It was a long hike to the peak of that hill, but it was worth it… at least that's what I kept telling myself. King and I clawed our way up sheer cliffs and crumbling rock walls, each time risking tumbling back to the bottom. Anyone with a brain, or something to live for would have turned away and gone back to the bottom. I wasn't one of those people. I didn't have something to live for, but rather had something worth dying for. Fingers were bloody, and muscles were aching, but I couldn't stop now. The sun had finally dropped below the horizon, making the area around us plummet into darkness. Now we were on Jack's playing field… and we were the game.
"Nido… king…" King breathed deeply behind me. I lifted myself over another rock and rolled onto the ground. I flipped onto my back and stared at the stars as I started catching my breath.
"Yeah I know you're tired!" I called out. "I'm tired, too, but then again I'm not a two-ton tank made of armor and muscle. What's your excuse?" I looked up in time to see King flip me off before collapsing next to me. The ground shook when he landed, making small rocks roll in all directions. "Okay, we'll rest for a while. We're going to need to be feeling pretty damn good before we run into Jack." King grunted and hit his fist against his armor a few times.
"King!" he yelled condescendingly. I snickered and closed my eyes.
"Hey, don't get cocky," I muttered back. "Keep in mind that when you became a Nidoking, you took on the burden of becoming half ground-type. That means flying-types have a distinct advantage over you, of which Jack is. Hitmonlee's ice and fire kicks are going to be our best bet." King grunted and closed his eyes. I know he sometimes misses being a Nidorino, when he was smaller and considerably quicker than he was now. In fact, I sometimes miss my little Nidoran that I could play with and pick up. King is still playful, don't get me wrong, I just miss not being worried about death when he gets excited. My new playful Pokemon is Vulpix… but still burn wounds are an issue. Hitmonlee would just take a few of my teeth out if I even tried to mess around with him. I guess that's what happens to all trainers, though. You're Pokemon can't stay the same forever.
"Nido?" asked King. I had to open my eyes and look at him in order to figure out what he was asking. Otherwise it could range from 'how much further?' to 'are you scared?' He was looking at my jacket, making me look as well. I couldn't figure out what he was asking, however.
"I don't understand," I replied. I ended up saying that a lot to him. He was used to it though, it's not my fault I can't understand everyone all the time. King reached over and pointed a finger at the badge on the inside of my jacket. Then he shrugged his shoulders and pointed back to Ivory Hills.
"Why didn't I tell them I was going here?" I asked for confirmation. King nodded and I sighed. "If I told them where I was going, what I was doing… they would've stopped me. If there's anything Harrison doesn't want me doing, it's going after Jack." King nodded and slowly got back to his feet. He pointed to the summit and cracked his neck. I smiled and sat up. "Second wind, huh?" King reached out his massive hand, which I grabbed. He easily lifted me off the ground and set me down on my feet. I got ready to begin climbing again, when I heard a rustling in the bushes behind me. I quickly turned in the direction of the sound and put a hand on my pistol. King got ready for the worst, as the spikes all over his body grew sharper and turned a bright green color at the tips. I put my hand up to King and slowly approached the bush. I pulled out my pistol and aimed it into the leaves in front of me.
"Come on out!" I yelled. "You've got no where to go!" I reached out and parted the leaves. I immediately jumped backwards when a shadowy figure fell from the bush. I prepared to squeeze the trigger, but managed to hold back, and rightfully so. The body fell before me and lied motionless on the ground. I looked back at King and then turned to the body once more. I tucked the pistol away and walked towards the corpse. I knelt down next to it and turned it over. The cold texture was so similar to everything I had been grabbing on the way up the hill. The victim was small with massive arms and craters over its entire body.
"King?" King asked as he slowly approached me. I sighed when I saw the eyes of the creature were a pale white, locked in a state of fear.
"It's a Geodude," I said quietly. I further examined it, which was hard in the dark of night. There were several pieces chipped away from the Geodude, with the shining quartz internals glimmering from within. "This is a whole new kind of beast. It just doesn't make any sense. How could something that is bug and flying-type take out something that is a rock-type?" I rolled the Geodude over and saw some initials chiseled into his side. I knew the deal with rock Pokemon. When a trainer owned a rock Pokemon, it was common nature for them to carve something into their side. It didn't hurt the Pokemon, and the mark mysteriously remains through almost all evolutions.
