Chapter 39
Dusk had arrived, but the evening was still young.
As Fort Emerald settled into its dark twilight, the orange glow of the late sunset dampened by the high city walls and the lingering blanket of clouds above, many of the division's Pokémon filed into the streets and toward the city's gates. The day was over, and it was time to depart back to their places of residence among the outskirts, into their secluded districts, safe from the shadows of the night until the dawn of the next day.
Yet, for many other Pokémon, there remained one last obligation to fulfill before nightfall. Droves of resistance teams streamed to the city's center, gathering near a facility that was used but once a week, except for emergencies or special occasions such as this one.
The Emerald Division's assembly hall was much smaller than Char was used to back home. He imagined it was only a third of the size of the Gold Division's meeting hall, which seemed appropriate given the Emerald Division clearly had a smaller population. The room was shaped like a bowl, deeper on one side and shallower on the other, with the stage of attention at the very center. The steep side was lined with dozens of ledges for small Pokémon to occupy, while the other side was flat and wide-open, allowing the much needed room for the gigantic Pokémon to make their places. The ceiling was shaped like a cone, though a very flat and elongated one. A tiny circle in the center opened to let in the sunlight, or what was left of it at this point. Char wondered if it was covered by glass, until he noticed a Skarmory descend through it and take its place among the crowd.
Other than this simple and elegant architecture, nothing stood out about the room; there were no giant statues, no decorative etchings, nothing but the flat, silent stone walls to inspire respect or awe – or, perhaps, nothing to distract attention away from the center of the room. In all, like the rest of Fort Emerald, it didn't seem like a comfortable or pleasant place to be for an extended length of time. Char imagined that space would get very cramped if the entire division were to attend a meeting.
Char sat only a few rows from the front, right where Prince had directed him to sit, holding his tail politely in his lap to keep it from swaying into the seats behind him. As the evening settled in and the presentation came closer to beginning, he found himself absentmindedly wringing his tail in his hands in anticipation. The turnout to this event was a little shallow, but it was to be expected; Char knew that every Pokémon in that room with him was choosing to forgo several hours of a good night's rest to attend. Only about sixty or seventy Pokémon had arrived so far, most huddled around the center in the front rows. He wondered just what he was in for, and why this handful of the division's workforce had chosen to give up their valuable time for this.
"Wonder what this is going to be like," said Saura, who sat beside Char with a grin of excitement. "If this place has any culture that isn't all dead serious and depressing all the time, I'd really like to see it."
"Yeah, but we have an early morning tomorrow," Char replied. "I hope this will be worth it."
The two of them locked gazes for a moment, a mutual understanding. Char caught a glimmer of somberness in Saura's eye, and responded with his own sad smile. Between them, there was no resentment. There was nothing to forgive. Yet, there was still uncertainty. Worry.
"You sure you'll be able to do this?" Saura uttered sadly under his breath.
"No," Char replied, turning his head to stare at the floor. "But I'm going to try. It's just… there's…"
"It's the best way to handle the situation, I know. I understand that," Saura replied, finishing his thought for him. "Hey, you don't think I know it feels? I ran away from my own family. I loved them. I still do. But it was the only way I could get out of being a slave for the rest of my life. I look back and I know it was the best thing for me to do. But… even though I found you, and we met Scythe, and I'm really proud of living with the resistance and all the jobs we've done… it still hurts just a little bit when I think of my family. Even after all this time. Especially after meeting Saurlee and knowing how worried they are about me."
Char continued to stare at the ground, holding down his tail under crossed arms.
"Well… at least now, I know I'll get to keep my promise to her," Saura said, forcing a pathetic laugh. "One promise I can keep at least…"
"You kept your promise to me," Char reminded him. "You were always there to help me. Every step of the way, every big mission, you were always there. You taught me how to be a Pokémon. And you got me this far. If I meet Dialga, he might turn me back into a human, and you'd be the first one I'd have to thank for it. If anything, I'm the one breaking my side of the promise."
"Nah, you can't say that," Saura said with a wry smile. "You protected me from the Master. You forced me to be courageous when I didn't know what would happen. And now I made it to somewhere safe where the Master can't get me. As far as I'm concerned, you kept your promise."
"Well, what?" Char asked, looking at him humorously. "What does that mean? Are we… even?"
Saura looked surprised at the question. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He looked at the stage before him, needing a minute to wonder about the question and think of an answer.
"Hey! There you guys are," Ray's voice cried as he leapt down the room's isle and into the row ahead of them, pivoting on the bench to face them. "Scythe is on his way, finally. He had to get some things ready before you-know-what tomorrow. And Prince is up there talking with Legend right now. In a minute, they're going to come in. Wow! We're going to see Legend tell a story in person, can you believe it? I've always wanted to come to one of Legend's stories! This is going to be amazing! Ha! I can't wait!"
"So… this is just a story, right?" Char implored to Ray, who appeared to know what he was talking about. "I thought this would be interesting to see. But what's so special about it?"
"Oh, Char! You have no idea, do you?" Ray gasped eagerly, leaping over the row of seats and coming to sit beside him. "When Legend talks, you listen. There's just no fighting it. Whenever he says something, it just captures you, and you can't escape! Pokémon say that your eyes can't even blink and your ears don't hear anything else when he's telling a story. Ohh, I've heard so much about him! He's famous down at the Gold Division, especially with the training teams since that's where he got his start in the first place."
"Well, what's the story?" Saura wondered. "What's he going to tell us?"
"Nobody knows!" Ray answered. "Might be some old legend from the history books. Or maybe something he made up himself. We'll just have to wait and see! Wow, we're so lucky he was doing this on the night we came. I hear he doesn't do this very often anymore."
Char's heart beat faster as he let himself get excited by Ray's description. A wide smile faded onto his face as he imagined himself being swept away just by a Pokémon's words.
"But uh… hey, Char," Ray said suddenly, lowering his voice into a serious tone. "Are you alright? Are you going to be up for tomorrow?"
Char sighed heavily, and his smile disappeared. "I'm not looking forward to the cold," he admitted, shuddering a little as he imagined it. "I… heh, if Zerferia is as bad as they say it is… I keep picturing myself freezing to death… again… except this time, Prince won't be there to pass me his flame. But… I can't back out. I have to try this, even if it means I won't make it."
