Dedication

For V; I love you

Allegiances

FIRE NATION

Council Members:

Senator Charizard- Head of the Council, father of Charmander

Senator Blazekin- Head Council Advisor, father of Tochic

Senator Typhlosion- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Quilava

Senator Moltres- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Sir Infernape the Brave- Brave and valiant warrior of the Fire Nation, father of Monferno

Lady Rapidash the Strong- Strong and ruthless warrior of the Fire Nation, mother of Ponyta

Sir Arcanine the Headstrong- Headstrong and emotional warrior of the Fire Nation, husband of Miss Arcanine

Sir Heatmor the Hot-Head- Hot-headed and wild warrior of the Fire Nation

Lady Delphox the Valiant- Valiant and brave warrior of the Fire Nation, mother of Fennekin and Braixen

Warriors in Training:

Charmander- Warrior in training, son of Senator Charizard

Torchic- Warrior in training, daughter of Senator Blazekin

Tepig- Warrior in training, son of the Emboars (died in battle)

Quilava- Warrior in training, son of Senator Typhlosion

Monferno- Warrior in training, son of Sir Infernape the Brave

Ponyta- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Rapidash the Strong

Fennekin- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Delphox the Valiant

Braixen- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Delphox the Valiant

Medics:

Miss Arcanine- Fire Nation medic, pregnant wife of Sir Arcanine the Headstrong

Flareon- Fire Nation medic

WATER NATION

Council Members:

Senator Empoleon- Head of the council, father of Piplup

Senator Feraligatr- Head Council Advisor, father of Totodile

Senator Walrein- Head Council Political Strategist

Senator Suicune- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Sir Kabutops the Brave- Brave and Valliant warrior of the Water Nation

Lady Golduck the Strong- Strong and noble warrior of the Water Nation, mother of Psyduck

Sir Slowking the Lout- Lazy yet skilled warrior of the Water Nation, father of Slowpoke

Sir Greninja the Loyal- Loyal and diligent warrior of the Water Nation, father of Froakie

Warriors in Training:

Piplup- Warrior in training, son of Senator Empoleon

Totodile- Warrior in training, son of Senator Feraligatr

Psyduck- Warrior in training, son of Lady Golduck the Strong

Slowpoke- Warrior in training, daughter of Sir Slowking the Lout

Froakie- Warrior in training, son of Sir Greninja the Loyal

Medics:

Simipour- Water Nation medic

Crawdaunt- Water Nation medic

GRASS NATION

Council Members:

Senator Meganium- Head of the Council, father of Chikorita and Bayleef

Senator Venusaur- Head Council Advisor, father of Ivysaur

Senator Torterra- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Turtwig

Senator Shaymin- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Lady Vileplume the Gutter- Fierce and brave warrior of the Grass Nation, mother of Oddish

Sir Parasect the Silent- Silent yet deadly warrior of the Grass Nation, father of Paras

Sir Shiftry the Strong- Strong and unbreakable warrior of the Grass Nation, father of Nuzleaf

Lady Roserade the Sharp- Quick-thinking and acting warrior of the Grass Nation, mother of Roselia

Sir Ferrothorn the Valiant- Valiant and brave warrior of the Grass Nation, husband of Miss Ferrothorn

Warriors in Training:

Chikorita- Warrior in training, daughter of Senator Meganium

Bayleef- Warrior in training, daughter of Senator Meganium

Turtwig- Warrior in training, son of Senator Torterra

Oddish- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Vileplume the Gutter

Paras- Warrior in training, son of Sir Parasect the Silent

Nuzleaf- Warrior in training, son of Sir Shiftry the Strong

Roselia- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Roserade the Sharp

Medics:

Miss Ferrothorn- Grass Nation medic, wife of Sir Ferrothorn the Valiant

Ivysaur- Grass Nation medic-in-training, son of Senator Venusaur

GROUND NATION

Council Members:

Senator Nidoking- Head of the Council, husband of Senator Nidoqueen, father of Nidorino and Nidorina

Senator Nidoqueen- Head Council Advisor, wife of Senator Nidoking, mother of Nidorino and Nidorina

Senator Flygon- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Trapinch

Senator Garchomp- Head Council War Strategist, father of Gible

Great Warriors:

Sir Seismitoad the Strong- Strong and valiant warrior of the Ground Nation

Lady Donphan the Mountain- Large and powerful warrior of the Ground Nation, mother of Phanpy

Sir Sandslash the Ripper- Known for the power of his claws, a great warrior of the Ground Nation, husband of Lady Sandslash the Clawed, father of Sandshrew

Lady Sandslash the Clawed- Fierce and powerful warrior of the Ground Nation, wife of Sir Sandslash the Ripper, mother of Sandshrew

