Summary: After beating Darkrai, Larson and his friends venture forward to an unrelated location to possibly help their journey.
Note: REALLY long chapter. Sorry, but I would hope it's a good thing to you, my readers. Enjoy it.
Arriving back at the pokemon center, everyone seemed flabbergasted but happy we were back. Nurse Joy had the biggest smile out of all of them, "You did it! You beat darkrai"?
I bragged a little, "Don't sound so surprised. When we make a promise, we keep it".
She apologized, "I'm sorry. We just didn't entirely believe he could be beaten without cresselia to dispatch it".
The man from earlier, Wallace, also came over in astonishment. "You must be a hell of a trainer kid".
I nearly forgot in my accomplishment as I recalled Maggie in my arms. "Shit, right. Joy, I need you to give her medical attention, NOW".
She took her and while we waited, everyone wondered what to do with Darkrai. One of them suggested, "You should capture him. He could be good for your arsenal of other pokemon. But mostly, it helps us with him being far from here".
The others agreed, "That monster has caused our city troubles for generations. Yeah, take him off our hands".
With the mythical pokemon still unconscious, I had only one opportunity. Given what had transpired and being sick of nightmares myself at this point, I voted on yes, but not before talking to Hexy. "You think I should"?
She agreed, "Well, even if you don't use him, having him as a prisoner inside one of the Dark Balls is a fitting punishment. As well, it'll keep everyone safe from him".
I took out a ball and tossed it at Darkrai, and then we waited as it flashed what must've been 20 times. I was a bit nervous, "Jeez, even knocked out cold he's still a fighter". But finally he was caught; I owned a darkrai now.
Hexy noted, "Well, if you do use him. At least you have a dark type now. Not only are they good against most ghost types but they're completely immune to being hypnotized. Could come in handy".
She was right of course. "Yeah. I prefer ghost types to dark but they do have their advantages".
Hexy added with a grin, "Ghost and dark types are the best, right"? I nodded my head in agreement.
As we were still waiting for Maggie to heal, I held Darkrai's ball in my hand while sitting down. Hexy touched my shoulder, "What are you thinking about"?
I told her, "As much as I despise this guy, he did have justification in his actions to a degree. I think…I think I'll let him out for a conversation".
She didn't stop me, "If that's what you want to do. Just don't take your eyes off of him. Even a caught pokemon can still attack their trainer".
I released him, and he immediately locked eyes with me, while everyone around looked understandably nervous. "So...you caught me. Now I'm just a slave to the very humans I hate. I could kill you right now".
I defied his threats, "No, you couldn't. If me and Maggie could beat you in your element, I could simply beat you again if need be. Hell, I could've kept you in that ball. Did you think about that"?
He heeded my words, "Hm. Then why did you"? I gave my side, "You want your home back, right? Well, maybe if you apologize to these poor people for ALL the things you've done to them and their ancestors, then they'll forgive you. Maybe let you back here".
Darkrai brushed it off, "Me? Apologize? For what, trying to take back my home"? I shook my head, "No. For being a merciless monster who resorted to attempted murder of hundreds. You owe it to them for that at least".
Wallace approached Darkrai, but with much caution. "Uh, hey there"? He darted around to look at him. Wallace choked a little, "If you...if you promise to leave us alone, we'd let you back into the city without hassle".
The others agreed to it, but with equally as much fear. Darkrai spoke, "You would allow me to take back my home? Just like that"?
Hexy added her opinion, "Of course that doesn't mean you can kick them out. But being welcome back with open arms is quite the gesture considering what you've done".
I stared at him expectantly, "Well? How about you apologize to them"?
He finally relented, "Very well. I...suppose this has gone on long enough". Darkrai floated to the center of the room for his voice to be heard. "Humans. Over the course of many centuries your kind has caused me grievance. But...I am to blame partially for such. I should have moved on to begin with. I you mean what you say and would allow me to stay whenever I please, I promise no further harm will ever come to you. And...for my many actions of the centuries...I formally apologize".
As he came back down, all the people inside gathered around him, with Wallace at the forefront. "We forgive you mons...darkrai". With that out of the way, no further malice was felt between them. But I certainly felt such.
He came over and looked me in the eyes, "Where do we stand, human"?
I glared at him. "I should kill you for what you've done to me and my friends. The people of Canaclave might finally forgive you. But fi you caused Maggie's death, I'll crush this pokeball with you inside then banish you to the Distortion World".
Darkrai seemed to get my sincerity. "So. You do care about your pokemon that much? You don't see them as tools? Or disposable"?
