Pokemon: Dungeon Delvers Anachronist

[jasonwolf]

Small foreword: this story will be coming out very slowly, but it is coming. Things may seem tame, but the mature content comes out of nowhere. you are warned.




Chap: 1
Fantasies

It was barely sun up and already something was already trying to kill me. Four men armed with hatchets and shortswords approached weapons drawn. I drew my falchion and glanced at my Scyther and Charmeleon who stood besides me.

“Reaper, Aerial Ace! Jercio, Fire Fang! Strike them down!” I yelled charging alongside my black mantis and dragon pokemon.

We arced our blades tearing through two bandits who dared stand in our way while Jercio pounced biting out the neck of a third. I growled bloodthirsty feeling the blade slice effortlessly through one’s gullet. Only one ruffian was still on his feet, and tried to flee. I stuck my sword in the ground chasing after the man.

“Lizi, I’ll take one crossbow to go.” I called tapping a tiny runed pebble in my ear a vague image faded into my subconscious letting me see around Lizi and letting me focus on what was around me.

“You want fries with that?” Elizibeth chuckled grabbing it from the weapons table and throwing it into a sphere that hovered in the center of the mage tower we called home for now. Elizibeth added a quarrel of bolts to the sphere which sent them all to me. I stopped to ready the crossbow wasting precious time. Finally ready I took aim at the now distant bandit and sent a bolt burrowing through the bandit’s back making him stumble before he screamed in agony dropping to the ground.

“Reaper. Go make sure he’s staying dead. I’ll sort through these two, Jercio's certain of his.” I said grimly knowing the next task.

Jercio had taken a massive chunk out of the guy's neck which made it clear the man was dead. My two looked plenty like corpses. I ran them both through as that extra bit of confirmation just as I had been taught. We didn’t have second chances in the field, but this here was practice.

I tapped my callstone, “Ok that’s all of them. We done with these magical dummies? I want to actually get out there. See this world of yours. I'm good enough to do recon ill just avoid soldiers."

“Don’t let your confidence cloud your judgement. You know very well that these are shadows of the simplest of soldiers in Xarvin’s army. Come back inside and rest a bit. You can keep training after breakfast.” Saul’s voice echoed.

I sighed whistling the all clear to Reaper. My Scyther began to walk over still scanning the area not quite trustworthy of the world, but he seemed to trust me enough to still follow. Jercio was amazingly loyal and already beside me following close. Saul let me pair up with him when I started working with pokemon he was just a Charmander then, but three months of intense training and he had grown into his nect stage, a Charmeleon. I pushed through the ten foot tall wood front door of Saul's mage tower. Heading up the spiraling stairs that clung to the round walls of the tower i met with Lizi at her station. Attached to a landing was platform wrapping around the entire tower that supported the mana well that Lizi attended. I put down my weapons on the a table where Lizi could reach all of them easily. I had quite the collection since I wanted to be prepared for anything. I had: my falchion, my crossbow, a hatchet, a one handed waraxe, a metal buckler, a few knives for different jobs, and a forearm mounted katar that folded back when i wasn't using it. With my weapons all in their places I turned around scanning the room.

In the center of the room floating was a massive orb of energy. Saul referred to it as a mana well that connected to all the energy of nature and it acted as the gateway he pulled us through. From what I could tell it functioned like a wormhole capable of linking two places allowing transportation of physical objects as well as energy. Lizi had been taught how to use the orb to send things to me too cumbersome to carry around all day. Eventually Saul would let me head out and actually try to do something about Xarvin’s army. For now he kept us all cooped up in the tower not willing to let us go without training. Sure it made sense but I wanted to do something more worthwhile. I continued to ponder staring off into the ever shifting glowing sphere. Lizi arrived from upstairs and went over to me.

"Mark? Maaaaark?" Lizi asked noticing my mind was elsewhere.

She flicked my forehead to grab my attention back. I spazzed a bit flailing my arms around. Lizi chuckled leading me to glare at her until she stopped.

"You may be able to keep your cool face to face in a fight, but Saul's right you're a spaz when people sneak up on you." Lizi said restraining her laughter a little.

"Saul would never say spaz." I noted.

"Specifically he said you looked like a 'spastic Combuskin'." She specified recalling the original conversation.

"I just don't expect it here. Saul just drops random dummies while I'm working on other things. I swear i can hear him laughing afterwards as well." I said now glaring up at the next floor.

"Well i have class with Saul so you are probably good for about two hours. You, Jercio, and Reaper should get some breakfast." Lizi said changing the topic to one i always liked, food.

