Chapter 23: Dark Twisted Times
Sarah groaned as she opened her eyes and looked around, she found herself in a white room with a dark room, it was more like a weird room that was used for solitary confinement. The only difference being that there were a few things like a bed, television set, and a little intercom button that seemed to connect to something.
Her head stung really badly, she rubbed it with her hand as she looked around, due to the immense white coloring of the room, there was nothing she could see as a door anywhere. She dropped her backpack off and fished through it, only to come to the horrible realization, she only had one Pokeball with her!
"Oh no…" She groaned. "No no no no!"
She heard something creak open and turned around to face Mavis, who walked into the room with an irritated look on her face.
"I asked you to stay put! And you disobeyed me! How dare you!"
"Mavis! Why?" Sarah asked. "Where's Moon? Where am I?"
"You're at the Aether Paradise," Mavis replied. "You've been stripped of all Pokemon that will allow you to escape, Angel and the rest of your team will be returned from the secret laboratory when Team Galactic has finished their conclusive results, I will return your Pokemon and then we're going home."
"But where's Moon?" Sarah asked. "Mavis...where is my boyfriend."
"YOUR BOYFRIEND?" Mavis screeched. "You are not going to date such trash under my watch, I am furious with you."
"Moon is my boyfriend! Team Galactic going to kill him!"
"And they were going to kill you if I didn't step in." Mavis snarled at her. "Do you know what happened to our father?"
"Team Galactic attacked our father's job and base of operation."
"Because of Saturn," Mavis growled.
"Saturn didn't do anything!" Sarah cried.
Mavis glared at her. "Saturn tore our family apart, just like Sinnoh itself. It's because of him that I'm stuck working for Cyrus, as much as I don't want to. I'm doing this to protect you, and if you can't respect what I'm doing, then I'm just going to leave you here until we're finished."
"But Mavis I-"
Her pink haired sister turned away from her. "I don't want you to come to the horrible realization that I did." she muttered. "So I'm just going to have to live with the fact that I seem like a horrible person to you." She walked out and left the door open, When Sarah went to follow her out, a Galactic grunt pushed her back into the room.
"Just because Mavis is your sister, doesn't mean Cyrus is going to let you wander around outside your containment." The grunt said, "Don't resist this, Mavis has been notified that we have orders to hurt you if you disobey."
Sarah looked down at the one Pokeball she had in her hand, she knew which of her six Pokemon was most likely in this one, what could she possibly do?
"If you need anything, press the intercom and make a request, we'll get it to you as soon as possible, otherwise, sit down, shut up, and just watch some TV." the grunt walked out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him.
She sat down on the comfy bed and opened the pokeball, as she expected, the baby Kangaskhan developed in front of her and looked at her depressed face. Confused, it started poking her with its claws.
"Ka?" Lyn asked.
"Lyn...what am I going to do?" Sarah asked as she felt tears fall down her face. "Moon...he...he would know what to do...but...what are they going to do to him?"
Lyn looked at her, probably confused by her request, then, she looked around the room and spotted the button intercom.
"KA!" she cheered, she walked over and hopped up to press the button, there was a loud buzz as a voice started to speak.
"What do you want?" it grunted.
"Ka Ka...Anga Ska Ka?" Lyn asked, tilting her head to the side, confused by where the voice had come from.
"Lyn don't touch that!" Sarah cried, grabbing the baby as it reached for the button again. "Are you hungry? Here...I have your bottle still...just don't press the button."
Suddenly an Aether member walked into the room with an irritated look in her eyes. "I asked you what you wanted! You can't just press that button and do nothing!" her eyes fell on Lyn and widened.
"Oh, real funny." the member snarled, walking up to her and snatching the Baby Kangaskhan, "So you thought you could hide one Pokemon and use it to escape huh? Not gonna happen!"
"SHE'S A BABY!" Sarah cried. "She needs me to care for her!"
The Aether member formed a sly grin as she looked at Lyn. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she's taken good care of...come along now little baby...let's get you down to the laboratory for some...tests of health."
