A new fic I've been planning and this is the first forum to recieve it. Please tell me what you think.
Chapter One: The Assassination
“Murderer.”
I read the word aloud many times over as I stared at a horrible excuse for a wanted poster. The crude drawing failed to depict the golden jewel situated in the middle of my forehead, which was quite common in my species. In all seriousness, I looked like a mutated Sneasel in that picture. On top of that, the artist had the nerve to label me as ‘heartless’ and ‘cruel’. ‘Murderer’ wasn’t even the correct term for my type of profession. As I slid my white claws across the illustration, easily slicing through it, I made a mental note to hunt down that misinformed artist and give him a real lesson on cruelty. I absently looked at the moon and saw its light already dimming. That was the final day to get the job done, and it was impossible to accomplish it after sunrise. I mumbled a quick prayer under the gray orb, asking for forgiveness for wasting so much time. Satisfied, I picked up my pace in search of my destination.
Cold winds blew past as I maneuvered around the large, stone buildings. Fortunately, the streets were as desolate as the outskirts of town, but that only added to my annoyance. Oh how I hated that town with a passion! If my training didn’t require map studies, I’d have been lost in that place for days. Apart from its size, there was one more thing that I absolutely dreaded about the town. Directly in its center was a building so immense that it could be seen from all corners of the town— the Temple of Arceus. Just having that name escape my lips made me want to claw at my ebony skin.
I slipped into a dark alley to my right, trying to catch my breath. My target wasn’t far, but rushing into a potential quarrel was not an option. This job was quite important, and Master specifically warned me not to return unless it was completed. I took those few minutes of relaxation to try to remember exactly what Master instructed.
***** Two Days Earlier *****
I walked down a dimly lit corridor with a sick grin plastered on my face. I allowed my sharp claws to scrap across the opal walls as I contemplated what the Master could possibly have in store for me. The last job he assigned pitted me against a Lucario, who was believed to be one of the leaders of the Order of Arceus. Of course, the Pokemon was simply a pawn, but it was still an interesting kill. I didn’t bother with the stealth, with Lucarios being able to sense auras and what-not. He said it was a gift from Arceus himself. I said it would only prolong his death. Naturally, I was correct.
I never liked walking down that long hallway, so I was exceptionally relieved when I arrived at the wooden door leading to Master’s room. I made sure to keep my eyes locked on the red carpet below before knocking gently on the door. Almost immediately I heard ominous scraping noises on the other side. However, it took some time for a voice to accompany those sounds.
“I cannot sense a presence. Who goes there?” called an elderly voice.
“It’s me, Fabian.”
“Ah, yes, that explains why I can’t sense you. You dark Pokemon are always such a hassle. Nevertheless, I still must make sure you are who you say you are.”
“The questions?” I inquired. I always wondered why that old bean just couldn’t memorize the sound of my voice.
“First question: who is the one, true creator of life?”
“The almighty Mew, Master.”
“Ah, good answer. But that wouldn’t be the first time those of the Order have lied about their beliefs. Second question: what is my favorite line of text in the Scripture of Mew?”
I sighed as I fished my memory for the answer. “‘She, and only She, is the true superior. All others are nothing compared,’” I recited, surprised in myself that I even remembered.
A deep chuckle resonated from the door before the bronze knob turned. Through instinct, I focused my gaze on the floor, causing my red flap to fall over my eyes. The door swung wide open and a yellow hand brushed against my shoulder, ushering me into the room. I hurried in making sure not to look directly in the Master’s face. Only those of true honor could observe his grace.
“Why do you bow your head, my boy? Look up, you’ve more than earned it!” exclaimed the Master, patting me on the shoulder with a wrinkled yellow hand.
Hesitantly, I pulled my eyes from the floor and took Master’s domain in full affect. The arced ceiling was mainly a collection of windows, and the full moon shone brightly in the sky. The external light brightened the room quite a bit, and I took the chance to look at the man before me. The most I had ever seen was his long, slender torso, so I immediately turned to his face, which harbored a yellow beard that stretched to his elbows.
“I said you can look, not stare,” he commented, glaring at me with those beady blue eyes. Unfortunately, his comment caused me to stare only more at his star-shaped head.
“Are you deaf, Fabian? I believe I said stop staring. Now, tell me how everything went,” Master said, sounding more like an order than request. Before allowing me to reply, he slowly walked over to throne-like chair in front of a bookcase and sat down.
When I was sure it was time to speak, I began, “The usual, sir, false information. We have yet to eliminate any leading figures of the Order. I fear the Sect of Mew may have to look for different—”
“Silence your tongue!” he abruptly ordered. “Mark my words, in the end, Mew will reward us for fighting in Her holy name, and punish all those believers of Arceus. I wouldn’t expect my best assassin to be doubtful.”
“Excuse my rudeness, sir,” I apologized, still smirking at his compliment of being his best. Whether he stated it or not, I knew I was the best he had. “Maybe now’s a good time to tell me about the next mission?”
“Ah, yes!” the aged Alakazam said, picking up a bent spoon and fiddling with it. “Your next mission... is a big one. As usual, I need you to eliminate one of the Order’s officials. However, this time I’m positive that he holds a high position in the Order. Failure is NOT acceptable.”
