Exo-Raikou
It's over. I'm sorry, but it's over.
The fortress in Hearthome was a twisted structure on the inside. Corridor upon corridor snaked through the building, some ending in barracks, some in storage rooms, some in rooms that showed giant maps of places in Sinnoh, and some that ended in rooms where unspeakable acts were performed on the prisoners of war. One of these corridors, however, led to a vast room. In the middle of that room was a table that displayed not just a giant map of Sinnoh, but of the known world. At the end of that table was a large, black throne.
The Dragonite that usually occupied that throne was currently hovering above the chair with a thoroughly disgusted look on his face. Other pokemon that were seated at the war table - the Dragonite's lietenants - had more intent, focused looks; they were all focused on the mini statues currently placed on the Sinnoh map.
"We're still not sure where the Eterna forest-dwellers stand, sir," a Roserade said, tracing a flower along the edge of the forest, "When you made the 'call,' they swarmed the neighboring city and killed what humans they could find, but since then they retreated back to the forest and seem content to not leave; very few of them have gone as far as the Wayward cave, much less this city."
"The human settlement of Veilstone is continuing to fortify," a Pidgeot noted, "the Starlies near the city are reporting that at least once every week, new humans are entering the city."
The Dragonite's eyes narrowed, and he touched down in at the end of the table, "why aren't the Starlies attacking these new humans before they enter the settlement as per my orders?"
The Pidgeot looked up, "Sir, we were successfully doing so at first, but the humans adapted quickly - new arrivals are now guarded by very powerful pokemon; far too powerful for the Starlies to overwhelm."
"We could try bringing in stragglers from the south," an Ampharos offered, "many of the pokemon there -"
"Are far too complacent and are satisfied with the marsh they have," Jiongu cut in, "Our previous attempts to recruit most of them to our cause were in vain, and I see little purpose in wasting more resources trying to get to them. Let them waste away in their Marshlands. It makes no difference to me."
A silence fell over the room for a time. Then, finally, a Bisharp spoke up: "What of the forces on that subcontinent to the North? Surely there would be plenty of good recruits there?"
"I've received no word from the Psychic brigade we dispatched there," a Slowking spoke up, "however, I do believe travel to the North is an advisable suggestion - that is, the north past the mountain, in the tundra?"
"I do believe that would be an excellent idea," a new, whimsical voice cut in. All of the pokemon at the stone table turned to the entrance of the chamber - that voice came from a Chandelure that was even now floating into the room.
Jiongu's expression remained unchanged. "Accessing the north has so far proven to be another vain effort. The mountain impedes direct flight, and crossing the summit of that mountain has cost me the lives of many flyers, and our scouts reported that the initial attacks have made the tunnels inside the mountain very unstable."
"Well, there is a much easier way that would not require you to sacrifice flyers," Angon said casually, floating towards Jiongu all the while "fly north while not attempting to pass the mountain, then when you reach the coastline past the mountain, move west. The tundra would almost certainly be in reach from there."
Jiongu started to say something, but Angon cut him off, "Plus, I am sure that an addition of many Ice-types to your legions could very well oh so heavily tip the scales when we launch the attack on Veilstone."
There was a pause while the Dragonite considered the possibilities of this latest action. After another pause, he nodded. "Fine then. Send word to our strongest Fire types and Flyers. I want us to be ready to depart from the settlement by sunset at the latest."
Angon nodded, and started to float out of the chamber.
"Which includes you of course, Angon." That sentence made the Chandelure freeze in his tracks. Jiongu had the distinct impression that if the Chandelure had an actual mouth, the smile on it would be fading right now. "Do you object?"
"N-not at all sir," Angon said, "I will simply have to tell the other ghosts to put my current experiments on hold." Jiongu could tell that the idea of Angon abandoning his precious science projects was in fact objectionable, but the Chandelure knew better than to say as much. "Good," he growled, "you do that, then. As for the rest of you, send word out to the Fires and Flyers, of both this city and any that we have sway over in the wilds. Meeting adjourned."
Without waiting to see if any of the generals had any more business to attend to, he shot out of the room. The Bisharp looked at the opening that the Dragonite had just flown though, and turned to Angon. "When you see him next, tell him that a few of my scouts have possibly located where it is hiding?"
The Chandelure's eyes visibly lit up. "But of course, my informative friend. I'll be sure to do just that." And with that, he too departed from the war room. And after he was gone, each of the other generals of Jiongu's army filed out of the room, each with their own business to attend to.
----
"Did Maylene say who she was sending?"
As Robert was asking this question, he found himself zipping up his jacket, as the air around him had gotten very cold all of a sudden. Jack, for his part, paid the cold little heed. "She merely said she would be looking for trainers that she deemed as 'capable.' You humans are always very vague about what you consider to be 'capable,' so it could be someone as strong as you, or any common garden trainer. I would think, as a gym leader, she would likely see it as meaning someone that could fare well in a battle against her or her fellow leaders."
Robert nodded yet again, and suddenly found himself having to pull the brim of his hat down to keep his face from being continuously pelted by hail that seemed just as random as the sudden temperature drop was. "But I bet she'll mostly assessing us based on how we'll we've fought against the rebels, meaning that someone like me would... be going... up.. north."
Jack looked at his trainer with the hint of an amused smile as Robert finished connecting the dots. "If it's any consolation, this weather will be good practice for when we actually go north."
"You're hilarious," Robert grunted, reaching for one of the poke balls on his belt, "a real act, you know that? Have you been taking lessons from Supay?" He dropped the poke ball before Samurott could answer the rhetorical question, deploying a large moth with six orange wings.
