Ty Bob, and Gaijin, for the wonderful beta'ing. You two are my homies.
Chapter 41: Death of a Dream, Birth of a Nightmare
I was a normal girl, like any other. A young trainer with aspirations. Aspirations to be nothing but unapologetically myself. I came to Sinnoh after a lifetime of oppression at the hands of my father. He was not physically abusive, he didn't hurt or touch me but he was controlling in every meaning of the word: A Unova citizen who valued work ethic above all. He didn't want me to be a trainer, he wanted me to be part of the family business. I wanted to do anything but spend my life as a lawyer. Ending up that way, stuck with the same lot in life forever just like my father, was my worst nightmare.
At least I thought it was, till I met him.
I liked to think myself an explorer, and Ruby, my adorable Zorua, who was a gift from my grandma and childhood companion, was even more adventurous than me.
The sailor that took us to Sinnoh mystified us with talk of legendary Pokémon. His name was Terry, and he was dark-skinned with a shaved head and a great big, white beard. He was so old he looked like he was made of wrinkled leather but he was boisterous, jolly, and youthful in spirit. I'd coincidentally stumbled across him near the sea port while looking for a cheap ride out of Unova.
He didn't expect much payment from me save for some food if I'd spare it. I was used to taking cruises with my family on massive passenger boats, but this was my only real option, penniless as I was. Honestly, I preferred Terry's company over the many sea captain's I'd met over the years, who tended to be pompous and arrogant. Terry didn't have an ounce of judgement or ego in him, he sailed because he loved to.
Over the many long sea locked days, bouncing across the crashing water on his rather small pontoon boat, Terry regaled us with tale after tale. Of course, every region has its myths, which I'd never really studied or been interested in before, but the ones in Sinnoh sounded profound and exciting. Adventurers being chosen, dreams being given or taken, mystical beings granting or erasing emotions, and even a myth of the creator of the whole universe, Arceus. My eyes were wide as can be as I hugged Ruby and listened intently.
Those nights, I had many a nightmare. I wasn't used to being on such unsteady seas and nor wasI wasn't used to being alone, so I blamed it on that. How wrong I was. It felt like every day at sea I grew more seasick and weak but I still had that ember of excitement within. It was a cold and stormy night when Terry told me about Darkrai. The only illumination other than the dim deck lights was the occasional lightning strike, which would throw the otherwise black horizon into a stark contrast of rolling clouds and inky black water. The sea heaved up great waves that battered Terry's small old boat. I was sure it would shatter and we'd be cast into the sea, but Terry put a hand on my shoulder, and reassured me.
"The Yesterdays' Zephyr has weathered far worse storms than this, little miss. We're already in Sinnoh, just a few more long sea stretches from here, then we'll be ashore." He assured me. Then he turned to his crew, which was made up of three Pokemon, a Wingull, a Machoke, and an old Crawdaunt." "Get to work boys!" He bellowed over the howling wind.
Ruby and I were safe under the canopy of the boat, but even so she yipped nervously and squirmed in my arms. Her blue eyes were scared, and I found my own emotions reflecting back at her. I had a bad feeling in my chest, but Terry's warmth and confidence was more than a little assuring. As Terry hustled around us, he grinned at me.
"You think this is scary, hmm? Well… I'll tell you something truly scary. My uncle told me a tale once, would you like to hear it?"
I was shivering underneath my blanket, and Ruby's warm fur and nuzzling did little to fight the cold. But I didn't want to go to bed yet. I wanted to hear more. Nervously, I nodded. "Yes please, Mr. Terry."
Terry scowled. "Tis' Captain Terry! How many times must I say it?!"
I giggled and he continued.
"Do you see that island over there, far in the distance?" He pointed his thick finger.
I stared in the direction, and my eyes widened. A huge almost triangle shaped, wide island sat in the distance, its shape just barely visible against the dark clouds. A fork of lightning cast the whole island into color for a split second, glinting on a snowy mountain peak and brightening the forest below before it faded back into darkness. "Is that the Sinnoh region?"