“Is it ever?” I asked, grinning once again but baring my fangs that time. The fact that failure wasn’t acceptable was a given, so for the Master to still say it meant he was serious.
“True, true... The town in which he resides is only day’s walk, but I want you back here by the morning of the third. I will have someone lead you there.
“A day’s walk? You don’t mean—”
“Yes,” he interrupted, knowing what was to come next. “You are headed to Dagda, the town which holds the Temple of Arceus.”
**********
I peeked around the alley and eyed the temple fiercely, scoping for any potential hazards. A lone Machoke stood guard at the immense doors, but it was very likely that there were more patrolling on the inside. For a second, I wondered if I should simply go through the front and sneak all the way through. I began to slowly slip out of the shadows when two more Machoke, both equally muscular as the first, stepped out of the building. A few words were exchanged between the three before they all started circling the temple.
“Damnit!” I swore silently to myself, thinking the worst of the situation. Did they know I was coming and decided to beef up security? That wasn’t my first mission in Dagda and not once had I seen more than one Pokemon patrol the front. Of course, all my previous missions concerning the temple were merely to gain information. I hastily withdrew into the shadows, but in the process, knocked over a metal rod onto the stone sidewalk. The sound of metal clattering on the ground in the dead of night traveled across the immediate area, and I didn’t need to glance around the corner again to know at least one of the Machoke’s were headed my way.
“And the Master calls me ‘his best’!” I joked under my breath before making a break down the alley. My sharp claws scraped against the gravel, only making the situation worse. Normally I would face a Pokemon head on if it was one-on-one, but my fragile bones were no match for a Machoke. Master always said my body structure was meant for the silent kills, but that’s only because he can easily overcome a Machoke with his advanced mind.
“Anyone there?” questioned a rough voice at the mouth of the alley, and I wondered if he actually expected an answer. My deep thought had me running aimlessly and I didn’t realize that the alley stopped at a dead end, which I so stupidly slammed in to. The thud I created pretty much affirmed the Machoke’s suspicions and the gray brute came charging deeper into the alley.
“Well, this can’t get much worse,” I thought, only to be corrected when I noticed another of my wanted posters plastered on the wall to my left. “Now it couldn’t get any worse...” No matter how bad the drawing was, if I was standing right next to it, a Slowpoke could connect the dots.
“Gotcha, you little punk!” exclaimed the Machoke as he finally closed in on me. I scanned my surroundings for any escape route, but it seemed today just wasn’t my day. My eyes stopped on the Machoke’s, whose gaze was locked on the wanted poster. “Hehe... my master will praise me for your capture, murderer!” he said with a grin.
“Is it the will of your ‘almighty Arceus’ for his followers to be so ill-educated? My profession and that of a murderer are NOT the same,” I retorted, forgetting for a second that I still wasn’t in the clear.
“You’ll pay for that remark, Weavile. I take it you’re a believer in that silly Mew cult, so I’m sure the master won’t mind if I kill you here!”
The angered brute spread both his arms out and dived for me. The alleyway was much too narrow for a complete dodge, so I simply jumped back, pressing my body against the wall behind me. The Machoke landed on his feet and fist, looking very much like some mad ape, and glared at me. He and I both knew that another dodge like that was impossible.
“I think I’ll end this one quickly,” I said with a smirk, dashing forward at a speed the Machoke had obviously never seen before. As his eyes struggled to keep pace with my movements, I pulled back my arm and thrust it straight for the Machoke’s heart. Unfortunately, the fear in his eyes only lasted a few seconds; his leather cloak stopped my attack dead in its tracks. Before I had a chance to take in the fact that my attack had no effect, the Machoke elbowed me hard in the stomach, sending me crashing into the wall behind. I held my abdomen in agony, cursing inaudibly.
“I’m beginning to think you drew those posters yourself. There’s no way a weakling like you could become so infamous.”
“Getting... cocky... aren’t we?” I managed to mutter, still feeling the effects of his cheap blow. Risking another possible cheap shot, I closed my eyes and began to concentrate.
“Already praying? Sorry bud, nothing can save you now!” the Machoke mocked. He would soon find out the mistake of giving me even a second to collect my mind. As he continued to laugh, I outstretched one of my arms, which was now coated in an ominously black aura. With a bit more force than before, I dug my claws into the Machoke’s chest. It went all the way through that time, but I missed his heart by an inch or so.
“N-no! H-h-how?” he staggered, grasping my arm with his large hand and tried to pull it out with whatever pathetic life force he had left.
“My Night Claw can pierce the skin of a Donphan; your leather didn’t stand a chance. Of course, your tough skin knocked me off course a bit. I meant to make your death quick, but we can’t all get what we want,” I said, almost emotionlessly, and slowly slid my arm out of the Machoke’s body, enjoying every gasp of pain that escaped his mouth. But don’t get me wrong! I’m not ruthless or anything and I really did aim for his heart. That was just for bad-mouthing Mew.
The lifeless corpse dropped with a thud and I took the time to clean my bloody claws on his leather cloak. That is until I remembered there were still two more bodyguards at the entrance who probably noticed that their friend was taking a bit too long. Coming to that realization, I dashed down the alleyway. I was lucky enough that the Machoke didn’t come inspecting the—.
