Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


Struggles of Power
Chapter 1: Rivalry
Streams of light pierced through the darkness in small arcs, slowly growing in size as colors began to blend together within. The swirling colors began to take shape, and the remaining darkness gave way to the light as Aelrios drifted back to reality, awakening from his peaceful slumber. Finally, a picture was made whole as he blinked his eyes open, revealing a dark gray wall with a tall, arched window, offering an endless blue sky and a bright sun, shining down from the heavens.

Wincing at the sun's direct rays, he turned to his other side, seeing a mostly-empty area of his room. The only things that stood apart from the endless gray of his stone walls were a lavish dresser and a small table covered in scrolls and parchments, along with a rather plain looking longsword resting in its scabbard.

Fighting off the urge to fall back asleep, he gradually scooted to the edge of his bed and stretched. Once the tension was worked out of his muscles, he flung the sheets off and swung his legs over the side, scratching at his eyes as he rose up and slowly shuffled towards the dresser.

Aelrios lazily opened the dresser door and scanned the contents within. The wardrobe was lined with simple tunics, trousers, and undergarments; nothing really presented itself as eye-catching. Without so much as a second thought he reached in and grabbed one of the many sets of clothes at random, completely dressing himself before slipping on a pair of plain brown boots and donning his leather belt, attaching his sword once the belt was tightly fastened. Lastly, he snatched a sheathed dagger from atop his dresser, securing it to his belt on the side opposite the sword. Finally ready to meet the day, he walked over towards the glassless window and took in a deep breath, smiling at the sight that greeted him as a small gust tossed around his brown, shoulder-length hair.

The Kingdom of Zelthysta is looking beautiful, as always. There is no better sight to awaken to.
Far below him stretched an expansive town, bustling with people performing their morning activities. A large cluster of buildings with tight walkways surrounded his vantage point, giving way to larger streets and slightly more scattered architecture as he directed his gaze further away. Closer to the outskirts of the town, houses, taverns and inns dominated the landscape, all surrounded by a fairly large wall, which encircled the majority of the city and had several gates spread upon it. Once past the formidable barrier, the vast expanse of land was dotted with several farms and small homes, with plenty of green open space accompanying them. The farms were too large to fit within the city walls, and quite a few people decided to build their homes outside -- but still near -- the stone wall, favoring open fields over close-knit buildings. Surrounding the entire community was a large plain, with a few hills near the west side of the kingdom. Far in the distance, a few hazy mountains could be seen hugging the horizon.

Aelrios took all of this in, still smiling at the view afforded by his high castle room. Beautiful really was the only word he could use to describe it. In the midst of his silent appreciation of the scenery, a small group of butterfree flew by, catching his attention with their magnificent wing patterns. As they became no more than small dots in the blue sky, he turned his back to the window -- knowing that he had more important things to do than gawk at a view he could witness every morning -- and made his way to the door, descending the narrow, spiraling staircase into the castle interior.

He meandered through the halls of the keep, seeing more and more people as he made his way towards the throne room. He was greeted by knights and nobles alike along the way, and he politely returned the gesture with each of them.

It wasn’t long before he found himself passing through the training area, hearing the clink and clang of metal striking metal. His curiosity getting the better of him, he turned into one of the rooms, finding his friend Zavach -- sword in hand and clad in full plate armor, minus the helm -- going toe-to-toe with a scyther. He was fighting without a shield, trying to defeat the dual-bladed pokemon with nothing but a single sword. Other knights were scattered throughout the room, watching the fight with interest. Some took to gambling over the duel, while others silently lounged on nearby chairs.

The scyther suddenly dashed to the left, then lunged forward at his opponent with lightning-fast speed, his blade quickly closing in on Zavach’s shoulder. Without a moment to spare, he brought his sword up and parried the blow, sparks flying from the clash, before retaliating with a slash of his own. The scyther saw it coming in plenty of time, however, and quickly ducked below the blade, back-stepping for a moment before closing in once more. As minutes passed, they continued to exchange blows in a deadly whirlwind of blades, though the scyther always seemed to be one step ahead, keeping his adversary on the defensive.

After what seemed to be a misguided swipe from the scyther, Zavach quickly knocked the blade-arm aside and kicked out at its abdomen, confident that he would have the upper hand upon bringing the pokemon to the floor. However, the scyther gave a knowing smirk, and sidestepped just as Zavach brought his foot out, causing the knight to stumble forward clumsily. His arms windmilled through the air as he desperately fought to regain his footing, and by the time he managed to attain any semblance of balance, he felt the cold metal of the scyther’s blades against the nape of his neck.