"This Geodude belonged to a trainer," I muttered to myself. "This was someone's Pokemon… someone's friend." I turned around and looked at King, who was in silence mourning the fallen Pokemon. I stared at him, thinking about the corpse lying only inches away from me. I took a deep breath and put my hand on my pistol. "King!" I called out.
"Nido?" he asked as he looked up. I sighed and looked away from him.
"Maybe it would be best if you just turn back," I said quietly. "I don't want you to go any further." King tilted his head and slowly started walking towards me. "Enough!" I screamed. He stopped and looked at me, with a fearful and confused gaze. I hardly ever raised my voice to King, and when I did, I felt just terrible about it. I turned away, not subjecting myself to that heart-wrenching stare anymore. "I can't let you get hurt. Just please, go back." I took a step towards the next stretch to the peak, and heard footsteps following behind me. "King! Don't follow me! Just turn around and go home!" The footsteps stopped and I started walking again.
"King?" a voice called out.
"No!" I yelled back. "You'll be safer back there. I can handle this." I was about ten feet away when King's voice called out for me again. I sighed and slowly turned around to look at him one last time. For a moment, he almost seemed like a little Nidoran again. He had the puppydog eyes going, and it seemed like he was almost on the verge of tears. I was looking down on him from my position higher on the slope. The other thing that made him seem small was the bush behind him, which pretty much dwarfed him. It was like looking into the past at my Nidoran once again. Suddenly, sadness and nostalgia collapsed into fear and concern. I watched in horror as the bush behind King formed two small red lights at its top. This was no bush behind King.
"King!" I yelled, with all I had. "Look out! Behind you! RUN!" King turned as the figure raised its giant arm and threw it downwards. King quickly dropped to his side, managing to save himself. The strike still clipped him in the arm, and I could hear King's armor crunch from the impact. Whatever this thing was, it was huge. It was at least three feet taller than King, and it was impossible to see what it was. I pulled out my pistol and aimed at the creature.
"Put your arms in the air!" I yelled. "Do it now, or I light you up!" The creature stared at me and tilted its head. I slowly lifted its arms into the sky, but never took its eyes from mine. I lifted my foot and carefully took a step forwards. For one moment I slightly lowered my weapon, in order to make it down the hill towards the beast, but I soon as I did, it vanished. I watched it amazement as it fired into the air, almost quicker than I could see. I lifted my pistol and fired round after round at the creature as it flew over my head and plummeted back down to Earth behind me. It landed only a few feet from me and spread its arms and wings wide to look more threatening… which it really didn't need to do. Its red eyes pierced the darkness and stared right through me. I aimed at its head and pulled the trigger, but the only thing that came was the depressing click of an empty weapon. I reached for my shotgun, but before I could the beast jumped forward and knocked me to the ground.
"Scyther!" it screamed in an extremely deep voice, almost like a roar.
"A scyther?" I yelled. The huge scyther lifted its massive blade into the air, which glimmered in the moonlight. It's generous calling that a blade, because it was enormous and serrated at parts like a hunting knife. This was it, face-to-faced with my father's killer… face-to-face with Jack… and it was already nearing its end. Jack prepared to slash downwards, when a missile came flying over my head and slammed into Jack's chest. Jack fell backwards and snapped back and forth like an insect as he tried to get back up. I turned and saw King with his arm extended, no doubt the cause of the Horn Attack that just saved my life. I got to my knees and reached to my belt.
"Go Hitmonlee and Vulpix!" The two bright lights shot in front of me and formed my team. "Hitmonlee, give him hell!" I instructed. Hitmonlee nodded and prepared for battle. I quickly turned to Vulpix and pulled her close to me. I held her tightly and gave her one last hug. "You're grown up now, Vulpix. Good luck out there. Now please… run." I let go of Vulpix and pulled out my shotgun. When I stood up Hitmonlee had charged up a fire kick and was charging towards Jack. I stared in awe as Jack suddenly shook in his place and separated into three different Jacks. Hitmonlee stopped in his tracks and stared at the multiple foes.
"Hitmonlee?" he asked in confusion.
