Okay... took me long enough, but here is the next chapter of Kleeto! Again, not the average chapter here. In fact, twenty pages leaves the borders of average. If blood and mystery don't bother you, you should very much like this chapter. Anyway, it's here now, so enjoy!
Chapter 38: Shadows of Doubt
Blood sprayed the air as a choked cry echoed throughout the dark sky above Meritina as the only sound to break the stunned silence. Spike stood completely still, his now violet eyes gleaming in the growing dusk. Scarlet droplets spilled on the ground, and Spike gave a small, twisted grin. His mind was replaced, and his claws had slashed through flesh on Blaze's shoulders as the Quilava had flinched just enough to save his own life.
"Good, you're reflexes aren't bad... you'll live longer this way." Spike stated and shot Blaze a dark smile, still holding his claws in the air next to Blaze's wounded shoulder.
Blaze's grunted through eyes tinted with pain and shock in response. He could see Spike had intended to claw his neck. He pulled away from Spike and staggered backwards, the spot where he had just been a second ago was showered in stcky red liquid. Blaze was dimly aware of the blood that oozed down his shoulder and stained his jet-blue pelt, and was also far too stunned to form a single word. He just stood rigid, staring back at his transformed assailant with wide-eyes.
Spike positioned himself back on all fours, crouching lower, but didn't pounce. Instead he simply locked his eyes onto Blaze. The malevolent violet pupils burned with the clear and murderous intent to kill, and the twisted smirk remained on his face. His lengthened, azure curved-tipped tail slowly swung back and forth as he continued to watch Blaze as a predator would prey.
"Sp-Spike!?" Finally, Sky managed to rip himself from his utter shock and call out to his Pokemon. He still could hardly believe the vicious blue figure he saw was Spike. He looked so different, but he could still sense he was Spike somehow. He couldn't possibly think of an explanation for what had just happened. "Spike, that's enough battling for today!" he called out again.
Sky was sure Spike heard him, but he was unresponsive. The Totodile simply continued to gaze after Blaze, smirking.
Kyle was also throughly shocked. "What in the... Hey, Blaze?" he called out as well. He looked after his Pokemon and realized for the first time since his evolution, Blaze was utterly terrified. The raven haired trainers gaze then adverted to the Totodile-in-question. No way that was the same Pokemon!
Spike's smile began to fade. Disgust replaced it. "Miserable humans... No matter; I'll deal with them next..." he glanced at Blaze, who froze. "And you... let's continue where we left off, shall we?"
With no more warning, Spike's claws began to glow purple again as he dashed forward. Blaze felt his shoulder burn as he moved; this was no normal slash wound, but he didn't wish to feel it second time and moved backwards.
Spike was before Blaze in almost an instance, and he swung a shadowed claw, and Blaze hardly managed to duck in time, and then leap backwards from another swipe Spike followed with immediately after with his other claw. Once he landed, Blaze winced again at the pain in his shoulder.
But surprisingly, Spike didn't slow. Instead it seemed as if all his weariness was suddenly forgotten, and he dashed after Blaze before skidding to a halt behind him while brushing up small pebbles from under his feet. Blaze flinched; Spike's speed was unnatural, but before he could move, Blaze cried out in pain as another slash was made, scoring across his back. Spike gave a satisfied smirk, watching the Quilava stagger before falling from his paws. When Blaze hit the ground he was panting for air, and his back and shoulder were bleeding badly. Kyle called out Blaze's name.
Pearl, Melena and Samantha gazed on with terrified shock. "Wh-what happened?!" Samantha exclaimed, sounding as surprised as any of them.
Pearl and Melena exchanged a worried glance, yet with traces of fear in both their eyes. Spike had done something similar to this once before, but never had he completely transformed. For a split second, Pearl had thought Spike evolved, but it soon became clear no matter how different he looked, Spike was still a Totodile. And from the looks of Blaze, the damage may have been worse than what was done to Chi, the Farfetch'd who had received similar treatment.
Then Spike glanced over at Pearl and Melena, and for a short moment Spike's eyes gleamed. Then both girls saw him breath in deeply, and the Totodile launched a powerful burst of water towards them.
"Incoming!" Melena called in warning and ducked out the way, and Pearl stumbled out of it's path. Both Pearl and Melena avoided the attack, and were throughly stunned Spike would go as far as to attack them.
"Now..." Spike began, he sounded thoughtful as his gaze drifted back towards Blaze. The Quilava was struggling to get up, and he looked at Spike with his teeth gritted as he turned his head. "What move shall I finish you with...?" He mused aloud with undisguised amusement at Blaze's fear and pain.
"Spike!"
Spike's eyes darted to his side, and he could catch a brief glance of Tank. The Mankey looked both confused, and surprisingly, worried.
"Have you completely lost it? what the heck are you doing!?" he shouted his demand for answers.
"Pesky annoyance..." Spike sneered disdainfully. Tank was surprised to hear this much contempt in the Totodile's voice. He turned to the Mankey who flinched in turn. "I don't have time to waste on you, and besides... We can't have too many of Spike's little friends witnessing all this, now can we? Who knows how he would take it."
Tank briefly wondered what Spike was talking about and why he referred to himself in the third-person, but that thought didn't last long. Spike was padding closer calmly on all fours, as if he had walked this way his whole life, and the Mankey almost stumbled backwards, but froze instead. Spike's purple eyes had begun glowing a brighter shade of violet and the Mankey found himself staring aimlessly into them.
After a moment passed, Tank's eyelids drooped , he began to wobble, and then he eventually fell to the ground. Asleep.
Alarm rippled through all.
