The Princess's Expedition

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The only sound that echoed through the mountain was the sound of the wind, in the mountains, one could spot a blue shine. If one were to zoom in on the blue shine, they would spot a small reptilian creature with tiny arms and a large jaw. Across the big jawed pokemon's neck, lay a blue amulet, that signified her royal descent. The blue sapphire shined brightly as the tyrunt stared at her finally finished shelter.

It was rather rude, due to the tyrunt's inability to stack boulders easily, and consisted of using an already overhanging dent of a rock, and taking several days to move two boulders to the side of it so she could be enclosed in her area beneath the overhand. It was not quite the best for a princess such as her, but it would have to due. She had no servants after all, or subjects, knights, anything!

The tyrunt sighed and placed her belongings in the back of the tyrunt formed cave, which just barely fit even her, except the amulet. She always wore the amulet with her to places. It was all she had left of her home, all that she had really brought with her that was not consumable or for supplies. Victoria looked up to the top of the mountain she set up a shelter at the base of, its obsidian peak was jammed into the cloudy sky, as if stabbing into a piece of fluff. The sky could not be seen by the amount of clouds, and she could not care less about this area's gloomy look. She had claimed this area, and now it was time to begin her empire!

She began to grin at the thought, but the grin slowly faded as a question came to her mind.

How was she going to do that?
((Energy: 19, Victoria Lives here.))

Enzu began to worry as the Charmander began to charge up what seemed to be a Dragon type attack. He was worried that if this attack launched he would not be able to dodge. As the purple orb became larger, Enzu was preparing to dodge, he was going to need to be swift if he was going to dodge the attack. However, just as Enzu was ready to jump, the Charmander turned his head and fired the attack off to the side. Once the attack had been fired off, Enzu calmed down and relaxed his body, hopefully there was no more need for him to have a battle. Enzu then walked a little closer towards the cave, he then paused once he reached the end of the large rocks, and the start of the mud, Enzu would need to plot his path carefully to avoid any sink holes.

((Welp two pages regaining energy and a level up makes Victoria have 20 energy now xD))

Victoria made her way back to the entrance, flinching a bit in surprise once more as the pulse of energy blasted some rocks in the distance. She and the charmander were nice and try, Victoria a little less due to her quick trip in the rain, and the Pawniard was still out in the cold and pounding rain that showed no signs of letting up anytime soon.

The tyrunt looked over the pawniard, eyeing him from head to toe as if evaluating whether or not he was one of the liars that infested the earth, or if he was indeed not looking for a fight. Victoria finally spoke, "Who are you, and what are you looking for?"

It was only natural that the tyrunt was a bit more hostile to this guest than Ares, for one she knew nothing of his kind, two he had appeared so near a tyrunt attack, and three he smelled funny. The tyrunt had been able to get only a slight scent of him and he smelled like the metal that surrounded her amulet and held it in place. What kind of pokemon smells like that!?

The explosion sound that emanated from the collision between the sphere of energy and the unfortunate rock pile that received the blunt of the blast from his Dragon Pulse attack seemed to echo loudly for Ares. It was one of those times in which he questioned what the consequences would have been if he had followed through with his aggressive act, if he had ignored Victoria's claim of the Pawniard's innocence and blasted the chess-piece like creature to kingdom come. With the excess energy removed from his body through a simple exhale and the crepitus sensation of calm overcoming him, it appeared as if the Charmander would be more social than belligerent. This would be an accurate assessment, considering how his thoughts had trailed to other methods of interrogation that were less severe than brutally beating the answers out of someone. Such techniques were new to him, and thus he felt quite alienated and strained in attempting out these tactics.

He would use his words.

As he opened his jaws to allow his voice to address this stranger - who was reasonably wary of both the present inhabitants and of sinkholes - Victoria's voice would chime forth with imperative inquiry. Ares's arms would fold nonchalantly across the front of his chest as the two main points he wanted to know were asked: who was this guy and what did he want. Perhaps it was a bit hypocritical for him to be so aggressive to someone who looked like they merely wanted shelter from the rain when he had also asked for it, but what did he care? This guy wasn't him!

Enzu picked out a path that seemed stable enough to hold him up as he would make his way across. Enzu then began to walk forward cautiously so that he didn't misstep, while he walked Enzu kept his eyes down towards the ground, that way he could keep a better eye out for the ground changing to mud, or in case he found a better path to follow. As Enzu walked across the metaphorical minefield, he did his best to keep a conversation going with the two pokemon in the cave, "My name is Enzu," he said, "I am a simple traveler looking for some shelter from the rain." And it was because of this rain that Enzu was having a difficult time with crossing over to the cave, as more and more mud was forming as the rain storm continued.

