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Chapter 50
Obfuscate
Terron gasped as his eyes shot open. He found himself collapsed on the cold ground, surrounded by Zekra, Novus, Zeverous, and Yimtri, all on their feet and staring down at him. He could barely even see them, as light was scarce and Novus's fire offered little to help, but he could tell that all of them showed absolutely no signs fatigue or injury. It was as if their entire journey through the accursed dungeon had never occurred.
"Wait… Chloe's not here," he realized. "Where is she?"
Yimtri's eyes brightened, allowing Terron to see that the Sableye wore his typical scowl. Yet, something about it was different this time. Something that Terron couldn't quite name.
"She didn't make it out of the strange realm Erebus dragged us to," Yimtri answered. "She's no doubt still trapped within it."
"Oh."
The Sableye immediately averted his gaze from the Cubone, clenching his claws tight. His eyes started to flicker.
"Are you alright?" Terron asked softly. "I mean, I know she was your friend and-"
"I'm fine," Yimtri snapped. "I know she's not gone; she'll be able to leave once Erebus is defeated. Don't hold any concern over me. Focus on what matters right now."
Terron continued to shoot him an unsure frown, but Yimtri only returned it with a deeper scowl. He uncurled his claws as the dark atmosphere flowing out of his body seemed to intensify.
"Perhaps you would like a little reminder of what has happened? We have left the realm where we were seemingly nothing but wandering spirits," Yimtri announced. "And we were able to do so because Zeverous here dispelled the illusion we were trapped in. Have you not noticed the change in scenery?"
"Dispelled the illusion?"
It was then that Terron noticed something about Zeverous he hadn't noted before. He had a red aura flowing around him as his eyes glimmered with an aqua glow, much like the split second he saw him in the strange land where he was nothing but a spirit. The Deception Amulet clutched tight in his claws also glowed brightly, as if to match the intensity of the energy filling the Zoroark.
And then that was when it hit Terron.
"Zev… you used your illusion powers to get us out of that weird spirit realm," he realized. "So does that mean…"
"Yeah, that whole thing was an illusion," Zeverous stated. "In fact, everything was nothing but that."
"What?"
Terron slowly got to his feet as he looked around some more. He found himself in the middle of a forest. The trees surrounding him were still twisted, but now had strange branches that almost seemed identical to sharp claws. A few vines hung from the canopies of the trees, messily tying themselves in the branches. Everything seemed to be obscured in shadows, making it rather difficult for Terron to tell exactly what was a vine and what was a branch. From what Terron could tell, the sun's rays weren't able to reach where he and his friends were.
At first, Terron thought they were inside the first area of Erebus Woods. It was very similar after all, with the trees and the darkness that filled the vicinity. However, upon closer look, he realized that there was a key detail missing: there were no rooms or corridors. The most renowned aspect of all Mystery Dungeons was not present in the forest he stood in.
"Are we not in Erebus Woods anymore?" Terron wondered.
"Oh no, we're in Erebus Woods still," Zeverous explained. "This is just the real Erebus Woods. The Erebus Woods hidden under the illusion of a misery dungeon, created by Erebus itself."
"So that whole dungeon was just an illusion? This whole time we've just been wandering through some fake forest that Erebus wasn't even in?"
Zeverous nodded solemnly. Terron gripped his skull as the epiphany came over him, numbing his thoughts and filling him with an icy chill. He looked around at each of his companions to find that they too were having the same feeling wash over them.
"So if Erebus Woods is nothing but an illusion… does that mean that all of the other dungeons in the world are illusions too? They're nothing but false realities fabricated by Erebus? Is that why you can't ever die in them? Because it's not real in the first place? Is that why there's all those corridors and those rooms? Is that why everything about them seems to completely defy all logic and sense and have all of those weird things in them, like how all my skin can get peeled off without me bleeding? Is that why feral Pokémon can't leave the dungeon with you, but they can everywhere else? Because they're just illusions?"
"You may call it an illusion, but I prefer another term for these places you call Mystery Dungeons. A much more fitting term."
Everyone stiffened as the familiar, chilling voice sounded from behind them. The five Pokémon reluctantly turned around, preparing themselves for the terror they inevitably had to face.
There, floating high above them in the near distance, was a creature. It was just like a shadow, being a creature of pure darkness. Black tatters billowed from its shoulders as it levitated with its long, white and ghostly hair endlessly streaming in the air. Surrounding its head was a crimson, jaw-like growth that nearly covered all of its face.
The creature gazed down at the fearful five with a single blue eye, the other one obscured greatly by the hair that grew over one side of its face.
"Nightmares."
"No… it's… how is it you?!"
Everyone glanced over to find Novus standing at the front of the group, staring up at Erebus. His pupils were dilated to the extremes and the fire burning upon his quills seemed to shudder with each breath he took.
"You speak as though you know me."
"You're… you're the legendary that first disappeared into Blight Forest centuries ago," Novus gasped, his voice nearly gone. "You're the Darkrai that went to investigate the forest…"
Erebus's eye narrowed.
"Yes, I am. How do you know that, my puppet?"
"Because I was there. I was there when I watched you enter the forest and never come back. Darkrai… what happened to you? How did you become like this? What happened to you when you entered Blight Forest?! Why are you the monstrous creature that's turning everyone into Blight Demons?!"
The Darkrai's eye further narrowed.
"I do not recall a Quilava being among the godly beings when I left to Blight Forest. Only godly beings saw me disappear into the Blight Forest. I do not think any mortal creatures other than us Mortal legendaries were among the great gathering."
Novus didn't answer the question. He only remained motionless, his trembling gaze fixed upon the Darkrai. Erebus kept its own gaze upon the Quilava for a moment longer before releasing what sounded like an irritated sigh.
"So you will not reply. Fine. I do not require knowing."
It tore its gaze away from Novus and then placed it upon the group as a whole.
"Though I am not overjoyed to see that you have finally seen through my obfuscations, I must congratulate you for being able to do so. No other Pokémon has ever managed to discover the truth of Mystery Dungeons in all of the fifty years I have crafted them. Truly that must deserve some praise."
"So every dungeon in the world… they're merely nightmares that you and your copies trap unsuspecting Pokémon in. There's actually nothing wrong with any of the environments the dungeons supposedly corrupt," Yimtri stated. "You only make them appear twisted from the outside somehow, so no one will question why the environment suddenly looks different on the inside. And then every time someone enters a supposed dungeon… you put them to sleep and keep their comatose bodies among you in the true environment that the dungeon supposedly covers up. Then every time they 'leave' the dungeon, you only take them out of the environment and they wake up from your horrendous nightmares."
"That's correct, my child. Every single Mystery Dungeon is this way. They are not illusions that mere Zoroark and Zorua can create; they are much more than that. They are the worlds I craft deep within your minds after I have put you into a dark slumber. You only think it is reality, but you could not be farther from the truth."
Yimtri scowled as he clenched his claws together. He glanced at the ones surrounding him before bringing his dark glare back to the Darkrai. He seemed ready to say something, perhaps a violent lashing, but he was never able to say it, for Erebus outstretched its black claws and spoke.
"But, I'm afraid you and I can no longer have this discussion. You came here for a reason, didn't you?"
"Yes… yes I did," Yimtri answered in a subdued, venomous voice. "And that reason has not changed."
"So I see. Well then, if that's what your intentions truly are, you know what I must do now."
Yimtri's scowl deepened as he slowly drew his claws. Everyone else hastily did the same, even as their eyes glimmered with the absolute dread they each harbored.
A violet power gathered in Erebus's claws. It was a strange, ominous power that no one was able to recognize. It sparked from its fingertips before it brought both of its claws close together. The Darkrai then lifted its claws high into the air. A black and violet sphere grew in the space between its claws, whirling around rapidly with eerie crackling sounds.
"You truly should have used your Escape Orb while you had the chance. It would have saved you."
With a flash, five smaller spheres flew out of the vortex and sailed at the group with the swiftness of a speeding Skarmory. No one had the time to react as the black objects slammed into the five. However, rather than send them flying across the forest, the attacks actually sank into each of their bodies, merging with their flesh until they were completely swallowed whole.
"What the…" Terron wondered.
Dozens of clawed, black, slender hands suddenly sprang out of the ground below the group and latched onto everyone. They dug their sharp fingers deep into everyone's flesh as the ground they all stood upon became a black, tar-like puddle. The claws slowly but surely dragged everyone down into its depths.
