Disclaimer:
This work is fiction. The work is presented under fair protection where applicable.
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You should not read this work if you are not of legal age where you reside. This work may contain concepts or written actions that some readers may find excessive or disturbing. This may include (but not be limited to) rape, BDSM, or death.
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Chapter 12
Sleeping Dragons
“Aria’s a beautiful name,” Lanette said. She, Colette, Nicholas, and Aria were having breakfast together. With Aria now tamed she seemed to recognize Colette and the two pokegirls had spent some time that morning bonding.
“I’m not sure if she understands that it’s hers,” Nicholas replied. “She still hasn’t spoken a word since I tamed her.”
“We’re far enough from human civilization that the wild pokegirls might have never seen one in their lives,” Lanette explained. “Our own little corner of Hoenn. I’m not surprised that Aria doesn’t know human language.”
Nicholas snorted and let his eyes drift to the window. “True. You’re the only one who lives out here, and Fallarbor isn’t exactly a large city.” His eyes focused on something outside and he frowned. “Busier than usually today, though. Looks like a group is heading to the falls.”
Lanette shifted so she could see what he was looking at. “What group…? Oh, I see them. Wait. In the middle, is that-?” With a gasp Lanette shot to her feet. “Cozmo?! Who’s that with him?”
Nicholas looked at Lanette in surprise. “Who? What?”
“That’s one of the residents of Fallarbor,” Lanette explained as she watched the small group continue on their way, “but I’ve never seen those two men with him. They’re headed for the falls.”
Nicholas stood when Lanette hurried to the door. “So? He’s probably acting as their guide.”
“Professor Cozmo is a meteoritic,” Lanette said. “He moved to Fallarbor to study the abundance of meteorites that have fallen in the area. They’re the entire reason it’s called Meteor Falls. He’s always asking strangers to go with him on hunts.”
“…So?” Nicholas repeated. “He found someone to go with him, that’s all.”
“It’s just… Right now, with those cultists hanging about, I’m worried,” Lanette said. “I didn’t get a good look at their faces. What if they’re from Magma? What if Cozmo is in danger?”
“You said they dropped in on you, didn’t you?” Nicholas asked. “What did they want exactly?”
“They asked about the area and why it was called Meteor Falls. Of course it’s called that because meteorites fell here,” Lanette sniffed.
“Yeah, that’s why it’s called Meteor Falls. Probably a great place to find a meteorite if you wanted one,” Nicholas replied. “And if you didn’t know how to identify one yourself, who would you want to bring with you?”
Lanette stared at him. “If you’re trying to make me feel better it’s not working.”
“I’m trying to say that you have a right to be worried,” Nicholas replied. “The cultists came to you, the only person who lives at the falls, to confirm that it wasn’t just a name. Then they went to find someone who could identify whatever it is they’re looking for.”
“You think I’m right?”
“I think it’s worth checking out,” Nicholas replied. “Aria?” The Swablu bounced to her feet with a hopeful look. “Well she recognizes her name at least. We’re leaving. Come on.” He gestured to get Aria moving towards him and turned back to Lanette. “The path I’m looking for is somewhere in the falls too. I’ll check to make sure Cozmo is okay before I go looking for it.”
Lanette looked like she was debating whether to say something until she shook her head. “I’m going too. There were two men with Cozmo. If they’re cultists, that’s two tamers. You’ll need help.”
Nicholas smiled and nodded. “Agreed. Let’s move.”
Once the group was outside Nicholas released Bea and introduced her to Lanette and Colette before filling her in. When he mentioned the cultists Bea came to attention and glanced out across the hills. “You finally want to fight, do you Master?”
“There’s a reason to now,” Nicholas replied. “This is your chance, Bea. Show me that there’s truth in your words.”
Bea let out her breath slowly and nodded.
With a curt command from Lanette Colette took to the sky, climbing so fast that after only a few seconds Nicholas could barely make her out as anything more than a strangely moving cloud. Lanette was watching as Colette circled and after a moment she gestured for him to follow. “Colette is saying that they’re headed for the main caves.”
