MATURE: Hoenn Wars

[Instrutilus]

Re: Hoenn Wars (A Travelsverse Fic) Ch. 6

Huuuuge explosions, with a Xanatos Gambit running in the background just incase he fails =P

Anyway, no chapter update, SaIn? You did say every Wednesday, and I'd like to see your plots continue =3

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars (A Travelsverse Fic) Ch. 6

Tried writing a couple things, most of them fell through on how I wanted them to turn out, and I'm also writing something else as a pet project IRL, so I didn't finish the update. Sorry. Working on it... if it isn't up today, it'll be up tomorrow.

 

[Instrutilus]

Re: Hoenn Wars (A Travelsverse Fic) Ch. 6

Oh, don't worry, take you time =P

 

[Monster Dungeon]

Re: Hoenn Wars (A Travelsverse Fic) Ch. 6

Easily one of the better fics I've read. Like someone else I ound it hard with all the jumping around at first, but it is sucking me in and your writing is top draw.

Looking forward to updates!

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Chapter 7: Sacrifice

Antoinette locked her bedroom door, then turned the alarm system on, set up the various pressure plates around her house, and turned on the cameras. Security was important.

Then Antoinette grabbed her bag that held two changes of clothes, a makeup kit, her shiny new fully automatic, 700 rounds per minute assault rifle, and her four Pokeballs. It was mission time.

She walked down the beach to the hotel her squad was meeting before they joined with the rest of the large group Archie was sending to attack Fortree. They needed to attack quickly, before Team Magma got supplies to them and fortified their position; for either team, the city was easily defensible because of its design and a foothold towards the other team. For Aqua, it was the first step west, towards the mountains that Magma occupied; for Magma, a step towards the sea. Along with that, the city was famous for its many Flying-type specialists, and an aerial battalion would be a great advantage.

Antoinette opened the door, half-expecting Rex to attack again. However, the only one there was Alden, who was writing something down. When he noticed she had walked in, he pocketed whatever it was and saluted.

"Don't do that," she muttered. "I hate having to suck up to Archie; I'm not going to make you guys do the same things he has everyone do."

Alden hesitated but complied. "Got it. You're the laid-back type. As long as we're still doing what we have to in order to help our goals, then I'll do whatever I'm told."

Antoinette glanced at him. "Oh really? What's your story, anyway? I understand you were trapped in a desert, but why'd you join Team Aqua?"

"Because it was needed! The world has corrupted the land and destroyed it, torn all life from parts of it... but the sea still has a chance. We can clean up the sea, remove the toxins people have placed within... but the land is long gone. I admire that Team Mamga is trying to help, but their goal is doomed from the start." Alden looked Antoinette in the eye. "Why did you join?"

Antoinette shrugged. "I lived here in Lilycove, after the tsunami. With... a friend. He left, but left me his house. I promised I'd keep it safe for him. Aqua came into the picture, and persuaded me more or less in the same fashion that the Mafia persuades people to pay up... except when I didn't, the collector didn't come back. I was recruited by a much nicer man after that; at the time, I needed the money, and I was good at what I was told to do."

The door creaked open, and Antoinette's hand flashed to her dirk, but it was only Donovan. Antoinette relaxed.

"What about you, prettyboy?" Alden asked. "Why are you here in Team Aqua?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, thank you. Also, Rex is close behind; I passed him as he was harassing an old lady crossing the street."

"Come on, prettyboy, why don't you want to talk about it? We all have a past, don't we?"

Donovan glared at Alden. "I said I wasn't going to talk about it, thank you."

"What's wrong, pretty-"

"Alden." Antoinette said the name with the tone that implied great physical pain if he continued. Alden promptly shut up. "Do you guys have all the gear you need for the assault?" Alden and Donovan both nodded. "Good. When Rex gets here, we'll head towards the Safari Zone, where we've been told to gather. We're near the rear of the assaulting group, so we won't have to deal with the brunt of the defending forces, but that doesn't mean you guys get to slack off. If you let your guard down, it's entirely your fault when you get shot or step on a mine." The door opened, revealing Rex. "Okay, then, let's go."

---

"DAMN RAIN AND MUD!"

