PMD: Times of Strife

Chapter 8

"Here's another one Shade, but the statue's destroyed."

"Really? This one must be older than the last one, go see if there's an inscription."

"Alright."

Looking down Zen saw that there was indeed an inscription, this one appeared to be a lot shorter than the last one. Wiping away some of the dust Zen began to mentally read it.

'I never thought I'd see the day it happened, but there's no changing what is the past. I have done all I can to progress things, I hope to see you again one day Tamao... whether it is in life or death.'

"There's that name again! Who is Tamao?"

"I've heard that name throughout my past travels, apparently he was some famous criminal on Zocarive. Anyone who trusted him was stabbed in the back, both literally, and figuratively."

"Yeah, but that last statue sa–" "The last statue was made by one of his followers, Nightshade was the one who was trying to stop him."

"Okay, but where did you hear about this Tamao? I've been all around the world and have never heard his name spoken before."

"He's famous amongst criminals, they love to use his name as a way of threatening people."

"Huh, well the more you know ha."

"Yup, though looking back at the stories I was told they were probably all made up. Now come on. Let's get to Taviki."

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Tamao had been through a lot the last couple of weeks, well even a lot doesn't sum up how weird his life had become. Somehow the time traveling made the most sense to him.

One day you're just a low-life criminal, and the next you're trying to save the world. Feels just a bit ironic, doesn't it? Well, now he was about to have an encounter with another Pokemon he had never met, who appeared very confrontational based on their current stance in front of him. That stance is a fighting one...

The Pokemon standing in front of him was a very large Charizard, and the object behind him was a small tablet that held the powers of the gods if it was united with the rest scattered around the world.

"Give me that tablet kid, and no one will be hurt."

"Who are you calling a kid?" Tamao asked in the most threatening tone he could muster facing a Pokemon that could probably squish him like a bug.

"Oh, so you want to act tough huh. I'm gonna enjoy this."

With plenty of warning by this point, the Charizard shot a flamethrower at Tamao. It hit Tamao directly who was thrown back by the sheer force of the attack, then while trying to get up the Charizard shot another flamethrower that all but knocked Tamao out.

"Wow, based on all I've heard about you I was hoping for a better fight. Looks like I'll be leaving disappointed. Oh well, at least I can let my boss know I got what he wanted."

"N-no, d-d-don't t-take that t-tablet."

"Oh, and why shouldn't I?"

"Y-you'll doom this world, whatever your boss has told you is a lie. He'll leave you for dead the first chance he gets."

"And you think I'm gonna believe that? Ha, pathetic. Who do you take me for? I'm not blind or dense, I know who I can and can't trust. I know I can't trust you."

The Charizard then turned around and left the cavern, tablet in hand. Tears were forming in Tamao's eyes, but not tears of sadness... tears of fear. Tamao was afraid of what would happen in the future, Nightshade was here, there was no denying that anymore. But how long has he been here? How many tablets does he have? How many followers does he have?