Ch.43: A Shadow of the Past! Blood Feud of the Ravenfields Pt.1!

There came a time where the passage of time lost all meaning. The Shadow King knew this well, having spent centuries locked away in his tomb. Trapped in a confined space, movement limited to the tight walls, and cut off from the outside world. Though bound to a body, he felt the familiar sensation of weightlessness in the void, stuck with his own thoughts.

At least he had someone to rant with.

"That's it, my king. Keep it up. Every little bit counts," Aeternus said from the sidelines as he monitored the Shadow King's progress alongside Zaros. "Once the witches get back with a little something, you'll be back to…well, I wouldn't say full strength, but something sufficient to work with."

The Hypno-bound shadow grumbled through his torn throat and continued pacing on the treadmill. He gripped tightly to the bars that ran the length of the treadmill as it moved to the pace of the king's walking speed. With the feeling returning to his limbs, Aeternus placed the Shadow King into a rigorous physical therapy session. A lot of modifications had to be made to the muscle tissue and organs since the king was operating a corpse, something shadows very rarely inhabit.

Aeternus promised an alternative solution to speeding up the healing process, but pressed the importance of building up the body's natural strength. The king didn't have the luxury of hopping to a new body anymore, and the one he currently inhabited was dead on arrival. He kept his complaints to himself, even if speech still proved to be a herculean task.

Zaros held his chin and smirked at the possessed Hypno. "Your talents never cease to amaze me, Count Aeternus. I never doubted your ability to get our king back into prime condition."

Aeternus chuckled. "It's all in the technique. My science combined with experimental magic and Reuben's puppetry, I shall create a temporary vessel for our king. Though it's a shell of his former glory, all of that will change once we acquire the idol."

The Shadow King snarled a reply. "The…sooner, the better."

"It's lovely hearing your voice again, Your Majesty, but please try not to strain yourself."

Nightmare seeped from the floor and took shape behind Aeternus with his arms crossed. "How much longer until he's ready?"

"Nervous about something, Nightmare?" Aeternus teased.

The boss shadow glared. "We're rallying an attack against the resisting armies. Even with our increased power, we're at a standstill. We underestimated the willpower of these Pokémon despite a regional crisis. The magic of this century continues to baffle me, far beyond anything we saw in our time."

The Shadow King's brow furrowed, but he stayed silent.

"Ah yes, that will be a problem, but a temporary setback." Aeternus fished inside his cloak.

Nightmare shot Aeternus a deadpan stare. "I feel like you say that out of habit when you don't have a plan."

"Who's been bolstering our forces through his inane experiments?" Aeternus pated Nightmare's face with his Ursaring hand. "You're welcome." He pulled out a medallion from his cloak pocket.

Zaros glanced at it curiously. "Isn't that the same slab that allowed us to infect Captain Arid's shadow?"

"A spell we invested time into, but its true purpose will be unveiled soon enough. Once the witches return with a special ingredient, this little trinket will serve our needs well." He grinned at the Shadow King. "You'll find it to be a lovely addition to your new body, my king."

The Shadow King gazed at Aeternus skeptically. He put his full trust into Aeternus' judgment, though it rattled the mind that the mad clown never spills the details to whatever plan he concocts. Whether for dramatic effect or to screw with everyone, the clown knew what he was doing.

Nightmare shook his head and sighed. "Anyway, I thought I'd let you know we'll be receiving reports on Pestilence and Famine soon. The shadow scouts should be returning any minute now. I can sense their approach."

"Ah, excellent. I hope my little experiments did masterfully with their field tests. I out a lot of hard work into those bodies." Aeternus snickered to himself. "I'm sure one of them will be a surprise for Team Ravenfield."

Zaros shook his head. "Amusing, my count. Very amu—" He paused and tilted his head to the side. "Count Aeternus, I sense an incoming flux of magic."

Aeternus grinned. "Ah, my delivery has finally arrived."

The Shadow King looked over his shoulder and glared as magic burst from the air. A purple portal expanded across the bare space. Out the portal came Isidore, Reuben, and War, dragging themselves with weak shuffles. Isidore balanced herself on her staff as she carried a wounded and unresponsive Chantal in her arms.

The group was covered in blood and injuries of all kinds, dripping a red trail at their feet. Reuben massaged the dark welt on his face while Isidore wiped the blood coating her face with a tail hand. Chantal seemed the least injured, though her unresponsive state told a different story.

Zaros raised his brow. "You all look like shit."

Isidore snarled at him. "Shove it, rodent." Zaros raised his hands and backed off.

Aeternus held his chin and smirked at the trio. "I didn't think acquiring the Nightshade's Lament would be too difficult for you lot."

Reuben tuned his optic lens, then glowered at Aeternus. "We ran into a snag dealing with Team Ravenfield. They've gotten stronger. And we encountered some allies of theirs that made the situation worse."

Zaros glared. "Is that why one of you is missing? Where's Barrett?"

Isidore sighed. "Dead, probably. Hard to say, but he's pretty much dead." She looked down sadly at Chantal. "Chantal won't wake up, though. Belladonna did something to her. Nearly ruptured her with magic."

