A/N: Happy New Year's to all readers, new and old! Welcome to my attempt at turning Pokémon Conquest into a far more mature epic, suitable for the ages of us who played the game when it first came out. Let there be adventure, politics, violence, humor, and even romance!
Those who have known me long enough will be well-familiar with my liking of the Fire Emblem series, which I honestly think may have been ignited by the very game that this story is based on. I know that the Emblem games have been around since well before Conquest, but I had never played one before finishing this delightful crossover game. Now, then... let us see what happens when I let my brain take the reins on this odd idea!
Seriously, if they were gonna go for a Fire Emblem feel on this game, why not make shipping between the warlords an actual mechanic?
P.S. Be sure to stick around after the omake for some announcements concerning the scheduling of this story, as well as a preview of the next chapter.
Warlord
"It must be done."
Keihatsu's mouth set in a grim line as he heard these words come from Tsunehisa, his oldest and most accomplished advisor. The man was stooped with age, but he still managed to carry himself elegantly, dressed in robes of green and brown that somehow complimented his lengthy snow-white beard. Seeing the displeased look on his master's face, he gave a respectful bow, accompanied by the words, "Forgive my rudeness, Lord, but there is little choice in the matter." As he straightened, he continued, "If you are to stand strong in the face of the public, you cannot avoid taking a wife to serve at your side. The people are looking to you for a firm, guiding hand, and if history has shown us anything, it is that those who cannot govern a household of children and their spouse are doomed to fail as leaders."
"You go too far with your insolence!" another man shouted, this one dressed in a warrior's armor of grey and silver trim. "Simply because you have advised the last two warlords does not give you the right to-"
"Peace, Takanobu," their master commanded firmly. When both of them- along with another experienced warrior named Naoshige- turned to look at him directly, the young man said, "His concerns are valid, and I am not interested in a sugarcoated version of the truth. I welcome his frankness."
The issue that the four men had gathered to discuss entailed the future of the kingdom that the advisors served, and Keihatsu now ruled as of only a few weeks ago. The land of Aurora had suffered hostilities from a neighboring country since the death of its previous warlord, and the new ruler felt that it was time that something be done to assuage the concerns of his frightened citizens. However, as it so often does, what started as a potential war council had quickly turned into a game of politics, much to Keihatsu's annoyance, though he did his best not to let it show.
"Then you agree with Sir Tsunehisa?" Naoshige inquired. "Will you take a wife from the women of your kingdom?" Of the three warriors that served as advisors to the warlord of the land called Aurora, he spoke the least, and when he did, his powerful voice held sway over the other two men.
"No, not at all," Keihatsu said, holding up a hand to forestall any protests from Tsunehisa. "I'll not bind a woman in marriage to me if it is not her heart's desire, and I'll certainly not do it merely for the sake of my public image."
"Then how are we to present a sense of security to those watching your movements?" Tsunehisa asked as he wrung his hands. "Besides, I hardly think that you'll be able to find a lady in Aurora that wouldn't be willing to marry you, my lord. You are quite the catch."
He wasn't exactly wrong. Keihatsu was a young warrior, strong of body, and keen of mind. His sapphire blue eyes were entrancing to look into, and a kind face framed them, complete with a small nose and soft brown hair above his slender eyebrows. Many ladies of his kingdom found him pleasing to look at, even if from a distance.
A faint smile touched Keihatsu's lips as he replied, "You flatter me, old man, but my decision remains unchanged. Besides, I hardly think that a wedding will see to the security of our borders."
"How then should we respond to the provocations of Lord Hideyoshi?" Takanobu inquired. "This is the fourth time since you took the throne that he has sent warriors to skirmish with our border patrols." He was speaking of a country to the north of their nation, a place of fire and lava fields that had been causing the new Lord of Aurora several headaches in the last two months.
"Are the defenses holding?" Keihatsu asked, drumming his fingers on the arm of his seat. He had directed the question to Naoshige, who now re-examined a scroll that he had been holding onto.
