Guardian Solaris
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Regigigases and Darkrais, (if that's the correct spelling for their names) their speech shall appear normal for this chapter.
Chapter 25- The Colour of blood
If you looked hard enough... squinted your eyes. Maybe then you would be able to see. See something that could crush the hearts o f the birds and the fish. Claw at the souls of man and beast alike. For above the forest, the wood that had been walled off from the universe for all this time, the clouds began to clear. The grey blanket that obscured the view of all those that watched down from above dissipated into history like all things before. The walls that I had bought up ages ago, collapsed. As the silent solitude that I had forged out of my own two hands, a resting place for spirits when the rest of the world, and the dark that lay within it screamed at those that were exiled. It vanished, succumbing to the chaos of the outside world.
The one place that they could rest in the peace that Arceus would deny them. The light I provided when all other lights were extinguished.
The clouds cleared and one would see, whilst the children chased. When the spirits stirred, as the traitor ran. One could see the sun cry. Its tears tainting the sky, banishing the blues that would come from the evening sun setting over a usual scene of the sort, and destroying the greys that had walled of this one area for so long.
The children persisted to run. Through the remains of a once living forest. Through a home, over a body. Shouting in ignorance "How much more running?" as the corpses of trees flew up into the air just ahead, they continued to sprint. Each piece of ground that they stepped on was a part of history. Each stone had its own legacy, seeing more than they would in their entire lives. A tree that sheltered countless generations, torn as if its contribution to this planet was as important as the dust in the wind.
They continued their dash, growing ever closer to their target. Growing ever closer to the traitor. Not turning around to see that which would sadden even the most callous of mortals. Looking nowhere but ahead, after all 'onward' is a human saying, how very naive. So...
They ran.
Ran to fire, to blood, to fury, to the battle that lay in the beast that lay in the souls of all men know as war, but they didn't know.
They did not see that which was etched all around, carved in every rock, and each atom that whirred past them. But it knew.
The sun knew of what was to come, and it wept.
But my generals could see: the soldier, and the spirit. Seasoned, hardened. Trained to notice the slightest change in the wind, each minute detail and how it could change the course of battle. They stood on their ridge. The Regigigas and the Darkrai, standing alone like their human counterparts would do: It's lonely at the top, I believe the saying goes.
Behind waited their army of nearly a thousand, Pokémon that would follow their generals' orders without a second thought. Ready to fight, to win, to give their blood. The two generals stood, with hundreds behind them. All of their souls filled to the brim with the vital component of a mortal that is Loyalty. Ready to march, to move at the flick of a wrist. Ready to fill rivers with blood.
"You can feel it can't you, Spirit." Regigigas spoke. Whilst looking at the sky, marvelling as the few remnants of what could be called a heart wept at what it saw. The rest, stood strong. For the rest was fighting for an unthinkable prize.
"What is it?" Darkrai spoke in the way he had felt most comfortable, with the use of his mind. Having the same notion, same emotion as the being that stood beside him. Unnerved, maybe even slightly frightened, but that wouldn't be the right adjective to describe Darkrai. Would it?
"You don't know, do you?" Regigigas spoke allowing a weak chuckle escape his mouth.
"No" Darkrai replied indifferently.
"It is of what is to come, something a soldier sees just about every day. The smell of battle. The sky turns the colour of blood, as the sun mourns those who are about to die. Or at least that is how Uxie explains it. She tells the humans that it happens because Arceus is unhappy, or he's really happy. I don't really bother to remember what she says" Darkrai chuckled.
"It's amazing how well she and her sisters can lie" he remarked.
"Who knows Spirit, today you could finally play with the big boys and take some blood, all know of your dishonourable tactics."
"At least I get the job done without having to turn into a savage." Darkrai fired back, as the momentarily peace between the two eroded once more, with a huff from both.
"You are"
"Useless" they spoke in unison
But their argument was stopped prematurely, from a sound. They stopped all action, then heard it again, a roar.