Aeternus snickered. "My, my, Team Ravenfield never ceases to amaze me." Aeternus clapped his hands, calling his Roserade puppet to his side. "My dear, please take Chantal and have her patched up. We wouldn't want to lose her skills."

The puppet bowed to him. "Yes, Master." She reached for Chantal, but Isidore pulled her friend away and glared at the subservient corpse.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her," Isidore growled.

"Isidore," Aeternus said with a gentle (or as gentle as expected from Aeternus) tone. "She'll be fine. Better than ever, in fact. You wouldn't want to leave her like this, right?"

Isidore narrowed her glare at Aeternus for a moment, then sighed and handed Chantal off. "If you do anything weird to her, I'll kill you."

Aeternus chuckled. "Amusing threat, but I respect the boldness." He snapped his fingers, ordering the puppet off with Chantal in tow. "Now, aside from the casualties, were you successful in acquiring my berries?"

Isidore reached inside her torn sleeve and plucked a single berry out. "We nearly died trying to get this, so you better be grateful." She chucked it at him.

Aeternus caught it between two fingers and inspected the tiny fruit. "I would've appreciated more samples, but beggars can't be choosers. Perhaps I can synthesize some new ones from the seed. Thank you kindly, my dear witches. Take the rest of the day off. I'll need your help in the morning, Reuben."

Reuben nodded. "Of course."

Aeternus examined the berry between his fingers, then gasped. "Oh, that reminds me." He grinned over his shoulder. "How did my little pet project turn out?"

Isidore and Reuben glanced at War, who stared up at her master in silence. Isidore sighed and scratched her neck. "She's efficient. Kept us protected and provided a means to escape in the nick of time. She performed flawlessly."

"Excellent~!" Aeternus jumped into the air, clicked his heels, and fluttered back onto the floor. "Simple excellent. Perhaps we could tune your attributes a bit to really turn you into a killing machine, War."

War bowed. "Thank you, Master."

Aeternus twirled the berry on the tip of his finger, then showed it to the Shadow King. "Take a gander, my king. The final piece to the puzzle and the key to restoring this body into something usable. You'll be a new man in no time."

The Shadow King offered nothing more than a glare at his herald.

Aeternus snickered. "You can thank me later."

Nightmare rolled his eyes. "Good grief." He glanced off to the side, then uncrossed his arms. "They're here."

Aeternus caught the berry in his hand and grinned as a pair of shadows passed through the cracks in the wall. They reformed in front of their boss and herald, then bowed. Nightmare and Aeternus immediately noticed how warn out and tattered their ethereal forms were. They resembled ragged tarps hanging by a string, limp and fading into mist.

"G-Greetings, Boss Nightmare. Master Puck," the shadows said in between breaths.

Aeternus glared. "Okay, why is everyone reporting back to me like they ran a marathon filled with poisonous saw blades? What happened to you two?"

One shadow looked up at Aeternus and caught its breath. "We're reporting back from our respective missions. The…The attack on the Sapienti Maelstrom Thieves and invasion on Fuego Village."

Aeternus saw War's body twitch. It was faint, barely noticeable, but palpable in intensity. He glared at his creation. Definitely needs a tune up. He looked back at the pair and grinned. "Yes, yes, very good. And how did my experiments favor in their battle?"

The shadows glanced at each other nervously, then back at Aeternus. "They're…dead, sir."

Aeternus' grin fell. "…What?"

The second shadow gulped. "Pestilence and Famine were slain in battle."

"Slain in battle?" Aeternus repeated. The shadows couldn't tell if he was furious, disappointed, confused, or intrigued by the news, and that nearly caused them to fade on the spot.

"Griffin Everfall and his friends slayed Pestilence. We underestimated Everfall's tenacity against dire odds."

Aeternus rolled his eyes. "I suppose that makes sense. And what of Edwin? He was supposed to accompany Pestilence's forces."

The shadow tapped its claws together. "I can't explain it, sir, but it appears Edwin betrayed Pestilence and helped protect the Grim Ash group. The last I saw of him, he was apprehended after the confrontation."

Aeternus pinched between his eyes and sighed. "Edwin, Edwin, Edwin. I had high hopes for you, and this is the thanks I get? Oh well, I suppose I'll have to execute him the next time we see him." He glared at the second shadow. "I don't suppose you have worse news?"

The shadow nervously looked away. "Err…"

"Spit it out."

"Well, Master Puck, we have confirmed that Tony Sapienti is indeed leading this resistance group of thieves. Despite some interference, Sapienti singlehandedly obliterated Famine in combat. He's grown much stronger as well. Dangerously strong from the looks of it."

Aeternus clicked his teeth in disappointment. "Why must that boy make this so complicated? No matter, I can make new versions of Famine and Pestilence. This was a test run, so no harm—"

"Uh, actually, Master," the shadow interrupted, earning a side-eye glare from the mad clown. "I…bring other news regarding a certain member of the thieves. They were leading the initial strike against us and put up a resounding fight against Famine and our forces."

"The Raboot?" Aeternus guessed.

