ID: 3
Username: [Redacted]
Title: Forever in the stars
Strange, how quickly things change. Just over three years ago, Shinobu was but one bull of many, living amongst his herd in the Viridian Plains. He tested his might against kin and invaders, with joy and fervour.
Then Cerulean decided that his herd belonged to them. Under the cover of night, a sizable force made up of Slowbro and Vaporeon had ambushed them. With whips of water and psychic compulsion, they sought to enslave his kin, and force them to wage war on the behalf of the Champion of Cerulean.
Half the herd had already been captured or killed, and those few yet still free were quickly being overwhelmed. Brutal strength meant little against those who turned reality against him, twisting his sight until every foe he slew was an ally shrouded in illusion.
Just as Shinobu began to falter, mind and body pushed to their limits, he arrived.
Fire blazed to life, casting a crimson glow on the stone spires that impaled the mighty psychics. Foul lances of distortion shattered the psychic bonds binding his herd. Steel clashed against steel as men charged against the invaders, driving them back in a bloody conquest. With renewed vigor, the mighty bull charged once more, ivory goring flesh and bone, bathing the Viridian plains in the blood of Cerulean.
--
It was a few hours later that Shinobu finally got to greet the ones who saved his herd. A small force of both men and pokémon, hailing from across the land. Most hailed from the mining town of pewter, along with their stone like brethren. From Lavender had come several mystics, accompanied by their twisted shadows. Others came from scattered villages across the foothills of Mount Silver, driven from their homes by the same people who came for his family.
But it was the leader of this motley crew that held Shinobu’s interest. A tall raven haired man, flanked by Fire and Stone. He met this man, an alakazam translating for him. The man, Taimu he was called, was another victim.
Later, Shinobu had often heard it said that Shinobu was gifted with both words and battle. That it was his fast tongue that had won him so many allies.
Shinobu disagreed.
With the handicap of a language barrier, Taimu was forced to rely on the intent of his words. No flowery poems or compliments could disguise the truth hidden behind speech.
It was the passion, the genuine conviction the young man felt as he spoke that earned the bull’s respect. That earned Shinobu's loyalty.
--
Upon joining the young Indigoan, Shinobu was quickly updated on the going one of the lands. Cerulean was on the warpath, hell bent on conquering all of Kanto. The Pewter territories has joined Taimu out of fear of their neighbor’s ambitions. Lavender had also joined him, but Sister Chinatsu, (she insisted that since he joined her family, they are now siblings), warned him to be wary. The only reason they had agreed to the alliance was to protect Taimu's blood sister Akemi. The mystics of lavender were cruel and deceitful, and they were as likely to plant a knife in your back as your enemies were.
As soon as the wounded were cared for, Taimu announced their next destination: Celadon.
A city founded in an ancient forest, Celadon was unique amongst the human dwellings of Kanto in that the walls and militia did not guard them. Instead a pact with the Old-Growth, an ancient network of Pokémon spanning the entirety of central Indigo, kept their people safe. They lived by the saying ‘the greatest fortress is not the one that can not be taken, it is the one that is not worth the cost of taking’.
The very forest rose against them. Roots rose from the earth to bury Shinobu's allies beneath a writhing mass of wood and gore. Bladed leaves found many a through exposed, and great vines clobbered even the mightiest of warriors into submission.
Fortunately it seemed that Lady luck was with them, as the Champion Kusamiri, and her mighty Venusaur Tawna, had agreed to support them, sparing them from further assault.
It still took seven long weeks to arrive in Celadon, even with her assistance. A further three long weeks after to come to an agreement. Celadon would serve Taimu, and Kusamiri would serve as his Hand.
--
If the slow, and diplomatic assimilation of Celadon had left any impression of an easy path to victory in Shinobu's eyes, the conquest of Saffron cured him of that delusion. In seven days, the city was Taimu's, won at the cost of thousands of men and pokémon, as rivers of blood died its streets crimson. The martial masters entertained no thoughts of surrender, until a squadron of psychics turned against them in a desperate coup.