Terron struggled against the binds, but to no avail. The more he resisted, the tighter the hands seemed to grip him. They tore into his flesh, drawing blood that leaked down their twisted masses.
"Wait a minute! I know what this is!" Zeverous cried.
The Zoroark tightened his grip on the Deception Amulet, which still rested in his claws, and his eyes filled with the aqua illusion light. The red aura streamed from his flesh once more, instantly eradicating any of the hands that held him.
With a loud cry, he stabbed his claw deep into the black pit, the red light crawling off him and spreading into the puddle. Within a matter of seconds, all of the light consumed the twisted hands and the chasm that had been attempting to engulf them. They now stood in Erebus Woods once more, free of their binds with not a single scratch upon their bodies.
Erebus hovered not too far from where they stood. Its claws were no longer filled with the strange power.
"So you realized that you were in a nightmare once again."
"Did you really think that would work again?" Zeverous snorted.
Terron was certain that if Erebus had a mouth, it would have scowled. It spread out its claws once more, as if it was to make another attempt to fling the five into a nightmare. But then, Terron saw that its claws didn't fill with the violet power he had seen earlier. There was no longer any power streaming through its claws.
Instead, it was in its eyes. Its eyes were now illuminating with the most powerful intensity Terron had ever seen. Even more powerful than the light of the Plagued Ones' eyes.
There was a rustling sound, and then hundreds of rotting vines shot out of the forest all around the group and lashed out at them. The five quickly bolted out of the way, running rampantly through the forest as the vines relentlessly chased after them, trying to ensnare them in their grasps.
Zeverous filled his hands with the illusion-dispelling light once more as he leapt out of the way of an oncoming vine, and then struck the ground. However, much to everyone's surprise, nothing changed. The forest was still infested with sentient vines. Zeverous hurried out of the way as a vine nearly wrapped around his arm. He put the amulet around his neck and thrust his claws into the ground yet again.
Nothing happened.
"Why isn't the illusion going away?!" he screamed. "Why won't it work anymore?!"
"Because this isn't a nightmare."
"What?! What do you mean?!"
"I already said it; this isn't a nightmare. This is very much reality."
"But the vines! They're moving on their own! How are they doing that if this isn't an illusion?!"
"Wait…" Novus intervened.
The Quilava gazed up at the Darkrai as he bounded out of the way just in time to avoid a writhing vine. It stared back at him, its eye still shining brightly with the blue light. Novus's own eyes widened as he looked about the fleeing ones the best he could.
"It's using a psychic ability," Novus reported. "It's telepathically controlling each of the vines that infest the forest…"
Novus shot his gaze back to the Darkrai.
"Darkrai, how do you have the powers of the psychic affinity?" he demanded. "Darkrai are not born with the power to move anything with their mind! They are only supposed to have the power to create nightmares and the powers of the darkness affinity! How are you endowed with the power of psychics?!"
"Because just as how I gave many of you my gifts of power, the Primogenitor did the same with me. It gave me its own gift. It gave me many gifts."
Novus could say nothing to the remark, only keeping his stunned gaze upon the psychic Darkrai.
Terron, on the other hand, shot Erebus a glare. Though he knew it was probably in vain, Terron flung his bone club at the Darkrai. It sailed around in circles, twirling rapidly as it closed in on Erebus. To be expected, Erebus caught the bone in its claw, not even flinching in the process.
"I figured you would have learned your lesson from the time you fought my Sableye child. You know what happens when you try to use such tactics against creatures filled with the blight."
It tightened its grip around the club, and then it snapped into two pieces. Terron watched with a slight grimace as the ruined remains of the bone plummeted to the ground.
Terron noticed Yimtri as he shook his head at the sight of the failed attack.
"Tch, so this is what we are up against," Yimtri muttered bitterly. "Darkrai… a plagued Darkrai with psychic abilities, possibly other elemental ones as well…"
His scowl only seemed to deepen as he looked upon the scattered ones.
"I believe it's time for the five of us to discuss a strategy," he announced. "We cannot run aimlessly through this forest for much longer; the vines will surely ensnare us in due time."
"Well that'd be a cool idea, except for the fact that we're kind of busy at the moment with these vines," Zeverous stated.
As he said this, a vine wrapped around his arm and instantly dragged him down with a low thud. Zeverous growled as he hastily severed the vine with his free claw and bolted back to his feet. He narrowly avoided five other vines that struck the place where he was once.
"I know how to take care of that," Yimtri replied. "Everyone, gather together and grab onto each other. I know how to get away from these vines so we can discuss our plan."
No one questioned the Sableye. Everyone ran toward the Zoroark, weaving their way through the mass of vines that flooded the air and ground. Terron and Novus were lucky enough to avoid each of the vines without any problems and instantly leapt into Zeverous's mane the second they came to him, burying themselves in its mass.
Zekra, on the other hand, wasn't quite as fortunate. She only ran for a ways before a vine coiled around her hind legs, preventing her from going any further. She changed herself into Novus and quickly surrounded herself in fire, setting the vines ablaze as they crumbled off her form. She once again sprang toward her brother, but Erebus wouldn't let her have it. Another vine sprouted out of the forest near her and tied itself around her neck. It squeezed her windpipe before it could reduce to ash, immediately turning her back into a Zorua. Then, without a second's delay, even more vines sprang from the woods and wrapped around her form. She repeatedly tried to change back into a Quilava, but one of the vines curled around her neck again and choked her, cutting off the illusion.
"Can't… breathe…" Zekra sputtered.
"Zekra!" Terron cried.
He was about to demand Zeverous to go after her, but then, he saw Yimtri spring out of the ground right next to her. He watched as the Sableye tore apart the vines with his claws, freeing her from the strangling of the heavy plant. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. She cringed at the sudden touch, but he paid her no mind. He only plunged into the ground, taking her with him.
Only a couple of seconds passed before the Sableye's head popped out of the ground nearby Terron, Novus, and Zeverous. He stuck out his free claw as well, holding it out to the group.
"Grab on," he instructed. "Though you may become startled by what I'm about to do, there's no need to be. So long as you don't let go of each other, everything will be fine."
Though Terron saw how hesitant Zeverous was, the Zoroark wasted no time and grasped the Sableye's claw with his own.
The Sableye quickly melted back into the ground, dragging Zeverous and his company down with him. Everyone cringed as they phased through the soil and became filled with an unbearable cold, but they didn't resist the pulling. The vines around them seemed to quicken in their attempts to grab the Pokémon, moving more frantically through the air and twisting sporadically. But by the time the vines were to coil around each of the Pokémon's bodies, everyone had completely disappeared into the ground.
Terron found himself surrounded by darkness. There was no light to be found, and no sounds to be heard. All he knew was that his paws were firmly grasped around Zeverous's mane, which now had a rather strange, cold feel, like he was somehow holding water. Even still, he refused to let go, for he knew exactly where he was and what had happened.
"Is everyone here?" Terron called out.
Upon saying this, Yimtri's gemstones lit up, casting a small amount of light around him. He was quick to find that he and Novus were still embedded in Zeverous's mane as he had thought. Zeverous meanwhile, was still holding onto Yimtri and Yimtri was doing the same with Zekra, albeit in a much more uncomfortable fashion. Everyone hovered in the void around them, gravity somehow not taking its toll on any of them.
"Alright, looks like we're all safe," Terron said with a nod.
"We have roughly ten minutes to formulate a plan before I grow weary from spreading my intangibility to each of you," Yimtri stated. "So, let's make the most use of this time. Erebus cannot reach us down here, correct, Novus?"
"Yes, that's right," Novus replied. "Though Darkrai have the appearance of those with the ghost affinity, they do not harbor any of your unique abilities, save for the apparent ability to become a shadow. But, that shadow cannot dive deep into the ground where we are now. It can only stay very close to the surface. At least, I can only assume so. Erebus had psychic abilities that I've never seen any other Darkrai have before, so maybe it has other abilities we do not know of."
"I suppose we'll have to hope that it does not," Yimtri said in return. "Anyway, so it would seem that Erebus is a Darkrai. In a way, I should have expected such. I always knew that Erebus was a Pokémon and not a creature of bizarre origin. And though I considered that perhaps it could be a legendary Pokémon, I never considered that it could possibly be the creature whose species is known to be the very harbinger of terror, even if no one has seen a legendary for centuries. What a fool I was."
