- Special Episode: Adhered to a Promise -
Tenacious witnessed many things in his lifetime.
From the moment he came to the world, surrounded by flakes of his eggshell, his life was full of obstacles and adversities that stood between him and preeminence. He was the runt, the one always fed last, the one always knocked down by the others, the one expected to meet an early demise.
However, he prevailed.
He defied all things that breathed, and all that did not. No matter how many tried to keep him pinned down, he always stood back up with his chest puffed out.
All of ever did was make them angrier. In response, the world pushed harder, but Tenacious always pushed back.
As he matured, he left his cold, cruel home of the northern icy seas. He traveled south, then west, until he found his new home in the Solis region. It was warmer, yes, but so were the inhabitants. It wasn't shrouded by countless grueling mystery dungeons like the unforgiving land he came from. To look over his shoulder every five seconds just to assure his safety was no longer necessary. So many fangs, so many talons, many predators tried and failed to catch him. He battered them through the waters. He destroyed them through his might.
The Pokémon of The West feared him.
His species were known to be prideful, full of ego, yes. Such behavior was to be expected. Tenacious himself believed that he was hatched as a runt as his first test against the unforgiving world. For him to survive for as long as he did, he knew down to his very spirit that he represented the best of his species. None other of his kind were as talented, as witty, as superior as he stood. However…many whispers in the wind said the same thing. They said; no penguin—no Piplup should ever be so cruel.
Although Tenacious migrated to an entirely different place, he was treated as an outcast all the same. The only difference was…he went from being the weak laughing stock, to the beast everyone feared. The children always ran from him. The other adults saw him as a heartless freak of nature.
To be superior meant to be respected. Fear came along with respect, but so did trust…trust.
Not a single soul dared to trust him. There was no respect for him, only fear. Nothing made sense anymore.
Still, he refused to allow such incompetence to slow him down. He sought a new purpose: If everyone decided to fear him, he would use it to his advantage.
From Piplup to Prinplup, he continued to seek preeminence.
He witnessed many things.
He fought many things.
But mere battles did nothing to satisfy his quest. The crowds continued to avoid him, to whisper within his presence. Those who he challenged merely accepted, because they feared the non-existent consequence of declining. His victories tastes stale. A true battle was what his heart needed.
So, he sought the queen that ruled the land.
Her presence was not invisible. In fact, the fox was quite easy to find. Quiet observation informed him that the queen liked to take her early-morning dessert strolls. They said how much she admired the stars, and would watch them fade into the brightening skies as a routine. So he sought her at dawn, when her yellow pelt would be yet to blend with the sands.
Upon their meeting, she did not fear his presence. That was the first thing he noticed. In fact, she was rather displeased that he interrupted her star-gazing.
Then, he challenged her power. The fox she was, the Braixen, merely laughed at him. Tenacious found it insulting, and in response, he challenged her throne.
Her smile dropped, and he was on unconscious on the ground faster than he could blink.
At the time, it made little sense to him. For as long as he could remember, most battles were pre-determined upon encounter. It was the sole reason creatures of fire avoided those who commanded water.
Somehow…he was defeated by a creature of fire.
His quest for preeminence eluded him further. His pride was shattered. What he thought he knew about the world had been turned over his head.
He wanted to understand her.
He desired to comprehend her strength.
From that day forward, he swore his blades to her. As small as he was at the time, she saw potential in him, and made him a Retaliator. He was perfect for the job.
Overtime, she taught him everything that was necessary for his adapting mind to know; about the world and its history, about its inhabitants, and its enemies. He learned who he was to slay and who he was to spare. Titles, names, places…he memorized them all. He needed to know everything if he wanted any chance to be accepted in a land where Pokémon were too wary of his kind.
Tenacious always rehearsed the basics in his head. It was absolutely necessary to know the basics, less he would be labeled as an outsider. He already didn't belong. To have one more reason for the world to reject him was something he refused to tolorate.
As soon as he opened his eyes each and every day, he would repeat it in his head:
There was Ivory, Ebony, Mona, Solis, and Espilce; the five regions that made up The Prism Continent. Only those who really put in the effort would remember all five names.
The North. The South. The East. The West. The Central. The majority found it easier to remember. The Retaliator badge was designed to look like a mix between a star and a compass, with the very sphere at the center representing the heart of the corporation. It didn't take a genius to understand the meaning behind every region's name.
Metagross. Zoroark. Trevenant. Delphox. Slowking. Those were the current rulers of the respective regions, said to be descended from a bloodline that had a connection with the human race.
While it was nothing more than trivia, it did was solidify Tenacious' position. It proved that he belonged in some way, but that was it.
So with all the knowledge he absorbed, and all of his combined talent and survival skills, he effortlessly climbed the ranks.
There wasn't one job he ever failed. He was the soldier. The executioner. He was the line of defense against the dark forces that opposed them.
He impressed on the queen.
The queen, who gave him the very word to call himself.
"Do you know what the word 'tenacious' means?" she asked him, long ago. "It means you are difficult to change. You adhere to your beliefs, your goals, your identity. To relinquish yourself to anyone lesser does not cross you. That is your greatest strength…but can also be your greatest weakness. Do not let it blind you. Do not forget the cruel world from which you came, because it will forever remember you. Stay firm on this path, and you will become the greatest Pokémon you could ever strive to be."
His path towards preeminence…it brought him to her.
The Headmistress, the queen, who harnesses her strength and became the brilliant creature known as Delphox.
Her wisdom, her serenity, her benevolence…it was everything he wasn't.
She reigned superior, and Tenacious found himself besotted.
He made his proclamation underneath the stars.
In the present, Tenacious stood as a senior emperor, who the civil-born called "Empoleon". His armor, the steel predominant with endless scars, lined the edges of his flippers into cold steel blades. The natural trident-like crown which sprouted from his beak had long lost its polish, chipped and dented, but its intimidating structure remained. Contour feathers retrained their sheen. His eyes were deep blue, cold as ice.
Around his neck was the unmistakable silver and blue scarf that held the flowing patterns of fire. It represented himself, and the very region he served.
He became who many respected.
He became who many aspired to be.
The powerful soldier, the advisor, the inspiration The Western Retaliation Corporation needed when their beloved queen unexpectedly fell in battle.
Through their grief, the corporation continued to serve her, by serving her successor.
The successor, the current ruler of The West, had long ago matured and suppressed her mother. Her wisdom lived through her every time she spoke. Songs of praise revolved around her reign.
The West flourished, with Tenacious as its witness.
With a swell of pride and his head held high, he navigated his way through the massive underground network of tunnels. They were not ordinary tunnels expected to be dug by foxes. They towered nearly six times his height, with the width being wide enough for two Steelix to traverse side by side. The tunnels were ancient, but well maintained for several generations. They winded and twisted in ways to confuse any outsiders, but Tenacious knew the way like the feathers on his back.
