Nothing to say today. Now Chapter 12.
Chapter 12
Smoke, Mirrors, and Foxes
The Castle In Katolis
At the castle Viren has been cleaning up the mess he made, while looking at the mirror, which still had the study on it. Once he was done cleaning, he pulled up a chair, stuck a candle to it, lit a candle with a little Dark Magic, rested his head on his head, and stared at the mirror.
The Moon Nexus
Back at The Moon Nexus, Callum was walking away mad, with Rayla and Allen close behind. "Callum, I'm sorry. I tried to tell you the king was dead." Rayla said to Callum. Callum then stopped and turned around to face them. "My step dad. He was more than just the king to me." Callum said to Rayla. "Your step dad. I know. I really tired, but I could never find the right way. And whenever I tried, I messed it up, and the next time was harder, until-" Rayla said to Callum, but Callum interrupted her.
"Rayla, just stop. I can't talk about this right now. All I can think about is how I'm going to tell Ezran our father is gone." Callum said to Rayla. "You make it sound easy." Allen said to Callum. "It is. I just need to think for a bit." Callum said to Allen, before walking away. "I'm sorry, Callum. I'm so, so sorry." Rayla said to Callum, before he moved out of view. "Give him time." Allen said to Rayla, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Meanwhile Callum entered their room, where everyone was sleeping. Callum sighed and walked to Ezran's bed and tried to wake him, but couldn't. So Callum took a seat next to Ezran's bed.
Outside Allen and Rayla were going to have a talk with each other, but they noticed Claudia walking their way, and decided to leave instead of talking to her, and while they left, they gave Claudia a mean look.
Claudia then entered the room, where Soren was waiting for her, by playing with his sword. "So, have fun on your little date?" Soren asked Claudia. That's when he noticed Claudia sniffing and sobbing. "What happened? What did he do to you?" Soren asked Claudia, going into protective brother mode. "Nothing happened. Callum would never hurt me." Claudia said to Soren, drying her tears. "Oh." Soren said, putting his sword away.
"Then how come you're all weep-riden?" Soren asked Claudia. "That is not an emotion, Soren, with an annoyed tune in her voice. "My point is, are you okay?" Soren asked Claudia. "Yeah. I'm gonna be fine." Claudia said to Soren. "Because you're my sister, as you know. I'm always here for you… to punch someone, or whatever you need." Soren said to Claudia. "I know." Claudia said to Soren. "Good. we still have to bring the princes back with us. Whatever it takes, whatever happens. I need to know that all this won't get in the way of doing what we came here to do." Soren said to Claudia, waving his right hand around her. "It won't. I can do it." Claudia said to Soren.
The next morning, Ezran woke up to Callum still sitting by his bed, and was awake. "Callum?" Ezran asked Callum, wondering why he's there. "Morning, Ez." Callum said to Ezran. "I had another weird dream. I was running from that giant hippo. The one made of taffy, remember?" Ezran asked Callum, as Bat knocked Zym off the bed, walking Zym up.
"Uh, I think so?" Callum said to Ezran. "Only this time, there was someone and something riding on his back. It was the baker and his Alcremie. The ones who didn't like me." Ezran said to Callum. "They'd like you if you stopped stealing their jelly tarts." Callum said to Ezrna, moving to sit on the bed. "He said I was wanted for crimes against dessert. And he made the hippo chase me, the baker told him I was Jelly-filled, and Alcremie covered me in cream." Ezran said to Callum. "You sound tasty." A voice said to Ezran.
They turned their heads to see Drake walking to them, and sitting on the other side of the bed and turned to them. "I was a pastry fugitive, Drake." Ezran said to Drake. "A tasty pastry fugitive." Drake said to Ezran, laughing a little. "It was terrible." Ezran said to Drake, shaking Drake a little. "Oh how bad could it have been?" Drake asked Ezran. "It was because he was right. I was delicious." Ezran said to Drake. "Really let me see." Drake said to Ezran pulling him in, and tickling him, making Ezran laugh, as Drake made a "much much" sound as he tickled Ezran. "He's right you are delicious." Drake said to Ezran, still tickling Ezran, but joining the laughter.
"Drake can you stop that please?" Callum asked Drake. Then Drake stopped and the two stopped laughing. "What is it, Callum?" Ezran asked Callum. "Let's go for a walk." Callum said to Ezran. Ezran nodded yes, and he and Callum left, with Rockruff and Yanma going with them. "Not you two stay here. I want to talk to Ezran alone." Callum said to Rockruff and Yanma, before he left. This confused them, as they sat in front of the door.
