The group stared at the path before them. A wide stone pathway, with bubbling lava next to it. It appeared safe enough, as they approached, but suddenly Zero stopped, holding out his hand.
…I have a bad feeling…
"Zero?" Dawn asked, feeling a slight tingle in the back of her head. She knew whenever that feeling appeared, he was calculating something important.
"Sabri, what's your 'port range?"
"Eh? Uhh…" She thought for a moment. "I can pop to any point in Kanto if I start from Saffron…so…"
"More than enough. Take Dawn, pop over to that ledge just before the stairway going towards that cave."
The two girls looked at him, confused.
"May, grab-
"Done." Before his command could be finalized, she grasped the Gardevoir's hand. Dawn blinked.
"Wait, how did you know what he was going to say?"
May gave a hollow laugh. "…because last time he said it, I didn't listen, and I almost got crushed under a falling slab of building. There was a sandstorm all around us, and I guess the winds unearthed part of a ruin. Next thing I know, he's telling me to grab Hisui's hand, but I'm too confused to act. After that, he slams into me and we both almost get killed." She spoke, still clutching Hisui's hand.
"Yeah…that wasn't fun. Anyway, you four pop over to the ledge."
"What of you, master?"
"I'm just gonna walk." I need to make sure they're safe. I can take care of myself, but I don't know how May would react to an unknown problem, and Dawn's change in persona, though it mirrors mine…makes her an unknown too.
I don't know what's ahead, I need to conserve as much of our power as possible.
Hisui and Sabrina nodded, though Hisui looked troubled. In seconds, the four vanished, easily appearing ahead of him. Zero nodded to himself, and began trotting along the pathway. There was a violent rumble. Eruption? Two giant walls of lava rose from the sides of the pathway, as if bombs had been set off underneath them.
The girls cried out for him, as he dashed forward…but he wasn't fast enough.
…hah…a trap…wow. This sucks.
He had a bemused smile on his face, as he slowed down, knowing he wouldn't make it to the other side. Had I not froze for a second, or if I was moving faster initially, I'd have made it. But now…
Hisui wrenched her hand out of May's, milliseconds away from teleporting, when suddenly she froze. She couldn't move her body, though her mind was screaming.
He looked up, wanting to see his end. He sighed, closing his eyes as the searing heat washed over him…before it suddenly stopped. He opened his eyes, seeing the red-orange of the blood of the earth reaching for him like a spurned lover…
But nothing was moving.
From his side, he noticed a soft blue glow. The…Adamant Orb? So I guess Dialga doesn't want me dead…still…stopping time? best thing to do I guess. Oh good there's a little hole for me to crawl through…dunno how long this'll last.
Dropping to the ground and scuttling forward as fast as possible, he escaped the walls of lava crashing down upon him. It wasn't until he got a few feet away, and kept moving, did time's flow begin. They all stared at him, as he smiled sheepishly.
"That explains the bad feeling I got…but I didn't expect lava walls."
"How did you-
"I thought you said you couldn't teleport!" May and Sabrina both spoke.
"I can't. Dialga stopped time for me. Didn't…expect any of that really, so yeah…let's just…keep moving, alright? Obviously someone's in there, and that someone doesn't want us following."
Within, they found Team Galactic. Two nameless grunts, the admins Mars and Jupiter, and a third, older looking man.
"You! I recognize you!" Mars yelled out, pointing an accusing finger at Zero.
"Before the introductions go underway, quick question. Who's idea was it to torch the Ribbon Syndicate?"
The left grunt, a young man looking not much older than Zero himself blurted out.
"They had it coming! I went through all that time to win those contests and that damn bitch wouldn't let me in?"
Zero nodded.
And then…shit went down.
Immediately the world seemed to slow, but only to Sabrina, Hisui, and Zero. Dawn blinked, as her newly upgraded perceptions picked something up, but she wasn't strong enough to determine what.
Hisui and Sabrina almost saw the strand of will launching from Zero, to the world. Contrary to what they thought would happen, being the fool getting crushed…something far worse occurred.
