-Introduction-
~Aidan & NadiaA duo of Riolu found themselves leaning upon a tree, side by side and each panting heavily with exhaustion. The almost serene sound of a nearby stream, a little ways out of view but still in earshot, rang in their ears. The male of the two, Aidan, had his fur matted in areas with a silky looking matter from a rather annoying run in with a mob of Caterpie on a previous portion of this journey. They had been traveling through these woods for the entire day and had already depleted more food rations than what they had originally intended on saving for the trip home thus leading to a loss in morale. The twins had no need to communicate their fatigue to the other through words for what they had just put behind them was the same. Surely by this point they had to be somewhere close to the center of these woods where they were directed and destined to go. They had taken this mission upon themselves and they were about to go through with it to the very end, whatever it took.
Dusk quickly overcame the last of the natural visible light leaving only a few mysterious organisms in the immediate area with bioluminescent abilities as the only sources of radiance in the utter darkness of the forest.
”Dear my! I rarely get visitors this far into the forest, never mind at this time at night. Are you lovelies lost?”
A peculiar voice pervaded the silence which the night had brought on; Aidan and Nadia immediately reacting with mirrored fighting stances back to back and away from the wall that the tree they were leaning on provided. Early on in this mission the two learned quickly never to trust the environment for guarding them any bit; enemies were able to come out of anywhere and that’s exactly what they assumed they were facing now. It was in this moment that the duo noticed what exactly they were resting upon this whole time, in the side of the tree being an obviously hand carved hole of sorts with intricate patterns offsetting the natural look of the bark which they were engraved into as if it were a shrine of sorts.
”Fine then, you look as if you’d rather fight than accept my hospitality…Not that I was going to offer you a place to rest for the night anyway. As I contemplate if you should be deposed of or not, and if so then by what means, may I ask why you’re here?”
Accompanied by the voice this time was a strangely shaped, green head, two dangling arms, and a pair of fluttering, clear wings protruding from the earlier mentioned hollow opening in the tree. The peculiar shape of the being now explained and exemplified the high pitched yet masculine tone that was possessed by it. It became obvious to the twins that they had found what they were searching for. Not that they had ever came into contact with a Celebi before, but this one was dead on to the provided description.
”We were sent to request your aiding of the Kingdom of the Sun.”
Nadia was the first to speak, responding to the question presented to them despite the underlying threatening message without breaking her defensive stance. This interaction seemed best to be handled with utmost caution. Perhaps that being the case she wasn’t exactly the best suited to be speaking either.
”Ohohoho. Really now? Those guilds have been after me for one reason or another for years now. Never have they thought of my wants though in all this time. In all honesty though they must be in a deep amount of trouble considering they sent you two little tykes. What? Were the sick of wasting anything higher up on the likes of me or are they just this pitiable now?”
As he continued to speak, the pixie-ish Pokemon fully revealed itself from his abode which doubled as a place of worship dedicated to the name of his species, and hovered around the immediate vicinity of the twins, eying them up as if they were prey. The scene in itself was almost comedic considering the proportions of the legendary Pokemon.
”We…”
”Our team took the mission upon themselves to recruit you in on our cause before your powers fall into less worthy hands. However… Recently a large portion of our rescue team perished in an enemy attack and we’re what’s left.”
It was rather obvious, at least in Aidan’s eyes, that his sister was about to lose her temper after the harsh words that claimed both of them to be practically incompetent of the task at hand, so before she could speak brazenly he quickly jumped in with a still collected mindset.
”Awe. Now what a sob story we have here. In all honesty though, why should I be sure of the fact that you’re fighting for the better side here? “Good” and “Evil” do not exist for me, I side either with myself and myself alone or perhaps on an off day the highest bidder that comes along. I sense a great battle in the near future potentially leading into a major power change, thus making now not the time to make alliances very easily. Just because I’ve been secluded to this forest doesn’t mean I don’t realize there’s tension elsewhere. That being noted why should I remove myself from somewhere I’m content just for the sake of some nonsensical lower beings? You know what? This conversation ends here. No more trying to win me over with the words of a liar’s world, prove your worth to me!”
