This had better last longer than my previous bunny… which only lived 1 chapter… Sigh
Disclaimer: Phantomness does not own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me. Don’t take my work!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 3
Ash was busy grooming his Rapidash when Lance entered.
“Well, Commander,” Lance said with a twisted smile. “It looks like we are riding to out deaths.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic, Lance. With you by me side, we can’t fail.”
Light blue met brown as Lance sighed. “We’ll have to call the spirits, then.” It was not a question.
Ash nodded.
“You know the price as well as I, although you rarely use yours.”
“We can’t just leave this family to die!”
“Why’d they bother living there, of all places, in the first place?” Lance asked. * No matter. * “Remember, I’m doing this for *you*, not for some deluded group of Kanto fanatics. So are the rest of us. And I’d prefer what we were promised now, but since they’ve lied to us…”
“You have my word that the papers will arrive after we return.”
“Very well…” A pause. “I trust you, Ashura. But I sense death awaits me. If I die, grant me a favor. Don’t bury me. Burn me, and scatter my ashes to the wind…”
Without another word, he left.
Ash silently finished grooming Rapidash. “I know, girl. You’ll see the others soon, I promise. If only it were a happy occasion to warrant it…”
He didn’t think his knights would die though.
I won’t fail! I’ll bring them back alive, and then they’ll be *free*!
The next morning, the seven knights rode out on their suicide mission. After, oh, a week of nearly nonstop riding, seven extremely grumpy-but-unharmed men arrived at the estate of the convenient family who just so happened to live deep in enemy territory for plot convenience’s residence.
Two guards in ugly brown armor waited.
“I am Pryce.” The old man said. “Who are you?”
“Ashura Ketchum and his knights. We come from Bishop Giovanni in Viridian, Kanto.” Ash announced.
“Ah! It is a wonder you made it here alive!”
“Yes, well, now we have to evacuate you.”
Pryce looked puzzled. “What? Why? This is all we have here! We can’t leave our land! It’s our livelihood!”
“Well,” Brock said sarcastically, “If you do stay you’ll be dead, so it won’t be much use to you.”
“Houen is invading from the north.” Bugsy said helpfully.
“T-then Kanto will send an army!”
“They have. Us.” Ash said. “Now, will you pack up quickly and leave with us?”
“Never!”
“Listen,” Ash said, starting to lose his short temper. “If I don’t bring you and your family back to the fortified area between Kanto and Johto, my men are never going to leave this Mew-forsaken country! So I’m taking you back to Mount Silver even if I have to tie you to my Rapidash! Do you understand?”
Falkner’s Pidgeot screamed a warning, before she raked out the eyes of a soldier in brown who had attempted to stab someone in the back.
Lance whipped out his blades, Brock un-strapped his mace from his horse, and Bruno cracked his knuckles.
The soldier was on the ground in pain. Falkner lowered his bow, deciding not to shoot him – he was already blind after all.
“Good work, girl.”
A terrified look appeared on Pryce’s face.
“Well? Start packing.”
A few hours later, the main group was packed up and already on their way to Mount Silver. Brock and Bruno went with them as guards.
“Do you think they’ll be all right?”
“They’re knights, they can take it.” Ash reassured the wounded girl he had fished out of a well just prior to leaving.
She had long red hair and blue-green eyes. Ash wondered briefly why she had been in a well, but shrugged it off.
He’d ask later.
Pryce had been slightly insane anyways. He had been torturing a boy just for stealing an apple.
Ash wasn’t quite sure what to do with him, but oh well.
It wasn’t his concern.
He only needed Pryce’s son to make it to Mount Silver safely.
Then, they’d be free.
“Ashura, she’s a Cerulean.” Bugsy warned in an undertone. He pointed to a small teardrop-shaped blue tattoo on her shoulder.
Lance stiffened.
“She’s wounded. She won’t hurt us. Her arm’s broken.”
“I hope you’re right.” Morty’s eyes were closed.
Falkner’s Pidgeot whistled shrilly. Falkner looked at Ash, grimly smiling. “Well, it looks like we’ll be having some excitement sooner than I intended.”
“One girl will slow us down. Why couldn’t she have gone with the others?” Lance inquired.
“No matter.” Ash said. “We’ll take the left fork. They’ll follow us and not the villagers and Pryce’s family.”
“If you’re sure…”
“Are you questioning my orders?”
Bugsy fell silent, shaking his head, as they took off.
Damned circumstances…
Blue.
“They have her, Wallace.”
“My daughter Misty?” The man looked startled. “Who?”
“Ashura and his knights rescued her from that Kanto bastard, Pryce.”
‘Did they…” Wallace looked thoughtful. “Maybe we can still find a use for them.” He released his Milotic.
The pokemon looked at her master questioningly.
“Find my daughter. Bring her word of me.”
Footsteps sounded.
Steven led his main army towards Mount Silver, ready to attack. If Kanto pulled out, so much the better! Then he’d rule this land.
His son, Brendan, took off after the important Kanto family, as a spy named Tracey had notified him of its existence.
Well, maybe the ransom would be good…
In any case, killing Kanto-ites would be fun!
Falkner’s Pidgeot flew back.
“Three hours.” Falkner said quietly.
“Knights, ready?”
Slow nods came from the four assembled.
How I wish Bruno and Brock were here, Ash wistfully thought for a few moments, but the he composed himself. * No. I must stay strong. I will not falter. I will lead them safely home – I promise! *
End Chapter
Completed 12/27/04