The Maito clan was utterly broken, as the chief of the Natsuke clan claimed the title of Champion of Saffron, and swiftly bent her knee to Kusamiri.
Shinobu almost wanted to laugh at the swiftness of the surrender, but the blood muddied ground beneath his hooves sobered any amusement he might have. They had paid for this victory in rivers of blood, and mountains of corpses.
--
With barely two days rest, the ever growing army swiftly turned south to the Vermillion Port. With rumors of the Ryujin being tasked with hunting down Taimu, the entire host agreed that distance between them and Cerulean was more valuable than rest.
Within five days, the weary army had arrived at the gates of Vermillion. Dreading the inevitable conquest, it was a welcome shock to see the gates swing wide as the port city graciously welcomed them into their walls.
As it turned out, Cerulean’s systematic blockade of Kanto’s waterways had done little to endear them to Vermillion. The port city was running low on supplies, starvation a rapidly growing issue. At the sight of half the banners of Kanto, led by Fallen Indigo, it was an easy choice to surrender. With promises of Viridian grains and Pewter builders to shore up their crumbling defenses, They had not only avoided bloodshed, but gained a small fleet.
After the slaughter that was Saffron, Vermillion’s welcome left the Tauros in tears.
--
It was at Fuschia that Shinobu first tasted defeat
All had been going well. The Shinto clan had welcomed them with open arms, though negotiations were a miserable affair for all. Mamoru had found many an admirer in the plans surrounding, and had grown almost playful.
Shinobu test hoof and horn against the local herds of his kind, though few could challenge him as Kusamiri’s partner Tawna could.
Even Chinatsu seemed lighter, dissolving into flickering flames as children cheered. Never had Shinobu seen her express such mundane joy. The image of her gleeful expression was a memory he treasure till his last breath. Even in the heart of war and chaos, they had found a moment of utter happiness.
They should have known it would never last.
Knives in the dark were Fuschia’s way, quite literally. An assassin from the Kikenna clan attempted to end their budding alliance, aimed not at not Taimu, but at the Shinto heiress he was speaking with late into the night. Impaled on Shinobu's horns, the saboteur managed to wound the heiress, forcing Taimu to flee from the Fuschian assassins, though the heiress survived, and with the truth revealed, the Kikenna clan was captured. Their executions were inhumane, being used as test subjects for poisons. Shinobu approved, though Taimu was not of the same opinion. Rushing to the fleet stationed at the nearby shore, Shinobu’s eyes burned with shame, at the desperate retreat.
--
Six days had Shinobu convinced that all who called Cinnabar home were a few bulls short of a herd.
The ground trembled constantly, as noxious fumes and plumes of fire spewed out from the raging mountain. In the week they had been there, not one day had gone by without at least one report of a new fissure opening on the mountain. Chinatsu loved the mount, but poor Mamoru had begun to experiment with binding the land to his will, if for no other reason than to let them sleep through the quaking nights.
When the Ryujin finally caught up to them, Shinobu was overjoyed at the desperate escape from the island hellscape. Perhaps now they could head somewhere cooler, though the muffled giggles of dear Sister Chinatsu did not give him great hope for that.
--
If there was a Concept responsible for irony, Shinobu was going to personally eviscerate them.
The Islands of Foam were poorly named. Not once had Shinobu seen any evidence of the frothy waters they supposedly took their name from.
That might have something to do with the spontaneous glacier that had recently formed around the island, however.
Huddled against his Fire-branded sister, Shinobu took the time to observe Taimu's newest ally.
Haukea.
Even her name sent a chill down the Tauros’ spine, bringing with it echoes of Winter's joy. When they had approached the supposedly uninhabited islands, she had frozen the seas with nought but words. Words not spoken, but carried on Winter's wings. Within seconds the Ryujin’s pursuit was halted, the wrath of Winter's Daughter not worth his serpent's life.
