AN: I'm still alive and I'm soo soorry! I know it has been a while since I updated, but I've been super busy! You college kid stuff…Not to worry I am back with another chapter! Oh just to say as of this chapter we have reached the HALF WAY POINT! Woo!

Disclaimer: I had to wait all this time for an updated and you tell me YOU DON'T OWN IT! Okay, I guess that's understandable to some degree…to where you own characters with names and the plot.

Chapter 10

Shadow had been missing for days. Teams had been sent out to multiple dungeons to search top to bottom for the dark-type, but every single one came up empty. Blaze was getting impatient and was tempted to go out on his own to look for his best friend. However, there was this little bird who wouldn't allow it and Blaze was tempted to make fried parrot. Team Luminous was also worried. Shadow wasn't only their mentor, but their friend. They were also upset they weren't allowed to go out and help search because they were too inexperienced and Shadow probably wouldn't be located in a smaller, easier dungeon. It was safe to say they were insulted. Shadow had trained them well and they were strong.

"Blaze, you need to calm down," Chatot squawked as blaze paced back and forth. There was currently a team checking a dungeon that had yet to return also he was trying to figure out what to do. It wasn't like any other time before where the trouble found them or Shadow in most cases.

"I will calm down when Shadow is returned," Blaze growled. Chatot cautiously jumped back a few steps to get away from the heat producing fire type. He wasn't sure who he liked better, Wigglytuff or Blaze. Sure there was a special place in his spot for Wigglytuff, but Blaze was the calm, but also fierce type. Took matters into his hands instead of playing the oblivious role at times.

"Pokémon Detected! Pokémon Detected!" Diglett's voice rang through the Guild. "Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"WELL?" Loudred yelled.

"Uh huh, okay…" the small voice being Diglett said before appearing before them. "That was Demon, the leader of Team DarkFighters. He says he wishes to speak with Blaze. He has news on Shadow."

"Let him in," Blaze said quickly and trying not to go running up to the Houndoom.

Team DarkFighters was relatively new in town about a couple weeks ago. They were a group made up of three dark types who mainly went after outlaws. Blaze assumed that was where they got their name from. They were led by Demon, a Houndoom, Starling, a Honchkrow, and Epidote, a Weavile.

"Hello Guildmaster, we have heard about the loss of Shadow. At this time we decide to fully reveal our intentions for arriving here in Treasure Town. The reason we are called Team DarkFighters is because we are a Team against the darkness. The darkness is a force created by all evil in the world. It is the reason for all the occurrence in your world." Demon explained.

"Even Darkrai?" Blaze asked.

"Yes, always living in a nightmare made him an easy vessel for the darkness to invade. The poor Pokémon has been under its control for a while now," Demon explained further.

"So it's not a Pokémon?" Shine asked listening closely to the conversation.

"Not that we know of," Starling added. "We don't know any Pokémon with this kind of power."

"What else do you know?" Blaze asked.

"The Darkness needs a vessel and for a while it used Darkrai. When Team DarkFire defeated Darkrai it left, but took a part of him with it which is after we tracked him down and found out why he can't remember anything. Without a vessel it shapes itself it hangs on to one who can't be one…" Demon began.

"What type can't be?" Chatot asked. Not that he was worried.

"Ghost types. They really have no physical body about them so there is nothing to control." Epidote explained.

"What did this have to do with Team DarkFire?" Pulse asked.

"Team DarkFire at the time was Shadow, Blaze, and Cresselia. They defeated Darkrai so it left to seek out a stronger vessel. It found one much later."

"No!" Shine yelled. Everyone turned to look at the little Eevee that had apparently pieced all what the dual fire and dark type was saying.

"Yes!" Demon barked. "At the start it wanted to destroy Shadow, but The Darkness loves dark types as vessels and Shadow became one. That was no coincident. The Pokémon also under his control either do it by choice or are forced."

Everyone there stood in silence as they too had figured out why Shadow was kidnapped. Even if they found Shadow, there wouldn't be any guarantee that she would be the same. Or even herself. Blaze had many thoughts running through his mind. Why does this always happen to Shadow? It seems when they have won they really just open another can of Weedle. Blaze had a theory it was because of her human side. This was some master plan for her. She already saved them twice, isn't that enough? Was she going to be taken away from him again?

"Do you know where she is?" Blaze asked the team made of dark types.

"No," Demon admitted and Blaze sulked, "but I know where to find someone who does. I know of a Pokémon in Shimmer Hill. For the right price he'll tell anything or help anyone."

"Then let's go," Blaze commanded.

"But Blaze?!" Chatot squawked after him.

"But nothing. I am the Guildmaster and I am entitled to leave and go as I please. With Shadow in danger I see this is as good a time as any." Blaze defended.

"We want to help too!" Team Luminous said scampering up at the Typhlosion. Blaze looked down at the recruits to the determination in their eyes.

"No." Blaze said straightly.

"Why?!" the three cried.

"You've only been with the Guild a little over a month or so and even less for your team. You're inexperienced and this dungeon isn't for newbies. I'm sorry." Blaze said as he began his way out of the Guild leaving three apprentices with even more determination in their eyes. Shine told her team to go as soon as Blaze was out of range. Chatot was too distraught to notice.

Team DarkFighters and Blaze made their way through Shimmer Hill. Everyone was quiet. Blaze wondered if they were like this all the time. At least with Shadow they talked despite how awkward or pointless it seemed.