Silence once again took over the area, perhaps even a cloud covering prevailed over the dim light of the moon as it seemed things were darker than what they were just moments ago. The only source of light remaining being a set of eyes glistening yellow with malice intent as they danced around the twins. Suddenly, not long after it was mentioned, action was made. Without warning a plethora of tendril vines, greenish with golden ivy leaves raced out from the wooden shrine dedicated to Celebi, each with utmost stealth latching on to Aidan’s limbs and torso before contracting with ferocity slamming him back into the tree and tying him in place. Nothing more than a yelp was able to be added by his sister before the cause of all of this spoke once more.
”He seemed rather boring, but I have just the perfect plan for you!”
A light chuckle followed the words of the forest dweller before he commenced. A whistling penetrated the trees and brush around them, brought on by some sort of strange wind that seemed natural at first but slowly grew in suspiciousness. Keeping up for a few moments it wasn’t long before the sound of rustling leaves around the trio began to carry a tune; a somber sonnet it was that if with words it would have spoken of all the trials and misfortunate the young Riolu had faced in their lives. It wasn’t long after this Perish Song had kept up before Nadia collapsed to the ground. Aidan, being witness to all of this, struggled against the vines that bound him in place to no avail; the Riolu growling angrily at whoever dared do harm to his sister.
”Don’t get yourself all angry and whatnot, she’s not dead yet. Granted she’s probably dreaming by now. As a Psychic type, dabbling in subconscious manipulation has always been a fond hobby of mine. In combination with my Perish Song attack, she has roughly three days to break out of this induced sleep before she is trapped in it forever. That or there’s also the possibility that if she dies in her dream she’ll end up with the same fate. Whichever way odds aren’t in either of your favors that she will be waking up. However, if she does, I shall go with you per request. Fair enough? I think so.”
The Celebi drifted through the air closer to Aidan and explained the terms of his experiment in full; the teasing tone that accompanied it however was probably unnecessary.
”YOU’RE CRAZY! Why would the guilds even want someone like you?!”
Aidan, from the chest up still unbound outside of his arms being kept at his side, was able to bark madly in response.
”Love, if I am capable of doing this much just on whim, surely if I actually gave a damn I would be able to take out whole armies. Any mere mortal Pokemon would kill to have me as a subordinate. Or as this case seems they were willing to risk the lives of their own kind in the off chance that your cute disposition would win me over or something of the like.”
The legendary paused for a moment to let out a light chuckle as he chose his next words.
”Now in the meantime, while we’re waiting for her fun to play out, if you behave yourself like a good puppy I may even let you loose as long as you don’t do anything stupid. I have a strange feeling these next three days are gonna’ be rather tedious for the both of us and I wouldn’t want to sit through it all without a conversation partner. Granted I’m very used to being alone but it can’t be helped but take advantage of guests when I have them. Oh, would you look at that, I would estimate it to be just at the stroke of midnight when she was put under. What are the odds?
How rude of me, you civilized Pokemon have names to tell that of the same species apart from one another, don’t you? Well, that and gender. Us legendaries don’t concern ourselves with reproduction much ya’ know since it takes quite a bit to kill us but if needed I’d rather be considered a male over the other option. That being noted you could call me Ein if you would like. Am I talking too much? Oh, and not that it would matter in the near future since I’d most likely have to off you also if your little friend doesn’t make it back, but until then what’s your name?”
”…”
”What a funsnuffer.”
-Murderer-
Nadia was visibly still asleep from both Ein’s and Aidan’s perspectives; signs of life apparent in her writhing and grasping hands as if she were having a nightmare about a great fall and was attempting to take hold of something that would save her. As far as her subconscious journey was concerned this was only the beginning; a prequel of primordial feelings that held her under while the real dream took shape. An entire world constructed itself in her head without her even being aware of the process in its stages of formation. Soon enough though, the two were bound to be introduced; the young Riolu opened her eyes to find herself on a foreign roadside. Well, “foreign” only being the most appropriate description since she couldn’t recall ever being in this particular location ever before, or how she found herself there for that matter, resting peacefully against the trunk of a tree in full spring foliage. Why couldn’t she remember how she arrived there? And where was her brother? It had seemed that for this moment she had no recollection of being put under by a certain Celebi or the whole mission leading up to this point. All that remained in her foggy memory was a faint feeling that wherever she was, it was a place she did not belong in at all, and an urge to find a way out as soon as possible.
”Dear my, look at the mess you’ve gone and made.”