“…Didn’t you say that was where I should avoid?” Nicholas asked.
Lanette nodded grimly. “Colette can handle herself in a fight. Can you?"
Nicholas rolled his neck, shaking out his arms before matching Lanette’s expression. “I’ve got a Beldum who’s desperate to prove herself and two Indigo championship titles. I’ll manage.”
Lanette didn’t seem to process what he had said because she moved forwards without any other questions. “This way.”
Lanette led him off the main trails, choosing instead to take a nearly straight line towards one of the taller outcrops in the area. She scrambled across the rocks with a practiced ease and Nicholas forced himself to keep up even as his muscles protested. Aria could use her wings to flap up any tough walls but Bea was starting to fall behind by the time they arrived and Nicholas paused to wait for her. Lanette, on the other hand, didn’t even slow, Colette swooping in behind her Mistress as the two disappeared into the caves.
Nicholas helped Bea up the final stretch and jabbed a thumb to where Lanette had disappeared. “They’ve already gone on ahead. You good?” He snorted when Bea hustled in the direction he’d pointed. “Why did I even ask?”
Nicholas entered the cave in time to see Lanette coming to a halt at the top of a cliff. “PROFESSOR!”
Down below the three figures they had been following had swelled to five. Nicholas walked up to the edge to get a better look and hissed. The two new figures had red bandanas hanging around their necks. The colors of the Magma cult.
“Miss Lanette?” a surprised voice wafted up. The older man in glasses shuffled forwards and scratched his head. “It’s a pleasure to see you but what are you doing at the falls today?”
“Professor you need to come up here,” Lanette called urgently. She’d obviously recognized the same thing Nicholas had. “Those people are dangerous!”
“Dangerous?” Cozmo scoffed. “These falls are dangerous. I’m honored that these gentlemen invited me here and promised to protect me while I examine their find. They say they’ve discovered an unbroken meteorite!”
“Yeah, that’s rather rude, lady,” one of the cultists called. “Just because we’re tamers doesn’t make us any more dangerous than you, with that big bird of yours.”
Nicholas put a hand on Lanette’s arm when she started bristling. “Did you hear?” he asked quietly. “They’ve lured Cozmo here with some big find. He’s not going to listen to you without real proof. Does he know about the cults?”
“They’re pretty common knowledge but if he hasn’t been tipped off by the bandanas…” Lanette whispered back.
“Wearing a bandana isn’t a crime and like I said. He’s blinded by what they’ve told him about.” Nicholas sighed. He could see two of the cultists watching them closely and the way the group was standing kept at least one between them and Cozmo at any time. “We have to wait and see what they do. Look for an opening.”
“Hey, if you two are here to steal our meteorite you can just head out right now,” another of the cultists called. “Don’t worry, prof. We won’t let them get close.”
“Oh, no, no, Miss Lanette isn’t a thief,” Cozmo blustered. “Please do come down miss Lanette, and bring your friend…!”
“Sorry, Professor, but I don’t trust ‘em,” the cultist interrupted. “Can you just take a look and tell us if it’s actually a meteorite or not?”
“Fine, fine,” Cozmo grumbled. He walked over to a crumpled blanket and pulled it away to reveal a large pockmarked stone almost the size of his head. With a low whistle he pushed it slightly, inspecting the contours as he did. “My, oh my. This is a beautiful specimen.”
“Look. They probably just wanted an expert to confirm what they had,” Nicholas whispered to Lanette. “Just wait. As long as nothing else happens…”
“So is it a meteorite or not?” One of the cultists asked urgently. “An old one, right?”
“You found this in the caves?” Cozmo asked. “The mineral composition… The beautifully formed regmaglypts… This specimen may have been buried here from one of the ancient showers that gave the falls their name.”
“It’s definitely a meteorite, then?”
“I’d need a sample…”
“Yes or no,” the cultist said curtly. “That’s all we’re asking.”
“Well, I can’t be completely certain without sampling it, but I’d say it is,” Cozmo grumbled. “That or it’s a very well-crafted fake.”
