Chapter 28

Chip

Chip felt a cold summer breeze blow against his face as he and his friends were taken to the Templar camp. In the distance, Chip was able to see a fire burning, and the aroma of something cooking tickled his nose. Chip was trying to not think with his stomach, now was not the time for that. Besides it was hard to think when the entire way to the camp Ommni had been gloating about his victory. Chip found it annoying that someone like him would get hyped about outsmarting a bunch of "kids" as he liked to call them. Was Ommni truly that deprived of self-esteem that he got excited "outsmarting" kids? Chip was just waiting for a moment to find an opening to throw a jab at the ass hole or at least defend himself.

"...and man, you guys fell for it hard." Ommni laughs. "It was so easy to trace your energy signatures once you got to this part of the forest. All this magical essence in the air is like a magnet. Do you understand what I'm talking about?

"Not really?" Chip says as he might as well speak.

"Every living thing in this world has some magical essence within them. Those who have trained themselves are able to sense other Pokémon's essence, though some call its "aura" as well."

"Wait aura is different from magical essence," Cassius says.

"Come again?" Ommni whips around to look at the seal.

"Ya, my mom told me this story a few times while growing up. Aura taps into the spiritual part of a Pokémon's being. Most physical Pokemon tend to tap into their spiritual essence while others tap more into their magical essence. It's a bit complicated to explain all at once but--"

"But nothing. This is my victory march, not yours. I used the power of the mist to sense where you and your friends were, end of the story."

"You're an idiot," Chip says. The next moment he feels a jab to his stomach from Tusk, the Nidoking had been the one keeping an eye on him all the way back. Chip was lifted from the ground by the Nidoking and then thrown back into the dirt. The Zorua tasted a mixture of dirt and blood as he coughed out a few drops of the red liquid. Chip looks in horror at what happened.

"Get a good look at it you little mutt," Tusk says. "Once we're done with this mission, I'm going to make sure you see that all the time. No one bests me in a fight and gets to live to talk about it."

"Tusk treat the prisoner with some respect." Sir Godfrey says. "We're Templars, not brutes or thugs. Leave that to the groups Neon Central. We're better than them."

"Speak for yourself Gecko," Tusk yells. "I'm paid to be a bruiser, not some pussy." Tusk crossed his arms. "You feel me."

"You're a brute all right, you play that role, very, very well." Sir Godfrey says.

~ You can tell someone doesn't like the other. ~ Inari says. ~ If I was a betting fox, I'd bet these two are always at the other throats. Could be useful information if you catch my drift. ~

'Inari...' Chip thinks as they enter a guard post. Chip watched as Sir Godfrey orders a few of the lesser Templars to lay Hathor down near the fire. They had to carry her back after Tusk strangled her. Chip wouldn't leave the area without knowing that Hathor was all right. They assured him that they did not intend for her to die. She had been checked for a pulse and then hand-carried back. Chip swore that he was going to avenge Hathor no matter what. Tusk wasn't going to get away with this. No one hurts his family and friends and gets away with it.

~ I'm here for you. I'm sorry I couldn't help us get out of this situation but I'm all in now. Hathor and Bellona deserve the best from us. ~

'How do we get out of this?'

~ We wait for our opening and take it. That's the best I can come up with for now. ~

"All right," Chip says out loud. Alister who was nearby hears the Zorua. He waits for a moment when they might speak.

"You good?"

"I'm not dead yet, that's a good start." Chip smiles.

"You'll be dead when I get through with you." Tusk grunts. Chip gets kicked from behind falling onto his face.

"CHIP!!" Basil and Cassius cry.

"What's your problem?" Alister asked, the Minccino looked ready to throw paws. Tusk swats Alister onto his back, and a bit of blood ran down his nose.

"Alister." Chip tries to get up, but Tusk slams a foot down on Chip's back.

"You little fucking tail lifter." Tusk snickers. "Ya, I can smell the cum on your ass. All you little city Pokemon are a bunch of tail lifters. Maybe I'll do the world a favor and make one less."

"Wow makes me wonder if there's some hidden reason behind that." Chip smirks.

Chip feels the Nidoking put pressure on his back crushing him under his foot.

"What you say you little shit."

"AAAAHHHH"

"That's right cry for me, I want to hear your streams."