Regigigas turned around in a flash, using his powerful legs to lift himself, they couldn't be discovered. Not yet.
"Troops!" he roared, as Darkrai was already airborne. All nine hundred including the lesser Regis turned in a flash, to the creature, but they couldn't fire.
'A Charizard' the Soldier recognised, as the dragon flew above the neatly organised Pokémon. But the soldier couldn't act. The hundreds of troops lay in wait as they watched Darkrai wait in front of the dragons' path, whilst the lone Charizard hovered. Frozen in its tracks. All lay in wait, watching for this small event to end, as quickly as it had appeared. The Regis were irritated, for each creature that had stumbled onto this location was taken out immediately, without a second breath being allowed to escape their lungs, before they were taken into oblivion. But this Charizard was still breathing. Facing the Spectre like Pokémon, taking a period of time that Regigigas found a joke, but with a flick of his wrist the many troops that had been organised lowered their guard. Not needing any more of a command to obey.
The Charizard continued to gaze, looking at Darkrai intently. But neither made a move. This creature should have been dead. It was standard. I taught no mercy. To answer to no lower creature. But this creature. This creature was not affected by the murderous tactics that the spirit was usually use.
To trap its prey within its own nightmares.
Although this Charizard had no nightmares. It just waited.
Waited.
Waited.
Fell.
Fell.
Fell. Into the earth, laying limp and Darkrai slowly returned to the ridge alongside the other general that waited for an explanation. As well as a chance to mock, "Pathetic, how long did it take you to do that? I had hope for you. But that was shameful, if one of my troops committed that shameful display. I would give the sun a Real reason to cry." But Darkrai continued to look at the sky. Up into the heavens, that mourned the massacre to come.
Admitting, "I didn't kill it"
"What?" Regigigas asked.
"He was already dead before he had even arrived."
"What"
"That Charizard, was a messenger from our Master." The spirit said taking a glance to the general, "Here to give us our orders."
"That has got to be the" Regigigas was about to speak but cut off by the spirit.
"Not another word. Before you mock his ways." The spirit took a glance, just one glance towards his now silent... friend, for lack of a better word. "He sees more than you ever could. He has his own small army, and shall join us in our victory." Darkrai spoke, not diverting his attention. Just relaying the knowledge that he had been given from that shell of a Charizard, "He died, because he touched our master, saw too much of his mind, like a Caterpie trying to understand the situation that we find ourselves in" the spirit said. Looking at the sky. The red sky that lay tainted with the colour of blood. The colour of things to come.
Even Regigigas noticed Darkrai as realisation fell upon the Pokémon that they had to follow all orders given to the letter. After all, Their debt had to be paid back. The gift their master provided, Priceless. The loyalty of the two was one that had stood the test of time. Where others ran, where even more turned to the enemy for a salvation that was not there. They remained. Here to spill the blood of those who may betray my cause.
"What are our orders Spirit?" The Colossal Pokémon spoke with cruelty in every word.
Anger.
Rage.
Mounting up a state of mind, that would become more aggressive by the second. Increasing the ferocity of his emotions slowly in order to use a technique Pokémon, and humans would usually use before combat of any sort, so that he would not be plagued by a slow start. Pumping, preparing himself internally for the challenge to come. There was no room for error. He had to show his worth.
To Crush the traitors in his grip.
"We must attack now" Darkrai said, staring at the sky, not knowledgeable in the art of war, the small techniques that a soldier would use to prepare for bloodshed. To his side, a warrior was being awakened to the smell of war, yet he didn't care.
"REGIIII" the soldier roared, thumping the earth. Shaking it more and more. The troops moved, his Lieutenant of steel was the first .His three hundred, marching, moving like a well oiled machine, to the beat of Regigigas. To the sound of the earth shaking. Below the crying sun. Under the prophecy of the blood red sky.
