Possessing Betrayal
She throttled and jolted in the heatwave, feeling her head heaving its way through her paws, and hitting the murky asphalt.
"Vul…pix!"
"Treeck… Treecko, treeck!"
Eyeballs were hidden in the dark, her eyelids unwittingly clamping shut, oblivious to the outside world.
The shade collapsed on her confused mind, as she stumbled, fell and peeked her little head upwards, seeing nothing but the blackness of a monochrome room.
"Vul…"
Ivory eyes glanced about, curiousity spiking to a bitter peak. The intimidating, childish fear caused her to look down, again nothingness confounding her gaze.
"TREECKO!"
At that, a head snapped up, and the hostile version of the world returned, sucking the pre-evolved form of Ninetails into a reality consisting of murky shadows.
She shrieked, screamed and thrashed, as the overwhelming city of gloom melted away from her view…
"Vul…PIX-X-X-X-X!"
"Sta…STARK!"
Frozen and still, shuddering and shivering, the mass of fat sprawled across the harsh ground suffered as severe migraines kicked in.
A gecko-like Pokemon shot up like a rocket, surprise and shock altering his facial features.
"B-Blaze! I'm… I'm coming!"
Appropriately, he dashed forward, just in time to see his partner turn heel and open her mouth.
"Stark, don't…!" came the majestic, arc Pokemon's voice from behind him.
"It's okay! I'm going to-" Astounded eyes widened, as a surge of flames shot forth, almost disintegrating him, had it not been for his sudden dodge. "Huh?!"
The female's drooping head lifted, revealing half-lidded, demonic eyes. Yet, the severity of her frown remained, and eye ridges abruptly saddened with realisation. "I… I can't believe I just…"
'I can't believe you just did that, too…' the Treecko contemplated, brow furrowed with a unique concern.
"Hm, hm, hm, hm…"
The Vulpix felt coldness shift up her spine, as she watched the male in front of her with a soft expression.
"I shall ask of you again, Stark. Will you not join me in the wonderful rebirth of the world? A world of enchanting darkness?" a spiritual, shady being behind her asked, blue eyes twinkling with triumph.
'Hm?! What did he say?! He's asking Stark to…' the fire-type's mind whirled with theories, until she found one. '…Stark never joined Darkrai… I was tricked!' She shot daggers at the pitch-black Pokemon.
Said creature shoved her an icy stare, one with such hostility, that she could easily back off.
The grass one closed his eyes, giving somewhat of a resemblance to Blaze's former partner. Anyone could see he was thinking.
"Join us, Stark… I bet a world of darkness would surely outfit this one…" Even her own words shocked the fox-cub; had she really just said that?
Curious, yet uncertain, eyes viewed her, black slits wide at her sudden outburst. "B…B-Blaze…?"
"Yes?"
The feeling of abandonment brewed in the Treecko's stomach. "Are you… a-alright?"
Team Destiny's accomplice, Cresselia, watched the scene; her orbs observed the nightmare-ish, sinister Pokemon, snapping at him with telepathy. 'Darkrai… What terrible thing have you done, now?'
A snicker. 'Ah… All in good time, my much loathed Cresselia…'
Cresselia glared, and then shot a hopeful look towards the heart-stricken Stark.
"Little, naive Stark…" the flames in Blaze's eyes glittered in a conniving way, as she gracefully, yet spitefully, smiled at her partner. "Won't you join us? Join me?"
The smirk present almost scarred the gecko's mind; he took a few steps back, fear dwelling in his faltering footsteps.
"Seems your little bravado is vanishing…" Darkrai claimed, his claw-like hands flexing. "I do regret to wonder… have you been a coward ever since the beach incident?"
A growl sounded. 'How does he know about that…?'
The villain read his perplexed features, before chuckling. "You feign so much ignorance… haven't I already talked about this?"
The Treecko stood straight, eyes narrowing.
"Very well," the enemy snickered. "I'll allow you to humor me before your demise…"
Stark clenched his hands.
"I watched you… And, with my plan ending in utter failure, I quickly came to despise you for messing with my almost triumphant scheme…"
Brown paws took strides forward, stomping on the floor ferociously.
