Part Fifteen A. Hiroshi:

The full clan meeting may be a serious matter for the clan-leaders and their deputies but for the rest of us, it's an excuse to celebrate. I stroll past the impromptu stalls that have been set up and look at the wares, all the while keeping my eyes open for the familiar flash of purple that identifies the poison clan. I see Fire clan members engaged in a friendly competition with their ice counterparts, insect clan members drinking sake while they talk with normal clan members, a dancing display put on by the Sensational water Pokémon trainers . . . I identified them as Kasumi's sisters. It's a very good thing Takeshi is in the meeting . . .

I continue past displays of clothing, Pokémon care articles and food. There was something odd here. Something . . . I frowned as I realised what it was. Amongst all the colour and chaos of the market, there was no sign of any poison clan member . . . or crimson clothed psychic either.

Where were the poison clan if they weren't mixing with the other clans? I asked a dragon clan member where the area set aside for the poison clan to leave their Pokémon was and made my way there. They'd chosen a secluded place to pitch their tents. I picked up a cloak that had been left drying on a line, told Butterfree to wait and slipped into their midst.

A few looked up at me as I passed but none spoke to me. I guessed the cloak was working . . . I couldn't help but notice that far from being festive like the other clan samurai, most of the warriors wore grim expressions, and were busy sharpening blades or seeing to their Pokémon. They were acting more like they'd come to a war than a diplomatic meeting . . .

I shuddered at that thought.

As I reached the centre of the camp I had to stifle a gasp. What was Charizard doing here? And Bulbasaur and Squirtle, and all the others? They were with . . . I gulped, noticing a still form, . . . Satoshi.

I ducked out of sight between two tents as four samurai approached.

"The Daimyo has called for the Pokémon."

"Hai. You know what to do," the blonde samurai said rather sulkily.

"Of course we do, Yamato, dear." The pink-haired woman smirked. "Now listen you! You know what Sakaki-daimyo said. You will do everything we tell you or we hurt the kid!"

"Bulba."

"PiiiKA!"

They didn't sound happy about it but they were giving in . . .

"No!" Satoshi called out, managing to sit up. He'd been bound, I saw. "Run away! Don't listen to them! Run away and forget about me! I don't matter! But if you help Sakaki-san, he'll--"

"Pika-pi! Pika!!"

I winced as the Green haired male lifted Satoshi easily above his head and just threw him down. "The kid is really beginning to annoy me," he laughed. He turned back to the horrified Pokémon. "It would give me the greatest delight to shut this annoying little runt up permanently, understand? If one of you so much as "pikas" out of turn, I'll make him wish he had never been born, got it?"

"Pika," Pikachu growled. The others nodded slowly.

"Right then," the blue-haired guy says. "Follow us."

"Why do you get to lead? Ladies first." The pink samurai pushes him out of the way. "Follow me, little Pokémon."

Charizard snorts but the green-haired samurai just has to walk over to Satoshi to make him obey. Following the rest he lumbers towards the full clan meeting.

"Pika-pi," Pikachu says softly before running after them, the last to leave.

"I can't believe the boss would entrust them with something that important while we're relegated to babysitting," Yamato says.

"The defeat in the forest could have happened to anyone," the man says, shaking Satoshi roughly as he hauls him to his feet. "Now what?"

"Well Kosaburo, the orders were to keep him out of sight," Yamato walked to the tent opposite the ones I was hiding between and held the door open. "Let's put him with the other."

Other? I wonder.

"I won't let you get away with this," Satoshi says as he is forced up and Kosaburo shoves or drags him into the tent--honestly, how can he expect him to walk when he's tied up like that?

Kosaburo laughs, and Yamato smiles. "You don't have a choice little boy. Now be a good little prisoner for us and I'll see that Kosaburo doesn't hurt you too much."

As Satoshi is shoved into the tent, I weigh my options. These two warriors . . . well, I'm not sure I can take them out myself and we're in a camp of their comrades . . . they just have to squeal and I'm good as dead.

So what can I do?