“Good enough. Hey! Get your girl to carry this thing and let’s go,” the cultist called to one of the others. “Thanks, professor. Now-“ Cozmo yelped when the man grabbed him and spun around to where Nicholas and Lanette were standing. “You two up there, you’re going to head further in and let us out that entrance. Understand?”
“W-What is going on?” Cozmo stammered. “What are you doing to me?”
“Should have listened to your friends up there, prof,” the cultist replied. Behind him there was a flash of red as multiple pokegirls materialized. “We really are dangerous people.”
“We don’t want your stupid rock,” Nicholas yelled down, shuffling sideway and urgently motioning for Lanette to do the same. “Just get out of here and leave Cozmo out of it.”
“You may not want it, but we do.”
The scene froze. Then one of the Magma cultists shouted. And then all hell broke loose.
Beams of water blasted from the shadows all around, bowling the cultists off their feet as some of their pokegirls aimed at where the water had come from and sent a retort of their own, flames blasting outwards from the group and illuminating the ambushers.
Fuck, Nicholas thought as he saw one of the attackers. A man in blue and his pokegirl. They really were here too!
“Wash these heretics away!” the voice roared again and the battle began in earnest, a few pokegirls swooping down onto the Magma cultists as more and more pokeballs triggered. “We will not let Magma have their way with this world!
“COZMO!” Lanette screamed.
“PROTECT THE METEORITE!” the Magma leader cried. “SOMEONE CALL THE BOSS!”
Nicholas was preparing to order Aria forwards but Colette was a step ahead. Through the blasts of fire and water the Altaria dove, eyes only for the panicking professor. The cultist that had been holding him as a hostage had let go, more focused on the battle around him than the scrambling human and Colette took advantage of that. Cozmo yelped when she grabbed him and took off again, wings straining as she fought to climb as fast as possible out of the barrage of attacks.
“Aria!” Nicholas threw his hand forwards when Colette screamed in pain, one wing blasting backwards when a stray bolt of flame caught it. “Help her!”
Colette was starting to go into a spin when she felt a body press against her injured side; with Aria’s help she turned her descent into a controlled crash, dropping Cozmo next to Lanette and Nicholas before tumbling across the hard stone with cries of pain. Aria wasn’t much better since she was caught up under Colette’s wing and when they came to a halt both Lanette and Nicholas had to recall their pokegirls.
“Bea!” Nicholas barked. He’d pulled Lanette down behind the lip of the cliff so as to avoid any more stray attacks. “Get ready to fight if need be.”
“That’s not necessary, tamer,” the voice came again and this time Nicholas was able to see the speaker as a man in a pirate’s outfit stepped into view nearby. “Any enemy of Magma is a friend of ours.”
“Mister Archie, Sir!” The man looked up when one of the Aqua cultists hailed him. “The meteorite!”
Archie hurried to the edge of the cliff before cursing. One of the Magma cultists had been beaten down and was now being secured by the Aquas, but the rest, and the meteorite they had been so interested in, were nowhere to be seen. “Where did they go!”
“Hey! Talk to me!” Nicholas looked over to see an unconscious Aqua grunt near the cave entrance being shaken by another. “Hey!”
“You simpering fools let them run to the mountain!” Archie roared. “After them! We can’t let them use the meteorite to trigger an eruption!”
“I’m no friend of yours,” Nicholas muttered, watching the cultists run out of the cave before he turned his attention back to the man laying on the ground next to him. “Professor, are you alright?”
Cozmo groaned and rubbed his head. “Ow. Thank you, tamer, Miss Lanette.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Lanette replied, helping him to his feet. “Come on. Let’s get you back to my house.”
“Yes, yes,” Cozmo replied woozily. “Oh, but the meteorite…”
“Let’s just get you to safety first,” Lanette replied firmly, steering Cozmo to the exit. “Nicholas, are you coming?”
Nicholas was lost in thought and he shook himself when Lanette called. “Sorry?”
“Are you coming back to the house with us?”
Nicholas waved distractedly. “I want to double check things around here.”
Lanette nodded. “If I don’t see you again… Thank you.”