A tense moment passed, and Zavach sighed and lowered his sword, acknowledging defeat. A few of the spectating knights let out a cheer as they snatched small bags of gold coins from their neighbors’ hands, while the rest merely gave a short applause before dispersing and going about their own business.

“I’m never gonna beat you, am I?” Zavach asked as the blades were gently removed from his neck. He turned to give the scyther a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Scy!” it replied, crossing its arms with a grin.

From across the room, a new voice joined the conversation.

“Give it up, you should know by now that nobody can beat Karzoth in a sword fight.”

The two of them turned upon hearing the voice, seeing Aelrios approaching with a wide smile. He grasped Zavach’s arm in greeting, and gave the scyther a friendly nod.

“Well, I have to keep trying if I want to be the best, eh? Besides, he doesn’t mind showing off his moves once in awhile.” he replied, throwing Karzoth a half-smile. “Just you wait, victory shall be mine soon enough!”

Aelrios couldn’t help but laugh at Karzoth’s unconvinced look.

“Well, keep at it my friend. I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to be going now. The king wanted to see me as soon as I awoke today.” With a slight wave to them both, Aelrios turned and continued on his way, leaving the two of them to their training.

Without any further distractions, it didn’t take Aelrios long to reach the throne room.

The chamber wasn’t enormous, though it was definitely one of the larger rooms of the castle. A long, decorative carpet split the hall, leading from the entrance to the throne. On either side there were statues, paintings, and busts, all of which portrayed past Kings and Queens of the kingdom.

The room was completely devoid of life, leaving Aelrios alone with his muffled footsteps as he made his way along the carpet. Once he reached the empty throne, a door swung open on the wall behind it, revealing a tall, broad man adorned with a jeweled crown. He wore an elaborately ornamented robe, along with a thick, blue cape hanging from his shoulders. Resting below his nose was a thick brown mustache, which joined with his long beard below.

The man -- King Verahn -- stepped forward, regarding Aelrios with a gentle smile. Likewise, Aelrios approached with a smile of his own and knelt before him, feeling much like a dwarf beside the comparatively huge man.

“Please, rise.” The king had a deep, commanding voice, which resounded through the chamber as he spoke. “It is good to see you, my son.”

He eyed his son’s apparel, noticing that once again he wore the garb of a commoner. Aelrios had always refused to dress as a noble, not wanting to appear as if he were better than the other, less fortunate people of the kingdom. The King learned long ago to accept it, as his determined son would not back down in the matter.

If only he would adopt custom as easily as I defied it with his own adoption. There are things he could learn from his brother. But... I suppose there is also that which he can teach.
“It is good to see you as well, father,” Aelrios replied, rising to his feet. “What is it that you wished to discuss with me?”

“I need you to be aware of the situation our Kingdom finds itself in...” The King furrowed his brow as he approached the subject. “It seems that we are in danger of war.”

Aelrios’s eyes went wide upon hearing this, but he held his tongue.

Clasping his hands behind his back, the King paced across the stone floor. "I doubt you have any memory of it, since you were a mere babe at the time, but I fear the oncoming bloodshed could equal that of the battle in which I found you, Aelrios. The Kingdom of Helreoux continues their aggression, conquering by force all nearby kingdoms who will not join with them. Not long ago I sent out a messenger, in order to tell them of our refusal." He let out a soft, mirthless chuckle. “I would show you the... reply they sent back, but I fear you would not retain your breakfast.”

“Helreoux...” Aelrios said, thinking back to his lessons on the neighbouring nations. “They were the first to deploy military pokemon, were they not?”

“Aye, and their current forces are as formidable as you would expect. It takes a brave man to stand before a charge heralded by fire and lightning, while the earth rumbles beneath his feet. Nevertheless, we must prepare for the worst. I will not have my kingdom trampled over and defenseless, forced into the Helreoux’s merciless campaign for power.”

Aelrios had been anticipating this moment. He always knew it was only a matter of time before a neighboring nation challenged them, and he had resolved long ago to defend the people of this kingdom when the time came. After a moment, he lifted his chin and looked back up at his father.

“I’ll join in the fight! I agree, we can’t stand idly by while the people are threatened. You know I can handle a blade, and I’m willing to do whatever I can in order to protect our kingdom.”

The King met his gaze, his expression unreadable. Then, he slowly cracked a smile, leaning forward to place a hand on Aelrios’s shoulder.

