Chapter 1: Capture
. .
Lycanroc breathed in, and then breathed out again, trying to feel some semblance of calm he felt as a Rockruff. He snorted in agitation as the memory of Lunala's influence transforming him into his current dark state resurfaced. Since that night, a deep festering desire to have power, to be strong, and to fight settled in his chest. Darkness settled in a haze around his mind, and a feeling of confusion about who he was never left him.
As a result of him wanting to be powerful, he fought and feasted upon every Pokémon that came within his vicinity. After he showcased his inner turmoil that was perceived as immorality and strength, Pokémon knew not to come around him. So with Pokémon not being an option, he began to seek out the trainers who entered Vast Poni Canyon.
Grass rustled, his ears perked and a fanged smile stretched across his face—he was hungry, and this smelt like a human. That's all he was concerned about. As soon as his keen eyes zeroed in on a brown neck, he lunged.
"Yori!"
Lycanroc's momentum stopped harshly as he was thrown across the small clearing, his furred back slamming into the soil. He got up quickly and shook debris from his mane only to stop in confusion. Through a series of yips and growls he questioned the Pokémon,
"You have the same darkness in you as me, but why are you with this trainer?"
The black and red Pokémon looked down at him as if he was puny, the fire around his waist flared up once, then looked back at the trainer.
"Just a light flamethrower, Yori-boy." She muttered as she studied him. The bipedal cat stuck his tongue out at the girl, and then did just that. The attack being too fast for Lycanroc to dodge, resulted in him being leveled to the ground, eyes wide—unprepared for the strong blast of high temperature to his system. A feeling akin to something knocking on his skull roused his senses slightly, before he was forcibly blissfully unaware.
. .
A red aura was cast around him, then disappeared in an instant as Lycanroc's senses became aware of the world again. He slumped over more than usual as pain raced across his skin, and clenched his eyes shut. They snapped right back open once he recalled what happened earlier.
His eyes were met with the sight of the trainer from earlier, and her captured Pokémon around her. She had even brown skin, the color of coffee with a cream, sharp brown almond shaped eyes, groomed eyebrows, full lips, and a white bandana around her head that kept her long wavy black hair back. She had on a gray tanktop under a thin black windbreaker, olive colored shorts, and white running shoes.
"My name is Adrian," she looked at him closely, no doubt documenting his every move, "I'm the Champion of this Region and I was alerted of trainers disappearing in Vast Pony Canyon," she smirked slightly, and to his surprise, Lycanroc could see a small ribbon of darkness coil up in her chest, "However, one escaped, and came reporting a vicious Lycanroc," she sat down in front of him, close enough for him to easily slash her throat—the wolf Pokémon grinned at the thought but for some reason refrained from doing so.
"I've know that most Midnight Lycanroc have a love of fighting, but I've read that if Rockruff evolve into Midnight Lycanroc too early they can be very difficult and go on killing sprees for no reason because of them being unprepared for the darkness they inherit," She looked at him for confirmation, Lycanroc looked at the ground not wanting to admit it to this trainer, but that was all the girl needed.
"Hey," she called to him and he looked up at her through narrow red eyes. The look that usually cowed any Pokémon or trainer did nothing to this girl, "I know you want to be strong, I know you want power," Adrian began to motion furiously with her hands to get her message across, "And I can help you achieve that! I see potential in you. I can see you being the King of your domains. All you have to do, is accept us as your comrades, accept us as your family, and accept your new mantle."
Lycanroc panted as he contemplated the offer he was just given. Adrian saw potential in him, she says she could help him achieve power, she could make him a king in his own right..
"However if you don't want to be a part of our family, I'll release you, Lycanroc."
... if he didn't go with her, he would just continue to lose himself in the dark abyss that surrounded his mind..
.. Adrian and Yori had the darkness in them too..
..he wouldn't be alone.
Lycanroc growled, dipped his head, and touched his snout to the Champion's shoulder. A smile crawled its way onto her lips, "You will be known as King now, is that okay?" King dipped his head, but a growl from behind Adrian halted him in his tracks,
"You might be a King, but she is the monarch you bow to. It would do you well to remember that." Yori said in a tone that dared the Wolf Pokémon to object,
King snorted, "I know she's a Champion, but is she really great enough to be viewed as that, Yori?"
"Beyond that. You'll find out why, little Lycanroc." The Incineroar sneered.
"I am a King!" The Lycanroc howled in defiance.
Yori took a threatening step forward, "You are called King, but that is not yet what you are! The darkness cripples you instead of you using it to do the same to others. As of now you are weak. Learn your place, King." He spat as he crossed his arms.
Yori narrowed his green eyes at the Lycanroc, "Bow to her."
King snarled.
"Guys,"
"Bow!"
King dropped to one knee, and lowered his head to Adrian—a small whine escaped him.
