A Dragon's Tail
Intermission I: Freya's Tail - Arrogance
Intermission I-6: Rose of the Desert
"Freya, w… why are you here?!" Terrus asked with a shaking voice after seeing his youngest sister who had been missing for three whole years suddenly appeared, and she was now standing between him and his first younger brother just before both of them started a battle with each other. "And where have you been for 3 whole years?"
"I… I was with Zetarus…" Freya answered with a shaking voice.
"Zetarus, explain all of this!" Terrus said as he looked at the younger Garchomp in front of him. "Why is Freya with you? And what happened with both of you during these 3 years?!"
"I… I am sorry…" Freya said with a shaking voice.
"… I will tell you about what happened to us later, Terrus." Zetarus answered. "But for now, there're more important things that I must do! Freya! Out of my way!"
"N… No!" Freya said as she was still standing between Zetarus and Terrus. "I… I won't!"
"Freya! Get away from that guy before you get hurt!" Largo said and pointed his bone club at Zetarus. "That guy is dangerous! He is trying to kill our father!"
"He isn't!" Freya said. "He's… He's our brother!"
"Freya, listen to your elder brother." Zetarus said. "My only target tonight is Emperor Garland, and I don't want to kill anyone else."
"Then why do you have to battle Terrus?!" Freya asked. "And Terrus, why do you have to battle Zetarus?!"
"Freya, we have already spoken about this three years ago." Zetarus said. "My main mission is to kill Emperor Garland, and I would never stop doing so until I accomplish this, even if I have to kill everyone who stands in my way."
"And Freya, it's because I am the crown prince of the Dustorm Empire." Terrus said. "As the crown prince of the desert nation, I have to prioritize my duty above all, even if it's against what I have in my heart. And now, someone is trying to murder the emperor of Dustorm Empire, so I can't stand still and let him do as he pleases!"
"Zetarus…" Freya said as she looked at her second brother. "… Why do you have to kill our father?"
"Don't ask this question again, Freya, because I don't know." Zetarus said. "I don't even know why do I want to murder that bastard. The only thing I know is that I must do it no matter what before I die."
"…" Freya, Terrus, Soryl, Natasha, Largo and Diego said nothing as they waited for Zetarus to continue speaking.
"After realizing that I have to kill Garland, I have always been thinking about why." Zetarus continued speaking. "But no matter how much I think, I never find the answer I want, and I doubt that I would be able to find one for the rest of your life."
"Of course you do."
Another voice was heard by everyone, turning the attention of all of them to the Pokemon who had been keeping silent for some time, which was none other than Emperor Garland.
"… What do you mean by that?" Zetarus asked as he glared at his target, who was also his father.
"I don't deny that you are both dumb and idiots, but even if you are genius, there's no way that you would figure out the reason behind your intention to kill me." Emperor Garland spoke with a nonchalant voice. "Because I am the only one who is still alive that knows the reason behind your murderous intention toward me."
"Don't think of yourself too highly." Zetarus said. "How the hell would you know about me? You are not me, and we barely know each other."
"That's what I thought 33 years ago when I met that red bird…" Emperor Garland mumbled to himself before he continued speaking to everyone here. "Have any of you heard of the Curse of Quakersand?"
"The Curse of… Quakersand?" Terrus, Natasha, Zetarus, Largo and Freya spoke out at the same time. It was clear that none of them had ever heard about this before.
"It seems like any of you know about this. That's not surprising, considering that we are the last remnants of the Quakersand family, after almost everyone of the Quakersand family was wiped out when the ancient Earth Kingdom came to the end." Emperor Garland said. "Well… History time, kiddo."
"I don't have time for this sxxt, bastard." Zetarus spoke with his arms crossed.
"Shut up, you miserable infernal creature." Emperor Garland scolded the youngest Garchomp here before he continued his speaking. "Back in the distant past when Symmetria was still three separated continents, Mytherel, Luminus and Origia, on the northern region of the Mytherel continent stood the ancient Earth Kingdom, which was ruled by the Quakersand family. The number of the members of the Quakersand family, however, was never high, and in the fateful year, about a decade before the Twilight Crisis, the last king who held the blood of Quakersand was assassinated, and his heir, who was the last member of the Quakersand family during that time, went missing. This foresaw the end of the ancient Earth Kingdom that would arrive one decade later, during the Twilight Crisis. The Quakersand family then faded out of the history for over one millennium… Until they appeared again during War of the God III 150 years ago as the Hero of Legend with the power of Ground type."