"W-Worse, actually. You might not like hearing this, but…" The shadow hesitated, clearly nervous unveiling the news.

Aeternus groaned and waved the shadow off. "Don't waste my time with the dramatics. Only I'm allowed to do that. Either tell me what's so important or leave my sight—"

"Mistress Callista."

Aeternus froze. The answer carried out through the lab, stunning everyone from a confused Shadow King to a horrified Nightmare to the outright baffled witch duo as they all stared at the regretful shadow.

Aeternus glanced over his shoulder. A gleam of red reflected off his irises. "What?" he asked with a hiss.

The shadow bared its teeth. "Mistress Callista has joined forces with Sapienti. She fought back against us. We presumed brainwashing was involved."

Aeternus' glare deepened, causing the shadow to shrink away.

"It seems like the only plausible solution. A-After all, Mistress Callista would never betray us. She is as rooted to the cause as you are—" Aeternus raised his hand and obliterated the shadow with a single magical blast, scattering shadow wisps from the air.

"Leave," he said to the other shadow, who quickly disappeared from the lab. Aeternus ran his hand across his face, smoothed back his horned hair, then laughed through clenched teeth. "Oh, this is just wonderful. Just wonderful."

Zaros glared. "Callista's actually alive?"

Nightmare growled. "And she betrayed us?"

Isidore stared at the ground in disbelief. "That doesn't make any sense. Callista hates Team Ravenfield. Why would she join them?"

"Can Sapienti actually brainwash people?" Reuben wondered aloud. "Hmm, I have talked to him in Ghost Cove before. He did claim he could seduce any woman—" Isidore bashed him across the head with her staff.

"You are overthinking this!" she yelled. "Callista isn't going to be charmed by that perverted otter!"

Everyone turned their attention back to Aeternus as he broke out into a fit of laughter, clutching his face and nearly doubling over as he leaned back. It was the laugh they were all familiar with, the one where he came to a masterful breakthrough on a solution, and it was all too simple that he had to laugh at the absurdity.

"That…explains everything," Aeternus said in between breaths. "Voss' disappearance, I can understand, but Callista? What reason would she have to avoid us? She's dedicated to the mission, too. No, no, she's not brainwashed. Actually, you could say it's the exact opposite. She pulled a Wendrake!"

Nightmare glared. "Pulled a…Wendrake?"

Aeternus shook his head and calmed down, smiling at nothing. "I may have to hold off on sending a replacement Famine. I may just look into this myself."

Zaros glared. "Are you planning on executing her for her treachery?"

"Depending on how things work out, maybe, but I want to give her the same chance we gave Wendrake." Aeternus rubbed his fingers together, grinning to himself. "Though, I can't promise being as friendly. I had five hundred years to plan around Wendrake's betrayal. I don't want to wait another several months."

Aeternus snapped his fingers, commanding the lab doors to open. "Everyone vacant the lab at once. It seems I need to speed up operation. Go about your day, and let me worry about this little Callista situation."

Everyone complied and marched out of the lab. Isidore and Reuben lingered at the door for a moment, sharing a look with each other, then followed the others out.

Aeternus approached the Shadow King's side and crossed his arms over the handrails. "Well, my king, are you ready to get started early on the operation?"

The Shadow King glared at his underling, then put the breaks on the treadmill. A low grumble vibrated from his throat.

Aeternus smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."

The Shadow King winced as a light shined down on his face, then relaxed as Aeternus adjusted it to a reasonable angle. The possessed Hypno lay on an operating table with his arms and legs bound with leather straps. Normally such restraints couldn't hold him, but the body was only now beginning to get normal motor functions back.

Speaking of the restraints…

"Why…need these?" the king asked.

"Hmm?" Aeternus was hunched over at a table as he mixed potions. "Oh, the restraints. Believe me, these things rarely go well. When you've created abominations to nature that would make a shadow vomit, you've seen all the horrible side effects. Or, technically speaking, the rage-indued lapses of sanity. I don't even want to explain what happened while I was creating the Abyssal Knights. War actually almost killed me during the brainwashing. Skewered me right through the chest." Aeternus sighed to himself. "It's the mark of a proud genius when your creation comes close to eviscerating your insides."

The Shadow King narrowed his eyes. There are several works of literature following that premise that would have a different opinion.

"Point is, while I've run the simulations, this is basically me injecting an untested potion into your body. So basically, no different to how I normally pull these off. You're a special case since you're the original shadow." Aeternus kicked away from the table, rolling over to the king's side on a swivel chair. "The operation is to enhance your vitals before I inject the final product into you. A little something using the corruptive magic of the Nightshade's Lament."

The king glared. "What…doing?"

"At best, giving you some access to your full power, and much more. I've considered all the possible theories to making the potion. When combined with the corruption medallion, you'll love the end results I have planned. More than enough to make up for your weakened state until we find the idol."

The king closed his eyes, then sighed through his nose.

Aeternus laughed, then rolled back to the table. "It's so strange how much trouble that idol caused you. Thousands of years, coming back to the same world that you despised, and thwarted by the very person you thought long destroyed. It must burn you up inside seeing his legacy thrive while you struggle to dig yourself out of your own personal abyss."