Your true parents may have been farmers, boy, but they birthed a knightly spirit.
“I knew you would say some such thing, and I doubt that I could stop you anyway. I just want you to be careful, and to not take any unnecessary risks...I do know that you are quite the swordsman, but you’ve never been involved in a full-scale battle.” The King’s gaze took on a twinge of sadness as he met his son’s determined look. However, he quickly pushed past his reservations, refusing to let his emotions interfere with the situation.

Before either of them could get another word in, a second door behind the throne burst open, and a thin figure slowly strode over to join them. He had short, dark hair, and wore garments that one would expect to see on a noble, along with a jewel-encrusted sword hanging from his side. He greeted them both, but did not bow to the King.

“Greetings father, and Aelrios. Good to see you both.” He only gave a quick glance at Aelrios, indifferent to his presence, and came to a stop before the king, addressing him directly. “You requested my presence?”

“Ah, Raethus, I was just finishing my discussion with your brother.” Raethus shifted his gaze towards Aelrios at the word ‘brother,’ but quickly returned his attention to his father as he continued. “Yes, I have important matters to discuss with you.”

The king then turned to Aelrios. “You’re free to do as you please for now. I’ll send for you should we receive any news.”

Aelrios gave a quick nod before turning to leave, allowing the king to repeat the situation to his brother.

Deciding that it would be pointless to brood over the situation, he made his way outside of the castle for some fresh air, trying to decide on what to do for the day. He always preferred being outside, rather than in the cramped interior of the castle. Once he reached the castle gates, he ran out into the sunlight, taking in a deep breath as he looked around the surrounding buildings. Unable to think of anywhere he wanted to go within the city, he headed towards the town gates in a light jog, making his way to his favorite spot in the entire kingdom -- the tallest hill on the kingdoms west plain. It offered a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape, uninhibited by surrounding architecture like the view from his room.

Upon arriving at the crest of the hill, he looked around for a short moment, gazing at the clear sky above. It wasn’t long before a small dot appeared far in the distance, slowly growing in size as it approached. Now able to see the green color of the figure, he turned to face it, a smile creeping onto his face as he stood, patiently waiting. The flygon suddenly dive-bombed down towards him at a remarkable speed, until coming to a complete stop with a mighty flap of its wings, hovering just above the ground beside him for a moment before gently landing on the soft grass. Turning to Aelrios, it gave him a warm smile and a softly warbled greeting.

It had light green skin covering the majority of its body, with a darker green covering the top of its thighs, head, and sections of its tail. Its wings were the same light green, fairly thin, and had a red trim surrounding their outline. However, it was the large red-lensed “goggles” covering its eyes that drew the most attention.

“Well met, Vylria! How is it that you always know when I’m here?” he cheerfully asked, greeting his longtime friend. She just gave a small giggle, and leaned forward to embrace her human companion, gently resting her claws on his back as she leaned her head onto his. He happily accepted her hug, wrapping his arms around her body until he felt his hands touching. After a moment, he released her and moved a short distance away to stand near a tree on the incline of the hill. Waving her over, he slowly sat down on the cushiony grass before lying back, resting his back against the rough bark of the tree to stare at the kingdom before him. She quickly sat down next to him, content to spend the day relaxing together.

He’d met Vylria almost eleven years ago, while exploring around the nearby hills. During his little excursion, he ended up being chased by an angry raticate, tripping and tumbling down the slope of one of the hills as the world spun around him. For several seconds he had laid still with his eyes closed, trying to keep the contents of his stomach safely inside of him. When he at last opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with a small pink trapinch, staring at him with curious eyes.

Shifting against the tree, he broke the silence of his reverie with a sigh, still gazing off in the distance as his face took on a more sullen expression.

“I have some bad news...”

Concerned, she turned her head to face him, giving him her full attention. He rarely appeared to be upset, so something important must have happened.

“The kingdom of Helreoux seems intent on going to war with us, since we refuse to submit to their crusade for world conquest. We may be attacked at any moment, so a force is being mobilized to counter them. And...I’ve decided to join our kingdom’s army in battle.”

Vylria jolted to her feet, emitting a distressed trill and meeting his gaze with a rising anxiety.

“I know you don’t want me to go, but I have to. If we don’t fight against them, we will most certainly end up being forced to fight for them at some point. I do not wish to risk my life, but I don’t have a choice. One way or another, I’ll have to fight, and I would rather do so to stay free than fight as a Helreouxian vassal.”

He stood and rested a hand against her shoulder, not wanting her to feel upset. However, her concern began to give way to determination, and she pointed a claw at herself while emitting a sharp warble. For a moment he gave her a questioning look, then found himself smiling at her courage.

