//------------------------------// // Early Morning Thoughts (Day 4) // Story: A New World, A New Conflict // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// Commander Sev once more found himself in the realm of dreams. This time it had taken on the form of his old headquarters. Slithering through the halls, Sev couldn’t help but be hit by wave after wave of nostalgia. One after another, which each passing room, the memories came flashing back to him. One particular caught his eye. It was just a small simple room, nothing really special about it. There was just a plain table in the middle of it, with some random cleaning supplies standing next to the wall. He had much more awe inspiring rooms, but he liked this one just as much. He slithered into the room and slowly ran his tail over the top of the table. He chuckled as he closed his eyes. “It’s been a long time since then, hasn’t it?” _________________________________________________________________________  *years earlier on Earth* “Big brother,” an excited little Ralts girl squealed. “I’m doing it. I’m really doing it.” Sev smiled at his little sister. She was currently levitating a table. She had been having problems with even simple levitation and Sev had hated to see her so worked up about it. Luckily, he had someone to help. “Of course you are,” Sev beamed. “You are Lia, the greatest Ralts to have ever lived. This table is lucky to be within your grasp.” Lia just giggled and continued to move the table about. Sev turned to Gard, who was eyeing the little Ralts carefully. “Your teachings have been greatly appreciated.” Gard nodded. “Yes, but she has much to learn and control. Sev…I sense such power with her.” His gaze hardened and he cast it towards Sev. Commander Sev and Lia, plus Ag, were the only ones who never flinched under Gard’s gaze. “She is young, but already she has shown more potential than any Ralts I’ve ever seen.” Sev smirked. “That is because she’s my sister. She is the greatest and will forever be known as such!” “Sev,” Gard sighed. Gard was probably Sev’s oldest friend, going back to their time as toddlers. Honestly, Gard was one of the few who called him by his name without his title. “I’m serious. This isn’t just because ‘she’s your sister’. No, her power is like no pokemon of our type, of any type. Perhaps she may even surpass me…and that worries me.” “Why?” Sev was growing a little anxious hearing this about his sister. He kept glancing over at his sister, who was giggling as she just her psychic powers to levitate a few chairs and such and made them dance. “Is she in danger?” “Yes,” Gard answered. “But thankfully, there is still time.” Sev snorted. “Do no scare me like that, General. You know how much she means to me.” “The world,” Gard said truthfully.” _______________________________________________________________________________ Sev chuckled. “Yes, the world. You were always so perceptive….” He frowned. “Maybe a bit too much at times, but never to a fault.” He didn’t say anything else as he watched the memory of his little sister enjoying herself. The memory was playing on the surface of the table, which seemed more like a mirror now. While he didn’t flinch, he was rather surprised to find a dark blue wing wrap around his body. “The love of a sister is wonderful, is it not?” Luna asked. Sev turned his head to face her. “It is rude to barge into another’s mind without permission.” “Ah,” Luna nodded. “True, but Commander Sev, our training has only just begun. There is still a lot you need to learn.” “I have learned all that I need know,” Sev hissed back at her. He still wasn’t sure of what to make of this Princess Luna. “Then what of the humans?” Luna asked. “What of Zebrica? What of the pokemon under your command? Do you know what is going to happen?” “We shall be victorious no matter the circumstances,” Sev proclaimed. “Commander Sev,” Luna sighed. “You are in a whole new world with new rules and mindsets. You can’t hold onto the old. You must learn to adapt.” “Stop trying to change me,” Sev snapped at her. He felt Luna’s wing stiffen for a second, before relaxing. He didn’t pay it a second thought. “I see what you are doing, legendary. I am no fool. You cannot hope to change the awesome mighty mind of Commander Sev! I am a being with a mind stronger than stone, but never will I erode with time. I am eternal. My ideas will last forever.” “So were mine,” Luna shot back. “But I changed. I’ve adapted to the new world and I will adapt to you and your brethren.” “We shall adapt, but we do not need to do so now. We are stronger than this world gives us credit. The human turned pokemon,” he spat out in disgust. “Are still not to be trusted. Arceus was mistaken for bringing us her, for the war will continue.” “I know of your father’s hatred of humans, but what of your mother?” Luna asked, brushing her wings up and down Sev’s back to keep him calm. “She is human.” Sev stiffened. ‘Human? Human? She looks human. NO!’ He lashed his tail about, but did not strike her. “Do not call her that! She loves me. She took care of me when no one else would. Humans aren’t nice. They don’t love pokemon.” “But she does,” Luna chided. “You may have convinced yourself otherwise, but the facts remain. She is human.” “LIES!” Sev shouted in her face, breaking contact from her. “Never will I accept that. I don’t want to accept that. She wouldn’t hurt me or my sister. She wouldn’t put us in pokeballs. If she was human, why did she save me? Why did she read me bed time stories and play with me? Why did she love me? A human wouldn’t. They couldn’t.” “Humans are capable of love,” Luna waved her wing, showing a small scene of a human with a Gardevoir. They were slowly dancing, with a look of love deep within their gazes. “Is that fake? Is that a fraud?” “He doesn’t love her,” Sev snarled. “He is nothing like my mother. This is a trick. You’re making this up like the human child. I won’t fall for it.” Sev shook his head. “I won’t.” The scene faded and showed a Nurse Joy, his own mother. “She looks human to me,” Luna said. “She has even admitted to being human.” Sev kept shaking his head, not noticing the tears trickling down his face. “She’s confused. She…There are many human like pokemon. Joy’s are like us, that’s why they care. That’s why mommy fed me soup when I got sick after playing in the mud….” The scene changed and Luna quirked her eyebrow. “A powerful memory?” The scene showed a little Sev in bed, looking awfully under the weather. He had icepack on his head. Joy was wearing a set of more mundane clothes, a red sweater and jeans. She was sitting on the bed with him. A steaming bowl of soup laid in her lap, with a spoonful of it in one hand. “Now what have we learned?” She asked, putting the spoon in his mouth. Little Sev slurped up the soup and answered. “Don’t play out in the rain….But it was fun.” “Some fun things can hurt us,” Joy explained, feeding him more soup. “They might seem good now, but everything has consequences. Like catching a cold for starters.” Suddenly, they both heard a baby’s cry from another room. “Oh dear, it seems your little sister’s awake.” “When can I play with her?” Little Sev asked. “When you get over this illness,” she stood up from the bed. “Just remember to take extra care with her. She’s fragile.” “I’d never hurt my new sister,” Little Sev coughed. “I know,” Joy kissed his forehead. “You’re just the sweetest little guy. Don’t change.” “Never,” Little Sev grinned back at her. “Love you mommy.” “Love you too.” Joy walked off. The scene faded. “SEE!” Sev shouted, pointing wildly at its direction. “PROOF! She loved me, so she’s not human.” Luna sighed and walked over to him. “She may have loved, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a human.” “SHUT UP!” He lashed out at her, again it just phased through her like she really wasn’t there. “I KNOW THE TRUTH! I AM THE MASTER OF WHAT THE WORLD IS! My mother was never human. She can’t…She can’t….She can’t be!” “You must accept the truth, Commander Sev.” Luna looked at him with pity. “If you do not, I fear you may inadvertently hurt the ones you love.” “NEVER!” Commander Sev snarled, striking at her with no luck again and again. “I’D RATHER DIE THAN HURT MY FAMILY!” “Than embrace your mother’s heritage.” “I DON”T WANT TOO!” Sev finally cried out. Everything came crashing down on him and it hurt. ‘She’s human. She isn’t She’s human. She’s isn’t SHE”S HUMAN!’ “I don’t want to hate her. I don’t want to her to leave me…I just don’t.” He could faintly hear the pitter patter of tears hitting the ground. As well, he could feel Luna nuzzling him. “Whether she is human or not will not tear away this love you hold. It is far too strong and powerful. Keep holding onto it and you’ll make it through this.” “But how?” Sev whimpered. “I’m supposed to hate humans.” “A hatred taught by your father,” Luna frowned. Sev scowled. “Yes…..” “And if he had attacked your mother, whether she was human or not?” “I would have put my blade in his throat,” Sev snapped. “I don’t care! I would have defended her. She is my mother, a human. I don’t care!” He weeped. “I just want to not care. I want the hatred to stop, but my heart still holds it close. If I forget