"(This)" (italics and brackets in quotation marks) is when Pokémon speaks and I've translated what it's saying.
"This" (no italics, just quotation marks) is humans speaking or telepathy.
(This) (just italics and brackets) is used for thoughts, memories and other stuff that goes on inside the character's mind.
Author's Notes ~ Not enough time to work on my own story. Darn you life. You give with one hand and take with the other. This sucks.
Oh well, here's the next chapter of Into The Shadows!
Chapter X – Corrupt
Hunter
Come on now. Why act so surprised? I knew this day was going to come eventually. Kenryk isn't the type of person to just trash talk about getting revenge.
"What's wrong, shrimp? Aren't you going to welcome me back home? Sorry about the door though..." Kenryk joked.
"Stop calling me a shrimp." I hissed.
"Ah, so you're already losing your cool. Well then..." Kenryk suddenly appeared in front of me. "I'll respect the fact you won't welcome me home. Why don't we take this talk outside then?!" Kenryk grabbed my neck, spun me around and tossed me outside.
Damn. He's gotten a lot stronger than before.
The ground was wet, and the downpour of rain continued. Flashes of lightning and loud crashes of thunder raged in the skies. I opened my eyes and looked just in time to see Kenryk jump up into the air and rolled to the side. His blade struck into the ground, kicking up mud and water. Quickly getting up, I noticed that he was wearing a smile on his face.
"Why so serious? I'm just playing around. Why the hell would I kill you right now? I mean, come on. You already know what I want. A rematch- Hmm?!" Kenryk turned his head to the left to find Karen standing behind him, gun pointed at his head. "Go ahead, shoot. At worst, it would probably sting-" A shot from Karen's handgun interrupted him and he fell forward and collapsed into the soggy ground.
"Hmph. I would've shot you anyway- What?!" Karen jumped backwards, avoiding Kenryk's sudden slash. "But I got you-"
"Right on my noggin, yeah. That hurt." Kenryk said in a mocking manner.
"Hunter...! Somethings not right! Kenryk... Kenryk has something enveloping him! His Aura... he used it to slow the bullet down!" Lucas shouted, now appearing next to my side. "What's worse... his Aura... it's almost... if not, more sinister... than any Shadow Pokémon we faced!"
"Damn. Your dog has to blab out everything. That's right. I have... acquired some assets to go against you. It's going to be worth it-"
"Remember me?!" Amaya suddenly asked. Amaya ran out of the house door, bearing long claws as she rushed toward her target, Kenryk. He quickly responded by pulling out his katana and blocking her cross-slicing claws.
"Jeez, why does everyone like to interrupt me... Hmm? You look familiar." Kenryk replied, slicing horizontally. Amaya quickly jumped backwards and stood still, looking at the ground. "You're a Shadow Pokémon, yeah... but I know exactly who you are..." Kenryk slowly made an Amaya-like smile, "Amaya."
"Nice to know my original master remembers my name... Master Kenryk. Your..." Amaya rose her head, wearing a demented look as she licked her lips. "Powerful... delicious Aura... I'll consume it all until you're dead! Your power will live on within me!"
Consume? His Aura? Lucas did say that there was something odd with Kenryk... his Aura in specific...
The First's Lucario Partner. The Destroyer and Corrupter. Utilization of her Aura is used in an unnatural way. Only two have ever existed, both being female. Their hearts were filled with negative emotions. In the past, these Lucario, even though in different time periods, wreaked havoc and caused casualties in the Akakage Clan's village due to this unnatural ability.
Their ability to drain and corrupt the Aura of others.
Why is that stupid prophecy going through his head?! No! This is just a simple story that Mom used to make us go to bed. It can't be true.
Could it?!
If I recall correctly, draining the Aura of others is like ripping out someone's soul. They can't live without it...
"Jeez, what the hell happened to you? You were so pathetic and cowardly the last time I seen you." Kenryk mocked. "Well then, show me what ya got. I want to get warmed up before the battle with these guys later."
"With pleasure, Master!" Amaya screamed, now jumping toward him, retracting her claws and aiming for his neck.
"Too slow." Kenryk said, simply sidestepping her lunge. Amaya laughed, and her purple-colored tail wrapped around his neck. "What the hell?!"