"Hey," Ray said, looking into Char's eyes. "Hey… if it gets too cold, just remember: the fire will never die—"
"—Until the last ember fades," Char completed, starting to smile again.
"And you know that doesn't just mean to keep your tail burning," Ray said. "The 'ember' isn't really your fire power, you know. It's your will to live. No matter how bad it gets, you have to keep holding onto that. They say a Pokémon doesn't die until they want to die. Hold onto your will to live, and as you don't let it die, you'll keep going."
"Ray… thanks," Char said, nodding to him. "Thanks for everything. If I don't see you again… Thanks for always helping me rise to the challenge. Heh, ever since you joined the team, I knew I could never slack off with you around. You really taught me to discipline myself and push for the bigger reward."
"Hey, don't say stuff like that!" Ray warned, astonished. "You're going to come back. You'd better! I don't think Saura and I could run Team Ember without you. And hey, besides… don't you have a coat to wear that'll keep you warm?"
"No way I'm wearing that thing," Char scoffed. "I don't care how cold it gets. If I put that thing on, I won't be able to move a muscle without going insane. I'd rather have my tail chopped off than wear that thing."
"And I'd rather have my tail and my arms and legs chopped off than to have you die from the cold," Ray said sternly. "You thank me for helping you push yourself and you can't even wear a wimpy little coat? You know, if I would have gone with you, I'd have electrocuted you until you put it on."
"Then I guess I have a reason to be glad you're not coming!" Char said jokingly.
Ray was about to respond, but he hesitated. His ears perked, and he broke his concentration on Char. Flipping around in his seat, he took a look back at the facility's doors where another small crowd of Pokémon was entering.
"They're here!" Ray reported. "Scythe and Prince just came in. Here they come!"
Char tried to shake off his solemn mood, pushing out of his mind the fact that he was saying farewell to his best friends, and remembered the storytelling he was anticipating. At the very least, he couldn't draw suspicion from Prince. As far as he knew, Prince's powers of observation and deduction were near Scythe's level, and if that were the case, he'd be able to tell something was amiss if Char were to suddenly start acting lost and afraid. So, he put on his smile one more time, intending that he would at least enjoy this evening. It soon became genuine.
Scythe came marching down the aisle, looking mildly pleased to be there, with Prince a few steps behind. Soon, Scythe spotted his companions and gave them a nod of greeting as he approached. Prince gave them a passing glance as he ushered Scythe over to a seat which was two rows below Char's.
Char watched as the two heroes chatted amongst one another. He knew Scythe was probably trying to subtly reassure Prince that nothing had changed, but still, it made him happier to see the two of them side-by-side without so much as a flicker of bitterness or disgust in their eyes. Underneath all the conflict they'd gone through that day, they were still old friends.
"Aww, no fair, they get the front row!" Ray whined lightheartedly. "Hey, all those spots are empty! Can't we sit in the front row, too?"
"I don't think so," Saura noted. "Team Flamewheel probably gets to sit there. And Scythe is a guest of honor, I guess."
"Hmph," Ray said. "Char should be the guest of honor! Hmm, actually, how many Pokémon do you think know about all this? I mean, obviously not all of them. But there was that one… in the store, remember? What was it…"
"...The Flygon?" a nearby voice said.
Char started at the sound of the voice, the source of which seemed to fade into the shadows only a few feet at his side. The dark Flygon had taken a seat just next to Team Ember, its winding body draped lazily across the stone bench, staring at them with his unnaturally deep red eyes.
"That Flygon, if your memory serves you, was out on mission while rumors leaked of a Charmander with the Call under Alakazam's care," Naxi said. "Naturally, I didn't hear about it. But a handful of the Pokémon in this base do know of you. Not all of them know. Only those who have been chosen to know, know."
Char looked with uncertainty at the dark creature, not knowing what to make of it. He spoke in a hissing, almost hostile voice, as though Char's presence annoyed him deeply. He knew that wasn't the case, though, because it was Naxi who had chosen to sit there.
"Oh, wow, didn't even see you there," Ray said, being the one to separate Char from the Flygon. "Actually, you're probably the last Pokémon I'd expect to come here!"
"…Why is that?" Naxi questioned.
"W… I don't know… you just didn't seem the type," Ray considered. "You don't look like you have the patience to sit down and hear another Pokémon speak."
"I barely have that patience," Naxi admitted, shifting his posture. "I would be lying if I told you I would rather be here at the moment. But I come because I need to come, not because I desire to come."
"Oh, I get it…" Ray guessed. "You promised someone you'd be here. Or maybe they're paying you?"
"I have promised none but myself that I would be here," Naxi hissed in a low, serious voice. "I am old. And as I grow older, thoughts empty from my mind, never to return. One day, the memory of an obscure battle tactic I rarely use. Another day, the memory of my greatest victory in the war. Another day, the memory of my childhood. Every day, until my mind would be empty, and I become insane. And so I come, and let Legend fill my head with new thoughts. Some fictitious, some memories of the past I had lost, it does not matter, as long as they are substantial. So I come, and Legend provides this service to me. The dragon desires to live forever, yet the withered sandworm is long dead."
"Wow… you're losing your memory?!" Saura gasped. "That's horrible!"
"…Just as you will, one day," Naxi said. "If you live to such an old age, that is. Just as we all will. But not the Ninetales. The Ninetales lives for a millennia, his mind never dimming. The Ninetales preserves the consciousness of one era to pass to the next."
The Flygon flicked his tail and turned his attention to the center of the room, indicating he had nothing left to say. Char wondered about his words.
"I know what it's like to not have memories," Char told Saura under his breath. "It makes me feel so anxious sometimes. I feel all this space in my head, but nothing's there… Maybe Legend can help me the same way he helps Naxi."
Char turned to Saura to await a reply, but found Saura's gaze glued straight forward.
"Listen!"
A voice rang through the room, deep and clear. Before it had finished resounding from the walls, every Pokémon present was as silent as the dead; not a shuffle, a scrape, or even a breath could be heard through the sudden, ominous stillness.
Char's attention snapped forth, and he noticed that the center rows of spaces were now all occupied. Pokémon had lined up, shoulder-to-shoulder, huddled around the innermost circles of the room.
There was a gasp-like sound as the torches around the room's perimeter, by some force of wind or magic, were all snuffed. The light gone, Char could only make out the silhouettes of the crowd, which could have been only shadows for all he knew, as no one emitted a sound.
