Disclaimer: I own nothing here.
Peacekeepers
AN: Fun fact time! Just how tall are these characters anyway? Sadly, there is no official record for their height. The Masters game trailer shows them as the same height, however the Masters 8 lineup shows Cynthia is slightly taller. (by about two inches I think) However, she is rocking two-to-three inches of heels!
So, to simplify the matter, my deduction is that they are both around 5'7" (without the heels!) and lets just leave it at that... Now don't get me started on weight! On with the story!
Chapter Three - History
"But you may call him Sir Aaron," Lucario added to his master's introduction with a huff of pride.
"Lucario, take it easy," Aaron chided gently. "I may be newly knighted but that's no reason to flaunt the matter."
"Yes Master," Lucario replied, head bowed in deference.
Steven and Cynthia stared at the man for a moment, because he wore what seemed to both champions, a ridiculous outfit, as if it were pulled straight out of a renaissance drama.
With a spiky blue hat covering most of his unruly, dark blue hair, he wore a long black cape that nearly touched the ground. His sleeved tunic was gray and blue, as were his pants and boots. On his hands he wore blue gloves with curious pearl-like spheres equipped at the dorsal. In his right hand he held a unique pewter staff with a fist sized pale gemstone fixed at the top, encircled by two metal rings from which two metal chimes also hung.
"You two look like you've had a rough day," Aaron commented, apparently having analyzed them in turn. He held up his free hand to his chest in a polite gesture. "Lucario and I hail from the kingdom of Rota and we've traveled here to serve as peacekeeping ambassadors. We might be able to help you if you don't mind telling us your situation?"
Cynthia and Steven shared a questionable look. Neither were sure if they should divulge the truth of their predicament, it being so ridiculous that it was unlikely to be believed.
"I'm concerned about our actions having adverse affects on the future," Steven murmured to Cynthia beside him, initiating what he hoped was a private conversation, though if Aaron or Lucario could hear, it was of little consequence without proper context.
Cynthia nodded thoughtfully in return and spoke in a similar undertone. "Yes, but I doubt Celebi would have brought us here if that was a danger."
Steven nodded back. "Good point." He cast Aaron a glance. "He seems honorable enough. Do you think he'll believe the truth?"
Cynthia did the same and hummed, contemplating. "I think we need to try. If we're going to survive here then we need a guide and he seems to be offering." She gave Garchomp a sharp look when the dragon had grown offended by something Aggron did and snapped her maw at him with a hiss.
Steven nodded in silent agreement and gave Aggron a similar glare for whatever the disagreement was about.
The two had gradually leaned closer to each other in their deliberation, and to Aaron they simply looked like a young couple, dutifully discussing their future plans together. They were a curious pair, with their partner Pokémon looking over them and hanging on their every word as though the world itself hung in the balance.
He offered an amiable smile as they moved to face him again. "Have you reached an accord?"
"We have," Steven said, glancing to Cynthia as she gestured for him to explain and introduce them properly. It didn't take nearly as long to recount their situation as he thought it would and when he finished, both Aaron and Lucario were staring back, speechless for a long moment.
"Well!" Aaron responded with an impressed laugh. "That's not at all what I was expecting to hear!"
Both trainers took their turn to be momentarily silent before Steven broached cautiously, "what exactly were you expecting then?"
Bringing his free hand to his chin thoughtfully, Aaron hummed. "Well, I imagined the two of you were runaways, having escaped arranged marriages in order to be together." He laughed again, hand to head sheepishly. "Boy, was I way off!"
Both champions blinked at him in a blend of bewilderment and embarrassment. "Is that really the impression we give?" Steven wanted to know, giving Cynthia a sidelong, strained smile, to which she mirrored perfectly.
"Well, my mother always did say I had an active imagination," Aaron mended, his smile fading to soberness. "At any rate, I can't say I'm that surprised by your story."
"You're... not?" Cynthia questioned, dubious.
"Well, for one thing, Pokémon are incredible, their powers both amazing and mysterious." Aaron drew his hand back up to his chin, his gaze scanning over the pair as if they were cover in mud. "For another, your clothes are rather peculiar now that I think about it..."
Lucario's head suddenly shot up, his sensory appendages vibrating as he was alerted to a far away disturbance. "Master, that army is changing course."
All three humans looked up at that, realizing at once that the army they had heard marching outside their shelter of trees had moved on. Whatever Lucario had sensed was privy to him and his unique senses alone. "That's odd," Aaron muttered, eyes focused in deep thought. "Are they headed for Lord Kenshin's camp instead?"
After a moment of concentration, Lucario shook his head. "No, they seem to be looping back around to Avia's canyon... Do you suppose they're regrouping?"
Aaron thought for another moment, their conversation might as well have been gibberish to the time travelers. "I don't know, but retreating before they've met any force is unlikely."
"Perhaps they wanted to secure this "Celebi" that our friends here mentioned had been taken?" Lucario ventured.
"Hm, that could be," Aaron agreed with a nod. "Nobunaga is notorious for his obsession with new or unusual powers."
Although they had stayed silent during the speculation, both Steven and Cynthia practically chorused when they heard that name. "Nobunaga!?"
"The Nobunaga?" Steven repeated in disbelief and could almost feel himself going pale with dread.
In contrast, Cynthia's eyes were glinting with wonder. Having an innate obsession with old ruins and history, getting the chance to actually live during the time of Nobunaga's conquest seemed like a dream come true.
"Oh? Do you know of him from your era?" Aaron wanted to know.
