A/N: Lol, sorry, it's not a Ven chapter. It's kinda an all-three chapter because it basically involves all of them. It's a meanwhile-fillery thing. I'm going back to finishing up Ven next week as usual. This is just something more about the prophecy and how it ties them all together. And I have announcements afterwards, so bear with meh! Enjoy.

Chapter 26. Son of Banette

"It's a boy," a voice reports meekly. Eerie cackles and calls echo through the bare trees. Their limbs claw at the cold stars in agony. Silvery snow lies on the ground undisturbed. Unmarked. Untouched. Dead leaves shift hauntingly Chills are common. As are the cries of the poor Pokemon who have been unfortunate enough to wander here. Night is thick in this part of the forest, and all the more filled with shadows, superstitions, and ghosts. This is none other than the home of the ghosts, The Eerie Forest.

A wide, evil grin is visible in the sparse moonlight "At last. Bring him to me."

"Of course," the meek voice responds quickly. A slight breeze shifts through the trees as the ghost hurries off.

The grin turns to a Pokemon on his right. "Now you were a messenger from whom?"

"That is none of your concern," the shadowy little Pokemon replies.

"You know, I've never seen a Pichu with quite your coloring before."

The Pichu steps into a moonbeam. His fur is darkly accented where the tones should be yellow, and his jet black eyes are cold. The patches of its body that should be black are deep gold. A small satchel is slung over his shoulder. "Of course you haven't. I am a first, but I am not a last."

The grin weakens a little. "Don't think because I haven't seen a Pichu like you before that I haven't heard about your kind. The tale's spreading like a wildfire– a dark Lucario with eyes like jet out for revenge. The Negatives. You're working for the humans, aren't you?"

The Pichu scoffs. "For now." A spark flies from its cheek in annoyance. It's charged with a black aura.

The meek runner returns. "Your son, Gren."

The Gengar slowly approaches the Banette the runner has returned with. A small, rag-doll like thing rests in her arms. It's a Shuppet. A male Shuppet. The son he's been waiting for.

"He's perfect," Gren whispers maliciously.

His new mate answers with an equal amount of cruelty in her voice. "You see, Gren? I said I would not fail you before. Not like Misten." Her mouth never moves when she speaks, and the Pichu doesn't appear to hear her side of the conversation. More annoyed sparks fly from his cheeks.

"And I should have listened, Gretel. At least that ugly little rag doll girl has faded, now. There's no way she could've survived in those mountains."

"If only disposing of Misten was that easy . . ." Gretel lowers her voice.

"Hmph. I wish I'd never considered using her. She seemed docile enough until the moment when that ugly thing hatched."

"Shh . . . enough talk, Gren," Gretel soothes him. "We must name the heir– our son."

"I have already decided to name him Resruc, for all the pain he will inflict upon the ones who misjudged our kind long ago." For in the stories passed down among ghosts, it has not only been the Eevee bloods who have misunderstood them. Every kind has taken them for evil, at one time or another. Now they are nothing more than ghosts of the powerful Pokemon they once were. And now they want to fix this.

"Perfect. Resruc, son of Banette. With the sealing of the curse, we will speak again." Gretel beams. The metal of the zipper clinks together hauntingly.

"Yes. And we will be powerful once more," Gren cackles. The two draw close, ready to kiss, when the Negative suddenly clears his throat.

"Sheesh, get a room."

Gren frowns and reluctantly pulls himself away. "Hold that thought, Gretel."

The Pichu scowls at him. The Negatives are a nasty new species; not one of them has turned out remotely friendly since the first, the Lucario, who has turned out dark anyway.

"What was it you wanted again?" Gren asks impatiently.

"I just need a conformation of the prophecy you're trying to fulfill." The Pichu is equally impatient.

"Odd. Last time I checked they knew nothing of our stories."

He smirks up at the Gengar. "They don't. That Lucario, the one who turned, he was supposed to be commander and translator, but when he flew the coop things changed. We had to get a temp till they could grow another one, and he's not to keen on the humans running things."

Gren smirks back. "In that case, what do you need conformation on?"

The Pichu produces a single sheet of paper from the satchel. "Here."

The ghost reads the paper with a gleam in his eye. His grin widens as the words tumble together in front of his eyes. "Yes. Yes, this is the correct version of the Prophecy I'm trying to fulfill. Whoever your temp is, they certainly aren't an Eevee blood."

"Ha," The Pichu laughs and takes back the paper, "anything but! He's a Meowth. No name. Not even a Negative. Hates Pikachu. Doesn't care what happens as long as he's left in charge of something. Also wanted to make sure we wouldn't get blasted by this curse thing if we helped ya' out."

"Then give the Meowth and your Negatives this message. As long as you do help, we will spare you when the time comes to begin the curse. You will also be rewarded and blessed when we have regained full power."

"Hmph. You don't strike me as the merciful type."

"Let's just say I can relate to outcasts born into darkness such as yourselves."

The Pichu smiles bitterly. "Hope your kid's the one."

"He is."

Of course, they are still unaware that the firstborn is not yet dead. And that she is being bred in the light.

A/N: Just in case you forgot, Gren is Kikyo's father. Now you all know why he was so pissed when he didn't get a boy. XD Mentions of Ven's prophecy and Minus were present, as well as some foreshadowing as to how and why they're brought together. Now for the announcements:

1. I dunno the current poll results; forgot to check. Lets just pretend they're the same as before. XD

2. I have finally decided that PAC Stage 1 is going to be the childhoods and only the childhoods, and that the actually main plot will be Stage 2. In other words it's calling for a summary/ title change/update. So don't freak out! Just rewording a couple things on the sum and adding the words 'the childhoods' to the title.

3. When I DO finish Stage 1, I'm going to go through and edit everything and modify author's notes and such. So be prepared later on for hundreds of unnecessary chapter updates if you are subscribed to me or the story!

4. Hang in there!

~Autumnchronicles