Sir Quagsire the Loyal- Loyal and brace warrior of the Ground Nation, father of Wooper

Warriors in Training:

Nidorino- Warrior in training, son of Senator Nidoking and Senator Nidoqueen

Trapinch- Warrior in training, son of Senator Flygon

Gible- Warrior in training, son of Senator Garchomp

Phanpy- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Donphan the Mountain

Sandshrew- Warrior in training, son of Sir Sandslash the Ripper and Lady Sandslash the clawed

Wooper- Warrior in training, son of Sir Quagsire the Loyal

Medics:

Claydol- Ground Nation medic

Nidorina- Ground Nation medic-in-training, daughter of Senator Nidoking and Senator Nidoqueen

ROCK NATION

Council Members:

Senator Aggron- Head of the Council, father of Aron

Senator Golem- Head Council Advisor

Senator Rampardos- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Cranidos

Senator Rhyperior- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Sir Terrakion the Fierce- Fierce and unstoppable warrior of the Rock Nation

Sir Crustle the Valiant- Valiant and loyal warrior of the Rock Nation, father of Dwebble

Sir Gigalith the Strong- Strong and hardened warrior of the Rock Nation, husband of Miss Cradily, father of Roggenrola

Sir Probopass the Brave- Brave and undeterred warrior of the Rock Nation, father of Nosepass

Warriors in Training:

Aron- Warrior in training, son of Senator Aggron

Cranidos- Warrior in training, son of Senator Rampardos

Dwebble- Warrior in training, son of Sir Crustle the Valiant

Nosepass- Warrior in training, son of Sid Probopass the Brave

Medics:

Miss Cradily- Rock Nation medic, wife of sir Gigalith the Strong, mother of Roggenrola

Roggenrola- Rock Nation medic-in-training, son of Gigalith the Strong and Miss Cradily

DARK NATION

Council Members:

Senator Zoroark- Head of the Council, father of Zorua

Senator Umbreon- Head Council Advisor

Senator Hydreigon- Head Council Political Strategist

Senator Drapion- Head Council War Strategist, father of Skorupi

Great Warriors:

Sir Honchkrow the Feared- Feared and brutal warrior of the Dark Nation

Sir Pangoro the Brave- Brave and valiant warrior of the Dark Nation, father of Pancham

Sir Houndoom the Wicked- Wicked and smart warrior of the Dark Nation, father of Houndour

Sir Mightyena the Strong- Strong and loyal warrior of the Dark Nation, husband of Miss Mightyena, father of Poochyena

Warriors in Training:

Zorua- Warrior in training, son of Senator Zoroark

Stunky- Warrior in training, son of Senator Skuntank (died in battle)

Pancham- Warrior in training, son of Sir Pangoro the Brave

Houndour- Warrior in training, son of Sir Houndoom the Wicked

Poochyena- Warrior in training, son of Mightyena the Strong and Miss Mightyena

Medics:

Miss Mightyena- Dark Nation medic

Tyranitar- Dark Nation medic

FIGHTING NATION

Council Members:

Senator Toxicroak- Head of the Council, father of Croagunk

Senator Lucario- Head Council Advisor

Senator Machamp- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Machop and Machamp

Senator Chesnaught- Head Council War Strategist, father of Chespin

Great Warriors:

Lady Hariyama the Brave- Brave and valiant warrior of the Fighting Nation, mother of Makuhita

Lady Medicham the Ruthless- Ruthless and powerful warrior of the Fighting Nation, mother of Meditite

Sir Conkeldurr the Destroyer- Powerful warrior of the Fighting Nation, father of Timburr and Gurdurr

Lady Mienshao the Loyal- Loyal and strong warrior of the Fighting Nation, mother of Mienfoo

Sir Primeape the Strong- Strong and valued warrior of the Fighting Nation, father of Mankey

Sir Machoke the Determined- Determined and loyal warrior of the Fighting Nation, son of Senator Machamp

Warriors in Training:

Croagunk- Warrior in training, son of Senator Toxicroak

Machop- Warrior in training, son of Senator Machamp

Chespin- Warrior in training, son of Senator Chesnaught

Makuhita- Warrior in training, son of Lady Hariyama the Brave

Meditite- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Medicham the Ruthless

Timburr- Warrior in training, son of Sir Conkeldurr the Destroyer

Gurdurr- Warrior in training, son of Sir Conkeldurr the Destroyer

Mankey- Warrior in training, son of Sir Primeape the Strong

Medics:

Poliwrath- Fighting Nation medic

Mienfoo- Fighting Nation medic-in-training, daughter of Lady Mienshao the Loyal

DRAGON NATION

Council Members:

Senator Dragonite- Head of the Council, father of Dratini

Senator Haxorus- Head Council Advisor, father of Axew and Fraxure

Senator Salamence- Head Council Political Strategist, mother of Bagon

Senator Altaria- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Lady Kingdra the Valiant- Valiant and well-loved warrior of the Dragon Nation, mother of Horsea

Sir Druddigon the Fair- A fair and just warrior revered by the Dragon Nation

Sir Goodra the Fierce- Fierce and brave warrior of the Dragon Nation, father of Sliggoo

Sir Dragalge the Powerful- Powerful and fearless warrior of the Dragon Nation

Warriors in Training:

Dratini- Warrior in training, son of Senator Dragonite

Fraxure- Warrior in training, son of Senator Haxorus

Bagon- Warrior in training, son of Senator Salamence

Horsea- Warrior in training, daughter of Lady Kingdra the Valiant

Sliggoo- Warrior in training, son of Sir Goodra the Fierce

Medics:

Latios- Dragon Nation medic

Latias- Dragon Nation medic

Axew- Dragon Nation medic-in-training, daughter of Senator Haxorus

STEEL NATION

Council Members:

Senator Steelix- Head of the Council, father of Onix

Senator Bastiodon- Head Council Advisor, father of Shieldon

Senator Metagross- Head Council Political Strategist, father of Beldum and Metang

Senator Skarmory- Head Council War Strategist

Great Warriors:

Sir Bronzong the Unbreakable- Unbeatable and determined warrior of the Steel Nation, father of Bronzor

Lady Excadrill the Feared- Feared and proud warrior of the Steel Nation, mother of Drilbur

Sir Escavalier the Sharp- Quick-witted and intelligent warrior of the Steel Nation, father of Karrablast

Lady Bisharp the Brave- Brave and valiant warrior of the Steel Nation, mother of Pawniard

Sir Aegislash the Focused- Focused and well-trained warrior of the Steel Nation, father of Honedge

Warriors in Training:

Onix- Warrior in training, son of Senator Steelix

Shieldon- Warrior in training, son of Senator Bastiodon

Beldum- Warrior in training, daughter of Senator Metagross

Metang- Warrior in training, son of Senator Metagross

Bronzor- Warrior in training, son of Sir Bronzong the Unbreakable

Drilbur- Warrior in training, son of Lady Excadrill the Feared

Karrablast- Warrior in training, son of Sir Escavalier the Sharp

Pawniard- Warrior in training, daughter or Lady Bisharp the Brave

Honedge- Warrior in training, son of Sir Aegislash the Focused

Medics:

Cobalion- Steel Nation medic

Klefki- Steel Nation medic-in-training

THE WARDENS

The Three Leaders:

Serperior- Leader of the Wardens

Emboar- Leader of the Wardens

Samurott- Leader of the Wardens

Wardens:

Tranquill- Warden, husband of Staravia, father of Pidove and Starly

Staravia- Warden, wife of Tranquill, sister of Staraptor, mother of Pidove and Starly

Staraptor- Warden, brother of Staravia

Krookodile- Warden

Magnezone- Warden

Heliolisk- Warden, mother of Helioptile

Sylveon- Warden, wife of Jolteon, mother of Glaceon

Jolteon- Warden, husband of Sylveon, father of Glaceon

Weavile- Warden, surrogate mother of Skorupi (whose real father is Senator Drapion of the Dark Nation)

Pidgeot- Warden, father of Pidgey, husband of Braviary

Braviary- Warden, mother of Pidgey, wife of Pidgeot

Durant- Warden

Talonflame- Warden, mother of Fletchling

Barbaracle- Warden

Clawitzer- Warden

Delcatty- Warden, wife of Breloom, mother of Skitty

Breloom- Warden, husband of Delcatty, father of Skitty

Vigoroth- Warden

Granbull- Warden

Sceptile- Warden, father of Treecko

Torkoal- Warden

Cacturne- Warden, father of Cacnea

Absol- Warden

Sableye- Warden

Mawile- Warden

Heracross- Warden

Gardevoir- Warden

Raikou- Warden

Wardens in Training:

Tyrunt- Warden in training, son of the Tyrantrum's (members of Rock Nation, died in battle)

Pidove- Warden in training, daughter of Tranquill and Staravia

Starly- Warden in training, son of Tranquill and Staravia

Helioptile- Warden in training, son of Heliolisk

Glaceon- Warden in training, daughter of Sylveon and Jolteon

Skorupi- Warden in training, son of Senator Drapion of the Dark Nation, surrogate son of Weavile

Pidgey- Warden in training, son of Pidgeot and Braviary

Fletchling- Warden in training, daughter of Talonflame

Skitty- Warden in training, daughter of Delcatty and Breloom

Treecko- Warden in training, son of Sceptile

Cacnea- Warden in training, son of Cacturne

Medics:

Liepard- Medic

Espeon- Medic

Leafeon- Medic

OTHERS:

Arceus- Mythical God of Pokemon, believed to be the Embodiment of Good

Darkrai- Mythical God of Pokemon, believed to be the Embodiment of Evil

Rayquaza- Mythical Pokemon associated with the Legend of the Warrior's Emerald

Abomasnow- Hermit

HIM- Nothing is known about this figure.

