The Imperatorium
... one week ago ...
Rax and the rest of the Imperatorium had finally made it a good distance away from the Stoneyard. The Toxicroak looked back at his group; they had definitely lost some numbers back there, but at the very least their mission was successful.
As they traversed the Hesperian plains, they eventually came to a large cave entrance. It was sizeable enough for them to camp out in and hide, away from Thrace, at least for the time being.
"Alright, listen up you sods!" Rax called out. "We're campin' out tonight. Get your tents ready, we wake up first thing in the morning, yeah?"
The mercenaries sounded off in acknowledgement, heading into the cave and setting up camp. Fires were started, beds were rolled out, and food was cooked as they settled for the night. Rax and Atris both set up their own tent, easily the biggest one of them all. Being in leadership had its privileges. Instead of a bedroll, they had a larger, foldable bed-frame and mattress, and soon enough everything was set for the night.
"So then…" Rax said almost seductively, walking up behind Atris and massaging her shoulders. "How's about I reward you for a job well-done?"
"Oh no you don't," Atris reprimanded, shoving the Toxicroak's wandering arms away. "I'm still mad at you!"
"Come on," Rax complained. "What'd I do this time?"
"You know what you did," Atris replied. Her tone of voice made it difficult to tell whether she was truly annoyed or simply teasing him. "You killed her when I specifically told you
not to!"
Rax shot her a confused glance. "I kill a lot of people, love. You're gonna have to be more specific than that."
"The girl at the Nexus," Atris said. "The Lilligant woman. Gold Tribe. Remember? How could you forget?"
Rax gave a meek shrug. "What was I supposed t'do, huh? She was tryin' to kill me, then the big death bird came n' blew a hole straight through the wall!" He placed a hand on his chin for a moment, thinking back to the event in question. "I wasn't gonna kill her, I swear, but she was knocked out cold, under rubble, badly poisoned…" He examined the stingers on his hands, chuckling faintly. "Kukuku…."
Atris sighed, crossing her arms. "I had so much planned for her, too… you remember her from before, don't you?"
"She was that pissy little brat from years ago, wasn't she?" Rax asked, thinking back to those years ago. "Kept on whining about
innocent people and
cruelty." He scoffed slightly as the words left his mouth. "How did she even join the Gold Tribe if she was such a pacifist?"
Atris smirked, remembering the moment in question. Their last mission, before Cassandra had left and revoked their friendship. "She was so guilty over that, I remember. I'd bet good money that's why she became a goldie. To wash away the guilt."
"Kid shoulda grown a backbone," Rax said coldly.
"Well, she can't now because you went and
killed her," Atris replied, though she sounded more playful than sincerely irritated. "I suppose it's of no consequence now. You went and ruined my fun. I hope you're happy."
"Why d'you want her alive so badly for, anyways?" Rax asked, confused. "I thought you hated the girl."
"I did," Atris replied matter-of-factly. "Gets all in a fuss at me for a mission gone wrong, calls the authorities, forces me to run away from Skyhaven…"
"Eh, Skyhaven was miserable," Rax interjected.
"Oh, don't get me wrong, it was
wretched," Atris replied. "So uppity, so lacking in reason… but still, being forced on the run because one of your friends decided to tattle on you. It can really wear on your nerves."
"And how exactly did you plan on getting back at her?" Rax asked, still confused. "She's pushin' up daisies now. I'd think that's good enough revenge as any."
"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" Atris said with a smirk, turning and plopping herself onto the bed. "I wanted to have her whole life crumble in front of her eyes. And then, when she had nothing left… then I would have won."
"Sounds like a waste of time to me," Rax said, falling onto the opposite side of the bed beside the Braixen.
"Well, there's no sense in talking about it, I guess," Atris said nonchalantly. "You ruined all the fun. The little Pawniard boy was there too. Everything was lined up so well…"
"Pawniard boy?"
"Don't worry about it. No use in it anymore." Atris said teasingly. "You fun-ruiner, you."
"Well, how about I make it up to you?" Rax said smugly, leaning in closer to the Braixen beside him.
"Oh, and just how do you plan on doing that?" Atris said with a grin.
"I'll think of something…"
***
His mind was a dark and inescapable labyrinth, a twisting dream of repetitive patterns that had him rolling around in his sleep. He kept seeing the same thing, over and over again, and it was a torture which he couldn't wake up from. All the time, shadows were gathered around him - taller than him, so he had to look up. They were many, seven or a dozen perhaps, and they had voices - some were mocking him, some were talking with each other and pointing at him, others were laughing. It was all too vague for him to actually hear any solid words, but he understood their meaning. They didn't think he was worthy. They thought they were better than him. Someone advised him to throw it away as soon as he could. Someone else suggested that he reforms his ways, or some nonsense like that, lest he is destroyed.