At the center stage, a roar, and a mighty flash of light. A fire Pokémon's flamethrower attack struck a great mound of kindling, something that Char could have sworn was not there just moments ago. The fire spread, transforming the center stage into a blazing beacon, its red, flickering glow soon reflecting from the face of each Pokémon in the room.
Before the fire, there stood a fox.
Its golden fur shone gloriously in the firelight, its eyes gleaming as though miniature tongues danced behind them. The figure stood tall, proud, and confident, as though it were a legendary. As it walked, its many tales waved in its wake like a silken flame. For a second time, it opened its mouth to speak.
"Before I begin, I would like to make mention a few things," the Ninetales announced, bowing its head slightly. "To begin with, I must pay tribute to our guest of honor. Here, in our midst, a legendary Pokémon sits among us! But he needs no introduction. I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to an old acquaintance of mine, whom I have not forgotten since the days of our partnership at the golden division. Scythe, head and founder of Team Remorse, it is an honor and a privilege to have you here! "
A roar of applause filled the room. Scythe nodded in gratitude to the Ninetales.
"Second, a confession," Legend continued as the applause died down. "Though I must say it at least once a year, I must say it again this evening. There are few greater joys in my life than speaking before an audience. Of course, as life goes on, obligations pile upon me. I must help to lead a resistance team. I must run my share of our assignments. I must play the role of an ambassador whenever Lucario calls upon me. If life were mine to command, I would be standing right here, speaking before the whole of the division every night! But it is not a wish life will fulfill. Time is scarce, and the opportunity to arrange a gathering such as this one becomes limited to only thrice or so in a year. Yet… at every waking moment, every step I take across our outskirts, and every dream which pulses through my mind when I sleep at night… I am distracted. Distracted thinking of you all, planning for this once-in-a-season evening with every day of my life. I am constructing my stories, and rehearsing every word I should say, so that when I speak before you, I will leave nothing to be desired. In my eyes, every one of you here is a guest of honor! It is not I who serves you, but you serve me by listening. And by the gods, I shall reward that service with every breath I have, and give you what you came for. So thank you, citizens of the Emerald Division, for attending."
Another roar of applause sounded. Legend took a humble bow.
"…That is why, dear listeners, I must confess something," Legend said, changing his tone. "While I can no longer tell stories as often as I want, I must still make sure the stories I tell are relevant to the present times. I would do you a true disservice to speak meaningless words and preach impertinent morals. Therefore, while I have spent the last five-and-a-half months preparing for this evening, I recently learned of an unlikely chain of events which might eternally shape the future of Ambera—and so, in honor of this historical development, I have thrown away all those plans as of a couple weeks ago. My words tonight will be largely unplanned, and unpracticed. But I will speak from the heart. And I will speak to pass my flame to you, a flame burning with the legacy of the past, and of a new one, born this very day."
The Ninetales paused again. As few murmurs rose among the room , apparently surprised at Legend's decision to change his plans on such short notice, Legend turned his head. His glowing red eyes, shimmering like rubies in the firelight, locked intently into Char's. Char trembled and froze in fright as he realized the storyteller was staring at him. The gaze lingered until the audience reaction faded away, and before Legend broke it, he gave a small nod of respect to the Charmander.
"And finally, I must make an apology," the Ninetales said. "Lest I may go unpunished for my crime, I'd like to acknowledge my failure to arrive on time this evening. I am sorry. Unforeseen circumstances arose as I was preparing to come here, and I have kept you waiting for far too long. Even now, I fill the time with a long preface. As it stands, when I am through with you tonight, you may have just half an hour to take shelter from the ghosts. Those of you from the far districts should consider taking refuge in the fortress, unless you can run like the wind. Furthermore, I probably have no need to remind you that tomorrow is assignment day, an early morning for everyone. Indeed, by detaining you here on this night, I am not making things easy for you."
The Ninetales paced a few steps around the fire, glancing at the eyes in his audience. Then, suddenly, he tilted his head back and shouted his next words in a loud, growling roar.
"But it is not I who has made your lives difficult, is it?" Legend proclaimed. "No… it is you who has chosen to be here, in this fortress of war, sacrificing every freedom, living each day in service to Team Regret. It is you who has chosen this life of difficulty. You've brought it upon yourselves. It is you, standing proud and strong in the face of difficulty, yet cowering in the cold corners of your homes when nobody is watching. It is you, soaring through the sky and bearing witness to the raw beauty of Ambera, yet feeling your heart break when you remember her beauty is not yours to enjoy. It is you, fighting against those who would murder you, resigning yourselves to the ways of the warrior, the ways of the explorer, the ways of the double agent. Obedient. Selfless. Expendable. You have placed everything on the line, expecting nothing in return for your effort."
This time, when the Ninetales paused, there was no sound from the crowd. Everyone was dead silent, his words still ringing in their ears.
"But then… what is the reason you have chosen this?" Legend spoke, lowering his voice but still speaking with power. "What compels you, every day, to rise and to fight? What compels you to take the difficulties of the world upon your shoulders, as your own responsibility, when you do not deserve them? What is it that inspires you so deeply, to leave behind everything, and to call yourself a member of the Emerald Division? Whose fault is it that you need to be here?
"Ahh, yes… I see it in your eyes. You know the answer. You can't deny it. Every day of your lives, it bothers you. At every waking moment, you are distracted. With every step you take across our outskirts, and every dream which pulses through your minds at night… you are distracted. Distracted by him, our faceless enemy, and distracted a possibility, a visage, a faraway dream – a dream of Ambera, untainted by his disgusting presence!
"But can you imagine it? You were all born in and raised beneath the reign of his empire. You have known nothing else. For all your lives, you have uttered his name in respect, or fear, or hatred; you have borne witness as he culls our population at random to his insidious will; can you truly claim to see in your minds what Ambera would look like without him? For if what you see is a utopian continent, with no suffering, no despair, no imperfections… a place where each Pokémon may live in peace and unity… you cannot be farther from the truth! It is the nature of life. We are not, and never will be safe from danger, safe from challenge, safe from difficulty and suffering. I know this because, if you can believe it, there was once a time when the Master was not there to bring oppression and holocaust to our land. And in this time so long before this day, there were the golden ages, when Ambera was in her prime, the days we look back upon with fondness and jealousy. But there were also the dark days, far darker than even we have ever seen.