The king's eyes blazed with crimson. He snarled at the ceiling.

"Yeah, I'm right. For everything I learned about you, I only know the basics. A summary of your life's story up until you ended Dougal in that final confrontation. What brought you here in the first place, though? What became of the man known as Apollo once he realized the world he loved so much was starting to change? When did that hatred of magic begin to fester into something ugly? When did the hero of legend become the villain of his own story?"

Silence. Nothing but silence.

Aeternus shrugged. "Oh well. I can't get much conversation out of you, anyway." He held the Nightshade's Lament over the potion and squeezed its juices out. Aeternus twirled a stirring rod inside the beaker until the potion changed to dark purple. A deathly puff of smoke burst from the potion's surface. "Perfect."

Aeternus rolled back to the Shadow King's side, then produced a scalpel. The king glared at him.

"Do you want anesthetic?" Aeternus asked.

The king huffed, then looked back at the ceiling.

"Ah, bold today, are we?" Aeternus spun the scalpel between his fingers. "Well, I'm not medical magician, so I hope you can hold out for seven hours or so." He pressed the blade to the chest and made the first incision.

The Shadow King took slow, calming breaths, then let his mind wander from the laboratory. His mind wandered deep into the inky darkness of his mind, sinking into the endless void.

Deeper and deeper into the depths of his anguish.

The bustling streets of the marketplace made navigation difficult for young Apollo, especially when there were sales going on. The Monferno had to squeeze through a forest of legs and bodies to get to the stalls. He didn't mind since his mother was usually busy taking care of the house and didn't have the time to go shopping. Apollo saw it as a mini-break from the farm work.

He pushed past the crowd and found his way to the first stall on his shopping list. Since Apollo's family dealt in the berry-growing business, they had to procure vegetables and other fruits from neighboring farms. The farming communities in town were fairly amicable with each other, thus making for friendly exchanges between goods and compliments.

Apollo knocked on the counter and said, "Mr. Montgomery!"

A Heracross approached the counter and smiled at Apollo. "Ah, young Apollo. Early morning shopping for your mother?"

Apollo nodded. "Yes, sir. My brother and sister are manning our berry stand today, so I'm taking care of the shopping for Ma."

"Happy to hear, my boy. What are you in the market for?"

Apollo skimmed the list over, then said, "Carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. The crate special." He handed the list to the old Heracross.

Montgomery squinted at the slip of paper, then nodded. "Coming right up." He walked back inside his stall and sifted through the myriad of crates.

To pass the time, Apollo drummed his fingers across the counter and let his mind wander to the chatter of the passing crowd. He closed his eyes, relaxed his posture, and breathed in the country air. He loved working on the farm, but sometimes he wanted to take a moment and enjoy the day without watering the land with his sweat. Just a moment of quiet bliss.

"Hey, Apollo!"

Apollo sprung back from the counter, waving his arms wildly to catch himself. A wing pressed against his back and pushed him right up. Apollo blinked, then looked over his shoulder before glaring at the grinning Murkrow toting an old book.

"Dougal," Apollo grumbled.

Dougal gasped. "That's it? Not even a hello to your friend?"

"We're not friends. You're a pest. Or a really bad rash that won't go away."

Dougal waved off his insults and laughed. "Come on, Polly, we're practically kin."

"Please don't call me Polly." Apollo glared at the occult-loving crow. "What do you want?"

"Well, seeing as how you're busy with chores, I thought I'd invite you to one of my stargazing trips outside the village. I've been documenting all the different astronomical signs used by our forefathers. Great for navigation, but I feel we can look a layer deeper into their meaning. Why did Lunala and the other space-dwelling Pokémon paint such lovely lights across the pitch black sky?"

Apollo groaned, letting his head collapse against the counter. "I don't care, Dougal. Leave me alone."

Dougal fluttered his wings and landed on Apollo's shoulder. "Hey, you may not like my interests, but there's nothing inherently wrong about star tracking."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to center it around with your unhealthy magus obsession."

Dougal grinned. "You need to cut loose a bit, Polly. This village is drab. Too simpleminded and stuck in their ways. What's wrong with embracing the weird every once in a while? We can have the time of our lives. What's wrong with fantasizing about a greater purpose in life?"

Apollo shrugged Dougal off, then jabbed his finger against the crow's forehead. "I've been told countless times not to get mixed up in your nonsense. Staying as far away from you as possible is the only sane thing I can do, and I intend to stick by that wisdom."

Dougal laughed and brushed off Apollo's hand. "You really see yourself living on that farm for the rest of your life?"

"It's better than playing pretend and assuming you can change the world with a few occultic enchants. The last fool who became obsessed with that grander-than-life crap ended up fighting a windmill. Do you wish to be remembered as the village fool, too?"

Dougal sighed and shook his head. "Look, regardless of your feelings, my offer still stands. Feel free to come by and join me later tonight for a little bit of stargazing. Or don't. I'm used to being alone." He glared at the crowd. "Not like any other company is appreciated."