"What the heck is going on here?!" Kyle shouted. Though it didn't hide how stunned he was. He turned on Sky. "What the heck is this Totodile of your's!?"
Sky couldn't speak, disbelief clenched him coldly. He had absolutely no idea what had happened to Spike, and nothing made it any clearer, but a ring from his PokeDex snapped Sky out of his thoughts.
"Hypnosis: A Psychic-Type moved used to render the user's opponent into a deep sleep." it explained. Sky' eyes went wide.
"T-that's not possible–Spike's a Water-Type!" Sky exclaimed. He couldn't think of any explanation except for his PokeDex being bugged out like everything else today.
Turning once Tank was asleep, Spike's glare rested on Samantha. His grin stretched. "...Next."
Sky quickly saw who Spike targeted now, and alarm shook him from his confusion, and he hastily yet shakily drew his PokeBall. "Spike, return!"
Spike's eyes narrowed, and the gator froze in it's tracks. The moment the streak of red light shot towards Spike, the Totodile dashed out it's path, and skidded to a stop while glaring at Sky, now with hostile growling. Then before Sky could try again, Spike's eyes began glowing a second time.
Sky grunted in surprise that Spike would be this disobedient, but was set to do something and readied the PokeBall to try again. He took aim on Spike, but then a light-blue glow illuminated the PokeBall, and Sky felt with a jerk it part from his hand. It floated. Sky's widened eyes returned.
"We'll simply dispose of this wretched device..." Spike jerked his head left, and the PokeBall shot away from Sky in the same direction and rolled along the surface.
"I'm sorry irruptions continue to disrupt our battle, Blaze." Spike said without turning.
Blaze stared confused and frightened at the PokeBall, then flinched. He knew that no matter how crafty the things Spike could pull, using Psychic moves like Hypnosis and Confusion were surely beyond him, and most other Water-Type Pokemon for that matter.
Violet energy returned and swept around Spike's claws. "Let's continue."
Spike began to pad forward again, and the pain and weariness Blaze felt made him helpless to try to escape. Spike lifted his glowing claws with a glowingly wide smile. Then he froze, and hardly a moment later, a net shot from seemingly nowhere. Spike was ensnared within it, and he growled in distempered frustration. Then strangely, he seemed calm.
Sky's head sot around towards where the net had come from, his shock edging to frustration. "What now?"
Gray smoke appeared from their far right, and as soon as it began to fade, voices could be heard. "When it comes stealing, we're the best." A familiar crackling voice rang out from the smoke.
"We snatch the most– leaving none of the rest!" Another, slightly dopey voice chimed in as well.
The smoke had fully cleared to at last reveal the two dark red and purple tinted costumed figures of John and Ernie. Standing arms folded and back to back as they bowed their heads; eyes closed and grinning. The brothers stood atop of a dark green jeep with the net that restrained Spike attached to it.
"I am John!" The older brother stated. Making a thumbs up and turning towards the group.
"And I am Ernie!" The younger one exclaimed, doing likewise.
"And we're... The Team Crimson Bros.!" They both struck their dramatic entrance poses.
Silence greeted them and their pose. Sky blinked and now truly couldn't believe his luck. He exclaimed, "What the hell are you two joker-idiots doing here?!"
Then Sky saw Kyle seemed to recognize them as well as he said, "Hey... it's you two crooks!"
"Thieves!" Samantha exclaimed crossly. Not forgetting they had tried to steal her Eevee, Faith.
"Morons." Melena lamented. Pearl smacked her forehead, then quickly reminded herself of Spike and turned to see the vicious gator had simply watched John and Ernie with ominous patience.
A vain budged on John's forehead. "We are not joker-idiots or morons!" He stated loudly with anger, then added quietly. "However, you may call us crooks or thieves."
"This is not the time!" Sky shouted at them both with hostility. His eyes then shifted and rested worriedly on Spike.
John snickered. "Oh, no–it's not! It's the perfect time! We are here to take that unusual power-packed Pokemon, as we'll find him quiet useful." he stated matter-of-factly.
Sky turned back to glare at John and Ernie, burning with impatience and anger.
Spike sneered, regardless of his net situation. "These two buffoons..." he spat. It almost sounded as if he knew them. His gaze traveled along the next and saw it was attached to the vehicle. "Well... I guess I could make fairly quick work of them... They underestimate me." He held up a claw and grinned. "...Mistake."
And almost as if in response to Sky's glare, John and Ernie gave two huge smiles, and immediately dashed into the front seats in an instant. "And we are outta here! Later kiddies, we'll just drag or catch along with us!" John called, and Ernie added, "See ya later!"
With that, the tires screeched and kicked up some dust and they were off.
"Hey!" Sky called after them, and prepared himself to follow, but then they stopped a few feet away.
John noticed they pulled no weight and heard nothing before he turned around. The Team Crimson member let out a surprised and baffled cry of disbelief as he saw Spike standing in the geyser sight. Looking strangely patient with mild amusement. The net shredded next to him.
"Whaaat!?" Ernie exclaimed, mouth dropping and was also baffled.
"The net's cut-proof! I stole–er, bought it myself!" John hastily corrected himself.
"Pathetic..." Spike muttered and he seemed discontent with their growing stupidity. "Now it is time to rid myself of these incompetent fools..." With that, Spike slowly reared both paws to his side; one resting above the other and a couple of inches apart. Then after a moment dark energy swirled and gathered between his parted paws and formed a small distorted purple and black sphere. The others all watched in stunned silence as Spike charged energy for the dark sphere before he launched it towards John and Ernie's jeep.
The ball sailed forward until it came into contact with the jeep, where it then immediately exploded. John and Ernie sailed from the exploding vehicle wailing.
