You can die many times but live only once

---alternative/ the first title: A strike of fiery courage---

Please don't get intimidated by wall of text. You can rwad what you only want;
What I included in description:

- short fan-fic between Shindou the Honedge telling about his past and Marshall the Swampert, his current partner

- my personal rant that inspired me to draw this

- idea about ancient samurai's armor: inspiration from nature(other than Darmanitan shown here)

- trivia: how I interpret my Haxorus
----------------------------------------------
I QUIT WORK ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG IN MY EYES AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
I'M ALSO NOT SURE HOW TO PUT SHADING AND REFLECTIVE LIGHT HERE, SO I PLAN TO COME BACK TO WORK
ON THIS AFTER I'LL IMPROVE WITH SUCH TROUBLESOME THINGS IN DRAWINGS.

Artwork/ scene commentary: A determinated Haxorus seeing how accurate and strong was samurai's counterattack with a sword tries to  knock down
his horse with dragon pulse attack. However, this move is easy to predict especially by a Pokemon that naturally has instinct to quickly notice the danger.
Even if the horse reared up from the fear to avoid attack, the samurai instead of being in trouble, uses the opportunity to bash down Haxorus with double force.

Later in description I have some thrivia about ancient Johto or Sinnoh(as I have headcanon they're most eastern-culture oriented even till today)
armors if you want to know what I would love to draw or sketch, but I focus on my OCs and stories...'cause there's a lot to write down.
- - - - - - - -
On small hill, a Swampert male sat next to Odachi Honedge that just told him some memorable battles he had when was a human.
After hearing Shindou starting with proudful tone, he noticed that the spirit speaking through the special sword changed its way of speaking, there was no doubt
there was a reason behind he tries to avoid.

However, Marshall decided to keep silent and hope Shindou WILL continue bringing back memories and tell his partner the reason why it decided to come out
his shrine- a Swampert and his mate knew Shindou was had to explain people living in his village why he made such decision after years of staying there as celestial sword.

Odachi Honedge looked into the horizon and his "scarf" whcih always is seen waving like in the wind slowly felt down, like a feather in windless day.

It was just another battle in the past...one person's past who is today, like its company in battle, a Pokemon.
He battled with an Odachi sword, now he is possesing celestial one with his soul.
His true name died with his mortal body, but his spirit is known today as Shindou.

"I fought hundreds of times and saw fear only in eyes of my enemies,
I wasn't afraid even if blood was going from my own hands, even a fire wouldn't slow me down as I was even dipping my blade in the heat
to decapitulate even through the steel armor.

However, one day the fear chomped my face to paralyze it as I saw a death with no blood, but tears dropping onto my hands,
where the fire made me run for life...it was the day when I regret I decided to live instead to die as my family did."

After those words said with voice of someone with a hand on its throat, Odachi Honedge wobbled away the Swampert that was sitting next to him.
The silence between them made the air dense that it felt hard to breath.

If Shindou wouldn't be a sword possesed by a spirit, he probably would cry again having flashback of his family death and losing everything he lived for
after he had lost honor and pride. He tried to wipe this memory, but nothing could heal such wound, even over 250 years of being a ghost Pokemon.
Even if Marshall didn't knew such horrible experience, he barely listened without trying to prevent himself from feeling so bad  for Shindou.

Maybe he was an ambphibian so wouldn't cry, but hearing that Shindou saw death of his wife in his own arms...while they were looking
as his own family from small hill made him almost feel how hard it was to a man that maybe died over 250 years ago, but his spirit is still holding memories.

Now Marshall realized why Shindou often denied his ask for training even if his actions said straighlty he wants to accompany
the Swampert. Not only the battleskill level was the matter, but something more important: the strenght of spirit to resist even worst thing to happen,
even worse than own death.
Marshall was wondering at first why shindou would try to sabotage him saying he could even kill Weirda to make him understand and feel why being partners is hard challenge.
The spirit possesing a sword was saying the truth, but Marshall cannot blame him for even such desperate idea if he experienced such misfortune
being most likely a conspiracy towards the leader which he was.
Weirda's Swampert is also the leader, but his mind cannot get how horrible such experience could be.
However, if Shindou said that clearly, does it mean he wants him to prepare for this event when decision will be made or Shindou resignated from this from mercy,
a thing unexpected for him?