"But that detail isn't important, is it? What was important, was ridding the world of you both…"
Sweat fell down the grass-type's face.
"Now, you seemed harmless at first… but, then, of course, you meddled with those blasted Time Gears… "
The lava surrounding Dark Crater's centre bubbled wildly.
"So, I thought a while, until I hatched yet another plan… In the nearby future, Dialga's will was as bendable as a ruler, to the point that he finally snapped…"
"That's why Dialga was so driven to get rid of us…"
"Yes, very good, Stark…" A smirk was hidden within his next few words, "I merely… persuaded Dialga, or, as you might say, warned him of his possible future… through my own, unique talent, of course…"
"He didn't like it, I presume." Cresselia concluded, "And that left him at your mercy as a puppet…"
"Hm, hm, hm… Yes, Cresselia…" He stared solemnly at Stark. "You… I still have one more thing to speak of."
Darkrai flew within the partner's arm's length, his voicebox taking responsibility with an eerie tone.
"Everything that went wrong with your life… lives, I should say…"
Stark gulped, retreating a step as the darker entity verged towards his possible ear, whispering…
"… I am responsible."
The organic one blinked before coming to a realisation. "Then… Grovyle… you were the reason for…?"
Darkrai shrugged, floating into arm's length again as he snidely answered, "Bending a Time God's will with manipulation is surprisingly easy. So, yes, I am a primary cause for the parting of you and your…" he sneered, "…precious, Hell-bent Grovyle."
At those words, the bravado within Stark returned, causing a lime, vibrant ball of energy to surge through his palms and into the unsuspecting Darkrai. And, out of reflexes, he hopped back to withhold certain offense.
Blue lights were stiff and dilated as impact was made, causing the owner of those seeing inceptors to recoil onto the ground. "ARGH!"
Stark stood, poised, and determined as ever.
The figure of darkness stumbled as he rose, an omni-present glare scarring his expression. "Such an attack… Pah. Yet, I never gave the wretched thief opinions! And, being merciful, you should be glad I didn't!"
"That was for Grovyle!" Teeth were gritted. "And, it was the way you said it!"
"Humph… Fine; have it your way," the enemy snarled, his patience already vanishing. An invisible smirk was present, as he jeered, "Ah… Blaze. Will you do the honors of ridding us of this pest?"
"HUH?!"
Wild eyes gave a menacing glint. "Gladly."
Within seconds, an eruption of scorching, red, hot flames shot forth from the Vulpix's mouth, aiming directly at the gecko creature.
"Waaah!"
His unusually brittle body vibrated as it met with the fire, shoving him roughly into a misshapen, charcoal rock, the lava faintly bubbling behind him.
"Stark!" Cresselia cried.
"I'm… I'm okay…" he mumbled, pulling himself up into a limp position. "Just have to… keep myself from falling…"
Blaze walked calmly towards him, her smirk reaching the ceiling. "Well, aren't you a little go-getter?"
"Blaze… You know I won't give up… You, of all people, should know that…" Stark uttered loudly. "I… I won't rest, seeing you like this!"
A silence.
"…I admire your guts, Stark."
His, 'ears,' pricked.
The fire mammal wagged her tails from side to side innocently, then crest a superior smile.
"Pity I have to kill you for it."
The Treecko blinked in shock.
"Mmm… Wonder if Heaven's full?"
The green one straightened, a stern frown dwelling on his face. "…Why?"
The other grinned knowingly. "Oh, just wondering."
Her snout lifted, and her mouth opened, revealing sharp canines and, later on, a fountain of dancing flames.
"No… This isn't… Not the end…" The victim dodged, jumping to the side, wincing as he gained a collision with the floor.
Fire scorched an innocent rock.
A growl.
She turned again, that blistering torture of heat following in her wake. She needn't look far.
Target Pokemon stood there, panting, with scorch marks bruising his green body, making it a murky jade.
"I'm doing an, 'awesome job,' aren't I?" came the scoff, brimmed with mockery. "How does it feel to have fire turn on you?"
"Blaze… I already know how it feels," Stark forced a weak smile. "And, to me, you always did an awesome job…"
Blaze watched as her former partner held onto a rock for support.
"Don't you remember when we braved through this dungeon together? Don't you remember how I stuck by you?"
