Preparing for War - The Rally Prayer

    It was late afternoon as the city’s most prominent residents were gathered inside the mayor’s office. Windows were barred and doors were locked to prevent eavesdroppers from hearing what was going on. Wick, Mayor of Keyma, sat in his chair behind the mahogany desk that adorned the room. Katie, leader of the Exploration Guild and skilled carpenter sat on the sofa next to Anna. The merchant stared at the letter that she held that bore the seal of Agnesi on it.

    “So it’s true,” she said with a bit of hesitation despite her emotionless expression. “We are going to war.”

    “Indeed,” Wick said as he rested his head on his folded hands. “Lady Minerva has requested our help to retake Mantyke Bay from the pirates from Cross Island.”

    Katie leaned on the merchant’s shoulder to reread a part of it. “I thought we settled at this place to remove ourselves from wars,” she stated.

    The Captain of Keyma’s Navy, Howard, puffed out his chest as he said, “That may be true, but we must face the facts that Cross Island sits right in the middle of our path to that bay. Resources that are meant for us have been raided constantly and most of the reports comes from that area.”

    “What Howard says is true,” the mayor said standing up. “We don’t have much time to ready ourselves before we need to sail out. Anna, once this meeting is done, can you gather everyone who had signed the agreement. I want to set up a plan to have resources needed to supply the war effort set up at once.”

    “It shall be done, my lord,” she answered with a nod.

    -----

    [What’s going on?] Bella asked her friend as most of the leader’s Pokémon gathered around at the locked doors.

    With his ear pressed up close to the door, Casper replied, [It seems the little spark bug was right, we’re going to war.] There was a collective pause as the information sunk in.

    [This is really going to happen,] King muttered as he lowered the sableye down to the floor.

    [I told you!] Hermies, the rotom that delivered the news to the Pokémon, replied. [And don’t call be a spark bug!] Most of the other Pokémon though started to get worried. Grace, the young shaymin that lived with the mayor of the city was falling into a panic state at the thought of war while Bella and Kiki were more worried about the dances that they wanted to learn.

    King on the other hand, threw one fist into his other, saying, [Finally a chance for me to show my strength.]

    [In what? Getting your butt kicked?] Casper pointed out, [Some of the kingdoms we might be fight are vastly superior to us. And you’re not even fully evolved.]

    [Just give me the right time to shine and I’m sure I’ll evolve,] the deviant pancham replied puffing out his chest.

    [We don’t have that time,] Zeta said jumping into the conversation, [During the war, we have to be worried about how much damage we are taking, if you go out like you are, I doubt you’ll evolve in combat.]

    [What do you suggest then?] King asked, [I would really like to evolve before then so you know.]

    [Simple, we’ll train till you evolve and then some,] the Zoroark chimera replied motioning the pancham to follow.

    [W-wait up you two,] Grace said overhearing the conversation. [M-mind if I join you for the training.]

    [You didn’t very good at the prospect of war,] Bella asked putting a leafy hand on the Pokémon’s back, [Are you okay?]

    [Y-yes,] she replied trying to build up the courage, [I-I am a member of this city, just like everyone else. I-if I can’t fight then I should just stay here and hide.]

    [Isn’t that what she does normally?] Hermies whispered Casper which caused the sableye to chuckle.

    [That’s very brave of you,] Kiki stated as she waddled up to the grassy hedgehog. [I’m coming to train with you as well. I want to evolve as well.]

    Mordi, who was silent against her will, finally woke from her quick nap just in time to catch the petilil/dwebble chimera’s comment. [Not so fast, Kiki,] she said standing up only to knock her head into the under said of Araris. Both flinched at the sudden pain before the narcoleptic eevee finished her train of thought. [You’ve got a different way to evolve.]

    [The same method to evolve as you do. Right Mordi?] Casper responded as a plan started to form in his mind. What appeared to be her nodded once was quickly realized as her falling to sleep once again. The mute unown though that floated by her replied instead with its own series of rapid head movements.

    [What do you have planned?] Zeta asked, recognizing that face that the sableye was making.