“You’d like to accompany me into battle, wouldn’t you?” he asked, receiving a nod from her in return. “And you are adamant in this? You do know what this war will entail.” Without a moments hesitation, she gave him yet another nod of affirmation. After briefly considering her proposal, he flashed her a confident smile. “Alright then! Together, we will take down any foe who dares cross our path!” He knew how powerful Vylria’s abilities were, and was glad to have her by his side. Between his swordsmanship and her strength, they were sure to make a powerful team. Vylria let out a soft trill of agreement, equally as happy that they would be together to watch each other’s backs.

With that matter settled, they quickly returned to relaxing against the hill. However, it wasn’t long before Vylria wandered away from her spot next to Aelrios, stretching her legs. After pacing a few times, she stood beside him and looked at him, leaning forward and lowering her back and wings -- her way of saying that she wanted him to get on her back, so they could go flying. He was getting a bit bored himself, and decided that a flight around the kingdom would be fun. He stretched his back once he got up -- hearing a couple of loud pops -- and carefully situated himself atop his flygon friend. He knew from past experience that she could easily carry his weight without any problems, but since her body was not much larger than his own, he always had a nagging feeling that he might strain her.

Once he was settled in with a firm grip, he gave her back two quick pats and she leapt up into the air, spreading her wings and rapidly gaining altitude. Aelrios watched as he and the land were quickly separated and clung to Vylria with even more strength, fighting off the wave of nausea that came with lifting off, until they reached a suitable height and leveled out. The town below was now no more than a small blemish on the landscape, allowing him to see miles upon miles of the surrounding area. He always felt so intoxicated while soaring through the sky. Like he was a part of the heavens themselves, gazing down upon the Earth and its inhabitants.

As they flew, Vylria spared a backwards glance, seeing Aelrios’s face plastered with the same carefree smile that he always has during their flights together. It always made her extremely happy to see him like this. So peaceful, calm, and tranquil.

Not wanting to stray too far from the castle, she began to circle around the kingdom, occasionally dropping down a bit to afford a better view of the people going about their business around their houses and farms beyond the walls. She waved a claw down at them, though she didn’t really think that they would notice from such a distance. Regardless, the residents all looked up upon seeing the large green pokemon -- and her passenger -- and smiled, recognizing them from their frequent flights together. Aelrios let out a small chuckle and gently stroked her neck. Her friendly nature always seemed to be contagious.

Suddenly, a scream of terror rent the air.

It sounded like a small child, and it was coming from nearby. As Vylria suddenly broke into a dive, Aelrios scanned the area below, straining his eyes against the onslaught of wind. On the plain ahead, he saw a boy of no more than 10 years running as fast as he could, crying out for help. On the field behind him was a small group of beedrill, intently giving chase. Vylria saw the scene as well, and quickly angled towards them, fast approaching the terrain below.

It almost appeared as if they would crash into the ground beside the child, but at the last second she tilted back to land on her powerful legs, skidding to a stop while Aelrios leapt off of her to face the angry group of pokemon. The boy merely stood frozen, mouth agape at the scene before him, before stumbling behind Aelrios to hide, shaking with fear.

“Do not worry young sir, we can handle these guys for you,” he assured the child, giving him a gentle smile before returning his gaze to the oncoming threat. There were four of them, and they were closing in quickly. As Vylria began to hover nearby, he drew his sword and held it at his side, the sun gleaming off its razor-edged blade.

“I’ll stay with the child, in case any of these vermin manage to reach him. You think you can handle them alone?” he asked, sparing a glance at Vylria.

With a firm nod, she glided forward to meet the beedrill head on, wanting to put some distance between them and the kid. Before she met with her opponents, she darted higher into the air, then flared out her wings and let out a piercing shriek.

Aelrios quickly covered his face and shielded the child, fully aware of what Vylria was doing. As her cry began to die down, a small wave of sand had already begun to buffet the area.

The beedrill were caught off-guard by the sudden Sandstorm, but continued their advance upon Vylria despite being whipped around by the now-violent sand. One of them boldly flew ahead of the rest, aiming to strike her with both of its arms. However, the surrounding whirlwind of sand made it difficult to maneuver. Able to see clearly due to her natural goggles, she easily dodged the attack, spinning around and lashing out at the pokemon with one of her claws in one fluid motion, sending it crashing down to the ground with a large gash upon its back.

One of the remaining beedrill seemed to be struggling in the sandstorm, but the other two rushed her simultaneously, hoping to overwhelm her from different angles. One of them flew straight at her, brandishing its arms at her as the first one did. The other flew around behind her and leaned back, aiming at her with its stinger.