“What are you thinking, Master?” Bea hissed as Lanette left. “We should go after them!”
“Wait,” Nicholas murmured. His eyes were locked on one of the waterfalls that thundered through the cavern. “During the battle, did you see that?”
Bea followed his gaze and shook her head. “No.”
“I thought I saw…” Nicholas trailed off. It had looked like a wild pokegirl but not one he had ever seen before. Of course he was used to wild pokegirls keeping an eye on him, and here in Hoenn it seemed every other pokegirl he saw was something new, but this had been different. She had been watching him specifically during the battle, and her eyes had been sharper than a wild pokegirl’s had any right to be.
Bea watched in disbelief as Nicholas started easing his way down the rocks. “Didn’t you hear what that man was yelling, Master? Those cultists are about to make the volcano erupt. Why are we wasting time here?”
“First of all, I’m more than happy to evacuate and let them fight,” Nicholas replied evenly. “I spent years battling a criminal syndicate in Indigo. This is Steven’s region. Your mother’s. Not ours. And secondly,” Nicholas slid down next to the rushing water and peered around. There, next to the falling water were a set of rapidly drying footprints. “Secondly, there’s something right here that I’m more interested in.”
“I may be weak. I may be stupid,” Nicholas looked back up to see Bea staring down at him, “but I know what I want. If those cultists are my mother’s responsibility, then I want nothing more than to stop them before she can. I want to fight. I want to be better than her, no matter what it takes.” Bea jumped down the cliff Nicholas had scrambled down, landing with enough force that her feet cracked the stone and she sank slightly into the ground. “You will say I am not ready. You will say I am still too weak. So LET ME FAIL!” Bea was livid as she shoved herself into Nicholas’ face. “You want me to be truthful, Master? You want me to be ME? LET ME FIGHT! STOP HOLDING ME BACK!”
“It’s not just ABOUT you, Bea!” Nicholas roared back, the two’s faces basically touching as he matched her aggressive posture. “If it was then I wouldn’t care less if you ran off and got yourself killed!”
“YOU WON’T KNOW IF THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL IT DOES!” Bea screamed. “I WON’T KNOW UNTIL IT HAPPENS! So let. ME. TRY!”
Nicholas swore and wheeled away from her. He didn’t want to get into an argument with Bea. Not right now. The longer he waited the farther away the strange pokegirl might have gotten. Bea snarled when he moved away from her and followed as Nicholas edged his way behind the waterfall, only calming slightly when she saw the small cave that was tucked away there.
“If you want to be my pokegirl then you will do as I say,” Nicholas snapped. “So follow me.”
Bea did but not before growling something of her own and stopping Nicholas dead in his tracks. “Your Alphas would not blindly obey you. They are not your slaves, and neither am I.”
Nicholas was struggling to formulate a response when he saw a shadow in the cave move. Glittering eyes matched his and the pokegirl stepped forwards slightly. When she locked eyes with Nicholas her lips pulled back, revealing a mouth of sharp fangs as she smiled and cocked a finger in his direction. Then she was gone, vanishing further into the small cave.
Nicholas broke himself out of his stupor and gave chase, ducking into the cave and beginning to make his way through. He heard Bea just behind him and pushed their conversation away to focus on what he was doing. He had to, because just as Bea had been unable to respond to him at the base of Mt. Chimney he could find no response for her words now.
After a while the tunnel opened up and Nicholas stepped into a glittering cavern. He could see the pokegirl they had been following ahead and started to follow when he heard Bea gasp. “Master!”
It was only her warning that gave him enough time to react as a massive form slammed into the ground in front of him. With a yelp Nicholas dodged, avoiding as the pokegirl attacked and rolling back to his feet in a panic. “Hey! Wait!”
The girl ground to a halt. She was enormous – easily over seven feet tall with leathery red wings extending out behind her. “Why do I obey you, intruder?” Her voice rumbled through the air and Nicholas dusted himself off as she took a step closer with her blazing eyes on him. “Answer me.”
“Truthfully I wasn’t expecting you to,” Nicholas replied apologetically. “Thank you, though.”
