There was a sense of calm about Shadow when he finally returned to the main clearing. It felt like an enormous weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders, in the sense that although soreness was certain to follow and linger, the immediate stress had been lifted and he felt far lighter and relaxed.
The Espeon found Astrid and Renard waiting for his return a fair distance from the section of trees leading to the memorial stones, meaning they had given him space in addition to privacy, probably to give him time to reconcile with things without interruption. He probably would not admit as much, but he greatly appreciated this small gesture.
Astrid perked up on spotting him, and her tail flicked cheerfully. Renard gave his companion a disapproving look, but the Absol seemed oblivious. Shadow chanced a glance skywards, privately judging the position of the sun. He couldn't forget that he had assured Leaf and Frost that he would return in a timely fashion, but at the same time, he felt it necessary to at least have a proper conversation with these Pokemon before dashing off to rejoin the others.
"Before you go, Shadow, there are a few items we wish to discuss with you," Renard said, once the Espeon had come within earshot. The Espeon blinked, but nodded, regarding the two with mild interest.
"First things, I hope you're good with the burial site, or whatever," Astrid said. Her manner was still somewhat inappropriately cheerful for the content of her statement, but it was also clear that she was consciously making an effort to appear serious and solemn.
"It's...wonderful. Really," Shadow said, struggling not to choke up as he spoke. "Thank you."
"I'm glad you find it so," Renard said solemnly. "I am aware we still did not fully explain our presence here. Astrid's ability foretold the event, and she arrived after the fact, sad to say."
The Absol nodded soberly, remaining silent. Shadow didn't say anything, content to simply hear out the explanation. Before, he had been more agitated because of the absence of evidence of his parents' fate, and their presence and familiarity with his father only heightened his frustration.
"She fetched me soon after, and I confirmed the situation," Renard continued, the tips of his tails twitching idly over the grass, similar to how one might drum their fingers absently when lost in thought. "As we did not find you or your brother in the area, we came to the conclusion that you may have fled, and I made the decision to remain here to continue overseeing the territory in the event one of you returned."
"And that way, if you came back soon afterwards, he could break the bad news to you in the least traumatizing manner possible," Astrid piped up. "We also didn't know if you two had just been absent entirely when things went down, and might be on the way back, unaware that anything bad happened."
Shadow nodded slowly. It was similar to his reasons for returning here alone, and a major factor as to why he was terrified to head back home the first week after fleeing with Leaf. It was a relief to discover now that even if they had gone back, the worst of the experience would have been softened by these two.
"On that subject, is your brother all right?" Renard asked. Shadow nodded, and the Ninetales smiled. "Wonderful. In any case, I suppose we should move on to the next important matter. What are your plans moving forward?"
"What?" Shadow blurted, taken aback by the question. He supposed it was a natural question to ask under the circumstances, but it also brought up the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that he didn't really have any set plans in mind. His goals were all vaguely defined at the moment. Growing stronger to protect himself and Leaf...but then what?
"Your parents loved this small territory," Renard said, gazing around the area with a trace of fondness in his voice. "It's quite comfortable, and they considered it almost ideal for raising a family. That was why I was requested to oversee it during times of their absence, so that it could continue to serve that purpose for their family. Perhaps now is not the ideal stage in your life to inherit it, but it is yours."
"Oh...I don't know," Shadow said awkwardly. He didn't feel like he really wanted to try to hold onto a territory. He wasn't really confident in his strength to protect it, and staying here would all but ensure he'd never accomplish anything. When the incident had happened, he had been fast approaching the age where he would have been expected to leave the territory and his family to find his own independence. And now, he wasn't exactly convinced of it being the safe haven it had been for him as a kit, particularly since his parents had died here. No, they hadn't just died, they had been killed. The Espeon clenched his teeth at the thought, dimly aware that one of his paws was shaking.
"There's no rush for you to take over," Renard assured him softly. "I can continue to hold down the fort until you're ready to reclaim it."
"Huh? That's...not a problem for you?" Shadow asked, taken aback by the offer. For all he knew, it could be several years before he was prepared to settle down. He had no idea where his life would take him, or whether he ever would wish to come back to live here. He knew for sure that visiting his parents' graves might be enough reason to drop by, but settling down permanently was not currently on his foreseeable agenda.
Renard chuckled and shook his head. "Hardly an issue at all. When one has lived for centuries, individual months or years are trivial. Rest assured, you are not shackling me to the premises. I can come and go as I need, and the territory will remain secure."