"Yes, of course," Cynthia replied, perhaps a little too excited by the topic. "He was-" she started to delve into a history lesson but Steven caught her attention with an index finger brought to his lips. Right, they should probably avoid speaking of the future if they could help it. "That is, he was a very notable person in our history."
"I see," Aaron's reply was calculating, though if his thoughts were suspicious he kept them to himself. "At any rate, if it is Nobunaga that now possesses this "Celebi" that you need, then you are going to need more than just myself and Lucario's help to get it back."
"Master, we can't get involved in a war," Lucario said, concerned. "As peacekeepers, we are supposed to remain neutral."
Aaron smiled proudly at his partner. "Yes, Lucario, you are correct. However, neither can we ignore someone in need of help. I have an idea that I think will at least get them close to their goal."
"As you say, Master." Lucario dipped his head again, appearing relieved.
"Right then," Aaron said as he regarded them in turn. "Steven, Cynthia, if you would follow me, I'll lead you to an army camp that is much less hostile than the one from earlier." He stepped to lead he way out of the forest with Lucario leaping into the trees, presumably to scout ahead.
Cynthia and Steven followed, their four Pokémon trailing after them. Steven was thankful that they seemed to be heading in a direction away from that earlier army... Even though that's probably where Celebi had been taken, he still didn't want to think about having to engage with actual warlords, who fought not for sport and self-improvement but for blood and conquest.
"Is there someone at this camp that can help us?" Cynthia wondered, her mind clearly on a more proactive track than Steven's.
Aaron turned his head in answer. "I'm taking you to speak with Lord Shingen of the Terrera Kingdom. He is an honorable man and I believe he will listen to your situation and possibly even offer some assistance in your plight."
"Lord Shingen too?" Cynthia murmured, ruminating and pulling pieces together from memory. She looked to Steven expectantly. "Did Celebi really send us all the way back to the feudal era? Isn't that around, oh I don't know, four hundred years ago?"
Steven thought for a moment, hand to chin. "Hmm, well, my memory on that particular era is rather foggy. I might recognize the names of prominent figures but dates and specific details were not a priority in my studies."
Cynthia nodded compliantly, she couldn't attest to studying the subject as heavily as she maybe should have.
While the two deliberated, they had unintentionally fallen behind as Aaron and Lucario drew ahead a good distance. The thick foliage was giving Cynthia a hard time in her heels, which she quickly resolved to rectify as soon as proper replacements became available. Thankfully, Steven remained close by to offer a hand in assistance more than once.
Normally, Cynthia would have opted to simply ride Garchomp and rise above the trees altogether, but that would probably attract unwanted attention. As it was, Garchomp and Aggron were having just as much difficulty maneuvering their bulk around or through the thick branches and vines. Togekiss and Skarmory were content to simply ride on the backs of their struggling comrades, rough ride as it was.
Since Aaron seemed to be out of earshot, Cynthia deemed it safe enough to discuss the state of things a bit more. "What are your thoughts on Nobunaga?" she asked as Steven helped her over a particularly large and unstable tree root.
Idly, she noticed his hands were pleasantly warm while the two rings he wore on both hands felt slightly cool against her skin. She had to consciously refocus when he let go of her. "Do you think our history about him is true?"
He seemed disinclined to answer at first, as if the subject unnerved him. "I'm not sure. The history lessons all paint him into this sort of, entity of pure evil. But in my experience, there is no such thing. No single being is pure evil or pure good."
Cynthia stared at him for a moment, both impressed and speechless by his insight. Briefly, she forgot that she was supposed to keep moving and scrambled to catch up when he paused to check on her. "That's- I mean, yes I agree!"
"However," Steven added once she caught up, his glacier eyes sharp with intellect. "I am inclined to believe the notion that he was indeed merciless in his campaign. He may have had upright goals in mind, but I've dealt with his kind in the past and I am firm in my belief that ends do not justify the means."
Again, she was caught off guard by how similarly they thought on the matter. "My thoughts exactly! Steven, you don't happen to have the ability to read minds, do you?"
"Huh?" He blinked at her before recognizing the joke. "Of course not. Though I will admit, at times it seems like my Metagross can read mine." He offered an uncomfortable smile. "It's unnerving."
Cynthia released an amused breath as he helped her up a slippery, steep incline. As they began to catch up to Aaron, her thoughts grew troubled again. "I hope Celebi will be ok. Not just because we need her to get home, but because Nobunaga..." She felt the words die off in her mouth, unable to voice her dark thoughts.
Steven seemed to know what she meant. "I don't think he'll hurt her. Anyone with eyes should be able to see that she's... special."
His words seemed to ease her mind, if only just a little. "Still, I want to save her as soon as possible."
Steven tipped his head in a mild, placating gesture. "I agree."
AN: Just to clarify, this story has nothing to do with Legends Arceus. I started brainstorming this story in Jan 2021, just prier to that game's announcement. (Tho there's no way I can prove this) This story is, however, heavily inspired by the Sengoku Basara anime as well as the Pokémon Conquest game. I highly recommend checking out both, tho the game may be hard to get a hold of...
/o/o/ Bonus scene:
Garchomp: "Why is your master so close to my master? Tell him to back off!"
Aggron: "Tell him yourself!"
Garchomp: "I'm not allowed to threaten humans unless master says- Oh..." (gets a glare from master, hangs head)
Aggron: "Ha! Serves you ri- Oh..." (also gets a glare, hangs head) "But I didn't do anything..."