"LYN!" Sarah cried as the member started to walk away. She ran up to the member and tried to pry Lyn back from her, only for the Aether Member to shove her backwards and then kick her in the stomach. The baby Kangaskhan looked at Sarah on the ground from the member's arms seeing her depressed and clutching her stomach while she was getting farther away, then the baby let out a hiss."
"KA KA KA!" She growled as her eyes glowed a reddish color, startling the Aether Member. She suddenly clawed the woman across her chest, landing a deep penetrated slash, The Aether Member let out a shout before falling to ground where Lyn continued to claw at her face while jumping up and down on her stomach.
Sarah ran up and snatched the baby, who continued to struggle like an animal as she tried to escape and continue to claw at the Aether member some more. Seeing the mess that had now been made, no way in hell was anyone going to let her keep Lyn in the room, with the door open, she had no other choice but to take her stuff and run.
"Find Moon, or find the rest of my team first." she said to herself. "Come on Moon, where are you?"
Cyrus walked down the hall with Lusamine by his side.
"I would have assumed that Moon wasn't going to be any trouble to your research." Cyrus said.
"It will prove to be a challenge with him complying, most notably because of his team of Pokemon and because of everything that has happened, it may prove a challenge." Lusamine said. "That is why I asked you to come, just so he can see what will be at stake if he doesn't comply."
"You do have Manaphy like you promised correct?" Cyrus scolded.
"Of course Cyrus dear." Lusamine replied. "I took it from the Shadow Knight just to keep a grasp on him. He won't move as long as Manaphy is trapped within it's cage."
"And he had the desired Pokemon on him?" Cyrus asked. "The Ninetales, Lucario, Beedrill, Phione, and Greninja?"
"All five were present and accounted for, just as the Shadow Knight said." Lusamine replied. "You'll also be excited to know that he had a Pupitar with him as well."
"Understood," Cyrus replied.
Lusamine pressed a coded button door, after a moment the door slid open, they found a battlefield laboratory which held. The Silver Ninetales, Greninja, Lucario, Delta Phione, Pupitar, and Beedrill, each had a collar around their necks or in Pupitar's case, body and they were each tied to the wall. Upon their entrance, the Ninetales backed up nervously, while the rest of Moon's Pokemon glared at them.
Lusamine smiled down at the Ninetales and Phione. "Now now little precious ones." she said. "This is no way to treat your new suitors."
"I will cut you down!" Edelgard hissed.
"How nice," Cyrus said coldly. "Moon raised you to be a fighter." All six Pokemon flinched.
"The Shadow Knight's little earpiece provided us with the ability to make a signal transplant on the area which allows us to translate your speech." Lusamine giggled mischievously.
"Where is Moon." Lancer buzzed furiously. "Once we get out of here you better believe I'm going to stab you through that stupid head of yours!"
"Your trainer will be arriving shortly." Cyrus growled. "I must admit, if there was one thing the boy could do properly, it was provide me with a group of Pokemon that can get a job done."
"If you think that we'll work for the likes of you then you are most certainly mistaken." Sapphire barked. "After all the hell you've given Moon, you'd be a damn fool."
"Ah Sapphire, you've been with Moon the longest now, haven't you?" Lusamine asked, inching closer. "And yet you don't seem to be aware as to what we are capable of doing...and here I thought that Goldie over here would've told you." she leered over at Fabby, who slouched her head downwards.
"What you did to Fabby was most certainly unforgivable." Genji croaked. "If you intend to do the same to us or Edelgard, you are mistaken."
"We will show you as much mercy as your trainer wishes to provide," Cyrus growled. "For as much of a nuisance as you all have been, you will in time, learn to grow up as Team Galactic's most notable workers."
"Lord Cyrus." Both adults turned to see Mars, holding onto Moon, who was essentially handcuffed by some sort of pearly white with electrical grips holding him in place.
"FOR THE LAST TIME!" Moon yelled at her. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Cyrus rolled his eyes. "I assume that you were unable to get the information we desire?"
"WHAT INFORMATION!" Moon roared. "I swear! My father never told me anything! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY POKEMON? WHERE IS SARAH?"
"Calm down you insufficient brat." Lusamine scowled. "Your team of Pokemon is right here, unharmed, and ready for testing."
"YOU AREN'T EXPERIMENTING ON THEM!"
