Category: Pokémon
Rating: M
Couples: Virizion/Cobalion/Terrakion/Keldeo
Warnings: Major AU, Blood, Character Death, Gore, Lime
Chapter: 13
Copyright: © characters and places by Nintendo & Game Freak; © Plot and OC's by me
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"Keldeo?" Cobalion looked around, looking for the young Musketeer. The Water-type Sword of Justice had not returned to the place they would rest that night, so he had gone out to confront him. It felt as if their group was crumbling at the seams after Giratina had taken Virizion. There had been a short time of greater closeness, but now they were drifting apart for some reason.
Just like they had done all those centuries ago after Aburion had gotten herself killed. Oh, Aburion… He sighed softly. Why had Virizion brought her up now?
"Keldeo?" He called again, a hint of impatience coming to him. Where had the young one gone off to?
"Yes?" The soft voice quivered, despite being carried by a mental link, something that should forbid such things.
"What happened to you?" Forgotten was Aburion, forgotten Virizion's request as Cobalion looked at his young charge. The young Sword was curled up tightly, his lustrous mane and tail having lost their entire luster.
"I… I just don't feel well…" Keldeo weakly tried to explain.
"Because of what happened between Virizion and you this morning?" It really didn't take Arceus to figure out that that was the reason. Keldeo's silence only confirmed it. "I knew I should have pushed her to tell me what happened…" He settled on the ground beside Keldeo.
"I think I love her." Whatever Cobalion had expected to hear, that was not it. For the first time in a very long time he was lost for words.
"What am I supposed to do?" Keldeo sounded desperate.
At least he knew why Virizion brought up Aburion again.
"Tell her." The tone of his own voice surprised him, quivering with age old grief and even greater regret. "Believe me, one day you might find that you are too late and you will regret it forever."
"Oh?" Keldeo's surprise won over his gloominess. "What do you mean?"
"It's a long story…" Cobalion admitted. "But I was once in your position – not with Virizion, obviously – and I remained silent. Then she died and I realized I had lost my chance at happiness because of my cowardice."
They descended into silence after that, Keldeo's grey eyes staring at the tree he was resting underneath. As Cobalion watched him, his eyelids drooped, covering most of his wide eyes as he turned his leader's words over and over in his head. Then he stood abruptly, a determined look in his eyes.
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"So, why could we not talk with Terrakion there?" Virizion looked at the young Sword beside her questioningly as they walked through the forest to the nearby river.
"Because I can do without his commentary right now." Keldeo made a face, snorting as he thought about what Terrakion would no doubt say should he find out.
"Oh?" She stepped over some roots to lie down at the riverside. At least he did not look ready to bolt anymore. Why that made her nervous instead of calm was a completely different matter entirely.
"Yes." He settled down as well, poking the water with one of his hooves. "You send Cobalion after me, didn't you?"
"Yes." Oh Arceus, where was he heading with this? She struggled to keep her composure as he turned to look at her with an intent stare. She noted with some trepidation that he was not looking her in the eyes but was staring at her cheek. Why was he doing that?
Blood shot up, coloring the skin under her short fur red. She prayed that it would not show. By the sneaky grin he gave her, her prayer had gone unanswered.
She was just preparing to speak again when all thought got erased out of her mind at the shy touch of his tongue on her cheek.
Neither spoke, Keldeo fearing he had gone too far and Virizion struggling to calm her raging emotions. She let her eyes sink closed, her face impassive as she tilted her head lightly, as if listening to something far-off.
She felt him freeze as she returned the simple gesture slowly.
They still did not speak, merely curling around each other.
Both felt the presence at the same time: dread, cold and calculating.
"Who is there?" Virizion called, standing up. Beside her Keldeo mirrored her move, peering into the gloom of the forest.
"They call me Darkrai, the Pitch-Black Pokémon." A phantom rose from the shadows of a nearby tree, white hair blowing in an unseen breeze. 'Legendary' their hearts screamed. 'Trouble' cried their minds.
"Why are you here?" She demanded, eyes narrowing at the only reason she could give herself.
"The second test." He confirmed her fear in a deep and rumbling voice, his sky-blue eye flashing briefly. "And the last, one way or another."
"Terrakion and Cobalion are not here." Keldeo spoke up, briefly shining as he turned into his resolute form.
"As it is supposed to be." Darkrai answered. "I must ask that you submit to me, both of you."
"Excuse me?" Virizion stepped forward slightly. "Why would that be?"
"A race against time is to be done." The black phantom spread his three-fingered hands wide. "You already finished it while Cobalion and Terrakion have yet to start it, with your lives at stake."
Both Swords of Justice shared a horrified glance at that. This had not been at all what they expected. Darkrai hovered closer, his one eye narrowing as he watched them. "Will you submit?" He did not wait for their answer, instead forming two purple and black balls between his hands and firing them. "Dark Void…" The name of the attack echoed among the trees, bouncing around long after the attack had been finished.