"So imagine, now, an era so long before this day… A simpler time, a time without countries, a time without laws. A time when no Pokémon or man claimed ownership of the world or its people; a time when creatures bowed only to the raw forces of nature, and to the legendary beasts which controlled them …"
It was around this point when Char could no longer hear the words which Legend spoke. Instead, he saw images in his mind, heard the calls of the wild Pokémon which roamed the land. He transported himself to that world, pretending these vivid images were his own memories, that he'd seen this primitive time with his eyes as a human.
"A time even before mankind bestowed upon us the title of 'Pokémon', which only came once their spellcasters learned to capture and compress our bodies into metaphysical energy. We were beasts. Creatures to share the land with. Creatures to respect… and to fear!
"How terrible and mighty we were, back in that age! How ferocious our command of the wind and flame, how grand our dominion of the sea and sky! The humans looked upon us with awe, watching as we moved mountains, stirred the sea, set fire to the countryside… And they saw us, and they knew they could not defeat us. Unlike us, they were not gifted with our elemental powers, or our resistance to pain and injury, or even our claws and fangs… They had nothing but their minds, those brilliant, ingenious little minds they were given, able to plan and shape their thoughts in ways Pokémon still cannot match… And with those minds, they feared us, and learned to dig holes in the earth to protect themselves from our watchful eyes, just as we cower from the ghosts of the night. They crafted weapons, pointed things, crude yet effective imitations of our claws and fangs, to drive us away if we wandered near…
I remember that, Char told himself, trying to pretend he had a history. That time long ago, the time when I was a human…
"But as the decades passed, and the humans grew in their wisdom, they came to realize they needed us to survive. And so, they gathered their courage, and set out to form an alliance.
"Thus was born the bond of the human and beast, and the first golden age of the Pokémon trainers. Some of us were docile and came willingly. Some of us were ravenous and had to be beaten down by the strength of many men, then locked away until we learned to obey or starve. Still others were hatched from an egg, taught to treat humans as their own family. In a myriad of ways, they took us, the feral, mindless beasts of the wild, and made us their servants. In return, we enjoyed the luxuries they offered us: the food, the shelter, the company. We were simple-minded creatures, offered these pleasures which surpassed those we had to fight for in the wild, and so, we were content to remain at man's side. We were complacent.
"But even the humans did not foresee what would become of our bond; in time, the humans offered us something of such immortal value, we will never become worthy enough to repay them: they gave us the gift of their intelligence. They taught us to think, to feel, to understand the world on their level, and to see them eye-to-eye. We started as mere servants, happy with our rations. In the end, we were friends. Equals. We lived in their homes and sat at their tables as family. They fought for our lives without concern for theirs, and we fought for them just the same."
"The world saw a new dawn as Pokémon learned the ways of humans. And like the sunrise, beaming with every new shade of hope and desire for the future, it was beautiful."
"But, as Arceus decreed when the universe came into being, there must be balance. Beauty must not last forever. It must be challenged. It must be polluted with tragedy and corruption! The corruption lurks within the hearts of man and beast alike, man in his desire to dominate and control the world, beast in his desire to evolve and strengthen himself, ascending to a higher level of being. These desires could not remain for long within the boundaries of trust and companionship set for them. Alas, in this era so very long ago, a golden time of peace reached its end, and a dark day overshadowed the land."
Waves crashed upon the rocky shoals.
Blood soaked in the sand.
The clothed, two-legged creature known as a human stood beside his kills, dripping knife still within his clutch. Ignoring the fresh corpses of the fox-like sea demons, he advanced across the sandbar and into the sacred place the beasts had given their lives to defend.
The human crouched, examining the haphazardly-buried nesting hole. His fingers sifted through the sand, excavating the ditch for the treasures within.
There was a glint of blue.
Without hesitation, the human gently lifted the egg from the sandy ditch. His fingers ran over the rough, white surface, around the blue splotches and across the brown streaks.
He felt movement inside.
"Years spent training and preparing for this day now behind him, he cradled his prize in his arms, his chosen egg. Relieved from the battle, and from the search, he held it compassionately, feeling its skin against his chest, feeling its vibrations, memorizing them, learning the ebb and flow of this little creature which now belonged to him, which would always belong to him from this day forth, the closest partner and friend.
"This desire burned like fire in him, since his earliest days, to be a beastkeeper. He watched these creatures of the earth, sea, and sky, watching with reverence as they wielded their terrible powers. He wanted to befriend that terrible power. Wanted to command it. But his tribe refused to train him, no matter how he begged. They left him no choice but to take the power into his own hands."
A cracking sound.
The egg shifted and wobbled upon the padding the human had piled underneath it.
On his hands and knees, in the privacy of his own shelter, the human watched eagerly as his first companion tried to force itself from its egg.
The egg bulged, the creature inside yearning to stretch its little muscles for the first time. An opening appeared, slowly shattering outward.
Behind that opening, a face.
Matted brown fur, still soggy from the yolk. Tiny eyes closed tight.
The infant collapsed in is position, exhausted with its effort.
Overcome with compassion, the human took the punctured egg and tore the shell from the hatchling with his own hands, until the infant elemental-fox rested in his arms.
"The kit grew by its master's side, loving him as a child would love their father, for he was the only father it knew. It obeyed him, trusted him, gave him company. It learned to fight in defense of the human and those which he loved. It learned to hunt and survive, to stay away from those creatures which would kill it. It learned, when the world would turn against it and hope would fail, to plead to the gods for assistance. It learned to communicate with the human and understand him, and to help him with his duties. In return, the human poured his heart out before the little one, speaking to him a wealth of knowledge and experience, and the kit learned other things, things which no Pokémon could learn alone. And it learned, as the human gave it the greatest gift a human may give a Pokémon, to think for itself.
"And so the little one's eyes were opened, and it saw the world as the human saw the world, and it understood the hidden things only wisdom could reveal. The human was no longer a master, but a friend and an equal. As the little one grew, it came to understand this friendship it shared. And it was happy."
The darkness of night.
The peace and comfort of home.
The fox slept beside his human friend, weary from the day's work,
Content… Happy…
But then…
A cry rang through the night, and the world heard.
Like a silent ripple through the fabric of space, it erupted.
Powerful, compelling, yet invisible…
From the prairies, the cliffsides, the shoreline… creatures stirred.
Tunneling beasts buried beneath the earth squirmed at the sound.
Sea monsters roiled in its tide.
