Ecruteak City, 74 days Before the Fall
Sometimes, she wondered how things were in Castelia, and then she would usually recoil at the thought of the slums altogether. But then again, had she never been such a stupid kid and listned to her father, she would without a doubt be someone and something entirely different. She certainly wouldn't have been a thief, or there for that matter.
Victoria stared at the hand in front of her, mildly aware of Cody next to her, which was admittedly sloppy of her. She followed this hand up to a chest of tawny brown and animal hide, up to a face with sharp eyes, dark hair and an edged smirk that reminded her keenly of her own.
This boy, this "Marus" clearly felt like he had some kind of power over her.
How she was itching to prove him wrong.
"What do you say? Help me, and I'll help you." Ridicule twitched through her face. He was going to help her? Victoria gave him a second look over. He couldn't have been older than Cody. She went to speak but her voice caught in her throat as she thought she had seen something in his face physically change.
His eyes suddenly seemed too old. His face was suddenly more full and sharp. He seemed, suddenly, like a man. She wondered if Cody had seen what she thought she saw. She wondered actually, if Cody was even paying attention to Marus at all. His eyes were more than likely on her as per usual and of course they were. She was very strong, after all. Victoria let the corners of her lips pull up into a sneer.
"You think I'm going to help you? I don't have the slightest clue of who you even are."
"Yeah, and showing up in…whatever that is, doesn't help sell you either!" Oh Cody…He was ever the comedian and always picking new things up. Sometimes, Victoria wished that Connor had decided to stay around a little bit longer, if only to help her with Cody picking up some of his less-than-savory habits.
Marus withdrew his hand.
"So, you're giving up on Ryuu already?" Fury burned into her veins. He had said that with a snicker and Victoria responded in turn with one of her own; her off-hand twitched at the smoke bombs at her side.
"I don't know if I'll throw my hand in with some half-naked caveman. And you think that I'll buy that spiel about your magic or whatever? Oh, come on." Marus's frown fell then to something like disappointment.
"So you really have given up on him."
"Shut up. You don't know shit about him." The anger lined her voice like sulfur. It made her throat burn uncomfortably. She frowned un-amused. "And, how come I've never heard of you even being mentioned if you know about Ryuu?" Nothing Marus said even made sense to her and it was irritating to say the least that he would throw him in her face like that.
Then she was snapping at him. She would have preferred to keep her cool, but it was something about the way Marus looked at her so assured and fearless, bordering on arrogance. Like she wasn't a threat to him.
How she wanted to prove him wrong.
"You keep throwing that man in my face like that's going to get you what you want!" Marus stood there, face blank, which was a mockery in itself. "Hey, are you gonna' answer me or not!?"
"You must be itching to prove me wrong, huh?" Victoria paused then, and made note of the reaction that she felt in her body in response to his words. The tension in her neck, back and shoulders, her racing thoughts of confusion and hyper-vigilance. Each one of them passed and she held firm until one had caught her off guard.
Had he just scared her?
No. No, no no…
Cody had taken notice, because Victoria could feel his eyes on her even more so now, and rather than the usual awe and respect that were held in them, Victoria felt something very different. Something like concern.
"Hey, sis, Are you okay…?" Victoria found that she couldn't say anything in response. When she didn't respond, she felt Cody's attention shift onto Marus and Victoria had begun to desperately piece herself together. Victoria hadn't really been scared of anything or anyone. Not since Castelia. Not since she met Ryuu.
A Poke Ball snapped open on it's own accord, and Marus made distance between them, far more seasoned and skilled than Victoria would like to admit. Taking shape between them was her Kingdra.
That's right; she wasn't weak anymore.
"Kingdra…!" Her dragon was already moving ahead of her in command. She was moving so fast in fact, that Victoria saw Marus's face twist in something that was akin to shock, and that in itself was reassuring. He had managed to get by a few passes from her Kingdra. He had even managed to disengage skillfully as well. Although Victoria could see it in Marus's face that he was clearly taken aback by the pressure. His arrogance shifted then.
He was angry now, and Victoria could have sworn that she had seen shadows of wrinkles come and go across his face. He held his ground as Kingdra came after him again. Something still didn't feel quite right.
