It begins

Three friends walked down an old and well-beaten path. Each a master in their respectful class, but that was not the only thing they were good at. They were also the three best pokemon trainers of their kingdom, and they were also mercenaries. As they were walking the down the path they talked about when and where they would be hired again, and for what reason. This debate would have continued for while if Joseph a student of the fine art of assassinations, heard the sound of movement in the nearby bushes. Alerting Patrick who practiced the art of sorcerery, and Andrew who was an archer that could give Robin Hood a run for his money, the trio made ready their weapons. At the same time both Andrew and Joe summoned two minions made out of pure magic. These minions were called Valkyrie and the Shadow Master. The two minions jumped into the bushes and came out a few minutes later with a young boy in tow. Andrew and Joe called of their minions, and put their weapons away. While Patrick began to talk with the boy "why are you following us?" Pat asked. The boy replied "you are the three unbeatable pkmn trainers right?" pat was down on one knee. Stated that yes they were trainers, but they were not unbeatable. The boy just shook his head in reply. Pat could tell that the boy disbelieved his answer. Suddenly a group of armed soldiers jumped out of the bushes with their weapons drawn. "None of you move" barked the biggest and apparently the commander of the group. He motioned for pat to move away from the boy. Doing as he was told. Pat spoke to his friends through telepathy. "Five on three.. I like these odds, we can easily take them without even trying." "Let’s wait and see what happens first before we do anything." suggested Andrew "He does have point there pat, besides we haven't done anything wrong. "Yet" was the remark from both Andrew and Pat. "True but still for all we know we may just have to pay a simple toll" added Joe. From mutual agreement the trio waited for the soldiers to make the first move. The commander seeing that they were not going to attack his patrol then ordered them to hand over any and all pokeball, or risk the wrath of the soldiers.

Seeing that they made no movement to comply with his order, the commander ordered his men to remove the pokeball with force if needed. Hearing their orders the soldiers raised their shields and swords. In the time it took the soldiers to ready their swords, both Andrew and Joe had already leveled their weapons. A bow with an incased in lighting was in Andrew hands. Joe reached behind himself and pulled out a pair of claw like weapons, one of the claws was dripping what seemed to be acid, and the other was sheathed in fire. Pat gave the soldiers one warning to stop or risk a great amount of bodily harm. The soldiers being the mindless grunts they were ignored the warning and rushed the trio. Before they even got a foot closer they were killed by a barrage of ice.

Lowering his staff Pat glanced at Andrew. "You think I over did it Andrew?" "Oh just a little, you know there is just a small chance that you did." he replied as he checked the surrounding brush for any more soldiers that might be hiding. While they were having their little chitchat Joe started checking the bodies for supplies, "Hey Pat how are we doing on meds for the pokemon?" "If they have any potions, full heals, or berries that are still good take them, and don't forget their money pouches." came the reply. Andrew spoke up and asked if they had seen the young boy. Apparently during the conflict the young boy that seemed to have been the cause of the trouble had ran off somewhere. After a few minutes of looking around, they decided it was best to move and put as much distance between them and the battle scene as possible. Climbing onto Andrew’s Steelix they set off at a hurried pace. About twenty miles from the scene they stopped for the night, and made camp. After having a quick meal of trail rations and water. They had a talk about who stand watch. Deciding on having Pat's gengar stand watch for the night they fell into a weary sleep. Morning comes sooner then expected and as such the pigeys that were in the tree above them started their day by chirping, Andrew and Pat woke up after hearing the chirping after a few minutes of stretching, they both turned towards the third member of their party. "So who going to wake him up?" Andrew asked. "Just let him sleep, if he wants to eat he'll wake up in time to eat." was the reply. "Hmm this is true he'll wake up if he wants to eat breakfast."

While they were waiting for their breakfast to cook, they practiced with their pokemon, and their special skills. After eating breakfast, and waking Joe up (which was finally done with a water gun to the face) they broke camp and scattered any marks that they had been there, and continued to the next town. Walking at a pace that would leave most people in the dust. They came upon a small village after stopping a passing peasant and asked where they could find the mayor's house. Thanking the villager and giving a coin to him for his time, they went straight to the town hall.

Ok a little short, but that's normal with first chapters anyway. (Besides there is a good excuse for it being so short. The wonderful place called school.)

After thanking the villager and giving him a coin for his time, they went straight to town hall. Entering the hall and going down the hallway. They found the mayor inside his office and noticed that he was talking to the boy they had seen yesterday. Fearing the worst, they burst into the room, where to their surprise they were given some wine and a thank you from the mayor. Still unsure about what was going on. The trio is cautious and to make sure that the wine has not been tampered with they added a few drops of an antidote potion they all carried. This of course was done has discreetly as possible. After finishing the wine they were given they asked the mayor if there were bounties that were open. "At this moment no there aren't any bounties open." Was the Mayor answered as he looked at each one of the trio. He went on to explain that the city and kingdom that ruled the other nearby cities was under siege by another kingdom.