He grunted. "Part of it, sure. But that island specifically… is a place no human dare tread. 'Cept the foolish ones of course. Tis not even on the maps. This route that I've taken you is a wild and dangerous one as you may 'ave noticed, so not many people know about this little isle. My uncle called it "The Land of Dreams.""
I stared in wonder. It was a long strip, with towering stone, and deep forest. I could see that from here.
"Course, my uncle was even more a fan of tall tales than meself, so I doubt the truth to his words. But he told me a story once… He didn't heed his own grandpapa's words to never step foot on those shores. Thought that it'd be a great place for a honeymoon. Rucked up the ship, took his newly found wife aboard, and sailed off. After many days of travel, he landed there."
I was starstruck. Ruby and I clung to each other as we listened intently.
"The first days they spent there were like a dream. He couldn't believe the rumors were true. AYE! Pepper, you lazy lug, get the ropes!" Terry bellowed, and his Wingull squawked back, begrudgingly leaving her perch. Terry turned back to me, chuckling. "As I was saying, twas like a dream! Fruit wherever the eye could see, and many a treasure. Waterfalls, deep caves, serene lakes, it was a rather beautiful island. He even got the idea to bring more people over, 'twas just too perfect… indeed, like a dream."
"Zoru…" Ruby mewled, staring at the island.
"Too good to be true," I agreed.
Terry caught himself as the boat bucked, and a massive, bright streak of lightning appeared in the black sky. I barely managed to keep hold of Ruby as we were thrown in the air once again. "Shh, lass. But 'ur right! Was far too perfect to last. One night, while my uncle was off gathering all kinds of delicious, bright colored fruits for dinner… his wife disappeared. We'll call her Darla."
I furrowed my brows. Darla disappeared?
"He found Darla in a cave. The young lass was deep asleep, tossing and turning and moaning in pain! She was on er' own, obviously, but not quite. When my uncle tried to move her, the shadows attacked him!"
"The-the shadows!?"
"Yes miss'm, and deep icy blue eyes glared at him from all that musky, wet darkness. Long, sharp fingers dug into his skin and ripped it apart, great chunks of it. My unc' has the scars on his arms to this day, ugly stuff. Now, my uncle was a brave man, but terror filled him inside and out, cold as a bucket of ice. Even so, he loved that girl. So...he wrapped his arms around Darla, tried to drag her some distance, but as he did, she started to scream and struggle. Her eyes snapped open, and she stared at him, and said 'Who are you!?' When he said 'It's me, Larry, your husband!' She screamed again, for she no longer recognized him. She felt my uncle a stranger. She felt she belonged there, in that dark place. Alone… or as alone as one can be on that accursed island."
I shuddered. I wanted to demand he stop telling me this story. When lightning struck again, the thunder sounded like it was right next to my ears. So terrifyingly loud, so close, but Terry was unfazed. Ruby shrieked and stuck her head under the blankets, tucking her small dark snout under my shirt. I trembled as Terry continued on with his story.
"'Darla, please, don't you recognize me?' Uncle Larry cried, and poor Darla could only scream and push at him. Slap at his arms, scratch at those already torn wounds. 'Leave me be, bastard! You will not have me!' She managed to escape my uncles grasp, and she ran deeper into the cave.' Even as he ran, the spirit or specter, whatever it was, chased after him. His body was bloody shreds as he emerged from the mouth of the cavern, and collapsed. When he looked back, he saw a thousand pairs of blue eyes. And as one, just as many voices whispered 'she is ours."
The thunder struck again, lightning flashing directly behind Terry. His smile was huge, and terrifying. Like he was speaking of a fond memory. "He abandoned Darla, to those monsters. Darkrai. He wasn't quite himself when he returned to shore… nor was he alone."
"Wasn't… alone? Because his Pokémon?" I shivered.
Terry beamed. "You could say that...my uncle could not sleep well after that. He had horrible nightmares. He was haunted by the memory of poor Darla. So, he took on a wife. Was even happy for a while."
"...One of the Pokémon left the island with him, d-didn't they?"
"Yes, one did. You see, some Pokémon are not as strong as others. They have to live within a host. Some humans are born sickly and weak, and it's the same for Pokémon. Some Pokémon are born terrifyingly powerful and destined for greatness, and some Pokémon are born on that island, alone, without a human being nearby. Save a foolish sailor, and his beautiful wife. These Pokémon are so secluded that the idea of leaving this island is… unknown to them."