THWACK!!!
A grayish-blue arm extended across the mouth of the alley just as I was exited, close-lining me into a back flip. Lucky for me, a rather hard rock was there to cushion my fall... My eyes opened to the blurry sight of two Machoke looming over me, laughing. My back was much too sore for me to get up and me running into that close line at that speed meant the feeling in my face wasn’t going to come back for some time.
My vision was slowly fading into darkness, so I spent my last few seconds of consciousness glaring at the Machoke. They were still laughing, but a little louder now that they knew I wasn’t going to be a threat. I shifted my gaze to the moon and mouthed a short prayer, not asking for someone to save me, but for me to be able to get revenge on those fools one way or another.
“I’m sorry, Master,” I managed to murmur with the remainder of my strength before losing consciousness.
***** Sometime Later *****
“Wake up, boy!” ordered a rugged voice that I attributed to another Machoke. My eyes flickered open, only to reveal total darkness. Both my head and back were aching nonstop but I refused to let out a simple moan.
“W-where am I?” I asked, reaching my arms out, hoping to touch something. I gripped two metal bars standing vertically and it became apparent that I was in a cell. I also noticed I couldn’t stretch my arms out any farther, meaning I was most likely chained. The rope seemed to be poorly tied as I could just scrape it a bit with my claws.
“You’ve been out of it for hours. Dawn will arrive in a couple or hours, and with dawn comes your end,” said the voice. Although I couldn’t be sure, I could picture the Pokemon smirking.
“W-what’s that s-supposed to mean?” I asked, knowing very well what he meant.
“The General will be here in the morning. He wants to finish you off personally.”
The General! My mind suddenly went back to the briefing with the Master. My target was... the General. It seemed luck wasn’t entirely against me that night.
“The General, huh? I guess I’m pretty much screwed.”
“You’re worse than screwed. When the General is finished with you, our psychics will probe your unprotected mind for the whereabouts of the rest of your little cult.” Great, more reason for me NOT to die. If these idiots were any kind of smart they should have already killed me and probed my mind then.
“Don’t think so ill of us, young Weavile,” said a different voice. It was much more soothing than the Machoke’s, almost female-like. However, I couldn’t care less who was talking. It was what the speaker said that surprised me.
“How did you kn— must’ve been a lucky guess!”
“The abilities I posses far surpass that of any psychic Pokemon you’ve ever met. I thank Arceus for my power.”
I didn’t bother reply. The last thing I wanted was some religious freak preaching Arceus’ greatness while I waited for what was to be my “demise.” Nonetheless, the mysterious voice went on ranting about their false god and how I still had a chance to be “saved.” I let the time pass by playing with my claws, wondering how fun it would be to run them across the speaker’s neck and silence it once and for all.
It wasn’t long before the sun rose over the horizon and the room was finally illuminated by its welcoming light. The room couldn’t be any blander; all four walls were made of a gray stone with only one barred window. I came to enjoy the darkness more than my dull surroundings. My company had long since left me, but I occasionally heard footsteps on the other side of the wooden door. I don’t know why they kept watch, as long I was trapped in that cell, I wasn’t going anywhere.
I was staring blankly at the ceiling, awaiting this “General” to make his appearance when the door suddenly shot open. Expectantly, a Machoke barged in, carrying a plate of what looked like fried Caterpie. He walked up the cell door and gave me a stare so cold I doubt even a Glalie could imitate. He unlocked the door and tossed the plate at my feet, thinking my hands were still bound. Truth was, as soon as he and the other one left, I cut myself loose.
“What’s with the glare?” I inquired, trying to get the Machoke in a comfortable position before acting. He didn’t seem to notice that I was simply holding the ropes and they were no longer tied.
“You... you killed my brother. If it wasn’t for the General I’d kill you right here, right now!” he barked, splashing my face with his grimy saliva.
“Hmm... do you really miss your brother?” I said with smirk.
“Are you getting smart with me, boy!?”
“No, no. I just thought I’d allow you to join him.” Before the Machoke could even get a chance to comprehend what I was implying, I dropped the ropes and slid my claws clean across his neck. With a squirt of blood the brute fell to the floor, smashing the meal he had prepared for me. I was going to eat that too; escaping on an empty stomach meant trouble.
I didn’t waste any time in leaving my cell and before I knew it, I scurried up some stairs and ended up in the hallway of what seemed to be a pretty big building. The passage went on for some time with multiple doors on both sides of the hall. A red carpet was draped along the floor and managed to reach both ends. Unfortunately, my claws shredded the fabric with each step. Unlike that dungeon like room I was placed in, the walls and ceilings were painted many magnificent colors. I could imagine dozens of Smeargle painting the place for a hefty price. However, what fascinated me most was the fact that absolutely no guards patrolled the hallway and no one walked out of any doors. It was almost as if—
I rammed into the two wooden doors, which easily swung open— something I was hoping wasn’t going to happen. I slowed to an immediate stop as I observed my new surroundings. The room was as big as the Master’s entire hideout. Murals of Arceus covered the walls and window. Pillars erected from the ground and lined up against another red carpet. And at the other end of the carpet stood one Pokemon, its four gray arms crossed and crimson eyes examining me. His oily muscles glinted in the sunlight and he allowed his yellowish lips to curl into a smile.
