Secrets of the Night


DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!


Chapter 7: The Unexpected Turn

Lumiose City, Kalos

That morning her father left, Faye Lin set her plans into full motion. She readied all her belongings and bid goodbye to Whim and the rest of the household who helped her reach that point. Just when she was about to leave the gates, she took one last glance at her home and reminisced the times she spent there. It wasn't goodbye but it would be sometime before she would set foot in her home again.

With determination in her face and eagerness in her step, she set out.

The first agenda in her mind was merely to get the feel of being out in the open. Everything was an eye-opener for her so it was wise to take it slow. One step at a time. She let Isis, her Fennekin, walk by her side to accompany her. They strolled along the yellow cobblestone streets of the breath-taking metropolis, where they saw the Prism tower standing grandly in the distance. People were passing by her without a fuss as to who she actually was. It was all surreal for her. No guardians, no fancy dresses, no overprotective father, just the grand blue heavens above as witness to her adventure.

Faye Lin took out her town map and searched for the nearest town with a seaport. She found Coumarine City, located in the north. It was only a route far from Lumiose City, much to her delight. Then her luck suddenly faded when she read what kind route she had to go through to get there. Route 13, otherwise known as Lumiose Badlands.

She was just starting out. Heading to a place like that with only a Fennekin and a Togepi egg would mean her complete demise. The pokemon around those parts are rumored to shoot out of mounds randomly at trespassers. She needed a way of knowing where or when the pokemon would attack so she could avoid them as much as possible.

Then an idea hit her. What she needed was a psychic-type and knew the right one for the job. The best way was to catch it herself but that would mean taking a different route. She couldn't afford to lose precious time backtracking. Fortunately, the Lumiose City Pokemon Pet Store was nearby and if fate was really on her side, the pokemon she wanted would be there.


Senka Island, Semira Isle

Aeron was at the departure area with a borrowed Hydreigon. He was also lent a dark hood with the Black Scythe's insignia embedded on the back. He refused it at first, but Lord Tristan insisted that the night winds at sea would be bad for his health, even for an experienced flyer. The boy thought back on his decision as he recalled the event last night.

"So what is your answer?" Lord Tristan asked.

Aeron hesitated. He found himself being pressured into the offer. Lord Tristan's tone was not forceful but it was strangely convincing. The boy glanced again at the duo guarding the door before he returned his gaze to the master of the Black Scythe. He knew all too well what would happen if he agreed.

He took a deep breath and answered, "My father would not agree."

"I see." Lord Tristan's smile faded and he motioned his two pokemon to back away. The Liepard and Houndoom complied and moved to the opposite sides of the room. The boy bowed and expressed his gratitude for understanding. Then he turned around and walked towards the door. But just as he was about to push it open, Lord Tristan interrupted, "I could understand why Lord Altair wouldn't want his son to be involved with his past…"

Aeron flinched and stopped at his tracks. He hesitated for a couple of moments but finally glanced back. "What do you mean?"

"There's a lot you don't know about your father." Lord Tristan's grin returned. He wasn't done luring the boy in. "He played a huge role in the Black Scythe unit …before you came along."

Aeron studied his tone and expression but even with his keen senses, he couldn't read the man at all. Lord Tristan was shrouded in mystery and that made him dangerous. The boy turned to other points for his judgment. Lord Altair showed no liking to the Black Scythe unit so why would he be playing a huge role in it? And why did everything change when Aeron came along? Was it all just a lie to tempt him into agreeing?

"I could tell you more when you return," Lord Tristan suggested, playing his final card. The boy seemed emotionless but when it came to his father, he showed curiosity and weakness.

"…Alright."

Aeron started having second thoughts. His father would surely disapprove of this. All of a sudden, his trail of thought was cut short by the trio of assassins assigned to the mission. Much to his dismay, they were all female. It was probably Lord Tristan's idea. He took a quick peek at them as the shortest member came over.

"So you'll be the delivery boy?" A white-haired girl asked and grinned childishly.

Aeron rolled his eyes inwardly. He didn't like others referring to his division as simply the delivery guys. But he knew better than to start an argument with a stranger whom he had no intention of fully associating with. He shrugged her off and hid his face under the hood.

The girl sulked and pulled the back of Aeron's hood, unveiling the boy's stern look. The white-haired assassin continued to grin as she eyed Aeron's features. "You know what? …It's like you're me from a parallel world."

Aeron noticed her raven-colored eyes and white wavy locks that contrasted with his jet-black hair and silver eyes. Their personalities and gender were also on opposite ends of a stick. She was a girl with a childish upbeat attitude while he was a cold and emotionless guy.

"Glad you found your long lost twin, Alice," another Black Scythe member mused as she guided a trio of Sharpedo along the side of the dock.