I noticed that Terry's thick accent had disappeared, and his voice was quiet now, as if melancholy.
"But they long for the companionship of a human. Long to be among others that aren't of their kind. It's really quite boring, you know? Being trapped, being forced to socialize with no one but your family. You understand that feeling...don't you?" Terry's once warm blue eyes met mine, now cold and unfamiliar, his great white beard billowing in the wind.
I nodded, terrified for some reason. "Alas, some Pokémon are created more special than others. Some Pokémon have no choice over what their powers do, over who they affect or why, so humans hate them. At that point, of course they have to seclude themselves out of fear of being hunted. By those who hate them, or by those who desire their power for themselves."
"You… know a lot about Pokémon," I whispered.
He chuckled. "My uncle taught me everything he knew. About the sea, about legendary Pokémon, about that island… Darkrai. That is its name. The one who followed my uncle, and the ones who stole poor, sad Darla."
Terry gazed at the island, far in the distance, and smiled. "Truly, only my family knows of that place."
"I… I think I want to go to bed," I whispered.
"I'm such a terrifyingly old man, sweet girl. Won't you humor this old soul and listen for a while longer?"
The storm was starting to settle now. Terry sat next to me. His strong, wrinkled hand was cold as he gripped mine. "Be brave for me, my dear. The human will is a powerful thing and fear is easily overpowered. Well, to an extent. My uncle fought against that Darkrai for years and years before he succumbed."
"Before he...succumbed?"
"After a while, he just wasn't quite himself. Everyone around him started having the same symptoms he did, horrifying, grotesque nightmares. But he was finally at peace, because he accepted it. His fate."
Terry's eyes were so cold and blue. His hand tightened on mine, and I flinched, tried to pull away. But he wouldn't let me.
He stared into my eyes, up and down my face. Stroked my cheek with his leathery hand. "You human girls truly are so pretty, my sweet Vanessa…... Darla… she was pretty too, but I wanted freedom more than I wanted a mate. Not to mention, I've never been the sort to share my meals. But… my father did always say that you will settle down eventually. I've sailed for years and years, met many women, but none have been quite as enchanting as you. You have that same strong spirit I do. You aren't happy with being stuck, trapped in one place, forever. I saw that in you, that's why I knew you absolutely had to come with me on this trip. I have so much to teach you, so much to show you…'
Terry kissed me. His fingernails were sharp, and they dug into my skin as his harsh, weathered lips brushed against mine. His tongue was hot and sticky.
I wasn't new to this sort of thing, Ruby and I had been exploring each other for ages.
When his hand dropped between my thighs I whimpered.
"So hot and wet...but not yet. Not like this. In this frail, fragile form…"
I trembled, terrified, as he pulled away. The storm was truly starting to calm down, and Terry smiled. "I'm so tired. I need to rest these old bones... goodnight, Vanessa."
I wasn't stupid. Terry was not Terry. Was there ever a Terry? To this day I wonder who that dark-skinned, old man truly was. If he'd ever been real. Ruby and I knew we had to leave. But where to? We were in the middle of the sea. One thing we both knew, is that Terry overworked his poor Pokemon. There was no real love there, they were crew members and not friends.
I approached Crawdaunt when I was sure Terry had gone to sleep.
"Clawd, please… will you take me to shore?" I begged of him. The Pokemon was shocked that I would ask such a thing. I spoke to him quietly, confessing my fears. Of his owner not being himself, of there being something strange going on here. "You can come back, afterwards of course," I whispered, "please Clawd. Please help me. I… I don't want to be here anymore. On this boat, alone."
Ruby chimed in as well, whimpering.
Clad nodded. I gathered my things, and we were off.
The Crawdaunt was a strong old Pokémon. He could easily handle the weight of a young woman, and the storm was almost nonexistent at this point. I clung to the water-type Pokemon's neck as he swam, Ruby safely in her Pokeball in my backpack. When I glanced back, one last lightning bolt struck.
