We all finish eating, and Cobalion and Terakion say their goodbyes. Both had long journeys home to travel.

Cobalion's home was deep in Mistralton Cave, and Terrakion's was all the way to the north; at the end of Victory Road, near the Pokémon League. Not that any humans knew the Trial Chamber was even there though. Thank Arceus. If they did, Terrakion would never have a moment of peace.

After they left, Keldeo, Virizion, and I were alone. Our silence was short lived. A fluttery pidove zoomed in, landing right at Virizion's feet.

~Virizion! Keldeo, Corona! A human!~ the little bird shrieked. ~Beating a pokémon, off the main path! Help! Follow me!~ Keldeo tensed up, and was about to gallop after Pidove, but Virizion trotted in front of him.

~Stay here, Keldeo. I want Corona to take care of this.~

The green pokémon looked at me. ~Corona, would you take care of this? ~
I bobbed my head. "Yes." I retrieve my staff from the ground at my feet. I leap straight up and grab a low branch from the leafy canopy above us, then swing around so that I'm perched upon the branch. From there, I run along the branches like a liepard; and leap from tree to tree. Not the safest way to travel, but it's familiar enough. Enough to know that this is the quickest way to move through Pinwheel Forest.

Soon enough, Pidove stops flying, and lands beside me. ~There, ~ she tells me. She gestures with a wing towards a blue haired boy shouting at a quivering timburr.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?! THAT WAS AN EASY BATTLE! YOU'RE PATHETIC! WHY ARE YOU SO WEAK!?!" He knocks the piece of lumber out of Timburr's arms and slaps him across the face.

A growl rises in my throat. How dare he.

~Please, Kevin! I'm sorry; I'll do better next time! Please Kevin! You're hurting me!!!~ Timburr cries out as his Trainer smacks him again.

"You worthless pokémon!" Kevin shouts. "I don't even know why I caught you! You're weak!"

Not that he saw, but I catch a glimpse of a tear coming down the fighting-type's cheek. ~I'm sorry I disappointed you ...~

Enough, I decide. Grasping my staff, I drop to the ground, landing silently on my feet. I swing the staff at the boy's knees, and down he goes.

"What the-!?!"

I crouch in front of him. "People like you shouldn't be able to have pokémon," I say lowly. "They deserve better than to give it their all, and then be beaten if they're not the victor."

"Mind your own damn business!" He snarls as he moves to get up and strike Timburr again.

His Timburr flinches, and I place myself between the bluenette and his frightened pokémon. "You made it my business when you hit Timburr. No one hurts pokémon in Pinwheel Forest and gets away with it," I reply in a murderous tone, then strike the back of his head. His eyes roll up in his head and his head falls limp.

Timburr rushes to his side. ~Kevin! Kevin!~ He shakes his Trainer. ~Kevin! Wake up!~ He looks at me. ~You hurt Kevin!~

"Don't worry; I only knocked him out. But if you want, you can leave him."

Timburr shakes his head. ~And go where? Kevin captured me in a pokéball.~ His eyes widen. ~You can understand me!?!~

I nod. "You could live here, in Pinwheel Forest. There are other Timburr here as well," I say softly.

His eyes brighten. ~Really? I could just...leave?" I nod.

"All it would take is for you to break your pokéball. Nobody would hold it against you."

Timburr looks divided. I can tell he still holds loyalty towards Kevin; but honestly, what kind of life could he have with that jerk? He finally nods and goes through the Ace Trainer's bag. He brings out a red and white ball.

~Alright. I'll do it.~ He raises his foot over it and looks at me. ~But you'll have to help me bring him back to the main path.~

I gape at him.

~What? He'd get poisoned if I left him here!~

"Let him get poisoned," I mutter. But I agree anyway, and the little Timburr brings his foot down on the capsule; crushing it. Then as I grab the trainer's shoulder, Timburr grabs Kevin's feet, and we carry him back to the main road. I walk back through the forest with Timburr afterwards.

~Thank you, y'know,~ he says quietly.

"For what?"

~You didn't have to help me. You could have just watched, and walked away. You offered me a new life.~ He brings his brown eyes to match mine. ~I'm grateful you were there.~

I laugh softly. "No, it not like that! You needed help; I just came forward, that's all." We came to a stop near a large red rock.

