“Well,” Trotankhamun leaned back in his chair. “That is certainly quite the tale.”
After coming to an agreement, the group had decided to move their conversation back to the local café. At the king’s expressive interest of course. Lightning was a bit puzzled at first at why he was so insistent about coming here. That is, until she saw the looks he was giving the green earth pony server mare.
‘Whoa, what a perv…I like that in a male.’
“Yeah,” Lightning nodded, raising a fresh mug of fruit juice. “I thought it sounded insane too, but just look at these guys. I honestly can’t help but believe every word of it.”
“They are rather strange,” the old general zebra, Ahmos she had come to learned, glared at them. Oh, not just the Pokemon, but her too. Not to mention their server.
Lightning couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was obviously doing her best to stay calm, but given all the new, terrifying creatures, recent attacks, and imposing general, it was a bit too much for the shaking mare. Lightning was surprised she hadn’t fainted yet.
Lightning Dust had met many different types of creatures. Ahmos fit the bill of speciest to a capital S. ‘I always hate these guys. Just wait until he starts going on about how we’re inferior or some haystacks like that.’
“Strange yes,” King Trotankhamun smiled. “But exciting? Oh most definitely. I just wish your lot arrived sooner. I was dying of boredom.”
“And Rhyhorn,” Rio piped up. “Though, them critters are pretty borin’.”
“Not the brightest bunch,” Commander Sev put in. “But mere pawns are never supposed to be. They are good muscle, but nothing up here.” Sev tapped his head.
“Well that’s kind of a mean thing to say,” Lia pouted angrily, crossing her arms.
“That’s not very nice,” Sev said in a mocking tone of Lia’s. He snorted and returned to his usual arrogant, tone. “Life’s mean. Life was what nearly killed our fair king here.” He gestured to Troatankhamun.
“Ah thought it was a Rhyhorn,” Rio scratched his head in thought. “Was he named Life? Weird name to name one’s youngin’.”
“No!” Sev shouted in anger. “I was using an allegory.”
“Oooh,” Rio nodded in understanding. “Still have no idea what yer on about, but…”
“You’ll pretend to understand,” Lia finished.
“Ya darn tootin’,” Rio chuckled, taking a swig of his drink.
“The fools I surround myself with,” Sev put his tail over his eyes.
Lightning couldn’t help but chuckle at the group. They were honestly odd, species included. How they could actually function together to form an army….Lightning was still trying to figure it out.
“I wouldn’t say fools,” Trotankhamun said. “More ‘saviors’. You saved not just my life, but the lives of miss Lightning Dust and the youngster here. I am eternally in your debt.” The king lowered his head in a small bow.
The general did not look the least bit pleased by the gesture. He was silently muttering darkly to himself.
‘Yeah, yeah, we get it old timer. You don’t like us. Pull that stick out of your butt and get on with your life,’ Lightning rolled her eyes.
“Yes,” Commander Sev smiled. He pulled away his tail to reveal his gaze to be of a more ‘sinister’ smile. Something Lightning had seen in comic book villains. “You are in my debt, young king.” And again, the large snake’s small chuckles turned into full blown evil laughter.
To which Lia sighed and whispered: “Confusion.” Her eyes lit up and a magical aura appeared around Sev’s head. Instantly, his laughter stopped. His tongued curled back into his lips and his mouth was clamped shut. Lia let out a breath of relief.
So did Lightning. Not because she was scared of Sev. Far from it, she thought the guy was a riot. Even with his arrogant antics, which may get a little grating if pushed too far. No, what worried her was what the zebras were going to do.
The king seemingly found the whole thing humorous and was chuckling. He seemed like a cool stallion to Lightning, so her fears were alleviated somewhat. General Ahmos, on the other hoof, had one of his own hooves on the handle of his sword. He looked to be a moment’s breath from taking it out and plunging it into Sev’s throat.
Sev didn’t seem to be paying attention to them. He was too busy sending a death glare towards his little sister. Lia just giggled in response.
‘Makes me kind of wish I had an older brother.’
When Rio started to chuckle, Sev put his bladed tail to his throat. “Oh don’t you start.”
“Yes Commander,” Rio gulped nervously.
“How about we get back on topic?” Ahmos growled, obviously not happy with the carefree air around them.
“Of course,” Trotankhamun nodded, frowning. “I had meant to take this time for relaxation, but current events deem that impossible. We must depart to the capital at once.”
“A good idea,” Sev took his tail away from Rio, who sighed with relief. “We can plan from there. I’m glad I thought of it.”
Trotankhamun ignored the last part. He just seemed rather pleased with himself. “Oh I can’t wait to see the other royal’s faces during the next meeting. They’ll be all scampering about, wanting their own Pokemon units and I’ll be ‘FIRST’!” He struck his hoof out into the air in victory. “I did it first. HAHA! Empress Victoria is so going to get this rubbed in her face. I mean, my commanding Pokémon officer is a giant, talking snake. I doubt she can muster up something even remotely as awesome.”
“True,” Commander Sev puffed out his chest in pride. “I am indeed awesome.”