Try and gate crash the meeting and warn everybody? But . . . I can't abandon Satoshi. Not when they can still use him as a punishment for the Pokémon's misbehaviour.

"Idiots!"

I look up in surprise to see Yamato leave the tent with a Alakazam, A Jynx and a Geodude . . .

"They've forgotten the most important one!"

"I'll go ahead and catch up with them. You bring the Pokémon." Kosaburo says, matching his words by breaking into a run.

"Hai."

I gulp excitedly. I can't believe this! This could be my chance . . . I wait until Yamato and the Pokémon are out of sight then slip across to the tent. I step inside. It takes me a moment to adjust to the dim light then I spot Satoshi tied to the centre pole, on the other side, another figure is slumped, posture indicating she is semi-conscious at best.

"Satoshi? Are you all right?"

I step closer to him. Satoshi looks up and shakes his head. I can see he's been gagged. He's frowning at me, I can see he's trying to tell me something.

"What is it?" I ask before there is a sibilant hiss and a heavy smoke is released into the air. It is a warning . . . and it's too late for me. I fall to my knees slowly as everything goes to black, mentally cursing myself. I should have known they'd have left a Pokémon to guard over them . . .

Part Fifteen B. Satoshi:

I stir weakly, my head full of fuzz. Whatever attack Gloom used, it was powerful. Although I'm protected from it through this gag, it's still made me feel dizzy. Still, at least I'm not unconscious like Hiroshi . . .

"Gloom! Gloom!"

The little Pokémon waddles off, probably to inform Yamato and Kosaburo of his presence. I fight against the ropes that tie me to the centre pole hoping to get free of them. All I get for my efforts is a groan from Natsume.

I think she's unconscious still, I can't see to check. That really worries me. She's a member of the psychic clan--they're supposed to be almost all powerful! If the poison clan can take her out, what chance do I have?

And yet I have to do something . . .

"Muk! Muk?"

"HMM!" I say surprised. Well I do have this stupid gag tied over my mouth making it just the tiniest bit hard to talk. "Hoh ha huu huing here?"

"Muk! Muk!"

It is overjoyed to see me and latches onto me in an enormous Muk hug.

"Huuk! Hi hold huu hi . . ." I pause as I feel the ropes that tie make give slightly. A moment later I'm sitting on the floor.

"Hhat . . " I spit out the gag. "What happened?" I ask.

"Muk! Muk!"

I look at the rope ends in my hand. "I guess your poison must have burnt through the rope," I say. "Muk, where were you? I was worried when I couldn't find you in the forest!"

"Muk . . . " It looks embarrassed. I decide to find out what happened later. "We have to get to the full clan meeting and stop Sakaki!"

Another moan from Natsume stops me. I can't leave her or Hiroshi defenceless.

"Muk, I want you to do something very important for me, okay? Can I trust you with this?"

"Muk!"

"I need you to keep Hiroshi and Natsume safe. If anyone comes into this tent, sludge em, okay?"

"Muk! Muk!"

"Good," I give Muk a quick hug then pick up Hiroshi's sword and cut the ropes holding Natsume. I lie her down on the ground then look around for the swords Kosaburo took off me. I grab them, and pick up Hiroshi's purple cloak.

"Take good care of them, Muk," I whisper before drawing on the cloak and heading for the Plateau.

Part Fifteen C. Shigeru:

Sakaki-san turns to Wataru-san. "How would you like me to demonstrate my control over these Pokémon? They will obey any order I give them. Shall I order them singly?"

"Go ahead," Munou, the Rock-master says. "That Geodude is ours. He'll never obey the likes of you."

"Oh. Really?" Sakaki-san smirks. "Geodude, show who your master is by . . . attacking that Onix!"

"Rrrrrrr?"

"Geo-dude, don't listen to him!"

"Geo-dude!" There is a collective gasp as Geodude thumps Onix. The big rock-snake sends him flying with a flick of his tail of course but it's the fact that Geo-dude obeyed Sakaki and not Munou that has the clan-leaders and Wataru-san reeling.

Can't they see he's manipulating them somehow! I want to yell, display my rightly famous temper but can't because of this something that is holding me back.