Charmander

Out of the void of darkness and into the light of the morning. Charmander blinked his eyes open from the dream he had been having. He remembered for a moment what it was about, something involving his father, but the dream quickly faded, no longer in his grasp. He sat up, looking around his fairly cluttered room. He sighed, seeing that the early morning light of the sun was currently shining brightly through his windows. He could feel the weight of his exhaustion in his eyes, like stones had been placed beneath his eyelids. But he couldn't worry about that now; today was the day of his first battle.

He climbed out of bed tiredly, so much so that he was startled to see his father standing over him. His father's green wings stretched across the room. His orange body shined when the sunlight hit it. His tail blazed much brighter than the sunlight, though, a bonfire compared to it. His small blue eyes glittered with amusement, and a smile formed on his long snout. "Didn't see me, did you?"

Charmander sighed. "No," he admitted. "I'm just tired, that's all."

"I can see that," his father admitted. "Are you sure you're going to be ready for this?"

Charmander looked at his father, putting on a mask of determination. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Charizard stared at his son for a moment. Then he sighed, and his voice became quieter. "You know how tough things are getting," he said softly. "You know about everything that we've had to deal with from the Water Nation these past few months. Everyone's taken their losses hard."

Charmander nodded, his mind wandering to Tepig. One of his best friends since they were only a few years old. The two of them, along with Torchic and Fennekin, always trained with one another. And now, out of all of them, Tepig would be the only one not participating in the upcoming battle. Instead, he would be in a hospital bed, monitored by the medics. Even though Tepig seemed to be taking it okay, joking and smiling every time they talked, Charmander couldn't imagine what he must have been going through after what happened to his parents.

"Get some breakfast," Charizard commanded, "and visit Tepig if you want. I'm sure he'd like the company. The battle won't be starting until mid-day, just an hour before noon."

Charmander nodded. Charizard smiled and stared at Charmander for a few moments. Charmander shifted uncomfortably. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," Charizard replied. "Nothing. You just… you have your mother's eyes. Always sparkling, always wide and alert."

Charizard sighed. Without another word he turned, his thick tail swinging behind him as he walked out of the room. Charmander felt a blackness in his heart, then, thinking about his mother. He hadn't known her very well. He'd only been two years old when she'd been killed in battle. He could never recall who had killed her, but he knew his father would never forget that day. He could tell based on how much he'd talk about her, even thirteen years after her death. And still, Charmander didn't even know what her voice sounded like.

Sighing to himself, Charmander rubbed his blue eyes with his stubby, orange fingers. He walked over to the door on his small feet, his short tail swinging, the fire on the end of it blazing, though not as strong as his father's did. He swung the door open, and met face to face with a smiling Torchic.

Torchic's brown eyes gazed into Charmander's. Her orange chest, as well as the light yellow feathers that surrounded her neck, moved up and down. Charmander noticed then that she was breathing heavily. Then, with a blink, he realized where he was. "How did you get in my house?"

"Come on!" Torchic shouted excitedly, jumping up on her clawed feet. "We've gotta eat breakfast and visit Tepig before the battle starts!"

"Eat breakfast, are you having it here with us?" Charmander asked.

"Ugh," Torchic sighed, shaking her head. "No, we're gonna have breakfast down at the mess hall! We're practically Great Warriors now!"

"This is our first battle," Charmander said. "Not exactly 'great' when we haven't even proven ourselves."

"You know what I mean, we can finally get all that good food the others talk about so much!"

With that Torchic raced to the left and began to skip down Charmander's stairs. "Is Blaziken's cooking really that bad?" he shouted down.

"Just shut up and come outside!" Torchic hollered back.

Charmander rolled his eyes and walked into the hallway, shutting his door behind him. He began to walk down the stairs when he saw Torchic at the door. A slow smile grew on his face as he began to walk down the steps slower. Torchic glared at him, but was unable to suppress the smile that was forming on her beak. Charmander sped up his steps when he saw Torchic gesture towards her claws. He'd seen what they could do to training dummies, and he did not want to risk getting sliced with them.

Torchic opened to door and dashed outside just as Charmander reached the bottom of the staircase. Charmander was about to go out as well, when he heard his father call from him from behind. "Oh, Charmander!"