She opened her mouth, but then promptly shut it.
"I came despite my disadvantage." The grass-type shuddered, wincing as he watched her with worry. "You do remember… don't you?"
The girl snapped out of her trance, and then shot a deadly glare, both with narrowed eyes and a stern scowl applied. "That minor info doesn't feign me for a second, Stark. Don't prolong what is to be done!"
Flames were thrown.
He dodged, winced, and whimpered.
Flames.
Dodge.
Wince.
Whimper.
Scream.
"I… I don't want to fight you!" came his shout, tears brewing in the sentence. "Please, understand that! I don't want to hurt you, Blaze! We're friends… No… you're my best friend!"
Darkrai snickered silently on the sidelines, enjoying every moment this scene had to offer. 'Not anymore…'
Cresselia grimaced as she witnessed another dodge of fire and six tails batting the helpless creature to the ragged terrain.
An ear-piercing shriek forced its way through the lunar one's hearing. "No… This cannot happen…"
Finding her reflexes, she proceeded to head towards the two. And, just as she did so, six creatures fell from nowhere, clashing into her elegant, lunar wings, and forcing her into the centre.
"Ah, ah, ah~!" the big bad sang, regarding his polar opposite with malice. "You needn't be involved, dear Cresselia…"
She stood her ground, gritting teeth at Darkrai, and resisting the urge to growl as the six Pokemon homed in on her. Her glance shifted to a sympathetic one when it switched to the partners.
'Stark… Blaze… Please, get through this. Or else the entire world will be enveloped in a nightmare far worse than our own.'
Over in the north, Stark laid, defeated and suffering, in pain.
But the pain that throbbed the most… was that in his tiny, shocked heart.
He managed to open one eye as he steadily placed a hand on the floor, trying to get up; he clenched his jaw.
The female slowly walked towards him, her expression as heartless as ice: cold. "Hah. You won't hurt me? Please. If you must be noble, put some thought into it first."
"I meant what I said…" Stark met her solid gaze, and stuttered in his wording, "This isn't y-y-you, Blaze… P-p-please! Stop i-it. I-I really don't want to harm-!"
"Then, prepare to DIE!" she finished, interrupting him deliberately.
The fiery spirit returned, forcing the organic creature to barrel-roll to the side.
"You know, when D-D-Darkrai said that things went wrong with our l-l-lives? Well... h-h-he made a mistake, ya' know," came his weak voice, sincere with his words, "because... you.. you were the best thing that happened since we met..."
The ember animal's gaze fluttered to the young apprentice, becoming more rash than ever predicted.
He panted breathlessly, staggering back aimlessly as the hunter stepped closer to him, menacingly. And, before he could register what was going on, old instincts kicked in, as a sphere of matter flew from his hand, and into the incoming assaulter.
There was a scream of agony, and Stark remained frozen.
'…What have I done?'
Yes, Vulpix was a fire-type, and the Energy Ball shouldn't have affected Blaze as much as it did, but with the Overgrow ability in hand, it easily made up for that damage.
Within seconds, the Treecko hurriedly clambered over to the fallen form, reapproach present in his eyes.
She had her eyes closed, somewhat peacefully.
"…Blaze…?"
He hesitated a moment, and then shook her, gently.
"…Blaze? Are you okay?"
No answer.
"Blaze... Wake up."
He shook her, again, a little more violently.
"Blaze! Can you hear me? I'm sorry for hurting you! I didn't mean it!"
Nothing.
Again, more desperately, he shook her.
"Blaze, c'mon… You gotta' wake up!"
Yet again, no answer.
Tears began streaming from his eyes.
"Blaze! Please! I forgive you, for trying to hurt me, just… please! Get up!"
Silence.
"Blaze..."
His shaking action became more obvious.
"Please… Blaze," he sobbed, hurt in his eyes. "You… you can't leave…"
"No…" He turned, sat on his knees, and held back threatening droplets of water. "You can't leave… because…"
He clenched his hands.
"...I need you; more than anything, Blaze…"
She acted as his deaf audience.
"Yeah…" He closed his eyes. "Y'know… the reason I didn't fight back, before?"
The silence swallowed his every word.
