Alakazam's eyes lit up brightly. The hairs on the back of Raymond’s neck and arms stood up when his partner created a force field of psychic energy. A gigantic pulse of unseen power erupted into the night sky, spreading across the wasteland like a bold challenge to the local Pokémon population.

Raymond heard the loud roar of a Pokémon, coming from the direction of the campfire. With Alakazam at his side, he stepped out from behind the tent, headed for the firelight. The Professors had taken two or three steps back from their seats and both soldiers had assumed a fighting stance. They were flanked by a Pokémon each, looking in Raymond's direction.

The foot soldier had summoned a Barbaracle. Although the Pokémon was only the size of a six-year-old child, it had sharp claws on its two legs, four hands, and head. In addition, it was protected by a layer of stone around the chest and abdomen. What made Barbaracle so dangerous was his attention to detail; each part of his body was able to think and see independently. It was a Pokémon that evolved by merging several Binacles.

Next to Barbaracle stood a Pyroar on her four paws. It was a feline Pokémon that reached up to Raymond's chest when standing on all fours. A red-and-yellow strand of hair extended from the Pokémon's head to her hind legs, identifying her as a female specimen. It came as no surprise to Raymond that the officer's cadet was Pyroar's trainer. It was also called the Monarch Pokémon.

"You're not a Brigadier General!" shouted the cadet through the silence of the night. When he noticed Alakazam his face turned a little paler.

"A Category 4 Pokémon," he breathed.

"Disarm them!" Raymond said in his mind. Alakazam's eyes lit up. He used his telekinetic powers to pull the soldier's Poké Balls. A loud rattle rang out as the brackets on their belts gave way and cracked under the invisible power. The officer's cadet had the presence of mind to reach for one of his Poké Balls but was unable to hold on to it when facing Alakazam's pressure. In the end, he lost both of his remaining battle partners to Raymond. The foot soldier fared no better: he had only two Pokémon to begin with and had just lost half of his team to Alakazam’s pull.

"You're wrong about one thing," said Raymond, completely unaffected by the hostile atmosphere, "I was a Brigadier General."

"Rebel scum," the older soldier spat out.

"How did you know we were here?" asked the officer's cadet. Unlike his partner, he remained outwardly calm. Raymond smirked.

"I like your courage, boy. You’re able to use your brain and come to conclusions, too. It's a shame. Had you been given two or three more decades of training and you probably would have become a formidable opponent. It is most unfortunate for you that fate brought us together in this time, this place. Ah, please forgive an old man's ramblings.

While we may be committed to irreconcilable ideals, I see no reason for rudeness. I'd like to play a game of quid pro quo. Until our curiosity is satisfied, we will take turns answering questions. I will be honest and expect the same from you in return. After that, we still have plenty of time to kill each other."

"Why should I get involved in your little game?" the officer's cadet asked. Raymond grinned.

"Because you'll get a portion of your combat power back each time I deem your answer satisfactory," Raymond snarled, gently nudging one of the Poké Balls at his feet. The officer's cadet hesitated, then nodded.

"Alright, I accept your terms and will start with my first question: How did you know about our camp?"

"In fact, I didn't know anything about your camp. I noticed it from the back of the ravine. Our meeting is by pure coincidence and at most due to my curiosity. My turn. What benefits does the military hope to gain from Professors Landreau and Petit's research?"

The officer's cadet bit his lip. It was obvious that he was thinking very carefully about his answer.

"I would like to remind you that I expect a satisfactory response. I'm not concerned with the subject of the research itself, but rather the technologies the royal army is trying to develop," Raymond warned.

"Communication devices," the officer cadet replied curtly. Raymond raised an eyebrow demandingly.

"My superiors hope electromagnetic waves can be manipulated in such a way that we can transmit messages."

Raymond clicked his tongue appreciatively and kicked one of the poké balls with gentle force into the direction of his enemies. The older soldier dropped to his knees. Without taking his eyes off Raymond, he picked the ball up and handed it to his superior, who in return opened it to free Staraptor: an aggressive flyer with dark gray-brown plumage, almost as tall as Barbaracle.

The black-red colored crest on the forehead of the bird of prey had the shape of a broad, curved blade, making up for an imposing appearance. With his powerful muscles, the battle-seeking Staraptor immediately pushed himself into the sky and fixed Raymond. The cadet, however, raised his right hand and made a clicking sound with his tongue. Immediately, Staraptor aborted his rapid flight and returned to his trainer, circling over his head.

"My question," said the officer's cadet. "What is the purpose of your journey that brought you here?"

Raymond chuckled at the question. He thought it superfluous, but didn't bother to answer. "I've been honest with you about that. I am looking for an old partner of mine. A Pokémon that I left behind in this area many years ago, since it could no longer accompany me."