"And for the finishing touch..." Spike began forming another dark clustering ball of energy.
John and Ernie groaned from their face down positions on the floor. "What happened!?" Ernie squeaked. Then the energy ball impacted the earth near them instantly afterwards and caused another explosion. This time John and Ernie went sailing what seemed like miles away.
"We will return!" John and Ernie called back in unison until they soared out of sight.
Sky gazed ahead speechlessly. "W-whoa..."
Spike stood a little taller as he grinned slightly and sniffed dismissively before he turned back to Blaze. The Quilava was currently being examined and calmed by Kyle, whom had taken advantage of the distraction.
Spike's evil grin grew wider. "Perfect..." Dark energy formed in a spiral around his claws one more time. "Two in one shot." He continued to charge the energy, but then it stopped abruptly and the energy dispersed once Spike cringed and stumbled backwards; holding his head and screeching with agony.
"Get... out... of... my... head!"
The real Spike's voice rang out throughout the gator's mind. Shadow Spike continued to hold his head, screeching, then a look of confusion swept it's face, amid the pain. "I-Impossible...! How...? The dark should've held you there..." he choked out painfully.
Sky then saw the Totodile was distracted and knew this may be his only chance. Though he felt pain tear through him as he watched Spike suffer, he made a dash for the PokeBall, scrambled down to pick it up, then aimed it at Spike again. "Return!" He shouted, and the beam of red light shot forward.
Spike flinched and realized the light one second to late, and growled. He didn't say a word as the bright red light engulfed him and sucked the Totodile back into the PokeBall.
Spike was finally restrained. Sky took a moment to catch his breath, then held the PokeBall closer to his face as he stood up; looking into it with eyes of confusion and sorrow with his face somber.
"What's happened to you...?" He whispered silently. Then before he could finish, he heard Pearl and Melena call his name and rush over. He knew almost immediately they were just as surprised, confused, and maybe even as frightened as he was.
While further away, the blue-hooded girl had stared on in disbelief. "There's no way... how'd some kid run into one of those Pokemon?!" Soon, her shock was replaced by thoughtfulness. "...I'll need to retrieve that Pokemon somehow... maybe..." An idea slowly began to take form in her mind the moment she saw Sky's worried and helpless expression. "...That'll do." With that, she ran over towards Sky.
"I don't get it..." Melena was thinking aloud, and from the looks of it, rather critically; standing next to Pearl and a distraught Sky. "It doesn't makes sense... That was a Shadow Ball Spike used to get to red of those two Crimson members... Hypnosis for Tank... Shadow Claw to attack Blaze with... and Confusion, to get rid of your Pokeball, maybe..." she thought for only a moment longer then cast her eyes towards Sky. "Spike would never learn those in a million years."
Sky nodded in agreement, though he still looked very worried. Something besides Spike's violent assault, behavior, and strange transformation bugged him."Something else is wrong, too..." He began and captured Pearl an Melena's attention. " I couldn't sense Spike at all...it only looked like him..." Sky finished and sadness and worry hung over the sorrel haired Trainer like dark, endless clouds.
"Hey, you!" Sky was surprised to hear a new, unfamiliar voice call out in their direction, and turned to see a girl with long grown out brown hair dressed in a blue hooded sweater, and jeans ripped at her knees, along with deep, piercing blue eyes.
Sky froze, staring on at her for a short moment and temporarily forgot what was happening for just a moment.
"I saw what happened," she said briefly with urgency, skipping introductions. "I think I know someone who can help you."
Sky could see the girl wanted to help in her expression, and he found himself staring into her deep blue eyes, then turned away awkwardly to gaze aimlessly at his side, eyes narrowed with embarrassment. "Well, uh..." he stammered.
Pearl awaited Sky to suspiciously question the girl as he normally would strangers, but he never did. Once she realized he simply continued to stare sideways, without answering, she threw him a sideways glance and asked, "And you are...?" she said questioningly with a look of unmistakable suspicion towards the stranger, and something else.
The girl rolled her eyes. "Listen, I know someone who might be able to help your Totodile." She restated, purposely being indirect to Pearl's question, and focused her attention on Sky. Pearl glared as a vain bulged.
Sky was still thrown off by the older girl, but his stun and awkward silence slipped away as memories of what just happened flooded him. "You do? Really? Who is it?" Sky asked, trying to hide the desperateness in his voice.
The hazel haired teen turned away abruptly. "Come on; follow me. It's not far from here." She said briefly and in the next moment, she was off.
Sky began to follow hastily along with Melena close by, but the sorrel haired trainer stopped and turned as he noticed someone hadn't left.
"Pearl, come on! We have to help Spike!" Sky called back.
Pearl threw Sky a pensive look and searched his eyes for a long moment. Eventually, the blonde began moving forward. "Fine. Let's go then." she said, but sounded faintly bitter and stalked past him.
Sky wondered briefly what bugged her, but shrugged it off; he had to find out what was wrong with Spike. But as soon as he set off again, another voice called him.
"Loser, what the hell is going on here!?" It was Kyle. "And where are you going?"
"I'm leaving. The battle's over." Sky declared briefly, not turning to look at him.
The raven haired trainer looked slightly thoughtful, and he cast a challenging look at Sky. "If you leave now, then I win this battle."
Sky was stunned into freezing where he stood. How could he even think of their battle now? Kyle had seen what Spike had become and what he had done, and yet he was still concerned about who was the better Trainer. Sky felt rage grip his heart, but his concern for Spike drove him away from it and he turned on Kyle. "There's more important things than just battles! Do as you want, I don't care." With that, Sky turned from his rival and ran off, away from the geyser site amd towards the city where the three girls had gone.