"For now, my lord," he answered at length before lowering the parchment. "But too many men were wounded in the last encounter. I do not know that we could repel another attack without reinforcements."
"Then we shall reinforce them," Keihatsu said, startling his council.
"My lord, surely you don't mean-"
"You wanted me to present a strong image to the public," the young man said as he stood up from his seat, his blue eyes flashing with a fierce light. "What stronger picture could I paint for my subjects than that of a leader willing to risk his own safety on their behalf?"
"Milord, forgive my impertinence, but I must protest this," Takanobu said quickly. "Please, allow my men and I to repel those Ignisian dogs."
Keihatsu clucked his tongue with disapproval before saying, "I will forgive impertinence, but not slanders against our fellow man. Mind your tongue if you wish for me to pay heed to the words that spill from it."
Takanobu reddened slightly, but he gave his lord a deep bow before saying, "Yes, my lord. My sincerest apologies."
His master nodded in acceptance of the words, before turning to Naoshige, who- like his fellow advisors- appeared troubled. "I see something on your mind," he said. "Speak it."
"I admire your determination to help our people in so noble a fashion," the experienced warrior began. "However, I urge you to reconsider. Sir Takanobu is more than capable of handling this, and such a maneuver would not put your safety at risk. Aurora has lost her last warlord too soon- imagine what would happen if you were to perish without an heir to your throne."
Their young leader frowned slightly at his advisor's words, but he could see the reasoning behind them, much as he disliked it. However… "I have trained my entire life to battle, and no one in this kingdom, not even the three of you standing before me, have been able to best me and my partner in combat," he asserted. "I can handle a few ruffians. If it will ease your concerns, Takanobu may accompany me into battle, along with his warriors."
"You will not change your stance on this?" Tsunehisa asked wearily, aware of his leader's stubborn nature. "I do not think that Lord Avohkii would have approved of this."
"As we are all aware, my father is not here to make these decisions, much as I wish he were," Keihatsu replied, suddenly appearing weary, and causing his subordinate to immediately regret his words. However, the warlord straightened himself and declared, "I am here, though. And as warlord, I am ordering you to abide by my decision, even if you do not like it. Takanobu, we leave tomorrow at first light. Tsunehisa, I will leave you as acting steward while Naoshige sees to it that our city has enough warriors to defend it, should we be unable to repel the next attack at the border."
He saw the looks of defeat flicker across his men's faces, but they all touched their fists to their hearts and said in unison, "As you decree, Lord Keihatsu."
"Gentlemen, you are dismissed."
Keihatsu let out a long sigh as he sat in the soft grass of the royal gardens, smiling as he felt a familiar bundle of soft fur settle into his lap. "Hello, Eevee," he said as he patted his pokémon on his sandy-gray colored head, rubbing the spot between its ears, causing it to close its eyes in bliss as he massaged his head. "I've had a most interesting afternoon." The pokémon was actually a different color to the usual brown-and-tan fur patterns that one would normally find on the rare creature, and his lighter shade of hair had made him a source of endless fascination for a younger Keihatsu.
He and Eevee were linked to one another, sharing in a bond that connected their hearts and minds so much so that they could communicate wordlessly. It came in handy during battle against other warriors, but Keihatsu enjoyed the closeness that it granted him with his partner. He often felt as though his pokémon was his closest friend, and the only one that truly understood the struggles that he now faced as the new warlord of Aurora. His advisors were good men, but ever since taking the throne, Keihatsu had not had the time or energy to invest in his old friendships like he used to, even with the other members of the noble houses. Moments of quiet peace like this were hard to come by, and he relished in the opportunity to relax with his partner.
Through his psychic link with the little creature, he could sense its curiosity, so he elaborated by saying, "Tsunehisa wanted me to get married in order to present the public with an image of a strong, capable leader. Something to do with a history lesson about rulers that don't have a good handle on their household not making good leaders?"