The cogs in the tyrunt's head began to turn as she thought about the decision of whether or not to trust the pawniard. To be honest he looked rather pitiful in the rain, picking his way through it as if traps were laid all about it. The pity was what saved the pawniard as the tyrunt spoke, "Try anything funny and you'll be back out in that mud before you can say 'Oops!'"

Although the tyrunt's threat was a bit useless considering both of the pokemon were considerably stronger than her, and she had her own tail handed to her by a single tyrunt that she could not handle herself. She set aside this fact in the back of her mind, not wanting to worry about it. She was giving the pawniard trust, and allowing him in her home, despite how pitiful her own home looked.

The tyrunt turned and moved deeper into her stone-made den, "I'm Victoria," she spoke to the Pawniard, "Princess of a land far off..." the tyrunt looked to Ares, unsure if it was considered rude to introduce a guest to another guest for them or to allow the guest to state their own name. In her old kingdom, someone would have been there to introduce everyone to each other. Clearly that was not the case here, as there was nobody to name the group to each other.

Before Ares knew what was happening, the Pawniard began to introduce himself and confirm that the reason he had approached was to seek shelter from this horrible rainstorm. There was nothing more that the Charmander liked than being correct in his predictions, and thus a great deal of influence came over him by way of his hubris. A sharp, curt exhale was produced from his nostrils as he awaited for Victoria to deliver her judgement. It was silent and more like a self-priding motion as he predicted the obvious, but its action was plainly visible for anyone who had directed their attention momentarily towards him. His head would make a minute jerking motion as his slitted nostrils widened slightly to allow the puff of air to escape swiftly. For a moment, it would appear like his arms - already tightly embracing each other like two lovers - would squeeze tighter still as if he were attempting to see which one would break first. They would promptly relax once the snort motion had been completed, but the sensation that lingered in his arms would remind him of that tenth-of-a-second action.

When Victoria stated that it was acceptable for this "Enzu" character to enter the rock heap, Ares would allow his body to shift slightly out of the way so that the Pawniard could make his way into the shelter. All the while, however, he gave silent approval for the threat that had been distributed to the Steel-type. Though no comment would be made about that matter, it could easily be inferred by the way that he held himself. A slightly aggressive stance was maintained, and his eyes were narrowed in hostile acceptance. Neighbors had to look out for each other, after all.

While his hostess introduced herself to the Pawniard, Ares's eyes never left his face. Perhaps it was uncalled for at this point - after all, hadn't he just proven himself an ally when that other Tyrunt came and challenged the duo for this place? - but as far as he could tell, this other male was teetering dangerously on a fence that separated the categories "friend" and "foe". After Victoria finished her introduction and looked to him to enlighten Enzu as to who he was, the Charmander would slightly relax into the possibility of a social interaction. His arms would unfurl and return to his sides, although the look of wariness and distrust would linger.

"I'm Ares," he would say, mimicking the tone that the Tyrunt had used.

Enzu finally made it across the mud covered ground and was now at the entrance of the cave, he then bowed his head and said, "It is nice to meet the two of you, I'm sorry we had to to meet under such circumstances." Enzu was obviously referring to the attack from the Tyrunt that he just recently fled. He had heard Victoria call herself a princess, he wondered what kingdom she was from, he had seem plenty of different kingdoms and head about many more, so Enzu thought he might know about it.

((Enzu's Energy: 7 +2 from the two completed pages))

Victoria watched the pawniard bow, a bit impressed since this was the first pokemon to actually bow to her since leaving the kingdom. The stocky rock type had moved to the back of the shelter, closer to her items which where hidden in the shadows that danced away from Ares's flame.

"I did not know there was another tyrunt in this area...I chose this place as a home because of the mist and strong pokemon, speaking of which that tyrunt was just insanity, although my father would have been able to send him flying half way across the world if he was angry enough at him," she spoke.

Obviously the statement was an exaggeration, as it was almost impossible to send someone flying that far through means of their own muscle, but it was a good way to gauge the strength of her father. She admired her father's strength, but her father would have driven these two guests away as soon as he looked at them.

She figured that it would not be a good idea to pick a fight with these two, especially after the tyrunt had tossed her about so easily.

Ares almost did a double-take as he observed the Pawniard allow his spike-adorned skull to dip and fall considerably. There was no denying that it was a bow - something done to show the utmost respect for another conversational partner - but the situation that it had been done in was quite unfamiliar to Ares. He was used to equal forces smashing their heads together as they curled their shortened arms about each other's slender necks, he was well equipped to handle two strangers snarling and roaring at one another as a cordial way of saying hello, and he was all too familiar with the harshness and malice that ebbed forth from an elder's actions as they cared for a beloved child; yet, this simplistic motion of allowing one's cranium to droop was something that was foreign to him. He understood its intent, but the message came across to him as effectively as an accent-heavy immigrant attempting to communicate efficiently with a natural born citizen.

