Chapter 4: Zorro the Zorroak

Darkrai's POV

it was truly amazing. There was no other word for it, it was just amazing. Zorro, which I later found out was the Zorroak's name, and I were sitting around the fire he'd built cozily, both with an apple in our hands. He hadn't been mad because I'd fallen asleep in his cave, nor had he sent me away, which every other pokemon would've done without a second's hesitation. But, in contrast with every other pokemon, this one didn't seem to think I was a monster. Instead he'd carefully listened to my story, not interrupting except for surprised gasps sometimes. It did me good to be able to get the story out, made me feel welcome for the first time in my life.

"So, you ran away from the Hall of Origen without asking Arceus' permission to leave?" Zorro asked me after I was done with my story, sounding slightly surprised. I guess not a lot of legendary pokemon ever tried to leave without Arcreus' permission.

"Yeah, it was the only way to get out of there. He would've never let me leave if he knew." I said, looking at the ground in shame. He was being nice now, sure, but what if he found out that the others didn't want me anywhere near them. Wouldn't that make him change his mind? But I couldn't lie to him when he was being this nice, and I really was sure that Arceus would've never let me leave. I was there slave, nothing more, nothing less. That's why I never even got the chance to train or to just behave like a young pokemon, the only thing I had to do was work for them.

"That's actually pretty cool, you know. Normally everyone waits for his permission before they dare to leave."

I looked up at him in surprise, he wasn't mad? Didn't seem like it. To be honest he actually looked quite impressed. He didn't even tell me to go back because I'd get into trouble if I didn't either, which was surprising to say the least.

"But, don't you think I'll get into trouble if I don't go back?" I asked, feeling uncertain. I wasn't sure why Zorro wasn't being mean towards me, like every other legendary pokemon. Truth is I didn't even know if he was a legendary pokemon, not that it mattered. The fact he was being nice to me was strange either way.

"Don't you mean IF you ever go back?" Zorro said calmly as he studied the apple in his hand intently. My eyes widened as I stared at him in shock, what did he mean with that!?

"I'm just saying, you can go back and be those lunatics' slave all over again, for the rest of your life this time, or you can stay with me. I wouldn't mind teaching you the ropes of the trade." He winked and I blushed a little. I knew exactly what he meant. In all the time that I have been surrounded by other legendary pokemon, I never learned how to defend myself. The fact that it was obvious enough for a stranger to pick it up though made me feel a little embarrassed. I knew however that if I had been able to defend myself, I could've handled the others when they attacked me, especially that last time.

I shuddered at the memory of the attack, the feeling of not being strong enough to stop them. The memories started flooding now, the first time I ever experienced love, and the first time I felt the betrayal of love stab me in the heart. I never wanted to feel that way again. Ever.

"Either way, I've gotta get to Apple Woods to get some new Apples." He said as he got up and walked towards the entrance of the cave. "If you come with me I could train you." He continued. "Your choice."

With that he turned around and left for Apple Woods, leaving me to think.

- -

I stared at the back wall of the cave, thinking hard. For the first time in my life the choice was up to me. If I decided to go with him I could learn more about myself and my powers. Or, I could return to the Hall of Origen en become the unwanted monster everyone thought I was.

"Darky, I would never hurt you. I really do love you."

I clenched my claws. Had I really been that blind? Blind enough to believe that she really loved me? Or was this all a trick? Did the others want me to believe that she didn't, just to get to me? If so, they were doing a scarily good job.

I shook my head and thought back to what I'd seen. It's true that I'd seen her shadow, but I hadn't seen her in person. Could what she had said be true? Could she really have been playing with Manaphy? Shouldn't I have asked Manaphy himself

No! No, I know what I saw. There is no way that I'm mistaken. And if I had, it was over anyway. She wouldn't want to see me after this.

I laughed at my pathetic thoughts and got up, pushing all thoughts away. I was going to make sure that I was never going to feel helpless and heartbroken again. I was never going back to the life I had before.

And with that thought I followed after Zorro, determined to make the best of it.

I found him waiting outside of the cave, grinning as he saw me appear. "I thought you weren't coming." He sniggered as he started walking out in front of me, leading the way to Apple Woods.

