Wicked Wildlands ( watch?v=Olzv7Js_hyk)
Off in the middle of the northwestern plains, Formora stood in a sea of long, scratchy grass. The plains, true to their name, held nothing but itchy grass and maybe a scraggly bush. She felt the newly-healed scar on her chest, thankful that she had found the Blessing before she'd succumbed to infection. She didn't quite remember exactly how she'd gotten the herb, but after being unable to eat anything but dandelion salad and clover soup she didn't care.
Formora sneezed as the omnipresent breeze picked up. This part of the country had not been on her list of stops to make, but a Marshtomp effigy had caught her eye.
The poor sap that had once been a Pokemon had no lower half; only the chest and head remained on the thick wooden stake. Its eyes had been torn out, and its mouth opened in an eternal tormented scream.
Now who had gone and done this? Whoever they were, they had great taste in sadism. Perhaps this mystery creator could finally entertain Formora...
A Mud Shot pelted her from out of nowhere. Though the paltry little gobs of dirt did nothing except annoy her, she fell to the ground in a mock-heap. Whoever did that was going to get themselves a spot right next to the Marshtomp.
Formora waited until the soon-to-be-corpse came closer-from the sound of it, there were two of them-before leaping up to face them with a guttural roar. Her Aurora Veil exploded across the plains, its neon colors dancing in the wind.
There they were! A Diggersby and Cradily! Knife in hand, she dove for the Diggersby-
"Formora?" the Cradily cut in, dissipating some grass-type attack he'd been about to unleash.
Formora stopped dead in her tracks, her knife mere inches away from the Diggersby's face.
"WHOA THERE, LASS!" the terrified Pokemon shouted, stumbling backwards into the grass. "Ye know this crazy she-demon?!"
"...Cradily," Formora mumbled, flashes of memories flitting across her vision. Right, right, she'd known a Cradily before. An acquaintance, not an enemy.
Waving her hand, she made her Veil disappear. Cradily laughed.
"Formora! I thought I recognized you. How've you been?!"
"Living," she said curtly.
Cradily motioned to the Diggersby, who took the cue and got up. "Sorry 'bout that, lass; intruders ain't welcome on Ivanova territory."
"Who?"
"You know, Sonya and Oksana?"
Oh. Right. The rich sisters who thought they knew hardship. Being murder-happy sadists like Formora, they might know what Carys had been up to. Perhaps this trip wouldn't be a waste at all...
"Oh, them. I take it this is Dark territory now?" she asked, folding her arms. In the middle of nowhere? Really, girls?
"You know it! Hey, our base is nearby, care to say hello? I know Son and 'Sana would love to see you again!" Cradily nodded.
"Sure."
The Diggersby and Cradily led her a mile further into the plains, where the grass parted briefly to reveal a dungeon.
"Jus' through here," the Diggersby motioned.
B1F
Formora scratched her body in irritation. She was still surrounded by the tickly, dry grass along with some pink flowers with long, wide petals. A few boulders broke up the plains, and more rested atop the light brown stone walls boxing her in.
What a boring place. Why would anyone set a base here? Sure, one could spot enemies coming or grow food for miles, but those were about it in terms of advantages. There weren't any spots for ambush, and only a few watering holes. No natural shelter from the elements. These guys had better know about Carys...
"Off we go, lassie! Ain't excitin', but we make do," The Diggersby gave a grand belly laugh as the two men led the way.
"So how's the north, Formora?" Cradily asked.
"Cold. Isolated."
"Kill anyone interesting?"
"A few."
"...Any legendaries?"
"No."
"Uh, not really used ta conversin' after spendin' all that time up there, eh?"
"No."
B2F-B4F
Formora hung back, electing to see how tough these two Pokemon were. While they one-shot every Sandslash, Trapinch, Diggersby, Rhydon, Zebstrika, Ponyta, Girafarig, and Skarmory they encountered with great ease, they still were nowhere near her level of strength.
Ugh, was there anyone strong enough for her?
Formora wondered briefly if she could get away with 'mistaking' Diggersby for an enemy, but decided against it. For now.
B5F
Fwooooo...
The Skarmory she had just unleashed her Frost Breath on vanished without a sound.