Terry was there, leaning over the railing. "You crazy girl! You don't know what you're doing! You must go to the island with me! You must stay there with me! Clawd, return! Come back this instant!" He roared after us.
I rested my face against Clawd's hard shell, my heart hammering away. But the great big Crawdaunt did not turn back, and he smiled reassuringly as sea water splashed us.
"Please, Vanessa! Please come back! You don't know what you've done! I made a deal, Vanessa, I made a deal!"
That was the last thing I heard, before we were too far away for me to hear anything but Clawd grunting and my own heart beating. I knew it without a doubt. It was Darkrai, on that ship. And the deal? I tried to make sense of that, but I didn't even want to think about it.
Clawd joined my team, and he was a great friend and companion along with Ruby. I'd never had a water Pokémon, and he was shockingly strong. That was no surprise, he was an old sailor's Pokémon. At times I wonder what would have happened if he'd never left with us. And I wondered why he never returned. We reached the Sinnoh shores, Canalave City specifically. I explored this new place happily, I'd truly felt I was a hero that had escaped some great horrible event.
There was a great library there, and I studied the books that I could. Arceus, Cresselia, Mesprit, Uxie, Azelf, Mew, etc...there were tomes about hundreds of rare and legendary Pokémon. I searched and searched, until finally, I found the one I wanted. A book about Darkrai. Truly, there was not much known about it. Just that it lured people to sleep, that it came out during various stages of the moon cycle, and that it was an ancient Pokémon. The picture in the textbook was scratchy and barely visible, a dark shape with long white hair and blue eyes.
It was only when I went to sleep in an inn for the first time in a while that I realized what I'd done. There was an old woman at the inn, so old she looked like a bag of wrinkly skin. She smiled at me from behind the desk. "Staying for how many nights?" Her voice was this wispy old hoot.
I hesitated. "Um… I… I don't have much Poke. I'm sorry…" I murmured in embarrassment. "But I've been on the sea for a while… I'm so exhausted..."
She nodded in understanding. "I see, I see, well… how old are you, girl?"
"S-Sixteen…"
"You can take my husband's old room. That sea bound bastard. He isn't using it, no need for it to go to waste."
I had a bad feeling. The old lady led me to the room. "My name is Sally, by the way, stay as long as you'd like. And let me know if you need anything."
The room was dusty, but other than that, clean. More than anything, it was lonely. The floorboards creaked as I walked across it. I explored my new sleeping spot a little bit. Only when I found a picture frame did everything make sense.
It was Terry in the picture. Of that I had no doubt. He was young again, with green eyes and dark skin and deep black hair. Green eyes… A beautiful woman with brown eyes and curly blonde hair clung to his tattooed arm, and he beamed at the camera. A tiny Corphish was sticking its head up in the corner of the image and beaming. Clawd...
The old lady returned with a tray of crackers and cheese and a cup of tea. "I brought you some food. You seem quite hungry. Ah, I see you found that old picture of my bastard of a husband, Larry. Left me here all alone, you see."
My eyes widened but I accepted her offering. I was famished and thirsty.
"Never did forget his first wife, Darlene. Always claimed he lost her on some island long ago...that he had to go back one day. Last thing he ever said to me… was that he made a deal. Needed to find a new host, whatever that means, mumbo jumbo to me! He never did feel welcome here. Claims that the nightmares everyone in the town was gettin' was from him, that it was his fault. Never did understand. Always wondered what he was talking about, he provided a lot of the fish for the town, and I never heard of no fish causing nightmares. Didn't make sense, that old man. Left his beautiful wife alone to run the inn that he began. Left me… thirty years ago, was it?"
I trembled and flipped the photograph face down.
What had I done?
"Did the nightmares stop, after he left?"
She paused for a moment. "Well...as a matter of fact they did. Well…ain't that something."
I clenched my fist. "Tell me something… did you ever have a nephew? Named Terry?"
She shook her head, deep in thought. "Not a one. Was just Larry and I here, for years. He was always sad he had no family. Guess he always wanted one. Not bad enough to have one with me I s'pose."
Did that mean…? No, it couldn't mean that…
"I-I need to leave, I'm sorry!" I blurted, shoving past her.