"You seem to forget," Cyrus scowled. "Lusamine,"
Lusamine pressed a few more buttons, a glass wall came up with a capsule that Manaphy was contained in, the small legendary Pokemon looked at Moon with a desperate look in its eye. Moon bit down on his lip as he looked at it, he felt a few tears starting to form in his eyes.
"If you do not comply with us." Cyrus growled, "I will take it upon myself to kill both you and Sarah, which will leave Manaphy and Shaymin in my beckoning grasp. I may also add that it will leave the rest of your team in our grasp."
Moon looked between Manaphy and the rest of his team. He felt himself shaking with anger and rage, these were the same people who tortured Fabby into submission, and now here they were, ready to do who knows what to him and everyone else.
"Fret not, my guardian, I will be fine, just do whatever is asked of you."
"Manaphy...I...I'm so sorry."
"Now Moon, tell me," Cyrus asked. "What can you tell me about the artificial heart?"
"The what?" Moon asked. "What about an artificial heart?"
Cyrus glared at him. "Very well, you have made your first of many bad choices to come," he turned to Lusamine, ignoring Moon's look of horror. "I have more important business at the moment," he growled. "Lusamine, if he doesn't comply, send a signal right away, and I will put Manaphy through more pain." he pressed a button and the glass panel slid down and the capsule containing Manaphy popped out.
Moon could hear the squeaks of a couple other Pokemon from within that panel, ones that he couldn't quite recognize off the top of his head. Except for one cry that sounded very familiar.
"Wait...what are you doing?" Moon cried. "I haven't done anything disobedient!"
"Disobedience and refusal to give information is of the utmost rude little child." Lusamine snarled. "Cyrus will be taking your little friend down to the laboratory where her power will be used to fuel our ultra wormhole opening, alongside Lillie's Cosmogs."
"Where is Sarah...where is Lillie?" Moon growled. "What did you do to them?"
"They are both in their own separate containment." Lusamine said slyly, and as long as you continue to aid Aether in my research and Cyrus with everything else, as well as provide us with access to Manaphy whenever we desire, they shall be unharmed."
Cyrus glared at him as he held Manaphy's capsule under one arm. The small blue legendary looked nervous and afraid.
"Manaphy...I…"
"My guardian, you have done nothing wrong, your life and your friends are more important, as long as you continue to wear that pendant, I am safe...please just do not make them take that pendant."
Cyrus left, still holding Manaphy's capsule, the Legendary Pokemon gave him a reassuring smile and then a little wink.
Moon swallowed as he looked at Lusamine, the large blonde haired woman gave him an evil, sickening glare that irritated him to no end.
"Okay little boy." Lusamine snarled, "I'll be running some tests on you and your team of Pokemon to test the capabilities of your heart bonding...I think I'll start with you and goldie. Now, you wait here while I go get the resources necessary...also, don't bother trying to free your Pokemon...you'll live to regret that decision." Lusamine left him the room.
Moon looked over at his Pokemon, Fabby looked at him, completely distressed, tears even fell from her red eyes.
"Not again…" she cried. "Please...not again...Moon...help me!"
Moon approached his teammates, he knelt down and started to fiddle with the chain that was attached to their collars. Almost instantly, an electrical discharge zapped him, hard and shockful, causing him to fall back as his Pokemon's eyes widened in shock.
Moon stood back up, all of his Pokemon looked nervously, his expression seemed dead, only irritation and anger was evident in his eyes as he glared at the chain.
"Hypno, take care of him, if you will." A bunch of pink light surrounded his body as he was lifted up and thrown against the cold metal wall.
"Moon!" All six Pokemon gasped in horror.
"Trying to fiddle with our technology is of the utmost rude." Faba walked into the room, giving him an evil smirk that Moon hated the sight of as he forced himself up. "I think Madam President will be quite fond to hear of your poor decision making. Now, let's go about finding the proper punishment...hmm...I think a simple dose of electricity will be good for you." he pressed a button giving Moon a larger shock of electricity spazzed his body as Lusamine watched from behind the glass. With an evil smirk on her face, she turned to face Mew, who was looking at her in disgust.