Immediately after taking down the first one, Vylria had scanned the surrounding area and noticed the two advancing beedrill coming from different directions. However, one seemed to be flying a bit faster than the other -- the one intent on attacking with its stinger. Just before it made contact with her, she somersaulted, bringing her tail down upon it from above. Immediately after her flip she twisted around to dodge the second beedrills attack, taking a deep breath as it flew past. Before it could change course, she exhaled a quick beam of air -- a Dragon Breath -- at its back, sending it flying a short distance before it fell to the ground, lost in the swirling sandstorm.

Aelrios struggled to see through the sandy haze and covered his face with a sleeve, wondering how Vylria was holding up. He knew she’d be able to handle them, but he also knew that bad luck could overcome even the fiercest warrior. Despite his efforts, all he could see was a film of brown across the landscape, and all he could hear was the constant thrum of the wind whipping his ears.

Just as he gave up on his search, he heard a distinct buzzing noise that easily cut through the sounds of the sandstorm. He quickly told the kid to stay down, and rose to look around, keeping his sword steady in his grasp as he struggled to blink away the sand in his eyes. Suddenly, the droning grew louder, and a figure broke through the obscuring sands, thrusting one of its arms toward him. He brought his sword up as quickly as he could in an effort to repel the attack, feeling a bit sluggish in the midst of the storm. Thankfully, the storm had also considerably slowed the pokemon, enabling him to block the attack in time. A loud screech echoed throughout the storm as his sword deflected the blow, knocking him off balance and causing him to stumble backward. He quickly regained his footing and locked his gaze upon his enemy.

It began to circle around him, before suddenly changing its direction and dashing towards the child, who was on the ground covering his face. Cursing, Aelrios lunged to intercept the pokemon, slashing down at it. However, the beedrill came to a stop and crossed its arms above its head, stopping the blade from its deadly arc. He struggled against the insect for a few moments, unable to simply overpower it.

He quickly brought his left hand to his side, and before the strength in his right arm waned, he unsheathed his dagger and stabbed at the pokemon’s abdomen. He was unable to pierce its carapace with his left-handed strike, but it provided the opportunity he needed. As the pokemon winced from the blow, Aelrios freed his sword from the clash and kicked out at it, causing it to stagger backwards, fluttering and straining to remain airborne. Before it could regain its senses, he dropped the dagger and, using both hands, slashed at its midsection with his longsword. The buzzing immediately ceased, followed by two barely-audible thuds.

Just as he turned to make sure the child was still safe, another beedrill came crashing through the sands and heavily impacted the ground beside him. He looked up into the sky, seeing Vylria’s outline through the dying storm.

Vylria glanced around to make sure that there were no more incoming attacks, and allowed the storm to dissipate, the sands being carried elsewhere by the flowing winds. As she surveyed the field, she spotted a beedrill -- the one she had hit with her tail -- fluttering weakly a short distance away. It gave her one last look before flying away, leaving the others behind. She gave a light warble and smiled, pleased that she came out of the battle unscathed. She always enjoyed fighting against other pokemon, and often did so against others that were willing. She took pride in her combat ability; being able to fight well had its advantages.

After a short search, she spotted the two humans below her. Aelrios was looking up at her, while the child was still huddled down to the ground by his feet. She happily hovered down to them, landing with a soft thud. By the time she got there, the wind had completely died out and the plain was clear once again.

Upon hearing Vylria land, the child spared an upward glance, seeing the large dragon pokemon beside Aelrios, who sheathed his sword and was collecting his discarded dagger nearby. The boy rubbed his eyes and looked around the area, happy to see that both the beedrill and the sandstorm were gone -- though his gaze lingered on the severed remains of the one Aelrios had dispatched. He quickly exhaled a sigh of relief and stood, taking a step back to face both of them.

“Thanks so much for helping me. I thought those beedrill were gonna get me for sure!” he said, obviously giddy with relief.

“It was nothing, we couldn’t just let those things attack you, could we?” Aelrios replied with a smile, happy that they were able to rescue the lad. He turned to Vylria, who was giving him a cute smile while holding her claws together in front of her, as if awaiting praise after her battle. He couldn’t help but grin at her.

“Honestly, most of the credit goes to Vylria here, she’s the one that held off those pokemon for you.” He flashed her a grin and placed a hand on her arm, causing her to look away before her growing blush became apparent. Without warning, she felt something run into her, and looked down to see the boy hugging her tightly.

“Thank you so much Vylria, you were so brave to fight those beedrill! I hope I can meet a friend as valiant as you someday!” he exclaimed as he buried his face into her side. She emitted a low hum as she returned his embrace.