I shouted, "No you idiot! Maggie, Mimikyu, Frillish, Banette, Giratina and even MissingNo to an extent. I care for them deeply. They're my friends just as much as Hexy is. I don't care if they aren't human. Even if Maggie and Banette didn't look slightly human I'd still feel that way".
At last, nurse Joy called us out. "Maggie is healed". Indeed, Maggie came floating out next to Joy perfectly healthy again. I was elated and ran over to her, "Maggie".
I stretched my arms around her and formed them into a big hug. She even held me back with her cloak arms. We let go after a minute and smiled at each other, 'Mismagius'.
I forgot. "Oh, right. You can't talk anymore outside my dreams. Weird going from a conversation to back to...this. But whatever, I'm so glad you're okay".
Maggie floated close to me and my eyes locked with her yellow and red ones. Her W shaped mouth smiled. Her scent was like incense; very allruing I had to admit. She then took her cloak arms and wrapped them like a scarf around my neck. Maggie then pulled me into a kiss. No tongue or anything, just a wholesome, loving kiss. I could feel Hexy's stare in the back of my neck though, and if Frillish were out here she'd probably go ballistic.
I couldn't really describe her 'taste', but kissing her was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Having already kissed a few by this point, they were all unique. Celebi back then was like an aphrodisiac of flowers touching my lips. Frillish was soft and smooth with her slimy but still pleasant skin. Then Banette was like kissing, a sentient stuffed animal. Fuzzy and soft, but actually pleasant.
Maggie pulled away after the long kiss and looked into my eyes with a gentle, 'Magius'. I admit, I had felt incredible emotions in the moments of the fight with Darkrai and worrying for her safety, so I was kind of holding myself back before she pulled that.
Neither of us said much else, but I did get Frillish and Banette's balls back that Joy was holding onto for us, and Hexy got back Sableye. At this point, it was back to the drawing board without any leads on Ethan again.
As we took our leave out of the pokemon center, Joy stopped us. "Wait you two". We turned around to her, "I don't know where the boy you asked of is, but there is a location not far from here you may want to check out. Legend says there is a legendary pokemon that lives in the Forest of Stone".
Hexy asked, "Forest of Stone? What's that"?
She elaborated, "A dangerous place that not many return to. I regret to put you in harm's way again but then again, you don't have to go. But the option is there. If you could handle darkrai, then another legendary pokemon could be useful in your travels. But before I tell you where, do be careful please and make sure you are ready for anything. Sigh, Due west of here is where it is".
Darkrai chimed in, "I know of this place. Nothing but death...no life within the entire forest, even including the trees".
Nurse Joy continued, "Like I said, please only go if you must. But I thought it could be useful information to you". She then gave us a basket of mental herbs and sitrus berries, "Here. Take these with you. It's the least I can do to help you from here after all you did. Oh, and on behalf of everyone here, you two are welcome back anytime. Thank you".
Leaving on a happy note the next morning after spending the rest of the night, we took an unmarked trail west through the forest and now we were on a dirt path. Everyone was in their pokeballs minus Maggie and Darkrai. Meanwhile, walking with Hexy she decided to say something. "Really close with you pokemon, huh"?
I responded, "Yeah, Why do you ask"?
She went on, "Just, that's literally the third of your pokemon to kiss you on the lips".
Like an idiot I admitted, "Technically the fourth".
Her expression became a little upset, "What was the fourth"?
Then I put a couple pieces together, "What? You're not jealous, are you"?
Hexy laughed shakily, "Me, jealous? Why would I be jealous"?
I teased, "Don't know. Why would you be"?
She ended the conversation there abruptly, "Uh...let's just keep moving".
Maggie and Darkrai seemed to not be getting along well. I couldn't blame her either, as this guy would take some getting used to if he was going to be in our party. We stopped at the Forest of Stone at last. Nurse Joy definitely wasn't lying about the place.
Even Hexy was both shocked but impressed at the same time. "Wow, Darkrai wasn't exaggerating. Black trees, not a single leaf and...'statues'? I wonder would could've done this".
"Statues"? I questioned.
She pointed over to one such object. Over by one of the trees must've been a dozen pokemon statues of stone. Pidgeots, rattattas, a seviper and a bunch of pikachus, both male and female were among the many. Some of them were face down or fallen over. Out of morbid curiosity Hexy went over and tapped one of the pikachus.
It disintegrated on touch, turning into dust. "Cough cough, Stone doesn't usually do that. Who made these sculptures anyhow"?
I was unsure myself. "Maybe the legendary did it for all we know. Here, let me try prodding one". Taking a fallen branch off the ground I poked another one of the pikachus, only this one didn't turn to dust.