He smiled as he felt Eevee's irritation at the thought of having to share his lifelong partner with someone else, but he soothed the animal's injured feelings with another pat on the head and the words, "Don't worry, my friend. I told him that wouldn't be happening- much to his irritation, I might add." He knew that if Eevee were capable of doing so, he would have laughed then. "They are right about needing to give the citizens something positive to consider, though, especially since I inherited the throne from Father instead of winning it in combat like the other warlords of Ransei. Many of them doubt my ability to protect them, especially with all the fighting at the border. So we're going to head out to the north and teach the next set of soldiers that come along from Ignis a few manners."
From Eevee, he received a mixed sense of worry and excitement, which prompted him to say, "Me too. It's been some time since we've had a chance to battle, but I'll be glad when it's over." Keihatsu closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, enjoying the fresh breeze and the warmth of the setting sun. "Still, it'll be nice to get out of the palace, even if just for a few days."
Eevee made a small grunt of agreement before turning its head to indicate that he wanted a scratch on his chin. With another smile, Keihatsu obliged.
Here's to hoping that my confidence doesn't turn out to be hubris.
Later that afternoon, he took to his normal routine, sharing in an early dinner with his advisors and other members of the noble houses of Aurora, followed by a brief meditation session with Eevee.
The sun had nearly set when he approached the main gates of his castle, four warriors and their pokémon ready and waiting to accompany him on his daily excursion into the evening marketplace. Each of them were nearly as young and fresh-faced as he was, but he had known two of them in passing growing up, and more importantly, knew of their talent on the battlefield. As such, he trusted them when they vouched for his other guards in their ability to keep him and Eevee safe in the unlikely event of an attack.
The visits into the public had been a long-standing habit of his father, who had said that it did a leader good to be among the people that he was sworn to serve and protect, even if only for an hour or so each day. It helped them relate to one another by interacting directly with each other, and the old warlord had not missed a single stroll while he stayed in the city, even when the sickness that had claimed his life began to eat away at his health.
Keihatsu's advisors had tried to object to him continuing the tradition, for fear of Ignis' ambitions of conquering their lands by either kidnapping him, or worse, trying to kill him. He had refused to cave into their worries, however, though Tsunehisa had insisted on providing him with an escort made up of his best and brightest soldiers.
"We stand ready, my lord," said one of them, a man named Munezane, his Starly warbling happily from his shoulder as it greeted Keihatsu's Eevee. Like him and every other warrior on the continent of Ransei, Keihatsu's men shared in psychic links with their pokémon, though they could not boast to have one so strong as their master and his partner.
"Very good," the warlord said as he squared his shoulders. "Let's get a move on, then."
The gates to his palace swung open, allowing them passage out into the main road that ran through and into the heart of the city. Already he could hear the noises of the commoners going about their day-to-day life coming from the market, and he smiled to himself, eager to meet his subjects. Some he would not know, while others he would greet by name, after having met them many times before.
"A fine evening for a stroll my lord," said another one of his soldiers. "I can see why you so enjoy the chance to stretch your legs." His pokémon, Rufflet, squawked in agreement from its perch on his shoulder as it looked up at a clear sky carrying a cool breeze to stave off the last remnants of the day's early springtime warmth.
Unlike what he had been told of warlords from other nations, Keihatsu did not forbid his men from speaking to him in so candid a manner. They still addressed him with the title and respect that he deserved, as he was their master, but they did not fear the strike of a whip or blade for speaking their minds.
"I agree, though you may be saying something quite different when you are standing in the snow with me, come winter," Keihatsu said in response to his guard's statement, eliciting a round of chuckles from each of them. As they spoke, they began to pass by a few people in the street, all of them stopping to bow when they noticed the golden headpiece upon his brow. Some of them called a respectful greeting, which he responded to with a smile and wave of his hand.
"My lord, might I ask a question?" Munezane inquired as Keihatsu waved at an elderly couple, who wore smiles on their weathered faces.
"You just did, but I'll answer another if you have it," Keihatsu grinned while they continued to walk, the number of people growing around them as they drew closer to the marketplace.
"Is there a plan to deal with the ambitions of Lord Hideyoshi?" the warrior asked, though not so loud that any passerby's would be able to hear them. "My brother and his Bidoof were seriously injured in the latest encounter with Ignis' forces, and I worry that he will not survive another battle."
