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The Adventures of Lulu - Page 258 - Xander's Trial - By Megaladong - Overview
You wake up the next morning in your parents' den a little disoriented; was it all a dream? The past two days were a blur and to end up back where you started seems surreal. But as your mind pieces the events together, it all comes back to you; it was not a dream and the consequences, both good and bad, will play themselves out. Fortunately, the night was kind and did not besiege your dreams with terrors but instead peaceful memories of youth - gentle on your rest. Rejuvenated and ready to go, you awake with a stretch and a hardy yawn.

From the burrow’s entrance, dawn’s early rays shine in with golden fingers. The den stands empty, save for your mother’s egg, your future sibling, sitting in your old room. Both parents have already headed out to prepare for the day’s dark events. You too should prepare.

Exiting the den, the tribe is already in full motion. Hundreds of pikachu scurry about to do their daily chores gathering food, tending to pichu, cleaning straw floors, and gossiping in groups of various sizes - a necessary chore for social pikachu life. Already, a crowd gathers around the center stump for Jet’s funeral. Knowing that is where you belong, with your grieving family, you trot over to join.

Placed on the stump is your nephew’s body but covering it, a weave of leaves and sticks to hide the gruesome scene and mint leaves woven in to mask the stench of death and vomit. At the base, your family gathered for the start of the funeral. Your grieving sister, with tear tracks and heavy ears, bares her grief well in the moment and thanks all who come to console her. You rush to her and embrace her spending the next few minutes weeping into her shoulder and begging her pardon - as you feel partially responsible. But she assures you she does not think or hold any such thoughts against you.

Just as all the tribe gathers and as the sage approaches to start the ceremony of passing, a sudden murmuring sweeps the crowd. All crane their heads to look to the south. From the trees’ shadows emerges the unmistakable glinting of golden-white fur and long, flowing tails - The Lady of the Forest. Awe strikes your fellow pikachu as it did you when first laying eyes on her; how could it not? Even with the dire circumstances, she maintains her regal strut and perfect posture, seeming to glide effortlessly towards the tribe. Her tails bounce gracefully with each step like a human’s frilly dress, and her lower jaw clenched and pointing ever so slightly to the sky. And flanking her side, the silver-furred steward, Tavein, matching Lady’s stride and sturdy chin.

Confusion breaks out in the pikachu; should they bow before her in respect or lash out with words of anger? Instead, they just look at each other murmuring, nobody knowing what to do - except for Boc, Dale, and a few other high-status bucks. They emerge out of the crowd in a V formation to intercept Lady.

The two groups stop about ten feet from another. Lady looks to the crowd then to the body laying on the stump then to Boc, looking quite befuddled at the change in circumstances. Boc starts by bowing - a move that even surprises you; Pikachu see themselves on even authority with Lady, so bowing before her seems almost sacrilege. But Lady eases the tension by bowing back, giving back the respect Boc has shown her.

Once bows have been exchanged, Boc says, “Lady, much has changed since our last meeting. Thanks to Lulu, we have found the true killer of our young over these years, and it was not vulpix; we beg your pardon. It was a kecleon, an invisible monster hiding in our trees, an invasive beast from gods know where - some savage land from afar - snatching our young from right under our snouts.”

“A kecleon?” Lady ponders then breathes a sigh of relief. “I guess that makes sense now that you say it. But I would have never thought. Is it still alive?”

“Yes, Lady. We have him in our custody and plan on executing him after the pichu’s funeral.”

“And what of Xander?”

“Xander still broke the treaty, and we planned on executing him after the kecleon, but more quickly than before.”

“May I ask a favor?” Lady says. “Since it is no pichu he killed, I would like him to come back to vulpix territory to face my justice before his kin. So they may know what punishment comes of toying with our delicate treaty.”

Boc turns to Dale and exchanges whispers briefly. Boc turns back to Lady and tells her, “yes, that is okay with us. We will give him to you after the funeral and kecleon’s execution. Now please let us grieve, Lady.”

She bows low and then excuses herself to the edge of the clearing where she sits by a tree with Tavien by her side watching the scene unfold…

Jet’s funeral was like the many others you’ve been to - much wailing and flowing tears. Dark, low clouds of rolling thunder form overhead but not a drop fell. When it is an elderly pikachu’s death, a death that comes with the old age to shroud the eyes in darkness and take them from this world and is all too expected, the cloud does not form, and the tears that flow are not of immense sadness but bittersweet grief, if there is such a thing, for the full life that has passed by and the reverence of the living knowing their day is closer at paw. But a pichu’s death is a dark thing indeed - no bittersweet tears only tears of anguish for the life that has been cut short; No parent should have to bury their young. What a cruel trick the gods of death play when it is the innocent youth that lay still on that cold stump.

