Additionally, I've been putting this off WAY too long. But here's a list of our characters and their Pokemon!
AZULIA GROUP
Ray Derevin (Rayquaza):
Winona (Dragonair)
Checkmate (Corviknight)
Sentinel (Golett)
Vivian (Eevee)
Clara Amser (Celebi):
Nimbi (Altaria)
Anani (Xatu)
Cambria (Armaldo)
Hickory (Phantump)
John Andy (Mew):
Amanda (Axew)
Geoff (Gengar)
Matt (Alolan Meowth)
Remi (Raichu)
Christina (Shiny Chespin)
Ulfsigr (Zacian):
Mikami (Lopunny)
Tamame (Braixen)
Guinevere (Riolu)
George (Pawniard)
Joan (Scorbunny)
Kohaku (Mienfoo)
Carla Sanders (Latias):
Madeline (Gardevoir)
Queen (Pyroar)
Mia (Indeedee)
Kamaya (Meowstic)
Carlos Sanders (Latios):
Blade (Gallade)
King (Pyroar)
Heath (Indeedee)
Klitters (Meowstic)
Connor Right (Genesect):
Arch (Galvantula)
Ubuntu (Larvesta)
Fedora (Ribombee)
Mint (Shiny Snom)
Mantis (Shiny Scizor)
Wolfe Drake (Lugia):
Weiss (Shiny Glaceon)
Feros (Lairon)
Sora (Pidgeotto)
Kelly Serena (Katrina Mirana, Keldeo):
Harper (Dewgong)
Goldie (Shiny Magikarp)
Sensei (Greninja)
Comet (Starmie)
Gary Myste (Altered Giratina):
Coconut (Exeggutor)
Gaston (Weezing)
Mischief (Sneasel)
Morgan (Ninetales)
Katana (Samurott)
Catherine Myste (Origin Giratina):
Coconut (Alolan Exeggutor)
Gaston (Galarian Weezing)
Mischief (Hisuian Sneasel)
Morgan (Alolan Ninetales)
Katana (Hisuian Samurott)
Prince Richard Galladar (Arceus):
Excalibur (Doublade)
Charlemagne (Pyroar)
Guillotine (Shiny Fraxure)
Antoinette (Jellicent)
GLASHEAR GROUP
Rex (Kyurem):
Celia (Clefairy)
Bianca (White-Striped Basculin)
Anastasia (Absol)
Meteora (Beldum)
Gemma (Roggenrola)
Diana (Ditto)
Victor Hunt (Victini):
Twig (Sawsbuck)
Rune (Sigilyph)
Wave (Palpitoad)
Wick (Lampent)
Mirage (Zorua)
Seth Zimda (Zeraora):
Shade (Hisuian Zoroark)
Link (Rotom)
Reaper (Scyther)
Luna (Umbreon)
Selena (Primarina)
Zoey (Zamazenta):
Zoe (Zorua)
Poochyena
Rockruff
Galarian Ponyta
Ducklett
Houndour
Shiny Hisuian Zorua
Cain Govinia (Zygarde):
Mercurius (Volcarona)
Abel (Solrock)
Mortar (Golett)
Martyr (Doublade)
Selene (Ursaluna)
Kai (Ho-Oh):
Blaze (Charizard)
Alpha (Lucario)
Porky (Piloswine)
Croc (Croconaw)
Reesy Coldsmith (Regigigas):
Snowball (Galarian Darmanitan)
Typhoon (Swampert)
Chop (Machoke)
Skadi (Runerigus)
Now, let's get this chapter started finally! (-o-)
Ray stirred as the morning light shown through the window. He realized he had fallen asleep in one of the manor's armchairs, and noticed Richard staring out the window of the parlor.
"Hello again, my friend.", Ray greeted.
Richard jumped. "Ack! Oh, it's just you. I thought you were still asleep."
"Well, I was, until just a few seconds ago.", Ray replied. "What are you thinking about?"
Richard laughed humorlessly. "What can I NOT be thinking about? There's so much that needs to be done, and so little time to do it in."
He sighed. "I had another nightmare last night. I saw the Darkness, rising above a group of strangers. However, they looked to be other Legendborn - perhaps the friends you were separated from. The Darkness...he seemed to be more solid than before. He laughed at me, declaring that we are facing our final months. Then the screaming started..."
