The two continued moving, Dagda realizing that he could move much faster now. His stamina was vastly increased, and he found himself keeping pace with the Electivire. He looked to his arms, noticing the hair on his arms was thinner than before.
He thought about his hair, and about a Grimmsnarl, his hair extending and growing thicker with his thoughts, wrapping around his arms almost like an armor, the texture of his hair almost looking like feathers at the edges.
He noticed that he could do the same with his legs, extending the hair about his calves and ankles to his feet, causing his strides to increase in velocity, each of his steps almost like a broad hop, the force audible in the air as he stomped forward.
He rolled his left shoulder as they closed in, Dagda finally able to sense the energy that Gorias detected. Using his will and the powers he possessed, he began to form a wing out of hair, his mind going through a brief creative process as he thought about his next act for a moment.
They came upon a pair of men dragging Belphegor, who struggled against their grip, his pillow long gone and his clothing torn and stretched from the struggle. Dagda could feel his anger growing at the sight, the two men garbed in all black clothing, their faces obscured by white masks.
"Oi! Let the wee lad go and I'll let you put yer tail between yer legs and run away." Gorias threatened, the men looking to each other before one of them pulled out a knife, pressing it against Belphegor's throat as he stopped moving. There were bruises across his skin, on his thighs and forearms, even on his abdomen. His hair was mussed, and there were tears going down his face.
But what truly set Dagda off was the look in Belphegor's eyes. It was the first time Dagda had ever seen such a look. He'd seen people be afraid before, sure. But this was different. The look in Belphegor's eyes was a plea, a silent cry. For the first time, someone look at Dagda with a gaze that begged 'Help Me'.
Dagda lost complete control, darting forward as fast as he could, throwing his arm out as tendrils of hair wrapped around the man holding the knife, Dagda balling his fist as the man screamed, his wrist crushed as he fell to the ground. The second man gasped, immediately trying to flee, dropping the wounded child.
Using the first man's weight as an anchor, Dagda launched himself through the air, releasing his grip as he thought about what he could do to strike the man from here. He then thought to Danzig, who used Dark Pulse during his battle with Allister.
Dagda threw his right hand back, a ball of energy forming in his palm as he shouted, launching a beam of black energy at the fleeing man's form. The ground behind him was struck, and he was launched through the air.
Gorias watched in awe at the explosive tantrum the Halfling was throwing. He had silently approached the first, injured man and quietly snapped his neck, leaving him unable to do anything. He moved to Belphegor, who was staring at Dagda in sheer awe. "Wh-what happened to him?" he asked, and Gorias laughed as he watched.
Dagda stalked the man, who seemed to beg and plead as Dagda approached, his sharp fangs pointing outwards as his hair moved about symbiotically, his aura visible to even the human eye. Gorias smiled. "He woke up. He's finally able to use his power freely. It's incredible."
Dagda flexed his hands, long, almost fleshlike tendrils of hair holding the man in the air, his legs bound and arms spread. It was almost like a crucifixion, and Dagda frowned as he stared. "Who sent you?" he asked, the man gritting his teeth through the pain.
The man remained silent, and Dagda grew aggravated, tightening the hair's grip on his arms. The man called out. "Who sent you!?" Dagda shouted, the raging demon not a patient creature. "No one! We came on our own!" the man shouted, and Dagda growled, shaking his head.
"Why did you grab my little brother!?" he shouted, and the man felt the hair around his legs tighten, causing him more pain. He tried to remain silent, but Dagda wouldn't have it. In his enraged state, he gave the man an ultimatum he would've never given beforehand. "Either you tell me everything… or you die." he said, and the man looked to Dagda, fear in his face. "You wouldn't!"
Dagda responded by opening his mouth, a ball of energy appearing between his swollen fangs, the man screaming in unreasonable fear before struggling against the hair. "Okay! We were going to Ballonlea but we found the kid and wanted to impress our boss with him! He's got a thing for little boys, y'know? Please! I only did it so I could get a raise! I have a family!" he shouted.