They watched the strand of desire reach from Zero's form, as his left arm dropped to the side. His fingers curled, as if cupping something. In slow motion they saw his arm rise, then lash to the right. The connection solidified, his mental command taking hold, a small glob of molten rock rising from its bubbling home, and soaring through the air, impacting the cyan haired teen from his right side, coating his face and torso in its searing hot form.
Eyes widened and gasps abound as the youth screamed at the top of his lungs, skin and cloth being seared and burnt, the chemicals in his hair used to falsely color it the blue it was, reacting to the heat and becoming aflame. The mental command completed by Zero clutching his hand into a fist, intoning for the molten mess to wrap itself around the boy's form, screams coming out in bubbling chokes of agony, before his body collapsed to the ground.
He was killed in moments…but those last moments were filled with unimaginable pain. Mars and Jupiter stepped back, numb with shock. The unknown old man, seen only once, before, swallowed heavily. He'd seen death, he'd seen torture, but never before had he seen someone die so horribly.
May wanted to vomit. As it was, she knew she'd be hearing the screams of that boy, and seeing his death for weeks to come, in her nightmares. The fear she felt long ago, the fear that she was staring at a person who could easily snap her in two, someone who would show no remorse for their actions, returned.
This…this is Zero?
She stared at the back of the white haired boy, his mental illusion dropped permanently, as he had embraced himself, and his past. She gulped, before forcefully pushing away her fear. He was powerful…but he did everything for a reason, a reason that could be deduced and easily understood.
They're…like Team Aqua and Magma back home…these people almost destroyed the world because of their desires…because of their stupidity. And…that kid…of his own will, decided to set Cecelia's house aflame…even risking that the forest around it would catch fire. He didn't care. He was willing to kill hundreds…just because he got rejected.
No wonder Zero doesn't like people…
Sabrina blinked, part of her was revolted at Zero's actions…another part of her was amazed at his control, going past even hers. And another, darker, hidden part of her, the part that hated everything…was exited that he'd not only killed that stupid brat, but so painfully.
He started with nothing…a normal kid…and being around Pokémon woke his psychic potential. To think…that a semi-artificial awakening like that…would lead to so much power…
Dawn just took it all in stride. After seeing a group of people who'd captured and were preparing to rape you, suddenly burst into bloody fragments…after being covered in scraps of flesh and blood and bone…
Either you snap, or you stop reacting to death and torture.
She'd done both.
Hmph…serves him right for torching Cece's place. I wonder if I'll ever be able to do anything that big…I doubt it…
He…he killed Jacob…he killed him…so suddenly!
Oh god…the screams…the stench…it's horrible!
Wait…the others…mentioned something about a "Zero". A person…who was a major threat to any group with the name "Team". A guy who saved the world…conquered three region's championships…a guy who didn't hesitate to kill, people or Pokémon…
I don't wanna die! I never wanted this in the first place! I thought the outfits were cool and all…I mean, hell, "cosmic energy?" I thought it was some sort of environmental thing!
I don't wanna die!
The girl next to the older man dropped to her knees, shaking and holding her head.
"She's clean, Master. She didn't know what Team Galactic truly was, and never too part of anything damaging. She's only been involved for two weeks, and was under the impression that 'cosmic energy for the win' was some sort of environmental protection slogan. It appears she knows who and what you are."
"Grab her and levitate her behind us. We'll let her go."
"Understood, Master."
Hisui reached out an arm, the girl shrieking as she was suddenly lifted off the ground. She shuddered violently, before passing out, believing she was to be killed.
"On second thought, give her here."
The girl's form zoomed over, into Zero's waiting arms, where he held her, bridal style. He looked down, bouncing off of Hisui's remnant connection to the girl slightly, to peer into her surface thoughts. To his eyes, her true form was revealed.
Short red hair, but longer than the bowl cut that she was sporting at the moment. Standard style of dress for a local trainer, red bicycle shorts, white tank-top, black sandals.
Cute.
He noted seeing a few familiar shapes flicker through her mind. Badges, the ones from Kanto, to be exact. An image of her trainer card, showing her birth date, name, and country of origin.