But like all before, grief is poured out and the sage says his holy words appeasing the harsh gods, and Jet’s body is taken into the woods to be buried in a deep grave dug for him the previous night. That is one good thing; many pichu taken by predators do not have a body to be buried. Their grave has already been dug for them, and no weeping loved ones to see them from this world, only a satisfied monster burying them in folds of flesh and burning acid instead of clumps of mud and cool clay.

But soon, the ceremony has finished and your nephew laid to rest; now is the time for revenge. The pichu and many doe are whisked inside their dens, and the massive kecleon is dragged out into the open - still alive on the threshold of death but not kind enough to take him yet. The dark thunder cloud turns angry as the mob gathers around the immobilized lizard and pours down their wrath. A sea of yellow and waves of dancing sparks surround the beast flowing towards him. Slow electrocution starts. Almost instantly, his scales turn to yellow, but it does him no favors as it only prolongs his brutal execution.

Any pikachu that wishes to enact some sort of revenge on the beast is there, unloading their stores of electricity but slowly… painfully slowly. Sparks jump to the kecleon one at a time and dance around his body - him convulsing and grimacing slightly with each jolt but unable to express the pain in any other way.

It takes nearly two hours, much longer than others you’ve witnessed before, until Boc shouts, “stop! He is dead!” A ruckus cheer rises from the crowd at the news. Soon, many depart as they all know what comes next. Only you and twenty or so bucks remain around the dead beast. His body is now almost completely covered in black char marks but scales still yellow, and his one remaining eye lies dull and lifeless. The distinct smell of cooked flesh wafts from his body; he has been roasted inside out for over two hours - it is hard to imagine a worse way to go.

The bucks that stayed, now start their gruesome work. They gnaw, with their bucked teeth, into the flesh, but not a drop of blood is spilled; and his gray meat confirms his fate. They carve his body into pieces and depart into the forest with various parts to scatter around the edge of pikachu territory as a warning to other such predators. His head, taken by Dale and Boc, to be hung on the crooked tree.

Now life for the tribe begins to return to normal, pikachu crawl from their den to restart the necessary chores of daily life, though still with a heavy heart. And about that time, a long shadow is cast across you. Looking up, Lady has made her presence known to you. She smiles sweetly down.

"Lulu, I have to say I'm surprised. When you were first brought to me, I thought little of you. To be captured by my children, I thought the gods have marked you for consumption, a noble role but no great honor either. But it seems I miss judged you; it appears they have a greater plan for you, maybe even for the Thunder Stone you seek. But they work in mysterious ways so I shall not speculate further.

"But one thing is clear: you have helped me greatly; if there was any bad blood between us, let it pass. It seems I owe you. Catching this kecleon will heal the wound between our kinds. For the first time in decades, I feel hope for this forest; maybe one day we can restore it to the way the gods intended. For this, I will reward you:

"First, I will tell my children you are no longer fair game, and any that hunts you will face my wrath. As for the other predators of the forest or vulpix outside my purview, I can not guarantee safe passage of course; the gods still may have marked you as prey, but for me and my children, you are a friend beyond food…

"And second, I shall grant you one wish; a wish that I will grant to the best of my ability and within the will of the gods…"

A wish!? From such a powerful Pokémon? This may be your best shot to get that Thunder Stone and that is the only wish you can think of at the moment.

But before you can respond, Lady continues, "but I ask of you your wish comes after Xander’s trial, and I ask you to be there; I feel you and him share a connection - a blessed or cursed connection? I am unsure. But one nevertheless."

It's not much of a choice so you just say, “o-of course, Lady. Thank you.”

“No, thank you, Lulu.”

At that moment, Xander is brought out of his prison flanked by Norb and one of Norb’s young friends. Xander hobbles meekly toward Lady, his eyes sunken and gaunt, electrical char marks charing his fur, and head hung low. He does not look like the youthful three-tailed you meet two days ago but a hollow shell on the verge of death.

He doesn't even see Lady until his gaze is cast upon her front paws. He looks up with wide eyes and disbelieving tongue, “L-L-Lady?”

But she glares down at him with scornful eyes. “Xander,” her voice filled with fiery rage, “your foolish action nearly brought the forest to its knees. For your crimes, you shall stand trial in front of your peers and me as your judge…"

Xander looks as though he might pass out in fright and probably now wishes the pikachu killed him. His mouth is left gapping and sputtering words try to escape the throat but before they can manifest, Lady cuts in, " but not in this condition. It is your right to be a full-strength for your trial. Stand still…"

Xander, frozen in fear, obeys the command. One of Lady's long tails unrolls and snakes towards Xander's snout. The reddish-tipped tail now glows with white light. It gently brushes his dry nose; at once, the glowing light is transferred to Xander’s snout and spreads across his whole form, looking like an evolving pichu. But when the light fades, Xander is still a vulpix but has been fully healed. From ears to tail, he looks as youthful and healthy as you saw him yesterday, if not more so and looking quite handsome with perfectly groomed fur and slicked back hair. He looks so cute in fact, you blush a little… Do you have a crush on him?!