"That was odd." Drake said, before Allen walked into the room. "Hey bro, what's up?" Drake asked Allen, as Allen looked around. "Is Ezran gone?" Allen asked Drake. "You just missed him." Drake said to Allen. "Good. Cause I have something to tell you." Allen said to Drake.
Back outside Callum was talking to Ezran as they walked. "So, Ezran, I wanted to talk to you about… life, and growing up. And how sometimes there are changes you don't expect." Callum said to Ezran. "Is this the talk about sandwiches?" Ezran asked Callum. "No. No, no, no. No, not that. No, definitely not that. Uh… Mmm. Ezran, for a long time, I treated you like a little kid. And that wasn't fair. You've grown up so much, and I'm really proud of you." Callum said to Ezran. "Oh. Yeah." Ezran said to Callum, confused.
"But when you grow up, sometimes you have to face things you're not ready for." Callum said to Ezran. "I know." Ezran said to Callum, surprising Callum. "You know?" Callum asked Ezran, as he started to slow down. "I know everyone's counting on me to teach Zym how to fly. But that's just the start." Ezran said to Callum, walking past him. This made Callum sighed in relief.
"Someone's gonna have to teach him all the things he's supposed to do. Everything he's supposed to be. And he's meant to learn it all from a big, strong King of the Dragons." Ezran said to Callum, as Callum started to walk again, and as they Phoe-Phoe in the sky above them. "But he doesn't have that. All he's got is me." Ezran said to Callum, as he stopped walking. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, Ez." Callum said to Ezran, walking to him and placing hand on his shoulder.
"I know it'll be tough, but no matter what you've got us. Me, Drake, Allen, Rayla, Kali, and all the Pokemon, probably Bait. We're all here for you." Callum said to Ezran. "Thanks, Callum. That means a lot. But I really wish Dad was here. I keep wondering what he would do. What he would say to Zym. When I was little and I wasn't listening to him, Dad would say, "Ezran, you're a handful." So, I tried to do that with Zym. "Azymondias, you're a handful." But he doesn't understand. He doesn't even have hands. I guess I just miss Dad. He'd know what to do, you know?" Ezran said to Callum, walking away from Callum a little.
Callum said nothing, but Ezran noticed a sad look on Callum's face. "Callum, what's wrong?" Ezran asked Callum. Callum then wiped his eyes. "Nothing, Ez. I just really miss him, too." Callum said to Ezran, hugging Callum. Ezran returned the hug.
After a bit Callum made his way to Rayla, who was chatting with Kali, at a table, about the previous night. "I couldn't do it." Callum said to the girls, as he took a seat with them, and not looking at them. "Do what?" Kali asked Callum. "I couldn't tell him." Callum said to Kali, still not looking at either of them. "Callum…" Rayla said to Callum, as she moved back to look at Callum. "And I understand why you couldn't tell me." Callum said to Rayla. "And what is that?" Kali asked Callum.
"When you care about someone, it's hard to hurt them. Even when what you're telling them is the truth." Callum said to Kali. "I still should've told you. You had the right to know." Rayla said to Callum. "I think maybe I did know. Deep down, I knew. I just hoped, if I didn't think about it, maybe somehow, it wouldn't be true. But he's gone. He's really gone." Callum said to Rayla, before breaking down into tears.
Rayla then moved closer to Callum and hugged him. Callum then hugged Rayla. "Now you finally learned how hard the truth can be." A voice said to Callum. This made Callum and Rayla break their hug, and everyone turned to see Allen walking to them, covering him black soot, his hair all spiky and crackling with electricity. "Allen? What happened to you?" Kali asked Allen.
"Oh, I told Drake about Harrow and well he didn't like me keeping secrets from him. So he blasted me with a bolt of lightning. Does anyone else smell smoke?" Allen asked them, before a small tail of smoke came from Allen's hair. "Ah no." Callum said to Allen. "Okay, anyway. You finally figured out how hard the truth is." Allen said to Callum.
"What do you mean hard?" Callum asked Allen. "Callum, truth can be dangerous. It can shatter hopes and dreams. It can turn heroes to villains. And that's why you need to be brave and understand how hard it is. Only then can you truly tell the truth." Allen said to Callum. "Are you going to tell Ezran?" Callum asked Allen. "No. Now's not the time. Besides, we have bigger things to worry about." Allen said to Callum.