Kyle looked taken aback for just a moment, but then narrowed his eyes. "Fine. The win goes to me then."
Samantha tossed Kyle a unapproving glare. "Numbskull! Don't tell me you didn't see that?"
Kyle shrugged. He bent down next to Blaze who was still hurt badly, but it looked as if with Nurse Joy's help he'd be fine. Kyle returned Blaze to his PokeBall, stood up while placing his hands in his jacket pockets before walking off on a different road from what Sky took back to the city. After a while he called back.
"I could care less what that loser's problems are with his psychopath Totodile... They're his, not mine; so I won't waste my time."
He continued walking on into the city in the through the remaining dim light the skies gave, and after a long, saddened look after him, the red-head knew he didn't have a total lack of compassion, but he rarely showed he didn't, and Kyle scarcely seemed to remember they were traveling together. Eventually, Samantha ran the way to catch up, and followed Kyle back into Meritina.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was dark by the time Sky had caught up to the hazel haired mystery girl after she stopped at a small, time-worn house not too far off from the geyser site. When he ran up besides her, he was panting, but the girl hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Is...this it? The place...?" Sky gasped breathlessly and then tried to catch his breath, grabbing his knees as he bent down from the exhausting run. Soon Pearl and Melena had joined them.
"Wait, before we go any further, what was your name?" Melena asked, she didn't seem as tired as Sky was, though Pearl did.
"The name's Angel." she answered, almost with a hint of irritation, then turned to Sky. "And yeah; this is the place." There was curiosity in her eyes. "Well, now that I've told you my name, what about yours'?"
Sky couldn't force on the usual smile he would always have when introducing himself. "I'm Sky, and these two are my friends: Pearl and Melena."
The first gesture was made to the blonde, who still looked suspicious but greeted her anyway. "Hi."
"Hi!" Melena greeted with an energetic wave.
Angel nodded curtly. "Great, now come in." she turned to the doorway and her voice took on a more serious edge as she continued. "Your Totodile looked possessed... and I think I may know the person who could help." Without another word, or without knocking, Angel opened the door and walked into the house.
Once she entered, Pearl remarked, arms folded, "She seems polite." Her voice carried the utmost sarcasm. "I don't know ... Think we can trust her?" she asked, her emerald eyes burning into Sky's.
Melena looked a little thoughtful towards the question, as if this was the first time she had really thought of that. After a while she commented, "It was sort of sudden..."
But Sky looked as if he truly didn't care. "I don't know if we can trust her or not, but I don't have a choice. I have to do everything I can to help Spike." Sky stated solemnly with a resolute expression. Melena nodded understandingly, but Pearl turned away.
Sky still couldn't tell what bugged her, but then he reached for the open door. "And if that includes getting help here, then I will."
Upon entering the house, Sky, Pearl and Melena saw multiple shelves along the walls, lined with bottled herbs, medicines, books, and more than anything, tons of trinkets and charms. The house walls were painted white, and the floors were wooden. There was a small table and a few wooden chairs, but besides that and a few potted plants and vases, nothing else was particularly unusual.
They soon saw Angel speaking with a short, gray-haired elderly lady dressed in white with a long red gown, the garment covered her feet and Sky wondered how she walked without falling. Her eyes, Sky noticed as well, where a very unusual grayish-silver. Making the old woman herself seem other worldly. Sky could feel a strange energy in the room.
After they had finished speaking, the old woman walked over towards them, her expression solemn. "Hello, there. This young lady says you have a Pokemon you'd like me to see. Is this true?" she rasped, her expression may have been serious, but her tone was inviting.
Sky immediately drew Spike's PokeBall with a rush of new found hope. "Yes. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but we know something is definitely wrong with Spike!" Sky said, sounding tense with worry.
"Now, now, settle down. I'll take a look your Pokemon." She agreed and gave a calm and reassuring smile.
Melena glanced one more time around her surroundings, then at the old lady. "From the looks of this place, I'd guess you're a medium. Am I right?" she asked thoughtfully.
The old woman nodded. "Yes, child, I am. Shaman, priest, or medium, whichever you'd prefer. I've been called all these before. And more particularly, I'm better with Pokemon than I am with humans. You can guess this isn't the first time someone's come me about Pokemon abnormalities. You can rest assured I will do everything I can and you can all me Debra."
Sky nodded solemnly, and held out his PokeBall. "Spike's been acting very strange lately, and I can't tell what's wrong... today... it almost looked like he evolved, but he's still a Totodile..." Sky trailed off, and the medium's eyes widened with interest.
"Really, now? Well then, come sit down. You two," Debra indicated Pearl and Melena. "You come, too." she invited and turned away before walking off. But she went past the table, and instead sat down on her knees on the floor of the next room.
Sky blinked at the strangeness, and exchanged a questioning glance with the two girls, but followed anyway. Once he entered the room, Sky sat on the ground as she did a few feet in front of Debra. Pearl and Melena joined them, but a little further behind Sky, and Angel leaned against a nearby wall.
The priest glanced around briefly at Pearl and Melena, then Angel. Her gaze rested on Sky; a mischievous smile was plastered onto her face as she spoke. "Lad, you enjoy traveling with so many young ladies?"
"What are you getting at?!" Sky jumped defensively, hot with embarrassment, and waved his arms about in a very loony matter.
Debra let out an amused laugh. "Easy, easy, lad. Now, let's take a look at that Pokemon of yours."
Sky stifled a distempered glare at the old priest lady, and re-drew Spike's PokeBall. He was dimly aware of Pearl and Melena scooting away rather quickly in responce to him taking out Spike's PokeBall.