Handwriting is as shitty as mine apparently…Hoenn? Wait…oh I get it. Born Hoenn, raised Kanto, traveling Sinnoh. Interesting. She's older than us. Younger than Sabrina, but older than me. Huh. Only by a few years though.
Sensing only fear, and confusion in her mind, he gently set her down next to the cave entrance, for the moment. Dawn and May shot him questioning looks, but he waved them off, giving Dawn a feeling of "later" while straight up pushing that thought into May's head.
"Wh-what the fuck man?" Mars blurted out, angered and frightened.
"He almost wiped out an entire forest, along with the home of a friend of mine. I have no need for there to be fools before me who do not monitor the scope of their actions."
"S-still! You didn't have to kill him!"
"Didn't I?" He tilted his head. It was at this moment that his companions saw the depths of his madness, the insanity that he fought tooth and nail to restrain. He knew he was insane, he knew his mind and methods were improper, broken. And he accepted it. But he didn't let it control him.
If he had…he would have simply let Dialga and Palkia destroy the world…or rather, he would have commanded them to do it in his stead.
Memories of his past flashed through his mind again, only this time, not just of his step-father murdering both mother and sister, but of Team Aqua and Magma, of Team Rocket, of their acts against the world.
"People like him, who simply react without fathoming or preparing for their movements to go beyond the scope of their initial intentions…if left unchecked, unpunished, they fester and infect the world. Slowly, people who have nothing to do with their hatred, their stupidity, become involved. It's fine if he torched just the bitch who rejected him, hell, I'd probably give him a medal for that one, she's been ruining dear Cece's club for a while now. But he posted blame to the whole estate.
Rather than looking past his emotions and causing a big enough ruckus to attract Cece's attention, to where she would have handled the matter, he decided to unjustly punish others for impeding his desires, wheras they had nothing to do with them. I can't say I blamed him for his feelings, no, to do so would be a lie. I concur with what he felt, however, his actions put in danger not only someone dear to me, but the surrounding area as well. On top of which, my recently purchased home."
He sighed, a long, tired, weary sigh. Even Mars and Jupiter had to pause at the sound. It wasn't something they ever expected a kid to give off. It was as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"I lost everything…to madness…to foolishness. My Mother, my Sister…my home…anyone who bothers to look into my history knows how bloody and unusual it is. I can't stand people, and I definitely don't like you 'Teams'. All of you gathering together…while I'd like to think it admirable that you can summon so many from different walks of life, your groups' actions always put the world in turmoil, put me in danger.
I've had enough of that. For quite a few lifetimes."
Sabrina could feel his mind growing more and more chaotic. Dawn sensed an uncomfortable amount of random emitting from him. May just listened to his words.
But all three knew he was still in pain, and likely would forever be.
Sabrina put her hands on his shoulders as May and Dawn gently grasped his hands in theirs. The others didn't fail to notice this action.
"And while it would be so easy just to kill you…"
Which put them back on edge, tense. They wouldn't even be able to sense an attack, they had no idea which direction it would come from.
"…I don't want to be like you…or him. For all I know you all happen to just want to scout the area for a new business that has nothing to do with your old actions. You could just be hunting rare Pokémon for your own personal collections, or maybe you've been tasked to check something for someone. I don't know. And I would…be like them…like you…if I just acted, without proper information."
With that, he silently reached out, brushing the forefronts of their minds. Both Mars and Jupiter were dissatisfied with how the man behind them, Charon, was running things after Cyrus' disappearance. According to their surface thoughts, both wanted to find their original leader…if only to determine where they were going next. They were lost, confused, and uncertain. But they held it behind a tough façade.
Charon opened his mouth to speak, when he found he could not use his voice.
"Your time will come later, old man." Zero stated.
"You two. You're looking for Cyrus, correct?"
They stared at him in shock for a moment, before realizing he read their minds.
"You-
"Yes, we are." Jupiter cut Mars off.
"It seems you share a mutual dislike of one another, yet have the same goal. Very well."
He gently detached from his companions.
"I know where he is."