Keihatsu's face grew serious as he replied, "There is a plan, Munezane. Though I'll not discuss the details in so public a place, know that I will not allow your brother to come to further harm."
"Yes, my lord," the guard replied. "Thank you for suffering my questions, my lord."
By now the number of people were thick enough that they were having to separate to make way for their warlord and his retinue. Again, many of them showed Keihatsu respect in their greetings to him, with deep bows and well wishes for his health. Those that did not merely bowed the minimal depth owed to their ruler before continuing on their way.
Keihatsu did not address them for their barely contained lack of respect for him, however. He knew that he needed to earn their trust before he could expect to be treated with proper deference, though he was glad to see that they still harbored respect for the crown, if nothing else.
You've left quite the role to fill, Father, he thought with a wry smile. The last warlord had governed his people with gentility for over thirty years, but his fists were as iron when anyone dared to threaten the people of his kingdom. Though Keihatsu had not gotten to spend much time with man himself growing up, instead being raised by his tutors, he had grown up with a deep respect for him and the ideals that governed his ruling.
It had been a terrible blow to Keihatsu when his father succumbed to an illness of the stomach, but he had taken very little time to mourn the fact. In order to still the ambitions of any of the other noble houses, he had assumed the throne immediately following his father's funeral. Only one house, the hall of Kakemono, had dared to challenge him in battle for the right to become ruler.
Their clan's symbol was that of the pokémon Linoone, which the older warrior had fought alongside against Keihatsu and his Eevee. It had been a fierce battle, but very one-sided in favor of the new warlord, thanks in no small part to his ability to enhance his bonded partner's speed beyond the normal levels of what was expected, even of a rare pokémon like Eevee. After that, the noble houses had accepted his leadership without further question.
Now he was left with the matter of winning the respect of those that still doubted him among the common folk.
By this time, his retinue had reached the large plaza that served as the central area of trade and commerce for his kingdom, which was still swarming with people and pokémon, despite the setting sun. As he looked around, his heart lightened, seeing so many of his subjects and their partners simply going about, enjoying their lives and the peace that his father had worked so hard to provide for them.
Aurora featured a climate that attracted mostly normal-type pokémon, which he knew many other kingdoms looked down on because of their glaring lack of type advantages, made worse by their critical weakness to the overpowering fighting types found in the region north of Ignis. But Keihatsu loved them anyway, because they were his subjects, and it was his duty to look after and cherish them, regardless of their potential to succeed or not.
Seeing the market stall of a fruit vendor that he favored, he informed his guards of a change in direction, and they adjusted their march to accommodate his wish. When he reached the stall, the guards in front of him moved aside to let him through and greet the young woman who ran it. "Lady Hatsu, you look well," he said as she bowed deeply from behind a stall full of plums, apples, iyokan, and other various delights. "Your stock also appears to be in good health. Another plentiful haul, this early in the season?"
"Yes, Lord Keihatsu, my relatives from Greenleaf helped me to grow them," she answered. "Without them, I doubt my father would have much luck as a farmhand." Her partner, Igglybuff, chirped a greeting before resuming its lookout duty, ready to alert its master to any thieves trying to nick their wares.
Keihatsu nodded, searching his memory for a moment before asking, "How is Matsuda getting on? It's been a few weeks since I saw him at the stall."
"He's been having some trouble with a group of Buneary that keep eating our persimmon," Hatsu answered, sounding a little exasperated. "Mother keeps trying to link with one in hopes of making peace with the pack, but sadly, she does not possess the talent to do so."
"Hmm…" Keihatsu mused, another thought struggling to be recalled. Then he had it, and he clicked his fingers as he said, "Ah! There's a lady in my service, one of the cooks, and her son has recently managed to form a bond with a Rattata. He lacks formal training as of yet, but I'd be willing to wager that he would be delighted to help you and your family fight off the Buneary so that he might begin to understand what such a link entails."
