THE WOUNDS OF WAR

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The city of Argules was gigantic with many dazzling spots such as parks dedicated to each type of Pokémon with different leisure activities, streets full of flowers and mutual natural life, fascinating historical and cultural spots, but not one place was as beautiful and green as the great palace located in the center of the megalopolis. The place was extremely large and was home to the powers that managed not only the kingdom but also the continent, they were the Parliament which was the highest instance responsible for judging crimes on the continent and determining the laws, the Patron which encompassed the military power composed of the main police barracks and the lake base.


The last power was the Primordial, this composed of the Flamey royal family and its family tree consisting of dukes, counts, marquises, viscounts, barons and at the top of all the queen. The Majesty, who was not having such a dazzling day having a fit of rage, the Charizard was huffing and puffing in her royal chambers, fiddling with the large inverted triangle-shaped sapphire that was held in place by a solid gold necklace that looked as heavy as the precious jewel:


- That... ARRRGGG,LUCIOS!!! HOW CAN I HAVE A GENIUS SON AND AT THE SAME TIME IDIOT....ARRRG prefers to become a Soldier rather than become a king, what's in his head? SHIT!!!


*CRASH*


Shattering a chair from her luxurious suite made Queen Lencia finally able to show her first signs of calm, Lucius Feraligatr the royal advisor was observing his boss in the most professional manner possible without showing any unnecessary reaction towards her behavior. He just takes a handkerchief from a nearby dresser and hands it to Charizard to wipe her sweat, Lencia looks at the outstretched hand of her advisor taking the handkerchief and turns back to him ashamed of his slightly stingy behavior:


- I understand your reaction, my queen, the career the prince has chosen is not one of the safest. But it is not permanent, that Kirlia who serves Madame Xerneas has spoken on her behalf that he can stop being a Soldier whenever he wants, besides it might be good for his apprenticeship.


At no point in his speech did Feraligatr raise his voice or speak against the queen's speech, he just did his duty in a more than exemplary manner trying to calm her down by showing his wisdom to make her see from another perspective. However, the Charizard despite being visibly calmer still seemed quite apprehensive, she walked a little and sat down on her large double bed facing first the floor in a melancholy way and soon after holds her sapphire raising her head directing her gaze to her advisor:


- But you remember what happened with Magnus.... Dealing with Hellstalkers is not for everyone, I... I don't want this life for him, I'd rather he just takes care of the kingdom... I didn't spend years fighting in the "Umbra Confrontations" to lose my son the same way I lost my husband.


Lucius nods understanding perfectly the queen's fear not belittling him one bit, his advisor remembered perfectly the period of terror known as "Umbra Confrontations" where a sect almost destroyed the world because of two cursed legendary Pokémon. The truth is that the consequences of that confrontation resonate even in the present, to make matters worse scholars believed that the emergence of Hellstalkers will occur precisely because of the war:


- Cody is not Magnus my queen, your son is very powerful and sagacious.... I am sure that he will still be a great king, but until then he still needs to learn many things and...


-I can't learn them all in Argules.


Lucius is startled by the voice of the prince who cut him off, turning to his direction he sees Cody who kept his serious and respectful posture at the door of his mother's suite already making room for Rex Lucario to enter followed by Naz Gabite. The prince stands beside Naz while Rex gets closer to Lencia and Lucios, this one transmitting a satisfied smile on his face seeming to be the bearer of very pleasant news, knowing his place in the hierarchy, the great Feraligatr bows showing respect leaving the front of the Charizard Queen allowing the Soldiers to see her:


- I was informed that there were Hellstalkers attacking my citizens, has this problem been contained?


The queen said with a serious tone as if speaking to mere servants avoiding looking at her son who repeated his mother's behavior, giving a proud laugh Lucario takes a few steps forward:


- There is no way to be sure yet your majesty, however we took a big step today by capturing one of the elements that by the looks of it was gaining more power by petrifying Pokémon Beserker nearby. They must be interrogating him right now, so I'll soon know how many and maybe who the other Hellstalkers are.


