//------------------------------// // Crota gave me Hives // Story: Pokemon Destinies: Wrath of The Taken King // by Metroid Prime //------------------------------// For the more light the worms consume, the hungrier they become. -Mouth of Ur Taken Thrall You are a Thrall. Numberless spawn of the Hive. Shrieking and expendable: one pebble in an avalanche. You have been taken. Stop howling. Set down your claws. Your fear is over. Your weakness is done. You will be strong now. What is your purpose? What law drives you? To close with the enemy. To rend it. To move in great numbers, to cower when alone, to swarm when together. But you are predictable. Frail. You cannot pass through fire and shot. You need to be elusive. There is a knife for you. It’s shaped like [sideways]. Take up the knife. Use it. Take your new shape. PLA Home base, Capital of Zebrica The inconspicuous meeting room was full of all the leaders of the PLA army, along with King Trot and others who had arrived after receiving the message, everyone was ready to discuss the current crisis at hand. "I believe we all know why we are here" General Gard said breaking the silence. "What are these things!?" General Char exclaimed, his tail being more fiery them usual. "Char deary" Vapora began "Calm down we have to go about this in a calm manner" "...I'm sorry Vapora, but I will only calm down once I see these invaders six feet under" The Vaporeon could only sigh as she relented. "This invaders appear to seek our destruction" Gard continued " But, if what Lia saw is believed to be true then they may not be here on a whim" "What do you mean?" Char asked "Lia" Gard said as he motioned the little girl forward "Tell them" The Krila who for the most part was quiet during the entire meeting spoke up. "I saw a group of aliens surround a Rhyperior before they brought it down then this black and white little sphere appear above it and sucked the entire thing inside" "....A little orb swallowed a 623.5 pound Pokemon?" Vapora asked "I know what I saw" King Trot could only sit in a corner as he fumbled through his thoughts. "Okay so its obvious these creatures deal in some kind of magic, since this is something we never encountered before I suggest we study our foe before engaging any further" Gard recommended. "So your plan is to sit here and twiddle out claws while these heretics are out their allowed to go about and do their blasphemous ways!?" General Char yelled. "Do you want to end up like that Rhyperior, Char?" Lia said. "I'd rather die for what I believe in than let villainous scum roam free!" "So you would die with no care for those who love you!?" Vapora cried "That enough!" Sev's shouted. "We are an army, and we must act like one! Be soldiers not bickerers, we will handled this crisis like soldiers. for we have something these beasts don't a purpose true and pure, sanctioned by our patron Princess Luna herself!" The Char after hearing Sev's words sat down and kept his mouth shut, it was also at this point that the commander noticed King Trot stareing off into space, as it distracted by something. "King Trot?" "Huh? what" The zebra king lost his train of thought as Sev's words brought him back into reality "You have been sitting there since we started this discussion, what is wring?" "Umm, well I have been thinking about something" "Then share it with us, whatever it is it must be important if you are not in conversation with us about the situation at hand" "Well, its just that, this is not not the first time our planet has been invaded" "What do you mean?" Char asked. "You see, in ancient times a race of beings called the Hive tried to destroy our world, they were only stopped by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna" "...What are you getting at?" "Well, the Hive were described as three eyed sword wielding warriors who destroyed everything in their path. These creatures have three eyes and we have seen many of them using swords" "So.. you believe that these guys are the same invaders form your planets distant past?" The room became silent once more as Trot put on a face of sorrow. "Wait. Even if these guy are the ancient aleins you speak of, why are they attacking now?" General Gard said "Maybe they think second times the charm?" Lia suggested "Maybe, Trot what else do you know about these creatures?" "Well when they tried to take over our planet, they were lead by a space demon called Crota" Gard's eyes widened when the name left the kings mouth. "Wait. Did you say Crota?" "Yes, why? Have you heard that name before?" "Indeed, I managed to look into the mind of a dying Hive and I was able to translate a single sentence from its wretched mind" "What was it?" "It was "Vengeance for Crota" " Immediately King Trot began to sweat a look of pure fear on his face. "I must leave, right now" "Whoa wait why!?" I don't even have time to explain why I don't have time to explain!" Trot exclaimed as he rushed to the door. Only to have it slam in his face. The Zebra turned around to see the face of a waiting Gardivor, his eyes glowing, evidence he had used Physic. "Make time, if their is anything we will help us know these creatures better you must tell us." "This isn't about the Hive" Trot stood up and looked at everyone in the room. "Its about Princess Celestia" Khaba walked forward and made eye contact with his king. "What about her?" "....You see in the stories my father told me as a child, he spoke of how it was Princess Celestia who personally killed Crota" Almost all the Zebra leaders who were in the room widened their eyes upon hearing this. "And if the Hive have returned to this world in order to seek retribution for their leaders death, Celestia will be at the top of their revenge list." Trot turned away and faced the door once again. "And I'd see myself hanged before those monsters lay a single claw on the one pony who is the closet thing I have for a mother" With that said, Trot barged out of the room, Gard made no effort to stop him. After all...he knew what it was like to loose a mother........ Sinnoh Region, Eterna Forest The little Krila's head for the most part ached, but it did tell that he was alive. "Ugh what did I eat last night......wait wrong lines" One of the last things he remembered was fighting those humans who had hurt Sev until something knocked him out. Gathering his bearings, he saw that he was in the middle of the forest he looked around to see various PLA members moving equipment around nurses tending to the wounded while Generals barked orders and soldiers answered them. It is good to see you awake little Gard. Recognizing the voice the Kirlia turned around to see Commander Viper, leader of the PLA army standing before him. "Commander, were are we whats going on?" "The humans somehow managed to drive us out of the island I have lead us to the Eterna Forest as a temporary base" "But, what about Rayquaza? If mother was able to open his eyes to your greatness surely he would have destroyed any human oppressors" At that moment, the Commanders Expression became unreadable. "Commander Viper...What happened to the mission?" "....The mission was a failure" "What!?" "Rayquaza escaped the humans released our brother before your mother could make him see the light of our cause" The news was...saddening to Gard, Rayquaza was a legendary, a child of Arceus, had he been recruited to the PLA their power as well as their support would have bolstered, his loss was a tragedy. Speaking of which... "Commander, where is my mother, I to talk to her more about what happened, after all would she have keep the humans from reaching him?" At that moment Gard saw the commander stiff for a moment, before seeing something in his eye that he had never seen before...or should not ever have been seen from the commander. Sorrow. Suddenly a feeling of emptiness began to emanate from the Seviper, as if something important from his life had been taken from him, but the Kirila didn't know what yet. "Gard, I want you to know that I have always regarded you and your mother my family and that I will protect my own to the last scale on my back.....but I have failed, I could not protect my beloved ones" "Commander.......what are you saying?" "I am sorry Gard....but your mother was killed doing her her duty, she died at the hands of the humans" As soon as the words registered in Gards mind, everything went blank as his entire world collapsed around him. And on that day the cries of sadness broke the night as a child mourned for its mother Urzok walked with the rest of his brood as the energy marker of his mother, Omnigul, grew stronger the deeper they descended into the caves. In truth family was not one of the things the Hated gave much thought about, as a member of the Hive sect, "The Spawn of Crota" that made Crota his father and Oryx his Grandfather. Even though he did not give blood ties much thought, it was a crucial part of Hive society, if one survived the battle the Hive constantly threw their Thrall in they were granted the rank of Acolytes followed by the choice to become a Mother/Wizard or a Knight if a Knight and in turn become Princes leading their own broods. In short, if a Hives glory was only measured by the amount of light one claimed for their patron Gods. Crota knew that, Crota knew many things, unfortunately Crota took whatever knowledge he had with him to the void. So when Oryx found out that his son, his champion, his Eater of Hope extinguished, you can guess that fatherly instincts kicked in. Despite what most other species thought, the Hive were not completely heartless, they knew love, and this love was war. And it was our of war/love that Urzok keep descending, egar to find the one who had spawned him. "We are close" Xyor said "The energy maker is getting stronger" But the deeper they went a thought entered Xyor's mind. "These cave have been here for centuries surely these creatures could have stumbled upon the Hive resting place?" Cunning and curiosity were the natures of Savuthan and Oryx, she that many other possessed these traits, knowledge was power in the eyes of almost everyone, if the Hive did such a number on this world, enough that the Hive would be reduced to the stories fathers tell their spawn at night, surely they would have checked every crack, every crevice in order to make sure those stories stayed stories right? "Then we havn't they?" Xyor was interrupted from her thoughts when the energy maker suddenly started to glow brighter, indicating that their target was near, very near. Xyor looked around as the tunnel got smaller and smaller. Finally the end came when the cave ended in a solid wall which prevented from advancing any further. King Trot at the moment was both angry and worried, which emotion was stronger was yet to be determined. "Try and find a way! This is Celestia's life we are talking about!" His secretary at the moment was feeling nervous. "But my king its just impossible to get ANY sort message to the outside world with these monster breathing down our neck" "Then find a way! see it one of those flying pokemon or pegasus can fly all the way to Equestria" "We tried! Any attempt to leave the castle has been halted by those floating spheres that shoot anything that gets near" Trot look as if he was gonna make another excuses, only the slump down in his throne putting a hoove to his forehead in frustration "Leave me" As Zebra quickly left the room, a maid who has been eavesdropping on the conversation found the opportunity to walk in. "My King?" Trot looked up to see one of his maids, Sunny Days enter the throne room. "Oh, Sunny, what is it" "I couldn't help but overhear you shouting at the secretary, is something wrong?" Trot was initially