Back in Business (Alyssa)

[Terran]

Looks like it was time for yet another monthly meeting.

To say Terran wasn't a fan of these was an understatement.  He had taken the opportunity granted by the informal ceasefire to focus more on the positive.  He travelled through the region, helping his people rebuild and recover after many Lux assaults.  He made speeches on radio and television, both to inform and calm citizens as to how the war was going.  He even fled to the safety of Mt. Silver at times, training and meditating with his Pokemon as if the war hadn't even affected them.  It was simple, but it was his way of escaping.  It allowed him to take this war and put it into more positive terms, preventing him from breaking down from stress.

And then at these meetings, reality came back.  Funding.  Newpapers full of rumors and lies.  Death counts steadily rising as the starvation plan his last general devised took hold.  All of the blood on his hands, friend and foe alike.  Even plans to restart the Hoenn war machine, now that the Seviper Plan's faults are becoming made apparent.  More marching, more warfare, more of the region torn apart as the war threatens to end with a bang rather than a whimper.  Terran despised it all, and yet it was too late for him to turn back.  The times were changing, and with Hoenn Lux proving hardier than expected calls to arms were once more ringing out across the region.  It was what the people expected.  Judging by the venomous tones in their voice and increasingly vicious propaganda, it was even what they wanted.

Sometimes, lying in bed at night, Terran wondered if he would die and be remembered for all of this blood.  The butcher of Hoenn, the terrorist, the murderer.  Every time he slept he was greeted by a river of blood, the voices of the lost and the damned wailing out to him.  He didn't want this.  Nobody did, or so he hoped.  And yet time and time again it was he who made the blood flow.  As much as he preached that the region must be brought back to his former glory, it was he who in part kept ruining it.  Some days he cursed himself as he slept, damning himself as just another hypocrite politician.

Oftentimes he was left wondering if he was right.  He never got the same answer each time.

Today, however, wasn't the time to consider petty issues of morality.  Today was the time to continue planning this war, in hopes of bringing it to a quick and merciful end.  If not even a year of starvation was enough to bring a gentle surrender, this would have to be the year of overwhelming force.

[alyssa]

[attr="class","iconmain"] [attr="class","iconsub"] [attr="class","headers"]→ notes 329 words [attr="class","iconsubtwo"] [attr="class","headers"]→ tags CRASH as Terran [attr="class","iconsub"] [attr="class","headers"]→ other sorry this is so late "orz The downtime of this war had been no sort of downtime Alyssa had ever heard of. It was filled with work, literal physical labor that strained the bodies of both civilians and seasoned veteran soldiers alike. Building necessary establishments in Hoenn, either to replace the ones that had been lost in the war or to erect some entirely anew as improvements to ones that were being worn-down, and then torn down for more room. Things that were needed in the region were being attained – quicker than the Leader had anticipated. It’s heart-lifting, truly, to see such a thing taking place. Her region that had been ravaged by the war was slowly becoming something it used to be – whole, and more peaceful. The plan enacted by the former overseer of the Eon Guard was taking hold and having the desired impact upon its targets. At first the visibility of success had been clouded, but after the first month things became so much clearer. Lux slowly being forced into a further submission at the hands of Nox than they were previously would, in a perfect shattered reality, result in the peaceful surrender and outright pulling of Lux troops from Hoenn. Then restoration efforts could continue. Updates on what she’d been doing – as far as overseeing and instructing restoration efforts – will soon be delivered in greater detail to her co-Leader, whom she has not seen for a month since their last meeting. Now, though, Alyssa files into the small, stone building. It’s big enough for the roundtable in the center with stone stools on the ground. It’s the building that used to be the meeting place for the Sootopolis dwellers generations ago. Now, though, it’s serving it’s old purpose with renewed vigor. Alyssa sits on the table, ninety degrees turned from her fellow Leader. Legs cross calmly and she leans back, weight on her gloved hands against the object she now sits on. ”I hope you've been well this past month, Terran?”

[attr="class","lyrics"]→ if you believe, this meaningful dream will change

coded by battlerocket for kane only

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[Terran]

Terran let out a somewhat weary sigh, weakly smiling in return. "Seen better days, not gonna lie. At least we're bringing this region back to the way we once knew it, eh?

How about on your end?"

He wasn't telling the whole truth, of course, but what was he supposed to say? That he couldn't sleep knowing what he had done? That he was torn between killing the Lux population of Hoenn or slowly squeezing the life out of them in the name of peace? That he was aging more rapidly than ever before, and that his Pokemon were following suit? No. He had to remain strong: for his people, for his fellow leader, and even for himself. This was would draw to a close soon enough. He would only have to hold out for a little bit longer.

Helping his people and seeing them flourish at least bolstered his spirits, however. It was the best part of the temporary pause in active battling. His heart swelled with pride as he helped spearhead efforts to rebuild Lilycove to its former glory, and it was pure bliss to hear the cheers and adoration of his countrymen instead of venom and hatred. It was a break from the bloodshed of battles, or the slow stranglehold of starvation, and was a small glimmer of hope casting it's silver lining on the man's fears.

”Think we’re making damn good time on our rebuilding. Ever Grande and Lilycove are almost back up to speed, Arceus. Still got calming down Rustboro and replanting Petalburg on our plates, though. How do you want to split that up?” No matter how optimistic the situation, there was still so much work left to be done. First rule of being a leader was that your work was never quite finished, after all. Even after rebuilding there was still speechmaking, reintroducing contests, bringing back the Pokémon League . . .

And, of course, the biggest question of them all. The unasked question hovering in the room the second the talks started. What to do about Hoenn Lux.