A voice in the distance suddenly broke through the silent plain. The three of them turned to see a woman running towards them from a house in the distance. “Heeeeey! Jero!” Aelrios and Vylria stood silently as she approached, while the child stepped forward with a smile and yelled back, “Mom!”

She stopped to catch her breath once she arrived, looking around at the group and wondering what was happening -- until she noticed just who it was standing near her son.

“Prince Aelrios!” she whispered, looking between him and Vylria, a tinge of unease creeping into her voice. “Sire...I hope my son hasn’t been troubling you!”

“Please, ma’am, just call me Aelrios,” he said in a calm voice, giving her a warm smile. “We found your son being chased by some wild pokemon, and we came down to give him a hand. It was no trouble at all, really.” Vylria gave a firm nod in support of his claim. The woman’s jaw dropped upon hearing that her son was in danger, and that he of all people had just come to his aid!

“It’s true mother! I was trying to make it home after they started chasing me.” he explained, pointing at one of the nearby beedrill. “I don’t think I could have made it back in time had they not come to save me.” She kneeled to hold him tightly after hearing what happened, relieved that he was okay.

“You have my thanks, Aelrios. I don’t have much to offer in return... but should you ever find yourself in need of a place to stay, you may use our home as your own. I’m sorry that I don’t have much gold to reward you with...” He immediately brought a hand up upon hearing the mention of gold.

“It’s fine, I don’t need any kind of payment, we were happy to help. Still, thank you for your offer, and if I am ever in need of lodging, I’ll be sure to remember that I have a place in your home. To be honest though, Vylria deserves more praise than I. It was thanks to her that we were able to fend them all off unscathed.” She grinned and waved a claw at the mention of her name, and the mother turned to her and thanked her as well.

“In that case, the offer stands for you as well, mighty Vylria. Please come by if you ever need shelter or a warm meal.” She nodded in reply, thankful for the offer. The mother then turned back to her son. “And you, Jero. What have I told you about wandering off too far away from the farm!”

“I’m sorry mother...I won’t do it again, I swear.” She gave him another quick hug, then stood up, holding his hand.

“Well, we really should be going. I’ll never forget this.” With a lingering smile, she turned to walk back, leading her son away with her. He turned one last time while they made their way back home.

“Thanks again mister! You and Vylria should come visit sometime!” he shouted with a wave, before turning back to return to the farm with his mother.

Aelrios happily returned the wave. He was glad that they were able to help, and that they could make some new friends in the process. After a moment, he turned to Vylria, who still bore a wide smile while holding her claws together.

“Great job handling those beedrill, Vylria. Although...” he said with a hint of sarcasm as he gave her a sly smile and shifted around uncomfortably. “...I’m certain you could have defeated them without using your sand powers. It’ll take forever to get it all out of these cloths.” He also ruffled his hair, shaking free a small cloud of sand. She only giggled, before leaning down and lowering her wings so that they could return to their flight. He gently mounted her once more, and they lifted off into the sky.

“So, what do you feel like doing? There’s still plenty of time left in the day,” he asked after checking the suns position, leaning closer to her head so he could be heard. She turned her head to face him, then looked away in thought. After a moment, she decided to return to their hill, angling in its direction. Once she leveled out, it was easy for him to guess where she was heading. He wondered why she would want to return there so early, but didn’t question it, figuring that she just wanted to relax after the day’s excitement.

As he gazed down at the kingdom below, his mind began to wander back to the issue of possible war.

It’s these people, people like Jero and his mother that are worth fighting to protect. They don’t deserve to be forced into war, though nothing I can do can prevent it. Surrendering to the Helreoux’s whims may buy them another month, but then most of the men in the kingdom would be taken, forced to fight and die far from home while their wives and children are left to fend for themselves. That’s not the kind of life these people should be reduced to, and I would rather die fighting than allow that to happen. I just hope that I won’t bind Vylria to the same fate should it come to that...
Not wanting to dwell on such thoughts any longer, he reaffirmed his grip on her back and allowed his eyes to close, trying to relax until they reached their destination.

After a few minutes, Aelrios felt a descent in their flight and opened his eyes to see their hill fast approaching from below. Vylria slowed their advance before reaching the crest of the hill, landing gracefully before leaning down to allow him a comfortable dismount.

“Quite the adventure we had today. Thank you for the ride,” he said as he slid off. She only smiled, before leaning forward to embrace him. He was more than happy to return her hug, enjoying the small thrill he always felt when she expressed her affection. She was always very kind to everyone she met -- aside from her enemies -- but it was only with him that she acted so affectionate. It was like they shared a special connection, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

After a short moment, she released him from her grasp, feeling a blossoming warmth as her face began to flush. Not wanting him to notice, she quickly walked a short distance away to lie back and recline against the hill; an awkward exchange was the last thing she wanted.

