“Welcome to Nickleborn,” Sui said as the group rode over the small hill. A fairly big village lay ahead in the distance. The village was the main port of business. In the city, prototype experiments were made and tested. Goods were imported here. The underground river provided a safe way to Nickleborn. The group stopped at the gates to Nickleborn. After a brief pause they walked in.

“Ok, our first priority is to find an Inn. We need to drop off the horses and armor. We might be stayin’ here for a while.” Scy said. The group nodded and found a decent Inn. The group checked into 2 rooms. One for the guys and one for Sui and Venus. They, for some reason, refused to share the same room. The group changed into their tunics and got out of the Inn.

“I need to check my sources for any info,” Sui said.

“Well, several of us should go with you,” Scy replied.

“I’m going to go replenish our supplies, so you know where I’ll be,” Venus said. She walked down the street toward the market they passed by earlier.

“I’ll go with her,” Flare said. He turned and jogged off after Venus.

“Well, let’s go. Looks like you guys are coming with me,” Sui said.

Ces and Kaz’s Tavern was the local hangout. There people would go after a hard days work and relax. Gangs had their fights there, and there was the entertainers that hung out, charging five silver and hour. The bar was big. It held two bars, one on each side. There were tables where friends could sit and talk. In the corner was a giant fireplace. Over it hung cooking either a fresh Tauros or a nice big juicy Pidgeot. Dart boards were set up on the walls. Also hung on the walls were furs and pictures of things. Over Kaz’s bar, which was towards the back of the tavern, a stuffed shiny Ursaring head hung. He killed it only with a stick and his bare hands. Well, according to him at least. Ces’ bar which was in the front of the tavern had several crystal statues of Articuno, Golem, and Tyranitar. Also a sword hung over the collection of wine from “far away lands.” The sword supposedly belonged to the mythic warrior Marowak. Ces won’t let any of the scientists test it to see if his claim is true.

The wooden door opened in the tavern. Four weathered figures walked in. They were all dressed in tunics. They looked like they’d been traveling. “Welcome,” Ces said as he finished cleaning a glass. “Sit wherever you like.”

“Jess! Is that you?!” a voice yelled from the corner of the room. A man walked out of the corner. He stood six feet tall, his huge figure rolled with laughter. “Boy have you changed! Why, I remember you when you were only a pup!”

“Uncle Tom!” Sui said as a smile appeared on her face. She ran over and hugged the big man.

“And who are these fellows?” Uncle Tom asked.

“These are my friends. Its a long story, lets sit down and I’ll explain everything.”

“Sure, anyone want anything to drink? I’m gonna have a beer.”

“Uhh, I’ll have one too please,” Blast and Scy said.

“Pass me one too.” Typhlo said.

“Oh you guys. Well, I might as well, get me a glass of wine,” Sui said sighing.

“Some wine for the lady,” Ces said passing her a glass of wine. “And some nice cold ones for the fellas.” Ces said as he slid the mugs toward them.

“So, you went off to become a knight?”

“Yup, and I am one!”

“Wow, what group are you in? What’s your shasal?”

“Well, I am in the Knights of the Earth. My shasal is Suicune.”

“Ah, and the reason you four are together is because the crystal was stolen?”

“Well, there’s six of us, the other two are getting supplies. What are you doing here uncle? I thought you were back at Meadow Lake.”

“I just came here to drop off the crops. I made quite a pretty coin.” Tom said patting his coin bag on his side.

“Well, if you guys will excuse me, I’ll be right back.” Sui said. She got up and walked to the back of the bar.

Sui walked through the secret door. Where was he? she though. He said he would meet me here. There they were. Two knights were sitting at a small table in the corner of the corridor. They were talking nervously. One was dressed in yellow armor, her red cloak hung loosely around her shoulders. She obsessively stroked the long metal whip she held. Her muscles were tense, she looked like she was nervous. Her partner was no less jumpy. He kept glancing around talking nervously. He was covered in green armor like Venus. His sword was placed in front of him on the table. A seed was embedded in the hilt. A light green glow emitted from the sword.

“Hey guys,” Sui said. The two knights jumped straight up in the air.

“Ah! uh hey Sui,” Amy said regaining her composure.

“We have the information,” Vinne said glancing around. “Let’s hurry, they might come any moment.” he said. He wiped his forehead. He was shaking a bit. He pulled in his armor and produced an envelope. He handed it to Sui. Sui looked at the note in it.

“This is an official document from Entei. How did you get it?”

“Uhh, we have our ways.” Amy said she looked around nervously.

“Ok, well, here’s your silver.” Sui threw a couple coins on the table. Just then, the wall exploded.

“Oh crap! They’re here!” Vinnie and Amy jumped from the table. They ran towards the door. Sui glanced at the hole in the wall before joining Vinnie and Amy. Two figures walked out. They calmly walked to the half open door and opened it.