Raymond paused for a moment. "Explain the different currents and resulting conflicts that are currently prevalent in the military in regard to its power structures."

"You might know, that the military was split into three divisions after the war: Central, Coast and Mountain. Of course, the supreme power of command lies with the king. The divisions, however, are under control of the noble houses Renaux, Delfour, and Abidal. Accordingly, the divisions are stationed in Camphrier, Shalour, and Dendemille," the officer cadet explained.

"Due to Renaux's good relationship to the royal family, there’s a lot of tension between the Central Division and the other two. Also, it is notable that the Pokémon Special Force is on the rise. Right now, we're still on patrol with the Pokégardien to secure the routes, but it's only a matter of time until they’re displaced by the PSF. The Gardien are not more than a relic of old times. Like cockroaches they cling to what little power they’ve left. Their dissolution is only a matter of time, if you ask for my assessment," he concluded.

Raymond pushed the next Poké Ball over. This time, the foot soldier was lucky to get his second Pokémon back – it was a Sawk: a fighting type, the size of a ten-year-old child. Although the black and white karate suit gave him something human, his oval head, blue skin, and the fact that he had only three toes and fingers on his feet and hands left no doubt as to which species he belonged to. With Sawk, the soldiers now had four Pokémon lined up to fight against Raymond and Alakazam. The officer cadet’s lips curled into a smile, not able to hide his true feelings. There was only one Pokémon left to complete his team again.

"Why the fuss? What are you planning to do?"

How I missed that feeling, Raymond thought. His blood boiled with excitement as a familiar, burning madness took possession of him once more.

"In the coming days, I will create a criminal organization whose goal will be to wipe out the royal family, destroy nobility, and tear down the very foundations of the political system that holds our society captive."

"You want to start a new civil war!" the foot soldier burst out in horror.

"Last question," Raymond said. "Does anyone in the pokémon special forces have enough combat power to kill me... – no, let's put it another way: What combat power has the strongest soldier in the PSF?"

"That'd be General Lacomb. His team consists of Exeggutor, Manectric, Slowking, Arcanine, Steelix, Gyarados," replied the officer's cadet with pride. "Now, I’d like you to honor our agreement and return my last Pokémon to me. Enough of the ga--," he began but was interrupted by Professor Landreau.

"STOP!" the physicist screamed, his voice cracking. He flailed around his arms in fear and pointed at his messuring devices. The displays of his devices went crazy, turning their needles at full speed, driving them to maximum. "Do you see the disruptions? Something's coming here! Fast! We must combine forces and defend!"

The loud bang of an explosion drowned out the professor's words and echoed through the wasteland. Sparks rose from the devices all around the camp; electrical discharges and flying sparks were all around them. Something burst out of the dark clouds, headed for the camp. Emerging from the clouds like an ancient evil, a giant ball of steel appeared, flashing bolts of lightning left and right. A red, attentive eye was located in the center of its body, scanning the vicinity. It was looking for something. Or someone.

"Brace yourself!" cried the officer's cadet, glancing at Raymond. "My Pokémon, quick! Together, we can --"

The young soldier paused when he noticed the blissful expression on Raymond’s face. Realization hit him with the blow of a hammer. He looked as if all life was sucked out of him.

"It's the Pokémon you left behind."

"Today, we reunite," Raymond commented. The longing in his voice was apparent.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Attack! Attack!" ordered the officer's cadet, pointing at Raymond. Pyroar's front legs descended forward. The oversized predator bared her fangs and growled while fixating on Raymond. She lifted the back of her body, her leg muscles tensed. She jumped off in a desire to tear her victim to pieces.

Staraptor reacted even faster. With the sudden appearance of the new enemy, the bird of prey circled a few meters higher, securing an advantageous position, and awaiting orders. As soon as he received permission to run wild, he went straight for a nosedive. His wings attached to the body, his beak glowing hot red, ready to pierce the enemy!

The feline Pokémon crashed into a barrier and bounced off. Alakazam made a casual gesture with his hand, taking control of Professor Landreau’s inventions and swirling them through the air. He fired them at Pyroar, like missiles raining down from the sky. The monarch Pokémon winced whenever she was hit but remained steadfast.

“MY RESEARCH! STOP!"

Staraptor was less fortunate than Pyroar. As soon as he started to dive, he was hit by a wave of lightning bolts. When he was struck, his wings went limp, loosing all tension. Like a stone, his lifeless body plummeted from the sky.

"STARAPTOR! NO!" shouted the officer's cadet. Although it was already too late, he attempted to catch the falling Pokémon. He wasn't fast enough. Raymond heard the sound of breaking bones as what remained of Staraptor crashed into the hard ground.

