus' voice, who was standing next to Leonel. "Come here, please!"
Diego, Prince Apollo, Princess Artemis, Princess Olivia and King Leonardo walked up to where Dinus and Leonel were and realized that Leonel had already gotten his consciousness back!
"The Volcano Guardian?" Prince Apollo spoke up.
"Arrr… All of you…" Leonel spoke with a faint voice.
"Are you alright, father?!" Dinus said.
"Dinus… Diego… Both of you really did a good job of defeating me…" Leonel said. "With this… Soon… I will be free… from everything."
"Father… Don't tell me that…" Dinus said.
"It's inevitable, Dinus…" Leonel said. "I already know that the time of my atonement will arrive soon… However… Before I pass away, I will need to say something to you…"
Leonel then turned his attention to King Leonardo. "Your majesty, I am sorry for everything that was out of control today, as well as the sin I committed in the past. Normally, what I have done would equal to the sentence of death, and I shall accept it. However, I will continue guarding the realm of flame and stone, even in my afterlife."
"…I heard your words, the great Volcano Guardian…" King Leonardo said. "I forgive you for everything you have done. Leonel Novaflare the Charizard, you are the one who truly possesses the heart of a lion. And now, please rest in peace, Lionheart."
"Thank you, your majesty…" Leonel said before he turned his attention to Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis. "Next… Prince Apollo and Princess Artemis…"
"The great Volcano Guardian…" Princess Artemis said.
"Princess Artemis… You possess a very kind heart and soul…" Leonel said. "Please don't let your heart and soul be tainted with the stain of corruption…"
"Yes, I will remember your words, the great Volcano Guardian…" Princess Artemis said.
"And… Prince Apollo…" Leonel said. "I am sorry that I couldn't live until the day you become the king. However, I am sure that the one who possess a strong heart and soul like you will become the great king of Fireview and makes the nation of flame and stone a powerful nation… However, do not forget to bind your heart with the righteousness and do not let it fall into the pit of corruption. If you fall, so do the whole kingdom."
"I will be sure to remember your words until the day of my last breath, the great Volcano Guardian…" Prince Apollo said.
"Great, both of you…" Leonel said and turned his attention to a Pyroar who was standing next to King Leonardo, Princess Olivia.
"Olivia…" Leonel said.
"Leonel, I am sorry for everything…" Princess Olivia said as she slowly approached Leonel and touched Leonel's paw with her paw. "Everything that happened was all my fault. I am so sorry… If only we could go back in time to prevent this tragedy…"
"Please do not regret your action, Olivia…" Leonel said. "No one could ever change their past. All they could do is move forward and build their own future. For me, I have never regretted meeting and falling in love with you. However, I regret that I couldn't fulfill your life with the happiness you want. Please forgive me, Olivia…"
"Leonel…" Princess Olivia said.
"And last… Diego and Dinus…" Leonel turned his attention to the last two Pokemon here, who were the young Charizards named Dinus and Diego. "I must apologize to both of you too…"
"No, father." Dinus said. "You didn't do anything wrong to me. You don't have to apologize me."
"And yet I conceal the truth of your birthright from you, Dinus…" Leonel said. "I am such a bad father to you. And Diego…"
"…" Diego looked at Leonel, but he didn't say anything.
"I know that you will never forgive me for what I have done." Leonel said. "But—"
"…No, I have already forgiven you as well, father." Diego said. "I am tired of holding a grudge against any of you, so I think that I will have to learn about letting it go…"
"…Good…" Leonel said. "I see that your level of forgiveness has been moving forward for one more step… However… I still regret everything I did to you, Diego. I am such a bad father to you…"
"Aww… When will you stop blaming yourself, father?" Diego said.
"Well… Soon enough…" Leonel said. "But before that, I want all of you to remember my case. About what I have done… I regretted everything I had done in my life, so I have to live my life in regret. However, both of you… Do not become like me… Live your life by following the voice of your heart, and when you did, never regret it again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, father." Dinus and Diego said.
"Ah… Seeing both of you like this reminds me of my past self… Back when… 30 years ago…" Leonel said. "I went onto an adventure with my friends… Some of them were my best friends, while some of them were my mortal enemies. And now… It all ends here… Farewell… Everyone… I will protect all of you and guide you… even in the afterlife…"
After finishing his last words, Leonel succumbed to his injury. His breath stopped, and his hearts stopped beating…
"Father…" Dinus and Diego said. Despite their spirit, both of them couldn't even hold back their tear. "FATHER!"