Donovan back away from Antoinette, sliding behind another grunt from a different squad. She hadn't taken well to... the outdoors in general, really. Alden was holding up by more or less by grumbling about everything, and Rex was throwing his pickaxes at any small creatures he saw. Donovan himself was trying to ignore the rain, but it wasn't working very well; he still wasn't as... violent as Antoinette about it, though.

"Oi!" someone shouted from up front. "Time to set up camp. We attack before dawn tomorrow! Get some shuteye now or you'll be sorry!"

Donovan sighed. It was about time- they had been marching for most of the day now, for two days in a row. He was tired... and going to find a tent area far away from Antoinette so he wasn't the unlucky bastard who had to wake her up in the morning.

In a flash, every square inch of ground was covered in canvas as each person claimed their space. And, of course, the only open space was next to the girls renowned for liking sleep.

Donovan sighed, resigned to his doom, when Alden tapped him on his shoulder. "My tent's big enough for two, prettyboy."

Donovan raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering it to me? Why?"

"I'm offering it to you because otherwise Axboy will ask if he can stay with me, and I'm a fan of waking up in the morning with all my limbs still there. And, this way, I can pester you until you tell me why you joined." Donovan scowled, but followed him to his tent. "So, why are you here? And, if you won't tell me, why not?"

Donovan sighed. "I'm not a fan of talking about the past, but fine. After the tsunami, I came to help out- and really, who didn't? There, I met someone I now call a friend... he had lost everything to the tsunami, as far as he was concerned. His entire family except him was wiped out. He was pretty far gone himself. Eventually, he joined Team Magma out of grief, but... well, something went bad, and he... long story short, he's dead now because of Team Magma. That's why I'm here. Not out of some sense of loyalty, or belief, but revenge. Once I get that, I'll leave Team Aqua."

Alden nodded. "Okay. But... you say revenge like there's a specific person you're gunning for."

Donovan nodded. "The way my friend died was because of the direct machinations of one person; Maxie's son, the one who calls himself Silver. I'm after him."

---

As the assault party grew closer, Rex grinned. He was going to have fun.

The people up front signaled that they didn't see any guards posted. Apparently Magma underestimated how quickly Aqua would attack. Rex climbed up a tree and stacked up next to a door, waiting for the signal. Donovan was next to him, Alden behind him, and Antoinette standing back, watching for the signal. The orders were clear: kill anyone who resisted.

The signal came. Rex turned and kicked in the door, baring his climbing axes-

The only thing in the room was a lone teddy bear. From the confused sounds coming from the surrounding houses, nobody was there, either. All the houses were empty.

A red dot blinked in the corner of Rex's eye, and he suddenly realized what was going on.

"Oh, SHIT!" Glad his team was on the lowest floor, he turned and shoved Alden and Donovan out the door, hoping he had acted quick enough. "Get off the city!"

---

Talia wiped a tear from her eye, clutching the device in her hands.

"Are you sure you want to do it?" Ricky asked. "I can do it for you."

"No... it's my home. I have to be the one to do it."

Ricky nodded, understanding. "You need to do it soon, though. Maxie's orders, direct... are you going to be okay?"

"I'm not sure." Talia pressed the button in the center of the device.

From their vantage point atop the weather institute, Ricky and Talia could see the fireball erupt from Fortree City, destroying generations of careful planning and building, and, Ricky hoped, hundreds of Aqua fanatics. He wished there was another way, but Maxie had decided that the city was too much of a liability, and that it should be abandoned. Ricky had helped lead the evacuation, but then the order came to set up bombs in the city and blow them up when Aqua came to take the city. Talia had decided she should be the one to do it...

Ricky looked over and saw the tears steaming from the girl's face. She whimpered quietly, trying to be strong. What the hell is wrong with me? he thought. This nineteen year old girl just destroyed the city she grew up in, and I'm just standing here! This... is inexcusable. Ricky reached out to pat her on the shoulder, but stopped. "Come on," he said quietly, "we should head back to Rustboro or Lavaridge to regroup. If you think you're going to be okay, you can head out alone, or you can ride on Blaze with me."

Ricky turned away, ashamed of himself, and went to check flying conditions within the Institute. Talia just kept sobbing softly to herself.