"Vree nee vree!" I call out, using the ancient language Virizion taught me. It was how Virizion sounded to a human who couldn't understand pokéspeech. Soon, other grey and pink Pokémon crawled out and sigh with relief that it was only me. The timburr beside me squeals happily. ~Thank you so much! You really did bring me to the others!~ He runs straight to the other timburr. They all crowd around him; welcoming him. Seeing his contentment, I leave, leaving him with his new clan.

Keldeo's waiting for me. ~Well?~ he asks, raising an orange eyebrow. ~What happened?~

"The usual. Pokémon lost a battle, and his trainer couldn't accept the little guy's limits. I convinced Timburr to free himself." Keldeo nods, and Virizion strides up behind the colt. She shakes her head sadly.

~Humans will never understand. There must be a connection between pokémon and Trainer for both to reach their full strength.~

"Or," I add, "maybe Pokémon and humans should remain separate." Keldeo shakes his head roughly.

~That's not-~ he couldn't finish when four little pokémon fell in front of us. Immediately, I scoop the smallest bundle of gray fur up in my arms.

~Good! The legends were true about Virizion being in this forest,~ a watchog gasps, out of breath.

~Team~ *pant* ~Plasma~ *pant* ~Took us~ *pant* ~From our Trainers!~ a lillipup gasps. A pink and cream pokémon strokes the puppy's head.

~Don't worry; we'll find our way home.~ She tries consoling them, but it was obvious Audino is just as scared. The little fur ball I was holding squeaks.

~These wierd dressed guys threatened my trainer, hit her, then stole the poke ball with me in it. They took us to the forest and released us.~ Virizion and Keldeo look horrified.

"What's wrong?" I ask nonchalantly. "Haven't we agreed that people are bad, and that pokémon deserve better?"

~NO!!!!~ All four little pokémon shout at me. The little minccino speaks up.
~Miss, you're wrong. Mina was the sweetest human I've ever met. She never made me fight big pokémon.~

Audino is next. ~Marie was an assistant at the Pokémon Center. She and I both like making people and pokémon feel better.~

~Charlie never had enough time to find out what type of trainer he was before they took me from him!~ Lillipup growls.

~Darian always asked me if I wanted to fight, and if I shook my head, he wouldn't make me,~ Watchog says quietly. I'm shocked; I've only heard tales of mistreatment and abuse, not...this.

~Audino, what happened?~ Virizion asks the Hearing Pokémon.

~Exactly as Minccino said. These humans dressed as knights attacked our humans, stole us, and released us. They called it "Pokémon Liberation." ~

~Thank you for telling us. We'll find a way to return you to your Trainers soon,~ Keldeo says somberly. The four of them leave and Keldeo and Virizion turn to me.

~What can this mean?~ Keldeo asks. Virizion shakes her head.

~I don't know. Whatever it is; it isn't good news.~

"So what are we going to do?" Keldeo's face goes blank. Virizion answers for him.

~I'm going to call the others. Cobalion needs to know about this. Together we can make a decision.~ The legendary Grassland Pokémon rears, then arches her neck back and lets out a piercing howl that must have been heard for miles around. She brings her forelegs back to the ground.

~Now we must wait. They will be here soon.~ We go back to the Rumination Field to wait.

About an hour later, both Terakion and Cobalion canter into the hidden clearing. Terakion is breathing harder than usual.

~What is it?~ the Cavern pokémon asks.

~Yes, we heard your cry,~ Cobalion states stiffly, but one could tell he is just as concerned.

~Captured Pokémon have begun to be stolen from Trainers; in the name of Pokémon Liberation,~ Virizion explains.

~They call themselves Team Plasma,~ Keldeo adds. Together, Virizion and Keldeo explain the latent events to the other two Swords of Justice. Both shake their heads.

~This isn't right,~ Terakion murmurs.

~While I agree that pokémon are better off without humans, I am against the idea of thievery.~ A hard look forms in the goat's golden eyes. ~Corona.~ I lift my head.

"Yes?"

~ I have an idea. The four of us can't gain as much information because as the Swords, we can't enter civilization. However...~ Those golden eyes landed on me. ~You are human.~ I start to protest, but Terakion joins in.