Soft red light bathed every nook and cranny, the source being the massive red gemstones that produced a light and radiated its own heat. No bigger than the palm of an Infernape's hand, they were known to be Groudon's Heart, a rare gemstone that only produced deep within hot and humid soil. While rare in other regions, they were plentiful in Solis, found within one of the most grueling mystery dungeons that ever came to be.
It was said that in the very depths slept the legendary beast that rose land from the sea. However, such a legend was heard as far as Shimmer Desert (or was it Fogbound Lake?) in the Grass Continent, or even further to Magma Cavern within the Water Continent.
Or perhaps, the gods went wherever they liked.
None of that mattered to Tenacious. He could admire the gemstones and the stories behind them, but he was no Explorer. Only they would be foolish enough to seek out fables in hopes for some truth behind them. What was important was to seek what was real, and what was promised to be true. It was how he climbed to the position he currently stood, having served two rulers in his time.
As he turned a corner, the flame mammalian and the cactus bipedal stepped out of his way with a dip of their heads. Tenacious held his head high as he bathed in the respect they felt for him.
The tunnel expanded into a gigantic chamber, where the walls were dotted with the gemstones as if they were gravel at the bottom of a riverbed. Several stands were stationed along the walls, operated by Pokémon who exchanged poké with their clients. He passed the warehouse and the one called Kangaskhan that worked behind the counter. She gave him a wave upon noticing him.
The one thing that always brought satisfaction was how there was never a need to fight through the crowd. They always noticed his presence and made sure to step out of his way. The swarm of the morning rush parted before him, giving him a clear path to walk through. Hundreds of eyes followed him as he took his time across the chamber. It was an everyday routine, how the Pokémon always looked at him as if he were a legendary creature that arrived from thin air.
Perhaps he was. He humored himself with the thought.
A familiar beat of powerful wings didn't tear his focus from his destination ahead. Even as the large raptor landed next to him, he never slowed down his pace.
"Not wasting any time, I see." The valiant folded his wings as he matched Tenacious' walking pace. Around his neck was a navy-blue scarf decorated with red whimsical flames.
The valiant, the one called "Braviary" was given the most humorous word to call himself that had little meaning to Tenacious.
He was nicknamed after his category. Although, the raptor claimed he was named after bravery instead. It made little difference, except how it made remembering his nickname easier.
Valiant was who many considered to be Tenacious' opposite. His wings were built for flight, and he thrived in the dry desert terrain that Tenacious did not. During the hottest of days when the heat was unbearable at the surface, he would go out his way to hunt for two, bringing back freshly caught prey for Tenacious to enjoy. In return, when the nights were bitterly cold and Valiant was forced to remain underground, Tenacious would return with fish that were secluded to an oasis.
Valiant was the older one between them, and it showed. His feathers had seen better days, and he would have trouble with preening, sometimes needing assistance. There were several pin feathers that struck out around his eyes and near the crown of his head—pin feathers he couldn't reach. It was obvious he made an attempt to free them, perhaps by rubbing his head against the walls. Tenacious made a mental note to assist him once his daily errands were done. He wouldn't ask for help even if it was clear on his face.
"What's the report for this morning?" Tenacious returned his eyes forward, not wanting to stare at the Braviary's dilemma for too long.
"Nothing of much importance. To have such a vast number of quiet mornings does bring concern. I've made sure to tell the noon and dusk patrol to remain vigilant."
"Hm."
The duo reached the end of the chamber and were met with a towering flight of clay stairs. Inspections and repairs did well to maintain the ancient structure. From the very bottom, the top was impossible to spot as the stairs would turn in a slight curve. The climb would be long, a challenge that almost always left the new recruits overwhelmed. Tenacious could recall how his legs first ached, how his lungs burned…
The only reason his body would ache after the climb now, was because of how his worn-down joints would protest in response to such a tedious climb. But, he had long ago accepted it.
Tenacious leaned his weight to one side as he lifted his webbed foot. The climb the first step was always a daunting task as he failed to catch the edge several times. With a huff, he made the decision to jump instead, and landed on the first step before climbing the rest. Next to him, Valiant had less trouble, hopping up the stairs with his wings half parted, only fluttering them to keep his balance whenever he stumbled.
"You would think our Headmistress would have these stairs modified for Pokémon with shorter legs," Valiant said, after he had to beat his wings to save himself from falling.
"I've made the suggestion known to her," Tenacious said. "The Headmistress is adamant to keep these stairs as is. She speaks proudly of her ancestor, who was the human's first partner…"
He tapped a step with his foot.
"…The very human who was said to set these stairs in stone."
Valiant tilted his head towards the small drop behind them. "I understand wishing to persevere in history, but we can't very well have a Roggenrola take an unpleasant tumble all the way down like last week, can we?"
"Hm…" Tenacious couldn't agree more. The only problem was convincing the Headmistress to make the change. The other alternative was to have psychics teleport a Pokémon to the next floor, but they didn't have many of them within the corporation.
He had visited the other corporations before. Nightgrove had a pulley system with vines that carried Pokémon up or down as they pleased. The Illusionary down south were all tricks to the naked eye. Once one knew what they were, navigating was easy. Stoneridge had a lift system that used magnetism to support even the heaviest of Pokémon. Perhaps they could use something like that.
The Headmistress was always difficult to sway. She would need a lot more convincing if modifications were in order.
She was just like her mother in that regard.
Valiant's beak creaked into a knowing smile. "She might listen to you. Well, not immediately, but she listens to you more than most. I'm sure that's why you're her advisor."
Tenacious sent him a warning glare as he hopped up another step. Ahead, a clay-doll levitated its way down, the steps a mere afterthought for it. The two birds stepped close to the walls and waited for the Pokémon to pass.
Not that there wasn't enough room, no. There were plenty. However, both came to a silent mutual agreement to halt their conversation until the psychic made it to the bottom…which it did with a bit of time. They resumed their ascent, side by side.
Valiant hopped a great number of steps ahead, and he looked back. "Although, we would have to bring such a topic to her attention another day. The Headmistress is far too restless to pay any mind to such things."
Tenacious found himself intrigued. There wasn't much that broke the Headmistress' focus. "Restless, you say?"
"Haven't you heard? What transpired in The Central?"
Tenacious slowed his pace. He hadn't heard much news from the central region of the continent in quite some time. It was often quiet there…so much so that Tenacious sometimes found himself almost envious. If any news were to break from there, it was typically something too big to ignore.
"Let's hear it then," was his response.
Valiant let lose a proud chuckle. "That dreaded Houndoom sorcerer had been arrested! It is the time for us to rejoice!"
"What?" Tenacious halted mid-step and gave the raptor a baffled look. "The one called Skullzer?"
A smile creeped on Valiant's beak. "What other Houndoom sorcerer is there?"
Baffled, Tenacious almost stammered over his words. "H-he's still alive?"
"Indeed. He was reported to be carted away for interrogation."
"Headmaster Slowking was there to send him off?"
