This chapter will get pretty horrific later on, there is almost no warning and the violence is pretty twisted. Despite acting like the end of the story or near it, this story is far from over. This chapter sets up the true villain of this entire trilogy as well!
Chapter 11: Chaos reigns
Latias was sitting on a chair in the living room with Star nearby. Both were hanging in companionable silence and had no need for conversation. Star hadn't told her foster mother anything about the day's earlier revelation since a good time never came up. "Star, it is times like this that I wish were more frequent in this cruel world."
Her companion nodded and went back to lying back down, her head between her paws. Charmander was in the other room with Mudkip and she wanted a day to hang on with her savior. An earthsounding bang erupted in the silent room causing both parties to jump violently in surprise.
The door had sounded like someone smacked roughly against it. Loriana knew that someone had teleported right outside the door, feeling the remaining energy left behind after a teleport. She was close to only one Pokemon with that ability. Morgana was usually her only visiter with the useful skill. "Star wait here!" Not waiting for an answer she flew toward the door and after a hesitation opened it.
She did not expect what greeted her and her mouth fell open in shock. Morgana was covered in blood and bits of skin including some body parts and she was sobbing heavily. Turning back into the room she gave Star a mortified look and said rather flatly, "Stay here for a bit young one, I have to help a friend. Don't leave this house for anything." She returned and slammed the door behind her leaving Star standing there with evident concern on her face.
(With Loriana and Morgana)
Loriana stared in horror at her blood covered friend. She was sobbing hysterically and muttering a long line of sentences with no pauses between them. "What happend? Are you going to be alright?" There was a lot of hesitation in the older's voice. It was understandable since blood covered every square inch of Lugia's body making it difficult to determine if it was her blood.
With trembling hands unrelated to touching blood, Loriana held her once lover tenderly in her arms and prepared to teleport. "Should we go back to your apartment?" Morgana broke her muttering off and stared with haunted eyes back. "No, it isn't safe there. I just did something stupid in the name of love but I regret what will come after and what you will do rather then the action." She paused and a wide grin spread across her face, looking quite manical and combined with the gore made her look downright creepy, but Loriana grew concerned at the fear and crazy ranting that her friend and one-time lover had shown.
Psychic types rarely crash when coming out of a Teleport move and the fact that Morgana had done so proved she was distracted or deeply disturbed by an unknown event. A feeling told the Latias that this wasn't Morgana's blood and that the story that Morgana will eventually tell will cause her to worry for another individual.
Morgana took in deep, rasping sobs still shaking and covered in the blood bath. "Will you care to explain how you go this way?" This had no positive effect on her friend, who had continued to sob. However, what appeared to be a broken voice quitely mumbled, "Its bad Lo, I did something that will land me on trial and a lot of the others would hate me. I can't involve you in my problems."
To Loriana's horror, Morgana attempted to break away. "I have to move, and if I risk you in my problems, I will never forgive myself." She struggled in vain several moments before she realized that Loriana never realeased her grip on her as she had originally thought. "Morgana, I don't want you to assume I will turn you in if, as I imagine, you are involved in something that you can get help from. Specifically from someone like me who actually knows you and gives a flying fuck what actually happens."
This snapped Morgana out of some of her mental breakdown and she relaxed a little but didn't stop fighting to release herself from the grip. "Nothing in this world is more important then a problem that I can help you with if you just confide in me."
She calmed down a little further and eventually stopped her shaking, instead settling on trying to get the words out. "I will tell you but it in turn relies on Star and other matters. I don't want to confide in something behind her back. We should head back inside."
Whatever was acutally happening, Loriana never expected it to involve Star. Morgana never met her eyes after revealing that Star was involved. She seemed nervous almost afraid of a potential outburst. "You mentioned something else after admitting Star was involved; was that a slip up or did you mean that there was something else?"
Morgana winced slightly and didn't say anything, this leaving the Latias wondering if there was something else going on. She dropped the curiosity for awhile and figured Morgana would reveal what was on her mind when she was ready to. "You aren't a bad Pokemon Mo, but you really need to confide in others if something is too big for you to handle alone."
The two Pokemon went back into the house and nearly ran into a still present Star. It was only then that they realized that they had spend more time talking about the problem and less time on cleaning up. Star, much to Latias' surprise did not cower but instead a worry appeared briefly in the young Pokemon. Only Loriana caught this look though and wondered at the lack of surprise or even shock.