The Castle In Katolis
Back at the Castle, Viren spent the whole night looking at the mirror, and fell asleep, even letting the candle completely melt and go out. Then as Viren started to walk up he noticed a fire burning that wasn't burning there before. "The fire. Huh." Viren said thinking that it was nothing.
Then a figure walking into the study. Viren couldn't make much out of it, because the figure was wearing a black cloak. But Viren could make out small white spots all over the figure, like the figure was covered in stars. Viren had to rub his eye to make sure he wasn't seeing things. But what he saw was real. Viren watched as the figure looked at some books on a shelf, before leaving. "No, no, no!" Viren as he stood up and grabbed the mirror. But the figure left the room anyway. "Who are you?" Viren asked.
The Moon Nexus
Back with Callum, Rayla, Allen who was still covered in soot, and Kali, they were walking and talking. 'When Soren said that Dad wanted us home, you three knew he was lying." Callum asked them. "Yeah." all three of them said to Callum. "Unless, maybe Soren was also trying to protect our feelings." Callum asked them. "Oh, right. He definitely seems like a thoughtful, sensitive, feelings-y, protect-y kind of guy." Rayla said to Callum.
"Yeah, you're right, that's not really his style." Callum said to Rayla. "But it makes you wonder why he lied about it. If not to protect your feelings then why?" Allen asked everyone. "He brings up a good point." Kali said to everyone. "We don't have a choice anymore. We have to leave. And we have to do it now. Get as far away from them as we can before they even realize we're gone." Rayla said to everyone, as she, Kali, and Allen stopped walking, but Callum kept walking. "Easier said than done. If we live this moment. The most it would buy us is a few hours at most. They'll be hot on our tail." Kali said to everyone. "Then let's knock them out and tie them to a tree in the middle of nowhere." Allen said to everyone.
"Whoa, wait a minute. They're still my friends." Callum said to them, stopping and turning to them. "But they lied to you." Rayla said to Callum, as she and the others walked to Callum. "Soren lied to me. Claudia told me the truth." Callum said to Rayla. "But she knew her dad kidnapped Zim." Kali said to Callum. "Okay. but she thought she was doing what was right." Callum said to Kali. "Oh for Aruces sake. Don't tell me that your head's still in the cloud." Allen said to Callum. "No! Look, we can't just leave." Callum said to everyone.
"Leave?" A female voice asked, making everyone turn to see Claudia and Soren walking to them. "Yeah. I'm sorry, but we've decided. We're leaving today. This mission, taking the Dragon Prince back to Xadia, It's the most important thing we'll ever do. We can't go home with you." Callum said to Claudia. "Oh." Claudia said to Callum. Then Soren had an idea. "Are you sure? I mean, your dad is gonna be really disappointed." Soren said to Callum.
This made Callum frund, and the rest angry at Soren. "Soren, what is wrong with you?" Claudia asked Soren, hitting Soren. "I'm just trying to-" Soren said to Claudia, but Claudia interrupted him. "Don't! Stop it, Soren." Claudia said to Soren with a very serious tone in her voice. "Ugh, fine. Do what you want." Soren said to Claudia, before leaving, and punching a nearby tree. This made the moon moths in the tree attack him. Soren yelped as he tried to shoo them away. "Stupid moths." Soren said, as he pulled out his sword and tried to use that to shoo the moths.
Everyone watched Soren for a few seconds before turning back to each other. "I'm sorry about him. But before you go, Callum, I have something I need to give you. In private." Claudia said to Callum, surprising them, and making Callum blush. "Oh. Uh, all right." Callum said to Claudia, before leaving with her. This made the girls confused, and annoyed Allen. "I'm going to spy on them, just in case." Allen said to the girls before leaving.
With Callum and Claudia, they entered Claudia and Soren's room. But Callum looked at the doors before entering the room. "So, closed door? Open door? What's… What do you…" Callum asked Caludia. "Uh, closed is fine." Claudia said to Callum. "Closed. Good. Okay." Callum said, as he closed the door, but Callum and Claudia didn't notice that something was in the path of the doors.
It was Allen's staff, Allen, still covered in soot, moved to the wall once Callum started to close the doors. Allen then used his staff to wedge the door open a little. Just enough to hear what's going on in the room, and just enough so Callum and Claudia didn't notice. "I have something for you. Something you dropped." Claudia said to Callum, pulling out the letter Harrow gave Callum from her bag. "That's my letter. From him." Callum said to Claudia, surprised to see it. "You didn't open it?" Callum asked Claudia.