"Because… you're my friend. My best friend. I wouldn't DARE hurt you. Not even a million Poke` could make me do or say otherwise."
He thought a moment, remembering what had occurred a few seconds ago.
"Well... before I launched that Energy Ball... But our friendship still means more to me than anything."
'Friendship…' He contemplated for a moment. 'No, it's more than that…'
His eyes switched to the eavesdropping Darkrai.
"Darkrai did this... not just to destroy us... but to tear our hearts apart... right? Well, I didn't want to let that happen... I promised myself, and you, silently, that I wouldn't let anyone fall into evil's hands..." His eyes shut, tears dripping. "And WHAT did I do?! I failed! I couldn't protect you. As much as I wanted to..."
He swallowed a stray lump in his throat, turning his head back to the female's closed eyes. "Being honest, I didn't... I didn't want you to come. I didn't want you to get hurt... Y'know I'm a little cautious about that..." He blinked. "But even I wouldn't have last two minutes in this place, me being a grass-type and all..."
Darkrai watched, still unsympathetic towards the situation. 'Speak all you wish, Stark... There's only so much time left.' He smirked mentally. 'And then, the planet will be in total darkness... Yes... Shan't be long now...'
'Darkrai...' Cresselia evaded another attack, just straining to see the scene a few meters away. "STOP THIS INSTANT!"
"Oh? But I am not doing anything. Besides, I bet you have more... important things to worry about... Like your own demise," he snidely answered.
Stark held Blaze's left paw, cradling it, and confirming an earlier sentence.
"I'm sorry..."
His paw traced her jawline.
"But if anything happens... I still... Even if I have to... No… I won't hurt you. Not ever."
He turned his gaze to the bubbling lava, 'Maybe… maybe, I should tell her…'
A muzzle lifted to his arm…
'I mean, would it be so bad?' He looked at himself, unsure. 'Am I ready to tell her?'
Sharp canines hovered by his elbow…
'Hmm…' He blinked, and then faintly grinned, weakly. 'Well... I guess this is as good a time as any...'
A nervous-looking head turned to her, "Uh… Blaze? I… I just want to say-well, er, tell you... that... ARRRGH!"
Affliction flew up the green gecko's arm, causing a yelp to echo in the area. He looked up, stunned at the sight before him.
That same figure stood over him, its shadow stretching across his terrified orbs.
"B-Blaze…?!"
The said Pokemon exhaled and inhaled quickly, her brow furrowed severely.
"Stark… Y-you…! Y-y-you…! YOU!"
He retreated a few steps back, as the beast growled furiously.
"You little..." She halted a moment. "...brat... Any last words before your end?" she barked, voice dripping with hatred.
"Why…? Why are you doing this?" he inquired, intent on her ivory eyes. "What about what we've been through…? What about US? I thought we were…"
"What? Friends?" She neared his face, snarling viciously, "Trust me when I say this, Stark… That relationship means NOTHING to me now!"
That sentence shattered his heart to pieces.
He sadly sighed. 'So, it DID mean something…'
The Vulpix leered, before placing her paws on the organism's stomach, and letting out a burst of hot, burning temperatures.
"I'm sorry, Blaze… Whatever happens, I forgive you." The sorrow condemned to his eyes made them well up. "Because… I… I…"
He braced himself, and then gulped, trying to spit out the words.
Flames began to soar slowly out of the girl's mouth, consisting...
"Because…" Starke opened wide, courage building, and officially screaming,
"I... I... Luh... I LOVE YOU!"
…of unholy screeches.
Hai!
Phew… This took a while on my tablet. ":)
This is my first One-Shot or… soon to be, Two-Shot in the Pokemon fandom. ^^'
This is basically a 'What-if' of PMD EOS, at the ending: You get a "choice" to join Darkrai, and this is what might've had happened if you had said flat-out yes! And, trust me, I would've totally picked yes… because, well… who wouldn't want to rule with the greatest Pokemon villain, (IMO,)? Keeping this possible event out of mind… :D
And, of course, I included BeachShipping! :3
Please do review if you wish to see part two. Every one counts! And, thanks if you've read this far. Some things will explained in No. 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. All characters go to Nintendo and GAME FREAK.