"Soooo, do you have a plan then to beat this Darkrai?" Zekra then asked.
"I'm getting to that. Don't interrupt me."
"Well then quit speaking in monologues and just tell us your plan!"
Yimtri scowled, but didn't make a retort. He only let out a short breath.
"Moving on, we obviously need a plan to defeat Erebus," he said. "I may know some information about Darkrai, but I'm afraid I'm not too well informed about them. But Novus, you seem to be so, so do tell us everything you know about Darkrai. If I know enough information, I can think of a way to effectively combat the legendary."
"Very well. Darkrai are one of the Mortal legendaries," Novus started to say. "They are very similar to the great beings such as Xerneas, except contrary to popular belief, there is more than one of them in the world. Their numbers may be scarce, but there are a few scattered about the land. At least, that was the case when they still roamed the world. They are also mortal, just like all of you and can be killed by other Pokémon or simply die after a few centuries have passed. Granted, killing a Mortal legendary is difficult, but it can be done. I have seen it happen.
"In all honesty, they're one of the more terrifying creatures I've ever encountered. The creator endowed them with horrific powers that even the very great beings feared at times. For one, they have the power to trap creatures in deep nightmares with complete control over the world the creature is plunged into. There are hardly any creatures that are immune to Darkrai's nightmares, save for a few who cannot be put to sleep. Even still, it is incredibly difficult to break out of the nightmare, even if you do realize that you are in one. If we did not have that Deception Amulet, I'm not even sure it would have been possible to escape from the nightmare that Darkrai kept us in."
"I realize that Darkrai are most infamous for their nightmares," Yimtri stated, "but what else can they do? What other powers do they have?"
"They have the most powerful version of Dark Pulse known to all Pokémon," Novus answered. "A single blast can easily hit all five us if we are within close proximity of each other and leave us immobile for at least a couple of minutes. We'll be possessed by this unfathomable dread that numbs your very soul."
"Then apparently that Darkrai knows that Double Team power," Zeverous then said. "I recognized that power when it was with us in the nightmare. It wasn't just some trick it was using; it was an actual power. It's exactly like my own Double Team."
"Yes, that's also a typical ability of Darkrai," Novus replied. "Then also, they have the ability to prevent you from using certain abilities. They can only prevent one Pokémon from using one power at a time, but it's something to be made aware of. Then finally, they have an ability that can prevent others from using items, which is called Embargo. But thankfully, just like the disabling power, it can only work on one Pokémon at a time. And even then, I heard some items are immune to the Embargo's power."
"Wait, so you mean our pins and capes might not even work if we fight Erebus?" Zekra cried. "I mean, I know this kept happening in the nightmare, but I thought that was just some illusion it was pulling or something. But you're telling me it can actually make all of our stuff useless?!"
"Perhaps," Novus sighed. "Though, if it truly did hold that power, I'm sure it would have used the power at the very start of the battle. But it did not, which makes me wonder if it truly does have Embargo. The same can be said for the disabling power. Though, maybe this Darkrai is slightly weaker than usual since it could quite possibly be controlling all of the other dungeons of the world right now with its clones. It might be limited in power if that is the case."
"Is that all of the known abilities of Darkrai?" Yimtri then asked, cutting their chat before it could escalate.
"Yes, that's all I know," Novus confirmed. "They can also fly through the air with swift speed and become shadows, but I'm sure you do not need me to tell you that. Though, that Darkrai has abilities that I have never seen other Darkrai wield before. It even claims that it has many more from this Primogenitor it speaks of. I'm afraid I cannot prepare you for whatever abilities it speaks of, because I honestly don't know what powers it speaks of. I never would have suspected that it would have psychic powers of all things, so I cannot imagine what other powers it could possibly have…"
"And what weaknesses does it have, other than abilities wielding the insect, fighting, and fairy affinities?"
"Well, despite being rather swift, they actually cannot take damage very well. Whether it is a physical attack or one that completely bypasses their physical defenses through some means, they cannot take it well. They have rather frail bodies, but of course, being able to land an attack on Darkrai can be a very challenging task. Even still, like I said, it might also be limited in how much of its powers it can use due to controlling all of the dungeons in the world. I don't know if it is still doing that, but it's a very distinct possibility."
"So I see."
The Sableye looked up, presumably where Erebus waited for them. The light of his gemstones flickered as he seemed to wrack his brain for ideas. Everyone around him remained quiet as they too processed all of the information they were given.
"Tell me Novus: can our orbs work on Erebus?" the Sableye asked.
"The orbs cannot; legendary beings are able to prevent them from working because of an aura they give off," the Quilava answered. "The aura disables the use of the orbs; it was something the creator endowed to each of the legendary beings."
"Hmm, very well then. Ah, I wish Chloe was still here. Truly her Leech Seed could have been effective here. And none of our illusionists have seen her use that power."
The Sableye frowned grimly at the thought. His eyes ceased to give off their glow, rendering the world dark. However, it only lasted for a moment, for the light soon returned and Yimtri's grimace was no more.
"It seems that we can't rely too heavily upon our items, seeing as how Erebus can null them," Yimtri announced. "Though, I do hope that the Deception Amulet, capes, and pins are immune to the Embargo. Still, regardless, I see what our main priority is now if we want to defeat Erebus: we have to bring it down to us. It's hovering high above us and using the vines because it doesn't want us to be able to attack it. It knows that we will be able to kill it if we can reach it."
"Alright, but how do you plan on doing that?" Terron asked.
"By having our two illusionists fly us to Erebus, of course. I would have had Chloe fire a Leech Seed at Erebus, but sadly that is not to be."
"That would be a good idea, except for the fact that there are vines flying all over the place. If we try to fly to Erebus, it's just going to knock us away with those vines. I mean, I don't doubt Zev and Zekra's maneuvering skills, but well, I really don't think we're going to be able to dodge every single vine that comes our way."
"I have a plan for that. We'll split into two groups, one being myself and Zekra and the other being you, Zeverous, and Novus. That way, each group has one pin that can protect us. While we're flying through the air, any passengers will do whatever they can to slice apart any vines coming their way. Then, to whoever reaches Erebus first, knock it into the ground. Don't knock it into the trees or into the canopy; make absolutely sure that it is flung down."
"And what happens after we do that?"
"I'll give out the orders from then on, so simply do as I say. I will have to play the rest of the battle by ear by that point. Erebus shouldn't be able to manipulate my words anymore since we are no longer in its nightmare. Though hopefully, the battle will not last much longer after that point. Does everyone understand what to do?"
The four nodded. Yimtri cast them one last stare before he glanced up to where Erebus waited.
"Well then, it's time," he announced. "Zeverous and Zekra, change into your swiftest flight forms the moment we reach the surface."
"Got it," Zeverous replied.
"I've got one last question before we leave, though," Terron then said.
"And what would that be?" Yimtri asked.
"Are you sure that we can actually kill Erebus? I mean, I know that it's a legendary Pokémon, but it's also plagued. And I've tried to kill Plagued Ones and it doesn't work. You can think they're killed, but then they just reform a little while later. So… can Erebus do the same thing, since it's producing them and probably shares a lot of their powers?"
The Sableye brought his gaze back to the Cubone, his eyes becoming blank. Terron saw him wince at the thought. However, it was fleeting, for not even a second later, a determined scowl was soon to replace the weakness.
"Erebus can be killed," Yimtri stated. "No creature is immortal. There's a way; I know there is. And we will find it as we fight Erebus. We will find a way. Don't ever think that there isn't a way to kill it. We will fail if we do. Do you understand?"
Though his insides churned uncomfortably, Terron nodded. Yimtri was right; he had to have confidence in himself. Otherwise, their mission would never be completed and all of their efforts would become futile.
The Sableye looked back up toward the surface.
"Time to go. Everyone… best of luck to you. Don't die. Don't become plagued. End this reign of terror Erebus has brought upon Shiron for far too long. Bring us one step closer to finally destroying the Plagued Ones…"
Seconds later, the five Pokémon burst out of the ground and flew into the air. They were quick to find that Erebus Woods had not changed since they left, as it was still crawling with the seemingly endless amount of vines that lined nearly everything in sight. Erebus still hovered high above, its cold gaze locked onto the five.
"Decided to come back now, did you?"