But Lady stops your wondering. "Come, Lulu and Xander. We mustn't delay Xander’s trial. It is your right for a speedy one…" Lady turns around to walk away, expecting you to follow.

"Wait!" Shouts your mother from across the clearing. She and a little entourage, including your sister, extended family, and some friends, jog over to you. Your mother embraces you and says, "You're still leaving us?"

Tears well up in your eyes, "yes, mom. I have to now. I must go into the wild, with everything I've been through. If I become a raichu, I can set things right, and pichu like Jet won't need to die needlessly."

She hugs you tighter and says, "I understand, sweetie. If you must go, go. I know next time I see you, you'll be a raichu." She pinches your cheeks and gives you a peck on the forehead, and you kiss her back. You say your goodbyes with the others in the group and part with the same wave and promise you did the first day. Though the unsure looks in their eyes are less so; they have more confidence in you now.

Lady starts back home with Xander and Tavien and you quickly dash to catch up. You walk beside Xander and glance over periodically. He keeps his head down and looks utterly distraught; he knows this is his death march. You try to think of something to say to calm him but nothing comes to mind. About halfway back, his dread overtakes him; He collapses on the ground, hunched and shaking and shivering all over; his gut tries to retch up a meal but with it empty only dry heaves do his mouth make.

Lady looks at him with sad eyes. Tavien stands in front of Xander and gives him a minute to recover; but when it is clear his trimmers only grow with time, he says, "face your death with strength, Xander, and the gods will reward you with mercy; if not in this life, then the next."

That calms Xander a tad and he picks himself up again and continues his march. You begin to feel conflicted… should you use your wish to save him. But Lady said you only get one… should you really waste it on such a pitiful being as Xander?

But soon your group reaches the vulpix’s breeding ground. Like before, it bustles with vulpix life and dead prey can be seen everywhere most of which are currently being eviscerated. But Lady's presence draws all attention, and the bustling is brought to a standstill.

Vulpix, seeing Xander and assuming what is to come, head back to their dens and even bring their kits out to see. Before long the clearing is empty and the hill is full of vulpix sitting outside their dens looking down on the spectacle.

Lady shouts to the hill, “It is a good day, my children. Thanks to Lulu, Xander’s name was cleared of the pichu’s murder. It was found a kecleon was hiding at the watering hole, eating their young, and I suspect, ours too. For Lulu’s help, I decree she is no longer fair game to vulpix; she is now a valued friend high above her weight in meat. And any vulpix that hunts her from here on out will face my wrath…

“And more good news; the kecleon has been dispatched and relations between our kinds have been fully restored! Praise to Moltres, the firebird of the sky, and Entei, god of the volcanoes!”

The hill erupts in yipping and dancing in celebration at the news. Lady lets the celebration go on for a minute before bringing down the mood… “But...” the vulpix settle down, “it is Xander’s foolishness that almost doomed us. He still killed a pidgey in pikachu territory; you don’t deny this, do you, Xander?”

Shivering all over, he peeps, “n-n-no, L-Lady. I-I did kill a pidgey.”

“And for that, you must be judged: the rules are clear, made so by me to all kits after hatch - any vulpix caught hunting in pikachu territory, especially at the watering hole, is punishable by death. You did know this, Xander? Did you not?”

Tears well up in his eyes, “I-I did know this, Lady…”

“And do you have any excuse for this?”

He lowers his head low, shimmering tears dripping off his snout… “N-no, Lady. No excuses…”

“Then you know the consequences…”

Xander meekly nods his head yes and begins sobbing…Is Lady really about to kill him?!

“I take no pleasure in executing my children, but it is what I must do sometimes, what the gods demand of me - to keep order and peace… Let’s not delay… Xander, I have found you guilty of the crime of hunting in pikachu territory, and now you must pay with your life. I am sorry, my child… To make it quick as possible, lay flat and stretch your neck…”

The hill is dead silent, and the only sound is Xander weeping. But to your mind, he holds himself well, for being seconds from death, and does not beg or plead and obeys Lady by laying flat though still shivering.

She leans down to his ear and whispers, “Relax, my child; it will be over in seconds.”

Xander lets out one loud, messy sob as Lady’s jaws open around his neck, but he does not recoil…

A sudden feeling of wanting to intervene jumps into your heart… As Lady said, you do feel a connection to Xander - even if it is a cursed one. Like your two fates are intertwined somehow. And there's no denying it, you do love him even if it is just a small ember in your heart. You could use your wish on sparing him, but what would happen next and how would you get to Thunder Mountain after? And what if you professed your love of Xander? Would Lady spare him then if you agreed to give up your quest for a Thunder Stone to be his mate? Or should you just let Xander suffer his fate? He does deserve it after all… and he wasn’t kind to you either - raping you in a vulnerable state and contemplating eating you.

Whatever you do, it will have to be quick; Lady’s sharp maw is now positioned to snap Xander’s neck. What do you do?
Choose
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