"Why would I do that? It's for you." Claudia said to Callum. Callum walked to Claudia. "Though, I mean, for the record, I could have opened it and pretty easily re-sealed it with magic." Claudia said to Callum, has she handed him the letter. "Wait, did you?" Callum asked Claudia. "Did I? We may never know. But, no. No." Claudia said to Callum, as Callum looked at the letter. "So, are you going to open it?" Claudia asked Callum.
Callum sighed. "No. I don't think I'm ready yet." Callum said to Claudia, as he put the letter in his jacket. "But thank you, Claudia." Callum said to Claudia. "You're welcome. So, I guess this is goodbye." Claudia said to Callum, before hugging him. Callum returned the hug. Allen heard all of this and was close to banning his head into his staff, cause apparently Callum was still letting his little crush on Claudia control him.
Back with the others, they were in their room, with the Pokemon laying around the room with Bait joining them, and Drake, Kali, and Rayla watching Ezran try to put a scared Zym in his backpack. "Zym, come on. You loved it in there as an egg." Ezran asid to Zym. "Ezran, he didn't have a choice when he was an egg." Drake asid to Ezran, as Ezran covered Zym with the backpack and picked it up. "Guys, look." Ezran said to everyone, making them laugh a little.
"He can't fly yet, but he should be safe in…" Ezran said to them, as he walked to them, but Drake interrupted him. "Ah Ezran." Drake said, pointing to the backpack. That's when the others realised that the backpack was empty. Then Zym appeared on a bed. "Hey, how'd you…" Ezran asked Zym, but then Bait climbed into the backpack. "Bait, you're not helping." Ezran said to Bait, as he shook Bait out of the backpack. This made everyone in the room laugh again. That's when Callum entered the room and walked past everyone.
"Let me guess. Once me and the others were gone, she tried to manipulate you and convince you to go back home again." Rayla asked Callum, as Ezran tried to catch Zym. "No, she didn't. Actually, Claudia really understands how important it is to get Zym back to Xadia." Callum said to Rayla. "Oh. That's surprising. But good." Rayla said to Callum. "Wait, I feel like your about to say something stupid." Drake said to Callum.
"It's not stupid. Claudia understands it so well that she and Soren want to come with us." Callum said to Drake, surprising Drake, Rayla, and Kali. "What?" they all asked, as they stood up. "That is the worst possible plan." Rayla said to Callum. "Please tell me you're joking?" Drake asked Callum. "He's not." a voice said to Drake. Everyone turned to see the soot Allen walk into the room.
"Callum here thought it would be a good idea to bring the children of the man who kidnapped her son to the Dragon Queen." Allen said to everyone. "And let's not forget Claudia is a Dark Mage. Even if the two of us are okay with it, which we aren't. Every Elf and Dragon will try to kill her once we cross the border, and us along with her." Kali said to everyone. "Man Callum and here I thought you had a stupid idea, not a crazy and bad idea." Drake said to Callum.
"How? How is it crazy and bad? They're offering to help." Callum asked Drake. "Or it's a trap." Rayla said to Callum. "Yeah, a chance to stabe us in the back." Allen said to Callum. This made Callum sigh and turned away from everyone. "No, we're talking about this. And you're going to listen." Allen said, focing Callum to turn at everyone. "Callum, I know you trust them. But if we let them come with us, by the time we know the truth, It'll be too late. Do you understand? We'll lose everything." Rayla said to Callum.
"So, then what are we supposed to do? How can we figure out if it's help or a trap?" Callum asked Rayla, before leaving the room. Then everyone traded looks and an idea popped into their heads. So they left the room.
A few minutes later the four of them entered the temple, where Lujanne, Vale, Midnight we're meditating together. But the sound of banging broke their meditating. Lujanne and Vale turned to see Rayla banging on the metal moon in the room with her swords, and Allen, Drake, and Kali standing near. "Can I help you?" Lujanne asked them. "I'm sorry. Were you three meditating or something?" Rayla asked them. "We were." Lujanne said to Rayla, turning away from everyone. Rayla then banged the moon a few more times. "So, you're done. Good." Rayla said to Lujanne, putting her swords away. "Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk." Allen said to Lujanne.
"We're leaving. And the other humans, they're coming with us." Rayla said to Lujanne. "Hmm. And you're unhappy with that." Lujanne asked Rayla. "Callum trusts them, But we know they're hiding something." Rayla said to Lujanne. "You see, to every truth, there is a dark, shadowed side. Consider the half moon-." Lujanne said to Rayla, but Rayla interrupted her. "You already did this." Rayla said to Lujanne.