"Yeah sure. Hey where's your growlithe?" I asked not seeing the pup.

"Oh Terry is still in my room. Probably asleep. He's a lazy dog but keeps my room warm. Chrisi is with Saul already" She conceded.

"Yeah pokemon live their own lives. Reaper just leaves as night. He always comes back, but he won't stay past sun down. Probably a big reason Saul won't let us go. If Reaper leaves I could get into a lot of trouble. Sure I have Jercio but we both know one pokemon isn’t enough."

"Neither is two really. But yeah Reaper running of won't help much." Lizi agreed

"I wonder where he goes, and why he doesn’t stick with me. I just can't tell him no though. If he wants to leave he's allowed to." I said a bit dejected and unsure of my skill as a trainer.

"Well aren't you just the nobel peace prize winner. Reaper trusts you a lot for how little you two have worked together. Scyther are strong independent pokemon having one trust you at all means you're doing good. Keep working at it. Jercio would follow you to hell and back. Reaper will too when you earn it. I'll see you later." Lizi reassured smiling as she waved and headed up to the third floor where Saul's study and lab were.

I headed back down to the first floor meeting Reaper by the front door. I patted him on his scaly head. The weird mantis dragon let out a low hiss of appreciation. Jercio was curled up napping in the central fireplace. I'd feed him later let him rest for now. Reaper and I went to the kitchen where we found Jake, the third of our transdimensional trio. He was sorting through the jars of food looking for something getting assistance from his aipom. I walked over checking the jars myself. The lack of normal animals lead to some interesting stuff on the menu. I had grown used to the taste of smoked stantler venison with a side of oddish radishes.

"So breakfast. Whatcha cooking?" I asked picking up a jar of pickled pidgey eggs.

"Using the last of the ham. Still figuring out the more exotic stuff. Look at this," he displayed some sort of green and blue fish on a hook, "I caught this about an hour ago. I'm gonna gut it and try to make it for dinner. Never woulda thought I'd be carving up elemental monsters when i got my job at the butchers."

"Glad you did though. Tell me when you start. I need more practice myself with cleaning kills. Still end up carving too much off. At least reaper likes the nastier parts. Only refuses to eat the intestines. I think he might know what they are for. "

"Interesting. Ive been teaching Manny here all the ingredients. He's getting pretty good. I let Tyr wash pots, so he's figured out where they go and what i cook in them." Jake said pointing out his pokemon.

Tyr, a squirtle, was standing by a washtub wearing a little apron jake made to match his while Manny, the aipom, stood on the counter in a little white chefs hat. Manny cheered and clapped at his praise. Tyr kept to his work diligent as ever.

"Pokemon really change as they work with us. They begin to grow stronger and smarter i think. They at least are less feral."

"Well Reaper certainly is not as aggressive to me as when we met. I don't think he's gonna try and kill me. Whatcha say bud?"

Reaper was distracted eating a roast tranquail that was left on the counter. He tore it apart eating it bones and all.

"That was gonna be lunch..." Jake sighed watching his work be devoured.

"Sorry man. Hungry pokemon are hungry." I said knowing there was no point trying to undo reaper's actions.

"Just get your food and get out. I need to butcher a new bird." Jake grumbled directing me to the plated food on the table.

I took the plate and headed across the tower to the bedrooms. Terry was wandering the hall and walked up to me staring intently at my plate.

"Don't even bud. Lizi is the one who feeds you." I said dodging around him before going into my room.

I set the plate down on my nightstand and sat on the bed pulling off my leather coat. Saul had enchanted the duster to be as strong as steel, though that made it sound stronger than it was. In a world where creatures breath fire and crush mountains steel is a small upgrade. Looking down at my clothes I remembered when I wasn’t a warrior fighting in ancient times in an alternate universe. Before becoming the cliche I was a employee at a lumberyard in Vermont. It wasn’t a bad job, and had some perks. I got a small one room apartment there as I’d worked on the floor by day and security at night. Most all of my time went to work, but I didn’t need to do much else. I didn’t have any big dreams or plans. I could afford what I needed and was content. Most people my age were off daydreaming about silly things like becoming famous authors and ignoring their base needs first.

Reaper interrupted my thoughts,

“Scyn Thier.”

“You need to be more specific, or better yet english speaking.” I replied still not really understanding anything he tried to communicate.

He stomped and hissed glaring at the window. I peeked at it and saw outside was couple of tranquil pecking away at the ground.