He's going to be sorry if I ever get out of this . . .

"I . . . I don't believe it!"

"Rrrrrrr."

"Jynx! Attack Kanna's Jynx with ice-beam!" Sakaki is enjoying this. He's laughing. The clan-leaders are reluctant to send their Pokémon out against their own, and that's giving Sakaki the advantage.

"Charmeleon! Use your flame-thrower to help Kanna!" My grandfather steps into the fray boldly. He's been giving me odd looks, I think he's realised there's something wrong with me. "You too Arcanine!"

"Arc! Arc!"

"Charrrr!"

"I don't think so." Sakaki coolly orders Charizard to advance on us! My grandfather and both Pokémon suddenly have their hands full. I curse, thinking this must be the worst punishment for a samurai . . . to stand by and be forced to watch his own kin in trouble and be helpless to aid them.

There is chaos as Sakaki's Pokémon take on those of their clans. Working out what exactly is going on is not helped by this strange feeling that's come over me . . . I feel like some giant icy hand has curled itself around my brain.

"Pikachu," Sakaki-san says pleasantly over the battle noises. "Why don't you show Shigeru-san, dear water-master Kasumi and Takeshi-san, what it is like to be on the receiving end of a Thundershock, hmm?"

I am really scared. Not because of the Thundershock but because if the rat obeys him it will mean he's won. Pikachu was the one that ran away after all, that defied Sakaki-san in the first place. If he obeys, it'll mean we truly have no chance of defeating him.

I try and fight the mist in my mind, try to speak.

"No! Pikachu . . . " I gasp out. "Think . . . Sato . . shi. Wouldn't want . . . this . . ."

"Pika-pi," says the Pikachu sadly. "Pika-CHUUUUUUU!!"

Lightning crackles around me. I slump to the ground.

Pikachu did it . . . it's over.

Then I realise that I'm basically unhurt. Pikachu hasn't Thundershocked me ... instead my head has been cleared of that insidious fog. I decide to stay where I am on the ground, doing a very good impersonation of a rag doll until I work out how Sakaki's doing this . . .

"You see," Sakaki-san smirks. "I control all these Pokémon. You can't deny the fact that I am a Pokémon master."

The normal clan has been closely associated with the poison clan for years. Their leader was the first to hail Sakaki as Pokemon master.

"I have no alternative," Wataru says sadly. "In accordance with the regulations laid down in this charter I must hereby pronounce daimyo Sakaki Pokémon master and so emperor . . . "

'Stop!"

What --Satoshi?

"Pika-pi!"

I don't believe it. Satoshi is here!

"I'm okay. You don't have to listen to him anymore!" Satoshi skids to a halt in the middle of the thoroughly bewildered circle of clan leaders to get jumped on by a very happy Pikachu.

This makes more sense to the Pokémon then it does me because all of Satoshi's group around him protectively giving Sakaki-san their most evil glares.

"Charrrr."

"What's going on?"

"Sakaki-san's not a Pokémon master! He's been controlling the Pokémon through fear!" Satoshi says, Pikachu voicing his agreement.

"Pika-pika! Pikachu!"

"Is this true?" Kanna demands of Sakaki.

"No," Sakaki smiles. "Jynx, Geodude and Alakazam . . . why don't you three take care of this little . . . problem for me?"

"Jynx!"

"Geodude!"

The Pokémon step forward threateningly. Charizard roars and puts himself in front of Ash, but Ash slips around him.

"Alakazam! You don't need to do this! Natsume's safe! He can't hurt her!"

"Alakazam?" I don't think I've ever seen one of those things blink. "Ala-ka-zam!" It joins the others in turning on Sakaki. Jynx and Geodude blink and look around as if they've just woken up. I see Kasumi and Takeshi stirring groggily too--of course, it was a psychic attack that took us out.

"I think you have some explaining to do," Wataru says. His Dragonite is right behind him.

Sakaki-san smiles, although his Persian hisses.

"Oh well. It's just as well I prepared for every eventuality." He nods to the rows of Purple clan members who have assembled on the hills behind us.