"…" Despite of the current situation, everyone in the rooftop garden carefully listened to the words of Emperor Garland.
"… That Hero of Legend…" Emperor Garland continued speaking. "… He was my father, and thus, I am the member of the Quakersand family, the family of earth that was thought to be lost in time, and this was also one of the reasons why I was chosen to rule the Dustorm Empire when it was found, as I descended from the family that ruled the ancient Earth Kingdom. "
"… What's the point of stuffing this useless information into my head?" Zetarus asked with his arms crossed. "Are you trying to lower my guard?"
"So, you still don't understand? Of course you would, as this is what I expect." Emperor Garland said with a sarcastic voice. "Very well then… Terrus, Natasha, Largo, Freya and the Windsky whelp, step away. It's time for me to take the matter by myself."
"…No, father." Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya answered, while Soryl just said nothing. "We are going to protect you."
"Who are you doing this for?" Emperor Garland asked. "For the emperor of the Dustorm Empire? Or for your father? If you are doing this for the emperor of the Dustorm Empire, then I order you to step away!"
"… We are doing this for our father." Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya answered.
"And I am doing this because I am Terrus' retainer, so I will follow his decision." Soryl answered.
"… I am disappointed." Emperor Garland said, shocking everyone who heard his words. "I am disappointed that I would soon have to leave Dustorm Empire in the hands of someone like you."
"W… What?!" Terrus, Natasha and Largo said.
"For the Windsky whelp, this question isn't for you, as it's for Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya." Emperor Garland said. "What's more important to you, the desert nation of Dustorm Empire or its emperor? If it has come to the point where you have to choose only one, which one would you choose?"
"…" Natasha, Largo and Freya said nothing after hearing the question of Emperor Garland.
"… As the crown prince of the Dustorm Empire, I have to prioritize my duty to the Dustorm Empire above all, even if I have to break my heart." Terrus repeated the words that he had already said.
"That's what I think too." Emperor Garland said. "But Terrus, what you are doing right now is the opposite of what you have just said."
"… What does that mean, father?" Terrus asked.
"Terrus, you claimed that protecting me is the duty of the crown prince, so you would protect me from someone who tries to kill me at all cost, but have you ever considered the consequence of your action? Have you ever considered what would happen if you are either able to defeat the one who tries to kill me or defeated by the one who tries to kill me?"
"!" Terrus was shocked after hearing the words of his father.
"That infernal creature from the deepest pit of hell that are trying to kill me…" Emperor Garland glanced at Zetarus for a bit before he continued speaking. "It was trying to kill me no matter what. If it is defeated, it would later come back for another attempt to kill me, and even if you kill it, it would climb back from the deepest pit of hell in order to spread its venom on me. Can you see what I am trying to say?"
"… No matter how much I try…" Terrus slowly spoke up. "If I still stand between the way, I would end up being killed, right?"
"Right." Emperor Garland said. "And if you die, what would the throne of the Dustorm Empire belong to?"
"…" Terrus didn't answer Emperor Garland's question.
"… According to the Royal Law of the Dustorm Empire." It was Natasha who slowly spoke up. "The child born to the empress would hold a higher priority than the child born to the concubine when it comes to the throne. The same thing also applies to the elder child, who holds a higher priority than the younger child, the male child, who holds a higher priority than the female child, and the Ground type child, who holds a higher priority than the non Ground type child. This would mean that, if Terrus dies, the throne of the Dustorm Empire would belong to…"
The end of Natasha's speech turned the attention of everyone to the youngest Garchomp in the rooftop garden, which also generated an expression of shock on everyone's face (Except for Emperor Garland who had a smirk on his face and Terrus whose face remained emotionless), including the one who was now the center of attention.
"… Me?" Zetarus said as he pointed at himself.