Dagda's enraged mind wasn't a thoughtful one. He boiled it down much faster than he should have. These men kidnapped and heavily injured a child only to GIFT him to their child predator of a boss? In hopes for a reward? What woman, what child would want the head of household to be a human trafficker? Why did this region allow such things?
Dagda's mind mellowed out, and he closed his mouth, dropping the man and walking away from him. "Get out of my sight before I change my mind." he said, and the man bowed to Dagda feverishly. "Thank you!" he screamed before standing and turning around.
His first step was the only one he took, because a massive Electivire grabbed him by the legs, lifting him up and falling back. He didn't understand. He didn't do anything wrong, did he? He didn't have a chance to think, because he saw the monster from before.
As he was lifted and brought towards the ground face first, the monstrous young man hopped up, grabbing his head in a clinch and bringing his right knee up, the shock of the boy's back hitting the ground bringing the energy through his body and into his knee, which dispersed the force through his skull, his body bouncing as he fell, unmoving and unconscious, his jaw torn half off.
When Dagda rose to his feet, he looked to the gruesomely injured, possibly even dead man. There was blood pouring from his face as he laid there, and Dagda realized that he couldn't bring himself to be unnerved or disgusted like he would normally be.
The fact that this man was a villain, a monster who was willing to destroy the life and mental state, and physical wellbeing of a child, a child who already lived in hiding, all for a reward he might not get, sickened him. Monsters like this man weren't even human to him. They were the true demons, monsters given human form that he couldn't bring himself to pity.
Gorias found all of this rather impressive, because he looked to Dagda. "Laddy! Let me travel with you through this dustbag of a region. I want to help you change it. Scumbags like these shouldn't go unpunished." he said, and Dagda looked to him, nodding but once, the two warriors coming to a silent understanding.
When Dagda walked over to Belphegor, he picked him up, the boy grimacing at the pain as he was cradled in his idol's arms. "Are you alright? I'm sorry if I scared you." he asked, and Belphegor nodded, smiling weakly. He nuzzled his head into Dagda's chest, falling unconscious within moments as Dagda closed his eyes.
He tried to call upon Fairy, the mental manifestation of his Fairy type powers and heritage, hearing but a whisper in his mind as his body began to glow, the light enveloping both him and Belphegor as the duo escorted the child back to the village.
With the stars overhead, Dagda and Gorias returned to the village with Belphegor asleep in Dagda's arms. The other children saw the sight and immediately became enamored, the sight of their idol carrying their friend alive and well like a knight rescuing a princess from an evil dragon. He was approached by a pretty woman with white hair and round features.
He knew that this must have been Miko, because she took Belphegor from his arms with a smile and headed towards the infirmary. Pops nodded to Dagda, who exhaled. "Pops… is there a way that you can take me home, quickly? I want to talk to my mother." he said, and Pops nodded. He inhaled, casting a glance to the druidic Electivire at his side before placing a hand on Dagda's shoulder.
Gorias watched the two vanish, sighing as he shook his head. "I see why you brought me here, ye old dustbag. He's the one I've been looking for." he said, and McPlug laughed. "I figured as much ye Wee Cunt. That fella is special, I could tell." he said, the duo laughing.
"So you're the new guy?" Gorias heard, seeing a wolf approach them, a crimson canine with an aura of strength. Gorias nodded. "Aye. Lord Dagda is a trainer I've been searching for." he said, and Ozzy grunted, giving Gorias a half hearted salute before he looked to McPlug. "Old man, can you send me after Dagda? I was trying to ask him something. Marko told me a story that jogged a memory or two and I was wondering if Dagda could fill in the blanks." he said.
The old Electivire shoved the staff in the ground, rolling his long haired shoulder as he sighed. "Let me see if I've still got it Lad." he said, rolling his neck and rubbing his hands together before inhaling and lifting his hands up. He cast them down, willing the Lycanroc to Dagda's location with a single command. "Shiakazing!"