Hatsu appeared to mull it over a bit before she replied hesitantly, "My lord, your offer is most generous, but… I do not know that my father would be comfortable, allowing an untested boy to fight on our property, not to mention that he is a complete stranger."
Keihatsu nodded quickly- her concern was a valid one, but he already had a solution in mind. "Please assure your father that I will cover any damages that the boy causes from my own purse, and that I will see to him receiving proper instruction as soon as possible," he told her. "I wish that I could send someone more experienced to assist your family, but at the moment, my warriors are stretched a little thin."
Hatsu pondered this for a moment, then said, "Very well, my lord. I will inform my father of your proposal this evening. And please, forgive my lack of gratitude- after all, you owe us nothing."
"Nonsense," he insisted. "I serve the people as they serve me- it's only fair."
"Thank you, Lord Keihatsu," she said with another bow. "Your generosity is a welcome boon in these dark times."
Her last words caused his smile to wilt a little, but he quickly recovered to say, "If you look only for the darkness, it is all you will see, Lady Hatsu. Seek the things that bring light into your home if you wish for good times to return."
At this, she smiled back and said, "Please, my lord, take a piece of your choosing. It is only right, seeing as you have wasted time on the petty concerns of a lowborn like me."
"Again, nonsense," the young man said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. "Please, accept this in exchange of five pieces of your merchandise for myself and my men, in addition to the conversation we have shared. I should not take your time away from other customers, especially not with food so fine as this."
"You humble me, my lord," Hatsu replied gratefully as she accepted the coin. "Thank you once more for your generosity."
They spent another hour wandering the marketplace, speaking to many of the citizens of their country, as well as a handful of people visiting from the kingdoms of Greenleaf and Fontaine, two realms that held good relations with Aurora. Those that came from out of the country seemed surprised to meet the new ruler that they had heard about in person, and in a public place no less.
At one point, Keihatsu was approached by a middle-aged beggar, who his men tried to remove from his presence, but he stopped them. He did not give the man money, but he did tell him to see one of his squadron leaders on the eastern wall of the city about a job, as he did not appear to be in poor health, merely hungry and dirty.
All the while, he kept up his smile and welcoming gestures to his subjects, never once letting them see the turmoil that plagued his thoughts with worry. Many would have found the task to be monumentally exhausting, but he liked getting to spend time among those that were more down-to-earth, as opposed to some of the quite frankly stuck-up and airheaded nobles that he had just spent supper with. These were the people upon whose backs their nation was dependent. That fact alone, to him, made the common-born citizens far more worthy of the time he chose to invest in their presence, as opposed to extra idle hours spent over fineries and being forced to listen to the faux compliments and unashamed attempts by the nobility to endear themselves to him with offered banquets in their own halls, or yet another opportunistic marriage proposal from more than one father eager to place their daughters in what they saw as a vacant seat of power.
It wound up being that the moon was well above the city walls when he decided it was time they all returned to the palace- after all, he would have a long few day's journey ahead of him starting in the morning. He had just finished speaking to a small child with her little Pidgey when he managed to bump into a young woman as he turned a corner, sending her falling on her rear with a startled yelp.
Munezane was immediately standing over her with a stern glare as Keihatsu recovered his balance, Eevee curiously peeking at the newcomer from behind his legs. "Watch your step, girl!" the warrior barked, causing the girl to flinch and cover her face in fright where she sat in the road. "You are in the presence of Lord Keihatsu, protector of this realm and-"
"And I am very much capable of making my own introductions, Munezane," his master said as he grasped his shoulder to move him aside. "Leave her be."
"But, my lord, she-"
"-is a passerby with a case of bad luck," Keihatsu finished for him with a look that discouraged any further arguments. Returning his gaze to the girl he had run into, he extended a hand and said, "Come now, miss. Let me help you up." When his guards went to protest, he waved them back with a word and a gesture, causing them to stand a couple of feet back with a uniformly grim expression on their faces while their pokémon took to the air and rooftops around them, acting as lookouts that would alert them to any potential trouble before it arrived. Only Eevee remained, refusing to leave his master's side while they both took stock of the stranger.