"What . . . are you doing?" Kanna asks, although I should think that would be obvious. Even Satoshi has gotten it. Sakaki-san climbs onto the hill with his soldiers.

"I'm declaring myself emperor," he says.

"We'll fight you," I say angrily. "We're the best warriors in all the clans, you won't find it that easy to get rid of us!"

"Oh, Shigeru, you may fight all you like." He nods and his warriors draw their bows. Around me the clan-leaders draw their weapons but I can feel their feeling of desperation. There's not much you can do against archers, especially not Sakaki-san's . . .

"The arrows are poisoned, of course."

Of course.

Sakaki-san pauses for one last gloat. "You'll have as much of a chance as the Storm clan."

"Sakaki-san, please think this through! You can't possibly get away with this . . . " my grandfather speaks up.

"You think our clans won't notice that we've all suddenly died and that there are a lot of poisoned arrows lying around?" Munou asks.

"I've prepared for every eventuality," Sakaki-san gloats. "I'll admit this wasn't the way I wanted things to happen but I would have had to get rid of most of you sooner or later. As for the evidence . . . well, I proved myself pokemon master, some of you were dubious, I called on the great birds and they destroyed you."

He shrugs. "Simple."

"But what about the neutrals like the grass clan? Erika and Joi are no threat to you--surely you can let them go?" My grandfather is now attempting to reach Sakaki-san's sense of honour . . . I have a feeling it's going to be a failed attempt. I make my way to Satoshi's side.

"Sato-chan," I manage his name before loosing my calm. "Look we're probably going to die so I want you to know that . . ."

"Geru-chan," Satoshi interupts me sweetly. "Shut-up."

"Huh?"

"You're babbling."

"Pika-pika."

"I'm just trying to--"

"We're not going to die, okay?" Satoshi frowns at me. "At least I hope we're not," he amends. "Not without a fight, at least."

"Pika-pika," Pikachu agrees jumping to the ground in front of him and bristling.

"That's right," Satoshi draws both his blades. "Friends to the end." He suddenly smiles at me. "This is my very first proper battle Geru-chan!"

"How nice," I mutter. "It's also going to be your last."

I've just made up my mind that I'm going to protect Satoshi no matter what.

No matter what indeed.

"Keeper of the Flame! Moltres! We call you!"

I'm startled to hear my grandfather's voice. Has he gone nuts?

"Charrr!" Charizard sends a flamethrower into the air.

"Are you insane, Ookido-san? You think a bit of fire and mumbo-jumbo can scare me?"

Kanna-daimyo raises her arms. "Your people summon thee, Atircuno! Lord of the ice and snow!"

"EEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee . . . ."

Jynx's high pitched wail goes on and on, blending strangely with Charizard's continued roar.

"What are they doing?" Satoshi yells at me.

"Chu!"

"I have no idea!" I yell back, fighting against the sudden wind to stay upright. Theres a sudden light in the sky, I'm part blinded by it. When I look back Yuuji and Matisse are standing over Satoshi.

"What are you waiting for?" Matisee demands. "Summon Zapdos!"

"Zapdos? But . . . I don't know how?"

"You're a Toraeru, aren't you?" Yuuji says. "You'll know." Satoshi hesitates again. "Now do it!"

"You can do this, Satoshi," I yell. "Come on, try!"

He says nothing but his expression stiffens into one of resolve.

"Okay then," he mutters. "Zapdos! I choose you!"

"PiKA-CHUUUUUU!"

Pikachu sends off what must be the strongest thunderbolt attack ever . . . only it goes straight up.

"CHuuuuuuuuuuu! Chuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

As I stare at the dark storm clouds gathering around the thin stream of lightning I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"You think I did that right?" Satoshi asks.

"Um, I think you did fine . . ." I tell him, turning my eyes back upward to catch a glimpse of something I've been familiar with all my life but never seen, never actually believed . . .

Moltres.

The legendary bird is not only real but swooping through the air and from the looks of things about to land just there by my grandfather.

And it's not alone.