"Kingdra!" Her Pokemon froze there in place, and then pulled back as a beam of light passed through the space where her Kingdra had been standing. Victoria pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth to keep from making a noise of bewilderment.
She had never once seen light brought together in a physical form like she was seeing now. She never even really thought that light was really a tangible thing. But there it was formed into this boy's, or man's, whichever really applied to him, hands.
His smirk came back, and so did the same feeling Victoria had felt from earlier. He went into position and the light in his hands came together piece by piece, solidifying into an archaic piece of metal.
A sword.
What the hell is he…?
He snapped forward, the smirk still in place and as condescending as ever. He was quick, something that Victoria had figured from how he engaged her Kingdra, but he was faster than she had given him credit for.
She suddenly remembered that Cody was there with her, and she managed to steal a glance over to him.
He stood wide-eyed, his attention entirely ahead of him and on Marus. Cody was always taken with the strong. It was why he watched her so closely with all of the love and admiration in the world. It was also why he watched Marus with such an expression in his eyes and on his face. Marus was strong, far stronger than him.
And stronger than her. He had only ever known Ryuu and Connor to be above her, and the very thought of someone outside of either of them left him terrified.
Ice crept into her fingers and for a split second, she panicked.
"Snipe!" Kingdra snapped into place then between both her and Cody in an instant. Victoria felt the air around her shift as her Kingdra took an inhale from her nozzle. She saw Marus halt then, sliding forward a bit in an attempt to get his bearings. There was no mercy to be had for him, she decided.
He was dangerous.
There was a muted snap, and Victoria felt her body thrum with an acute ringing, enough to make her nauseous. She thought of how she felt the same way facing off with Jaret from the valley. She wore nausea well, she supposed. She made note of the grass that rolled along with the pressure of Kingdra's Hydro Pump. She saw a glisten in the sun just as it struck Marus in the shoulder.
Victoria heard tearing, no, shredding and saw in real time Marus's flesh cave and twist from Kingdra's bullet as it passed into and through him. It was enough to knock him from his feet and shift all of that rage he held just seconds ago into something similar to awe. His body hit the ground with a heavy thud and the following moments were silent.
Victoria heard rough breathing as she called back her Kingdra. It was panting really and gathering herself, she turned to Cody to comfort him and was thoroughly surprised when he threw his arms around her and hugged her tight.
"It's okay. He's down now." Victoria blinked because that wasn't her voice but Cody's and that the hard breathing that she had tuned into had been her own. She looked back over to the body; It didn't move.
Am I…scared…? Of him…?" She turned back to Cody, and held him close. No, I was…scared for him…right…?
"I don't know what that was all about," he continued. "But, you got em, sis." He wasn't as chipper as he usually was, and his voice was layered a little thick with a grounded tone that she didn't hear often from him. Being around Connor and Ryuu, there never really was a time he had to.
"Tch. Nice monster you got there." The ice in Victoria's finger returned a third time, this time working its way all the way into her face. She turned back to the body and found him full on his feet.
And with a perfectly intact shoulder. Ice worked its way into her chest; Victoria rooted herself to the spot. There was something itching at the corners of her eyes; Castelia came to mind.
"You have no idea," she spat.
"What was that?" Marus's voice had dropped in pitch; he had the voice of a seasoned veteran, nothing like before. "That one actually floored me for a few minutes." His eyes narrowed, and on his lips appeared that very same smirk. "I hope I never have to go through that again…"
Victoria found that she couldn't hold his eyes and looked downward into the dirt. She wasn't a threat to him.
"But you're strong." She looked up and suddenly he was there so quickly that she hadn't even heard him approach. He was shorter than she was up close, the top of his head reaching to just above her chest.
That did not stop him from striking her just as fast and harder than she thought possible. Her head burst with a sharp pain and she lost her footing except…
Her feet were snatched from under her; Marus had struck quick and Victoria went down. Light danced in her vision and the ringing in her head sharpened as she lay there. There was the familiar click of a poke-ball, but she had no idea who had even come out to battle.
She had been floored relatively easily but all she could think about in that moment was Cody.
She had to get up. She wobbled to her feet, slipping once onto her knee. Her head protested. She heard growling, familiar growling.
