Note: I'm sorry for the huge delay, it's the H.W. again. Now that I've got the H.W. off my back, I can write again! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------

"Shade!!! C'mon! The new Absol has an announcement to make!!" Shadow shouted. Shade the Absol turned around and yelled, "I'm coming!!!" She was just enjoying the cool, fresh breeze when a little Torchic came by her path and attacked. She fought bravely and managed to defeat the poor thing. Now, Shade was dragging her catch up the mountain terrains where she lived until her best friend Shadow had called for her to come. "Well, of course I can't just leave the thing here...oh well. Might as well bring it along." she sighed and ran towards Shadow.

The whole group of Absols gathered around Blade, the newcomer. He looked suspicious, but he always had a smile on him. Blade grinned at everyone and stood where he was. It was a nice morning, one where small breezes always stirred in and one where many could enjoy. Blade continued grinning, while all the other Absols waited. Everything seemed to get dark, even the morning sun. Clouds had suddenly become gloomy and morning seemed to turn into night. The Absols heard footsteps, darkening everything in its path. Inferno slowly awoke, looking around and seeing the tall figure. He gasped when the figure held Crimson, who was dangling upside down. The man dropped Crimson and spotted Inferno. He smiled a wicked smile as Blade continued grinning, shaking his tail. The man knew Inferno was Crimson's friend. He had been following their trail for what seemed like ages. Blade had led him to Inferno, and new Pokemon. Two items in the man's must have list. One eye stared at Inferno, while the other rolled to face Blade. Finally, he hollered, "Behold Absols! My new invention!" He pressed a button on his remote and suddenly, Blade had begun to glow black. His claws grew longer every second, tail and blade grew sharper, and Blade himself, had turned into a monster. A horrible creature now stood in his place. The man cackled and turned to look at the Torchics' reaction. He pointed at them and whispered, "You're the first to experience how it is." Inferno had to be killed. He set his eyes on the yellow jewel and then the one who was holding it. Blade had begun his rage.

Shade and Shadow ran for their dear lives, while Inferno and Crimson held on to their fur. Confused Absols were locked in cages. A wildfire had started. Blade had abnormal powers now. He cornered Inferno, Crimson, Shade, and Shadow. Then he knocked Inferno and Crimson off the Absols. He stared at Inferno with hatred, completely ignoring Crimson. The man grinned. Inferno knew this was the end. Blade rushed forward while Inferno shut his eyes, expecting Blade to sink his claws into his own blood.

But, that moment never came. Inferno opened his eyes to see Crimson, furry down covered with blood, Crimson's blood. Crimson gasped for air and coughed. Inferno walked to Crimson like a zombie and kneeled down. Crimson turned to look at Inferno, whose eyes looked blank. He weakly smiled and told Inferno these words "Live your life to the fullest. Take this jeweled amulet; it's my gift to you." Crimson looked at the sky, little eyes shining like the stars. "Well, Inferno. Take care, my friend." Then, Crimson shut his eyes and lay there, motionless. Inferno was grasping Crimson's amulet. Tears of sorrow dropped slowly like snowflakes. Inferno then broke down crying. He sobbed on Crimson, like he had lost someone very important. Then, it struck him. He did.

Inferno remembered from the day he hatched to now, Crimson was like Inferno's father. He was the one that lead Inferno out of the lab. The one that guided him to his first real home. The Torchic that always looked out for him. Inferno never knew his parents and he longed for one. Inferno received a father, and that was Crimson. And now, what had happened? Crimson was dead. Gone. In a painful death by the hideous beast named Blade and the man, that man who made the beast. Just by sinking his claws into Crimson's soft, feathery, shiny down and tearing apart him. Crimson had sacrificed his own life for Inferno's life, just like a true father.

Inferno faced the man and Blade, pure hatred burning in his eyes. Inferno's yellow jewel glowed and a shadowy figure appeared. It looked at Crimson, then Shade, then Inferno. Inferno looked at the spirit, but nothing, not even the most talented sorcerer could revive a dead person. The spirit teleported Inferno, Shade, and the body of Crimson to the pasture where they had made their first homes. Inferno used the last of his energy to run to the tree where Crimson had set his home, dig a small grave, and bury Crimson. Shade felt a strong force dragging her to a cave and picking up a stone that had a picture of a Torchic smelling flowers, with the words, "The Inferno Blazes On." Shade ran to Inferno and gave him the stone. Inferno took the stone and dropped it in Crimson's grave. Inferno held a small funeral for Crimson, even though the spirit, Shade, and Inferno were only there. Inferno spent the rest of the day sobbing and dreaming about Crimson. Shade and the spirit left him be.