A voice broke her train of thought that would have surely lead down the line to sheer panic if left unattended any longer which caused the Riolu to peer off to her side in time to catch eye of a brightly striped Glameow. However that glimpse was all she was to receive before the Pokemon disappeared, causing her confusion to heighten once again momentarily before she felt a presence right beside her. Soon enough noting it to be the feline once more. She wasn’t about to ask questions or make accusations, as some Pokemon are fortunate enough to have the ability to teleport themselves at whim, but never had she heard of such thing coming from a Glameow. For the moment there were more important things to be attending to, such as her predicament in its entirety and whatever exactly the Pokemon before her was speaking about just moments ago.
” ‘Mess’, what? Could you please tell me where I am?”
Her words flowed out in a rather discombobulated fashion; one topic having no relation to the other, although taking her circumstances into consideration this was entirely acceptable.
”Where you are doesn’t matter. If I were you though I would be anywhere else but here. Most people flee from murder scenes, you know, after the crime has been committed.”
Nadia noted in this moment how peculiar the gruff voice coming from the brightly colored feline was, however his words were a bit more concerning and deserved addressing.
”Murder?”
She inquired curtly.
”You must really be trying to throw an act my way or something, a pitiable one at that. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me nevertheless. Anyone who takes blood from one of The Queen’s henchmen is a friend of mine~.”
As he spoke the Glameow disappeared, his voice still remaining but distancing itself. Nadia’s eyes trailing along where she thought the Pokemon could possibly be; she found herself coming upon a rather gruesome sight instead. The feline appearing in the immediate vicinity of the body of one very tattered Scyther soon after.
”Never has The Queen’s Red Knight been taken in battle before, much less killed. Well that much is obvious as most people only have the honor of dying once, but you get the idea. Did you really have to leave the body in the middle of the road like this though? Someone is going to come by soon enough and I wouldn’t want to be standing around having this conversation when that happens.”
Nadia couldn’t help but stare blankly; her gaze darting between the corpse she was apparently being accused of killing and the Glameow that was telling her that much. She contemplated the title of “Red Knight” given to the body, taking a little comfort in the fact that some of the coloring of the carcass may then be natural, though by looks it was rather hard to tell, pools and splatters of blood surrounding the deceased and dotting its way all over the dirt roadway.
”I’m counting upwards of ten good stab wounds here. I mean really, from the looks of things one or two could’ve easily done the job. Would ‘overkill’ be an appropriate term for what I see here? Dear my, I never had to use such phrasing outside of metaphorical circumstances.”
The feline, noting he was not yet getting a response continued his ramblings onward.
”I didn’t kill anyone! Does it look like I even have a weapon on me that could do that?!”
The pent up interjection was bound to come out at some point, a wildly screeched attempt to clear her own name.
”Minor technicalities. I’m sorry but as soon as a crime such as this is put on the head of someone in this fine country, well, the mentioned body part is as good as gone.”
The words seemed nothing less than illogical to Nadia. Granted she wasn’t able to make sense out of anything that came her way up until this point anyway so there was no use in trying now.
”Look, I could point you in the direction of The Hatta’. He has a knack for hiding criminals and other deeds of the like. It’s the best chance you have. Head east from here, through the woods, and you should come upon his lodgings soon enough. You’ll know when you’re close. Ciao~.”
”WAIT-!”
Before she could speak further the cat-like Pokemon was gone once more. She understood well enough that he wasn’t coming back either. If what he said was true though it was best for her to get away from wherever she was and the lead he gave was as good as anything. At least there was one thing for now she could be sure of, and that was the fact that she did not kill anyone. Giving the horrific crime scene one last glance over, Nadia slipped away into the forested area and away from the road as directed.
-Blasphemer-
”What’s wrong with this place…”
Nadia couldn’t help but find herself speaking aloud to herself for a lack of any better companionship; the surrounding florae around her becoming more and more peculiar as she pressed on. Mushrooms of engorged size and proportions standing higher than even some of the trees which in and of themselves were already bright with many shades of color that were hardly the norm for tree bark.
”Who are you?”