The pokegirl’s eyes flickered. “I did not have a choice. You are a Draconid.”
Nicholas blinked. “How…?”
“You will remain here.” With a gust of wind the girl took off and Nicholas watched as she winged through the cavern before diving down below the ground clutter.
“…I mean she was obviously a dragon but I didn’t try to command her…” Nicholas was musing when the girl sprang into the air again. This time as she approached her eyes were more normal and she landed much more gently than the last time.
“What is your name, intruder?” the girl asked.
“Uh, Nicholas. Nicholas Topolski.”
To his surprise the girl bowed. “You are expected, Master Topolski. The Lorekeeper awaits.”
“I’m… what?” Nicholas asked again. “Where even am I? I was just chasing a pokegirl…”
“You are home, Master,” the girl replied and straightened up. With a sweep of her arm she gestured around the cavern. “Welcome to the home of your clan.”
Slowly Nicholas stepped up beside her. As he looked more closely he started to see more figures moving about the cavern. Dozens of them interacting with the flying pokegirls all around. “The… Draconid Clan?”
“Yes.” Nicholas turned back to the pokegirl. “You have an audience with the Lorekeeper.” The girl’s eyes flashed. “It is wise not to keep her waiting.”
“…Lead the way.”
Nicholas and Bea followed the pokegirl down a hidden path and through what appeared at first to just be a cluster of stalagmites but as Nicholas stepped through he gasped.
From above the cavern had seemed bare. But hidden here he could now see a sprawling village tucked under the various rocky shelfs and overhangs. A dozen figures? There were hundreds moving about here, and that was before he took into account the pokegirls flying overhead. All of it, hidden in a cave in the middle of nowhere.
The pokegirl led him to a carved stone door in one of the walls. As they got close two of the same breed came to attention, each keeping a close eye on Nicholas as he approached.
“He has arrived,” Nicholas’ escort said, and the two others moved aside from their positions guarding the door. Without any effort the girl pulled the door open and bowed again. “I go no further, Master.”
Nicholas slowly stepped inside. As he did he felt a smothering presence descend over him and he had to take a few deep breaths before continuing.
The walls were lined with dragon’s fangs. The smallest were sprinkled where he had entered, at the door, and they got progressively larger until they reached the opposite end of the room where four towering fangs curved over a seated figure. Nicholas knew that there was only one dragon that they could have belonged to and his suspicions were confirmed when he took another step and began to hear the whispers that he had back in Johto, in the Dragon’s Den.
The seated figure didn’t move until Nicholas took another step, placing him exactly halfway into the room. When he did her head rose and her eyes opened. “Greetings, Topolski.” Her eyes were even less human than his own, almost entirely draconic with only the shape of the eye socket itself remaining the same. “I have been expecting you.”
“How? Who are you?” Nicholas asked.
“I am Zinnia,” the woman replied. “I am the Lorekeeper of the Draconid Clan. And I have seen your coming.”
“Seen?”
“I see many things,” Zinnia replied. “Such is my burden as Lorekeeper. My burden also is to prevent those things from coming to pass.”
Nicholas swallowed. “Um. What about me?”
Zinnia smiled. “I wished to personally welcome you home, Nicholas Topolski. Your power will be sorely needed soon.”
“You know everything about me, then,” Nicholas replied. “Are you a psychic?”
“I? No,” Zinnia replied. “The one before me held power in much the same way you did. I am simply a Lorekeeper. A conduit of our Mistress’ wisdom and power. I hold none of my own.” Zinnia got to her feet and Nicholas was shocked when the motion revealed how small she was. She couldn’t be more than a teenager. “The end of the world approaches. A stone from the sky is falling and only our Mistress holds the power needed to stop it.” Zinnia’s eyes narrowed. “Yet she does not wake. I have awaited your coming, Topolski, because I have questions I need answered. Why does she not wake, Blessed of the eternal ones? Why does she not respond to my pleas? Is it because I am not like you? Not like my predecessor?”