“The General, I presume?” I asked, putting on a false sense of confidence. This ordeal was obviously planned after my capture.
“Yes, that would be me,” the Machamp answered, still smiling. “And you are... Fabian, correct?” He must have anticipated the look I would have after he said that, as he started laughing before I even reacted.
“How do you know my name?”
“You are very well known among the higher Order. We are told to make the utmost precautions while dealing with you.”
“Well, I guess I should show you why,” I whispered before blasting toward the Pokemon, running at speeds even I thought I couldn’t reach. Within seconds I was in striking distance of my enemy and leapt into the air, ready to slash his face with the claws of my feet. Amazingly, without even looking up, the Machamp reached up with two of his arms and got a good grip on my ankle. Effortlessly, he swung me across the room and into a sturdy pillar.
“I’m guessing you’re only good for the silent kills,” he teased, still not looking at me. I didn’t bother come up with a retort, as it would taste of a terrible lie.
I quickly got to my feet and went for another sprint. The General chuckled, thinking I was going to try another slash. To his surprise, I stopped only a few feet from my target and jumped a short distance. I took a deep breath while in mid-air and upon landing, unleashed a chilling blast at him. Knowing it was futile to try and dodge it, the Machamp took the Icy Wind head on. Shards of ice— frozen from water vapor in the air— stabbed at the General’s chest. When the assault ended, slammed his chest like some mad ape and let out an intimidating howl. Little did he know, I had moved to a hiding spot during the attack.
“Give up Fabian, you cannot win. Whoever is leading you on these missions must have overestimated your abilities. I’ll be sure to tell the Order that all your hype was just that— hype,” he bellowed. I watched from the shadow of a nearby pillar, thinking on his words. Was the Master complimenting me as his best just a way to get me to agree to this mission? I shook my head furiously, shaking the thoughts from my mind. It was against the teachings of Mew to think ill of someone who showed you nothing but hospitality.
“Now that you’ve seemed to calm down, how about you listen for a bit? You were so ready to fight that I barely got a chance to speak.” His voice sounded calm, even after my attack. Although it wasn’t in my character, I allowed him to continue.
“As a representative of the Order, I have been told to give you a message that you must pass on to your Master— a message directly from His Holiness.” His Holiness? So, the Order had a leader apart from Arceus himself.
“The Order of Arceus is requesting a truce with the Sect of Mew,” he said, then paused, probably expecting a reply. However, I was still stunned by his words. A truce? Did the Master know of this? And why now, after the Order had worked so hard to eradicate all other lesser religions? I cautiously walked out from behind the pillar and faced the General with cold eyes.
“Why do you want to make peace now? Your crusade seemed to be going so well, leaving all those burned villages in your wake,” I said, trying to work his nerves. However, the General seemed to be keeping his cool.
“I can’t reveal much, but know this: we share a common enemy. An enemy capable of turning the entire war in their favor.” Hmm... that didn’t sound like an enemy of the Sect to me. “Take this to your Master immediately,” he finished, grabbing a small chest set aside next to a nearby pillar. It was drenched in water— probably the residue of my Icy Wind. I retrieved the box and quickly hopped back to my original position.
“Heh, you have good reason to be vigilant. I’m almost positive this matter won’t cover up the bad blood between our worlds.”
“Got that right,” I shot back, not taking my eyes off him. “So, I guess this fight is over...”
He lifted two arms and pointed to the other side of the room. “There is a door there that leads to the courtyard. I have a Fearow that will take you to the outskirts of the city where you can walk back to your hideout. Until we meet again, Fabian.” With that, he turned around and walked in the opposite direction.
“So the big, bad General is just going to let me go. It seems I wasn’t the only one receiving too much hype.” The General suddenly came to a stop, and I found myself holding the chest tighter.
“You killed my men. If it wasn’t for the task given to you, I’d use my arms to tear you into four separate pieces. Stay alive, for we will continue this fight at another time.”
“I’ll be waiting,” I said with a smirk before dashing off toward the door he pointed out. I kicked it open and appeared outside on a lush grassland behind the Temple of Arceus, smack in the middle of the town. The orange sun told me we were still in the early hours of the morning and the inhabitants of Dagda were still sleeping. I spotted the Fearow only a few yards away, toying with a helpless Weedle before swallowing it in one gulp. The large bird spread its red-tipped, brown wings and nodded at me. There was still some yellow liquid on its enormous beak where it had poked the worm-pokemon numerous times. I wasted no time and hopped on its back and soon, we were soaring high above the town. Instead of looking at the city or talking to my carrier, I examined the chest the General had given to me. It was a peculiar little thing; there seemed to be no plausible way to open it. It was certainly meant for the Master’s eyes only.
Then I got to thinking.
Was the Master always in direct contact with the Order?
How much did the two know about each other?
What did this chest contain?
And most importantly:
Who was this enemy that even caught the attention of the leader of the Order?