“You want more food? Seriously you just ate one of them.” I said rolling my eyes.

Reaper growled kicking the door unable to open it due to his lack of hands.

“Oh ho ho. So now you need my help. Fine, but one of those is going to Jake.” I laughed opening the door for him and following as he ran to go outside.

I grabbed my crossbow before going after him out the front door. We snuck around the tower to the area where the tranquil were. Reaper flew up to the roof peering over watching his prey. I meanwhile went to the nearest bush to get a different angle. I whistled three ascending notes to signal ready, and then three descending for attack. I fired a bolt right into the belly of the tranquil. It would probably be alive, but the metal bolt had pinned its wings. Reaper was like a lightning bolt. Just a blur of gray as he dropped from the roof onto the bird a blade lopping its head off instantly.

I ran to grab one before Reaper ate them both, but was surprised to find him standing there quietly waiting. I went to check my target. The bird was writhing in agony unable to get up with the heavy bolt causing so much pain. I took a deep breath before stabbing another bolt into its heart. I pulled the bolts out wiping them on the wet grass to get the blood off. It wasn’t a very clean job, but it was dead and butcherable. Reaper walked over and shook his head pointing a scythe towards his kill. He had cleanly decapitated the bird leaving all the parts we’d eat intact. I began to move towards it. Reaper bent down and began to eat the other tranquil while I took his. Once again confusion set in. Reaper had not been one for sharing, and now he was letting me take the better kill. Perhaps Jake was right. These pokemon were learning.

After delivering the bird to Jake I spent some time maintaining my equipment. The process had become very meditative to me. The repeating notes as the whetstone slid along my blade, the cyclical motions as followed its edge, and the otherwise peace as I sat outside by spring where we got the water. Each weapon had a different feel to it. my small blades were short strokes and high notes while my falchion was a long building sound as I sharpened it. Reaper sat nearby also sharpening his blades. He used the boulders around the spring to quickly restore the cutting edge. The stones were massive pieces of granite placed there to decorate the spring. Saul kept his land well landscaped with small gardens and other details to liven up the outside of his tower. I guess he wanted to differentiate his land from the forests around the tower. Up here in the mountains he didn’t get many guests so it must have been for himself perhaps something to occupy his time.

With my weapons tended to I returned them to the tower before going back outside to walk around a bit. I followed a path along the spring which lead into a large pond. Here quite a few pokemon were known to gather. With Reaper just having eaten twice I felt it was safe to look for ones I might consider training. Reaper was already a hand full, but we were against an army, so I figured why not build one of my own. Pokemon training wasn’t a common trade, but for those who had the time and skills pokemon could be some of the strongest allies. Saul had quite the collection of creatures at his call: A Noctowl, a Sableye, and a Dragonite were his dearest companions, but he owned many more. All of them were powerful and diverse. With time I might have a chance to train a number of pokemon to assist us. Once things were in our favor we could drive a real rebellion rather than our current guerilla plans.

I hid in the brush observing the pond. Around the edges were a couple poliwags toddling along and a deerling taking a drink. I was tempted to take a shot at the deerling as their venison was rather tasty with a mix between venison and a hint of berry flavor, but decided best not to startle all the pokemon just for some food we didn’t need. I stared at the surface of the pond looking for any disturbance. A yanma was buzzing over it tapping against the surface before flitting backwards and moving around again erratically. Perhaps he could be of use to us. Quick and small he could probably provide a nice extra pair of eyes for our outfit. I snuck forward keeping low to the ground. I pulled a Capture Crystal out of the pouch on the back on my belt. Doing my best imitation of birdsong I once again whistled my three note crescendo up and down.

Reaper was hovering above the center of the pond before I could blink. He chopped at the Yanma sending it reeling back towards me. It rammed Reaper in the thorax making him flip backwards. Regaining his bearings Reaper flew at the yanma spiraling around him at rapid speed. The dragonfly pokemon was completely lost trying to track my partner that taking the opportunity I jumped up grabbing the pokemon and pinning it under me.

“Welcome to the rebellion!” I shouted tapping the crystal to the pokemon’s back.

The pokemon was sucked up into the stone now shown frozen in its glassy structure. I stood up holding the crystal proudly.

“That’s one more for us.” I said as Reaper landed nearby, “We’ll start training him tomorrow. Its best to let him calm down. These crystals don’t just tame them for me after all. You’re plenty of evidence to that.”