A sudden voice broke the trance that held over the Riolu causing her to move her glance over to an opening in the otherwise thick wall of trees which she had heard someone possibly addressing her. Stepping towards the opening, it became known to her that the figure that had its eyes set upon her was a lone Caterpie seated atop a mushroom which surely was three times as big as herself as far as the head went, but on the same note had the tiniest of stalks which somehow propped it up at a height which the young Riolu was easily able to see over. How something could ever grow this way was a thought beyond her entirely; nevermind the fact to how the Caterpie got up there without tipping the ill proportionate fungus over.
”I am-“
She was about to introduce herself as the question she was presented with earlier prompted when she was cut off without warning by the petit insect she was sharing conversation with.
”I know that you are, as I hope I am for that matter. I can see you exist as plain as day right before me you know; I’m not blind, you don’t have to state your status of living. Or is it that you’re questioning the matter of Arceus; creator of us all? If that is the case I will not stand for it.”
Nadia couldn’t help but cringe under the vocal onslaught that she had apparently set off; the Pokemon before her seeming to take what little words she had said and turn them against her in a very troublesome fashion. Almost leaving her to the point where she was afraid to speak up , in her own defense now, again.
”No, that’s not what I mean-…”
She was once more cut short; the Caterpie’s demeanor becoming a glare of nothing less than disgust and anger.
” ‘NO?!’ “
He repeated in a furious, booming voice.
”How dare you come into my domain, neglect to introduce yourself, then proceed to mock my God! I will not stand for this! The Queen’s subordinates make their way through this forest often and next time I see one I’ll be sure to report your blasphemous ways.”
Nadia, on the brink of tears due to the confusion brought on by all of this, struggled to respond.
”What do you even-?! I-! UGGH! I just want to find the Hatta’ so I can find out where I am.”
Surprisingly the young Pokemon found herself losing her train of thought and cutting herself short mid statement rather than the Caterpie doing it for her.
” ‘The Hatta’? Ohohoho, no. Even with your crimes you best not be seen with the likes of him. Head north from this clearing and you’ll come upon a quaint cabin beside a lake. You can’t miss it. The shopkeeper might have something that would be of use to you on your journey. Surely, she has everything anyone could ever need. Now, please, I’m only telling you this so you would get out of my sight as soon as possible.”
Nadia was spoken at as if she were a lower class of being in comparison to the Caterpie on his perch. The thought of it caused her to let out a primordial growl of anger as she did as told and changed her course. Soon enough the Riolu was, with utmost graciousness towards whatever was watching over her adventure, freed from the confines of the woods and out of the presence of that damn little bug.
-Theif-
”The thought just occurred to me…You silly mortals need to eat, don’t you!”
Ein’s voice rang with churlish laughter as his figure perked up from the tall grass where he was resting. His eyes setting themselves upon the limp Riolu that hung without life from a set of tendrils that encased both the canine Pokemon and the tree which he danged from; his arms and legs bound separate and in an uncomfortable fashion away from his torso comparable to the stance of a crucifixion.
”Now I realize you’re not one to talk all that much but the least you could’ve done was say something to remind me. What, it’s been about two days now that you just hung there. You must be famished.”
If Aidan could muster the energy to form a response he wouldn’t even have bothered with the Celebi. His time here was coming to a close and if his sister didn’t wake up soon they were both good as dead per the one sided agreement made earlier. Whatever his fate came out to be he was fine with it by this point and would not plead to the fairy-like Pokemon before him in any way. This included begging for food. If anything that sick b*****d would probably get off from having all that control. Unfortunately though, the state of his body, sunken in and pallid underneath his fur, spoke more than any words could ever. Two days sounded about right for the amount of time he was hanging like this without food or water. This added on top of the amount of hunger that plagued him to begin with and fighting with the vines that held him in place while he had the energy; the Riolu simply had nothing left in him.
”Here~. I wouldn’t want you expiring early on me.”
Aidan soon found himself face to face with his assailant; the pale green Pokemon with fluttering wings keeping himself at the right height to hold an apple up to the Riolu’s maw; the pixie’s face sickeningly close to that of Aidan’s.
”You know you want it~. No, you need it.
If he wasn’t bound he would throw a punch. If his mouth wasn’t dry as sand he would spit at the damn Celebi. But, alas, Aidan was useless in this moment, a truly pitiable specimen at the hands of another. Never has he experienced such submission in his life and never would he ever wish to again. Tears resembling the last iota of his self respect left his body in the moment he outstretched his maw and took a bite from the apple held before him. The apple which in this instant he found to be soft and soggy; the area of skin from which he bit blackened and bruised from being set in the same position for days, rotting, at the bottom of his exploration bag. None of this mattered in the end; the apple simply represented his worth. After a few more voracious bites to follow, the source of nourishment was stripped away from him by the provider.
