The Twenty Minute Intermission



The B&M backstage, a normally lonely place during the show, but an active hive after the confrontations made in the audience a short while ago. Inside one of the rooms lining the backstage hall, three ‘mon preoccupy: Martyr, Sam, and Xsar.



Sam sits, still slightly shaking, in a corner of the room. He looks warily at Martyr, who has her arms crossed. Beside Sam is Xsar, who stands ready at his side. She stares at the other Flareon, feelings of discomfort and distrust filling her mind.



Sam: …



Martyr: …



Xsar: (What do you want… ‘Martyr’?)



Martyr: …



Sam: U-u-u-ummm…..



Martyr sighs.



Xsar: Okay, we followed you here, now what do you want?



Martyr: …



She looks at Sam.



Martyr: You.



Sam: M-me?!?



Martyr: Yes you, do you see any other Flareon in the room other than me?



Sam: …n-n-no…



Martyr: Then I’m talking to you.



Xsar steps in before she can say anymore.



Xsar: Now you stop right there. We agreed to do this, on behalf that you DON’T hurt Sam or break him in any way. Did we not?



Martyr: …



She turns away.



Martyr: Ugh...fine. Then let me start of with this, who are you both anyway?



Xsar: I’m Xsar and this is Sam. We are from the Kanto region, and our trainer’s name is Abe. You got all that?



Martyr: Yes yes…… (I don’t like her vibe, that’s for sure)



It was then when Burrito came rushing in. Unaware of where Martyr was standing, Burrito runs straight into Martyr after quickly opening the door.



Martyr: W- omfffffffffffff



Burrito: A-ahhhhhhhh!!!



The two tangle into a ball and land on the floor, Burrito on top of Martyr.



Burrito: U-uggguu…..



Martyr: GAHH!!! Okay, watch where you are going next tim-------mmmmeee…….. B-b-b-b-b-b-burr-



…

She notices the position that they are in after the impact, and reddens very quickly.



Martyr: (B-burrito…..y-you’re….)



Burrito: Owww……



He shakes his head and finally notices whom he is on top of.



Burrito: A-AHH! I’m so sorry Marty!



He quickly gets off and steps back a bit.



Burrito: I was just in a rush and I opened the door and I came running in because you had brought these two-



Martyr: …



Burrito: …in here…



Martyr: …



Burrito: I-I-I-I’m sorry…



Martyr: (You’re lucky that I…...mmmph…..this is embarrassing)



She wipes her face over and gets up from the tumble to face Xsar and Sam, whom have said nothing the whole time.



Martyr: Say anything about this, and you will wish you hadn’t.



Xsar: (Another threat another day, keep doing this and I’ll…)



Sam: O-o-o-o-ok...I won’t! I promise!



Martyr: …good.



An awkward since follows. No one is willing to be the first to break it, until Burrito does.



Burrito: A-anyways, what I came rushing to say is that I got the go for a small intermission, but only a small one. We can be off for 20 minutes only. After that, we need to be back on stage.



Martyr: 20 minutes….that’s more than enough time, but I’ll take it all anyway.



Burrito: Okay… but one last thing.

Martyr: On with it, we do have only 20 minutes.



Burrito sighs.



Burrito: Look, you can get all the information you want, but just… don’t hurt anybody… please.



Martyr: …



Burrito: He looks like such an innocent Flareon… and he is already shaking without a word….



Martyr looks to Sam, who is indeed quaking as if he had seen a ghost.



Martyr: ...alright, I’ll be careful, but no promises.



Burrito: Thanks Marty… and with that, I’ll be heading out of here until the break is up. Please make sure to keep up with your promise Marty…. I don’t want to even think what would happen if you didn't....



With a bit less rush than last time, Burrito makes his way out of the room, closing the door behind him. The focus returns again to the remaining three: Martyr, Xsar, and Sam.



Martyr: (Now, how should I make use of these twenty minutes? Hmmmm….)



She approaches Sam, who again cowers back and back with every step.



Martyr: So… you were another Flareon made by the voices, weren’t you?



Sam: V-voices?!?



Martyr: Yes voices, those Unown you saw back in the room. Those are the voices, the ever annoying voices….



Xsar: And what makes these Unown special? From my knowledge, there are lots of Unown, and most spend their time hiding away in ancient ruins.



Martyr: You just answered the question partially yourself.



Xsar: I….did?



Martyr: Yes. Just take a look at them; why are they so erratic? Why do they mention things that even I don’t understand? And lastly, why do they desire so much to control destinies? Those are the voices. They seem so powerless and annoying, yet they hold so much power in a group….



She looks down for a second before looking back at the two.



Martyr: Look, let me tell you here and straight— me and Burrito? Both our hosts were under control of the voices. Both were subjugated by a group of beings that dictated the every move they made, for good and bad, so much bad…



Xsar: And why is this?



Martyr: …



Xsar: Are you going to answer?



Martyr: ...I’m going to ask you two questions, and two questions only.



