The Forest was Angry

Gogoat POV

I was gone for five minutes. Five minutes. What did he do for the whole forest to be this angry? Galloping back to the clearing, an abomination to nature grew from the ground. Oily black roots spread from a towering, decaying trunk. Acrid poison dripped off viscous spines onto turned soil. Leaves dark as night shaded over an unconscious boy. Seeing him now, I realized just how young and fragile this human was.

Here he was, fighting a war against beings who could snuff him out. A newfound respect nestled its way deep into my chest.

Barely a whisper, I said, 'You have done enough young one. Lets get you home.'

Picking him up, I bound back into the woods, leaving a disgruntled Roserade behind.

...…..

Back at the den. Honedge's POV.

Am was the vision of terrifying. She came in caring a pile of dead Fletchinder, before dropping them on Mr. Meowstic and I.

'Here are the materials for you to do something with.' She started to leave, 'Oh yeah, the feathers are going into a bed for me, if I so much as smell a drop of blood, I will dangle you both over a herd of Skuntank in winter. Have fun.' Waving, she left.

'She's kidding right?' I ask in desperation.

'Come on lets get this over with. Don't want to keep her waiting.' Was his nonchalant reply.

'She wouldn't right? Right?'

He delicately picked up a bird and got to work, ignoring me. Metaphorically gulping, I did the same.

Two birds in and the ground trembled. Mr. Meowstic turned in a particular direction and I could feel a swirling cauldron of rage. Looking down, my shadow was lurching, trying to leave my side.

'What…. Whats going on?'

As if the spell was broken, everything stopped. The vortex of fury, the bending shadows, the tremor in the earth, vanished. Like it never happened.

'Did you feel it?' Mr. Meowstic asked.

'Yeah. The anger, it sent shivers through my blade.'

'No did you feel the aura?' He corrected.

I stilled.

'Oh no.'

Running, we left the den. Am not far behind.

...…..

Gravity was an odd, all consuming force.

It binds objects to larger objects, a seemingly infinite source of power that comes only from mass. With enough mass in a small enough area, time and space warps and bends.

I wonder if Palkia and Dialga had to obey its whims. Could they be trapped in an insurmountable deposit of gravity? Would they have to bow to the lord that binds all other living things?

It's fitting that I contemplate the mystery of gravity while falling.

Down into an abyss of darkness that was both heavy and freeing. No forms of earth or matter in sight, just me and gravity. Maybe I could be the next Sir Isaac Newton? Closing my eyes, I drift into half sleep, imagining realms beyond my understanding. How ironic.

An incalculable time passed and my revere was broken by a grinding screech. Opening my eyes, an inky shadow slithers to my right. Long tendrils and spikes covered its body. What could have been a head faced me and I was met with red eyes. They were the eyes that held countless millennia worth of knowledge.

Information that radicalizes science, witness to kingdoms rise and fall, eyes that have beheld creations light as the alphabet soup that it was. I stared into the abyss and it stared back.

Giving one final screech, I blasted from this void and woke up sweating.

"Ha, ha, ha," I panted. Calming my beating heart, I look at my surroundings.

Dirt walls, bed of leaves, small cave of web, I was home at the den. Shaking a chill from my spine, I realized that I was shirtless. Standing up in my indigo pants, I poke my head out of the exit, hoping to see Da or Am.

Empty.

Climbing back inside, I try to find my shirt. It was made from the same Oddish skins as my trousers. I haven't had the chance to make anything from the superior Scrafty leather. Finding it, I put it on and wait for everyone to return.

Sitting down, I ponder my dream.

The endless void. The darkness. The Pokemon.

It was definitely a Pokemon. I recognized it but can't remember what it was called or which generation it was from.

Everything about it was bizarre.

Sighing, I think on important things. Did Aromatisse and everyone get away? What were those roots? Why do I feel so drained?

"Ahhhack." Everything was complicated now. From the war, to the strange things that happened, and now a mysterious dream. Whoever brought me here was laughing at my struggle.

A ball of fur crashed into me, knocking the air out of me.

'Am? Whats wrong?' Looking up, Da stared at me. Am was clinging to me, crying.

'Please don't leave us. I couldn't handle losing you too!' Am quivered.

'Hey its okay.' I petted her ears, hugging back, 'I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon.'

'Promise?'

'I promise.' Snuggling up closer to her, I stroked her luxurious fur waiting for her to calm down.

'Hey whats going on?' Honedge floated in, freezing at the sight of me.

Glaring at him, I went back to comforting Am. Now that I think about it, everyone must have been scared. Time passed and Am's tears dried up. After sitting in silence, I decided to break it. 'What happened? I remember the battle with Roserade and the black roots, but beyond that I'm drawing a blank.'

Am got up and headed to her own bed.

'From what Gogoat told us. He found you unconscious not to long after. After picking you up, he brought you back to the glade where we met him.' Da began.

'Where you met him? How did you know to do that?'

'Son, we could feel the forest screaming in rage from here. Shadows tried to claw their way to you. There is not a Pokemon on this mountain that didn't feel what you did.'

Hot lead dropped in my stomach.

'I did… all that?'

He nodded, 'Not only that, but when we actually got to you, you were drained dry of all energy. Your heart was barely beating, we had to give you some of our energy just to kick start your body.'

His words made me realize how close to death I was.

'But my hearts beating again everything is fine, right?'

'Luckily yes. Aside from being a wreck from the fight, you just needed a recharge.'

'Phew, that's good to hear.'

Da hit me on my head, 'Oww. What was that for?'

'Did you not hear me? You nearly died. Gone. Caput. Don't ever do something as stupid as that again! Got it?'