"He's using his Double Team!" I yelled. "Use Foresight and then follow up with a Fire Kick!" Hitmonlee squinted his eyes and a small red twinkle came from his pupils. He honed in on one of the three Jacks and took off. His foot was glowing a bright red and yellow in the darkness, lighting the surrounding area. Hitmonlee took a swing which collided with Jack's shoulder. The other two mirages faded away and the real Jack stumbled to his side. Hitmonlee loaded up another kick, but Jack was just too fast. He quickly spun around and swung in Hitmonlee's direction. The backside of his blade collided with Hitmonlee's face. He flew backwards and skidded across the ground. I ran to Hitmonlee's side and grabbed his shoulders, pulling him in. Before I could see if he was okay, Jack had crossed his blades in front of his face and was groaning loudly. He threw his arms apart, sending a blast of air forward. Rocks flew from the ground and shot towards us with deadly intent. I pulled Hitmonlee close and turned my back to Jack, hoping to take most of the attack. However, the sudden whirlwind attack ended and I was being hit with no rocks. I turned to see King standing between me and murderer, blocking the rocks which bounced off him like pebbles.
"King!" I yelled. "Used your Mega-Punch. Take him down!" King lunged forward and his hand was surrounded by a blinding white light. He threw his fist directly at Jack, who lifted his blades and cross them over his chest. King's fist collided with the blades, making a sound like a hammer hitting an anvil. The two stared into each other's eyes, in a constant match to see who would blink first. "His defense is too high!" I looked down at Hitmonlee and then back up to King. "King, quick! Tail Whip attack! Knock out his defense. Hitmonlee, hit him with an Ice Kick… and make it count!" Hitmonlee nodded and jumped into the air. King mustered up all his strength and shoved Jack away. He spun around and slammed his massive tail into Jack's arms. They flew apart, opening Jack up for Hitmonlee's prepared Ice Kick. Jack screamed in pain and slid backwards across the ground, his heel caught a rock and fell to his back in a heap. I reached for my shotgun and quickly got to my feet. I walked slowly towards the fallen Scyther, my finger already pressing the trigger halfway down.
"Scyther," it growled quietly. It slowly looked up and stared into my eyes. Its evil red stare pierced my mind, and flooded it with visions. I saw my mother collapsing to the ground at my father's funeral, and my dream of becoming a master shattering before my eyes. I lifted my gun and took careful aim at Jack's head.
"I've waited for this moment for years," I muttered. "I've had dreams, and pure desires to kill you." My hands shook in anticipation as I began to squeeze the trigger. Then the visions turned to that of my father, standing before me and slowly shaking his head. I stared at him… knowing in my mind he wasn't real, but ignoring him was a pure impossibility. I slowly lower my shotgun and reached to my belt. "But I'm better than that. I'm better than you, Jack." Jack started to move again and quickly moved he stare from the shotgun to my eyes. I reached to my belt and grabbed a chain ball. "This is too good for you," I whispered. I loaded up and threw the chain ball at Jack. It spun through the air and careened towards Jack's chest. Suddenly Jack faded into blurs and flashes, and was gone. The chain ball fell helplessly to the ground and rolled off the side of a steep cliff. I had just enough time to gasp before feeling the cold breath on the back of my neck. I spun around in time to take a vicious slash across my chest. I fell backwards, my shotgun flying from my grip. My hands instinctively covered my chest, but struggled to keep the blood from slipping through my fingers.
"Scyther!" Jack shouted into the air. He took a step forward, shaking pebbles off the ground in front of me. I could clearly see blood dripping off of his razor-sharp blades and falling into the dirt below. Crimson red blood. My blood. My father's blood. Jack stood over me and lifted his arm. I closed my eyes, taking my few precious seconds to release several prayers. I prayed for my Pokemon, for my best friends, praying they would be safe. I prayed for my mother, that she would be able to live with another heartbreak. Lastly, I prayed for forgiveness from my father… I failed him again. Suddenly, the air around began to grow hotter and hotter. The freezing temperatures of the night faded away into a blistering hot temperature. Sweat formed on my head and started to pour down my face. I opened my eyes in time to see a hailstorm of fire erupt from behind me and tear through the air over my head. It slammed into Jack's chest and the air was instantly filled with the stench of the burning armor. Jack screamed in pain and stepped away from me. His blades when into the air to try and cover his face from the firestorm. I turned around to see Vulpix standing behind me, releasing a power flamethrower. I stared in amazement at Vulpix's power, before realizing I had no time to wait around. Vulpix's shout became quieter, and the fire started to fade. I turned back around and saw Jack emerge from the fire, shouting in agony. His blades were glowing orange and his eyes were shining with rage. He lunged towards me in pure fury and prepared to swing. I braced for the impact, when Hitmonlee emerged from the darkness to my left. He unleashed an Ice Kick into Jack's stomach, stopping his momentum. Jack stepped backwards and received a powerful Mega Kick to his ribs. He flew away from the attack and slammed into a rock wall next to his cave. Before he could react, King was right behind him, with the massive horn on his head spinning violently. King lunged forward and buried his horn deep into Jack's back. Jack screamed in pain as King's venomous spike emerged from Jack's stomach. King reared his head back and tossed Jack through the air towards me. I had gotten back to my feet and was firmly holding my shotgun.