Reaper nodded with a raspy laugh. He flew off to who knows where to reinforce the point. For now it was back to the tower. Saul would soon be done with Lizi’s class and ready to send me more challengers. I readied myself putting my falchion in its sheath and its rightful place on my back. I sat around outside watching the horizon for the mirage-like effect that took place before Saul had created his illusions. I wondered what he might send at me today. Recently he had switched it up a lot more having many types of soldiers to fight me. New weapons, new sizes, and new styles to learn against. After three months I was glad to have the change. I was taking to combat very naturally. Something felt right about having those weapons in my hands. They were extensions of myself at this point. Nothing felt quite as satisfying as the swing of my blade or the release of a bolt. I had begun to enjoy defeating these monsters of men. They deserved it after they ravaged the kingdom. Saul had shown us visions of the chaos as the army swept over the lands destroying anything it couldn’t take. Any who didn’t bow were slain on the spot. I had no mercy in my heart for people like that.

“Mark, Ready yourself I have something special today.” Saul’s voice echoed through the callstone in my ear.

“Ok ok. Come on I’m ready for anything.” I said jumping to my feet drawing my falchion off its sheath on my back.

The air fizzed very briefly and out of the obscurity stepped a single man fully armored in plate similar to that of an Aggron. The man pulled a greatsword off his back. He charged at me still wielding the massive blade in a single hand. I dropped my sword and booked it. This was not going to be like the average grunt. I sprinted away knowing the plate would slow him down. He pursued still and was faster than expected. I went for the forest hoping to take the defensive high ground in the trees. I began to climb. I could hear the knight approaching, but I didn’t look down knowing it would just psyche me out.

"Lizi? I need the crossbow."

there was no response. Saul was really pushing it now. He probably was forcing her not to help. I really hated that mage sometimes. Now i was up a tree without a weapon. I was alone. Reaper was no where to be seen, and Saul was restraining everyone else. The knight stepped under the branch i was squatting on. I didn't even think i just dropped my boots landing square on his head. Two hundred pounds suddenly was pushing on his neck. The snap echoed through the woods.

The knight didn't vanish. He just lied there. I stared confused. Saul's illusion wasnt fading. Suddenly i heard someone running towards me. I grabbed the knight's great sword And swung around to see Lizi, Jake, and Saul.

"Gods you scared me. Saul you gonna clean this up or what?” I said stepping back from the crumbled heap.

“That wasn’t my illusion. Someone else sent him. That’s an actual knight from Xervin’s court.”

I could now see blood starting to drip out around the neck area pooling by my feet.

“Wait… you mean…” I staggered feeling nausea before leaning against a tree and up chucking my breakfast.

All I could see what his neck snapped off to the side. I began to imagine the man’s dead face under the helmet the cold staring eyes.

“I… I didn’t know… I... “ I was cut off by another gag and more vile vomit.

“Mark. You did what you had to. Just as you’ve been training to. Now we need to get out of here. I’m going to prepare the mana well to allow us to teleport the tower. Elizibeth come with me. Mark, Jake, you two stand watch.”

I was shaking too much to reply. I felt like if I opened my mouth all that would come out was more vomit.

“Ok Saul. Mark you better get Reaper. Jercio is safe inside.” Jake said running to the tower taking a position in some brush bow at the ready.

I couldn’t move and stood there lost and confused and ill. For some goddamn reason I leaned over removing the helmet from the man to see his face. It was twisted frozen in the moment of agony before he died. I just shook my head. Evil or not these were people. Real human beings that I had to put down.

I managed to whistle between my shaking lips and heard Reaper reply. I went to the tower picking up my falchion and standing guard waiting for anyone to try and approach. Xarvin’s forces could be heard crunching through the forest toppling anything in their way. If anything Jake and I were here for an intimidation factor. Everyone knew the heroes myth, and hopefully these folks were the superstitious type.

“Saul, how much longer? We can’t see’em but we hear’em.” Jake called.

“Not too long. Just distract them if you can.”

“Elizibeth, Can you send me those fancy arrows then?” Jake asked holding his callstone.

A quiver of arrows appeared in front of him. He grabbed an arrow and fired it off into the sky where it exploded with color. We heard the marching stop for a moment, but carry on.

“They’re just for show, but they’ll keep’em distracted.” Jake said launching a volley of the arrows.

As Jake began to fire his last arrow we could start to see the steel plate armored soldiers walking between the trees. Jake fired into the forest creating a thick smokescreen. He switched to normal arrows and fired rapidly into the smoke trying to cause some distress. Reaper showed up just in time as Saul called us inside. Soldiers began to pour out of the smoke charging the tower. We ran inside slamming close the door before everything turned white.