Richard looked out the window again. "Something's about to happen. I can feel it. And whatever it is...it isn't going to be good."
Ray nodded, his mind drifting to last night.
"I saw something yesterday.", Ray said, "I didn't tell you about it. But it was her. Or him. I'm still not sure."
Richard paled slightly. "Surely you weren't just seeing a ghost of the past?"
Ray took out the strange black stone the assasin had given him. "I'm sure."
Richard sighed deeply. "As if we didn't already have enough to worry about. This is not good at all."
Ray said, "I won't let them get you. I swore it."
Richard gave him a stern look. Ray felt confused by it.
"This does not have to be resolved by you.", Richard declared, "I will fight my own battles. When they come for me, I will stop them."
He folded his cape to his side, revealing a long, well-forged sword. Ray realized that it was one of the special longswords forged for the kings of Regiras, but only when they'd proved worthy of it.
Noticing Ray's intrigue, Richard smiled. "I will tell you the story of it, one day. But for now, just know that I'm no longer the helpless spoiled child you befriended and protected those years ago. I am the crown prince of Regiras, and I will use my strength to fight the Darkness, and write a new legend."
He grinned at Ray. "And you will be my closest companion. The minstrels will sing your name as much as my own, and all the others."
Ray bowed his head reverently. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
At that moment, Ulfsigr walked in, his armored boots clanking against the floors. He looked towards the two young men and declared, "Alright, you two, let's hurry up and go find that other stuff for Henrietta or whatever his name was."
He started walking, but then stopped and said, "Oh, by the way, I'm trying to design some stuff that will prevent what happened yesterday from happening again. I'll need to test it a bit more, but I should have it finished by the end of the week."
"Fantastic!", replied Richard, smiling, "You are a good ally of the crown."
Ulfsigr chuckled. "Hmm, perhaps."
He walked away, and Richard said, "I am glad to see how nice your friends are. I can only hope that they'll be capable of fighting the Darkness when that time comes."
He sighed. "I wish I could say that I'm confident in my own capabilities, but I fear that I'll be more of a burden than anything."
Ray placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You are the heir of Regiras. You will never be a burden."
Richard sighed. "Perhaps."
The other Legendborn had gotten up at this point, and were gathering in the parlor. Ray and Richard walked over to join them.
"I can sense that we will find the last of what we seek today.", Wolfe said, "But I also sense that we will find great evil. I just hope that it won't go like yesterday...or worse."
John shrugged. "Well, we didn't sign up for this because it was going to be easy, that's for sure."
"I do not believe that we even had a choice in the first place.", commented Gary. It appeared Catherine had changed back last night, but they weren't drawing any attention to it and neither was anyone else. But it did seem to perplex Richard quite a bit.
"What are the things we need to get, again?", asked Carlos, standing close to his sister. Clara had reported that Carla was still a Latias, and Carla was doing her best not to show that to anyone.
Connor answered, "We need to catch a one-of-a-kind Pokemon that hails from the sea, and, uh, find the prince's betrothed."
Kelly stood up, a determined look on her face. "I know where to find both of those."
Carlos frowned. "Uhh...how?"
Clara shot him a look, like 'don't doubt her now'.
"Come with me.", Kelly replied, "We're going to the other side of the island." (-o-)
After a few minutes of walking, Kelly stopped at the edge of a beautiful white beach, blue flowers growing all around her. A sculpture of a beautiful woman stood on a nearby rock, looking out to the sea as if she was singing a mournful tune to a lost beloved.
"Well, this place is pretty.", admitted Carlos, "But what are we supposed to do here?"
Wolfe said, "Watch and see."
Kelly walked to the base of the statue, brushing a hand over the overgrown pedestal. She found a loose piece of seaweed, and reached inside until she grabbed something. She then pulled out an old, wooden flute, carved to resemble a Primarina.
"Whoa.", said Ulfsigr, "I poked all around that statue the other day, and I didn't find any secret crevices!"
Kelly shot a look at him, before looking down at her flute. "Long ago, before Azulia City grew to what it is now, a young woman washed ashore here. She did not know who she was or where she'd come from, only that her name was Serena. She was found by a young lord known as Erik Mirana, and he helped nurse her back to health. They grew to love each other very much, so much so that he proposed to marry her."