"Still strong as steel, that Formora," she heard Cradily brag behind her.
She swallowed a chuckle. That Breath had been the weakest she could produce, and still it impressed them. Fools. It was much better to keep one's true strength a secret from potential enemies.
End them before they catch on.
"Not yet," she muttered.
"Huh?" Cradily and the Diggersby piped up, having returned to her side. Formora shook her head dismissively.
"Nothing. Carry on."
B6F-B7F
On the trio went, navigating the plains and enemy Pokemon. Formora stayed behind Cradily and the Diggersby, letting them do the fighting instead.
Already she was starting to question this stop. These fools had better know what Carys was up to, or she may have to entertain her demon...
B8F
Formora sneezed for the third time in a row. "Ugh, the Ivanovas sure picked a strange place for a base."
The Diggersby laughed. "Yeah, they was thinkin' 'bout settin' up north where ta weather's like where they're from, but they dinna wanted tae intrude on yer turf. Ye've sure made a name fer yerself, Snow Wraith!"
You have no idea...
B9F
Formora hung back as the two men chatted amongst each other.
"Did you hear Firewood City's got a new turf leader?"
"No kiddin'? Did ol' Hawlucha finally kick th' bucket?"
"Nah, his grandson's taken over so he can 'live out his days in peace'. I don't buy it. The guy's up to his ears in blood and enemies. Besides, 'Hawlucha' and 'peace' go together as well as oil and water."
"Amen ta that. Oh, have ye heard from Kyurem at all? He's gone silent."
Oh?
"You haven't heard?" Formora piped up, startling the two Pokemon. "Kyurem's dead."
"WHAT?!" Cradily and the Diggersby screeched, whipping around to face her.
"How?! When?!" the Diggersby demanded as Cradily's face went white.
Formora shrugged. "Kay killed him like a month ago."
"K...Now why would she do such a thing?! Where did you hear that?" Cradily asked.
"I saw her do it. Apparently she was a Cresselia traitor. Wanted revenge for Mawile and Meloetta."
The two sat down, stunned. Cradily kept shaking his head back and forth.
"...I don't believe it. But if you say you saw it..." the aged Pokemon whispered.
"Li'l Kay, against us from th' start..." the Diggersby muttered.
After a long moment, they both sighed and stood back up.
"Well, nothing we can do about that now except let everyone know. Did you kill Kay?" Cradily asked in a monotone.
"I did not."
"Wha? Why not?!" the Diggersby exclaimed. "She's a traitor!"
Formora shrugged again. "What fun is there in killing someone who begged me for death?"
Again the two men fell into a stunned silence.
B10F-B12F
Cradily and the Diggersby got over their initial grief, and started workshopping plans to track Kay down.
"So if this happened in Lucida Town a month ago, she could be anywhere by now..."
"She might be comin' fer us next. I'll increase th' guards..."
"We'll put a bounty on her head, make sure the gangs won't take her in..."
"Murkrow's been achin' fer a good trackin'. I'll give her a shiny bauble ta make it extra thorough."
Idiots. The Minun had probably taken her own life by now.
B13F
Upon arriving in a large, desolate room, the two useless lumps both decided they needed a break. The Diggersby took out a few apples and gave one to Cradily before offering one to Formora.
"Want one?" he asked.
She took the apple. The tundra had taught her to never refuse food, even if she didn't need it.
B14F-B16F
Cradily and the Diggersby spent the next few floors describing their base and what all would happen once they arrived.
"We'll introduce ye to ta Machamp and Shiftree up front, they'll let us in."
"We'll have to let Sonya and Oksana about Kay and Kyurem, of course, but I know they'll want to celebrate your guest appearance. I'll get that set up."
She wasn't here to party or whatever, but she could play nice so long as she got what she wanted in the end.
B17F
Monster House!
The trio found themselves in the midst of a brawl containing them, two Ponytas, a Diggersby, three Zebstrikas, four Trapinch, and two Skarmorys.
Formora knocked out a Zebstrika with one Shadow Ball, sighing in annoyance before something big and on fire rammed her from the back.
Pwompf! Into the grass she went, her bag knocked loose from her side and its contents sent scattering. She looked up to see a Ponyta skitter to a stop in front of Ezra's bones and the Red Gummi.
