*later that night, on the train*
“Oooh,” Felicia the Goodra squealed on top of her bed. Her bubbly butt bounced up and down in her excitement. “Isn’t this exciting? We’re going to the capital to guard the king!”
“Pfft,” Alice the Vespiqueen scoffed, lazily laying back in her own bunk. “You’ve seen one king, you’ve seen them all. I honestly don’t see why you’re so excited about guarding these Pokémon wannabees.”
“Stop being such a cynic, Alice,” Felicia crossed her arms and pouted. “This is a great opportunity to learn about this new place. I mean, how can you turn down the chance to befriend royalty and cute royalty too.”
Alice raised an eyebrow. “Forgetting about Weiss already? I’m surprised. You’re usually all over that human.”
Felicia giggled. “Nope. A girl can call a guy cute, even if she’s not interested in him. Besides, Weiss isn’t the jealous type. I know he loves me.” When Alice gave her a ‘really?’ like face, Felicia rolled her eyes. “Well, not in that way…Yet, but he will. Mark my words. Love conquers all.”
“Can it conquer my fist?” The two mercenaries looked over in shock at General Ag, who had quietly walked into the room. Honestly, they were rather surprised they didn’t hear the giant, walking monstrosity come through the door.
“What are you doing here?” Alice glared at the General. While Alice was still working for them, she didn’t like them one bit. Felicia could tell. She read her like an open book.
‘Actually, more like a semi-open book,’ Felicia clarified to herself. ‘Of course, I hope I’m not intruding now, you know, with reading her.’
“I just wanted to make something clear to you,” Ag growled. “I hate mercs.”
“Shocker,” Alice muttered.
“You have no allegiance,” Ag continued. “You have no honor. You don’t give a Raticate’s butt whether we’re victorious or not. You just want money.”
“And friends,” Felicia piped up.
“Shut it,” both Alice and Ag hissed, causing the Goodra to scoot back and whimper.
“Anyways,” Ag said. “I just wanted to make one thing clear. From here on out, you answer to me. You walk when I tell you to walk. Breath when I tell you to. Do whatever asinine thing that comes to my mind, ‘cause you’re in my army now. I will not tolerate insubordination.”
Alice scoffed and folded her arms behind her head. “You can’t tell me what to do. I’m a merc, remember? You pay me to guard the king, that’s what I’ll do. Not a scratch will fall on his head, or whatever part of him. Otherwise, shut the hell up and get out of my sight.”
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?!!” Ag roared, quickly walking over and putting her face in front of Alice’s. Alice couldn’t help but shiver in fear, staring into the metal face of an angry Aggron. “I am your commanding officer. You will show me respect, bug.”
“I’m not one of your damned soldiers,” Alice hissed whatever brave words she could muster.
Felicia was silent, scared to get between the two. ‘Please don’t fight. Please don’t fight.’
“Then you won’t get paid then,” Ag pointed out. “I thought you were looking forward to that kingly sum.”
Alice groaned, foiled by her own greed. “Fine.”
General Ag snorted. “Good,” she straightened herself up. “But you still have to prove your worth if you want your ‘reward’.” Ag sneered. “Tomorrow, you and your little dragon friend will face me in combat.”
“Whoa!” Alice shot up into the air. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“No fight,” Ag stated. “No money.”
Alice let out a frustrated, muffled cry as she tried to stop herself from screaming in rage. “Fine, but don’t bawl your eyes out when I beat you.”
“We’ll see,” Ag promptly left the room.
Alice settled back into her bed, silently mumbling darkly to herself.
“You shouldn’t have been so mean to her,” Felicia piped up.
“She was being an asshole,” Alice muttered.
Felicia pouted. “And you shouldn’t use those bad words.”
“Big baby,” Alice slumped over, not looking forward to the days to come.
_____________________________________________________________
*Commander Sev*
Lightning Dust was beautiful in her sleep. The sheets hugged her form as she laid across the small bed frame of train’s sleeping compartments. They weren’t overly comfortable, since they were meant solely for troops and such and those weren’t the main concerns the ‘council’ of zebras had in mind. So, she would occasionally toss and turn, trying to get herself into a more comforting position. Occasional cute little hums or strange whispers escaped her mouth, making for an incredibly adorable sight.
A sight that Commander Sev ravished with his eyes.
The snake leader had been up most of the night, contemplating his next move. His heart had been set on a weather machine and thus give water to the Zebricans. No doubt they would praise him as the god’s chosen warrior he was, but he opted against it. It would take too long and he was an impatient Seviper. He wanted something now…Which stirred a certain female into his mind.
Sev smiled deviously. ‘She is a specimen of perfection and do I not deserve perfection? Actually, don’t answer that. It’s obvious I do. She will be mine.’ So the Commander had most brilliantly snuck past her defenses and into her room. Of course, those defenses had just constituted an unlocked door, but Sev thought to himself that it was a simple deduction for that to be so. ‘All doors are to be unlocked. How else are people supposed to gaze upon my visage behind a locked door? They would suffer without my handsome face.’