As Pikachu and Jynx fall silent I look up to see two more shadowed shapes silently descend from the sky. I shiver as Articuno passes over top of me then jump as Zapdos takes a place behind Satoshi.

"Wow!" Satoshi breathes. "The legendary birds! They're really here . . . "

Just being near Zapdos is enough to make my hair stand on end. I shake of the feeling and attempt a little Ookido dignity.

"Not something you see everyday, ne Sato-chan?"

"Well, not every day . . . " He looks like he's only just restraining himself from touching Zapdos to make sure its really there.

Most of the clan-leaders look like the only thing stopping them from running away are the hordes of poison clan warriors. I take a look at Sakaki- he doesn't look happy. I suppose when he prepared for every eventuality he only prepared for the ones that might actually happen.

"Aarrk?" Moltres says.

"We're sorry to disturb you but we have a slight problem," my grandfather says apologetically.

"Sakaki-san trying to kill us is a slight problem?" Kasumi sounds like being threatened with death hasn't improved her temper.

"Pika-pikachu."

"Alakazam." I think the two pokemon are explaining what has happened to the legendary birds. The birds definetly don't look happy . . .

"Rrwark!"

Zapdos has taken off and swoops towards Sakaki-san. What is it . . . ? Oh, I see. The Poison clan apparently decided descretion os the better part of valour.

"Rrwark!"

"Zapdos here says you're not going anywhere!" Meowth says from behind the rock clan leaders--another person who knows the value of discretion.

"What are you waiting for you half-wits?" Sakaki yells at his archers. "Fire at it."

There is a whooshing sound as a hail of arrows fill the air.

"Rrwark!" The air around Zapdos crackles with lightning--and I thought Pikachu was powerful. Zapdos deflects the arrows without a second thought, sending them spinning back towards the poison clan . . . and incidentally, us.

"Look out!" I push Satoshi out of the way of a arrow then use my sword to deflect another. I don't even see the third one.

"Ow!"

"Shigeru . . ." Satoshi kneels next to me, worried. "Oh no . . . "

"S'only a flesh wound," I mutter.

"A poisoned flesh wound," he reminds me. "Ookido-daimyo! Erika-san! Help!"

"Shigeru . . ." MY grandfather looks really really worried.

"Aarrk!" Moltres isn't too happy either. As Satoshi and my grandfather help me up I see the flame bird swoop over head and begin to attack Zapdos. There's a pause and then Atricuno joins in.

"This is why we tend not to summon the great birds," my grandfather explains as a burst of fire turns the grass where the meeting was held into flames.

"Really?" I ask, wincing as Articuno coats the ground directly in front of us with ice. "I never would have guessed." Apparently being in danger of dying does not improve my temper either.

Zapdos swoops over us and we all duck. Satoshi cries out, "Pikachu!" I see the little rat, exhausted from calling Zapdos, cowering within a ring of flames. Sakaki's Persian is there and is making the most of Pikachu's inability to protect itself.

"I'm coming Pikachu!" Satoshi yells.

"You'll be killed!" I yell at him. "Come back!"

Does he listen?

Of course not.

I make a lunge for him but the arrow wound in my arm and the fact that my grandfather is holding on to me prevent me from stopping him. Satoshi skids a moment on the ice, then dodges past a series of lightning strikes thrown by Zapdos. I loose sight of him in the panicked medley.

"Shigeru, stay still!" My grandfather tells me.

"But Satoshi . . . "

We both flinch as Moltres goes hurtling through the air mere metres away from us.

"Satoshi! Look out!" Kasumi yells.

Great, I think. He's in trouble again. I gulp as the air clears and I see exactly what sort of trouble Satoshi is in.

The Persian hisses with pleasure as Sakaki advances on Satoshi who cradling Pikachu will be hard put to defend himself.

"You have caused me a great deal of inconvenience," Sakaki-san says, swords in hand. "I'm going to have to start from the beginning again."

"Maybe you could start now and just forget us?" Satoshi says hopefully.

Does it work?

Hah.

"I think it's time I paid you back some of that . . . inconvenience you two have given me," Sakaki-san says.

"Piiiika!"