"Oh. Have I? Hmm. Well, that's really all I've got. Unless you're in need of a spooky monster or fake food. Hmm?" Lujanne asked Rayla. "Well now that you mention it." Drake said to Lujanne. "There is something you can do for us." Rayla said to Lujanne.
Later that day, as the sun was starting to set, everyone gathered by the main exit ready to leave, with Soren stretching, Allen who was finally clean, and Callum, Ezran, and Zym not there. "Oh, yeah." Soren said. "Where are Callum and Ezran?" Claudia asked everyone, noticing them missing. "Oh, they'll be here soon. Ezran's still packing up his dragon." Rayla said to Claudia. "Speaking of packing. Everyone return." Allen said, as he and Drake returned their Pokemon to their Pokeballs.
"It has been a pleasure to have you all here. I truly have enjoyed you all sneaking past my defenses." Lujanne said to everyone. "And desecrating this sacred place these past few days." Lujanne said, giving a mean look at Allen and Drake, making the twins whistle. "It will be lonely. Quiet… but lonely without you." Lujanne said to everyone. "I'll miss you so much." Ellis said to Lujanne, before the two hugged each other. "Ellis, you will always be welcome here. I know Midnight will be waiting for you." Lujanne said to Ellis, as she broke the hug, and Ava barked at Lujanne.
"And you, too, little one. You don't need the illusion any longer, but I hope it serves as a reminder. That someone is always looking out for you." Lujanne said to Ava, as she put Ava's collar back on. The collar flashed yellow for a second. That's when Callum, Erzan and Zym showed up. "Okay, everyone's here now. We can all hit the road." Rayla said to everyone. "All right. Time to go to the magical land and do whatever." Soren said to everyone, as they started to move.
As the group left the Moon Nexus, Rayla, Kali, Allen, Drake, Ellis, Ava, and the Pokemon were in the front leading the way, Ezran, Callum, and Zym behind them, and Soren and Claudia way behind the group. "So, you're ready to do this the Soren way, right?" Soren asked Claudia, flexing his muscles. "Yes, there's no other way." Claudia said to Soren. "Good. Then, when it's time to strike, I'll give the signal." Soren said to Claudia. "What's the signal?" Claudia asked Soren. "The signal is me attacking the elf." Soren said to Claudia, doing a punching motion with his arms. This made Claudia goaned.
Rayla then turned to everyone. "It's going to be a long journey. Let me just go around this bush-corner and see if I can find some berries or something." Rayla said to everyone, leaving the group with Gligar. "Me and Allen will go see if there's a good place to rest for the night." Drake said to everyone, as he and Allen left the group. "I'm going with them." Kali said to everyone, as she left to the twins and Fomantis.
Soren realised this was the moment to strike and nodded his head at Claudia letting her know it was time. Soren then went after Rayla. Soren then found Rayla and Gligar picking berries from a bush. Soren then walked up behind them, and pulled out his sword. But before he could strike, Rayla and Gligar jumped out of the way. Then as the two of them turned to Soren, Rayla pulled out her blades, and Gligar turned her claws silver.
"Oh, no. It's a trap." Rayla said, acting surprised. "Gligar." Glugar said, acting shook. "Yup." Soren said to them. "But why? I thought we were friends." Rayla asked Soren, with a sarcastic tune in her voice. "Sorry, but no. I'm just a nice guy and people get the wrong idea sometimes." Soren said to Rayla. "You don't speak sarcasm so good, do you?" Rayla asked Soren. "No. I do not." Soren said to Rayla. "Then let's see if you understand this." A voice said, before slamming into Soren's side.
This made Soren slide a bit. That's when they noticed Drake standing where Soren was. "Rayla, Gilgar go help the others, I'll take care of him." Drake said to Rayla and Gilgar. The two girls nodded and left. "Okay Soren it time for some answers." Drake said to Soren, smaling his staff into the ground, making it glow blue and an electric crackling sound from it. Then Soren and Drake charged at each other.
Back with Claudia, she shook the feeling of betrayal she was feeling away and started to cast a Dark Magic spell. This spell made the two wrist bends on her left wrist, slither off her like snakes. Then Claudia threw them, and they became snakes, quickly slithering to Callum and Ezran. This made Ava whimper and run away. "Wait, Ava! Come back." Ellis said to Ava, while riding her, trying to stop Ava. Rockruff then went after Ellis and Ava and before the Pokemon could attack, the snakes slithered around Callum and Ezran and became chains.
