ELIZABETH

Elli sat calmly at the long marble table with her hands folded politely. At first, she felt unnerved at the situation. No Pokémon were allowed at these meetings, so she wasn't able to lean on Luvdisc for support and comfort. Not even Ahab, the Empress's own half-brother, was allowed his. Well, good luck fitting that Gyarados into the Council chamber.

Very important delegates from all over the Empire were in attendance for Her Majesty's court. The admirals of the navy, and representatives from all the other settlements in her Holiness's vast kingdom.

"Don't be nervous," Elli's mother whispered to her before the meeting started. She was the representative from Lilycove. Someday, Elli would take her place. Well, after she was married to Leo Specter that is. "The key is listening," her mother continued. "Listen, and try to solve problems that is in the best interests of all."

Elli looked around the table. Some of the men and women seemed to be talking amongst themselves in groups, eyeing the other groups suspiciously. Even with her training as a member of the First Generation, if it wasn't for her mother, Elli would never have picked up on it. It was her mother who had told her. Parties, Elli remembered. Don't take sides.Don't make enemies. There were always certain interests or groups from different parts of the Empire that squabbled and competed for Empress Glamour's utmost attention and love.

Finally, the rumbling of marble on marble was heard, and all at the long table stood in honor. The huge doors that glistened all the colors of the rainbow opened at the end of the hall. The first through were two guards in shimmering blue armor.

The second through was Lord Ahab, her majesty's strong right hand. He was slightly past middle-age, his long black hair streaked with oncoming white. His faced was tanned and wrinkled as well. Elli looked silently at his eyes. They were strong, fierce, and determined. No matter how much he had aged since Elli had grown up in Sootopolis, his eyes still had the same, hungry glimmer to them.

Finally, the Empress herself strode into the room elegantly. Though older than Ahab, she looked to be younger than Elli's own mother. Even Elli had to admit to herself that the Empress was even more beautiful, however. Her skin was flawless and seemed to glow in the light of the chamber. Her long flowing hair was as golden as the noon sun atop Sootopolis. She walked with her golden trident in hand, and the shimmering Blue Orb embedded in it: the symbol and source of the Empress's grace, wisdom, power, and immortality. And her dress was marvelous; it seemed to Elli that whoever made her own wedding dress had also designed this one for the Empress.

At long last, the two supreme royals finally took their places at the Council Table. "You may be seated," her majesty said with a smile. After all had sat back in their chairs, she spoke again. "I trust all the young new Lords and Ladies of the First Generation have been delivered safe and sound back to their own jurisdictions?"

A strong-armed man bowed in his seat towards the end of the table. "They have, your grace."

"You've done me great service, captain," she said. "Your family shall feast for months."

The captain bowed again, muttering his thanks as the rest of the table applauded, Elli included.

Empress Glamour turned to her brother. "What is first on the council's agenda for this meeting?"

Ahab grumbled and looked down at a piece of parchment. He squinted his eyes. He read slowly from what was written. "The High Council recognizes the representative from the Mauville territories," he said, almost bored.

Elli turned to look as a man stood up just across from her. He wore a yellow stained leather coat with a lightning bolt embroidered on it.

"First," he said politely, "I would like to thank Captain James for delivering our young lord, Chris Marsh II back home." Elli applauded again unsurely with the rest. She realized that there was an awful lot of formality at these meetings. He went on, "Your grace, the famine has started to take a wider toll on our citizens, as well as the rest of the citizens of all of Hoenn, whom we grow food for. Last week, I received a message from my Lady Sarah that twenty more have died of hunger, seven of them children. They're not getting enough to eat."

The other representatives around the table began to mutter. Some, who near the Mauville representative, seemed to agree with him. Councilmen from Oldale, Rustboro, and Verdanturf seemed to be nodding in agreement. However, other councilmen from Mossdeep, Pacifidlog, and Lavaridge turned their heads in disgust.

Finally, Empress Glamour spoke. "Ever since I unified this great region of ours, I have hired the best minds of the natural arts. In my service work the farmers from all over who have grown the best crops for centuries. I can assure you, that with my control of the rains, a plan has been systematically and carefully crafted to influence and control the growth of these crops in the best interests of all of my Empire."