"Regirock Surround the city. Eliminate all that escape" He ordered in an absolute tone.
"REGI" He obeyed, as he sent some to the rock pass, ready to take any human that may pass through in hope of escape. Another to the bridge that made its way out to the south. And the final lot to positions in the west. Ensuring no escape. The Scarmory to the air, flying in perfect military formation, as they guarded the skies above the town. No help would get in. No mercy would be given for those inside.
"Troops, prepare for the attack" he commanded, as they moved with all their speed, small battalions that would exterminate all that were left in the town, ready to crush. No longer bothering with Darkrai, after all what would that spirit, who still wasn't baptised in combat do? Darkrai would sneak behind backs, hide in the shadows.
Pathetic.
Regigigas knew how shameful it was. A true warrior faces his opponent, crushing them in his grip. That was, is and always will be the way of the warrior.
But Darkrai continued to stare. Nothing had seemed to change to him, all was flowing in the direction that they had all predicted. The people still defenceless. Arceus still sleeping, with his precious legendaries left in chaos and disorder after the death of Ho- oh. The clouds of dust that rose behind of him from the movements of his partners' small army caused no alarm. As barbaric as the colossal Pokémon was, Darkrai had his own duties and couldn't care less about how the soldier went about his life.
Flying away silently, into the sky. The spirit earned a scoff from Regigigas, even as Darkrai turned into a shadow moving upon the surface of the earth Regigigas was not impressed. Regigigas saw Darkrai as the spirit became nothingness, the silhouette that he was created to be.
The shadow on the wall, the eyes in the darkness, he who came after Dusk. The one that would always unnerve you, just because he must. The greatest curse he could muster. The most powerful nightmare. The darkest void that he could unleash was nothing. Nothing compared to his nightmares. Nothing compared to what he could see in every moment.
He was the stuff of nightmares, quite literally. The greatest agony of all. Born for one purpose, one resolve. A body made of darkness, without any light to shine down upon it. No mortal can exist like that. A legend he may be, but he isn't me.
I, his redemption. He flew, knowing that there was only one way forward. Only one resolve, one mission. To follow me and become himself, or to bend to the will of all around him. Humans, they look at him, thinking that he is one dimensional, Good or evil. But the universe isn't like that; it never was or will be. Especially when you consider mortals.
Sometimes, the light does things you can't expect. It blinds you, hides you from the truth; from what is really going on.
He followed me.
His mission.
His reward, Freedom.
Now you didn't think I was Evil... did you?
Ash ran past the trees as his view began to change in an instant, a blur of what was going on in the forest. Stopped only by the crashing of wood in front of him.
Something was changing: Slowly, Quickly. His breath was slowly growing, no longer the same. He could feel it all pushing through the forest, but what?
The boy took a glance to his friends, seeing their faces in determination as they dodged another trunk that lay on the ground, half crushed by a large foot. They ran all out, trying to catch up as the shadows of the dead trees began to show themselves, against the bright ground.
He looked around, everything. Each little bit was different.
Shadows against the light, where there was only darkness before. Ash looked up finding the sky clear. Red.
A creaking noise came.
Red, he saw.
A deep red, strong enough to rival the eyes of the Chaos Pokémon. Ash stood, watching the sky, shine down on the barren wasteland after so long.
Ash stood, feeling a part of himself break off, float away into the abyss. Gradually move away into nothingness.
Ash stood.
"Ash"
"ASH" he heard a scream as he was knocked on his side, and sent flying with someone on top of him, as the large branch landed right in front of him.
He looked around at what had just happened, recalling, 'I was staring at the sky, and' He looked down at the person that that had just tackled him to safety, and the blue hair was a dead giveaway, as she grasped tightly. He could feel her warmth, she didn't move, continuing to hold onto the trainer for a while burying her head within his arms. Frozen, almost as if she was expecting to die. Seeing as she had just had an experience that the young boy was all too familiar with.