Apollo followed the crow's gaze and saw the waring glares being directed at Dougal, some clutching their cross wheel pendants for protection. He looked down at Dougal and noted the fury in his beaded eyes. It was a rare emotion layered by the excessive enthusiasm and disregard of reality, but one Apollo saw from time to time.

Dougal turned his eyes away from the crowd and grinned at Apollo. "Anyway, give it some thought. See you around, Polly." Dougal flapped his wings and took off into the air.

Apollo sighed and ran his hand down his face. "Stop calling me Polly…"

"That boy bothering you, son?" Apollo turned back to the stand as Montgomery returned with a crate full of vegetables. He plopped it down on the counter, wiped his brow, and glared at the retreating Murkrow. "That boy ain't right. You never know what that scheming mind of his is cooking up."

Apollo narrowed his eyes as he watched Dougal vanish into the village horizon. He sighed, then pulled out some copper coins. "Yeah." He dropped them on the counter, then left with the crate in hand.

"Why am I doing this?"

With curfew in effect, the farm drifted into a comfortable silence with everyone fast asleep, ready to start a new shift in the morning. Apollo, however, forwent his nighttime routine and snuck out of the house, dressed in light clothes for the brisk night air. He brought his bag with him, carrying snacks and canteens for what may be a long night. He planned on faking sickness in the morning if the break in routine affected his work performance on the farm.

He gave himself plenty of chances to turn back and forget Dougal's offer, but kept on the path to the hilltops with decreasing reluctance. The further he went from the farmhouse, the more inclined he was to carry on with his regrettable decision. Being caught in the dead of night with the village lunatic was sure to spark trouble for the young Monferno once word got around. It wasn't even a question of 'if the news got around'. News traveled fast in a compact village.

Even with his determination, Apollo dragged his heels the rest of the way, spending most of the walk scolding himself for letting Dougal's lunacy to rub off on him. Apollo was supposed to be the good child, the one that never got into trouble and did as he was told. He still allowed himself to carry on with this act of rebellion for no good reason other than morbid curiosity.

The second Dougal gave Apollo a reason to leave, he was taking it.

Speaking of the Murkrow, Apollo looked ahead and spotted the occult-loving crow sitting under a tree on the hilltops. Beside him was a lantern that provided decent illumination, and the tattered book often found on Dougal's person, which the bird was absorbing himself into. He didn't notice the crunching of the frost-covered grass as Apollo approached the tree.

It wasn't until Apollo reached the tree that Dougal snapped out of his trance. He craned his neck, then grinned. "Well, well, well. You were tempted by my promise of entertainment?"

Apollo rolled his eyes and plopped his bag down. "Give me any reason to leave, and I will."

Dougal raised his wings. "Alright, chill out. No need to be so dramatic." He closed his book and traded it out for a smaller booklet, quill, and ink well. "I've been looking forward to this, actually. I've been studying the stars for quite some time, and noticed how their positions change over the course of the night. Some believe this to be the work of the gods, but I theorize we're the ones moving instead. They remain stationary while we, or our world, spins. Perhaps our land is spherical in nature, revolving within the infinite around us."

Apollo rummaged through his bag, responding with a grunt. "The world's flat, genius."

Dougal smirked. "Like I said, you and these villagers think too small. I actually pay attention to our gods' handiwork instead of using it as an excuse to perform executions in the name of Arceus."

"We don't do that…all the time," Apollo said, adding the last part under his breath. Dougal clearly heard him because he started busting out with laughter. Apollo blushed, then sat down to munch on an apple.

Conversation became sparce as Dougal focused his attention on the sky while Apollo brooded to himself. Apollo tried to tune out Dougal's muttering. He couldn't make out anything the bird was saying, not that he cared to pay attention, though he never heard Dougal sound so jovial based off the tone. Was stargazing really that exciting a hobby?

Apollo picked up another apple and held it up to his face. Just as he opened his mouth to take a bite, his ears perked up to a quiet grumbling. He glanced around the tree and saw Dougal pause from his stargazing to rub his stomach.

Apollo glared, then leaned his head back into the tree. "What were you doing at the marketplace earlier?"

"Hmm?" Dougal brushed his chin and hummed to himself. "You know, walking around, same as usual."

Apollo glared. "You were kicked out of your house again, weren't you?"

"…Heh, my dad caught me playing with the candles and assumed I was summoning a demon."

"Were you?"

"Of course not, that'd be dangerous and totally inappropriate." Dougal crossed his wings and huffed. "I was trying to summon a cute girl."

Apollo snorted, immediately covering his mouth. "Yeah, that makes sense. The only girl for kilometers that you could court would have to be summoned with magus."

Dougal snickered. "Harsh, but true." He sighed and looked up at the sky. "But yeah, he kicked me out last night. I've been eating scraps of bread outside the bakery. Had to make my own water, too. You won't believe how long it takes to make freshwater when there's only saltwater everywhere."

"Uh huh." Apollo looked at his apple, then sighed. "Hold out your wing."

"Like this?" Dougal asked as he did so. He gasped as a ruby red apple landed in his wing. "What?"