"No shit! Tell us!"
"Not yet. While reading your mind is simple enough to see that you wish to find him, you're still guilty of many crimes. So, I will torture you for a while."
The two women paled. Zero smirked.
"I will not tell you…unless you can win a Pokémon battle."
Everyone blinked. That was it?
"Surprised? Would you rather I slowly removed every hair from your body? Or perhaps I should rip the flesh from your bones, inch by inch? Or maybe even strip you down and bind you in front of a room filled with some of your victims? Your bodies look in shape enough to provide some entertainment. And then maybe I'll trap you in your own minds for a few months, all while you re-live those horrifying moments over and over. Or should I-
"WE'LL BATTLE!" Both yelled in shaky voices. Zero's smirk grew.
This is the one good thing about having a shitty fucked up past like mine. I'm already known to be a special kind of crazy. So anything I spew to people who don't understand me will ring in their minds as total possibility. And since I'm psychic, I can just throw up an illusion like I'm staring them down, when really I'm laughing my ass off that they'd believe I'd do something like-…ok well I wouldn't do the last one, but the other two…
"You won't be battling me, however. That would…not be fair."
They stared in disbelief. First he mentions torturing them, then he claims the torture is a simple Pokémon battle. Then he starts suggesting other methods…and now he won't even fight them on his own, citing it wouldn't be even?
"Th-that-
"Makes no sense? Really, does it have to? I am crazy after all."
He has a point. The two thought in unison.
"May. Dawn."
"Eh?" The two responded. He wasn't sending Sabrina in?
"I've been doing all the work lately, ne? You two take this one."
That cat is surprisingly quick for a fatass.
The battle was…even. Despite having reasonably powerful breeds of Pokémon, Dawn and May were unused to fighting alongside one another, on top of which, their Pokémon were exact opposites. May's Blaziken wasn't as fast as Akiha, and Dawn's Empoleon was even slower. However Penelope was able to tank quite a few hits, knocking Mars' Purugly away whenever it charged, while Bella was able to leap over whatever poison streams Skuntank would piss out.
That is the most offensive Pokémon ever. Seriously. Who the hell thought this thing up?
Unfortunately, due to the dual Water/Steel typing, the heat of the area was getting to Penelope, causing her reactions to be slower than usual. Too many strikes would get through, because her fatigue was growing far faster than normal. Bella, on the otherhand, was perfectly fine. The problem being that she had to evade out of the way of Penelope's attacks as well, lest she be weakened. This distraction was what allowed a fair few of Skuntank's attacks to hit home. Poison had set in, and Bella was beginning to slow.
"Skuntank! Fire Blast on the Empoleon!" Jupiter called out.
Surprising Zero, rather than peeing the attack out like the rest of its ranged moves, it spat out a small burst of flame that quickly grew in size, resembling an asterisk…or in Zero's mind…
A witch being burnt at the stake…
Dawn commanded Penelope to evade, but the Pokémon was so tired she simply stumbled to the side, taking the attack on her right flank.
"Now! Finish it off with Body Slam!" Mars commanded.
Penelope couldn't handle the strike. She fell back, unconscious.
"Penelope!"
"Crap…" May muttered. "Hang in there Bella!"
With one of their targets down, now both of Galactic's Pokémon could focus on the Blaziken. The poison was beginning to take its toll. Mars and Jupiter shared a look, nodding at each other.
"Purugly! Water Pulse!"
Zero's eyebrow rose. Why didn't you do that befo-…oh you smooth bitches.
He'd realized what their plan was. They'd feared he'd trained them himself, so they used diversionary tactics to slow them down. The area had weakened Penelope enough to be taken down easy. From there it's two on one…
Bella rolled to the side as the sudden blast of Water ripped through the air. The heat of the area weakened the attack, but it still would have been dangerous to get hit by. Unfortunately, her roll put her right in the way of an oncoming Fire Blast. Being the same type didn't help, for the area's natural 'elemental' alignment boosted the attack enough to cancel out her innate defenses, dealing straight damage.