 

[jasonwolf]

Chapter 2:
Affinity

I opened the door to see open rolling plains before us. Grasses swayed in the wind as it floated over the hilly landscape.

“All clear!” I shouted before slumping against the wall.

Everyone came over, but swung my arms to keep them from crowding me.

“Why did none of you come help? You just let me kill a man!”

“And he would have done the same if you hadn’t. This is a war, Mark. Don’t be disillusioned by your fantasies.”

I growled angry that he was right. I don’t know where I got the idea that I could fight this war without remorse for taking a life.

"I just Mario'd a guy to death. I mean what the hell? Everything feels so wrong so rancid. Yet I don't regret anything. It was disgusting seeing him all twisted and bloody, but I really can't say I feel wrong." I said looking away out at the open fields, "I guess I'm lucky in that respect. Gonna make it a lot easier to do this damned job."

"Mark these men have already spilled the blood of thousands of innocent. It is alright to take solace in their downfall. Their hearts were blackened by Xarvin’s corrupting magic long ago. Only greed and bloodlust guide them."

"Yeah well I guess they had their chance. Not sure why it's suddenly my place to say, but hey why not universe already fucked us over when it sent us here. I'll get over it with time. Time and blood. I'm going out. Someone feed jercio."

I headed outside sprinting through the fields to get some distance between me and anyone. I wasn’t sure where I was running to, but forward seemed like a good idea. A good ways on the fields began to dip making it clear the tower was perched on a hill or plateau. It was tactically sound to hide here probably far from civilization, Saul wasn't that foolish, the field gave us clear line of sight while the high ground slowed any soldiers heading for us. I missed the spring though. It was a calm place to collect my ever disjointed thoughts. Finding a new place was at the top of my list after all that had occurred.

My walk led me far out from the tower maybe a mile or so by the end. I just kept going until I was worn out, so I stopped where I stood and lied down. The terrain had leveled off again a while back leaving me in a wide open field with nothing for acres. There were the makings of a lake some ways off maybe a good place to pick up water types. For now I had only two bugs. Reaper was skilled for certain so I was optimistic about our new ally. I'd need a name for him though. Pokemon were a strange combination of pet and partner both positions needing a nickname in my opinion.

I laid my duster out on the grass and lied back on it. The sun was lower now but in the opposite direction that teleportation must have put us in a new tome zone where it was earlier, but it seemed nice here too. The skies were fair, the breeze refreshing, and a small flock of blue birds with cloud wings flew overhead. The weirdness of pokemon never ceased to amaze. I pulled out my new pokemon's crystal and placed it on my pokenomicon, a pocket manual on the monsters. The book flipped itself to the page and I began to read up on the dragonfly. If I had a way to restrain the yanma I'd start trying to train him. Sendinf pokemon out of their crystal leaves them dazed for a second possibly enough time to get a lasso on him. I didn't have rope but I did have my callstone.

"Lizi?" I asked quietly my finger pressed to the pebble in my ear.

"Mark? You... relatively ok?" She replied her voice steady as ever even as she implied her real question.

"I'm managing. The guy had it coming. I just didn't know he had it coming. Now you wanna help i need rope for a leash. I picked up a Yanma back this morning. Wanna try to get him sorted."

"Is Reaper with you incase?"

"He just nodded." I lied.

"Ok. Be there in a sec, and just don't get yourself hurt trying to be cool."

The rope showed up with a vial of s purple potion made to heal wounds. I was a rather good liar, so Lizi probably had just seen Reaper, but it didn't matter she knew she couldn't stop me now, so better to just help. Probably one of the main reasons I liked her, but i kept distant at times I didn't want to be too attached when I left.

On that solemn thought I made the lasso and stood over the crystal. I commanded the crystal to release the yanma. A red light burst out as the yanma was sent out. I dropped on the creature putting the lasso on fast and pinning it. It buzzed in fear and anger as it struggled under me. I kept it pinned holding on tight legs and arms locked around the tail and neck.

"This gets easier when you stop flailing!" I grunted.

The yanma cried out furious, but i wasn’t deterred. I would outlast him. It was nearly noon when the yanma finally seemed exhausted enough. I loosened up still on top of him though.

"You stop squirming and i stop squishing ya hear."

"Yi yamn." It sighed tired.

