Tryst with Destiny: The End of the Beginning

125: The Deception of Reality

"Fascinating. Isn't it?" Dragon Emperor announces as he refills his glass with water.

"What is?" Dawn's eyes narrow.

"Power. Or rather, the nature with which it changes hands. So unpredictable yet elegant, almost like the final piece of a finished jigsaw puzzle falling in place," Dragon Emperor says as he takes a swig of water.

"You're referring to the way the tables turned when the southern army arrived to aid the Pokemon army?" Serena questions, earning her a smile from her master.

"Yes, you're right. But it's much more than that. Something which will be clear to you once I finish the story," Dragon Emperor answers before turning to face everyone.

"Coming back to where we were. Before the Shadow Pokemon and northern armies could launch their final assault on the Pokemon army, the southern army had arrived to aid the Pokemon army in this battle. The tables had turned and turned drastically, for now, it was the Shadow Pokemon army which was pinned between two armies," Dragon Emperor continues with the story as everyone listens with rapt attention.

"I have a question," Bonnie raises her hand.

"Go on," Dragon Emperor replies.

"What did the southern army consist of?" she asks.

"A very good question. To answer your question the armies of the southern kings consisted of 3 distinct divisions. The first, infantry or in simpler terms foot soldiers. The second, artillery or as you would know it, bowmen and siege weapons like catapults. Last but not the least there was cavalry," Dragon Emperor answers only to be interrupted by Gary.

"Cavalry? You mean soldiers who fought on the back of Pokemon?" Gary enquires.

"Yes," Dragon Emperor replies.

"But that doesn't make sense," Gary points out.

"And why do you say that, young man?" Dragon Emperor enquires.

"You said that the humans and the Pokemon used to detest each other and they used to live isolated from one another. If there was no interaction between them then how can the southern kingdoms have cavalry with Pokemon in it?" Gary points out causing the entire hall to start murmuring in agreement.

"You're correct. But you forget another small detail which I told you," Dragon Emperor answers, impressed by Gary's observation skills.

"Which is?" Gary asks.

"The fact that when a Pokemon was being punished it was exiled to go and live with the humans. It was exactly this fact, that allowed the southern armies to have cavalry. Remember, humans as a species have always been one of superior intellect. Despite being deemed the weakest the humans went on to create civilizations at that point of time," Dragon Emperor lectures.

"So they must have understood that having those exiled Pokemon live with them was an asset instead of a burden. This must have laid the foundation for the existence of a cavalry," Serena assesses.

"Quite remarkable, this story is. The way the bonds between human and Pokemon were forged are most interesting," Oak chirped in.

"Yes. And what's more interesting is the fact that this practice of creating a cavalry and inducting the exiled Pokemon into the military fold was done only in the southern kingdoms for only under the wisdom of the southern kings, was this vision possible. This is exactly why the Shadow Pokemon in secret trained the northern army on how to fight side by side in the war. It was because the northern army did not have any notion of how to fight with a Pokemon by your side, much less having a Shadow Pokemon fighting side by side," Dragon Emperor continues before stretching his hands and cracking his knuckles.