From there, Purugly was commanded to strike. The fat cat creature dashed as quickly as it could, before pushing off the ground for a heavy Body Slam.
"SKY UPPERCUT NOW!"
Flames still in her eyes and singing her fur, Bella ducked low, the cat just sailing over it, before she lashed out with her fist, rising upward, punching the feline into the air, slamming into the cave ceiling.
A fighting attack against a normal type, the damage was staggering. But both May and Bella could feel that it was still kicking.
"BLAST BURN!"
The enraged scream ripped from her throat. May just found Zero again. She didn't want to be weak in front of him. She didn't want to lose, she couldn't lose!
Blast Burn was the Ultimate in Fire Attacks. So powerful that almost no Pokémon could handle it. Only specific powerful breeds could endure the strain of using that maneuver, and even then it took a lot out of them. The Charmander line, the Cyndaquil line, the Torchick line, and the Chimchar line were the only Pokémon breeds capable of handling the attack.
Even the 'legendary' Pokémon didn't have 'access' to it, for some reason. Perhaps as some sort of balancing method? Zero didn't know. However, it being the ultimate in fire maneuvers, and considering it came from multiple lines, its representation was different, depending on the Pokémon, and its abilities.
This would be the second time he's seen the attack, for he cherished Akiha's existence far too much to have her bring forth such archaic power, the last time, against Cynthia, being more than enough proof of its drain.
Fighting against the poison within her, Bella took to the air, leaping up and catching the Purugly's body in her talons. She threw the fat cat at the ground, the Pokémon's body slamming into it harshly, literally making a dent in the stone. From there, Bella leaned forward, pulling her fist back. Her fur seemed to light up as a spiral of fire erupted from her shoulder and wound its way to her fist as she dropped downward.
Immediately Zero threw up a psychic field, echoed by Sabrina.
Bella's fist slammed into the Purugly's stomach, a massive orange flare of light ripping from the point of contact before an impressive pillar of fire ripped into the air. The heat nearly melted the rocks around her, wisps of steam and black smoke appearing as the pillar receded.
Purugly was only alive, due to Bella being weaker than normal.
The Blaziken stumbled backward. Poison and exhaustion taking its toll. A crack was heard.
"NOW!"
From below the earth, came Skuntank. Surrounded by dirt and stone, it slammed its form into Bella's back. The Dig attack struck home, and took with it Bella's remaining strength.
"Bella!"
Skuntank was the only one standing.
"Well…" Zero started.
Everyone looked to him.
"looks like Mars and Jupiter are the winners."
The two women breathed a small sigh of relief, though Mars was very worried about her cat.
Dawn and May ran to their partner's unconscious forms. The girls were startled when Zero appeared next to them, slipping two small spiked golden crystals into their hands. He promptly turned and faced the two older women.
"I last saw Cyrus in the Torn World."
"Wh-what? You expect us to-
"Thank you." Mars cut in on Jupiter.
"I gave my word." Zero clarified. "I can't say if he's still alive or not. He made the mistake of taking Giratina on, but she didn't kill him. I don't know if he's even still there, but that's where he was last."
Mars nodded sharply, while Jupiter was still pissed.
"Even if I were to believe you, how the hell would we get there?"
"Sendoff Spring. There's a small pool of water within the ridge. Inside the cave there, is a gateway to the Torn World. How long it will remain open I cannot say."
"What…are we going to do about Giratina? It probably won't like us just traipsing around in its home."
Zero blinked. "Nyx is with me. She won't care, that place can rebuild itself in whatever way she wants. It's very confusing in there though, so keep in mind that 'reality' is only what you make of it. Whatever you want down to be, will be down, even if down would be 'right' here."
That statement confused them, but both of them embedded his instructions in mind.
"Wait, Nyx?"
"Yes. I named her that."
"Giratina's a her?" Mars yelled.
"Well, that's the form she chose to represent herself in so, for the moment, yes."
"And you…have her?" Jupiter breathed incredulously.
"I pummeled her to near death and then captured her, yes."
"You…pummeled…WHAT?" Mars screeched.
"She pissed me off. Don't you two have something more important to do?"