"What are those...?" Cradily asked, blasting a Trapinch with Giga Drain.
Formora didn't answer. She merely inhaled, rose as high as she could, and unleashed her Blizzard with a vicious roar.
"OHMIGOSH!" the Diggersby screamed, grabbing Cradily and breaking some sort of Orb at their feet.
They vanished, and so did every single other Pokemon in the room.
"DON'T TOUCH HER EVER AGAIN!" Formora howled, racing down to Ezra and scooping her and the Gummi back in the bag.
Cradily and Diggersby found her some time later, once she'd calmed down.
"You okay?" Cradily asked slowly.
"Don't touch my bag."
"Noted."
Wicked Savanna
Well, there were more bushes and less grass, at least. In the far distance she could see the beginnings of a forest amidst the setting sun. What lay in the foreground, however, was a camp set up very similarly to Lily Town. A tall wooden fence topped with barbed wire loomed in front of her. Circular slots just big enough to lob an Orb or seed through were set at her eye level every few meters.
Two guards-a Machamp and Shiftree-standing in front of a grand oak door approached the trio.
"Who's this?" the Machamp gestured to Formora.
"Bow, lad! This here is Formora!" the Diggersby chided.
The two sentries' eyes went wide, and they both took to one knee.
"Seriously?! This is her?" the Shiftree whispered, staring at Formora like she was some fancy treasure.
"I am her," she agreed. "Am I allowed inside?"
The guards nearly fell over each other scrambling to get up and let her inside. They pulled on a lever on each side of the doors, and with a creeeeeaaaaakkk the doors opened. The trio stepped inside.
Inside the camp lay a cluster of various tents and huts. Some buildings were permanent and made of stone and mortar-those had to be the barracks and bathhouse. Pokemon raced to and fro. Some seemed to be on patrol, others carried parcels, and others just seemed to be walking for leisure.
"I'll make sure dinner is extra-special; you show Formora to the Ivanovas," Cradily told the Diggersby. And to Formora, "Oh, Formora, it was wonderful getting to see you again."
He left, and now she was stuck with the Diggersby. Mercifully, her walk with him was short, for the sisters' quarters were towards the southwestern part of the busy camp.
"Lemme go inside first ta let them know 'bout ye and li'l Kay. Be jus' a sec," he told her as they stopped in front of a wooden building that could house the two door guards comfortably.
He knocked, waited, then went inside. And after a few minutes?
"FORMORAAAAA!" Oksana Ivanova, the merciless Eelektross, came barreling out of their chambers and tackling Formora in a grand hug.
Formora went rigid at the unexpected contact and Oksana released her, looking at the flustered Froslass hesitantly.
"She's leeved ull alone for years, 'Sana, what deed you expect?" Sonya Ivanova, the Banette assassin, snorted as she too appeared alongside the Diggersby. She gave Formora a salute and a grin. "Hello sweet Formora! Ugh, you've no idea how happy we are to have you here!"
"I saw your effigy. Nice work," Formora said stiffly, still reeling from the hug. The sisters grinned.
"Thanks!" they chorused.
"Heh heh, you three have fun now. I've gotta git back to me post," the Diggersby chuckled as he left the trio.
"Ahhh, I steell can't believe you're really here!" Oksana gushed, clutching her cheeks in girlish delight. Eet's like we never split up!"
"How many Pokemon have you keelled weeth that beauty?" Sonya asked, staring mesmerized at the dagger in Formora's hand.
"A lot. I took it from some fool who thought it could stop me. It could, probably, but not in his hand," Formora chuckled. Play nice, bide her time...
The sisters laughed with her. "Theh never learn," Sonya cracked a grin.
"How'd you take the news about Kyurem and Kay?" Formora asked. Instantly the Ivanovas sobered.
"I can't believe eet. But I trust your word..." Oksana broke off, slowly shaking her head. Sonya, meanwhile, had moved on to the next stage of grief.
"I swear un Kyurem's life, I shall find her, and end her een the slowest, most torturous wehs I know!" the Banette declared.
After a moment, a newly-cheery Oksana clapped her paw-like hands. "We'll deal weeth her later. Come, come! Let us show you around!"