Chip felt like his bones were being crushed under the sheer weight of the Pokemon above him. He heard gasp along with laughter from various Pokemon around him. The air was being pushed out of him with every passing second. Just when the Zorua thought he was going to pass out he feels something hot come flying his way and a moment later the weight was...gone? Lifting himself up Chip noticed that Tusk was gone. The Nidoking had fallen back, black smoke was rising from his chest, and a burn mark was on him.

"Basil?" Chip questioned.

"Not me." The Quilava says. Chip then looked around to see if maybe, just maybe it had been Hathor. But she was being tended to by the shamans who were working on reviving her. No, whoever did that had to be from the Templars themselves. But who was bold enough to go against someone like Tusk?

"If you're looking for who did that then look no further little fox." A voice spoke from the area filled with tents. Chip had been so tortured just now he didn't even take time to look at the camp itself. He saw from the other side of the campfire a lot of tents to house everyone. Beyond that, there wasn't much else to see. But what caught his eye was a dark pink looking Braixen standing nearby. It was holding its species' signature stick, a pink flame sprouting from it. The Braixen looked well...really upset.

"What the fuck is going on here?" The older fox asked. All around Templars began dropping to one knee at the sight of the Pokemon. All but Ommni who just bitterly crossed his arms.

"Commander, what an um...surprise to see you here," Ommni says. The Pokemon Ommni called Commander glares at him.

"I am the Commander; I do not need permission to come and go as I please. I'm here because you've taken so long to accomplish your mission that I'm being harnessed by my boss as to why you're not done yet. It's not easy telling the High Commander that my troops are not able to finish a mission." The Braixen walks over to Chip and helps him up.

"You poor thing, look what they did to you." The Braixen says petting Chip's head. "Your so cute."

"I'm not cute..." Chip grumbles. He hears the Braixen chuckle.

"Aww saying that makes you even cuter."

"Commander I-- "

"Why are these Pokemon being taken in as prisoners?" The Braixen asked. Ommni didn't speak for a moment and Chip saw the fox wipe back out its stick again.

"Please answer the question before I become upset. It's a simple question, I don't expect a complex answer. Why are they being held by us?"

"Because they might know how to get into the cave." A Meowth spoke up for Ommni. The Braixen glares at the feline.

"I didn't need you to answer him. Please don't speak out of turn again. I'm already upset as it is. I expect your "leader" to be the one to answer for decisions, regardless of if they're poor and go against the Templar's code."

"Code?" Chip questioned.

"It's just as he says, these Pokemon might be the key to getting into the cave and finding the Plate. I just need time to-- "

"We do not hold innocent Pokemon against their will." The Commander says.

"But sir-- "

"NO!" The Braixen holds his stick to Ommni's throat, the flame was inches from his neck. "At least we lower ourselves down to that of a thug, we shall never take an innocent Pokemon as a prisoner. Are we clear?"

"..." Ommni says nothing.

"All in clear Commander Kira." Sir Godfrey speaks up. "I'm sorry if I'm speaking out of line."

"At least someone here has the balls to know when they've done wrong." Commander Kira says before putting his stick away. "You are to release these Pokemon at once. But before they go, might I ask for the audience in my tent? I feel that I owe them a meal and an explanation."

"But sir...the mission," Ommni says. "We're so close to-- "

"I can't care." Commander Kira says. "I'd rather tell the High Commander the operation was a failure than give up on our code."

"Fuck the code," Ommni says, his hands and eyes twitching. Chip along with others couldn't believe this sudden outburst. "We're so close to achieving greatness that even the High Commander would have to recognize what we're capable of."

"You mean what you're capable of?" Commander Kira asked, the fox holds his stick at the Alakazam. A hint of ruthlessness was in his eyes. "Make sure your next words are careful less you wish for me to end you. There is a place in hell for traitors, and I feel that your name belongs down there."

'What the hell is going on here?' Chip questions internally.

~ Best to stay out of this. ~

'Ya.'

"Don't think I haven't kept my eyes on you Ommni. Power moves. You've always been obsessed with power Ommni. It's more of your weakness than your strength. You're pathetic and you're going down a dark path, a path that a Templar should never walk. We are protectors of his realm, not bullies. We seek power so we can balance it, not use it to achieve dark goals. I will not have anyone under my flag getting out of line because of power."

"You think you're safe from judgment Commander? You're so clouded by this stupid code that you fail to see what you can achieve, Kira." Ommni waves his hand and Chip saw several purple balls of energy appear. The Alakazam throws them at Kira who is knocked back by one but reflects the rest coming in at him. He sends on flying back at Ommni who knocks it away. The psychic Pokemon vanished and reappeared several feet away.

