*** Part III: Wounds***

From the exterior in the eyes of the common person, nothing at all was going on that was different from any other night in Cerulean City. The central market district was mostly closed but for the few businesses of a nature that explained their continued operation into the night such as the many taverns to service the sailors from the busy port. The populace was doing what they ordinarily did during this time and the farmers in the foothills of Mt. Moon were finishing up and heading into their dwellings from the fields that gave the city its agricultural start so long ago. In these dark ages of apathy among the royalty, the military was ill maintained and few soldiers or knights manned the walls or the guard posts maintained by the Kantian Empire in centuries past. The grandest, yet the most hidden construction in the city also stood, or rather lay, at its edge. Its area extended from the dried sewers in the outskirts of the city proper into the earth of the foothills, right against the mountain the occupants of the complex so craved from the hands of Talamis Rai, their largest rival in the known world. This was the headquarters of the Cerulean Sphere training circle.

If one could see through the top of the earth that protected the place from view, one would find it was in the shape of three concentric circles inside each other. The outer ring held all of the dozen entrances to the base. The defenses here were potent yet subtle. Hidden chambers from which to pour oil on Talamis Rai assailants, arrow slits from behind hidden panels and more than any building’s fair share of portcullises. The risk of such an attack was of course, very slim. TR was not aggressive at all and was filled with the carefree and the fun-loving and the despondent seeking release and happiness, not warriors though the four (or rather, three now) citadels of the clan were incredibly strong fortresses. Besides which, no clan on the planet was foolish enough to attack such a main base regardless of defense without forming a plan that could render them useless anyway. Of course, the mere act of organizing and building measures demonstrated the group's wealth and raised the morale of those to whom it mattered.

As one went closer to the core of the complex, the number of floors increased as did the luxury of the rooms from simple one room dwellings of the average apprentice to the large suites of the leaders. The third ring towards the inside was more of a full circle. The bottom three floors had no hole down the middle but rather, an enormous throne room. This was usually filled but was empty today. Just a floor below that, was the final story, a council chamber where today, the leaders of the various upstanding and light-side clans of the world.

There were many omissions of course. Some clans, no matter their alignment, were too small to be considered worth including. Others were generally smaller circles and cults of the less upstanding clans. The most prominent missing figure of course, was Talamis Rai, the demonic cult of Kanto. The other was the Azalean Order from Johto…

"Sirs!"

An agitated messenger rushed into the meeting chamber and whispered something into the ears of the two men at the end of the long table. Both were richly robed in the blue of Cerulean Sphere. The one, seated in the largest chair was of course, the master of the training circle. His name was Vistarn, the dragon master and his influence was as wide as royalty. The much younger man who stood beside him was his prized student and someone who was alleged to have even more power than his master. Shesta was one of the most talented trainers ever to exist. According to praise just now, he had, at great risk to his life, infiltrated the Citadel of Albrook and had led the attack personally, just hours ago. The two men now jerked up suddenly and after a very short discussion, the younger man ran off.

---

Shesta ran quickly down the halls, his robes flowing behind him as he made his way out of the council chamber, into the grand throne room, up the spiral staircase and arrived at a door in short order. The floor was trailed with droplets of blood, testifying to the message of the courier. He was one of few people who were allowed in unannounced and the attendants made no move to stop him.

"Crysta." He said, with remarkable calm and low volume considering the obviously serious injury of the young woman being attended by a Chansey. But the pace he had made his way from the council chamber spoke of his feelings for the girl.

"Shesta." Came the reply from Crysta. She quietly dismissed the Chansey who retreated, after a hint of protest, to assist her fellow healers in patching up Nightflame. The Charizard was far worse off than her master was.

"Are you alright?" He asked with some concern. "And what happened to Sheex? I didn’t catch much about him from that courier."