Formora was taken around the base and introduced to many Pokemon whose names and existences she immediately forgot. A lot were apparently from the Dark base back in the day, but they were all happy to be graced with Formora's deadly presence. Fools.
"I steell torment plenty of Pokemon, of course," Oksana laughed as they passed a small, square stone building with a heavy steel door with an equally heavy padlock. "I call eet the Sunset Building. Feetting, right?"
"Yes," Formora nodded mechanically, spotting a Pidgey caught in the grips of an Elgyem and Sliggoo.
"Ah, heem. He's purt of a local-eesh village. Theh wunted our protection, but our help eesn't free. Theh had no weh to peh, so uff he goes," Sonya explained as the trio watched them pass.
"I'm a nice woman; I don't keell messengers. Well, at least, I don't keell the first one. Eef they send any more, I'll send them as many corpses as eet takes until they get the message," Oksana cackled.
A literal banquet was waiting for the three women when they arrived at a pavilion in the center of the camp. Formora's eyes went wide as saucers upon seeing the mountain of food that awaited. Dear Arceus, she hadn't seen this much food since she lived on the Dark island!
Ugh, this feast would have been a miracle sent from the heavens a few winters back when edibles were nigh impossible to find...
Oksana, seated in between Formora and Sonya, tapped her wine glass with a fork. The din quieted down as the Eelektross stood, holding her glass high.
"Everyone! We have a very special guest gracing our lovely home tonight! Some of you weell remember her from the good old days. Bow down to our Champion of Darkness, Destroyer of Light herself: Formora!"
A rousing cheer and thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. Formora ignored them, impatient to stuff her face. Yes, yes, she was here. Now could she eat already?
"Years ago," Sonya piped up. Formora suppressed a groan. "Formora keelled the Leetweeck Ezra and allowed us to rehn supreme. Eet ees thehnks to her that we are ull here, full and warm. Peh your respects to her now!"
Even more cheering, now combined with whistles, assaulted her ears. Formora forced a small smile onto her face as she tuned out the sisters' speech and focused on the remaining things she needed to do before the solstice.
A platter of food being put in front of her broke her out of her reverie. Finally! Forgoing utensils, she dove into the pile of food with much gusto. It was only after her third handful that she noticed her tablemates staring.
"Ha, living up north all those years must've been rough," Cradily laughed. Formora swallowed.
"I learned to eat whatever I could and whenever I could. I never knew when I would eat again."
"Sounds rough, but you always liked eet up there," Oksana nodded.
"So why deed you come down after ull these years?" Sonya asked.
"I am looking for the Pokemon named Carys. Ezra's old companion. Have you heard from her lately?"
The sisters burst out laughing. "Oh, wow, you must've been wehhhh up north eef you never heard," Sonya giggled, wiping a tear from her eye.
A dark chill ran down Formora's spine. "Heard what?" she asked, keeping her voice even.
Oksana grinned. "We keelled her!"
"Murdered her and threw her een a deetch!" Sonya added before succumbing to more giggles.
Rage of utmost fury washed over Formora. She had her dagger in her hand before she could blink.
How dare they! How dare they kill her!
Kill them, then, the demon purred in her own voice.
Formora began to summon her Veil, but decided against it. We need to be smart about this.
"Oh," she choked out. "Well. It was...worth coming out... to see... old friends."
The last few words were spoken out of clenched teeth as she struggled to suppress her anger and keep her trembling fists still.
"Surry for stealing the keell," Sonya smiled apologetically. "I'm sure you'd been dreaming of that moment for ehges."
Formora didn't answer. Carys was dead. Sonya and Oksana were not. That had to change.
Now.
No, be smart.
You could take on all of these fools at once.
Be smart.
"Sorry, Formora," Oksana sighed at Formora's continued silence.
"I'll get over it."
After you join her.
After dinner, the sisters offered Formora a private reunion inside their quarters. Formora declined, feigning fatigue from the festivities after years of isolation. The sisters bought it, and bade her goodnight.
Cradily showed her to her own personal guest tent located a stone's throw from the of sleeping, Formora went outside and floated to the top of the tent. She lay down with her arms crossed behind her head, staring up at the sky. She heard movement down below, no doubt the night shift watching for enemies. Little did they know there was one right in front on them.