"Oh, yes. Ahaha. Yes, yes he was. I see that look on your face, old friend. Yes! I myself wore the very same expression when the news reached me. Perhaps some would call it His Highness' testament, but do tell; whenever is the offspring the carbon-copy of their predecessors?"
"Hardly ever, unless certain behaviors are hammered into their heads," Tenacious answered, almost grim. He could almost see a certain Pokémon before him—the one who inherited the purple cloak. He had to hold back a shudder.
"The Central Headmaster has proved time after time again that he does not reflect his grandsire," Valiant said.
"Not consistently, no," Tenacious agreed. "But, the venom in his veins are strong. I dare to say that he was tempted at best."
"Ah, yes. I see your perspective. When his grandsire ruled, it was a time when we pitied those petty mages. The Central was the worst place for any hostile to be."
"The most peaceful era Espilce had ever seen." Tenacious echoed the words many said whenever the late King Acrimonious was mentioned.
"You've met him. I remember you telling me this before."
Tenacious felt a cold shudder again. "He wore a purple cloak to make up for the unnatural color his shimmering hide was. It hardly mattered. His enemies could see him from a distance, and they would flee with their tail between their legs. All for a good reason. Had King Acrimonious been in Headmaster Slowking's place, the Houndoom would have no means to breathe."
"Perhaps showing mercy to your adversary is a far greater punishment," Valiant said.
Tenacious could agree with that. To show mercy to the weak…his blood almost boiled at the humiliation.
Heavy stomping drew the birds' attention. They looked up. A zen-charm made its descent down. It gave them both a terse, but respectful nod as it passed. The pacing of its footsteps picked up almost in an instant.
Tenacious needed to shift the conversation before the sensation grew too unbearable.
"How have I never heard of this?" Tenacious asked, resuming his climb.
"Because the news was only recently released this morning," Valiant answered. "The Headmistress reached me via telepathy and informed me. I have not heard her voice hold so much excitement in years."
Tenacious gave him a suspicious look. "She reached you before me?"
Valiant chuckled. "I am her associate, just as you are. I just so happened to be the closest to her telepathic range."
It sounded reasonable enough.
"She is long grown, Tenacious. She doesn't have to run to you first about everything…not for news at least. I'm well aware you are her advisor."
"Is there anything else she told you?" Tenacious asked, ignoring the jab.
"Hm…it was the Noivern who caught him. The wounds Skullzer had slowed him down. Those pesky starlings couldn't do much for him."
Intriguing. To corner a single Sorcerer was difficult as is. But to capture one? Many believed it was next to impossible due to the spells they had in their vessel. Anyone who tried was met with a nasty counter.
Tenacious had to know who somehow found a weak spot.
"Who was the one responsible?"
"I already told you. The Noivern. The one you call the sound-wave, if my memory is correct—"
"I know what you call a Noivern. I meant the one who wounded The Sorcerer."
Valiant blinked, almost confused by the question itself. "The…identity has not been released. Rather strange if you ask me. Whenever a Sorcerer is wounded, the name of the one responsible is tagged along with it. We would reward them, and seek them. So why would the Central Headmaster say nothing about who was responsible for Skullzer's capture?"
"How long ago has this happened?" Tenacious asked.
"Several days ago. Every other corporation has been informed, I am sure."
"How odd…" Tenacious had to agree. It was usual for the identity to be kept anonymous.
Valiant's smile somehow grew. "Do you wish to hear what I think?"
"Let's hear it."
"The one responsible was a child."
Tenacious stopped again. "Wh—"
"I know. Sounds impossible, doesn't it?" Valiant said. "Even I have my doubts. But what other reason could the identity be kept unknown? Seems to me Headmaster Slowking doesn't wish to burden the child with the responsibility, which I find reasonable."
"If what you say is true…perhaps it is for the best. The other Sorcerers will only grow angrier if they learn they were bested by a mere child."
"Ah, see? When I told the others, they brushed it off as nonsense. It makes me glad that you are willing to consider it as a possibility."
Tenacious knew better than to brush off his old friend's speculation. "Unlikely, but possible, yes."
"Haha! Well said! If it became common knowledge that a child could overpower those mages, then I am quite positive their response would be ugly. They would do anything in their power to get rid of them before they could grow into a bigger problem, don't you think?"
Tenacious froze, his eyes fixed at the top of the staircase Valiant landed on.
A burning lump grew in his throat.
The Braviary continued, pleased as can be. "And while we have a number of children working within the corporation, we would never want to put them in the front lines, or have them involved in The Sorcerers' strife at all. They deserve to grow up as children. That is perhaps what Headmaster Slowking was thinking."
While the words did reach Tenacious, he couldn't find a way to respond as he stared at the raptor who finally took notice of his frozen state.
(Children in the front lines…)
(Children involved in The Sorcerers' strife…)
"Empoleon?" Valiant called.
Tenacious blinked. The dread he felt…it wouldn't ebb away.
"This was all done to keep the child safe, if that is what concerns you," Valiant said, with a concerned tilt of his head. "You could ask The Headmistress yourself. The last time I saw her, she was having her morning stroll. She should be outside."
Valiant was right. He could ask her. Maybe she knew. Sometimes hidden information was kept between the region rulers, and they would often pass it to their advisors…
He had to see for himself.
"I will see you later, yes?" Valiant lifted his wings. "I'll relay this information to the others."
He lunged and flew his way back down the staircase, out of sight.
Tenacious hurried the rest of the way up, and leaped at the last step with a beat of his flippers. Down the long hallway, the presence of sunlight would grow stronger. The warm breeze from outside prompted him to frost his body.
He stepped through the exit, and was greeted by the blinding light of the sun. With his eyes squinted against the rays, he stepped out further. More layers of frost coated his old feathers to keep the unpleasant heat off his body.
It didn't take long for his eyes to adjust. While the sunlight illuminated his surroundings, there were still towering walls that arched over his head. They were like natural pillars of stone that eroded over the centuries, and the rocky desert terrain was littered with them. Stories spoke of his those pillars were the remnants of a kingdom that once thrived before it was burned down amidst the fury of some overwhelming beast that could not be identified. Since then, the kingdom was rebuilt underground instead, which worked in The Headmistress' favor anyway. Her species were known to be den-dwellers after all.
No outsider knew where the underground kingdom thrived. It was hidden in plain sight, like many of the corporations were.
There was no sign of The Headmistress anywhere. Even as he stepped further into the barren lands, he didn't see the familiar flame-colored pelt that always managed to stand out.
Maybe higher…?
Tenacious made his climb up the natural incline. More eroded pillars towered past him. To anyone else, it would seem as if they were walking in circles. There were several reports of outsiders who had passed out or gone missing because of how the layout appeared to be the same no matter how far one ventured.
Of course, Tenacious knew his way back.
Further, he walked further, for what felt like minutes. He trudged through the gravel, kicked stones down ragged hills, and stepped over the few Nincada that were half-buried in the scorching sands.
He reached the top of a rocky cliffside, where the Headmistress would usually be found…but she wasn't there.
