The Aurum and Sakura Kingdoms are at war. Aurum controlled Kanto with Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. They ruled the whole region and many parts of Johto.
Sakura ruled Johto. They had gained Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, reborn by Ho-Oh's flames.
Aurum feared the Beasts would ruin their power if Sakura controlled them. They attacked Johto to capture the Beasts first. Battles raged on land and sea.
Sakura fought back. They treated Pokémon like family, not tools like Aurum. They honored Ho-Oh to avoid angering the rainbow deity. Noble clans and people aided Sakura willingly.
Aurum ran low on soldiers. They made policies to force people to fight.
Ryn, one of those people, stood on the ship's deck. He gripped his spear tightly. Soldiers moved around, faces sad, holding swords and spears. A captain checked his Poké Ball which looked like an ancient style one.
Everyone was preparing for battle. Ryn was new. A soldier taught him and other new soldiers what to do.
The soldier had a missing tooth. He pointed at Ryn. "Stick your spear in anything that comes close," he said. He thrust his spear, showing a quick stab.
"Don't freeze when you see blood for the first time. Keep fighting, or you'll die." His voice was rough. "Now practice like this. I'm watching."
Ryn nodded and practiced. He thrust his spear. "Like this?" he asked.
"Yeah, harder!" a short soldier with a scarred hand yelled. "Hit like you mean it!"
After one hour, everyone was tired and sat down. Soldiers panted, wiping sweat. "Keep up, newbies!" a senior soldier said. He looked sad about these young soldiers.
They weren't trained well. It would be good even if some of them survived. He sighed. He had to follow the king's orders.
Ryn's hands were sweaty. He sat on the deck. He thought of Meowscarada and his other Pokémon. * They must be worried about me, * he thought.
The deck creaked. Ryn hated fighting for Aurum. As they used Pokémon as tools.
Unlike Sakura who treated Pokémon like family.
He couldn't even run away. He wanted to be with Meowscarada, to rest against her soft chest and sleep peacefully. He cursed Ghastly for putting him in this world.
The senior soldier gave them some free time. He knew he couldn't train them more. Most wouldn't survive. He let them live their last days comfortably.
A soldier bumped Ryn. "Move, newbie!" he yelled sharply.
Ryn stepped aside. He didn't want trouble. He walked to the wooden ship's edge, hands on the rail. Waves crashed below. * My Pokémon are waiting, * he thought.
Kael walked up, Ryn's childhood friend. "You scared?" Kael asked, checking his sword. He was tall, with a crooked grin from their days battling Pidgey together.
"I'm thinking of Meowscarada," Ryn said. "I have to survive for her."
Kael smiled. "Don't worry. We'll survive. My wife and kid are waiting too." His voice softened, thinking of his newborn son.
Ryn nodded. Kael's young wife and baby flashed in his mind. In the original story, some guys didn't return. * Is Kael one of them? * he wondered.
Ryn sighed. * We might not survive, * he thought. He had to try his best. This cursed world trapped him, but there must be a way out.
He didn't want to get attached to these people, as they might die, he thought.
His name was still Ryn here. Meowscarada's name stayed the same too. His other Pokémon were gone. * I keep getting caught in other worlds, * he thought. * Did someone put a curse on me? *
Ryn's stomach growled loudly. Kael laughed. "Your gut's louder than a cannon!" he said.
"Let's get food," Ryn said embarrassingly as his stomach rumbled again.
Ryn and Kael walked to the ship's mess. Ryn instantly hated the smell there, but he still got the food, which was even worse. Old, hard bread crunched dryly. Smelly fish stank the air. Thin gruel dripped in bowls.
Kael said, "Ugh, this food is so bad. Even fish wouldn't eat this." He sighed. Ryn sighed too, but they ate anyway as they needed to survive for their families.
By night, more ships arrived. They came from nearby coastal villages with people and supplies, ready to battle.
Ryn slept in a cramped space with soldiers. The ship's shaking kept him awake. * Meowscarada, what are you doing? * he thought, drifting to sleep.
At Maiden's Peak,
Meowscarada sat alone on a cliff. She didn't feel comfortable with her new family. Her partners asked her to go home.
"Mewo! I'll wait here until Ryn comes back," Meowscarada said.
After failing to persuade her, they sadly returned home, hoping Ryn would return soon from the war.
Meowscarada realized she spoke her Pokémon language, but people can still understand her. She could talk and understand Pokémons too. She was confused by this but didn't care, as she only wondered about one thing * When will Ryn come back? *
Soon after a while…
Taro, her little brother, came with hot food. He was a small boy in a worn tunic and messy hair. He looked sad seeing her wait for Ryn.
"Sister, come home," Taro said. "Mom and Dad are worried. Ryn will come back soon."
Meowscarada looked at Taro. She took the food, ate it and then nodded. It was getting dark, so she stood up.
Taro saw her stand. He smiled instantly and held her hand. They walked home together.
She wouldn't wait like the maiden who turned to stone. She refused to stay still. * I'll find Ryn, * she thought.
She had an idea. She planned to act tomorrow. Her mind was set on finding Ryn.
At morning,
a bell rang sharply.
"Get your weapons!" the captain shouted. Soldiers ran, grabbing swords and spears.
BOOM! A Dragonite's Outrage attack hit. A soldier's body burst, blood spraying like rain. His armor shattered into pieces.
"Sakura's dragon clan is attacking! We're all dead!" one soldier yelled, voice shaking with fear. He knew the dragon clan was a noble clan in the Sakura Empire. They had a friendly relationship with dragons and they were very strong.
Dragonite roared, "Dragonite!" A rider sat on its back. They were called dragon riders.
The captain threw his Poké Ball. A Gyarados roared loudly.
"Fire the cannons!" the captain shouted. He jumped on Gyarados to fight the enemy captain.
Ryn held his spear tightly. He wanted to run. As he saw, a man in armor died so easily from one Dragonite attack. * How strong is that Dragonite? * he thought. It must be level 80.
* How did the dragon clan train it so strong? * Ryn wondered. * Are there still such powerful dragon Pokémon in the future? *
Deserting meant death for him and his family. People had to fight and survive. It was the only way
But, Ryn was from another world. He remembered Ghastly's mission. He needed to meet Meowscarada and survive to go home.
He didn't care about deserting's consequences. * I just need to be with Meowscarada, * he thought.
The enemy got closer and more Pokémon started attacking. Fearow and Pidgeotto dove down to attack. Ryn stabbed a Fearow. Its blood splashed his face as it fell. * This isn't real, * he thought, fighting crazily.
Kael cut a Pidgeotto. Its blood soaked his sword. "Keep fighting, Ryn!" he yelled, his grin fierce like when they battled as kids.
Ryn and Kael fought side by side.
A Fearow dove down. Its claws, sharp as steel blades, tore Kael's head off.
Blood sprayed everywhere. Kael's body fell limp, head rolling on the deck. His childhood friend's blood splattered Ryn's face.
Ryn froze, heart pounding. * Kael's gone. * His stomach twisted with grief. He felt sick, remembering Kael's laugh, his stories about his son.
He wanted to scream and chase the Fearow. Anger burned in his chest. * Why him? * he thought. But he stopped, hands shaking on his spear.
This world is not mine, it's fake. * These aren't my emotions, * He stabilized slowly. He fought with tears, gripping his spear tighter.
He stabbed another Fearow, blood dripping down his arm. * I'll survive for Meowscarada. *