"What?" he managed to let out, as Dawn took her head out of his chest. Ash noticed that she was breathing quite heavily. "What" he managed to let out, being on the opposite end of such an experience for a change.
"Watch where you're walking" she said, quickly getting up, and nervously moving the direction of her face away from Ash.
He looked to the branch that had fallen down completely randomly, and managed to let out a "Thanks" in astonishment. He was supposed to be the one that saved everyone else in the nick of time, Right?
"You alright Ash" May said being the first to come alongside Ash, trailed only by Serena, as Dawn took a quick glance to the brunette.
"Yeah" Ash replied, still in a slight shock. As his mind returned to the one thought that had originally gotten him to stop in his tracks, 'everything's changing'
The trainer looked around finding differences throughout the entire forest, as the creaking of another distant branch alerted him to the once living trees.
As they became a pale green, at patches. With what I believe is called fungus.
He looked at it, phasing out for a while as his brain decided that now of all times was the time to think. Why? To say I do know would be a lie, but I do know that he is the definition of Thick.
Although one thought did manage to get through: 'I'm gonna die!'
Great screaming sounds began to echo throughout the forest, screaming, as existence began to shift even more. The forest that had remained stagnant for all this time, creating a home for those that were exiled from that which death brings. A home for the feared, the confused, the rejected. Those that came to my prison to find sanctuary, and in turn becoming my walls. A small price for the bliss that the forest gave to the ghosts, that would otherwise become confused, and crazed by the chaos of that world which lay beyond the town of Lavender.
The ghosts screamed, shredding through the forest as an uncontrollable thirst for the blood of the living grew, trying to silence the chaos. All that was heard, was someone shouting.
"RUN"
"RUN"
"RUN!"
In an instant another lower roar came into the ears f the group, as the dark grey and bright silver of Marcus's fur burst in front of their faces, forcing the group to a halt, as a large snake like Pokémon roared in front of them, but Marcus had no time, as the Steelix was tiny in the face of the wolf.
He moved like lightning, immediately and with precision, as the wolf found reality slowly bend to his own will. Instinct and Adrenalin kicked into his system as his pale green eyes took a shadow of a second to find all of the weaknesses within Steelix.
Marcus pushed his powerful legs, as le leapt up into the air, stretching his claws n front of his face in a cross, as he landed on top of the Steelix.
He breathed in and his victory was certain, as the claws went in between the small holes that existed in the steel types armour.
Then he exhaled. And in a blink of an eye the Steelix was in two pieces.
Using his dark long claws, he gripped the fallen Pokémon and threw both pieces behind of him, into the air, as he marched on forwards once more, tearing out tree after tree.
The group behind of him watched in slight awe, of how fast Marcus had taken out the Steel type, as the wolf was already another 100 meters ahead from them. They had to run once more and catch up with the ever advancing creature.
But something else changed. Something small, hazy, grey.
"Ash" May said, alerting the trainer, who along with the rest of the group was becoming tired from the running and walking that they had done all day without stop.
"I know, we're all tired" he exclaimed, his mind dwelling on several things at once. Usually he would only think about one subject at a time, and against all bets that had been set his head hadn't exploded.
"No"
"Yeah" he said, "I don't know what a Steelix is doing here of all places either."
"No"
"I know" Ash said again.
"Stop that, and look ahead!" May said getting irritated from all the running herself, as she dodged a tree that fell down to her side. Ash did as instructed, feeling Marcus grow further away as he noticed a large tower in the distance.
Not the same as my creation, this one was a tourist's destination, and a graveyard. Used only for the trivial things that humans seem to constantly do.
"We're near the town" Ash mumbled as that hazy scent grew stronger.
"What?" Serena asked not hearing Ash.
"I Said, We're Near The Town" he spoke in an amplified voice, as the others looked to the human built tower that had become an attraction for the humans that would not be able to cross my sanctuary, my wall, my sorry excuse for a plan to deal with the traitor.