So many questions and someone was going to give me some answers. That, I would make sure of.
Chapter One: The Assassination
“Murderer.”
I read the word aloud many times over as I stared at a horrible excuse for a wanted poster. The crude drawing failed to depict the golden jewel situated in the middle of my forehead, which was quite common in my species. In all seriousness, I looked like a mutated Sneasel in that picture. On top of that, the artist had the nerve to label me as ‘heartless’ and ‘cruel’. ‘Murderer’ wasn’t even the correct term for my type of profession. As I slid my white claws across the illustration, easily slicing through it, I made a mental note to hunt down that misinformed artist and give him a real lesson on cruelty. I absently looked at the moon and saw its light already dimming. That was the final day to get the job done, and it was impossible to accomplish it after sunrise. I mumbled a quick prayer under the gray orb, asking for forgiveness for wasting so much time. Satisfied, I picked up my pace in search of my destination.
Cold winds blew past as I maneuvered around the large, stone buildings. Fortunately, the streets were as desolate as the outskirts of town, but that only added to my annoyance. Oh how I hated that town with a passion! If my training didn’t require map studies, I’d have been lost in that place for days. Apart from its size, there was one more thing that I absolutely dreaded about the town. Directly in its center was a building so immense that it could be seen from all corners of the town— the Temple of Arceus. Just having that name escape my lips made me want to claw at my ebony skin.
I slipped into a dark alley to my right, trying to catch my breath. My target wasn’t far, but rushing into a potential quarrel was not an option. This job was quite important, and Master specifically warned me not to return unless it was completed. I took those few minutes of relaxation to try to remember exactly what Master instructed.
***** Two Days Earlier *****
I walked down a dimly lit corridor with a sick grin plastered on my face. I allowed my sharp claws to scrap across the opal walls as I contemplated what the Master could possibly have in store for me. The last job he assigned pitted me against a Lucario, who was believed to be one of the leaders of the Order of Arceus. Of course, the Pokemon was simply a pawn, but it was still an interesting kill. I didn’t bother with the stealth, with Lucarios being able to sense auras and what-not. He said it was a gift from Arceus himself. I said it would only prolong his death. Naturally, I was correct.
I never liked walking down that long hallway, so I was exceptionally relieved when I arrived at the wooden door leading to Master’s room. I made sure to keep my eyes locked on the red carpet below before knocking gently on the door. Almost immediately I heard ominous scraping noises on the other side. However, it took some time for a voice to accompany those sounds.
“I cannot sense a presence. Who goes there?” called an elderly voice.
“It’s me, Fabian.”
“Ah, yes, that explains why I can’t sense you. You dark Pokemon are always such a hassle. Nevertheless, I still must make sure you are who you say you are.”
“The questions?” I inquired. I always wondered why that old bean just couldn’t memorize the sound of my voice.
“First question: who is the one, true creator of life?”
“The almighty Mew, Master.”
“Ah, good answer. But that wouldn’t be the first time those of the Order have lied about their beliefs. Second question: what is my favorite line of text in the Scripture of Mew?”
I sighed as I fished my memory for the answer. “‘She, and only She, is the true superior. All others are nothing compared,’” I recited, surprised in myself that I even remembered.
A deep chuckle resonated from the door before the bronze knob turned. Through instinct, I focused my gaze on the floor, causing my red flap to fall over my eyes. The door swung wide open and a yellow hand brushed against my shoulder, ushering me into the room. I hurried in making sure not to look directly in the Master’s face. Only those of true honor could observe his grace.
“Why do you bow your head, my boy? Look up, you’ve more than earned it!” exclaimed the Master, patting me on the shoulder with a wrinkled yellow hand.
Hesitantly, I pulled my eyes from the floor and took Master’s domain in full affect. The arced ceiling was mainly a collection of windows, and the full moon shone brightly in the sky. The external light brightened the room quite a bit, and I took the chance to look at the man before me. The most I had ever seen was his long, slender torso, so I immediately turned to his face, which harbored a yellow beard that stretched to his elbows.
“I said you can look, not stare,” he commented, glaring at me with those beady blue eyes. Unfortunately, his comment caused me to stare only more at his star-shaped head.
“Are you deaf, Fabian? I believe I said stop staring. Now, tell me how everything went,” Master said, sounding more like an order than request. Before allowing me to reply, he slowly walked over to throne-like chair in front of a bookcase and sat down.
When I was sure it was time to speak, I began, “The usual, sir, false information. We have yet to eliminate any leading figures of the Order. I fear the Sect of Mew may have to look for different—”
“Silence your tongue!” he abruptly ordered. “Mark my words, in the end, Mew will reward us for fighting in Her holy name, and punish all those believers of Arceus. I wouldn’t expect my best assassin to be doubtful.”
“Excuse my rudeness, sir,” I apologized, still smirking at his compliment of being his best. Whether he stated it or not, I knew I was the best he had. “Maybe now’s a good time to tell me about the next mission?”
“Ah, yes!” the aged Alakazam said, picking up a bent spoon and fiddling with it. “Your next mission... is a big one. As usual, I need you to eliminate one of the Order’s officials. However, this time I’m positive that he holds a high position in the Order. Failure is NOT acceptable.”