Yimtri scowled as he released his grip on Zeverous, but not without tearing off the Deception Amulet that still hung around his neck. Zeverous was about to yell for the sudden action, but Yimtri was quick to tie it around Zekra's own neck. When Zeverous saw this, he ceased his retort and transformed into a Pidgeot, taking Terron and Novus with him as he swooped toward the Darkrai.
Terron watched from the back of the false Pidgeot as Yimtri wrapped both of his claws around Zekra's neck as she too transformed into a flying-type, hers being a Skarmory. She flapped her wings with haste, and then sped after her brother.
The two quickly caught up to the rest of the group, and together, the five darted after Erebus. The Darkrai eyed each of them as they drew nearer to it.
"I do not think so."
Dozens of vines fell from the canopy above and twisted their way towards the five. Terron grit his teeth as he pressed his persona deep into his face and dug into his coat pocket.
"Are you sure that you have some sort of weapon that will allow you to fend off these plants?" Novus asked as he set his quills aflame.
"I do," Terron replied. "But, I'm going to have to borrow your fire to make it work."
"Ah, I know what you plan on doing now. Very well then. Feel free to use my fire. I have plenty coating me."
Terron nodded as he withdrew a handful of small bones not much longer than the length of his arm. He grasped them all in one paw and stuck one end of each of them into Novus's burning fire. The second that they caught fire, he flung one of them at an oncoming vine that was dangerously close to reaching him. It flew up for a while, and then struck the vine, instantly setting it ablaze. It crumbled and fell to the ground past the three, out of harm's way.
The Cubone grinned at his success, but was quick to tighten his grip on Zeverous when an unexpected lurch nearly sent him flying off the false Pidgeot.
"Sorry about that," Zeverous muttered. "It's just these vines…"
Terron immediately noticed the plants sprouting from the sides of the forest, all of them snapping at them in various directions. Zeverous ascended just in time to avoid another ensnare, forcing Terron and Novus to cling to him further. Novus spat out a fireball at the vine that had nearly caught them, eliminating it.
"You're doing fine," Terron assured. "Just a little bit further. We're almost at Erebus."
Zeverous grunted in reply as he flapped his wings and accelerated through the mess of vines. Terron and Novus grit their teeth as they swept past the horde with jerky movements, abruptly changing directions every few seconds. The two flung their fireballs and bones the best they could without losing their grip, but the vines never seemed to cease in number.
Terron glanced over to the side to see how Zekra and Yimtri were faring. He was quick to find the two of them were having just as difficult of a time as his group was. The infestation of plants continuously seemed to overwhelm them, nearly obscuring them from Terron's view every few seconds. Yet, each time it seemed the two would become forever trapped in the vine's grasp, they would be sliced apart by a mass of sharp, black tendrils that crawled out of Zekra's back, right where Yimtri's shadow lay.
Zekra, in turn, copied Zeverous and performed a series of complicated flying maneuvers, occasionally slicing apart the vines with her jagged Skarmory wings. Through it all, Yimtri held her tightly, never losing his grip as his shadow lashed out at everything in sight. His eyes burned bright, their light glistening off Zekra's armored body with a powerful intensity that forced Terron to squint his eyes.
They're doing well… good. Terron thought. No one's in trouble. Good… good…
"We're closing in on Erebus!" Zeverous announced. "Everyone, get ready!"
Terron looked forward and found that the false Pidgeot was right. The Darkrai was only a few feet away from them, and at any second, they would collide into its wispy mass. Terron took in a deep breath as he psyched himself for the impact. He glared right at Erebus, and it glared back at him. The light in its eyes disappeared as it held out a claw to him.
The claw suddenly became filled with a crackling, yellow energy.
"I applaud you for giving this your all. I truly do."
A large bolt of electricity flew out of its claw and sailed through the air, instantly zapping Terron. At first, Terron was confused by the attack. He could feel the electricity drain harmlessly out of his body, energizing him as his blood seemed to flow faster.
Why did it hit me with an electric attack? Does it even know that those kind of attacks don't work on me?
And then, Terron felt himself plummet down. He pushed his mask onto his face as he glanced at his teammates to see what had happened, and was horrified by what he saw. Both Zeverous and Novus had streams of static bursting out of their flesh and neither was able to move. They only descended rapidly to the ground.
Terron felt a deep panic flare in his heart as he saw the ground come closer and closer with each moment.
Oh god. It wasn't aiming for me. It was just… using me. It just used me to hit Zeverous and Novus and knock us out of the air…
"Guys! Guys, snap out of it!" Terron cried frantically.
Neither of them responded, save for a single twitch of their bodies. Terron, in his desperation, dug through the bag strapped around his body and searched for the seeds or berries that he knew could help them. He wasn't sure if they were actually paralyzed or simply had the wind knocked out of them, but he didn't waste his time to ponder in this.
Just as Terron found two of their Heal Seeds, he felt something cold constrict around his body. He screamed, anticipating a vine, and thrashed around wildly. But then, he saw that what wrapped him was a black tendril, and not only that, but two others were wrapped around his companions too. The tentacles swiftly pulled up the three to Yimtri, who was casting them a grimace.
"So Erebus knows Thunderbolt," Yimtri noted. "Fantastic. Normally this wouldn't be a problem on the ground, but up here, that's an entirely different story."
The Sableye's shadow set Novus and Zeverous on the false Skarmory's back behind him, keeping their hold on each of them. However, it kept Terron dangling about a foot under Zekra.
"Hey, aren't you going to pull me up too?" Terron called as he resisted looking down. "I don't want to be stuck here!"
Yimtri stared at the Cubone, twisting his mouth into a pensive frown.
"Pull me up already!" Terron growled.
Yimtri stared at the Cubone a second longer, saying nothing as his eyes continued to give off their otherworldly glow. Then, he gave a slow nod as his shadow brought the Cubone up to the Skarmory. However, just as Terron was about to set upon Zekra's back, he was flung forward. Terron screamed as he sailed through the air with the speed of a bullet, unable to control where he was going. He looked back to find the group all shooting him horrified glances, save for Yimtri, who seemed more anxious than anything else.
Terron was just about to give the Sableye a violent lashing, but then, a sudden thought stopped him.
Wait… he didn't throw me out of spite. He threw me because...
Another bolt of electricity abruptly struck Terron's helmet, filling him with the power of static. And since he had no ground beneath him, the power stayed within him, flowing harmlessly through his body. He turned in the direction of where the attack had come from… only to find himself rapidly closing in on Erebus. Its eye was wide and it seemed ready to bolt from the spot, but it was not fast enough.
Terron collided into the plagued creature, sending every bit of electricity within his body into it. The Darkrai let out a distorted, agonized scream as the two of them plunged toward the ground. Though merely touching the creature filled his body with a bitter, consuming cold that nearly froze all of his muscles in place, Terron kept his grip on one of the Darkrai's shoulder tatters. He yanked out a thorn from within his coat and stabbed it deep into the creature's chest.
Black wisps erupted from the punctured spot. Erebus screamed further, and the cold slinking into Terron's body seemed to amplify even further. He shuddered as he fought it off and reached for another bone thorn.
"You… attacked me… you managed to attack me..."
Terron saw the Darkrai's eye as he pulled out the other thorn. It still illuminated with a strange emptiness that was void of any malice, but this time, there was something else. Something that surprised Terron.
There was a glimmer of pride in its eyes. Like the stare a mother would give to her child after he had performed a great feat.
Before Terron could ponder in this, the Darkrai held out its palm and fired a ray of frigid energy at the Cubone. Terron was abruptly blown off the Darkrai as crystals of ice formed along his chest, digging into his coat and puncturing his flesh. He desperately knocked off the crystals from his body as a sharp stinging sensation overcame him.
But then, something grabbed Terron by the sleeve of his coat and dragged him down toward Erebus once more. He turned to find Yimtri gripping his arm and closing in on the Darkrai with a cold scowl. Terron glanced up to find Zekra swooping down as well, but away from the two to presumably bring Zeverous and Novus to safety.
"Snap out of it!" Yimtri cried as he drew his free claw and filled it with a dark power. "Do you hear me, Terron?!"
Terron frowned.
"I hear you! Now-"
The Sableye scowled deeper before he released his hold on Terron as he fired a black sphere out of his claw and at Erebus. The blob impacted the creature seconds later, creating a small explosion as the Darkrai finally slammed into the ground, kicking up dirt everywhere.
"... let go of me," Terron finished blankly.
Huh. He did that without me even saying anything. Weird. But then again…
He couldn't finish his thought, for he then noticed that he was quickly closing in on the ground. At any second, he would collide with it.