As she lowered her hands, the young warlord took a moment to study the girl's appearance. She was dressed in a dirty black kimono sporting blue shoulder fabric and a matching sash at her waist. Her feet were bare, and looked just as travel stained as her clothing. The skin on her face was pale, speaking to a life spent mostly indoors.
As she hesitantly took his hand, allowing him to lift her up, he was struck by how pretty she actually was, despite the dirt and other marks of traveling on her person. Her face was round with delicate lips set under a cute little nose and a pair of magenta eyes. Her brown hair was streaked with periwinkle highlights and long enough that he guessed that it had been about five years since she'd given it anything more than a trim.
He released her hand when she appeared stable, and she drew a pace away from him before bowing deeply from the waist, remaining in that position as she said in a trembling voice, "My deepest apologies, lord. I accept any punishment that you see fit to deliver for my transgression."
Keihatsu was scandalized by the idea, so much so that Eevee flattened his ears and gazed up at the girl with something akin to sympathy. The young man reached out again, this time to grip her arm as he said, "I'll not punish you for a simple chance of poor luck." He exerted a little pressure on the limb, drawing her upward again as he added, "Come then, that's it." She resisted his touch initially, but after a moment, she allowed herself to rise up, her back completely straight despite the fact that she kept her face lowered and her eyes averted from his.
Not understanding her reluctance, the young man asked, "Are you all right, miss? You seem frightened."
"It is not permissible for one to look into the eyes of a warlord unless they be of equal strength," she answered, sounding as though she were reciting it from memory.
"Not in Aurora," Keihatsu insisted while his men looked around, reassuring themselves that they were not about to the victims of an ambush. "Please, miss. Might I have your name, and the face to match it with?"
"I am Oichi," she answered softly while her head began to rise, ever so slowly. "I am sorry that I have interrupted your dealings, Lord Keihatsu."
"Oh, I was on a bit of a stroll, nothing important," he said with a smile as she finally looked directly at him. "Tell me, Miss Oichi, have you travelled from afar?"
"Yes, my lord," she answered, her voice still timid and trembling. "I am from the northern reaches of Ransei. I sought to escape the conflict that seeks to engulf the kingdoms there."
"A likely story," one of the other soldiers scoffed.
"Quiet," Keihatsu ordered him, silencing the man instantly. To Oichi, he said, "I had heard whispers of a conflict near Dragnor and Spectra, but nothing concrete. Is it truly so dire in those lands?"
"It is worse, my lord," Oichi replied. "When I had left, Dragnor had launched attacks against Spectra, having achieved an alliance with Nixtorm. I know not what the situation is now, but it has been nearly a year since I left home. I fear greatly for those that chose to stay…" She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, as if one of the blizzards from Nixtorm still howled about her.
"Since when was Lord Nobunaga so ambitious?" Munezane inquired of no one in particular. He was speaking of the powerful warlord that commanded a mountainous region in Ransei, home to many of the fierce dragon-type pokémon. "I'd heard tales of his strength and ferocity in battle, but I never expected him to attack other kingdoms. It's too bold, too much like Lord Hideyoshi."
"Unlike the lord of Ignis, Nobunaga has been planning his campaign for years," Oichi informed them, drawing a curious gaze out of Keihatsu. "He has the resources and the cunning to carry out a war that will engulf not only the northern reaches of Ransei, but that of the whole continent."
"He means to conquer all seventeen kingdoms?" Keihatsu asked, a slight chill running down his spine as he struggled to grasp at the enormity of such a task, and the ambition that must drive the man seeking to accomplish it. "Why? He would be courting disaster everywhere he went, inciting rebellions and assassination attempts, not to mention the ruination of the lands he conquers! What does he stand to gain from such a terrible accomplishment?"
Oichi's eyes clouded with pain as she lowered her gaze and answered, "Rumors abound that he seeks the Legend of Ransei."
"The legend of-?" Keihatsu paused, remembering the story that his mother had told him when he was a child, about how if a single warlord was strong enough to unite the kingdoms of Ransei under a single banner, the pokémon that created the continent would appear before them in order to grant the conqueror a wish. Just to be certain, he asked, "The Alpha Pokémon?"