"Right." Emperor Garland said. "If Terrus dies, you, the infernal creature from the deepest pit of hell, will become the next emperor of the Dustorm Empire, and what would happen afterward, after you leave the desert nation in the hand of such an infernal creature? Have you ever think about it, Terrus?!"
"…" Terrus said nothing after hearing the words of his father.
"Now, Terrus…" Seeing that his eldest child won't say anything, Emperor Garland spoke up again. "… Will you now step out of my way?"
"Terrus…" Natasha, Largo, Soryl and Freya said as they looked at Terrus.
"… If that's what you want, then I would be obliged." Terrus said. "Natasha, Largo, Freya, Soryl, let's go."
"…" Natasha, Largo, Freya and Soryl nodded to Terrus' words before they slowly stepped out of the way, and Terrus soon followed them, leaving no one else between Emperor Garland and Zetarus!
"Now then…" Emperor Garland was about to shift his attention to the youngest Garchomp in this place when another Pokemon spoke up.
"Father…" The voice of the female Flygon was heard by everyone who was standing in the rooftop garden, turning the attention of everyone, especially her father, to her. "Can… Can I say something first before… the battle?"
"…" Emperor Garland didn't answer his daughter with a word, but with a gesture of nod.
"Thanks…" Freya thanked her father before she stopped speaking for a few second, and soon she continued speaking. "Father… I… I want to apologize… I want to apologize for everything I have done. I know that I don't reach your expectation, and I will never would. And now, I… I have already chosen my own path… Which means that… I am now—"
"That's enough." Emperor Garland suddenly spoke up, interrupting Freya's words. "You have already said too much, and all of them are enough for me to see that you are no different than your pathetic mother."
"F…Father?!" Freya was shocked after hearing Emperor Garland suddenly mention her deceased mother.
"You and your mother are no different than each other, as you both are pathetic, pitiful and miserable." Emperor Garland continued speaking. "But you are far more than your mother, especially for your humility."
"!" Freya and everyone else quickly turned their attention back to Emperor Garland after hearing his words.
"Freya, while your other qualities are nowhere near the rank of good, your humility really surpasses this." Emperor Garland continued speaking. "You always act modest and humble of all time. You always think of everyone else before yourself, despite of your status as a royalty. You are one of three Pokemon in my entire life who possesses as much quality of humility as this, with one of the other two being your mother, and the last one is my beloved Sharon."
"Father…" Freya said.
"Freya, you are the child of mine that I love least of all." Emperor Garland said. "But at the same time, you are also the child that I hate least of all too."
"… Thank you, father." Freya said as she bowed down at her father too.
"So, that's all I have for you, Freya." Emperor Garland said before he shifted his attention to the youngest Garchomp who was standing in the rooftop garden. "Now this brat, on the other hand…"
"…" Zetarus said nothing after hearing Emperor Garland's words. All he did was glaring at him like a ferocious dragon that was glaring at its enemy.
"Well, then…" Emperor Garland said and pointed his claw at Zetarus. "Are you ready for a rematch against me, the emperor of the Dustorm Empire?!"
"… I do." Zetarus answered before turning his attention to the Mega Charizard X who was standing beside him. "Diego, it's time."
"…" Diego, who had been staying silent for quite some time, still kept his silence as he nodded to the Garchomp beside him before he walked away to join with Terrus, Natasha, Largo, Freya and Soryl, leaving Zetarus and Emperor Garland facing each other!
"Before we battle, I want you to look around this place, which is going to be our battlefield." Emperor Garland said as he waved his paw backward, gesturing Zetarus to look around the rooftop garden that he was standing in.
The rooftop garden was perhaps the most beautiful place in the Dustorm Empire, as it was home to many plants, trees and flowers, all which were native to the soil of the desert nation, as well as some of them that came from the other six nations on the continent of Symmetria. This was the only place in the Dustorm Empire that had as much plants as this because most lives couldn't flourish in the harsh climate of the Dustorm Empire, but it could in the right condition of this garden.