Charmander turned. His father was sitting on a blue couch, a pillow behind his head as he was leaning back against the cushion. "Be careful," he warned. "I don't want you getting hurt before the start of a battle."

Charmander nodded. "Love you," he said before closing the door, not waiting for a response before he dashed off to catch up to Torchic.

He ran, seeing her in the distance. He passed by other citizens of the Fire Nation as he ran. A couple of Infernape's pushing along a carriage scoffed at him, and an elderly Typhlosion shouted, "Just because you're the son of one our Senators doesn't give you the right to run around like this!" Charmander ignored him though, instead following the orange dot in the distance, his feet tapping against the stone of Furnace, the Fire Nation's capital.

The capital's streets were made of brown bricks, all of them making winding paths throughout the capital. Houses, shops, and other locations lined the streets of the thick city. But, in the early hours of the morning, the section of the city that Charmander ran through looked almost like a quaint, quiet town. The houses weren't that large, the shops were tiny and family-owned, and the people walking, talking, or eating were friendly with one another, not bumping into one another or yelling expletives if they tripped on someone walking too slow for their liking. Charmander loved the morning because it was so quiet, and because everyone wasn't expected to go out and do much until the late morning.

That was also why he liked the night. On occasion, when his father allowed him to, he would walk the streets of the city at night, admiring the stars and the moon above him as he did so. Not caring where he was going, not looking, because he knew the city like the back of his hand. He would just look at all of the lights in everyone's windows as, one by one, they began to shut off, and by the time he was back home, the night was quiet. No noises, no lights. A pure and blissful darkness.

But now, it was the bliss of the morning that he ran through. He did so carefully, not wanting to make too much noise as he ran, not wanting to spoil the almost noiseless elegance of the morning. When he finally caught up to Torchic at the mess hall, she was eyeing him curiously as he put his hands on his knees and began to breathe heavily. Torchic, on the other hand, didn't look tired at all. "You're not exactly fast," she commented.

Charmander looked up at her, smiling. "Yeah," he said, still trying to catch his breath. "At least I fight better than you."

"Well you have hands," Torchic retorted playfully. "That does give you an advantage, you know."

"Fair point," Charmander said. He took his hands off his knees and opened the door to the mess hall. He gestured for Torchic to go in. Instead, she eyed him carefully. "When did you become a gentleman?" she asked.

"I didn't," he admitted. "I just feel bad that you have no hands."

"Shut up," she said, shaking her head as she walked through the door. Charmander laughed as he entered, then stifled it as he looked at what was before him.

What was stretched out in front of him was a larger mess hall than he ever could have imagined. As he looked at it, seeing what must have been close to two thousand Pokémon sitting at various tables eating breakfast and talking, laughing, nervously shaking, or just sitting alone, he could have sworn the place was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. A few faces looked over at them, but for the most part they were ignored.

Torchic walked through the building, looking around. Charmander did as well, noticing how dimly illuminated the room was, especially for so early in the morning. He could see torches across the high ceiling, and could see some windows that cascaded a minimal amount of light down to the floor that rested twelve feet below them. On that floor were long wooden tables as far as the eye could see, the wood almost a vibrant yellow in the light of the room. In the center of the room was a small shack. Charmander could see even from where he stood the food that was being prepared there. He licked his lips in anticipation as the smell drifted to his nostrils.

When the two of them reached the shack, Charmander almost had to do a double take to see who was serving the food. There was a stick in her yellow tail, and though he couldn't see her black legs from where he was standing, he could see her yellow dress-like fur and the mane of white fur that puffed from her upper chest. He almost couldn't meet her red-orange eyes, and he could feel his cheeks getting hot.

"Hi, Braixen!" Torchic exclaimed. "Are you gonna be in the battle too?"

Braixen sighed sadly, looking back at the cooking utensils and foodstuffs that were all around the large shack. "Nope," she said. "I'm stuck doing the cooking today. I'm assuming this is your first time out there?"

"Yup!" Torchic said excitedly.

Braixen looked at her, her face suddenly becoming hard. "Don't be like that," she snapped. "It's anything but exciting. Trust me. I'd rather be doing anything else but serve food all day. But I'd rather serve food all day than go out into a battle."

Suddenly, Braixen's eyes met Charmander's. She stared at him quizzically, causing his face to burn even more. "What's his problem?" she asked. At that point, Charmander realized he'd been staring at her with wide eyes throughout the whole conversation.

He felt almost glued in place, and he couldn't take his eyes away from Braixen's. He probably would have stood there staring at her all day had Torchic not interjected. "Oh, he's just nervous about the battle," she explained. "He's been telling me all about it since we started walking over here."