Dinus and Diego's voices echoed through the summit of Fireview Volcano as they cried for their father's departing. Both of them couldn't stop crying for their father, not even for the other four Pyroars who were also with them…
"Why… Leonel…" Princess Olivia said.
"Oh…" Princess Artemis mumbled.
"…The great Volcano Guardian…" Prince Apollo mumbled.
"…" King Leonardo didn't say anything, but he, like others, couldn't hold back his tear too…
And then…
"W…What the fxxk?!" Diego said as he suddenly was surrounded by some sort of the red aura. The very same aura could be seen around Leonel's lifeless body too!
"T…This must be…" Dinus said. "This must be how the power of legend being transfer from one Pokemon to another Pokemon."
"B…But… Why me?!" Diego said as the red aura that surrounded his body gradually became stronger. "I don't want to become the Hero of Legend!"
"…It was because you are the eldest son of the former Hero of Fire type…" Dinus said. "You know… While we are twin, you are the older among us, making you the eldest child of our father. Thus, you will be the one who will inherit the title of the Hero of Fire type from our father."
"FXXK OFF!" Diego said as he tried to drive away the red aura that surrounded his body, but his afford seemed to end in vein. "I DON'T WANT TO BECOME THE HERO OF LEGEND! I JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF!"
"…I afraid that I don't think you can stop this, Diego." Dinus said.
"Nonononononono!" Diego said as the aura grew stronger. It was only a few second until he became the next Hero of Fire type, which he didn't want to.
'No! I will never accept this!' Diego though to himself. 'I will never become the Hero of Legend! I will do anything in order not to become one!'
And then…
'Interesting… Not only being a king, but you also don't want to become a Hero of Legend too? I could never believe that I would be able to find someone like you within my life…'
A sinister and creepy voice echoed into Diego's head. It took Diego a few moment to recognize this voice…
'Y…You!' Diego thought to himself. 'You were the one at the arena!'
'I see that you still remember about me… Such an honor for me...'
'W…What do you want right now?!' Diego thought to himself.
'Didn't you say that you don't want to become the Hero of Legend? Well… In this case, I think that I may be able to help you… Again.'
'Y…You would?!' Diego thought to himself.
'However, you will have to trust me and follow what I told you to do. Will you accept this?!'
'Sure! Anything!' Diego thought to himself.
'Very well… Then…'
"ARG! NO! I WILL NEVER BECOME THE HERO OF LEGEND! NO!"
Diego roared as he swung his arms and moved around as if it would be able to drive away the red aura that surrounded him, but it was no use. Soon, he would become the Hero of Fire type…
…If only something unexpected didn't happen…
Like…
"DIEGO! WATCH OUT!"
Dinus roared out, because as Diego his attention was at his afford of trying to drive away the aura that surrounded his body, he didn't pay his attention to his surrounding. This made him walk randomly until he reached the edge of the Fireview Volcano Crater!
"DIEGO!" Dinus quickly approached the edge of the crater, in the hope of catching his twin brother in time, but… He was half a second too late as Diego had already fallen into the crater!
"Ur! NOOO!" Diego roared as he fell down from the edge of the crater and fell into the pit below!
"DIEGO!" Dinus roared. This moment, while it was actually very short, but for Dinus, it felt like it was a very long and tortuous moment as he watched his twin brother falling into a pit of burning magma below without being able to help him at all!
The moment ended with Diego's body touched the burning magma in the pit of the volcano and quickly sank into the magma, which quickly followed by another thing that also fell down from the crater above. It was several teardrops of a Charizard above.
"Why… Why do something like this have to happen?!" Dinus said. "WHY?! CHARRRRR!"
As Dinus was roaring in despair, the red aura that was surrounding Diego's body suddenly appeared and surrounded his body instead!
"…" Dinus didn't say anything as the power of legend being transferred from his father to his body instead. It gave him an enormous power, as well as a very strong feeling within his heart…
"CLANK!"
Other than the power of legend, Dinus also received something from his father too. It was the personal weapon of the Hero of Fire type, the Ruby Spear.
"…Diego…" Dinus slowly looked at the burning pit of magma below, the very same pit that Diego fell into not too long ago. Falling into a burning pit of magma like this, even for fire type Pokemon, would prove to be lethal. However…
'…No.' Dinus looked at the burning pit of magma. 'Despite the power of legend being transferred to me instead of Diego, I am sure that Diego is still alive… I know it… I could feel it… I believe that he is still alive… I don't know why… But… For now…'
'Farewell, my brother. May we meet again soon…within the time of our lifespan…'
-Meanwhile…
"…"
Diego regained his consciousness and found himself in a strange place where he couldn't see anything except himself because everywhere around him was in the tone of black and white…
"Where… am I?" Diego said as he looked around.