The human's eyes opened.
They fixed on the little brown-furred creature which slept soundly next to him.
And he knew.
"It was the Pokémon who had captured the human that night, stirred his heart, roused his fire. For what creature, man or beast, would not tremble before power of that magnitude? The Call's power gripped him by the throat, and his love for his companion… was slain. Slain like the fox's parents. The darkness in his heart came through. For the last time, he had seen his companion as his own child. It was now his tool. He knew he would take the power in his own hands."
The fox was tied to a post with powerful braids of vine.
It did not understand.
It yearned to please its friend, asking him why he acted differently.
The human ignored its pleas, force-feeding it to keep it from starving.
A week passed, and the fox was not freed.
The fox watched as the human it loved worked with strange stones and metals.
The fox watched as it conjured the forces of ancient magic, practicing them.
The fox watched, helplessly, as the human drove himself near insanity, combining the magic in different ways, muttering obsessively.
The fox watched, helplessly, as the human approached it with a glowing stone he had created. It winced as the human shoved the stone upon its forehead.
And again, a soundless cry shook the world, brighter than the sun, louder than the lighting in the sky, deeper than the sea.
The fox watched, helplessly, as the world around him changed.
It watched as the human communed with other creatures of all kinds, from dark-furred hounds to colorful birds to fiery dragons. It watched as they were also detained, yet did not fight against the human's will. He watched as they were given away to other humans, in exchange for different things.
More weeks passed, and the fox still did not understand why his friend had forgotten about him.
He returned to the stake, pressing the stone upon the poor fox's forehead. And the world shook again.
More creatures came. Powerful creatures. Creatures that towered over the human, overshadowing him. Yet, they bowed to his will.
The fox watched as the creatures did everything the human commanded of them.
He watched, helplessly, as they built structures for him, brought his food, assembled before him. He watched as more humans came, as well, and bowed before him.
And the fox began to understand.
"Two seasons, it remained this way… the human's dark heart for power was insatiable. He did not want Pokémon, or riches, or followers, no. He wanted everything. And so, everything came bending to his will."
The fox watched as the world turned to chaos before its eyes.
The landside cracked and crumbled from the power of the underground beasts.
The prairies died. The forests wilted. The ground became covered in carcasses.
The fox watched, helplessly, as the world burned.
The fire, like a mighty hurricane, engulfed the land. Brilliant walls of flame, burned offerings of the dead and dying, rising to the stars above.
The fox watched as the fire crept closer, burning everything in its path.
The human stumbled forth, holding the glowing rock. His body aflame, his flesh melting, his face ghastly.
He reached for the fox's forehead.
His body collapsed to the ground, dead.
The fox was alone now.
At last, the fox understood.
It struggled against the dried vines which held it captive. Struggled with all its strength, every ounce…
Its body would not move.
The heat became unbearable. Relentless. Merciless.
The fox understood that it would not live.
The fox bellowed a cry to the stars. A prayer. A prayer to the gods, just as it had been taught. It prayed for deliverance.
"The voice carried nowhere, the roar of the apocalyptic blaze drowning every sound, but still the child wailed, knowing death was so near. It knew the flames intense and invincible; they would release the shackles, only to let a dead Pokémon fall to the ground. It wailed to the stars, to any spirits who might hear, until even its voice was spent…
"And hear him, they did. For as the flames licked its body and caught upon its fur, an answer came. The force of the man's dark magic stemmed from the ancient flow of energy which had borne the universe itself. Slowly, gradually, as the human had abused his friend with the spells of summoning the Call, the magic had filled its body, until now, in this moment of desperation, it was released.
"There came, manifest, a knowledge that was lost since ancient times. A knowledge we Pokémon of the present cannot comprehend, cannot remember, can never discover again. The Pokémon's body glowed as bright as the flames! It grew in size and strength, bursting the ropes which tied it in place. Undergoing evolution. But this evolution is an extinct one, something we in our age have forgotten how to trigger: paws turned to wicked talons. Scales formed beneath fur, sealing the fragile Pokémon's body behind a shining violet armor. Two magnificent wings graced its back. A ridged faceplate formed around the Pokémon's eyes, and four curved horns sprouted from its head. When the transformation finished, the Pokémon steadied itself upon its four legs, ancient magic pulsing within its heart. It had been reborn… as the Wyvreon!"
The world was invisible behind the flames, and so the Wyvreon leapt through them, trying to flee from the horrible destruction.
As it fled, it looked upon the devastated world.
There was nothing left. Nothing.
As it flew above the land, it watched, helplessly, the blackened, destroyed ash which reeled by.
Beyond the horizon, the earth had been savaged, shattered. Lifeless.
The sky filled with smoke and the smell of destruction.
It flew through forests, now filled only with ghastly, charred protrusions of barren trees.
The fire, had left nothing. The fire which the human had started. The fire which he had wanted.
The Wyvreon flew, tirelessly through this lifeless world, to the summit from which the answer to the prayer had come. It was etched in its heart now, a dragon's instinct.
Temporal Shrine. A monument to the gods of creation. Upon it, the Wyvreon descended from the sky…
The Wyvreon clutched the stone it'd recovered from the human's body, pressing it against its forehead.
Char felt himself shuddering as Legend spoke with such intensity that it seemed to set the air on fire.
"Beauty of beauties, the dragon of diamonds appeared before the little one, shining in all its glory, its power pulsing through the air, rippling upon the sea of time…
"As the breath of a cold wind swept from the sky, the burst of thunder through the clouds, the majestic one who'd crafted time with its own claws stood in submission before the caller. It bent its mighty knee and genuflected, and it cried in its eternal voice…
What would you have your servant do?"
…
It took more than a moment for Char to realize the story had even ended. How long had it been? Three hours? Only a few minutes? He did not know. All he knew was that the room now exploded in applause, the Ninetales bowing in gratitude to his warm reception. Even as Saura and Ray shouted their appreciation, Char simply sat back, stunned, his mind swimming with questions.
… … …
"How!? How does the story end like that?" Char shouted in grief as he filed out of the assembly hall with his friends. "I mean… wha… what happened? What did the Wyvreon tell Dialga to do?! What even happened to the Wyvreon? And what happens to the world now that everyone else is dead? I mean… he didn't even finish the story!"
Char felt like blasting something with fire. This bothered him, especially after how immersed he let himself become in the story. He stomped down the path to the exit, his heart still clamoring for some sort of conclusion.