Lucius listens carefully to Rex's words, yet he doesn't fail to notice both Charmeleon and Gabite who seemed to be visibly shaken by something:


- Was there a serious problem in the capture of this Hellstalker in question? And who might he be?


Feraligatr asked as he was concerned for Prince Cody's physical integrity, and from the looks of it the questions stirred both Cody and Naz a bit. Cody tightened his cloak still slightly gray from the fight against the Kricketune, as Gabite bowed her head looking at the ground seemingly sad:


- Cody had to fight alone for a while, but he proved to be very good at combat handling his first incident perfectly well, many can't even survive for the second. According to Naz, the Hellstalker in question was Nicon the Kricketune of the Argules symphony orchestra.


When the Soldier leader finished speaking a sudden wave of heat could be felt, something in which Lucius was already aware of what was about to happen, the Feraligatr stood in front of his Majesty bowing slightly as a sign of respect to the Soldiers:


- I understand, please continue the investigations prioritizing the lives of our citizens Network Argulences, and tell the base to increase the level of missions that will be done outside the city walls. With these Hellstalkers on the loose and able to act away from prying eyes, the rescue teams could be in danger. Now please give Your Majesty some privacy.


The smiling Lucario looks at his subordinates behind him demanding that they repeat exactly what he did there, so Rex Cody and Naz put their arms behind their bodies and bow to the advisor and his queen, with all the diplomatic formalities fully done they leave. The Pokémon then approaches the door using its Ice Beam in its left hand in which it made a circle with its fingers.


Purposely freezing his left hand is in a hollow cylindrical shape due to the position that he left it, the advisor then positions it near his head putting it against the door and thus can hear perfectly everything happening behind it. Realizing that there was no one else on the other side, Lucius opens his frozen hand, shattering the ice and then nodding positively to the queen sitting on her bed:


- DO YOU SEE LUCIUS? ON THE SAME DAY I LOST MY SON AND MY FAVORITE MUSICIAN, WHAT A LIFE MY ARCEUS, WHAT A LIFE! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?! I THREW CHROME MUD AT THE CREATOR TO STEAL THE JEWEL OF LIFE, IT CAN ONLY BE... TO TOP IT OFF WE MIGHT BE DEALING WITH A HORDE OF HELLSTALKERS, AFTER ALL, DEALING WITH BESERKER WASN'T ENOUGH?


After venting all her frustration, she lies down on the bed with her belly up looking at the ceiling, so the Charizard soon calms down making even that heat caused by the queen's flaming tail diminish:

- I thought having a prodigy son in battles would be better for me, only it's a big headache. That reminds me, your son graduated too... You rarely tell me about him, I imagine he must be like Cody, or maybe just like his father.


Smiles Lencia hoping for a positive message coming from Feraligatr, however, the Pokémon faces the ground taking a deep breath showing he is worried about something:


-Your Highness ... Well ... Luke is not like Cody and not even like me, in fact he is not even capable of battle, if it wasn't for his intelligence, he possibly wouldn't have been able to graduate. But I know his potential, but unfortunately, he hasn't embraced it yet.


Lucius conveyed a lot of regret in his words by speaking them without looking at Lencia all the time just staring at the ground, the queen didn't understand how her advisor felt, however, she must have imagined that the son must have been an embarrassment to his father due to his inadequacies.


Far away from there in the dungeon of the "Fountain of Lost Dreams", Nái Tyranitar had already recovered from her sudden exhaustion by sitting on some improvised diamonds as a bench, on her lap her youngest son Saren Larvitar was looking admiringly at his older brother. Luke Croconaw used the Aqua Tail move moving with the active blow, where its tail passed through the air it left a trail of floating water which the Pokémon seemed to control as it danced:


- WOW LUKE!!! YOU USE THIS MOVE BETTER THAN A LOT OF MASTERS IN SCHOOL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND DAD COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, HE WANTS YOU TO CAUSE TSUNAMI WITH AQUA TAIL?!


- In the beginning , Luke was very weak in handling his moves, he could barely create water in the Water type moves. But these were difficult times and Argules suffered some attacks during the "Umbra clashes", Luke was only a Totodile at the time but he suffered a lot too.