'You are in your own mind…
A creepy and sinister voice echoed again. However, this time, it didn't only echo in Diego's head, but it also echoed everywhere…
"Y…You?!" Diego said as he tried to look around, but he still couldn't find anyone. "Are you the Legendary Pokemon who helped me?! Where are you?!"
'How curious...' The voice echoed again. 'You already have figured out who I am… Interesting…'
"Stop your bxxxxxxt right there." Diego said. "…And show your fxxxxxg face to me!"
'I afraid that I couldn't do anything like that…' The voice answered. 'It's because this is your mind. I couldn't enter one's mind that easy, so the only thing I can do is speaking to you through telepathy…'
"My mind?" Diego said. "But I remember that I followed your order and fell down into the Fireview Volcano pit…"
'Yes. I told you to do it to fake your death.' The voice said. 'However, I used my power to protect you from being incinerated by the magma, so you are still alive like now. However, I have to trap you in your mind because I need to talk to you about something… After our talk, I will send you back to your world without doing any harm to you, and regardless of your action and decision to me here too."
"Whatever!" Diego said. "Just tell me what you want! Are you going to offer me to form a pact with you or something?"
'You surprised me again, young Charizard...' The voice answered. 'Not many Pokemon knows about forming a pact with Legendary Pokemon… And yet a gladiator who spent almost his entire life in the life of vengeance knows this…'
"It's because my friends told me." Diego said with his arms crossed.
'Your friends? Ah… I see…' The voice echoed. 'I could sense that there are several Pokemon who has formed a pact with the Legendary Pokemon in the Fireview Kingdom right now… I guess that some of them are your friends, right?'
"Are you going to babbling all day?!" Diego said. "Do not piss me off! I don't have my entire day to spend with you!"
'…Very well…' The voice said. 'If you already know about forming a pact, then I would offer you to form a pact with me. If you form a pact with me, not only I will grant you the power you would never imagine, but I will also allow you to summon me to help you in a fight too.'
"Really?" Diego said.
'Moreover…' The voice continued speaking. 'Diego Pyrotorch the Charizard, you are special. Your kind possesses an arcane power to would drastically increase your power. If you form a pact with me, then I will unlock your potential and allow you to obtain that power that even the one of your kind would never hope of getting.'
"Power…" Diego said. "But my thirst for revenge had already been quenched. I don't have any need for that kind of power. Plus, I prefer obtaining the power with my own paw instead."
'Oh, really?' The voice said. 'Think. What did you have to accomplish in order to come this far? In order to stand at the point of me offering you the power? Everything you have accomplished, every obstacle you have destroyed… Aren't these prices reasonable enough for obtaining this power from me?'
"…You have a point…" Diego said.
'Well… What's your answer, mortal?' The voice asked again. 'You can choose to accept my proposal and form a pact with me, or you can decline my offer and I will send you back to your world without doing any harm to you, and then we will forget that we once know of each other's existence…'
"…I still don't understand something." Diego said. "First, why did you want to give me these powers, whereas you do not gain anything in return? I don't understand…"
'There are three major possible answers for this question, young Charizard…' The voice answered. 'The first answer is the Legendary Pokemon wants the Pokemon they formed a pact with to do something for them. The second answer is the Legendary Pokemon wants to use the Pokemon they formed a pact with as their 'avatar' to do something for them. And the third answer is the Legendary Pokemon possesses a special feeling toward the Pokemon they formed a pact with, such as sympathy or anything else. For me, the answer falls in the third category.'
"You feel something for me? Ha!" Diego said. "Don't tell me that you feel bad for what happened in my past?"
'Stupid mortal…' The voice said. 'I offer you this chance because I like you. I like you because you are both identical and completely different from me…'
"I don't understand any of your bxxxxxxt." Diego said with his arms crossed.
'You will know better if you decide to form a pact with me…' The voice said. 'Well, do you have any more questions to ask me?'
"…There's one more question I'd like to ask." Diego said. "My friends told me that, when you form a pact with Legendary Pokemon, you will be cursed to lose something in your life. If this is true, then I want you to tell me what I will lose when I form a pact with you."
'...Very well, then…' The voice said. 'Now, listen up…'
"…Fine." Diego said. "But… At one condition, thought."