'Got it!' I blurted, fearing his wrath.

'Good, now get ready. You've been asleep for six days. Everyone on the council is worried about you.'

'Wait… I've been asleep for six days!'

'Yes now hurry up. Their waiting.'

Grumbling, I searched for my armor.

.....

At the meeting place, most members surrounding a bonfire.

'I call this meeting into session.' I announced.

'Yeah, yeah. What happened a week ago? It felt like a legendary of the forest was furious. Now I hear its you who was responsible.' Gloom complained.

'That is correct; however, I have no details on what actually happened. I was angry and all that happened was beyond my comprehension.'

'So you don't know if you could replicate it?' Golduck asked.

I knew where he was coming from. What I did that day was no parlor trick. If I could use that, defeating Toxicroak would be a breeze.

'I will try, but I hold no hope.'

'That is the best you can do.' Gogoat interjected.

'On another note. Anything happen while I was out?'

'Yes and no. While we dealt a heavy blow to Toxicroak's forces, he seems to have no reaction whatsoever.' Gogoat replied

'He's not moved?'

'Correct.'

That was bad. Toxicroak had something planned. Something so big that losing most of his army meant nothing to him.

Seeing where my thoughts were going, Gogoat supplied, 'The fog.'

'Yes. I think he is going to release it sooner rather then later.'

'The fog?' Golduck asked.

'As we were returning from our mission, I talked to the Munchlax. One of them had overheard Toxicroak talking about a fog that will get him the mountain.'

'How will fog get him the mountain?'

'If it were me, I would use a poison fog that wouldn't effect me or my troops. After the mountain is gassed, only poison types and steel types will be left.'

'And we would be easy pickens.' Gloom bemoaned.

'Exactly.' Thinking on it, I add, 'We need countermeasures. Any ideas?'

'We could hide in a series of tunnels.' Gloom said.

'No that is a temporary solution. We don't know how long this 'fog' will last.' Gogoat rejected.

'Really, its simple, all we have to do is take the fight to them. Stop him before he gasses the whole place.' Pangoro mentioned.

'Are you nuts. Everyone is still recovering from the last battle. Leader just woke up, Aromatisse is badly injured, your Pancham look like they can barely walk! We will not be able to win until each and every one of us are in tip top shape.' Gogoat rebutted.

Hearing Pangoro grumble in frustration, I intervened, 'Enough. Pangoro, Gogoat is correct, we are not ready to battle Toxicroak; however, you are right in that it would be preferable to stop Toxicroak now rather than after he releases his fog.' Taking a breath, I continue, 'I propose a middle ground. We need to break up into three teams. The first team will build tunnels and dens for us to hide in if the worst comes to pass.'

The old Gloom nodded as I said that.

'The second team will be in charge of gather food, water, and information. Get a few of the healthy Spritzee and have them dry fruits.'

'Dry fruits?' Pangoro asked incredulously.

'Yes. Slice up the fruit into chunks then have a constant flow of air blow over them. They will look wrinkled and dry, but they will last longer.'

'What of the third team?' Golduck asked.

'They will be an infiltration team. We need to find that weapon now. If we can locate it, they will sneak in and destroy it.'

'Who will be on this team?' Pangoro asked.

Thinking about all the Pokemon I know, a few come to mind.

'I vote Honedge be the leader.'

Everyone's face contorted. 'I will not trust that backstabbing line on a mission so important.' Pangoro threatened.

'He is a friend and one of my closest confidants. I trust him with my life.' I explained.

'So was Aegislash, but look how that turned out.' Pangoro countered.

'Judging the many from the one is foolish. Also, I call into question whether Aegislash really did betray Alakazam.'

'Lies, we saw him fight Alakazam!'

'Did his aura seem like someone who would betray Alakazam?' Everyone was silent. 'Who here actually knew Aegislash? Did he have an aura that said 'betrayal'?'

Glancing at each, I had my answer.

'I believe that Aegislash was manipulated to fight Alakazam. Its not impossible. There are plenty of Pokemon that can learn confuse ray or hypnosis. I am not suggesting I know Aegislash as well as you, but you have to admit he changed too suddenly to have betrayed Alakazam.'

Frustrated, Pangoro stormed off.

'Where are you going?' Gogoat questioned.

'To vent my frustration.' He disappeared into the forest.

'Let him be.' I said, 'We can figure out the infiltration team later. For now, we need to discuss the other teams.'

For the rest of the day, we figured out the logistics. Golduck would be in charge of digging tunnels with Gloom. They would build enough shelter to hold as many of the Pokemon on the mountain. I would also have Da and Nincada design the support structures.

Gogoat was in charge of food collection. They will gather as many berries as possible and have the Spritzee dry them. Also, I volunteered the meat from Talonflame and Fletchinder. Many grumbled about pride and all that, but I shut them up by saying starvation was a great teacher on humbleness. Hopefully, there would be enough to go around.

By that time Pangoro had came back.

'Cooled off?' I asked.

'Yes. It was a lot to think about.'

'Good. We just got to assigning members to the infiltration team.'

'I am still weary of letting a Honedge lead it.'

'Which is why I am assigning you to be his second in command. If he, which I highly doubt, tries to do anything funny, you will be there to stop him. Sound fair?'

'Yes.'

'Perfect, now we can discuss the other members. I think we need to keep it down to six members.'

'Why six?' Golduck questioned.

'One from each group, we already have Honedge and Pangoro, now we need four others. We need them to be stealthy as well as have a versatile move set. There will be no knowing what they will encounter in there.'

Nodding, they threw ideas off me. Once that was finished, the war council was complete.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon in any shape or form.