Pokémon Darkness
Prologue: Deal with the Devil
Greevil sighed as he stared out of his window at the peaceful sunset across the beach. Nearly five years had passed since he had last been outside. How he longed for the scent of the sea again, to walk on the piers of Gateon Port once more. But he had long since conceded the fact that he was unlikely to ever leave his dingy cell. Cipher had been demolished; not a single prominent member remained free.
As though it had happened days ago rather than years, he vividly recalled every detail of the horrible events that had transpired that day. He recalled the frantic peons asking him for orders as that dreadful meddling boy tore through his nigh-insurmountable fortress on Citadark Isle. He recalled the slight unease that had begun to settle in his own chest, and recalled brushing it away by recounting the strength of XD001 and his team of Shadow Pokémon to whomever stood nearest. He recalled his disbelief when the trainer burst into his room, and his outrage when the boy proceeded to defeat his mighty team of seven Shadow Pokémon, even the XD001. And, of course, he recalled the arrival of the International Police, who apprehended him and the other Cipher admins and threw them into these tiny cells on a far-off island.
Long ago, these memories would have made his rage boil, but after so long in captivity, he merely sighed again. He knew he was old and weak, and doubted he would have to endure this incarceration much longer. The depression that enveloped him was such that he took no notice of the three intruders until one of them spoke.
"…You are Greevil?"
The old man whirled around far too quickly and felt a sharp pain in his knees. Suppressing a wince, he attempted to look only mildly interested in the sudden appearance of the mysterious trio, who were, fittingly enough, dressed as ninjas. Were it not for their eyes, they would have been utterly identical, but the eyes of the one who had spoken were pale green, while the shadows to the left and right of him had blue and red eyes. After taking them in for a moment, Greevil smiled politely and responded.
"Why, yes, I am. And you are?"
For a second, the dark ninjas appeared as if they intended to ignore his question. Then, however, the green-eyed one, their apparent leader, spoke again.
"…We are the Shadow Triad. Our lord wishes to see you. Come."
And before the old prisoner could react, the Triad surrounded him, the red and blue eyed ones grabbing each of his arms. For a moment he attempted to throw them off, but in an instant the prison cell had dissolved, and Greevil found himself in what he recognized after a brief moment of confusion as his old room on Citadark Isle, where he had fought the boy, albeit now in ruins. He wondered vaguely whether he might be dreaming as the three ninjas ushered him forward, up to a tall, robed man with long green hair, whose back was turned.
"My lord Ghetsis," the leading ninja half whispered. "We have brought the one you wanted."
And, without waiting for a response, the Shadow Triad vanished as quickly as they had first appeared. The man they had addressed as "lord" slowly turned around. He was smiling slightly, as though rather proud of his own brilliance. Greevil immediately found it disconcerting, and knew that he should be wary of this strange man.
"Ah, Greevil, at last we meet," he said in a smooth, calming voice. "My name is Ghetsis Harmonia, and I would like to help you rebuild Cipher."