“Awesomely arrogant,” Lia commented, but Sev ignored it this time.
“Of course we’ll have to make it official,” Trotankhamun scratched his chin. “As my dad always put it ‘nothing sells a new idea like a party’. So, we’ll throw a huge party to celebrate your new standing position. No doubt the rest of the Pokémon will hear of this and stop attacking.”
“Parties won’t solve this problem,” Ahmos grunted. “We should show them the might of Zebrica. Any and all pokemon who dare oppose us will be put down immediately.”
“A dangerous idea, general,” Sev hissed with narrowed eyes. His tail swished back and forth and he looked posed to strike. “A very dangerous idea indeed.”
‘Are they going to go at it?’ Lightning asked herself. ‘Cause that’d be awesome.’
“To fight us,” Sev started. “You fight nature itself. We are in the air, the sea, and the ground. We are in your dreams, in your very soul. We can bend you to our will, destroy you, remake you. Your cities will crumble, your people will break, your world will burn. And you general, will be bleeding out on the floor before that future becomes a reality.”
A chill went down Lightning’s back as she heard him say that. The Commander was oddly serious with his claim. ‘He can’t be right about all that stuff, can he?’
“None of that will come to pass,” Trotankhamun slammed his hoof on the table. “My father strove for peace and so shall I. Pokemon shall live side by side with the denizens of Zebrica. They shall have rights, freedoms, and the will to fight by our side.”
“Of course,” Lia spoke up. “We’ll have to work on the language barrier. There aren’t enough psychic types for everybody.”
“One of many trials we shall overcome,” Trotankhamun said with determination. “But until then, let us enjoy the sights. We’ll depart for the capital tomorrow. I’ll send some messengers ahead of us so everything will be set up before we arrive.”
“Sounds good to me,” Rio spoke up. “A toast to the future.” He raised his cup.
“The future,” the rest of the group, minus Ahmos, raised their cups and drank.
Suddenly, the doors burst open. A dark blue pegasus mare with a black mane flew in, breathing heavily.
“MOMMY!” Blue Skies rushed to her.
“MY BABY!” The mare quickly scooped him up and started smothering him in smooches. He just giggled. “My poor, poor baby. I’m so happy you’re alright.”
Lightning had to admit it. The scene was adorable.
“Who saved him?” The mare asked, putting her son down by her side. “Who brought my baby back?”
“Well,” Lightning started. “I was the one who broke us out of that diamond dog joint, but both of us would have been captured if it wasn’t for these guys over here.”
“Yes,” Sev grinned. “Let it be known that your child was saved by I, COMMANDER SEV! Rejoice in the honor….WAAAAAAAAA!”
He was cut short when the mare tackled him. She kept smothering him in kisses saying ‘thank you’ over and over again.
“HELP ME!” He cried, but the mare didn’t relent. Nor did anyone do anything to help him other than laugh.
Pulling back, the mare gave everyone a big smile. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without my little Blue Skies.”
“No need to thank us,” Lightning smiled and waved a hoof. “Just doing what needs to be done.” Before the incident at the academy, Lightning would have soaked in the praised wholeheartedly, but now…she still did, but not nearly as much. “Just keep an eye on the kid,” she went over and ruffled his mane. “He’s feisty.”
“Oh, I’ll never let him out of my sight again,” The mare led her son out the door.
Lightning went over and looked at Sev. He was dizzy and covered in red lipstick in the shape of lips, painted all over his face. She chuckled. “You’re a ladies snake if I ever saw one.”
Sev groaned, causing a new wave of laughter.
__________________________________________________________
There was a reason why Dr. Caballeron hated staying on small ships. It was nearly impossible to get away from anyone. Most of the time, it was either bumbling workers or annoying clients. His current problem was neither. She was far more dangerous and he was honestly having second thoughts about working with her.
‘Money’s money.’ He reminded himself.
Walking into his small cabin was his accomplice. She was a griffin, if you could call her that. She wore a black and blood red cloak that covered most of her body, but he knew what she looked like. She had a crow’s like head and panther body. Unlike the rest of her kind, she was deathly skinny and crooked. Old too, which was amazing given where she lived. She leaned heavily on a purple, runed cane.
She was a ‘Thirst’. That’s what her kind loved to call themselves. She hailed from a far off island filled with dangers no one could face, but they did. They hunted the stuff of nightmares for sport and fun. He was nothing to her and could possibly be her next prey item if he wasn’t careful. Most of the rest of her kind were massive, easily looking down on any other griffin. Not to mention their muscles which were ginormous. A few of her kind, bodyguards of course, were on board. They were too keep her safe for she was an important figure in their society.
She was a dark mage, practicing magic that the rest of the world condemned. Her kind reveled in it and that’s why they were banished from their original homeland of the Griffin Empire thousands of years ago. That and their need for war. Needless to say, they weren’t exactly fond of their Imperial brethren.