"Well wait just a moment young lady! There's no need to rush out in a
huff. Y-Young lady…"
I dashed down the stairs, out the door. And as far away from that city as I could.
Days passed of ceaseless wandering. I'd even thought that maybe I was crazy for a while, that I'd imagined all of that. There was no way what I suspected could be true, they didn't speak about it at all in that book about Darkrai. No… human possession, no human hosting. No island of Darkrai, alone and secluded. I didn't believe it, refused to believe it. I continued my journey as if nothing had even happened. I battled countless wild Pokémon, played with Ruby and Clawd, even battled the stray trainers I found and made quite the pretty penny. No one expected such a young trainer to have a strong Pokémon like Clawd. I also realized why he left with me. He left because he knew, he knew that something was off about that man on that boat, that he wasn't himself.
It happened one night, in Eterna forest. An ironic name for what took place there. I was warm and snuggled up with Ruby and Clawd underneath a thick blanket. When I opened my eyes, all I saw was never ending, deep black. A void. He came to me, and he was beautiful. Just like the picture in that book, but in the flesh. He was massive and released a vast, black aura like I'd never seen before.
Darkrai. He was a black Pokémon, with long thin legs, and a plume of thick, white hair that seemed to be made of fog.
"I've been so kind to you," he murmured, "yet you would starve me."
I tried to back away but I was paralyzed.
"Beauty is no stand-in for selfishness, I suppose. You cum, and cum again with that pathetic, worthless Pokemon, even your own hand, and yet you starve me. You deny me. Rejection, in every meaning of the word. You wish to forget about me and what you know to be true. Humans are selfish cowards, but I stand by my choice. It can only be you."
"Go away," I whispered, "please go away…"
"Go away! How...how dare you?!"
The glow of his eyes grew brighter.
"I could have chosen anyone...but I chose you. I didn't want to do this, truly, but I will not be weak, will not be rejected by a mere human...no matter how enchanting, no matter how special. You and Larry wished to deny me a feast. He suffered, and changed, and now… so will you. Close your eyes. I will make this feeding as painless as possible…"
His hand touched my face. My hair, my breasts. He had no mouth, yet I had no doubt he was smiling.
"You are mine. You will understand that, after this."
It was blissful there, in that eternally dark place. Both heaven and hell for what felt like an eternity. I don't remember much of it, but what I do remember… are his eyes. An eerie, glowing blue. Even when I closed my own I saw his piercing me, staring into my very mind. Unavoidable. There was no way to run, no where to run.
I felt my body and will grow weaker and weaker until finally the pain of the encounter turned to pure, burning, suffocating pleasure. I strongly remember the feeling of his hot body against mine, immense and made up of what seemed like a million shadows. It felt like I was suffocating, his breath in my throat while his engorged Pokémon member stuffed my pussy over and over, stretching me well beyond my limits, yet I somehow took it every time.
It was a dream, his dream, so he could fill me with his load, then fuck me, stretch me, again and again, as many times as he wanted, and my body took all of it. It was not my body, but my mind that broke, and when it did, the last thing I remember were my father's words.
"You kids are reckless, unaware of the statistics of just how many of you die out there, alone. You can leave. But whatever happens to you and to Ruby, that's your fault. Your responsibility, and if you take one foot out of this house… if you make this decision to be a trainer and nothing but a trainer, you'll never be welcome in this household again."
After that, everything is foggy. A hot, dense fog of sex and pleasure. I suppose I faintly remember loving him, and of course, hating him. Despising him. I wanted him to die and yet I never wanted to leave that place. I just wanted to cum, and cum, and cum. For him, and only him.
When I woke up, I was swollen, filled with so much Pokémon semen that it was practically pouring out of me. It had been completely, undeniably real.
While I was in that endless nightmare Ruby had woken up, when she heard me screaming, and waited. She had waited and waited for me to wake up, unable to do anything but listen to me scream and sob and beg for mercy, beg for it to end.
When my eyes opened all the way, she came close to me, pressing her soft wet nose against my cheek, tears streaking her gray-black fur… and I hated her. For what she was, for what she is. A Pokémon. The same creature that had invaded my peaceful dreams and raped me. Tortured me. That had violated my very being.
