CARSON

Carson and Pyro, his Torchic, gazed in awe at the foot of the black, lava-stone throne that his father sat upon. Blaziken stood by Carlos Brightflame's side as well, the rich gold feathers giving way to gray in their age, yet the spirit Pokemon still held an air of superiority over any Carson remembered. Ten year old Prince and Spirit Pokemon were listening intently to the tale his father told him of the Three Heroes who defeated the monster of the sea in ancient times past.

"And do you know that Brightflame, the hero of fire, is your ancestor?" His Father always ended the story with that. It never got old to Carson, he loved hearing about the heroic deeds of all the Brightflame ancestors.

It had been four days past since the first Flygon had arrived at Lavaridge, bearing news of their defeat at the hands of a combined Slateport-Mauville alliance. Carson was just learning his letters, so he couldn't really make out so much what the letter said. If we have lost, Carson thought, then why is Father so happy? It must be the gift that the messenger spoke of...

It wasn't long, then, that commanders of Mt. Chimney's broken army arrived and knelt at the foot of King Carlos's throne. They would have to present a battle report, Carson knew, and what new things they had learned during the fight. First to enter the door was Chief Randall Sand of the Mirage Desert and his spirit Pokemon, Claydol. He was noticeably upset, but stood aside as the next man entered the throne hall.

"Brother!" Carson stood up and ran and jumped into Brandon Brightflame's arms with a great embrace as Pyro ran alongside him and chirped anxiously at Combusken. Carson had been having the most terrible dreams while Prince Brandon was away. "I'm so happy you're back, I don't care if we lost! I'm glad you're safe."

Brandon only managed to smile blankly as he set his hands on the twin swords at his belt. "I'm glad to see you again, little one..." There was an air of sadness and disappointment in his voice as well. Brandon quickly nodded to their father, who acknowledged him with an approving nod, and stood at Carlos Brightflame's right side.

They must have lost pretty badly, Carson thought. His whole ten years, he had grown up thinking, knowing that the Brightflames and Mt. Chimney would rise from the ashes and conquer the lands away from the infidel kings. Now, he wasn't so sure. Still, he was glad his family was safe.

The room and all its chatter hushed as Miguel Starfall entered the throne room. All smiles and followed by lazy-mannered Salamence, he seemed out of place among the disappointment of the battle's outcome.

"Lord Commander," said King Carlos Brightflame. "By all accounts your plan deceived the infidel armies, why is it, then, that we have suffered so great a loss?" The throne room was silent now. Many a criminal had been brought before his father, and Carson had seen Blaziken burn them for justice, or had them given to the Mountain. There was the same prickly, tense atmosphere now.

Yet why does Starfall still smile? It was his plan, why does he seem happy with losing? Carson supposed that he had much to learn about the strategy of war.

It was Chief Randall Sand who answered for Starfall. "He was late to the battle, that's why. We met him on the retreat two days back from the battle. Seems to be his army took a nap after lighting all those candles."

"You will speak when spoken to," growled the King.

Starfall bowed. "Thank you, your grace," he jabbed a mocking look at Chief Sand. "As you know the Mountains between where we were and where we had to be after the diversion are tough to navigate for my Meteor Falls men. It seems to me that Prince Brandon's men weren't able to get to and secure the city fast enough for my reinforcements to get there."

"We were there right on time, you messed-" Carson's older brother was interrupted with a hand from his father.

"It makes no matter. What's done is done," King Carlos ran his hand over his shiny, bald head. Blaziken was stoic as ever as it kept eye contact with Starfall. "From what I understand, the battle may not have been a total loss. It seems we managed to accomplish a great deal that we didn't intend."

"Tell that to a hundred Flygon riders," piped in Sand again. "It's a total loss for them! Seems to be Mirage Desert lost the most men because of your tardiness!" He spat at Starfall. For once, Salamence seemed to have its interest piqued.

"One more word from you and you'll be roasted well done before you can even gather the spit."

Carson knew that his father meant it, even if Sand was one of his chiefs. A good king always made sure his subjects feared him, he was always taught.

"Oh pay the poor man no worry, your grace," Starfall said. "He always keeps a piece of the desert with him in his underclothes." That drew a few laughs from the court, and when Prince Carson understood the joke, he almost snorted in laughter as well. Carson knew that Starfall was aware of the mood his father was in, though, so he quickly moved on. "The matter of the gift needs to be attended to."

Miguel Starfall snapped his fingers, and the court gasped. In came a gigantic steel cage that was rattling from the beast inside. It was a blue Pokemon, with black fin-like crests and tail, as well as orange spiky gills. Carson looked in awe, he never thought he would see a Swampert in real life before; the Spirit Pokemon of the Marsh family.