Dagda looked at his house for the first time in a while, inhaling as he shook his head. "I'll wait out here. I know this is personal." Pops said, and Dagda nodded. He noticed a flash of light from behind him, turning to see Ozzy flexing his claws and shaking his head. "That was awful." he said, more to himself. He looked to Dagda, and the two of them had a silent understanding.
Dagda entered the house. He knew that his mother would still be awake, as she'd kept the same sleep schedule for his entire life. "I'm home!" he called, sounding much friendlier than he had been, Dagda glancing over his attire and features to make sure that he looked at least partly presentable.
When his mother walked over and saw him, she smiled, tears welling in her eye as she walked over and hugged him, Dagda rather happy to see his mother again. She was able to notice the changes in his appearance, a honed physique from traveling and training that let her know that he was always growing and training. "I brought one of my Pokemon with me. I needed to talk to you." he said, and she smiled as she looked past him to Ozzy, who entered with a nod.
However, Dagda's mom was frozen to the spot. "Iori? Is that you?" she asked, and Dagda blinked, looking to Ozzy, who was also frozen to the spot, as if being called that name brought up a memory or two. "Yekaterin?" he asked, and Dagda blinked, slightly slow to put the pieces together.
"Wait a minute. Are you saying that the Lycanroc from Pops' story was you?" Dagda asked, and Ozzy ignored him, still surprised as he approached Dagda's mother, a smile across his normally gruff, harsh features. She reached out and pet his head, and he closed his eyes, remembering this woman's kind touch.
"So the reason Ozzy was in the cage was because he was caught by the same people that..." he trailed off, realizing that meant that Ozzy was imprisoned for almost eighteen years, which would likely explain his rough personality and short temper.
The three sat, Ozzy sitting at his mother's feet as she looked to him. She couldn't help but focus on the scar clouding one of his eyes, something that she knew could at least be partially considered her fault.
"Has it been hard with only one eye?" she asked, and Dagda shook his head. "I got used to it. Especially now, I can just feel everything I can't see." he said, and she smiled. "So… you figured it out, huh?" she asked, and Dagda nodded. "I did. Pops told a story and when me and the kids asked about the names of the characters we put the pieces together." he said, and she blinked.
"The kids?" she asked, and Dagda winked, shaking his head. "They're sort of like my fanclub. It's a group of Halfling kids that live in Glimwood." he said, and she found this rather interesting. "Glimwood? There wasn't anything there when me and your father traveled through it." she said, and Dagda smiled.
This was what he wanted. He wanted his mother to talk about her life with his father freely. Now that he was aware that his father wasn't some deadbeat bastard from Unova, and actually a Pokemon, he had a great interest in his Father's life.
Ozzy however, was content. He listened to the two speak, telling each other tales about their travels all through the night and into the early morning. He was happy. His memories were all back, and his previous trainer, the one that he grew up with, and evolved in the care of, was here with him. He found himself to be incredibly blessed, as his original trainer was actually his current trainer's mother. The De Danann family was something he felt like an honest part of, and he was glad to be in this house.
"What was your last name before you decided to change it?" Dagda asked, wondering if he could dig up another living relative that he was connected to without knowing. "We actually don't know where our family comes from. Your great grandfather was born in an underground breeding facility for slaves in Sinnoh. When he was freed by the unbridled rage of a demigod, he fled the region." she explained, and he found this rather interesting.
A demigod? What kind of being was this, and were they still alive now? "He took on the name Morningstar for some reason, and it always stuck." she said, and Dagda blinked. That was it. It was the final piece of the puzzle for his next act. The next time he stepped on the stage, he had a name for his character. He smiled. He enjoyed this.
Later, Dagda found that he had one single question to ask. "Where was I born? I always thought that I was born in Kalos, but everything I've learned says otherwise." he said, and his mother sighed. "You were born in the Wild Area. It's a spot you can't miss. There's a bunch of spires in a circle, and the ground has no grass for some reason. It's called the Lake of Outrage, and that's where you were actually born."