His eyes had noticeably rounded slightly, and his mouth cracked open slightly as silence rush forth from his vocal cords. It was a silence that heard itself, awful and beautiful: the nothingness that he spoke was comfortable amongst itself alone. He would hazard a quick glance to his newly acquainted neighbor before returning it in freshly restored earnest to Enzu. What could he say after such an unfamiliar gesture?

Apparently he would not have to say much of anything, for Victoria would promptly fill the void with her iteration of the story. The Charmander could believe her tale quite easily: he had been here awhile and had had no clue that a Tyrunt like her had ever resided near here. It was amusing to realize how untamed and unexplored this mountain range was, and even those who called themselves residents could remain ignorant and aloof to its greatest treasures. Her description of her father was admirable, and instantly instilled in Ares a desire to meet the fellow. Sure, it might be belligerent, but someone who was that feared deserved to have an understudy that wished to conquer and pillage. In a land far from his home, this type of character was someone he was all too familiar with; it was a refreshing blast of nostalgia.

"Your father sounds like my kind of guy," the Charmander would declare despite knowing as much about the fellow as he did about the fauna beneath the ocean, "an 'ask questions later' fighter is someone to be admired."

Enzu walked further into cave, he assumed that he was invited in because he was never really asked to leave. He also thought about what Victoria said about her father, and how he could easily throw the Tyrunt across the world. Enzu had guessed this was an exaggeration, he had never heard of somebody with that kind of strength. However, assuming that Victoria really was a princess, that would assume her father was the king from where ever she was from, and Enzu was beginning to think he might of at least heard of this place. "Well I may have to disagree with you Ares," Enzu said to the Charmanders comment, "Sometimes the only thing that you should feel towards pokemon like that are fear."

"Yes...that's why he became so strong..." the tyrunt seemed a bit bemused, as if it were obvious and the pawniard treated that like a bad thing, "My mother always sought compromise, but my father would rather use the feeling of being weaker to intimidate others into obeying him, from what i've seen so far, my father's way is more effective if subjects don't react to my mother's method..."

The tyrunt spoke as if the pokemon knew exactly what she had been talking about through using the word "Method", she thought it was quite obvious that she meant in getting pokemon to obey or respect her. She still sought out a guaranteed way for every pokemon to give her the respect she desired and felt she deserved. She was not yet strong enough to use her father's method to its fullest, but one day she will, and until then she would try out her mother's method.

This little tyrunt was slightly influenced by the charmander's speech, he seemed to like the strong, attack now or else face the consequences. She liked the charmander not only for his ability to fly later on in life, but for his strength and seemingly somewhat friendliness. 'He said he was a sell-whatever right?' she wondered, she was not too familiar with the term, but she remembered her father hiring many of them to do various things she was never told about.

Ares was not used to others blatantly disagreeing with him. His general association with likeminded individuals led to a great deal of prosperity should debates arise, and, as such, it was uncommon for him to find a need to defend his thoughts or actions. Enzu stood as testament as to the differences he would inevitably encounter. Though it was merely a gainsay about the methods of a tyrannical, fearsome ruler, such contradictions could either make or break a relationship. As such, when the the Pawniard's words resonated within his ear drums and were finally assessed and registered with his brain, he couldn't help but allow a puff of cinders to burst forth from his nostrils. A simple flick of his tail would display its passionate state, and his upper eyelids would slide down slightly across his eye to give it a narrowed expression.

What was it he was attempting to convey? Irritation? Disapproval? One could not be sure until he had spoken his piece. As his arms returned to roost against his broad chest and gnarled with one another like limbs of two opposing trees, a slight shift in his hips would allow him to slant towards one side more than the other. Though his voice had not yet left his mouth, it was becoming apparent that he might begin to act sassy. "It would depend on what side you are on," Ares would finally say, his tongue forming his words articulately and swiftly, "if you are upon such a king's good side, then he is to be admired. Naturally, a smart creature would choose to remain in said monarch's good side should they wish to avoid their ferocious might. I feel no need to fear such unhindered power simply because my chosen profession will always be of use to those rulers."

It was quite obvious whose method of dealing with foreign and domestic issues that the Charmander preferred more. While diplomacy certainly had its uses, nothing made an outside force simmer down and show the required respect better than belligerence and pugnacious conquest. Compromise was limited in its utility, just as peace and treaties did; however, the big guns were located in how quickly a superior power could make an inferior nation tremble and quake in fear. As the rain continued its cascade on the mountain side, and several leaks were sprung due to the single digit number of cracks in the roof, Ares could not help but muse the very idea of pacifist means of conquering a nation - it simply seemed too impossible. Perhaps it was due to his reptilian brain or the fact that his culture and homeland had effaced such possibilities from existence, but nonetheless such a known fact existed.