"Game over," I whispered. I took aim and fired at the flying Scyther. The shell hit Jack directly in the chest and neck, completely stopping his momentum and knocking him backwards. Jack fell onto his back and laid in a heap on the ground. Purple blood was leaking out of his body and forming a pool underneath him. I stared down at his body, amazed at what I was seeing. The legendary black Scyther, the murderer of my father was on the ground in front of me. Jack was breathing heaving and couldn't manage to move anymore. His limbs were all limp by his sides and his blades were started to cool down and return to their normal color. King stepped up to Jack and looked into my eyes. I looked back at King and slowly nodded. King lifted his leg and put his massive foot over Jack's head. I gave one last look at my father's killer before closing my eyes and hearing a massive crunch that must have traveled for miles. I reopened my eyes and stared out into the night. A huge mystery of my life was now closed and over. It was like a million pounds of weight was taken off of my shoulders. I slowly turned my head and stared into Jack's cave.
"Well done!" yelled a voice. I jumped at the sudden disturbance and turned towards the voice. I aimed my shotgun and prepared for another fight. "Woah!" the man yelled. "Calm down, I'm on your side." The man was wearing a black suit and tie, with a thin white moustache.
"Who are you?" I asked. "What are you doing up here?"
"I heard the commotion and the gunshots," he replied. "I'm an officer of the law." He pulled out his badge and showed it to us. "Detective Ryan Christopher Yuss, at your service. I understand you're also an officer, Mister Born." I nodded and slowly lowered my weapon.
"Why have I never heard of you before?" I asked, curiously. I knew everyone at my station, and in the surrounding towns, but never of this man.
"I'm from high up on the ladder my friend," he replied. "I see you've taken out Jack. Well done. He was a menace to society." I looked down at Jack and closed my eyes.
"I'm aware," I said quietly. Ryan shook his head and looked up into the night.
"Unfortunately, he is only the beginning." I snapped my head to Ryan in confusion and fear.
"Beginning?" I asked. "What does that mean?" Ryan sighed and looked into my eyes.
"Jack was a trained Pokemon, Brian," he stated. "Someone turned this Scyther into a killer."
"Do you know who?" I asked. Ryan shook his head and walked towards Jack.
"We don't know his name, location, appearance, or mannerisms," Ryan replied. "All I know is that he is out there, and this… is all the evidence we have." Ryan pointed to Jack's shoulder and I slowly stepped towards it. I knelt down next to the massive creature and looked carefully at his shoulder. Burned into it was a clear-as-day M#. I stared at the symbol and shook my head.
"Why?" I asked. "Why would someone raise a Pokemon this way?" Ryan looked at the ground and shrugged his shoulders.
"We may never know," he replied, "but he needs to be stopped. I need your help, Brian. You're the best there is, and I know you can stop this menace." I thought for a moment and looked up. I saw King standing over Jack, with Hitmonlee and Vulpix resting by his side. I looked at each one, before thinking back to the deceased Geodude, and the numerous faceless victims of this murderer. I closed my eyes and sighed.
"I'll do it," I replied. "Not for money, and not for fame." I looked back at King and stood up. "But for them. So they, and everyone else can be safe from this man." Ryan smiled and nodded his head.
"Then the hunt is on," he said quietly. "The hunt for a man who is faceless, nameless, and for all we know non-existent. The hunt is on for MissingNo."