Someone else was.
As soon as Tenacious saw the large pink figure at the very top, his heart sank.
(Oh no…)
It was the last creature he needed to see. Even after he blinked, and hoped that his mind was cruel enough to play a prank. What he saw didn't waver. It was solid and real: The deep purple capelet cloak, the obsidian blades, the reformed Shellder that latched on to his body…
(Why is he here? He has no reason to be here…unless…!)
He swallowed the lump on his throat. His mouth felt dry.
The Pokémon before him was clumsy, yes…but he wasn't naive. If Tenacious said nothing and made an attempt to leave…it would be an insult, a grave mistake.
It was best not to test his patience. Not that the Pokémon could ever lose it, but he had witnessed what happened to those who believed they could best him. He was slow to react, yes, but once he did act…
(Say something…)
Tenacious opened his beak, but not even a croak managed to escape his throat.
Why? Why couldn't he speak…?
Was it the Pokémon's mere presence…? As stifled as it was, Tenacious could feel the pressure emanating from him.
(Speak…! Speak!)
His throat tightened. It was impossible.
The pressure that made his instincts scream.
"Yes, yes…. I knew you would come."
Tenacious held his breath. To stay still…impossible. His muscles twitched against his will. No matter how hard he commanded them to still, they shuddered, they shook. His body wouldn't stop trembling.
Then it hit him, all at once.
The source behind his dread. The core reason why his body trembled.
(Is he here…to pass judgment on me…?)
"Tenacious…Tenacious…"
The pink Pokémon did not turn around. His voice was near quiet, deeper than a yawn. His words, smooth, sloth, drifting…
"Tenacious the Bold… A matter to be told…hm…?"
(He addresses you. His dialect…hasn't changed…) Tenacious forced a foot forward, followed by another. (Keep it that way. Keep it that way. Keep it that way…)
The last thing he needed to do was to accidentally insult him.
He had to be careful. Very careful.
"Yes…yes… There is much we must discuss," the pink Pokémon mused. "Much to adjust. I've left home once more, and what do I see? Another mindless beast who runs free."
Tenacious' body moved on its own—a startled step back.
(He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows.)
"Ah…ah…" the Pokémon circled his arms. "Such misfortune continues to blight us, so much to discuss."
(This is where my story ends.)
(Tenacious the Bold.)
(The fool.)
(The sympathizer.)
(The traitor.)
"To call yourself a traitor and sympathizer, a demoralizer…I'd like to see why, if you would abide."
Tenacious froze in his tracks. His blood ran cold.
He completely forgot.
A mental barrier meant nothing.
The large Pokémon shifted his clawed feet. As if the day was long, he took his time to turn around.
The hermit-crab prince was donned with the shimmering purple capelet of his grandsire. It fluttered across his back like a silk blanket. Pinned at the very center of the collar was his Retaliator badge: Black base, black star, the centerpiece and ivory white.
The highest rank a Retaliator can reach: A step behind Headmaster.
The fact alone was no surprise. He was The Obsidian Prince. To underestimate his abilities was a fatal mistake Tenacious felt sinking deep into his bones. All he could do was wait for his judgment.
The hermit-crab, the one the civil-born called "Slowbro"...he knew not to ignore. His vacant eyes looked past the Empoleon, but only for a moment. Once they met each other's gaze, Tenacious felt a shudder. Slowbro's neutral expression never changed, not once. If he was ever angry, scarcely would anyone tell. The tone of his voice would never shift, nor would his eyes ever betray him. By the time one realized he was angry…it would be too late.
That was what made him terrifying.
Even now, to read him was impossible. His emotions, his body language, they were as neutral as one could get. He stood as still as a statue, as only his soft breathing was a sign that he was indeed, a living creature with a beating heart.
He never blinked. Oh, he never blinked. Even as dust brushed past his face, his eyes never did as much as twitch.
Slowbro took a step forward.
Tenacious dropped to the ground in an instant, one knee pressed against the sharp rocks. He dropped his head, his eyes fixed on the swirling patterns beneath him.
Claws. Tenacious could hear them crunch through the sand, towards his being with every slow step. The shadow reached over his head. Several seconds passed…he counted. Ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Thirty…
The clawed hand settled atop his head.
He felt it then.
His vision flickered, it went hazy. Vertigo overwhelmed him.
The world went dark, and all sound and feeling ceased at once.
A thread of pure, white light sliced across the darkness, and it exploded.
It was a weak tingle at first, then it grew into a ring. The horrid sound flooded his ears until it buzzed through his skull, consumed his thoughts—
(N…no-o…)
It continued to scream.
(N…n…no-ooo…)
Unbearable screeching. It pierced through his entire being, until his own scream joined the chorus.
…
… …
… … …
… … … ...
Tenacious witnessed many things in his lifetime.
From all he encountered, and all that he fought, nothing prepared him for the sight laid out before him.
When he was summoned to investigate the sighting of a Corrupted beast, it was supposed to be easy.
Step 1: Locate the hostile.
Step 2: Neutralize the hostile before it grew into a bigger problem.
Never was he informed he would meet such familiar eyes that blazed dangerously, yellow eyes that were wild and thoughtless. They held a powerful glare that sent his instincts into a scrambled panic.
It was a silent message that told him; if he took another step forward…he would be reduced to a red paste.
(This is dangerous,) his mind told him for the tenth time. (You must leave. You must turn back.)
To flee, however, went against his sworn oath he made to the queen.
A true knight should never abandon their post, if it meant to protect the kingdom they served.
So there he stood, a mere lunge away from the mouth of a moss-coated cave shrouded by shrubs and trees. The beast that stood at the entrance towered over him.
"Chessie…"
The name creaked from Tenacious's beak. He didn't know where to begin…or what to say. The wrong words would set her off.
At that moment, the spiny-armor was not a mindless beast.
He stood before a ferocious mother who was protecting her child with her very life—a child that just hatched, nonetheless. The eggshells still cling on to its sleeping and frail form.
Tenacious was not informed that the Corrupted were capable of having offspring.
"Chessie. Please."
The spiny-armor—the Chesnaught—she did not respond. She was not capable of speech. All she could muster was a low grunt, a warning. The hatchling was pulled closer to her chest. The small thing seemed to like the warmth…
What was supposed to be an easy job shot up in difficulty by tenfold.
He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. For a moment, he cursed his learned empathy. It would be much easier to strike her down had her not learned what compassion was.
It was mercy.
Right. Mercy.
A familiar face suffering a curse…to strike her down would be the most merciful thing he could do. It had to be quick and painless. A precise strike, and it would be over.
…There was another problem.
What could he do about the hatchling? Could it be Corrupted as well? It would be foolish to wait and see what would happen.
Perhaps it would be best to end its life before it could begin to comprehend what life is. That was the best thing Tenacious could do for the poor thing.
Right.
It was the best thing.
With both feet pressed against the earth, Tenacious lifted one bladed flipper close to his face, the other just above his flank. The back of his throat grew cold as he prepared his assault. A quick strike. All he needed was one.