The most outstanding plant in this garden was the tree that grew up in the middle of the garden, behind where Emperor Garland was standing. While the tree itself didn't look very impressive, with its trunk being gray and small, and its leaves were small and green, its flowers were one of the most beautiful flowers in this garden, perhaps even the most beautiful one. Each flower had five petals. The rim of the petals was dark pink while the remaining of the petals was light pink.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Emperor Garland spoke up again as he saw that Zetarus' attention was focused on the flowers behind him. "They are called the Desert Rose, which is also the symbol of the Dustorm Empire. It is the beautiful flower that grows up in the harsh climate of the desert, a place where most lives would never hope to flourish, yet the Desert Rose is able to endure such an arduous terrain and finally blooms a beautiful flower."
"…" Zetarus said nothing.
"It was my beloved wife, Sharon, who chose Desert Rose as the symbol of Dustorm Empire." Emperor Garland continued speaking. "She wants us, the royal family of Dustorm Empire, as well as the people of the desert nation, to be able to endure the harsh ordeal and overcome the obstacle in our life, until we are able to flourish and accomplish our objective in life, just like the Desert Rose."
"… What's the point of this ranting of yours?" Zetarus asked with his arms crossed.
"I see that you are far more retarded than I thought…" Emperor Garland said. "Can't you see a bit of this? Can't you see the little resemble between you and the Desert Rose? Can't you see the resemble between the way you and the Desert Rose grow up before both are able to accomplish the mission of their life?"
"…" Zetarus said nothing after hearing the words of Emperor Garland.
"… I think I am wasting my time." Emperor Garland said after he realized that Zetarus won't say anything. "And I think I am tarnishing myself from comparing Desert Rose, the favorite flower of my beloved Sharon, with you, the infernal creature from the deepest pit of hell."
"Finally…" Zetarus said. "I am tired of your ranting, Garland, and I don't even see the point of your ranting."
"You don't?" Emperor Garland spoke with a sarcastic voice. "Very well, then… If you are able to defeat me, I will tell you something even more interesting, something that you may want to hear… Or may not."
"…" Zetarus said nothing after hearing Emperor Garland's words.
"But that's only if you are able to defeat me." Emperor Garland said. "And you should know one more thing. If you lose to me again, I would, once again, punish you with the same method as the last time, except with your remaining eye instead."
"…" Zetarus involuntarily reached his paw to touch the eyepatch that covered his right eye, which was made blind by Emperor Garland after their last fight, and as he looked at Emperor Garland, he could also seen that the emperor, like him, was one-eye blind too, as he also had an eyepatch cover one of his eyes, but Emperor Garland's eyepatch covered his left eye instead of his right eye, showing that it was his left eye that was blind, not his right eye like Zetarus.
"… Then, there's one last thing that I want to ask you before the battle." Zetarus spoke up again as his eyes were fixed at the Garchomp in front of him. "Back before the battle begins, Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya were in my way, and you, being the emperor of Dustorm Empire and their father, have the power to stop this madness from happening." Zetarus glanced at his four siblings who were standing a bit far from him before he continued speaking. "Yet you didn't use it until the last second, until the moment that the battle was about to start. It's understandable that you would do it sooner, for that there would be no bloodshed of your children, or you wouldn't do it at all, as they were protecting you from me, but I don't understand that why would you wait until the last second before you interrupt."
"… I see…" Emperor Garland said. "So, you aren't totally an idiot at all…"
"…" Zetarus said nothing after hearing the words of Emperor Garland.
"Well… The reason being this is because I want to see how far would you willing to go for your objective." Emperor Garland said. "Do you really intend to kill the Emperor of Dustorm Empire, despite that you have to fight its princes and princesses? Do you really determine kill me, despite that you have to kill your own siblings?"
"…" Zetarus still stayed silent while listening to Garland's answer to his question.
"And the answer is… yes." Emperor Garland continued speaking. "You are willing to do anything in order to achieve your goal, even if you have to kill everyone who stands in your way. Nothing would be able to stop you from achieving what you are doing… If it's in a normal condition, the best word to describe your action is 'Ambitious', but in your case, I think 'Tenacious' would suit you better. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
"…" Zetarus didn't answer Emperor Garland's question with words, but with a gesture of nod instead.