”That should do.”
Ein spoke, tossing the half-eaten, spoiled fruit off into the overgrown woods behind them like the trash it was.
”When you’ve perked up you’re free to keep me company in these last 24 or so hours”
With that, the tendrils holding Aidan in place loosened and retracted back into the tree from which they came and he collapsed face forward into the ground; his body coated with grass and unable to move just yet.
Meanwhile, Nadia, oblivious to the extent of her own entrapment as she found herself exploring the confines of her own nightmare, found herself in a clearing of sorts, a rolling set of hills whose only boundaries consisted of the forest she had just escaped from behind her, and to her right a raging creek that looked rather treacherous if there was any need to have to cross it. As her position now appeared to have marked the pinnacle of these plains, it seemed like an opportune moment to scout out her next destination as she was directed by means of that lovely run-in with a Caterpie minutes ago. From her perch high atop this grassy outcropping it was as if she could see on in all directions for miles. However, granted the scenery was pretty, there wasn’t much else to view. The only sight with any potential being what appeared to be a lone, log cabin of sorts, that lay alongside the earlier mentioned creek. This alone time would have almost been a breath of fresh air for the young Riolu and she would have been more than glad to take full advantage of this moment, but a sudden sense of urgency washed over her and insisted that she pressed onwards towards finding answers rather than relaxing to her whim. Her target in question wasn’t too far away, and for her lithe body it was a mere sprint without breaking a sweat to get from her place now over a couple of grassy hills to her goal; the untamed grass beneath her feet tickling her with a sense of freedom along her way to the cabin.
As the establishment came into view, a sign of confirmation did also, well a literal sign that is, a wooden plaque hanging above the doorway that read: “General Store”. There was little doubt left by this point to the fact that she was in the right place. Now all there was left to do was to hope this place could help her as it was said to do.
Upon entering, Nadia’s expectations dropped quite a bit. Not that she had anything in particular in mind that was supposed to help her get back home, but it didn’t seem like anything that she had before her here would be of use either. Well, there was barely anything at all stocking the shelves here for that matter.
Taking in her surroundings as she stood a few steps away from the doorway, the Riolu noted that to both her right and left stood walls lined with shelves, however those ledges in question were rather barren; a few cans of what appeared to be unmarked food supplies and other miscellaneous, mismatched items making up what appeared to be the stock of the “General Store”. Directly before her stood a lone desk at which was seated an elderly looking Flaaffy, the sheep Pokemon giving absolutely no notice to her customer whatsoever; rather she commenced typing away at the cash register that encompassed the desk in front of her.
Nadia immediately felt uncomfortable receiving nothing resembling a greeting, but it seemed improper to do anything about that fact; instead she proceeded to, with utmost caution, give a closer examination to what little there was to be purchased from the store until she was hopefully noticed. Not even the creaking floorboards under her feet as she strolled about elicited a glance from the Flaaffy, but it was in this moment noted by the canine Pokemon that the receipt being pumped out by the cash register was getting abnormally longer with each passing second as that which was typing it continued without signs of stopping. What sort of tab could possibly extend that far? Nadia felt for the poor soul that assumedly would have to pay off such an accumulation of debt in the future. Her mind naturally wandered from this thought onward; a glint of sheen catching her gaze out of the corner of her eye, drawing her towards a shelf she had yet to examine in full. With caution she proceeded to pick up the object which caught her eye and look it over with interest. It was strange though as she stood holding this glass ball that perfectly fit cradled between her two paws; amongst the other goods in this store, why hadn’t she noticed something so beautiful earlier? The item in her hands was comparable to a giant marble with flowing strips of pastel colors lining its clear center. The Riolu couldn’t fathom a use for such an object but she was undoubtedly entranced by it. After moments of gazing deeply into the perfectly shaped crystal, a hazy vision became apparent amongst the glassy colors. It was a peculiar sight indeed as she squinted to make out the obscure shapes embedded in the sphere. What she saw was her brother, unmoving and face down on the ground, the green figure of a Celebi hovering over him and laughing with utmost amusement as he poked the limp body of the Riolu with a stick. Nadia gasped at both this apparition and the sudden sense of déjà vu that accompanied it; the Riolu nearly dropping the piece of crystal in the process. A sudden rush of memory swept over her; her concept of time a bit fuzzy but otherwise she began piecing together a series of events that had potential of leading up to where she was now. However that bridge had yet to be made. She recalled her and her sibling’s confrontation with Ein, but the next thing she remembered consisted of her presence on a road which she estimated to only be a couple hours ago. In actuality her time spent in this mysterious land would equate to a little over two days now, her subconscious only now seeping in visions of reality by means of the glass ball that she was still holding, which just so happened to show her brother’s predicament at the moment.