He walked over to join her in relaxation, oblivious to her concern while staring off at the horizon.

As Aelrios’s mind drifted back to his earlier contemplations regarding the impending war, Vylria was brooding over some concerns of her own. She found herself constantly glancing in his direction, unable to concentrate on anything aside from him. Ever since he was a kid and she was a trapinch, she had felt something special for him, and it didn’t take her long to realize that she cared for him on a level that far exceeded friendship. She loved everything about him: His determination, his cheerful attitude, his willingness to defend others, and even his looks. Over the years, she’s never really been attracted to anyone else -- pokemon or human -- in the way that she is to him. He is the perfect embodiment of her ideal mate. It saddened her that they were of different species, and thus couldn’t have children -- should her love for him ever be consummated -- but that love was too great to be cast down by that unfortunate truth.

She caught herself staring at him again, but didn’t look away this time... Instead, she leaned to her side to scoot closer to him, appearing to merely be stretching her wing. He saw her moving in the corner of his eye and gave her a gentle smile upon meeting her gaze. She quickly grinned back at him and blinked her eyes closed, before looking away and returning to her initial position, holding back a sigh.

It doesn’t matter... she thought, holding her eyes shut.

None of it matters. No matter how much I love him, he has never shown that kind of interest in me. I doubt he could find me attractive, and I’m sure that he wants to have children of his own some day. And...I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I destroyed our bond by displaying unwanted advances... He’d never be able to think of me the same way again.
She rolled to face him once again, though she kept her eyes closed and appeared to be resting.

Then again...there’s always the possibility that he would be okay with it...and maybe these same exact thoughts are going through his own mind after all these years together. I already know that he cares for me deeply. The only question that remains is if he feels the same kind of love for me as I do for him. If he does, what if we both never make any mention of our feelings, and our deepest desires never come to light...All because we don’t want to take a chance? I don’t think I can live with that either, but...but how can I know without admitting my own feelings?
She then began trying to think of ways that could subtly show how she felt about him, in a way that could be written off as something meaningless if he really wasn’t open to seeing her as a potential lover. She occasionally saw humans holding hands, as if to assert their claim on one another. Though, it was far more common to see them holding each other close, not wanting to part with their beloved. They weren’t like the embraces she often had with Aelrios, though. These appeared to be much more meaningful and lingering. Eye contact was important throughout the act as well. She often hoped that he would hold her like that, not wanting to let go for any reason. To just be together, in each others arms...

...And maybe eventually, he would also be willing to--

No! I mustn’t think about that right now.
She quickly snapped her mind back to her initial question, not wanting to even risk becoming aroused in his presence. Not yet. So, how should she approach the matter? Perhaps the next time she offered him a hug, she could attempt to drag it out, and look into his eyes as the humans so often did.

As for right now...perhaps the hand thing would be a good start, figuring that she could always make it seem like an innocent and accidental movement, should things get awkward.

Yes, she was going to go for it.

She felt her heart pick up speed as she slowly moved her claw closer to where his hand rested, barely opening her eyes to a crack. He didn’t seem to notice, still staring off into the distance with a half-lidded gaze. She continued to inch closer, excitement building within her at the thought of this simple act that had the potential to mean so much.

However, just as she was about to make contact, she heard a sudden rustling nearby -- the sound of footsteps approaching. She quickly retreated her claw and sat up, watching as a figure approached. The noise caught Aelrios’s attention as well, snapping him out of his stupor as he was approached by none other than Prince Raethus, peering down at Aelrios with what seemed to be a cross between a smirk and a scowl. He was carrying two long sticks, one in each hand. Somewhat unsettled, Aelrios sat upright to meet his gaze. Raethus rarely left the castle, so it was quite strange to see him here of all places.

“Greetings, brother,” he said once he was near, his voice almost dropping to a mumble at the word ‘brother.’

“Greetings Raethus. Is there something you need?” He stood up to address him, eyeing the two staves. Vylria remained sitting, watching the exchange with interest.

“Oh, nothing in particular...Just wondering as to your thoughts on this whole possible-war situation.” He began to pace around the hilltop in a casual manner, still smiling slightly as he circled around the pair, staring off at the horizon. Aelrios felt a slight chill travel down his spine, and turned to face the Prince as he walked.

