Hello!
So, as you may or may not know, plot will be bombing us on this fine chapter.
Fair warning.
ONWARDS!
Azazel could feel her Pokémon's concern, as all five of them continued the walk. It was late at night, with only the moon to guide them through the army of trees.
According to Azazel, they'd already past Hearthome, meaning that they'd be getting to Coronet soon.
Finally, Azazel stopped, before settling down her bag, "We make camp here."
No one objected. Not even Ivy, who seemed to be grossed out by the dirt.
Zoroark noticed and snickered, "What's wrong, Ivy queen? Scared of your own type?" He laughed, flicking some grass at her.
"It's not that I don't like." She growled right back, "It's the fact that animals poop nd pee all over the place out here."
"And so? You're an animal."
Ivy growled, ready to pounce the asshole of a dark type, only to have Lucario hold her down, "C-calm down, Ivy."
Ivy growled, allowing the Lucario to hold her back, only to fall asleep later on. Lucario sighed, "Why d-do they grow u-up so fast?"
Not to far, Azure walked by, lying down next to the other two, "That's how they survive." He murmured, looking up to the stars, "Those who don't grow up fast don't make it."
Zoroark scoffed, "Good thing we're not in the wild."
On the side, Azazel was leaning on a nearby tree, eyes closed as she listened on to the conversation, sighing. She stretched her back out on the tree, thinking about the next move.
Snowpoint city had Snowpoint temple, and if she could get there and speak with Regigigas, surely she'd have a bit more information. Even if he was a large lazy giant, I would be a good idea to get the help of one more legendary.
She'd never really gone in on information on Regigigas, heck, she'd never met the giant, but she'd heard enough. Arceus said that, after the giant lived out his purpose, he grew to be lazy without a job, leading to his slumber. Giratina said that he never was one for words, but he was wise.
"…Hey."
Azazel threw an eye open, slowly relaxing when Empoleon sat down next to her, "Hey."
Empoleon nodded, staying silent for a bit, allowing the silence to take over, before murmuring, "…Feeling okay?"
"I don't know anymore. What is okay?"
Empoleon laughed lightly, only to fall silent again, watching as the three chatted, "…Isn't it nice?"
Azazel gave him a look, before following his gaze, "Yeah, I guess so."
Empoleon then gave her a look, "…Don't lie, Azazel. You miss them, don't you?"
Just like that, Azazel grew rigid, "…I don't."
Empoleon sighed, "You can lie to them, but I can see right through it. I've known you since you were a kid."
Azazel shrugged, trying to hide the shivers with a yawn, "It's not like they'll miss me. I mean, Dante never wanted me around anyway, and…Yami, well…" She rubbed her hands together, pulling at the scarf round her neck, "It'll be easier on him if I'm not around. I mean, he was only around to keep me safe, right?" She smiled, "Then, there's little Elissa-."
"That doesn't answer my question." Empoleon said, his stern tone making Azazel flinch.
"…Okay…I'm going to miss them, but still…It's better this way." Azazel insisted, "I'll go on my way, and they'll go onto theirs. It'll be easier on all of us."
Empoleon sighed, "But that's not what matters. That's your problem, Azazel. You put everyone before you do. You never seem to care for what happens to yourself, as long as everyone else is happy. That's why you bothered with staying with them, right? That's the only reason that you bothered with those three, huh? He only reason that you bothered with Azure, and why you don't leave us behind, even if we want you too. Isn't that right, Azazel?"
"…"
"…Well?"
"…Zzz…"
Empoleon looked over, surprised to see that she was already asleep, only to sigh, pulling her onto him, before holding her close, "Honestly, stop growing up, Azazel."
In the morning, they got right on the crack of dawn, before following Azazel right back up onto that mountain.
While Azazel lead the way, Zoroark stretched out his back, giving Lucario a look, who was still holding the Roselia, "You know, you can put her down."
"Hmm?" Lucario murmured, giving Zoroark a look over his shoulder.
"The thing evolved. I think that you can let her walk around like a normal Pokémon." Zoroark scowled, growling when Ivy stuck its tounge out.
"No I d-don't." Lucario insisted, "If I want t-to carry her, and s-she's okay with it, then I c-can."
Zoroark scoffed, "Whatever."
They walked in silence for a bit longer, before Zoroark yawned, "I'm bored."
Lucario, still carrying Ivy, simply shrugged, "I can't d-do anything a-about that."
"I can't do anything about that." Zoroark mocked, twitching with every syllable, before cackling like mad.