"What type of ruler would you prefer?" he would inquire, his heavy gaze manifesting itself upon the Pawniard's face, "You seem to be inclined towards a government for the people instead of a solitary branch."

"Well what good is a ruler if they have no people?" Enzu asked, "I believe that a ruler should always do what is best for the people. Now whether or not they truly know was is best can vary. Which is why decisions must always be made, and why it is not a good thing to be stuck in one main way of thought."

Enzu had never really been one to discuss things such as ways of ruling. He had never taken the time to discuss them when he first lived in Grassveil. However during his travels Enzu met a wide variety of pokemon who all thought differently. And through these encounters he was able to develop his own stance on such matters and became accustomed to discussing them. Enzu then continued his thoughts out loud.

"I do admit that I believe a peaceful encounter is preferable to battle. For in battle there is usually a losing side. But through peace and discussion compromise can be made. I do admit however that not everything can be compromised and usually a show of force is the only valid option."

Victoria had remained silent as she listened to the two speak.

The pawniard seemed like he would have liked her mother's caring and pacifistic approach on things. He seemed to admit that there would be times when this "diplomacy" they spoke of, would be necessary, but mostly it was a more questions now fight later tactic. Although, the pawniard had not exactly proven his beliefs. When he had came to the den, he instead attacked the tyrunt instead of stopping it to see what was wrong, he father's way.

The reptile, on the other hand, enjoyed her father's route, and even proved it with his own strength. He had, for the most part, driven off that monster of a tyrunt through his own power and skill in battle. They probably would not have needed the pawniard's help with this warrior in the team, and would have eventually driven it off or beaten it into submission. The damages of the battle may have been more drastic because of it, but they would have done it either way.

The tyrunt decided to remain silent as she continued to listen to the two speak their own clashing opinions about the subject matter. She was too into the conversation to notice the drips of water landing on her back and nose despite how harshly they struck her skin.

Ares would simply shake his head, allowing an exhale to manifest into a sighing action as he attempted to determine a correct approach to this. He disliked having his views challenged and, more importantly, hated the fact that there were valid points. If a king were to drive off his subjects, then he would be a ruler of a hollow nation that would inevitably cave in upon itself. There would be no point in the continuation of his rule, and thus he would begin to invent a people of his liking, whether they be fictitious or real. He would stomp about, lost in a world of his own creation, and perpetuate his authority over denizens that did not truly exist outside the realm of his own imagination. Plants would become enemies, rocks would be treated like spies: his mind would contort to fulfill a desire and design that the king had been bred and nurtured for. Slowly, he would wither and with him his kingdom. The legacy of madness would fall to its knees and die, rotting away into nothingness as witnesses and bystanders looked on towards happier times. There would be nothing left of the vacant kingdom but whispers upon the timeless winds.

"I'm curious," he would begin, stating his piece with a moderate amount of disbelief, "as to how you reached such a point about not having an ample supply of denizens to rule over. Plenty of tyrannical rulers certainly do maintain some sort of ability to maintain a population - it's the first requirement present if one is to be considered a leader of a nation. One must also consider that a ruler with such a disposition may believe his actions are for the betterment of his people through some extension or another." After Enzu recited his next point, the Charmander could not help but give an affirmative nod, "Sure, because nothing makes an adversary surrender faster than a good ol' can of whoopass. They might rise to the occasion and dominate the battlefield, but goodness knows that you picked the only viable option. Belligerence is a language everyone can understand." Ares would flick his hand, as if he were dismissing all previous arguments. He had better things to do than argue and debate the theories and philosophies of being an excellent leader, such as find something more entertaining. With the rain already at its pinnacle in intensity, there would be little do outside; he was not going to get wet just so that he could escape such conditions! Allowing his gaze to flicker towards his hostess, he would notice a series of water droplets pepper her skin with great force.

This simply would not do, and thus he decided to make it his new goal to find a way to stop the leak. That would be satisfactory.

As another drop plummeted from the ceiling, the drake's eyes would wander slowly up to an apparent crack that circled about the top layer of rocks. He would watch another dense droplet slide across the stone's surface, cling desperately to its surface as it began to sense its imminent fall, and then proceed to splinter as it made contact with the Tyrunt's rock-scaled flesh. A single finger would point towards the ceiling, and his voice would identify the problem and a potential solution, "Victoria, you have a leak in your ceiling. Do you have anything to patch it up with?" He would glance about, his eyes searching for any sort of object that could be shoved into the crack. His sphere shaped sensory organs would eventually settle upon a shadow in a far corner, of which he would approach in an attempt to find something to clog it.

ares carried out 1 launched of one Black Spear Mountain :