He didn't stifle a backwards glare at his two friends before turning back around. Sky gulped. With any luck, Spike may be back to normal, as last time, or he could still be the blood-thirsty Pokemon they had seen at the geyser site. They would have to deal with either, one way or another.
"Okay... here goes!" Sky held his breath as he opened the Pokeball and a blinding white light erupted from it. After it cleared, Spike stood between Sky and Debra. Sky let out a sigh of relief as he saw Spike looked how he always had.
Spike looked, tired, but the Totodile flinched and looked around him wildly in confusion, as if he expected to be somewhere else.
"Ah..." Debra's eyes were intently examining Spike. "So it's a Totodile, I see.. Well, then..."
Suddenly, Debra leaned towards Spike and studied the Totodile with intent, searching silver eyes.
His weariness returning, Spike didn't attempt to run, but instead flinched held still under her stare, and suddenly found himself very uncomfortable.
Sky noticed her eyes soon locked on a certain feature of Spike's, and flinched as he followed her gaze. Spike's claws were shorter than they were at the sight of his transformation, but they still remained stunningly sharp and abnormally long for that of a Totodile.
Sky saw traces of blood on Spike's claws.
Debra withdrew and looked thoughtful for a while longer. "I see something indeed strange is happening with your Totodile," as soon as she finished speaking, the medium faced Spike again, but this time bowed her head with her eyes closed.
Sky waited for her to do something, but then eventually realized she wasn't moving.
"Hey...What's she doing?" Sky turned to whisper behind him to Pearl and Melena.
When Pearl shrugged helplessly, Melena answered. "She's probably in a trance. Mediums do that."
The answer hardly seemed to satisfy Sky. He gazed at Melena with a perplexed look, then turned back to Debra to continue waiting.
Meanwhile, Spike was watching the strange human in front of him, just as confusedly. She wasn't moving, and Spike thought she may have been dead, but took it back as he noticed she was still breathing.
Spike parted his jaws in a wide yawn, but as he did, he felt a strange presence, and a chill swept over him, and Spike froze. He was sure he could feel the same wave of presence from that of the medium lady's suddenly become closer to him. Except not just that of simply sitting in front of him, but more like he suddenly felt connected to her. Just as the other presence inside of his mind was. Lasting for hardly more than a few seconds, the second presence vanished; leaving Spike alone with the other, more malevolent presence within him.
At that moment, the spiritualist opened her eyes. She stood rigid for a moment, then turned to Sky. Sky froze as he saw her eyes were fiercely serious.
"There is indeed a spirit residing within your Totodile, child. Not only that, but it somehow feels... almost unnatural with malice and spite. It is a very malevolent spirit that wishes only harm to others around it." She reported, her face still solemn and a flicker of doubt ran across it.
Sky felt his heart lurch. Spike was possessed back there. He felt relieved, and anxiously afraid at the same time. Yet the relief hardly lasted as he saw Debra's doubtful expression. Could she do anything about this? Sky was about to ask what should he do, but the priest stood up before he could. She walked calmly over to her shelves of multiple objects and remedies, then selected a feathered pen and a and a dusty chestnut colored book that looked as aged as the house itself.
Silently, she walked over towards the table in the next room, then began flipping through pages off the book. Sky, Pearl and Melena watched her silently as she skimmed through the pages, then suddenly stopped with an exclamation of triumph.
She studied the page for only a moment, then began drawing on the table; looking back in her book occasionally. When she had finished, she had drawn a huge circle on the table, and with two intertwining triangles along with other strange markings.
"Come over here," She instructed, "And bring Spike."
Sky was slightly surprised she recalled Spike's name when he had only mentioned it once, but stood up anyway. He made a glance over at his confused looking Pokemon, and froze. After a moment, Sky shook his head clear; finding disgust in himself for almost feeling distrust in his Pokemon. Would he always feel this way when looking at Spike? "...Come on, Spike; over here."
Spike got up immediately and followed his trainer over to the table and the priest. She was looking at Spike intently. Her expression was unreadable. When Spike shot her a confused glance and put his head on one side, she nodded approvingly.
"Good... now place him on the table." she continued, more gently now.
Sky knew he missed something. Somhow, something he didn't seem to catch or couldn't see must have happened for the priest to look on at Spike so warmly.
Spike didn't wait for the lift, and simply hopped onto one chair, then the table. Followed by sitting down on it.
Debra nodded again and went back to her shelf. This time, Sky and Spike both noticed she pulled out a single talisman and what looked like a strange amulet.
When she brought it closer, Sky saw it was indeed an amulet, bearing a metallic color of yellow. It looked neither old nor new, and it had a clear diamond shaped gem in the center.
Debra walked closer to Spike until she stood directly in front of Spike, her silver eyes solemn. Then she leaned closer and placed the amulet around his neck and Sky noticed a string that was attached to it.
Spike grabbed and cautiously examined the charm, and turned it around to examine. There was nothing special about it.
Then she walked over to her shelf once more and brought over another amulet, and walked over to Sky. "You take these." She handed him the talisman and the second amulet. It was larger than Spike's but it had no gem in the center. The talisman had Japanese writing on it that read 'bond'. Sky could only wonder.
She walked back in front of Spike, and picked up the book again and began flipping a few pages. "I can't remove the spirit from Spike." she stated blankly.
Sky stared at her disbelievingly, but listened closely when she began again.
"But I can do something. This ceremony I am about to preform will not remove the spirit, but seal it away from Spike by channeling a small portion of Spike's spirit into this amulet." Debra stopped on a certain page of her book, and looked at Spike.
"As his trainer, the amulet I gave you will also have some sealing capability over this evil spirit, but it will only as strong as the bond you share with your Pokemon."