Morgana smiled wanly at Star and walked past her not bothering to potentially freak her out by touching her but as Loriana watched an understanding seemed to pass between them. The moment passed quickly and Morgana quickly walked toward the house's shower. "I need to wash this off me and then we will be able to chat. Make sure we won't get interrupted and I will be back shortly."
Loriana made herself comfortable on one of the couches and began to drift among her thoughts. She could tell Morgana was in trouble this time and wondered how she will help her this time. She knew Charmander wouldn't bother them because there had never been interruptions in the middle of the night like this before. So involved in her thoughts, she barely heard the voice and even then it was so sudden, she jumped violently.
Why are you sad?
That had been telepathy, however she saw no one around that could belong to it. She knew Morgana's mind and this hadn't been it.
You stare after her as a mother would a wayward daughter and sometimes something more occurs. Something is happening to those around me. I found so much kindness in a world of sin and everyone here I have so much love for. Sometimes I wonder who to love more and conflicts arise.
Loriana's mouth fell open in shock as she realized the source. She knew that only Psychic types could share thoughts with another Psychic type but here was a Chikorita that could pass her thoughts to her. A thing like this was unheard of and she was confused as to what was happening. Before she could speak, Star jumped onto the couch and lying very close to her savior. So many lives had been saved by a simple act of kindess.
I can read your confusion and I am not sure how long I have been able to do this sort of thing. Morgana was the first one who realized it, but it is a horrible story. Something is happening; something that is new to this world. I will wait for Morgana as she fits into this and now I guess so do you. I am afraid that something that is gaining rapid power threatens this world.
She stopped and Loriana absorbed what she had been told as they waited for Morgana to finish her shower. Star felt weird about revealing the truth as the Shadow seemed to want her to kill anyone who stood in her way. In essense, they were in the way. She expected something to happen, a warning of losing control or to suddenly wake up with no memory of what had happened and standing over someone dying.
Nothing whatsoever occured and no whisper of her tormenter whispered threatening words about killing anyone in this house. What was going on that kept it quiet? Soon Morgana reappeared, fortunately without any startling gore on her person. "There is nothing more satisfying then a shower. They are simply a wonderful creation." She grew serious and then stared at Star and Loriana and took up a comfortable posistion on the floor.
"Loriana, something is happening to the both of us that involves major crimes against the Pokemon world. I warn you as a friend among other things to please reconsider your desire to know what is going on. Star and myself are involved in major problems and I would hate to have you become involved simply because of an attachment to us. I speak for myself that I am not worth the trouble. This is your last chance to back out willingly. Please reconsider at risk of your soul."
Silence greeted these words as Loriana stared at the two she had saved in her own way. She had care for a lot of individuals over the years and she had desired a place in the world where she was appreciated on some level. The residents in the house, both in and outside the current room, each had touched a part of her and made her care for them. Something now was conflicting two people she strove to always be there for. How did that make her look?
She looked on the old saying about friends and best friends and found a remarkably true outlook on friends in general. Regardless of how bad things looked and how much trouble she herself will be in if caught, she would help them and make sure to fix whatever was wrong. It was now or never and the time to run away and hide had long since passed. She nodded to them and leaned back and her seat signalling her willingness to listen.
Morgana gave a look of sad regret and stared at Star who tilted her head forward. She didn't yet know how to project to two people yet. Her friend knew enough to get the facts down and now that she thought of it, it would be nice to have someone know what was going on. For the next three hours, Morgana described just what Star was involved in; she made sure to tell everything that she knew.
Star hadn't told her about the missions from hell, but Loriana made sure to say something was controlling her, making her commit brutal crimes against her will. The confession ended with one of Morgana's own confessions of guilt. She told about how Gargen threatened blackmail against Star and her hiding information about the murders from the officers and finally he made a threat against someone (she didn't tell Loriana or Star that it had been because of the latter) and how she lost it.
"I couldn't control myself and hacked him to pieces despite not actually wanting to. Something had come over me and I had to fight to gain control of myself. I took everything I had used with me to this point. That apartment is no longer safe for me to live at because the screams would have attracted some attention by now. Well we confessed our problems. Was it worth knowing us?"
All through the revelations Loriana sat stock still, listening to the Pokemon she cared about talk about what they had been forced to go through. "Why, didn't you come to me sooner? I could have helped with everything and prevented you from all that worry."
Everything was silent as the two others in the room thought about what she had just said. Before anyone could speak next, a sinister feeling began to creep into the room causing cold where before nothing but warmth and companionship were evident.