"Don't say anything." Apollo pulled out another apple and took a bite.

Dougal stared at Apollo in awe, then turned back to the apple in his wing. He blinked, then grew a big grin over his beak. "D'aww, you big softie—"

"I said be quiet!" Apollo snapped, chewing his apple aggressively.

Dougal snickered. "You're a good friend, Apollo."

"Not your friend."

"Uh huh." Dougal chomped into his apple, then sighed in delight. "Delicious~!" He vigorously chewed the apple all the way down to its core, then plopped it onto the ground. He went back to his notebook and resumed studying the stars.

Apollo glanced back at Dougal briefly, watching the excitable crow chatter to himself, then went back to eating in silence.

The Next Day…

"Hey, hey, Apollo!" Dougal exclaimed as the Monferno approached the tree. "Back again? Whatever happened to curfew?" Dougal teased.

Apollo huffed and sat down in his usual spot, pulling out an apple. "I couldn't sleep, and it's better than sitting around in the dark like a creep."

Dougal snickered. "Hey, that's no fair. I do that all the time. Are you calling me a creep?"

"Yes."

"So harsh." Dougal sat down and opened his book. "Well, glad you can join me again, friend."

"Not your friend."

"Uh huh." Dougal pointed his index feather at the sky. "Stars are looking great tonight, by the way. You can totally see Ursaring Major out tonight. It's that cluster all the way out there, the ones that look like bear claws."

"Don't care," Apollo said, biting into his apple.

"For a Monferno, you're awfully cold." Dougal pulled out another notebook and started jotting down in it.

Apollo looked over his shoulder and watched Dougal write inside the new notebook. "Another star tracking journal?"

"Journal, yes, but not for star tracking." Dougal grinned. "I thought it would be cool to write down my thoughts. Since I'm pretty sure one day someone's itching to kill me, might as well record every little thing about myself so I can be looked back on as a misunderstood genius."

Apollo rolled his eyes. "Maybe you wouldn't be misunderstood if you weren't studying a taboo subject."

Dougal threw his head back and laughed. "Oh Apollo, if no one wanted me to study taboo subjects, they shouldn't have put a giant warning sign over it. Curious minds are prone to disobey for intellectual pursuits. Who am I to starve my brain of wonderful knowledge?"

"Someone not aiming to have their head chopped off for heresy?"

"Be that as it may, that won't stop me from learning everything I can about the universe. We have to think bigger than just the visible. We have to see beyond what we normally perceive. Imagination is the greatest tool of a Pokémon, because dreams may become reality."

Apollo groaned. "You are so sappy."

"Not dark and mysterious?"

Apollo reached around and shoved an apple into Dougal's beak. "Hush."

One week later…

Apollo gawked in disbelief at the horrific display set up in front of Dougal, who seemed quite pleased with himself. Apollo had arrived earlier than inspected, which spoiled Dougal's little surprise for his not-friend, but it didn't wipe the ground grin worn on his beak.

"In thanks for sharing your food with me, I've decided to share some of my culinary genius with you," Dougal explained. "A Murkrow can only survive so long on scraps, so I've trained myself to have a keen eye for the finest of scraps to make the ultimate wild dish. Presenting Dougal Hepburn's secret recipe for…trash stew surprise!"

It was indeed what Dougal was advertising, which made it all the worse for Apollo to stare at, much less inhale without gagging. A hodgepodge of random scraps thrown together into a singular bowl and mixed with a murky broth Apollo dared not pry for specifics lest he think even less of the bird than he already did.

Orange peels, scraps of bread, wilted lettuce, an unhealthy number of spices, and more. Apollo was certain he saw pebbles skimming the surface. Even a Muk would stop and question its dietary options if presented with the rancid dish.

Dougal misinterpreted Apollo's disgust as reluctance and picked up the bowl. "Now, I know it doesn't look pleasing, but once you get past the revolting taste, you will be amazed by all the possible health benefits. Observe." He picked up a wooden spoon, scooped up some chunky broth, and lifted it to his beak.

Apollo smacked the bowl and spoon out of Dougal's wings, spilling the trash substance onto the ground with the potential of decimating any chance of the patch of grass to ever survive the next few days. Apollo grabbed Dougal by the shoulders and gave him a hard slap across the face.

"What the actual hell, you moron?!" Apollo screamed. "Are you trying to kill yourself?!"

Dougal shrugged, disturbingly unfazed from being slapped. "Hey, that's the best I can make while low on resources. Not like my parents bother feeding me."

Apollo facepalmed and drew his hand down his face. "Ugh."

One Month Later…

Ever since the trash stew incident, Apollo had been regularly making Dougal sandwiches to last him the week. Packed full of nutritious vegetables and faux meats to keep the bird's strength up with a side of apples, which quickly became Dougal's favorite.

The two ate their sandwiches under their usual trees in silence. The only words they spared was the usual thanks for the food and a grunt from Apollo. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, though. There was an amicable respect to the silence, even if Dougal shattered the peace ever ten seconds with some random thought of his.