"I’ll be fine!" Crysta replied, putting to rest the worries of her fiance. She knew not how Shesta felt about her but they’d grown up together for so long, she treated him as a second brother. Well now, as her only brother. Her expression bittered at the thought. "Sheex is dead. And I can’t say I’m extremely sorry about it. He was going to run for it when our target polished him off like cheap china."

"Dead? Well, I would’ve expected more of a reaction from your father. Not that I could be much more sorry than you with him gone."

Crysta smiled with another bitter expression. "He probably couldn’t care less. All he ever cares about is you. His first son was a total failure and me? Like it or not, I’m just a little girl in his eyes. Just something to marry off someday for some favor or other. You’ll be the successor to the clan once he finally retires."

Shesta was silent at the thought. Both of them were people he loved, people. He could not bring himself to push blame onto either of them. Yet, it was true. Vistarn paid vastly more attention to him than to his own two biological children. He had not openly said it, but his intention of marrying Crysta off to his unofficial son had been obvious to those who cared. That was fine by him. He loved Crysta well enough but he could not bring himself to it if Crysta didn’t want to…

"So…" He said, trying to restart the conversation in their moments of silence interrupted only by the pained calls of Nightflame as she was healed by Chansey. "This…target of yours..."

"He was…incredible to say the least. He didn’t stand a chance to start with, I don’t think either of us actually managed to land a meaningful hit on him and I don’t think we could even if he stood still for a change. I’m positive both of us landed a fireblast at like the exact same time and he just blasted out of there like it was nothing."

"Kleym…Yes, I remember. He’s the most powerful Pokemon Master in Talamis Rai. He achieved master ranking at something like fourteen years old with his Scyther. His talent really is incredible." Shesta stood up from his spot kneeling beside Crysta who lay in her bed. "Damn, he should never have sent anyone after him. You’re an awesome trainer and for what its worth now, so was Sheex but really, Vistarn should really know who’s league that guy was in and…" Shesta suddenly fell silent again. Conflicting thoughts as was often his case outside of battles. It was only inside the battles he loved that his mind truly came together.

"He’s good." Crysta said, filling in the silence. "Excessively good, but I don’t think for a moment he’s invincible. Remember, you were fourteen too when you became a master. We’ll go after him again. You can beat him I’ll bet and with…"

"Not now." Shesta interjected. "If you won’t think of yourself, at least think of Nightflame. She’s not looking like she’ll be flying anytime in the near future and you’re hurt too. Even then, I don’t have absolute confidence in defeating him. Remember, Imite hasn’t evolved since I got into the Masters League but his Scyther certainly has. And those high ranked battles are really hard to predict. Remember the story of the twin masters who trained together all the time and when they finally did fight each other, the younger one was defeated easily. Besides, there’s only so much you can do with a quadruple weakness. With both Steel and Bug against him and getting hit by two fireblasts, he should have taken damage at least. The Kleym hunting can wait at least until you’re both healed at least."

"Well…alright, we’ll wait and do some recuperation first. Besides which, if he’s really hurt, he’ll be actively hiding and that can make him real hard to find." With some reluctance, Crysta agreed to await her and her pokemon’s recovery.

---

Shesta’s predictions on Kleym and Blade’s condition turned out to be all too true. Gasping in pain, the red bug and its trainer stopped their increasingly labored tread through the forest. A single mistake was all it took to become heavily damaged from an elementally disadvantaged fight. Kleym leaned against a tree and with effort, unclipped the sigil that held his cloak together. The heavy cloth fell away and it became apparent in the swiftly rising moon that it was in charred tatters. The skin on the man’s torso was heavily burned from the fireblast attack. He had lasted long enough to finish the battle only through plain stubbornness of determination.

As luck would have it, there was a clump of Oddherbs growing within arm’s reach. The stuff grew mostly around where its namesake, the Oddish roamed about as it was a limited symbiote of the poisonous mushrooms that grow from the Oddish’s various spore and powder attacks. When in season, the stuff was applied as an anti-infection agent. Right now, was the opposite time of year and the leaves were still new. Ignoring that fact, Kleym chewed the extremely bitter leaves and rubbed some on.