"What made your team come to Treasure Town?" Blaze asked.

"We were recruiting," Demon answered in a gruff voice.

"Who?" Blaze asked.

"Shadow. She is a dark type who is against leading the world into darkness. Actually she is the model of our team. After hearing of your promotion we planned to approach Shadow about the position with us," Demon explained. "We just never approach her yet until she began to be unreachable."

"That's Shadow for you, a busy Buizel," Blaze added commenting on Shadow's need to be working. She always said she felt useless sitting around.

"I see him!" a called from Starling came above.

"Soon! Soon! Almost soon!" a voice cheered as he danced around the area.

"Needles!" Demon barked. The Cacturne jumped hearing the call of his name.

"Demon! What can I do for you?" he chuckled.

Before anyone could answer the grass and dark type a Flamethrower came by and blur passed by grabbing Needles and slamming on the ground in what looked to be in Shadow Claw.

"Tell me what you know about Shadow!" Blaze demanded. He wanted answers.

"Blaze! This isn't going to get Shadow back," Demon said trying to pull him off. Like good teammates the others stood on standby until told otherwise. "Let…him…go."

"Fine." Blaze huffed with a slight flame being released from his mouth.

"Thanks for calling off your badger dog," Needles said getting up. Blaze growled at the comment and Demon stepped in front of him. "What do you want?"

"He said, we want information on where Darkness has taken Shadow of DarkFire," Demon explained.

"So you've come to me because you couldn't keep that mutt on a leash," Needles laughed. Blaze stepped forward growling more intensely. "Wow big guy, I might have to call you the dog. I know about her, but you know my price."

"I remember," Demon said motioning to Epidote to come forward and takes items out of the bag. Blaze looked upon carefully noticing that Demon seemed familiar with this type of work.

"We have a Desert Sash, a Catur-Tophat, 100,000 Poke, and a Lost Loot." Epidote explained as she took the items out. Needles examined the items carefully. It sounded like he was making approving noises.

"Alright, I'll tell you," He said scooping the items into a bag of his own. "They took your girl to Devil Seas."

"Why?"

"Why not?" he asked. "It's called Devil Seas and this whatever it is could be the devil in a nicer comparison. Let's them stay under the radar because no team is stupid enough to venture down there and if they do they don't make it very far. Also he's interested in Temporal Tower. I don't know so don't ask why. Probably wants to control time or something," Needles explained.

"That it?" Starling asked. He remember last time and they lost an important piece of information.

"It better be…" Blaze snarled as flames again leaked out of his mouth and the fire on his back got larger.

"Yes, fire rat and scarecrow," the cactus said. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'll be in a very sandy place."

With that he left and the others looked on. Blaze couldn't help, but remember about everything that was said. It seemed that Team DarkFighters and Needles knew each other from before this. It was the only explanation or they do this regularly.

"Have you done business with him before?" Blaze asked gravely. He needed to know. These guys talked about recruiting Shadow. It seemed like they were almost outlaws themselves.

"What's it to you?" Epidote snapped.

"Epidote!" Demon barked to quiet the Weavile. "Yes, we have done business before. What better way to catch an outlaw is to work with one? We trade valuable items and let them go for information. It is effective and it gets the jobs done. Do you have a problem of our ways?"

"Yeah I do, and I know for sure if you asked Shadow she would say no." Blaze said.

"But at the end of day, you'll see that the way we do things may be the only way to survive. If I remember you were going to attack the Pokemon just for information," Demon glared. Both fire types knew this wasn't time to start a fight. They were on the same side, but as usual the way the other does things just interferes. No one said a word as they exited back to the Guild.

It was dark, cold, and wet. That was all she could figure. She woke up many times before only to be knocked back out. She figured she probably didn't leave the area and was in one of the water dungeons. She lifted her head to get a better look around to see dark water almost black. Slowly rising to her feet black paws stood unsteady in about two to three inches of water. Out of her tall black ears she heard water slosh as Pokémon were coming in her direction. As a light broke she saw several different ones. Some she recognized and other she didn't.

"Hello Shadow," a Drapion known as Dread said to her. In response she fired off a Shadow Ball. Dread blocked it before swinging at the Umbreon. "Well you're rude."

"Could be worse…" Shadow grunted getting back to her feet.

"I hope you're ready to lose everything," Dread said. "Cursor!"

At the call of his name a Spiritomb came up toward her. Shadow began to go for an exit until Dread grabbed her in his claws. Even if she knew longer the move she attempted to bite him. Cursor only laughed at her futile attempts as a black smoke mixed with a little purple and green exited his own body and straight for her own. Shadow only tried to fight it harder.

"Accept destiny Shadow!" Dread said.

The Darkness entered her body and slowly she felt she was losing herself. Voices screamed in her mind or more like one voice that sounded like many. One voice stood out telling her not to fight and it was pointless. Soon enough she would belong to it.

Dread then dropped the Umbreon and she splashed in the water below. For about a minute she laid there before rising. She turned with her once bright red eyes now darker.

AN: That's Chapter 10 and 11 will be up soon! Reviews are like magic! They occur and it leads to updates faster! Tell me what you think or whatever! See you next time! Warning: The next chapter might be short, but then 12 will be up soon after that.

Preview: It is time to plan out to rescue Shadow! Who is going and who is not? What is Team Luminous up to? What will they find out when rescue arrives?