They just stared. Here, before them wasn't just a three-times savior of the world. He wasn't just four times champion. He fought, and almost killed one of the most powerful Pokémon in the world. They heard how one of their bases was completely ripped to shreds, they heard about the total annihilation of their warehouse, they watched him kill that boy…
He was a monster. A demon in human flesh.
And they'd almost faced his wrath themselves.
Stunned by the revelation, they simply nodded at the same time. Zero, who was following their thoughts, didn't show his amusement, but he nodded back as they left.
He turned back, but saw only empty space. The old man with Mars and Jupiter had fled deeper into the caverns. For what reason, Zero didn't know, but he was resolved to find answers.
"If you guys wanna turn back now, you can. I'm going."
Dawn and May stared at Zero. Neither of them wanted to leave him…but…even with the Full Revives he slipped them, the volcano was weakening their Pokémon.
"It's alright. You two fought pretty well. Not up to my standards but…well…I'm crazy and you two-…ok May isn't." Zero stated.
Dawn simply gave a soft chuckle. She didn't deny her insanity. But she was quite unhappy with the turn of events. She opened her mouth to speak, but Zero cut her off.
"Kari…don't worry about it. Focus on Penny, alright? We'll have plenty of time to teach you both my tricks."
Dawn sighed, knowing he'd slipped into the weak connection the two held and sensed what she was going to say before she spoke it.
"Alright…"
Zero nodded, flicking out a Pokéball. In a flash of light, Hisui was revealed.
"Hisui, I need you to teleport those two back to the manor. Stay with them, in case something goes wrong and I need to send a message."
"What of you? If something does indeed happen, how will you get out of it?"
"Don't forget, Sabri's a porter too. And even if somehow she's knocked out, I still have Chihiro on me. Her ports aren't as good as yours but she can fly and fast."
"Very well. Stay safe Master."
With that, the two girls recalled their lead Pokémon, and walked out of the cave with Hisui, after May gave him a hug and peck on the cheek wishing him good luck, while Dawn simply kissed him outright.
"You'd better come back to me."
"Don't I always?"
She gave his hand one last squeeze and the girls left. Zero turned to Sabrina.
"Reminds you of our match dunnit?" He smirked. The raven haired woman narrowed her eyes at him, before matching his smirk.
"Maybe you'll get another show then."
He blinked at her, not expecting that retort, as she walked off coyly.
"Oi! Don't just step off like that dammit! Wait up!"
And he trotted after her.
A/N: Good Goddess it's been FOREVER. With Life, Gaming, Exhaustion from Life, and my brain being A FUCKING TWAT, this is a lot later and shorter than I wanted it.
Oh well, I figured I'd spit something out and then deal with making another chapter later. Ugh. Honestly there's not much plot left but getting there…sorry everyone but I'm gonna probably not have much inspiration for this story for a while. But I DO have the final event written. And I keep looking at it every now and then so sometimes I get jolted.
Also, allow me to sum up my experiences up to the first five badges of Pokémon Black:
"Huh…female friend has boobs."
"Wait…my Snivvy's a girl. Well aint that some shit."
"Oh god not a Sasuke-type."
"Unova must be land of hot women. Even the professor lady isn't ugly."
"what the hell is that?"
"Wait that's NOT a grass type?"
"What the FUCK is that?"
"HA! These guys are saying the shit I've been saying all these damn years! Why DO Pokémon just sit and take it when we shove them in little balls?"
"Oh wait no, it was just the one dude. The rest of them are just like the other Teams. Dammit."
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT AND HOW DO I KLL IT?"
"…I miss my old team."
Also, Victini is easy-mode.
Hunter 1: late in saying this but: Damn right you don't.
D&S Master: Pokémon battle not fought by Zero GOOOOO! Not my best, but again, inspiration for this story's been up and down. I was hoping playing Black would bring it back but…ehh. I've got an EPIC ending to this story already written though, and I vaguely know how to get there. And yes, more awesome fights.
I should really start training myself to friggin just write out whatever pops into my head and then tie it together later…hmm…