Sharpedos were the main water transportation of the Black Scythe division and they've been use frequently in missions related to the sea, much like the task at hand. Aeron settled to using a Hydreigon since he was more versed in flying. And his part extended beyond a water pokemon's means. He had to go deep into the client's region to personally deliver the item.

"I don't see why we have to leave now. I mean, we're gonna hit the joint at night, right?" A girl with short red hair slumped against a pile of boxes while twirling a pair of gold-accented chakram in her hands.

"It's because, Leiko, we have to intercept the ship in time. We don't have room for errors. You know how Master Tristan gets when we fail a job. Besides now, he asked for a spectator to come watch us." The last female assassin glanced at Aeron with a piercing glare.

"C'mon, Bellatrix. Don't be such a meanie. Our little birdie is sort of cute," Leiko commented as she stood up and walked over to Aeron. Her hands still played around with the sharp crescent blades like she was showing them off.

Aeron took a better look at his three companions. They were already assigned a formal mission so he assumed that they were senior ranked members. The most mature-looking one was Bellatrix. She had chestnut brown hair tied in a long braid by a dark violet ribbon. Another of her noticeable features was her cold blue eyes that could send chills with one glare. Her outfit was a half-shoulder black and violet suit with body-fit leggings and a belt matching her ribbon.

The second was Leiko. Her red locks were in a shade similar to Lord Tristan. The only different was that they give more of a blazing aura rather than a vision of blood. Like her fiery hair, she had amber eyes that added more flare to her appearance. She wore a ninja garb but without long sleeves or long pants, exposing her long legs and slender arms.

The last one was the smallest of the three, though Aeron doubt she was younger than him. Alice, as referred to by Leiko, was childish in both appearance and personality. Her appeal was like that or a storybook Alice but her wonderland was severely twisted and drenched in shadows.

Leiko introduced herself and her two co-assassins. Then she put away her weapons behind her and leaned closer to Aeron. "So does our little Delibird have a name?" She inquired, slightly flirtatious.

Aeron didn't want to answer especially with a nickname. But that would mean disrespecting a senior. He swallowed his pride and replied without meeting eye contact, "…Aeron."

"That's a cute name," Leiko complimented with a smile. "So Aeron, where're you from? Me? I'm from Johto. Bellatrix is from Sinnoh while Alice is from Unova."

Aeron had no reply to her question, seeing as he, himself, didn't have a major clue as to where he was born or who his actual parents were. And explaining how Lord Altair took him in was a waste of time. Deciding to leave the question hanging, He mounted on the Hydreigon with Noir and prepared to depart. "I'm going ahead to scout. I'll contact you three when I find the ship's position."

Even if Semira Isle was a secluded region, it was not one to lose track of the latest technology. They geared themselves with communication and navigation devices but that is all. The rest is compensated by their abilities and instincts.

Aeron was given an Xtranseiver along with the Hydreigon, hours prior. It was a permanent gift that Lord Tristan presented him with. He knew that he needed some way of communicating with his three companions. The outside world, after all, was a huge place.

Aeron double-checked the numbers listed: Bellatrix and Lord Tristan. He scoffed at the latter, but ignored it altogether. With everything set, the boy flew off.

Leiko sighed in disappointment and placed her hands behind her head. She watched at the Hydreigon's figure gradually disappeared in the early morning mist. "Looks like I scared off my little Delibird."

"No fair, Leiko nee-san!" Alice whined and pouted, puffing her pink cheeks. "I wanted to play with birdie nii-chan as well."

"Calm down you two. Master Tristan said not to touch him. Besides, our real game will be starting soon, so better save all that energy." Bellatrix smiled slyly as a Mismagius materialized beside her. The ghost-type mirrored her expression with a mischievous giggle.

"Don't worry! I already sharpened my Vorpal blade," Alice unsheathed a silver knife with intricate carvings. It was almost the length of her arm but she showed no trouble holding it with one hand.

Leiko wrapped an ebony cloak around herself and jumped unto a Sharpedo like it was a jetski. She double-checked her charkram, tied to her belt along with her partner's pokeball, to make sure it wouldn't fall off on the way. "My Umbreon and I are ready to go!"

Bellatrix motioned her Mismagius and it dematerialized in an instant. Then she pulled out a pole and swung it around, calling forth the retractable crescent blade of the scythe. With another whirl, it disappeared. "I'm all set."

Alice was last to mount on the Sharpedo. She was busy putting away her blade and recalling her Liepard to its pokeball. When she finally got on, she motioned eagerly towards the blue horizon. "Let's go catch up with birdie nii-chan!"


End of Chapter 7

I'm making short chapters since they're easier to write.
Should they be longer? It ranges to 1.5k to 2k.

Vikeila and I thought of the assassin trio. Special thanks for her help.

I thought of using weapons to set the people in Semira Isle more apart.
The others will likely have weapons too. I'll just go along with whatever I can come up with.

Review! Thanks in advance!