"I-" I stammered. "I wasn't sure if I would be capable enough." I said then. "Apple Woods doesn't exactly sound like a novice's dungeon and this is the first time I will-" I swallowed. "I will enter a dungeon." I blushed at the confession that sounded a little dumb in my ears considering I was a legendary pokemon, not exactly young anymore, and this would actually be the first time I was going to fight in a mystery dungeon.

"Apple Woods indeed is a level 5 dungeon, which is pretty strong already." Zorro said as he indicated the direction of the dungeon. *"But I'm sure you'll be fine."*

I looked in the direction he was pointing in and tried to see if I saw anything familiar. I know I said I never had been inside a mystery dungeon, which probably makes you wonder why I'm looking for familiar things. Well, even though I never entered a mystery dungeon before, I often walked through the forests and sometimes I'd be near the entrance of certain mystery dungeons. This one however didn't seem to stir any memories.

Zorro smiled in my direction as he noticed I was inspecting the surroundings. "Been here before?"

I looked up at the question and then shook my head. "I don't think so. I don't recognize anything."

I guess I was farther away from Mt. Coronet than I had thought I was. I knew the forests surrounding Mt. Coronet like I knew the back of my hand, and this area wasn't part of it. As if he could read minds Zorro confirmed my suspicions.

"Doesn't surprise me. This is close to the Hoenn region, far from Mt. Coronet and the Hall of Origen." Zorro said with a slight laugh. I looked at him in surprise, what was he talking about?

Zorro's POV

"They never told you about the different regions?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed. This was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen. This pokemon didn't know a single thing about the world. Didn't the other legendary pokemon ever teach him anything?

Darkrai looked like a younger legendary pokemon, couldn't be older than 5000, which is young compared to the older pokemon who've been here since the beginning of time and so probably are more than 200013 years old*.

Anyway, he's still young. That meant he probably didn't know everything yet, but Arceus mostly started teaching them at the age of 1000 so they'd be ready for their tasks.

"No, Arceus never took the time to teach me what I needed to know."
That surprised me. Arceus never told him the important things? Why in the world wouldn't he?

"Why not?" I asked, feeling pained that he didn't even know the important things about exploring.

"Arceus didn't want me near, he only wanted my opposite Cresellia, the hypocritical. That's the whole reason he treats me like dirt and I never got the chance to learn how to fight." He admitted, staring at the ground in shame. I carefully took ahold of his hand, his head snapped up and he had a startled look on his face. He obviously wasn't used to other pokemon being nice to him.

"Forget whatever Arceus taught you, that doesn't matter anymore now. I'm going to teach you how to fight, and anything else you want know." I was a little shocked at what I'd just said. 'Forget what Arceus taught you', it wasn't something you'd just tell another legendary pokemon. Arceus was our father, the one who created us. It was strange to say something like this and not feel bad about it. But right now I knew that it would be better for Darkrai to just forget about the fact that Arceus was his father and his boss. Otherwise he would never be able to be happy.

Meanwhile we'd arrived at the entrance of the Apple Woods dungeon. Dakrai looked at me with wide eyes, my words probably impressed him deeply.

"Are you ready, Darkrai?" I asked with a large grin. I obviously startled him as he had been deep in thought. He nodded and I smiled, together we went into the dungeon.

-

That was the next chapter again! Apparently Arceus never taught Darkrai how to fight, fearing that the little one would defend himself against the others.

Darkrai: Well that does explain why I wasn't able to get Mewto and the others off me last time.

Me: you're right Darkrai, but Zorro'll be able to teach you how to fight.

Zorro: Yup, you'll learn from the best in the entire Unova region.

Me: Don't brag so much Zorro! We'll see about that in the next chapter.

Mew: REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! ALMOST AS MUCH FUN AS CANDYYYY! *does several summersaults out of happiness.*

Darkrai: *clamps his ears shut with his hands* REVIEW PEOPLE! BEFORE MEW DRIVES ME CRAZY!

Me: REVIEW!

Thanks to FireFlyFlies for the beta reading and the translating.