"King, you don't have to bow to me," she placed a hand on his shoulder, and despite the pain it put King through he dipped his head even lower and then sat down.
Adrian looked back at Yori with a raised eyebrow, knowing that he had something to do with King's little episode—the Incineroar just looked off into the sky and whistled innocently. Adrian sighed.
"Okay guys, I'm gonna introduce you to King, and then you can introduce yourselves to him alright?" Various sounds of agreement were heard from the Pokémon.
"I'm sure you know by now that this," she gestured to the Heel Pokémon with a grin, "Is Yori. He was my first Pokémon and I'm so proud of how far he's come," Yori absolutely preened under the girl's compliments, making King roll his eyes.
"This right here is Cash," at the sound of her name, a giant red and gray Talonflame dived down from the sky and landed next to Adrian, kicking up tons of dust. Yori growled and rubbed his eyes in agitation, while Adrian affectionately rubbed the bird's head, "I'm pretty sure no bird in Alola can beat her in the air. And she loves money," the girl chuckled, she pulled out a couple Pokédollars and gave it to the bird, who crowed happily and took back off into the skies.
"My third Pokémon is Squidward," King took a couple of steps back as a huge water spider walked up beside the Champion. She ran a careful hand over his bubble, and the Araquanid touched one of his legs to her back, she chuckled warmly, "Yeah Squiddy I'm alright, how are you? Squidward here is one of the toughest Pokémon I know—besides Yori-boy over there—he can take a hit from almost anything and get back up!"
Something inside of King ached. Some little part of him wanted her to have good things to say about him.. King scoffed at himself.
"This is Vikavolt!" She exclaimed, a blue bug with a saw blade-like snout crawled down the bark of a tree and flew over and perched on Adrian's shoulder. It widened its snout and let it snap shut in warning towards King but turned back to its trainer and happily made a noise akin to the whirring of electricity. The champion sat down.
"An last but not least, is Bandicai. The strongest Salazzle to walk this earth!" A deep black and purple lizard appeared from nowhere, walking menacingly on all fours. It whipped its tail around agitatedly as flames dripped from its maw while its cutting eyes never left King. Adrian ran a hand down her back as she passed, muttering a "be nice," to the poisonous entity. The Salazzle spat flames that never reached him, but turned and rubbed her head against her trainer's and slithered away.
"If he was alive I would introduce Tiki," King cocked his head in confusion, "Tiki pushed me out of the way of some falling rocks but got crushed himself. He was a Raticate." She finished in a gloomy tone.
King looked at the Champion in a new light. A Pokémon gave its life for her. King couldn't decide if that was a weak move, or a brave move.
"Everybody introduce yourself to King! I'm going to set my bedroll!"
. .
King stayed in the same position he was in, not wanting to disturb his wounds. The first Pokémon to come over was Yori. He sat down in front of him, not showing any particular emotion.
"It would do you well to remember your place, Lycanroc. You're young, I can smell it. Adrian gave you the power to become strong, but you are still weak. We've beaten the strongest trainers and Pokémon this land has had to offer. Adrian told me to make sure no harm comes to you, but I won't be inclined to do that if you don't show us respect."
King just growled, Yori was dominant, so he would listen to him.
A few moments passed as the two Pokémon sat in silence. The sun had set on Vast Poni Canyon, and a cool breeze rustled their fur. King noted how Yori would glance back at Adrian every now and then, checking on her. She was sitting on top of her bedroll now, going through a bookbag as Bandicai curled around her.
"I know you guys heard what I said," she reminded her Pokémon in a loud, even tone.
A devious smile stretched across Yori's face, "Are you guys scared of a little Lycanroc?" He said in his deep rumbling voice.
Immediately Bandicai uncoiled from around her trainer and glided towards the pair at a speed that made King flinch.
"Scared?" The Salazzle tutted in disbelief in a somehow menacing voice of silk.
"Mhm," Yori nodded, smirk still in place.
Bandicai scoffed, "I just prefer to be around our trainer than a Lycanroc, Yori.." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I am called King," the two Pokémon looked at him with guarded shock, recovering instantly, Bandicai laughed,
"Well King, I am called Bandicai," she got in his face and looked him dead in the eyes, "And if you ever dare to lay a hand on my trainer, King I will make every layer of skin fall off your body and feast upon you for days upon days." The smell of the poison that dripped from her maw burned King's nostrils but he didn't move. He would prove himself to this lizard.
When she was satisfied, Bandicai moved out of his face, and spat poison at his feet, effectively killing the grass and burning a hole into the ground.
Little thumps were heard off to the left and the smell of water and bug invaded King's senses.
He heard the sound of air splitting as dust was kicked up.
The smell of ozone permeated the air.
"King," cane the articulate voice of Cash, "I look forward to seeing you grow." She said as she groomed herself.
"Thank you, Cash," King said sincerely, she was the only one who was outright polite to him.