Sky felt an icy prickle of unease flow through him, but he pushed it away with a surge of determination to help Spike, and he nodded.
"Hold the talisman and amulet in front of you." Debra instructed.
Sky did as she told him and thrust both the amulet and talisman in front of him. "Like this?"
She glanced breifly at Sky. "Yes, that should do fine." she said, turning back to Spike. "Now pay attention."
Sky still looked lost and confused but looked on anyway, with interest. Pearl, Melena and now even Angel looked likewise.
Then, Debra closed her eyes again. Only this time, she began chanting something softly. She went on for a few moments and Sky held the items in place determindly, and Spike simply remained absolutely still.
As she chanted though, Spike suddenly felt the priest presence again. This time it was stronger, and he felt energy surge into him. His mind whirled as he began to feel a little dizzy, and then he felt something fading. As if something was being pushed away. He felt himself shiver as he realized what. It was the spirit. Spike was slowly becoming less and less conscious of the room, and he felt as if he was floating again. For a moment, he saw nothing but mixed presences in the forms of light and dark. Then the chanting stopped, and Spike found himself back on the table in front of Debra.
Sky had also felt the strange energy lift from the priest, snd could only wait anxiously with slight shock.
Then the priest opened her eyes again after a while, and her gaze rested on Spike for a long moment. Something about him seemed to gain her approval, and she soon turned to Sky. "It is done."
"What? That's it? What just happened?" Sky could hardly control the storm of questions he had for the priest.
"Calm yourself!" she exasperated, now Sky noticed she suddenly looked tired. "Look." she pointed over to Spike, and Sky's gaze followed. He jumped.
The amulet on Spike's chest had changed. It was still a metalic yellow, but the clear gemstone in the middle was now a bright, familiar shade of ruby red.
"Whoa..." Sky gasped.
Debra nodded. "Yes. This will act as the barrier between Spike and this spirit from now on. Keeping it at bay, allowing Spike to go through whatever he must." she said, a warm glow in her eyes as she looked at Spike. Spike could somehow tell she was speaking of emotions.
Sky was confused. "What do mean?"
"This spirit is a malevolent and powerful one. It could take control of Spike through intense emotion. Specifically, anger."
Sky froze with understanding. Suddenly it became crystal clear why Spike went berserk against Chi under the ordered Rage attack.
Then Debra looked darkly perplexed. "Though somehow... Spike and this spirit are not naturally connected like most cases... " her gaze snapped back to Sky. "it was somehow done artificially. This is the reason I could not separate them."
"What?" Sky's mind whirled. If this was done actinically, what had done it? And Would Spike ever be rid of this spirit then?
Sky's gaze slid back to his amulet and talisman. "...What are these for?" he asked after a moment. Wanting to change the subject. It was useless talking about if they could do nothing about it.
Debra's eyes gleamed. "Insurance." Sky was confused yet again. Luckily she went on. "In case Spike should ever lose this amulet, your's will act as a safeguard. So long as Spike is near you, that spirit shouldn't find a way out if you have your amulet and Spike doesn't."
That made Sky worry. Spike always seemed to get himself into trouble, sooner or later, he could very well lose the charm.
As if reading his thought, the medium went on with warmth in her voice: "Do not worry. If Spike does lose his amulet, he can always find it again. It's almost like a part of him now."
Spike saw Sky heave a sigh of relief. Then he picked up the charm in his claws again. The center was glowing a brilliant ruby red color, and Spike realized from looking in lakes or puddles that the gem carried the same exact shade and glow as his own eyes.
"The talisman is now useless." she continued to explain. "It was for the sole purpose of bonding a small piece of your spirit, and Spike's, into that amulet." she indicated the one Sky held. Then she went on more darkly after pausing for a moment. "Though, if Spike despatches his amulet and you are unwilling to the task of prevention, the spirit's power may slip through, yet maybe without the evil. Only if both amulets are gone or out of range will Spike be overtaken."
Sky grew more and more anxious. Her strange message made him very uneasy. Was she implying he would actually want Spike to change again? But what she said also made him curious. "What do you mean, 'Without the evil?'"
The priest looked seriously into Sky's eyes for a moment. "Where there is great power, there is great responsibility. There may come a time when these powers will be needed." As she talked Sky couldn't move. His mind buzzed with too much new information to take in all at once. Then he heard her voice say something with an ominous warning edge. "Be warned, consequences never run far."
Silence filled the air. Sky could guess what that meant, but just what consequences was she talking about? Too many questions, Sky thought. And the priest was not answering directly. 'What's going on here...?'
The priest glanced at Spike and signaled for him to leave the table. Obediently, Spike hopped to his paws, and jumped from the table; landing next to Sky.
"Now one more thing..." Debra paused for a moment. "If at all possible, try to do something that would normally trigger a change in Spike."
Sky jumped with alarm. "Here?! Now?"
"Yes, here and now. Go on. It should be safe."
That was a big should, Sky figured. But then he eventually began thinking how he could do that. Then memories of yesterday flooded his mind. "Okay... Spike, use Rage!"
At first, Spike looked perplexed on how to use that move. Nothing currently enraged him. It felt peaceful there. He stood thoughtfully tapping his chin with a claw-finger for a moment Then he thought of the spirit. Spike growled fiercely for a moment and stared ahead of him. Then the Totodile dashed forward, floundering his arms about madly until he ran into the stand of a very expensive looking vase. Spike fell over backwards, and vase stand and the vase itself toppled over. All topped by the loud shattering noise.
Sky flinched and Debra looked absolutely stunned. Then she turned on Sky, fuming.