"Bring it to an end," Raymond commented dryly and pressed the button of another poké ball. A red beam appeared and freed his last battle partner. Houndoom had a demonic appearance: His dark fur, the bone-like structures on his body, the horns on his head, the scarred, milky white eye and flames from hell, flickering in his mouth - all signs of impending doom. A deep, menacing growl joined the cacophony of destruction. Pyroar's hissed. Her fur stood on end.

"Xerneas be with us!" the foot soldier exclaimed. He was paralyzed and had failed to give orders to his Pokémon in the two or three seconds the battle had lasted so far. Terror was written all over his face. He couldn't take his eyes off Raymond, ignoring his comrade's heart-wrenching screams as Houndoom dug his deadly fangs with ease into Pyroar's neck.

"The Curse of Coumarine," breathed the foot soldier, putting one and one together. Raymond West, former Kalos Champion, also known as the Iron One. The only trainer in the last four decades who was able to command Magnezone: a behemoth of steel, able to throw lightning around like it was nothing.

The officer’s cadet raised his tear-stained face when he heard the words of his subordinate. He looked at Raymond as if he had seen a ghost.

"No, that can't be. Raymond West died in Péribonne," he denied the now obvious.

"Unless he faked his death to avoid persecution by the Crown," Raymond commented with a small smile on his lips.

"But..." The soldier's face turned pale in the realization that this night would be his last.

"Does that mean..." he struggled to keep his composure, "what you said… it wasn't a lie?"

"Everything I said is true," Raymond affirmed matter-of-factly. His gaze turned to Magnezone, who slowly floated to him. With a gentle gesture, Raymond placed a hand on his partner's steel body.

"You know the drill," Raymond said to his Pokémon.

The officer's cadet looked in panic into direction of the tents. In feverish thoughts, he concluded that it wasn’t too late. Someone had to stop the Curse of Coumarine before it was too late. Before history repeated itself and drenched the land with the blood of brave Kalosians, once more. Filled with the determination of a man who had nothing left to lose, he nodded to his comrade. And ran. As fast as his feet would carry him. With every step, his lungs filled with air that seemed to burn his insides.

The foot soldier covered the retreat of his superior. With new-found courage, he gave his Pokémon the command to attack. Although Barbaracle and Sawk were much stronger than many of their peers due to their training in the military, they were unable to counter the combined power of Alakazam, Magnezone, and Houndoom. The fight was short. The fight was brutal - and it ended with the death of two more Pokémon, who were servants of the Crown.

"You devil!" the foot soldier uttered his last words hatefully. A well-aimed thunderbolt struck him. With a scream, the foot soldier collapsed. Although he went limp, his joints continued to twitch. The electric shock from Magnezone had been too much to handle for the fragile human body.

"The barrier around the camp is up?" asked Raymond, unaffected by the screams of death.

No one comes out, Alakazam answered.

Outwardly, Raymond remained calm, but deep inside he was in turmoil: every fiber of his body was stretched to the breaking point. It took him a tremendous amount of effort to keep an eye on everything. Fifteen years ago, such situations had been much easier for him.

The scientists showed different reactions to the short but fierce fight. Professor Landreau's body was frozen. He was a man who lived for his research. Stunned and with a blank stare, he looked at the equipment that was destroyed by Alakazam. Landreau muttered softly to himself.

Marvin Petit, on the other hand, had surrendered to the instincts that had ensured humanity’s survival as a species: he had fled. It was unfortunate, that he hadn't gotten far. Where he had bumped into Alakazam’s barrier, he lay on the ground. He was slightly dazed and rubbed his nose. A pained expression was in his face.

Out of nowhere, Raymond heard a bang. It was a familiar sound, known to him as the messenger of death. A bullet, too fast for the human eye, bounced off the protective barrier Alakazam had erected around his trainer before the fight began. In shock and surprise, Raymond looked at the tent entrance from which he had heard the noise. The barrel of a carbine protruded from the opening of the tent. The officer cadet's eyes were hidden behind the scope and reflected despair.

"Houndoom," Raymond said. His throat felt dry and itchy. With great leaps, the Pokémon arrived at the entrance of the tent. Murder was in his fiery red eye.

"NO!" the young soldier shouted in panic. It was for naught. Houndoom's fangs dug deep into the flesh of the human. The Pokémon's jaw closed around the officer's neck, crushing his bones. It cracked as the cervical spine gave way under the pressure of the bite and eventually broke.

“Time, to tidy up the battlefield,” Raymond thought, as his footsteps led him to Petit. The very same man who had offered him a chair in such a friendly way, just a few hours ago. The man who had taken it upon himself to continually make his sketches. The man, who had a future full of academic success ahead of him. Who had eaten and laughed with Raymond around the campfire. Raymond suppressed the thoughts of their short but intense time together. Feelings no longer mattered. Regret was written on Raymond's face.