Claudia then cast a fireball spell, scattering the Pokemon. With the Pokemon scattered, she went after Zym, trying to put him in a bag. Zym tried to run away, but he tripped on his wings. "I'm sorry, Little guy. You have to come with me." Claudia said to Zym, before stuffing Zym into the bag. "Claudia let them go now!" A voice said, getting Claudia's attention. That's when she saw Allen running to her.
"Allen it's not what it looks like. You have to understand I'm doing the right thing." Claudia said to Allen. "All I see is a Witch kidnapping the three young Princes. Now let them go and walk away, or…" Allen said to Claudia, as he got into a fighting stance and made the top of his staff glow red and generated heat.
The Castle In Katolis
Meanwhile Viren was losing his patients, waiting for the figure to appear again. And the figure did appear. Viren was trying to figure out who it was. But then the figure turned to Viren. Then the figure walked to the mirror. This intimidated Viren a little.
Then Viren got a good look at the figure. It was male, had midnight blue skin, yellow eyes with vlack sclera, long layered white hair, his clock had star symbols on it, fancy star like robes, a black star marking on his chest, three star like diamond shape under each of his eyes. Viren reached out his hand expecting the figure to reach out as well. But no, the figure was just adjusting his clock. "You can't see me. On your side… It's just an ordinary mirror." Viren said.
The Moon Nexus
Back with the others, Claudia was running from Allen, who was trying to light her on fire, with the Pokemon trying to attack her, and Drake and Soren were clashing weapons, making sparks fly. "Why are you doing this Soren? You're a Crown Guard. You should be helping us stop a war." Drake asked Soren, as they pushed each other back. "Come on Drake, you know they're not strong enough to lead our kingdom." Soren said to Drake. "Is that you talking or your father?" Drake asked Soren.
Soren said nothing. "Look Soren, I don't know what your reason is and I don't care. But me and my brother promised Harrow to protect Ezran and Callum. And right now you threaten their well being." Drake said to Soren, tightening the grip on his staff. "I won't let you hurt them!" Drake said to Soren as the end of his staff started to be incase, in a large amount of electricity. Drake then charged at Soren, and was about to slam it into Soren. But Soren dodge the attack, making Drake hit the ground.
That's when Drake's staff made the sound of a lighting bolt, and a burn mark on the ground. That's when the lighting disperse. "I guess my staff can use Thunder Punch." Drake said, raising his staff. "Why don't you tell me how it feels?" Drake asked Soren, as he started to use Thunder Punch again. Drake then charged at Soren.
Meanwhile Claudia was hiding behind rocks to avoid Allen's fire and the Pokemon. "Allen I'm sorry. I know this feels like a betrayal, but I can't let the princes go. I have to do what's right. I have to take them back home." Claudia said to Allen. "This isn't right." Allen said to Caludia, moving to the right side, and firing a Flamethrower at Claudia. Claudia then rolled to dodge Allen's attack. Claudia ended up rolling up to Callum and Ezran.
"It's because of your father kidnapping Zym that the world is on the edge of war. The right thing is getting Zym home, and maybe finish what Zekrom started and put you and your father down, like the monsters you are." Allen said to Claudia. Getting ready to blast another Flamethrower at Claudia. "Callum please say something to him?" Claudia asked Callum. Callum said nothing.
"Please don't give me the silent treatment, Callum. Say something! Say you hate me. Say anything." Cluadia said to Callum, getting on her knees, and a close look at Callum. That's when she noticed no expression on Ezran and Callum's faces, like they were frozen. Claudia then gasps. "Soren, Something's wrong! This is a trick!" Claudia yelled.
Soren heard her, and was surprised. "A trick, how could we trick you two?" Drake asked Soren, stopping his attack and leaning against a tree, giving Soren a cocky smile. "What did you do, traitor?" Soren asked Drake. "Traitor. Now that's calling the kettle black. But if you want to know what we did. Then let me introduce you to the ladies and man of the hour." Drake said to Soren, pointed behind Soren, before leaving.
That's when Ellis and Ava show up, with Ellis riding Ava, and Rockruff behind Ellis. "He's your moment, Ava, Midnight. Moonstone collar and Zorua trick." Ellis said to Ava and Rockruff. Ellis then removed the collar around Ava's neck, making it glow yellow. Rockruff jumped up and turned into Midnight, and his eyes lit up for a bit.