The air was sharp.
Cheesie lifted a foot and stomped through the ground.
RRRRRREEEEEEGH!
The feral cry rattled deep in Tenacious's core. His feet moved back on their own.
(Not now. You will achieve nothing if you try it now.)
Tenacious took several more steps back. The Corrupted Chesnaught watched his every move. He stepped back further, until he no longer felt the sickening pressure in the air.
He was not as young as he once was. To battle was an art not lost to him, but a reckless decision had far more consequences than it would during his prime. He couldn't afford to be careless.
Ten lunges away. It would take ten lunges until he could break the gap between them. There were ways to shorten it further, but he would worry about that later.
He would not return home until his objective was completed..
… … …
As the afternoon shifted to dusk, both Pokémon remained fixed in place. Chessie's eyes had not left Tenacious for even a second.
Even as the Empoleon's head went limp.
His head would jerk. Eyes blinked against the setting sunlight. The flippers that reflected the light were heavy. No longer could they hold their offensive stance as they dropped down, lifeless at his side.
He nodded. He nodded again. The world was an orange blur.
Then there was darkness.
At first, Chessie was baffled. The threat that challenged her had fallen asleep where he stood. In the back of her mind, perhaps she remembered that birds were capable of sleeping on their feet.
She didn't care to get any closer.
Instead, she tilted her head forward and sniffed the air. Her eyes remained fixed on her enemy, who seemed to take slower breaths with every passing second.
Her hostility melted. All that remained was her confusion.
An old trick. One that never failed him.
Tenacious had learned since he was young how to remain perfectly still, how to control his breathing, and how to slow down his heart. All were survival skills to conserve his energy during the coldest of months. While it appeared to mimic hibernation, it was a tactic used to fight off blizzards during The Dark Blanket—the time of year when the sun refused to rise, and the blizzards never seemed to end.
It allowed him to clear his mind, to think.
Chessie was intelligent. The Corruption merely took away her ability to speak…but she had not forgotten who she was. Not yet, at least.
With every slow breath Tenacious took, her mind continued to deteriorate bit by bit. It wouldn't be long until she was nothing more than a mindless beast that sought to destroy anything that moved. He had to end it now.
Patience…
He just needed to be patient.
And soon enough, that patience paid off.
Chessie moved at last. She took two steps back, her eyes still fixed on the seemingly asleep Empoleon. Slow and silent, she made her way to the den. Her eyes left him, but only for a second.
At the very second, her guard dropped.
(There is no other window.)
(Do it now!)
Tenacious made his lunge. An icy grip climbed up his throat. It stabbed his tongue, and icy threads fired from his beak. The air around them turned to powder and merged into a chilling blast that bathed the ground in ice.
Like a dart, he slid stomach-first across the frozen surface. The gap between them broke within a second. He kicked himself in the air, his blade against his chest, the reflective light shining on the spiny-nut's sleepy face.
The civil-born had a name for its species too.
But…it was no Pokémon. Tenacious's act was mercy.
The Chesnaught looked up, blade aimed for her neck.
She spun, she crouched.
SHING!
Cream-colored spears fell on the frosted earth.
SHING! SHING!
A diagonal crack split across the shell.
A heavy arm swung, and a dull boom reverberated through Tenacious's chest. A terrible stab pierced him from the inside as something snapped.
"CRAAAAW!"
Tenacious fell and tumbled across the earth. He rolled his body around and stabbed a flipper through the surface to anchor his weight. Everything came to a stop.
He lifted his head, gulping a lungful of air. The simple act of standing sent more needles through his chest.
Something was broken. A rib?
Through his armor, she still managed to…
A shadow swallowed him. Tenacious lunged back.
The blur of an arm swept past his head and sunk into the earth where he once stood. A dull explosion rumbled as the ground caved in. Webs of cracks split the surface, and buried rocks shot out in a mad frenzy.
Tenacious staggered as the ground split between his toes. The tremors came to a stop.
He couldn't take his eyes off it.
Chessie's arm was buried deep into the soil, up to her shoulder. A single tug, and her arm was freed, caked with dried mud. The hole she left behind was filled as dirt spilled inside.
(Had that been my head…)
The horrid realization struck Tenacious's heart with ice.
(She got that strong…in such a short period of time.)
(That shouldn't be possible. No Pokémon should be capable of…)
He met her burning gaze.
Even when he went for the killing blow while her guard was down. Still, somehow, she reacted fast enough to turn her body around…to use her shell as a shield.
Her shell, now broken and split open…useless to defend her a second time.
She wouldn't give him a second time. If he tried that trick again, she would anticipate it. She would crush him flat in an instant.
(I can't fight her alone. My body can't take heavy blows like it used to…)
He reached for the Retaliator badge pinned to his chest. The golden sphere at the center was all he needed to call—
Pressure. It was behind him.
A shadow. Something giant…
Tenacious knew the moment he took his eyes off Cheesie, she would attack. He couldn't afford to give her that chance.
But he knew if he refused to look back, what was behind him would finish him off first.
So he made the decision to look back. Every muscle in his body locked in place.
There stood another Chesnaught, with cold eyes that killed every will to live Tenacious had left.
- 0000 -
Tenacious witnessed many things in his lifetime…
…but it was the fifth time the silver buck stopped by the cave that month. His golden antlers were aimed, not like swords, but as a guide for his psychic pulses to bathe his target. The black spheres that sat on the base held a strong blue glow. With every ripple of light they unleashed, the air would twist and distort around them.
On a bed of straw below him was the sleeping spiny-nut. The small child's body was highlighted with an eerie green glow. Around them, the cave walls were gouged with countless indentions. Fresh cracks had split across the patches that failed to hide old holes. The ground was disturbed and uneven, patches of grass unrooted. Stagimites had been snapped clean.
The entire cave was in grave need of repair.
That was not important. Not at the moment.
Tenacious witnessed the dreadful power the spiny-nut child had…power that no mortal creature should ever harness. The only thing that was far more terrifying than that, was how the Chesnaught nearby watched as if it were a normal occurrence.
His arms were crossed against his chest. His eyes never left the psychic at work. Behind him, three young Chespin watched, one frightened, the others disgusted.
At the very corner sat Chessie, her shell held together by a wrap of kudzu. She had not blinked a single time since the psychic arrived.
(This is what they've been doing all this time?) Tenacious thought. (For what reason? The child was doomed from the start.)
He rubbed his chest, still feeling the phantom pains when he was struck with that brutal blow.
It only took one blow.
Just one.
(If the mother has that terrible power…there isn't a single doubt in my mind that the hatchling inherited it. That's usually how it goes. If the parent has incredible fighting potential…so does the offspring. In this case…)
(This hatchling… This thing…could be the end of all of us…)
He wanted to move. Every nerve in his body wanted to move. Since he stepped foot inside the cave, his eyes would dart towards the exit. If he found the right angle, the right time, he would slide out of there. He could steal back his badge. He could trigger it and return to base and make his report to the queen. He could—
That sickening pressure. It pressed deep into his core.