The building cleared out pretty fast, the resistance teams bolting for the door and the roads back home. The darkness outside already deep. The Watchers would be out in less than a half hour. Soon, all that remained in the facility were the members of Team Flamewheel, Scythe, and some other various Pokémon who had stayed to chat.
"I thought it was brilliant!" Ray exclaimed. "Char, look at it this way: you have to think about what he meant, not what he said. The story was about the human raising the Eevee, right? Legend said that the best gift the human gave to it was the ability to think for itself and make decisions. And then at the end, Dialga asks the Wyvreon what it should do. So it's the Wyvreon that has to make a judgment. It only has the power because the human raised it that way. So the story comes full circle."
"Interesting, I didn't look at it like that," Saura said. "I thought the story was all about the Eevee being naïve. It learned to love the human because it didn't see the evil in the human's heart. It grew up not even knowing that it was stolen from its nest as an egg. So it loved the human so much it had to be tied to a post and shown that the person he loved was evil. It took him that long to understand."
"Hey, don't insult humans when there's one right next to you!" Ray said. "I think this story was about the good effects that humans have on Pokémon. I mean, look. Even at the end, what was the last thing the human gave to the Eevee? That Call-triggering stone, right? So the Eevee could use it to call Dialga at the end. I wonder if the human was trying to save itself at the end or if he gave the power back to the Eevee in remorse? By the way, what do you think the Wyvreon asked Dialga for, anyway?"
"Probably to fix the world, I guess," Saura said with a shrug. "Actually, I was thinking, maybe the whole story took place on Ambera and the Wyvreon wished that humans couldn't come here anymore? So maybe that's why Ambera has no humans?"
"That's brilliant, too!" Ray said. "Yeah! I bet that's it! See, Char? The story had so much depth to it! And it makes you really think! That's the mark of a good storyteller!"
"Eh… but… It didn't have an ending…" Char mumbled, defeated. "It was good and all, but… ugh, it would have been so much better if I'd known just a little bit more…"
"There's a reason I left out the ending," Legend's voice said. "It was my hope that you would supply one."
Char turned to see that the nine-tailed fox had approached him and his friends. He hesitated for a moment in respect for the storyteller, not really knowing what to say.
"Char… it is an honor to stand before you," Legend said, bowing. "I have heard much about you these past days. I see you've brought companions with you. Will they be accompanying you to the Temporal Tower?"
"Yes," the three of them said in unison.
"Good to hear!" Legend barked happily. "It is smart to bring witnesses with you, Char. My job will become much easier that way. Have you decided what you will ask Dialga for, Char?"
"…uh?" Char could only respond.
"Surely you didn't miss all the ways the story was parallel to you?" Legend asked. "You, a Pokémon with the Call of unmatched magnitude, see your world in shambles from the Master's oppression, and so you venture to Temporal Tower to implore help directly from Dialga? What if Dialga could not refuse any of your requests? What if you could have whatever your heart desired? I beg the question, what do you plan to ask of Dialga? What would you beseech of a god?"
Char stood for a moment, totally speechless. He hadn't really thought of it that way before! Then again, he always assumed his transformation to a Charmander meant something important, and that Dialga had the answer. But what if it was true? What if Dialga would grant a wish or two?"
"I uh… Uh… Dethrone the Master, of course…" Char stammered. "Uh… "
"And I say to you, if that's what you want, and Dialga grants that request, you would be remembered in Ambera legends until the end of time," Legend said. "But… is there anything you desire for yourself?"
"Never thought about it, actually," Char admitted. "I just assumed that Dialga wouldn't grant a selfish wish, I guess."
"Well, be sure to keep it in mind on your way," Legend suggested. "I've done my part in trying to inspire you. You wouldn't want to miss the opportunity, would you? Think about it. If you were that little dragon-eon, standing before the being that set time into motion… what would you have it do? … For now, it is late, and I do seem to remember Prince mentioning you would reside with us this evening. Would you like for me to escort you to our hall?"
… … …
The moment he stepped outside, Char looked to the stars, a rare sight to see in Ambera. But the stars were invisible that night, blocked from view by the same cover of clouds. No light shined from that northern sky, making it seem like an infinite abyss.
It was a very short walk to Team Flamewheel's base, as they lived within the city of Fort Emerald. Along the way, Char had to cringe as he walked through the chilly nighttime weather. He knew the numbness caused by his nervous shock earlier had faded away somewhat, but at the same time, he found that thinking of his experience in the freezer made the wind chill seem more bearable. He tried to lower his fire to a simmer to help curb its sting.
Ray, on the other hand, didn't seem at all bothered by the temperature. He was too distracted raving at Legend.
"That was brilliant!" Ray cried, walking beside the Ninetales. "That was just… wow! Everything I've heard about you is so true! How do you have such a way with words?"
"Practice," Legend replied. "Practice and research. And I am glad you enjoyed it."
"I admit, I wasn't really sure about coming here, but you really showed me," Saura said. "My mind is spinning now. I feel so sorry for that little Wyvreon…"
"I find it funny, how I am known today as 'Legend the Storyteller'," the golden fox mused. "Even today, when I think about it, it seems too unlikely to be true, that my tongue has defined me. Do you know what I trained for, back at the golden division? I was to be a messenger. I had excellent stamina. I could run tirelessly across the land and not stop to rest. I could outrun the birds! And I remember how I excelled in battle. I taught wild Pokémon to cower before my might! But today, am I known as Legend the strong, the tireless, the brave? No… I'm Legend the storyteller. It seems my fate is forever sealed. Ah, but I am not one to argue with fate. I take what I am given."
After only a two-block walk, they had arrived at Team Flamewheel's settlement, which looked as featureless on the outside as any other of the division's buildings. Legend opened the door and slipped inside to light some of the torches in the entryway with his fire. As Char looked interestedly at the prestigious house, he couldn't shake a strange feeling about it.
"Hmm… This place looks familiar," Saura noticed. "Not too much, but… just enough to recognize."
"You're right!" Ray said amusedly. "This is just like our own base! Hah! That's probably because our base belonged to Team Flamewheel before we moved in!"
It was true. The general shape of the hall was very similar to Team Ember's own, with a long red rug and some similar articles of furniture. The resemblance wasn't striking, but it helped make Char feel at home and forget that his own base was hundreds of miles away.