“I think that the Helreoux need to think things through and come to their senses. They are fighting a senseless war at the cost of innocent lives. And for what...? More land? More power? What’s the point in controlling more territory if the people hate you for it? Eventually, there would be rebellion, which would only lead to even more loss. If left unchecked, the Helreoux will trample over every innocent person in the land, leaving nothing but a bloody wake. That, brother, is what I think about the situation.” Raethus continued to circle around him throughout his explanation, his wry smile seeming to grow.

“Hmph, as predictable as ever, eh?” he remarked as he came to stop, looking across the fields below. After a tense moment, he turned back to face his brother, now with a serious determination.

“What say you to a quick match? It has been far too long since we last sparred against each other.”

Without waiting for a reply, he tossed over one of the staves, brandishing his own as if it were a sword. As Aelrios snatched his out of the air, Raethus rushed forward, attempting to slash at him before he could defend himself. Aelrios, however, had grown accustomed to dealing with cheap-shots when dueling with his brother, and was prepared for the attack. He rolled to the side just as his hand made contact with the tossed wooden ‘sword,’ evading the strike with ease. Using the momentum of his roll, he kicked his brother’s feet out from under him, causing him to fall to the ground with a painful grunt. Before he knew it, Aelrios had his weapon pointed at his throat, claiming victory.

With an angry snarl, Raethus shoved his opponent’s staff away and rolled to his feet, lunging forward to strike at his head. The move, however, was predictable and slow, giving Aelrios plenty of time to parry the blow and make a counterattack, stabbing at his midsection. Raethus managed to dodge the blow and rolled back, grabbing a handful of grass and dirt during his tumble. Before Aelrios could notice what he had in his hand, he flung the turf into his face, obscuring his vision for a few moments. Aelreos clenched his eyes and was lucky enough to back-step in time to avoid the overhead swing that followed, though he soon found himself stumbling back from a hard kick to his stomach. He quickly wiped his eyes to alleviate them from the stinging dirt -- fighting off the urge to retch after such a hard blow to his gut -- and raised his staff just in time to block another incoming attack, able to see clearly once again.

They continued to exchange blows for a short time, and Aelrios noticed that his brother was tiring at a much quicker pace. After repelling a particularly sloppy thrust, he began a complex flurry of attacks, knowing that his opponent would be unable to withstand the onslaught in his exhausted state. Raethus was able to keep up with the mad dance for a few moments, but his strength quickly waned and faltered upon deflecting a powerful cross cut, losing his grip on his weapon as it was flung onto the ground beside him.

With a quick flick of his wrist, Aelrios brought his weapon to his opponent’s neck once more, before dropping it with an apologetic grin.

He merely stared at Aelrios, infuriated at how often he was able to best him in combat. Without a word, he quickly turned to trudge down the hill, leaving Aelrios and Vylria alone once again. They stared off at his departure, and Aelrios briefly considered giving chase in order to apologize. He quickly decided against it though, fully aware that his brother would have none of it.

A light clicking sound emanated from behind him, and he turned to see Vylria clapping her claws together, smiling brightly. He gave an embarrassed chuckle, scratching the back of his head as he walked over to sit beside her once again, thanking her for the praise before reclining back on the hill.

I wonder what that was all about… Aelrios thought as he stretched out his tired limbs. Something seemed to be bothering Raethus. He always hates it when I win our sparring matches, but something felt off about him this time.
Vylria could tell that the situation had left him unsettled, and she rested a claw on his shoulder, ripping him from his thoughts. He gently patted a hand against her claw, looking up at the sky. An orange tint was beginning to permeate through the deep blue, and the sun had already begun its descent below the horizon.

“I think I should head home for the night.” he said, lazily returning to his feet. “Until next time, Vylria.”

A flash of disappointment washed over her, but she quickly gave a nod in agreement. As he turned away to proceed down the hill, she gave a low trill to get his attention. He looked over, seeing that she was crouching down, apparently offering him a ride back to the castle. With a thankful stroke to her neck, he accepted her offer and climbed onto her back, giving her the usual double-pat to signal that he was ready.

She gently leapt up, and with a few powerful flaps she had them soaring above the plain, heading towards the castle. It only took them a couple of minutes to arrive at the castle entrance, where she slowly landed in front of the gates, not wanting to startle the nearby people. Once he slid off of her, she gave him only a brief hug to say goodbye; she did not want to employ her plan for an extended, loving embrace in the midst of the public eye.

“Farewell Vylria, and thank you for the ride.” he said, releasing her from his grasp and meeting her eyes for a moment. She blinked them closed, inclining her head with a gentle smile.

He turned and began his walk into the castle interior, leaving her alone outside. She stared after him for a moment before vaulting into the air, flying off to her own home.