+++

A/N: I'm not a military-type guy, so I'm not all that knowledgeable on guns. My experience with them is sleeping through a hunters' safety course and not much else. I'm relying on Wikipedia for most of my info; if I screw something up, blame the internet.

@; Hide in Plain Sight

 

[Instrutilus]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Nice, I wonder how many didn't get the memo and were killed =3

 

[Flaze]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

When I read the title I thought one of the character's was going to be killed off but now I see it referred to Fortree. They sure got them though, I wonder how the Aquas will be able to get out especially since they were right in the center of the town when it exploded. We also had a look at Donovan and his reasons for joining Team Aqua so that works better.

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

The thing I liked about writing this chapter is that I finally got around to getting some characterization into Antoinette in her motivation (or lack thereof, depending on your point of view). Blowing stuff up is always a bonus, too.

Also, Antoinette and co. weren't in the center of the town; I never said anything about that. They're on the lowest layer (about 10 feet off the ground if you go by normal stories), and that's all I gave out.

 

[Flaze]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

No I meant that they were in the town when it exploded not that they were specifically in the center.

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Oi, update: I had my wisdom teeth removed Tuesday, and am still recovering (and generally feel like crap). My internet has also been down thanks to Comcast, because they'll (illegally) shut down your internet if you use more than 75% of your bandwith consistently (we had 2 Xboxes on Live simultaneously for a party, and were using over 1 meg a second). I have also had almost no time to write, because being incoherent, while fun, does not bring about storylines that you can actually build upon.

Also, I got a new laptop and it had Dwarf Fortress on it from when my brothers were setting it up. I'm currently trying to scale the learning cliff and failing miserably. But in a fun way. Especially since I'm still kind of loopy because of my Vicodin.

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Oi, update: I had my wisdom teeth removed Tuesday, and am still recovering (and generally feel like crap). My internet has also been down thanks to Comcast, because they'll (illegally) shut down your internet if you use more than 75% of your bandwith consistently (we had 2 Xboxes on Live simultaneously for a party, and were using over 1 meg a second). I have also had almost no time to write, because being incoherent, while fun, does not bring about storylines that you can actually build upon.

Also, I got a new laptop and it had Dwarf Fortress on it from when my brothers were setting it up. I'm currently trying to scale the learning cliff and failing miserably. But in a fun way. Especially since I'm still kind of loopy because of my Vicodin.

 

[Sarcastically Insane]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Sad update (yay triple post xp): I'm going to have to suspend HW for the time being for an indefinite amount of time. I have to do this because: 1) I've been feeling really badly lately, and haven't been able to write. 2) I'm recovering quickly, but I'm leaving for summer camp next week all week. I won't be able to write there. 3) I have almost no schedule between now and when I leave for Taiwan later this summer, and I'm going to be gone for a whole year.

While updates may appear occasionally, don't expect them with any regularity of quickness. Sorry about this, but RL is doing that annoying thing where it gets in the way of the internet.

 

[Instrutilus]

Re: Hoenn Wars, Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

Mmk boys and girls, here's the scoop. SaIn isn't coming back to Bulbagarden, but he IS completely interested in continuing the story. Sope, he's opted to send the chapters to me and I'll put them up here for him. Enjoy :L

Chapter 8: Perspective​

Amber​

Amber was furious with Wattson. “Why can’t I go outside?” she screamed at him.

“Because there’s a war going on!” Wattson yelled back. In the confines of his small office, his booming voice was amplified even more.

“But there’s no fighting!” Amber yelled back. “Why is it dangerous is there’s no fighting?”

“Because fighting could break out at any time!” Wattson yelled back. “The last time Team Magma and Team Aqua fought, Rayquaza itself had to be awakened to stop them! I don’t want my granddaughter to-”

Before Wattson could finish his sentence, the door slammed open and Ben, a local ace and one of the trainers in Wattson’s employ, was standing there with a shocked look on his face. “Wattson, Amber, you… you need to see this. Fortree-”

“Did Fortree ally themselves?” Wattson asked. “Damn! I thought they would stay neutral and-”

“No, Wattson. Fortree is gone.”