"Vicky!" Cody… Her vision came to, and she felt herself being held up. Victoria was far too embarrassed to look down at him. "Sis," She caught the worry and strain in his voice. Or maybe it was a twinge of fear and anger. It was a little hard to tell. "I'm…I'm strong. Maybe not as strong as you, but I can fight–"
"No." She had said that with more solidity than she had felt.
"Why not? I won't let him smack you around like that!" She took a moment to catch her breath, and kept her focus ahead and on Marus.
He was fucking with her. Someway, somehow, he was doing everything he was doing to unravel her, and it was working. She tightened her focus onto him, and lifted herself from Cody and stumbled a slight bit. He had gotten her good.
"I don't think you're in any condition to fight." He had said that with a frown.
"You shouldn't even be standing." He shrugged; his expression was impassive. "You should really think about my offer."
"Shut it."
"Don't be stupid."
"Takes one to know one." He snickered at that, and Victoria realized that it was a very bland thing to say. Something very childish.
"That sounds like something a slum rat from Castelia would have said. But you're stronger now, aren't you?"
Victoria's entire body ran cold.
And, there was that strange itching in her eyes that just so happened to show up again. It spread down her face and to her chin.
Oh shit. These were tears, she realized.
She also realized then, that she, in this moment was stupid child again. At her belt, she had all of the strength in the world and right now, none of that seemed to matter.
She was a rat back in Castelia.
But, how did he know anything about her, and Castelia, no less? Another thought crossed her mind; something desperate. Could he really help her?
Cody stepped in front of her.
"Hey, shithead!" That was such a Connor thing to say. When he wasn't acting, anyway. "I don't know what you're about, but I'm gonna' make you regret this if you don't cut the crap!" Victoria wiped her face. Cody looked so strong, another feeling came to her.
She was proud. His Arcanine stood at the ready. There was a smirk on his face too. Mostly confident and a little cocky. The two were definitely suited for each other. Marus looked past him and directly at her.
"You're the stronger of you two, so I'll offer you one more time. You help me out, and I can help you out." Victoria was standing again. she had recollected herself and took her spot next to Cody. She wasn't going to leave him to fend for himself. She never did. "I can make you strong again." Victoria had expected the fear and it came, but she was ready this time. She took a deep breath to steel herself.
"Hey shithead! Don't count me out!" Then, Cody turned to her. His voice was heavy and low. "Vicky, I have an idea." More pride; Victoria raised a brow at that.
"You do?" Cody nodded, and then, without warning he hugged her again.
She felt one of her smoke bombs unhook from her belt. She started at first, but quickly realized that it was an act. She watched as Cody stepped over to Arcanine, patting him lovingly and running his fingers through his mane. Cody turned back to Marus.
"I hope you're ready." Marus shrugged, almost carelessly. He was arrogant. Maybe he really was careless too.
"Alright, I'll entertain you too." He looked to Victoria then. "But it's on your head if he dies." That one nearly sent her after him but Victoria held her place and her hand at the ready. He turned back to Cody, his weapon at the ready. Cody remained still which was very unlike him.
Marus took a step forward and when Victoria saw Arcanine vanish from the space next to Cody, she understood. Arcanine was there in Marus's guard, but strangely, almost too calmly, Marus reacted and twisted to his side to take a swipe at Arcanine.
The dog vanished again but this time in a plume of smoke. Arcanine formed at Cody's side then. Wait, was that it? Cody tossed a poke-ball into Arcanine's mouth and he disappeared again, and back into the plume. Victoria caught sight of the red light of the poke-ball. She got it now.
Ambush was the name of the game. Maybe I've been babying him a little too much lately, she thought warmly.
They both heard contact from the plume and Victoria could only assume that Marus was on the back foot. It proved true when they both caught sight of Marus rushing from the smoke carrying a slash across his face and a deep bite into his side.
There was no question that he was really hurt now.
He also was heading toward them both, weapon in hand and still poised in position.
He can't be human… Arcanine appeared again at Cody's side and Victoria saw Marus's focus dart over to him. He had expected another smoke bomb and ambush that never neither came, at least not in the way he had expected. The earth broke under his feet and he was thrown into the air, slashed upwards by Cody's Sandslash; Victoria saw his body go limp.
But Victoria had to be sure.