"So, you don't like seeing your little friend over there get hurt?" she asked. "Don't worry little Mew, now that Manaphy is in our possession, I have no more use for you. You can rest now." Mew just glared at her before charging up a sphere and firing it at her, Lusamine quickly ducked out of the way and looked back up at it with an evil glare.
"Fine, if you still won't be grateful, then take this." she pressed a button, instantly a loud zap shocked Mew as it fell to the ground, Lusamine sighed and picked the cat up before placing it in the capsule. "Useless bratty Pokemon." she muttered.
(Aether House)
"So this is where Moon and Sarah are." Erick said as he and Petra approached the white house near the edge of the route. "I'm guessing Lillie and Hau are here as well, judging by what we were told from Arcelola."
"Yes, perhaps they can find a use for the two bug and psychic Z-crystals that we picked up on our way here, after all, introducing them to Unova could only spell disaster."
"I'm so glad we met up again," Cynthia said, "I was needing to discuss with you about Unova's current situation, this was lucky."
"Indeed, it was nice to see you again Cynthia." Erick replied. "But, may I ask why you decided to come with us to see Moon and Sarah?"
"I just thought I'd surprise them." Cynthia said.
"Espe!" Sunny growled, his ears perked up suddenly. Earning the green Espeon a look from both trainers.
"What do you mean, something's wrong?" Erick questioned. "There's nothing out of the ordinary going on here, let's just pop in for a surprise visit."
They opened the door to the house and they were instantly met with quite the sight, a boy with green eyes, blond hair, and a black attire with a skull uniform had Hau lifted up by his collar.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THEY AREN'T HERE?!" The blond boy yelled. "
"Dude, calm down," Hau replied, placing his hands behind his head. "They all just haven't shown up in the past week, I've been waiting for them to come back."
"YOU IDIOT!" The blond boy roared at him. "YOU CANNOT BE THIS FREAKING STUPID!"
"Gladion please," Hau said. "I'm sure they'll come eventually, they've just been taken off schedule looking for Nanu."
"Let me get this straight," Gladion muttered, placing his hand on his head and groaning in disgust, "You haven't seen or heard from Moon, Sarah, or Lillie for a whole week, DESPITE the fact that you four clearly agreed back up here after Moon and Sarah's grand trial, and when NONE of them showed up or made any attempt to try and contact you...YOU DIDN'T THINK TO ALERT AUTHORITIES?"
"What in the name of Arceus is going on here!" Cynthia asked loudly, alerting both boys to their presence, Gladion threw a disgusted look at Hau before turning to Cynthia.
"This incompentent idiot has been waiting for Moon, Sarah, and Lillie to all come back to this location for ONE WEEK without having any contact from any of them. We don't have much time, come on, we're leaving at once."
"Hold on, what's the meaning of this?" Petra asked.
"Moon, Sarah, and my sister Lillie, they've all been captured by Team Galactic! They've been in their grasp for who knows how long, now come on! We're going to the Aether Foundation!"
"Steelix, use dragon breath!" The large steel snake launched a beam of blue flames at Fabby, who was blasted by the fumes and burst into a wall with a loud thud.
"Iron tail!" The large snake monster towered over the silver Ninetales and slammed it's massive tail on it, making a large crack within the ground as the Nintales yelped in pain.
"Come on you stupid child!" Lusamine growled through a speaker over Moon's crys. "Why won't you activate it?!"
"I'M TRYING!" Moon screamed. "I SWEAR!" the boy fell to the ground as tears fell down his face nonstop. Faba watched him sit on the ground, crying his eyes out as the Silver Ninetales forced herself back up and walk over to him, like Moon's face, with was partially ashed and peeling from the amount of electrocution, the Silver Ninetales didn't look much better herself, parts of her tails were scratched and bleeding, there was a large bruise on two of her legs, and she was all but limping over to her trainers side.
"Make your move, activate it." Faba commanded. He didn't get a response.
"Madam President." Faba called. "The boy is becoming unresponsive again."
Lusamine slammed her fist against the table from the observing room as scientists monitored computers from all around her.
"Have any of you gotten ANYTHING!" She roared at them.