Nai stood up and went to her stepson who raised his head to see his stepmother, the great Tyranitar then hugged him gently making Luke look surprised and unresponsive:


- Unfortunately, in the confrontation Luke's mother died and it took time for Luke to bond with me, it would be lonely for him and with his father the pressure added with the attacks the intimidation should be total. However, there are evils that come for the good, and I was able to meet him because of all this, being able to teach and pass on the PP techniques I learned in the Larvitar village, today that Totodile is as powerful or more powerful than any Feraligatr.


The sweet words of his stepmother warmed his Water-like heart, because of this the Croconaw corresponds to that hug closing his eyes tightly without delay he can feel small arms on his leg opening his eyes and seeing Saren there too:


- Thank you, mother, thank you Saren. I know I am not alone and I know I can do more....


Hours passed after this moment with Croconaw still practicing his ability to control PP, Nái took advantage of this moment to introduce the technique to the little Larvitar. It doesn't take long and Saren sits on the floor panting and unable to move even his arms without pain, Tyranitar decides to give her son some time to recover and calls her stepson close.


Luke was creating thin ice flakes with the Ice Punch and water when he hears the call of his stepmother approaching her and her younger brother, when he gets there, he hands some flakes to Saren:


- I made these with spring water, you can eat or suck if you want, they are great for regaining strength.


Being impressed with his older brother's work almost immediately, Larvitar gobbles up some of the ice flakes, Croconaw is grateful for this, even touching his red scarf as he always did. However, this time he didn't have so much time for that, his stepmother approached him with a stone wrapped in several black and red shoelaces with their tips being shown by two rounded needles:


- Luke, your next lesson is to manipulate even smaller particles of water to form new things, I will demonstrate how with this tangle of laces. Pay close attention, I will use my Stone Edge to manipulate part of the stone stuck in the middle of them and Ancient Power to give it firmness.


The two brothers watched attentively as Tyranitar slowly separated the stone and the shoelace in the air without touching them. In a matter of a few minutes the stone and the shoelace turned into a cap with two little ears, this small one which fit Larvitar perfectly:


- WOOOOOOOOW, INCREDIBLE, hehehe, I loved my present.... Aw...Awww... AAAAATCHOOO!!! Aaaarrrg, it only looks like she's just dust....


Giving a brief laugh Nai moves her left arm a little, with this movement several grains came out of Larvitar's cap forming that stone from before in Tyranitar's hand:


- It wasn't just any dust, it was this stone, it alone with a certain degree of PP energy was able to modify the laces and create her cap. But now I need you to give it to me, it is for your brother's training.


Saren returns the cap to his mother a little reluctantly because he really liked the accessory, especially since most of the Network had some piece of clothing to differentiate them from the Beserker to symbolize something like maturation, and Larvitar was the only one in the family who still did not have any accessory. Nái does the PP manipulation on the stone once again using her grains to completely undo the red and black cap, as she rolls the ball of string again the stepmother hands her stepson the same:


- Remember Saren, what we do here at the Fountain of Lost Dreams has to stay in the most absolute secrecy, Luke has entrusted this secret to you and I will also entrust it to you saying that everything I do here must stay here.


The great Tyranitar's statement obviously caused confusion in Saren's mind, for to him that technique would be very good at helping Pokémon make their lives easier even more so besides being great offensively for the event he witnessed when Luke destroyed the great stone to help his mother. The Croconaw went to a quieter corner to perform the feat his stepmother had done having more focus on the process, Nai then turned again to her youngest son who questions her about what he had thought:


- Saren you are right this power could be used for the good of various Pokémon, however.... I believe you have already studied about the Umbra conflicts; do you know when and how they arose?


The young man lightly scratches his head for actually having already studied such a subject only not remembering perfectly all the details, his mother takes a deep breath scolding her son for not knowing something so crucial which both she and his father and brother suffered because of it. The "Umbra conflicts' ' began according to historians due to the emergence of a cult known as the Requiem Umbral, which began with noble motives and became corrupted due to the growing power of the cult leader Skulla Luxray.