Terron braced himself for his own inevitable impact, but just as he was about to crash, Yimtri grabbed the Cubone by the arm once more. As soon as Terron touched the ground, he sank inside of it, his vision filling with darkness as the sounds of the battle faded away. But Terron didn't fight it, for he knew that the strange sensation of his intangibility was only temporary.
Not even a moment later, Yimtri pulled the both of them out of the void and landed upon the ground. Terron found Erebus collapsed not too far away from him, though he knew it wasn't defeated. It was forcing itself back up and would be hovering again soon.
"Oh no you don't, Erebus!"
Before Terron or Yimtri could move, a pillar of ice struck the Darkrai, sealing it in place along the ground. As it struggled to break free, a sphere of orange light impacted the creature, ripping it out of its icy binds and flinging it across the grass before it crashed into a tree and toppled to the ground. Terron and Yimtri turned to find Zeverous standing nearby with another Darkrai floating nearby him. At first, Terron cringed at the sight of the Darkrai, thinking it to be one of Erebus's clones, but then he saw the necklace strung around its red growth and realized who the Darkrai truly was.
"Using Erebus's form as your own… it's a useful idea, I must say," Yimtri stated in lieu of Terron.
"Thanks," Zekra said as she flexed her false Darkrai claws.
"Hmm can you remain in the form of a Darkrai without the use of that amulet?"
"Yeah, I think I can since I can see Erebus right in front of me. But I won't be able to change into anything else except one of you guys if I do that. Why?"
"Give your amulet to Zeverous; he will need it if Erebus puts us back in a nightmare. We were fortunate enough not to be trapped in another one just yet. Your Erebus form should suffice in terms of power. And can you somehow make it so that we know that you are not Erebus? Perhaps a change in appearance somehow?"
Zekra glanced down at the necklace. She stared at it for a moment, hesitating, but tore it off her neck and handed it over to her brother. She cringed for just a moment as the Zoroark wound the amulet tight around his arm, but was quick to shrug it off.
"You alright?" Zeverous asked her.
"Yeah, just had to get used to using the illusions without that necklace," Zekra replied. "But I'm fine. It's not too bad."
She closed her eyes as a pink light rippled through her form. When it died down, she still remained as a Darkrai, but now her body was tinted with a dark shade of purple.
"There, I look different," she stated to Yimtri.
"Good. Now we have a Darkrai on our own side, as well as our nightmare dispeller," Yimtri noted. "Now what happened to Novus?"
"Novus passed out," Zeverous reported ruefully. "Apparently he got the worst part of that Thunderbolt attack and it fried him pretty bad. He's not dead, but he's not going to be waking up for a while. But we hid him, so don't worry."
"So we have lost two Pokémon now… … … pity. But are you fine, Zeverous?"
"Yeah, that electric attack really sapped a lot of energy out of me, but I'm fine now that I've had an Oran berry. Apparently we haven't been hit with that Embargo power yet."
"Good, good. We can't afford to have you lost right now; this battle is far from over. Erebus hasn't used its real power yet; it hasn't used its full potential yet. I know it is holding back."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you still wouldn't be standing if I wasn't. But not for much longer."
Terron felt Yimtri grab him just as the ghost dove into the ground, dragging him down with the Sableye. Terron hastily gripped his own hand around Zekra's, also taking her with him. He wasn't sure if she had done the same with Zeverous, but he had no time to ask as he sank into the darkness. He could only keep his firm grasp around Zekra as Yimtri drifted through the underground world.
When Terron flew out of the ground, he was grateful to find that everyone was among him, no one harmed by the unexpected action. However, his happiness was quick to fade when he saw Erebus hovering nearby, its claws streaming with black wisps.
"I will not stand for that any longer. Stop making this more difficult than it needs to be."
It promptly shot a blue beam from one of its fingertips, aiming it directly at Yimtri. The Sableye deftly moved out of the way and dived into the ground, but it did little good. The beam swerved and struck the Sableye just as he was to disappear, hitting him in the chest. He tumbled back for a few seconds before digging both of his claws into the soil, forcing himself to a halt. He panted as he looked over himself, but found that he was somehow unharmed.
"What did you do to me, Erebus?" Yimtri demanded.
"You will see."
The Darkrai swooped back and raised up a palm toward not only the Sableye, but the entire group despite the small distance between each of them. The wisps flowing out of its claw intensified, and then a mighty pillar of black rings imbued with violet energy flew out its palm and sailed directly at the four. Terron recognized it to be a Dark Pulse, and just as Novus had described, it was far more powerful than any other one he had seen Zekra or King ever use. It was massive in size and the aura oozing out of the rings seemed to fill the air with a potent, horrific atmosphere.
Terron saw Yimtri tense before he bolted toward the group, grabbing Terron by the back of his coat in the process. He leapt into the ground, but rather than phase through, he only crashed into the ground and scrapped both him and the Cubone against the dirt.
"God… oh god no," Yimtri gasped, his mouth gaping in horror. "My intangibility… I can't use it anymore. It's been disabled."
And then, the Dark Pulse engulfed the four Pokémon.
The Cubone couldn't even scream as the darkness seeped into him and tore apart his soul. A terrible bitterness devoured his heart, spreading a chill throughout all of his body as it seemed to eat away at his insides. His mind's eye became corrupted with horrendous images; hallucinations that his imagination crafted and tormented him with. He saw his friends being torn apart by ravenous demons from the pits of the underworld, their blood spilling across the ground and dyeing everything a deep crimson. He saw his own companions turn against him, taking turns at ripping him to shreds with gleeful smiles. He saw himself running through a dark corridor, fleeing from an unseen captor that he knew wanted him dead.
He could not move as each image flashed through his mind, slashing at his soul in the process. He could only lay there helpless, watching the twisted imagery play before him without cease. He couldn't even see the real world anymore. His eyes were open, and yet he could not see those around him.
I have to get up… I have to. But how? I can't even see… and if Novus was right, I can't do anything for a couple of minutes anyway…
What do we do now? How do we win?
Do you really want to kill Erebus?
For just a brief moment, Terron no longer saw the terrifying images playing in his mind. What he saw was a pair of golden eyes staring at him from within darkness, boring deep into his soul.
You… you're the plagued me…
The darkness swiftly covered up the eyes, closing off Terron from the creature. He was about to yell at his plagued self, to demand that it come back, but then, the sounds of someone screaming filled his ears. His vision became clear, and soon, he found himself staring at Zekra in her Zorua form, standing in front of him. She had her back to him as she faced off against the Darkrai that hovered not far into the distance. From what Terron could see, her eyes were burning the brightest he had ever seen, the blue nearly filling up all of her sclera.
Terron tried to speak and get to his feet, but found he still couldn't move.
"You still stand, Zorua, even if you are so weak right now. I am surprised that you were able to resist my power. Even your brother succumbed to it."
Zekra grit her teeth as what appeared to be a black haze oozed off her flesh.
"You're not going to beat us, Erebus," she proclaimed. "We've worked too hard to fall to you. I'm not going to let myself die or get turned into a Plagued One by you. I won't give up until you're gone for good. You're the one who makes all of the Plagued Ones and I… I just can't lose until you're gone. You have to pay for what you've done. To me. To everyone. I'm not about to submit to some… monster like you."
Erebus said nothing. It only kept its glance on her as it held out its palm toward her.
Zekra dug her paws deep into the ground. The streams escaping her body seemed to increase in number, and for just one moment, she held the appearance of not an ordinary Zorua, but a complete Plagued One.
"You're not going to turn me into a monster! You're not going to add me to your collection! I WON'T BECOME ONE OF YOU DISGUSTING THINGS! I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN!"
With Zekra's triumph echoing through the forest, she and Erebus fired their Dark Pulses at one another.
The beam erupted from Zekra's maw, but to her great astonishment, it was far more powerful than she had anticipated it to be. It greatly dwarfed her size as it shot out of her mouth, nearly blowing her back from the sheer power that it harbored. But Zekra dug her paws into the ground as she continued to fire the attack.
"And so my gift to you begins to manifest. It is a pity that it couldn't manifest earlier."
The two pillars of darkness crashed into one another, both of equal power, and set off a large explosion of negative energy. Both of them were blown back, Erebus being blown into the ground and becoming embedded in the dirt, while Zekra careened into a nearby tree, snapping off much of the bark before she fell to the ground.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and then her body slumped, becoming motionless.