"Will y-you cut that o-out?" Lucario hissed, sounding irritated, and yet, he still seemed to be keeping control.
Zoroark scowled, looking around, "What happened to the good old times, pip squeak?"
"Don' call me that." Lucario growled through grinded teeth, his arms shaking, as he managed to speak without stutter.
Before Zoroark could go on, Azazel twisted around on her heel, eyes boring into his in a dead-type of manner, "Zachary, stop it." She said sternly, before walking in.
Zoroark felt a chill go up his spine when she had scolded him, before leaning over to the Luxio, "Hey, you notice something up with Azzy?"
"With all due respect, I don't care." Azure murmured back, before yawning.
"I can still hear you two." Azazel called back, Empoleon snickering from Azazel's side.
Moments later, Luxio whispered, "You know, now that you bring it up, she seems a bit more…stern?"
Zoroark nodded, "Yeah, I notice it too…but what is it?"
They both stared at the back of her head, only to have her sigh, "Just because you're whispering doesn't mean that I can't hear you two."
When the two stopped talking, Azazel looked up o the mountain that she'd just managed to get to. She sighed, before turning around, "I'm going to return you guys for now, and I'll send you all out when we get to the top; okay?"
They didn't seem happy about it, but soon, only Empoleon stood, his wings crossed sternly across his chest, "No."
Azazel sighed, giving him a look, "Come on now, Empoleon. I don't have time to argue with you right now."
"Then you'll allow me to stay ou and help you." He gruffly responded, scaling the mountain right behind her.
She sighed, "Whatever.", before grabbing the rock, slowly but surely climbing up Mount. Coronet.
They scaled the mountain in silence, before Empoleon finally spoke up.
"You know, they were speaking the truth."
Azazel gave him a look, trying to feint ignorance, "Hmm?"
"Zachary and Azure; they hold good point. You're hiding something from us." Empoleon murmured, trying to sound casual, but even she could tell that he was pressing her for answers, "What's irritating you?"
"…Nothing." She grumbled, "I'm fine."
"…Stop lying to me." Empoleon murmured back, reaching the top, before grabbing her, pulling her all the way back up, before casually walking over to the mouth of the cavern, "Knowing you, it's only a matter of time before you spill."
Azazel scowled, shaking her head, only to know he was truthful. Damn him, for knowing her so well, she cursed, before walking on, looking around, "Gotta go up those stairs, right?"
"Stop walking around the question." Empoleon insisted, blocking her on the stairs, giving her a look, "What are you hiding?"
Azazel gripped the side of her sleeve, head down, "…I don't want to talk bout it…"
Empoleon sighed, "I'm sorry, Azzy; but I'm not giving you a choice."
Seconds pasted, before he heard a sniffle coming from her hidden face. He put two and two together, eyes widening ever so slightly, before he made her look at him.
She was crying.
Tiny rivers of tears went down her face, before she throw her arms around the giant metal Pokémon, sobbing like mad. All he could do was hold her back, as her emotions gushed out a like a river.
Empoleon patted her back, before carrying her up, going up the stairs, "Now then, you're fine. You're going to be okay."
Azazel either didn't listen, or she didn't care, as she kept crying. It was a bit too much, to just keep it in. The lost of her first home, then Hase. Later on, she left the Halls, her second home, only to be pushed into a world full of hatred and evil people. She'd worked so hard to gain Dante's respect, only to have it all be for nothing. Then there was Yami…
She stopped crying when light came from the end of the cave mouth, along with bits of snow. She wiggled out of his grip, landing on the ground, before furiously wiping at her face, taking as many tears off as she could.
"…Feeling better?" Empoleon asked, waiting silently right next to her, head cocked to the side, while his eyes still held concern.
Azazel nodded, a shaky smile spreading across her mouth, "Y-yeah, I'm fine." She murmured, before walking out, pulling her jacket and scarf around her tightly, "Now come on, it's only getting colder."
Once outside, she couldn't help but look around in wonder, holding out her hand to catch snowflake, as her feet slowly sank into the snow.
It had been years since she'd last seen snow, much less held it in her hand. She couldn't help but giggle like a little girl, before sending her Pokémon back out.
Ivy shivered, before jumping back into Lucario's hands, "C-c-cold." She managed, before sneezing.
Zoroark sni9ckered, only to have Lucario growl lightly, trying to keep the small grass type warm. Meanwhile, Luxio looked about it wonder, walking not to far from Azazel's behind, before finally murmuring, "I've never seen this before, human. What is it called?"
