Chapter 2: A Taste of Inferno
"She was defeated in the floor that the client was in?" questioned Hoopa.
"Yes. It is my fault for not healing her up first…" apologised Chestnut.
"It isn't your fault so please don't blame it yourself. It is tough to keep an eye on a team member in the dungeon no matter how experienced a team leader is. How is her condition now?"
"She…never spoken to me ever since I rescued the client."
"I guess she is feeling down. Give her some time to get over with it. In the meantime, maybe you should get her something good to eat to cheer her up. Give me a moment to find it."
She retrieved an item from the drawer and passed it to him. It was a square wooden box.
"Inside is a dark chocolate ball. It should help her relax a little. Alright, you should go back to your house now. It's late."
"Alright Mistress Hoopa." he bowed in respect and went out.
When he was near to his home, he heard a loud rant from Eterna.
"Fudge! I don't believe that I was defeated! Argh! I hate myself for being so careless! Everything does not go smoothly so why did I…"
After that it was just stomping around. Chestnut clenched the wooden box tightly with his two hands as he did not know how to deal with her anger. Actually, he never encountered this situation before. He mustered his courage and opened the door to find Eterna suddenly stopped in her rampage.
She panicked, "Ah! Uh, oh no. You heard what I said?"
"Uh no? What is it?" he lied.
"Oh nothing! I was just thinking aloud that's all."
He was surprised that she did not attempt to lie at all. Of course she did not mention that she was swearing.
"Anyway, I brought you a gift from Mistress Hoopa. She said it is a dark chocolate ball."
"Ooh! I didn't know there are cocoa trees in this world! Thank you! Um…can you open the box for me?"
He opened the cover to reveal a dark brownish ball. He put the opened box with the content inside under her nose. She looked at it with glee, and then she helped herself by munching it away. After she finished all of it, she felt something 'unlocked' within her. She stepped back from the box with eyes widened.
Chestnut was concerned, "What happened?"
"I felt something stirred within me. It isn't uncomfortable or anything, but…"
"Is it something to do with the chocolate?"
"I am not sure. Chestnut, can we go somewhere that has a wide open space?"
"Okay, sure."
They walked passed some trees to an open field of short grass. Eterna looked around for any Pokémons and confirmed there were not there. Then, she requested Chestnut to move away from her. He moved as he was told.
She relaxed and stopped containing that 'something' within her. It emerged out of her in flames with black core and white tips. The flames were not hot, but instead she could feel hatred radiating from them. Was this her true power?
"Wha…what are those flames?" scared Chestnut.
"This…is my power. Now I know why I was warned about this. Chestnut, do you mind if I attack you with these flames?"
"No way! I felt menace oozing out of them. You should stop using it!"
"Oh? Are you really that afraid? Hehehe, if that is the case…"
She had begun to lose herself. The flames enveloped her and her body changed colour into white with red glowing eyes. She turned her attention a building and sent her flames there. The fire quickly engulfed the building and cries of help from the Pokémons that were trapped could be heard for a mile away. That gained the attention of the residents and they tried to douse the flames using their attacks, but nothing happened. Eterna laughed hysterically of their desperation.
Chestnut shouted at her, "Eterna! Stop! You are hurting them!"
"Well, isn't it is your fault for not allowing yourself to be my target? Hahaha!"
"Eterna, you…leave me no choice."
Chestnut shot Seed Bombs at her. They hit, but that only made her laugh even louder.
"That is some wimpy attack you have! Ha! How about I return you a favour? I shall end your life so that you will no longer suffer from your lost."
He was shocked that his strong attack did nothing on her. With nothing else he could inflict damage on her, he beg her to stop.
"Please don't attack me! I am not miserable at all!"
His words did not reach her; instead she shot a Calamity Flame. This lukewarm fire was a twisted mix of white and black colour. Before it reached Chestnut, a shadow came in and absorbed the attack. Eterna was not pleased and demanded it to answer her.
"Who the hell are you?"
"There is no point for me to introduce myself. I shall put the end of your malice." replied the black figure.
Chestnut remembered that voice. He and Eterna had heard her in the forest.
The black figure leapt towards Eterna and placed its right hand on her forehead. The dark energy surged out from Eterna into her.
She struggled, "Argh! What are you…!"
"You should not abuse this power oh chosen one." Its voice was low pitched and without 'expression'.
"Curse you! When I see you again, I will… arghhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Once the dark power was leeched out of Eterna, she lost consciousness and reverted back to her usual self. Then, she collapsed onto the black figure's arms. The building that was covered in cursed flames disappeared as well. Chestnut was panting profusely as finally the mayhem was over. He saw two more Pokémons running towards the black blob. One is a big icy pine tree Pokémon and other is a young bodybuilder.
"Is she's alright?" worried the pine tree Pokémon. He spoke with a low-pitched voice.
"She is asleep that's all." replied the black figure.
"Whew! But why is her power similar to you Aura?" asked the bodybuilder. He was the one with a younger voice.
"We will need to ask her when she awakes." Aura the Black Mist turned her head to Chestnut. "Are you her friend?"
"Uh…we just met today, and I don't think I can call her as one since I saw the incident…" he responded.
"Good. If that is the case, we shall…"
"Hold on!"
They turned their attention to Hoopa levitating quickly to their side, "What is going on? I saw weird coloured flames that didn't burn the building but instead making the folks suffering!" She looked at Aura holding Eterna and anger welled up in her, "You! Are you the cause of this incident? Since you are a black silhouette, are you The End?"
The town folks grasped in horror.
Aura spoke, "I am not The End. I just get here when I saw this Pokémon using her dark power to torment people."
"Why will I believe you when you are the black mist?"
Aura found it hard to reply.
Hoopa snarled at it, "I will attack you personally!"
Hoopa used Psychic to restrict Aura's movement. The pine tree Pokémon used Ice Shard. The ice shattered on Hoopa distracted her concentration and Aura was freed. Then, the pine tree Pokémon used Mist to obscure her view. Hoopa instinctively repelled the mist and found that they had escaped with Eterna into the air. Frustrated, she shot a rally of Shadow Balls at Aura, but Aura expertly dodged all her attacks. Soon, the group had distanced themselves far away from Horizon Town towards Oddity Hill.
Hoopa turned her head at Chestnut and said, "Chestnut! Follow them! Eterna must not be caught by their hands! Who knows what horror will befall on us when our heroine is defeated!"
"Understood Mistress Hoopa!" Chestnut was confused of the situation but he knew it was better that Eterna was watched by Hoopa since her power had awaken. He ran after them and wore an Agility Scarf from his sling bag to boost his speed.
As for Hoopa, she headed to the nine Pokémons that were cursed by the flames. They were terrified and unable to speak. She instructed other folks to bring them to Dr Florges to heal them. They did as they told and Hoopa thanked them for their assistance.
She knew that sending Chestnut to find Eterna was not efficient enough, so she visited a building named Lost and Found known for retrieving any lost things. She asked Aromatisse over the counter to speak to Team Hitoshirenu. Aromatisse's eyes widened in response.
"Is it that serious that you need their help Mistress Hoopa?"
"Yes, this situation is dire. I need the best search and rescue team there is!"