“Is it ever?” I asked, grinning once again but baring my fangs that time. The fact that failure wasn’t acceptable was a given, so for the Master to still say it meant he was serious.
“True, true... The town in which he resides is only day’s walk, but I want you back here by the morning of the third. I will have someone lead you there.
“A day’s walk? You don’t mean—”
“Yes,” he interrupted, knowing what was to come next. “You are headed to Dagda, the town which holds the Temple of Arceus.”
**********
I peeked around the alley and eyed the temple fiercely, scoping for any potential hazards. A lone Machoke stood guard at the immense doors, but it was very likely that there were more patrolling on the inside. For a second, I wondered if I should simply go through the front and sneak all the way through. I began to slowly slip out of the shadows when two more Machoke, both equally muscular as the first, stepped out of the building. A few words were exchanged between the three before they all started circling the temple.
“Damnit!” I swore silently to myself, thinking the worst of the situation. Did they know I was coming and decided to beef up security? That wasn’t my first mission in Dagda and not once had I seen more than one Pokemon patrol the front. Of course, all my previous missions concerning the temple were merely to gain information. I hastily withdrew into the shadows, but in the process, knocked over a metal rod onto the stone sidewalk. The sound of metal clattering on the ground in the dead of night traveled across the immediate area, and I didn’t need to glance around the corner again to know at least one of the Machoke’s were headed my way.
“And the Master calls me ‘his best’!” I joked under my breath before making a break down the alley. My sharp claws scraped against the gravel, only making the situation worse. Normally I would face a Pokemon head on if it was one-on-one, but my fragile bones were no match for a Machoke. Master always said my body structure was meant for the silent kills, but that’s only because he can easily overcome a Machoke with his advanced mind.
“Anyone there?” questioned a rough voice at the mouth of the alley, and I wondered if he actually expected an answer. My deep thought had me running aimlessly and I didn’t realize that the alley stopped at a dead end, which I so stupidly slammed in to. The thud I created pretty much affirmed the Machoke’s suspicions and the gray brute came charging deeper into the alley.
“Well, this can’t get much worse,” I thought, only to be corrected when I noticed another of my wanted posters plastered on the wall to my left. “Now it couldn’t get any worse...” No matter how bad the drawing was, if I was standing right next to it, a Slowpoke could connect the dots.
“Gotcha, you little punk!” exclaimed the Machoke as he finally closed in on me. I scanned my surroundings for any escape route, but it seemed today just wasn’t my day. My eyes stopped on the Machoke’s, whose gaze was locked on the wanted poster. “Hehe... my master will praise me for your capture, murderer!” he said with a grin.
“Is it the will of your ‘almighty Arceus’ for his followers to be so ill-educated? My profession and that of a murderer are NOT the same,” I retorted, forgetting for a second that I still wasn’t in the clear.
“You’ll pay for that remark, Weavile. I take it you’re a believer in that silly Mew cult, so I’m sure the master won’t mind if I kill you here!”
The angered brute spread both his arms out and dived for me. The alleyway was much too narrow for a complete dodge, so I simply jumped back, pressing my body against the wall behind me. The Machoke landed on his feet and fist, looking very much like some mad ape, and glared at me. He and I both knew that another dodge like that was impossible.
“I think I’ll end this one quickly,” I said with a smirk, dashing forward at a speed the Machoke had obviously never seen before. As his eyes struggled to keep pace with my movements, I pulled back my arm and thrust it straight for the Machoke’s heart. Unfortunately, the fear in his eyes only lasted a few seconds; his leather cloak stopped my attack dead in its tracks. Before I had a chance to take in the fact that my attack had no effect, the Machoke elbowed me hard in the stomach, sending me crashing into the wall behind. I held my abdomen in agony, cursing inaudibly.
“I’m beginning to think you drew those posters yourself. There’s no way a weakling like you could become so infamous.”
“Getting... cocky... aren’t we?” I managed to mutter, still feeling the effects of his cheap blow. Risking another possible cheap shot, I closed my eyes and began to concentrate.
“Already praying? Sorry bud, nothing can save you now!” the Machoke mocked. He would soon find out the mistake of giving me even a second to collect my mind. As he continued to laugh, I outstretched one of my arms, which was now coated in an ominously black aura. With a bit more force than before, I dug my claws into the Machoke’s chest. It went all the way through that time, but I missed his heart by an inch or so.
“N-no! H-h-how?” he staggered, grasping my arm with his large hand and tried to pull it out with whatever pathetic life force he had left.
“My Night Claw can pierce the skin of a Donphan; your leather didn’t stand a chance. Of course, your tough skin knocked me off course a bit. I meant to make your death quick, but we can’t all get what we want,” I said, almost emotionlessly, and slowly slid my arm out of the Machoke’s body, enjoying every gasp of pain that escaped his mouth. But don’t get me wrong! I’m not ruthless or anything and I really did aim for his heart. That was just for bad-mouthing Mew.
The lifeless corpse dropped with a thud and I took the time to clean my bloody claws on his leather cloak. That is until I remembered there were still two more bodyguards at the entrance who probably noticed that their friend was taking a bit too long. Coming to that realization, I dashed down the alleyway. I was lucky enough that the Machoke didn’t come inspecting the—.