Shinobu heard whispers, wondering how Taimu had earned the fealty of Winter. How had his mere words won over the frozen heart of the Frozen Queen.
Fools.
Shinobu knew exactly how his brother had won over the loyalty of the Winter Woman. How he had earned a pledge of fealty that would see her willing to die for his dream, laughable though the concept of her dying was. Understanding was shared between the woman and bull.
That didn't stop Shinobu from avoiding her like a plague.
--
With the assistance of Haukea, the forces of Cerulean crumbled against the armies of Indigo. No longer were rivers to be feared when hulls shattered upon glacial pillars and the denizens of the depth were imprisoned beneath a frozen lid.
The march to Cerulean took a mere month, hastened along by thoughts of vengeance. The Champion of Cerulean hurled his failing armies against Taimu's hosts, only for them to break against them like waves against Mamoru’s hide.
Yet, still they came.
As the walls of the city grew ever closer, the tactics its people used grew exponentially more drastic. Suicide strike with Voltorbs became a daily occurrence, and nighttime raids hourly.
Yet at the gates of Cerulean came a tactic that shocked all of Kanto. None could have predicted this turn of events.
With purpose in every step, the Ryujin marched out from behind the gates. At his back, Suijin the mighty Gyarados slithered after him, morning light glinting off his crimson hide. The Bloodwyrm was aptly named, with even his eyes gleaming scarlet.
Taimu stepped forward, drawing his sword as mighty Mamoru joined him. Silence descended upon the chosen battlefield, Indigo and Cerulean waiting with baited breath to see who would be left to command the warring region.
Would it be Indigo that emerged victorious? Or would the beasts of Cerulean claim all under their banner?
As Cerulean’s Champion's son drew his sword, it seemed as if even the very wind had stopped to see what promised to be the greatest duel in living memory. As the two warriors met, not even Haukea found herself able to look away.
The first swing of Taimu's sword also bore the title of the final swing. For as tempered steel slid through the air, the Ryujin’s knee planted itself upon the muddied earth, allowing what would have been a fatal blow to pass harmlessly over the man's head.
Then the Ryujin released his sword, sending his father into an apocalyptic rage.
The great Ryujin, Breaker of Indigo, future Champion of Cerulean, had surrendered.
With an urgency that caught Shinobu by surprise, their former foe ordered his men to claim the city, announcing to all how his father had ordered that the waters of Cerulean be poisoned. It seemed that even in defeat, the Champion had been determined to deny them victory.
--
To the surprise of no one, Lavender was the last to submit to Taimu's rule.
They folded eventually, they had no choice. Not even the most arrogant of nobles truly believed they could hold out against the full might of the newly established Indigo League. Bitch and moan all they liked, and the certainly seemed to like to do so quite a bit, there was no future where Lavender remained independent.
That didn't stop the Hashimoto from attempting to use the only leverage they had. Akemi, sister of Taimu, was brought before the Champion of Champions, with a knife held to her throat. Even as Akemi begged her brother to not bow down to the madman's demands, Shinobu could see his brother's resolve falter.
Sasaki Chousaki had no such reservations, as he drove his own dagger into the skull of the man who threatened his wife's life.
Urging his beloved to go see her brother, he sealed the date of Lavender. The only leverage they had had been lost.
Yet even as his liege Lord cursed him, Shinobu could tell by the soft smile on the Lavender nobles face that he regretted nothing. Akemi had been nothing more than a hostage to Lavender, but it seemed she had found true love in its clutches.
--
Three years they spent preparing for this. Three years to consolidate the full might of Kanto, as they prepared to match on Mount Silver, and face the Wataru. Weapons and armor had been forged, skills honed, and alliances made.
Today it would all end.
The challenge had been sent, and terms agreed upon, as the endless wars consuming the lands finally drew to a conclusion.