"...how?" Shadow asked, his silver eyes widening in disbelief. Was there some secret to keeping an area safe, even when one was away from it? Was it possible to learn such a trick or ability?
"As a Ninetales, I have access to many abilities," Renard explained, and his mesmerizing red eyes seemed to glow with a subtle, ethereal blue gleam. "I can create illusions, or cast curses to inflict upon those I deem worthy of punishment. Those who have wronged me, or destroyed what was close to me...none escape my judgment. The same sort can be used as a protective ward, to ensure none intrude with impunity."
The Ninetales blinked abruptly, and the blue glow faded from his eyes. The fire fox abruptly seemed very tired, as if he had been on the verge of dozing off.
Astrid cleared her throat quickly. "So your territory'll be safe until you're ready for it or whatever," she said, glancing over at the dazed Ninetales. "Right, Renard?"
"Yes, of course," the Ninetales answered, regaining its composure and smiling gently. "But it still begs the question of what your plans might be."
"I'm not sure," Shadow admitted, averting his eyes and frowning. "I'm training and stuff to become stronger, but..." he hesitated.
"For what purpose?" Renard inquired. Shadow scowled. Why did everyone seem to enjoy nagging him with such a question? Frost had done so before they had even started out towards Eterna, and he had brought up a similar question earlier today, wanting to know Shadow's intentions and circumstances.
"Does it matter?" the Espeon asked irritably.
"Well, yeah!" Astrid answered playfully. "Without a drive behind a goal, it's an empty promise, like dieting, or visiting your parent...er, in-laws!"
"Smooth recovery," Shadow deadpanned. The Absol smiled sheepishly, and very noticeably nudged Renard's side with one paw.
"I ask not as much to hear the answer, but to urge you to reflect on it yourself," Renard explained solemnly. "In the wake of your loss, I'm sure that you've wrestled with your inner demons at least once. Your parents had not been lost naturally, but they were taken from you. Is your pursuit of strength the path of vengeance?"
"What? No, I-" Shadow began, but Renard shook his head, silencing him with a serious look.
"That is the message I wish to impart above all else, Shadow," the Ninetales said, barely speaking above a whisper. "It is natural to grieve, to experience anger or sorrow. But do not lose sight of yourself. Do not allow those emotions to consume you, and do not avoid forming new bonds and relationships. Loss is part of a natural cycle. One you may experience many times in a lifetime, as I have innumerable times. I am cursed to outlive my friends and loved ones, but despite all that, I will not isolate myself, physically or emotionally, nor seek retribution for my pain. Therefore, neither should you."
"I'm not-" Shadow started again, but he faltered beneath the Ninetales' gaze. The red eyes were still void of light and emotion, but yet glittered with intensity that was incredibly intimidating.
"Simply say the word, and I will curse the one who robbed you of your family," Renard said softly. Astrid flinched, but the Ninetales paid the reaction no notice. "For what they took was dear to me, and dear to those close to me. But I need your approval to cast it. Just nod, and it'll be done. A well-deserved punishment, am I not correct?"
Shadow gaped at the fox, his mouth moving soundlessly for a few moments. Finally, he shook his head. "No."
"Why not?" Renard inquired, speaking softer still. "I can almost literally call hell fire down upon their very soul, or have them watch their own loved ones perish in cruelly ironic ways before they too succumb. Or give them such misfortune that death will be a blessing, but one only granted by my will, and not their own hand."
"Why are you asking me this?" Shadow demanded, his stomach tying itself into knots as he glared at the Ninetales. "You just told me not to..." he froze mid-sentence, realization dawning on him. "Oh...you're testing me?"
Renard smiled, but unlike his other smiles, this one was filled with sorrow. "Temptation and power are a very dangerous mixture," he said quietly. "Hatred and revenge form an endless cycle. Suppose for every cut inflicted to you, you cut them back. It starts out as mild, petty, and stupid, but every cut is more damaging to the big picture. Little by little, the dozens of cuts take their toll, but you both just bleed to death, and no one wins."
"Unless you cut them with something REALLY good, like a scythe," Astrid noted, her tail wagging.
"Just as well, since such large blades pose a risk to the wielder as well as the target," Renard countered. "And collateral damage is almost impossible to avoid."
"Talking to an Absol," Astrid said brightly. Renard looked at her blankly for a moment. "Uh, it's meant to be similar to the phrase about talking to the singers," she explained.
"Preaching to the choir," Renard corrected, but he smiled and shook his head. "Let's not get sidetracked here."