The councilmen against the man from Mauville were the ones nodding this time. Clapping and yelling "hear, hear," at the Empress' words.

The representative from Mauville spoke over the applause. "Your Holiness, children are dying! Hundreds starve in the streets, waiting outside Lady Spark's hall, begging for food, and they grow restless. Some have even turned against you, supporting the Draconids in secret. Your Excellency, it is with great humility that I ask you to reconsider your policy."

The table grew hushed at the mention of the Draconids. Elli's heart twisted in a knot, and she felt her mother's hand on her shoulder. The Empress responded quietly, causing all to strain their ears and listen to what she had to say. "And what would your suggestion be, Councilman?"

He grew timid and nervous, but he drew support from his fellow councilmen that were supporting him. "Your grace, I would ask that we explore the possibility of money again. Let the farmers grow and sell their food to all in the region. My men have interviewed many of the farmers, and they say that if they would just be allowed to grow for profit-"

The Empress slammed the butt of her trident on the ground, and the Blue Orb flashed brightly. All were silent and the Empress stood up. Elli felt fearful inside.

"Profit?" she asked. Even her voice got darker. "It was profit that allowed the citizens of your town to multiply so much. It was profit that allowed tradesmen to cross the seas of Hoenn, transporting goods from one place to another, making some rich and others poor. No, councilman, I will not reintroduce money. My carefully planned rain cycles are feeding the rest of the people across Hoenn, if your people are dying for paying their fair share of food production, it's because your former Kingdom grew fat, multiplied, and sustained themselves on greed, leaving the other Kingdoms to a rather unequal way of life." She looked at her half-brother. "Ahab, take this man to the dungeons, and send a message to Sarah Spark. Tell her she needs a new councilman, and there will be no more talk about money or profit."

Ahab stood and bowed. "As you wish. I will instruct young Lord Marsh to have a hand in the councilman's replacement as well. It may be that the son can further instruct the mother and her territories in the blessings of your word." With that, Ahab grabbed the councilman's shoulder and escorted him out of the hall.

The Empress sat back down and looked down at Ahab's schedule as all the table sat in silence. "The council recognizes the representative from Mt. Pyre."

The Mt. Pyre Councilman stood up, along with another man Elli had never seen before. He was mid-height with dark hair. He was in his early thirties and wore stone-colored grey armor. "Your grace, this is Franco, he is the captain of Lord Governor Spector's guard, and he has made the trip to the capitol himself to deliver his message."

Franco cleared his throat. "Your grace, I'm honored at the sight of your beauty and wisdom."

The Empress smiled and nodded her head.

Franco continued. "However, I must inform you that the Draconids have struck again. A nurse was murdered by them, in the very fortress where my Lord and his family lives."

Everybody at the table gasped in shock. The Empress, however, didn't seem shaken. Elli marveled at her calm and collected demeanor, even as news of that terrible terrorist band of outlaws hit her ears. "How are you so sure it was the Draconids?"

Franco sighed and reached into a pouch at his belt. He pulled out something golden a flipped it onto the table. The coin dinged as it hit the marble, echoing in the silent room. "Only one man marks his kills like this, and you've been after him for a long time. I'm sorry, your grace. He's back."

Burningtree, Elli thought as the pain circled through her veins. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt like collapsing in her chair, if not for her mother next to her that caught her. Elizabeth Tidall felt like the whole chamber was watching her as she hid her face on her mother's shoulder.

Elli tried to dry her eyes and keep herself poised as she turned back towards the council table. No one had noticed her. All the Councilmen and women and representatives were speaking at once in a panic. She gazed at the coin the captain of Lord Specter's guard had put on the table.

Elli never could burn the image out of her eyes. She would never forget the sight of the golden coin, engraved with a flaming tree on it. As hard as she tried to forget, she always had nightmares about that terrible day, ten years ago.

It seemed like it was just yesterday that a young Elli had walked into her friend's room. She had been late for their swimming day, after all. Elli's tears fell down her face as she saw young Jessi Bell in a pool of blood, her friend's poor Spheal with a red gash in its throat, and a shimmering golden coin in Jessi's outstretched hand.

Elli brought her thoughts back to the present. She looked down at the friendship bracelet Jessi had made for her all those years ago. She tried to hold back the tears as she realized her old nightmares had just come to life.