Doing these two things, made Ezran, Callum, and all the Pokemon disappear. "They're illusions." Claudia said to everyone, as Drake reached Allen. "They might have been, but you aren't. You two finally showed your true colors." Allen said to Caludia. "Wait? You're saying the Princes are not real?" Soren asked Claudia, while not moving from where he fought Drake. "That's what "illusions" means, Soren." Claudia said to Soen, being a little mad, and making Ellis, Drake, and Alle laugh. Then Ellis, Ava, and Midnight howled.
This made Soren mad, and he tried to attack them. But Midnight fired a pulse of black rings at Soren making him stop, and giving Ava the chance to get farther away from Soren. "Not even close!" Ellis said to Soren, mockingly. Soren then tried to attack again, but Midnight fired another pulse of black rings at Soren, making him stop, and as Ava moved further away from Soren.
"Where are the real princess?" Soren asked Ellis. Then a blinding light appeared in the sky. That's when Soren and Claudia noticed Ezran, Bait, Kali, Rayla, and Callum riding Phoe-Phoe in that order, with Yanma holding Rockruff on Phoe-Phoe's left, and Formatis riding Gligar on Phoe-Phoe's right. That's when they noticed Phoe-Phoe, Yanma, and Gligar flying away.
"Looks like they forgot you two." Claudia said to Allen and Drake. "Oh really." Drake said to Claudia, before his and Allen's staff started to glow blue and red. That they put their staff behind them, and sat on them. That's when they started to go up. "Since when could you two fly."
"Claudia, they're getting away." Soren said to Claudia running to her. "No, they're not." Claudia said, as she pulled out a squid tentacle, and started to cast another Dark Magic spell. The spell shot a giant tentacle at Phoe-phoe. The tentacle wrapped around Phoe-phoe and pulled Phoe-Phoe closer to Claudia, knocking Kali off Phoe-Phoe, lucky Allen caught her with his right arm, and held her on his lap and held her with his right arm.
That's when the Pokemon started to fire range attacks. Mostly Razor Leaf from Fomantis, and Silver Wind from Yanma. But Soren reached Claudia before the attacks, and used his sword and armor to protect Claudia from the attacks. Meanwhile Phoe-phoe was screeching, not liking what Claudia was doing to her. "Claudia, please! Don't do this." Callum pleaded with Claudia. But Claudia didn't listen; she just kept doing her Dark Spell.
Then a hook chain came out of nowhere and wrapped around her left arm, making her cry out in pain a little. Soren tried to break the chain, but then a Staraptor came out of the sky and crashed onto Soren, forcing him into the ground. Everyone then followed the chain to see Corvus was the one holding it.
"Stop! Let them go." Corvus said to Claudia, before pulling the cian, forcing Claudia to the ground, and making her stop casting the Dark Spell. Once free Phoe-Phoe, Yanma, Gligar, and the twins took off as fast as they could.
"What are you doing?" Claudia asked Corvus. "Protecting them from you!" Corvus said to Claudia. Having enough of this, Soren was able to get Staraptor off him, and made him crash into Corvus. This made the two of them fall back and hit their heads on a large rock, knocking them out. "Big mistake, chain man and bird." Soren said to Corvus and Staraptor, as he and Claudia got up. But then the two of them realized the group was well out of their reach. But Claudia noticed the sad look on Callum's face before they got too far away.
Meanwhile Ellis, Ava, and Midnight got away from Soren and Claudia, and could see them leaving. "Goodbye! I'll miss you guys. Don't you forget about me. Don't, don't, don't, don't." Ellis said to the group, as she waved goby to them. "Zorua." Midnight said, waving as well. "So Midnight want to come home with me?" Ellis asked Midnight. "Zorua." Midnight said, nodding his head yes. "Then let's go." Ellis said to Midnight, as Ava started to take them home.
With the group. Rayla was gloating a little. "We got'em! I was right." Rayla said to everyone. "No, everyone but Callum was right about them." Drake said, as he and Allen flew closer to Phoe-Phoe, with Kali still in Allen's lap, and holding onto him. "Yeah, you all were right." Callum said, with a sad tune in his voice. Rayla then turned to Callum. "I wish we weren't. I'm sorry." Rayla said to Callum. But saying that didn't make Callum feel better.
"Hey Rayla, were those two the human and a large bird you fought with?" Allen asked Rayla. "Yes." Rayla said to Allen. "Amaya must have sent Corvus and Staraptor to save the Princes." Drake said to everyone. "You know them?" Kali asked the Twins. "Only a little. We met Corvus when we met Amaya. He is a tracker that works for Amaya. He also became friends with that Staraptor pretty easily. Probably because they have the same personality." Allen said to Kali.