"Too late," Shadow said, unable to keep a straight face. There was admittedly something very entertaining about these two Pokemon. Astrid was a different form of chipper than Cecilia's more bubbly nature, although it evidently came at the cost of her being a little too casual at inappropriate times, and Renard's more serious manner, when he wasn't being outright unnerving, had the vibe of wisdom and understanding that Astrid did not.
Renard smirked briefly, sharing in Shadow's amusement for a moment. "However, that does not detract from my main message. You must seek a purpose to channel your power into, or else the temptation to misuse it will consume you. I do not recommend the path of vengeance. It is a lonely walk, where one casts aside everything of value to pursue something that only takes more from you than it gives, unceasingly."
Shadow stared at the Ninetales warily for several seconds. Finally, he cocked his head to the side. "Why are you emphasizing this so much? I already said I'm not after revenge."
"Because I don't believe you," Renard replied calmly, and without hesitation. Shadow blinked, unsure what to say to such a comment. His first instinct was to deny it, but he had a hunch that this was precisely how Renard expected him to react. There was obviously a lesson being taught here, and Shadow could already tell that the point was too important to interrupt with defensive responses.
"Okay...why not?" Shadow asked finally. Astrid had fallen silent, passively observing the two of them with a thoughtful expression.
Renard granted the Espeon a subtle smile before speaking. "Because you've indicated that you don't know your future plans, but that you seek to become stronger. In such a state of indecisiveness, it is inevitable that your growing power will be turned towards the object of your greatest passion. I've seen this happen many times over the years. Forced to become proactive from tragedy, the first target of growing power is almost invariably the source of that tragedy. The cost is never worth the gain. Stare into the abyss long enough and you'll find that the abyss stares back. I fear that your fur coloration foretells such a fate, if not redirected."
Shadow scowled, and his stomach churned. "You don't know that about me, though," he argued, his black fur bristling as he spoke. Yet in the back of his mind, he recalled how easily he had manipulated his psychic abilities when staring down Diablos, and how swiftly he had turned his emotional turmoil into aggression. In a sense, what Renard was saying was true.
Renard actually chuckled softly at the Espeon's indignant response. "That's true, I don't know that. I may never know that. My past experience is why I'm imparting this advice. Find a constructive goal or pursuit that you are truly passionate about, and devote your energy into achieving it. Keep your friends and loved ones close, for they can guide you away from the abyss."
The Ninetales glanced towards Astrid at the end of his statement, and they shared a brief smile before refocusing on the Espeon. Shadow frowned to himself, not sure what to say to any of that, or if an acknowledgement was even necessary. He glanced at the sky again, and his heart almost skipped a beat.
"Oh crud, I need to get going," he said. He gave both Pokemon a polite nod of acknowledgement. "Thank you for everything."
"Just doing what Echo would have wanted us to," Astrid replied with a sweet smile. Renard nodded.
"Feel free to come around whenever you wish. This territory is yours, even if I am looking after it," the Ninetales said seriously.
"Right," the Espeon replied awkwardly, looking around to recover his bearings, finally settling on which direction he had come from originally. "See you."
"Do you need an escort?" Astrid wondered teasingly. "Would hate for you to get snuck up on by a legitimate predator."
Shadow winced. "It's not that far," he said awkwardly. "Just near the Eterna Forest. It's not even dark yet, and my night vision is actually really good."
Astrid shrugged. "Okay. I'll see you around, then. Have a good night!" she said, her tail flicking playfully.
"Uh, thanks. Um...you too," Shadow replied awkwardly. He took a step towards the territory's exit, pausing to confirm that neither of them were going to add anything, and then resumed walking. He kept his pace leisurely until he was confidently out of sight of the clearing, and then he picked up his pace significantly. Evening was descending upon them quicker than he expected, and he really didn't want Frost or Leaf to get worried about him.
There was also the uncomfortable awareness that he genuinely did need to let both Leaf and Frost know about the threat Diablos posed to him. Frost's words from earlier had sunk in deeper than he had initially let on, now that Renard had placed so much emphasis on forging strong bonds and avoiding the 'lonely path'.
Of the two new acquaintances, Shadow was most puzzled by Renard. Almost as if from a dream long since forgotten, he could vaguely recall one of his parents making some sort of comment about the incredibly long lifespan of a certain Pokemon, said back from before Leaf was even born. The point then had been something about how experience is the best teacher, for experience leads to wisdom. Even with that connection, Shadow still had to wonder: what kind of experiences had given Renard wisdom in regards to the deaths of loved ones, and the corruptive influence of seeking vengeance?
And why had it felt like Renard knew more about what Shadow was going through than Shadow himself even realized?