A piece chipped off, and inside was a horrific sight. Inside the pikachu statue was a skeleton of one. I jumped back, "Holy shit"!
Hexy took a look herself. She wasn't afraid of course, "Well, these things obviously aren't statues. It's more like they were petrified. These are either Egyptian type stone tombs, or more plausibly, this 'stone' used to be their skins".
I shook my head to try to regain some composure. "You really have no idea what could've done it"? I asked her.
She shook her head. "Sorry. I don't know everything. As for your little episode, you should really try to get more used to this morbid stuff".
I argued, "I don't think I CAN get used to gore and dead bodies unlike you Hexy. Before I met you, none of this ever occurred in my life. It's just natural for me to flip out when I see...this".
She seemed understanding, "Yeah, okay. I get it. Just, try to keep your cool at least, okay? How about we just find this legendary and get out".
I shared her sentiment, "Right, let's keep moving. I'm sure Mimikyu wouldn't have minded that 'statue' either though".
The woods were creepy even during this time of day. The sun was out, but yet even though the trees had no foliage whatsoever, they still managed to block out the light. The place was all but pitch black, but at least without leaves and such we could easily see where we were going and keep track of each other; though the place still was like a maze of samey looking vegetation.
I looked behind us, "How are you two doing back there"? I asked Maggie and Darkrai.
Maggie waved me down and gave an 'okay' I think; 'Magius'. Darkrai responded but didn't seem to care, "We are fine".
"So, tell use about this place since you have such knowledge". I said to him.
He seemed to have no problem with doing so. "Yours and my kind would typically avoid anything to do with this place due to the legendary. It, or he if you prefer, drains the life of anything in its path. Even I know better than to challenge such a being. But I suppose being the same type, you mean to use me for this battle".
"You think there will be a battle"? I asked him.
Darkrai seemed certain. "This is not like that celebi I witnessed in your subconscious. No. Like Giratina and myself this creature WILL put up a fight. The only difference being you cannot reason with it. It is about as docile as that computer chip you carry around with you".
Hexy entered the conversation. "So you believe we're going to lose"?
He seemed very sure of it, "I know you will. We all will, there is no way around it. I follow because I must, but otherwise we are all walking towards our death. The ONLY pokemon that will be of use will be your mismagius, me or that one you call a 'MissingNo'.
As we got deeper into the dead forest, we heard a large roar not too far from us. "Must be the legendary", I looked to Hexy.
Following the sound of roaring, or so we thought it was, we encountered more corpses. The petrified bodies were double the amount of the ones we saw at the entrance. But among these bodies was a human; one wearing a red hat with sunglasses on top and a blue jacket. A trainer.
Hexy looked closely at the stoned body, "Hm, I feel like I know this guy. Maybe he hit on me once and took me to dinner".
I gave her a confused look, "What the hell are you on about"? She shrugged, "I don't know. Previous life maybe".
The further we went in, we both began to feel drained of energy and tired from it. Even Maggie and Darkrai felt it. He spoke up, "We are getting close. The fact of the matter is, it doesn't even need to attack to absorb energy".
We came to a huge clearing now, and the sound was louder than ever. Above us, floating in a sort of cocoon of its own wings, was the legendary sleeping in midair. It was snoring we were apparently hearing. But the more bigger eye catcher was everything around us.
Hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of petrified corpses lie below us like catacombs but above ground; a mass grave of insane proportions. My eyes felt like they would bulge out of my head, "Jesus Christ...that pokemon did ALL of this"?
Darkrai nodded his head, "Indeed".
Hexy pointed out, "Seeing it now. I know what pokemon that is. Yveltal. Possibly one of the if not THE most dangerous pokemon in existence, even among legendaries".
I raised my pokedex and made sure to turn down the volume, 'Yveltal, the destruction pokemon. When it's lifespan comes to and end it absorbs the life of every living hing around it, then begins a long slumber until the day it must do so again'.
I shook my head, "Wow. People said Giratina was the devil of pokemon. This thing causes genocide but Arceus never banished it"?
Hexy herself was even taken aback by the sheer amount of bodies. "It's like a graveyard but above ground. It would be absolutely fascinating, if they weren't all unfortunate victims". She turned to me, "So, now what? Are we going to catch it"?
Even I was unsure at this point. "Maybe Darkrai is right. I don't even think we should attempt it. I mean, this thing is slowly killing us and it isn't even awake. Besides, what's one more legendary when I have two already. This doesn't even benefit us on our search for Ethan".
We agreed on it, "Yeah. I have to say I'm with you on that. Let's get out of here". But as we began to walk away, we heard a familiar droning sound. Out of the forest, knocking us over onto the piles of stoned bodies were a group of about 20 unowns, all shiny, like the ones we've been seeing this whole time.
