When someone is dying, there is feeling of grim acceptance that crosses their face in a range of differing emotions. Coughing up blood from being stabbed in the chest yet you don't give up. You stand up knowing that your duty isn't done, the person in your charge is not yet safe. So, you stand the armor weighing you down growing heavier as you raise your sword. Willing to sacrifice to protect who you swore to protect even if it hurts, or you know you are going to die.

I know it, because that stabbed knight is me. Breathing causes a burning pain in my lungs, coughing up more blood I spit it out on the marble floor covered in blood. I've killed about ten different enemy knights and the last one got me good. God I am so tired. I lift my head from looking at the blood covered floor to another enemy coming down the hall, sword poised and ready for conflict.

I cough wetly and take off my helmet placing it on one of the marble busts in the hall in which I stand. If this is to be my last fight, I want this knight to remember my last battle. I know I am to die and given the lowering of the enemy's sword they know it too. Gripping my sword, I point it at him taking up a stance I practiced so much I could do it in my sleep.

"Your time is nearly up," My vision is starting to narrow I take as deep as a breath as my lungs will allow with my eyes shut. I hear the knight approach and stop. When I open my eyes again the enemy knight has removed their helm as well, showing me the last face I will likely see. "It will be an honor to be your last battle, Knight Commander Fox." I let a smile come to my face as I nod.

Our swords clash but with each swing I know my opponent is waiting for me after each swing of my blade to right myself. My opponent is humoring me letting me fight until my final breaths. It is the vow every knight takes to fight until their dying breath and when I feel my right leg give out, I knew I wasn't standing up again. I shifted myself to lean against the wall and press my back to it. I still had my sword in my right hand, but I didn't have the strength to lift it anymore.

I look at the younger knight who had humored me then to my sword. "T-take it." I coughed up a lot more blood. "It is yours now..."

After that, I couldn't feel much but I watched as my sword was lifted from my hand and I closed my eyes.

What I didn't expect was to open my eyes again. I was seated across a table from a grandfatherly looking man. His eyes seemed to twinkle knowingly at me. We both knew why I was here. I was dead and this was likely where I am judged for my life.

"Welcome my child to the afterlife, where your life and how you lived it is judged." I remain quiet as the old man continues to speak seeing he isn't done speaking, "Normally you would be sorted by your Karma and be reincarnated into a new world without any semblance of who you were before, but you are quite a special case. Alistar Fox, the Knight Commander of fifty hand trained Knights each one an elite that fought with honor just like their Commander. I come to find the judgement of your soul to be a foregone conclusion for a specific type of reincarnation. One I haven't had to perform in quite some time. Now, I'm sure you have questions. Ask away my boy, I am an open book."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I wait for a moment gathering my thoughts but there are some questions I have, "The Knights under my command, did they all die?"

The old man stroked his beard and shook his head. "I can only say they lived much like you did. They acted as the sworn protectors they were. As their commander they would have made you proud. They became the Royal Fox Knights and were assigned to guard the royal family." A soft hum was all I could manage as I thought back on the faces of each one of them.

"What is to happen to me now?"

"That is the question, isn't it? You see Alistar, you have enough Karma to be reincarnated but into a different species than that of a human. Longer living, innately powerful and sentient. Does that sound appealing to you?"

I take a minute to really think on what they said, innate power means I will be born with some type of strength based upon whatever I am born as. I can live longer than a human can, and I will keep my intelligence. My gaze wonders from the old man to the rather plain table that separates us. "Could you show me what I will look like?"

The man nods and a figurine appeared on the table before my eyes. It was a small orange and yellow fox-like creature with six tails. "This is a Vulpix a being that is able to wield fire and has the potential of grasping the supernatural." 

"Vulpix, it looks like a fox. I take it that isn't a coincidence."

The old timer chuckles, "No, no it is not. I believe it is only right that you are properly represented, and it seemed appropriate to give you a body that related to your name."

"This body was created for me. You took time to create it to house my soul. It would be rude to refuse your kindness and be unhappy with it. I appreciate that you chose to link what I am to become with my name. Is there anything I should be made aware of?"

I was filled in on a long list of things common in the new world I would be going to. Nothing too grandiose, but basic things I'd need to know. Like about how there was 1024 different Pokémon, and that the world I am to go to will have humans in it that befriend and train Pokémon to compete against one another in battle similar to spars between teams of Knights. It brought a smile to my face that I could once again be on a field of battle fighting for someone with a far more durable body than my old one.

Once I was ready the old man gave me a smile and we shook hands. Once my hand left his I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I saw grass and towering trees that reach high above me. The small clearing I found myself laying in was calm and comfortable. I move my body and get a look at what i could of myself. I was a quadrupedal fox, and I had six yellow tails. All four of my paws had a burned orange color to them. I could only assume my eyes were an orangish color like that figurine the old man had shown me.

It might seem odd but from what I could recall from the old man's explanation this body had powers I could tap into. Literal firepower, that can come from my mouth. I will have to figure out how to do that, and if what he told me is to be believed then I will have the ability to use some level of psychic power. Another thing I will have to work on but if I am to compete for food and other things. I should find a place near enough to a human town or city, that way I could get a hold of easy food and perhaps even find a human to partner with. Someone I could connect with and protect. As much as I loved the woods in my previous life I don't plan to stay here long.

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Along the way following my new heightened sense of smell I got used to my new body. At least well enough to run around. I have yet to figure out how to use my ability to breathe fire, but I assume it will come to me soon enough. After all I got the hang of my body in the past few hours. Perhaps I will need more of an incentive or some type of trigger to do it. The smell I'd been tracking had got really strong and it was even stronger on the other side of these bushes. I am unsure what's on the other side, but I do hope it's what I'm looking for.