A shadow had crept up behind him, grasping him strongly by the shoulders. "It can never belong to you," it whispered, the words now crystal clear, "ours. Ours."
"Mine," someone else said.
"Mine," another voice retorted. The voices started arguing with each other, screaming shrilly and striking at one another.
"No... it's mine! AH!"
Rax awoke with a start, nearly jumping out of his bed in a vicious panic, sweating profusely. He frantically looked around him, seeing he was still in his tent. Just a terrible nightmare... except this was far more horrifying than any other dreams he could remember. Rax was not one to usually receive nightmares.
He slowly calmed himself down, wiping his brow. He looked to the side, seeing Atris sleeping soundly, despite his startled waking. He stepped up quietly, causing Atris to stir in her sleep slightly before laying still once more.
The Toxicroak walked outside of their tent. He glanced around the cavern they were in, seeing tents sprawled about the winding paths of the cave, set up by what remained of his men. Normally, they'd be on their way back to civilization, but their contractor had ordered them to wait, and truthfully, he was a little frightened by Thrace after their meeting at the Nexus. No telling what that crazy bird might do if she found them.
"Any day now..." Rax mumbled to himself. He clutched the Dark Star in his hands, the small, black crystal hanging from a chain around his neck for safe-keeping. At least... he
attempted the clutch it. The crystal almost seemed to... avoid his grip. Or maybe he was frightened of actually grasping it fully. This crystal was starting to give him bad vibes. The Toxicroack had thought it to be nothing more than a battery, a source of power for the Nexus, but he was beginning to have doubts as to the simplicity of that idea. Whatever this
thing was, he wanted nothing more than to be rid of it. Sell it off to the highest bidder and be on his merry way, with more gold than could be contained in any vault or bank.
He slowly wandered towards the exit of the cave, ignoring the loud snoring coming from the tents as he passed by.
"Lazy mongrels..." he thought. A moment later and he was outside, covering his eyes from the harsh morning sun. No sign of Thrace... thank Arceus.
In the distance, amidst the high grass, a troop of Pokemon were approaching their cave. A scout was ahead of them, already on the foot of the mountains; he must've been looking for caves, and he had spotted them. He held a flag in deep blue colors with the Hesperian crest on it, the Swellow, and the crest of House Greyland, the head of a Zebstrika. "Rax, right?" the Dedenne scout with the flag shouted, "Lord Halford sends us. Are you well? Do you still have it?"
Rax pointed to the Dark Star around his neck. "You've got eyes, don't ya?" he asked in mockery. "Unless you thought this was just my mum's favorite necklace."
"Just checking," the small mouse shouted, "if that's indeed your mom's favorite necklace, you're in big trouble."
The others were arriving. It was a small group of three dozen men, those in the fronts carrying the banner of Lord Halford. "Rouse your men," the leader, a Heatmor commanded, "we have a long way to go and such little time. Lord Halford is impatient."
"Of course," Rax said, giving an almost insulting bow. He turned towards the cave entrance, puffing up the sac on his neck and letting out a loud yell.
"RISE AND SHINE, DUCKIES, IT'S TIME TO GO! WAKEY WAKEY!" One by one, Pokemon began to exit their tents, some groaning slightly in irritation as they set about packing up.
Rax turned back towards the Dedenne scout, a coy smirk on his face. "Give 'em a minute. We'll be ready to hit the road soon."
***
The Hesperian host had camped somewhere in the northeastern grasslands. Flags with the crest were moving gently with the wind that blew through the meadows. The sky was gloomy, a light blue and grey with the clouds that slipped off the eastern edge of the sky island; it didn't take a genius in geography to understand they were near Fargal Keep, Lord Halford's seat, which was in turn near the edge of the island.
Rax and the rest of the Imperatorium were walked through the camp by the Heatmor leader, led to a series of red colored tents that didn't seem to belong to Lord Halford's host.
"Here's the rest of your company, sellclaw. They were stuck in the ancient city's pit," the leader of the squadron informed him stiffly. "Some were harmed from the Yveltal's awakening, but I don't reckon you'll mind much, eh?"
The mercenaries were gathered around a fire in the middle of a circle of their red tents; they were a good many dozens there, but not all were there. They had suffered casualties, to be sure - from a hundred members, the Imperatorium had been reduced to sixty, give or take, but they knew what was at stake. Their reward was going to be worth it. Once they saw Rax and Atris, their leaders, their faces lit somewhat and they raised their glasses in a quiet cheer. Some stood up, too, expecting them.
"You who were with Rax," the Heatmor said deeply, turning to those behind them who were in the caves, "join the others to the fire, over there. Your leaders are going to be busy themselves with some math, if you want to see any of the gold you were promised."
"Just sit tight, loves," Rax said to his men with a smug grin. "We'll be busy securin' your life savings."