Nicholas quickly held up his hands. “Uh. I didn’t come here to make any trouble…”
“Answer me,” Zinnia hissed quietly. “Why were you chosen? Why would the power granted to my predecessor not be granted to me as well? Why were you, someone unaware of his own heritage, chosen over the next Lorekeeper of the clan?”
Nicholas felt a growing sense of dread and glanced back to see the two guards staring at him. “I can’t answer that. I really can’t. I never wanted any of this, I swear.”
“Then fade,” Zinnia replied quietly. “Fade into history. I will do what must be done, Blessed or not.”
“That’s fine by me,” Nicholas chuckled nervously as Zinnia slowly sat back down. “I’m not interested in getting in your way.”
“See that you do not,” Zinnia murmured. “Your presence here today nearly ruined what has taken months to set up.”
Nicholas blinked. “Sorry?”
“The meteorite should have been gone before the others could track it down,” Zinnia replied. “Your presence delayed them. Magma nearly lost control of it if not for my intervention.”
Nicholas felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to stand up. Bea was standing behind him and he knew she was drawing the same conclusions he was so he raised a hand to silence her before she could speak. “You led Magma to that meteorite? For what end?”
“What else?” Zinnia asked. “The primal energy that meteorite has absorbed will be more than enough to jolt Mt. Chimney awake. An eruption should draw our Mistress’ attention even if my cries will not.”
A shiver ran down Nicholas’ spine. “You’re… you’re the one behind the rise of the cults.”
“Of course.” Zinnia frowned. “This world faces destruction. If I can not wake our Mistress all will be lost. What, then, are a few million lives compared to them all?”
“…That’s not what the Draconid Clan are meant to be,” Nicholas found himself saying. He wasn’t sure where the words came from but the constant whispering in his ears was growing louder and some of the noises were almost intelligible. “We were granted our power to protect humanity from that ancient primal threat, not to become it.”
“An outsider dares to lecture me?” Zinnia hissed. “I do what must be done. Do you not understand? The entire WORLD will be destroyed if our Mistress does not awake. If she will not listen to my words then I have no choice but to force her hand. To bring about the apocalypse she stopped thousands of years ago. If that is not enough to wake her, we are all doomed anyways.”
“That’s right. I’m an outsider,” Nicholas replied calmly, “and I’m a heretic. I don’t know exactly what it is to be a Lorekeeper but I know that I wouldn’t choose to forsake our ancient duty.”
“Leave.” Zinnia’s eyes smoldered. “Out of respect to my predecessor I will not have you killed here. But make no mistake, Topolski. If you stand in my way I will consider you a harbinger of our doom.”
Nicholas stepped out of the cave as quickly as he dared and nearly dragged Bea away as the guards slammed the door shut. “Come on.”
“But-“
“Bea if you say the wrong thing right now we’re both dead,” Nicholas hissed, pulling her through the streets before ducking behind one of the hidden houses. Bea watched as Nicholas doubled over, a few retching noises coming from his mouth before he took a shuddering breath and dropped to his hands and knees.
“Are you okay, Master?” Bea asked urgently. “What’s wrong?”
“I-“ Nicholas winced. The whispers were fading but what they had left behind... “I need to get out of here. WE need to get out of here.”
Both turned when someone cleared their throat behind them.
An old woman in ceremonial garb was standing just out of sight of the road. When Nicholas looked at her she bowed slightly. “You are the Blessed one.”
“I am a human, of the Draconid line, granted what could be considered divine power by the eternal one known as Ho-oh. Yes,” Nicholas replied, “I am what has been referred to as the ‘Blessed one’.”
“I knew your coming would upset my granddaughter,” the woman replied sadly. “She does what she believes is right.”
“I’m not in the mood for small talk. You sought me out. Why?” Nicholas asked. It was just like what he had felt in the Granite Cave, from his nightmare. Only now he was awake. And it was not fear this time, but rage churning in his stomach. He didn’t know why. But he could guess.
“Why do you prostrate yourself?” the woman asked curiously. “Are you unwell?”
Nicholas sighed. “I am feeling the rage of Rayquaza boiling my blood. Yes, I am unwell. Because if I were to allow her will to control me now I likely would not stop until your granddaughter lay dead at my feet.”