She managed a small smile, "It's snow!" She giggled, throwing a bunch into the air.
She couldn't help but laugh when some landed on Azure, who shivered, shaking it off of his back, "It's cold."
"Yes. Yes it is." Azazel hummed, kicking a pile over.
Azure gave her an odd look, "This snow, as you call it, is all over the place and cold. Why do you seem to enjoy being surrounded by it all?"
Azazel shrugged, "Cause it's fun to play with?"
Azure couldn't help but break a small smile, "You'll always be such an odd human."
As the six walked on, the snow got a bit heavier, as the wind began to pick up. Azazel shivered, no longer really enjoying the snow, as she tried not to get any in her mouth, "Lucas, give me Ivy!"
He did so with no question, handing the shivering grass type over, only to have Azazel shove her into her jacket, shivering at the cold grass type to close to her chest.
Ivy's head popped out from inside her scarf, looking around, only to sneeze again, "I don't like this place."
Azazel couldn't help but laugh lightly, before trekking on.
The farther thy went, the worse the snow got. The once light snow was quickly becoming a blizzard, the thick snow making it near impossible to see two feet in front of you.
She could make out the outline of her Empoleon in front of her, while she picked up Zoroark, Lucario and Azure being much closer, "Hey, Empoleon, wait up!" Se shouted, trying to walk faster, only to trip.
She yelped, falling face first into the snow. Her face felt as if it was going to be frozen off, before two different hands grabbed her shoulders, hauling her up.
Zoroark cursed, "Azzy, you're freezing cold." He grumbled, before hefting her over his back. Azazel yelped at the sudden movement, before couldn't help but sigh, feeling the warmth that came from Zoroark's fur.
"We n-need to wait it o-out." Lucario shouted over the howling winds, Azure sneezing in agreement.
From the front, Empoleon shook his head, "It'll only get worse! We need to press on!"
"Easy for you to say!" Zoroark shouted, "The cold doesn't bother you at all!"
Empoleon stayed silent, s they continued to shuffle through the snow.
Finally, Lucario looked up, before yelping, ducking. Azure gave him a look, about to ask what that was all about, only to stop, eyes wide.
Azazel looked up as well, only now noticing the tall shadow before them. She was about to call ou to Empoleon, ask why he stopped, only to then notice that the large metal penguin was backing away from the all shadow, trying to get back closer to the group.
Azazel gulped, if it wasn't Empoleon, what was it?
The snow blended in with the white the large Pokémon seemed to have, along with bits of green on him. Those cold light purple eyes narrowed, glaring holes into her.
When it roared, she couldn't get any dialogue out of him, no could she get any words.
Zoroark huffed, "That is one big and angry Abamasnow."
The large Pokémon roared out a blizzard, causing Azazel to shiver, pushing them all back.
"Snowpoint is right around him!" Empoleon shouted, ducking under another attack.
"Now the only issue is moving the abominable snowman." Zoroark muttered, watching as Lucario squealed, nearly being hit by the hammer arm.
"We don't have time to fight him!" Azazel shouted, before an idea snapped into her head. She took off her jacket, shivering, as she handed the covered Ivy over to Zachary, "Hold her."
Zoroark's eyes went wide, "Azzy, are you insane!? You'll freeze if it don't die first!"
Azazel shook her head, still shivering, before trekking over to the large monstrous figure. Empoleon tried to stop her, keep her as far away as possible, only to jump out of the way of another incoming attack.
Azazel smiled, trying to offer some kindness to the tall snowman, "Hi there. My name's Azazel; what's yours?"
"RAAAAAAAWR!"
Azazel tried not to shiver once again, from fear or the cold, she wasn't sure. She kept the smile on her face, slowly walking closer, "Hey, big guy. I know that, deep down, you don't mean to hurt everyone."
The Abamasnow roared again, trying to get a hit on her, only to have Azure dash forth, placing himself between her and the snowman, "Get away from him, Human!" Azure growled.
Azazel placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to give him a fearless smile, only to feel her shiver, "Back down, Azure. I have this under control."
Azure looked like he was about to protest, only to before grabbed by the snowman, who threw him right into Lucario, the two of them falling into the snow.
She tried to scream ou for them, opening her mouth, only to find that her voice wouldn't work. She then faced the Abamasnow, "…That was not the right thing to do. And you know it."