Braixen looked at Charmander even harder. "His face looks like a strawberry," she observed. "Here." She turned away for a few moments, and as she did so, he felt Torchic kick him in the leg. He looked over at her, glaring, and only saw a sly, knowing smile on her face that was so ridiculous he almost burst out laughing. He looked back over at Braixen to see her holding a tray out to him. "Here," she said. "I gave you some extra water." And then she smiled at him.

Charmander thought his mind was going to break into a million pieces. Still red in the face, he smiled and nodded back. Braixen inched the tray a bit closer to him, nodding her head. It took Charmander a second more to understand, and he nodded, uttered a quick "thanks," and then went off with Torchic to find a place to sit.

The moment he was walking next to Torchic she proclaimed, "You like her."

"Wh- no," Charmander denied, but he could already feel his face reddening again. "No, no I don't."

Torchic rolled her eyes, then nodded to an empty table. "Over there," she said, steering herself in that direction. Charmander followed, and sat himself across from her. Finally, he noticed what was on the plate. A pile of mashed potatoes with a green spice in it, along with a slab of toast and a bowl of oats.

He looked up, and saw that Torchic was still looking at him expectantly. He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't like her," he said.

"Oh, Charmander!" she said loudly. "You say no but know within your heart the truth!"

"Will you shut up?" he said quietly.

"Well," she huffed playfully. "You really aren't a gentleman, are you? Talking to a lady like that."

"Yeah, a lady who could slit my throat with one swipe."

"Yup. You really should be careful about that. Who knows if the next Pokémon you piss off will be as forgiving as me?"

Charmander sighed and began to eat his potatoes. He looked up after two spoonful's and saw that Torchic was still staring at him. "What?" he asked.

Torchic leaned forward. "What is it about Braixen that makes her so special?" Torchic asked, using her beak to scoop up some potato. "I mean, you never look at Fennekin or me or Ponyta like that."

"Well, I know you," Charamander said. "I know Fennekin too. Besides, Tepig and Fennekin are together. And Ponyta…" he trailed off, making a circle with one of his hands. Torchic looked at him, clearly confused. He just shook his head and looked back down at his food. "I dunno," he admitted. "I just don't know."

"Hey, speaking of Braixen," Torchic said, "where's Fennekin? Isn't she supposed to be coming to the battle with us too?"

Charmander shrugged. "Dunno," he admitted. "Might be eating with Tepig or something."

"Yeah," Torchic said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Charmander looked at her for a moment, confused. Then the connection was made in his brain. "Oh, come on!" he said disgustedly as Torchic roared with laughter. "I'm trying to eat!"

"What's so funny?" A deep voice from behind Charmander seemed to come out of nowhere, startling him. He turned around, and saw a fair-sized figure standing over him. He had a long, curved brown face, with a mouth that was barely noticeable. His skin was red and hard like armor, with yellow stripes that looked almost painted streaking down him. His hands were yellow-clawed, and Charmander could see two brown ring-like structures on his wrists. His back also had a few brown spines on it, stretching down from behind his head, to his stubby legs, to his tail that was shaped like a red pipe and seemed to have a hole like one as well. Then, the figure smiled. "I'm kidding," he said. "Mind if I sit with you two?"

Charmander looked over at Torchic, who shrugged. Charmander looked back up at Sir Heatmor. "Sure," he said, gesturing to the bench beside him.

Heatmor nodded his thanks and sat himself on the bench. He began to eat, Charmander noticing that the fork he held as he scooped up the potatoes was comically small in his large hands. Heatmor suddenly looked up from his meal, and looked at both of the warriors in training. "You two must be the one's who're going into their first battle," Heatmor guessed.

Torchic almost seemed to leap out of her seat with joy, and Charmander almost giggled. To be noticed by a Great Warrior was the only goal Torchic had in life, it seemed, and without even laying a foot on the battlefield, she'd managed to do just that. "We are!" she exclaimed. "Did Charizard or Blakizen tell you?" she inquired.

Heatmor shook his head, then gestured over to the shack. "No, Braixen told me," he explained. "Said one of you was a little nervous."

"Oh, yes," Torchic explained. "He is, but not about the battle."

"Would you shut up?" Charmander said angrily as Torchic finished her sentence. This response resulted in a giggle from Torchic, which only served to make Charmander's face redder.

Then, without warning, even Heatmor was laughing. Charmander wanted to sink into the ground and never come out. At last, the two of them stopped laughing. Charmander was relieved, but only for a moment, as Heatmor put his hand on his shoulder. "Just remember," he said, "the battle must come first today."