That night… was the first night that I abused a Pokémon. To this day I don't know why I did it. Or rather, why I couldn't force myself not to. No, that's a lie too. The truth is that it's hard to take responsibility for the things you've done and the things you plan to do, inevitabilities set in motion by your own actions and interactions.
I did it because I hated Ruby for being a Pokémon. And so I made her cry like I had. I wasn't physically abusive, in most senses of the word. I didn't beat her, I didn't insult her. No, like my father, I hurt her in a different way. I controlled her. I just wasn't me after that night. I lost everything that I used to be, all my joy and happiness, all the hope I used to have. I couldn't even love, not anymore.
Not Red Ebony, sweet Ruby...and definitely not myself. I was cold and empty, a shell of a person. I controlled her, because I felt like I had lost control of everything else. Raped and sticky with cum, I found the nearest Pokemart and tried to buy some new clothes. There was a large, greasy man inside with eyes that refused to stop lingering. I knew he wanted a good time, and I also knew that I could convince him it wasn't me he wanted.
So I had some words with him and we came to an agreement. Pocketing some Poke and garbed in fresh clothes that barely fit, I left Ruby in that place with him. I remember looking back, her sad blue eyes staring after me. Even back then Red Ebony would never refuse an order, would never complain about anything. The most loyal Pokemon in the world in my eyes, but she would cry.
"Big crybaby" I used to call her and I'd hold her close and tickle her tummy until she was crying from laughter instead of fear, pain, or sadness. Before, I would've done anything to make Red Ebony's tears disappear. But I wasn't that young girl that grew up with Red anymore, full of love and a desire for adventure. I was broken. When her blue eyes seared into mine…
I saw him.
Trying to understand the mind of a powerful, ancient being is pointless.
That's why I contacted them.
Team Salvation. They promised they could find the means to save me, but eleven years later, they were not one step closer to freeing me.
When I left for Sinnoh, I feared being boxed in, being trapped. Being consumed by a life of endless labor and suffering. Ironic that Darkrai had given me all of that in one. Ironic that I had made this mansion and helped him to it and now years later...I'd become everything I feared
More so, nothing came of it. Darkrai still hadn't reappeared, Team Salvation had control of my every asset, and the only control I had left in this miserable life was everything under this roof...and my connections to the undesirables of the Pokémon Fanclub. It was Darkrai abandoning me that hurt the worst. It seems as if I truly would be punished forever, for attempting to deny him a feast. Attempting to ignore and be rid of him.
Throughout the years I flopped between various mental processes, so frequent I no longer know myself or if that girl on that boat died there. Sometimes, I hated Darkrai. I would trash my room, break things, scream at him to appear, to stop being a coward and show himself. But we both know what would happen if he did. They would take him. Team Salvation, an ironic name for their horrid intentions. I would sooner end my own life then give a creature like Darkrai to them, yet that was one more inevitability I had put into place. Other times, I begged Darkrai to pleasure me. To come back. To take me as he had before, because truly, no one had made me feel as good as him. More often, I would take my suffering out on others. Year after year I met with people even more evil than even I, I truly lost faith in the world. I made an empire of depravity.
Sometimes, I make myself feel better. I tell myself that it's not my fault. That I worked with Team Salvation in order to save this world, that I saved Noella from being arrested to help her, that the money that I make in this mansion would be used to help Pokémon, that the sex trafficking, the slavery, it's not so bad.
But there's no point lying to yourself.
It was Avery and his Pokémon that gave me renewed faith in this world. Who made me feel something other than the different combinations of pain and loathing I'd felt for well over a decade. When he stared at me with hate in his eyes and determination, yet still caring for me as a person somehow trying to crack my cruel and superficial shell, I felt my heart beat again.
Sighing, I watched his Kirlia explore the halls, determined. I had no doubt she was here to find me, I'd witnessed what happened tonight. Avery writhing and clutching his head, tormented. I had begged Darkrai to leave Avery alone, but it was inevitable that Darkrai would go to him… because I had feelings for him. Because I was rooting for him. Whether it was jealousy or self preservation that set Darkrai into motion I don't know. I'd seen the Higgs boy planning to destroy this place with his peers day after day. Scurrying around like Rattata, plotting and scheming. Even Noella foolishly joined him, but I can't blame her. If I had a choice I would too. But I had two masters. Darkrai, and Team Salvation.
