With a lead to their traitorous cohort, Taze pushes the group onward so that he might claim his revenge. But hunger and exhaustion bring them to a stop only to learn that things may very well be tougher than they thought.

A shorty but still a goody. Mainly sets up some character bits. ...I also completely forgot about most of this chapter. I had finished both this and the first one a while ago, but I was waiting for some things and well....yeah. *rubs head* Oops. But read and enjoy, and please tell me what you think. I love feedback.

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Characters & Story (C) Me
Pokemon (C) Nintendo

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Retribution
Chapter 2
By Mecha-MightyenaDOR



The sun beat down, heat casting over the open field as the group of youths marched toward the forest and Fort Dichon beyond it. With the knowledge that the luxio he was hunting was due to leave the fort soon Taze didn’t want to waste any time. The pace was proving brutal for the less motivated in the group, the quilava pushing through his hunger and sore paws. “Taze! We need to stop and eat!”

The fire type mon growled, looking to Azur, “Awww is the little princess in need of her royal meal?”

The houndour snarled, “Get bent you little shit! Not all of us are hell bent on getting ourselves killed!”

Taze rolled his eyes, scoffing, “You’re just being your normal pampered little spoiled bitch self. You want to rest your sore little paws you can do it alone! Not like you’re helping, or have ever been any help at all during this whole damn mess.”

Azur spouted out a counter insult, Mako growling low as he rolled his eyes and shoved both of his earphones in to tune out the shouting and hollering between the two. It was the only thing he could do to keep himself from engaging in the obnoxious infighting himself, demanding that the two shut up. The conflicts were more common than fights with the Taka Empire now, and it was wearing the entire group down, Derra especially as she tried in vain to get Taze and Azur to cease their bickering.

Though the two were still spitting out insults, the altered poochyena did manage to convince Taze of the value of stopping for food and rest. Reluctantly the quilava acquiesced to the request, stopping just a little way into the forest to gather more supplies of food, Blair also pulling out several of the water bottles she carried. Taking a seat they started eating and drinking their fill, letting their paws recover from the constant marching. Rein gave a relieved sigh as he chomped on a berry, wiggling his feet as he enjoyed a pause to their trek when suddenly his ears twitched as he heard talking.

The chu grinned, “We’ve got some company. The pleasant kind no less, how serendipitous.” As he finished talking two pokemon emerged into the clearing, a roselia and smeargle, both female. The blinked as they noticed the group of pokemon, taking immediate note of the genetically altered mon in particular. Rein waved, “Hello ladies.”

The roselia cleared her throat, “Oh, um excuse us.” she waved lightly, “Not many pokemon come out of the forest this far.” The smeargle took a berry and lightly nibbled on it as she looked over the group, the roselia smiling lightly, “So ummm…you don’t look like anyone we’ve seen around the area…what brings you to our little home.”

Rein smiled, scooting over and offering them a place to sit, “We’re on our way to deal with a maniac with delusions of conquest.” The two stared at him blankly, making Rein chuckles, “I’m more than certain that sounds farfetched, but it’s true. We’re on a quest to stop his evil before it’s too late, so to that end we’re headed for a coast where a fort is supposed to be.”

Taze grumbled lightly, as the smeargle’s eyes went wide, “Oh! We thought Merk was telling his tall tales again…he told us a couple of weeks ago that he saw a big human castle along the coast, filled with a bunch of people and pokemon in weird armor.” She covered her mouth in awe, “You’re going to attack a big fort all by yourselves?”

Rein grinned, striking a heroic pose, “It’s what we do, we’ve already sacked several of their little bases so far, one more will prove less than challenging.” He chuckled, “But my manners…my name is Rein.” He held out his paw, “What are your names’ my lovely visions of beauty?”

The smeargle blushed while the roselia giggled while answering, “Mine is Saria. This is Mona. Very nice to meet you Rein.” She held her rose to his paw, the chu giving it a quick gentle kiss, making a blush come to her face now, giggling more.

Rein chuckled, smiling big, “Saria and Mona huh? Very lovely names, very fitting.” He chuckled more, “It’s quite a pleasure to meet the both of you as well.” He performed the same paw kissing action on the smeargle, making her blush and try and hide her face with a giggle.