"Aaghh…" He cried softly in pain. The stuff would work, but he was going to suffer for it. He got up and tried to keep walking. Losing sight of everything in his mind. Blade attempted to push on as well. Despite his attempts to hide it, the Scizor was in great pain as its armor had heated and cooled rapidly, cauterizing flesh within and causing a great mess within. Blade was also severely burned. Yet, the two pressed on in the moonlit darkness of Viridian Forest.

As time wore on, the two became more and more exhausted. The moon was near its zenith when Blade gave a call to its master. A house or building of some sort. Lights were on inside. Kleym’s vision wavered from the chill, the pain and the exhaustion. He collapsed as figures from within moved in.

---

One of the most regular attendees of the worldwide Master’s meeting was long noticed missing in the proceedings. Now, the entity had arrived but not within the expected person. Indeed, the presentation seemed to cause unease even in the one who cried it.

"First Disciple Joseph of the Azalean Order!" The herald announced with the usual perfect tone but more than a hint of confusion apparent on his expression. The entire room hushed and there were murmurs as this announcement sank in. The host was the first to gather himself.

"Well met, First Disciple." Vistarn addressed in appropriate title. He paused. "May I inquire where Master Azain is and why has he not arrived in person?" The question was echoed in less volume among the crowd.

"Master Azain remains seriously injured and could not arrive." Joseph replied coldly. They sure as hell knew why he hadn’t come.

"Injured? Seriously?" He was keeping his act up alright. Nevermind the fact he’d been right there rooting for Azain until he and his pokemon were defeated and tossed right over the roof. Now of course, he had little use of him anymore. All he had to do was keep up impression. Joseph said nothing but nodded assent.

One of the other, more graceful of those in the chamber motioned to an empty chair.

"A seat?" The wiry old man asked politely. Joseph accepted and prepared to wait out the rest of the ceremony.

"The Lone Master of Blackthorne, as you may have heard, defeated the champion of Southern Johto, Master Azain just days ago as many of you have no doubt heard. Khyron has disappeared for the time being but we are certain that his challenge will extend here, into Kanto." Vistarn was moving on with his speeches now. At this point, the young man who had left before now returned. Joseph of course, had missed the part where he was here before. "Ah, you see before you, the champion that has been chosen from among us to do battle with this fiend."

Arbitrarily chosen for such an important task? Joseph though. At least Master Azain was ELECTED as champion. Figures…

"Most of you no doubt know him already but for those that don’t, this is my first disciple, Shesta. If there are any among us who doubt his great skill and integrity among us, let him stand now. Know allies, that should the fiend challenge Kanto, our integrity is in his capable hands and it is he who well enter the field of battle in our stead"

The man was in his mid-twenties or so. Same age as Joseph himself. He stepped up and bowed for the crowd. "It’s a pleasure, fellow masters." His face however, remained expressionless.

"And now." Vistarn began again, to regain he silence in which he had spoken. "I have an announcement of great cheer to make."

Here it comes. Joseph thought. He was fairly familiar with the politics of the high ranking. Most likely, everyone in the room knew already as well. This was for ceremonial purposes. The dragon master of CS had neatly sent his own student out (at no risk of himself) to gain him a great deal of fame and then turn him around to marry his daughter to. So in future, two things to brag of. His clan produced the one who succeeded where the great Azain failed and the man who succeeded where the great Azain failed was his son-in-law. Neat, riskless. He thought.

"Pending his conquest of the Lone Master, Shesta is due to be wed to my own daughter, Crysta." The dragon master announced with a great deal of pride. There was applause and cheering throughout the room.

Joseph resigned himself thereafter to listen to various inane talk of clan politics, enemies and the movements against the Talamis Rai. The horrendous defeat of a small army of trainers and the loss of one and the severe injury of another ace to a single man from TR was of course, not mentioned.

---