The Opera of the Nightmare Pokémon
Okay, if you're one of those who ship Vatongshipping or RouleXChristine, you went to one chapter too far. If you're a Shroudshipper or PhantomXChristine, I welcome you! That's right, this is for anyone who wonders what would happen if Christine went with Erik/Phantom. This last chapter, as before, is dedicated to my wonderful reviewers, AwesomeKyurem, Hells New Assassin, Gemstone Gal, and PokemonandPJO. You guys really made this thing worth writing for. Big thanks to Sephitotha, for inspiring me. Enjoy.
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Kate looked at Keith, a soft smile forming.
"You go on ahead, I'll catch up. I need to ask Darkrai something."
Keith stared at her then realized what she meant. He nodded sadly.
"Okay Kate," he told her sadly.
Kate nodded and petted Pachirisu before stepping back to watch Keith launch the boat from the edge as it slowly floated away, Buizel and Pachirisu waving to Kate before she turned away.
She walked towards the bedroom, pushing besides the curtains. Darkrai stood, staring at the music box as it played its melody. Absentmindedly, he whispered a patch of song as he fingered another black cloak.
"Masquerade…
Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade…
Hide your face so the world can never find you…"
His eyes caught Kate, standing there at the entrance, and he dropped the cloak to the ground.
"Dearest Kate…I love you…" he whispered in sadness.
Kate smiled at him and stepped forward, coming to stand with him, her gaze never leaving his face.
"As I…Love you," she replied softly then pressed herself into his chest.
Darkrai stood stunned for a moment, and then wrapped his arms around her.
"Please, Darkrai…Let me come with you," Kate begged softly.
He looked into her eyes before cupping her face in his hand. He gave her no words, only a soft nod as a single tear dropped from his eye. Kate smiled and leaned into him again, as he kissed her head and wrapping his arms around her waist.
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Keith sailed the boat forward, his heart aching, but understood this was what she wanted.
"Say you'll share with me
One love, One lifetime…"
Keith froze as he heard Kate's voice echo throughout the chambers as another voice followed.
"Say the word and I will follow you…"
"Share each day with me, each night, each morning…"
Keith smiled sadly as he gazed back, Pachirisu and Buizel looking back as well.
"Kate…Please, be happy…For me," he said aloud before paddling them forward again, as Pachirisu and Buizel embraced.
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Darkrai, cloak tied around his throat, yet the hood not drawn, held onto Kate's hand as he led her back to the organ room. He stopped her at a mirror, gazing at Kate and ran a claw across her cheek.
"You alone can make my song take flight!
It will continue then, the music of the night!"
Darkrai aimed his claw at the mirror, a Shadow Ball streaking out and shattering the mirror, glass spraying everywhere. Kate gasped at the hidden tunnel that opened up in front of them. Darkrai let her go in first before following her, a curtain dropping down to conceal the entrance.
The mob entered not too soon after. As the men searched about for the monster, Rhythmi, who had come out of concern for Kate, discovered the bedroom and entered. Her eyes widened as she saw the music box, seeing the name carved into the lid. She then looked about, exploring further with Eevee.
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Years later, the aged Keith hobbled on his cane through the cemetery, accompanied by the old Buizel and Pachirisu. He paused in wonder as he saw a figure, shroud in a black cloak but with the hood off to reveal a white flume. He bent down to place a red rose, tied in black ribbon, onto a grave. Keith stepped forward as Pachirisu hurried forward, chattering happily to the figure. Darkrai turned, spotting the familiar Pokémon, and smiled at Pachirisu.
"Keith," he nodded to his once mortal enemy.
"Darkrai," the grey streaked red-head replied. He looked at the grave, Kate's name carved into it, the date revealing she had died little over a year ago. He sucked in a breath, seeing the words carved in stone. "Did she have a happy life?"
Darkrai looked at the grave, sadness in his blue gaze. "Yes, she was very happy. We traveled around together for several years before we finally settled down. We raised three children, one girl and two boys, and…"
"Grandpa!" a little voice cried as a young girl raced forward, her brown hair tied in Spoink tails.
Darkrai beamed at her and caught her in his arms, bouncing her happily as she giggled. "Sabrina, you didn't get lost?"
"Nope," she shouted, shaking her head. "I could never get lost here!"
Keith smiled at the little girl, her resemblance to Kate obvious.
"And this is one of our grandchildren," Darkrai finished, setting Sabrina down. "She lived long enough to see the eldest go off to college and his marriage."
"Who's this Grandpa?" Sabrina asked, staring at Keith with interest.
"This is an old friend of your grandmother's, someone I met long ago," Darkrai said. "His name is Keith."
"Hello!" Sabrina said, waving happily. Keith returned the wave as did Buizel and Pachirisu.
"Where's your brother?" Darkrai questioned, crossing his arms slightly.
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "I can't get rid of Derrick!" she cried as a young boy of four raced towards them, his hair white with deep blue eyes.
"Grandpa!" Derrick said, panting slightly. "Sabrina left me at Grandma's godfather's grave!"
Sabrina stuck out her tongue as Darkrai laughed. "Now, you two…Run off to your parents. I'll be there shortly."
The two children ran off, racing each other as Keith watched in amusement.
"Sabrina looks like Kate," he noted.
"You should see her mother," Darkrai said. "She looks exactly like her, only her hair is the same color as mine."
Keith snorted. "Kate with white hair? Now I've heard everything." He sighed and looked at the tombstone. "Sometimes I wonder…What it would have been like if she…" He trailed off.
"As do I," Darkrai admitted.
"But, while I never stopped loving Kate, I married and I can watch my own grandchildren grow," Keith said. He pulled something out of his coat, setting it by the rose. "I just bought this earlier."
Darkrai raised an eyebrow at the familiar piece of woodwork as Keith twisted the lever. "My music box from Hastings?"
"Yes, I always figured she'd like it."
The two stood together for a moment, both recalling the wonderful woman they had both known as the tinkering melody sounded, the music of the Masquerade echoing around them. Darkrai placed a hand on the grave before he eased it off and gave a nod to Keith and the Pokémon.
"Farewell Keith," Darkrai said.
"As to you," was the man's reply before they went their separate ways.
Kate's grave was soon left alone, the music box still playing next to the rose, the memory of a wonderful young woman in both their minds as they left the cemetery, Buizel and Pachirisu wandering with Keith.
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And so ends my fanfiction, I'm happy that so many have read this and enjoyed this. Thank you all, these last few chapters have been dedicated to you all.
Hey! As a side note, I'm promising to write more Shroudshipping fanfics, a.k.a. fanfics were Kate and Darkrai are the main characters and the love interest. I'm posting a poll on to see what sort of fanfic I should work on first for them. Three options, check it out and vote please!