THWACK!!!
A grayish-blue arm extended across the mouth of the alley just as I was exited, close-lining me into a back flip. Lucky for me, a rather hard rock was there to cushion my fall... My eyes opened to the blurry sight of two Machoke looming over me, laughing. My back was much too sore for me to get up and me running into that close line at that speed meant the feeling in my face wasn’t going to come back for some time.
My vision was slowly fading into darkness, so I spent my last few seconds of consciousness glaring at the Machoke. They were still laughing, but a little louder now that they knew I wasn’t going to be a threat. I shifted my gaze to the moon and mouthed a short prayer, not asking for someone to save me, but for me to be able to get revenge on those fools one way or another.
“I’m sorry, Master,” I managed to murmur with the remainder of my strength before losing consciousness.
***** Sometime Later *****
“Wake up, boy!” ordered a rugged voice that I attributed to another Machoke. My eyes flickered open, only to reveal total darkness. Both my head and back were aching nonstop but I refused to let out a simple moan.
“W-where am I?” I asked, reaching my arms out, hoping to touch something. I gripped two metal bars standing vertically and it became apparent that I was in a cell. I also noticed I couldn’t stretch my arms out any farther, meaning I was most likely chained. The rope seemed to be poorly tied as I could just scrape it a bit with my claws.
“You’ve been out of it for hours. Dawn will arrive in a couple or hours, and with dawn comes your end,” said the voice. Although I couldn’t be sure, I could picture the Pokemon smirking.
“W-what’s that s-supposed to mean?” I asked, knowing very well what he meant.
“The General will be here in the morning. He wants to finish you off personally.”
The General! My mind suddenly went back to the briefing with the Master. My target was... the General. It seemed luck wasn’t entirely against me that night.
“The General, huh? I guess I’m pretty much screwed.”
“You’re worse than screwed. When the General is finished with you, our psychics will probe your unprotected mind for the whereabouts of the rest of your little cult.” Great, more reason for me NOT to die. If these idiots were any kind of smart they should have already killed me and probed my mind then.
“Don’t think so ill of us, young Weavile,” said a different voice. It was much more soothing than the Machoke’s, almost female-like. However, I couldn’t care less who was talking. It was what the speaker said that surprised me.
“How did you kn— must’ve been a lucky guess!”
“The abilities I posses far surpass that of any psychic Pokemon you’ve ever met. I thank Arceus for my power.”
I didn’t bother reply. The last thing I wanted was some religious freak preaching Arceus’ greatness while I waited for what was to be my “demise.” Nonetheless, the mysterious voice went on ranting about their false god and how I still had a chance to be “saved.” I let the time pass by playing with my claws, wondering how fun it would be to run them across the speaker’s neck and silence it once and for all.
It wasn’t long before the sun rose over the horizon and the room was finally illuminated by its welcoming light. The room couldn’t be any blander; all four walls were made of a gray stone with only one barred window. I came to enjoy the darkness more than my dull surroundings. My company had long since left me, but I occasionally heard footsteps on the other side of the wooden door. I don’t know why they kept watch, as long I was trapped in that cell, I wasn’t going anywhere.
I was staring blankly at the ceiling, awaiting this “General” to make his appearance when the door suddenly shot open. Expectantly, a Machoke barged in, carrying a plate of what looked like fried Caterpie. He walked up the cell door and gave me a stare so cold I doubt even a Glalie could imitate. He unlocked the door and tossed the plate at my feet, thinking my hands were still bound. Truth was, as soon as he and the other one left, I cut myself loose.
“What’s with the glare?” I inquired, trying to get the Machoke in a comfortable position before acting. He didn’t seem to notice that I was simply holding the ropes and they were no longer tied.
“You... you killed my brother. If it wasn’t for the General I’d kill you right here, right now!” he barked, splashing my face with his grimy saliva.
“Hmm... do you really miss your brother?” I said with smirk.
“Are you getting smart with me, boy!?”
“No, no. I just thought I’d allow you to join him.” Before the Machoke could even get a chance to comprehend what I was implying, I dropped the ropes and slid my claws clean across his neck. With a squirt of blood the brute fell to the floor, smashing the meal he had prepared for me. I was going to eat that too; escaping on an empty stomach meant trouble.
I didn’t waste any time in leaving my cell and before I knew it, I scurried up some stairs and ended up in the hallway of what seemed to be a pretty big building. The passage went on for some time with multiple doors on both sides of the hall. A red carpet was draped along the floor and managed to reach both ends. Unfortunately, my claws shredded the fabric with each step. Unlike that dungeon like room I was placed in, the walls and ceilings were painted many magnificent colors. I could imagine dozens of Smeargle painting the place for a hefty price. However, what fascinated me most was the fact that absolutely no guards patrolled the hallway and no one walked out of any doors. It was almost as if—
I rammed into the two wooden doors, which easily swung open— something I was hoping wasn’t going to happen. I slowed to an immediate stop as I observed my new surroundings. The room was as big as the Master’s entire hideout. Murals of Arceus covered the walls and window. Pillars erected from the ground and lined up against another red carpet. And at the other end of the carpet stood one Pokemon, its four gray arms crossed and crimson eyes examining me. His oily muscles glinted in the sunlight and he allowed his yellowish lips to curl into a smile.