"You took over our hall, did you?" Legend laughed. "I'm surprised they kept it vacant for so long. Alakazam must have been expecting us back. As you have probably noticed, we missed our old den enough that we remodeled this building as best as we could in its image. Though it's always made me nostalgic, rather than comfortable…"
As Char wandered down the hall, feeling right at home, the door opened a second time. Jumping a little in surprise, he turned around and expected to see Prince or Scythe coming in to retire for the night.
Instead, he saw a Bayleef entering the house.
"Lily, good evening!" Legend called to the Bayleef. "What did you think of my performance tonight?"
"Good, as usual!" Lily responded with a grin. "Though, it wasn't as good as last time. But I don't think that's your fault! The Black Division rebellion is a hard story to beat!"
"Remember, I had only three weeks to prepare this one," Legend said. "Actually, as it turned out, it was more along the lines of three weeks to decide the concept and three days to assemble the script. I didn't expect it to be my best work, but I hoped it would be fitting for the occasion of Char's visit."
Lily looked as though she was about to respond, but then she snapped to attention, surprised at the presence of the Charmander standing just across the hall from her.
"… … Char!" Lily said simply. "… … … … Nice to meet you."
"You, too," Char replied oddly.
For a few more seconds, they stared at one another in silence. The Bayleef looked as though she was searching for something else to say, but decided against anything.
"Well, I should get some rest, assignments tomorrow and all," Lily said, turning to one of the nearby doors. "Goodnight, Legend!"
"Sleep soundly," Legend called back as she disappeared into her room. "Well, then, you three should do the same. Hmm… Here, this room is vacant. You three can stay here if you want…"
"Wait…" Char said suddenly, a thought clicking in his mind. "Did you say that you created that story in three days? As in, wrote it?"
"Naturally," Legend replied dismissively.
"So you mean… it wasn't real?" Char said. "You made it up?"
Legend blinked. He turned his head toward Char. "It is a permutation of an old legend I have told several times in the past," he explained. "It changes slightly every time I tell it. I try to keep my stories relevant to the present, you see. The basic story stays the same, I fabricate many of the details. But the details are vital to the story, understand that. The listener needs details if they are to take the story to heart."
"I see," Char said. "In that case… is it true what you said about fire Pokémon?"
"Fire Pokémon?" Legend repeated. "What about them?"
"That they were destined to destroy the world," Char said. "Prince told me you said that fire Pokémon were destined to destroy the world. And he said you told him that. Is that true? Or is that something you made up, too?"
A smile crossed Legend's face. "Hah hah. That is a story of my own invention, long ago in our days back at the golden division. It was to light the heart of Prince one day when he was discouraged. Indeed, if I am to retell legends, it is my right to invent some of the legends that will one day be passed down through the millennia, isn't it? After all, to use the word 'legend' implies that it may or may not be true…"
Char scowled. "Well, then, when are you going to tell Prince that it was a lie?" he challenged.
Again, the Ninetales laughed ironically. "Do not worry, Char, Prince knew those words were nonsense from the moment I uttered them."
Char said nothing in return, but he didn't look satisfied. In truth, he was confused. Prince told him that story as though it were an indisputable fact, and it had moved him slightly. Why would he tell a lie like that? Legend turned to address him, trying to read his feelings.
"Char, you must understand something about my role in this world," Legend said. "I have spent decades pondering this question, whether it is right or wrong to tell fictional stories as though they were true. In the end, I realized the answer: it is not what I say that matters, be it truth or falsehood. I am a storyteller. That does not mean I am a historian. It also does not mean I am a liar. Rather, I am a doctor. It is my duty to heal broken hearts and restore hope. I must say whatever is necessary, so that those who hear me will have the strength to carry on for one more day through the painful world we live in. I pass my flame to them, so they may live."
Legend paused to let Char consider his words.
"You should sleep," he suggested, turning to open their door for them. "Prince does not tolerate sleeping in."
Char hesitated one last time.
"Legend?"
"Yes?"
"There… is a story… a true story… I'd like to hear you tell me sometime," Char said.
"Hmm… I would be happy to oblige, another time, of course," Legend said politely. "What did you have in mind?"
"The story of how your team saved the Emerald Division," Char said.
Legend's expression changed. He looked angry, almost offended at the suggestion. He gained control of himself quickly and replied with only a small scowl.
"No, I'm afraid I will not," Legend said in a lower voice. "You must wait until the next time I am ready to tell it. That story, I plan to tell until the day I breathe my last, but only once a decade. Because it is something the world must know, yet… it is a heavy subject. It would be unbearable to have it on my mind every moment of every day. I must be allowed some time to forget it."
Char thanked him anyway, admitting that, through his complaints, he really did enjoy the tale of the Wyvreon. Saura and Ray also yawned their goodnights.
From across the hall, Lily watched through the small opening in her door as Team Ember disappeared into the vacant room.
… … …
At last, the dreadfully long day came to an end, and Team Ember was together again for another night. Though not exactly their home base, it was close enough to make them feel comfortable, even if there weren't even any bed-pads and the three of them had to sleep on the floor. They were used to that, after all; they'd spent most of their time sleeping in Scythe's lair without even a room of their own. It was the fire that Char still missed, though he decided not to think too hard about it. It wasn't the time to feel sorry for himself again. He needed his sleep much more than ever now; he would need it to escape from Prince the next morning.
At one point, Scythe stopped by to remind them of the plan, that he'd have their bag from Alakazam ready to grab on the way out, and Ray and Saura would need to stand by in case Prince would have to be distracted from the fact that they were gone, just long enough to let them get away. But he stayed only for as long as it was necessary, and quickly departed; he, too, needed his sleep.
The three members of Team Ember laid motionless, eyes closed. Ray was already fast asleep. Char was curled up in the corner, though at this point he was only pretending; anticipation and fear still tingled inside him.
"Hey," Char said quietly. "You never answered my question."
"Alright," Saura responded. "If I don't see you again… alright, we're even. But hey, Good luck out there, Char. I really mean it. I really want to see you again."
"You know what Daemon says about luck," Char muttered back. "But I'll do the best I can. Don't worry about me. In a few days you'll get to see your family again."
"Heh… thanks," Saura muttered as his mind grew cloudy. "I'm really sorry if I made it seem like I didn't want to be here. It's just… I had a strange dream the other day, when we were in the desert canyon. I dreamt I went on the vacation my sister was telling me about. I was with them when they went to the shore."