Terron found he could finally move again. He bolted to his feet as the dread coursing through him faded away, leaving his mind at peace. But the relief was quick to fade, for the moment he looked at Zekra's collapsed form, his heart shattered. He rushed over to her side, kneeling beside her as he violently shook her.
"Zekra, wake up," he whispered, his voice broken. "Zekra! Get up! We have to keep fighting! I need you here!"
But Zekra didn't stir. She remained unconscious, the wisps still rising off her. Terron knew that she hadn't been plagued further nor was she dead, despite what the sight said, but the mere sight of seeing her limp and near lifeless was still enough to bring tears to his eyes.
"Zekra, please! Wake up!"
He couldn't dwell much longer in the depressing sight, for he saw Yimtri rise back to his feet. The Sableye glanced over at the Zoroark still sprawled out along the ground, also unmoving.
"Zeverous and Zekra have fallen," he stated. "Erebus's Dark Pulse has knocked them out."
His bitter scowl twisted into that of an agonized one, and for just a second, Terron thought he saw the glimmer of melancholy shine in the Sableye's eyes. But then, the Sableye turned away from the Cubone, letting Terron see the suffering no more.
"… We are the only ones standing now, Terron. We are the only ones who can stop Erebus at this point."
The Sableye slowly turned back around, allowing Terron to see his face. Terron saw how Yimtri was trembling at the thought of them being the only ones left. He saw the flash of cowardice in his eyes so clearly. He saw the pain of knowing that all of his teammates and closest friend had been defeated.
But then, in an instant, it all went away. Yimtri's broken scowl twisted back into that of an unfazed one as the light in his eyes seemed to intensify. He set his resolute, unwavering gaze on the Cubone, never breaking the stare as he came to the Cubone's side.
"Erebus is weak now," Yimtri said. "We can still defeat it if we are able to work in sync. It cannot take much more harm. So Terron, give me your aid. Discard all of the agony that wracks your soul and fight. End this with me. Don't let the efforts of those who fought with us end in vain."
The Sableye held out his claw to the Cubone, awaiting his words.
Terron stared at the claw for a moment, frozen in indecisiveness. But then, he looked over at Zekra, and saw her collapsed form, he knew what he had to do. He swallowed hard as he closed eyes and forcefully suppressed all of the bitter emotions welling up inside him.
Then, with a nod, Terron grasped his hand around the Sableye's.
The moment Terron and Yimtri's hands touched, his mind suddenly seemed to cease working. What felt like a wave of water coursed over his brain, numbing all of his thoughts.
Terron abruptly withdrew his hand from the Sableye. His thoughts once again resumed, as if nothing had happened. He looked over at Yimtri to find that his gaze had suddenly become hazy, and he seemed to be staring through Terron.
"You alright?" Terron asked.
The Sableye quickly shook his head, his usual glow returning to his gemstones of eyes.
"My mind went blank for a moment. Apologies," he explained.
Yimtri grabbed Terron's hand once again and pulled him to his feet, this time without the strange sensation going through the Cubone. Yimtri released his hold on Terron as he gazed out into the distance where Erebus lay.
"I will assume that because of how weak Erebus must be right now, it will begin to fight with much more desperation," Yimtri stated. "It might start using the abilities it was holding back. So because of that-"
"You're going to want me to stay close by so that Erebus doesn't separate us and pick us off one by one?" Terron asked.
"… yes. Exactly. Somewhat disturbing that you came up with the same conclusion as I did..."
"What? It's the best strategy to use right now."
"… right. Well, moving along, other than staying close, the plan is still to keep Erebus on the ground and strike it any way you can. But since it might be more desperate this time… we will have to take extra precautions. So do what you must and stay close. That's all you have to do. Now then, time to go. Time to finish this."
Without a moment's hesitation, the Sableye grabbed the Cubone by the sleeve and dove into the ground. Erebus's Disable had worn off, allowing the two to successfully phase through the dirt and speed toward the one they sought.
As they flew through the darkness, Terron couldn't help but stare at the Sableye, perplexed by the conversation they had just had.
He seemed pretty surprised that I had the same idea. But why? This was happening earlier when we were falling and it wasn't a big deal. We just happen to be thinking similarly right now is all. Well, whatever I guess. I shouldn't really think about it too much right now.
When the two came right next to Erebus, they burst to the surface and flew right past the Darkrai's struggling form, both on either side of the creature. With a snarl, Terron ripped out a bone club from his coat and dragged the sharp point of it across Erebus's body while Yimtri did the same with his darkness-infused claws.
A distorted screaming filled the air as the two finished their attack and landed behind the Darkrai, both panting before the two turned around to face the threat.
I should do that attack again. It did a lot of damage and Erebus is staggering right now. This is the perfect opportunity.
Terron clenched his club as he ran forward and once he had gained enough momentum, pushed off the ground and sailed toward Erebus. Just as he had before, he cut deep into the creature's flesh with his bone, tearing out black residue, before landing away from the Darkrai. However, he was quick to find that he was not alone. Yimtri also landed near him, his own claws covered with Erebus's wispy darkness. It didn't take Terron long to realize what had happened.
"Wait, did you cut Erebus's side just now?" Terron asked.
"Yes, I did," Yimtri nodded. "It was vulnerable, so I took the opportunity."
"So did I. That was my idea… which means that we both did the exact same attack at the exact same time."
Terron kept his stunned gaze on the Sableye, baffled by what was happening to the two of them.
Okay… this getting kind of creepy. Before it wasn't so weird, but now he and I are having way more complex ideas at the exact same time...
"Ah, my children. You are working together so perfectly when you used to quarrel so violently."
Terron and Yimtri turned to find Erebus's gaze locked upon them. Its sides leaked of darkness, spilling into the air rapidly as the light filling its one visible eye shined dimly.
"How peculiar."
The light suddenly flared, and the next thing Terron and Yimtri knew, there were twenty Erebus hovering around them. All of them raised up their claws, each streaming with a black energy. Yimtri grimaced at the sight.
"Not good. Not good," he muttered.
We need to get out of here. Yimtri needs to take us underground. Terron thought desperately. And we need a better way to stay together. Him grabbing me all the time isn't all that great. But maybe with this Reunion Cape...
Terron hastily ripped off his folded scarf, letting it unfurl into the long cape it was meant to be before he tied it to his wrist. Just as he did this, he turned to find that the Sableye had done the exact same thing, one end of his cape tied around his own wrist. Yimtri shot the Cubone a disbelieving stare, but didn't say anything as he grabbed the end of Terron's cape and tied it to his cape.
Then, all at once, the Darkrai all fired a Dark Pulse at the duo. Terron watched Yimtri swiftly dive into the ground, disappearing from sight before he too was dragged down with the Sableye, narrowly avoiding the dark energy blasts. He could hear the faint rumbling from above as the Dark Pulses struck the ground where he once was.
"Terron, how in god's name did you come up with the same idea I did at the exact same time? " Yimtri asked. "There is no way that was a coincidence."
"I don't know! It just came to me!" Terron cried. "It's just like before with how you wanted to attack Erebus the way I did or when I wanted you to let go of me while we were falling! It's like we're copying or thinking like each other without even realizing it!"
There was silence between the two. They only stared at one another as they drifted in the darkness, both at a loss.
"... I find this to be incredibly disturbing, especially when we could never do this before," Yimtri started to say, "but I've decided that there's no reason to be alarmed by this. Do you know why?"
"Because it means that we can fight without even telling each other what to do, therefore not giving Erebus the chance to react since it can't hear our commands?"
"Precisely. Maybe after this battle we'll wonder what's happening to us, but for now, we'll simply take advantage of this. Now, it's time to get back to the battlefield. If you are truly developing the same plans as me in your mind, then you won't need me to tell you anything."
"Yeah… I think I know what you want to do. Let's do this."
"Very well."
Terron gripped the club still held tight in his hand, already knowing that Yimtri was flying back to the surface. He took in a deep breath as he felt himself get pulled up, entering the world of light a few seconds later. The moment he did, he was flung to the side and straight into one of the Erebus copies. Terron didn't fret and only readied his bone club. With a loud cry, he rammed his weapon into the creature's side, causing it to dissipate upon contact. He didn't stop flying forward as he took out several more Darkrai nearby, all of them exploding into a mass of wisps the second Terron hit them.