---​

Amber sat outside the entrance to New Mauville, trying to unsee the footage of the Fortree city burning to the ground. Trying to unhear the sound of dozens of Aqua men and women burning alive, screaming. Her Elektrike was sitting in her lap, and Plusle and Minun were perched on each shoulder. Minun stroked her cheek, and Amber realized she was crying.

“Why do people have to fight?” she whispered to her friends. “Why do we kill each other?”

“There are two kinds of fighters.” Amber started as Wattson walked up behind her. “There are those that fight out of hatred, and those that fight to protect. Hatred is a destructive force, and it is what drives Maxine and Archibald so fervently against each other. And the worst part of hatred is that it can hide itself so well. Very few people will admit being driven by hatred. They will find some other rationalization- Maxine fights for the land, and Archibald for the sea, they say. They may even be driven in part by their desire to defend their ideals. However, Amber, if I attacked your Pokémon, right now, what would you do?”

“I would fight back,” Amber said. “I would protect my friends.”

“Of course. But then I keep attacking. Over, and over, and over. Incessant. Relentless. And I hurt your Pokémon, time after time after time. Do you think you would begin to hate me?”

Amber was quiet for a minute. “Maybe.”

“And now you see how hatred can be born out of love.” Wattson stood up and turned to go back underground. “Please come back down soon, Amber. I do worry for you… and it is dangerous out here.”

Amber nodded slightly. She was deep in thought as Wattson returned to the underground safety of New Mauville.

“People fight… out of hatred, or a need to protect,” she repeated to herself. “Then if I ever need to fight, I will fight to protect. I will protect my Pokémon, I will protect friends… I will protect anyone who can’t protect themselves.” She looked up at the sky, and saw that it would start raining soon. She thought about her decision. She wasn’t a very strong trainer. Protecting so many people would be impossible for her now.

“Plusle, Minun, Electrike… we’re going to find some new friends. And we’re going to train. We’ll train until we can protect people.” Her electric types all squeaked in agreement.

A Poliwag waddled out of the water and onto the shore nearby. “Let’s start,” Amber said.

***

Antoinette​

Antoinette was drunk. Very drunk. She was currently sitting down, because she couldn’t stand up.

“Another shot of gin!” she yelled at the bartender. “Actual gin this time, not water!” The bartender yelled something back that Antoinette didn’t bother to listen to.

“You really should go home soon,” Alden said from across the table, downing some more beer.

“I don’t think she can,” Donovan chipped in. “If she gets up, she’ll just end up on the floor.”

“Cute bastard has it right,” Antoinette slurred. “Stop being a pussy and let me drink!”

“Sergeant, I didn’t object when you suggested this was the first thing we should do when we got back to Lilycove, but we arrived six hours ago and you’ve been drinking nonstop since then. I’m afraid for your health.”

“The fuckin’ fireball didn’t kill me, a little alcohol won’t either.”

“There’s nothing you can do to convince her,” Donovan said. “Just leave it alone.”

“But-!”

“The bartender won’t give her anymore alcohol, and she’ll probably pass out before the next round comes anyway.”

“Haha! Fuck that! You’ve never seen me drink before! I’m just getting started! Me an’ him… we could’ve supported the bars in this town by ourselves! BARTENDER! GET ME ANOTHER MOTHERFUCKING SHOT!”

“I don’t think he’ll react well to your manners, Sergeant.”

“Then fuck manners!” Antoinette reached for her kris hidden on her person- “WHO THE FUCK TOOK MY KNIFE?!”

“If you’ll excuse me, Alden,” Donovan said, “I’ve had enough, and things are going to get ugly, so I’ll just drop off Ms. LaRosa’s weaponry at her house and head home.” Donovan stood up from the table and beelined for the exit.

Alden sighed. “Goddamnit.” He stood up. “Sergeant, you’re going home. Now.”

Antoinette stood and turned to him with fire in her eyes, ready to tear her subordinate a new one… and promptly fell to the floor.

Alden sighed. “Goddamnit!”

---​

Antoinette woke up with a headache that a Psyduck would shit their pants at. She walked to her kitchen, drank as much water as her stomach could handle, and went about her morning routine.