Oichi nodded once in confirmation, eliciting a round of raucous laughter from Keihatsu's warriors, and causing her face to fall behind a veil of her hair again. "Now we know that this girl spins nothing but tall tales," Munezane chortled. "The Legend of Ransei is nothing more than that- a story."
"You disregard the main point," Keihatsu said firmly, stilling his men's merriment. Turning around to face them, he elaborated, "Nobunaga allegedly believes that the myth is fact. Regardless of whether it is truth or not, he will apparently butcher half of Ransei in pursuit of it."
"My lord, with all due respect, we have only the word of this girl to go off of," said the fourth guard in his retinue. "Surely we would do better to jump at our own shadows?"
"I speak truthfully," Oichi insisted, though her eyes did not rise. "In the end, it does not matter. I can only delay the end that Nobunaga's reign will bring by getting as far to the south as I can. Even then, it is only a matter of time before all the lands in Ransei will be flying the flags of Dragnor." At the last, her eyes rose again to meet the ruler of Aurora's searching gaze.
Keihatsu examined the girl's face and bearing for any signs that she was lying. As a young noble, he had been taught by both his teachers and circumstances to quickly ascertain whether people were telling falsehoods in his presence. Those that did lie would often be unable to hold a person's gaze for any length of time, or they would blink an unnecessary amount. Others would shift in place as if standing still made them uncomfortable, and some would readjust their clothes instead of paying close attention to what was going on about them.
Oichi was doing none of these things now, and even if she had been avoiding his gaze before, he felt that it was due to a genuine fear of his status as a warlord. Poor thing has probably lived under the fear- if not the rule- of Nobunaga for much of her life… No wonder she was afraid of me when they told her that I'm the warlord, he thought with a measure of sympathy.
His opinion on her was solidified when Eevee sniffed at her from behind Keihatsu, and he sensed a positive vibe from his trusted partner.
At long last, he spoke his decree on this new matter. "Dragnor and its neighbors are too far away for us to do anything about them, regardless of whether or not this lady speaks truthfully," he said to his men. "Personally, I do believe her, but that is neither here nor there. We have more pressing concerns at our own borders, and here at this late hour. Men, we will be escorting Miss Oichi to my palace, where she will be provided with a new set of clothes, a warm meal, and a place to spend the evening in safety."
Of course, his men were scandalized by the idea, and Munezane was quick to vocalize their objections by saying, "My lord, for all we know, she could be an assassin from Ignis sent to take your life! We cannot allow such a grievous breach in our defenses!"
Here, Keihatsu drew himself up to his full height- which due to his youth, was not a considerable amount- and said with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "Bite your tongue, soldier, unless you wish to be demoted to cleaning privy stalls. I am your lord and commander, and as such, my word is law when it comes to you receiving my instructions. Do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do- am I clear?" Through his delivery, the young man did not shout, but in his bearing was a power and authority that can only come from those truly meant to lead others, and Munezane quickly shrank back from the force of it.
Dropping to one knee before his master, he said, "Forgive my outburst, lord. I meant no disrespect, only to see to your safety. But as you say, speak and it shall be done."
"Very good," Keihatsu nodded, his cadence back to his more relaxed self.
"My lord, I cannot impose on your hospitality, especially given the concerns of your men," Oichi said with a small bow. "They are valid thoughts, given the situation of your kingdom. Also, I understand that you are unwed, and I do not like to think what people might surmise if I were to be seen accompanying you into your home…" A faint blush colored her face as she straightened, but she held his gaze evenly enough once more.
Keihatsu laughed, then, and extended his arm out to her so that she might loop hers' through. "Let people gossip as they choose," he said to the surprised girl. "Whether you accompany me home tonight or not, I know for a fact that there are members of staff that say I'm spending my nights with half the palace maids."
"Are you?" Oichi asked, the corners of her lips quirking upwards for a second.
