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 6

 

            “Although Paul fled like a coward, nonetheless, the victory belongs to Gary.” Steven announced. “As agreed, we will return Ashline and all her treasure to you.”

            The High King smiled proudly.

            All might have been well, and the war ended that day, had not Charlotte, the Goddess of Wisdom, taken a hand in things.

            As if a coward like Paul could continue to live.

            As if this process could go unpunished…

            Even if she was a faithless whore, the Queen deserved better…

 

            She whispered in the mind of a foolish bowman named Gold, who saw his chance to gain glory by killing the High King. He drew his bow and fired an arrow, but while it hit Gary, it did not seriously wound him, though his thigh spurted blood for a good many moments.

            “Treachery!” Morty cried, and with a roar, their chariots swung forwards and the battle began anew. But one face was missing from the crowd, Steven noticed, even as he hacked his way through the massed ranks, his heart sorrowful.

            Where was Red?

 

            The spies soon had the answer. Apparently, a quarrel had broken out between Red and High King Gary. In the last city they had sacked, the High King had captured two young maidens, and being unusually generous, given one named Giselle to Red. However, he had kept the elder, Daisy, for himself.

            Daisy’s father had been a Priest, and offered a fine ransom for his daughter’s return, but Gary had refused.

            Therefore, Daisy’s father had prayed to his god, and swift sickness had struck down many of the massed warriors before Gary agreed to return Daisy. However, in return, he demanded that Red hand over Giselle.

            While Red had no love for the maiden and would hardly have bedded her, nonetheless, she had still been a gift, and she was deeply stung.

 

            “You have no honor!”

            “If I am to be stripped of my prize, I demand recompense.”

            “You are a coward with the face of a dog and the heart of a deer!” Red shouted. “No wonder Queen Ashline left you!”

            “How dare you speak so to your High King!”

            “I claim no allegiance of yours. I never swore the Oath.” She spat. “I came for the sake of Kanto, for the sake of Johto, and most certainly not for your sake!”

            The others shifted uneasily.

            Gary would have drawn his sword, but at that moment, Lance took the Speaker’s Staff from Red.

 

            “Enough.” His voice cut through the room. “We are making it easier on those Shinouites if we fight amongst ourselves.”

            “But…!”

            Lance shot Red a look and the younger warrior quieted.

            “It is, however, quite dishonorable of our High King to make this demand.”

            Bruno nodded.

            Gary glared at Lance, but golden eyes met his stare placidly.

            “I suggest that perhaps we should continue this discussion another time, when tempers are cooler.”

            Red stood. “You can have Giselle, High King Gareth. I won’t deny a direct order. However, this affront will not go unpunished. Until you apologize, I and my men will withdraw from this battle…”

            Gary simply scoffed. Someone like her would never keep a promise like that! Women made empty promises all the time!

            Morty took a sip of his wine, troubled. Red did not make such threats idly. She and hers were a powerful fighting force…

            Without her aid, the battles could become quite difficult indeed.

 

            And it was no boastful claim had Red made, for now, she and her men sat by the seashore, waiting, and the Kantoites and Johtoites fought on.

            Lance wondered if perhaps things were better this way. After all, he had a more selfish motivation.

            Perhaps they could thwart destiny… and Red would not die…

            He would enjoy growing old with his wife by his side.

 

            The battle that day was heavy, and both sides withdrew that night, after promising that the next day would be a truce so they could bury their dead.

            Steven sighed. What a mess.

 

            His wife, Wallace, welcomed him home, their son Aster in her arms.

            Steven turned to her, with a sad smile.

            “I wish this war were not so. I worry…”

            “I could not stay and hide here while my countrymen died, dear heart.” Steven kissed her, having washed the grime and gore from the battlefield away. He was none so selfish as that.

            “Any news of Paul?”

            “In his lady’s chambers all day,” Wallace said bitterly.

            Steven hugged her. He pitied Ashline, but the god-blessed woman was the cause of many sufferings.

            “And how is little Aster?”

            The boy gurgled as Steven picked him up, cradling him close. Beautiful child…

            He wondered if he would see Aster grow up, or if he and Wallace would have any more children. With death on the line every day, it was always a gamble.

            So far, he had won…

            He did not know how long his lucky streak would last.

 

            Wallace put a hand on his shoulder, smiling sadly. This morning, her heart had leapt with news of the truce, but now…

            It seemed things were no better.

 

            In his tent, Gary lay moaning and insensible while the healer, Yellow, Red’s little cousin, worked over him.

            “This is the best I can do.” She said primly.

            Gary glanced at the wound. It would be completely healed within a few days. Until then, he should take it easy and not overexert himself.

            His slave girls cuddled around him, feeding him grapes and wine.

 

            Yellow wanted to go home. But she hadn’t wanted Red to head out here alone, even if she did have the god’s protection, so she had accompanied her, despite the scoffing and whispers. She was still pure, for her power came from the Virgin Goddess of the Moon, and if she lost it, well… she would no longer be able to heal.

            Still… maybe if this stupid war ended, she could find a decent husband…

 

End Chapter

Completed 9/17/07

Edited 5/27/09

Phew…

And if anyone was wondering, the title of the story comes from a song by Oscar Wilde in The Importance of Being Earnest.

“The Western Wind is blowing fair,

Across the dark Aegean Sea,

And at the secret marble stair,

My Tyrian galley waits for thee.

Come down the purple sail is spread,

The watchman sleeps within the tower,

Oh leave thy lily-flowered bed,

Oh lady mine, Come down…”

 

And it’s by Paris to Helen, so it fits.

 

I am so tired of this fic.