Before Marshall would even start to wonder over that, Shindou said to him again:

"My family was the last thing that kept me alive as they needed me.
My wife supported me after I've became ronin, so these who betrayed me knew how to beat me and leave no option than to retreat
from political scene.
Through all these years I've spend as celestial Odachi, I observed the life of people here. Year by year, I thought I'll be a soul that is possesing a sword, a new being.
My soul wasn't reborn, I am still living with my past as I am responsible to save heritage of my culture.

Over 200 years have passed, I thought everything's totally gone, because the history is changing. Then you came and I saw an opportunity to bring an ignition in my heart,
even if I thought it has died together with my body.

Marshall, you and your family know tradition I keep and I see in your eyes you're not going to change.
Let me feel again I have a family to protect and dignity that will bring the fire everytime I'll fight with loyal Pokemon by my side.
A Pokemon I can battle as one on the battlefield.

It's not an ask, it's a proposition you cannot deny, you can only accept it in the right time.

You need a sword and Sensei, I need the body and life of respected warrior back."

Marshall felt his decision he was had to make got totally ignored as Shindou KNEW from the beginning what he's up to.
Male Swampert wanted to check if there was something even more suspicious in Honedge's spirit mind:

"A soul or a life. I think you decided before I did.
You'll take my life and body, but leave my soul."

Celestial sword's spirit turned towards him and spoken with more aggressive tone, being irritated from Marshall's aknowledge about spiritual beings:

"The decision is NOT claimed by a word, but will be sealed throught the time as your actions will tell.
It's not even my decision, I am not Grim reaper or Soul guide- it has to be your decision you'll live for."
------------------------------------
TIMELINE: KALOS EPILOGUE, when Marshall and Grenouille stay in one (kept in secret by me) village while Weirda is
about or already is in the Hoenn region.

Why I have done this, to bring even more chaos by showing random timeline of my stories events?

It rather started, honestly, with something random; I just happen from time to time check something from other fandoms and I remeber
that I've never looked at fanart of one Digimon which is my top fav together with Magnadramon: another holy Digimon based on eastern
culture and having such mesmerazing beauty, Quilinmon (or Chirinmon).

MY HEART GOT BROKEN.

I know that Digimon get less fanart NOT ONLY because it's less popular or as for today, it's (rather) death, but Digimons are just
complicated, not everyone can even draw them right.

B-but...B-BUUT...N-no Quilinom fanart?!
N-nothing? Really?
why I have even looked?! Then I thought and wondered: hmmmm, long time ago I tried to make an
Arceus as Quilin, because that mythical animal wasn't stick to one design, but even is shown more of a horse with just long thin
horn...my thoughts went further: I know samurai horses where had cool masks which resembled dragon's head even with whiskers...
Maybe I can make rapidash, wonderful FIERY horse with such mask of mythical Pokemon?
And then: YESS THERE IS ONE. Thundurus therian forme! :icolawooplz: it's electric type, so fits Quilinmon's whiskers
-it even has a horn like Rapidash, woot~!

ooohoohoo I just really wanted to draw "reconstruction" of history event in Pokemon World, even if there's nothing like that...
OH WAITWAITWAIIT, what about Pokemon Nobunaga's ammbition conquest?

I adore ParaWorld game, I also adore Pokemon conquest. You know or not, I also adore samurais...and I have shown a peek into what I'm planning
for my Marshall and Shindou OCs.

If you hear about Shindou the Honedge for the first time or you have forgotten who it is, because we all have own things to do,
here's a reference of this OC:

weirda208.deviantart.com/art/W…

The whole deal between Shindou and Marshall will wait for be shown in comic, DON'T WORRY; the greatest thing is still
kept in secret, while what I wrote here is something I added to develop just a little more
- - -
Some ideas I would love to draw or sketch, but I'll just write here.
Ancient Johto armors inspired/based on some Pokemon:

1)

a)I started from Thundurus therian forme for Rapidash, because might people living in Johto around 16th century wouldn't know
Zebstrika, but for me, if we have two horse Pokemon(I don't count Keldeo, he's special)- one being fire type, second is electric type,
I think if they would know rumors about electric horse, ancient people would believe that Rapidash with armor of mythical Thundurus
would bring luck to be the ultimate horse, controlling both fire and thunder elemental, all possible for any horse Pokemon.
I HOPE I EXPLAINED MY CONCEPT RIGHT. I'M SORRY FOR AWKWARD GRAMMAR.

b) Rapidash has long mane and I should metion in my poke-world they can create flames thanks to mane, it's NOT pure flame.
It's mane covered by flames. Normally, when resting or relaxed, you can touch warm, soft hair of Ponyta or Rapidash.
However, on battlefield too long mane would bring too much heat and even fireproof armor(ohhh btw, I consider people living in
Pokemon World would also create such things...) wouldn't protect warriors enough. That's why basing it on real horses I saw on japanese
paintings, this Rapidash has cropped mane, but still can produce fire.