One glance at the towering Chesnaught, and Tenacious' legs lock in place as they did before.
The Chesnaught didn't have to say a word. His eyes spoke for him.
"Go ahead. Give me a reason to flatten you."
Tenacious took in a deep breath as he shifted his attention to the pebble between his feet. It was perhaps the most interesting pebble he had seen in his entire life.
To be detained the way he was, to be held down, forbidden from leaving…he loathed it.
Tenacious was a skilled warrior. His blades had no rival, his strength never outmatched by anyone…or so he thought. All it took was one look, and he knew a battle against one Chesnaught would be too much for him.
A battle against two? He wouldn't live to see the light of another day.
They had done nothing yet, and already, Tenacious found himself wounded. His pride…tarnished. His muscles burned with the desire to strike something, anything, but he had to suppress it in order to keep his head.
(What am I doing here?) Tenacious was half tempted to kick the pebble in a fit of frustration, but he felt their eyes watching. (Why do they hold me here?)
(What is it that you are trying to do, Zypher? I know you see it. You see that the hatchling is going to grow into a problem.)
(Why waste your efforts…?)
Tenacious heard whispers—the young whispers of children. He listened in, thankful that he hadn't gone mad with his resolve after all…
"He's been going at it for weeks," the middle child Chespin said. "There's no fixing him."
"Isn't he our brother?" the youngest, and the only daughter asked. Her voice was so small and meek, it made Tenacious feel great pity.
The eldest one scoffed. "A freak like that? No way. It's just a beast wearing a Chespin's skin. It's better off dead."
A snort from Zypher made the three children stiffen to an upright posture.
With that, the brief conversation ended.
The glow from the silver buck's antlers faded as he stepped back. Hooves clacked on the rocky surface as he turned to address the waiting Chesnaught. He dipped his head with a sigh.
"All I can do is quell it. I cannot erase what blighted him."
"Then quell it." Zypher's voice was that of a commander. Deep and brooding, it almost pierced fear through the buck's heart. "Do whatever is necessary to assure it remains dormant."
"Y-yes. That's precisely what I've been doing, good sir," the buck stammered. His ears pressed against his head as he took a step back. "It's a good thing his core is among the flora. Had he had fire instead, I-I fear it would be near impossible to suppress his Blaze. Thankfully—er yes. Thankfully I can suppress his Overgrow with ease. Unfortunately er…this does cause a problem…"
"What is it then? Spit it out," Zypher demanded.
"Y-yes! You see, because his Overgrow has to be suppressed, this hinders his natural second-wind. This means, my good sir, if there ever is an instance he finds himself in a pinch during battle…it will not trigger."
There was no change in Zypher's face. Instead, he crossed his arms. "Is that all?"
"Y-yes…yes. That is all."
"Hm." Zypher walked forward, and the buck almost lost his footing just to get out of his way. It only took a few steps just for him to cross the room. His eyes fell on the sleeping form of his son. "To think I was expecting…something far more foreboding. He will manage."
"Wh-what?" the buck said.
"He will manage. He doesn't need it. He will learn." Zypher glanced back. "And you are dismissed, Wyrdeer. Your service is no longer needed."
"I…I…"
Zypher spun around with a growl. "I said depart now! Or, must I escort you with force?"
"W-w-wait just a moment!" Wyrdeer shouted. "There is something else you need to know! Something else that concerns me! You must hear it! You—"
"Just say it!"
"I have managed to suppress his Overgrow, yes! Suppress, as in it still exists, it's just—"
"I know what it means!"
"Y-yes! The point is, while it can't trigger when he is in a pinch…it can still activate…in the case that his life is in grave danger. Although…there are still some conditions to be met of course! He has to be mortally wounded for it to properly react and—"
"Then he will encounter no such thing."
Wyrdeer cocked his head. "What?"
"He will have no reason to be put in any sort of danger," Zypher continued. "He will not be in any position for it to be possible."
"Wh…what? You're saying…you're going to keep him from the outside world?" Wyrdeer asked, baffled. "I understand wanted to protect him, good sir, but this is not the way to do it! He is a creature built for battle! To keep him away from that is depriving him of natural development and—"
"We will teach him the art of battle."
"Just his family won't be enough. You can't…shelter him from the world like this. Such nativity…how do you expect to hide him? Your family is esteemed and respected. Everyone knows about the accident…they are bound to stop by and—"
"You will speak of none of this…to anyone."
Wyrdeer shrunk. "I…I already swore to you. I made an oath that I would not utter a peep of his existence, good sir!"
"Then question me no more. I already told you…you are relieved of your service."
Zypher shoved a claw underneath his armor, and he tossed a heavy sack in front of the buck's feet. The contents inside clattered.
Blue light highlighted the bag as the string untied on its own. It opened with an unseen force, then spilled over.
Tenacious' heart skipped a beat.
Several golden coins piled on the earth into a small mountain. Tens…hundreds…too many to count at once.
"Twenty thousand. Take it and go."
"Tw-twenty thousand poké?" Wyrdeer gasped, the black orbs of his antlers flickering blue. "I-I…"
"Don't make me reconsider."
The psychic energy lifted the coins in heaps. They were shoveled back inside the back in a hurry. Once sealed, the bag levitated at Wyrdeer's side. He dipped his head.
"I…I'll be on my way. Good day to you, sir… madame…"
In a gallop, he was gone.
(What…what did I just witness?) Tenacious kept close watch of Zypher, who crossed the room to reach his mate. (A bribe…?)
Chessie was helped to her feet. Her shell seemed to be on the verge of falling apart with every step she took, the vines holding the pieces together. As soon as she reached the sleeping spiny-nut, she dropped to all fours and curled her body around the child's tiny form to the best of her ability.
She was asleep in an instant.
How could anyone fall asleep so fast…?
"Now…what to do with you?"
Zypher's voice was at a lower volume, but the threatening aura he presented did not lessen. If anything…it grew stronger as he took his slow steps towards Tenacious.
Tenacious searched for the right words to say. He knew the Chesnaught was waiting, but such patience was a facade. There was no escape. Tenacious could try to make it sound like he agreed with the Chesnaught's methods…but he was terribly talented with reading lies. Tenacious did not consider himself the best liar either.
No, no. Empoleon were not creatures who took pride in telling fables. To fabricate, to trick, to manipulate just to achieve something…it would do nothing but stain their pride. Empoleon valued nothing more than achieving honest strength.
Zypher had the foolish will to hide something dangerous. If Tenacious did nothing, it would go against everything he worked for. It would bring ruin to the entire region…no, the country.
For Tenacious to say nothing was a lie.
For Tenacious to tell a lie was an insult to his pride, his honor.
And perhaps that was his downfall.
(Perhaps this is how I will face my demise.)
As Zypher drew closer, Tenacious swallowed down his fear and held his head high.