She clicked open Kingdra's ball and gave a curt single nod to invite the twisting of her insides. Victoria usually chose to stay away from overdoing it, but she had to be certain. Kingdra's second bullet made contact, like the first. It was still powerful enough to punch through him, this time through his chest. Victoria watched him fall from and like before, Marus's body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
That had to be the end of him, and also like before, Marus did not move. Victoria passes a glance over to Cody. It had dawned on her that she couldn't remember if he had ever done this kind of thing before. His face was stern, if not a little dazed. She watched as he took a deep breath, eyes closed as if to register everything. He opened his eyes and turned to her but his expression and voice remained heavy.
"Sis, I think we should get going." There might have been a bit of haste in his voice. "We don't want Ryuu to get too far, right?"
"Y-yeah." Victoria cursed herself for the slight stutter. If anything, encountering Marus had been more harrowing for her. She had thought initially he wasn't going to be a problem, but the remarks about Ryuu, and Castelia…
She shook her head, and turned to head back into Ecruteak. They were going to take a different route, she decided. She could still feel the slightest thrum in her skull; he had gotten her really good. They were quiet as they headed back into town.
It wasn't until the two of them were just a little ways outside of Ecruteak that Cody seemed to relax back into himself, even if just a little bit. Victoria, in contrast, felt her focus sharpen and Cody took notice. Se could feel him frowning at her, with that same feeling of concern.
Victoria hated it.
"Sis–"
"I'm fine, Cody." She was facing the path back out completely. Ice tingled at the ends of her fingers. "You should go get us a place to rest in town." His frown deepened and his voice fell back into somber.
"I didn't get him, did I?" Victoria didn't say anything. "Then let me help you! We caught him off guard before, we just have to make sure we really get him this time! We–" She turned to him with fury and his words caught in his throat.
"I said go." He obeyed shuffling hesitant at first before turning back into the city. She turned back toward Marus. He was so pissingly annoying. And somehow, alive. "I saw you die." There was a slight quiver in her voice. "No one should be alive after any of that.
"You don't know what you saw." He was right. Victoria had no idea what she had seen, or what she exactly was dealing with this time around. She only knew for certain that she wasn't going to let Cody get involved in this fight. Kingdra's ball was in her hand at the ready.
"Then explain it to me."
"Oh, I won't be doing that. You're far too dangerous." He sneered. "I have to admit, that was clever on his part."
"You haven't seen anything yet."
"Is that right? So I should let him live, is what you're saying?"
"Is that a threat!?"
"Is that desperation I'm hearing?"
"Shut up!"
"Or you'll what?"
"I'll–" and then she paused. She had seen Marus hit with two Hydro Pumps, each brimming with power, with Mastery and he had walked away from each of them. She had seen and heard the mutilation of his body, the tearing and shredding of his flesh and the impact of his body against the dirt in full detail.
And he had gotten up.
If he had survived all of that, then she certainly didn't believe she could actually kill him, did she?
"I'll…" She crumpled to her knees. She had thought that she had become different. She thought she had become stronger than before. She never thought she would be the scared Victoria Reed from Castelia, the one that had to slink through her jobs with deception and luck.
The one who had been largely at the mercy of those stronger than her.
She thought of Ryuu and Connor. They were so, so strong. And they would have never found themselves in a situation like this. It had always seemed to be that way and was why she took her moments of power with great pleasure.
She thought of the Charicific Valley. And here she was, unable to win and forced to submit. Damn it, were her eyes itching again?
"I'll…help you out. Just…hold up your end, and please don't hurt Cody…" Victoria kept her head low and her eyes on his feet as he moved toward her. She could feel him observing her, could feel his signature sneer as he looked down on her.
"Good. I'm glad we've come to an agreement."
A/N: It has been FAR too long. So much to say in so little space, so I'll keep it short. There's been a lot of aging in the real world and I would like to think that my writing has gotten better over time, so for anyone that's read all of Phoenix Pt.1 and have enjoyed it, thank you so much. I can admit that I was trying a little too hard (In both demeanor and style) but I hope to really do this and Astral (Phoenix Pt.2). I didn't forget about you guys, and I don't know if the OC submitters are even still active but a real thank you to them too. I know things are...less than savory right now, but I'm hopeful be able to do their characters justice! (OR so I hope...) Super grateful for everything!
- Reknownst