Before he could say another word though, Rein yelped as he felt a smack against his back, a tentacle grabbing his ear and yanking it and pulling him away. Blair giggling as she brought her cousin back in line and kept him from flirting anymore, “That’s enough Casanova.” She rolled her eyes.

Taze looked to the two females, “Have you two heard anything else strange recently?”

The two thought about it for a minute before Mona spoke, “Well there was that thing Monty saw…he’s pretty old but yesterday he came running like he was young again, screaming about this demon he saw.”

Saria nodded, “Right…he said it was this weird creature, he thought it was a pokemon at first, but it wasn’t like any pokemon he saw before.” She tried to recall the description, “It was supposedly black and grey…with long red hair down to its feet. He also said it had vicious looking red claws and it was slashing up everything it ran past…and it was running really fast according to him.”

The smeargle nodded, “Yeah…actually….didn’t Monty say it was headed in the direction of the coast?” The roselia nodded, both looking to the group, “Do you think whatever Monty saw has something to do with the evil guys you’re going to fight?”

Rein sat and thought, “Probably…if they really have gotten pokemon from across the ocean…it might even be a chimera.”

Cryst cleared her throat, blushing as she spoke, “It would help if we could see it for ourselves…all the chimera we’ve seen look like amalgamations of pokemon…but I think from how they described it…this one sounds like it’s unified in its appearance. What was his name? Monty…he said it was all black, gray, and red right?” The two girls nodded, “Than I’m sure whoever the old man saw it was a new pokemon.”

Taze growled, “Meaning whoever that mon was…they’re definitely working with the empire…and they were heading for the coast fast and alone…”

Cryst nodded, “R…right. He must be a general, and they know where we’re going…we’ve been in an open field last several days…they’d have an easy time watching us from a distance without us any the wiser.”

Taze growled low, eyes glowing as his paws clenched into fists, “Meaning Leonel is probably going to run away! We need to get moving before he escapes!” The quilava was already up and ready to resume marching. The others groaned, shaking their heads as the protested his desire to push ahead when they had only JUST stopped to rest.

“Taze! We’ve been walking non-stop since we found out where Leonel was…and we still have a ways to go! If you keep having us march at THIS pace we’ll be exhausted by the time we reach the fort.” Rein sparked lightly, “Yes, we’re probably going to miss Leonel…chances are we already have though. We’ll be able to find out where he is afterwards though…but if we going running in there, tired and hungry when we know they’re ready for us…do I need to explain why this is a bad idea?”

Taze was going to start shouting but the others quickly voiced their agreement with the pikachu’s sentiment over the situation. Reluctantly, the quilava agreed that there was a good chance they had already missed the luxio…sighing he took a seat and resumed eating, flames on his back still roaring though.

Rein sighed, noticing that the girls had left, causing him to turn and glare and Blair, “And you, stop hitting me!” Mako immediately glared and snarled at Rein, catching the chu off guard and making him jump.

Derra sighed, looking around at her family as she tried to keep Mako from attacking Rein. This wasn’t the way a family was supposed to act; they weren’t supposed to be at each other’s throats. Managing to get the buizel and chu to separate she gave an exasperated sigh, shaking her head as she sat down. “Guys come on…we all need to relax…we’re getting too snappy with one another.”

Taze spat out fire, “Wouldn’t be the case if a certain little princess hadn’t thought she was fit to be a leader.”

Azur spat right back, “Maybe if someone didn’t’ think they we’re actually relevant!”

Derra whined, “This is exactly what I’m talking about! We shouldn’t be acting like this! We used to be a big family looking out for each other.”

Taze flared up, growling as he got in a glaring contest with Azur, “Key word…used to!”

The quilava stormed off, Derra whimpering lightly as she saw that Mako was still glaring at Rein, who was glaring at Blair. Everything was falling apart, and the little winged poochyena had no idea what to do. As insults and threats were thrown about once again, Derra tried her best to keep her family together. “Guys! Please stop it!”

*****

“Heh…so what’s so special about dis armor? I’ve heard lot of talk about how great it’s supposed to be.” Jarlnel dragged a claw over one of the protective chest plates, “Don’t look to impressive to me.”

Leonel rolled his eyes, pointing to the indentation in the armor, “This is what makes it special my…psychologically unstable friend…in this slot goes an element plate…just like the kind arceus himself uses.” The luxio smiled lightly, “When placed, the armor becomes infused with the plate’s energy…a grass plate would render anyone, even fire types, resistant to water attacks…a steel plate would render any poison type attack worthless….and dark plates…those turn Taze into a normal quilava.”