I lessened my leg lock and gauged the yanma's reaction. It’s antenna perked up and it's eyes widened. I continued gradually loosening my grip. The yanma was too tired to fight he was exhausted from the fight with Reaper and I had worn any left over energy out of him. I let him loose, but kept a tight grip on the lasso. The yanma skittered about stretching his tiny legs. After that he glared up at me clearly still angry, but also curious about his captor.

“Yeen Ma!” He growled.

“Yeah yeah curse all you want. Doesn’t help you in this situation, but since you didn’t blow my head off have a berry.” I said tossing him a bright red one.

He continued watching me, but ate the berry which fell beside his head.

“I gotta admit I don’t like playing bad cop with you guys, scared off an oddish doing that. I’d rather just be able to make it clear I need help, and a lot of it. You pokemon are the only hope this kingdom has that the people living here have cause I sure as hell can't do it alone.”

"Yanran." The yanma growled rolling it's eyes his tone showing disbelief

"I didn't mean to take you so far away. Things happened outside my control because of the people I'm trying to stop. They were sending an army through. They'd have burned that forest to the ground. Inadvertently i may have saved your life." I pointed out noting the slash and burn tactics used by Xarvin’s army.

Saul had shown us images of the war. Entire settlements were destroyed to cut off supplies to the defending armies. If you were a soldier in King Arnor's command you were killed on sight no prisoners no mercy. Xarvin took the nation and destroyed everything of the old kingdom. And here was Saul the last mage loyal to the king trying to save his home and getting three morons from another plain.

"I won't force you to stay but there's food and shelter with us. You won't even have to do anything for it. You stay free stuff no need to help me." I said dropping the rope, “I always end up having to let go.”

 

[jasonwolf]

Chap: 3

Experience


“You can’t go! I’m not letting you!” I screamed blocking the door with my twelve year old body.


“Mark get out of your brother’s way. He has to get to the airport.” My mother insisted trying to pry me away from the frame.


“NO! They’re gonna send him away. He’s not allowed to go!” I demanded holding onto the knob.


My brother asked my mother to step back. He crouched down to my level looking into my tear filled eyes.


“Hey bud, you know I’ll be back. I wouldn’t have joined the army if I didn’t know I could handle it. You’ll see, next year at christmas I’m gonna bring you the best present. Besides, ya know, me.” He joked knowing that as much as I’d fight I’d have to smile.


The tears kept coming though. I was just a kid, but I knew what was going on in the world. I had seen the war, I had seen 9/11. I knew what he was doing. Why’d it have to be him though. Why’d he have to go fight? Couldn’t anyone else take his place?


He gently guided me out of the way and stepped out the door.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I arrived back from my walk alone silently going to my room. Night had fallen over the plains. I sat in the darkness just trying to sort out my thoughts. I heard the door creak open and I thought it was someone carrying a candle, but soon Jercio revealed himself to be holding his own tail like a torch.


“Cham.” He greeted me letting go of his tail and walking up to me.


“Hey...bud” I said the painful memories still there.


“Cha charar?” He said looking up at me concerned.


“I’m OK. Just some things from the past. Not everything has gone my way in life, and sometimes those bad times catch up to you. No matter how many years you put between them you can’t forget. Like scars they never totally disapper.”


“They often say ‘scars are signs of experience’.” Saul’s voice whispered as he entered the room, “Thought I’d check in. A Yanma buzzed in my window claiming he was told to come here.”


“Heh. He actually showed up.” I half smiled.


“I apologize for eavesdropping, but I feel you often bare the pain of your past and yet you fail to realize the strength it has given you. Not to keep sounding like a roadside mystic but, ‘The strongest blades are forged in the hottest fires’. You are the most determined person I’ve ever met. You know the pain that comes with war, and you’ve used that to give you strength. You’re brother would be proud.” Saul said putting a plate of food on my dresser before leaving.


In the end that mage wasn’t half bad. He was under stress, and we certainly hadn’t improved his condition when we arrived. He didn’t give up on us though. He’s done everything he could to give us a chance to give his people a chance.I ate the belated supper and went to sleep not feeling too bad.


The next few weeks were spent in the usual way training myself and pokemon. The yanma earned himself the name Skitter after his weird way of walking. He came around to working with us eventually. He was much faster than Reaper, but not as strong. I often had him practice recon setting up a system of communication to report back with. Having an eye on the skies would be massively helpful during travel.