“Then I am glad Her rage is tempered by one such as you,” the woman replied softly. “And I see why you were chosen by the eternal ones, and not her. Take this.”
Nicholas slowly got to his feet and approached the woman, accepting the milky blue gemstone she was holding. “What is this?”
“A gift,” the woman replied simply, “from your Clan.” She lowered her gaze when he looked up. “Few are satisfied with my granddaughter’s decision. But they still obey her, as they must. The Lorekeeper is not to be questioned. But you,” she continued, raising her head again and revealing to Nicholas that her own eyes were purely human, “you are not under her authority. You are Draconid; such is undeniable. But you are, to her, an outsider. And so your Clan presents you this power, in the hopes that you will do what we cannot.”
Nicholas looked down at the gemstone again. And when he looked back up the woman was gone.
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“I have taken the liberty of preparing a message to Champion Stone, Master. Now that we are out of the caves I have a clear connection again.”
Nicholas came to a stop and rested his hand against the cliffside. Kalmiya was undoubtedly talking about what was going on with magma and Aqua. Yeah. He’d said that if they ran into anything big he’d call Steven. And if they were trying to trigger an eruption, that was pretty big.
“Master?”
He’d known that the ancient Draconids had lived in Hoenn. What he hadn’t been expecting was to find the modern ones here randomly. And he certainly hadn’t expected to immediately be introduced to who had appeared to be their leader, let alone told that she was the one orchestrating the two cults terrorizing Hoenn.
“Should I send the message?”
It just didn’t make sense. What he had learned in the Dragon’s Den, what he had experienced through his visions, and now what he had been told by the whispering voices. Rayquaza’s voice, he realized. That was what it had always been, the fang in Blackthorn, the fangs in Zinnia’s room. The whispers he had been hearing were Rayquaza. A memory of her, perhaps, but they spoke with the legendary’s voice.
It had all been the same as what Celine had told him. A world at war with itself. Earth and water shifting daily, eradicating any life that tried to survive. An apocalypse that Rayquaza had stopped. And now he knew that she had granted the ancient Draconids with her power so that they could lead humanity forwards. Humans leading humans, without reliance on the legendary pokegirls. That was the knowledge that had filled his mind before he had rebuffed Zinnia.
She was wrong. That was all there was to it.
Kalmiya materialized in front of him with a worried expression. “Do you hear me, Master? Should I send the message?”
“Magma is headed to Mt. Chimney with Aqua on their heels. Magma intends on using some kind of power infused in that meteorite to trigger a volcanic eruption.”
“Yes, I’ve written the message. Do I send it, Master?”
Nicholas looked at Bea. Reflected on her words, and picked out the ones she hadn’t said.
“Bea.”
Bea swiveled to look at him. “Yes, Master?”
“I was being a coward. From the moment I met you I was being a coward.” When Bea hesitated Nicholas walked over and dropped to one knee so that he was at her height. “I’ve told you to be truthful with me, Bea. That is what an Alpha of mine would be.”
Bea’s gaze slowly settled to match his own. “Yes, Master. I considered your actions cowardly.”
“That’s because they were.” Nicholas sighed. “Just now, in that cave, I was… reminded, of something I had been trying to forget.” He got back to his feet and turned his attention to the mountain in the distance. “I wanted it all to be over. I believed, hoped, that the breaking of my fate would allow me to fade away as Zinnia said. But I can’t. I have a duty, a burden of my own I was born with. The power and abilities I have been granted are meant to fulfill that duty.” He laughed quietly and lowered his eyes again. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, I know. I haven’t shared any of my past with any of you yet.”
“What is the duty, Master?”
Nicholas reached into his pocket and withdrew the gemstone. As he held it it felt warm. “The Draconid people, my ancestors, were chosen to save the world and unite pokegirls and humanity. Apparently the current leader of the clan has forgotten that.” His fingers curled around the stone and he locked eyes with Bea once again. “My fate is my own. If I am the last Draconid who remembers our ancient duty, then so be it. I will protect the entirety of Hoenn on my own.” With the final word he felt a great warmth rush through his body and his lips curled back in a smile.