“Taze? He be one of dem kids right? What be so special about him then? Why would you need a dark plate for a little quilava? Last I checked they aren’t really known for dem psychic attacks.”

“Because Taze isn’t just any ordinary quilava…with Flint gone he’s now the most powerful member of the entire group. He unique heritage grants him access to psychic powers to deal with fights; he’s reliant on them to win…and worse is that he’s apparently fused his fire and psychics together.” Luxio looked to the zoroark, “Do not underestimate him just because you have type advantage either. Just because he can’t use his abilities on you doesn’t mean he won’t use it on the things around you.”

“Yeah yeah…I get it…don’t give him a chance to bust out his psychics.” Jarlnel waved off the electric type’s concerns. “I’ll just move in quick and carve out his eyes…see how strong he is when he’s screaming and blind.”

“I’ve had everyone here use the dark plates to render him useless, so long as you can cut him down, the others shouldn’t be as difficult. That said you shouldn’t underestimate them…I hope you prove up to snuff for this mission Jarlnel. Lord Sima expects results.”

The dark type cracked a sinister smirk, “Oh don’t worry…I will deliver results…and a nice batch of bodies too.” He flexed his claws, cackling as Leonel departed from the main keep.

The luxio shook his head, “Lunatic…at least he should be able to deal a decisive blow to Taze and the others…though we might be better suited to sending him after Flint and Albel.” He passed by a soldier, “You there…make sure everyone remembers to keep their plates in their armor! And stay on guard! They’ll be arriving in the next few days and we can’t afford for you to be caught by surprise.”

The man saluted, “Yes sir!” he rushed to inform the others of the orders, Leonel heading out of the gate and off toward his next destination. The luxio sighed, shaking his head, “Stupid kids…why are they so stubborn about this.”

*****

Flint cracked his neck to the side, moving at a steady trot, Tora right beside him humming a little tune. Albel was at the head of the group, ears and eyes constantly on alert for any sign of potential maggots to slaughter. The lopunny stretched out her arms before looking to Flint, “So what exactly is your plan after we deal with the Taka anyway Flint?”

The absol was silent for awhile before he responded, “I don’t know…it depends on if I’m strong enough…if I’m not then I’ll keep traveling and training…if I am…I don’t know.”

Tora tilted her head, “How will you know if you’re strong enough?”

“I’ll know it when I feel it…”

The lopunny stayed silent for a bit before shrugging and twirling so she was in front of him, “Well regardless of where you go after we win I’ll stick beside you, you definitely could use more company than a grump like Albel.” Flint just grunted, Tora smiling as she went back to his side.

*****

As a storm raged outside the keep, Sima sat upon his throne, tapping his finger on the arm, “Are you sure this new creation of yours will be up to the task Anubis? The three of them together are NOT to be underestimated.”

“I’m positive my lord…I’ve decided to abandon the crippling overspecialization I used for the original batch of constructs…this one will utilize two strengths in order to stand a better chance…I’ve even utilized the DNA of the new pokemon your lordship brought over from Unova.” He chuckled, a grin plastered on the genetic manipulator’s face.

“Hmmm…I hope you’re right…send it to meet with Garland at once, I’ve already got a plan set for when that insufferable lucario and absol appear.” Sima kept tapping his fingers, “Before that though…what is this project you’re working on. Rumors flow freely Anubis, and I’d hate to think you’re hiding something from me.” The guards in the room immediately took an aggressive stance.

Anubis wasn’t fazed, smirking triumphantly, “Actually my lord, I had planned to tell you this very meeting…it would appear that the continent of Kalos has recently had a wonderful new discovery. I’ve been attempting to use it in one of my new creations…the results have proven…oh so sublime. It changes everything that we thought we knew and will make arceus look like a simpering little child! I’ve already taken initiative and a boat is already coming back with more recruits and a very special set of gems!”

Curiosity peeked, Sima grinned wickedly, “Is that a fact? Do share Anubis…tell me what this sublime chimera of yours can do, that will forever alter what we know.” Anubis’ smile consumed his face, the gleam in his eyes further drawing Sima into the new discovery even further. As the scientist’s words sunk in a sudden bout of laughter filled the throne room, the roar of Sima’s mirth drowning out even the thunder outside.