"Er... I can pay for that..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sky had darkened almost completely when Sky, Pearl, Melena and now Angel arrived at the Pokemon Center. Sky noticed Spike's abnormalities were dormant once again, so he decided Spike could at least stay outside of his PokeBall, so long as he stayed close by. Spike and Tank had both been treated for their injuries by Nurse Joy; Spike for his second time today. Which Nurse Joy didn't neglect to scold Sky about. Once they were all comfortably re-settled into the Pokemon Center, Angel was lounging on the lobby sofa in front of a turned on television; Melena went on to feed the Pokemon, and Sky and Pearl were standing in front of a green-television-phone. Deep into a conversation.
"Amazing! You're saying Spike mutated during your previous battle with Kyle?!" Exclaimed Prof. Torence as he pushed himself closer to the screen.
"He didn't mutate!" Sky argued, then realized the professor may have hit pretty close to home. "Well, he transformed, but that's not the point!"
"The point is," Pearl finished on Sky's behalf, a lot more calmly as she did, "Something has happened to Spike and he was somehow possessed by a spirit that inhabits his body just as if it were it's own, according to Debra. She's a medium we saw."
The Professor looked utterly bewildered. It almost seemed as if he didn't hear Pearl. "Simply astonishing... Think of it, if Spike can actually use the moves of another type of Pokemon he could never normally obtain, this couldn't possibly be only the average ghostly phenomenon! What if–"
"Professor!" Sky abruptly cut him off with an indigent shout.
"Sorry..." Torence apologized, abashed. Suddenly Sky and Pearl saw the black haired scientist looked very thoughtful. "Though from indefinite sources, there have also been reports of other Pokemon using abnormal moves for their types... moves beyond that of regular TM's or HM's... say, a Pikachu using a Dark-move like Faint Attack." Sky again today couldn't believe what he was hearing. Were there more Pokemon out there like Spike? Then, the scientist's voice was edged with excitement again as he went on. "Most reports are from Halric City. The others simply changed move-types, while Spike undergone a complete, genetic transformation process–much like evolution–and..."
He broke off silently as he and Pearl both saw the dark, slumped position Sky had taken on; sitting on the floor with his knees close to his chest, and tracing a finger along the floor.
"...of course, I didn't mean this a good thing..." the scientist blinked. He quickly took a bite of a rice-roll from his left he snatched, and scrolled data on his computer screen. "...So far, hardly anyone knows about these strange occurrences, and the only sources of information aren't official... Though Spike's transformation and atypical moves seem to prove what they say..." He stopped and began thinking again, tapping his chin. "I don't know what's going on, exactly... but I'll tell you both once I do." he promised with a solemn stare.
"Okay... thanks, Professor." Pearl said lowly. She also seemed crestfallen. "Take care." with that, the transmission clicked off and Pearl turned back to Sky. Though she too felt helpless, she knew how she felt would not come even close what Sky felt. Torence couldn't help much, and the spirit Debra spoke about, though now blocked off from Spike, was still inside Spike's body.
"Professor Torrence seemed pretty determined to find out what's happening," she started, encouragingly.
"Yeah," Sky muttered, though dark tinted his tone. "Too bad he didn't know anything useful." He reminded with undisguised depression.
Pearl winced. "That's true, sort of..." she folded her arms with a mixed expression of confusion and pity. Sky was right. Though other Pokemon had also been able to use unusual moves, Spike was the only one who seemed to have transformed. "Still... I don't understand what's going on... Last time I checked, Pikachu weren't evil." she remarked sharply on what Torrence had told them about a Pikachu using Faint Attack.
Sky shrugged. Hardly noticing her comment also referred to Pearl's love for cute Pokemon.
Pearl gave an annoyed stare. Sky was never this moody; in fact he was normally just the opposite. She was about try saying something else to snap Sky out of his depression, but then she realized nothing would probably help. Who could blame him? Spike was his first Pokemon, and now something no one seemed to be able to fully understand was changing him.
A moment later, both of them saw Melena signal over to them over to them from a table where she sat. Sky and Pearl could both guess what she wanted them for. Sky vainly hoped it was for the reasons as simple as travel, like it had always been. They both reached the table and sat down on a chair.
"Okay, good news is: the water has returned, and the kitchen has almost finished it's repairs." Melena began sipping a glass of water. "There was nothing to serious. Buying a new oven was what made it so costly. And the cleaning..." she seemed to dread the thought. Sky thought back to last night when Spike, Larvitar and Tank had caused so much destruction. At least then it was innocent. "So spill, what did the Professor say?" she asked suddenly with curiosity .
"Nothing too useful," Sky answered. Gloom seemed to loom over him like a cloud.
"He's told us they're have been other Pokemon that have had sudden type changes like Spike..." Pearl said and trailed off. "No others transform, though.." she added, flat with disappointment.
Melena's eyes were wide with a mixture of amazement and wonder. "Spike used moves no Totodile could hope to learn... if there was even a way to use those moves again, I don't think it would be worth it." She said, giving Sky a serious stare. "You saw how hostile he became. Like a different Pokemon."
"Yeah," Sky agreed hollowly. It seemed as if Melena was against what the medium said about that he and Spike may have to use those moves again somehow."Those were Ghost and Psychic-type moves, I think... I still don't get what caused this!" He gripped his hair in frustration and then let his face fall into the table. Spike's transformation was something he was completely helpless to aid Spike in. "I'm useless..." he muttered.
"It's at least under control now," Melena reminded, then out of the blue, the small gator took a seat on the table. He stood, so his face was above the table, and Pearl and Melena stared at him with faces of perplexity. Sky looked up from the table.
Then he began speaking.