Time passed quickly it was late summer and a fourth pokemon had joined me, a corphish, who I named Derelik, like derelict but not. He approved so it was all good. Der, his nickname, was my first water type so i consulted a lot with Jake since he had Tyr. He also had questions for me though as he had collected more himself during a two day exploration of some woods to the north: a weedle and a slakoth, named Pynn and Mort respectively. Elizibeth reigned in a ponyta who she took to calling Empress. I feel like she was spoiling the thing naming it that, but not my call. Elizibeth was fond of the olde fairy tale medieval times the romanticized tales of gallantry and courage. She had twice talked me to sleep on the subject. Sure we were friends but it didn't mean we liked everything the other did. Her ponyta became the apple of her eye her little slice of fantasy.


The three of us were growing much closer it had been nearly six months early spring to late summer all of us training and learning to support each other. We still worried: about families, friends, and our old lives, but we were strong for each other.


Jake was a park guide from out in New York. He worked at his family butcher shop until he finished college and joined the park service. He just had his twenty second birthday the week before we all came here too. He had solemnly called it his "unwitting going away party".


Elizibeth told us all about her life in New Hampshire. She was studying to be a vet, but for big animals not just little puppies. Her uncle and aunt had a farm with horses and one year a foal was born in late winter and the vet couldn’t make it nor could her uncle do anything for the premature horse. Lizi decided right then she wouldn't let another animal die like that. I thought it was a cute story if not clichéd.


I of course shared my simple little town life in Vermont. I worked in a lumberyard that also did some sculpture and carving work. It was owned by my friend Tom's dad so things went pretty well there. It's where i got my skill with an ax and covered my needs.


One night we were hanging out around the central fire all telling stories and having a good time. I was telling stories about back home mostly about my work.


"So you could say in classically trained with a chainsaw."


"There i no way you played stairway to heaven on one of those." Jake laughed.


"I'd love to show you, but kinda lacking gas and a chainsaw. It's all in the editing anyways." I added before downing more ale, "Saul why didn't you tell us sooner you had a cellar full of alcohol?"


"Yes I'll tell the rowdy youths about my wine cellar that will go well."


"Bah. You're no fun. If we teach you anything i hope it's how to loosen up." I scoffed.


Lizi chimed on as well, "You really do need to take a break. Stressing over everything clouds your judgement more than wine. Speaking of which..."


Lizi took the bottle of wine next to her and refilled her glass. I was content with my stein and set it aside before starting another story.


"So any of you guys seen one of those wood statues made with chainsaws? I actually was learning how to make those."


"Lile the bear ones with lanterns?" Jake asked having just finished another drink himself.


"Uhm i guess. Theres a lot of things you can make."


"Well lanern beers are the best." Jake said his speech slurring even more.


“Ok this is officially too much alcohol for you.” Saul said standing up and taking Jake’s stein.


“Noooo I gothis!” Jake stood up to contest the wizard and ferociously hugged him.


“Visp!” Saul hissed and Jake passed out. “At least the cantrips still function even under this damned curse. Couldn’t see life without them.”


Saul put Jake back into his chair before heading towards the stairs.


“As interesting as your world is I have work to tend to this evening. Do try to not inebriate yourselves.” Saul half joked.


I sighed relaxing and leaning back in my chair. The tower had grown into a real home for me. Something had changed as of late. I felt like I belonged here. Maybe saul was more right than he thought. Maybe we were the heroes he needed. We all had progressed astoundingly well as if these were the tasks we were meant to do. Could it be possible that we were going to save this nation?


I stared into the fire reminded of a simpler time. When my brother and I would go on little fake camping trips just him and me down the block in this tiny patch of woods. He’d be proud I hope. I was always looking up to him, and he always had high hopes for me.


My vision shifted through the flames to Lizi. I smirked at her moving around to the other side and sitting next to her where Jake had been before.


"What's with that look?" She asked but didn't protest.


"I dunno how do i look?"


"Handsome, a bit rough around the edges but not bad." She smiled, but then sighed looking away, “Don’t get your hopes up over that. Still too many things to focus on.”


“It’s fine. I don’t buy into the whole friendzone thing. Weird to think nine months ago we never even knew each other. I’d call you and Jake my best friends. I’ve grown to doubt that we get to go home, but ya know what I’d be ok with that sort of. I didn’t really have anyone back home sure people I’ll miss, but people I’d have left behind for something like this.”


“Makes you lucky I still miss my family. I hope everyone is ok, and i really hope they aren’t stressed out about us missing.”


“Well I don’t know really, and neither does Saul when it comes to our world. For all we know this is like narnia where time is all messed up. Maybe we’re just gone.”