Sam: T-two questions? I-I-I can answer them I guess….



Xsar: Alright, but make them quick and nothing personal, or else I’m afraid we won’t answer.



Martyr: ...fine then. It’s not like I’m trying to learn about your personal lives anyway.



She reaches down and picks up her dome fossil necklace, showing it off to both of them.



Martyr: This necklace… it belongs to and is one of the Dome’s. It was a parting gift given to me before my return from the PC. I’ve worn and kept it safe from harm since that day, and it’s uses have come in handy a number of times in the past. However, that is not what we’re here to discuss.



She holds it up higher so both can see the fossil in the dim light of the room.



Martyr: What I want to know… is if your trainer had this fossil, or if he had a different one. This is my first question.



She gives them a minute to think, not forcefully speeding through things to adhere to Burrito’s words. Sam is the first to respond.



Sam: I-I’ve never seen anything like it, sorry……



Martyr: …(Those voices better not have yet AGAIN picked the-)



Xsar: I’ve seen it before. Abe had that exact same fossil in his bag.



It was hard to see, but the frown forming on Martyr’s face quickly turned into a tiny smile before returning to normal.



Martyr: That’s all I needed to hear (first check is a success!).



Xsar: And your second question?



Martyr: ...I’m on it! Geez, I’m usually the one rushing things, but you are something else.



Xsar: …(it’s because of you, Martyr, it’s because of you)



She frowns before returning her focus back on topic. To her side, Sam seems a bit more confident than before, even if his legs were still a bit wobbly.



Martyr: My second and final question is this, and I’m talking to you directly Sam.



Sam: M-m-me?!?



Martyr: Yes, you, this particular matter deals with your kind, that of Flareon. What was your fate with the voices? What did they make your trainer do to you?



Sam: U-u-u-ummm….



Before anything else happens, Xsar intervenes again.



Xsar: Alright, that’s enough! I said to not get personal, and this question is all too personal for him.



Martyr: What are you saying? This is nothing personal! I’m just asking a question of his fate with the voices!



Xsar: Oh, yes it is!



Martyr: Says who?



Xsar: Says us! Come Sam, we’re out of here.



Sam: H-h-huh?!?



With a quick pull, Xsar begins to lead Sam out of the room. It is not without disruption from the other Flareon, however, who dashes to block the door.



Martyr: Alright, if you can stop playing games with me and give me an answer, I’ll let you go. However, if you keep toying with me like this…



She flashes her claws in a threatening matter. Sam goes completely white.



Xsar: You just didn’t-



Martyr: Oh, yes I did. Now answer!



Xsar: I’ll give you an answer, one that you’ve been looking for this whole time.

Martyr: Let me hear it the-



She doesn’t get to finish before a cloud of sand and dust is kicked into her face. Recoiling from the surprise, she does even get another second to try and wipe it out before a shower of gold coins batters her at high speed. Martyr is knocked down.



Xsar: Now’s our chance! Let’s GO!



The two bolt from the room, making their way down the hallway at high speed. They run into a few backstage members, whom grumble in annoyance. Passing door after door, they make it to a split in the road, four hallways going all different directions.



Xsar: Ugh… a split path.



Sam: e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e...



Xsar sighs.



Xsar: Sam!



Sam: Wah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Xsar: You okay? You were lost in the eeee’s again…



Sam: U-u-uggguuu…..t-those claws….I don’t ever want to see them again.



Xsar: I promise you never have to, now come on, lets pick a direction and move!



It was then they began to hear a low rumble a ways back from the hallway they came. It grows louder and louder every second.



.ggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…



Xsar: RUN! NOW!



The two bolt down a hallway, hoping to escape the ever-violent sound.



..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…



A door opens and Brian walks groggily out of it.



Brian: All right. Who’s the wise guy that left the earthquake machine on, because I CAN’T SLEEP WITH IT ON!



..grrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…



Brian: W-what was that?!?



..GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…



He looks down the shaking hallway to a sight he wish he hadn’t seen. A Flareon, Martyr. She is enveloped in dark red flames, most obscuring her body except for her eyes. Those two piercing yellow eyes…



Brain is spooked.



Brian: H-h-h-haha! I-I-I never said anything about an earthquake machine! J-just a silly assumption! Haha……….I-i’msleepingnow!



He rushes back into his room and slams the door shut. Martyr passes by without a care in the world. Her mind is set on one thing, and one thing only: Sam and Xsar.



...GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!



She picks up speed and reaches the same split in hallway the two were in a moment ago. Using her senses, she figures out which path they took and makes a mad dash down the respective hallway. Further ahead, Sam and Xsar run through the seemingly endless hallways making up the complex. The area that they were in seemed more upscale and business-like, the doors made of more and more elegant materials.



Xsar: I hope we are going the right way…



Sam: P-p-please be the right way...p-please…



They continue to run past more and more doors. Soon however, they are bought with a terrible sight.



Xsar: No!



