The Iron Grip

Chapter 18

Out of the cave cane crawling the largest Centiskorch one will ever see. The fire on its face burned brighter than a thousand suns, the air around its body was hazy with the immense heat it gave off and its anger had no limits. It tore through the troops on the beach, burned their ships to the ground and set the landscape ablaze.

Up above this destructive mess flew two creatures. If you got closer it became apparent that these pokemon had riders, one armed with a sword, the other armed with the cunning of the wilderness.

Centiskorch reared its head and screeched. It was going nowhere. Talonflame dodged a ball if molten rock that came soaring at it.

"What do we do now?", Lillie asked.

"I don't know. You're the one who is always defeating them!", Mallow replied. "Think."

"Centiskorch must have a weak spot."

"What about water? Its bound to be afraid of that."

"Just a random thought, but if the sword can make things small again, shouldn't it make them big as well?"

"You can try..."

Talonflame landed on the now destroyed beach. Lillie raised the sword above her head and slammed it down onto the ground at Talonflames feet.

The firebird began to flare with energy as it slowly grew to the size of the opposing Centiskorch.

"Okay Talonflame!", called Lillie. "Light it up!"

Talonflame opened its beak and released a stream of fire that enveloped Centiskorch.

Centiskorch retaliated by taking the shape of a zigzag and blasting fire at Talonflame.

This did little damage to Talonflame, and after Centiskorch was hit by a horizontal whirlwind, it was clear who the victor was.

As Centiskorch began to shrink, Lillie took a moment to recollect all that had happened...

A fearful, lonely child running away from her family, the windswept dunes and wild beaches of the north, the slave market, Sophocles, the bandits and their skirmish. Her trail led her to the caravan of travellers, through betrayal and an eerie marsh they toiled, and it cost the Queendom its second largest city.

The blizzard that made her meet Mallow, journey to the outlaw fort that stood up in the mountains and loose Mallow again. Her bloodthirsty rage when crossing the border and the restlessness she had in the days afterwards.

Her decision to go and look for Mallow, the Sandaconda that attacked her and let her be captured by the royal guard. Her argument with Mallow and the outlaw raid on Aether city. The huge Kingler, her mother's plans and her mothers demise inside the volcano.

In the days to come Gladion would become king of the land, outlaws would be given rights and Lillie would move back into the castle with Mallow.

Meanwhile, in the ruins of a wrecked boat on a wild and untouched beach stirred something. Was it a mer-person or a kelpie, a siren or a swamp-monster? Its hair was full of seaweed, its skin was ghostly pale and its voice hoarse and dry. It spat words with hatred and malice, and it was determined to bring the monarchy to thier knees...