Commander Sev had at first entered with the precise idea of talking with her. What he found was the most precious thing he could think of. His desired female was so adorable when she was a sleep that he believed a crime as t stop her from doing so. So he just watched, honestly confused on what to do next. It wasn’t a secret, well maybe to himself, but Commander Sev had no experience when it came to attracting a mate.
‘I don’t need experience,’ he thought to himself. ‘I am the great and powerful Commander Sev. All females wish to incubate my eggs. But…What do I do first? What is a pokemon to do when their soon to be mate is asleep…AHAHA!”
He had often seen mates cuddle with one another. They always looked so peaceful and content, so the great Sev thought none would be more content then in his coils.
Though he still didn’t move. His brilliant deduction still could get rid of the nervousness that still plagued him, for some strange reason. It wasn’t until she started shivering, pulling her blanket closer, did he act. ‘She’s cold.’
Commander Sev found it odd that it was always cold at night in the desert, but hot in the day. ‘No doubt a filthy human trick to confuse us. No matter. We pokemon persevere.’ He himself felt cold and that wouldn’t do. So, taking both into consideration, Commander Sev quickly and carefully laid himself against Lightning. Sighing, he nuzzled her head. She was soft…so soft and cuddly. He didn’t even protest when she turned in her sleep and grasped hold of him.
He wasn’t the huggy type, except for his sister, but he would allow this. She was going to be his mate, after all.
_____________________________________________________________________________
*back in Bridleton*
Crowland scowled, as he tapped a claw on his desk. He had been able to afford a modest apartment. Nothing fancy and it was far from prying eyes. And away from prying eyes, meant that he had scared the locals into moving out some of the other tenants. It wasn’t something he liked to do, but he wasn’t going to be caught dealing with low life scum.
The little bird, that he had affection-ally title ‘Little Lady’, snoozed away on his shoulder. She spent a lot of time there, but he didn’t mind. He liked her company. He fondly scratched her head and she cooed happily. She awoke and nuzzled his cheek.
“Sorry for waking you, Little Lady.”
“Spear, Spearow,” The bird chirped happily. He took it that there weren’t any hard feelings between them.
What irked him was that his employer still hadn’t arrived. He peered down at what appeared to be a small mirror, when in fact it was a magical device. It was a clever way of communication created by the unicorns millennia ago. It suited him well. He didn’t exactly like his current clients.
The mirror rippled, signaling someone was patching through. Within seconds, Dr. Caballeron’s face shimmered into life.
“Ah,” Cabelleron smiled. “It’s good to see you, my old friend.”
Crowland raised an eyebrow at the ‘friend’ remark, but said nothing. “Are you here?”
“Just arrived not but a few moments ago,” Cabelleron explained.
“Took you long enough,” Crowland snorted. “So, when are we setting off?”
“I’ve gotten in contact with our compatriots on the other lines and….” Cabelleron cringed. “They aren’t very pleased right now.”
“The new creatures giving them the scares?” Crowland chuckled.
“In a way,” Cabelleron nodded. “We’ll have to find a way around these problems. No worries though. I’ve faced far worse in my line of business.”
‘No doubt about that,’ Crowland thought with an inner chuckle. “I’ll meet you at the docks. I don’t think our compatriots in arms will have much to worry about.” He lightly patted his crossbow, which was leaning out of site on the desk. “I think I can persuade them that there’s nothing to fear.”
“I hope you do,” Cabelleron gulped. “Or it’s my head.”
“Then maybe you should reconsider your line of work,” Crowland glared at him. “I’m not a saint, but even I know that the likes that we’re dealing with aren’t the best kind. I mean, A Thirst and a Hyena Dog Alpha? And there’s even another client that you won’t tell me about. I don’t like the smell of this job and I know you don’t either. So spill.”
“Tomorrow,” Cabelleron said. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. I know that they are dangerous clients, but it will all be worth it. I assure you, neither of us will regret this venture.”
“Will we?” Crowland wasn’t convinced. He held up his crossbow. “My gut tells me otherwise.”
“And what is it telling you?”
“That nothing’s the same anymore,” Crowland frowned. “Death has new shapes and forms and this world isn’t like the one it was yesterday.” He remembered the creatures he saw on his hunt. The power they held. The strength they showed. “We might not make it through this.”
“Are you concerned for me?” Cabelleron looked at him, rather shocked.
“I don’t like you,” Crowland growled. “But I don’t wish for your death either. Trust me, if I thought that, you’d be six feet under by now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still with you on this. I’m just saying, we’ve got to watch ourselves. Never underestimate anything.”
Cabelleron rolled his eyes and snorted. “Oh yes, I’ve learned that the hard way.”
Crowland could hear him silently curse ‘Daring Do’ under his breath. He chuckled. “Stubborn lass. I wonder what she’s gotten herself into.”
“Hopefully death,” Cabelleron scoffed. “Or something horrible. I’d hate for her to get involved. Whatever beast or creatures we face in the coming days, I’d rather face them than that miserable Pegasus.”
Crowland didn’t say anything, but he himself new that they were lucky Daring wasn’t on their tale. He could kill any beast, new or old. No foe, whether with magic or mundane means, had bested him in the hunt, except for her.
“Tomorrow Crowland,” Cabelleron continued. “Tomorrow we shall make history and there is not a thing anyone can do to stop it.”