"No," he answered with another grin. "Are you mad? I can barely make time for these evening outings, let alone manage a potential scandal of those kinds of proportions. Now come, be my guest- as the ruler of Aurora, I insist. I'll not leave you in the streets when it is clear that you've not had a proper meal or shelter in some time."
"I would ask if there was a punishment should I choose to decline, but it has already been made apparent to me that you are a very different man to the warlords of the north," Oichi said as she slowly threaded her arm through his, her movements still hesitant, as if afraid that she would be struck at any moment. "Very well, if you insist, I will accompany you to your castle, Lord Keihatsu."
"That's the spirit!" he said cheerfully. To his men, he ordered, "Form up and escort us home, please."
"As you command, Lord Keihatsu."
As they began to resume their walk toward the palace, the young warlord thought to himself, Being in charge certainly has its moments. And it was not lost on him that Eevee was looking up at Oichi with excited eyes the whole way home.
Mataras: You know, given how much I played Pokémon during my teenage/young adult years, I'm kind of surprised that I didn't try something like this sooner.
Keihatsu: Well, given the results of some of your earlier works, I suppose I should thank you for waiting to conjure such an idea as this one.
Mataras: Wow. Have you been hanging out with Kurai?
Keihatsu: Yes, why?
Mataras: Nothing, just... this formula seems familiar.
Keihatsu: A fact for which you have no one to blame but yourself. You control all that occurs within these exchanges.
Mataras: I'm going to move on before I start spiraling downward in my thought process.
Keihatsu: Perhaps that is wise.
Mataras: For those readers who are unfamiliar with me and the way that I do things, I would like to take the time now to invite you to find me on my YouTube channel, Not Your Average Productions. On this channel, you can find a dramatic reading of this very story, as well as others, in the form of a podcast that I update 2-3 days before even releasing the related chapter on this website.
Keihatsu: You also take the time to address the individual reviews left on this story, do you not?
Mataras: That I do. I am often joined by my wife, who aids in lending context to the chapters and what went into them, as she is a very large part of my creative process. Lately, I am also being joined by some of my more regular readers, which is proving to be a rather fun dynamic, as well as lending an outsider's perspective on the project that I have spent a good deal of time on.
Keihatsu: You certainly are engaged with your readers... more so than many of the writers that you have encountered, no?
Mataras: I try to be, yeah. I like for people to feel that their concerns regarding the story are not only seen by me, but personally addressed. Also, it's honestly just a fun time to interact with people in such a manner.
Keihatsu: You also create the artwork for your stories, do you not?
Mataras: Again, that is correct. I have been doing artwork for my stories for a few years now, most of which can be seen on my Instagram account, the_red_swordsman
Keihatsu: I see that there are many pieces therein that are not available on this website concerning your other stories. Is Instagram the only way to view such supplementary artwork?
Mataras: Either that or on the YouTube videos that I'll be making for this story.
Keihatsu: And does that conclude the shameless self-advertising?
Mataras: Is it really shameless if it's already my work/platform that I'm using to promote it?
Keihatsu: Yes.
Mataras: Either way, yes, I'm done.
Keihatsu: Good. Next time- Burdens
Mataras: The young ruler of Aurora had better get ready to Go Be-! Wait.
Keihatsu: What was that?
Mataras: Uh... Habit? Hmm. Need a new catchphrase to end these things on.
Next time on Pokémon Warpath...
Then he was waking up in the dark of morning to one of his vassals shaking his shoulder, and suddenly he hated himself for setting such an early hour for departure. "Thank you, Sato," he mumbled as he swung his legs off of his mattress and onto the wooden floor. "Please prepare some cold water for me to wash my face, and my riding outfit. Have Seiko pack my armor and saddlebags as well."
"The packing has already been taken care of, my lord, and you shan't be needing your riding garments," the middle-aged man replied as he stepped away with a deep bow. "Sir Takanobu has made arrangements for you to use the airship for this trip, my lord. He instructed me to tell you that he thought it wise to make for the border with all possible haste."
"Why?" Keihatsu asked, suddenly alert. "Has something gone wrong at the border?"