"Results are in," one scientist said, raising his hand. "The connected heartbeat of both Moon and subject Fabby is completed"
Lusamine shot the scientist a look that screamed in rage and anger. "AND?" she snarled, almost as if she was daring the scientist to say anything at all.
"They're both in sync, you just need to keep pushing...maybe try awakening the Ninetales."
"You heard them Faba, AGAIN!" Lusamine roared.
"Steelix, hyper beam, target the boy!"
"He's insane if he thinks that's gonna work." Edelgard said weakly, like the rest of Moon's Pokemon she too, was exhausted and beaten from countless hours of research and zaps of electricity powered by something.
Steelix started charging up a big beam of light from its mouth with a dead look in it's bloodshot red eyes. Fabby jumped in front of Moon, her paws bent slightly from the amount of pressure and weight she was struggling to hold up with her injuries.
"Get rid of the Ninetales, and any of his Pokemon that try to shield him" Lusamine's voice shouted.
"Hypno!" Faba commanded. The yellow taper Pokemon's eyes flashed blue as it grabbed Fabby telekinetically and tossed her into the wall. The Steelix's charge beam got even bigger from its mouth.
Genji forced himself up, his flipper hands bent, one of his legs bruised heavily, a large cut against his tongue that also had several burn marks, he too got up and got in front of Moon.
"No," The Greninja croaked. "You will not hurt my friend...you will not hurt our friend."
"Hypno!" Hypno fired a brown sphere from its hands at Genji which blasted the frog across the room into Fabby.
Lancer got up and flew over, embracing himself for a large beam to collide with his small green body and basically take what little was left from him.
"You protected me from Dan and these people...all the way back…" Lancer buzzed. "I will serve you until the bitter end...I will protect you."
"Squash the bug!" Hypno unleashed a hidden power attack which blasted Lancer into the wall, three of Moon's Pokemon layed on top of each other.
Sapphire got up, looking halfheartedly over at Gojira, who had not been released from her confinement due to lesser importance. Blue Aura flames surrounded Lucario's hand as he limped over in front of his trainer, who still refused to move, he just sat there, crying.
"Moon...we're partners." he barked. "Please...do something...anything...we're all still here...we're all still fighting...Sarah is out there...she needs you to do something...please...don't give up...we'll keep protecting you...I promise."
Moon looked up at Sapphire, tears fell from his face nonstop as he watched his partner stand his ground.
"Hyp! Hypno!" Hypno blasted a beam of psychic energy, blowing Sapphire across the room, the Lucario fell limp over to the ground.
Finally Edelgard, the youngest member, basically used her flippers to propel herself over, she was unable to stand, just crawl her way over using her flippers, she just got next to her trainer and reached out.
"Please Moon." She cried. "Help us! We need you! Don't give up! Please!" The Steelix's beam reached its fullest height, then, it fired.
Moon felt himself reach out to Edelgard as he wrapped his hands around the small Pokemon and held it tight and close to him as the beam blasted at them.
Moon braced himself for an impact that never came. Instead, he looked down to see Edelgard's tiny black body enveloping purple light. The beam blasted back at Steelix and blew the large steel snake across the battlefield.
Moon looked at the baby Pokemon, Edelgard let out several coughs and wheezes.
"Moon...I...I did it…" The baby said weakly, giving him a smile, "I...I protected...I protected...I."
Moon felt his face go pale as he started to cry harder.
"EDELGARD!" He cried. "NO!...PLEASE!...NO!"
"I protect….I saved everyone...I'm not…" The Baby Pokemon's voice was cut off as her head fell limp to the ground and her eyes became unfocused.
Moon felt himself breathing hard and breathing fast, he placed his hand on the baby Pokemon's chest, he didn't feel a single thing...Edelgard had used the last of her energy...to Mirror Coat and save him...and in doing so...he had failed Manaphy as a whole...he didn't protect the one thing Manaphy asked him to do. He felt a fire burn as a blaze erupted in his chest, never before had he felt what he felt now...but all that he knew, was that they had taken something special from him. With his newfound adrenaline he pushed himself up and looked at Faba and then at the glass area where Lusamine and her science team were standing.