”What are you doing?”
A sudden voice broke the once eerie silence, causing the canine Pokemon to about face towards the Flaaffy that presented the inquiry.
”I’m sorry, I was just taking a look.”
Nadia quickly retorted for the lack of a better answer to the question presented as she respectively placed the overly large marble back where she found in it a manner that ensured it wouldn’t be rolling off of the shelf anytime soon by her doing.
”Theif!”
The elderly Flaaffy arose from her seat and exclaimed in a harsh, punishing tone.
”And who gave you permission to do so?! Who said it was your look to ‘take’?!”
The Pokemon was now advancing towards Nadia with an appearance of malice intent. However, the Riolu couldn’t find it in herself to retort as she did to the earlier accusations made by a certain Caterpie that she had met.
”No. Please. I’m sorry. I was told to come here for help.”
She sputtered out like a leaking faucet, in this moment tripping up on and landing in a heap of receipt paper whose origins were located at the cash register across the room. She apparently not have realized the extent which the strip of paper had grown until now. Meanwhile the Flaaffy did not seem wavered by her words.
”I just want to get home. I’m not from here.”
She added in hopes of getting anything other than electrocution out of her assailant.
”I will be pressing charges for your crimes, so don’t head too far, but if you’re not from here the only way to leave is through an audience with the queen. I want you to leave my shop right now; you should be able to see her castle from here. May as well turn yourself in while you’re there.”
The words she was presented with were not anything to argue against. The young Riolu rushed back to her feet before racing for the door, tripping over herself multiple times before she finally felt free from the situation.
-Justice-
Only wanting to get herself to a comfortable distance away from that cabin, Nadia wasn’t concerning herself with much more than running onward over rolling, green hills. It wasn’t as if she was actually paying attention to where she was heading, but it ended up that it was simply impossible not to take notice of the structure before her. Sets of towers climbed up and beyond a thick layer of fog that rolled off the nearby river accompanied by a lone bridge that appeared to be the only safe means across the barrier of water if one were to head towards the menacing, medieval looking castle composed of red brick and black accents. Standing in awe in the shadow of the structure just at the edge of the bridge, the Riolu girl felt a sudden force from behind take her to the ground accompanied by an echoed, tumbling sound as if whatever had hit her went down also.
Easily getting herself back to her feet and composed enough to view her assailant, Nadia was far more overcome with pity to even consider showing anger towards the sight before her.
”Are you alright?”
The question was presented to a lightly cream colored Buneary that laid in the most distorted looking fashion upon the wooden planked ground of the bridge, clutching his ankle with both hands. The answer to the question was already apparent, but that much hadn’t become apparent until she had blurted out and asked.
”Here let me help y-…”
Nadia extended a paw in attempts to get the Buneary back to his feet and proceed to support him from there, but the young looking Pokemon backed away in an almost fearful manner. From the short moment of contact she had with his fur, she could feel that it was practically matted with sweat as if the poor thing had been running for his life the entire day.
”P-Please. No. D-Don’t waste your time on me. I’m fine. I-I just have to get a message to the queen and I’m already late.”
Nadia cringed under the words knowing that she, though entirely unintentionally, caused pain for this poor being. He wasn’t receptive to any sort of help, but it was clear he was getting nowhere on his own either.
”Well I’m on my way to see the queen also, if you’d like to join me it would be well appreciated. At the very least we can get you inside and someone can take a look at your ankle.”
She attempted wording her intentions differently for the sake of getting through to the Buneary only resulting in a horrid feeling on her end for coming off so selfish.