"Helios, could you clear up this little downpour? Or whatever it is you call hail?" The Volcarona started to say something, thought better of it, and flapped her wings once. Upon doing so, the light from the sun's rays increased around the spot she was floating on, clearing away the freak storm.
The Dragonite that usually occupied that throne was currently hovering above the chair with a thoroughly disgusted look on his face. Other pokemon that were seated at the war table - the Dragonite's lietenants - had more intent, focused looks; they were all focused on the mini statues currently placed on the Sinnoh map.
"We're still not sure where the Eterna forest-dwellers stand, sir," a Roserade said, tracing a flower along the edge of the forest, "When you made the 'call,' they swarmed the neighboring city and killed what humans they could find, but since then they retreated back to the forest and seem content to not leave; very few of them have gone as far as the Wayward cave, much less this city."
"The human settlement of Veilstone is continuing to fortify," a Pidgeot noted, "the Starlies near the city are reporting that at least once every week, new humans are entering the city."
The Dragonite's eyes narrowed, and he touched down in at the end of the table, "why aren't the Starlies attacking these new humans before they enter the settlement as per my orders?"
The Pidgeot looked up, "Sir, we were successfully doing so at first, but the humans adapted quickly - new arrivals are now guarded by very powerful pokemon; far too powerful for the Starlies to overwhelm."
"We could try bringing in stragglers from the south," an Ampharos offered, "many of the pokemon there -"
"Are far too complacent and are satisfied with the marsh they have," Jiongu cut in, "Our previous attempts to recruit most of them to our cause were in vain, and I see little purpose in wasting more resources trying to get to them. Let them waste away in their Marshlands. It makes no difference to me."
A silence fell over the room for a time. Then, finally, a Bisharp spoke up: "What of the forces on that subcontinent to the North? Surely there would be plenty of good recruits there?"
"I've received no word from the Psychic brigade we dispatched there," a Slowking spoke up, "however, I do believe travel to the North is an advisable suggestion - that is, the north past the mountain, in the tundra?"
"I do believe that would be an excellent idea," a new, whimsical voice cut in. All of the pokemon at the stone table turned to the entrance of the chamber - that voice came from a Chandelure that was even now floating into the room.
Jiongu's expression remained unchanged. "Accessing the north has so far proven to be another vain effort. The mountain impedes direct flight, and crossing the summit of that mountain has cost me the lives of many flyers, and our scouts reported that the initial attacks have made the tunnels inside the mountain very unstable."
"Well, there is a much easier way that would not require you to sacrifice flyers," Angon said casually, floating towards Jiongu all the while "fly north while not attempting to pass the mountain, then when you reach the coastline past the mountain, move west. The tundra would almost certainly be in reach from there."
Jiongu started to say something, but Angon cut him off, "Plus, I am sure that an addition of many Ice-types to your legions could very well oh so heavily tip the scales when we launch the attack on Veilstone."
There was a pause while the Dragonite considered the possibilities of this latest action. After another pause, he nodded. "Fine then. Send word to our strongest Fire types and Flyers. I want us to be ready to depart from the settlement by sunset at the latest."
Angon nodded, and started to float out of the chamber.
"Which includes you of course, Angon." That sentence made the Chandelure freeze in his tracks. Jiongu had the distinct impression that if the Chandelure had an actual mouth, the smile on it would be fading right now. "Do you object?"
"N-not at all sir," Angon said, "I will simply have to tell the other ghosts to put my current experiments on hold." Jiongu could tell that the idea of Angon abandoning his precious science projects was in fact objectionable, but the Chandelure knew better than to say as much. "Good," he growled, "you do that, then. As for the rest of you, send word out to the Fires and Flyers, of both this city and any that we have sway over in the wilds. Meeting adjourned."
Without waiting to see if any of the generals had any more business to attend to, he shot out of the room. The Bisharp looked at the opening that the Dragonite had just flown though, and turned to Angon. "When you see him next, tell him that a few of my scouts have possibly located where it is hiding?"
The Chandelure's eyes visibly lit up. "But of course, my informative friend. I'll be sure to do just that." And with that, he too departed from the war room. And after he was gone, each of the other generals of Jiongu's army filed out of the room, each with their own business to attend to.
----
"Did Maylene say who she was sending?"
As Robert was asking this question, he found himself zipping up his jacket, as the air around him had gotten very cold all of a sudden. Jack, for his part, paid the cold little heed. "She merely said she would be looking for trainers that she deemed as 'capable.' You humans are always very vague about what you consider to be 'capable,' so it could be someone as strong as you, or any common garden trainer. I would think, as a gym leader, she would likely see it as meaning someone that could fare well in a battle against her or her fellow leaders."
Robert nodded yet again, and suddenly found himself having to pull the brim of his hat down to keep his face from being continuously pelted by hail that seemed just as random as the sudden temperature drop was. "But I bet she'll mostly assessing us based on how we'll we've fought against the rebels, meaning that someone like me would... be going... up.. north."
Jack looked at his trainer with the hint of an amused smile as Robert finished connecting the dots. "If it's any consolation, this weather will be good practice for when we actually go north."
"You're hilarious," Robert grunted, reaching for one of the poke balls on his belt, "a real act, you know that? Have you been taking lessons from Supay?" He dropped the poke ball before Samurott could answer the rhetorical question, deploying a large moth with six orange wings.
"Helios, could you clear up this little downpour? Or whatever it is you call hail?" The Volcarona started to say something, thought better of it, and flapped her wings once. Upon doing so, the light from the sun's rays increased around the spot she was floating on, clearing away the freak storm.