HAVE YOU READ THE FRAGMENT WHEN SHINDOU SAID HE WAS DIPPING BLADE IN FLAMES? He just heated his sword when about to attack
with sword a Pokemon. Of course carefully to not damage his sword.

furthermore, thanks to Rapidash fire produced from the tail, I took inspiration from Thundurus therian forme tail,
I made smoke balls that would be grrreat for strategy to confuse enemies or drop the chance of accurate long-range attacks
from Pokemon or archer.
Again inspiration from ParaWorld game, because Dragon clan based on eastern culture uses precious troll smoke bombers
or mine bombs in the water and they have spikes.
Btw, because I'm sure you don't know ParaWorld: Dragon clan don't have such amount of prehistoric animals like other nations,
but they have Gallimimus, Muraenosaurus, Saltasaurus and Seismosaurus which are useful, so they are common in your army...
all have long necks...so Haxorus is the first Pokemon that comes to my mind when thinking about Pokemon among samurai.

2)

Samurai in the drawing has Darmanitan armor, because why not?
I was thinking about Kabuto- no, not that fossil Pokemon...but samurai's helmet with bizzare decorations.
If many are based on horns or antlers, I was wodering...what Pokemon should go there?

I've noticed that Noctowl has such similar in shape feathers...!
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I checked out of curious how people saw owls in far east...and....BINGO!
Unlike in western culture, owls were feared and seen as something bad, supernatural and kinda evil.
BIINGOOO~!

Now I consider most of samurai in ancient Johto were had helmet with Noctowl's "feathers"

Other samurai's helmet decorations(called maedate) would be Stantler(more fancy, probably for special occassions rather than battles),
Hoothoot, Pinsir, Sawsbuck and Haxorus with helmet shape like its head, because this Pokemon's head IS based on one kind
of samurai's helmet in real life! Ohh and of course Darmanitan like you see in the drawing.
I'm glad that even face of this fire type Pokemon fits samurai's mask that were supposed not only protect face, but to scare
enemies.
------------
P.S: i know I write it only to annoy those who hate too much readin, but since I don't have yet any poke-science for Haxorus,
I can tell that it follows my Axew and Haxorus realistic concept: it has feathures from marginocephalia, but LOOK OUT;
there's controversial headcanon of mine I wish to explain someday in clear way: like there's Scyther or Gliscor which are hybrids
in my opinion, Haxorus has skeleton of Plateosaurus, but ceratin structures of marginocephalia like Stygimoloch, also armour
based of indian Rhinoceros skin- meaning it's only thicker, more durable skin layer, not heavy, super-protective armor.

The neck gave me some trouble and pretty long time with thinking over how to interpret such weird, uncommon outstanding armor...
I decided to do the same as with spine that like on Rampardos, has higher spine outgrowths. these on neck...are probably
characteristic for this species and like shape of nose to human is indicator of "beauty", I see this feathure on Haxorus having
the same function...at last.
I imaginate them like odd, little triangle on Concavenator's back. Just two on the neck, ehh.

--SHRUUUGGG--

Alternate interpretation of those odd things: spikes inspired by Ampelosaurus, sauropod (so also Saurischia memeber) armour
close to the shoulders. Btw Dinosaur King's Ampelosaurus has yellow spikes...THRIVIA.

Rampardos had spikes on shoulders, Haxorus has too, but these you see here are more flat, inspired and based on nodosaurs
such as Polacanthus or Gastonia.
Don't believe there can be such thing on Haxorus? Take look at Lexovisaurus, also Kentrosaurus as dinosaurs were had spikes on
shoulders.

P.S: Shindou seeing how people battle nowadays would call even the toughest Pokemon trainer as weakling.
He was battling AGAINIST POKEMON WITH HIS OWN ARMS. People nowadays are such delicate and would be seen in his eyes like there are
some parodies of gentlemen slapping with gloves.

YES I SAID AND I'M NOT SORRY FOR THAT. It's just how I see that serious spirit possesing Odachi Honedge would see modern culture
MWAHAH
________________________________________________________
art belongs to me, Marta Kłeczek
Rapidash and Haxorus as Pokemon belongs to Game Freak