"… Enough talking." Emperor Garland said and pointed his claw at Zetarus. "Now, it's the time for the battle of the century! A battle between two Quakersands! A battle between father and son! The winner shall stand on the pillar of triumph while the loser will be sent into the world of eternal darkness! Now, if you want to surpass me, show me how much strength you have obtained during these 3 years! Show me how much of the infernal creature you are!"
Emperor of the Sand
Garland Quakersand the Garchomp
"…" Zetarus glared at the elder Garchomp in front of him, with his paw grabbing on his weapon, the Sniper's Eye. He could see that Emperor Garland was now holding his weapon, the Black Sniper, in his grasp. The weapon in his father's grasp was also the weapon that took away his right eye.
"Now!" Emperor Garland said and pointed his pistol at the Garchomp in front of him. "Die!"
"BANG" A blast of several bullets were fired from Garland's Black Sniper at the same time, and all of them were aiming toward Zetarus!
"DIG!" Zetarus roared as he quickly dug a hole into the floor, evading Garland's first attack!
"You fool!" Emperor Garland roared as he focused an energy into his fist before he slammed it onto the floor, releasing several shock waves along the floor. "EARTHQUAKE!"
"GRRR, YOU BASTARD!" Zetarus was forced to jump out of the floor into the air after the shock wave from Garland's Earthquake hit him with a critical damage. However, while he was in the air, Zetarus pointed his Sniper's Eye at Garland and fired several bullets at the emperor!
"YOU IDIOT!" Emperor Garland roared as he quickly moved away from the spots where the bullets would land, evading all bullets with ease!
"!" Zetarus was clearly surprised when he saw that Garland was able to dodge his attack. He then was about to land on the ground again in front of his opponent…
But…
"DON'T THINK THAT I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A BREAK!" Garland quickly dashed up toward his opponent as Zetarus was about to land on the ground, with his claw pointing forward. He was intending to attack Zetarus as he landed on the ground, so that his opponent won't be able to dodge his attack! "DRAGON CLAW!"
"IRON TAIL!" Just before Garland was able to slash him with his claw, Zetarus's tail suddenly glowed silver and hardened into an iron before he did a midair backflip, countering Garland's attack with the move Iron Tail!
But it didn't stop at that..
"EAT THIS!" As his tail clashed with Garland's claw, Zetarus pointed his Sniper's Eye at Garland before firing several more bullets from it, forcing Garland to retreat away from him!
"Heh… Not bad…" Garland said after he jumped away from Zetarus, enabling Zetarus to land on the floor. "You really have improved after our last battle, infernal creature."
"…" Zetarus said nothing after hearing his father's words.
-Meanwhile…
"That guy…" Largo said while he was watching a battle between Emperor Garland and Zetarus. His attention was now at Zetarus, who had just survived Garland's attack. "He is able to counter father's attack… That's… unbelievable…"
"Zetarus…" Natasha spoke up. "The sparkle in your eyes… Could it be that you are… suffering?"
"Father… Zetarus…" Freya mumbled.
"…" Unlike his sibling, Terrus didn't say anything. All he did was observing the battle with a calm demeanor.
"…" Like Terrus, Soryl also said nothing because he didn't know how to feel about this battle. He hated Emperor Garland, whom he always considered to be his enemy, but he wasn't sure about his feeling toward Emperor Garland's opponent right now, as Emperor Garland's words to him still echoed in his mind.
'… Zetarus…' Standing a bit away from Terrus, Natasha, Largo, Freya and Soryl was Diego, who was observing the battle with a worried look on his face. 'Zetarus' battle style is a long-range attack, but Emperor Garland is good in both close-range and long-range attack, while Zetarus isn't skilled in a close-ranged attack. Emperor Garland must have seen this, and he is trying to expose Zetarus to his weakness. If the battle still goes on like this…"
-Back to the Battle…
Zetarus was gazing at the Garchomp in front of him, trying to come up with something that would help him win the battle against Emperor Garland, as he knew that, if the battle still continued like this, he wouldn't be able to defeat him…
"… Won't attack, hm?" Emperor Garland said before he pointed his pistol at his opponent. "Then… DIE!"