Rax and Atris were being brought to Lord Halford's tent now; you could tell it was his, because it was the biggest one in the center of the camp. Light-blue colored, and with flags bearing the crest of his family, the Zebstrika's head, stationed with spikes at each sides of the entrance. As they neared the tent, Atris leaned close to Rax, whispering to him.
"You're really going to sell it? Just like that?"
"That was the plan, wasn't it?" Rax asked curiously.
"Yes, but..." Atris thought for a moment. "Death Gods? Rebellions? All over a silly crystal?"
"They want it so bad. None o' my business why they want it. "
Atris frowned slightly. "I think this crystal is more important than you realize. I don't think you should sell it."
"What would you have me do with it, then?" Rax asked.
The Braixen had no chance to respond; the moment they entered the tent with the Heatmor and his escort, a familiar face greeted them; it was that tall and sleazy Mienshao with the mustachios that pooled on the floor around him. He was holding the black book of the Constitution; he had a strange smile on his face, one that revealed only his front teeth and didn't reach his hazel eyes. The Mienshao never looked more like a rodent who had found its meal than he did in this moment. That was the Wise Master of Laws, no doubt, and next to him was Lord Halford, a Zebstrika laid over an earthly brown cushion. A silver cross was hanging from his neck, and above him, there was a banner of Arceus.
"Ah, there they are," Lord Halford said hastily, his eyes fixed on the crystal around Rax's neck, "let us see it, boy, come on, be quick about it. Leave it on the table."
The Wise Master, more subtle and observant, knew of Rax's instincts, so he snapped his fingers at the Heatmor, who must have known what to do. He brought in the tent a large chest; it was so great in size that four of his men had to carry it in front of Lord Halford's desk. "Please," Rethlor the Mienshao said, giving them his slimy smile, "show us the crystal, and your reward shall be shown to you in turn."
Rax eyed the Mienshao cautiously. Atris' concerns began to weigh in his mind. These people desperately wanted this crystal. "It's right here," the Toxicroak said, gesturing to the crystal that hung from his neck. "Got a reward to match?"
"On the table, heathen," Lord Halford commanded.
The Wise Master approached the Toxicroak with quiet steps, leaning in to whisper, "put it on the table, you have got nothing to worry about."
Rax looked at Atris, the Braixen giving a small nod. He reached behind his neck, undoing the chain and placing the Star on the table. "All in one piece, right as rain."
Lord Halford leaned in from his cushion to examine the jet-black crystal. The strange power it projected flew across the room in waves. There wasn't any doubt that it was the real thing.
"What a strange creation," the Zebstrika commented, without touching the gem. The Wise Master grabbed the chain and lifted it slightly, bringing it to the level of his eyes, which glowed with the flame of greed.
"Splendid," he shouted, putting the chain around his head, then nodding at the guards. They opened the treasure chest. Stacks upon stacks of golden bars lit up the room in their clear, luminous glow that danced upon Rax and Atris's faces.
"What is this?" Rax asked, insulted. This was not the amount they were promised. "I work my rump off to get that bloody rock and-"
Atris jabbed Rax in the arm, casting an angry glare at the Toxicroak. Rax wisely stopped talking. "What my partner means to say, " Atris said, "is that we were promised a larger amount, considering what we went through to acquire this."
The Mienshao took a step back and folded his arms across his chest, beneath the dark crystal that rested softly against his dirty fur. He let Lord Halford handle this. The Zebstrika grinned, but it looked more like something stinky was right under his nose; he was looking at them haughtily with an air of superiority, as if they were trash under his hooves. "You were promised an amount for your support, yes, but you are not quite done supporting us yet, heathens."
"You shall get the full reward if you follow us to Union City," the Wise Master said slyly, "and I'll have you understand that Lord Halford is not going there with the... best of intentions." Rax would know what he was talking about - Rethlor was implying that if they sieged Union City, they would also sack it when they would get past the walls. "So, in addition to what was promised, your mercenaries may keep any valuables they... happen to find in the city, once it falls. We do have a deal, I presume."
Rax stood silently for a moment. He wasn't sure if the rest of his men would travel with them. After their losses at Stoneyard, some of them might have been ready to quit. Not all of them, to be sure, but they would be walking with fewer numbers than before. He grunted softly, eyeing the Wise Master. "And after that?"
Rethlor, with his arms still folded, ran his claws through his beard, his eyes strangely glazed in thought. "Why, after that, there must be no question for what happens. You spend your earnings however you like."
Rax folded his arms, looking over the gold, then back to Atris, who was standing and awaiting his decision. Sacking Union City, the very symbol of the joining of Stygia and Hesperia, was something he couldn't pass up. If they were to separate the nations again, they would have to start there. He looked over at Atris again, the Braixen nodding her approval, though her expression looked... hesitant. "Right, then. We head for Union City, yeah?"