They then spelt out right in front of us as we got up, 'We warned you'. They all flew up towards Yveltal and began circling in unison around it. In that instant, I realized we were screwed. The giant bird, dragon thing was awoken. It was a threatening sight on its own. A horned head, a mane of smoke like Darkrai, three toed talons and piercing blue eyes. But the real eye catcher that was creepier is that its wings including its tail feathers, looked like human arms and hands with black claws in place of fingers. The blood red skin also had black vein looking markings.
It spread its huge wings and revealed itself in an actual bone shaking cry. As soon as it was awake, the unowns all disappeared back into their dimensional portals. Yveltal began to look around to see what disturbed it, and at last looked down to see us. It stared us down before letting out another angry cry.
I looked to Darkrai, "Now what"?!
He said plainly, "Now, we battle". He flew over to me and got up front, "I have no desire to perish either, so I will fight".
Yveltal made its first move. It used Gust, flapping its massive wings. All of us were blasted back and like a hurricane, the wind tunnel shot us into the dead trees. I manged to grab onto a tree and as Hexy came flying past me I grabbed her hand. "Gotcha".
I helped her onto her own tree, "Thanks for the save".
Once it was done flapping, Darkrai had sustained some injuries but it was minor luckily. I let go of the tree and ran over, "Now Darkrai, use Foul Play". He emitted a pink gas from his mouth that was then blasted towards Yveltal. The gas damaged it critically due to its presumably high damage output.
The bird dragon screeched. It began to flap its wings again but not nearly as powerfully. Using Air Slash, it sent cuts in the air towards Darkrai and sliced him up relatively well. He then took some initiative and used a move on his own; Disable. A cloud of purplish pink engulfed Yveltal very briefly. "What'd you disable"? I asked.
He informed me, "Oblivion Wing. If it were to get that off, then we would ALL be condemned on the spot". Seemed sound to me.
Yveltal stretched out its wings and charged into Darkrai, hitting him with a Dragon Rush. The sheer size of the bird dragon decimated him and sent him crashing through at least 10 trees. But nevertheless he hovered back to me a few moments later.
I commanded him, "Toss a few dozen Shadow Balls". Darkrai refused, "A Dark Pulse will be more sufficient". He emitted the black rings around him which pulsated towards Yveltal and sent the legendary back a bit as well as hurt it.
Yveltal was fed up and opened up its wings again all the way as far as it could. Me and Hexy ran for the trees and took hold as the bird dragon performed its real Hurricane move. True enough to its name, the air around us became a deafening wind tunnel that swooped up Darkrai.
Darkrai couldn't do anything to resist the pull and was tossed way up into the air disoriented. Though he could fly himself, once the wind let go he plummeted headfirst into the ground as high velocity. I was a little concerned for my new pokemon, "Are you okay"?
He didn't seem to care, though he answered. "Fine. But I must heal if I am to continue". He created a purple orb in his hands and tossed the Dark Void at Yveltal, "Not even dark types are completely immune to sleep attacks. This isn't technically Hypnosis".
Yveltal fell out of the sky and upon hitting the ground struggled to stay awake rather groggily. Finally with a crash, it succumbed. Darkrai then did on his own the next logical move to follow up on by using Dream Eater.
His eyes became bright red and a ghostly shadow version of himself was sent out of his body and into Yveltal's. Disappearing inside of the legendary, a gray mist then flowed out of the unconscious pokemon and into Darkrai. "I should've guessed".
I said something to him. "What"? He shook his head, "Being immune to the damage from psychic attacks, I can put it to sleep but can't drain its energy".
I too shook my head, "Well, at least we could take advantage of it in this state. Use your Blizzard". He shot out snow and ice out of his arms like last time and caused a storm to blow around us. Though it made me and Hexy freezing, it massively damaged the bird dragon.
Still asleep even after being injured like that, we followed up with another blow. "Okay, how about Thunder"? Generating sparks from his hands, Darkrai generated watts upon watts, then shot it into the sky. A moment later, it crashed down onto Yveltal causing even the ground to shake.
Upon finally waking up, the legendary was now paralyzed and open for one more move. "Okay, better pick wisely. Use Giga Impact". Glowing yellow and charging up, he flew right at the stunned pokemon and smashed into it, causing the bird dragon to be severely injured at this point.
But this left Darkrai in a state of recovery, and due to my foolishness, it turned out to be a mistake. "What the hell? It's still standing"? He warned me in his immobile state, "Yveltal is not a pokemon so easily beat".