'Hm? What do you want this time?' The voice asked.
"…Can I…keep these?" Diego said and looked at the orange tattoos on his body. They were the same tattoos that he was given last night by the Volcano Guardian.
'You want to keep those tattoos on your body?' The voice said. 'Very well… You can keep it.'
"Then, I accept your proposal." Diego said and stepped forward. "I am ready."
'Then…' The voice said, and a glowing orb of light suddenly appeared in front of Diego. 'Touch this orb, and we will begin our forming.'
Diego reached his paw forward and touched the glowing orb of light in front of him. While doing this, Diego could feel the increasing of power that flew from the glowing orb into his body. The power he received gave him a feeling that he could do anything with the power he received, but it also gave him a feeling of… Grief? Regret?
'…And now, the forming is complete…' A voice spoke up as the glowing orb of light disappeared. 'I have given you the power that ordinary mortal would never hope to reach, and I also unlocked your potential power to another stratum. Moreover, you can now summon me to assist you in a battle. I can attack and hinder your foes with my move Glaciate.'
"…Very well…" Diego said before he noticed something…
"W…What is this?!" Diego said and looked at one of his claws on his right paw. There was a mysterious ring with strange marks there! He was sure that the ring wasn't here a moment ago!
'That's the Ring of Ruins, the Dragon Relic of yours.' The voice answered. 'Dragon Relic is the proof of your pact with me. You can also speak to me via the Dragon Relic of yours at anytime you want.'
"…" Diego looked at his Dragon Relic, the Ring of Ruins, on his claw with a worried look on his face, as if he still had something on his mind…
'Something wrong, young mortal?' The voice asked.
"…When I formed a pact with you, I had a strange feeling deep in my heart…" Diego slowly spoke up. "It is an indescribable feeling… What should I call it? Grief? Regret? I don't know…"
'It is the feeling that everyone who has just formed a pact with the Legendary Pokemon would have, Diego.' The voice answered. 'You know what other Pokemon thinks of the Pokemon who had formed a pact with Legendary Pokemon, right? They think of them as a fanatic who sells their soul to the demon, so they would shun them or act hostile toward them should they know that this Pokemon is the one who had formed a pact with Legendary Pokemon. The feeling you had after you formed a pact with me was the feeling that you are now forever branded as an outcast who will never be accepted by anyone, so they will have to isolate themselves from everyone and live further away from anyone. That's the feeling you had.'
"…That's fine with me." Diego said. "I don't really care much of what everyone thinks of me, and I don't have many friends. The only friends I have right now are also the one who formed a pact with the Legendary Pokemon too, so I think I would be fine…"
'If you say so…' The voice said. 'And now, it's time for you to pay your price for forming a pact with me.'
"Fxxk…" Diego cursed. "Now, let's get this over with before I run out of my patience."
'Very well, then…' The voice said, and then he was about to do something when Diego spoke up first.
"Actually, hold on a second." Diego said.
'What is it this time, Diego?!' The voice seemed to be upset by Diego's interruption.
"There's another thing, although a bit late, that I need to ask you." Diego said. "Despite that we have already formed a pact with each other, you still haven't told me who you are or what your name is yet. Would you mind telling me who you are?"
'Hm?! I haven't told you who I am yet?!' The voice seemed to be surprised by Diego's question.
"You fxxxxxg axxxxxe…" Diego mumbled.
'Well, then, if you want to know, then I suppose that I would tell you…' The voice said. 'But first, you must pay the price for forming a pact with me!'
As the voice stopped, Diego's body started glowing with a dim purple light started emitting from everywhere on his body, and the Charizard could feel a sharp pain running through his body!
"ARRGRRGRGRG!" Diego roared as the pain in his body gradually increased. The pain he felt could be compared to the feeling of having several bombs being transplanted into his body, and all of them started exploding at the same time!
"CHAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Suddenly, Diego's body shattered into several small pieces, which all of them were then incinerated by the blue flame that appeared from nowhere. After the blue flame that burned his body disappeared, the only thing left in the burning blue flame was a sparkling orb that contained a soul inside…
'Well, then, let me answer your question…' The voice echoed again. 'I am known as a vessel who possesses nothing but emptiness. I am a remnant of the Dragon God. Everyone fears my very existence. I am a Kyurem, and my name is Frostic.'
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: This chapter took forever to write… And it still didn't turn out very good. Whatever, there are only two more chapters in the fifth tail, and then we will start the sixth tail! I am really looking forward to write the sixth tail!