"Grraah!" Amaya shouted, using her tail to flip him over herself. Kenryk landed on his back, writhing in pain as he tried to get up.
Amaya wasn't about to let him escape. She jumped on top of him, looking into his eyes with an evil stare and smiled.
"What are you doing?!" Kenryk shouted, as Amaya grabbed his neck and placed a paw on his chest.
"Give me your power... and die! A slow and painful death, my Master!" Amaya laughed, now radiating a purple-like aura around herself.
I didn't need Lucas to tell me what he sees. Both Amaya's and Kenryk's Aura seemed to become visible to everyone's eyes. Both had the same coloring, but Kenryk's seemed just as large and unnatural as Amaya's.
So, this is what's making Lucas nervous. To be honest... seeing now the sinister Aura that Lucas spoke of... I'm feeling very uneasy myself.
"Grah!" Kenryk screamed, as a thin line of concentrated purple Aura escaped from his chest. The thin line snaked around Amaya's arm and entered her slightly open mouth.
What the hell is this?! Draining the very life force of something...
It reminds me so much of a demon!
"Mmm... tastes better than I expected. Don't worry Master, your power will help me in my desire to become stronger..." She slowly inched to Kenryk's horror struck face, smiling sinisterly and whispered to his ear, "For my real Master."
"Why are you two just standing there?! She's killing him!" Karen screamed, now pulling out another handgun, aiming both for Amaya.
"The moment you fire that, Lady Karen..." Amaya hissed, now turning her gaze to Karen, "I'll deem you my enemy..."
"You must be restrained... my dear Amaya. You've gone too far." Karen said, now firing a shot at Amaya's paw that rested on Kenryk's chest. The force of the rubber bullet forced her hand off and the Aura visualization disappeared.
"You goddamn idiot! This is my kill-"
"Sorry Amaya." Karen said, now firing at a rapid pace. Many of her shots landed on Amaya's side, forcing her off of Kenryk. Karen momentarily stopped her rapid fire and waited to see if Amaya moved. Amaya quickly got up and charged at Karen, bearing out her claws.
"Don't interfere!"
"Don't be an idiot." Karen leered, now letting loose a rapid fire barrage hitting critical areas with pinpoint accuracy. Many of her bullets landed on Amaya's abdomen and chest. The force of the attack kept pushing her away as she swiped her claws helplessly. The firing stopped and Karen's handguns made nothing but clicking noises.
"Damn you..." Amaya whispered, as she collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
"Forgot how much a Pokémon could take... I never liked firing at Pokémon..." Karen said, now reloading both her handguns in a quick fashion and aiming at Kenryk.
"Thanks, toots. Damn, that Amaya's gotten really strong, hasn't she? Yet..." Kenryk cracked his neck and stretched, "She's still pathetic, thinking she could kill me."
"I never wanted you to thank me for that." Karen leered, firing another bullet at Kenryk. The bullet hit his chest, making him move backward a bit.
"That stings. Especially since I didn't get all my Aura back yet. Oh wait, there we go..." Kenryk sighed, now standing straight.
"His Aura's been regained, Hunter." Lucas said. "Come on Hunter, I'll take him on."
"Oh, not right now. Jeez, I'm the one who's eager for the rematch, not you." Kenryk said, rubbing his head.
"Why not now?!" Lucas asked, now materializing a Bone Rush attack
"Can't a brother just visit their household one more time without hostility? Guess not. Just here to give you the gist on what you're dealing with. I had to be fair." Kenryk shrugged. He pulled out what appeared to be a Dusk Ball and spun it on top of one finger. "This... is who you will be facing. Right in this here Dusk Ball. You'll see it tomorrow. The best fighting machine I ever got my hands on."
"That's a Shadow Pokémon!" Lucas and Karen exclaimed.
"Righto! You guys catch on quick. It's obvious that Lucas would know, but you toots... Impressive." He then turned to me, "But of course, shrimp here is always slow at these kinds of things. No matter how obvious things could get."
"That's it!" I shouted, now pulling out my blade. "I want you to get the hell out of here! You're not welcome here! You're a criminal, and I'll take your ass down to Veilstone's Jail! Even if I have to cut off one of your limbs to get you there!" I jumped up and swung my blade downwards. Kenryk smirked and merely raised his arm up.
What?! Is he really going to just defend with his arm?!