Very amusing to think that the party is held without first considering the actual danger you are in. I have almost enough gifts to break free! Oh how fun it will be to play with my new friends. Star, have you forgotten what your purpose is?
The chikorita fell off the couch, collapsing on the floor and screaming with intense pain as she convulsed. Loriana and Morgana having never heard it before shivered and found they couldn't move to her rescue.
Pathetic that you creatures are so weak. I was hoping for so much fun and you think that any of you can understand what I am or anything. Star is going to kill all of you and she is going to have so much fun doing it.
Screaming exploded from the tiny body as wings appeared on her back and her form darkened.
This is more then just playing together. My followers must be loyal and obediant, willing to obey without hesitation. I am in control and unstoppable.
Vines tore free from their confinement, vines with bigger thorns layered all over them. They had grown since last time. Star stopped her convulsing, and rose up without anything touching her or helping of any kind. Her eyes were so violently red and she was growing ever larger as she grinned. "Do you think you have any chance in hell at stopping what is destined to occur? How do you expect to even find me when fear binds you to your seats? I so much appreciate the gift Morgona has offered me. It is way too cool and I think you will agree."
Gargen's massacred corpse appeared next to Star's possessed form. He was almost unrecognizable as he laughed a chilling wet and strangled laugh. An eye inched it's way down his face and he stepped closer to the paralyzed girls. Not a scream escaped their lips for they found themselves unable to.
"I control your bodies and they submit themselves willingly to my loving grasp. I have to be at full power to achieve my dreams. Mortals beware for this is not the devil you think I am. I am so much better then that weakling and will gain control. I am war and pain and everything you have ever slain. I am grief as well as lies. I am pure and true and I will be all over you."
Star laughed once and vanished into nothing. Gargen's body exploded with one final menacing laugh spraying blood, body parts all over the frozen Pokemon. Once drenched in the stuff and after Star vanished, they gained control gasping and shivering from delayed movement.
"What the fuck was that!? It held us under some kind of control and took control of Star! How can the devil be weaker then that thing? I heard so many stories and apprently all of them false." Morgana was ranting out of nerves and stood up and began to pace. "I just took a shower too and now this shit is all over me."
Loriana was still silent as she stared at Morgana and chills crept in as she stared closer. "Mo, what mess?" Morgana stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide. Then she looked all over her body. "I don't believe it! How could there be nothing on me? I felt it slide down me." She shivered at the memory and sat down again. "It took Star away, possessed her so easily. If this is what is ultimately is taking control of Star, then we have no chance at stopping it."
Loriana couldn't think of anything to add to Morgana's rant as she couldn't talk much besides pointing out the trouble with the vanishing gore. It hit her hard that Star had been taken away so easily. There had been no warning, the mysterious entity just started talking and they heard it. A feeling not a voice and a kind of errie, flat tone of speech had announced the words. No gender could be determined from those words alone.
"We have to find Star as soon as possible. I dread to think what that thing will have her do. We have no idea who will die or even if that thing plans on taking control all at once. She could be killed at any point if not already and we are powerless. Who could have any hope of defeating or taking on that kind of power?"
It did look pretty bleak and Loriana still felt stunned at the events that transpired. Morgana paced constantly, constantly trying to come up with something, anything on how to help. Finally, she stopped again and turned toward her friend. "I am going to find her. I had a lot of luck finding her in the past in situations like this, maybe I will have further luck. Loriana only nodded, too stuned over the events that just occured to put up too much of a fight. This wasn't lost on her companion.
"I am completely aware of how stupid it is to charge headfirst into danger like this, but I can't just stand still and wait for something to happen. I will be alright but I will admit that I don't stand much chance if a possesed Star greets me." She ventured to the older Pokemon and hugged her. "I really do appreciate all that you did for me! I will bring back Star safe. Count on it!"
She rushed over to the door and threw it open. She was about to step out when some the fog in Loriana's mind cleared and she managed, "Please, Mo come back here. I really can't deal with a tragedy at the moment." Morganaa grinned, nodded and ventured off into the unknown depths ahead!
The "I am War and Pain speech that was said is a paraphrase and shortened version of a Dimmu Borgir song called Puritania. It came on right as I was writing that scene and inspired me to write that. I don't own that song and thought it would add drama to what was happening. I will update the next chapter soon! I am half surprised thata I am even getting so many ideas for this story and might even finish it. This will be my second story I completed.