Elizibeth sighed looking into the fire depressed by a sudden thought, “I hope we aren’t forgotten.”


“From your stories no one could forget you. You’re amazing Lizi.” I smiled to her before going off towards my room, “Good night. We’re gonna make this all work.”


There wasn’t much room for weapons training inside, so instead Saul gave me more studies of the kingdom and its holds. We were currently in the southern prairie a rolling open area that was just east of the Cador mountain range. The hold here was Lyrton a largely an agricultural area. It was one of the last places taken in the war the hold was only simple farmers and livestock herders important to the nation from a simple economic sense, but with it’s lower defenses there was no reason to rush to conquer it. All the other holds also produced food Lyrton just focused on that providing a sort of national granary a place that would always make food even if there was famine elsewhere. These factors made it our first target. The previous lord was exiled from the main city supposedly living out in one of the small farming hamlets now.


The winter months were bitterly cold. I was happy to have Jercio nearby. Nothing like a portable fireplace for those below zero nights. As Saul did for me I began doing studies with my pokemon. I worked hard to get them used to working with each other. Reaper and Skitter were the most similar being both bug flying types, but still were very different. They all had to get past their natural competition to survive and instead work together. With time they grew to accept others though there were still tensions at times. Derelik was often an upstart and Jercio would try to quiet hom leading to squabbles, and Reaper was rather detatched to them all. At best he'd acknowledge Jercio, but it was hard not listen to the silver dragon. Jercio was my first mate and frequently ended up echoing me.


They were an odd assortment, but they were my compatriots. Together we could rebuild. We were well into the winter before anything interesting developed..


I had gotten the habit of going for walks to clear my head. The air was amazingly fresh here even if the cold gave it a bite. I had lived in a little town on a forest, but even then the air tasted like exhaust and saw dust. There was white in every direction and Saul's tower in dark gray rising up from it all.


That day there was another gray tower. One of smoke. A pillar rising up on the horizon. I was already a ways out, so i had to decide then and there what to do. I twisted the top button of my coat and it turned pure white from the leather’s natural brown. I pulled up a hood and headed towards the smoke. It was just a thin band in the sky, so that told me campfire, but who would be out here?


The closer I got the more my worries compiled. Xarvin’s men were brutal and no matter how much training i had encountering one was the last thing i wanted to do. I could hear vague conversation as i drew near. I spied a tiny camp of two tents and a man in studded leather tending the campfire. I tried to get closer but snow is hardly a silent material. I made it two steps before it squeaked and the man was bolt upright. He drew a war axe, one of rather impressive craftsmanship with the blade like massive bear claws, and turned to me. I had the high ground here, their camp being in a gully of sorts, but that meant little since all I carried was my falchion. With one fluid motion the massive blade was in my hands, the draw having become an instinct. The steel sang across the open landscape as it escaped its scabbard. The man hadn't looked confident in the first place, but now was panicked. I smirked seeing him afraid of me. It's a hell of an ego boost. Then he caught me off guard as he steeled himself and stood his ground.


“You're either really brave or terribly stupid.” I growled taking a half step towards him.


“When there's something worthy to fight for it’s not so hard.” He barked back. His voice was more terrifying than the man. It almost didn't fit him. A booming voice of authority.


“There's nothing worthy about Xarvin’s campaign.” I retorted ultimately unphased.


“You… hold your blade. I think mistakes have been made here.” He said quickly as he dropped his sword arm to the side.


There was a rustling from one of the tents as a young boy emerged.


“Dad what's happened? Who is that?” He asked wary of me.


“Hmm. Xarvin is scum, but I doubt he'd send a child to the front lines. What are you doing out here then? The only thing for miles is... well what are you doing here?”


I scanned the man up and down. Funny how I just stared him down and now needed to look again to actually realize his appearance. The first time I just took what I needed to fight him. Now I saw an older man hair graying at the edges. He kept his hair, a beard included, cut short made me think of a medieval buzz cut. He was a bigger guy about my height, but bigger and bulkier. Must have worked hard long days all his life.


“I am Latner. This is my son Samuel. We're refugees from Lyrton.”


“Lyrton? I thought that was far off from here?”


“It is. I’m an exile. Was head of the town guard and so I was exiled from Lyrton.”


“And they sent your son with you?”


“No, I chose to come. I couldn’t let him be all alone.”


“Aye, wouldn’t know what to do if I were alone out here.”


“Well I know a safe place out of this snow. Come on. Besides I think my teacher would like to meet you.”