Instead of slicing through his arm, my blade made a loud clang and the sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air.
"Oh, yeah. Master Ardos could get really gruesome if his minions don't follow his orders. Although I like to rebel against him a lot, he's not a bad guy. Sure, he ripped off my left arm and leg, but hey..." He made another sinister smile, "It serves me well in battle, don't you think?" He ripped off the sleeve that concealed his left arm.
"Kenryk... what the hell is this?!" I shouted, my voice shaking in agony.
His arm was artificial. Complete metal. Plating guarded the entire front of his arm, wiring could be seen near the joints, and each little move made a clutter noise.
"Surprise." Kenryk sneered, pushing my blade away with his mechanic arm and punching me away. "Really, he's a great guy. Went to Cipher because they claimed they had the strongest fighting machines in all the world. Joined up... okay, I didn't enjoy all those freakin' experiments they gave me... but hey... Look at me now! I'll be able to kick YOUR ass now! Yours and Lucas'!"
"Kenryk... you did all this... just so you could beat me...?!" I asked, now getting up from the muddy ground. "Pathetic. You disgust me you stupid ass! What the hell would Mom and Dad think?! Why are you this stupid?! Why are you this... this... corrupt?!"
"Hmph. Remember that quote from Mom's story? 'The First is more susceptible to corruption and greed'? Well, looks like it applies to me." Kenryk sneered.
"Since you're so fond of Mom's stories and prophecies... you do remember the next part to that quote? 'The Second will overcome the First and stop his wrath.'... Right?" I asked, standing up and leering at Kenryk. Kenryk rubbed his chin and looked up to the sky. He then laughed and looked back down to me.
"No. I don't. Probably because that won't happen." Kenryk mocked. "But enough chit chat. I think I had enough fun for tonight. Meet me at the Veilstone Park bridge. Eleven. Make sure no one is following. ...Because, well, I just can't guarantee the safety of the city if you bring the cops along. After all..." Kenryk once again twirled the Dusk Ball on his finger, "I have a force strong enough to wipe Veilstone off the map."
"So that's how it is. No sympathy for your own hometown. You're the most vile criminal I have ever met." Karen spat, putting her weapons away.
"Why thank you. Never did like this city anyway. Gym's too easy because of a wussy Gym Leader, a gambling Game Corner that gathers tourists here, and the fact the only 'decent' landmark are a bunch of stupid meteorites. Don't even get me started of that damn eyesore of a building Team Galactic used to occupy. I'll be more than happy to wipe out everyone and everything." Kenryk replied.
"I thought you were leaving." Lucas hissed. Kenryk glared at Lucas, and smiled.
"Yeah, yeah. I'd love to see my brute Garchomp gnaw your damn neck out." Kenryk said. "Now, everyone go inside. Won't be good for all of you to catch pneumonia before the big match. Take care, shrimp." Kenryk waved, and ran off into the heavy rain and into the forest.
"Should we give chase Hunter?" Lucas asked, getting ready to dash off.
"No. He may be a goddamn musclehead, but he keeps his word. Besides... we know he has a Shadow Pokémon... we have to accept his match. ...That means Karen..." I turned to her, putting my blade back in it's sheath, "Team Savior nor the Gym Leader Maylene's law enforcement try to put a stop to him. I love this city. I don't want to see it go because of people who think we won't be able to save it." I explained.
"...Understood. Please be careful... I'll go check on Lydia. I had Silica stay in the room to make sure she doesn't leave... With all this noise... I think she heard everything..." Karen said, looking really somber. She walked back into the house, closing the door and leaving me and Lucas in the heavy rain. Lucas was tending to Amaya, lifting her up and taking her inside. Before stepping on the porch, Lucas turned to me.
"You do realize somethings weird here. Those stories that Mrs. Akakage told us... everything seems accurate. If any more of these 'coincidental' things happen... we might just have to look back into that story. I fear it might be true." Lucas said, now walking back inside the house.
First Kenryk appears... then that discovery with Amaya... and now the dependance of Veilstone City rests on my shoulders.
Everything's piling up on me. Mom used to always tell me, "Don't bite more than you could chew."
"Looks like I'm choking on another gummy worm, Mom." I said, looking up as the downpour of rain continued to fall on me. I pulled out a soggy gummy worm, and began to gnaw on it.
Tastes like crap.