    [A rally,] he replied not breaking his focus.

    [A-a rally? W-what’s that?] Grace stammered.

    [A way to boost morale of people and Pokémon,] Hermies replied zipping around her.

    Casper nodded to this, [That is correct my little mote of electricity. Hermies, head out into town and round up the other Pokémon. I don’t care if they busy, tell them to arrive at the shrine to Reshiram as soon as possible.] With salute from one its appendages, the rotom was off to round up the others.

    [Ah I should go get the girls,] Bella stated before running off, Kiki following at a slower pace.

    [Be sure to find Zeta’s kids as well!] the sableye shouted after them.

    The chimera in question raised an eyebrow and asked, [What do you have planned for me then?]

    [You and me, and King if he wants to join, need to hit the supplies cabinet. We need that prayer tag as well as all the candles we can carry.] Casper paused looking at his big friend. [Now that I think of it, do join us. We’ll need the extra strength to carry everything]

    [Alright then,] the pancham replied flexing his muscles as he led the ghost dark Pokémon down the hallway.

    Choosing to stay behind, Zeta looked at the floating letter and asked, [Could you make sure that the mother of my children makes it over to the shrine in time?] When the unown nodded, the chimera took off down the hall after the others.

    -----

    The shrine to Reshiram was packed with the Pokémon that lived in the city. The small channels that surrounded the shrine had the Harmony and Bass resting in it as serval Pokémon stood waiting on their backsides. The magikarp Dunkar was swimming about and talking with Shelldon as they both awaited the rally to begin.

    The forge worker Pepper had already found a spot near the shrine and was busy chatting up a storm with Zuli and Haze while the two sisters from Agnesi, Squire and Duchess contemplated the fate of the home they came from and family they left behind.

    The buneary triplets stood by their mother and younger brothers as they kept lookout for their father to arrive. As least Easter and Puddin were on lookout. Carrot Top though was telling Whisper and Renki a tale of a grand adventure that he never really went on.

    Bella, who had fallen into a panic that she didn’t have a proper dance to the ceremony, was being calmed down by her daughters Quartz and Donna with the former also trying to find where her father and organizer of the event had disappeared to.

    Kiki and Grace had decided to wait for the ceremony on top of Harmony’s back for both a better view of the event and a joint distaste of the presence of fire from the cyndaquil.

    Haruhi was busy commanding Araris to get her a drink while the trapinch Agon just sat alongside the shore and watched.

    [There they are!] Puddin shouted, pulling all eyes over to the three Pokémon approaching the shrine. Each of them was laden down with candles with King carrying the most. The box that Casper was carry had a prayer tag hanging out of it.

    All the Pokémon parted ways to allow them through. As they reached the entrance, Hermies approached the ghost/dark and saluted once more. [All resident Pokémon of Keyma are present and accounted for. Ready to begin the ceremony.]

    [Thank you, Sparky,] Casper replied, casing the rotom’s serious expression to sour. [King, Zeta can you pass these candles out to everyone? Also, can you guys ask Pepper if she could light them for us?] They both nodded and carried out their task as Casper went up the steps so he could see over the gathered Pokémon.

    [Greetings to all of you,] He started his sermon, [I want to thank you all for coming on such a short notice. But there is some very dire news that has reached us today. Some of you may already know it but Agnesi has been dragged into war and has asked us to aid it. Despite us wanted to be neutral in times of war, this affair does affect us directly and our trainer believe this is the best course of action. So I’ve called you all here today, to help me pray.]

    Taking a candle from King that was already lit, the sableye turned toward the shrine and kneeled. [Oh Reshiram, please hear our voices today. We ask of you grant us the strength to endure this war. Every candle lit here is a voice that wants to see those who will fight in the coming battles return safely home. We pray to you Reshiram. Please hear our voice.]

    -----

    Watching the ceremony from his office window, Wick couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in the Pokémon he lived and worked with. Turning to only person left in his office after the meeting. He said, “Gather the training gear. We have a lot of work to do.”