Atarashii chapter for ya’ll!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Chapter 4

 

            The next morning, Red woke early and headed to a small chapel where the priest heard his confessions. After all, just in case he died today, he wanted his soul in Heaven. Then, he ate a good breakfast and headed off towards the Imperial Gardens to find Lance. He found the musketeer waiting, and Lance swept a low bow when he saw his opponent approach.

            “You are punctual. Tis rare in one so young.”

            Red colored slightly, appreciating the compliment. It was indeed not yet time for the duel, with five minutes to spare. Lance glanced at the clock tower not far off, and frowned.

            “I have asked two of my friends to be my seconds. I am confused as to why they have not yet arrived…”

            “Well, I have no seconds, as I’ve just arrived here and the only person I know is Monsieur Lugia.”

            Lance blinked. “So…. If I kill you, they’ll think I kill children.”

            “I daresay not, for you have a broken arm, which I’m afraid I injured far worse with my clumsy actions yesterday.”

            “You did, and it’s quite painful, but I’ll duel with you just the same. I’m ambidextrous, after all. In fact, it might be disadvantageous for you, as not many people know how to deal with a left-handed opponent.”

            Red did not answer.

            There was a slight commotion as a man strode up the road quickly, and Red blinked as he watched Brock’s form appear around the corner. Brock walked up rapidly with a friendly smile, but it faded when he saw Red.

            “That is he doing here?”

            “This is the gentleman I am dueling with.” Lance shrugged.

            “But I have a duel with him!” Brock protested.

            “Not until nine.” Red reminded him.

            “But so do I!” Will gasped, having just appeared.

            “But not until ten.”

            Lance shook his head, wondering how on earth his opponent had managed to offend his friends. “So… why are you fighting him? He injured my arm.”

            “I’m fighting him because I want to.” Brock blustered. It was worth noting that he had changed his clothes and was now wearing a different shoulder belt, without the cloak.

            Red grinned. “We had a disagreement over clothes.”

            “And you, Will?”

            Will frowned. “It’s a … theological matter.” His glare warned Red that if he revealed the true nature of his duel, heads would roll.

            Red winced and nodded. “We disagree over a passage in Saint Augustine.”

            “I see.” Lance didn’t miss the glance, and recorded it. The young man was prudent, at least.

 

            Well, when all was said and done, it was really time to start the duel. Red felt a bit guilty, but Lance promised again that he could fence equally well with both hands and took his sword in his left.

            “Begin.” Will said, and the two crossed their swords. They were just beginning the duel when five of the Cardinal’s Guards came along. Their leader, Drake, took one look and gave a shout.

            “Fighting, Musketeers? And what of the King’s Edicts? Well, what of them?”

            “You are very generous, gentlemen of the guards.” Lance said coldly, for Drake had been the one who had broken his arm in the tavern brawl the day proceeding. “If we were to see you fighting, I can assure you that we would make no effort to prevent you.  Leave us alone, then, and you will enjoy a little amusement without cost to yourselves."

            “I regret to inform you that I cannot do that.” Drake smirked. “Duty before all. Now, sheathe your swords, or we shall have to make an example of you.”

            “I regret to inform you that our Captain expressly forbade us from taking that action.” Lance retorted. “So we cannot obey.”

            “Then we shall take you by force.”

            Lance closed his eyes for a second as Will and Brock hurriedly drew up next to him, their own swords at the ready. Sunlight glittered off polished steel; the fight was eminent. Three on five weren’t good odds, especially with Lance injured the way he was, but they had no choice!

            If they failed Lugia-sama again…!

            Red watched this with growing alarm, as Drake declared angrily “We have no choice but to charge you and arrest you in the name of the Cardinal.” With that, they drew their swords.

            His choice was made.

            “Gentlemen, I’ll fight with you.” Red declared, and drew his own sword, standing beside Will, who gave him a puzzled glance, but accepted the aid.

            “Very well.” Lance said. “Your name?”

            “I’m Red Satoshi from Pallet.”

            “Then we’ll charge together, Red.”

            The swords flashed as Drake and his men ran forwards, charging.

 

            Lance fought quickly, and before his opponent quite knew what was happening, his throat had been slit and he fell to the ground. Lance smirked and turned to the next man with a beckoning motion. The man roared with anger and charged.

            Red himself had wound up engaged with Drake, who was taunting him. However, he kept his cool and swiftly slid his sword between Drake’s ribs, an interesting parody of what the man in green had done to him.

            Will had disarmed his adversary, and so the man fled, leaving Will staring after his retreating figure with a contemptuous snort.

            Brock and Surge, the man he was fighting, had given each other minor wounds, but were still furiously combating. At this, Drake took a quick look around the battlefield and coughed.

            “Surge, quit fighting!”

            Two of his men were dead, and one had run away. That was not a good situation by any means.

            “No can do!” Surge said, as he and Brock continued to parry each other’s slashes. “I won’t let you get the best of me Brock, not after what you did to my sister!”

            “And what about what you did to mine?”

            “Surge, I order you to stop this nonsense now!” Drake coughed up blood, wincing at the pain in his chest.

            “Ah, well, that’s different.” Surge grinned. “You’re my Commander and an order is an order.” He broke his sword and tossed the pieces deep into he gardens with a grin, so he wouldn’t have to surrender, and walked off, whistling a Cardinalist song.

            Bravery was always respected, even in an enemy, so the musketeers saluted him, collected the swords of their fallen enemies, leaving the body where it had fallen, and Surge came back with two friends to help carry Drake off.

            Arm in arm, the four walked down the road, Red’s heart brimming with happiness. There was nothing like a sword fight to make people best friends. On the way there, all the Musketeers they passed waved and cheered.

            He felt like he was walking on air.

 

END chapter

Completed 3/22/06

Some of the original dialogue from the book was kept and some was altered. Sorry, Dumas! I didn’t want to plagiarize everything, but you write better than I do.

Ash: He hates you

Phantomness: You know, I have no doubt both Leroux and Dumas have bones to pick with me. Isn’t it lucky that they are both dead?

Lance: *Shakes head*