(If he wishes for me to say nothing…he will have to strike me down—in front of the children. However…I know you, Zypher. You will do no such thing. To soil these grounds with my blood…is a concept that refuses to cross your mind.)
Once Zypher stood in front of him, the words he spoke were not what Tenacious expected at all.
"You've just about decapitated my mate. You see her armor, and how effortlessly you sliced through it…as if it were made out of clay."
Tenacious said nothing, because his words were not needed.
Zypher took a step forward.
There was an explosion from outside. A blur of silver flew between the two and crashed against the wall above Chessie. The Chesnaught scooped up the hatchling and sprinted aside as Wyrdeer collapsed on the ground.
"What in the…"
Wyrdeer slammed a front hoof on the ground in an effort to stand. His legs wobbled as he could barely get his weight off the ground. His weak eyes were locked onto Zypher.
"You…you… You've doomed us all…"
His knees buckled, and he collapsed on the ground.
There was no change in Zypher's expression, almost as if he expected it. His focus turned towards the tunnel that connected the room to the others. There, a soft yellow-green glow lingered and grew.
It consumed the darkness, like the rising sun early in the morning. The rays of light brought no comfort. Tenacious knew that something was wrong.
It didn't take long until the sound of footfalls became audible. From the rhythm alone, Tenacious identified the stranger to be a long-legged quadruple. He didn't have to wait long to confirm his guess.
Eerie, glowing yellow-green eyes hovered high above, almost touching the tunnel's ceiling. A round and monstrous head greeted them with sharp and pointed fangs.
It was a beast Tenacious had never seen before—a savage hoofed beast. With every step it took, the few dark spots that splotched its orange body rippled. Its neck—incredibly long and sturdy like a trunk—stretched out and craned towards the Pokémon. Its glowing eyes never blinked. With no pupils, it was impossible to know who or where it was looking.
Immediately, the Chespin children scattered behind the towering figure that acted as their shield. Zypher stomped through the earth. A silent warning to not take a step closer.
"Eheheheh…."
Though it's mouth never moved, the voice was nothing Tenacious' ears were ever assaulted by. It was as if two souls were trapped in one body. One voice was that of a female, arrogant and snobby in every possible way. The other was a deep and venomous hiss, with every word spoken as if it choked on ink.
It was a voice that didn't sound civilized, nor wild, a horrible mix of both. The creature before them was on the edge of bloodlust.
"My oh my…this is the last thing I've expected to see… Tenacious the Bold… Zypher The Hammer Arm…in the same place…?"
The hoofed best took a step closer, the glow of its eyes brightening.
Zypher crouched low. A stray vine sprouted from his shoulder and snaked towards the children. He pushed them closer to each other, his eyes never leaving the intruder.
Who was this stranger…? Something about the sinister Pokémon rang several alarm bells in Tenacious' mind. He knew it was his instincts trying to warn him of something…but what…?
The better question…how did it find them in the first place?
The creature took a look around. Its gaze fell on the frightened children.
"Such…a lovely place you have. Such…healthy children…and a sad, poisoned creature who will expire from her identity soon enough… Yes…so easy to detect. I…am the one who seeks the Corrupted."
(Seek the corrupted…?) Tenacious stiffened. (It can sense them? How is that even possible…?)
"My travels brought me all the way here…here to this cave, where the famous Hammer Arm resides… Didn't make much sense for a Retaliator to shelter a tarnished mind. However…"
An object floated from behind it for all to see.
Highlighted in green psychic energy was the very bag of poké Zypher gave Wyrdeer before. It was tossed to the ground, and the golden coins spilled from inside.
"Bribing a lesser psychic to mask what can't be undone…? How uncouth of you, Zypher…"
Upon receiving no response, the intruder let out a chuckle.
"Your reasons…I sense it even now. Let me see it."
Chessie gasped as the hatchling was torn out of her grasp by the psychic force. In an instant, a vine shot across the room and struck the intruder across the head.
The hatchling fell. Chessie caught it.
Zypher drew back his vine halfway, not budging as the intruder turned its head to him. Its sharp fangs somehow stretched wider.
Tenacious's nerves turned into ice.
"Ehehehehe…so that's what it is… I see…I see…yes…
"You wish…to…protect it…?"
The Chesnaught said nothing, even as the creature laughed.
"Such irony…! Amusing…! You would betray the very promise your feeble organization declared to protect something that only experienced a lick of life…? I know you see it…how disastrous it is to hold on to such reckless ideals. That child…will grow up to become a beast that will destroy this very world. That is my fortune to you…"
Nothing. Nothing was said.
The creature tilted its head. "Still won't speak…? Not convinced yet…? My, oh my… Oh my… Oh my…such foolish determination. Whatever…shall I do…to sway your perspective…"
It paused. It hissed a low laugh through its fangs.
"Yes…I know just the thing. Since you fail to see the future, I shall present to you the destruction that is set in stone…bit by bit… Day by day…but not now. No…I will give you the time to think…yes. This should be plenty of time…"
Tenacious glanced at Zypher for a reaction, but the Chesnaught looked just as focus as he did from the start.
Was he unfazed by all of it…?
"Two…fortnights…"
The creature's whisper sunk deep.
"Twenty-eight days… I will return here…I expect for the beast to be slain. Continue to persist… Someone shall be slain in its place…until you finally understand the weight of your consequences…"
The terrible creature stepped backwards into the tunnel from where it came. Its glowing eyes never left them, even as it was swallowed into the darkness. The eyes were the only thing that remained.
They shrunk…and they shrunk…until they took, disappeared.
The ghastly pressure in the air was gone. Tenacious found it easier to breathe…and he realized…
Had he tried anything…that creature would had…
"What…what was that thing?" one of the Chespin children asked.
But no one answered.
… … …
Tenacious and Zypher had a terrible argument that night. One that almost escalated into a fight.
But even an angry verbal match was too much for Tenacious. To stand strong against Zypher left him to stand shaken. It wasn't cold, but his body wouldn't stop trembling.
He saw red.
Zypher's indifference towards the lives of others made blisters flood the Empoleon's veins.
The words he said to him continued to cycle though his mind;
"If you speak any of this to The Supervisor, then you have doomed all of us. Empathy is a concept they can't seem to understand… They will see that ridding this entire family would be the most optimal option. It has happened before."
Tenacious watched as Zypher slugged a backpack over his shoulder. He pressed his beak together with so much pressure, water bubbled from his nostrils.
He could taste it. The desire to unleash a single hydro pump just to knock some sense into the fool…
…but it would be futile. Zypher had his mind made up. Tenacious would know.
"They will be rid of you too, simply because you were there…and you've failed to get rid of her. They will label you as a sympathizer."
"But you won't have to worry about them."
Around Zypher's arm was the scarf he refused to wear around his neck. It was a cream color hashed with several green X's, the mark of Metagross.
His Retaliator badge was pinned on his chest, but the centerpiece had no color. It wasn't active.
He was hiding.