"I fail to see what this has to do with anything.", commented Ulfsigr, "What is that flute?"
Kelly gave him a fierce glare. "However, even back then, the lords and ladies of house Mirana were forceful and insistent on keeping the royal line pure. They said he could only marry her if he sailed over the horizon and tamed the great monster, Kyogre. As in love with Serena as he was, Erik immediately agreed, and prepared a ship just for himself. He kissed Serena and promised her that he would return, for his love was greater than all the storms Kyogre could try to tear him down with. He sailed away the next day."
Kelly looked towards the statue. "Every day that passed, Serena would stand on that rock and sing for her beloved, praying to all the gods that he would come back to her. Maybe they listened. Maybe they just mocked her. But one day a ruined tunic washed ashore. The tunic Erik had worn, his name still stitched inside it."
Kelly sighed softly. "Serena was heartbroken. But she never lost hope. Every day, she continued to stand on that rock, singing for her beloved. Finally, she thought she heard him calling back to her, and she strode into the waves, transforming into a Primarina and swimming towards him to be reunited. That is what the legends say, at any rate. It is also said that she left behind a flute, one that would sing her song when a descendant of her blood blew into it, and it would summon her to return to land and aid them with whatever they desired."
"Uh...how on earth does this make any sense?", asked Carlos, but he looked shaken. So did everybody else.
Kelly's eyes seemed to shimmer with a thousand lights, a song of the sea written throughout her very being. "Years ago, another girl washed ashore on this beach. She had hair the color of the deep sea and eyes that shimmered with its light. And her voice was as pure as the waves touched by Suicune, the Wave Runner. She was found by a boy named Henry. He named her Katrina."
Slowly, looks of recognition bloomed across everyone's faces.
"Impossible.", Richard breathed.
"I may have been raised by the Miranas, but I am a daughter of the sea.", Kelly declared, "And any girl should have the right to call to her mother, and be answered."
Then she took the flute to her lips, and began to play.
The tune that came out was unlike anything any of the people present had heard. It was melodic and haunting, the song of a woman who dearly missed her beloved. It was a beautiful tune, but also quite saddening.
To Ray, it reminded him of the people he had lost - his grandparents, the parents he'd never known, and the Pokemon who had given their lives way back in Royalldon. He sighed softly, and noticed many of the others looked emotional.
Perhaps even Ulfsigr, not that Ray could see his face beneath the helmet.
After a few more minutes of her melody, Kelly lowered the flute and gazed softly towards the horizon. At first, nothing happened. Then the water began to ripple as something swam towards them.
Carla gasped as it grew closer, revealing itself to be a majestic Primarina, her body glowing with rippling colors. Her hair sparkled in the morning sun, and her eyes shined with wisdom.
The Primarina splashed onto the shore, spraying water everywhere as she rose to her full height. She looked down towards everyone, and seemed to read their souls. However, Ray knew nothing but calm. He could sense the warmth behind her gaze, and knew she was no enemy of theirs.
"My child.", she whispered, "You called for me."
Kelly bowed gracefully. "Yes.", she said, "I need your help."
The Primarina (Serena, Ray realized) nodded. "Tell me everything."
Kelly explained their story, starting from when she first ran away to the present. As she spoke, she described her feelings over the Miranas' controlling, uncaring behavior, and her recent doubts about Henry's state of mind. She explained how they had been sent to learn why the Searager stirred, and to stop the Darkness from taking control over it.
When she finished, Serena closed her eyes. "I know of what you speak. The Darkness has found the Searager's prison, and has determined how to reach it. You will need to hurry, before he breaches it and releases that monster's wrath against all of the surface world."
"How can we do that?", pleaded Kelly, "None of us know!"
Serena smiled softly. "But you do. You have claimed your birthright, and have awoken your inner powers, even if you do not realize it quite yet."
Kelly looked confused, but then she smiled. "I see...I must return to the sea, as you did."
Serena nodded, smiling at her daughter.
"Okay...this is just getting weirder and weirder.", commented Carlos, "What are you two talking about?"
Serena looked over to him, and said, "You will understand shortly. But I am afraid that I must return to Erik soon, and cannot explain further."