”A-Alright.”
No complaints were made though as her persuasion tactics worked out for the better and this time around the Buneary allowed her to help him back into somewhat of an upright position. Nadia held up the weight of the other body with ease as her companion used her for support while keeping his one foot lifted off the ground for obvious reasons; the duo, from there, hobbling their way towards a pair of double doors which opened wide into a great hall, accepting their audience before the queen.
”Ace of Hearts, what is your news?”
Before they could take a step further down the overly adorned hall lined with brilliant red fabrics upon black marble columns and flooring, a booming voice addressed, by title, what Nadia assumed to be her companion. The Riolu noticing in this moment the numeral “1” which was hopefully dyed rather than any other fathomable means of being etched into the Buneary’s chest fur.
”Y-your Red Knight has been slain, my queen.”
The ace’s voice faltered under both the stress of the pain he was experiencing at the moment, and his characteristic stutter. The Buneary bowing his head as if he even felt as if his words could barely carry through the hall like the Vespiquen’s just had done. Per usual in this kingdom, Nadia was left unnoticed for the time being as these words were exchanged, even though her face was flushed from all color at the mentioning of the death of the knight. This was clearly alluding to the body she had found earlier, and despite common belief, she definitely did not kill by her own hands. All she wanted to do was speak to the queen about getting back home, but clearly now was not the time for her to butt in and bring up such things.
”LIAR!”
Breaking the Riolu’s mental train of thought, without moving from her throned position, the queen spoke once more after a moment of deliberation and reflection on what she had just been told.
”My knights have never been taken in battle, therefore there is no way one could have possibly been killed! Ace of Hearts, you are a liar! And you are to pay for your crime with your life! Off with his head!”
It all happened to quickly. There was not a peep of objection in response to the queen’s order. Even her Buneary acquaintance fell to his knees willingly as he was suddenly taken from Nadia’s grasp and shoved to the ground by the force of a red and black colored Scyther which resembled the body from earlier but was clearly well alive in this moment; its scythe arm wrapped around her friend’s throat.
”STOP!”
Nadia interjected, causing all eyes, to turn to her, including the queen’s and executioners; two sets of attention she was very glad to have. Her actions from this point out though weren’t even given much thought, rather just played out brazenly as they came to mind.
”I killed the Red Knight.”
What the hell was she saying? The Riolu knew her words were a complete lie, and would be reacted to with nothing less than violence, but… the Buneary who kneeled mere feet away from her awaiting his demise didn’t deserve to die. She didn’t even need to know him well to see the injustice that was going on here. Without even a second thought given to the situation it seemed she was willing to give her own life in place of his. Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes as she realized this fact. No more explanation was given or needed in concern her confessing statement before the inevitable outcome of all of this fell on her.
”Let the Ace go. Take her head instead.”
The order was placed and followed through fluently. The last sensations Nadia had before she blacked out consisted of a blade pressing against her throat, and the sight of sincerest smiles from the freed Ace of Hearts.
-Epilogue-
”And not a moment to spare. No, seriously, as cliché as it sounds, your three days would have been just about up given a few more minutes. Way to cut it close little girl. I was just about to kill your brother o’er there.”
Nadia awoke in a bed of grass to find herself face to face with and straddled by a lone Celebi, which she quickly thrown off her body and jumped to her feet. She was rather dizzy, finding herself exhausted and lightheaded after a nearly three day long nap which she hadn’t been aware of as a dream until now.
”Before I forget and neglect to mention how well you done, you have some real spunk. Without even realizing you were in a dream and thus appropriately disposable physically, you were willing to give your life for a cause you knew nothing about. Granted he was kinda’ cute~~~. Your subconscience and I need to get better acquainted on another occasion perhaps~. Which, speaking of, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so since I’ve decided that I’ll be joining you back at your guild per our agreement. Best you go gather your sibling now before he expires by more natural means than how I would have liked to see him go.”
Ein ranted on; very little of his statements even reaching Nadia as she stumbled to the site of the unconscious body of her brother. The Riolu gently perching Aidan atop her shoulders with her exceptional strength before snatching up their exploration bag and utilizing the badge inside to teleport the trio home. Very little did she care at this point about the legendary Pokemon that was accompanying her; all that mattered was getting her sibling some well deserved medical attention.