Charmander looked up at Heatmor. The Great Warrior was truly smiling at him, and it wasn't out of a joke. He was actually smiling at him. Charmander suddenly knew how Torchic felt when she saw Heatmor sit down and acknowledge their existences. She must have felt on top of the world, only able to describe the feeling as floating on a cloud.

Heatmor suddenly got up. "Well," he said. "I had a large dinner last night, and I'm quite full now. I'll be training for the battle. Do you two know when to show up at the capitol building?"

"An hour before noon," Torchic said. Heatmor smiled, then left without a word. After he was out of sight, Torchic's face lit up with excitement. He thought that he cheeks would burst due to how long her grin was. "Did you see that?" she said excitedly. "Did you see that? Sir Heatmor knows who we are now! Yes!"

Charmander smiled. "Yeah," he said. "I know."

The two of them ate, Torchic still going on about how amazing of a Great Warrior Heatmor was, and how she wanted to strive to be just as good as he and all of the other Great Warriors were. Charmander smiled as she talked. Then she brought up Tepig. The two of them agreed that, once their food was finished, they would visit him. After a while, they were both done. Afterwards, they threw their trays into the trash and walked out, their minds set on going into the hospital to visit Tepig. One the way out, though, Charmander glanced back for one last look at Braixen. He could see her cleaning one of the small toaster ovens in the shack. For a moment, it seemed as though her eyes had darted over to him, but Charmander looked away and exited the mess hall before he could find out for sure.

As they walked down the streets of Furnace, Charmander noticed more and more Pokémon were filling the streets. The sun was still not very high in the sky, and the unusualness of this caused him to feel a dark pit within his stomach. Preparations for the battle were already being made. Charmander could feel his heart beating faster with every step, an urgent feeling of fearful excitement taking control of his mind. Torchic looked over at him and smiled. "So," she said, "how much do you want to bet Fennekin is with Tepig right now?"

"Everything I have," Charmander replied. The two of them burst out laughing. They continued to walk along, weaving in between civilians and preparing soldiers alike as they went further into the city, heading in the direction of the hospital.

After fifteen minutes of walking, they finally came to the tall, steel building that stretched up to touch the clouds that stood adjacent to the capitol building. Windows lined the building up and down and side to side, and from them Charmander could see the shadows of a few patients, though most of the windows he could not see through due to the light of the sun cascading down on them. Above the glass doors to the hospital was a large sign. "HOSPITAL" it read in large letters. Below it, smaller yet still noticeable, was the Fire Nation sigil. The sigil consisted of a ball of fire that was a brilliant orange. The ball of fire seemed almost serrated on all sides, darker orange tipping these edges. The orange flame was accompanied by two orange wings made of fire jutting from the sides of the ball. These two had uneven edges that gave the entire sigil a serrated and sharp look.

Charmander did not stare at the sigil for long. He and Torchic entered the hospital. Inside, chairs were lined up on either side of them. In front of them was a smooth, wooden desk that stretched across twenty feet and curved inwards. Sitting at the desk was one of the major medical staff members of the Fire Nation, Miss Arcanine. He large, folded tail nearly stretched up to the top of her head. Her orange, black-striped body was folded in a chair that seemed much too small for her. Her beige fur that covered all of her face except for her eyes and stretched down to her chest had always looked like a mask to Charmander.

The two of them approached her. Arcanine smiled at them knowingly. "He's upstairs," she said. "Fennekin's already up there with him."

Torchic nodded. "Thank you," she said. She turned right and Charmander followed. They passed by a few more rooms, some housing patients but most empty, and turned left. They opened up a set of double doors and entered a large, orange-painted stairwell. They climbed up it, their steps almost at an even pace with one another. After the first few steps, Torchic looked at Charmander, a small smile growing on her face. "Told you," she whispered. Charmander rolled his eyes and the two of them continued up the stairs.

419. That was the room that Tepig was always staying in. They turned left when they opened up the doors to the fourth floor. Around them, Fire Pokémon of all shapes and sizes were running about. Charmander could see an Infernape trying to get her patient, a scraggly old Simisear, to hold still while she pushed him down the hallway in a wheelchair. The Simisear was muttering about not getting much respect, that he used to be a Great Warrior and that he should be treated better than this. His mumblings faded down the hallway as the Infernape continued to push him along.

Charmander and Torchic continued down the long corridor to Tepig's room. As they went, the bulk of patients and staff members began to thin out, until there was no one left in the hall. They continued down the hallway, leaving the bustle of the floor four lobby behind them, and finally made it to room 419. The door was closed.

Torchic grinned when she saw this, and Charmander rolled his eyes once again. Torchic mouthed the words "told you so," and indicated with her head that she wanted Charmander to reach up and open the door for her. Charmander gave her an annoyed looked. "Do you really want to be interrupting something?" he asked, a smile growing on his face as he said it.