"What do you mean?" Kali asked Allen. "Drake, mind pulling out your Pokedex? My hands are full." Allen asked Drake. "No Problem." Drake said, pulling out his Pokedex.
Staraptor / Predator Pokemon / Normal + Flying Type / It has a savage natrue. It will courageously challenge foes that are much larger.
"Fascinating." Kali said, as Drake put his Pokedex away. "Oh and, thank you for saving me, Allen." Kali said to Allen. "You said my name. Now that's a reword." Allen said to Kali. "Don't let it go to your head." Kali said to Allen. "Besides I couldn't let a gorgeous lady like you be a prisoner to those two." Allen said to Kali, making Kali look away from him and blush a little. "Do you always have to sound like a cheese romance book?" Drake asked Allen, making everyone laugh at Allen. Everyone but Callum, was heartbroken.
The Castle In Katolis
At the castle Viren was sitting in the chair, watching the figure trying to understand him. But then the figure looked at the mirror, making Viren jump out of his set. But the figure just absorbed the fire in the fireplace, making the mirror go back to a normal mirror. But as Viren got a closer look, the figure's hand touched it. This made Viren gasp, cause now he knew, the figure was able to see him.
The Moon Nexus
Back on the outskirts of the Moon Nexus. Soren and Claudia, tied Corvus' hands and legs with some rope, and used Corvus' chain to tie Staraptor to Corvus' back. Once they finished typing them up, Soren tossed them into a nearby fallen tree, with Staraptor taking most of the damage. "Staraptor." Staraptor said to Soren, getting mad. "Quit bird. You know you're going to pay for this, traitor." Soren said to Staraptor and Corvus.
"Traitor? General Amaya sent me and Staraptor to protect the princes of Katolis, and you just tried to kidnap them." Corvus said to Soren. "Everyone who votes "Corvus and his bird are traitors" raise their hands." Soren said to everyone. But only he raised his hand. Soren gave Claudia a mean look, and she raised her hand. "Two against one, traitor." Soren said to Corvus, before wrapping a rope around Corvus head, gaging him, and tied a smaller rope around Staraptor's beck.
"What are we gonna do? We betrayed our friends, nearly got killed by the twins, and it was all for nothing." Claudia said to Soren. Soren then noticed the bag Claudia stuffed Zym into. "It wasn't for nothing. Look." Soren said to Claudia, pointing to the bag. Claudia gasps at the sight of the bag. "The dragon! We still have the dragon." Claudia said to Soren. "Looks like Allen forgot that we have the dragon." Soren said to Claudia, as he walked to the bag.
"Come on out, you little-." Soren said to the bag, as he opened the back. Only to have a swarm of Moon moths come out of the bag "I hate the Moon. Ugh!" Soren said as he dropped the bag, trying to shoo the moths away. Claudia then noticed a small piece of paper come out of the bag. Claudia picked it up and saw it had words on it. So she read it outloud. "Nice try. Drake." Claudia said, reading the note, and a frown formed on her face.
Back with the group. They were all flying through the sky, and while Allen offered to help Kali back onto Phoe-Phoe, she refused, saying that it was safer to ride with him then try and get onto Phoe-Phoe during a midair flight. "It's okay, Zym. It's safe to come out now." Ezran said to his bag. That's when Zym popped his head out of the bag. Then Zym started to climb into Ezran and looked at Rayla. Rayla gave Zym a confident smile.
Then Zym looked down and noticed how high they were. "We're up in the sky." Ezran said to Zym, making Zym scared. "It's okay Zym, we got you." Drake said to Zym, flying closer to him, and giving him a pet with his free hand. This claimed Zym down a little. "Wanna see how flying feels?" Ezran asked Zym. Zym was unsure about it. Then Ezran held Zym above his head, with Zym holding his wings close to him, while Drake moved behind Phoe-Phoe, just in case.
"Come on, spread your wings." Ezran said to Zym. Zym hesitated at first. But when he did open his wings, he started to squeal in joy. This made everyone laugh with Joy, everyone but Callum, who was lost in thought, and not paying attention. But then Rayla placed her hand on his shoulder, and he regained his focus, noticing everyone having fun. Then Callum realised he old friends may have betrayed him, but his new and true friends were right in front of him.
Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter. Please follow or review if you like this story.