When there were no more Darkrai in his way, Terron felt the scarf tied around his wrist yank him back into the ground and into the void.
"That had to be at least five of them," Yimtri said. "Though there's still quite a number left."
"Which means that we should use a different plan if we want to get this done faster," Terron said in reply. "I think you know what I'm thinking of."
Yimtri was silent for a moment.
"I could, so long as you accept that you may get blasted by the Erebus clones."
"We have to get rid of those clones anyway, so might as well."
"Very well then."
"But you know… it's weird."
"What is strange? The entire fact that we are unnaturally synchronized?"
"Well even though that's pretty strange, I'm wondering why Erebus hasn't used that psychic attack on us again. It's a really powerful attack and all. Maybe even as bad as the nightmares. I mean, I know why it can't for you, but what about me? I'm not immune to those kind of attacks."
"Yes, it is a rather peculiar thing. And the reason for that, I am not sure. However, we have no time to dwell on that. I suppose we can dwell on it when we finish this battle."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess it's not too important right now."
Terron was swiftly pulled back to the surface and landed back on the ground right beside the Sableye. The moment he touched the ground, he saw the Sableye's gemstones become bright, filling the vicinity with a powerful light that caused his shadow to darken. Then, with a sloshing sound, ten tentacles shot out of the Sableye's shadow and flailed out all around Yimtri and Terron. Each of the Darkrai filled their claws with some sort of power, whether it was with ice or darkness. But before any of them could strike, a tentacle lashed out at each of them and instantly eradicated it in seconds, eliminating the threat.
In just a short amount of time, there was only Erebus left among Terron and Yimtri. Yimtri wasted no time in sending one last tendril at it. But just as it was to smack into the Darkrai, Erebus deftly moved out of the way and fired an Ice Beam at the duo. Terron saw it first, leaping out of the way and swiftly tugged on the scarf keeping the two together. The Sableye was pulled back just in time to avoid the blast, a large glacier forming where he once stood.
Then, with a dark scowl, Terron ran forward and flung the Sableye at the Darkrai. Yimtri wasn't even alarmed by the sudden movement, only choosing to draw his claws and raked them across Erebus's body. The plagued monster's wails sounded through everyone's ears and Yimtri landed behind the Darkrai, panting as his claws streamed with the residue that leaked out of the creature.
Terron pulled out another club from his pocket.
This battle's almost over. Just a little more.
The Sableye grabbed the scarf that bound the two together and swiftly yanked Terron toward not just him, but Erebus as well. Terron held out both of his clubs, using one to cut the Darkrai's side and using the other to sink its sharp point directly into Erebus's body, digging it deep into its haze-like flesh. By the time he landed beside Yimtri, he too was covered in the darkness and one of his clubs remained stuck inside the Darkrai.
The two looked upon Erebus as it collapsed to the ground, wheezing and gasping as its body rapidly deteriorated. The two of them scowled as they ran toward the Darkrai at the same time, grabbing the cape around each of their wrists and clutched it tight in their fists.
"Ah, I know what's happening to you two now. I know why you are able to work so perfectly together without saying anything when you never could before."
"Don't care about that right now!" Terron cried. "Stop trying to distract us!"
Terron and Yimtri leapt together, catching Erebus with their lengthy fabric, before swinging around its body multiple times, binding its arms to its sides. As they circled around it as the fabric wound tighter, the two drove their respective bones and claws into its flesh, more screams ensuing from the creature.
"It's what happens when you two decide to work together rather than fight. You never could do such before because you two always quarreled and continuously rebelled against the other. But now, now that you two want to work as one, you are operating as one being.
"And yet you do not question why this is?"
Terron and Yimtri landed upon the ground behind Erebus, and at once, swung the Darkrai around and around by the fabric still attached to each of them, the spinning circle going faster each time.
"This kind of connection never happens to any normal Pokémon. Not even those of the psychic affinity are able to read others' minds so well and work together as flawlessly as you."
"Shut up!" Terron screamed.
When they reached a high enough velocity, Yimtri spread his intangibility into the tied capes, sending Erebus out of their grasps and flying into the ground. It skid along the grass, kicking up dirt as it clawed at the ground, slowly bringing it to a stop.
"Why do you think this is? Why do you think you two are able to share the same ideas and instincts right now?"
Terron and Yimtri shot each other a glance, knowing what the other wanted to do. They slowly gave each other a nod, ready to give Erebus the final strike while it was still down.
However, just as the two were to rush forward, Erebus cast its eye upon them. It stared at them carefully, as if studying them.
And then, it started to laugh. It was a spiteful laugh, filled with knowingness. Its warbled voice echoed all around Terron and Yimtri, and for just a moment, they didn't know what to think.
"Do you suspect it might be because you two are the two halves of the same human being?"
Terron's heart stopped dead in his chest as his legs became petrified, locking him in place. His throat ran dry. His eyes froze wide open as the words repeated in his mind, over and over again.
Two halves… of the same human? The same… human…
Does that mean…
However, it was not Terron to speak. Yimtri immediately pointed a claw at the Darkrai, his eyes flickering as his mouth twisted into a confused, yet horrified scowl.
"You're lying, Erebus," Yimtri spat, even as own voice wavered. "Cease distracting us with your lies!"
"Oh, but it's true. You know it to be true. Isn't that why you were suspicious of the Cubone child after you heard him say the name you gave to me? The name of a deity from human culture that hardly any Pokémon are aware of? Isn't that why you tried to find out if he truly was human without actually telling him the truth?
"Isn't that what you did?"
The Sableye flinched and just as with Terron, became paralyzed with dread. Erebus let out an amused chuckle as it glared at the two Pokémon, its eye glinting eerily.
"Well, allow me to give both of you a piece of the truth you each lack. You may both think that you are the only human turned Pokémon in all of Shiron, and the truth is, you're very right. There is no other human that is now in the flesh of Pokémon except for one. You are both that very human. You are both the one I brought here to Shiron twenty five years ago before I tore him into two very unequal, messy parts, one with memories and the other without.
"You two are the same human. You two are the two sides of the same coin. That is why you can fight me so effectively right now. That is why you two found trust in one another since the day you two met, even when your personalities and ideals clashed.
"It's because you two are both Dimitri."
Terron and Yimtri were both stunned beyond belief, unable to move even a muscle. They could only turn their gazes to each other, locking eyes. They gazed at one another, the two sides of one human, staring into the other's soul. They thought back to the countless battles and fights they had over the months, the sudden synergy the two them had as they fought Erebus, as well as the implications of what they truly were.
The two Dimitri halves couldn't say anything to each other as the horrific information plagued their minds.
Erebus launched itself at Yimtri, ripping the fabric between him and Terron in the process. Then, it grabbed him in its claws and pinned him to a tree, fast as lightning. It tore off the cape fastened around his neck, dropping it the ground, along with the anti-plaguing pin still attached to it.
"Have a good rest, my child. The Primogenitor will be happy to see you again."
It plunged its claw into his throat, filling him with the plague it harbored deep within its body. Yimtri didn't even scream as the light in his jeweled eyes faded, his body streaming with a potent Plagued One haze. Then, Erebus dropped the Sableye and turned to Terron.
Terron told himself to fight. He told himself to fling his bone club at the monster. To throw something at it. Something. Anything. He told himself to kill Erebus while he still had the chance.
But Terron could not move. He was frozen in place, the horrifying truth of what he was continued to corrupt his mind.
Yimtri can't be me… he can't. I haven't been on this world as long as he has. I haven't been on Shiron for twenty five years. He just can't… he can't be… we're not split beings… we're not…
It just isn't possible… Erebus is lying to us… it's just doing this to catch us off guard…
And yet, no matter how much Terron thought this, he found he couldn't deny the Darkrai's words. Some part of him clung to the information and it firmly believed that Erebus was indeed telling him the truth.
"Time to take you back to the Primogenitor as well."
The Darkrai swooped forward, claws ready to sink into Terron's flesh. The Cubone could still not move. He could only watch as the creature closed in on him, the glow in its eye growing as it came closer.
"No!"
A blur suddenly tackled Erebus from the side, knocking it away from Terron and sending it tumbling along the ground. Terron blinked, snapping out of his stupor, as he turned to see what had happened.
He found Erebus along the ground, a familiar Turtwig standing on its chest.
Chloe…
Her eyes seemed to burn with a terrifying ferocity as she leapt off the Darkrai just as it swung at her, nearly raking her face. It picked itself up and shot her a glare.