"That must have been a nice dream," Char said.
"But no…" Saura said, sounding like he wanted to doze off. "That was the weird thing. It was like… I kept asking Saurvor why we were going on vacation. We'd always take trips as a whole family. But I kept asking him… why he only took Saurlee… and me… and he wouldn't answer me… I wanted to see mom and dad and everyone else again… I guess that dream made me a little anxious about them, that's all."
"Oh…" Char said. "Is that why you were… feeling bad earlier today?"
"Yeah, I guess that's all," Saura said. "I didn't mean to make you feel sorry for me or anything… Sorry if I did… But I tried not to let it distract me…"
"It's alright," Char reassured him. "You helped me give Scythe what he wanted. I think that's the best thing I could have done. So, go. Be happy with your family…"
Too tired to say much else, Char tried his hardest to calm his mind and lay motionless, trying to convince his mind to relax and delve into his own dreams. But there was one more thing he had to ask.
"Hey… Team Ember had a good run, didn't it?" Char asked.
"Huh?" Saura responded. "Team Ember won't die…"
"You're not quitting?" Char asked.
"Never…" Saura said. "The resistance… is the most fun I've ever had… I'm never going to quit… not ever…"
Saura said nothing more, but his final words made Char feel very happy. It was enough to let him dull his nervousness and let his exhaustion take over.
… … …
…
…
…
No!
…
…
No! I need that! Don't take it away! I need it!
Char found himself in a hauntingly familiar place.
It was the memory again, the same as always. Char saw the legendary dragons of time and space standing before him. He saw the Poké Ball which Palkia held before him. And he saw… that claw which held him fast…
Let me go! LET ME GO!
But this time, a different layer of understanding had been triggered in the memory. For Char felt, more than any other sensation in his dream, a raging emotion which drowned out all of his other senses.
LET ME GO! LET ME GO! GIVE ME THAT BALL! PLEASE, OH, PLEASE! GIVE ME THAT BALL!
THAT BALL IS EVERYTHING!
Helplessly, detained within the body of his memory, Char struggled for freedom. That ball held the weight of the world. The weight of the universe, perhaps. That ball was his whole purpose. That ball was his destiny. He would challenge the gods for it! He would slay Palkia and rip it from the dragon's dead hands! He was driven by such a strong longing, greater than any he'd ever known, a powerful madness which consumed him. Yet, the claw held fast, and would not let him budge as he feebly squirmed…
No! No! Please, you don't understand! Please! Pleeeease!
HELP ME!
… … …
Char's eyes blinked. He realized he was awake.
He looked around, remembering where he was. He was in another team's room. His friends were there with him.
But something… something… wasn't right.
Char reflected on the compelling experience he'd felt in his dream. So, the Poké Ball was really important to him. That was good to know. His purpose was to find it, to use it for something. Or maybe to open it and release the Pokémon inside? He couldn't tell, his raging desire to simply obtain the ball had been just too great to understand its deeper motive.
Char felt better. One more layer of his memory had been revealed. He was closer to finding his purpose.
But…
There was something else about the dream. Something… wrong. Something… something familiar. What was this twinge of familiarity he felt? What was this sensation that he thought he knew? Was it… was it something near the end of the dream?
No…
And then it hit him; in a moment of realization, he knew exactly what it was.
No… it can't be!
Char drew a quivering breath as he rose from his sleeping spot and crept over to Saura.
"Saura!" Char hissed, shoving his friend's side to wake him up quickly. "Wake up! Wake up!"
"Errrrgh… what's wrong?" Saura muttered, his limbs stretching and his eyes fluttering open. "What is it, Char?"
"Saura… I think… No, I'm pretty sure… it happened again. The Call. I just now did it."
Saura emitted a gasp. It didn't take much longer for him to wake up.
"Wow, really?" Saura cried, his eyes wide. "You sure?"
"Yeah… I was having this dream, and then…"
Ray yawned loudly, stirring from his own dreams.
"What is it? What do you want?" Ray muttered. "What's… oh… uh… sorry. Must have been having a weird dream…"
"Ray!" Saura gasped, leaping over to him and pulling him up with vines. "Char had the Call again!"
"Oh…" Ray muttered. "Wait… what? Is that why I woke up just now? What does it mean?"
"It means we have to find somewhere to hide now," Char remembered. "Well, maybe. The fortress is a pretty big place. I don't think I reached far enough to wake up everybody. But Team Flamewheel's going to be here soon. We'll probably have to—"
Scythe burst through the door, nearly knocking it down. He was panting as though on the verge of death, and his expression was horrified. He looked as though he'd seen a ghost.
"Char!" Scythe gasped breathlessly. "I heed your call! But come, quickly! We must run!"
"Yeah, I know the drill," Char sighed. "Let's get this over with…"
"Come on, come on! There is no time!" Scythe shouted. "No time! Run!"
Wondering what Scythe was so worked up about, Char scampered to his side and followed him out into Team Flamewheel's hall.
And then…
There was a screeching sound, like a noise from a nightmare.
An apparition appeared at the end of the hall. A grotesque, mutated figure. It was transparent, Sifting through the air like a gaseous substance, screeching like a demon as it charged near.
It took a moment for Char to notice it had a face. It was a ghost Pokémon.
Matching the ghost's cry, Scythe buzzed his wings and raised his blades, gathering shining energy within them. He shot forward to attack the horrid Pokémon, his blade somehow putting a dent into its incorporeal form. He dodged warily away before returning to strike again, a couple more times, until the ghost seemed to evaporate into a cloud of smoke.
"Whoa, what WAS that?!" Ray cried.
"W—Watcher," Scythe gasped, recovering from the effort of the battle. "They're… they're coming…"
"That's… that's impossible!" Ray gasped. "Watchers don't come inside!"
"They do… when they've… been summoned by a cry they cannot ignore," Scythe growled. "The last time… the last time this happened, we were a mile inside the earth, they couldn't hear you well enough… but now… they are about to swarm… And nothing is going to stop them…"
Char froze in his place, terror overcoming him. He knew, even though he had no control over his power, he'd just done something horrible. He felt nothing. He didn't know what to feel, or what to say. His mind told him only one thing:
This can't be happening.
"Char…" Scythe sighed in exasperation, shaking his head. "What am I going to do with you? You'll be the death of me, yet…"