"You're a fool Kira to believe that you can so easily defeat me." Ommni raises a hand, and a ball of dark energy began growing. "I could with one attack end this entire place and think nothing of it."

"And if you tried that I would find a way to stop you and make you pay." Commander Kira says. "Even if it means ending my own life, I refuse to allow darkness to win."

"That's the difference between you and me you pussy of a fox." As Ommni spoke Tusk had gotten up and joined him. Chip noticed but a few other Templars join the Alakazam. "Maybe this is what happened when you were born without a pair of balls. You don't know how to not be a pussy. You are dumb herm. I shall return, the power of the Meadow Plate shall be mine, with or without your help. An abandon my position as a Templar and plead my loyalty to the Dark Knights, an order who actually seeks power. If you wish to stop me...well, you know where I'll be come dawn." Ommni looks at Sir Godfrey.

"What shall it be?"

"I'm a Templar first and foremost." Sir Godfrey says. "You'd do well to change your minds."

"Why?" Tusk asked. "I'm having too much fun finally taking the gloves off. Don't you ever get tired of being the good boy? I got tired of it long ago and wished for a day like this. The day I could finally cast aside this mask and be my true self. Be dammed if I'm going back."

"Then you are lost old friend."

"I was never your friend, you pussy." Tusk smirks. "Show up tomorrow fox so I can finish what I started. Breaking every bone in that sad excuse of a body."

"I beat you once, I'll do it again." Chip barks.

"Come we leave." Ommni laughs as he throws the dark orb onto the ground causing a shockwave to blow across the camp. The campfire was blown out and everyone was thrown back. A moment later Ommni and the other deserters were gone. Chip slowly gets up to the destruction of the camp. Most of the tents were gone, covered in dirt and rocks. He quickly runs over to Hathor who had woken up.

"Chip?"

"Hathor!" Chip leans down and starts licking her. "You're ok."

"Yes, but what just happened? I woke up to see that crazy psycho doing...weird things."

"That crazy psycho is my problem to deal with." Commander Kira says from nearby. "I suspected this would happen, but I was hoping it wouldn't. I'm sorry you kids got caught in all this."

"Commander, do you wish for a party to go after him?" Sir Godfrey asked. The Spectile holds a fist near his heart. "I'm sorry but I wasn't able to keep him in check as you wished."

"You did well enough Godfrey. I told you when I assigned you to spy on him that this could happen. I was hoping to get ahead of it before it got to this point." Commander Kira says.

"What's going on here?" Chip asked. He noticed the rest of his friends recovering from the attack. A few Templars were helping them up.

"Well, if you are willing to listen to what I have to say let's speak over dinner. I'll have the cooks make...something out of what's left."

"The food wasn't harmed." A cook spoke from nearby. "The stores were at least not hit by an attack. I can wipe something up in a short bit."

"May I help?" Basil asked. "I'm pretty good at cooking. I'd like to help."

"Ya same here," Kyuubi asked.

"Long as you don't suck then yes." The cook says before walking away to make dinner. Basil and Kyuubi left to help. Chip looks at Hathor who nuzzles him.

"I'll be ok. Thanks for looking out for me. I don't remember everything that happened but...you were brave."

"If I was stronger, I could have saved you from Tusk." Chip's head sunk as he felt helpless in the face of the Nidoking. Hathor nuzzles him again.

"You did the best you could. That's all I can ask for."

"Zorua." Commander Kira says. Chip looks at him.

"The name's Chip."

"I'm Commander Kira, head of the Exploration Team. You can call me Kira, I hate going by my title. Follow me."

"I'm coming too," Alister says stepping forward. Chip noticed a look of determination in his eyes. "I've got a score to settle with that asshole Ommni. If we're talking about how to attack him then I want in."

"I can respect someone who wants to get revenge, long as it's not blind revenge." Kira smiles. "How about the rest of you?"

Shawn and Cassius look at one another and then back at Chip and Alister. "Let's do this thing," Shawn says. Cassius nods.

"I might but a little hurt, but I want to be there for them." Hathor gets up onto all four.

"Good then come with me, we have much to discuss." Kira walks away and heads to a large tent a good distance away. Kira's tent hadn't been damaged that much, providing a good spot to speak. Once inside his tent, the group found themselves standing among rare artifacts from all over the region. Status of various Pokemon, rare gems, and even a plate??? There was a red plate sitting near a beautiful wooden chair. There were markings all over the chair with some of them being in an old Pokemon language that Chip couldn't read. Kira sits down in his nice chair.