"Ash" Max said, gaining the attention of the trainer.
"Yeah?"
"What's that smell?" he asked, as Ash began to feel stress build up in the back of his head, managing to only splutter out half words.
"Well, it's, a, well" and before his friends could even begin to stare at Ash for his slight mental breakdown, they had all turned their heads around in one direction, and Ash soon followed. All looking to Marcus standing still.
The Wolf stood, nothing more, nothing else. Just stood. No longer bulldozing through the forest. A sudden change in pace as the creature came into focus, his different features becoming clear. The group realised how the wolves hunch may not have been optional and was already there after his previous experiences, becoming permanent after the numerous times his backbone had to move closer to the ground for stealth and to have a better battling position from which to strike. His arms were not as strong as Leos, yet the Muscles were clear, no matter how small, covered with bursting vein and arteries flowing with blood, clear for all to see. Each of his teeth had a dark glint to them, with the size of his front two canines larger than all others, slightly resembling a Sabretooth cat.
His patches of dark grey unkempt fur swayed in the breeze. Completely scruffy, that, if was on Dawn the young girl would have had a panic attack to say the least. At some places his fur had become nonexistent, exposing his skin that usually shone with a bright silver gleam, that became a bright red, as the colour of the sun mixed in with its natural shine.
Finding a small window of opportunity, Serena was the first to run over to the wolf, trying her best to overcome the exhaustion that continued to hit the young girl on the inside. She quickly fell behind the others, as her running came to a halt.
She began to pant as she stood, taking a glance to the others, as she saw them moving further and further away in the distance. Watching them not turn around, as she called "Wait" in a shattered voice.
Moving her eyes to the illuminated ground as her breathing became heavier. Managing out a "Come on", as air returned to her, slowly refreshing her fatigued body. But she would have to catch up now, and they'd probably gotten away.
But Ash would wait.
'He's gone too' she thought, trying to muster some strength, to walk upon her own two feet. Attempting to draw out that which stubbornness could not replace, although that minor technicality did not do much in the way of stopping her. Looking at the red ground and trees, which had been bathed in the colour due to the activities that occurred in the heavens. The colours reflecting into the young girls eyes. The red colour of blood and fire mixed, together in an endless vortex.
"Ash, you forgot?" she questioned, as fatigue struck her hard, in every place, at each nerve. Forcing her knees to let loose the great burden of a body that they had carried throughout the day. The earth grew closer as the forest fell silent, distant.
The forest became another world to the mind of the white haired girl, the blood and fire that the sun had provided bathing her eyes in its haze. The earth grew closer as her ankles failed, letting loose of all previous strain, just, letting go.
The young girl collapsed onto her knees, knowing that they were going forward, to the next adventure, leaving her behind.
As humans do.
The grounds unforgiving rough touch shook her slightly awake as her breathing grew, distancing her ever more from the outside world. Here in a forest of murderous spirits. Not the best place for a little girl.
Her beat grew, thumping, silencing her calls within her own mind, distancing her from all around as the chaotic spirits stopped their chaotic movements, eyeing the young girl with a hunger for the blood that they could not touch. Slowly the earth began to vanish, beginning with the rough feeling, slowly being replaced by a new sensation,
The air passed her unnoticed by her ringing mind. Raising her up as she began to feel a familiar warmth. The air in her lungs slowly dissipated from the new warmth that began to carry her upwards.
Wondering only made things hazier, more obscure, but it was fading away.
No.
In a desperate act she took another gasp, before vanishing into sleep.
F.Y.I.
-I wanted Ash to be a bit more pathetic from the strong figure he was at the beginning.
- The problems that characters seem to be having before things even kick off (properly), as well as a bit of a mix up on who the good guys exactly are.
- runs away for shamefully late update, with rather short chapter, and annoying cliff-hanger as well as a lack of action.
And Now I see bricks being thrown at me...