As Starfall approached the cage, Swampert flailed madly at the bars, however, the steel was specially crafted. Carson noticed that Swampert's forearms were shackled together, as well as its legs to the bars. Around its neck was an iron collar of spikes pointing upwards, so as to keep the Pokemon from growing too bold. However, it didn't stop Swampert from banging wildly with its joined hands. It was roaring, too. Roaring for someone, Carson felt like. He almost had pity for the beast.

"Oh now, looks like someone's woken up." Starfall snapped his fingers again. Salamence flew on top of the cage and reached its long neck inside of it. The dragon Pokemon chomped down on Swampert's back fin, drawing a sad screech as Swampert submitted to the pain as it whimpered pitifully. Salamence gnawed a little every now and then, for good measure. Carson noticed Blaziken stir uneasily beside the King.

"To be fair, Father, it was a team of Chief Sand's Flygon riders who stunned the Pokemon and captured it in a net," said Prince Brandon.

"Yes, dear Prince, but you forget who it was that singlehandedly defeated and wrangled the beast into its new home when it tried to escape," Starfall slapped the cage, rattling Swampert in Salamence' jaws. The dragon let out a snort of blue fire from its mouth and snout, and Swampert groaned. Starfall's spirit Pokemon was noticeably chewing now. Carson could tell it wouldn't be long until it passed out from the pain.

I wish I could have seen it free, was the look Carson gave to Pyro. His little orange Spirit Pokemon was upset, too. What if the Marshes and Sparks had captured Brandon? Carson wouldn't want them to treat Combusken or even little Torchic like Swampert was being treated now. This doesn't seem right, especially if we want the Marsh's help to fight Sootopolis later...

"A great accomplishment," said King Carlos gravely. "From all of you," he nodded and gestured to all that were present: Prince Brandon, Chief Sand, and their men. "And your recapture might have saved your own life, Starfall. See to it that in the next battle you don't find the terrain so difficult to navigate."

Starfall bowed but Carson could see the grin get bigger on his face when his head ducked down. "Yes, your grace. But I must say, why not kill the beast now and strike a blow on Slateport with one swift stroke?" Starfall unsheathed his sword and began poking around Swampert's head with it.

"Put your steel away," grumbled the King. It seemed to Carson observing that Carlos Brightflame was growing tired of Starfall's arrogance for now. "I need Slateport to fight under my command when the Sea Bitch of Sootopolis decides to strike."

"Did your Red Orb tell you that as well?" Miguel Starfall sounded like he was genuinely interested in what father's magic Orb had to say, yet Carson could find the acute sarcasm in his voice. He was raised to listen to his elders, but Carson Brightflame was beginning to like Miguel Starfall less and less. He was too confident, too sure of himself, unaware of tradition, and he was the center of attention.

My King Father should be the center of attention, he pondered to himself.

"Yes, I've seen it in the Orb's light. I need Slateport's army and navy, and Mauville's, and even Fortree's if what the Orb has shown me comes to pass. If all else fails, I should have to awaken the God that sleeps under the mountain... But such action would be too destructive." Carson finally noticed the bags under King Carlos Brightflame's eyes. He knew there was many a night his father stayed up late, gazing into the Red Orb.

Starfall sheathed his sword and bowed, but not before giving Swampert a little prick with his sword. Salamence let go from his chewing on Swampert's fin, now there was a noticeable chunk missing. The poor Pokemon glared at Starfall with hate in its eyes, and the hate followed the eyes whenever anybody moved close to the cage.

"As you wish, my King, but maybe it will help, why don't we just find the three Heroes Reborn to fight the Sea Bitch's monster?" The words sounded so sincere, yet Carson didn't understand how all the court didn't see the mocking behind Starfall's silver tongue.

The story of the Three Heroes was Carson's favorite. The ancient tale of how they had quelled the Gods in a time before time itself, of how the great families descended from them, and of how one day they would be born again spurred countless days of fantasy in Carson's head.

Carson met his father's eye, and the King sighed, almost seeming sad, yet Carlos Brightflame's voice was directed at Starfall. "You know the tale of the Three Heroes is but a children's story, though I wish it were true as well."

Carson was crushed. In an instant, the Three Heroes fluttered away from his heart and dreams, along with any childish hope Carson had of having adventure as the Hero of Fire. He looked at Chief Sand and thought of the hundred Flygon riders and countless foot soldiers he had lost in battle. He saw his brother Brandon and Combusken with frowns on their faces. How many of Brandon's friends died in that battle as well? He saw his father, a sense of dread looming over his face, as if he knew a Tsunami was like to make its way up to Lavaridge and drown the Brightflame's whole kingdom. Lastly, he saw Swampert: defeated, its eyes dead to the world, hope of finding the one it lost all but a distant memory to the Pokemon.

Ten-year-old Prince Carson Brightflame of Lavaridge began to finally realize that the world was not a fairy tale. It was full of sadness and grief. It was full of loss and death.