"Introductions are in order once more. My name is Commander Kira, though you can call me Kira. I am one of the Templar Commanders. My job is to explore the region for objects of power and to ensure their safety. It's my job to ensure the balance of power remains and to make sure that no one tries to disturb that balance."

"My name is Cassius Valentine of the Valentine family of Venice," Cassius says.

"Prince Cassius, it's an honor." Kira gets out of his chair and bows before Cassius. Everyone looks at Brionne who blushes.

"You don't have to be so formal..."

"True." Kira takes a fin and kisses it.

"No, no...just friends." Cassius blushes more.

"Prince?" Alister asked.

"Later."

"Why is Ommni...better yet can you tell us more about Ommni. Who is, why is he being a traitor?" Cassius asked.

"Ommni was research who was assigned to my department," Kira says as he sits back in his chair. "He was the best researcher of his time since Zasalamel went missing long ago."

"Zasalamel?" Hathor gasped.

"You know of him?"

"Maybe after we figure something out," Hathor says.

"Ommni used the journal notes from Zasalamel to track down objects of power. For a good while it was a match made in heaven. Ommni was damn good at finding objects and bringing them in. The Templars were able to track down objects of power and keep them out of the paws of evil. But some time ago he started to hold onto the things he found, and his power grew. I became concerned about this and started to give him fewer assignments. I wanted to figure out how to control him. Well, things go weird as he started leaving on his own to find things." Kira sighs. Chip could sense that Braixen was trying to find the right words to say. This must be hard for him to speak of.

"He began going over my head to the High Commander to get assignments leaving me out of the loop. That is what led him to this mission to find the plate. He was supposed to find the plate, nothing more nothing less. This all came about after Pokemon began going crazy from being exposed to strange objects of power."

"Objects of power?" Alister gasped. Chip saw Minccino hold his tail, the ring he had attached to it glowed for a moment. Kira shakes his head.

"I see..."

"You know what this is?" Alister asked.

"That young one has a ring of power. It was an experimental item the Templars created to help bring out a Pokémon's hidden power. If the one who wields it is not able to handle the power, they will go insane. But it does more than bring out hidden power, it also allows someone to keep track of the holder. With it, Ommni can keep tabs on those he's "gifted" it to. Once put on it's hard to get it off, only the person who gave it to you can remove it. Or if they are defeated it can be taken off."

"More reason to kick his ass then," Alister grumbles.

"The fact that you have it and haven't gone insane is a good sign." Kira gets up and pets Alister's head. "I promise that we will make this right. If you need to blame anyone it's me for not controlling him."

Alister doesn't respond. Shawn puts a vine around Alister's shoulder.

"What can we do to help?" Hathor asked.

"Do you know where the plate is hidden?" Kira asked.

"NO." Chip blurts out.

"Why does he believe you do then?"

"Because I'm...I'm friends with someone who does know." Chip says as he thinks about Meadow. She was in danger. Ommni was loose and he might make a move to find her and make her take him to it. He had to stop that psycho at all costs.

"Then whoever that is will be in danger. Ommni has gone rogue meaning he's dangerous and unpredictable. We must find him." Kira sits up in his chair.

"Right." Chip nods.

"Ommni spoke of meeting someone at dawn." Sir Godfrey says from the entrance to the tent. The Sceptile had been listening in while keeping guard. "We have time but not much. We were supposed to go to the falls at dawn to see the Shaymin Meadow."

"Then we know what we must do," Kira says. "I don't have any right to ask you for assistance but...would you and your friends be willing to help us?"

"We need a moment." Chip says as he collects his friends and speaks to them.

"So um...I have no right to ask you guys but-- "

"If you say anything but we're helping out then you're an idiot," Cassius says. Chip gasped.

"Guys?"

"We're in this no matter what," Shawn says. "Ya I'm nervous but...we can't stop now. We're here for a reason and we're going to see it through."

"I have a score to settle with Ommni, your damn straight I'm coming along." Alister throws a fist. "I'm going to knock that ass hole out no matter what. No one has the right to abuse Pokemon the way he does."

"Hathor?" Chip looks at his mate. The Fennekin nods.

"Where you go, I go. Plus, we own Tusk the beating of a lifetime."

~ We're in this together. ~ Inari says.

"Then it's settled. In the morning, we're going to battle." Chip says.