“The General, I presume?” I asked, putting on a false sense of confidence. This ordeal was obviously planned after my capture.
“Yes, that would be me,” the Machamp answered, still smiling. “And you are... Fabian, correct?” He must have anticipated the look I would have after he said that, as he started laughing before I even reacted.
“How do you know my name?”
“You are very well known among the higher Order. We are told to make the utmost precautions while dealing with you.”
“Well, I guess I should show you why,” I whispered before blasting toward the Pokemon, running at speeds even I thought I couldn’t reach. Within seconds I was in striking distance of my enemy and leapt into the air, ready to slash his face with the claws of my feet. Amazingly, without even looking up, the Machamp reached up with two of his arms and got a good grip on my ankle. Effortlessly, he swung me across the room and into a sturdy pillar.
“I’m guessing you’re only good for the silent kills,” he teased, still not looking at me. I didn’t bother come up with a retort, as it would taste of a terrible lie.
I quickly got to my feet and went for another sprint. The General chuckled, thinking I was going to try another slash. To his surprise, I stopped only a few feet from my target and jumped a short distance. I took a deep breath while in mid-air and upon landing, unleashed a chilling blast at him. Knowing it was futile to try and dodge it, the Machamp took the Icy Wind head on. Shards of ice— frozen from water vapor in the air— stabbed at the General’s chest. When the assault ended, slammed his chest like some mad ape and let out an intimidating howl. Little did he know, I had moved to a hiding spot during the attack.
“Give up Fabian, you cannot win. Whoever is leading you on these missions must have overestimated your abilities. I’ll be sure to tell the Order that all your hype was just that— hype,” he bellowed. I watched from the shadow of a nearby pillar, thinking on his words. Was the Master complimenting me as his best just a way to get me to agree to this mission? I shook my head furiously, shaking the thoughts from my mind. It was against the teachings of Mew to think ill of someone who showed you nothing but hospitality.
“Now that you’ve seemed to calm down, how about you listen for a bit? You were so ready to fight that I barely got a chance to speak.” His voice sounded calm, even after my attack. Although it wasn’t in my character, I allowed him to continue.
“As a representative of the Order, I have been told to give you a message that you must pass on to your Master— a message directly from His Holiness.” His Holiness? So, the Order had a leader apart from Arceus himself.
“The Order of Arceus is requesting a truce with the Sect of Mew,” he said, then paused, probably expecting a reply. However, I was still stunned by his words. A truce? Did the Master know of this? And why now, after the Order had worked so hard to eradicate all other lesser religions? I cautiously walked out from behind the pillar and faced the General with cold eyes.
“Why do you want to make peace now? Your crusade seemed to be going so well, leaving all those burned villages in your wake,” I said, trying to work his nerves. However, the General seemed to be keeping his cool.
“I can’t reveal much, but know this: we share a common enemy. An enemy capable of turning the entire war in their favor.” Hmm... that didn’t sound like an enemy of the Sect to me. “Take this to your Master immediately,” he finished, grabbing a small chest set aside next to a nearby pillar. It was drenched in water— probably the residue of my Icy Wind. I retrieved the box and quickly hopped back to my original position.
“Heh, you have good reason to be vigilant. I’m almost positive this matter won’t cover up the bad blood between our worlds.”
“Got that right,” I shot back, not taking my eyes off him. “So, I guess this fight is over...”
He lifted two arms and pointed to the other side of the room. “There is a door there that leads to the courtyard. I have a Fearow that will take you to the outskirts of the city where you can walk back to your hideout. Until we meet again, Fabian.” With that, he turned around and walked in the opposite direction.
“So the big, bad General is just going to let me go. It seems I wasn’t the only one receiving too much hype.” The General suddenly came to a stop, and I found myself holding the chest tighter.
“You killed my men. If it wasn’t for the task given to you, I’d use my arms to tear you into four separate pieces. Stay alive, for we will continue this fight at another time.”
“I’ll be waiting,” I said with a smirk before dashing off toward the door he pointed out. I kicked it open and appeared outside on a lush grassland behind the Temple of Arceus, smack in the middle of the town. The orange sun told me we were still in the early hours of the morning and the inhabitants of Dagda were still sleeping. I spotted the Fearow only a few yards away, toying with a helpless Weedle before swallowing it in one gulp. The large bird spread its red-tipped, brown wings and nodded at me. There was still some yellow liquid on its enormous beak where it had poked the worm-pokemon numerous times. I wasted no time and hopped on its back and soon, we were soaring high above the town. Instead of looking at the city or talking to my carrier, I examined the chest the General had given to me. It was a peculiar little thing; there seemed to be no plausible way to open it. It was certainly meant for the Master’s eyes only.
Then I got to thinking.
Was the Master always in direct contact with the Order?
How much did the two know about each other?
What did this chest contain?
And most importantly:
Who was this enemy that even caught the attention of the leader of the Order?
So many questions and someone was going to give me some answers. That, I would make sure of.