it, then I will forget my friends who’ve…died helping me fight them. What would they have thought of me if I renounce everything right now? Weak, that is what.” “You are not weak,” Luna said with conviction. “You are strong. Much stronger than you give yourself credit for and that’s saying something.” Commander Sev snorted. “Now you’re just trying to make me smile,” he did. “It’s working.” Luna smiled back at him and Sev sighed. “It will take time to get used to this…To all this…To my human mother who is now a pokemon, so it shouldn’t matter, but she was previously a human, but I didn’t accept it…..” He clutched his head. “Why does my head hurt in a dream?” “You are enigma, Commander Sev.” Luna answered. “Also, phantom pain.” Sev growled. “Of course…..Thank you, Princess Luna.” “It’s what I’m here for, my student.” Sev laughed. “So I’m your student now?” “In a sense,” Luna explained. “You are like me when I was young, have I not said so? As such, it is my duty to train you. To make you better than you are now.” “Impossible goals,” Sev boasted. “I am already so great. If I was greater, I would be a legendary….” He tapped his chin. “Okay, new plan. We’ll need a shipton of magic, enough dynamite to blow up a mountain, earplugs, a pogo stick, and all you can eat taco meals. THIS IS MY GREATEST PLAN EVER….Also, how about a moon cannon?” Luna face-hooved. “Mother preserve me.” _______________________________________________________________________ Sev awoke that morning to the sound of music. Sev had heard that melody before and instantly knew who it was. Sighing, he slithered out of his bed, which laid in a rather exquisite bedroom. He went over to the door and opened it. In the hallway, close to his door, was a single Mawile soldier playing a fiddle. He looked up at the commander and smiled, stopping his playing. “Good to see you up, Commander.” His accent was different from most, showing that he wasn’t exactly native to Hoenn. {He’s Irish, by the way.} “Of course I’m up,” Sev hissed in agitation. “You woke me up with your music.” “Ah,” the Mawile, known as Sergeant Maw, sighed happily, stroking the fiddle like it was a good friend. “But music soothes the soul, not anyone tell you different sir.” “They might,” Sev rolled his eyes. Maw was one of the PLA’s lead musicians and was applauded for it, even by Sev himself. “Why did you decide to play it outside my room?” “Heard you were upset,” Maw frowned and stood up. “Could hear you crying in the next room. I thought a few tunes could help.” Sev stiffened at that. He didn’t like to show weakness, especially to his soldiers. “I wasn’t crying….But the music was appreciated. I have just been…stressed.” “And you know what relieves stress,” Maw smiled wildly. “A good fuck. I’m sure we could find some feek who’d love to do you, Commander.” “I do not…” Sev started. “I’d recommend a Mawile lass,” Maw interrupted. “The wonders they can do…Whew.” He smirked. “I very much doubt any Mawile could catch my eye,” Sev stuck his snout up snootily. Of course, he had nothing wrong with Mawiles and they certainly had their own…charm, in a way. Maw just chuckled. “I think you might want to reconsider, Commander. Why, I know this one Mawile who can…” “I’ve heard enough,” Sev slithered past him with a bright red blush. He did not want the image of a sexy Mawile in his….’Now that it’s in here, it’s not so bad….GAH! Don’t give in.’ “Once you go Mawile,” Maw laughed, starting to play his fiddle again. This time it was a happier tune. “You’ll never wipe that smile.” “That was terrible!” Sev called back, not realizing where he was going. Unfortunately, he collided with someone he really hated….Which isn’t surprising, given how many were on that last. It was General Ahmos. Ahmos scowled. “Snake, watch where you’re going.” “You should have been doing so,” Sev glared at him. “My path is to be clear at all times. It is your fault that you halted me.” Ahmos’s glare didn’t frighten Sev. “How dare you….If it was up to me, I’d throw your sorry kind out of this country.” “But it isn’t up to you,” Sev smirked. “It is up to the king.” Ahmos snorted. “The king is foolish, but he’ll learn. He’ll see the dangers your kind present. He’ll kick you out of our blessed country and show the world that Zebrica can stand on its own. If not…..” He shook his head. “Never mind. Just keep your eyes in front of you….Lest you fall on a blade or something.” He muttered the last part, but Sev caught. “I’m not the one who should be watching out for blades,” Sev flexed his tail, before continuing on his own path. ‘I wonder if they serve tacos for breakfast here.’