"Madam President!" one scientist said. "The readings! The Readings! His Hearbeat! It...it!"
Moon looked at Gojira, the pupitar was his last remaining Pokemon that hadn't been touched.
"Friend Edelgard!" Gojira asked. "Master Moon...is she?" Moon nodded. Gojira's eyes formed into a glare, and suddenly, blue light surrounded her as she began to grow in massive size.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Lusamine roared from the room.
"MADAM PRESIDENT!" A scientist shouted. "Look at this! The energy! It's beautiful! It's what you've wanted!"
Gojira finally stopped expanding and turned into the large godzilla-like creature that she was. In the process, the chain and collar around her had broken and shattered.
Moon looked at Faba with his newly evolved Tyranitar with a cold hearted stare in his glare, then, he turned to look at Lusamine and the Scientist table.
"I WILL TEAR YOU HEADS FROM OFF YOUR NECKS...AND HANG THEM FROM THE GATES OF ENBARR!" He shouted. "GOJIRA! HYPER BEAM!"
Gojira charged up another blasted ball of light and fired it at Faba, The scientist was so unprepared for it that it blasted him and Steelix across the room.
"FABA!" Lusamine shouted.
"MADAM PRESIDENT YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" In the rush to get them out, Someone accidentally made Mews capsule shatter.
The Pink cat like Pokemon quickly turned invisible before Lusamine noticed and waited until they all ran out of the room. Afterwards, it became visible and looked from behind the glass pane. Just as it expected, Moon had not gone to pursue them, instead, he was lying over Edelgard, all of his Pokemon were, all of them devastated at the loss of one of their own. It too, couldn't help but feel responsible, after all, it was its own Power that had zapped and weakened them so badly. Using its powers, it called out to Shaymin.
"Shaymin, if you can hear me, you need to get to Sarah...she is at the Aether Foundation, please hurry, Manaphy is in danger and her keeper is distraught, we need Sarah to reunite with Moon...please...hurry!"
Mew opened its eyes and floated over to Moon, who looked up at the cat-like Pokemon as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Thank you for saving me." Mew said to him. "I am so...so sorry about what happened to your friend. Please...let me join you."
"They killed her." Moon cried, still horror struck. "Edelgard...I'm...I'm...I'm so sorry...I couldn't protect you...I let you...I let you down...Manaphy...Sarah...myself...I let everyone down." the same cold-hearted expression reformed on his face as he looked at the six Pokemon.
"Not again…" he growled. "I will kill every last one of them...Edelgard...I will avenge you!"
That's all for today's chapter, I don't really have an Omake ready for you, so I guess this'll have to do for the chapter. Besides, since the Aether Event is meant to be taken seriously, I feel like having some fun little Omake would be a little stupid, so...yeah. I will go ahead and say it now, yes, Edelgard's death will be permeant, when coming up with the concept of the Delta Phione, I initially never wanted it to be a permeant member, however, I didn't feel like Moon releasing it into the wild would be satisfying for anyone since it didn't really fit Moon's personality with his relationship with Manaphy, especially since Manaphy is meant to join the team eventually. I know that the death of Pokémon isn't really an explained topic within the games, however, it is alluded to that Pokémon can die, we're just never given an explanation as to how. So I came up with a theory that if a Pokémon takes to much damage from either Human contraptions or from more powerful Pokémon, they may not be able to make it.
I'm sure that death caught you off guard completely, I know that there was no sort of build up or anything like that, but hopefully I managed to make you feel just a little sad for Moon. Anyway, leave a review if you want.
PKMN Teams:
Moon Wolfe:
Fabby - Ninetales
Sapphire - Lucario
Jade - Dartrix
Sammy - Furret
Genji - Greninja
Silver - Weavile
Lancer - Beedrill
Gojira - Pupitar
Sparky - Jolteon
Pandora - Absol
- Mew
Sarah Jones:
Angel - Gardevior
Snowy - Glaceon
Scar - Incineroar
Candy - Corsola
Bellatrix - Mismagius
Flora - Lilligant
Delta - Dragalge
Lyn - Baby Kanga
Lucky - Togetic
Techno - Porygon Z
Pikaboo - Mimikyu
See you all next time.