Up ahead the hallway widened before ending on a final door. This door was more exquisite and unique than all the rest of the doors in the facility that they had seen so far. A few chairs and plants sat near the door, but other than that, there was no other path. The only way was once they came, and it did not sound inviting.



…..TWOOOOOOOO, TWOOOOOOO SHALLLL FALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sam: E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eeeep!!!!!



Xsar: U-um… h-hmmm…...we have no other choice.



She goes up and tries the door. It does not budge.



Xsar: Dam-



She remembers who she is with.



Xsar: DANGIT! It won’t budge!



Sam: W-w-w-w-w-w-what do we do??!?!?!?!? I-I-I-I-I-I-I don’t want to be c-c-c-c-clawed!!!!!!

Xsar: …

She dives into her thoughts for an answer, but it was then she arrived…



Martyr: I FOUND YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sam and Xsar: !



Martyr: YOU THINK YOU COULD ESCAPE MEEEEEEEEE?!?



Xsar: …



Martyr: THAT’S RIGHTTTTTTTT!!!! YOU DIDN’T!!!!



Xsar quickly whispers to Sam.



Xsar: Sam, hide!



Sam: B-but-!



Xsar: Hide, NOW!



Sam: What about you-



Xsar: Don’t worry about me, just HIDE!



Sam: O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-okay!



With a quick dive, Sam hides behind a chair. Xsar then turns back to face the fiery Martyr.



Martyr: NO ONE CAN ESCAPE ME ONCE IN MY SIGHTSSSSSS!!!!!!!



Xsar: You don’t scare me!



Martyr: ...I BEG TO DIFFER. JUST LOOK AT THOSE QUAKING LEGS. YOU’RE TERRIFIED!



She was correct. Despite Xsar’s brave face, she was scared, very, very scared. She continued to put it off her expression, even if the ever growing fear begged not to listen.



Xsar: S-so what! What do I have to be afraid of! I’ve done nothing wrong, nothing at all.



She takes advantage of this push.



Xsar: I-in fact, YOU should be the one running scared!



Martyr: …



She should not have pressed her further.



Martyr: YOU……YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The area around erupts into fire. The walls, ceiling, everything was fire. A large circle of flames began to form around all three of them, trapping them in a inescapable vortex.



Martyr: WELCOME……WELCOME TO YOUR DEMISE!!



Xsar: W-w-what is this?!?!



Martyr: THERE YOU GO AGAIN WITH THE QUESTIONS…AND JUST LIKE YOU DID TO ME, I’LL DO TO YOU!



She raises her paws and the power of the flames grows immense. A few flickers begin to rain down on Sam and Xsar, but doing no damage.



Martyr: THIS IS THE RING OF FIRE, A PLACE WHERE THE CHOSEN ARE CREATED, A PLACE WHERE THE CONDEMNED ARE LEFT TO PERISH. THE FIRE RULES OVER ALL HERE, AND IT’S WILL WILL BE MADE!



She again raises her paws, but this time fully, revealing a glowing dome fossil on her tuff.



Xsar: I-is that?!?



Martyr: BUT ENOUGH OF YOUR GAMES! THIS ENDS HERE AND NOW! I WILL GET MY ANSWERS, OR THE FIRE WILL HAVE IT’S WAY! AND THE FIRE DOES WHAT IT PLEASES, NO MATTER THE EXPENSE!



Xsar: ……



Xsar fixates her eyes on Martyr.



Xsar: This time… all this time, I thought you were just cold, cold but with an understanding of what life really means, an understanding of other people. But I was wrong…



Martyr: …



Xsar: ...you’re nothing but a cold demonic heartless bastard!!!!!!



Her shout shatters the air of suspense in the ring. Martyr reels from the impact of the words…but she doesn’t show it externally. Instead she just stares at the Persian.



Martyr: What did you just...!



She clenches her fists.



Martyr: ...WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?



The sparks of flames erupt and draw close to Xsar, their wisps beginning to singe her.



Martyr: YOU’VE USED UP ALL YOUR LIVES, CAT, AND NOW IT’S TIME TO TAKE THE FINAL ONE!



She motions her paws back, almost like she was about to strike.



Martyr: WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!



She thrusts her hands forward, and the flames leap to their new prey.



Xsar: (S-sam…….)



…



….



…..



…...



…….



……..



???: That’s quite enough, Martyr.



With a quick snap, the flames around Xsar peter out, as if a rainstorm had occurred in the hallway.



Martyr: Wha- WHO’S THERE? SHOW YOURSELF!



???: If you so wish…..



Out of the darkness came not a mon, but a human. He wore a red shirt emblemed with an N, coupled with dark grey pants. Flowing from his neck was a cape, two sides depicted with hearts on one, fire on the other. On his face sat a pair of glasses, which he proceeded to push up into place.



Martyr: W-who are YOU?!?



???: Me? I’m surprised you don’t remember Martyr, after all……



He points at himself.



Nyberim: It was me who accepted you in the first place!



To be continued (End Episode 6 Part 1.5)