"Yes," Torchic bobbed her head in a nod. She jumped up, one of her feet out, claws stretched. She flung her foot down on the doorknob, producing enough force to open the door. She and Charmander walked on slowly. When they did, Torchic could barely hold her laughter. Charmander could see Fennekin on top of Tepig, Fennekin's snout against Tepig's lips. Finally, unable to take it anymore, Torchic burst out laughing. Fennekin shot a startled glance over at the door, the fur on her back standing up. She sighed. "Oh," she said. "It's just you."

Fennekin jumped down from the bed. Her yellow fur glittered in the small rays of sunshine that snuck through the half-closed blinds of the large window behind her. The large orange puffs of fur in her ears stuck out, making her shadow look like it had misshapen ears. Her orange eyes glittered as well, though with emotion rather than sunlight. She looked excited, ready for the day that the three of them would soon experience.

"You ready for the battle?" Torchic asked.

"Hell yes!" Fennekin said. "Though it's too bad Braixen and my mom won't be able to come."

"Why won't Delphox be there?" Charmander asked.

Fennekin sighed. "She kind of will be and kind of won't be. She's going to be leading a defensive here at the city."

"But isn't the Red Desert five miles from here?" Torchic pipped in.

"Yes, but the Council is afraid that, if the Water Nation does push through the battle lines, they'll wreak havoc on Furnace. It's better to be safe than sorry. I just wish I could fight alongside my mother for my first time out."

"I'm sorry, but did everyone just forget I exist?"

Fennekin turned towards the bed. "Oh, shut up," she said playfully. "You know I wouldn't forget about you."

"Just don't die on me," Tepig said, his eyes meeting hers. A blue blanket was pulled up to his midsection, covering his black buttocks and twined tail that had a large red tip. All Charmander and the others could see was his orange face, red nose, and yellow forehead. They could also see his black, pointed ears that shot straight up into the sky when he faced them.

"I won't," Fennekin said, a smile on her face. Tepig was smiling as well, but he looked down. Suddenly, Fennekin's face was serious. "I won't," she promised. "I'll always come back to you."

"Aw, how cliché," Tepig said. He was smiling, but Charmander could see there was real worry in his eyes when he said it. He knew that Fennekin could see it to as, a moment later, she was nuzzling her cheek against his lovingly. They both smiled. When she pulled away, Tepig looked into her eyes. "Promise."

"I promise," she said, and her smile grew wider. They stared into each other's eyes for a few more moments before Fennekin turned around and looked at Torchic and Charmander. "So," she said. "When do we have to be at the capitol building?"

"Well, the battle starts an hour before noon," Charmander said.

Fennekin looked above him, then pointed up with her paw. "Yeah, I think it's best if we leave now. If the battle's then, we might want to be at the capitol building a bit earlier to get ready."

Charmander looked behind her. Above Tepig's door was a small clock. It took a moment, but he was able to read that it was 9:45. He turned back to Fennekin and nodded. "Yeah," he replied. "Let's go."

Fennekin walked past him, and her and Torchic began to walk out. Charmander followed, but stopped in the doorway when he heard Tepig's voice. "Hey, Charmander?" he said.

Charmander turned. Tepig was looking at him, his face like a stone. Charmander walked up to his bed. "Yeah, what is it?" he asked.

Tepig looked at him for a moment. There was no way for him to conceal the concern that stood out on his face. Charmander had never seen him look like this before. He'd seen him look concerned before, of course, but something about this concern was deeper, more potent. "What is it?" Charmander repeated.

"What are we doing?" Tepig asked.

"What?"

"We've been fighting like this, all these wars, for generations. Nobody alive today even remembers when the split occurred. When did we split ourselves into Nations based on our types? Why did we even do it? Is it all just about land and nationalism, or is it something greater? It just feels… it feels like when we fight, we're just reaching into a bottomless pit for the thing at the bottom."

"But the pit wouldn't have a bottom, Tepig."

"Exactly!" Tepig threw his head back on his pillow. He stared at the ceiling for a moment. Charmander waited, watching his friend in worried anticipation. He was about to leave when Tepig let out a long sigh. "Be safe," he murmured. "Just come back."

Charmander nodded. "I will," he said. "I promise."

Tepig chuckled. "Promises. My naïve attempt at hope."

Tepig turned around, his back facing Charmander. Charmander stood there for a moment more, a bit unsure of what to say or do with himself. At last, he turned around, and trotted out of the room. He tried to get excited about the battle to come, but the negativity that Tepig had expressed hung over his thoughts like a dark cloud. It continued to do so even as he entered the capitol building, Torchic and Fennekin now by his side.