Satoshi yelps as Moltres spirals into the ground not two metres from where he stands.

"Aaark . . . "

"Well now . . . " Sakaki-san smirks. "Defeating one of the three legendary birds . . . if that isn't master making material, what is?"

"Aaark . . . " Moltres struggles to get up.

"Leave Moltres alone!"

"Satoshi!" My grandfather grabs me again.

"Shigeru, you are injured!"

"But . . . "

Satoshi manages to get inbetween Sakaki and the fire bird, parrying his thrust.

"You're not going to hurt Moltres --hunh!"

Sakaki uses his greater strength to break the block and send Satoshi tumbling backwards.

"Little brat! I should have taken care of you first!"

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu rushes to him. He growls at Sakaki-san, swaying. From the looks of things he won't be able to stay on his own feet much longer . . .

"Hah!" Sakaki-san laughs. "You don't have the energy to shock a Weedle! You can't possibly defeat me . . . "

"Aaark."

While Sakaki was distracted by Satoshi Moltres has recovered its strength. It summons its powers and lets forthe a huge gust of flame that engulfs not just Sakaki but everything within about twenty metres square of him.

"No! Satoshi!" I slump back onto my knees, out of my grandfather's unprotesting arms.

"Dear gods . . . " my grandfather mutters as Sakaki screams.

"Rrwark!" Zapdos screeches, adding it's own electric power to the Flames. Articuno apparently decides that three's company and a beam of white energy hits the battlefield.

"If that isn't overkill . . . " I hear the rock leader mutter behind me. I ignore him. I don't know whether it's the poisoned arrow or Satoshi but I feel numb throughout.

At least Sakaki has stopped screaming.

"No . . . " Kasumi is crying. Takeshi pats her on the back. There is nothing he can say.

"Aaark?" Moltres lets off it's flamethrower startled. Articuno and Zapdos do likewise, settling down onto the ground. They are watching the smoke left by their attacks intently.

The cloud slowly dissolves, leaving the battered remains of Sakaki bare to the sight. I have to choke back nausea-- it's not pretty. If not for the twisted metal of the swords it'd be a struggle to identify the mangled heap as the poison clan leader . . . Nearby are the remains of the Persian . . . oh, Sato-chan!

Charizard roars, Arcanine howls. I wish I could scream or yell, add my voice to theirs, but I'm frozen.

"Pika?"

My heart stops. I truly think it missed a beat.

"Um . . . I think we're okay."

"Satoshi?" Takeshi steps into the dissipating smoke, before being overtaken by Bulbasaur.

"Bulbasaur!"

As the last of the smoke clears we see Bulbasaur using it's vinewhip to hug Satoshi and Pikachu.

"Easy there," Satoshi says. "We do need to breathe you know."

"You're all right!" Takeshi grabs both of them for another hug before holding Satoshi out at arms length and shaking him.

"Don't ever ever do that again!"

"How did . . . ?" Wataru breathes behind us.

"According to legend . . . "my grandfather says slowly. "The pokemon masters alone were impervious to the attacks of the legendary birds . . . "

"You mean . . . " Kanna says. Her sentence is unfinished as Charizard lumbers over to Satoshi and Caterpie attaches itself to his leg. The squirtle and Meowth crowd around him too.

We watch silently. Satoshi . . . pokemon master?

"Aaark!" Moltres squawks, taking off into the air.

"Screeee!" Articuno wails, following with a flick of it's ice-blue wings.

"Rrwark!" Zapdos joins them, the brids weave around in the air for awhile then vanish into the cloud that disappears as suddenly as it came.

"Well . . . " says my grandfather.

"Everyone's all right! We made it!" Satoshi laughs joining us. "Ne, Shigeru, I forgot. You're hurt!"

"Erika-san, we need a healer here right away." My grandfather says. I smile as Satoshi settles down beside me and takes my hand. He's here, we're both alive and he doesn't hate me . . . for the moment that's all that matters.

Still . . .

"Satoshi, didn't anyone ever tell you trying to tackle the poison master and three legendary birds at the same time is a bad idea?"

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