She narrowed her eyes when he roared icy winds once again, before raising her voice, "I know it's hard to see, but there is good in everyone. Now, you need to go ahead and calm down-."
Abamasnow roared once more, before slamming his arm into her stomach. Her eyes widened, letting out a silent pained scream, before flying right into a tree. The force made her feel like her back had splattered into a million pieces, as she slid down into the snow.
She could hear someone shouting her name, only to have her hearing waver in and out. It felt…odd. She felt pain, but at the same time, it was too cold for her to really feel anything.
How she wished for something, or someone, warm to hold her, to help her out.
Just then, a furry arm grabbed her, before pulling her out of the snow. She could make out Lucario's worried expression, before he shouted something, carrying her out of the snow.
He passed the giant snowman, who laid face first in the ground, fainted.
"Azazel, c-c-come on, c-can you h-hear me?" She finally heard.
Azazel managed to nod, settling herself into her feet, as the snow began to subside, "I'm fine, Lucario."
"That was a nasty hit you took, Azzy." Zoroark pressed, before looking around, nose crinkling, "This is Snowpoint?"
Azazel looked around, only to cringe lightly. It looked to be a very large city, and yet, most of it was covered with snow.
Azazel couldn't help but smile, as she shuffled over to the large temple. It was in the back of the city, and yet, it stood tall over all other buildings.
Empoleon placed wing on her shoulder, "Azazel, we need to rest up."
Azazel shook her head, as she continued to shuffle through the snow, "No. We're too close."
"Human, you're going to hurt yourself." Azure agreed, "You should heal up first."
Azazel shook her head, her foot already on the cold marble, "If you guys want, you can all go back. But, till then, I need to do this." She insisted, before walking in.
Lucario sighed, before Ivy poked her head back out from under her jacket, "Hey, put me back in my Pokeball!" She shouted at Azazel, before running in after her.
Azure sighed, before giving the other three a look, "Well?"
Empoleon sighed, only to nod, "Yeah…Yeah, okay." He murmured, walking in after them, Lucario and Zoroark right behind him.
Deep inside the temple, Azazel came to a stop at the tall stone statue. Even as a large building of rocks, the great giant Regigigas stood as grand as ever.
Azazel knelt on one knee, trying to ignore the cold and the pain, before she smiled, "It is an honor to finally be in your presence, Regigigas."
Silence.
Azazel sighed, looking up, eyes begging for guidance, advice, anything, "Please, Regigigas; I need help. I know you see what others miss, even while you lie trapped in here. So please, if you can, tell me what you've seen. A great friend of mine, Hasekura, has gone missing."
Silence.
Azazel pressed on, holding onto that tiny bit of hope, "Darkrai said that, even while you sleep, you still are one of the wisest legendries. So please, I'm on my knees, begging for even a bit of help."
She jolted when tiny yet repetitive footsteps entered behind her, turning around just in time to see Ivy dash in, looking cold and irritated, "Put me back in my pokeball, I'm-!"
Ivy didn't have a chance to defend herself, as a metal collar was strapped around her neck. Azazel cried out the tiny grass types name, only to watch as a jolt of electricity passed through the collar. Ivy fell to the ground, knocked out.
From behind the pillar, the being laughed, before stepping out.
A Galactic goon.
Azazel growled, fist clenched, as she rose, "What do you want?"
From behind her, a voice called, "Why, we want you."
She twisted around, only to see more goons coming out from behind pillars, each armed with a collar, when the voice called out again, "I'll admit, I'm surprised that we don't have you on a leash yet, Azazel Light. Even with Charlie Rowan's help, you still slipped out of our grasp. Not that he helped much either way."
She looked around, only to find more goons. That voice, it felt so familiar, as if it was a voice of a distant yet fresh memory, "Who are you? Show yourself?"
The voice from the shadows laughed, "…You may refer to me as Gambol, you insolent child."
Just then, Azure dashed into view, eyes narrowed, as he growled at the goons, "I knew I smelled that nasty scent of betrayal in here."
Empoleon, Zoroark and Lucario weren't to far behind, each of them holding there own expression of confusion and slight fear.
It was silent in the temple, no one daring to move, only to have Zoroark growled, eyes narrowed.
Azazel had no time to stop him, before he jumped a goons, biting right down into the guys jugular, quickly rendering him dead.
All chaos was thrown loose, as the goons tried to tackle down Zachary, only to be held at bay by Empoleon and Lucario. Azure growled when someone got to close to Azazel, snapping his jaws in warning.