Yveltal, finally ready to attack, used what it could. It summoned a huge blue orb from its mouth, and without any hesitation chucked the Focus Blast at Darkrai. The impact decimated him, and having not healed, he was done for. He fell to the ground writhing, before shutting his eyes.
We were in trouble, "Oh fuck". I frantically poked around my backpack to find a pokeball, "Okay, hopefully he can do some damage". I let out Giratina, "You require my help"? He asked me.
I nodded my head, "Yes. Use Shadow Force, please"! He summoned his portal and a few moments later, jabbed the bird dragon from behind with his sharp neck spines. After that, Yveltal knocked him away back towards me, still standing. "HOW"? I yelled.
But then things got worse, because with Darkrai beaten, Yveltal could now perform its most sinister move. Flying high up, it created a transparent sphere around itself then shot out a massive scarlet beam towards me and Giratina.
Maggie and Hexy had no choice but to run. It hit Giratina though and the poor guy was turned to stone. Aiming at me I tried running but was pushed out of the way suddenly, "Move"!
Shoved out of the way, I found the still weak Darkrai lying next to me. "You saved me. Why…"? He looked back at me, "I do not know".
Standing back up, I had one more option left with two of my strongest pokemon out of the battle; one stoned and the other Koed. I took out MissigNo, "Alright, this guy has no life to steal. But it can steal life itself". I unleashed the pokemon and sent it to work, 'Beep'.
"Okay MissingNo, use Distort. I don't care how. Just end this". It obeyed and the black sky became the ground complete with stars and the sky became scorched black. The bodies of all the humans and pokemon began floating around and the dead trees became crooked and twisted around us. Zapping a pixelated beam at Yveltal, it screeched in pain.
I knew it was beat, "How does it feel yourself, you damn monster"!? The pokemon fell to the ground for good this time, and I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, "Thank God".
I returned MissingNo right away so as to not screw around with the world any longer than I had to. With everything around us turning to normal I checked on Maggie and Hexy, who were both okay. But of course my most concern was Darkrai and Giratina.
I went over to Darkrai first, and sat him up. "Here, eat this". I took a sitrus berry out and handed it to him. Instead of putting it in his mouth he raised a hand and absorbed it.
"Are you going to be okay"? He just nodded his head. I then turned my attention to Giratina, "Is he...dead"? I frowned.
Darkrai reassured me, "Possibly not. If you capture Yveltal, you may be able to use it to return the energy it stole. It won't work on the long dead, but perhaps it will restore him".
Taking out a fresh Dark Ball, I tossed it at the unconscious pokemon's head, on purpose. Hitting its horned skull, it became red energy and was transferred to my ball. After a few blinks or so it stopped.
Darkrai instructed me, "Now, release it then command it to reverse its action". I did so, and the weakened pokemon looked at me, being about the same height as Giratina. "Now Yveltal, do as I say! Return Giratina's life energy". It roared in frustration, but did so regardless. Raising its wings, they glowed red and before our eyes Giratina's skin was returned to flesh.
After that I wasted no time putting it back in its ball and into my backpack. Giratina walked over to me, "I appreciate your care for my safety". I bowed respectfully and returned him. Then I turned back to Darkrai, "I think you deserve a rest yourself. But before I put you back in...thank you".
He said nothing to me but nodded his head as if to say, 'you're welcome'. With just Maggie and Hexy with me at the moment, I spoke to them. "Well, we got what we came for. Any suggestions"?
Maggie spoke in her language, which Hexy could understand a little, 'Magius, mis. Mis magius'.
"She says there is a place not too far from here further to the west called Mushroom Mountain", she relayed.
I asked, "What's at this mountain"? Maggie went on, 'Mismagius, magi magi us. Mismagius mis mis magi us gi'.
Hexy translated again, "She says there was once a secluded Pokemon Fan Club clubhouse at the top of the mountain. She hasn't been there in years but she believes there could be even a slim chance Ethan is there".
I shrugged, "Well, it's a goal. Thanks Maggie". I added, "Let's get the hell out of here though, yeah? All this death isn't something good for psyche".
As we left, I heard that sound of unowns. No mistaking it. I halted the girls and turned around to see two more staring at us with their cycloptic eyes. An 'F' and an 'E'. I shouted at them, "Leave us alone you stupid eyeballs"! I tossed a big rock their way but they vanished back into one of their portals.
I sighed, irritated. Hexy touched my shoulder, "Never mind them. Let's just get out of here like you said. They come back we just toss a bigger rock".
I shook my head, "I just really hope they DON'T come back. If they are deliberately trying to get us killed now. Then who knows what they'll try next".