“Run!” Vinnie yelled. Everyone in the bar turned at Vinnie. Then two figures came in behind them. At the sight of the figures everyone left except for Zuki, Ces, Uncle Tom, and Scy and co. A huge man was the first to walk in. His huge muscles flexed. He wore a black breastplate with an engraving of a flame in the center. Two long horns protruded from his shoulders. He pulled out two broadswords, one in each hand. His partner was about half his height. He was dressed in a blood red coat of armor. He had two huge claws on his hands. His hair was wrapped in a headband. He grinned.

“Give us back the bloody document!” The small one said. “Or, you’ll have to meet me friends here.” He said tapping his claws on the wall. “If that don’t satisfy ya yer gonna getta meet Doom.” He nodded towards the huge man. Scy quickly realized Sui’s “sources” and how much trouble they were in. He walked up, composed himself a bit and spit at Scythe‘s feet.

“If you want it, you have to pry it from our dead hands!” Scy yelled menacingly.

“Very well then. Let’s go Doom!”

“Aye aye Scythe!”

Scy turned fast, “Tom! Get our weapons!” Tom nodded. Earlier they told him where they were staying. Tome whistled and a Kadabra appeared at his feet. They teleported away. Scy turned towards the advancing warriors. He picked up a beer bottle, broke it and got ready. Typhlo stepped in front of Sui, who was ready to fight. He took a football pose and rushed Scythe. Typhlo slammed right into Scythe, his momentum knocking the knight back. Doom turned and elbow dropped Typhlo. Scy launched himself at Doom. He slashed him with the beer bottle. That did nothing, it only irritated the giant. Tom appeared at the door. He held the weapons. “Scy! Catch!” Scy’s blade gloves flew in the air. He caught them. Soon, everyone was armed. The pair looked confident even though the odds were against them.

“Oi, Scy lookie what we have ’ere fer ya!” Scythe whistled and someone came in from the door.

“Miss me Scy?” a soft voice said. “I sure missed you!” the voice turned evil. Scy turned around. A figure was at the door. A woman walked in. She wore armor like Scy’s. She grinned. “Mary! It’s you!?” Scy said shocked.

“Mary is dead!” she said. “I am Scith!” She produced a long Scythe, at the tip was a needle. It secreted a deadly toxin. Vinne and Amy snapped to their senses. The battle begun. Amy lashed at Scith. Scith swung the scythe scraping Vinnie in the head. Vinne struck out at Scith at the same time as Amy. Typhlo and Scy were trying to get Doom. Doom’s two broad swords lit ablaze. Fire crackled from Typhlo’s gun. Blast was knocked out by the big man, he lay on the floor unconscious. A small pool of blood was forming under him. Ces and Zuki quickly ran to Blast. They dragged him behind the bar and dressed his wounds. Sui shot several arrows at Scythe. The little rat dodged them all. He took a couple swings at Sui. He missed all, but two. They knocked her back. Thunder cracked in the room. Amy had a psychotic look in her eyes. She started to lash Doom, who grabbed her when she wasn’t looking, with the whip. The whip was sending bolts of electricity through his body. The big man let go and shook in convulsions. His eyes rolled back in his head. He crashed on the floor. Before he did he took one last swing at Amy. Amy was wounded severely, her chest was drenched in blood. She was loosing blood fast. She fell on the floor breathing shallowly. Ces quickly took his attention away from Blast and ran to Amy. He put pressure on the bleeding. Uncle Tom ran outside. He dropped the stick that he was using to beat Scythe with and looked for Venus or Flare. Scy described them to him earlier. There they were. He ran towards them.

“Help! Scy’s in trouble!” They had no idea who he was, but they followed him.

Inside the bar the fight was still going on. Scith and Scythe finally stopped. They started to chant strange words. They pulsed with a black aura around them. Venus and Flare ran in. Ces yelled at them over the chanting to help him. Venus saw Amy and healed her. She then helped Blast. Flare’s eyes widened. He knew what they were doing! It was too late though. A black hole appeared in the floor. It started to appear as if it was breathing. A purple haze rose out of it. Then in English they both yelled, “Oh dark lord Entei! Take us to your dwelling! Show them pure terror! Blood shed on thy soil to send us there!” Thunder and lightning cracked in the bar. Scith and Scythe drew their weapons. They walked several steps apart from each other. They then slashed themselves across the chest. Six times. Six slashes. Six flows of blood. The hole started to turn a dark black. The blood was dripping in it. A great roar echoed in the bar.

Everything turned bright. A white glow filled the room. Suddenly all Scy could see was white, white and a hand. A hand beckoning him to come. Then, another hand appeared. In that hand the crystal was held. In the other hand a black crystal appeared. They crystals started to glow. They fused together. Then a body appeared. It was the legendary knight Articuno. He held a sword in his right hand. The crystals floated ion front of him. Articuno wept. He walked towards Scy. He handed Scy the sword and said, “Use this. For it will aid you. It has the essence of those that died for the crystal.” Weeping more, Articuno placed his hand on Scy’s head. “Take care my son. Take care....”