Except her clock told her it was well into the afternoon, and she took enough painkillers to fell a Donphan. A few minutes after she was dressed for the day, there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Donovan.

“So you’re finally awake,” he said.

“Yeah,” she replied. “How much did I have last night?”

“I wasn’t counting, but you were drinking pretty heavily. At least ten shots.”

“That sounds low.”

“Fine. At least fifteen.”

Antoinette sighed. “Yes, I’m an idiot. When I drink, I go overboard. But after Fortree…” she shuddered.

“I understand, don’t worry.”

“It doesn’t seem to be bothering you a whole lot.”

“My dad was a doctor. I used to help him. Burn victims are… not pretty. And I’ve seen a lot of them.”

“I don’t envy you.” Antoinette stretched. “Have you seen Rex recently?”

“Not since we got back. Anyway, a memo went around town earlier that there’s another meeting in a week. I’ll see you then if there aren’t any more training sessions between now and then.”

Donovan stood up and left, and Antoinette went about making food. After a quick sandwich, she sat down, pulled out Donovan’s file, and read it again.

“Mother’s occupation, schoolteacher, father’s occupation… carpenter.” Antoinette looked at the door Donovan left through. “Now, now… why lie?”

***

Ricky​

Duck, strike, weave, hook, dodge, dodge, dodge, strike, dodge- too slow!

Blaze’s fist hit Ricky dead center, sending him flying backwards. The landing hurt almost as bad as the hit- Ricky and Blaze had been sparring for a while, and Ricky was much worse off then Blaze.

Ricky heard Blaze inhaling for a Flamethrower- bad bad bad bad bad. Ricky rolled to the side as a searing heat came from where he was a second ago. He pushed himself to his feet and bum rushed Blaze, knocking the Infernape to the ground. He drew back for a punch, but something wrapped around his wrist. He turned to see Blaze’s tail holding his arm in place.

“Shit. Every time.”

A powerful right hook from Blaze sent him sprawling, again. He spit out blood, and stars were circling his head.

He stood up again. Blaze looked at him like he was stupid.

“Again,” Ricky said.

Blaze shook his head.

“I said again!” Ricky screamed. Blaze shook his head again.

Ricky screamed and charged. Blaze simply caught his sloppy punches or dodged his attacks. Soon Ricky was too tired to even scream at Blaze to fight him. He recalled Blaze and put the ball on his belt. He looked around the room he had commandeered for sparring- the walls had holes, scorch marks, and bloodstains. Ricky’s shirt had disappeared at some point, either from his taking it off or it being destroyed, and the bottoms of his pants were also shredded. He was pretty sure he had a few broken ribs, and his left arm was starting to swell. He was bleeding from- really, too many places for him to care. He sat down and leaned against a wall, feeling the adrenaline drain away and the pain replace it.

Caleb opened the door and gasped.

“O’Conner!” Ricky called. “If you would be so kind, could you get the infirmary to send over a stretcher for me?”

“Right away, sir!”

---​

“What the hell were you thinking?” Silver said to Ricky. They were in a hospital room while Ricky recovered. “I know you spar with Blaze regularly, but that wasn’t a sparring match! You could have died!”

“So I took it a little too far. So what?”

“So what? You’ve got a team to lead and train, Ricky. We have missions for you.”

“Do they involve burning down more cities?”

Silver shook his head angrily. “Do you think I enjoyed hearing Maxie order that? Do you think I like that Talia decided to do it herself? While you’ve been beating the shit out of yourself, I’ve been working with the people of Fortree, putting them in apartments and helping them find work! No, Ricky, nobody enjoyed sacking Fortree. But it’s a war, and it was decided we had to do it.”

Ricky looked away. Silver was right. As always. “How long until I’m out?”

“About a week. Then you’ll have six weeks with a cast on your left arm. You won’t be able to use the blade I gave you with it on.”

Ricky sighed. “Yes, I’m a dumbass.”

“Glad you know. Now, I have to get going, so rest up and recover. We’ll have a mission ready by the time you’re out.”

“No rest for the weary, I guess,” Ricky said lightly. “I’ll be ready then.”

“You’ll need to be,” Silver said as he was leaving. “It’ll be your team’s first real black ops mission.”