I close my eyes and try to blot out the images.

"I have a memory that has continued to haunt me. Just one. That unpleasant look in your eyes reminds me of it. That aside, this is my gift to you to show my respect for making it this far. I'll freeze you solid right here so you can watch my glorious ascent!"

But I cannot. The taste of sour bile is on my tongue. It burns as it goes down.

"Kyurem! Glaciate!"

Master was not murdered by normal means. He was not cut by steel. No iron bullet pierced his heart. It was just the ironic way it played out. Master thought he could warm Kyurem's heart by speaking to it. Master could not feel the control Evil Man had on Kyurem.

I'm not sure whether Master has unfrozen yet. Lucario tells me Master's Aura has diminished. Even if master has unfrozen, he is Not Awakening. Not Awakening is different from Sleeping or Fight-Sleep. Sleeping happens once every day. All Pokémon and Humans Sleep, and when they wake up, it's as if Nurse has just treated you with medicine. Fight-Sleep is when you try so hard to please Master that you Sleep after a Fight. I don't know what hppens after Fight-Sleep, but we awaken afterwards, while Nurse helps us get well.

Zangoose ambles back to the small patch of green, the only vegitation left in a crystallized, frozen world. In front of us he places a Deerling, slick with dark red. He uses his claws to slice open the kill, spilling fresh blood. While Zangoose and Mandibuzz attack their portion of the carcass, I produce a Razor Leaf that Volcarona devours. Lucario gnaws on bones that the carnivores toss aside, and I stretch my coiled body and lie in the sun, drawing energy from the rays. I think I Sleep, but I am not too sure. It was more like a lazy drift from Sleep to Wake.

"I haven't had a meal like this in forever," says Zangoose, sitting back and observing Mandibuzz, who caws in agreement. I snap awake, my back arching at the unexpected noise.

It's true. Master never gives Zangoose or Mandibuzz real meat. Instead, he presents us with the same humdrum brown bits of flaky crust and limp, weak Ducklett chunks that taste like mud. The two carnovires sometimes pilfer a few Patrat on the rare occasions when Master isn't looking.

I sit up, satisfied with my brief rest. Just as I finish herding Lucario and Volcarona back into our group, I hear a familiar voice.

"My friends, where are you?"

He is the Seer. The one who can tell what we are thinking.

"I can bring him back!"

Am I the only one who can hear Seer's voice? There is a loud rustle in the bushes and Seer shoves them aside, sending a shower of thin ice shards cascading to the ground, melting.

I don't think Master's ice has melted yet.

"Serperior," he says softly. I can taste the regret in his voice. "I can bring Nate back."

I shoot him a look of disbelief. When in Not Awakening, it is common belief that you do not Wake.

"You all," he whispers, gesturing to our congregation of 5, plus an egg. "You loved him, didn't you. Your Master?"

Seer, I think. If we had truly loved him, we would have taken the attack and saved him.

That much was true. It goes to show love isn't what it's cracked up to be.

"You don't love him enough, then?"

I close my eyes in resignation. Live the lie.

"Then, at least give yourself a chance to love him more."

Lucario stepped between us and angrily barked at Seer. But Seer stared past him with a blank look.

"Why? You told me you loved him, back when you were a Snivy." He says this indignantly, as if he is not to blame.

Things were different, back when I was a Snivy. It hurt to lie about the Master I loved, but I did it anyway. You don't want to bring him back, trust me.

"What?" Seer snapped, the metal circles on his wrist clanging against each other. "Did he hurt you?"

I knew all the others well enough to trust them with a lie. Zangoose picked up the tale and Lucario translated for me.

"'He was obsessed. Obsessed with his Fights, obsessed with 'justice.' Obsessed with wanting to avenge the Evil Man for killing his father.'"

Seer peered at me through a curtain of green hair. "I-" His voice broke. "-am so sorry. If I had known, I'd have done something."

"'By the time you knew, it would be too late.'"

Volcarona was a good liar. I was thoroughly impressed.

"Well then come with me. In hiding, you'll have a better life."

What was there to think about? Master would have approved of the idea.

I smile, and Lucario sends out an Aura message.

So we followed Seer into the-

-What?

Room: Painfully white. It smells like blood, the coppery, rich scent of blood. The taste of metal is in the air.

The screams.

The cries.

The white hot finality of Not Awakening.

Seer huddles in the corner, muttering apologies he wants me to accept.

As I feel my life bleed out onto the dental white bed, I hear these words:

"You will awaken, Serperior. You will learn to hate."

So, this is my first Fanfic. I have really enjoyed it thus far... it's been amazing. Check out my profile for upcoming stuff...

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