For some strange reason, Apollo's passive aggressive grunts shifted to neutral responses, almost forgetting he was hanging out with the village outcast.

Dougal nibbled the last of his sandwich, then patted his stomach in satisfaction. "Now that was a meal. You should teach me how to cook."

"Wouldn't do you much good if you can't buy your own ingredients," Apollo said before drinking some water.

Dougal rolled onto his stomach and kicked his feet playfully. "Hey, you never know when I'll need to cook. Besides, maybe I can turn the scraps I find into a quality meal."

"Debatable."

"You have NO respect for my survival cooking."

"Pretty sure concocting poison isn't a healthy survival tip, at least for personal consumption."

Dougal snickered. "Sassy tonight, are we?" Dougal rolled back upright and opened his journal. "Even so, I really do appreciate the food. Not sure if I say that enough, but I'll keep saying it until you get sick of me."

"I am sick of you."

"D'aww, you know you love me~." Apollo chucked an apple into Dougal's face, knocking him down. "Love hurts!"

Apollo chuckled to himself, then went back to his sandwich.

Months later…

"So, that one's the Crest of Dialga?" Apollo asked as he traced his finger across the sky. "The…square emblem looking one, right?"

Dougal followed the path of Apollo's tracing, then adjusted the monkey's arm. "Close, but that's veering more towards Shaymin's Garden. The stars over here trace out the image of Dialga's crest."

"Oh! Now I see it."

Dougal nodded. "Yes. Legends say that if you follow that constellation north for thirty days and thirty nights, you'll travel back in time to a significant moment in your life."

Apollo raised his brow. "Really? Sounds asinine."

Dougal snickered. "And no one's been foolish enough to try it, so who's to say it's not true?" Dougal picked up his sandwich and tore a bite off.

"Well, for one, it's absolutely ridiculous, and common sense typically rules in favor."

Dougal waggled his index feather. "The wheel was absolutely ridiculous when it was first invented. After all, why would one make round shape with rock? Is it good for smashing? Is it good for killing? These are the questions. Next thing you know, we have wagons, watermills, and death traps for kids to climb in and roll down hills."

Apollo laughed. "Sounds like the kind of stupid stunt you would pull."

"I can neither confirm nor deny that." Dougal put his sandwich down and picked up his star tracker journal. "So, can you identify Acreus' Cross Wheel?"

"Hmm…" Apollo traced his fingers through the stars, then grinned. "There!"

Dougal followed Apollo's finger, then grinned. "Ha! You're getting better at this. Ooh, ooh, how about the Might of Regigigas?"

"How about actually giving me a challenging one?" Apollo asked, feeling his competitive spirit burn inside his chest. He raised his hand and traced through the stars. "Let's see, if I remember correctly…"

As the months drifted on by, Apollo and Dougal grew closer through their late night hangouts. It became such an entrenched routine for Apollo that he couldn't go to bed at his usual time anymore. Nights where Dougal was too busy to meetup at the hilltop, Apollo found himself laying in bed with his eyes wide open, unable to drift into slumberland.

Things remained neutral between the two whenever they met during the day. Dougal would bother Apollo at every opportunity, and Apollo would push him away as normal so not to draw any suspicion he developed a fascination for the magus-obsessed crow. Perhaps it was unfair to push Dougal away just to spare Apollo's reputation in the village, but he rather not be associated as a devil-worshipping lunatic.

Still, over the course of those months, Apollo saw Dougal in a new light. Underneath all the occult and weird habits, Dougal was an enthusiastic, passionate fellow who wanted to explore beyond the borders of their land. Anything weird or mysterious grabbed his attention, and he would take every opportunity to uncover the secret of its existence.

While Apollo did see most of Dougal's theories as insane ramblings, he would find himself listening with an attentive ear. He never offered any feedback beyond a snarky comment or two, but he could tell Dougal appreciated the company. How long had it been since the Murkrow had actual company willing to sit through his nonsense?

Then again, by Dougal's insistence, they were friends.

Apollo hesitated on the label. At best, he considered themselves acquaintances. Despite making Dougal lunch, learning about the stars and sciences he never had the time to study, or just sharing a good laugh with Dougal, Apollo couldn't see them as friends. His mind still wandered to the judgment of the village. What would they think if they knew he was hanging out with the Cursed Raven?

What would his family think?

Whatever the case, Apollo tried to not let it weigh him down. As of now, he was perfectly fine hanging out with Dougal under that same tree. A normal, orderly routine for the both of them.

He had hoped it stayed that way forever.

Apollo went about his usual chores in the afternoon. He climbed up the trees and plucked berries into the basket waiting below. He flipped and spun off the branches, plucking berries his hands and feet before catapulting himself into the next tree. He had the west orchard to himself while his siblings managed the other orchards in groups.

Apollo dropped from the trees and landed beside his basket. He picked up the orchard chart and crossed off the section he picked clean. "Okay, a few dozen more trees to go, then I'm done for the day." He rolled the chart up and picked up the basket.

"Apollo!"