"Is he going to be okay?" Allister asked, and Miko nodded, sighing as she looked at Belphegor's sleeping form. "He was beat up pretty badly. I could see evidence of a struggle and even some bruises and scratches that could be interpreted as sexual assault but… most of it was healed by time he got here." he said, and Allister blinked, looking to the sleeping child.
"Did he do something?" he asked, and Miko shook her head. "No. I think it was Dagda. It's not normally something a Grimmsnarl can do, as least as far as my knowledge stretches, but it seems like Dagda was healing him on the walk back. I don't know if he was transferring energy from the surroundings or using his own power, but whatever he did saved Bel's life." she said, and Allister was surprised, but he smiled.
He wandered through the village, the sun starting to rise in the distance, and he walked to the outskirts of the village, to a particularly large tree. He looked up, seeing a sleeping figure in the tree. "You were right! His wounds are gonna be healed up within a day or so." he shouted up, the figure moving before hopping down.
The figure of another powerful yet illegal Pokemon took shape, a humanoid form with a tail and flames trailing from it's skull, a strong form that Allister had grown familiar with over the years spending time in Glimwood. "I'm glad. I'd hate to see a child lose their life." he said, and Allister smiled. This Pokemon was an Infernape, and he was much like Atilla.
Both were Pokemon that wronged someone greatly, but soon repented on their sins and were forgiven. For Atilla, he had injured and scarred Dagda, but was forgiven when he realized that Atilla was a broken and unstable victim of the region's cruelty. With this Infernape, it was a little different at least.
He grew up as the original Pokemon that the current champion, Leon, used during his own Gym Challenge. However, not only did the two not have the right chemistry, Leon lacked the skill to control him during his Stow on Side gym battle.
Because the Infernape was a victim as well. His family was slaughtered and he was kidnapped by some unknown contractor that hired MC Brokerage to do the deed. And when the Infernape saw Bratva, a familiar face who now represented the entire company that ruined his life and took the lives of his family, he flew into a blind rage.
He had attacked Bratva directly, and the resulting injuries caused his death. Leon had released the primate immediately afterwards in place of his current partner and ace, Charizard. Allister had forgiven him long ago, fully aware that MC Brokerage was essentially just a front for some odd mafioso organization.
The two had become friends, and Allister wished to introduce the ape to Dagda, failing due to how scarce the ape made himself. "You should interact with people more. I'm sure that you'd get along with everyone, especially in your old age." he said, and the ape sighed. This was always a subject they spoke on, and it always went the same.
"When the time comes and you stop wearing that mask, I will concede and show myself more. Until then, I will remain where I can not be found." he said, and Allister sighed. "Fine. I'll leave my mask off during my next gym battle. Will that work?" he asked, and the ape began to laugh.
"He really did this?" Loki asked, the three brothers standing in a clearing, looking at the deceased body before them. His wrists and ankles were crushed into near dust, and his jaw was hanging off. It was a gruesome scene, a ruthless butchering that couldn't be justified to the average person.
"He consumed the thing on the necklace, right? This is a huge change in attitude if he did." Draug mentioned, and Pops shook his head. "This wasn't a change. This was exactly what I was talking about. This is who he really is. He somehow has the ability to heal, so even Miko didn't see the full extent of Bel's injuries. But Dagda did." he said.
"Whether he's justified to us monsters doesn't matter. He still took the guy out before asking who his boss was. What kind of guy could have enough money or power to make men with families kidnap and assault a child to present to him? What kind of twisted shit are we dealing with?" he asked, and Pops sighed.
"The Diva is looking into it with his sources, so I'll wait to pass judgment. However, we can't ignore the possibility of this child predator being the same person responsible for the deaths of Dagda's father and Atilla's family." he said. Draug cast a sad glance to the body.
"If it is, one thing is sure without a doubt. These people, these employees are just as much of victims. They have no idea that they're working for a Devil that might actually be worse than Arceus."