"I sure wouldn't want to see all of your potential wasted because you crossed our trainer. Be smart, young one," She the proceeded to exchange a few words with each of her comrades, and then flew over to where Adrian was, spitting fire onto her gathering of sticks.
"My name is Squidward! Just as all the others have said, don't touch our trainer, she's very important to us. Soon she'll be like that to you, King. I wish you luck!" The Araquanid said in a chipper voice.
King just nodded slowly, not quite knowing how to feel about Squidward. They all cared so much for Adrian, was he destined to be like that?
"I am Vickavolt, sadly my Trainer's only electric type Pokémon. Hopefully you warm up to us and we do the same, because we all work better when we work together, right?" The electric type looked at King expectantly, the wolf Pokémon nodded, liking Vickavolt's nature.
"King," Adrian called his name from across the clearing, the Lycanroc glanced at Vickavolt, not wanting to cut their conversation short,
"Go,"
At that, King began to limp over to the edge of the camp fire, Yori right behind him, silently picking him up whenever he fell. The rest of the Champion's Pokémon made their way over to her also. Bandicai was the quickest to get there, wasting no time in curling around her trainer, basking in the heat of the flames.
The Alolan champion was now dressed in gray sweatpants and a white tanktop, no bandana, with her hair pulled into a ponytail. Her eyes weren't quite as sharp as before, noticeably more calm as they watched him.
King stopped at the point where the fire's flames didn't light the dark. Yori watched him curiously, but ultimately shrugged and went to sit behind Adrian.
"King, come on," she patted the space in front of her.
Hesitantly the Lycanroc trotted over to where the Alolan Champion was seated, wincing as he went.
"Sit down," she ordered calmly. King did as she asked and watched her warily as she held a pink bottle in her hand.
She motioned for him to come closer, but as he did her little coil of darkness touched his huge haze, and they united into one. The Wolf Pokémon's eyes went wide and he froze. What just happened?
Adrian didn't look particularly surprised and neither did Yori. King felt like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders. A sudden feeling of light-headedness washed over him as he fell into the girl's lap. The darkness that always surrounded his mind was still there, but now it was clear. He shivered as Adrian ran a hand through his mane.
She sprayed some type of concoction onto his burns that made them flare up in pain, but ultimately heal. She ran a brush and comb through his fur, and sat out a pan of multi-colored beans in front of him.
After he began devouring them, she sat out pans for the rest of her Pokémon also.
King felt so incredibly... calm.
The feeling he was always looking for!
The darkness didn't take from him anymore! This trainer!
He jumped out of Adrian's lap and howled his happiness into the night.
. .
"Shut it will you!" Bandicai groaned from her spot beside her trainer. King had been yipping, running around, and shaking his fur ever since the darkness in him merged with his trainer's. He just felt so free! The darkness was his to control!
"Hey, King," Adrian called from her place on her bedroll with a warm smile, absentmindedly running her hand over Bandicai's scales, "I think I know why you're so happy but we're all about to go to sleep. So if you wanna keep running around don't stray off too far from here and don't stay out too late. Goodnight you guys!" She finished as she laid her head on her pillow, all of her Pokémon returning her sentiment.
Deciding to follow her lead, King trotted over to where Yori was leaning against a tree in the shadows.
"Goodnight, Yori," King said tentatively. For some reason, he already harbored so much respect for the veteran dark-type. The big cat in question cracked his eyes open, yellow sclera starkly contrasting with the dark that surrounded them, and surprisingly cracked a smile that heavily resembled his trainer's,
"Goodnight, King." Something stirred inside the Lycanroc at the use of his name.
He looked up into the trees where he knew his other... comrades rested.
"Goodnight, everyone," The Wolf Pokémon called into the night.
"Sleep well, young one." Came the velvet voice of Cash.
"Goodnight!" Chirped Squidward, albeit sleepily.
"Same to you, King." Whirred Vickavolt.
Feeling accomplished, the Lycanroc trotted over to where Adrian lay.
"I see how he chose to sleep in the light, near Adrian, even though he's a dark Pokémon," Yori chuckled.
. .
As King made his was back to the campfire a thought popped up in his mind.
Maybe he should take watch?
Everyone was asleep, and he wasn't that tired. He could prove himself if he protected the group.
He began to trot around the edge of where the light met the darkness, but a voice reached his ears, "King, go to sleep. Yori won't let anything happen to us,"
King cocked his head and yipped in protest, "Yori is asleep!"
Sensing his confusion, Adrian elaborated, "Yori is nearly completely in tune with darkness, he'll feel if anything comes this way,"
Reluctantly, King nodded in agreement and went to lay down in front of Adrian. He wanted to see Yori in action. He was the Champions very first Pokémon and the strongest dark-type he knew. King didn't want to admit it but... he looked up to Yori.
King dreamed about battling Yori that night.
. .