Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, 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 11

Richie whistled happily as he buried the golden bars underneath his tent. Paul had paid well – very well – for his information.

He didn’t see the golden eyes watching him.

All he had to do was stay alive for another few months or so before the blasted war ended, and then things would be fine.

Lance smiled quietly, though it didn’t touch his eyes, as he slowly and carefully began to scratch markings into the clay tablet in his hands.

He would wait a little longer before he presented his evidence.

After he was finished, he used the remainder of his hydra venom to coat his arrows. There was no sense in using the same passageway to enter Hearthome. They would probably guard it more carefully from now on, once they discovered the missing Sun Stone.

The gem pulsed quietly, shining with an inner light.

It was time…

Ash silently watched the stars. She wondered if she would see Lance again. She wondered if she would ever be able to go home now…

King Volkner was full of wrath when he discovered that the Sun Stone had disappeared. He berated the guards and priestesses whose responsibility it had been. How could they have been so careless?

Who had done this?

The only possible candidate wily enough to escape the magic puzzle box was Lance, but he would have had to infiltrate Hearthome. How was that possible?

Volkner frowned.

If the legend of the Sun Stone protecting his citadel was truth, and he believed it so, now that they had lost the god’s protection…

What were they to do?

“I name you traitor, Richie.”

“What?” The brunette demanded incredulously, putting down his cup of wine. “And how do you make this base accusation?”

“With this.” Lance smiled, drawing forth a clay tablet from his cloak, and passing it over to Gary.

The High King clumsily spelled out the message, furrowing his brow as he struggled to read the chicken-scratch writing. “For the gold you have paid me, King Volkner, I, Richie, have delivered Red to your poisoned arrows.”

There was silence after he spoke.

Richie gaped at Lance. * How… *

“Is this true?” Gareth thundered. “Did you betray us, Richie?”

“N-No!” He squeaked. “This is a lie!”

“I think we’ll find out soon enough. Let’s search his tent!” Bruno grunted.

There were murmurs of agreement. Red had died from a poisoned arrow, as the healers had verified. And now that they considered Richie’s erratic behavior, it made too much sense.

Then there was the fact that Red had been unarmed and practically defenseless when she had left this world. How had Paul known?

It was dire news indeed.

A yell came from Chuck. Gareth rushed over to see a heap of gold talents sparkling in the muddy ground underneath Richie’s tent.

They all bore Volkner’s sigil, engraved in the side.

“So it is true!”

Richie was dragged out into the open and mercilessly stoned to death, an end as befitted a traitorous snake.

Lance smiled. Perhaps it was a petty victory, but now, the man would cause them no more trouble.

However, that was not the end of the façade. A man named Falkner sprang up almost overnight, declaring that Lance had forged the missive and buried the gold himself. He and his ships of men sailed away, breathing vengeance.

Lance had nearly killed Falkner when the obnoxious soldier had declared him Red’s lover in front of the entire camp.

It was true enough, but to state it so blatantly was rude.

Bruno had almost broken his arm, he had struggled that much. High King Gareth had watched, troubled.

Then there almost the matter of Red’s armor. Who would it go to?

All watched with greed in their eyes, for this armor was forged by the immortals. Falkner had cast his lot with Chuck before he left, and now, heated discussions broke out over their wine cups every night.

All this the spies reported back to Volkner, who breathed a quiet sigh.

If Civil War tore the camp apart so much the better! If the leaders killed each other, even more so!

Ashline fretted, worried. Paul rejoiced, and decided the bastards would be leaving soon enough.

The prize was still his!

It seemed as though only the soldiers on the edges of the camps were partaking in the war any longer; and Paul had no doubt they were the picked followers of certain warring kings.

He chuckled and helped himself to another honeyed cake.

Yes. Even without the Sun Stone, Shinou would prevail!

Three weeks later, Hearthome woke to find that the camp had been razed to the ground. The ships had all sailed away.

The only item of interest left was a towering wooden horse, with eyes cunningly wrought of ruby and silver, and great jagged teeth made of mother-of-pearl.

Inscribed upon its side in great golden letters, was the message that it was a tribute to the War Goddess Charlotte for a safe journey home.

Laughter and song filled the high-walled city as the horse was dragged in. they had to knock out a portion of the gate, but what of it?

Now that the Kantoites and Johtoites were gone, they could repair it later.

Those fools! Did they now realize the folly of challenging Shinou?

But in the heavens, Lorelei wept for the clueless city, and in her chambers, Misty stared dully at the wall, knowing the secret that the horse held within.

The best thirty warriors huddled inside, wrapped in thick cloaks to muffle the clashing of their armor, as they waited for night to fall.

Tonight, Hearthome would burn…

End Chapter

Completed 2/12/08

Edited 5/27/09

So it’s a little bit different from the actual Iliad or the book, ‘The Luck of Troy’ by Roger Lancelyn Green, which I lifted the Lance going into Hearthome to spy idea from.

While Lance does not have proof that Richie led to Red’s death, he’s quite good at guessing. And he guessed right!
Aww! I didn’t want to kill Red! *Sob*

Now should I have Palletshipping reconciliation or not?