The hidden voice chuckled, "This really had been a fun game, Azazel; but I hold all the cards. You will not win this game, I'm afraid."
Azazel whirled around, only to see no one. She cursed, just who did this guy think he was?
She snapped back into reality, when Lucario let out a strangled groan. She watched in horror, as Lucario fell to the marble floor, twitching from the jolt given by the collar.
"LUCAS!" Azazel shouted, trying to fight her way over, only to hear a yelp, as Azure fell as well, taken out by a goon with what looked to be a crowbar.
"AZURE!" She screamed, slowly losing it, as her breathing quickened. She watched, frozen, as Zoroark fought off ten goons, all of whom were trying to get him down, before one of the managed to get the collar on him. Zoroark let out a howl of pain, but even then, he was still fighting.
The hidden voice of Gambol let out a huff, "It would seem as if you've got an ace up you sleeve…Not matter." He muttered, "Let's see how your little squad will handle with this."
Jus then, she felt a hand grab her wrist, holding her down, while another held a knife pressed up against her neck. "I win." Gambol whispered into her ear, his body preventing her from getting loose, before he raised his voice, "Stand down…Or she bleeds to death."
Zoroark growled, but even then, he was wakened, "You…You…" He growled, only to have his eyes roll up into his head, falling to the ground.
"ZACHARY!" She shouted, trying to break loose, only to have the man, Gambol, hold her tighter.
He laughed, before turning to Empoleon, "Now then, it's all up to you; Doushi." He said, laughing at the penguin's stumped face, "Choose your move wisely."
Empoleon looked Azazel in the eyes, her own pleading him to just give up, only to have him shake his head slightly.
Empoleon let out a roar of anger, before his wings turned to steel, slicing through the goons who had become too close.
Empoleon gave Gambol a look, only to have him chuckle, before stabbing Azazel right in the shoulder. Her eyes went wide from the searing pain, before crying out, screaming, "Now, I know that you're Pokémon; but I also know that you understand me. So, I'll give you one last chance; pick your move wisely…Or. She. Dies."
Empoleon's eyes widened, having thought that he wouldn't' go that far, before giving up instantly. Just then, from behind him, a large black dog tackled him to the ground, holding him there with teeth bared.
Azazel's eyes widened, before Gambol laughed, "Good boy, Kasai. You get a treat when we get back to Veilstone headquarters."
Azazel managed to twist her head around, just enough to see green eyes framed by glasses.
"…Yami…?"
Yami scowled, only to grin, that once warm smile, now cold and brittle, "That's not my name, Dove. Not that it'll matter; we've gotten what we came here for; we move out now."
With that said, he gave Azazel one last smile, before bringing his fist down on the back of her head, knocking her out.
"…Oyasumi, Watashi no Hikari."
Dante growled, pulling at his jacket, his eyes slowly opening from there narrowed position, before allowing blood flow back into Elissa's hand, "We finally made it."
Elissa nodded, expression grim, as she gave her brother a look, "…Big bro?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think that…she's here?"
Dante stiffened, before shaking his head, "Not that I really care. I mean, I have a badge to win."
Elissa puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, "You hit her?"
He tried not to show his discomfort, as be walked over to the gym, noticing a flapping piece of paper on the side of it, "What's your deal?"
"You HIT her!" Elissa shouted, "At the very least, you should explain-."
"Whoa, wait up a moment now."
"Big bro!"
He pulled the paper off, reading it softly, y out loud to make sure that it was real, "If you're looking for her, it's too late. If you care, you'll find her at the top of Mount. Coronet."
The two of them were silent for a moment, only to have Dante toss the note aside, "Eh."
Elissa's eyes couldn't get any wider, "That's all you've got to say!? Eh?"
Dante was trying as hard as he could to keep his cool, as his insides were screaming, "Look, it could all be a joke. In which case, we'll go up after I beat Candice."
Elissa scowled, only to follow him in. Little did she know of the inner turmoil, two parts of Dante fighting control, as he tried to keep himself together.
Two things were certain.
Azazel was in trouble…
..And it was all his fault.
As you can tell by what went down; shit hit the fan.
And when shit hits the fan, it is neither a fun sight, nor is it clean.
So, who saw it coming?
Azazel: Me.
Me:...Besides you, you know exactly what's going down.
Azazel: Yep.
Me: Well, Iwonder, how are the ships now? Tell me in the reviews what you still ship, and I'll cya guys in the next chapter!
Till then, bai bai!