Bea was in awe. As Nicholas spoke his eyes had begun to glow and now, as he made his oath, it was as if there were was another figure standing in the same place. A spectral pokegirl with shimmering amber eyes.
The specter vanished when Kalmiya spoke. “You are not the last, Master,” she said. “That woman said that the clan gave you that stone.”
“If a gift is all they can manage then they are no better than Zinnia,” Nicholas replied curtly. “Send the message if you want. But I will handle this threat on my own.” He smiled grimly at Bea. “With my own harem.”
Bea could hardly contain herself as Nicholas triggered the rest of his pokeballs, catching Aria when she collapsed and pulling medicine from his bag. “Master?” Morgana asked in surprise, looking around at the wilderness surrounding them. “Where are we?”
“Kalmiya, remind me to find time to teach each and every one of my pokegirls how to sense beyond their pokeballs,” Nicholas said. “Morgana, we’re at a place called Meteor Falls. And we’re about to chase down the Magma cult to stop them from triggering a volcanic eruption.”
Morgana blanched. “W-What?”
“You heard me. This is your last chance. If you don’t want this life I can send you away. You don’t have to fight.”
Morgana hugged herself. “Master, I… This is, this, I’m scared!”
“If you’re scared then pull your panties up and just tell him to send you away.” Nicholas had been about to respond but Bea stepped in front of him to confront the trembling Kirlia and she squeezed her eyes shut when Bea approached. “If you even wear any. He has given you every chance to walk away. And yet here you are.” Bea glanced at Elaine before looking back at Morgana. “You’re afraid but not to fight. You’re afraid of what others think of you. Fuck them. They insult and degrade you because they themselves are weak. You don’t have to be like them.”
“Bea.” Nicholas stepped forwards. “That’s unnecessary.”
“No, Master. It is very necessary.” Elaine was bristling but Bea ignored her completely. “This harem is sick. If I am meant to speak truthfully then I will not be quiet about it anymore. Alpha or not, I will no longer ignore the weakness gripping us all.”
“Morgana.” Nicholas looked at the Kirlia. “You don’t have to come with us.”
Tears dripped down her cheeks but when Morgana opened her eyes again they were steady. “I’m not supposed to be afraid anymore,” she whispered, her voice still shaky. “I won’t be afraid, Master. I promised.”
Aria was getting back to her feet and Nicholas shook his head. “Fine. The offer stands for all of you, though. I’m about to lead us into a fight that might get someone killed.” He was fully expecting one of the pokegirls to say something, positive or negative, but silence reigned and he adjusted his belt before gesturing forwards. “Then let’s go.”
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Nicholas crouched by the small fire they had lit in the center of their campsite for the night. The first day of hiking had been slow as the group rediscovered the old trailhead and picked their way up the broken path. But the second day had picked up, especially as the trail began to clear and the signs of a running battle could be seen. Half melted rock. Cleanly carved holes that only jets of water could have achieved. They were on the trail of the two cults and catching up fast.
“Listen to me, all of you,” he called to get his harem’s attention. “Consider this my first ever order as your tamer. Possibly my first ever as a tamer at all.” He grimaced. “When we reach that summit, we will be entering into battle with people who do not care about the rules. People who will try to kill you. Kill me. That means you can’t follow them either.” He raised his eyes for a moment to make sure there were four sets watching him. “Enemy tamers are valid targets, just as I will be for them.”
When none of the pokegirls argued Nicholas lowered his head again and stared into the dancing flames. They’d likely reach the summit tomorrow. What they’d find there, he didn’t know. But he knew what he had to do.
It was time to test the power he had been given. Time to see just what it meant to hold Ho-oh’s eternal flames within the same body as Rayquaza’s draconic blood.
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POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer:Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Knuckle Badge
Harem:
Elaine, Combusken – Level 21
Morgana, Kirlia – Level 20
Bea, Beldum – Level 19
Aria, Swablu – Level 20
Non-Com Harem:
Kalmiya, Porygon-Z – Level 5