Emperor Garland fired a rain of bullets from his pistol at Zetarus, who dodged his attack by, once again, using the move Dig to go underground.
"THIS WON'T WORK!" Garland roared as he slammed his fist onto the ground, generating several shock waves on the ground with the move Earthquake!
"YAH!" A few second before the shock waves from Garland's Earthquake hit him, Zetarus jumped out of the floor before he did a back flip in the air, with his tail hardened into an iron once again, and slammed his tail on the floor, using the move Iron Tail!
"CRASH!" Zetarus' Iron Tail generated several shock waves on the ground, which crashed into the shock waves from Garland's Earthquake, disabling it!
"Y… YOU!" Garland was amazed that Zetarus was able to counter his Earthquake move, and he didn't notice that Zetarus was rushing up to him, with his tail still hardened like the iron!
"IRON TAIL!" Zetarus roared as he reached where Garland was standing and slammed Garland with his hardened tail!
"OUCH!" Garland roared in pain before his claw was cloaked in the sinister shadow, and it was pointing at Zetarus! "SHADOW CLAW!"
"GRAAA!" Zetarus' tail was hit by Garland's Shadow Claw, forcing him to jump away from his opponent!
"Hm! I must admit that I didn't expect you to approach me in the close range!" Garland said as he was gazing at Zetarus. His voice showed that he was now very angry. "But this battle has already gone too far! Now! It's time to end this!"
Garland then summoned several pointed stones, and all of them were aiming their sharp point at Zetarus. "NOW, DIE, YOU INFERNAL CREATURE! STONE EDGE!"
After finished speaking, all pointed stones were fired at Zetarus at the same time. The result of this attack caused the dust to form at where Zetarus was standing, making it unable to see what happened to Zetarus, or what happened at where Zetarus was standing!
"ZETARUS!" Terrus, Natasha, Largo and Freya cried out at the same time after seeing Zetarus being bombarded by Garland's Stone Edge attack!
"…" Like the royal children of Quakersand, Soryl was shocked after seeing Emperor Garland's brutal attack.
"…" Unlike everyone else, Diego still remained calm, as if he knew what was happening behind the veil of dust…
And then…
"WHOOSH!"
"W… WHAT?!" Emperor Garland, as well as everyone else except for Diego, was shocked as they saw Zetarus jumped out of veil of dust, using the small stones that were still floating in the air as his 'platforms' as he jumped!
"H… How could Zetarus do something like that?!" Largo said.
"And the move he uses…" Natasha spoke as she and everyone observed Zetarus jumping from one stone to another, and it was visible that Zetarus's body was cloaked in a clear light. "That's…"
"… Rock Climb." Terrus finished Natasha's words.
"RAAAWWWRRRRRR!" Zetarus roared as he used his pistol to shoot the remaining pointed stones that were still floating in the air in front of him, sending them back to attack Garland!
"GRAAAAA!" Garland roared in pain and fell on his knee as not only the pointed stones hit his body, but the fragments that split from the stones when the bullets from Zetarus' pistol hit the stones also hit his body and dug into his flesh too!
"NOW!" Zetarus roared as he covered his body with the light blue dragon-shaped energy released from his appendages that made him look like a soaring blue dragon, and he was rushing at wounded Garland! "GO TO HELL, GARLAND! DRAGON RUSH!"
Zetarus slammed his entire body at Garland with full power, attacking the emperor of Dustorm Empire with the move Dragon Rush. The overwhelming power of the attack made Garland unable to withstand the force of his son anymore!
"T… This is it…" Emperor Garland roared as he collapsed on the floor, with his body heavily injured! "T… This is the… Curse of Quakersand…"
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: Comparing to other chapters in Tail 6 and Intermission I, this chapter is a very short chapter, but comparing to other chapters in Tail 1 to Tail 5, this chapter is a quite long one.
At last, the showdown between Garland and Zetarus begins and comes to the end. While the result of the battle means that Zetarus is finally able to complete his lifetime mission, but there are still many unanswered questions left, especially about the 'Curse of Quakersand' that was mentioned by Garland several times in the story…