Apollo gasped and dropped his basket, spilling the berries out across the ground. He groaned, massaged his temples, then turned around to glare at the frantically fluttering Murkrow. "Dougal, how many times do I have to tell you to stay off the farm? If my siblings caught you out here, they'll hogtie you to the barrels again and throw you in the water—"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever!" Dougal grabbed Apollo's wrist with his talons and dragged him along. "Come with me, now!"

"W-What? I'm working!" Apollo said, gripping his feet into the ground.

"But it's super important, and you're the only person I want to show this to!"

"Can it wait until I finish my chores?"

"You have to see it now!"

"What's so important that I need to drop everything?"

Dougal let go of Apollo's arm and showed a bright, jovial smile that rivaled all the others Apollo seen in the last several months. "I found it."

"Found it? Found what? You can't just use vague pronouns and expect me to—"

"Hurry!" Dougal flew off, leaving Apollo in the dust.

The irritated Monferno ran his hand down his face and sighed. He debated ignoring Dougal's request and going back to his chores, but he never saw the bird quite so happy. He hadn't seen that look since Dougal discovered rare gemstones in the village quarry. Though, things seemed different. This was beyond finding rare stones.

That face told Apollo Dougal made the discovery of the century.

Forgoing everything taught to him over the years, Apollo left his overturned basket behind and sprinted after Dougal.

"Dougal, where are you taking me?" Apollo asked as he followed the Murkrow out into the mountains.

They were an hour away from the village, trekking through untouched mountains. Prospectors of their village had investigated these mountains over several decades, but Apollo didn't remember stories of any of them traveling this high up. Strangely enough, a fog started to surround them the higher they went. What made that strange was that they weren't even that high up, and there was no evidence to suggest there would be fog today.

Could it have been some weather phenomenon he didn't know of? Or something else?

Dougal grinned back at Apollo, happily kicked his feet. "You're going to love what I found. It's unlike anything I could've ever imagined."

"Riiiight. And how did you come about discovering this? More importantly, what were you doing all the way out here?"

"Remember how I said I would be gone for a few days? Well, this is where I've been. Searching the mountains for any rare gemstones to add to my collection."

"And here I thought you were camped out under the village bridge like a creep."

Dougal laughed. "Sounds about right, but you won't believe your eyes when you see this. It'll change everything." He beat his wings faster and soared up the path, prompting Apollo to drop onto his knuckles and chase after the bird.

Apollo followed Dougal into a cave, using his tail flame to keep track of Dougal who practically melted into the darkness. They through several passages connected throughout the cave, each one Dougal took with mechanical efficiency like he had the path memorized by heart.

Before Apollo considered turning back and declaring this trek a waste of time, Dougal stopped and landed. "Down here," Dougal said, pointing to a small hole in the wall. "I was chipping through rock when I happened to hit that spot. This tunnel opened up and led me to what I found. Follow me!" Dougal dropped down and shuffled through the tunnel.

Apollo grimaced, but followed Dougal once the path was clear. It was a tight fit given Apollo's larger size, but he powered on and shuffled his way through. His arms were pinned against his sides, forcing him to rely on his feet for extra movement.

"I swear, if I get trapped in here, I'm going to kill…you?" Apollo looked ahead and noticed a light shining through the tunnel, illuminating Dougal's silhouette. An amethyst shine that sparkled like gemstones held up to the sun. Apollo's first thought was that Dougal found an entire cavern composed of gems, in which he would instantly forgive the Murkrow for dragging him all the way out here. Something like that was definitely worth skipping out on chores.

However, the closer he got to the light, he felt an odd sensation through the air. A palpable tension that didn't discomfort him, but…he couldn't quite describe the feeling. It was like a still wind pressing against his body, yet it had weight to it. Not a bad weight like moving through molasses, but something he never felt before.

Dougal breached the end of the tunnel, and Apollo could hear him fluttering through the spacious cavern. Apollo sucked in a breath and doubled his shuffling until he reached the end. He pried his arms free and used them to push himself out, sending him tumbling down a steep slope.

Dougal swooped down and caught Apollo by the shoulders. "Careful! Don't want you falling in by accident."

Apollo clung to the slope, then rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the light. "If it's a lake, I can handle a brief…dip…" His eyes adjusted to the light, allowing him to take in the full view of Dougal's discovery.

Though reminiscent of a lake, what sat below the boys was a pool of shining amethyst light. It flowed like water, yet resembled mist. It spun in a tight, but graceful spiral, completely uniform with the shape. A perfect spiral unlike anything Apollo witnessed in nature. The surface sparkled like diamonds, and emitted a mist through the air. The source of that tension Apollo felt seemed to be resonating from the pool itself. Staring at it, he could feel something pulsating from the pool. Was it alive, or was it something else he felt?

Apollo bent his hand down and traced his fingers across the surface. As expected, it wrapped around his fingers like a thick mist. There was something familiar about the mist that he couldn't place, but it felt…inviting.

Apollo grimaced and pulled away from the pool. "D-Dougal, what is this stuff?"

Dougal flew above the pool and smiled brightly. "This, my friend, is the culmination of all my research finally baring fruit. This…is a reservoir of magus."