"I'm sincerely sorry," Raymond murmured softly. He held a knife in his hand.

"Please don't. We won't tell anyone what we saw," Petit whimpered, still lying on the floor. Too dazed to move, but clear enough to think. Raymond suddenly felt tired. Oh, so tired. Tentatively, he shook his head.

"I'm doing it fast. You won't feel anything," he said reassuringly.

"No, please. I won't tell anyone. I promise," Petit began again. Raymond rested the scientist's head on his lap. The cut with the knife was fast and deep. It severed both aortas, cutting off Petit's blood supply to the brain and with it, his sensation of pain. At least, Raymond hoped so.

"I..." Petit began. With disbelief, he looked into Raymond’s eyes. Then, his body slumped.

Raymond swallowed the lump in his throat and fought against the feeling of nausea. In a tender gesture, he closed Petit's eyelids. Carefully, he placed the researcher’s head on the floor and folded the hands of the deceased on his torso.

"My research," stammered Professor Landreau. Raymond’s final target still stood in front of a crashed device, unable to comprehend the situation. The small eyes behind his thick glasses looked at in disbelief as Raymond approached him.

"I wish the outcome was different, Monsieur Landreau."

The professor tilted his head back and watched the clouds. "There aren't even stars to be seen," he said. "I'd love to see the stars again."

"Professor!" Raymond called him back to reality. "Forgive me. But I need to know where you keep the copies of your research. Please be sincere. Alakazam notices when you lie – and I want to spare you the undignified act of invading your mind and searching your memory. The side effects are..." Raymond swallowed the last words. He was convinced, it was enough of an explanation, to make the feeble Landreau submit.

"Are you going to destroy it?" asked Landreau desperately. The thought of losing his life's work seemed to occupy him more than his impending death.

"You have my word that nothing of the sort will happen. On the contrary. I will make sure that your name will forever be associated with the insights you have gained."

"And there is no other option? I can continue my research together with you, or for you, if you let me!" the professor clung to one last desperate hope. Raymond shook his head and Landreau smiled faintly, unable to stop his murderer. His face changed as a thought occurred to him that had not been in place before. "What about Marvin?"

"He didn't feel anything," Raymond lied soothingly. "You don't have to be afraid. It will be over before you realize what's happening."

Landreau nervously grabbed his curly hair, as if trying to hold on to the obvious lie. "Who would have thought that I would die at the hands of Raymond West without recognizing him? My younger brother revered you like a hero back then, you know. He was part of the student revolt."

"Professor," Raymond interrupted, "the information."

Landreau didn't want to go through the painful experience of having his mind searched by Alakazam. He told his counterpart about the documents in the office at the university. Also, about his private study and even the room of a former student with whom he occasionally met.

"Don't worry. I am a man who stands by his word. Nothing will happen to your student. It will look like an ordinary burglary. However, I will have to keep your research under wraps for now. As long as the royal family is still standing--"

"The royal family is not involved in my research," Landreau said suddenly. "Only the military. And only the Coastal Division. You see? I am not beholden to the crown! You don’t have to do this!"

Raymond's heart felt heavy.

"Professor Landreau. I deeply regret this turn of events. The conversations with you were... inspiring. It was the first time in a long while I felt alive again and I'm afraid it will be the last time...” Raymond paused for a moment. He withheld the words, he was about to say.

"Even though it may not mean anything to you, I want to thank you sincerely." With regret, Raymond looked deep into the professor's panicking eyes, before he finished his bloody work.

Did he really have to die? Raymond sighed at Alakazam's question. He felt empty. Drained. His hands were shaking in the cold air of the night.

“He would've been a permanent security risk, always a threat to jeopardize the mission, whether he wanted it or not.”

It was your decision to make and your burden to live with its consequences. I fear you'll never escape the spiral of death and misery in which you're trapped, if you go on like this.

“You already sound like Lucario.”

And rightly so. If I were convinced that leaving you would bring about change, I would have been long gone, too. But as things stand you need me.

“You still haven’t given up on me yet.”

Never.

Raymond stared into the sky. The familiar hum of Magnezone, floating some distance away. Alakazam, his better half. And Houndoom, who had always served him faithfully. Once again, they stood at a crossroads of history. Raymond wondered if life was nothing but a cruel irony. If they either repeated their foolish, past mistakes or if they were able to bring forth change.

He hated to admit that Victoria's words and Sal's unbroken will had triggered something in him. Something he had forgotten. A long time ago. Right now, it was not more than a spark. Weak and tiny. But if it grew, just a little, maybe it could light a fire. Maybe...just maybe, Alakazam was right. Maybe it wasn't too late for him. Maybe he could save himself.

Only now did Raymond remember the young soldier's Pokéball, which he had kept.

"I wonder, who do we have here?"

Curious, he pressed the opening mechanism.