"WAIT!", yelled a voice.
Everyone looked to see Lord Henry running down towards the shore. He cried, "You cannot leave yet! I must catch-"
He stopped as he took in the sight of Serena and Kelly, and fell to his knees. He started sobbing, muttering, "No...I can't do it, I can't do it. I'm just a failure..."
"Henry?!", cried Kelly, running up to him.
"Oh, my dearest sister...I would've betrayed you!", he wailed, "The Darkness...he was so kind, and so convincing...I...I..."
"What is this about the Darkness?!", demanded Richard, storming up to the crying man, "As your future king, I demand that you give us a complete answer!"
Henry slowly regained his composure, but he still looked miserable. "My apologies, my prince...it would've been so easy. After the disaster at Volpeii, I came home a ruined man. Everything I had created and loved...destroyed so fast. And my parents didn't even give me a 'sorry for your loss'. They tossed me aside, my position over the town burned to the ground and reduced to uselessness for their goals. Only Katrina...my dear, dear sister...only she cared. But when my parents decided to betroth her to you, she ran away, and I had nothing. Nothing!"
He sobbed, "That's when the whispers came...the Darkness, he spoke to me, persuaded me that the only way I could get justice, to rebuild my life, was to tear down this wretched civilization and help him start the world anew. He promised me the power to do so, the power of the Searager, Kyogre, the power to drown this entire world and wash away all of mankind and its sins! He gave me a plan, that when the Legendborn came, I would convince them to bring me three things: the deep blue pearl that contained Kyogre's most primal and greatest powers; the queen of the sea, Serena; and her heir, the secret to awakening the full power of the ocean and unleashing its full might!"
He gave a sorrowful look to Kelly. "I nearly sacrificed you! And for what? Destroying the world, in order to rebuild it? Would that bring back my wife and child? No! I was deceived, expertly, and now...now it's too late."
Suddenly, the ground rippled, and everyone staggered for balance. Serena's eyes widened, and Henry threw himself to the ground, weeping.
Dark laughter ripped through the air, and the brilliant morning was drowned in shadow, the sky turning red as blood.
"LEGENDBORN. IN THE NORTH, MY POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED. NOW MY TITANS SHALL SWEEP THE EARTH, PREPARING IT FOR THE COMING END."
A colossal clawed hand tore through the earth, forged from black stone. A monstrous statue pulled itself out of the ground, revealing a cavern filled with shadows, eyes glowing and shifting mouths roiling with laughter.
"HENRY HAS OUTLASTED HIS USEFULNESS. UNFORTUNATE, BUT EXPECTED. HOWEVER, HE HAS GIVEN ME EXACTLY WHAT I NEED."
The titan stormed forwards, and reached out towards Serena. She cried out and tried to escape into the water, but dark chains flew from the statue's fingers and tied her up. The Dark Legendborn who'd attacked them in the tomb appeared, smiling as she summoned the blue pearl into her hands. Carla couldn't even react. When Ulfsigr tried shooting at the enemy, his bullets bounced harmlessly off the titan's obsidian skin, and the woman smirked as the bullets aimed for her were stopped right in their tracks.
"I WILL LET YOU LIVE FOR NOW.", boomed the Darkness, "YOU CAN FIND US IN THE ABYSSAL CHASM, AS WE FREE THE SEARAGER'S WRATH. YOU CAN TRY AND STOP US, BUT YOU ARE NOT NEARLY POWERFUL ENOUGH TO FIGHT A GOD."
The titan and the Dark Legendborn escorting strode past, dragging Serena behind them. She wailed desperately as the dark forces dragged her beneath the waves, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soon, the waters calmed, but the skies remained red. Red as the blood that was about to be spilled all across the land.
Henry sat up, eyes red. "We have to stop them."
"But how!?", cried John.
Kelly glared into the water, her eyes glowing with barely contained magical rage.
"Come with me.", she whispered, "Into the abyss." (-o-)
AN: What an ending! Unfortunately, we'll have to see what happens with them later. In the north, our other group of heroes still faces the heart of the Darkness's power, and next time we will find out what they do! Whatever happens, it will certainly change the course of this adventure!
I hope you all are excited, and I'll catch you all next time!