The greed for power and the thirst for knowledge of the cult members made it grow to the point of becoming an evil clan, their real goal was lost over time and their focus became gathering as much knowledge as they could. Thus, several guilds, cities, and continents were attacked and destroyed, with an absurd amount of deaths and the disappearance of several Pokémon:


- After all that happened in the "Umbra Conflicts", the Pokémon of the region where I came from and was born decided to keep this knowledge to preserve themselves only being able to pass it on to our heirs in the most secretive way we can using in moments of extreme necessity. Do you understand?


"Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it," it was amazing how a saying from human times sounded so present even though centuries had passed after it was first created and uttered thought Larvitar with his head bowed. Innocently Saren could be the trigger for another conflict if he somehow told or showed something done there, he then lifts his head and looks at his older brother from afar training his mother's technique wondering how much more he could suffer:


- I understand mother, thank you for trusting me, I will do my utmost to protect our secret for your and Luke's sake. EVEN IF I HAVE TO FIGHT A THOUSAND FANGS, I WON'T TELL ON YOU! Hehehehehe...


Hours and hours pass with the two Pokémon training there in the dungeon, unfortunately for Croconaw it was still very difficult to manipulate that pile of laces having remained locked without even the unrolling of the stone. On the other hand, Larvitar was already able to manipulate some of the stones of the dungeon well enough to make himself out of stone, confidently and smiling Saren turns to his older brother:

- Hehe, this is more fun than it looks, it's pretty cool once you get the hang of it.... WATCH OUT LUKE, I'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU SOON!


The stone Larvitar made by Saren then begins to shake, drawing the Pokémon's attention turning quickly to see it, at this moment the statue explodes right in the Larvitar's face falling backwards to the ground with a howl of pain. Luke tries to hold back his smile at that moment seeing the state of his brother, Nái just approaches clapping his hands for him:


- You did a good job Saren, but as I told you to keep your concentration all the time, overconfidence as well as for excess energy PP can cause the biggest of explosions.


No longer able to hold back his smile Croconaw gives a big laugh almost crying from laughing at his brother who was still groaning in pain on the ground, after Tyranitar takes care of Saren as well as Luke finishes packing the things in the luggage it was time for them to head home. The brothers go ahead together, but Nai says she will stay for a while longer in the dungeon to organize everything there, it was not something common to happen and Croconaw at first would already question her about her real reason for wanting to stay there:


- Lukeeeeeee, let's go soon, I'm hungry, I want food, and I want cupcakes, come on, come ooooon, cooome ooooon ...!!


But due to the insistence of Larvitar pulling on his red scarf Luke is unable to question his stepmother, so he stretches out his arm, which Saren takes, smiling comfortably, and continues walking calmly towards the kingdom, pulling his older brother up the dungeon stairs. Suddenly, Croconaw feels a small chill and stops walking, turning around:


- Luke, what happened?


His younger brother raised his head to look at his big brother, Croconaw seemed to look at the fountain worried about something just fixing his sight on the Ribombee statue:


- Nothing... Nothing no Saren, it must be my stupidity, sorry to scare you.... WE'RE GOING MOM, KISSES, SEE YOU AT HOME!


Luke shouts with an affectionate tone to Tyranitar who raises her arm waving smiling at her children saying goodbye, as they disappeared into the staircase the smile and the arm of Nái were contracting little by little giving way to a serious look. The Tyranitar then takes a deep breath when she hears the sound of something cracking, directing her vision to the fountain in the center of the dungeon and approaching it slowly with short steps waiting for something.


Far away from there in one of the outskirts of Argules, Mei Servine was leaning against the wall of her room smiling watching her neighbor Drakloak tend to Theo Ursaring's bruises and wounds. Servine unassumingly snuck closer to her window, there Mei opened the curtain that blocked her view starting to watch the movement on the street realizing not to have any fuss or suspects walking around:


- Theo you look much better, you should thank us for our visit in a proper way.... How about, with a hug? Hugs are always so warm and friendly...


Understanding the cue Ursaring gives a Machiavellian smile and with his big strong arms he grabs the helpless Drakloak in a kind embrace, at first the Dragon-type thought that this was really a hug of thanks and matched him. However slowly the Pokémon noticed something strange, the hug did not warm her, she could not feel Theo's heartbeat, her arms, tail and legs began to tingle as if she had lost their touch.