But… I have no plans to make them suffer anymore. I want them all to come for me. I let Luke run because I wanted him to get away, and when he was dragged back I had no choice but to punish him. I won't lie and say I don't enjoy the pain that I create here, it's only a fraction of what's been done to me. But they would never understand that.
Humans are selfish. Darkrai was right about that.
But I don't want to live this way anymore. That's why I left the door open for her. She doesn't have what it takes to defeat him, but she's come here for me. And I'd let her at least have me. And they could all deal with what happens next. Her name, as I recall, is Lady. She is a proud and regal Kirlia. Slender and lithe, with deep red eyes. She stands in the doorway, gaze glowing white and hot, and she stares at me with hatred in her eyes like nothing I've ever seen before.
I stare at her from my vanity, head in my hand. "Are you planning on killing me, little one"
"I could care less about you, puppet. Where is he!?" She demands, through willpower alone the psychic-type had forced its way into my brain. I'm shocked at the strength of her voice piercing my mind. I clutch my head and gasp, pain echoing through my mind and body.
"K-Kill me and find out…" I panted, clutching my throat.
"I wish I could, but Avery wouldn't like it, and I won't hurt him like that. I demand you let me speak to your own master."
She was an arrogant Pokémon, for sure. But I admired her bravery. More than anything I wanted to give her what she wanted.
…You heard her. Come out, Darkrai, you bastard. Or are you too cowardly to face a mere Kirlia?
"I suppose you've been punished long enough, and it's time for me to act. A slothful life is hardly a life at all, as much fun as this mansion of ours has been... Let those humans come, both the slaves and this 'Team Salvation' you thought would save you. I am far stronger than they are, I've been feasting for years! And… more than that. I forgive you, Vanessa. You've been a good mate. You've more than earned my forgiveness. Now rest until I need you once more."
Tears pricked my eyes, as for the first time in over twenty years… I heard him. The voice I loved, hated, revered, desired more than anything. I couldn't stop myself. A tidal wave of emotions crashed over me, and like a young girl, I sobbed hysterically.
Tears of joy and tears of sorrow.
What had I done? What had I unleashed on this world!?
My throat began to tighten, then convulse. I choked and gurgled, and something wet, black, and shadowy shot out of my mouth and toward Avery's Kirlia. It enveloped her, seeping into her skin. The Kirlia stood… It almost seemed like she'd fallen asleep standing up. Then her body started to shake and jerk, pulsating and releasing a strange, cloudy black aura. She clutched her head and screamed in agony.
The black shadow darted into her mouth.
Much to my shock she wasn't immediately consumed. Energy pulses shot out with her hands - great, angry bolts of psychic and fairy energy alike. They crashed into the walls of my bedroom, destroying countless priceless artifacts. Portraits, statues, she was destroying everything in her resistance.
Down the hall, a doorway opened. People were waking up from all the noise. This was it.
'Master! I'm scared!' The Kirlia screamed, and Red Ebony jerked awake. Her blue eyes widened and she came to my side, licking my face trying to stand me up. I was far too weak.
Kirlia didn't care who heard her. Who felt her emotions. Fear. Pure, primal fear echoed from her tiny frame. And I could only watch, sobbing.
Finally, the Kirlia looked at me. She wanted me to help her. I reached out for her, crawled toward her. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and keep her safe.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
I saw Larry again, in my head. Standing on the side of that boat. Begging me to come back. Not to bring him to shore. I'd done that and more.
I understand now, Larry. I understand now what I've done… forgive me, Larry, and forgive me, Lady. Forgive me, Avery. Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me...
As I repeated this mantra, Darkrai continued his attack on Lady. I watched through wet eyes as the wailing Kirlia suddenly collapsed, her head hitting the floor. She began to twitch, foam leaving her mouth, red eyes unseeing and dilated. Blood dripped from her ear in a stream.
Wispy black smoke escaped her mouth and began to form a huge, pitch black form.
It was him. It was really him.
And everything went black.
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