"You. How are you here? You were trapped within me. How did you escape when I made sure that you were bound to that place?"
"Because you cannot trap me there, Erebus," Chloe spoke vehemently. "I've put in far too much effort to let you ruin my plan. I will not let you destroy the only hope that you and I have left!"
The Turtwig launched a barrage of leaves from her head, all of them slicing into the Darkrai's body. Erebus winced before it darted out of the way and plucked her off the ground before sinking its claws into her shell.
"You and I already know that your plan was doomed from the start. It cannot succeed. You cannot resist what has happened. You will forever be nothing but a puppet. Not when you are like this."
Chloe's eyes narrowed as a strange gleam shined in her eyes.
"You're right. Why should I fight you like this? I know what has to be done to stop you now."
Erebus suddenly dropped Chloe, clutching its head with both of its claws, making loud, demonic hissing noises. The Turtwig fell to the ground, and much to Terron's surprise, exploded into a bundle of black wisps that vanished into thin air seconds later.
"What are you… stop!"
The Darkrai raised up a claw into the air, encasing in a violet energy as a black sphere formed in its palm. And then, with a loud, distorted scream, it launched the orb at Terron. The Cubone couldn't run away fast enough, for it soon merged into his body and thrust him into a nightmare.
He was now in what appeared to be a cave with a single, glowing crystal on the ceiling to offer light. Covering the ground were pulsing, writhing tentacles, all of them slithering and curling around his feet. Every single one of them had at least a dozen eyes sprawled along their mass, opening and closing sporadically. Terron cringed in disgust as they slid over his flesh, their cold, moist touch, sending shivers down his spine.
And then, Terron saw it. Floating in the very back of the cave, its one eye illuminating with the brightness of the sun, was Erebus. Just as he had seen it in reality, it was clawing at its head, groaning as it seemed to gouge out its own face.
The second it saw Terron, it promptly raised a claw, sending every single tentacle in the cave after Terron. Spikes shot out of their disgusting masses as they came near, being as jagged as the blades of a Scyther.
How am I supposed to get to Erebus like this? How am I supposed to win when everyone else is knocked out and I'm trapped in a nightmare? Can I even hurt it when I'm here?
Do you truly want to kill Erebus?
Terron heard his plagued self speak to him once more. He couldn't see it this time, but he could very clearly hear its voice echoing through his mind.
You again…
Do you want to kill Erebus? I want to hear the truth from your own voice.
Terron cast the struggling Darkrai a glance just as the tentacles closed in on him.
Yes. Yes I do. I have to.
The tentacles curled around Terron, digging their thorns into his body. He let out a pained choking sound as they pierced his internal organs. His vision started to go black as the thorns dug deeper into him.
Alright then.
A sudden power surged within Terron's heart, spreading through his veins and consuming all of his body. Before he could understand what was happening, the binds holding him flew off him, crashing into the wall and shattering into millions of pieces. Terron panted as he checked over himself to find that he had several deep wounds, all of them bleeding profoundly.
And yet, he couldn't feel anything. He couldn't feel the pain that the wounds had surely caused. He only felt the energy flowing through him. The cold, electrifying energy.
What the…
You want to defeat Erebus, do you not? Then run toward it. I will guide you. I will guide you just like I did when you first woke up in this realm, clueless as to how to fight when you were alone in the Mystery Dungeon.
Wait… that voice when I was beating up the Venonat and Spinarak… that was you?! What… are you? You can't be my plagued self if that was you so long ago…
And yet that was me so long ago. Now run, Cubone Dimitri. Run toward the plaguing Darkrai. Give it the final strike and this nightmare and this battle will end. There is no time to ask questions.
Terron's clouded mind was swept clear, allowing him to finally think without anything getting in his way. His mind was no longer occupied with thoughts of how all of his teammates were defeated, how Yimtri was apparently him, or even how the voice speaking to him now claimed to have been with him since his adventure through a dungeon. Absolutely nothing filled his mind. It was as empty as could be, the only things running through it being the unknown voice's words and exactly one thought.
Kill Erebus.
The Cubone sprang forward, zipping through the mass of tentacles. The moment he passed him, they shot up and prepared to ensnare him once again, twisting their way toward him.
Jump and go left. Then cling to the wall and let the tentacles try to impale you.
Terron said nothing as he did as instructed, bounding into the air just in time to avoid the tendrils that had been trying to catch him by his feet. When he hit the ground, he darted to the left and immediately leapt onto the wall, stabbing his bone club into it as he held on. He watched with a scowl as all of the tendrils came after him, their sharp ends glistening in the dim light of the crystal. Yet, he made no attempt to move. He only watched them come near.
Now dart away.
The Cubone withdrew his club and flew off the wall just as the tentacles struck the spot he once was. Every single one of them became caught in the wall and tried to pull themselves out, but found that they were stuck deep in its rocky mass. Terron smirked at the sight.
Run after it now. Get to it and finish it while everything is clear.
Terron ran forward, speeding along the barren ground. He readied his bone club, twirling it in his claws as he closed in on the Darkrai.
"No… stay away. Stay away. Can't… move… can't move because of her…"
The world around Terron shifted. Soon, he found himself sprinting across a lake, somehow running along its surface without sinking into its murky depths. The sky was blood red and what appeared to be black particles from above poured down upon the water before plummeting down below. However, Terron paid the change of scenery no mind, only focusing on the Darkrai, who had not moved in regards to distance.
Something is coming to your right.
Terron swatted his club in said direction. No sooner than he did this, did what appeared to be a Carvanha leap out of the water with jaws opened wide. At least, it appeared to be such a Pokémon; Terron wasn't entirely sure, as the creature was nothing but a skeleton with pieces of stripped flesh feebly clinging to its bones. The eyes illuminated with a bright orange color, burning its eager gaze into the Cubone. Terron cringed at the sight of the mutilated Pokémon, but quickly took in a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the disgust he held. He slammed his bone into the water-type, shattering it into several pieces, all of the bones flying back into the lake.
Watch out beneath you.
The Cubone looked down and saw several dark figures rise up toward him. He moved to the side just as the creatures broke the surface, avoiding a nasty collision as a dozen of the corrupted Carvanha flew out of the water. Terron scowled as he dug into his pocket, not needing the voice to tell him what to do next.
He yanked out a handful of vertebrae, each about the size of a pebble. Then, he flung one of them at each of the creatures diving in on him. Terron watched each of their bodies crumble upon impact with the bones, all falling to pieces around Terron like a shower of bones and flesh.
Terron wasted no more time and kept running.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME. YOU WILL NOT END THIS."
"You really think I'm going to stop?!" Terron screamed. "You really think that everything I've gone through and all of the suffering you've brought everyone… that I'm just going to listen to you?!"
The water around him boiled, steam rapidly rising out of the surface as it was dyed red. Soon, Terron found himself running across molten rock, the world now the inside of a giant volcano. His coat and bag immediately caught fire as he sprinted across the bubbling surface, its ashes flying off him along with all of his supplies.
Terron didn't stop running, only clutching the one club he had left even tighter. Erebus was in sight. He could see it so clearly.
He could see the Darkrai's stare fixed upon him as it remained stationary in the air, its body seemingly locked in some sort of paralysis.
"STAY AWAY."
Terron ran faster. His feet flew across the ocean of lava, never once catching fire as he raced along it. There was no pain. There was no sensation. It was as though he was walking on air.
Put an end to this madness.
Terron firmly pressed his feet against the lava, and then pushed off, springing straight at the Darkrai. Terron closed the gap between him and Erebus. And then, with all of his might, he swung his club into its chest.
The Darkrai flew through the air, its warbled, demonic screams piercing the Cubone's ears. The nightmare encasing the two fizzled out, and within seconds, they were back in Erebus Woods, Terron sprawled out along the ground, unharmed and donning his coat, supplies, and full arsenal of weapons once again. He saw the Darkrai crash into a nearby tree, somehow being affected by his attack from within the nightmare, almost snapping the tree in half in the process as it became indented into the trunk.
Its one visible eye slowly shut, and then it tumbled to the ground.
Terron rose to his feet and approached the Darkrai before he looked upon it. It still lay before him, motionless, save for the wisps that continued to slowly stream out of its body. When he saw this, he knew what it meant. He knew what he had done.
At long last, after fifty years of plaguing Shiron, Erebus had fallen.