"If your looking for some mercenary work I can take you to meet the kingdoms ruler the Lady Mary." offered the Mayor. Looking at each other they agreed feeling that they would be hired. Turning back towards the Mayor, Andrew nodding his head "We'll take you up on that offer" "Good we'll leave in the morning, I suggest that you spend the night here so we can leave as soon as the sun rises."

Rising he walked towards the door and made a motion for them to fallow. After being shown their rooms they thanked the mayor and told him that they would see him the morning. Morning come sooner then what they thought. Surprisingly they had no trouble waking up Joe in the morning. After eating they set out with the mayor showing them way. A few days later brings them to the gates of a grand castle. Taking a look at the castle all three of them were impressed with what they saw. Surrounding the castle was a moat that was by their guess just a few feet short of the hundred-foot mark. Along the outer wall was a group of archers, who recognized the mayor and gave the order to lower the bridge.

After crossing the bridge they saw between the inner and outer walls was a gap of two hundred feet across with nothing in the gap save for a spires with some Raichu gathering around them. It was Joe who broke the silence. "You have some very interesting defenses here" "Yes the lady Mary as taken some of the ideas that one of her old playmates thought of and made a few changes" pat was taking a another look at the setup and decided to see how well it worked. Asking the rest of the group to move forward out of the gap. He called out to the raichu's "Raichu Chain Lightning attack now" The raichus' building up their power, turned towards the spires and released the energy they had stored. The result was a bolt of lightning that forked out and shot towards the other spires. Within seconds the gap was blanketed in lightning bolts. After about a minute the power stopped and the lightning died down. Once the mayor was able to see he was shocked to see that pat was still standing after what had just happened. The other two more surprised about the spires and how well they worked. Once Pat joined them both Joe and Andrew noted the golden ball floating above pat's head. "When did you cast your energy shield spell?" wondered Joe. "About two seconds before the whole gap was filled... not bad. It’s been a while since I've had to do that good to see that my reflexes haven't gone to waste yet." the last was said while pat was laughing. Andrew hearing Joe's question came out of his shock and asked, "how the heck did you what attack use?" "Simple my master had the same setup in scattered in his temple" Had to make sure his students stayed on their toes" remarked Joe. "No more like a test to see just how much work a student needed when they first came to study magic with him. I'll explain later" answered pat. With that he turned towards the courtyard. Once the group was in the courtyard they saw that some of the merchants were still open for day. Some of the local villagers that saw them hurried out of the way. Those that had small children with them held them closer. Seeing that they were the center of attention they asked the mayor why every one was staring at them for. "As I said yesterday the kingdom is at war, so the townsfolk are a little on the weary side of trainers" came the reply. Continuing across the courtyard, they entered the castle and after what seemed like they were walking in a garden maze did they come to the queen's chamber.

After having the guard let them in to the room, they were amazed by the sheer size of the room. After waiting a few minutes the lady herself walked in from a door hidden in the shadows of a corner. Dressed in a suit of scale mail and a chain mail skirt, she was welding a glave that seemed to be made out of ruby. Following her through the door was a vulpix Joe commented through their mental link *nice vulpix I’m going to say that it's level 40* *I say level 60* was Andrew mental remark " Actually your both wrong." a soft but clear voice said. Turning they saw that it was the lady herself that had spoken. Kneeling down beside her vulpix. "Her level is higher then what the two of you guessed at." "Oh...sorry about that vulpix" Joe apologized "would you mind if I asked what level she is at your lady?" spoke up Andrew. Looking up from her friend. "She’s at level 96." there was a thud a Joe fell over in surprise. *Nicely done Joe* remarked pat "But I can see that your tried from your trip" she laughed, with that she offered them both food and drink, accepting her offer they all sat down at the table nearby. After eating for a few minutes Joe spoke up "hey pat this food can give your cooking a run for it's money "well one can only do so many things with pidegy and stantlers" pat answered "well I can see that you have enjoyed the food. So now we can get down business" With that said Mary began to explain the situation. She told them that she studied magic and was a sorceress much like pat. Seeing the confused look on Joe's face explained to him what she meant "female mage are called sorceress, just like their male counterpart was a sorcerer" nodding towards Pat she told Joe not worry and Pat would put in smaller words for him. Looking up from petting vulpix Pat explained to Joe very bluntly. "She is a mage just like me" seeing that the light had clicked on, Pat turned back towards Mary and asked to continue.