"Dad?" the Chespin called Pecan walked up to her father, her voice small and confused. "What's going on? Why are we packing everything?"
Zypher had uncovered a stash of Wonder Orbs from a crate he had stationed in the corner. He stuffed a large number of them in his bag."We are leaving."
"What?!" Needler, the middle child, gasped. "Leaving?! Why?!"
"Foresight will be seeking us," he explained. "I will not give her the opportunity to bring ruination to us."
(Foresight!) The name consumed Tenacious with dread. He knew…he knew there was something terribly dangerous about the hoofed creature.
That was one of The Sorcerers…one of their commanders!
Zypher didn't challenge her because he knew it would be a one-sided fight!
"Dad!" the eldest one named Quill snapped. "The answer is right here! Just drop the stupid thing in the middle of the forest tomorrow! She'll pick it up and we'll be safe!"
"I will do no such thing."
Quill growled. "Why? Do you care more about one freakish beast than the rest of us?! They are just going to come after us! All you are doing is delaying it! You heard what she said! She said she would take out someone else in its place!"
"His place," Zypher growled. "And it won't be any of you."
Quill's anger almost vanished as shock took its place. "You…you don't care about them, do you?"
Zypher said nothing else. His eyes remained fixed in the cave exit of his home.
Tenacious knew why. The reason behind Zypher's refusal to let the hatchling go…was the most terrifying thing that ever reached his ears.
The Chesnaught was far…far from any form of preeminence.
"Dad…I don't want to leave home," Needler whined, on the verge of tears. "Like Quill said, can't we just leave it outside?"
"I will do no such thing to him," Zypher answered at last. "We are leaving right now."
Unlike Quill, Needler was not as willing to keep pushing. He instead shifted to something else. "What about my friends? Can I at least say goodbye to them?"
"They are irrelevant to you now. There's no reason to say goodbyes."
The poor child's heart was broken.
"No…" Pecan whispered. "I don't want to leave them… No! No!"
She shook her head and stomped the ground.
"No, no, NO! IT'S NOT FAIR! I don't want to go! I want to stay here! I want to stay here! I want to staaa-aaaay!"
Sobs. Her little sobs. It broke Tenacious' heart. So familiar, so small…
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" She spun around towards the darkness, where the hatching was hidden, angry tears in her eyes. "I hate you! I hate you! I wish your egg rotted away!"
"PECAN!"
Zypher's roar startled the young child. Her shoulders went slump, and she turned back to her father.
"I hate you."
For the first time, Zypher's face changed. It was brief, all in a flash…but it was as if the words cut through him like a dagger.
And just like that, his face went stoic again as he averted his eyes.
"What else were you expecting?" Quill asked, his tone pressed. "You expect us to abandon our friends and leave without saying a word?! To allow other Pokémon to perish? What's wrong with you?! First you keep that thing alive—"
An angry paw pointed towards Chessie.
"...and now you want to hold on to a monster that pretends to be a baby?!"
Zypher's cold eyes shifted towards his eldest child. That look alone was more than enough to push him back.
"That thing is your mother."
"Mama is dead! That's just a walking husk!" Quill snapped.
"Deny it if you wish…but you share their blood. I will not abandon them."
Quill clenched his paws. "You care more about them than the rest of us."
"I said no such thing—"
"Then you'll drop them off outside. Have someone else take them down if it hurts you that much."
It didn't surprise Tenacious to hear such a bold statement from the child. He too wore the Retaliator badge. They are taught and trained to get rid of anything related to the Corruption…and it seemed whoever was teaching him did a good job hammering that into his head.
In Quill's eyes, his father was willing to protect something the very corporation was created to oppose. It was no different from a Retaliator sheltering a Sorcerer that had plans to ruin an entire city. It was inconceivable.
In Quill's eyes, his mother died the night she was pulled into a sky-rift, and his baby brother was nothing more than a mindless beast. Tenacious shared those thoughts. The child was far more clever than his father.
And yet…Zypher refused to see it. In fact, he seemed to turn the other away and pretend it wasn't an issue.
"We are going. I will hear no more arguments over this," Zypher said. "Let's go."
That was when Pecan started to cry again. Between her heartbroken sobs, she sputtered over the grief of losing her friends and home. Needler realized that his friends would come to the conclusion that he abandoned them without a single thought, and it would make him look like a horrible Pokémon.
Quill said nothing else, but it was clear he was seething inside. He kept by his sister's side, comforting her to the best of his ability.
Heavy footfalls alerted them. They all scrambled back as the monstrous Chesnaught emerged. Cradled in her arms was the cursed hatchling, who was sound asleep, oblivious to the tension.
While the other children looked away, Quill's burning eyes were locked on the hatchling, as if he was thinking of a hundred ways to get rid of it.
After Zypher did a quick headcount, he tilted his head for everyone to follow.
And they did. Silently. Bitterly.
Tenacious walked at the very end of the line, protecting the children from behind. Where they were going, he already had an idea. It was the one place where The Headmaster was the most merciful.
They were headed for The Central.
Through forests and prairies, to the rolling hills—rain and shine, they travelled. They made several stops. They avoided the mystery dungeons as much as they could.
Riverside Path was their destination.
Tenacious followed, his eyes locked on Zypher's backside. He must had felt the glare, because he looked over his shoulder to meet his eyes.
He could hear his warning again:
"You will speak of his existence to no one."
"You will protect him."
"Break that promise…"
…
… …
… … …
"...and your flippers will make very fine swords."
Blinding white light flooded his vision, and it shrunk back into the darkness.
Tenacious' eyes flew open as he swallowed a mouthful of air. His foot slipped beneath him, and his backside struck the ground.
The sky.
The rocky terrain…. sand…
He was…
(No!)
He wished he didn't sit up.
Slowbro stood there with his unblinking stare, his eyes locked on Tenacious, who felt nearly overwhelmed with fright.
"Is that…not what he said that fills you with dread?" he asked.
Tenacious couldn't speak.
(He…he saw everything.)
(No time…no time passed at all. He…he surfaced my memories and saw everything! All in a matter of seconds! He saw it! He knows…! He knows….!)
"The Chesnaught called Zypher…is my personal visualizer. Each contact he makes…is for me to take…and to organize. Every sight he sees, sent to me…to decipher. He's my eyes, my ears…in all my years…all for the benefit. Not for me, not for you…but to prevent the kingdom's rue."
As Slowbro turned back for the edge of the hill, Tenacious pushed himself to his feet. The prince's words swirled in his mind as he tried to sort out the meaning behind them. "I…don't understand."
"He wanted to send the message of something presage that we can repel against. And now it's clear to me how things should be."
"What…what will you have me do?" Tenacious asked.
"Do what must be done to protect his son, as you were sworn to do."
"Your…Your Highness…"
Slowbro patted his chest and turned around, his cape swaying behind him. He left for the hills, leaving Tenacious alone with his thoughts.
"Break that promise…
…and your flippers will make very fine swords."
Part 1/2