He had come to know her as ‘Thrist, the Bloody Claw’. He had come to know her when she first attempted to steal the throne from a young Empress Victoria. Her plan was almost foolproof. He meant almost in the regards that no plan was foolproof when Daring Do came into the picture. Still, Caballeron had been able to make off with riches beyond measure during that venture. While Thrist had come to regard Daring as her most hated enemy.
If he had to choose, Caballeron preferred working for Ahuizotl. ‘At least he wouldn’t kill me.’
“What’s wrong?” Caballeron couldn’t help but ask. She rarely ever left her room. Knowing her like he did over the years, something was troubling her.
“Something has changed,” her voice was crooked, both by age and the dark magic she loved so much. “The pieces of the world have been reset and order is gone.”
“In Equish,” Caballeron grunted. While she was dangerous, he was important to her at the moment and he knew it. She wasn’t going to kill him now.
“We must tread carefully if our plan is to succeed,” the wretched crow griffin spoke.
“I always tread carefully,” Caballeron retorted. “It’s how I’m still in business. Now, if there’s anything else…”
Thrist held out a clawed, spindly hand. It glowed with dark, unholy power. “Do not take my warning for granted. I want this victory more so than you do and I will not allow you to blunder it.”
“You will have your country and I shall have my gold,” Caballeron was sweating, staring at her magic imbued hand. “I will make sure of that, danger or no danger.” ‘Preferably no danger.’
“Good,” Thrist lowered her hands, ceasing her magic. “I shall contact our compatriots when we get to shore. The blood shall run soon, Caballeron. Oh so very soon.”
_______________________________________________________________________
Hyena Dogs respected only one thing in life: power. They were different from the rest of their more peaceful and civilized kin elsewhere in the world. Hyena Dogs were constantly squabbling among-st themselves. They had no order, no discipline, and no country to call their own. Diamond Dogs looked down their snouts at them, but Hyena Dogs didn't care. Hyena Dogs just try to be the biggest and baddest they can be. All of them wanted to be the boss.
But there was only one big boss in all of Zebrica:
Boss Zebby Skulltaka.
No dog was bigger, badder, or more menacing than Skulltaka. With but one hand, he could crush a zebra into pulp. With one swing of his axe, he could cleave a dragon’s head clean off. He was legendary in the Hyena Dog caves.
And it was now Breakstuv’s duty to tell him the bad news. He wasn’t exactly keen on it in the least bit. Zebby Skulltaka was like any other dog; angry and temperamental. Came with the species. Hynea Dogs loved krumpin’ other creatures and taking their stuff. Breakstuv had a lot of good stuff, most of it stolen from panzy zebras. A lot of dogs were envious of his little stockpile. A few broken bones had teached them good and proper to think twice.
Given that their dogs, it was a miracle they could think once.
So Breakstuv managed to find his way to the throne room. He could tell because his boss was sitting in a large throne befitting his size. He was nearly thrice his size, the biggest dog any of them had ever known. His throne had large spikes with the skulls of his greatest trophies. It was no secret that he loved collecting skulls. Skulls of zebras and every other species adorned it. He even had a hydra skull on the middle one.
He wasn’t wearing his typical thick armor. Instead, he wore a mock combination of royal dress wear that was terrible on the eyes. A golden crown several times too small sat on his head.
Lovely music filled the air. Not too far away was a blonde, red maned unicorn mare playing a black harp, like her cutie mark. She didn’t wear any chains or anything like that like the other slaves. No, she was Zebby’s special slave. She played the music he loved so much, so she had special privileges. That didn’t stop her from looking ruffled and roughed up.
“Do ya know wut I’ve lost today?” Boss Zebby Skulltaka grunted angrily. “I’ve lost many of my best slaves, ‘cause me dogz were bein’ stupid. Like dey always be. Youz betta not ‘ave any bad news, er else I’ll krump ya good.”
Breakstuv gulped. “Umm…boss? Ya see, dey got away.”
“DEY WHAT?” The hyena dog leader roared. “I tought you’z could get me my slaves back, ya git.”
“But dere was dis snakey thing and white monkey….” Breakstuv started.
Boss Zebby Skulltaka stormed off his throne and leered down at his dog. “You’z got beat by a snakey thing and white monkey?”
Breakstuv nodded nervously.
“Ya git!” Zebby growled, raising a fist on high. “I should krump ya right now…But dis is my favorite song, so I’ll let’ya go dis time.” He stole a glance at the playing mare.
“Really boss?”
“Dat and I left my axe in my other stuff room,” Boss Zebby Skulltaka sighed. “Would’ve loved ta take you’z skull, but dere no fun in it right now. Just get back me slaves and no problems’ kay?”
Breakstuv nodded furiously. “On it boss.”
“Good,” Skulltaka went back to his throne and sat down. He sighed contented and twirled his a finger with the rhythm. “Now offs withz ya. My music aint gonna be good with ya yappin’ all day long.”
“Got it boss,” Breakstuv said. “No more yappin’ outta me.”
“Oh, and anotha thing,” Skulltaka glared at the dog. “If dis snakey thing acts up again, tell me. I want ta know if he got a nice skull. I got an empty pointy stik that needs a fillin’.”