~He's right; you hold the same beliefs as us, but as a human, its possible for you to walk among them. ~

"But I would have to become a Trainer! I don't want to have to capture my friends!"

~You can speak to us, Corona,~ Keldeo says softly. ~You only have to ask, and just about any pokémon would be willing to help you.~

"But I don't want my friends to be hurt!"

~Stop it,~ Cobalion mutters. ~We know you dislike humans; all of us do. But each one of us would be willing to do this if we could. But we can't. Only you can. You are human, whether you like to admit it or not. Remember what we talked about? This is the sort of thing you would do as a human Sword. We need you, Corona.~ His golden eyes stare into my soul.
~Are you with us?~

Virizion steps forward. ~He is right, Corona. It falls to the Swords of Justice to defend pokémon.~ Her pink eyes soften. ~I know you hate the thought of battling, but it really would help you form a closer bond with the pokémon you do wind up capturing. And in the end, it would help all pokémon.~ I sigh.

"Alright. What must I do?"

~It would be much easier if you went to Nuvema Town. That is where they distribute starter pokémon. However, it would be suspicious if you suddenly appeared, ~ Terrakion muses.

~Its a good idea. What about if one of us take her to the edge of Accumula Town, and then she walks a little to Nuvema?~ Keldeo suggests.

~I'm quick. I could take her,~ Virizion volunteers. ~Cobalion? What do you think?~

~Sounds like a plan to me. I would insist that you continue training with me though,~ he tells me.

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
Two hours later.

Twack!

My staff meets Cobalion's antlers.

Thwack!

~Come on! Is that honestly the best you can do? Slash with more force!~ he shouts. I swing at his knees, but he jumps out of the way. ~You must be quicker than that!~ he taunts. ~Otherwise, your opponent will be able to anticipate your every move, and dodge.~

He slashes and kicks at me, and I leap to the side. I'm not quick enough to avoid the tip of his horn from grazing my shoulder though. Blood oozes to the surface. I wince, but hold my ground. This is the third time I've been sliced today. I know Cobalion intends to teach me, not hurt me though. I'm not worried.

This time I wait for him to act first. He rushes forward, and swings his head. I drop to the ground, roll, and swing my staff in a circle at the back of all four of his legs; then dash away. Cobalion wobbles, but regains his footing. He looks at me with pride.

~That was your best yet, girl. You're getting better. ~ A sound comes closer to us.

~Cobalion, Corona! I found a sword!~ Keldeo shout happily with the weapon in his mouth. Terrakion follows right behind him, with two.

~This one was in the moor where the three found me,~ Keldeo murmurs. He lays down the blade. It has a black hilt, and a dark blade. Ancient runes are scrawled across it's edge. It's clearly a broadsword, and I can hardly pick it up. Terrakion lays down his arms.

~One was in the Relic Castle, and the other lay in Dragonsprial Tower.~The one is silver, and slightly narrower than Keldeo's. I lift it up; testing it. It has a decent weight to it.

The final blade is very thin, but shines. I grasp it. It's so light weight. Just looking at it though, I know it's sharp. Very sharp. Looking closer, the needle-like blade looks like bronze to me. A rapier. Cobalion looks over my shoulder.

~That one would suit you very well. It's light enough for you to carry easily, and you'd be able to move quickly with it.~

I'm able to hold the hilt with just one hand. The rapier fit. This is my sword. I have a sword.

~I'm back!~ Virizion announces. She has a woven grass basket hanging over one of her horns.

~What. Is. That?~ Cobalion splutters.

~A basket of things I've found over the years.~ She drops the basket in front of me. A few things fall out. Potion canisters, a map, a dowsing machine, and money. A lot of money...

"How did you get all this money?!?"

Virizion shrugs. ~A lot of Trainers get so panicky when they lose to wild pokémon, that when it happens, they drop some of their own money running away. Most of it is actually just loose change that fell out of people's pockets while walking. I had some smaller pokémon help me gather it just now.~ She looks at me. ~You can use it to get some supplies once you get to Accumula.~

"Thank you." I look at Cobalion. "When do I leave?"

~At first light.~
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Revised and republished June 10, 2017.

Revision #2 and republished August 8, 2017