The Campagna Adventures

Chapter 19-Warrior's Funeral

Phil woke to the mournful song of a Lapras.  He looked out his window to see a street performer playing along with his Pokemon.  Phil thought that the sound of the music certaintly suited the mood.  He pulled out the dress Aura Guardian robes Denny had given him the other day for Julian's funeral.  He quietly slipped them on, and hid his Pokeballs in the in-built pockets.  He let Jes out.

"Alright, you go guard Racheal, just like we determined yesterday."

Yesterday,

"Rachael are you going to come to Julian's funeral?" Phil inquired.

"No, I do not think so.  Someone I would not be able to face would definately be there."

"I'd fight them."

"I do not think you could win."

"You saw me defeat Anakin."

"You have no clue how quickly you would be overwhelmed in this circumstance."

"I'll leave Jes, my Luxio, here in case someone decides to give you any trouble."

"Thank you."

"You're most welcome."

Present Day,

'Alright, fine.  I still don't think it is necessary.'

"I think it is.  See you when I get back."

'Alright, be safe.'

"When am I not?  Don't answer that."

Phil walked downstairs, thankfully, even Nurse Joy was asleep, so he did not get any strange looks.  Denny met Phil in the lobby, and they used Asta Argento to hop into a teleporting highway, so to speak.  It would take them to the Monastery for the funeral.  Phil felt squeezed, but it did not hurt as bad this time.  Phil assumed he was getting used to the feeling.  Once they arrived, Phil and Denny had to quickly move forward yo keep from being  run over by new arrivals.  After all, five warrior's funerals were happening at once today for those that had died in the Domination base raid.

Denny lead Phil through the hallways to the massive courtyard, where the unmoving bodies of the dead warriors were on top of funeral pyres.  Phil and Denny moved into a line to say goodbye to each warrior.  To each on, Phil apologized for not acting sooner.  Denny simply bowed his head to each one.  However, when they came to Julian, Phil was the one not speaking.  Julian's dead, glassy eyes stared at him.  Cold and unmoving, the eyes stared into Phil's very soul, having lost their youthful vigor.  Julian's skin was paler than a full moon, so that he almost seemed bleached.  Julian was, as is tradition, still wearing the clothes he died in.  A splotch of dark crimson over his chest.  Phil was simultaneously horrified, transfixed, and wanting to look away.

"Julian, I am so sorry.  I failed you.  I failed my training.  I failed to see the danger.  Julian, please forgive me,"  Denny whispered, in an almost inaudible tone.

Phil was perplexed at this, how could Denny have failed Julian.  He figured it had something to do with the fact that Julian had saved Denny's life by sacrificing his own.  The ceremony was about to begin, so, Phil, Denny, amd hundreds of others, made their way to the edges.  Sensei Jotishu walked onto a small elevated platform.

"These five men died in an attack on a base of the evil Team Domination.  Four of them died to a terrifyingly strong wave of Dark Aura.  A newer, and very powerful, recruit stood up and, with the aid of his Pokemon, defeated the Dark User.  The Dark User was in chains at the new recruits feet, but anothe Aura Guardian was caught by another Dark User.  The Aura Guardian and Dark User not in chains quickly negotiated a prisoner exchange.  Meaning, we almost lost a sixth Aura Guardian.  In honor of these brave souls, I will recite an old poem, from a distant land.

Unselfishly, you left your fathers and your mothers,

You left behind your sisters and your brothers.

Leaving your beloved children and wives,

You put on hold, your dreams-your lives.

On foreign soil, you found yourself planted

To fight for those whose freedom you granted.

Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost

But you carried onward, no matter the cost.

Many horrors you had endured and seen.

Many faces had haunted your dreams.

You cheered as your enemies littered the ground;

You cried as your brothers fell all around.

When it was over, you all came back home,

Some were left with memories to face all alone;

Some found themselves in the company of friends

As their crosses cast shadows across the land.

Those who survived were forever scarred

Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.

Those who did not now sleep eternally

'Neath the ground they had given their lives to keep free.

With a hand upon my heart, I feel The pride and respect; my reverence is revealed

In the tears that now stream down my upturned face

As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.

Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave

Pain and death was the price that you ultimately paid.

Every day, I give my utmost admiration

To those who had fought to defend our nation."

Sensei Jotishu then turned to the funeral pyres, and nodded to the Aura Guardians that were standing at attention next to each resting place, bearing lit torches.  They then proceeded to, as one and in utmost respect, light the funeral pyres.  The flames licked upwards, and slowly cremated the bodies.  The fires flashed in regal colors of white and blue, from their sheer heat.  The intensity of the fires was so that those closest to the fire had to cloak themselves in Aura to keep from blackening.  Once the fire consumed the bodies and pyres, the ceremony was over.  Phil and Denny returned back to where they came from.

"Denny, why do you blame yourself for Julian's death?" Phil inquired.

"I did not trust you.  I was rushing my advance to much, trying to return to aid you.  I rounded a corner without checking.  Julian noticed the sniper, however, and knocked me out of the way, taking a bullet meant for me.  I ran forward in an uncontroled Aura Rage.  However, even in this powerful state, the Dark User I met easily defeated me, as he was still of a sound mind.  Julian's death was caused by my carelessness."

Denny then turned and walked away, presumably to his room.  Phil went and told Rachael of the funeral, but kept Denny's revelation to himself.  Rachael, then told Phil to get some rest, sure that the day had taken a toll on Phil, emotionally not physically.

A/N I am SO sorry about the late update.  I was having technical dificulties.