Hours passed until Formora was confident that Oksana was asleep. Only then did she jump back to the ground.
"I've got to talk to Sonya about Kay," she told the guards who watched her approach the sisters' quarters.
"She's off on a walk, Lady Dark, and Oksana, uh, highly discourages being woken," a Furret shivered.
Oh, so the Banette was gone? This would do just fine. "I see. I'll wait inside for Sonya; what I have to say is only for her ears. I won't wake Oksana."
The inside of the little building was quaint, but cozy. The door immediately to the right must have been Oksana's room, for faint snoring could be heard behind the closed door. The door to the left, however, was open. A brief peek inside revealed shelves upon shelves of dolls. Definitely Sonya's room. Straight ahead was the kitchen-slash-living room, but Formora did not wait there. Instead, she took up a post inside Sonya's room behind the slightly-ajar door. And waited.
Some time had passed before the Banette returned from her walk. Formora stiffened, clutching her dagger tightly.
"Ah, Viviette, where were we? Let us feex that poor arm of yours, hm?" Sonya whispered as she drifted into her room, a sewing needle and thread in hand. Then slightly louder, "Formora? I'm een here."
Instantly Formora was on Sonya, her dagger thrust deep inside the Banette's lung while she wrapped her arm around Sonya's mouth with her other hand.
"MMMMMPHHHH!" Sonya screamed for a short moment before it turned to ragged coughs.
Sonya jabbed her sewing needle into the arm around her mouth. Formora hissed, but the pain only made her tighten her grip. No paltry little stick would stop her.
Formora held the Banette tightly against her chest, arms wrapped firmly around her mouth in a malicious Beartic hug. Again, again, again was Formora stabbed with the little needle until Sonya's struggles and gasps ceased.
Only when she was sure that Sonya was dead did Formora release the body, plucking the needle out of her arm and tossing it to the ground alongside Sonya. Wincing, Formora shook the little droplets of blood that were cascading down her arm. Why was it always the little injuries that stung the most?
Anyway, on to Oksana. Formora listened carefully at the Eelektross's door. She was still snoring, even though her sister lay dead not ten feet away. Pathetic.
Oksana did not wake when Formora slowly opened the door, nor when she got on top of her. It was the stench of blood that woke her, but it was too late by then.
"*snort* Eh? Son? Deed you hurt yourself...? MMRK!" Oksana started to say before Formora rammed her fist as far down Oksana's throat as she could while stabbing her heart with the other.
Oksana's sharp pointy teeth bit down on Formora's arm, with a gross mixture of bile, mucus, and blood rushing out from in between the gaps as Formora got up close and personal with the Eelektross's esophagus. Still Formora did not let go.
It took only a minute for Oksana's gags, sputters, and shudders to end. In the span of just a few minutes, the Ivanovas were no more. No more Pokemon would ever be tortured by these two ever again. Their hundreds of victims could rest in peace now.
"'Assassins', my ass," Formora muttered, climbing down from the bed.
"Satisfied?" she asked with a snort.
Too quick. Too clean.
"Nothing is ever good enough for you," Formora chuckled as she wiped herself and her knife off with Oksana's blanket.
She paused for a moment, listening for signs that the night watch had heard the scuffle. All was quiet, and as she exited the tent all they did was give her a nod. Useless Pokemon. They deserved death for their inefficiency.
"I've got to get going," she said to the night guards as she strode through the compound. "Pokemon to kill, you know."
The village idiots, well aware of her reputation, only bade her safe travels. The monster of the north left the Dark base and the dungeon unscathed and her deeds undetected.
The Diggersby was still standing at his post in the plains when she returned to the Marshtomp effigy.
"Oi, so yer off, then? Well, have a-URK!"
Ah, finally, his fat tongue was silenced. She twisted her knife deeper, deeper, inside his heart until a river of blood burst onto her hands from around the wound. As blood spattered across her face and chest, she couldn't help but utter a pleased sigh as its metallic stench entered her nostrils.
She let the corpse go, yanking her knife out and taking a moment to admire her new look.
Then without a word the Snow Wraith turned and fled.