Three years to prepare, yet Shinobu still feared it had not been enough.
The drake of blackthorn was no fool. Shinobu was well aware of how dangerous the challenge was. Ryoto challenged Taimu to dual combat, Drake and Champion accompanied only by a single partner. Ryoto knew he wasn't Taimu’s equal, and knew he couldn't hope to best him in battle. But the Beast of Blackthorn was a separate story entirely. Though fearsome Chinatsu may be, the Wataru Dragonite would blitz through her flames before slaughtering brother Taimu. Mighty Mamoru could withstand the dragon’s fury, but in such a battle there was no guarantee of surviving. Indigo would need the great stone titan, long after Taimu has passed.
No, there was only one correct choice to be made. So with fire in his eyes and grim resolve in his heart, the proud bull forced his way past Mamoru, taking his place across from Ryoto's own partner. The two leaders spoke, but Shinobu heard not but his own blood raging in his ears as he prepared to face his greatest foe.
Seeing the beast flare his wings, Shinobu felt his own body ready itself. Blazing blood flooded his body as subconscious limits were forgotten. With a furious shout the battle commenced. And history was written in stone drenched in scarlet.
The beast of blackthorn lunged forward with the fabled speed of the dragonite line, but as stone shattered under cloven hooves, Shinobu matched his foe. Horn pierced scale, Ryoto's partner having not expected to be matched by a mere Tauros. Enraged by the crimson leaking down his cream colored chest, the dragonite hurled the great bull back, before a teal glow emerged from the beast’s dark maw. Dragonfire met burning stone as shinobu displayed his mastery over his siblings' disciplines. Spires of hardened earth erupted from the ground, forcing Ryoto's companion to evade rather than fight.
Finally the terror of Blackthorn had enough. Fleeing to the heavens, the beast rained dragonfire from the supposed safety of the open skies. Emerald comets of draconic fury peppered the earth, forcing shinobu to waste precious energy on dodging.
With victory all but assured, the drake’s beast grew bold, hovering in place to better aim his wrath. And in that arrogance, Shinobu found salvation. From between his horns a golden orb flared to life. Hidden by the smoke and dust shrouding the battlefield, the dragonite was unprepared for the lance of energy that speared his left wing right through the joint, sending ryoto’s brother spiraling to the ground as the gift of flight was so cruelly revoked.
Rushing to meet his grounded foe, Shinobu soon realized even crippled, the drake’s beast was no easy foe. His left horn shattered as the dragon batted his head aside, ribs crack beneath heavy blows and skin was seared by dragonfire. Still he fought on, splintering the dragonite’s knee beneath his rear hoof and carving his gut open with his remaining horn. Finally they both retreated, unable to maintain such an exchange. Blood pooled beneath the great warriors, as they readied themselves for the final bout.
Limping into a final charge, Shinobu lowered his head, prepared to end this. With a roar and a bellow, the two foes clashed once more. Blunted claws sank into flesh, ribs shattered beneath the fury of Blackthorn. A sickening squelch as bone pierced flesh. A final thud as a massive body collapsed limp on the ground.
And with a final shake of his head, Shinobu dislodged the Beast of Blackthorn from his lone horn, stumbling away from his fallen foe. With a final bellow, he announced his victory, and with it, declared Brother Taimu Champion of all of Indigo. With one final loving look at his chosen brother, the fearsome Tauros, greatest of his kind, slayer of the Beast of Blackthorn, fell to the unforgiving ground, never to rise again.
With bloodstained hands, a Champion carved a final memorial to his fallen brother.
Interred here are the remains of Shinobu, Greatest of his kind and Terror to the Unjust. He died in my service in the Battle of Mt. Silver. Mighty Shinobu died to the Drake of Blackthorn's partner, but with his sacrifice slew the Beast of Blackthorn and brought victory to the Brothers and Sisters of Kanto.
May his name live forever in the stars.