about to say "its nothing" and ask her to leave, until the need to tell someone about this crept up. "Sunny can I tell you something?" "Of course" the maid walked closer and then sat down at the foot of the throne. "Have you ever felt like their was someone you cared about in danger and that you where powerless to save them?" "...I can't say I have" "Well I now know what Sev felt when his sister was kidnapped" "Pardon me?" "I have reason to believe that the aliens who besiege us are the ancient evil known as the Hive, creature who visited the planet 1,000 years ago and tried to destroy us all" Sunny's eyes widened at this revelation but lamented because she knew her from the look in his eyes the King was not lying. "Oh I see" "The PLA have determined that they are here to finish what they started as well as avenged the death of their leader, the Demon Crota" "Which means?" "If revenge is one the top of their to do list then Princess Celestia will be at their prime target" "Oh no" Sunny knew how close Trot was to the alicron, he practically saw her as his mother, if she was in danger I would make sense that Trot would do anything to warn her about the impending danger, which given the state to the current situation was not an option. "But here I am stuck in my own castle with no way contacting her, that is if they haven't reached her already" As Trot began to fall into dispare knowing full we Celestia would have now way knowing what was coming for, he felt a pair of arms warp around his neck. "It will be alright my King their is a reason Celestia has lived for as long as she has, warning or not I'm sure she can take care of herself" "But what if she can't? What if this time she loses, and I loose the closest thing I have to mom, considering I don't die in this place first" Sunny let go of the hug and look her king in the eye. But you have forgotten on thing" "Oh, whats that" "Arceus, and the Pokemon, this world in now their home to and you can bet my life they won't stand by while the Hive try and wipe us all out "Thats....true, your right Sunny" "I am, so stop worrying about Celestia and start worrying about your Kingdom and your people, they are the one that need you right now, not Celestia" Trot nodded in agreement, his duty and his responsibility was to the citizens of Zebrica, Celestia could wait. "Sunny" "Yes" "Call all my officers and lieutenants, its time we plan our counter attack" The zebra acknowledges and left the throne room. Trot then walked to the closed window looking in the direction of the setting sun. "Please look after her Arceus" "Their is nothing here!" an impatient Hive Knight exclaimed as Xyor checked the rock for the third time. "Be still, sometimes the best way to hide things is in plain sight" "Well all I see is rock" said Urzok "I have to agree with him what is here that we cannot see?" Xyor maid then no mind was she floated to the center of wall. Suddenly she fell her hand fit into an small hole that she had not noticed before, Inspecting it she discovered that it had the same shape of the energy marker that lead them here" "Well then you know what they say Urzok, sometime the best way to hide things" The wizard took out the marker and inserted it into the hole. "Is in plain sight" To the surprise of the other Hive, the wall crumbled away to reveal a hidden chamber that contained various Hive sarcophagi The group walked into and began to examine their discovery. "Well what do you know, that wall was warded to that the natives would not dig any further, Omni is very clever" "Why don't you tell that yourself" Urzok turn to she Xyor in front of a tomb that was more decorative than the rest, as he approached it the wizard poured her magic into the box which then began to glow. After a few seconds the cover opened to reveal a sleeping wizard which bore the mark of the Will of Crota. Soon the Hive mother began to stir and came back to life. "Omnigul, Will of Crota, you father, our King demands that you once again rise to the task of cleansing this world of the life. Fully awake, the consort of Crota rose from her resting place and faced Xyor. "Well then" Omnigul said "What are we waiting for?" The Taken From the Journals of Ikora Rey I have been talking to Eris about the Taken. She agrees that what we observe — the apertures, the starlight, and of course the Taken entities — is not Hive magic. If Hive arcana is a metaphor, this is the meaning; if they make appeals, then this is the judge. Oryx wields this power. But Oryx did not make it. We face the same flower we met in the Black Garden. The process is simple: an aperture opens, like a jaw, and swallows a living thing. It passes into — another place. Later, it returns. What returns is... I try to use the word ‘shadow’ but Eris hisses at me. A shadow is a flat projection cast by a light and an object. Less real. Eris insists that these Taken are more real, somehow. She uses words like inhabited, exalted, rendered final... Is this power blind? Just a natural energy Oryx discovered? I cannot believe it. My Hidden tell me that the Taken shine with seething, negative light. As if the universe is curling up around them. As if they radiate some pathology that decays into our world as nothingness... The Taken serve Oryx. But I think those jaws lead elsewhere. I dream about what happens on the inside. I dream about what might happen. Are the victims devoured, and replaced by simulacra? Husked out and filled up? Is some mathematical operation conducted on them, translating them from one shape to another? What would I see, if I leap inside? What would happen to a Guardian? Is that how we end this — all of us leaping into the dark, to fill it up with light? Eris thinks there’s a poetry to how the Taken change. She thinks we can chart the difference, and understand the will behind it. I am afraid she may be right.