"Toto-to-totodile! Dile toto totodile toto to totodile! (You have to know what happened! This blob keeps talking to me in my dreams! I floated in dark!)"
In Pokemon, of course.
Sky, Pearl and Melena blinked.
Spike shouted in frustration. "Curse you human's inferior language!" With that, the Totodile jumped from his seat and padded off crossly, yet forlornly.
Pearl and Melena exchanged a puzzled glance, and Melena shrugged, while Sky watched Spike leave with a rising well of sympathy for the Totodile. He could sense strongly something troubled the blue alligator deeply.
Sky fell back into his seat, staring aimlessly at the table. His eyes darkened with sympathy as he said. "I can't help him at all..."
---
Spike traveled through the brightly lit lobby room, glancing thoughtfully at the amulet he wore around his neck as he walked. He felt strange familiarness in the shade of ruby in the small gemstone amid the charm, and saw the reflection of his own eyes there.
Spike's expression darkened. "...It's still there... I can feel it..." he said to himself in cold recognition of the spirit that lurked inside of him. He was deeply confused. Now he couldn't remember anything besides battling Blaze, finding himself lost in a very dark place, the voice speaking, and then being let out his Pokeball in the strange old house. The problem was what the voice had said. Spike couldn't remember. Thoughts surged through his mind, but eventually, Spike's paws stopped as he heard other Pokemon talking. He glanced around to see Tank rambling on frantic things to Scruf and Flora, the three standing in front of a orange sofa on the yellow-tiled floor. Sky and Pearl must have let the Growlithe and Chikorita out once they arrived.
Dread ripped through Spike. Aside from the confusion, the last thing he could remember before the dark, was falling unconscious.'Did I cost us the battle?' It would explain why Sky seemed so upset, Spike figured.
As he approached, Tank froze, and Scruf and Flora looked on at Spike with worried, disbelieving eyes. The possibility of losing the battle seemed all the more likely now.
"Hey, guys..." Spike began the greeting by smiling nervously, but then it faded and he gave in to his sadness and guilt, and stared at his feet. After a moment he spoke. "...I lost, didn't I?"
"You changed back..." Tank sounded awe struck, and Spike was soon confused again, slowly forgetting the battle.
"Changed back?" he echoed. "What do you mean?"
A moment, passed and no one replied. He saw that both Scruf and Flora looked as confused as he was. Yet Tank was staring at him with growing disbelief and confusion.
Then Tank finally answered. "What do you mean what do I mean? During your fight with Blaze, you transformed and totally lost it!" Tank exclaimed.
At this, Spike's eyes widened with terror as he then recalled what the voice had said before Spike found himself lost in the dark depths of his mind. It had done something when Spike was unconscious. He at last understood why he was released from his PokeBall in that strange house instead of the Pokemon Center, and he dreaded what must have happened during the battle. "Blaze... D-did anything happen to him?"
"How should I know?! You put me to sleep right after you attacked him, you maniac!" Tank snapped.
Spike felt sick. It was happening again. Though this time, he couldn't remember at all what happened, but knew with growing intensity that the voice was responsible.
"Wait," Scruf jumped. Spike flinched to see the Growlithe's eyes were glazed with pain and major disbelief. "You said Spike started glowing, but he does that whenever he begins to lose!"
Tank rounded on Scruf. "I've already told you, he did that before he transformed. The second time he was glowing purple!"
Spike couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No... that was not me!" he told them. He was trying to convince Tank just as much as he was trying to convince Scruf and Flora. He was aware that both Scruf and Flora looked even more stunned, and he wondered why briefly, only to remember now he needed an explanation of who it was if not him.
Then he saw Flora glance at him. She was staring at the amulet he had been given. Then she glanced lower and flinched.
Spike followed her gaze and saw for the first time since changing back his own claws were again sharpened. Except this time, they were longer than before and looked more sharp and lethal than ever.
Spike stared in frozen horror, looking down at his claws motionlessly.
He didn't understand what was happening at all. Tank said he transformed and attacked Blaze. Was anyone else hurt? Whatever was happening, this was all that spirits fault. He wanted to make them see that, but he saw there was no way he could.
"You have to believe me, I didn't do this!" Spike pleaded again. His voice edged with how desperate he was to convince them he was telling the truth.
Flora's eyes looked full of doubt and confusion, she stared at the ground for a moment, then shook her head once and to Spike's horror, she backed away. "I'm sorry, Spike... but you have transformed before... and now...now I don't know what to think..."
Spike couldn't believe what was happening. His wished he was dreaming now.
Scruf still looked indecisive, and his orange ears were dropping; his eyes clouded with pain.
As his teammate, Spike thought Scruf had to understand. "Please..."
The Growlithe looked up and stared back at Spike for a while. Then his eyes drifted to Spike's claws and then amulet, and the Growlithe lowered his head again. "...I have to go with Flora on this one, Spike..."
A ripple of unimaginable pain tore through Spike. His ruby-eyes rested on the three with undisguised disbelief. They didn't believe him. Three of his closest friends . . .
Feeling a desolate claw of emptiness tear at his heart, Spike, though reluctantly, turned and slowly walked away. Not even Scruf trusted him any longer. And If the ever loyal Growlithe didn't, what hope was there Larvitar would? Or Sora? Spike stopped dead as he soon realized he may very well feel this lonely emptiness forever.
He didn't speak another word as he started walking off again. Only then realizing there was nowhere at all left for him to go.
And there you have it. That's another chapter completed. By the way, this was long, so I know it must be hard commenting on it. I wouldn't mind if you simply commented on your favorite parts, if that makes it easier. Well on that note, I'll leave you people to stop reading this chapter now. Oh, and don't forget to leave a review.