The Drakloak tries to pull her body away from the Ursaring unsuccessfully beginning to pant worriedly looking around until the Ghost type's vision dims, Mei smiles relieved to see that at last the only Pokémon she had seen Theo enter her home was now silenced forever trapped in the form of a statue. Having petrified the Drakloak the Ursaring's most serious injuries were healed immediately, Theo then drops the statue to the ground beginning to tear off the unnecessary bandages, still smiling Servine stoops down next to the stone monument cynically stroking it:


- Aw... My dear, I don't even know how to thank you for helping me, I'll even put you in a special place. Theo, be a helpful guest and turn my bed down a bit.


Ursaring turns down Mei's small bed revealing that underneath there was an opening, Servine opens it and sends a kiss to the hole:


- Mama good evening, look I am putting another Pokémon to keep you company, now you will have someone to gossip with.... I bet you are happy that at last I have found a use for this shelter.


Curious to know to whom Mei was speaking so sarcastically, Theo looks at the hole without moving his head. There he notices only a gray tail that apparently belonged to a Serperior, which possibly had been petrified for a long time, as evidenced by the dirt and coloring of the statue:


- Now Theo kindly places this Drakloak here inside this shelter, it was made during the Umbra conflicts to serve as a hiding place.... It's a good one, my mother has been there since I became a Hellstalker, luckily, she was a horrible female so nobody missed her.


Ursaring obeys Servine's order by placing the Drakloak statue in the hole lying down, the pair then tidy up the hiding place again by hiding it with the bed and tidying up any mess left by Theo or the Ghost type. Ursaring starts washing his Unite team uniform to put it back on, while Mei finishes customizing her flowered hat by greatly reducing the number of flowers on this one, ready they both leave Servine's house.


Theo moves on while Mei stands looking at the locked Drakloak house with its lights off, Ursaring turns to the female saying thickly:


- HEY MEI... Let's go soon okay, I…I will accompany you again today.


When Servine turns to see Theo, he looks quickly to the other side so they don't cross eyes, Mei just sighs imagining that after he was attacked maybe he was afraid to petrify Pokémon alone valuing her help more, this irritates Servine who turns her gaze back to the house so as not to show this repudiation to her partner:


- Okay, let's get going, just... I can't tell, looking at this empty house just left me... With a peculiar feeling.


Mei moves forward staying beside Ursaring, going together after victims to petrify and become more powerful, the pair walk for a few minutes waiting for nightfall so that the movement of Pokémon decreases, facilitating attacks. But as they walked, a strange shadow formed on a wall near them, Servine is the first to notice, and with that pulling Theo's shirt and pointing to his partner the peculiar movement.


The two Pokémon follow the shadow without drawing the civilians' attention, until the shadow stops and out of it comes a Shedinja with a lipstick mark on its forehead:


- I bring you a message from the great Shed, gathering of the Hellstalkers, find it before you feed.... More details in the human graveyard... Don't be late... Shiiiiiii...


The Shedinja then steps into the wall again creating the peculiar shadow and disappearing as mysteriously as it appeared, Mei gives a small growl in frustration at having to wait to make victims while Theo just takes a deep breath equally bothered by the news. Suddenly something strange occurs to Servine, she for a very short moment felt fatigued almost as if she had lost energy for some reason, however Mei didn't give much importance to that and decides to go straight with Ursaring to meet Arbustos.


While this was happening, in the Dungeon of the Fountain of Lost Dreams the cracking sounds became more intense at the same time that the fountain began to glow little by little, a sound similar to a balloon popping was heard at the top of the fountain revealing that the Ribombee statue had become a flesh and blood one. Nervously wet and still frightened the Pokémon began to look at everything around it, thus seeing that in front of it there was a Tyranitar sitting on the bank of the lake holding a cane, the Pokémon Dark smiled in a kind manner looking directly into its Ribombee's eyes and it was not long before the latter stood up leaning on the cane speaking in a friendly manner:


- Welcome back my dear, how does it feel to be among us again?